Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 China develops independent carrier-based aircraft support system Xinhua) 09:07, September 26, 2024 JINAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China has developed an independent and self-reliant support system for carrier-based aircraft. The support system will continue to be improved, targeting the future needs for long-term deployment of carrier strike groups in distant waters and various combat training missions of carrier-based aviation forces, according to the ongoing academic forum on the development of carrier-based aviation equipment held in Qingdao, Shandong. Significant progress has been made in aircraft takeoff and landing technology aboard carriers, with a transition from ski-jump takeoff to electromagnetic catapult launch and electromagnetic arrestor recovery, said Naval Aviation University's Huo Wujun. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has been adjudged as the best person to be given the management of Free SHS to since he co-birthed the program, according to a professor of Accounting and Finance at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Isaac Boadi. Describing the NPPs flagbearer as the most qualified person to continue managing the program-poor flagship program, the Dean of Accounting and Finance at UPSA also indicated that Dr. Bawumia has the right mindset and vision to manage Free SHS. Dr. Bawumia has the right vision, mindset and focus to continue the Free SHS policy. He has been an integral part of the conception, development and implementation of the Free SHS program. He is, therefore, the best and most suitable candidate to be given Free SHS to handle going forward he stated. The UPSA don also said that a child can best be taken care of by his parents and not by foster parents. Between a mother and a foster parent, who can best take care of a child? Clearly, it is the mother. Bawumia remains a mother to Free SHS whereas Mahama can only be a foster parent. Bawumia believed in Free SHS, Mahama has never believed in it. It is only right and safer to give Bawumia the chance to continue nurturing Free SHS, not Mahama How do you expect someone who has never liked Free SHS to be able to manage it better than the one who has been a key part of the program? he asked. Professor Boadi also gave instances where an NPP administration has handed over policies and programs to the NDC but the latter couldnt manage them well. 1. The NDC cloned NPPs Northern Development Plan and named it SADA. We saw what happened. SADA was used as a vehicle to siphon millions of monies from the state into private pockets. Monies were wasted to plant trees in the dry season, monies meant for rearing guinea fowls were never used, etc, etc. 2. NDC inherited Health Insurance and made a mess of it. Before leaving office in 2016, the number of subscribers had reduced. Between 2009 and 2016, the number of NHIS subscribers decreased from 12.5 million to 11.03 million. Under the Akufo-Addo administration, subscribers have moved from 11.03 million to 17.5 million between 2017 and 2024. 3. They brought health insurance capitation and that nearly collapsed the scheme. 4. Kufour left them with a stable Metro Mass Transit system. They almost collapsed it. 5. School feeding was on its knees when Akufo-Addo came to power after JAK had left a stronger feeding system for the NDC. Judging from the above, we can all see that the NDC has never been able to manage programs bequeathed to them by the NPP administration. It stands to reason that if Free SHS is given to Mahama to handle, he will simply collapse it He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to vote massively for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the NPP in the coming elections. Professor Boadi made these remarks at the Sunyani Edition of the ABC News Economic Symposium held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the Sunyani Technical University Auditorium. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Deputy Communications Director for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jennifer Queen, has challenged claims by the Women wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress that the Police arrested a pregnant woman during the Democracy Hub demonstration at 37 in Accra. According to her, there was no evidence that any of the suspects was pregnant as of the time they were arrested following their violations. The lady is not showing any physical signs of pregnancy, she did not inform any of the police officers that she was pregnant. When she got to court, she did not inform the court that she was pregnant, so theres no evidence as claimed by the NDC, she told Asaaseradio.com on Thursday. She further noted: Her lawyer, spoke in court and applied for bail. the lawyer did not mention that she was pregnant for the court to consider it. if she did not inform the police or court; nor her lawyer informed the police or court; and she was not showing any physical signs, how was anyone supposed to know about. The comment comes in the wake of claims by the NDC in a statement that the Police knowingly arrested a pregnant a woman during the demonstration. Meanwhile, the Police have dismissed claims in sections of the media that they denied medical care to some of the suspects who reported ill health. The Police would like to inform the public that at no point in time have the Police denied these suspects any medical attention, a Police statement said on Wednesday 25th September 2024. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Global Media Alliance (GMA), a leading integrated communications agency, has been named the Premium Corporate Communications Brand of the Year 2023 at the 11th edition of the Made-In-Ghana Awards and Gala Dinner. The prestigious event, organized by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana, took place on Saturday, September 21, 2024 in Accra under the theme Celebrating Ghanaian Business Pride for Sustainable Economic Development. The Made-in-Ghana Awards seeks to honor and celebrate iconic indigenous brands that have not only thrived but have built loyal customer bases and established strong brand reputations. The recognition of Global Media Alliance reflects the company's dedication to excellence in corporate communications. Emma Wenani, Chief Director of Global Media Alliance, expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating "We are deeply honoured to receive this prestigious award. On behalf of the entire GMA team, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana for acknowledging the hard work and dedication we have put into building a strong communications brand. Emma Wenani added This award reinforces our commitment to continually raising the bar in the industry, and we promise our stakeholders and clients that GMA will continue to do even better in the years to come." With over 25 years of experience in Public Relations, Media Consultancy, Events Management, Creative Services, Digital, and Brand Marketing, Global Media Alliance has cemented its place as a powerhouse in the communications industry across West Africa and beyond. Global Media Alliance's recognition at the Made-in-Ghana Awards serves as a reminder that hard work, innovation, and commitment to excellence do not go unnoticed. This award is yet another feather in the cap for GMA, and the company looks forward to scaling even greater heights in the years ahead. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A live-in nanny has been awarded 2million after her fast food mogul boss secretly recorded nude videos of her by hiding a camera inside a smoke detector. Kelly Andrade, 25, sued 35-year-old Michael Esposito for filming her while she lived with him and his family in New Yorks Staten Island. The dad-of-four was arrested after she claimed he tried to break her door down when he realised she had discovered the device and the memory card inside crammed with "hundreds" of clips. A Manhattan jury has now awarded the au pair $780,000 in emotional distress damages against Esposito and his wife Danielle, plus $2,000,000 in punitive damages against him. Esposito, who owns three LaRosa Grill franchises, was taken into custody on suspicion of illegal surveillance, which carries a maximum sentence of four years. But he was allowed to walk free on the condition he completes two years of probation and counselling. Ms Andrades attorney previously described the punishment as a "slap on the wrist". Speaking to the New York Post, the nanny said: "Its not enough for the whole situation Ive been through these three years. Its not enough. "I was angry because the damage that he caused me is irreversible." In her lawsuit, the Colombian national described spending hundreds of hours training after being hired by Cultural Care Au Pair and sent to work in the US. She told the Post she was thrilled at the opportunity to learn English while working in America. But she became suspicious after frequently seeing Esposito tinkering with the smoke detector in the bedroom they had given her, saying it "was constantly being repositioned". After several weeks in the job she took a closer look at the device and spotted the camera hidden inside. She described having to escape through a window when Esposito arrived home and started banging on her door. According to the lawsuit, police later found "hundreds of recordings" of her "nude and/or dressing/undressing" on it. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A chimpanzee, famous for its tool-using ability, ripped a baby girl from her mother's arms before taking her into the forest to butcher her and harvest her organs. Seny Zogba was working in a cassava field in Bossou, in Guinea, when a chimp sunk his teeth into her and stole her eight-month-old baby, named as Yoh Helene. The little girl's mutilated body was found 3km from the Nimba Mountains Nature Reserve. Witnesses fear the chimp used his tools to main the girl as they claim the infant had been eviscerated. Chief researcher Gen Yamakoshi chillingly told The Times the gruesome killing was because the chimps "no longer fear humans." An angry mob directed their fury towards the scientists who have been studying the remarkable animal community for decades, and brought the baby's corpse to their Bossou Environmental Research Institute. They then ransacked the building, destroying and setting fire to equipment including drones, computers and over 200 documents, the centre's managers said. Joseph Dore, a young member of the group from Bossou, said: "it's the way she was killed, that's what angered the population." Local ecologist Alidjiou Sylla said the dwindling supply of food in the reserve was pushing the animals to leave the protected area more frequently, increasingly the likelihood of attacks. The research centre said it had recorded six chimpanzee attacks on humans within the reserve since the start of the year. Moussa Koya, another youth leader, said "It was not their will [to be violent] but it has become the habit of the chimpanzees." Mr Yamakoshi said it wasn't clear whether the attacks are because of food or "excitement". "It is similar behaviour to how chimps treat one another," he said. "If they are excited they cannot control their behaviour." In 2022, the oldest member of a chimpanzee tribe, Fana, died in solitude age 71, leaving behind two sons, Foaf and Fanwa. The tiny community of apes use stone hammers and anvils to crack open nuts - the most sophisticated act ever observed of humanity's genetically closest relative. The great apes live in the wild but share the territory and its resources with the locals, who protect them, believing them to be reincarnated ancestors. Chimpanzees are respected in Guinea and traditionally given gifts in the form of food, prompting some to venture out of the protected area and into human settlements, where they can sometimes attack. But Bossou elder Michael Gamada Koiba said locals now don't know "what kind of chimpanzees they are" after the fatality. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Texas woman has confessed to drugging young girls with melatonin gummies while trafficking them into the US. Vanessa Valadez, 23, of Laredo, pleaded guilty Friday to working with family members to smuggle children under the age of 5 into the country from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, between August and September 2023. La noquiamos con unas gomitas, one of Valdezs co-conspirators wrote in a message alongside an image of a passed-out girl during one operation which translates to we knocked her out with some gummies. Valdez and her family smuggled at least four young girls into the country, according to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), picking them up from a stash house across the border and drugging them before using phoney birth certificates to try to pass them off as family members. After Laredo, the girls were taken deeper into the US and left with unknown people for unknown purposes. Valdez and her conspirators were finally foiled on Sept. 21, 2023, during a routine inspection by border agents. Three of the girls smuggled into the US remain unidentified, and their locations are unknown, HSI said in a statement. Valdezs co-conspirators were Ana Laura Bryand, 47; and her niece Kayla Marie Bryand, 20; Jose Eduardo Bryand, 43; Nancy Guadalupe Bryand, 44; and 32-year-old Lizeth Esmeralda Bryand Arredondo, of Mexico. Each previously pleaded guilty to their part in the sick conspiracy. The shocking confessions come as US border agents are warning that child trafficking is on the rise along the border. Border Patrol sources previously told The Post theyve seen an uptick in smugglers using kids to pose as family units and sometimes see kids turn up at the border multiple times but with different adults each time. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Zimbabwe - A Zimbabwean politician, Happymore Chidziva has been arrested in connection with a r@pe case. The arrest was confirmed on Tuesday, September 24, by Webster Jiti, the lawyer representing the alleged victim. Chidziva, who is married to the aunt of the teenager, is accused of luring the young girl with gifts and later engaging in repeated s3xual acts with her. The arrest followed a formal request from Jiti to the police on September 20, calling for action after the case was first opened late last month. The victims family had initially filed a missing person report at Budiriro police station, claiming that Chidziva was hiding the teenager. Their concerns intensified, leading to the opening of a r@pe docket at Harare Central police station. Chidziva is to appear in court on Wednesday for his initial hearing. Jiti confirmed, "The ZRP has informed me that they have apprehended Chidziva, and the case will proceed to court." Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former South African soldier sentenced to life imprisonment for r@pe and deliberately infecting his girlfriend with HIV. The Pretoria Magistrates Court on Wednesday sentenced a former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) employee, Leon Santos Conga (48) to life imprisonment for r@pe of his girlfriend. He was given an additional 10-year direct imprisonment for attempted m8rder for knowingly exposing and factually infecting his girlfriend with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Conga was found guilty on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The Regional Spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng Division: Pretoria, Lumka Mahanjana in a statement said the court ordered that the sentence should run concurrently. Conga and the victim were in a love relationship for four months, from 16 December 2016 until April 2017. Before the two began their relationship, the victim had done an HIV test on 01 December 2016 which came back HIV negative. When the two started their relationship, the victim raised the HIV conversation and insisted on knowing Congas HIV status. Conga then lied and misled the victim and told her that he was HIV negative hence his employer was able to deploy him outside the country. However, the victim came with the condition in their relationship that no condom no sex. One time when the two were intimate, Conga removed the condom. This apparently happened twice until the victim felt unwell and went to do an HIV test. When the results came back positive, she confronted Conga who denied infecting her.She then reported the matter to the police in May 2017, however the docket was only opened on 09 July 2017. In 2018 after several postponements in court, the matter was withdrawn due to insufficient evidence. However, after investigations and the required evidence was obtained from the SANDF the matter was re-enrolled on 21 August 2021 and Conga appeared in court. During the trial, Conga stated that the condom was removed by the complainant and denied infecting the victim with HIV. However, the state prosecutor, Advocate Emile Van der Merwe called a witness, Professor Terresa Russouw, an HIV expert who testified about the effects of HIV and assisted the state in proving the attempted murder charge. The state also provided evidence which revealed that Conga first tested HIV positive on 08 October 2007, therefore he was aware of his HIV status when he removed the condom and had intercourse with the victim. During the sentencing proceedings, in aggravation of sentence, Advocate Van der Merwe argued that Conga was known to the victim as he served in the military with her brother. She trusted him but he betrayed that trust. Furthermore, Van der Merwe said r@pe is not only a serious violent crime, but it is extremely prevalent therefore, the courts and prosecutions owe it to the community to deal with such matters with the seriousness and devotion it requires. He asked the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment. Advocate Van der Merwe also handed in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) and called the victim to testify in aggravation, where the victim told the court that the man left her with an emotional scar and a permanent trademark which is HIV. Taking antiretroviral treatment (ARV) every night is a constant reminder of the scar he permanently gave her. As such she has anxiety and fears about ever infecting her partner should she be in a relationship or infecting her child should she decide to have a baby. When handing down the sentence, the Regional Magistrate, Ntlati agreed with the state that Conga showed no remorse and that he committed a very serious offence that had devastating effects on the victim and her family. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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. The recent uproar by Ghanaians calling for the release of arrested protesters who were demanding the cessation of galamsey activities by the government has generated numerous talking points on social media, particularly on X. Topics like Kantanga, Sarkodie, Cheddar, Ga Mantse, Ghanaians, #FreeTheYouth, #ReoccupyJulorbiHouse, Nana Addo, #FixTheCountry, Akua Donkor, and NPP and NDC are trending for Thursday, September 26, 2024. Heres a breakdown of why these topics are trending: Katanga The Kantanga fraternity of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has announced plans to embark on a naked demonstration in Accra over the pollution of river bodies by activities of illegal mining. Netizens are supporting them with money to facilitate their travel from Kumasi to Accra. Sarkodie The Ghanaian musician is trending for his silence over recent events in the country, despite allegedly being a harsh critic of the previous John Dramani Mahama administration. Cheddar Nana Kwame Bediako, a presidential candidate widely known as Cheddar, has incurred the anger of netizens following his comments accusing the NDC of orchestrating the #StopGalamsey protests, which have led to the arrest and detention of protesters. Ga Mantse The issue of tribalism among Ghanaians once again has trended with the Ga Mantse for differing reasons. #FreeTheYouth The campaign ad vocating for the release of arrested protesters fighting against galamsey is still trending after 24 hours.Protesters have been remanded for 2 weeks into police and prison custody respectively. Here are some tweets under the trending topics below:

Tertiary institutions must join this fight!

The Twitter boys cant win this galamsey battle alone.

Katanga is ready by the way!

Imagine all of us captured by the police and placed in one cell. We go shit spoil there all.#FreetheCitizens pic.twitter.com/r7P02fbB7w

Katanga Fellowood (@KatangaFellows) September 25, 2024

Conti, Katanga, Casford, Vandals & Ghanaian youth have promised to join the next protest. We should establish a united front right NOW to pick a date & venue to organize the most effective protest in the history of our country. We should NOT let this heat die. #FreetheCitizens pic.twitter.com/BQ9c0Tweve

Hubert (@KwesiHubert) September 26, 2024

We need logistics to bus Fellows from all 16 regions in Ghana to embark on a naked demonstration in Accra!

Who will sponsor us? Kindly message us!#FreeTheCitzens pic.twitter.com/BVjXRCiUvd

Katanga Fellowood (@KatangaFellows) September 25, 2024

We are so proud to set the stage running to demonstrate to safeguard our future.
Its a tough call and its so sad and disheartening to have 6-member executive of our global alumni wanting to stop over 50,000 Katanga alumni from protesting!

Ghana is bigger than their pic.twitter.com/ah9uZF6LaX

Katanga Fellowood (@KatangaFellows) September 25, 2024

Our global alumni president said he is the boss of Ghana Real Estate Company Limited so we should not demonstrate. Hence, has labeled us not legitimate!

Edey funny we sef

Just look at our water now and you are here to dirty play party cards?

Masa, enfa!

Our lives pic.twitter.com/RUOk70cIxL

Katanga Fellowood (@KatangaFellows) September 26, 2024

They said Sarkodie's mouth that he used to say Nana Toaso 4years ago is what has brought wahala for him . pic.twitter.com/rCEp8yz8zz

Headless YouTuber (@HeadlessYouTube) September 25, 2024

He influenced millions of Ghanaians to vote for criminals who arrested pregnant women, asthmatic patients, and children under 13 years old, and they still prevented them from accessing food. In 2020, even Nigerians were protesting, and he supported them. But today, he can't say a pic.twitter.com/hHwBAyeRv2

Tech In Twi (@tech_twi) September 25, 2024

@sarkodie you're quite oooo man the nation is full of surprises no nyinaa? pic.twitter.com/ZDMCi8WejS

MAYEBI (@Mayebi688707) September 26, 2024
Source: Twitter/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. Featured Video Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan has vehemently condemned the Democracy Hub demonstrators over their protest within the enclave of the 37 Military Hospital. The demonstrators who had trooped into the streets in their numbers engaged in violent acts that compelled the Police to arrest over 30 of them. The arrested persons have been arraigned before court. They were apprehended for blocking the road leading to the hospital and other places, removing keys in a Police vehicle and throwing it away without provocation, destroying properties and engaging in other acts of vandalism. Addressing the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Kwamena Duncan described the demonstrators' behavior as "lunatic". Quoting some portions of the constitution that negate their conduct, the former Minister said; "The people decide to embark on a demonstration and display an act of lunacy and we are being told, the proposition is that we should look at the main cause; why they went to the streets. My goodness!...You decide that a registered political party's billboards while doing your demonstration, you decide to break them down, destroy them. "You decide that you're demonstrating, so you will block the road that people are using to their houses and to the hospital for medical treatment and the proposition is that we should not be discussing this matter. We should rather focus on why they went to the streets but who tells you that what they said was driving them to the street was what drove them to the street. Who tells you? What drove them to the streets is what we saw; it's the conduct!" He commended the Police for keeping the demonstration under control. "The steps that have been taken by the Police to arrest these lawless young people, the law must go through the full haul and deal with them." Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bernard Allotey Jacobs has charged the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, not to heed calls on him for a state of emergency over illegal mining. The President has come under pressure from some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and many Ghanaians to declare a state of emergency to stop the illegal mining (galamsey) activities. Galamsey is a major bane of the country with it destroying the water bodies and environment. As a result, the Ghana Water Company has warned of an impending danger saying about Sixty percent (60%) of the catchment capacity is silted as a result of illegal mining (galamsey) compromising the quality of raw water. We are currently recording an average turbidity of 14,000 NTU instead of 2000 NTU designed for adequate treatment. Also, a group calling themselves Democracy Hub took to the streets on Friday, September 20, in a protest dubbed "Stop Galamsey" to register their displeasure with the government for failing to clamp down on galamseyers. Responding to the calls on Nana Akufo-Addo, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, a former NDC Central Regional Chairman, told the President not to declare a state of emergency. "Any declaration of state of emergency in galamsey areas won't work," he said on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former NDC Central Regional Chairman, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has hailed the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare and his officers for restraining themselves despite provocation from the Democracy Hub protesters. The demonstrators who thronged the 37 Military Hospital confronted the Police resulting in the arrest of some of them. Their leader, Oliver Baker-Vormawor, was arrested after he forcibly removed the keys to a Police vehicle, speeding off and throwing it away. Allotey Jacobs, commenting on the misbehavior of the protesters, was full of praise for the IGP and his men for not engaging in brutalities. "The professionalism displayed, I haven't seen it before. For the first time in Ghana Police adminstration and Police crises management, you will never see anything like this. We know what happened at Ejura and many other places where Police are involved in brutalities but nothing of such sort happened" in this current demonstration, he remarked on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show. He further commended the Police administration for resorting to rule of law, stressing "this is what we want for Ghana...It is law that controls a nation and not individuals". 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. Featured Video PNC presidential candidate, Bernard Mornah has been disqualified from the race on December 7 but he has refused to accept the Electoral Commission's verdict. Bernard Mornah was eliminated after the Commission, according to the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, spotted unpardonable mistakes in his nomination forms. He has threatened to sue the EC, revealing in an interview with TV3 that he has "already asked my lawyers, Atuguba and Associates, and they have written to the EC. When we saw some other political parties letter calling for balloting today, I notified my lawyers to write to the EC to find out why we have not been invited. We are talking about EC that has not completed the register and they talking about people. As the PNC flagbearer preps for his legal tussle with the Electoral Commission, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, a social commentator and former Central Regional Chairman of the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, says he sees no way to include Mr. Mornah in the upcoming elections. "What is written is written. What is written is that he will never be part of these elections", he stated on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show. 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. Featured Video Ghanaians have been expressing growing discontent towards the recent demonstrations organized by Democracy Hub, labelling them as politically motivated and closely aligned with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). What began as a protest against illegal mining quickly morphed into a chaotic scene, leading many to question the true intent behind the assembly. The protest, which began on September 21, 2024, aimed to spotlight the government's inability to tackle the illegal mining menace, but it quickly escalated into disruption and vandalism. Following a High Court ruling prohibiting the demonstration at Revolutionary Square, protestors gathered at the 37 Roundabout, where confrontations with police ensued. Commuters faced hours of gridlock, while billboards and political campaign materials were defaced, prompting widespread condemnation. Many observers have noted the strong ties between Democracy Hub and the NDC, suggesting that leading members of the demonstration were once known members of the leading opposition party. "Its clear that these protests are more about scoring political points for the NDC than addressing real issues," stated Samuel Adu, a concerned citizen. "Using public demonstrations as a political tool undermines the seriousness of their claims." The chaos generated by the protests has drawn ire from everyday Ghanaians, who argue that the actions of the demonstrators have overshadowed the important issues they claim to represent. "We all care about the environment and illegal mining, but this kind of behaviour distracts from the real conversation because you cant tell me galamsey only started when the NPP came into power" said Abena Kwakye, a commuter affected by the traffic disruption. "It seems more like a political stunt than a legitimate protest." Local businesses also voiced frustration over the negative impact of the demonstrations on their operations, with many reporting losses due to the resulting chaos. "I support the right to protest, but this is not the way to do it. Its harming our livelihoods," remarked Kofi Mensah, a shop owner near the protest site. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Member of Parliament for Ellembelle Constituency and Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has urged trainee nurses and midwives to prioritise permanents jobs over unpaid allowances. Addressing a joint gathering of students of Essiama Nursing and Midwifery Training College and Asanta SDA Nursing and Midwifery School at Essiama, the Deputy Minority Leader said the government has been dishonest about the payment of the allowances that it promised trainee nurses and midwives. He was speaking during a campaign tour of the vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, to the Ellembelle Constituency on Tuesday. Hon. Buah said even though the vice president, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has been insisting that the government has paid all arrears of allowances of trainee nurses, the reverse is the case. He told the trainee nurses that the NPP government, after failing them, has hatched another plan to harvest their votes by sending them mobile money just before the elections. He advised the students not to fall for the deception and urged them to collect whatever money the government sends them and still vote for John Dramani Mahama and NDC parliamentary candidates in the general elections. The Deputy Minority Leader said the next NDC has elaborate plans to expand and build new healthcare facilities across the country and employ nurses, doctors and other health professionals. Hon. Buah promised to provide free internet connectivity on the campuses of the two nursing and midwifery training colleges in the Ellembelle Constituency. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As part of his commitment to contribute towards the successful campaigns of both Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and Parliamentary Candidates in the Ahafo region, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh has donated seven (7) motorbikes to his home region (Ahafo). Handling over the bikes to the Ahafo regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Tandoh advised that the bikes should be used to facilitate movement during the campaign period. He charged the party folks to work hard for Dr. Bawumia to break the Eight. The Deputy Director General of the GES pledged more support to his home region to attain the agenda 6/6 on December 7th. Chairman Kwabena Owusu Sekyere receiving the keys expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Tandoh for the timely assistance. He assured that the party would leverage the items to ensure victory for the party in the region. He took the opportunity to appeal to other appointees to help the campaign, especially during these critical moments. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Progress Peoples Party (PPP) has condemned the Ghana Police Service and the Judiciary for what the party describes as the high handedness of some protestors who took to the streets on Sunday, September, 22 to demonstrate against the menace of illegal mining. The PPP stated in a letter dated 26th September, 2024, that the Police Service and the Judiciary of Ghana dealt wrongly with the protestors protesting within the remits of the law. A group of demonstrators, otherwise known as the 'Democracy Hub', on Sunday, September 22, embarked on a demonstration across some principal streets in Accra to register their displeasure about the negative impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, thereby calling for the declaration of a state of emergency as a way of putting a stop to all forms of small scale mining. The demonstration saw a turn of events as the police arrested some persons supposed to be flouting the law. However, the PPP maintains that the arrest of minors, as well as a 4-month-old pregnant woman and others who clearly could not have been part of the demonstration as such, was against their fundamental human rights. PPP further expressed disappointment over the inability of the police to clamp down on persons who have been fingered to be the kingpins in galamsey activities rather, they resorted to the arrest of persons who have committed what the PPP describes as minor crimes. "It is even very disappointing that for persons who are alleged to have been engaged in minor offenses like unlawful assembly, an independent Judge decided not to even take their pleas but remanded them into prison and police custody including the 4-month-old pregnant woman and her husband who were simply bystanders but were mistakenly arrested. We call on the Judiciary to be bold to defend the rights of all Ghanaians and the vulnerable. Your browser does not support iframes. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Denkyira Traditional Council has expressed absolute confidence in Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to become President. Welcoming Dr. Bawumia to Duayaw Nkwanta on Wednesday, the Traditional Council, in a speech read by Nana Kwame Nkrumah II, said Dr. Bawumia has been blessed and no one can stop it. "Who the Lord has blessed, no one can destroy", Nana Kwame Nkrumah II said. He continued; "Your presence here is a blessing for all of us...The first sign of blessings you have brought to us is the rain. We have not seen the rains here for sometime now but today that you have been here, God has opened the Heavens for the rains to fall to coincide with your visit which is indeed a sign of blessings. It signifies victory." The Denkyira Traditional Council also commended Dr. Bawumia for his conduct and decency in his campaign. "Since you were elected flagbearer, we have noticed the decency in your communication. You do not insult. You are always talking about your policies and preaching against indecent comments...We have not heard you insulted anyone since you started your campaign and this shows that indeed you are a man of wisdom who thinks deeply." The Council added; "You are humble and you have lots of respect for the elderly and for everybody. May God bless you more." The Chiefs further applauded President Nana Akufo-Addo for his good works, particularly regarding the Free SHS policy. 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. Featured Video The Denkyira Traditional Council has applauded Vice President and presidential candidate of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia over his good conduct and decency exhibited in his campaign. Welcoming Dr. Bawumia to Dunkwa-On-Offin on Wednesday, the Denkyira Traditional Council said they have observed Dr. Bawumia's campaign focuses on issues and not mixed with insults. "Since you were elected flagbearer, we have noticed the decency in your communication. You do not insult. You are always talking about your policies and preaching against indecent comments", Nana Kwame Nkrumah II said on behalf of the Council. The Council stressed "we have not heard you insult anyone since you started your campaign and this shows that indeed you are a man of wisdom who thinks deeply...You are humble and you have lots of respect for the elderly and for everybody. May God bless you more." They also complimented the New Patriotic Party under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for their good works and development projects. The Council was of a firm belief that the December 7 elections will favor the party and their flagbearer, Dr. Bawumia. "Who the Lord has blessed, no one can destroy", they established. 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. Featured Video Elon Musk has denied having an affair with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after pictures of them together were shared online. Pictures shared online showed the Tesla founder and the Italian Prime Minister gazing into each other's eyes at the Global Citizen Awards in New York City on Monday as Musk handed Meloni the titular award. 'Find someone who looks at you the same way the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks at Elon Musk,' one X user wrote, sharing a photo of Musk touching Meloni's shoulder. 'You can't have mELONi without ELON,' another added. Meanwhile, Musk quickly denied having any romantic relationship with Meloni at the black-tie event. 'I was there with my Mom. There is no romantic relationship whatsoever with PM Meloni,' Musk wrote on X in response to a post of a photo showing them gazing into each other's eyes at a banquet table, which had the joking caption, 'We all know what happened next.' Musk and Meloni have met several times before, with the Italian prime minister hosting the billionaire at her official residence in Rome in June of last year. "Someone who is even more beautiful on the inside than She is on the outside." -Elon Musk to Giorgia Meloni. pic.twitter.com/7iYfY1FWMG SMX (@iam_smx) September 24, 2024 Elon Musk meets Prime Minister of Italy, Georgia Meloni. pic.twitter.com/HDkDVLXkIU SMX (@iam_smx) June 20, 2024 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Soi dog has sent a team to Chiang Rai to assess the food needs of pets affected by the floods. They are working with local authorities to distribute food and provide relief to animals in need. Soi dog has gone to the field to distribute food for 7,650 dogs and cats affected by the flooding in Chiang Rai province. Soi dog staff, in collaboration with the Chiang Rai Livestock Office, have conducted on-site assessments and discovered numerous pets trapped in flood-affected homes, awaiting rescue and sustenance. Among the cases they encountered were four cats stranded in a flooded house without food or water, as well as a cat trapped on a balcony with no way to escape. Soi dog provided food supplies and assessed the situation, coordinating with local authorities to determine the exact number of affected dogs and cats. According to reports, 7,650 animals were in need of assistance, and Soi dog has successfully distributed sufficient food to meet their requirements. Furthermore, the foundation has been following up on previously rescued cases to ensure the continued well-being and safety of the animals. The Soi dog officials on the ground have already distributed some pet food to the affected dogs and cats while assessing the situation and coordinating with local authorities in all disaster-stricken areas to confirm the number of pets in need. This information will help ensure that sufficient food is prepared and delivered for these animals. Furthermore, the Soi dog staff are following up on previously assisted cases to ensure that the rescued dogs and cats are safe and in good condition. Piyapong, a resident of the Army Welfare Housing Project in Rim Kok subdistrict, Mueang district, Chiang Rai, who was affected by the flood and owns four cats that were rescued by Soi dog, saying, The floodwaters rose so rapidly. I could only salvage what I could by placing them on higher ground. But the water kept rising, and the current was incredibly strong. For two days, I desperately tried to find a way to rescue my cats. I was heartbroken, but when Soi dog arrived, I felt a huge sense of relief. As I approached my flooded home, I called out to my cats. If they hadnt responded, I would have been devastated. Thankfully, they meowed back, and finding them alive filled me with joy. It was worth all the sleepless nights. Now that theyre safe and sound, I can finally relax. The loss of my belongings pales in comparison to the joy of having my cats back. Mr. Saranyu, a Soi dog staff member, described the devastating scene, saying, The reality was far worse than what we saw on the news. People had lost everything their homes, their vehicles. Soi dog like a stranger to the local community, but when we give them helping, they welcomed us warmly, offering us food and water. Local officials, provided us with valuable information and coordinated with other agencies to facilitate our efforts in helping the animals in the area. As we left the flood-affected area, the water level had receded but was still unstable. However, we knew that the assistance we had provided had given hope to the local people. It empowered them to face the challenges ahead, knowing that they were not alone. At least, they no longer had to worry about their pets food, because Soi dog already help them this. Another heartwarming aspect of this experience was the strong sense of community and compassion among the Thai people. Whether it was pet owners, rescue worker, or government agencies, everyone came together to help the animals in need. It was truly a humbling experience.The list of agencies that Soi dog has provided food assistance for dogs and cats totals 30 tons, distributed to the following organizations: Chiang Rai Provincial Livestock Office, Mueang Chiang Mai, Tanbon Mae Yao, Bandu Subdistrict Municipality Office, Mae Khao Tom Subdistrict Municipality Office, Rim Kok Subdistrict Municipality Office, Mae Sai Subdistrict Municipality Office, Koh Chang Subdistrict Municipality Office, Si Mueang Chum Subdistrict Municipality Office, Wiang Phang Kham Subdistrict Municipality Office, Mae Sai Mittaphab Subdistrict Municipality Office, Ban Dai Subdistrict Municipality Office and Opportunity for Change Foundation. Soi dog would like to extend its support to all those affected by the disaster. We express our condolences for the losses you have experienced and thank everyone for their encouragement and support in helping the animals affected by the flooding in Chiang Rai. 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: CC0 Public Domain Chesapeake Bay cleanup is behind schedule but "going in the right direction," largely because Pennsylvania has stepped up efforts to curb the flow of fertilizer and other runoff into bay tributaries, an Environmental Protection Agency official told Maryland lawmakers. "To Marylandersas a Marylanderthe most important bay issue is Pennsylvania. And I'm pleased to say that Pennsylvania has been stepping up investing in small farms and investing in wastewater treatment plants," Adam Ortiz, an EPA regional administrator, said at the U.S. Capitol. Ortiz addressed reporters after briefing Democratic Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, as well as members of the state's U.S. House delegation, about bay cleanup. The lawmakers met as a 2025 federal deadline for the cleanup of the bay looms. The goal is reducing the runoff of harmful nutrients and sediment into the nation's largest estuary. Cardin said that 2025 "was the year that was targeted in 2014 for the goals of the last bay agreement. We know that we're not going to hit our targets that were set in 2014." But he said he was encouraged that progress is being made and the objective now "is to maintain the momentum for the bay program." In July, the bay got its best score in 20 years in an annual report card produced by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The bay received a C+ for its ecological health, considering factors such as aquatic grasses, dissolved oxygen and nutrient content. "I know that nobody would be thrilled with bringing home a grade of C+ but the fact of the matter is, it is the highest grade we've seen in a long time," Van Hollen said. "I want to stress the fact that if we weren't doing all the things that we're doing, we would be falling back fast." Pennsylvania has long been criticized by other states and environmental advocates for hindering the cleanup effort. Some argue the state has failed to rein in its farms and animal feeding operations, which contribute fertilizer and animal waste runoff to bay tributaries. But Ortiz said Wednesday, "The higher grade that the Chesapeake Bay has received is mostly driven by progress upstream in Pennsylvania. That's a big deal." 2024 Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain What do Venice, Jakarta, Manilla and Bangkok have in common? They are or were sinking cities. Wageningen researcher Philip Minderhoud studies the causes of subsidence in these cities. Groundwater extraction plays an important part in all cases. The good news is that this can be avoided. The best-known example of a sinking city is Jakarta. Large sections of the Indonesian city have dropped by three to four meters since the '80s, and continue to do so by up to ten centimeters annually. Some 40% of the city is below sea level, prompting the Indonesian government to move the capital to Kalimantan. Sinking cities are mainly the result of groundwater extraction, says Minderhoud. Tragically, in the case of Jakarta, this cause has been ignored for many years. "A professor of tectonics in Jakarta claimed that subterranean tectonic shifts were causing the subsidence. This may, indeed, cause subsidence, but the effect of groundwater extraction was not sufficiently considered," Minderhoud notes. The fact that water extraction delivers clean drinking water and drives economic development, and as such, benefits many may have contributed, says Minderhoud. "Although it is technically simple to stop extracting groundwater, doing so is a socioeconomic challenge." Succumbed to the sea Minderhoud has studied subsidence in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam for a decade. "There, subsidence has been accelerating in recent years by some 7 cm per year. This acceleration can be attributed to groundwater extraction, which benefits cities and agriculture," he explains. The same pattern is seen in deltas in India. He also contributes to studies in the coastal areas surrounding Manila in the Philippines, and adds, "There, the soil drops by 10 to 12 centimeters per year. Part of the coastal region is already submerged. Several villages have already succumbed to the sea and have been abandoned." Minderhoud explains that the local population is often unaware of the subsidence: "They see rising water levels and experience more floods during spring tides and typhoons. They assume sea levels are rising, but that is not the main cause. The key lies in subsidence in these cases." Strict policy According to Minderhoud, this can be perceived as good news. Global sea water levels rising due to climate change are something that local governments can hardly influence. However, subsidence resulting from human interventions can be reduced or even stopped. There are some striking examples. The Japanese capital, Tokyo, dropped four meters in the last century due to subsidence. The subsidence was halted when the local authorities implemented a strict water policy, constructing water reservoirs around the city and all but ceasing water extraction. Similar measures taken in Bangkok (Thailand) halted subsidence. "Bangkok was sinking by some ten cm per year when the director of the water management institute took a bold decision," Minderhoud explains. "Despite protests, he decided to shut down many pumps and levy hefty taxes on the extraction of groundwater. Strict enforcement was also introduced. The city invested in alternative water sources. All of these measures have stabilized the situation in Bangkok. A true story of success." Venice also managed to get a grip on subsidence. The world heritage site in the Italian lagoon was sinking due to a combination of compaction of sediments and water extraction beneath the city. The city's administration stopped extracting groundwater and now acquires its drinking water from the Italian mainland. As a result, Venice now sinks by only one millimeter per year. The Netherlands, an exception The Dutch delta is also sinking. However, groundwater extraction plays no part in this fact. In the Dutch peat fields region, subsidence is caused by drainage and pumping of the polders, which causes the water levels in the peat field areas to be artificially lowered. Hence, surface water levels and the management thereof play a crucial role in subsidence in the Netherlands, making this country an exception to the rule that subsidence is chiefly the result of groundwater extraction, Minderhoud says, noting, "Therefore, investigating the causes on the spot is of the essence, as is exchanging knowledge." This approach is taken more and more often. Vietnam is to organize the first UN conference on river deltas next year, at which Minderhoud will deliver a presentation on sinking cities and deltas. According to the scientist, research is needed to identify and prevent subsidence in coastal areas sooner. He is currently involved in a research project in West Africa. "There, the urban population increase in coastal cities is enormous. As a result, more groundwater is extracted, and the first signs of subsidence in metropolises such as Lagos are showing. Mapping the causes and solutions may enable us to nip it in the bud," he states. Climate panel Minderhoud will also make the IPCC climate panel aware of his research. To date, the climate panel only reports on rising sea levels. Still, Minderhoud feels that soil subsidence in coastal areas should be included to achieve a comprehensive view of the issues for the benefit of governments: "We should make projections of subsidence similar to the IPCC projections of sea level increase to provide a clear view of the challenges we face. Additionally, we may draft options for action to prevent subsidence in and around urban areas in lower coastal regions." This is far from easy, as Minderhoud's experience in Vietnam has shown. The country drafted the Mekong Delta Plan with WUR's help a decade ago. In it, nature-based solutions replaced the traditional solution of building dikes. The nature-based approach allows more flooding in the delta so that the sediment deposits can cushion the effects of the rising sea levels. But this alone will not suffice, says Minderhoud. "There is not enough sediment available to elevate the delta, partly due to the many dams in the Mekong. The soil subsidence in the region is more extensive and faster." The delta plan has since been detailed to indicate that economic development may not contribute to soil subsidence. "But combating subsidence is a point of attention in the plan and not a point of departure," the researcher says. That is fighting a running battle. In his view, the Mekong Delta, like Bangkok, requires an effective implementation of new policies restricting water extraction. "An unpleasant message in a coastal region facing salination and drying out. But the alternative invites much graver issues in the long run." 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: Habitus of Flammarionellahehaikuni Cai, Ballantyne & Kundrata, 2024, from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Credit: NIGPAS Bioluminescence, the ability of living organisms to emit light, is a fascinating phenomenon observed in various life forms, including deep-sea fish, glowing mushrooms, and fireflies. Fireflies have long captivated people with their enchanting light displays, sparking scientific curiosity. Recently, Prof. Cai Chenyang and colleagues from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS) and their international collaborators described the second known firefly fossil from the Mesozoic, found in Burmese amber. This discovery is significant for understanding the evolution of firefly bioluminescence and key traits. The research is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. In today's terrestrial ecosystems, most bioluminescent organisms belong to the order Coleoptera (beetles), particularly the superfamily Elateroidea (click beetles, fireflies, and their relatives). Among Elateroidea, a majority of bioluminescent species are part of the "lampyroid" clade, which includes the families Lampyridae (fireflies), Phengodidae, Rhagophthalmidae, and Sinopyrophoridae. Most species within these families have soft bodies, and some females exhibit neoteny, making it difficult to find fossils. Firefly fossils from the Mesozoic era are extremely rare, with only one example previously reported. In 2021, Prof. Cai's research team discovered a new family of Elateroidea in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, named Cretophengodidae, representing a transitional stage in the early evolution of lampyroids. Morphological details of Flammarionellahehaikuni. Credit: NIGPAS In collaboration with researchers from the University of Cambridge, University of Bristol, Charles Sturt University, the American Museum of Natural History, and Palacky University, Cai and his colleagues identified a well-preserved female firefly from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, approximately 100 million years old. This represents a new genus and species, Flammarionellahehaikuni Cai, Ballantyne, & Kundrata, 2024. Based on morphological analysis, the fossil was classified within the basal lineage of the subfamily Luciolinae (Lampyridae). This species' antennae feature distinctive oval-shaped sensory receptors on segments 3 to 11, likely specialized olfactory organs. The light-emitting organ near the tip of the abdomen closely resembles those of modern Luciolinae fireflies, demonstrating evolutionary stability in this trait. Together with previously discovered bioluminescent beetles from Cretaceous amber, this study highlights the morphological diversity of light-emitting organs in the Mesozoic era, greatly enhancing our understanding of the evolutionary history of bioluminescence in Elateroidea. Future fossil discoveries are expected to further illuminate the evolution and mechanisms behind insect bioluminescence in the Mesozoic. More information: Chenyang Cai et al, A light in the dark: a mid-Cretaceous bioluminescent firefly with specialized antennal sensory organs, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1671 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B 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: CC0 Public Domain The number of days per year that are simultaneously extremely hot, dry, and have a high fire risk have as much as tripled since 1970 in some parts of South America. South America is warming at a similar rate to the global average. However, some regions of the subcontinent are more at risk of the co-occurrence of multiple climate extremes. These compound extremes can have amplified impacts on ecosystems, economy, and human health. Raul Cordero and colleagues calculated the number of days per year that each approximately 30 by 30 km grid cell on the South American continent experienced simultaneous hot, dry, and flammable extremes between 19712022. The results are published in Communications Earth & Environment. Extremes for each condition were calculated from daily maximum temperature records, 30-day rainfall averages, and daily fire weather index records. The authors found that the frequency of these simultaneous extremes had increased across the entire continent. There were particularly high increasesfrom fewer than 20, to as many as 70 days per yeararound the VenezuelaColombia border, in the northern Amazon, and in the north of the Rio de la Plata basin in central South America. The authors also found that there was an increase in the variability of these simultaneous events from year to year over the past five decades. The authors additionally found that the likelihood of the compound conditions occurring on a regional basis was affected by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. During the warm El Nino phase, fire risk increased in the northern Amazon region, while the cooler La Nina phase led to increased fire risk in central South America. The authors caution that increased fire activity and dry extremes are both a public health hazard and can cause further warming through the release of black carbon to the atmosphere. They also highlight that these extreme events disproportionally affect vulnerable rural and indigenous populations, and suggest that policymakers in the region should have a greater focus on mitigating these extremes. Provided by Springer 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: CC0 Public Domain The five largest continental transform earthquakes since 2000 all originated on a branch of the main faultand two researchers predict that the next great earthquake of this type will also get its start on a branch or splay fault. Last year's magnitude 7.8 Pazarck earthquake in Turkiye was one of these large and damaging earthquakes, where two continental tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. That earthquake began on a branch fault, as did the 2001 magnitude 7.8 Kokoxili earthquake in northern Tibet, the 2002 magnitude 7.9 Denali earthquake in Alaska, the 2008 magnitude 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake in China, and the 2016 magnitude 7.8 Kaikoura earthquake in New Zealand. There are about 25,000 kilometers of continental transform faults across the globe, including some famous ones such as the San Andreas Fault, New Zealand's Alpine Fault and Turkiye's North Anatolia Fault. When their time comes to rupture, will they begin on a branch? In Seismological Research Letters, Ross Stein of Temblor, Inc. and Peter Bird of the University of California, Los Angeles propose that branch faults act as "on-ramps" to generate rupture on the more mature "superhighway" continental transform faults. At the moment, Stein and Bird's prediction is a hypothesis that needs more testing, they acknowledge. But magnitude 7.8 or larger earthquakes take place every two to five years on average on these faults, so we shouldn't have too long to wait to see if their prediction holds up. "This is testable in about 10 years," said Stein. The findings could be useful to adapting earthquake early warning systems and might change which faults are now instrumented and monitored, he added. The 2023 Turkiye earthquake prompted the researchers to consider the question of where and how great continental transform earthquakes originate. "It just seemed so bizarre that a magnitude 7.8 earthquake could start on a little wannabe fault it would be nobody's candidate for something important," Stein recalled. "So it raised the question: is this just a freak earthquake or is this telling us something about how earthquakes begin?" The researchers looked back through the past 25 years of magnitude 7.8 or larger continental transform earthquakes, finding that the five largest nucleated on branch faults. They also identified a few other earthquakes of that magnitude that might have started on a branch faultincluding the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that devastated San Francisco in 1906. Branch faults were not the origin of some slightly smaller earthquakes, however, including the 1990 magnitude 7.7 Luzon earthquake in the Philippines and the 2013 magnitude 7.7 Balochistan earthquake in Pakistan, Stein and Bird concluded. In their paper, the researchers discuss why large earthquakes might not begin on the main transform fault itself, and how branch faults could initiate a rupture. The cumulative slip along continental transform faults "smash and shear rocks within a zone about 100 meters wide around the fault," Stein explained, forming a type of rock called cataclastite. The fractured and chewed-up rock allows rupture at very low shear stress levels, mitigating the buildup of stress that would lead to a large earthquake. Cataclastite has a lot of pore space between rock grains that could be filled with fluids. If an earthquake were to start on an "on-ramp" branch fault, the researchers propose, the abrupt heat generated by shearing rocks could "suddenly heat up those fluids, which then expand, and it could make the fault suddenly very slippery," transforming it into a rupture superhighway, Stein said. "What might make these branch fault ruptures effective in triggering something huge is if they rupture at supershear velocity," he added. If the branch fault ruptures at supershear velocitywhere the rupture itself is moving faster than the strongest seismic waves"it could come flying into the main fault at high velocity and kick the main fault hard all at once," Stein said. Stein and Bird said all parts of their proposal should be tested going forward, especially since it's unclear why branch faults might jump-start some continental transform fault earthquakes but not others. The seismic networks that monitor faults are usually most robust along main faults "because we often think that earthquakes begin on the fault that ultimately slips," Stein said. But if Stein and Bird's hypothesis is correct, "we need to take in a broader area," he noted. "All these mangy wannabe faults that we pretty much ignore as candidates for big earthquakes actually could be very important." More information: Ross S. Stein et al, Why Do Great Continental Transform Earthquakes Nucleate on Branch Faults?, Seismological Research Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1785/0220240175 Journal information: Seismological Research Letters This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Olmsted (STScI) In a surprise finding, astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have discovered that the blowtorch-like jet from a supermassive black hole at the core of a huge galaxy seems to cause stars to erupt along its trajectory. The stars, called novae, are not caught inside the jet, but are apparently in a dangerous neighborhood nearby. The research is published on the arXiv preprint server. The finding confounds researchers searching for an explanation. "We don't know what's going on, but it's just a very exciting finding," said lead author Alec Lessing of Stanford University. "This means there's something missing from our understanding of how black hole jets interact with their surroundings." A nova erupts in a double-star system where an aging, swelled-up, normal star spills hydrogen onto a burned-out white dwarf companion star. When the dwarf has tanked up a mile-deep surface layer of hydrogen that layer explodes like a giant nuclear bomb. The white dwarf isn't destroyed by the nova eruption, which ejects its surface layer and then goes back to siphoning fuel from its companion, and the nova-outburst cycle starts over again. Hubble found twice as many novae going off near the jet as elsewhere in the giant galaxy during the surveyed time period. The jet is launched by a 6.5-billion-solar-mass central black hole surrounded by a disk of swirling matter. The black hole, engorged with infalling matter, launches a 3000-light-year-long jet of plasma blazing through space at nearly the speed of light. Anything caught in the energetic beam would be sizzled. But being near its blistering outflow is apparently also risky, according to the new Hubble findings. Plotting the location of Hubble Space Telescope observations of novae exploding stars in the giant elliptical galaxy M87. The galaxys most notable feature is a 3,000-light-year-long jet of plasma ejected from a supermassive central black hole. Hubble observations identified numerous novae in the jets vicinity. These are identified by red circles that turn white when a nova explodes. Stars seem to explode more frequently in the jet's vicinity. The jet may be pushing interstellar hydrogen toward neighboring stars, enhancing the stellar fueling process that increases the rate of explosions. When the entire galaxy is photometrically surveyed fewer novae appear farther away from the jet. NASA, ESA, Joseph DePasquale (STScI) The finding of twice as many novae near the jet implies that there are twice as many nova-forming double-star systems near the jet or that these systems erupt twice as often as similar systems elsewhere in the galaxy. "There's something that the jet is doing to the star systems that wander into the surrounding neighborhood. Maybe the jet somehow snowplows hydrogen fuel onto the white dwarfs, causing them to erupt more frequently," said Lessing. "But it's not clear that it's a physical pushing. It could be the effect of the pressure of the light emanating from the jet. When you deliver hydrogen faster, you get eruptions faster. Something might be doubling the mass transfer rate onto the white dwarfs near the jet." Another idea the researchers considered is that the jet is heating the dwarf's companion star, causing it to overflow further and dump more hydrogen onto the dwarf. However, the researchers calculated that this heating is not nearly large enough to have this effect. "We're not the first people who've said that it looks like there's more activity going on around the M87 jet," said co-investigator Michael Shara of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. "But Hubble has shown this enhanced activity with far more examples and statistical significance than we ever had before." Shortly after Hubble's launch in 1990, astronomers used its first-generation Faint Object Camera (FOC) to peer into the center of M87 where the monster black hole lurks. They noted that unusual things were happening around the black hole. A Hubble photo of galaxy M87. Credit: NASA, ESA, A. Lessing (Stanford University), E. Baltz (Stanford University), M. Shara (AMNH), J. DePasquale (STScI) Almost every time Hubble looked, astronomers saw bluish "transient events" that could be evidence for novae popping off like camera flashes from nearby paparazzi. But the FOC's view was so narrow that Hubble astronomers couldn't look away from the jet to compare with the near-jet region. For over two decades, the results remained mysteriously tantalizing. Compelling evidence for the jet's influence on the stars of the host galaxy was collected over a nine-month interval when Hubble observed with newer, wider-view cameras to count the erupting novae. This was a challenge for the telescope's observing schedule because it required revisiting M87 precisely every five days for another snapshot. Adding up all of the M87 images led to the deepest images of M87 that have ever been taken. Hubble found 94 novae in the one-third of M87 that its camera can encompass. "The jet was not the only thing that we were looking atwe were looking at the entire inner galaxy. Once you plotted all known novae on top of M87 you didn't need statistics to convince yourself that there is an excess of novae along the jet. This is not rocket science. We made the discovery simply by looking at the images. And while we were really surprised, our statistical analyses of the data confirmed what we clearly saw," said Shara. "We are witnessing an intriguing but puzzling phenomenon," commented Chiara Circosta, an ESA Research Fellow, who studies the impact that accreting supermassive blackholes have on the galaxies hosting them in the distant universe. "I was very surprised by this discovery. Such detailed observations of nearby galaxies are precious to expand our understanding of how jets interact with their host galaxies and potentially affect star formation." This accomplishment is entirely due to Hubble's unique capabilities. Ground-based telescope images do not have the clarity to see novae deep inside M87. They cannot resolve stars or stellar eruptions close to the galaxy's core because the black hole's surroundings are far too bright. Only Hubble can detect novae against the bright M87 background. Novae are remarkably common in the universe. One nova erupts somewhere in M87 every day. But since there are at least 100 billion galaxies throughout the visible universe, around one million novae erupt every second somewhere out there. More information: Alec M. Lessing et al, A 9-Month Hubble Space Telescope Near-UV Survey of M87. II. A Strongly Enhanced Nova Rate near the Jet of M87, The Astrophysical Journal DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad70b7 , iopscience.iop.org/article/10. 847/1538-4357/ad70b7 . On arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2309.16856 Journal information: arXiv 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: Streets in Glucholazy, southern Poland, flooded in September 2024. With typhoon Yagi battering Asia, storm Boris drenching parts of Europe, extreme flooding in the Sahel and hurricane Helene racing towards Florida, September so far has been a very wet month. But while scientists can link some extreme weather events directly to human-caused global warming, it remains too early to draw clear conclusions about this sodden month. "You will always have some sort of extreme weather events, but their intensity has been magnified by global warming, especially in the context of rainfall," Paulo Ceppi from Imperial College London's Grantham Institute told AFP on Thursday. "That's probably one of the common drivers of these different events in very different parts of the world." Early indications from monthly data show some record-breaking precipitation levels in the regions affected. In central Europe, the torrential rains accompanying storm Boris were "the heaviest ever recorded" in the region, according to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network of scientists, inundating homes and farmland. Global warming has doubled the likelihood of severe four-day downpours since the pre-industrial era and the costs of climate change are "accelerating", WWA said in a report published Wednesday. Meanwhile in Japan's city of Wajima, more than 120 millimeters (4.7 inches) of rainfall per hour was recorded on the morning of September 21the heaviest rain since comparative data became available in 1929. Hotter, and wetter? "Attributing different weather patterns around the world at the same time to climate change is very challenging," said Liz Stephens, science lead at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center. "But the fundamental principle remains that for every 1 degree Celsius of warming the atmosphere can hold seven percent more moisture," she told AFP. A farmer salvages their harvest from a flooded ricefield in Hanoi's Chuong My district on September 24, 2024 following serious flooding in Vietnam in the wake of Typhoon Yagi. With global warming on track to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times "you can do the math pretty quickly and that will have a measurable impact," said Ceppi from the Grantham Institute. The 2024 northern summer saw the highest global temperatures ever recorded, beating last year's record, according to the EU's climate monitor Copernicus. A hotter planet, in other words, could also signal a wetter one. The sweltering summer in the Mediterranean this year "gives a lot of extra evaporation, pumping more water vapor into Europe if the conditions are right and allowing for all that moisture to be dumped in certain places," Ceppi said. "The global temperaturesboth over the land and the oceanwere anomalously high during August-September despite La Nina-like conditions evolving in the Pacific," Roxy Mathew Koll at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology told AFP. "Anomalously high temperatures assist in supplying additional heat and moisture for storms and weather systems to intensify." La Nina refers to a naturally-occurring climate phenomenon that cools the ocean surface temperatures in large swathes of the tropical Pacific Ocean, coupled with winds, rains and changes in atmospheric pressure. In many locations, especially in the tropics, La Nina produces the opposite climate impacts to El Nino, which heats up the surface of the oceans, leading to drought in some parts of the world and triggering heavy downpours elsewhere. Currently, "neutral" conditions prevail, meaning neither El Nino nor La Nina are present. Large swaths of South America and Southern Africa suffered from drought in 2024. The global September update from Copernicus is due early next month and will provide hard data on precipitation levels. 2024 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: Optical implementation. Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2408.05629 Deep-learning models are being used in many fields, from health care diagnostics to financial forecasting. However, these models are so computationally intensive that they require the use of powerful cloud-based servers. This reliance on cloud computing poses significant security risks, particularly in areas like health care, where hospitals may be hesitant to use AI tools to analyze confidential patient data due to privacy concerns. To tackle this pressing issue, MIT researchers have developed a security protocol that leverages the quantum properties of light to guarantee that data sent to and from a cloud server remain secure during deep-learning computations. By encoding data into the laser light used in fiber optic communications systems, the protocol exploits the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, making it impossible for attackers to copy or intercept the information without detection. Moreover, the technique guarantees security without compromising the accuracy of the deep-learning models. In tests, the researchers demonstrated that their protocol could maintain 96% accuracy while ensuring robust security measures. "Deep learning models like GPT-4 have unprecedented capabilities but require massive computational resources. "Our protocol enables users to harness these powerful models without compromising the privacy of their data or the proprietary nature of the models themselves," says Kfir Sulimany, an MIT postdoc in the Research Laboratory for Electronics (RLE) and lead author of a paper posted to the arXiv preprint server on this security protocol. Sulimany is joined on the paper by Sri Krishna Vadlamani, an MIT postdoc; Ryan Hamerly, a former postdoc now at NTT Research, Inc.; Prahlad Iyengar, an electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) graduate student; and senior author Dirk Englund, a professor in EECS, principal investigator of the Quantum Photonics and Artificial Intelligence Group and of RLE. The research was recently presented at the Annual Conference on Quantum Cryptography (Qcrypt 2024). A two-way street for security in deep learning The cloud-based computation scenario the researchers focused on involves two partiesa client that has confidential data, like medical images, and a central server that controls a deep learning model. The client wants to use the deep-learning model to make a prediction, such as whether a patient has cancer based on medical images, without revealing information about the patient. In this scenario, sensitive data must be sent to generate a prediction. However, during the process the patient data must remain secure. Also, the server does not want to reveal any parts of the proprietary model that a company like OpenAI spent years and millions of dollars building. "Both parties have something they want to hide," adds Vadlamani. In digital computation, a bad actor could easily copy the data sent from the server or the client. Quantum information, on the other hand, cannot be perfectly copied. The researchers leverage this property, known as the no-cloning principle, in their security protocol. For the researchers' protocol, the server encodes the weights of a deep neural network into an optical field using laser light. A neural network is a deep-learning model that consists of layers of interconnected nodes, or neurons, that perform computation on data. The weights are the components of the model that do the mathematical operations on each input, one layer at a time. The output of one layer is fed into the next layer until the final layer generates a prediction. The server transmits the network's weights to the client, which implements operations to get a result based on their private data. The data remain shielded from the server. At the same time, the security protocol allows the client to measure only one result, and it prevents the client from copying the weights because of the quantum nature of light. Once the client feeds the first result into the next layer, the protocol is designed to cancel out the first layer so the client can't learn anything else about the model. "Instead of measuring all the incoming light from the server, the client only measures the light that is necessary to run the deep neural network and feed the result into the next layer. Then the client sends the residual light back to the server for security checks," Sulimany explains. Due to the no-cloning theorem, the client unavoidably applies tiny errors to the model while measuring its result. When the server receives the residual light from the client, the server can measure these errors to determine if any information was leaked. Importantly, this residual light is proven to not reveal the client data. A practical protocol Modern telecommunications equipment typically relies on optical fibers to transfer information because of the need to support massive bandwidth over long distances. Because this equipment already incorporates optical lasers, the researchers can encode data into light for their security protocol without any special hardware. When they tested their approach, the researchers found that it could guarantee security for server and client while enabling the deep neural network to achieve 96% accuracy. The tiny bit of information about the model that leaks when the client performs operations amounts to less than 10% of what an adversary would need to recover any hidden information. Working in the other direction, a malicious server could only obtain about 1% of the information it would need to steal the client's data. "You can be guaranteed that it is secure in both waysfrom the client to the server and from the server to the client," Sulimany says. "A few years ago, when we developed our demonstration of distributed machine learning inference between MIT's main campus and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, it dawned on me that we could do something entirely new to provide physical-layer security, building on years of quantum cryptography work that had also been shown on that testbed," says Englund. "However, there were many deep theoretical challenges that had to be overcome to see if this prospect of privacy-guaranteed distributed machine learning could be realized. This didn't become possible until Kfir joined our team, as Kfir uniquely understood the experimental as well as theory components to develop the unified framework underpinning this work." In the future, the researchers want to study how this protocol could be applied to a technique called federated learning, where multiple parties use their data to train a central deep-learning model. It could also be used in quantum operations, rather than the classical operations they studied for this work, which could provide advantages in both accuracy and security. "This work combines in a clever and intriguing way techniques drawing from fields that do not usually meet, in particular, deep learning and quantum key distribution. By using methods from the latter, it adds a security layer to the former, while also allowing for what appears to be a realistic implementation. "This can be interesting for preserving privacy in distributed architectures. I am looking forward to seeing how the protocol behaves under experimental imperfections and its practical realization," says Eleni Diamanti, a CNRS research director at Sorbonne University in Paris, who was not involved with this work. More information: Kfir Sulimany et al, Quantum-secure multiparty deep learning, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2408.05629 Journal information: arXiv This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A helicopter sprays water over a bushfire on a hill in Quito on September 25, 2024. Firefighters in Ecuador's capital were battling the remnants of major forest fires on Thursday that had sent massive plumes of smoke above Quito earlier this week, amid a record drought. Helicopters dumped water to extinguish the flames at two burning sites that remained from about 30 fires, which had devastated 140 hectares of forest on the outskirts of the Andean capital since Tuesday. "Normality is beginning to be restored in the capital city," Mayor Pabel Munoz told local media, adding that he was confident the remaining fires would be extinguished by Friday morning. However, he warned there was always the risk of the flames rekindling as hot summer winds in the capital can reach up to 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour. The blazes injured six people, including a baby and two firefighters. They also destroyed at least seven homes in the humble neighborhood Bolanos, whose residents scrambled to save their pigs, chickens and sheep. Authorities said they believed the fires were started by arsonists, and on Wednesday a 19-year-old man was arrested for starting one of the fires after being found with a gallon of fuel. After declaring a state of emergency in Quito, the mayor is seeking to negotiate loans of $500,000 for the reconstruction of affected properties and the recovery of flora. "We have lost many trees, a lot of vegetation," said Munoz. From Ecuador to Brazil, many Latin American nations are gripped by their worst drought in decades, fueling a blistering fire season that has set residents and governments on edge. The Ecuadoran government is considering a nationwide state of emergency due to its worst drought in six decades which has also devastated crop production. Due to the dry spell, the country, which depends on hydroelectric power, is facing severe energy shortages and has implemented rolling blackouts. "The phenomena of climate change are more aggressive and this is what we are experiencing at the moment," Environment Minister Inez Manzano told a local broadcaster. 2024 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: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Technology is often seen as a threat to democracy, with the surge in AI capabilities the latest big concern. This historic year of elections has put the complex relationship between technology and democracy on full display. All eyes are currently on the upcoming elections in the U.S., with recent assassination attempts highlighting the deep divisions in the world's most powerful democracy. Many have blamed social media for supercharging this polarization, with AI increasingly used to spread disinformation on these platforms. But, instead of dividing, could "pro-democratic" social technologies help communities work through difficult issues like climate change? I'm exploring how digital tools can support democracy by helping crowdsource ideas, understand lines of division, and find points of consensus that bridge them. These trials are inspired by innovations in digital democracy in Taiwan, another democratic society under threat. Lessons from Taiwan Back in January, many held grave concerns about technology being weaponized to spread disinformation and influence the general election in Taiwan. But these threats were fended off with overwhelming success, largely thanks to thoughtful and socially-oriented uses of digital technology. Digital toolscreated and used collaboratively by citizens, civil society and governmentwere also a pillar of Taiwan's response to the COVID-19 crisis, which was celebrated for achieving among the lowest mortality rates in the world without imposing lockdowns. Examples include the use of social media to "inoculate" misinformation through funny memes, and an app created by civic hackers to show live mask availability in pharmacies. This resilience to threats shows the power of the digital democracy ecosystem that has flourished in Taiwan over the past decade, according to a new book, "Plurality," showcasing the island as a model for the future of collaborative technology and democracy. Speaking at the National Press Club during a recent visit to Australia, one of the authors, Audrey Tangcivic hacker turned Taiwan's first digital ministerexplained the ethos underpinning these efforts: that the best way to protect democracy is to keep improving it. Polisa 'pro-social' platform Tang says we shouldn't be surprised when people start "screaming at each other" in political discussions on platforms like Facebook or X/Twitter because they are the digital equivalent of having a town hall discussion in a nightclub. Polis is something differentan open-source digital democracy tool that Tang calls a "pro-social social media" platform. To protect against trolling, there is no "reply" buttonwhen you see a comment, you just vote (agree, disagree or pass) and can submit your own comment(s) separately if you want to. In Taiwan, Polis has been used to find a "rough consensus" on issues like Uber regulation and AI development, inspiring many to wonder if these approaches could be used and built upon in other contexts around the world. When I first heard these stories about five years ago, I was working with colleagues to support community well-being in the face of climate change and disasters. And we began to wonder: Could tools like Polis be useful in breaking the deadlock in Australia's seemingly never-ending "climate wars?" Could they smooth the path for community members to be heard after disasters like bushfires, so that crucial issues and great ideas can make their way into the spotlight, and into action? Given the many urgent, complex issues facing communities across Australia due to climate change, these are compelling possibilities. This has been the motivation for my doctoral research. Lessons from climate change pilots in Australia In our first pilot using Polis in Australia in 2022, we ran a consultation at the University of Melbourne about the climate impacts of staff flyinga thorny issue especially in countries like Australia that are far away from conference hubs in the U.S. and Europe. We posed a single question: What should we do about staff air travel emissions? Through the Polis consultation, 173 participants made more than 300 suggestions in their own words and voted over 22,000 times on each others' comments. In this way, we crowdsourced a detailed picture of collective opinion. The Polis automated analysis tools displayed patterns of opinion to participants in real-time and then we did extra analysis for deeper understanding. It was a contentious issue. About half the participants were eager for a wide range of measures to dramatically reduce staff flying, while for others the negative impacts of restricting flights were front of mind. But through the Polis consultation, we found key points of consensus that were very popular across the board. One of these 'bridging' ideas was the principle that any policies on this issue should not exacerbate inequities. Next, we partnered with a council in Melbourne's southeast to run a consultation on the issue of extreme heat. This surfaced many ideas from community memberslike reducing or banning artificial grassthat were broadly supported by participants. Views were mixed on many other comments, like a suggestion that new builds on private properties "should be required to keep all existing trees." Interestingly, the issue of heat was also discussed in parallel on Facebook, where the council had shared a notice about the consultation. Comments on the Facebook post often had a combative tone or rejected extreme heat as an issue worth discussingmuch more so than in the Polis consultation itself. There is plenty to unpack here, but this general lesson is clear: different online platforms can foster very different political discussions. The Polis platform is far from perfect and our research explores the limitations and drawbacks in these case studies, as well as learning from what went well. There is no silver bullet that can solve these huge societal challenges around democracy and climate change. Instead, these initiatives add to a growing ecosystem of democratic innovationsfrom using new digital AI tools to in-person deliberative democracy through climate assemblieswhich are being thoughtfully explored and combined around the world. In this way, we can expand our collective capacity to navigate difficult issues and collaborate across diversity. 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: Scatter plot of consumption expenditure (y-axis) versus sub-clan identifiers (x-axis) plotted separately for members of age set societies (light diamonds) and kin-based societies (dark circles). Credit: American Economic Review (2024). DOI: 10.1257/aer.20211856 People around the globe often depend on informal financial arrangements, borrowing and lending money through social networks. Understanding this sheds light on local economies and helps fight poverty. Now, a study co-authored by an MIT economist illuminates a striking case of informal finance: In East Africa, money moves in very different patterns depending on whether local societies are structured around family units or age-based groups. That is, while much of the world uses the extended family as a basic social unit, hundreds of millions of people live in societies with stronger age-based cohorts. In these cases, people are initiated into adulthood together and maintain closer social ties with each other than with extended family. That affects their finances, too. "We found there are major impacts in that social structure really does matter for how people form financial ties," says Jacob Moscona, an MIT economist and co-author of the newly published study. He adds, "In age-based societies when someone gets a cash transfer, the money flows in a big way to other members of their age cohort but not to other [younger or older] members of an extended family. And you see the exact opposite pattern in kin-based groups, where money is transferred within the family but not the age cohort." This leads to measurable health effects. In kin-based societies, grandparents often share their pension payments with grandchildren. In Uganda, the study reveals, an additional year of pension payments to a senior citizen in a kin-based society reduces the likelihood of child malnourishment by 5.5%, compared to an age-based society where payments are less likely to move across generations. The paper, "Age Set versus Kin: Culture and Financial Ties in East Africa," is published in the September issue of the American Economic Review. The authors are Moscona, the 3M Career Development Assistant Professor of Economics in MIT's Department of Economics; and Awa Ambra Seck, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School. Studying informal financial arrangements has long been an important research domain for economists. MIT Professor Robert Townsend, for one, helped advance this area of scholarship with innovative studies of finances in rural Thailand. At the same time, the specific matter of analyzing how age-based social groups function, in comparison to the more common kin-based groups, has tended to be addressed more by anthropologists than economists. Among the Maasai people in Northern Kenya, for example, anthropologists have observed that age-group friends have closer ties to each other than anyone apart from a spouse and children. Maasai age-group cohorts frequently share food and lodging, and more extensively than they do even with siblings. The current study adds economic data points to this body of knowledge. To conduct the research, the scholars first analyzed the Kenyan government's Hunger Safety Net Program (HSNP), a cash transfer project initiated in 2009 covering 48 locations in Northern Kenya. The program included both age-based and kin-based social groups, allowing for a comparison of its effects. In age-based societies, the study shows, there was a spillover in spending by HSNP recipients on others in the age cohort, with zero additional cash flows to those in other generations; in kin-based societies, they also found a spillover across generations, but without informal cash flows otherwise. In Uganda, where both kin-based and age-based societies exist, the researchers studied the national roll-out of the Senior Citizen Grant (SCG) program, initiated in 2011, which consists of a monthly cash transfer to seniors of about $7.50, equivalent to roughly 20% of per-capita spending. Similar programs exist or are being rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa, including in regions where age-based organization is common. Here again, the researchers found financial flows aligned to kin-based and age-based social ties. In particular, they show that the pension program had large positive effects on child nutrition in kin-based households, where ties across generations are strong; the team found zero evidence of these effects in age-based societies. "These policies had vastly different effects on these two groups, on account of the very different structure of financial ties," Moscona says. To Moscona, there are at least two large reasons to evaluate the variation between these financial flows: understanding society more thoroughly and rethinking how to design social programs in these circumstances. "It's telling us something about how the world works, that social structure is really important for shaping these [financial] relationships," Moscona says. "But it also has a big potential impact on policy." After all, if a social policy is designed to help limit childhood poverty, or senior poverty, experts will want to know how the informal flow of cash in a society interacts with it. The current study shows that understanding social structure should be a high-order concern for making policies more effective. "In these two ways of organizing society, different people are on average more vulnerable," Moscona says. "In the kin-based groups, because the young and the old share with each other, you don't see as much inequality across generations. "But in age-based groups, the young and the old are left systematically more vulnerable. And in kin-based groups, some entire families are doing much worse than others, while in age-based societies the age sets often cut across lineages or extended families, making them more equal. That's worth considering if you're thinking about poverty reduction." More information: Jacob Moscona et al, Age Set versus Kin: Culture and Financial Ties in east Africa, American Economic Review (2024). DOI: 10.1257/aer.20211856 Journal information: American Economic Review This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. 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: This collage highlights a small selection of regions of the Milky Way imaged as part of the most detailed infrared map ever of our galaxy. Here we see, from left to right and top to bottom: NGC 3576, NGC 6357, Messier 17, NGC 6188, Messier 22 and NGC 3603. All of them are clouds of gas and dust where stars are forming, except Messier 22, which is a very dense group of old stars. The images were captured with ESO's Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) and its infrared camera VIRCAM. The gigantic map to which these images belong contains 1.5 billion objects. The data were gathered over the course of 13 years as part of the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey and its companion project, the VVV eXtended survey (VVVX). Credit: ESO/VVVX survey Astronomers have published a gigantic infrared map of the Milky Way containing more than 1.5 billion objectsthe most detailed one ever made. Using the European Southern Observatory's VISTA telescope, the team monitored the central regions of our galaxy over more than 13 years. At 500 terabytes of data, this is the largest observational project ever carried out with an ESO telescope. A paper detailing the findings is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. "We made so many discoveries, we have changed the view of our galaxy forever," says Dante Minniti, an astrophysicist at Universidad Andres Bello in Chile who led the overall project. This record-breaking map comprises 200 000 images taken by ESO's VISTAthe Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy. Located at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile, the telescope's main purpose is to map large areas of the sky. The team used VISTA's infrared camera VIRCAM, which can peer through the dust and gas that permeates our galaxy. It is therefore able to see the radiation from the Milky Way's most hidden places, opening a unique window onto our galactic surroundings. This gigantic dataset covers an area of the sky equivalent to 8600 full moons, and contains about 10 times more objects than a previous map released by the same team back in 2012. It includes newborn stars, which are often embedded in dusty cocoons, and globular clustersdense groups of millions of the oldest stars in the Milky Way. Observing infrared light means VISTA can also spot very cold objects, which glow at these wavelengths, like brown dwarfs ("failed" stars that do not have sustained nuclear fusion) or free-floating planets that don't orbit a star. This video sequence compares infrared and visible light views of the Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357). The visible light image created from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 and, for the central part, the ESO VLT. The new infrared image was taken with the VISTA telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. In the infrared, the dust that obscures many stars becomes nearly transparent, revealing a whole host of new stars that are otherwise invisible. Credit: ESO/VVV Survey/Digitized Sky Survey 2/D. Minniti. Acknowledgement: Ignacio Toledo. Music: movetwo The observations began in 2010 and ended in the first half of 2023, spanning a total of 420 nights. By observing each patch of the sky many times, the team was able to not only determine the locations of these objects, but also track how they move and whether their brightness changes. They charted stars whose luminosity changes periodically that can be used as cosmic rulers for measuring distances. This has given us an accurate 3D view of the inner regions of the Milky Way, which were previously hidden by dust. The researchers also tracked hypervelocity starsfast-moving stars catapulted from the central region of the Milky Way after a close encounter with the supermassive black hole lurking there. The new map contains data gathered as part of the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey and its companion project, the VVV eXtended (VVVX) survey. "The project was a monumental effort, made possible because we were surrounded by a great team," says Roberto Saito, an astrophysicist at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in Brazil and lead author of the paper. The VVV and VVVX surveys have already led to more than 300 scientific articles. With the surveys now complete, the scientific exploration of the gathered data will continue for decades to come. Meanwhile, ESO's Paranal Observatory is being prepared for the future: VISTA will be updated with its new instrument 4MOST and ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) will receive its MOONS instrument. Together, they will provide spectra of millions of the objects surveyed here, with countless discoveries to be expected. More information: R. K. Saito et al, The VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea eXtended (VVVX) ESO public survey: Completion of the observations and legacy, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2024). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202450584 Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics Provided by ESO Queensbury businessman Kris Roglieri was indicted on five counts of wire fraud last Thursday, according to an announcement from the FBI. The indictment and the earlier criminal complaint allege that Roglieris Albany-based company, Prime Capital Ventures LLC., held itself out as a commercial lending business. Prime Capital obtained upfront interest payments from prospective borrowers while it sought to secure loans for those borrowers; these upfront interest payments were characterized by Prime Capital as the Interest Credit Account Payment, or ICA payment for short. ICA payments did not represent fees to Prime Capital. Instead, each borrowers upfront ICA payment would be debited over time as the loan was funded and accrued more interest. An ICA payment would also be refundable if Prime Capital failed to secure a loan for the borrower client according to the announcement from the U.S. Attorneys Office Thursday. Queensbury man arrested for wire fraud Tens of millions of dollars are at the core of the government's allegations. Court documents allege that in December 2023, Roglieri defrauded a Minnesota company when his company, Prime Capital, committed to fund a $100 million commercial project. At the time, Prime Capital had failed to fund numerous loans promised to earlier clients and failed to return tens of millions of dollars in ICA payments to earlier clients once those loans did not materialize, and Prime Capital had been sued multiple times by clients alleging fraud and seeking the return of ICA payments. On Dec. 22, 2023, Roglieri, on behalf of Prime Commercial LLC., signed a Deposit Agreement that involved him agreeing to keep the Minnesota companys ICA payment in a separate and distinct bank account, and to hold it as a trust fund. That same day, the Minnesota company wire transferred a $5 million ICA payment to a Prime Capital account controlled by Roglieri. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Roglieri then transferred and spent these funds, including a transfer of $950,000 in order to meet a financial obligation to another of his clients, and paid $84,000 for his purchase of a Rolex day-date 36 mm yellow gold diamond bezel watch; paid $101,000 to a private jet services company, for round-trip, private air travel between Albany International Airport and Anguilla, for a family vacation. If convicted, Roglieri faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine per count, as well as up to three years of supervised release. The NAACPs state leaders are calling for state police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan to step down in the wake of two scathing reports that found systemic failures in how the New Jersey State Police treat female troopers and troopers of color. NAACP State Conference President Richard T. Smith and Gregg L. Zeff, the groups legal redress chair, applauded Attorney General Matt Platkin for having the strength to reveal the nefarious, biased underbelly of the New Jersey State Police. Platkin released the reports Tuesday. Still, Zeff told the New Jersey Monitor that he and other NAACP leaders have been really screaming about it from the mountaintops for years now. It has been the only way the state police do business since the beginning of the state police. If youre a minority, if youre a woman, if youre not part of the old boys club, youre not getting ahead, Zeff said. Zeff pointed to multiple lawsuits, federal investigations, and other reports dating back decades that documented racism and sexism in the agencys hiring, promotions, and discipline. The reforms Platkin ordered this week could be successful, but not with the current command staff, he said. He and Smith urged Gov. Phil Murphy to replace Callahan, who became a state trooper in 1995 and took over the top job in the 3,000-member agency in October 2017. Report after report, lawsuit after lawsuit has not stopped the State Police from making a mockery of laws that We the People and the New Jersey State Legislature have enacted, Smith and Zeff said in a statement. We believe the remedies proposed by the Attorney General could be successful, but will not be as long as the leaders at the top of the State Police remain in office looking for loopholes and workarounds. Murphy has no plans to can Callahan, according to a statement his office provided. 3 suspects ordered held after Buena raids turn up 4,350 pot plants The three New York residents accused of running a multimillion-dollar marijuana growing operation in Buena were ordered held in jail until trial Wednesday. I am committed to working with Attorney General Platkin and Colonel Callahan to ensure that all of the recommendations contained in the reports are enacted without delay, Murphy said via a spokeswoman. Spokespeople for Platkin and the state police declined to comment on the call for Callahans ouster, but Sgt. Charles Marchan, a state police spokesman, said: We remain fully committed to working closely with Attorney General Platkin to ensure continued cooperation, transparency, and accountability. Fil Soto, president of the New Jersey Latino American Trooper Society, said his organization stands behind Callahan, too. We support and stand behind Col. Callahan and New Jersey State Police, due to his continued support of our missions and community outreach efforts, Soto said. Col. Callahan has always embraced and commended the inclusiveness of our diverse makeup. Eric Dobson, executive director of the United Black Agenda, joined the NAACPs call for Callahans removal Wednesday. The state polices culture where critics say Black officers are repeatedly overlooked for promotions, subjected to racist taunts, and retaliated against when reporting discrimination is unacceptable, he added. We believe that the systemic issues exposed in the report cannot be fully addressed under the current leadership of Colonel Patrick Callahan. The toxic atmosphere that has permeated the New Jersey State Police has flourished under his watch, and we have concerns that real change will be difficult without new leadership at the helm, Dobson said. For the Attorney Generals recommendations to succeed, fresh leadership that is committed to eliminating these harmful practices is necessary. This story first appeared on the New Jersey Monitor. The Rock Island-Milan School Board approved two new executive-level hires for the 2024-25 school year at Tuesday's Committee of the Whole meeting. Dominique Moore was hired as assistant superintendent of human resources on a one-year contract with a $146,767 salary and Joshua Becker was hired as director of building operations on a one-year contract with a $102,505 salary. Moore most recently served as HR director at the Prairie-Hills School District in Markham, Illinois, where she had previously worked as a building leader for four years. She has also received her superintendent's endorsement and a Certificate in Human Capital Leaders in Education. Moore's references described her as "organized, meticulous and a problem-solver" and with the ability to build a collaborative, interpersonal team in Tuesday's agenda memo for her hiring. "The combination of school and district leadership and strong curriculum and instruction and grant writing skills makes Dr. Moore the ideal candidate to lead the Human Resources Division," Superintendent Sharon Williams' memo stated. Rock Island-Milan's previous assistant superintendent of HR, Egan Colbrese, now is now dean at Edison Junior High School in Rock Island. Becker joins the district with seven years of experience in grounds and maintenance management, most recently as the grounds manager at Augustana College. There he lead a team of seven staff members and other seasonal employees while assisting with facilities budget preparation and management; coordinating the purchase of supplies and maintenance equipment and directing the college's fleet of 60+ grounds vehicles. Williams called Becker's references "impeccable" in a board agenda memo, adding he was described as "dependable, patient and a resourceful leader who leads by example" with multiple references commending his work ethic. Becker will take over for Robert DeMeyer, who was hired in July as Rock Island-Milan's interim director of operations at a $8,737 monthly salary. DES MOINES A city council member in the flood-ravaged town of Hamburg received government recovery funds to build a home on property he owned and transferred to his daughter, according to a state audit published Wednesday. The Iowa State Auditors Office published a 28-page report on the special investigation, which was requested by two state agencies after whistleblowers raised concerns that grant funds and a forgivable loan received by the City of Hamburg following a devastating flood in 2019 were being misused by local officials. The complaints alleged that city officials, employees and their family members and friends were receiving direct benefit from the government relief funds that had been awarded to the city, according to the audit. Dozens of homes were destroyed and downtown businesses damaged when the Missouri River flooded Hamburg in March of 2019. The city applied for and received funding from the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management through the Federal FEMA program and from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Hamburg has a population of 889, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. That is down from 1,200 in the 2010 Census, which reflects population prior to damaging floods in 2011 and 2019. The State Auditors report found: Two privately owned homes received funding from the city even though under the program funds were designed to support home construction on city-owned property. One home built using relief funding was owned by Hamburg City Council member Kent Benefiel, who transferred ownership to his daughter. If funds are used for projects owned by private citizens, the homeowners are to repay the funds to the city, according to the audit report. But the City of Hamburg paid 60% of the construction costs for the two privately owned homes, totaling nearly $200,000. The audit found no evidence that the owners repaid any of those funds. Another grant program was facilitated by the Hamburg Economic Development Council, which was a violation of the agreement between the City of Hamburg and the Iowa Economic Development Authority, according to the audit report. Benefiel applied for funds related to two properties on Main Street and received the largest share of the grant funds. Three siblings and a parent of City of Hamburg Public Works Director Alan Dovel received a majority of grant funds $128,000 available through the citys nuisance property acquisition. Six properties were purchased by a Hamburg economic development organization instead of the city, even though the city and not the economic development group was awarded the grant. The auditors investigation also found that not all disbursements were approved by the Hamburg City Council, records were not consistently kept for disbursements, there were inconsistencies in program cost records end explanations from the city and economic development organization, and some disbursements from the citys bank account did not have an explanation. Based on our observations and the procedures we performed, we determined that City officials failed to exercise proper fiduciary oversight, the auditor report says. It adds shortly after, Oversight by City officials is essential and should be an ongoing effort. City officials should exercise due care and act in the best interest of the City, not their own private interest or advantage. City officials should also ensure sufficient information is prepared and maintained related to all decision-making. The Iowa Auditors Office has recommended the city of Hamburg work with lawyers and the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and any other granting agencies to seek repayment of the nearly $200,000 in relief funds used for private home construction. The report has been filed with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Fremont County Attorneys Office, the Fremont County Sheriffs Office, and the Iowa Attorney Generals Office. Photos: See images of the rising Mississippi River and flood preparations Five people are displaced following a residential structure fire in Moline. At 4:09 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Moline Fire Department responded to a two-story medium sized structure in the 200 block of 46th Street. The fire was showing from the west side of the building, according to the news release. Prior to the arrival of the responding fire company, one resident had exited the structure, according to the release. The first arriving fire company performed an aggressive attack of the fire and the next fire companies secured water and began assisting and performing primary search of the structure. The fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes and crews remained on scene to perform overhaul and investigation. Initial response included 15 on-duty personnel occupying three engines, one aerial unit, a command vehicle and one ambulance. East Moline and Rock Island Fire Departments provided additional assistance. Moline Second Alarmers, MidAmerican Energy, Moline Police Department and the Red Cross assisted also assisted at the scene. The fire is under investigation by the Moline Fire Department Bureau of Investigations. Moline Fire Department receives new engines A 26-year-old man connected to a Sept. 16 shooting was arrested Wednesday morning. Jamys Flying Horse was found by the Pennington County Sheriffs Office and United States Marshals Service at an address in Star Village in Rapid City. According to a Rapid City Police Department press release, Flying Horse of Sioux Falls was identified as the suspect in the shooting. In the ongoing investigation, law enforcement was able to determine the incident was drug-related in nature. On Sept. 16, police were dispatched to the 100 block of E. Watertown Street for a report of an individual being shot. Upon arrival, authorities discovered an altercation among several people led to a man being shot and immediately taken to the hospital for serious, life-threatening injuries. The Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health established its third hub Friday, bringing groundbreaking Indigenous research to the Black Hills. On Sept. 20, Indigenous leaders and local leaders gathered to welcome the new Great Plains Native Health Hub to Rapid City. The hub will lead research in Indigenous healthcare, intersecting cultural teachings and traditional medicine with modern medicine. Being located here in Rapid City is beautiful, said Dr. Courtney Claussen, Mnicouju/Oohenumpa Lakota and a research associate. There are tons of incredible team members located across the nation, so having the interconnections, not only from nation to nation but to the communities of South Dakota, we were able to meet with a lot of really great folks from the Great Plains region working in the healthcare area. Lakota and Dakota people in the Great Plains experience some of the lowest life expectancies in the United States. On the Crow Creek Reservation, the life expectancy rate is a stark 45 years compared to a statewide average of 76 years. Indigenous people nationwide experience higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. These relationships and these collaborations are going to change life as we know it for those of us that live on reservations, said Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Chairman Peter Lengkeek. This (center) lets me know that my grandchildren and their children are going to live longer than 45 years, theyre going to live a long healthy life. The center has various offices across the Navajo Nation and a Great Lakes Hub in Duluth. Standing outside the Mandalay Plaza on Rapid Citys south side, Center for Indigenous Health co-director Donald Warne was presented with various different gifts for the new clinic. Researchers from the Great Lakes Hub and various clinics in the Navajo Nation brought pottery, beadwork and paintings to decorate the new center. Local leaders such as Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun and Monument Health CEO Paulette Davidson also joined the celebration to welcome the new research initiative. Hearing the statistics about (Indigenous) life expectancy is sobering, Salamun said. I dont want that for any people in Rapid City, and I think having a goal to improve that through research development in healthcare is important because its about the next generation. We need people here to invest in the next generation. Aside from research, the center aims to engage in community-building, providing training for those interested in healthcare and eventually establishing an Indigenous School of Medicine. I went to medical school in the late 80s and early 90s, so a long time ago, but there was almost a sense of pride in the idea of education by humiliation, of breaking down the students to build them into a cookie cutter mold of what a doctor should be, Warne, Oglala Lakota, said. So the idea is we need a medical education system thats focused on healing the healers so they can be more effective when working with our populations and incorporating Indigenous culture. There are a number of locations that the center is considering for an institute, and one strong contender is Rapid City. Being located right here in Rapid City gives us the opportunity to do more community engagement that cant be done in Baltimore, Warne said. It has to be here in the communities. I think Rapid City is a great centralized location to do this work. When Lost Letter first opened in 2023, it was a postscript to Longoven. Owners Patrick Phelan and Megan Fitzroy Phelan (and then-partner Andrew Manning) sought to set the place apart from its conjoined sibling, a tasting menu concept in Scotts Addition which closed later that year. So, they branded it an easy Italian restaurant. Only it wasnt so easy. Not the restaurants 20-something page wine list that needed to be decoded by a certified sommelier or its special chalkboard of $45 wines by the glass. Not the moody, modernist decor carried over from the Longoven side of the house. Not the monk-like focus of the chefs and hawk-like senses of the servers, a number of whom had been recruited from the highest echelons of Manhattan and D.C. dining. (Notably, Lost Letter is one of the few places left in town that meticulously re-folds your napkin whenever you get up from the table.) These creative minds who brought us Longoven and just this January, the oyster bar Lillian were never in the business of doing things the easy way. But that is where they thrived, in the complexities of their craft, pulling off fancy food feats with precision and polish and serving them up with style. Could we really expect anything less? Admittedly, the food at Lost Letter is less avant-garde and, some would say, less unapproachable than the tweezered art pieces of foam and koji that Longoven was known for. And slightly less swanky than Lillians caviar-topped creations. It is, nonetheless, still highbrow cuisine. To call what theyre putting out there homey or rustic would be as preposterous as Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie fronting as dairy farmers. I doubt, for instance, that everyday nonnas in Italy are daintily wrapping gooey, soft-ripened La Tur cheese in salty parcels of speck, set on bronzed mantels of focaccia. Or taking a bruschetta spread with plumes of ricotta and using it to highlight the duality of a cherry tomatos sweetness, in confited and sundried form. Or deploying two types of anchovy, their flavors melding and mellowing in the herbiest of emerald-hued sauces, spruced up with evergreen leaves of marigold and draped over roasted, sweet Nardello peppers. As their restaurant has matured, Im glad to see the Lost Letter owners have come around to a more honest self-appraisal. Theyve since retired the easy tagline and owned what they do best: fine dining. The strategy is paying off. Even on a random Wednesday in August, the dining room was packed. Like any good love note, theirs to Italy is penned with passion and purpose. And its best read in full, from beginning, middle, to end. A salutation or two from the snack section of the menu draws you in straightaway. Who wouldnt answer the summertime call of that bruschetta we spoke about earlier ($16)? Or be utterly charmed by a ploughmans plate of cured meat, cheese, and pickles, done up with whipped pecorino and salame rosa, a ham of sorts with the fat-freckled blush of mortadella ($18)? But its a finely-cloaked fritto misto of olives, laced with gorgonzola, that gives the warmest of greetings ($12). As far as noshes go, theyre an all-too-easy fried pill to swallow, the addiction fueled by hits of lemony aioli, smeared along the edge of the bowl. Downing several orders of these in a single sitting is not beyond question; believe me, Ive done it. Just as vital as the dear line is the opening paragraph and at Lost Letter, they waste no time getting to the point. Among the antipasti, the first of many thoughts to flow fully and freely from the kitchen, the aforementioned La Tur and anchovy dishes ($20/$18) leave a lasting impression. Maybe harder for some to grasp, the arrosto di manzo tonnato is, as its name suggests, a kind of cold tuna salad-roast beef mashup. That doesnt really do the dish justice, though. I could throw out words like umami or what not, when the fact is, theres a strange beauty to it that one must simply embrace, a magic that the Italians have uncovered in this alchemy of ruddy meat done here with aged wagyu, but more commonly, veal and flavorful caper-studded tuna sauce. Lost Letters version ($20), finished with flaky Maldon salt and olive oil, is no exception. The romance continues to unfold, as you get to the heart of the menu. Soft and shapely stubs of gnudi swoon in a verdant pesto cream ($28). An immaculately roasted chicken, the tender, sous-vided bird donning a veil of its own crispy skin, marries a colorful stew of peppers and onions, soused with vinegar ($32). Meanwhile, sailing away on a Mediterranean sea of tomatoes, olives, and capers, abounding with brine and brightness, is the most gorgeous, flame-kissed mackerel. The intense searing rust spots of char atop the silver-sheened fish belies its unbelievably luscious flavor, while bringing a smoky depth to the cioppino-like broth that surrounds it ($34). There are moments when the exchange gets disrupted, a risk that comes with any attempt to make such refined fare. Some dishes at Lost Letter are so well-polished, it feels as though theyve lost their luster. The pork shank, for instance, despite its handsome velour, doesnt quite touch ones heart the way a sensual braising should ($34). Other offerings could use more of a tweak. A carpaccio of octopus, cut into circular tiles that form an impressive mosaic, would display better if it werent drowning in so much citrus zest and chive, masking the flavor of its featured ingredient ($20). And though, each time Ive had the tajarin, I enjoyed the long-simmering richness of the ragu, the thin, wispy threads of pasta they use are seemingly too delicate for the task, clumping and tearing under the weight of it ($28). The final sendoff comes from Fitzroy Phelan. And not surprisingly, its also the sweetest. The New York-trained pastry chef, whose virtuosic talents were a key part of Longovens appeal, applies that prowess to the bread and pastry program at Lost Letter. The loaves that she and baker-in-residence Jane Lukas are putting out are so good, they deserve their own bakery counter. As for the desserts? Well, I dare you to try and get her perfectly geometric cubes of tiramisu out of your head ($14). Picture the best cappuccino youve ever had, then cake-ify it. And for you Ferrero Rocher fans, Nutella happens to be a gelato flavor she rotates on and off again on, if youre lucky. Infused with crispety cruncheties of chocolate and hazelnut sable, the frozen treat is as decadently creamy as they come without becoming churned butter ($10). Now that the Phelans have got the messaging down, theyre getting to speak their truth. This isnt nonnas kitchen. Its theirs. And I, for one, wouldnt have it any other way. PHOTOS: Lost Letter RVA 100: 100 people, places, things that you should know about Richmond The RVA 100 are the people, places, things that make Richmond so special. The Times-Dispatch will be highlighting 100 quintessential Richmond icons starting Aug. 1 and running throughout the year. Submit your ideas for what and who we should feature at go.richmond.com/rva100yourturn. Cancun clean up under way after Helene dumps more than 240 mms of rain on region Cancun, Q.R. Clean up around Cancun and surrounding areas is underway after the passing of Hurricane Helene. Wind and rain from the storm officially let up late Wednesday as it moved off into the Gulf of Mexico. More than 240 mms of rain fell on the region in about 12 hours. Photo: SSC QR September 25, 2024. Residents woke up Thursday to sunlight breaking through the band of thick clouds that shrouded the region for nearly two days. Police are seen here providing soaked citizens with a free ride through flooded Cancun streets. Photo: SSC QR September 25, 2024. Governor Mara Lezama confirmed Thursday that classes have resumed in most of the state after students were given a two-day break due to the stormy wet weather. Students in the municipalities of Lazaro Cardenas, Isla Mujeres and Benito Juarez will remain out for at least another day during storm clean-up. Ferry services were up and running first thing Thursday. Photos: Mara Lezama September 26, 2024. Lezama says there were no fatalities reported during the storm and that all productive activities are resuming, while a major clean up is held in various areas of Cancun, Holbox and Isla Mujeres. A stingray was found on a Cancun sidewalk in the Hotel Zone after being washed ashore due to the strong winds. Photo: September 25, 2024. Governor Lezama reported that as of 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) had restored 94 percent of the lost electricity service to the more than 122,000 residents. Additional brigades continue to work to fully restore power, a majority of which was lost in the Cancun area. CFE crews work to fully restore power mostly due to felled trees, lines and poles. Photo: Mara Lezama September 26, 2024. The arrival of cruise ships to Cozumel and Mahahual will resume as will service of the Maya Train. The states airports Cancun, Cozumel and Tulum continue to operate. Several cars were crushed in Cancun and Playa del Carmen due to fallen trees. Photos: September 25, 2024. According to Lezama there were more than 267,000 tourists in Quintana Roo when Helene passed. Civil Protection has not reported any beach damage, only temporarily waterlogged streets due to the more than 240 millimeters of rain that fell in around 12 hours. Sea water covers a Holbox boat dock Wednesday. Lezama thanked the Navy, the Mexican Army, the National Guard and all federal forces for their support during the storm. Lopez Obrador affirms land used by Sac-Tun now a Natural Protected Area Riviera Maya, Q.R. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador affirmed that the declaration of a Protected Natural Area (ANP) of the Sac-Tun land guarantees preservation. On Wednesday, Lopez Obrador said the jungle area granted to the Sac-Tun subsidiary, formerly Calica of the Vulcan Materials Company, guarantees the preservation of the territory in Playa del Carmen. As a result of this action by the federal government, more than 50,000 hectares of land have been preserved, which are home to flora and fauna native to the region that was previously overexploited by the U.S. company to transport crushed stone, sand and gravel to that country. Lopez Obrador said Vulcan Materials transported the material because it had irregular agreements with governments from the neoliberal period. During his morning press conference, Lopez Obrador showed a video of the destruction of the various interconnected ecosystems that coexist in the Mexican Caribbean that has occurred over the last 35 years. He considered it the largest ecological disaster caused by a foreign company in the Yucatan Peninsula and particularly in the Riviera Maya. Explosions on the land outside Playa del Carmen. Photo: AMLO video still shot There is no expropriation. It is a declaration of a protected natural area because there is no way we are not going to protect our natural resources. Imagine, they take gravel from paradise, one of the most beautiful areas of Mexico and the world, the Caribbean Sea, and it is used as a material bank to transport gravel to build roads in the United States. Are there no other material banks in the United States? Dont they have enough territory there? The United States represents double or triple our territory, so why come here and take advantage of the corruption that prevailed? he questioned. He recalled that the federation encouraged dialogue to resolve this controversy, however, Vulcan Materials did not respond to any proposal that involved remedying the environmental damage caused by the concession of more than 2,400 hectares. The area is now a Natural Protected Area. Photos: AMLO video still shots. There is no way we are going to allow them to destroy our territory. In addition, we tried to reach an agreement with them, we offered to buy their share, an appraisal was made and they continued to be arrogant, not understanding that Mexico is an independent, sovereign country, he said. Since we are completely right, we can go to any court. () They talk about protecting the environment, avoiding climate change, and look what they do: building material banks to take the gravel to the United States, he said. CHRISTIANSBURG The first hearing in the Liam Watson case was held on Wednesday, setting future hearing dates for the Blacksburg town councilman who has been charged with three counts of felony election fraud. During the hearing, dates were set for a motions hearing Dec. 17 and a jury trial on Feb. 3-4. Watson appeared with his attorney, John Fishwick, who discussed possible dates for trial with prosecutor Patrick Jensen, and Judge Robert Turk. The hearing lasted slightly over five minutes. Additionally, court documents show that four people have been issued subpoenas to appear in court and/or to present documents, including Blacksburg Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith, Blacksburg Town Councilwoman Susan Anderson, Virginia Election Board Chairman John OBannon, and Montgomery County Voter Registrar Connie Viar. In July, Watson was arrested for three counts of election fraud, as well as one felony count of illegally voting in an election. Watson was elected as a write-in candidate last year and was found to have listed different addresses on various documents leading up to his election, according to the charges. One address listed by Watson on documents related to his run for council was an apartment on the 500 block of Milhurst Avenue owned by Blacksburg Concierge LLC, a company tied to Hager-Smith and her husband. The property is located less than a block from the mayors home. Did I know that he lived at the property? I cant say I did. Hager Smith said, regarding Watson listing the Milhurst address. As for what was written in his campaign paperwork, I learned about that on social media. Watson has also listed properties on the 800 Block of Progress Street and the 900 Block of University City Boulevard as residences on council-related documents. During Watsons time serving on the planning commission for Blacksburg in 2022, he listed St. Marys Catholic Church as his residence on one document. In the run-up to Watsons trial, Michael Sutphin, Blacksburgs vice mayor, asked Watson to take a leave of absence until the proceeding were finished. Watson declined to do so. After careful consideration, I decline to accept your offer, Watson wrote, in an email responding to Sutphin and other members of the council I will not take a leave of absence from my position as Councilman on the Blacksburg Town Council. I look forward to continuing my representation of the people of the Town of Blacksburg. EU-funded researchers are working together to improve survival rates and quality of life for children with cancer and reduce inequalities between countries. Dealing with cancer in children is hard enough. Knowing that there are huge disparities in survival rates between higher- and lower-income countries in Europe makes it even worse. But EU-funded researchers are working to address this. Dr. Jelena Rascon, a paediatric cancer specialist at the Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos (VULSK) in Lithuania, places great importance on the benefits of international cooperation when dealing with cancerparticularly when it comes to children. Increasing the odds "There are still inequalities across European countries in terms of childhood cancer survival rates," said Rascon, who led a three-year EU-funded research initiative called TREL that began in 2021 and concluded in December 2023. The researchers aimed to improve childhood cancer treatment through greater cooperation between European countries. Thanks to funding from the EU, Dr. Rascon and her colleagues were able to work closely with partners in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to reduce persisting disparities and improve survival rates across Europe for children with certain types of cancer. This was done through twinning, a concept that allows specialists to network and cooperate more easily with colleagues in other countries where research in a specific area is deemed to be more advanced. The TREL team focused on the treatment of solid cancerous tumours in children and, more specifically, on brain tumours, neuroblastoma and renal tumours. Brain tumours are among the most common types of childhood cancers, along with leukaemia and lymphoma. Although childhood cancers are very rare and have a high overall survival rate, they remain the first cause of death from disease in children and adolescents, with an estimated 2 000 deaths every year in Europe. To help increase the odds of survival, the children taking part in the study had access to personalised treatment plans and follow-ups agreed collectively by the research team. In some cases, doctors were able to work with geneticists and bioinformatics specialists from institutions in other European countrieswith considerable positive impact for their young patients and their families. Improving survival In the EU, an estimated 14 000 cases of childhood cancers are recorded every year, according to the European Cancer Inequalities Registry. The registry puts survival rates at between 73% in Bulgaria and 74% in Lithuania, to 86% in Denmark and 85% in Austria. To put it more simply, for every 100 children with cancer, 12 more will survive in Denmark than in Lithuania. The good news is that the prognosis for children with cancer is improving in Lithuania. According to Rascon, the increase in cross-border exchanges organised as part of the TREL cooperation has been an important part of that. The TREL researchers' objectives align well with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, especially its 'Helping Children with Cancer' initiative, as well as the EU Cancer Mission's science-based approach toward reducing cancer burden and inequalities across the EU. International solidarity for better care Dr. Goda Vaitkeviciene, a colleague of Rascon's and a paediatric haematologist at VULSK, also acknowledges the importance of international solidarity in improving the health outcomes for children everywhere. Vaitkeviciene worked on two pan-European studies of treatment protocols for children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) called NOPHO ALL2008 and ALLtogether. These aimed to improve childhood leukaemia survival rates through clinical trials that, like TREL, included the sharing of data, treatment plans and information between doctors in different European countries. International cooperation is particularly important in a field like paediatric cancer, said Vaitkeviciene. She pointed out that as these cancers are extremely rare, it is difficult to have a sufficient number of patients to conduct effective studies and compare protocols within the borders of just one or several small countries. For Rascon, the work carried out by the TREL team brought increased knowledge, better access to innovations and better access to international collaborative research. "When you're in a research group, you can provide much better care to your patients, more innovative, more tailored. In paediatric oncology, research is a platform to provide better care," she said. Future outlook Thanks to the work carried out by the TREL researchers, the team has been able to secure funding for a new project, SCARLET, set to begin in October 2024, allowing it to carry on making improvements. The advantages go both ways, with data related to the Lithuanian children involved in the clinical trials now feeding into a Europe-wide study that can improve overall cancer treatment outcomes elsewhere. For patients, the improved survival outcomes may be the headline figure, but they are not the whole story, said Vaitkeviciene. "We are not just talking about treatment, but also quality of life. Not only after, but also during the treatment," she said. Up to 70% of children undergoing chemotherapy are affected by at least one severe side-effect, including serious infections, acute or long-term organ damage, thrombosis and metabolic disorders. Sharing data can help doctors avoid complications for their patients and reassure them while they are being treated. It also boosted the confidence of the doctors working at the hospital. "You can talk to the patients slightly differently," said Vaitkevicien. "You're more confident when you can say this is not our treatment plan alone, children in other countries are treated in the same way," she said. "All this adds to their quality of life." Research in this article was funded by the EU's Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don't necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. More info This article was originally published in Horizon the EU Research and Innovation Magazine. Provided by Horizon: The EU Research & Innovation Magazine South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency in preparation for the potential effects of Hurricane Helene. He asks South Carolinians to monitor local forecasts and begin taking proper precautions. The governor's order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and directs the South Carolina Emergency Management Division to coordinate with all relevant state agencies in preparation for potential requests for state assistance from local officials and county emergency management leaders. Although South Carolina will likely avoid the brunt of Hurricane Helene's impacts, the storm is still expected to bring dangerous flooding, high winds and isolated tornadoes to many parts of the state, McMaster said. This State of Emergency ensures that Team South Carolina has the necessary resources in place to respond to these potential impacts. South Carolinians in potentially affected areas should start to take precautions now and monitor local weather forecasts over the next several days." Hurricane Helene is currently situated in the Gulf of Mexico and is anticipated to intensify before making landfall along the coast of Florida as a hurricane on Thursday. The storm is then expected to impact South Carolina and other Southeastern states with strong winds, significant rainfall, flash flooding and an enhanced risk of isolated tornadoes. SCEMD has several resources available for people to prepare for hurricanes, including hurricane.sc. This site is an interactive tool for anyone needing a quick reference on hurricane preparedness. Additionally, the SC Emergency Manager is available in the App Store and on Google Play: http://onelink.to/dn92rx. The official 2024 S.C. Hurricane Guide is available in English or Spanish at scemd.org. DAKOTA CITY Found guilty of murdering four people in the middle of the night and setting fire to their homes, Jason Jones now faces the possibility of being sentenced to death. In a verdict reached early Thursday morning, jurors found Jones, 44, guilty of four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of second-degree arson for the Aug. 4, 2022, shooting deaths of Michele Ebeling, 53, in her home and Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their home. Late in the afternoon, the same jury determined the murders contained aggravating circumstances making the case eligible for the death penalty. "We are relieved by todays conviction and appreciate the hard work of the legal team and law enforcement throughout this process. We would also like to convey our gratitude to the jury for their time and attention in this long process. While this is one step toward justice for our loved ones, we must respect the ongoing investigation and the legal proceedings in the second case. Our focus remains on healing and honoring our mother/grandma, father/grandpa and sister/aunt, while carrying their love and memories in our hearts every day," the Twiford family said in a statement released to the media. The case will now proceed before a three-judge panel consisting of District Judge Bryan Meismer, who is presiding over the case, and two judges to be appointed by Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican, who is retiring Oct. 31, or his successor. The judges will hear evidence at a hearing yet to be scheduled and decide whether to sentence Jones to death or life in prison without parole. When it filed the formal charges against Jones in January 2023, the Nebraska Attorney General's Office included six aggravating circumstances it believed qualified the case to be considered for capital punishment. "There are some facts that distinguish an ordinary first-degree murder case from this case," Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Corey O'Brien told jurors during Thursday's hearing on those aggravating circumstances. After deliberating 45 minutes, the jury returned unanimous verdicts on all six of those circumstances: That Jones committed another murder at the same time he killed Ebeling and the three Twiford family members and that he killed Janet and Dana Twiford after he killed Gene Twiford in order to conceal his identity as the shooter or to conceal the commission of another crime -- murder or his break-in at their home. "The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office is pleased with the outcome and thanks the jury for their hard work in this case," the attorney general's office said in a news release. Defense attorney Todd Lancaster conceded the Twifords all were killed in rapid succession, but argued jurors should not find Ebeling's murder took place, as state statute says, "in a continuous and uninterrupted" action over a short period of time with the Twiford murders. "There's a criminal transaction happening at the Twiford house and there's another one happening at the Michele Ebeling house. These are not uninterrupted," Lancaster said. Lancaster also said evidence did not show Jones killed Janet and Dana Twiford in order to conceal his identity or another crime. Because Jones was severely burned in the fires, it's hard for him to sit upright for long periods of time, and he did not attend his trial, instead remaining in Lincoln, where he continues to receive medical treatment in a state correctional institution. Lancaster said late Thursday he had not personally spoken with Jones to inform him of the guilty verdicts, but Jones had probably learned of it through social media or other news sources. "We were hoping for a different verdict on guilt or innocence, obviously, and also on the aggravating circumstances," Lancaster said. "It's not the outcome we were hoping for. We're far from done with Mr. Jones' case." Moved to Dakota County from Cedar County after Meismer determined Jones was unlikely to receive a fair trial there, the trial began Sept. 9 with three days of jury selection, followed by 11 days of testimony from 38 witnesses and submission of more than 1,000 exhibits and pieces of evidence. The jury reached its guilty verdicts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday after six and a half hours of deliberations that began Wednesday afternoon and continued until 7:15 p.m. The defense did not deny Jones killed the Twifords, but said he'd had a mental breakdown and was not capable of premeditation, an element necessary for a first-degree murder conviction. Jones instead should be found guilty of second-degree murder (and not punishable by a death sentence), Lancaster's co-counsel, Matthew McDonald, said in his closing argument. "Yes, he's liable," McDonald said, "but what he did in his mind was involuntary. Because he had a mental breakdown, it was not voluntary." As evidence of Jones' mental state, McDonald pointed to a purported suicide note Jones left for his wife, Carrie Jones. McDonald said Carrie Jones killed Ebeling. Firefighters were dispatched to Ebeling's house at 209 Elm St. at 3:11 a.m., and found Ebeling's body, with two gunshots, inside. Firefighters had barely left the scene when they were called at 9:30 a.m. to the Twiford home three blocks from Ebeling's house at 503 Elm St. Responders found the bodies of the three family members, all with gunshot wounds. At trial, investigators said they determined the Twiford fire likely had been started around 3 a.m. but smoldered unnoticed for hours before a neighbor saw smoke coming from the eaves. Jones emerged as a suspect after receipts for the purchase of gas at two stores in Laurel and gas cans and a backpack purchased at the Sioux City Fleet Farm store were found in Ebeling's kitchen. Investigators traced credit card numbers on the receipts to Jones, and surveillance video showed him buying the gas cans in Sioux City and later filling them with gas at a Laurel convenience store. Inside Ebeling's home, investigators also had found a burned plastic gas can, three .44-caliber shell casings and a live .44 round. Outside, they discovered a flashlight and a lighter and a drop of blood on the garage. At the Twiford house, a Ruger 57 handgun, along with a second loaded ammunition magazine and 11 shell casings were found. Just outside the back door, investigators recovered a pry bar and a broken door frame, plus a Mountain Dew bottle with gasoline and a rag stuffed inside. When tested, all the items were found to have Jones' DNA, fingerprints, or both, on them. Ballistics experts determined the shell casings and bullets removed from the Twifords' bodies during their autopsies all had been fired from the Ruger 57, which Jones had bought years earlier. A bullet removed from Ebeling's body at autopsy, plus two more from her kitchen wall, and the shell casings at her home all had been fired by a .44-caliber handgun owned by Jones and found inside a dresser drawer in his bedroom. Jones, who lived across the street from Ebeling at 206 Elm St. was arrested early on Aug. 5, lying in his bed and barely able to move because of burns on his legs, arms and hands. Carrie Jones had accused Gene Twiford of verbally harassing her while she was in her yard and at other locations in Laurel on multiple occasions. Text messages between Carrie and Jason Jones displayed to the jury showed, the state said, Carrie Jones was fed up with Twiford's alleged behavior. A defense witness who lived across the street from Ebeling testified that shortly after 3 a.m. on Aug. 4, she heard one or two gunshots from Ebeling's house, looked out and saw someone with long hair leaving the house. Jason Jones had short hair at the time, but Carrie Jones has long hair. Carrie Jones' fingerprints and DNA weren't found inside Ebeling's house, the state countered, and the gun used to kill her had Jason Jones' DNA on it. A second person's DNA also was detected, but could not be identified. Charged with aiding and abetting the death of Gene Twiford, Carrie Jones, 45, has pleaded not guilty of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony. Her trial has not been scheduled. SIOUX CITY -- After a series of threats circulated the Sioux City Schools in the last two weeks, Superintendent Rod Earleywine responded to concerns from district parents, saying they take every threat seriously. "It's hard for parents, it's hard on students, it's hard on our teachers, our principals, it's hard on all of the schools' communities because you can never say never," Earleywine said. "That's why we take everything seriously, we follow up on everything and we do the very, very best we can." During Monday's school board meeting, Jason Sander, a parent in the district, asked what the district is doing to address the threats in the district, expressing fear for his children. "I'm sure it's going through everybody else's mind too, but I want to know what's being done," he said. "Are we taking this seriously?" In the last two weeks, the Sioux City Community School District has notified parents of six different social media threats circulating the schools. The threats have been at the district's middle and high schools and many of them have been similar, but all were determined to be non-credible, said district communications director Leslie Heying. Earleywine said during conversations with other similarly sized districts in the state, the same threats have been circulating throughout the nation, with students just changing out the name of the school. "It's all over the country and it's very frustrating to us, but what I can tell you is we take every one seriously," Earleywine said. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, The Sioux City Community School District informed the public of an alleged threat on Snapchat involving North High School and, possibly, North Middle School. On Thursday, Sept. 12, West High School was under secure status for more than an hour following a reported social media threat. Law enforcement had determined there was no threat against the school. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, North Middle School was informed of a non-specific social media threat circulating in a Snapchat group made up of North Middle School students. An hour later, Heying shared the same threat that had been circulating at West High School. On Wednesday, Sept. 18, a similar nonspecific social media threat was circulating at East High School and on Thursday, North High received the same threat. All threats were investigated but determined to be non-credible, Heying said. Earleywine said they work closely with law enforcement to investigate every threat, no matter if they have been determined to be credible or non-credible and take the advice of the law enforcement every time. "They spend a lot of time visiting homes, and following up and checking up on the sources of these threats," Earleywine said. This is part of Advice Week: Friendship Edition. Well help you make friends, leave themand even sleep with them. Weve gotten some great questions over the years about the interesting dilemmas our letter writers friends have brought into their lives. So weve rounded up some of our favorite questions for you below. Dear Prudence, Recently my friend Amy made a new friend, Mary. Ive met her a few times, and while we were polite to each other, she isnt someone Id care to interact with more than necessary. I dont seek her out, nor do I invite her to social events. Mary has slowly become part of my circle of friends. She has made a few comments intimating shes upset that she hasnt been invited to some of our get-togethers, but she is in a very different financial bracket than the rest of us. The restaurants and events we choose to go to are pricey. I recently hosted a dinner party for my friends and their plus ones, and Amy brought Mary. I didnt want her at my house. Were not friends, and I dont enjoy her presence. Im hosting another dinner party for the holidays, and I know Amy will bring Mary. I do not invite people I dont want to be around to my parties. How do I politely tell Amy to stop bringing Mary? Shes Not Invited; She Comes Anyway Dear Shes Not Invited, I certainly hope your dislike for Mary is rooted in something other than she cant afford to spend as much money on appetizers as I can, because the only sin she appears to have committed is being less rich than the rest of your friends. While youre certainly within your rights not to invite Mary to an event youre hosting, sending dinner-party invitations with further instructions about who someone can invite as a plus one should be reserved for more extreme cases than this one. Advertisement I think your best option is to include Amy on the invitation and find a way to enjoy yourself despite Marys presencesurely at a dinner party full of guests youll find someone you want to talk to. It would be awkward and, I think, an overexertion of your rights as a host, to send Amy an invitation plus one, then add, but not the one youd like to bring. It would be one thing if Mary had said something rude or offensive the last time youd had her as a guest in your home. In that case you might say something like, I would love for you to come but I have to ask you not to bring Mary, because she was so rude to Scorinthians last time she visited/monopolized the conversation/stole my dishwasher. That said, if you simply cant stand the thought of Mary as a guest in your home, then you should ask Amy not to bring her. If Amy decides not to attend, or is angry with you for asking, then thats a risk youre simply going to have to run.Danny M. Lavery Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Friend Wants to Bring a Poor Person to My Dinner Party. (Dec. 14, 2017). Dear Prudence, My partner and I, who are in a gay relationship, are close friends with a lesbian couple. Mary and Jean desperately want a baby, and after some discussion my partner decided to donate his sperm. We have no interest in being parents but are happy to be uncles. Unfortunately Mary experienced a significant illness and Jane got laid off from work, and now they are worried they cant afford in vitro fertilization. Mary is infertile, and Jane is already 38, so waiting until their financial situation improves might not be an option. Mary and Jane have now asked whether Jane can conceive a baby with my partner the old-fashioned way. My partner and Jane used to date in their 20s so it wont be anything new. I totally trust my partner, but this is just too much for me. Am I being too old-fashioned? Should I let this happen so my two wonderful friends can become parents without spending tens of thousands of dollars? Letting My Partner Impregnate His Friend Dear Letting My Partner Impregnate His Friend, Advertisement Advertisement I dont think youre being too old-fashioned! This is not an especially old-fashioned problem. Their problem is a sad one, certainly, but you shouldnt let guilt over your friends situation affect the decision you and your partner make. Theres no guarantee that your partner will be able to impregnate Jane on the first try; how many times would you be willing to let the two of them sleep together? Five tries? Ten? As many as it takes? Its wonderful that you trust your partner and want to help your friends have childrenand in this case, I think, perfectly appropriatebut that doesnt mean you have to feel great about the two of them sleeping together. You two should have a serious conversation as a couple about the pros and cons and figure out whether this is something you are comfortable doing before discussing your decision with Mary and Jean. Advertisement Advertisement Also: If any queer couples with nontraditional reproductive stories want to weigh in about their own experiences, please do! Has anyone gone the turkey-baster route?DL From: Help! A Lesbian Friend Wants My Partner to Impregnate Her the Old-Fashioned Way. (Dec. 21, 2015). Advertisement Advertisement Dear Prudence, I (a married woman) just set up a single male co-worker and a single female friend of mine on a blind date. Hes a sharp guy whos traveled the world and knows all about fine foods, wines, classical music, designer labels, etc., and shes a stunningly beautiful and intelligent artist. I really thought theyd make a great couple. Immediately after their date, my friend thought it had gone well and was very excited. On Monday morning, I asked my co-worker, and he said my friend was attractive and a nice person, but he wouldnt be asking for a second date. My friend has been bewildered by her difficulty in finding a steady relationship, so I pressed him as to why. He told me they went to a swanky bar, and shewait for itordered a plain glass of milk. He found this so clueless and childish that he couldnt imagine being with her. Now my friend is neither a big drinker nor a teetotalerjust someone whos going to order what she wants without worrying about what others think. Should I tell her why she wont be hearing from this guy again, so she can reconsider ordering milk on dates in the future? Should I tell him how ridiculous he is for judging someone for something so petty? Dairy Disorder Dear Dairy Disorder, Advertisement Advertisement I firmly believe that if a man is really attracted to and interested in a woman, she could order a glass of French onion soup and hed be fine with it. This was not the guy for your friend. She does things that he finds clueless and childish. She doesnt want to be in a relationship with someone who feels that way about heror someone who doesnt think her beauty and intelligence make her clueless and childish behavior sort of charming. She should not hide who she is or what she likes on dates. The idea here is not to fake a personality so she can be paired up with someone who you think is a fit for her. Its to keep being herself until she comes across someone who is actually right for her.Jenee Desmond-Harris Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! I Set up a Co-Worker and a Friend on a Blind Date. Her Drink Order Ruined Everything. (May 25, 2023). Dear Prudence, One of my wifes friends has hated me since the day she met me. While early on, her hatred was tolerable, lately its become annoying and more than a little creepy. I work in research and development, the same industry as her. I often have lunch with colleagues, both male and female, while we discuss work. She has spotted me a few times having lunch with a female colleague and without even talking to me, shes reported to my wife that she thinks Im having an affair (even though its been a different woman each timeapparently I really get around). My wife was suspicious at first but is not so worried now. (Ive never cheated on her and have given her no reason to believe I have or would.) This woman ran into me last week and told me, Im going to destroy you and walked away. I told my wife, and she said I must not have heard her correctly. How do I convince my wife that she needs to confront this nutcase? If she doesnt change her behavior toward me after that, I think its only fair that my wife stop seeing her as a friend. What do you think I should do? Intrusive and Annoying Friend of Wife Dear Intrusive, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, weve got the set-up for a thriller. In the Hollywood version youre working late one night when you hear the click-click-click of high heels coming down the corridor, and when you turn around theres the friend, wearing a wig to look like your wife, the knife in her hand glinting. Sorry, I didnt mean to get carried away, but this situation is seriously disturbing. Im not suggesting you start keeping pepper spray in your briefcase, but you have to do something about this nut. It wouldnt take too many false reports from a friend that my husband was having an affair with a new woman every week for me to drop the pal. Its odd that your wife continues to have fond relations with a woman who has made it her goal to ruin your marriage. What does your wife think her friend actually said last week: Im going to Hanoi. You? You need to explain to your wife that since this woman is in your industry and has an irrational hatred of you, she could spread vicious rumors that harm your career. I think you should get your wife to accompany you to a lawyers office where you discuss this womans behavior and find out what you can do about it. But a helpful first step would be for your wife to become your ally and make clear to her friend that this hostility to you is unwarranted and needs to end.Emily Yoffe Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Wifes Best Friend Threatened to Destroy Me. (Jan. 9, 2012). Dear Prudence, An old friend is running for office. She was a counselor for me as a teenager. Weve never discussed politics and had lost touch (except for Facebook) until a mutual friends funeral recently. She asked if I would help with her campaign via Facebook messenger. She is running for local school board (non-partisan) and I am not a parent. Ive already told her yes because I wanted to be supportive but also asked about her platform and who she was running against. She gave me her campaign website which is pretty generic about her experience. Her opponent has several endorsements but again, a pretty generic website although he does say he supports LGBTQ+ students. I decided to check her and her opponents party registration on our State Board of Elections website. My old friend is registered as a Republican, her opponent is unaffiliated. Advertisement I am a progressive person. I often post news stories and views on Facebook. There is no way she doesnt know that Im at least liberal-leaning. I have no idea what to do at this point. I know that the school board can be so contentious, but we are in an urban, liberal area so Im not sure if that applies here. I dont think she believes in things like banning books or critical race theory. Nothing on her Facebook page suggests she is a Trump supporter. What should I do and how do I talk to her about it? I dont want to damage the relationship (though we havent been in contact, we have a bunch of mutual friends, and she is a member of my liberal protestant church). Unless she doesnt support non-negotiable issues, I am willing to be friends (we had talked about getting together again soon), but I dont want to support a Republican running for any office. Candidate Confusion Dear Candidate Confusion, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hi Candidate Friend. I know I agreed to help with your campaign, but as I was getting up to speed on you and your opponent, I learned that youre a Republican. As you probably know from my Facebook posts, Im a very progressive person so Im not sure this will be a great fit. If Ive misunderstood something or if you want to give me a call and let me know more about your stances on the issues the school board is taking on, I would be happy to keep an open mind and see if were actually more aligned than I thought. Otherwise, I will go ahead and take a step back from volunteering but I hope youre doing well during this busy time for you, and I hope we can still get together just for fun like wed planned.JDH Advertisement From: Help! I Promised to Help a Friend Running for Office. Uh, I Just Found Out We Have Very Different Views. (Sept. 17, 2022). Dear Prudence, My husband and I are currently renting, for the summer, the house of an old sorority sister of mine and her husband, who are on vacation in Europe. We have two-year-old twins whom we cloth-diaper. My friends college-age stepdaughter came over to do laundry, which we had agreed to, and discovered a load of diapers in the dryer. While clean at that point some of them do have indelible stains. She apparently told my friend, who is apparently a hysterical germophobe. She was a little bit like that in college but has obviously gotten worse over the years. She is now demanding that we replace their super high-end Swedish washer and dryer before their return. She claims she cannot bear to wear clothes, sleep on sheets, or use towels that have been washed in machines that were previously used to wash items soiled with human waste. Just how unreasonable is this, and how should I respond? If we do end up replacing the washer and dryer, would it be all right to ask if we can have the ruined ones? Poo Panic Dear Poo Panic, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, the purpose of washing machines is to take things that are dirty and make them clean. And yes, anything later emerging from this washing machine should be clean. And yes, its possible for you to run a self-cleaning cycle and clean the lint traps and do a bunch of other things to return this machine to near-factory standards. Yes, this is all true. But people who are notoriously phobic of germs do have a tendency to be germaphobic. And its her house. That said, buying someone a new washer and dryer is a big leap. Do you have a rental agreement in writing? If so, are there stipulations for damaged property or the like? I hate to immediately jump to being litigious but it seems extreme to purchase a fancy Swedish washer/dryer on the strength of a handshake agreement. Whether you have a contract or not, I think you should respond by apologizing for washing dirty clothes in a washing machine, and tell her that youve already run the fanciest self-cleaner you could find through the unit (which you should do in advance), but that its just not financially feasible for you to replace her unit. If she threatens to take you to small claims court over it, then you can decide how much hassle you want to put up with. If you do buy the new one (please do not), definitely take the old unit with you.R. Eric Thomas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Friend Is Demanding I Buy Her a New Washer and Dryer Because I Put My Childs Diaper in It. (July 25, 2022). Dear Prudence, Over the summer, my best friend of nine years and I shared a house in the town where we both grew up. During those few months, we started sleeping together, which was great. That also involved lots of clear communication about our expectations. We both agreed this wasnt a long-term thing, just something fun to occupy us during the pandemic. When both of us moved back, I thought we had a clear understanding that we were going back to being just friendsbut she is telling everyone that Im her new girlfriend! I dont want to hurt her, but I know the longer I let her believe it, the more hurt she will be in the end. How do I breach the subject and clear up this misunderstanding in the most gentle way possible? Friendly Fog Dear Friendly Fog, Advertisement Advertisement Assuming this isnt just a misunderstanding and that you have real evidence your friend has been misrepresenting the nature of your relationship to your mutual friends, I dont think maximum gentleness should be your goal. If you were really clear about going back to being friends, and shes lied repeatedly about being girlfriends, then you should strive for firmness of purpose over gentleness. Remember that she has hurt you and that your feelings matter too! Im not suggesting you start yelling at her, but you can kindly tell her: I thought our last few conversations about sleeping together this summer were really clear and that we both understood we were going back to being friends, so I was surprised to hear that youd told [friends name] that I was your girlfriend. This was really unexpected and painful, because I thought wed both worked hard to be honest and straightforward with each other, and I found it embarrassing to have to correct her. What am I missing?DL Advertisement From: Help! My Best Friend Is Telling Everyone Were Dating. (Oct. 3, 2020). Dear Prudence, I know it sounds unbelievable, but a formerly close friend who is mentally ill pretended to have killed herself. She went on a string of unstable-sounding rants to me on her Facebook, through her messaging app, and finally in an email a couple of months ago, accusing me of terrible things that supposedly happened 20 years earlier. Friends of hers, who I suspect were really just her, took up the cause, contacting me through her accounts. Nothing I said appeased her/them. It ended after two days of frenzy, with an email from one friend saying that she had killed herself. Except she hadnt. Our county death records are public and published online, and shes not on them. Her accounts are still active, and a real-life friend of hers told me that this had happened before, to the point where her friends held a wake and she finally came clean and admitted she was not dead. I know that its not her fault because of her illness, but I see old messages and comments (Ive unfriended her) and wonder if it was all just BS and she secretly hated me all that time. Part of me wants to contact her and talk, but I dont think I can handle that. Is the best option here to just move on and delete old comments, posts, and emails when they pop up? This is so far out of my wheelhouse. Please help. Friend Pretended to Be DeadHow to Move On? Dear How to Move On, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your friend did not choose her mental illness, but that doesnt mean youre not allowed to feel pain or frustration when she acts in ways that hurt you, or that you cant draw appropriate boundaries when she spends days making sock puppet accounts trying to make you blame yourself for her death. There is nothing that you can say to her in her current state that will make you feel any better or result in her changing her behavior; this is part of an ongoing pattern that would require medical and therapeutic attention to truly address. Im so sorry for the anguish and bewilderment youve suffered lately. That sounds absolutely terrifying. I think the best thing you can do for her is wish her the best and hope she gets help from a safe distance. Continue to unfriend and block her accounts wherever you two have been linked, and find a trusted friend you can confide some of this in. Youve just gone through an absolutely exhausting ordeal, and your mental health is important too.DL Advertisement From: Help! My Friend Faked Her Own DeathAgain. (Sept. 4, 2019). Dear Prudence, I am a woman in my early 30s in an artistic freelance service job and I routinely communicate with clients via text. Early in my career, I became friends with a woman I completely adored. We spent a lot of time together before having children and our lives drifted apart, but we stayed in touch through social media. A few years ago, her husband began contacting me through texts under the ruse of a professional project but quickly turned the conversation to sexually explicit suggestions. I was extremely uncomfortable as Ive always felt a deep friendship-type love for his wife and wanted nothing to do with his nasty suggestions. I didnt tell her because I didnt want to cause problems and simply laughed him off and told him Im only available to discuss art projects. I wish I had told him to eat shit, and then forwarded the texts to his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now his wife has reached out to me requesting to spend more time together, because she has been diagnosed with an untreatable cancer and was given about a year. She and her husband are still married, and I hope to be spending more time with her. I feel I shouldnt mention the horrible texts from her husband a few years ago but am now wracked with guilt for having not said something previously. This is something I should keep to myself, right? Unless she brings up other misdeeds her husband has fessed up to in the meantime? Dying Friends Naughty Sexting Husband Dear Naughty Sexting Husband, I think your instinct is right, unfortunately, as frustrating as it must be to contemplate being friendly to him. (I hope that her husband is being as loving and supportive as possible.) If shes only got a year to live and she doesnt mention any problems in her marriage, then I dont think it would do her any good to know now. Focus on spending as much quality time with your friend as you can.DL Advertisement From: Help! Should I Tell My Dying Friend About Her Husbands Creepy Sexts? (May 13, 2019). Advertisement Advertisement Dear Prudence, Kelly and Lily and I have been a trio of friends for years and lived in the same town until Kelly moved about a year ago. Leading up to her move, I felt somewhat sad, but honestly mostly relieved she was out of my day-to-day life. I love her very much as a friend, but Im happier that shes a catch up once a month on the phone kind of a friend now and not a two-three times a week hang. Lily and I still see each other often and are closer than ever. Advertisement Kelly recently came into town, and it was so nice for the three of us to get together! We got a bit carried away and decided we all absolutely had to take a trip to Portugal together this winter. Weve all been separately but never together, and decided its a special place to all of us that well all definitely be returning to in the future. Now that the shine of our nice little visit has worn off, I absolutely do not want to take this trip (or any trip) with Kellybut I would love to go with Lily! Advertisement Advertisement My biggest reason is that Kelly has a disordered relationship with eating and exercise, which is both upsetting and tedious to be around up close and personal. There are also a ton of small reasons relating to her very particular preferences and general lack of planning skills. The three of us went on a short weekend trip a few years ago and it straight up wasnt fun. Additionally, my and Lilys partners know each other really well, but Kelly has only been with her partner for less than a year and Lily hasnt met him. Hes nice, but not someone I would want to vacation with, and my partner didnt click with him either. Im looking at my vacation days now and wondering, is there any way Lily and I and our partners can head off to Portugal or somewhere else together? Or should we skip it this year and try to revisit it after some time has passed since the initial idea? I havent asked Lily what she thinks yet, and Ive really avoided talking with her about Kelly in general because I dont want to be negative and gossipy toward our friend together. And again, I really love Kelly, I just dont want to try to navigate the world together even for a short time! Got Ahead of Myself Dear Got Ahead of Myself, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ah, yes, Ive seen the brightest minds of my generation overcommit to a group Portugal trip. It happens! Its well within your rights to back out of a trip, of course, but your instincts are correct: It would indeed be a terrible look to jet off with Lily separately in the immediate aftermath. But I think there are ways in which you could configure the existing planned trip to make it bearable (namely, shorter or smaller in scale). Traveling abroad is an ambitious and stressful undertaking for most people, whatever their personal history and usual routine might be. Is there a world where you and Lily downgrade this into a weekend trip to visit Kelly? If you two stay at a hotel, you can have some Lily quality time without making Kelly play host (plus, then Kelly can stick to the routines that work for her). If I were to venture a guess, Id say that going to Portugal or whatever is less important to Kelly than simply feeling included in something fun with the two of you. (For example, I think if you do this weekend trip, then you and Lily can globetrot to your hearts content afterward.) Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the day, Im of the mind that above-average friendships are worth potentially imperfect trips because life is short as hell, and seeing cool places with people you like is pretty much the tippy top of the Maslow pyramid in terms of satisfying ways to spend your time. You do not need to make your travel plans revolve around (or in direct avoidance of) Kelly, but if she is important to you, there are a million ways to spend time together that dont involve a ticket to Lisbon. Its the company, not the destination, right?Delia Cai Advertisement From: Help! I Wrote to Prudie for Advice and Delia Cai Answered. (July 13, 2023). Dear Prudence, Advertisement I have had a good friend for many, many years who I met at work. During that time, I dated a few guys, ultimately married and had children (she was already married with children of her own). We no longer work together. When I met my now-husband, she and her husband were going through a rough patch. He said some mean things to her, she came to my house crying, and my husband heard the comments. They have since reconciled. I enjoy our Girls Nights with her, but she has always insisted on double dates (with my exes and now my husband). The problem is my husband cannot stand her husband, and Im pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time we all hung out, the husbands only said two words to each other, while my friend and I carried the whole conversation. They just have nothing in common (do you play video games? No. Do you like sports? No. Do you like cooking? No). But my friend keeps talking about how fun these double dates are and that we need to do more of them. I keep pushing Girls Nights/husband busy with work/need someone to watch the kids, but she still insists all four of us need to hang out together. I feel like a bad friend because this clearly means so much to her. My husband has agreed to a one double-date a year policy (and COVID has prevented the hang a few years) but shes mentioning it again. Friend insists the husbands are best friends. How do I finally get out of this, or tell her my husband doesnt like your husband without being mean? Bad Friend? Dear Bad Friend, Advertisement Advertisement There are options here! Choose the one that feels like the best fit for your personality and your level of comfort with dishonesty: Im dying for some time with just us, without my husband. Can we please do that instead? Do you feel like the guys had a lot to talk about? I honestly feel like they didnt connect that much and kind of brought our vibe down. Can we hang out without them? George has become really antisocial and introverted and it takes too much for me to get him out of the house. Im not planning any more double dates with him. I know it means a lot to you for us to do double dates, but I think as hard as weve tried, were just not clicking as a foursome. Id much rather hang out just with you, and Dan has offered to watch the kids. How about brunch on Saturday? My guess, based on the past drama you mentioned, is that her husband is controlling and doesnt let her go out without him in peace, so making outings into a double-date is her way of socializing without dealing with his jealousy or anger. So if you really want to get to the core of the issue, try: I notice youre not interested in hanging out without our husbands, even though they dont connect much when were all together. I wonder if theres anything youd be willing to share about why. Is there any chance Steve isnt comfortable with you going out without him? No pressure to share with me, but if theres anything you want to talk about, Im here.JDH Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Friend Always Insists on Double-Dates. But Our Husbands Are Better Kept Apart. (June 10, 2023). More Friendship Advice From Slate My boyfriend (M) and I (F) are very involved in an arts community in our city. Both of us are performers and were both bi. My boyfriend in particular gets a lot of attention from gay men who dominate the space. Some of the older guys refuse to believe hes truly bi and seem at the ready for the day he finally gives up on me and just pivots to only being with men. Theyve said things along these exact lines to him and also as jokes in my company. Other guys, it is primarily men with some women in this community, are not this way at all. And weve managed to make a big group of friends from the people weve met in clubs and performances, etc. I say this all to give you an idea of the kind of friend group we run in Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. Dear Prudence, Two year ago, my (now ex) husband had an affair with our 29-year-old neighbor (well call her Opal) when our second child was just a few weeks old. I found out about their affair in the middle of my 40th birthday party a few days after bringing my 5-week-old infant home from the ICU. Opal also left her husband, who still lives across the street, with his new partner. Now, Opals daughter and my daughter go to the same elementary schoolso I regularly run into both Opal, her daughter, her ex-husband, and her ex-husbands new partner as we walk to school and drop off our kids. My primary goal is to be warm and friendly in public to everyone, especially their daughterbut I dont want to have contact with any of them outside of those unavoidable interactions. Its just too painful for me given the series of traumatic events following my sons birth (traumatic birth/infant in ICU, postpartum complications, c-section recovery, RSV/infant in ICU again, discover husbands affair with 11-years-younger neighbor). Im doing my very best to navigate this shit sandwich that Ive been dealt in a way that supports my kids, my own wellbeing, and my co-parenting relationships with my ex-husband (who, to be clear, did some truly awful things but hes the father of my kids, so Im stuck with him). Heres my problem: I need advice on boundaries! Opals ex-husband has been texting me for info because apparently Opal isnt communicating well as a co-parent. And he says his new partner wants to formally meet me. I see no need to be formally introduced to my ex-husbands girlfriends ex-husbands girlfriend. And I feel like I should have zero obligation to communicate any limited information I have to my ex-husbands girlfriends ex-husband? Tell me Im the sane one in this situation! Not My Circus Dear Not My Circus, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have zero obligation to communicate with your ex-husbands girlfriends ex-husband or his girlfriend. I promise you that. But you might want to tell your ex-husband that you wont be exchanging information with his girlfriends ex-husband anymore, so one or both of them should be prepared to take over those lines of communication. Dear Prudence, My partner wont leave politics alonewe hold similar political views, but discussing them every evening is exhausting me. Tonight, he was criticizing a politicians hypocritical behavior and seemed increasingly upset (though largely unsurprised) by it. When I suggested he limit the attention he gives to the upcoming U.S. presidential election and focus on something less stressful to him, he got really angry. He knows I share his viewsI just cant take his daily emotional response to the news. When I tell him this, he says he must be boring me and then wont chat with me at all. Advertisement A wrinkle in this is that my partner is from Canada. He is not a U.S. citizen and does not want to become one (who can blame him?). I have suggested he volunteer for a get-out-the-vote effort or similar in order to exercise his passion for U.S. politics, but he says his job is too stressful. He regularly tries to instruct me in U.S. history and politics (this is also exhausting). I am a registered U.S. voter with a degree in U.S. history. I try to stay well informed about todays issues. My partner is familiar with my education, and I have told him that I find his instruction unnecessary and a little annoying, but this had no effect. I try to change the subject, but he brings it right back around to politics and how angry he is about them (often with a bonus history round). I am so tired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not as though Im the only one he can talk to about the political situation. Though his colleagues at work do not share his views, his mother and sister do. He speaks or emails with both of them several times a week, and they enjoy discussing political news from the U.S. and Canada with him. I can understand that it could be particularly frustrating to live and work in a country where you cant vote, but does that mean I have to spend every night listening to The Angry Canadian Monologues? Are Earplugs the Answer? Dear Earplugs, Yikes, this does sound exhausting! But subject matter aside, my guess is that your partner is a certified yapper; which is to say, I think hes just verbally processing his emotions. I can understand how it would feel like hes lecturing you by constantly relaying the ins and outs of political functions youre already privy to and news youre following as well, but I wonder if this might just be the way he knows how to expel those intense emotions from his body and mind. Of course, even if thats true, understanding the impulse behind his nightly diatribes wont save you from feeling held hostage during them. Perhaps theres a way to leave room for him to say what he needs to say, while limiting how long youre expected to be present for that conversation? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe suggest that conversations about politics are allowed for 20 minutes after dinner, and then you both either have to move on to the next subject, or reach out to a friend or family member orperhaps easiest for everyonesound off on social media. It may be true that verbal processing is his primary mode of dealing with his feelings, but that doesnt mean you have to be his primary outlet. Advertisement How to Get Advice Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.) And for questions on parenting, kids, or family life, try Care and Feeding! Dear Prudence, My sister remarried six months after her divorce and moved the kids to a new city. Within the next two years, she had two more kids with her new husband. It has been very hard on my niece and nephew. They havent adjusted well at all. My niece is being targeted by bullies at her high school, and my nephew keeps butting heads with his stepfather. Both have expressed a desire to go live with their dad (which would functionally mean going to their grandparents since the man is a waste of space). My sister refuses to even think about it and believes if she pushes hard enough with the family bonding that everything will comes up roses. Advertisement Advertisement The last time I visited, I brought up the idea that she allow the kids a trial run with their dads family for a semester. She told me that she wasnt going to break up her family; I told her she was already on the way there. Her kids are seriously unhappy. My sister doesnt want to hear it and even stopped family therapy because of it. Now shes not speaking to me. Maybe I shouldnt have opened my mouth, but the situation has only gotten worse. What are my options here? I live in another state and cant see the kids regularly. Unhappy Kids Dear Unhappy Kids, Unfortunately, at this point, youve mostly done what you can. There has been a lot of upheaval in your sisters family, and for now, shes receiving all critiques of the way shes handling it as personal attacks. I dont think youre going to be able to change her mind, and my guess is that all attempts will be met with stonewalling and further alienation. We both know that the hardships this family is facing wont get better while being ignored, and while we may hope the damage doesnt become irreparable, theres no guarantee that wont happen. Still, however this plays out, you are not in a position to parent your sisters children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question is, how will you show up for your loved ones in the meantime? You should certainly maintain an open line to your niblingsit sounds like they need a kind ear and a place to vent. If you can have them come visit from time to time, all the better. As for your sister, she may be determined not to need you or your opinions now, but something tells me one day shell be reaching out to apologize or process something difficult. You should start thinking about how you want to show up in that situation, and how much of your sisters lamenting youre willing to listen to without being able to make suggestions for resolutions. Advertisement Dear Prudence, My sister and I have both been fruitlessly house hunting this past year. She and her family are squeezed into a tiny two-bedroom apartment and cant move because it is in the only decent school district nearby. I was tired of living with roommates well into my thirties and being unable to give my dogs a yard to play in. I hit the jackpot in a finding a three-bedroom house with a huge yard and within a 20-minute commute to my work. The worst thing about the house is it hasnt been updated since the early 90s. I dont care about granite counter tops. I do care that there is a huge park with a dog run nearby. Advertisement Advertisement I thought my sister would be happy for me. Instead, she looked up the address and then called to berate me for taking a house in a good school zone away from some hypothetical family. I didnt need all that space. I asked if she was high on cold medicine or something. She got even more offended and started ranting againhow they could not afford to move even if they found a place. I told her that was a you problem. The area she lives in is ridiculously expensive, while mine is not. Even if the house I found had existed in her area, she and her husband would not be able to afford it. I finally told my sister we should probably take a break from talking to each other and hung up. I am really hurt by her reaction. I listened to her complain and complain and complain about the real estate market for months. I thought she would be pleased that one of us managed to get a lucky break. What do I do from here (other than worry about closing costs)? House Hunter Dear House Hunter, Advertisement Advertisement Your sister is angry at the circumstances of her life, and Im so sorry that she took her feelings out on you. The logic behind her anger doesnt make sense because, well, it doesnt make sense. Youre not going to be able to make her see that, because this tantrum is not about where the house is, how expensive it is, or who lives there. Its about the fact that you have something she wantshome-ownership. I understand why youd be hurt by her reaction (even if you partially understand it), but its not your job to fix anything about this. Shes going to have to come to her senses in her own time, and until that time, I want you enjoying every minute you can of making your new home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get Even More Advice From the Dear Prudence Podcast Dear Prudence, We adopted our daughter, Ellie, when she was 8. Ellie was abused and abandoned by her birth mother and was in foster care until we got her. While Ellie was in college, she reached out to her biological family, and everything changed. She accused us of keeping her away from them and said they tried for years to find her. None of this is true; we sent letters and pictures to her maternal family and nothing ever came of it. Still, Ellie stopped calling us Mom and Dad. Then she stopped calling us all together. The last time she spoke was to ask her father for more money after we already sent her over $3,000 to help with her rent. My husband asked where the money went and Ellie told him it was none of our business. My husband told Ellie there would be no more money. She cursed him and hung up. That was five months ago. Our hearts are broken here. Is there any hope? Daughter Gone Dear Daughter Gone, Advertisement Advertisement It is possible to close a door and leave it unlocked. Whatever Ellie is going through right now, with regard to her birth family or otherwise, shes a young woman making her own choices in life. You and your husband may always be a safety net for her, but youre going to have to decide at what levels youre willing to catch her when she falls, before you get the call that shes fallen. Advertisement Its hard not to picture the worst of what can happen to an angry adult child we cant control. But talking now, between the two of you, about what youre realistically willing to do and how far youre willing to go, could help. I know that to you, Ellie will always be your daughter, so let me assure you that its good for any and all kinds of parents to know what their boundaries are with a struggling child. You dont want to engage in a painful back-and-forth with her that ends up exhausting all options for reconciliation. Advertisement Dear Prudence, Twenty-five years ago, I was the administrator of my mothers estate on behalf of myself and two brothers. In her final weeks, my mother wrote a letter to my youngest brother with whom she had a very tumultuous relationship. In it, she professed her sincere love for him but also admonished him for the serious pain he caused her and others throughout the years. She asked me to read it and advise whether she should actually give it to him. At the time, I said no, that it would hurt him too much with no good to come of it. She left it to me to decide if ever to give it to him. I still have this letter. Many times I have thought to destroy it, but I have not been able to bring myself to do it. Can/should I go ahead and discard my mothers last words to her son? Does he have a right to receive this in spite of the pain it would bring? Last Words Can Hurt Dear Last Words, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think you knew when your mother asked about the letter that it wouldnt be the right thing to do to share it, so I want you to stick with your gut reaction. There is nothing to be gained or resolved by sharing the letter with your brother now, especially when he doesnt even know it exists. Keep it that way. Classic Prudie Last year, I lent my brother an expensive piece of photography equipment. After a few months, his wife sold it on eBay; I didnt find out about it until I asked for it back for a project. He apologized and said it was an accident (she thought the equipment was his). He offered to buy a replacement, but I said there was no need. Fast forward a year later, my brother asked me to borrow another piece of equipment The indictment of Eric Adams, unsealed Thursday, is a colorful document, alleging over $100,000 in graft, the defrauding of a public funding program from which he reaped $10 million, and a whole lot of subsidized travel to Turkey. It accuses Adams of crimes that span the 10-year period that he held the offices of Brooklyn borough president and New York City mayor.* The transgressions range from hilarious to horrible. There are also some truly pitiful attempts by Adams to cover his tracks. But the biggest takeaway from this indictmentthe result of one of five separate federal probes into his administration and campaignis the deep irony, in retrospect, of Adams extreme tough-on-crime stance, which put him in office during a period of intense anxiety and paranoia about the safety of New York City. A plainspoken champion of the outer boroughs, Adams pitched himself as a true moderate, one who had served the city as an officer of the law. He vowed to clean up the streets by cracking down on homeless New Yorkers (while cutting funding for shelters) and accused immigrants of sapping the resources of the city. In reality, he was sapping resources from the city. And his crimes, according to the indictment, were at times so exceedingly small-bore that it expands the imagination to consider how little it takes to buy off some elected officials. Advertisement For example, Adams was so reliant on the cheap flights and free business-class upgrades provided to him that he ended up on some wildly circuitous itineraries. Because the Turkish Airline provided free travel benefits worth tens of thousands of dollars to Eric Adams, the indictment reads, he flew the Turkish Airline even when doing so was otherwise inconvenient. During a 2017 summer trip from New York City to France, Adams partner is surprised to find out that he has scheduled a layover in Istanbul, an overshoot of some 1,700 miles from his intended destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In what might be the most memorable Adams line in the entire document, he responds: Transferring here. You know first stop is always instanbul. Advertisement That wasnt the last time Adams sought an outlandish route on Turkish Airlines. When his partner wanted to plan a trip to Easter Islandin ChileAdams repeatedly asked her whether the Turkish Airline could be used for their flights, requiring her to call the Turkish Airline to confirm that they did not have routes between New York and Chile. The route from New York to Istanbul to Santiago would have tacked on two unnecessary crossings of the prime meridian. Adams also accepted deeply discounted rates at the St. Regis Istanbuls Bentley suite, which, thanks to some grainy black-and-white photos in the indictment, looks to be one of the single most overpriced hotel rooms in the world. Adams allegedly paid $300 a night for the place, which seems about right, compared with the going rate of $3,500. The free and discounted world travel added up to over $100,000, none of which Adams disclosed. Advertisement The alleged illegal fundraising activity that helped plant Adams in the mayors office is described in great detail. In 2018, as Adams begins to plan for his incipient mayoral campaign, a Turkish promoter reaches out to an Adams staffer with a straw-donor strategy. Well make the donation through an American citizen in the U.S. A Turk Ill give cash to him in Turkey He will make a donation to you. An Adams staffer balks at the suggestion: I think he wouldnt get involved in such games, the staffer says but promises to ask anyway. Wrong! Adams loves it. Shortly thereafter, Adams directed that the Adams Staffer pursue the Promoters illegal scheme. Advertisement Advertisement The humor of that exchange is sort of lessened by the impact. Adams used that straw-donor scheme to defraud the city of New Yorks public matching funds program, from which he received $10 million, bilking the well-intentioned program for elections: In an effort to blunt the influence of big corporate donors and megadonors, the city matches small-dollar donations of $250 or less with public funds at up to eight times the level of the donation, $8 for every $1 donated, a well-intentioned move to maximize the influence of small-dollar donors and move toward publicly funded elections.* Advertisement But Adams allegedly used these illegal straw donations from Turkey to then raid that public elections programfor $10 million, a gesture made even more insulting because his signature move as mayor has been harsh and seemingly arbitrary budget cuts to beloved public services like libraries, always on the grounds that the city cant afford them. That Public money for me but not for thee ethic has also been on display with those in the New York Police Department, Adams former co-workers, who have been able to run up an obscene tab for overtime pay on Adams watch while he preaches cuts elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement In exchange for mediocre hotel rooms and interminable flights with inconvenient layovers, Adams sold out the city he was tasked with running. As requested, according to the indictment, he pressured the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to facilitate the opening of a new Turkish consular buildinga 36-story skyscraperwithout a fire inspection, in time for a high-profile visit by Turkeys president in 2021. Despite the obvious risks, a FDNY fire inspector was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce, and, after Adams intervened, the skyscraper opened as requested by the Turkish Official, without passing a fire-safety inspection. Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day was approaching, the Turkish official repeatedly asked the Adams Staffer for assurances that Adams would not make any statement about the Armenian Genocide. Adams obliged and said nothing. Still, the most absurd part is almost certainly the attempted cover-up. In 2021 a Turkish Airlines rep offered to charge Adams $50 for pricey, last-minute flights to Istanbul. No, dear, warns an Adams staffer, his every step is being watched right now. Instead, the Adams staff resolves to go ahead with the plan anywaybut to pay a not-at-all-suspicious $1,000 for the flights. Advertisement Adams attempt to cover his own digital trail is even more ridiculous. In 2019, after arranging another flight, an Adams staffer urged Adams to cover his tracks. To be o[n the] safe side Please Delete all messages you send me. Adams responded: Always do. Advertisement In late 2023, with the investigation closing in, FBI agents executed a search warrant for Adams electronic devices. Adams was carrying two cellphones but not his personal phone, which is what he used for the alleged illicit activity. When Adams finally produced his personal phone the next day, it was locked with a new six-digit passcode that the mayor refused to give over to the feds, claiming that he could not remember it. Adams admitted that he had found out about the investigation into his dealings the day before the search and had changed his password thenbut for the good of law enforcement, adding that he had done so to prevent members of his staff from inadvertently or intentionally deleting the contents of his phone. The indictment dryly notes that Adams said he wished to preserve the contents of his phone due to the investigation. Advertisement There was just one small problem: Just 48 hours after changing the password to protect the sanctity of the investigation, Adams further claimed, he had forgotten the password he had just set, and thus was unable to provide the FBI with a password that would unlock the phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That wasnt Adams only laugh-out-loud attempt to thwart the investigation. One of his staffers instructed one of the Turkish businessmen involved in the straw-donor operation to direct his employees who had made straw donations to the 2021 campaign to lie to federal investigators as well. That same businessman met with Adams at City Hall, and they left their cellphones outside the room in which they met so that it would be safe to talk. Obviously, none of this worked. Advertisement Related From Slate Eric Adams' Indictment Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg Read More The indictment notes that one of the Turkish businessmen agreed to contribute $50,000 or more to the 2021 Campaign, believing that Adams might one day be the President of the United States. He had hoped to gain influence. That, at the time, wasnt a crazy thought. Despite swirling rumors of corruption, many Democratsand pundits, including Nate Silverpredicted that Adams was a top-five contender for the next Democratic presidential nominee. He was embraced by national Democrats as the face of their tough-on-crime, left-antagonistic, anti-activist approach; cheered as a possible president by high-profile Democratic strategists like Lis Smith; and even invited by Nancy Pelosi to speak at a 2022 Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee event as an expert on communication. Advertisement Advertisement That his tenure has curdled into absurdist tales of grubby graft and self-aggrandizing travel that a high-end credit-card rewards program could have furnished is a reflection of an incredible paradoxthe great expositor of tough-on-crime politics allegedly did so much petty crime that he might not make it to the end of his first term of office. Because now the only real question surrounding Eric Adams political future is how much longer hell serve as mayor. Correction, Sept. 27, 2024: This piece originally misstated that an indictment alleged that Adams defrauded New York City out of $10 million in public funds. It states that he defrauded a public funding program from which he received $10 million in public funds. The nightmare of a widening war in the Middle East is coming true. The question is how widely and violently it will spread before fatigue, fear, or the scrambling efforts of outside diplomats grind the fighting to a halt. For now, Israel is facing the prospect of its first three-front war since 1973 (this time, Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon)and it is taking on the task not hesitantly, but with gusto. The recently reignited frontagainst the Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanonposes the greatest threat to Israel. But escalating this long-simmering conflict into a full-scale waras Israel is now doingalso poses the greatest risks, for not just Israel and Lebanon but the entire region. Advertisement President Joe Biden and some European leaders have proposed a 21-day cease-fire for starters. But theres little reason to believe theyll be any more successful than they have been at stopping the war in Gaza over the past 11 months. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to Bidens proposal with his usual Janus facenodding to Washington that hes thinking about it seriously while assuring the far-right members in his ruling coalition that he wont stop pounding Hezbollah sites for a moment. Meanwhile, Israeli troops have been mobilized for a possible invasion, which has been in the planning stages for quite a while. Israel has reasons to mount its latest strikes in Lebanonwhich began last week with the remote-control detonation of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies held by thousands of Hezbollah fighters, then continued with massive airstrikes on Hezbollah positions. Hezbollah also has reasons to strike back, firing some of its rockets at Israeli cities as far south as Tel Aviv, which theyve rarely fired at before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah, a Shiite organization, has been officially designated a terrorist group by many countries. It has come to dominate Lebanese politics (it is often called a state within a state). Its military wing has about 50,000 armed fighters and an arsenal that includes more than 100,000 rockets. The Israeli military says many of them are hidden in peoples houses and in an elaborate network of tunnels. There have been sporadic exchanges of rocket fire for many years. In 2006, the U.N. Security Council ordered Hezbollah to disarm south of the Litani River, which flows 10 miles north of the LebanonIsrael border, but the group ignored the resolution and kept up the occasional rocket attacks. Their volume and frequency have intensified since the war in Gaza started a year ago, to the point where 65,000 Israelis in the northern part of the country have been compelled to evacuate their homes. Advertisement At some point, not just Netanyahu but many Israelis decided it was time to turn up their own volume of attacks and end Hezbollahs threat altogether. An especially vocal advocate has been Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has been sharply at odds with the prime minister on some of his policies in Gaza, to the point where he may soon be fired. From Hezbollahs vantage, Israels attacks of the past week have been devastating, wiping out the Islamist groups communications network, killing dozens and injuring hundreds or maybe thousands of its senior fighters, and utterly embarrassing its leadershipexposing the entire organizations inability to thwart Israels dominance or protect Lebanons population. Related From Slate Why Did Israel Blow Up Thousands of Hezbollah Pagers? Read More The question is what Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, will do about this quandary. In 2006, Israel pummeled south Lebanon with airstrikes for 34 days after Hezbollah militants, in a cross-border operation, killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others.* At the time, Nasrallah publicly said that if hed known Israel would have responded so forcefully, he would never have approved the operation. In other words, Nasrallah is, relatively, a pragmatist. However, he is also the leader of a vast movement that cannot afford to be viewed as weak. Advertisement Advertisement There is a wider matter: Hezbollah is, in some ways, the strongest spoke in Irans network of proxies in the regionthe self-described axis of resistance, which also includes Hamas, the Houthis, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other militias. And while the Iranian leaders clearly do not want a wider war with Israel, and certainly not with the United States (which would probably be drawn into a direct war with Israel), they also cant afford to be viewed as unreliable protectors, either by their allies or their foes. Advertisement Advertisement These assorted dilemmas are clear to all the players involved, not least the United States. Hence Bidens rushed effort to put a cease-fire proposal on the table and get some negotiations going. Advertisement One problem among many is that Netanyahu and other Israelis think they have an opportunity here not just to discombobulate Hezbollahs command structure and kill or injure many of its military leaders, but also to destroy the organization as a threat. He has referred to the campaigns strategy as a victory doctrinejust as he has declared total victory as his goal in Gaza. From a tactical perspective, he has some reason to believe this. A story this week in the Financial Times reports that on the eve of the 2006 war, Israeli intelligence had produced a vetted list of only several dozen Hezbollah targets, mainly the soldiers and support gear engaged in the fighting. Now, after years of deep intelligence and careful research, Israel knows the precise location and functioning of thousands of targets, including a vast military infrastructure that Hezbollah has been building for the past 20 years. Advertisement During 2006, the Israeli air force hit about 200 targets a day, many of them redundantly. Just on Monday of this week, it hit 1,600 targets. There are many more not yet hit. Advertisement Advertisement Many of these targetsincluding those already bombedare scattered all across Lebanon, not just in Hezbollahs southern stronghold. Even if all the targets are military in nature, and even if Israels airstrikes are precisely aimed, many civilians are certain to be killed and injured. How many is impossible to say. As in Gaza, Lebanons health ministry does not distinguish between civilian and military casualties. The pager bombs last week reportedly injured 2,800 people. It is unknown how many were Hezbollah fightersprobably most of them, as the devices were packed with one-tenth of an ounce of explosives. The bombs dropped by Israeli jets in the subsequent days, even small bombs, explode with much greater force. Advertisement Israel hopes to finish the operation quickly, before the civilian damage arouses much opposition. But many outside leaders and diplomats, very much including Biden and his team, hope to bring about a cease-fire before the damagecivilian and otherwisecompels Hezbollah or, worse still, Iran to retaliate with enormous firepower. According to the Financial Times, Hezbollah could fire 3,000 rockets and missiles a day, if its commanders wanted (and if Iran unleashed them to do so). Their relatively limited counterstrikes this week, which hit targets (mostly military) in Haifa and Tel Aviv, showed they have the ability to inflict devastating damage on Israel. At what point will someone in Hezbollahs upper ranks see Israels airstrikes as a final straw and retaliate in kind? If someone does, Israel could respond by flattening much of Lebanon. Theoretically, that prospect should deter Hezbollahs extravagancebut, in real life, will it? Nation-states have sleepwalked into war against their better judgments, and the same could be true of states within states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There may have been moments when the war on the northern front might have been settled diplomatically. Not long ago, Hezbollah said they would stop pounding Israel with rockets if Israel signed a cease-fire deal with Hamas. Yet both Israel and Hamas were obstructing such a deal, so the offer wasnt taken seriously. Advertisement Meanwhile, even if Netanyahu were inclined to call a cease-fire on the northern border, his thirst for power might dissuade him. Itamar Ben-Gvir, his minister of national security and the leader of one of the far-right-wing parties that comprise Netanyahus ruling coalition, has announced that he would resign if the prime minister agreed to a cease-fire. Netanyahus coalition rules Parliament by a very slender majority. If Ben-Gvir pulled out his party, the majority would collapse; new elections would be held, and Netanyahu could well lose. (In a speech several months ago, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, who is ardently pro-Israel, wished for new elections precisely because Netanyahu was too beholden to far-right-wingers, making any kind of peace impossible.) Advertisement One other fact is troubling many outside diplomats, who wish that it would trouble Netanyahu more: If Israeli troops actually invade Lebanon, their troubles wont necessarily be over. In 1982, Prime Minister Menachem Begin ordered troops into southern Lebanon to expel Yasir Arafats Palestinian Liberation Organization, which was wreaking havoc at the time. The operation tactically succeeded, but the Israelis wound up staying there, in a turbulent occupation, for 18 years. More troubling still, Hezbollah rose to power in the vacuum left by Arafat. A plethora of pressures keep the Middle Easts war machines grinding onin Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and elsewhere. Peace requires diplomats to halt the machines many moving parts all at once. It is very difficult. I first spoke to Sally Abou AlJoud, a Beirut-based reporter for a local English-language publication, after twin attacks on booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies killed 37 people, including children, and injured thousands more last week. She told me about the scenes of devastation and panic that unfolded afterward, as she witnessed herself after she rushed to the hospitals fielding the wounded after the strikes. Within a day, that conversation already felt outdated. Everything has changed. Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 600 people, including hundreds of civilians, according to Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees. Israel promised full force as it continued with new strikes and has now hinted at a potential ground invasion. Advertisement AlJoud now begins each day by equipping herself in body armor and a helmet marked PRESS and venturing out into areas she was familiar with before they were pulverized to debris by the strikes. We spoke about how her and others lives in Lebanon have changed in this past week, what shes learned from speaking directly to the displaced people who narrowly evaded being killed in the strikes, and whether she thinks a wider war is now inevitable. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Aymann Ismail: You sound really tired. Sally Abou AlJoud: Yeah. Im pretty wiped out. What have the last 72 hours have been like? Monday was the craziest, most violent, and tense day weve seen, with over 500 people killed in just one day. Its been crazy ever since. Israel has intensified its airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon. Since then, people have been fleeing dangerous areas, and many are now living on the streets. Not everyone has found shelter. Just today, weve heard of at least two strikes almost 100 kilometers from the border, meaning theyre striking deeper into the country. We dont feel safe anywhere anymore. In Beirut, it used to be that staying away from Hezbollah strongholds made us safe, but now we dont feel safe anywhere. We dont know where the strikes will hit nexttheyre bombing everywhere. Were really scared right now. We dont know whats going to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im hearing that Israel is planning a ground invasion. Theyre not backing down, and were watching a humanitarian crisis unfold. An actual war. We keep asking, When is a wider war going to happen? Is it going to happen? I think were seeing it unfold before our eyes right now. That sounds terrifying. I woke up today to news that they hit very close to where my family lives. I visited the site today and spoke to the owner of the warehouse that was targeted. He said it was just a garage for cars. I saw the crater where the airstrike hit. Have you been out to your family there? I drive on that highway all the time. Im originally from Beirut, but my family has always lived outside of Beirut in that region. I visit my sisters and their families all the time there. This is where I also visit the beach. Theres a lot of resorts there, lots of surfing as well. The waves are ideal for that, I guess. And from the spot I was at today, where you can see the warehouse in ruins and people trying to clean up the debris, you can also see the Mediterranean. And it was really blue today. I felt it was ironic to look at something beautiful like that, and then have to focus on the reality of the aftermath of an Israeli strike. And as I stood there, ambulances rolled in every 10 minutes. It feels not real, like a movie. Its very weird to see the highway where I drove almost every week to visit my family in ruins. Next to the targeted warehouse where, according to the owner, they keep cars, theres a big market selling shisha and coals for the shisha. And then theres also a mini supermarket 10 meters away from that warehouse that sells roasted nuts, where Ive personally stopped to grab water and coffee on my way to visit my family. Its very surreal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I spoke to the people there. They told me, We never thought that this would be a targeted area. Weve always thought of this as a safe area. Its an area where Sunni Muslims, Christians, and Shia Muslims all live. I spoke with two people who are Christian who said, There are no Hezbollah weapons here. We did not expect a strike here in this area. Where these airstrikes are falling are very weird, and very telling. Can you tell me about the makeup of the victims of the strike? Have you been to any hospitals or spoken to anyone about whos being killed by these strikes? Hezbollah hasnt been releasing many statements about their fighters, so we dont know the exact ratio of fighters to civilians in the death toll. But the health ministry reported the tally included 140 women and children, United Nations workers, and nine paramedics. And when we talk about the 1,800-plus injured, many of them are severely wounded, not just moderately hurt. Advertisement Ive spoken to people who fled their homes and are now living in shelters. Some told me their neighbors were killed, and they know for certain that these were not supporters or fightersjust people caught in the crossfire. Advertisement Advertisement Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of using these civilians as human shields. Do you accept that characterization? I asked people that exact question: What do you think of the accusation that Hezbollah is using you as human shields? and Israel specifically accused you of storing weapons. The people I spoke to found it ridiculous to expect them to know exactly where weapons are stored. In response, they asked Israel, Who would live in a place where there are weapons, rockets, and missiles? They found the accusation absurd and denied being near any weapons. They also denied that Hezbollah was using them as human shields. They told me, We are unarmed and terrified. We escaped while airstrikes were falling above our heads. Many didnt even have cars to flee. Advertisement Advertisement I spoke to a woman who was eight months pregnant. Her house was destroyed, and she said, I had no one to help me escape. You have to listen to the people Israel is accusing. They are the ones being labeled as keeping weapons or acting as human shields for Hezbollah. I also saw the leaflets Israel distributed over the villages, ordering residents to evacuate or else be considered a terrorist. Related From Slate What Was the Point of Israels Pager Attack? Read More Press freedom groups have said there is a pattern of Israel targeting and killing journalists in Gaza and the West Bank. The Committee to Protect Journalists called Gaza the most dangerous ever place for reporters. An Israeli strike last year on journalists wearing press vests in southern Lebanon killed a Reuters journalist, injured six others, and was also found to be apparently deliberate. Is this something on your mind while youre out in the field, trying to stay mobile and do your job as a reporter? Advertisement Advertisement Yes, of course. Weve seen what Israel did in Gaza, where over 140 journalists have been killed, many of them while on duty and wearing press vests and helmets. Theyve also targeted vehicles they knew were carrying press. Just today in Lebanon, journalists were killed in an airstrike. The death toll of journalists here is now five, all killed by Israeli airstrikes. Its definitely on our minds, to the point where many of us are avoiding areas that are being heavily bombed. In most war zones, reporters try to get to those areas to cover the story, even though they know the risks. But right now, because of how unpredictable the targeting is, many journalists feel its too dangerous, even when wearing protective gear like press vests. Are you doing anything specific to keep yourself safer right now? Advertisement Advertisement We always wear our protective gear when entering areas we suspect could come under fire, and we try to stay ahead of the news to predict where the next strike might be. But its been really difficult. Today, they hit 100 kilometers deep into Lebanon. At this point, it feels random. Israel claims to be targeting areas where Hezbollah stores weapons, but they expect everyonepeople fleeing, journalists, first respondersto know where these places are. As we cover the situation, we often have to enter places that have already been struck, interviewing the owners and residents. We havent seen any evidence of weapons being stored at these sites. Its a very fluid and dangerous situation. It feels like everyone is risking their lives just by being in Lebanon right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people are still talking about the threat of a wider war. Do you feel like the wider war is here? Absolutely. Were watching it unfold right nowwere living in a war. I dont think that question is relevant anymore. Every day, I wake up trying to accept this reality. Its like my mind tries to shrink away from that fact, but then I check my phone and read the news from overnight. This morning, I woke up to the news that there was a strike near my familys home. This is the reality were in. In 2006, the last time we were at war with Israel, around 1,200 people were killed over 34 days. On Monday alone, we saw almost half of that death toll in a single day. The numbers tell us whether or not were in a full-scale war. Were also hearing that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion and threatening Hezbollah, saying, We can show you more. Were powerful. We can destroy you. The threats are constant, and the airstrikes keep coming. Advertisement Advertisement The prime minister of Israel is telling Lebanese people that theyre just targeting Hezbollah, and urging them to try to get out of harms way and theyll be fine. But that does not reflect the reality we are seeing on the ground. Were seeing large numbers of civilians, women and children, killed in targeted attacks. If this was only about Hezbollah, we wouldnt be reporting 94 children killed and 14 ambulances on fire, targeted by Israeli fire. Four paramedics were killed just yesterday. The walkie-talkie explosion attack turned people in public places into bombs, exploding in funerals and homes. What were seeing right now in south Lebanon, in eastern Lebanonhow civilians are in the middle of thisits what we saw in Gaza. Its the same playbook, calling civilians human shields, telling them they are accountable for avoiding their targeted strikes on weapons they dont know the locations of, and then bearing the brunt of the violence. What is your plan now? Ive been in contact with my family. I told them this strike might not be just a one-time thing. Im just scared right now that theres going to be more targets. Its very scary for everyone. Last month, nothing short of an earthquake-level upheaval struck the professional music industry. On Aug. 26, the president of the Colorado-based tech company MakeMusic announced that the firm would be making no further updates to Finale, the pioneering and popular music-notation app that the firm had been selling and updating for 35 years. Technology stacks change, Mac and Windows operating systems evolve, and Finales millions of lines of code add up, MakeMusics Greg DellEra wrote in his first (and likely last) contribution to the companys Finale-centric blog. Instead of releasing new versions of Finale that would offer only marginal value to our users, weve made the decision to end its development. Advertisement In other words: A key computer program for digitizing and expediting the arduous process of writing and formatting the types of sheet music used by musicians and ensembles everywhereorchestras, schoolkids, the theater world, session instrumentalists, pop producerswould be phased out by the following year, with no hopes for revival. However, Finale subscribers would be offered an exclusive discount to switch over to a newer tool called Dorico, which is owned by a subsidiary of the historic instrument manufacturer Yamaha. This dry, corporatese update provoked a stronger reaction than DellEra must have anticipated. The German electronic artist and blogger Peter Kirn deemed it the end of an era. The famed film and theater composer Marc Shaiman (When Harry Met Sally, Hairspray) expressed his indignation on Instagram, in a post that attracted similarly outraged comments from prominent performers like Tony DeSare and Joan Ellison. Finales own Instagram post regarding the impending discontinuation garnered hundreds of aggrieved comments from conductors, songwriters, music students, academics, and general enthusiasts calling the move an utter betrayal that was ridiculous and absolutely unacceptable. They cited the steep costs, learning curves, and disruption of personal files that would result from the imperative to adopt a different software. Advertisement If youre unfamiliar with Finale, you may have trouble understanding why a program for placing musical notes on staffs has enflamed such passions. The most succinct way to explain its significance may come from David Pogue, the CBS Sunday Morning correspondent and former Broadway producer, who claims he wouldnt be where he is today without the program. Finale is as close to being the Microsoft Word of sheet music as there is, said Pogue. If you were working with an arranger or a conductor, you would just be able to say, Ill give you the Finale files, and youd know that theyd be able to open it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pogue is intimately familiar with Finale, having written the first instruction manuals for the software back in the 1990s. The software itself emerged during the computer boom of the late 80s, when a religious composer named Phil Farrandwho declined to speak with me for this piecesought a means of music transcription and editing to hasten a tedious task that, at the time, could really be done only by hand and on paper. (Other, more basic music apps available on the Macintosh, like Professional Composer and Deluxe Music Construction Set, suffered frequent glitches, rendering them insufficient for most budding creatives.) So Farrand teamed up with John Borowicz from Coda Music Managementthe company now known as MakeMusicto develop and publish Finale in 1988, pushing to market a much more complex, expensive product whose abilities far exceeded its competitors: allowing users to write arrangements with dozens of instruments, hear live audio playback of their creations, and access a wide-spanning range of musical symbols (including for dynamics and rests). Advertisement Powerful as Finale was, it did lack one feature key to its rivals appeal: ease of use. Finale was staggeringly complex. It came with hundreds of pages of manuals filled with bizarre jargon that no musician would be able to understand, said Pogue, who reviewed an early version of the app in the Mac Street Journal, a New Yorkbased newsletter for Apple enthusiasts. It had to be complicated, because it did 100 more things than any preceding program. Pogue started assisting other Finale users in New York as a salesman at the legendary Sam Ash music store (which closed just earlier this year) and submitted a proposal to Coda for simplifying Finale and its manuals. The company accepted, and Pogue helped craft both the second version of Finale (my writing to this day is part of the Help system) and its accompanying three-volume manual, making for a much more legible, accessible system overall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was this iteration of Finale, easier to understand but no less competent, that the Grammy-nominated big-band composer Darcy James Argue stumbled across in the mid-1990s as a music student at McGill University. For every arrangement and composition that Ive ever written since then, I have used Finale to produce it, said Argue. Its like playing an instrument. Its really part of my workflow, my muscle memory. Around the same time, British coders and composers began using a rival notation platform called Sibelius (named for the late-Romantic-era Finnish composer Jean Sibelius), which wouldnt appear on American computers till the late 90s. Both became industry standards for digital music notation throughout the 2000s, launching regular updates and holding a sort of duopoly over the space, as Doricos product marketing manager, Daniel Spreadbury, characterized it to me. Advertisement Things changed by the following decade. A private-equity firm bought Finales parent company in 2013, a moment Spreadbury pinpointed as an inflection point for MakeMusics business modelone far more focused on its cloud services than on prioritizing an already-aging service like Finale. Around the same time, Sibelius parent company shut down the platforms London studio and laid off its original developers, replacing them with newer recruits. By that time, other notation appssuch as the free, open-source MuseScore programbegan making inroads into the market, throwing the FinaleSibelius dynamic off course and allowing many of Sibelius now-fired devs (including Spreadbury) to develop their own alternative: Dorico, the signature music-notation app from the German music-tech outfit Steinberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the face of more, newer, and cheaper options, Finale couldnt retain its singular hold over the music-notation space. However, it did retain a loyal base of power users, Argue told me, who appreciated the platforms openness to user-coded third-party additions. Theres not quite that same DIY community around Dorico or Sibelius, he said. I designed the jazz-font default thats included in the latest version of Finale, and I included compatibility for the music-symbol fonts from Standard Music Font Layout. (Which, incidentally, was originally created by Spreadbury for use in Dorico.) Finale was also buoyed by its position as a market pioneer and early default for various musical institutions, regarding everything from the know-how down to the file formats. Finale was very widely used in colleges and universities in the U.S., said Spreadbury, while Argue added, Practically every Broadway show since about 1994 has been prepared in Finale, along with a huge number of film scores. Advertisement Advertisement So why axe Finale now, especially if there are so many famous works out there whose digital iterations are best suited for, well, Finale? The business troubles Finale faced in its private-equity era were no doubt part of it. But theres also the fact that it is a nearly 40-year-old piece of software that, Pogue said, became what they call spaghetti codethat is, a convoluted, poorly structured skeleton thats been changed many times over many years by many people. It would certainly be possible to rip out the engine and replace it with a new one. It would just be really expensive and time-consuming. Finale has long been in a unique position, having reached the public at an ideal time (during the mass adoption of desktop computers, and right after more-primitive music apps had been tried and tested) and having held its own through decades of upstart competitors that were able to more easily tailor their functions to less-bulky hardware. Each program is a product of the decades that weve lived in, and its difficult for a product to move far outside of that, said Spreadbury. Finale was mouse-driven. Sibelius had a big window that floated on your screen and was controlled by your keyboard. Dorico was designed for use on a laptop. Advertisement So, what to do if youre a Finale die-hard or if youd like to figure out a workable switch as quickly as possible? The good news is that MakeMusic seems to have been sensitive to the outrage and has been gradually tweaking things to make the transition from Finale easier. Just one day after its initial announcement, Greg DellEra clarified, in response to feedback, that several Finale functions would remain operational through the following year, that the latest version of Finale would be included with a Dorico purchase, and that users will have free access to resources to help them adjust to Dorico, including onboarding videos, a lengthy FAQ, and a nearly two-hour-long webinar that Dorico livestreamed just last week. The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers also held a webinar on Finales Finale, enlisting veteran notation experts from different genres (Broadway, Nashville, jazz) to help address questions and concerns about the change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To avoid a wipeout in Finale usability that may result from future Windows and Mac software updates, Argue recommends holding on to an older computer and an older OS as a sort of forever Finale computerthe cheapest Mac Mini I could find, keeping that around and hoping that the hard drive doesnt fail and the processor continues to run. All of my interviewees, too, recommended converting your music-file formats through MusicXML, either turning them into files that can work with other tools or exporting them as PDFs so theres a permanent record of your music. Pogue and Argue also independently expressed their approval of Dorico and how its handling the Finale transition. Doricos not totally perfect if you have super weird stuff like harp notation or complicated percussion staves. You might have to hand-tweak those after theyre in the new system, said Pogue. But straightforward stuff like vocal choirs and orchestrasthose will come in cleanly. Of course, Pogue added sadly, there will inevitably be a mass cultural loss of the type that affects any older piece of creative software: I have hundreds upon hundreds of Finale files for all the songs Ive written, all the arrangements Ive done, all the shows Ive worked on. I can still open them, and I will for years, but there is going to come a point when they are no longer openable. Peggy Jo Collins, 82, of St. Leonard, MD, formerly of Crofton, MD, passed away peacefully at her home on September 22, 2024. Born on February 11, 1942, in Forney Creek, NC, she was the beloved daughter of the late William E. and Julia E. Collins. Peggy began her career at C & P Telephone, transitioned through Bell Atlantic, and ultimately retired from Verizon in the Management Department. A lifelong learner and avid reader, she found joy in the written word and shared that passion with those around her. Peggy was not only a devoted mother and grandmother but also a truly vibrant spirit who touched the lives of many. Her grandson, Robert Conners, described her as "one of the most loving people I've ever known," a testament to the warmth and kindness she radiated throughout her life. She is survived by her son, Kevin Wilson, and his wife Tamara; her daughter, Kelly Gaestel, and her husband David; her grandson Robert; and her sister, Gaye Carter. Peggy will be deeply missed by all who knew her, and her legacy of love will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. Services will be private. Contributions Hospice of the Chesapeake 90 Ritchie Highway Pasadena, MD 21122 410-987-2003 Link: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/ Nazi troops never discovered this strategically built airfield near Zvolen. A monument now stands in Zolna, commemorating the airfield that operated there in September and October 1944. (Source: Archive of E. Simoncik) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Eighty years ago, the First Czechoslovak Fighter Regiment, equipped with Soviet-made Lavochkin La-5FN aircraft, landed at a makeshift airfield near the village of Zolna, now part of Zvolen. It wasnt just the Tri Duby airfield in Sliac that saw intense activity during the Slovak National Uprising (SNP); Zolna, though quieter, played a crucial strategic role in resisting enemy forces. A helping hand in the heart of Europe offers a travel guide of Slovakia. A monument now stands in Zolna, commemorating the airfield that operated there in September and October 1944. It was here that fighter planes from the First Czechoslovak Independent Fighter Regiment landed, a base that enemy forces never succeeded in locating or capturing. The regiment was formed in the Soviet Union at the end of 1943, bolstered mainly by pilots from the Royal Air Force. Each year, September 17 is celebrated as Slovak Aviation Day. This year marks 80 years since the regiment neutralised dozens of enemy targets, both in the air and on the ground. The fighting did not stop These Czechoslovak pilots had already endured intense combat in Poland, France, and England, serving in the 310th, 312th, and 313th bomber squadrons, as well as the 311th fighter squadron, where they were quite popular, noted Emil Simoncik, a local history enthusiast and author. He explained that, due to a shortage of pilots in Russia, an agreement was reached, and on February 1, 1944, the first fighter squadron for Russia was established in England to serve within the Czechoslovak army, commanded by Captain Frantisek Fajtl. The pilots travelled by ship, train, bus, and plane to Ivanovo, northeast of Moscow, where they trained on Soviet LA-5FN fighters. The order to form the First Czechoslovak Fighter Regiment was issued on June 1, and by July, they were advancing closer to the front, initially under the Second Air Army and later the Eighth Air Army, Simoncik added. The organisers of the Slovak National Uprising also anticipated air support from their allies. Upon learning of the uprising, the pilots requested to be transferred to the liberated territories as soon as possible. A new strategy Following reconnaissance in central Slovakia, the regiment flew from Stubno to the rebel territory on September 17 in two groups. It was decided that the regiment would not operate from the well-known Tri Duby airfield, which the Luftwaffe was already familiar with and frequently bombed, but rather from the airfield in Zolna. Twenty-one aircraft arrived, while the remaining personnel were transported by transport planes. The pilots were accommodated in the Grand and Central hotels in Zvolen, explained the writer. The arrival drew attention, particularly from locals who cared for the pilots and soldiers as if they were their own. On the day of their arrival, the Czechoslovak flag flew at the makeshift airfield and remained there until the regiment departed from the rebel territory. By the very next day, the regiment conducted its first combat mission, with eight La-5FN fighters attacking the airfield in Piestany, where they destroyed and damaged several enemy aircraft and rendered the airfields facilities inoperative. The following days were filled with active aerial operations in the Vrutky, Prievidza, and Velke Pole areas, supporting the rebel units in their defensive struggle. The pilots also engaged in several aerial dogfights, he clarified. Six weeks in Zolna October 18 was exceptionally busy, with the regiments pilots engaged in fierce battles against a significant group of Luftwaffe aircraft. The entries in the war diary were numerous, documenting not only successes but also losses. After October 20, the regiment began preparations to leave Slovakia due to the general offensive by Nazi forces. Adverse weather conditions, including rain and muddy terrain, made air operations impossible. The flight over the front occurred on October 25. Some members remained in Slovakia to continue the fight in the mountains, Simoncik explained. The contribution of the First Czechoslovak Fighter Aviation Regiment to the insurgent battles was indisputable. On October 28, 1944, the regiment was awarded the honorary title of Zvolensky and continued to participate in combat until the end of the war. The efforts of the residents of Zolna were also recognised. The rebel village was honoured for its extraordinary resistance activities and support for the SNP with the Order of the Red Star. Much water has flowed through the Hucava stream, near which the La-5FN fighters of the First Czechoslovak Independent Fighter Regiment were stationed in late summer and early autumn of 1944, he added. These dramatic moments are forever etched in history, marking this day as Slovak Aviation Day. My Zvolen Environmentalists claim project could have devastating impact on Slovak part of river. New weirs in the old Danube riverbed may reduce the capacity of the river to cope with floods. (Source: Sme - Marko Erd) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Dumping a few pebbles in the Danube riverbed. Environment Minister Tomas Tarabas description of a controversial Hungarian project to dam Europes second longest river was dismissed by many conservationists as soon as he uttered the words in early September. Since then, the Insula Magna project has been heavily criticised by both Slovak and international environmentalists who have warned it could wreak devastation on the Slovak part of the Danube, and have raised concerns that it is being discussed behind closed doors. We are currently observing with great concern the latest developments in international negotiations which are heading towards the damming of the original Danube riverbed at four locations, the Slovak arm of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF Slovakia) said in a statement on September 17, signed by Slovak and foreign experts and conservationists. The project would see four weirs, or impoundment structures, built on the old Danube riverbed. WWF Slovakia claims that together with the existing weir at Dunakiliti, Hungary, these barriers would create a cascade of structures in the Danube riverbed which would impound water upstream, effectively stopping any flow of water in those places, leaving it almost stagnant. The aim of the project, the people behind it claim, is to reestablish the lateral connectivity of the Danube and re-connect the rivers arms with the riverbed and increase groundwater level. Considering the latest scientific and practical findings from both Slovak and international experts, the proposed solution is inappropriate and highly detrimental, WWF Slovakias statement reads. It would significantly damage the main water management functions of the river Danube, increase the risk of catastrophic floods, result in the loss of 40 km of free-flowing river, and destroy the unique river ecosystem of its inland delta. In this article you will find out -what the long-running dispute between Slovakia and Hungary over the Gabcikovo is about -what building dams will do to the Danubes old riverbed -what the opposition thinks of the project The location for the structures falls within the border stretch of the Danube between Slovakia and Hungary and therefore needs approval from Slovakia. Jozef Chovanec died in 2018. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share On Wednesday, a Belgian court of inquiry stated that in regards to the death of Slovak national Jozef Chovanec, no one bears responsibility. This was confirmed by the Consul General of the Slovak Republic in Belgium, Andrej Michalec, reports TASR newswire. The court was adjourned several times this year. According to the court's verdict, a regrettable combination of tragic circumstances transpired. Lawyers of Chovanec's wife are now waiting for a written statement from the court. The Belga news agency stated that both Chovanec's wife and Slovakia have 15 days to appeal the verdict. The Slovak national, who worked in Belgium as a construction worker, died in hospital on February 27, 2018, after being detained on a plane bound for Slovakia at Charleroi airport near Brussels. According to witnesses, he behaved aggressively towards the crew-he shoved a flight attendant because he could not sit on the seat he had chosen-as well as the policemen who were called. In August 2020, several Belgian media outlets published video footage from prison cameras. It showed the man self-harming; he was banging his head against the cell door and bleeding. Subsequently, the policemen try to pacify him. The images also show one police officer giving a Nazi salute, while others were laughing at it. Moreover, another police officer was kneeling on the man's chest for about 16 minutes. According to Belgian doctors, the cause of death was strong blows to the head, which caused brain edema. They also concluded that an injection from medical professionals who tried to calm him down caused his heart's activity to stop. Related article Related article A Slovak died after being detained at a Belgian airport. He might have fallen victim of police violence Read more Slovakia will file a complaint Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said on Wednesday that Slovakia will file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg against the Belgian court's ruling. "Yes, it was a tragic situation, as every death is tragic. Even more so when it happens under still unexplained circumstances, while in the custody of police officers who were meant to protect him," Blanar said, as quoted by the TASR news agency. He expressed his disagreement with the court's finding. Blanar argued that there would have been a vastly different reaction from the media and the European Commission if such a case had occurred in Slovakia. "The entire government would immediately be held accountable, and progressive media would rush to pass judgment. From the European Commission, we would instantly hear criticism of the rule of law," the minister asserted. E-books and audiobooks will also enjoy a reduced VAT rate. The interior of the Staromestska Library branch, which reopened after renovations on Zahrebska Street in Bratislava on June 26, 2024. (Source: TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share In response to criticism over a proposed VAT increase on books from 10 to 23 percent, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer) has announced a surprising change. Books, newspapers, and magazines will now be subject to a 5 percent VAT rate. I have done everything in my power to ensure that no one can accuse Kamenicky of being opposed to having educated people in Slovakia, Kamenicky said. Last week, the minister remarked that books are primarily purchased by wealthier individuals in Slovakia, yet he has not published the analysis he referenced. During a regular Question Hour session in the debating chamber on Thursday afternoon, Kamenicky confirmed that the amendment would be submitted by two Smer MPs. The 5 percent VAT will also apply to audiobooks and e-books, which are currently subject to a 20 percent VAT rate. Kamenicky expressed his intent to closely monitor how large bookshop chains adjust their prices following the VAT reduction. Im curious to see how you will bring prices down, he warned them. I will keep track of it. As many as 140 authors have previously endorsed the Save the Book (Zachran knihu) initiative, expressing concern over a potential decline in interest in Slovak literature should the proposed 23 percent VAT on books be implemented. With the Czech Republic introducing zero VAT on books, Slovak readers will increasingly turn to Czech bookshops for translated literature, which will be significantly cheaper, the initiative explained. It also noted that younger readers are already favouring more affordable foreign literature in English, and any further price hikes would only exacerbate this trend. Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova, representing the far-right Slovak National Party, has proudly proclaimed the importance of protecting Slovak culture. However, she has remained silent on the proposed increase in VAT on books, failing to address the issue at any press conference. The project faces opposition due to its location in a protected area. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share A new freight port could rise along the Danube in Bratislava, Europes second busiest river, with plans to build it near the Slovnaft refinery in the Vlcie hrdlo area. The 1 billion project, spearheaded by Win-Port Invest, a joint venture of Iuris Group and Blueprint, aims to position Bratislava among Europes leading river ports. However, the plans face a significant obstacle: a rare riparian forest stands in the way. The existing freight port in the heart of the Slovak capital, established in the late 19th century, has seen better days, its importance waning over the years. Yet private investors see untapped potential in Danube shipping and have long been working on a new port project, Harbour Park, writes the Sme daily. The proposed development includes a new basin equipped with 14 cranes and docking space for over 20 vessels. It would function as a trimodal port, integrated with railway connections and the R7 expressway. The site would also feature public amenities and short-term accommodation for staff. The new port has been part of the citys zoning plan for years, and the investor is expected to submit it for environmental impact assessment (EIA) in the near future. Activists, former environment ministry officials, and the Bratislava City Council have previously voiced opposition to the project. The EIA and a binding opinion from the city are two key approvals or statements that must be obtained before we can apply for zoning permits, project manager Lubos Cema told Sme. Construction, if approved, could begin as early as 2027 or later. (Source: WIN-PORT Invest) The port would be constructed in a sensitive area home to wetlands of international significance, with the project threatening 90 hectares of riparian forest, potentially leading to the destruction of thousands of trees. Win-Port Invest has sought to allay concerns, assuring that a buffer zone would separate the protected area from the port. But the investor also argues that the site is already heavily industrialised, housing a refinery, a sewage plant, and an incinerator. Former deputy environment minister Michal Kica of the Demokrati party, however, has called the project an eco-massacre. The Transport Ministry has distanced itself from the project, stating that it is not involved. According to the state-owned entity Verejne pristavy (Public Ports), which falls under the ministry, the current ports capacity is sufficient for freight needs. Public Ports is planning to modernise the Winter Harbour near Eurovea, a shopping mall by the Danube, with the ministry seeking a strategic investment status for the project, as reported by the Dennik N daily. Winter Harbour by the Danube in Bratislava. (Source: TASR) Kica claims that the renovation of the Winter Harbour, a key part of the current port, is merely a facade, designed to hide its eventual closure. According to Demokrati, developers plan to transform the winter harbour into a new city district, moving the port to Vlcie hrdlo. An overlooked airfield, ambitious harbour plans, and the mystery of countless bell towers. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Good evening. Here is the Thursday, September 26 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Promoting Slovakia with a Russian twist Minister of Investments and Regional Development Richard Rasi. (Source: TASR) The Ministry of Investments and Regional Development has decided to promote its new operational programme, Slovensko (Slovakia), along with the benefits of European funding for Slovak regions, through a series of short videos. However, a significant issue has emerged: at least one of these videos partially promotes Russia. Four videos depict Slovakia as a beautiful country to live in, but the message hasnt quite landed, noted Andrej Kmeto from the creative studio Ideas & Innovations, who previously managed promotional projects for the ministry. He explained that the footage used in one of the videos was sourced from a publicly available database and originated in Russia. These images were created by someone using the name Viktor Fedorov. It is reminiscent of the 1998 billboards from former prime minister Vladimir Meciar. Smiling from the billboards, Meciar proclaimed Slovakia to be the country of our heart. Yet, instead of showcasing the Slovak landscape in the background, the campaigns late creator and entrepreneur, Fedor Flasik, opted for a Swiss countryside image sourced from a stock photo database. An election billboard for HZDS in 1998. (Source: SME/Tibor Somogyi) Now, under Minister Richard Rasi, we have the country where we care for our regions featuring footage from Russia, said Kmeto, adding that using Russian footage, given the ongoing war in the neighbouring country, is particularly distasteful. Opposition politician and former minister of regional development Veronika Remisova seized the opportunity to criticise the media campaign, which is costing 4 million and funded by European sources, calling it a colossal blunder on the part of her successor, Minister Rasi from the governing party Hlas. She also condemned the fact that the campaign primarily benefits media outlets linked to the Penta financial group and private television stations. A picture from Russia used in the criticised video. (Source: Andrej Kmeto) The picture above found in a stock photo database. (Source: Andrej Kmeto) While the ministry continues to showcase the criticised video on its Facebook page, the controversial spot is no longer accessible on YouTube. The ministry has acknowledged the error in one of the four videos. Every good campaign sparks discussion, and this one is no exception, the ministry stated to the website omediach.com, thanking Kmeto, a former employee, for pointing out the use of non-Slovak footage. MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE Taxes: The finance minister has decided to lower VAT not only on books but also on accommodation services, marking a shift in the governments approach to consolidating public finances. The finance minister has decided to lower VAT not only on books but also on accommodation services, marking a shift in the governments approach to consolidating public finances. History: A little-known chapter in history reveals how Austrian Empress Maria Theresa played a crucial role in protecting Slovak villages from potential fire. A little-known chapter in history reveals how Austrian Empress Maria Theresa played a crucial role in protecting Slovak villages from potential fire. Events: Excitement is building as SK Slovan Bratislava prepares to host Manchester City next week. The match is just one of many exciting events happening in the city, offering something for everyone. Excitement is building as SK Slovan Bratislava prepares to host Manchester City next week. The match is just one of many exciting events happening in the city, offering something for everyone. Business: Plans for a new harbour in Bratislava have stirred controversy. While some see it as a step forward, critics warn that it threatens thousands of trees and valuable wetlands. Plans for a new harbour in Bratislava have stirred controversy. While some see it as a step forward, critics warn that it threatens thousands of trees and valuable wetlands. History: While the Tri Duby airfield is well known for its role in the Slovak National Uprising, the nearby Zolna airfield also played a crucial part, though it remains a lesser-spoken chapter in the countrys wartime history. While the Tri Duby airfield is well known for its role in the Slovak National Uprising, the nearby Zolna airfield also played a crucial part, though it remains a lesser-spoken chapter in the countrys wartime history. Environment: Slovakias environment minister may have dismissed a damming project on the Danube as just dumping a few pebbles, but conservationists are pushing back. Experts warn that the plan could have devastating effects on the countrys natural landscape. 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. RESTAURANT REVIEW The Brunch Benedict steals the spotlight Bistro 24 in Bratislava. (Source: Mark Taylor) Mark Taylor takes us on a culinary journey to a Bratislava bistro, where he finally finds the perfect hearty brunch experience he has been searching for in Slovakia. 3 FREE EVENTS IN BRATISLAVA A stroll with a Parisian (Source: [fjuzn] festival) Join Philippe Cochard, a Parisian who fell in love with Bratislava during his Erasmus days, as he leads a walk around the places in Bratislava that he likes. IN OTHER NEWS On Thursday, parliament approved the consolidation package in its first reading. The debate was limited to 12 hours, divided according to the political strength of the parties represented. The opposition criticised the restriction on discussion. The second reading is scheduled for next Tuesday. On the same day, lawmakers also advanced the tax on financial transactions to the second reading. The opposition criticised the restriction on discussion. The second reading is scheduled for next Tuesday. On the same day, lawmakers also advanced the tax on financial transactions to the second reading. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer) held discussions with the foreign ministers of the G20 group in New York. In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Blanar prioritised Slovakia s interests in energy security. He also reiterated Slovakias consistent stance on the conflict in Ukraine, emphasising the violation of international law and the necessity of seeking a peaceful resolution. (TASR) He also reiterated Slovakias consistent stance on the conflict in Ukraine, emphasising the violation of international law and the necessity of seeking a peaceful resolution. (TASR) In Bardejov, the son of a Gazprom billionaire who helps shield Vladimir Putins assets has settled in, according to Aktuality. Sergej Tregub has been on the UK sanctions list since 2023 due to his familys close ties with Gazproms leadership and the Russian president. Sergej Tregub has been on the UK sanctions list since 2023 due to his familys close ties with Gazproms leadership and the Russian president. The Slovak Nuclear Regulatory Authority and other agencies should raise their alert levels to ensure Slovakia can respond effectively to any potential nuclear incident in Ukraine. This was stated by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini during a briefing at the United Nations in New York on September 25. He responded to the speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to him, Russia is attempting to target three Ukrainian nuclear power plants. (TASR) This was stated by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini during a briefing at the United Nations in New York on September 25. He responded to the speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to him, Russia is attempting to target three Ukrainian nuclear power plants. (TASR) Opposition MP Martina Holeckova has proposed reducing the VAT on period products to 5 percent. Period poverty primarily affects single mothers. A survey by the NMS agency in May of this year revealed that as many as 44 percent of women have been unable to afford period products at least once in their lives. Jana Zitnanska from the non-parliamentary party Demokrati pointed to a foreign study indicating that, on average, a woman spends 3,800 on pads and tampons over her lifetime. Surrounding EU countries have significantly lower VAT rates on these hygiene products; for example, Poland charges 5 percent, Croatia 7 percent, Austria 10 percent, and Italy 5 percent. There are also non-EU countries that have a 0 percent VAT on these products, Zitnanska stated (TASR). A survey by the NMS agency in May of this year revealed that as many as 44 percent of women have been unable to afford period products at least once in their lives. Jana Zitnanska from the non-parliamentary party Demokrati pointed to a foreign study indicating that, on average, a woman spends 3,800 on pads and tampons over her lifetime. Surrounding EU countries have significantly lower VAT rates on these hygiene products; for example, Poland charges 5 percent, Croatia 7 percent, Austria 10 percent, and Italy 5 percent. There are also non-EU countries that have a 0 percent VAT on these products, Zitnanska stated (TASR). Vulgar attacks by far-right MP Rudolf Huliak (SNS) on queer MP Lucia Plavakova (PS) will be addressed by the Mandate and Immunity Parliamentary Committee. Huliak, who targeted the MP after misinterpreting her statements (which were quotes from a court ruling), has refused to apologise for his remarks. On Thursday, September 26, inflatable models of the Sun and the planets from the solar system were installed in the park beneath the SNP Memorial in Banska Bystrica. This event is being held to celebrate World Tourism Day, which is marked by cultural institutions throughout the Banska Bystrica Region. (Source: TASR) WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Expect overcast to cloudy skies, with occasional breaks in the clouds. Rain or showers are likely in several areas as the day progresses. During the day, temperatures will reach between 16C and 23C, rising to as high as 26C in the southeast. (SHMU) SEPTEMBER 27 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Cyprian. 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, LinkedIn and Instagram (@slovakspectator). I cant believe it. You cant believe. We, together collectively, cannot believe that this is the final daythe final entryin the 2024 Build-Outs of Coffee feature series. And my goodness has it been one for the ages. Our best, our most vivid, our most exciting and culturally urgent edition in the feature series, which dates all the way back to the year 2012, which was roughly one million years ago in terms of the coffee industry. Every year this series surprises us, delights us, and ultimately becomes all about youour readers, and the cafes who make us part of their opening story by taking part in the Build-Outs process. But before we bid you adieu, one more beautiful build. Were in Roswell, Georgiayes!around an hour north of Atlanta, give or take yalls infamous traffic situation. Belux Coffee Roasters is a gorgeous new space, originally opened in Alpharetta now celebrating its second location in Roswell. Join us one last time for 2024 as we take a closer look together, and thank you so much for reading and enjoying this years Build-Outs of Coffee feature series. The 2024 Build-Outs of Coffee is presented by Ceado and Dona. The 2024 Build-outs of Coffee is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, Acaia, and Ghirardelli. As told to Sprudge by Lucy Liu. For those who arent familiar, will you tell us about your company? Belux Coffee Roasters opened its retail roastery in 2018 at Alpharetta, GA. The owners, Ben and Lucy, who love to taste various kinds of coffee began to source green beans and roast coffees due to the limited options offered in retail venues/coffee shops. The goal is to deliver premium quality specialty coffees to people locally and around the world, who enjoy brewing a nice cup of coffee in their everyday life, whether at home, at the office, or even outdoors. From auction grade coffee beans to unique or rare varieties to coffee beans, Belux Coffee Roasters strive to provide a variety of coffees and options to meet different needs. With continuing trying new samples and working with farms and importers, only quality green beans is sourced. Also, by micro-batch roasting all coffees, the proper roasting profile is developed per the characteristic of each lot and only fresh roasted coffee beans is delivered to customers. Can you tell us a bit about the new space? The driven need of customers wanting to sip and experience unique variety of coffees at Belux Coffee Roasters opened up the thoughts of a second location in 2021. The location was secured at the new development of Southern Post, part of the historic downtown area at Roswell. Due to the pandemic, the construction of this mixed-use development was delayed for almost two years and finally the space was delivered in March 2024 to Belux Coffee for interior buildout. With the unique customer base from Belux Coffee Roasters, the owners Ben and Lucy insisted on keeping the concept of manual pour over for the special coffee varieties thats micro batch roasted at the Alpharetta roastery. Thus, an independent pour-over coffee bar is designed just to deliver the concept of specialty coffee which are carefully hand brewed by experienced baristas. An example of a regular pour-over coffee menu includes Panama Gesha Esmeralda Special, Colombia Gesha, Mokka, Pacamara, etc. Besides the pour-over coffee bar, the espresso coffee bar is set up with a monthly SOE (Single Origin Espresso) besides the popular Jumping Lapin espresso blend. The machines used at the espresso bar are La Marzocco Linea PB with Mahlkonig G80w gbs and G65gbw grinders to extract coffee consistently and precisely. Customer can ask for their espresso-based drink to be made out of SOE or enjoy it alone. The selection of SOE is set to rotate each month so customers can try different single origin coffee out of the espresso brewing method that is either fruity/floral forward or with complex flavors. Whats your approach to coffee? For the pour-over coffee bar, we use coffee to water ratio of 1:15 with 195F water temperature. For the espresso bar, a different recipe is developed base of each single origin. Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up? The machines used at the espresso bar are La Marzocco Linea PB with Mahlkoenig G80gbs and G65gbw to extract coffee consistent and precisely. For the Pour-Over Coffee bar, Hario V60 drippers, Acaia scale, and Mazzer Philos single dose grinders are used. Siphon brewing method is also set up at the pour over coffee bar for customer to explore a third method of brewing coffees. How is your project considering sustainability? Belux Coffee emphasized the concept of fresh roasted coffee beans to everything used in store to provide a great coffee experience. We selected Loveramics ceramic cups to present our espresso, cappuccino, and latte for dine-in customers to minimize the use of disposable cups. All syrup is house made and all food items are either freshly made or baked in house. Utensils, straws, and to-go packaging used in store are made out natural or composable material. Whats your hopeful target opening date/month? Belux Coffee has soft opened on July 27th, 2024 with grand opening date set in mid September. Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that youd like to mention? Amy Hsu with Kaisen Design is the architect that we worked with since our first location at Alpharetta. We also worked together with her to design the space and interior for the Roswell location. The space is delivered to us in grey shell, that means we need to work diligently with our architect and general contractor (Southern Choice Construction) to build the walls, finish the open ceilings and pipes, and pour the concrete floor. Amy Hsu is also involved in our interior design as helping to pick the color theme, coffee bar material and lighting and painting the murals. We asked for a very clean, modern, and Scandinavian vibe so that the spotlight can be on our La Marzocco espresso machine, slow coffee bar and coffee products. All the indoor chairs, bar stools and tables are locally custom made with wood or natural material with colors to match the build out. Thank you! In January, we reported on a new bill being proposed by Hawaiian lawmakers requiring there to be more Kona in that bag of Kona coffee. The law as it was then written only required a minimum of 10% of a coffee to be Kona in order to be labeled as such. The rest could be whatever. That law has since been passed, requiring a coffee to be 51% Hawaiian to carry such a label. But some in the Hawaiian coffee industry have concerns about how the legislation will negatively impact farmers. As reported by SF Gate, the law isnt set to go into effect until 2027 and was proposed as a means of protecting both consumers from misleading marketing as well as producers from a watered down product. Some, like Representative Nicole Lowen who introduced the bill, see it as a win. The percentage of Kona Coffee required for it to be labeled Kona should be 100%, but given that this is the first progress made on this in more than 30 years, its a huge win. Still, others are concerned about the real-world impact of the law. Shawn Steiman of Coffea Consulting and Grok Coffee notes that, while the he is philosophically for the law, 100% Hawaiian coffee is already available on the market and folks still gravitate toward the diluted stuff. If those coffees are now required to carry five times as much Hawaiian coffee, they are also likely to come with a heftier price tag, which may deter consumers. If the point is to make a law saying we believe in this product and its identity, then do that, Steiman said. 51% is saying, We want to be honest, but we dont want the economy to crash around us. Its like hedging. Thats how I feel it is. The philosophy is that this is an identity were protecting. Then lets protect it. Then just say 100% local is the way its got to be sold. Its a sentiment echoed by owner of specialty roaster Big Island Coffee Brandon von Damitz. While we commend the approach and effort, in our view, the study did not sufficiently support the positive economic impact of raising the required minimum percentage of Hawaii-grown coffee. Von Damitz continues, The main question to consider is this: Will the people buying 10% Hawaii blends transition to buying 51% blends? We do not think so. Will the people buying 100% transition to also buying 51%? Maybe, but likely not enough to compensate for those that used to buy 10% blends. The reaction shines a light on a complicated issue. Because yes, selling coffee under false pretenses is bad. If a roaster was marketing a coffee as a single origin but was actually blendnever mind marketing something high end like a Gesha but only having 10% Geshafolks would rightly be up in arms about it. But as it stands, roasters have been able to brand coffeeadmittedly misleadingas Kona when it may in fact be the smallest percentage of any coffee in a bag, which has allowed them to sell their product at a much friendlier market price, one that consumers have grown accustomed do. If that price doubles or triples even, will it still be as attractive to consumers who are used to an artificially low price? Its the dichotomy of ideals versus impact. Its clear that there a change to the law is required, to protect both farmers and consumers, but how to best implement that change in a way that mitigates the negative impact still remains an open question. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/biden-announces-nearly-8-billion-in-latest-military-aid-for-ukraine-amid-zelensky-visit-1120305101.html Biden Announces Nearly $8 Billion in Latest Military Aid for Ukraine Amid Zelensky Visit Biden Announces Nearly $8 Billion in Latest Military Aid for Ukraine Amid Zelensky Visit Sputnik International US President Joe Biden on Thursday announced nearly $8 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, including long-range weapons and an additional Patriot air defense battery, according to a statement released by the White House. 2024-09-26T21:21+0000 2024-09-26T21:21+0000 2024-09-26T21:19+0000 world us ukraine us arms for ukraine military & intelligence joe biden white house volodymyr zelensky military equipment https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/06/1120052329_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c775164f776c31637ba51318fdcb1f20.jpg "Today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war," Biden said in the statement, which the White House released ahead of his meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The assistance includes $2.4 billion for the purchase of new arms for Ukraine, as well as $5.55 billion worth of weapons to be drawn from Pentagon stockpiles under the so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority. As part of an initiative to increase Ukraine's air defenses, the aid package instructs the Department of Defense to provide Kiev with an additional refurbished Patriot air defense battery and associated Patriot missiles, Biden said in the statement. Additionally, the package includes Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions intended to strengthen Ukraine's defense industrial base and support its maintenance. The Thursday announcement came hours after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre commented it was unlikely the president would announce a decision on clearing Ukraine to use US-provided, long-range weapons for strikes into Russia. Russian President Vladmir Putin earlier highlighted that NATO countries were toeing the line as to whether they intended to become a direct player in the ongoing Ukraine conflict in light of reports concerning the potential approval for long-range weapons. Such a move would effectively "open up the avenue for escalation.""The intelligence information provided, the targeting, the programing, all is not done by Ukrainians. So basically the West becomes a full participant in the conflict," he noted.Western countries have provided hundreds of billions of dollars worth of aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. Aid shipments began in 2022 with artillery munitions and training and have escalated to include tanks, advanced air-defense systems, missiles and cluster munitions. The Kremlin has consistently warned against the West's continued arms deliveries to Ukraine, saying that they only prolong the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240925/ex-cia-analyst-says-pentagon-trying-to-take-control-of-ukraine-policy-from-blinken-1120280490.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us arms to ukraine, us military aid, zelensky at white house, how much has us given ukraine, what is the special military operation https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/biden-claims-russia-has-failed-in-final-un-speech--1120289619.html Biden Claims 'Russia Has Failed' in Final UN Speech Biden Claims 'Russia Has Failed' in Final UN Speech Sputnik International On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Melik Abdul and Jamarl Thomas talk about the latest developments worldwide, including the latest developments out of the UNGA. 2024-09-26T04:11+0000 2024-09-26T04:11+0000 2024-09-26T12:42+0000 fault lines us radio volodymyr zelensky ukraine the united nations (un) joe biden kamala harris https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/19/1120289789_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_d55fcb544b7d59329aee0cde332803e5.png Biden Claims 'Russia Has Failed' in Final UN Speech Sputnik International On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Melik Abdul and Jamarl Thomas talk about the latest developments worldwide, including the latest developments out of the UNGA. The show begins with the managing editor at Covert Action Magazine Jeremy Kuzmarov analyzing Ukrainian President Zelensky's visit to the United States, including his trip to the UNGA and his so-called "Victory Plan."Then, journalist, political analyst, and author Caleb Maupin reports from New York on the latest developments out of the UNGA, including Biden's final speech as president.The show closes with Resident Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies Andrew Arthur joining to discuss Kamala Harris's visit to the Southern border and her efforts to garner support.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png fault lines, 2024 unga speakers, what is zelensky's victory plan, biden's unga speech, kamala harris rating polls https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/eu-violating-hungarys-sovereignty-by-pushing-for-migration-fm-szijjarto-says-1120293298.html EU Violating Hungarys Sovereignty by Pushing for Migration, FM Szijjarto Says EU Violating Hungarys Sovereignty by Pushing for Migration, FM Szijjarto Says Sputnik International he European Union is seriously violating Hungarys sovereignty by compelling them to let migrants into the country, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told RIA Novosti. 2024-09-26T04:48+0000 2024-09-26T04:48+0000 2024-09-26T04:57+0000 world peter szijjarto viktor orban hungary brussels european union (eu) migrants https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/08/17/1083694998_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_85bfb59a2ce68b742bdcb216bc364b10.jpg The way Brussels is behaving now is a serious breach of our security and sovereignty, because they want us to let in people whom we dont want to let in. We dont need people who attack our police. We dont need people in our country who attack our border guards, who cannot comply with our regulations, and who show no respect for our people, our way of life, or our laws, Szijjarto said in an interview. The ability for a country to protect its own borders and decide who is granted entry is a matter of sovereignty that no organization has the right to take away, Szijjarto said.Earlier this year, the EUs top court fined Hungary 200 million euros ($216 million) and imposed a daily one-million-euro penalty for failing to follow the blocs asylum laws. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban described the courts decision as outrageous and unacceptable. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221210/hungary-sticks-to-national-interests-despite-eus-pressure-on-migration-and-sanctions-pm-orban-says-1105328587.html hungary brussels Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hungary migrants, hungary migration, hungary-brussels row over migrants https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/fbi-probes-ukraine-related-deepfake-operation-targeting-top-us-senator--reports-1120300421.html FBI Probes Ukraine-Related Deepfake Operation Targeting Top US Senator Reports FBI Probes Ukraine-Related Deepfake Operation Targeting Top US Senator Reports Sputnik International The FBI is investigating a so-called deepfake operation in which an individual allegedly posed as a top Ukrainian official and spoke with US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin, Punchbowl News reported on Thursday, citing three sources familiar with the matter. 2024-09-26T14:17+0000 2024-09-26T14:17+0000 2024-09-26T14:17+0000 americas us dmytro kuleba ukraine russia fbi us senate foreign relations committee ukraine crisis 2024 us presidential election presidential election https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/07/1114776749_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e4f2e870c055caf89db6a193e3b75dd4.jpg The situation became known on Monday when the Senates security office informed a group of top lawmakers and their aides about the incident, which happened earlier in September, the report said. The notice revealed that the individual, who impersonated then-Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, contacted a senator via Zoom. The document did not mention the lawmakers name, but the sources revealed that it was Cardin, according to the report. The individual spoke in a voice similar to Kuleba's and was asking questions about the current conflict in Ukraine, the report said, citing the notice. It added that he inquired, in particular, about the lawmaker's support for using long-range missiles inside Russian territory. The person was also asking politically charged questions in relation to the upcoming election likely trying to bait the senator into commenting on a political candidate, the notice said, as quoted by the report. The people familiar with the investigation suggested that the Russian government could be behind the effort. They did not rule out that the goal was to use the conversation for propaganda purposes, the report added. Russia has repeatedly refuted accusations of meddling into US internal policies. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240906/ukraine-govt-reshuffle-nothing-more-than-sham-political-reboot-1120051926.html americas ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International trump-2024, is trump running for president, why is trump banned from election, who's banning trump from election, why is trump banned from election, who's against trump in presidential election, was trump behind january 6, who organized january 6, why is trump banned from election, trumps court case, why is trump investigated, republicans vs democrats at the elections, who will win in 2024 elections, trump vs harris, trump harris debate, presidential debate, biden drops out, joe biden dropped out of presidential race, kamala harris replaces biden, biden quits, harris new democratic candidate, vice president jd vance, vice president tim walz Chinese embassy in Delhi holds gala event to mark 75th National Day Xinhua) 09:15, September 26, 2024 NEW DELHI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A gala event was hosted by the Chinese embassy in the Indian capital city on Tuesday evening to mark the 75 anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. China's National Day falls on Oct. 1 each year. Joint Secretary of the East Asia Division of India's Ministry of External Affairs Gourangalal Das attended the function as the Government of India's representative. Besides, a host of ambassadors from different countries, scholars, media persons, and dignitaries from different walks of life of the Indian society attended the event. Addressing the gathering, China's ambassador to India Xu Feihong said that over the past 75 years China had made increasing contributions to world peace, development and human progress. "Since the beginning of this year, China-India relations have enjoyed the momentum of improvement and development. The two sides maintain high-level communication. Personal exchanges between the two countries have increased. Since last year, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in India have issued more than 400,000 visas to the Indian people," added the Chinese envoy. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/idf-says-carrying-out-precision-strikes-on-beirut-1120301048.html IDF Says Carrying Out Precision Strikes on Beirut IDF Says Carrying Out Precision Strikes on Beirut Sputnik International Israel's armed forces are carrying out precision strikes on Beirut, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday. 2024-09-26T15:01+0000 2024-09-26T15:01+0000 2024-09-26T15:01+0000 world middle east beirut israel israel defense forces (idf) hezbollah lebanon israel-lebanon tensions https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/1a/1120292921_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_25e87deed997b4f5d753b1ddc149aadd.jpg "The IDF is currently carrying out precise strikes in Beirut," the IDF wrote on Telegram.The target of an Israeli strike on Beirut was the commander of the aviation unit of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, Abu Saleh, the Israeli news website Ynet reported on Thursday.The Israeli strikes hit a house in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanese media reported, adding that emergency services were responding to the attack.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed the elimination of the commander.An Israeli strike on a residential building in the southern suburbs of Beirut killed more than 50 people last week, including Hezbollah special operations commander Ibrahim Aqil. On Wednesday, the movement confirmed the death of another senior commander, Ibrahim Muhammad Qubaisi, in an Israeli missile attack. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240924/a-real-horror-lebanons-residents-relate-flight-from-south-under-israeli-attacks-1120272794.html beirut israel lebanon Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International gaza genocide, is israel committing genocide, whats happening with gaza, israeli genocide against palestinians, will israel be charged with genocide, whos backing israel, un hearing on gaza, current developments in gaza, whats happening to palestinians, us military aid to israel, us arms supplies to israel, us violating international law, what weapons is israel getting from us, israeli strikes, israel strikes gaza, israel kills civilians, operation in rafah, incursion into rafah, palestinian statehood, palestine independence, israeli hostages, jewish hostages, how many people did hamas abduct, how much money does us give israel, military aid to israel, financial aid to israel, hamas leader killed, haniyeh assassination, gaza peace talks, gaza ceasefire talks, israel vs hezbollah, israel lebanon tension, israel lebanon hostilities https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/kremlin-calls-proposed-changes-to-russias-nuclear-doctrine-signal-to-unfriendly-states-1120295843.html Kremlin: Russias Nuclear Doctrine Update Sends Clear Warning to West Kremlin: Russias Nuclear Doctrine Update Sends Clear Warning to West Sputnik International The recently announced changes to the nuclear doctrine of Russia should be considered a certain signal to unfriendly countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. 2024-09-26T10:03+0000 2024-09-26T10:03+0000 2024-09-26T10:09+0000 russia dmitry peskov vladimir putin russia kremlin nuclear doctrine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/15/1104501939_0:0:3153:1773_1920x0_80_0_0_9e28e00330fda2d5996663edbaa7f4a3.jpg During the Russian Security Council's permanent meeting on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to discuss a review of the foundational principles guiding Russia's nuclear deterrence policy. He stressed that Moscow reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to acts of aggression, particularly if the adversary poses a significant threat to Russia, even if that threat is presented through conventional weaponry. Russia's updated nuclear doctrine sends a warning signal to the West about the consequences of an attack, not necessarily by nuclear means, the official said. "In fact, the whole world knows well, its sensible people know well about our nuclear potential and its deterrent role. Of course, nuclear deterrence is being adjusted taking into account those elements of tension that are developing along the perimeter of our borders," Peskov said, adding that sensible heads of state, sensible politicians, analysts perfectly understand and understood the seriousness of Putin's statements. When asked about nuclear arsenals, the spokesman said that Russia's plans to build up nuclear arsenals were not discussed and there were no statements on this matter. "The president said that our nuclear triad is the guarantor of nuclear deterrence," he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240925/putin-nuclear-triad-remains-key-guarantee-of-russias-state-and-citizen-security-1120286442.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, russian nuclear doctrine, russian nuclear arsenal, vladimir putin, dmitry peskov, kremlin https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/nato-countries-silence-after-nord-stream-attacks-is-shocking---french-politician-1120296630.html French Politician Slams NATO Nations' Shocking Silence on Nord Stream Attacks French Politician Slams NATO Nations' Shocking Silence on Nord Stream Attacks Sputnik International The silence of NATO member countries after the destruction of the Russian Nord Stream export gas pipelines is shocking; it is sabotage of strategic infrastructure, French politician, leader of the Patriots party, Florian Philippot told RIA Novosti. 2024-09-26T11:14+0000 2024-09-26T11:14+0000 2024-09-26T14:04+0000 world florian philippot dmitry peskov france russia nato nord stream pipeline nord stream baltic sea germany https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/1d/1101347558_0:63:1200:738_1920x0_80_0_0_92adc02f32428ca312139dddc359fd1c.jpg "What is the most shocking is the degree of subordination of NATO countries, which have not even declared that they were victims of this sabotage. They simply do not even talk about it: the French government has not discussed it at all," Philippot said. He said it is surprising that European countries have not even admitted that they suffered from sabotage of the gas pipelines. Russia has repeatedly requested data on the explosions from the European countries, but has never received it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240823/nord-stream-ecocide--fall-of-germany-engineered-by-western-powers--analyst-1119880037.html france russia baltic sea germany denmark norway Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International nord stream explosion, what happened with nord stream pipeline, nord stream destroyed, who blew up nord stream, whos to blame for nord stream, nord stream incident, whos fault is nord stream, hersh on nord stream https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/netanyahus-office-denies-reports-of-ceasefire-talks-with-hezbollah-1120296358.html Netanyahu's Office Denies Reports of Ceasefire Talks With Hezbollah Netanyahu's Office Denies Reports of Ceasefire Talks With Hezbollah Sputnik International The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected on Thursday the reports of allegedly ongoing ceasefire talks with the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, stressing that the prime minister did not even respond to the proposals of the United States and France. 2024-09-26T11:07+0000 2024-09-26T11:07+0000 2024-09-26T11:07+0000 world middle east benjamin netanyahu israel katz israel france gaza strip hezbollah israel defense forces (idf) palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/12/1119420734_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_0416086b888547ec005c5f99fe5f228b.jpg "The reports about the ceasefire are not true. We are talking about a US-French proposal, to which the Prime Minister did not even respond. The report on the alleged directive on the easing of hostilities in the north is also untrue," the office said in a statement. The prime minister instructed the Israel Defense Forces to continue fighting in full force and in accordance with the plans presented to him. "In addition, the fighting in the Gaza Strip will continue until all the objectives of the war are achieved," the office added.Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Thursday denied reports about allegedly ongoing ceasefire talks with the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, saying that the operations against the movement will continue until Israel wins. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240925/biden-says-all-out-war-possible-in-middle-east-1120285902.html israel france gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International gaza genocide, is israel committing genocide, whats happening with gaza, israeli genocide against palestinians, will israel be charged with genocide, whos backing israel, un hearing on gaza, current developments in gaza, whats happening to palestinians, us military aid to israel, us arms supplies to israel, us violating international law, what weapons is israel getting from us, israeli strikes, israel strikes gaza, israel kills civilians, operation in rafah, incursion into rafah, palestinian statehood, palestine independence, israeli hostages, jewish hostages, how many people did hamas abduct, how much money does us give israel, military aid to israel, financial aid to israel, hamas leader killed, haniyeh assassination, gaza peace talks, gaza ceasefire talks, israel vs hezbollah, israel lebanon tension, israel lebanon hostilities https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/nord-stream-pipelines-must-be-restored---german-lawmaker-1120302757.html Nord Stream Pipelines Must Be Restored - German Lawmaker Nord Stream Pipelines Must Be Restored - German Lawmaker Sputnik International Nord Stream gas pipelines were blown up by enemies of German energy sovereignty, and the pipelines must be rebuilt and secured, the co-leader of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, Tino Chrupalla, said on Thursday. 2024-09-26T17:49+0000 2024-09-26T17:49+0000 2024-09-26T17:49+0000 world dmitry peskov germany russia bundestag kremlin nord stream https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/0c/1117285675_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_71ec0928f82b4eedb8cbf3857f39c30a.jpg "Today marks two years since the enemies of German energy sovereignty blew up Nord Stream. An artery of German industry was cut. Our faction in the Bundestag demands an investigation and punishment for all those responsible. Nord Stream must be repaired, launched and secured!" Chrupalla said on his social media.The Russian Prosecutor General's Office opened an investigation into the blasts as an act of international terrorism. Russia has repeatedly requested information about the explosions but has received nothing, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. germany russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International nord stream explosion, what happened with nord stream pipeline, nord stream destroyed, who blew up nord stream, whos to blame for nord stream, nord stream incident, whos fault is nord stream, hersh on nord stream https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/pervasive-russophobia-drives-total-blackout-of-ukraines-war-crimes--analyst-1120291546.html Pervasive Russophobia Drives Total Blackout of Ukraines War Crimes Analyst Pervasive Russophobia Drives Total Blackout of Ukraines War Crimes Analyst Sputnik International Analyst Jeremy Kuzmarov joined Sputniks Fault Lines program Wednesday to discuss the state of reporting on the Russo-Ukraine conflict. 2024-09-26T02:45+0000 2024-09-26T02:45+0000 2024-09-26T20:24+0000 analysis jeremy kuzmarov andriy biletsky ukraine russia cnn nazi nazism fault lines azov battalion https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/02/1118227397_0:270:2129:1467_1920x0_80_0_0_396c50f87fb3695911545cae10b9d084.jpg Anti-Russian sentiment has deep roots in modern Western society, owing in part to the countrys military power and historical status as a foil to Western Europe.In recent years this struggle has acutely played out in the country of Ukraine, which the United States has worked tirelessly to pull into the Western orbit. 2014s Euromaidan coup installed a fiercely anti-Russian government in the Mariinskyi Palace, empowering Ukrainian nationalists with grievances against Moscow dating back to Nazisms mid-20th century march across the continent.The development led to significant hostility toward ethnic Russians in the country, especially in Ukraines eastern provinces. Atrocities such as the Odessa Trade Union House massacre demonstrated the physical threat posed to Russo-Ukrainians, while the banning of the Russian language in schools and places of business illustrated what observers claimed was a broad suppression of Russian culture.In the United States, anti-Russian sentiment dating back to the Cold War has been rekindled by claims of Russian interference in US presidential politics a narrative frequently not borne out by investigations into the matter. Widespread Russophobia has heightened the typically militaristic tenor of Western news reporting, causing coverage of the Ukraine conflict to fall even below the standards of typical war coverage in the United States according to Covert Action Magazine managing editor Jeremy Kuzmarov.The analyst joined Sputniks Fault Lines program Wednesday to discuss the state of journalistic reporting on the ongoing conflict.I think that the media coverage has been absolutely abysmal, claimed Kuzmarov, an author of several critical books on US foreign policy. We've had a decade of Russophobia that we've discussed on the show that's really impacted people considerably. And there's been a total blackout.Especially liberal media has been particularly biased and Russophobic, like MSNBC and CNN, as well as alternative media like Democracy Now! that has a following among activists who are more in the peace movement there's nothing on that network ever. They've never interviewed Eastern Ukrainians who've been victimized by the Ukrainian military or endured shelling of their cities.The US-based news outlet CNN was embarrassed in late 2022 when, during a piece celebrating Ukraines advance in the Kherson region, footage aired by the network appeared to show a man with a Ukrainian flag giving a Nazi salute to a crowd of revelers. The incident was one of many demonstrating the significant influence of neo-fascists in Ukraines military and society a fact that Western media has increasingly taken great pains to ignore.Today, increasing reports of far-right violence, ultranationalism, and erosion of basic freedoms are giving the lie to the Wests initial [post-Maidan] euphoria, The Nation reported in 2019. There are neo-Nazi pogroms against the Roma, ... book bans, and state-sponsored glorification of Nazi collaborators What Ukraines far right lacks in poll numbers, it makes up for with things Marine Le Pen could only dream of paramilitary units and free rein on the streets.Post-Maidan Ukraine is the worlds only nation to have a neo-Nazi formation in its armed forces, the report noted. Multiple occurrences of war crimes have been attributed to far-right regiments in Ukraine, including the use of cluster munitions and documented instances of torture. One video from late 2022 showed the summary execution of several surrendering Russian soldiers, who were shot in the legs before being gunned down. Such cases have received little attention as media focuses on often dubious pro-Ukraine stories.Western portrayals of the Ukraine conflict as a struggle for democracy and human rights are belied by the actual nature of the Ukrainian government, which has legitimized neo-Nazi gangs in the domestic as well as the military sphere. Five years ago Kiev announced the National Druzhina paramilitary group would serve as poll watchers in the countrys national elections. The group swears fealty to politician Andriy Biletsky, who once vowed Ukraine would lead the White Races of the world in a final crusadeagainst the Semite-led Untermenschen [subhumans].The analyst observed that the conflict has become deeply polarized in the United States, noting it is becoming a popular issue for the Republican Party now. That may be one reason why the young lefties aren't coming strong against the Ukrainian war, because the main politicians speaking out against it are people on the right. People they hate [like] Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump, and Robert Kennedy, who defected into the Republican Party.*Azov Battalion is a terrorist organization banned in Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230502/odessa-massacre-9-years-ago-ukrainian-neo-nazis-burned-50-people-alive-1110025933.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/us-lifts-ban-on-arms-supplies-to-ukraines-nationalist-battalion-azov---reports-1118900454.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230806/nato-instructors-trained-neo-nazi-azov-battalion-soldiers-in-2021-1112420084.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg ukraine war crimes, azov bataillon war crimes, ukraine neo-nazi war crimes, ukraine torture, ukraine cluster munitions, ukraine neo-nazi paramilitaries, ukraine nazis in government, azov battalion, azov regiment, azov nazi, nazi azov, azov, nato trained ukrainian neo-nazi, ukrainian nazia, ukrainian nazi, nazis in ukraine, nazi in ukraine, nazism in ukraine, nazi state https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/russian-forces-liberate-key-settlement-in-donbass-strike-ukrainian-military-infrastructure-1120294980.html Russian Forces Liberate Key Settlement in Donbass and Strike Ukrainian Military Infrastructure Russian Forces Liberate Key Settlement in Donbass and Strike Ukrainian Military Infrastructure Sputnik International The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that units of the Tsentr Battlegroupp have liberated the settlement of Ukrainsk in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). 2024-09-26T09:43+0000 2024-09-26T09:43+0000 2024-09-26T09:56+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia donbass russian ministry of defense russian armed forces https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1d/1119179168_0:76:3150:1847_1920x0_80_0_0_b5a32f3e6ce6bd5f0ccc64dbd79b939a.jpg "As a result of decisive actions by the Tsentr Battlegroup, the settlement of Ukrainsk in the Donetsk People's Republic has been liberated," the statement said.Additionally, Russian forces targeted a military airfield and energy facilities that supported Ukraines military-industrial complex."Operational-tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces have struck energy facilities supporting Ukraine's military-industrial complex, as well as the infrastructure of a military airfield," the ministry noted.According to the report, air defense systems shot down a long-range Neptune missile, three Hammer-guided bombs from France, five HIMARS rockets from the US, and 45 aircraft-type drones.In response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian objects, Russian forces have regularly conducted precision strikes on locations of personnel, equipment, mercenaries, and enemy infrastructure, including energy facilities, defense industries, military command, and communication sites.Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly emphasized that the Russian military does not target residential buildings or social institutions.Other developments:Battlegroup Tsentr:Battlegroup Yug:Battlegroup Sever:Battlegroup Vostok:Battlegroup Zapad:Battlegroup Dnepr: https://sputnikglobe.com/20240925/russian-forces-strike-ukrainian-communication-center-and-drone-production-sites-1120280183.html ukraine russia donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, russian special military operation, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/un-spokesman-on-ukraines-strikes-deep-into-russia-we-want-to-see-end-to-this-war-1120304144.html UN Spokesman on Ukraine's Strikes Deep Into Russia: We Want to See End to This War UN Spokesman on Ukraine's Strikes Deep Into Russia: We Want to See End to This War Sputnik International he United Nations wants to see an end to the Ukraine conflict, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Sputnik, commenting on deliberations by Washington on whether to allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia. 2024-09-26T18:49+0000 2024-09-26T18:49+0000 2024-09-26T18:49+0000 world stephane dujarric antonio guterres sergey lavrov ukraine russia east the united nations (un) brics white house https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/0b/1119721900_0:188:2975:1861_1920x0_80_0_0_3c85395787b23badb3df82ed201c5c66.jpg "Our focus, and we've been very clear, is that we want to see an end to this war," Dujarric said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. "We want to see an end to this war in line with international law, General Assembly resolutions and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. I think, for the sake of people in Russia, for the sake of people in Ukraine, we need to see an end to this war in line with the principles I just stated," he noted.Moscow hopes the United States has "enough sense and reason" not to allow Kiev to strike deep into Russia, a nuclear power, with US-supplied weapons, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin earlier told Sputnik on the UNGA sidelines. Ukraine's request to use US-supplied long-range weapons deep in Russian territory will be discussed during Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are expected to discuss the Middle East, Ukraine and other issues of interest to both parties during a bilateral meeting on the UN General Assembly sidelines on Thursday.The United Nations has grave concerns about the risk of a major ground war in Lebanon amid an escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, the spokesman told Sputnik."We are extremely worried at the risk of a major ground war in Lebanon," Dujarric said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. "I think it is clear that we cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza. It is clear that the people of Lebanon and the people of Israel cannot afford a conflict."Dujarric stressed that in any conflict, it is the civilians who are paying the ultimate price, pointing out that more than 100,000 Lebanese have already had to leave everything behind and flee the south as well as tens of 1000s of Israelis have had to do the same in the north.Israel began carrying out massive strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon last week after announcing a new phase of its war effort in the region, with the focus on the northern front. Hezbollah, in turn, fired dozens of rockets toward northern Israel.Guterres will discuss any issues brought forward by the Russian foreign minister, Dujarric said."All that being said, we have to see how the meeting goes," he added.The United Nations must strengthen itself as an institution while working with other international organizations like BRICS, the spokesman added.Guterres will continue to engage BRICS and other groups on economic and political issues, Dujarric said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240924/a-real-horror-lebanons-residents-relate-flight-from-south-under-israeli-attacks-1120272794.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/ditching-the-dollar-putin-announces-work-on-independent-brics-payment-system-for-global-trade-1120296990.html ukraine russia east Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International putins peace proposals for ukraine, peace settlement of russia ukraine conflict, ukraine crisis settlement proposals, what conditions did putin mention to settle conflict in ukraine, conditions for peace settlement in ukraine, ukraine peace plan, zelensky peace plan, russias peace plan for ukraine, brics enlargement, brics expansion, ethiopia joins brics, ethiopia in bricks, ethiopia becomes brics member, what countries are in brics, new brics members, what's brics, what does brics do, brics currency, brics payment system, brics summit, russian presidency over brics, russias presidency at brics https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/us-congress-happy-to-be-lied-to-in-service-of-american-imperialism--analyst-1120293423.html US Congress Happy to Be Lied to in Service of American Imperialism Analyst US Congress Happy to Be Lied to in Service of American Imperialism Analyst Sputnik International Secretary of State Antony Blinken is facing calls to resign after a damning report suggested he willfully misled Congress to keep US military aid flowing to Israel. 2024-09-26T05:15+0000 2024-09-26T05:15+0000 2024-09-26T05:18+0000 analysis us antony blinken dan lazare israel gaza strip congress propublica state department robert fantina https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1d/1118676203_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6e9619878b0ddabfa40aaa16fb6fcf60.jpg Secretary of State Antony Blinken is facing calls to resign after a damning report suggested he willfully misled Congress to keep US military aid flowing to Israel.Analysis by the investigative reporting nonprofit ProPublica revealed that Blinken defied the findings of multiple government bodies that concluded Israel was deliberately blocking humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Blinken ignored the advice of multiple officials with the State Department and US Agency for International Development (USAID), testifying before lawmakers that Tel Aviv was not interfering with the flow of aid.US law forbids the provision of military equipment to any country obstructing American humanitarian assistance.Journalists Dan Lazare and Robert Fantina joined Sputniks The Critical Hour program Wednesday to discuss the scandal, which has led the director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations to call on Blinken to resign.We've said before that the United States is enabling this genocide by continuing to arm Israel and by increasing its arms shipments to Israel, he continued. So the fact that Blinken is lying should really surprise no one. Other international organizations that aren't affiliated with any nation have said repeatedly for months that Israel is blocking humanitarian aid. And yet the United States denies this, or at least Blinken did.The human rights organization Amnesty International affirmed Israel was stemming the flow of humanitarian assistance earlier this year, characterizing Tel Avivs actions as a tightening of its 16-year-long suffocating blockade of Gaza. Israel has tightly controlled the amount of food and other basic necessities allowed to enter the Palestinian territory since June 2007, when it decided to dismantle its settlements in the Gaza Strip.However, Israel has exerted control over the strip of land, which is considered sovereign Palestinian territory under international law, since 1967, when it seized land intended to form the basis of a Palestinian state in the region. The US has served as the countrys strongest backer in the decades since, with Israel becoming the United States largest cumulative recipient of foreign aid.Observers claim the US backs the country as a crucial beachhead in a geopolitically vital region where Israel serves as a proxy for US interests against Iran and other adversaries.Israel is engaged in a brutal war, which is now spreading dramatically and it will continue doing so, said Lazare, claiming Israel is inarguably using the flow of humanitarian aid as an instrument of war. It's all irrelevant. I mean, war is the cessation of law, and, therefore, calling on warmakers to obey the law strikes me as kind of contradictory.Congress does not mind being lied to if it thinks it benefits the empire, Lazare agreed. In general there are lies Congress likes and lies Congress doesn't like. And, therefore, it's Congress' power of decision, power to decide which lies are okay and which lies are not. And generally the okay ones are those that further America's imperial ambitions.Sam Perlo-Freeman, a researcher with the group Campaign Against Arms Trade, agreed, claiming simply, most of Congress was very happy to be lied to and would have denounced Blinken for the truth. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/bidens-desperation-for-foreign-policy-win-explains-why-blinken-jumped-the-gun-on-gaza-deal-1119862969.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/world-central-kitchen-to-resume-work-in-gaza-as-hunger-malnutrition-still-stalk-enclave-1118167268.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240914/pink-floyd-co-founder-accuses-western-media-of-biased-coverage-of-donbass-gaza-conflicts-1120145659.html israel gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg blinken lied to congress, blinken israel humanitarian aid, blinken israel military aid, blinken misled congress, genocide, arms deliveries, palestine-israel war, palestine-israel conflict, israel-gaza war, military aid, blinken lies, humanitarian aid, humanitarian assistance https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/us-escalates-tensions-as-china-conducts-missile-test-in-pacific-1120290802.html US Escalates Tensions as China Conducts Missile Test in Pacific US Escalates Tensions as China Conducts Missile Test in Pacific Sputnik International The Chinese Defense Ministry said the launch was part of its annual exercises, while the China Central Television reported that the missile fell into the planned sea area. 2024-09-26T01:14+0000 2024-09-26T01:14+0000 2024-09-26T01:14+0000 analysis americans china washington chinese defense ministry pacific antony blinken us navy chinese navy tariff war https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/1a/1120291389_0:27:3072:1755_1920x0_80_0_0_5f77cbec2c7b6e07275d26e506311cf4.jpg On Wednesday, China announced that they had successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Oceans high seas. The Chinese Defense Ministry said the launch was part of its annual exercises, while the China Central Television reported that the missile fell into the planned sea area."This launch was carried out as part of the annual training plan, it is in accordance with international law and international practice, it is not directed against any particular country or target," the ministry said in a statement on WeChat.KJ Noh, a scholar, journalist and geopolitical analyst specializing in the Asia-Pacific joined Sputniks Political Misfits on Wednesday to discuss what is surely becoming a second Cold War. The US is preparing for war with China. It has been since at least 2009. It's accelerated its pace. And the Navy just released a navigation plan 2024, which essentially it calendars a date for war with China by 2027. They claim deterrence, but the deterrence is so aggressive and forward leaning that you can only see it as provoking a war, the analyst explained. Now, the question here is, can the US win a war against China? The simple answer is no.The US announced a tariff hike on Friday targeting an array of Chinese-made goods, including a 100% duty on electric vehicles, a 50% levy on Solar cells and 25% on steel, aluminum, EV batteries and key minerals. Automakers warned that the tariff could disrupt supply chains - a warning that the US blatantly ignored. Washington maintains the suspicion that cars with devices that are connected to the internet or cloud services are vulnerable to hacking attacks. The ban on software could be put into effect as soon as the 2027 model year, with prohibitions on hardware set to occur in January of 2029, Sputnik recently reported.China, a leader in electric vehicles and components for smart cars, has insisted it respects both the security of its foreign customers and the principles of fair competition.[The US] is afraid that China is going to do to the US what the US clearly has the capacity to do around the world. And because of this, it wants to shut down EVs and, essentially, prevent any Chinese EV or Chinese tech, really, internet-connected tech from coming in, he added.In one week, the US House of Representatives approved 25 anti-Chinese laws in bipartisan votes. US efforts to undermine China are one of few issues both Republicans and Democrats can agree on, US media noted. One of the bills passed included the Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund Authorization Act, which will give $1.63 billion to the State Department and USAID over five years that will fund organizations that spread anti-China propaganda worldwide.A report from Geopolitical Economy noted that the second Cold War seems to be reaching a critical point as CIA Director William Burns referred to China as the biggest long-term threat, while the last two US secretaries of state, Democrat Antony Blinken and Republican Mike Pompeo, gave speeches specifically dedicated to demonizing China.But, it signals an escalating information war, which signals a preparation for kinetic war. And it's really about manufacturing consent for war, delegitimizing China, demonizing China, making everybody afraid of China, making everybody think China is a threat. And it also asserts US narrative dominance, which is absolutely necessary because the information sphere is a theater of war." https://sputnikglobe.com/20240922/biden-administration-mulling-ban-on-chinese-smart-car-software-amid-trade-spat-1120249707.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240924/china-urges-win-win-cooperation-as-us-sees-zero-sum-game-1120266713.html china washington pacific Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg ev tariffs, china's test-firing, chinese defense ministry, chinese army, chinese forces, chinese nuclear forces, chinese nukes, chinese icbm, chinese missiles, chinese electric vehicles, electric vehicles, amreican tariffs, american ban This photo taken on May 31, 2024 shows a view of the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Chinese museums registered 940 million visits in the first eight months of this year, maintaining their popularity among Chinese visitors in recent years, official data showed on Wednesday. The country's National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) released the figure at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office. About 300 million visits were made in two months during the summer season, accounting for nearly a third of the total figure, said Liu Yang, an NCHA official. Hot spots like the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China in Beijing have become the top destinations among Chinese travelers, according to Liu. The growing public enthusiasm for museums during the summer break came with measures taken by nationwide museums, such as streamlining booking services and extending opening hours, to better serve the visitors, Liu noted. The administration will step up efforts in terms of coordinating the development of different types of museums, optimizing booking and commentary services, and ensuring more access to online and offline exhibitions, to further meet people's cultural needs in the future, Liu added. China has seen a surging demand for visiting museums in recent years, with 1.29 billion visits to a total of 6,833 officially registered museums throughout 2023. An $11,300 conditioned trot was served up as the main dish on Wednesday evening, Sept. 25 at Grand River Raceway and Jgs Pal took the long way around, but still prevailed in the featured class. As the car drew away, the field battled for their place along the pylons, but Jgs Pal and Samuel Fillion never found that place before the quarter in :27 as they took back to the tail end of the pack. The pair idled briefly in seventh on the pylons, but moved out once again on the move to the top. They were seventh from the outside at the :56.2 half, 7-1/4 lengths trailing off the leading Hilarious Archie (Jason Ryan). Still continuing in seventh, Jgs Pal bridged the gap to 5-3/4 lengths at the three-quarters in 1:25. He moved three-wide going into the turn and then was pushed five-wide down the stretch. Coasting down the center of the track, Jgs Pal bested his field by a length in 1:56.1. Jay Richard Nyce (Brett MacDonald) finished second and Star Hairdresser (Austin Sorrie) was third. Jgs Pal (Tactical Landing-Dressed To Impress) is owned by trainer Bryan Lawrence with Stuart Lawrence and Smurk Inc. He earned his seventh career win and improved his seasonal tally to 6-0-3 in 12 starts. The final time was a career best for the sophomore gelding. Delivering as the favourite, he paid $4.10 to win. To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway. (Standardbred Canada) SALMO PRIEST WILDERNESS Sullivan Creek Road begins east of Metaline Falls and follows its eponymous creek for miles. When the road turns north, the climbing starts. It winds high into the Selkirk Mountains and dead ends on a ridge close to Salmo Mountain. Then there are no more roads. From there to the Canadian border lies the Salmo Basin, a deep drainage filled with a cedar and hemlock forest that's threaded by the South Fork of the Salmo River. A trail begins there and dives downhill to the river, cutting through a dense cedar and hemlock forest to begin a 19-mile loop through the Salmo-Priest Wilderness. The horseshoe-shaped area covers more than 41,000 acres of wild country in Washington's far northeastern corner, where caribou once roamed and grizzly bears still do. Permanent federal protections arrived for the Salmo-Priest 40 years ago with the passage of the Washington Wilderness Act. The law expanded some wilderness areas and created 19 new ones, protecting more than 1 million acres in all. It was part of a wave of legislation nationwide that made 1984 the biggest year in history for wilderness designations. For the Salmo-Priest, it was the culmination of a battle that started more than a decade earlier, with a bear hunt and the discovery of plans for a new road. Survey stakes Ray Kresek is best known as the region's leading expert on the history of fire lookouts. His house on the far north side of Spokane doubles as the Fire Lookout Museum, and it's overflowing with U.S. Forest Service artifacts old tools, Smokey Bear memorabilia, even a mock lookout in the backyard. He's also the guy who started the push to protect the Salmo-Priest. "It's a long story, but it was a tough one," Kresek said. It began in the late 1960s, when Kresek went bear hunting in the Salmo Basin, one of his favorite spots. He didn't get one, and he was glad. The forest was so thick he thinks there was no way he'd have ever gotten it home. He did find something else, however. When he got down to the river, he saw that survey stakes had been pounded into the ground. They continued on the other side of the river, and he followed them up another creek drainage. "I thought, 'for God sakes, are they going to put a road down here?'" Kresek said. On his way back to Spokane, he stopped at the Forest Service's Sullivan Lake office to ask about what he'd found. Sure enough, there were plans to extend the road from the top of the ridge down to the Salmo River, and for logging the basin. The way Kresek puts it, he "had some whiskers back then." He was president of the Spokane Mountaineers, and he had connections to a broader network of outdoor clubs in the West, including the Sierra Club. He marshaled an army to fight the Forest Service's plans and to call for protecting the basin. Initially, they weren't thinking about a wilderness designation, but Kresek said it became clear that was the only way to permanently preserve the basin. He drew up a boundary, designing it to include as much roadless land as possible. It looks mostly the same as the shape that is shown on maps today a U-shape around the top of the Sullivan Creek drainage, wrapping around Crowell Ridge, the Salmo Basin and the Shedroof Divide. He also extended the border into the Priest River drainage in Idaho, which completed the name. There was plenty of opposition. Loggers and local officials argued the area was full of valuable timber, and that it needed to stay open to industry to keep the lumber supply steady and fuel the local economy. Kresek argues that the trees weren't worth the effort it would take to log them. A firefighter by trade, he was teaching wildland fire classes at Spokane Community College at the time. One summer he had some students go to the basin with a bore to see what was inside the cedar trees. The work showed that the trees were hollow. That didn't do much to quiet the opposition. In a Spokane Daily Chronicle story from August 1970, Pend Oreille County officials lambasted the proposal, criticizing its backers as outsiders who were ingnoring local voices. Kresek countered that the land belonged to everyone, not just those who live in Pend Oreille County. Still, the wilderness supporters pushed forward. Thousands of petitions supporting the designation were signed, thanks in part to the efforts of Kresek's wife and kids, who gathered signatures outside a local grocery store. Kresek made the case for wilderness at public meetings, occasionally in front of unfriendly crowds. At a meeting at a grange hall in Newport, he was locked in a kitchen and only let out once everyone had left. Another time, after leaving a meeting in Metaline, he found his car had two flat tires. He also spent a lot of time in the place he was trying to protect. He and his family camped there and hiked all the trails. They liked it. "It's just a peaceful place," Kresek said. "A gentle wilderness." The push for protections secured a big win early. Because the area was being considered for wilderness designation, the Forest Service shelved the logging and road projects and put a moratorium on development there. Only Congress could go further. But Kresek said the conversation seemed to die down in the middle of the 1970s. There were times he thought it was dead. "It kind of fell into limbo," Kresek said. Statewide push In addition to immediately protecting 9.1 million acres, the 1964 Wilderness Act directed federal agencies to examine their lands and recommend additional areas to be added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. New designations followed relatively quickly. By 1974, the U.S. had 91 wilderness areas encompassing more than 13.5 million acres. Still, progress wasn't happening fast enough for some wilderness advocates. There were groups who wanted to see all kinds of places protected. It became clear to some advocates that the best way to go about it would be to package several proposals together in a single state-based bill. Similar campaigns cropped up in multiple states. In Washington, the campaign was led by the Washington Wilderness Coalition, now known as Washington Wild. Founded in 1979, the group's leaders traveled the state to gin up support for a statewide push to protect multiple areas. The issue then became what belonged in a Washington wilderness bill. In the northeastern part of the state, there was significant support for two proposed areas: one in the Kettle Range, near Republic, and Kresek's proposal for the Salmo Priest. Congress considered a few versions of a statewide bill in the early 1980s, but the final version wasn't set until 1984, after long negotiations among the Washington congressional delegation led by Spokane Democratic Rep. Tom Foley, according to a history published by Washington Wild. There were intense negotiations over several areas, but the delegation finally came to an agreement that included 23 wilderness proposals 19 new areas and four expansions of existing areas and additional designations such as the Mount Baker National Recreation Area and the North Cascades Scenic Highway. Not everything got into the bill. The proposal for the Kettle Range was carved out, a disappointment for supporters who had been campaigning to protect that area for years. Meanwhile, the Salmo-Priest survived. Mountain caribou were a big reason why the Selkirks were the last place in the Lower 48 that the animals still used, and a wilderness designation would protect their habitat. Something to celebrate The final version of the wilderness boundary was different from the one Kresek drew up years earlier. His proposal was for about 36,000 acres in Washington and Idaho. The version in the Washington Wilderness Act, which President Ronald Reagan signed in July 1984, was more than 41,000 acres and completely in Washington. The Idaho portion is managed as wilderness, but it has never been formally designated. The caribou are now gone. The last known caribou in the U.S. portion of the Selkirks was trapped and hauled north into Canada five years ago. Other pieces of the ecosystem remain. Wolves, grizzly bears, big cedar trees. The silence, the stunning views, the absence of roads. Kresek hasn't been back in 10 years or so, he said. He's 86, and his hiking days are long over. The Salmo-Priest looms large in his head, though, and on the walls of his basement. There's a photo of the falls on the Priest River, in the zone he still hopes will one day be added to the wilderness area. There's another of Kresek staring at a giant cedar. And there's one of him and his son Mike, standing next to the brand new Salmo-Priest Wilderness sign, all fresh and clean. It was taken in 1986, shortly after the sign was put up. Kresek is quick to say it wasn't just him. Without the help of the rest of the Spokane Mountaineers and the Sierra Club and many others who joined him in the fight, plus all the work it took to pass the Washington Wilderness Act, the designation might never have happened. But the fight did take over his life for more than a decade. He'd say it was worth it. "It was an experience of a lifetime," Kresek said. Qlik announced its participation in the UN Global Compact, marking a new chapter in its partnership with the United Nations (UN) to further global sustainability initiatives. This commitment deepens Qliks role in leveraging data and AI to advance the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and underscores the companys broader strategy of driving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. For over a decade, the United Nations has been a critical partner in our mission to provide advanced data integration, analytics, and AI technologies that support transformative global action, said Julie Kae, Vice President of Sustainability and DEIB, Executive Director of Qlik.org. By joining the UN Global Compact, we reaffirm our dedication to equipping organizations like the UN with the tools needed to navigate complex global challenges, from climate action to human rights. The UN Global Compact is the worlds largest corporate sustainability initiative, with participants across 167 countries. Through this framework, Qlik will expand its work with the UN to empower agencies and stakeholders to use data and AI for more transparent and effective decision-making. Lambert Hogenhout, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at the UN Office for Information and Communications Technology (OICT), added, Our collaboration with Qlik has been instrumental in strengthening the United Nations ability to analyze and act on critical data. This partnership has allowed us to enhance efficiency, transparency, and decision-making across a wide range of global initiatives, from climate action to human rights. Data is at the heart of progress, and Qliks solutions have enabled us to navigate complex global challenges with greater confidence and agility. Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, founding member of Qliks AI Council, CEO and co-founder, Humane, noted, Expanding access to advanced data, analytics, and AI technologies is crucial for accelerating global development and tackling the worlds most pressing challenges. By equipping organizations, including the UN, with these tools, we can foster sustainability, equity, and drive meaningful change on a global scale. Qlik has been a long-standing partner of the UN, working closely with the Office for Information and Communications Technology (OICT) to overcome challenges related to siloed data and inconsistent governance. Today, Qliks data integration platform is a key enabler of the UNs mission to drive progress on the 17 SDGs, empowering the organization to make informed decisions across a range of initiatives. These solutions span critical areas such as budget tracking, procurement, gender equality, peacekeeping troop deployments, capacity development projects, and global crime statistics, helping the UN advance its global initiatives with greater efficiency and impact. Recently, Qlik extended its support to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where its data and analytics solutions help accelerate the shift from climate mitigation to actionable, data-driven climate strategies. This partnership enables the UNFCCC to leverage AI to handle vast datasets from countries worldwide, ensuring quality and transparency in global climate reporting. Qliks decision to join the UN Global Compact reinforces its role as a leader in helping organizations align with ESG objectives through advanced data integration and AI. By enabling access to transformative technology, Qlik continues to empower stakeholders across the global sector to drive sustainable and equitable progress. An opera artist from south China's Guangdong Province presents a performance showcasing the charm of China's Lingnan culture at the National Museum of New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 25, 2024. This cultural promotion event was jointly held by the China International Cultural Association, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the China Cultural Center in Wellington, and co-organized by the Federation of the Chinese Association of New Zealand. It aims to promote exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations between China and New Zealand. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) Artists from Guangdong Province, southern China, showcased the charm of China's Lingnan culture to New Zealanders at the National Museum of New Zealand in Wellington on Wednesday evening. This cultural promotion event was jointly held by the China International Cultural Association, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the China Cultural Center in Wellington, and co-organized by the Federation of the Chinese Association of New Zealand. It aims to promote exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations between China and New Zealand. At the beginning of the event, five inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from Guangdong presented a unique performance, including the Lingnan school of Guqin art, Chaozhou Kung Fu tea art, Canton Porcelain, and art of Dongguan agarwood incense. The performances also featured Chinese folk musical instrument performance, Chinese folk song and dance, attracting more than 200 people. At the final of the show, the audience cheered and applauded in ovation for the artists' performance. A Wellington citizen who named herself only as Barbara told Xinhua that this has been the largest Chinese cultural event ever held in Wellington since COVID-19, and the whole show was "amazing" and "impressive". The programs about Chinese tea especially broadened her horizon as a tea lover. "China is the hometown of tea and the birthplace of the tea culture in the world," she said, "I truly immersed in the profoundness of Chinese tea culture in this event." Zhang Yimin, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, said it is exciting to be here to engage in friendly exchanges by enjoying tea and artistic performances. He hoped this event will help New Zealanders gain a deeper understanding of Guangdong's culture and tourism, further promote cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and New Zealand, and inject vitality into the long-term friendly exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations between China and New Zealand. Guangdong Province is the heart of Lingnan culture, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, and a pioneer in China's reform and opening-up. The province is working together with Hong Kong and Macao to build the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) into a world-class tourism destination, Zhang added. 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: CC0 Public Domain Researchers from the Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) program recently participated in a seminar inviting expert dialogue on the role of BRICS competition authorities in the fast-maturing era of artificial intelligence (AI) and whether authorities from BRICS and beyond can cooperate on a common vision for AI in the interest of societal welfare. Once a collection of fragmented technologies with limited applications, AI has rapidly evolved into a crucial driver of innovation across diverse sectors, including the digital economy. However, the AI industry is at risk of becoming oligopolistic under existing Big Tech. Through investments and partnerships, Big Tech has already positioned their influence in the development of AI while avoiding conventional regulatory merger probes. The recent partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI is a prime example. Such cases have focused attention on the pressing need for competition authorities to adapt and harmonize their approaches to regulating the digital economy. On 12 September 2024, Elena Rovenskaya presented (virtually) at the BRICS Seminar on Artificial Intelligence Regulation hosted at the School of International and Public Affairs of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai in collaboration with the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Center. The seminar invited presenters from various experts from BRICS nations involved in the development of AI regulations. A working paper on this topic is published on the Research Square preprint server. In her presentation, Rovenskaya discussed how integrated systems analysis can enable competition authorities to better evaluate the potential outcomes of strategic partnerships between entities in the digital economy that typically fly under the radar of merger criteria. Specifically, she introduced system dynamics modeling, including causal loop diagrams, which enable us to illustrate complex systems as a set of interacting components whereby the components and their relevant interactions are informed by literature, expert opinion, or stakeholder input. The latest explorations of the ECOANTITRUST reveal the potential loss of strategic independence for AI service providers through various partnerships with Big Tech incumbents. In 2019, for example, Microsoft and OpenAI entered a partnership involving various investments and product integrations. Despite increasing concerns, several competition authorities have failed to realize probe into the partnership. Rovenskaya presented analysis developed by the ECOANTITRUST team, informed by public discussions on the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership following their governance controversies of the latter in late 2023. The analysis indicates numerous pathways and feedback loops through which the reduction of the strategic autonomy of Open AI affects competition and innovation in the AI sector. The presentation was well-received, with experts commenting that the need to integrate systems-led analysis into competition law is greater than ever before. More information: Elena Rovenskaya et al, An Ecological Perspective to Master the Complexities of the Digital Economy, Research Square (2024). DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3552451/v1 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 Imperial County consistently ranks among the most economically distressed places in California. The Salton Sea, the state's biggest and most toxic lake, is an environmental disaster. And the region's politics have been dominated by a conservative white elite, despite its supermajority Latino population. The county also happens to be sitting on enough lithium to produce nearly 400 million batteries, sufficient to completely revamp the American auto fleet to electric propulsion. Even better, that lithium could be extracted in a way consistent with broader goals to reduce pollution. The traditional ways to extract lithium involve either hard rock mining, which generates lots of waste, or large evaporation ponds, which waste a lot of water. In Imperial Valley, companies are pioneering a third method. They are extracting the mineral from the underground briny water brought up during geothermal energy production and then injecting that briny water back into the ground in a closed loop. It promises to yield the cleanest, greenest lithium on the planet. The hope of a clean energy future has excited investors and public officials so much that the area is being rechristened as "Lithium Valley." In a region desperate for jobs and income, the prospect of a "white gold rush" is appealing. Public officials have been working to roll out the red carpet for big investors, including trying to create a clear plan for infrastructure and a quicker permitting process. To get community groups' support, they are playing up the potential for jobs, including company commitments to hire local workers. But Imperial Valley residents who have been at the butt end of get-rich schemes around water and real estate in the past are worried that their political leaders may be giving away the store. As we explore in our new book, "Charging Forward: Lithium Valley, Electric Vehicles and a Just Future," the U.S. has an opportunity to ensure that these residents directly benefit from the lithium extraction boom, which is an important part of the global shift to clean energy. Possibilities and perils in 'Lithium Valley' Imperial Valley is emblematic of the potential and the risks that have long faced impoverished communities in resource-rich regions. To understand the possibilities and perils in Imperial Valley, it's useful to remember that the world is not just moving away from fossil fuel extraction but toward more mineral extraction. Today's battery technologynecessary for electric vehicles and energy storagerelies on minerals including cobalt, magnesium, nickel and graphite. And mineral extraction is often accompanied by obscured environmental risks. In Imperial Valley, environmental and community organizations are worried about lithium extraction's water use, waste and air pollution as production steps up and truck traffic increases. When your region's childhood asthma rate is already more than twice the national average, and dust from the drying lake is toxic, kicking up a "little extra dust" is a big deal. Comite Civico del Valle, a long-established environmental justice organization in Imperial Valley, has sued to slow down a streamlined permitting process for Controlled Thermal Resources, a company planning lithium extraction there. The group's concern is that inadequate environmental reviews could result in harm to residents' health. Both the company and public officials are warning that the lawsuit could stop the lithium boom before it begins. Local communities are also concerned about how much benefit they will see while the industry profits. They note that the electric vehicle boom driving lithium demand occurred precisely because of public policy. Tesla, for example, has benefited from multiple rounds of state and federal zero-emissions vehicle incentives, including the sale of emissions credits that accounted for 85% of Tesla's gross margin in 2009 and rose to US $1.8 billion a year by 2023. Behind these policies and financial incentives have been public will and taxpayer money. We believe that local residents, not just companies, deserve a return. Rather than promising to just pay for community "benefits," such as environmental mitigation, contributions to municipal coffers or jobs, the companies could pay "dividends" directly to local residents and communities. There are models of this dividend approach. For example, the Alaska Permanent Fund gives an annual amount to all residents of that state from revenues obtained from the oil beneath the ground. In Imperial Valley, the actual ownership of the lithium is complex, involving a mix of privately owned subsurface rights, public lease rights obtained by companies and public rights held by the regional water district to whom companies will pay royalties. Given the ownership complexities and the desire to benefit as development takes place, local authorities and community organizations persuaded the state in 2022 to pass a per-metric-ton lithium tax to address local needs. That "flat tax" was bitterly resisted by some in the emerging industry on the grounds that it could make Imperial Valley's less-polluting extraction method too costly to compete with environmentally damaging imports; after the vote, CTR's CEO called the legislators "clowns". Meanwhile, CTR has also agreed to hire union workers in the construction phase. Everyonecompanies, communities and government officialsis struggling to balance economic viability with accountability. Lessons for a just transition The hesitance of low-income Imperial Valley residents to immediately buy into the lithium vision is deeply rooted in history. Decades of racial exclusion, patronizing practices and broken promises have led to deep distrust of outsiders who assert that things will be better this time. Irrigation at the turn of the last century was supposed to bring an agricultural boom, but the early result was a broken canal that released enough water over nearly two years of disrepair to create what is now the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea was then supposed to fuel recreational tourism, but the failure to replenish it with anything but agricultural runoff helped to kill fish, birds and recreation. A more recent scheme to attract solar farms in recent decades delivered little employment and more worries about agricultural displacement. Building the supply chain here, too In recent years, some people have pinned their hopes on lithium. The main site so far in Imperial Valley has been CTR's Hell's Kitchen. It's a fitting moniker on summer days when temperatures regularly exceed 110 degrees. Ensuring that the surrounding communities benefit from this new lithium boom will require thinking about how to attract not just companies extracting the lithium but also those that will use it. So far, Imperial County has had limited success in attracting related industries. In 2023, a company named Statevolt said it would build a "gigafactory" there to assemble batteries. However, the company's previous effortsBritishvolt in the United Kingdom and Italvot in Italyhave stalled without any volts being produced. Imperial County will need serious suitors to make a go of it. A potentially promising future for modern transportation and energy storage may be brewing in Imperial Valley. But getting to a brighter future for everyone will require remembering a lesson from the past: that community investments tend to be hard-won. We believe that ensuring everyone benefits in the long term is essential for achieving a more inclusive and sustainable future. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 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: Sam Altman, right, CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, and Mira Murati, chief technology officer, appear at OpenAI DevDay, OpenAI's first developer conference, on Nov. 6, 2023 in San Francisco. Credit: AP Photo/Barbara Ortutay, File A high-ranking executive at OpenAI who served a few days as its interim CEO during a period of turmoil last year said she's leaving the artificial intelligence company. Mira Murati, OpenAI's chief technology officer, said in a written statement Wednesday that, after much reflection, she has "made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI." "I'm stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration," she said. Two other top executives are also on their way out, CEO Sam Altman announced later Wednesday. The decisions by Murati, as well as OpenAI's Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew and another research leader, Barret Zoph, were made "independently of each other and amicably," Altman said in a note to employees he shared on social media. They are the latest high-profile departures from San Francisco-based OpenAI, which started as a nonprofit research laboratory and is best known for making ChatGPT. Its president and co-founder, Greg Brockman, said in August he was "taking a sabbatical" through the end of the year. Another co-founder, John Schulman, left in August for rival Anthropic, founded in 2021 by a group of ex-OpenAI leaders. Yet another co-founder, Ilya Sutskever, who led a team focused on AI safety, left in May and has started his own AI company. Mira Murati appears at OpenAI DevDay, OpenAI's first developer conference, on Nov. 6, 2023 in San Francisco. Credit: AP Photo/Barbara Ortutay, File Days after Sutskever's departure, his safety team co-leader Jan Leike also resigned and leveled criticism at OpenAI for letting safety "take a backseat to shiny products." Murati spoke positively of the company and Altman in a departing note to colleagues shared on social media, describing it as "at the pinnacle of AI innovation" and saying it's hard to leave a place one cherishes. Altman expressed his gratitude for Murati's service and said leadership changes are natural for a fast-growing company. "I obviously won't pretend it's natural for this one to be so abrupt, but we are not a normal company," Altman said in a post on X that also announced that six other people were taking new roles. Murati was suddenly catapulted to be the company's interim CEO late last year after the board of directors fired Altman, sparking upheaval in the AI industry. The company later brought in another interim CEO before restoring Altman to his leadership role and replacing most of the board members who ousted him. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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: Students use their cellphones as they leave for the day the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts High School in downtown Los Angeles, Aug. 13, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File Worried about your teen's Instagram use? Faced with growing pressure to do more to stop online harm, the social media platform has rolled out a major new update to protect young people and give parents more control. With many teens spending almost all of their time online, parents are concerned that social media is exposing them to harmful content like cyberbullying, eating disorders and suicidal thoughts. Prominent profile figures including U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and Prince Harry have warned about the risks. Critics say Instagram's changes are a step in the right direction but they still put the onus on parents and children instead of the company to deal with the problem. Here's a guide to Instagram's new teen accounts: What limits will young users have? Instagram already prohibits anyone under 13 from signing up. Now, teen accounts will automatically be set to private. That means they'll have to accept or reject requests from new followers. Other users won't be able to see a teen user's posts and videos, or tag the account. Teens will also face messaging restrictions. They can only receive direct messages from people they're following or who follow them. But they can still send messages to other accounts. And they'll be subject to the strictest content settings, and won't be shown content involving sensitive topics like fighting videos and posts about cosmetic procedures. Instagram's anti-bullying feature will be set to the highest level to screen out offensive words and phrases in comments and direct message requests. To cut down their screen time, teens will get a notification to stop using the app after it's been open for more than an hour which they can ignore. Sleep mode will kick in from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., which mutes notifications and sends auto-replies to direct messages at a time when they're supposed to be sleeping. However, they can still scroll through Instagram and even respond to messages if they want to. Are there workarounds? These limits will be turned on automatically for all teens, but 16 and 17-year-olds will have the authority to turn them off. Kids under 16 will need permission to do so and parents can make changes and approve or deny any requests in the family center. Teens might lie about their age, but it's getting harder to fool the platform. Instagram has previously started requiring users to verify their ages by uploading an ID or doing a video selfie if they try to change their birthdates to show they're over 18. Now, Instagram says it will start testing artificial intelligence technology early next year to detect if a user is a teen even if the account lists an adult birthday. Of course, teens don't have to agree to be supervised in the first place. Instagram says they and their parents both have to opt in. And either side can revoke supervision at any time. What if the parent isn't on Instagram? If you want to use the teen controls, you'll need an account even if you don't want it. A spokeswoman said it's important for parents to be familiar with the platform so they can effectively supervise their teens. New controls for parents If you don't think the limits on your teen's account are strict enough, you can add supervisory controls. This feature allows parents to see who their teen has traded messages with within the past seven days, but not what's in those messages. Not happy that your teen can ignore reminders to stop using the app? There are controls to let parents limit the amount of time their teen spends on Instagram each day. Once the limit is hit, they are cut off. You can also block your teen from using Instagram during specific times of the day, and monitor the topics of content that they're seeing. How to set up parental controls First, you'll need your teen to set up family supervision on his or her account. On the mobile app, go to settings and scroll down to the family center to activate this feature. Next, the teen account will have to invite a parent. It will be in the form of a link the teen can send by text message to the parent. After accepting the invite, the teen user has 48 hours to review and confirm the parent's response. Can I use the teen settings right away? Anyone under 18 who now signs up for Instagram in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia will be automatically enrolled into a restricted teen account. Existing accounts will be transferred by mid-November. Teens in the European Union's 27 countries will be migrated later this year. The rest of the world will get teen accounts in January and they will roll out to other Meta services like Facebook next year. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (TSE:CP Get Free Report) (NYSE:CP) announced a quarterly dividend on Monday, July 29th, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Monday, October 28th will be given a dividend of 0.19 per share on Friday, September 27th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 27th. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of TSE:CP opened at C$114.78 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$112.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$112.69. The stock has a market capitalization of C$107.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.74, a PEG ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 0.79. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a 52-week low of C$94.45 and a 52-week high of C$123.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 50.47, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.51. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSE:CP Get Free Report) (NYSE:CP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The company reported C$1.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$1.01 by C$0.04. The company had revenue of C$3.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$3.55 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 24.46% and a return on equity of 8.10%. Analysts expect that Canadian Pacific Kansas City will post 5.090035 EPS for the current year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on CP shares. National Bankshares set a C$119.00 price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, June 27th. Desjardins boosted their price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$131.00 to C$132.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. TD Securities raised their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$115.00 to C$120.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Barclays boosted their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$95.00 to C$97.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, ATB Capital increased their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$130.00 to C$133.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$121.67. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Canadian Pacific Kansas City Insider Activity at Canadian Pacific Kansas City In other news, Senior Officer John Kenneth Brooks sold 21,700 shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$112.01, for a total value of C$2,430,629.59. In other news, Senior Officer John Kenneth Brooks sold 21,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$112.01, for a total transaction of C$2,430,629.59. Also, Senior Officer Laird Joseph Pitz sold 5,480 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$79.71, for a total transaction of C$436,796.55. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 87,105 shares of company stock valued at $9,340,938. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock. About Canadian Pacific Kansas City (Get Free Report) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Destiny Media Technologies (OTCMKTS:DSNY Get Free Report) and Cheetah Mobile (NYSE:CMCM Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, earnings, valuation and analyst recommendations. Risk and Volatility Destiny Media Technologies has a beta of 0.96, indicating that its share price is 4% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cheetah Mobile has a beta of 1.49, indicating that its share price is 49% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Destiny Media Technologies alerts: Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.4% of Cheetah Mobile shares are held by institutional investors. 13.1% of Destiny Media Technologies shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 17.1% of Cheetah Mobile shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Destiny Media Technologies 0 0 0 0 N/A Cheetah Mobile 0 0 0 0 N/A This is a summary of recent recommendations for Destiny Media Technologies and Cheetah Mobile, as provided by MarketBeat. Profitability This table compares Destiny Media Technologies and Cheetah Mobiles net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Destiny Media Technologies 5.20% 6.62% 5.89% Cheetah Mobile N/A N/A N/A Earnings and Valuation This table compares Destiny Media Technologies and Cheetah Mobiles top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Destiny Media Technologies $4.03 million 1.84 $340,000.00 $0.01 77.09 Cheetah Mobile $94.30 million 1.20 -$84.92 million N/A N/A Destiny Media Technologies has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Cheetah Mobile. Summary Destiny Media Technologies beats Cheetah Mobile on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Destiny Media Technologies (Get Free Report) Destiny Media Technologies Inc. develops technologies that enable the distribution of digital media files in a streaming or digital download format over the Internet. It offers Play MPE, an online platform that distributes promotional content, including broadcast quality audio, video, images, promotional information, and other digital content from record labels and artists to broadcasting professionals, music curators, and music reviewers to discover, download, broadcast, and review the content; Play MPE CASTER; Play MPE Quickshare provides a distribution tool for Play MPE customers to promote music; and Play MPE Player for music curators to review and download content through cloud-based player and mobile apps. The company also provides Music Tracking Radar, a digital tracking service that tracks and reports the number and times customers track is played; Clipstream, an online video platform for encoding, hosting, and reporting on video playback that can be embedded in third party websites or emails; and playback through its JavaScript codec engine. It markets and sells its products in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia. The company was founded in 1991 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. About Cheetah Mobile (Get Free Report) Cheetah Mobile Inc. along with its subsidiaries, engages in provision of internet services, artificial intelligence, and other services in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Japan, and internationally. The company's internet products include Duba Anti-virus, an internet security application to protect users against known and unknown security threats and malicious applications; and Clean Master, a junk file cleaning, memory boosting, and privacy protection tool for mobile devices. It also offers value-added products, such as PC and mobile products, as well as wallpaper, office optimization software, and others; E-Coupon vending robot, a delivery and reception robot, which includes marketing campaigns and services; and multi-cloud management platform and overseas advertising agency service. In addition, the company provides mobile advertising services; duba.com personal start page that aggregates online resources and provides users access to their online destinations, such as online shopping, video, online game, travel, and local information; artificial intelligence and other services; and premium membership services. It serves mobile advertising networks and partners, e-commerce companies, mobile application developers, and mobile game developers, as well as individual customers. The company was formerly known as Kingsoft Internet Software Holdings Limited and changed its name to Cheetah Mobile Inc. in March 2014. Cheetah Mobile Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Receive News & Ratings for Destiny Media Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Destiny Media Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd (CUPR) expects to raise $16 million in an initial public offering (IPO) on the week of September 30th, IPO Scoop reports. The company will issue 3,800,000 shares at $4.00-$4.50 per share. In the last year, Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd generated $80,000 in revenue and had a net loss of $890,000. The company has a market-cap of $30.7 million. Network 1 Financial Securities served as the underwriter for the IPO. Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd provided the following description of their company for its IPO: We manufacture and distribute chronic wound care products medical grade bio-dressing products made from sterile blowfly larvae and sold under the MEDIFLY brand mostly in Singapore since February 2020 and in Hong Kong since March 2023. (Incorporated in the Cayman Islands) From the Prospectus: Looking ahead, we have strategic plans in place for the second half of 2024 and 2025 to expand our sales and establish physical operations in several key regions, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East (in particular, the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC), and mainland China. These expansion initiatives will further enable us to cater to the growing demand for our products in these promising markets, cementing our position as a trusted player in the field of chronic wound care and treatment. We are a Singapore-based biomedical and biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative products for the management of chronic wounds, as well as operating in the health and beauty sectors. Our expertise in biomedical research allows us to identify and utilize materials derived from natural sources to develop wound care products in the form of medical devices which meet international standards. We believe we will be able to build upon and leverage such expertise to develop innovative cosmeceutical products in the future. As of Dec. 31, 2023, we manufactured and distributed a line of medical grade sterile blowfly larvae bio-dressing products marketed under the MEDIFLY brand name, or the MEDIFLY products. The MEDIFLY products are used as a biological debridement tool for chronic wounds, in a procedure known as Maggot Debridement Therapy, or MDT, which is an effective alternative to surgical debridement. In addition to our commercialized MEDIFLY products, we have two lines of chronic wound care products in our pipeline: *Collagen dressings, including sponges, particles and hydrogels, using bullfrog collagen derived from the valorization of abattoir waste streams of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and *Products using medical leeches for wound treatment. We expect development of such products to take place over the course of 2024 and 2025 and to become commercially available subject to regulatory approval.A We believe what sets us apart is our focus on developing functionally specific chronic wound care products designed to address the major stages of the wound healing process from chronic to closure. Our chronic wound care products, including both our existing commercialized products and forthcoming products in our pipeline, are poised to benefit from escalating global market demand. This demand is primarily fueled by the demographic shift towards an aging population and the concurrent rise in comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular ailments and peripheral vascular diseases.A For our cosmeceuticals business, we introduced three products in 2023, including a hydrating balm product, a muscle energy cream and a pain relief muscle patch. For our commercialized cosmeceutical products, we have commissioned original equipment manufacturers of skincare products to develop the formulation and manufacture the substantially finished and finished products. In addition, we plan to explore the possibility of developing a range of potential cosmeceutical product candidates incorporating bullfrog collagen with a view to making them commercially available between 2024 and 2028, subject to the progress of the relevant R&D work. We offer our chronic wound care products to both public and private hospitals and clinics, where patients can obtain them through prescription from a physician. Our customers primarily include major public and private hospitals and clinics in Singapore. Our commercialized cosmeceutical products can be purchased directly by individual customers through a variety of channels, including retailers and gyms in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, as well as online shopping platforms such as Shopee. Note: Net loss and revenue figures are in U.S. dollars for the year that ended Dec. 31, 2023. Note from the Prospectus: Our independent registered public accounting firm expressed substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern requires that we obtain sufficient funding to finance our operations. (Note: Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd. filed an F-1/A on Sept. 3, 2024, disclosing that its IPOs price range is $4.00 to $4.50 a change from its IPO price of $4.00 and keeping the IPOs size at 3.75 million Class A ordinary shares to raise $15.94 million. Background: Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd increased the number of shares to 3.75 million up from 2.5 million shares initially without disclosing the IPO price in an F-1/A filing dated June 20, 2024.) (More Background: Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd filedA an F-1/A dated May 16, 2024, disclosing that it will offer 2.5 million Class A ordinary shares without stating the IPO price. More Background: Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd. filed its F-1 on March 7, 2024, without disclosing terms; estimated IPO proceeds were $10 million. Previously: The Cayman Islands-incorporated holding company submitted its confidential filing to the SEC on Oct. 13, 2023.) . Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd was founded in 2019 and has 14 employees. The company is located at c/o Blk 1090 Lower Delta Road #06-08 Singapore 169201 and can be reached via phone at +65 8512 7275 or on the web at https://www.cuprina.com/. Receive News & Ratings for Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF Get Free Report)s stock price fell 0.5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock traded as low as $110.46 and last traded at $111.25. 732,207 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 58% from the average session volume of 1,752,771 shares. The stock had previously closed at $111.83. Specifically, CEO Tarang Amin sold 23,528 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.45, for a total value of $3,210,395.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 106,016 shares in the company, valued at $14,465,883.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Get e.l.f. Beauty alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have weighed in on ELF. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on e.l.f. Beauty from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of e.l.f. Beauty from $224.00 to $207.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of e.l.f. Beauty from $230.00 to $190.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 9th. DA Davidson reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $223.00 target price on shares of e.l.f. Beauty in a research note on Wednesday, September 18th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of e.l.f. Beauty from $250.00 to $230.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $198.80. e.l.f. Beauty Price Performance The stocks 50-day moving average is $149.29 and its 200 day moving average is $172.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.18 billion, a PE ratio of 49.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.77. e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.20. e.l.f. Beauty had a net margin of 10.80% and a return on equity of 23.30%. The firm had revenue of $324.48 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $303.60 million. As a group, equities analysts expect that e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. will post 2.88 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of e.l.f. Beauty during the second quarter worth $26,000. Matrix Trust Co purchased a new stake in e.l.f. Beauty in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in e.l.f. Beauty during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of e.l.f. Beauty during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its stake in shares of e.l.f. Beauty by 405.9% during the 2nd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 172 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 138 shares in the last quarter. 92.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. e.l.f. Beauty Company Profile (Get Free Report) e.l.f. Beauty, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides cosmetic and skin care products under the e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, Well People, and Keys Soulcare brand names worldwide. The company offers eye, lip, face, face, paw, and skin care products. It sells its products through national and international retailers and direct-to-consumer channels, which include e-commerce platforms in the United States, and internationally primarily through distributors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for e.l.f. Beauty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for e.l.f. Beauty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A bronze sculpture of ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi (about 571 BC- 471 BC) was installed on Wednesday in Greece's National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The artwork titled "Harmony between Humankind and Nature -- statue of Laozi" was crafted by Professor Wu Weishan, who is curator of the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC). The sculpture, which won the gold medal at the 2012 Louvre International Art Exhibition in France, will be on display permanently here, engaging in dialogue with the museum's artifacts, Wu said at an inauguration ceremony. "I am moved that the museum's visitors will from now on be able to see a sculpture created by a Chinese artist," Wu said. "It is our duty to bring closer our peoples via an honest and open dialogue," Anna Vassiliki Karapanagiotou, general director of the National Archaeological Museum, said. "Dialogue between Chinese and Greek civilizations" was the title of Wednesday's event and this dialogue is deepening in recent years thanks to many initiatives, Karapanagiotou said. The Greek Museum has collaborated with NAMOC to exchange exhibitions and more are planned in the future, she said. The is not the first piece by Wu to be displayed in Greece. In 2021, his sculpture "Socrates and Confucius: An Encounter," depicting the two great philosophers of ancient Greece and China, was respectively installed at the Ancient Agora of Athens, a historic site at the foot of the Acropolis once serving as the social, political, and commercial hub of the city. Lavras Gold Corp. (CVE:LGC Get Free Report) insider 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 39,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$0.27, for a total transaction of C$10,469.52. 2176423 Ontario Ltd. also recently made the following trade(s): Get Lavras Gold alerts: On Thursday, September 12th, 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 52,600 shares of Lavras Gold stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$2.62, for a total transaction of C$137,564.78. On Tuesday, September 3rd, 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 33,600 shares of Lavras Gold stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$2.62, for a total transaction of C$87,984.96. On Tuesday, August 20th, 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 44,500 shares of Lavras Gold stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$2.56, for a total transaction of C$114,035.70. On Friday, July 12th, 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 193,900 shares of Lavras Gold stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$2.08, for a total transaction of C$402,420.06. Lavras Gold Trading Down 3.0 % CVE LGC opened at C$2.55 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of C$130.94 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -36.43 and a beta of -0.17. The firms fifty day moving average price is C$2.31 and its 200 day moving average price is C$1.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 7.38 and a quick ratio of 11.12. Lavras Gold Corp. has a 12 month low of C$0.75 and a 12 month high of C$2.89. Lavras Gold Company Profile Lavras Gold Corp. engages in the exploration and development of mineral resource properties in Brazil. It holds interests in the Lavras do Sul, an advanced exploration gold project with 29 mineral rights covering approximately 22,000 hectares located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The company was incorporated in 2021 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Lavras Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lavras Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toast, Inc. (NYSE:TOST Get Free Report) President Stephen Fredette sold 144,238 shares of Toast stock in a transaction on Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.34, for a total transaction of $3,943,466.92. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 2,160,499 shares in the company, valued at approximately $59,068,042.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Stephen Fredette also recently made the following trade(s): Get Toast alerts: On Monday, September 23rd, Stephen Fredette sold 8,057 shares of Toast stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.02, for a total transaction of $225,757.14. On Wednesday, September 18th, Stephen Fredette sold 800 shares of Toast stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.00, for a total transaction of $21,600.00. On Thursday, September 12th, Stephen Fredette sold 101,574 shares of Toast stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.73, for a total transaction of $2,613,499.02. On Tuesday, September 10th, Stephen Fredette sold 211,686 shares of Toast stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.57, for a total value of $4,989,439.02. On Friday, August 2nd, Stephen Fredette sold 1,127 shares of Toast stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.00, for a total value of $27,048.00. On Tuesday, July 2nd, Stephen Fredette sold 3,810 shares of Toast stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.64, for a total value of $97,688.40. Toast Price Performance Toast stock opened at $27.10 on Thursday. Toast, Inc. has a one year low of $13.77 and a one year high of $28.19. The businesss fifty day moving average is $25.14 and its 200 day moving average is $24.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.49 billion, a PE ratio of -54.20 and a beta of 1.75. Analyst Ratings Changes Toast ( NYSE:TOST Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported $0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.04. Toast had a negative net margin of 3.10% and a negative return on equity of 11.27%. The firm had revenue of $1.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.19) EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 27.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Toast, Inc. will post -0.1 EPS for the current fiscal year. TOST has been the topic of a number of research reports. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Toast from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, September 17th. Mizuho raised shares of Toast from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $21.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. Stephens reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $28.00 target price on shares of Toast in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $29.00 target price on shares of Toast in a report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $27.00 price target on shares of Toast in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $28.33. View Our Latest Stock Report on TOST Institutional Investors Weigh In On Toast A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TOST. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Toast by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 35,968 shares of the companys stock valued at $927,000 after buying an additional 421 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its position in Toast by 1.0% in the first quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 43,357 shares of the companys stock worth $1,080,000 after purchasing an additional 436 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC grew its stake in shares of Toast by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 16,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $416,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its position in shares of Toast by 8.4% during the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 6,742 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,000 after purchasing an additional 520 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank lifted its stake in shares of Toast by 10.9% in the 1st quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 6,167 shares of the companys stock worth $154,000 after purchasing an additional 607 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.91% of the companys stock. About Toast (Get Free Report) Toast, Inc operates a cloud-based digital technology platform for the restaurant industry in the United States, Ireland, and India. The company offers software products for restaurant operations and point of sale, such as Toast POS, Toast now, multi-location management, kitchen display system, Toast mobile order and pay, Toast catering and events, Toast invoicing, Toast tables, and restaurant retail; and hardware products, including Toast flex, Toast flex for guest, Toast go 2, Toast tap, kiosks, and Delphi by Toast. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Toast Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toast and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. An advanced threat actor with an India nexus has been observed using multiple cloud service providers to facilitate credential harvesting, malware delivery, and command-and-control (C2). Web infrastructure and security company Cloudflare is tracking the activity under the name SloppyLemming, which is also called Outrider Tiger and Fishing Elephant. "Between late 2022 to present, SloppyLemming has routinely used Cloudflare Workers, likely as part of a broad espionage campaign targeting South and East Asian countries," Cloudflare said in an analysis. SloppyLemming is assessed to be active since at least July 2021, with prior campaigns leveraging malware such as Ares RAT and WarHawk, the latter of which is also linked to a known hacking crew called SideWinder. The use of Ares RAT, on the other hand, has been attributed to SideCopy, a threat actor likely of Pakistani origin. Targets of the SloppyLemming's activity span government, law enforcement, energy, education, telecommunications, and technology entities located in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, and Indonesia. The attack chains involve sending spear-phishing emails to targets that aim to trick recipients into clicking on a malicious link by inducing a false sense of urgency, claiming that they need to complete a mandatory process within the next 24 hours. Clicking on the URL takes the victim to a credential harvesting page, which then serves as a mechanism for the threat actor to gain unauthorized access to targeted email accounts within organizations that are of interest. "The actor uses a custom-built tool named CloudPhish to create a malicious Cloudflare Worker to handle the credential logging logic and exfiltration of victim credentials to the threat actor," the company said. Some of the attacks undertaken by SloppyLemming have leveraged similar techniques to capture Google OAuth tokens, as well as employ booby-trapped RAR archives ("CamScanner 06-10-2024 15.29.rar") that likely exploit a WinRAR flaw (CVE-2023-38831) to achieve remote code execution. Present within the RAR file is an executable that, besides displaying the decoy document, stealthily loads "CRYPTSP.dll," which serves as a downloader to retrieve a remote access trojan hosted on Dropbox. It's worth mentioning here that cybersecurity company SEQRITE detailed an analogous campaign undertaken by the SideCopy actors last year targeting Indian government and defense sectors to distribute the Ares RAT using ZIP archives named "DocScanner_AUG_2023.zip" and "DocScanner-Oct.zip" that are engineered to trigger the same vulnerability. A third infection sequence employed by SloppyLemming entails using spear-phishing lures to lead prospective targets to a phony website that impersonates the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) in Pakistan, after which they are redirected to another site that contains an internet shortcut (URL) file. The URL file comes embedded with code to download another file, an executable named PITB-JR5124.exe, from the same server. The binary is a legitimate file that's used to sideload a rogue DLL named profapi.dll that subsequently communicates with a Cloudflare Worker. These Cloudflare Worker URLs, the company noted, act as an intermediary, relaying requests to the actual C2 domain used by the adversary ("aljazeerak[.]online"). Cloudflare said it "observed concerted efforts by SloppyLemming to target Pakistani police departments and other law enforcement organizations," adding "there are indications that the actor has targeted entities involved in the operation and maintenance of Pakistan's sole nuclear power facility." Some of the other targets of credential harvesting activity encompass Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi government and military organizations, and to a lesser extent, Chinese energy and academic sector entities. Muslim tourists generate over $3.5 billion to Malaysia's tourism industry By Vietnam News Agency Thu, September 26, 2024 | 8:56 pm GMT+7 Malaysia welcomed 4.5 million Muslim tourists last year, generating RM14.7 billion (over $3.5 billion) in revenue, director-general of the Islamic Tourist Centre (ITC), Nirzan Nordin said on Wednesday. The figures prove that Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality have significant economic potential in the country, Nizran told the press. Malaysia welcomed 4.5 million Muslim tourists last year. Photo courtesy of ITC Malaysia To promote the sector, the ITC provides Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition for accommodations, as well as certification for around 220 Muslim-friendly tourist guides, he continued. Through discussions with industry experts, ITC aims to seize opportunities and gain further understanding to develop standards that meet their requirements, towards a distinct service of Muslim-friendly tourism. Regarding creating hotel and restaurant chains that meet the requirements of Muslim tourists, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) of Malaysia intends to strengthen ties with member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in promoting a Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem in Malaysia. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said that close cooperation with the OIC will be beneficial, as the organisation has great potential in attracting more Muslim tourists to Malaysia. He stressed that if Malaysia does not pay attention to the Muslim tourism segment, it will miss out on a huge opportunity. Global Muslim population stands at two billion, with 1.1 billion residing in member countries of OIC, which includes 57 Muslim-majority nations. In ASEAN countries alone, there are approximately 255 million Muslims, alongside an additional 350 million living as minorities in other regions. The Mastercard-Crescent Rating (Global Muslim Travel Index, GMTI) forecast that by 2028, the travel market will be led by 230 million Muslims, generating spending of $225 billion. Clemson University's founding dean of veterinary medicine is hoping the state's first college for veterinarians will boost the number of vets in the Orangeburg area. We are expecting we will have partners in this area, Dr. Steven Marks told a joint luncheon of Orangeburg Kiwanians and Rotarians Monday at Cornerstone Church in Orangeburg. This area is big and a little bit far, but that is why once students are here, we would like them to be able to stay in this region and do multiple rotations, he said. Ultimately, I am hoping we will recruit students from this area that will want to go back to this area as veterinarians," Marks said. Clemsons $285.5 million, 232,500-square-foot College of Veterinary Medicine is under construction. Marks explained how the college will use a distributive training model where students will be able to serve with local veterinarians for two- to four-week rotations. What we are trying to do is to create what are called hubs, Marks said. We will have a hub in the Clemson region, we will have a hub near Myrtle, somewhere near Charleston, somewhere near Orangeburg, Greenville, Columbia. Marks said the goal is to graduate a diverse student body with students who will want to be agricultural veterinarians and who want to work in rural areas. There are good statistics to say if they leave that area and if they are successful, they will go back to that area, Marks said. We are asking veterinarians, and this area is no exception, to help us train this group of students that will be the next generation of veterinary clinicians and scientists. Clemsons College of Veterinary Medicine will be located on about 15 to 20 acres of the universitys 17,000-acre experimental forest. It will be in close proximity to the university's existing dairy farm, a beef and sheep farm, and the poultry farm, providing students with access to livestock and animals. Horses and dairy cows can be walked to the teaching laboratories and then escorted back to the farm. The college will begin accepting applications from students in 2025, with the first class entering in the fall of 2026. The college plans to begin with a class of 80 students. About 60 will be from South Carolina and 20 will be from outside the state. There are a lot of moving parts, but all that is connected back to the student experience, Marks said. We are all about training students. The college currently has about 16 employees. A curriculum has been developed. Its been submitted to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The college is currently awaiting initial approval from the American Veterinary Medical Association to begin recruiting students. Official accreditation will be given when the first class graduates and scores an average of 80 percent or better on the National Board Exam. Marks said Clemson needs a veterinary college. I think most people feel like this was a missing ingredient of an incredible recipe, Marks said. My hope is this will be the College of Veterinary Medicine of South Carolina. He said the timing is right because of the shortage of veterinarians. The market is in desperate need across the country but also specifically in South Carolina, he said. The college will prepare students to work with large and small animals. The second you walk across the stage you can practice on any animal on the planet, Marks said. Marks said having a college of veterinary medicine in South Carolina will help keep students in the state. The state of South Carolina currently pays 46 students to go out of state to receive their veterinary doctorates at such places as the University of Georgia, Mississippi State University or Tuskegee University. Marks hopes that eventually the college will create a mobile health hospital and an animal clinic that fills the need of those in low-income areas. He also plans for it to work with the ClemsonLIFE program to encourage students with intellectual challenges to enter the animal health care industry. All these goals, take time, they take money and they take people that have that passion, Marks said. MILLINGTON , Tenn. -- Mary Barrett, a native of Elloree, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Medical Readiness Logistics Command (NMRLC). Mary Barrett Mary Barrett, a native of Elloree, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Medical Readiness Logistics Command (NMRLC). Barrett graduated from Elloree High School in 1992. Additionally, Barrett graduated from Mount Olive College in Mount Olive NC, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Elloree. Growing up, I learned that God, consistency and determination were the keys to achieving any goals that you set for yourself, said Barrett. "By keeping myself grounded, I have been able to accomplish both my personal and still achieving my career goals. Work hard, trust God and everything else will fall into place" Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. Barrett started her government civilian service 11 years ago. I joined the Air Force to travel and to help my parents live a better life, said Barrett. Headed by Capt. Christopher Barnes, NMRLC develops, acquires, produces, fields, sustains, and provides enduring lifecycle support of medical materiel solutions to the Fleet, Fleet Marine Force, and Joint Forces in high-end competition, crisis, and combat. At the forefront of Navy Medicines strategic evolution, NMRLC is well positioned to be the Joint Forces premier integrated medical logistics support activity. With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America. Barrett serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security. We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day, said Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs. Barrett has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service. Retiring from the Air Force is one of my many achievements in my life, said Barrett. "I look forward to continuing to serve the DoD." Barrett can take pride in serving America through military service. Serving in the Air Force meant pushing myself to better myself and my Family, said Barrett. Barrett is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible. While serving in the Air Force I was stationed at Whiteman, Seymour Johnson, Davis-Monthan, Shaw, and Langley AFB where I retired. I also deployed to Doha Qatar, where I got to serve as a member of the vulnerability assessment team and forward deployed to the American Embassy in in Kenya. I also served in Karshi-Khanabad Uzbekistan where I was a part of two rescue missions supporting the 79th Rescue Squadron. "After my term in the Air Force, I started my journey as a DoD civilian. My last 10 years as a civilian have been fruitful. I hope to get settled and take every day as a learning experience, added Barrett. A gala featuring diverse art forms, from the 600-year-old Kunqu Opera to a children's chorus, was held at Zhongshan Park in Beijing on Monday, unveiling a festival titled The Heart of Beijing, which will feature a variety of programs till the end of this year. The programs, including live performances, workshops and educational events, will be held at iconic historical buildings in the capital, such as Zhongshan Park, the Temple of Heaven, the Bell and Drum Towers and residences once lived in by celebrities such as Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) writer Cao Xueqin and Chinese artist Qi Baishi (1864-1957). The festival will also bring programs to Beijing universities, aiming at educating students about the preservation of historical buildings. The festival will expand into 10 more cities, such as Yuncheng, Shanxi province; Deyang, Sichuan province; and Hohhot, the capital city of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, introducing historical buildings to a wider audience. The festival is held to mark the recent inclusion of the Beijing Central Axis into the UNESCO World Heritage List, which has ignited a new wave of enthusiasm for cultural heritage nationwide, creating a conducive environment for the preservation, protection and promotion of heritage sites. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). More than 2,700 new hotels rooms were delivered in Dubai in the first half of 2024, with a further 10,100 set to come on to the market by the end of 2025, according to new research by leading real estate advisory group and property consultant, Cavendish Maxwell. Dubai added 12 hotels to its inventory between 1 January and 30 June 2024, bringing the total number of hospitality establishments to 716. Another 40 hotels are due for delivery between now and the end of next year, with 4,748 additional rooms expected in 2026 and 2027, according to Cavendish Maxwells H1 2024 hospitality market performance study. Hotels in the 4-star category saw the biggest growth compared to 2023, with 436 new rooms delivered in H1 2024 a 216% increase on the same period last year. There was also a surge in the number of new 5-star hotel rooms opening for businesses: 1,681 came online during H1 this year, up 111% on H1 2023. Compiled from data by Cavendish Maxwell, AM:PM Hotels, STR, Dubai Tourism and the Department of Economy and released in the run up to the FHS World hospitality industry summit, the report shows that high end accommodation continues to dominate Dubais hospitality offering, with 67% of inventory falling in the luxury, upper upscale or upscale classification in June 2024. Urbacon (UCC) Holding, a leader in energy, concessions, and construction, announced its ranking as the 42nd top international contractor for 2024, according to Engineering News-Record (ENR). The company celebrated this achievement during the ConteQ Expo 2024 in Qatar, where it participated as the event's official sponsor. The event brought together UCC Holdings Board of Directors and senior management, who emphasised the companys ongoing efforts to integrate advanced construction technologies into its operations. During the expo, UCC Holding introduced three innovative construction methods: 3D construction printing, concrete modular construction and steel structure modular construction. These technologies are already being incorporated into UCCs future projects, including a series of schools set for construction in 2025. Using Cobods third-generation 3D construction printers, the two-storey schools will span a 100 x 100-m area. The BOD XL printers, known for their efficiency and precision, will enable fast and cost-effective construction, with a strong focus on safety and sustainability. Innovation and excellence UCC Holdings Chairman Moutaz Al Khayyat said: Being recognised as one of the top international contractors is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence. The technologies we are implementing will not only improve project efficiency but also set new standards in safety and sustainability across the industry. Ramez Al Khayyat, President of UCC Holding, said: Our success as a top international contractor is a result of our strategic investments in innovation and our people. At UCC Holding, we are committed to continually evolving our processes to meet the changing demands of the global construction industry. The integration of these advanced technologies into our projects reflects our forward-thinking approach and determination to deliver the highest quality outcomes for our clients.--TradeArabia News Service Average office lease rates in Dubai's key submarkets have surged by 22.4% in the past year, according to the latest Dubai Office Market Review report for H1 by global property consultant Knight Frank. This growth is driven by rising demand and limited supply across the city's top office submarkets with Dubai Grade A office occupancy levels currently exceeding 90%. Faisal Durrani, Partner Head of Research, Mena, commented: Despite concerns that the pandemic would lead to a permanent shift toward remote working, demand has in fact surged, which stands in sharp contrast to many other global cities. Businesses remain laser-focussed on securing best-in-class space, not least because of the proven links between occupying Grade A offices and the ability to attract and retain the best talent. Offices have graduated to become showrooms. Starved of prime space And with just 1.2 million square feet of office space completing between 2021 and 2023, the market has found itself starved of prime space. And the shortage is set to persist, with just 4.2 million square feet due between now and 2028, most of which is already spoken for. Current demand Knight Frank points to continued rising levels of demand from a variety of business industries, despite the shortage of space, which is underpinning the sharp rise in rents. Adam Wynne, Partner Head of Commercial Agency, UAE, explained: Our team has registered 578,353 square feet of new requirements for offices during the first half of the year, highlighting just how robust the sector continues to be as the imbalance between supply and demand continues. The flight to quality trend has become more prevalent in the market as we witness the emergence of ESG themes in occupier requirements. Businesses are now willing to pay a premium for good quality office space in the UAE. Sustainability credentials are especially important to international blue-chip occupiers. City wide occupancies sit in excess of 85% for Grade-B assets and in excess of 90% for Grade-A as occupiers keenly await new developments to enter the market. Businesses are having to carefully consider their growth plans in the wake of limited options and this in turn is fuelling pre-lease commitments on buildings yet to be completed, more customary in more mature markets. Rents trending upward The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) continues to lead as the most expensive area for office rentals in the city, with average rents reaching AED355 ($96.7) per square foot. The Trade Centre District follows closely in second place with rents at AED350 per square foot, marking an impressive 81% increase over the past 12 months. Downtown Dubai ranks third, but remains 1.5 times cheaper than the neighbouring DIFC, according to Knight Franks analysis. The Greens (77%), Sheikh Zayed Road (West) (77%), and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (67%) have also experienced double-digit growth rates in the last 12-months, with rents now exceeding AED200 psf. Office sales market Transaction volumes also indicate a thriving market, Knight Frank says. The total value of transactions in H1 2024 recorded a 24% year-on-year increase, reaching AED2.7 billion, up from AED2.2 billion in H1 2023. Additionally, the number of sales transactions rose from 1,334 deals in H1 2023 to 1,414 in H1 2024. Downtown Dubai continues to dominate office sales prices, with average values reaching AED3,609 psf, marking a 132% increase on 2020. Capital growth remains robust in other areas too, with Barsha Heights and Business Bay growing by 47% and 35% respectively.--TradeArabia News Service A visitor learns about a durian-flavored coffee at the booth of Malaysia during the 21st China-ASEAN Expo at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Visitors arriving at this year's China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) will encounter an intriguing blend of fresh innovations and familiar attractions. A new section spotlights emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and lithium batteries, while longstanding crowd favorites, like durian, longan, and rice, continue to draw attention. This evolving landscape mirrors the deepening partnership between China and ASEAN. China's commitment to expanding high-standard opening-up and the rapid industry upgrading in ASEAN nations has fostered stronger economic ties between the two sides. Together, these efforts drive regional high-quality development while sharing China's development opportunities with ASEAN. Empowering ASEAN SMEs Stepping into the Thai Pavilion at CAEXPO, visitors are greeted by the distinct aroma of durian mingling with the herbal scent of Zam-buk, a popular Thai remedy for insect bites. A booth showcasing the collaboration between TOPTHAI and China's e-commerce leader, JD.com, drew significant interest. TOPTHAI store on leading e-commerce platforms is an initiative launched by the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion this year. It aims to help Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expose their products to more overseas markets, among which the Chinese market is a crucial destination, said Dr. Nisachol Thaithong, a Thai trader and researcher in China-Thailand cross-border e-commerce. For SMEs and small-scale farmers in ASEAN countries, participating in e-commerce with China has transformed their businesses. "It (CAEXPO) is moving forward dynamically in terms of the more areas of cooperation, in terms of engaging wider stakeholders," said Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of ASEAN, in an interview on the sideline of CAEXPO and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS). "Now they are involved in the Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), for example. MSMEs are really the backbone of the economy on both sides. We have to get them involved, in addition to the big cooperations. I think this is the right direction that we are taking." Frequent exchanges between China and Malaysia leadership have set a positive tone for SMEs, said Ravenna Chen, the CEO of TusStar Malaysia, an innovation and entrepreneurship platform. Huang Aimin, chairman of the first council of the Guangxi Cross-border E-Commerce Association, said cross-border e-commerce has the potential to be a critical platform for promoting in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN. Collaborating with China has sped up modernization in Laos. For instance, working with China to digitize businesses and develop e-commerce skills has been advantageous for both businesses and young individuals in Laos, according to Thanongsinh Kanlaya, Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Upgrading agribusiness At a durian orchard in Thailand's Chanthaburi province, Kosai, the 32-year-old owner and a Chinese social media influencer, was promoting durians to Chinese netizens through the live streaming e-commerce platform Tmall. Kosai is proud that his orchard is a smart orchard jointly built by the Commercial Association for Sustainability of Agriculture in Thailand and the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The Internet of Things installed by the Chinese side in Kosai's orchard, which includes meteorological, water level, and soil moisture monitoring, could provide data support for the scientific cultivation of durian and the improvement of fruit quality. Modern farming is a sector with a promising future for cooperation between Malaysia and China, said Low Kian Chuan, president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. Despite the difference in size and population between Brunei and China, CAEXPO and CABIS have offered a platform for Brunei enterprises to conduct win-win cooperation with Chinese peers, said National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam President Haji Abdul Saman bin Haji Ahmad. Platforms like CAEXPO and CABIS incentivize Brunei SMEs to grow "more resilient and more proactive" by exposing their products and services to the Chinese market, said Saman, adding that he sees particularly promising opportunities for Brunei's halal food. Green transition Leading Chinese renewable energy firms are working closely with ASEAN enterprises and investing in new facilities to produce innovative, locally adapted products, thus actively contributing to ASEAN's green transition. In July, BYD opened an electric vehicle plant in Thailand, the automaker's first Southeast Asian factory, a fast-growing regional EV market. The same month Eve Energy announced a plan to build a new factory in Kulim, Kedah state, Malaysia to meet the fast-growing demand for energy storage and consumer batteries in the South East Asia region. In August, Gotion High-tech announced that a battery assembly plant project in Malaysia is under negotiation, in addition to its assembly plants in Indonesia and Thailand. The battery manufacturer's Vietnam factory is expected to begin production in October this year. Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link under the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to drive economic development in the east coast areas and promote more balanced development among regions within the countries, said Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the minister of transport of Malaysia. As outlined in the National Automotive Policy 2020 and National Energy Transition Roadmap, Malaysia is developing its renewable energy battery sector and welcomes leading battery manufacturers to invest in it, said Loke. Malaysia encourages Chinese companies to form partnerships with local companies to further promote the use of electric and hybrid vehicles in Malaysia, not only in terms of car manufacturing but also in the entire ecosystem, from charging networks to battery manufacturing, said Zalina Zainol, deputy chief executive officer of investment development at Malaysian Investment Development Authority. Malaysia highly encourages such cooperation to further create high-skilled jobs in engineering, research and development, and advanced manufacturing, thereby boosting economic growth here, Zainol added. Symbiosis International (Deemed University), one of Indias most esteemed academic institutions, has successfully launched its first international campus in Dubai. The campus has been officially licensed by the UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) and Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). All the academic programmes are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation under the Ministry of Education UAE. With over 50 years of academic excellence and a legacy rooted in global education, Symbiosis is bringing world-class education to the UAE, strengthening bilateral ties between India and the UAE. Founded in 1971 by Prof (Dr) SB Mujumdar, Symbiosis has long been a beacon of cultural integration and academic excellence. With its Vedic principle, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - The World is One Family - Symbiosis has bridged global cultures and promoted inclusive education. Now, with the Dubai campus already in operation after officially commencing classes in the first week of September, Symbiosis is ready to make its mark on one of the worlds most dynamic cities. The academic programmes that are conducted at the SIU Dubai campus are: *Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting and Finance *Master of Business Administration (MBA) *Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) AI and ML, Cloud Computing, Data Science and Data Analytics *Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication (BA) with Digital marketing, Public Relations, Advertising and Corporate communications. All these programmes are accredited by CAA, tailored to meet the demands of the global workforce, providing students with the tools they need for future success. Strengthening India-UAE bilateral relations Symbiosis establishment in Dubai strengthens the partnership between India and the UAE, contributing to both nations' strategic goals. The move aligns with the UAEs D33 Economic Agenda, which focuses on doubling the economy by 2033, with a strong emphasis on education and talent development. It also reinforces the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE, promoting educational and economic ties. This strategic expansion also supports India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises internationalisation and encourages high ranking Indian educational institutions to extend their global reach. Symbiosiss presence in Dubai plays a pivotal role in furthering the UAEs vision to become a global education hub, fostering innovation and international collaboration. Official licensure and accreditation The Dubai campus of Symbiosis International University operates under full accreditation from both the UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). This license ensures that Symbiosis's programmes in Dubai adhere to the highest standards of academic quality and are globally recognised. Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro-Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, said: The launch of Symbiosis International University in Dubai is a landmark moment in our journey of global expansion. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the UAE Ministry of Education and the Government of India for their unwavering support in fostering international education. With this foundation, we are thrilled to contribute to the UAEs vision of becoming a global education hub, while bringing together cultures, ideas, and innovation." Continuing a legacy of excellence With over five decades of academic excellence, Symbiosis is recognised for its global outreach, cultural diversity, and educational rigor. The university educates students from over 85 countries and offers more than 118 programmes across its 40 institutions. Symbiosis has consistently ranked among the top universities globally, building a legacy that the Dubai campus proudly continues. Students at the Dubai campus are already benefiting from a multicultural environment, internships and placements assistance through mentoring by alumni network in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), all of which enhance their career prospects in the region and beyond.--TradeArabia News Service Al Islami Foods, a leading provider of halal poultry, meat and snacking products, has unveiled its new brand positioning, which embodies the spirit of Emirati culture. The launch event held at the Grand Hyatt Dubai was attended by key partners and distinguished guests. Inspired by the core values of innovation, youth, education, women, love, and fraternity, the repositioning centres around the belief that Food is a Blessing. This marks a key milestone, as Al Islami reaffirms its deep-rooted commitment to delivering delicious, halal food that embodies purity and safety. By sharing nourishment and love through every bite, Al Islami aims to create joyful and cherished mealtime experiences for people and reaffirming its commitment to provide premium-quality authentic halal, healthy, and nutritional products. Universal vibe Our new positioning is more than just a visual refresh; it is a reflection of our companys soul. We believe that food is a universal vibe that brings people together and nourishes both body and spirit. By aligning our brand with the values of our founder, we are honouring our heritage while also looking forward to a future filled with innovation in halal food production that reaches communities across the world, commented Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Managing Director of Al Islami Foods. As a pioneer in the halal food industry, Al Islami remains committed to innovation and delivering exceptional products that meet the evolving tastes of consumers. The companys dedication to quality and safety has earned it recognition as one of the top halal brands globally, securing a coveted position among the Top 5 Halal Products Companies in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2023 and being awarded the prestigious title of iHalal Brand of the Year in 2021. CSR initiatives Beyond providing high-quality products, Al Islami is dedicated to giving back to the community through initiatives that promote health, well-being, and sustainable practices. The company believes in empowering youth, supporting education and fostering a sense of fraternity among its customers and employees. With its renewed focus on the blessing of food, Emirati heritage, and the founders values, Al Islami Foods is poised to strengthen its global leadership in providing the broadest range of halal food that is equally nutritious.--TradeArabia News Service A leader in halal foods for five decades, Al Islami Foods is an Emirati brand with a global presence that embodies the principles of quality and innovation. The brand has been recognised as one of the top halal brands globally, securing a coveted position among the Top 5 Halal Products Companies in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2023, and was awarded the prestigious title of iHalal Brand of the Year in 2021. The opening day of Marmomac, the most important trade fair in the world for the entire natural stone supply, turned out to be a historic one as for the first time since its establishment, it witnessed all female 'Masters of Stone' during the 2024 edition, which kicked off in Province of Verona in Italy on September 24. Franca Conti, Elena Pellegrini, Janina Mathiasz and Vivian Coser - are all successful entrepreneurs with a special vocation in promoting and valorising the economy and culture associated with the natural stone sector through their own companies. On the opening day, they received the coveted cube of Verona red marble, bronze plaque and silver chisel. Three symbols of a tradition that traces its roots back to Middle Ages, when the Ancient Free Corporation of the Art of Stone was founded in Verona. The awards were presented by the top management of Veronafiere with the President, Federico Bricolo, Managing Director, Maurizio Danese, and CEO, Adolfo Rebughini. "For the first time in the centuries-old history of this award, we can say that natural stone now has a new, all-female face," said Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere. "Marmomac is a perfect international stage for amplifying the message that skills and passion know no gender distinctions, and are the hallmarks for an equitable future in every context, including natural stone - a field often perceived as being exclusively masculine. We hope that these new Masters of Stone will help create a legacy with their examples to inspire future generations," stated Bricolo. The title of Master of Stone dates back to 1319 when Verona, under the Lordship of Cangrande I della Scala, saw the foundation of the Ancient Free Corporation of Stone Arts. It brought together stonecutters, quarrymen and artists expert in working stone from the quarries in the Lessinia, Valpolicella and Valpantena areas. In 1980, the Corporation was re-founded at Marmomac and today this award people whose contributes to the development and prestige of the local area's natural stone and technology supply chain. Motivations for the Masters of Stone Awards 2024 Franca Conti was awarded the title for her leadership in the sector and continuing the legacy of Gruppo Red, founded by her father, Giorgio Conti. Under her guidance, the company has become a multinational, with a sustainable and integrated production process. Franca has always promoted values of care towards people, the community and the environment by investing in the well-being of employees and supporting culture through the Giorgio Conti Foundation. Her commitment means she is widely acknowledged as a symbol of excellence and social responsibility. Elena Pellegrini was named Master of Stone for her authoritative status in the field of natural stone processing technologies. She successfully guided Pellegrini Meccanica since 1002, taking over the legacy of her father, Marco Pellegrini. Elena has kept innovation and excellence alive in the world of diamond wire cutting, the company's core business, and is also active in industry associations, where she stands out for her entrepreneurial vision and strong environmental responsibility. The award to Janina Mathiasz seeks to highlight her contribution to the natural stone sector. In 1998, she created the Designing with Natural Stone course, which is still active today at Marmomac as a training programme for architects accredited by prestigious international professional associations. In addition to promoting natural stone in her home country Hungary, Janina is committed to boosting Marmomacs leadership as a global landmark event in the sector. As founder of Sette7 Studio with her sister Erika, Vivian Coser has helped redefine contemporary Brazilian design by valorising the natural resources of her country. Her unique style combines eclectic influences to create items that blend beauty and function. Determined to promote Brazilian materials, Vivian has elevated stone craftsmanship into a timeless experience that celebrated the connection between nature, culture and human creativity. Her contribution has enriched stone processing and design by blending tradition and innovation.-TradeArabia News Service Genetec, a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, will showcase its physical security solutions at Intersec Saudi Arabia 2024 taking place from October 1-3 in Riyadh. The sixth edition of the country's premier security trade fair at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, will see Genetec present the latest version of its flagship unified security platform Security Center , as well as a range of cloud-ready solutions. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with Genetec experts and explore how unified physical security solutions are unlocking new capabilities for businesses and government entities across the region. Genetec will also provide insights into the latest advancements in hybrid cloud-based security. According to key findings from the 2024 State of Physical Security report, most organisations prefer a hybrid approach, combining both on-premises and cloud-based solutions. Close to 60% of end-user respondents revealed that their organisations aim for a security deployment strategy that combines both, with 12% of regional end-users stating that their organizations are currently storing video surveillance data both locally and in the cloud. As Saudi Arabia continues its journey towards Vision 2030, security infrastructure has become a critical enabler in modernising cities like Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah through smart city projects. Advanced physical security solutions play a pivotal role in supporting and safeguarding critical infrastructure, enhancing public safety, and enabling seamless urban development as the kingdom moves toward attaining its goals. "In a rapidly evolving security landscape, it is essential for physical security professionals in Saudi Arabia to remain agile, embracing new technologies that not only protect people and infrastructure but also deliver valuable operational insights that enable smarter decision-making," said Firas Jadalla, Regional Director Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META), Genetec Inc. "We are excited to return to Intersec Saudi Arabia and showcase how our cutting-edge solutions support the Kingdoms ambitious smart city initiatives and Vision 2030 goals. Intersec Saudi Arabia 2024 will provide an ideal platform for Genetec to demonstrate its commitment to the kingdom, following a series of strategic investments including the expansion of its Riyadh office and increased collaboration with local partners. TradeArabia News Service The Turkish Airlines has introduced The Oldest Bread in its in-flight service menu. The offering is made of Einkorn and Emmer wheats, which are considered the oldest variety in Anatolia, the cradle of one of the most ancient civilisations. The new item on the menu, Turkish Airlines said, reflects its way to share the countrys culture with its guests through cuisine and connecting honoured traditions with modern innovations. The menu item was officially introduced on flight TK3 flying from Istanbul to New York on September 22, 2024. Served heated and in a special bag with butter and olive oil before meal service, the bread will be available for Intercontinental Business Class passengers. Prepared fresh by the airlines Istanbul-based catering company, Turkish DO&CO, The Oldest Bread received additional consultancy of award-winning Turkish culinary historians Omur Akkor, and academic Cetin enkul. Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated: "As the flag carrier that offers the world's finest flavours to its guests and receiving numerous accolades for it from world renowned organisations, we are pleased to introduce our business class travellers to the worlds oldest bread grown from the reproduction of ancient wheat discovered in excavations in the Anatolia region. With this bread, traditional to Turkish cuisine and significant to global culinary history, we aim to blend past and present together on our inflight guest experiences. We hope that our new menu item will be appreciated by our guests as we continue our award-winning leadership in the field of inflight dining." During the inaugural flight of the new Turkish Airlines offering, it premiered a film on the subject which was shot in the Gobeklitepe, Karahantepe, and Euphrates River regions with the support of Turkiyes Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Oldest Bread is a Turkish Airlines project that reflects the history of Anatolian agriculture that began approximately 12,000 years ago in the Ta Tepeler region. Considered one of the centres of the Neolithic Revolution, Ta Tepeler was the first time in history that human communities transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled, agricultural society, and wheat was domesticated in this area. Turkish Airlines said it continues to maintain its status as the airline with the world's best inflight dining concepts and globally recognised menus, including flavours from both traditional Turkish cuisine and world cuisines. Sourcing 80% of the products used in its menus from local producers, the airlines in-flight dining offerings are prepared daily by expert chefs using the freshest products, in a boutique production style. TradeArabia News Service Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach will unveil at a grand ceremony at the resorts lobby on October 12, an artistic expression of its 10-year legacy, with a floral experience designed by a celebrated artistic director. Taking inspiration from nature, heritage and metropolitan immersion, the design of Jeff Leatham, renowned for his poetic mastery of floral decor, will adorn the main lobby, styled into a winding tale that evokes the resorts tropical greenery, city spirit and connection to the Dubai culture. The installation will be available at the lobby until November 8, 2024. The floral experience will serve as an expression of all the unique moments, beautiful bonds and eternal memories that are created by guests. Leatham is renowned for his mesmerising lobby installations at Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris where he flourishes as Artistic Director. His dedication to his craft and his treatment of flowers as an artistic medium have earnt him major honours, including a prestigious Knighthood, the Chevelier de LOrder des Arts et Letters Frances highest honour for those who have made significant contributions to Frances artistic legacy. His patrons include the Kardashians, Oprah, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton and Cher amongst others. Guests are invited to experience Leathams floral design by staying at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach or reserving a dining experience. TradeArabia News Service Saudi Civil Aviation Holding Company (Matarat), in partnership with the National Center for Privatization & PPP(NCP) and the Aseer Development Authority (ASDA), has announced that some of the biggest names in the airport construction sector have prequalified for the new Abha International Airport project in the Asir Region. The list of the qualified bidders include India's GMR Airports Limited; Turkish Mada TAV consortium comprising Mada Holding International and TAV Havalimanlari Holding; Touwaik Alliance comprising Skilled Engineers Contracting, Limak Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, Incheon International Airport Corporation, Dar Al Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), and Obermeyer Middle East as well as VI Asyad daa comprising Vision International Investment Company, Asyad Holding, and daa International Limited. On completion, the new airport will be able to accommodate over 13 million passengers annually, a 10-fold increase from the current capacity of 1.5 million. The Abha airport will then start handling more than 90,000 flights per year, up from the current 30,000. According to Matarat, the project is a Public Private Partnership initiative intended to meet the objectives from the Kingdoms Vision 2030 Plan. It will be implemented on a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) model. In addition the project is also intended to align with all relevant major national strategies, specific to the National Transportation and Logistics Strategy, National Aviation Strategy and Aseer Economic Development Strategy. The primary agreement that will be entered between Matarat and the project company will be for a period of 30 years. Its scope of work will include the design, financing, construction and operation of the new Abha Airport. All of Saudi Arabia's airports are being supervised by Matarat Holding, which monitors the operations of 27 airports across the kingdom through its subsidiaries (Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and Cluster 2) to develop the countrys airports and improve their performance to keep up with the rapid pace of current developments. This aligns with the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which is grounded in the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030, it added.-TradeArabia News Service The US has announced it was admitting Qatar into its visa waiver program, allowing visa-free travel by Qatari citizens for up to 90 days starting from December 1. The US Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State said in a statement that Qatar is the first Gulf country to be admitted to the US Visa Waiver Program, commending Doha for meeting the strict security requirements to join, reported Reuters. Similarly, stating from October 1, US citizens will also be able to visit Qatar without a visa for up to 90 days. The Gulf state has played a key role in mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials in relation to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages captured by the Palestinian Islamist group in its October 7 cross-border attack on Israel. An administration official told reporters the US has a strong defence relationship with Qatar and praised Doha for taking the lead on pressing the Taliban on human rights and providing assistance in Sudan, among other issues. "Qatar's fulfillment of the stringent security requirements to join the Visa Waiver Program will deepen our strategic partnership and enhance the flow of people and commerce between our two countries," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. It has become the second Muslim-majority country (after Brunei) to be included in the US Visa Waiver Programme, allowing its citizens to travel to the United States without obtaining a visa. Though Qatars population exceeds 3 million, only around 320,000 Qatari citizens are eligible for the programme, as most residents are foreign workers or expatriates without Qatari passports, reported The Indian Express. For admission to the program allowing visitors traveling for tourism or business purposes to stay up to 90 days without a visa, Washington requires countries to meet requirements on issues such as counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management. Qatar put forth a "significant whole-of-government effort to meet all program requirements," including on partnering to share information on terrorism and serious crimes, according to the statement. Qatar is the 42nd member of the program, with nations added infrequently. Israel, admitted to the programme in 2023, was the last country to join despite concerns over its treatment of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Americans.-TradeArabia News Service The exhibition area of humanoid robots is pictured at the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Greater efforts are needed to strengthen international cooperation in digital trade and to collectively formulate international rules related to such business activity, a sector which has injected new impetus into world economic growth, officials and experts said. China is willing to work with other nations to support the deeper application of cutting-edge technologies, promote the balanced development of digital trade in all fields, and help small and medium-sized enterprises worldwide achieve sustainable development through digital and intelligent transformation, said Zheng Jianbang, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, the country's top legislature. Zheng made the remarks at the launch ceremony of the third Global Digital Trade Expo, which opened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Wednesday. He said China has attached great importance to the development of digital trade, which is regarded as one of the three pillars supporting the development of a strong trading nation, alongside trade in goods and services. Zheng stressed the need to deepen dialogue and cooperation with other countries in the aspect of governance and to actively take part in the formulation of multilateral, bilateral and regional rules concerning digital trade, so as to create an open, fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment for the development of global digital trade. Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said his ministry will strengthen the construction of digital trade mechanisms, promote high-standard opening-up, and work with all parties to build digital trade into a new engine for common development, ultimately injecting new momentum into global economic growth. Wang said more than 400 new products and technologies are being showcased during the expo, while a future-oriented industry exhibition area has been set up for the first time, demonstrating cutting-edge technologies in fields such as artificial intelligence. Featuring Kazakhstan and Thailand as guests of honor, the expo, with the theme of "Digital Trade, Global Access", has attracted more than 1,500 companies from 32 countries and regions, with more than 30,000 professional buyers having registered for the event, including over 6,000 overseas buyers. Digital trade in China has made remarkable progress in recent years. Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that China's import and export of digitally-delivered service trade rose 3.7 percent year-on-year to 1.42 trillion yuan ($202.2 billion) in the first six months of 2024, a record-high. Moreover, the country's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached 1.22 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, an increase of 10.5 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs. Yi Lianhong, Party secretary of Zhejiang province, said the province will accelerate the building of industrial chains of digital trade, vigorously develop new business models such as digital product trade and digital service trade, ease market access in the digital domain, and bolster safe cross-border data flows. Zhaslan Madiyev, minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, said the expo provides an unique opportunity to showcase innovative technologies, products and ecosystems in global digital trade, while offering an open forum for exploring new markets and fostering opportunities for economic and trade collaboration. Kazakhstan has established strong cooperation relations with major Chinese e-commerce platforms like Alibaba and JD, further strengthening its role in the global digital trade arena, while Chinese delivery company YTO Express is partnering with Kazakhstan to build the largest e-commerce logistics center in Central Asia, he noted. He added that his country looks forward to further deepening its collaboration with China in areas such as logistics, digital trade and the creation of new technological hubs. This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows the China Pavilion at the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua] People visit the Silk Road E-commerce Zone during the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] People visit the Kazakhstan Pavilion at the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] People visit the Thailand Pavilion at the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] THE topic of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley being replaced as political leader of the Peoples National Movement (PNM) is not an issue currently up for consideration, said Foster Cummings, Member of Parliament (MP) for La Horquetta/Talparo yesterday. There are strong processes in the PNM. There is a leader in office in the PNM. That is the leader that we support and who will take us into the next general election, he said. The continuing decline in tertiary education enrolment is cause for concern, but no reason to panic. According to the 2025 Social Sector Investment Programme (SSIP), student enrolment in 2024 dropped by 5.3%, while in 2023 the decline was 8.3% compared to 2022. In interviews published in yesterdays Sunday Express, chief executive of The UWI Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, Mariano Browne, and former education minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh identified some common factors that could account for this decline. These included less funding for the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme, lower confidence in the countrys economic prospects, and bad policies by tertiary institutions. You are here: Business Visitors watch a robot welding an auto body during the 23rd China International Industry Fair (CIIF) in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 19, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] China is now home to 30 national-level manufacturing innovation centers and over 260 provincial-level manufacturing innovation centers, with the country persisting in its determined efforts to further boost its industrial development. China has also built 421 national-level demonstration factories featuring intelligent manufacturing, according to the 24th China International Industry Fair, which is being held in Shanghai, China's financial hub. The event kicked off on Tuesday and will run until Saturday, and has attracted the participation of 2,600 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions. With a total exhibition area of 280,000 square meters, the fair features nine professional exhibitions, with themes including new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, robots and new materials. Launched in 1999, the fair has become one of the most influential platforms for international trade, exchanges and cooperation on industrial scope. Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow Jimmie Tramel 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 Board members from the Recording Academys Texas chapter, which covers Oklahoma, held their first board meeting outside of Texas recently at The Church Studio. The board meeting took place Wednesday, Sept. 25. While in town, the board took part in a trolley tour with Experience Tulsa, which included stops at the Bob Dylan Center and Hansons 3CG Studio before ending at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Later, 123 guests attended a mixer at LaFortune Studio featuring performances from local musicians Full Flava Kings, DJ FEENIX, Branjae, Max Rainer of Wilderado and Jerica Wortham, plus a duet with Gina Chavez and Recording Academy trustee Taylor Hanson. Being a part of the Recording Academy Chapter board coming to Tulsa for the first time was an incredible honor, Hanson said. The Recording Academy is the worlds leading organization committed to championing music and its creators, and as a long-time member and a proud Oklahoman, I was thrilled to see our city and state come together to embrace what is possible through great partnership with the Academy. Oklahoma has a rich music history, and with the engagement of our creative artists and the commitment from our city and state to see it grow, I am confident we can amplify our states reputation as a place where creativity and music can thrive, he said. The Recording Academy is dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, advocating for and supporting music professionals. The purpose of Wednesdays event was to increase Oklahoma membership and promote the states musicians. It was so exciting to see the Recording Academys Texas chapter in Tulsa, Meg Gould, executive director of the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture, said. Oklahoma is full of incredible musicians, and we want them to get the support and recognition they deserve. Were looking forward to continuing this fantastic relationship with the Recording Academy. The Tulsa World is where your story lives A Chinese mainland's senior Taiwan affairs official met on Wednesday with a delegation led by Sean Lien, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in northeast China's Liaoning Province. Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the mainland will continue to improve the systems and policies for promoting economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan to boost integrated development across the Taiwan Strait. Song said the mainland is willing to work with the KMT to oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference, seek peace across the Strait, and work for the well-being of compatriots across the Strait. Lien said that based on the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," the KMT will continue to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in various fields, safeguard peace and stability across the Strait, and create more benefits for people on both sides of the Strait. The Fifth Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum opened in the southern metropolis on Wednesday under the theme 'Industrial Transformation - A New Driving Force for Ho Chi Minh City's Sustainable Development' with the attendance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The city hoped the forum would help to determine priorities in industrial transformation, allowing it to gather resources and ensure consistent policies. Speaking at the opening ceremony for the forum, secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen said Ho Chi Minh City aims to become a smart, modern city in order to improve the living quality of its residents. The city looks to become a modern industrial city by 2030 and stand equal with other major cities in the region by 2045. In order to reach such targets, the city needs sustainable solutions. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R, 2nd) attends the Fifth Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum, which opened on September 25, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The city has chosen green transition as its motivation, digital transformation as a breakthrough industry, and development cooperation as an important and inevitable task, Nen noted. Ho Chi Minh Citys foremost mission is to improve its infrastructure system, particularly its traffic infrastructure and environmental protection technologies, as well as improve the quality of its human resources. The city also needs breakthrough policies to mobilize resources for investment and development. Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen gives his remarks at the opening ceremony for the Fifth Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum on September 25, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The southern hub also expects to make conditions more conducive for the business community to operate and develop, according to the municipal Party chief. Nen said that domestic and international experts had provided the city with multiple opinions, suggestions, and proposals through economic forums. The municipal government has employed these opinions and suggestions to issue effective directives in mid- and short-term development periods. International guests at the opening ceremony for the Fifth Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum on September 25, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre In addition to diplomatic agencies, consulates general, international organizations, and enterprises, Ho Chi Minh City has friends that have supported it in its toughest times. The city will never forget those that have helped it overcome the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, said Nen. Ho Chi Minh City expects to learn from the governance models of other countries as well as international enterprises and organizations. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The city expects the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum to be a venue for economists to exchange and grasp new development trends, according to Dr. Pham Binh An, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies. This years forum, slated to last through Friday, features 40 delegations from 16 countries and territories, including Laos, Cambodia, China, Cuba, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Russia, India, Australia, and others. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Karan Bhatia, vice-president of government affairs and public policy at Google, expressed interest in exploring collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI) development with Vietnam during his meeting with Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in New York on Wednesday morning (local time). Bhatia reaffirmed Googles commitment to collaborating with Vietnam, announcing that Google had opened a new office in Ho Chi Minh City this year. The company operates a manufacturing facility for phones and components in Vietnam as well. He said that AI is one of Googles core strengths and could bring significant value to Vietnam. He shared Googles approach to AI, which includes developing models, integrating AI into its products, and supporting both the public and private sectors in AI adoption. Google's top government affairs official added that the tech giant is expanding skills training in Vietnam to promote AI collaboration, with plans to offer advice on optimizing the regulatory and policy framework for AI development. The company hopes to support Vietnam in AI-integrated cloud services and to cooperate in cybersecurity. The top Vietnamese leader emphasized that Googles continued expansion of business in Vietnam reflects the countrys growing importance in strengthening global supply chains and expanding markets for the tech behemoths products. Lam highlighted Vietnams commitment to creating favorable conditions for U.S. and foreign investors. He called on Google to encourage its suppliers to expand their investment in Vietnam. He suggested that Google help local firms enhance their capacity and join the tech giants supply chain. Lam said that high-quality human resource development is one of Vietnams top strategic priorities, especially in the fields of biotechnology, AI, chips, and semiconductors. He applauded Googles proposal to cooperate in AI training, expressing his hope that the firm will collaborate with Vietnam's National Innovation Center, agencies, and institutions to implement projects that benefit both sides. The leader of the Vietnamese Party and state commended Google for its interest in cybersecurity cooperation, emphasizing the sector's critical importance in light of the rapid changes brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Party General Secretary and State President of Vietnam To Lam (R) shakes hands with Nate Franklin, founder and chairman of Pacifico Energy Group, during the Vietnamese leaders visit to the U.S., September 25, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency On the same day, Lam hosted separate receptions for leaders of two major U.S. energy companies -- AES and Pacifico Energy. The receptions took place during the top Vietnamese official's visit to the U.S. from last Saturday through Wednesday this week. During his meeting with executive vice-president of AES Corporation Juan Ignacio Rubiolo, Lam commended the company's effective business and investment activities in Vietnam. He affirmed that Vietnam always welcomes foreign investors, especially those involved in clean energy transition projects, to do business in the country. Lam proposed that AES maintain close collaboration with its Vietnamese partners to ensure compliance with local laws during the project implementation. As Vietnam is seeking measures to keep its trade with the U.S. in balance, Lam endorsed the importation of liquefied natural gas to increase U.S. imports. He emphasized that the Party, state, and people of Vietnam are fully committed to creating optimal conditions for U.S. investors, particularly AES, to thrive in Vietnam. Rubiolo reaffirmed AESs long-term commitment to Vietnam, adding that the company pledged to support Vietnam in energy transition and green economic growth. The AES executive expressed his desire to work with Vietnamese companies such as PV Gas and EVN to optimize clean energy supply for industrial projects, ensuring reliable energy provision for the country. During his reception for Nate Franklin, founder and chairman of Pacifico Energy Group, Lam spoke highly of the group's contributions and successful investments in Vietnam and global markets over the years. He encouraged Pacifico Energy to make further investments in energy transition projects in Vietnam, noting that the country promotes energy transition and is working to fulfill its net-zero emissions goal by 2050. Franklin pledged to collaborate with its partners to effectively implement projects to address Vietnams energy needs in the years to come. The Pacifico Energy executive said that Vietnam boasts many advantages for developing clean energy and expressed his belief that the country could meet its offshore wind power targets by 2030. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ho Chi Minh City and Chinas Chongqing City are launching a new international trade corridor meant to enhance trade routes by both road and sea. This initiative is expected to lower logistics costs and create various opportunities for economic collaboration between the two localities, allowing Vietnamese businesses to expand their markets. The corridor will facilitate the transportation of well-known Vietnamese products such as rice, coffee, natural rubber, and fruit. These goods can then be distributed throughout China and to European markets, promoting market expansion and sustainable growth for Vietnamese enterprises. The new international trade corridor was discussed during a conference on promoting cooperation for the new international land-sea trade corridor, which was held in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday. At the conference, Vo Van Hoan, vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, underlined the citys role as a multifaceted economic hub with an integrated transportation system that includes air, waterway, maritime, land, and rail routes. Hoan also announced plans for Ho Chi Minh City to build 180 kilometers of urban railway by 2035 and invited Chongqing to collaborate on this urban rail system. He expressed ambitions to transform outlying Can Gio District into a logistics hub by developing the Can Gio transshipment port, which is currently in the planning stages. Once completed, the port will connect with Chongqing Port, expanding trade opportunities for Chinese goods in southern Vietnam. Zheng Xiangdong, Vice-Mayor of Chongqing, discussed the potential of this new trade corridor. He noted that Chongqing is a strategically important economic center in southwest China and has developed various logistics models including rail intermodal transport and maritime transport. This extensive network connects with 72 cities and 154 train stations across 18 provinces in China and reaches 538 ports in 125 countries globally. Goods produced by Chongqing-based businesses are on display at a conference on promoting cooperation for the new international land-sea trade corridor, September 24, 2024. Photo: Cong Trung / Tuoi Tre Such connectivity will enable effective collaboration between Ho Chi Minh City and Chongqing in supply chain development and international competitiveness. During the conference, many businesses expressed optimism about the new trade corridors potentialities to reduce logistics costs and foster economic cooperation between Vietnam and China. This initiative is expected to enhance the possibility of Vietnamese businesses to access larger markets while boosting their global competitiveness. The event also featured the signing of a cooperative agreement between businesses and associations in eight sectors including investment, trade, and logistics from both countries. Notably, statistics shared at the conference indicated that trade between Vietnam and China reached US$112.2 billion in January-July, marking a 25-percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. China remains Vietnams second-largest trading partner, while Vietnam ranks as Chinas largest trading partner in ASEAN and fifth globally. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! The U.S. backs a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Vietnam and treats the Southeast Asian country as a leading partner in the region, U.S. President Joe Biden has told Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam. Biden made the statement at a meeting with Lam in New York on Wednesday (local time) as part of the latters U.S. trip for the UN Summit of the Future and the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79). This was the first meeting between the two leaders since Party General Secretary and State President Lam took on his new positions recently, and marked one year of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. President Biden extended condolences to Vietnam over the damage caused by recent typhoon Yagi and affirmed that the U.S. government stands ready to support Vietnam to overcome the aftermath of the natural disaster. Once again congratulating Lam on his new positions, Biden recalled his Vietnam trip in September last year, when he received a warm welcome from the Vietnamese leaders and people and joined then-Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong in announcing the elevation of the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. One year ago, in Hanoi, we began a new era of relations with Vietnam and the U.S., and we elevated our partnership to the highest level possible. Since then, weve been Ive been very proud of the progress weve made, according to remarks posted on the website of the White House. Biden told Lam that the U.S. considers Vietnam a leading partner in the region, and supports a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Vietnam. He pledged to continue strengthening the bilateral partnership on the basis of respect for each others independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institution, making the ties a model for healing and cooperation for future construction. Biden also affirmed the U.S.s commitment to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, while emphasizing the central role of ASEAN. Supporting Vietnams increasingly important role in regional and international issues, President Biden said the U.S. wishes to work closely with Vietnam on maintaining peace, stability, and cooperation in the region; defending international law; ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Vietnam Sea; responding to climate change; and addressing common regional and global challenges. Party General Secretary and State President Lam expressed his sincere thanks to President Biden for his deep condolences on the recent passing of Party chief Trong, while thanking the U.S. for its timely support for typhoon Yagi relief efforts in Vietnam. A meeting between Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (L) and U.S. President Joe Biden in New York, September 25, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Highly valuing Bidens sentiments for and great contributions to Vietnam and the Vietnam-U.S. relations, Lam underscored that Trongs historic trip to the U.S. in 2015 and Bidens visit to Vietnam in September 2023 have created important momentum to take the relationship to the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership. The two mutual visits were historic milestones and have significantly advanced the growth of the Vietnam-U.S. relations, resulting in a higher level of the relations that we enjoy today, the White House cited Lam. Lam praised Biden for highlighting the shared lessons between the two countries in healing the wounds of war and building their post-war relationship during his address at the opening session of the UNGA 79. The Vietnamese leader agreed that Vietnam and the U.S. share a common vision of building a better future for all humanity. He asserted that the key lesson learned is to promote healing, respect, and mutual understanding, founded on respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, and political systems. Lam emphasized that after transitioning from former enemies to partners with the normalization of diplomatic ties 29 years ago, the two countries have now entered a new chapter in their relationship. He noted that Vietnam and the U.S. have become a true model in international relations, demonstrating the power of healing and post-war reconciliation. Hanoi sees Washington as a partner of strategic importance and hopes that their partnership will continue to develop fruitfully for the interest of the two countries and peoples. Reiterating Vietnams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization of external relations, Lam affirmed his country is a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. Expressing their delight at the achievements gained after one year of implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership, the two leaders vowed to keep effectively implementing the Vietnam-U.S. Joint Statement in 2023 to further bring into play the new partnership, toward celebrating 30 years of diplomatic ties in 2025. They agreed to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, high technology, semiconductors, and high-quality human resource training to create key breakthroughs in their partnership. The two sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation at regional and international forums, including the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, and the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, contributing to promoting dialogue, peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. After normalizing their diplomatic relations in July 1995, Vietnam and the U.S. set up a comprehensive partnership in July 2013. Over ten years later, the two sides lifted their ties directly to a comprehensive strategic partnership on September 10, 2023, skipping the strategic partnership level, during President Bidens official visit to Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva expressed her hope that Vietnam will work with the IMF to share its economic development experience and success story with other countries, especially those in Africa, during a meeting with Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in New York on Tuesday. The Vietnamese leader received Georgieva during his working trip to New York to attend the United Nations Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, along with a series of working sessions from September 21 to 24. At the meeting, IMF managing director Georgieva affirmed that Vietnam and ASEAN as a whole are bright spots in the global economy, especially during the hard times when the global economy encounters shocks. She said Vietnams resilience, adaptation, and economic growth have been backed by two firm pillars which have been reinforced for decades, including the countrys strong and ceaselessly improving institutions and the prioritization of growth while ensuring inclusiveness in formulating macroeconomic policies. Georgieva pledged to continue supporting Vietnam in the realization of its development goals through reform and risk management as it moves toward developing into a high-income country by 2045. Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (R) receives Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Photo: Vietnam News Agency For his part, Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam congratulated Georgieva on the IMFs 80th anniversary (1944-2024). He spoke highly of the funds important role in monitoring the macro-economic stability of economies and advising countries on the building of policies which stabilize their financial and monetary systems, alleviate poverty, ensure sustainable and balanced economic development, and respond to climate change. Lam shared that Vietnam, from an underdeveloped economy, is now among the 40 largest economies in the world. It is working toward significant milestones, such as the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 2030 and the 100th anniversary of the countrys establishment in 2045. The Vietnamese leader asked the IMF to continue supporting Vietnam to realize that vision, promote economic restructuring, reform the growth model, conduct digital transformation and green transition, develop new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, ensure social security, and alleviate poverty in the spirit of putting people at the center and leaving no one behind. He reiterated Vietnams strong commitment to continue upholding its role and responsibility in settling global issues for the sake of a peaceful and prosperous world. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! U.S. President Joe Biden spoke highly of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the U.S. and Vietnam as a model for post-war reconciliation in his speech at the 79th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. This is his last speech to the UN General Assembly as president of the U.S.. At the beginning of the speech, Biden outlined his political career, which began in 1972 when he was first elected as a U.S. senator. At the time, the U.S. was still involved in the war in Vietnam. Back then, we were living through an inflection point, a moment of tension and uncertainty," Biden said. America was at war in Vietnam, and at that point, the longest war in Americas history. He added that the U.S. was divided and angry. The U.S. and the world got through that moment, including ending the war in Vietnam, but it was not easy or simple for the U.S., Biden said. He recalled his visit to Vietnam in September 2023 during which he met with the Vietnamese leadership and elevated the two countries partnership to the highest level. Its a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for reconciliation that today the United States and Vietnam are partners and friends, and its proof that even from the horrors of war there is a way forward," he said. "Things can get better. We should never forget that. Vietnams Party General Secretary and State President To Lam delivers a speech at a program to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership in New York, September 22, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Vietnam and the U.S. announced the normalization of their diplomatic relations on July 11, 1995, opening a new phase of cooperation between the two countries in the spirit of leaving the past behind, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking toward the future. They officially set up a comprehensive partnership in 2013 before late Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Biden announced the elevation of their bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level in the Southeast Asian country's international relations, during the latters visit to Hanoi in September last year. The two countries relations have seen strong development in all sectors since then. Speaking at a program on September 22 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnams Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said 30 years earlier, even the most optimistic person could not imagine how Vietnam and the U.S. could overcome the pain of war to build and develop their strong and positive relations. The two countries have witnessed unprecedented strong progress. This is truly the pinnacle of reconciliation and the development of bilateral relations as well as the result of countless efforts by generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries over the past three decades, including significant contributions of the Vietnamese community in the U.S., the Vietnamese leader noted. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, had a meeting with Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer in the U.S. on Wednesday, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting took place during the visit of a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation led by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, who attended the United Nations Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, and held working sessions in the U.S. from Saturday last week through Wednesday this week. At the meeting, both senior officials expressed their pleasure at the positive growth of the Vietnam-U.S. relations one year after the elevation of their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Vietnam considers the U.S. as a strategically important partner and hopes that both countries will further promote their comprehensive strategic partnership in a deep, effective, and practical manner on the basis of respect for each others independence, sovereignty, and core principles of bilateral relations so as to bring benefits to the two peoples and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, Deputy PM Son emphasized. He suggested that both sides continue to increase high-level exchanges and delegations. The top Vietnamese diplomat proposed that the U.S. National Security Council and relevant agencies of both nations collaborate closely to prepare for the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. diplomatic relations in 2025. He called for further cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, science, technology, and innovation within the new partnership framework. Finer acknowledged the points raised by Son, reaffirming the U.S. governments strong commitment to advancing the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership and reiterating Washington's consistent support for a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Vietnam. The deputy national security advisor added that the U.S. would continue to allocate resources to support Vietnam in war aftermath remediation, hi-tech cooperation, and high-quality human resource development. Both sides also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern, such as cooperation on the Mekong region and climate change response. They agreed on the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Vietnam Sea. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Party General Secretary and State President of Vietnam To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation from Vietnam on Thursday departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport for Cuba to pay a state visit to the Caribbean country. The top Vietnamese leader and his entourage concluded their business trip to the U.S. following his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in New York the day before. The state visit to Cuba is made at the invitation of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez and his spouse. The head of the Vietnamese Party and state is accompanied by four Politburo members: Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang, Head of the Central Commission on Propaganda and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia, and Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang. The Vietnamese delegation also includes Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Chief of the Party Central Committee Office; Le Hoai Trung, Head of the Central Commission on External Relations; Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Nguyen Duc Hai, Vice-Chairman of the lawmaking National Assembly. Previously, Party leader and President Lam, his spouse, and the Vietnamese delegation arrived in New York on Saturday last week (local time). During his stay in New York, he engaged in approximately 40 key events, conveying Vietnam's message of peace, sustainable development, and a future-oriented vision. He delivered an important speech at the General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, sharing Vietnam's five-point vision for a more peaceful, cooperative, prosperous, and sustainable future for the world. He met with top leaders of several countries such as India, the U.S., Ukraine, as well as senior officials from the United Nations and its specialized agencies. The top Vietnamese official also participated in various activities with leading U.S. businesses and investment funds through forums, discussions, and private meetings. He had meetings with Vietnamese intellectuals and members of the Vietnam Innovation Network in the U.S., as well as American experts and scholars interested in Vietnam. Several Vietnamese and U.S. businesses signed and exchanged cooperation agreements in the presence of Party chief and President Lam. His first visit to the U.S. as head of the Vietnamese Party and state was deemed a great success, paving the way for further development in the Vietnam - U.S. and Vietnam - United Nations relations. The trip will contribute to further enhancing Vietnams global standing and reinforcing its image as a responsible and reliable partner in the world. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Catch up on the news in Vietnam today: Politics -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President To Lam had a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in New York on Wednesday afternoon (local time), as part of the Vietnamese leaders U.S. trip for the United Nations Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79). -- Party chief and State President To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam left New York for Cuba on Wednesday (local time), marking his first state visit to the country at the invitation of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez. -- At a meeting with Party chief and State President To Lam in New York on Wednesday, World Bank President Ajay Banga underlined that Vietnam is one of the WBs especially important partners, pledging to prioritize the allocation of large capital resources to Vietnam. Society -- As many as 23 students at a middle and high school in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam were hospitalized for suspected food poisoning on Monday and Wednesday after consuming food bought at the schools canteen. -- The leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has submitted a plan on solutions to remove obstacles facing a long-stalled flood control project worth VND10 trillion (US$407 million) to the prime minister. Business -- Billionaire Elon Musks SpaceX, the world's largest satellite operator, aims to pour $1.5 billion into Vietnam, whose satellite Internet market is deemed potential, heard a meeting between Tim Hughes, senior vice-president for global business and government affairs at SpaceX, and Vietnamese Party chief and State President To Lam in New York on Wednesday. -- Karan Bhatia, vice-president of government affairs and public policy at Google, expressed his hope at a meeting with Party chief and State President To Lam in New York on Wednesday to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in AI development. -- Vietnam's leading mobile retailer The Gioi Di Dong (Mobile World) shut down 61 An Khang drugstores, five The Gioi Di Dong stores, three Dien May Xanh electronics stores, and one Ava Kids shop in August alone. -- The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham Vietnam), together with the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2024 at THISO SkyHall in Ho Chi Minh City from October 21 to 23, with the theme of 'Building Green Futures,' according to a press release issued by EuroCham Vietnam on Tuesday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday morning. They will be sent to Ocean Park Hong Kong for health checks and quarantine, and will spend time there to adapt to the new environment. The pair, named An An and Ke Ke, is the third pair of giant pandas the HKSAR has received as gifts from the central government. The Ho Chi Minh City administration has unveiled a sculpture celebrating international friendship at Bach Dang Wharf Park, honoring friendship and cooperation between Vietnams southern business hub and its partners around the world. An unveiling ceremony was held on Tuesday as part of the Second Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue. Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Phan Van Mai, his deputy Vo Van Hoan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang, and leaders from nearly 40 foreign localities with cooperative ties to Ho Chi Minh City were in attendance. Vo Van Hoan (C), deputy chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, and local and international delegates stroll through Bach Dang Wharf Park in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, September 24, 2024. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre The sculpture is a Mobius strip a one-sided rectangular strip with the ends affixed to each other after first twisting one end. The design, inspired by the theme 'Water Waves Harmonize to Build Friendship,' symbolizes infinite growth and development. The sculpture was designed by Bui Minh Chau, who won first prize in the Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Symbol Design Contest held last year by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and the citys Department of External Relations with sponsorship from the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association and INSEE Cement Company. Created using advanced 3D mapping technology and a water curtain, the sculpture illustrates connectivity and showcases cultural and artistic imagery, Hoan said, adding that it aims to introduce the citys beauty and hospitality to international friends, while also symbolizing friendship, solidarity, and long-term cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and its 58 global partners. Foreign delegates learn how to make egg coffee at a coffee shop on Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre The symbol was created as a show of appreciation for our international friends to feel proud and respected when visiting the city, Hoan told the ceremony. It serves as a door connecting Ho Chi Minh City to the world. Hoan also used the ceremony to thank the international delegates in attendance for accompanying, supporting, and developing a close partnership with the city over the past years. Vo Van Hoan, deputy chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, and local and foreign guests tour the city by boat, September 24, 2024. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre Local and foreign tourists take a tour of the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, September 24, 2024. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! More than 300 workers found themselves with unpaid salaries and without work after the owner of an American company in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam disappeared. On Wednesday, the Binh Phuoc industrial parks labor union announced that it is providing legal support to workers who have not been paid for 40 days and are unable to reach their employer. Signature Home Furnishings Company, based in Chon Thanh 1 Industrial Park in Chon Thanh Town, Binh Phuoc Province, announced on July 11 that it would suspend operations until further notice. June salaries would be paid no later than July 19, according to the announcement. In addition to failing to support its workers, the company asked employees to voluntarily submit resignation letters and pledge not to file lawsuits if they wanted to receive unemployment benefits. Two months later, employees still have not been paid and have not received any insurance coverage, despite having contributed to social, healthcare, and unemployment insurance each month during their employment. The company owner has been unreachable. Thanh Loi, from Soc Trang Province in the Mekong Delta, shared that he and his wife started working at the company in 2020 and had no issues until July 2024 when they did not receive their June salaries. He also said that there was mass confusion when the company announced that workers would be laid off. The situation put significant financial strain on Loi and his wife, leaving them without money to cover schooling fees for their children. Similarly, Cap Thi Thuan, 45, has found herself without money and unable to find a new job. I hope that competent agencies can help us get our labor benefits and rights, she said. Aside from their unpaid wages and insurance, these workers have been unable to receive unemployment benefits as the company was yet to issue labor contract terminations. Tran Le Thi Ngoc Hanh, vice-president of the Binh Phuoc industrial parks labor union, said that after being notified of the case, the provincial labor federation directed the trade union to support those affected by the Signature Home Furnishings lay-offs. The biggest difficulty in addressing the case was that the owner of the company seems to no longer be present in the province, she said. The company did not issue any decision on labor contract terminations, making it hard to provide benefits of wages, social, and unemployment insurance for these workers. The trade union instructed them to complete petitions and send them to the provincial court and other designated agencies in order to receive support. Signature Home Furnishings Company, located in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam, suddenly closes down, laying off its over 300 workers. Photo: A.B. / Tuoi Tre U.S.-invested Signature Home Furnishings, whose general director was identified as Abby Rafieha, specialized in manufacturing beds, sofas, wardrobes, and chairs. The company, which started its operation in Vietnam in early 2020, owes over 300 workers some VND3.2 billion (US$130,030) in unpaid wages and nearly VND1 billion ($40,420) in insurance coverage for three months. It also owes some VND2.5 billion ($101,550) in union fees. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! ABC has appointed former ABC Editorial Director Alan Sunderland to conduct the independent review into the its Line of Fire reports. The review follows revelations on 7News Spotlight that the broadcaster added extra gunshots to audio to wrongly claim former Australian Commando Heston Russell had committed war crimes. Media Watch subsequently discovered Russells lawyer had sent a letter raising concerns to the ABCs legal department and posed a series of questions. It will include all aspects of the Line of Fire reports broadcast on 7:30 in September 2022 and published online. The ABC has requested a final report into the matter by the end of October. The report will be made public including recommendations. Sunderland is a Walkley Award winning journalist who spent 40 years working for SBS and ABC. From 2013 to 2019 he was the Editorial Director of the ABC with overall responsibility for editorial standards, editorial complaints and journalism training. He is an Independent Journalist Member of the Australian Press Council and a former Executive Director of the international Organisation of News Ombudsmen. ABC has previously blamed the audio on an editing error telling Spotlight, (producer) Jo Puccini, and (journalists) Mark Willacy and Josh Robertson played no role. It was after she graduated from RMIT Screenwriting in 2010 that writer Mithila Gupta boldly pitched an idea to Neighbours producers, to shake up the 10 soap. The Kapoor clan brought Indian and Sri Lankan heritage to Erinsborough in 2011, with the family remaining for two years. It was an evolutionary move which drew some online criticism, including later by actors for the way they were written out. For Gupta, only just embarking on her career, it was a baptism of fire. Theres so many feelings I have about that, because it was a really tough time. But also that was my first experience of the industry as a writer. It seemed impossible at the time, but I had really great support people who were in positions of power, she tells TV Tonight. I pitched that it needed an Indian family. The show was not diverse at all I pitched that it needed an Indian family. The show was not diverse at all. It seemed globally to be kind of looked down on, for that reason. There were people who could have shut that down in two minutes. But the people in power, listened, and we made it happen. So for me, for my first job, still a trainee at that time, I was just like, Wow, anything is possible! And now Im sitting here, looking at this little flyer I have for Four Years Later. Back then, I would have thought this is impossible, but its happened, so thats kind of shaped how I approach the industry. Indeed, television serials often-reference training ground would prove a worthwhile experience. Gupta would go on to write for Winners & Losers, Home & Away, Playing for Keeps, The Heights, Doctor Doctor, Bump and Five Bedrooms. Now her own series Four Years Later, an 8 x 30 romance by Easy Tiger, will screen on SBS. Using both Hindi and English languages, and filmed in Mumbai, Jaipur and Sydney, it portrays a long-distance relationship between two young Indians who meet as part of an arranged marriage. Indian-born Gupta, who moved to Australia at the age of 4, says she drew upon the experiences, in part, of her parents changing countries. Their experience is neither negative nor positive, its all the things in between What Ive seen is their experience is neither negative nor positive, its all the things in between. Its always been really different, contrasting and evolving. So Ive always wanted to tell a truthful immigrant story set in Australia that reflects this, she explains. Ive also always wanted to tell a love story, because Ive grown up watching Hindi cinema and its romance has left me feeling a bit disappointed with what happens in real life. So Ive always wanted to tell a real and grounded love story with Indian characters. The idea grew from meeting her own husband, initially from a single date in Sydney before being separated by pandemic lockdowns. We built our relationship over Zoom, and were now married. Ive always wanted to tell this story about a couple separated, because Ive heard so many such stories from other immigrants. I just felt after Covid, this is something everyone can relate to. Weve all been separated in one way or another, she continues. My father actually took the dating app out of my hands and started swiping We met on a dating app. When I was in lockdown with my parents, Id given up. I threw my phone down, and I was like, Im not doing this anymore. My father actually took the dating app out of my hands and started swiping, and he landed on my (future) husbands face. He said, You should go for this guy. He looks really honest, and luckily, he was also really handsome. So I said, Sure. Went on a date, and here we are. So in many ways, it was an arranged marriage. Yet Four Years Laters lead characters Sridevi (Shahana Goswami) and Yash (Akshay Ajit Singh) do not instantly connect. Theyre opposites, theyre drawn back to each other I wanted to show a couple who clash in their initial meeting, but then because they challenge each other, and theyre opposites, theyre drawn back to each other. So what kind of happens after that initial meeting is not planned, its them just going with their emotions. Most people in my generation who are arranged, have dated. Theyve gotten the chance to know each other and make a decision about whether they like each other. Its just the way they initially found each other was slightly different. When you think about it, not that different to something like Tinder or a website. Directed by Mohini Herse (Appetite) and Fadia Abboud (House of Gods, Five Bedrooms), the series also seeks to dispell some misconceptions as well as showing Indian characters in a contemporary light. We invented the Kama Sutra, but were not seen as sexy We invented the Kama Sutra, but were not seen as sexy. Bollywood content can be quite conservative or glorified in its intimacy. Were hardly ever seen as leads, let alone as sexy. I wanted to tell something more truthful. We swim in the water in our underwear, we have sex before marriage. Thats not everybodys story. Yes, many people are conservative globally, but I wanted to subvert this perception, because its not what I want to see of myself, says Gupta. Theres definitely race politics that come into it, especially as we spend more time in Australia. But what Im so excited about is that they both have really different experiences of that. I really wanted to say theres not one blanket experience of racism. Even in my own family, Ive seen mum triumph. Ive seen dad suffer. Ive seen the opposite. It changes. Supporting Indian characters were cast in India while further Aussie cast include Kate Box (Deadloch, Erotic Stories), Taj Aldeeb (The Fall), Roy Joseph (Five Bedrooms, Strife) and Luke Arnold (Scrublands, True Colours). For any imperfections of her time shaking up Neighbours, Gupta remains grateful those in power gave her a chance. Its given me this kind of optimism and bravery when it comes to what you pitch in the industry. And sure, there have been many times Ive been disappointed, but then the few times like with Four Years Later, you get to make the thing you want to make, and it just feels like a miracle. Four Years Later screens in double episodes 9:20pm Wednesday on SBS (all episodes On Demand). Het pakket OPNsense is een firewall met uitgebreide mogelijkheden. Het is gebaseerd op het besturingssysteem FreeBSD en is oorspronkelijk een fork van m0n0wall en pfSense. Het pakket kan volledig via een webinterface worden ingesteld en heeft onder andere ondersteuning voor mfa, OpenVPN, IPsec, CARP en captive portal. Daarnaast kan het packetfiltering toepassen en beschikt het over een traffic shaper. De ontwikkelaars hebben OPNsense 24.7.5 uitgebracht en de releasenotes voor die uitgave kunnen hieronder worden gevonden. OPNsense 24.7.5 released This release removes significant processing overhead from larger setups due to being able to coalesce parallel configuration requests for the same component instead of iterating over the list of selected interfaces one by one. A number of third party software updates and FreeBSD security advisories are included as well. This update also disables NUMA by default which can bring a boost in network throughput on affected systems. And of course we are still working on dashboard improvements so now the treasured picture widget is back with a better integration approach. Also take note that the NTP default changes to "restrict noquery" so that the system cannot externally be queried for revealing system internals anymore unless explicitly allowed. Here are the full patch notes: system: update default dashboard layout and include the services widget system: render header for failed active widgets to allow identification and removal system: add ability for widget referral links system: cleaned up ACL definitions and use thereof system: add a picture widget system: default to vm.numa.disabled=1 system: handle log lines with no timestamp (contributed by Iain MacDonnell) system: use interface maps in system_routing_configure() and dpinger_configure_do() system: when only selecting TLS1.3 ciphers make sure to only allow 1.3 as well in web GUI system: move web GUI restart to newwanip_map / plugins_argument_map() use interfaces: move compatible event listeners to newwanip_map interfaces: decouple PPP configure/reset from IPv4/IPv6 modes interfaces: move legacy RFC2136 invoke to plugin hook interfaces: add "spoofmac" device option and enforce it interfaces: prevent CARP VIP removal when VHID group is in use by IP aliases interfaces: routing configuration on changed interfaces only during apply firmware: opnsense-update: support unescaped mirror input (contributed by Michael Gmelin) firmware: opnsense-verify: show repository priority while listing active repositories ipsec: convert to vpn_map event invoke and plugins_argument_map() use monit: fix undefined function error in CARP script network time: enable "restrict noquery" by default (contributed by doktornotor) openssh: port to plugins_argument_map() openvpn: validate "Auth Token Lifetime" to require a non-zero renegotiate time in instances openvpn: convert to vpn_map event invoke and plugins_argument_map() use wireguard: convert to vpn_map event invoke ui: refine cookie policies and make them explicit plugins: add plugins_argument_map() helper plugins: os-caddy 1.7.1 src: bhyve: improve input validation in pci_xhci src: libnv: correct the calculation of the size of the structure src: ifnet: Remove if_getamcount() src: ifnet: Add handling for toggling IFF_ALLMULTI in ifhwioctl() src: ifconfig: Add an allmulti verb src: date: include old and new time in audit log src: bpf: Add IfAPI analogue for bpf_peers_present() src: pf: use AF_INET6 when comparing IPv6 addresses src: if_ovpn: ensure it is safe to modify the mbuf src: if_ovpn: declare our dependency on the crypto module ports: curl 8.10.0 ports: dhcp6c 20240919 reintroduced fixed arc4random() usage ports: expat 2.6.3 ports: libpfctl 0.13 ports: libxml 2.11.9 ports: nss 3.104 ports: python 3.11.10 ports: sudo 1.9.16 Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth, TwoCircles.net On September 4, around 2:00 p.m., the National Conference office in Ganderbal reverberated with Zyoon Hoo Zyoon Hoo, Nationalan Zyoon Hoo (we won, we won, National Conference won) slogans as Omar Abdullah, the partys vice president and former chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, arrived there after filing his nomination papers. Accompanied by his political workers, he took to the stage to deliver a speech. Support TwoCircles As the crowd listened intently, Omar removed his topi (skullcap) with both hands and said in broken Kashmiri, Muen dastar, muen yi toop, muen yi izzat chu tuhindan athan manz, menis yath dastaras kerziv reach (My skullcap, my turban and my honour are in your hands, please protect them). The crowd erupted in slogans again, and an elderly man in his sixties, wiping away tears, shouted, Lagha ath Abdullah khandanas (I wish I could die for the Abdullah family). In Kashmir, when someone removes their skullcap and put it in front of another, it signifies deep desperation, an urgent plea and a sense of helplessness. This gesture shows that the person is in dire need and is humbly asking for something from the one before whom they have placed their skullcap. But what compelled Omar to do so? Nayeema Mehjoor, a senior journalist with over two decades of experience covering Kashmir politics, believes that Omar has become acutely aware of the growing public resentment against him and other major regional political parties. She notes that the shock of his parliamentary election defeat, something he never anticipated as a prominent political figure and former chief minister, has deeply affected him. Omar, coming from a political dynasty accustomed to power, is now grappling with the emotional strain of losing the peoples support, leaving him feeling desperate and disillusioned. Omar never expected the parliamentary defeat, Nayeema said. As a scion of a major political party, it came as a shock. The resentment he feels towards him and his party, combined with the emotional drain of losing public favour, is evident in his actions he had to remove his skullcap and plead with the people to return. Abdullahs have been synonymous with Kashmir politics since the 20th century, much like the Bhuttos in Pakistan and the Gandhis in India. Since the 1950s, members of the Abdullah family have either captured the hearts of Kashmiris or ruled the region without compassion. Sheikh Abdullah, the first elected prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir, became a household name in the 1930s and 1940s for leading the movement against the Dogra rule. Until his death, most Kashmiris trusted his words without question, such was his influence. His political legacy passed to his son, Farooq Abdullah, and then to his grandson, Omar Abdullah, both former chief ministers of the erstwhile state. Despite Omars popularity and influence in J&K politics, the act of removing his skullcap during a public speech seems symbolic, reflecting the pressure he faces. The growing challenge from politicians like Engineer Rashid, who is turning empty stadiums into packed audiences, particularly in the northern and central parts of the Valley, is unsettling the Abdullah familys once unchallenged dominance. Candidates backed by Rashid are posing significant challenges to senior politicians like Omar and Sajad Lone. Upon his release from jail, MP and Awami Ittehad Party chief Engineer Rashid immediately targeted Omar, vowing to defeat him on his own turf. Rashid has fielded Sheikh Ashiq, a well-known businessman and former head of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), to run against Abdullah. Ashiq, a local with considerable influence, has actively campaigned among urban voters in the constituency. Political analysts suggest that the public is frustrated with major politicians who, after their release from jail following the abrogation of Article 370, remained largely silent on the issue. In contrast, Rashid openly spoke for the people of Kashmir and sharply criticised the current regime in Delhi, which earned him sympathy and support from those who now view him as their true representative. Javaid Bhat, 45, a resident of Ganderbal, shared his thoughts, saying, We have been loyal supporters of the NC for generations, but things have changed. We have backed Omar Abdullah and his party in every election, but after the abrogation of Article 370 and the hardships Kashmir has faced in the past five years, he has remained silent. In contrast, Rashid not only spent five years in jail but has consistently spoken up for us throughout his life. We will support any candidate he endorses. It is time for these big politicians to learn a lesson in this election. The day after pleading to the people in Ganderbal, Omar travelled to Budgam to file his nomination papers, this time joined by Agha Ruhullah Mehndi, an MP from Srinagar. Unlike in Ganderbal, Omar was not wearing a cap in Budgam. Mehndi addressed the challenges the NC was facing and announced that once Omar became chief minister, the assembly would overturn all post-August 5, 2019, decisions and release detainees. As he concluded, the crowd began chanting Zyoon Hoo, Zyoon Hoo and Omar, signalling for calm, waved and thanked them. In Budgam, Omar holds an advantage. With the help of MP Mehdi, a Shia cleric, the NC has successfully reactivated its silent supporters during the Lok Sabha elections and has the numbers in its favour. In addition, with 20-25% of the constituencys voters being Shia, the party is working to ensure a majority of Shia votes support Omar. However, Omar faces strong competition from PDPs Syed Muntazir Mehdi, also from a family of clerics and a cousin of Ruhullah. Both families are highly respected among Shias and remain influential figures in the region. Mehjoor remarks, I believe the smartest move the NC has made so far is bringing Mehdi to the forefront. He is an outspoken politician with a strong reputation, especially among young voters. If the NC is to make a dominant comeback, he will be key to that. I think Omars edge in Budgam is largely due to Mehdis influence; otherwise, he would have faced significant challenges in Budgam as well. Despite Omar, his party workers and the NC candidates attracting decent crowds, significant challenges persist. One major obstacle is the recently released Engineer Rashid, who has gained widespread sympathy. Many people resonate with his struggles over the past five years and feel a strong connection to him. While support for Rashid and his independent candidates was somewhat limited in the first phase in South Kashmir, the real challenge lies in North Kashmir, his stronghold. As Omar and his team move into his territory, it remains to be seen whether Omars gestures, like removing his skullcap, have made a lasting impact or if the public has decided to push big political figures out of Kashmirs political landscape. Shahid Nazir, 24, a supporter of Rashid, expressed his frustration with the major regional political parties: We will show the NC, the PDP and others that if they dont care about us, we know how to take revenge by electing Engineer Rashids candidates. These big politicians need to understand the power the public holds. If the AIP candidates dont win this time, it will be a collective defeat for all of Kashmir, he added. Giyani Metals Corp. TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV:EMM, GR:A2DUU8) ("Giyani" or the "Company"), developer of the K.Hill Battery-Grade Manganese Project in Botswana ("K.Hill" or the Project), is pleased to provide an update on construction of the Demonstration Plant (Demo Plant) where construction is continuously moving forwards, a video showing this with CEO Charles FitzRoy, Group Process Engineer Justin Taylor and Lead Process Engineer Desiree Meyer will be released tomorrow September 26, 2024. Highlights: The Demo Plant in Johannesburg is moving into the detailed fit-out phase, with all modular process skids ( Process Modules ) now installed. Cabling and piping work has commenced to connect the Process Modules in preparation for commissioning. As well as progress at the Demo Plant, concurrent metallurgical test-work is underway at CM Solutions, a metallurgical consultancy and laboratory in Johannesburg, to optimize the flowsheet. Giyani is focussed on reducing reagent use where possible and has evolved its process to remove hydrofluoric acid ( HF ). This is an important development, as it eliminates the requirement to store and handle potentially hazardous HF at both the Demo Plant and the planned Commercial Site. In support of the Demo Plant operations, Minopex, a DRA Global Company [JSE:DRA], have now been engaged to operate the Demo Plant. Minopex is a world-renowned group who have operated and maintained approximately 50 plants, and commissioned and ramped-up over 90 globally. Giyani is pleased to have gained a reputable partner with relevant expertise to advance the project. Simulation test-work continues on the Yokogawa Distributed Control System ( DCS ) software that will be used to control the Demo Plant, which will operate as a continuous process flow, rather than batch basis. The continuous process flow of the Demo Plant is a significant advantage for Giyani, as it enables the team to operate the plant at steady state and confirm the ability to produce consistent specification battery-grade manganese (HPMSM). By demonstrating this ability to potential offtake partners, Giyani can satisfy their requirements for a consistent product specification and production rate. As the Demo Plant is a direct copy of the proposed Commercial Plant, albeit at smaller scale, Giyani will better understand how the proposed Commercial Plant (in Botswana) will respond, in advance of construction, commissioning and ramp-up. This enables further optimisation of the engineering design in parallel with the Definitive Feasibility Study ( DFS ) which is underway, and due to complete in 2025. The Demo Plant remains on track for commissioning and production of up to 600kg a day of battery-grade manganese (HPMSM) in Q4 2024. HPMSM produced from the Demo Plant will be provided to offtakers for testing and qualification. Giyani will keep the market updated of progress at the Demo Plant and all other developments. Story continues Charles FitzRoy, President and CEO of the Company, commented: Giyani is entering a metamorphic stage on its trajectory as a battery metals developer, with the first production of battery-grade manganese on track for delivery in Q4 this year. The Demo Plant, to our knowledge, is the largest of its kind in the world, and offers Giyani many advantages that would not be available with other smaller or non-continuous facilities. In particular, the continuous process flow of the Demo Plant will allow the team to target steady-state operations, and prove Giyanis ability to produce consistent battery-grade manganese to potential offtake partners, as well as the ability to satisfy offtake requirements. The Demo Plants ability to operate continuously at this pre-commercial scale will allow Giyani to understand how the Commercial Plant will respond, allowing pre-emptive engineering to de-risk potential issues that could arise during ramp-up and operations. Successful construction and operation of the Demo Plant will, therefore, demonstrate the inherent value of the project to investors. The value of this facility as a tool to optimize our proprietary flowsheet and reduce operating costs is immeasurable and will ultimately advance Giyanis development as a producer of high-grade manganese for the EV battery market. We look forward to providing further updates on its progress. Demo Plant Construction Update The Demo Plant construction process follows a set order of Process Module installation to ensure a straightforward construction process. The Demo Plant consists of nine Process Modules, each a self-contained process system within a fixed frame. The Demo Plant has been built from the Crystallizer Units to the ore delivery and ball mill (See Figure 3 for Demo Plant 3D render). Within the Plant, the following progress has been made since the last Demo Plant update in August: All Process Modules have been installed. See Figures 1 and 2 for the additional Process Modules. All tanks, reactors and agitators (leach tank agitators due shortly) have been installed. All ventilation circuits have been installed. Cabling for power and instrument signalling is progressing rapidly, and the main 1,000kVA transformer station is powering the construction activities in the lead up to commissioning. The process off-gas scrubber unit, which controls atmospheric emissions from the Demo Plant, has been installed. Piping installation has commenced on a broad scale across the Demo Plant. Figure 1 Figure 1: Leach Reactor Installation Construction and Commissioning Update Following the installation of the final two Process Modules, the leach reactors have been installed and all large components are now in place. This represents a significant construction milestone, as there are now no further heavy lifts to undertake. Figure 2 Figure 2: Waste Storage Area, with Scrubber in Foreground The Demo Plant is designed at a scale factor of around 1:10 to the planned Commercial Plant. This provides robust and reliable scale-up from the Demo Plant data when the Commercial Plant is implemented. To illustrate, the leach tanks have a 60cm diameter in the Demo Plant and this is expected to be 8-10x larger at approximately 5m in the Commercial Plant. Figure 3 Figure 3: Demo Plant Render The construction program takes advantage of sequential mechanical, piping, electrical, and instrumentation installation to allow cold commissioning to follow the Process Module installation sequence in a highly efficient manner. With the completion of mechanical equipment installation, the next stages of piping, instrumentation and wiring installation are progressing rapidly. Following the completion of C1 certification (see Stages of commissioning below), the exciting process of C2 and C3 commissioning can commence. These stages can be undertaken at an individual Process Module level, as units become available. Commissioning of the full process flow (C4 & C5) will commence once all the individual Process Modules are ready. Stages of commissioning: C1 Full mechanical completion (individual Process Modules) C2 Dry testing, direction testing, loop testing (individual Process Modules) C3 Cold/Water Commissioning, software testing (individual Process Modules) C4 Hot Commissioning with reagents and steam (full Process) C5 Production Ramp-up (full Process) The commissioning process will be led by Desiree Meyer, Giyanis Lead Process Engineer. Desiree has extensive experience in commissioning hydrometallurgical facilities across Africa. Desiree will lead the Minopex operations team in these efforts. By working through commissioning, Minopex will rapidly develop its familiarity with the facility, making Demo Plant production operations safer and more efficient. Demo Plant Operations Update Giyani is continuing with software developments on the Yokogawa DCS software that will be used to operate Giyanis fully continuous Demo Plant. The ability to continuously operate at this pre-commercial scale will allow Giyani to understand how the Commercial Plant will respond ahead of construction, minimizing issues that could arise during ramp-up and operations. Unlike a lab- or pilot-scale operation, a full, industrial control system is required to operate this large-scale, automated, hydrometallurgical plant. The development of all process standard operating procedures (SOPs) is now complete. As the Demo Plant is a duplicate of the anticipated Commercial Plant, the overall operating requirements and system requirements are very similar. Alongside the engineering, commercial and research benefits of the Demo Plant, the development of SOPs will facilitate a smooth transition to full-scale production. Finalization of the contract for the on-site, independent, ISO-certified, hydrometallurgical laboratory is imminent. This laboratory, which includes ICP-OES and XRF equipment, will allow full commercial-level metal accounting and provide rapid assay turnaround times to enable effective operation of the Demo Plant. About Giyani Giyani is focussed on becoming the dominant western-world producer of sustainable, low carbon high purity battery grade manganese for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The Company has developed a proprietary hydrometallurgical process to produce battery grade manganese (HPMSM), a lithium-ion battery cathode precursor material critical for EVs. The Company has secured financing of US$26m from two strategic partners, ARCH Sustainable Resources Fund LP and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, enabling it to progress the K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana to construction by building and operating the Demo Plant and completing a Definitive Feasibility Study in 2025. Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedarplus.ca and on Giyani Metals Corp. website at https://giyanimetals.com/ . About Minopex Minopex is a global leader in plant operations and maintenance, employing over 2,000 personnel across different operations. With nearly three decades of experience, Minopex has collectively operated some 50 different processing facilities as well as having commissioned and ramped-up over 90 globally, establishing itself as a leader in a variety of minerals processing technologies. For more information about Minopex, visit: www.minopex.com. About CM Solutions CM Solutions is a dynamic metallurgical laboratory and consultancy that executes test-work, and goes further to interpret it, model it, and incorporate the results into customer-specific metallurgical designs via an integrated team approach. CM Solutions is a certified ISO 9001:2015 and 14001:2015 company with over 300 clients in the minerals and mining industry across five continents. Qualified Persons / NI 43-101 Disclosures A National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) technical report including results of the PEA and the MRE can be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and made available on the Company's website at https://giyanimetals.com/. Mr. Justin Taylor CEng FIMMM QMR BSc Eng (Chem) is a qualified person, as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Taylor is the Companys Group Process Engineer and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content contained in this news release but is not independent for the purposes of NI 43-101. On behalf of Giyani Metals Corp. Charles FitzRoy, President and CEO Contact: Charles FitzRoy, President & CEO cfitzroy@giyanimetals.com Tel: +1289-291-7632 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (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 news release. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons. Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Giyani expects to occur, are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Such statements include without limitation: the Company the ongoing construction, commissioning and operation of the Demo Plant, and timing thereof, completion and timing of the DFS or at all. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of the relevant management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to certain assumptions, important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Giyani's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In the case of Giyani, these facts include anticipated operations in future periods, planned construction and development of its properties and facilities, and plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. This information relates to analyses and other information that is based on expectations of future performance and planned work programs. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation: inherent exploration hazards and risks; risks related to exploration and development of natural resource properties; uncertainty in Giyani's ability to obtain funding; commodity price fluctuations; recent market events and conditions; risks related to governmental regulations; risks related to obtaining necessary licences and permits; risks related to Giyani's business being subject to environmental laws and regulations; risks related to the Company's mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers, or claims and other defects in title; risks relating to competition from larger companies with greater financial and technical resources; risks relating to the inability to meet financial obligations under agreements to which they are a party; ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; and risks related to the Company's directors and officers becoming associated with other natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of interests. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Giyani's forward-looking information. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking information or statements. Giyani's forward-looking information is based on the reasonable beliefs, expectations and opinions of the Company's respective management on the date the statements are made, and Giyani does not assume any obligation to update forward looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For a complete discussion with respect to Giyani and risks associated with forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, please refer to Giyani's continuous disclosure documents which are filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4f3c270-8a56-4fd3-a057-c5f2cb5483ee https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a4c4259-32cf-4bc8-9375-6ca166ffe46d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c47ec2c-c761-4136-a68e-2f8eccb70399 Village in Xinjiang develops fruit planting industry to help locals increase income Xinhua) 09:20, September 26, 2024 A staff member shows facial masks using figs as an ingredient at an agricultural base at Takut Village of Atux City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. Takut village has been developing fruit planting industry to help increase the income of local people in recent years. Now, the village has an agricultural base covering 138 Mu (about 9.2 hectares) and 97 greenhouses for fruit and vegetable planting. A team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has also been invited to the village to provide technology support for local farmers, especially in their fig growing. (Xinhua/Zhao Yusi) A staff member trims the branches of a fig tree at an agricultural base at Takut Village of Atux City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. Takut village has been developing fruit planting industry to help increase the income of local people in recent years. Now, the village has an agricultural base covering 138 Mu (about 9.2 hectares) and 97 greenhouses for fruit and vegetable planting. A team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has also been invited to the village to provide technology support for local farmers, especially in their fig growing. (Xinhua/Zhao Yusi) A visitor looks at bottles of fig wine displayed at an agricultural base at Takut Village of Atux City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. Takut village has been developing fruit planting industry to help increase the income of local people in recent years. Now, the village has an agricultural base covering 138 Mu (about 9.2 hectares) and 97 greenhouses for fruit and vegetable planting. A team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has also been invited to the village to provide technology support for local farmers, especially in their fig growing. (Xinhua/Zhao Yusi) A staff member shows perfumes using figs as an ingredient at an agricultural base at Takut Village of Atux City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. Takut village has been developing fruit planting industry to help increase the income of local people in recent years. Now, the village has an agricultural base covering 138 Mu (about 9.2 hectares) and 97 greenhouses for fruit and vegetable planting. A team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has also been invited to the village to provide technology support for local farmers, especially in their fig growing. (Xinhua/Zhao Yusi) Dried figs are displayed at an agricultural base at Takut Village of Atux City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. Takut village has been developing fruit planting industry to help increase the income of local people in recent years. Now, the village has an agricultural base covering 138 Mu (about 9.2 hectares) and 97 greenhouses for fruit and vegetable planting. A team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has also been invited to the village to provide technology support for local farmers, especially in their fig growing. (Xinhua/Zhao Yusi) Sliced figs are displayed at an agricultural base at Takut Village of Atux City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. Takut village has been developing fruit planting industry to help increase the income of local people in recent years. Now, the village has an agricultural base covering 138 Mu (about 9.2 hectares) and 97 greenhouses for fruit and vegetable planting. A team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has also been invited to the village to provide technology support for local farmers, especially in their fig growing. (Xinhua/Zhao Yusi) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) HA NOI Financial frauds and cyber attacks on the Vietnamese financial information systems are on the rise, but many domestic financial agencies still do not pay due attention to the issue, officials said. At a recent conference on digital finance, Le Van Tuan, Director of the Department of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said finance is a sector with a high ranking in digital transformation, but at the same time, the risk of information security is always lurking with the sector. According to statistics from Viettel Cyber Security's system, ransomware campaigns in the first six months of this year increased by 70 per cent against the same period last year, including about 30 attacks on large corporations, banks and financial institutions in Viet Nam. Notably, Tuan said, there has been an increase in ransomware attacks in Viet Nam after a Vietnamese securities company was attacked by ransomware and then the company had to pay the hacker to get the data back. "When we talked with many domestic and foreign experts, they also shared the same opinion. Previously, hackers were less interested in the Vietnamese market, but since knowing that companies can pay hackers to get their data back, the risk of being attacked is higher," Tuan said. Tuan said the finance, tax, treasury and securities sectors are all important national infrastructures, so information security in the sectors needs to be invested. In addition to cyber attacks, the sectors also face data breaches when financial data has high value and hackers really want to exploit it. However, Tuan noted, awareness of information security and implementation of information security work are not up to par. "When we discovered the risk of a recent attack, we sent a document to relevant agencies, but there were only a few responses," Tuan said. Tuan recommends that agencies in the financial sector need to invest appropriate resources in information security. The amount of money investing for information security should account for about ten per cent of total investment in information technology. Personnel need to practise and participate in ensuring information security regularly. Regarding financial frauds with users, Tuan said users are often tricked into installing fake government applications. Therefore, the Department of Information Security is working with platforms to make Viet Nam become the first country to pilot the blue verification badge for government applications, which will help people to identify real or fraudulent apps. At the event, Deputy Minister of Finance Bui Van Khang affirmed that digital transformation in the finance and budget sector is an urgent and important task because it plays a key role in the economy. To make the digital transformation effectively, it is necessary to focus on legal regulations, technology and people. Regarding technology, Khang noted the need to focus on improving digital infrastructure capacity, streamlining digital data, and developing applications, digital services and network security, besides deploying and testing new technologies such as AI and Bigdata to serve people and businesses. VNS HCM City The upcoming Vietnam Motor Show 2024 will not only showcase the latest automotive products but also host a seminar titled 'Electrifying Transportation Towards Green Energy Transition', the show's organisers announced at a press conference in HCM City on Thursday. The show will take place from October 23 to 27 in HCM City. According to the organisers, the seminar will focus on two main topics: 'Proper Use of Euro 5 Fuel' and 'Electrified Vehicles: Hybrid Technology'. Experts will offer diverse perspectives on trends and the potential development of electric vehicle models. They will also share solutions for green and clean energy to reduce emissions, aiming to promote sustainable growth in the automotive industry. This seminar is one of the key highlights of this year's Vietnam Motor Show. Organised by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA), the Vehicle Importers Vietnam Association (VIVA), and the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM), the exhibition will feature 19 renowned automobile and motorcycle brands, along with over 50 supporting industry brands. Notable participants include GAC, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Honda, Skoda, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, MG, BYD, GAZ, SYM, Yamaha Motor, UM, Harley-Davidson, Triumph, KTM and Husqvarna. Each brand will display outstanding models equipped with modern technology, particularly the latest electric and hybrid vehicles. Another prominent feature of the Vietnam Motor Show 2024 is the change in the way attendees interact with the exhibition space. Visitors interested in models from the showcased brands can participate in test-driving activities. Chairman of VAMA Nakano Keita stated that Viet Nam's automotive industry is currently experiencing robust development with a lot of potential, especially due to the shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles. At Vietnam Motor Show 2024, attendees will witness a range of models from fuel-efficient cars to versatile vehicles, offering diverse pricing to meet consumer demands in the current economic context. o Xuan Quan, sales director of GAC Motor Viet Nam, a brand owned by Guangzhou Automobile Group, China, shared that by participating in the Vietnam Motor Show 2024, the brand aims to introduce itself to the Vietnamese market and seize opportunities to reach consumers through its technological strengths. Currently, Vietnamese consumer trends are changing significantly, with a demand for more versatile and convenient products. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese markets continued their upward trend, closing higher on Thursday as foreign investors maintained their net buying streak for the second consecutive day. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index increased by 4.01 points, or 0.31 per cent, to end the trading session at 1,291.49 points. Throughout most of the day, the VN-Index remained above the reference level, maintaining a relatively stable range and closing the session higher. Market breadth was negative, however, with 158 decliners outnumbering 141 gainers. Liquidity on the southern bourse slightly decreased to VN21.8 trillion (US$882 million), marking a 4.3 per cent decrease compared to the previous trading session. The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation, rose by 6.78 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 1,350.85 points. In the VN30 basket, 18 stocks advanced, nine declined and three remained unchanged. Data compiled by financial website vietstock.vn showed that Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDB) was the biggest gainer, rising by 3.85 per cent and contributing nearly 0.78 points to the VN-Index. It was followed by Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPB), whose shares hit the ceiling price on Thursday, increasing by 6.73 per cent. Other notable gainers included Viet Nam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (VNM), up 1.58 per cent, and Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (CTG), which gained 1.11 per cent. Some stocks faced mild selling pressure, tempering the market's gains. The Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) fell by 0.32 per cent, Vietnam Airlines JSC (HVN) decreased by 2.07 per cent, and Hoa Phat Group JSC (HPG) declined by 0.57 per cent. According to analysts from the Viet Dragon Securities: "The market continued its upward momentum, advancing deeper into the contested zone of 1,290 to 1,300 points. Liquidity increased compared to the previous session, indicating strong contention between supply and demand. Currently, the market is striving to maintain its upward trend and may reach the 1,300-point level or even surpass it into the overbought zone in the next trading session. However, supply is expected to continue increasing, which could exert significant pressure on the market. Therefore, investors need to monitor supply and demand dynamics at the resistance zone to reassess the market's condition. For the time being, they should consider this recovery phase as an opportunity to restructure portfolios towards risk minimisation." Meanwhile, on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also finished higher on Thursday, edging up by 0.03 per cent to 235.92 points. During the trading day, nearly VN1.1 trillion worth of shares, equivalent to a trading volume of over 56.2 million shares, were traded on the northern market. Foreign investors returned to their net-buying pattern, with a net purchase of VN960 billion on HoSE. VNS HCM CITY Viet Nam and Indonesia are witnessing positive growth in business relations, with significant potential for collaboration across sectors, particularly in high-tech industries, agriculture, and fisheries. A forum, co-organised by the Consulate General of Indonesia in HCM City and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry HCM City Branch (VCCI-HCM) on September 26, aimed to enhance and promote business cooperation between Indonesia and Viet Nam, particularly for SMEs. Consul General of Indonesia in HCM City Agustaviano Sofjan highlighted the potential for collaboration between Viet Nam and Indonesia across various fields. Through close cooperation, he believes that businesses can thrive together and contribute to the prosperity of both nations. Deputy director of VCCI-HCM, Nguyen Huu Nam, said Indonesia is Viet Nams third-largest trade partner in ASEAN, while Viet Nam ranks as the fourth-largest trade partner of Indonesia. In the first two quarters of 2024, bilateral trade volume between Viet Nam and Indonesia reached over US$7.76 billion, an increase of 15 percent compared to the same period last year. Viet Nam exports electronics, machinery, textiles, footwear, and seafood to Indonesia, with electronic products and components leading in export value. In addition, according to a representative from VASEP, Viet Nam and Indonesia have significant potential for developing the fishery sector, as both countries share similar interests and have numerous advantages in this area. Products imported by Viet Nam from Indonesia include various types of coal, steel, vegetable oils, automobiles, common metals, and chemical products. In June 2024, Indonesia ranked 30th out of 146 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, with 115 projects and total registered capital exceeding $662 million. Currently, several Vietnamese businesses, including VinGroup and ien May Xanh, have invested in Indonesia. In 2023, Viet Nam experienced a trade deficit with Indonesia, importing $9 billion while exports were just over $5 billion, indicating a slight imbalance in trade. Both sides plan to build an Action Programme for 2024-2028, aiming to increase bilateral trade to $18 billion by 2028 through trade promotion and reducing market barriers. Experts also introduced the Trade Expo Indonesia, the countrys largest annual international trade exhibition, showcasing sectors and products, with a focus on B2B connections between Indonesian businesses and foreign partners. VNS HA NOI Fines of between VN900 million-1 billion (US$36,600-40,700) have been proposed for discharging domestic solid waste which contains radioactive substances, causing environmental contamination. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has also suggested fines of VN500,000-1 million ($20-40) for households and individuals who do not properly classify domestic solid waste and do not use the right packaging for their waste, according to local authoritys regulations. The proposal was shown by MoNRE in the draft decree amending and supplementing the Decree No 45/2022/N-CP issued on July 7, 2022, which regulates administrative sanctions for violations related to environmental protection. Fines of VN40-60 million ($1,600-2,400) for waste collection agencies who did not use the correct vehicles to transport domestic solid waste are also suggested. Companies who do not provide professional training and protective equipment for workers collecting and transporting domestic solid waste will be fined VN5-10 million ($203-406). Fines of VN10-20 million ($406-811) will be given for collecting domestic solid waste at incorrect points. Organisations using equipment that does not meet technical requirements on environmental protection, letting domestic solid waste fall, spreading dust, leaking wastewater into the environment during the collection and transportation process will be sanctioned VN30-40 million ($1,200-1,600). Fines from VN50-60 million ($2,000-2,400) will be spent for not having signs and safety instructions in the landfill, not making records and handing over the site to the competent State agency after completing the pollution treatment and environmental improvement of the domestic solid waste landfill. Organisations transferring, selling, burying, dumping, discharging or burning domestic solid waste from 60,000kg to less than 80,000kg will receive punishment of VN100-150 million ($4,000-6,000). The similar violations for solid waste of more than 100,000kg will be fined VN200-250 million ($8,100-10,100). The draft decree clearly states that the fines will be increased by 40-50 per cent in cases of environmental pollution or domestic solid waste containing hazardous environmental parameters exceeding environmental technical standards. The total fine for each violation will not exceed VN1 billion ($40,700). VNS LAO CAI The restoration and enhancement project for the Hoang A Tuong mansion heritage site in Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province is expected to be finished in October 2024. After being restored and renovated in 2007, it has become a popular attraction in the Bac Ha region and Lao Cai Province. Following the 2007 restoration, some features of the mansion deteriorated, including a tilted original roof and some tiles had been damaged. To ensure its artistic integrity, while maintaining the original state of the historical site, the Lao Cai Department of Tourism has proposed restoration for the mansion. Recently, social media has seen a surge of controversial opinions regarding the new colour applied to the walls of the mansion. While some have expressed support for the change, many others argue that the new paint colour is inappropriate and fails to preserve the building's original features and historical character. Permanent Deputy Party Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Vu Xuan Cuong, told Lao Cai Newspaper that the restoration project respects the scientific research on colour and composition provided by experts. The Department of Tourism held a meeting to gather expert opinions, including an online consultation with experts from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France, to select the most appropriate paint colour. "While many prefer a weathered appearance, this can actually affect the structural integrity of the building," Ha Van Thang, Director of the Lao Cai Department of Tourism, told Lao ong (Labor) Newspaper. Hoang A Tuong mansion is located close to the banks of the Bac Ha River in Bac Ha town, which is about 70 kilometres from Lao Cai City in the northwest mountainous region. The former owner, Hoang Yen Tchao and his son, Tuong, were influential figures during the semi-feudal colonial period in the twentieth century, with Tchao serving as the hereditary tribal leader of the Bac Ha region. Although Tchao is Tay ethnicity, the locals at the time referred to him as King of Meo (Mong) because the Mong ethnic people previously accounted for nearly 70 per cent of the region's population. According to the Lao Cai Tourism Information and Promotion Centre, construction of the mansion began in 1914 and was finished by the end of 1921. Tchao employed a feng shui master to select the ideal location and engaged French and Chinese architects for the design, resulting in a harmonious blend of European and Asian architectural styles. The bricks and tiles used in the construction were crafted by the finest artisans from the region and China, while iron, steel and cement were sourced from the Red River Delta. The mansion has 36 rooms over a total area of 10,000 square metres, across a closed rectangular layout. The Tay people have a custom of naming a house after the name of their son who lives with their parents in adulthood. Therefore, the mansion is called Hoang A Tuong. Hoang A Tuong mansion was recognised as a national cultural and historical relic in 1999. VNS KUALA LUMPUR Malaysia welcomed 4.5 million Muslim tourists last year, generating 14.7 billion RM (over US$3.5 billion) in revenue, Director-General of the Islamic Tourist Centre (ITC), Nirzan Nordin said on September 25. The figures prove that Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality have significant economic potential in the country, Nizran told the press. To promote the sector, the ITC provides Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition for accommodations, as well as certification for around 220 Muslim-friendly tourist guides, he continued. Through discussions with industry experts, ITC aims to seize opportunities and gain further understanding to develop standards that meet their requirements, towards a distinct service of Muslim-friendly tourism. Regarding creating hotel and restaurant chains that meet the requirements of Muslim tourists, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) of Malaysia intends to strengthen ties with member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in promoting a Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem in Malaysia. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said that close cooperation with the OIC will be beneficial, as the organisation has great potential in attracting more Muslim tourists to Malaysia. He stressed that if Malaysia does not pay attention to the Muslim tourism segment, it will miss out on a huge opportunity. Global Muslim population stands at two billion, with 1.1 billion residing in member countries of OIC, which includes 57 Muslim-majority nations. In ASEAN countries alone, there are approximately 255 million Muslims, alongside an additional 350 million living as minorities in other regions. The Mastercard-Crescent Rating (Global Muslim Travel Index, GMTI) forecast that by 2028, the travel market will be led by 230 million Muslims, generating spending of 225 billion USD. VNA/VNS NEW YORK General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and State President To Lam had a meeting with US President Joe Biden on September 25 (New York time) as part of his US trip for the UN Summit of the Future and the high-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). At the event, the Vietnamese leader expressed sincere gratitude to the US President for his heartfelt condolence message on the passing of late Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and thanked the US Government for its support for Viet Nam's Typhoon Yagi relief efforts. Acknowledging the sentiment that Biden has for Viet Nam's as well as his contributions to the Viet Nam-US relations, Lam held that the historic trip to the US by Party chief Trong in 2015 and the visit to Viet Nam by Biden last year created motives to develop the bilateral ties, bringing them to the highest level of relations with the upgrade to comprehensive strategic partnership and opening space for the ties to branch out in a strong and stable fashion in the coming decades. Lam said he appreciates Bidens sharing of the two countries experience in healing the wounds of war and building their relationship while delivering his remarks at the opening session of the UNGA, agreeing that the two sides share a common vision of shaping up a better future for all humanity based on the experience which highlights the significance of healing, mutual respect and understanding, with respect for each others independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions being the most important. He affirmed the special features of the Viet Nam-US relations with a turn from foes to partners, comprehensive partners and now the highest level of comprehensive strategic partners, stressing that the relationship is entering a new chapter of history and becomes a model in international relations regarding efforts to heal and build ties after war. Lam underscored that Viet Nam is on the threshold of a new historic moment and new era, an era of the nations rise, adding the country will steadfastly continue its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, being a trustworthy partner and an active and responsible member of the international community. He said Viet Nam sees US a partner with strategic importance and expressed his hope that the partnership will continue maintaining its stable and long-term development momentum for the interest and aspirations of the two peoples. Biden, for his part, extended condolences to Viet Nam over the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi while affirming that the US Government stands ready to support Viet Nam during its recovery process. Congratulating Lam on his new position, he said the US considers Viet Nam as a top partner in the region. He recalled his trip to Viet Nam in September last year with warm welcome from the Vietnamese leaders and people and the announcement of the elevation of the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and the world. He affirmed that the US backs a strong, independent, resilient and prosperous Viet Nam and said he will continue working to bolster the partnership on the basis of respect for each others independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institution, making the bilateral ties a model for healing and cooperation for future construction. Both leaders expressed their delight over the outcomes of the comprehensive strategic partnership after one year of establishment, which are in accordance with the interests and aspirations of both sides, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. With a view to maintaining the stable and effective development momemtum, they agreed that the two sides need to work closely to effectively carry out the joint statement adopted last year, including enhancing discussions at all levels, bolstering cooperation across economy, trade, investment, high technology and semiconductor and capitalising collaboration potential in high-quality human resources training, seeing it a key and a breakthrough in their partnership. Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concerns, they concurred to step up cooperation at regional and international forums, comprising the ASEAN framework, Mekong US Partnership and the UN. Biden affirmed that the US commits to enhancing peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, respecting the central role of ASEAN and supporting Viet Nam's increasingly important role in the region and the world. He said the US wants to closely coordinate with Viet Nam in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, upholding international law, ensure freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), fighting climate change and settlling common issues of the region and the world. VNS SYDNEY The Vietnamese community in Australia has contributed a total of around VN5 billion (US$203,300) in support of people affected by natural resources, Ambassador Pham Hung Tam has released. Receiving a working delegation of the Party Central Committees Commission for Mass Mobilisation led by deputy head Pham Tat Thang on Wednesday, Tam handed over AUD12,700 ($8,700) to the delegation to help victims of Typhoon Yagi which hit Vietnam on September 7. Thang expressed his impression at the contributions by the Vietnamese community, intellectuals, and students in Australia. Showing his delight at new developments in the Viet Nam-Australia relations, the official acknowledged efforts and contributions by the embassy to strengthening and consolidating the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. On the same day, Thang met with Kim Sampson, President of the Australia-Viet Nam Friendship Society, at the embassy. Both sides discussed measures to enhance the effectiveness of the association's activities and strengthen cooperation to continue nurturing the friendship between the two peoples. While there, the delegation also met and had working sessions with representatives from the Australian Department of Social Services and the Australian Public Service Commission in Canberra. VNS HAVANA General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam arrived at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on September 25 evening (local time), beginning a state visit to Cuba. The visit is made at the invitation of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee (PCC) and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez and his spouse. The Vietnamese leader and his entourage were greeted at the airport by Politburo members Roberto Morales Ojeda, permanent member of the Secretariat of the PCC Central Committee; Alvaro Lopez Miera, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba; Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas, Minister of the Interior; and Emilio Lozada Garcia, head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the PCC Central Committee; along with Cuban Ambassador to Viet Nam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen, among others. This is Lam's first visit to Cuba in his capacity as Party General Secretary and State President. Cuba is also one of the first countries the Vietnamese top leader has visited. It is taking place in the context that the two countries will celebrate the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025. The visit serves as evidence of the traditional solidarity and special friendship between Viet Nam and Cuba, which have consistently been viewed as a precious asset that the two Parties, States, and peoples have exerted their utmost efforts to nurture. It also shows that Viet Nam attaches great importance to Cuba along with the latters position in its foreign policy. Lam is scheduled to hold talks and have meetings with Cubas key leaders, pay floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban national hero Jose Marti, visit a number of economic establishments, and meet Cuban friends and young people of the two countries. VNS PARIS Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, empowered by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, attended a meeting among leaders on the Paris Pact for People and the Planet (4P) in Paris on September 25, at an invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, and Special Envoy of the 4P - former Senegalese President Macky Sall. Also attending the event were heads of state and government from Brazil, Colombia, the UK, Norway, Portugal, Kenya, Mauritania, Barbados, and Tanzania, as well as leaders from various international organisations such as the United Nations, the African Union, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Participants emphasised that solidarity, multilateralism, and trust-building are essential foundations for addressing current global challenges. They reaffirmed the urgency of enhancing the role and voice of developing countries within the framework of global governance and international economic and financial institutions, while calling for the promotion of new solutions and approaches to address the debt burden shouldered by developing nations. Some leaders affirmed their commitment to increasing funding while emphasising the need to enhance the effective use of loans, diversifying preferential financial resources for the poorest and most vulnerable countries, particularly in response to climate change. Talking to President Macron, Son conveyed gratitude from the Vietnamese top leader To Lam for his invitation and his wish to meet with the President soon to discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation, aiming for a new chapter in Viet Nam-France relations to contribute to the development and mutual prosperity of both nations as well as the world. On this occasion, the Vietnamese official also engaged in separate discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Kenyan President William Ruto, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva regarding bilateral issues and cooperation directions under the 4P framework. The 4P initiative was promoted by France and its President personally at the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in June 2023. To date, it has been supported by 60 nations, including Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam has called for guarantees of safety and security for diplomats and foreigners' communities in Pakistan following a bomb attack suspected to have aimed at a diplomatic convoy, which also includes Vietnamese ambassador, occuring four days ago in a resort area of the country. Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on Thursday stated that according to information from the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan, on September 22, a convoy consisting of police escort vehicles and vehicles carrying ambassadors from 12 countries, including the Vietnamese Ambassador to Pakistan Pham Anh Tuan, was en route to attend the Swat Regional Tourism Development Forum when it was struck by an improvised explosive device in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (Pakistan). "The attack resulted in the death of one police officer and injuries to four other officers. The vehicles carrying the ambassadors remained safe." Hang underscored that Viet Nam "strongly condemns the attack and extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims involved in this incident." The spokesperson also expressed the hope that Pakistani authorities will "ensure the safety and security of diplomatic missions and foreign communities, including the Vietnamese living, studying, and working in the country." According to media sources, when the incident occurred on September 22, police had arranged security and safely escorted the ambassadors back to the capital, Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have condemned the attack and paid tribute to the policeman. Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa announced the formation of a committee to investigate this attack targeting the convoy of foreign diplomats. No groups have claimed responsibility for the attack. Militant attacks in Pakistan have increased in recent months, including incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan. Islamabad has indicated that groups such as the Pakistani Taliban are hiding in this region and conducting attacks against police and security forces. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam is committed to further advancing initiatives aimed at strengthening the connectivity within the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) and fostering deeper cohesion and understanding in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, a Vietnamese official stated. Leading Viet Nam's delegation at the 32nd ASCC Council Meeting in Vientiane on September 26, Luu Quang Tuan, Director General of the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs Department of International Cooperation, noted these efforts are intended to build an image of a dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable ASEAN on the global stage. The official held that the bloc is strong when it is united, placing people at the centre of its efforts, and prioritising their welfare and happiness. In his speech, Tuan said ASEANs development, connectivity, and actions to address challenges like climate change and other risks will require continued endeavours from all member states. He called for concentrated resources and expanded partnerships to achieve the strategic goals of improving the lives of ASEANs people, which remains the core of the ASCC building process. At the meeting, participants reviewed updates on the communitys priority areas for 2024 and targets achieved under Laoss chairmanship. Highlights of several key issues were discussed, and a draft report from the 32nd ASCC Council Meeting will be submitted for approval at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits. VNS HA NOI The Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and Lebanon on September 26 continued to recommend Vietnamese citizens living and working in Lebanon leave the country, amid the risk that tensions between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah escalate into a full-scale conflict in the Middle East. Previously, on September 23, the embassy issued an urgent notice recommending Vietnamese citizens to leave Lebanon. In its latest urgent notice, the embassy also advised Vietnamese citizens who plan to go to Lebanon should postpone or cancel their trips. For Vietnamese citizens who cannot leave Lebanon due to force majeure, the embassy reiterated that they need to be vigilant, closely follow the situation on local media, refrain from gathering in crowded places and absolutely do not go near the southern area of Beirut, the southern area near the border with Israel and the northern and eastern areas (Beeka Valley) near the border with Syria. According to the embassy, there are 13 Vietnamese citizens living and working in Lebanon, and the Vietnamese community in Lebanon is still safe. It recommends that people find temporary shelter in safer areas and stock up on food and medicine to prepare for bad situations. In case of an emergency requiring assistance, citizens should contact the embassy via the hotline: +20 102 613 9869; the Vietnamese Honorary Consulate in Lebanon: +961 70 229 300; or the citizen protection hotline: +84 981 84 84 84. Currently, many airlines have suspended flights to Beirut such as Flydubai, Etihad, Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, Lufthansa, and British Airways. Many countries including the US, Australia, UK, Italy, and Egypt have asked their citizens to leave immediately or not to travel to Lebanon. Arab countries, the US and the European Union (EU) on September 25 issued a joint statement calling for a "temporary ceasefire" in Lebanon. The joint statement was approved by the EU, the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. The statement was issued after Israel conducted a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah forces in Lebanon in the last few days, threatening to push the Middle East into a full-scale conflict. VNS GENEVA Viet Nam advocates innovation that fosters peace, cooperation and development both globally and regionally, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said. Speaking via videoconferencing at the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII) announcement ceremony held by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on September 26, the PM underlined Viet Nam's firm opposition to the use of innovation for war, unfair competition, and any activities that negatively impact people's lives worldwide. He made clear Viet Nam's viewpoint that the process of innovation should take the people as the centre and the subject, so that the people can truly benefit from the fruit of innovation. "We must take a global and people-centred approach, uphold multilateralism and call for international cooperation in promoting innovation," he said, urging rich countries, developed nations and those with better resources to assist developing and poorer countries in institution building, financing, quality workforce training, and transfer of advanced technology and smart governance practices. Viet Nam identifies education-training and science-technology as its top national policies, with innovation serving as a driving force, a resource and a goal for development, contributing to national construction and development, the PM said. On the occasion, he thanked international organisations, including WIPO, scientists and experts for their support and cooperation with Viet Nam in promoting innovation, which has played a critical role in the country's rapid and sustainable development. WIPO Director General Darren Tang commended the Vietnamese Party and State's commitment to sci-tech, innovation, and intellectual property. In the 2024 GII report, Viet Nam climbed two places, now ranking 44th out of 132 countries, reflecting its ongoing progress. Talking with a Vietnam News Agency reporter in Geneva, Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, said the attendance and remarks of PM Chinh demonstrated the importance of innovation to Viet Nam's development. Notably, Switzerland, which has topped the GII for over a decade and is the headquarters of WIPO, offers valuable lessons on innovative models. Therefore, there remains ample room to learn from Switzerland and Europe more broadly in advancing and refining the innovation ecosystem of Viet Nam, the ambassador said. VNS HAVANA General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and State President To Lam and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam on September 26 morning (local time) visited the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM), the first free trade and export processing zone of Cuba, as part of his ongoing state visit to the Caribbean country. First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez also joined the activity. ZEDM General Director Ana Teresa Igarza Martinez said the zone is located at Mariel port in Artemisa province, covering an area of about 465 sq.km. Viet Nam holds the distinction of being the second largest investor in the ZEDM, with notable projects such as the ViMariel Industrial Park, the first and only economic zone in Cuba invested by a Vietnamese enterprise. Diaz-Canel Bermudez praised Vietnamese enterprises' operations in the ZEDM, describing them as evidence for the special traditional friendship between the two countries and the promising future of their economic cooperation. Expressing gratitude for Viet Nam's unwavering support, he hoped for continued success in the bilateral relations. Lam praised the ZEDM as a promising economic model, noting its potential to test innovative policies before scaling them up nationwide. He believed this approach will generate stronger momentum for Cuba's economy, helping it overcome current challenges. Viet Nam will never forget the sentiments Cuba had reserved for Viet Nam in the past, he said, affirming that the policy of the Vietnamese Party, State, and investors is to actively contribute to Cubas current construction and development. The ZEDM offers a broad spectrum of promising investment opportunities in various key sectors, including biotechnology, pharmaceutical research and production, packaging, renewable energy, agriculture, food industry, general industry, information technology, communications, tourism, real estate, and infrastructure development. Products from these investment projects are positioned not only for the domestic market but also for export to regional countries. With its comprehensive, modern, and highly connected infrastructure, the ZEDM stands as an attractive destination for international investors, including those from Viet Nam. The zone serves as a strategic gateway for businesses seeking to establish presence in the Latin American, Caribbean, and South American markets, which are poised for substantial growth in the coming years. Later, the two leaders visited several projects in the ZEDM, including the ViMariel Industrial Park. On this occasion, they witnessed the announcement of granting investment licences to two Vietnamese enterprises, namely the Thai Binh Global Investment Joint Stock Company and the ATG Fertilizer Company. VNS Minh Hieu HA LONG On a late September day, it seemed like Ha Long City (Quang Ninh Province) has returned to its normal rhythm after the devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi. Nobody would have recognised the northern coastal city, home to the world-renowned Ha Long Bay, that just two weeks earlier was in ruins and severely damaged by the destructive power of nature. Among the hardest-hit areas by Yagi, Ha Long had hundreds of houses destroyed, thousands of trees uprooted, roads cut off and infrastructure heavily damaged. The typhoon plunged the city into days without electricity and water, and with nearly paralysed telecommunications. Immediately after the storm subsided and the water receded, the local government and residents of Ha Long launched emergency relief efforts and began working to recover from the disaster as quickly as possible. Chairman of Ha Long City Peoples Committee Nguyen Tien Dung remarked that with a :"Lightning-fast, round-the-clock and storm-beating" spirit, the city launched a seven-day campaign to recover from the impacts of Yagi right after it made landfall here on September 9. Officials, citizens and local forces worked tirelessly, day and night, to clean up and repair the damage caused by the storm. Efforts focused on clearing fallen trees, repairing damaged buildings and cleaning up the environment to restore normal life and reopen the citys tourism, services and businesses. In Bai Chay Ward, Nguyen Thanh Tung, Chairman of the Peoples Committee, said that upon receiving directives from the city, the ward set up four task forces, with leaders directly overseeing recovery efforts on-site. They focused on ensuring environmental hygiene, traffic safety and preventing flooding and landslides. The ward also created 25 volunteer groups to help minimise damage to public and private property. After the storm, all of the wards officials, along with the local militia, veterans, and womens associations, were mobilised to assist with street clean-ups and environmental hygiene. During the seven-day campaign, officials worked tirelessly from 6am to midnight every day to restore the streets to their clean and beautiful condition, Tung said. Throughout the campaign, familiar scenes of residents working together with local authorities to clean up the aftermath of the storm could be seen across the city. Fallen trees, debris and rubbish were cleared, while damaged homes and belongings were cleaned up, reflecting a strong sense of community solidarity. Bui Thi Quynh, a resident in Bai Chay Ward, said that the storm had knocked down many trees, leaving streets covered in mud and waste. We were saddened to see the widespread damage to the trees. As a result, the villagers banded together to clean up, replace trees and clear drains to deal with the storms aftermath, Quynh said. Despite progress, there were still challenges in some areas, particularly where power had not yet been restored, limiting the availability of machinery to clear debris in more difficult terrains. Chairman of the Ha Long City Business Association, Nguyen Thanh Canh, said that following the citys directives, large and small businesses in the area had provided over 200 trucks and 100 excavators to clear fallen trees and debris from beaches, free of charge, for 33 wards and communes of Ha Long. Even though businesses suffered significant losses due to the storm, they still came together to support the community with thousands of free meals, dozens of water filtration machines, roof repair assistance and direct cash donations, totalling more than VN400 million (US$16,000), Canh added. In addition to rescue and clean-up efforts, utilities like electricity, water and telecommunications were restored as quickly as possible, with workers operating around the clock to ensure essential services for residents were reinstated. Reviving a world heritage region From a city in ruins, Ha Long has largely been restored to its previous cleanliness and beauty. According to the Ha Long Peoples Committee, within seven days, nearly 65,000 people had been mobilised to help with the recovery efforts, with over 1,000 vehicles and 922 chainsaws deployed for cutting trees. Close to 600 volunteer groups in the villages and neighbourhoods, involving thousands of participants, contributed to the clean-up and recovery from the storm. Now, 100 per cent of the citys streets and neighbourhoods have been cleared, over 50,000 cu.m of waste have been collected, more than 80 per cent of fallen trees have been replanted, and over 70 per cent of electricity has been restored. Additionally, 100 per cent of roads are now passable and all schools and hospitals have resumed safe operations. Tourism, services and business activities are gradually returning to normal. While the city has not yet fully returned to its pre-storm condition, the rapid recovery has left residents and visitors with positive impressions of the citys resilient spirit. Je Dong-Sun, a tourist from South Korea, was quoted as saying: We heard about the storms destruction, but by the time we arrived, the recovery was already well underway. The hotel was still able to offer a good stay. I look forward to returning to see the city even more beautiful and green. Although significant progress has been made, much work remains to be done. The local government, businesses and residents are all committed to restoring the city to its former green, clean and beautiful state. Secretary of the Ha Long City Party Committee, Vu Quyet Tien said that after the seven-day campaign, the city would continue to mobilise all available resources to clean up residential areas, launch a campaign to clean Ha Long Bay and beautify the urban environment. The city also plans to plant trees, flowers and sustainable urban spaces as part of its vision to build a 'City of Flowers' and a 'City of Festivals'. With the motto 'No one will be left without a home, and no one will be left behind', Ha Long is quickly implementing support policies to help residents recover from the storm. To date, the city has provided VN14 billion ($569,000) in emergency aid to 33 wards and communes for storm recovery efforts. Additionally, the city is offering support to families who lost loved ones or suffered significant damage, particularly those who had to evacuate. Ha Long is also improving urban management, resource protection and environmental conservation, addressing issues that surfaced in the aftermath of the storm. The city will explore new regulations for urban planning and construction standards, especially for coastal areas and propose guidelines for choosing suitable plant species for coastal environments and standards for offshore industries. With determination, resilience and the unity of the local government, businesses, and people, Ha Long City is poised to rebuild itself into an even more beautiful, modern and prosperous city. VNS BEIJING Representatives from nearly 30 Vietnamese and Chinese universities and institutes gathered at a dialogue forum in Bejing on Wednesday to discuss journalism and media training, cooperation in academic exchange, and promotion of humanistic exchanges between the two nations. At the opening session, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi ang Thi Thu Huong stressed that journalism and media training are facing both opportunities and challenges, adding education establishments need to transform their mindset as well as training approaches and methodologies to meet the requirements of the multiplatform and multimedia journalism. Both sides agreed to continue organising the event in a suitable time, carrying out dialogues as well as diversify their forms for sustainable cooperation. Besides, they will study to diversify joint training programmes and promote exchanges of scholars and lecturers. Dianlin Huang from the Communication University of China told the Vietnam News Agency that the event offered an opportunity for the two sides to enhance their mutual understanding so as to bolster collaboration in the areas of human resources training and scientific research. VNS BINH DUONG Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged Binh Duong's authorities to strengthen regional economic ties, promote a green and digital economy, and build cutting-edge and sustainable industrial parks. PM Chinh was speaking at the conference announcing Binh Duong's Master Plan for Development in the 2021-30 period with a long-term vision stretching to 2050 on Thursday. He noted that Binh Duong had experienced significant growth in the past three decades, transforming from an agriculture-geared province into a thriving industrial hub and a magnet for foreign investors. With an income per capita of VN172.5 million ($7,005) in 2023, Binh Duong has significantly outperformed the national average and established itself as one of the top ten provinces in Viet Nam in terms of economic growth, FDI inflows, and urbanisation. He urged authorities to implement the plan at a fast pace but ensure the implementation aligns with the national, regional, and sectorial planning frameworks. "Binh Duong's authorities must leverage public-private partnerships and foster investment in infrastructure to unlock its full potential," said the PM. He suggested that Binh Duong's authorities focus on the five strategic measures highlighted in the Plan, and allocate more financial resources to fostering regional cooperation, enhancing connectivity, and integrating into global supply chains. He emphasised the critical role of human capital and urged the authorities to invest heavily in education and training and implement measures to improve literacy and attract talent. He also stressed the need for accelerating administrative reforms and uplifting business environment indicators to improve the investment climate to attract large-scale investors. He also suggested building a planning centre in the province to serve as a hub for public engagement, knowledge sharing, and trade promotion. In the centre, planning documents would be published to keep people aware of the Plan. He called for close coordination among ministries and agencies to ensure the effective implementation of the Plan, highlighting the Government's commitment to creating a favourable business environment based on the principles of mutual benefits and shared risks. On the same day, the PM also visited the Electric Energy Show 2024 and Automation World Vietnam 2024 and conducted an on-site inspection of the province's HCM City-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh Expressway project. The Plan was approved by the Prime Minister on August, covering five cities and four districts under the management of Binh Duong Province. Its overall goal is for Binh Duong to become a centrally-governed metropolis and a Southeast Asian powerhouse by 2030, taking the lead in innovation, technology, infrastructure, and green growth. Another goal is to improve its people's quality of life, build a thriving and modern society, and strengthen national defence and public safety. The province also aims to achieve an annual GDP growth rate of 10 per cent and a per capita income of US$15,800, with the industrial and construction sector being the backbone, accounting for 64 per cent of its economy, and the urbanisation rate reaching approximately 90 per cent. The province also aims to reach a population of 4.04 million in 2030, with a highly skilled workforce, quality education, and improved healthcare. Key indicators include a labour force training rate of 87 per cent, a national standard attainment rate for schools of 80 per cent, and a doctor-to-population rate of 19 per 10,000 people. Coinciding with the release of the plan, Binh Duong's authorities also broke ground on several major infrastructure projects, including Ring Road 4 and HCM City-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh Expressway. These projects are expected to be the key catalysts for the province's economic growth in the short term. VNS HCM CITY Sun Life Vietnam has donated VN1.8 billion ($73,155) to support residents severely impacted by Typhoon Yagi in northern Viet Nam. The donation will be provided through the Vietnam Red Cross Society to support disaster relief efforts, including providing clean water and essential supplies and contributing to the rebuilding efforts in high-impact areas. Luc Nhon Ly, CEO of Sun Life Vietnam, said: The challenges many families are facing after the storm and floods remain significant. Through this support, we want to bring hope and motivation for people to recover and rebuild their lives. Sun Life is committed to standing by our clients and community, working towards building a brighter future for everyone. Sun Life Vietnam will coordinate with the Red Cross and its partners to ensure that the assistance reaches the right people quickly and effectively. Luong Thi Hong Thuy, board member and director of external relations and development at Vietnam Red Cross, said: We are deeply grateful for the timely support from Sun Life Vietnam. With this donation, we will be able to help about 500 households to help them overcome this difficult period as soon as possible. Sun Life Vietnam has also started a support fund for the company's employees and advisors affected by the storm and flooding. Sun Life Vietnam has a wide network of advisors and offices throughout Hai Phong City, and Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang and Phu Tho provinces, some of which are in areas heavily impacted by storms and floods. The support will ensure that they have necessary resources to overcome the challenges they are facing. Sun Life Vietnam has also promptly carried out procedures to pay insurance benefits to the family of a customer affected during the recent storm. VNS BANGKOK A Polish woman was detained at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand on September 26 after she allegedly made a bomb threat during a Thai Vietjet flight from Viet Nam's central city of a Nang, bound for Bangkok, according to local media. The VZ961 flight carried 121 people, including one infant and 6 crew members. Kittipong Kittikachorn, General Manager of the airport, reported that the airports security centre was alerted at 2:18pm on September 26 about the threat made onboard. Security officers conducted thorough searches of passengers and their hand luggage, while an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team all checked baggage and the aircraft. No suspicious objects or explosives were found. The emergency response plan was lifted at 4:30pm. According to Thailands law on offences committed against air navigation, anyone who knowingly communicates false information causing panic on an aircraft in flight is liable to imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of US$6,150 on conviction. "The airline affirmed that its operations always comply with strict safety regulations according to international standards. Currently, all disruptive acts that cause confusion among passengers and affect the operations of airlines will be punished according to regulations," Vietjet Air said in a statement regarding the incident. VNS Yet, there is always more to do and areas of improvement to be worked on. Much of this involves keeping an eye on the feeling, on a more global scale, of the direction of journalism, news style, the increasing prevalence of fake news, and the role of AI in the media. The author (left) with Dr. Do Anh Duc, multimedia dean at the School of Journalism and Communication The 2024 Digital News Report from the Reuters Institute, published in June, noted that ongoing high-profile wars and pivotal elections mean accurate and independent journalism remains more important than ever. However, in many of the countries covered in the reports survey, it found that the news media is being increasingly challenged by rising misinformation, low trust, and uncertain business environments. The survey this year was also filled with examples of lay-offs, closures, and other cuts due to a combination of rising costs, falling advertising revenues, and sharp declines in traffic from social media. Many social media sites, search engines, and video platforms are now explicitly de-prioritising hard news, while others have switched focus from publishers to creators, and pushing more fun or engaging formats including video to keep attention within their own platforms. VIR understands this point, which is why it has been striving to diversify its offerings in recent years. This 13th edition of the Digital News Report, based on data from six continents and nearly 50 markets, also highlighted that these changes are not always evenly distributed. While it is struggling to remain relevant in general, in some parts of the world news media remains profitable, independent, and widely trusted. But even in these markets, there are challenges around the pace of change, the role of platforms, and how to adapt to a digital environment that is becoming more complex and fragmented each year. Touching on this with a more regional aspect is a white paper published last month on AI and journalism in Southeast Asia by communications expert Chatrine Siswoyo and Raphael Lachkar, COO of ASEAN communications consultancy Vero. The report, which surveyed 70 journalists from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines on the issue of AI, said integration of related tools in the media raises valid concerns in the region. There is tension surrounding preserving human judgment and the creativity of journalists amid automation. As AI takes on tasks traditionally performed by humans, reporters are sometimes encouraged to adapt and acquire new skill sets to remain relevant in the evolving news production and consumption landscape. There are also debates on the ethical use of these tools. To what extent can journalists and editors use AI? And how transparent should the media be about AIs involvement in the production process? These are questions that VIR and its reporters are currently juggling with. While AI has been used to great effect in the design process, particularly for its special annual publications on sustainable development, foreign investment, and more, using AI more widely for individual articles will not only take time to implement, but must also be consistent across stories and across writers. As a sub-editor, I have not yet encouraged the use of AI, nor am I in a position to enforce it. As someone who remembers the world pre-internet, I am currently skewed towards more traditional methods and would rather wade through the individual strengths and weaknesses of each reporter I work with, and help them improve depending on their level. However, I recognise how useful something like generative AI could be for our work but it cannot just be about making the actual job easier. As business and tech advisor Bernard Marr wrote for Forbes earlier this year, strong journalism involves coming up with original thoughts that people want to hear. While generative AI can write in a convincingly human way, ultimately, all it does is repurpose and restructure existing knowledge. Journalists will thrive in the AI age by honing their ability to uncover new facts, bring original thinking to issues and debates, and give it to their audiences in compelling, human ways, Marr wrote. As the Vero report implies, there is a desire among journalists in Vietnam to be educated about AI. They are eager to understand its functions, as they recognise its power to streamline workflow and improve quality. Gaining a more profound knowledge of the tech, both its capabilities and limitations, could enable reporters to harness these tools strategically. But it also noted that a positive perception of AI is linked to how much and how well one uses it. If journalists are not adequately trained and do not have sufficient knowledge, they will be less inclined to use AI or pursue further training. This creates a feedback loop where familiarity and positive engagement with AI reinforce each other, the report said. Nevertheless, such training could help journalists in Southeast Asia with fact-checking information, as using natural language processing tools can analyse the sentiment, tone, and credibility of statements made by various sources of information. Additionally, several organisations in the region have been holding dedicated training programmes to delve into the multifaceted aspects of AI in journalism, and this is perhaps something Vietnam can look at further. The Malaysian government has also initiated AI training for media practitioners as part of a 2024 sandbox initiative. While this could be crucial in equipping journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate AI technologies, I always believe that keeping things simple is the priority, and outlets like VIR should work on its AI capability in the background first, until it feels confident in utilising it successfully in a more widespread manner. Meanwhile, reporters should focus on delivering new information, quotes, and statistics concisely via traditional means, and only take on AI when they fully grasp it. New AI offerings pose more questions The AI explosion is continuing at pace with new offerings from the biggest tech groups in the world, but ethical concerns and investing considerations are taking up more focus as industries like the media and manufacturing adjust their priorities. AI-powered solutions to be adequate response to threats Toying around with the latest generative AI tools has been entertaining for many. Yet, AI has long transcended personal use, profoundly reshaping organisational and business activities. Asias readiness for AI innovation: Lessons from South Koreas digital transformation A landmark event to foster collaboration in AI research and development business across Asia by bringing together leading experts, scholars, government officials, and innovative communitie was held on July 11-12 in Hanoi. Fresh opportunities from AI in Vietnamese aviation In the earlier industrial revolutions, technology and equipment increasingly replaced human manual labour. In Industry 4.0, especially with breakthrough technologies such as the cloud, big data, the Internet of Things, and AI, there is an expectation that machines and tech will replace human labour. AI transforming Vietnams businesses for the better While AI is a key in the process of innovation and accelerating economic development, it needs support from many sides to strengthen the workforce and related startups. (*)Ray McRobbie, sub-editor Vietnam Investment Review The awards were announced on September 25 to honour global hospitality, spa, and restaurant industries. Ana Mandara won Best Beach Resort in Asia, Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Vietnam, and Best Honeymoon Hideaway Resort in Vietnam. Recognised as the "Best Beach Resort in Asia" by the Haute Grandeur Global Awards 2024, Ana Mandara Cam Ranh Resort & Spa affirms its appeal with unique design and luxurious facilities, featuring 36 pool and beachfront villas that pay homage to the Vietnamese non la (conical hat), and 140 luxurious rooms. The resort attracts domestic tourists, and has also gained significant traction in the international market. The standout factor helping Ana Mandara Cam Ranh Resort & Spa achieve the title of Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Vietnam is its strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development policies. The resort has actively implemented measures to minimise negative impacts on nature, from environmentally friendly architectural design to efficient resource management. Each experience is designed for guests to immerse themselves in nature, while creating a peaceful and green living space. Proving its appeal with the title "Best Honeymoon Resort in Vietnam", the resort offers unique wedding venues and honeymoon experiences, from romantic beachside weddings to vibrant sunset moments, making it an ideal destination for couples. In addition, the professional event planning team at Ana Mandara ensures that every wedding is meticulously curated, creating lifelong memories for couples. Le Dai Hai, general manager of Ana Mandara Cam Ranh Resort & Spa The awards also mark the success of Ana Mandara Cam Ranh Resort & Spa after two years of operation in Vietnam. Le Dai Hai, general manager of Ana Mandara Cam Ranh Resort & Spa, remarked, The Haute Grandeur Awards are a well-deserved recognition of the efforts of our entire team. We are proud to continue building on more than 25 years of success in Khanh Hoas tourism industry and are committed to providing our guests with luxurious, sustainable, and personalised experiences. We are deeply grateful for the support of our guests over the past two years and will continue striving to deliver unique, tailored experiences for everyone. Since its opening in 2022, Ana Mandara Cam Ranh Resort & Spa has established itself as one of the top resort destinations in Bai Dai, Cam Ranh. With architecture inspired by the fishing village culture of central Vietnam, the resort's accommodations blend indigenous architectural influences with chic modern designs. They are equipped with full in-room amenities to provide guests with a sense of serenity, privacy, and personalised value. The Haute Grandeur Global Awards are one of the world's leading prestigious hotel, spa and restaurant industry, founded in 2014 by CEO Marinique De Wet. Haute Grandeur honours units with outstanding contributions in providing world-class service experiences, considered the gold standard in the global hospitality sector. With independence and objectivity, the awards are given based on actual customer feedback, not through judging panels or public votes, creating high reliability and transparency. Being recognised by Haute Grandeur is a testament to the trustworthiness and commitment to excellence of the winning brands. How can Vietnamese companies overcome biases from US investors when seeking capital or planning an initial public offering (IPO)? Overcoming biases from US investors is all about preparation, and its a process that needs to begin long before a company decides to go public. Early preparation is essential to build investor trust and ensure a successful IPO. Teresa Woo, senior vice president at global financial services company BNY One of the first steps is developing a strong foundation in investor relations and public engagement. This can be achieved by creating a transparent and effective communication strategy that covers not only financial disclosures but also engages investors through social media and other public channels. Surprisingly, platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram can play a crucial role in gaining investor confidence by highlighting a companys vision, progress, and leadership team. Companies also need to prioritise environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria well in advance. Even if a company is still in its growth phase, it needs to appear IPO-ready by having a well-organised team and a clear ESG strategy. Timing the IPO perfectly is nearly impossible, as market conditions can change unpredictably. However, companies that are well-prepared can take advantage of favourable market conditions when they arise. Much like planning for admission to a top university, the narrative a company tells investors has to be built over time. Companies should seek the advice of auditors, legal experts, and ESG advisors to ensure their preparation is thorough and credible. This support might be costly, but it is essential for success in a market as competitive as the US. What practical steps can Vietnamese companies take to draw in US investors before going public? While US investors are often focused on domestic markets, particularly in tech and AI, Vietnamese companies can still catch their attention. The key is to start building a presence in the US market early, even before raising capital or pursuing an IPO. One effective way is through strategic exposure programmes that introduce the company to potential investors. For example, exchanges offer initiatives like Floor Talk, which involve short interviews where companies can discuss their industry, strategy, and vision. These interviews are then shared on platforms like LinkedIn, providing valuable exposure to US investors. Even if an IPO isnt planned in the immediate future, raising awareness about your company early on can have long-term benefits. Another practical step is considering physical investments in the US, such as opening a manufacturing plant or a showroom. This shows commitment to the US market and generates buzz among investors who may otherwise overlook international companies. The takeaway is clear: Vietnamese companies can draw in US investor interest by consistently engaging and maintaining visibility in strategic ways. Why is early preparation critical for success in the US market? Early preparation is critical because the US market is incredibly competitive and timing is unpredictable. Companies that begin their planning years in advance, securing advice from financial and legal experts, are in a much better position to capitalise on market opportunities when they arise. While the road to an IPO may take longer than expected, often more than two years, those who invest the time and resources early are more likely to succeed. As one expert said, Its like preparing for admission to a top university you need to craft your narrative and get expert advice well ahead of time. By doing so, Vietnamese companies can make their IPO dreams a reality, even in the demanding US market. What role does ESG play in gaining investor confidence? In the current market, ESG considerations are not just a nice-to-have as they are often essential. US investors, particularly those looking at international companies, are increasingly focused on how businesses address environmental and social responsibilities, as well as how they govern themselves. Vietnamese companies looking to attract US capital should ensure they have a clear and transparent ESG strategy in place long before they consider going public. Investors want to know that the company is sustainable, ethical, and prepared to navigate regulatory and environmental challenges. Vietnam registers only one IPO in first half of 2024 Vietnam recorded just one initial public offering (IPO) in the first half of this year, as the downward trend continued in the IPO market, according to Deloitte's Southeast Asia Mid-Year IPO Snapshot 2024. Integrating IPOs and listing to motivate companies Securities experts and State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) representatives have suggested reviewing regulations and integrating the IPO and listing processes, as companies remain hesitant to join the stock market. The prospects for foreign exhange market for rest of 2024 Economist Le Xuan Nghia talked to Hong Dung about the forex market's prospects for the rest of this year and looks at how to bolster liquidity for sustainable economic development. The conference was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to announce plans to push the province's GDP to 10 per cent per year, with per capita earnings reaching $14,650 by 2030. Speaking at the conference, PM Chinh said, Planning must ensure inheritance and development. A good plan will attract sound projects and investments, creating new opportunities and new values. Analysing the opportunities and competitive advantages of Dong Nai, the PM emphasised that Dong Nai is an important link in the southeast region, and a growth pole for the region and the country. Dong Nai is also an important transport hub, with air, road, waterways, and railways, and diverse natural advantages, suitable for green and sustainable development. We need to promote public-private partnerships, using public investment to lead private investment, while continuing to promote investment in strategic infrastructure, especially transport, health, education, social infrastructure, and climate change response, PM Chinh said. In addition to those, the province needs to effectively promote the development of key industries, high-tech industries, and transforming industrial parks towards a green and circular economy. With the withness of the PM, Dong Nai provincial leaders granted investment decisions and certificates to enterprises on September 24 Among the 17 projects to be granted investment certificates was Tan Hiep - Bau Can Industrial Park near Long Thanh International Airport, with the investment capital of more than $385.5 million. Dong Nai also granted investment certificates for projects to manufacture optical equipment and instruments ($29 million), semiconductors for electronics applications ($54 million), and Regza Vietnam TV ($40 million). In real estate, a social housing project in Long Binh Tan ward (Bien Hoa city) with an investment of $57.7 million and a social housing apartment complex project in Phuoc An commune (Nhon Trach district) with $83 million were also approved. Thanks to its strategic location, Dong Nai is attracting investors in the industrial property field. KCN Dong Nai JSC, a member of KCN Vietnam Group, was one of the enterprises that received an investment registration certificate at this conference. In addition to high-quality, pre-built factory and warehouse projects in Dong Nai, KCN Vietnam is investing in industrial real estate projects across the country. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Dong Nai has the most operating industrial parks in the country with 32, and an occupancy rate of over 85 per cent. Dong Nai woos Japanese investors More than 100 Japanese investors, with 200 more Vietnamese and Japanese attending online, participated in a conference to promote investment in the southern province of Dong Nai held in Tokyo on April 24. Persons with disabilities in Dong Nai to have better access to social services Persons with disabilities in the southern province of Dong Nai are expected to gain better access to social services and find it easier to integrate into society under a project launched on June 6. Sojitz to develop green IPs in Dong Nai Japans Sojitz Corporation and the southern province of Dong Nai have agreed to work together to develop a model for green, smart industrial parks. The collaboration is set to run until 2026. The US Department of Commerces International Trade Association estimates a 10 per cent annual growth in Vietnams power demand between 2021 and 2024. Additionally, during the September 2023 technical working group meeting organised by the Vietnam Energy Partnership Group, Vietnams National Load Centre highlighted a concerning inconsistency in the current development of power generation and demand growth. Sunita Dubey, country delivery lead in Vietnam Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet Considering the extreme weather conditions and urgency of climate action, the variability of renewables could become a roadblock in the countrys drive to meet this demand and ensure energy security. Effective demand management and maintaining the momentum of renewable energy deployment necessitates the integration of innovative technologies such as battery energy storage systems (BESS) into Vietnams developmental and energy resilience strategies. To address this growing demand while advancing climate goals, Vietnam is turning to innovative solutions like BESS. The country stands at a crucial juncture in its energy trajectory, with a substantial installed capacity of renewable energy and ambitious plans for further expansion. The visionary targets for renewable energy deployment outlined by Vietnams Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) align with the nations global commitments to combat climate change. Key multinational corporations such as Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Nike, PepsiCo, Procter and Gamble, Nestle, and Unilever have also pledged to transition to 100 per cent renewable energy, indicating a growing demand for clean power sources in Vietnam. Spearheading the implementation of the countrys first grid-connected BESS pilot, we collaborated with the US Agency for International Development, the Asian Development Bank, and the Rocky Mountain Institute. This collaboration aims to ensure that BESS is included in the PDP8 and extends swift and strategic technical assistance to the governments Institute of Energy. Bringing together the expertise and resources of alliance partners, we have coordinated a plan to embed and expand a pilot BESS project, creating a growth roadmap for 300MW, and devising a regulatory framework. Integrating BESS into Vietnams energy infrastructure demonstrates promising prospects for facilitating the nations energy transition. By storing excess energy during periods of low demand and releasing it during peak times, BESS can enhance grid flexibility, reduce emissions, and lower electricity costs. In addition to the positive impact on the environment and the grid, BESS integration brings significant economic benefits, such as lower electricity costs, employment opportunities, and substantial investments. However, to fully realise these benefits, Vietnam must implement supportive policies and regulations to accelerate the deployment of BESS. Despite the potential of BESS, several challenges hinder widespread adoption. High upfront costs, limited financing options, and a lack of technical expertise create barriers for investors and developers. The existing regulatory framework must be reformed, and grid infrastructure optimised for integrating large-scale storage systems. Further, clear policies on energy trading need to be introduced to eliminate uncertainties. While Vietnam has taken initial steps by including a 300MW BESS target in the PDP8, more ambitious action is needed. The declining cost of lithium battery cells, coupled with technological advancements, has made BESS increasingly affordable and accessible, according to Contemporary Amperex Technology, the worlds largest battery manufacturer. Vietnam should capitalise on this trend to attract investment, create green jobs, and enhance energy security. The proactive integration of BESS alongside renewable energy generation by countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia, and India offers a replicable model and valuable insights to expedite the countrys energy transition. By harnessing renewable energy for manufacturing processes, Vietnam can produce sustainable products while bolstering its economic competitiveness on the global stage. The countrys ambitious plans, supported by international collaborations and leading corporations, reflect a commitment to innovation. As Vietnam charts its path towards energy security and sustainability, the integration of BESS emerges as a critical enabler of this transition. By embracing BESS, Vietnam has the potential to lead the way in clean energy innovation, fuelling economic growth while safeguarding the planet for future generations. Embracing the promise of battery storage will usher in a new era of prosperity and sustainability for Vietnam and beyond. Vietnam's sand battery startup Alterno secures $1.5 million to cut carbon emissions in agriculture In a significant leap forward for agricultural climate solutions, Alterno on April 2 announced that it has successfully secured over $1.5 million in an oversubscribed round co-led by leading impact and VC funds The Radical Fund (Singapore) and Touchstone Partners (Vietnam). The Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment revealed last week that over a dozen projects on semiconductors, research and development centres, innovation centres, and training of high-quality human resources totalling tens of billions of US dollars will soon be granted investment certificates, and are being negotiated in various localities. The most notable groups exploring investment in Vietnam involve high-tech processes, Photo: Le Toan The latest report from the FIA, released in September, reflected that foreign direct investment (FDI) continues to increase strongly in both newly registered and implemented capital. The report highlighted, The results of FDI attraction and disbursement affirm the attractiveness, competitiveness, position, and potential of the Vietnamese market in the eyes of international investors, as well as the promotion of the increasing FDI trends over the past several months. More than $20.5 billion in FDI has been reported in Vietnam up to the end of August, an on-year increase of 7 per cent, while disbursed FDI has risen by 8 per cent on-year to about $14.15 billion. The northern province of Bac Ninh has become the leading locality in wooing FDI, with a total registered investment capital of nearly $3.47 billion, accounting for 16.9 per cent of Vietnams total FDI, almost triple figure over last year. Ranked second in FDI attraction is the northeastern province of Quang Ninh with nearly $1.78 billion, holding 8.7 per cent of the total registered FDI, and more than 2.3 times higher than the same period. Ho Chi Minh City ranked third with a total registered investment capital of more than $1.76 billion, responsible for nearly 8.6 per cent, followed by Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Hanoi, and Haiphong. Van Duc Phu from the Northern Investment Promotion Centre said that the increasing FDI inflows are contributed by Vietnams economic diplomacy. High-level meetings have opened up many great opportunities for Vietnam in mobilising FDI, especially in semiconductors and AI, which are currently the focus of global investors, Phu said. In particular, many companies, especially large technology corporations, are currently exploring conditions for new investments in Vietnam. The most notable are corporations that master modern technologies, and produce high intellectual-content and added-value products, he added. Many of the worlds giants in the semiconductor and AI industries, such as Intel, Google, Nvidia, Samsung, Hyosung, Amkor, Hana Micron, and Synopsys, have all invested in Vietnam. Among many large projects, Amkor has already raised investment by over $1 billion, years earlier than the plan set forth. Other investors in the high-tech sector are speeding up activity in Vietnam. Following three factories with investment of $500 million, Meiko Electronic has been building a new factory in the northern province of Hoa Binh at a cost of $200 million, and planing to increase to $500 million. In addition to electronics and semiconductors, data centres are also expected to become hot in Vietnam in the near future. A super-large data centre is already in the works to be developed by Google in Vietnam, with an investment of about $300-650 million. Alibaba is also considering building a data centre in Vietnam. Meanwhile, at the upcoming Innovate Vietnam 2024 and fifth anniversary of the Vietnam Innovation Centre on October 1-2, Metas global relations chair Nick Clegg, along with leaders of Qualcomm and Nvidia, will be present in Hanoi to discuss innovation in Vietnam. These are important factors for Vietnam to improve the quality of inputs and create changes in growth quality, enhance the economy to a new level, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc said at a press conference in early September. According to Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, in addition to political stability, Vietnams proactive policies and improved FDI attraction are being highly appreciated by foreign investors. Our strategy of attracting FDI in areas such as semiconductors is in the right direction, Mai stated. However, in the context of intense competition and global minimum taxes, its challenging to adapt to the global investment environment. The government should direct localities to improve in accordance with international practices as well as find measures and incentives to meet investor needs for large projects, Mai added. Vietnam sustaining growth amidst shifting FDI trends Trade ties between the US and emerging market economies in the Asia-Pacific region are shifting from efforts to diversify supply chains out of China through friendshoring or nearshoring. Against this backdrop, Vietnam is among the Asia-Pacific markets relatively well-placed to gain from such shifts. UOB forecasts Vietnam's economic growth to continue, boosted by trade and FDI Vietnam's economy is expected to maintain strong growth throughout 2024, supported by rising trade activity and increasing foreign direct investment, while favourable demographics and solid macroeconomic fundamentals underpin its long-term prospects in ASEAN, according to UOB. FDI results in localities above expectations Many localities have reported a surge in foreign direct investment this year, and it looks as though they may surpass set targets. As Vietnam faces the immediate and severe impacts of climate change, exemplified by the devastation of Super Typhoon Yagi the strongest storm to strike the country in three decades GEFE 2024 arrives at a crucial moment. At a press conference to announce GEFE 2024 on September 24, Bruno Jaspaert, the new chairman of EuroCham Vietnam, noted, The storm displaced countless families and caused widespread destruction across 26 provinces, serving as a stark reminder that climate change is no longer a distant threat but an urgent crisis requiring immediate, collective action. GEFE 2024 will be a vital platform for fostering critical dialogue between government leaders, businesses, and international organisations to address the pressing realities of our changing climate. GEFE will also act as a platform for European companies to showcase their latest cutting-edge solutions to make Vietnam future proof. Vu Ba Phu, director general of Vietrade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), also emphasised, "The PM has approved for the MoIT and the EuroCham Vietnam to co-organise GEFE 2024, to strengthen connections, and promote investment and trade cooperation between Europe and Vietnam. This is also a practical initiative in the implementation process towards the national growth strategy." At GEFE 2024, discussions will focus on critical themes driving meaningful solutions towards a sustainable future: climate resilience, digitalisation, green finance, and sustainable energy transitions, all of which are key to Vietnams goal of achieving net zero by 2050. With the theme of Building Green Futures, GEFE 2024 will highlight the urgent need for action in tackling the climate crisis and building a greener economy in Vietnam. Over the course of three days, GEFE 2024 will feature 10 green topics and deliver nearly 30 conference sessions. With more than 8,000 attendees expected from diverse sectors, including business-to-business and business to government dialogues, participants will have the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and government officials. With the active participation of EU states, alongside key contributions from Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, GEFE 2024 will stand as a testament to the strong VietnamEurope partnership, driving collective progress towards a greener, net-zero future. The involvement of high-level European representatives will enrich the dialogue with global perspectives and actionable insights, reinforcing the crucial role of the international community in supporting Vietnams green transition. Julien Guerrier, EU Ambassador to Vietnam, stated, GEFE is becoming an important event with a regional scope and ASEAN dimension. In that respect, I am glad to confirm that on top of many EU ambassadors presence, I will be honoured to be accompanied by the EU ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Surijo Seam, and representatives of EuroCham in the region. I am very much looking to GEFE in October. The EU-Vietnam partnership holds a wealth of opportunities for businesses on both sides. I reaffirm that we stand ready to support Vietnam in this period of transition to a greener future. Vietnam has a great potential to achieve it. This years plenary and conference sessions will focus on accelerating the Just Energy Transition Partnership, integrating sustainable energy solutions through the Power Development Plan VIII, and the implementation of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Additional topics such as direct power purchase agreements, carbon pricing, climate and transition finance, regenerative farming systems, blue-green infrastructure, and innovative stormwater management will bring actionable insights from both public and private sector leaders. EU-Vietnam sustainability cooperation on forum agenda The Green Economy Forum and Exhibition is expected to look at sustainable solutions in Vietnam to support the country in its net-zero emission path. Norwegian companies bring green tech solutions to Vietnam Nearly a dozen Norwegian companies are presenting their expertise and tech solutions to help promote a sustainable green economy in Vietnam. How do you assess VIRs performance as a business newspaper for foreign investors? The newspaper occupies a distinctive role as an English-language economic outlet, recognised for its ability to deliver comprehensive information and a wide range of perspectives from industry leaders. Instead of chasing sensational news, VIR adopts a measured and analytical approach to reporting. It focuses on identifying key issues, providing in-depth analyses, exploring significant current events, and forecasting trends relevant to investor interests. Dr. Do Anh Duc, multimedia dean at the School of Journalism and Communication at National University Hanoi VIR ensures a diversity of viewpoints in its articles, striving to examine issues from multiple angles and incorporating insights from various experts across different fields. This methodology offers readers a nuanced understanding of complex topics, steering clear of fragmented or superficial reporting. Reporting on economic matters for foreign investors is a specialised field that demands careful consideration of diverse viewpoints. VIR effectively balances insights from domestic and international economic experts, addressing macroeconomic issues while meeting the specific needs of businesses. Its content is presented in various formats, enhancing accessibility and engagement without falling into dogmatism. How effective has VIRs multimedia content and multichannel strategy been in engaging audiences? I participated in a live talk show held at VIRs studio, which is implementing a multi-platform strategy that includes weekly print editions, online newspapers, and e-paper format for electronic access to print content. This approach diversifies news delivery methods, enhances public engagement across various channels, and strengthens VIRs competitive advantage. The core focus of a multimedia, multi-platform approach to journalism is to explore and expand various methods of delivering multifaceted information, fostering interactive and connected relationships with readers. The value of information and audience engagement remain central, as journalism seeks to innovate and become increasingly constructive, rather than merely addressing technical aspects. VIR effectively executes its multimedia strategies across platforms, with each information format delivering valuable content and mutually supplementing each other within the newspapers ecosystem. In addition to its flagship print edition, which offers in-depth, thematic content published weekly, it provides timely updates through its online version. Additionally, the talk shows and seminars connect diverse voices around current and impactful topics for the public. Formats like talk shows and modern reading methods such as e-paper have enhanced VIRs presence as a reliable source of information across multiple dimensions. When placed alongside traditional print media, it is clear that VIR has adeptly identified and implemented new ways to deliver information, maintaining relevance in the current technological boom. What technological opportunities can VIR leverage to better meet audience demands? In light of the explosion of new technology solutions and the push to integrate tech into various aspects of journalism, choosing focused directions aligned with a vision for readers and creating valuable information for society is paramount. Once the core values that the newspaper pursues and shares with its audience are identified, leveraging new technology can unlock its full potential. With its focus on economics, VIR has a strong capability to deliver in-depth information. Technology can further enhance this advantage, especially through data utilisation. Current storage, sharing platforms, and data analysis tools enable journalists to build extensive data repositories and present information more effectively in their articles. This approach allows data to evolve from being mere supplementary elements into a form of data journalism. Moreover, as the volume of data, information, and narratives increases, there is a risk of fragmentation that makes it challenging for readers to find a holistic perspective. Here, technology serves as a vital tool to provide constructive, critical, and objective insights. I would like to highlight the concept of constructive journalism a fair and objective form of reporting that addresses significant contemporary issues with a forward-looking perspective, fostering informed discussions and proposing solutions to pressing challenges. By not chasing sensationalist news but rather focusing on solution-seeking and data-driven reporting, new technological tools such as search engines, data analytics, and generative AI can assist journalists in exploring broader viewpoints while efficiently managing large volumes of information. Additionally, these tools can enable the newspaper to offer better personalisation, delivering specialised information tailored to distinct audience segments and creating more inclusive perspectives. What unique role do VIRs journalists have in delivering meaningful insights from specialised information to readers? In the age of advanced technology, journalism is not merely a competition of speed and efficiency; it centres on who can deliver accurate, useful, and insightful information to readers. Professional journalists play a crucial role in this endeavour. With technology aiding in information synthesis and data filtering, journalists have an even more significant responsibility to discern dimensions and emerging trends from vast information pools, thereby creating predictive insights. In other words, while technology accelerates answers to the what questions, professional journalists focus on answering so what. Armed with knowledge, experience, and a network of experts built over time, they can identify issues with greater acuity and provide more solution-oriented forecasts for their audience. Another often overlooked aspect of comparing human capabilities with technology is our ability to listen and connect, a crucial skill for professional journalists. Their strength lies not only in processing information but also in deep listening, contextual analysis, and identifying important issues that require discussion and solutions. While technology can quickly handle large volumes of data, a journalists calmness, attentiveness, and skill in navigating complex issues are irreplaceable. As technology expands the reach of news, journalists play a crucial role in keeping information relevant and connected. They address relatable issues and facilitate informed discussions, providing diverse perspectives and encouraging dialogue from multiple viewpoints. This balance enhances understanding and fosters a deeper exploration of important topics. AI explosion raises questions for press and media production AI can facilitate the smoother management of press and media operations, driving both results and performance, but the slow application of such tech also poses the risk of increased costs from old processes. This is creating a new challenge for Vietnamese press agencies and traditional media in the AI era. How do you evaluate foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into the real estate market in the first eight months? Seck Yee Chung, partner of Baker McKenzie Vietnam According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the first eight months of 2024, Vietnam saw a total implemented FDI capital of $14.15 billion. Of this, $2.8 billion was registered for capital contributions and share purchases, with 57 real estate deals alone. The total amount of capital for contributions and share purchases in real estate exceeded $811 million. Among the notable merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions, Singaporean fund Mapletree Logistics Trust in February invested $68.4 million to acquire two grade-A warehouses in Binh Duong and Hung Yen provinces. These locations have become key logistics hubs recently, reflecting foreign investors growing interest in Vietnams industrial real estate segment. In April, Kim Oanh Group partnered with Sumitomo Forestry, Kumagai Gumi, and NTT Urban Development to launch The One World project, a 50-hectare residential area in Binh Duong province, with a total investment exceeding $1 billion. This ambitious project highlights the increasing collaboration between Vietnamese and international companies in high-value residential projects. Additionally, in June, Japans Nishi Nippon Railroad acquired a 25 per cent stake in the 45 hectare Paragon Dai Phuoc project from Nam Long Group for approximately $26 million. This deal further demonstrates Japans growing interest in Vietnams real estate market, especially in large-scale urban and suburban developments. What significance do these recent M&A cases have? These promising deals, coupled with the positive FDI statistics, suggest that the Vietnamese real estate market remains a bright spot for foreign investors. This attractiveness is driven by several factors, including Vietnams strong long-term economic growth prospects, the relocation of global manufacturing to the country, rising GDP, and robust urbanisation trends. The increasing demand for industrial real estate for production to logistics facilities and warehouses, reflects Vietnams growing role as a regional manufacturing hub. Furthermore, residential real estate is seeing sustained interest, particularly in large urban projects. The collaboration between local developers and foreign investors in projects like The One World highlights the growing sophistication and scale of residential developments. Such projects cater to the rising middle class and the demand for modern housing solutions in Vietnams rapidly urbanising cities. However, while the market is attractive, there are still areas where Vietnam can improve to further facilitate foreign investors operations and pull in more large-scale investments. The current licensing processes remain complex and time-consuming, and there are ambiguities in certain regulations that create uncertainty for foreign businesses. Establishing a clearer and more consistent legal framework, particularly with regard to foreign investment regulations, would greatly benefit the market. Despite these challenges, its important to note that the government has made significant progress in improving the legal framework. Two revised laws were enacted in August to open more doors for FDI. How will they impact M&A activities? The recent enactment of the new Land Law, the Real Estate Business Law, and other legal reforms are expected to significantly boost M&A activities in the real estate sector. These laws aim to streamline legal procedures, increase the supply of real estate, and create new opportunities for foreign investors. One key change in the 2024 Land Law is its clearer definition of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs). According to the law, companies that do not need to follow foreign investment procedures under the Investment Law will not be classified as FIEs, allowing them to enjoy the same rights as domestic companies. This change could facilitate real estate transactions for companies with minority foreign ownership and eliminate some of the bureaucratic hurdles that have historically slowed down such deals. Another important change is that FIEs are now allowed to receive land use rights directly in industrial parks, economic zones, and high-tech zones. Previously, under the 2013 Land Law, FIEs faced restrictions in acquiring land use rights, which limited their ability to fully participate in Vietnams booming industrial real estate market. The new laws also provide clearer guidelines for land expropriation. District-level peoples committees are now authorised to issue land expropriation decisions, even for projects involving industrial areas. This change is expected to simplify the expropriation process, as previously some cases required provincial-level committees to intervene, adding unnecessary delays. The 2024 Land Law also addresses the issue of land use term extensions. Under the previous law, there were no clear criteria for extending land use terms, creating uncertainty for foreign investors. The new law allows investors to apply for extensions before the current term expires, provided that the project duration has been approved by the authorities. This change provides greater clarity and assurance for foreign investors looking to make long-term investments in Vietnams real estate sector. The introduction of an annual land pricing table by provincial authorities is another significant change. This new system replaces the previous five-year price brackets issued by the central government, ensuring that land valuations are more reflective of current market conditions. While this change should lead to more market-sensitive pricing, it could also present challenges for businesses and local authorities as they adapt to the new system. The 2023 Real Estate Business Law also brings noteworthy reforms. It legally recognises new property types, such as condotels and officetels, which have been in legal limbo under the 2013 law. By providing clear guidelines for the sale and pre-sale of separate floor areas within buildings, the new law legitimises certain practices that have already been adopted in the market. Additionally, the 2023 Real Estate Business Law allows developers to transfer real estate projects before obtaining land use rights certificates, provided they have fulfilled their financial obligations to the government. This change is expected to streamline the transaction process. What is the outlook for M&A in the real estate market? The outlook remains positive. The governments ongoing efforts to improve the legal framework and create a stable investment environment are expected to attract more foreign investors in the coming years. The reforms introduced by the Land Law and Real Estate Business Law are likely to enhance transparency, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and encourage more M&A deals. Vietnams real estate market continues to be a focal point for FDI, particularly in the industrial and residential sectors. The countrys favourable policies, strong economic growth, and long-term investment potential make it an attractive destination for foreign investors. As the market evolves, investors who can navigate the regulatory landscape and anticipate changes in the legal framework will be well-positioned to capitalise on the opportunities in Vietnams real estate sector. We expect M&A deals to remain a key component of Vietnams real estate, driving growth and fostering collaboration between local developers and foreign investors. The recent legal reforms provide a good foundation for continued investment and growth in the sector, ensuring that Vietnam remains an attractive destination for foreign capital. Meir Tlebalde, CEO Sunwah Kirin Vietnam According to a report by ABC Securities, the remaining land available for lease is limited, especially in the southern region, so companies are actively expanding their land banks. The activity at Long Thanh Airport and Bien Hoa Expressway has significant impact on the market at the Dong Nam Bo cluster. On the other hand, Long An has become dynamic for foreign investors with good land banks. The outlook for the real estate market, especially for industrial real estate in Vietnam, remains positive, driven by several factors. Vietnam remains a favoured destination for foreign investment, particularly in manufacturing and logistics, driving demand for industrial space. The ongoing reconfiguration of global supply chains, with companies seeking to diversify their manufacturing bases away from China, is likely to benefit the industrial real estate sector here. Moreover, the government investments in infrastructure, including ports, highways, and industrial zones, will enhance the connectivity and attractiveness of industrial properties. Meanwhile, The booming e-commerce sector requires extensive warehousing and logistics facilities, fuelling demand for industrial real estate. There is also an increasing focus on developing green and sustainable industrial properties, which can entice tenants looking to meet their environmental, social, and governance goals. Overall, while the limited availability of land presents a challenge, it also catalyses merger and acquisition activities and strategic expansion plans among industrial property developers. The sector is poised for growth, supported by strong economic fundamentals and favourable market dynamics. M&A arena expects growth next year Due to an unstable global economy, the merger and acquisition market will face many challenges in 2024, but there will still be great opportunities in several sectors, according to experts. M&A can prosper with the right steps The mergers and acquisitions market is poised to bounce back in 2024 after a fluctuating period, with significant anticipated deals across various industries. Le Khanh Lam, partner at RSM Vietnam, explains why Vietnam must take decisive action to converge the necessary conditions and be fully prepared for the upcoming growth period. Clear characteristics shaping expectations in M&A Despite some mega deals, Vietnam is waiting for a rebound in merger and acquisition activities. Warrick Cleine, chairman and CEO of KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia, talked with VIRs Thanh Van his insights into dealmaking activities in the Vietnamese market. The company last week alone donated more than $175,000 to support northern provinces after the typhoon Yagi made landfall on Vietnams northeastern coast earlier in September, leaving the region reeling. With the desire to support those affected by the biggest typhoon to hit Asia this year, many businesses have volunteered to join hands, including Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation, known as SABECO. Last week, SABECO donated more than $175,000 to support the northern provinces recovery after the typhoon. This was carried out in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, local authorities, and its partners. CEO Lester Tan said, Our vision of Vietnam Together underscores our responsibility to stand with the communities we serve. In times of crisis, we need to provide tangible support. We have suspended events and programmes to focus on delivering essential aid to communities, while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our employees as well as the continuity of our business. This highlights the corporations human-centric values as well as its commitments to promote sustainable development and wellbeing for Vietnam and its people, Tan added. SABECOs initiatives to help those affected by storms comes on the back of other community programmes during Lunar New Year, and through a crisis like the pandemic With 44 member companies and more than 12,000 employees in the system, SABECO is committed to ensuring the safety and health of its employees, especially in companies and factories managed by Bia Sai Gon Dong Bac Trading Company and Bia Sai Gon Mien Bac Trading Company, which were directly affected by Typhoon Yagi. During the period of impact, the board of directors, together with SABECOs trade union and related departments, worked together to ensure the safety of employees and their families, assessed the condition of facilities and infrastructure, coordinated with local agencies and emergency services, and continued to supply products to businesses in need of reconstruction. SABECO employees have also showed solidarity towards community relief by participating in an internal donation programme to support employees in affected areas. The typhoon aftermath comes at a time when the economy was already facing many uncertainties through long-term impacts of issues like the recent pandemic and conflicts, which have created macroeconomic instabilities in many developed countries. In view of that, over the years, in addition to its business activities, SABECO has actively participated in community projects and sustainable development initiatives to promote positive values for the people and of Vietnam. The companys commitment goes beyond its core business activities and also demonstrates its deep dedication to the resilience and progress of the nation. During the 2020 pandemic, SABECO demonstrated its support through initiatives such as Contribute to a Million Stars, providing over $130,000 to support 600 small and medium-sized enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City. The Support Vietnam scheme also contributed nearly $400,000 to support more than 200 hospitals and frontline forces against the pandemic. In addition, the SABECO Cares programme was launched to protect the health and safety of employees. Since 2020, the company has contributed nearly $1 billion to support workers across all localities, helping them have a meaningful Lunar New Year holiday, in the face of economic challenges and uncertainties. SABECOs continuous efforts highlight the companys role as a trusted partner in Vietnams development. In its business strategy towards sustainable development, CEO Tan explained that people are one of the key pillars for the development of the enterprise. The human factor is also identified as one of the important pillars to help SABECO improve its competitiveness and maintain its position after it began a full transformation process in 2019, Tan said. Despite the difficulties caused by economic fluctuations in recent years, SABECO has maintained jobs for more than 12,000 direct workers in the entire ecosystem and many indirect workers in the service and support industries in the same supply chain. Tan believes that employees are an important factor in the sustainable development process. We will continue to invest in people to enhance our internal strength and competitiveness, creating sustainable value for shareholders, users, and the community, added Tan. SABECOs four pillars of consumption, conservation, country, and culture reflect important aspects, from promoting responsible consumption and protecting the environment to contributing to the national socioeconomic development, and honouring and maintaining the traditional Vietnamese culture. These are key factors that help SABECO not only develop its business but also contribute to the sustainable development of the community and the country as a whole. SABECO continues to rake in awards for special brands Continuous improvements in sustainable production and business activities help Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation win over consumers and reap many prestigious awards. SABECO supporting localities hit by Typhoon Yagi Beer giant SABECO is working with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU), local authorities, and partners to support the rebuild of northern provinces following the destruction brought by Typhoon Yagi. During a meeting with Vietnams Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in New York on September 25, Hughes underscored SpaceXs vision for expanding its Starlink satellite internet services in the country. SpaceX launched its satellite internet projects five years ago, and now with over 6,000 low-Earth orbit satellites, Starlink can deliver internet access nearly anywhere on Earth, Hughes said. "Starlink, a key initiative of SpaceX, aims to provide global internet coverage through a constellation of satellites." President Lam welcomed SpaceX's investment proposal, expressing hope that it would mark the beginning of a fruitful partnership. Vietnam is committed to digital transformation as a driving force for its future development, he said. He also highlighted the crucial role that satellite internet could play in advancing this agenda, particularly in remote areas. The Vietnamese government is currently evaluating SpaceXs proposal. President Lam also urged the company to work closely with authorities and local partners to streamline the investment approval process. He also voiced expectations that Starlinks services could help Vietnam improve its disaster management capabilities by providing timely communication solutions. Hughes affirmed SpaceXs readiness to support Vietnams ambition to provide universal internet access, stating, We look forward to collaborating with the Vietnamese government and ministries to bring this vision to life. Earlier, in a September 6 meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Hughes announced that SpaceX was fully prepared to introduce Starlink to Vietnam, urging the country to establish the necessary infrastructure to maximise the benefits of the project. Founded by billionaire Elon Musk, SpaceX initially explored the possibility of bringing Starlink to Vietnam during Hughes meeting with PM Chinh in September 2023. At that time, SpaceX expressed a strong desire to bridge the digital divide in Vietnams remote areas, where internet access is often limited. Starlink was introduced in Southeast Asia in early 2023, with initial launches in the Philippines and Malaysia. Plans for further expansion across the region are underway for 2024, although both Vietnam and Thailand are awaiting regulatory approvals. On the same day, President Lam also held meetings with executives from AES Corporation and Pacifico Energy, two prominent players in the energy sector. In a discussion with Juan Ignacio Rubiolo, senior vice president of AES Corporation, Lam praised the companys successful business operations in Vietnam. He encouraged AES to continue its close cooperation with Vietnamese partners to ensure legal compliance and efficient project execution. Vietnam is actively seeking to balance its trade relationship with the United States, including increased imports of liquefied natural gas. President Lam expressed support for AESs efforts in this area, stressing that the company should not delay its future projects, which are already integrated into Vietnams power development plan. In his meeting with Nate Franklin, founder and president of Pacifico Energy, he applauded the companys contributions to clean energy development in Vietnam and internationally. He urged Pacifico Energy to accelerate ongoing projects and expressed optimism about the companys future expansion in Vietnam. Franklin acknowledged Vietnams strategic advantages for clean energy projects and committed to continue developing energy projects that will help drive Vietnams economic growth. He also reiterated Pacifico Energys dedication to collaborating with local partners to ensure effective project implementation in line with Vietnams energy goals. The competition is being organised by the Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences (VNIES), a unit under the Ministry of Education and Training, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Victoria School. The aim is to promote the participation of female students in the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) fields. STEAM education for girls aims to provide essential knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through an integrated approach with the arts. Through STEAM education activities, female students develop the confidence to succeed in fields traditionally dominated by men. In the context of the rapid development of science and technology, developing green skills and critical thinking, which are essential 21st-century skills, equips girls with the knowledge, courage, and confidence to achieve their academic, career, and personal goals. The "STEAM FOR GIRLS 2024" competition attracted nearly 200 female students in the preliminary round, with 66 selected for the final. The students, aged 13 to 15, come from 18 provinces and cities across Vietnam, as well as representatives from Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. The competition provides a creative platform for STEAM and an opportunity for students to learn, experience, and interact with peers from various regions within Vietnam and internationally. Promoting gender equality through STEAM education One of the competition's key messages is promoting gender equality in education, joining hands with UNICEF towards the goal of "leaving no child behind". While progress has been made in enabling women and girls to participate in science and technology, barriers still exist that limit girls' opportunities to pursue their passions. The Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences and UNICEF Vietnam, with their respective roles and missions, are committed to designing and organising meaningful science and technology activities for Vietnamese students. Prof. Le Anh Vinh, director of the Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences and head of the organising committee, stated, "We always strive to create activities, forums, and competitions focused on scientific research, promoting innovation and creativity, and equipping female students with knowledge and skills. STEAM FOR GIRLS is one such initiative. Students will have the opportunity to maximise their potential without being limited by gender stereotypes in STEAM fields, areas that may have previously been predominantly pursued by male students." It is certain that after the experiences gained from this competition, female students will have the confidence that they can become leading scientists, engineers, and researchers in the future, contributing to the development of society, Vinh added. STEAM FOR GIRLS 2024 will be held at Victoria School - South Saigon. STEAM: an educational foundation for the future In the final round, students will work in groups to research, explore, and implement projects related to STEM skills, green skills, renewable energy, and climate change. As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent issue, equipping the younger generation with knowledge about clean energy, climate change adaptation, and green skills is more crucial than ever. Through teamwork and project-based learning, students will apply their comprehensive knowledge and skills while fostering creative thinking and systematically solving real-world problems. The competition also contributes to inspiring female students to aspire to become future leaders in building a sustainable nation. A creative and experiential playground STEAM FOR GIRLS 2024 will feature various engaging learning activities and practical experiences, such as visiting the Vietjet Aviation Academy and Galaxy Innovation Hub to learn about the application of technology and engineering in the aviation industry and research and innovation. Participants will also have the opportunity to embark on a city tour to further understand the dynamism and creativity of Ho Chi Minh City. "STEAM FOR GIRLS 2024" is not just a competition but a forum and playground to connect students nationwide and internationally, enabling them to access the STEAM education model, acquire new knowledge and skills, including problem-solving and creative thinking, and fostering a collaborative learning environment and experiences. Following the STEAM FOR GIRLS competition, an educational forum on renewable energy and climate change will be held on October 4, with the participation of ministries, agencies, and experts to provide students and teachers with a deeper insights into climate change issues and the role of renewable energy. Victoria School inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh City On August 12, the inauguration ceremony of Khai Hoan Lower and Upper Secondary School - Saigon South (Victoria School) took place in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam among four countries demonstrating gender parity in digital skills: UNICEF Vietnam is among four countries demonstrating gender parity in digital skills, according to a new UNICEF analysis which was issued on International Day of Girls in ICT (April 27). In the first eight months of 2024, disbursed foreign direct investment (FDI) increased 8 per cent on-year to $14 billion, or 5 per cent of GDP. FDI inflows also equated to 5 per cent/GDP last year, and we expect another 5 per cent/GDP worth of inflows again next year. To put those figures in context, Chinas FDI inflows peaked at around 5 per cent/GDP, so Vietnam is regularly attracting FDI inflows equivalent to those China attracted in its heyday. Michael Kokalari, chief economist, VinaCapital Vietnam remains a major magnet for FDI investment because the fact that multinational firms are impressed by the quality of the countrys workers with factory wages in Vietnam less than half those in China, and Vietnams bamboo diplomacy strategy ensures that multinational firms that set up factories in Vietnam can readily source critical components they need to produce their products from China, and then export their finished products to the US and the EU without worrying whether those exports could attract steep tariffs. Vietnam has a circa 20 per cent/GDP trade surplus with the US - its biggest export market - and a 15 per cent/GDP trade deficit with China - the biggest supplier to Vietnams factories. The country has enjoyed healthy trade surpluses with the US, and the countrys reliance on China for one-third of its production inputs has generated persistent trade deficits with China. However, the gap became bigger in recent years because most of the FDI Vietnam is now attracting is from companies that moved production from China or are establishing new production facilities in Vietnam instead of in China. There have been some concerns that India could emerge as a major competitor to Vietnam for FDI. Those concerns intensified after Apples Tim Cook visited India early last year and announced significant investments into that country. However, most FDI into India is focused on the production of products sold into the local market and not for export to the world. In Apples case, India does not produce enough iPhones to satisfy demand from the fast-growing local market, even after additional investments into India by Apple and its suppliers. Furthermore, it is unlikely that India will become an export powerhouse like Vietnam anytime soon because manufacturers in India face many more ease of doing business obstacles there than they would in Vietnam, including much stricter labour laws that make it difficult for companies to hire-and-fire workers. The Indian government has made some efforts to boost the countrys manufacturing sector and to engage more FDI over the years, but those efforts have not been very successful. Indonesia is another country we are occasionally asked about regarding FDI and whether it poses a threat to Vietnam. In short, we do not believe it does. The recent boom in FDI into Indonesia stems from the fact that the countrys government clamped down on companies exporting some raw minerals (such as nickel), and instead started forcing multinational companies to invest in processing/smelting facilities in Indonesia. The fact that Indonesia passed those laws requiring local processing of minerals, together with a surge in demand for electric vehicle battery metals, explains why there has been a mini boom of FDI inflows to Indonesia recently. Many analysts now say that Indonesia is the Saudi Arabia of e-vehicle metals because the country has so many minerals that are needed for this area. Analysing the pros and cons of potential competitors to Vietnam for foreign direct investments leads us to the conclusion that there are few countries in the world that are as suitable as Vietnam to manufacture the types of products foreign companies make here, such as high-tech products, smartphones, consumer electronics, and other products that are assembled in Vietnam. Consequently, we expect investments to continue to flow into the production of such products in Vietnam for years to come, irrespective of whether Vietnams government actively courts multinational investors, since Vietnam is intrinsically appealing to them. All of that said, there are many policies Vietnams government could pursue to make the country even more appealing to foreign investors. For example, Vietnams direct power purchase mechanism will encourage FDI because companies are increasingly cognisant of their carbon footprints, and the mechanism enables manufacturers to source electricity from specific wind farms, solar electric generating facilities, and other sources of clean energy. Vietnams government could also improve the countrys ease of doing business rankings by cutting the administrative burdens entailed in investing in the country. For example, in the past, VinaCapital has advocated that Vietnam set up an investment promotion agency, which is a similar strategy used by several other countries that Vietnam is competing against to entice FDI inflows. Such an agency could be a single point of contact for foreign multinational companies and could itself then interface with all the other government agencies and bodies (including local/provincial governments) entailed in setting up a new factory in Vietnam including obtaining the necessary business licences, handling procedures for employing foreign managers, etc. Finally, it is also important that the government continue spending 5-6 per cent of GDP on infrastructure spending in the years ahead to maintain Vietnams competitiveness going forward. To be clear, we do not believe Vietnams infrastructure is currently a binding constraint preventing any companies from setting up factories, but it could become a consideration at some point, especially if the government does not continue to boost electricity generation and distribution capacity in Vietnam. Vietnam reports $20.5 billion in FDI in first eight months More than $20.52 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) has been reported in Vietnam up to the end of August, an on-year increase of 7 per cent, according to the Foreign Investment Agency. Vietnam sustaining growth amidst shifting FDI trends Trade ties between the US and emerging market economies in the Asia-Pacific region are shifting from efforts to diversify supply chains out of China through friendshoring or nearshoring. Against this backdrop, Vietnam is among the Asia-Pacific markets relatively well-placed to gain from such shifts. UOB forecasts Vietnam's economic growth to continue, boosted by trade and FDI Vietnam's economy is expected to maintain strong growth throughout 2024, supported by rising trade activity and increasing foreign direct investment, while favourable demographics and solid macroeconomic fundamentals underpin its long-term prospects in ASEAN, according to UOB. Jake Siewert, Warburg Pincus head of global public policy and political risk, met with Vietnamese President To Lam on September 23 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The discussion focused on the firms investments in the region, energy transition resources and strategy, tourism, and general outlook. Warburg Pincus' Jake Siewert met with Vietnamese State President To Lam. Photo: VNA Since 2018, Warburg Pincus, in partnership with Becamex, has been investing in BW Industrial Development JSC to establish it as the leading for-rent industrial developer in Vietnam. BW is playing a crucial role in helping Vietnam move up the manufacturing value chain by acting as the facilitator of ready-built modern, multi-story, institutional-grade infrastructure for international manufacturers seeking to quickly set up operations in the country. This year, BW has continued to benefit from supply chain diversification and increased foreign investment, recording year-to-date leasing activity on track for close to one million square metres. BW sees more tenants opting for larger spaces, as well as a diversification of industries from China entering Vietnam As a leading industrial developer, were excited to see more tenants opting for larger spaces, as well as a diversification of industries from China entering Vietnam. In addition to sectors like electronics, automotive, and renewables, were now seeing a broader range of industries choosing Vietnam as their manufacturing hub, said Lance Li, CEO of BW. Some of BWs recent tenants in 2024 include Skyworth (10,000sq.m BW Nhon Trach 2), Coherent (50,000sq.m BW Nhon Trach 1), and Chevron (50,000sq.m BW My Phuoc 4). Besides BW, Warburg Pincus has also invested in Vincom Retail, a leading retail real estate platform in Vietnam; MoMo, a leading digital financial services platform; Techcombank, a leading bank franchise; and Lodgis, a leading hospitality platform in Southeast Asia. The company has invested over $2 billion in businesses in Vietnam, making it one of largest and most active global private equity investors in the country. Warburg Pincus celebrates 10 years in Vietnam Renowned private equity firm Warburg Pincus celebrated its 10th anniversary of investing in Vietnam on November 9 in Hanoi, with the attendance of Marc E. Knapper, US Ambassador to Vietnam, and Tran Duy Dong, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam. Warburg Pincus' Jeffrey Perlman named chairman of US-ASEAN Business Council On December 8, the US-ASEAN Business Council announced the election of Jeffrey Perlman, president of Warburg Pincus, as the 13th chairman of the Board of Directors. WASHINGTON (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on Friday as her campaign tries to turn the larger issue of immigration from a liability into a strength and hopes to counter a line of frequent, searing political attacks from former President Donald Trump. Her campaign announced Wednesday that Harris will be in Douglas, Arizona, across the border from Agua Prieta, Mexico. A Harris aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a trip that was still being planned, said the vice president plans to speak about border security and how, as a former attorney general of California, she took on international gangs and criminal organizations who traffic drugs, guns, and human beings. She also has long believed that the country needs an immigration system that is secure, fair, orderly and humane, the aide said. Trump has built his campaign partly around calling for cracking down on immigration and the southern border, even endorsing using police and the military to carry out mass deportations should he be elected in November. Harris has increasingly tried to seize on the issue and turn it back against her opponent, though polls show voters continue to trust Trump more on it. Just how important immigration and the border are ahead of Election Day was evidenced by Trump wasting little time reacting to word of Harris' trip. He told a rally crowd in Mint Hill, North Carolina, that Harris was going to the border for political reasons and because their polls are tanking. When Kamala speaks about the border, her credibility is less than zero, Trump said. I hope youre going to remember that on Friday. When she tells you about the border, ask her just one simple question: Why didnt you do it four years ago? That picks up on a theme Trump mentions at nearly all of his campaign rallies, scoffing at Harris as a former Biden administration border czar, arguing that she oversaw softer federal policies that allowed millions of people into the country illegally. President Joe Biden tasked Harris with working to address the root causes of immigration patterns that have caused many people fleeing violence and drug gangs in Central America to head to the U.S. border and seek asylum, though she was not called border czar. Since taking over for Biden at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket, Harris has lamented the collapse of a bipartisan border security deal in Congress that most Republican lawmakers rejected at Trump's behest. Her campaign aide said she will use Friday's border stop to push for reviving that package, which was the toughest in a generation. In an interview with MSNBC that aired Wednesday evening, Harris talked about reviving that legislative effort, but also helping some people in the country illegally get U.S. citizenship. We need a comprehensive plan," she said, "that includes what we need to do to fortify not only our border, but deal with the fact that we also need to create pathways for people to earn citizenship. The stop is part of Harris' larger effort to make immigration an issue that can help her win supporters, saying that Trump would rather play politics with the issue than seek solutions, while also promising more humane treatment of immigrants should she win the White House. Despite that, a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released this month found that Trump has an advantage over Harris on whom voters trust to better handle immigration. This issue was a problem for Biden, as well: Illegal immigration and crossings at the U.S. border with Mexico have been a challenge during much of his administration. The poll also found that Republicans are more likely to care about immigration. Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report. A former Vanguard College Preparatory School teacher was arrested Tuesday on a third-degree felony charge of attempted improper relationship between an educator and student. A student told investigators Todd Wyatt Bogan made statements with the intent of pursuing a sexual relationship with her, according to Bogans arrest affidavit. He acknowledged to officers he had made inappropriate sexual remarks to the student with the intent of pursuing a sexual relationship, the affidavit says. In an email to parents of Vanguard students, Vanguard Head of School Bill Borg said the school received reports of improper conduct, then immediately suspended Bogan, conducted an investigation and reported the allegations to the Waco Police Department. Shortly after, and before the school was ever informed that the police investigation would result in formal charges, the school separated employment with Mr. Bogan, Borg wrote. Vanguard serves students in middle school and high school. The letter and affidavit do not say how long Bogan was a teacher at Vanguard or when he was fired. They also do not say when the allegations against him were reported or when police believe the incidents happened. Waco police ask that anyone who has had an inappropriate encounter with Bogan report it. Throughout the investigation, our Crimes Against Children Unit discovered that other students may have experienced similar attempts, according to a police statement posted to Facebook. If you had an incident that you feel was inappropriate involving Todd Wyatt, please contact Detective Evans at 254-750-7625. Bogan remained in McLennan County Jail Wednesday with bail set at $20,000. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that in January this year, China and Nauru resumed diplomatic ties, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries. China attaches great importance to its relationship with Nauru and is committed to strengthening communication and exchanges at all levels with Nauru on the basis of equality and mutual respect, he said. China is also keen on actively expanding practical cooperation to continuously advance the bilateral relations, Wang added. Aingimea, for his part, said that the resumption of diplomatic ties with China was undoubtedly a correct and historic decision. He also expressed the hope of continuing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields to support Nauru's economic and social development. Out of the Darkness walk The American Foundation for Suicide Preventions Out of the Darkness Waco Walk will start at 6 p.m. Saturday at Brazos Park East, 3516 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The event provides community, connection, healing and hope for survivors of suicide loss and those with lived experience. Every dollar participants raise will support the foundations investment in life-saving research, education, advocacy and support for people affected by suicide. To preregister for free, go to afsp.org/waco. Diwali Festival The Waco-area Asian Leaders Network will hold its inaugural Diwali Festival from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at Bridge Street Plaza, 200 Bridge Street, in conjunction with the Waco Downtown Farmers Markets Wednesday night market. Texas-based Bollywood Fusion Dance, Baylor Taal and Virtual Arts for Humanity will be among live dance and musical performers taking part in the free event. Indian and South Asian student groups will be on hand. There also will be bingo, raffle giveaways and Diwali-themed arts and crafts. Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, includes symbolism of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. National Night Out observances Some area organizations will hold observances soon for National Night Out, free annual events that promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie with the goal of making neighborhoods safer, better places to live. Hewitt will hold its event from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Warren Park, 450 S. Old Temple Road, with live music, vendor booths, childrens games and food. The Robinson Police Department will hold its event from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Peplow Park, 201 Peplow Drive. For more information, email c.lopez @robinsontexas.org. The North Waco Neighborhood Association will hold its event from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Park Lake Drive Baptist Church, 3701 N. 27th St. with music, food, games, crafts and community resources. Waco police cars and firetrucks will visit. The Dewey Community Center and Brook Oaks Neighborhood Association will hold their event from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the park outside the community center, 925 N. Ninth St. For more information, call 254-750-867. Storytelling guild The Heart of Texas Storytelling Guild will meet at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Good Neighbor House, 2301 Colcord Ave. for a session of storytelling and listening. Senior health fair AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP will hold its 32nd annual Senior Source Health and Information Fair from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Richland Mall, 6001 W. Waco Drive. The fair will provide seniors and caregivers health information and access to multiple services. Services will include health screenings, flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines, available free of charge with Medicare or an insurance card, presented with an ID. Other exhibitors will provide health information relevant to seniors, caregivers and the public. Information regarding resources related to aging services, long-term care and legal help will also be provided. For more information, call RSVP AmeriCorps Seniors at 254-299-8766. Antique farm machinery The Waco Antique Farm Machinery Club will hold its seventh annual fall show Friday and Saturday at Tonkawa Park in Crawford. A tractor ride will start at 4:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a dinner at 524 E. Fourth St. Cost for dinner is $15. A tractor and car show will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Litter cleanups Keep Waco Beautiful, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Group W Litter Patrol will hold a Lake Waco cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, starting at Flat Rock Park, 6301 Flat Rock Road. Keep Waco Beautiful also will hold a pre-Ironman Waco river cleanup from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, starting at Waco Paddle Co., 200 S. University Parks Drive. Registration is required to volunteer. Anyone younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information or to register, go to keepwacobeautiful.org/volunteer. Create Better Health The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District will start a six-week Create Better Health Class from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Oct. 3 in The Center at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, 1115 Columbus Ave. The class will cover eating well and staying active on a budget. It will meet weekly from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. A registration link is available at waco-texas.com/events. Parents as Teachers workshops The Dewey Community Center, 925 N. Ninth St., will hold Parents as Teachers workshops from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. The workshops provide strategies and resources parents can use at home to make the learning process easier for students in grades 3-12. Participation is free, and registration is not required. For more information, call 254-750-8677. This charming 1-1/2 story home in an established Cedar Falls neighborhood is waiting for you to call it home! When you enter you are welcomed Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a Security Council high-level meeting on the situation in Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday that all parties should be truly committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the United Nations headquarters while attending a Security Council high-level meeting on the situation in Ukraine. The Security Council should serve as a bridge between differences and contradictions, an advocate of seeking common ground while shelving differences, a defender of common security, and a builder of lasting peace, he said. Wang put forward three propositions in this regard: Firstly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of crisis in cooling down the situation. Weapons of mass destruction should not be used, nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes such as nuclear power plants should not be attacked, and civilians and civilian facilities should not be targeted, the envoy said. Secondly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of responsibility in promoting peace talks. Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the Ukrainian crisis, he noted, urging the international community to seize the current opportunity to form joint efforts to promote peace talks. Thirdly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of urgency in managing spillovers. China calls on the international community to strengthen cooperation on energy, finance, trade, food security and the protection of key infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines, so as to jointly maintain the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, Wang said. China is not a creator of the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party concerned, the top Chinese diplomat noted. China has always sided with peace, and maintained contact with all parties, including Russia and Ukraine, he added. Warning that any attempt to blame, attack or smear China on the Ukraine issue is irresponsible and will not succeed, Wang called on the international community to join hands to uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. Moraine Park Technical College held an open house for its new Horicon Regional Center on Monday, allowing more than a hundred people to visit the new facility on Horicons west side. Im thrilled to see so many of you hear today, Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald said before thanking the people who attended. As president one of my top priorities is ensuring that higher education and workforce training opportunities are accessible throughout our entire service region. This new center will help us to achieve this goal by providing a state of the art facility right here in Dodge County. The center will serve as an extension of the Beaver Dam campus, providing unique offerings in a different venue, Baerwald said. Voters in the Moraine Park Technical College area including Dodge, Fond du Lac and Washington counties approved a $55 million referendum in November 2022 for four projects including the Horicon Regional Center. The Horicon building is about 18,000 square feet and cost about $9 million to build and equip, Baerwald said. There was extra concern to not harm the marsh wetlands. Everything weve done to date and everything we plan to expand in the future has been and will be formally approved by the appropriate environmental agencies, Baerwald said. The Horicon center will include a new firefighter training center, providing a "beautiful space" for the volunteer and paid firefighters who serve the 50 fire stations within the district, Baerwald said. Previously, firefighter training took place on the Beaver Dam campus, but there was no room there for the program to expand. Baerwald said a mobile burn trailer and an older tower allowed limited training options. The Horicon Center will be a benefit for fire and emergency responders and offer various firefighter training programs for new students and continuing education for both paid and volunteer firefighters, Baerwald said. A new program is being started at the facility this fall, a two-year fire protection technician associate degree preparing students for full-time roles with potential leadership opportunities. The site has a three-story burn tower that was constructed as part of the project, Baerwald said. The burn tower is 4,000 square feet and has rooms for specialized training, a rooftop for training, and three separate burn rooms with facilities to offer training on a variety of flammable materials. Baerwald said local fire departments will save money that they would have used to travel out of the area for training. For us as citizens, this will help to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters throughout the region, Baerwald said. It will also serve as an ideal location for rural high schools in our area to utilize for advanced courses that otherwise might not be feasible to offer at their own high schools due to the high capital cost and small class sizes. Dual credit programs here have the potential to help hundreds of students each year to get a head start on their college education. Moraine Park Technical College is looking at adding programs including a cadet program to introduce youths ages 16-18 to firefighter training and emergency medical services, Baerwald said. The center also provides centralized access for workforce training, such as computerized manufacturing certifications, health care certifications and supervisory management programs. Baerwald said she hopes the facility will spur other developments to provide growth in the area. This center is more than brick and mortar, Beaver Dam Deputy Fire Chief Lee Smith said. It embodies the commitment to enhance the safety and commitment of our community by training our current and new firefighters and EMTs and future paramedics. Firefighters and EMS personnel are our frontline heroes who respond to emergencies with courage and selflessness. They face unimaginable challenges, often putting their lives on the line to protect all of us. It is our duty to equip them with the best training possible, and that is exactly what this facility is designed to do. The facility will allow the emergency personnel to train in a center that provides realistic training scenarios, from live fire scenarios to advanced rescue techniques. Here they will have the ability to learn, practice and perfect their craft, Smith said. Horicon Mayor Josh Maas also spoke at the event and thanked Moraine Park and everyone who attended Monday's event. It is a great thing for our city, Maas said. The annual Wisconsin International Poultry Show will return to the Columbia County Fairgrounds this weekend, with a record number entries and exhibitors showing off their birds. We come together for a weekend full of fun, fellowship and feathers, said Kaylyn Schleicher, president of the Wisconsin International Poultry Club, which hosts the show. And thats kind of what its all about at the end of the day. The Wisconsin International Poultry Show will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 405 Superior St. The event is free for people attend. The show will feature 120 youth exhibitors and 124 open exhibitors showing more than 3,600 birds from 16 states, including Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, Montana and Arkansas. The International Waterfowl Breeders Association and the Ameraucana Alliance will have national meets at the show, with more than 1,500 waterfowl and more than 350 Ameraucana chickens from across the country being judged and special awards going to the winners, Schleicher said. Blowin Smoke food truck from Madison will be serving Kansas style BBQ, and a concession area will be run by the Columbia County 4-H Leaders Council, with all proceeds going to the organization. A number of vendors will be selling a wide range of poultry supplies, including leg bands, cage cups, medicine and feeders. Exhibitors also usually have birds for sale if people are interested in picking up the hobby, Schleicher said. A raffle ticket fundraiser and silent auction will take place to assist the poultry club in raising money to present next years show. Trophies, rosettes and cash prizes will be given to the best birds in their categories, including the champion chicken, duck and turkey. The junior division allows youths ages 6-18 to compete against each other, Schleicher said, and the open division allows exhibitors of all ages to compete for a number of cash prizes, including a $150 prize for the best in show. Perfect birds The American Poultry Association and has been around for more than 150 years and is one of the oldest livestock organizations in the world, Schleicher said. The association publishes The American Standard of Perfection, which lists the varieties and colors of each breed that are accepted in the competition. Hobbyists breed their birds specifically to the standards laid out in the book, including the shape, color and size of each feather on every recognized breed of poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guineafowl, Schleicher said. Year after year we put together breeding times and hatching chicks, ducklings and goslings, raising them, to make the perfect bird to meet that standard of perfection, she said. The Wisconsin International Poultry Club started well over 100 years ago, Schleicher said. Its annual show used to take place at Wisconsin State Fair Park in Milwaukee until the 1980s, then at the Rock County Fairgrounds in Janesville through the late 1990s, before finding a home at the Columbia County Fairgrounds for about the last 25 years. But the show is quickly outgrowing the fairgrounds and its buildings, so the event may move to a bigger venue in the near future as the numbers of participants and entries continue to increase, Schleicher said. Planned Portage battery plant in limbo due to lack of funding "We don't want to give any property to anyone unless we have very high assurance that the development will in fact take place, and that all starts with the proof of financing to construct this brand new facility." While there is some concern across the country that the poultry hobby could be waning as people get older and get out of it, she said, that just doesnt seem to be the case in Wisconsin. As things change and people get out of showing large animals like steers or pigs, I think poultry is a less expensive alternative and doesnt take up as much space, Schleicher said. So its really cool to see poultry getting more popular, she said. Because as long as I am able, I will be part of the show. And whether that is as president or not, doesnt really matter. Ill still be there Flash A truck carrying about 88 unidentified bodies is seen near the Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 41,495, according to Gaza-based health authorities in a statement on Wednesday. In the past 24 hours, the Israeli military killed 28 people and wounded 85 others, bringing the total number of injuries to 96,006 since the conflict erupted in early October 2023. In a separate statement, the health authorities reported receiving about 88 unidentified bodies from the Israeli side, adding the Israeli side did not provide any information about their identities, the locations where they were recovered, or the time of death. The authorities have suspended procedures for receiving the bodies until complete data is available to identify the deceased and notify their families, as this is considered a fundamental right, the statement added. Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas attack through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages taken. WASHINGTON (AP) House Democrats attempted Wednesday to quickly censure a Republican congressman who slandered Haitian immigrants in a post he made on social media, but GOP leadership stamped out the effort. Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana described Haitians in racist terms Wednesday afternoon, calling them wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Higgins, a far-right lawmaker who has voiced conspiracy theories, deleted the post after Democrats confronted him on the House floor. The Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, and beyond has faced an onslaught of racist abuse after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance falsely claimed that Haitians were eating pets. Higgins was responding to a report that a nonprofit representing the Haitian community has invoked a private-citizen right to file charges against Trump and Vance. The Haitian Bridge Alliance brought the charges over the chaos and threats experienced by Springfield, Ohio, since Trump first spread the false claims about legal immigrants there during a presidential debate. Trump has also vowed to deport immigrants like those in Springfield who entered the country legally under a federal program that allows them to remain in the country temporarily. Higgins on Wednesday posted that Haitians should get out of our country before January 20th, when Trump would be inaugurated as president if he wins the election. As House lawmakers exited the House chamber after finishing their legislative work ahead of the November election, Rep. Steve Horsford, a Nevada Democrat who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, attempted to move a censure resolution against Higgins. Horsford said Higgins' words are inciting hate, they are inciting fear and because of that it is time for this body to stand with one voice and to ensure there is accountability. Republicans immediately moved to block his effort from moving forward. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters outside the chamber: Clay Higgins is a dear friend of mine and a colleague from Louisiana and a very frank and outspoken person. Hes also a very principled man." He praised Higgins for deleting the post, saying "he prayed about it, and he regretted it and he pulled the post down. Thats what you want a gentleman to do. Im sure he probably regrets some of the language he used, but, you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here. Higgins has periodically stirred controversy with social media posts since his 2016 election to Congress including a Facebook post in 2020 promising he would drop armed protesters where they stand. Forecasters say Helene has strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it races toward northwest Florida. The enormous storm is expected to make landfall Thursday night. Category 4 hurricanes have sustained winds over 130 mph that can severely damage homes, snap trees and down power lines. Strong winds have already cut power to over 250,000 homes and businesses in Florida. Authorities warn that storm surges of up to 20 feet could also wreak catastrophic damage. Helene is also expected to damage large swaths of the southeastern U.S. as it moves inland. Hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extend far beyond the coast up into northern Georgia and western North Carolina. Along Florida's Gulf Coast, school districts and multiple universities have cancelled classes. Helene had swamped parts of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, flooding streets and toppling trees as it passed offshore and brushed the resort city of Cancun. The storm formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea. In Cuba, the government preventively shut off power in some communities as waves as high as 16 feet (5 meters) slammed Cortes Bay. And in the Cayman Islands, schools closed and residents pumped water from flooded homes. Helene is forecast to be one of the largest storms in breadth in years to hit the region, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. He said since 1988, only three Gulf hurricanes were bigger than Helenes predicted size: 2017s Irma, 2005s Wilma and 1995s Opal. Areas 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of the Georgia-Florida line can expect hurricane conditions. More than half of Georgias public school districts and several universities canceled classes. For Atlanta, Helene could be the worst strike on a major Southern inland city in 35 years, said University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd. Landslides were possible in southern Appalachia, and rainfall was expected as far away as Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana. Federal authorities have positioned generators, food and water, along with search-and-rescue and power restoration teams. Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record-warm ocean temperatures. In further storm activity, Tropical Storm Isaac formed Wednesday in the Atlantic and was expected to strengthen as it moves eastward across the open ocean, possibly becoming a hurricane by the end of the week, forecasters said. Isaac was about 690 miles (1,115 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda with top sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph), according to the hurricane center, which said its swells and winds could affect parts of Bermuda and eventually the Azores by the weekend. In the Pacific, former Hurricane John reformed Wednesday as a tropical storm and strengthened Thursday morning back into a hurricane as it threatened areas of Mexicos western coast with flash flooding and mudslides. Officials posted hurricane warnings for southwestern Mexico. John hit the countrys southern Pacific coast late Monday, killing at least two people, triggering mudslides, and damaging homes and trees. It grew into a Category 3 hurricane in a matter of hours and made landfall east of Acapulco. It reemerged over the ocean after weakening inland. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.) WASHINGTON (AP) Police in a majority-Black Mississippi city discriminate against Black people, use excessive force and retaliate against critics, the Justice Department said Thursday in a scathing report detailing a slew of civil rights abuses by law enforcement in one of America's poorest counties. The Lexington Police Department has created a system where officers can relentlessly violate the law," according to the Justice Department, which found a stunning pattern of racially disparate policing and harassment in the rural town of about 1,200 people, approximately 76% of whom are Black. The report paints a picture of a police department that has routinely violated the rights of residents with impunity, using arrests for low-level offenses to generate money for the police force and leaving people to languish behind bars if they couldn't afford to pay fines. Officers also sexually harassed women and threatened people with force or arrest if they challenged law enforcement, according to the report. Todays findings show that the Lexington Police Department abandoned its sacred position of trust in the community by routinely violating the constitutional rights of those it was sworn to protect, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. An employee who answered the phone at the Lexington Police Department, which is in Holmes County, told The Associated Press that Chief Charles Henderson was not immediately available to comment on the report. Investigators traced a stark uptick in racial disparities back to an intentional change in police tactics overseen by the police department's former chief, who was fired after using racial slurs and talking about how many people he had killed on duty. Under that former chief, Sam Dobbins, who is white, Lexington police officers dramatically increased arrests for low-level offenses. Over the past two years, the Lexington Police Department has made nearly one arrest for every four people in town, the Justice Department found. That is more than 10 times the per capita arrest rate for Mississippi as a whole, they added. Many of the arrests were for low-level offenses like owing outstanding fines and using profanity. And most of those arrested are Black people. The odds that a person arrested by Lexington police officers was Black would climb by 125%. After routinely arresting people for low-level violations, officers left them behind bars until they could pay a fine, the Justice Department found. One man was jailed four days because he refilled a cup of coffee at a gas station while only paying for one cup. Another woman was arrested and chained to a bench at a police station for parking in a space reserved for people with disabilities, according to the report. Police also used excessive force and disproportionately targeted Black people for arrests, investigators also found. Black people committing traffic offenses were arrested while white people committing similar traffic offenses were not, officials said. Investigators reviewed body-camera footage to review racial disparities in the use of force, finding that officers repeatedly use force against Black people but never against a white person. Lexington residents owe police $1.7 million in fines, and the city court has issued bench warrants authorizing the arrest of more than 650 people roughly half of the citys population because of unpaid fines, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke told reporters. In America, being poor is not a crime," Clarke said. But in Lexington, their practices punish people for poverty. Investigators also found officers used Tasers like a cattle-prod to punish people and punched or kicked people who were unarmed and handcuffed. In one case, an officer kicked an unarmed Black man so hard that he wet himself. The officer told the dispatcher: I didn't give two (expletive) about his civil rights," the report says. The Justice Departments investigation and report followed the filing of a federal lawsuit in 2022 by residents who accused police of terrorizing people through false arrests, intimidation and other abuses. It also followed the June 2023 arrest of Jill Collen Jefferson, the president of JULIAN, the civil rights organization that filed the lawsuit. The organization had previously obtained an audio recording of Dobbins that led to his firing. Jefferson said she has documented police abuses in Lexington for years, but that state officials failed to take action. The prospect of change looked grim until Clarke launched the Justice Department's investigation, Jefferson said. I feel an intense amount of gratitude for Kristen Clarke," Jefferson said. We had to go to highest levels of the Department of Justice to get justice for this community. And I'm grateful that they listened. It shows that it doesn't matter how tiny your town is, that your life matters. Finally, the day has come where the truth has come out. According to the Justice Department, racial disparities in arrests continued to increase under Henderson, who is Black. In 2019, Black people were 2.5 times more likely to be arrested by Lexington police officers than white people. By 2023, after Dobbinss departure, Black people were almost 18 times more likely to be arrested. In June 2023, Jefferson, who is Black, was arrested after filming a traffic stop by Lexington police officers. The arrest came nine days after Clarke had traveled to Lexington to meet with people about alleged police misconduct. Democratic state Rep. Bryant Clark, whose district includes Lexington, said Thursday that he periodically hears complaints about the police department. The Justice Department has said the probe into Lexington is part of a broader effort to crack down on unconstitutional policing at small and mid-size police departments and in underserved regions throughout the South. Last week, it announced it was opening a civil rights investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi, six of whose officers were convicted in the torture of two Black men in a racist attack that included beatings, repeated use of stun guns and assaults with a sex toy before one of the victims was shot in the mouth. "Gone are the days when rural isolation and remoteness could conceal the injustice of unconstitutional policing," said Todd Gee, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. Addressing other police departments in the country, Gee said: Make changes now if your agency is policing in these same unlawful ways. Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus contributed from Jackson, Mississippi. Goldberg reported from Minneapolis, Minnesota. WASHINGTON (AP) House Speaker Mike Johnson is calling on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to fire his country's ambassador to the U.S. as Republicans criticize Zelenskyy's visit to an ammunition plant in Pennsylvania, a swing-state, as a political stunt. The Republican speaker's demand Wednesday came as Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations in New York on the eve of his visit Washington, where he has plans to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill about the war effort before meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House. The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference, Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelenskyy. Johnson, who is close to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, said no Republicans were invited to the plant tour on Sunday, which he said was arranged by Ambassador Oksana Markarova. An Army official said it was standard procedure to invite House and Senate members who represent the district where such industrial plants are located. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions, said that in this case interested congressional members from the area attended. Joining for the visit were the states Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey and the district's Rep. Matt Cartwright, all Democrats. The plant is located in Scranton, Biden's hometown. The speaker's stern demand for the swift removal of Markarova, a well-received diplomat in Washington who has been a fixture on Capitol Hill since the outset of the war even sitting as a guest in the House visitor's gallery during pivotal speeches comes at a daunting time for Ukraine as Zelenskyy works to ensure U.S. support for the war effort in an election year. While Biden and Democrats in Congress have largely stood with Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022, sending billions in U.S. aid to buy weaponry and support services, Republicans have split deeply. Trump has turned the GOP toward a new America First movement that generally prefers to limit U.S. involvement overseas, and he often speaks admirably of Russia and its president, Vladmir Putin. Johnson said that support for ending Russias war against Ukraine continues to be bipartisan, but our relationship is unnecessarily tested," noting comments from the Ukrainian government about the top of the Trump-Vance presidential ticket. Trump in his own speech Wednesday lashed out at Zelenskyy and said the people of Ukraine are dead and the country itself demolished, raising fresh questions about the level of U.S. support the former president would provide to help Ukraine fight Russia if he returned to the White House. Later Johnson, who said he won't be meeting Thursday with Zelenskyy at the Capitol, said the ambassador crossed the line and the situation requires immediate attention and action. Zelenskyy visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant to thank the workers who are producing one of the most critically needed munitions for his countrys fight to fend off Russian ground forces. The Scranton plant is one of the few facilities in the country to manufacture 155 mm artillery shells and has increased production over the past year. Ukraine has already received more than 3 million of them from the U.S. It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail, Zelenskyy wrote on X. Thanks to people like these in Ukraine, in America, and in all partner countries who work tirelessly to ensure that life is protected. Zelenskyy is far from the first foreign leader to visit U.S. plants producing and selling arms to their country, in tours that did not incur Republican protests. The U.S.s NATO partners in Europe increasingly have made a point of such visits to demonstrate the jobs and money that U.S. alliances bring home to Americans. Zelenskyy also has met exclusively with Republicans on some past trips while in the U.S. In July, he visited Utah to speak at the National Governors Association and was welcomed by the states Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, the groups outgoing chairman. During the visit Zelenskyy also met with Utahs congressional delegation, all Republicans. The Scranton visit sparked swift reprisals from the Republicans. Rep. James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, announced Wednesday he was opening an investigation into whether the Biden-Harris administration used taxpayer-funded resources to fly Zelenskyy to Pennsylvania as a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic nominee for president. "The Committee seeks to determine whether the Biden-Harris Administration attempted to use a foreign leader to benefit Vice President Harriss presidential campaign and, if so, necessarily committed an abuse of power, he wrote in letters to Biden, the White House counsel and others in the administration. The Pentagon said the flight was funded by the Defense Department for senior officials from the departments of Defense and State conducting official business related to U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. The flight stopped at Newark Liberty International Airport, where they linked up with President Zelensky before continuing to Wilkes-Barre International Airport in Pennsylvania, the Pentagon said. Senate Republicans, even those who had supported aid for Ukraine, roundly criticized Zelenskyy on Wednesday. He really messed up, said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican. However, Sen. Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a firm backer of Ukraine, suggested that Zelenskyys visit was not as partisan as it appeared. Wicker was planning to meet with the Ukrainian president at the Capitol on Thursday. If President Zelenskyy came to Mississippi, he would be accompanied by Republican officials because thats who the people in their wisdom elected, he said. Associated Press writers Stephen Groves and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report. Flash Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda met with Chen Wenqing, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official here on Tuesday. Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, noted that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, the relationship between China and Tajikistan has continued to improve and upgrade. Both countries are at critical stages of national development and rejuvenation, Chen said, adding that China is willing to work with Tajikistan to jointly promote the building of the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future, actively implement the three global initiatives, deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance law enforcement and security collaboration, and effectively address various regional threats and challenges, ultimately benefiting the people of both nations. Rasulzoda congratulated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and expressed Tajikistan's firm support for the three global initiatives proposed by Xi. He also expressed a desire to deepen practical cooperation in the security field with China and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. During the visit, Chen also met separately with Tajikistan's Secretary of the Security Council Nasrullo Mahmudzoda and Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Saimumin Yatimov. The Sparks City Attorney's Office is trying to spread the message about the dangers fentanyl presents to the community. Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan announced a new initiative called, "Shattered Lives: The Deadly Fallout of Fentanyl." The public service announcement shares the risk of fentanyl and people's stories who have struggled with addiction. They first showed the video at the 2024 Northern Nevada Opioid Youth Summit at the Grand Sierra Resort on Tuesday. There are two versions of the PSA. The shorter, six-minute version focuses on the damages of the opioid. There's a longer, 25-minute version that also highlights the redemptive arc of beating the addiction. Duncan says they are seeing everything laced with fentanyl, from weed to harder drugs and he says this is a problem that needs to be addressed. "There really are no recreational drugs anymore in our community because fentanyl is laced in so many drugs," he said. Duncan says every time you do a drug, you're rolling the dice. "I think a lot of people think 'well I'm never going to take fentanyl. 'Like I'm not going to seek fentanyl so I'm okay.' The problem is people are seeking other drugs and fentanyl is in being laced in those other drugs," he explained. Duncan says they want to aim the campaign for pre-teens, teens, parents, and really for everyone in the community. He says the Sparks Fire Department sees about two to three fentanyl overdoses each shift. "25-year-old construction worker, who was staying here in the city of Sparks, hurt his back on the job site," Duncan said while talking about a recent story. "Someone else gave him what he thought was a Vicodin, it was laced with fentanyl and he took it and they found him dead in his bed." Duncan says the City of Sparks is trying to be more proactive with this prevention. They plan on giving more presentations to help spread the word farther in the community. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Theres less than six weeks between now and the presidential (and local!) election and, from reproductive rights to economic opportunities, there is a lot at stake. In 2024, were investing our hopes for a robust democracy in hometown hero, Vice President Kamala Harris. But the battle wont be easily won. Every vote will count, especially those in swing states like Nevada, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. So, get registered, get educated, and lend a hand in battleground states. Only around two-thirds of eligible voters actually participated in the 2020 election. Mobilizing the rest could make all the difference. Get your vote on. (Peter Rimar/CC) If you or someone you love isnt yet registered, the time is now. Heres how to do it the quick and easy way, and the super fun way: Register to vote online. Yup, its that easy. If youre not sure of your voter registration status, you can check it out here, too; registertovote.ca.gov Dragmocracy.Nothing goes better with democracy than drag. Hosted by the legendary Honey Mahogany, this event at Mannys will be filled with pride, debates with local politicians, performances, and the opportunity to register to vote. Theyll be giving away drink tickets and, as soon as 100 new voters are registered, everyone gets another round. // 5:30pm to 9pm, October 12; 3092 16th St. (Mission); RSVP for free at eventbrite.com. Phone Bank for the 2024 Presidential election. Phone bankingmobilizing swing state voters via phoneis one way to inch the needle forward in support of Harris-Walz. There are a number of phone banks taking place live or virtually over the next six weeks including: Disco Phone Banking at Mannys. Bring a mobile device, charger, and headphones for two groovy hours of democratic organizing. // Sundays at 2pm from September 29 through November 3; 3092 16th St. (Mission), welcometomannys.com True to Blue Virtual Phone Banking with the California Democratic Party. Get out the vote in Nevada and Arizona from the comfort of your own home. // 1pm Saturday, September 28 and 5pm every Wednesday through October 30; mobilize.us/cadems Team Harris-Walz Virtual Phonebank. Ring up voters in battleground states from home. // Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays, various times; Ring up voters in battleground states from home. // Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays, various times; events.democrats.org Inspire voters with your words. (Courtesy of picryl.com) If the idea of cold-calling voters makes your blood run, well, cold, grab a pen instead and join a letter or postcard writing campaign. Get the civic energy flowing at a live event, order pre-written postcard kits, or throw a postcard party of your own with these resources. Evidence shows it really does help to inspire voters. Pints & Postcards.Pair your writing skills with beer from Mission brewery Standard Deviant at Indivisible SFs two-hour event. // This event is free, with a suggested $20 donation; 4pm Sunday, September 29 at 280 14th St. (Mission), eventbrite.com. Letter Writing for Kamala Harris at Mannys.Join other like-minded voters at these free, one-hour writing events at Mannys. // Sundays at 4pm and Mondays at 5pm through October 14; 3092 16th St. (Mission), welcometomannys.com Postcards to Swing States.All you have to do is sign up and this progressive org will send you postcards, a voter list, and tried-and-tested messages for free (stamps not included); turnoutpac.org . Blue Wave Postcard Movement. Make a big impact with minimal effort with the Blue Wave Postcard Movement. Their goal is to send 13 million pre-filled postcards to Nevada votersone of this election years most important battlegroundsby October 25th. Get 100 postcards and address labels for $12 (stamps not included); Make a big impact with minimal effort with the Blue Wave Postcard Movement. Their goal is to send 13 million pre-filled postcards to Nevada votersone of this election years most important battlegroundsby October 25th. Get 100 postcards and address labels for $12 (stamps not included); shop.bluewavepostcards.org Knowledge is power. The more you know about the issues, the more motivated youll be to vote for your values. From the upcoming Vice Presidential debate to an outdoor movie night, these events will help you wrap your brain around whats at stake. Vice Presidential Debate Watch Parties. There will be only one face-to-face showdown between Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vance. RSVP to watch it with friends and strangers on Tuesday October 1st at 6pm: Mannys, 3092 16th St. (Mission), eventbrite.com The Chapel, 777 Valencia St. (Mission), eventbrite.com Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero (Embarcadero), commonwealthclub.org The Academy SF, 2166 Market St. (TK), academy-sf.com Oakstop-California Ballroom, 1736 Franklin St. (Oakland), eventbrite.com A Vote is a Verb, an Art for Democracy Event. Head to Far Out West Community Garden for an outdoor film screening of two documentaries exploring some of this years most important political issues. // October 4 from 5:30-9:30pm; 1399 43rd Ave. (Sunset), eventbrite.com Running for My Life.This one-night staged reading of the critically acclaimed play Running for My Life shares the experience of Congresswomen in the days following January 6, 2021. Tickets are free, all proceeds from a suggested donation of $20/person will benefit Rock the Vote. // October 6 at 7pm; 2 Marina Blvd. Bldg B. (Fort Mason), eventbrite.com Ballot Breakdown. Join We Ride We Vote for an afternoon of discussion about local, state, and regional issues at Everett & Jones ; 2pm, Sunday October 12; 126 Broadway (Oakland), eventbrite.com. On October 16 at 6:30pm, Mannys hosts a non-partisan night of ballot education, collaboration, and analysis; 3092 16th St. (Mission), eventbrite.com . Seasons may change but SF stays expensive. With these perks, you don't have to stay inside. This October, were bringing hot jazz and the story of an Art Deco icon to the 7x7 Social Club; getting you exclusive deals to attend the Fall Show, Maker Faire, and SF Symphony; and reserving some free tickets to this month's biggest headliners. Plus, treat yourself to free coffee and canapesthen save on your next wine country or Point Reyes getaway. Join 7x7 Social Club now to access these perks across the Bay Area. October perks drop next week. Save your funds for shopping furniture, jewelry, objets dart, and more with discounted tickets to the 2024 San Francisco Fall Show. (Courtesy of @sffallshow) MUSIC + EVENTS Score free tickets to shows at some of the Bays most iconic venues: Glen Hansard at The Fillmore (October 3), and New Zealand export Opiuo at Berkeley's UC Theatre (October 5). We set aside a few just for 7x7 Social Club members. Bay Area director Julie Rubio is stopping by the IRL 7x7 Social Club (October 8) for a discussion and preview of her new documentary, The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka and The Art of Survival, which dives into the work of this influential Art Deco artist. Members get $5 off. The setting is stunning and the sets will be killer. Weve got a few free tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld (October 7), Patton Oswalt (October 11) and Nurse Blake (October 25) at Mountain Winery . This year, the San Francisco Fall Show (October 17-20) celebrates the timeless appeal of black and white and offers access to dozens of the worlds top dealers of fine and decorative arts. Get 20% off tickets and use the savings to take home something beautiful. Catch Tony Kushner's Angels in America, Parts I & II at the Oakland Theatre Project (October 19 and 26) with BOGO tix. Toast to Mr. Tipples at the 7x7 Social Club . Members get $10 off a night of cool cocktails and Le Jazz Hot Quartet jazz. (October 24). Head to the SF Symphony for spooky season. Social Club members get 25% off tickets to a screening of the Hitchcock classic Psycho accompanied by a live orchestra on Halloween night (October 31). See the Bay on your own private guided tour with 25% off experiences with Point Reyes Adventure Co. (Courtesy of @pointreyesadventureco) OUTDOORS + ADVENTURE Enter a new level of chill with the Bay Area Hot Tub Boat . (You read that right.) Get $50 off and float with up to six friends. Get out in nature with Point Reyes Adventure Co. 's experienced local guides. They're ready to take you on your next backpacking, kayaking, SUP, or camping adventure. Bring it to the group chat with BOGO tickets for public tours, or get 25% off a private tour. Turn wine weekends into a one-of-a-kind tour with 50% off trips with Bohemian Highway. (Courtesy of @bohemianhighwaytravelco) FOOD + DRINK Stop by Spruce for lunch or dinner and receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and canapes from Chef Mark Sullivan. Now thats VIP treatment. Head to Santa Maria for an epic tri-tip cook-off and all-you-can-eat BBQ feast at Presqu'ile Winery (October 6). We've secured the discounted tixyou just need to save your appetite. Enjoy a tasting and tour of the lovely vineyards of Sonomas Kivelstadt Winery for just $50. Make a trip to Wine Country an unforgettable adventure with tours from Bohemian Highway . From SF, embark on cruises along the coast, tastings at boutique wineries, private dinners, and more, and get 50% off your San Francisco pick-up. Fact: 7x7 Social Club members have better mornings. Proof: Free coffee when you buy any donut from Magic Donuts. SHOPPING Make someones day (or your own) with 15% off bloom boxes and bouquets from SFs Bloom Gallery . Skip the at-home mask and let Lori Anderson Skincare take care of you. Receive a complimentary LED treatment when you book one of her signature facials. June 25, 2024, Moorpark, California. It was a festive afternoon when a compact crowd gathered in a small, comfortable vintage theater in Moorpark, an hour north of Los Angeles, to tape a segment for the second episode of The Golden Bachelorette (streaming on Hulu; new episodes Wednesdays on ABC). The nine guys vying for the hand of the first-ever Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos, 61, took their places onstage one after the other to woo her in a talent show. It was like a high-risk high dive into the reality TV talent pool, and everybody seemed nervous. Members only Joan had a way to warm them up and make even the losers feel like winners: smooching them The first night, I kissed em all, practically, said Joan, sitting at a shaded picnic table outside the theater. For the guys that went home, I felt like I needed to have a little conversation with each of them, so they didnt go home feeling like they didnt win. The fact that they were there you made it on to the show that already shows you were a winner. You were brave enough to try out. You gave it your all, and you made these amazing friends. I really am giving each one of them as much time as I can to learn about them, Joan added. Theyre presenting, theyre making themselves vulnerable. They want me to pick them. Rejection is hard, and certainly not something I like to do. Ive never dated more than one person at a time, so this is new territory for me being the hurt-er and not the hurtee. Don't miss this: The Golden Bachelorette Episode 1 Recap Shes beloved by AARP readers as well as golden bachelors Joan presided over the contest with the charm, beauty and social graces that won the hearts of AARP readers when she appeared briefly on last years Golden Bachelor (she left to tend to her ailing daughter, who was suffering from postpartum depression but is now fine). When AARP teamed up with Katie Couric Media and asked readers to vote on who they thought should become the Golden Bachelorette, she was one of the top three choices. "The Golden Bachelorette" host Jesse Palmer on stage for the 2nd Annual Golden Talent Showcase. Disney The men revealed their talents (or not) onstage Arrayed in theater seats just a few feet from the stage, the contestants gave the other entrants encouraging back pats or handshakes on their way to the stage, applauding the frankly not always brilliant performances retired banking CEO Michael, 65, who recited his own verse, isnt going to give onetime U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins any competition and welcoming one another back to their seats with warmth (and a few muttered witticisms). Jack proved hes not a puppet master Caterer Jack, 68, did a terrible sock puppet show with self-deprecating comic patter. Ive never been the brightest star in the sky, he said onstage, though his personality certainly brightened everybodys mood. You know, the last puppet show I saw was Shari Lewis, and that was in the 60s. You should Google that, somebody, because it was really funny at that time, and somebody came out and punched him. Who punches somebody for snoring? Nobody punched Jack, though few found his bit funny. Charles K. de-aged himself onstage Portfolio manager Charles K., 62, had perhaps the most original gambit, making a point about the aging process by laboring out of his seat and walking onstage as if infirm in his limbs and movements then presenting himself with vigor. Coming out the way I did, Charles explained after his act, I think the message there was that, as we age, we tend to age in our limbs and our ligaments and so on. But then I also want to show that even in our golden years, were still strong and vibrant and we have runway to go and we can do it with strength and vitality. A good point many AARP members can applaud. The French lost by a hair Frenchman Pascal, 69, a hairdresser who brought a mannequin head as a prop, won little applause, unnerving some in the audience with his flying scissors work on a wig on the mannequins head. He might be entertaining while cutting an actual customer's hair, but he finally drew a slightly admonishing instruction from the shows host, Jesse Palmer, to wrap his spiel up. Basically he got the hook, like a vaudeville performer whose act has overstayed its welcome. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD Theres been drama in the world of ABCs reality show The Golden Bachelorette this week! The biggest shocker happened off-screen: A few days before the airing of Episode 2 on September 25, it was alleged that contestant Gil Ramirez, 60, an educator from Mission Viejo, California, had been hit this past summer with a temporary restraining order from an ex-girlfriend, according to People. The filing happened after ABC had done a background check on Gil, an anonymous source told the magazine. Members only The domestic violence restraining order cited not physical violence, but harassment emotional. The woman alleged unwanted attempted contacts: 25 attempts daily via phone, texts, video. Although lives an hour away showed up at places I frequent to confront me on a daily basis. The case was eventually dismissed; its unclear why. The source claimed that in light of this news, ABC has further edited [Gils] already limited screen time and minimized him in promotional assets moving forward. But the editors clearly didnt have enough time to cut him from Episode 2. Gil was in a few scenes not necessary to the plot, such as it is. In an intimate moment with our Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos, 61, for instance, he cried while describing his wifes passing, and said, Im not afraid of love. Im not afraid of commitment. Obviously unaware of the allegations (the show was taped months ago), she later gave him a rose (Joan! Dont do it!). So Gil will be around for at least another episode. Who wont be around next week? Four of 18 remaining bachelors were sent home at this second, tense-as-always rose ceremony: Michael , 65, a retired banking CEO and Taylor Swift fan from Denver , 65, a retired banking CEO and Taylor Swift fan from Denver Bob , 66, a divorced California chiropractor , 66, a divorced California chiropractor Christopher , 64, a contractor from West Babylon, New York, with seven grandkids , 64, a contractor from West Babylon, New York, with seven grandkids Jack, 68, the good-natured Chicago caterer who did a series of enthusiastic cannonballs in the mansions swimming pool and cooked up a gourmet dinner for Vassos on the premiere episode Here are some more highlights from and observations about Episode 2. The guys began to settle into the Bachelor Mansion And it was a little different for these older folks than for the twenty- and thirtysomethings whove been housed there on the many seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. First, they werent used to sleeping in the same room as other men: These are group bedrooms, including some bunk beds the sight of which caused Gary, 65, to stammer, Guys, I just cant do the upper uh, my knees. But the big problem with this communal sleeping arrangement, it turned out, was Gregg, 64, who snores like a freight train, fodder for plenty of ribbing (and sleeplessness). Interest in astrotourism is skyrocketing, travel industry experts say, after the world experienced rare, dramatic northern lights displays and a total solar eclipse in 2024. Travelers have an increased desire to see celestial events for themselves. However, for a third of the worlds population, the ability to see the Milky Way and get a clear view of the sky from their home has nearly vanished. In the United States, the problem is profound. Because of light pollution, 80 percent of North Americans cant see the Milky Way from their backyards. Many have a hard time seeing all but the brightest stars if they can see any stars at all. Members only That means most Americans need to travel to see the night sky at its best. For older people planning international bucket list trips (about 24 percent of respondents in AARPs 2024 Travel Trends survey), getting a clear view of the sky might be a priority. Many older travelers who have been there, done that may not have seen the northern lights, an eclipse or truly dark skies, says Michael Raucheisen, communications manager for Icelandair. Eyrun Anita Gylfadottir, the marketing manager for Hotel Ranga in Iceland, says theres been more demand recently for the hotels stargazing sessions. Gylfadottir reports a massive increase in bookings for another bucket list item, seeing the total solar eclipse in 2026, which will be visible from Iceland. Not all astrotourism is created equally. Graeme Labe, managing partner at Luxury Frontiers, a design firm specializing in immersive ecotourism, says his clients have expressed growing interest in immersive night sky experiences. Travelers are seeking remote destinations where they can experience pristine, star-filled skies and truly dark nights, he says. For the best views, Labe recommends locations where natural conditions minimize light and noise pollution, enhancing immersive dark sky experiences. Not everyone will be able to travel to an ideal astrotourism location, but around the world, diverse programs are popping up to meet the demand. There are plenty of opportunities to dive into the mysteries of the skies such as celestial-themed walking tours in Rome, astrophotography lessons in the South Pacific, and sleepovers in Africa beneath one of the darkest skies in the world. Flash People gather at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing in the countryside of Damascus, Syria, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian families fled Lebanon for Syria as Israeli airstrikes continued, said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday. According to a statement issued by the UN Refugee Agency, hundreds of vehicles were backed up in queues at the Syrian border, with many people arriving on foot, carrying whatever belongings they can. Large crowds, including women, children and babies, reportedly waited in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. "Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments," the statement added. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence, stating that the bloodshed was taking a heavy toll, displacing tens of thousands of people from their homes. He highlighted the plight of families who had previously fled the war in Syria, only to now face bombings in the country where they had sought refuge. Grandi urged the international community to prevent further scenes of despair and devastation, warning that the Middle East could not endure another displacement crisis. He emphasized that protecting civilian lives must be the top priority. Israel has carried out its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, starting on Monday, resulting in over 550 deaths and more than 1,800 injuries nationwide. The attacks have also forced thousands of residents in Lebanon to flee their homes. The UNHCR, along with its partners, has been present at border crossings, offering essential supplies such as food, water, blankets, and mattresses to incoming refugees, said the statement. Flash The death toll from a coal mine blast in the eastern Iranian province of South Khorasan has risen to 50 after one of the injured succumbed to his wounds, the official news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday. Of the 16 workers injured in the mine explosion in Tabas County, two were in critical condition, with one declared dead after suffering brain death, IRNA quoted Mohammad-Ali Akhoundi, director general of the provincial crisis management headquarters, as saying. The explosion occurred Saturday night in a mine tunnel about 540 km southeast of Tehran, triggered by a sudden rise in methane gas. At the time, 65 workers were present in the mine, the report quoted Akhoundi as saying, revising the initial figure of 69 workers. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Italian designer Alberta Ferretti, renowned for her elegant designs and a clientele that includes Taylor Swift, has stepped down from her role as creative director of the fashion brand she founded in the 1980s, as announced by the Aeffe group, the companys owners, on Tuesday. Ferretti, who led her final collection at the 2025 spring-summer Milan Fashion Week, explained her decision to step aside after 43 years at the helm. In her statement, she shared, "The enthusiasm and passion I have towards my work and towards fashion are unchanged, but I believe that at this point of my career it is a right and conscious choice to pave the way for a new creative chapter for the brand I founded." While Ferretti will remain a vice president of the Milan-listed Aeffe group, which also owns Moschino and Pollini, the company plans to announce a new creative director in the coming months. Known for her sensual and refined style, Ferretti has continued to be a prominent figure in the fashion world, even designing outfits for US pop sensation Taylor Swift during her "Eras Tour" this year. Also Read: Ghoomer shines again: Shabana Azmi & Saiyami Kher at Alberta Fest Get ready for a delightful ride with Jio Studios and Hardik Gajjar Films upcoming romantic comedy -Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani. Starring Sunny Singh, Aditya Seal, and Pranutan Bahl, the trailer promises a captivating blend of love and humour. Experience the twists and turns of this unique love story as it premieres on Jio Cinema on 4th October. The trailer offers a sneak peek into the life of Amar (Sunny Singh) who feels suffocated by societal expectations as he discovers his sexuality. Looking for freedom, he travels to London, and unexpectedly falls in love with the dashing Prem (Aditya Seal) on his flight. Amar is called back by family due to a supposed emergency, he learns hes been thrust into an arranged marriage. Amar navigates misunderstandings and family drama. Amar and Prem must fight for their love against the odds. Will their bond endure, or will family obligations tear them apart. Sunny Singh on playing the character Amar, said, "Amar is a Punjabi guya sweet charmer who is emotionally connected with everyone in his family. However, he has kept one thing hidden from them: his sexuality, and he has been hesitant to discuss it. For Amar, love is very pure and compassionate, and he has always been searching for a strong relationship, which he finds with Prem, a contrasting personality. As an actor, I feel fortunate to have had this opportunity in my acting journey. My co-stars have been incredibly supportive, and we had great camaraderie on set. Our film director guided me through my role very well, and I learned something new every day on set. The film portrays same-sex relationships beautifully and aesthetically on screen, and I am confident that everyone will fall in love with it." Aditya Seal, on playing Prem and his bonding with co-stars, said, I play Prem in Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani. He wears his heart on his sleeve and lives each day as it comes. For him, love is a feeling hes both afraid of and guards himself against until he meets "the one" and realizes the lengths hell go to get that love back. Playing Prem was an interesting challenge because, no matter what I do, Ill never truly experience the depth of what Prem feels. A huge part of this journey is owed to the film director, who helped me understand Prem on a deeper level. My co-star, Sunny, was amazing throughout the shoot. We developed a strong bond, almost like brothers. It's fascinating that we grew up in the same area, yet it took Amar Prem Ki Kahani for us to finally meet. Pranutan is such a darlingher dry sense of humour made working with her a lot of fun, and we had some great banters. Our production houses, Jio Studios and Hardik Gajjar Films, took incredible care of us. Theyve been fantastic, and Im left with nothing but cherished memories from this journey. Pranutan Bahl, on her experience and camaraderie with Amar & Prem, said, "I play Mandy in Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani, who believes that love can and should be extremetheres no filter when you love someone, and everything is fair in love and war. The film allows me to showcase a very different side of my acting trajectory, as my character has a bit of a grey shade. Its been amazing and challenging to play the antagonist in a sweet rom-com like Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani, where you need to maintain a certain comic timing while also being the bad person. My co-actors are incredible; both of them are phenomenal in the film. My producers, Backbencher Pictures, took great care of us during the shoot, and Im looking forward to working with them in the future. Thanks to Jio Studios for being so encouraging and believing in all of usit always helps when you know they have your back." Jio Studios presents Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani, a Hardik Gajjar Films and Backbencher Pictures production. Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Parth Gajjar and Poonam Shroff and directed by Hardik Gajjar. Dont miss the chance to witness the rollercoaster of emotions in Amar's journey of love! Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani streaming only on JioCinema from 4th October 2024 Warner Bros International Television Production (WBITVP) has announced that Andre Renaud will join the company in November as Global Vice President of Finished and Format Sales, as well as Revenue Generation. Based in London, Renaud will report directly to Andrew Zein, WBITVPs EVP of Creative, Format Development, and Sales. In his new role, he will oversee the teams responsible for selling the company's catalogue of formats and unscripted finished tape shows globally, including popular franchises like The Bachelor, First Dates, Sing Again, The Repair Shop, and Glow Up. Additionally, recent successes in WBITVP's expanding library include the acclaimed documentary series D Day: The Unheard Tapes, the Paris Hilton reality show Paris in Love, and various cooking shows hosted by Nadiya Hussain, such as Nadiyas Simple Spices. Renaud comes to WBITVP from BBC Studios, where he held the position of SVP Global Format Sales. During his seven years there, he took on multiple roles, including VP Content Sales for Italy & Iberia. Renaud was also a member of the BBC Studios Diversity & Inclusion Council, promoting engagement and representation in productions and offices worldwide. He serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Boundless Theatre in the UK, a company dedicated to creating artistic work for 15-25-year-olds. Prior to his tenure at BBC Studios, Renaud spent 13 years at ITV Studios, managing content and format sales across the EMEA region and forming production partnerships for various formats, including bringing Come Dine with Me to Belgium and South Africa and Hells Kitchen to Italy. Zein commented: Andre is one of the most high-profile and well-respected senior executives in the industry, so we are really looking forward to having him join our team. He has a terrific track record, has worked with some of the biggest programme brands in the business and balances the commercial aspects of a senior sales role with the creativity required to really make formats fly. In addition, his passion for developing people will prove a real asset as he works alongside me to lead and evolve our wider team and ensure it continues to adapt to challenges and thrive in our rapidly changing world. Renaud added: Its a privilege to be joining WBITVP to help bring its world-class catalogue of scripted and unscripted formats to audiences around the world. The opportunity to collaborate with its production teams, as well as third-party producers and broadcasters, is truly exciting, and Im eager to not only maintain the appeal of iconic brands like The Bachelor but also to expand their reach to connect with new global fans and audiences. I look forward to working with the sales and production teams to deliver exceptional results for our partners and customers, continuing to showcase the great content for which WBITVP is known. Also Read: Groyyo strengthens its leadership team with key appointments Chinese charitable organization brings hope to Cambodian children with cleft lip, palate Xinhua) 09:31, September 26, 2024 Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin (C) and Cambodian Health Minister Chheang Ra (1st R) attend the handover ceremony of ambulances in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sept. 25, 2024. Chinese charitable organization Future Smile Charitable Foundation on Wednesday donated four ambulances to Cambodia and provided free surgical operations to Cambodian children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese charitable organization Future Smile Charitable Foundation on Wednesday donated four ambulances to Cambodia and provided free surgical operations to Cambodian children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. The event was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin and Cambodian Health Minister Chheang Ra at a ceremony held at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in the capital Phnom Penh. Ra expressed his heartfelt thanks to the charitable organization for the generosity and kindness towards Cambodia, saying that the donation would help Cambodia's Ministry of Health to provide high-quality first aid to patients. China is a major contributor to the development of Cambodia's health sector, the minister said, adding that China has provided a great deal of assistance to Cambodia for the construction of the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh and the Cambodia-China Friendship Tboung Khmum Hospital in Tboung Khmum province. In addition, China has so far donated more than 200 ambulances and 40 mobile clinics as well as a lot of medical equipment to Cambodia, and currently, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) experts have also been assisting Cambodia in developing the TCM sector, he said. Ambassador Wang was confident that the donated ambulances would contribute to providing better healthcare services to Cambodian patients, while the Cambodia-China friendship surgical mission would bring beautiful smiles and hope to cleft lip and cleft palate children in the Southeast Asian country. "China and Cambodia are unbreakable iron-clad friends," he said. "We hope in the future, more Chinese charitable people and organizations will come to Cambodia to help the country develop society and economy, and improve the people's health and livelihoods." Chan Kok Choy, executive director of Smile Cambodia, said the surgical mission has conducted 35 operations in the last two days, and is expected to do another 15 operations on Wednesday. Mok Theavy, undersecretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Health, said the donated ambulances will be very beneficial to Cambodian patients, adding that this donation reflects the longstanding friendship between the peoples of Cambodia and China. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin (1st R) holds a child with facial deformity in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sept. 25, 2024. Chinese charitable organization Future Smile Charitable Foundation on Wednesday donated four ambulances to Cambodia and provided free surgical operations to Cambodian children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Flash Military communication between China and the United States could help enhance mutual understanding, avoid miscalculations and manage risks, said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday. Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a query concerning the current China-U.S. military relations and the future interaction between the two sides. The overall defense relations between China and the United States show a more stable momentum at present, Zhang said, noting that the two militaries maintain high-level strategic communication, policy communication, institutionalized dialogue, and exchanges in specialized fields. Zhang emphasized that the United States should recalibrate its strategic perception of China, return to a sensible and practical China policy, and respect China's major concerns. The two sides should make concerted efforts on the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to stabilize and improve bilateral military relations through candid, effective and constructive dialogue and cooperation, said Zhang. Asian Paints, Indias premier paint and home decor brand, has reintroduced its beloved campaign 'Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai,' a powerful blend of nostalgia and modern sensibilities. Originally launched two decades ago, this iconic advertisement underscores the brands enduring commitment to helping consumers create beautiful and personalized homes. The campaign, first crafted by advertising maestro Piyush Pandey in 2002, resonated deeply with audiences, thanks to its heartfelt voiceover and lyrical nuances. It captured the essence of what makes a house a home, emphasizing that a living space is not merely a structure but a reflection of the people, their emotions, memories, and aspirations. The revitalized ad begins with a couple joyfully selecting colors for their walls, illustrating how design choices shape their living environment. Accompanied by empathetic lyrics and a poignant voiceover, it narrates the journey of transforming houses into warm, loving homes. The visuals of families rearranging furniture and the sounds of childrens laughter beautifully portray the notion that each home tells a unique story, shaped by the care and choices of its residents. Amit Syngle, MD & CEO of Asian Paints, expressed his enthusiasm for the revival, stating: The 'Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai' campaign was a pioneering effort in capturing the emotional essence of homes. The tagline is not merely a phrase; it embodies a profound feeling. Piyushs creative genius set new benchmarks in advertising, emphasizing the deep, personal connection consumers have with their homes. Piyush Pandey, Chief Advisor at Ogilvy India, shared his thoughts on the campaigns resurgence, remarking: Some things are timeless, transcending generations. The revival of this ad after 22 years reflects the strength of both Asian Paints and Ogilvy, encouraging us to believe in ourselves and celebrate our successes. The nostalgic TVC serves as a reminder of Asian Paints journey while promising exciting innovations ahead. As homes continue to evolve with smarter designs and products, the emotional bond remains steadfast. This campaign invites both long-time loyalists and new audiences to revel in the joy of crafting homes that resonate with their identities. Also Read: Asian Paints NeoBharat teams up with YouTube creators for Pragati Ke Rang The Security Solutions business of Godrej & Boyce, part of Godrej Enterprises Group has launched its new campaign titled Khushiyon Ke Rakhwale', underscoring the brands commitment to securing homes and ensuring the protection of what matters the most. With innovative and reliable home security solutions that provide peace of mind for families across India, the campaign throws a light on the emotional comfort that comes with knowing your valuables and loved ones are well-protected. A recent national survey called the Happiness Index Survey conducted by Godrej & Boyces Security Solutions division examined the critical connection between home security and its impact on overall happiness. The "Happiness Survey" engaged 2,400 respondents, including individuals between the ages of 18 and 50, with a 45% male and 43% female demographic split. The survey was conducted in 12 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Chennai, spanning North, South, East, West, and Central India, providing a comprehensive view of consumer perspectives on security and happiness across the country. As per the study, 67% Indians believe that improving home security would enhance their overall Happiness. Furthermore, 57% Indians reported an improvement in their sense of happiness or well-being after implementing security measures. The study further revealed that 74% Indians are interested in upgrading their current security measures within the next 3 months. The findings of the Happiness Index Survey reveal that individuals are believing in enhancing home security as a crucial factor in their overall happiness. Hence it is essential to get themselves abreast of the latest intelligent and effective home security measures. At the launch, a wide range of home security products, including home lockers and electronic home security products like wifi home cameras and video door phones, were demonstrated so as to align with the campaign messaging. The new brand film is a perfect blend of emotion and security that narrates the relatable story of a middle-aged couple returning home only to find their house ransacked by a thief. Despite the chaos of attempted burglary, the true essence of the commercial lies in the couples humorous realization that while the thief created chaos, the Godrej Home Locker protected all that truly mattered. The film concludes with the message, "Jaha Godrej Home Locker Ho, Uss Ghar Ki Khusiyan Koi Nahi Chura Sakta," highlighting the brand's promise of safeguarding happiness & peace of mind. The launch of the Khushiyon Ke Rakhwale campaign serves as a reminder of the critical role security plays in protecting not just valuables, but the happiness and peace of mind that families cherish. It shows how important it is to prioritise home security and an unprecedented event can take place any time, without any notice. Commenting on the launch of the Campaign, Pushkar Gokhale, EVP and Business Head of the Security Solutions business at Godrej & Boyce said, "At Godrej & Boyce, we believe that home security is not just about safeguarding possessionsit's about ensuring their peace of mind and happiness that comes with knowing your loved ones and home are protected. Our campaign Khushiyon Ke Rakhwale reflects this core belief, emphasizing our commitment to reimagining home security for the needs of modern families. Through customer-focused innovation and a deep emotional connection, we aim to transform the way home security is perceived. By integrating advanced technology with a sense of trust and responsibility, this campaign emphasizes our mission to make life more convenient, reliable, and secure. Khushiyon Ke Rakhwale is about safeguarding not just homes, but the happiness that resides within them." Further to this, Dipesh Kowarkar, Founder & CCO, Sixty Fifth Communication who was instrumental in the making of the brand film commented, Have you ever met anyone who doesnt feel unhappy after losing their wealth? Losing money often means losing happiness, and this insight is at the core of our new campaign for Godrej Home Lockers. The campaign aims to communicate this message in an engaging and convincing way. Inspired by real-life events, the story is as genuine as the insight, making it highly relatable. With this campaign, the brand embraces a greater responsibility of securing peace of mind by proudly positioning itself as Khushiyon ke Rakhwale. Also Read: Godrej Agrovet launches farming advisory helpline Hello Godrej On September 25, Google filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission against Microsoft, accusing the tech giant of using unfair licensing agreements to stifle competition in the cloud computing industry. Google claims that Microsoft's current "lock-in" licensing terms restrict users from freely transferring their workloads from Microsofts Azure cloud to competing cloud services. According to Google, there are no technical barriers to moving to other cloud computing platforms. A Microsoft spokesperson responded to CNBC, stating, Microsoft settled amicably similar concerns raised by European cloud providers, even after Google hoped they would keep litigating. The spokesperson also suggested that Googles attempts to persuade the European Commission may fail, just as they did with European companies. In 2019, Microsoft updated its licensing policy to limit users' options, imposing significant financial penalties on those seeking to switch to competitors cloud services like Google Cloud or Amazon Web Services. The European Union's antitrust rules, which are part of its broader competition law, aim to curb market dominance and prevent anti-competitive agreements, ensuring free competition and preventing monopolies. Google's complaint comes at a time when it is also facing legal battles with the European Commission. Earlier in September, Google lost an appeal in an EU antitrust case concerning shopping recommendations in search results. European Consumer Organisation Director General Agustin Reyna stated, Google harmed millions of European consumers by ensuring that rival comparison-shopping services were virtually invisible. He added that Googles practices blocked consumers from accessing potentially cheaper prices and useful product information from competitors. Also Read: Week at a glance: Death of an executive; Google antitrust case Motorola, a global leader in mobile technology and innovation, today launched an exciting new TVC in India, starring brand ambassador Kriti Sanon as part of its festive campaign, Hello Colours. Hello AI. The campaign highlights Motorolas leadership in design through its ongoing global partnership with Pantone in the smartphone industry with the most premium, stylish and colourful portfolio of smartphones, highlighting the lifestyle tech positioning of the brand and its appeal to the Gen Z consumers with the use of diverse and youthful colours, materials and finish. Further, the campaign showcases Motorolas commitment and leadership in Artificial Intelligence with advanced AI camera features and generative AI features across its premium smartphone portfolio. For the festive period, Motorola introduces five vibrant new color variants for its most popular smartphones across different segments, namely - motorola edge 50 Pro, motorola edge50 Fusion, motorola edge50 Neo, moto g85 5G, and moto g64 5G specifically for the festive sale period. Aimed at breaking away from the noise of the festive season sales and securing attention of the todays generation, the campaign is designed to celebrate essence of colours with a fusion of cutting edge technology and create a significant impact through the universal appeal of music. The film is a modern, groovy recreation of the timeless song Rangeela Re from the movie Rangeela. This version resonates with Gen Z and the entire Indian audience, striking the right notes of vibrancy and fun. The film starts as Kriti Sanon hears the initial part of the song in the background Yai re, Yai re. She turns around to identify where the sound is coming from and realizes that it is coming from her motorola edge 50 Pro where we see an incoming call from Motorola on her phone, pulsing with colors. With a smile she walks on and is transported into the magical worls of Motorolas colours starting with a burst of Caneel Bay the new colour of the edge 50 pro as her crew joins in, showcasing the phones True to Life colors and moto ai photo enhancement. Post that the lights go out and she reappears in a green costume with the motorola edge 50 Fusion in Forest Green, dancing in a glowing jungle to highlight its low-light videography with the Sony LYTIA 700C sensor. Next, she receives a moto g85 in Viva Magenta, prompting the dancers costumes to shift colors. The scene reveals the 3D curved screen of the g85 as Kriti highlights the curves in her dance steps as well. The scene transforms into the motorola edge50 neo in Nautical Blue, showcasing moto ai adaptive stabilization for a shake free video. After this she is seen admiring the new and beautiful Berry Red colour of moto g64. The commercial ends with a frame showcasing all five phones, celebrating Motorolas stunning new color collection and adding excitement to festive moments. Commenting on the campaign, Shivam Ranjan, Head of Marketing, APAC, Motorola, stated, At Motorola we believe in being a lifestyle-tech brand that stands out in the smartphone category not just through its cutting-edge technology but also through its leadership in design. Our festive campaign is our endeavor to highlight Motorola's dedication to premium, stylish devices with vibrant colors, materials and finishes and with the most advanced technology and AI features. We found a great way to express it by recreating the symbolic Rangeela re track with the charm of our brand ambassador Kriti Sanon. This campaign is more than introduction of colors; it embodies our core ethos. We aim to instill a sense of pride in Indian consumers, especially Gen Z, encouraging them to celebrate their individuality and express themselves with the trendsetting Motorola phones. Through our strategic partnership with Pantone, we continue to innovate in design and materials while reinforcing our leadership in meaningful AI advancements, particularly in camera technology and generative theming. Commenting on the collaboration, Kriti Sanon, Bollywood actress, and Motorola's brand ambassador, said, As an artist, I find the blend of creativity, vibrant colours, and technology truly inspiring therefore it has been an exciting experience to explore this theme with Motorola. Im proud to represent a brand known for its meaningful innovations, striking designs and advanced technology. Motorola embodies everything that todays consumers seek: innovation, style, colour, performance, and functionality. I believe this campaign will truly resonate with the audience. "With the Hello Colours, Hello AI campaign, weve found the perfect mix of nostalgia and new-age cool. Bringing back Rangeela Re with a fresh Motorola touch felt just right, blending the brands bold new colours with its smart AI tech. And having Kriti Sanon on board made it even more exciting, helping us create something that connects with todays audience while giving a nod to the classics. It was a delight to do this with Motorola who have been the perfect partners in bringing this idea alive." said Abhijeet Ray - National Creative Director, Dentsu Creative Motorola recently announced a festive season sale for new colour variants of the motorola edge 50 Pro, motorola edge50 Fusion, motorola edge50 Neo, moto g85 5G, and moto g64 5G. The products will go on sale at lowest price ever starting 26th September* during the Big Billion Days sale on Flipkart. The products will also be available on these discounted prices across all leading retail stores and Motorola.in. The One Club for Creativity, the worlds foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support the global creative community, has named Rajdeepak Das, CCO Publicis Groupe South Asia, and Chairman, Leo Burnett South Asia, to serve a three-year term on its prestigious International Board of Directors. Board members are responsible for providing input and feedback on the clubs ongoing global programming, supporting The One Show and ADC Annual Awards in their region, elevating the annual Global Creative Rankings, connecting the club with advertising and design universities and schools, and recommending outstanding candidates to serve as awards judges. The One Clubs International Board of Directors is a platform with immense responsibility where great minds come together to chart the future narrative for the industry, said Das. As part of the Board, I am looking forward to the opportunity to nurture the next generation of talent to make creativity more impactful. Das firmly believes that the true potential of creativity and technology is finding human-centric solutions for the biggest brands. He has cultivated a distinctive reputation over the years for driving impactful innovations for some of the countrys iconic brands. His unprecedented work on brands like P&G Whisper (Missing Chapter) has facilitated change in the age-old Indian education system and enabled the worlds largest school program for girls. His work on PepsiCo Lays (Smart Farms) has revolutionized farming with the help of AI to increase food security for the country. Das believes creativity is the currency for developing nations and his work has demonstrated that. He and his team are currently working with some of the countrys largest brands to deliver high-impact solutions for gender ergonomics for farming, water sustainability, girl child education, healthcare, female hygiene and more. His Humankind approach to creativity has led Leo Burnett India to win multiple Grand Prixs and awards at prestigious shows, including The One Show, Cannes Lions, D&AD and Spikes Asia. Also joining The One Clubs International Board this month is Sompat Trisadikun, CCO at Grey Thailand. The One Club for Creativity , home of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE), ONE Asia Creative Awards, Type Directors Club and competition, TDC Ascenders, Young Guns, Young Ones Student Awards, Next Creative Leaders, ONE Screen Short Film Festival, and more, is the worlds foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the global creative community. Revenue generated from entries to its global awards shows goes back into the industry to fund programming under the organizations four pillars: Education, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality, and Creative Development. Also Read: Urban Company unveils Style My Space: Festive makeovers with celebs! Sue Higgs, Executive Creative Director at Dentsu Creative UK, has announced her departure from the company via a LinkedIn post. In her message, Higgs shared that she is embarking on a new journey and plans to write a book. Just a wee update for a wet Wednesday morn, I am no longer at Dentsu Creative. I loved my time there, but most of all I loved the people. That creative department is dynamite and so talented, I'm proud and in awe of every single one of them. (Most of whom will not get rid of me that easily.) Anyways, am on the cusp of a new adventure incoming. And I am going to write that book, she wrote. During her time at Dentsu Creative, Higgs oversaw teams in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. She initially joined Dentsu McGarry Bowen in March 2021 as Joint Chief Executive Creative Director. Before her role at Dentsu, Higgs held positions at Grey London, Publicis, Valenstein & Fatt, and other notable agencies. Also Read: ASICS issues a PSA warning the world about workplace mental health threat As Durga Pujo fills Bengal with its vibrant energy, Tata Tea Gold, the top-selling tea brand in West Bengal, is celebrating this festive season by highlighting the artistry of Kumartuli. The brand has introduced limited edition Kumartuli-themed festive packs, utilizing technology to bring them to life. Tata Tea Golds campaign, Kumartuli Art is the Heart of Bengal, features a series of five-pack designs, each representing one of the five symbolic elements of Pujo: Dhaki, Shankho Dhwani, Ashtami Pujarin, Dhunuchi dance, and Sindoor Khela. These elements are depicted through figurines crafted in the traditional Kumartuli style. Each pack includes a QR code that, when scanned, activates an AR-enabled experience, allowing consumers to project the animated figurines of a dhaki playing the dhaak, a pujari performing aarti, or a dancer immersed in the dhunuchi dance into their home environments. This innovative "packtivation" seamlessly blends tradition with technology, making the essence of Durga Pujo more accessible and engaging. The campaign extends beyond packaging with the introduction of animated out-of-home (OOH) advertisements, a first for a brand in Kolkata. These hoardings feature moving figurines styled after Kumartuli sculptures, bringing the festive spirit to life in a visually striking manner. To further enhance the campaign, Tata Tea Gold has launched a digital-led film celebrating the spirit of Kumartuli. Set in a traditional Bengali mansion, the film begins with a Kumartuli sculptor working in the courtyard. Curious children, excited for Pujo, ask about their gifts. The sculptor presents them with miniature figurines representing Dhaki, a woman blowing the conch, Ashtami Pujarin, a man engaged in the dhunuchi dance, and two women celebrating Sindoor Khela. In the evening, the children place their figurines, which then come to life, joining in the festivities. Commenting on the campaign, Puneet Das, President - Packaged Beverages (India and South Asia), Tata Consumer Products, said, Tata Tea Gold, West Bengals favorite tea brand, has always taken pride in celebrating the region's art, culture, and heritage. Durga Pujo is the biggest festival in West Bengal and this year, in collaboration with the sculptors of Kumartuli, we are humbled and delighted to present their unparalleled artistry through our 360-degree festive campaign. Zoo Media, an Indian agency network, and KraftJar, an experential marketing agency are collaborating to offer seamless, end-to-end experiential marketing solutions, blending offline (on-ground) and digital strengths for driving business growth & end-user experience. Heres a look at their joint vision and its impact on the Indian market. Brands often face the challenge of maintaining a unified narrative while managing multiple agencies. One of the primary motivations behind this partnership is the need for a consistent and cohesive marketing strategy that spans both offline and online platforms. This partnership offers a streamlined end-to-end solution, ensuring that brand messaging remains consistent and impactful across all channels. Offline and digital marketing have often operated in silos, and our partnership with KraftJar is set to change that. By integrating consumer touchpoints both offline and online, we are in a unique position to weave consumer stories that transition and integrate the digital world, emphasized Suveer Bajaj, Co-Founder of Zoo Media Network. Leveraging Experiential Marketing for Indian Brands KraftJars core expertise of conceptualizing & curating long-term experiential intellectual properties for brands will now be accessible to Zoo Medias extensive client base across the Indian subcontinent. We are really excited about our partnership with Zoo Media, stated Sandeep Pandit, Co-Founder, KraftJar. We strongly believe that there is immense opportunity in India when it comes to Intellectual Properties (IPs) in Experiential Marketing and brands are yet to tap into the full potential of this space. In Zoo, we have found a partner that shares our DNA and core values. Combining Zoo's immense experience and specialized tools in digital marketing with KraftJars IP approach & experience, we form a powerful team. Together, we can devise cohesive strategies that help brands scale to the next level while creating a loyal tribe of followers through experiential marketing initiatives. Parth Desai, Co-Founder, KraftJar expanded on that, Our philosophy has always been to work alongside brands as partners to impact brand visibility and genuine engagement with their target audiences. This partnership gives us the ability to leverage Zoo Media Networks extensive client base and set up the platform to create new experiences for the end consumers. In an era where marketing is becoming increasingly complex, this partnership stands as a symbol of simplicity and efficiency. Brands no longer need to juggle multiple agencies and points of contact. Instead, they can rely on this unified powerhouse to solve their complex marketing problems with a cohesive strategy and execution plan. The teams at Zoo Media and KraftJar share a remarkable synergy, bringing together a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the market dynamics. Their combined expertise will enable clients to receive service and strategic insight to the highest standards, making this partnership a natural fit Talking about the partnership, Suveer says, Zoo's growth strategy has involved diversification from a services company to building products and IPs, and this partnership is aligned with our goals. By helping our brand partners establish Intellectual Property for themselves, we ensure that we are intrinsically building value for them (and for ourselves). Sandeep and Parth demonstrate the key traits of entrepreneurship that align well with our culture and values at Zoo. This strategic alliance between Zoo Media and KraftJar is set to offer a comprehensive, unified solution that bridges the gap between offline and online marketing. Also Read: Gozoop Group elevates Jyoti Bhatia to group Director Supreme Court Grants Bail to Former TN Minister Senthil Balaji in Money Laundering Case 2 The Supreme Court granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in a high-profile money laundering case connected to the cash-for-jobs scam on Thursday. Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 14 last year, has been in judicial custody since his arrest. Earlier this year, on February 28, the Madras High Court had dismissed Balajis bail petition in the money laundering case. Justice N Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court rejected the former ministers plea, extending his time in custody. Despite multiple appeals, Balajis bail requests were consistently denied by various courts. His petitions were rejected by a local court on September 20, 2022, and again by the Chennai Sessions Court on January 12, 2023. The charges against Balaji date back to his tenure as the Transport Minister during the AIADMK government from 2011 to 2015, linking him to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. The ECIR registered by the ED is based on three FIRs filed by local police in 2018, highlighting his suspected involvement in the scam. At the time, he served in Jayalalithaas Cabinet. In December 2018, Balaji switched his allegiance to the DMK and later became the Electricity Minister following the partys victory in the May 2021 state elections. Temple Defaced with Anti-Hindu Graffiti in Sacramento, US 2 In a disturbing incident, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, was desecrated with anti-Hindu graffiti, including messages like Hindus go back. This act of vandalism comes less than 10 days after a similar attack on a temple in New York. The BAPS Public Affairs posted on X (formerly Twitter), condemning the hate crime: Our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: Hindus go back! We stand united against hate with prayers for peace. Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: Hindus go back! We stand united against hate with prayers for peace. BAPS Public Affairs (@BAPS_PubAffairs) September 25, 2024 The Sacramento Police have classified the vandalism as a hate crime and have launched an investigation. Officers and CSI are currently examining the scene to gather evidence. Reports suggest that the vandals also cut water lines at the property, further escalating the severity of the attack. This incident follows another shocking case of vandalism on September 16, when the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was defaced with hate-filled messages on its driveway and signage. The Indian Consulate in New York condemned the act and has urged US law enforcement to take prompt action against the perpetrators. The Hindu American Foundation has also called for an investigation by the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security, labeling the attack as cowardly and unacceptable. This is not an isolated incidentHindu temples in both the US and Canada have experienced a surge in hate-fueled vandalism in recent months. In July, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, was similarly targeted. Canadian MP Chandra Arya expressed deep concern over the growing violence against Hindu-Canadian communities, which mirrors the attacks seen across North America. Miles College has signed a purchase agreement with Birmingham-Southern College for the 192-acre campus thats been closed since the end of May. The announcement from Miles College on Wednesday, first reported by The Birmingham Times , comes after months of uncertainty around the future of Birmingham-Southerns Bush Hills campus. The purchase price and long-term future for the property, remain unclear. Birmingham-Southerns land, buildings and equipment had a roughly $65 million value last year, according to an audit and tax records the college filed with the IRS. Spokespeople for Miles College and Birmingham-Southern College declined to specify or comment further beyond a statement released Wednesday. The two schools are about 6 miles, or a 10-minute drive on the interstate, apart, but have historically served different groups of students. Birmingham-Southern President Daniel B. Coleman said in the statement that the institution was very pleased to move forward with Miles College. Our hope has been to find a buyer whose mission paralleled BSCs mission of educating young people for lives of service and significance, and whose presence on the Hilltop would also benefit the surrounding communities who have been such good neighbors to BSC for more than 100 years, Coleman said. With its roots in the Methodist tradition of service and its commitment to preparing young people for lives of leadership, Miles College fits that description. We will continue to work diligently with President Bobbie Knight and her team to ensure a smooth pathway to closing the sale. Both of the institutions boards of trustees voted unanimously to enter the agreement, Miles College said. Miles College first signed its letter of intent on June 19 to begin negotiations to buy the campus in Bush Hills. The private, liberal arts school in Fairfield is a historically Black college and enrolls roughly 1,200 students, per its latest numbers from the fall of 2022. The college generates nearly $70 million in economic impact, according to the United Negro College Fund. BSC will continue to operate as a corporate entity through the remainder of the wind-down, which includes wrapping up a range of business matters, Coleman said in a statement. Once the sale is completed, Birmingham-Southern will work with the Alabama Attorney Generals office on a plan for the college endowment and seek court approval. We expect that process will take many months or even years to complete, and we will communicate with our endowment contacts once we know more, Coleman said. Last year, the college reported nearly $36 million in debt, per the tax forms. But the institution didnt file for bankruptcy or otherwise outline a public plan for settling its accounts. Birmingham-Southern was financially strapped in the years leading up to its closure . But the 168-year-old institution had financial troubles for decades before . In March, the board of trustees voted to cease operations , blaming the state treasurers denial of a $30 million bridge loan. Because the college owes ServisFirst Bank $16.5 million, the bank has first claim to proceeds from the sale of the campus. Long before he gained international attention for escaping from an Alabama jail with a corrections officer, Casey Cole White spent a wild night on the run from the law that ended when he opted to accept a can of soda instead of shooting himself. The wild story is told in the new Netflix documentary, Jailbreak: Love on the Run which recounts the story of the inmate and Vicky White, the Lauderdale County jailer who sprang him from the jail in April of 2022. The two made it as far as Evansville, Ind., where Casey White was retaken 11 days later and Vicky shot herself following a high-speed pursuit. At the time the two met in 2020, White had just been transferred to Lauderdale County Jail to stand trial for capital murder. He was already serving a 75-year sentence for a wild night, recounted by former Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely. According to Blakely, Casey White had been a frequent presence in his county jail, beginning in his late teens. He was locked up 11 times in 10 years, he said. Among his various charges were reckless endangerment, speeding, reckless driving, domestic violence, criminal mischief, harassment, public intoxication, and various traffic offenses. But his 75-year sentence came following a one-night crime spree through north Alabama and south Tennessee that included a home invasion, two carjackings and multiple shootings that left a dog dead and a woman injured. Oh my God, Ill never forget that night, Blakely said. White, who was 32 at the time, went to his ex-girlfriends house on the evening of Dec. 1, 2015. The woman fled to a neighbors house, but White went into her home and aimed his guns at two men inside. The men jumped through a window and ran next door, but a 911 caller told police two children were still in the house. White fired multiple gunshots in the house, killing a dog. The two children, who were not injured, were rescued by responding deputies after White fled on foot. A little over an hour later, police got a second 911 call from a man saying White had gone to his house demanding money. The victim said he had no money. Casey sticks a gun in his face, tells him he needs his car keys, Blakely said, which he politely provided to Casey. White resurfaced about 30 minutes later at the Tennessee welcome center along Interstate 65 in Giles County, where he first tried to carjack the male driver of an 18-wheeler, then approached a woman sitting in her vehicle. When she refused to open the car door for him, White shot into her vehicle multiple times. The woman, who was struck several times, was later taken to Vanderbilt University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. After failing to steal the womans car, White fled. As deputies were responding to the shooting, they received word that a man had been robbed at gunpoint of his white Lincoln MKZ at the Pilot Travel Center at Exit 22. Blakely said as White tried to drive off with the mans car, the victim shouted, Hey man, leave me my cell phone. White stopped, backed up, handed the man his cell phone, and drove off, Blakely said. Deputies next spotted White in the stolen Lincoln as he re-entered Limestone County. White fled south on U.S. 31, reaching speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. A standoff ensued after White got the car stuck in a field near Huntsville-Brownsferry Road, but Blakely was eventually able to talk him into surrendering. In dashcam footage from the incident, White can be heard saying to a deputy, I want the sheriff. As Blakely recounted, he arrived at the scene to find White with two guns pointed to either side of his head. Im like, Casey, put them dang guns down, and hes like, Mike, call Momma, tell her I love her. And Im like, Oh Casey, nobodys going to die here tonight, Blakely said. On the dashcam video, White can be heard asking, Can someone go get me a Sun Drop? You want a Sun Drop? Blakely asks. The former sheriff said, So I gave it to him. He put the guns down. White was eventually charged with two counts of first degree murder, first degree burglary, first degree robbery, first degree theft, attempted carjacking, carjacking and theft. Once Alabamas longest serving sheriff, Blakely, 73, was removed from office in 2021 immediately after a Limestone County jury found him guilty of stealing from his campaign account and abusing his power to get interest-free loans from a safe that held cash belonging to county jail inmates. He was released earlier this year after serving one year of a three-year sentence. A state prison inmate awaiting trial in the alleged murder-for-hire of his on-again, off-again girlfriend in a Birmingham park is now accused in a second contract killing in the city. Demarcus Chandler, 26, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, discharging a firearm into a building and discharging a firearm into a vehicle. Also charged with the same crimes is Justin Jamond Hendrix, a 20-year-old Birmingham man who was recently charged with murder in the unrelated livestreamed killing of Asia Poole last month. Authorities contend Chandler plotted the hits one in 2020 and another last month from behind bars. The new charges against Chandler and Hendrix were made public this week. Chandler, who has an extensive criminal history dating back to when he was just 16 years old, is serving time in Holman Correctional Facility after being sent back to prison in 2019 for violating his parole in previous violent crimes. Chandler is accused of with plotting Hendrix to kill a man whose identity was not released in court records. The intended victim was not injured. The gunfire happened at 2 a.m. on Aug. 20 at a home in eastern Birmingham. Charging documents state shots were fired into a residence and an SUV. It took place in the early morning of that Tuesday, the same that day that Poole would go on to be killed later than night. Chandler, however, is not charged in Pooles slaying and authorities say the murder and attempted murder were unrelated with the only commonality being that Hendrix is charged in both. Hendrix, one of five people charged in Pooles death, remains held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. In the 2020 case, authorities accused Chandler of hiring 26-year-old Solomon Minatee III to kill Raven Swain for $8,000. Both are charged with capital murder in Swains slaying. Raven Lynette Swain (Contributed) Swain was shot to death July 28, 2020, in Birminghams Underwood Park on the citys Southside. The shooting happened just after 7 p.m. that Tuesday night. Swain was found unresponsive in her Hyundai Sonata, which had apparently rolled into foliage after she had been shot. She was slumped over in the drivers seat leaning toward the passengers seat. Her window was rolled down, and she had been shot under the left arm, with the bullets penetrating her heart and lung. Swain was pronounced dead on the scene. Detectives recovered Swains cell phone from her vehicle after her death. The Alabama Department of Corrections, at the request of police, searched Chandlers cell and recovered a contraband cell phone there as well. After obtaining search warrants for the phones and examining them, a detective testified, they found multiple phone calls in the minutes before and after Swains death to one number that they later determined to be a cell phone used by Minatee. Technology also placed that phone to have been in the area of Underwood Park at the time of Swains killing. Police have previously testified that Chandler and Minatee swapped a flurry of messages via text and Facebook messages before and after the shooting. Three people told detectives Chandler had reached out to them from St. Clair Correctional Facility via Facebook or text in the moments after Swain was killed. In one of the messages, he wrote, Your sister has been shot. You need to go find her in the park by Southtown. To another person he communicated from prison, She got what she deserved. Chandler is set to go to trial in 2025 in Swains death. He has an October court date set for the new conspiracy to conspiracy to commit murder charge. A Florida surgeons medical license was suspended after causing the death of an Alabama man by allegedly removing the patients liver instead of his spleen. Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky was ordered to have his osteopathic physician license suspended Tuesday by Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo. The reasoning for this act was due to Shaknovskys repeated egregious surgical errors and egregious conduct of fabricating medical records outline in a 21-page emergency suspension order. The order also included information about the death of William Bryan which occurred during a procedure conducted by Shaknovsky. Bryan, a 70-year-old man from Muscle Shoals, visited Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital complaining of abdominal pain. After an initial screening showed an enlarged spleen and bleeding Shaknovsky recommended surgery, but Bryan refused. But Shaknovsky continued to press Bryan over the next two days resulting in Bryan reluctantly agreeing to a laparoscopic splenectomy. The procedure was scheduled for Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. According to the order, operating room staff expressed concerns over how late the surgery was planned because a splenectomy can be complicated and there would only be a skeleton crew at that time of the day. The staff also expressed concerns that Dr. Shaknovsky did not have the skill level to safely perform this procedure. After beginning surgery, the operation quickly went awry after an aneurysm causing hemorrhaging and Bryans vitals to decline. Shaknovsky then fired a stapling device into Bryans abdomen despite not being able to see due to blood accumulation and removed what he believed to be a spleen. Even though operating staff in the room knew the removed organ was a liver, Shaknovsky ordered that it be labeled a spleen when sent to pathology. The order stated that after Bryans death Shaknovsky claimed that Bryan died due to an artery aneursym rupturing but an autopsy proved otherwise. According to the autopsy, Bryans spleen was untouched, his liver was missing, and his inferior vena cava was cut. The vena cava is the largest vein in the body and brings deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart for new oxygen, the order detailed. The inferior Vena cava connects the liver to the heart. Based on these findings, Dr. Shaknovsky dissected Patient W.B.s inferior vena cava, resulting in the bleeding event that precipitated his death. The order also detailed that Shaknovsky falsified information regarding the surgery in his Operative Report and also harmed another patient in an incident prior to Bryans death. Bryans family has hired an attorney and indicate that a malpractice lawsuit will be filed at the appropriate time. A former Walker County Jail corrections officer pleaded guilty in the 2023 death of Anthony Tony Mitchell and the assault of another inmate the year before. Joshua Connor Jones, 25, formally entered his guilty plea Tuesday before a federal judge in Birmingham to deprivation of civil rights under the color of law and conspiracy. The charges against Jones as well as his intent to plead guilty - were announced in August. A sentencing date has not yet been announced. Jones will remain free on bond until sentencing, with conditions that include electronic monitoring and home confinement except for work, education, religious, medical or legal reasons. A second jail corrections officer has also agreed to plead guilty in the case. Karen Kim Elsie Kelly is charged federally with deprivation of rights under the color of law. Authorities contend Kelly was aware of the inhumane conditions in which Mitchell was being kept, yet remained largely silent to avoid the ire of the jail command staff and keep her job. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. Federal documents reveal the horrific conditions which Mitchell was forced to endure before his death. The records, citing statements from Jones, said Mitchell was almost always naked, wet, cold, and covered in feces as he was held in jail in a notoriously cold cell with no sink, toilet, or running water. Mitchell, 33, died Jan. 26, 2023 at Walker Baptist Medical Center, just over two weeks after he was arrested on charges that he shot at Walker County deputies as they responded to a welfare check requested by his family. The county coroners death certificate listed Mitchells manner of death as homicide and listed the causes as hypothermia and sepsis resulting from infected injuries obtained during incarceration and medical neglect. Lawyers for Mitchells mother, Margaret Mitchell, filed a federal lawsuit in March 2023, claiming that jail deputies tased Mitchell and locked him in a freezer, causing his death. The lawsuit alleges abuse and medical neglect of Mitchell at the hands of Sheriff Nick Smith and staff at the county jail, including corrections officers, nurses and an investigator. A response to the lawsuit filed by jail nurses disputed Mitchells familys claims that he was locked in a freezer. Attorneys for the sheriffs office also said Mitchell was never placed in a freezer, and asked that the allegation be removed from the lawsuit. He was not held in a freezer, the document stated. In fact, the only times that he left the booking area was to attend his 72-hour hearing and to be transported to the hospital. Mitchell family attorneys responded by saying the claim was mischaracterized. They said the claim about the freezer was not definite, but rather a likely possible explanation for Mitchells death and that a physician they interviewed for the case told them as much. If defendants had another means of bringing an inmates body temp. to 72 degrees or lower, plaintiff will uncover that during the discovery phase of this case, the familys lawyers argued. The plea agreement states that the Walker County Jail had eight booking cells that could be directly observed by officers at the booking desk several feet away. Among the eight cells, BK5 was unique in that it was essentially a cement box with a small grate on the floor that opens into a hole for fluids to drain from the cell, documents state. BK5 was often referred to as the drunk tank in that it could easily be hosed down when inebriated people held there would vomit, documents state. BK5 was unlike all other cells in the jail, but for observation cell AH3, which had no hole in the floor and was used only for detainees for hours at a time. It did not have a sink, toilet, access to any running water or a raised platform to be used as a bed. BK5 was notoriously cold during winter months and the temperature on the bare cement floor was even colder, the plea agreement states. Medical and mental health services were provided by an outside contractor hired by Walker County. As part of the booking process, all detainees were supposed to receive a medical and mental health screening to ensure that emergent and urgent health needs were met. On Jan. 12, 2023, Walker County deputies responded to a mental health check at Mitchells home. He was arrested after authorities said he allegedly fired a gun while deputies were on his property, the documents state. Jones, the documents state, was informed that he was being brought in because he shot at deputies. When Mitchell arrived, he was met at the jail sallyport by corrections officers and supervisors including Jones and five other unnamed co-conspirators. Mitchell could not walk or stand on his own, was disoriented, non-combative and could not follow directions, records show. These observations were obvious to everyone who removed Individual #1 from the car and defendant Jones believed that Individual #1 needed to be taken to the hospital or mental health facility rather than being incarcerated at the jail, the plea agreement states. Mitchell was taken to a changing room to put on a jail uniform and was not capable of undressing or dressing himself. After several attempts, records state, officers simply wrapped a suicide smock around him which is known as a turtle suit. Mitchell was taken by wheelchair to the medical unit which was attended by the health services administrator, two nurses, and four of the unnamed co-conspirators. The nurse told the group that she wanted to wait referring to instructions from one of the co-conspirators to deny the initial fit for confinement screening. Jones said in the plea agreement that Mitchell never received any medical evaluation until the morning of his death, two weeks after he was arrested. The corrections officer said he worked seven shifts during Mitchells two-week incarceration and said neither he nor any of the other jailers made efforts to provide him with medical care nor alter the conditions of his confinement. To the contrary, the document states, Jones and the co-conspirators actively denied medical access to Mitchell by falsely telling medical staff that Mitchell was too combative to be evaluated when in truth that was not the case. Calling (Mitchell) combative was an excuse to mistreat him, documents state. There was no conduct that could have been committed by (Mitchell) that would have justified the denial of medical access. The efforts to deny Mitchell medical and mental health care persisted event though he was frequently expressing severe mental health symptoms such as talking incoherently about demons and portals. He was often covered in feces, which was an indication that he could not care for himself, records state. Jones, in his plea agreement, said he observed Mitchell deteriorate over the course of his incarceration. At the time he passed, (Mitchell) was almost always naked, wet, cold, and covered in feces while lying on the cement floor without a mat or blanket, the records state. By the second week of being jailed, the agreement states, Mitchell was largely listless and mostly unresponsive to questions from officers. Repeatedly during Mitchells incarceration, records show, corrections officers actively chose not help him and would dismiss his needs by saying, (Expletive) him, he gets what he gets since he shot at cops, or words to that effect, the document states. The officers also repeatedly made comments that Mitchell should have been killed because he shot at deputies rather than being brough to the jail, the document says. At times, Jones (and the other jailers) spoke directly to (Mitchell) saying that he was now in their house and that he had to deal with them (the officers), records show. On the morning of Jan. 26, 2023, one of the unnamed officers told Jones that a nurse had seen Mitchell and ordered that he be taken to a hospital. The officers were told by the nurse that Mitchell could die if he was not taken to the hospital, according to documents, and one of the co-conspirators replied, Ill tell you what, next time youre on the toilet taking a (expletive), Ill call you to bother you with something unimportant. According to Jones, two co-conspirators - both jail supervisors - failed to arrange for Mitchell to go to the hospital for more than three hours after officers reported the nurses urgent instructions. Jones said after he transported several detainees to court, he was instructed to join others at Walker Baptist Medical Center Hospital where Mitchell had been taken in the back of a patrol car - rather than an ambulance. Jones said in the plea agreement that when he arrived, he learned that Mitchells mother had been called to the emergency room and overheard her giving permission to medical staff to remove Mitchell from life support. In the case of the second inmate, Individual 2 was a pre-trial detainee held in A-Dorm. The inmate was placed in a cell with two other inmates that would have caused the cell to be unnecessarily overcrowded, records state. When the inmate complained, an unidentified officer placed him against a wall in the cell and hit him. Jones then hit the inmate in the face three times with a can of O.C. spray that he carried with him, according to the plea agreement. The investigation found that no force was necessary, and that Jones hit the inmate so hard that the lever or trigger on the chemical spray can broke with the force of the blows and O.C. spray was dispersed throughout the cell. Jones and the other unidentified officer then wrote false reports stating that inmate advanced on them in a way that justified force. A Huntsville employer discriminated against a pregnant woman by requiring her to work overtime despite a doctors orders, a federal lawsuit alleges. Polaris Industries refused to excuse their pregnant employee for medical appointments, made her work mandatory overtime and threatened to terminate her if she missed any more work, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. No pregnant worker should have to choose between their health and earning a living to support their family, said Karla Gilbride, general counsel for the EEOC, in a statement. The federal agency said that Polaris violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which went into effect last year, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. In a statement to AL.com a spokesperson for Polaris said we disagree with the allegations in the complaint. Polaris is committed to providing a fair and inclusive workplace for all our employees, the statement says, and we take seriously our compliance with all applicable employment laws, including the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The company makes off-road vehicles, motorcycles, snowmobiles and boats at its manufacturing facility in Huntsville and is headquartered in Minnesota. The employee, who installed floor panels on electric vehicles, first notified Polaris of her pregnancy during orientation, according to the lawsuit. She developed nausea, swelling in her feet and gestational diabetes as a result of her pregnancy and sometimes had to be absent from work as a result, the lawsuit says. According to the EEOC, the companys policies only allowed absences for military or jury duty, bereavement, inclement weather or to give subpoenaed witness testimony. Any employee who had more than two unexcused absences could be fired, according to the lawsuit. The woman could not take time off to attend to her medical needs because she was under a 60-day probationary period as a new employee and so attendance points were filed against her. According to the lawsuit, the employee went to HR to ask how she could avoid termination, and was told she would continue to accrue attendance points until her probationary period was finished and she could be eligible for time off. The employee went to her doctor to get a medical note saying she could only work a maximum of 40 hours a week, the lawsuit says. Four minutes later she received a response from HR saying we cannot accommodate this restriction as overtime is an essential function of the position, according to the suit. Rather than get fired, the employee resigned to protect her pregnancy, according to the EEOC. The first case under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was filed this month. The law applies to both public and private employers and is meant to protect workers from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions. Gilbride said in a statement that if an employee needs accommodations at work because of their pregnancy, the law requires the employer to work with them to find a solution. When employers apply inflexible policies that drive pregnant workers out of the workplace rather than engaging in this interactive process, the EEOC will step in to defend workers rights under this new law, she added. The lawsuit is asking for the company to change its policies to accommodate pregnant workers and comply with the law, and to compensate the employee for lost wages and benefits. Employers should be on notice that since June 27, 2023, it has been illegal under the PWFA to deny reasonable accommodations to employees with known limitations related to their pregnancy, even if the employee is temporarily unable to perform an essential function of her job, provided that she will be able to perform that function in the near future, said Marsha Rucker, regional attorney for the EEOCs Birmingham District. This story was updated on Sept. 26 at 3:52 p.m. to add a statement from Polaris. As Hurricane Helene approaches Floridas coast, cities and agencies in Alabama are preparing to help evacuees from neighboring states. The National Hurricane Center expects Helene to become a Category 4 hurricane by Thursday. Landfall could come around sunset Thursday, likely in the Big Bend region, according to forecasters. Alabama State Parks is providing lodging assistance to evacuees in all 21 parks, asking them to make camping, cabin, or lodge reservations ahead of their arrival. There are several parks along the Florida and Georgia border, including Frank Jackson, Blue Springs, Lake Point and Chewacla. Reservations can be made here or by calling 1-800-252-7275. The city of Dothan, located in Southeast Alabama on the border with the Florida panhandle, is also providing services to evacuees. The city has set up a Hotel Availability Tracker to help people find accommodations. However, as of Thursday, hotels were already filled up in Dothan, according to Mayor Mark Saliba, but there were 115 spaces available at RV Parks. The city is also providing safe haven shelters for local residents at the following locations: Westgate Church of Christ Opens: 7 p.m. on 9/25/24 Address: 619 Westgate Parkway, Dothan Contact: (334) 793-2280 Memphis Baptist Church Opens: 8 a.m. on 9/26/24, closing at 8 a.m. on 9/27/24 Address: 4595 Eddins Road, Dothan Contact: (334) 793-2280 In Mobile, the hotels along Interstate 10 in Tillmans Corner west of downtown Mobile were at 80-90 percent full on Wednesday night. They were expected to be sold out Thursday, according to David Clark, president & CEO with Visit Mobile. We are getting pick up from the evacuees and the crews, Clark said. For people seeking options for their livestock, the Alabama Department of Agriculture provided a list of shelters in the state. People hoping to use the service, which is only available to livestock and not pets, will need to bring their own shavings, water buckets, hay and feed. Available shelters include: Livestock Shelter at Garrett Coliseum *horses only Address: 1295 Coliseum Blvd, Montgomery Contact: Christi Thornton; christi@thegarrettcoliseum.com ; 334-356-6866 Pike County Cattlemans Association Address: 4100 US HWY 231 S, Troy Contact: Dick Barnett, 334-670-1228 The Alabama Department of Transportation said Wednesday that all highways across southern Alabama are open and available to move people to safer areas as Hurricane Helene moves toward landfall. You can view all hurricane evacuation routes in the state here . Reporter John Sharp contributed to this story. Calling the war between Russia and Ukraine unwinnable, Alabama U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville yesterday blasted the Biden Administration, saying it has no plan to win, even as Congress mulls more money for the conflict. In a floor speech, Tuberville said the war has cost the U.S. billions of dollars, called Ukraine the most corrupt country on the face of the planet. He said that it is losing and losing badly, despite reports of an ongoing Ukrainian offensive into Russia. War is a serious business, Tuberville said. We should understand that by now. You dont half-ass your way into one and certainly dont half-ass your way out of one. That doesnt seem to resonate around here. Tuberville has long been a vocal critic of the U.S. support for Ukraine, at various times predicting that Ukraine cant win, that Russian President Vladimir Putin doesnt want Ukraine, and that Putin will have no further territorial gains in Europe. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, signaling a major escalation of tension between the two nations that already been ongoing for seven years previously. The conflict has killed or wounded roughly one million people between the two nations, according to The Wall Street Journal. In Thursdays speech, Tuberville said that Russia now has pounced on Ukraine. Despite the administrations incompetence, I still believe Putin was wrong to invade Ukraine. I think we all do. He should have withdrawn his forces immediately after it started. Putin is responsible for his actions, and he has made no secret of the fact that he sees Ukraine as historically a part of Russia, Tuberville said. President Joe Biden on Thursday announced another $8.8 billion in aid for Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the U.S. asking for support. In his speech, Tuberville said the Biden Administration has not articulated what the conflict can accomplish, a plan for achieving it, or a total price tag. But Tuberville went on to say that NATO expansion has inched closer to Russias borders. He asked how the U.S. would react if Russia or China began basing troops in Canada or Mexico. He warned that, if the conflict escalates, Putin will be forced to use deadlier weapons, which could trigger a larger conflict. We are on the cusp of a nuclear war, he said. Nobody seems concerned: It wont happen. Yes, it will happen. Putin has told us it will happen if you continue this. This would only escalate this conflict to an entirely new level that none of us can ever imagine. Do you think this offensive would convince Putin to come to the table and negotiate a peace agreement? Well, I would hope we would go, but we do not seem to want to make a peace agreement. We had better and wed better do it in the very near future. The Senate has confirmed a new commander of U.S. Army forces in the Pacific after Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville dropped his objections and allowed a quick vote on the nomination. Tuberville had blocked Lt. Gen. Ronald Clarks nomination for months over concerns that the top military aide to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, along with other staff, did not immediately notify President Joe Biden when Austin was hospitalized with complications from cancer treatment earlier this year. Clark, who Biden had nominated in July, was confirmed late Tuesday evening. Tuberville said Wednesday that he dropped his hold after meeting with Clark and talking to others in the Pentagon. Tuberville had initially demanded to see a report from the Pentagons inspector general that will review the matter, but that report hasnt yet been released and Congress is leaving Washington until after the November election. I didnt want to leave him hanging, so I asked him to come over and we sat down and talked for about an hour, Tuberville said. Clarks explanation matched that of others he had spoken to, so I trusted him and what he was telling me, Tuberville said. There was bipartisan frustration with Austin and his top aides earlier this year after it became clear that Biden was kept in the dark about the defense secretary not being in command for days during his January hospital visit. Lawmakers argued that could have meant confusion or delays in military action. Austin was admitted to intensive care for complications from prostate cancer surgery on Jan. 1, but the White House was not told until three days later. Austins senior staff were notified on Jan. 2. Tuberville said hes still concerned about the situation and how it unfolded, but after speaking with Clark, he believes he wasnt one of the main people responsible for the lapse. We do have problems there, but it wasnt his problem, Tuberville said. Austin said at the time that he took full responsibility and had apologized to Biden. He insisted that there were no gaps in control of the department or the nations security because at all times, either I or the deputy secretary was in a position to conduct the duties of my office. An earlier Pentagon review of the matter blamed privacy restrictions and staff hesitancy for the secrecy, and called for improved procedures, which have been made. A hold by any senator on a nomination, or on a piece of legislation, blocks a quick vote by unanimous consent. Democrats could have brought the nomination up for a vote, circumventing the hold, but it would have taken several days of floor time to do so. A vote would not have been scheduled until after the November election. The objections over Clark came a year after Tubervilles blockade of hundreds of military promotions over a Pentagon abortion policy. The Alabama senator held up the nominations for months but relented after he faced intense criticism from senators in both parties. The Senate finally approved 425 military promotions and nominations in November. Republican colleagues said they agreed with Tuberville on the abortion policy but openly pressured him to drop the holds, voicing concern about military readiness and the toll it was taking on service members and their families who had nothing to do with the regulations. A new documentary from Netflix gives more details about the jailhouse romance that led an Alabama corrections officer to assist a capital murder suspect in fleeing for 11 days in 2022. Jailbreak: Love on the Run tells the story of Vicky White, the Lauderdale County jailer, and Casey White, the inmate she sprang from the jail, in April of 2022. Vicky, who was not related to Casey, died by suicide as police closed in on the couple in Indiana. The film talks to former coworkers of Vicky White, reconstructing the events leading up the escape. New revelations come through recordings of more than 1,000 calls made between the two on Vickys burner phone over a two-year period. The two indulged in phone sex, planned their escape, argued about him using meth while in jail and fantasized about what they would do once the coast was clear. Its about chicken time. Chicken day rolls around real quick, dont it? ... Were gonna have fun on our adventure. Never lookin back at little Alabama, and then venture around the world on a sailboat, Casey White tells her in one phone call. The film charts Vicky Whites 17 years working corrections in Lauderdale County, a nurturing presence who worked long hours, weekends, and was almost always on call due to the demands of her job. One inmate described her as the mother he never had. She would sometimes sit at her desk, listening to inmate phone calls, watching videos, to expose corrections officers bringing in contraband. One former coworker, Joyce Brawley, observed: She wanted everybody to think that she could be a superhero. Vicky just wanted to take care of everybody, but whos taking care of Vicky? Enter Casey White in 2020, who was brought to the Lauderdale County Jail awaiting trial for capital murder. This was after he got a 75 year sentence for a shooting spree. We considered him a very dangerous person, former Sheriff Rick Singleton said. But somehow, a physical relationship developed between the two that Vicky White managed to keep hidden, despite the close quarters of the jail. Workers suspected she had a relationship that made her happy, but had no idea who it might be. Even her parents did not suspect what eventually happened. She would hand envelopes to Casey while delivering mail to inmates, and he would hand back a letter addressed to his mother, but with no address or stamps, one inmate remembered. It was intended for Vicky. He would occasionally ask other inmates for the correct spelling of certain words, which made them suspect he was writing to someone else. During shopping trips, she began buying camping equipment, firearms, lingerie, fake IDs, an orange Ford Edge, and laying plans for their eventual escape. She quickly sold her house at auction and gave away furniture. Meanwhile, she would give Casey extra from the jail commissary, and took him outside the jail on a dry run. Casey White, facing a possible death sentence, had nothing to lose. We go up to Tennessee, in like the backwoods We aint never gone be around people the rest of our lives, he told Vicky White. Anyone gets within 300 yards its gonna be shots fired. Vicky informed coworkers that when she left her job, Im going out with a bang. On Thursday, April 28, 2022, Vicky White put in for retirement, effective the following day. I cant do it no more, she said, shocking her coworkers. Her behavior in the weeks leading up had seemed erratic. That Friday, the jail was shorthanded, with five deputies on duty and Singleton in Birmingham for Academy graduation. Vicky still had a retirement party, but remained largely silent and preoccupied while coworkers were cutting the cake. By 9:30 a.m., Casey White had been removed from his cell and was waiting for her. Within minutes, the two of them were gone from the jail. Hours later, coworkers noticed the two had not returned. By the time Vickys patrol car was found at a local parking lot, authorities had realized she must have been involved in Caseys escape. Video of the two leaving the jail showed Vicky walking in front of Casey, the capital murder suspect - a serious breach of procedure. The resulting manhunt eventually tracked them to a Ford F-150 in Evansville, Ind., found abandoned in a car wash, almost 300 miles away from Florence. Security footage showed Casey abandoning the truck and getting into a grey Cadillac, which was later tracked to a motel. As authorities were getting into position to arrest them, Vicky and Casey fled the motel. With police closing in, Vicky shot herself in the Cadillac. The angle of the wound was so odd, coworkers said, it seemed accidental. Police pulled Casey from the car, with him asking, Is my wife hurtin? Is my wife alive? In a jailhouse interview, Casey told the filmmakers the two planned to take the money, find a trailer, and stay hunkered down for a while. We thought wed never really get caught, he said. See also -- The sad, strange death of Vicky White: How a week on the run with Casey White ended in gunfire Casey White pleaded guilty in June 2023 to escape charges and was sentenced to life in prison. White entered his plea in exchange for the felony murder charge involving Vicky White being dropped. Last year, prosecutors dropped capital murder charges against Casey White in the 2015 murder-for-hire of Connie Ridgeway, which White had confessed to in 2020. He was in Lauderdale County Jail awaiting trial on those charges when the escape took place. Prosecutors saw no need to pursue the case as White was already sentenced to life without parole. The jail nurse, Kylie OBryant, perhaps delivered the moral of the story, if one exists. Hell, you dont never know nobody til you live with their ass, and well, thats the truth, she said. Beyond those killed or injured in a mass shooting like the one on Birminghams Southside recently, there are victims - relatives, bystanders, first responders, even people consuming news and social media reports. A mass casualty event has the potential to traumatize an entire community, especially those who have been psychologically connected to the victims, a similar event, or even the place, said Joshua Klapow, a Birmingham-based behavioral scientist. Ive been in that location, Klapow said, a few minutes into a conversation about the shooting at the Hush lounge, where four people were fatally shot Saturday night, and 17 injured in what the Birmingham Police Department is calling a hit or contract killing. The shooting happened outside the busy Five Points South night spot, with hundreds of people nearby. A Morgan County Circuit Court has once again sentenced a man to life without parole for the brutal 1993 murder of a 16-year-old during a robbery. Roy Burgess Jr. was sentenced to death 30 years ago, but this latest resentencing is his third since the killing. Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement he was pleased that justice for Kevin Gardner has been served once again. Roy Burgess took the life of an innocent young man who died trying to help a classmate, Marshall said. On the scales of justice, Burgesss age at the time of his offense could not excuse or diminish the savage and evil nature of his crime. Today, the court correctly ruled that he should again receive the maximum allowable punishment for which he is eligiblelife without parole. Burgess was convicted of the Aug. 12, 1993 killing of Gardner. Prosecutors said Burgess, who was also 16 at the time, lured Gardner to a remote area where he could rob and kill him. Once there, he shot Gardner in the head at close range, then dragged Gardners body out of his car and concealed the remains. He then drove the car to Birmingham to take it to a chop shop for extra cash. He was sentenced to death for his conviction on one count of capital murder in October 1994. He appealed his sentence to the Alabama Supreme Court, and in 2001, Burgess was resentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. A 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling found that mandatory life-without-parole sentences could not be given to juveniles convicted of capital murder. At a resentencing hearing, the court reviewed evidence and listened to testimony regarding Burgesss age, his involvement in the murder, family history, and other factors, a statement from Marshalls office said. After hearing and seeing all of the evidence, the Court ruled it was satisfied that the capital murder committed by Burgess did not result from youthful indiscretion and transient immaturity. A Semmes teenager was convicted Wednesday by a Mobile County jury in connection with the 2022 fatal fentanyl overdose of a 15-year-old girl, prosecutors said. Jackson Powell Lewis, 19, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute for the death of Adrianna Taylor. He had been facing a more serious charge of reckless manslaughter. Adrianna, a student at Mary G. Montgomery High School in Semmes, was found unresponsive in her home Aug. 31., 2022 -- just days shy of her 16th birthday. Investigators said at the time Taylor had told her parents vape pens laced with fentanyl were passed around her school. At Lewis trial, which lasted only two days, prosecutors provided evidence showing that he gave Adrianna the fatal dose of fentanyl. The decision of a jury must be respected, no mater the outcome, Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said in a statement. My office will continue to try to have Jackson Lewis held fully accountable in his upcoming case for attempting to distribute a controlled substance to a different minor. Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 30 at 9 a.m. Hurricane Helene made landfall with 140 mph winds late Thursday night on Floridas Big Bend coast. Helene is still expected to spread strong winds and heavy rain to places well inland -- including Alabama. Heres the hurricane centers official track as of late Thursday: Hurricane Helene's winds increased to 140 mph on Thursday night as the storm was making landfall on Florida's Big Bend.National Hurricane Center Southeast Alabama was being pelted with wind and rain late Thursday, and that rain was expected to spread northward through the overnight hours. Hurricane warnings have been changed to tropical storm warnings for Henry and Houston counties in southeast Alabama as of Thursday afternoon. Tropical storm warnings also stretched up the states eastern border. Alabamas coastal areas will be on the west side of Helene and were under no tropical watches or warnings on Thursday. The state of Alabama was watching the storm and ready to move into action if necessary: We continue monitoring Hurricane Helene as it gains strength. Alabamians, particularly in the Southeastern part of our state, need to stay weather aware. The state is postured and prepared to respond, if needed. Stay safe, everyone! #alwx Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) September 26, 2024 Winds could gust high enough to bring down trees and power lines, especially in southeast and east Alabama. Wind advisories will be in effect for most of eastern Alabama. Much of east Alabama will also be under flood watches through Friday. Some areas could potentially see 6 to 8 inches of rain from Helene, which could lead to deadly flash flooding. However, flood watches have been dropped for parts of central Alabama, where rainfall amounts may not end up being as high as once expected. Heres a look at what the National Weather Service is expecting by region: NORTH ALABAMA Several north Alabama counties will be under a wind advisory starting overnight.NWS The National Weather Service thinks north Alabama will have the potential to see heavy rain, flooding and gusty winds as Helene moves into the Tennessee Valley overnight and into Friday. The weather service said that the timeframe of greatest concern will be Thursday evening through midday Friday. A wind advisory will be in effect from 1 a.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday for the eastern part of the region. The highest wind gusts could be around 30-40 mph, especially east of Interstate 65. A flood watch will also be in effect for all of the region through 1 p.m. Friday. Two to 5 inches of rain will be possible, especially in east Alabama. There is not expected to be the threat of tornadoes, the weather service said. CENTRAL ALABAMA 10:40p 9/26: Hurricane Helene, now inland on the Florida Panhandle, will quickly move northward through Georgia overnight. Wind gusts in eastern Alabama may be up to 35-45 mph at times overnight, with light to moderate rainfall continuing until morning. #alwx pic.twitter.com/YIEOwni3j3 NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) September 27, 2024 The eastern row of counties in central Alabama remain under a tropical storm warning on Thursday. The National Weather Service in Birmingham said rain will begin to expand across eastern portions of central Alabama overnight. Forecasters said Impacts from wind and flooding are still expected to focus across the eastern and southeastern portions of the area with a sharp cutoff in appreciable impacts for the western half of the area. A wind advisory will be in effect for the eastern half of central Alabama. The weather service said sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph will be possible. Winds that strong could cause downed trees and power outages. The time frame is late tonight through Friday morning. A flood watch will be in effect through 7 a.m. Friday. Four to 8 inches of rainfall will be possible and could lead to significant flash flooding. Areas east of the Interstate 65 corridor face the biggest flood risk. However, the watch was dropped for part of central Alabama on Thursday night: The Flood Watch for Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton, Autauga, and Lowndes counties has been cancelled. The majority of the rainfall should remain east of these areas. The watch remains in effect for counties east of I-65. #alwx pic.twitter.com/RCzJPZJRba NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) September 27, 2024 SOUTH ALABAMA TAE cancels Hurricane Warning for Houston [AL] https://t.co/jUa3Xi8tO7 pic.twitter.com/BPKqglXygp IEMBot TAE (@iembot_tae) September 26, 2024 A hurricane warning has been dropped and replaced with a tropical storm warning for the southeast Alabama counties of Henry and Houston (including the Dothan area) on Thursday afternoon. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Coffee, Dale and Geneva counties as well. Flash flooding will also be a concern as the center of Helene makes landfall. Four to 6 inches of rain will be possible. A high risk for rip currents will be in effect for the Alabama coast through Friday.NWS The National Weather Service in Mobile said that the primary impacts for southwest Alabama will be dangerous surf building to 6-11 feet today, deadly rip currents through Friday night, and minor coastal flooding along the Alabama and western Florida panhandle coastal interface through Friday morning. A high risk for rip currents will be in effect through Friday. Wind advisories will go into effect for part of the area this afternoon and evening, and there could be a few gusts up to around 40 mph, the weather service said. Forecasters said the rainfall forecast has decreased slightly since yesterday. The weather service said up to around 2 inches with locally higher totals will be possible for the far eastern portions of southwest Alabama. Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall late Thursday on Floridas Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center said Helenes winds were estimated at 140 mph at the time of landfall. Based on NWS Doppler radar data, the eye of Helene has made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Florida Big Bend region at about 11:10 PM EDT just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River. This is about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida. Based on data from Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, the maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 140 mph and the minimum central pressure is 938 mb (27.70 inches). 11:20pm EDT 26th September -- #Hurricane #Helene has made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region at around 11:10pm EDT just E of the mouth of the Aucilla River. Max sustained winds at landfall were estimated at 140 mph & a min pressure of 938 mb. Info: https://t.co/1OTHyJkqja pic.twitter.com/WWohcTqpBa National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 27, 2024 Helenes damaging winds and potentially catastrophic storm surge were spread over a wide area. Helene is producing catastrophic winds that will be spreading onshore in the Florida Big Bend region during the next few hours, the hurricane center said. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions. When the eye comes ashore, people are reminded to not venture out in the relative calm, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly when the eye passes. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Fla., which is in the storms path, issued a rare extreme wind warning for several Big Bend counties as Helene moved onshore. 9PM EDT An Extreme Wind Warning has been issued for the Florida Big Bend. This means to expect high winds of 115 mph or greater due to the eyewall of a major hurricane. Treat this warning like a tornado warning. Take shelter in the most interior room and hunker down!#FLwx https://t.co/l3i5TxKZLy pic.twitter.com/tWzjyoKp7k NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) September 27, 2024 Storm surge was flooding areas along the Florida peninsula as well. A record storm surge has already been reported in Cedar Key: 15 minutes later and well we are now over a foot past the old record. Still rising. https://t.co/8PP3ie6mMJ pic.twitter.com/qOPrtFOBhL Brandon Black (@backinblack_wx) September 27, 2024 It should also be re-emphasized that Helene is a very large hurricane, the hurricane center said Thursday. In fact, comparing the system with previous hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico over the past couple of decades, Helene is at the upper bound in terms of size. As a result, storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts will extend far away from the center and well outside the forecast cone, particularly on the east side. Forecasters still think hurricane-force winds will be possible well inland. In fact, the hurricane centers official forecast track shows Helene still at hurricane strength over central Georgia on Friday. Hurricane warnings were extended northward -- and into the area just south of Atlanta on Thursday night: 7:45 PM Update (2/4): We have expanded Hurricane Warnings further northward with this update. In addition to tropical storm force winds, a few locations as far north as the ATL metro and high terrain in the northeast GA mountains could see hurricane force wind gusts. #gawx pic.twitter.com/YWVYXUh0gz NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) September 26, 2024 Alabamas coastal areas are still expected to escape the worst of Helene, but the storm could spread heavy rain and high winds well inland. Several inland southeast Alabama counties remain under a hurricane warning, and tropical storm warnings stretched almost the length of the states eastern border on Thursday. As of 10:20 p.m. CDT Thursday, the eye of Hurricane Helene was located about 70 miles north-northwest of Cedar Key, Fla., or 45 miles east-southeast of Tallahassee, and was tracking to the north-northeast at 24 mph. Helene had 140 mph winds, and the hurricane center said. Once inland, Helene is expected to turn to the northwest and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. One thing of note: Helenes track once inland has shifted a little bit to the east, which could keep some of the stronger winds and higher rain totals in Georgia. One thing that has not changed today is the forecast for potential storm surge along Floridas Big Bend region, where a potentially catastrophic 15 to 20 feet of surge will be possible: 9/26 11pm EDT: A catastrophic & deadly storm surge from #Helene is occurring along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves. pic.twitter.com/hIrRqz1EjB NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) September 27, 2024 The hurricane center said Helene could also dump 6 to 12 inches of rain with isolated totals around 18 inches across parts of the Southeast U.S., which is raising serious concerns about inland flash flooding. Here are the watches and warnings in effect: * A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. * A Hurricane Warning is in effect from the Anclote River to Mexico Beach. * A Hurricane Watch is in effect from Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay. * A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas; Flamingo to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay; from west of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line; Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet and Lake Okeechobee. Inland hurricane warnings stretched into parts of south and central Georgia on Thursday, and tropical storm warnings covered the rest of Georgia, all of South Carolina and parts of Alabama, Tennessee and western North Carolina. English News China builds world's largest healthcare service system Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 20 Septembre 2024 By the end of this year, the number of Chinese national emergency response teams for acute infectious diseases will increase to 25, and all cities and counties in China will have infectious disease response units at the primary level. By Bai Jianfeng, People's Daily Health is closely tied to the well-being of every household and is essential for the future of a nation. In recent years, China's healthcare system has seen remarkable strides toward high-quality development. China has expanded high-quality medical resources to the primary level, ensuring that residents have access to nearby medical services. The country has established 13 national medical centers specializing in different fields and 125 regional medical centers in 29 provincial-level regions. This has led to a more balanced distribution of medical resources to better serve the public. So far, 92 percent of the county-level hospitals across the country have met the standards for Grade-II hospitals in terms of medical service capacity. By the end of August this year, 90.9 percent of counties in China had sent staff members from county-level hospitals to township health centers. Besides, China has pushed for coordinated reforms in medical services, medical insurance and pharmaceuticals. The country has stopped the practice of raising prices of medicines and medical supplies to make up for low medical service costs since 2012. It has introduced a new system centered around medical services. Chinese public hospitals are now only funded by government allocations and medical service fees, highlighting the non-profit nature of medical services. Furthermore, China has strengthened the training of healthcare professionals, with over 80,000 rural students becoming medical professionals through government-funded programs by the end of last year, providing rural areas with skilled professionals. Each year, over half a million Chinese students complete their medical studies at the undergraduate level or higher, injecting fresh momentum into the development of the healthcare sector. China has built the most extensive healthcare service system in the world with 12.48 million technical professionals in the national health system. Basic medical services are now easily available in impoverished areas at the village and township levels in China, which no longer suffer from inadequate healthcare institutions and personnel. By 2023, the average life expectancy of Chinese residents reached 78.6 years, an increase of more than three years compared to 2012. China attaches equal importance to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine, leveraging their respective strengths to achieve coordinated development. The country has launched multiple initiatives to promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicine by improving institutions, creating new models and cultivating talents, achieving notable results. China is making efforts to build a high-quality and efficient TCM service system. The country has advanced the construction of national TCM service centers, established 27 regional TCM medical centers, and designated 1,158 national-level TCM specialty departments. These initiatives have expanded the accessibility to quality medical resources and ensured a more balanced resource distribution. Additionally, China has supported the development of 130 city-level hospitals with TCM specialties, and over 1,000 county-level hospitals have been encouraged to set up two advantageous TCM departments and one promotional center for TCM techniques. The China Center for Evidence Based Traditional Chinese Medicine has become part of the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (ITMCTR), which is recognized as a primary registry of the World Health Organization (WHO) and contributes data to the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). The center has released a series of treatments, techniques, and highly effective herbal medicines for diseases where TCM has advantages. In terms of talent development, China has implemented a national training initiative for TCM specialists. The number of licensed TCM practitioners in the country had reached 868,000 by the end of last year. To effectively prevent and manage infectious disease outbreaks, China has developed a comprehensive infectious disease monitoring and early warning system. In recent years, the country has established 10 monitoring systems for various infectious diseases and initiated monitoring of 15 common respiratory pathogens, providing vital support for clinical treatment and epidemic control. China is also developing an infectious disease monitoring and emergency command information platform, installing intelligent monitoring and early warning software in Grade-II and higher-level medical institutions nationwide. So far, China has established an advanced pathogen detection system that can identify over 300 known pathogens within 24 hours and effectively recognize new pathogens within 60 hours. Twenty-three provinces across the country have built biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratories, and all provincial-level and 90 percent of city-level disease control centers have the capability to detect and isolate viruses. By the end of this year, the number of Chinese national emergency response teams for acute infectious diseases will increase to 25, and all cities and counties in China will have infectious disease response units at the primary level. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Immersive cultural, tourism activities on the rise across China Fruit trade between China, ASEAN thrives The Development of Islamic Finance in USA: A Journey of Growth and Opportunity Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News China keeps advancing space exploration technology Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 20 Septembre 2024 For instance, Chinese space breeding has helped increase annual grain production by about 2.6 billion kilograms, showcasing improved crop yields from rice seeds sent to space, along with high praise for space-grown cucumbers and tomatoes. By Liu Shiyao, People's Daily As one of the two operational space stations in the world, the Chinese space station Tiangong weighs over 100 tons and offers more than 100 cubic meters of living and working space, showcasing superior technology worldwide. "Every small step forward brings us closer to our aspirations. The Chinese space station is always worth looking forward to!" This was the heartfelt exclamation made by Chinese astronaut Liu Yang on September 2, 2022, upon completing her first spacewalk during the Shenzhou-14 mission. In 2012, Liu made her first journey to space aboard the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft. As she left the Tiangong-1 experimental space lab, she made a wish: "I will definitely come back." Ten years later, Liu realized her dream of "flying to the heavens" once again. During the Shenzhou-14 mission, Liu and other crew members welcomed the arrival of two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian. The two modules, together with the Tianhe core module, formed the space station's basic configuration in T shape, demonstrating the ingenious design of the Chinese space station. Nie Haisheng, another Chinese astronaut who was tasked with three of China's pioneering spaceflights, has gained new insights and experiences each time. He said that the Chinese space station is continuously enhancing comfort, increasing reliability, expanding living space, and diversifying space food. "Upon entering the space station, my first impression was how spacious it felt, with a real sense of depth," said astronaut Tang Hongbo. "My second impression was how quiet the sleeping area was, with very little noise. The third one was that this was truly a 'room with a view,'" Tang added. "When I was off work, I would always grab my phone and snap pictures of the stunning scenery outside the window. It's also a unique opportunity to conduct experiments and get firsthand experiences there," Tang said. China's manned space program has always aimed for world-class standards, working toward major breakthroughs in key technologies. China has tackled critical technological challenges in space exploration, including space transportation, space extravehicular activity, and space docking. It has independently developed a unique space station robotic arm system that meets mission requirements. All components and core elements are manufactured by China. Starting with the launch of the Tianhe core module in April 2021, China completed the comprehensive construction of its space station in less than 20 months, setting a world record for the fastest space station assembly. China's manned space program has completed what took developed countries half a century in just 30 years, from unmanned flights to manned missions, from single-day solo flights to multi-person extended stays, from in-cabin experiments to extravehicular activities, and from single spacecraft flights to the space station orbiting the Earth. Behind these achievements lie the collaborative efforts of over 110 research institutes, more than 3,000 scientific research units, and hundreds of thousands of researchers, all working together to drive China's advancements in space. Equally eye-catching are the applications of space technologies across different industries. In 2016, during the Shenzhou-11 mission, China cultivated vegetables in space for the first time. Astronaut Jing Haipeng wrote in his diary: "At that time, my fellow crew member Chen Dong and I were both thrilled. We immediately shared this good news with the ground staff. We took many photos and even posed for pictures with the lettuce sprouts." Six years later, Chinese astronauts celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival in space for the first time, enjoying fresh lettuce they had grown themselves. "The taste was fantastic," said astronaut Cai Xuzhe. The primary objective of building spacecraft and space stations is to apply research advancements. In these Chinese national space laboratories, various experiments are underway, with an increasing number of applications successfully transferred and adapted. For instance, Chinese space breeding has helped increase annual grain production by about 2.6 billion kilograms, showcasing improved crop yields from rice seeds sent to space, along with high praise for space-grown cucumbers and tomatoes. Besides, the technologies created for astronauts living in orbit, including devices to prevent bone loss, can also be used to prevent degenerative osteoporosis and muscle atrophy. As of August 2023, over 100 space science research and application projects had been implemented on the Chinese space station, and more than 4,000 space application achievements had been widely used across different industries. From the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to the Chang'e series lunar probes, and from the Tianwen Mars exploration missions to the Xihe solar exploration satellite, China has significantly strengthened its space technology and expanded the scope of space exploration. Chinese space explorers will keep writing magnificent chapters in the vast universe, contributing to the realization of the Chinese dream. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Immersive cultural, tourism activities on the rise across China Fruit trade between China, ASEAN thrives The Development of Islamic Finance in USA: A Journey of Growth and Opportunity Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) If you visit Kamala Harriss campaign website and click on issues, you will find a tepid list of conventional progressive topics corporate greed, health care, education, child care, and climate change among them. What you will not find is a single word on crime and especially on migrant crime. Its as if crime did not exist. Kamalas silence on violent crime actually follows a long history of dismissiveness on the part of progressives. Liberals seem to find it easy to look the other way when horrific acts of murder, rape, and assault are carried out. Its not just that they are covering up for the sake of getting elected; its as though they dont really care. Among the worst cases this year is that of Joselyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl who was murdered and sexually assaulted back in June, allegedly by two illegal aliens from Venezuela who were apprehended and released by border agents under the Biden/Harris open border policy. The White House response to Nungarays rape and murder was that the administration cannot comment on active law enforcement cases. In fact, Biden and Kamala Harris refused even to speak Nungarays name. The explosion of violent crime in the U.S. is a direct consequence of Bidens and Harriss open border policy, but Harris in particular seems to find it convenient to ignore the issue. But if one refuses to speak the name of the victim, how can one express sympathy and grief? Isnt Harris bothered by the 23,000 murders taking place annually in the U.S.? Actually, based on her strict silence and long-held position denying that a crisis exists and by her proposals to aid illegal aliens with free housing, food, education, and health care, one would have to say she is not bothered by migrant crime. In this way, she is a typical progressive who believes that criminals should get off lightly and that society just needs to accept a certain amount of violence as the price it pays for liberals high-minded ideals. Sanctuary cities are just part of this witches brew of liberal thought. Just as progressives like Harris remain silent on Joselyn Nungarays rape and murder, they have been awfully glib about the two attempts on Donald Trumps life, often speaking about the two attempted assassinations as apparent or security incidents or being dismissive in other ways (attempts on presidents lives are not rare, according to The Conversation). If we ask our A.I. co-pilot, we learn that elections are a super complex topic that Im not trained to chat about. Then theres the line that Trump brought it on himself by not agreeing with every progressive policy. Of course, a candidate who talks about America First, American greatness, the right to life, gun rights, and freedom of speech is going to make himself a target. He kind of deserves it. That was what I heard on some of the mainstream news stations just hours after each of the two assassination attempts. And there was no indication of concern for a mans life. Instead, Harris, Biden, Schumer, and others kept saying that Trump is a threat to democracy and that he has to go. Not very sensitive just hours after he was nearly killed. But progressives like Harris are not very sensitive about life if someone gets in their way. African-Americans constitute about 30 percent of Democrat voters, so one would think progressive would demonstrate concern about black victims of violent crime. The fact is that 92% of blacks who are murdered are killed by other blacks. Kamala Harris has never, to my knowledge, acknowledged this fact, nor has she expressed much sympathy for the thousands of victims, most of whom reside in Democrat-run cities. But if anyone is going to address the high level of violence in these cities, one needs to acknowledge the facts about the killings. I am deeply disturbed by the dangerous conditions in which many blacks, and others, live in our big cities. I am especially grieved by the numbers of children who are killed and wounded each year in these cities. Now there is another reason to be concerned, as Latino gangs take over whole sections of Americas cities. But where is Kamalas concern for those who live with black-on-black crime or Latino gangs? She speaks in grand terms of an opportunity economy, but what about the simple process of protecting ordinary Americans by deploying more police and prosecuting criminals to the max when they are apprehended? From Kamala there is only silence, which suggests to me that, like millions of other progressives, she just doesnt care. Kamala is wrapped up in her grand plans of saving the world thats what her campaign website is full of while she cant see the violence taking place right in front of her. Even something as terrible as the October 7 attack on Israel and the fate of those killed and the hundreds taken prisoner does not seem to faze her. Since that attack, while Israel has continued to be targeted by thousands of missiles from Hamas and Hezballah, Harris has worked to pressure Israel into a ceasefire agreement that would only strengthen its enemies. At the Democratic National Convention in August, Harris focused on the suffering of Palestinians: What has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking. What about the suffering of Israelis? Once again, Harris seems to be able to gloss over the suffering of ordinary persons when that suffering does not fit her ideological schema. In the past, that kind of blindness was the source of thousands of genocidal acts by Marxists, who always claim that the elimination of ideological opponents is necessary to their plan to make the world a utopia. Never in human history have Marxists succeeded in creating a utopia, but they have caused hundreds of millions of deaths to secure their own power. It is frightening to see a leading presidential candidate with so little apparent compassion for everyday Americans. Writing a $25,000 housing check (at the expense of others) wont help a family on Chicagos South Side escape violence. Where are they supposed to go with $25,000 something that wont happen anyway, because expenditures are controlled by Congress? What Americas victims need is genuine compassion coupled with a defense of free enterprise that would lift them out of poverty and make it possible for them to escape the dangerous areas where they live. Kamala Harris does not appear to see this fact. She will not even pronounce the names of those who are killed. How can we expect any effective solutions from her? Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture including Heartland of the Imagination (2011). Image: Mobilus In Mobili via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped). In the current election cycle, serious charges have been raised by both candidates concerning the fitness for the office of the presidency of the other candidate. The essence of the Harris charge dwells on what she claims has come out of Trumps mouth, meaning insults, putdowns, racism, and lies. The essence of the Trump charge concerns what doesnt come out of Harriss mouth, meaning her utter vacuity, not to mention her silence on many issues. Granted, Harris has not been silent on many important issues but she has claimed that she has changed her mind on many of them. In other words, we have a good idea of what Trump stands for and what he will try to accomplish, whereas we have suspicions, but no clear idea about what Harris might do or might not do. Now for the vacuity charge. Yes, that vacuity was on display in Harriss recent sit-down with Oprah Winfrey. It was even cringingly and embarrassingly on display but this was nevertheless not an entirely substance-free zone. Her laundry list of freedoms was actually quite revealing, meaning both what she didnt include and what she did include. First was the freedom to make decisions about your own body. That wasnt exactly one of Franklin Roosevelts Four Freedoms, but there has never been much doubt that it is Kamala Hariss first freedom. Now we have solid evidence that this is the case. And yet it, too, was in its own way a bit vague. The obvious presumption is that she was referring to the modern Democrat party version of a positive good, meaning an unlimited right to an abortion rather than the right to own slaves. But notice what was missing: your body, not a womans body. She left open the possibility that she was also including the freedom of a child to attempt to alter his sex. Or the right of an illegal alien to do the same thing and at taxpayer expense. Or the right of a male to compete in female sports. In any case, it is revealing that this is Kamala Harriss first freedom. Second on her list was the freedom to be safe from gun violence. But how will she ensure this? She doesnt say. Will she interfere with the freedoms of gun-owners? After all, to guarantee such a freedom, there will have to be gun confiscation on a massive scale. If this is really her second most important freedom, nothing less than that will be required. Third was the freedom to have access to the ballot box. To be sure, that freedom was denied to women and minorities decades upon decades ago. But just how is this freedom being denied to any eligible voter today? And might it not be considered freeing to know that assurances are made to ascertain that only eligible voters exercise the franchise? To be more specific, does Harriss third freedom include the right to have an unrequested ballot mailed to you? Does it demand voting for weeks on end? And does it include not being required to show identification prior to voting? To cap it all off, Harris returned to the body and perhaps the mind: the freedom to be who you are and just be ... And precisely what does that freedom imply? Who knows? Its not likely that even she knows. In any case, it is completely vacuous. Then she got slightly more specific: the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride. Everyone who is sentient knows precisely what category of lovers she was pridefully talking about here. But just to make sure that everyone gets it, she clinches things with a second mention of the freedom to just be. The Peter Sellers character in Being There couldnt have said it any better. Having covered virtually all of the bases of the ever-expanding sexual revolution, Harris concludes with a triumphant And thats who we are. We believe in all that. And that apparently is that. But not quite. On another fateful January 6, FDR outlined his Four Freedoms in what actually was his 1941 State of the Union address. They included the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom to worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Now lets compare that quartet to Harriss four freedoms: the freedom to abort a child (or try to alter ones sex), freedom from guns, an apparently unlimited and unrestricted freedom to vote, and an equally unlimited and unrestricted freedom when it comes to sexual partners. On second thought, Harris actually did FDR one better by adding a fifth freedom: her freedom to just be. One can easily imagine both Franklin and Eleanor wincing and shaking their heads upon hearing those four words. Actually, they might also be wondering what happened to his stated freedoms. His insertion of the word expression, its safe to surmise, had nothing to do with sexual expression. And his freedom from fear, though itself on the vague side, likely had little to do with any specific fear about guns. But also notice what else is missing from the Harris top four or the Harris top five, if we include her elusive freedom to be. Early on in their chat, Harris informed Oprah that Americans are an optimistic people, a people with dreams and aspirations and ambitions. Vague enough, but also fair enough. In any case, who could possibly object to that? Certainly not Donald Trump. One might then readily assume that any subsequent Harris list of American freedoms would include not just the presence of speech and worship and the absence of want, but a number of other crucial freedoms, especially economic freedoms, which might fall somewhere under FDRs freedom from want. But given her concession to Trumpishness about dreams and aspirations and ambitions, its more than curious that she forgot about all of that when it came time to wax eloquent about her most important freedoms. Then again, perhaps she was indirectly signaling something here namely, her desire to California-ize the nation with all sorts of governmental restrictions that would make it more and more difficult for any and all Americans to realize their own dreams and ambitions. Or maybe, just maybe, Harris was so taken with, so wrapped up in, all of the trendy freedoms of the Sexual Revolution that no other freedoms really matter all that much to her. And what could be more revealing than that? John C. Chuck Chalberg writes from Bloomington, Minn. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Call me crazy, but I dont trust government officials who believe that population growth (AKA our carbon footprint) is the most pressing problem on the planet. If we had bureaucrats who were encouraging us to get married early and have lots of children, I might listen to what they have to say. If we had politicians who spoke endlessly of cheap energy, rising wages, higher standards of living, and the potential for all hard workers to become wealthy, Id probably throw an attaboy in their general direction. But why would I follow anyone who wants to control what I eat, confiscate what I earn, regulate how I live, and leave me with nothing? When authorities tell us that too many people are alive today, we should probably see their words as a threat worth taking seriously. Thats why I dont trust the experimental vaccines that the governments favorite pharmaceutical companies managed to manufacture in record time (shortening a process that normally takes fifteen or more years into a miraculously innovative seven or eight months). Here, take this injection. It will save your life. Uh, you first. Why dont we see how your health fares before we start playing Russian roulette with the global population? Its nothing personal. Maybe there are some good, decent scientists out there who actually want to fight disease. But there are a whole lot of other scientists who talk quite openly about why humanity must cull the herd. Sustainable growth sounds hunky-dory until you realize that you are the unsustainable growth that the experts want to stem. Once a person has that epiphany, the magic juice in those COVID syringes looks a little less magical. So youre saying you want to save my friends and me today, so that you can depopulate the planet tomorrow? Never mind, Im good. I just remembered that I have to be somewhere...far away. Last week I wrote about Ned Ryuns excellent new book, American Leviathan, in which he recounts the rise of the unconstitutional administrative state. In describing how Progressive Statists took over the U.S. government, Ryun examines not only how an unaccountable bureaucracy replaced the Founders designs for limited government, but also how cancerous ideologies animated powerful Americans to repudiate the Constitutions constraints against government overreach. Woodrow Wilson and his ilk detested popular sovereignty the idea that ordinary people should be the arbiters of how their nation runs and demanded that the best boys from the best colleges be in charge. In their arrogant and prejudicial minds, early-twentieth-century progressives believed that it was absurd for lowly, less educated Americans to be entrusted with any say over the operations of the federal government. The experts are meant to rule, and the riffraff are meant to obey! That un-American motto became the governments guiding principle to this day. As Ryun repeatedly points out in his book, Wilson saw the U.S. Constitution as an outdated and defective document that prevented the best people from doing what they knew to be best for the nation. (Sound familiar?) Living political constitutions, Wilson insisted, must be Darwinian in structure and practice which is to say that the meaning of the Constitution must evolve according to the needs of the bureaucrats running things. Wilson and his acolytes wanted to build a government that operated beyond the reach of politics (and, therefore, beyond the reach of the American people). They wanted to fill this government with bureaucrats who had been scientifically trained to diagnose and address the nations evolving challenges. And they wanted to provide these unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats with independent powers that allowed them to do what they thought best at any given time. In this way, the original progressives claimed, the business of government would be conducted efficiently and scientifically. No doubt todays progressives would still cheer Woodrow Wilsons words as their own, but after a century of unconstitutional bureaucracy run amok, ask yourself this simple question: would anyone call any part of the federal government efficient today? On the contrary, government efficiency is a punch line to a common joke: if you want something done in twice the time and with ten times the cost, then let the government build it. After Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, the federal government spent trillions of dollars only to make Americans relatively poorer while greatly increasing wealth inequality. Four decades after the creation of the Department of Education, American children have never performed so poorly on standardized tests. Barack Obama and the Democrats insisted on saving Americans from high medical costs by nationalizing health care only to give us a broken hospital system that is even more costly. Anything the government touches turns into an inefficient and poorly run enterprise, which is why so many Americans correctly feared that Obamacare would create the medical equivalent of the U.S. Postal Service or the local DMV. In turn, the best boys from the best colleges have turned postal employees and Department of Motor Vehicle personnel into essential workers for registering voters and collecting ballots. Nothing gives Americans confidence in the security of their elections like putting bureaucrats associated with incompetence in charge of processing votes. Instead of building a government renowned for its scientific efficiency, the Progressive Statists have constructed a broken-down system synonymous with ineptitude and corruption. By putting blind faith in the discriminatory idea that some Americans deserve to govern others, progressives have spent the last century dismantling the Constitutions safeguards for limited government, individual rights, and economic freedom. In their place, we have a bureaucratic blob that does what it wants without regard for the citizenry. Because, after all, the blob knows best. As Ryun articulates in American Leviathan, Progressive Statists have not only given us bad government but also an army of bureaucrats who place dogmatic faith in the inerrant promulgations of Science. Trust the Science is not a modern mantra. Wilson and his lot implored early-twentieth-century Americans to do the same. In a chapter entitled When False Gods Ring Hollow, Ryun quotes Michael Crichton: Imagine that there is a new scientific theory that warns of an impending crisis, and points to a way out. This theory quickly draws support from leading scientists, politicians, and celebrities around the world. Research is funded by distinguished philanthropies, and carried out at prestigious universities. The crisis is reported frequently in the media. The science is taught in college and high school classrooms. As Ryun makes clear, Crichton wasnt writing about COVID or global warming. He was describing progressivisms love affair with the science of eugenics and the U.S. governments dalliance with forced sterilization of inferior races. Wilson and his progressive tribe were huge fans. If the administrative state is filled with the best boys from the best colleges, and those best boys all decide that some kind of science is true, then objections from the people must be ignored. After all, as Ryun states poignantly, if the States primary goal is scientific efficiency, then there is no individualism, no individual rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, and no Creator that has endowed life in all forms. There is the state and society, which ultimately deem who and what are necessary for the health of the whole if mankind is to reach the state of apotheosis. And for the whole to be healthy, to progress to a higher plane, anyone or anything deemed parasitical must be ejected. Any imperfection that might slow progress and lead to inefficiency must be dealt with. Last centurys so-called experts believed in eugenics. Todays so-called experts believe in mandatory injections with experimental vaccines, anthropogenic climate change, and the virtues of depopulation. Progressive government is inefficient folly; progressive science, however, is just plain deadly. Image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). Children fear the dark as it is scary. They believe its filled with monsters and bogeymen. As a child, I always wanted my bedroom door kept open with a light on in the hall. That way I felt safe, at least from the wild rides of my imagination. Such irrational fears disappear when we leave early childhood, yet for some, these fantasies persist into adulthood. For adults, is this a mental illness or just a personality quirk of paranoia and irrational fear? I speak of the political left, including the media, who as seemingly rational and functional adults, still believe a bogeyman is hiding under their beds. And that bogeyman is the Nazi, despite few of todays scaredy-cats being alive when Nazis were a thing. The latest example is bogeyman Mike Lindell, the MyPillow guy, Trump supporter, and election integrity advocate. While many became annoyed with his incessant MyPillow commercials, he crossed the line in progressive society by questioning the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. X screenshot For his efforts, he was rewarded with social media bans and FBI raids. Yet election integrity is not a fringe issue. Rasmussen Reports found that 62% of U.S. likely voters, think this years election could be impacted by cheating. No stranger to controversy, Lindell has reached a new pinnacle now as a supposed Nazi dog whistler. From the Huffington Post, busy finding a bogeyman under their bed, Mike Lindells latest pillow price is being interpreted as a Nazi dog whistle. Huh? A pillow price is somehow a shout-out to Adolf Hitler? MyPillow discounted some of its pillows to $14.88, and the left sees that random price ending in -88, as a Nazi bogeyman. Heres their reasoning. The number 1488 is a common symbol used among hate groups. The 14 is shorthand for the 14 Words, a stand-in for a white supremacist slogan, while 88 refers to an abbreviation of Heil Hitler, since H is the eighth letter of the alphabet. Who decides this stuff? The Southern Poverty Law Center of course. They seem unaware of the basic retail convention that a price tag end in .88 is a very common retail inventory identifier for closeout and limited stock items, and is frequently seen at Costco, WalMart, and many others). But now with Lindell using it, it's a Nazi dog whistle. What else, numbers or words, are Nazi dog whistles? According to the SPLC website, 28 and 38 are also common terms for the racist skinhead movement. Sandra Bullock, star in the movie 28 Days should weigh in. So should the 1970s rock band 38 Special. Crew is also a Nazi slogan according to the SPLC. I rowed for four years in college, never knowing I was a neo-Nazi. How can I apologize? The popular film and book, The Boys in the Boat featured the University of Washington crew which beat Hitlers prize crew in the 1938 Olympic games. Why didnt the American crew throw the race to the Nazis? Dr. Martens boots are also a Nazi phrase according to SPLC. Yet uber-woke Amazon sells them but for far more than Mike Lindells $14.88. Fresh cut also triggers the SPLC. Remember that after bragging about your fresh-cut lawn or recent haircut. Huffington Post is not the only media outlet seeing Nazi bogeymen under the bed. Newsweek too. Mike Lindell, the founder and CEO of MyPillow, has been accused of marking some products down to a price that mirrors a neo-Nazi slogan. MyPillow posted an advertisement on X, formerly Twitter, on September 20 that their "Standard Classic MyPillow" which usually sells for between $29.99 and $49.98, was being marked down to $14.88. This specific price of $14.88 raised eyebrows as, to keen observers, it is affiliated with white supremacists and online neo-Nazi groups. I found a nifty wallet on Amazon for the magical price of $14.88. No Nazi logo on the wallet and the media doesnt seem to be concerned. Amazon also sells a toy key chain and Barbie doll for that Hitlerian price of $14.88. How dare they! Not just Amazon, but Walmart, too, selling black earbuds at the skinhead special price of $14.88. What does Mike Lindell say about sending dog whistles to the Nazis and white supremacists out there (apparently so plentiful that I have yet to meet one)? Lindell, when contacted by the New York Post, denied the allegations, saying: "I have no idea what this is all about." Maybe a price is just a price, like in Bogeys Casablanca where a kiss was just a kiss, not a secret Nazi signal. The 88 reference is also on the FBI radar. (Boy do they have a lot of work to do at Costco.) Former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi made the case to MSNBC that President Donald Trumps decision to re-raise flags on August 8, after they had been flying at half-mast since the El Paso and Dayton shootings in 2019 was a Nazi shout-out. He explained: The president said that we will fly our flags at half-mast on 8 August. Thats 8/8. Now, Im not going to imply that he did this deliberately but I am using it as an example of the ignorance of the adversary thats being demonstrated by the White House. The numbers 8/8 are very significant in neo-Nazi and white supremacy movements. Why? Because the letter H is the eighth letter of the alphabet and to [neo-Nazis] the numbers 8/8 together stand for Heil Hitler. Mr Trump issued a directive on 4 August, ordering the US flag to be flown at half-staff at the White House and public and military buildings. So there. Good thing Trump didnt fly the flags at half-mast for 14 days, taking them down on August 8, or else the FBI would have raided Trump at the White House in Mar-a-Lago fashion. Why cant the left live and let live? Why are they, in Sherlock Holmes fashion, peering at the world through a magnifying glass, looking for Nazis around every corner. Just think, if while wearing Dr. Martens boots, I tip my lawn crew a generous $14.88 as a thanks for my fresh cut lawn, I will be a full-blown Nazi! Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor, Substack Dr. Brians Substack, Truth Social @BrianJoondeph, and LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph. Image: Twitter screen shot Between the U.S. and Israel, there's a huge gulf in unity of resolve. At this moment, hundreds of thousands of Israel's citizens are bracing for an all-out war in Lebanon and Gaza, and no one is coming to their rescue. While Israelis are philosophically split on the Gaza hostage issue, a majority believe that war with Iran and its proxies is inevitable. You can only wonder how Americans would react under similar circumstances. The New York Times's German Lopez on Sept. 24 commented: Recent polling suggests that a small majority of Israelis back a broader war against Hezbollah. The true existential question, though, is: "How do you negotiate with people whose only deal point is they want you dead?" This is the world we live in. We don't lose wars due to a lack of money; America's defense budget, at $916 billion as of 2023, is greater than that of the next twelve countries combined. When we lose wars, or when wars go on interminably, we unavoidably train our citizens to believe that the requirement to fight for what is vital for our continued survival is no longer operable. This is the result of failed leadership. It seems the radical change of "fundamentally transforming" the U.S., first promised and brought about by President Obama, and then Joe Biden, and now Kamala Harris, undermined our country through its culture, bringing us to the level of division that is our new normal and opening us up to losing the next existential war. A New York Times newsletter post by David Leonhardt, dated Sept. 23, and titled "The threats we face" underscored this threat: The first sentence of the report released over the summer by a bipartisan, congressionally appointed commission was blunt: "The threats the United States faces are the most serious and most challenging the nation has encountered since 1945 and include the potential for near-term major war." The nation, the report continued, "is not prepared today." Historically, it's generally accepted that it is usually Democrats who get us into wars and Republicans who get us out of them. Democrats historically accuse Republicans of being warmongers. That thought has become institutionalized until very recently, with Democrats seemingly our new hawks. Appearing to be a war hawk is simply a tactic to peel off more votes, serve their donor base, and ensure we continue down our current path. As long as Democrats are in power, they don't care how the chips fall; the power elite are insulated from their own mischief. But it has fundamentally affected our nation's fighting spirit. America is the most pacifist that it's been since before WWII. Two long, winless wars, premised on nation-building instead of victory, have taken their toll. Opposing attitudes on engaging the world are starkly evident when parsing different social groups. Women and minorities are the most likely to reject the use of force against threats to our national interests. The demonization of the use of force in support of maintaining our civilization appears to many to be another extension of the white privilege arguments. White males seem to be all that is left of old America's traditional values. Too many other groups are ready to cede America's traditional role in stabilizing the world and standing up to threats to our existence. Given the chance, many would dismantle our power, influence, freedoms, and economic systems. Our enemies are clever; they do not confront us directly, at least, not yet. Instead, they nibble away at us, sometimes pressing their advantage and then backing off. And, don't forget, whoever is in power tailors their strategy to how the wind blows. Our enemies have patience and a plan. We have political war and expediency. It's difficult to fault people who don't want their sons and daughters to serve in our military under today's virtue-signaling military with its recent record of losing wars. Many believe our leaders risk our fighters' lives for woke principles that see us playing defense without an actionable end game. Inconsistent, or even worse, flawed policies and rules of engagement guarantee failure in the field all too often. Democrats violate the first principle of armed intervention win the fight. If we are not willing to do that singular imperative, we have no business being there in the first place. We show our enemies we are feckless, uncommitted, and misled. Today, there is no one to blame except the American president and other American haters. It is not hyperbole to say that many people in power today pay lip service to our Constitution. Therefore, we must fight and win the internal struggle to control our political and bureaucratic systems as well as our culture. This is the enemy and the war Donald Trump must defeat first. There will be times when America has no choice but to defend our way of life in faraway places. It's happened before and will happen again. The promise that any leader must keep is to tell Americans what principles we are fighting for and how we get out in the end. This is why our Founders did not want an all-powerful central federal government like the one we have. The government has demonstrated over and over again that it fears its citizens and does not trust them with the truth. Without this truth, Americans intuitively know when they are being lied to and won't forget it. I hope we once again stand up for truth and pillory those who try say otherwise. If we wish for the support of the American people, first principles require us to be truthful and forthright to our citizens, especially in that of fidelity to those who wear the uniform and are tasked with defending our freedoms. Tiny Israel exemplifies what can be done with one thirtieth of our defense budget. At the end of the day, it's not about money but will, desire, an understanding of what's at stake, and an expectation of competency, which we are currently failing at. Failures of leadership come from the top. The American ideal still stands. But for how long? God bless America. Allan J. Feifer is a patriot, author, businessman, thinker, and strategist. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com Image: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service // public domain Israel is forever naming its military operations and weaponry. For instance, back in the early 1950s, the Israelis had Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, an airlift of over 100,000 Iraqi Jews to Israel and safety. In 1991, there was a covert operation called Operation Solomon that transported thousands of Ethiopian Jews to their Promised Land. Then there was the amazing Esther computer worm that wreaked havoc on Irans nuclear facilities. Israel has a fearsome battle tank called the Merkava. Merkava means chariot in Hebrew and is a word often found in the Jewish Bible and in Jewish mysticism. Israel also has a military system designed to shoot down the worst that Iran, Hamas, and Hezballah might launch its way. Its called Davids Sling. There are those out there who criticize Israel for such biblical naming practices. They say it is a propaganda tool for internal consumption that legitimizes killing. I dont see it that way. These names are reminders that the Jews are the People of the Book. They are warning signs to their many enemies that they should not be provoked. This is why I am seeking a biblical name for Operation Exploding Pagers. If we could get inside those thick terrorist skulls and let them know what they are really up against, then maybe they would leave the tiny Jewish state of Israel alone. As far as the history books are concerned, never, and I mean never, has there been such a military operation as what Israel just pulled off, which surgically killed (or maimed) so many bad guys over so large an area, and all at a specific time. But it did happen in the Bible. It happened in Exodus in the Passover story, when the Angel of Death passed over the Israelite dwellings and struck down all the firstborn Egyptians, including payback to Pharaoh. And it all happened at the same time, too: midnight. Back then, that Angel of Death stealth technology must have been mighty awesome. But hats off to the Israeli intelligence of today, too! Now that I have found my biblical reference point, I am in a quandary. I am in need of a name for the ingenious military operation that selectively struck down thousands of Hezballah terrorists, all sworn to the destruction of Israel. As far as I know, Israel has yet to officially take credit for the operation, let alone provide us with a biblical reference name. So for now, I guess its up to me. Im going with Operation Paging Angel. Image via Pxhere. Do you remember what Trump said in 2015 about illegal immigrants from Mexico? Theyre not sending their best. ... [S]ome, I assume, are good people. Increasingly, I hear those words echoing in my ears when I think about the United States Secret Service (USSS) agents responsible for protecting not only Donald Trump but all our top-level federal politicians. It turns out that Secret Service agents are not necessarily steely-eyed men who dedicate every minute to doing their job to the best of their abilities. Too often, theyre incompetents, with some possibly tainted by ideological corruption. The latest Secret Service agent to fall off the pedestal of historic respect is alleged to have sexually assaulted one of Kamala Harriss female staffers: The special agent in question and several Harris staffers were dining and drinking alcohol at a local restaurant after wrapping up work for the day. The group went back to the Harris staffers hotel room when the Secret Service agent in question allegedly forced himself on the woman staffer, groping her in the process actions that were apparently witnessed by other people present. One source in the Secret Service community said the accused agent was so inebriated that he was kicked out of his hotel room by co-workers and passed out in the hallway, where photos were taken of him. Currently, the agent is facing an internal disciplinary hearing. However, if that investigation shows that he did sexually assault the woman in question, thats not just a job failure; its a criminal action. Its not clear whether, if hes found to have acted criminally, the matter will be turned over to federal or Georgia authorities. Ironically, the alleged assault seems to have taken place in Fani Williss Fulton County. Sexual assault allegations, if proven true, are bad enough. However, these charges are just the latest in a long line of embarrassing USSS failures. The most notable failure, of course, was Butler, Pennsylvania. If you want to know what the USSS did wrong, you can read the interim report from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Its a depressing litany of planning failures, communication failures, equipment failures, intelligence failures, and sheer incompetence. The USSS came very close to failing again last week at Mar-a-Lago. Apparently, things like drones, noticing cars parked for 12 hours near Mar-a-Lago, using heat tracking apparatus to locate people hiding in the foliage...all of those were alien to the USSS staff. Having said that, it seems that the attempted assassination wasnt solely the teams fault. As best as I can tell, despite the Butler attempt on Trumps life, the USSS hasnt bothered to increase Trumps security detail. Thus, I do believe that theres a deliberate element to the failures around President Trumps security. However, its plain that some of whats going on with the USSS falls into the never ascribe to malice that which can be attributed to incompetence category. This incompetence starts with hiring and personnel management. In April, a female agent on Kamalas team had a complete mental breakdown and began to speak in gibberish and attack other agents. Last month, another Secret Service agent took time off from her duties to invite her family to join her in an off-limits area so she could nurse her baby. There was also the time that Kamalas security detail broke into a hairdressing establishment to use its nice bathroom. No wonder Joe Biden said that the USSS needs help. There are few things more destabilizing to a nation than political assassinations. Since President McKinleys assassination, the Secret Service has protected not just politicians but America itself. However, its apparent that the Secret Service is no longer up to the job, which should worry us all. If I had to guess, Id say that the problem is partly due to rampant partisanship, which sees the agents, from the management on down, not trying very hard to protect Donald Trump. However, looking at the problems with Kamala Harriss detail, I keep returning to Donald Trumps words: Theyre not sending their best. ... [S]ome, I assume, are good people. A fish rots from the head, and whatever hiring metrics the USSS management is using (and I assume DEI factors into it), those metrics arent working. The USSS is hiring mediocre people who are doing a mediocre job. Image: YouTube screen grab (edited). Im not saying these are likely, Im saying be prepared for them. Perhaps highlighting them now will act as a deterrent. Shocking revelations allegedly from the Trump campaigns hacked emails. Have you been reading about hacked emails from the Trump campaign? According to 51, er, 17, er, 3 intelligence agencies in joint statements, it is the work of Iranian malicious cyber actors. The Iranians deny it. Given recent intelligence community malfeasance, Im more inclined to believe the Iranians. The IC is currently softening up the public with real emails, but close to the election theyll disclose or leak more hacked emails in which Trump and his aides allegedly said outrageous and offensive things, with not enough time before the election for Trump to rebut the charges or their effect. A fake assassination attempt on Kamala. (Hat tip to the Instapundit.) I didnt bother to list a real assassination attempt on Trump, which at this point wouldnt be a surprise. A fake assassination attempt on a Democrat governor. Whitmer kidnapping plot redux. An Antifa-style fake right riot. Maybe burn down an abortion clinic, or an anti-Hamas/Hezbollah or anti-antisemitism riot (complete with fake Orthodox Jews). Yes, conservative media can debunk this in hours, but low-information voters on the fence who rely exclusively on the MSM wont see it until after the election. A fake rape claim made against J.D. Vance. At this point no one will believe it on Trump. Joe Biden suddenly dies before the election. Kamala gets to take the oath and be in charge, making her appear presidential. Ben Shapiro claims Kamala doesnt want to be president right now so as to avoid any blame for what the administration she is a part of has wrought, but she wont mind if its just for a few weeks and it helps her get elected. Biden secretly pardons Hunter and all other complicit family members before the election. As protection in case of the preceding. Even if the pardon does not apply to state crimes such as state tax evasion on grift income, prosecutors in those states (California, New Jersey) will not be inclined to prosecute. If Trump wins, Biden pardons essentially the entire federal government. This would include DoJ/FBI officials due to their lawfare and targeting of conservatives, IC officials cooking up dirty plots against Trump, officials who refused to enforce border security laws, U.S. Secret Service personnel, officials of various agencies who have hawked unconstitutional DEI initiatives, all the COVID players, etc. So much for Trump going after them all. Ill leave it to your imagination what deal Biden is offered. W.A. Eliot is a pseudonym. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. A month ago, news broke that, up in Canada, Justin Trudeaus government is fining the Amish community $300,000 ($222,660 American dollars). Their crime? They didnt download the governments COVID app. The twist, of course, is that the Amish dont have smartphones. They eschew all modern technology. This story has made almost no headlines, but its important because its a preview of coming attractions if Kamala becomes president. This is what leftists do. Acting for your own good, they destroy you. As anyone who has watched either Witness or Weird Al Yankovichs brilliant Amish Paradise knows, the Amish lifestyle does not embrace modernity. To hark back to another American pop culture moment, the Amish have no phone, no lights, no motor car, not a single luxury. Like Robinson Crusoe, its primitive as can be. This is not because the Amish are victims. They have embraced a lifestyle of pre-modern simplicity because their faith calls upon them to live this way. Image by Andrea Widburg However, in Canada, religious beliefs are not a defense against a massively overreaching government. Rebel News reported on the story in August: The problem began with the Canadian government's enforcement of the ArriveCan app during the COVID-19 pandemic. This app was mandatory for anyone entering Canada, requiring travellers to submit their health information digitally. The Amish, however, do not use smartphones, let alone apps. They also have religious exemptions from vaccinations, making the use of such technology unnecessary and intrusive for them. Yet, despite these clear exemptions, the government insisted on compliance, leading to severe penalties. The result? The Amish community in Chatsworth has been slapped with nearly $300,000 in fines for not using the ArriveCan app. This is a community that doesnt use electricity, let alone digital applications. The fines were not just a bureaucratic oversight they were a targeted action. The government even went so far as to place liens on their properties, effectively freezing their ability to obtain loans and transfer land titles within families. These punitive measures have left the Amish community in a state of shock and despair. Although Canada does not have a First Amendment, it does have a 1982 Charter of Rights and Freedoms. According to that charter, Canada does have freedom of religion. Its soahemimportant that it appears very early in the endless document, a Section 2(a). This section promises that Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: a. freedom of conscience and religion. Whats unstatedthe little caveat, the tiny asteriskis that this freedom exists only if the government allows it. Its a privilege, not a right. In this regard, our Constitution is hugely different. As Obama once complained, the American Constitution is a charter of negative liberties, [that] says what the states cant do to you, says what the federal government cant do to you... Thats exactly right. Privileges come from the government, and what the government giveth, the government can taketh away. Rights, however, are inherent in each individual, and the government cannot touch them unless for an extraordinarily good reason. The way modern leftism works to get around these constitutional limitations is to dress the lust for power in the clothes of compassion. Were not touching your rights. We want to do things for you. Or as Obama added in the same interview quoted above, that darn Constitution doesnt say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf. Reagan had the answer for that complaint: The nine most terrifying words in the English language are Im from the government, and Im here to help. Although Donald Trump broke Jonah Goldberg, I believe that Goldberg wrote one of the best books ever about the modern Democrat party: Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning. The memorable cover shows a smiley face with a little Hitler mustache. The books point is that all modern totalitarianism, including Hitlers, comes dressed in the guise of loving care. The government is your friend. The government will make your life better. Listen to the loving government. Do what the government tells you. Anyone who doesnt listen to the government is bad. Indeed, theyre so bad they must be destroyed. The trajectory is always the same. Trudeau mandated that the COVID app was for the good of Canadians. Therefore, all Canadians must get with the program. Those who didnt made themselves enemies of the loving state and they must pay. By defying the governments love, theyve lost the privilege to have freedom of conscience and religion. If you watch Kamala, her messageher joy and vibesis the same as Trudeaus. Im the embodiment of a loving government. Just do what I say. But if you dont, look at what happened to Donald Trump and everyone near him. And dont believe that we wont do it to you, too. We dont need more division, but research does indicate liberals tend to prefer cats over dogs. Maybe its because urban areas are more accommodative to cats, and thats where liberals live. Perhaps one reason is that liberals are not as giving, and an animal that doesnt require much care fits in nicely with a selfish group of people. Or perhaps the aloofness of snooty cats resonates deeply with the liberal crowd. By contrast, dogs relish their family roles. They maintain a somewhat conservative disposition, and even appreciate a bit of authority to establish boundaries, rather than wishy-washy liberal my dog is my child gobbledygook that confuses them. Theres a day for just about everything, including Responsible Dog Ownership Day, occurring on September 17th under the auspices of the American Kennel Club. In addition to the basic responsibility of truly caring for ones furry companion, Id like to suggest another: recognition that Fido is not conversant in any language except a few words in police and military talk. And definitely not versed in liberal word-salads. Ive had, or maybe theyve had me, three dogs at different times. They were all special, but none could speak anything other than K-9. Our gestures and intonations might communicate vague emotions, but words like get down off the couch and go to your corner, or stop biting the poor postman and get off him immediately, arent even Greek to them, let alone English. I confirmed this by checking the AKA website. Theres simply no evidence that Canis lupus familiaris is unilingual, let alone multilingual. Nevertheless, so many dog companions engage in extensive animated chats with their pooch. One, whom I ran into on my lunch break at the local park, encouraged his dog to come here, leave the gentleman alone. Unfortunately, the dog misinterpreted that as: good boy! Now jump all over him and be sure to slobber all over his work clothes and if you leave your muddy paw prints theres an extra treat for you. I discovered that my dog almost understood the word speak, but three syllables like gentleman are a linguistic challenge. Dogs are miraculous at sensing our emotions, and amazing at sniffing out our ailments or things untoward, but they dont know what gentleman means, so how are they going to disengage from overzealous play? I tested my last dogs vocabulary. After much repetition and numerous bags of treats I was able to get him to bark when I told him to speak. So clever, I thought. Then, one day a visitor implored Welly to squeak to my dismay, he barked. Not so clever after all hes only supposed to bark when told to speak, so there goes months of English-language training down the drain. Though I guess from his pawspective he did get plenty of treats along the way; after all, responsible dog ownership includes recognition of his liberal lexical limits. This is not to discourage a good ol chin-wag with our trusty companions. They may not appreciate the intricacies of human languages, but theyll definitely soak up the attention and pawcieve the general tenor, all the while relishing the attention. The moral (in addition to not wearing fancy duds at the park) is that theres little point in walkers telling their dogs, in fuzzy liberal language that a human toddler couldnt even understand, to stop despoiling the gentlemans spiffy attire. Dogs dont understand liberal gobbledygook. Instead of muttering a word-salad, a simple conservative come here in a sharp, pitched tone might work, but thats about the extent of their linguistic abilities (none of those electric pulse zapper things, though). Better yet, responsible (conservative) dog ownership means obeying the leash laws, at least with strangers in proximity, then letting them loose after passing. After all, while dogs have special sensory powers, and can certainly exhibit signs of intelligence, they have a limited ability to comprehend literal liberal communication. Perhaps the lesson in commanding ones rampant dog in public is to be conservative with words... but maybe this is moot, as conservatives are more likely to be responsible dog owners compared to catty liberals. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Kamala Harris doesn't have any idea what she's doing, let alone any idea about what she'll do if she gets into the Oval Office. That was obvious enough from her second interview with Stephanie Ruhle on MSNBC, apparently the only interviewer she trusts won't make her look stupid, and still she looked stupid. No matter, though, Ruhle tried to spin for her afterward. Among other things, Harris repeated herself, like someone who doesn't know what to say, or who's used to not being listened to: NEW: Vice President Kamala Harris says "holistic" three times in a 15-second period. The VP proudly showed off the word during an interview with MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle. "Looking holistically at the connection between that and housing and looking holistically at the pic.twitter.com/Z9DMdR97Qj Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 25, 2024 She completely blew it on economics, babbling about price-gouging and ignoring a specific question about price controls: Watch this clip in its entirety. MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle is a good 30 IQ points higher than presidential candidate Kamala Harris. This should scare the sh*t out of you. pic.twitter.com/lo4k0tuRvt johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) September 25, 2024 She spewed more rubbish about financing the multi-trillion dollar national debt through taxing the rich, as if they even have enough money for her kind of spending plans, never mind if they flee the country, taking their investment cash with them. She ignored that part of Ruhle's question: What score 1-5 would Kamala Harris get on an AP economics exam? I dont think she understands basic economics. 2? Best case: pic.twitter.com/8z7HTEDuOC Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 26, 2024 She had nothing to say about the problems of falling wages and rising prices which voters care about: Oh sure!#Kamala's Record Wages went Down While the cost of Necessities Skyrocketed! pic.twitter.com/TIelp0CiBG Truth Will Prevail . . . Magna Est Veritas (@barbiebrox) September 25, 2024 Cripes, who has time for this? Stephanie Ruhle: "There are lots of Americans who don't see themselves in your plans... What do you say to them?" Kamala: "Well if you are... hard working... if you... have... uh... the dreams and the ambitions and the aspirations of what I believe you do, you're in my plan." pic.twitter.com/FVrcBWe48I Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 25, 2024 She also ignored a question about the border, saying she would pass a long-dead Senate bill that would institutionalize illegal border crossing such as it is, and would give amnesty to illegals: Here is the entire exchange on the border from the MSNBC Kamala Harris interview. Ruhle asked a reasonable question (the only one on the topic). Harris's answer was 1) pass the bill that didn't pass, and 2) make illegal border crossers US citizens. https://t.co/uOCmDr0hTQ pic.twitter.com/ONHQPqDgmP Byron York (@ByronYork) September 26, 2024 She was like a job hunter at an interview who didn't know anything about the job she was applying to: I've done many interviews for hiring people and she gives the impression of someone who has never had an actual job before and didn't do research on what job was being advertised. Dr. Judgmental Shoelace, PhD. (@DocKilmer) September 26, 2024 Even the New York Times noticed the question-dodging: The NYT, who loves to normalize Trump, is complaining about the Kamala Harris MSNBC interview, claiming she dodged questions. (Here's the transcript showing the answers.) They say she gives no answer to funding and the next sentence they post is her answer the question. WOW. pic.twitter.com/GHwFjYCdtS Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) September 26, 2024 Joel Pollak at Breitbart News gave a comprehensive overview describing the extent of the problem: Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first solo interview Wednesday on cable news as the Democratic Partys nominee for president, and failed to answer questions even in a friendly interview by MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle. MSNBC's host asked better questions than she did last week, but after getting the ridiculous answers to them from Harris, tried to excuse it and explain it away: WHAT A JOKE!!! MSNBC acknowledged that Kamala was unprepared for previously taped interview She doesnt answer the question. pic.twitter.com/QS4Jb5tQ48 Chad Prather (@WatchChad) September 25, 2024 It was wretched. The more voters see of this, the more they've got to ask themselves if this person has any idea of what she's doing or what she plans. The less she says, the better it is from Kamala's perspective. But with President Trump refusing her a second debate, we are likely to see more of this, which ought to chase voters away in droves. Image: Twitter screen shot One of the things that lawyers do to drive themselves nuts is to try to discern from appellate judges statements during oral argument how those judges will ultimately rule. Today, a panel of New York Appellate Court judges expressed skepticism about Februarys $464 million fraud judgment against Donald Trump. Still, its irresistible to read the tea leaves, and they indicate that the judges understand that the judgment is irredeemably flawed and must be reversed. Because the lawfare against Trump has been so overwhelming, let me refresh your recollection about which case is being appealed right now. New Yorks Attorney General Letitia James had a one-item platform: I will destroy Donald Trump. To achieve that goal, she filed a civil suit against Trump, alleging that he had defrauded banks by lying about the value of his assets to obtain loans. Judge Engoron, a bizarre man and a Democrat party hack, ate it up and ruled against Trump. To achieve the end, he had to do a few things. Image: YouTube screen grab. First, he had to pretend that Mar-a-Lago, a vast property with a dual beachfront (east and west) in a region where smaller properties are routinely valued at over $100 million, was worth only $18 million. Engoron is either very stupid or very biased. There is no third option. Second, Engoron had to ignore that the banks did due diligence, so they didnt rely on Trumps valuations; Trump repaid the loans in a timely fashion after having properly paid interest on them; and the banks were happy with Trumps business, and wanted more of it. Additionally, outside of the happy banks, not a single New York citizen was harmed by the ruling. The opposite was true. The ruling, if upheld, is a signal for big money to flee New York state, something that harms the states economy. Third, there was the little problem of the lawsuit being time-barred since Trump had applied for many of the loans more than a decade before James filed suit. (Frankly, its hard to tell from the decision when Trump applied for the loans, which suggests that Engoron tried to bury that information in the 92 single-spaced pages. The statute of limitations on fraud claims in New York ranges from six years from when the fraud was committed or two years from when the plaintiff discovered it, whichever is longer. Ignoring these factual and legal matters, Engoron was an enthusiastic partner in Jamess get Trump game. However, the New York Appellate Court may not be quite so enthusiastic about the original $464 million, which has now mushroomed to more than $489 million, thanks to the interest that accrues at a rate of about $1 million every week-and-a-half: How do we draw a line, or at least put up some guardrails, to know when the AG [attorney general] is operating well within her broad admittedly broad sphere and when she is going into an area that wasnt intended for her jurisdiction? Justice John Higgitt asked. [snip] Many of the panel's questions were also related to the law that state Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, used to bring the action against Trump and his business, CNN also reports. Justice David Friedman, for instance, questioned her authority given that Deutsche Bank is not saying they were harmed by Trumps actions. It hardly seems to justify bringing an action to protect Deutsche Bank against President Trump which is what you have here, Friedman said. You have two really sophisticated players in which no one lost any money. In other words, wheres the fraud when you have knowledgeable players and no damages (and fraud claims always require damages)? And if theres no fraud and the appellate court doesnt act, whats to keep a hyper-partisan AG and judge from doing again exactly what James did here? In the Bible, the foundational moral book of Western civilization, Jethro, father-in-law to Moses, recognized that Moses was being overwhelmed by the task of managing the Israelites during their exile. He said Moses should continue as the peoples moral arbiter, but he advised Moses to appoint judges to rule on the peoples disputes. These judges, said Jethro, must be men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe... That was good advice 3,000 years ago, and its good advice now. Thankfully, it looks as if the New York Appellate Judges, whether atheists or religious, are recognizing that Jethro was right: A society functions best when its arbiters are honest people, not dishonest partisans. As we understand, Facebook Mark is done with politics. I guess that Zuckerberg wants to move on and leave politics behind. According to news stories, he has a few regrets: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted Monday that the Biden administration pressured Facebook to censor COVID-19 content and acknowledged it was wrong to stifle The Posts coverage of Hunter Bidens infamous laptop. In an explosive letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Zuckerberg wrote that senior Biden administration officials, including the White House, repeatedly pressured Meta to censor content related to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. The content the Biden administration requested that Meta take down included humor and satire, according to the Facebook founder, and he said he regrets complying with certain demands. Okay, Mark. We forgive you, but hope that you understand what you did. Facebook's COVID policy destroyed reputations and may have cost people a few jobs. It certainly got some of my friends suspended in Facebook. The "laptop" denied voters the truth during a presidential debate. It allowed 50-something charlatans to sign a letter calling the laptop Russian disinformation. What is going on? Maybe Mark is being honest and regretting what he did. As a Christian, I believe in forgiveness and will accept his regrets. At the same time, maybe Mark is looking ahead to a Trump presidency in 2025 and choosing to be on the right side of history, as they like to say. Best of all, now we know that COVID and the laptop stories ended up impacting a presidential election. And Mark was in the middle of it all. I hope that Mark understands that some of us are pretty angry about that. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. Image: AT via Magic Studio All the prevalent Google Pixel Buds will get Gemini LLM and the accompanying AI assistant. An upcoming update would make it easier to summon and use Googles Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) on the older generation of TWS earbuds. Google will send Gemini AI update to older Pixel Buds The Pixel Buds, Pixel Buds A-series, or Pixel Buds Pro earbuds have Google Assistant. Moreover, users can summon the virtual assistant when using voice controls or on-device earbud touch controls. Moving forward, these older generations of earbuds will gain access to Gemini LLM and the Gen AI platform. Interestingly, Google is maintaining the functionality of both Google Assistant and Gemini AI on the previous generation Pixel Buds. In a mass email sent to Pixel Buds owners, Google indicated how Gemini and Google Assistant will co-exist. The Hey Google activation phrase will stay, but it will no longer be a separate setting. Users will be able to control the default Google Assistant on their Android phone or tablet, stated Google: The Hey Google & Voice Match setting on your connected Android phone or tablet will now control whether you can use Hey Google on your Assistant-enabled headphones. To use Hey Google and receive hands-free help on your headphones with your voice, turn on Hey Google from Assistant settings on your connected Android phone or tablet. Not all older Pixel Buds will get Gemini Gen AI By updating the previous generation of Pixel Buds, Google is reportedly bringing some feature parity with the recently launched Pixel Buds Pro 2. However, the latest TWS earbuds from Google have Gemini Live integration, which puts them way ahead of their predecessors. Incidentally, several hundred Pixel Buds could remain limited to Google Assistant. Google has indicated the new update for the older generation of Pixel Buds is limited to countries where Gemini is currently available. This means several of these TWS earbuds have access to Google Assistant only. Google hasnt indicated any timeframe for the release of an update that will bring Gemini AI to older Pixel Buds. It seems the company may not have decided if it will send out a small OTA patch or a larger firmware update. Googles latest releases make it clear that the company sees Matter and Thread as key pieces of the smart home ecosystems of the future. The company implemented Thread radios in the Pixel 9 series and Google TV Streamer for future proofing. The latter could become the ideal control hub for your devices at home. Now, a new finding suggests deeper integration of Thread networks into Google Play Services. Android Authority spotted some Thread-related strings in the latest Google Play Services beta (v24.38). The strings mention things like Thread Networks and Thread Networks Control Center, which are pretty explicit about Googles plans. The Mountain View seems to be working on letting you set up and manage Thread-supported networks using Google Play Services as a hub. Google reportedly integrating Thread networks support into Google Play Services Currently, Google has smartphones and a set-top box with built-in Thread radio. So, you could use any of those products as a control center for all of your Thread-supported smart products at home. The company has been working on making the process of setting up Thread networks easier by developing a Thread credentials cloud backup feature. Furthermore, Google is also embracing the Thread credentials sharing feature, which was announced by the Thread Group earlier this year. Theres still no ETA for Thread networks integration into Google Play Services. However, its possible that youll still have to wait a while to enjoy the full benefits of the protocol. After all, youd have to upgrade your current devices to Thread-supported ones. The work on Google and Thread Group is all about the medium and long term. It is possible that in the coming years most smart home products (and many phones) will integrate a Thread radio. What are Thread and Matter? If youre not aware, Thread is a protocol that ensures faster communication between supported devices in a Matter smart home ecosystem. It offers better performance than the classic WiFi and Bluetooth protocols. However, products must integrate a dedicated Thread radio to take advantage of its benefits. On the other hand, Matter is a common language that enables interoperability between all compatible devices. If youve ever tried to shop for smart home products, youll have noticed that theres a noticeable fragmentation in terms of platform support. Youll find devices that support Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apples HomeKit, or Samsungs SmartThings. Some devices include support for two of those smart home platforms, but many only support one. What Matter wants is for all those products to communicate. That would open up a plethora of possibilities, such as managing smart light bulbs designed for Alexa from Google Home. Tensions between Google and the Russian government continue to rise. The Kremlin has not liked the Mountain View giants actions regarding blocking services in the country or removing state-backed content. Now, Russias digital ministry claims that Google has restricted the creation of new accounts on the platform for users in the country. Russian ministry says Google is restricting the creation of new accounts Google and Russia have had tension for years. The Russian government has spoken out against Googles refusal to remove content considered illegal by the state. This content frequently links to opponents of the Putin administration. After the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, Google blocked access to its ad services and disabled AdSense accounts for Russian users. The company has also demonetized or removed content that approves or supports Ukraines invasion. This includes blocking thousands of YouTube channels and removing millions of videos. Now, Russias Digital Communications Ministry claims that Google restricts the creation of new accounts in the country. It also suggests that the SMS-based two-factor authentication service has stopped working. Telecom operators have also recorded a significant reduction in the number of SMS messages sent by the company to Russian users, the ministry said. Therefore, it is recommending that Russian users make backup copies of all content saved on Google services. It also suggests that they switch to other two-factor authentication solutions or move to Russian services. Other movements during the conflict between Russia and Google In early August, the possibility of a complete block of Google, Android, and iOS by the Russian government emerged. Russians also reported video playback and loading issues on YouTube due to speed throttling. At the time, the Russian government blamed Google, but the company claimed that the problem was not on its side. Issues with Google-based tech for Russian users appear to be escalating. The alleged blocking of the creation of new Google accounts in the country is a severe blow. If everything continues as it is, theyll probably have to move to another platform sooner rather than later. Many people tend to rely on reviews from alleged previous buyers before purchasing a product or service. However, the internet is full of fake reviews, probably more than you think. There are companies that use this strategy to make their products stand out from the rest. Now, Google is announcing that it will extend its fake reviews crackdown policy globally. As reported by Search Engine Roundtable, Google plans to get stricter with businesses that pay for fake product review services. The proliferation of fake reviews can be a serious market problem that unfairly affects competitors. After all, to the average person, a shiny 5-star review will look more attractive than one with 4 or 3 stars. So, many decide what to spend their money on based on what the reviews say. The fake review crackdown policies that Google will implement globally To combat this, Google will begin to implement tougher measures globally. If it detects businesses resorting to fake reviews, the Mountain View giant will impose three penalties. Such businesses will not be able to receive new reviews or ratings for a set period of time. Plus, existing reviews or ratings will be unpublished for a set period of time. Lastly, potential consumers will receive a warning about the business use of fake reviews. Interestingly, such policies are not exactly new. Google was already enforcing them, but only in the UK. In fact, the existing cases of businesses impacted by the punishments come from the UK. However, Google is now planning to expand these penalties globally. This should help greatly reduce the percentage of fake comments in product review sections. Malicious actors could abuse the system to affect competitors That said, Google must be careful in determining whether a business actually resorted to fake reviews. After learning about the new policies, some business owners may begin to pay for fake review services in an attempt to negatively impact their competitors. For instance, a company might send phony reviews to their direct competitors products, seeking to have Google unfairly penalize them. So, a reliable verification system is necessary before making a final decision about a business. It doesnt seem like an easy task, but if theres anyone who can find a solution to it, its Google. It seems that the Google TV Streamer is proving to be more of a hit than Google thought. The device is the next-generation Chromecast product, completely taking over the Chromecast branding. Its also the first device of its kind to integrate Android TV 14 out of the box. However, Google TV Streamer shipping is experiencing delays from multiple retailers, including the Google Store. Google Store will ship Google TV Stream devices in October (or November) Ironically, the Google Store appears to be the retailer with the longest shipping delays for the Google TV Streamer. 9to5Google reports that the website shows an estimated delivery date of between October 24-25 and October 25-28 for states like North Carolina and California, respectively. These dates correspond to the standard Porcelain colorway. The Google Store-exclusive Hazel colorway has even further out shipping dates (November 14-22 and November 8-17 for the same respective destinations). The Google TV Streamer only hit stores yesterday, suggesting the delay is due to higher demand than available units. As for other retailers, Amazon is also experiencing shipping delays for the Google TV Streamer, but only by a week (or a bit more). Amazon also does not offer the option of faster shipping with Prime. That said, if you just want to buy the device as quickly as possible, there are a few options. The source indicates that Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowes Hardware have immediate availability of the Google TV Streamer for in-store pickup (limited availability at Lowes Hardware). If you want it shipped to your address, Best Buy processes the order in 2-3 days, Home Depot does it in 5-7 days, and Lowes Hardware takes 1-3 days. The devices improvements (and one drawback) The Google TV Streamer brings some key improvements compared to Chromecast dongles. The new set-top box form factor offers additional space for more ports and components, such as an Ethernet, a USB-C, and even a Thread radio to control Matter-based smart home ecosystems. Google claims that the device is 22% more powerful than the Chromecast with Google TV (4K). The Google TV Streamer features 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage for downloading your favorite streaming apps and casual games. Theres also native support for Dolby Atmos. The new remote is similar to the old one, but now includes a customizable button and a handy Find My Remote feature that you can trigger with a button on the set-top box. While the device should offer a seamless streaming experience, there are some aspects that could have been better. For instance, the product uses WiFi 5 instead of WiFi 6. Samsung has now officially announced the Galaxy Tab S10 series and its pretty much everything you thought it was based on the leaks, including the fact that Samsung is only releasing two variants of the tablet this year. Those two models include the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus starting at $999.99, and the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra starting at $1,199.99. Samsung chose to forego the regular Galaxy Tab S10 model this year and focus on the mid-range and high-end models. Samsung will offer multiple versions of the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra that have slightly varying specs, although this really only boils down to the amount of RAM and storage. The base model Galaxy Tab S10 Plus will offer 256GB of storage, but you can bump up to 512GB for an extra $200, bringing the total end price up to $1,199.99 for the Plus. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra also starts with 256GB and can go up to 512GB for an end price of $1,319.99. Theres also now a 1TB model this year that will retail for a whopping $1,619.99. All variations will come with 12GB of RAM across the board. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 series is ready to handle your tasks thanks to AI Samsung has been integrating Galaxy AI into its devices since the launch of the Galaxy S24 series at the beginning of this year. Now, Galaxy AI is coming to tablets with the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. All the usual things you could do with Galaxy AI up till now will be present, but things that should stand out to tablet owners will be things like Drawing Assist and Note Assist. With the use of the S Pen, you can use either of these features to make things easier. Note Assist, for example, will help you summarize lectures and transcribe talks with ease. Theres also a Sketch-to-Image feature that Samsung says can help users turn their imagination into reality. Circle-to-Search is included too, of course, making it much easier to find out a little more information about that product or item you saw online. New this year will be a dedicated Galaxy AI key on the new Book Cover Keyboard accessory. So if you pick that up it should be much easier (and more convenient) to interact with Samsungs Galaxy AI software. Big dynamic displays for rich color Samsung hasnt done a whole lot different with the displays this year, at least in terms of size. The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus will come with a 12.4-inch display and the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will have the larger 14.6-inch display. Both versions will use Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels that offer a vibrant yet natural viewing experience, even outdoors. The even outdoors part refers to the Anti-Reflection feature of the displays. So, basically you wont have to worry about having a hard time seeing anything on the screen. The displays on both tablets also have a refresh rate of 120Hz, so these should be great for general browsing as well as mobile gaming. In addition to the display specs, both tablets will come running on Android 14 and will use a MediaTek Diemsnity 9300+ chipset. Both tablets also support expandable storage via microSD cards up to 1.5TB in size on top of their internal storage amounts. In terms of battery life, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus will come with a 10,090mAh battery and the Ultra model will have a 11,200mAh battery. Both will charge at 45W. Pre-orders begin today If youre looking to get your hands on either of these new tablets, pre-orders start today. The tablets will launch officially on October 3, though, which means you should be able to outright buy one starting next week. Samsung says theyre available in select markets, but thats likely most major markets where it already sells its biggest devices. So if you were able to purchase the Galaxy Tab S9 series last year, chances are you can buy either of these new models. In addition to the Galaxy Tab S10 series, Samsung also announced the Galaxy S24 FE, and the Galaxy Watch FE. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus - Buy at Amazon Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra - Buy at Best Buy According to leaks, the long-awaited Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip will bring significant performance boosts. However, it appears that Qualcomm will actually market it under a different name. A teaser for the Xiaomi 15 confirmed that the name of Qualcomms next flagship mobile SoC will be Snapdragon 8 Elite, aligning with the companys laptop chips. Tipster Digital Chat Station had suggested the name change, but now its a phone brand that confirms it. The name change to Snapdragon 8 Elite seems to make sense considering Qualcomm will use its new custom Oryon cores that debuted in its laptop SoCs. For reference, Qualcomms latest chips for ARM laptops are called Snapdragon X Elite (the more powerful one) and Snapdragon X Plus (a more affordable variant). Xiaomi 15 series teaser confirms Snapdragon 8 Elite as the name of Qualcomms next flagship SoC So, it seems that Qualcomm will identify its chips for Windows devices using X instead of a number. This suggests that a potentially more affordable version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite would be called Snapdragon 8 Plus, which could be a bit confusing. Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is the name of the affordable version of the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Qualcomm also typically offers Samsung an exclusive version of its most powerful chipset by adding For Galaxy to the name. Therefore, Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy would be the name of the chip in the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra. The teaser for the Xiaomi 15 series confirms that the phones will arrive on October 23, 2024, in China. That means that Qualcomm will announce the new SoC before that date. The company will host its Snapdragon Summit 2024 event in Maui, Hawaii from October 21 to 23. Qualcomm will probably reveal the chip during the first day of the event. Some expected improvements The Snapdragon 8 Elite (formerly known as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4) will be Qualcomms first 3nm mobile chip. The SoCs CPU would have 2x super cores at 4.0 GHz and 6x high-performance cores at 2.8 GHz. This would translate to a 35% performance improvement in single-core tasks and 30% in multi-core tasks compared to its predecessor. It would also bring a powerful next-gen Adreno GPU with advanced ray-tracing capabilities. Of course, it would also boast a new NPU for advanced AI-powered experiences. The mother of a British teacher in Beirut has described her sons escape from Lebanon as the biggest relief after days of jitters amid escalating violence. Nicola Peters, 54, from Highgate in north London is mother to Charlie Peters, 24, who works in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanons capital and has fled the country as fighting continues between Hezbollah and Israel. He boarded a delayed Middle East Airlines (MEA) flight from Beirut to Amman in Jordan on Wednesday and hopes to arrive in London Heathrow at 3.30pm on Thursday after Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged British nationals in Lebanon to leave while commercial options still remain. Speaking just before her sons flight to Amman, Ms Peters told the PA news agency: Once hes out of Lebanese airspace, I think that is, for me, the biggest relief factor. Ive spent three days with the jitters and the jumps and not wanting really to look at the news, but also having to look at the news, and thats really tricky. All those stages of, are you at the airport? Have you got your boarding pass? Are you at gate? Because youre waiting for that sort of news to come through the airport is shot. She said her son felt the rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel could result in emergency evacuations for British nationals and believed this week is his final chance of catching a commercial flight back to the UK. What Charlie was really keen to do is that he did not want to be evacuated, explained Ms Peters, who trains menopausal women in weightlifting. He was like, were edging towards emergency evacuation here. I dont want to be somebody whos left it to the point where thats my only option. I either stay here or the British taxpayer has to get me home. And that was his big thing is, I have to get a commercial flight out. Probably this week is the last week. Charlie Peters left Lebanon after the attacks of October 7 and again in August when there was an exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah. However, Nicola Peters feels the scale of attacks on this occasion feels different and may prevent her son from returning to Lebanon in the future. I think as soon as he felt it was safe to (return to Lebanon), he would go back, but I think this time feels different. It feels really, really different, she said. Before it was a Palestinian, Hamas war in Gaza, then it crept into the West Bank, and you can just see that its just swelling, and its now reaching that point in Lebanon where I just cannot see the Israelis stopping. This feels as though Lebanon are being dragged into something. It cant even get back on its feet. Its economically broken and this is just going to set it back years. Ms Peters said her sons decision to leave Lebanon was difficult describing his close attachment to teaching for Alsama, a Lebanese charity which provides teaching to refugee children with a focus on empowering women and girls. What you have to understand for these people who work in these sort of refugee camp systems is youre leaving people behind who have no choice, she explained. Hes worked there for two years, theres a big emotional attachment to these kids about abandoning them because they have no choice and actually having that choice to leave becomes really problematic. Chancellor Rachel Reeves could be willing to change the plans for Labours crackdown on non-doms, according to reports. The Financial Times reported on Thursday evening that Government officials had said Ms Reeves could change the policy if the numbers are not satisfactory. A Treasury spokesperson called the report speculation, not Government policy and pledged to remove the outdated non-dom tax regime. Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulates Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves after she addressed the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool (Stefan Rousseau/PA) It comes after a report in the Guardian suggested Treasury officials fear estimates due to be issued by the Office for Budget Responsibility will forecast that the policy will raise no money because of the risk of people who are super-rich leaving the UK. According to the Guardian report, there are concerns that the OBR forecast would predict the policy could cost the Government money due to non-doms limiting their time in the UK. An HM Treasury spokesperson said: These reports are speculation, not Government policy. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility will certify the costings of all measures announced at the Budget in the usual way. We are committed to addressing unfairness in the tax system so we can raise the revenue to rebuild our public services. That is why we are removing the outdated non-dom tax regime and replacing it with a new internationally competitive residence-based regime focused on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK. A costings document in June said Labour planned to raise billions by closing the non-dom loophole for wealthy foreigners living in the UK and cracking down on tax avoidance. Earlier on Thursday, former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane told LBC he would be a bit careful about not discouraging money for growth. When asked about the Guardian report, he said: This is a time where we need more of that private finance to fuel growth and recovery. So if it were me, Id be being a bit careful in not deterring just the flow of finance we need to get growth going. In August, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged the Government was cracking down on non-doms. In a speech where he warned the upcoming Budget would be painful, he said: Those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden, and thats why were cracking down on non-doms. Englands chief medical officer is to be quizzed on the impact the pandemic had on the NHS. Professor Sir Chris Whitty is to face questions when he appears before the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Thursday. Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett is examining the impact of the crisis on NHS workers, patients and the delivery of healthcare. Module three of the inquiry is looking at the governmental and societal response to Covid-19 by assessing the impact of the pandemic on how NHS services were delivered. This will include how managers led the pandemic response, the role of primary care and GPs, NHS backlogs, and how the vaccine programme was integrated. The diagnosis of long Covid and the support offered to those affected will also be examined. Professor Sir Chris Whitty will be questioned by the inquiry on Thursday (Andrew Matthews/PA) Sir Chris, who became a well-known figure during the crisis due to his regular appearances at Downing Street press conferences, is likely to be asked about the Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives messaging deployed at the start of the pandemic. Former chief nursing officer for England Dame Ruth May was asked about the messaging when she appeared before the inquiry earlier in the month. Asked if the message got the balance wrong, she replied: In hindsight I wish it was, stay at home but not if youre pregnant in hindsight, yes. It comes as a charity said the Government missed opportunities to support the nations mental health during the pandemic. A report from the Centre for Mental Health said the pandemic caused collective trauma from the effects of isolation, bereavement and fear, and longer term trauma of health care workers and the psychological legacy among children and young people of disrupted education. Andy Bell, chief executive of the charity and co-author of the report, said: The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the nations mental health hard. A lack of government planning, and the absence of any strategy to mitigate harms, meant that both short-term and long-lasting mental health harms occurred that are still visible four years on. It is truly shocking that people with a mental illness were so disproportionately affected by the virus itself, exacerbating existing health inequalities and widening the already vast life expectancy gap. In the wake of the Darzi review, todays report is yet more evidence that the NHS requires system-wide change to meet rising levels of need following the pandemic. We call on the Covid public inquiry and the UK Government to take the evidence we have amassed seriously and ensure that we learn the right lessons from the pandemic about its relationship with the nations mental health. Sidelining mental health yet again will leave us unprepared for future emergencies and their consequences. The peoples mental health deserves better. Elsewhere, the BBC reported that Baroness Hallett has refused an application from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to keep the identities of two junior clinicians secret. Lawyers for UKHSA applied for an order preventing publication of their names, on the grounds they could be subject to abuse and harassment on social media and in person. Both attended Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Cell meetings during the pandemic to discuss guidance on masks and personal protective equipment (PPE). Critics have said the IPC Cell failed to strengthen recommendations on PPE after it became clear how Covid was spread, costing lives. Baroness Hallett said the names could be published in minutes of those meetings, as any risk was outweighed by the public interest. Coldplay are to make history by becoming the first music act to play 10 nights at Wembley Stadium in a single tour, breaking a record jointly held by Taylor Swift and Take That. On Thursday, the London venue said in a post on X that the group will set a new Wembley record after the band announced additional shows had been added to their 2025 world tour. The post added: Coldplay make Wembley history as they perform a record ten nights under the arch as part of the #MusicOfTheSpheresWorldTour. It could only happen here. The band, comprised of frontman Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, drummer Will Champion and bassist Guy Berryman, had initially announced a six-night run at Wembley next year but added four more shows due to phenomenal demand. A new Wembley record.@coldplay make Wembley history as they perform a record ten nights under the arch as part of the #MusicOfTheSpheresWorldTour It could only happen here. pic.twitter.com/Z5xJufcysp Wembley Stadium (@wembleystadium) September 26, 2024 Grammy-award winner Swift, who kicked off her juggernaut Eras Tour in 2023, this year became the first solo artist to play the venue eight times in a single tour, with the stadium gifting her a bespoke guitar to mark her achievement. Pop group Take That, known for hits including Patience and Greatest Day, performed eight shows at the stadium in 2011. Coldplay said on X: Due to phenomenal demand in the presale, ninth and tenth Wembley Stadium shows have just been announced, for 7 & 8 September, 2025. The presale for these extra shows will begin at 2.30pm BST today, to those with presale access. The presale for the first eight Wembley shows has now ended. Due to phenomenal demand in the presale, ninth and tenth Wembley Stadium shows have just been announced, for 7 & 8 September, 2025. The presale for these extra shows will begin at 2.30pm BST today, to those with presale access. The presale for the first eight Wembley shows has pic.twitter.com/0S1NHKfTWo Coldplay (@coldplay) September 26, 2024 The general sale for all UK shows will begin tomorrow (Friday) at 9am BST. The pop band, known for songs including Clocks, Yellow and Fix You, will also play at Craven Park in Hull in August next year alongside a special guest, yet to be announced. This year the band headlined Glastonbury Festival on the Saturday night where they were joined by artists including Little Simz and Nigerian music legend Femi Kuti, as well as Back To The Future star Michael J Fox. The group are to play dates in Australia from October as part of their ongoing Music Of The Spheres world tour which is named after their 2021 album of the same name. Their forthcoming studio album, Moon Music, will be released in October. Ludwig stars David Mitchell as a puzzle designer who decides to take his missing twin's place as a detective to investigate his disappearance. (BBC) (BBC / Big Talk Studios) Ludwig has delighted BBC viewers so much that just one day after it premiered viewers were already calling for a new series. The crime drama stars David Mitchell as John 'Ludwig' Taylor, a reclusive puzzle designer who decides to take on his twin brother James' identity in order to investigate his mysterious disappearance. In the fish out of water story, John must pretend to be a DCI on Cambridge's major crimes squad so he helps solve crimes whilst searching for his brother. Mitchell is joined in the series by Anna Maxwell Martin, Dipo Ola, Izuka Hoyle, and Dorothy Atkinson, amongst others, and the series was dropped all on BBC iPlayer so that viewers could choose whether they wanted to binge it straight away or watch it weekly many chose the former. Ludwig has been received well by viewers, who have started to call the BBC to commission it for a new series just one day after it premiered. (BBC) (BBC / Big Talk Studios) Some people who watched Ludwig shared their thoughts on the series on social media, with several asking BBC to recommission the show already. One user tagged BBC and Mitchell on X and said: "#LUDWIG - I LOVED IT. Second series?", while another wrote: "Dear @BBCOne PLEASE can we have a second series of #Ludwig!!!!" They weren't the only ones hoping to see more of Ludwig on their screens, as another person wrote: "Stuff like this makes me happy to pay my tv licence, more of this BBC! Commission a second series - and Im only one episode in!" Viewers were also full of praise for the series, with one saying: "Absolutely loved the first episode of #Ludwig. Right up my street!" Dear @BBCOne PLEASE can we have a second series of #Ludwig!!!! pic.twitter.com/nLAd2q6j7h Sarah Todd Taylor (@scraphamster) September 25, 2024 The cosy crime drama delighted another viewer, who said it was "the Jonathan Creek for a new generation", adding: "It's all about formula and logic. It's so simple and absolutely brilliant. Love it!" Another person put things simply: "#Ludwig is the best binge of the year so far. Isnt it obvious." Mitchell's performance as the titular character also worked well for fans, with one person saying the actor is "brilliant" in the series, while a different viewer wrote: "Just watched the first three episodes of #Ludwig and it's brilliant. Right up my street. Some good laughs combined with an utterly ridiculous set of circumstances and characters make this an easy watch. Loving the incidental Beethoven variations too. Mitchell is brilliant." David Mitchell has said playing a TV detective is a 'dream' role for him because of his love for shows like Poirot and Miss Marple. (BBC) (BBC / Big Talk Studios) Mitchell would no doubt be delighted by the praise as he shared that Ludwig was a dream role: "I love TV detective shows. Its one of the types of programme I find most enjoyable and comforting to watch. I grew up loving Miss Marple and Inspector Morse and Poirot so its a bit of a dream for me to be in one." The comedian added that Ludwig works well as a series because of its episodic nature, adding: "I like the fact that you get some sort of resolution with Ludwig in one sitting. A lot more television programmes these days are serials. You have to keep watching to kind of get anything. "In Ludwig there are rewards for keeping watching every week but equally there is a story in each episode that is resolved, hopefully in a pleasing and intriguing way." Ludwig continues to air on BBC One every Wednesday at 9pm, and all episodes are available on BBC iPlayer now. This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/david-mitchell-ludwig-viewers-second-series-bbc-093404150.html The Tanaiste said the Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe is clear he did not make any phone call to an Israeli minister about the Occupied Territories Bill. Micheal Martin said he spoke to the Fine Gael minister on Thursday, and was clear that the reported phone call did not happen, nor does his published diary record any phone call. It was reported by the online website The Ditch that the then finance minister had a secret phone call in 2019 with his Israeli counterpart to assure him the Irish Government would block the Bill. The website said the call was disclosed in documents leaked from the Israeli Ministry of Justice. Fine Gael ministers must immediately reveal details of confidential engagements with Israeli officials @mattcarthy "Paschal Donohoe must set out clearly the detail of his engagements with Israeli counterparts." https://t.co/W1O9W5zMRT Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 25, 2024 Sinn Feins Matt Carthy raised the issue in the Dail on Thursday, calling on Mr Martin to clarify whether the phone call took place. Mr Carthy, the Sinn Fein spokesman on foreign affairs, said: One of the things that we can do and, in fact, should have done years ago, is to enact the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. The Bill is not controversial or, at least, it should not be. It simply bans trade with and economic support for illegal settlements and territories deemed occupied under international law. The Tanaistes party supported it when it was in opposition. It not only supported it but ran a roadshow in towns and cities across Ireland setting out its importance. On entering Government, Fianna Fail and the Green Party, it has to be said, have allowed Fine Gael to continue blocking this legislation. We have heard the excuses as to why the Bill has not been enacted. Reporting from The Ditch website suggests that following a confidential and unrecorded call with the minister, Paschal Donohoe, Israeli officials were in little doubt that the Bill would be blocked by the Fine Gael Government. We are told that Israeli officials emphasised that this was a confidential call and that, of course, chimes with the ministers own failure to record it in his ministerial diary and the Tanaistes contention that the minister cannot recall a conversation. Mr Martin said he spoke to Mr Donohoe on Thursday. He is clear that he did not make any such phone call, he said. His published diary does not record any such phone call. Sinn Feins Matt Carthy raised the issue of the reported phone call in the Dail on Thursday (Liam McBurney/PA) It speaks to people rushing to judgment before ascertaining the full facts. He is very clear and I think deputy Carthy should perhaps withdraw the assertions in his earlier public statements in that regard. Mr Carthy, a TD for Cavan Monaghan, called on the Tanaiste to commit to enacting the Occupied Territories Bill, and to allow for the passage of Sinn Feins Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023, which bans the state from investing in companies that profit from illegal Israeli settlements. Mr Martin went on to say that the Israeli response to the attack on October 7 by Hamas has been absolutely disproportional and led to near famine conditions and the killing of more than 40,000 people in Gaza. In my view, that is reprehensible, he told the Dail. Mr Martin said he met the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority (Mohammed Mustafa), who he said was very grateful and very appreciative of Irelands stance and support of the Palestinian right to self-determination. The messaging around what masks NHS staff should wear to protect themselves against Covid-19 was quite confused early in the pandemic, according to Englands chief medical officer. Professor Sir Chris Whitty was asked about the use of FFP3 masks and FRSM masks (fluid-resistant surgical masks) at the Covid-19 Inquiry on Thursday. Public hearings for the inquiry are currently exploring the impact of the crisis on healthcare systems in the UK. Inquiry counsel Jacqueline Carey said that when the virus was declassified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in March 2020, guidance from UK Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) effectively said FFP3s for AGPs (aerosol generating procedures), or hotspots where AGPs are going to be done, FRSM in the other areas. She asked: Do you think that was perceived by some in the profession as a downgrading of PPE that was required? Prof Whitty said: Im very confident you find some people who thought that was a downgrading, but I think most people would see that as a quite normal sequence. They may or may not agree with it, but they would see that as, its not a sort of downgrading, its simply a move from an HCID to an infectious disease, for which you have standard precautions for that level of risk. Ms Carey asked if he thought that message was sufficiently well communicated to healthcare workers. Prof Whitty replied that it was not his area of expertise, but added: I think that this is a recommendation I would invite the inquiry to consider. I think that the messaging near the beginning of this was quite confused. And I think the reason that it was confused was it was not entirely clear who was ultimately responsible for making decisions in this fast-moving situation. He added: I think that quite a lot of people thought they were partially responsible, and thats always an extremely difficult and dangerous situation to find yourself in. So it wasnt that people were trying to walk away from responsibility, but the quite complex system by which Public Health England, as it then was, the infection control cell, NHS delivery of various things, were interacting and thats before we get into issues of procurement and distribution, which had a separate set of challenges I think works fine if youre changing every six months or so in a reasonably measured way, up against the speed of changes that were needed, I think it led to uncertainty. It wasnt deliberate in any sense, and it wasnt anybody, as I say, trying to walk away from responsibility, but uncertainty as to who finally was actually trying to both call this and communicate it. Sir Chris said one of the things which we got wrong during the early stages of the pandemic was communication between people giving infection control guidance and those working on the frontline. He added: It is sensible to say to people: Our advice is professionally, we dont think this makes a difference, but if you feel this is important for your particular situation, this is available for you. And that might have been tricky right at the beginning because of what was available in the country at that point. He said that he did not use FFP3 masks when he was on the wards with people with Covid-19, adding: My view about this is the guidance is usually there for a perfectly logical set of reasons. I did what I what was recommended, not out of the point of principle, but just because I think: Fine, thats what the experts have recommended. Im comfortable with that. But people clearly werent comfortable, and that that was our failure, was the fact people did not feel, for understandable reasons, comfortable. Elon Musk has not been invited to the International Investment Summit the UK Government is hosting in October because of his social media posts during last months riots. After three children were killed in a stabbing attack in Southport and violence erupted across the UK, X owner Mr Musk posted on his platform promoting false claims, suggesting that a civil war in the UK was inevitable and attacking the Prime Minister. Billionaire Mr Musk has not been invited to the October summit because of his social media posts during the disorder, the BBC has reported. Mr Musk responded to a tweet saying that he had been snubbed by the UK, saying: I dont think anyone should go to the UK when theyre releasing convicted paedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts. Earlier this month, some 1,700 prisoners were released early from their sentences in the first phase of the Governments plan to tackle overcrowding. Sex offenders are excluded from the policy. Some people have been jailed for stirring up racial hatred in relation to social media posts they made during the unrest in August. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will host the International Investment Summit on October 14 two weeks before the autumn Budget. The Government hopes the summit will attract hundreds of leading chief executives and financiers and is part of efforts to show that the UK is open for business after a period of political and economic turmoil. Sir Keir Starmer will host the International Investment Summit on October 14 (Leon Neal/PA) BNY, Blackstone and CyrusOne have confirmed attendance, according to the Treasury. A list of attendees has not been released. Investment giant Blackstone has already confirmed a 10 billion deal to develop Europes largest AI data centre in Blyth, Northumberland. The firms president, Jon Gray, will be among the executives at a roundtable event hosted by Sir Keir on Thursday. Rishi Sunak, left, interviewed Mr Musk at the AI Safety Summit last year (PA) Mr Musk was a star guest at the UK Governments Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit last year, during which then-prime minister Rishi Sunak interviewed him for almost an hour in front of business chiefs. But it appears he will not be courted by the new Labour administration after his posts about the disorder in the UK last month. False information that spread on social media about the identity of the alleged Southport knife attacker has been seen as playing a role in sparking the days of violence. The billionaire engaged with posts by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, suggested that civil war in the UK was inevitable, and retweeted a fake Daily Telegraph headline suggesting rioters would be sent to detention camps in the Falkland Islands. The social media tycoon also called the Prime Minister two-tier Keir, a reference to claims that police have a two-tier approach to protests and deal with some more harshly than others. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander said at the time that Mr Musks comments on civil war were deeply irresponsible and Sir Keirs spokesman said there was no justification for comments like that. Kemi Badenoch speaking at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event at IET London. Picture date: Monday September 2, 2024. Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch has said she is a huge fan of Mr Musk. I think Elon Musk has been a fantastic thing for freedom of speech. I will hold my hand up and say, Im a huge fan of Elon Musk, she said in an interview with The Spectator. The other three hopefuls were also asked whether Musk has been a good thing for freedom of speech. Robert Jenrick said he does not have a strong opinion on the billionaire, but added: Im not going to be booking a tete-a-tete with Elon Musk any time soon. James Cleverly meanwhile warned against curtailing voices that you disagree with, while Tom Tugendhat said that If you are allowed to say whatever you like but you put your name to it, thats freedom of speech. The Government and X have been contacted for comment. Journalist Emily Maitlis has said she fled to the toilet before her interview with the Duke of York to tell herself dont pull your punches. The 54-year-old former BBC reporter said it had been the stuff of dreams to be played by Gillian Anderson and Ruth Wilson in dramatisations of the interview, in Netflix film Scoop and BBC drama series A Very Royal Scandal respectively. She told Good Housekeeping that despite being proud of her work, there was something very disturbing about seeing the impact of the interview play out. Maitlis said: I remember shaking [Andrews] hand, and then I excused myself and fled to the toilet. The interview saw Andrew quizzed on his relationship to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (Chris Jackson/PA) I locked the door and slumped in the corner of this wonderful, very chintzy, very ornate loo. I was holding the handbasin at one point and just saying to myself, right, what is this interview about? Find the focus, find the point of the interview. I was sort of lecturing myself: dont interrupt, dont be rude, dont forget to be courteous in your address but also dont pull your punches in the questions. The interview saw Maitlis quiz Andrew on his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and saw him deny having sex with then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, saying he was in Pizza Express in Woking on the day it was alleged to have happened. Following the interview, the duke paid a financial settlement to Giuffre, formally ending a US civil case brought against him. In the settlement he accepted no liability and he has always rejected claims of wrongdoing. Canadian-born British journalist Maitlis went on to say that her younger self wouldnt believe that parts of her life would end up on TV dramas. She added: I just thought it was a hoot. I couldnt believe it. Its the stuff of dreams, isnt it, to be portrayed by Gillian Anderson and Ruth Wilson? If I had to describe that to a younger version of myself, I just wouldnt believe it. Emily Maitlis will appear on the cover of the November issue of Good Housekeeping (Good Housekeeping UK/Mark Harrison/Camera Press/PA) Maitlis said that, following the interview, far too much responsibility was put on her and her team. The journalist said: There were some people saying to me, what have you done to the royal family?. Stuff that was way too big and put far too much responsibility on our teams shoulders. But theres something very disturbing about seeing the effects play out in real time, because you do feel a sense of responsibility. The thing I keep coming back to is, Im a journalist, I just ask the questions. Maitlis also spoke about her decision to leave the BBC in 2022, saying she was grateful to the corporation but had thought it was now or never when she entered her 50s, so decided to leave. Her post-BBC work has seen her appear on Channel 4s election night coverage, present a daily news podcast called The News Agents and work as an executive producer on A Very Royal Scandal. The full interview can be read in the November 2024 issue of Good Housekeeping, which is now on sale. Former senator George Mitchell, who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement, has challenged Northern Irelands current leaders to fulfil the potential of the historic peace deal. Mr Mitchell, who returned to Belfast as plans were unveiled to build a new home for a peace institute in his name at Queens University, said while Northern Ireland had enjoyed 26 years of peace, there has not been 26 years of full reconciliation and progress. The veteran diplomat, 91, also had an emotional meeting with Erin McArdle, one of the first babies born after the 1998 agreement which largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Mr Mitchell, who chaired the Good Friday Agreement negotiations to a successful conclusion, was making his first visit to Belfast since he attended events at Queens last year to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace deal. George Mitchell met with Erin McArdle, one of the first babies born after the Good Friday Agreement was signed (Kelvin Boyes/PA) The event on Wednesday night was held to mark a dedication of the new home for the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at the university. Among those in attendance at the recently opened Seamus Heaney Centre, beside which the new institute will be developed, were former taioseach Bertie Ahern, Secretary of State Hilary Benn and the First and deputy First Ministers Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly as well as a host of political leaders, past and present. Television presenter Donna Traynor then facilitated a conversation between Mr Mitchell and Ms McArdle and her mother Caroline in the Whitla Hall. Reflecting on the challenges of negotiating the agreement, Mr Mitchell said he believed Northern Ireland can be and will be a lesson to the world. He added: The challenge you have is to take advantage of this opportunity. There have been 26 years of peace; there has not been 26 years of full reconciliation and progress. The restoration of the Assembly, the election of two credible, responsible women Michelle (ONeill) and Emma (Little-Pengelly), the fact that you dont have an election coming up right away, means that there is an enormous opportunity now for Northern Ireland to experience a period of growth, increased prosperity, opportunity, education, healthcare for children. A place where people not only want to live but people want to come to. I believe that with all my heart and soul. I hope that is going to happen, that springing from this moment, out of crisis comes opportunity that Northern Ireland can move forward together. Left to right, Sir Ian Greer with Mr Mitchell and Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly (Kelvin Boyes/PA) Declan Kelly, a former US Envoy, is leading the fundraising campaign to rebuild the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. Originally established in 2016, it is an interdisciplinary research institute providing a response to the global challenge of building a peaceful, inclusive and secure world. Mr Kelly said: I was honoured to be approached to lead the capital committee for the Mitchell Centre. We owe it to future generations to pass on all we can of George Mitchells towering accomplishment here through the long years that led to the Good Friday Agreement. Queens president and vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, added: It is an honour to welcome our former chancellor and close friend of the University, Senator George Mitchell, back to Queens for this special event. Senator Mitchell was a key architect of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, chairing the talks in 1998 that brought peace to this island. The continuing work that takes place at the Queens Institute that bears his name solidifies the Senators and Queens unwavering commitment to lasting peace for this island and its people. This event was a celebration of how far we have come in terms of peace, and we look forward to continuing the work on global peace, security and justice when the new institute building opens in the next few years. Ms ONeill said the institute showcases the positive change that has taken place in the north since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. She added: This building and the research institute that bears his name, pay tribute to the commitment and dedication of Senator George Mitchell to bringing peace here and I want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Senator Mitchell throughout the peace process. Ms Little-Pengelly said it was an honour to be part of the event. She added: The progress that has been made over the course of the last 26 years has been remarkable and Senator Mitchells commitment to Northern Ireland and his deep understanding of here has been an important part of that journey. This initiative will reflect the importance of peace but it will also remind us of the frailty and how we all must continue to work at maintaining it. Watch Grand Designs fans feel sorry for neighbour who 'looked out of bird cage' for years Grand Designs' viewers were left feeling sorry for the "poor neighbour" Vic who felt like he was looking out of a bird cage for years. It's an exciting start to the 25th series of the Channel 4 show. Zahid and Ferzana, from Leeds, set out to transform an old coastguard's house that was at the end of Victorian terrace houses on the East Yorkshire coast. Neighbour Vic was incredibly supportive at the beginning even though, as presenter Kevin McCloud pointed out, "the structural integrity" of his home would rely on the project being done well because of the two properties shared a wall. Playfully in the beginning, the neighbour - who was once a coastguard - jested: "If it falls down there will be trouble!" Read more There were hopes the project would be wrapped in 10 months but it faced many hurdles along the way meaning it extended for a further five years, including an issue with planning permission that saw the project shut down completely. The Grand Designs neighbour compared the unfinished structure to a birdcage. (Channel 4 screengrab) (Channel 4 screengrab) Initially Zahid applied for a conversion but the shared wall with his neighbour was the only remaining thing from the old coastguard house so he had to apply for a new planning request which was later given the green light. Social media was awash with Grand Designs viewers sharing their sympathy for the neighbour. Among the comments, one said: "That neighbour must have the patience of a saint because Id have killed them after two years. #granddesigns." What, how and why? Kevin McCloud warned the neighbour Vic. (Channel 4 screengrab) (Channel 4 screengrab) Once the house is completed and McCloud has spoken with the family, he headed to the neighbour's house. "This project has not been without its negative impacts, it's been tough on next door," he said in the voiceover. "How are things Vic?" McCloud asked him as they meet over the neighbouring fence. "Now that you've got a building up against your wall." The neighbour made the shocking admission he felt like he had been looking out of a birdcage. He said: "Well I'm damn glad to see the back of the scaffold. Peering through the birdcage almost, front and back of the houses." Vic shared his true feelings on Grand Designs. (Channel 4 screengrab) (Channel 4 screengrab) The presenter shared his sympathy, saying: "I think you've been quite tolerant." After all the set backs and drama, Vic celebrated the house completion. He enthused: "He's built! He's done!" In the voiceover, McCloud acknowledged once again how tough it had been on the neighbour. He said: "It's all still too raw for Vic. Time may heal things." Right at the beginning of the project, the Grand Designs presenter had tried to warn the neighbour telling him: "The disruption to you... You've got to brace yourself." But the neighbour had remained positive about the upcoming project that would overrun for years. He told him at the time: "I want something done with it before it gets any worse." What did Grand Designs' viewers say? The first house in the 25th anniversary series of Grand Designs. (Channel 4 screengrab) (Channel 4 screengrab) Everyone was talking about how incredibly sorry they felt for the neighbour during the course of the build. Among the comments, one wrote: "This episode was completely spoilt by the lack of consideration shown for the neighbour who was amazingly supportive at the beginning despite the obvious risk to his own home. I was shocked when they revealed he only had permission for a renovation to begin with. #GrandDesigns." Another added: "#GrandDesigns I really feel for the neighbour ." Someone wrote: "This is an absolute disaster! The bloke hasn't really got a clue has he considering his job. Not fitting in with the countryside either, although the views are amazing! Feel for his neighbour looking at a frame for 2 years! #granddesigns." Grand Designs' viewers were left feeling very sorry for the neighbour. (Channel 4 screengrab) (Channel 4 screengrab) Another said: "Lovely house but the poor neighbour, he was so enthusiastic at the beginning too." A viewer said: "#GrandDesigns 5 years! I really feel for the poor Neighbour. There should be timelines in place with the planning and he should have been compensated. He does look miffed. And 375kIm sure That will have been through the books.." Someone said: "The poor neighbour and neighbours, ugly secluded building completely out of character, steals all their light towering over them." Another suggested: "Can we send the neighbour on a holiday i feel like he could use it poor man #granddesigns." This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/grand-designs-sorry-neighbour-birdcage-091148479.html Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah can choose a different path, Joe Bidens defence secretary has said, as he urged parties embroiled in Middle East conflict to reach a viable diplomatic solution. Speaking in London alongside UK Defence Secretary John Healey and Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles, Lloyd Austin vowed his government in Washington would help Israel. But he warned all-out war along the eastern Mediterranean coast could devastate both Israel and the Hezbollah political party, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. Mr Healey hosted the three politicians as part of Aukus deal talks, a security partnership between Australia, the UK and US. The Defence Secretary described a cloud of growing global insecurity over their meeting when he spoke in the Painted Hall at Greenwichs Old Naval College. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin, UK Defence Secretary John Healey, and Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles held Aukus meetings in Greenwich, London (Kin Cheung/PA) Mr Austin said: The situation in Lebanon and northern Israel is deeply troubling. Lebanese Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group, began firing rockets into Israel unprovoked on the day after the October 7 terrorist assault by Hamas. And Hezbollah has not stopped since. Like any other state, Israel has a right to defend itself. Almost a year later, tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese civilians still cannot safely return home. And we now face the risk of an all-out war. Another full-scale war would be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon, so let me be clear: Israel and Lebanon can choose a different path. Despite the sharp escalation in recent days, a diplomatic solution is still viable. A diplomatic solution, not a military solution, is the only way to ensure that displaced civilians on both sides of the border can finally go back home. So I echo the call of President Biden, President Macron and other leaders yesterday for an immediate 21-day ceasefire. That will provide time for the diplomacy needed to achieve a durable arrangement that will allow Israel and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes. This time can also be used to conclude and implement a deal to secure a ceasefire in Gaza to bring all of the hostages home. All parties should seize this opportunity. It can bring much-needed calm to Israelis, Lebanese and Palestinians whose lives have been turned upside down since the Hamas assault on October 7. Asked about whether Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ignoring calls for a ceasefire, Mr Austin replied: Israel has stated that its goal is to return its citizens to their homes in the north and I believe the best and the quickest way to do that is through diplomacy. And I think that, I mean theres no question, that both Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah have stated that they do not want to see an all-out war. A war between Lebanese Hezbollah and Israel could be devastating for both entities. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu had vowed to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes. On whether the US has any red lines in the conflict, for example, a ground invasion, Mr Austin said: Weve been committed from the very beginning to help Israel and provide the things that are necessary for them to be able to protect their sovereign territory, and that hasnt changed and wont change. The talks in Greenwich took place during the same week that world leaders met at the UN General Assembly in New York. Sir Keir Starmer addresses the Security Council during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York (Leon Neal/PA) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the UN Security Council on Wednesday: Im calling for all parties to step back from the brink, to de-escalate. We need a ceasefire so this can be sorted out diplomatically. He added there can be no more excuses from Israel about humanitarian access to Gaza, and called on Hamas to release the remaining hostages. At the Greenwich meeting, Mr Healey backed a US-led ceasefire framework and said: There is a way that Israel can see thousands of displaced citizens returned to their homes in northern Israel, and those Lebanese can return to their homes as well. The Defence Secretary had earlier said: We have held these discussions under a cloud of growing global insecurity, so in our trilateral and our bilateral meetings, we have reinforced the need to stand together against Russian aggression, towards peace in the Middle East, and steadfast behind Ukraine for as long as it takes. At serious times, you need serious partners, so Richard, Lloyd, we in the UK stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you, and with you we will drive the Aukus partnership from strength to strength. Ex-Conservative MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has been handpicked by the chair of the party to respond to a debate on free speech at its conference next week. The Conservative Party conference, which starts in Birmingham on Sunday, is bringing back member debates for the first time in two decades, being trialled out by interim party chair Richard Fuller. Sir Jacob, who lost the election for the newly created seat of North East Somerset and Hanham in July, said he was delighted Mr Fuller was bringing the debates back, and they are about members taking back control of the conference. Members will get the opportunity to take part in the four debates, which will all take place on the conferences main stage on Monday. As well as the one on free speech, being responded to by Sir Jacob, there will be a debate on immigration and border control, responded to by shadow foreign minister Paul Holmes; one on building homes and protecting green spaces, which will be responded to by David Simmonds the shadow minister for housing; and another on growing the economy, which will be responded to by Laura Trott the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury. Tory Party chairman Richard Fuller (Aaron Chown/PA) Asked how the respondents had been selected, Mr Fuller told the PA news agency: These are people that I have chosen. I think these are the right people to respond to members on this debate, he added. While he said that in the past people who responded to member debates were usually ministers or shadow ministers, Mr Fuller asked why should it always be ministers and shadow ministers who respond to a debate? Maybe the person responding should be someone who is an expert in a field from outside Parliament? Maybe it should be a young person who responds to a debate about the future for young people. Mr Fuller, who has been the MP for North Bedfordshire since 2019 and was the MP for Bedford between 2010 and 2017, said that the party ought to be listening to our own members. He added: I think political parties can be a bit stage-managed, thats not what the public want. People now are saying their opinions on Twitter and putting things on Facebook saying what they like. This is the world we live in, and to suppress it artificially and not listen to your members I think is just not meeting with the times, let people say what they feel we should do. This is the first conference following the partys election defeat, and probably the one where people are going to be at their rawest, Mr Fuller said. Sir Jacob told PA that he is absolutely delighted Richard Fuller has done this I think its really important that the conferences go back to being about members. The MP for North East Somerset between 2010 and 2024, Sir Jacob served as a minister in Boris Johnsons and Liz Truss governments. He added: The debate really isnt about my response, its about the members taking back control to coin a phrase of the party conference. It should be about them, about their concerns about their issues rather than just an opportunity to clap ministers. The debates will give members the opportunity to speak on the selected topics for a maximum of three minutes each. Whoever is responding to the debate will give introductory marks and also wrap up the session. The debates are returning at the first conference after the partys election defeat in July, a conference where Mr Fuller has said that recognising the defeat, recognising what the message was from voters is an important thing to do. Robert Jenrick speaking at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event (Aaron Chown/PA) The Conservative leadership contest will feature prominently at the conference, with the four candidates James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick getting multiple opportunities to speak on the main stage. In interviews with SpectatorTV released on Thursday, the candidates were asked why they thought their party lost the election. Mr Cleverly said he thought the public stopped listening to us and the party was met with real cynicism from voters. People had literally closed their ears, their minds to our arguments, he said. Mr Tugendhat said that the party lost the trust of the British people and the party had been seen arguing amongst ourselves. Ms Badenoch believes that people didnt really understand what we stood for, and just thought we were telling them whatever it was they wanted to hear. Mr Jenrick said that his party lacked the courage to do the things that were necessary, such as reforming the NHS and addressing immigration. The Conservative Party conference begins in Birmingham on September 29. A vaccine that protects against measles has been shown to wane very slowly over time but still remains highly effective against the contagious disease, scientists have said. More than 95% of people who have had two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR vaccine) which was introduced in 1988 are protected for life, findings published in the journal The Lancet Public Health show. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) suggests a vast majority of measles cases in England are in unvaccinated children and young people, there has been also been an unexplained rise in infections among those who are double-vaccinated. A modelling study led by The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) suggests that the effectiveness of the MMR jab can very gradually decrease over time, by 0.04% each year after the second dose. Scientists said this could partly explain why people who have been vaccinated are still getting measles. But they added that the slight waning in MMR vaccine immunity is only apparent because uptake is lower than the 95% coverage target set by World Health Organisation (WHO), which is fuelling outbreaks. The latest UKHSA figures show only 85% of under-fives in England have received two doses of MMR. Adam Kucharski, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at LSHTM, said: Measles is an infection which is highly transmissible. So although we have a highly effective vaccine, we need very high coverage to prevent transmission in communities and ensure that cases remain at low levels. Because we have had this drop-off in coverage in recent years, we have seen outbreaks of measles in England. Dr Alexis Robert, research fellow in infectious disease dynamics at LSHTM, added: Before routine measles vaccination began, England and Wales saw large outbreaks with peaks of 600,000 cases in some years, by contrast from 2010-2024, the most reported cases in any one year was under 3,000. Its important to emphasise that the patterns we see in the data are only there because outbreaks have occurred as a result of declines in vaccine coverage. If there were no outbreaks, this small amount of waning would not show up in any data. The key issue here is coverage, not the effectiveness of the vaccine. The scientific consensus is that measles vaccines are safe and have been highly effective in preventing outbreaks. The proportion of measles cases in adults who received two doses of the MMR vaccine in England tripled from 1.9% to 7.2% between 2011 and 2019, figures show. To find out why, the researchers explored different scenarios using mathematical modelling. Results showed that slow waning of vaccine immunity best matched the real distribution of cases of measles in double-vaccinated people by age group and over time. Dr Robert said: According to the WHO, measles vaccination averted 57 million global deaths between 2000 and 2022. While this slow waning of immunity is a problem, it is a completely different order of problem from the deadly epidemics of the past that measles vaccines have prevented. Commenting on the research, Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: This paper reinforces that MMR vaccine is highly effective in providing lifelong protection against measles. The World Health Organisation is clear that global measles elimination is possible if countries achieve and sustain 95% population uptake with two MMR doses. The decline in MMR vaccine uptake seen over the last decade is driving the current increase in measles and the vast majority of cases have been in unvaccinated children under the age of 10. In a highly vaccinated population, it is expected that we will see a very small number of measles cases in those fully vaccinated, but with milder symptoms and a much lower chance of passing the infection on to others. The MMR vaccine remains the best and safest way to protect against measles and we encourage parents to check their children are up to date. Alan Miller in Alabama in 1999. Photograph: Dave Martin/AP Alabama has carried out the second execution in the US using the controversial method of nitrogen gas, an experimental technique for humans that veterinarians have deemed unacceptable in the US and Europe for the euthanasia of most animals. Alan Eugene Miller, 59, was pronounced dead at 6.38pm local time at a south Alabama prison. Miller shook and trembled on the gurney for about two minutes with his body at times pulling against the restraints, followed by about six minutes of gasping, according to the Associated Press. The lethal method involves being strapped down with a respirator mask applied to the face and pure nitrogen piped in. The resulting oxygen deprivation will cause death by asphyxia. Millers final words were I didnt do anything to be in here and I didnt do anything to be on death row, according to reporters who witnessed his death. His voice was at times muffled by the mask that covered his face from forehead to chin. Millers death is the latest in an extraordinary week in the US in which five condemned men in five states have been executed over six days. On Friday, South Carolina killed Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah, in its first execution in 13 years, and on Tuesday, Texas killed Travis Mullis and Missouri put to death Marcellus Williams. Also on Thursday, Oklahoma executed Emmanuel Littlejohn. The execution of Williams in Missouri prompted widespread outrage across the US and beyond after local prosecutors, the victims family and several trial jurors tried unsuccessfully to stop it from going ahead. There was no forensic evidence to tie Williams to the crime, and the current prosecuting attorney for St Louis county concluded that the prisoner was actually innocent. Alabama pressed ahead with Millers execution on Thursday over the 1999 shootings that killed three of his co-workers Lee Holdbrooks, Christopher Scott Yancy and Terry Jarvis despite deep misgivings about the new nitrogen method. Tonight, justice was finally served for these three victims, Alabamas governor, Kay Ivey, said in a statement. His acts were not that of insanity, but pure evil. Three families were forever changed by his heinous crimes, and I pray that they can find comfort all these years later. The first nitrogen execution was carried out, also by Alabama, in January. An eyewitness for the Associated Press described the death then of Kenneth Smith, 58. Smith began to shake and writhe violently, in thrashing spasms and seizure-like movements The force of his movements caused the gurney to visibly move at least once. Smiths arms pulled against the straps holding him to the gurney. He lifted his head off the gurney and then fell back. Alabama described Smiths death as a textbook execution. Smith and Miller share a distinction in addition to the experimental killing method applied to them. Both men had the exceptionally unusual experience of surviving an execution attempt by lethal injection. Related: Missouri executes Marcellus Williams despite prosecutors push to overturn conviction In Smiths case, in November 2022 he was strapped to the gurney for four hours, suspended for some of that time upside down, and his body riddled with needle holes in a vain attempt to place an IV line through which the lethal drugs could be injected. Miller went through a similarly traumatic failed execution two months before Smith. Like Smith, he was strapped to the gurney in Alabamas death chamber at Holman prison and put through a process his lawyers claimed was physical and mental torture. He was repeatedly punctured with needle marks and left hanging vertically on the gurney in severe pain before the execution was called off. Lawyers argued that for him to have gone through such cruel and unusual punishment should have disqualified Alabama from further efforts to kill Miller, but the state authorities disagreed they promptly initiated proceedings to execute him using nitrogen. Maya Foa, joint executive director of the human rights group Reprieve, said that Alabama was typical of the increasingly extreme lengths to which death penalty states are prepared to go. Theyre telling themselves that executing people twice is fine, no matter how much the person suffered the first time. And that a man thrashing and gasping on the gurney for 10 minutes as he desperately fights for life is a textbook nitrogen gas execution. The Associated Press contributed reporting Donald Trump attends the closing arguments in the civil fraud trial in New York on 11 January. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/AP Donald Trumps legal team and state prosecutors went head to head in a New York appeals court on Thursday over his ongoing effort to throw out an approximately $500m civil fraud judgment against him. The former US president is disputing the Manhattan supreme court judge Arthur Engorons 16 February decision after he found that Trump lied to financial institutions and insurers about his wealth. Trumps case was litigated during a months-long civil trial in Manhattan in fall 2023. The arguments were in effect a rehashing of claims that both sides have made in their respective appeals papers, as is normal for cases during this type of proceeding. Trumps lawyer, D John Sauer, hammered down on his claim that the alleged wrongdoing happened too long ago to be pursued in court. This case involves a clearcut violation of the statute of limitations, Sauer said. He also insisted that businesspeople have flexibility in determining their assets value, even if it does not reflect how it has been assessed elsewhere. Youre allowed to make optimistic predictions, Sauer added. Youre allowed to disregard appraisals. Sauer also insisted that Trumps valuations were in keeping with generally recognized best practices for accounting and said that if people and companies can get in trouble while following best practices people cant do business in real estate. Trumps team had invoked a similar bogeyman in their appeals paperwork, saying based on the ruling in this case, no company will want to come to New York to do business, and many businesses are fleeing. Sauer also presented a hypothetical, which he claimed was backed by case evidence; even if Trumps net worth was just $1bn, far less than had been stated at trial, he would have gotten exactly the same deals. We have a situation where there are no victims, no complaints, no evidence of causation, materiality, he said. Indeed, Trumps defense claimed in July appeals papers that New Yorks attorney general, Letitia James, wanted to punish highly successful dealings between him and highly sophisticated Wall Street institutions, which left all parties deeply satisfied and had no impact on the public interest. Trumps lawyers also railed that the case was an unauthorized, unprecedented power-grab and should have been tossed. They also turned to a well-worn page in their playbook accusing James, a Democrat, of targeting Trump for partisan purposes. If upheld, the decision would give James limitless power to target anyone she desires, including her self-described political opponents, they said in court papers. In their response to Trumps appeal, Jamess office reiterated that his namesake company and its top executives plotted to boost his net worth by as much as $2.2bn annually, using puffed-up financial statements to secure plum deals with banks and insurance companies. Related: Chief justice Roberts pushed for quick immunity ruling in Trumps favor report Through their misconduct, defendants derived significant economic benefits they otherwise could not have obtained, including over $360 million in illegal profits, Jamess office said in court filings. Judith Vale, deputy solicitor for the New York attorney generals office, addressed whether or not Trumps actions had a victim, with one appellate judge noting that all parties seemed to walk away from their dealings satisfied, without any seeming harm to others. There was absolutely a public impact and a public interest here, Vale said. If Trump secured loans based on questionable valuations, then his ability to repay them was not as certain as he had intimated to banks, setting the stage for broader potential effects, she argued. When deceptively hidden risks are injected into the market, that does hurt the counter-parties, she said, But it also harms other market participants in the market as a whole, because they are not understanding the risks. The risks are not priced in properly and are not accounted for. The law under which Trump was tried in civil court was concerned with harms to the honest business people, the honest business people who dont do the misconduct. Without the fraud, the net worth and liquidity would have started much lower, and then you do the stress test and it takes it down much lower, and did not look like such a strong financial guarantee any more, Vale said. It does not look like ironclad guarantee any more, and it was absolutely a fair [assessment] that Deutsche Bank would not have given these loans without the financial strength being inflated. The appeals court is expected to issue its decision at a later date. Trumps battle against this civil judgment comes as he fights legal woes on a variety of fronts. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on 26 November after being found guilty on 34 felony counts in his Manhattan hush-money case. Special counsel Jack Smith, meanwhile, brought a revised indictment against Trump in his Washington DC federal court election subversion case. Smith is poised to present more evidence to the judge by Thursday as she decides how presidential immunity might affect the proceedings. Pictured: the new iPhone 16 and behind it, the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max This article contains affiliate links. The products or services listed have been selected independently by journalists after hands-on testing or sourcing expert opinions. We may earn a commission when you click a link, buy a product or subscribe to a service. Price: from 799 for iPhone 16, or from 999 for iPhone 16 Pro Our rating: 9 out of 10 We like: More buttons Great photo features Better battery life We dont like: Not a huge upgrade over the 15 Few AI features yet Camera fiddly at first What is the iPhone 16 ? Released in September 2024, the new iPhone 16 marks a welcome continuing shift from Apple towards having more buttons and physical controls on devices, reversing the trend for each smartphone generation to remove useful buttons and ports. Its one of the best smartphones you can buy. We tested the iPhone 16 Pro, the premium version, which costs 999 for the 128GB model. Its 1,199 if you choose 256GB of storage, 1,299 for 512 GB and 1,499 for 1TB. There is also an iPhone 16 Pro Max which has the same capabilities but a larger screen. It costs 200 more. The Max is a vast iPhone, at a previously unheard of 6.9 inches, but it is a gorgeous device as is the 16, which itself is larger than the preceding iPhone 15. Its 6.3-inch screen is a welcome increase, largely achieved by narrowing the bezels. Theres a lot to like here: the new camera button and functions, explained below, make this feel more camera-like than just about anything out there. Meanwhile, the promised Apple Intelligence features which will arrive later this year offer an intriguing glimpse of an AI-powered future. How we test smartphones Rob testing the new iPhone 16 Pro We test each new phone for at least a week in real-world situations, making calls, downloading data and running power-hungry and graphically demanding apps such as games and hi-def video to push its limits. Were looking for a comfortable and well laid-out design, a clear, bright screen and hardware (CPU, GPU, sensors and speakers) that can easily handle multiple functions. We rate the quality of the camera, including the lenses, the sensor and any zoom or low light capabilities. We test all the programmes for enhancing and editing photographs, judging them by the end results and how easy they are to use. We also consider all the other software, especially AI, that makes the phone stand out from its competitors and from previous models. Finally, we test the phones battery life by running it completely flat with continuous real-world use and timing how long it takes to fully recharge. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more about Telegraph Recommended reviews. iPhone 16 Pro review Design and usability: 9/10 The iPhone 16 (left) compared to the iPhone 15 (right) The big news on the design and usability front is the two new(ish) buttons. The Action Button, introduced on last years iPhone 15, makes a welcome return, but is now accompanied by a camera button of which more below. This new button adds more versatility for users who were using the Action Button to launch the camera. As before, the Action Button is fully customisable. By default, it puts silent mode on but it can be set to record Voice Memos, turn on Flashlight and activate shortcuts. You can even, for some reason, set the Action Button to do nothing. In a world where it is often far too hard to work out how to turn smartphones off and on, the addition of more buttons is to be applauded. Last years Dynamic Island returns and the screen is a tiny bit bigger than last years Pro (6.3 inches, compared to 6.1), with a very crisp, bright Super Retina XDR display at 2622x1206 pixel resolution and support for 1 nit minimum brightness. This means the screen can go far darker. Camera: 10/10 The new camera button is superb, instantly elevating the iPhone 16 Pro above most rivals: its just easier to take a shot, with the app opening on one press of the button. A half-press brings up a focus menu and functions menu. Another full press takes a shot. You can scroll through options by stroking along the top. Its fiddly to begin with, but haptic feedback steers you down the right path and its a great addition to the phone. The camera performance is excellent, with additions including a 48 megapixel ultrawide and the ability to shoot video at 120 frames per second in 4K, enabling some truly cinematic effects for creative users. A neat tool enables users to cut out background noise while filming, while another enables users to almost get rid of wind noise in the background. Photo software and image AI: 8/10 You now have the option to transform scenes after taking a shot, including new vintage styles Apple has updated its Photographic Styles to make it even easier to edit photos after the shot have been taken. The results are pretty spectacular, enabling you to completely change the mood and feel of an image. The new Photographic Styles understands skin tones better, and if you like a particular look you can then select that as a default in the Camera app so all your photos will look like that. Theres also the option to transform entire scenes, with settings such as Luminous, creating social-media-friendly looks which ape vintage and arty photographs. New controls allow users to adjust tone and colour in the styles using sliders, offering an incredible amount of control. Other software and AI: 7/10 Apple trumpeted its adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to the heavens at its annual iPhone launch event. However, the first thing you notice when you switch on iPhone 16 Pro is that it isnt actually there. These vaunted Apple Intelligence features, which include an updated Siri, generative AI emojis called GenMoji, and various writing tools, are launching in the U.S. first and are set to arrive in the UK later in the year, with Siri expected in the New Year. From a quick glimpse on the developer-only beta test, Apples tools look competent but not exactly overwhelming, although an AI-supercharged Siri (able to interact with multiple apps so it can find a message, regardless of which app it was sent in) could be an appealing prospect. Apart from AI, there are a few neat extras here in the form of added customisability. Users are able to add apps and widgets anywhere, and even turn app widgets monochrome and match them to their background image. Battery life: 10/10 Apple have improved the battery life on the new phone In many ways, the iPhone 16 Pro isnt a massive upgrade on last years iPhone 15 Pro apart from the useful camera button and the thinner bezel on the screen. There are a couple of new colours and a new A18 processor, which Apple promises is 15 percent faster on CPU tasks and 20 percent faster on GPU. The battery life, however, is notably upgraded from last years model, lasting up to four hours longer with video playback, thanks in part to that A18 Pro chip, which uses second-generation three-nanometer technology for more energy efficiency. The battery is also a touch cleaner, with 100 percent recycled cobalt and 95 percent recycled lithium. Like last years, theres a USB-C port, which makes it considerably easier if youre switching from Android as youll already have compatible chargers. Technical specifications Telegraph verdict: 9/10 This is a really excellent device, particularly for anyone moderately serious about smartphone photography or video, with real, physical buttons making it easier and faster to use the camera. Like a fine wine, its also going to improve with age, with Apple Intelligence set to add new features this winter and into the coming year. iPhone 15 owners will also be able to update their OS to take advantage of the new features, but not owners of the iPhone 14 or older models. So is it worth the upgrade? The improved battery life might be what swings it for iPhone 15 Pro owners, but the bigger screen and thinner bezel make this a really appetising choice overall. Its not cheap, but then iPhone Pro models never are, and this looks set to be a powerful, sleek launchpad for the age of Apple Intelligence. FAQs When does the iPhone 16 come out? It has been available in the UK since September 20. How much does the iPhone 16 cost? The most affordable iPhone 16 is the 128GB base model, for 799. The iPhone 16 Pro, which has more features, starts at 999 for the 128GB model. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, with a 6.9-inch screen, starts at 1,199 for the 256GB model. What are the key features of the iPhone 16? The most notable new feature is the new Camera Button, allowing you to change camera settings while youre framing a shot with various gestures and pressures. There is a new ultra-wide camera for close-up photography and a new 3D photography option called Spatial Capture. There are now three settings for audio in your videos: In-Frame, Studio and Cinematic. You can now choose Photographic Styles and apply them to all your photographs. Aside from photography features, the iPhone 16 has a new, faster processor called the A18 and its battery lasts longer than the iPhone 15. You can now customise the colour of widgets on your homescreen and set the Action Button to carry out a variety of tasks at one click. Finally, there are a range of AI features called Apple Intelligence which will launch in the UK some time around the end of 2024. You will need an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 to use these. What is the battery life like on the iPhone 16? You should get 22 hours of video playback. A 50 percent charge takes 30 minutes. The protest action at the National Gallery in October 2022 did not damage the painting. Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The Guardian More than 100 artists, curators and art historians are making a plea for two activists who hurled tomato soup at Van Goghs Sunflowers to be spared a jail sentence. There was no damage to the picture, which is one of the Dutch artists most famous paintings and worth millions of pounds, but it did cause minor damage to the frame. Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland will be sentenced on Friday after being found guilty of criminal damage in a protest action at the National Gallery in London in October 2022 under the auspices of the Just Stop Oil campaign. Judge Christopher Hehir, who months ago sentenced a group of Just Stop Oil activists to multiyear sentences over a campaign to disrupt traffic on the M25, has already told them to be prepared, in practical and emotional terms, to go to prison. But artists including Fiona Banner, Peter Kennard and Love Ssega, the actor Juliet Stevenson, and arts academics from Essex, Goldsmiths, Queen Mary, New York and Copenhagen universities, have said the act was in keeping with the ethos of the arts. In a letter coordinated by Greenpeace UK, the environmental campaign group, and Liberate Tate, which campaigns against fossil fuel industry involvement in the arts, they said: As artists, art workers and art historians, we are concerned by the courts defence of a false notion of artistic purity in their judgment and sentencing. Art can be, and frequently is, iconoclasm. These activists should not receive custodial sentences for an act that connects entirely to the artistic canon. Such iconoclasm had been a recognised part of art practice for more than 120 years, they argue, citing the work of the Dadaists, Gustav Metzger, Jake and Dinos Chapman, and Banksy, among others. The work of all these iconoclasts, often far more physically destructive than the work of JSO, is now venerated in museums around the world. Plummer and Hollands protest might have given a nod to art history by using Campbells soup instead of Heinz, the letter said, but it nevertheless belongs to the same well-established tradition of creative iconoclasm. On September the 27th, Judge Hehir should refrain from punishing Plummer and Holland with custodial sentences for upholding a centuries-old tradition of calling on our social conscience through art. Areeba Hamid, a co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: We sincerely hope the judge will listen carefully to the artists arguments. We need to stop locking away peaceful protesters in our overcrowded prisons simply for raising the alarm on a burning planet. Darren Sutton, from Liberate Tate, said: When Liberate Tate started making performance interventions to protest BP sponsorship of Tate in 2010, while the Deepwater Horizon disaster raged, we were dismissed as irreverent outsiders as we spilled oil-like molasses on pristine Tate marble. Now, 14 years on, our campaign is long won, museum and gallery directors vie for the strength of their position on tackling climate change, and all but one have shunned oil sponsorship. The initial reaction to soup thrown will undoubtedly shift as we as a society catch up with the threat climate change poses to our way of life. Phoebe and Annas act will be seen as the poetic protest it surely is, unworthy of custodial punishment. Baroness Warsi, the first Muslim Cabinet minister, pictured in the House of Lords - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph Britains first Muslim Cabinet minister quit the Tories on Thursday night after the party launched an investigation into divisive comments. Baroness Warsi, who sits in the Lords, said she was leaving because the party had moved to the far Right. She was appointed to the Cabinet by David Cameron in 2010 when she was Conservative Party chairman. She faced criticism earlier this month when she celebrated the acquittal of a protester who was found not guilty despite carrying a placard accusing Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman of being coconuts. Many consider the slur which indicates that a black person is acting on behalf of white people to be racist. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leadership candidate, said complaints have been made after Lady Warsi tweeted a picture of herself drinking from a coconut after the judgment. Hypocrisy and double standards On Thursday night, a Conservative Party spokesman said: Complaints were received regarding divisive language allegedly used by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. Baroness Warsi was informed an investigation was about to begin earlier this week. We have a responsibility to ensure that all complaints are investigated without prejudice. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Lady Warsi said: It is with a heavy heart that I have today informed my whip and decided for now to no longer take the Conservatives whip. This is a sad day for me. I am a Conservative and remain so but sadly the current party are far removed from the party I joined and served in Cabinet. My decision is a reflection of how far Right my party has moved and the hypocrisy and double standards in its treatment of different communities. She added: I will not be gagged on a point of principle. And I am not prepared to play games behind closed doors. Lady Warsi will publish a book, Muslims Dont Matter, next week. Robert Jenrick I bumped into a former leader of a friendly country the other day. This regular visitor to Britain had just spent a few days outside London for the first time for some years. Their message was simple: Do you realise how run down your country looks nowadays? Its hard to disagree. Lets be honest, a lot of Britain looks a bit of a mess. The public spaces and buildings are badly maintained. The roads are potholed. Theres litter and graffiti everywhere. The streets dont feel safe. Large parts of London outside the south-west Waitrose belt from Battersea to Kingston remind me of the London of my youth in the late 1970s and early 1980s: decaying, poorly maintained, shabby, declining. Our public services often look the same: our hospitals took tired and our council HQs have nothing of the grandeur and assertiveness of a French hotel de ville. This is no coincidence. What we are seeing is what happens when a country has had nearly 20 years of low productivity and low growth. Money gets short for everything and every year it gets harder to maintain things. Repairs and maintenance take a back seat. But the decline is gradual. Very often it takes an outsider to tell us the truth. Once this problem sets in, politicians have two basic choices. One is to be honest with people: tell them that until we fix our growth problem the situation is not going to get any better and neither salaries nor funding for public services are going to go up much. Instead there will have to be painful reforms, especially in the public sector, which is such a drag on growth, and a serious attempt to hold the size of government down so that the private sector can fill the gap. Thats one route. The other is to hide the reality. Tell voters that we can carry on as before, adding new tasks to government, pushing up taxes, benefits and the minimum wage, regulating the economy further, and trying to shield people from every shock and every unexpected event. The strain is then taken by higher taxes, higher borrowing, and cheeseparing in important but unfashionable public services like courts and prisons. All of this makes the underlying problems even worse. There is still never enough money, because theres only so far you can push up taxes or borrow. But growth is crushed still further. Unfortunately that is the approach that has been taken over the past decade. There are two problems with it. The first, the obvious one, is that in the end the future becomes the present. Eventually we all look around and think this country looks a bit of a mess. We cant hide the problem from ourselves. Talented people start to leave. We begin to feel the decline day to day. The second, less obvious, difficulty is that in the end it doesnt work politically either. You give your opponents an easy attack. Thats what happened to the Tories. Because we were reluctant to tell hard truths ourselves, it was easy for Labour to say to voters The reason you arent getting those good things you want is that those evil and incompetent Tories refuse to give you them. Labour told voters that Britain was in a mess because the Tories were bad people who governed in their interest not the countrys. We paid the price for this at the election. But now the problem swings around. Labour has created a problem for itself too. That is our opportunity. If Labour now try to say actually things are really bad after all then they look dishonest and disappoint their supporters as it has with its decision to scrap the universal winter fuel allowance. Its constant refrain that the Tories bequeathed a dire set of financial circumstances has fallen flat. Alternatively, if it says we can do everything you want then it is back in the same old trap: it has to push up taxes, borrow more, and postpone dealing with the countrys actual problems. Labour hates having to make serious choices like this. It much prefers childish student gesture politics like Rachel Reevess removal of historic paintings from state offices. So instead it does what we have seen in recent weeks: vacillate between the two options. One day its doom and gloom, the next its splash the cash. And on the third day its both. As this sinks in with voters, it will become ever clearer that Labour doesnt know what to do. As so often with socialists, its philosophy and actual reality come into conflict. And when that happens under a socialist government, so much the worse for reality. Maybe at some level Labour knows that only market dynamics, the power of incentives, the force of entrepreneurialism can actually help us. Indeed Starmer felt he had to acknowledge the power of competition in his conference speech. But it cant actually allow itself to act on that conclusion for then why do you need a Labour Party? So instead Starmer immediately went on to complain that markets dont give you control, and to promise a lot more of that control over the unfortunate British people. This is not change. It is more of the same and it will have the same result. Starmer thinks that with more control he can solve the countrys problems. He will find that he has just made them worse still. This is the opportunity for the Right in this country. When voters realise things are getting no better which we must expect will take a bit of time then we on the Right must be ready with the alternative. Getting this alternative worked up, and properly explained and sold, is now the crucial task under the new Conservative leader, and I believe Robert Jenrick is best placed to do it. This new package needs to include growth-boosting reforms; tax and spending cuts; immigration reductions; government reform; ECHR withdrawal; and much more. And above all it needs to revive the spirit of freedom, which used to be so strong in the Conservative Party, and in Britain; the readiness to tell the man from Whitehall to go away and to get on with our own lives. This is the only way to turn things around and get the country looking good again. It will take time. But Labour cant do it at all. The Conservatives can one day if we prepare properly now. Floating cranes were spotted near where the newly built vessel was sighted on satellite images alongside a pier at Wuchang Shipyard - Planet Labs Chinas newest nuclear attack submarine has sunk in a shipyard accident, in a setback to the countrys attempts to overtake the United States in a naval arms race, according to US officials. The sinking of the first of a new Zhou-class of nuclear-powered submarines triggered a scramble for Beijing to cover up the incident, officials told The Wall Street Journal. The newly built vessel, which features a distinctive X-shaped stern, was sighted on satellite images alongside a pier at Wuchang Shipyard as it was being equipped for sea in late May. It is claimed to have sunk later that month or in early June. Suspicion was said to have been raised when floating cranes were seen at the site soon afterwards. Undersea warfare has become a Chinese priority in its arms race with the US as tensions rise in the Pacific - Kevin Frayer/Getty Images AsiaPac Brent Sadler, a former submarine officer at Washingtons Heritage Foundation think tank, said: The sinking of a new nuclear sub that was produced at a new yard will slow Chinas plans to grow its nuclear submarine fleet. This is significant. Undersea warfare has become a Chinese priority in its arms race with the US as tensions rise in the Pacific. Submarines would probably play a key role in any future conflict over Taiwan, with a Chinese fleet potentially attempting to invade, while blockading the US from arming and supplying the island. Submarine warfare has traditionally been an area of significant US supremacy, but Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) navy has been closing the gap. A senior US defence official told The Wall Street Journal: Its not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside. In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLAs internal accountability and oversight of Chinas defence industry, which has long been plagued by corruption. Submarine warfare has traditionally been an area of significant US supremacy, but Chinas navy has been closing the gap - Mark Schiefelbein/AFP The submarine is thought to have been salvaged from the site, but experts said that it will require a huge refit to make it seaworthy. Thomas Shugart, a senior fellow at the Centre for a New American Security, said: Can you imagine a US nuclear submarine sinking in San Diego and the government hushes it up and doesnt tell anybody about it? I mean, holy cow. He continued: The whole boat would be full of water. Youd have to clean out all the electronics. The electric motors may need to be replaced. It would be a lot of work. US officials said that it was not clear if anyone had died during the sinking and it was also not clear if the vessel had been carrying nuclear fuel at the time. They had not detected any indication that Chinese officials had sampled the water or nearby environment for radiation, the officials added. Prof Sir Chris Whitty admitted at the Covid-19 Inquiry he was worried they were communicating the correct level of concern - PA Prof Sir Chris Whitty has said he worries the Government overstated the danger of Covid to the public at the start of the pandemic. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England told the Covid Inquiry that the Government potentially overdid the warnings at the start of the pandemic as lockdowns were introduced and the vulnerable told to shield. He said that the balance in communicating the correct level of concern to the public was really hard. It comes after The Telegraph exposed the psychological warfare of Project Fear being used by ministers to frighten the public into following rules. Leaked WhatsApp messages revealed in the Lockdown Files last year showed Matt Hancock, then health secretary, suggesting the Government frighten the pants off everyone to adhere to Covid rules. Prof Whitty told the inquiry: I was worried at the beginning. I still worry, actually in retrospect, about whether we got the level of concern right. Were we either over pitching it so that people were incredibly afraid of something where in fact, their actuarial risk was low, or we were not pitching it enough and therefore people didnt realise the risk they were walking into, he continued. I think that balance is really hard, and arguably, some people would say we, if anything, overdid it, rather than under at the beginning. Theres certainly a range of opinions on that. Englands most senior doctor was being questioned about the Governments mantra of stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives, which was disseminated across the media and on podiums at Downing Street press conferences during 2020. Prof Whitty was asked about whether these messages should be used in future pandemics and if so, if warnings of other inadvertent damage to health should be mentioned such as long Covid or mental health problems. He said he didnt think any different messages would have led to any different behaviours and that they didnt want to overload the public with information. The key thing we were trying to say is weve really got to stop this epidemic in its tracks to the best of our ability, he said. Prof Whitty admitted that in telling the public to stay at home, officials did not make clear that the health service was open. Peoples reluctance to come forward as a result led to fewer patients attending A&E, calling 999, and a backlog of medical appointments on which ministers are still struggling to get a grip. He also criticised confusion around face masks and admitted that he may not recommend shielding for the vulnerable again after they suffered significant harm. Prof Whitty laid bare a litany of communication failings and other errors by the Government at the Covid inquiry on Thursday as he declared another pandemic was a certainty. The UKs top doctor was speaking at the inquiry for the fourth time and said the face mask debacle had led to an erosion of trust from NHS staff, patients avoiding the health service, and he also admitted uncertainty about the use of shielding to isolate the most vulnerable. NHS open, but who knew? Prof Whitty went on to admit that he and his colleagues did not make clear enough the NHS was open for use. There was never going to be a perfect balance on the stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives rhetoric, Prof Whitty said, but he admitted that we didnt get it across well enough that people should continue to come to hospital when they needed it. He said the reduction in patients attending hospital with heart attacks was clear proof that people had stopped using the NHS, even for emergencies. I am confident what we didnt do was to identify over and over again that the NHS was open, in particular, if theres an urgent and emergency life-threatening situation, you must go to hospital, he said, citing occasions where he was joined by Prof Lord Patrick Vallance, the former chief scientific officer, as well as NHS officials. There is reasonable evidence in my view, for example, that the number of people who come into hospital with heart attacks is lower than youd predict, he added. On the stay at home messaging and risk posed by Covid, Prof Whitty said it was harder to tell if they got it wrong because it was really important people understood why if they were going to do this terrible thing for their society, for the economy, for their families, they understand why. Mask confusion Prof Whitty said the messaging around face masks for everybody was confusing during the pandemic, but particularly for healthcare workers relying on personal protective equipment (PPE) on the front line. He said the mix of organisations partially responsible made it a dangerous situation. The messaging near the beginning of this was quite confused, he told the inquiry. I think the reason that it was confused was that it was not entirely clear who was ultimately responsible for making decisions in this fast-moving situation, he added. Quite a lot of people thought they were partially responsible, and thats always an extremely difficult and dangerous situation to find yourself in. When asked if this was for healthcare staff, he said it was for everybody actually. The CMO later said the poor communication with NHS staff over which face masks they should be using had caused an erosion of trust. There was an ongoing debate in the UK and globally about whether healthcare workers and the wider public should be using higher-grade FFP-3 masks, with countries such as Italy having them made mandatory. Meanwhile, there was a real mismatch between what staff were being told about stock shortages and what they were seeing in reality or among colleagues online, he said, which led to this erosion of trust in the guidance on PPE that staff were being given. He said there was a concern that the reason that people were giving advice was essentially because of shortages, plus a concern about whether they were being given adequate protection, even the very big risks they were facing. Despite this, he maintained that there was extremely weak evidence to support that FFP-3 masks are any better than surgical masks. He said the FFP-3 masks were also not liked because they were harder to hear through, harder to express emotions through. If you were hard of hearing, if youve got early dementia, if your first language is not English, actually having people unable to speak clearly and unable to express emotions does have downsides for the provision of care, he said. Shielding harms Prof Whitty said he was unsure if he would recommend vulnerable patients shield in a future pandemic after the significant harms caused to those forced to isolate during Covid. The CMO said officials knew shielding would be extremely difficult mentally and operationally for those asked to keep away from loved ones during lockdowns and had not directly evaluated the effectiveness of it. At the start of the pandemic, those who were immunosuppressed or extremely clinically vulnerable, were asked to shield to protect themselves. Prof Whitty said they recognised it would be challenging and had very significant downsides and that they didnt want to put people on the list who were going to have limited benefit from it or come to net harm. He said he was unsure if he would use shielding again in another pandemic because it would depend on the situation. He said: Whether the particular approach to shielding we took is an appropriate one to use again in a respiratory infection, I honestly dont know. There are many kinds of pandemic where it would be completely irrelevant. It wouldnt have helped HIV for example. There were both health benefits for some but also significant harms to shielding, he said. Whether it actually lead to a reduction in infection, and therefore reduction in mortality is extraordinarily difficult to test because the group of people who were shielding were by definition a massively greater risk or substantially greater risk than the general public, so if they got Covid, they were more likely to die, he said. 04:48 PM BST Thats all for today Thank you for following The Telegraphs live reporting. The inquiry will resume on Monday when Sir Frank Atherton, chief medical officer for Wales, will give evidence, followed by Dr Catherine McDonnell, former medical director of the Western Health and Social Care Trust. 04:35 PM BST ICU chaos was unacceptable and not inevitable, say campaigners Campaigners have contended that the scenes from hell in intensive care units (ICUs)c described by Professor Kevin Fong were not inevitable, can never be considered acceptable, and must never be repeated. A statement from Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said: The harrowing evidence heard by the inquiry today from Professor Kevin Fong was painful for Covid 19 Bereaved Families to hear, but incredibly clear - ICUs across the country were overwhelmed repeatedly throughout the pandemic. The campaigners said the system lacked capacity and resilience, and it was the NHS staff and patients who will always bear the brunt of a pandemic. They said: Professor Fongs evidence made it clear that the government must be led by the experiences and insight of those on the frontline as well as by data. The new Governments plans to reform the NHS must be designed in collaboration with staff operating at every level. ICUs cant be staffed at pandemic levels at all times, but in the UK they lack capacity in peace time as well. And when the next crisis hits, whatever it may be, we need to respond from a stronger starting place and we need the resources and systems to respond to frontline needs quickly. National Covid Memorial wall beside St Thomas hospital - HANNAH MCKAY/REUTERS 04:28 PM BST The NHS dealt with the second wave of Covid in 2020 a lot better, says Whitty Prof Sir Chris Whitty told the Inquiry that the NHS and its staff had learned a lot after the first wave of the pandemic because individuals within it learn very rapidly. The NHS handled the second wave, despite the fact it had a huge number of cases, a lot better. And thats because individuals in wards, in primary care, in other areas, mental health and many other areas had learned and did it better, but there was still a lot of nosocomial transmission, he said. There were still many, many deaths, and the system was in many cases, under extraordinary strain, as was described earlier. So I wouldnt, in any sense, want to be pointed to painting a falsely rosy picture, and indeed, that was not my personal experience working in that environment, he said. 04:11 PM BST Mind reacts to unacceptable failure on mental health Reacting to remarks from Prof Sir Chris Whitty on the lack of consideration about mental health heading into the pandemic, Dr Sarah Hughes, the chief executive of charity Mind, has branded the planning process a shocking and unacceptable failure. The lack of a plan to address the mental health impacts of the pandemic, including months-long lockdowns, is a shocking and unacceptable failure, Dr Hughes said. It became clear very early on that further measures to mitigate the virus would be needed at Mind we were highlighting the need for better mental health support in May 2020. But still no plan for mental health was put in place, either then or for after the pandemic, where everything has just been expected to return to business as usual. 03:58 PM BST Pandemic planning had many gaps Prof Sir Chris Whitty said pandemic planning had many gaps, including around the impact on young peoples mental health. He said there was a difference between planning and capabilities, however, and was very unconvinced that a plan will necessarily help us if there were another pandemic. He said it was more important to improve our capabilities through better training, for example, in infectious diseases for healthcare professionals. Some of the effects were direct from the disease, but many of them were indirect by the lockdowns, which were in of themselves unpredictable because they werent part of the plan, he said. He said the surge in mental health issues among children and young people was a very serious issue. We need to have a very clear view on this, whether this is something which is going to revert back to the trend line that was there before, or is this something which has actually been a step change and which is now with us for a long period of time, and that has quite different implications as to how we configure [mental health] services, he said. 03:41 PM BST Whitty hits out at obstructive BMA Prof Sir Chris Whitty has hit out at the British Medical Association over recording doctors deaths in relation to the pandemic. Sir Chris responded to a question from a representative on the lack of published data on deaths for 2023, saying: I recognise the point youre making, I agree with it and I think its important for the reasons given, it is also important to acknowledge every healthcare worker who has died. So I very strongly believe that, if I may make a hard-edged comment about my own union, which you kindly represent, they have not been at the forefront of trying to allow data to be merged from different sources, which would allow for better data outcomes in future crises. If you could take back to your distinguished clients that recommendation that they think about that seriously, Im sure that that would be a very useful outcome, he said. 03:19 PM BST We didnt make clear enough the NHS was open for use, says Whitty There was never going to be a perfect balance on the stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives rhetoric, Prof Sir Chris Whitty said, but he admitted that we didnt get it across well enough that people should continue to come to hospital when they needed it. He said the reduction in patients attending hospital with heart attacks was clear proof that people had stopped using the NHS. I am confident what we didnt do was to identify over and over again - you couldnt say it enough - that the NHS was open, in particular if theres an urgent and emergency life threatening situation, you must go to hospital, he said. There is reasonable evidence in my view, for example, that the number of people who come into hospital with heart attacks is lower than youd predict, he added. On the stay at home messaging and risk posed by Covid, Sir Chris said it was harder to tell if they got it wrong because it was really important people understood why if they were going to do this terrible thing for their society, for the economy, for their families, they understand why. NHS signage at Piccadilly Circus - ISABEL INFANTES/GETTY IMAGES 03:07 PM BST Computer says no approach dictated permitted surgeries There was not a computer says no approach to which surgeries could be done during Covid, Prof Sir Chris Whitty has said. Officials devised a list of what was acceptable and carried less risk to the spread of the virus, but were challenged by some professional bodies, including over stopping endoscopies, he explained. He said there is still not a settled view around the world on what procedures would be appropriate in such a situation should it arise again. 03:01 PM BST Ethnic minority groups disproportionately affected because of structural racism Prof Sir Chris Whitty explained that people from ethnic minority groups were more likely to contract Covid, be hospitalised with it, and ultimately die. He said some of this was because of predictable reasons like diabetes, but others were because of systemic issues including racism. There are some bits of this we could clearly do something about, and there were other bits that were much harder, to do with structural issues in society, and indeed arguably structural racism in some bits of the system. He said some of the risk to black and minority ethnic workers came from working in areas where there were higher rates of Covid, such as London. Sir Chris said people raised the difficult questions but suggestions about taking them out of the workforce presented problems. Theyd be excluded from work, excluded from a variety of other issues, he said. He conceded we were slow off the mark to translate materials into other languages as well as identifying sources where people were getting information from, such as from international TV or radio. 02:50 PM BST Risk to elderly apparent from early on The risk to the elderly from Covid was the biggest by some distance, Prof Sir Chris Whitty has said, adding that this became clear from the early hotspots in China and Italy. The bit we were more cautious about saying was the other end of the age scale, where initial data showed children were relatively unaffected, in contrast to something like influenza, he said. When questioned if the danger to the elderly was publicised enough, he said the Government were both certain and publicised [the risk] quite early on. 02:41 PM BST Foolish not to assume asymptomatic transmission may happen in future pandemic It would be foolish not to assume that asymptomatic transmission may occur in a future pandemic, Prof Sir Chris Whitty has said. He said it wasnt possible to have said everyone was at risk during Covid as it would have made symptoms irrelevant but it would be considered as likely to play a significant part in a future covid-like infection. 02:34 PM BST Poor communication with NHS staff over face masks led to erosion of trust Poor communication with NHS staff over face masks and personal protective equipment led to an erosion of trust, Prof Sir Chris Whitty has said. There was a real mismatch between what people were being told about stock shortages and what people were seeing in reality or among colleagues online, he said, which led to an erosion of trust. Sir Chris also said there was confusion about which masks were better or should be used and that the impact of the shortages of supplies led to scepticism about the guidance. He said there was a concern that the reason that people were giving advice was essentially because of shortages, plus a concern about whether they were being given adequate protection, even the very big risks they were facing. 02:24 PM BST Little evidence to support FFP-3 masks are better than surgical masks, Whitty says Prof Sir Chris Whitty has backed previous claims given to the Inquiry that there is little evidence to support wearing FFP-3 masks over other surgical masks during the pandemic, particularly after it was established that Covid was an airborne virus. He said: The evidence there is a difference between these is extremely weak. He said the FFP-3 masks were not liked because they were harder to hear through, harder to express emotions through. If you were hard of hearing, if youve got early dementia, if your first language is not English, actually having people unable to speak clearly and unable to express emotions does have downsides for the provision of care, he said. A filtering face piece 3 (FFP3) respirator - PETER BYRNE/PA 02:20 PM BST People wrongly assumed chief medical officers had to sign off Covid guidance, says Whitty People wrongly thought everything had to be signed off by chief medical officers, Prof Sir Chris Whitty has claimed. Talking to the inquiry in relation to guidance for pregnant women working in healthcare, and criticism from the Royal College of Midwives for not providing guidance to employers, he said: Given how few, few of us there were trying to do a lot of different areas, I didnt think it was sensible for us to be trying to sign off every bit of guidance. He added: I thought that really would lead to extraordinarily poor decision making by us and or a block on the system, and so it wasnt our job to do the guidance, and we didnt, but we did appreciate the point they were making. 02:13 PM BST Whitty unsure if shielding would be used again Prof Sir Chris Whitty is unsure if he would use the shielding again in another pandemic because it would depend on the situation. He said: Whether the particular approach to shielding we took is an appropriate one to use again in a respiratory infection, I honestly dont know. There are many kinds of pandemic where it would be completely irrelevant. It wouldnt have helped for HIV for example. 02:09 PM BST Effectiveness of shielding never directly evaluated Prof Sir Chris Whitty said his office never directly evaluated the effectiveness of shielding and could not say if there was a benefit in reducing infections. There were both health benefits for some but also significant harms to shielding, Sir Chris said. Whether it actually lead to a reduction in infection, and therefore reduction in mortality is extraordinarily difficult to test because the group of people who were shielding were by definition a massively greater risk or substantially greater risk than the general public, so if they got Covid, they were more likely to die, he said. 02:04 PM BST Quite typical to receive emails from concerned people shielding Prof Sir Chris Whitty said it was quite typical to receive emails from concerned people who had been shielding when the initiative was scrapped in September 2021. In one email displayed by the Inquiry, a vulnerable person complained that the decision had been reversed without explanation and with neither the Chief Medical Officer of Prof Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Officer, anywhere to be seen. We cannot over communicate with a situation like this, where someone has been essentially taken out of society, he said. He said it was up to the Government when he and Professor Patrick Vallance appeared on TV - it wasnt a choice. 01:51 PM BST Pictured: Prof Sir Chris Whitty gives evidence at inquiry Professor Sir Chris Whitty whilst giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in London - UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA 01:46 PM BST Inquiry resumes The Covid Inquiry has resumed after a brief lunch break. 01:13 PM BST Inquiry breaks for lunch The Inquiry has broken for lunch. It will resume at 1.40pm. 01:07 PM BST Whitty knew shielding would be extremely difficult Prof Sir Chris said officials knew shielding would be extremely difficult mentally and operationally for those asked to keep away from loved ones during lockdowns. At the start of the pandemic, those who were immunosuppressed or extremely clinically vulnerable, were asked to shield to protect themselves. This initially consisted of six categories plus GPs could add people to the list themselves using their own clinical judgement. Sir Chris said they recognised it would be challenging and had very significant downsides and that they didnt want to put people on the list who were going to have limited benefit from it or come to net harm. It was paused on Aug 1 and Sir Chris said the decision was because the rate of covid infections had fallen and we were very conscious of the major downsides for being in strict shielding for people who are living with it. 01:01 PM BST We are in foothills of understanding of long Covid Prof Sir Chris Whitty told the inquiry we are in the foothills of our understanding of this set of syndromes in relation to the lasting effects of Covid. Sir Chris said the longer term outlook for people with long covid varies very significantly and that there were experts working in multidisciplinary teams at long Covid clinics to manage the varying symptoms there can be. Some people make an almost or complete recovery relatively soon as in a matter of weeks to months, having had undoubtedly long Covid as defined by any area, and others have a much longer [illness] or indeed see no improvement. 12:49 PM BST UK should have been swifter off the mark spotting long Covid Prof Sir Chris Whitty said the UK should have been swifter off the mark in spotting long Covid as it emerged. The main thing we could do at the beginning, before we understood it slightly better, was to reduce the amount of Covid. If you dont get covid, you dont get long covid, he said. Sir Chris said evidence around long Covid was still relatively new but studies have shown that vaccination reduces the rates of long Covid. He said: Vaccination meant that those people who did have Covid, subsequently it looks as if they get a lower incidence of long covid and a less severe manifestation, but its a bit difficult to tease apart because weve had different viruses, were now in a post-Omicron era, and that is a rather different situation biologically. He said it was an unknowable question whether those who had not had a vaccine would have changed their mind if there had been stronger messaging on the jabs ability to reduce the long-term effects of Covid. 12:37 PM BST Government overdid Covid response at begining of pandemic Prof Sir Chris Whitty still worries about whether the Government got the level of concern about Covid relayed to the public right. He told the Inquiry that if anything they overdid it at the beginning. Sir Chris said: I was worried at the beginning. I still worry, actually in retrospect, about whether we got the level of concern right. Were we either over pitching it so that people were incredibly afraid of something where in fact, their actuarial risk was low, or we were not pitching it enough and therefore people didnt realise the risk they were walking into. I think that balance is really hard, and arguably, some people would say we, if anything we overdid it, rather than under the beginning. 12:32 PM BST UK postponed extremely important research into other diseases to prioritise Covid The UK postponed large swathes of extremely important research into other diseases in order to prioritise Covid, Prof Sir Chris Whitty has said. He told the Inquiry the UK had a unique advantage with the existence of the NHS as a single provider which meant it was able to be a world-leader in Covid research. That came at a price, and the price was that we were extremely ruthless about the number of studies we supported, he said, including not starting hundreds of Covid studies and postponing non-Covid medical research. It was a pretty tough funnel, and we had to switch off large amounts of extremely important research into multiple other diseases to provide the capacity to do this. And it took us quite a long time, I think, longer than we expected to get those back on track, he said. It took us probably two years to get anywhere near back to where we were pre-pandemic. So Im not saying this was a cost free move. 12:29 PM BST Vaccine was light at the end of the tunnel NHS staff viewed the Covid vaccine as a light at the end of the tunnel, according to Englands chief medical officer. Professor Sir Chris Whitty was asked by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry how he thought healthcare workers were feeling by the second wave of the virus. He said: One thing that, in my experience, did make quite a big difference was when staff knew that the vaccine was coming. Because until that point, there was a sense of this could go on for literally years with wave after wave. The second wave in particular was incredibly harrowing. But knowing that there was something that was going to significantly reduce that, I think, for many people at least, meant they felt there was, there was some light at the end of the tunnel. 12:28 PM BST Scale of second wave underappreciated by public Professor Sir Chris Whitty has told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that the scale of the so-called second wave of the virus was underappreciated by the public. The second wave started in the autumn of 2020, lasting until the spring of 2021. I think that the scale of the second wave was actually underappreciated in the general public, Sir Chris said. I think people who had relatives, obviously, people who were sick, fully understood that this was, in fact, a larger wave in terms of total numbers of people who were severely ill, and indeed who sadly died. And the first two waves are the ones which had the extraordinary mortality and the very large numbers in ICU. By the time we got to most of the Delta wave and the Omicron wave, vaccination had completely changed the pattern. So although people were still getting Covid and still coming into hospital, and it put enormous strain on the system as a whole, the proportion, fortunately, who were going to ICU and going on to die was massively lower, and that led to a very different outlook. 12:26 PM BST Whitty defends meetings with World Health Organisation despite Covid misinformation Sir Chris has hit back at questions over meetings with the World Health Organisation, which had early in the pandemic tweeted it was a fact that Covid was not an airborne virus. He said: Among the very large number of things I was trying to do at this moment in time, trying to get WHO to retract a past tweet didnt seem to me one of my roles. Sir Chris added that he didnt think tweeting was a very good medium for putting forward really difficult science. He praised the international collaboration in dealing with Covid, which was essential both before the virus hit the UK and in the development of the vaccine, despite different countries taking different approaches to dealing with the pandemic. 12:22 PM BST Covid messaging confusing during pandemic Prof Sir Chris Whitty said the messaging for everybody was confusing during the pandemic, but particularly for healthcare workers on the front line. The messaging near the beginning of this was quite confused, Sir Chris said, particularly in relation to the use of PPE and face masks for NHS staff. I think the reason that it was confused was that it was not entirely clear who was ultimately responsible for making decisions in this fast-moving situation, he said. Quite a lot of people thought they were partially responsible, and thats always an extremely difficult and dangerous situation to find yourself in. It wasnt that people were trying to walk away from responsibility, but the quite complex system by which Public Health England, as it was then, was the infection control cell, the NHS delivery of various things were interacting, and thats before we get into its use of procurement and distribution, which had a separate set of challenges. When asked if this was for healthcare staff, he said it was for everybody actually. 12:21 PM BST Covid classed as high consequence infectious disease Asked what was done to protect UK healthcare workers during the pandemic, Sir Chris said it was classified as a high consequence infectious disease. This meant staff could treat patients in environments which are relatively highly protective, with highly trained skilled staff who are used to dealing with high levels of PPE and therefore at a much lower probability of coming to harm themselves. However it was later declassified to just an infectious disease. Sir Chris, who was not involved in that decision but supported it, said there were some risks to the classification because the level of barrier between the staff and the patients is quite significant. 12:19 PM BST Keep an eye out for health workers dying An email from Sir Chris to colleagues in January 2020 at the outset of the Covid pandemic in China, said officials should keep an eye on three key triggers, including healthcare workers dying in order to understand the scale of the risk of the virus. Even a small increase in healthcare worker deaths, that is a very concerning sign that you would want to escalate, he said. 12:00 PM BST Another pandemic a certainty, says Whitty Another pandemic is a certainty, according to Prof Sir Chris Whitty. Sir Chris told the Covid-19 Inquiry that the UK must be prepared for a future pandemic. Englands chief medical officer said: We have to assume a future pandemic on this scale will occur. Thats a certainty. For the UK, not the world, this is a 100 year event because the last time there was something this big was 1919. When questioned about how the UK can better prepare for a surge in hospital patients, he said it was a political choice to have a very low ICU (intensive care unit) capacity compared to most of our peer nations in high income countries. He added that the way out of these was always going to be science in the end, as it was for this one with vaccines. 11:58 AM BST Not binary whether NHS was functioning or not during pandemic Asked if the NHS was functioning as the lockdown had intended, Sir Chris said it was not binary. The NHS continued to treat sick patients throughout. Actually there were more people in the hospital who did not have covid than had it, he told the inquiry. The NHS is under strain every year, even prior to Covid, he said. 11:55 AM BST No clear definition of what overwhelmed NHS looks like Sir Chris said that there was never a clear definition for what an overwhelmed NHS would have looked like when the country was locked down in 2020 in order to protect the health service. 11:53 AM BST Second wave of pandemic particularly harrowing Sir Chris said the second wave of Covid during the pandemic was particularly harrowing but the development of a Covid vaccine gave NHS staff light at the end of a very long tunnel. 11:40 AM BST Sir Chris being sworn in Prof Sir Chris Whitty is being sworn in at the Inquiry. 11:40 AM BST Covid scenes worse than 7/7 bombings Covid was worse than the 7/7 bombings, an NHS adviser told the UK Covid-19 inquiry. Prof Kevin Fong, giving evidence to the Inquiry on Thursday, broke down in tears as he described scenes from hell on intensive care wards during the Covid pandemic. The former national clinical adviser in emergency preparedness, resilience and response at NHS England, said he worked in A&E during the July 7 London bombings but nothing that I saw...was as bad as Covid was every single day for the hospitals most badly hit during the pandemic. He said: The scale of death experienced by the intensive care teams during Covid was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Professor Kevin Fong, former national clinical adviser in emergency preparedness resilience and response, giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry - UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA 11:36 AM BST Woman walks out of inquiry in tears following emotive Prof Fong testimony Prof Kevin Fong, former national clinical adviser in emergency preparedness resilience and response, has finished giving evidence this morning. Prof Fong described an intensive care consultant telling him how he was watching patients die in front of you, to the left of you, to the right of you, behind you. The emotional testimony from Prof Fong at the Inquiry led to one woman sitting in the public gallery walking out in tears. 11:32 AM BST Charity criticises government over pandemic response It comes as the Centre for Mental Health said the Government missed opportunities to support the nations mental health during the pandemic. A report by the charity said the pandemic had caused collective trauma from the effects of isolation, bereavement and fear, and longer term trauma of health care workers and the psychological legacy among children and young people of disrupted education. Andy Bell, chief executive of the charity and co-author of the report, said: The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the nations mental health hard. A lack of government planning, and the absence of any strategy to mitigate harms, meant that both short-term and long-lasting mental health harms occurred that are still visible four years on. He added: It is truly shocking that people with a mental illness were so disproportionately affected by the virus itself, exacerbating existing health inequalities and widening the already vast life expectancy gap. 11:29 AM BST Sir Chris likely to be asked about Covid messaging Sir Chris is likely to be asked about the Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives messaging deployed at the start of the pandemic. When questioned at the Inquiry earlier this month, the former chief nursing officer for England Dame Ruth May was asked about the messaging. Asked if the message got the balance wrong, she replied: In hindsight I wish it was, stay at home but not if youre pregnant...in hindsight, yes. 11:26 AM BST Pictured: Sir Chris arrives at Covid Inquiry to give evidence Chris Whitty arrives to give evidence to the Covid-19 inquiry 11:25 AM BST Prof Sir Chris Whitty to appear Prof Sir Chris Whitty is to appear before the UK Covid-19 Inquiry today. Englands chief medical officer is to be quizzed about the impact of the pandemic on the NHS. Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Hallett is examining how Covid affected NHS workers, patients and the delivery of healthcare as part of module three of the inquiry. This will include how managers led the pandemic response, the role of primary care and GPs, NHS backlogs, and how the vaccine programme was integrated. Sir Chris, who became a well-known figure during the crisis due to his regular appearances at Downing Street press conferences, is likely to be asked about the Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives messaging deployed at the start of the pandemic. While many birders are respectful, even slight disruption during breeding season can make the difference between birds breeding or not. Photograph: Steve Young/Alamy With its impressive size, striking plumage and rowdy displays, sighting a capercaillie is many birders dream. Only about 530 of the large woodland grouse survive in the wild in Scotland, most in the Cairngorms national park. But in recent years, those tasked with saving the species from extinction have had to walk a line between calling attention to the birds plight and discouraging people from seeking them out. Although it is illegal to disturb capercaillie during the breeding season from March to August, that hasnt deterred birders and nature photographers, motivated by the possibility of a prestigious spot or shot. Over the 2022 season, 17 people were found on or around the lek, where male birds gather to compete for the attention of females in spring, says Carolyn Robertson, the project manager of the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. That same year, a birdwatcher was caught on camera, flushing six capercaillie from the breeding site. The man was arrested, but let go with a verbal warning. By then the damage may have already been done. Even fleeting disruption can make the difference between birds breeding, or not, says Robertson. We know that it increases their stress levels, so theres a high chance they didnt come back to the area to breed that morning; they might not have returned for days. With so few birds remaining in the wild, human disturbance could be catastrophic for the species, Robertson says but discouraging nature enthusiasts from seeking them out has proved challenging. When people have taken photographs of capercaillie and put them online, theyve been liked thousands of times. By the time we ask them to take them down, its got them so much kudos, they dont want to do so. It reflects a new and increasing threat to vulnerable species and habitats around the world: social media. A new paper in the Science of The Total Environment journal has highlighted the negative impacts of online posting and photography on biodiversity. Related: Massacred for TikTok likes: is social media feeding the slaughter of 2.6m birds in Lebanon? By calling attention to rare flora and fauna and in some cases their precise locations nature enthusiasts posting about finds can cause others to flock to the same location, and even to deploy unethical tactics (such as playing back bird calls or using bait) to secure a sighting for themselves. Robert Davis, a senior lecturer in wildlife ecology at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia and the papers lead author, says the research was driven by collective rage at having seen pristine natural spots and vulnerable species negatively affected by visitors. Theres actually probably never been a time in human history where you can share information so rapidly to so many people, and with that has come this immense pressure to systems, he says. Populations of the critically endangered blue-crowned laughingthrush, restricted to a small area of Jiangxi province in China, are believed to have changed their nesting habits in response to severe disturbance from wildlife photographers. In 2022, packs of photographers turned up in Shetland, seeking a sight of the elusive lanceolated warbler, potentially causing the bird to abandon the area. This August, a photographer was fined more than 1,600 for disturbing a nesting European honey buzzard in Wales. Its a really tight balance to walk: social media is great for drawing peoples attention but there needs to be discretion James Lowen In Perth, where Davis lives with his wife, Belinda, a biologist and co-author of the paper, online attention has proved especially problematic for the states endemic orchids. You can track it on social media, more and more pictures being put up of the same plant, he says. Sometimes, one post about a flowering orchid can result in hundreds of visitors to the site, Davis says, putting the plants at risk of being damaged or poached. The Queen of Sheba orchid, which can take 10 years to bloom and is found only in a small area of south-west Western Australia, is such a desirable find for orchid hunters that plants in the wild have had to be put under protection. Theyve had to fence that orchid, put cameras on it and have guardians for it, says Davis. That really exemplifies the extreme end. But asking people not to seek out and post about vulnerable species is often met with resistance, says Davis. You get a lot of pushback from people saying: Why are you the gatekeeper? Everyone has a right to see this whats the harm in just one person?. When somethings that rare, you could single-handedly push it to extinction. He acknowledges that the impact on vulnerable species is minor relative to the broader threats posed by habitat loss and invasive species. But social media perpetuates the problem, Davis says. Ultimately, it fuels demand: the rarer something is, the more people want to see it. It highlights a mounting conflict between conservation aims, and those invested in seeing a species before its too late. James Lowen, a natural history writer based in Norfolk, says standards among nature enthusiasts have been slipping, perhaps reflecting the ease of taking and sharing photographs online. There are now more people whose hobby is wildlife photography, rather than wildlife watching, and I suspect that they have not been brought up with the same attention to ethics and fieldcraft. That threat is having to be actively managed now, among countless others. The recent rediscoveries of the Norfolk snout moth, believed to be extinct, and the ghost orchid, not seen since 2009, generated much excitement from enthusiasts but their precise locations have had to be obscured, for fear of further disadvantaging the species, says Lowen. Its a really tight balance to walk: social media is great for drawing peoples attention, but there needs to be a level of discretion. Lowen himself removed capercaillie from the most recent edition of his book, 52 Wild Weekends, to reflect the impact of human disturbance on their breeding success. We all want to see capercaillie, and to see them display they are remarkable creatures but absolutely, birders should stay away. The Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, meanwhile, has sought to harness the power of social media to save the species. Last year, it launched the Lek It Be campaign, urging people not to go looking for the bird or to post photographs online. Robertson says it has already had a positive effect, with 55% fewer birders, photographers and guided groups observed around lek sites this season. While the bird-watching community has backed the campaign, photographers have been less responsive, Robertson says perhaps reflecting their different motivations. Birders will talk about it, and tick a list but [photographers] need that output, the shot thats what theyre there for, she says. Now the worst offenders may find themselves on the other end of the lens. Last year, the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project posted a video of two men caught looking for capercaillie on the lek, to discourage others from doing the same. The intent wasnt to publicly shame them, Robertson says. Its about developing a social norm. We just dont look for capercaillie any more we leave them in peace. Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow the biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield on X for all the latest news and features This article was amended on 26 and 27 September 2024 to clarify that a reference to 530 pairs of capercaillie in the wild refers to Scotland. The population in Scandinavia and other parts of the world is much higher. Also, an earlier version referred to the Eastern Queen of Sheba orchid rather than the extremely rare Queen of Sheba orchid. Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, has been charged with accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources after an indictment was filed against the leader of one of the worlds biggest cities. In a five-count criminal indictment, US prosecutors allege that before and during his terms as mayor, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. The criminal counts against Adams include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals, wire fraud, and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. Adamss arraignment was scheduled for noon on Friday before magistrate judge Katharine Parker. Related: A true friend of Turkey: Eric Adams bribery indictment reveals years of flights and favors The complaint focuses on trips Adams and his partner took to Turkey, India and Ghana on Turkish airlines, sometimes staying in luxury hotels, that as an elected official he should have disclosed to the government, and campaign contributions made by Turkish officials through a system of straw donors. Adams did not disclose the travel benefits he had obtained in annual financial disclosures he was required to file as a New York City employee, the government alleges. Sometimes, Adams agreed to pay a nominal fee to create the appearance of having paid for travel that was in fact heavily discounted. Prosecutors allege that Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails, falsely suggesting that he had paid, or planned to pay, for travel benefits that were free. In September 2021, two months before he was elected New York mayor, prosecutors allege, Turkish officials called in their debt, telling Adams it was his turn to repay the Turkish official, by pressuring the New York City fire department (FDNY) to facilitate the opening of a new Turkish consular building a 36-story skyscraper without a fire inspection in time for a high-profile visit by Turkeys president. The indictment notes that at the time, the building close to the UN would have failed an FDNY inspection. In exchange for free travel and other travel related bribes in 2021 and 2022 arranged by the Turkish official, Adams did as instructed, the indictment says. Shortly before prosecutors held a press conference to announce the charges, Adams held his own, surrounded by clergy and family as well as protesters calling for his resignation. Adams insisted he was innocent. I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defence, he said, and added: Everyone who knows me knows that I follow the campaign rules and I follow the law. But at the end of the press conference, Adams walked away to chants of Resign! Resign! Resign! from some protesters. The US attorney Damian Williams said Adams had committed a grave breach of public trust by accepting more than $100,000 in luxury travel benefits without disclosing them, seeking illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials as recently as last year and taking corrupt official action over the approval of Turkeys consulate. The mayor, Williams said, crossed bright red lines again and again. Public office is a privilege and we allege Mayor Adams abused that privilege and broke the law laws that are designed to ensure that officials like him serve the people, not the highest bidder, not a foreign bidder and certainly not a foreign power, Williams added. This investigation continues, he said, promising to hold more people accountable. If convicted, Adams could face five years for conspiracy, five years for seeking foreign campaign donations and 20 years for wire fraud. Prosecutors contend that by him concealing illegal contributions, his 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10m in matching public funds. These are very serious charges and if the facts are as the government says, its going to be very hard for the mayor to prevail, said Columbia Law Schools Richard Briffault. The US attorney also took steps to quell claims that the charges had been brought by the justice department because Adams opposed the Biden administrations southern border policy, which he has called a disaster and claimed had flooded New York with immigrants. We are not focused on the right and the left, Williams said. We are only focused on right and wrong. The moment is a deep crisis for the former police officer, who was elected with a tough-on-crime agenda but who has courted controversy throughout his political career and has been a polarising figure on the left. Adams is the first sitting New York City mayor to be criminally charged. Many local politicians in the city have called for his resignation, including the leftist Bronx Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is a powerful influence in the city and the national Democratic party. Related: Who is Eric Adams, the New York City mayor facing indictment? Ocasio-Cortez said that after the indictment news and the previous resignation of several city officials, including the police commissioner, I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. For the good of the city, he should resign. When the news broke of the indictment late on Wednesday night, Adams released a defiant video statement. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. He also vowed to stay in office. I have been facing these lies for months yet the city has continued to improve, Adams said. Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. The indictment followed months of scrutiny after some of his closest aides and allies came under federal investigation as prosecutors began examining his inner circle. Less than a month ago, federal agents raided the homes of high-ranking officials within Adamss administration and seized electronic devices from the home of the New York police department commissioner. Victoria Thomas died in the early hours of 20 August. Photograph: South Wales police A grieving family has said it is broken and will miss its much-loved daughter, mother, sister, aunt, niece and friend forever, after a woman was found dead at a house in Cardiff. Victoria Thomas, 45, died in the early hours of Tuesday 20 August and was found at a house on Caerphilly Road in the Welsh city. Alcwyn Thomas, 44, appeared at Cardiff magistrates court on 23 August accused of murder. He did not enter a plea to the charge of murdering Thomas at the property where they both lived. The deputy district judge, Daniel Church, said: This court cannot consider bail in a case such as this. He adjourned the case to be heard at Cardiff crown court at a later date. Paying tribute to the 45-year-old, her family said in a statement shared by South Wales police: As a family we are devastated that our much-loved daughter, mother, sister, aunt, niece and friend has been taken away so tragically. Our family are broken, and we will miss her for ever. Please respect our privacy and our wishes to grieve at this devastating and difficult time. At an inquest at the start of September in Pontypridd, the coroners officer Keeley Mason said South Wales police received a report a woman had allegedly been assaulted at the property at approximately 12.30am. Adjourning the full inquest to a later date for further criminal investigation to take place, the assistant coroner, Rachel Knight, said: Based upon the evidence I am satisfied to open an inquest as I have reason to suspect her death is unnatural. Knight added: I want to take this opportunity to pass on my condolences to the family and friends at this sad time. Shawn Seesahai, 19, had travelled to the UK for medical treatment before his death. Photograph: Family Handout/PA The family of a man killed by the UKs youngest knife murderers said they are haunted by thoughts of his last moments and how scared he must have been. Shawn Seesahai, 19, was waiting with a friend on playing fields in Wolverhampton when he was killed by two boys, then aged 12, wielding a machete. The boys, who are now 13, were found guilty of murder after a 20-day trial in June and are due to be sentenced on Friday. The prosecutor, Michelle Heeley KC, told the court on Thursday that the boys were the youngest knife murderers and there was little precedent for what sentence they should receive. Their victim, Seesahai, was from Anguilla, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, and had recently travelled to the UK for medical treatment before his death. In a statement read to the court by Dorothea Hodge, the UK representative for Anguilla, his family said they were struggling in so many ways after his murder, which appears to be for no reason at all. We are devastated as a family, totally heartbroken and confused, they said. None of us have had an unbroken nights sleep since Shawn was taken from us. Every time I close my eyes, all I can think about are what his last moments were and how scared he must have been. It continually breaks my heart. The family said they had also suffered financially, spending their life savings to have Seesahais body repatriated to Anguilla and taking out a loan to attend the murder trial in the UK. The impact on us as a family is devastating. Its hard to believe that we will ever come to terms with what has happened, they said. Shawn was a very loving child to us. He was very helpful and hardworking. He loved to help out with dad in construction and loved to help with the household chores. He was a humble person and his personality was unique. The trial heard how the two boys, whose identities are protected by a court order due to their age, were roaming the streets on 13 November last year when they got into a confrontation with Seesahai and his friend over a park bench. His friend fled but Seesahai stumbled to the floor and in the ensuing attack he was punched, kicked, stamped on and chopped at with the weapon, with one stab wound puncturing his heart and lung. There was conflicting evidence over which of the boys had inflicted the fatal injuries with the machete, although one admitted to owning the 42.5cm-long blade and was known to have regularly carried a weapon. The court heard that this boy, deemed by the prosecution to be the initial aggressor in the attack, had been groomed, exploited and trafficked by older youths and young men in the wider community who encouraged him towards the possession of knives. Rachel Brand KC, representing this youth, said: He was being exploited by those older than him. One only has to think of the places he was found sometimes late at night with no explanation how he got there. The court heard he had experienced significant trauma in his life, was at high risk of child criminal exploitation and came from a deprived home with family members who had offended. She said he was under the care of his grandmother, who had brought his behaviour to the attention of social services on a number of occasions, but only had intermittent contact with support workers. His co-defendant had also experienced significant disruption in his home life, the court heard, but there was no evidence he carried a knife. After their conviction, Mrs Justice Tipples ruled the defendants could not be identified by the media because of concerns surrounding their welfare. The early release scheme was introduced to ease serious overcrowding in prisons An offender who allegedly groped a prison workers thigh within hours of being let out of prison under Labours early release scheme was freed in error. Amari Ward, 31, was one of 37 prisoners who should not have been eligible for the early release scheme because they had breached restraining orders. When police investigated Wards case, it emerged he and the others had been convicted under an outdated law, which was not recognised during checks. Five of those who were mistakenly released have still not been located, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed. The department said police were working urgently to locate the remainder. Amari allegedly assaulted the prison worker while he was being given a lift to a railway station. He was among a small group of inmates given a lift from HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, to Sittingbourne station 11 miles away as a gesture of goodwill. During the journey, it was alleged that [he] sexually assaulted the prison worker, according to a log of the incident. After the vehicle stopped in the station car park he quickly left and caught a train to London. He was arrested the next day in Croydon. His release came after serving 40 per cent of a jail term for breaching a restraining order. Amari Ward was released early from HMP Swaleside in error - Alamy The early release scheme was introduced to ease serious overcrowding in prisons, with some inmates let out after they had served 40 per cent of their sentence rather than 50 per cent. The Government had said those convicted of offences linked to domestic abuse including breaching a restraining order would not be eligible for early release. However, 37 mens crimes had incorrectly been prosecuted under outdated legislation from 1997. That meant the system did not recognise they were ineligible for release. It only looked at offences under the Sentencing Act 2020. Nick Hardwick, the former chief inspector of prisons, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme the incident would be very distressing and frightening for the victims. The MoJ confirmed 32 of those released early were now back in prison but five were still being searched for. It also suggested the issue had been fixed for forthcoming early releases and all victims had now been contacted. Watchdogs have revealed that up to a fifth of prisoners released under the scheme have been recalled after reoffending or breaching their licence within four months of being freed. The first figures from the early release scheme that ran until this month show that up to a third were also identified by the prison and probation service as being a risk to the public but were still freed into the community. Nearly one in four (38 per cent) were released despite being homeless with no accommodation address, a situation that watchdogs say means it is a third more likely that they will reoffend. The MoJ has yet to publish data on the number or proportion of offenders who were recalled after being released early to ease the prison overcrowding crisis. At HMP Winchester, 21 per cent of prisoners released up to 70 days early were recalled within four months - Andrew Matthews/PA Under the Tories, more than 10,000 prisoners were freed up to 70 days before their sentence was due to end between October 2023 and June 2024. Figures from HMP Winchester, published by the prisons independent watchdog, revealed that 21 per cent of prisoners released up to 70 days early had breached their licence and were recalled in a four-month period. Probation sources suggested Winchesters recall rate was typical of Category B prisons, which can hold inmates who pose a significant risk, and Category C training prisons, where offenders are prepared for release into the community. Spread across all prisons it would equate to at least 2,000 of the 10,000 prisoners released early being recalled within four months. The watchdogs also disclosed that 32 per cent of the prisoners earmarked for early release were escalated as risk concerns, meaning probation, prison or police officers expressed doubts over their suitability for being freed before the end of the sentence. Some 38 were released as homeless because no accommodation could be arranged in time, said the watchdogs, even though it increased the chances of recall. Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, has previously warned that his teams had found up to a quarter of those released early being sent out homeless. He described the position as astonishing. Mr Taylor warned about the number of inmates being sent out homeless - Andrew Crowley for The Telegraph In a report on HMP Peterborough mens jail, inspectors said: Despite them having no address to go to, managers had been obliged to release some men 18 days early under the ECSL [End of Custody Supervised Licence] scheme, only for some to return to prison before even their original release date had passed. Mr Taylor said that in a report on Lewes prison, a man was released directly from the segregation unit under the early release scheme while inspectors were visiting, only to be brought back into custody before the 11-day inspection visit was over. At least two prisoners freed under Labours early release scheme have reoffended within a day of being released. A MoJ spokesman said: The new Government inherited a justice system in crisis. The Lord Chancellor scrapped the previous governments early release scheme, replacing it with a system which gives probation staff more time to prepare for a prisoners release. Jason Hoganson, 53, is one of thousands of prisoners who have been released early in order to tackle prison overcrowding - NCJ Media When unknown 16-year-old actor Jason Hoganson landed his big break with the film Empire State he could be forgiven for thinking his next step would be Hollywood. Cast as a Geordie drifter, the Newcastle native found himself sharing the credits with Hollywood heavyweight Martin Landau and legendary Irish actor Ray McAnally. Unfortunately, the 1987 gangsters and geezers film was to prove the pride before the fall, because Hoganson would instead become a convicted criminal. Now Hoganson has become the unwitting poster boy for the Labour governments controversial early prisoner release scheme, which caused a political storm even before it kicked in. In July the new Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that 5,500 prisoners would be released in September and October to tackle prison overcrowding. Known as SDS40, under which criminals will serve 40 per cent of their sentence rather than half, the scheme started earlier this month for those serving less than five years and will continue next month for those serving five years or more. Serious and repeat offenders were among the first raft of 1,700 prisoners released from September 10, with Labour blaming previous Tory governments for the chaos. But by far the most striking figure pictured emerging that day was Hoganson, who gave photographers a brazen thumbs up as he emerged from Durham Prison. Hoganson gave photographers a thumbs up as he emerged from Durham Prison. At the time of his release he was serving an 18-month sentence for assaulting his ex-girlfriend - PA Only later, however, did it emerge that the 53-year-old had once been a different kind of poster boy altogether. The clear complexion, ruffled hair, and rugged good looks in Empire State had been replaced by a tattooed sunken face and shaven scalp framing a pugnacious glare that betrays lifelong troubles. Born in Newcastle in 1970, Hoganson was brought up with his parents, sister and two brothers, in Elswick, one of the most deprived areas in the city. Despite being raised in an aspirational household, Hoganson, unlike his siblings, fell into the wrong crowd from an early age and began the slow spiral into anti-social behaviour. I was put into care when I was 13 because of my behaviour, said Hoganson in an interview. I was just part of the gang in Elswick and used to follow the crowd, and thats how I got into trouble. Revolving door of hostels and homelessness But it was acting that offered Hoganson the most likely escape route when the producers of Empire State contacted his drama teacher, looking for local talent. Hoganson, who had always had a natural affinity for acting at Newcastles Redewood school, found himself up against more than 100 teenagers before being offered the part. At the time, Hoganson said: Im very pleased with the film. Its a low-budget picture, really down to earth and true to life. I know acting is a difficult profession to break into but acting and writing are what I have always wanted to do. So difficult that the roles dried up, and his career, like the film, disappeared without trace. Hoganson was sucked back into the life of a criminal in Newcastle. His own defence lawyer, Ian Crook, when Hoganson admitted charges of assault by beating and breach of a restraining order in August this year, said Hoganson struggled in the spotlight and that he turned to drink and drugs and that led to a downward spiral. Hogansons life was chaotic and his mental health suffered as a consequence. He also began to lose contact with his five children, whom he fathered with three different women. The children were only young, and I decided it was best for them that I didnt see them anymore, he explained. In 2002 Hoganson entered into a revolving door of hostels and homelessness, with an unwanted record of disruption and eviction. Mr Crook told the court in August that Hoganson, who had been diagnosed with mental health problems, had still recently been a mentor for others while in prison on remand. Struggling with frequent bouts of homelessness, in 2012, he said: I could have gone back and lived with my mam, but she is on her own and shes got a beautiful house. Im like the black sheep. My mam has done everything for me, shes a really lovely woman, but my family have had enough and I dont blame them. I cant keep putting them through this. Everywhere I go just pushes me away At that time, Hoganson admitted that he was sleeping rough at night, and during the day drifting between city centre cafes trying to keep warm. Its freezing out there and its only going to get worse, he continued, But everywhere I go just pushes me away and says they cant help me. All I need is my own little place. That would mean that if any of my children wanted to come and see me in later life, they could. I have missed so much of their lives and no amount of money can get that back. At the time of his release from Durham Prison, he was serving an 18-month sentence for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. And despite his plea to be reunited with his children, Hoganson is understood to have scant contact with them. One of those children, Charlotte Hoganson, now 28, told The Telegraph: We dont have anything to do with him. He is nothing to do with us. She said that he had played no part in her childhood and she had no idea what he was up to now. As for Keir Starmers controversial early release programme, Hoganson raises questions about whether grateful former prisoners will choose a more enlightened path. North Tyneside Magistrates Court heard on September 12 that a day after his release the former actor allegedly slapped his ex-girlfriend after turning up at her home. He is also accused of breaching his restraining order against the victim. Hoganson was re-arrested and is currently back in jail. A CPS spokesman confirmed that Hoganson had been charged with assault and twice breaching a restraining order and had subsequently been denied bail. Hoganson is scheduled to face trial on October 30 at South Tyneside Magistrates Court. He denies all charges. And should Hoganson be convicted, once again, it is tempting to ask whether he would be eligible for any further early release programmes the Government may unveil in the coming months. A pregnant woman drinks a glass of water - Dougal Waters/Digital Vision A UK Government scheme to add more fluoride to tap water could put childrens IQ at risk, a US court ruling has suggested. In February, the Government announced that it was planning to raise fluoride levels for millions to improve the nations teeth. However, after a seven-year legal battle between campaigners and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this week a Californian court ruled that fluoridation posed an unreasonable risk to the health of children. The court concluded there was substantial and scientifically credible evidence establishing that fluoride poses a risk to human health and has called on the EPA to act. In the UK, the Government wants to raise the fluoridation level to 1mg/L, but judges in the US set a safe level of fluoride at 0.4 mg/L, less than half that of planned levels. Stephen Peckham, professor of health policy at the University of Kent, said: The ruling is important because it is forcing the regulatory authority in the US to take action, and it is pretty clear that beyond a particular level there is an unacceptable risk. The view of the judge is that the evidence is overwhelming. Fluoridation has brain implications and my personal view is that the weight of the evidence is very much against community fluoridation. Concerns about fluoride have been growing in recent years, with several studies suggesting the mineral can harm the developing brains of children and pregnant women. In 2020, York University in Ontario found that an increase of 0.5 mg/L of fluoride in water approximately the difference between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas was associated with a 9.3-point decrease in IQ levels for bottle-fed babies when they reached primary school. Breast-fed children also saw their IQ levels dip by 6.2 per cent. Last year, the same team reported that fluoride may increase the risk of hypothyroidism in pregnant women. Fluorides ability to suppress the thyroid has been known since the 1930s, when it was used to treat an overactive thyroid. Currently only five water companies add fluoride to water in the UK, mainly in the North-East and West Midlands, covering less than 10 per cent of Britons, while some areas of the country natural fluoride levels already reach the target concentration. Under government proposals, an initial 1.6 million people will see the mineral added to their water supply, following a consultation in areas including Northumberland, Teesside, Durham and South Tyneside. The Government said its long-term ambition was to bring fluoridation to many areas of the country, highlighting Ireland and the US, where 73 per cent of people live in areas where fluoride is added to the water. Prof Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, says adding fluoride could cut dental decay among children - Jamie Lorriman Sir Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, has claimed that adding fluoride to water supplies could reduce cavities by 17 per cent among the richest and 28 per cent among the poorest. Tooth decay is the leading cause for hospital admissions among five to nine year-olds in England, with 19,381 children admitted in the last year, according to data published by NHS England on Thursday. However, experts and campaigners argue that there are other ways to improve dental health without resorting to the mass medicalisation of drinking water. A spokesman for Fluoride Action Network said: Communities are currently adding this neurotoxin to the water. The harm is needlessly self-inflicted, but that also means the solution is simple: ban the use of fluoridation chemicals. Some areas of the world naturally have very high levels of fluoride, and it is known to lead to dental fluorosis or crippling skeletal fluorosis, which can lead to calcification of tendons and ligaments, and bone deformities. Impossible to know The World Health Organisation currently recommends a limit of fluoride in drinking water at 1.5 mg/L, but it is impossible to know how much extra fluoride people are consuming through other means. Coffee, tea, wine, grapes, potatoes and seafood are all known to be high in fluoride, and any food prepared in fluoridated water will also pick up traces of the mineral. The Department of Health and Social Care said it still believed that fluoridation was safe but would continue to monitor health effects. A department spokesman said: Water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure that reduces tooth decay. The fluoride levels permitted in the UK are proven to be safe and are well below the levels of WHO (World Health Organization) safety guidelines. There is a duty to monitor the effects of water fluoridation schemes on health. The next health monitoring report will be published in 2026. Coffee, tea, wine, grapes, potatoes and seafood are all known to be high in fluoride, and any food prepared in fluoridated water will also pick up traces of the mineral. The US and France have called for a 21-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to make way for broader negotiations, as the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, told a UN security council meeting that hell is breaking loose in Lebanon. Israels top general has said the country is preparing for a possible ground operation into Lebanon after an intense three-day bombing campaign that has killed more than 600 people, further fuelling fears of a regional conflict. The joint statement issued by US president Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron said: It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York, said they had worked on a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border. They urged Israel and Lebanon to back the move, which was also endorsed by the UK, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. A senior US administration official said on Wednesday night that both Israel and Lebanon, which was understood to be representing Hezbollah in the negotiations, were expected to respond to the call in the coming hours. Officials in a background briefing also emphasised that the ceasefire proposal does not apply to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The US said that the 21-day period was chosen in order to provide space in order to negotiate a more comprehensive agreement between the two sides to allow residents to return to their homes along the Israel-Lebanon border without fear of further violence or an October 7th-like attack in the future. The statement from the 12-member bloc said: The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. This is in nobodys interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. The announcement came at the conclusion of a heated UN security council meeting, which saw Lebanons prime minister accuse Israel of violating his countrys sovereignty. Najib Mikati said Lebanese hospitals were overwhelmed and unable to accept any more victims. Israels UN envoy told the security council said that his country did not seek a full-scale war and that Iran was the driving force behind the instability sweeping the Middle East. For his part, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said the US and UKs unwavering support for Israel has given them carte blanche for all sorts of sinister behaviour. Related: Can Israel avoid same pitfalls of past ground offensive in Lebanon? There have been tensions between the US and its European allies about whether to call for an immediate ceasefire at the security council. The UK foreign secretary David Lammy backed an immediate ceasefire, saying it was time to pull back from the brink, adding a full blown war is not in the interests of Israeli or Lebanese people. He said nothing justified Hezbollahs attacks and urged Iran to use its influence to persuade Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire. But US diplomats indicated an unconditional ceasefire call in the form of a joint security council statement could be seen as accepting a moral equivalence between the behaviour of Israel and Hezbollah, a group that is labelled a terrorist group by the US. The proposal for a temporary three-week cessation of hostilities might provide a platform to reopen stalled talks on the discussions over a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. Hezbollah has said it will stop its strikes if Hamas agrees to a Gaza ceasefire, but there is no sign currently of either the Hamas leadership or the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu coming to an agreement. Netanyahu was due to arrive in New York on Thursday, and is expected to set out whether he supports a 21-day break in hostilities. The US deputy envoy Robert Wood said diplomacy will only become more difficult if the conflict escalates further, adding he was gravely concerned by reports that hundreds of Lebanese civilians had died in recent days. But he insisted the origin of the conflict was the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians, and 65,000 Israeli civilians, who have been displaced due to Hezbollahs decision on 8 October to break the peace that has largely endured. He said that no one wanted to see a repeat of the war in 2006, adding the war must end with a comprehensive undertaking that has real implementation mechanisms. No details of the implementation mechanisms were set out by the US envoy, but it is not likely to be backed by Hezbollah if it infringes on its sovereignty. Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a three-week ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border - Abir Sultan/Reuters Israels prime minister has rejected a US-led ceasefire proposal and sworn to continue fighting Hezbollah with full force. Benjamin Netanyahus office issued a statement on Thursday morning dismissing reports that a three-week ceasefire was imminent. It came as Israel Defence Forces (IDF) jets struck Beirut again, killing Muahammad Hussein Sarour, the commander of Hezbollahs aerial forces, whom the IDF says was responsible for numerous drone and missile attacks on Israel. The report about a ceasefire is incorrect, the statement said. This is an American-French proposal that the prime minister has not even responded to. The report about the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth. The prime minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him. Emmanuel Macron, left, the president of France, and Joe Biden, the US president, met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday - Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Mr Netanyahu insisted that the fighting would continue in both Gaza and Lebanon until all Israels war objectives were achieved. The Israeli prime ministers statement was followed by confirmation from Israel Katz, his foreign minister. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Katz said: There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the terrorist organisation Hezbollah with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes. He was referring to some 63,000 Israelis who remain displaced from the region. On Wednesday night, a statement signed by the US, UK, France and other allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border. On Thursday morning, reports had suggested that an agreement was close. Allies frustrated Mr Netanyahus firm public rejection of the deal frustrated his Western allies, after he had privately signalled he was open to a ceasefire, a senior Western diplomat told the Times of Israel. The diplomat said this was typical of Mr Netanyahus conduct in Gaza hostage talks, where he showed flexibility behind closed doors before making tougher statements in public. An Israeli strike on Beirut on Thursday - War Monitors/X On Thursday, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels firebrand national security minister, threatened to withdraw his hard-Right Otzma Yehudit party from Mr Netanyahus coalition if there was any ceasefire with Hezbollah. The most basic and understandable thing is that when your enemy is on his knees, you do not allow him to recover, but work to defeat him, Mr Ben-Gvir said, arguing that pausing fighting conveys weakness, endangers the security of your citizens, and proves that you do not intend to win. Mr Netanyahu has long been accused of scuppering peace talks for fear of losing power. On Wednesday, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, Israels chief of staff, said Israel was preparing for a ground invasion of Lebanon and told troops their boots could soon enter enemy territory. People at the scene of an air strike on Beirut on Thursday - CHP/X By Thursday afternoon, the IDF had announced that its 7th Brigade had concluded an exercise simulating manoeuvres in Lebanon. The exercise took place a few kilometres from the border and trained the troops in manoeuvring and combat in thicketed mountainous terrain, the Israeli military said. Waiting for years Speaking about the assassination of the Hezbollah aerial forces chief, Lt Gen Halevi said: We need to continue attacking Hezbollah. We have been waiting for this opportunity for years. We are constantly working to eliminate more senior officials, to thwart the transfer of weapons, to [destroy] Hezbollahs firepower and to attack it in all of Lebanon. Israeli fighter jets also struck infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border which the IDF said was used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons from Syria. The air strike hit Beiruts southern suburbs - Hassan Ammar/AP The strikes came as Hezbollah fired at least 40 rockets at northern Israel after a 19-hour lull. Speaking at the UN general assembly in New York, Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, called on world leaders to stop sending weapons to Israel. Israel said it had concluded negotiations to receive $8.7 billion (6.5 billion) of US aid to continue its military operations. The package comprises $3.5 billion (2.6 billion) for essential wartime procurement and $5.2 billion (3.9 billion) for air defence systems, including the Iron Dome, Davids Sling, and an advanced laser system, said Maj Gen Eyal Zamir, the director-general of Israels ministry of defence. 03:33 PM BST Thats all for today Thanks for following our live coverage of the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in the Middle East. Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict. Heres a recap of todays events. A senior US official told Sky News that a 21-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon could be agreed as early as today But the report was quickly shot down by Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he had urged the IDF to continue fighting at full force against Hezbollah Both Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange blows throughout Thursday This included Israels strike on Beirut, which targeted Hezbollahs senior drone commander. He was reportedly killed, according to two security sources 03:25 PM BST In pictures: Aftermath of Beirut strike Lebanese soldiers cordon off the area at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts southern suburbs - AP A man carries salvaged items near a damaged car at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an apartment on al-Qaem street in Beiruts southern suburbs - AFP 03:14 PM BST Netanyahu to speak at UN on Friday Benjamin Netanyahu had planned to speak at the United Nations general assembly in New York on Thursday, though this has been pushed back to Friday. The Israeli prime minister landed in New York this afternoon, where he is expected to meet the president of Paraguay, and the prime ministers of Serbia, Greece, and the Netherlands. 02:50 PM BST Defence minister approves continued attacks against Hezbollah Israels defence minister has approved the continued IDF offensive activity against Hezbollah in Lebanon, his office has said. Yoav Gallant met with the IDFs chief of staff on Thursday to approve the plans, when they also obsvered the air strike on Beirut. Defence sources said the air strike targeted the head of Hezbollahs aerial forces, who is responsible for the terror groups drones, cruise missiles, and air defences. Lebanese people are seen in the area following the Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut - Anadolu 02:37 PM BST Lebanon: 26 people killed in strikes At least 26 people have been killed in strikes across Lebanon today, according to the Lebanese health authorities. Some 20 people were killed in Younine, north east Lebanon - 19 of whom were Syrian. Three people were killed in Tyre, one person was killed in Qana, southern Lebanon, and two people were killed in Cadmus. 02:26 PM BST Israeli ministers trying to damage negotiations Israeli ministers who have publicly rejected calls for a ceasefire with Hezbollah are deliberately attempting to damage negotiations, a Western diplomat has told Haaretz. Earlier on Thursday Israel Katz, the foreign minsiter, said there would be no ceasefire in the north. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rejected reports that a ceasefire was hours away. 02:08 PM BST More pictures coming in from Beirut We have more pictures coming in from Beirut after the IDF launched another strike on Thursday. Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beiruts southern suburbs on Thursday - AFP People inspect the damage in a building targeted by an Israeli air strike in Beiruts southern suburbs - AFP 01:52 PM BST Beirut target was head of Hezbollahs drone unit Israels target in its strike on Beirut was the the head of Hezbollahs drone unit, according to Hebrew media. 01:31 PM BST In pictures: Israel launches fresh strike on Beirut Israel has launched a targeted strike on Beirut - social media Israel had focused its bombing campaign in southern Israel 01:19 PM BST IDF strikes Beirut The Israeli military said it is currently carrying out precise strikes in Beirut. A source close to Hezbollah told AFP that the strike targeted one of its senior commanders. 01:15 PM BST IDF conducting exercises close to Lebanon border The IDFs 7th brigade has conducted exercises just a few kilometres from the border with Lebanon, Israels military said in a statement on Thursday. It follows the militarys army chief telling troops on Wednesday that your boots will enter enemy territory ahead of a possible ground invasion. Thousands of Israeli reservists were also called up for operations on the northern border. Gen Herzi Halevi said Israeli troops were preparing the process of a manoeuvre in Lebanon after striking all day - IDF 01:04 PM BST World is speaking clearly on ceasefire Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, has said the world is speaking clearly over the need for a ceasefire in the Middle East. It follows reports that a ceasefire deal could be reached within hours which were rejected by Israels top minsiters, including Benjamin Netanyahu. 12:22 PM BST Watch: IDF strikes Hezbollah targets The IDF has continued striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and near the border with Syria on Thursday, despite reports that a ceasefire deal was imminent. 12:14 PM BST In pictures: Children on both sides forced into shelters Children from both Lebanon and Israel have been impacted by the escalating conflict in the Middle East. At least one million Israelis were forced into bomb shelters on Wednesday, according to the IDF, while tens of thousands of Lebanese civilians have fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes. A child rests at a makeshift shelter in an educational institution hosting Lebanese people who fled from Beirut - Shutterstock Ultra-Orthodox Jewish students participate in a lesson inside a bomb shelter in Israels northern city of Safed - AFP 11:47 AM BST What is the Blue Line? The 21-day ceasefire deal proposed by the US, France and the UK would be implemented along the Blue Line. The Blue Line is a demarcation line established by the United Nations dividing Lebanon from Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. It was drawn in 2000 by the UN to ensure that Israel had fully withdrawn from Lebanon. It is under constant monitoring by UN peacekeepers. It also seeks to ensure that Hezbollah remains behind the Litani river, which is located around 20 miles from Israels border. However, its fighters have moved forward since it started attacking Israel on Oct 8 last year. In July 2006, war broke out between Israel and Hezbollah. At the end of the war, the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 ordered that all troops show full respect for the Blue Line. 11:33 AM BST Israeli strike hits Syria-Lebanon border crossing An Israeli air strike hit the end of a small border crossing between Syria and Lebanon, according to the Lebanese transport minister. Ali Hamieh told Reuters that he was unsure if the crossing could still be used. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used to transfer weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The IDF will continue to strike and act against the Hezbollah terrorist organisations attempts to arm itself and transfer weapons into Lebanon from Syrian territory, a statement read. 11:28 AM BST Telegraph readers have their say... 10:58 AM BST In pictures: Fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah Israel and Hezbollah continued trading blows on Thursday morning despite reports that a ceasefire deal was imminent. The IDF said it attacked around 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, while the Iran-backed terror group fired dozens back. Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli air strike - REUTERS An Israeli army tank is transported through northern Israel - REUTERS A man walks past destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Masaken neighbourhood on the outskirts of Tyre, Lebanon, on Thursday 10:38 AM BST Israels foreign minister: There will be no ceasefire Israels foreign minister has said there will be no ceasefire in the north with Hezbollah after Benjamin Netanyahu dealt a blow to hopes that the fighting could soon stop. We will continue to fight the Hezbollah terror group with full force until victory and the return of residents of the north to their homes safely, Israel Katz said. Mr Katz is serving as prime minister while Mr Netanyahu is in New York, though he does not have the power to make operational decisions about the war. It follows reports from Sky News and Lebanons MTV News that a ceasefire deal could be achieved in the coming hours. 10:28 AM BST Dispatch: A sense of cautious optimism slowly returns in Beirut After days of nervousness, it feels like there is a mood of cautious optimism at least in parts of Beirut this morning. Even in areas of the Lebanese capital unaffected by Israeli airstrikes, jittery residents had been staying at home far more than usual in a city famed for its nightlife. Shops and restaurants have been closing early, while office staff have often been working from home. But the cafes are a little more lively this morning. Its the first time Ive left home except to shop for five days, said Rima Khayat, a designer, as she sipped a cappuccino in a cafe in the Gemmayzeh district of eastern Beirut. Im feeling a little more confident. Im keeping my fingers crossed that the end is in sight. But for some traumatised Shia and Christian families who had fled the south there will be greater scepticism and pessimism. I cant believe the Israelis would stop now, said Zainab, a mother of three who fled the village of Shhur on Monday as Israel launched the heaviest aerial bombardment of the 21st century -- much of which targeted Hezbollah positions south of the Litani River in and around places like Shhur. When we left they were bombing the village. My neighbours house was destroyed. So even if there is peace will there be anything left for us to go back to? 10:11 AM BST Netanyahu: Ceasefire reports are not true A spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu has said reports about an imminent ceasefire are not true. The news about the supposed directive to moderate the fighting in the north is also the opposite of the truth, the statement read. The Prime Minister instructed the IDF to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to him. Also, the fighting in Gaza will continue until all the goals of the war are achieved. The Israeli prime minister is currently travelling to New York ahead of his speech at the United Nations general assembly. 09:50 AM BST Hezbollah fires 45 rockets at Israel Hezbollah fired around 45 rockets from Lebanon, Israels military said on Thursday, as ceasefire talks continued. Approximately 45 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon. Some of the projectiles were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, the IDF said, adding that Israeli warplanes continued to strike Hezbollah targets in several areas in southern Lebanon. Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Lebanon - REUTERS 09:43 AM BST Analysis: Israel knows its northern dilemma will not shift without military action While Israels prime minister is en route to the United Nations General Assembly, Israel remains on tenterhooks. With talks of a possible 21-day ceasefire, the country once again stands between a rock and a hard place. After the longest Gaza war, the country is war weary but they know that without significant military action, the situation in the north will not shift. A 21-day ceasefire will not return the 63,000 displaced Israelis nor resolve the fact that since the 2006 UN resolution 1701, Hezbollah has neither retreated nor disarmed as was the premise of the treaty. Mr Netanyahu has made returning the countrys displaced a top war goal alongside the returning of the hostages in Gaza and dismantling of Hamas. And as he tires of the pressure of the US, the question of his complying is unclear as he remains tight-lipped amid negotiations. 09:26 AM BST Were giving diplomacy a chance Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the UK, has told LBCs Nick Ferrari that Israel is giving diplomacy a chance amid reports of an imminent ceasefire with Hezbollah. The people from the north cannot go back to their homes, she told LBC. I believe today that were true chance to diplomacy to work but at the same time were prepared to all other alternatives just in case diplomacy fails, she said. 'We're prepared for all other alternatives if diplomacy fails.' Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, addresses reports that an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire is 'close'. @NickFerrariLBC pic.twitter.com/Tb5lPWiYmL LBC (@LBC) September 26, 2024 09:18 AM BST Analysis: A ceasefire could cripple Hezbollahs reputation Lebanese officials have sounded cautiously optimistic that the White Houses initiative could yield a ceasefire, with Nabih Berri, Lebanons parliamentary speaker, saying he is working with the Americans to de-escalate the conflict. Berri, whose party is allied to Hezbollah in the Lebanese party, told the Asharq Al-Awsat, an Arabic language newspaper, yesterday that the next 24 hours would be crucial. The biggest issue facing Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollahs leader, is that he has repeatedly insisted his movement would continue firing rockets into northern Israel until there is a ceasefire in Gaza. Hundreds of his fighters have died as a result of his campaign. Ending it without achieving this goal risks crippling Hezbollahs reputation among Lebanese Shias and across the Middle East more broadly. It would severely undermine Nasrallahs own credibility. Hezbollah is clearly in a deep bind. Iran has reportedly refused its pleas to fire on Israel in support of the movement, which is still reeling from a series of devastating blows that have incapacitated thousands of its fighters, killed many of its senior commanders, crippled morale and eroded its missile-firing capabilities. It is too soon to say if Nasrallah accepts the US proposal - his movement still holds a large arsenal of rockets despite the setbacks of the past week - but if he does he and his movement will have paid an enormous price for their rocket attacks on Israel. 09:13 AM BST Israeli strike kills 23 Syrians in Lebanese town At least 23 Syrians, most of them women or children, were killed in an Israeli strike on a three-storey building in the Lebanese town of Younine late on Wednesday, Ali Qusas, the towns mayor, told Reuters. Qusas said another eight people were wounded. Thousands of Lebanese civilians have fled their country for neighbouring Syria - AFP 08:52 AM BST Pictured: Israeli fighter jet flies over northern Israel Israeli fighter jet flying over Haifa in northern Israel as strikes continue ahead of an anticipated ceasefire agreement - AP 08:35 AM BST Watch: Iraqi resistance hits Israels Eilat port in drone attack The pro-Iran Islamic Resistance in Iraq group said it attacked Israels Red Sea port of Eilat on Wednesday. Israels military said it intercepted a drone approaching Eilat and that another fell in the area. It reported two minor injuries. 08:27 AM BST Israel needs to crush Hezbollah, says minister Bezalel Smotrich, Israels far-right finance minister, has rejected talk of a ceasefire with Hezbollah, saying displaced Israelis can only be returned to their homes in the north if the Iran-backed group surrenders or is taken to war. The campaign in the north should end in one scenario - crushing Hezbollah and denying its ability to harm the residents of the north, Smotrich said. The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows he received and to reorganize for the continuation of the war after 21 days. Surrender of Hezbollah or war, thats the only way we will return the residents and security to the north and the country. 08:15 AM BST Israeli strikes continue overnight Israels military said it struck around 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight, primarily in the Bekaa Valley and the south of the country. The IDF said it has been striking weapons storage facilities and ready-to-fire rocket launchers, many of which are stored in homes, according to Israeli intelligence. Hezbollah missile system in the attic of a home in the southern Lebanon village of Houmine al-Tahta - Israel Defence Force 07:57 AM BST Israeli boots ready to hit the ground in Lebanon A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah may be imminent, according to US officials, but on Wednesday Israels army chief told troops Israel is preparing to put boots on the ground with an invasion of Lebanon. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) jets have carried out heavy bombardments of Hezbollah targets to pave the way for your boots to enter enemy territory, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi told troops. It came as the Israeli army called up two brigades of reservists, around 4,000 soldiers, for operations on the northern border. The purpose of the invasion would be to allow Israeli citizens to return to their homes in the north, Gen Halevi added. Read the full story here. 07:47 AM BST Lebanon PM: Ceasefire is possible Lebanons prime minsiter believes a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is possible soon. Asked if a ceasefire could be secured soon, Najib Mikati told Reuters: Hopefully, yes. It comes after the United States, France and the United Kingdom called for a 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border. 07:32 AM BST Netanyahu departs for New York ahead of UN speech Benjamin Netanyahu has departed for New York, where he will address the United Nations amid escalating violence in the Middle East. The Israeli prime minister had initially delayed the trip but is now expected to give a speech at 9.30am local time (2.30pm in the UK), according to Hebrew media. Israel Katz, foreign minister, will officially serve as acting prime minister while Mr Netanyahu is away. Benjamin Netanyahu departs for New York with his wife, Sara, as fighting escalates between Israel and Lebanon 07:17 AM BST Lebanon: Four killed overnight Four people were killed in overnight Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, according to the countrys health authorities. Three people were killed in Aita el Shaab, while one person, of Syrian nationality, was killed in Qana, also in southern Lebanon. 07:08 AM BST Ceasefire agreement comes against backdrop of deadly strikes A potential 21-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon comes against the backdrop of deadly strikes over the last few days. At least 600 people were killed by Israeli strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in Operation Northern Arrows, which was launched on Monday, according to the Lebanese health authorities. Hezbollah has also fired hundreds of rockets back at Israel, including one directed at Mossads headquarters, though there have been no reported deaths. Several people have been injured from shrapnel. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on Wednesday - AFP 06:46 AM BST Border staff race to rescue 6,000 Britons Thousands of Britons are still trapped in Lebanon, with Border Force officers being deployed to help as many as 6,000 people flee amid the worsening conflict. Sir Keir Starmer has also not ruled out deploying troops on the ground to evacuate Britons from Lebanon if necessary, after sending 700 extra soldiers to Cyprus. Read the full story on evacuations here The traffic along the Damour highway as people flee southern Lebanon - Shutterstock 06:16 AM BST Rising violence between Israel-Hezbollah intolerable Britain has joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for the immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, decrying the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah as intolerable. The joint statement released by the White House read: The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. This is in nobodys interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety. Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict. Signatories to the statement included the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. 06:10 AM BST Hopes ceasefire deal will assist Gaza conflict The ceasefire deal set to come into effect within hours along the Israel-Lebanon border, according to sources, will also allow for progress to be made on the conflict in Gaza. It buys some time and space to try to pursue an arrangement in Gaza along the lines of the hostage deal weve been discussing, the US official told Sky News. We believe, regardless of what has happened on the battlefield over the last several days, the moment we feel is now to achieve that diplomatic resolution; to get there. 06:05 AM BST Welcome to our live coverage We will be bringing you the latest on the conflict in the Middle East today. A 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is reportedly set to be implemented in the coming hours along the Israel-Lebanon border. Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday after they defaced Van Goghs Sunflowers - JUST STOP OIL/ANADOLU/GETTY The Just Stop Oil protesters who threw soup on a Van Gogh painting are daring iconoclasts, not criminals, art experts have claimed. More than 100 artists, curators and art historians are pleading for two climate activists who defaced Van Goghs Sunflowers to be spared jail. The painting itself was not damaged during the attack at Londons National Gallery in Oct 2022, but the frame surrounding it was. Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, both 22, will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of criminal damage during the demonstration. Judge Hehir told the pair to be prepared in practical and emotional terms to go to prison. However, artists including Fiona Banner, Peter Kennard and Love Ssega, the actor Juliet Stevenson, as well as arts academics from Essex, Goldsmiths, Queen Mary, New York and Copenhagen universities, claimed the act was in keeping with the ethos of the arts. In a letter coordinated by Greenpeace UK and Liberate Tate, which campaigns against fossil fuel industry involvement in the arts, they said: We are concerned by the courts defence of a false notion of artistic purity in their judgement and sentencing. Art can be, and frequently is, iconoclasm. These activists should not receive custodial sentences for an act that connects entirely to the artistic canon. Fiona Banner is among 100 artists, curators and art historians who are pleading for the two activists to be spared jail - DAVE BENETT/GETTY Such iconoclasm has been recognised as part of art for more than 120 years, they said, citing the work of artists including Banksy, who shredded one of his paintings during an auction in 2018. The artists added: The work of all these iconoclasts, often far more physically destructive than the work of JSO, is now venerated in museums around the world. Areeba Hamid, a co-executive director at Greenpeace UK, said: We sincerely hope the judge will listen carefully to the artists arguments. We need to stop locking away peaceful protesters in our overcrowded prisons simply for raising the alarm on a burning planet. Darren Sutton, from Liberate Tate, said: When Liberate Tate started making performance interventions to protest BP sponsorship of Tate in 2010 we were dismissed as irreverent outsiders. Now our campaign is long won, museum and gallery directors vie for the strength of their position on tackling climate change, and all but one have shunned oil sponsorship. The initial reaction to soup thrown will undoubtedly shift as we as a society catch up with the threat climate change poses to our way of life. Phoebe and Annas act will be seen as the poetic protest it surely is, unworthy of custodial punishment. Kamala Harris at an event in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP Kamala Harris sat for her first solo interview as the Democratic presidential nominee on Wednesday, laying out her plan to boost the middle class and condemning her rival, Donald Trump, on his comments over abortion. During the interview with MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle, which was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the vice-president painted Trump as a candidate focused on the rich at the expense of the middle class, and herself as better equipped to handle the economy. The top economists in our country have compared our plans and say mine would grow the economy, [and] his would shrink it, she said during the interview. On his economic record, Harris said: Donald Trump made a whole lot of promises that he did not meet. Related: Harris says cost of living still too high as she lays out economic agenda Harris also showed disdain over Trumps comments on abortion, saying that he needs to trust women to make their own reproductive decisions. Her comments came after Trump, at a Pennsylvania rally, called himself a protector of women, claiming American women will not be thinking about abortion if he is elected. Donald Trump is also the person who said women should be punished for exercising a decision that they, rightly, should be able to make about their own body and future, Harris said. On a lighter note, Harris confirmed that she worked at McDonalds, pushing back against Trumps allegations that she did not. Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonalds is because there are people who work at McDonalds who are trying to raise a family, she said, alluding to her economic policy plan to help working-class families. I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility, then, is to meet those needs, Harris added. The interview comes at a time when Harris faces harsh criticism over the lack of media interviews she has done. Earlier this month, Axios reported that the Harris-Walz campaign has so far given fewer interviews than any other candidates in modern history. Trump and JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential pick, have used it as ammunition during their campaign speeches. On X, Vance responded to news of Harriss interview by saying: This is legitimately pathetic for a person who wants to be president. Ruhle has explicitly endorsed Harris. She wont ask hard Qs. Kamala runs from tough questions because she cant defend her record. If you want open borders and high groceries, vote for status quo Kamala. In August, Harris was interviewed on CNN alongside Walz. The interview was hosted by Dana Bash and aired as a one-hour primetime special. After the interview, Republicans criticized the joint interview with Walz for being prerecorded and not live. Since then, Harris has given a handful of interviews, mostly with local outlets or more niche forums, including an appearance with Stephanie Chiquibaby Himonidis, a Spanish-language radio host and podcaster. Harris also appeared in a livestreamed Unite for America event with supporters hosted by Oprah Winfrey last week. Rachel Kyte has been appointed to the role of UK special representative for climate, which previously attracted a salary of 130,000 - NurPhoto A new climate envoy with links to a hedge fund that has donated millions of pounds to Labour has been appointed by the party, it has emerged. Rachel Kyte has been appointed to the role of UK special representative for climate, which attracted a salary of 130,000 the last time that it was filled. It comes as Labour faces a growing row over donations and accusations of cash for jobs. Ms Kyte also sits on the advisory board of the Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF), which was set up by Quadrature Capital, whose parent company is based in the Cayman Islands. Quadrature Capital has donated 4 million to Labour, its biggest ever donation. Last night, Joy Morrissey, the shadow energy minister, wrote to the head of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to demand answers over the appointment. A Conservative source said: Yet again Labour is facing accusations of running their Government on a cash for jobs basis. They should urgently come clean about the nature of this appointment or finally confirm that cash really is king in Starmers new administration. Ms Kyte previously served as special representative for the UN and a vice-president of the World Bank. Her role, to be announced next week by David Lammy and Ed Miliband, will be to lead the UKs return to the front ranks of global climate diplomacy. Joy Morrissey, the shadow energy minister, has demanded answers over the appointment - conservativepartyforum.com The post was abolished by Rishi Sunak, who also missed a number of environmental summits while he was prime minister. Ms Kyte will be tasked with forging alliances with developing countries and economic giants China and India. She was recently a professor at Oxfords Blavatnik school of government, and before that she was the chief executive of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. In her letter to Jeremy Pocklington, the permanent secretary of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ms Morrissey wrote: I know you are committed to upholding the very highest standards of transparency. Together, with the new Labour Governments history of appointing donors and political supporters into government, you will understand why I believe this appointment raises questions. Ms Morrissey asked Mr Pocklington whether Ms Kyte was a direct ministerial appointment and, if so, why this information has not been published in the usual way. She also asked whether the appointing minister declares the donation made to the Labour Party by Quadrature to the permanent secretary as an interest. Ms Morrissey wrote: Did your department consider the investments of Quadrature in oil and gas companies as a potential conflict of interest upon Ms Kytes appointment? Did your department test the potential conflict relating to Ms Kyte at the point of her recruitment, in line with the government guidance on managing conflicts of interest? Labour accepted the donation from Quadrature Capital days after the election was called, but just before campaign rules kicked in requiring parties to make weekly declarations during the election period. Jeremy Pocklington, the permanent secretary of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Quadrature Capital is registered in central London and invests on behalf of Quadrature Group, whose funds are based in the Cayman Islands. In a statement, the company said it had chosen to support Labour because of the partys commitment to the green transition of the economy. It said: Having analysed commitments set out by each party, we donated 4 million to the Labour Party, in support of policies that will deliver climate action while also promoting social equity and economic resilience. This was a values-based donation, not a political donation, as Quadrature Capital Ltd remains non-partisan and apolitical. Going forward, our private giving will continue to be led by our values, and any further donations to political parties will depend on the parties commitments, track record, and alignment with our mission for sustainable and equitable growth. An investigation by The Guardian found that the company owned $170 million (127 million) of shares in fossil fuels firms, including major polluters. It also reportedly holds millions of pounds worth of shares in US-based private healthcare companies and arms manufacturers. Timing raised questions Mr Sunak called the election on May 22, with the Electoral Commissions pre-poll reporting obligations kicking in a week later, on May 30. Electoral Commission records show that Labour accepted the 4 million from Quadrature on May 28, before the new rules had come into force. As a result, the donation was not made public until long after the election took place. The timing of the declaration raised questions over whether the party was seeking to avoid the controversy of it being published during the campaign. Quadrature has said that while its funds are established in the Cayman Islands, it pays UK corporation tax on all of the profits from them. In a statement on its website, the company says: Quadrature does not seek to obtain a UK corporation tax advantage by establishing its funds in the Cayman Islands. Since the funds have historically been managed exclusively from the UK by Quadrature Capital Limited, all of the trading profits of the funds have been subject to UK corporation tax. Jess Ayers, the chief executive of QCF, said: QCF is a charitable foundation and operates in line with its charitable purposes and independently from Quadrature Capital Limited. QCFs focus is on funding and supporting science-led solutions to climate change. Since its inception, QCF has committed over 700 million to promote sustainable development and advance climate solutions globally. QCF is politically neutral and does not support any political party. QCF is building an advisory board to provide independent challenge and thought partnership to enhance its impact in the field. The advisory board has no decision-making powers. Rachel was appointed as co-chair of this board in December 2023 due to her outstanding leadership across the climate space, including her senior roles at the World Bank, UN agencies, and third-sector organisations. Rachels expertise has been further recognised through her appointment to this significant UK Government role. Ms Kyte and the Government were approached for comment. Academics said they were disappointed Rishi Sunaks pet project will now not go ahead - Richard Pohle/The Times A new national maths academy championed by Rishi Sunak has been quietly scrapped by the Government, angering academics. In May, Mr Sunak invited organisations to apply to set up a national academy for maths that would make numeracy as important as reading and prepare workers for jobs in artificial intelligence (AI), data science and computing. It would have become the fifth UK national academy, joining The Academy of Medical Sciences, The British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. But on Thursday, it emerged that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) had withdrawn the scheme, despite a number of applications already being submitted. Prof Jens Marklof, the president of the London Mathematical Society and spokesman for the Campaign for Mathematical Sciences, said: The decision to cancel funding for the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences is very disappointing. Funding for the Academy could be a huge driver of economic growth by improving the flow of mathematical analysis, cutting-edge research and technological innovation into policymaking. The Governments announcement pledges to explore other ways to promote and support mathematics, so we hope to engage with them on this as soon as possible. The Telegraph understands that academics are concerned that Labour is choosing to defund mathematics because it was a pet project of Mr Sunak. It was a personal goal of the former prime minister to boost maths skills and the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences was intended to build on plans to make teenagers study the subject up to the age of 18. Mr Sunak has previously warned that the UK has an anti-maths mindset where poor attainment in the discipline is regarded as socially acceptable. He vowed that the academy would transform the national approach to maths and discover the Alan Turings of tomorrow. Although the UK has risen 10 places in international league tables since 2009, more than eight million adults in Britain have numeracy skills below those expected of a nine-year-old and around one-third of young people fail GCSE maths. Academics have warned that maths deserts are forming at British universities because of cuts, meaning that aspiring maths teachers can no longer study the subject beyond A-levels in their region. The previous government also said that the academy would be expected to provide credible, expert and timely advice on maths to the Government and industry, to help shape policy, and drive discoveries that will help the country be healthier and wealthier. During the pandemic, the former government relied heavily on mathematical modelling from individual organisations such as Imperial College and the University of Bristol, but the sector has voiced support for an organisation to take the lead. The Government said that rather than setting up the academy, it was looking forward to working with the sector to develop Skills England, a new body which was announced by Keir Starmer in July A government spokesman said: The Government wants to better support activity across the UK mathematical sciences sector in ways that best deliver for taxpayers and without the time and expense required to support the set-up of a new organisation. Substantive action rather than an additional academy represents the most effective way forward to ensure maths supports our missions. We recognise the sectors vast contribution to the study and promotion of mathematical sciences from advising government and business to sharing expertise that underpins the innovation and scientific discovery that helps our countrys economy advance. Rachel Reeves is said to be determined to scrap non-don status to raise 2.7 billion by 2028 - GETTY Rachel Reeves is considering abandoning her pledge to abolish non-dom status over fears it may fail to raise any money. Labour included a pledge to end the tax perk for wealthy residents who are domiciled overseas in its manifesto, hoping the policy would raise 1 billion a year. However, Treasury officials are concerned that the move will force so many wealthy foreigners to leave that the measure will backfire. Government officials said they would consider changing the details of the policy to make it less punishing to non-doms, with reducing the amount of inheritance tax they would have to pay thought to be one of the options under consideration. The Chancellor had hoped that ending non-dom status would raise at least 2.7 billion by 2028, but is concerned that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will say her measures will lose the Treasury revenue. The OBR previously warned that non-doms are already highly transient, telling the former chancellor Jeremy Hunt in March that revenues from scrapping the existing regime were very uncertain and could leave a black hole in the public finances in the long term. A government official said: There are lots of ways the policy could be worked out and the Treasury will go for the one which raises the most money. The priority is to make money to fund the manifesto policies. However, a Treasury spokesman insisted they were committed to removing the outdated non-dom tax regime. Mr Hunt, the shadow chancellor, said: It will be no surprise if Labours policy raises no money, because, as always, they fail to understand the importance of globally competitive tax rates to our economy. I only hope that they drop their plans which turn non-dom tax policy from something that does raise money to something that may well not. A non-dom is a UK resident whose permanent home or their domicile is outside of the UK for tax purposes and means they only pay tax on the money they earn in this country. Non-doms collectively paid 8.9 billion in UK income tax, NI contributions and capital gains tax in the tax year ending 2023, the latest data available. Earlier this year Mr Hunt announced he was scrapping the existing non-dom regime, which allows foreign-domiciled nationals living in Britain to earn money from abroad without paying UK tax on it for up to 15 years, in a move worth 2.7 billion. From 2025, new arrivals to the UK will not pay any tax on foreign income and gains for their first four years of residency, but those who stay after this will pay tax like other UK residents. While Labour vowed to abolish non-dom status once and for all by closing what it claimed were loopholes in the new system, experts have warned that the plans could risk a wealth exodus and deter inward investment. Earlier this year the OBR assumed that around 1,000 non-doms could leave the country as a result of Mr Hunts changes. One way in which the policy could be watered down would be changing the pledge to subject assets held overseas to British inheritance tax charged at 40 per cent if a non-dom has lived in Britain for more than 10 years. They could also scrap current plans to get rid of inheritance tax protection for trusts set up by non-doms. The Chancellor could choose a looser version of the non-dom policy that will raise the most amount of money - JESSICA TAYLOR/AFP Another possibility would be to scrap the inheritance tax protection for trusts set up in future, but not for those already established. They could also reintroduce Tory plans to apply a 50 per cent tax discount for non-doms bringing in foreign income in 2025-26. While the OBR has said personal and professional connections are important to wealthy individuals as well as tax policy, Tim Sarson, UK head of tax policy at KPMG, said Labours reforms could be the final straw for many. He said the most controversial part of Labours plans centred around its inheritance tax proposals on foreign trusts. While many ultra-high net worth individuals had already left the UK, Mr Sarson added that the reforms could trigger a fresh exodus. Government has to be careful Its industrialists and business owners that will probably be more frightened by inheritance tax changes, he said. Theres quite a few of them. Not tens of thousands. But they are quite important to the UK economy which is something the Government has to be careful about. Mr Sarson also urged Ms Reeves to extend the so-called special status granted to non-doms by Mr Hunt that exempts them from UK tax on all foreign income and gains from four years to seven. Another top tax partner urged the Chancellor to reduce the 10-year period for which individuals remain exposed to inheritance tax on their worldwide assets after leaving the UK. The bit that has offended people is this idea that their worldwide assets will be subject to inheritance tax, and that will stick for 10 years. That would affect trusts that have already been in existence for a very long time, they said. Ms Reevess departure from her flagship proposals would represent a humiliating climbdown from a Chancellor who has pledged to close non-dom tax loopholes. She has already pledged to reexamine her 565 million raid on profits made by private equity managers, with some highlighting that the raid on so-called carried interest was not mentioned in her speech at the Labour Party conference, raising speculation of a further climbdown. Another top tax partner warned that the two tax raids were linked. There is a compounding impact because if youre in private equity and youre worried about carried interest, many of these people are typically also non-doms and often have trusts. And these people can up sticks and go, they said. An Oxford Economics report published earlier this month, commissioned by Foreign Investors for Britain, said that ending the preferential tax regime would cost the Treasury around 1 billion a year in lost revenues because of wealthy people emigrating or not coming to the UK. The report suggested alternative policy options Ms Reeves could consider, including a Greek-style tiered-tax regime which sees non-doms paying fixed annual fees. The number of non-doms had already declined by almost half to 74,000 over the decade before 2023, partly from a 2017 change to the rules that stopped individuals using the benefit permanently. Andy Haldane, former chief economist of the Bank of England, told LBC Radio that the Treasury should be cautious about the economic risks of any reforms. This is a time where we need more private finance to fuel growth and recovery, he said. Id be a bit careful in not deterring just the flow of finance we need to get growth going. An HM Treasury spokesman said: These reports are speculation, not government policy. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility will certify the costings of all measures announced at the Budget in the usual way. We are committed to addressing unfairness in the tax system so we can raise the revenue to rebuild our public services. That is why we are removing the outdated non-dom tax regime and replacing it with a new internationally competitive residence-based regime focused on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK. A man has been seriously injured following an assault at Barnes railway station A man was stabbed during rush hour at Barnes station in west London on Thursday morning. British Transport Police officers responded to reports of a serious assault at about 7.10am. Paramedics also attended and the victim was taken to hospital with injuries considered to be life-threatening. The incident is said to have started in the station before spilling out on to the road. Forensic teams were later seen investigating the area, taking photographs of blood stains and discarded medical apparatus. Police officers at the scene outside Barnes Station Det Supt Sam Blackburn said: There is absolutely no place for violence on the railway network and detectives are working at pace to investigate the incident. The station will remain closed while our initial enquiries are carried out, and the public will see increased high-visibility patrols in the area and across the network to provide reassurance. Inquiries are ongoing. Police were called to reports of a serious assault at Barnes railway station at around 7.10am A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: We were called at 7.07am this morning to reports of a stabbing in Station Road, Barnes. We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and Londons Air Ambulance. The first of our crews arrived in one minute. Our crews treated a man at the scene, before taking him to a London major trauma centre by road as a priority. All trains were cancelled from the station earlier, but service has since resumed. Frostrup says that broadcasting tries to put you in a box - Andrew Crowley Im due to meet Mariella Frostrup at her Notting Hill flat at 5pm. But a series of texts chart her slow progress from Bruton in Somerset where she lives with her lawyer husband Jason McCue and two children Molly 20 and Danny 19 to London. When we finally meet, she is stressed: Im a walking advertisement for NOT moving to the country, she says. The train service is so bad I often come up to town the day before my appointments because I just cant bank on being here. You can track my fury with GWR on Twitter its all I ever tweet about. Only this week she was railing against GWR after being forced to sit on the train floor, despite a first class ticket. She leads me up to her London bolthole. It is full of amazing art (Im sworn to secrecy on exactly what) and lined with Scandi white bookshelves rammed with intellectual tomes. We settle at an elegantly dishevelled dining table, off the modern kitchen, replete with leather benches. At 61, the TV presenter, journalist and one of the closest things the UK has to what the French call a public intellectual is bronzed and elegant in a chic white T-shirt and brown cords. Shes tiny and endearingly confiding. Ive had the luxury of having this flat to myself for nine years but my 19-year-old son is moving in and Im dreading it because hes SO untidy. I hate mess. As a leftie Labour insider (Frostrup was close to Sarah Brown, wife of former Labour PM Gordon Brown after campaigning together on rights for women and girls in Africa) Im dying to know what she makes of the freebie clothes row that has engulfed Sir Keir Starmer and his wife; does she think they were right to take them? Frostrup shakes her head. When it comes to dressgate I cant help feeling that if politicians were publicly funded like the royal family they would be given a clothes allowance for public events. But as the Prime Ministers wife youre damned if you do, damned if you dont youve got the media pouring over your clothes. Its so unfair. If you are the Prime Ministers husband you dont have any focus on what you are wearing at all. So its ridiculous that we dont have what they have in America, which is a sort of First Ladys budget we should just accept that it is a job. Gordon Brown and Frostrup at the Labour Party Conference in September 2007 - Alamy She gets up to make tea and fetch some fizzy water. That said Lady Starmer should probably have declared the gifts earlier she says. Were meeting today not to chat politics, however, but business. Frostrup who appeared at Davos earlier this year speaking about how to make companies more female-friendly, is now the co-chair, presenter and founder of the Women in Work Conference, which takes place in London on Thursday and in New York next spring. This years conference will feature speeches from grandees including Sir Stuart Rose, Sue Fox, president of Estee Lauder and Alex Mahon CEO of Channel 4 and is dedicated to making a female-shaped space in the workplace. The essence of it is that work was designed for and by men, and businesses need to feminise their practices by offering not just flexible working but fully paid parental leave for both sexes, menstrual, fertility and menopause policies as well as reducing their gender pay gap, having equality on boards and at the top. A new Women in Work Survey (called the WIW Gender Equity Measure) ranks 400 of Britains top companies against these WIW gender benchmarks. It finds that only four big UK corporates tick all these female-friendly boxes: Diageo, Accenture, Estee Lauder and Channel 4 with Vodafone getting a special mention too. Interestingly all of these companies (except for Estee Lauder) have female CEOs, although the report recognises many companies with male CEOs who see that to attract top talent they need to make these accommodations. This is still a colossal issue, says Frostrup. Almost four out of five employers still pay women less than men and the median gender pay gap remains stubbornly wide at 9.4 per cent, the same as five years ago. But its not just about pay, the financial and social penalties women face throughout their biological journey whether they are parents or not are significant and multifaceted. She explains women are still battling the prohibitive cost of childcare to a lack of menstrual or menopause support. Women are seen as demanding and difficult as we get older even if its just us having experience and being good at what we do. Men who are demanding are never described as difficult - Andrew Crowley Frostrup, with her seductive husky voice (once voted the sexiest on telly) and winsome blonde party-girl look, was always the thinking persons pin-up. I am interested to understand how she has segued from pop and presenting to fronting a business conference. She explains that she has always been interested in smashing taboos: the more unspeakable something is, the more I think I have to say it. Its why I did Channel 4s Sex Box. I just thought: people on TV talking about normal sex... great idea! Its also why I tackled the menopause. She puts her desire for straight talking and frank discussion down to her Scandinavian roots Frostrup was born in Oslo, Norway but moved with her family and four siblings to Ireland in 1969. Her dad, Peter, was Foreign Editor on The Irish Times (he died aged 44 when Frostrup was 15,) and her mum an artist so she had culture in her blood. In her 20s, Frostrup worked as a PR executive for Phonogram Records, responsible for keeping everyone from Dire Straits to UB40, Bananarama to the Boom Town Rats out of trouble and only in the papers for the right reasons. She proved so adept that she was asked to coordinate press for perhaps the biggest rock concert of all time, Live Aid at Wembley in 1985. She is currently working on a documentary about the Nineties scene it is centred on one particular character but she says any other details are currently secret. Is she excited about Oasis getting back together, she partied with them back in the day? To be quite honest. I really like Noel. And I know Liam. But I saw Oasis play in Manchester in the 90s and I was not alone in thinking that it wasnt the most exciting live act Id ever seenI wasnt first in line in the queue to get tickets. She looks thoughtful With my old agony aunt hat on she did that gig for over 20 years at The Observer these feuds just show how stupid it is to get stuck in a fight with someone With time these disputes just start to look smaller and sillier. The whole Oasis debacle is an advert for not having big fights with siblings or old friends. Im still amazed when women my age go, Im not speaking to her I just think get over it.. Ah, ageing. She is in her sixties now how is it for her? Does she feel invisible as so many other women begin to when they hit midlife? Mick Jagger is my ageing ideal. He just keeps going. Or my neighbour in Somerset [the war photographer] Don McCullin who is still taking amazing pictures at 90 hed be in Gaza if he could, but he cant run anymore. Frostrup making small talk with Jagger, her ageing inspiration, in Cannes in 2002 - Shutterstock Ill never retire, people retire and often die we need to constantly be learning new things, challenging ourselves. And anyway ageing is different for my generation its less judgmental, were doing it our way and its not denting my cocktail consumption: I keep going to 60th birthday parties where were all still leaping around the dance floor at 4am. Does she think there is enough of a positive narrative though about the lives of older women? There are so many rules about what we are supposed to do and not supposed to do. Take this sleeveless T-shirt. My arms are wrinkly, but I dont care. This is me. But I admit its a tussle. Were told by much of the media that visible signs of ageing in women are so repulsive they should be hidden from sight so do you cover up? As an older woman you are constantly told to take up less space: dont wear a vest top unless you have a super-human body from exercising 18 hours a day Its exhausting. I ask if things are changing. [Not really] not enough. This view of older women wont change quickly. Its deeply rooted in the core of our culture. As a woman in the public eye is she treated differently now shes older? Yes, everything changes. I have much less currency in the broadcasting world. I find this surprising; she is one of our best known and best loved arts broadcasters. Since the 1990s (when she jumped from music PR to the small screen) she has presented everything from The Little Picture show for ITV to BBC2s The Green Room and Radio 4s Open Book via Have I Got News for You and Absolutely Fabulous. As well as judging the Booker Prize, Orange Prize and numerous other arts awards. She continues: As older women, were judged differently. Were seen as demanding and difficult as we get older even if its just us having experience and being good at what we do. Men who are demanding are never described as difficult... We talk about the double standard when it comes to men and women. Her rumoured ex George Clooney at 63 is still seen as a silver fox. While Huw Edwards the now disgraced BBC presenter was, at the same age the biggest news presenter on TV. Frostrup with George Clooney after a Bafta Awards party in February 2006 - Shutterstock At the mention of Edwards she makes a face. The Huw Edwards case, I think its such a horrible, horrible story and his reaction has made it worse. He blamed everyone else, his family saying that they should have noticed he was taking medication and stopped him, and he blamed his bullying father and not getting into Oxford for being bad for his self-esteem. Hes a middle-aged man, he needs to take some responsibility for his actions. Its clear he has no remorse, he doesnt understand that HE is responsible. This intersection of news and politics and culture is what most interests her, she says. It was what she loved most about her daily show on Times Radio. I wonder why she left? She sighs. It just ate up too much time, doing it four days a week. I hate rolling news and there was more of that, and there wasnt enough time for all the other projects I want to do.. and its important not to get stuck. Broadcasting tries to put you in a box I was Music Mariella, then Films Mariella, then Books Mariella then Menopause Mariella. Ah yes, menopause. In November 2018 Frostrup made a documentary for the BBC called The Truth about the Menopause about her own struggle to get the right treatment; she tells me how she suffered two years of sleeplessness and anxiety and only got the HRT she needed when she paid to visit a private Harley Street gynaecologist. Talking about it was just taboo. At dinner at this very table I remember trying to talk to a man about my perimenopause struggles and he literally turned his back on me. I became incensed. As a lifelong feminist it was just the biggest injustice that 80 per cent of women didnt know about the impacts of menopause even though they were being affected so badly. Its shameful. I tried for three years to get the BBC to do the documentary. I went to five different male commissioners who said: Yeah, menopause, how do you make THAT sexy? And I was like: Umm.. All your viewers are women over 50. I was very grateful to Charlotte Moore who in the end just went: Do it! But it was frustrating to have to do it as a science documentary not something broader. Since then, Frostrup has co-written a book called Cracking the Menopause it is coming out in the US in January retitled Menopause is Hot and is chair of her campaigning organisation Menopause Mandate (whose patrons include Carolyn Harris MP, Davina McCall, and Penny Lancaster). Menopause Mandate has blasted the menopause out of the metaphorical cupboard, lobbied parliament and business and made it compulsory for doctors to study it in medical school. The Women in Work conference grew out of the Menopause Mandate the road to equality in business, she believes, is through companies taking womens health seriously and also in getting men to share responsibility for any children equally with their partners. One of the big areas of focus in her Women in Work survey released this week to accompany the summit is a focus on shared parental leave. Davina McCall is a patron of Frostrups campaigning organisation Menopause Mandate - Murray Sanders She would like more companies to become like Diageo, which, she explains, now offers 52 weeks of parental leave, 26 of them paid, to all employees regardless of gender, sexual orientation and whether the employee becomes a parent biologically, through surrogacy or through adoption. Since the change in 2019, uptake by men has gone from 23 days to 105, sharing the responsibility of family life equally right from the get go, something she says younger men are particularly keen to do. I have quite an equal relationship with my husband the pair met on a charity trek in Nepal, when she was 39, they were married two years later. Hes good with the kids, and he does a lot of cooking, but our entire domestic life, our social life, our holidays, all revolve around me doing it. So its not a fair division really. And that starts with shared parental leave because theres no reason why a dad cant do everything you can do. Bringing in more of these kinds of policies, the report argues, can have massive benefits for UK Plc.. Women are leaving work in their droves, Frostrup says, and thats talent business cant afford to lose. Just a 5 per cent increase in the total number of women in employment could boost UK GDP by up to 125 billion every year. Did you know that a quarter of mothers leave the workforce in the first year and the majority are yet to return 10 years post birth. But what about the mothers who choose to stay home to raise their own children, I wonder. Or those women who, while they welcome doctors actually diagnosing their menopausal symptoms, dont want to be seen through a purely menopausal lens? For the first time she looks a bit frosty, telling me about an older woman she talked to at a dinner party. She said to me: I dont know why you keep banging on about menopause, in my day we just got on with it and then two glasses of wine later she was telling me about her suicidal ideation and menopause-related depression. I want to ask her what her ambitions are from here but no sooner do we get started on her exciting idea for a books podcast featuring such huge names as Tom Hanks than she looks at her watch and announces: I have to be in Kensington for dinner at 8.30pm. As she puts on her scarf we go back to chatting about the BBC how the Huw Edwards debacle and the fuss around Strictly Come Dancing make it seem that top talent there has acted with impunity. Well because we all pay for the BBC we have a much more vested interest in it than other big media companies, she says. But weve got the same basic problem everywhere, of elevating people and worshipping them for reasons that are gossamer thin. The idea of stars behaving badly is as old as time itself But the BBC gets viewers from stars, so they let them get away with things they shouldnt. As she puts on a coat to scoot out the door, she turns, surveying me thoughtfully. Fame is really toxic it makes people feel like they can do anything and get away with it; it gives them a strange power which they kind of do have on a day to day basis. But in the end its like Icarus, innit. They get burnt. And with that she is gone. Eleanor Mills is the Founder of Noon home of the Queenager and the author of Much More to Come, Lessons on the mayhem and magnificence of midlife published by Harper Collins Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has backed stop and search as an extremely important tool against knife crime - Guy Corbishley / Alamy Stop and searches by Metropolitan Police officers have fallen by more than a fifth in just a year despite record rates of knife crime, official figures show. The number of stop and searches nationally declined year-on-year by 2.3 per cent to 530,093, a third of the number in the peak year of 2008-09, when Labour was last in power. The fall in stop and searches by the Met was even steeper, dropping by 22.8 per cent from 177,490 in the year to March 2023 to 137,055 in the year to March 2024. It was the fifth-highest fall of any police force across England and Wales and its second-lowest stop and search figure after 2017-18, when just 134,619 were recorded. Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has pledged to increase its use after admitting it had fallen partly because of officers lack of confidence amid fears of complaints, the investigation they get and whether they feel supported behind it. It comes as knife crime in the capital has hit a record high of 14,961 offences in the year to March 2024, up 16.3 per cent from 12,864 in the previous year and beating the previous high of 14,680 in 2019-20. Sir Mark Rowley has pledged to increase the use of stop and search - Aaron Chown/PA Wire The West Midlands, which has the highest knife crime rates relative to the population, recorded a 1.5 per cent increase in such offences. It also recorded a drop in stop and searches of 6.1 per cent in the year to March 2024, although the figures in the previous year were at their highest levels in a decade. This is in stark contrast to Greater Manchester Police, which increased searches by 51 per cent this year to 45,851, its highest levels since 2011-12. Manchester did not release knife crime data this year, but the city saw overall violent crime with or without a weapon decline by 6 per cent last year, whereas Londons knife crime increased by 4 per cent. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has backed stop and search as an extremely important tool against knife crime but said it must also be done in an effective and fair way because of community concerns. She has also pledged to halve knife crime in a decade. Measures include banning ninja swords, introducing new penalties for tech bosses who allow the sale of knives online, and ensuring no young person caught with a knife will escape sanction. Decline in searches makes streets less safe Chris Philp, the shadow commons leader who was policing minister, said: I am appalled by the decline in stop and search. It means our streets are less safe. Stop and search is an effective way to take knives off streets and squeamishness about community relations should not be prioritised over public safety. Greater Manchesters force and their excellent Chief Constable Stephen Watson is once again leading the way. I call on the Home Secretary to urgently show real leadership to ensure that all forces, especially the Met, are using their powers fully to fight knife crime by increasing stop and search. Otherwise Yvette Coopers words this week about cutting knife crime are meaningless platitudes. Sir Mark Rowley admitted stop and search operations had fallen partly because of officers fears of complaints - pixel8000 Knife crime in London has increased, despite a reduction in stop and search tactics by police - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Among the victims of knife crime are Daniel Anjorin, 14, who was stabbed by a 33-year-old man armed with a ninja-style sword who attacked him as he was walking to school in Hainault, Redbridge in April. Josh McKay, a 33-year-old father of two was stabbed in Waltham Forest, east London, just before 3pm on July 6. He died at the scene. His family said: The heart of our family has stopped beating. The world is less bright without his beautiful smile. Pharrell Garcia, 15, was stabbed in Stoke Newington, Hackney, at about 4.05pm on July 23. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Another 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder the same evening. On July 25, the suspect was charged with murder. Pharrell Garcia, 15, was stabbed in Stoke Newington on July 23 - Metropolitan Police Police may be using targeted approach Although stops have fallen, the proportion resulting in an arrest has risen to its highest rate at 14.2 per cent per stop and search suggesting police are using a more targeted intelligence-led approach. Alleged inequality is down with black people 3.7 times more likely to be stopped compared with 4.1 last year and 9.7 in 2018-19, representing a record low. Stop and searches by police plummeted in 2014 after Theresa May, the then home secretary, clamped down on what she claimed were illegal searches by officers and a disproportionate use of tactics against ethnic minorities. They dropped to a low of just 282,380 in 2017-18 before increasing after Sajid Javid, then home secretary, expanded police stop powers. Supporters of stop and search point out that the success rate for finding knives or drugs using the tactics are the same across ethnic groups irrespective of whether they are white or black, challenging claims that police unfairly target particular minorities. They also say that the rate of stop and search is not disproportionate if the statistics compare people of different ethnic backgrounds but focus on younger generations who are more likely to be knife offenders than older people. A Met Police spokesman said: We focus on the quality of the encounter and the precision in the use of the power, in order to ensure that we retain the trust and confidence of the public. The launch of our new stop and search charter, co-written by Londoners, will help us greatly with this work. But we also know that an accountability system which is slow, unfair and ineffective has damaged officers confidence to use the power. Elon Musk was highly critical of Sir Keir Starmer and spread a fake Telegraph article on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter - MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS Elon Musk has said that no one should visit Britain because it releases paedophiles from prison, after he was snubbed by Sir Keir Starmer over an upcoming investment summit. Posting on his social media platform X, Mr Musk said: I dont think anyone should go to the UK when theyre releasing convicted pedophiles [sic] in order to imprison people for social media posts. Mr Musk has not been invited to the International Investment Summit next month after his claims about the Southport riots over summer. I don't think anyone should go to the UK when they're releasing convicted pedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2024 The tech entrepreneur posted on X predicting civil war and repeatedly attacked the prime minister in comments which were described as deplorable by ministers. During the riots, Mr Musk also spread misinformation and conspiracy theories including that the UK was building detainment camps on the Falkland Islands as a means of detaining rioters. Keir Starmer considering building emergency detainment camps on the Falkland Islands, the fake Telegraph headline read. Beneath it, the subheading said: The camps would be used to detain prisoners from the ongoing riots as the British prison system is already at capacity. Mr Musk later deleted the reposted tweet to his 193 million followers after backlash. He has criticised hate speech laws that have led to some jail sentences for people posting online in support of the riots. Labour has introduced an early release scheme for some other prisoners since the unrest, to reduce overcrowding in jails, although sex offenders are not part of this scheme. Secure foreign investment The summit on Oct 14 is regarded as a key moment for the Government to secure foreign investment, with Sir Keir Starmer hoping to attract tens of billions in inward funding from the worlds biggest investors. Mr Musk went to last years event and attended Novembers AI Summit, including a fireside talk with Rishi Sunak, the then prime minister. Under the Conservatives, Mr Musk who owns or runs X, Tesla and SpaceX was shown around several UK sites with potential for a gigafactory for cars and batteries. He previously said that he opened a site in Germany and not the UK partly because of Brexit. Under Mr Musks ownership, the social media site formerly known as Twitter has lifted a ban on far-Right figures including on the Britain First group. The UK is considering a tougher Online Safety Act, after the role of misinformation in the widespread racist disorder in August. The Government and Mr Musk were contacted for comment. Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli airstrike, as seen from the city of Tyre. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not stop its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon despite calls from the US, France and other allies for an immediate three-week ceasefire aimed at containing the spread of a conflict that is beginning to engulf Lebanon. The calls for an immediate ceasefire were backed on Thursday night by Lebanons minister for foreign affairs, Abdallah Bouhabib, who told the UN general assembly his country was enduring a crisis that threatens its very existence. Bouhabib welcomed the US/French initiative, saying Diplomacy is not always easy, but diplomacy is the only way to save innocent lives Lebanon views the US-French initiative as an opportunity to generate momentum, to take steps towards ending this crisis. Bouhabib said peace was incumbent on Israels government, and that there can be no lasting peace without a two-state solution. Israeli airstrikes continued in Lebanon on Thursday, killing 92 people including the head of Hezbollahs drone force, Mohammad Surur, and at least 150 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, according to the Israeli military. The Israeli prime minister told reporters that his governments policy was clear as he landed in New York, where he is due to address the UN general assembly on Friday. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we reach all our goals chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes, Netanyahu said. His office had earlier distanced the Israeli government from the ceasefire plan, which it described as an American-French proposal that the prime minister has not even responded to. The prime ministers office said Netanyahu had directed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him. The fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved. Those war goals include the safe return home of more than 60,000 Israelis forced to abandon their homes in northern Israel by Hezbollah bombing, which began on 8 October last year, the day after the start of the Gaza war. Related: Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon a visual guide US officials hope to persuade Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire proposal by the time he addresses the UN general assembly on Friday. They argue that a pause in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could also provide a breathing space in which to revive long-stalled negotiations with Israel and Hamas over the release of Israeli hostages in return for a truce in Gaza. On Thursday, the White House said the Biden administration had believed that Israel was on board with the proposal. John Kirby, the White Houses national security spokesperson, said we had every reason to believe that in the drafting of it and in the delivery of it, that the Israelis were fully informed and fully aware of every word in it. We wouldnt have done it if we didnt believe that it would be received with the seriousness with which it was composed. Kirby said it was unclear why Netanyahu appeared to dismiss the idea. The US, France and some of their allies had on Wednesday called for an urgent cessation of hostilities, which they said presented an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. We call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy, a joint statement said. We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said on Thursday that it would be a mistake for Netanyahu to refuse a ceasefire in Lebanon, which he warned could not become another Gaza. Hezbollah has yet to respond to the call for a truce, although it and its backer, Iran, have previously insisted it would halt its strikes only if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, while the Israeli response has been overwhelmingly negative. After Netanyahus remarks, the defence minister said he had met the countrys top generals to discuss further military operations on the Israels northern front. We are continuing our sequence of operations eliminating Hezbollah terrorists, dismantling Hezbollahs offensive infrastructure and destroying rockets and missiles, Yoav Gallant said. We have additional missions to complete in order to ensure the safe return of Israels northern communities to their homes. We will continue throwing Hezbollah off balance and deepening their loss. US officials have urged Israel to accept a ceasefire on the grounds that it could lead to a negotiated withdrawal of Hezbollah forces from the border area, from where they have been firing rockets and missiles at Israel. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has argued that diplomacy is the best way to create conditions to allow residents to return to their homes. Getting into a full-scale war is not the way to achieve that objective, he told the US TV channel MSNBC. Theres no way in that situation that people are going to be able to go back. But western diplomats gathered in New York for the UN general assembly expressed doubt that Netanyahu would agree to such a deal, despite his long history of juggling contrary demands from the US and the extreme right in his cabinet. Meanwhile, efforts by the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and foreign secretary, David Lammy, to secure a New York meeting with either Netanyahu or his strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, did not bear fruit, possibly reflecting Israels unhappiness over the UKs limited ban on arms exports. The families of the Gaza hostages have also said they are pushing for any Lebanon ceasefire deal to include clauses on Gaza, focused on securing the release of the roughly 70 hostages thought to still be alive and the bodies of about 30 others. An Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Thursday hit a school sheltering thousands of displaced Palestinians, killing at least 11 people and wounding 22, including women and children, according to Gazas health ministry. The Israeli military confirmed it had struck the school, in the Jabalia refugee camp, but claimed the attack had been aimed at Hamas militants hiding there. Hezbollah has said that it will continue fighting Israel as long as the IDF keeps up its military operations in Gaza, but the ranks of the Iran-backed Shia militia have been shattered over the past nine days by a coordinated attack using booby-trapped communications devices, followed by a withering aerial bombing campaign. Lebanons health ministry said 19 Syrian refugees and a Lebanese citizen had been killed in one strike in north-east Lebanon on Thursday, bringing the death toll from several days of Israeli bombardment to about 700 people, about a quarter of whom the ministry said were women or children. The UK was one of the allies that backed the US-French call for a 21-day ceasefire. I urge President Netanyahu and the Lebanese Hezbollah leaders to pay heed to the combined voices at the United Nations to do just that, the British defence secretary said after a meeting with his US and Australian counterparts in London. John Healey said 700 British troops had been sent to Cyprus to help a potential emergency evacuation of civilians from Lebanon should a full-scale war break out. The domestic political repercussions of a ceasefire for Netanyahu were made clear when his national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, told the prime minister that his party, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), would not vote with the coalition if the government agreed a ceasefire with Hezbollah. We will not abandon the residents of the north. Every day that this ceasefire is in effect and Israel does not fight in the north, Otzma Yehudit is not committed to the coalition, Ben-Gvir said at a party meeting. Related: The Guardian view on Lebanon: hell is breaking loose it can and must be reined back | Editorial The leader of the opposition Democrats party, Yair Golan, also argued against committing to a three-week ceasefire, saying Israel should initially agree to a truce of a few days, and see how well it was enforced. Israel has said it is prepared to launch a ground incursion into Lebanon alongside its aerial bombing, and on Thursday the IDF announced its troops had completed training drills near the northern border, simulating combat in Lebanon. The IDF called up two reserve brigades at short notice on Wednesday to deploy to the northern border, where they will join Israels 98th Paratrooper Division, which was put under the control of the northern command last week. However, Haaretz described this as a relatively limited reserve call-up. The Israeli newspaper said that after the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, in the run-up to the ground invasion of Gaza, hundreds of thousands of reservists were called up, as were several divisions. Haaretzs military correspondent, Amos Harel, argued that an Israeli invasion of Lebanon is still not a done deal. Herbert Kickl, the leader of Austrias Freedom party, which has called for an EU remigration commissioner to return people to their countries of origin. Photograph: Leonhard Foger/Reuters After winning the EU elections in June, Austrias far-right Freedom party (FPO) seized the moment, calling for the appointment of a EU remigration commissioner to be tasked with the forced return of migrants and citizens with a migration background to their countries of origin. The muted reaction that followed was a sharp contrast to Germany, where months earlier, allegations that members of the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) had attended a meeting at which they discussed remigration dominated headlines and prompted tens of thousands to take to the streets in protest. The difference was not lost on Farid Hafez, a senior researcher at Georgetown University. In Austria, there was no outcry, he said. This is the normalisation of racism that the far right has achieved and that has become a very normal part of daily Austrian politics. This view will be tested on Sunday as Austrians head to the polls for parliamentary elections. Polls suggest that the anti-migrant, anti-Islam FPO, founded in the 1950s by former Nazis, could narrowly emerge as the most voted for party for the first time in the countrys postwar history. Related: Austria elections: could the far-right FPO take power and what are its plans? The victory would be a show of strength for the party, which in 2000 was catapulted into Austrias mainstream politics leaving the country facing isolation in Europe and fending off international scorn after it achieved the best result for any far-right party in western Europe since the second world war. The partys 90-page manifesto calls for homogeneity, pledging to promote remigration, reduce the granting of asylum and block family reunification for people already in Austria. While polls suggest the FPO will fall short of an outright majority, leaving it reliant on negotiations with a coalition partner to form a government, its decades-long rise to power has left many in the country reeling. The Freedom party is, historically speaking, a party that was established by ex-Nazis for ex-Nazis, said Hafez, who is from Austria and now works with Georgetowns The Bridge Initiative, a multiyear research project on Islamophobia. For me, as a political scientist of colour, I believe at the end of the day, one should not underestimate the fact that these people are coming from a deeply racist ideology. In its first three decades the party languished on the fringes. In the early 2000s, it seized on anti-Islam rhetoric to try to gain votes by stirring up fears. As the strategy proved successful, the conservative Austrian Peoples party (OVP) followed suit, closing mosques and attempting to ban headscarves in schools. So in a way, what we have witnessed since then is that Islamophobia has become so mainstream that it is no longer confined to the far-right, said Hafez. About 700,000 people in Austria, from practising Muslims to those with Muslim backgrounds, had been left to bear the brunt of this discourse. Muslims are not in a safe place, said Hafez. The issue is exacerbated by Austrias citizenship rules, which rank among the most restrictive in the EU, leaving many Muslims without the right to vote. In essence, said Hafez, they are an easy target to hit and nobody will hit back. The Austrian NGO ZARA Civil Courage and Anti-Racism Work, said the impact of this political discourse had been clear and felt deeply by many in Austria, citing consequences including arson attacks on asylum centres and police violence. This political discourse legitimises hate speech, discrimination, and violence, often targeting women in hijabs, asylum seekers, and Bipoc (Black, Indigenous and people of colour), it said. If Sundays elections yield an FPO-led government, the organisations that provide crucial support to these communities could be weakened, further eroding the social safety net for these vulnerable groups, it added. Bernhard Weidinger, a senior researcher of rightwing extremism at the Documentation Center of Austrian Resistance, said the FPO had long sought to recast debate through the lens of migration. It has shown a strong tendency to basically ethnicise any political debate on any topic, he said. Whether were talking about crime or housing, the welfare state, the job market the Freedom party would always try to frame it as a foreigner problem or an immigration problem. Years of this strategy had left an indelible mark, he said. It has an effect on how people perceive the situation. Its interesting that the Freedom party does well in areas where there are very few foreigners. So these people dont experience immigration first-hand. But they read about it, they hear about it. Laurenz Ennser-Jedenastik, a politics professor at the University of Vienna, said that unlike some of the populist radical-right parties that had cropped up across Europe in recent years, the FPOs 70 years of existence and two stints as a junior partner in short-lived coalition governments have given it a singular influence over Austrian politics. It has definitely shaped the discourse on immigration more than most other parties have. This influence has had a direct impact on peoples lives, said Valerie Mussa, of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria. Anti-Muslim racism has really become an everyday experience for many Muslims in Austria, be it on the street, public transport, schools, housing market and labour market. Its not only physical and verbal attacks or graffiti on mosques, but its also institutional discrimination and the increase in online hate. As a result, Mussa said, many view Sundays election with mixed feelings. The elections offer us the opportunity to shape the future of the country. But there are a lot of concerns about what the following years will look like, what policies they will decide on, what rights they will try to cut. We dont know what the future will bring. Anthony Odiong delivers a homily in November 2023. Photograph: YouTube page of St Anthony of Padua church of Luling, Louisiana A grand jury in Texas has handed up more felony sexual assault charges against a Roman Catholic priest accused of preying on women whom he met while ministering to them in that state as well as in south-east Louisiana, officials said. Anthony Odiong is now facing a total of five charges of sexual assault in the first degree and two more such counts in the second degree all in connection with three separate women after a new indictment was handed up against him on Thursday in the McLennan county, Texas, state courthouse. An earlier indictment against Odiong, 55, secured by the McLennan county district attorneys office on 12 September had initially charged him in the cases of two women: with one count of first-degree sexual assault and two of second-degree sexual assault. Put another way, the newer indictment added one victim and four more first-degree sexual assault charges. Odiong, who was first arrested in July, could receive up to life imprisonment if convicted on any of the first-degree charges. The second-degree counts each carry up to 20 years in prison in Texas, which is one of only about a dozen states with laws criminalizing sexual activity between clergymen and adults who emotionally depend on their spiritual counsel. Because the case remained pending on Thursday, Odiong is presumed to have pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Related: US priests sexual assault accusers felt they could not say no, police say Thursdays grand jury produced its indictment almost immediately after it finishing reviewing Odiongs case, taking hardly any time to deliberate. A police investigation in Waco headed by detective Bradley DeLange led to Odiongs arrest within months of the Guardian having published a report detailing prior allegations against the priest that ranged from sexual coercion and unwelcome touching to financial abuse, all coming from women whom the Nigerian national met through his work as a Catholic clergyman. Sworn police statements show that the Guardian investigation prompted a woman to walk into the Waco police department and denounce Odiong as having sexually assaulted her in 2012. DeLanges ensuing investigation found evidence suggesting that Odiong would position himself as a spiritual adviser to women grappling with difficulties in their personal lives and then exploit his proximity to seek sexual contact with them. He allegedly had sexual intercourse with at least one of the women at the center of the first indictment against him. With at least one of the other victims, he allegedly managed to pressure the woman into engaging in anal sex with her husband despite faith-based objections to that kind of encounter and he also purportedly convinced her to disclose details of her experience to him for his gratification. Furthermore, detectives said they found digital child abuse imagery in Odiongs possession. Those allegations have not been included in either of Odiongs indictments, though that does not prevent authorities from eventually obtaining a formal charge with respect to that allegation if they deem it necessary. Collectively, more than eight women have come forward to police with generally similar allegations against Odiong, even if not all have resulted in charges. That number of accusers removed statutes of limitations or time limits to file criminal charges as a consideration in Odiongs case thanks to technicalities embedded in Texas law. Police arrested Odiong near a home where he was living within the planned Catholic community of Ave Maria, Florida, on 16 July. Officials later transferred him to the jail in McLennan, which includes Waco, and he has been ordered held on a relatively high $5.5m bail that as of Thursday he had not been able to make. Odiong was ordained into the Catholic priesthood in the diocese of Uyo, Nigeria, in 1993. In 2006, the bishop of Austin, Texas, at the time Gregory Aymond invited Odiong to work there. After a stop in Rome, Odiong in 2015 gained permission to work within the archdiocese of New Orleans Aymond by then had been appointed the archbishop of that city. The archdiocese provided a statement to the New York Times recently that said Odiong was only in New Orleans at the request of his superiors in Uyo. Odiong was ministering within Aymonds archdiocese until this past December, though some of his accusers had previously reported him to church authorities in New Orleans and Austin, police or both, according to the Guardians investigative reporting. At least one claim demanding damages from Odiong and church officials is pending in an unresolved bankruptcy protection filing that the New Orleans archdiocese made in 2020 after years of grappling with clergy abuse-related litigation. As a Penn State law school database notes, the New Orleans archdiocese stands among more than a dozen Catholic institutions who have sought bankruptcy protection, mostly to dispense with lawsuits stemming from the worldwide churchs clergy abuse scandal. Revelations spurred by the New Orleans archdioceses bankruptcy case have triggered a Louisiana state police investigation into whether the organization ran a child sex-trafficking ring that inflicted widespread abuse of minors dating back decades that was covered up and not reported to law enforcement, according to statements sworn under oath by authorities. None of the archdioceses highest-ranking members past or present had been charged in that investigation as of Thursday. Trump family Trump family As they flanked Donald Trump on stage at the Republican National Convention (RNC) this summer, the former-presidents offspring conveyed a carefully choreographed message: this is now Americas most powerful political family. There was a jubilant atmosphere in the arena: the thousands of grinning Republican voters and officials congregated in Milwaukee marking the moment of Trumps coronation in the 2024 White House race. The 78-year-old had survived an assassination attempt just days before. (He would face a second apparent attempt on his life just this month). The image of his defiant response fist in the air, shouting fight! could not have struck a greater contrast to his frail 81-year-old opponent, Joe Biden. For many, it appeared to seal the election. Polls and pundits differed only on Trumps expected margin of victory. His address at the RNCs four-day gathering was not so much a campaign manifesto launch as a gleeful victory parade. The events grand finale came as the Trump family gathered on stage next to their patriarch, an image of the White House projected on to a screen behind them. There they stood, basking in the revelry, regally waving to the adoring supporters below, as red, white and blue balloons cascaded from the ceiling. But the tableau of a beaming family on course to return to the cradle of power masked conflicting interests and concerns. While some of the Trump clan have been instrumental in helping to secure his dominance over the Republican party, others appear much less enamored with the idea of four more years on the global stage. Standing next to Trump was his 54-year-old wife, Melania. The family member who has been most conspicuously absent from the 2024 campaign, her sole appearance in Milwaukee marked a significant departure from American political tradition. In years past, the former first lady had dutifully followed custom, delivering prime-time speeches at the last two GOP conventions in support of her husbands presidential bids. More than one Trump insider claims intensive efforts were made to convince Melania to follow suit this year with an address before her husbands speech in Milwaukee. She resisted every entreaty, the campaign sources said. Melania had already signaled she intends to steer clear of her husbands third White House bid. She was absent during his June debate against Biden, which ultimately turned the tide of the race, and rarely appears at fund-raisers, let alone Trump rallies. Charting her own course, Melania entered the RNCs convention site alone, and only for the galas final night. A spotlight and the lenses of dozens of cameras were trained on her ascent to the family box to watch her husband speak. Later, she stood silently next to him on stage as he entertained the crowd. If sources within the Trump orbit are to be believed, she intends to take no further active role in his third presidential bid. Should he regain the White House, her earlier approach suggests Melania may continue the trend. In American Woman, an appraisal of recent first ladies, the White House reporter Katie Rogers casts Melania as reluctant in the role. Mrs Trump spent four years flouting many of the expectations about what a modern first lady should be, Rogers writes, revealing aides described how she visited her East Wing domain so infrequently that her empty office had been converted into a gift-wrapping room. Melania is not such a constant presence this time around - Scott Olson/Getty Melania has stayed largely out of the public eye since departing the White House in 2021, spending most of her time ensconced in Mar-a-Lago, the Trumps main residence in Palm Beach, Florida. She rarely exits Mar-a-Lago, its a strange, isolated life they have in that place, Laurence Leamer, author of a book about the private members club and a longtime Palm Beach resident, told The Telegraph last year. That is not to say Melania has been idling away her time. Financial disclosures show she makes significant income from rental properties in New York and her native Slovenia, and earned more than $300,000 (232,000) from licensing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) digital assets stored on blockchain in the last year. Her occasional appearances at Republican fundraisers have been lucrative. She received a $237,000 (183,000) payment for a single speaking engagement for Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative gay rights group, hosted at Mar-a-Lago in April. Despite her low profile, the former first lady also intends to release a memoir, Melania, next month, just weeks before the presidential election on 5 November. A Trump family member who has proved even more elusive on the campaign trail is her son, Barron, whom sources say she is fiercely keen to protect from the spotlight. The youngest of the Trump offspring, Barrons school years coincided with his time in the White House, meaning the First Son went largely unremarked on by the media out of consideration for his tender age. Now aged 18, and enrolled at New York University, interest in the 6ft 7in student has ramped up. Trump has acknowledged as much in interviews, saying recently of his young son: He had such a nice easy life, now its a little bit changed. Earlier this year Melanias office squashed rumours that Barron would be taking on a more active political role in his fathers presidential bid - Getty Those in contact with the intensely private Melania describe her as rattled by the prospect of her husbands presidential bid prompting further media intrusion into Barrons life, particularly following not one but two assassination attempts on the former president. Ric Grenell, a former Trump administration official, told Bloomberg recently: I think shes shaken. Barron goes to [university] this summer, so its a difficult time for parents, to go from having your child around all the time to leaving the nest. Earlier this year, Barron was rumored to be preparing to take on a more active political role in his fathers third presidential bid. He appeared at one of his rallies, and was named as a delegate for the Florida GOP, conferring on him a formal role in the vote to confirm his father as the Republican presidential nominee. Soon after the news emerged, Melanias office, far from a regular communicator with the media, sprung into gear to refute any suggestion Barron would take up the role. While Barron is honored to have been chosen, her office said, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments. In the end, Barron was not only absent from the Florida delegation in Milwaukee, but skipped the entire Republican convention the only one of Trumps children not to appear. The former president jokingly acknowledged the absence as he namechecked his offspring and their partners in his speech to formally accept his partys nomination. I also want to thank my entire family, he said. Don and Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared, Eric and Lara, Tiffany and Michael, Barron, we love our Barron. And of course, my 10 wonderful grandchildren. Lara, the wife of Eric Trump, was recently mocked for releasing a music single instead of focusing on helping Republicans win - Getty Tiffany, 30, the fourth child of the ex-president the only one with his second wife Marla Maples, rarely delves into the political fray. Raised in California rather than New York outside of the spotlight, in her mothers words her childhood did not involve the same proximity to her father as her half-siblings, although she was at university in Washington, DC during Trumps term in office. She graduated from Georgetown University Law Center during his final year in power, and delivered a speech to the 2020 GOP convention months later, but has since maintained a far lower profile than her siblings. On stage with her at the 2024 convention was her husband, Michael Boulos, the son of a wealthy Lebanese-American businessman, whom she married at Mar-a-Lago in 2022. The inclusion of Ivanka and Jared Kushner on stage was a surprise to many political spectators, who noted it was the couples first, and likely only, foray into the 2024 presidential race. Once at the nexus of political power, Javanka, as the pair are known in Washington, wielded immense influence within the West Wing during the first Trump era. Both served as senior advisers to the president, a perch from which they rubbed shoulders with world leaders at state dinners and exchanged WhatsApp messages with princes and prime ministers. In his unpaid role, Jared took a lead in the Trump administrations Middle East policy, and later in the presidents 2020 re-election bid. Ivanka, meanwhile, steered the role of first daughter into uncharted territory: the first ever to have a chief of staff and a West Wing office a short walk from the presidents Resolute Desk. Her proximity to power came with its downsides. She made the decision to shutter her namesake fashion brand to focus on her work in Washington, amid questions over how the Trump family might profit from his presidency. Perhaps more lasting was the impact on her standing within the pecking order of her elite Manhattan Upper East Side set. Ivanka often walked a difficult line: perceived as the most politically liberal of the family, but deemed to have her fathers ear, many expected her to be a moderating influence on his most contentious and inflammatory statements. If the role ascribed to her was true, few deemed her successful. What was left of Jared and Ivankas social capital was spent in the aftermath of the 6 January 2021 riots, when a mob of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and delayed the certification of Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential race. With Trump still refusing to concede defeat, even Karlie Kloss, Jareds supermodel sister-in-law, broke her silence to condemn the situation as anti-American. Asked by her followers to make that case to her brother- and sister-in-law, she bluntly replied: Ive tried. Some Republican insiders to describe Ivanka, seen her with husband Jared, as a political weathervane - Getty The power couple quit Washington soon afterward, retreating to Florida, where they built a mansion on a private island near Miami. Despite being just an hours drive from her fathers base in Palm Beach, in the intervening years, Ivanka, 42, and Jared, 43, have worked to distance themselves from politics, focusing instead on their three children and lucrative business and charitable ventures, including volunteering at a food bank and launching a $3 billion investment fund. Acquaintances of Ivanka describe her as seeking a less complicated life for her family, pursuing philanthropic work and rekindling relationships strained by her time in the White House. Ivanka made the calculation a long time ago that it was not in her best interests to remain in any way associated with the rest of her family, her cousin, Mary Trump, recently told MSNBC. All of these relationships are transactional. She is a legitimately wealthy person because of the person she is married to. She doesnt need Donald for anything. Ivanka has been more active in public recently, sharing images of herself at Adele concerts, learning to surf, and at birthday parties with Kim Kardashian and Lauren Sanchez, partner of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. She basically wants a new life to compensate for what she lost when she spent four years in her fathers Washington, a source close to her told People magazine earlier this year. Rather than attending the launch of her fathers third White House bid at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, Ivanka released a statement declaring: I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics. It was interpreted by many as a repudiation of her fathers continued refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 race, as much as an expression of her fatigue from the unrelenting scrutiny that comes with presidential campaigns. Nor, it soon became clear, did she intend to become involved in her fathers multiple court cases. She strenuously tried to avoid testifying in the familys $250 million (193 million) civil fraud trial earlier this year, claiming in one attempt that she needed to be at home with her children during the school week. Her efforts were rejected and she was ultimately compelled to appear in a New York court. She also opted against attending her fathers historic criminal trial in Manhattan, which saw him convicted of all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to a porn star. However, insiders say Ivanka showed her solidarity in private, making discreet visits to the ex-president via a private entrance and a connecting lift direct to his penthouse in his Manhattan base, Trump Tower. Following his conviction, she said: I love my father. I love my country. Today, I am pained for both. While she had availed herself of prized speaking slots in the last two Republican conventions, this time she was only there for the photo finish. Her three children, Arabella, 13, Joseph, 10, and Theodore, eight, were absent from the stage, in contrast to some of Donald Trumps other grandchildren. But Ivanka and her husband Jared had still decided to be present: a quiet endorsement of Donald Trumps bid. Ivanka and Jared reportedly earned as much as $640 million in outside income during their time in the White House - Getty It is actions like these that have led some Republican insiders to describe Ivanka as a political weathervane. They noted her absence from Trumps campaign launch, when much of the party believed his rival Ron DeSantis offered better prospects, but also her reappearance following her fathers attempted assassination and ascendancy in the polls. Some party insiders are skeptical of her ability to resist the temptation to reprise a White House role, should the opportunity arise, although Ivanka herself has ruled it out. I feel like I left it all on the field. I feel really good about it, and I feel really privileged to have been able to do what I did, she told friend and podcaster Lex Fridman during a three-hour interview. But, she said of politics: Its a pretty dark world And, you know, its a really rough business. So for me and my family, it feels right to not participate. It has not quelled speculation that Jared Kushner could be under consideration to serve as the secretary of state in a second Trump administration. Such an appointment would carry both risks and rewards, given his deep financial ties to the Middle East, which would inevitably face Congressional scrutiny if he returned to Washington. Jared and Ivanka are aware there would be revived controversy over their incomes they reported earning as much as $640 million in outside income during their time in the White House, according to the Citizens for Ethics watchdog raising questions over potential conflicts of interest. Their government roles led Barack Obamas former ethics adviser, Norman Eisen, to accuse Trump of operating like something out of a tin-pot oligarchy, although other experts suggested Trumps breach of convention did not amount to violating any laws. Kushner has since opened an investment fund, with around 99 per cent of its $3 billion coming from foreign investors with whom he worked when he served as a senior adviser to the president. The majority of the funding comes from the Middle East, including $2 billion from Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund. A source close to Kushner said he was focused on his family and his business rather than potential administration roles at the present. Sam Nunberg, a former senior Trump campaign official, had his own theory on the couples absence from the 2024 campaign. The major difference is that he [Donald] just wont let Jared come back in and take over the franchise of day-to-day operations, he told The Telegraph. Its just not happening because Jared lost [the 2020 race], he said, referencing Kushners involvement in Trumps unsuccessful re-election bid. Not that Jared wants to, by the way, or should want to, Nunberg added, arguing that while there was a professional uncoupling from Trump, there was no personal separation. Even if theyre in Miami, Ivanka and Jared are by his side, he said. The vacuum left by Jared and Ivanka has been filled by Trumps two eldest sons, Don Jnr and Eric. The brothers took a lead role in managing the family business empire during their fathers presidency, but have become more prominently involved in the business of politics since the launch of his third White House bid. They are believed to be more ideologically aligned with their father, in particular Don Jnr, who is widely expected to mount his own run for office one day. The 46-year-old has been seen as a kingmaker for the next generation of his fathers Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, working to unseat GOP critics and lobbying in support of loyalists. Donalds sons Don Jnr and Eric are intimately involved in vetting other potential recruits for a second Trump term - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images His influence has only been underscored by his successful lobbying to have his close friend JD Vance become his fathers 2024 running mate. Worlds apart in their upbringings, as Don Jnr noted in his convention speech, their unlikely friendship was forged by a mutual appreciation of their combative approach on social media. Don Jnr was also an admirer of Vances memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, and, more importantly, the zeal of the Ohio senators conversion to Trumpism. A budding texting relationship is said to have developed into near-daily communication between the pair. The decision to anoint the 40-year-old Vance as Trumps de facto successor has bound the Republican Party to the legacy of his populist MAGA movement for another generation. Both Don Jnr and Eric, 40, are intimately involved in vetting other potential recruits for a second Trump term, to ensure they are true devotees to the America-first agenda. The brothers were announced in August as honorary chairs of the Trump transition team. The pair are believed to be focusing on identifying the political ideology of potential senior administration figures as well as White House staffers to ensure their fathers recruits possess the quality he prizes above all others: loyalty. They are eager to avoid a repeat of the first Trump administration, where senior figures such as the former national security advisor John Bolton, former defense secretary Mark Esper, and former chief of staff John Kelly later sharply rebuked Trumps presidency. Aides to the 78-year-old Trump say he still feels aggrieved that his one-time advisers would later offer insider accounts of his time in office on cable news, and is determined to avoid a repeat should he win a second term. Don Jnr cast his own position as one of exercising veto power. I dont want to pick a single person for a position of power, all I want to do is block the guys that would be a disaster, he said at an Axios-hosted event at the RNC this summer. Insiders suggest it is unlikely that either of Trumps adult sons will hold an official role in his administration, but their influence behind the scenes will be pivotal to shaping it. The Trumps goal is to ensure they do not face the same resistance from the Washington establishment or, in their own vernacular, the swamp creatures. Those selected for the most senior roles must first demonstrate resolute support for the Republican presidential candidates vision, one senior source said. Donald Trump Jr is widely expected to enter politics himself in the future - Patrick T Fallon/AFP via Getty Images The Trump family takeover goes further still. Donald Trump has already moved to instal loyalists within the Republican Party apparatus, including parachuting his daughter-in-law Lara Trump into a leadership role at the Republican National Committee. Lara, the wife of Eric Trump, was recently mocked for releasing a music single instead of focusing on helping Republicans win in Novembers general election. Online critics were unimpressed by Laras musical talents, but the 41-year-old has suggested the ridicule originates from the liberal media and has not ruled out releasing more songs in future. Both Lara and Kimberly Guilfoyle, Don Jnrs fiancee, two former TV insiders, were given prominent speaking slots at this years RNC. Even Don Jnrs 17-year-old daughter, Kai, was granted coveted speaking time. A lot of people have put my grandpa through hell, and hes still standing, the teenager told the crowd. Trump himself has frequently acknowledged that his closest relationships are with his family. I have a lot of good relationships, he once said. I have good enemies, too, which is OK. But I think more of my family than others. As far back as 2015 he sketched out their importance to his rise to power in an interview with CNN. To Melania he has ascribed the political acumen of a pollster, Ivanka, could be president herself one day, and, his sons, he said, wanna be out there. They will be fantastic, he added. The Trump campaign has since suffered a change in fortune. Joe Bidens withdrawal from the race, and Kamala Harriss entry, has shaken up the polls and disrupted what mere weeks ago appeared to be Donald Trumps gilded path back to the White House. But whether in power or out, the Trump family will assert its dominance over American politics for years to come. Donald Trump holds campaign rally in Wilmington, North Carolina. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters Donald Trumps wider ground game operation in crucial battleground states is now largely outsourced to America Pac, the political action committee backed by the billionaire Elon Musk, according to multiple people familiar with the situation. The Trump campaign gambled with its voter turnout efforts for the 2024 cycle and outsourced it to Super Pacs, while it targeted its focus on turning out Trump supporters in rural areas who typically do not vote. But while the Trump campaign once predicted having multiple Pacs doing get-out-the-vote work, with six weeks until the election, only America Pac has a material presence of 300 to 400 paid and part-time people knocking on doors in each of the seven battleground states, the people said. Related: Elon Musks Twitter coup has harmed the right. They are now simply too online | Paolo Gerbaudo America Pac also remains the only entity Trump campaign or otherwise with a target to do three passes of homes of likely Trump voters in every battleground state before election day. Turning Point Action, run by the rightwing activist Charlie Kirk and touted by the Trump campaign, for instance, has a smaller footprint; it has a presence in Arizona, Wisconsin and two specific districts in Michigan and Nevada, after dropping Georgia from its initial list. The situation means America Pac now accounts for an outsize proportion of the unglamorous but critical work of door-knocking and canvassing Trump voters in battleground states to get them to return a ballot. And since the Trump campaign does not have its own mass field operation it has a new model of Trump 47 Captains, volunteers targeting likely Trump supporters who do not typically vote the campaign has little backup if America Pac hits snags. Last week, America Pac fired the company it had retained in Arizona and Nevada to do door-knocking and canvassing. The move to terminate the September Group had damaging consequences for Trump as America Pac lost several days of canvassing while they sought a replacement company, and lost at least some of the roughly 300 people they hired in each state. The Trump campaign denied that it had a reliance on America Pac and said it had more than 27,000 volunteers working as Trump 47 Captains, the program in which ardent Trump supporters receive special Maga merchandise as they get more people to register to vote. Each volunteer initially receives a list of 10 neighbors to mobilize. If they meet that target, the next tier involves canvassing 24 out of 50 likely Trump voters, followed by canvassing 45 out of 100 voters, with new perks at each tier. Team Trump has hundreds of staff and offices mobilizing hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the country. Thats why everyone wants to take credit for our groundbreaking, data-enhanced, people-powered operation, Karoline Leavitt, a Trump spokesperson, said in a statement. But a person involved with America Pac expressed skepticism about the reach of the Trump 47 captains and noted targeting just so-called low propensity voters in rural areas is no substitute for hitting doors in suburban areas and cities as well. Separately, if Trump wins, it could be in part thanks to Musk, who has articulated wider political ambitions he recently pitched to Trump to run a government efficiency commission and Trump has said he would consider putting Musk in his cabinet and resultantly have outsized influence with Trump. The America Pac ground game operation was slow to get started after it scrapped its initial plans, and only started hiring employees at a rapid clip last month. But it has since exploded in size. By retaining canvassing vendors for each battleground state, America Pacs operation now involves hundreds of paid and part-time employees to knock on doors in an unusually aggressive get-out-the-vote effort, the person said. In North Carolina and Michigan, America Pacs vendor, Blitz Canvassing LLC, has hired more than 400 staffers in each state, the person said. America Pac has paid roughly $3.3m to Blitz to date, according to federal campaign finance filings. Blitz is now also responsible for Arizona and Nevada after it was named as the successor to the September Group. It has a mandate to rehire as many of the fired 300 canvassers as possible, and in Nevada, to hit roughly 30,000 doors a day. The retention of Blitz has been controversial inside Trump world, in part because Blitz is a subsidiary of a company called GP3 owned by the political consultants running America Pac. It has given rise to accusations that America Pacs leadership is profiting twice. For Pennsylvania and Georgia, America Pac has subcontracted to Patriot Grassroots LLC and paid about $2.3m to date. For Wisconsin, America Pac has subcontracted to the Synapse Group for about $468,000, according to campaign finance filings. Eric Adams has become New Yorks first sitting mayor to be criminally indicted - OLGA FEDOROVA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A Turkish businessman told Eric Adams he would soon become the US president, after he and his peers lavished the New York mayor with business class flights and luxury travel worth $123,000, according to prosecutors. Mr Adams, 64, is accused of having sought and accepted improper valuable benefits including luxury international travel from at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. On Thursday, Mr Adams became the citys first sitting mayor to be criminally indicted after he was charged with five counts including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting contributions from foreign nationals. The 57-page indictment paints an extraordinary picture of an unscrupulous candidate motivated by greed and power to accept bribes and illegal donations in his attempt to become mayor. It outlines an alleged scheme in which Mr Adams enjoyed opulent hotel stays, meals at high-end restaurants and a swathe of illegal donations to bolster his 2021 campaign. In exchange, Mr Adams is accused of pressuring city officials to greenlight the opening of the new 36-storey Turkish consulate despite safety concerns in time for the visit of the countrys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to New York. The New York mayor is accused of seeking and accepting thousands in illegal contributions from foreign nationals, which he allegedly used to defraud New York City and steal public funds for his successful 2021 campaign. If convicted of the charges, the Democrat could be jailed for up to 45 years. Mr Adams has insisted he is innocent and has said he will continue to do my job as mayor. According to the indictment, the luxury travel perks Mr Adams, his family and his staff members received between 2016 and 2021 amounted to at least $123,000. He did not disclose the travel benefits in annual financial disclosures, according to the indictment. The most expensive trip, which cost upwards of $41,000, involved free business class flights from New York to France, Turkey and China for Mr Adams and two of his staff members, as well as a heavily discounted $7,000 stay in the luxury Bentley Suite at the five star St Regis hotel in Istanbul. The Bentley Suite He also accepted boat trips, a driver, a Turkish bath at a seaside hotel, and a two-night stay in the Cosmopolitan Suite of the St Regis, Istanbul, worth $3,000. During a nine-hour layover in Istanbul on his business-class flight from New York to Ghana in 2021, Mr Adams was met by a personal escort, picked up in a BMW 7, dined at a high-end restaurant with Turkish government officials, and returned to the airport for the second leg of his journey. The original plan had also involved a boat tour of the Bosporus Strait, but Mr Adams declined saying he had done the boat tour a few times. Mr Adams flew Turkish Airlines even when doing so was otherwise inconvenient due to the thousands of dollars of free travel perks, according to the indictment, The mayor provided favourable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received, according to the federal indictment. One of the Turkish businessmen who wooed Mr Adams with gifts and donations, who was named as the promoter in the indictment, is said to have celebrated Adams prospects after he was elected mayor. He told people, including Mr Adams himself, that Adams would soon be president of the United States. An airline official who lavished Mr Adams with business class flights, is also alleged to have lobbied the mayors staff member for a plum role on Mr Adams transition team. Appearing to threaten Mr Adams with the removal of his luxury travel perks, on Dec 8 2021 he messaged the staffer saying: Lead Plz :) Otherwise seat number 52 is empty On the way back. The airline manager was, according to the indictment, added to Mr Adams transition committee for Infrastructure, Climate and Sustainability. Messages between some of the Turkish officials he worked with reveal how they wanted to use Mr Adams for their own political gain. Turn this into an advantage In one exchange, the promoter messaged a Turkish businessman the day after Mr Adams was elected mayor, saying: He is most likely going to assign me as a representative, sir. Im going to go and talk to our elders in Ankara about how we can turn this into an advantage for our countrys lobby. The businessman replied: That would be nice. One Turkish businessman agreed to donate $50,000 or more to Mr Adams 2021 campaign believing that Adams might one day be the President of the United States and hoping to gain influence with Mr Adams. The man did not end up donating to the campaign. Mr Adams is accused of seeking and accepting illegal donations in the form of straw contributions, meaning through people who falsely claimed they were giving their own money. It is illegal to accept political donations from foreigners in the US. Mr Adams is also said to have used the straw donations to defraud New York City and steal public funds. In order to uplift local voices, the city has a scheme which matches small donations from residents with up to eight times the amount in public funds. Mr Adams campaign is alleged to have had these straw donations matched by public funds, obtaining as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution. His campaign is accused of reaping over $10 million in Matching Funds based on the false certifications that the campaign complied with the law when Mr Adams knowingly and repeatedly relied on illegal contributions. When the Turkish promoter suggested donating to Mr Adams campaign through a US citizen in 2018, the then mayoral candidates staff member said he did not think Mr Adams would get involved in such games. The Turkish national said he would donate max $100k. Illegal scheme According to the indictment, Mr Adams staffer was directed by Mr Adams to pursue the promoters illegal scheme. Mr Adams was accused of directing his staffer to obtain the illegal contributions offered by a Turkish businessman who owned a university in Istanbul. After the businessman offered to help Mr Adams during a meeting at Brooklyn Borough Hall in November 2018, he wrote to his staffer that the businessman is ready to help. I dont want his willing to help be waisted [sic]. In a message between Mr Adams and his staff member about raising funds from the Turkish University, the mayor said he was not Not doing [an] in person fundraiser for less than $25K. The mayors foreign-national benefactors later sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with the mayor as his influence grew, prosecutors claim. The indictment hones in on the approval of the 36-storey Turkish consulate. The building was opened by Mr Erdogan to great fanfare in September 2021. A board showing indictment details includes a picture of the controversial Turkish consulate - REUTERS/Mike Segar The indictment alleged Mr Adams was told by the Turkish official in September 2021 it was his turn to repay him by pressuring the New York City Fire Department to facilitate the opening of the new Turkish consulate. The building would have failed a fire inspection at the time it was opened, according to the indictment. But in exchange for travel perks and other bribes, Adams did as instructed and put pressure on the FDNY. As a result, the official responsible for assessing the building was told he would be fired if he failed to acquiesce. After Mr Adams helped receive the approvals needed to open the Turkish consulate, despite safety concerns, the Turkish official said: You are Great Eric, we are so happy to hear that. You are a true friend of Turkey. Mr Adams replied: Yes even more a true friend of yours. You are my brother. I am hear [sic] to help. The politician is said to have created and instructed others to create fake paper trails, falsely suggesting that he had paid, or planned to pay, for travel benefits that were actually free. In one message to the Turkish Airlines manager in June 2022, Mr Adams staffer urged him to quote a proper price for flights when he suggested Mr Adams pay $50. The staffer wrote: His every step is being watched right now... $1,000 or so... Let it be somewhat real. We dont want them to say he is flying for free. At the moment, the medias attention is on Eric. When the airlines manager suggested Mr Adams stay in the Four Seasons, Mr Adams staffer said it was too expensive The airline manager replied: Why does he care? He is not going to pay[.] His name will not be on anything either. Mr Adams is said to have sent several emails to his staffer about paying for free July and August 2017 Turkish Airlines flights. $10,000 in cash In one email he said: I left you the money for the international airline in an envelope in your top desk draw. [sic] Please send it to them. The email suggested he had left well over $10,000 in cash to send to them. The indictment states the airline confirmed Mr Adams did not pay the airline, in cash or otherwise, because the tickets were complimentary. After Mr Adams learned he was being investigated in November 2023, he is accused of increasing the complexity of the password on his personal mobile, He said this was to prevent staffers from deleting its contents and impeding the investigation. He then claimed he had forgotten the new password, and therefore could not help the FBI unlock the phone, prosecutors said. Later on Thursday, defending Mr Adams actions, Alex Spiro, his lawyer, claimed people do this all the time as he gave a press conference denouncing the allegations as part of a smear campaign. He said Mr Adams had responded to a courtesy request from a Turkish official seeking to expedite a fire inspection at the consulate. New Yorkers do this all the time, Mr Spiro said. They want to tarnish him. They want to tarnish him in your eyes, Mr Spiro added Theres no corruption, this is not a real case. were going to see everyone in court. Mr Adams is due to be arraigned in a federal court next week. For people on the edge of poverty, a pregnancy with a third child raises the prospect of imminent impoverishment of the existing two children. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP Amelia Gentlemans eloquent refocusing on the two-child benefit cap, and the imperative to end this morally untenable attack on so many already-fragile families, is timely and urgent (I have 7 in my bank account: how the two-child benefit cap changed Britain, 25 September). The policy targets the poorest families and those with cultural and religious traditions of larger families, and is thus inherently both discriminatory and racist. And, as she discovers in talking to women struggling to cope with its impact on the wellbeing of their children, it also targets those who become pregnant by accident which can often involve coercion. For people on the edge of poverty, a third pregnancy raises the immediate prospect of impoverishment of the existing two children and, for some, the excruciating dilemma of whether to go ahead and sentence the family to poverty, or terminate the pregnancy. Gentleman quotes the former Tory minister for welfare reform David Freuds condemnation of this policy as vicious and an excrescence. Even this savage judgment fails to convey the depravity of a policy whose logical outcome is the termination of an unplanned third or subsequent pregnancy. It beggars belief that anyone could argue that we cannot afford to lift the cap in effect, that we have no choice but to intentionally make hundreds of thousands of children really poor, badly nourished and, as a result, almost certainly educationally disadvantaged. And on top of that, to force women who may otherwise have welcomed an unplanned child into a situation where abortion is the only way to avoid impoverishing the children that they already have. Felicity Laurence Hastings, East Sussex Amelia Gentlemans article lays bare the dire impact of an unconscionable policy on families struggling on low incomes. Six years ago, I interviewed low-income households in the UK, often led by single mothers, about the stark choices they faced on limited budgets. Ive since spoken to other families on the breadline in Spain and Germany. Reading Gentlemans interviews with Saira and Haniya cut me to the core. Research by Human Rights Watch published in 2019 along with the work of many others warned that a wrongheaded policy like this would visit precisely these harms on families and children. The evidence that the policy is increasing child poverty is now incontrovertible. Larger families with fewer resources need more support, not less. A policy that punishes children for decisions made by their parents is wrong and out of line with the governments human rights and childrens rights obligations. This is not a change that needs the workings of a taskforce and strategy documents to be issued in due course. Indeed, waiting will simply consign even more children and families to poverty and hardship. Labour should end the cruel two-child limit policy, and do so now. Kartik Raj Senior researcher, Human Rights Watch Thank you to Amelia Gentleman for piercing the political silence that has descended over the two-child limit. While I agree with Jonathan Portes that it is inconceivable that the welcome commitment to a child poverty strategy will not lead to the abolition of the limit, the very obviousness of this is an argument for action now. Otherwise, how many more months or years must mothers such as Saira and Haniya struggle to manage on benefits far below their officially estimated needs, and must their children suffer as their childhoods tick away? We are told that we cant afford to abolish the policy. Yet in response to written questions (8 August and 16 September), the government has been unable to say what it would cost. And that is without even taking into account the hidden costs of the policy itself in terms of its impact on health, education and child protection. Ruth Lister Labour, House of Lords Have an opinion on anything youve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section. The New York City mayor, Eric Adams, faced mounting calls for his resignation on Thursday as federal agents launched a pre-dawn raid on the mayors Manhattan mansion and he was indicted on corruption charges. Federal agents early on Thursday swept in to search Adamss official residence, a stunning move that capped a lengthy corruption investigation into whether the mayor and others may have conspired with the Turkish government to funnel illegal foreign money into his campaign coffers. The indictments alleges Adams took illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city. Related: A true friend of Turkey: Eric Adams bribery indictment reveals years of flights and favors The search at Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side began at about 6am, just hours before the US attorney for the southern district of New York and officials from the FBI and the citys department of investigation were expected to announce federal charges against Adams and unseal the indictment against him. The news radio station 1010 Wins reported that the charges against Adams were probably under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (Fara). Authorities have also sought information about Adamss interactions with Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan, according to the New York Times. The outlet, citing a search warrant, reported in early November 2023 that federal authorities were investigating the possible acceptance by Adamss 2021 campaign of illegal donations, including by the Turkish government. Adams, a Democrat who would become the first of the citys 110 mayors to be criminally charged while in office, said he expected to be charged with federal crimes and declared he was innocent. He added that if charges were filed they would be entirely false, based on lies. He vowed to remain in office while fighting them. Members of the Democrats progressive wing, including the Bronx representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called for Adams to resign. Ocasio-Cortez said that after the resignation of several city officials, including the police commissioner, I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. For the good of the city, he should resign, Ocasio-Cortez said. The New York comptroller, Brad Lander, said Wednesday was a sad day for New Yorkers, after news of the indictment broke, and that the most appropriate path forward was for Adams to step aside. The citys financial management chief, who plans to run against Adams in 2025, added that Adams deserved the presumption of innocence but said: It is clear that defending himself against serious federal charges will require a significant amount of the time and attention needed to govern this great city. The Manhattan borough president and mayoral candidate Scott Stringer said the mayor should step down so other leaders could focus on the business of the city. His fight is not our fight, Stringer said. But other members of the city council had mixed reactions. Oswald Feliz said he was not there yet in calling for Adams to step aside. The Brooklyn progressive Chi Osse said: Corrupt cop Eric Adams needs to resign. This started as a corruption probe into his campaign and now half of the leadership is out of commission. Im not going to lie they look guilty. More importantly, no one is running our city right now. Our schools, healthcare, police have no leadership. This city of 9 million people need someone steering the ship. City council members including Tiffany Caban, Alexa Aviles, Shekar Krishnan, Lincoln Restler, Chris Banks and Bob Holden have also called on Adams to resign. If Adams is forced out of office, the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would become mayor and would need to hold an election within 80 days. The indictment came as the city is filled with foreign diplomats for the UN general assembly, including some who Adams may have had dealings with. Shortly before the announcement, Adams appeared at a reception in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art attended by Joe Biden and Jill Biden, both of whom made remarks. Adams did not address the gathering. New York city hall has been in a state of upheaval for the past month. The police commissioner, Edward Caban, resigned earlier this month after FBI agents seized his phone. Days later, Adamss chief legal adviser resigned, saying she could no longer effectively serve in the position. This week, the citys public schools chancellor, David Banks, said he would retire at the end of the year. His phone had already been seized. The only elected New York official with the power to force Adams aside is the New York governor, Kathy Hochul, and she has yet to comment on the developments. Interview: Expo to inject fresh impetus into China-ASEAN economic, trade ties: Cambodian scholar Xinhua) 09:34, September 26, 2024 PHNOM PENH, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 21st China-ASEAN Expo is expected to add fresh momentum into the development of China-ASEAN economic and trade relations, a Cambodian scholar said on Wednesday. The five-day expo, kicked off in Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Tuesday, was participated by more than 3,000 enterprises. Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the 21st China-ASEAN Expo serves as a platform to enhance economic collaboration, promote trade, and foster regional integration between China and ASEAN member states. He said the expo offers an important platform for enterprises from ASEAN countries to enter the vast Chinese market. "The expo is expected to inject fresh impetus into China-ASEAN relations by creating new opportunities for cooperation, particularly in areas such as technology, infrastructure, agriculture, education, tourism, and green development," he said. "It is also expected to advance the building of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and promote high-quality regional development through a variety of economic and trade activities," he added. Mengdavid said the expo has made important contributions to the economic integration between China and ASEAN, facilitating investment flows and cross-border economic opportunities, laying the foundation for building a more connected, resilient and dynamic region. "By providing a dedicated space for businesses and policymakers to engage, the event can lead to tangible partnerships and enhanced trade flows," he said. "By fostering trade and economic relations, promoting innovation, and encouraging cultural exchange, the expo plays a pivotal role in shaping a prosperous and sustainable future for the region," he noted. He added that the expo truly reflected China-ASEAN steadfast commitment to upholding free trade and multilateralism against the backdrop of unilateralism and protectionism. Mengdavid said economic and trade cooperation has been a key pillar for China-ASEAN relations and that currently, China-ASEAN economic and trade relations are robust. "In recent years, China-ASEAN trade volumes have increased significantly, driven by agreements aimed at reducing tariffs and promoting investment," he said. "Both sides have become each other's largest trading partners for several consecutive years." The scholar said the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement have laid a strong foundation for China and ASEAN to boost their trade and economic relations. Close China-ASEAN relations and cooperation have provided mutual benefits and win-win results, significantly contributing to ensuring lasting peace, security, stability, common development and shared prosperity for the peoples in the region. For Cambodia, the scholar said the expo offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen economic and trade exchanges with China. "Through this expo, I expect to see increased investment in key sectors such as digital technology, e-commerce, agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing, as well as collaborations on infrastructure projects," Mengdavid said. These will help Cambodia diversify its economy and integrate more deeply into regional supply chains, ultimately contributing to its economic development, he added. "In conclusion, the 21st China-ASEAN expo will boost trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange, injecting new energy into building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future," Mengdavid said. ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Eric Adams: I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit - REUTERS Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, has reportedly been indicted on federal criminal charges. The charges were unsealed on Thursday morning, revealing he had been charged with bribery, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. It means that the former police captain, 64, who was elected three years ago on a platform of cutting crime, has become the first sitting New York mayor to face criminal charges. Federal agents on Thursday morning swept into Gracie Mansions - the mayors official residence - in a pre-dawn raid involving nearly a dozen agents. A lawyer for Mr Adams, Alex Spiro, issued a statement saying that the agents had come to confiscate the mayors phone, despite investigators seizing several of his devices last year. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adamss phone (again), Mr Spiro said in a statement. He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. News of the indictment will pile pressure on the Democrat Mayor, who may appear in court later today, to step down. However, Mr Adams on Wednesday night declared his innocence and that he would fight the expected charges. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, he said in a statement to The New York Times. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. Ive been facing these lies for months In a speech recorded at his official residence, Mr Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers would question his ability to manage the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office. I have been facing these lies for months ... yet the city has continued to improve, Mr Adams said. Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. The charges against Mr Adams stem from a public corruption investigation that began in 2021 looking into allegations that the Turkish government illegally funnelled money into his election campaign. The federal inquiry also examined whether Mr Adams pressured fire department officials to sign-off on a high-rise building for the Turkish embassy despite safety concerns, and whether the mayor received valuable flight upgrades from Turkish Airlines. Mr Adams inner circle has been the target of several investigations, with agents seizing phones from senior city officials - including one of his top aides - earlier this month. Authorities seized the mayors electronic devices in November last year, just days after they searched the home of his chief fundraiser. Mr Adams with First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. Their houses were entered by FBI officers - AP Mr Adams has consistently maintained that he has done nothing wrong, while his aides say that he has cooperated with the authorities. There is speculation that the indictment may prompt an exodus of more of Mr Adams allies, after his police commissioner, schools chancellor and health commissioner announced their resignations this month. Earlier on Wednesday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York representative, led calls for the beleaguered New York mayor to step down. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, the Democrat wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening [government] function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. Her comments were echoed by Zellnor Myrie, a state senator from Brooklyn who is also running for mayor against Mr. Adams. We need a leader who is fully focused, without distraction, on the enormous challenges we face from housing affordability to public safety, Mr. Myrie wrote on X. A mayor under the weight of a serious indictment can no longer do that and today I am calling on him to resign. Some allies of Mr Adams have defended him, calling for due process. Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, said that the mayor had dedicated his life to the city and warranted a presumption of innocence. US vice-president Harris meets with Ukraine's President Zelenskyy in Washington Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, has indirectly denounced the Trump campaigns policy on ending Russias war against Ukraine as proposals of surrender as the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington to present his own victory plan. Addressing Zelenskyy at the White House, Harris said that some in my country would pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal in which it surrendered its sovereign territory and neutrality in order to make peace with Vladimir Putin. These proposals are the same as those of Putin, and let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace, she said. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable. While she did not mention Donald Trump or JD Vance by name, those terms for peace closely resemble ones laid out by the Republican vice-presidential nominee in an interview earlier this month. Zelenskyy had publicly denounced Vance as too radical after those remarks, sparking a conflict with Trump allies that has culminated with accusations of election interference and Republican calls for Ukraine to fire its ambassador to Washington. In an apparent U-turn late on Thursday, Trump told reporters he would meet Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York on Friday morning. At a press conference he rejected Harris criticisms and insisted that he only wants to stop the horror show thats gone on. When asked if Ukraine should give up territory, Trump was non-committal, saying: Lets get some peace We need peace. We need to stop the death and destruction. Before announcing the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump posted on social media a purported message from the Ukrainian president asking to see him. The message, which was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials, said we have to strive to understand each other. The decision to publicly disclose what appeared to be private communications was a reminder of the tension that has been brewing between Trump and Zelenskyy. Harriss remarks came after Zelenskyy met Joe Biden at the White House for the formal presentation of Zelenskyys high-stakes proposal, which he has said can end the war with Russia with additional American aid. The White House issued a short statement after the meeting, saying that the two leaders discussed the diplomatic, economic, and military aspects of President Zelenskyys plan and tasked their teams to engage in intensive consultations regarding next steps. President Biden is determined to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win, the statement said. Zelenskyy has kept the details of the plan secret, but US officials have said it includes additional American aid to prevent a Ukrainian rout on the battlefield and provide the [Ukrainian] people with the assurance that their future is part of the west. Related: Biden and Zelenskyy meet at White House as Ukrainian leader aims to shore up support for war effort live Zelenskyy faces an uphill battle in securing support for the plan, because of caution among senior officials in the Biden administration about providing Russia with a pretext to escalate the conflict further, and the looming November presidential elections that could lead to a re-election of Donald Trump. Before the meeting, Biden announced more than $8bn in military assistance to Kyiv, calling it a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war. The aid includes the provision of a medium-range glide bomb munition fired from fighter jets that would allow Ukrainian forces to strike Russian troops and supply lines at safer distances. The allocation included $5.5bn from the Ukraine security assistance initiative fund by the end of the year, as well as an additional $2.4bn in security assistance via the Department of Defense. The package includes additional Patriot air defense batteries and missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and measures to strengthen Ukraines defense industrial base, Biden said. The US will also expand training for additional F-16 fighter pilots, with an extra 18 pilots to be trained next year. Related: Zelenskyy is pitching his victory plan on adverse terrain But Biden was not expected to grant a key Ukrainian request that has been supported by the UK permission to use arms such as long-range Atacms ballistic missiles to strike targets deeper inside Russia due to fears of escalating the conflict with Russia. There is no announcement that I would expect [on that], the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, told reporters before the meeting. Zelenskyy said in a social media post: We will use this assistance in the most effective and transparent way possible to achieve our main common goal: a victorious Ukraine, a just and lasting peace, and transatlantic security. Biden also announced that he would convene a high-level meeting of the Ukraine defense contact group to coordinate aid to Ukraine among more than 50 allies as he enters the lame-duck period of his final three months in office. US media have reported that the Biden administration and European allies have been skeptical of Zelenskyys plan to achieve victory, which is understood to need to secure maximal support from the west before potential negotiations with Russia. Im unimpressed. Theres not much new there, a senior official told the Wall Street Journal. Zelenskyy had said the plan included decisions that can be taken solely by the United States and is based on decisions that should take place from October through December meaning the end of Bidens term in office. The meeting came amid rising tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, who has attacked the Ukrainian leader for making little nasty aspersions toward your favourite president: me. Zelenskyy, in an interview with the New Yorker published this week, said he believed Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war and criticised Vance for describing a vision for peace that included Ukraine ceding territories currently occupied by Russia. Before the meetings, Zelenskyy met members of Congress on Capitol Hill. Related: Trump-Zelenskyy feud escalates as Republicans demand envoys removal On Wednesday, the House speaker, Mike Johnson, a Republican, accused Zelenskyy of election interference and demanded he fire his ambassador to Washington over a visit to an ammunitions factory in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Johnson claimed the Ukrainian ambassador had failed to invite any Republicans to the event and called it a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats. Zelenskyy sought to reduce tensions on Thursday as he thanked the US for the new arms package and praised political leaders strong bipartisan support in Ukraines just cause of defeating Russian aggression. Nonetheless, US and European officials have noted with varying levels of alarm the potential for a Trump administration to sharply reduce US aid to Ukraine in order to force Zelenskyy to accept terms for a ceasefire. Asked whether the Democrats wanted to Trump-proof aid to Ukraine before a potential Trump presidency, a senior state department official said: I dont ever talk in those terms but that the primary goal was to make sure Ukraine has all the equipment it needs to keep fighting and manpower and other things. At the end of the year, regardless of who wins our election in December, as at the end of this fighting season, Zelenskyy and Putin need to look at the battlefield and say, heres what we think next year will look like, the official said. And the primary factor there is, do I think the other side has all the equipment it needs to keep fighting and manpower and other things? Will Nick Knowles take part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend? (BBC) (BBC/Ray Burmiston) It's just a week into Strictly Come Dancing's live shows and the cast have already been hit by injury that left one star in danger of sitting out their second performance. But Nick Knowles has confirmed just two days before the next show that he will be taking part. The DIY SOS presenter was hit by some incredible bad luck last weekend, injuring his arm the day after his ballroom debut. He is now in a sling and has spent the week unsure whether he would be able to dance in the BBC One show this weekend. Now, Knowles has shared the good news that he has been cleared to dance. Currently, DIY SOS presenter Knowles and his partner Luba Mushtuk are in third last place on the leaderboard with 18 points, followed by Paul Merson and Pete Wicks who are joint second last on 17 points, and Toyah Willcox who has the lowest score of just 12 points. Read more: Strictly Come Dancing The TV star will be hoping to pick up valuable points on Saturday as the scores from the first two weeks are combined for the first elimination, but his injury will have been a huge setback in training. Here's everything we know so far about what happened to Knowles and his journey to make it to the dancefloor this weekend. What happened to Nick Knowles? Nick Knowles has injured his arm. (Instagram/BBC screengrab) (Instagram/BBC screengrab) Knowles was hoping to celebrate his 62nd birthday - as well as getting through his Strictly debut - last Sunday, but had some car trouble on the motorway as he was driving to the party. He tried to change a flat tyre at the side of the road, but ended up badly injuring his arm as he explained to fans in an Instagram post on Monday. Later that evening, Knowles appeared on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, where he explained: "We broke down on the motorway with a flat tyre. It was raining and there were big lorries going past. So I tried to do it quickly and change the tyre quickly, and as I took the tyre off I basically damaged my bicep and damaged my arm... "And then I went on and I was like, 'It's fine, I've hurt it but I'm OK' and then it got worse and worse and worse. I actually missed my birthday party because of being stuck on the motorway." Nick Knowles confirms he will take part in Strictly this weekend Great news for Knowles fans - the TV star has confirmed that he will definitely be able to dance in this weekend's live show after getting the ok from medics. The timing is tight as Knowles and Mushtuk only shared the news 48 hours before Saturday's performance, but they looked excited to get on with training in an Instagram post. Knowles wrote: "Its official and I cant quite believe it but we are dancing on Saturday! @lubamushtuk is a miracle worker - weve had two days to learn the dance! Thank you for being so patient. American Smooth here we come." Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk shared the good news, as well as what they would be dancing to. (Instagram) In a video from the training room, Mushtuk danced around as Knowles said: "Look how excited my dance partner is, because we have been given clearance to dance on Saturday. It's been an interesting couple of days full of scans and physios and people helping me. Everyone's been amazing. Thank you for all your messages of support. We'll see you on Saturday where we'll be dancing American Smooth Foxtrot to Parklife by Blur." His fans were delighted to hear he would be dancing as one person commented: "Fantastic news so happy for you! Good luck on Saturday you will be amazing." Someone else wrote: "Brilliant news now don't change anymore tyres!!" Another fan added: "Good luck I'll be voting for you youre used to tight schedules on Diy sos." What did Nick Knowles say about taking part in Strictly this week? Despite sporting a sling and missing his own birthday party, Knowles has been staying positive all week about his chances of dancing on Saturday night. On Monday, he told fans on social media: "Not ideal, but I'm convinced not something that's going to stop me dancing this weekend." Later, Knowles told It Takes Two of whether he would still be able to compete: "I am hopeful, I am hopeful. I will find out more tomorrow but I am fully expecting to go into training and I am really hopeful that I will be dancing on Saturday." Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk are hoping still to dance on Saturday. (BBC) (BBC/Ray Burmiston) Adding that he might need to lift Mushtuk with one arm during the routine, he said: "If I do my best and people can see that I am really really trying, then hopefully the audience will get behind me and that will make a difference." On Tuesday, Knowles offered his Instagram followers further details after missing a day of training. He wrote: "Arm update! Today I have seen Drs and Physios who have been wonderful. Ive had scans (Ill spare you the grim details) and although its feeling a bit better today, the issue is, we dont know if I can actually use my arm to dance. "So tomorrow, Im going to rehearsals with @lubamushtuk and the physio to see just what my arm can do. Then the medics will make a call on if they think I can continue dancing. I am still really hopeful that Ill be able to dance this weekend. So fingers crossed" Knowles filmed himself heading into training on Wednesday and said that Mushtuk had been putting together a routine that he would be able to manage around his injury. He said: "I'm really, really hoping that we find out I can dance on Saturday, I'd really like to stay part of the competition." Knowles shared with fans that he was expecting to hear the final call on whether he could dance by Thursday afternoon, saying: "I'm doing my level best to get there, keeping my fingers crossed. So hopefully see you Saturday." What treatment has Nick Knowles had for his injury? Nick Knowles has his arm in a sling. (BBC screengrab) (BBC screengrab) Knowles has been throwing everything at his recovery, having been to a range of doctor appointments, scans and physiotherapy this week. He told fans in an Instagram video: "My arm's in a sling to make sure it's resting when I'm not using it." The TV star added that he had been soaking his arm in the bath after training and said: "Shoulder is repairing very well. I saw a great physio today too so that's helped enormously." However, Knowles' first update on his injury caused some controversy as he said that he was headed to Harley Street for some "top medical advice", the London location of some of the city's most exclusive private healthcare. One person commented on his post: "Must be nice to be able to go to Harley Street to get an assessment and scan whenever you want it. Most people would be on the phone for hours hoping to get through to the GP surgery or sat in A&E only to be put on a waiting list for a scan. Oh, how the other half live." But Knowles told his fans he was "not offended", explaining: "Yes youre right - it is. Ive lived in my car occasionally & on other peoples sofas at times over last 40 years to keep at TV when it wasnt paying but recently Ive done well & been able to pay people back & look after my family including private healthcare. Im very lucky." What happens if Strictly contestants are injured or ill? Contestants get a bye if they can't perform one week. (BBC) Strictly contestants sign up to demanding training schedules and ambitious routines, so it's no surprise that most seasons somebody ends up injured or ill. Usually, the TV contest gives celebrities a bye if they need to miss a week of competition to recover and they will simply resume their competition the following week. However, sometimes an injury is too bad to return - for example, Will Bayley hurt his knee so badly during training that he had to leave the 2019 series and even needed surgery later. During the 2020 season, Nicola Adams was forced to withdraw from the contest after being diagnosed with COVID. Pro dancers have also had to sit out weeks in the past. In 2019, Alex Scott's partner Neil Jones was injured, but she was still able to take part as Kevin Clifton stood in at the last minute. Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One at 6.15pm on Saturday. This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nick-knowles-injury-strictly-update-114203020.html Octopus Energy has said it aims to invest 2 billion in UK clean energy projects between now and 2030. The company said it has just kicked off the investment drive by buying four solar farms which are being built in Bristol, Essex, Yorkshire and Wiltshire this year and next. When they start producing power, in the next two years, the four farms will produce enough power for about 80,000 homes. Meanwhile, the company said it also recently upped its stake in Exagen, a firm which builds solar farms and energy storage sites. Octopus, the UKs largest retail energy supplier, invests in power projects via its energy generation business, which in turn manages a number of investment funds. The 2 billion figure includes these initial deals, but also represents a pipeline of future investments it hopes to make by the end of the decade. It comes amid Government plans to invest more than 8 billion in renewable energy via its state-owned energy investment company, GB Energy, in the next five years. Labour has said it wants to make Britain a clean energy superpower, and also recently scrapped a de facto ban on onshore wind farms in the planning system. Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, said the investment will help boost our energy security and pave the way for a more affordable energy future. Solar and onshore wind are among the cheapest energy sources available. By building closer to demand, we can maximise green electricity when its abundant and lower bills for customers nationwide. Elsewhere, ScottishPowers boss recently told PA news agency that the company has a UK spending programme of 12 billion in the years to 2028. Keith Anderson said he would love to double that if Labour policies designed to speed up development of clean energy projects bear fruit. Centrica, meanwhile, said earlier this year that it is considering pumping cash into the construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk, among other investments. Semi-automated offside technology may not be launched in the Premier League until next year, the PA news agency understands. The introduction of the technology was approved by clubs in April and had been set to be brought in after one of this autumns international windows. October had originally been seen as the most likely date but that is now certain to pass, and it may not be ready by mid-November either and could go into the winter. League bosses sought to manage expectations on the launch date among clubs at a meeting held in central London on Thursday, with testing on the system ongoing. The league believes the technology could speed up the length of the average VAR check for offside by 31 seconds. Clubs were also given a largely positive update on officiating and reminded about their obligations around player behaviour. It is understood there was no pushback from clubs regarding the league spending more than 45million on legal costs. There was recognition that the spending is necessary to uphold the leagues rules, and is a small fraction of the 10billion the league is set to earn in television revenues over the next three years. Two pensioners are seeking to take the Scottish and UK governments to court over the cut to the winter fuel payment. Peter and Florence Fanning, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, have raised proceedings with the help of the Govan Law Centre against the Scottish Government and the UK Work and Pensions Secretary over the policy. Following Labours election win, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the winter fuel payment which had previously been universal will only be available to those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits this year due to financial woes. The decision led to the Scottish Government which was due to take control over a similar payment through the devolved Social Security Scotland but has since announced a delay to follow suit. The judicial review which has been raised at the Court of Session now requires a judges approval to move to a hearing on the merits, with the Govan Law Centre seeking to expedite both the case and its application for legal aid to ensure a decision can be handed down before the winter. The case asks the court to rule on whether the decision was unlawful, which would then allow the petitioners to ask the court to, in effect, set aside the policy and restore the winter fuel payment to all. Speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh on Thursday, Mr Fanning, 73, said: We intend to sue both the London and Scottish governments, since both are guilty through action and inaction, of damaging the welfare of pensioners. We are hoping to be successful, given the manifest injustice involved, however, my work as a trade unionist and shop steward has taught me that some battles are worth fighting regardless of the outcome I believe this is one such battle. The cases argument rests on the accusation both governments failed to adequately consult with those of pension age on the change and did not release an equality impact assessment on the changes. Peter and Florence Fanning have raised the case(Craig Paton/PA) A freedom of information request revealed an abridged version of such an assessment had been carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with the UK Government arguing a full study was not required. Former first minister and current Alba Party leader Alex Salmond was instrumental in putting the Fannings in touch with the Govan Law Centre ahead of the action being raised. Speaking at the press conference on Thursday, Mr Salmond said every person in Scotland should be grateful to the Fannings for raising the action, which he said should have been taken forward by the Scottish Government in the first instance. Pointing to analysis by the Labour Party in 2017 which suggested 4,000 people could die if the winter fuel payment was cut Mr Salmond claimed it would be reprehensible for the UK Government not to undertake an equality impact assessment because such a figure would be made public. He added: The Scottish Government, instead of meekly accepting this, should have challenged it. They should have stood up for pensioners and stood up for the people as opposed to meekly towing the line that was coming from Westminster. The former first minister added that while it would be the most enormous humiliation for the governments to lose the case: I wonder is that as bad as the humiliation if the health service in Scotland and England can cope with the health impacts of what theyre doing? Alex Salmond, left, said he Scottish Government should not have meekly accepted the cut (Craig Paton/PA) Rachel Moon, the instructing solicitor and a partner at Govan Law Centre, said: Quite simply, (government) should have considered this rigorously. This policy and the decisions taken affect those with protected characteristics, including age and disability, and it affects 10 million people. Speaking to journalists in Holyrood on Thursday, First Minister John Swinney said: Obviously I understand the depths of concerns from members of the public about the abrupt decision to remove 160 million from our budget and to take away the universal winter fuel heating payments. The hard reality that I have to face is that has been removed abruptly from our budget and we have to take action to live within the financial resources available to me. Because on the question of the law, I am bound by law to balance the budget and to live within the means available to the Government. Asked if the Scottish Government had failed in its legal duty, Mr Swinney said: I think the Government has taken the action that has been necessary and appropriate, given our legal obligations, to live within our resources, but obviously these are issues that are now the subject of consideration by the courts and we will, of course, engage in that process. A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: We are committed to supporting pensioners, with millions set to see their full new state pension rise by 1,700 this Parliament through our commitment to the triple lock. Given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, its right we target support to those who need it most. Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, while many others will also benefit from the 150 warm home discount to help with their energy bills over winter. Police Scotland has committed to working with womens groups and seeking external advice on how to deal with trans offenders, after a U-turn on a policy which allowed rapists to identify as female. The policy has been contested since 2021 after being raised at the Scottish Parliament by all-female analysts MurrayBlackburnMackenzie, and the group branded it institutional gaslighting when it emerged on Wednesday that it will be reversed. At a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority on Thursday, Chief Constable Jo Farrell was asked about wider issues regarding gender identification including intrusion on single-sex spaces and body searches. Ms Farrell said: A man who commits rape or sexual assault will be recorded by Police Scotland as a male. The organisation I lead is wholly committed to tackling violence against women and supporting survivors effectively. We will do this while upholding our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights. A commitment was made to engage with womens groups as well as seeking formal advice as part of a review over the coming months. Organisations cited as likely to be asked to contribute include His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, trade unions, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Board member Katharina Kasper said leadership had been sorely lacking until clarification, and she suggested a legal review is needed because if you are recording gender you cannot have sex-based policies. Ms Kasper said: How you treat this topic is more than just statistics it will be pertinent to whether female police officers will have to conduct searches of people who are clearly male but insist on having a different gender identity to that; it will also be important to respond to situations where women and children feel they are having to deal with a male in a space they would expect to be a single-sex space. Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell was questioned on the issue at the SPA meeting on Thursday (PA) When someone who is male shoots into single-sex space, will you be able to deal with that if that individual maintains they are female? These are not really hypothetical scenarios. They happen on a daily basis. Until there is clarity on how you deal with sex and gender I dont think this will go away. She urged transparency and logical conclusions in a bid to restore public confidence, and said the policy should be in writing, and subject to audit. Ms Farrell said she was not going to get into a series of hypothetical scenarios but she insisted discretion is used. Ms Kasper said: I think there is an expectation your policy is written down, that it is clear, that legislative analysis is absolutely sound and not just against what your internal position is, but that youve consulted with relevant external bodies. If you are saying there is discretion, the data needs to be such that you can segregate instances where you have overwritten your policy. At the moment it is not possible to test whether that discretion is in line with policy. There needs to be a way of auditing your policy to ensure it does what it needs to do. #SPABoard discussing @PoliceScotland position on recording of sex and gender and welcoming clarity from the Chief Constable around the recording practice for sexual offences. A review of the approach will be reported to the Authority once complete. Scottish Police Authority (@ScotPolAuth) September 26, 2024 Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: The recommendation I made was a much more fulsome review, to engage externally and to hear views and observations from womens groups. We have the team and the structure in place and will do that over the coming months. We will do that through the performance committee. Ms Farrell said: Im not going to be able to put timescales on this. Please bear with us as we do that piece of work, as we pull together than information and make these judgments. The NHS is one of the parallel organisations we need to reach into in terms of how theyre working in this space. SPA chairman Martyn Evans said: I particularly welcome seeking formal guidance, that has been absent, it isnt for them to sit on the sidelines. We rely on those whose full-time job it is to give advice. I welcome commitment to bring it back to policing performance committee. This has been an issue for around four years now. Clarification around the question of public confidence is very welcome. When I first brought my rescue cats home, they were pretty skittish. They seemed to like us fine, and would accept and even ask for pets, but were not exactly cuddlers. In fact, wed had them for nearly a year when I first caught them coming into our beds and sleeping with us after they were sure we were asleep. A whole year later, I had one at the vet and she was so worried about whatever was going on there that she practically climbed inside my shirt. Oh, she for sure loves you, the vet told me, while I looked down at the suddenly clingy cat, utterly astonished. This is the first time shes ever done something like this, I replied. Four years in, the cats have learned to cuddle, and even seem to like it. But it did take a while. Other shelter cats, though, are dying for human affection, like this little guy, still awaiting a forever home in Cecil County, Maryland. This video, made by shelter worker Kamerin Hanson, was just supposed to be a day in the life of a shelter worker clip, but it took off thanks to the heartbreaking behavior of the cat whose cage she opened. Aid, as the cat is apparently called, is a transfer from another shelter which as overcrowded, and is clearly desperate for tender attention and loving care. Related: 12-Year-Old Senior Cat Returned to Shelter After Less Than a Month Is Breaking Hearts The cat climbs up on Hansons back and remains there, cuddling as if his very life depended upon it. This happens every single time his cage is opened and hes given the opportunity for some genuine love and connection with another living creature. Someone go get this baby. How to Adopt This Cat According to the shelter website, Aid is six years old and clearly needs a home. His story is especially sad as he was a transfer from another shelter that had no more room for him. Hes been shuffled from shelter to shelter with no one willing to take him on. Pets at this shelter are adopted to people who can physically come in and meet the animals, and after seeing this video, Im definitely taking a moment to see how far I am from Cecil County. But his plight is just one example in a sea of homeless animals. This one cat could be just the same as the cats and dogs and guinea pigs and animals of every other pet species languishing in cages in shelters all over the country. They could all be delightful companions, but they need to find their person. How to Help Shelter Animals The best way to help a shelter animal is to provide it a home, but obviously, that is not always an option. After all, hundreds of thousands of animals per year need new homes, and the pets you already have live for a decade or more. Another option is to open your home to fostering. These arrangements can last anywhere from a few days to a few months, and give a pet a chance of living in a cozy home environment with people and other pets, rather than a sterile cage like Aid is currently experiencing. Fostering also gives animals a chance to be trained as well as let their true personalities shine through, which makes it easier for them to be adopted. Finally, you can donate time, money, and supplies to the care and keeping of animals still living in shelters. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Southern Water is drawing up contingency plans to ship water from Norway to mitigate the risk of supply shortages and droughts. The UK utilitys plan aims to import up to 45 million litres of water a day into the areas it covers Hampshire, Kent, East and West Sussex and the Isle of Wight. The regional monopoly, which is one of the biggest UK water firms, is in early-stage talks with the Extreme Drought Resilience Service, a private UK company that supplies water by sea tanker, according to the Financial Times (FT). Southern Water plans to pay for the shipped water from customers bills (Chris Ison/PA) Tim McMahon, Southern Waters managing director for water, said importing supplies would be a last-resort contingency measure in the event of an extreme drought in the early 2030s. It comes as most of the companys supplies are currently abstracted from groundwater and globally rare chalk streams. The Environment Agency has warned that overreliance on these sources can cause environmental damage, increasing the risk of droughts even further. The regulator has ordered the company to make dramatic reductions by 2030, although Southern has recently admitted it may need to keep taking water from the rivers until as late as 2035 due to delays in shifting to new water sources. Southern plans to pay for the shipped water from customers bills, the FT reported, adding that imports tend to be expensive because of weight and the additional processing required. To help meet Hampshires water shortfall, the company is building the UKs first new reservoir for more than 30 years at Havant Thicket. This new source of water is expected to be delivered in 2034 but until then, the company said it anticipates a risk of reduced resilience to drought, particularly from 2030. Plans for other forms of mitigation include plans for universal smart metering, leakage driven mains replacements, desalination and agreements with businesses to reduce use, Southern said. Mr McMahon said the possibility that it would need to import water is very remote. Mr McMahon said: We put less water into supply now than we did 30 years ago and measures like reducing leakage have enabled us to keep pace so far with population growth and climate change. As we work to take less water from our chalk streams and build new reservoirs like Havant Thicket in Hampshire, we need a range of options to help protect the environment while this infrastructure comes online. Importing water would be a last resort contingency measure that would only be used for a short period in the event of an extreme drought emergency in the early 2030s something considerably worse than the drought of 1976. Were committed to continuing to work with our regulators on developing the right solutions to meet the challenge of water scarcity, while protecting the environment. Parts of England, such as Ardingly reservoir in West Sussex, came close to running out of water in 2022 during one of the driest summers on record (Gareth Fuller/PA) The plans come as England continues to grapple with a nationwide water crisis caused by years of underinvestment, ageing infrastructure, growing populations and extreme weather caused by climate change. According to water regulator Ofwat, currently around a fifth of water running through pipes is lost to leakage. Droughts are becoming more frequent and parts of England came close to running out of water in 2022 during one of the driest summers on record. Southern Waters situation is particularly acute, with the firm saying it would face a shortfall of 166mn litres a day in Hampshire during a drought. The Environment Agency attribute the firms contingency plans to its delayed delivery of crucial supply schemes. The regulator said it will be reviewing the companys plans through public consultation and consider its environmental acceptability. It is also in contact with the Norwegian regulators about Southerns proposed scheme. Sir Keir Starmer told US business chiefs he wanted to turbocharge the economy as he pushed for extra investment. The Prime Minister hosted a meeting with executives in New York while he was in the US for the United Nations General Assembly. He told the chief executives that discussions with business chiefs had helped shape the Governments policies. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met Blackstone boss Jon Gray (Leon Neal/PA) Because if we can get into the question of what works, what doesnt work, how to get the economy to really turbocharge, what are the ambitions for investment, that really helps us shape our working, he said. The meeting came as investment giant Blackstone confirmed a 10 billion deal to develop Europes largest AI data centre in Blyth, Northumberland. The firms president, Jon Gray, was among the executives at a roundtable event hosted by Sir Keir at the UK consul generals residence overlooking the East River. Sir Keir, who is embroiled in a row about his use of Labour donor Lord Allis penthouse in London, joked to the US business chiefs about the consul generals residence: Id like to pretend this is my apartment to welcome you to. The Prime Minister hosted US bosses at a breakfast meeting (Leon Neal/PA) Other executives at the event included Adebayo Ogunlesi of Global Infrastructure Partners, Shemara Wikramanayake of Macquarie Group, Robin Vince of BNY, William Huffman of Nuveen, Brian Moynihan of Bank of America, Carlyle Groups Harvey Schwartz, JPMorgans Mary Callahan Erdoes, Citigroups Jane Fraser and Brookfield Asset Managements Hadley Peer Marshall. The meeting came ahead of the UKs international investment summit in October, which the Government hopes will attract hundreds of leading chief executives and financiers. Later on Thursday, Sir Keir will address world leaders at the UN General Assembly. The gathering of world leaders at the UN comes as the Middle East teeters on the brink of all-out war and conflict rages in Ukraine. Sir Keir met business leaders at the consul generals residence in New York (Leon Neal/PA) The Prime Minister will use his speech to say the UK is returning to responsible global leadership because it is in British interests to address problems around the world. War, poverty and climate change all rebound on us at home. They make us less secure, they harm our economy, and they create migration flows on an unprecedented scale, he will say. His speech on Thursday follows an intervention at the UN Security Council on Wednesday where he tore into Russia over its actions in Ukraine, saying Vladimir Putin was treating his own citizens as bits of meat to fling into the grinder in the conflict. He said Russia, which like the UK is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, was behind the greatest violation of the (UN) charter in a generation. The Prime Minister met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday (Leon Neal/PA) I wonder how Russia can show its face in this building, he added. The UN gathering comes as violence in the Middle East continues to escalate, with fighting between Israel and Hezbollah across the Lebanon border and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On Wednesday, Sir Keir told the Security Council: Im calling for all parties to step back from the brink, to de-escalate. We need a ceasefire so this can be sorted out diplomatically. He added that there can be no more excuses from Israel about humanitarian access to Gaza, while Hamas must release the remaining hostages. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has the potential to spill into a wider war that no one can control, Sir Keir Starmer warned at the United Nations. In his speech to the UN General Assembly in New York, Sir Keir pleaded with both sides to step back from the brink and agree a ceasefire following escalating clashes across the Lebanon border. Stressing the need to prevent a regional conflict in the Middle East, he said further escalation serves no one. I call on Israel and Hezbollah. Stop the violence. Step back from the brink, he said. We need to see an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement and we are working with all partners to that end. He warned that the alternative is more suffering for innocent people on all sides and the prospect of a wider war that no one can control and with consequences that none of us can foresee. Sir Keir also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages held by Hamas. Addressing the humanitarian crisis, he said: It shames us all that the suffering in Gaza continues to grow. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with business leaders in New York (Leon Neal/PA) Sir Keir called for the UN to be reformed and strengthened, saying the war in Ukraine was a test for the organisation. He said the UK would stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Because the alternative would be to confirm the worst claims about this place. That international law is merely a paper tiger and that aggressors can do what they will. We will never let that happen. Sir Keirs speech was intended to show that under his premiership the UK would offer responsible global leadership. He announced a new British International Investment initiative, working with the City of London to use billions of pounds from pension and insurance funds to invest in boosting development and fighting climate change. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called for reform of the UN Security Council (Leon Neal/PA) Sir Keir also called for a new international levy on global shipping to put a price on the true cost of emissions with the money raised going to tackle climate change. The Prime Minister also demanded changes to the UN Security Council to become a more representative body which was willing to act not paralysed by politics. That would involve permanent African representation on the body, The existing five permanent members the UK, US, France, China and Russia should be joined by Brazil, India, Japan and Germany, he said. And he promised a change in the way the UK acted too: Moving from the paternalism of the past towards partnership for the future. Listening a lot more speaking a bit less. Scotlands First Minister has said the situation in the Middle East is cause for the deepest concern as he called for a binding ceasefire in the region. UK citizens are being urged to leave Lebanon after Israel launched an intense series of air strikes earlier this week. The UK has joined the US, France and other allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is intolerable. Writing on X, Mr Swinney said: The worsening situation in the Middle East is a cause of the deepest concern. The worsening situation in the Middle East is a cause of the deepest concern. It is essential that there is a binding ceasefire now to end the suffering in Gaza and to act to avoid escalating conflict in Lebanon. John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) September 26, 2024 It is essential that there is a binding ceasefire now to end the suffering in Gaza and to act to avoid escalating conflict in Lebanon. The joint statement from 12 allies, including the UK, calls for a 21-day ceasefire to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement, as well as a ceasefire in Gaza. Signatories to the statement include: the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday addressed the UN Security Council with a plea for an end to the violence in both Lebanon and Gaza. The UK has deployed 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for a possible evacuation of thousands of Britons. Mr Swinney said on Wednesday that the Scottish Government would work with the UK Government to ensure any Scots in Lebanon can leave safely. According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the Israel-Hamas war nearly a year ago. The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Four companies which form part of the troubled cinema operator Cineworld are seeking High Court approval for a restructuring plan to allow them to continue trading. Cine-UK Ltd, Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, Cineworld Cinema Properties Ltd and Cineworld Estates Ltd, which are parts of the UK arm of the worlds second-largest cinema chain, are presently unprofitable, the court was told on Thursday. Lawyers for the four plan companies said that the US arm of the business had agreed to provide funding to keep them afloat on the condition that they would restructure, and will enter administration if the plans are not approved. As part of the proposals, the companies would renegotiate the leases of some of their more than 100 sites across the UK which are uneconomic, and close six sites which are commercially unviable. But the landlords of four sites the Crown Estate and UK Commercial Property (UKCP) are seeking an injunction blocking the companies from compromising their rental agreements, claiming that the companies entered into agreements last year which meant they could not be changed through restructuring. Tom Smith KC, for the Cineworld companies, said in written submissions: If the plans are not sanctioned, the plan companies will not have sufficient funds to meet their payment obligations to creditors. He continued: In these circumstances, the plan companies directors will likely have no choice but to file for administration. Mr Smith said on Thursday that the companies currently run 101 cinemas in the UK under the Cineworld brand and a further two which are sublet under the Picturehouse name, which it also owns. A previous hearing was also told that the cinemas employ 4,401 staff, with the wider group operating cinemas in 10 countries, including the US under the Regal Cinemas brand. But the court heard that the business was severely adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions, which was further compounded by strikes by screen actors and writers last year, leaving the companies facing severe financial difficulties. While the group underwent a restructure in the US last year, Mr Smith said in written submissions that the UK arm continued to struggle with a significant number of over-rented leases, where the rent the company pays is higher than the propertys market value. The brand announced in July that it would close six sites (Mike Egerton/PA) The brand announced in July that it would close six sites in Glasgow Parkhead, Bedford, Hinckley, Loughborough, Yate and Swindon Circus but that all sites would continue to operate until the restructuring plans were approved. Mr Smith said that the US arm of the company had provided the UK firms with around 65 million dollars to allow it to keep trading up to the end of June this year, with rent costing 19m also paid for on the condition that the company would undergo a restructuring. The barrister continued that the US arm had also agreed to pay 16.7m in rent due for the three months up to the end of September as there was no prospect of raising the money from anywhere else. If the plans are approved, 16m of new equity funding from the companies indirect parent firm will be released to fund their immediate financial needs, with further funds of up to 35m also made available. But the Crown Estate, which is the landlord of sites in Newcastle and Harlow, and UKCP, which owns sites in Glasgow Renfrew and Swindon, are seeking an injunction blocking the companies from changing the leases for the four sites under the plans. Barristers for the two bodies told the court that they renegotiated the tenancy agreements with the companies last year and that those agreements meant that the terms of the leases could not be further impaired. Ben Shaw KC, for the Crown Estate and UKCP, said in written submissions that there would be adverse consequences for the landlords if the leases were subject to restructuring plans, including receiving just one months rent. In court, Mr Shaw said the agreements meant the landlords bargained to be outside the restructuring process by renegotiating the terms of the tenancies in return for contractual protection from further impairment by means of a (restructuring) plan. He said: One of the things they bargained for was the plan companies not coming back for a second bite of the impairment cherry. He added: What the plan companies promised not to do is precisely what they are now doing. Mr Smith said that it was fair to treat all landlords equally, and that there was never any intention to impose a further compromise through restructuring when the agreements were made. But he added that it was now necessary to make the change thanks to the unexpectedly poor performance of those sites in the period since the agreements were entered into. Mr Justice Miles will give his judgment at a later date. The UK and Australia are to begin discussions on a formal treaty between the two countries as part of their own nuclear submarine programme. UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the bilateral agreement would bind their alliance into law. They form two-thirds of the security partnership with the US, which was established in 2021. Mr Healey said he hoped it would mean the alliance would endure for decades. Speaking alongside Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, he said: I can announce that deputy prime minister (Richard) Marles and I have agreed that negotiations will soon be under way for a new bilateral treaty to bind our Aukus collaboration into law. Defence Secretary John Healey (centre) speaks alongside US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (right) and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles (Kin Cheung/PA) So this not only reflects our commitment to secure a secure Indo-Pacific region where international rules are respected, it also sends a very strong message that our defence alliance is one that will endure for many decades to come. The meeting on Thursday represented the first time defence ministers from the three Aukus nations had met together outside the US. The UK and Australia are working on their joint submarine project, known as SSN-Aukus. It is hoped that the nuclear powered fleet submarines would enter service in the late 2030s in the UK and early 2040s for the Australian Navy. Mr Healey said the UK has already trained 250 Australian naval personnel in how to operate, maintain and regulate nuclear powered submarines. He announced the UK had agreed to train hundreds more. He added the UK had agreed to add UK-made Sting Ray torpedoes to P8-A submarine hunting aircraft, which target deep diving and conventional submarines. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, Defence Secretary John Healey, and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin at Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich (Kin Cheung/PA) Nearly 10 billion has been earmarked for spending on UK nuclear infrastructure and the nuclear industry since the formation of the Aukus partnership. The funds include 3 billion for factories in Barrow-in-Furness and Derby. During the project to build the attack submarine, it is forecast that more than 21,000 people will be working on it at UK sites, with the work generating an additional 7,000 skilled roles. At a press conference at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, which was home to the Royal Navys initial nuclear reactor training 60 years ago, he said: Firstly our investment in this partnership helps our industries to prosper and breaks down barriers to trade. Secondly, the skills and experience that we share boosts jobs and boosts growth across our nations. And third the investment in our future technologies helps drive innovation and will help develop new warfighting capabilities. The Labour minister refused to say whether the UK would go it alone and give Ukraine permission to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia without the US permission. He said: There really is only one person that benefits from the public debate about specific capabilities, and thats President Putin. He had earlier said: The main focus for the discussions between secretary (Lloyd) Austin and I this morning over Ukraine were how we get behind the victory plan that President Zelensky has presented in the US this week, and how we can reinforce the Ukrainians position in the months ahead in the face of an ongoing onslaught from the Russians on the eastern border. Mr Healey had earlier told the press conference: We have held these discussions under a cloud of growing global insecurity. So in our trilateral and in our bilateral meetings, weve reinforced the need to stand together against Russian aggression, towards peace in the Middle East and steadfast behind Ukraine for as long as it takes. In serious times you need serious partners. So Richard (Marles), Lloyd (Austin), we in the UK stand shoulder to shoulder with you and we will drive the Aukus partnership from strength to strength. Britains flourishing relationships with Egypt have enraged the sister of a pro-democracy writer jailed since 2019, she has said. Mona Seif warned that David Lammy risked adopting a doctrine which previously got us nowhere at a press conference on Thursday, held days before her brother Alaa Abd El-Fattah marks five years in prison on September 29. Egyptian authorities detained Mr Abd El-Fattah, a 42-year-old British-Egyptian, on September 29 2019, and in December 2021, he was sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spreading false news. Ms Seif and her sister Sanaa shared their hopes that their brother will be freed on the weekend, and that they would meet with Mr Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, to discuss the case. I think the previous Tory government and the prime minister and the series of foreign secretaries we met with, I honestly think they did not have the will and they did not put this as a priority, and they did not want to rattle any relationship, Ms Seif told journalists in London. The previous government made it obvious that this is not a priority they dont care. It is up to the Labour right now to change this and make it known to all governments that this is a priority and that this will affect diplomatic and business relationships. If they dont do this, then they are failing us. The human rights campaigner added: Until now, while I do know David Lammy has been our agreed advocate and our champion, I am sadly waiting for him, we are all waiting for him, to see a shift in the approach. Right now they are making the same soft diplomacy approach that had been adopted by the Tory government (which) got us nowhere. Mr Lammy while in opposition pressed the previous government on its handling of the case. Mona Seif, the sister of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, takes part in a vigil for the jailed pro-democracy activist (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British citizen and courageous voice for democracy in Egypt, has spent years in prison for the crime of sharing a Facebook post, he wrote on Twitter in 2022. For too long, the governments diplomacy has been weak, Mr Lammy told the Commons the same year. Now-shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell replied that former prime minister Rishi Sunak made a particular point of making representations to his opposite number in Egypt, and I very much hope that those representations will be heard. Asked how she felt about the previous government having pursued a platform for further trade liberalisation between the UK and Egypt in 2020, while her brother was in prison, Ms Seif told the PA news agency: Enraged. And enraged still. And not just signing trade agreements with Egypt but if you follow the social media accounts of the British ambassador to Egypt you will find him constantly promoting for new ventures between the UK and Egypt. And I was kind of hoping that the Labour Party would change this approach, but it has not happened til now. Of course everyones kind-of and we tell ourselves its only a new Government. They havent kind-of, they are still figuring it out, but I think most of them do not recognise that a new Government or not, Lammy has been in office for 80 days or more. Every day is a really, really hurtful and painful burden on Alaa and our family. And you cant ask a prisoner to suck it up and, you know, give the Government time. Ms Seif warned Cairo will use current context including conflict in Gaza and Lebanon to their advantage in discussions with the UK, as a result of its proximity to the Middle East. She said: The continuing flourishing relationships with Egypt enrage me every day because I feel that they are enforcing the real message that they are sending, so asking about Alaa is just a checklist, but the reality is Egypts relationship is not altered or shaken a bit by the violations committed against my brother. The University of Glasgow has appointed its 51st principal and vice-chancellor as it approaches its 575th anniversary. Professor Andy Schofield will take up the role in autumn 2025, taking over from Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli who has held the post for 15 years. Prof Schofield is currently vice-chancellor of Lancaster University, a position he has held since May 2020, and was previously pro-vice-chancellor and head of the College of Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He will join the University of Glasgow on September 1 next year and have a four-week handover period with Sir Anton before taking up the role on October 1. Professor Andy Schofield will take up the role at the University of Glasgow on October 1 next year (Danny Lawson/PA) Prof Schofield said: It is a great honour to have been appointed as the next principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow. Glasgow is an impressive, world-changing institution which has made huge strides under Sir Antons leadership. I very much look forward to building on his legacy and working with a brilliant set of colleagues to take the university forward. Sir Anton announced in April that he would be retiring next year from the university, which was founded in 1451. Prof Schofield has an academic background in theoretical condensed matter physics, specialising in correlated electrons. He studied natural sciences followed by a PhD at the University of Cambridge, where he was appointed to a research fellowship in 1992. He moved to the US in 1994 and worked at Rutgers University for two years before returning to Cambridge. Prof Schofield will take over the role from Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli (PA) In 1999, Prof Schofield moved to the University of Birmingham and was promoted to professor of theoretical physics in 2002. He held a number of leadership positions within the university before becoming its pro-vice-chancellor. Gavin Stewart, the University of Glasgows convener of court, said: I am delighted Professor Schofield will be joining the university as its 51st principal and vice-chancellor. Professor Schofield has an exceptional academic record, along with the strategic vision and extensive leadership experience required to open the next successful chapter in our long and distinguished history. As the University of Glasgow approaches its 575th anniversary, I know everyone across our community will welcome Andy and will work with him to further raise our global ambitions and reputation. I would also like to put on record the courts gratitude and appreciation to Sir Anton for leading the university over the past 15 years to its current strong position. I look forward to continuing to work with him over the next 12 months. The UK faced an absolutely catastrophic situation as it headed towards the first Covid lockdown, Englands chief medical officer has said, as he defended the fact not all patients with other illnesses could get NHS care. Professor Sir Chris Whitty told the Covid inquiry in central London there were concerns things could get substantially worse, even at the point when the NHS was not functioning as well as it should. He also told how the pandemic was incredibly harrowing for NHS staff, particularly in the first wave before vaccines became available. The leading medic was asked by Jacqueline Carey KC, counsel to the inquiry, about one of the reasons for the first lockdown in March 2020, which was to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed. She said: Can I ask you this, was overwhelmed ever defined by those that were making that decision? Sir Chris replied: Not really, and I think that its become, unfortunately, quite a loaded term where people, depending on what point theyre trying to make, either say things were or were not overwhelmed. I think the aim of it, though, was to minimise the number of people who died, both directly and indirectly from Covid. Describing the health harms from the pandemic, Sir Chris said there were direct harms from Covid the number of people who died from the virus and the indirect harms that come from the system being overwhelmed or at least unable to cope all diseases, not just Covid, having higher mortality rates than they would have had. He said people often forget that, at the time, Covid cases were exponentially rising, with a doubling rate of three to four days. At the point we are talking, about four doubling times more would have led us to an absolutely catastrophic situation, he said. Im not saying that where we were was anywhere short of incredibly difficult and, in many places, individual elements of hospitals, individual hospitals, individual bits (of) the system, were coping nowhere near where they would have been if Covid wasnt there. Thats self evidently true, but if we had not had the lockdown, the expectation is that would have got a lot worse. I dont mean just trivial worse, but really quite substantially worse. Chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty gave media briefings throughout the course of the pandemic (Jack Hill/The Times/PA) Asked if the NHS was able to function, he said the NHS continued to treat sick patients throughout, it continued to treat people who did not have Covid throughout. In fact, most, I think, at all times, actually, there were more people in hospital who did not have Covid than had Covid. I think certainly for the great majority, Im sure there were cases where that was not true, it wasnt true in many ICUs. But, more generally, there was still a functioning health service. It was clearly functioning at well below the capacity than it would have normally. Sir Chris said the pandemic was the largest medical emergency since the Second World War in a high income country and this made the system really not work anywhere near as effectively as it would if Covid had not been there. But thats self evidently true. If that were not the case, it would be extraordinary. The inquiry heard about research commissioned by the inquiry among 1,683 NHS health workers, where more than half said some patients could not be escalated to the next level of care due to lack of resources during the first two waves of the pandemic. Asked about those people who could not get NHS care they would otherwise have got, Sir Chris said: I didnt see any surprise in (the data in the research). I would caveat this by saying, if (people) in the middle of a winter in the NHS pre-Covid had been asked these questions, you would not have got a 100% everyone can be escalated to the next level. And I think it is unrealistic, even in those circumstances, to think this would have been the case. Pretty unsurprisingly for the biggest pandemic in 100 years for this country the system was unable to escalate things in the way it normally would. That doesnt seem to me a surprising statement. Turning to the certainty that a pandemic will occur again in the future, Sir Chris said you could increase NHS capacity and, taking ICU in particular, the UK has a very low ICU capacity compared to most of our peer nations in high income countries. Now thats a choice, thats a political choice. He said this meant you have less reserve when a major emergency happens, adding that trained staff was an issue as you cannot train ICU staff in six weeks. The other thing that can be done is to minimise the scale of the pandemic, such as through lockdowns and non-pharmaceutical interventions. He added: But the way out of these is always going to be science in the end, as it was for this one, with vaccines. Kevin Fong gave evidence to the inquiry earlier in the day (UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA) Sir Chris, who worked on wards during the pandemic, said he agreed with the evidence presented to the inquiry by Professor Kevin Fong, former national clinical adviser in emergency preparedness, resilience and response at NHS England. Prof Wong told the inquiry on Thursday morning harrowing details, including nurses wearing nappies because they could not take toilet breaks, staff buying visors at Screw Fix for protection, and hospitals piling up patients and running out of body bags. I think much of the trauma that was very powerfully laid out by Professor Fong in the last evidence with which I fully concur, to be clear was very apparent in many of the colleagues I had, Sir Chris said. He added that the scale of the second wave of the virus was underappreciated by the public. The second wave started in the autumn of 2020, lasting until the spring of 2021. I think people who had relatives, obviously, people who were sick, fully understood that this was, in fact, a larger wave in terms of total numbers of people who were severely ill and, indeed, who sadly died, he said. During a discussion on long Covid, Sir Chris said he still worries about whether the Government got the level of concern right about the dangers of Covid in the beginning. I was worried at the beginning. I still worry, actually in retrospect, about whether we got the level of concern right, he said. Were we either over pitching it so that people were incredibly afraid of something where in fact, their actuarial risk was low, or we were not pitching it enough and therefore people didnt realise the risk they were walking into. I think that balance is really hard, and arguably, some people would say we, if anything we overdid it, rather than under, in the beginning. He said he was not certain loading an additional risk on would, in itself, be useful. In recent findings published by Forbes Advisor, researchers analyzed nearly two dozen behaviors to learn which states had the worst drivers across the country. The 19 behaviors included reasons like texting while driving, cutting off other motorists, eating while driving and even putting on makeup while behind the wheel. Motorists in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee exhibited the best driving behavior, while Oregon and New Mexico drivers are included in the top five states with the worst drivers. Findings published by Forbes Advisor in August 2024 show which states had the worst drivers across the country. Motorists in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee exhibited the best driving behavior while drivers in Hawaii, Oregon and New Mexico are had the worst drivers. Topping this list: Hawaii. The Aloha State has the worst drivers in the nation with a large number of motorists running red lights, changing lanes or turning without signaling and speeding 20 miles per hour or more over the limit. From tailgating and driving under the influence to crashing and cursing at other drivers, here are the top 15 states with the worst drivers: New York fatal intersection crash: 1 teen dead, 4 injured after man runs red light in New York What states have the worst-behaved drivers? No. 15: Arkansas No. 14: Virginia No. 13: Kentucky Findings published by Forbes Advisor in August 2024 show which states had the worst drivers across the country. Motorists in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee exhibited the best driving behavior while drivers in Hawaii, Oregon and New Mexico are had the worst drivers. No. 12: Minnesota No. 11: New Hampshire No. 10: West Virginia No. 9: Kansas No. 8: Vermont No. 7: Connecticut No. 6: North Dakota Watch daring Florida rescue: Video shows woman saved from 'precariously dangling' car after smashing through garage Here are the top 5 states with the worst-behaved drivers: No. 5: Alaska The Frontier State nailed spots in the top 10 for some of the following bad-driving behaviors: Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (No. 1) Passing in a no-passing zone (No 1) Eating while driving (No. 2) No. 5 for putting on makeup tied with Alabama, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico and Oregon No. 4: Wyoming Wyoming netted No. 4 on the list and ranks No. 1 for the following categories: Eating while driving (45%) Texting while driving (24%) Putting on makeup/getting ready while driving (6%) No. 3: New Mexico New Mexico ranks as the worst state for speeding up to 20 mph over the limit, the survey found, where nearly one-fourth (22%) of its drivers admitted theyd traveled that fast in the past month, only tied with New Hampshire. Other ranking decisions include: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (3%), tied with Alabama, Minnesota and Hawaii Passing in a no-passing zone (2%), tied with New Jersey and Alabama Law enforcement officer killed in wreck: 1 charged after St. Louis police officer hit and killed responding to crash No. 2: Oregon Oregon claims the No. 2 spot for bad driving. Its drivers rank worst for: Running a red light (8%) Refusing to yield (5%) Speeding in a school zone (4%) The state also came in No. 2 for drivers causing car accidents (tied with Massachusetts, New Jersey and Alabama) and 2% of the drivers there confessed to recently causing a crash. No. 1: Hawaii According to the study, Hawaii motorist admit being the worst drivers and rank the lowest nationwide. The state took the top spot for reasons including: Changing lanes or turning without signaling (20%) Speeding 20 mph or more over the limit (13%) Running a red light (8%) tied with Texas and Oregon The state also ranked as follows: No. 2: Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol (tied with New Mexico, Minnesota, Utah and Alabama.) No. 3: Speeding up to 20 mph over the limit. No. 4: Texting while driving (tied with Missouri and Oklahoma). To see the full list of 50 states click here or visit https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/states-with-worst-driving-behaviors/. 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 USA TODAY: Top 5 states with the worst-behaved drivers include Oregon, Hawaii Vice President Harris sat down with MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday, fielding questions on her economic agenda, former President Trumps economic plans, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). The MSNBC interview was a friendly forum for the vice president, who has been under pressure to ramp up her media presence. Harris sat down with Ruhle in Pittsburgh, following an economic-focused speech where she laid out a framework for her manufacturing agenda. Here are five takeaways from Harriss interview on MSNBC. Harris lays out pricey agenda Much of the interview was spent talking about the economy and involved Harris outlining her agenda. Her opportunity economy involves a housing plan to help first-time homebuyers, a child tax plan that involves expanding credits to families, and a plan to boost small businesses with tax deductions for entrepreneurs, among other proposals. If you are hardworking, if you have the dreams and the ambitions and the aspirations I believe you do, youre in my plan, she said. When it comes to how to pay for some programs, Harris reiterated that she would not raise taxes on Americans making less than $400,000, maintaining a pillar of President Bidens tax plan, but that corporations should pay their fair share in taxes. Much of Harriss economic agenda would need congressional approval, particularly when it comes to tax policy. That would make it an uphill battle should Congress see a Republican majority, but also if either or both chambers are closely split between parties. Ruhle questioned the vice president on polling that shows likely voters think Trump is better on the economy. Harris recently closed the gap with Trump on the economy in one survey an Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll that found Harris and Trump with equal support on the issue. Donald Trump left us with the worst economy since the Great Depression, Harris said, citing data that about 200,000 manufacturing jobs were lost during the Trump years. Walz pick was gut decision Toward the end of the interview, Ruhle asked Harris when was the last time she made a gut decision, given that decisions made by presidents take extraordinary instinct and guts. Whens the last time you had to make a gut decision? This here is very prescribed. Its very controlled, Ruhle asked, referring to the interview setup. The biggest gut decision I made most recently was to choose my running mate, Harris responded, referring to her decision to pick Walz to run as her vice president. There were lots of good, incredible candidates, and ultimately that came down to a gut decision. Harris picked Walz in August, just more than a month after she announced her presidential bid. The governor emerged as a dark horse contender for the slot just before Harris made her choice, being selected over other more high-profile names like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D), who were largely viewed for weeks as the favorites for the position. Harris knocks Trump on tariffs Harris bashed Trump for his suggestion to place tariffs on companies, which hes laid out repeatedly on the campaign trail. Part of it is, you dont just throw around the idea of just tariffs across the board, and thats part of the problem with Donald Trump, Harris said when Ruhle asked about the former presidents plans to expand tariffs. Hes just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues, Harris added. One must be serious and have a real plan thats not just about some talking point ending in an exclamation at a political rally. Trump gave an economic-focused speech this week in Pennsylvania, during which he spoke about his plan to use tariffs, continuing to expand on his claims that he wants to expand the use of tariffs if hes elected. He also threatened Illinois-based John Deere with massive tariffs on its products if it outsources some of its manufacturing to Mexico, as it had previously announced. Harris defends opposition to US Steel sale Harris defended her opposition to Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel acquiring U.S. Steel, after Ruhle mentioned the potential consequences of blocking it. U.S. Steel warned earlier this month that it may cut staff and move its headquarters from Pittsburgh if the companys planned sale falls apart. Nippon Steel announced it would acquire U.S. Steel in December, prompting outcry from lawmakers, including Biden and Trump, who argued the deal could undermine national security and industrial capacity. Its most important that we maintain Americas ability to have American manufacturing by steel by American workers for a number of reasons, Harris said, defending the opposition. There is not a new industry that I can imagine that is not going to require steel, she added. And having American workers in an American company manufacturing that steel for those industries is going to be critically important. Ruhle interview is Harriss deepest on policy Harriss interview with Ruhle went deeper into her proposed economic policies than any of the other media appearances and interviews shes done as the Democratic nominee. Ruhle questioned Harris, for example, on how she planned to pay for such proposals and how the federal government would cut through red tape to reach municipalities on matters such as the shortage of housing. The vice president outlined incentives the federal government can create for communities to build more homes and provide transit. Harris maintains that such proposals could be paid for with an increase in corporate taxes but has not gotten into details about how such hikes could get through Congress. I know that we have to reduce the red tape and speed up what we need to do around building, and that is going to require working from the federal level with state and local governments, she said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Six Ohio congressmen signed letters asking U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for emergency funding for Springfield law enforcement after muliple bomb threats. Six Ohio congressmen signed letters asking federal officials for emergency funding for Springfield law enforcement, healthcare services and local schools as the city deals with an influx of legal immigrants from Haiti. U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, who represents Ohio's 10th Congressional District which includes Springfield, said in the letter that the central Ohio city of nearly 60,000 includes an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants who moved to Springfield in the last four years. Turner was joined by Ohio Republican Reps. Mike Carey, Michael Rulli, Brad Wenstrup, Warren Davidson and Robert Latta. Turner said that recent national attention on Springfield resulted in bomb threats to government buildings including city hall and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "These threats have caused lockdowns in local schools, and universities have canceled in person classes. Increased security measures to combat, prevent and respond to these threats strain aiready scarce police resources," Turner wrote. The national attention crested after Ohio Sen. JD Vance posted claims without evidence about Haitian immigrants abducting and eating dogs and cats on social media. Former President Donald Trump repeated the claims during the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, despite local and state officials saying the claims are false. Turner blamed the Biden-Harris Administration and policies such as temporary protected status for the strain on city resources. The Biden administration extended temporary protected status for Haitians in June 2024 out of concern for the violence and insecurity facing several regions in the country as well as damage from flooding and earthquakes. Erin Glynn is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio lawmakers ask for emergency funding over Springfield bomb threats Oliver Barker-Vormawor was the leader of the anti-illegal mining protests over the weekend [Oliver Barker-Vormawor/Facebook] A Ghanaian activist who was arrested for organising a three-day protest against illegal mining over the weekend has been rushed to hospital to receive urgent medical care. Oliver Barker-Vormawor's legal team says he did not receive timely medical attention from the police after he told them he was seriously ill on Tuesday. Ghana's police denied this allegation, saying that Mr Vormawor and another protester in custody were receiving treatment at the police hospital. Illegal gold mining, known locally as "galamsey", is rampant in Ghana and has been blamed for polluting more than 60% of Ghana's water bodies. The activist, educated at the UK's renowned Cambridge University, was arrested over the weekend along with more than 40 others after they clashed with the police. He was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. Some protesters have said that they have been denied food and water since they were detained on Saturday. The police have not commented on this. Mr Vormawor also helped organise a similar demonstration under the hashtag #FixTheCountry to protest the cost-of-living crisis last year. On Tuesday, a court in Ghana remanded 39 of the protesters in police custody, while 11 of them will remain in prison custody for two weeks. A group of lawyers has filed a petition against the police at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice for infringing on the rights of the protesters. Many Ghanaians have condemned the arrest and continued detention of the protesters and are demanding their immediate release, using the hashtag #FreeTheCitizens which is now trending on social media. One of the lawyers representing the protesters, Prince Ganaku, expressed shock at the treatment they had received. "The behaviour of the police is reminiscent of the days of military rule, where human rights were treated as a mere suggestion," he told the BBC. Many of the protesters were galvanised to protest against illegal mining because of the impending threat it poses. Illegal mining has forced the country's water company to shut down water treatment plants and ration water in parts of southern Ghana. Analysts say the country could be importing water by 2030 if nothing is done to address the issue. President Nana Akufo-Addo has ordered the deployment of the police and the military to crack down on illegal miners. A similar approach was used in 2017 but didnt solve the problem. A BBC investigation discovered that most of the illegal miners had moved their operations into the dead of night, which has frustrated efforts to deal with them. More Ghana stories from the BBC: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts The answer might surprise you. Read through your favorite bean recipeswhether it's baked beans, pinto beans, black beans, or your familys favorite recipeand you will likely find differing opinions about soaking dried beans before cooking them. Some say that soaking the beans, whether overnight or a quick soak, makes them easier to digest and cook faster. Others skip the soaking altogether and get right to cooking. To settle the debate, we reached out to a couple of bean experts. Steve Sando, founder and CEO of Rancho Gordo and co-author of "The Bean Book" admitted that At Rancho Gordo, we rarely soak our beans, unless they are the larger varieties, like Royal Corona or Scarlet Runner." He told Allrecipes, Weve found that soaking is not really necessary when you are cooking new-crop beans. Many cooks in Mexico dont, most cooks in Europe do. On the flip side, Geraldo Bayona, corporate chef for the 1905 Family Of Restaurants, which includes Columbia RestaurantFloridas oldest restauranttold Allrecipes that soaking beans definitely shortens their cooking time. According to Bayona, soaking beans "helps soften them since they are dried, and rehydrates and promotes more even cooking. He shared with us that his team likes to soak their beans, 50 pounds at a time, in water and salt overnight. Sando agrees that soaking does indeed speed up the cooking time but that "it delays it as well, since youre not cooking, youre soaking." He knows that soaking is a common solution but he's also had fresh dried beans harden from too much soaking. So if you're going the soaking route, his tip is to "Soak in cool water at room temperature for two to six hours if you can. And if you cant, just start cooking. Should You Change the Water? If you do decide to soak your beans, one question that might pop up is whether or not you should change the water halfway through the soaking time. Sando, for one, opts to not. I dont change the soaking water, he told us. For every food scientist who believes changing the water will help your digestion, theres another who thinks the effect of changing the water is so minimal that its not worth it and can potentially mean you are throwing nutrients down the drain." Sandro added, "You will find that old-time bean cookers are rather adamant in their instructions and allow little room for discussion. If you want to soak for eight hours and then change the water, its not the end of the world. The main thing is that youre cooking beans. The bottom line? If you dont have the time to soak, that's totally fine. Just remember that your beans may take slightly longer to cook. Read the original article on All Recipes. John Bolton in 2022 in Washington, D.C. The Biden administration is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information on a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who is charged with plotting to kill Donald Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton. U.S. authorities say Shahram Poursafi allegedly worked to arrange a murder-for-hire scheme targeting Bolton between 2021 and 2022, seeking to hire criminals in the U.S. to kill Bolton in Washington, D.C., or Maryland in exchange for $300,000. Poursafi told the potential assassin who actually became a confidential source for U.S. investigators that once he completed the Bolton murder he would have a second assassination job for him, the State Department said in a statement announcing the reward. The reward offer came after U.S. intelligence officials briefed Trump about an Iranian assassination plot against him. Iran has often turned to criminal elements and other third parties to carry out operations against dissidents and critics abroad, according to U.S. and Western officials. U.S. authorities in January charged an Iranian national and two Canadians, including a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, for allegedly plotting to assassinate an Iranian defector living in Maryland. The State Departments Rewards for Justice program said it is ready to pay up to $20 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Poursafi. Poursafi was charged in August 2022 for his role in the alleged plot against Bolton. He remains at large abroad. Iran has denied it is plotting to assassinate Trump, current or former officials, or others abroad. But Iranian leaders have vowed to avenge the U.S. drone strike in 2020 that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. Qassem Soleimani in Tehran, Iran, in 2016. Soleimani headed the IRGC's Quds Force, which supports the activities of Iranian proxy forces like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Then-President Trump authorized the January 2020 strike that killed Soleimani and four others near Baghdads airport. Bolton served as Trump's national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019. When asked about alleged threats of assassination against American officials, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif told NBC News Andrea Mitchell in an interview this week, We do not assassinate people, but the fact of the matter is they assassinated a revered Iranian general. Bolton told Mitchell on Thursday that he thinks the U.S. should be "more proactive" about Iranian threats. When they come after us, government officials, current and former, for doing their job, really, thats an attack on the United States government itself, said Bolton, who is under 24-hour protection because of Irans death threats. I dont think staying in a passive mode about it is the best way to go. We know that this is more than idle speculation in Tehran. The U.S. Capitol. WASHINGTON Lawmakers averted a government shutdown 40 days before the election, but theyll face another funding crunch right before the holidays and a new Congress and president take office. Bipartisan negotiators have been trying to make progress on the 12 bills needed to fund federal agencies for the 2025 fiscal year. Yet there's little time to pass those bills during the lame-duck session; House members and senators are scheduled to be in Washington for only five weeks between Election Day and the end of the year, and the two chambers havent reached agreement on any of the dozen measures, known as appropriations bills. A more likely scenario is that Democrats and Republicans would strike an end-of-year deal on a massive, catchall omnibus spending package or punt the issue once again with another continuing resolution, or CR, that would extend funding into the new year on a short-term basis. Theyll need a new funding agreement before federal funding runs out on Dec. 20. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., insisted this week that the days of the just-before-Christmas omnibus loaded up with legislative priorities from both parties are over. We are not going to return to the Christmas omnibus spending tradition, and thats the commitment Ive made to everyone, Johnson told reporters after the House passed a stopgap funding measure Wednesday. Pressed about whether he would promise not to put an omnibus on the floor in December, Johnson wouldnt answer directly: Weve worked very hard to break that tradition ... and well see what happens in December. Senior appropriators said Congress are likely to end up where they have before when theyve faced a lame-duck, year-end funding deadline: with a sweeping omnibus spending package. I expect that well negotiate an omnibus, said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., a member of the Appropriations Committee, noting that Johnson had said there would be no more CRs, then a new CR passed Wednesday. The speaker, respectfully, doesnt have the ability to draw lines in the sand when he cant even control his own caucus. They continually need Democrats to actually get anything done, and we are governing from the minority, she continued. And so Im pretty confident that at the end of the day, were going to make sure that we pass omnibus funding. Far more House Democrats than Republicans voted for Wednesday's CR that will prevent a shutdown from starting next week, continuing a pattern of the minoritys carrying must-pass legislation through the lower chamber this Congress. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., predicted that the two parties could come to a deal and avoid a shutdown in December. But he said the results of the election will dictate what eventually happens. Continued divided government could lead to tense negotiation, while, for example, if Republicans sweep the House, the Senate and the White House, they may push for another short-term funding patch into 2025, after they take the reins of power. I always worry about [a shutdown] until we dont have to worry about it. But no, I dont think so. I think well get there, Cole said of the possibility of a shutdown in December. A lot will depend on who wins the election and what the president-elect, whether its Donald Trump or current Vice President Harris, want to do. While its impossible to predict who will come out on top on Nov. 5, Johnson is fighting to grow the House Republican majority, and he said Wednesday he'd like to remain speaker in the next Congress if the GOP manages to hold the House. So hell have to tread carefully as he negotiates a new funding deal in December, hoping not to alienate rank-and-file Republicans whose votes he may need to keep the speakers gavel. Asked about an omnibus, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a member of the Freedom Caucus who at times has clashed with Johnson, said Republicans will fight it, take our case to the American people about how a Christmas omnibus will not be good for the American people, will rack up debt. And even though he voted no on the CR on Wednesday, Roy praised Johnsons strategy on funding, assigning blame to the 14 Republicans who scuttled Johnsons original plan to link a six-month funding bill to a Trump-backed bill, the SAVE Act, that would require proof of citizenship to vote. After that plan was defeated, Johnson struck a deal with Democrats on the clean, nearly three-month CR that will carry the government through December. I thought that what Speaker Johnson and all of us fought to put together on the floor was a noble effort to get it out of December, Goal 1, and Goal 2, to get the SAVE Act out there and fight for it and see what happens, said Roy, the author of the SAVE Act. Some Republicans, he said, decided to kill it, so they got to answer to now weve got a CR into December. Congratulations, congressmen. The full House has already passed five of the 12 appropriations bills for the new fiscal year. The Senate Appropriations Committee sent 11 out of 12 spending bills to the floor, where none of them have had votes. Identical versions of all 12 bills need to pass both chambers of Congress every year to fund the government, which rarely happens, with recent Congresses relying heavily on CRs and omnibuses to keep the lights on. "What Leader Schumer should have done is brought the appropriations bills to the floor. That way, some of them would have already been signed into law or would have been headed to the president's desk," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the top GOP appropriator in the upper chamber, referring to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Conservative Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said he has deep concerns Congress will give up on trying to pass individual appropriations bills and lump everything together in one giant omnibus. Of course I do. Everybody does, because its the same thing that this town constantly repeats. We do some massive spending bill right before Christmas that nobody ever really sees because the deals been cut by the Four Corners, Donald said, referring to the top congressional leaders: Johnson; Schumer; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. They cut some deal with the White House and everybody goes home, he said, and the problems persist in our nations capital. By Luc Cohen and Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Thursday charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with accepting illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel accommodations from Turkish nationals seeking to influence him, capping an investigation that has sent the largest U.S. city's government into turmoil. In a 57-page indictment, prosecutors laid out an alleged scheme stretching back to 2014 that helped to underwrite Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign and showered him with free rooms at opulent hotels and meals at high-end restaurants. In return, Adams pressured city officials to waive safety inspections and allow the country's new 36-story consulate to open, prosecutors said. Adams, 64, a former police officer who rose to the rank of captain, denied wrongdoing and said he would fight the charges. He said he would not step down. "I will continue to do my job as mayor," he said at a news conference. Turkeys foreign ministry and presidents office and its embassy in Washington had no immediate comment. Adams faces five criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors said he sought and accepted benefits including luxury travel from wealthy foreign businesspeople and a Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. Earlier on Thursday, federal agents searched the mayor's Gracie Mansion home on Manhattan's Upper East Side. A black sport utility vehicle with a placard reading "Federal Law Enforcement" on its dashboard was parked outside the residence, according to a Reuters witness. Around a dozen people in business attire were seen walking on the mansion's grounds with briefcases and duffel bags. Adams' lawyer Alex Spiro accused authorities of trying "to create a spectacle" and said they had taken the mayor's phone. Spiro said Adams "looks forward to his day in court." Adams, a Democrat who became the first of the city's 110 mayors to be criminally charged while in office, vowed to remain in office and fight the charges. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, has the power to remove Adams from office but the process is complicated, said Pace University Law School professor Bennett Gershman. TOP CITY OFFICIALS RESIGN The case is likely to complicate any Adams bid for re-election in 2025. Other Democratic politicians, including New York City comptroller Brad Lander, plan to challenge Adams - once a key ally of Democratic President Joe Biden - for the party's nomination. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also a Democrat, became the first member of Congress to urge him to step down, saying it would be "for the good of the city." New York has been in a state of political upheaval for the past month. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on Sept. 12, a week after FBI agents seized his phone. Days later, Adams' chief legal adviser resigned, saying she could "no longer effectively serve" in the position. On Wednesday, the city's public schools chancellor David Banks said he would retire at the end of the year, weeks after the Times reported his phones were seized by federal agents. (Reporting by Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel and Bing Guan in New York; additional reporting by Katharine Jackson in Washington; writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski and Lisa Shumaker) All evacuations were lifted in a western Cincinnati suburb Wednesday evening, a day after a chemical leak from a railcar prompted tests of water and air quality. All initial reports do not indicate any health concerns, Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District Chief Mike Siefke said. There is no explosion, no loss of property and the water is safe to drink. There are no concerns with air quality after officials in Ohio tested it over the last 24 hours and continue to do so for the next several days. Residents in hundreds of homes were told to evacuate Tuesday night and area schools were closed Wednesday after officials discovered styrene, a toxic and flammable chemical used to make plastic and rubber, was leaking from the railcars pressure release valve. The chemical can cause headaches, nausea and respiratory issues, and long-term exposure can lead to more serious health problems, including organ damage. The railcar that vented is now stabilized and was moved to its final destination without issue a couple miles away, Mike Miller of Central Railroad of Indiana said. All of the other railcars were moved as well, he said. There are no reported hospitilizations due to the leak, Steven Fagan, the director of Hamilton County Public Health, said when evacuation orders were lifted. He added that anyone having symptoms should get checked out by a medical professional, but reiterated throughout the day that due to styrenes volatile nature it likely vaporized almost immediately. Any cancers that may have been associated with styrene is more like an industrial accident where people are covered with fluids, and so the venting that occurred into the atmosphere isnt even close to that type of exposure, Fagan said. Fagan advised those returning home to wipe off indoor and outdoor surfaces, wash any soft surfaces like bedding and throw away any food left out. Schools are currently inspecting their facilites for any contamination and are going to be back in session Thursday, Siefke said. The incident was likely caused by an additive stabilizer inside the railcar becoming ineffective, causing the product inside the tanker to vent, Miller said. Federal regulators have likely already started inspecting the train and will share their findings once the investigation is finished, he said. Any residents who have questions or want the county to check out their property for contamination should call the local 211 number, Siefke said. Central Railroad of Indiana will have a representative at the local community center and a hotline to give residents support as well, Miller said. Aerial video of the incident showed firefighters spraying down the car, which was sitting upright on tracks between a highway and an asphalt plant, the Associated Press reported. Initially, officials were concerned the railcars rising temperature could lead to an explosion, but Siefke said that is not a concern we have right now. Hamilton Countys Emergency Management Agency originally implemented evacuations orders for anyone within a half-mile of the area near US Route 50 and the Great Miami River, west of Cincinnati. About 200 homes were in the evacuation area, Siefke said. Residents just outside the evacuation area were told to stay inside and keep their windows closed. The area has a mix of businesses, homes and large swaths of undeveloped land, the Associated Press reported. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said personnel from the Federal Railroad Administration are headed to the area to assist as needed. Last year a train derailment on the opposite side of Ohio in East Palestine, about 300 miles northeast of Cincinnati, caused hazardous chemicals to leak and burn for days. The February 2023 derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line led to new safety rules and increased scrutiny of the rail industry and federal regulators. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Martell Bivings, Shri Thadenar, and John Conyers headshots DETROIT The contest for the Michigan House seat once held by the late, long-serving Congressional Black Caucus cofounder John Conyers pits two unlikely characters against each other and the black Republican in the race tells The Post it highlights a danger for Donald Trump. In the blue corner is Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar, the 69-year-old Indian-American representing Americas blackest big city in Congress. In the red corner is the underdog, Martell Bivings, a 37-year-old black Republican seeking an upset victory this November. Rich Rep. Shri Thanedar is best known for his boyband hairstyle, which has drawn speculation he wears a toupee. Anadolu via Getty Images The very existence of a candidate like Bivings is most unusual in deep-blue Detroit, where a Republican hasnt held an elected position since Keith Butler served on Detroit City Council in the 1990s. Bivings has raised less than $24,000 so far and has about $11,000 in the bank, according to Open Secrets. Thanedar rose to prominence in 2018 during the Democratic primary race for governor, when he ran against Gretchen Whitmer, who went on to win the primary and the office. But Thanedar pulled more votes in Detroit than Whitmer did. Since then hes won his last two races, first for the Michigan House, then for Congress. Outside his boyband hairstyle, which has drawn speculation he wears a toupee, Thanedar is best known for burying his opponents in cash. The businessman and scientist wrote his campaign a $5 million check to win the 2022 House race. As of last report, Thanedar raised $7 million for this years contest and still has $4.8 million in the bank. In addition to the Goliath Thanedar, who easily dispatched a Detroit councilwoman, Mary Waters, in his primary, Bivings faces another obstacle: a lack of belief among Republicans that his race is worth investing in. Thanedar garnered more votes in Detroit than Whitmer did in the 2018 gubernatorial primary. JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The 2024 contest is a rematch of the 2022 race, which Thanedar won 71% to 24%, by a margin of 110,000 votes. As Bivings noted at a recent fundraiser in suburban Detroit: I dont become a threat until election night at 8 p.m. Republicans view it the same way. A source familiar with the thinking of national Republicans told The Post the National Republican Congressional Committee will target about 37 races this year. The four in Michigan are Paul Hudson vs. incumbent Hillary Scholten in west Michigan; incumbent John James rematch against Carl Marlinga in Macomb County; Tom Barretts race against Curtis Hertel in the Lansing area, for the seat vacated by Senate hopeful Elissa Slotkin; and Paul Junges matchup against state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet. That last, Flint-area seat has been held by a single family, the Kildees, since the late 1970s first by Dale, then by his nephew Dan, whos not running for re-election. David vs. Goliath rather, Bivings vs. Thanedar does not fit the NRCC criteria, the source said. Republicans want to invest in races with a 4-point margin or smaller. Not invest in the impossible dream. Rep. John Conyers repped Michigan in Congress from 1965 to 2017 and was the longest-serving African-American member of Congress in US history. He died in 2019, not two years after leaving office. AP Another source, a Republican consultant, told The Post Bivings needed to make the business case for more help from the party. If he could say Id bring Donald Trump 3 points in Detroit, that might be worth it, the source said. The candidate told The Post the national thinking doesnt take into account the local sentiment. My qualitative hunch tells me that the more impoverished a neighborhood, the more likely it is to vote Republican, Bivings said. Nobody is basking in poverty. That hunch has found few buyers among the donor class. Bivings said hes had five-figure donors with a history write $200 checks instead. Bivings has heard the optimistic talk among Republicans that Donald Trump might pull 20% of the black male vote in cities like Detroit. Dont count on it, he warns. I know those black men. Im related to those black men, Bivings said. Theyre not going to go to the polls. Theyll say I aint make to the polls; was Election Day last week?' FILE - Judge Kenneth King listens to testimony during a case in Detroit, Jan. 23, 2024. (Clarence Tabb Jr./Detroit News via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) DETROIT (AP) A Detroit judge who was temporarily removed after ordering a teenager into jail clothes and handcuffs during a field trip is back on the bench but assigned to speeding tickets and other relatively minor offenses. Judge Kenneth King lost courtroom duties in August and was ordered into social-emotional training by the chief judge at 36th District Court. Instead of handling key hearings in major felonies, he returned this week to the court's traffic division. We appreciate his efforts in preparing for this role, and wish him success as he transitions into this new responsibility, Judge William McConico said in a written statement. King's attorney, Todd Perkins, said the judge is willing to work anywhere at the court. He truly understands and wholeheartedly embraces the concept of teamwork, Perkins said Thursday. King got in trouble for singling out a 15-year-old girl for falling asleep and having what he considered to be a bad attitude while she was visiting his courtroom with other teens. He ordered Eva Goodman into jail clothes and handcuffs all while the field trip was on a livestream video. King also threatened her in front of her peers with juvenile detention before releasing her. The girl's mother, Latoreya Till, said she may have been tired because they dont have a permanent address. King told TV stations that he apologized. Till has filed a lawsuit, seeking more than $75,000 for "inflicting fear and severe emotional distress. ___ Follow Ed White on X at https://twitter.com/edwritez Disney is following in the footsteps of Netflix in cracking down on password sharing, telling subscribers that people outside their households need to sign up and get their own subscriptions. Disney+ this week began offering users a variety of options to pay for access to its streaming service on behalf of family members or friends who don't reside in the same home but were given unauthorized use of their accounts. "Your Disney+ subscription is meant to be used within your household, which is a collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside there," the Hollywood conglomerate told customers in a message. Those residing elsewhere "will need to sign up and pay for their own subscription or be added as an extra member to your account for an additional fee." Users who are away from their home or have moved can still access the service by logging in with a one-time passcode sent to the email address associated with the account. The Disney+ paid-sharing features and capabilities launched in some markets during the summer and are available in the U.S., Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Domestically, an extra member profile will run an added $6.99 a month for Disney+ basic subscriptions and $9.99 a month for premium subscriptions, according to the company. Disney had allowed just one extra member for each primary account. The extra member option is not available for Disney bundle subscribers or for those billed through third-party providers. Disney+ account holders can transfer an eligible profile to a new subscription or extra member to maintain that profile's Disney+ watch history and settings. Disney's broadened paid-sharing options come just ahead of increased U.S. prices set to take effect on October 17. Disney+ basic, with ads, will rise from $7.99 a month to $9.99, while Disney+ premium without ads will also go up two bucks to $15.99 a month. Disney is also raising the cost of Hulu, ESPN+ and its multiservice bundles. The company also plans to crack down on password sharing for Hulu and ESPN, with both services earlier this year cautioning U.S. subscribers against sharing their log-in information with those outside their residence. Netflix last year roiled its fan base by declaring it would no longer let users share their passwords broadly in a move that represented a reversal from its prior stance of encouraging password sharing as a way to attract more viewers. Vladimir Kara-Murza | Sunday on 60 Minutes Kamala Harris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy address reporters Hurricane Helene becomes Category 3 storm An "experienced climber" from New York died after falling 300 to 400 feet while hiking a mountain in Colorado, authorities said. Herbert "Hal" Wise, 53, was hiking the Rock of Ages trail in Wilson Peak, Colorado, around 15 miles southwest of Telluride and 118 miles northeast of Durango when he fell. The trail's elevation is between 10,383 to 13,400 feet and spans 3.7 miles. Once rescuers reached Wise, they discovered he had died from his injuries, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities rescue efforts consisted of a 4-hour mission conducted with the assistance of the Colorado Highland Helicopters out Durango, the sheriff's office said. When Wise fell, he suffered from a "pretty massive head injury," Emil Sante, the San Miguel County coroner, told USA TODAY. 20-year-old found dead: American college student went missing on South Africa's Table Mountain When rescuers reached the man, they found that he had succumbed to his injuries. The 4-hour mission was conducted with the assistance of Highland Helicopter out of Durango. The Sheriffs Office & SAR extend our deepest sympathies to the victims family. (2 of 2) pic.twitter.com/cJSV3gNSoF San Miguel Sheriff (@SheriffAlert) September 25, 2024 "This is a very unfortunate event, and our thoughts are with his family," Susan Lilly, the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office's public information officer, told USA TODAY. He is survived by his mom and dad, Katheryn and Herbert Wise, who are both in their 80s, said Sante. An experienced hiker Wise had completed multiple hikes and mountain climbs similar to this, according to Lilly. In June, he took a leave of absence from his job at Domino's Pizza, where he worked as a delivery driver, and traveled to Colorado, where he is believed to have climbed 26 peaks, his mother, Kathryn Wise, told USA TODAY. Wise began hiking between 2006 and 2008, he also wrote and self-published three books, including "Tales from the Desert and Beyond," about his "adventures that took [him] across America..." He has climbed the Adirondack Mountains in northeastern New York and Mt. Hood in Portland, Oregon. He also climbed all the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the highest peaks in Texas and Arizona and several mountains in California. How to stay safe during a hike or climb To stay safe during a hike or mountain climb, Lilly recommends people do the following: Hike with another person. Tell someone who is not tagging along where they are going and when they expect to return. Make sure cell phones are fully charged. Carry enough food, water, equipment and clothing to last long enough in case of an emergency, like being forced to stay overnight on the trail. "It's important to be prepared for that," said Lilly. This story was updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wilson Peak hiking death: New York climber found dead after fall Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China and Europe share extensive converging interests, and should promote mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, as well as advocate for openness and cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Wang expressed hope that the European Union would maintain strategic autonomy and avoid politicizing economic and trade issues. On the bilateral ties, Wang urged Greece and China to strengthen the two major ties of civilizational exchange and practical cooperation to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership. For his part, the Greek minister affirmed Greece's adherence to the one-China principle, support for Europe-China cooperation, and commitment to free trade. The German economy is stuck in stagnation as months of bad news create seemingly endless negative sentiment that is compounding major structural issues, a top European bank has warned. INGs head of global macro research painted a bleak picture of the struggling German economy after a major leading indicator of activity posted its fifth consecutive monthly decline. The Ifo Business Climate Index, which measures economic activity across manufacturing, services, trade, and construction, fell to 85.4 in September, down from 86.6 in August, indicating a downfall in activity. INGs Carsten Brzeski said: The German economy is back where it was a year ago: the growth laggard of the eurozone with few signs of an imminent improvement. After the contraction of the economy in the second quarter, all available sentiment indicators for the first two months of the third quarter provide very few reasons for optimism. A slowdown in broad business activity follows an extended run of negative production PMI, which has been in contraction territory for more than two years. Germany is still reeling from the cut-off of cheap Russian oil and gas following the countrys invasion of Ukraine, increasing input costs for businesses. Falling demand from China, one of its major trading partners, has exacerbated a drawn-out recession in the production sector. The most publicized issue in recent months, however, has been a crisis engulfing Germanys automotive sector. A slower-than-expected consumer transition to electric vehicles has left Volkswagen and BMW licking their wounds after an ambitious early bet on the technology. Both, meanwhile, have also fallen victim to the broader demand slowdown in China. Volkswagen, Germanys largest employer, scrapped a 30-year agreement to protect jobs and suggested it could be forced to close a German factory for the first time in its history. The company is in negotiations with unions over pay agreements amid a plan to cut 10 billion in costs. The plight of German carmakers, Brzeski says, is just another illustration of the ongoing structural and cyclical problems but are unfortunately probably also further fueling negative sentiment; a perfect vicious cycle. Meanwhile, other international firms are shelving their plans for expansion in Germany. Intel announced it was delaying plans for a 30 billion factory in the country for up to two years, causing a rift in the government over Germanys nearly 10 billion commitment to its development. There isnt much to be optimistic about on the horizon, with German consumers and businesses concerned about a potential U.S. economic slowdown, in addition to growing geopolitical tensions and a fractious political environment in their own country. Brzeski says the Ifo indicator is likely to improve toward the end of the year. Admittedly, this would be a cyclical improvement coming from very low levels, hardly changing the narrative of a country stuck in stagnation. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Are you making the best use of tax-sheltered savings accounts? Here are 5 accounts that could bolster your investment returns Tax-sheltered accounts are some of the most accessible wealth-builders for everyday investors. Theyre also under-utilized, evidenced by the alarming number of Americans who report that theyve saved nothing in retirement accounts. Saving money has evolved from stuffing cash under the mattress; its about making smart decisions that maximize your wealth over time. Some of the easiest and most effective ways are with tax-sheltered accounts, which grow your investments tax-free or tax-deferred meaning more of your money works for you instead of going to Uncle Sam. Don't miss Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years but only the super rich could buy in. Here's how even ordinary investors can become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024 and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how Its been nearly 150 years since American Express created whats widely regarded as the first retirement savings vehicle, a pension plan for disabled workers that was quickly adopted by other companies and offered to workers of all kinds. Today, the options menu has dramatically evolved: Whether youre planning for retirement, education, or healthcare expenses, theres an account for you. Here are five accounts that can help bolster your retirement returns. Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) A Traditional IRA is a retirement savings account offering tax-deferred investment growth. Contributions you make to a Traditional IRA may be tax-deductible, which can lower your taxable income for the year. The money in the account grows tax-deferred until you withdraw it during retirement, at which point its taxed as ordinary income. In 2024, you can contribute up to $7,000 per year if youre under 50, and $8,000 if youre 50 or older. Anyone with earned income can contribute, but tax deductibility may be limited if you or your spouse have access to a retirement plan at work and your income exceeds certain limits. Early withdrawals before age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% penalty and income tax. Ideal candidate: Individuals seeking to reduce their taxable income now and who anticipate being in a lower tax bracket during retirement. Roth IRA Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, so they dont reduce your current taxable income but qualified withdrawals during retirement are tax-free. The contribution limits are the same as Traditional IRAs up to $7,000 per year, or $8,000 if youre 50 or older. Eligibility to contribute phases out at higher income levels. For single filers in 2024, the phase-out starts at a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $146,000. Contributions (but not earnings) can be withdrawn at any time without taxes or penalties. Earnings can be withdrawn tax-free after age 59 1/2, provided the account has been open for at least five years. Ideal candidate: Younger investors or those who expect to be in a higher tax bracket during retirement. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead 401(k) plans Arguably the most popular retirement vehicle given its status as an employee benefits staple, the 401(k) allows employees to contribute a portion of their salary pre-tax, reducing their taxable income. The investments grow tax-deferred until withdrawal during retirement. In 2024, employees can contribute up to $23,000 per year, with an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution allowed for those aged 50 and over. Many employers offer matching contributions up to a certain percentage, which is essentially free money. Early withdrawals before age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% penalty and income tax. Ideal candidate: Employees, especially those whose companies offer a match, should prioritize contributing to this plan to maximize retirement savings. Health Savings Account (HSA) An HSA is a tax-advantaged account designed to help individuals with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) save for medical expenses. Contributions are tax-deductible, the money grows tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. Eligibility requires being enrolled in a qualifying HDHP. For 2024, individuals can contribute up to $4,150, and families can contribute up to $8,300. Those 55 and older can contribute an additional $1,000. Funds can be withdrawn tax-free for qualified medical expenses at any time. After age 65, withdrawals for non-medical expenses are taxed as ordinary income without penalty. Ideal candidate: Individuals with high-deductible health plans looking to save for current and future medical expenses, or even as an additional retirement savings vehicle. 529 college savings plans A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage accumulating capital for future education costs. Earnings grow tax-free, and withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified education expenses, including tuition, books, and room and board. Contribution limits vary by state, but many plans have lifetime limits exceeding $300,000. While contributions are not deductible on federal taxes, some states offer tax deductions or credits. Withdrawals must be used for qualified education expenses to avoid taxes and a 10% penalty on earnings. Ideal candidate: Parents, grandparents, or guardians who want to plan ahead for a childs education expenses, or individuals planning to further their own education. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. One last bit of pre-election lawmaking is now complete after Congress staved off a shutdown and funded the government for three months. "I want to thank both houses of Congress," President Joe Biden said in a statement, "for this bipartisan agreement and for avoiding a costly government shutdown." But the reprieve will be short-lived. The plan now sets up lawmakers to be right back in the middle of multiple spending fights when they return to Washington after voters have their say in November. First up will be another shutdown debate: this time with potentially more fraught politics and a new holiday deadline of Dec. 20. Soon after that looms another debt ceiling shutdown that could be front and center on Washington's plate in 2025, with the federal debt limit set to be reinstated to open the year followed by an "X date" for actual default likely to follow a few months later. Read more: How a government shutdown would impact your money: Student loans, Social Security, investments, and more And that's before a giant tax debate consumes Washington likely in the second half of 2025 before an array of the tax cuts implemented in 2017 expire at the end of next year. House Speaker Mike Johnson after the House passed a stop-gap finding bill to avert a government shutdown on September 25. (Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post via Getty Images) The tenor of these debates to come will be shaped by the election results in November, with some post-election scenarios potentially increasing the chances of dramatic shows of brinkmanship. And that's as the business community and credit rating agencies watch warily after Washington's repeated flirting in recent years with economically damaging shutdowns or potentially catastrophic debt defaults. For now, Congress has acted to punt the issue and get back to the campaign trail. The House first passed the bill Wednesday by a tally of 341-82. House Speaker Mike Johnson saw 82 members of his own party, all the no votes, oppose his compromise with Democrats. The bill then quickly moved through the Senate in a tally of 78-18. "This bipartisanship is a good outcome for America," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer offered as the deal reached a conclusion "and I hope it sets the tone for more constructive, bipartisan work when we return later in the fall." The first deadline: Dec. 20 This week's deal passed by wide margins but included concessions that could make dealmaking harder in the coming months, What's not in this week's plan are ideas that Speaker Johnson, GOP nominee Donald Trump, and many Republicans had insisted for weeks were must-haves, such as a GOP-backed election security proposal called the SAVE Act. Trump has previously even said that Republicans "should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form" without the now-discarded bill. The new December deadline also comes just before a changeover in Congress to begin 2025. That could mean Johnson potentially in the middle of a contest to again be Speaker could have much more complicated calculations about how to respond to another round of negotiations. The same goes for Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries if he is set to ascend. That's not to mention a succession race underway in the Senate, with Kentucky's Mitch McConnell set to step down as the GOP leader. Sens. John Thune, John Cornyn, and Rick Scott are vying to replace him. Historically, multiple shutdowns have occurred around these December deadlines with two longest shutdowns in US history beginning in mid-to-late December. A debt ceiling fight soon behind But even if Congress averts a shutdown, a debt ceiling deadline will follow shortly behind. The federal debt limit is set to be reinstated on Jan. 2, 2025, per the deal that ended the last standoff between President Joe Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. What will follow in 2025, once the borrowing limit is back in place, are what the Treasury Secretary calls "extraordinary measures" to essentially move money around to cover the government's bills. But that can't last forever. The Bipartisan Policy Center is projecting that the so-called X Date when the maneuvers run out and a government default is possible is likely to be delayed until after the influx of funds from next year's tax season but will nevertheless be coming later in 2025. It's all likely to be watched nervously by the business community and rating agencies that have again and again cited government dysfunction as a reason for their mixed view of US creditworthiness. Fitch downgraded the US government's top credit rating from AAA to AA+ in 2023. Moody's followed later that year. It stopped short of a downgrade but changed the outlook on the US government's rating to "negative" from "stable." Fitch, Moody's, and S&P Global Ratings which downgraded the US credit rating back in 2011 have all cited protracted government standoffs as a central reason for their changes and why they are constantly monitoring for potential further adjustments. Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance (Reuters) -Guardian Pharmacy's shares rose 3.3% in their NYSE debut on Thursday, giving the healthcare firm a market valuation of about $880 million, as investors remained selective about new listings. Shares of the Atlanta, Georgia-based firm debuted at $14.46, compared to their initial public offering price of $14. Founded in 2004, Guardian Pharmacy joins a slew of companies going public after two years of dismal IPO activity in the country, as the U.S. Federal Reserve continues to ease interest rates. Investors, however, have been cautious about their bets, with those burning cash seen as least favored. The company, which offers a suite of technology-enabled services to help residents of long-term healthcare facilities, raised $112 million on Wednesday by selling 8 million shares of Class A common stock at the low end of its targeted range of $14-$16 each. Residents in assisted living facilities, behavioral health facilities and group homes accounted for more than two-thirds of its annual revenue over the past three years, it reported. As of June 30, it was operating 50 pharmacies serving about 174,000 residents. Guardian Pharmacy counts investment firms Bindley Capital Partners and Cardinal Equity Partners among its backers. (Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas, Tasim Zahid and Janane Venkatraman) Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on Hurricane Helene from Thursday, Sept. 26. For the latest news on the storm, read USA TODAY's live updates for Friday, Sept. 27. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night carrying catastrophic 140 mph winds as the first known Category 4 storm to hit Floridas Big Bend region since records began in 1851. Helene made landfall at about 11:10 p.m. ET near Perry, Florida. Hours later, the system weakened to a Category 1 storm and continued to produce hurricane-force winds as it moved toward Georgia. By 3 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center said Helene had sustained winds of 80 mph. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said further weakening is expected as the storm moves inland. At least one fatality in Florida was blamed on the hurricane so far, authorities said. Officials feared more fatalities would be discovered on Friday, though it would likely be several hours before any rescue personnel could head out to help those in need. The storm has already forced closures of schools, airports, and roadways across Florida after Helene rapidly intensified within hours Thursday as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico. More than 70,000 people across four counties Franklin, Taylor, Liberty and Wakulla fled under mandatory evacuations as forecasters painted a grim picture of the potential destruction ahead. "This will not be a survivable event for those in coastal or low lying areas," Wakulla County Sheriff Jared Miller said in a Facebook post. "There has not been a storm of this magnitude to hit Wakulla in recorded history." Forecasters warned that strong, damaging winds will "penetrate well inland" across the southeastern U.S. The hurricane center urged people to remain sheltered until Helene fully passed their area, warning that the center of a hurricane is deceptively calm, as hazardous winds rapidly intensify once the eye passes. Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. In anticipation of the storms sprawling impact, President Joe Biden approved emergency declarations ahead of Helene's landfall for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama to mobilize federal emergency management resources. Helene is a very dangerous hurricane and could become a once-in-a-generation storm across western South Carolina and North Carolina, as well as northern and eastern Georgia, said AccuWeather senior director of forecasting operations Dan DePodwin. News about our planet: Sign up for USA TODAY's Climate Point newsletter. Strong winds and some partial flooding were visible in areas of Sanibel, Fla., on Thursday, September 26, 2024, as residents experienced some of the effects from Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene tracker: See projected path of 'catastrophic' storm as Florida braces Developments: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed early Friday that two people died after a suspected tornado touched down in Wheeler County, about 88 miles southeast of Macon. Emergency management authorities in a neighboring county, Jeff Davis county, urged people to shelter-in-place due to high winds in the area. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed one hurricane-related fatality late Thursday. A car driving on Interstate 4 in Tampa was hit with an overhead road sign. Helene is the 4th U.S. landfalling hurricane of 2024. Only five other years on record have had four or more hurricane landfalls: 1886, 1909, 1985, 2005 and 2020. Asheville, North Carolina, more than 400 miles from the landfall location, got 8.34 inches of rain over 26 hours from Wednesday until 4 p.m. Thursday, according to National Weather Service data. The estimated 1-in-1,000- year rainfall for 24 hours in that location is 7.25 inches. The Florida Highway Patrol closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which links St. Petersburg to Bradenton, after winds at the span reached 60 mph and conditions deteriorated. Florida State and Florida A&M Universities canceled classes but opened their doors to students and Tallahassee residents. The American Red Cross was using FAMUs Al Lawson Center on campus as a shelter open to the general public; FSU was opening a refugee facility at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on Thursday to registered students who live off-campus. How much damage could Helene do? It's too early yet for detailed damage reports from the counties that Helene ripped across. But the National Hurricane Center says Category 4 storms threaten well-built framed homes with "severe" damage, potentially losing both roofs and walls. Most trees are snapped or uprooted and power poles are downed. "Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months," the hurricane center says of Cat 4 storms. More than one million utility customers in Florida were without power by midnight, according to a USA TODAY power outage tracker. The number was expected to rise as Helene moved further inland. In addition to hazardous winds, the system is expected to bring tornadoes, life-threatening storm surge and rainfall to large swaths of the Southeast, with widespread totals of 6 to 12 inches. Isolated areas could be deluged with 20 inches of rain. At midnight in Tallahassee, the storm had significantly intensified, with sheets of rain gusting from the sky. Electricity service in some of the city flickered intermittently. Rainfall was also lashing Georgia, South Carolina, central and western North Carolina and portions of Tennessee. Atlanta, hundreds of miles north of Florida's Big Bend, was under a tropical storm warning. The governors of Georgia and the Carolinas have declared states of emergencies as the fast-moving storm barrels through the Florida coast. "We will likely avoid the brunt of this storm, but it is still expected to bring flooding, high winds and isolated tornadoes," South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said. "Take proper precautions and monitor local forecasts." In central Georgia, local news outlets reported that two people were dead after a mobile home overturned in a suspected tornado Thursday. Christopher Cann, Doyle Rice Learn more on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale and the dangers of storm surge. 'Theyve got to get out': Some residents ignore evacuation order For some people, even the threat of "unsurvivable'' storm surge is not enough to convince them to leave their homes. A Florida official from Helene's projected path finds that quite frustrating. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, whose jurisdiction covers St. Petersburg and Clearwater, admonished residents who refuse to heed an evacuation order when he held a Thursday morning news conference as Helene zeroed in on Florida's northwest coast. Weve got a problem, and the problem is that way too many people in Zone A arent listening, Gualtieri said. Weve been out there this morning, theres just way too many people in the area. A storm surge of 5-8 feet is predicted for the county, putting residents of barrier islands and low-lying coastal areas in danger. Theyve got to get out,'' Gualtieri said, "and theres going to reach a point where youre on your own because were not going to get our people killed because you dont want to listen to what were saying. Christopher Cann Sheriff takes grim tack with evacuation holdouts In Taylor County, Florida, where Helens storm surge is forecast to reach 15 to 20 feet high, the sheriffs office posted a message Thursday morning for residents who werent heeding the countys mandatory evacuation order. If you or someone you know chose not to evacuate, PLEASE write your, Name, birthday and important information on your arm or leg in A PERMANENT MARKER so that you can be identified and family notified, the message said. The post also asked residents staying behind to send an email to the office with their names, addresses, contact information and the number of people and pets at the location. The small rural county on the states gulf coast was the site of Hurricane Idalias landfall in August 2023 and Hurricane Debbys landfall in August. Gene Taylor, a former public official in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, when Hurricane Katrina made landfall there in 2005, has another message he gives to people considering riding out a potentially deadly storm surge. Have life jackets and an ax, in case they have to chop through the attic roof to get out. Many people were rescued from rooftops when the water rose after Katrina and in other locations after severe flooding. Dinah Pulver Voyles and Doyle Rice The Skyway Bridge and the Howard Frankland Bridge are both CLOSED due to high winds and storm surge. Motorists should stay off the highways. #Helene pic.twitter.com/OAM2aMUPEP FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) September 26, 2024 Head of FEMA to take first-hand look at storm impacts FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will visit Florida on Friday to assess the impacts of the storm and report back to Biden. Criswell said she would fly as close as she could to Tallahassee and meet with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his team. The FEMA leader said she would like to take an aerial tour if possible so she can see the damage for herself. Afterward, she is prepared to move up to Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, also expected to be heavily affected by Helene. "Me being on the ground helps me validate some of the damage more quickly, so we can get major declarations in place faster," she told reporters at a White House briefing Thursday, adding the agency has the resources it needs to respond to this disaster. Criswell said FEMA has aggressively deployed resources in advance of Helene's arrival and advised those likely to be impacted to do the same, both in Florida and across inland locations far from the storm's landfall. Parts of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and the Appalachians could get up to 20 inches of rain and experience widespread flooding. "Take the storm seriously,'' Criswell said. "People in Hurricane Helene's path, you need to listen to your local officials. If they tell you to evacuate, please do so, and if they tell you to shelter in place, then that's what you should do. They're going to give you the best information that you can do for your specific situation. Those decisions can save lives." Francesca Chambers Despite pleas from grown children, couple choose to stay As the storm rolled closer to the coast, a small number of people in St. Marks made last-minute preparations amid steady rain and increasing wind. John and Melissa Hines, who own and operate the Sweet Magnolia Inn near the waters edge, piled all of the furniture on their ground floor onto tables and moved a massaging armchair onto the landing. They were planning to stick around until the storm hit, then relocate to their sons apartment about a mile up the road on higher ground. Legend has it their pre-WWII building was built using old railroad tracks from the line that used to serve the area, and it has withstood multiple hurricanes, John Hines said, though different storms have left their marks. The building will remain. What we have to work with after remains to be seen, he said Thursday afternoon. The couple have four children, and the three who do not live nearby have been urging them to leave the area more quickly, Melissa Hines said. One of them, she said, even called their pastor in Ohio, who then reached out to add his encouragement. Our faith is great, Melissa Hines said, explaining why they arent seeking safety further from the storm. Our pastor called and said, Your kids are worried, you need to be wise. Stop being so stubborn. So we are going to leave but were going to stay close to home. Helene could bring three times the rain it takes to cause landslides Helene is forecast to bring as much as 15 inches of rain to western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains well over the accepted threshold of 5 inches needed to trigger dangerous and potentially deadly landslides. According to Brad Johnson, environmental science professor at Davidson College north of Charlotte, "Scientists established some thresholds in North Carolina in the wake of the 2004 Peeks Creek landslide, the deadliest in North Carolina in 60 years." That slide, triggered by rains from Hurricane Ivan, killed five people. Johnson's group looked at weather data from that slide and found that 5 inches was roughly the threshold for landslides to occur, he said. Doyle Rice Water from Naples Bay floods the area at Eighth Avenue South and 11th Street South in Naples as Hurricane Helene passes off the coast on Sept. 26, 2024. Manatees could be left stranded by Hurricane Helene Fish, birds and other animals are all impacted differently by storms, depending on their habitat, food sources and other factors, wildlife experts told USA TODAY. Manatees may become stranded or injured by debris from Hurricane Helene. In years past, they have been discovered after hurricanes in a dry bay, in a golf course pond and a retention pond. However, larger sea creatures like sharks and whales have likely been able to swim away from Hurricane Helene quickly, according to the National Ocean Service. After Hurricane Idalia in 2023, flamingos from Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula ended up in the U.S., in places they had never been seen before, including Missouri and Kansas. When fish die during a hurricane, the most common reason is low oxygen levels in water that has been pushed up from the bottom and may contain lethal hydrogen sulfide. Also, if there are long stretches of cloudy days amid a storm, oxygen-producing organisms and plants can't photosynthesize, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Jeanine Santucci Riding it out on a fishing boat In Saint Marks, 30 miles south of Tallahassee where two rivers meet before emptying into Apalachee Bay, a handful of residents and business owners watched the water rising by several inches every 30 minutes on Thursday. Stone crab fisherman Philip Tooke, 63, stood on the dock of his family owned Saint Marks Seafoods, watching the rain and for signs the wind direction was changing. Hes had head-height floodwaters beneath his building several times over the years, but he's worried what a 15-foot storm surge would mean. He and his brother planned to ride out the storm aboard their fishing boats. I feel sorry for them to the east, but if we dont get that direct hit well be OK, Tooke said. It aint got bad bad yet. It will be by tonight. Its not going to be pleasant down here. A man carrying a basket walks through floodwaters in Saint Marks, Fla., about 30 miles south of Tallahassee, on Sept. 26, 2024, in advance of Hurricane Helene. Flights canceled, airports closed Nearly 1,200 U.S. flights were canceled by early Thursday because of Hurricane Helene, according to FlightAware. Tampa International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Tallahassee International Airport in Florida all announced they will be closed for the day, but the storm's impacts extend beyond its projected path. Airlines began offering travel waivers earlier this week so customers could reschedule their plans around the storm. Anyone whose flight was canceled is eligible for a refund under Department of Transportation rules. Federal laws do not require airlines to compensate travelers for delayed flights, but carriers have committed to various degrees of compensation for significant delays within their control. Read more here. Eve Chen Did Helene delay or cancel your flight? What to expect from your airline. Pastor offers church as shelter Paul Nawlin, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Steinhatchee, rode his golf cart to Riverside Drive to check on residents who live along the banks of the Steinhatchee River. Because some are staying through the storm, so will he. His church is fresh from a roof repair done Wednesday in preparation for Helene. Now, he says, it's ready to keep anyone dry who needs a place to stay as the hurricane bears down on their town. "We're going to trust the Lord no matter," Nawlin said. "He didn't ask us to understand everything. Just trust." Most Florida schools cancel classes Most Florida schools were closed Thursday ahead of Hurricane Helenes landfall, according to Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network. The Florida Department of Education issued a news release with a list of school closures, and the department said its working closely with districts to get them the resources they need to resume normal operations as soon as possible. The University of Florida in Gainesville was closed Thursday, and Florida A&M University and the New College of Florida closed earlier this week, through Friday, according to the education departments statement. At least 33 other colleges and universities are temporarily shutting down their campuses, according to the Florida Department of Education. Dozens of school districts across the state are also closed, affecting K-12 students, as the entire state is blanketed in hurricane and tornado watches. Claire Thornton Flooding begins along southwest, central Florida coast Floodwaters began to inundate roads along the central and southwest coast of Florida on Thursday morning. In communities including Fort Myers Beach, Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton and several in the Tampa Bay area, officials have announced road closures as heavy rain and storm surge lead to flooding along coastal and low-lying areas. Sanibel city spokesman Eric Jackson, citing widespread flooding across the Lee County island, urged people not to drive on flooded streets. Molly McCollum, a meteorologist with the Weather Channel, captured video of fish swimming on a street in downtown Sarasota. The National Hurricane Center expects a surge of water several feet high to come ashore along most of the western coast of Florida, with the highest level 15 to 20 feet projected to wallop the panhandle and Big Bend coast. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY; Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News; Sarasota Herald-Tribune Some rough seas and wind were the only early signs of Helene in Brevard County, Florida, as the sun rose Sept. 26, 2024. Couple in their 80s decide to hunker down Taylor County Sheriff Sgt. Lee Harden's SUV pulled over Thursday at a home in the Steinhatchee coastal community, in the direct path of Hurricane Helene, after spotting a couple outside a home. Stan Ridgeway, 87, told the officer he's staying. "I have to let you know ..." Harden began, reciting the details about the expected surge. Ridgeway said he knew. Later, sitting in his living room, with his wife Jean, 81, Ridgeway said he bought his century-old house with its high elevation in mind. Floodwaters from Hurricane Idalia last year did not reach his home. Jean Ridgeway noted that this is the third hurricane since 2023. "We didn't use to get hurricanes here," she said, then jokingly added: "I think they discovered this place and they liked it." Lesson learned, residents evacuate Horseshoe Beach Horseshoe Beach has become a ghost town ahead of Helene's anticipated landfall, the last few residents of the coastal community making final preparations before evacuating inland. The town was devastated by Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 hurricane that hit Aug. 30, 2023, causing major damage to the eastern Big Bend and Nature Coast. Now it faces the prospect of a 10- to 15-foot storm surge. Or worse. "We're just trying to get the heck out," Judy Paradis said as she and her husband, John, loaded their cars. After last year's experience, residents took the evacuation orders seriously, Judy said. The Paradises had just made Horseshoe Beach their permanent home last year after vacationing in the coastal town for several years. They said they have "survivor's guilt" because their elevated condo was spared when so many people lost everything. "We try not to complain because we still have our home," John said. Florida power outage map: Track outages as Hurricane Helene approaches from Gulf of Mexico Sandbox sand pressed into service as storm approaches Emergency shipments of hurricane supplies have been flowing in all week at the Home Depot in Town n Country, a community of more than 85,000 residents bordering the northern shore of Tampa Bay. By Thursday morning, the stores supply of filled 50-pound sandbags had dwindled from 16 pallets to 3 pallets, store manager Erica Jarmon said. In fact, those remaining bags were filled with play sand intended for childrens sandboxes. Some customers are even using bags of soil out in the garden department. Getting creative whatever kind of barriers they can actually use, Jarmon said, standing alongside her remaining sandbags. Other hurricane supplies: included generators, gas cans, flashlights, sump pumps, extension cords, blue tarps, plywood and more, Jarmon said. Fans are another big one, especially for mold, mildew, just trying to get any wet walls dried faster," Jarmon said. "Bleach is another big one after the fact." Rick Neale, Florida Today Longtime resident listening to Helene warnings The usually bustling Sea Hag Marina on Florida's targeted Big Bend coast was mostly deserted Thursday ahead of Helene. Bobbi Patterson, 85, was moving anything that could get soaked rugs, chairs, a sofa from her home on the Steinhatchee River to another one she owns across the street. Patterson planned to evacuate to a motel in Gainesville. Her daughter, Susan Merritt, 63, was helping. In the 40 years Patterson has owned her riverfront bungalow, it's flooded twice. She said the media tends to overhype storms, but she's taking this one seriously. Still, she said she hates to think she and her daughter were hauling furniture across the street for nothing. "It's pretty much stripped," she said of her home on the river. "It better be something happens." Katrina survivors wary of Helene If a house was built after 2004, according to Florida building code, it will be likely to withstand 115-mph winds. But if a home was built before 2004, Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie urged people to "make decisions on solid information." With catastrophic storm surge expected along Florida's coast, northern Gulf Coast residents Gene and Margaret Taylor understand better than anyone about the tragedy storm water can bring. As Hurricane Katrina approached in August 2005, the Taylor family fled their Gulf-front home in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, heading miles inland to his brother's home. The now-legendary hurricane pulverized their home and community with a record-breaking 28-foot-storm surge. Gene Taylor first thought his bare street looked like it did "when the French first arrived" in Mississippi during the late 1600s. "We could never have imagined the house would be gone," he recalled. Read more here. Dinah Voyles Pulver Contributing: Kyla A Sanford, Tarah Jean, Jeff Burlew and Ana Goni-Lessan, Tallahassee Democrat; Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Helene updates: Category 1 storm rumbles into Georgia JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel said on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support its ongoing military efforts and to maintain a qualitative military edge in the region. The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been received and earmarked for critical military purchases, and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems including the Iron Dome anti-missile system, David's Sling and an advanced laser system. Israel is currently fighting on two fronts, against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. The aid announcement came after negotiations at the Pentagon between Eyal Zamir, the director general of Israel's defense ministry, and U.S. defense officials, including acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, Israel's Defense Ministry said in a statement. "This substantial investment will significantly strengthen critical systems such as Iron Dome and David's Sling while supporting the continued development of an advanced high-powered laser defense system currently in its later stages of development," it said. The ministry said the deal underscores the "strong and enduring strategic partnership between Israel and the United States and the ironclad commitment to Israel's security", particularly in addressing regional security threats from Iran and Iranian-backed militias. (Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Gareth Jones) John Leguizamo at the Alamo in San Antonio. For John Leguizamo, his 2017 one-man Broadway play Latin History for Morons was his introduction into addressing and tackling the erasure of our Latin history. Now in American Historia: The Untold Story of Latinos, Leguizamo sets the record straight as he delves into the sweep of U.S. Latino and Latin American history from the powerful and technologically advanced Indigenous empires to the Civil Rights Movement in a three-part series that premieres Friday on PBS. Weve been crossed out, erased, deleted. And this is our way of undoing that, Leguizamo said in a video interview with series co-creator Ben DeJesus. The actor referenced a 2023 study from Johns Hopkins University, which said that 87% of key topics in Latino history were either not covered in the books that were evaluated or mentioned in five or fewer sentences. 'You can't just use your Googles' American Historia follows Leguizamo as he visits historic sites that are relevant to Latino history and speaks with different experts, including Latina civil rights icon and United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta. The first episode of the series focuses on the rise and fall of Indigenous empires in the Americas the Olmec, Inca, Maya and Aztec, which predated the arrival of the Spaniards and other European colonizers. He then moves on in the second episode to feature key Latino figures in U.S. history during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The third episode covers civil rights movements that championed Latino activism and solidarity in the 20th century. Co-creator DeJesus says the seed for the series was planted during the filming of a documentary about Latin History for Morons. Pretty early on in the process, John and I had a conversation about what if we took you [Leguizamo] to the places where this history actually happened and we did it as an in-depth expose, he said. Thats why were here now. John Leguizamo with professor Jose Moya in Philadelphia. Part of the challenge of telling Latino history, Leguizamo said, is that you have to find it. It was years and years of studying Latin history, the actor reflected. You cant just use your Googles. You have to go and read tons of books then you get a compendium of all this information and thats what this series is. Its sort of the cherry-picking of the most important facts that I was able to find. Leguizamo said that he was inspired to tell this three-part history by reading the books of the late Uruguayan journalist, novelist and activist Eduardo Galeano. Specifically, Leguizamo pointed to Galeanos Memory of Fire trilogy, which divides the history of the Americas into three parts: from pre-Colombian tribes to European colonies up to the 17th century, then followed by independence and nation-building movements in the 18th and 19th centuries, and concluding with 20th-century social and political events. When asked about the legacy of these histories, Leguizamo explained that it boils down to recognizing that Latinos and their histories stand shoulder to shoulder with other groups. "We came from kings and powerful empires that were equal to anything in Europe or Asia," the actor said. "There were 30 million Aztecs, 30 million Incas we had bigger empires on this side of the world than the other side of the world at the same time." The actor listed that many accomplishments of those early kings and empires in the Americas from the sophisticated construction of aqueducts and toilets well before the arrival of Columbus to one of the most precise trackings of the planet Venus to the development of the Mayan concept of zero these were taking place at the same time as other big cultural developments in the Middle East and Asia. Ultimately, both co-creators noted, something even deadlier than guns and steel would lead to the demise of these Latin American kingdoms and empires. The one thing we didnt have, unfortunately, is immunity to the diseases that came from Europe, DeJesus said, which he considered much more devastating than the Europeans' military skills and weapons. Leguizamo referred to these pandemics as a death knell that took us down all at once. The series will shine a spotlight on key Latino histories that many viewers might not know. One of these hidden stories connects Spanish-speaking allies with George Washington. Do you know what you need to fight a war? Dinero, plata, chavo, thats right, and lots of it, Leguizamo explains in the second episode. So when Washington was running low on cash to pay his army, he turned to his Latino amigos for help. These friends delivered the money that Washington needed to keep his Continental Army fighting. And off-camera, DeJesus called attention to a group of women who played a significant part. Cuban ladies actually gathered all their jewelry to be able to help George Washington feed his troops at a very crucial time of the American Revolution, he said. The 1945 book Admiral De Grasse and American Independence, by Charles Lee Lewis, describes how 1.2 million livres (the currency of the Kingdom of France during the American Revolution) was raised in Havana to support Washingtons troops, with ladies even offering their diamonds. Knowing these facts, Leguizamo explained, is a form of activism. When you have these historical facts, it changes you, the actor said. It empowers you, it gives you a sense that you matter, that youre important, and the kids especially feel that. For DeJesus, knowing Latino history also gives you a sense of belonging. When you start thinking about, when did Latinos arrive here? The answer is weve always been here, DeJesus said. District Judge Kevin Mullins; Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines. The general counsel for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear ordered the sheriff accused of gunning down a judge in his chambers to resign by the end of the week or face removal proceedings. In a letter Wednesday, S. Travis Mayo told Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines that if he does not tender his resignation to the Letcher County judge/executive by the end of Friday he will move forward with removing him under a state law that allows governors to fire peace officers for neglect. Stines, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 19 shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins, has 20 days to prepare a defense, according to the statute. Mullins, 54, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Stines, 43, surrendered at the courthouse without incident. The Letcher County Sheriffs Office could not be reached for comment Thursday. A lawyer representing Stines in a 2022 federal civil case accusing him of failing to adequately train and supervise a deputy accused of abuse did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Letcher County Judge/Executive Terry Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Kentucky State Police spokesman has said the shooting at the Letcher County Courthouse occurred after an argument in the building. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive. The Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, Ky. Three days before the shooting, Stines was deposed for nearly four hours in connection with the federal lawsuit, which alleges the deputy abused a woman, according to the victims lawyer. A filing in the case from Stines lawyer argued that Stines was protected from being sued over the allegations because of his position as an elected official and law enforcement officer. Asked whether state police are investigating a potential link between the suit and the shooting, a spokesman for the agency, Matt Gayheart, said, Nothing is being ruled out as a possible motive at this point. Jonathan Shaw, the lawyer representing Stines in the lawsuit, said he did not know anything about the shooting other than what has been reported in the news. I hope that in time we will have a clearer understanding of the circumstances that led to Judge Mullins death, Shaw said in an email. Wiki Commons How did a young Jewish woman who escaped Nazi-occupied Austria in the late 1930s end up in New York and emerge as one of the most dynamic illustrators of comic books a few years later? In a new episode of the Exile podcast series, hosted by actor Mandy Patinkin, and produced by the Leo Baeck Institute, the story of Lily Renee Phillips (nee Wilhelm) is fully told. Wilhelm was born in 1921 in Vienna. It was a lovely city, she said in a 2019 taped interview. I mean, culture was in the air. You couldn't escape it. It was really present every day. Wilhelms father was a shipping executive, so her family lived comfortably in a plush apartment with a chef and maid. An only child, Lily began drawing at a young age. Yet the Austria Lily was growing up in was increasingly falling under the threat of fascism. Anti-Semitism was a constant presence in Vienna. The menace became more real after Germany annexed Austria in 1938. To make matters worse, many Austrians welcomed the Nazis enthusiastically. By then, Lily was in her late teens. Immediately after the Nazi takeover, there were signs that life for Viennas Jewish community was going to get worse. One day, while Lily was waiting in line at a foreign consulate, SS officers showed up and forced her and a group of other Jews into a nearby synagogue. They feared the SS would set the synagogue on fire. They were released without further incident. Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, a spree of violence against Jews, occurred in Germany and Austria soon afterward. It was clear Lily needed to leave Austria. With help from an English penpal, she was able to travel to the UK as part of the Kindertransport program sponsored by the British. Lily ended up living with a family in Leeds. In 1941, she discovered that her parents had managed to flee Austria and make their way to New York. Lily soon booked passage on a ship and sailed to America to join her parents. But she was shocked at how theyd aged when she finally met them. Her parents had lost everything, and it had taken a toll. Her mother was frail, having been kicked by a Nazi soldier back in Vienna. The Wilhelms were also living in reduced circumstances, in refugee housing. And they had one room, recalled Lily. And it was so hot that I sat out on the fire escape in the back during the night because the humidity and the heat was so horrendous. Things changed for Lily when her mother spotted an ad for a comic book publishing company called Fiction House seeking artists. They went to the newsstand, they bought a couple of comics, Lily studied them, and she drew a couple of panels, just sample panels, and brought those to Fiction House, along with, of course, her portfolio of her non-comic work, explains Trina Robbins, a comic book historian. Lily was hired, although found working at Fiction House difficult. It was like hell because there were these men who were like adolescents that were thinking of nothing but sex all the time, she recalled. And here I was landed in the middle of this. It was just terrible. Eventually she was given an opportunity to work and develop a comic book. And soon she was conjuring up forceful female characters, sometimes vampy and seductive and sometimes fierce and pugnacious. She had a kind of a German expressionist style, which of course, she's from Vienna, the place of Klimt, you know? recalls Robbins. Wiki Commons As her skill and talent were recognized, Lily was put in charge of more popular strips. Eventually she began to draw the character who would make her name: Senorita Rio. With flowing jet black hair, long elegant legs, and a deadly left hook, agent Rio was a spy with movie star looksan iron fist in a velvet glove. Moonlighting as a nightclub entertainer, Rio travels around South America battling Axis agents and foiling Nazi plots. Lily became one of Fiction Houses most accomplished artists. But in 1950, she quit the comic books industry and focused on marriage and raising two children. It was only years later that her granddaughter discovered that Lily had a fan club of her art, and there was even an exhibit of her work at a New York comics gallery. She didn't know there was a fan club, says Nina Pillips, her daughter. She didn't know that she was in print in any way. She thought it was all in the past and no one paid any more attention and she certainly hadn't paid any attention. Lily was invited to speak at events and on panels. In 2007, Comic Con recognized Lily with an Inkpot award, given to individuals for their contributions to the world of comics. And in 2021 she was inducted into Comic Cons Eisner Hall of Fame. Wiki Commons Then the Jewish Museum in Vienna decided to put on an exhibit of her work in Vienna in 2019. It was called Three With a Pen and explored the life and work of three Viennese artists and cartoonists forced into exile. A selection of Lilys cartoons and book illustrations were featured, including photos from her childhood and pieces from throughout her life. One of the greatest moments that I think all of us shared in the family with her was when she was being honored in Vienna, through an exhibit at the Jewish Museum, says Nina Phillips. So they had this big auditorium that after viewing this exhibit, speeches were made. And at the end of the speeches, they presented my mother with the first copy of her book in English and in German. A couple of years later, the exhibition was recreated at the New York Austrian Cultural Center. In 2022, Lily died in Manhattan at the age of 101. This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.org. Rolls of "I Voted" stickers are stored at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix on June 3. Derek Bowens has never had such an important job. Hes the director of elections in Durham County, North Carolina, one of the most-populous areas of a state thats increasingly viewed as crucial to the 2024 presidential contest. So when a former precinct official emailed Bowens in July to warn him of a post containing voting misinformation that was spreading virally on Facebook, Bowens quickly recognized that he may be facing a crisis. The post, written as if from an authority on the subject, said voters should request new ballots if a poll worker, or anyone else, writes anything on their form, because it would be invalidated. The same incorrect message was spread on Facebook during the 2020 election, but the platform flagged the content at the time as false information and linked to a story that debunked the rumor by Facebooks fact-checking partner, USA Today. Bowens said no such tag appeared on the post, which was widespread enough that the North Carolina State Board of Elections had to issue a press release on Aug. 2, informing voters that false posts have been circulating for years and have resurfaced recently in many N.C. counties. It was spreading and there wasnt anything happening to stop it until our state put out a press release and we started engaging with our constituency on it, Bowens told CNBC in an interview. The elections board wrote a post on Facebook, telling voters to steer clear of false and misleading information about elections, with a link to its website. As of Wednesday, the post had eight comments and 50 shares. Meanwhile, multiple Facebook users in states like North Carolina, Mississippi and New Jersey continue to share the ballot misinformation without any notification that its false. CNBC flagged posts with the false information to Meta. A company spokesperson said, Meta has sent them to third-party fact-checkers for further review. Across the U.S., with 40 days until the Nov. 5 election, state and local officials say they are puzzled by what to expect from Facebook. Like in the past two presidential election cycles, the spread of misinformation on the social network has threatened to disrupt voting in whats expected to be another razor-thin contest decided by thousands of voters in a handful of states. Recently, a Facebook post containing a false claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, ballooned out of control and gained resonance after it was repeated by Republican nominee Donald Trump in a debate. In 2016, Facebook was hammered by Russian operatives, pushing out false posts about Hillary Clinton to bolster Trump. In 2020, the site hosted rampant misinformation about politically charged issues like Covid treatments, masking and voter fraud. The big difference this go-round is that Facebook has largely removed itself from the equation. In 2021, Meta began pushing political and civic content lower in its algorithms, which contributed to a dramatic decline in news traffic last year for publishers. Earlier this year, Meta announced that it would deprioritize the recommendation of political content on Instagram and its Twitter-like Threads service, a move the company said more aligns with what consumers want to see on their feeds. Still, posts with false information can spread rapidly across wide swaths of users along with comments that amplify the misinformation, and government agencies have little ability to counteract them, because they have such limited reach on the platform. More from CNBC FBI searches NYC Mayor Eric Adams home Gracie Mansion, after he is indicted in federal case 36-year-old mom making $10,000 a month or more in passive income: My best side hustle advice Trump says Zelenskyy insulted him; House GOP to probe Ukraine leaders PA trip And while Facebook has lost some of its prominence due in part to the rise of TikTok, particularly among younger audiences, the site still had more than 200 million daily users in the U.S. and Canada at the end of last year, the last time it issued regional numbers. Facebook and Instagram are generally both in the top 10 among the most-visited websites and most-popular apps in the U.S, according to the Pew Research Center and Similarweb. Interviews with nearly a dozen regional and statewide government officials with election-related duties reveal the challenges they say theyre having using and monitoring Metas apps, as well as other social networking services like X, now owned by Elon Musk. The officials say theyre working overtime to ensure the safety and integrity of the election but say theyre receiving little effective help from the companies, which scaled back their trust and safety teams as part of broader cost-cutting efforts that began in 2022. Meta ultimately cut 21,000 jobs, including in trust and safety and customer service, over multiple rounds of layoffs. As CNBC reported last year, the company dissolved a fact-checking tool that would have let news services like The Associated Press and Reuters, as well as credible experts, add comments at the top of questionable articles as a way to verify their trustworthiness. Reuters is still listed as a fact-checking partner, but an AP spokesperson said the news agencys fact-checking agreement with Meta ended back in January. The Meta spokesperson told CNBC in a statement that the companys integrity efforts continue to lead the industry and we have around 40,000 people globally working on safety and security more than we had during the 2020 cycle. The company says it now partners with about 100 third-party fact-checking groups across the globe who review and rate viral misinformation in more than 60 languages. Challenges in Maricopa County Like North Carolina, Arizona is one of the seven swing states expected to determine whether Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, win the presidency. That reality has put Taylor Kinnerup in the spotlight. Kinnerup is the communications director for the recorders office of Maricopa County, home to more than half of Arizonas population. Kinnerup and her colleagues use social media to distribute up-to-date information about election-related procedures, like when residents can mail in early ballots or where to find their voting center. Its a particularly sensitive job following Trumps false claims of voter fraud in Arizona in 2020, when the state went blue for the first time in a presidential contest since 1996. Given Maricopa Countys high profile during the election season, the state often attracts attention from Facebook users across the country. Many of them, Kinnerup said, are older and still leave comments about debunked conspiracy theories, such as the false claim that Sharpie markers invalidate ballots. Kinnerup said her team places extreme emphasis on constant communication and transparency to the public, actively sharing election-related content across Facebook and Instagram, particularly during peak hours when its more likely to reach voters. A few months ago, Kinnerup discovered that her offices Facebook and Instagram accounts were no longer linked, meaning she couldnt access the apps using the same credentials, or automatically schedule a single post to go across both sites. Ahead of the primary elections in July, Kinnerup said she struggled to resolve the account issues with Meta. She said she engaged in a monthslong email exchange with numerous representatives, but found there was no way to really make progress. When she did get a response, it was little more than a canned statement, Kinnerup said. Meanwhile, Kinnerup is busy overseeing media and constituent tours of the countys election facilities to help dispel false notions that the process is being rigged as her office continues to deal with the fallout of the 2020 election. Kinnerup said she led more than 20 such tours in June. I couldnt be dealing with Meta every single day, because I had to be giving tours, Kinnerup said. The time spent trying to find a fix was a huge issue for me, she said. By the time Kinnerup said shed resolved her account issues, in mid-July, she and her colleagues had wasted countless hours on the problem, leaving her team to feel we were put in a position where the full message we were trying to get out wasnt ever fully there. Even with her offices Facebook and Instagram accounts working again, Kinnerup says their organic social media posts generate little engagement, and her team has used sponsored ads to help expand reach across the platforms. Her team has continued with the facility tours, leading 25 this month. Metas spokesperson said the company has been hosting training sessions for state and local officials since February, informing them of tools like voting alerts, which allow them to send messages to people in their area. There are multiple channels by which officials can reach us, including teams responsible for specific states and regions, and our ability to respond to them remains unchanged, the spokesperson said. Kinnerup said she was not aware of any of this, and in her year in the role has never received any direct communication with Meta that Im aware of. Bowens told CNBC in a follow-up email that he was not aware of the sessions or the tools. Congress is well aware of potential problems. During a Senate hearing last week on election threats, Metas head of global affairs, Nick Clegg, fielded questions about the companys election preparedness. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, expressed concern about the safety and integrity of down-ballot races at the state level, county level, local level. Intelligence agencies, Collins said, have told senators that bad actors from China could be focusing on disrupting regional races as opposed to the presidential election, and that state and regional officials are far less likely to receive the kinds of briefings that we receive or to get information from Homeland Security or the FBI on how to be on alert. Clegg said Collins was right to be concerned and that Metas vigilance needs to be constant. It cant just sort of peak at the time of the presidential elections, Clegg said. Three people will see it For Scott McDonell, the Dane County clerk in the swing state of Wisconsin, its been difficult to share accurate voting information on Facebook from his offices official government account, which only has 608 followers on Facebook. McDonell said his posts get very little traction compared with years past. If I link to a story about election security, three people will see it, McDonell said. Posts that include pictures do marginally better, he said, because Facebook likes pictures. Dont link to an article, that will go to zero, he said. McDonell said many of his colleagues have gotten abused so much on Facebook in recent years that they dont post about elections anymore. Basically, your average county clerk is terrified of it, and they just do it to share baby photos, McDonell said. In Los Angeles County, Jeramy Gray, the chief deputy of the registrar-recorder/county clerk office, said small government offices often lack the resources needed to effectively utilize social media and to troubleshoot problems. Meta recently put a team together to assist his office, Gray said, adding that the company appears to be the most mature of the big platforms even if its not a model partner. What I would like to see is just more engagement from them, at least three to four months from a large national election, for them to reach out to key stakeholders at the state and local level to really talk about what they can do or what theyre doing, Gray said. Bowens, in North Carolinas Durham County, said the tech platforms could be much more helpful in assisting his office and others as they navigate through some of the confusion about what type of content is acceptable. Bowens said hes concerned about acting too aggressively because of potential censorship issues and recognizes theres a gray area between misinformation and citizens exercising their First Amendment rights. You know, weve got a very diverse election system in this country, Bowens said. What was on that post may very well be true in another state. Therefore, is it misinformation? On Wednesday, September 25, the Lausanne Movement issued an official apology for remarks by Ruth Padilla DeBorst during a Monday evening session where she spoke about the war in Gaza and blamed certain people for using dispensational eschatology as an excuse for violence. The apology inadvertently created further controversy, however, as some questioned why these but not other comments were deemed offensive and called on participants of such global events to behave like grown-ups who can handle robust debates. In her speech that formed part of the session on Recommitment Calling the global Church toward faithfulness in word & deed, Padilla DeBorst spoke about the prophecy in Micah 6:8 that says, He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. She lamented that the many forms of injustice seen in different parts of the world today resemble the same kind of injustices the Old Testament prophet Micah would have seen in his day, and she challenged the Church not to stay silent. As part of her remarks, she highlighted that Jesus told his disciples that love is shown in obedience to Gods Word. But she also criticized what she considers religious ideologies that perpetuate injustice. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up If you love me, you will keep my commandments. There's no room for doubt. God is worshiped not by rights, religious festivities, or even mission activism, all practices that can simply serve as masks, but by ethical obedience. What makes Gods people such are not superficial expressions of religious piety, Christianese jargon, worship jingles, or colonialist theologies that justify and finance oppression under the guise of some dispensational eschatology, she said. Later on, as she referred to loving mercy in Micah 6:8, Padilla DeBorst referenced the war in Gaza, saying: There's no room for indifference towards all who are suffering the scourge of war and violence. The world around the uprooted and beleaguered people of Gaza, the hostages held by both Israel and Hamas and their families, the threatened Palestinians in their own territories. All who around the world are mourning the loss of loved ones. Their pain is our pain. The two passages triggered strong reactions by some participants who accused Padilla DeBorst of blaming violence in the Holy Land on dispensational eschatology, a theological view that holds to a literal interpretation of Old Testament prophecies that speak about the nation of Israel. Further objections pointed to her assertion of Israel holding hostages and the lack of mention of Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, among others. Apology says Lausanne failed to carefully review manuscript, consider potential offense to diverse audience However, criticism was also directed at Lausannes leadership for not acting before Padilla DeBorst took the stage. In a press conference the following day, a Lausanne spokesperson confirmed to reporters that all manuscripts had to be submitted by speakers ahead of time for review, to estimate timing and to prepare translations into other languages. He also confirmed that the manuscript contained the passages in question and that no feedback was given to or change requested from the speaker. Finally, two days after the speech, Lausanne Congress Director David Bennett sent an official apology to all participants. He highlighted that Lausanne is a diverse community and that although we share a common biblical and theological foundation in our affirmation of the Lausanne Covenant, the Manila Manifesto, and the Cape Town Commitment, we include people from a great variety of cultural, theological, historical and political perspectives. Lausanne seeks to create space for robust discussions, including theological discourse, in pursuit of greater wisdom in the advancement of global mission. Bennett acknowledged that speakers may hold a variety of views on different issues. They will sometimes disagree with one another, even though they each affirm the foundational documents, he said. But he also emphasized that speakers statements do not necessarily represent an official Lausanne position. Nevertheless, the organizations leadership seeks to be gracious and respectful listeners in our interactions with one another, in the spirit of Lausanne. Referring to Lausannes review of manuscripts, he then said Lausanne failed to be careful enough and did not sufficiently consider how a speakers words or tone of voice may come across to the diverse audience gathered at the event. While not naming Padilla DeBorst directly, Bennett then apologized for the offense her remarks caused, saying: As Congress Director, I would like to offer an apology for a presentation this week which singled out dispensational eschatology in a critical tone, implying that it contributed to violence and injustice, and which failed to note that many theologies have been misused and misapplied as justifications for violence. That same presentation referred to the suffering of the Palestinian people, but did not express comparable empathy for the suffering of Israeli people, nor adequately express concern for many other peoples and nations of the world that are currently in the throes of violent conflict, he said. We have become aware of significant pain and offense experienced at this Congress from those in dispensational theological contexts, those who are Jews, and those engaged in ministries to Jews and/or in Israel. Our Lausanne team, including me, failed to review the wording of the presentation carefully enough in advance, or to anticipate the hurts and misunderstandings it would cause. As your brother in Christ, and on behalf of our Lausanne leadership, I ask for your forgiveness, he concluded. Padilla DeBorst points to limited time, emphasizes importance of speaking up Approached by Christian Daily International for comment, Padilla DeBorst shared her response to the apology, which she said she prepared after a conversation with Bennett and began circulating even before Lausanne issued their statement. She started by recalling how the Lausanne Program Team asked her to talk in Seoul about a theme that is central to Gods character, to the Good News, and to the calling of Gods people in the world. Properly addressing such a vast topic, however, would have required significantly more time than what she was assigned in the program, she pointed out. I was given 15 minutes to speak about justice. Perhaps, I should never have accepted the invitation! There are so many expressions of injustice in our world, how could anyone thoroughly and responsibly tackle such a deep and broad ranging theme, and the complicated scenarios related to it from a biblical and theological standpoint in only 15 minutes? she asked. She went on to present her stance on the importance of speaking out on critical issues: Seeking justice is a marker of Gods people and this requires mourning the pain, naming wrongs, repenting for our complicity, and acting in accordance with Gods character through the work of the Holy Spirit. God hears the cries of those suffering injustice, she said, and echoing Gods compassion means weeping with the poor and marginalized, whether they be victims of racism, abuse, displacement or other issues. We weep with all who suffer war the world round. Their pain is our pain, she said. We are sent into the world in all its messiness as Jesus was. We do not shy away from reality in spite of its complexity. Instead, we name what we see, recognizing that our perspective is marked by our experience and context, that others have different views, that we can only gain a fuller picture by listening humbly to one another and that, at the same time, we are to actively seek justice, echoing with Gods heart to make all things right. Referring to her remarks about dispensational eschatology, she emphasized that this was not in any way a blanket dismissal of dispensational theology and, even less, of sisters and brothers who subscribe to that stance. For the pain my statement might have caused, I am sorry, she added, and clarified that what she actually referred to in her speech was the troubling theological rationale sustained by some people to perpetrate injustice against certain other people. Speaking to the second issue, she explained why she decided to highlight the war in Gaza. Although I did refer to all who are suffering and all who are mourning the world round, why would I zero in on Gaza and Palestinians? Why explicitly name only them? I am convinced that this is a current justice issue in relation to which we, as Christians, have a particular responsibility, she said. She continued by stating, Truly, the Hamas attack almost a year ago was abhorrent and absolutely reprehensible, and truly people who live in Israel, Jewish, Palestinian and others are being threatened as I write. Their pain is our pain. At the same time, the long-standing suffering of Palestinians has been compounded by the attacks on Gaza since October 7 where over 40,000 people have been killed, many of them, children. Additionally, settler attacks have only increased in the West Bank. Their pain is our pain or it should be, she said. She asserted, however, that far too many evangelicals around the world a-critically stand with Israel, and remain oblivious to the suffering Palestinians. This injustice must be named. She concluded by referencing another speaker at the Lausanne Congress, saying, It is my prayer that, as the Reverend Dr Anne Zaki so clearly challenged us, we might courageously raise our voices and not be silenced and that we might humbly engage in respectful conversation in the midst of our differences so that, together, we might declare and display Christ in a broken world. Lausanne apology risks contributing to more division While Lausannes apology sought to quiet down criticism from some corners, it risks stirring up even greater controversy as participants expressed concerns about the leaderships selective judgment by singling out these two particular issues and ignoring others. In my view this apology was totally against the ethos of Lausanne, said Tim Adams, General Secretary of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students in comments sent to Christian Daily International. Within the agreed theological framework of previous Lausanne statements, Lausanne has been a place which brings people together to overcome barriers and unite to serve the Great Commission, he said, adding: My fear is this apology will do more to divide than to unite. Speaking from his own experience as head of a global movement that embraces those with different theological perspectives, within an agreed doctrinal basis, he also challenged those who took offense by Padilla DeBorst remarks. Without commenting on the content of the speech, Adams said, Lausanne is a place for grown-up Christians who can handle robust debate with fellow evangelical believers without throwing their toys out of the pram. At the same time, he believes its not too late to come together to resolve disagreements and find a way forward that reflects the Spirit of Lausanne. The congress is not over, and I hope we can work through this. Naomi Campbell is barred from serving as a charity trustee for five years after a United Kingdom watchdog group found evidence of financial misconduct at the model's charity, Fashion for Relief. The U.K.'s Charity Commission released a report Thursday, noting in a release that the charity was "poorly governed" and "had inadequate financial management." Its investigation found the charity spent less than 9% of its earnings on grants and causes, and that some of the charity's expenses were "not reasonable." This includes a stay at a five-star hotel and security for Campbell, 54, during an event at Cannes Film Festival in 2018, as well as "spa treatments, room service, and the purchase of cigarettes." Naomi Campbell attends the 17th annual Harlem's Fashion Row Fashion Show & Style Awards on Sept. 3, 2024, in New York City. USA TODAY has reached out to Campbell's reps for comment. Two of Campbell's co-trustees, Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, were also barred from serving as trustees for nine and four years, respectively. The Charity Commission's investigation found Hellmich received over 290,000, or over $388,000, in consultancy fees, which were unauthorized by the commission. The commission noted Fashion for Relief "failed to manage" partnerships with two charities: Save the Children Fund and the Mayor's Fund for London. The commission brought in interim managers to make outstanding payments to the charities totaling about 345,000, or over $460,000. Naomi Campbell remains iconic and shades Anna Wintour at Harlem's Fashion Row event "This inquiry, and the work of the interim managers we appointed to run the charity in place of the trustees, has resulted in the recovery of 344,000 and protection of a further 98,000 charitable funds," said Tim Hopkins, Charity Commission deputy director, in a released statement. "I am pleased that the inquiry has seen donations made to other charities which this charity has previously supported." Fashion for Relief, which was officially registered in 2015, a decade after its founding, was dissolved and removed from the country's register of charities this March. The legendary British supermodel founded Fashion For Relief in 2005. Its website says it has "supported many important humanitarian causes," including the Ebola crisis and Hurricane Katrina, and other causes like Time's Up. Naomi Campbell is 'extremely concerned' about Charity Commission's findings Speaking with The Associated Press on Thursday in Paris, Campbell said, "I've just found out today about the findings, and I am extremely concerned. And we are investigating on our side." She was made a knight of the Order of Arts and Letters at the French Ministry for Culture Thursday night. "As I was not in control of my charity, I put the control in the hands of a legal lawyer," she continued. "So we are investigating to find out what and how." "As everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes towards charities." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Naomi Campbell banned from charity role after UK watchdog report By Jaspreet Singh (Reuters) - Dell Technologies said on Thursday that their global sales team employees who are able to work from the company offices must do so five days a week, starting Sept. 30, according to a memo seen by Reuters. The change is to leverage collaborative environment and "grow skills", which requires the team to be in the office, the memo said. "Working remotely should be the exception rather than the routine," it added. The field representatives from the sales team are expected to spend five days a week with customers and partners, or in the office. The team was previously required to work from the office for three days per week, according to the memo. "Remote sales team members who can't go into a Dell office should continue to work remotely," Dell added. The company also mentioned that it will provide more information related to remote workers in the coming weeks. Since the pandemic, many companies have permitted employees to work from home. Some tech firms, however, now want employees to return to the office for two to three days each week. Last week, e-commerce giant Amazon.com said it would require employees to return to working at company offices five days per week, beginning next year, toughening a prior three-day mandate. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi) Joshua McLean was shot in Weavers Fields, east London [Google] Eight men have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in east London last month. Joshua McLean, 31, was shot dead at about 20:30 BST on 6 August in Weavers Fields, Bethnal Green. Detectives arrested eight men, aged between 17 and 56, on suspicion of murder on Wednesday. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said they remained in custody. Det Insp Jonny Newell said: "Our thoughts remain with Joshuas family, who are absolutely devastated by this tragic incident. "I am grateful to those who have spoken to officers and provided information that assisted us in our inquiries but would like to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time of this incident to get in touch with police." Det Supt James Conway said the arrests marked a "significant development" in the "painstaking investigation". Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk Related internet links A former CIA officer has been found guilty in a Virginia court of assaulting a female subordinate at an office party last year, the latest in a string of public court cases documenting what victims allege is a systemic failure by the agency to properly adjudicate cases of sexual assault and harassment. Donald James Asquith was convicted of misdemeanor assault and battery in Loudoun County District Court on Wednesday morning and was sentenced to six months, with all but 24 hours of that sentence suspended if he abides by the law. He has appealed. In disturbing testimony from the stand, the victim, identified in court only as Margaret T, recounted that Asquith, her boss at the time, drunkenly groped her after making a series of sexually graphic and demeaning statements to and about her during an office gathering for his 50th birthday in June 2023. According to a statement from a CIA spokesperson, Within days of receiving a report of this incident, CIA acted swiftly to restrict Mr. Asquiths access to, and contact with, the victim. According to multiple sources, Asquith was eligible for retirement at the time of the incident and, afterwards, moved to do so something the victims attorney, Kevin Carroll, suggested was a failure on the part of the agency to take disciplinary action against him. Asquith, he said, was allowed to retire; the CIA spokesman said in a statement only that Asquith had separated from the Agency in September 2023. In a victim impact statement delivered to the court, T described seeking justice in a Byzantine and ultimately useless process with the employer. According to Carroll, T sought guidance from CIA for months about how to securely report her assault to law enforcement without jeopardizing her colleagues Agency covers and mission. CIA never provided her such guidance. The CIA was not named in public court; statements from both Carroll and the agency as well as multiple sources confirm that the workplace in question was a satellite office facility belonging to the agency in Loudoun County, Virginia. An attorney for Asquith did not respond to a request for comment. T testified that on June 9, 2023, she attended a birthday celebration for Asquith in a conference room at the CIA facility. She and other CIA employees testified that Asquith appeared to have been drinking heavily by the time she arrived around 4:15 that afternoon. Asquith, T said, almost immediately grabbed the lanyard around her neck with her photograph on it and said: Can you believe how sexy she is?, referencing her age. As the party went on, according to T, he began to ask her how often she and her husband had sex, pantomimed oral sex, asked questions about her personal grooming asking about her bikini area and if I was clean and bare, T said and then, began to touch her legs. T, who was seated next to Asquith, testified that she repeatedly sought to move her chair away, but that Asquith would pull it back close to him. At one point, she testified, he lifted his legs in the air, bent his knees, and said to the room: Look at me, Im [T]. T testified that she didnt leave because she thought she could deescalate the situation with Asquith, whom she said she was keenly aware was her boss. But eventually, she testified, he leaned over and forcibly shoved his hand beneath her skirt, exposing my underwear. At that point, T said, she froze, and a colleague made the decision that they should leave. As she departed the room, she testified, Asquith grabbed her and rubbed their chests together in what he termed a boobie hug, and forcibly kissed her. A female colleague of Ts, identified only as Kendall G, offered a similar account of a litany of graphic sexual remarks and invasive questions. G confirmed that Asquith compared the breast sizes of women in the office, thrust his hips at the tabletop in a pantomime of the sexual act, and asked female colleagues in the room, including T, about their and their partners use of Viagra. G, as well as a third male colleague, testified that they had seen Asquith reach under Ts skirt. I felt small and powerless and mortified, T testified, clearly holding back tears. Asquiths attorney told the court that Asquith did not remember the events in question. He argued that because T had not verbally articulated her nonconsent to his physical touching and because she had stayed a long time at the party and because Asquith was too intoxicated to have recognized more subtle expressions of nonconsent he could not be said to have intentionally assaulted T. He was, his attorney argued, not required to read her mind. The court was unmoved. This was unwanted touching, Judge Lorrie Sinclair Taylor said. There is no doubt in the courts mind that the defendant is guilty. CIA under scrutiny The trial comes as the CIA has faced an increasingly public reckoning about its handling of sexual assault cases. Wednesdays trial follows a decision by the US District Court in Washington, DC, last week to sentence a former CIA officer to 30 years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women; and another misdemeanor conviction, also under appeal, of a former CIA trainee accused of assaulting another trainee in a stairwell at Langley. Both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees have been hearing testimony from alleged victims of sexual assault and harassment at the agency in a multi-year investigation that has spawned legislation reforming CIA processes for handling such cases. In April, the House panel released an eight-page report that found the CIA had failed to handle allegations of sexual assault and harassment within its workforce in a professional and uniform manner, and appeared to mete out little to no accountability or punishment for perpetrators. The report found that there was confusion and disorder in the process for reporting allegations. Victims, the report found, were deterred from coming forward because victims did not have anonymity and were unable to seek confidential assistance. T, in her victim impact statement, spoke obliquely about her frustration that no one nor any institution has yet been willing to hold Mr. Asquith accountable for his grievous decisions and actions. It is a travesty that people who take an oath to serve their country are exactly the people who have in turn ignored and thereby facilitated environments in which a drunken boss can and does use his power to humiliate, belittle and even assault someone in what should be a safe workplace all the while hiding behind claims of privacy and secrecy, she said. If we keep treating these cases like they are parking violations, we all lose, she said. The agency has sought to streamline its reporting processes for victims, including establishing a dedicated office last year to receive allegations of assault and harassment. In February, the agency announced it had put in place a federal law enforcement officer tasked with working with that office to facilitate investigations, including referrals to the appropriate law enforcement entity or investigatory process, according to a July statement from CIA Director Bill Burns. Some victims have alleged that they have been discouraged by the agency from reporting instances of assault to law enforcement because their affiliation with the agency is covert. Burns in his statement insisted that while we understand that employees may have questions about how to engage with law enforcement Agency employees do not need permission to contact law enforcement to report a crime. The fact that a sexual assault or sexual harassment has occurred is not classified, although surrounding circumstances, including the identities of any clandestine employees or facilities related to the allegations, may be, Burns said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The destroyer Sazanami sailed through the waterway on its way to a multilateral exercise in the South China Sea, reports say [Getty Images] A Japanese warship has sailed through the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and China for the first time, prompting Beijing to lodge complaints with Tokyo. The JS Sazanami, a naval destroyer, travelled south through the strait on Wednesday, accompanied by ships from Australia and New Zealand. It was on its way to military exercises in the South China Sea, Japanese media reported government ministers saying. The passage is a significant move by Japan, which is thought to have avoided sailing its ships through the strait in order not to upset China, which claims self-governed Taiwan and the strait. Japan's government has declined to comment on the ship, citing military operation discretion. But China on Thursday confirmed its military had responded to "the activities of a Japanese Self-Defence Force ship entering the Taiwan Strait". "China is highly vigilant about the political intentions of Japan's actions and has lodged stern representations with Japan," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. Chinese state newspaper Global Times, citing an unnamed source, said the Chinese military "conducted tracking and monitoring throughout [the vessels'] entire course and had the situation under control". There has been an increase in patrols by the US and its allies to assert their freedom of navigation in the 180km (112-mile) Taiwan Strait. Both the US and Taiwan say it is a key shipping and trade route through which about half of the global container fleet passes, and is part of international waters and is open to all naval vessels. Beijing, which claims sovereignty and jurisdiction over the strait, disagrees. For decades the US Pacific fleet was the only foreign navy that regularly transited the strait. But recently, it was joined by Canada and Australia, Britain and France. Two weeks ago Germany sailed two navy ships through the strait for the first time in decades. China's military accused Germany of increasing security risks by sailing though the strait on 13 September, but Berlin said it acted in accordance with international standards. It was the first time in 22 years for a German naval vessel to traverse the strait. These transits are highly political and designed to show China that America and its allies do not accept Beijings claims. For Japan, it is also another big step away from its long-held policy of not directly challenging China. On Thursday, Japans chief cabinet secretary did not confirm details of the naval operation, but he said Japan felt a strong sense of crisis after repeated airspace violations by the Chinese military, which he said had occurred one after another over a short period of time. Taiwan has not commented on the passage, but its defence ministry said on Wednesday that it saw a surge in the number of Chinese military planes operating around the island. Bec Strating, an international relations professor at La Trobe University in Australia, said Japan's reported transit is "part of a broader pattern of greater naval presence by countries in and beyond Asia that are concerned about China's maritime assertions". "Japan in particular has been dealing with China's 'grey zone' tactics in the East China Sea," she told AFP news agency. Grey zone warfare tactics are aimed at weakening an adversary over a prolonged period of time, analysts say. Last week, Beijing sent an aircraft carrier between two Japanese islands near Taiwan for the first time. In August, a Chinese spy plane flew inside Japan's airspace, prompting Tokyo to condemn the incursion as "utterly unacceptable" and a "serious violation of sovereignty". The leaders of the Quad group of nations - Japan, Australia, India and the US - said last week that they would expand cooperation on maritime security to counter China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) condemned members of his own party for embracing a cult of personality around Hungarys authoritarian leader Viktor Orban Wednesday on the Senate floor. Ive spoken before about Hungarys decade-long drift into the orbit of the Wests most determined adversaries. Its an alarming trend. And nobody certainly not the American conservatives who increasingly form a cult of personality around Prime Minister Viktor Orban can pretend not to see it, McConnell fumed. Right-wing Republicans have grown increasingly affectionate toward Orban due to his cozy relationship with former President Trump. Orbans hard-line policies on immigration and support for anti-LGBTQ laws have made him a darling of the far right. During Trumps debate against Vice President Harris earlier this month, he pointed to the Hungarian leader as proof of his support among foreign leaders. Let me just say about world leaders, Viktor Orban, one of the most respected men, they call him a strong man. Hes a tough person. Smart prime minister of Hungary. They said, Why is the whole world blowing up? Trump said at the time. He said, Because you need Trump back as president. They were afraid of him. China was afraid. And I dont like to use the word afraid, but Im just quoting him. Trump has also repeatedly met with Orban, both in the White House and since leaving. The pair met at Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida over the summer, where they reportedly discussed peace between Russia and Ukraine. McConnell on Wednesday pointed out Hungarys problematic relations with Russia and China, both adversaries of the U.S. While Hungary is a member of NATO, it has not supplied Ukraine with weapons after Russias invasion in 2022 and held up Swedens bid to join the alliance. Hungarys leaders arent cozying up to Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran in private. Theyre doing it publicly and vocally as well, said McConnell. McConnell added that Orban doesnt just admire Russian President Vladimir Putin. He helps him. His government runs interference for Moscow, gumming up European and transatlantic efforts to combat Russias unlawful aggression at every turn. Orban has spoken at the Conservative Political Action Conference in the U.S., and has been celebrated by far-right media personality Tucker Carlson. McConnell said Republicans had nothing to gain from the relationship. Hungarys leaders have made no secret of their conviction that the future is one of American decline. Theyre not hiding the ways theyre preparing for American weakness and betting on our failure, McConnell concluded. Theres nothing tough about bowing to autocrats. And theres nothing for Americas leaders to gain by praising those who do. Subservience to revanchist powers is not an American value. But far more importantly, it is not in Americas interests, he added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By David Alire Garcia and Belen Carreno MEXICO CITY/MADRID (Reuters) - A fight dating back more than five centuries reemerged on Wednesday as Mexico's incoming president defended a decision to not invite the Spanish king to her inauguration next week after the monarch declined to apologize for colonial-era abuses. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also weighed in earlier in the day, describing the snub as "unacceptable," less than a week before Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum's Oct. 1 swearing-in ceremony. In a rare rebuke on Tuesday, the Spanish government announced it would not send any representative to the event. The diplomatic spat threatens to cast a pall over Sheinbaum's inauguration in Mexico City, once the seat of Spain's vast colonial holdings in the Americas after Spanish invaders and their native allies toppled the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1521. Mexico City was built over the ruins of the Aztec metropolis. In a two-page letter posted to social media on Wednesday, Sheinbaum wrote that only Prime Minister Sanchez had been invited, in part because King Felipe VI did not directly respond to a personal letter that the outgoing Mexican president sent the monarch in 2019. In that letter, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a close Sheinbaum ally, asked the king to "publicly and officially" recognize the abuses committed during the conquest of Mexico in order to chart a friendlier new course between the countries. "Unfortunately, that letter did not prompt any direct answer," wrote Sheinbaum, who noted she spoke with Sanchez a few days earlier. In 2019, Lopez Obrador was seeking to organize an event in 2021 that would mark the anniversaries of the conquest, Mexico's 19th century independence from Spain, as well as the founding of Tenochtitlan in the 1300s. At the time, he also sought a similar apology from Pope Francis for atrocities committed against Mexico's indigenous population as well as the repatriation of pre-Hispanic books and other artifacts held in European museums and libraries. Francis did not respond to Lopez Obrador but has previously apologized for the "many grave sins (that) were committed against the native people of America in the name of God." After Lopez Obrador reiterated his request for a formal apology shortly after his letter was made public, Spain's foreign ministry rejected it, arguing that the conquest should not be "judged in light of contemporary considerations." The outgoing Mexican president has often invoked the Spanish conquest to rally nationalist sentiment, stressing that Mexico is no longer any country's colony. On the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly annual session in New York on Wednesday, Sanchez was asked by reporters if Spain should apologize, but he sidestepped the question. "We can't accept this exclusion, and that's why we informed the Mexican government that the absence of any diplomatic representative of the Spanish government is a sign of protest," said Sanchez. "Not only do we consider it unacceptable, its inexplicable," he added. (Reporting by David Alire Garcia in Mexico City and Belen Carreno Bravo in Madrid; Editing by Sonali Paul) The nation's nearly 3,000 nonprofit hospitals collected billions in tax breaks but paid less than half that amount in charity care to low-income patients. Nonprofit hospitals have a de facto pact with federal, state and local government. In exchange for not paying income, property, sales or other taxes, these hospitals are expected to provide free or reduced-cost care to low-income patients as well as other community benefits. A new study published today by Johns Hopkins University and Texas Christian University researchers estimates the enormous size of this collective tax break. The study reported the nation's nearly 3,000 nonprofit hospitals were spared $37.4 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2021, a reflection of how lucrative these tax benefits can be for medical centers. The purpose of the study was to inform taxpayers and elected officials how much tax relief nonprofit hospitals get in exchange for providing benefits to their communities, said Ge Bai, a a Johns Hopkins University professor of accounting and health policy and management who co-authored the study. While the study did not detail how much hospitals returned in charity care, that information is reported in public documents. Medicare filings show hospitals paid out $15.2 billion in charity care in 2021, said Bai. For years, these tax-exempt hospitals have been required to detail their community benefit in a worksheet included in federal tax documents. But the study suggests these federal tax filings don't shed enough light on their overall tax benefit. In 2021, the study estimated the nonprofits hospitals federal tax break totaled $11.5 billion, or less than one third of their overall tax relief. Nonprofit hospitals also got the following tax relief: $9.1 billion in sales tax, $7.8 billion in property tax, $3.7 billion in state income tax, $3.2 billion in charitable contributions, $2.1 billion in bond financing and $200 million in federal unemployment tax. People walk past a sign at the entrance to Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, May 19, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Hospitals say the exemptions are a good deal for local communities because they deliver wide-ranging benefits. The American Hospital Association commissioned an analysis from the accounting firm Ernst and Young that measured foregone federal taxes and community benefit. The analysis, released this week, reported the amount of federal tax revenue hospitals did not pay in 2020 was $13.2 billion. In comparison, hospitals returned $129 billion in community benefit about 10 times the amount they saved in federal taxes. 'Money that would have paid for schools, firehouses or police' Bai said study aims to give taxpayers and elected officials a better understanding of the tax relief nonprofit hospitals get in exchange for providing benefits to their communities. Nonprofit hospitals must publicly disclose the benefits they provide to communities in "Schedule H" worksheets as part of their annual tax filing with the Internal Revenue Service. However, hospitals aren't required to estimate the totality of their tax savings. "The equation is really a contract between taxpayers and nonprofit hospitals. The nonprofits provide community benefit, so in return, they receive tax benefit," Bai said. "But we only see one side the community benefit they provide. We have no idea what the tax benefit is." The study is important because it breaks down state and local tax exemptions, said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute, a Massachusetts-based health think tank. He said state and local elected officials who must make difficult budget choices might be interested in seeing the value of these tax breaks. The tax exemptions equate to "money that would have paid for schools, firehouses or police," said Saini, who was not involved in the study. Tax benefits vary widely by state The study did not disclose estimated tax relief for each hospital. However, it reported averages by state and found large swings. Massachusetts hospitals had the most lucrative tax exemptions at an average of $159,464 per hospital bed. Delaware hospitals had the tiniest benefit, $25,098 per bed. Larger hospital that earned more money had the most lucrative tax break; 29 hospitals representing 1% of all nonprofits accounted for 19% of the total tax benefit, the study said. Bai said hospitals with the largest tax breaks earned strong profits and tended to be in wealthier communities with expensive real estate. "Hospitals in rich areas with expensive properties and hospitals that make a lot of money would have a higher tax exemption," Bai said. Hospitals: Tax exemptions return benefit to local communities Hospitals say the tax exemptions are a good deal for local communities because they deliver wide-ranging benefits. AHA officials said community benefit represents what hospitals reported in schedule H documents filed with the IRS. The hospitals can count far more than free or reduced-price care they give away to patients. Hospitals also count payments from Medicaid the government health program for low-income families that don't fully cover the cost of care delivered to patients. Other categories such as community health improvement, housing programs, research and medical education also are added to the mix, said Aaron Wesolowski, the AHA's vice president of research strategy and policy. The AHA analysis didn't include hospitals' state and local tax savings. "Even if you roll in those state and local tax exemptions, the benefits to communities from not-for-profit hospitals still greatly outweigh that foregone tax," Wesolowski said. Experts disagree on what counts as community benefit Health policy experts long have debated what should be counted as a community benefit. Charity care to the poor is "the least squishy, the least gameable and the most comparable and verifiable component of community benefit," Bai said. Wealthier hospitals can afford to hire consultants to calculate the spending on non-charity care categories, she said. Other analysts have questioned whether the amount nonprofit hospitals return to their communities justify the tax-exemptions. A 2024 analysis by Lown Institute reported 80% of nonprofit hospitals gave back to their communities less than what they got in tax breaks. Those hospitals collected $25.7 billion more in tax breaks than they paid out to communities, according to Lown Institute. The Lown Institute analysis excluded community benefit items such as Medicaid payments shortfalls, medical education and research. AHA disputed the Lown Institute analysis because it excluded those items, particularly Medicaid payment shortfalls that affect hospitals financial health. "Charity care and Medicaid shortfall are directly related," Wesolowski said. "You can't ignore those other components, those other populations that hospitals serve." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What nonprofit hospitals did with billions saved in taxes NETHER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A months-long investigation by both county and state law enforcement ended with the arrest and resignation of a former detective sergeant. Michael Erickson, a 21-year veteran with the Nether Providence Township Police Department, has been charged with indecent assault. The charge stems from an incident in Aston Township, when police say Erickson was off-duty and "in no way involved his employment with the police department." Officials have yet to release further details about the assault, but Chief David Splain responded to the arrest in a social media video. MORE HEADLINES: Splain says Erickson was placed on administrative leave when the Delaware County District Attorney's Office notified him of the investigation on June 14. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office took over the investigation on July 2, then moved forward with filing criminal charges last week. Erickson submitted his resignation Monday, the day before he was ordered to surrender to authorities. HM Coastguard will monitor the ship's progress through UK waters [MALCOLM CRANFIELD] A Maltese-flagged cargo ship carrying thousands of tonnes of potentially explosive fertiliser is set to travel through UK waters. Ruby, which was earlier accompanied by an escort tug, has reportedly been rejected by several countries due to its cargo. The ship, which has 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on board, was previously damaged but deemed seaworthy by authorities in Norway. HM Coastguard is in contact with the vessel, which according to ship tracking data, was in the North Sea off the Kent coast on Thursday morning. The ship, owned by Maltese firm Ruby Enterprise, set off from the northern Russian port of Kandalaksha in July. The national maritime emergency service said it will monitor the ship's progress as it heads towards and through UK waters. An escorting tug, Amber II, which had sailed with the boat from Norway, left the Ruby on Thursday morning and sailed east. Its current destination is listed as Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Though there is no suggestion of immediate danger from the cargo, the same chemical caused a devastating blast at a Beirut warehouse in 2020. Ammonium nitrate is regularly transported around the world and used as fertiliser but is also used in explosives. The ship is carrying seven times the amount of ammonium nitrate that caused the Beirut explosion. Soon after departing Russia, the Ruby briefly ran aground after reportedly encountering a storm. It then continued its journey around the Kola Peninsula and docked in Troms, Norway. Norways Maritime Authority told the BBC the vessel was inspected by DNV Group to ensure it met safety and environmental standards. The group found damage to its hull, propeller and rudder, but the Ruby was still deemed seaworthy. As a precaution, DNV Group, and the Maltese flag registry, insisted that a tug escort the vessel for the remainder of its journey. The ship was bound for Klaipeda, in Lithuania, according to ship tracking firm MarineTraffic. But despite being deemed seaworthy, the ship was denied entry to Klaipeda. Algia Latakas, the port authority's chief executive, told the BBC that this was "because of its cargo". Other reports suggested Sweden had imposed a ban as well, but Swedens transport agency denies this. What the Swedish authorities did was to follow the matter in case we would have needed to act in some way, a spokesperson told the BBC. In recent weeks, the Ruby travelled south along Norways coast and through the North Sea. The ship reportedly has had restricted manoeuvrability, though the BBC has been unable to confirm this. On 25 September, it anchored about 15 miles (25km) north east of Margate, in Kent, near the Dover Strait - one of the worlds busiest waterways. Its current destination is listed as Marsaxlokk, in Malta. But Maltese authorities have told local media that the ship can only enter the country if it empties its cargo beforehand. Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, raised concerns about potential "environmental damage". "Should the ammonium nitrate start to leak out of the ship and contaminate the sea... shipping through the channel would have to be diverted to avoid further shifting the pollution through its waters," he said. He added that damage as a result of the potential scenario would be "immense" and cause "ongoing disruption". Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Related internet links Leaders and advocates engaged in ministry with children lament the lack of focus on children at the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne 4). While appreciating some expressions of interest in the younger generation, none of the key collaboration groups feature an intentional focus on including children in their strategizing, they say. In response, they wrote brief informational papers highlighting how children are affected by issues related to each of the 25 mission gaps Lausanne identified. Lausannes Children-at-Risk Issue Network, which was formed after the Congress in Cape Town in 2010, responded to Lausannes State of the Great Commission report expressing concern about the silo approach that ignored the impact of the various issues on children. Speaking on behalf of the group, Dr. Susan Greener, formerly Lausanne's catalyst for children-at-risk, said, By placing numerical emphasis on the Middle Class and aging populations, the Church is ignoring the commands of Jesus to care for the least of these, the same children who are Jesuss model of His Kingdom. She points out that the U.N. population report released in June 2024 indicates that though there may be fewer children in richer countries, population growth worldwide by 2050 is predicted to be in the poorest regions (sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia) with the most challenges. Why are we pitting the young against elders and the middle class? A world that is fit for children is one that is good for all people and sustainability. The Lausanne Cape Town Commitment (2010) contains a strong statement in support of children, she says, as it challenges the Church to take children seriously, reflecting theologically on Gods love and purpose for them. It also calls on the Church to train people and provide resources to meet the needs of children worldwide, wherever possible working with their families and communities. It emphasizes that this kind of holistic ministry is a vital component of world mission. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up And thirdly, it points to the need for the Church to expose, resist, and take action against all abuse of children, including violence, exploitation, slavery, tracking, prostitution, gender and ethnic discrimination, commercial targeting, and willful neglect. She recounts that Lausannes Children-at-Risk Issue Group was formed following the Congress and worked on equipping the Church to fulfill these tasks. She commends the groups efforts and commitment to Gods mission serving children, but wonders why, despite 14 years of eort, the Church-at-large and the Lausanne Movement have yet to embrace full inclusion of children in the Church and on mission? We are grateful and rejoice in how the Global Listening report demonstrates widespread interest in younger generations. The analysis states that the following terms are frequent and consistently mentioned in global input: youth, the young, younger generation, GenZ, etc, she said. While recognizing that listening to the younger generation emerged as an important theme and that involvement signaled the need for actual engagement, she lamented that the term children is used far less often and the risks, particularly that of poverty, which is the foundation of nearly all serious risk for children and their caregivers, is mentioned only once. We once again call upon the global Church, and especially participants in Lausanne 4, to lament our shortcomings and repent of the ways the Church has not fullled its responsibility to children; for the suering and exploitation of children-at-risk; for how our mission eorts have undervalued children as co-laborers with us, she concludes. Echoing her concern, Phil Green, Lausannes Catalyst for Children-at-Risk and CEO of VIVA Together for Children commented to Christian Daily International that the opening session provided a wonderful example of the importance of children in Jesuss ministry, with the reference to the critical role a child played in the feeding of the 5,000. However, we are concerned about the lack of attention given to children in general, and children at risk specifically. Especially given that the majority of Christians in the world today made their decision to follow Christ as a child. And, also, given the focus on looking forward to 2050 a child born today, will be 26 then, he said Menchit Wong reminded us during the celebration of Lausannes 50th anniversary that we must not only talk about children, but we must be listening to their voices. He emphasized that it is essential that children be part of the conversation in every single gap, especially as the conversations are being framed about imagining the world in 2050. We cant silo children they are an integral part of our churches, and the topic of every gap has implications for them. And, children should have a voice into every gap. Therefore, a team led by Lucy Hefford, VIVAs researcher of theology and practice, researched each topic, considering the current realities of children around the world, and how each of the Lausanne 4 Gaps intersects with children-at-risk. They then wrote up briefing papers for each gap that they hope will inform the discussions of each of the collaborative groups. We presented a call to action for each briefing paper, which calls those who are working on each gap to keep children at risk on the agenda as they discuss and collaborate together, Hefford says. Their hope is that children will not be seen as an add on, and optional extra, but that participants would understand Gods heart for children and recognize their centrality in mission, and how critical they are for the future of the Church and fulfilment of the Great Commission. If the Global Church wont champion and support the worlds most vulnerable children, who will? she asks, and adds: We have a clear mandate from Jesus to care for those marginalized in society to miss this at the Fourth Lausanne Congress is a grave omission from the Great Commission. The 25 briefing papers can be accessed here. A pair of blood-spattered trousers in a miso tank and an allegedly forced confession helped send Iwao Hakamata to death row in the 1960s. Now, more than five decades later, the worlds longest-serving death row prisoner has had his name cleared, according to public broadcaster NHK. A Japanese court on Thursday acquitted 88-year-old Hakamata, who was wrongfully sentenced to death in 1968 for murdering a family, marking the end of a marathon legal saga thats brought global scrutiny to Japans criminal justice system and fueled calls to abolish the death penalty in the country. Judge Kunii Tsuneishi of the Shizuoka District Court ruled the blood stained clothing which was used to convict Hakamata was planted long after the murders, NHK reported. The court cannot accept the fact that the blood stain would remain reddish if it had been soaked in miso for more than a year. The bloodstains were processed and hidden in the tank by the investigating authorities after a considerable period of time since the incident, Tsuneishi said. Mr. Hakamata cannot be considered the criminal. Hakamata, pictured here in 1957, was briefly a professional boxer. Decades after his retirement, his former boxing association has organized demonstrations in support of a retrial. - Hideko Hakamata Once a professional boxer, Hakamata retired in 1961 and got a job at a soybean processing plant in Shizuoka, central Japan a choice that would mar the rest of his life. When Hakamatas boss, his bosss wife, and their two children were found stabbed to death in their home in June five years later, Hakamata, then a divorcee who also worked at a bar, became the polices prime suspect. After days of relentless questioning, Hakamata initially admitted to the charges against him, but later changed his plea, arguing police had forced him to confess by beating and threatening him. He was sentenced to death in a 2-1 decision by judges, despite repeatedly alleging that the police had fabricated evidence. The one dissenting judge stepped down from the bar six months later, demoralized by his inability to stop the sentencing. Hakamata, who has maintained his innocence ever since, would go on to spend more than half his life waiting to be hanged before new evidence led to his release a decade ago. After a DNA test on blood found on the trousers revealed no match to Hakamata or the victims, the Shizuoka District Court ordered a retrial in 2014. Because of his age and fragile mental state, Hakamata was released as he awaited his day in court. The Tokyo High Court initially scrapped the request for a retrial for unknown reasons, but in 2023 agreed to grant Hakamata a second chance on an order from Japans Supreme Court. Retrials are rare in Japan, where 99% of cases result in convictions, according to the Ministry of Justice website. Hakamatas boss, his bosss wife and their two kids were killed in their home, which was subsequently set on fire. The murder and arson took place on June 30, 1966. - Hakamata Defense Lawyers A justice system under scrutiny Hideko, Hakamatas 91-year-old sister said she couldnt stop crying and tears were overflowing when she heard the verdict. When the judge said the defendant was not guilty, it sounded divine to me, said Hideko, who has campaigned for Hakamatas innocence for more than half of her life. Hideyo Ogawa, Hakamatas lawyer, called the ruling groundbreaking, adding 58 years was too long. Even as his supporters cheered Hakamatas acquittal, the good news will not likely register with the man himself. After decades of imprisonment, Hakamatas mental health has declined and hes living in his own world, said Hideko, who has long campaigned for his innocence. Hakamata seldom speaks and shows no interest in other people, Hideko told CNN. Sometimes he smiles happily, but thats when hes in his delusion, Hideko said. We have not even discussed the trial with Iwao because of his inability to recognize reality. But Hakamatas case has always been about more than one man. It has raised questions about Japans reliance on confessions to get convictions. And some say its one of the reasons why the country should do away with the death penalty. Im against the death penalty, Hideko said. Convicts are also human beings. Japan is the only G7 country outside of the United States to retain capital punishment, though it did not perform any executions in 2023, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Hiroshi Ichikawa, a former prosecutor who was not involved in Hakamatas case, said historically Japanese prosecutors have been encouraged to get confessions before looking for supporting evidence, even if it means threatening or manipulating defendants to get them to admit guilt. An emphasis on confessions is what allows Japan to maintain such a high conviction rate, Ichikawa said, in a country where an acquittal can severely hurt a prosecutors career. A long fight for exoneration For 46 years, Hakamata was held behind bars after being convicted on the basis of the stained clothing and his confession, which he and his lawyers say was given under duress. Ogawa, Hakamatas lawyer, told CNN that Hakamata was physically restrained and interrogated for more than 12 hours a day for 23 days, without the presence of a defense attorney. The Japanese judicial system, especially at that time, was a system that allowed investigative agencies to take advantage of their surreptitious nature to commit illegal or investigative crimes, Ogawa said. Chiara Sangiorgio, Death Penalty Advisor at Amnesty International, said Hakamatas case is emblematic of the many issues with the criminal justice (system) in Japan. In a letter to his mother following his third trial in 1967, Hakamata apologized for making his family worry. God, I am not a criminal, he wrote. - Hideko Hakamata Death row prisoners in Japan are typically detained in solitary confinement with limited contact with the outside world, Sangiorgio said. Executions are shrouded in secrecy with little to no warning, and families and lawyers are usually notified only after the execution has taken place. Hakamata has spent most of his life behind bars for a crime he did not commit. However, despite his poor mental health, over the past decade, Hakamata has gotten to enjoy some of the small pleasures that come with living freely. In February, he adopted two cats. Iwao began to pay attention to the cats, worry about them, and take care of them, which was a big change, Hideko said. After handing down the verdict, the judge, clearly emotional, apologized to Hideko, NHK reported. The court is very sorry that it has taken so long. Hideko wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Hakamata was acquitted and exonerated by the court, not declared innocent. CNNs Nodoka Katsura contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (This story was updated to add new information.) New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing a federal indictment just weeks after authorities raided the homes of his top aides in what appeared to be a major corruption investigation at the heart of the nation's biggest city. In a video statement released late Wednesday, Adams, a former police captain who won the mayoral election nearly three years ago, said "it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes." Adams called the charges "entirely false" and vowed to fight the indictment with "every ounce of my strength, and my spirit." "If I am charged, I know I am innocent," Adams said. "I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth." The charges against Adams, 64, were unclear as the indictment remained sealed on Wednesday night, The New York Times and FOX News reported, both citing sources with knowledge of the matter. The indictment is likely to be unsealed Thursday when Adams may appear in court, according to the Times. The indictment was first reported by the Times. The mayor's administration has been under federal scrutiny over the last year for a separate probe on possible illegal foreign donations from Turkish officials during Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign. The Times previously reported on Monday that federal prosecutors submitted grand jury subpoenas to City Hall, Adams, and his campaign in July demanding information related to Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan. Shortly before the indictment was announced, Adams appeared at a reception in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art attended by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. The indictment would make Adams the first New York City mayor to be criminally charged while still in office. According to the city's charter, the "mayor may be removed from office by the governor upon charges." If he were forced out of office, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would become mayor of the nation's largest city with a population of about 8.3 million. Stay in the know: Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Briefing newsletter. New York lawmakers call for Eric Adams to step down In response to the indictment, New York leaders and officials called for Adams resignation. He acknowledged the immediate calls on Wednesday but promised to stay in office. "But I have been facing these lies for months," Adams said. "Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this cityand lead it I will." Earlier Wednesday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called on Adams to step down. "I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City," Ocasio-Cortez said on X, formerly Twitter. "The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration." Jessica Ramos, a New York state senator from Queens and mayoral candidate for the 2025 election, said the charges feel like a profound betrayal. Weeks of FBI raids, indictments, and resignations have shaken our city, Ramos said in a statement. Right now, New Yorkers feel frustrated and abandoned. This, above all else, is unforgivable. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, also running for mayor next year, echoed Ramos' sentiment. "Mayor Adams, like all New Yorkers, deserves due process, the presumption of innocence, and his day in court. However, it is clear that defending himself against serious federal charges will require a significant amount of the time and attention needed to govern this great city," Lander said on X. "The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can get the full focus its leadership demands." State Senator Zellnor Myrie said it was a "sad day" for the city, adding that the news of the indictment is "especially painful for so many Black New Yorkers who put our hope and faith in this Mayor." "We need a leader who is fully focused, without distraction, on the enormous challenges we face from housing affordability to public safety," Myrie said in a statement. "A mayor under the weight of a serious indictment can no longer do that and today I am calling on him to resign." Indictment comes amid political upheaval, series of resignations In November 2023, the FBI seized Adams mobile phones, and computer, and raided the home of his campaign treasurer. And in recent weeks, other top city officials have resigned amid multiple federal corruption investigations. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on Sept. 12, a week after investigators from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan seized his mobile phones. Caban was among several of the mayor's aides and confidantes who received federal search warrants earlier this month, including Deputy Mayor for Criminal Justice Philip Banks III, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Days after Caban stepped down, Adams' chief legal advisor Lisa Zornberg resigned, saying she could "no longer effectively serve" in the position. Last week, two former New York City Fire Department chiefs became the latest high-ranking city officials to be named in the series of federal investigations and arrested on charges of bribery and corruption. On Tuesday, Banks said he would retire at the end of December. The announcement came weeks after the Times reported his phones were seized by federal agents. Contributing: Dan Morrison, Eduardo Cuevas, Joey Garrison, and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY; David M. Zimmer, NorthJersey.com; Asher Stockler, The Journal News; Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he will fight federal charges The Royal Hawaiian is a famous hotel in Hawaii. Andrew Woodley/Universal Images Group via Getty Images On a recent Hawaii trip, I stayed in the most affordable room I could find at The Royal Hawaiian. I spent $530 total to stay one night at the iconic pink beachfront hotel. I enjoyed the location and its famous mai tais but found my room to be dated. My mother and I recently visited Hawaii for the first time. While there, we stayed at The Royal Hawaiian, nicknamed the "Pink Palace of the Pacific," a place I'd long dreamed of seeing in real life. The iconic 528-room hotel is famed for its pink facade and mai-tai cocktails. It also happens to be one of the first hotels in downtown Honolulu in the heart of all the action of Waikiki Beach. Plus, The Royal Hawaiian is part of Marriott International's Luxury Collection, meaning it's considered an especially world-renowned and unique spot. With all that in mind, my expectations were high for the five-star resort but I'm not sure my stay was worth it. I booked a room in the hotel's Historic Wing. The room wasn't as luxurious as I'd hoped. Carly Caramanna I chose to book the cheapest room available, which ended up being a standard room with two double beds in the hotel's Historic Wing. The room cost $480 for one night, plus a $50 mandatory resort fee. Once I saw my room, I wasn't impressed. It looked very basic and quite dated especially because of the patterned carpet. I also found it to be lacking in natural light. I was a bit disappointed at what I got within my budget, even though the room wasn't exactly cheap. It paled in comparison to rooms I've stayed in at other luxury hotels, like the Four Seasons. Fortunately, the bathroom felt more modern. Sharing the small bathroom was a bit tough. Carly Caramanna The bathroom felt more modern than the rest of the room with its marbled tile and glass shower doors, and I appreciated the mirror with built-in lights. But it was still quite small, making it difficult for two adults to use it while getting ready for the day. The hotel itself was beautiful, though. I could've explored the hotel for free. Carly Caramanna I loved exploring the grounds of the hotel, which anyone can probably do without being a guest there. With high ceilings and beautiful artwork, the hotel's main lobby area has an especially grand feel. I also loved the open-air areas that provide stunning views of the nearby beach and ocean. The hotel's manicured grounds also looked great. There was lush greenery all over The Royal Hawaiian's property. Carly Caramanna The green landscaping and florals around the property felt super lush. I also liked enjoyed seeing the hotel pool, which is surrounded by iconic pink and white lounge chairs, cabanas, and umbrellas. We spent most of our time on the beach. Just about all beaches are public in Hawaii. Carly Caramanna We took advantage of The Royal Hawaiian's location directly on the beach. Unfortunately, our resort stay didn't come with private beach access since just about every beach is public in Hawaii. The beach ended up getting very busy during our weekend visit. The sand and water were beautiful, though, and I loved seeing Diamond Head (a cone of volcanic ash on Oahu) in the distance. That said, I was also disappointed to learn that beach-chair and umbrella rentals were not included in the resort fee I paid to stay at The Royal Hawaiian. Instead of paying extra for rentals, I used towels provided by the hotel. The resort's famous mai tai lived up to the hype. The Royal Hawaiian famously serves mai tais. Carly Caramanna One of the main reasons I wanted to visit The Royal Hawaiian was for its famous mai tais. According to Eater, the original mai tai was said to be invented in 1944 by Victor J. Bergeron. When he brought his recipe to Hawaii in 1953, it was tweaked to offer a fruitier flavor perfect for tourists on vacation. The Royal Hawaiian is said to be the first to serve the Hawaiian version of the mai tai, which is now the most famous drink on the islands. Fortunately, the Royal Hawaiian's mai-tai bar is right on the beach, so it comes with sweeping views of the island. During my trip, I ordered the classic Royal Hawaiian mai tai for $20. The price was comparable with what I paid for other mai tais on the island, and this rum cocktail was one of the very best drinks I tried during my trip. The hotel was also located within walking distance of a lot of Waikiki dining. Duke's Waikiki was next to our hotel. Carly Caramanna I enjoyed the short walk from our hotel to Waikiki's vibrant dining and shopping options. We made a few visits to the famous beach restaurant Duke's Waikiki, which was just next door. Although The Royal Hawaiian has several dining options, we chose to have several meals at Duke's because the food was more affordable. I had a nice trip, but I wouldn't spend the money to stay at the pink hotel again. I will be back to visit the famous bar but will stay somewhere more affordable. Carly Caramanna Overall, I spent $530 on my one-night stay at The Royal Hawaiian, and I don't think I can justify staying there again. The hotel's location was nice, but I wasn't impressed with my room, which felt very dated. For the same price or a few hundred dollars more, I could stay somewhere with more luxurious-feeling rooms, like Disney's Aulani or a nearby Four Seasons. Maybe I would've felt differently if I'd stayed in the other section of the hotel, the Mailani Tower. It's decorated differently, and I've heard from friends the Tower's rooms are nicer and more modern. Although rooms in the Historic Wing and Mailani Tower can have comparable prices, a room in the tower was pricier when I booked my trip. Even so, I think the best parts of the resort, like its nearby beaches and mai tais, can be accessed by the general public. I'll definitely return to The Royal Hawaiian's bar for mai tais, but I won't be staying again as an overnight guest. This story was originally published on April 4, 2024, and most recently updated on September 26, 2024. Read the original article on Business Insider Two people were arrested after their single-engine plane made an emergency landing on a Southern California highway, and a "large quantity of narcotics" was discovered aboard, according to multiple reports citing local police. The Piper PA-28 aircraft landed around 1:43 a.m. near Canyon Drive on Highway 76, which runs through San Diego's North County region, the Oceanside Police Department said, per KTLA and KUSI. The pilot told police that the plane's engine was failing, according to the department, per the California-based TV stations. Neither of the individuals aboard the aircraft suffered injuries, police said. Oceanside police shared a Facebook post on Thursday morning advising the public that a small plane landed on the highway and was blocking a lane of traffic. Flight diverted: Scandinavian Airlines flight diverted after mouse climbs out of passenger's meal FAA investigating the emergency landing The unspecified drugs were found when police officers searched the plane, KTLA and KUSI reported, citing the department. The aircraft's occupants, both Oceanside residents, were subsequently arrested, according to police, per the TV stations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing. USA TODAY contacted the Oceanside Police Department on Thursday but has not received a response. This story will be updated as more information is available. Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Drug-filled plane emergency lands on California highway: Reports Pope Francis took the unusual decision Wednesday to expel 10 people a bishop, priests and laypeople from a troubled Catholic movement in Peru after a Vatican investigation uncovered sadistic abuses of power, authority and spirituality. The move against the leadership of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, or Sodalitium of Christian Life, followed Francis decision last month to expel the groups founder, Luis Figari, after he was found to have sodomized his recruits. It was announced by the Peruvian Bishops Conference, which posted a statement from the Vatican embassy on its website. The statement was astonishing because it listed abuses uncovered by the Vatican investigation that have rarely if ever been punished canonically such as hacking someones communications and cited the people the pope held responsible. The move is likely to be welcomed by some of the victims who spoke to CNN earlier this year and had urged the Vatican to take serious measures against the perpetrators after decades of impunity. According to the statement, the Vatican investigators uncovered physical abuses including with sadism and violence, sect-like abuses of conscience, spiritual abuse, abuses of authority, economic abuses in administering church money and the abuse in the exercise of the apostolate of journalism. The latter was presumably aimed at a Sodalitium-linked journalist who has attacked critics of the movement on social media. Figari founded the movement in 1971 as a lay community to recruit soldiers for God, one of several Catholic societies born as a conservative reaction to the left-leaning liberation theology movement that swept through Latin America, starting in the 1960s. At its height, the group counted about 20,000 members across South America and the United States. It was enormously influential in Peru. Victims of Figaris abuses complained to the Lima archdiocese in 2011, though other claims against him reportedly date to 2000. But neither the local church nor the Holy See took concrete action until one of the victims, Pedro Salinas, wrote a book along with journalist Paola Ugaz detailing the twisted practices of the Sodalitium in 2015, entitled Half Monks, Half Soldiers. An outside investigation ordered by Sodalitium later determined that Figari was narcissistic, paranoid, demeaning, vulgar, vindictive, manipulative, racist, sexist, elitist and obsessed with sexual issues and the sexual orientation of Sodalitiums members. The investigation, published in 2017, found that Figari sodomized his recruits and forced them to fondle him and one another. He liked to watch them experience pain, discomfort and fear, and humiliated them in front of others to enhance his control over them, the report found. Still, the Holy See declined to expel Figari from the movement in 2017 and merely ordered him to live apart from the Sodalitium community in Rome and cease all contact with it. The Vatican was seemingly tied in knots by canon law that did not foresee such punishments for founders of religious communities who werent priests. Victims were outraged. Vatican investigators Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, right, from Spain, and Archbishop Charles Scicluna, from Malta, walk outside of the Nunciatura Apostolica during a break from meeting with people who alleged abuse by the Catholic lay group Sodalitium Christianae Vitae in Lima, Peru, on July 25, 2023. - Martin Mejia/AP But according to the findings of the latest Vatican investigation, the abuses went beyond Figari, included Sodalitium clergy and also involved harassing and hacking the communications of their victims all the while covering up crimes committed as part of their official duties, according to the statement. The investigation was carried out by the Vaticans top sex crimes investigators, Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who travelled to Lima last year to take testimony from victims. The highest-ranking person ordered expelled was Archbishop Jose Antonio Eguren, whom Francis already forced to resign as bishop of Piura in April over his record, after he sued Salinas and Ugaz for their reporting. In addition to Figaris own abuses, their reporting had exposed the alleged forced eviction of peasants on lands in Egurens diocese by a Sodalitium-linked real estate developer. Ugaz, the journalist, welcomed the move to expel the 10 people and said the reference to Sodalitium hacking referred to her: She said her communications had been hacked in 2023 after she reported on the Sodalitiums off-shore holdings and other financial dealings, and said she believed the group was trying to find out her sources. It is a demonstration that in Peru, the survivors would never have found justice and reparation (without Bertomeo and Scicluna) because the Sodalitium is an organization with a lot of political, social and economic power, she said in a statement to The Associated Press. The Vatican, in the statement, said the Peruvian bishops joined Francis in seeking the forgiveness of the victims while calling on the troubled movement to initiate a journey of justice and reparation. CNN contacted Figaris lawyers for comment without a reply. He has denied all allegations against him in the past. CNN also reached out to Archbishop Jose Antonio Egurens representative, without reply, and has reached out to Sodalitium Christiane Vitae. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com This image taken from video released by New York City Office of the Mayor, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, shows mayor Eric Adams speaking during a videotaped statement. (New York City Office of the Mayor via AP) NEW YORK (AP) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to two people familiar with the matter, an extraordinary culmination to weeks of searches, subpoenas and resignations of top officials that have thrust the citys government into crisis. The indictment detailing the charges against Adams, a Democrat, was expected to be unsealed Thursday, according to the people, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan declined to comment. In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams said he would remain in office, describing any charges he may face as entirely false, based on lies. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said. "I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit." It was not immediately clear what laws Adams is accused of breaking or when he might have to appear in court. Federal investigators had seized Adams' electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams' interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters. The indictment was first reported by The New York Times. It marks a stunning turn for Adams, a former police captain who won election nearly three years ago to become the citys second Black mayor on a campaign that stressed his working class roots and commitment to public safety. But as Adams has made reducing crime a cornerstone of his administration, he has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations honing in on his top aides and his own campaign. In the last two weeks alone, the leaders he appointed to oversee the country's largest police force and largest schools system have announced their resignations. Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement. The indictment comes against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly, which has brought dozens of world leaders to New York, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The federal investigations into Adams administration first emerged publicly on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of his chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be shocked if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. Days later, FBI agents seized the mayors phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. Then on Sept. 4, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the citys police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall. Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations, but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. A week after the searches, the city's police commissioner, Edward Caban, announced his resignation. About two weeks later, Schools Chancellor David Banks announced he would retire at the end of the year. Adams himself insisted he would keep doing the citys business and allow the investigations to run their course. Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign arm and City Hall, requesting information about the mayors schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government. Adams spent 22 years in New York Citys police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as mayor in November 2021 a victory he has repeatedly said was ordained by God. But after more than two years in office, Adams popularity has declined. While the city has seen an increase in jobs and a drop in certain categories of crime, the administration has struggled with an influx of tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the citys homeless shelters. There has also been a steady drip of accusations and a swirl of suspicion around people close to the mayor. In addition to the sprawling inquiries launched by Manhattan prosecutors, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn are investigating another one of Adams close aides, Winnie Greco, who had raised thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the citys Chinese American communities and later became his director of Asian affairs. Greco hasnt commented publicly on the FBI searches of her properties and continues to work for the city. When agents seized electronic devices from Caban, the former police commissioner, in early September, they also visited his twin brother, James Caban, a former police officer who runs a nightlife consulting business. Agents also took devices from the schools chancellor; his brother Philip Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief who is now deputy mayor for public safety; their brother Terence Banks, who ran a consulting firm that promised to connect businesses to government stakeholders; and from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is David Banks domestic partner. All denied any wrongdoing. While those investigations churned, federal authorities also searched the homes of newly named interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, and seized materials unrelated to his police work. Donlon confirmed the search and said it involved materials that had been in his possession for 20 years. In his speech Wednesday night, Adams appeared to cite that search as proof of overreach by federal investigators. Hours before the charges were announced, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Adams to resign, the first nationally prominent Democrat to do so. Adams reacted with scorn, dismissing Ocasio-Cortez as self-righteous. Adams, who is expecting a tough primary election next year, faced additional calls to resign once the indictment became public Wednesday night, including from many of his declared or expected Democratic challengers in the mayoral race. Brad Lander, the citys comptroller, said the indictment marked a sad day for New Yorkers. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie added that it was especially painful for so many Black New Yorkers who put our hope and faith in this Mayor. Scott Stringer, a former city comptroller who is expected to run against Adams, said the indictment had left New York City "with a broken down trainwreck of a municipal government." Joe Borelli, the top Republican in the City Council, who is believed to be eyeing a run for mayor, said he would reserve judgment until viewing the charges. Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized Volodymyr Zelensky and claimed the Ukrainian president refuses to make a deal amid Russias war in Ukraine, marking Trumps most explicit criticism of Zelenskys handling of the war to date. Those cities are gone, theyre gone, and we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refused to make a deal, Zelensky. There was no deal that he could have made that wouldnt have been better than the situation you have right now. You have a country that has been obliterated, not possible to be rebuilt, Trump said during a campaign speech in Mint Hill, North Carolina. The comments come at the same time as a rising furor on Capitol Hill over the Ukrainian president among Republicans. In the House, GOP lawmakers are attempting to investigate what US taxpayer resources went toward supporting Zelenskys security as he traveled to Pennsylvania while GOP senators are warning the Ukrainian to stay out of American politics after he called Sen. JD Vance, Trumps vice presidential running mate, too radical in an interview that published over the weekend. The latest line of Republican attacks speaks to the broader political divisions over US involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. Republican leaders are so far declining to meet Zelensky while he is in Washington, DC, while Democrats are embracing the opportunity. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson are not currently scheduled to meet with the Ukrainian president, sources told CNN, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to have meetings. It all amounts to a stark warning for the Ukrainian president, who has relied heavily on American support to fight off Russias invasion since it began in February 2022. While Zelensky has had strong backing from the Biden administration, Republican support for the continued funding of Ukraines defense has been eroding for months and now appears to be picking up speed. In New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Zelensky warned world leaders of serious attacks coming on his country, saying the Russians are set to go after Ukraines energy supplies including nuclear power plants. Ukrainians will never accept why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past which suits no one today can be imposed on Ukraine now, instead of a normal, peaceful life, he said, asking for support from all nations of the world in securing peace for Ukraine. Trump appeared unmoved. Every time he came to our country, hed walk away with $60 billion. Hes probably the greatest salesman on Earth, Trump said of Zelensky on Wednesday. Trump says Ukraine should have given up territory to stop the war earlier In his speech, Trump blamed Biden and Harris for Russias invasion of Ukraine and claimed they caused this situation by the stupidity of what they said, by every move they make, but they caused the situation and now theyre locked in. They just dont know what to do. Theyre locked into a situation. Its sad, they just dont know what to do. Because Ukraine is gone, its not Ukraine anymore. You can never replace those cities and towns, and you can never replace the dead people, so many dead people, Trump said. He said making a deal earlier in the conflict to cede some territory to the Russians would have prevented more catastrophe. Trump argued Biden should have been able to orchestrate a deal between Russia and Ukraine that avoided any bloodshed and argued that even a bad deal and one where Ukraine had given up a little bit, wouldve been preferable to the war. A deal could have been made. There wouldnt have been one person that died, and there wouldnt have been one golden tower laying shattered on its side. A deal could have been made if we had a competent President, Trump said. But Trump argued the opportunity to make a deal no longer existed because of the destruction Putins war in Ukraine had caused. What deal can we make? What deal can we make? The, its, its demolished. The people are dead. The country is in rubble. And who are these people that allowed this to happen? Who are these people? When asked Wednesday on a call with reporters if he believes Ukraine should cede land in exchange for ending the war, Vance said everything is going to be on the table, but nothing is going to be definitely on the table. Thats why you have a negotiation, especially with a guy whos as skilled as Donald Trump, is because he actually should try to have a conversation between both parties and other interested parties about how to bring this war to close, Vance said on a call with reporters. As he said repeatedly, the killing has to stop, Vance added. Its not an Americas interest. I dont think its in Ukraine or Europes best interest for this thing to go on indefinitely. Vance said the biggest problem is how the war has distracted and consumed a lot of resources at a time when Americans are suffering. Vance gave a glimpse at how a Trump-Vance administration would work to end the war, telling the Shawn Ryan podcast that he believes it could involve a demilitarized zone at the current line of demarcation. House Republicans attack Zelensky House Republicans launched a new line of attack against Zelensky on Wednesday, criticizing his recent visit to a Pennsylvania ammunition plant ahead of key meetings with Biden and other allies as part of his weeklong push in the US to shore up more support for his war effort. Republicans are claiming that Zelenskys visit to Pennsylvania, a key battleground state in the 2024 presidential election that is home to a sizable population of people of Ukrainian ancestry, was made to provide political support to Democrats. Johnson called on Zelensky to fire Ukraines Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, for organizing the recent trip to the Pennsylvania manufacturing site. The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference, Johnson wrote Wednesday. Meanwhile, House Oversight Chair James Comer launched an investigation into Zelenskys use of a US aircraft to fly to the Pennsylvania facility. The Committee seeks to determine whether the Biden-Harris Administration attempted to use a foreign leader to benefit Vice President Harriss presidential campaign and, if so, necessarily committed an abuse of power, Comer wrote in the letter sent to the White House, the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense on Wednesday. James Adams, a Pentagon spokesperson, told CNN in a statement Thursday that the flight to Pennsylvania was a U.S. Department of Defense-funded mission. The Department requested Military Airlift (MILAIR) support to facilitate travel for senior U.S. government officials from both the Department of State and the Department of Defense. The statement added, These officials were conducting official business related to U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, which included a stop at Newark Liberty International Airport, where they linked up with President Zelensky before continuing to Wilkes-Barre International Airport in Pennsylvania. Senators warn Ukrainian leader to back off Vance criticisms Zelensky said in an interview with The New Yorker that Vance was too radical and has sent the message the Ukraine must sacrifice its territory for peace. The idea that the world should end this war at Ukraines expense is unacceptable. But I do not consider this concept of his a plan, in any formal sense, Zelensky said. This would be an awful idea, if a person were actually going to carry it out, to make Ukraine shoulder the costs of stopping the war by giving up its territories. And it wouldnt necessarily end the war, either. Its just sloganeering. Vances Republican colleagues in the Senate sent a clear message to the Ukrainian president when asked about the remark on Wednesday. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of Republican leadership who is running to replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell next Congress, told CNN that Zelensky should stay out of American politics, after Zelensky called Vance too radical. I think its a monumental miscalculation by President Zelensky, said Cornyn. If he wants support for Ukraine, he should stay out of American politics. Senate Republican Whip John Thune added, I think it would be advisable for him to stay out of American politics, when asked if it was appropriate for Zelensky to criticize Vance. They have some differences on some issues but its not his place to litigate that here in the middle of an American election. This story has been updated with additional reporting. CNNs Morgan Rimmer and Ted Barrett contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com LONDON (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that the U.S. would continue to provide military aid to Israel, playing down the idea of "red lines", even as he warned that an all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah would be devastating. Israel rejected global calls for a ceasefire with Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah on Thursday, defying its biggest ally the U.S. and pressing ahead with strikes that have killed hundreds in Lebanon and heightened fears of a regional war. Asked about "red lines" for U.S. support to Israel, Austin told reporters that the United States would not change its commitment to help Israel protect itself. He echoed U.S. calls for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution to the crisis. "We've been committed from the very beginning to help Israel, provide the things that are necessary for them to be able to protect their sovereign territory and that hasn't changed and won't change in the future," Austin said after a meeting in London with his British and Australian counterparts. Israel said on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support its ongoing military efforts and to maintain a military edge in the region. Austin said that there was a risk of all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel but added that a diplomatic solution was still viable. "We now face the risk of an all-out war. Another full-scale war (could) be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon," Austin said. "So let me be clear, Israel and Lebanon can choose a different path, despite the sharp escalation in recent days, a diplomatic solution is still viable," Austin said. He added that the quickest way for Israel to achieve its goal of returning citizens to their homes in northern Israel was through diplomacy. Israel has vowed to secure its north and return thousands of citizens to communities there, who have evacuated since Hezbollah launched a campaign of cross-border strikes last year in solidarity with Palestinian militants fighting in Gaza. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill in London, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Getty Images Seven years before Prince William married Kate Middleton, another photogenic bride of modest breeding created the model of the very modern princess. It was the spring of 2004, and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was on the arm of the dashing Prince Felipe of Asturias, a member of the 750-year-old Bourbon dynasty and heir to the throne of Spain. By marrying Letizia, Felipe was putting to bed years of gossip and speculation. The tanned former Olympic yachtsman, who was 36, had been linked to a string of head-turners, including a Norwegian model, a Liechtensteiner princess, and American model turned socialite Gigi Howard. Like Kate Middleton, Letizia, then 31, was notable for being a commoner, the middle-class daughter of a journalist and a nurse. Unlike Kate, she was also divorced and established in her profession; as a Spanish TV news anchor, she had reported from Ground Zero after 9/11. She and Felipe hit it off the following year, after, rumor has it, Felipe arranged for a mutual friend to invite them both to dinner. Carlos Alvarez - Getty Images Despite pearl-clutching in the more conservative corners of Spanish society, the wedding, at the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, would set the tone for a relationship defined by poise and quiet professionalism. Such qualities, along with Letizias cover star smile and style, cemented the comparisons with the Duchess of Cambridge. They also became vital when, in 2014, a royal scandal propelled Felipe, now 56, to the throne far sooner than he could have dreamed. If any royal couple had the chops to rescue the Spanish monarchy from the mire left by the disgraced King Juan Carlos, whose sins included affairs, allegations of corruption (an investigation was subsequently shelved), and a very poorly timed luxury elephant-hunting safari, it was Felipe, in his sober suits, with the elegant Letizia, now 51, by his side. But today, 20 years after those glittering nuptialsand 10 years after Felipe vowed to restore the monarchys reputation following his fathers abdicationconcerns are swirling like crows around the Zarzuela Palace. They involve a nonagenarian journalist, warring dynasties, an impudent prime minister, and outlandish claims of royal infidelity by Letizias own former brother-in-law. The wives of Spanish kings have faced various degrees of scrutiny, some of it extreme. Queen consorts have always provoked curiosity, and curiosity is the mother of controversy, says Jose Antonio Zarzalejos, the author of Felipe VI: Un Rey en la Adversidad (A King in Adversity), who had meetings with his subject while researching the book. Jacques Pavlovsky - Getty Images Letizia certainly would have been anxious to avoid the fate of her mother-in-law. Queen Sofia stood by as Juan Carlos, now 86, conducted affairs. Most notable among his lovers was Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, a Danish businesswoman with whom he went elephant hunting in Africa in 2012, as Spain languished in a deep recession. The affair tipped popular opinion against a king who had been internationally acclaimed for steering Spain from dictatorship to democracy in the 1970s. He abdicated after almost 40 years in power and later spent a period of self-imposed exile in the United Arab Emirates. Felipe slimmed down the monarchy when he took the throne and positioned himself and Letizia as the antidote to scandal. This came with a personal cost. The scandal broke the family, and Felipe had to choose between the father and the institution of the monarchy. He chose the monarchy, says David Jimenez, an author and the former editor-in-chief of El Mundo. Daniel Gluckmann - Getty Images It all makes the new claims seem incendiary, not least because the queen herself is in the spotlight. At the center of the alleged scandal is Jaime del Burgo, the controversial son of a politician and, perhaps notably, grandson of Jaime del Burgo Torres, a prominent activist in the Carlist movement, which formed in the 19th century to fight for the claim to the Spanish throne of an alternative branch of the Bourbon dynasty. In November last year Jaime Penafiel, a 92-year-old newspaper columnist who is known for his fealty to Juan Carlos, published Letizia y Yo (Letizia and I). In the book del Burgo, a 54-year-old entrepreneur based in London, tells Penafiel that he and Letizia had struck up a romance in the 1990s on a trip to Venice. He says he was preparing to propose to her when she told him that she was dating a mysterious diplomat and that her new relationship would end her career. According to the book, del Burgo deduced that his rival was Felipe. Del Burgo went further, claiming that the romance continued in the shadows. He alleged that he had met Letizia on the eve of the royal wedding. She took hold of my hand and asked me why I had never asked her to marry me. Obviously, I didnt reply. I encouraged her as best I could. The last thing she said to me before we said goodbye to each other in that restaurant was a request: Never leave me. The relationship did continue, del Burgo alleged, even telling Penafiel that there were plans to flee Spain together for the U.S. He said he had photos and text messages that support his story, but he has so far shared nothing to substantiate it. Meanwhile the Casa Real, the royal palace, has declined to comment on the issue. NurPhoto - Getty Images Weeks after the books publication, del Burgo posted on X (formerly Twitter) an old photo of Letizia that the princess had apparently taken of herself in a bathroom mirror. Del Burgo claimed that the black pashmina she wore was his. He tweeted a message that he alleged Letizia had sent him with the selfie: Love. Im wearing your pashmina. Its like feeling you next to me. It takes care of me. Protects me. I count the hours until we see each other again. Love you. Get out of here. Yours. The post has since been deleted, and at this point there is no proof that Letizia sent the photo and accompanying text. Del Burgo says in the book that Letizia ended the romance in 2011. In a turn of events that would be startling in any family, he then married her sister, Telma Ortiz, the following year. The couple moved to New York, but Telma, an economist, returned to Spain months later, and they separated after two years, in 2014. (In a remarkable subplot, Telma then married Gavin Bonnar, an Irish lawyer who had been married to Sharon Corr, of the Irish band the Corrs. In 2021 Corr released an autobiographical album. Its title track, The Fool & the Scorpion, includes the lyrics Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and The queens twisted sister, a chameleon.) Then, in July of this year, del Burgo gave an interview to Clarin, an Argentinian magazine, in which he repeated his claims of an ongoing romantic relationship and said he had last spoken to Letizia in May of this year. As I have always said, ours was not a relationship of lovers, he said. The lover would be him, in any case. I mean Felipe. The outburst made headlines in the UK, including in the Times of London, but there was a more muted response in Spain, as well as a backlash against del Burgo. Esther Lopez Barcelo, a left-wing academic and former politician, said that even republicans sympathized with the queen regarding these intimate allegations. Letizia could be my class enemy and, at the same time, the victim of a crime against privacy that is based on the patriarchy, she posted online. Gerardo Mora - Getty Images Even the celebrity press mostly ignored the contretemps. A senior editor at Hola! told me, We do not wish to comment on this subject. Zarzalejos wont go there either, and several experts on Spanish constitutional affairs swerve around any appeals for insight. Del Burgo, who initially agreed to answer Town & Countrys questions via email before going silent, deleted his X account earlier this year, although he later reemerged on the site and reposted the mirror selfie, along with a promise to release a TV documentary called And Nothing More Than the Truth. Meanwhile Penafiel was let go by El Mundo, where he was a columnist. Spain is a country where privacy is usually respected, and if a politician is having an affair, that would rarely make it to the media, Jimenez says. He says the elephant hunt crossed a line that was about more than infidelity. In this case, having someone close to [Letizia] disclosing things we dont know are true or not, but are in any case private I think most people are not paying much attention to it. One key question for del Burgo concerns his motives. There were hints that he was driven by more than matters of the heart. He expressed his dislike of the monarchy itself, which he called rotten. He tweeted last December, I recognize only one king in heaven, and his name is Jesus of Nazareth. He will judge me. In fact, del Burgo was quite chatty on X in December, when he also retweeted a far-right conspiracy theory that held that Juan Carloss abdication was not part of a crown rescue mission by Felipe but a leftist plot to usher in a new king who, with Letizia by his side and a renewed moral mission to uphold democracy, would have no choice but to tolerate a socialist prime minister. You dont have to be a scorned lover, leftist plotter, or conspiracy theorist to identify the gravest threat to the monarchy, which has given way to republics twice in Spains modern history. The biggest challenge to the royal family and to the crown is undoubtedly the government, says Ramon Perez-Maura, a Spanish journalist who grew up in a political family. Handout - Getty Images Its not hard to see why conservatives have taken against Pedro Sanchez, the current prime minister, and Felipes support of him. Sanchez, who came to power in 2018, narrowly secured a second term last year (after failing to win a majority) by controversially relying on the support of a left-wing alliance that included radicals and Catalan separatists, for whom Spains monarchy has been a barrier to independence. This seemed to only embolden Sanchezs republican instincts. Perez-Maura tells me Sanchez has repeatedly skipped the traditional weekly meeting with the king, and that the prime minister had to be pulled away when he broke protocol by standing alongside Felipe and Letizia to greet people at an official reception at the palace on Spains National Day. It was absolutely incredible, Perez-Maura says. He just doesnt play by the rules King Felipe is managing to remain on top, but with a very hostile relationship with a man who cant stand the fact that hes not the head of state. Zarzalejos says that Sanchez has also declined to dispatch a minister to accompany the king on official trips abroad. That is not tolerable, the writer says. Yet publicly, at least, Felipe has displayed extreme tolerance, quietly rising above the political fray while continuing to draw a line between his and his fathers reigns. Michael Reaves - Getty Images The stakes are high for Felipe, who was born a year before Franco, Spains fascist dictator, chose his father to be the next king. Juan Carloss humiliating abdication only reinforced the sense of precariousness in Spains monarchyand an uncertain fate for its royal family. In the Argentinian interview, del Burgo said he could not see the monarchy surviving beyond 2027, the year of the next general election. Republicanism has been a persistent force in Spain, and in June thousands protested in Madrid. Some threw an effigy of Felipe on a republican flag as the crowd chanted, Los Borbones a los tiburones!: throw the Bourbons to the sharks. But, despite a degree of discontent, and the best efforts of del Burgo, nobody I spoke to shares such a pessimistic outlook. Official approval ratings for the royals are no longer published in Spain, but Zarzalejos tells me he has seen positive private polling. Carlos Alvarez - Getty Images Perez-Maura believes that Letizia, meanwhile, continues to be a vital asset. Yet even if she can brush off del Burgos claims, she may not be the queen who determines the longevity of the Spanish monarchy. A difficult year for the royal couple has coincided with the coming of age of Leonor, their elder daughter, 18 and heir to the throne. She was featured prominently in a summer exhibition of photographs held at the palace to mark a decade of Felipes reign, and she has commenced public engagements while also enrolling at the prestigious Zaragoza Military Academy. She wasnt shown publicly more than once a year, but since she has come out in the last year and a half, she is very pretty and has captured the nations attention, Perez-Maura says. She is the biggest asset the family has right now. Given the nature of del Burgos kiss-and-tell claims, and the response of feminists in particular, its striking that Leonor might be the savior for a royal family with a history of problematic relationships with women, in a country that has not had a reigning queen since Isabella II was deposed in 1868. This is the century of women, and Leonor will surely coincide on the throne with other queens in Europe, Zarzalejos says. It will be a great opportunity to create a different view of our country. This story appears in the October 2024 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW You Might Also Like Vice President Harris and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered remarks at the White House on Thursday following a separate meeting with President Biden. Zelensky was welcomed to the White House, where he was expected to present his victory plan on how Ukraine can overcome its nearly three-year war with Russia. Zelensky was slated to meet with Biden first, deliver remarks with Harris then meet with Harris the Democratic presidential nominee privately, according to the White House. The meeting comes on the heels of Bidens final address before the U.N. General Assembly and Zelenskys speech, during which he warned that Russia was preparing for potential nuclear attacks. He also called for the international community to put more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt any plans to attack. Biden has reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to support Ukraine and on Thursday pledged an estimated $8 billion in aid for the war-torn country. Harris and Zelensky were scheduled to deliver remarks at 3:05 p.m. ET. Watch the video report above. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Muslims in eastern Uganda beat an evangelist on Friday (Sept. 20), leaving him hospitalized with head injuries and a broken hand, sources said. Robertson Eriot, 41, and fellow evangelist Kefa Mukisa were visiting homes outside of Busia town, seat of the district of the same name, and stopped at the home of an Islamic leader identified as Sheikh Kalimu on the Busia-Kampala road at about 4:30 p.m., Mukisa said. After they requested permission to enter the homestead, the watchman opened the gate and let them in, and they began sharing the gospel with him, Mukisa said. Sheikh Kalimu who was inside the house heard our conversation he was angered and came out furiously, Mukisa, 25, told Morning Star News. He ordered his boys and other Muslims who had come for Islamic fellowship to come out of the room and to discipline us. Kalimu shouted, These are Christians who are out to convert our people to a wrong religion, according to Mukisa, adding that immediately a number of people came out of the house shouting the jihadist slogan, Allah Akbar [God is greater]. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up Since the gate was closed, we decided to jump over the fence, Mukisa said. I managed to jump over the fence and took off. Unfortunately, Eriot was caught up before he was able to escape over the fence. Mukisa said he began shouting for help, and local council leaders and neighbors arrived. We entered the homestead, and we found Eriot half-dead in a pool of blood, he said. We were able to rush him to the nearby clinic for treatment. Eriot suffered deep head injuries, a fractured left hand and bruises near the thigh of his right leg. He could have been hit with a blunt object and possibly a sharp object. They reported the attack to authorities and were waiting for them to act, he said. Eriots wife, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he is still recuperating at a hospital in Busia. This is a very difficult time for me in supporting the family, especially food and to get money for paying medical charges for my husband in the hospital, she said, weeping. I know it will take a long period for my husband to be in the hospital. The couple have six children ranging in age from 7 to 19. The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. WASHINGTON The Biden administration on Thursday announced a massive infusion of military aid for Ukraine that will total nearly $8 billion and include bombs with the range to reach inside Russia. The announcement comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the White House to press for permission to fire long-range precision weapons into Russia, a longstanding plea that has gone unanswered. Ukraine wants the ability to strike airfields and munitions depots inside Russia that have been used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to stage devastating attacks on residential neighborhoods and power plants. President Joe Biden, in a statement, announced that he would send more than $5 billion in weapons from Pentagon stocks to Ukraine under authority granted by Congress before his term ends in January. In addition, the Pentagon will contract for another $2.4 billion for air defense weapons, drones and bombs. One significant weapon Biden announced is a long-range bomb known as the Joint Standoff Weapon, which can be released from warplanes and fly to targets as far as 80 miles away. Current White House policy restricts Ukraine to striking targets in Russia close to its border. Biden also announced expanded training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots. The administration had been reluctant to offer Ukraine the warplanes, fearing that they would be regarded as an escalation by Putin and lead to a broader war. "For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my Administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail," Biden said in a statement. Putin has not widened the war since the appearance of weapons like Abrams tanks and long-range artillery on the battlefield. The United States has provided Ukraine with more than $56 billion in military aid since Russia's invasion in February 2022. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden announces new, massive military aid package for Ukraine Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago White Sox averted a record-breaking loss for the third straight day, beating the Los Angeles Angels 7-0 on Thursday behind Chris Flexen's sharp pitching performance. Chicago improved to 39-120 with its three-game sweep of Los Angeles. It has been tied with the 1962 New York Mets for the modern major league record for losses since Sunday's 4-2 setback at San Diego. "Weve played really good baseball these last three games, so its really good to see," first baseman Andrew Vaughn said. The White Sox finished their home schedule with a 23-58 record. They have three games left this weekend against the Detroit Tigers, who are in the mix for an AL wild card. I think guys are excited after this series," interim manager Grady Sizemore said. It's going to be a fun atmosphere there. These guys are playing for (the) postseason. We're going there to compete and not make it easy and try to get wins and try to just keep going. Flexen (3-15) struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings in his first win since May 8. The right-hander was winless in his previous 23 starts, a franchise record. Flexen was cheered by the crowd of 15,678 when he departed on a sunny afternoon. It was awesome, Flexen said, especially after the last couple nights, hearing some boos after winning a game. It's been tough, but to have a real ovation there was pretty special. Los Angeles dropped to 63-96 to set a franchise record for losses in a season. It went 1-6 on its final trip to finish with a 31-50 road record the most road losses for the team since it went 27-53 in 1996. I havent processed anything yet, catcher Logan O'Hoppe said. Its pretty sickening, going in the spring and expecting things to turn around, and then it happens. Weve got a good group in here, and it doesnt feel like what the record shows, but the record is what it is. The Angels had six hits five off Flexen. They managed just five runs and 19 hits in the series at Chicago. The White Sox put it away with a season-high seven runs in the fifth inning, helped by an error on shortstop Jack Lopez. Vaughn hit a two-run single, and Lenyn Sosa doubled home two more runs. It was just a great inning, Sizemore said. Guys put together good at-bats. I thought we got the big hit when we needed it. Lopez moved from second base to shortstop after Zach Neto departed because of right shoulder irritation. Neto got hurt when he tried to take second on a pitch in the dirt in the fourth. I was sliding and I felt a little discomfort, but everything is fine, Neto said. Vaughn had three of Chicago's 12 hits. Sosa, Zach DeLoach and Dominic Fletcher each had two. Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson (10-15) permitted five runs, four earned, and four hits in 4 1/3 innings. TRAINER'S ROOM Angels: 1B Nolan Schanuel got the day off after he fouled a ball off his right leg in the first inning of Wednesday night's loss. Manager Ron Washington said Schanuel could play this weekend. Hes moving around better, Washington said. Well see where he is when we get back to Anaheim. UP NEXT Angels: LHP Reid Detmers (4-8, 6.67 ERA) takes the mound on Friday night against Texas. RHP Jacob deGrom (0-0, 1.35 ERA) goes for the visiting Rangers. White Sox: Garrett Crochet (6-12, 3.68 ERA) starts on Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Detroit. The All-Star left-hander has a career-high 203 strikeouts in 142 innings. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB Iwao Hakamada was accused of killing a family of four in 1966 and was found guilty two years later. His death sentence was finalized in 1980 The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Iwao Hakamada pictured on Sept. 26, 2024 Iwao Hakamada who is believed to be the world's longest-serving death row inmate has been acquitted 58 years after his arrest Per local reports, Hakamada's death sentence was finalized in 1980 after he was found guilty of murdering a family of four in 1968 Hakamada was granted a retrial in 2014 and after years of prolonged legal proceedings, it finally opened in October 2023 A man believed to be the world's longest-serving death row inmate has been acquitted by a Japanese court at age 88. On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Shizuoka District Court announced the verdict of Iwao Hakamada. It arrived 56 years after he was found guilty in 1968 of killing a family of four two years prior, per the BBC. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the court claimed that "key evidence" had been "fabricated by investigators" at his original trial. Hakamada had "continued to maintain his innocence after his death sentence was finalized in 1980," the outlet stated. Hakamada's retrial began in October 2023 before a total of 15 hearings took place, per NHK. Aflo/Shutterstock Iwao Hakamada and his sister Hideko Hakamada pictured in 2015 Related: Where Is Casey Anthony Now? A Look at Her Life After Acquittal He was accused of killing a senior manager at the miso factory where he worked in 1966, as well as the man's wife and his two children. The family was found dead after being stabbed at their home before the property was set on fire, the publication added. The BBC reported that Hakamada had also been accused of stealing 200,000 Japanese Yen (now nearly $1,400 USD) in cash. Per Japanese outlet The Asahi Shimbum, Judge Koshi Kunii claimed investigative authorities had "tampered with evidence by smearing blood" on Hakamada's clothing supposedly worn during the alleged crimes. NHK added that Judge Kunii Koshi also questioned whether red stains on clothing found in a miso tank were blood, as the items "would not retain a red hue after being buried under miso paste for more than one year." KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Iwao Hakamada pictured in 2018 The outlet suggested the clothes had been placed in the tank "after a considerable period of time had passed since the killings." The BBC also stated that Hakamada's lawyers had long insisted that DNA found on some clothes in the miso tank a year after his arrest did not match his. Hakamada was granted a retrial in 2014 after Judge Hiroaki Murayama admitted that "the clothes were not those of the defendant, per the BBC. However, it's taken up until now for the retrial to happen due to prolonged legal proceedings, the outlet stated. The Asahi Shimbum reported that Hakamada's 91-year-old sister, Hideko, had been among those fighting for her brother's freedom through the years. On behalf of my brother, I plead not guilty, she said when the retrial started in October, per the outlet. Hakamada had been living with his sister in Shizuoka Prefecture since 2014 when he was released pending the eventual retrial, the paper added. AP Photo/Kyodo Iwao Hakamada Related: Where Is Amanda Knox Now? Inside Her Life After Acquittal and Why Shes Still Clearing Her Name The outlet added that Hakamada, who was a former professional boxer, was not present during the hearings due to mental illness which he had "developed behind bars." Despite maintaining his innocence through the years, he "confessed" to the crimes "after nearly three weeks of brutal police interrogations" following his initial arrest in 1966, the Asahi Shimbum reported, citing his defense team. However, he retracted that confession once the trial opened. 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. AP Photo/Kyodo Iwao Hakamada and his sister Hideko pictured in 2014 Amnesty Internationals East Asia Researcher Boram Jang was among those celebrating Hakamada's acquittal. We are overjoyed by the courts decision to exonerate Iwao Hakamada. After enduring almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial, this verdict is an important recognition of the profound injustice he endured for most of his life," Jang said, per the human rights organization's website. Hakamada's acquittal marks the fifth time in postwar Japan and the first in 35 years that a defendant on death row has been exonerated in the country, per NHK. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. An 88-year-old former boxer has been found not guilty in a retrial of a 1966 quadruple murder in Japan, ending his ordeal as the longest-serving death row inmate ever. A ruling by Tokyo's Shizuoka District Court on Thursday exonerated Iwao Hamakada, who spent four decades on death row an ordeal that began with his conviction and sentencing by the same court in 1968, Amnesty International said. Hamakeda's 91-year-old sister Hideko, who has long advocated for her brother's acquittal, was seen celebrating outside the court after the verdict on Thursday. Former Japanese professional boxer Iwao Hakamada (L), who was sentenced to death for the murder of four members of a family in 1966 and released in 2014, and his sister Hideko (R) leave after a press conference in Tokyo on November 25, 2019. / Credit: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images "Everyone, we won the acquittal, it's all thanks to your support. Thank you for such a long time," she said, addressing a cheering crowd. The court acquitted Hakamada after ruling that vital evidence used to convict the former fighter had actually been planted long after the murders were committed, according to Japanese national broadcaster NHK. Hakamada was initially convicted of murdering his employer at the miso soybean paste factory where he worked, as well as the man's family. He was granted a retrial in 2014 and was released from prison after DNA evidence surfaced that called into question the reliability of his initial conviction. Central to the retrial case was a debate over the color of purported bloodstains on five items of clothing found in a tank used for making miso over a year after the murders. Prosecutors had argued that the clothing belonged to Hamakada. The ex-boxer's lawyers argued the evidence had been planted, and that stains on clothing would not stay red for such an extended period after the incident, according to NHK. On Thursday, the judge presiding over the retrial agreed with the defense that bloodstains would not remain reddish on clothing after being soaked in miso paste for more than a year. "The investigating authority added blood stains and hid the items in the miso tank well after the incident took place," judge Kunii Koshi said. He added that other pieces of evidence had been fabricated as well, NHK reported. Amnesty International said Hakamada's initial conviction had also been based largely on a forced confession. "During his first trial, Hakamada was convicted of the murder of his employer and his employer's family, largely based on a forced 'confession.' He 'confessed' to the crime after 20 days of interrogation by police. Hakamada proceeded to retract the 'confession' during the trial, alleging that police had threatened and beaten him," the human rights group said in a statement. Hideko Hakamada, sister of former boxer Iwao Hakamada who has been on death row in Japan for 47 years, shows a picture of her young brother Iwao during an interview outside the Tokyo Detention House in Tokyo, May 20, 2013. / Credit: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Speaking outside the court Thursday, Hideyo Ogawa, Hakamada's lead lawyer, welcomed the verdict. "The court clearly said this important evidence had been fabricated, so now prosecutors no longer have any means to prove the conviction," Ogawa said. "I believe this verdict will conclude the battle." Japan and the U.S. are the only members of the G7, an informal grouping of seven of the world's biggest democratic, economical advanced nations, that still has the death penalty. Japan has not carried out any executions since July 2022, however, according to the U.S.-based Death Penalty Information Center. On Tuesday, authorities in Missouri executed Marcellus Williams shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request to delay the execution, despite questions over the evidence used in his murder conviction. He was one of two American prisoners put to death on Tuesday, the other being Travis James Mullis who was executed in Texas. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 16 prisoners have been executed in the United States this year in total. Why Hurricane Helene could be catastrophic Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida as Category 4 storm National Hurricane Center warns of Helene's life-threatening storm surge By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Wednesday he expected to be charged with federal crimes and declared he was innocent, after the New York Times reported he had already been indicted following a long-running federal corruption investigation. Adams, a Democrat who would become the first of the city's 110 mayors to be criminally charged while in office, said in a video statement that if charges were filed they would be "entirely false, based on lies." He vowed to remain in office while fighting them. "If I'm charged, I know I'm innocent. I will request an immediate trial so New Yorkers can hear the truth," Adams said. Defying calls from Democratic politicians for him to resign, he said: "You elected me to lead this city, and lead it I will." The indictment was likely to be unsealed on Thursday when Adams may appear in court, the Times reported. In the meantime the exact charges remained uncertain. It also remained unclear whether Adams would be arrested or voluntarily surrender. Other media later reported that a federal grand jury had indicted Adams, citing unnamed sources. The charges come after the FBI last November searched Adams' electronic devices, and in the wake of a slew of resignations by top city officials in recent weeks as multiple federal corruption investigations entangle his administration. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, which brought the charges, declined to comment. Adams' lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment except to send a transcript of his video statement. One of his lawyers has said that the mayor was cooperating with an investigation but did not say what it was about. Adams said the charges "would not be surprising" based on the "leaks and rumors" that he said were aimed at undermining his credibility. If he were forced out of office, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would become mayor of the United States' largest city with a population of about 8.3 million. The case is likely to complicate any Adams bid for re-election in 2025. Other Democratic politicians, including New York City comptroller Brad Lander, plan to challenge Adams - once a key ally of Democratic President Joe Biden - for the party's nomination. "The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can get the full focus its leadership demands," Lander said on X, joining a growing list of politicians to call for his resignation. Before the news broke, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also a Democrat, became the first member of congress to urge him to step down, saying it would be "for the good of the city." Shortly before the announcement, Adams appeared at a reception in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art attended by President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, both of whom made remarks. Adams did not address the gathering. The Times, citing a search warrant, reported in early November 2023 that federal authorities were investigating the possible acceptance by Adams' 2021 campaign of illegal donations, including by the Turkish government. The probe, conducted by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, focused on whether Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign conspired with a Brooklyn construction company to funnel foreign money into the campaign through a straw-donor scheme, the Times said. Authorities have also sought information about Adams' interactions with Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan, according to the Times. Adams, 64, a former police officer who rose to the rank of captain, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said he is cooperating with the probe. His lawyers said in a statement on Aug. 15 they had conducted their own investigation into the matters prosecutors were probing and had not found evidence of illegal conduct by Adams. "To the contrary, we have identified extensive evidence undermining the reported theories of federal prosecution as to the Mayor, which we have voluntarily shared with the U.S. Attorney," said the lawyers, Brendan McGuire and Boyd Johnson. New York has been in a state of political upheaval for the past month. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on Sept. 12, a week after FBI agents seized his phone. Days later, Adams' chief legal adviser resigned, saying she could "no longer effectively serve" in the position. On Wednesday, the city's public schools chancellor David Banks said he would retire at the end of the year, weeks after the Times reported his phones were seized by federal agents. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York, Eric Beech in Washington and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Dan Burns and Sonali Paul) remaining of Thank you for reading! 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Randall Terry on Tour in Wisconsin 'Defend Children, Defeat Kamala/Walz and Destroy the Democrat Party' NEWS PROVIDED BY Terry for President Sept. 26, 2024 MILWAUKEE, Sept. 26, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Terry / Broden Campaign releases the following: Wisconsin Campaign Schedule Thursday, September 26th Milwaukee, 9:00 AM , Affiliated Med Services 1428 N Farwell Avenue Madison, 11:00 AM, Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Road Lacrosse, 2:30 PM CST, Planned Parenthood, 1201 Caledonia Street Milwaukee, 9:00 AM , Affiliated Med Services 1428 N Farwell Avenue Madison, 11:00 AM, Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Road Lacrosse, 2:30 PM CST, Planned Parenthood, 1201 Caledonia Street Friday, September 27th Eau Claire, 11:00 AM CST, City Hall, 203 S Farwell Street Wausau, 1:00 PM CST, Health First Services, 216 S 3rd Avenue Green Bay, 3:15 PM CST, Planned Parenthood, 2605 S Oneida Street Candidate for President, Randal Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, the largest peaceful civil disobedience movement (Biblical obedience) in American history. Countless lives were saved from murder because of those who laid their lives down and sacrificed their time and liberty so babies could be saved from a horrible death. This rescue movement was ten times greater in participation than the civil rights movement for blacks. VP Candidate, Pastor Stephen Broden, Founder of Fair Park Bible Fellowship for over 35 years (a non-denominational inner-city church) in Dallas, Texas, a resident of the Dallas area for 43 years. Ran for Congress in Texas District 30 in 2010. Speaker on Fox & Friends, Glen Beck, Huckabee shows. For more information go Terry2024.com and Interview Randall Terry at each stop. Contact: Joe Slovenec Campaign Manager 909-273-7004 Terry2024.com ConstitutionParty.com ConstitutionPartyofWisconsin.com SOURCE Terry for President CONTACT: Joe Slovenec, campaign manager, 909-273-7004 Priests from Fujian travelled to the province of repressions against the Uyghurs to educate the patriotic spirit and grow in the path of Sinicisation. They were led by Bishop Vincenzo Zhan Silu, one of the two Chinese bishops who will participate in the Synod. Tourism promoted as the Party's preferred path to cover up the detention of figures like Ilham Tothi and other human rights violations. Milan (AsiaNews) - The Chinese Communist Party is also involving Catholic priests in its campaign to counter allegations about Xinjiang, China's westernmost province, which has long been the focus of concern of human rights organisations over the forced assimilation of the Uyghurs, the local Muslim population. Local Church bodies controlled by the Party in Fujian Province - one of those where the Catholic presence is historically strongest in China - organised a trip to Xinjiang for a group of Catholic priests and religious at the end of last August. The declared objective: to educate the patriotic spirit and grow in the path of the sinicisation of religions as outined by Xi Jinping. The initiative was reported yesterday by the American website China Aid, at the forefront of tracking religious freedom in China, quoting the contents of a communique that appeared on chinacatholic.cn, the official Catholic website of the Patriotic Association. In the note - also accompanied by some photos of the trip - it is reported that the group was led by Bishop Vincenzo Zhan Silu, the bishop of the diocese that the Vatican calls Funing and the Beijing government calls by the administrative name of Mindong. Msgr Zhan Silu is one of the two bishops that Pope Francis has appointed for the upcoming second session of the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod and is therefore expected in the Vatican any day now. Ordained without a pontifical mandate in a Chinese government snub on 6 January 2000, he is one of the eight bishops returned to communion with Rome in 2018 when the Provisional Agreement between Beijing and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops was signed, the renewal of which is expected in recent weeks. Msgr Zhan Silu is also vice-president of the Chinese Council of Catholic Bishops, the collegial body not officially recognised by the Holy See The communique issued by the Fujian Church bodies states, "through these patriotic educations practical activities, the report added, participants recognized that Xinjiang is an inseparable part of Chinas territory, and that all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are closely connected members of the Chinese nation. It is also reported that Bishop Zhan Silu, commenting on the trip, hoped it would serve to raise a clergy that is are politically reliable, have noble characters and religious accomplishments, and are able to play their role at critical times.. Since May 2014, the PRC government has launched an anti-terrorism campaign in Xinjiang, targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims living in the province with policies that include mass and arbitrary detentions, forced labour, family separations and torture. Just recently, Human Rights Watch launched a new appeal for Ilham Tohti, a Uyghur economist and activist, sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of separatism for founding the website Uyghurs Online. A symbolic figure in the Uyghurs' struggle for respect for their identity and winner of the Sakharov Prize, his family has not even been allowed to visit him since 2017 and he is believed to be confined to solitary confinement. In 2022, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - after repeated attempts by Beijing to prevent it - published a report concluding that abuses on Uyghurs may constitute crimes against humanity. In response to these complaints - which also raise the issue of the use of forced labour by Uyghurs in the supply chains of large multinational groups - in recent years Beijing has focused heavily on promoting Xinjiang as a tourist destination, using local folklore to spread the image of peaceful coexistence in a context fully integrated with the rest of China. An effort in which the Catholic clergy is now also called upon to collaborate. RED LANTERNS IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHINA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY THURSDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. Several families have reported that it is increasingly hard for them to enrol their children, despite having papers certifying their refugee status. Millions of people, including many children, have already been sent back while the campaign to expel more continues to intensify. The first 10 km of a wall that will divide the two countries has been built. Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies) School has started in Iran, but not for Afghan refugee children living in the country. Several families have said that, due to increasingly stringent rules and high school fees, their children are not allowed to enrol in school. Jamshid, who has lived in Iran for three years, told AmuTV that, Even though I had a letter from the Ministry of Education, the school principal told me there was no space and refused to register his children. Like him, most Afghan refugees fled their homeland to escape the Taliban, who regained control of the country in August 2021. Since then, about half of the population has found itself severely food insecure, while about 85 per cent live on less than a dollar a day, this according to the United Nations. Jamshid explained that this year only his daughters were accepted, but not his two sons. In some Iranian provinces, including Kerman, Shiraz and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, school authorities have reportedly refused to enrol Afghan students who have only basic papers, reports AmuTV, a multimedia channel based outside Afghanistan. Ham-Mihan, an Iranian pro-reform newspaper, reported that to stay in Iran, Afghan migrants are now forced to buy a "smart card" that costs one billion rials (about ,700). However, many Afghan refugees avoid registering with UN agencies or Iranian authorities fearful that registration will lead to deportation, or because they hope that Iran is only a transit country to Europe. In June, the humanitarian organisation Norwegian Refugee Council reported that only 600,000 Afghan children were enrolled in school for the 2023-24 school year out of more than 1.5 million (with the Afghan refugee population said to be around 4.5 million, but is likely much higher). For Iran's Education Ministry, 556,000 Afghan children had valid papers to have access to education last year. Most Afghan families have the necessary documents, but due to the deportation push, many provinces are not allowing these students to enrol, said Nahid Masoudi, an advocate for Afghan migrants rights in Iran. According to data from last year, Iran hosts the largest number of Afghans together with Pakistan and the issue has had major repercussions in the country for quite a while. Local media file daily reports of crimes allegedly involving Afghan nationals, who are also blamed for the difficult situation in the labour market or for carrying infectious diseases. Last year, Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced that Afghans would no longer be allowed to live in at least 16 provinces of the country. In May, the Interior Ministry said that some 1.3 million "irregular migrants" had been sent back to Afghanistan in the past year. According to some reports, 20,000 children have also been repatriated, many unaccompanied, as well as people of Afghan descent who do not know their country of origin. With the election of President Masoud Pezeshkian, the push for expulsion increased. Iranian authorities announced plans to repatriate another two million Afghans in the next six months. Earlier this month, Iran's parliament proposed cutting the "foreign population" (essentially Afghan refugees) by 10 per cent a year. If this becomes legislation, local authorities will have to ensure that "foreign nationals" do not exceed 3 per cent of the population in any city or province. In the meantime, the construction of the first 10 kilometres of a concrete wall has been completed, sealing off the north-eastern border between the two countries, the one most used by refugees. The wall will improve the security of the country and the border areas, while also positively impacting the country's economy, Brigadier General Nozar Nemati told local media. Today's news: US and France call for 21-day truce in Lebanon after UN Security Council; New billion loan to Pakistan from International Monetary Fund; The Vatican Library will exhibit its works in an exhibition set up in the terminal of the Saudi airport where pilgrims disembarking to Mecca; In Kazakhstan new fences at the presidential palace to make demonstrations impossible. JAPAN A Japanese court acquitted Iwao Hakamata, an 88-year-old former professional boxer, decades after he was sentenced to death for a quadruple murder case in 1966. Hakamat spent almost half a century behind bars before new evidence got him out of prison in 2014. His case marks the fifth time since the post-war period in Japan that new trials have ended in acquittal after a death sentence. It took more than nine years to reopen the case after the Shizuoka District Court granted him a retrial in 2014. The focus of the retrial was the reliability of the main piece of evidence - five items of clothing he allegedly wore during the incident: the Tokyo High Court had ruled in March last year that there was a strong possibility that they had been planted by investigators. Commenting on the news, the Archbishop of Tokyo, Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, reiterated the call of the Catholic Church in Japan for the abolition of the death penalty in the country. LEBANON-ISRAEL The United States, France, and nine allies including the European Union, Italy, Japan, and Saudi Arabia called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, also expressing support for a truce in Gaza. The request is contained in a joint statement by the countries released by the White House after yesterday's emergency UN Security Council meeting on Lebanon. In the meantime, Israeli raids continued in the area, which according to Lebanese health sources have killed at least 72 other people. VIETNAM-UNITED STATES On the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York , Vietnamese President To Lam - who is now also secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party - met with US President Joe Biden. A senior US official said the two discussed ways to accelerate the strategic partnership agreed upon last year. According to the Vietnamese news agency, To Lam told Biden that his country will continue to firmly implement its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification. In New York, the Vietnamese president also met with representatives of large US companies, including Meta. PAKISTAN The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a new loan of billion for Pakistan, which is unable to get out of its economic crisis. The country will receive the first billion dollars immediately, while the balance will be disbursed over the next three years. Pakistan has obtained more than 20 loans from the IMF since 1958 and is currently the fifth largest debtor of the financial institution. VATICAN-SAUDI ARABIA The Vatican Apostolic Library has announced that from 25 January to 24 May 2025, several works from its collections will be exhibited at the AlMadar section of the Islamic Arts Biennale to be held at the Hajj terminal of Jeddah airport, through which millions of travellers to Mecca pass each year. The exhibition will offer a multifaceted representation of the art of numbers in all its aspects, from its origins in nature to its infinite applications in Islamic culture, mathematical advances, terrestrial and celestial mapping, navigation and trade, rituals and spiritual life. RUSSIA-TURKEY Turkey, the world's third-largest buyer of Russian oil, has drastically reduced its imports mainly due to restructuring work at the Star oil industry near Izmir, which processes 45% of imported oil. It has fallen to less than 200,000 barrels per day compared to 400-450 three months ago. It will only be seen in two months - at the end of the work - whether the oil trade will be restored to previous measures. KAZAKHSTAN A new fence has been placed on the territory around the Akorda, the presidential palace of Astana in Kazakhstan, and by now if the gates are closed it becomes impossible to approach and even walk along the picturesque Esil riverfront, making the entire administrative centre of the capital inaccessible to avoid any possible demonstration in the vicinity. by Nirmala Carvalho In a letter, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath denounces the misappropriation of property owned by Christian fishing families in Ernakulam district. After intense debate, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled in early August, was forwarded to a joint parliamentary committee. Muslims, however, fear control by the central government. Kochi (AsiaNews) The Syro-Malabar Church has submitted a formal request to the Joint Parliamentary Committee in support of the revision of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, amending the 1995 Waqf Act. The latter regulates ownership of assets donated to Islamic endowments. In a letter dated 10 September, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, chairman of the Syro-Malabar Public Affairs Commission (SMPAC), slammed claims by the Waqf Board of ownership of assets belonging to Christian families in Ernakulam, a district in the southern Indian state of Kerala. According to the Church, this situation has generated long legal battles and has put about 600 families at risk of eviction. The people involved, residents of the villages of Cherai and Munambam, are mainly fisher people, a community that has lived in the area for generations. However, their properties have been claimed as "waqfs," endowments that, according to Islamic law, belong to Muslim religious charities. The Catholic Bishops' Council of Kerala (KCBC) also wrote to the Lok Sabha[*] Secretariat, expressing support for the amendments to the law to avoid further cases of expropriation. The two church organisations urged the Parliamentary Committee to take immediate and definitive measures to reduce tensions, demanding that changes to the law be based on constitutional and humanitarian principles. According to representatives of the Syro-Malabar Church, the government should consider the "tragic situation" of these families, who risk being expelled from their homes by virtue of "totally unjust and inhumane" claims, said a source close to the Church. These people belong to the impoverished fishermen community. In addition to peoples homes, One Catholic parish church, a convent, and a dispensary are under threat of evacuation by the Waqf Board, the source said, stressing the gravity of the situation. Tomorrow, Munambam residents will hold a demonstration in Vanchi Square, the historic centre of Fort Kochi, to denounce the unjust claims of the Waqf Board and demand the protection of their rights. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was presented to the Lok Sabha on 8 August for the purpose of reviewing the management of properties designated as "waqf" across India. Several opposition leaders argue that proposed amendments risk reigniting sectarian tensions. One of the key provisions is that two non-Muslims and at least two women be included in the Central Waqf Council, which will have to advise central and local administrations and Waqf committees. After intense debate, the bill was forwarded to a joint parliamentary committee with several lawmakers from both the lower and upper houses. Many legal cases involving waqf properties remain unresolved and in Kerala, a state with a substantial Christian and Muslim presence, these disputes have fuelled social and religious tensions. For their part, Muslim leaders fear that the new law will further marginalise the Islamic community, introducing greater government control over religious assets hitherto administered only by the Waqf Board. [*] The lower house of the Indian Parliament. by Vladimir Rozanskij As pressure grows from Moscow for the only official and patriotic language, Russian, Tatar intellectuals are discussing the ethnic prospects of their own and other minor peoples within the Federation. Moscow (AsiaNews) - In the debate on the prospects of Russia's minor peoples, a leading Tatar-Russian academic, Robert Nigmatullin, a member of the national council of the World Congress of Tatars, spoke on the Intertat portal in an optimistic tone on the subject Even if the language disappears, the Tatars will never disappear. His rosy predictions were answered on Idel.Realii by another expert on federal relations, Kharun Sidorov, who considers the ethnic perspectives of the Tatars and other peoples important, but with a much less positive outlook. The thesis of the physicist and oceanologist Nigmatullin, in his dialogue with journalists, compares the survival of the forcibly Russian-speaking Tatars to the fate of peoples such as the Peruvian peoples in Latin America, forced to adopt the Spanish language without completely losing their identity. Sidorov notes, however, that Peruvians are a political rather than an ethnic definition, like Russians rather than Tatars. True indigenous people or Indians, a term banned in Peru as offensive, try to speak in their original language, while the Spanish language defines mestizos and creoles, mixed peoples who do not retain historical memory. Nigmatullin's vision seems to tend more towards mestizaje than the preservation of native traditions. All that would remain would be the names and surnames, the memory of partial Tatar roots, quoting the words of Vladimir Putin's unofficial wife, Alina Kabaeva, who during the city of Kazan's millennium celebrations boasted of her half-Tatar origins, despite not knowing a word of the Tatar language. Something of this will also remain with the president's children, whose existence only came to light in recent days. Sidorov also recalls the experience of Israel, which with its repatriation agency Sokhnut gathers all those who have some second or third generation Jewish ancestors or close relatives, especially spouses, to settle in their homeland. In this case, the aim is to reabsorb these people into the Jewish ethnic community, re-establishing knowledge of the language and culture until citizenship and permanent relocation, or at least regular presence in the country. The core of ethnic sociality thus presupposes a basic integral identity, which allows those who have lost it or in fact never had it to be reabsorbed into it. While this may be the optimistic dimension of Nigmatullin's vision, for Sidorov and other commentators the ethno-political and ethno-cultural reality of today's Russia does not allow for this positive conclusion. The Jews at least have their own sovereign state, while the ambitions of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, the two Tatar republics of Russia, are continually frustrated by the limitations imposed by Moscow. Sidorov points out that even the autonomist regions of various countries, such as Catalonia, Quebec or South Tyrol, respect local languages on a par with the national language, while in Russia there is increasing pressure for the only official and patriotic language, Russian, despite the fact that in both the regional and federal constitutions, Tatar is recognised as the national language, on a par with Russian. Thus, the slogan that the people will not die with the language appears as an attempt to save the ethnic spirit by submitting to colonial rule, assigning the Tatars of Russia the future of Creole-Russian mestizos. Nigmatullin even states that without the Tatars, Jews, Caucasians and others, one cannot understand Russia itself, seen as an all-encompassing civilisation and not mono-ethnic, as China can be seen in part, despite having many different nationalities within it. Sidorov insists on comparing Russia to Peru more than to China, seeing it as a return to colonial policies of the past, when it seemed that after the end of the USSR all peoples had regained their self-awareness, inside or outside the Russian Federation. Photo: Jaimerimummi 26 September 2024 11:25 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The 5th traditional Caspian Business Forum was held in New York, organized by the Caspian Policy Center, Azernews reports. The event brought together US and Caspian region officials, experts, and stakeholders to discuss the expanding business and energy environment in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as regional connectivity and the COP29 agenda. In his opening speech, Efgan Nifti, president of the Caspian Policy Center, emphasized the region's growing importance in the global market and food chain. He pointed out that the C5+1 meeting, held a year ago between the Central Asian heads of state and US President Joe Biden, marked a new phase of relations. Nifti added, "The United States, together with G7 partners, is expanding relations through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) program, which has become a key source of foreign investment in the region." He also underscored the strategic significance of transport links such as the Middle Corridor, highlighting the Caspian region's capacity to supply energyboth from hydrocarbons and renewable sources. Referring to Azerbaijan's upcoming role as host of the COP29 conference, Nifti stated, "The transition to 'Green Energy' will be of decisive importance for the Caspian region in the coming years." U.S. Assistant Secretary for Energy Issues Geoffrey Pyatt stressed the need for both interregional and intraregional cooperation in delivering the Caspian regions energy resources to global markets. He also discussed Azerbaijans role in the green energy transition within the COP29 framework and reaffirmed US support for the regions energy security. Acting PGI Coordinator Helaina Matza highlighted the importance of the Trans-Caspian Corridor in global trade and the United States' support for its development. She stated that her team is exploring initial investment opportunities in rail, ports, digital infrastructure, fiber, and distribution centers across the region. Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, discussed the organization's commitment to increasing the prosperity of the Turkic world through enhanced cooperation. He noted the importance of the "Turkish World Vision 2040" and "TDT 2022-2026 Strategy" projects, while emphasizing the strategic value of the Trans-Caspian International Corridor. Turkiyes Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Berris Ekinci, reaffirmed Turkeys role as a reliable energy partner, highlighting cooperation with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia in delivering the region's energy resources to Europe. "We strive to achieve more through our joint efforts," she added. Speakers such as Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, Georgia's Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia, Kazakhstans Presidential Adviser Zulfiya Suleimenova, and others discussed the significance of Caspian connectivity, regional development opportunities, and Azerbaijans leadership in COP29. --- Akbar Novruz is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @ykwiua Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 13:11 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more On September 25, 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, Baiba Braje, during the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Azernews reports. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to political, economic, regional security, interparliamentary relations, and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries. They also addressed preparations for Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), as well as regional and international security issues. The satisfaction with the current level of strategic partnership between the two countries in the fields of politics, economy, trade, and humanitarian cooperation was expressed. The importance of continuing and developing this cooperation in other areas, including infrastructure, transportation, and energy security, was emphasized. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov provided detailed information to his counterpart about Azerbaijans COP29 chairmanship, including its goals and priorities, the 14 key initiatives proposed within this framework, and the efforts being made to ensure their practical implementation. It was noted that the chairmanship is promoting the creation of a Climate Finance Action Fund aimed at attracting financial resources to support efforts against climate change. Azerbaijans inclusive approach to the COP29 chairmanship process was also highlighted, with the intention to engage all interested parties in the process. The Latvian side was additionally informed about the post-conflict situation in the region, the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the progress of bilateral negotiations, and the challenges in signing the peace agreement. Specifically, attention was drawn to Armenias legislative acts, particularly its constitution, which still contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan. During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on other regional and international security issues of mutual interest. --- Fatima Latifova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @fatimalatifova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 12:06 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The Second Azerbaijan-GCC Economic Forum has started in Baku, Azernews reports. A Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be signed between the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Panel discussions will cover topics including "Cooperation on Renewable Energy Sources," "Challenges and Opportunities in Transport and Logistics between Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf Countries," "Agriculture and Food Security between Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf Countries," and "Strategic Partnership in the Food Industry." Among the speakers are officials from the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and Qatar, the executive director of AZPROMO, representatives from various structures of the Cooperation Council of the GCC, and experts from companies operating in the fields of energy, transport, and agriculture. Yusif Abdullayev, executive director of AZPROMO, stated that the countries of the GCC have invested nearly 4 billion US dollars in the economy of Azerbaijan so far. "The potential between Azerbaijan and GCC member countries has not been fully utilised, and there are great prospects for economic cooperation between the countries," he added. --- Nazrin Abdul is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: Nazrin Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 14:05 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Iran's non-oil exports to Azerbaijan significantly increased in the first five months of 2024, Azernews reports Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 26 September 2024 17:15 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Azerbaijan's business tourism potential is being introduced at the "Kingdom Business & Luxury Travel Congress," held from September 25-26 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau (ATB), under the State Tourism Agency, is representing the country as a "silver partner" at the event, Azernews reports. The ATB's participation aims to promote Azerbaijan as a premier destination for business tourism and to attract more industry representatives to the country. During B2B meetings with leading experts and agencies in Saudi Arabia's business tourism sector, the ATB provided detailed information on Azerbaijan's infrastructure for organizing business events and highlighted the overall tourism potential of the country. The main objectives of Azerbaijan's participation in the event include showcasing its capabilities as a global destination for business events, identifying potential partners and events, and expanding research activities to better position the country on the international stage. In the first eight months of this year, 76,861 visitors from Saudi Arabia traveled to Azerbaijan, marking a 31% increase compared to the same period last year. --- Akbar Novruz is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @ykwiua Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 17:09 (UTC+04:00) "Azerbaijans economic development model has already confirmed itself in the world," Azernews reports, citing President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the meeting on economic issues. "We have built a strong economy relying on our own resources. We have built an independent economy and are not dependent on anyone. Economic independence naturally gives us great opportunities at the international level, so that Azerbaijan can conduct an independent foreign policy with success, confidence, honor and dignity - as we have done and will do," the head of state noted. ---- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 12:54 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more On September 25, 2024, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Azernews reports. The meeting included discussions on bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Finland, including matters arising from Finland's 2025 OSCE chairmanship and regional issues. It was noted that the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change could create additional opportunities for collaboration. The counterpart was provided with detailed information about the current situation and realities in the region during the post-conflict period, as well as the progress of the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It was emphasised that ongoing territorial claims against Azerbaijan in Armenian legislation and the rapid militarisation of Armenia are key factors threatening the process of sustainable peacebuilding in the region. The meeting also included an exchange of views on other bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. --- Fatima Latifova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @fatimalatifova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 10:11 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more Armenia invites Azerbaijan to sign the already agreed-upon provisions of the peace agreement by the COP29 climate conference, which will be held in Baku in November, Azernews reports, citing Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The prime minister emphasized that the aim of this is to create a stimulating environment for the development of the peace process. Recall that Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, will host the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) for the first time in the region from November 1122, 2024. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. Azerbaijan successfully participated in the COP28 held in Abu Dhabi last year. Azerbaijan will take the opportunity to bring heads of state and governments, civil society organisations, business, and international institutions together in the South Caucasus to discuss climate change, measures to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and focus on long-term climate strategies and goals. It is worth noting that Azerbaijan confirmed its commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 and increase this target by 40 percent by 2050. Fulfilling the commitments under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 and actively working in this regard are priority issues for the government of Azerbaijan. The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been held annually since 1995. The event aims to assess the progress made in combating climate change around the world. --- Fatima Latifova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @fatimalatifova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Speaking at the OIC Contact Group on Muslims in Europe, Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov informed about Baku's initiatives to combat Islamophobia. "Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elnur Mammadov spoke at the OIC Contact Group on Muslims in Europe in New York and informed about Azerbaijan's initiatives to combat the growing threats, including intolerance, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' social network account said. It was noted that the international events hosted by Azerbaijan within the framework of the Baku Process dedicated to intercultural dialogue are a clear example of our country's commitment to promoting dialogue between different communities. ---- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00) During the speech of French President Emmanuel Macron at the UN General Assembly on September 25, the opinion that "France stands shoulder to shoulder with Armenia in the conditions of Azerbaijan's pressures on Armenia and territorial claims" is another example of France's biased pro-Armenian approach to both our country and the peace process in general. Azernews reports, citing the Foreign Ministry that the head of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizade, said this while commenting on the comments made by Emmanuel Macron against Azerbaijan at the UN General Assembly. It is unacceptable that France, which is preparing Armenia for revanchism and widely arming this country, blames the Azerbaijani side for the pressures. The presentation of Armenia as a peace-loving victim country, which occupied the territories of Azerbaijan for nearly 30 years, displaced nearly one million Azerbaijanis from their homeland, committed mass massacres and crimes against humanity, and ignored the right of return of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis who were deported en masse from the territory of Armenia shows how unfair his policy is. We demand an end to the destructive activities of France, whose foreign policy has failed in relation to many parts of the world, in our region. ---- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 09:54 (UTC+04:00) On September 25, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, Ignacio Cassis, within the framework of his participation in the high-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Azernews reports, citing the Foreign Ministry. It was stated that the role of mutual high-level visits and continuous political dialogue is important in expanding the scope of bilateral relations and enriching their content. At the meeting, information was provided on preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be hosted by Azerbaijan this year. Furthermore, it was emphasized that in the post-conflict period, the Swiss Minister was informed in detail about the current situation and realities in our region, mine threats, and the progress of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In Armenian legislation, it was noted that the ongoing territorial claims against Azerbaijan, as well as the rapid arming of this country, are the main factors that threaten the sustainable peace-building process in the region. During the meeting, opinions were also exchanged on other bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. ---- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 14:42 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The issue of landmines in Azerbaijan and NATO's financial and technical support for its resolution were discussed at a meeting of the Alliance's Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), Azernews reports. A delegation led by ANAMA Deputy Chairman Samir Poladov participated in a session of the EAPC Partnership and Cooperative Security Committees "Ad hoc" Working Group on Small Arms, Light Weapons, and Mine Action. The meeting was attended by representatives from NATO member and partner states, as well as officials from relevant NATO structures. During the meeting, discussions focused on the landmine problem faced by Azerbaijan, the efforts undertaken to address it, support from various states and international organizations, the importance of knowledge exchange, and prospects for future cooperation. In this regard, the urgency of establishing the Qarvand Trust Fund to expedite the clearance of 400 hectares of mined land in Qarvand village of the Aghdam district was emphasized. ANAMA's delegation delivered an extensive presentation on the scale of the landmine threat in Azerbaijan, the challenges encountered, and the measures taken to address the issue. The presentation highlighted that since November 2020, 379 Azerbaijanis have been killed or injured by landmine explosions. It also detailed how landmines significantly delay the return of displaced persons to their homes and hinder reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in those areas. Furthermore, the presentation explained the humanitarian, economic, and environmental consequences of landmines in detail. Additionally, information was provided on the advanced technologies ANAMA uses to address the landmine problem, particularly mechanical demining tools and new approaches implemented in the field. At the same time, a photo exhibition was organized during the meeting, depicting the scope of the landmine issue in Azerbaijan and the humanitarian demining process in liberated territories. During the visit, ANAMA's delegation held bilateral meetings with NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations B. San and NATO's Director of the Arms Control, Disarmament, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation (ADN) Division, E. Lemos-Maniati. These meetings focused on NATO's experience in resolving mine-related issues and the financial and technical support provided by the Alliance to Azerbaijan. Additionally, ANAMA and NATO representatives visited Luxembourg, where NATO's Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is located. Discussions during the visit centered on the exchange of experiences in mine clearance, the study of modern technologies, and the implementation of new methods. --- Fatima Latifova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @fatimalatifova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 17:55 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The Days of Azerbaijani Culture in Kazakhstan continue with interesting concerts, events, and presentations, Azernews reports. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the National Libraries of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The document was signed by the director of the Azerbaijan National Library, Honored Cultural Worker, and Professor Karim Tahirov, and the director of the Kazakhstan National Academic Library Gaziza Nurqalieva. After the signing ceremony, the opening of the Azerbaijani Literature Corner at Kazakhstan National Academic Library took place. Initially, the directors Karim Tahirov and Gaziza Nurqalieva cut the symbolic ribbon to announce the opening of the corner. In his speech, Karim Tahirov provided information about the Azerbaijani Literature Corner. He noted that the corner presents publications related to Azerbaijan's current successes, including the glorious victory of the Azerbaijani Army in the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev as well as books on the country's contemporary development, history, culture, and literature. A total of over 250 books are displayed in the permanent corner. Karim Tahirov mentioned that the Kazakh Literature Corner was inaugurated at the Azerbaijan National Library in 2019, with the participation of Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva. Gaziza Nurqalieva stated that the Kazakhstan National Academic Library has been cooperating with the Azerbaijan National Library since 2003. She expressed hope that cooperation between the two libraries would continue to develop further. Other speakers emphasized the importance of expanding the relationship between the two libraries and regarded the opening of the Azerbaijani Literature Corner in the Kazakh library as a significant event. Later, the Secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, Ilqar Fahmi, and poet and essayist Farid Huseyn were presented with honorary membership certificates from the Kazakhstan Writers' Union. At the end of the event, participants tasted dishes from the national cuisine and familiarized themselves with the publications featured in the Azerbaijani Literature Corner. Notably, the Azerbaijan National Library is a treasure trove of knowledge for bookworms. With over 5 million books, manuscripts, and maps, the Azerbaijan National Library is considered one of the largest libraries in the Caucasus region. Since 1939, the library has borne the name of the eminent playwright Mirza Fatali Akhundov. The library has an extensive collection of literature in Azerbaijani, Russian, English, and other languages. It has collected and preserved national editions, works of Azerbaijani and foreign authors about Azerbaijan published abroad. The National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, visited the National Library four times in 1995-1997 and donated nearly 300 books from his personal library. In 2004, the Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library was granted the status of a national library by the decision of Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers. The building of the library is no less impressive. The library's faade is decorated with the statues of eminent poets and writers like Nizami Ganjavi, Mahsati Ganjavi, Uzeyir Hajibayli, Shota Rustaveli, Alexander Pushkin and many others. The scope of the library's activities is constantly expanding. In 2005, on the basis of legal copies received from publishing houses and printing companies, the library published the yearbook "Books of Azerbaijan" for 1990, 1991, 2000, and 2001. Over the past years, the National Library has signed a memorandum on bilateral mutual cooperation with about 80 libraries. In 2021, the Culture Ministry and Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library launched a joint campaign, "Let's go to Garabagh with a book", to restore libraries in the Garabagh region. A large number of books were donated to the Garabagh Book Fund by a number of international organizations working in the field of culture, Turkic-speaking countries, famous foreign and local authors, publishers, and print houses. Since 1992, the Kazakhstan National Academic Library has been a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the Conference of Directors of National Libraries (CDNL). Morevoer, it has been part of the Non-Profit Partnership "Library Assembly of Eurasia" (BAE) since 1993. In 2002, the library took the lead in the Kazakhstan National Committee for the UNESCO program "Memory of the World," which aims to preserve documentary heritage. Furthermore, in 2008, it became the regional center for the IFLA PAC (Preservation and Conservation) core program, which focuses on the preservation of library materials and ensuring their accessibility for future generations. As of now, the collection of the Kazakhstan National Academic Library boasts approximately 7 million books. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Hero bus passenger joins army to serve country Chinadaily.com.cn) 09:42, September 26, 2024 Li Guo joins the army to pursue his military career. (Photo/CCTV News) Two years ago, Li Guo from Ziyang, Southwest China's Sichuan province, who was then 18 years old, won high praise from the internet for his courageous act. Now, he has joined the army to pursue his military career, CCTV News reported on Tuesday. On February 12, 2022, a man sitting in the last row of a bus traveling in Anyue county of Ziyang suddenly stood up and went to the driver after asking him to speed up. Li, who was in the same row as the man, felt that something bad might happen. When the man was preoccupied with talking to the driver, Li seized the moment and quietly approached from behind. When the man tried to take control of the steering wheel from the driver, Li swiftly restrained him until police arrived. Thanks to Li's heroic act, there were no causalities. When asked if he was afraid at that time, Li said "I was not afraid. If something like this happens again, I will still stand up." His bravery also earned him the titles of "Good Samaritan of China" and "Model of Righteousness and Courage". The support and encouragement from society further motivated him to follow his childhood dream of becoming a soldier. After graduating from junior college in June, Li applied to join the army. After passing all necessary requirements, he became eligible for active service. "Joining the army is not just to realize my dream, it is also a way to serve the country and repay society," Li said. "And I will continue to pursue the righteousness and courage in my military life," he added. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Kristen Elizabeth Mews, a licensed professional counselor, pleaded guilty to health care fraud. She billed Medicaid for counseling services she never actually provided, including while in the Bexar County jail. Bexar County Sheriff's Office Licensed professional counselor Kristen Elizabeth Mews, who has a history of arrests on charges of driving while impaired, didnt let a detour to the Bexar County jail stop her from billing Medicaid for providing psychotherapy services. On Thursday in federal court in San Antonio, she was handed a 20-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to a count of health care fraud for charging the federal-state health insurance program for counseling services she never provided. That included seeking payment for counseling that Mews, 59, of Kentucky, claimed she did while locked up in July 2018 in Bexar County. She had been booked into jail after violating terms of her probation on a conviction for driving while intoxicated. She also submitted invoices for in-person counseling services in Texas even though she was out of state or in rehabilitative treatment facilities at the time, her plea agreement states. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She charged Medicaid at least $700,000 in fraudulent billings and was paid about $350,000, according to an indictment issued by a San Antonio grand jury in July 2023. She was indicted on two counts of health care fraud, but one was dropped as part of her plea. She must pay $462,854 in restitution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Stephenson was seeking a 24-month prison sentence. We have some evidence that she did not provide any services, he told U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia. So 80% of her income during this time period was pure fraud. He added, She could have been helping the kids that she claimed that she was (helping) but she didnt. She just took in the money. She spent it on her own expenses. Bond revoked Mews sentencing had been set for Aug. 29. Instead, that day, she had her bond revoked after Stephenson told a judge a warrant had been issued for her arrest after she allegedly violated conditions of the bond which required her to not violate any laws and not use alcohol. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Aug. 11, Stephenson said, a law enforcement officer came across a vehicle in the emergency lane of a highway in Kentucky. When the officer approached the car, he saw Mews slumped behind the wheel and smelled a strong odor of alcohol in the vehicle. She was arrested for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.08, driving without a license in her possession and failure to have insurance. She entered an alcohol rehabilitation program on Aug. 27, two days before the originally scheduled sentencing. Shes been in custody since her bond was revoked. At Thursday's sentencing hearing, Mews lawyer Roland Garcia asked the judge to sentence her to the time she has already served. He blamed her alcoholism for leading her on a spiraling descent that caused her to make poor choices. He recounted how she had been homeless and unable to make ends meet, endured the deaths of family members and was diagnosed with uterine cancer. And he said Mews provided counseling to children who were victims of sexual, physical or mental abuse. Advertisement Article continues below this ad By taking on those types of cases, it was causing her to come back into trauma that was in her life, Roland Garcia said. She was absorbing this trauma. Mews, dressed in jail barb and shackles, did not say anything in her defense. Once she completes her prison sentence, she will have to serve three years of supervised release. During that time, Judge Garcia ordered, she is prohibited from drinking alcohol and must submit to substance abuse testing. DWI arrest Mews now hangs a shingle in Kentucky, where shes been licensed since January 2020. She became licensed there about a month and a half after the expiration of her Texas counseling license, which she obtained in 2012. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Court records show she was charged with driving while intoxicated in July 2014 in Bexar County. She accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to five years imprisonment and a $1,500 fine. Her drivers license also was suspended. Mews told the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors she was subsequently paroled from prison, but the San Antonio Express-News couldnt find any record that she went to prison immediately after that conviction. Bexar County records show she was booked into the Bexar County jail five more times from 2015 to 2018, apparently for allegedly violating her probation. She also was arrested in April 2017 in Florida on a charge of driving while intoxicated. After one of her stints in the Bexar County jail from July 4, 2018, to July 15, 2018, Mews billed Medicaid $150 twice after she claimed she had counseled patients on July 9, 2018, and July 12, 2018. She submitted invoices for those services on July 20, 2018, while at a San Antonio hotel, court records showed. Investigators traced the IP address she used when she submitted the claims. Mews often claimed to provide counseling services to minor children. But numerous children who Mews had claimed as patients and their parents denied receiving services from her, law officers said. Some patients she claimed said they didnt know her, while others said they had received counseling but not on the dates listed on her Medicaid claims. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kentucky complaint In August 2018, Mews began serving a prison sentence in Texas, apparently for violating probation on the 2014 DWI conviction. A Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman said she was paroled in August 2019 and discharged in May 2022. She returned to Kentucky, where she had been previously licensed. Within almost six months of becoming licensed there again, the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors received a complaint from one of her former clients who alleged Mews used her Social Security number to open several bank accounts in Texas and take out loans for a new business in San Antonio. Mews admitted to the board that she had denied being convicted of any misdemeanors or felonies when completing two licensing applications. 26 September 2024 15:10 (UTC+04:00) A meeting dealing with the economic issues was held on September 26, Azernews reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the meeting. Speech by President Ilham Aliyev - We will discuss economic issues at today's meeting. There are only three months left until the end of this year. There will be an exchange of ideas about the work to be done before the end of the year. In general, I must say that economic development since the beginning of the year has been at the expected level. At the beginning of the year, when talking about how successful this year would be in economic respect, I mentioned that I was sure that this year would be successful for our economy. The results and economic indicators available since the beginning of the year confirm my words. Economy grew by 4.3 percent. When analyzing the processes taking place in today's world and looking at the geopolitical situation in general, I can say that this is a very positive indicator. Economic growth rates exceed those of many developed countries. Of particular importance is the fact that our non-oil sector has grown by 7 percent. This also shows that the steps taken towards diversifying the country's economy and the thought-out reform policies are bearing fruit. I should also mention that in recent years, the production of oil under projects implemented by foreign oil companies has been declining year after year, which has naturally had a negative impact on our overall economic development rates, and we made up for this decline through the development of the non-oil sector. However, as a result of negotiations with foreign oil companies, the drawbacks in oil production were brought to their attention, we demanded that they eliminate these drawbacks and ensure the stability of oil production. Very hard work has been done in this direction in the last few months. As a result of this work, reasonable hopes have arisen that there will be no further unfounded declines in oil production. Of course, the government bodies and the State Oil Company will always pay attention to the future progress of this work. Thus, the key factor holding back our economic growth will hopefully be eliminated and stable oil production should be ensured next year. Bear in mind that we are currently working on several new projects in the oil and gas sector, and as a result of the development of these projects we have new production forecasts. Probably next year we will all see the new projects and fields producing larger volumes of natural gas and oil condensate. I believe that growth rates in the oil and gas field will be positive. But of course, our main goal is to further diversify our economy and improve the sustainable development model. Inflation has been at just over 1 percent since the beginning of the year. This is a very positive indicator. I have already declared that the minimum wage and minimum pension will be increased next year, although inflation is at a very low level and although the tasks facing the country require major financial resources - first of all, the development of the military, military-industrial complex and the restoration of Karabakh and East Zangazur. Despite all this, we are doing our best to improve the well-being of our vulnerable citizens. In my recent speech in the Azerbaijans Milli Majlis, all these figures were brought to the attention of the public. I don't want to repeat how many large packages of social reforms have been implemented in Azerbaijan in the last five years. In other words, all these issues give grounds to say with absolute certainty that the rates of economic development will be maintained until the end of this year and considering the fact that the discussion of next year's budget is currently underway and budget parameters will be more extensive economic development will also be at an adequate level. A number of promotion projects are underway to attract foreign investment, especially to the non-oil sector. The stability and predictability prevailing in Azerbaijan, as well as the strengthening of the state of Azerbaijan, the complete restoration of our territorial integrity and sovereignty have naturally improved the attitude of foreign investors towards us, although there has been a very positive investment climate in Azerbaijan for many years. According to the per capita volume of investments, Azerbaijan is among leading countries. The recent years, especially after the anti-terror operation, the complete restoration of our state sovereignty, naturally sent a very positive signal to all investors, and we are now seeing the fruits of that. New enterprises are opening in our traditional industrial centers - Baku, Sumgayit and industrial parks. At the same time, the creation of new industrial parks in liberated lands, in Aghdam and Jabrayil districts should be viewed as a very positive development. As I mentioned, the discussion of next year's budget is underway now, and it will be submitted to me in the near future. Of course, the budget is a reflection of our capabilities. We stretch our legs according to our coverlet, as the saying goes, and must continue to do. We are not receiving any aid from anywhere. On the contrary, we are reducing our foreign debt, and the implementation of the task I set a few years ago is successfully underway. In terms of foreign debt ratio to the gross domestic product, Azerbaijan is among the world's leading countries. It accounts for only 7.5 percent, which allows us the opportunity spend less money on the repayment of foreign debt in the future. We will discuss this today and see if repayment of some of the debts ahead of time could be useful. However, I have already said several times that if we wanted to, we could zero the whole debt in one day. In any case, there will certainly be an exchange of views about this issue today. Next year's main expenses have already been determined. In my speech in the Milli Majlis, the main priorities were clearly indicated. First of all, strengthening the military potential of our country, ensuring our security, protecting the state borders, developing the military industrial complex, education costs, the reconstruction of Karabakh and East Zangazur and other projects. Socially oriented projects, projects related to social infrastructure and those related to general infrastructure all these will be reflected in our State Investment Program. We will talk about this too. We must ensure that next year, to the extent possible, we accomplish all the key tasks. I have no doubt that this will be the case. Azerbaijans economic development model has already proven itself in the world. We have built a strong economy relying on our own resources. We have built a strong and independent economy based on our own resources and not dependent on anyone. Economic independence naturally gives us great opportunities at the international level, so that Azerbaijan can conduct an independent foreign policy with success, confidence, honor and dignity - as we have done and will do. We will discuss many other issues today. I am sure that the discussion and the obtained results, as well as the decisions to be made, will further accelerate our economic development. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 20:41 (UTC+04:00) On September 26, at about 16:10, Armenian armed forces units from the positions located in the direction of the Aravus settlement of Gorus district, using large-caliber machine guns subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Lakatagh settlement of Julfa district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry. Azerbaijan Army Units took retaliatory measures in the mentioned direction, the ministry added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 20:00 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more It has become a routine for the French government to adopt a pro-Armenian stance and provoke frustration at international events that attract the attention of many countries worldwide. The UN General Assembly, known for its conducive environment for peace, also did not escape Emmanuel Macron's target, as the French president once again made headlines with his lofty rhetoric against Azerbaijan. He declared that France stands firmly with Armenia in the face of pressure and territorial issues from Azerbaijan and called for active participation in defending internationally recognised borders. However, during this speech, Macron exposed himself by presenting contradictory statements. Internationally recognised Azerbaijani territories: The fact that Garabagh is internationally recognised as Azerbaijani territory is undeniable. Based on history, toponyms, and even UN resolutions on the matter, Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur belong to Azerbaijan. Interestingly, these territories, which were occupied by Armenia, never held any significance for France, and international law had never piqued Macron's interest until now. After Azerbaijan liberated its lands, Macron, who now calls for adherence to international law, paradoxically disregards these very laws by labelling Azerbaijan as an aggressor. While calling for peace, this hypocritical administration sows discord in the South Caucasus with the intention of enticing the Armenian government and people, expanding its influence network in Armenia, and indirectly, in the Caucasus. What is France achieving with this? It is curious why a developed country like France, which sees itself as superior to Asian countries, is so eager to engage in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. Does France, which amassed power through centuries of slave trade and colonial policies, now genuinely believe that the Armenians who returned to Armenia are being wronged? The reality is that what happens to these Armenians, where they live, and under what conditions does not interest Emmanuel Macron. Even if, hypothetically, war were to break out again and there were losses among Armenian soldiers, this would still not concern Macron. The only thing that interests the Elysee Palace is exerting influence over the territories where these Armenians live. Despite all these facts, it would be naive to believe that France is acting out of friendship towards Armenia. Pashinyan Talks of Peace, Macron Sparks Tension Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan occasionally delivers speeches about peace, inviting Azerbaijan to sign the already-agreed terms of a peace treaty before the COP29 climate conference in Baku this November. Meanwhile, the French president accuses Azerbaijan of pressuring Armenia and tries to divert Armenia from peace by convincing it of France's unwavering support. It is true that the current Armenian government is eager for this, as Pashinyan's speeches are often little more than meaningless media statements. Otherwise, Armenia would not find it so difficult to meet the straightforward and natural conditions put forward by Azerbaijan. These conditions include removing territorial claims against Azerbaijan from the Armenian constitution, respecting Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and opening a land corridor between Nakhchivan and Azerbaijana condition that Azerbaijan later dropped due to Armenia's baseless fears. What does the constitution say? The Armenian administration, failing to meet these simple conditions, is instead planning and mapping out an Armenian-style route for the Zangezur corridor. Given that Armenia would control this route, and considering the bandit groups that have repeatedly violated ceasefires and carried out provocations on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, this proposal seems far from reliable. Now, the only step left is to recognise Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and remove territorial claims from Armenia's constitution. However, Pashinyan tries to evade this condition by arguing that the Armenian constitution contains no such claims against Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, the Independence Declaration of the Republic of Armenia, referenced in the Armenian constitution, openly asserts territorial claims against Azerbaijan. This declaration, adopted on August 23, 1990, during the first session of the Armenian Supreme Soviet, contains 12 articles, and its preamble outlines the legal framework for the independent Republic of Armenia based on the joint decision of the Armenian SSR Supreme Soviet and the "Nagorno-Karabakh" Executive Committee on December 1, 1989, which called for the unification of the Armenian SSR and the "Nagorno-Karabakh" Autonomous Region. Although Armenia has undergone several constitutional reforms, the document that explicitly calls for the annexation of Azerbaijani lands to Armenia has never been amended. In recent months, even Nikol Pashinyan acknowledged this mistake, stating that Armenia needs a new constitution. Yet, in recent days, he has claimed that there are no territorial claims against Azerbaijan in the constitution. All of this demonstrates how easily the Armenian ruling elite can be swayed and how quickly their positions can change with small bribes or messages of support. The fact that the individuals determining the future of the Armenian people are so weak is simply tragic for the future of this nation. As for Macrons administration, it merely seeks to ignite sparks in the peace arena, preparing to take advantage of the tension and secure its place in the region. By making false accusations against Azerbaijan and hoping for Baku to start a war with Yerevan, Paris will likely be waiting for a long time. The actions Azerbaijan has taken so far have been purely defensive. Baku has never invaded any countrys territory nor fired the first shot. However, without a doubt, if Yerevan, emboldened by support from the Elysee Palace, starts another war, its outcome will once again be a defeat, just as in the 44-day war. --- Fatima Latifova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @fatimalatifova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 17:33 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more On Wednesday, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, held talks with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen in New York on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Azernews reports, citing the press release of the Embassy. In the Joint Communique issued at the end of the meeting, it was stated that "Denmark considers the Autonomy Plan, presented by Morocco in 2007, as a serious and credible contribution to the ongoing UN process and a good basis for an agreed solution among all parties." In this Joint Communique, the two ministers reiterated their support for the UN-led process and the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, in achieving a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to the conflict, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. Denmark's new position aligns with the growing international trend supporting the autonomy plan and Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. This also confirms the prevailing trend in Europe and beyond. --- Fatima Latifova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @fatimalatifova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 19:18 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shared his vision for the future based on artificial intelligence (AI) in his article "The Age of Intelligence". He predicts radical changes in society and solutions to global problems based on advances in artificial intelligence technologies, Azernews reports. According to Altman, like the agricultural and industrial eras that preceded him, the age of intelligence will redefine human life and activity and open a new era of progress that we can hardly understand today. Altman writes: "In the next few decades, there will be changes that will seem magical to our grandparents." He foresees a future in which artificial intelligence will become an integral part of human life, contributing to unprecedented creativity and productivity: "This is not going to happen." all at once, but soon we will be able to artificially work with intelligence, which will give us ample opportunities." The CEO attributes this inevitable leap in human potential to the success of deep research. "How did we reach the threshold of the next leap in prosperity? Here, in-depth research has borne fruit. The larger the database, the more effectively AI will solve complex problems using computing power." Altman also recognizes the challenges and risks. He says: "We still have to figure out many details, but it would be a mistake to avoid any problems. We must act wisely, but also confidently. The advent of the age of intelligence is an important event with very complex and extremely high stakes. It won't be a completely positive story, but the positive side of it is so great that we will be able to determine how to manage future risks." The CEO of OpenAI also touched upon the issue of ensuring fair access to artificial intelligence technologies and stressed that without adequate infrastructure, artificial intelligence can become a limited resource available only to the rich and cause social conflicts. He warned: "Technology has brought us from the Stone Age to the agricultural age and then to the industrial age. From here, the path to the age of intelligence continues through calculations, energy and human will. If we want to provide AI to as many people as possible, we need to reduce the cost of computing and enrich them, because this requires a lot of energy and chips. If we don't build enough infrastructure, AI will become a very limited resource where conflicts will arise, and will become a tool mainly for the rich." Despite the potential problems in the labor markets, Altman argues that AI will create new opportunities for human creativity and usefulness: "As we see from the example of other technologies, AI will have its drawbacks. We need to start working now to maximize the benefits and minimize the harm from AI. For example, we expect this technology to cause significant changes in labor markets (for better or for worse) in the coming years, but most jobs will change more slowly than people think, and I have no concerns about this. So, artificial intelligence will allow us to enhance our abilities at a level never seen before. Altman concludes his article with an encouraging prediction: "The defining characteristic of the age of intelligence will be mass prosperity. Artificial intelligence will not only solve many of the world's most difficult problems, but will also redefine the possibilities of humanity." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 September 2024 21:40 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva In the city of Basra in southern Iraq, the palace of deposed leader Saddam Hussein has been turned into a library of historical artifacts and books, Azernews reports. The library, which contains a large collection of books and manuscripts about historical artifacts and archaeological sites in Iraq, also facilitates scientists' access to books, manuscripts and archaeological sources. Mustafa al-Husseini, director of the Basra Antiquities Department, told Anadolu Agency: "The library in question is the first library not only in Basra, but also in southern Iraq, that contains resources related to historical artifacts." Husseini noted that these books include the works of foreign and Iraqi archaeologists who conducted archaeological research. The Director of Culture of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Junaid Sorosh Wali, who visited the library, noted that the library has important works related to historical artifacts, and stated that the books in the library encourage university students to read. Jassim Ali, the chief librarian of Basra Province, stated that the library building was one of the palaces built by Saddam Hussein before 2003, and said, "It was one of Saddam's presidential palaces, built in 1992. This building was monopolized by the old regime and was not open to people in Basra." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Tech Bloc CEO Ileana Gonzalez speaks at the launch of the tech advocacy groups Community Platform website earlier this month at Smoke Skybar. The advocacy groups Community Platform is designed to be a one-stop shop for members of the local tech industry to find resources, get support and make connections. Courtesy Kristopher Lopez Attendees snap selfies at Tech Blocs website launch event earlier this month at Smoke Skybar. Courtesy Kristopher Lopez Tech Bloc CEO Ileana Gonzalez speaks at the launch of the tech advocacy groups Community Platform website earlier this month at Smoke Skybar. Courtesy Kristopher Lopez An attendee checks out the scene at Tech Bloc's website launch event at Smoke Skybar. The advocacy groups Community Platform is designed to be a one-stop shop for members of the local tech industry to find resources, get support and make connections. Courtesy Kristopher Lopez Tech Bloc CEO Ileana Gonzalez speaks at the launch of the tech advocacy groups Community Platform website earlier this month at Smoke Skybar. Courtesy Kristopher Lopez Ileana Gonzalez is the new of Tech Bloc, San Antonios nonprofit tech advocacy group. She replaced David Heard, the groups first leader who stepped down after eight years in the position. University of Texas at San Antonio One year into her tenure as head of San Antonios tech advocacy group, Tech Bloc, Ileana Gonzalez is changing things up at the nonprofit. Earlier this month, Tech Bloc raised its membership fees and launched its Community Platform, a website meant to be a one-stop shop for the communitys tech scene. Its just everybody collaborating together and making San Antonio a place where we can thrive because of all the resources that were putting into one place, Gonzalez said. So, its been amazing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Despite hits to the local industry over recent years such as Rackspace Technology Inc.s downsizing or the abrupt collapse of the CodeUp computer coding school in December, Gonzalez is really excited about San Antonios place in the international tech scene. The new website gives Tech Bloc members access to various resources, support and networking opportunities. Think of it as a sort of private social media platform like a Facebook Group. The Tech Bloc team worked on it for about five months before launching it. Since its launch, more than 250 people have signed up, including 80 representing area startup businesses. People are coming in, she said, including some who havent been engaged with Tech Bloc for years. Theyre onboarding, introducing themselves (and) finding out what it is. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The user experience is curated based on the members role and interests. Depending on your answers, it opens up different spaces for you to collaborate on, Gonzalez said. Its just resources in one place (where) youre able to (direct message) each other, and I have all the analytics of how much were interacting. Gonzalez said Tech Blocs site might be one of the first sites of its kind in the nation. Im actually finding out theres no other city that has a platform and a nonprofit leading it this way, she said. Tech Bloc began in 2015 as a form of protest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Area tech businessmen David Heard, Lew Moorman and Lorenzo Gomez former Rackspace employees organized a rally at Pearl because, they said, they were outraged the City Council had voted ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft out of our city. Heard, who became Tech Blocs first CEO and led the group for eight years, said the one-off event led to the founding of the nonprofit that became San Antonios first and only tech advocacy group. It doesnt take money from the city, according to Gonzalez, but this year it received $150,000 from Bexar Countys Innovation Fund that went toward the groups Tech Fuel Competition an annual pitch competition that offers more than $100,000 in prizes. For years, individual memberships were $25, but its bumped that to $50, in part to help fund the new website as well as other programs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Were not making money off of this, she said. So, you can say its a change of model, but not really. I mean, for 50 bucks, you get access to so many resources. Tech Bloc offers currently offers three types of memberships. Individual memberships offer access to the Community Platform, a dedicated newsletter, invitations to events, members-only workshops, a Tech Bloc T-Shirt and a free beverage at events. Startup memberships cost $150 a year. They include everything in the individual package, access to more than $350,000 in cloud credits with platforms like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud, CEO and chief technical officer peer groups, fundraising resources, investor lists and access to investors. Enterprise level memberships begin at $25,000. They are for companies wanting to partner with Tech Bloc and come with speaking engagements and promotion opportunities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gonzalez says the membership fees will help Tech Bloc stay sustainable. Its about really supporting the community and caring at the grassroots level, which is what we are as Tech Bloc, she said. Here are five updates on Aetna in September, as reported by Becker's: 1. The Office of the Inspector General for HHS alleged in audits published Sept. 25 that subsidiaries of Aetna and Humana received millions in Medicare Advantage overpayments in 2017 and 2018. The OIG estimated that HealthAssurance Pennsylvania, an Aetna subsidiary, received $4.2 million in overpayments in that period of time. 2. Aetna is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that they improperly denied gender-affirming care. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Connecticut Sept. 10, are three transgender women who allege they were denied coverage for gender-affirming facial reconstruction surgery by Aetna. 3. Aetna and HCA Healthcare hospitals in Florida reached a new contract agreement, avoiding a divide that would have left 48 hospitals out-of-network. The agreement will keep commercial, individual and Medicare Advantage members in network at all HCA facilities in Florida. 4. Aetna Utah was included in a list of 20 payers requesting the largest raises for ACA premiums in 2025. The requested rate increase was 26.6%. 5. Aetna reached an in-network agreement with Renton, Wash.-based Providence to keep commercial members in Washington in network. The deal avoided a split that would have affected about 35,000 people. While private payers often reimburse at higher rates than Medicare, physicians and their employers still want better relationships with them, according to Medscape's 2024 "Physician-Private Payer Relationship Report." The survey questioned 1,030 respondents across over 29 specialties between Feb. 1, 2024, and March 19, 2024. Sixty percent said the reimbursement rates they receive from private payers are "average," and 22% said they are "low." Another 13% responded that reimbursement rates were "high" on average. Physicians also expressed mixed feelings about their employer's ability to negotiate with private payers. Forty-five percent said that their employer has "no leverage" at all when it comes to negotiating payer contracts, and another 49% said their employer has "some leverage." For 38% of respondents, reimbursement rates from private payers have not changed much over the past five years, while around one-third said that rates have declined somewhat. Santa Clara (Calif.) County's board of supervisors has unanimously approved the appropriation of $315 million to purchase a hospital from HCA Healthcare, one of the country's largest ASC operators. Here are five things to know: 1. The county is finalizing the agreement to acquire the 252-bed Regional Medical Center in East San Jose, Calif., with plans to restore previously reduced services. 2. Of the allocated $315 million, $175 million will go to the acquisition of the hospital. An additional $80 million will fund the first few months of hospital operations while awaiting reimbursements. Up to $30 million is designated for acquiring independently owned medical office buildings near the hospital, $20 million for purchasing and implementing an electronic health record system and $10 million for broker fees and inspections. 3. Once the deal is completed, trauma, stroke, and heart attack services discontinued in August will be reinstated. However, no timeline has been set for the return of obstetrics, labor and delivery, and newborn care services, which were previously cut but are expected to be restored. 4. The board aims to transition the hospital's workforce to county employment in 2025. 5. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA is one of the largest ASC operators in the country with its Surgery Ventures arm. HCA finished 2023 with 124 ASCs and 24 endoscopy centers, which saw 1,044,415 total surgery cases a 2.1% increase year over year. The FDA on July 29 approved a screening test for colorectal cancer that requires only a blood sample. Here are five things to know: What is it? Created by Guardant Health, the blood test, known as Shield, was able to detect 83% of colorectal cancers in studies but only 13% of dangerous polyps. Colonoscopies find approximately 95% of these polyps. Shield is approved for patients 45 and older who are at average risk for colon cancer. Experts say the hope is that, despite detection limitations, the less invasive blood test will encourage more Americans to get screened. The test also showed a 10% false positive rate in studies. How do gastroenterologists view it? Many GI leaders are excited about the new test, citing its convenience and potential to increase screening accessibility. "I am very excited about the new Shield circulating tumor blood test, which screens for colon cancer-related DNA markers in the blood," Benjamin Levy III, MD, gastroenterologist at University of Chicago Medicine, told Becker's. "There are many patients who would prefer blood-based screening instead of a colonoscopy or stool-based testing. The convenience of screening for colorectal cancer with a simple blood draw is pretty amazing." Healthcare leaders have stressed that although the new test offers a promising, less invasive method for detecting colorectal cancer, it is not intended to replace a colonoscopy. Instead, they highlight the test's potential to complement existing screening methods. "The new FDA approval of the Shield test for colon cancer screening highlights the ongoing efforts to prevent or identify early colon cancers, which seem to be more prevalent in our younger population than ever before," Lauren Bleich, MD, a gastroenterologist with Miami-based Gastro Health, told Becker's. "While it highlights the need for colon cancer screening, as well as may allow us to reach a broader audience, especially with the long wait times for colonoscopy patients encounter, it should not be used in place of colonoscopy, which is the gold standard for colon cancer screening and prevention." Why are some gastroenterologists skeptical? Amol Akhade, MD, a medical oncologist, argued in an Aug. 27 commentary piece in Oncology News Central that the test is not accurate enough to surpass colonoscopies. "Finding a blood-based test to screen for cancer is a dream for every oncology researcher. Imagine a simple blood test that can detect precancerous lesions or Stage 1 cancer in asymptomatic individuals," Dr. Akhade wrote. "This would greatly benefit both oncologists and patients, potentially reducing cancer-specific mortality in the long term. The catch is that the test needs to be highly sensitive and specific to be clinically useful. Unfortunately, the recent approval of a blood-based colorectal cancer screening test by the FDA sets the bar too low, opening a dangerous Pandora's box." While the noninvasive nature of these tests might mean that more people receive CRC screenings overall, Dr. Akhade questioned the tests' accuracy and ability to detect aggressive, precancerous lesions. Why is it needed? As many as 25% to 50% of people who should be undergoing routine colonoscopies are not, according to the FDA. Additionally, colorectal cancer rates among U.S. adults have hit record highs in recent years. The expected growth rate of CRC among U.S. men is 8%, and it is 7% for women. But reimbursements for gastroenterologists have steadily declined in recent years. Between 2007 and 2022, unadjusted and adjusted average reimbursement for GI procedures dropped by 7% and 33%, respectively, according to a study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Reimbursements for colonoscopy and biopsy decreased 38% during that period. "I would love to see payers and clinicians sit down at a table and have a conversation about the benefit of early endoscopy for diagnosis and screening," Omar Khokhar, MD, a gastroenterologist at Illinois GastroHealth in Bloomington, told Becker's. "In particular, how EGD/colonoscopy can potentially prevent patient morbidity and decrease downstream cost to the healthcare system. Yes, endoscopy isn't cheap, but cancer is a bad diagnosis and is more expensive." How could insurance affect new GI cancer screening options? Although the FDA's approval of the test is a promising step in adoption of blood-based screening, some leaders are concerned that payer approvals could stand in the way. William Sellers, MD, chief of robotic colorectal surgery at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, N.Y., and St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, N.Y., spoke with Becker's about the potential effect of payers on potential widespread adoption of the tool. "Everything that comes out always comes down to what the insurance companies will cover," he said. "The one good thing I read about this is it does seem with FDA approval, Medicare will reimburse and cover this. Usually in most situations private insurance follows Medicare's example, though that's not always 100% the case. Every time we as physicians come up with new tech or treatment or a new plan that's going to benefit patients, it will not be effective if the insurance companies aren't going to reimburse, aren't going to pay for it." These states are currently contemplating loosening practice restrictions for optometrists. West Virginia lawmakers are considering easing state occupational licensing regulations to allow workers from other states to work and to address shortages in ophthalmologists. Advocates also brought up expanding the scope of practice for optometrists, who can currently perform eye examinations, diagnose issues and recommend treatments, but cannot perform major medical and surgical procedures for eyes. Currently, optometrists can use lasers for diagnostics, but not for therapeutic treatment of eye and vision issues. New Hampshire is reviewing a bill that would allow optometrists to perform certain minor surgeries in the state. The legislation would allow optometrists to perform some minor surgeries, including laser surgery of the eyeball and scalpel surgery of the eyelid. Currently, only ophthalmologists are able to perform those procedures. Utah's state Senate is weighing a bill that would decrease the qualifications required to perform some laser eye procedures. It would allow optometrists to perform procedures including a YAG laser capsulotomy and a selective laser trabeculoplasty. Optometrists would still not be permitted to perform LASIK and cataract surgeries. Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health is planning to build a new full-service, community hospital campus in Bluffton, S.C. Four things to know: 1. The Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center will be built with 50 beds to start, with plans to expand to 100 beds as the growing needs of the community increase in the years to come, Novant said in a Sept. 26 news release. 2. The hospital will include medical, surgical, emergency and trauma services, as well as intensive care, labor and delivery, cardiology, neurology and orthopedics, in addition to other medical specialties identified as needed in the area. The system said its plans will bring an estimated 1,000 new jobs to the region over the next five years. Novant plans to submit necessary regulatory approval documents in the coming weeks. 3. Novant is also planning several outpatient campuses in Bluffton, including a free-standing emergency department, surgery centers, imaging services, urgent care, primary care, and specialty care. Novant said it will recruit at least 20 new primary care providers, in addition to specialists. 4. Novant expanded into South Carolina in February when it completed the acquisition of three hospitals in the state from Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare in a $2.4 billion deal. Rene Guzman writes about all things San Antonio, from past and present to pop culture and puro cultura. He can be reached at rguzman@express-news.net. Before joining the Express-News in 1998, the San Antonio native co-owned a college humor magazine called Bitter, for which he wrote, designed and edited, as well as distributed at various campuses and businesses citywide. His features writing has appeared in the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Times-Union. A cyberattack on an employee email account at Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine has impacted 57,891 individuals. The breach occurred after an employee accepted an unsolicited multi-factor authentication prompt, allowing hackers to access their email and its contents, according to a Sept. 26 news release. The cyberattack took place on July 30. According to Michigan Medicine, several emails and attachments within the compromised account contained identifiable patient information, including names, medical record numbers and details of diagnoses and treatments. However, sensitive financial information such as Social Security numbers, credit card, debit card and bank account numbers was not exposed. While Michigan Medicine found no evidence that patient health information was the target of the attack, it acknowledged that data theft could not be entirely ruled out. The employee involved in the incident has been subject to disciplinary action, per the health system's policies. Michigan Medicine began notifying affected individuals on Sept. 26. In July, Michigan Medicine experienced another data breach in which three employee email accounts were compromised affecting 56,953 individuals. Two U.S. senators introduced a bill Sept. 26 that would create minimum cybersecurity standards for hospitals and require them to undergo "stress tests." The Health Infrastructure Security and Accountability Act would require HHS to develop the standards for providers, payers and clearinghouses and provide $800 million in funding for safety-net hospitals and $500 million for all hospitals to improve their cybersecurity. "With hacks already targeting institutions across the country, it's time to go beyond voluntary standards and ensure healthcare providers and vendors get serious about cybersecurity and patient safety," bill co-sponsor Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a Sept. 26 statement. The bill would also remove the existing caps on cyberattack-related fines under HIPAA, require corporate executives to sign off annually on the requirements or face jail time, have HHS audit at least 20 organizations a year for cybersecurity, and have covered entities submit to independent cybersecurity audits and stress tests to determine if they can promptly restore service after a hack. A spokesperson for the American Hospital Association, which has opposed minimum cybersecurity standards for hospitals, told Becker's the organization had no comment on the bill. A Kansas health system has a new name. Here are five things to know. 1. Lyons, Kan.-based Rice Community Healthcare became Rice Community Health in September. 2. The health system has a 25-bed critical access hospital with a birthing center and 24/7 emergency department, two rural health clinics, and an independent living center. 3. As part of the rebranding, Hospital District No. 1 of Rice County in Lyons became Rice Community Hospital, Sterling (Kan.) Medical Center is now Sterling Family Care, Lyons (Kan.) Medical Center changed its name to Lyons Family Care, and the Community Health Workers Program will be known as Rural Health Connections. 4. "We are proud to introduce Rice Community Health as our new system brand, which represents all of our entities," Rice Community Health CEO George Stover said in a statement. "This rebrand marks a significant step in our commitment to serve the evolving healthcare needs of the families in our community." 5. Rice Community Health also launched a new website. In a reversal, Maryland will contract with Kaiser Permanente as a Medicaid managed care organization in 2025. "We are pleased that we reached an agreement with the State that enables us to continue to serve our members as a HealthChoice managed care organization in 2025," a spokesperson for the Oakland, Calif.-based health system told Becker's on Sept. 25. "We are grateful to the Department's leadership for their ongoing efforts to promote equitable access to healthcare, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to come." Five key notes: 1. On Sept. 20, the Maryland Department of Health told local media that it would drop Kaiser as a Medicaid MCO in 2025 after "lengthy contract negotiations." 2. Maryland had also recently temporarily suspended new enrollments in Kaiser's Medicaid plan, citing a failure to meet contractual obligations related to financial operations reporting requirements. 3. Kaiser has held a Medicaid contract in Maryland for more than ten years, and it maintains the highest-rated Medicaid plan in the state, per the NCQA. 4. The state will also renew its other existing managed care contracts, which includes Aetna, CareFirst BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, Elevance Health's Wellpoint, Jai Medical Systems, Maryland Physicians Care, MedStar Family Choice and Priority Partners. Jai Medical Systems and MedStar Family Choice are independent companies. Maryland Physicians Care is owned by Ascension Saint Agnes, Holy Cross Health, Meritus Health, and UPMC Western Maryland. Priority Partners is owned by Johns Hopkins Health Plans and the Maryland Community Health System. 5. Kaiser Permanente has cared for Medicaid members in Maryland for more than a decade, including the more than 113,000 Marylanders currently enrolled with us," the spokesperson said. "Our value-based care model focuses on improving patient outcomes, eliminating disparities in care for our members and improving affordability." Exeter (N.H.) Hospital, a 100-bed hospital part of Cambridge, Mass.-based Beth Israel Lahey Health, has agreed to delay multiple planned service cuts, according to a Sept. 25 announcement from New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella. "Exeter Hospital recently announced a series of proposed cuts of healthcare services impacting patient care for thousands, negatively impacting local municipalities and directly affecting programs and services vital to seniors as well as low income and disadvantaged populations," Attorney General John M. Formella said in a Sept. 25 statement. "The announcement provided insufficient notice to patients, care providers, and the community as a whole causing great concern to those impacted." While the New Hampshire Department of Justice conducts a compliance review, the hospital will halt the discontinuation of the following services for up to six months: Neurology Pediatric dental Advanced life support (paramedic intercept) program Podiatry Allergy and immunology "Exeter Hospital continues to face dramatically rising costs, changing patient care trends and a challenging reimbursement environment," a spokesperson for the hospital told Becker's. "While we have made progress in continuing to rebuild our financial health in the post-pandemic environment, we are evaluating all aspects of our operations, including aligning our staff with patient care priorities and focusing our resources on healthcare programs and services that Exeter Hospital is uniquely qualified to provide." According to the Justice Department, Exeter Hospital has committed to undertake the following steps over the next six months: Create a detailed transition plan for each of the affected services to ensure there is no lapse in patient care. Cooperate with the Justice Department's review as to whether any proposed cuts comply with the terms of the final judgment entered into with the state for the July 2023 Beth Israel Lahey acquisition of Exeter Hospital, as well as other obligations under the affiliation agreement and relevant provisions of state and federal law. Over the next six months, the office of the New Hampshire attorney general will review the details and information that Exeter Hospital and Beth Israel Lahey provide. "The New Hampshire Department of Justice's role regarding healthcare transactions extends beyond reviewing the proposed affiliation itself," Mr. Formella said. "We must ensure that healthcare charitable trusts comply with the terms of all agreements as well as state law and do not take action that places patients at risk. Beth Israel Lahey has represented to me that it understands its role as a healthcare trust and is committed to regaining the confidence of the community it serves." While VCU Health's hospital-at-home program did not meet its initial patient volume targets in its first year, it achieved strong success in terms of patient satisfaction, Julia Siegel Breton, MD, medical director of the program, told Becker's. Launched in 2023, the Richmond, Va.-based health system's program initially set a goal of serving 2,000 patients in its first year. Despite falling short of that mark, Dr. Breton emphasized the program's notable achievements. "We slightly exceeded the program census compared to other academic institutions in their first year of hospital at home," she said. The program provides patients with acute conditions hospital-level care in the home and utilizes technology to help facilitate the care. Challenges encountered The first year was marked by some challenges, including staffing shortages and payer participation. Like many health systems navigating the post-COVID-19 landscape, VCU Health faced difficulties in recruiting nurses. "It has been a desert of a hiring landscape for nurses," Dr. Breton said. However, she noted that the program still managed to attract committed professionals drawn to the "innovative, patient-centered nature of the care model." Another obstacle was limited initial payer participation. However, VCU Health has since expanded the program's coverage to include all payers, making the service accessible to a broader patient population. Additionally, a cultural shift was required to differentiate hospital-at-home care from traditional home health services. Many providers and patients initially misunderstood the program, thinking it was a standard home health service. This confusion prompted VCU Health to bolster its marketing efforts, clarifying that the program delivers acute inpatient care with full monitoring and medical support. The program's tech use Patient enrolled in the program are equipped with tablets that connect them to a virtual nursing team, ensuring 24/7 access to medical support. Each patient also receives vital sign monitoring devices that integrate seamlessly with VCU Health's Epic EHR system, and the health system is getting ready to further enhance the program's technology capabilities. "We're excited to expand our technology capabilities, adding wearable patches for continuous monitoring of vital signs, ECGs and fall detection," Dr. Breton said. Positive feedback Patient satisfaction with the program has been overwhelmingly positive, with a 100% approval rating on MyChart surveys. Patients have expressed gratitude for the personalized care and comfort of receiving treatment at home, Dr. Breton said. She added that many patients reported feeling more confident and less isolated during their recovery, which has contributed to an improved overall experience. Next steps As the program evolves, VCU Health has fine-tuned its processes. New screening tools have been implemented to better identify eligible patients, and additional care aids have been introduced to alleviate the burden on caregivers. Looking ahead, Dr. Breton is optimistic about expanding the program's geographic reach. VCU Health is already partnering with a hospitality house to provide care for patients outside the immediate service area, ensuring that vulnerable populations can access the necessary treatments. Moreover, the program has begun directly admitting patients from the emergency department a strategy Dr. Breton said not only enhances patient satisfaction but also helps reduce the strain on hospital resources. Jarrod Johnson has been appointed CEO of Birmingham, Ala.-based UAB Callahan Eye Hospital, effective Oct. 1. Mr. Johnson has 25 years of healthcare and leadership experience, according to a Sept. 25 news release from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He previously served as president of UPMC Carlisle (Pa.), where he led recruitment efforts and expanded service lines, the release said. Stacy Harberson has been appointed CEO of Nashville, Ark.-based Howard Memorial Hospital. Ms. Harberson most recently served as the hospital's COO, according to a Sept. 25 news release shared with Becker's. She was its radiology director for a decade prior to that, the release said. Howard Memorial is a critical access hospital with several affiliated clinics and speciality centers. Officials from 21 states, led by Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, have accused the American Academy of Pediatrics of potentially failing to adhere to consumer protections with respect to gender care policies. In a letter sent Sept. 24, attorneys general and lawmakers in various states requested that the pediatrics academy provide information detailing evidence for its standards on gender dysphoria care for minors. Mr. Labrador said in a news release that he and others are specifically seeking information about the AAP's evidence for its "recommendations for puberty blockers for gender dysphoria-diagnosed youth despite widespread retractions of the practice." He also expressed concerns about the pediatrics organization's "claims that the use of puberty blockers on children is safe and reversible. This assertion is not grounded in evidence and therefore may run afoul of consumer protection laws in most states." "For the most part, [the AAP] has not allowed nonmedical considerations to infiltrate its guidance to physicians and parents," the letter from the attorneys general said. "But when it comes to treating children diagnosed with gender dysphoria, the AAP has abandoned its commitment to sound medical judgment." The AAP, which has 67,000 pediatrician members, could not immediately be reached for comment by the Idaho Capital Sun. Becker's has also reached out to the AAP and will update this story if a comment is received. The pediatrics organization reaffirmed its 2018 policy statement on gender-affirming care in August 2023 while also saying it would conduct a systematic review of evidence. In a news release in August 2023, the AAP wrote that the decision to authorize the review "reflects the board's concerns about restrictions to access to healthcare with bans on gender-affirming care in more than 20 states." The AAP's 2018 policy statement recommends a gender-affirming, nonjudgmental approach and providing youths with access to comprehensive gender-affirming and developmentally appropriate healthcare. The AAP's full policy statement is available here. Joining Idaho in its letter to the AAP are the attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, and the Arizona Legislature. Hayti, Mo.-based Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems is being sued by its former CEO after she claimed she faced discrimination and retaliation. Joanie White-Wagoner took on the leadership role in September 2023 and was dismissed about four months later, according to the complaint. She filed the complaint Sept. 14, 2024, alleging she was wrongfully terminated. Here are five things to know about the lawsuit. 1. After taking over as CEO, Ms. White-Wagoner learned of and reported potential violations by the hospital to state and federal agencies, which contributed to her termination, the complaint said. Throughout her tenure, Ms. White-Wagoner reported potential violations to CMS, the Missouri attorney general's office's Medicaid fraud control unit, the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Labor Department. The reports focused on issues regarding potential misuse of grant funds, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement compliance, and wage and hour regulation violations. 2. Ms. White-Wagoner allegedly received less total compensation than her predecessor and successor, both of whom are men, according to the complaint. Sunil Gungee, the previous permanent CEO, who was terminated about a year before Ms. White-Wagoner was hired, received benefits such as a car stipend, housing allowance and life insurance premium payments; those benefits were not offered to her, the complaint said. David Ketchum, who replaced Ms. White-Wagoner, also received a higher total compensation than she did, according to the complaint. Ms. White-Wagoner, who has almost 30 years of healthcare administration experience, alleged she was more qualified for the position than both of them. 3. Along with her gender, Ms. White-Wagoner claimed she was discriminated against because of her age and disability. Ms. White-Wagoner was diagnosed with Graves' disease in 2017, which interfered with daily activities such as thinking, concentrating, speaking and walking. The hospital allegedly contacted her repeatedly while she was hospitalized because of the disease and created an abusive work environment, according to the complaint. She was "marginalized and treated inferior to her co-workers based solely on her disability," the complaint said. Mr. Ketchum, her successor, is also "substantially younger" than she is, the complaint said. 4. Ms. White-Wagoner was allegedly terminated without written notice, as required by her employment agreement, the complaint said. She was instead dismissed in January through a phone call from Lance Crawford, former hospital board chair, according to the complaint. Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems includes Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital and its affiliated clinics. 5. The system declined to comment. This story will be updated if more information becomes available. Marco Antonio Flores was arrested Tuesday and charged with evading arrest and detention. Courtesy, Bexar County Sheriff's Office Bexar County sheriff's deputies have arrested a 37-year-old man they say ran away when they questioned him about the killing of a 63-year-old woman whose body was found Monday along the Salado Creek Greenway Trail. Marco Antonio Flores was arrested late Monday and booked into the Bexar County jail early Tuesday, court records indicate. He is charged with evading arrest and detention. Stacey Adams Dramiga had been reported missing late Sunday night, Sheriff Javier Salazar said. Her body was found the next day about 30 yards off the paved greenway trail near Dafoste Park. That area is near East Commerce Street and Martin Luther King. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A CLEAR alert was issued for Stacey Dramiga, 63. Bexar County Sheriff's Office investigators believe the body found along the Salado Creek Greenway Trail could be Dramiga. Department of Public Safety Flores was arrested after he ran from deputies when they told him he would be taken to the Sheriff's Office headquarters for questioning. Bexar County Sheriff's Office officials said Thursday that when Flores was speaking with a deputy at the scene where Dramiga's body was found, Flores "provided some details regarding the victim's condition that were not released to the public." READ ALSO: Body found at Salado Creek Greenway Trail could be missing woman Deputies did not elaborate on what Flores revealed to them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office said Dramiga died of a head wound and listed the manner of death as homicide. She was a staff member at Brooke Army Medical Center. Bexar County Sheriff's Office investigators were at the scene Monday afternoon after the body of a woman was found. They are investigating it as a homicide. They believe it could be Stacey Dramiga, 63, reported missing Sunday. Staff/Jacob Beltran The search for Dramiga began around 11 p.m. Sunday night when her husband reported her missing. She last was seen Sunday morning, and her husband became concerned when she did not return to their home. The husband and a friend of his wife's began searching for Dramiga and found her car, which was secured, at Covington Park at 2600 Rigsby Avenue. Advertisement Article continues below this ad BCSO deputies and San Antonio Park Police began searching for Damiga. They were able to narrow down the search when an investigator used an iPad to ping Dramiga's phone. They said it helped narrow the search. A park police officer located the body near the paved greenway trail, which appeared to match Dramiga's description. Flores was convicted of at least three counts of criminal trespass between 2018 and 2023, according to court records. He's currently awaiting trial on a Feb. 19 charge of possession of a controlled substance between 1 and 4 grams. BCSO is asking the public to call 210-335-6000 if they have any information that could help with leads on this case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More than 7,500 cases have been completed with Centinel Spine's Prodisc C Vivo and Prodisc C SK implants in the U.S. since 2022, according to a Sept. 26 news release. Five things to know: 1. The devices were launched in the U.S. in September 2022, and more than half of the completed cases happened in the last nine months. 2. In the first half of 2024, C Vivo and C SK cases increased more than 91% year over year. 3. Nearly 800 spine surgeons in the U.S. are using Centinel Spine's disc replacement implants, and about 75% are repeat users. 4. "This milestone demonstrates the significance of providing anatomic choice to the spine surgeon," Centinel Spine CEO Steve Murray said in the release. "Similar to what's evolved in hip, knee, and shoulder joint replacement surgery, spine surgeons are increasingly choosing proven, safe, effective, durable, and anatomically differentiated implants for their patients." 5. Globally Centinel Spine total disc replacement implants have been used in more than 250,000 cases. Spine technologies come with a cost barrier for some ASCs even as more cases migrate to the outpatient setting. Three spine surgeons discuss the cycles and strategies that will affect the costs of robotics and implants in the ASC. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. Becker's invites all spine surgeon and specialist responses. Next question: What has been the most beneficial partnership for your practice? Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, Oct. 2. Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length. Question: Many newer spine technologies come with a heavy price tag, especially for ASCs. What will it take to lower costs for the technologies and help them become more widespread? Don Park, MD. UCI Health (Irvine, Calif.): The price for utilizing emerging technology in spine surgery is high due to the research and development required to develop the technology, the marketing required to sell the technology, and the personnel needed to implement the technology. These high costs can be prohibitive, especially in the ASC setting where reimbursement is much less than hospital-based settings. Companies need to work with administrators to develop creative financial solutions to reduce these costs, such as at lease to own options, tiered discounts based on increasing utilization and volume, and programs based on purchasing associated products such as disposables and implants. However, these companies need passionate surgeons who believe in the technology to advocate and champion the company to the hospitals and ASCs. This passion comes from technology that should provide considerable benefits to both the surgeon and patient, such as significant time savings in the operating room, greater accuracy and precision in surgery, and improved safety for the patient. Over time, the costs will inevitably decrease with more utilization, but industry needs to help with financial models that make sense in a financially restrictive environment with technology that can truly enable surgeons to perform better surgery for their patients. Vladimir Sinkov, MD. Sinkov Spine (Las Vegas): Newer technologies in spine surgery (such as intraoperative navigation, robotic systems, augmented reality systems, patient-specific implants, etc.) inevitably come at a high cost. The cost includes both the expenses involved in developing, improving, validating and obtaining FDA clearance for the new technology as well as the expenses to build, maintain and update the new devices. As the use of newer technologies becomes more common and there is more competition in the market, the cost will inevitably decrease some. There will be a limit, however, to such a decrease in cost. Newer technologies will always cost more than the older and simpler methods of performing spine surgery. Such higher expenses, however, will be justified by being able to achieve better outcomes by performing spine surgery in less invasive fashion, by making spine surgery more efficient, and by decreasing the harm to the surgeon and OR staff (such as radiation exposure and physical and mental strain). With time, those who pay for the surgery (be it the insurance companies or the patients themselves) will recognize the value of newer technologies and improved outcomes and will be willing to pay the additional cost associated with such innovations. This will, in turn, further increase the utilization of new technologies until they become the standard of care. This cycle will continue to repeat itself in spine surgery and in healthcare in general, as the science and technology of medicine continues to evolve and improve for the benefit of our patients. Christian Zimmerman, MD. St. Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): Implant prices can vary due to manufacturer negotiated purchasing agreements coupled with limited awareness of true cost. Reducing the price of surgical implants and increasing uniformity in costs has translated into extensive long term savings. Paring of companies unwilling to work within a system or price consolidation is also a most viable option for price reduction. Common spinal injuries and surgical interventions in workers' compensation cases already require procedures associated with higher costs and implant intervention. Coalescing these patients to a center of known better outcomes and more efficient processes is another mechanism of potential utilization. Like big pharma and its profit-mongering legacy, biomedical companies play a role in cost, copyright and claw back cost impositions to patients. Happy mediums require negotiation and firm expectations. CastleCourt will welcome the retailer to its ground floor. The TK Maxx store in Belfast city centre is relocating from Donegall Arcade to CastleCourt Shopping Centre. The new 24,872 sq ft store is set to open on Thursday October 3 at 10am. The high street favourite and labels-for-less retailer will offer everything from fashion, accessories, beauty and home, all under one roof in the new store. A spokesperson for TK Maxx said: We are thrilled to open a brand-new TK Maxx store in Belfast, as we know how much local shoppers love to shop big-brand fashion, accessories, and more, all at great prices. We want to give our valued Belfast treasure seekers the best shopping experience possible, and we are confident they will enjoy our new bright and beautiful store. Leona Barr, centre manager at CastleCourt Shopping Centre, added: It is fantastic to welcome TK Maxx back to CastleCourt Shopping Centre. "Our shoppers will be thrilled to explore their trove of one-off finds and discounted designer fashion, which sits at the front of the centre in prime retail space. We are delighted with the regeneration of the centre thanks to the investment from our landlord, which has attracted so many well-known brands and local businesses in recent years. TK Maxx are a fantastic national brand and will complement our expanding retail mix. TK Maxx has 644 stores in six countries across Europe: the UK, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands and is online at www.tkmaxx.com, tkmaxx.de and tkmaxx.at. The new TK Maxx store can be found at 56-58 Royal Avenue, CastleCourt Shopping Centre, Belfast, BT1 1DD. News Catch Up - Tuesday 24th September When the company was liquidated in February of this year, creditors were owed slightly over 155,000, according to the Department for the Economy (stock image - Getty) The former owner of a Co Tyrone construction firm has been disqualified from being a company director for six years. Patrick McHugh provided the disqualification undertaking over his conduct as director of the building completion and finishing firm Erganagh Construction Services. When the company was liquidated in February, creditors were owed slightly over 155,000, according to the Department for the Economy. Mr McHugh (35) from Ashleigh Court in Castlederg, accepted the departments description of his unfit conduct, including incorrectly submitting Vat returns that caused a loss of monies properly due to the Crown from 2018/19. The department found that the company therefore had more money to continue trading than it ought to have. It also found that Mr McHugh had failed to submit annual returns in 2014 and 2015, and confirmation statements for the years between 2014-2018, within the prescribed time. Erganagh Construction Services was incorporated in autumn 2013. Mr McHugh was the only named shareholder ever listed in the companys filings. In 2018 to 19, the company had two compulsory strike-off notices filed but then discontinued. The companys most recently filed publicly available accounts in March 2018 covered the 12 months leading up to March 2017. The late filing of these accounts was one of the examples of unfit conduct by Mr McHugh that the department recorded. At that time, the company said it owed 10,000 to creditors in the coming year, and was owed over 25,000 by debtors. It reported having 2,500 of cash at bank and in hand. Prior to the appointment of liquidator by the department in late 2022, the company had a registered address of Listymore Park in Castlederg. The liquidator appointed was Russell Hunter of Lecale Corporate Finance and Restructuring Limited in Stranmillis Embankment, Belfast. Directors disqualifications are legal instruments that prevent someone from becoming a company director without the leave of the High Court. They are made under the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002. They are brought against the directors of companies that the department believes have abused the privilege of limited liability status through negligence, incompetence or lack of commercial probity. People facing a disqualification can also offer a disqualification undertaking, as Mr McHugh did. If accepted by the department, an undertaking removes the requirement of a court hearing. An undertaking is still a legally binding commitment, however, and those who breach one face the same consequences as someone who violates an order made after a court ruling. Disqualifications for periods of six to 10 years are used by the department for cases which do not merit the top bracket. "Particularly serious cases can result in disqualifications of between 10 and 15 years. Since April, the department has accepted nine disqualification undertakings and two disqualification undertakings have been made by the court. The department say the orders are made for the protection of the public and other traders, and not to inhibit genuine enterprise. Charra Tea will be the third contestant from NI to take part in the show (Credit: BBC) Drag queen Charra Tea is hoping to make Northern Ireland proud during her first appearance on RuPauls Drag Race UK tonight. Charra Tea, AKA James Martin, is a drag queen from Belfast and is one of 12 contestants competing in the UK edition of the show. The competition returns to television screens tonight with a host of celebrity judges including Graham Norton, Michelle Visage and various others. Charra Tea is taking part in the sixth series of the show and is both excited and nervous for the premiere. In a social media post on Instagram ahead of the show airing, she said. This entire process has been incredible and I am so excited (and terrified) for you all to see what weve been up to. The first contestant from Northern Ireland on RuPauls Drag race UK was top drag queen Blu Hydrangea, who placed fifth back in the UK debut of the show. Blu has competed in the show several times and went on to win a spin-off of the show RuPauls Drag Race: UK vs the World. James Martins first interest in drag began when taking part in a school play for the performance of Hairspray. I used to volunteer in a charity shop in Belfast on Botanic Avenue, and I loved seeing all these fabulous clothes, dresses, and costumes that come in, Charra told the BBC. I was always so jealous that I wasnt able to wear them, and then one day I thought, you know what, Im going to start drag and Im going to buy these dresses so I can wear them. I am here to represent the tacky and the colourful out there, and no one else is going to want to wear primary colours, so it makes me stand out. The BBC Three programme is made up of 12 drag queens who compete against each other in several games and challenges ranging from dress design, dancing, singing, acting and more. RuPaul calls the shots as host of the show and is known for being the creator of the original series based in America which first aired in 2009. A fan-favourite game on the show is called the Snatch Game where the contestants must get on stage and give celebrity impressions in a spoof game show inspired by Blankety Blank. The contest runs for 10 weeks and the bottom two contestants each episode must lip-sync for their lives before one is eliminated from the competition. Charra is the third contestant from Northern Ireland to be on the show and thanked all of those who supported her along the way. A massive thank you to everyone who has helped me along my drag journey, she said. I genuinely couldnt have done it without my friends, my family, my boyfriend and all of my queer family. And this is just the beginning. RuPauls Drag Race UK will be available on BBC iPlayer. Gary Lightbody said his own group had taken ten years to find success (Liam McBurney/PA) The lead singer of Snow Patrol has expressed his concern that no band from Northern Ireland has broken the international market this century. Gary Lightbody was speaking after attending a meeting with arts leaders and Stormont Communities Minister Gordon Lyons over funding for the arts in the region. He referred to his own group as having taken ten years to find success, recalling nights sleeping on friends sofas and relying on the kindness of strangers. Snow Patrol was formed in 1994 in Dundee, when Lightbody was at university in the Scottish city. Gary Lightbody, Mark McClelland, Johnny Quinn, Nathan Connolly and Tom Simpson from rock group Snow Patrol (PA) Their third album, Final Straw, with hits Chocolate and Run, released in 2003, was their first to bring them mainstream success. During the 1990s a number of other bands emerged internationally from Northern Ireland, including Ash, Foy Vance and Two Door Cinema Club. Lightbody told the PA news agency in Belfast: It took ten years to have success, and we had an awful lot of people who supported us. We didnt apply for any government grants during that time but I still believe in those, and I know artists that rely on those, theyre very small in Northern Ireland compared to the Republic of Ireland for example, where grants can be as high as 20,000 to 50,000, here it is more like 2,000. Ash receive their award for Best Irish Album at the Hot Press Awards in Belfast, in 2002 (PA) We had a lot of friends and family who supported us, I slept on a lot of friends couches over the years, so I know what it is like to be an artist and not make any money. We didnt make any money for ten years and relied on the kindness of strangers, to borrow from Tennessee Williams. Lightbody said he wanted to try to help make it easier for artists coming up. There are some people even within the artistic community who think arts is punk and we need to do it ourselves, and that is absolutely fine, but there are also people who rely on funding to survive, and I want that funding to be available to the people who need it, he said. Asked whether it was harder for a band starting out now compared with the early 1990s, Lightbody said: immeasurably so. There are a myriad of reasons even beyond funding, streaming has kind of democratised music in a way but it has also made it dizzying I think for the consumer. So its very hard to get your head above the water even though someone in Sydney or Mumbai or Tokyo can listen to your song, they probably wont find it because of the colossal weight of music that there is out there, he said. So there are other issues other than just funding set against young artists starting today, but that would certainly give them a good footing to start their musical career. We havent had a very successful Northern Irish band in a while, I think in this century so far. Were talking Ash, Foy Vance, ourselves, Two Door Cinema Club. Compare that to the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, or in England where there are a ridiculous amount of success stories. Northern Ireland has a wealth of talent, but that talent is not finding its way to success in the UK, Europe or the wider world and there is something about that which has cognitive dissonance. Emily Maitlis said she fled to the toilet before her interview with the Duke of York (Ian West/PA) Journalist Emily Maitlis has said she fled to the toilet before her interview with the Duke of York to tell herself dont pull your punches. The 54-year-old former BBC reporter said it had been the stuff of dreams to be played by Gillian Anderson and Ruth Wilson in dramatisations of the interview, in Netflix film Scoop and BBC drama series A Very Royal Scandal respectively. She told Good Housekeeping that despite being proud of her work, there was something very disturbing about seeing the impact of the interview play out. Maitlis said: I remember shaking [Andrews] hand, and then I excused myself and fled to the toilet. The interview saw Andrew quizzed on his relationship to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (Chris Jackson/PA) I locked the door and slumped in the corner of this wonderful, very chintzy, very ornate loo. I was holding the handbasin at one point and just saying to myself, right, what is this interview about? Find the focus, find the point of the interview. I was sort of lecturing myself: dont interrupt, dont be rude, dont forget to be courteous in your address but also dont pull your punches in the questions. The interview saw Maitlis quiz Andrew on his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and saw him deny having sex with then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, saying he was in Pizza Express in Woking on the day it was alleged to have happened. Following the interview, the duke paid a financial settlement to Giuffre, formally ending a US civil case brought against him. In the settlement he accepted no liability and he has always rejected claims of wrongdoing. Canadian-born British journalist Maitlis went on to say that her younger self wouldnt believe that parts of her life would end up on TV dramas. She added: I just thought it was a hoot. I couldnt believe it. Its the stuff of dreams, isnt it, to be portrayed by Gillian Anderson and Ruth Wilson? If I had to describe that to a younger version of myself, I just wouldnt believe it. Emily Maitlis will appear on the cover of the November issue of Good Housekeeping (Good Housekeeping UK/Mark Harrison/Camera Press/PA) Maitlis said that, following the interview, far too much responsibility was put on her and her team. The journalist said: There were some people saying to me, what have you done to the royal family?. Stuff that was way too big and put far too much responsibility on our teams shoulders. But theres something very disturbing about seeing the effects play out in real time, because you do feel a sense of responsibility. The thing I keep coming back to is, Im a journalist, I just ask the questions. Maitlis also spoke about her decision to leave the BBC in 2022, saying she was grateful to the corporation but had thought it was now or never when she entered her 50s, so decided to leave. Her post-BBC work has seen her appear on Channel 4s election night coverage, present a daily news podcast called The News Agents and work as an executive producer on A Very Royal Scandal. The full interview can be read in the November 2024 issue of Good Housekeeping, which is now on sale. If they take away our Prosecco, what next?: Mixed reactions to Ryanair boss proposed crackdown on boozy behaviour Nervous flyers and those who like a drink or two before boarding among those sharing their views Ryaniar CEO Michael OLeary has called for a two-drink limit to be applied at airports as a result of unruly behaviour on flights. Photo: Steve Humphreys Arlene Harris Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 21:42 Ryanair boss Michael OLeary sparked another debate with his calls for air passengers to be limited to two alcoholic drinks before boarding a flight. Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have put their summer programme on sale for 2026 earlier than ever before, with flights and holidays to 21 destinations now available to book from Belfast International Airport . The programme means over 600,000 seats have gone on sale from the airport and, during peak periods, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will operate more than 50 departing weekly flights from the airport. As well as being the first airline and tour operator to go on sale for summer 26, the summer sun and leisure cities programme offers more seats and choice. To meet with customer demand, the airline and tour operator have increased their capacity to Faro (Algarve), with additional services operating on a Monday throughout summer 26. The 21 destinations include Antalya, Dalaman, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Reus, Alicante, Malaga, Palma (Majorca), Ibiza, Menorca, Faro (Algarve), Crete (Heraklion), Rhodes, Zante, Paphos, Dubrovnik, Malta, Verona and Madeira. Holidaymakers can also enjoy low fares, great flight times, 22kg baggage allowance and 10kg hand luggage with Jet2.com. Those wanting to take advantage of ATOL protected package holidays can book with Jet2holidays and receive a choice of two to five-star accommodation, in-resort customer helpers, transfers to and from the airport and free child place holidays, all for 60 per person deposit. Customers who want to enjoy the privacy and space of their own villa can book their Summer Sun with the UKs largest villa package holiday provider, Jet2Villas. Package options with Jet2CityBreaks include a huge choice of 2-5 star accommodation, fantastic flight times on Jet2.com, ATOL protection, free 10kg hand luggage and free 22kg hold baggage included on all European city routes for a 60 per person booking deposit. Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: Customers are telling us they want to book ahead and secure that all-important holiday, so they can have the best choice of hotels, rooms and dates. We have responded to the strong demand from holidaymakers wanting to lock in their getaways, by putting our summer programme on sale from Belfast International Airport for 2026, earlier than ever before. Our Summer 26 programme offers holidaymakers plenty of choice and flexibility, as well as giving them the chance to book in advance and get a date in their diary now for some sunshine. We have every confidence our Summer 26 programme will be a huge success. Dan Owens, chief executive of Belfast International Airport, said: We welcome Jet2.com and Jet2holidays summer programme, which will meet an increased demand for travel and holiday experiences. Jet2 is a key partner for Belfast International Airport, and it is encouraging to see additional capacity being added to the schedule. Thanks to continued investment and commitment from both Vinci and Jet2 we can offer our customers an improved passenger experience, increased connectivity and a wide variety of holiday destinations. For further information and to book visit www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com. University of Texas doctorate student Frank Guzman and his wife, Caroline Katba, have been missing since late July, the Austin American-Statesman reports. DSCZ/Getty Images The family of an Austin graduate student who went missing over the summer while traveling with his wife in Mexico is asking the public for help. University of Texas doctorate student Frank Guzman and his wife, Caroline Katba, have been missing since late July, the Austin American-Statesman reports. Guzmans sister, Liz Guzman, told the newspaper the pair were traveling through Latin America to Chile, where Frank was going to do research and fieldwork related to his anthropology studies. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The couples loved ones last heard from them on July 22, the day the pair told relatives they planned to leave Mexico. However, there is no documentation of the two leaving Mexico, according to a security team hired by the University of Texas. ALSO READ: New judge sought in trial for San Antonio cops accused of killing woman in mental crisis In a social media post, Liz Guzman said its believed the two were last spotted in Coatzacoalcos, a city in Veracruz, Mexico. They drove a four-door, gray 2016 Toyota Prius-Hatchback with Texas license plate SDM2449. Liz Guzman hopes anyone with connections to the area can help. Our family needs the help of everyone to spread the word about their disappearance, she wrote on Instagram. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There are missing person reports for Guzman in Texas and Mexico, and one for Katba in Mexico. Guzmans family has contacted the U.S. Embassy and FBI, the Statesman reports. The two are listed as missing in the Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse Bulletin. Family said the couple had kept in touch frequently while traveling, sharing photos and texts with relatives. Both Guzman and Katba went offline on the messaging service WhatsApp on July 22, the Statesman reports. Liz Guzman told the newspaper her brother wouldnt just leave, walking away from years of work toward his studies. Liz Guzman urges anyone with information to contact her or local police. A former Queens University nursing student diagnosed with cancer has received 25,000 after settling a disability discrimination case against the university. Natasha Bradshaw said a lack of understanding and support had shattered her dreams of becoming a nurse. She alleged safety concerns during a work placement set by the university during her second year, leading her to withdraw from the course completely. Her case, settled without admission of liability, was supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Natasha was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, a year before she started an adult nursing degree at Queens. During her second year, she had to withdraw from a hospital placement which was part of her course after two days. She said the work she was required to do on placement was unsuitable due to her disability and contrary to recommendations made by the universitys occupational health team. It was three weeks before the university found another suitable placement. The delay meant Natasha would have to complete her placements without a sufficient break. It also meant she would have to complete back-to-back placements while preparing for and sitting exams to fulfil all elements of her course. Natasha felt fulfilling her course in this manner would put considerable pressure on her and her health. She was advised that the schedule could not be adjusted to give her more time. She believes the university did not consider her disability when reaching this decision. Natasha then agreed to a temporary withdrawal from the course and eventually withdrew entirely due to her lack of confidence in the school to keep her safe while completing the degree. Natasha said: Im really upset about my experience. I worked so hard and sacrificed so much in order to fulfil my dream of becoming a nurse. My cancer diagnosis has been tough, I did not want it to impact on my career. It should not have impacted my studies as much as it did at the time. I felt that I was expected to be treated the same as students who arent disabled. I believed it would have been impossible for me to complete my course in this way given my disability. I just needed a little understanding and support regarding my health and the life altering situation I was in. I felt I didnt get any of that, leaving me without a course or degree and shattering my dream of becoming a nurse. Geraldine McGahey, chief commissioner at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, said the law protects people with disabilities from discrimination in education. "This means universities and other education providers must consider and implement reasonable adjustments to support disabled students where possible, she added. They must ensure that their disabled students are not placed at a disadvantage compared to those who are not disabled. "Unfortunately, in Natashas case, she believed she did not receive the support she needed due to her disability and as a result she felt unable to finish her degree and qualify as a nurse. In settling the case, the university affirmed its commitment to the principle of equality of opportunity. It is working with the Equality Commission to review its equal opportunities policies, practices, and procedures and ensure they are effective and follow the requirements of equality law. The university also acknowledged that it wished to resolve the case to assist in alleviating any stress or anxiety Natasha would experience arising from the ongoing proceedings. A spokesperson for Queens University said: Queens University acknowledges this was a distressing experience for Ms Natasha Bradshaw appreciating the difficult health circumstances she found herself in. The university resolved the case without admission of liability to assist in alleviating any stress or anxiety Ms Bradshaw would experience arising from proceedings. Following this case, Queens has undertaken work with the Equality Commission to review our equal opportunities policies and procedures ensuring they are effective and follow the requirements of equality law for all our students and staff. Queens is committed to creating an inclusive environment and will continue to work hard to ensure any students and staff with disabilities have the appropriate institutional support in place for their chosen course of study and wider participation in university life. Temporary plans were passed by Belfast City Council for an Irish Language school in east Belfast in June A Stormont scrutiny committee is to write to the Education Minister seeking clarification over why he met with representatives of loyalism who demanded an end to plans for an Irish language school in east Belfast. Paul Givan met with members of the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) on Tuesday to discuss what the Department of Education said was a range of issues relating to education underachievement in loyalist areas and share information on the Departments RAISE programme and other relevant initiatives. But in a statement, the LCC which represents the views of the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando paramilitary groups said it had also raised concerns about the proposed Irish school in east Belfast, and urged the DUP Minister to halt the development. Belfast City Council gave planning permission for the proposed temporary nursery and primary school and soft play area in June. Representatives from the LCC, led by chair David Campbell, said they had told the DUP minister that any proposed school has no meaningful support from the local unionist and loyalist population and no consultation had taken place with local residents. David Campbell from the Loyalist Communities Council met with Education Minister Paul Givan The Education Committee will now await a response from Mr Givan over what talks took place with members of the LCC after a heated discussion during Wednesdays committee meeting. DUP member David Brooks told the committee he would not be apologising personally or on behalf of his party for engaging with the LCC when we are expected to sit in chambers with people who are from a republican background and have a history of violence. What I am getting quite sick of in terms of political discourse is this circus arriving every time there is engagement with LCC, he said. The LCC as I understand it is a body about moving loyalist paramilitaries away from paramilitary activity. But irrespective of that I sit on this committee and I sit across the way from Pat Sheehan and his history and everything that goes with that. I sit in a chamber across the way from Gerry Kelly, a man who has written a book about his history and what he has been responsible for. Yet when there were flag protests, political unionism was accused of not engaging with loyalist working class communities and hammered for that. When we look at history, people talk about the Hume/Adams talks and the virtues in that and how it brought Sinn Fein in from the cold. I dont necessarily share those views, but it seems a particular attitude is taken whenever political unionism engages with representatives of loyalism. Its double standards. In the community I represent, people are sick of that. There are times when it is appropriate that we talk to the LCC. We dont always agree, but it is right that we engage with them. Sinn Fein MLAs Mr Sheehan and Mr Kelly are former IRA prisoners, and the former was not in attendance at yesterdays meeting. Sinn Fein member Cathy Mason, though, said it was completely outrageous that a group representative of loyalist gangs are attempting to influence decisions about our childrens futures and their right to be educated through whatever language they choose. Also seeking clarification over what was discussed at the meeting, SDLP member Cara Hunter said she wanted to see an end to the politicisation of the Irish language. This is something the Department needs to uphold, she added. Weve seen the movement from Linda Ervine. The language belongs to everybody. Temporary plans were passed by Belfast City Council for an Irish Language school in east Belfast in June The DUPs Mr Brooks responded saying there are some other parties who have had a very large role in politicising the Irish language. Alliance member Michelle Guy MLA said it was only right that the Education Committee seek clarification from the Minister over the meeting. I was disturbed to see it, she added. Particularly in the context of work which was outlined to this committee last week on the linkage between paramilitary groups and their influence on communities and child exploitation. She said it was not credible for the Minister to be standing against the paramilitary exploitation of children then meeting with LCC who are not legitimate stakeholders in discussions we have around the education of our children. UUP member Robbie Butler also called for the Minister to clarify the content of the meeting. If the Minister asked them when they will be leaving the stage, then that is legitimate, he said. The Department of Education was contacted on Wednesday seeking further clarification of the content of the meeting. Co Antrim Catholic who is to marry her Protestant fiance next year delighted to say thank-you to Senator George Mitchell Erin McArdle holds hands with Senator George Mitchell at the Queen's University event this week The first child born here after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement has met the man who chaired the talks that led to the historic deal expressing her gratitude she will soon be getting married in a time of peace. Erin McArdle (26) from Co Antrim took part in an event at Queens University where plans were announced for a new home for the peace institute named after Senator George Mitchell. The peace baby was joined by the former diplomat (91). Its one of several high-profile events Erin has attended over the last 18 months to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace. And next year shell celebrate her own big day when she weds Dean McAtamney. Erin and her fiance Dean Were just under the year, itll be next September, weve got all the big things planned so its very exciting, she said. Hes been very supportive. We have a laugh about this, but Dean is a Protestant, so we always joke that you cant get any better than the Good Friday baby marrying a Protestant! But Dean thinks its great, his parents grew up in the Troubles as well, and we have the best supportive families around us. We are always thinking we are very lucky to be getting married at the time that we are. Erin as a baby with her mum Caroline Erin was born at Antrim Area Hospital 42 minutes after the Agreement was signed on April 10, 1998. Shes well aware of the symbolic nature of her arrival in the world. I have had the most amazing childhood and people do ask me about it all the time, about being the Good Friday baby, she said. I always have to reflect on what my mum and dad said about that time. I hold the title close to my heart, and as Ive gotten older, it means more to me. I remember taking part in celebrations for the 10th anniversary, and I thought it was the best thing ever simply because I got a new dress. On Wednesday, Erin and mum Caroline joined Senator Mitchell in a conversation chaired by broadcaster Donna Traynor at Queens. The determined and perpetually patient Mitchell was one of the main factors in getting the painstaking negotiations finally across the line in 1998. Erin said: My granny always tells a story about how, when I was two years old, Senator Mitchell was on the television and I was watching it. My granny then said wouldnt it be nice in my lifetime if I ever got to meet him. Erin McArdle holds hands with Senator George Mitchell at the Queen's University event this week That wish came true this week. Erin added: I was nervous. I obviously cant remember anything about what we are talking about, so its obviously really humbling to hear him talk about his own story, and him going back to America and saying it (the peace deal) had fallen through, before coming back. It was unbelievable and a real privilege. Ive done lots of events for the Good Friday Agreement, but I honestly have to say that Wednesday nights was one of the best, and one of the most relaxed. Erin and her younger sister Rhiannon, who is studying law, have a running joke that she should have been the peace baby, as she is so into politics. Erin also has an older sister, Jessica, who was born 22 months before her, with the Troubles still going on. She said her mum always reflects on the difference in the political atmosphere between both girls arrivals. She explained: My mummy says when she brought my sister home she was worried about bringing a baby into that environment, that she asked herself was it safe to raise a child here. Then she describes bringing me home, days after the Agreement, and it feeling completely different. Hopefully, after my wedding, Ill have my own family and I will be able to bring up my children just like myself. Detectives investigating Jasons disappearance have issued a specific appeal for information on Thursday morning. They are asking people with buildings in Belfast city centre, especially derelict ones and those that are also boarded up, to check them in particular in the North Street, York Gate, Lower Garfield Street and James Street South areas. Detective Inspector Angus said: We are continuing to search for 27-year-old Jason Hughes who has not been seen since Friday, 26th April. Jason has links to both the Belfast and Craigavon areas, but we believe he could be anywhere in Northern Ireland. This morning, we are asking people who own buildings in Belfast City Centre, especially derelict ones and those that are also boarded up, to check them. We are especially keen that owners of buildings in the North Street, York Gate, Lower Garfield Street and James Street South areas check for signs that Jason may be there. We are also continuing to appeal to the public to please look at the image of Jason and let us know if you recognise him, or have seen him. Jason is described as being approximately 5ft 4 inches tall, of slim build, with short fair/ blond hair and blue eyes. I am also appealing directly to Jason to make contact with Police, family or friends so that we know you are safe and well. Anyone with any information on Jason's whereabouts, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to please make contact with police on 101 and quote reference 830 03/08/24." "You can also report online at https://www.psni.police.uk/report or via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers.uk.org News Catch Up - Tuesday 24th September A Newry playground named after an IRA hunger striker has been left out of development plans by the local council. A recent meeting of the Active and Healthy Communities committee was provided with a new four-year capital programme for council-owned play parks identified for upgrades. The plan does not mention the Raymond McCreesh Park which has been at the centre of some controversy since it was renamed after the Armagh man. Children in the Patrick Street area, where the Raymond McCreesh Park is located, were provided with a consolidation playground at Martins Lane in 2022 which serves both them and young people in the Barcroft area. The Martins Lane park is around half a mile away. The future of the McCreesh site, which is still in recreational use, remains unclear. Read more Playground named after IRA hunger striker left out of council development plans A council spokesperson said: The McCreesh Park site remains on Newry, Mourne and Down District Councils surplus asset register and is subject to the D1 process. The D1 process is a stage in the NMDDCs work that involves the submission of a developed business case. It is now over a year since councillors were given a behind-closed-doors update on efforts to dispose of the surplus assets site at Patrick Street. In an open session, the then Sinn Fein chairperson of the Strategy, Policy and Resources committee, Leeanne McEvoy, said: During the surplus assets update, it was confirmed that the councils Patrick Street site has had no interest. In October 2018, NMDDC put McCreesh Park up for sale as surplus to requirements despite community support for the playground being retained resulting in a court case in 2019. A judicial review finding stated that residents would need to be consulted on the future of the playground. The city centre park has been a long-running source of controversy, with unionists bitterly opposed to it being named after a republican paramilitary in 2001. McCreesh, from Camlough in Armagh, was one of 10 republican prisoners who died in the 1981 Maze Prison hunger strikes. Police and community groups in west Belfast have urged local parents and young people to be vigilant after reports of an attack on a teenage girl on Wednesday night. It was reported to the PSNI that on the Upper Suffolk Road at around 8.30pm on September 26, a man approached two teenage girls as they walked along the road. The man reportedly pulled at the clothing of one of the girls, then pushed her to the ground. He then made off on foot, possibly in the direction of Lenadoon. The perpetrator was described as being aged in his 20s or 30s and was wearing a black coat, black trousers and black shoes. A police spokesperson added that both girls were left badly shaken following the incident. The Glen Community Parent Youth Group and Lenadoon Womens Group have appealed to residents across the Glenveagh/Suffolk Road and Greater Lenadoon areas to proceed throughout the region with caution going forward. They stated that at approximately 8.30pm, as the girl and her friend were walking home from the Suffolk Road into Glenveagh Drive, a white male in dark clothing emerged from behind the girls and dragged one of them towards a derelict house in the street. "As he was assaulting the girl her friend began screaming and a passing car came to their assistance as the assailant ran off, the post continued. Lenadoon Community Forum and Suffolk Road Residents Network are demanding an urgent meeting between themselves and the Housing Executive to have this derelict property adequately secured to prevent further assaults. Both groups are also urging parents to make their children aware of the potential dangers and to ensure that they are not out on their own whilst this dangerous individual is at large. A Housing Executive spokesperson said: This site is currently secured and is scheduled for demolition. It has been vandalised in the past and is permanently sealed. Our staff will once again ensure the site is secured and we are happy to meet with community representatives to discuss any concerns they may have. Belfast report presses need for 1.4billion of investment in capital alone Some of the sewage related debris collected close to Whitehouse waste water treatment works. Workers at The Cashel housing development, which cannot proceed at present The Assembly has been urged to publish a plan and start addressing a water infrastructure deficit amid concerns it is deepening the social housing crisis in Derry and Strabane. Joe McGinnis, managing director of Braidwater, previously told this newspaper that their plans for 3,000 homes close to the Derry-Donegal border have been placed on hold because a pumping station needs upgrading. Infrastructure Minister John ODowd has now floated the idea of developers contributing to the upgrade of treatment works. A Living with Water document which makes the case for investment in Belfasts water infrastructure was published by then Minister Nichola Mallon in 2019. A NI Water presentation also says the Executive approved a 1.4 billion 12-year investment plan centring on a number of waste water treatment works (WwTW) that surround Belfast Lough. The area contains shellfish protected waters and a previous assessment found increased levels of E.Coli in shellfish flesh, indicating a decline in water quality. The document reveals that around 100 tonnes of sewage-related debris (SRD) was collected on a beach and in an area next to a sewage overflow pipe at Whitehouse waste water treatment works (WwTW). Some of the sewage related debris collected close to Whitehouse waste water treatment works. The amount of SRD in other parts of NI, including Derry, is unknown as NI Water said the figures for Whitehouse were the result of a specific case study for the Living with Water Belfast programme. The document states: An Interdepartmental Strategic Drainage Infrastructure Plan, entitled the Living with Water Programme, is being developed to support economic growth, protect the environment and address flood risk in Belfast. At present NI Water estimates that 19,000 properties across Northern Ireland require capital intervention to proceed which includes social housing projects. Of those, 28% are in the Derry City & Strabane Council area, 17% in Ards & North Down and 13% in Belfast with lower numbers in other areas. More than 1.2 million tonnes of untreated sewage is also discharged along the citys busy riverfront between the Craigavon and Foyle bridges representing over 5% of the entirety of sewage spilled throughout NI annually. A local councillor has questioned why a similarly comprehensive report has not been drawn up for the Derry and Strabane council area. People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said that almost 50,000 families and individuals, more than 6,000 in Derry alone, are trapped on the housing waiting list and grappling with unaffordable rental costs. People Before Profit's Shaun Harkin He previously had a motion passed to form a taskforce to address the housing crisis. Mr Harkin has urged the Communities Minister and the Executive to initiate a mass social and affordable housing build to address housing scarcity. But Gordon Lyons department recently said only 400 or 500 social homes are planned across the whole of Northern Ireland. Mr Harkin said: It is completely unacceptable that there is no water infrastructure plan for Derry and Strabane where there is the most pressing housing need. Thousands of people are being impacted by inaction from the government over the years when it comes to investing in water infrastructure. This is causing misery for thousands of families who need good homes. It is another failure of the Stormont Executive which does not recognise Derry as the second city in the north, which was demonstrated by scant reference to Derry in the programme for government. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan also said the Executive didnt need a crystal ball to see the catastrophic impact that chronic and systemic underfunding in water and wastewater infrastructure would have on housing development, economic investment and future prosperity. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan. He added that as a result, areas in greatest housing need, like Derry will be hit hardest. The Department for Infrastructure said it is working with NI Water and other key stakeholders to develop a Strategic Drainage Infrastructure Plan in Derry, similar to the Living With Water in Belfast Plan. This aims to deliver a new, strategic, long-term approach to drainage and wastewater management to help protect against flooding, enhance the environment and enable economic development in the City, a spokesperson said. The Living With Water approach promotes collaborative working between key stakeholders to identify, where possible, opportunities for sustainable blue / green solutions to address multiple issues, such as reducing flooding and combined sewer overflows and improving water quality and biodiversity. Whilst the Living with Water in Belfast Plan was endorsed by the Executive when it was published in 2021, no additional funding was earmarked by the Executive. The schemes identified within this Plan have to be prioritised by each of the LWWP partners, including NI Water, against other schemes across the North and funded from their annual budget allocation. A spokesperson continued: The Department has been historically underfunded by over a decade of cuts by the British Government. However, this year the Minister has provided NI Water with a budget allocation of almost 0.5 billion for 2024/25, representing just under 40% of the total non-ring-fenced budget for the Department for Infrastructure. It is for the Board of NI Water to prioritise its funding allocation to ensure that it delivers effective water and sewerage services within budget. DfC has been contacted for comment. The Police Ombudsman has been investigating the PSNIs handling of one of the worlds biggest catfish criminal cases. Earlier this year, Newry man Alexander McCartney admitted the manslaughter of a 12-year-old American girl, after he catfished her through various social media apps. Catfishing involves using a fake online identity to target other online users which then leads to online sexual abuse, exploitation and blackmail. He also previously pleaded guilty to over 180 charges relating mostly to online child abuse, spanning a period from 2013 to 2019, involving more than 60 victims from as far afield as America and New Zealand, many of whom were contacted via Snapchat. The 26-year-old Co Armagh man is currently in prison awaiting sentencing, but UTV has tonight reported that a separate, almost three-year investigation has been completed by the Police Ombudsman into the PSNIs management over McCartneys case from the beginning. Sources cited by UTV said that before the enormity of what McCartney was up to became apparent, his house was searched twice and his computers were seized for examination. That didnt happen straight away and they stayed in a queue for some time. Concerns have been raised as to whether some of McCartneys victims could have been identified an informed earlier had police examined evidence sooner. Police referred themselves for investigation to the Police Ombudsman in 2021. The Ombudsmans office said that the Chief Constable asked the Police Ombudsman to investigate concerns about the initial stages of the PSNIs investigation of online child sex offences by Alexander McCartney. The concerns included that the forensic examination of McCartneys computers and electronic devices may have been delayed, they continued. Our investigation of the issues identified by the Chief Constable is now complete, and we are in the process of drafting our report. A previous court heard an investigation was launched in 2018 after police in Scotland received a complainant. This led to McCartney and after his Lissummon Road home was searched, a computer and mobile phone were seized and thousands of indecent images of young girls were uncovered. A PSNI spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment given the investigation. PSNI to step up patrols at north Belfast interface after calls to shut peace gates A rise in anti-social behaviour among youths in the area has resulted in calls to have the gates closed A banner has been placed over the Columbia Street gate Liam Tunney Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 07:00 The PSNI are stepping up patrols at a north Belfast interface after residents called for peace gates that were opened two years ago to be shut again. Prosecutor Michael Villarreal, left, asks questions of witness Dr. Kimberley Molina, Chief Medical Examiner of Bexar County, during the third day of Brandon Cerveras trial on Thursday. Photos of 4-year-old Benjamin Cervera in April 2021, left, and Aug. 2021, right, were shown to the jury and Molina to compare how Benji looked four months before he died on Aug. 17, 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Defendant Brandon Cervera listens to testimony from Dr. Kimberley Molina, Chief Medical Examiner of Bexar County, during the third day of his trial on Thursday. Cervera is accused of starving his 4-year-old son Benjamin to death in 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Prosecutor Michael Villarreal, left, talks to witness Dr. Kimberley Molina, Chief Medical Examiner of Bexar County, during the third day of Brandon Cerveras trial on Thursday morning. Cervera is accused of starving his 4-year-old son Benjamin to death in 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Defendant Brandon Cervera listens to testimony from Dr. Kimberley Molina, Chief Medical Examiner of Bexar County, during the third day of his trial on Thursday. Cervera is accused of starving his 4-year-old son Benjamin to death in 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney is Jodi Soyars asks questions of Dr. Kimberley Molina, Chief Medical Examiner of Bexar County, during the third day of Brandon Cerveras trial on Thursday. Cervera is accused of starving his 4-year-old son Benjamin to death in Aug. 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Prosecutor Michael Villarreal talks to witness Dr. Kimberley Molina, Chief Medical Examiner of Bexar County, during the third day of Brandon Cerveras trial on Thursday. Cervera is accused of starving his 4-year-old son Benjamin to death in Aug. 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Judge Kristina Escalona addresses the courtroom during the third day of Brandon Cerveras trial on Thursday. Cervera is accused of starving his 4-year-old son Benjamin to death in Aug. 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Bexar County Medical Examiner Dr. Kimberley Molina doubled down on her ruling Thursday that 4-year-old Benjamin Benji Cervera died of starvation. Molina, the Bexar County chief medical examiner, is the forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy on Benji the day after his death. Molina appeared in court as one of the states witnesses on Thursday, the third day of testimony in the trial for Benjis father, Brandon Cervera. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cervera is accused of starving Benji to death on Aug. 17, 2021. He is charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. Molina testified that she used Benjis medical records, documents provided by forensic investigators, evidence from the San Antonio Police Department and medical articles to make her determination that his cause of death was starvation, and the manner was homicide. In reviewing this case, I read numerous articles on my training and experience on starvation, Molina said. I relied on my education and experience. Molina previously testified during the trial for Benjis stepmom Miranda Casarez who was convicted in the childs death in April and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In his questioning of Molina, prosecutor Michael Villarreal used a chart that displayed Benjis growth over time. Molina said Benji had no growth within the last 10 months of his life. When he died, he only weighed 28 pounds. "When looking at adults and assessing starvation, we can look at just weight loss but when looking at children, it's not just about weight loss but failure to grow," Molina said. Benji had little to no body fat at the time of his death, and his intestinal tract had no food in it, Molina said. She said there were signs that led her to believe the boy was malnourished, including that he had macrocytic anemia, which is related to vitamin deficiency. He had no thymus gland, which can disappear in a child if they are under extreme stress, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad However, Cerveras defense attorney Jodi Soyars said none of the doctors that saw Benji prior to his death reported he had a vitamin deficiency. She also questioned Molina for not ruling out suffocation and arrhythmia as a cause of death Molina said there was no evidence to indicate Benji died from suffocation or arrhythmia, but she said could not dispute it. Soyars said Molina only reviewed what the San Antonio police detective cherry-picked for her to review. During her testimony, the jury saw several images taken by Molina during Benjis autopsy. In the photos, Benji appears thin and bruises can be seen on his buttocks and back. Molina said some of the markings on Benjis buttocks appeared to be Mongolian spots, a type of birthmark. During opening statements, Soyars had also noted that some of the spots on Benji's body appeared to have been Mongolian spots. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police have said Cervera purposefully withheld food from Benji. Detectives used photos and videos of the boy to create a timeline that showed him deteriorating under Cerveras care. In one of the videos, Benji can be seen crying and begging for bread and water on the day of his death. At the apartment where Benji lived with his father and stepmother, detectives observed locks on the refrigerator, kitchen cabinets and pantry door. There were also locks on his bedroom door. If convicted, Cervera faces up to life in prison. Shawn Seesahai was stabbed through the heart in a Wolverhampton park (Family Handout/PA) Two 12-year-old boys found guilty of murdering teenager Shawn Seesahai in a random machete attack are set to be sentenced. The killers, both from Wolverhampton, were convicted in June of murdering the 19-year-old, who was stabbed in the heart and suffered a skull fracture on the citys Stowlawn playing fields on November 13 last year. They are believed to be the youngest defendants convicted of murder in Britain since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both aged 11, were found guilty in 1993 of killing two-year-old James Bulger. One of the killers (West Midlands Police/PA) The boys, both now 13, face a mandatory juvenile life sentence and are due to appear in custody at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday for the start of a two-day hearing. The sentence is due to be passed on Friday. However, they will not be named after High Court judge Mrs Justice Tipples rejected a media application in July. She said the welfare of the youths outweighed the wider public interest and open justice principles. Family members of both Mr Seesahai and the defendants cried and hugged each other as jurors found both boys guilty of murder and one guilty of possessing a bladed article after a month-long trial. The trial was told that Mr Seesahai was shoulder-barged by the smaller of the two defendants, who often carried a machete with a 42.5cm-long blade, before being punched, kicked, stamped on and chopped at with the weapon. The victims friend told the trial he was forced to run for his life but Mr Seesahai stumbled as he tried to flee from the boys. In an interview released after the verdicts, Mr Seesahais parents Suresh and Maneshwary have said they will never be able to get over the loss of their son who always told them he would shine and take care of them. Speaking for the first time since their son was murdered, Suresh Seesahai said he feels sorry for the parents of the killers and only hopes that justice is served for his son. Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes in the southern village of Kfar Rouman, seen from Marjayoun, south Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP) The UK has joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is intolerable. In a joint statement, the 12-strong bloc calls for a 21-day ceasefire to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement, as well as a ceasefire in Gaza. The statement says: The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. This is in nobodys interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety. Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict. The statement calls for the governments of Lebanon and Israel to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement. It continues: We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether. Signatories to the statement include the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. It comes after the Prime Minister on Wednesday addressed the UN Security Council with a plea for an end to the violence in both Lebanon and Gaza. In relation to Lebanon, I am very worried about the escalation, Sir Keir Starmer said. Im calling for all parties to step back from the brink, to de-escalate. We need a ceasefire so this can be sorted out diplomatically. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with Foreign Secretary David Lammy (centre left) attend the Security Council during the 79th United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York (Leon Neal/PA) He also urged Britons to leave Lebanon immediately by the remaining commercial routes. Sir Keir said: I have a very important message for British nationals in Lebanon which is: the time to leave is now. The contingency plans are being ramped up but dont wait for those, there are still commercial flights. Its very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately. The UK has deployed 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for a possible evacuation of thousands of Britons. Professor Ahmed Hankir (centre) has said he will travel to Lebanon himself if necessary to get his family to safety (PA) A Belfast-born British-Lebanese professor whose family have no plans to leave Lebanon said he is prepared to go there himself and "carry" his elderly father out of the country. Professor Ahmed Hankir, 42, a professor in psychiatry, visited his parents in Lebanon last month and described the atmosphere there as "sombre", as fighting continues between Hezbollah and Israel. Mr Hankir was born in Belfast after his parents moved from Lebanon to the UK in the 1980s, and has strongly encouraged his family, who hold British passports, to leave the country for England where he now lives. His mother and his father, who is in his 70s and has mobility problems, have fled their home in Sidon, south Lebanon, to drive north to the capital, Beirut, where his sister lives. Mr Hankir's parents, who do not wish to be named, intend to stay in Beirut with his sister - but he said he would fly to Lebanon to bring them to safety himself if the situation worsens. "If I have to go there myself, I will," Mr Hankir, a visiting professor at Cardiff University, told the PA news agency. "If I have to carry my father, if I have to give him a piggyback or whatever, then I'll do it. And I mean that because it's getting increasingly more dangerous." Dr Ahmed Hankir Mr Hankir, who divides his time between Crystal Palace, south London and London, Ontario, in Canada, spoke to his sister via video call on Wednesday and said she was "distraught" and "crying inconsolably" about their parents' safety. "I think it's safer in Beirut than it is in Sidon, but now you hear that the Israeli military is attacking Christian majority areas," he said. "You might be lulled into a false sense of security that if you're in an area where there's no Hezbollah presence, then you would be safe. "But if they're attacking Christian majority areas, then it can seem like nowhere is safe in Lebanon." He said his sister "still gets nightmares and traumatic flashbacks" from when she was evacuated from her home during the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war. The UK Government has joined allies including the US and France in calling for an immediate temporary 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon to "to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement", but Mr Hankir said these calls should be for an immediate permanent end to the fighting. "It's better than no ceasefire, but not better than a permanent ceasefire," Mr Hankir said. "These are the calls from the international community, but will the Israeli military heed those calls? "And obviously Hezbollah needs to stop - I condemn what Hezbollah is doing in the strongest possible terms." Smoke rises from an Israeli air strike north of Beirut, in the village of Ras Osta, Byblos district, seen from Maaysrah, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP) By Bassem Mroue and Melanie Lidman, Associated Press By Bassem Mroue and Melanie Lidman, Associated Press An Israeli air strike in Lebanon has hit a building housing Syrian workers, killing 23 of them, Lebanons state news agency reported. It was one of the deadliest single strikes in an intensified air campaign against the militant Hezbollah group. The strike late on Wednesday came as the United States and its allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to provide space for diplomacy. Israel has threatened to launch a ground invasion, and the increasingly heavy exchanges of fire could trigger an all-out war. Lebanons National News Agency said the strike occurred near the ancient city of Baalbek in Lebanons northeastern Bekaa Valley, which runs along the Syrian border. It quoted Ali Kassas, mayor of the village of Younine, as saying that the bodies of 23 Syrian citizens were pulled from under the rubble. He said four Syrians and four Lebanese were wounded. Hussein Salloum, a local official in Younine, said most of the dead were women and children, and that rescue efforts lasted through the night and into Thursday morning. We dug through the rubble with our own hands until a small bulldozer was brought in, Mr Salloum told The Associated Press. We had very limited capabilities. The Lebanese Red Cross said it recovered nine bodies, while others were recovered by the Hezbollah militant groups paramedic service and the Lebanese Civil Defence. Emergency workers arrive at the scene of an Israeli air strike in the town of Maisara, north of Beirut (Bilal Hussein/AP) Lebanon, with a population of around six million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. Israel has carried out days of heavy strikes across Lebanon, targeting what it says are Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. The militants have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel and on Wednesday targeted Tel Aviv for the first time with a longer-range missile that was intercepted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is travelling to the United States for the UN General Assembly, has not yet responded to the ceasefire proposal. But his foreign minister Israel Katz said Israel would continue fighting with full force until victory. Hezbollah has also not yet responded to the proposal. The militant group has insisted it would only halt its strikes if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, which appears out of reach despite months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. Smoke rises from Israeli air strikes in the southern village of Kfar Rouman, seen from Marjayoun, south Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP) Israeli strikes since Monday have killed more than 630 people in Lebanon, according to local health authorities, who say around a quarter were women and children. Several people have been wounded by shrapnel in Israel. Israel struck 75 sites overnight across southern and eastern Lebanon, the military said. At least 45 projectiles were fired from Lebanon early on Thursday, all of which were intercepted or fell in open areas, it said. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel after Hamass October 7 attack ignited the war in Gaza, hoping to pin down Israeli forces. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are close allies of Iran. The Israeli Iron Dome air defence system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel (Baz Ratner/AP) The fighting has killed dozens of people in Israel and driven tens of thousands from their homes on both sides of the border. Israel has vowed to do whatever is necessary to allow its citizens to return, and it has moved thousands of troops to the northern border in preparation for a possible ground operation. Loyalists demand minister axe Irish language school in east Belfast. Loyalist Moore Holmes has been prominent in discussion around an Irish medium school in east Belfast. Picture Colm O'Reilly Sunday Life A packed crowd in Clonduff at a consultation on Scoil na Seolta - they were united against the school being close to the area. Linda Ervine MBE has been a key figure in Irish language promotion in east Belfast. The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) includes representatives of the UVF, UDA and the Red Hand Commando. It was set up in 2015 to help loyalist paramilitaries transform into old boy clubs but that transition away from criminality has never happened. In recent months, patience with the LCC has been wearing thin. Both the PSNI and the Secretary of State Hilary Benn have refused to meet them. But a political row has developed following a decision by the DUP Education Minister Paul Givan to meet them. During that meeting the LCC demanded the minister halt ongoing plans to build an integrated Irish medium school in east Belfast causing further controversy and being criticised from many quarters, including by the UUPs Doug Beattie. Supporters of Scoil na Seolta, the planned Irish medium integrated school, say the language is for all and so is the school. But for many loyalists, the school is unwanted, unneeded and unwelcome and part of a wider campaign targeting their culture. Niamh Campbell told the story to Ciaran Dunbar. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a federal lawsuit in Midland Monday over the listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered. Kristian Bell/Getty Images Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued two federal agencies over the addition of a small West Texas lizard to the endangered species list, accusing them of weaponizing environmental law to undermine the oil and gas industry. The dunes sagebrush lizard was listed as endangered in May, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service citing loss of habitat associated with oil and gas development, sand mining and changing climate as primary threats to the species. In a lawsuit filed in federal court against the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior, Paxton said the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to rely on the best scientific and commercial data in its determination, and made inaccurate and arbitrary assumptions about the status of the species. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The suit also alleges the service didnt adequately consider existing voluntary conservation efforts in place to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard, and says the listing threatens to derail efforts with private landowners and industry partners to implement voluntary measures. READ MORE: Texas lizard added to endangered species list over oil and gas industry objections The listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard has been the subject of controversy in Texas for decades, since they were first proposed for protection in 1982. The species is found only in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas, specifically a region west of Odessa thats part of the Permian Basin, a major area for oil and gas production. The lizards grow to less than three inches long, and live in sand dunes home to shinnery oaks, shrubby trees that provide food and shade for the animals, according to the service. The federal agency said habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation from the oil and gas industries, as well as the sand mining industries, threaten the species' survival, as well as changing climate conditions that result in hotter, more arid conditions and more frequent and intense drought. Advertisement Article continues below this ad READ MORE: Three types of Guadalupe River mussels added to endangered list In the suit, Paxton said the rule will limit or outright prohibit the leasing of its land for energy production. He challenged not only the data used to assess the species viability but also data used about oil and gas development and the assessment of future habitat conditions. The Service concedes that the Lizard 'still occupies much of its range' and that it 'may persist over the next several decades' even in areas the Service determined to be highly degraded, the suit said. He said the services rule listing the lizard is overly vague, making compliance impossible, and called it arbitrary and unreasonable. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. BENNINGTON The fight against drug overdoses took a big step forward last Friday with the arrival of Benningtons first no-cost Narcan vending machine outside the GBICS facility on Depot Street. The vending machine, the second such machine in all of Vermont, is set up and running as of Tuesday evening on Depot Street outside the main entrance to the Greater Bennington Community Services building (GBCS,) a community-based non-profit that helps provide food, medical care, and other services to the underserved population of Bennington. The machine, a traditional-style glass front vending machine, will make the opioid overdose medication Narcan, a brand name for the opioid overdose medication Naloxone, available for free with no limit, 24 hours a day. "These machines have demonstrated in other states where they've been able to do more extended tracking that the number of opioid deaths goes down as a result of access to machines like this, said Margae Diamond, Benningtons Turning Point Center executive director. This will 100% save lives. The vending machine is designed to hold up to 180 boxes containing two doses of Narcan nasal spray. The medication is proven to revive people who overdose on opioids, including fentanyl, heroin, and prescription painkillers, and is distributed widely to hospitals, police departments, emergency personnel, and clinics. The custom-made machine, estimated at around $11,000 per unit, is funded by a grant from the University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction. The center is funding the cost of the machine and Narcan supplies for the first two years of operation. According to Diamond, the Department of Health will pick up the supply costs through funds that are primarily coming out of the states vast opioid settlement and not from Vermont taxes. This is payback for the epidemic, and it's an appropriate use of those funds, Diamond said. The first vending machine in Vermont is located at the Johnson Health Center in Johnson, VT. It was activated last August. Since then, the machine has dispersed nearly 900 doses of Narcan. Naloxone (Narcan) is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. Signs of a possible opioid overdose include unconsciousness, very small pupils, slow or shallow breathing, vomiting, an inability to speak, faint heartbeat, limp arms and legs, pale skin, or purple lips and fingernails. Opioid overdose without intervention commonly leads to death. According to data from the Vermont Department of Health, between January and November of last year, 212 Vermonters died from an accidental opioid overdose, including 19 people from Bennington County. According to the most recent data from the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics, there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023a decrease of 3% from the 111,029 deaths estimated in 2022. That figure, including a dramatic decrease in Fentanyl overdoses, is the first annual decrease in overall drug overdose deaths since 2018. Many, including Diamond, attribute that decline to more widespread distribution of Naloxone. We have spent the last 18 months flooding this town with Narcan, particularly the motels, particularly areas where there are hot spots of unrest, Diamond said. I have to think that's had some impact. That could be nationally as well. There are 33 other states with machines now. This is an ongoing trend to make these resources available to people. Benningtons Town Manager, Stuart Hurd, attended the ribbon cutting on Friday. He later spoke with the Banner on why he feels something like this is vital to the community and why it should be supported. This gives the people of Bennington access to Narcan so they can help family members, friends, even themselves in some cases, said Hurd, Thats crucial in helping people survive and ultimately beat addiction. When asked by the Banner what he would say to some in our community who feel giving away free Narcan is akin to distributing the drugs themselves, making it easy for addicts to keep using, Hurd took a second, then responded. Those in our community who feel that way need to understand what addiction is, Hurd said. It is truly a disease. People arent addicts because they want to be. None of them started out wanting to be an addict, but once you are addicted, its with you for the rest of your life. Even if you recover, you will always have that need. If we dont do something like this to help people, then what are we really? Diamond couldnt agree more. No one is in an active addiction that's happy, Diamond said. People are sick. In order to break the cycle, we want to give them an opportunity so that they don't die. With Narcan now available at pharmacies, police departments, hospitals, and for free at places like Turning Point, what is the need for a vending machine like this? Even though Narcan is available over the counter, it's still like $40 a box, which is pretty prohibitive to people, Diamond said. There's also an issue with having to come and ask for it. There's so much stigma associated with this issue that people are hesitant to speak up, and so this is providing a resource for people where they don't have to explain or talk to anybody. They can just come and get it. As of Wednesday morning, hours after the machine came online, at least one box of Narcan had already been vended out. This is a great thing for the Bennington community, Diamond said. I don't want to make this bigger than it is. It's a tool in the toolbox. This isn't going to save everyone, right? It's one tool in the toolbox, but it's a great tool for us to have. The vending machine is located at GBCS, 121 Depot Street in Bennington, across from Peoples Park. It is available 24/7 and its free with no limit on doses. Each box contains two nasal doses. Instructions for usage are included with each box. It you are struggling with addiction, please reach out to the Turning Point Recovery Center in Bennington at 802-442-9700. In case of an emergency overdose, please call 911 immediately. Judge Sid Harle is seen ahead of a hearing for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez, on Thursday. Josie Norris / Staff Photographer Nico LaHood confers with fellow defense attorneys ahead of a hearing for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez, on Thursday. Josie Norris / Staff Photographer Alexis Tovar, center, poses Sunday, June 25, 2023, with a photo of her mother, Melissa Perez, who was shot and killed by three San Antonio police department officers. Seated with Tovar are her aunt, Daisy Nieto, left, and her husband, Adrian Tovar. William Luther/Staff Former San Antonio Police officer former officer Eleazar Alejandro, left, former Sgt. Alfred Flores, center, and former officer Nathaniel Villalobo, sit together ahead of their hearing on Thursday. According to Perezs relatives, Perez was in a mental health crisis when she was killed after the three police officers responded to her Southwest Side apartment in 2023. Josie Norris / Staff Photographer Judge Sid Harle listens to a presentation during a hearing to recuse Judge Stephanie Boyd from presiding over the trial for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Nico LaHood listens to testimony during a hearing to recuse Judge Stephanie Boyd from presiding over the trial for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Jason Goss testifies during a hearing to recuse Judge Stephanie Boyd from presiding over the trial for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Thom Nisbet testifies during a hearing to recuse Judge Stephanie Boyd from presiding over the trial for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Judge Stephanie Boyd is seen in the courtroom during a hearing to recuse her from presiding over the trial for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Jason Goss smiles as he leaves a hearing to recuse Judge Stephanie Boyd from presiding over the trial for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Nico LaHood gives comment to reporters after Judge Stephanie Boyd was recused from presiding over the trial for the three former San Antonio police officers charged in the death of Melissa Perez on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News An administrative judge ruled Thursday that a new judge should oversee the trial of three fired San Antonio police officers charged in the fatal shooting of Melissa Perez. During a hearing Thursday, defense attorneys representing Eleazar Alejandro, Alfred Flores and Nathaniel Villalobos said they were not ready to go to trial, but that Judge Stephanie Boyd had refused any motions to delay it. They believed it was because she harbored a bias against them. One of the reasons, they suspect, is because one of the attorneys filed a complaint against Boyd last year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jason Goss, Villalobos lead attorney, filed the complaint with the Commission on Judicial Conduct in September 2023, arguing that Boyds YouTube channel that broadcasts her courts daily proceedings violated judicial conduct laws. Since then, Goss testified, Boyd has been "cold" and "insulting at times." "She was not treating me the way she has treated other lawyers," Goss said. "She has made hand gestures toward me when I'm speaking indicating I should stop speaking. She did that in front of the jury. She has treated me as if she is angry or upset with me based on my grievance. The ruling is the latest in the ongoing legal saga for the three officers, who were fired and charged after the slaying. Alejandro and Flores are charged with murder. Villalobos is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Their joint trial was expected to begin Tuesday, but it was delayed after attorneys filed a sealed motion earlier this month to recuse Boyd, prompting Thursdays hearing. READ MORE: Trial date set for fired SAPD officers accused in fatal shooting of woman in mental crisis Advertisement Article continues below this ad Judge Sid Harle, who presides over the 22 counties in the 4th Administrative Judicial Region in South Texas, told defense attorneys they had shown that it was necessary to appoint a new judge in the case. "My job is to make sure the efficient, orderly and fair administration of justice occurs, Harle said. "I cannot see where it would be fair or efficient to allow this case to move forward with Judge Boyd presiding over it with all the various things we've heard." He said he also wanted to avoid Perez's family having to go through another trial because this one was rushed and ended in a mistrial or appeal. Harle said he would appoint a new judge soon. At that point, the parties would agree to new scheduling order dictating when evidence needs to be turned over and when a trial is scheduled to begin. Perez, a 46-year-old mother of four, was killed June 23 of last year during a confrontation with police at her Southwest Side apartment. Officers were dispatched after a neighbor called 911 to report that Perez had cut the wires to the complexs fire alarm system. Perez had schizophrenia, according to her family. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At first, Perez was cooperative with officers and gave them her name, date of birth and apartment number. She said she cut the wires to the complexs alarm system because the FBI was eavesdropping on her. When officers asked Perez to walk to their patrol car with them, she grew upset, ran to her apartment and locked the front door. More than an hour later, Flores, Alejandro and Villalobos, whod been called in as backup, fired into Perezs apartment after she allegedly ran toward a closed patio door while swinging a hammer. Police Chief William McManus said Perez did not pose a threat to the officers because she was on the other side of a locked glass door. He said Flores, Alejandro and Villalobos had flouted police training and policy. After detectives consulted with the DAs office, the officers were arrested on suspicion of murder. It was the first time in decades that a San Antonio Police Department officer had been charged with murder in connection with an on-duty shooting, according to news archives and department officials. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'Untenable position' Patrick Ballantyne, an attorney who works with Goss, argued Thursday that there were several reasons to delay the trial all of which Boyd had disregarded. Ballantyne said Goss had informed the court months ago that his wife was pregnant, and that he planned to take time off in September under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Boyd told Goss that if he wanted to take leave, Villalobos could be tried at a later date, rather than in conjunction with the other officers. "It puts me in a position of having to tell my client, 'Either you get me or you get your best defense,'" Goss testified. "It's an untenable position to put me in as an attorney because I need to take care of my child and my wife and all of those things, and my client has to have the best defense that's available to him." Goss also informed Boyd that some of the material expert witnesses they planned to call on weren't available in September. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jeff Mulliner, the newly-assigned director of the Civil Rights Division, testified under subpoena that he had been assigned to the Perez case in August, and that he had not had enough time to prepare for trial. He said he hadn't even interviewed all the witnesses in the case. As late as Friday, Mulliner testified, his staff was trying to recover evidence. "We determined, thus far over the course of our investigation, that it was highly likely that there were spent slugs that had been collected and not yet tested," Mulliner said. "We further formed what we believe rises to the level of probable cause that there was a spent slug inside a wall that has never been recovered ... Just Friday, through a search warrant, we were directing to be acquired a wall at the scene of the alleged offense. They did, sure enough, secure a spent slug." Still, Mulliner said, his staff has not been able to account for the 16 bullets they believe officers shot. Mulliner said he worried that if the trial would proceed under Boyd, it could lead to a mistrial or an appeal. "I have an exceedingly strong interest in multiple parties, almost most assuredly to include the next of kin, to not have to have a significant risk of enduring a second a subsequent trial just to get to the point of having a single conviction," Mulliner testified. 'Lead to chaos' This is not the first time defense attorneys have criticized Boyds practice of putting court proceedings online. Robert Featherston, a veteran defense attorney, filed a motion on behalf of a client charged with aggravated assault in September 2023, asking Boyd to shut down the channel. The month prior, Boyd denied a similar motion from defense attorney Alex Scharff, who argued that recording court proceedings and leaving them online tainted the judicial process. Featherston cited the Constitutions Sixth Amendment right to a public trial. He said courts have no historical basis for substituting or supplementing an open court proceeding with a YouTube broadcast or Zoom video conference. He said with the pandemic no longer making it necessary, it should cease. Boyds broadcast, particularly its open comment section where viewers talk about everything from the credibility of witnesses to the quality of attorney arguments violated his clients right to a fair trial, Featherston argued. It really does lead to chaos, especially if the jury members ignore the judges order not to look at anything on media, Featherston told the Express-News at the time. Juries are instructed not to access news media reports or any information about a case beyond what theyre allowed to see and hear in court. But sometimes, they cheat. Boyd joined YouTube on April 21, 2020, a little less than a month after the COVID-19 pandemic closed the courthouse. Many courts at the time functioned online, but even after in-person proceedings were restored, she continued to broadcast nearly every proceeding in her courtroom. Boyd often allows viewers to comment in real time and keeps recordings of the proceedings accessible to the public practices many other judges in Bexar County dont do. According to her YouTube channel, Boyd has 35,100 subscribers and 4.4 million page views, with over 1,000 videos available on the page. At one point on Thursday morning, prior to the hearing, the channel had 807 viewers. In a statement to the Express-News, Boyd said she had no details about Thursday's decision. "... I was not present or permitted to be in the courtroom during the hearing; therefore, I do not know what was said in the courtroom," she said via text. "I have not been contacted by the judicial conduct commission concerning any complaints. Judicial canons of ethics do not allow me to respond further." PITTSFIELD Nearly a month into a new cellphone policy, the number of infractions at Pittsfield Public Schools is less than half the total from September 2023. In the first 18 school days of this academic year, there were 416 disciplinary log entries for cellphones, according to a presentation by Matthew Bishop, interim assistant superintendent of instruction, assessment and educational engagement. By the end of September 2023, the number was 988, Bishop said. Unless something really bad happens in the next four days with cellphone armageddon, were probably going to be well under where we were last year at this time, which is encouraging, Bishop said. Bishop presented the data to the Pittsfield School Committee at its regular meeting on Wednesday night. The committee voted to change the districts policy on Aug. 21, adopting a more stringent set of consequences for students using their mobile devices during class. Under the revised policy for the 2024-25 school year, students receive a verbal warning on their first infraction, and on a second infraction, teachers request administrative support to confiscate the phone and take it to the main office. During the 2023-24 school year, the district implemented a progressive response that did not result in phones being taken to the main office until a students 10th infraction. The policy was changed after data shared by Superintendent Joseph Curtis that city schools had 6,358 disciplinary log entries for improper cellphone use in the last academic year, with some undercounting due to teachers giving up on enforcement mid-year. Bishop noted that the highest concentration of infractions has been among middle schoolers so far. Eighth graders accounted for the most with 101 disciplinary log entries, and seventh graders had tallied 89 log entries as of Sept. 24. Bishop did not have a breakdown of disciplinary log entries per school building on Wednesday, but said he would provide it in future presentations after a request by Vice Chair Dan Elias. Log entries were virtually nonexistent among elementary schools, however, with 414 log entries in secondary schools as opposed to two in the lower grades. Bishop said that despite the reduction, some students have already incurred multiple infractions. Under the revised policy for the year, students are assigned a half or full day of restorative in-school education, or RISE, programming for a third and fourth infraction respectively. If they continue to accrue infractions, they could be assigned more RISE programming or an out-of-school suspension. Bishop did not know the exact number of students who had received RISE assignments thus far, but said at least one student had received an out-of-school suspension as of Sept. 24. Bishop also shared anecdotal feedback on the revised policys effectiveness from a meeting with deans and vice principals in the citys middle and high schools, who relayed that teachers reported less cellphone use in the classroom and felt a sense of support and clarity in the enforcement of the policy. Conversely, Bishop said that students have adopted new measures to circumvent the policy, including an increase in burner phones and extended restroom trips to use their phones during class time. The policy has also taken up more time for administrators confiscating the devices, and family notification to pick up phones from the main office has been difficult in some cases. Bishop will provide updates on cellphone infractions at every School Committee meeting this year. He said he was continuing to work with individual schools to set goals and keep robust data, and said keeping motivation high among educators to continue enforcing the policy was paramount. When we see the dip we saw last year in [disciplinary] referrals, we want it to be because kids are doing what we ask them to do, Bishop said, Not because teachers are giving up. U.S Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer presents a golden gavel to Vice President Kamala Harris outside of the Senate chamber on Dec. 5, 2023, after Harris cast her 32nd tie-breaking vote in the Senate, the most ever cast by a vice president in history. Harris will take up another gavel in January when she certifies the upcoming presidential election's electoral votes whether she wins or loses. On Sunday, New Boston Congregational Church will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a 10 a.m. service. Special guest will be prior pastor, the Rev. Michael Gantt. A cookout will follow at 11 a.m. at the 4 Sandisfield Road church. And Gideon said to him, Please, sir, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian" (Judges 6:13). Gideon was a wheat farmer who lived during one of Israels most challenging eras. The book of Judges records several cycles of Gods judgment of Israels sin. God lifted His hand of protection, followed by enemy attack and oppression, then national repentance and the rise of a leader/deliverer to bring victory over the enemy. By the time we read about Gideon, Israel had gone through several of these cycles of judgment. Rebellion, rebuke, repentance, restoration, revival rinse and repeat. Gideon was living in the fifth such cycle, because like people usually do, the Israelites would come back to God when things were bad and start rebelling against God when things became good again. Israel was once again reaping the consequences of their rebellion and were oppressed by a cruel group of people known as the Midianites. The Midianites would wait for Israel to plant a crop, and right when the harvest would come, they would attack, killing, stealing and destroying the Israelites who tried to stop them. The Midianites had lived off the labor of the Israelites for several years, until Israel had mostly resigned to the fact that there was no hope. They lived in fear and hid in caves, scavenging for any food they could just to survive. Gideons circumstances had gotten so bad that when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in Judges 6, Gideon was hiding from the Midianites in a winepress threshing his wheat, completely despondent and apathetic. Have you ever been there before? Its too hard, its taking too long. Im not seeing any results. Ive tried everything I know how to do. I dont feel like praying or reading the Bible; Im just not into going to church today. Im just too tired to stand in faith anymore. I guess Im just resigned to things being the way they are, because Im exhausted emotionally, physically and spiritually from trying to change them. If we find ourselves in this dark and lonely place, we can restore hope and look for direction from Gods plan to refresh Gideon, when He gave him the path to victory. Remember Your Victories and Your Identity Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! (Judges 6:11-12). Notice where the angel of the Lord shows up a city named Ophrah, located only sixteen miles from Jericho where Israel experienced one its greatest military victories. Sixteen miles from one of Gods greatest deliverance miracles, when the walls defending the enemy city fell suddenly with one unified shout of Gods people. And how does the Angel greet Gideon? He reminds him of his victorious and courageous heritage and reveals his true identity: The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! But imagine how Gideon must have reacted to this greeting, even as he was hiding in a winepress trying to process his wheat crop for a little food. Wow, Im so hungry Im seeing things... No, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! What who are you talking to? It cant be me because Im in here, hiding! No, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! God sent the angel to speak truth, hope and encouragement to Gideon in the middle of his resignation to accept circumstances as just the way things were. God was reminding Gideons of his true identity, and when we feel defeated, He does the same for us: You are a child of God, even if you are acting like a coward You are an heir and a joint heir with Christ, even if fear is consuming you You are more than a conqueror, even if you have waived the white flag of surrender You are the head and not the tail, even if life seems to be kicking you around You are well able, even if you dont feel like you can get out of bed to face another day You are a highly favored new creation in Christ Jesus, Gods masterpiece, and the apple of His eye You are redeemed by Jesus, adopted by the Father, and filled to overflowing by the Spirit When youre tempted to give up, dont forget your Jericho. Dont forget the day in your past when God caused the enemys walls to fall. Remember the goodness and the faithfulness of God. And because of who you are, and whose you are, there is victory pre-built into your future. Dont Lose Your Faith in God Gideon eventually received the word of the Lord. He was raised up by God to lead the men of Israel to great victory over the Midianite enemy, but he began by tearing down the pagan altar and building an altar to God. When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. And they said to one another, Who has done this thing? And after they had searched and inquired, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing. Then the men of the town said to Joash, Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it" (Judges 6:28-30). The Israelite people had lost their way and become ardent Baal worshippers. When they discovered that the sacrificial altar to Baal was destroyed, they were angry, fully intent on killing Gideon in retribution. They even gathered outside his home. I imagine Satan began to whisper discouragement and defeat in Gideons ear its no use. These people are so far gone, nothing is going to change this situation, no matter what you do. You might as well stop trying to fight it. Then God gave Joash, Gideons father, a bit of wisdom: But Joash said to all who stood against him, Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down. Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, Let Baal contend against him, because he broke down his altar (Judges 6:31-32). After the public confrontation dissipated, the men of the land began to look to Gideon for leadership and followed him (Judges 6:34-35). What can we learn from all this? There will be times when youve done all you can do, and you just cant do anything else to fix the situation or turn the situation around. And the enemy will say, raise the white flag. But thats when God steps in. Thats when God blocks it and scatters the enemy. So dont lose your faith in God! He is the way-maker. He creates streams in the desert and roads through the wilderness. He hasnt forgotten you; He knows where you are, even if you are hiding in a wine press. And at the moment when you think you just cant, He will come through. Dont Drop Your Weapons Thirty-two thousand men initially joined Gideons army, but they were still outnumbered by the Midianites army of 120,000 men who had encamped against them at the Valley of Jezreel (Judges 6:33-35). But before they could attack, God stopped Gideon there are still too many of you! The people will take credit and believe they were better organized, smarter and more militarily skilled than the Midianites. So if I give you this victory now, youll just take your victory and go back to living a rebellious life without Me. And this isnt about your victory; its about your relationship with Me! So God says, announce to the men that if any of them are scared, they can go home. Gideon does so and Gideons army drops to 10,000! (Judges 7:3) Now 12:1 odds is a real long shot, but still conceivable. Incredibly, God looks again and says, nope, still too many men! I need you to have no doubt whatsoever that it was My hand that delivered you! And the LORD said to Gideon, The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, 'This one shall go with you,' shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, 'This one shall not go with you,' shall not go. So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink. And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the LORD said to Gideon, With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home" (Judges 7:4-7). I believe the 300 remaining men were the only ones that held onto their weapons when they were brought down to the water and remained vigilant and ready for war. The others got on their knees and stuck their face down into the water to drink. You cant do that unless you put down your weapons and take your focus off the battle. When God is ready to do something impossible, He still wants you to be vigilant and ready. What does all this mean for us today? What do many of us do when the odds start turning against us, and our breakthrough is less and less likely? When it seems like a miracle is just a faint hope? We lay down our mighty weapons, things like prayer, trust in God and standing on His promises, worship instead of worry, knowing who we are in Christ, pleading the blood of Jesus and declaring what God has said. We lay down our weapons because we dont really understand how powerful they are. Spiritual weapons have the ability to destroy anything that stands in the way. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds (2 Corinthians 10:4). Gideons army of 300 men were victorious, not because of superior fighting ability, even though they were brave and ready to be used by God. The Scripture account tells us that the way 300 men beat 120,000 men was through the spiritual weapons of obedience and faith (Judges 7:16-22). God directed Gideon to attack using merely horns, empty jars and torches, and they supernaturally defeated the Midianite army (Judges 7:19-22). Why did God use horns, empty jars and torches? Because God wants us to know that our weapons are mightier than they look, because they are supernaturally empowered by God. So, if you find yourself feeling defeated and ready to resign, consider how God lifted up Gideon. Remember your past victories against the enemy, embrace your true identity in Christ, stay in faith, and like Gideons men, dont drop your weapons! Theyre powerful! Photo credit: Getty Images/Media Whalestock Frank Santora is Lead Pastor of Faith Church, a multi-site church with locations in Connecticut and New York. Pastor Frank hosts a weekly television show, Destined to Win, which airs weekly on the Hillsong Channel and TBN. He has authored thirteen books, including the most recent, Modern Day Psalms and Good Good Father. To learn more about Pastor Frank and this ministry, please visit www.franksantora.cc. Photo by Michele Roman. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Investment to expedite expansion into the US market and other geographies Mumbai-based startup Qure.ai, a global healthcare artificial intelligence (AI) innovator, has announced the completion of a $65 million Series D funding round. The investment will expedite expansion into the US market and other geographies, increase investment into foundational AI models and enable complementary med-tech company acquisitions. The Series D round saw the participation of new strategic and financial investors led by Lightspeed and 360 ONE Asset, joined by Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and Kae Capital. Existing investors also participated in the round, including Novo Holdings, Health Quad, and TeamFund. Founded in 2016, Qure.ai is on a mission to make healthcare more accessible and equitable globally. This has driven its AI solution development, positioning the company as the worlds most deployed healthcare AI. Qure.ai solutions are deployed in over 90 countries across 3000+ sites, powering the efficient identification and management of critical diseases. The company has 18 FDA-cleared indications, and its products are Class IIb certified per EU MDR regulations. Qure.ai is headquartered in Mumbai, with regional offices in New York, London, and Dubai. Prashant Warier, Co-founder and CEO of Qure.ai. AI helps to overcome healthcare bottlenecks, from imaging reporting backlogs and low screening uptakes to workforce resource constraints, not just in western societies like the US and Europe, but in developing nations too. We also collaborate with half of the top 20 Pharma and MedTech companies including AstraZeneca, Medtronic, and J&J, to accelerate early diagnosis and timely treatment of diseases." Partners with DY Patil (Deemed-to-be) University, Navi Mumbai to build a skilled and resilient healthcare workforce for the future Metropolis Healthcare has announced the launch of its new initiative, the Metropolis Institute of Laboratory Education and Skilling (MiLES). This initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic education and practical skills in healthcare. Through MiLES, Metropolis Healthcare has established a strategic partnership with DY Patil (Deemed-to-be) University in Navi Mumbai to offer fellowships courses. This collaboration with a prestigious academic institution marks a significant step towards equipping healthcare professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and expertise. In partnership with DY Patil (Deemed-to-be) University, Navi Mumbai, Metropolis is introducing a one-year Fellowship Course in Advanced Clinical Chemistry, Advanced Hematopathology, Advanced Surgical Pathology, Quality Assurance in Laboratory Medicine, and Molecular Pathology & Cytogenomics. Designed for Post-MD and DNB students, these courses integrate theoretical knowledge with practical training, focusing on the latest advancements in diagnostic technologies. Participants will develop advanced skills through laboratory immersion, real-world case studies & ancillary technologies, all under the guidance of Metropolis Healthcare's experienced subject matter experts. The legacy of DY Patil (Deemed-to-be) University as world leaders in the field of education will add immense value to the participants of these courses. The programme also includes research and publication opportunities, enabling participants to contribute to the progress of medical diagnostics. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Police said a 62-year-old man was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after another man was run over while on his motorcycle following an altercation. Ken Branca A motorcyclist was run over by a vehicle after he and another man argued outside of a Northwest Side bar, authorities said. San Antonio police responding to a major accident found a man being treated by emergency medical technicians shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday in the 700 block of Guilbeau Road, near Bandera Road. Information gathered by officers determined that a 62-year-old man and a 39-year-old man got into a verbal altercation inside the bar and were kicked out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to a police report, witnesses saw the older man run over the man while he was on his motorcycle. The 62-year-old left the scene without helping the injured man but later called 911 to report the incident. Officers then located the older man and arrested him. Police said the 62-year-old was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Southwest Airlines plane at San Antonio International Airport in late 2022. Sam Owens/Staff file photo A city delegation that included Mayor Ron Nirenberg and City Manager Erik Walsh traveled to Southwest Airlines Dallas headquarters on Tuesday looking to entice the carrier to sign a long-term lease agreement at San Antonio International and end a standoff that could hurt both parties. It didnt work. In fact, Southwests top executives filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court Thursday afternoon. Jesus Saenz, City of San Antonio Aviation Department Director of Airports, talks about the latest efforts to get American Airlines to fly directly from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. at a press conference in the City Hall Council Briefing Room on Monday, July 8, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News (Left to right) City Manager Erik Walsh, Jesus Saenz, City of San Antonio Aviation Department Director of Airports, and Mayor Ron Nirenberg chat before a press conference about the latest efforts to get American Airlines to fly directly from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. in the City Hall Council Briefing Room on Monday, July 8, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The 10-year lease agreement would make Southwest the sole tenant of the existing Terminal A, which has one of the narrowest concourses among large U.S. airports and heating and air conditioning systems prone to breaking down. The deal came with a pledge of $200 million for Terminal A renovations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Southwest refused to sign the lease, saying it was being unfairly locked up in Terminal A and shut out of the planned Terminal C, a $1.7 billion facility that's expected to open in 2028. It'll be larger than the airport's Terminals A and B combined. At Tuesday's meeting in Dallas, city leaders sweetened the offer, pledging another $100 million for upgrades for Terminal A. Half of that money would need to be approved by a committee of the eight other airlines that have agreed to sign long-term leases. But the other $50 million would come directly from the airport. The new lease agreement, which has a five-year renewal option, goes into effect Oct. 1. Southwest executives said during the meeting the airline would sue the city unless it extends the current lease agreement, essentially giving the company more time to negotiate, according to a memo from Walsh to city council members. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Two days later, the airline went to court. "We took this action to preserve our legal rights prior to the new lease agreement taking effect on Tuesday, Oct. 1," Southwest spokesman Chris Perry said. "We are encouraged by recent conversations with City leaders and look forward to reaching an expeditious and realistic solution." Southwest CEO Robert Jordan and COO Andrew Watterson attended the meeting, along with the airline's general counsel. If Southwest doesnt sign the new lease, it will operate at the airport on a series of month-to-month agreements, resulting in higher operating fees. The airline has said it could shelve its expansion plans for San Antonio if it can't reach a compromise with the airport. Walsh said in the memo to council that Southwest which originally said it wouldn't sign a new lease unless it got gates in Terminal C has accepted that it won't operate out of the new terminal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Perry said the airline still prefers to get space in the new terminal, but added, "We are looking to the airport to provide solutions." "Southwest Airlines values its relationship with San Antonio and remains hopeful that the airline and the City can agree on a plan that accommodates our future growth and treats us equal to the other carriers," Perry said. The airline won't a sign a new lease unless it's reassured that the renovations it seeks will be covered, according to Walsh's memo. In an interview with the Express-News last week, Watterson said he wanted engineering and architectural studies done to know how much money is needed, instead of settling on a random dollar amount. Barring an assurance from the City that the improvements would be funded no matter the cost, they urged the City to delay execution of the new agreement, Walsh said in the memo. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The city said no to delaying the new lease's effective date, noting that could throw the construction of Terminal C off schedule. Much of the terminals construction will be paid for with revenue generated under the lease agreement. Walsh said Southwests general counsel sent a letter to the city prior to Tuesday's meeting arguing that the lease negotiation process was unlawful. The City believes Southwests claims are meritless, and we expressed disappointment that Southwest was considering litigation, Walsh said. Southwest has said it has no intention of pulling out of San Antonio, but said last week that Terminal A is too cramped for the airline to grow as it had originally planned. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Southwest flies nearly 40% of all domestic travelers into and out of San Antonios airport. The airline had hoped to increase its market share to 50% if it could move into the new terminal. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are slated to take up most of the 17 gates in the new terminal when it opens. Six other gates will go to Viva Aerobus and other international carriers. American accounts for 22% of all passengers at the facility, and Delta 15%. The airport has proposed several upgrades to Terminal A and said it could reduce gates from 17 to 10 to create larger wait areas and reduce crowding that often chokes the terminals narrow concourse. Renovations also could include upgraded restrooms and ticket counters. Walsh said Southwest and airport officials plan to touch base late Friday or on Monday. Making her Late Late Show debut this Friday will be European champion sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke for her first interview in Ireland since the Paris Olympics. Adeleke will join host Patrick Kielty to talk about her record-breaking season, the Diamond League, coming home to Ireland, and her recent encounter with one of her biggest fans, pop superstar Rihanna. Advertisement The Scripts Danny ODonoghue and Glen Power will sit down with Kielty to share memories of their band mate Mark Sheehan. Advertisement The pair will talk family, getting sober, flying high with P!NK as well as playing live acoustic performances from their back catalogue. In a week that has seen war spread to Lebanon, where the civilian death toll continues to rise amid fears of a major escalation, Irish humanitarian John Whyte will be in studio to give a picture of his life working with UNRWA in the epicentre of the conflict in Gaza, before he returns there next week. Gaeilgeoir, podcaster and presenter Hector O hEochagain is also in studio to talk about the Irish words and phrases we should know and use, and what he's been doing now that he's no longer making his weekly trip to the Hen House. Kielty will be going live to a secret location where country music fans will be in with a chance of getting their hands on the last pair of tickets to be in the audience for The Late Late Country Music Special, happening next Friday. The Tanaiste said the Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe, is clear he did not make any phone call to an Israeli minister about the Occupied Territories Bill. Micheal Martin said he spoke to the Fine Gael minister on Thursday, and was clear that the reported phone call did not happen, nor does his published diary record any phone call. Advertisement It was reported by the online website The Ditch that the then finance minister had a secret phone call in 2019 with his Israeli counterpart to assure him the Irish Government would block the Bill. The website said the call was disclosed in documents leaked from the Israeli Ministry of Justice. Fine Gael ministers must immediately reveal details of confidential engagements with Israeli officials - @mattcarthy "Paschal Donohoe must set out clearly the detail of his engagements with Israeli counterparts." https://t.co/W1O9W5zMRT Advertisement Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 25, 2024 Sinn Feins Matt Carthy raised the issue in the Dail on Thursday, calling on Mr Martin to clarify whether the phone call took place. Advertisement Mr Carthy, the Sinn Fein spokesman on foreign affairs, said: One of the things that we can do and, in fact, should have done years ago, is to enact the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. The Bill is not controversial or, at least, it should not be. It simply bans trade with and economic support for illegal settlements and territories deemed occupied under international law. The Tanaistes party supported it when it was in opposition. Advertisement It not only supported it but ran a roadshow in towns and cities across Ireland setting out its importance. On entering Government, Fianna Fail and the Green Party, it has to be said, have allowed Fine Gael to continue blocking this legislation. We have heard the excuses as to why the Bill has not been enacted. Reporting from The Ditch website suggests that following a confidential and unrecorded call with the minister, Paschal Donohoe, Israeli officials were in little doubt that the Bill would be blocked by the Fine Gael Government. Advertisement We are told that Israeli officials emphasised that this was a confidential call and that, of course, chimes with the ministers own failure to record it in his ministerial diary and the Tanaistes contention that the minister cannot recall a conversation. Mr Martin said he spoke to Mr Donohoe on Thursday. He is clear that he did not make any such phone call, he said. His published diary does not record any such phone call. Sinn Feins Matt Carthy raised the issue of the reported phone call in the Dail on Thursday (Liam McBurney/PA) It speaks to people rushing to judgement before ascertaining the full facts. He is very clear and I think Deputy Carthy should perhaps withdraw the assertions in his earlier public statements in that regard. Mr Carthy, a TD for Cavan Monaghan, called on the Tanaiste to commit to enacting the Occupied Territories Bill, and to allow for the passage of Sinn Feins Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023, which bans the state from investing in companies that profit from illegal Israeli settlements. Mr Martin went on to say that the Israeli response to the attack on October 7th by Hamas has been absolutely disproportional and led to near famine conditions and the killing of more than 40,000 people in Gaza. In my view, that is reprehensible, he told the Dail. Mr Martin said he met the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority (Mohammed Mustafa), who he said was very grateful and very appreciative of Irelands stance and support of the Palestinian right to self-determination. Former US senator George Mitchell, who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement, has challenged Northern Irelands current leaders to fulfil the potential of the historic peace deal. Mr Mitchell, who returned to Belfast as plans were unveiled to build a new home for a peace institute in his name at Queens University, said while Northern Ireland had enjoyed 26 years of peace, there has not been 26 years of full reconciliation and progress. Advertisement The veteran diplomat, 91, also had an emotional meeting with Erin McArdle, one of the first babies born after the 1998 agreement which largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Mr Mitchell, who chaired the Good Friday Agreement negotiations to a successful conclusion, was making his first visit to Belfast since he attended events at Queens last year to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace deal. George Mitchell met with Erin McArdle, one of the first babies born after the Good Friday Agreement was signed (Kelvin Boyes/PA) Advertisement The event on Wednesday night was held to mark a dedication of the new home for the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at the university. Among those in attendance at the recently opened Seamus Heaney Centre, beside which the new institute will be developed, were former taioseach Bertie Ahern, secretary of state Hilary Benn and the First and deputy First Ministers Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly as well as a host of political leaders, past and present. Television presenter Donna Traynor then facilitated a conversation between Mr Mitchell and Ms McArdle and her mother Caroline in the Whitla Hall. Advertisement Reflecting on the challenges of negotiating the agreement, Mr Mitchell said he believed Northern Ireland can be and will be a lesson to the world. He added: The challenge you have is to take advantage of this opportunity. Advertisement There have been 26 years of peace; there has not been 26 years of full reconciliation and progress. The restoration of the Assembly, the election of two credible, responsible women Michelle (ONeill) and Emma (Little-Pengelly), the fact that you dont have an election coming up right away, means that there is an enormous opportunity now for Northern Ireland to experience a period of growth, increased prosperity, opportunity, education, healthcare for children. A place where people not only want to live but people want to come to. I believe that with all my heart and soul. Advertisement I hope that is going to happen, that springing from this moment, out of crisis comes opportunity that Northern Ireland can move forward together. Left to right, Sir Ian Greer with Mr Mitchell and Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly (Kelvin Boyes/PA) Declan Kelly, a former US Envoy, is leading the fundraising campaign to rebuild the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. Originally established in 2016, it is an interdisciplinary research institute providing a response to the global challenge of building a peaceful, inclusive and secure world. Mr Kelly said: I was honoured to be approached to lead the capital committee for the Mitchell Centre. We owe it to future generations to pass on all we can of George Mitchells towering accomplishment here through the long years that led to the Good Friday Agreement. Queens president and vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, added: It is an honour to welcome our former chancellor and close friend of the University, Senator George Mitchell, back to Queens for this special event. Senator Mitchell was a key architect of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, chairing the talks in 1998 that brought peace to this island. The continuing work that takes place at the Queens Institute that bears his name solidifies the Senators and Queens unwavering commitment to lasting peace for this island and its people. This event was a celebration of how far we have come in terms of peace, and we look forward to continuing the work on global peace, security and justice when the new institute building opens in the next few years. Ms ONeill said the institute showcases the positive change that has taken place in the north since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. She added: This building and the research institute that bears his name, pay tribute to the commitment and dedication of Senator George Mitchell to bringing peace here and I want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Senator Mitchell throughout the peace process. Ms Little-Pengelly said it was an honour to be part of the event. She added: The progress that has been made over the course of the last 26 years has been remarkable and Senator Mitchells commitment to Northern Ireland and his deep understanding of here has been an important part of that journey. This initiative will reflect the importance of peace but it will also remind us of the frailty and how we all must continue to work at maintaining it. Every party running in the next general election should make manifesto pledges that Irish unification is an objective, not an aspiration, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. In an interview with The Irish Times, the ex-Fine Gael leader also called for politicians in the Republic to back the establishment of a New Ireland Forum to plan for a reunified Ireland. Advertisement Mr Varadkar will develop his thoughts in a speech in Derry on Thursday to a meeting of the SDLPs New Ireland Commission. However, former Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie has questioned why Mr Varadkar did not make a call for Irish unity when he was in office. The Upper Bann MLA told Newstalk radio that he believed any referendum on Irish unification would be defeated. I'm going to be really honest. Wanting a united Ireland is a fair aspiration, but it's not my aspiration. My aspiration is for a United Kingdom and that's what I will be doing with my party, is to secure that for everybody within Northern Ireland. Advertisement Irish politicians pop up every three months calling for an accelerated pathway to unity, he said. "It happens every three months like clockwork. That's fine and I don't mind that people do that but there's no tick box for me as an Ulster Unionist. I'm an Irishman and I'm a proud Irishman, but I'm an Ulster Unionist and I want a United Kingdom and that's what I'm going to work for. I've got to say this as well. He could have said this while he was Taoiseach he didn't but he's doing it now, and that's fine.. Mr Beattie confirmed that he would not sit in a New Ireland Forum if one was established. Why would anybody want me to? I've already expressed the fact that I want a United Kingdom. Why would I be part of a forum to help design something I don't want to achieve? So no, I don't feel that I would be part of a forum and there's no tick box for me. You can't say to me, well we'll do this, this, this and this to appease you as a unionist so you can come on board and want a united Ireland. Advertisement It simply doesn't work. So, you can change the flag, you can change the Constitution, you can change the anthem if you so wish but that won't persuade me. Mr Beattie rejected the idea that there was more momentum toward a United Ireland since Brexit. Any referendum on unity would be overwhelmingly defeated in the North, he said. Irish libraries saw a 20 per cent jump in the lending of e-books and e-audio books last year, new figures show. A total of 931,291 e-books and 1,674,191 e-audiobooks were loaned through branches in 2023, up one fifth on 2022. Advertisement However, the substantial increase has not dented the lending of traditional print books combined with audiovisual material such as CDs and DVDs, they increased to 14.5 million, a rise of 18 per cent. The data was released ahead of National Public Libraries Open Day on Saturday, when people are encouraged to visit their local library to explore the range of free services, regardless of whether they are a member. We have seen public library users become more familiar with digital resources, said Dr Stuart Hamilton, head of libraries development at the Local Government Management Agency. And the popularity of e-book and e-audio books highlights how Irelands 330 public libraries continue to adapt. Advertisement Overall, the popularity of Irish public libraries is increasing, with a 2.6 per cent spike in membership in 2022-23 to 784,618. Almost half of these members are also members of the BorrowBox service, which provides access to e-books and e-audio books. Dr Hamilton said the popularity of e-resources demonstrates a growing outreach to those who would not ordinarily consider using a library, including people with intellectual disabilities, literacy issues, job seekers and new arrivals to Ireland. Advertisement Dr Stuart Hamilton, head of libraries development at the Local Government Management Agency (Conor McCabe/Mediaconsult/PA) E-books, for example, can be suitable for readers with a range of disabilities, he said. Libraries are community settings offering a broad range of free services which allow people connect, access information, receive support and browse and escape. National Public Libraries Open Day allows anyone to acquaint themselves with what our libraries offer through free membership. Advertisement Meanwhile, Dublin libraries are reaching out to pre-school children living in homeless accommodation in the city centre. The move is part of a campaign by Dublin City Councils Library in the Community programme to assist marginalised and isolated groups. Ahead of Saturdays open day, a story time session for pre-schoolers was held at homeless accommodation at Gardiner Street. It is one of more than 300 events held by the Library in the Community team since last year and which have engaged more than 30,000 people since. Advertisement Anna Marie Delaney, chairwoman of the National Libraries Development Committee, said National Public Libraries Open Day will highlight the crucial role of libraries in communities. Public libraries are vibrant, inclusive community hubs providing all sorts of events and activities within our villages, towns and cities. Diversity of resources and services includes encouraging reading at all levels, improving digital skills and literacy, enabling formal and informal learning and supporting the provision of information and guidance on every topic. More CCTV is set to be rolled out in Dublin's inner city under a significant new plan being brought to Cabinet in the coming weeks. Taoiseach Simon Harris returns from New York today and will brief his colleagues on a strategic plan for the north inner city. Advertisement The plan recommends more camera surveillance in areas where there is high anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour in the north inner city has been an ongoing concern - particularly since the Dublin riots last year. It also looks at the idea of subsidies being given to allow primary school children to attend activities out of school by supporting more clubs in the area. Senior Ministers will also be briefed this morning on plans to ban XL Bully dogs. From next Tuesday, it will be illegal to import, breed, sell or re-home the breed, Then, from next February, it will be against the law to own an XL Bully, without an exemption from a local authority. The move comes after a number of attacks involving the breed, including the death of a young woman in Limerick. Tax reforms are required in Budget 2025 to prevent a rental market collapse, according to the Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA). The IPOA is urging the Government to introduce tax reforms and review current rental regulations to address the mass departure of property owners from the rental market. Advertisement The association maintains that a lack of meaningful changes aimed at rebalancing the rental market will exacerbate the housing crisis, driving up rents and reducing the availability of homes. Its Budget submission highlights key taxation reforms, including an extension of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) relief, a reduction in Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) for inherited rental properties, business taxation for private landlords, and the introduction of a standard 25 per cent tax rate on all rental income. The IPOA contends that these measures aim to support property owners who provide a critical service to Irelands strained housing sector, while encouraging new investment in the private rental sector. It is also calling for flexibility in the application of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) and indefinite tenancies which they deem unworkable for many private landlords and are only serving to drive the landlord exodus". Advertisement The Budget submission highlights the alarming decrease in rental supply, with registered tenancies falling from 308,786 in 2022 to 264,235 in 2023 a direct consequence of landlords exiting the market. The IPOA said this is evidenced by the Department of Housings Private Rental Sector Review in July 2024 which showed a 41 per cent loss in landlords over 26 months, from 172,027 in September 2021 to 101,107 by December 2023. Chair of the IPOA, Mary Conway, said: "The private rental sector is in crisis, with landlords leaving at an alarming rate due to a punitive tax system and excessive regulations. The reality is that investment in private residential property is increasingly unviable for private property-owners. "Given our associations deep knowledge of the sector we have curated targeted budgetary proposals aimed at encouraging landlords to remain in the market, while stabilising rental supply and helping to control rising rents. This will ultimately benefit tenants and ensure a more balanced and functional rental market. The IPOA stresses that without immediate action, Ireland's rental market risks collapse a situation that can be avoided with meaningful supports. A convicted killer has admitted murdering a woman whose remains were found in London earlier this year. Body parts belonging to 38-year-old Sarah Mayhew were found in Rowdown Fields in the British capital on April 2nd. Advertisement She was last seen alive in Sutton, south-west London, on the evening of March 8th. At England's Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey, on Thursday, Steven Sansom (45) pleaded guilty to murdering Ms Mayhew and perverting the course of justice by dismembering her body, disposing of it in various locations, and then cleaning up the crime scene between March 7th and April 3rd this year. Sansom, of Burnell Road, Sutton, south-west London, appeared by video-link from HMP Belmarsh wearing glasses, grey tracksuit bottoms and a grey T-shirt, and loudly proclaimed his guilty pleas. Advertisement Police tape at the scene where body parts were found (PA) He denied three counts of possessing indecent images of children, which judge Mark Lucraft KC said would lie on file. Sansom was previously convicted in 1999 of the murder of a cab driver. Gemma Watts (49), of Featherbed Lane in New Addington, London, is also charged with murdering Ms Mayhew and perverting the course of justice. She was not asked to enter pleas when she appeared at the same hearing from HMP Bronzefield. Advertisement London's Metropolitan Police said they were called to the scene after a dog walker saw his animal had uncovered a human bone. Arms, legs and a head were then found nearby and identified by DNA. Vice President Kamala Harris said calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia were dangerous and unacceptable as she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday. The comments from the Democratic presidential nominee were thinly veiled criticism of suggestions from Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, that Ukraine should quickly cut a deal to end the war. Advertisement They are not proposals for peace, Ms Harris said. Instead they are proposals for surrender. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said that calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia were dangerous and unacceptable (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) US support for Ukraine faces a partisan reckoning in this years presidential election, with Mr Trump criticising billions of dollars in military assistance and Ms Harris pledging to continue helping the besieged country. Advertisement Ms Harris meeting with Mr Zelensky came shortly after the Ukrainian leader sat down with President Joe Biden, who announced billions of dollars more in missiles, drones, ammunition and other supplies. The weapons include an additional Patriot missile defence battery and a new shipment of glide bombs that can be deployed from Western fighter jets, increasing their strike range. Mr Biden pledged to ensure that all approved funding is disbursed before he leaves office, and he said he plans to convene a meeting with other world leaders focused on Ukraines defence during a visit to Germany next month. We stand with Ukraine, now and in the future, Mr Biden said, alongside Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail. Advertisement Meanwhile, Mr Zelenskys tumultuous relationship with Mr Trump continued to deteriorate this week. President Joe Biden with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky (Susan Walsh/AP) Instead of meeting with Mr Zelensky, Mr Trump criticised him. Advertisement As for US support for Ukraine, Mr Trump complained that we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal to end the war. His message dovetails with Russian propaganda that claims intransigence by Kyiv not aggression from Moscow has prolonged the bloodshed. Its the most politically treacherous landscape that Mr Zelensky has encountered in Washington since Russia invaded nearly three years ago. Ukrainian officials are anxious to maintain good relations with whoever becomes the next president of the United States, which is its biggest and most important provider of arms, money and other support. Advertisement But the effort risks slipping into the political blender of the presidential campaign, polarising the discussion around a war that used to be a bipartisan cause celebre in Washington. On Thursday, Mr Zelensky found some bipartisan support as he visited Capitol Hill, where he was greeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky met US officials(Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Mr Zelensky asked to use long-range weapons, such as British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles or US-made ATACMS, for maximum benefit to bring (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the table and increase Ukraines negotiating position. If we dont make that fundamental choice this week, I think the outcome for Ukraine is dire, Mr Graham said. Administration officials have been sceptical of Mr Zelenskys request, believing the weapons could have limited benefits but increase the risk of escalating the conflict. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said senators gave Mr Zelensky advice on how to persuade Mr Biden to loosen restrictions. Jim Himes, another Connecticut Democrat and the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Mr Zelensky wanted more, faster. He was politely frustrated, Mr Himes said and specifically requested more Patriot missile defences as Russia escalates strikes on Ukraines cities and energy grid before the winter. Mr Zelenskys trip to Washington coincides with the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, where the Ukrainian leader spoke on Wednesday. Donald Trump had originally said he would probably meet the Ukrainian president but a campaign official says no meeting was ever on the books (Seth Wenig/AP) Last week, Mr Trump said he would probably meet with Mr Zelensky while he was in the US, but a senior campaign official said there was never a meeting on the books. The official said Mr Trump had told Mr Zelensky back in July that it would probably be better not to sit down together until after the election. An aide for Mr Zelensky did not respond to questions about the potential meeting. Mr Trump was impeached during his first term for asking Mr Zelensky for help investigating Mr Biden, then a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, at a time when the Ukrainian leader was seeking support from Washington. Now there are fears that Mr Trump would cut off or add strings to US military assistance if he returned to the White House. Mr Trump has also spoken admiringly about Mr Putin, and this week he praised Russias record of winning wars. Mr Zelensky can expect a far different tone from Ms Harris, who met with him in Munich just days before Russia invaded. During her debate with Mr Trump earlier this month, she expressed pride in US support for Ukraines righteous defence. If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now, she said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is striking Hezbollah with full force and will not stop until all of its goals are achieved. It follows Mr Netanyahu downplaying hopes of an imminent truce with Hezbollah after the United States and its allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to provide space for diplomacy. Advertisement The prime ministers comments came as he landed in New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly meeting. Advertisement Only a short time before his statement, the Israeli military said it killed a Hezbollah drone commander in an airstrike on an apartment building in the suburbs of the Lebanese capital. Mr Netanyahu said Israels policy is clear. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we reach all out goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes. Israel has dramatically escalated strikes in Lebanon this week, saying it is targeting Hezbollah. Israeli leaders have said they are determined to stop more than 11 months of cross-border fire by the militant group into Israel, which has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of Israelis from communities in the north. The statement tempered hopes for the international initiative aimed at halting increasingly heavy exchanges of fire that have killed hundreds of people in Lebanon and threatened to trigger an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. Advertisement Israel has talked of a possible ground invasion into Lebanon to push the militant group away from the border. A damaged building at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts southern suburb (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Soon after the statement was issued, the TV station of Lebanons Hezbollah group reported an Israeli air strike in a suburb of Beirut. Advertisement It and other stations showed a damaged apartment building in Dahiyeh, the mainly Shiite suburb where Hezbollah has a strong presence. The Israeli military later said the strike killed Mohammed Hussein Surour. Hezbollah offered no immediate comment on the claim. Two people were killed and 15 wounded in the strike, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it carried out a strike south of Beirut without elaborating. Advertisement The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, previously said that the country would continue fighting with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal for a pause in fighting. Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed it, but his government has no sway over the group. Hezbollah has insisted it would halt its strikes only if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel has been battling Hamas for nearly a year. That appears out of reach despite months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. In its statement, Mr Netanyahus office said that the fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved. Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet with other world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. In other developments, a far-right partner in Mr Netanyahus government threatened to quit the coalition if a permanent ceasefire is reached with Hezbollah. Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party, threatened to suspend co-operation with the coalition if a temporary deal is reached. If a temporary ceasefire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government, he said. It was the latest sign of displeasure from Mr Netanyahus hard-line government towards international ceasefire efforts. If Mr Ben-Gvir leaves the coalition, Mr Netanyahu would lose his parliamentary majority and could see his government come toppling down, though opposition leaders have said they would offer support for a ceasefire deal. Israel launched a massive operation in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack into southern Israel on October 7 in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and some 250 were taken hostage. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then, according to local officials. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel one day after the October 7 attack in support of its Hamas allies, and Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire ever since. Israeli families of the hostages said they are pushing for a possible ceasefire deal for Lebanon to include provisions for the war in Gaza, especially securing release of the roughly 70 hostages still presumed to be alive and the bodies of some 30 others. Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel Gat was kidnapped and was one of six Israelis whose bodies were recovered from tunnels in Gaza in August, said the hostages families are feeling forgotten as attention shifts to the northern front. We know that these things are connected to each other, the northern part and the southern part. Theyre all part of the same large situation which we are in from October 7 on, and were very worried that if we dont make the right decisions now, we will miss this amazing opportunity to get the hostages out, Mr Dickmann said on Tuesday, as hopes for a ceasefire deal swelled. He slammed Mr Netanyahu for missing multiple opportunities to free his cousin and begged him not to miss another chance by agreeing to a truce with both Hezbollah and Hamas that would include provisions for the hostages. Mr Dickmanns sister-in-law, Yarden Roman-Gat, was released in a week-long ceasefire deal last November, along with some 100 other hostages. Israel has carried out days of heavy strikes across Lebanon, targeting what it says are Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. An Israeli Air Force Black Hawk helicopter flies over the Mediterranean Sea near the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Yam (Baz Ratner/AP) The militants have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel and on Wednesday targeted Tel Aviv for the first time with a longer-range missile that was intercepted. On Thursday, an Israeli air strike in Lebanon hit a building housing Syrian workers and their families, killing 19 Syrians and one Lebanese, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. It was one of the deadliest single strikes in the intensified air campaign against Hezbollah. Lebanons National News Agency said the strike occurred near the ancient city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, which runs along the Syrian border. The news agency initially reported that 23 people were dead. Hussein Salloum, a local official in Younine, said most of the dead were women and children, and that rescue efforts lasted through the night and into Thursday morning. We dug through the rubble with our own hands until a small bulldozer was brought in, Mr Salloum told The Associated Press. We had very limited capabilities. A man stands in a damaged apartment after an Israeli air strike in Saksakieh, south Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) The Lebanese Red Cross said it recovered nine bodies, while others were recovered by Hezbollahs paramedic service and the Lebanese Civil Defence. Lebanon, with a population of around six million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. Israel struck 75 sites overnight across southern and eastern Lebanon, the military said. At least 45 projectiles were fired from Lebanon early on Thursday, all of which were intercepted or fell in open areas, it said. Israeli strikes since Monday have killed more than 630 people in Lebanon, according to local health authorities, who say around a quarter were women and children. Several people have been wounded by shrapnel in Israel. The fighting has killed dozens of people in Israel and driven tens of thousands from their homes on both sides of the border. Israel has vowed to do whatever is necessary to allow its citizens to return, and it has moved thousands of troops to the northern border in preparation for a possible ground operation. U.S. tariff hike on China a protectionist move that goes against trend of times 09:48, September 26, 2024 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the final Section 301 tariff increases on imports from China, confirming a significant increase in import tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, semiconductors, medical products, and more. The tariff hike is another example of the United States politicizing, instrumentalizing and weaponizing trade issues, which is a protectionist move that runs counter to the general trend of the times. The United States should immediately correct this mistake and remove all additional tariffs on Chinese imports. The U.S. Section 301 tariffs are a clear example of unilateralism and protectionism, severely undermining the stability of global industrial and supply chains. Since 2017, in order to divert attention from its domestic challenges, pursuing America First, the United States has been flouting the WTO rules and the expectations of other members, and resorting to unilateralism, protectionism and trade bully, which has brought severe shocks to the multilateral trading system and severely undermined the global trade orders and the stability of the global industrial and supply chains. Recently, Chinas Ministry of Commerce released the 2024 Report on WTO Compliance of the United States, in which it calls the United States a "disrupter of global industrial and supply chains" and once again expresses concerns over the abuse of the Section 301 investigation. China has repeatedly made solemn representations with the United States regarding this issue. The WTO has long ruled that the Section 301 tariffs violate its rules, yet instead of rectifying the situation, the United States has chosen to further escalate tariffs on Chinese goods, compounding its mistake. The U.S. government has disregarded public opinions and insisted on raising tariffs, a move that lacks popular support. The USTR had previously solicited public opinions on the results of its tariff review, and the majority expressed opposition to increasing tariffs or called for expanding tariff exemptions. An executive of a tech firm stated that imposing tariffs on basic semiconductor components, such as diodes, would significantly raise production costs for U.S. companies. Daniel Becker, head of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign at the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit organization in the United States, pointed out that the tariff policy might weaken the competitiveness of American automakers, making it harder for the United States to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Faced with the numerous objections to increasing tariffs, the USTR twice delayed announcing new tariff measures on China, stating that it would continue to review public comments. However, it has become evident that the U.S. government has not respected public opinions, instead prioritizing domestic political considerations and pushing ahead with higher Section 301 tariffs on China. This approach will not achieve the goals the United States claims to pursue. Instead, it will backfire, weakening the competitiveness of U.S. industries. The U.S. tariff hike distorts market rules and severely harms the interests of American citizens. While the long list of tariff increases may satisfy some politicians' desire to appear tough on China, it has also driven up the prices of imported goods, leaving consumers to bear the cost of these tariffs. According to estimates from Moodys, U.S. consumers are shouldering 92 percent of the costs associated with the tariffs on Chinese imports, which results in an additional $1,300 in annual expenses for an average American household. Outdated protectionist policies have also failed to protect American workers. The Tax Foundation of the United States estimated that the tariffs on China have not solved employment issues; instead, they have caused a loss of 142,000 jobs in the United States. U.S. medical equipment importers, among others, have pointed out that imposing tariffs on products like syringes will limit doctors' access to high-quality tools, potentially having serious consequences for newborns and other vulnerable groups. Steven Rattner, a former Counselor to the U.S. Treasury Secretary, commented that protectionist measures like tariff hikes will only raise domestic prices, restrict consumer choices, and threaten both U.S. and global economic growth. "Rather than pursuing protectionist policies, Washington should focus on reducing barriers and strengthening global economic ties," Foreign Affairs magazine recently said in an article. The United States should face reality, put an end to the absurd practice of raising tariffs, and honor its commitments of not seeking to suppress or contain China's development and not decoupling from China. It should work with China to maintain the global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded, and fulfill its responsibility as a major country by genuinely contributing to global economic growth. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu) Jacob Beltran covers crime, breaking news and general assignments for the Express-News. He can be reached at jbeltran@express-news.net. A San Antonio native, Jacob began his journalism career in 2010. He's worked for the student-run newspaper for San Antonio College, The Ranger, and for Texas A&M University-San Antonio, The Mesquite. He enjoys video games, photography and exploring during his free time. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to carry out full force strikes against Hezbollah until it ceases firing rockets across the border, dimming hopes for a ceasefire proposal put forth by US and European officials. Israel carried out a new strike in the Lebanese capital, which it said killed a senior Hezbollah commander, and the militant group launched dozens of rockets into Israel. Tens of thousands of Israeli and Lebanese people living near their countries borders have been displaced by the fighting. Advertisement Mr Netanyahu spoke as he landed in New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly meeting, where US and European officials were putting heavy pressure on both sides of the conflict to accept a proposed 21-day halt in the fighting to give time for diplomacy and avert an all-out war. Advertisement Nearly 700 people have been killed in Lebanon this week as Israel dramatically escalated strikes, saying it is targeting Hezbollahs military capacities. Israeli leaders say they are determined to stop the groups cross-border attacks, which began after Hamas attack on October 7, which ignited the war in Gaza. Israels policy is clear, Mr Netanyahu said. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes. Just before his comments, the Israeli military said it killed a Hezbollah drone commander, Mohammed Hussein Surour, in an airstrike in the suburbs of Beirut. Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the claim. The Health Ministry said two people were killed and 15 wounded in the strike. Advertisement The strike gutted an apartment in a residential building in Dahiyeh, the mainly Shiite suburb where Hezbollah has a strong presence, according to Associated Press photos of the scene. Over the past week, Israel has carried out several strikes in Beirut targeting senior Hezbollah commanders. One strike in eastern Lebanon on Thursday killed 20 people, most of them Syrian migrants, according to Lebanese health officials. A damaged building at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts southern suburb (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Advertisement Israel hit 75 sites early on Thursday across southern and eastern Lebanon and launched a new wave of strikes in the evening, the military said. Throughout the day, Hezbollah fired some 175 projectiles into Israel, the Israeli military said. Most were intercepted or fell in open areas, sparking some wildfires, though one rocket hit a street in a town near the northern city of Safed. Israel has talked of a possible ground invasion into Lebanon to push the militant group away from the border. It has moved thousands of troops to the north in preparation. Some 100,000 Lebanese have fled their homes in the past week, streaming into Beirut and points further north. Advertisement The escalation has raised fears of a repeat or worse of the 2006 war between the two sides that wreaked destruction across southern Lebanon and other parts of the country and saw heavy Hezbollah rocket fire on Israeli cities. Another full-scale war could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said after talks with his British and Australian counterparts in London. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was at the UN meeting with Israeli officials over the truce proposal. Speaking in an interview with MSNBC, he said major powers, the Europeans and Arab nations were united, everyone speaking with one clear voice about the need to get that ceasefire in the north. I cant speak for him, Mr Blinken said of Mr Netanyahu. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal. Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed it, but his government has no sway over the group. Mr Netanyahus office downplayed the initiative, saying in a statement that it was only a proposal. One of Mr Netanyahus far-right governing partners threatened to suspend co-operation with his government if it signs onto a temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah and to quit completely if a permanent deal is reached. It was the latest sign of displeasure from Mr Netanyahus allies toward international ceasefire efforts. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party, said: If a temporary ceasefire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government. If Mr Ben-Gvir leaves the coalition, Mr Netanyahu would lose his parliamentary majority and could see his government come toppling down, though opposition leaders have said they would offer support for a ceasefire deal. An Israeli Air Force Black Hawk helicopter flies over the Mediterranean Sea near the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Yam (Baz Ratner/AP) Hezbollah has insisted it would halt its strikes only if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel has battled Hamas for nearly a year. That appears out of reach despite months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. One day after Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel, bringing Israeli counterfire and a cycle of reprisals that has gone on nearly daily since. Hezbollah says its barrages are a show of support for Palestinians and that it is targeting Israeli military facilities, though rockets have also hit civilian areas. Before this week, the cross-border exchanges had killed about 600 people in Lebanon, mostly militants but including more than 100 civilians, and about four dozen people in Israel, roughly half of them soldiers and the rest civilians. The fighting also forced tens of thousands to flee homes on both sides of the border. Israel says its escalated strikes across Lebanon over the past week are targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. Since Monday, strikes have killed more than 690 people in Lebanon, around a quarter of them women and children, according to local health authorities. The campaign opened with what is widely believed to be an Israeli attack on Sept. 18 and 19 detonating thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, killing at least 39 people and maiming thousands more, including civilians. A man stands in a damaged apartment after an Israeli air strike in Saksakieh, south Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) Hezbollah in turn has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel. Several people in Israel have been wounded. On Wednesday, the group fired on Tel Aviv for the first time with a longer-range missile that was intercepted. Early Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a building housing Syrian workers and their families near the ancient city of Baalbek in Lebanons eastern Bekaa Valley. The Lebanese Health Ministry said 19 Syrians and a Lebanese were killed, one of the deadliest single strikes in Israels intensified air campaign. Hussein Salloum, a local official in Younine, said most of the dead were women and children. The state news agency had initially reported that 23 people were dead. Lebanon, with a population of around 6 million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. Ukraines air defences battled an overnight Russian aerial attack on the capital Kyiv for five hours, officials have said, as missiles and drones again hammered the Ukrainian power grid. The Kyiv attack injured at least two people, Ukraines Emergency Service said. Advertisement A nursery, a gas pipe and around 20 cars were damaged in the city, said the Kyiv Military Administration. People clear the rubble in a front of a residential building heavily damaged in a Russian air strike in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) In western Ukraine, the air force said, Russia fired three Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles one of Russias most advanced weapons in the direction of Starokostiantyniv, a city in the Khmelnytskyi region, on Thursday morning. Advertisement The air force said it could not make further information public, suggesting the missiles were aimed at a sensitive site. Long-range strikes have been a hallmark of Russias military campaign in Ukraine, now deep in its third year, often hitting civilian areas. Attacks on the electricity network have knocked out around 70% of Ukraines energy generation capacity, according to the United Nations, bringing blackouts as winter approaches. Air defence systems are a critical need for Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelensky was due to meet US President Joe Biden in Washington on Thursday in an effort to ensure continuing US military support for his country. Advertisement Energy infrastructure was hit in Ukraines western Ivano-Frankivsk region, causing a blackout in parts of the regional capital of the same name, regional governor Svitlana Onyshchuk said. The power grid was also targeted in the southern Mykolaiv region, local authorities said without immediately providing further details. Russia launched six missiles and 78 Shahed drones at Ukraine overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, Ukraines air force said. Advertisement I am grateful to @POTUS Joe Biden, U.S. Congress and its both parties, Republicans and Democrats, as well as the entire American people for todays announcement of major U.S. defense assistance for Ukraine totalling $7.9 billion and sanctions against Russia. On behalf of the Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) September 26, 2024 Advertisement Defences destroyed four of the missiles and 66 drones in the air, it said. In the south, a missile killed a 62-year-old woman in the Odesa region, where homes and cars were damaged, regional governor Oleh Kiper said. In the city of Zaporizhzhia at least 10 people were injured in the overnight attack, including a 14-year-old, said regional governor Ivan Fedorov. He published photographs of houses with their windows blown out and walls riddled with shrapnel. The Emergency Service said 12 residential buildings were damaged in the city and 18 people were evacuated. Meanwhile, in the northeastern Sumy region ordnance experts defused a 500kg (1,100lbs) glide bomb that landed without exploding next to a bridge over the River Psel. The US, France and other allies have jointly called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon in recent days. The joint statement, negotiated on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, says the recent fighting is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. Advertisement We call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy, the statement said. Advertisement We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary cease-fire immediately. There was no immediate reaction from the Israeli or Lebanese governments or Hezbollah but senior US officials said all parties were aware of the call for a ceasefire. Earlier, representatives for Israel and Lebanon reiterated their support for a UN resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group. The US hopes the new deal could lead to longer-term stability along the border between Israel and Lebanon. Advertisement Months of Israeli and Hezbollah exchanges of fire have driven tens of thousands of people from their homes, and escalated attacks over the past week have rekindled fears of a broader war in the Middle East. The US officials said Hezbollah would not be a signatory to the ceasefire but believed the Lebanese government would co-ordinate its acceptance with the group. They said they expected Israel to welcome the proposal and perhaps formally accept it when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the General Assembly on Friday. While the deal applies only to the Israel-Lebanon border, the US officials said they were looking to use a three-week pause in fighting to restart stalled negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, another Iranian-backed militant group, after nearly a year of war in Gaza. Advertisement Israels ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon (Frank Franklin II/AP) The allies calling for a halt to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict are the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Work on the proposal came together quickly this week with President Joe Bidens national security team, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, meeting with world leaders in New York and lobbying other countries to support the plan, according to US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic conversations. Advertisement Mr Blinken first raised the proposal with the French foreign minister on Monday and then broadened his outreach that evening at a dinner with the foreign ministers of all the Group of Seven industrialised democracies. During a meeting on Wednesday morning with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, Mr Blinken approached Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan to ask for their approval and got it. Mr Blinken and senior White House adviser Amos Hochstein then met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who signed off on the deal. Mr Sullivan, Mr Hochstein and senior adviser Brett McGurk were also in touch with Israeli officials about the proposal, one of the US officials said. Mr McGurk and Mr Hochstein have been the White Houses chief interlocutors with Israel and Lebanon since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas launched the war in Gaza. The officials said the deal crystallised by late Wednesday afternoon during a conversation on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly between Mr Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron. Lebanons Prime Minister Najib Mikati (Frank Franklin II/AP) Mr Blinken expects to meet Mr Netanyahus top strategic adviser in New York on Thursday ahead of the prime ministers arrival. An Israeli official said Mr Netanyahu has given the green light to pursue a possible deal, but only if it includes the return of Israeli civilians to their homes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing behind-the-scenes diplomacy. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the UN Security Council during a special meeting that we are counting on both parties to accept it without delay and added that war is not unavoidable. At the meeting, Mr Mikati, the Lebanese prime minister, publicly threw his support behind the French-US plan that enjoys international support and which would put an end to this dirty war. He called on the Security Council to guarantee the withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied Lebanese territories and the violations that are repeated on a daily basis. Israels UN ambassador, Danny Danon, told journalists that Israel would like to see a ceasefire and the return of people to their homes near the border: It will happen, either after a war or before a war. We hope it will be before. Addressing the Security Council later, he made no mention of a temporary ceasefire but said Israel does not seek a full-scale war. The Security Council meets to discuss Lebanon (Frank Franklin II/AP) Both Mr Danon and Mr Mikati reaffirmed their governments commitment to a Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war. Never fully implemented, it called for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon to be replaced by Lebanese forces and UN peacekeepers, and the disarmament of all armed groups including Hezbollah. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Biden warned in an appearance on ABCs The View that an all-out war is possible but said he thinks the opportunity also exists to have a settlement that can fundamentally change the whole region. Mr Biden suggested that getting Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire could help achieve a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. That war is approaching the one-year mark after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking hostages. Israel responded with an offensive that has since killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, who do not provide a breakdown of civilians and fighters in their count. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky huddled with US leaders on Thursday to shore up American support for his countrys fight against Russia as the war faces a partisan reckoning in this years presidential election. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, has pledged to continue sending military assistance to Ukraine if shes elected. Advertisement Shell have her own meeting with Mr Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader sits down with President Joe Biden, who announced billions of dollars more in missiles, drones, ammunition and other supplies. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaks during the launching of a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction, hosted by US President Joe Biden (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP) The weapons include an additional Patriot missile defence battery and a new shipment of glide bombs that can be deployed from Western fighter jets, increasing their strike range. Advertisement Mr Biden pledged to ensure that all approved funding is disbursed before he leaves office, and he said he plans to convene a meeting with other world leaders focused on Ukraines defence during a visit to Germany next month. We stand with Ukraine, now and in the future, Mr Biden said alongside Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail. Meanwhile, Mr Zelenskys tumultuous relationship with former president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, continued to deteriorate this week. Instead of meeting with Mr Zelensky, Mr Trump criticised him. Advertisement As for US support for Ukraine, Mr Trump complained that we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal to end the war. His message dovetails with Russian propaganda that claims intransigence by Kyiv not aggression from Moscow has prolonged the bloodshed. It is the most politically treacherous landscape that Mr Zelensky has encountered in Washington since Russia invaded nearly three years ago. US President Joe Biden with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP) Advertisement Ukrainian officials are anxious to maintain good relations with whoever becomes the next president of the United States, which is its biggest and most important provider of arms, money and other support. But the effort risks slipping into the political blender of the presidential campaign, polarizing the discussion around a war that used to be a bipartisan cause celebre in Washington. Mr Zelensky is expected to present Mr Biden with a plan to push the war toward an endgame that would involve a negotiated settlement with Russia. Advertisement Hes trying to secure leverage before Mr Biden leaves office including acquiescence to fire long-range Western weapons deeper into Russia as a hedge against the possibility that American support erodes after the election. On Thursday, Mr Zelensky found some bipartisan support as he visited Capitol Hill, where he was greeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Mr Zelensky asked to use long-range weapons, such as British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles or US-made ATACMS, for maximum benefit to bring (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the table and increase Ukraines negotiating position. If we dont make that fundamental choice this week, I think the outcome for Ukraine is dire, Mr Graham said. Mr Zelenskys trip to Washington coincides with the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, where the Ukrainian leader spoke on Wednesday. Last week, Mr Trump said he would probably meet with Mr Zelensky while he was in the US, but a senior campaign official said there was never a meeting on the books. Don Moen - "He's On Our Side" | Conduit Publicity NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 25, 2024) Internationally acclaimed worship leader, songwriter, and recording artist Don Moen celebrated the release of his first collection of all-new music in over 12 years, He's On Our Side, by hosting a Live Global Listening Party today. Fans from all 50 states in the United States as well as Italy, United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Philippines, Japan, Zimbabwe, Canada, Nigeria, France, India, Abu Dhabi, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, Malaysia, South Korea, Germany, Indonesia, South Africa, Kenya, Singapore, Brazil, the Netherlands, and more came together for this special online event. The listening party gave participants an exclusive first listen to Moen's new worship EP, He's On Our Side, and united worshippers from over 25 countries. Throughout his career, Moen has had a profound global impact, with his music breaking cultural barriers and offering hope, encouragement, and healing across nations. It was a blessing to see people from all over the world joining in, Moen said. This new project is a reflection of where God has led me in this season of life, and sharing it with such a global audience was truly special. Reflecting on the new project, Moen says: This is my first worship project in almost 12 years that features new and original songs. The title cut, He's On Our Side, pretty much sums up what I wanted to say in this release: 'Oh bless His name, for He has given us everything we need to fly. Our broken wings, they have not hindered us. We have the Lord; He's on our side!' It's my prayer that these new songs, produced by my friend David Hamilton, will remind you that no matter what you may be going through, God is in control, and He is on your side. During the event's live Q&A, Moen connected with fans, many of whom have followed his ministry for years. Known for worship anthems like God Will Make a Way, Give Thanks, God Is Good All The Time, and more, Moen's latest music continues to inspire, building on his legacy of faith, trust, and devotion. Click here to stream He's On Our Side on all digital music platforms. For more information, visit www.DonMoen.com. ABOUT DON MOEN: Don Moen, a pioneer of the modern Praise and Worship movement, has spent his career as a worship leader, producer, songwriter, and music executive. Moen has sold over 5 MILLION records during his career. While a student at Oral Roberts University in the early 70s, Moen began touring with the musical group Living Sound and evangelist Terry Law. By 1986, Moen had recorded "Give Thanks" for the Hosanna Music! praise and worship series at Integrity Music, where he would serve as creative director, executive producer, and eventually, president of the label. During his tenure there, he sold more than 5 million units and signed worship leaders and songwriters, such as Paul Baloche, Ron Kenoly, Darlene Zschech, and many more. Today, Moen lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his wife, Laura, where he is president of Don Moen Productions and oversees his international nonprofit ministry, Worship in Action. CONNECT WITH DON MOEN: www.DonMoen.com facebook.com/DonMoenMusic instagram.com/DonMoen twitter.com/DonMoen OpenAI is discussing giving chief executive officer Sam Altman a 7 per cent equity stake in the company and restructuring to become a for-profit business, a major shift that would mark the first time Altman is granted ownership in the artificial intelligence startup. The company is considering becoming a public benefit corporation, tasked with turning a profit and also helping society, according to a source familiar with the discussions who wasnt authorised to speak publicly about them. The transition is still under discussion and a timeline has not been determined. Sam Altman founded the company in 2015 as a non-profit research organisation with the goal of building artificial intelligence that would be safe and beneficial to humanity. Credit: Bloomberg In a statement, OpenAIs chairman Bret Taylor confirmed the board has discussed whether to compensate Altman with equity but no decision has been made. OpenAI is mulling the changes against the backdrop of an exodus of senior managers. Chief technology officer Mira Murati said on Wednesday she is leaving, a surprise move that marks the latest high-profile departure from the startup. In the months after it suddenly fired and then rehired Altman last year, OpenAI has been in a state of flux losing multiple managers and shifting the structure of some of its teams. The case was a sensation. On August 20, 1989, brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, aged 21 and 18 respectively, walked into the television room of their familys Beverly Hills mansion armed with shotguns and shot dead their parents, Jose and Kitty. It was the precursor to the O.J. Simpson saga, with the siblings first trial in 1993 broadcast live in America. Once arrested, Lyle and Eriks defence was that they feared for their lives, having been previously subjected to many years of sexual and physical abuse by their father. Of the many monsters, both individual and systemic, featured in this messy true crime exploration, none is more voracious than the show itself. Sprawling in length a crucial failing and ravenous for contrasting perspectives, the second season of Ryan Murphys biographical crime anthology doesnt know when to stop. If you want to credit this to ambition, then there are rewards, including a compelling episode told in a single 30-minute shot, but if you lean towards lurid excess, Monsters certainly incriminates itself. In some ways, Monsters applies a contemporary perspective to the past. The brothers claimed they were overwhelmed by their collective trauma, a 21st-century concept that was dismissed by many in the 1990s, including a trial judge. But the show never bears down on this, preferring to gorge on tone and technique. Initially, Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch) act like spoilt brats, while Jose (Javier Bardem) and Kitty (Chloe Sevigny) are nightmarish tyrants. Theres black farce and homoerotic flourishes sometimes its as if the Coen brothers adapted Bret Easton Ellis. 2022s Monster, with Evan Peters as serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, veered towards exploitation, but it was bolstered by a telling theme: the official disdain that allowed Dahmer to target black and gay men without scrutiny. Too much of what Monsters adds to its central narrative feels unnecessary, whether its the introduction of celebrated Vanity Fair columnist Dominick Dunne (Nathan Lane), who campaigned against the brothers, or an episode dedicated to Jose and Kittys abuse-laden backstories. Nightmarish tyrants: Chloe Sevigny and Javier Bardem as Kitty and Jose Menendez. Credit: Miles Crist/Netflix After the fifth episode, which has the half-hour take from director Michael Uppendahl painstakingly zooming in on Erik as he tries to explain his complex feelings for his abusive father to his lawyer, Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor), the narratives momentum starts to wane. Nine episodes could have been six. The four lead performances have a vivid charge, albeit pulpy and narrow in the case of Bardem and Sevigny, but Monsters doesnt have a defining purpose. Its a season of unspeakable horrors that has little to say. How to Die Alone Disney+ Sydney businessman John Ibrahim can be revealed as the target of an alleged assassination attempt involving two gunmen arrested near his home in one of the citys most affluent neighbourhoods. The revelation comes after Ibrahim abandoned a secrecy bid in the courts. Police arrest a man on Old South Head Road, and inset, John Ibrahim. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Ibrahim. Sydneys east was flung into panic after reports emerged of men in balaclavas, armed with a pistol, during the school drop rush hour on July 25. A driver on George Street, Dover Heights, was allegedly confronted by a gunman about 8.20am. A young man who advised the perpetrators of a drive-by shooting to falsely claim their vehicle was stolen by a Sudanese person will be drug-tested before sentencing. Caleb Dennis Foote, 25, pleaded guilty on Thursday in Brisbane District Court to one count of accessory after the fact to malicious acts with intent. Crown prosecutor Hamish McIntyre said Foote was an accessory to a serious offence of essentially a drive-by shooting. Caleb Dennis Foote arrives at the Brisbane District Court. Credit: Darren England Foote was not present when Trent Leonard John Kunde fired multiple rounds from a sawn-off shotgun at the front bedroom of a two-storey house at Carseldine, in Brisbanes north, after midnight on April 27, 2022. Sue Tuckerman is one of the minority of Mornington Peninsula holiday-home owners who did register to vote by the August deadline. She and her husband spend half of every week at the beach in Blairgowrie, and the other half at their primary residence in Kew in Melbournes inner east. Voting in both elections is a no-brainer, Tuckerman said, as she considers herself a politically engaged member of her coastal community. She is dubious about the opt-in system and how it will skew outcomes. As soon as you do the opt-in, you wipe out quite a large proportion who are too busy and have kids and havent got time to think about local elections, she said. Former Mornington Peninsula councillor Hugh Fraser splits his time between his homes on the coast and in the Stonnington council area in Melbournes inner south-east. He labelled the voting changes a political fraud. Loading The amendments enhanced the voting power of resident tenants, he said. Its a further nail in the coffin of participatory local government democracy. Councillors and management are accountable to ratepayers and the community. If you chip away at [ratepayers ability to vote] or disincentivise them from participating in democracy, then it reduces accountability. Mornington Peninsula council candidate Andrea Allen was also critical of the level of communication with affected ratepayers about the enrolment changes. I feel like everyone who pays rates deserves to have a say in how rates are spent, she said. [Holiday-home owners] have as much love for this place as permanent residents. Fellow candidate Despi OConnor believed the changes would influence election campaigns and results. She said the peninsulas non-resident owners and permanent residents had different needs. Holiday-home owners were generally more interested in waste collection and clean beaches than the housing crisis and aged care, maternal or child services. OConnor said all rate-paying business and property owners should get a vote, but still questioned the equity in allowing certain wealthy Victorians multiple votes across several councils. Maybe [the change] will help the local area because itll bring the election back to community politics, she said. Across the bay, in Surf Coast Shire, the total number of voters has decreased by more than 10 per cent, and enrolled non-resident-owner ratepayers by 86 per cent. Loading Leon Walker, a Lorne cafe owner and first-time council candidate, said many holiday-home owners had told him they would have liked to have registered to vote but didnt have a chance to. Its unfortunate they dont get to vote. It will change the election, Walker said. They contribute to the community and whole town. Lots of them go back generations. Mike Bodsworth, a Surf Coast candidate and councillor of four years, said while the decrease in voters was significant, he felt all residents shared similar outlooks on the environment and small-town character. Id expect the impact on key issues of the campaign to be fairly minimal, he said. Some inner-Melbourne councils with high levels of apartment development and strong commercial centres also had large drops in their number of enrolled electors. In the City of Port Phillip, which includes St Kilda and South Melbourne, the electoral roll has contracted by 16 per cent, with 91 per cent fewer non-resident ratepayers. Former councillor Marcus Pearl said he opposed barriers preventing rate-paying business owners and landlords from voting. If you dont make it easy for people to have the democratic right to vote, its a travesty because we want councils to be accountable to those groups. Its core to a representative democracy, Pearl said. A Department of Government Services spokeswoman said the changes to the electoral roll were made following recommendations to better align with the state system, clarify voter entitlements and achieve more-accurate council rolls. She said that before the changes, Victoria was the only state where non-residential ratepayers had an automatic entitlement to vote. Non-resident ratepayers were frequently surprised to find that they could vote, and only around half voted in council elections, she said. The review recommended that voting be made compulsory for all those enrolled to vote and that voters not on the state roll be required to enrol on an applications-only basis. Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said the changes were unnecessary and had caused mass confusion, resulting in many ratepayers being unable to vote next month. So poorly communicated was the change that the vast majority, who have for years simply had a ballot come in the mail, have today no idea that their right to vote has been taken from them, he said. When votes are stolen from people with such stealth, that is most definitely not how a representative democracy should work. All councils were required to send letters to ratepayers affected by the electoral changes. Surf Coast Shire council chief executive Robyn Seymour said letters and alerts were issued in May with the application form, and she was keen to ensure all owners had the opportunity to vote. A Mongols bikie accused of plotting to import methamphetamine was arrested while trying to leave Australia carrying a near-expired passport, his birth certificate, and close to $10,000 in cash stashed in his luggage. Emmanuel Anthony Kappos, 33, was picked up at Melbourne Airport on Tuesday night as he tried to board a flight to Qatar bound for a breakaway state in the Mediterranean. Georgina Ktori, the mother of accused Mongols bikie Emmanuel Anthony Kappos outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday. Credit: LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI Kappos was supported by his family and partner as he appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with two counts of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. The court heard Kappos had bought his plane ticket the day before his flight to Doha and told Australian Border Force officers he was planning to travel to Northern Cyprus, a de-facto state within the island that is recognised only by Turkey. The Kokoda Track is closed indefinitely after being blockaded by angry locals, forcing Australian travellers to be airlifted out of the remote Papua New Guinean jungle and frustrating out-of-pocket tour operators. Local authorities are scrambling to find a solution to reopen the historic trail, which would usually be in the midst of one of its busiest periods of the year, as villagers escalate a long-running dispute with the PNG government over compensation payments. Anthony Albanese walked a section of the Kokoda track with PNG Prime Minister James Marape earlier this year. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The Australian militarys Kokoda campaign, which lasted from July to November 1942, played a crucial role in preventing Japanese forces from isolating Australia from its allies during World War II. An estimated 625 Australians were killed and more than 1600 wounded along the track, which was part of Australian territory at the time. More than 3000 trekkers most of them Australian walk the gruelling 96-kilometre track each year to pay tribute to fallen Australian troops and their PNG comrades. The NSW government has ordered a parliamentary committee to investigate whether Gareth Ward breached his obligations as an MP when he showed up at parliament in a state of undress at 4am on a Sunday morning after locking himself out of his apartment. The government announced on Thursday it had asked the NSW parliamentary privileges committee to consider any issues concerning the appropriate conduct of an MP raised by Wards early hours visit to parliament. Independent MP Gareth Ward and Premier Chris Minns. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, Dominic Lorrimer It came after Premier Chris Minns had earlier criticised the independent MP over the incident, describing the visit as a workplace safety issue and urging parliamentary officeholders to explain what happened. On Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph reported on the existence of a parliamentary security report which alleged Ward, the independent Kiama MP, had arrived at parliament early on July 21 wearing a T-shirt, underwear and socks and with a gash on his head. An audacious bid by the NSW greyhound racing industry to maintain its control of Wentworth Park could be derailed by allegations of serious animal welfare violations, with internal government documents revealing the claims may affect its suitability to hold a lease over the site. Greyhound Racing NSW, the corporate body that regulates the industry in NSW, has been lobbying Labor ministers to overturn a decision made by the former Coalition government to move racing from the Glebe track when the existing lease ends in 2027 and turn it into public green space. Greyhound racing at Wentworth Park is under threat. Credit: Louise Kennerley Late last year GRNSW presented NSW Lands Minister Steve Kamper with a proposal for racing to continue at Wentworth Park while increasing public access by removing fences and opening the site for events such as concerts and markets. Lodged alongside the Sydney Roosters NRL club, the St Andrews Cathedral School and other current tenants, it recommended GRNSW be appointed manager of the Crown Lands site as part of an entity that included other tenants. We have planned a walking trip in the south of France next May and our teenage daughter has requested we extend the trip to Italy for a food and countryside tour. Can you suggest a 10-day itinerary to showcase picturesque countryside and rustic dining? E. Kinnersly, Richmond, Vic Order seafood in Otranto. Credit: iStock According to the food experts, Italys gastronomic capitals are all in the north, especially around the Emilia-Romagna region, with Bologna as its capital. However, Im batting for Puglia in the south, which has a cuisine all its own, glorious countryside and a coastline unlike anywhere else in Italy. Start in Bari, which has the best air and rail connections in Puglia, then work south to visit Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, the white villages of the Valle dItria, the splendid baroque architecture of Lecce, followed by Galatina and Otranto. Matera, in neighbouring Basilicata, is optional but fascinating. Be sure to include Altamura, which is famous for its bread, a tour of the ancient olive grove at Masseria Brancati and the seafood restaurants at Otranto. Some other things to try include panzerotti, deep-fried pastry parcels filled with mozzarella and tomato, and pasticciotti, pastries filled with creamy custard. You can see orecchiette being made by the pasta nonnas in Baris old town and burrata, preferably at a farm where its freshly made. Another plus is that in May anywhere north of Rome can still be quite cool while in Puglia youre almost assured of warm days. My wife and I are planning a road trip through the major wine growing areas of rural France. Can you suggest an inbound travel agent or booking service that could help with our route planning, car hire and accommodation? P. Collins, Port Melbourne, Vic San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge speaks at a City Council meeting in this file photo from 2023. Standridge said Wednesday that a lockdown at San Marcos High School this week was caused by a fake phone threat. Eli Hartman The lockdown of San Marcos High School on Tuesday was in response to a phone call reporting a shooter which was later determined to be a hoax. The FBI is investigating the call, which came from a "spoofed" number that has been linked to similar incidents in Hunt County, Texas and Kent County, Michigan, San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Because the calls have been made across state lines, the caller might have committed a federal offense, Standridge said. The person could also face estate felony charges, he said. "From a law enforcement perspective, it's not a prank," Standridge said. It's a very serious issue." Investigators have not yet tracked down the caller, he said, "but I believe we will make an arrest in this situation." School district officials announced the lockdown shortly before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and said about 15 minutes later that all students and staff were accounted for while police continued to investigate. Standridge played audio of the phone call, in which the caller told a dispatcher that he saw "a guy with a gun in his hand" run away down a hallway. The caller then followed the gunman into a bathroom, where he begged for his life before a gunshot was heard. The caller then went silent. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The phone call prompted a response by police, fire, emergency medical services and personnel from the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, Standridge said. He described the call as an example of "swatting," or manipulating emergency services into responding to a fictitious incident, causing "chaos." The police department is working with both the San Antonio and Austin offices of the FBI to investigate the incident, he said. Police lifted the lockdown upon realizing it was a hoax, he said. "We wanted to end this intense situation to allow reunification with parents at the school," he said. Tokyo: A Japanese court has ruled that an 88-year-old former boxer was not guilty in a retrial for a 1966 quadruple murder, reversing an earlier wrongful conviction after nearly five decades on death row. Iwao Hakamadas acquittal by the Shizuoka District Court makes him the fifth death-row convict to be found not guilty in a retrial in post-war Japanese criminal justice. The case could rekindle a debate around abolishing the death penalty in the country. The presiding judge, Koshi Kunii, said the court acknowledged multiple fabrications of evidence and that Hakamada was not the culprit, NHK said. Iwao Hakamada, left, an 88-year-old former boxer who was on death row for nearly five decades, is helped by a supporter as he goes for a walk in Hamamatsu, central Japan. Credit: AP Hakamada was convicted of murder in the 1966 killing of a company manager and three of his family members, and setting a fire to their home in central Japan. He was sentenced to death in 1968, but was not executed due to lengthy appeals and the retrial process. Washington: In her first interview in more than two years, former US first lady Melania Trump said she saw her husbands surviving two attempts on his life as miracles and offered new details about the former president, including his desire to have more children. The Slovenian-born former fashion model has remained somewhat of an enigma in the 2024 election cycle, staying largely absent from the campaign trail, breaking norms in not speaking at the Republican National Convention and skipping key moments for her husband, Donald Trump, including his primary night victory parties and court appearances in New York and Florida. Melania Trump says Donald Trump wants more children. Credit: AP In a pre-taped interview aired on Fox News, Melania Trump called for Democrats and members of the media to stop branding her husband as a threat to democracy. She blamed the media for fuelling a toxic atmosphere and empowering those who want to do harm to him. Democrats previously blamed Trump for violent rhetoric, including helping to incite an attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. This is not normal, she told Ainsley Earhardt, a Fox & Friends co-host. New York: New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on Thursday on charges that he took illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for favours that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city. Adams, a former police officer, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment that describes a decade-long trail of alleged crimes. New York Mayor Eric Adams. Credit: afr The US attorneys office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams compounded his gains from the illegal contributions by gaming the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. His campaign received more than $US10,000 ($14,540) in matching funds as a result of the false certifications, according to the indictment. Adams allegedly solicited and demanded bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official, the indictment alleges, noting that the official was seeking Adams help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. We must build our way out of the housing crisis. We continue to need governments to come to the table with the right planning and tax settings, Zorbas said, urging further reforms to meet national housing targets. Investor confidence will be rocked by this rumour mill and so we are calling on the premier to restore calm and confirm that a rent cap and or rent control is not on the cards, she stated, emphasising the need for stability in the property market. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) is seen onstage at the Fiserv Forum during preparations for the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are arriving in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, joined by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks to reporters about requiring American citizenship to vote in national elections, as they introduce the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press WASHINGTON - Texas Republicans were divided Wednesday on a budget resolution that averted a government shutdown and kept the federal government funded through near the end of the year. Both Reps. Wesley Hunt of Houston and Chip Roy of Austin, along with 11 other House Republicans from Texas, opposed the bill, breaking with House Republican leaders including Rep. Michael Burgess of North Texas, who chairs the House Rules Committee. Burgess and other leaders, wary of creating instability ahead of the November election, relied on Democratic support Wednesday to pass the spending bill through the House by a 341-82 vote, with 132 Republicans for and 82 against. MORE FROM JAMES: Texas politicians and Biden weigh regulating the energy-guzzling industry as data centers pop up Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I made a commitment to my district to help return fiscal sanity to Washington, and I intend on keeping that promise," Hunt said in a statement Wednesday. "How much more national debt must we amass before we confront the dangers of deficit spending and the unsustainable practice of governing through continuing resolutions?" Other members of the Texas delegation opposing the resolution were Reps. Morgan Luttrell of Magnolia, Randy Weber of Friendswood and Tony Gonzalez of San Antonio. Twelve Republican congressmen from Texas voted for the spending bill, including Reps. Dan Crenshaw of Humble and Michael McCaul of Austin. Driving the divide is a desire by many House Republicans to avoid short-term spending bills like the one negotiated with Democrats by House Speaker Mike Johnson, out of concern it will result in increased federal spending. But less than two months away from a presidential election, House GOP leaders were reluctant to allow a government shutdown. "I think I speak for everyone here when I say this is not the preferred approach, but nonetheless it's where we are," Burgess said at a House Rules Committee meeting Monday. "Shutdown will not occur because Speaker Johnson has stepped in, and I applaud him for doing so." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Republicans and Democrats have been at odds for months over federal spending legislation, with neither side eager to make concessions ahead of the election. Johnson's effort to pass a six-month continuing resolution last week failed when 14 Republicans, including Hunt and Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving, sided with Democrats in opposition. It included language requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, even though noncitizens are already barred by law from voting in federal elections. The new resolution abandons that requirement and includes $231 million in additional funding for the Secret Service. Roy, who has long pressured House leadership to hold the line on spending, supported that legislation but not the shorter continuing resolution up for a vote Wednesday. With that resolution set to expire Dec. 20, Roy argued it sets the stage for Democrats to force a massive omnibus spending bill ahead of the holidays. "Last week we had a measure before us that would have gotten us past that date that would have gotten us into the new year, to avoid Christmas time frame," he said in a meeting of the House Rules Committee on Monday. "It was two years ago this coming December we got a $1.7 trillion omnibus bill. That is the way things tend to be done, and I have very strong opposition to that." Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy drew outrage from Republicans like Roy over the 2022 spending bill negotiated with Democrats, eventually leading to McCarthy's ouster from leadership the following year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Senate later approved the measure by a vote of 78-18. An additional $231 million was included to bolster the Secret Service after the two assassination attempts against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. Russia has sent additional troops along its border with Ukraine, sparking concerns from several Ukrainian officials. (Photo: Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters) In a stark escalation of nuclear threats, Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for deploying nuclear weapons, warning that any conventional attack on Russia supported by a nuclear power will be regarded as a joint attack. This shift, unveiled during a meeting of Russia's Security Council on Wednesday, signals a significant revision of Moscow's nuclear doctrine, aimed at deterring the West from further involvement in Ukraine's defense. The modified doctrine introduces broad and ambiguous triggers for nuclear retaliation, including a conventional attack by non-nuclear nations that receive backing from nuclear powers. Putin's announcement, though aimed at Ukraine's Western allies, raises concerns globally as it marks a considerable expansion in the conditions under which Russia could resort to its nuclear arsenal. "We will consider such a possibility when we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack assets and them crossing our state border," Putin explained, referencing potential threats from aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. He further warned that even conventional air attacks, if perceived as a critical threat to Russian sovereignty, could provoke a nuclear response. The new phrasing contrasts with Russia's previous doctrine, which limited nuclear weapons use to cases where ballistic missiles targeted Russia or its allies. This revised stance follows months of rising tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine's use of longer-range weaponry provided by NATO allies. These weapons have allowed Kyiv to target Russian territory, sparking a series of retaliatory threats from Moscow. Putin has now linked any NATO involvement in such attacks to potential nuclear conflict, effectively lowering the bar for a nuclear response. "Conditions for Russia's move to use nuclear weapons are clearly stated," Putin said, underscoring the changes. Although he didn't explicitly confirm that nuclear weapons would be used in such scenarios, the ambiguity is seen as a deliberate tactic to increase pressure on the West. Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at RAND, cautioned about the global implications of Russia's doctrine shift, stating, "Regardless of whether you think this is a bluff or not, it's never good when a major nuclear power loosens the conditions for nuclear use in its declaratory policy." Putin's comments came as the Biden administration announced an additional $375 million in military aid to Ukraine, including artillery, armored vehicles, and munitions for rocket systems. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the United States' commitment to supporting Ukraine's defense against Russia's continued aggression. "The United States is committed to Ukraine's defense against Russia's brutal aggression," Blinken said. "We will deploy this new assistance as quickly as possible to help Ukraine protect its territory and its people." The timing of Russia's revised nuclear doctrine aligns with growing tensions over Ukraine's calls for permission to strike deeper into Russian territory using Western-supplied long-range weapons. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing for such capabilities during high-level meetings in Washington, including talks with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. While the U.S. has refrained from granting explicit approval for these long-range strikes, Moscow's updated doctrine appears to be a pre-emptive response to such a possibility. The Kremlin's strategy aims to deter NATO from allowing Ukraine to carry out further attacks that could target deeper into Russian territory, effectively bringing the conflict closer to the heart of Russia. Putin also clarified that the revised doctrine allows for the use of nuclear weapons in defense of Belarus, a close Russian ally. He noted that he had reached an agreement with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, ensuring that aggression against Belarus would be treated similarly to an attack on Russia itself. Belarus, which has become increasingly reliant on Moscow's support, has already permitted the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on its territory. This revision of Russia's nuclear policy reflects the growing anxiety within the Kremlin as the war in Ukraine stretches into its third year. Despite steady, albeit slow, gains on the battlefield, the conflict has become a prolonged and bloody stalemate, with the Kremlin seeking new ways to deter Western aid to Kyiv. Moscow's nuclear posturing, though consistent throughout the conflict, has now taken a more dangerous turn as it broadens the scenarios in which nuclear weapons might be deployed. Biocon Ltd on Thursday said it has signed a licensing and supply agreement with Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company to commercialise its 'GLP-1' products for treating diabetes and chronic weight management in select countries of the Middle East. Under the agreement, the company will develop and manufacture the products and Tabuk Pharmaceuticals -- a fully-owned subsidiary of Astra Industrial Group, a leading pharmaceutical company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, will hold the marketing authorisation rights, and be responsible to register, import and promote them in the region, Biocon said in a regulatory filing. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The agreement also provides for a provision to expand to other 'GLP' products, as well as the option of a tech transfer that will enable localised manufacturing at a later stage, it added. The partnership with Tabuk Pharmaceuticals paves the way for the company's vertically integrated, complex GLP1 formulations entry into Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, Biocon CEO and Managing Director Siddharth Mittal said. "The partnership is further validation of our concerted focus on GLPs and Peptides as future growth drivers," he added. Tabuk Pharmaceuticals CEO Ismail Shehadah said the partnership with Biocon will enable the company to deliver unique health solutions aimed at enhancing the well-being of people in Saudi Arabia and other countries it operates in. "We are confident that this partnership supports our efforts to manufacture and localise a range of GLP-1 products in the region and strengthen our market leading position in the area of diabetes medications, in line with our strategy," Shehadah added. The company has appealed to the DCGI to reconsider the suspension of approval for PresVu eye drops. Image: https://entodpharma.com/ Mumbai-based Entod Pharmaceuticals has recently met the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) after the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) suspended permission granted to the company to manufacture and sell its PresVu eye drops. The step was taken after the drug regulatory body objected to the firms claim that the eye drops can help eliminate dependency on reading glasses for those suffering from presbyopia. Earlier this month, Entod had launched its PresVu eye drops, which are made using pilocarpine, an alkaloid used to treat various ophthalmological conditions, including presbyopiaan age-related condition that makes it difficult to see things up close. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Speaking about the recent meeting with the DCGI, Nikkhil K Masurkar, chief executive officer, Entod Pharmaceuticals, said that the company explained the situation regarding PresVu to the DCGI and clarified its intentions behind the media announcement. Entod fully understands the DCGIs concerns and respects his decision to suspend the permission for PresVu eye drops following hyped claims in news reports, he added. According to sources, health ministry officials had taken the matter seriously due to concerns over the potential misuse of the product. The company was alleged to have claimed that the drops could possibly replace reading glasses, with the onset of action occurring within 15 minutes of use. The unauthorised promotion in the press and over social media raised doubts about the product's safety and concerns about its use by the public. The promotion created the impression that it was an over-the-counter (OTC) drug, whereas it is approved as a prescription-only drug, an official source told Business Standard. Clarifying the issue behind the alleged claims, Masurkar stated that PresVu eye drops are not intended to replace reading glasses or non-invasive options for presbyopia. It is a therapeutic option, available only by prescription from a registered medical practitioner, for patients diagnosed with presbyopia as assessed by an eye doctor, he said. Masurkar added that in explaining the treatment of presbyopia, the company had shared data from its Indian Phase 3 clinical trials regarding the 15-minute onset of action and the possibility of replacing reading glasses. It appears that some of these explanatory statements were quoted out of context in certain news reports and were never intended to be claims of our company, he said. Officials indicate that Masurkar has also provided the DCGI with a written undertaking that Entod will fully comply with the conditions outlined in the permission for PresVu eye drops and make only approved claims. The company has appealed to the DCGI to reconsider the suspension of approval for PresVu eye drops, an official added. According to a company statement, Entod currently has over 150 ophthalmic formulations in the domestic market for various eye ailments and supplies to 67 countries globally. Its research and development (R&D) arm is also working on cutting-edge therapeutic treatments for myopia in children, glaucoma, corneal diseases, and retinal eye diseases. Telegram founder and chief executive Pavel Durov said Monday that the messaging platform had removed more "problematic content", weeks after his arrest in France on charges of failing to act against criminals using the app. Telegram's search feature "has been abused by people who violated our terms of service to sell illegal goods", Durov told the 13 million subscribers of his personal messaging channel. "Over the past few weeks" staff had combed through Telegram using artificial intelligence to ensure "all the problematic content we identified in Search is no longer accessible", he said. Durov added that the platform had updated its terms of service and privacy policy to make clear that it would share infringers' details with authorities -- including internet IP addresses and phone numbers -- "in response to valid legal requests". "We won't let bad actors jeopardise the integrity of our platform for almost a billion users," he said. Durov was arrested on August 24 as he arrived at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on a private jet. After days of questioning, he was charged with several counts of failing to curb extremist and terrorist content and released on a five-million-euro ($5.6 million) bail. During the investigation he must remain in France and report to police twice a week. Durov -- who holds Russian, French and United Arab Emirates passports -- initially criticised his arrest, but he has since announced steps appearing to bow to Paris's demands. On September 6, he said Telegram would alter its "people nearby" feature to present users with "legitimate businesses" rather than "bots and scammers". "This year we are committed to turn moderation on Telegram from an area of criticism into one of praise," he said at the time. Durov, an enigmatic figure who rarely speaks in public, has a fortune estimated at $15.5 billion by Forbes magazine, but touts the virtues of an ascetic life that includes ice baths and not drinking alcohol or coffee. State-owned Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) is implementing expansion projects to increase mine production capacity to 12.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), its CMD Ghanshyam Sharma said on Thursday. The move will boost domestic production of copper and reduce dependence on imports. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The company achieved ore production of 3.78 million tonnes in FY'24 against 3.35 MT in FY'23, registering a rise of 13 per cent. Speaking during the 57th Annual General Meeting, Sharma who is holding the addition charge of Chairman and Managing Director, said that the ongoing capacity expansion project i.e. development of underground mine below the existing open cast mine at Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) will augment the ore production capacity from 2.5 MTPA to 5 MTPA. The ore production from open cast mine has now exhausted and underground mine is operating below existing open cast mine leaving some barrier pillar. The project has achieved seamless transition from open cast to underground mine in 2023-24 with ramping up of ore production from Malanjkhand Underground mine to 22.48 lakh tonne which is about 60.8 per cent increase with respect to 2022-23. The proposed expansion of mines at Rajasthan-- Khetri and Kolihan mines--will increase ore production capacity from existing one to three MTPA. The proposed expansion of Surda Mine in Jharkhand will augment its production capacity from 0.4 MTPA to 0.9 MTPA. Hindustan Copper Ltd under the administrative control of the mines ministry of Mines, is engaged in mining of copper ore and owns all the operating mining lease of copper ore and also the only integrated producer of refined copper (vertically integrated company). Low-cost carrier SpiceJet has cleared all pending salary dues for its employees. The airline, which had raised Rs 3,000 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) earlier this week, disbursed salaries for July and August, as well as those pending for June, on Wednesday, reported The Economic Times citing sources. This move comes after the airline admitted to not paying around Rs 220 crore in tax deducted at source (TDS) from employees salaries between April 2020 and August 2023. The non-payment of taxes had drawn attention from tax authorities and added to the airlines ongoing financial challenges. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp SpiceJets QIP, which was oversubscribed, attracted participation from 87 Indian and international institutions. Alongside the Rs 3,000 crore raised, the airline is set to receive an additional Rs 736 crore from a previous funding round, strengthening its financial outlook. Declining market share and operational struggles Despite the fresh capital infusion, SpiceJets market share has continued to shrink, according to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In January 2023, the airline held a 5.6 per cent market share, but by August, it had dropped to 2.3 per cent, marking a significant decline from its 10.5 per cent share in 2021. SpiceJets financial woes have been compounded by its inability to secure additional funding, resulting in defaults on lease payments for its aircraft. Several lessors have taken the airline to insolvency court over unpaid dues. The airlines operational fleet has been reduced from 74 aircraft in 2019 to just 28 in 2024, with 36 aircraft grounded due to unpaid dues. The airlines mounting liabilities include Rs 3,700 crore owed to lessors, engineering, and electronic data capture (EDC) liabilities, as well as Rs 650 crore in unpaid statutory dues. Rising working capital costs, fixed rental expenses at airports, and escalating operational costs have further burdened the airline. Recent operational disruptions SpiceJet has faced additional challenges in recent weeks, including flight disruptions in Dubai due to unpaid airport dues. Last month, the airline was forced to operate empty flights from Dubai after passengers were unable to check in. Several flights had also been cancelled for similar reasons earlier in the month. These incidents prompted the DGCA to place SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance at the end of August. The airline also temporarily furloughed 150 cabin crew members for three months due to the lean travel season and has delayed salary payments, along with defaulting on provident fund contributions. Financial relief and future plans However, financial relief arrived before the QIP, when one of SpiceJets largest lessors, Carlyle, agreed to convert up to $50 million of dues into equity. The deal also includes the restructuring of aircraft lease obligations totalling $137.68 million, which will be reduced to $97.51 million upon settlement. Carlyle has also expressed interest in purchasing a stake in SpiceJets cargo arm, SpiceXpress & Logistics Pvt Ltd, through compulsorily convertible debentures. Looking ahead, the airline plans to expand its fleet to 40 aircraft by March 2025, matching the size of rival Akasa Air, with a further 40 aircraft to be added the following year. During high-demand periods, the airline intends to lease additional planes on a short-term wet lease basis, according to chairman and managing director Ajay Singh. For the upcoming festive season, the airline will induct eight aircraft. Despite our shrinking size, in FY24, there were eight airports where we held more than 50 per cent of seat capacity and 40 routes where SpiceJet had a monopoly. We also have 30 exclusive destinations under the regional connectivity scheme, Singh said. Lenders of bankrupt airline Jet Airways, led by the State Bank of India (SBI), on Thursday told the Supreme Court that successful bidder Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC) was unwilling to pay the dues and that the liquidation was the only option left. The bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud was hearing the SBI-led consortium plea against the NCLATs March order upholding ownership transfer of the bankrupt airline to JKC. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Enough is enough. They cant play with the law. Liquidation is the only option remaining, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) N Venkataraman said. SBI told the court that the total admitted claim of the financial creditor is close to Rs 7,800 crore and the financial package offered by the SRA (Successful Resolution Applicant, that is, JKC) in the Resolution Plan was Rs 4,783 crore, which is payable in tranches in five years. The first tranche payment of Rs 350 crore was required to be made by March 21, 2022. This amount has not been paid to date despite several extensions and exclusions granted to the SRA by the NCLT, NCLAT, and SC. We are struggling for the first tranche of Rs 350 crore. The resolution plan is effective for 180 days. Lenders are incurring Rs 22 crore every month to maintain the Corporate Debtor (Jet Airways), the ASG said. He had also told the court earlier that even the NCLATs order directing the SRA (to belatedly) create security by mortgaging Dubai properties within 30 days of its order, has not been complied with. Meanwhile, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for JKC, the successful bidder for bankrupt Jet Airways, alleged in the Supreme Court that the SBI brought down Air India and Kingfisher airlines. They have brought down Air India, Kingfisher. Ten separate pleas have been filed by them (SBI) against airlines. Only two airlines are left. They will bring down everything. No airline will remain, Rohatgi alleged in the court. JKC told the court that the lenders do not "give them the key to access their grounded aircraft on the airport premises. The apex court will now hear the arguments by JKC on Tuesday. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had on March 12 greenlit the transfer of ownership of Jet Airways to JKC. NCLAT had told JKC to obtain an air operators certificate within 90 days from March 12. It had also given it more time to pay Rs 175 crore to SBI as 107 days had passed since NCLAT's order allowing the transfer of ownership. It upheld the order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which had permitted the transfer of ownership to JKC in January last year. Consequently, the appeal by the SBI against the takeover of the airline by JKC was dismissed. The lenders then appealed against this order in the Supreme Court. Among the airlines in India, Go First had filed for voluntary insolvency on May 2, 2023, under Section 10 of the IBC, and on May 10, 2023, and the NCLT admitted its insolvency plea. The grounded airline joined the ranks of major carriers such as Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways, which went to the wall in 2012 and 2019, respectively, underscoring the challenges inherent in navigating Indias aviation industry. On the other hand, the Tatas took over Air India on January 27, 2022 and chose SBI, Bank of Baroda and HDFC Bank as preferred bankers for the airline. On February 29, 2024, Air India refinanced short-term loans with the SBI and Bank of Baroda (BoB) for a three-year loan, replacing the short-term Rs 18,000 crore bridge loan Air India had availed from SBI and BoB to complete the Tata group's takeover of the national carrier in January 2022. Iran's new president on Monday accused Israel of seeking regional war, as he attempted to cast Tehran as restrained and appealed to the West for talks on flashpoint issues. President Masoud Pezeshkian, inaugurated in late July as a reformist within the cleric-run state, was visiting the United Nations as Israel steps up strikes in Lebanon on the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah, following a wave of explosions on handheld communication devices. "We know more than anyone else that if a larger war were to erupt in the Middle East, it will not benefit anyone throughout the world. It is Israel that seeks to create this wider conflict," Pezeshkian told a roundtable with journalists in New York. Pezeshkian -- whose hardline predecessor died in a helicopter crash -- took office with calls for a better relationship with the West. But tensions immediately soared as the visiting political chief of Hamas, the Palestinian militants who attacked Israel on October 7 last year, was assassinated in an operation in Tehran widely attributed to Israel. Pezeshkian alluded to appeals from the West for Iran not to retaliate so as not to jeopardize US efforts for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. "We tried to not respond. They kept telling us we are within reach of peace, perhaps in a week or so," he said. "But we never reached that elusive peace. Every day Israel is committing more atrocities and killing more and more people -- old, young, men, women, children, hospitals, other facilities," he said. He did not reply directly when asked if Iran would now respond more directly to Israel. "We always keep hearing, well, Hezbollah fired a rocket. If Hezbollah didn't even do that minimum, who would defend them?" he said. "Curiously enough, we keep being labeled as the perpetrator of insecurity. But look at the situation for where it is." Iran openly backs Hamas, whose October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,455 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN has described the figures as reliable. Pezeshkian accused Western powers of double standards by saying that violence "by one side is legitimate self-defense but it's terrorism and murder by the other." Israel has scoffed at talk of reformists within the Iranian system and US officials, while willing to speak with Tehran indirectly, have played down Pezeshkian's influence, saying that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ultimately makes key decisions. Pezeshkian called for talks with the West on Russia after US intelligence said that Iran was supplying ballistic missiles to Moscow for its war in Ukraine. "We are willing to sit down with the Europeans and the Americans to have a dialogue and negotiations. We have never approved of Russian aggression against Ukrainian territory," Pezeshkian said, again denying the missile shipments. Ukraine, which enjoys sympathy from much of the Iranian public, has threatened to sever relations with Tehran over the missiles issue. Western powers have hit Iran with a new round of sanctions, including targeting air agreements, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying the missiles contradict Pezeshkian's calls for better relations. Pezeshkian also made a new appeal Monday for the restoration of a 2015 nuclear deal which was scrapped by former US president Donald Trump. President Joe Biden took office saying he would restore the agreement but talks failed, due in part to disagreement over the extent on sanctions relief. Any high-level US diplomacy with Pezeshkian is highly unlikely ahead of the US presidential election in November, with Iran toxic in US politics and Tehran unwilling to make concessions before knowing the next administration's policies. The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in promoting bilateral trade between India and the United States, supporting small businesses, and driving economic growth. With profound honour, we celebrate a quarter-century of service, said Jagdip Ahluwalia, founding secretary and executive director, welcoming attendees at the Hilton Americas on Saturday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Reflecting on IACCGH's key milestones, he noted partnerships with corporate giants like Shell, BMC Software, and Wallis Bank, as well as impactful collaborations such as MD Anderson's work with Tata Cancer Centre and Mahindra Tractors' arrival in Harris County. The fund-raising gala, an annual event, held on Saturday, was attended by over 1,000 guests, the organisers said. The event brought together leaders from various sectors, including members, partners, elected officials, representatives from the Indian Consulate, the University of Houston, and the Mayor's office. Consul General D C Manjunath, the gala's chief guest, praised the Chamber's advocacy in bilateral trade. He noted India's emergence as the fifth-largest economy, emphasising, The Chamber is dedicated to strengthening economic ties and fostering collaborations. Houston Mayor John Whitmire commended the Chamber for facilitating trade between the US and India over the past 25 years and invited everyone to celebrate Diwali at Houston City Hall. IACCGH president Rajiv Bhavsar highlighted the Chamber's initiatives supporting small businesses and trade relationships. This anniversary marks resilience and adaptability, emphasising the importance of unity in achieving meaningful progress, he said. The evening honoured key contributors and celebrated outstanding community members. As we reflect on our legacy, we are excited about a future filled with promise and opportunity, said Sanjay Ramabhadran, past president of IACCGH, who moderated a panel discussion titled 25 in 25: A Legacy in Progress. The discussion underscored the Chamber's vital role in fostering economic growth and community connections. The evening also featured a cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate the Chamber's 25th anniversary. As the cake was brought on stage, the crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating a significant milestone in the Chamber's history. This was followed by the recognition of sponsors and out-of-town guests, which included a tribute to Ahluwalia for his dedication and service. Incoming president Malisha Patel expressed her commitment to innovation and community growth, stating, I look forward to blending innovation with sustainment and growth of the Chamber's existing programs to enhance the outstanding work already being accomplished. Uttar Pradesh industrialists, especially from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) domain, have demanded the state government convert nearly 46,500 acres of leasehold industrial land to freehold parcels. Industry captains asserted the conversion to freehold will unlock the potential of these land parcels and bolster the 'Ease of Doing Manufacturing and 'Make in UP' programmes. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp These land parcels are in 156 industrial areas across the state and are promoted by the UP State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA). MSME chamber Indian Industries Association (IIA) national president Neeraj Singhal said unlocking of the leasehold industrial land would directly feed the state's ambitious 1 trillion dollar economy target. "The leasehold law was implemented during the British rule to promote industrial units in India. Therefore, there is a need to change this relic of our colonial past for speedier industrial development in UP," he said, adding that a representation has already been given to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Singhal claimed several states like Haryana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have already implemented the policy of converting leasehold industrial land into freehold. In 2016, the UP industrial development department promulgated a policy for the freeholding of land, but it applies to units spread over an area of a hectare or more, which effectively weeds out the micro and small industries from its purview. UP will earn a revenue of almost Rs 50,000 crore from fees and other levies over the proposed conversion of leasehold land to freehold, Singhal said. The UP government has been dithering on the issue, amid a plausible apprehension of industrial land turning into real estate or commercial properties if it were converted to freehold parcels. However, UP Inc has assured that they were bound to adhere to the norms and conditions set by the government concerning the freeholding of industrial plots. According to IIA, the conversion of leasehold to freehold will bring an array of benefits to UP, thus boosting the gross state domestic product (GSDP) and filling the coffers as more industrial units would be set up and the scarcity of industrial land would be resolved. Singhal said when industrial land is given to an entrepreneur on leasehold, the land acquisition cost, development charges, and premiums are levied by the government. When all such costs have been paid by the entrepreneur, and the industry is run as per the governments intention, then why should they not get ownership rights from tenancy? Singhal asked. IIA has taken various steps to highlight its demand. The issue is being discussed with major industrial organisations across the country. Fourteen Indian MBA programmes found a spot in the QS global list for 2025 released on Wednesday. According to the coveted list, three Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, namely IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta, secured positions in the world's 100 best institutes for their MBA courses. The top spot in the QS Global MBA and Business Masters Rankings 2025 has again been secured by Stanford School of Business in the US. Notably, Stanford School has secured the top spot for the fifth consecutive year. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The ranking is given after analysing 340 best global MBAs and a series of specialised high-demand Business Masters Rankings, which include Management, Finance, Marketing, Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Management, spanning over 58 countries and territories. Penn (Wharton) and Harvard Business School have been ranked at the second and third positions, respectively. The best MBA school outside the USA is London Business School. Such ranking helps students to make informed decisions by understanding the global education landscape. This training also helps with comparative analysis and making informed decisions that align with career goals. QS Global MBA Ranking 2025: Top 10 Institutions Heres the list of top 10 institutions as per QS Global MBA Ranking 2025: Stanford Graduate School of Business Penn (Wharton) Harvard Business School MIT (Sloan) London Business School HEC Paris Cambridge (Judge) Columbia Business School IE Business School IESE Business School QS Global MBA Ranking 2025: Top 4 Indian Institutions Here are the top 4 Indian institutes as per QS Global MBA Ranking 2025: Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (53) Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (60) Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (65) Indian School of Business, Hyderabad (86) Students can use insights to follow professional paths: QS CEO Jessica Turner, the CEO of QS, said that students can use these insights to shape their professional paths who aim to lead in corporations, innovate in start-ups, or impact the public sector. "However, ongoing challenges related to internationalisation and gender diversity remain critical areas for improvement. Bridging these gaps is not only key to enhancing the global competitiveness of Indias leading business schools, but also vital for fostering more inclusive environments that align with the future of business leadership," Turner. Indian institutes are nurturing leaders preparing to navigate today's complex and dynamic business environments. Indian institutes like IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta show India's ability to shape top-tier global talent. He also held talks with his Syrian counterpart, Bassam Sabbagh and held talks on cooperation in health, education and capacity development, as well as sharing their views on the developments in West Asia (Photo: PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Australian counterpart Senator Penny Wong caught up with each other on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. Taking to social media platform X, Jaishankar attributed Senator Wong as a "Quad partner". Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp "Catching up with Quad partner FM Senator Penny Wong at UNGA79," he said. Prior to this, Jaishankar signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement at the United Nations Headquarters, taking a step towards ensuring that the oceans remain healthy and resilient. "Signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement today the United Nations HQ. India is proud to join the BBNJ Agreement, an important step towards ensuring that our oceans remain healthy and resilient," he said in another post in X. Following this, he met with the Foreign Minister of Rawanda, Olivier JP Nduhungirehe and said that it was nice to meet him. "Nice to meet the new FM Olivier JP Nduhungirehe of Rawanda," Jaishankar said in X. He also held talks with his Syrian counterpart, Bassam Sabbagh and held talks on cooperation in health, education and capacity development, as well as sharing their views on the developments in West Asia. "A cordial meeting with FM Bassam Sabbagh of Syria today. Spoke about cooperation in health, education and capacity development. Shared views on the ongoing developments in West Asia," he said in X. Besides, he also met with Foreign Minister of El Salvador Alexandra Hill Tinoco and discussed the topics of connectivity, digital, health and capability building. "Always a delight to meet FM Alexandra Hill Tinoco of El Salvador. We discussed connectivity, digital, health and capability building. And also our shared desire to reform the global order," he said in another post in X. Earlier, Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday (local time) on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar hold talks on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said in an X post. In response to Lavrov's post, Jaishankar posted on X, "Met FM Sergey Lavrov this afternoon at UNGA 79. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and regional issues. Margaret Alkek Williams, second from left, is seen John Mangum, Robert Eubanks and Meg Booth in the lobby of the newly renovated Jones Hall during the Houston Symphonys private dinner for donator Williams, who donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. The renovation included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Margaret Alkek Williams, who donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, walks through the newly renovated Jones Hall, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. The renovation included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Margaret Alkek Williams, left, visits with Barbara Burger in the lobby of the newly renovated Jones Hall during the Houston Symphonys private dinner for donator Williams, who donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. The renovation included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Margaret Alkek Williams, left, visits with Y. Ping Sun alongside her husband, David Leebron, and Barbara Burger in the lobby of the newly renovated Jones Hall during the Houston Symphonys private dinner for donator Williams, who donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. The renovation included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Brigitte Kale, left, is seen alongside Alicia Smith inside the newly renovated Jones Hall during the Houston Symphonys private dinner for donator Margaret Alkek Williams, who donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. The renovation included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Y. Ping Sun visits inside the newly renovated Jones Hall during the Houston Symphonys private dinner for donator Margaret Alkek Williams, who donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. The renovation included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Phoebe Tudor is seen in the newly renovated Jones Hall during the Houston Symphonys private dinner for donator Margaret Alkek Williams, who donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. The renovation included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A massive, merlot curtain fanned across part of the concrete wall, just inside Jones Hall on Wednesday evening. Outside, a downpour nearly rained on the Foundation for Jones Hall and Houston Symphony's parade. Indoors, the room was abuzz as the board of trustees encircled the guest of honor, Margaret Alkek Williams. For her most recent gift, $5 million toward Jones Hall's multi-year, $60-million restoration, the grand lobby of Houston Symphony's home venue has been named in her honor. She held court on the piano-level, surrounded by high-level subscribers and fellow donors. The sounds of champagne bottles uncorking and congratulatory wishes nearly drowned out the symphony orchestra players who were stationed on a nearby staircase. The project to improve Jones Hall's acoustics and overall visitor experience marks the first major renovation in the building's history. It's also the first time that spaces will be named for leaders other than Jesse H. Jones, John Mangum, executive director, CEO and Margaret Alkek Williams Chair told the Chronicle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The newly renovated Jones Hall is seen during the Houston Symphonys private dinner for donator Margaret Alkek Williams, who donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. The renovation included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer "Your gift came at just the right moment this year," said Robert Eubanks, executive director of the Foundation for Jones Hall, addressing Williams in front of the crowd. "This is the place where more than 400,000 people come every year, in this room, to simply gather. Or as you've always said, it's 'like a giant living room.'" Meg Booth, president and CEO of Performing Arts Houston, compared Williams' legacy and vision to the building's namesake, Jesse H. Jones. "But you also remind me of Edna Saunders, Houston's first impressario." In 2022, Williams donated $10 million to Houston Ballet's endowment fund the largest gift in the dance company's 50-year history. Its Center for Dance building was renamed in her honor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She has previously supported Houston Grand Opera, Theatre Under the Stars and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. "One of the great joys of my life has been to get to know you these past 6 and a half years," said Mangum, who departs Houston Symphony later this year for a position with Lyric Opera in Chicago, his voice cracking. "And I look forward to these next 6 and a half years, too." Then a Houston Symphony staffer tugged on a rope, and the curtains parted to unveil big, new brass letters: Margaret Alkek Williams Grand Lobby. Margaret Alkek Williams, second from left, looks up as her name is unveiled in the entryway of the newly renovated Jones Hall lobby, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. Williams donated $5 million toward the $60 million project, which included a new grand lobby, updated green room and a new stage. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer On the arm of her escort, David Wuthrich, the petite philanthropist quietly posed for photographs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As most event-goers migrated upstairs to the mezzanine level where Houston First has installed new lighting and furniture for a seated, three-course dinner, some of the more revelrous guests seized the opportunity to peek into Jones Hall's other updated spaces. The most popular destination? A completely revamped green room, now named for the Shirley and David Toomim Family. They contributed $4 million to the renovation. Behind the closed doors, members of the catering team dutifully unpacked glassware and wine bottles for the bar, which will officially re-open Oct. 4 for Houston Symphony's Opening Night Concert and Gala Dinner. A young woman whipped out her cell phone, having just recorded the dedication ceremony. "(Williams) donated a bunch of money, I'm getting all choked up," she told her co-workers excitedly. "She's just amazing." Representative image of an Indian Army tank in Ladakh. Image credit: ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi on X) India and China are reported to have made "significant progress" in bridging their differences over unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, which could possibly result in Indian troops regaining access to certain patrolling points along the LAC that they were previously restricted from accessing. The process also includes discussing a potential solution that considers both India and China's pre-April 2020 positions, while also addressing ongoing concerns in Arunachal Pradesh, reported the Indian Express on Thursday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp As both nations work towards resolving the long-standing disputes along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, including exploring a solution that takes into account their respective pre-standoff positions, the report said that local commanders from both sides have been holding meetings on the ground to avoid clashes, as part of confidence-building measures. What is the key point of this process? Citing unnamed sources, the report said that Indian troops, who were previously restricted from accessing certain patrolling points along the LAC, either due to the presence of Chinese troops or the creation of buffer zones during the disengagement process, could possibly regain access to these locations. ALSO READ: Peace on border must for progress in India-China ties: EAM Jaishankar Speaking to the national daily, unnamed senior officials confirmed that these developments had occurred during recent diplomatic and political discussions between New Delhi and Beijing. The 31st Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) meeting took place on August 29 in Beijing, with Indian military representatives in attendance. Now, the 22nd round of Corps Commanders' level talks between India and China is expected to be held soon to finalise the specifics, including the timeline for troop redeployment based on the agreement. What is the status of the LAC right now? While troops stationed along the LAC remain on alert, the report said that they are avoiding confrontation to prevent additional trust deficit from building up and possibly delaying the implementation of redeployment plans. In fact, as a further confidence-building measure, local commanders from both sides have reportedly been meeting to ensure any clashes are avoided. ALSO READ: Chinese bridge on Pangong lake operational, to be used by PLA troops, tanks The process of stocking winter supplies for the 50,000-60,000 additional troops stationed in eastern Ladakh also continues. According to the report, while troop redeployment along the LAC might occur, the de-induction and de-escalation process is expected to be lengthy. The last formal disengagement at the LAC took place in September 2022, when both sides withdrew troops from Patrolling Point-15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area of eastern Ladakh. Significant friction points like the Galwan Valley, the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, and the Gogra-Hot Springs area have also seen partial resolutions over the last four years, with the establishment of buffer zones along the LAC. ALSO READ: China's PLA building bunkers, hardened shelters close to Pangong Lake However, legacy issues in areas such as the Depsang Plains and Demchok, which predate the current standoff, remain unresolved. At the Depsang Plains, for example, Indian troops have been blocked from accessing their patrol points in a location known as the Y junction. What are India's current military plans along the LAC? Officials familiar with the situation told the national daily that plans to raise an additional division for Ladakh are underway, and at least one brigade is already partially being moved to the region. The formation of this division, likely to be the 72nd Division, is reportedly expected by mid-2025. This will free up the Rashtriya Rifles' Uniform Force to return to its original position within the 16 Corps. ALSO READ: Fighter jets to submarines: Budget 2024 aims at major defence acquisitions However, officials reportedly said that regardless of changes in troop deployment, infrastructure development along the LAC will proceed as planned to ensure preparedness for any potential contingencies. Until the final redeployment plans are implemented, the current Indian troop deployment and patrolling will remain in effect. However, the report added that the Indian Army had not responded to questions regarding this matter at the time of reporting. What are India and China saying about the LAC? Statements following diplomatic and political discussions last month hinted at progress towards a resolution. With regard to the WMCC meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement noting a frank, constructive and forward-looking exchange of views aimed at reducing differences and finding an early resolution to the ongoing issues. On September 12, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar commented that approximately 75 per cent of the "disengagement problems" with China had been "sorted out," although he cautioned that the "larger issue" was the increasing militarisation of the border. This was followed by a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement that troops had disengaged from four areas in eastern Ladakh, including the Galwan Valley, and that the situation along the borders remained stable. Additionally, on September 12, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, where they discussed the progress made in recent consultations on border issues. A statement released by the MEA indicated that the Doval-Wang meeting provided both sides with an opportunity to review recent efforts towards achieving an "early resolution" of the remaining issues along the LAC, which would help stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations. Both parties agreed to "work with urgency and redouble their efforts to achieve complete disengagement in the remaining areas". Starting today, Canadian businesses will be restricted to filling only 10% of their workforce with low-wage foreign workers, down from the previous limit of 20%. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the government was tightening rules around its Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Programme, particularly for low-wage jobs. The TFW Programme was originally created as a short-term solution for businesses struggling to find qualified Canadian workers. It allows companies to hire foreign workers for up to two years, but employers must prove that theyve made efforts to hire Canadians first before being allowed to bring in foreign workers. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Why is Canada limiting foreign workers? "When they announced this policy, temporary residents accounted for 6.8% of the population. As per the latest data, this has increased to 7.3%. As a result, I expect a further tightening of foreign worker visas," said Darshan Maharaja, a Canada-based immigration analyst. He added, "So, it is very likely that opportunities in Canada for Indian workers will dwindle." The move comes amid growing frustration among Canadians, who feel shut out of the job market by the excessive use of foreign workers. The rising unemployment rate is adding to this pressure. Canadas Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages reported that the national unemployment rate has risen to 6.4%, while the unemployment rate for younger workers has reached 14.2%, the highest in over a decade, excluding the pandemic period. The size of the TFW Programme has also nearly doubled between 2021 and 2023, with 240,000 permits issued last year, many of them in sectors like restaurants and retail. Moreover, Trudeaus government has faced political challenges, with his popularity dipping due to rising prices, a housing crisis, and criticism over his immigration policies. Recently, he survived a confidence vote, but the pressure to act on domestic issues has mounted. What changes are being made? In response to these challenges, the government is introducing several changes to the TFW Programme: Processing limits: Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage jobs wont be processed in regions with unemployment rates of 6% or higher. However, certain sectors like agriculture, food processing, healthcare, and construction are exempt from this rule. Cap on foreign workers: Employers are now limited to hiring up to 10% of their workforce through the TFW Programme for low-wage positions, down from the previous 20%. Again, sectors like agriculture and healthcare are exempt. Shorter employment duration: The maximum employment period for low-wage foreign workers has been reduced from two years to one year. "The Temporary Foreign Worker programme was designed to address labour market shortages when qualified Canadians were not able to fill those roles. Right now, we know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions. The changes we are making today will prioritise Canadian workers and ensure Canadians can trust the programme is meeting the needs of our economy," said Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, in a press release. How much do low-wage foreign workers earn? Wages for low-wage foreign workers in Canada vary by province, industry, and job. As of 2024, the rates generally range from CAD 13 (Rs 809) to CAD 16 (Rs 996) per hour, depending on the region. Here are some examples: Ontario: minimum wage is CAD 16.55 per hour and will rise to CAD 17.20 per hour on October 1, 2024. Alberta: minimum wage is CAD 15.00 per hour. British Columbia: minimum wage is CAD 17.40 per hour from June 1, 2024. Manitoba: minimum wage is CAD 15.30 per hour, with a planned increase to CAD 15.80 in October 2024. Nunavut: has the highest minimum wage, at CAD 19.00 per hour as of January 1, 2024. While foreign workers are entitled to the same labour rights as Canadians, such as overtime and holiday pay, enforcement can be inconsistent. The TFW Programme has also faced criticism for fostering exploitative conditions. A United Nations report published on July 22, 2024, highlighted issues like underpayment, wage theft, excessive work hours, and even sexual harassment. "The special rapporteur retains the view that the temporary foreign worker programme serves as a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery, as it institutionalises asymmetries of power that favour employers and prevent workers from exercising their rights," said UN investigator Tomoya Obokata in his final report. What about Indian workers? India was one of the top contributors to Canadas TFW Programme, with 26,495 temporary foreign workers in 2023. But with the new restrictions, Indian workers may need to reconsider their options. "In the current economic scenario in Canada, Indian workers need to make a dispassionate assessment of the kind of life that they are likely to have in Canada," Maharaja said. He pointed to the severe housing shortage, rising cost of living, and overburdened healthcare system, cautioning that its not uncommon for four individuals to share a single rented room. "Indian workers would be well advised to look for opportunities in other countries," Maharaja suggested. Starting October 1, foreigners working in Denmark will need to earn salaries in line with new Danish standards. Denmark is updating its income thresholds for foreigners applying for residence and work permits, ensuring they meet the new minimum salary levels required for eligibility. The minimum salary for most foreign workers will increase from DKK 445,000 (around Rs 55.6 lakh) annually to DKK 495,000 (about Rs 61.8 lakh), as per the latest guidelines. This 10 per cent rise aims to ensure that foreign workers are paid wages that align with the countrys standards. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp What happens if you apply after September 30? If you're applying for a residence and work permit after September 30, 2024, your salary will be assessed based on second-quarter income statistics for 2024. However, those who applied between July 1 and September 30, 2024, will be assessed using the first-quarter salary statistics. Your salary and employment terms must meet Danish standards for your work permit to be granted. "Applicants must receive remuneration that reflects the local standard for the type of employment in Denmark," the statement says. Schemes impacted by the changes The new salary requirements will apply to both first-time applications and extensions under several schemes, including: Pay Limit Scheme Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme Fast Track Scheme Researchers Scheme Positive List for People with Higher Education Positive List for Skilled Work Special Individual Qualifications Scheme Herdsmen and Farm Managers Scheme Internship Scheme Even those applying for sideline work permits or permits as accompanying family members must meet the salary criteria. Salary must be paid to Danish accounts For most cases filed after January 1, 2021, salaries must be paid into a Danish bank account. Only liquid, guaranteed payments such as fixed salary, pension contributions, and holiday allowances will be considered when assessing if your salary matches Danish standards. Staff benefits, such as board and lodging, can be offered by the employer but wont count towards your salary in this assessment. In addition, uncertain income like commissions and bonuses typically wont be included when calculating your total salary. How does SIRI assess if your salary meets Danish standards? Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration (SIRI), the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, generally considers a salary sufficient if: 1. The employer is part of a collective agreement through an employers' association membership. 2. The employment contract explicitly states it is covered by a collective agreement in the relevant sector. For 2024, SIRI will assume that your salary is in line with Danish standards if its at least DKK 71,020.83 per month. If not, SIRI will evaluate your salary using the Confederation of Danish Employers' income statistics as a guide, ensuring it meets the minimum required level for your job function and experience. Why Denmark is raising salary thresholds This adjustment comes as Denmark grapples with a skilled labour shortage across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and construction. By raising the salary thresholds, the government aims to not only attract skilled foreign talent but also ensure that local workers benefit from the new employment opportunities. Indians in Denmark: Growing workforce India has seen a significant rise in its workforce in Denmark over the past 15 years. A report by The Copenhagen Post reveals that the number of Indian employees in the country has increased sevenfold during this period. Many Indian workers in Denmark are highly educated and contribute to key sectors like technology, healthcare and construction, helping to alleviate Denmark's shortage of skilled labour. As of 2024, an estimated 21,300 Indians are living and working in Denmark, according to a Statistics Denmark analysis, with the number expected to grow as demand for skilled professionals continues. As Senior Editor for Features, Melissa Aguilar oversees the Zest, Renew, Preview and Flavor teams, as well as the Chronicle's niche products such as Luxury Life magazine and Houston Gives. In her years at the Chronicle, she has held many positions, from features editor and entertainment editor to fashion writer, copy editor and city hall reporter. During her tenure, the features sections have won writing and design awards, as well as the prestigious Best Features Section award from the Society of Features Journalists. Melissa has two adult children, Tessa and Dylan, and a white lab named Sunny. She has completed the Houston Marathon seven times, has ridden the MS 150 eight times and loves to travel, write and shoot pictures. She is a native Houstonian and a magna cum laude graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, is a civil code applicable to all women in India, regardless of their religious or social background. The ruling underlines the Acts role in providing a more effective protection of womens rights, as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. A bench comprising Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice N Kotiswar Singh made this observation while delivering a judgment on an appeal filed by a woman contesting a Karnataka High Court ruling. The case concerned the grant of maintenance and compensation under the Act, legislation designed to protect women from domestic abuse within a domestic relationship. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The Act is a piece of civil code which is applicable to every woman in India irrespective of her religious affiliation and/or social background for a more effective protection of her rights guaranteed under the Constitution, the bench stated, reiterating the universal scope of the law. Background of the case The case in question involved a woman who had successfully petitioned under Section 12 of the Act, leading to a magistrates order in February 2015 granting her Rs 12,000 in monthly maintenance and Rs 1 lakh in compensation. The womans husband later sought to challenge this order, but his initial appeal was dismissed due to delay. However, the husband subsequently filed an application under Section 25 of the Domestic Violence Act, which allows for the alteration or revocation of orders based on a change in circumstances. The appellate court allowed his appeal, remanding the case to the magistrate to reconsider the application. The woman, dissatisfied with this decision, took the matter to the Karnataka High Court, which upheld the appellate court's decision. Guidance on Section 25 The Supreme Court, in its ruling, highlighted the importance of Section 25, which permits either the aggrieved person or the respondent to seek modifications to an order if there is a significant change in circumstances. These changes can be financial, such as variations in income, or relate to other life circumstances affecting the parties involved. The court further clarified that any order for modification or revocation under Section 25(2) must be prospective, meaning it applies only from the date of the order onwards. The bench emphasised that the husband could not demand a retrospective change to reclaim maintenance already paid. While the Supreme Court set aside the Karnataka High Court and the first appellate courts rulings, it granted the husband the liberty to file a new application under Section 25, should there be further grounds to do so. [With agency inputs] Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Thursday issued a new advisory to all state and union territory (UT) administrations containing public health actions required to be undertaken to prevent the risk of further spread of Mpox in India. This comes after India last week reported its first case of the Mpox Clade 1b strain, which triggered the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a public health emergency, in a 38-year-old man from Kerala who had recently returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The advisory asks states and UTs to continue undertaking appropriate activities to make communities aware of the disease, its modes of spread, and the need for timely reporting and preventive measures. Highlighting the readiness of diagnostic testing capability in the country, the advisory stated that 36 labs across India supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and three PCR test kits validated by the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) are readily available. Samples from lesions of any patient with suspected symptoms of Mpox should be sent to the designated labs immediately, and for those that test positive, a sample should be sent to ICMR-NIV for genome sequencing to determine the clade, the advisory added. Since the WHO declared Mpox, or monkeypox, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) last month, India has reported two cases one in Delhi and the other in Kerala. While the patient in Delhi was found to have the Clade 2 strain, which is not part of the WHO warning, the patient in Kerala was diagnosed with the Clade 1b strain. With this, India also became the third non-African country to have confirmed a case of the Clade 1b strain, after Sweden and Thailand, which have also reported one case each. Addressing the difference in both strains, Chandra said that while the clinical presentation is similar in both strains, the rate of complications may be higher in Clade 1 compared to Clade 2 infections. A similar advisory was released by the health secretary earlier this month, asking states and UTs to review their public health preparedness, along with the screening and testing of all suspected cases of Mpox, while asserting that it was closely monitoring the evolving situation. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall continue to monitor the situation closely and will extend all requisite support in this regard to states and UTs, the advisory had stated. Slamming the BJP, former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal asserted that he will ensure that all development and welfare works stalled due to his arrest are back on track at the earliest. Addressing the Delhi Legislative Assembly for the first time since his resignation, he lashed out at the BJP accusing it of stalling various schemes like old age pension, pilgrimage for elderly, and free medicines at hospitals, among others. Interacting with Haryana BJP workers through the NaMo app, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed fieldwork at the booth level for the upcoming state polls and encouraged BJP workers to devise a strategy for the party to win the election. While alleging the Congress has failed as an opposition in the past 10 years, PM Modi claimed the grand old party's maximum time goes into infighting and taking on each other. A Mumbai court on Thursday sentenced Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut to 15 days simple imprisonment in a defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's wife Medha Somaiya. The metropolitan magistrate (Sewree court) convicted the Rajya Sabha member under Indian Penal Code Section 500 (punishment for defamation) and also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him. Medha Somaiya, in her complaint filed through advocate Vivekanand Gupta, had alleged that Raut made baseless and completely defamatory allegations against her and her husband. The top court has granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last year in connection with a money laundering case. The top court had reserved its verdict on August 12 after hearing submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and senior advocates Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Balaji. Four people died due to heavy rains in Mumbai on Wednesday evening, which caused severe flooding, traffic jams, disruptions to Central Railway services, and flight diversions. Over a five-hour period starting at 5 pm on Wednesday, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region received over 200 mm of rainfall, leaving commuters stranded on roads and at railway stations. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp A 45-year-old woman drowned in a nullah in Andheri East, while two workers at a stone quarry in Kalyan were killed by lightning. Another woman drowned near Zenith waterfall. Mumbai rains: IMD issues red alert The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad on Wednesday evening, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds until Thursday morning. An orange alert was issued for the remainder of the day. By 8:30 pm on Wednesday, the Colaba observatory recorded 70.4 mm of rainfall, while Santacruz recorded 94.9 mm. Some suburbs, such as Mankhurd (276 mm), Ghatkopar (259 mm), and Powai (234 mm), were particularly affected. Mumbai rainfalls: Schools, colleges shut The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad will remain closed on Thursday due to heavy rainfall and weather warnings. The Mumbai Police advised residents to stay indoors and avoid venturing out unless essential. IMD monsoon: Train services, flights affected Train services on the Main and Harbour lines of Central Railway were heavily impacted. While the Western Railway remained operational, services on the slow track of the main line were halted beyond Vidyavihar due to significant flooding starting at 8:10 pm on Wednesday. Trains on the Thane-bound line resumed an hour later with speed restrictions, and the CSMT-bound line was operational again by 9:40 pm. Harbour line services were stopped from 9:40 pm, with trains running only between CSMT-Kurla and Vashi-Panvel. Meanwhile, 14 flights were diverted at Mumbai airport, and seven others had to abort landings, circling back for another attempt amid heavy rains and lightning. (With agency inputs) KP George is the Fort Bend County Judge. Sharon Steinmann/Staff Photographer A post from "Antonio Scalywag" on Sept. 26, 2022 to KP George's Facebook page shows support for George's opponent. Courtesy/KP George Fort Bend County Judge KP George on Thursday was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of misrepresentation of identity with the intent to influence an election, court records show. George was arrested Thursday night and booked into the Fort Bend County jail. Documents from the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office allege that George posed as Facebook user Antonio Scalywag to injure Republican challenger Trever Nehls in George's 2022 re-election bid. George's representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. George's bail was set at $1,000. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales called for George to step down in a Thursday afternoon social media post. In the post, Morales raised questions about how the indictment impacts George's authority as county judge, as well as how it relates to George's use of county law enforcement officers for security detail. "I remain extremely concerned about the business of our county government through this disturbing turn of events," Morales said. CANDIDATE INDICTED: Fort Bend Democrat Taral Patel indicted on 4 charges of online impersonation to influence election A search warrant issued Sept. 19 alleges that George coordinated with Patel to use cellphones to create fake social media accounts to send themselves racist messages to influence elections, court documents show. Advertisement Article continues below this ad George had initially stated that he felt deep disappointment with authorities, calling the search warrant unnecessary. While I respect the legal process and willingly complied with the search warrant, I must express my deep disappointment in how this event was conducted, George said in a Sept. 20 statement. Had I been treated with courtesy and respect, I would have voluntarily surrendered the requested items in person to the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office. From the outset, I have been fully cooperating with the authorities, he said in the statement. Ive complied with them and provided the requested items. By issuing a warrant, George said, authorities have subjected him to public criticism. The aggressive and unnecessary approach used has fueled unwarranted speculation, led to public slander, and created an unsafe environment for both my family and me. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Monday, George issued a statement saying that his main focus is on serving the residents of Fort Bend County. "I will continue to perform my duties as the county judge which citizens of Fort Bend County overwhelmingly elected me to do, he said. I have 100% faith in the legal process and trust that once all the facts are reviewed, my name will be cleared, Patel has been charged with four felony counts of online impersonation to influence the result of an election, court documents show. Patel is the Democratic nominee for Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner. Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, who is running against Patel in the November election, has previously called for George to resign and said in a Thursday statement: Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fort Bend County is the most diverse county in the United Statesknown for being safe, family-friendly, and business-friendly. However, the racist messages that investigators say were manufactured by my opponent, Taral Patel, with the alleged knowledge of Judge KP George, have sown fear within our community." The Manipur government on Wednesday retracted its earlier statement, claiming that hundreds of Kuki militants were planning an alleged attack on the Meitei community on September 28. They had earlier said that 900 Kuki militants were planning to attack peripheral villages of Imphal Valley districts around September 28. In a joint statement, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and DGP Rajiv Singh said, In view of recent reactions from different communities regarding the input on the infiltration of 900 trained Kuki militants from Myanmar to carry out attacks on Meiteis on September 28, it is clarified that the input was verified from various sources but could not be substantiated on the ground. There is no current basis to believe in any such input. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The statement assured, Security forces are on high alert to protect the lives and property of citizens. All communities are assured of their safety, and advised the public to not believe in any rumours or unverified news. The development followed days after the security advisor, on September 20, had indicated that security had been beefed up in the wake of the reports that militants might attack peripheral villages. In the earlier statement, he remarked that such reports were circulating for the past three to four days. He had mentioned that planned attacks could occur any day around September 28. Such misadventures by armed groups is remote In his latest statement, N Geoffrey, Secretary to the Chief Minister said, Based on information regarding the movement of armed groups, this office shared intelligence inputs to enable the Police Department to develop the said information for actionable insights. It is now ascertained that the possibility of such misadventures by armed groups is remote, he said, urging the public not to panic. Earlier, Manipur Congress MLA Thokchom Lokeshwar Sing had expressed concern over the situation, calling for clarification on the matter. The state has been under the grasp of sporadic incidents of violence, a result of large-scale ethnic violence in the northern state since May 2023. According to government data, up to 221 people have lost their lives due to the violence, and around 60,000 individuals have been displaced from their homes. The violence was first triggered between the Kukis and the Meitis after the Manipur High Court had recommended giving Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis. Former Principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh and arrested officer-in-charge of Tala police station, Abhijit Mondal were brought to the Presidency Jail from Sealdah Court on Wednesday. Both Ghosh and Mondal were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College. Meanwhile, On Wednesday, Junior doctors also gathered to pay tribute to the rape and murder victim. Earlier this week, West Bengal Medical Council had cancelled the medical practitioner registration of the principal. During the investigation, ED reached the residence of the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, at Chinar Park in Kolkata to carry out a search operation.ED had registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe money laundering charges against Sandip Ghosh in the financial irregularities case. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to launch KWIN City on Wednesday, an ambitious integrated smart city spread over 2,000 acres. The project aims to redefine the business landscape with a knowledge, well-being, and innovation hub, by bringing together world-class facilities in a single location, according to the state government. Explaining the vision of the project, CM Siddaramaiah said that it embodies Karnatakas bold vision for the future. We are creating an ecosystem that will drive economic growth, attract global talent, and foster groundbreaking advancements, he said, adding that it will establish the state as a global leader in innovation and development. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp According to the official website of the project, the city will have four districts: Knowledge, Health, Innovation and Research. The inauguration ceremony will be held at 11.00 am at the Legislative Assembly building. Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivkumar and Infrastructure Minister M B Patil are also expected to attend the event. Top 5 features of Karnatakas KWIN city: 1) Spread over more than 2,000 acres, the city is located on the Bangalore Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) between Doddapete and Doddaballapur. 2) Its approximate travel time from Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport is 45 minutes. The city has been planned to promote sustainable lifestyle by integrating state-of-the-art technology with eco-friendly infrastructure, according to the official website. 3) It boasts a seamless transportation network, having a central monorail system providing rapid transit, with stops every 800 metres, the website said. 4) It also highlighted that 40 per cent of the city is allocated to parks and open spaces, featuring over 10 lakes interconnected by a network of canals. 5) To establish a modern education hub, the city aims to attract the top 500 foreign educational institutions to operate campuses in India and foster academia-industry partnerships. The expected timeline of this project is not known yet. Housing sales in Delhi-NCR fell 2 per cent to 15,570 units from 15,865 units. Photo: Shutterstock Housing sales fell 11 per cent during July-September to 1.07 lakh units in seven major cities on lower launches and an annual 23 per cent growth in average prices, according to Anarock. Real estate consultant Anarock on Thursday released data that showed an 11 per cent fall in sales of residential properties in July-September to 1,07,060 units from 1,20,290 units in the year-ago period. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri said, "All the top cities individually recorded a dip in housing sales." The top 7 cities witnessed a drop of 19 per cent in new housing supply, with 93,750 units launched in July-September 2024 against 1,16,220 units in the corresponding period in 2023. "Nevertheless, the fact that sales remained higher than launches indicates that the demand-supply equation remains robust," Puri said. He pointed out that housing sales in the third quarter tapered down amid high prices and the monsoon season. "As always in this period, the 'shraad' period also suppressed demand to an extent as many Indians defer home buying in this period." Overall, Puri said the housing market is stabilising after creating a new peak in January-March 2024. Anarock said that developers have several projects lined up during the festive quarter (October-December) during which the market is expected to see an uptick in demand. "That said, (sales) growth in the upcoming quarters may not be as steep as seen in the last 1-2 years," said Puri. "Residential prices too seem to have peaked out and are now gradually stabilising across cities. Developers are likely to roll out several offers and discounts during the upcoming festive quarter to attract buyers," As per the data, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) recorded the highest sales among the top 7 cities in the July-September quarter at 36,190 units, a 6 per cent drop from 38,505 units in the year-ago period. Pune saw a 17 per cent decline in sales to 19,050 units from 22,885 units during the period under review. Housing sales in Delhi-NCR fell 2 per cent to 15,570 units from 15,865 units. In Bengaluru, housing sales decreased 8 per cent to 15,025 units from 16,395 units. Hyderabad recorded sales of 12,735 units, a 22 per cent fall from 16,375 units in the third quarter of 2023 calendar year. Housing sales in Kolkata declined 25 per cent to 3,980 units from 5,320 units. In Chennai, housing sales fell 9 per cent to 4,510 units during July-September from 4,945 units in the year-ago period. "Due to escalating input costs as well as significant sales growth, average residential property prices across the top 7 cities collectively rose by 23 per cent annually - from Rs 6,800 per sq. ft. in Q3 2023 to Rs 8,390 per sq. ft. in Q3 2024," Anarock said. Among the top 7 cities, Hyderabad saw the highest 32 per cent jump in average prices. Rodeo Houston chaps are seen during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Park, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo official on Thursday pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud crimes and could face 20 years in prison more than a year after he was arrested over accusations he used his position to defraud multiple people, including other rodeo officials. Michael Wayne Galvan, 61, a former rodeo vice president, last year was accused of running a fraudulent loan scheme, according to the U.S Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Fort Bend County Judge KP George indicted in connection to fake social media post investigation Advertisement Article continues below this ad Galvan pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and will be sentenced in December, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. He faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and could be fined up to $250,000 and order to pay restitution to his victims. Federal prosecutors said Galvan would obtain short-term loans, ostensibly so his business, MGB Builders, could purchase tile and granite from China. Instead of purchasing construction materials, however, Galvan was accused of using the money to pay back loans he had received from other people. The scheme netted Galvan $2.8 million, according to prosecutors. He was found out after he "ran out of victims and money." According to federal officials, Galvan's crime happened between February 2016 and March 2018. He was accused of using his position at the rodeo to find people to defraud. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cipla said that its wholly owned subsidiary in UK, Cipla (EU) has entered into definitive agreement with Jiangsu Xidi Pharmaceuticals to acquire 6.9124% stake in Cipla (Jiangsu) Pharmaceuticals. Cipla Jiangsu was incorporated in China on 8th August 2019 as a joint venture between Cipla (EU) and Jiangsu Xidi Pharmaceuticals Co., (Xidi) for the purpose of manufacturing, selling and distribution of pharmaceutical products, research and development services and analytical development services. Cipla Jiangsu has set-up a manufacturing facility in China, primarily focused on inhalation respules products. Currently, Cipla EU and Xidi holds 93.0876% and 6.9124% equity interest respectively in Cipla Jiangsu. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Cipla Jiangsu was incorporated in China on 8th August 2019 as a joint venture between Cipla (EU) and Jiangsu Xidi Pharmaceuticals Co., (Xidi) for the purpose of manufacturing, selling and distribution of pharmaceutical products, research and development services and analytical development services. Cipla Jiangsu has set-up a manufacturing facility in China, primarily focused on inhalation respules products. The said transaction is being carried out in terms of the existing joint venture contract between the parties and will provide Cipla EU with full control and ownership of Cipla Jiangsu. Upon completion of the transaction, Cipla Jiangsu will become a wholly owned step-down subsidiary of the company. The transaction is expected to be completed on or before 15th November 2024. Cipla is a global pharmaceutical company focused on agile and sustainable growth, complex generics, and deepening portfolio in our home markets of India, South Africa, North America, and key regulated and emerging markets. The pharma companys consolidated net profit jumped 18.27% to Rs 1177.64 crore in Q1 FY25 as against Rs 995.70 crore reported in Q1 FY24. Total revenue from operations grew by 5.77% year on year to Rs 6693.94 crore in the quarter ended 30 June 2024. The counter shed 0.17% to Rs 1,640.45 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Oil and Natural Gas Corporation said that its board has approved an investment of Rs 10,501 crore in equity shares of ONGC Petro additions (OPaL), in one or more tranches. In September 2023, the board of the company had accorded its consent on sustainable capital restructuring of ONGC Petro additions (OPaL). Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp OPaL is a a joint venture of ONGC, GAIL (India) Ltd. and GSPC with present shareholding of 49.36%, 49.21% and 1.43% respectively. It is a mega - grass root petrochemical complex consists of a global scale dual feed cracker with downstream polymer units as an integration-cum-value addition project utilizing ONGCs Naphtha stream from Hazira and Uran plants and C2+ Streams from Dahej Extraction Plant. OpaL is an anchor tenant of Dahej PCPIR, Gujarat and has exported its products to more than 50 countries in the world. Offering the rationale for the aforementioned capital restructuring, ONGC had said that the fund infusion would not only augment the holding of ONGC in OPaL, but it would also help OPaL become more profitable. In August this year, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India (GoI), had granted approved to ONGC for infusion of additional equity capital upto Rs 10,501 crore in ONGC Petro. The transaction would also involve conversion of back stopped compulsorily convertible debentures (CCDs) amounting to Rs 7,778 crore and payment of balance amount of Rs 86 crore with respect to share warrants. All this would translate into an outlay of Rs 18,365 crore for ONGC. Accordingly, this transaction would change the status of OPaL into subsidiary of ONGC with 95.69% equity stake. "The approval also provides roadmap for OPaL. GoI has also permitted to allocate 50% of the annual gas production from new wells or well interventions in nomination fields of ONGC or upto 3.2 MMSCMD of domestic natural gas, whichever is lower, for providing feedstock support to OPaL, at a price up to 20% above APM price. APM Price of natural gas per MMBTU is 10% of Indian Crude basket price per barrel of Oil, ONGC had said in a statement. Offering an update on the same, in an exchange filing made after market hours on Wednesday (25 September 2024), ONGC said that it has received approval from its board for infusion Rs 10,501 crore equity capital in ONGC Petro additions. At the same meeting yesterday, the board of the company has also approved the appointment of Arunangshu Sarkar, director (strategy & corporate affairs) as a key managerial personnel of the company with immediate effect. Maharatna Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is the largest crude oil and natural gas company in India, contributing around 71% to Indian domestic production. It has in-house service capabilities in all areas of exploration and production of oil & gas and related oil-field services. The Government of India held 58.89% stake in ONGC as of June 2024. The company had reported 15.09% decline in standalone net profit to Rs 8,938.10 crore in Q1 FY25 as compared with Rs 10,526.78 crore in Q1 FY24. Revenue from operations increased 4.29% YoY to Rs 35,266.38 crore in Q1 FY25. The scrip fell 1.93% to currently trade at Rs 292.80 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Tata Steel Ltd is quoting at Rs 164.36, up 1.67% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 28.26% in last one year as compared to a 32.35% gain in NIFTY and a 46.1% gain in the Nifty Metal. Tata Steel Ltd is up for a fifth straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 164.36, up 1.67% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.35% on the day, quoting at 26094.2. The Sensex is at 85475.02, up 0.36%. Tata Steel Ltd has added around 6.24% in last one month. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Tata Steel Ltd is a constituent, has added around 4.97% in last one month and is currently quoting at 9777.15, up 1.27% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 472.6 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 413.25 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark September futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 164.9, up 1.9% on the day. Tata Steel Ltd is up 28.26% in last one year as compared to a 32.35% gain in NIFTY and a 46.1% gain in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 12.32 based on TTM earnings ending June 24. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Hero MotoCorp share price fall: Shares of largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp dropped up to 2.76 per cent to hit an intraday low of Rs 5,919.50 per share on Thursday, September 26, 2024. The downtrend in the Hero MotoCorp share price came after international brokerage firm UBS maintained its 'Sell' rating with a target price of Rs 3,350 per share, implying a downside of 45 per cent from the share's previous close (September 25) of Rs 6,087.60 per share. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Pramod Kumar and Nikunj Mandowara of UBS said, "The stock is trading at c26x FY26E price-to-earnings (P/E), which is more than three standard deviations (3SD) higher than its five-year historical average. We maintain our 'Sell' rating with a price target (PT) of Rs 3,350." Meanwhile, here are the factors behind UBS' rating on Hero MotoCorp: Wholesale volumes and festive optimism vs Retail underperformance Despite a disappointing Q1FY25 earnings report and ongoing losses in retail market share, Hero MotoCorps stock has surged approximately 20 per cent since its earnings call, analysts at UBS noted. The stock performance appears driven by anticipated increases in wholesale volumes for September and October, alongside managements positive outlook for the festive season. Investor sentiment, reinforced by dealer feedback, suggests that wholesale volumes may exceed 600,000 units in September 2024. However, this anticipated surge contrasts sharply with Heros retail trends, indicating a substantial buildup of inventory. According to Vahan data, Heros expected retail volumes for September are around 300,000 units, suggesting that inventory additions this month could surpass total retail sales. This would elevate dealer (including sub-dealer) inventory to over 1.3 million units. Given the high inventory levels and fierce competition from Honda, analysts anticipate an increase in discounting from both companies as the festive season approaches. Festive performance lags in full-year growth The two wheeler manufacatuerss festive retail volumes over the past two years have seen growth rates of 20 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively. However, an analysis by UBS of full-year performance reveals that despite this festive strength, Hero MotoCorp's overall retail volume growth was only 11 per cent for FY23 and 6 per cent for FY24. This growth, analysts noted, is considerably lower than that of its peers, which achieved 23 per cent and 12 per cent growth during the same periods, indicating Hero's market share has been under major pressure. Notably, despite claims of record festive retail volumes, the companys market share during the festive season (October to December) has been steadily declining, reaching a new low of below 24 per cent as of September 2024. Ongoing market share challenges amid product launches From April to August 2024, Hero MotoCorp witnessed a 310 basis point (bp) drop in retail market share, falling to 28.8 per cent, with September figures dipping below 24 per centapproximately 400 basis points behind Honda. The sharp decline, occurring even after the successful launch of the Xtreme 125, indicates a troubling loss in the commuter motorcycle segment, UBS analysts said. Increased competition from models like the Honda Shine and Bajaj Freedom, coupled with a shift toward scooters and EVs in smaller markets, analysts believe, is further eroding Heros traditional customer base, even as the broader market anticipates a recovery in commuter motorcycle sales. At 10:02 AM, shares of Hero MotoCorp were trading 2.35 per cent lower at Rs 5,944.75 per share. In comparison, BSE Sensex was trading 0.20 per cent higher at 85,340.80 levels. China's water conservancy projects create 2.1 million jobs in first 8 months Xinhua) 09:59, September 26, 2024 BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's investment in water conservancy projects totaled 801.94 billion yuan (114.23 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, a government official said on Wednesday. At a press conference on water conservancy infrastructure construction held in Beijing, Wang Bao'en, vice minister of water resources, said that water conservancy project construction on a massive scale has contributed to employment. Construction of such projects created nearly 2.1 million jobs in the first eight months, up 6.9 percent year on year. Wang said that during the period, the five provinces of Hebei, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui each posted investment exceeding 40 billion yuan in the sector. Government data also shows that since the beginning of this year, a total of 42,000 water conservancy projects have been implemented nationwide, up 14.1 percent year on year. Among them, 28,000 are newly started projects, up 18.7 percent. Wang said that in the next step, the Ministry of Water Resources will continue to make solid efforts to promote water conservancy infrastructure construction after the main flood season. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Students and faculty at Christ the Redeemer Catholic school celebrate the school's 2024 Blue Ribbon award in Houston. Courtesy of Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Four Houston area schools were nominated with the prestigious 2024 Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Department of Education this year, out of 31 campuses in the state that received the award. Only one of the four is a public school campus, while the other awarded campuses are all private Catholic schools in the area. Alief Independent School District was the only district awarded the honor this year, with its Early College High School, a Title I campus, receiving the accolades. This is Alief ISD's second time in three years to receive the award. Elsewhere in Houston, Christ the Redeemer Catholic school, Saint John Paul II Catholic School and St. Helen Catholic school, all part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which serves 1.7 million Catholics in 10 counties and is the fifth largest Roman Catholic Diocese in the U.S., made the list. These three schools are part of the 40 non-public schools in the U.S. to be awarded the designation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Blue Ribbon awards recognize schools that are among their states highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or national tests. They are also recognized for "exemplary achievement gap-closing," meaning they are closing gaps between certain at-risk student groups and all students. This year, the U.S. Department of Education nominated 356 campuses out of the 420 schools that can be nominated in any given year. Last year, three campuses in the Houston area received the award, Nitsch Elementary in Klein ISD, Houston Gateway Academy Elite College Prep, and St. Laurence Catholic School in Sugar Land. In 2022, three catholic schools were also nominated, Saint Cecilia Catholic School, Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic School and St Anne Catholic School, alongside Kerr High School in Alief ISD. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ALSO READ: New Catholic career and technical education high school in Third Ward is unlike any other Houston school Manba Finance IPO allotment status: The basis of allotment of Manba Finance IPO is likely to be finalised today. The public issue, which ended for subscription yesterday, received massive demand from investors, with bids for 1,97,18,34,875 shares against 87,99,000 offered, resulting in an oversubscription of 224.10 times by the final day of subscription, September 25, 2024. Manba Finance IPO received the highest demand from Non-institutional investors, who bid for a whopping 511.65 times, followed by Qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) who bid for 148.55 times, and Retail individual investors (RIIs) who bid for 144.03 times, as per the data available on the NSE. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Manba Finance IPO allotment status The shares of Manba Finance are scheduled to be allotted today. Once the allotment is finalized, investors can check the allotment status of the Manba Finance IPO by visiting the official websites of either BSE, NSE, or Link Intime, the registrar for the issue. Alternatively, investors can use the following links to check the allotment status of Manba Finance IPO directly: - Check Manba Finance IPO allotment status on BSE: https://www.bseindia.com/investors/appli_check.aspx - Check Manba Finance IPO allotment status on Link Intime: https://linkintime.co.in/initial_offer/public-issues.html - Check Manba Finance IPO allotment status on NSE: https://www.nseindia.com/products/dynaContent/equities/ipos/ipo_login.jsp Manba Finance IPO grey market premium (GMP) The unlisted shares of Manba Finance continue to command a strong premium in the grey markets on Thursday. Manba Finance shares are currently trading at a premium of Rs 58 or 48.33 per cent over the upper band of the IPO price of Rs 120, according to several sources tracking grey market activities. This indicates a strong listing for Manba Finance shares on the bourses. Manba Finance expected listing price Following the allotment, shares of Manba Finance are expected to make their debut on the bourses on Monday, September 30, 2024, by listing on BSE and NSE. Should the current grey market premium hold, shares of Manba Finance may list around Rs 178 (Upper end of IPO price + GMP), a premium of nearly 49 per cent from the upper band of the issue price. About Manba Finance Manba Finance is a non-banking finance company (NBFC-BL), which offers financial solutions for new two-wheelers (2Ws), three-wheelers (3Ws), electric two-wheelers (EV2Ws), electric three-wheelers (EV3Ws), used cars, small business loans, and personal loans. Manba Finance IPO comprised an entirely fresh issue of 12,570,000 shares. It was available at a price band of Rs 114-120, and a lot size of 125 shares. The subscription window remained open from Monday, September 23, 2024, till Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Markets regulator Sebi on Thursday issued operational guidelines for Foreign Venture Capital Investors (FVCIs) outlining procedures for registration, compliance, and investment activities Also, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has issued operational guidelines for Designated Depository Participants (DDPs). The guidelines are aimed at helping FVCIs and DDPs transition smoothly to the amended FVCI regime, which will come into effect on January 1, 2025. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Under the guidelines, Sebi has outlined procedures for FVCI registration, compliance, and investment activities and also specified the role of DDPs. The regulator has set a deadline of March 31, 2025, for all existing FVCIs to engage with a DDP. Failing to do so will restrain FVCIs from making any new investments. "Existing FVCIs shall engage a DDP, to avail its services for conducting due diligence with respect to continuance of registration as an FVCI, by March 31, 2025. "Any FVCI failing to engage a DDP by March 31, 2025, shall not be permitted to make any further investment and shall liquidate investments in listed securities, by March 31, 2026 and other investments, by March 31, 2027," Sebi said in its circular. Proceeds from these sales are required to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT) rules. The guidelines also mandate that DDPs conduct eligibility checks on FVCIs within six months of engagement. If an FVCI fails to meet the required eligibility criteria, it will be restricted from making new investments, although it can hold or sell existing ones. FVCIs with no holdings must surrender their registration within 30 days of the DDP's assessment. Additionally, if any FVCI or its major investors appear on the United Nations Security Council's sanctions list or are no longer considered "fit and proper," Sebi will halt all transactions involving that FVCI. DDPs are required to notify SEBI within seven days of such cases. To continue operating, FVCIs will be required to submit complete registration applications, including the required documents and fees, to their respective DDPs. Thus far in calendar year 2024, the stock price of Out of 186 trading days, the stock of the transformers manufacturer and distributor company has locked in upper circuit on 158 days, data from the exchanges showed. Shares of Marsons hit a new high of Rs 267.55, as they locked in 5 per cent upper circuit on the BSE on Thursdays intra-day trade.Thus far in calendar year 2024, the stock price of Marsons has skyrocketed 3,352 per cent, or nearly 35 times, from the level of Rs 7.75 it was on December 29, 2023.Out of 186 trading days, the stock of the transformers manufacturer and distributor company has locked in upper circuit on 158 days, data from the exchanges showed. Currently, Marsons is trading under the 'Z' group of stocks on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). This group includes companies that have failed to comply with the listing requirements laid out by the bourses, and/or have failed to resolve investor complaints. Stocks are also classified in the 'Z' category if they have not made the required arrangements with both the depositories, that is, Central Depository Services (CDSL) and National Securities Depository (NSDL) for the dematerialisation of their securities. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Marsons is engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of transformers in the capacity range of 10 KVA to 160 MVA 220 kV class. According to the management, the demand for the companys product in coming years will increase significantly. The expansion of the infrastructure industry and real estate business, extensive rural electrification programme of the Indian government, development of shopping malls, and complexes, among other infrastructure development activities, will create demand for various types of transformers, the company's management said in its FY24 annual report. They added that the company, working in this industry with flexibility, will survive and have a bright future due to the growing demand. The current scenario is very encouraging because the major thrust of the government is on the power and Infrastructure sector. However, the companys nature of business is capital intensive and hence any delay in the cycle causes huge interest loss and weighs on the bottom line of the company, the management added. Meanwhile, for the April to June quarter (Q1FY25), Marsons had reported a net profit of Rs 5.24 crore, compared to a net loss of Rs 0.43 crore in the year ago quarter. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 0.45 crore in Q4FY24. Net sales of the company rose to Rs 29.88 crore in Q1FY25, from Rs 0.23 crore in Q1FY24. Vedanta dividend announcement 2024: Shares of Anil Agarwal-led metals and mining major Vedanta were in the spotlight on Thursday as the scrip surged 3.30 per cent to day's high of Rs 495.45 apiece during Thursday's intra-day trading. The uptick was fueled by the company's announcement of a fourth interim dividend for FY25. Vedanta , in an exchange filing, has said that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the company is proposed to be scheduled on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, to consider and approve the fourth interim dividend on equity shares, if any, for the financial year 2024-25. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp As per the data available on the exchanges, Vedanta has already fixed Wednesday, October 16, 2024, as the 'Record Date' for the purpose of determining the entitlement of the equity shareholders for the said dividend. Vedanta boasts a rich history of paying dividends to its shareholders. The data available on the BSE reflects that the company has earlier this financial year paid interim dividends of Rs 11, Rs 4, and Rs 20 on three different occasions. At the current market price, Vedanta shares have a dividend yield of 7.23 per cent, as of September 26, 2024. Vedanta, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources, has operations as a global powerhouse of minerals, power, and energy companies, uniquely covering traditional and new-age businesses. Formerly a FTSE 100 company and headquartered in London, Vedanta Resources is the holding company for Vedanta and Konkola Copper Mines. Vedanta enjoys a market capitalisation of Rs 1,89,204.13 crore on the BSE, as of September 26, 2024. The company is a constituent of the BSE 100 index. In the first quarter of FY25, Vedantas profit after tax (PAT), attributable to the owners of the company, jumped to Rs 3,606 crore, from Rs 2,640 crore reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year. Historically, Vedanta shares have exhibited remarkable performance. Shares of mining major have advanced nearly 5 per cent in the last one month, and 80 per cent in the last six months. The companys shares have sprinted 89 per cent year-to-date. Vedanta shares have doubled investors money in the last one year with a rally of a whopping 116.02 per cent during the said period. Vedanta shares have a 52-week range of Rs 506.85 - 207.85 on the BSE. At around 11:08 AM, Vedanta shares were quoted trading at Rs 495.10, up 3.23 per cent from its previous close. At the same time, nearly 7.08 lakh equity shares of Vedanta worth around Rs 34.36 crore exchanged hands on the BSE. Three councillors from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) switched sides to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (September 25), reducing the ruling partys majority in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House, several media outlets reported. This shift came just a day before the election to fill the vacant seat on the influential Standing Committee. This marks the second time in a month that AAP councillors have defected. On August 25, five AAP members joined the BJP, though one later returned to AAP. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp With these latest defections, AAP's presence in the 250-member MCD House has dropped to 125, leaving it short of the majority at 126. Meanwhile, the BJP has 113 councillors, further narrowing the gap between the two parties. The councillors who crossed over to the BJP are Preeti from Dilshad Colony, Sarita Phogat from Green Park, and Praveen Kumar from Madanpur Khadar East. AAP has accused the BJP of engaging in dirty politics, claiming the opposition party continually obstructs the citys progress. In response, BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor argued that AAP no longer has the moral authority to govern in the MCD following the reduction in its numbers. Concerns about cross-voting The Hindu reported several former MCD officials as saying that as long as AAP holds the Mayors position, maintaining a majority in the House is less critical. A former MCD Commissioner noted that the anti-defection law does not apply in the MCD, making cross-voting a frequent occurrence. However, AAP may need the backing of Congresss nine members to secure a win in the upcoming Standing Committee election, where cross-voting could jeopardise the partys control over the important decision-making body, which handles projects exceeding Rs 5 crore in value. Various Congress insiders have indicated that the party might abstain from voting, the national-daily said. Currently, the 17-member Standing Committee consists of nine BJP members and eight from AAP. The upcoming election is necessary to fill the seat left vacant by BJP member Kamaljeet Sehrawat, who was elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. Allegations of coercion Meanwhile, AAPs Malviya Nagar MLA, Somnath Bharti, said Sarita Phogat was forced to leave the party. In a social media post, he expressed concern for Phogat, who he says has been consistently supportive of him and has shown no prior dissatisfaction. He also noted that she is suffering from a brain tumour, has been unwell throughout her tenure, and recently lost her husband. Bharti accused the BJP of pressuring her into switching parties, alleging that she had been abducted and calling on the Lieutenant-Governor and Delhi Police to locate her. MCD election on September 26 On Thursday, the MCD is undergoing a significant election to determine control of its Standing Committee, a pivotal body responsible for major decisions within the civic administration. The election is set to fill the single vacancy in the 18-member Committee, which was left by Kamaljeet Sehrawats resignation following her election to the Lok Sabha. What does the current MCD house look like? In the 250-member MCD House, AAP holds 125 seats, while the BJP has 115, Congress has nine, and there is one independent councillor. As for the Standing Committee, the BJP secured seven seats in recent ward committee elections, while AAP holds five, leaving the current composition at nine seats for the BJP and eight for AAP, a balance that includes results carried forward from last years Standing Committee election. Union minister Chirag Paswan has strongly batted for a nationwide caste-based census, saying data from the exercise will help in knowing the exact population of sections of society that require further upliftment. Speaking at the 'India Today Conclave' in Mumbai on Wednesday, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president also said there is no doubt the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will again form government in Bihar, where the assembly polls are due in late 2025. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The Bihar assembly polls will be contested under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Paswan maintained, referring to the JD(U) leader and his one-time political rival. The Dalit leader from Bihar also asserted his party is committed to a certain section of society it represents. "We (LJP-Ram Vilas) have our own priorities, our concerns for the section of the society which we represent. If the section is wronged, then it is the responsibility of our party to become the voice of that section," Paswan said when asked about his stand on caste-based census and lateral entry in government jobs. "Our stand is very clear -- there should be a caste-based census because many policies are made on the basis of caste to bring people of that community in mainstream. The government must at least have the (data of) population of that community so that funds could be allotted accordingly," Union Minister for Food Processing said. Paswan said he and his ally BJP are on the same page on the issue of caste-based reservations and pointed to the support of the NDA to the caste survey undertaken in his home state Bihar in 2023. The minister, whose party had "strong reservations" about lateral entry recruitments in bureaucracy, said he had strongly opposed the move. The LJP (Ram Vilas) president said he brought to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's notice that there was an unrest among Scheduled Castes/OBCs over the UPSC decision to fill up key government posts through lateral entry, and the move was subsequently rescinded. The first-time Union minister further said he intends to expand his largely Bihar-centric political party and indicated the outfit will contest the upcoming assembly polls in Jharkhand. Asked about keeping his flock together, Paswan asserted all his five Lok Sabha MPs will stay with him and said those predicting that his party will break are only daydreaming. On the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in defence forces, the minister said there was no reason to oppose the programme now. Paswan said he and a delegation from his party have held discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who explained to them in detail about the scheme, which has attracted criticism from the opposition. Community members and teachers stand in support of a speaker who is also a recently terminated teacher during Houston ISD's Board of Managers monthly board meeting on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Houston ISD's state-appointed board members plan to meet with various community organizations through December to share the board's progress on its goals and constraints. The meeting plan was developed under the board's ad hoc community engagement committee. "We're excited about the plan. It allows us to meet with community organizations through the month of December at a good pace," board member Rolando Martinez said at a September board meeting. He said that another round of meetings will occur in the spring. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The district did not provide the tentative outline of community organizations mentioned on Sept. 14 or the timeframe of the meetings and outreach, despite multiple requests from the Houston Chronicle. An HISD spokesperson commented Friday, "Individual board members will be reaching out to and meeting with a wide range of community organizations on an ongoing basis to learn from one another and to partner on the continuing work of transforming HISD." The plan to meet with community organizations follows a spring planning period, according to the committee's posted action plan approved by the board in May, and a May event where more than 70 high school students receiving School Board Awards for academic achievement, leadership, service and character, provided feedback on how HISD did or did not set them up for "a choice-filled life," according to the committee's report in the board's June 27 agenda. That report highlighted students' positive feedback, including school choice programs and teacher support. But some students also noted inequitable access to career pathways, a lack of college and career counselors, and a lack of diversity in extracurriculars. Feedback labeled "challenges" range and include ESL supports, a lack of financial literacy, mental and physical health, teacher stress, and "libraries (access)." Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It is the board's responsibility to act on behalf of the whole, not just those who take the time or have access to lobby them," the committee's plan reads. "The community's diversity must not only be respected but intentionally sought. Further, the board must adopt a protocol to ensure that community engagement is done with a shared voice so that no section of the community receives inconsistent information." Protocol calls for the engagement sessions to be 10-20 people by invitation at the district's central office administration building with a drafted script and presentation, according to the community engagement plan. Board members may also visit organization meeting places or meet at a school campus, Martinez said at a Saturday board meeting. Board members signed up for meetings in the third week of September. The board may opt to hold engagement sessions online as well, the plan shows. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chief of Strategic Initiatives Alexandra Elizondo said at the Sept. 14 board meeting that the district will "streamline, reduce, and improve" the district's "online infrastructure," as part of the public affairs and communications team update. The team also added a position in charge of what public dashboards will look like that will display the district's "organizational health metrics." "The main websites haven't been updated in a long time," Elizondo said. "They don't all have accurate information that's current for the school year. So something you and the community should expect is to see some of that content coming down that's no longer relevant, new content going up, and we have to do all the backend work to streamline and integrate our systems to make that be the case." The board's agenda for that meeting included team building as well as discussion and possible development of board constraints in open session, but the board did not do either in open session after hours of closed session. "The meeting was noticed and conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act," Elizondo wrote in an email statement. "Additionally, the Board President anticipates that Board constraints will be addressed in an open meeting in the future." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Alphabet's Google has restricted the creation of new accounts for Russian users, state news agencies cited Russia's digital ministry as saying on Thursday. Google has been under pressure in Russia for several years, particularly for not taking down content Moscow considers illegal and for blocking the YouTube channels of Russian media and public figures since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp "The ministry confirms that Google has restricted the creation of new accounts," Interfax quoted the digital ministry as saying. "Telecom operators have also recorded a significant reduction in the number of SMS messages sent by the company toRussian users." Google and the ministry did not immediately respond to comment requests. The ministry said there was no certainty that SMS confirmations for two-factor authentication would continue working, Interfax reported. "The ministry recommends that users of Google services create backup copies of their data and switch to using alternative methods of two-factor authentication or to domestic platforms," the ministry said. Google in August said it was deactivating AdSense accounts in Russia. The U.S. company stopped serving ads to users in Russia in March 2022 and paused monetisation of content that exploited, dismissed or condoned Russia's war in Ukraine. It has blocked more than 1,000 YouTube channels, including state-sponsored news, and over 5.5 million videos. Slower speeds have been recorded on Google's YouTube video hosting platform in Russia in recent months. Russian lawmakers blame the slowdown on Google's failure to upgrade equipment, something the company and technology experts dispute. In an incident of hate crime in the US, anti-Hindu graffiti defaced the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California on Wednesday (September 25), marking the second such occurrence in the US within 10 days. BAPS Public Affairs confirmed that their Sacramento temple was vandalised with the message, "Hindus go back". "We stand united against hate with prayers for peace," the organisation shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The police have launched an investigation into the "vandalism being classified as a hate crime" at the BAPS Hindu Temple in Mather. Authorities also reported that water lines on the property were cut during the incident. In response, members of the Hindu community gathered at the temple for a prayer ceremony aimed at promoting "harmony". "Community leaders gathered for a heartfelt prayer ceremony at the BAPS Mandir in Sacramento, CA, following the desecration of the mandir. Inspired by Mahant Swami Maharaj, we remain dedicated to promoting harmony and standing against intolerance. Together we will defeat hate," the organisation said, posting pictures on X. Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera condemned the incident, urging people to reject intolerance. "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected," the Sacramento County representative said on X. Similar vandalism on Hindu temples in US, Canada Earlier, on September 17, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was similarly vandalised with hate messages sprayed on the temple's driveway and entrance sign. According to Suffolk police, an individual spray-painted threatening and derogatory anti-Hindu remarks on the driveway and temple sign, resulting in damage. Detectives from Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit are investigating the incident as a hate crime. The Consulate General of India in New York also condemned the vandalism at the Melville temple, describing the act as "unacceptable" and noting that the issue had been raised with US authorities. In a post on X, the Consulate General wrote, "The vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, is unacceptable; The Consulate @IndiainNewYork is in touch with the community and has raised the matter with US law enforcement authorities for prompt action against the perpetrators of this heinous act." The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has called on the US Justice Department to investigate the attack, particularly as threats to Hindu institutions continue, coinciding with a major Indian community event scheduled for the upcoming weekend. Similar acts of vandalism were reported a few months ago in Edmonton, Canada. Indian-origin Pulitzer-winning writer Jhumpa Lahiri refused to receive an award from the Noguchi Museum in Queens as they fired three employees who wore kaffiyehs in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Who is Jhumpa Lahiri? Jhumpa Lahiri is a London-based Indian immigrant couple who won the 2000 Pulitzer for fiction for her debut book, 'Interpreter of Maladies'. She has published multiple books since then in both English and Italian. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp She also directs the creative writing programme at Barnard College in New York. Why did Jhumpa Lahiri refuse to receive Isamu Noguchi award? Along with thousands of scholars, Lahiri also signed a letter expressing her solidarity with the protest against the military campaign in Gaza and called it unspeakable destruction. Lahiri expressed her solidarity with Israelis or Palestinians who have divided cultural institutions as Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. The attack has killed over 1,200 people and around 250 people are hostages. The invasion by Israel has killed over 41,000 people as per local authorities. What did the Museum say about Jhumpa Lahiris reaction? The New York-based museum was founded by a Japanese American designer and sculptor, Noguchi, around 40 years ago. It has issued a statement on Wednesday that reads, "Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy. We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyone's views." The museum further stated that our core mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of Isamu Noguchi's art and legacy while upholding the inclusiveness and openness of Isamu Noguchi's art. What was the new policy of the Noguchi Museum? The museum issued a statement last month stating that the employees could not wear clothes or accessories expressing 'political messages, slogans or symbols'. The policy does not apply to visitors and it was implemented as several staff members had worn kaffiyehs associated with Palestinians. Subsequently, the museum fired the employees citing 'cultural reasons'. The museum defended the prohibition earlier this month and said, "such expressions can unintentionally alienate segments of our diverse visitorship". Many staffers signed a petition opposing the recent rule. The US, France and other allies have jointly called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire. Photo: pexels France said on Wednesday that efforts would continue in coming hours to clinch a deal on a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in the Lebanon conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. "We have made important progress in the last few hours and we will continue our efforts in the coming hours," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters outside a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Barrot, who was due to travel to Lebanon later this week, earlier told the 15-member council: "We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay, in order to protect civilian populations and allow for diplomatic negotiations to begin." U.S. President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron said it was time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensured safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. "The statement we have negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar," they said in a joint statement. "We call for broad endorsement and for the immediate support of the governments of Israel and Lebanon." Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and at least 72 people were killed, according to a Reuters compilation of Lebanese health ministry statements. The ministry earlier said at least 223 were wounded. Israel's military chief said a ground assault was possible, raising fears the conflict could spark a wider Middle East war. Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters before the meeting that Israel would welcome a ceasefire and preferred a diplomatic solution. He then told the Security Council that Iran was the nexus of violence in the region and peace required dismantling the threat. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters before the council meeting that his country supported Hezbollah and would not remain indifferent if the conflict in Lebanon spiraled. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the Security Council to put pressure on Israel for "an immediate ceasefire on all fronts." Asked if a ceasefire can be reached soon, he told Reuters: "Hopefully, yes." World leaders voiced concern the conflict - running in parallel to Israel's war in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas militants also backed by Iran - was escalating rapidly as the death toll rose in Lebanon and thousands fled their homes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to arrive in New York on Thursday and address the U.N. General Assembly on Friday. LEBANON CONFLICT PUTS PRESSURE ON BIDEN, HARRIS The U.S. administration has for nearly a year sought unsuccessfully to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. The conflict has been costly politically for Biden and by extension Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign with the violence in Lebanon increasing pressure on his administration to find a diplomatic solution. Earlier on Wednesday Israel shot down a missile that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement said it had aimed at the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency near Israel's biggest city, Tel Aviv. Israeli officials said a heavy missile had headed towards civilian areas in Tel Aviv, not the Mossad HQ, before being shot down. "You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day," General Herzi Halevi told Israeli troops on the border with Lebanon, according to a military statement. "This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah." A Pentagon spokesperson said an Israeli ground incursion did not appear imminent. As many as half a million people may have been displaced in Lebanon, its foreign minister said. In Beirut, thousands of people displaced from southern Lebanon were sheltering in schools and other buildings. ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES TARGET HEZBOLLAH LEADERS Israeli airstrikes this week have targeted Hezbollah leaders and hit hundreds of sites deep inside Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands have fled the border region, while the group has fired barrages of rockets into Israel. Mourners thronged a funeral on Wednesday in Beirut's suburbs for two senior Hezbollah commanders killed in Israeli strikes the day before. Fighters in fatigues carried the flag-covered coffins as a band played. The crowd chanted Hezbollah slogans and some wept. Israel said its warplanes were hitting south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, a Hezbollah stronghold further north, and that it was calling up two more reserve brigades for operations on Israel's northern border. In a video message that made no comment on diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, Netanyahu said Hezbollah was being hit harder than it could ever have imagined. Israel has made a priority of securing its northern border and allowing the return there of some 70,000 residents displaced by near-daily exchanges of fire since war broke out in October between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on Israel's southern border. Lebanese hospitals have filled with the wounded since Monday, when Israeli bombing killed more than 550 people in Lebanon's deadliest day since its civil war ended in 1990. From vegan balms to gourmet meals, the pet-care industry is booming like never before. Dog by Dr Lisa, an Australian pet-care brand, offers sensitive skin cleansers, soothing balms, and even colognes all free from genetically modified ingredients and entirely vegan. Though dogs arent naturally inclined to be plant-based, those with a refined palate need not worry. Butternut Box, a fresh pet food company, offers low-fat chicken dishes paired with peas, lentils, and a touch of sage its most popular meal, taste-tested by humans themselves, The Economist reported. Record spending on pets surpasses childcare The lengths to which pet owners go for their furry companions are remarkable. Last year, Americans spent a staggering $186 billion on their pets, surpassing even childcare expenditures, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. From premium food to vet visits, toys, and grooming, catering to pets has evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Mars, the chocolate giant, earned two-thirds of its revenue from pet-care in FY23, with holdings in Royal Canin and a vast network of vet clinics. Nestle and Colgate are also riding the wave, with nearly a fifth of their revenues coming from their pet-care divisions. The pet-spending surge took off during the pandemic when isolation led many to adopt pets and pamper them. Between 2019 and 2023, pet spending increased at an annual compound rate of 11 per cent, outpacing overall consumer spending, which grew at 6 per cent. This trend shows no signs of slowing. Pet care outpaces consumer trends Unlike fads such as virtual yoga or meal-kit subscriptions, pets became permanent fixtures in households, even as lockdowns eased. Amid rising prices and a cooling job market, pet owners continue to indulge their companions. US brokerage Morgan Stanley estimates pet spending in the US will grow by 2.5 per cent this year, outpacing other categories like clothing. Notably, the pet-care industry proved just as resilient during the global financial crisis of 2007-09. And it is only set to accelerate. Morgan Stanley projects that pet spending will hit $260 billion by 2030, maintaining its pre-pandemic growth trajectory. This surge is driven by a shift in how people view their pets not as mere animals, but as family members. Pets have gone from the backyard to the living room to the bedroom, Loic Moutault, head of the pet division at Mars, was quoted as saying by The Economist. Millennials and Gen Z fuel the fur baby trend This shift is evident among Millennials and Generation Z, who are delaying having children but embracing fur babies in larger numbers than any other generation. Kristin Peck, chief executive of Zoetis, a leading animal pharmaceutical company says, Millennials and Gen Z see their pets differently they are family. For pets lucky enough to be part of these modern families, the perks are plentiful. Younger owners may take their pets to the vet more often, but they also shower them with gifts. A 2022 survey by the American Pet Products Association found that 95 per cent of Gen Z dog owners bought their pet a gift at least once a year, with an average spend of $44, compared to $17 among baby boomers. Premium food is also on the rise. Freshpet, a natural pet food company, has seen sales more than double in the past three years. William Cyr, Freshpets CEO, attributes this to the humanisation of pets. Canned dog food was invented in 1922. And it smells like it, he said. Investment in pet care grows This booming market is attracting fresh players. Private equity firms have invested heavily in veterinary clinic chains, drawing the attention of antitrust regulators in the United States and Britain. Even Givaudan, a Swiss company that leads the world in flavours and fragrances, is eyeing the pet-food market. As its CEO Gilles Andrier put it, People spend more on pets than on kids these days. It seems everyone wants a dog in this fight. Eugenio Velasco checks on an order inside the Don Pollo Burger food truck near World Theater on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Katy. The established Venezuelan community in Katy has changed in recent years as more Venezuelans immigrate to the Houston area. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A Venezuelan flag hangs on the covered eating area for the Orale Pana food truck on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Katy. The established Venezuelan community in Katy has changed in recent years as more Venezuelans immigrate to the Houston area. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Plantains are fried inside Don Pollo Burger food tuck on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in Katy. The established Venezuelan coming in Katy has changed in recent years with the increased of immigrants from the country. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Eugenio Velazco shows off a traditional chicken sandwiche he made inside Don Pollo Burgers food truck near World Theater on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in Katy. The established Venezuelan coming in Katy has changed in recent years with the increased of immigrants from the country. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Jorge de Valley prepares the screens on Don Pollo Burgers food truck near World Theater on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in Katy. The established Venezuelan coming in Katy has changed in recent years with the increased of immigrants from the country. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Katy has long been the cultural center of the Venezuelan diaspora in Greater Houston, earning it the nickname "Katyzuela." But the community has been revitalized in recent years as a new generation of Venezuelans arrives in the region amid an influx of immigration from the once-oil-rich country. The Houston Chronicle visited Katyzuela and spoke to residents about how the skyrocketing Venezuelan population has changed the community, from its businesses to its collective cultural identity. Heres what you need to know: Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rapid population growth The Venezuelan community in Greater Houston, particularly in the Katy area, has grown dramatically in the past decade. It tripled from 2012 to 2022, according to Census data, with more than 50,000 Venezuelans now calling the area home. That makes Venezuelans one of the largest groups among the regions already massive Latino population. Much of this growth is attributed to the economic collapse and political crisis in Venezuela and the search for better opportunities. Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have left the country in the past decade, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dubraska Gamarra chats with her husband, Victor Libernal, after eating at the Orale Pana food truck on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Katy. The established Venezuelan community in Katy has changed in recent years as more Venezuelans immigrate to the Houston area. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Cultural resilience Despite the still-growing diaspora, Venezuelans in Houston have found ways to stay connected to their culture and community in various ways. Community events like musical performances and the rise in popularity of Venezuelan food trucks have offered a taste of home for Venezuelans in the Houston area and has transformed Katy into the cultural center of the community. Several times, tears came to my eyes, Nelly Bravo said in Spanish, emotional after attending a packed show in Katy highlighting the history of Venezuelan music. In a country thats totally foreign to us, with a different language, being able to feel for two hours what our country is like again was revitalizing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Entrepreneurial spirit Recently arrived Venezuelan immigrants have revitalized Katyzuela with new businesses and a growing customer base, which some residents attribute to shared resourcefulness and ambition. Venezuelans are very enterprising and hardworking, and normally when they leave their country they are used to not working for anyone, but rather to undertake and work for themselves, said Dubraska Gamarra, who immigrated to Houston from Venezuela in early 2023. And that also helps the country where they arrive because they produce, which is what is important. Along a stretch of South Mason Road in Katy, businesses like bakeries and restaurants have cropped up by the dozens. In some food truck parks, several Venezuelan businesses can attract hundreds of customers on the weekends. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Challenges for newcomers Not all recent Venezuelan arrivals have been fortunate enough to open their own businesses. Although the Biden administration granted temporary legal status and work permits to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S. last year, some have still struggled to adjust to life here. The administration gave status to those who arrived before July 31 of last year, leaving Venezuelans who arrived afterward without protections or a legal path to work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Organizations like Accion Social Venezuela, founded by Houstonian Diana Mendt in 2007, have supported recent arrivals with essential resources. Every Saturday, she opens a storage unit on Westheimer Road to give away clothes, food, furniture and more to Venezuelan newcomers. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the report, while expressing concern about China's increased military activity in the region Photo: Reuters Japan's Self Defense Force patrolled the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday for the first time in an attempt to send a message to China, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, citing multiple government sources. SDF destroyer Sazanami entered the waters from the East China Sea on Wednesday morning, spending more than 10 hours sailing southward to complete the passage, the Japanese newspaper reported on Thursday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The passage was conducted in concert with naval ships from Australia and New Zealand, the paper said, adding the three nations' navies were scheduled to hold joint exercises in the South China Sea starting on Thursday. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the report, while expressing concern about China's increased military activity in the region. "We have a strong sense of crisis that airspace violations have occurred one after another over a short period of time," he told a regular press conference. "We will continue to monitor the situation with strong interest." Japan has responded to stepped-up Chinese military activity with a defence buildup it says aims to deter Beijing from using military force to push its territorial claims in the region. The Yomiuri said Japan's SDF had hitherto avoided sailing through the Taiwan Strait so as not to upset Beijing, which says it alone exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over the strait. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own. The U.S. navy and others periodically pass through the Taiwan Strait to claim "freedom of navigation". The German navy also made the transit this month for the first time in two decades, demonstrating Berlin's resolve to stand with Western allies. The Taiwan Strait is a major trade route through which about half of global container ships pass. China on Wednesday said it had successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, while leaders of the 'Quad' grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States last week expanded joint security steps in Asia's waters due to shared concerns about China. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States and other Western countries have imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, which the United States has said have amounted to genocide The Republican chair of the House of Representatives' select committee on China said on Wednesday that the panel's top priority is legislation restricting US investment in China to stop investors from "funding our own demise." "We have to have an outbound investment regime that basically says 'No investment in these businesses that are on some kind of a list,' that says 'We shouldn't be helping the Chinese military, we shouldn't be supporting genocide,'" Representative John Moolenaar said, speaking on a panel at the American Enterprise Institute. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp "That's probably our number one priority right now," he added. "We are actually funding our demise." A committee spokesperson confirmed that "genocide" referred to China's alleged treatment of its Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. The Chinese Embassy in Washington said Beijing firmly opposes "the US overstretching the concept of national security and abusing state power to go after Chinese products and companies." It added that China would "continue to firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies." Moolenaar's remarks signal Congress could revive long-sought restrictions on US investment in China, which have faced a rocky path in Washington. A measure restricting outbound investment was stripped out of the Chips Act before it was signed into law in 2022. In August 2023, Democratic President Joe Biden issued an executive order giving the Treasury Department the authority to bar or restrict US investments in Chinese entities in three sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies and certain artificial intelligence systems. But rules implementing that order, proposed in July, have yet to be finalized. The Treasury did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the proposed rules. Moolenaar said House Speaker Mike Johnson "would like to have something before the end of the year." Johnson's office did not respond to a request for comment. The United States and other Western countries have imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, which the United States has said have amounted to genocide. China rejects allegations of abuses, including use of forced labor in Xinjiang, and describes the camps it has set up there as vocational training centers for Uyghur Muslims that help combat religious extremism. Moolenaar also flagged specific Chinese companies that he said pose national security threats including Chinese crane maker Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co (ZPMC), which was featured in a recent committee report. US-bound cranes made by ZPMC, which accounts for 80 percent of ship-to-shore cranes in operation at US ports, contain unauthorized cellular modems, creating a "significant backdoor security vulnerability," he said. "ZPMC could disrupt US maritime equipment and technology at the request of the Chinese government, including during a conflict over Taiwan," he said, referring to the democratically governed island that China claims. The company, he said, is a "loaded gun". Neither ZPMC nor the Chinese embassy in Washington immediately responded to requests for comment on that issue, but ZPMC has in the past said it does not pose a cyber security threat. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donald Trump has described Ukraine in bleak and mournful terms, referring to its people as dead. (Photo: PTI) Former President Donald Trump has described Ukraine in bleak and mournful terms, referring to its people as dead and the country itself as demolished," and further raising questions about how much the former president would be willing if elected again to concede in a negotiation over the country's future. Trump argued on Wednesday that Ukraine should have made concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the months before Russia's February 2022 attack, declaring that even the worst deal would've been better than what we have now." Trump, who has long been critical of US aid to Ukraine, frequently claims that Russia never would have invaded if he was president and that he would put an end to the war if he returned to the White House. But rarely has he discussed the conflict in such detail. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp His remarks, at a North Carolina event billed as an economic speech, come on the heels of a debate this month in which he pointedly refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. On Tuesday, Trump touted the prowess of Russia and its predecessor Soviet Union, saying that wars are what they do. The Republican former president, notoriously attuned to slights, began his denunciation of Ukraine by alluding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent criticism of Trump and running mate JD Vance. Zelenskyy, who is visiting the US this week to attend the UN General Assembly, told The New Yorker that Vance was too radical for proposing that Ukraine surrender territories under Russian control and that Trump doesn't really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how. Said Trump, It's something we have to have a quick discussion about because the president of Ukraine is in our country and he's making little nasty aspersions toward your favourite president, me." Trump painted Ukraine as a country in ruins outside its capital, Kyiv, short on soldiers and losing population to war deaths and neighbouring countries. He questioned whether the country has any bargaining chips left to negotiate an end to the war. "Any deal the worst deal would've been better than what we have now," Trump said. "If they made a bad deal it would've been much better. They would've given up a little bit and everybody would be living and every building would be built and every tower would be aging for another 2,000 years. What deal can we make? It's demolished, he added. The people are dead. The country is in rubble. Zelenskyy is pitching the White House on what he calls a victory plan for the war, expected to include an ask to use long-range Western weapons to strike Russian targets. While Ukraine outperformed many expectations that it would fall quickly to Russia, outnumbered Ukrainian forces face grinding battles against one of the world's most powerful armies in the country's east. A deal with Russia would almost certainly be unfavourable for Ukraine, which has lost a fifth of its territory and tens of thousands of lives in the conflict. Trump laid blame for the conflict on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic rival in November. He said Biden egged it all on" by pledging to help Ukraine defend itself rather than pushing it to cede territory to Russia. Biden and Kamala allowed this to happen by feeding Zelenskyy money and munitions like no country has ever seen before, Trump said. Notably, Trump did not attack Putin's reasoning for launching the invasion, only suggesting Putin would not have started the war had Trump been in office. He did say of Putin, He's no angel. FILE - Sean "Diddy" Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of "The Four: Battle For Stardom" at the CBS Radford Studio Center on May 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File) Willy Sanjuan/Associated Press A Harris County woman filed a lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs alleging the rapper who recently became the target of a federal indictment for sex trafficking and racketeering, drugged and violently raped her in the summer of 2001. Thalia Graves accused Combs and his bodyguard of drugging and restraining the then-25-year-old before sexually assaulting her, an act which the pair allegedly recorded. Graves claimed she was dating an employee of Comb's at the time, and that he leveraged that relationship to isolate her. In 2023, she learned that Combs had recorded the crime and had shared it in order to "degrade and humiliate" Graves and her boyfriend, according to the complaint. "The violation I experienced during the assault has had lasting effects on my body, causing ongoing health problems and complications," Graves said during a Tuesday news conference. "The combination of physical and emotional pain has created a cycle of suffering from which it is so hard to break free." Advertisement Article continues below this ad When Graves told her then-boyfriend about the incident, he told her not to report it because it could have a negative impact on his career, according to the lawsuit. Combs and his bodyguard, who was identified in the lawsuit as Joseph Sherman, proceeded to repeatedly threaten Graves in the years following the alleged assault, which further encouraged Graves to remain silent, she said. Graves said she has since been haunted by suicidal thoughts and other mental health issues. Immediately following the attack, she relocated to Pennsylvania and has moved several times since to escape Combs, she claimed. "Being blamed, questioned and threatened has often made me feel worthless, isolated and sometimes responsible for what happened to me," Graves said. "The trauma of the assault has taken a toll on my mental health. I have had PTSD, depression and anxiety. I am emotionally scarred. It has been hard for me to trust others, to form healthy relationships or even feel safe in my own skin." Graves filed the suit under the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, and is seeking an unspecified amount in damages and a court order requiring all copies of the recording be destroyed. She lives in Harris County now, according to court records. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Combs is currently in jail awaiting a federal trial. Prosecutors have accused the media mogul of acting as the head of a criminal enterprise that sought to extort, coerce and sexually abuse women from as far back as 2008. Combs allegedly used his business empire to facilitate and conceal a more than decades-long pattern of abuse toward women. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and has continued to publicly insist on his innocence. Wednesday, his lawyers issued a statement labelling a recent memoir allegedly written by Kim Porter, Combs' ex-wife, as a "shameless attempt to profit from tragedy." Combs has been denied bail twice and is expected to remain in custody. Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, issued a statement the day of Combs arrest calling on other victims to come forward. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the UN headquarters on Wednesday, to discuss bilateral issues, with a focus on strengthening relations, solar panel investments, and expanding business cooperation. "Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the UN headquarters on Wednesday, to discuss bilateral issues, with a focus on strengthening relations, solar panel investments, and expanding business cooperation," the Chief Advisor said in a post in X. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Yunus also met with World Bank President Ajay Banga on Wednesday on the sidelines of UNGA. The World Bank will provide USD 3.5 billion to Bangladesh this fiscal year to support reforms in the financial sector. "World Bank President Ajay Banga met with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a UN sideline meeting in New York on Wednesday. The World Bank will provide USD 3.5 billion to Bangladesh this fiscal year to support reforms in the financial sector," Yunus said in a post in X. Earlier on Tuesday, Yunus called for repatriation of Rohingyas amid the "deteriorating" security situation in Bangladesh during a high-level meeting. During the high-level UN event in New York on the Rohingya crisis, Yunus highlighted the significant challenges that Bangladesh has been facing due to the presence of over 1.2 million displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar and pointed out that while Bangladesh has shown empathy in hosting the Rohingyas, the costs associated with this situation--social, economic, and environmental--are considerable. He emphasised that Bangladesh has reached its limits, adding that repatriation remains the only sustainable solution to the ongoing crisis. Following Bangladesh's fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government in the state. The protests were primarily led by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs. A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh PM and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration. Yunus was sworn in on August 8 as the head of an interim government after Sheikh Hasina fled the country and the parliament was dissolved. This is Muhammad Yunus's first visit to the United States as the head of the interim government. As per the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yunus has a series of high-profile meetings lined up on the sidelines of the UNGA. The Bangaldesh chief advisor is set to address the general debate of the UNGA on September 27. The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), a global multilateral organization committed to enabling digital prosperity for all by accelerating the inclusive growth of the digital economy, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the League of Arab States (LAS) to cooperate in developing an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925972634/en/ The Digital Cooperation Organization and the League of Arab States sign an MoU to accelerate digital transformation and economic development (Photo: AETOSWire) The MoU signing was signed by H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, and H.E. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization in New York on 23 September, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly. Through the MoU, the DCO and LAS will cooperate in accelerating the inclusive and sustainable digital economy, work together to enhance relations, exchange experiences and information, and accelerate the growth of digital transformation and economic development. Specific areas of cooperation include digital market development; alignment in policies and legislation in the areas of the digital economy; and innovation, research, and development. The DCO and LAS will also cooperate in policies related to the digital economy, support innovation and promote ethical AI. In innovation, research, and development, the two entities will collaborate on joint research and studies aimed at fostering digital economy growth. They will also exchange knowledge to bridge the digital divide by enhancing digital infrastructure, digital governance, digital skills, and digital awareness. H.E. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO, said: Our mission is to elevate cooperation, mutual understanding, and coordination among our Member States while fostering collaboration with non-member countries and entities. We aim to ensure that every nation, business, and individual has a fair opportunity to prosper in an inclusive, cross-border, and sustainable digital economy. As the oldest regional intergovernmental organization, the League of Arab States plays a pivotal role in unifying the regions vision for the digital future. This MoU marks a significant step in advancing sustainable social and economic development across DCO Member States. We look forward to working closely together to empower entrepreneurs as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, helping them to grow and thrive." H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the LAS,said: It is fundamental that the Arab region keeps pace with the rapid technological changes that are shaping the future of the global economy. This includes investing in digital infrastructure, enhancing technology education and innovation, and ensuring widespread access to digital tools and services. With the DCO, we will develop digital policies in the digital economy and support innovation and the responsible use of AI. Signing the MoU underscores our shared commitment to leveraging technology as a crucial tool in combating poverty, enhancing security, and fostering sustainable development across LAS Member States. The MoU follows a Cairo meeting between the DCO and LAS in May 2024, where both entities committed to enhancing their cooperation. For more information about DCO: *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925972634/en/ Peter Warren is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at peter.warren@houstonchronicle.com. Peter previously lived in Dallas, where he covered the sports as a freelancer for the Dallas Morning News and other outlets. He has been published in Texas Highways Magazine, DMagazine.com, the Star Tribune and Bowlers Journal International. Peter graduated from Northwestern University in 2021. Hurricane Helene, seen in this weather satellite photo taken Thursday at noon, was barreling toward the Florida Gulf Coast. NOAA/National Weather Service Friday update: The rotating center of Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph near Perry, Fla., around 11:10 p.m. Eastern time, the National Hurricane Center said. Helene has since pressed inland from the Florida Big Bend region and into east-central Georgia. As of 7 a.m. Friday, Helene was a tropical storm with sustained winds of 60 mph. Original story: Helene strengthened Thursday into a major hurricane, packing sustained winds of 125 mph, as the high-end Category 3 storm barreled toward the Florida Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center warned that Helene could grow even stronger, possibly into a Category 4 hurricane with winds exceeding 130 mph, before making landfall in the Florida Panhandle late Thursday night. However, what may be just as important as Helenes intensity is the storms massive size. Helene is larger than the vast majority of hurricanes, and large hurricanes can have more far-reaching effects than smaller, more compact storms. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the rotating center of Helene was pressing deeper into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, about 130 miles southwest of Tampa, Fla., and about 175 miles south of Tallahassee, Floridas capital in the state's northern Panhandle. Helene was spinning with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. It was moving north-northeast at 23 mph, the hurricane center said. "Helene has rapidly intensified today while nearing landfall in the Florida Big Bend," the National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon. "Doppler radar and aircraft data indicate that the eye wall is now completely closed and the eye has become more circular and is clearing out." Earlier in the day, Helenes cloud shield stretched from just north of Cancun, Mexico, to parts of southern Georgia. Clouds did extend even farther north, but that was more likely because of a separate system of low atmospheric pressure digging into the southeastern United States. At that time, Helene was about 775 miles wide from its most northern point to its most southern point. Thats almost the same distance as the entire state of Texas, from the northwestern Panhandle to where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Long story short: Helene is massive. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The National Hurricane Centers projected path for Hurricane Helene on Thursday shows the storm likely making landfall as a major hurricane in the Florida Panhandle. National Hurricane Center Why does it matter? Storm surge: Likely the most important result of Helens large stature is the extreme storm surge the storm is expected to produce. What exactly is storm surge, though? It is the rise in sea level caused by the winds from a tropical storm or hurricane pushing water toward the shore. Storm surge causes extreme flooding along the coast and it is the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Large storms like Helene cause a higher storm surge than smaller tropical cyclones. This is because Helenes wind speeds will push more water onto the shore for a longer period. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This map shows coastlines under storm surge warnings and watches as Hurricane Helene nears Florida. National Hurricane Center Helene is expected to bring a storm surge of 15 to 20 feet along parts of the Big Bend region of Florida, which the National Weather Service says could be catastrophic and potentially unsurvivable for Apalachee Bay. Large wind field: Because of Helenes large size, the hurricane will be felt by many Florida and Georgia residents, far away from where the storm actually makes landfall. Hurricane force winds of at least 74 mph extend outward up to 60 miles away from the center of the storm. In addition, tropical-storm force winds extend up to 310 miles away from the storms center. While the worst wind-driven damage will be within the eye wall of the storm, minor wind damage is possible over an area that includes Panama City and Fort Myers in Florida, and even Atlanta in northern Georgia. This map shows the probability of being affected by tropical storm force winds, which can be as strong as 40 mph to 70 mph, as Hurricane Helene nears Florida. National Hurricane Center Helene moving fast Not only is Helene a large storm, its also a fast-moving storm. The hurricane is moving north-northeast at 23 mph, and thats expected to continue rising before making landfall Thursday night. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, has announced her departure from the company. She has been credited for being instrumental in the development of both ChatGPT and Dall-E. At one point in her OpenAI career, she was even named interim CEO of the company. Aside from Murati, OpenAI's Vice President for Research Barret Zeph and research chief Bob McGrew are also leaving the company, according to CEO Sam Altman. Who is Mira Murati? According to a report, Murati joined OpenAI's leadership team in 2018. She previously worked for Tesla and Ultraleap, which was then known as Leap Motion. When Sam Altman was briefly ousted last year, Murati was named interim CEO. She was one of the employees who threatened to resign if Altman was not reinstated in his position. Nearly a year since, Murati has announced her departure from the company. In a post on her personal X account, she said that "There's never an ideal time to step away from a place one cherishes, yet this moment feels right." Her entire post can be read below. I shared the following note with the OpenAI team today. pic.twitter.com/nsZ4khI06P Mira Murati (@miramurati) September 25, 2024 Read Also : OpenAI Executive Ilya Sutskever is Leaving the Company Executives Have Been Leaving OpenAI Murati is the latest addition to the list of OpenAI executives who have announced their departure this year. Back in May, OpenAI's co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever departed from the company. Three months later, another co-founder, John Schulman, announced that he was leaving. He eventually moved to Anthropic, an OpenAI rival. FEILE an Fhomhair 2024, Carlows popular autumn bilingual festival, has an amazing programme of events lined up. Organised by Glor Cheatharlach and running from 27 September to 6 October, the festival celebrates all things environmental and autumnal as Gaeilge agus as Bearla. Theres music and song, sean-nos dance classes and workshops, bilingual table quizzes galore, an Irish language film, the schools art competition as well as set dancing and autumn walking weekends. There are walks and talks and lots of opportunities to speak Irish, including Comhra @ Lamberts on Wednesdays and other everyday settings. Feile an Fhomhair will kick off at 10am on Friday morning, 27 September, in the Eire Og clubhouse with Trath na gCeist/Table Quiz for post-primary schools. Later that evening, Setanta Ceatharlach, Club Iomanaiochta agus Camogaiochta will host a table quiz as Gaeilge in Presentation College for the clubs under-12, U14 and U16 members. The Seven Oaks Hotel is the place to be on the opening weekend of Feile an Fhomhair, when dancing enthusiasts from Donegal to Tipperary and Galway to Wexford will travel for the Carlow Set Dancing Weekend. This event runs from Friday to Sunday 27-29 September with workshops each day and a ceili mor each night. Set dancing classes with Syl & Liz will take place on Saturday and Sunday mornings, while a free sean-nos workshop will be given by champion dancer Irene Cunningham on the Saturday at 12.30pm. Young people are invited to take part in the many events being planned for them during the festival. As well as three table quizzes there will be a trip to the cinema with Glor Cheatharlach in association with IMC Cinema @ Fairgreen securing exclusive screenings of the award-winning Irish language film Roise agus Frank. Suitable for primary school pupils in fifth and sixth classes, the film with subtitles will be screened at IMC Cinema at 11am on Wednesday and Thursday mornings 2-3 October. School bookings must be secured in advance with Glor Cheatharlach. Meanwhile, pupils in third and fouth classes will get the opportunity to learn some basic sean-nos steps when champion dancer Irene Cunningham, sponsored by Conradh na Gaeilge, will visit six primary schools as part of this years Feile an Fhomhair offering. The ever-popular autumn art competition for primary schools will run throughout the festival, when pupils in first to sixth classes are invited to create a painting or artwork on the theme of An Fomhar and prizes will be awarded to the best efforts in each class category. An autumn concert in the GB Shaw Theatre at Visual on Saturday 5 October will feature a variety of local talent, including Mary Darcy, Nicky Kealy, Carlow Community Choir, Carlow Ukulele Players, John Candy, The Duettes and Holly Harmon as well as baritone Maksym Lozovyi from Ukraine. The second weekend of Feile an Fhomhair will focus on the great outdoors, with 16 walks organised by Carlow Tourism. Walkers, both seasoned and those not so experienced, will enjoy the popular Autumn Walking Weekend, which will feature a whole raft of talks, walks and hikes over the three days. There are events to suit varying levels of ability, but the leisurely bilingual Sunday afternoon walk along the Barrow Track from Milford to Carlow on Sunday 6 October at 2pm is particularly suitable for those new to the walking scene. A courtesy bus will depart from the Liberty Tree at 1.30pm to the start point. Theres no charge, but advance booking to 059 9130411, 087 2857048 or info@carlowtourism.com is essential. The festival programme is available from Glor Cheatharlach and on facebook.com/glor.cheatharlach, while printed copies of the brochure can be picked up at Carlow Library, Carlow Tourism, Lamberts Coffee House and Visual. Bi pairteach agus bain taitneamh as Feile an Fhomhair 24. Enquiries to 087 2857048, 085 1340047 or email emma@glorcheatharlach.ie. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Irish libraries saw a 20 per cent jump in the lending of e-books and e-audio books last year, new figures show. A total of 931,291 e-books and 1,674,191 e-audiobooks were loaned through branches in 2023, up one fifth on 2022. However, the substantial increase has not dented the lending of traditional print books combined with audiovisual material such as CDs and DVDs, they increased to 14.5 million, a rise of 18 per cent. The data was released ahead of National Public Libraries Open Day on Saturday, when people are encouraged to visit their local library to explore the range of free services, regardless of whether they are a member. We have seen public library users become more familiar with digital resources, said Dr Stuart Hamilton, head of libraries development at the Local Government Management Agency. And the popularity of e-book and e-audio books highlights how Irelands 330 public libraries continue to adapt. Overall, the popularity of Irish public libraries is increasing, with a 2.6 per cent spike in membership in 2022-23 to 784,618. Almost half of these members are also members of the BorrowBox service, which provides access to e-books and e-audio books. Dr Hamilton said the popularity of e-resources demonstrates a growing outreach to those who would not ordinarily consider using a library, including people with intellectual disabilities, literacy issues, job seekers and new arrivals to Ireland. Dr Stuart Hamilton, head of libraries development at the Local Government Management Agency (Conor McCabe/Mediaconsult/PA) E-books, for example, can be suitable for readers with a range of disabilities, he said. Libraries are community settings offering a broad range of free services which allow people connect, access information, receive support and browse and escape. National Public Libraries Open Day allows anyone to acquaint themselves with what our libraries offer through free membership. Meanwhile, Dublin libraries are reaching out to pre-school children living in homeless accommodation in the city centre. The move is part of a campaign by Dublin City Councils Library in the Community programme to assist marginalised and isolated groups. Ahead of Saturdays open day, a story time session for pre-schoolers was held at homeless accommodation at Gardiner Street. It is one of more than 300 events held by the Library in the Community team since last year and which have engaged more than 30,000 people since. Anna Marie Delaney, chairwoman of the National Libraries Development Committee, said National Public Libraries Open Day will highlight the crucial role of libraries in communities. Public libraries are vibrant, inclusive community hubs providing all sorts of events and activities within our villages, towns and cities. Diversity of resources and services includes encouraging reading at all levels, improving digital skills and literacy, enabling formal and informal learning and supporting the provision of information and guidance on every topic. SRSMES to upgrade Dalmia Bharat classifier Peter Bell By 26 September 2024 SRSMES Pvt Ltd has been awarded the contract to upgrade the existing classifier at Dalmia Bharat Ltds Bengal Cement Works in Midnapore, Line 2 (OK mill 66.6), India. This upgrade will optimise the grinding system's efficiency by reducing its specific power consumption, directly contributing to a lower carbon footprint in the cement manufacturing process. With nearly 15 successful classifier upgrades across various segments of the cement industry, including the upcoming commissioning of a new classifier for UTCL, Maihar Cement Works Raw Mill 1, set for mid-October 2024, SRSMES Pvt Ltd continues to demonstrate its expertise in sustainable solutions. This project further supports Dalmia Bharat Ltds ambitious goal of becoming carbon negative by 2040. Published under SCIMAT exports 60,000t of clinker in YtD Muriel Bal By 26 September 2024 Societe des cements d'Ain Touta (SCIMAT), part of Group Industriel des Ciments d'Algerie (GICA), has exported 60,000t of clinker since the start of 2024, according to Maamar Bahloul, the company's CEO. The majority of the clinker shipments were delivered to Tunisia. Last year, the company exported 260,000t of clinker. SCIMAT intends to increase its exports, both in existing markets and new ones. Published under Kamala Harris spins a tale of growing up in a working class neighborhood. So where is it, Scranton? No, thats Biden. How about Levittown? Actually she spent her adolescence in Montreal, Canada and attended Westmount High School, an English speaking school in French speaking Quebec. Andrew Phillips in the Toronto Star wrote of his disappointment with Harris for omitting references to her years growing up in Canada (Toronto Star 9/10/24). That wouldnt fit her narrative and it might also create confusion with her debate gotcha moment when she claimed to be bussed to school. According to Phillips, her adolescence was spent in Canada in a school that was racially divided with little interaction between the two groups. Her mother was employed by Magill University and the parents rented a house in lower Westmount. A campaign aide, Keisha Bottoms, told Jake Tapper on CNN, 9/20/24, that Harris is too busy for live interviews, yet shes been MIA for the last five days with six weeks to Election Day. Perhaps she doesnt want to continue being pressed on how she would bring down the high cost of living. The hoax candidate cant tell how she would address soaring prices without government mandated price controls. So she spins tales of her fond memories growing up a middle class kid with American values. What she also wont tell you is those fond memories were made in Canada. Ralph Miller * * * Ralph, I'm sure VP Kamala Harris' first 12 years living in the Midwest and West, she attended school. For sure, she likely rode school buses somewhere along those 12 years of attending school in the U.S. prior to moving to Canada with her mother. Kamala's mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, didn't move to Canada until 1976, when Kamala was 12 years old. Shyamala Gopalan Harris took a job at the McGill University School of Medicine and the Jewish General Hospital in Canada. I'd think having lived those formative years in the U.S., on up to the age of 12, would have a lasting impact. I can only recall snippets of the years I was in high school. It's those earlier years that to this day, stand out the most and had the greater impact. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make, or versions of 'your' truths you're attempting to twist. Maybe your attempt is to sneak in a doubt? Another birther plot, maybe? The world knows how that latter turned out. Crashed, coded and flatlined. "We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter." Denis Diderot Brenda Washington Morning Pointe Senior Living has been awarded and is implementing a $3.3 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Health.The TDH offered the Healthcare Resiliency Program: Practice Transformation and Extension Grant in 2023 to healthcare organizations to enhance and upgrade medical practices, technology and service delivery. Morning Pointe Senior Living, based in Ooltewah, submitted a proposal. The TDH awarded the grant to Morning Pointe in 2023 for its Tennessee Senior and Underserved Resiliency Endeavor project (TN-SURE), and the company has been implementing the project through the grant.Tennessee Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP, emphasized the importance of expanding access to quality healthcare across Tennessees regions and communities.By promoting strong leadership in both the public and private sectors, we have the opportunity to reshape the culture of health and healthcare in Tennessee, Dr. Alvarado said. This will position our state as a leader in the Southeast, ensuring that the healthcare needs of our citizens are met where they live, work, play and worship.Morning Pointe Senior Living is using the funds awarded to enhance senior healthcare services and safety, as well as support education and career development for healthcare workers across 21 Morning Pointe assisted living and memory care communities in Tennessee.The TN-SURE grant aims to positively impact the lives of seniors and healthcare workers by implementing new technologies, improving care coordination and expanding educational opportunities for caregivers. The grant will directly benefit over 1,250 seniors and more than 1,000 employees, including those in rural and underserved areas, officials said.Our seniors have always been at the heart of everything we do, said Franklin Farrow, co-founder and CEO of Morning Pointe Senior Living. The TN-SURE grant is allowing us to make critical investments in technology, security and staff training, ensuring that we continue to provide the highest level of care for our residents, while also preparing for any future healthcare challenges, such as those that the senior living field experienced during the COVID pandemic.The TN-SURE project, which is in the process of rolling out through mid-2026, will update and modernize Morning Pointe Senior Livings care and technology infrastructure in Tennessee, creating a more resilient and secure future for its residents and associates.Key initiatives funded by the TN-SURE grant include:- Enhanced Internet Access: Upgrading the technological infrastructure across all facilities to support better communication with healthcare providers and facilitate residents' social engagement.- Improved Senior Care Coordination: Implementing electronic medication administration records (eMAR) and Health Information Exchanges (HIE) to streamline communication with doctors, hospitals and pharmacies.- Safety Enhancements: Installing state-of-the-art nurse call systems and security measures to further protect residents, particularly those in memory care units.- Educational Opportunities for Staff: Providing caregivers and healthcare workers with educational resources, certifications, and career development programs to enhance their skills, increase their earning potential and improve employee retention.- Social Engagement: Launching new social engagement programs and platforms to help seniors stay connected with their families and the community, improving their mental and emotional wellbeing.We are pleased to implement these important enhancements within our healthcare communities, said BeBe Kennedy, RN, Morning Pointe Senior Livings vice president of clinical services. We have already started the initiatives and now have all of our communities on eMAR. Even beyond that, this grant will provide a sustained positive impact on the health and well-being of our residents, while also supporting our caregivers, who consistently deliver high-quality, compassionate care. Lee Universitys School of Music will host Dr. Josh Holritz, violin, and Dr. Peter Cooper, piano, for a faculty and guest artist recital on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Squires Recital Hall, in the Humanities Center. The performance will feature Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 7 in C minor and Richard Strauss's Sonata for Violin and Piano. I look forward to this collaboration with Dr. Peter Cooper, as we perform two wonderful sonatas by Beethoven and Strauss, said Dr. Holritz. Hailed as particularly outstanding, violinist and violist Dr. Holritz enjoys a varied career spanning the gamut of performing and teaching. He began his tenure with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra when he was appointed as the concertmaster in September 2022. Dr. Holritz also serves as the associate concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, a position he has held since 2014. Dr. Holritz is dedicated to training the next generation of musicians and currently serves as adjunct instructor of violin and viola at Lee University, adjunct instructor of violin at Southern Adventist University, and adjunct professor at Covenant College where he teaches violin, viola, and chamber music. He is also currently a faculty artist for the Bay View Music Festival. Dr. Holritz received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Georgia, his Master of Music from the University of Minnesota, and his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Dr. Cooper is interim dean of the School of Music at Southern Adventist University, where he teaches piano and music theory. Whether teaching or performing, Dr. Cooper is committed to fostering an appreciation of artistic beauty and desires to share his faith through music. Dr. Cooper received his Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance at the University of Michigan and both his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. The Wednesday evening recital is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. The event will also be available for livestream viewing at leeu.live. For more information, contact the School of Music at 614-8240 or email music@leeuniversity.edu. There are people you meet in life that leave you feeling better than you did before you met them. In my 80 years I have known a few people whose imprint was not only powerful but inspiring. While theres no way to mention all those inspiring personalities, I want to share five of those who touched me. When I moved to Chattanooga in the late 60s the Mayor of Chattanooga was Ralph Kelly. There was something about Kelly that inspired a young radio announcer and later television journalist to never forget him. Kelly was a man who worked hard to keep Chattanooga from becoming the scene of racial strife. He had the civil war locomotive The General taken into custody as it was on its way to Kennesaw, Ga. He wasnt always successful, but he led the city forward in a way most Chattanooga Mayors have not. With one exception those who I am mentioning have left us. That exception is former Chattanooga Mayor and Tennessee Senator Bob Corker. My exposure to Senator Corker has been brief; we do not politically mesh. But there is a thoughtfulness, a caring, a quality of calmness about the man. I was tasked years ago with operating a teleprompter for him. What a pleasure to work with such a sincere public servant. He was a joy to be around for the few hours we worked together. I would vote for him as President. Another inspiring person in my experience was Ruth Sulzberger Holmberg. Beginning in the 60s she served as publisher of The Chattanooga Times. which her grandfather founded in the 1800s. She fought for civil rights, the integration of schools and environmental issues, none of which were popular in the community. She was a woman of grace and kindness. whose philanthropic leadership in the arts and education areas was something to behold. Her commitment to great journalism was never in doubt. It was inspiring when she came though the newsroom. While I have been touched by many, few can surpass the impact of Sister Thomas DeSales had on me, my wife, Norma Carol, and the Chattanooga community at large. Sister Thomas was the administrator of Memorial Hospital, particularly during its high-growth years. Sister Thomas was a leader who would go to any length to take compassionate care of Memorials patients. At the same time, heaven help a nurse, doctor or whoever who didnt understand what real patient care looked like. She was tough but caring. I experienced her compassion when I was at WRCB-TV, Channel 3 in the early 70s. The station had just organized a union and when the management didnt want to negotiate, a strike was called. We were expecting our first child. With not much money coming in from my part-time radio news job at WDXB, we worried about how to pay the hospital bill. Sister Thomas was quick to provide service without immediate payment, a kindness that Im sure permeated all her decisions as an administrator. In my entire career no leader was more influential and supportive than Leonard Fant. Leonard was a top executive at Erlanger Hospital in 1975 when he called me at Channel 3 to offer me a job as public relations director at the beleaguered facility. I had no idea that when I said yes, it would lead to 9 1/2 years of exciting experiences. Whatever communication approach I wanted to implement, whether a weekly newsletter or 15-projector slide show (before PowerPoint), Leonard was on board. At one point in my time at Erlanger, Roy McDonald, owner and publisher of the Chattanooga News-Free Press called Leonard asking that I be fired. McDonald said the newspaper could do the public relations for free. The truth was McDonald didnt like me because I was involved in a union at Channel 3. Leonard just ignored the request. During my years at the hospital, we received over 300 various awards for our communication efforts. All because of Leonard Fants support. More later! * * * Fred Gault can be reached at avfred@gmail.com All 53 of Lee Universitys recent School of Nursing graduates received a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. We're so proud of our 2024 graduates, said Dr. Amy Jo Perry, dean of the School of Nursing. Their 100 percent NCLEX pass rate is a testimony to their hard work, commitment, and preparation for their futures in the nursing profession. While earning their licenses as registered nurses is quite an achievement, we're even more proud of the exceptional care they will provide to patients and their families. The 60 May 2023 graduates also received a 100 percent first-time pass rate, making this the second year in a row the School of Nursing celebrates this achievement. Our May 2023 cohort is out there making us proud after passing their NCLEX last year, said Shannon McBrayer, director of simulation and experiential learning. Since the first cohort of nursing graduates in 2017, the school is at a 98 percent overall first-time pass rate for the NCLEX. Nursing students are required to take the NCLEX test after graduation, which determines if they are qualified enough to engage in entry-level practice. Students that do not pass on their first try must take it again until they do. The exam evaluates nursing competence, critical thinking, and clinical judgment skills, and a students ability to make safe and effective decisions in various patient care situations. The School of Nursing also celebrates all of the Doctor of Nursing Practice May 2024 graduates who passed the Board Certification exam on their first attempt. We are proud to announce a 100 percent pass rate for our 2024 Family Nurse Practitioner graduates, said Dr. Julie Campbell, director of graduate studies in nursing. This reflects the dedication of our students, the commitment of our faculty, and the high quality of our DNP program. The success underscores our mission to empower the next generation of doctoraly-prepared nurse practitioners who are ready to make a meaningful impact in the world as leaders in providing compassionate, expert care to their local communities. Not only have all Lees 2024 graduates passed the four-year NCLEX and become registered nurses, but they also have all accepted positions at various hospitals in the region. Some graduates will serve as far as Washington State, but many of them will remain in the Cleveland and Chattanooga area and serve at locations such as Bradley Medical Center, Hamilton Medical Center, Erlanger Hospital, CHI Memorial, and Parkridge. Other graduates have been employed at medical centers all around the region, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, among others. Lees graduates have accepted nursing assignments in areas such as emergency care, mother-baby, oncology, cardiac, surgery, and other specializations. "Our students are now the hands and hearts in hospitals, clinics and communities. Wherever you come across a Lee nursing graduate, you can trust that they are where they need to be, and that they are making a difference, said Ms. McBrayer. Lee University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Nursing students get the chance to participate in clinical partnerships with local healthcare facilities, internship opportunities, extended experience in the field, and utilize simulation labs and events to test training and skill. Lees BSN nursing program began in 2014 and has since graduated 421 registered nurses. The program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. For more information about Lee University School of Nursing, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/. Dr. Yvette Stewart has been named assistant professor and literacy director for the University of Tennessee at Chattanoogas School of Education and the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education.Dr. Stewart, who has worked for Hamilton County Schools since 2018, will begin her new role at UTC on Oct. 21. She will jointly lead School of Education and Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education initiatives aimed at equipping educators with the skills to effectively teach children how to read.I will be the biggest cheerleader for teaching children how to read; its an important component of the educational experience for a child, said Dr.Stewart, who has worked in public education for 28 years. In this role, I will bring various advocates of education and organizationsspecifically school districtsto the table to form a common understanding of how to do that and how to work together to provide that support for students in classrooms.Literacy opens up opportunities. If youre literate, you have access to and ownership of your future.As the director of elementary teaching and learning and K-12 literacy for Hamilton County Schools, Dr. Stewart has been responsible for enhancing the effectiveness and fidelity of the literacy curriculum across grades K-12.I want to congratulate Dr. Yvette Stewart on her new position at UTC, said Dr. Justin Robertson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. Dr. Stewart has been an integral part of the districts early literacy work, and I am grateful for opportunities to collaborate with her and UTC. I look forward to continuing our alignment of early literacy best practices and better preparing upcoming educators to serve our students in Hamilton County Schools.Dr. Allen Pratt, interim director of the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education, called the hiring of Stewart a major collaborative effort with Hamilton County Schools. They know shes always going to be available to help them out.Bringing Dr. Stewart to campus gives us someone with the credentials and expertise to help guide the University and literacy work, but also help our community and surrounding areas on how to be the best possible instructor of literacy and put us on the cutting edge of what is needed to become the best, Dr. Pratt said.A North Carolina native, Dr. Stewart holds four degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, including a bachelors in elementary education, a masters in school administration, and both an Ed.S. and Ed.D. in educational leadership.Dr. Stewart began her professional career in 1996 as a kindergarten teacher with Durham Public Schools in North Carolina. Over the next 13 years, she held various roles in the Durham and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school systems, including elementary teacher, assistant principal at both the elementary and middle school levels, and principal.Prior to coming to Chattanooga in 2018, she spent 10 years with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a project coordinator and assistant director for the Educator Effectiveness Division.Dr. Kim Wingate, director of the UTC School of Education, emphasized the importance of Dr. Stewarts addition to the University and her wide-ranging experience.We are thrilled to have Dr. Stewart join us at UTC, Dr. Wingate said. Her extensive background, particularly her leadership at both the district and state level, brings immense value.Dr. Stewarts expertise will be instrumental in furthering our continued collaboration with Hamilton County Schools, but also positions the School of Education at the forefront of literacy development. Her innovative thinking and insights from K-12 education and beyond will help us shape the future of literacy instruction for years to come.In her new role at UTC, Dr. Stewart will be involved in helping future teachers learn how to teach literacy.Thats probably going to be the most fun part of my job because its in the lens of my background as a teacher and the experience that I have had leading district-level work, Dr. Stewart said. I can give prospective teachers firsthand experience or early exposure to students, and I hope to use my relationships with Hamilton County Schools to really support new teachers as they prepare for the classroom.In addition to her K-12 background, Dr. Stewart has previous higher education experience as an adjunct professor for the University of Phoenix and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Governor Bill Lee announced Thursday that the State of Tennessee will no longer move forward with plans to build a new psychiatric hospital on state-owned land at Moccasin Bend in Chattanooga. The decision is based on initial findings of an ongoing archeological review. This is the first archeological review that has been conducted since the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute was founded in 1961, and the State expects the final report to be delivered in November. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Department of General Services oversaw the survey on behalf of the State Building Commission. Tennessees robust conservation strategy balances our states growth with a plan to protect our environment, which is why we pursued an archeological study at Moccasin Bend, said Governor Lee. I look forward to working with stakeholders to determine the best path forward for this historic site. The state has determined that it will pursue alternative locations for the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute replacement facility, with the goal of utilizing taxpayer dollars efficiently and continuing to serve Tennesseans living with the most severe mental health challenges, officials said. Key findings include: 1. 73 percent of the state-owned parcel at MBMHI is comprised of a multi-component archaeological site containing buried layers of historic and pre-contact materials, occupation surfaces and features (pits, hearth materials, etc.). 2. The presence of Woodland period features (pits and occupation surfaces) indicates that there are likely more intact features within the site, some of which may still contain human remains or isolated burials. No human remains or burials were found during the survey. 3. Areas within the parcel exhibit excellent preservation and integrity. We are incredibly grateful to Governor Lee for making this historic decision that will be applauded for years by our children and our childrens children, said Mayor Tim Kelly. We are especially thankful that the early conversations we initiated about relocating the state hospital have played out just as we had hoped. At long last, after decades of deferral and delay, we now have the opportunity to truly preserve this nationally historic land as a park for every Chattanoogan to enjoy, connecting our community to the natural beauty and rich history of Moccasin Bend forever. The approximately 956-acre Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, which lies along the scenic Tennessee River, was designated more than two decades ago as the countrys first and only national archeological district, as part of a unit that includes the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Former U.S. Rep. Zach Zamp in 2003 helped lead the charge to transfer hundreds of acres owned by the city and the state to the National Park Service, as part of an effort that dates back to the 1920s. But that designation alone did not lead to the areas full development as a park, due to a patchwork of property ownership and nonconforming uses, such as the state hospital and a nearby firing range operated by Chattanooga and Hamilton County. The peninsula has been home to thousands of years of human habitation, from the earliest Paleo-Indians through the Civil War to the present day. The potential future addition of the 107-acre psychiatric hospital property, as well as the future elimination of other nonconforming uses, will complete the site by creating a virtually contiguous tract of land. This ongoing effort to preserve Moccasin Bend fully aligns with Chattanoogas goal to become a National Park City, said Scott Martin, director of Parks & Outdoors for the City of Chattanooga. "Moccasin Bend, a nationally significant cultural site, uniquely tells the story of 12,000 years of human settlement in the Tennessee River Valley, said Mr. Martin. While land use decisions on the Bend haven't always taken these precious resources into account, a new story begins with this decision by the governor. Thanks to Governor Lee and the Hamilton County legislative delegation's consistent leadership calling for thoughtful stewardship of this resource that can benefit all Tennesseans, with this decision an effort can now begin to preserve forever the stories and legacies of this sacred land." The Hamilton County Legislative Delegation has consistently supported the protection of the historic artifacts and land at Moccasin Bend, said Senator Bo Watson. I repeatedly said that we would not make any decision until this archeological survey was complete. The report clearly identifies the importance of the protection of the Moccasin Bend site, I support and encourage the state to find another location for a new facility. This archeological study has provided the information needed for the state to make an informed, fiscally responsible decision about the replacement of a much-needed mental health facility. As we have said from the beginning, the study would determine whether building the facility at Moccasin Bend could be done without further damaging the site or compromising its historical significance. Through this process, we have learned what we needed to know to make this important decision, said State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood. Improved and increased mental health services are still a critical and urgent need for our community and our state. Now we must focus our efforts on how and where to best meet those needs going forward. In this landmark initiative, the Department of General Services identified and retained New South Associates to conduct the first-ever state archeological survey of Moccasin Bend, said Christi Branscom, commissioner of Tennessees Department of General Services. Using minimally invasive techniques, the team uncovered compelling evidence of the sites rich archeological heritage. These findings clearly demonstrate that Moccasin Bend is a cultural treasure that must be protected and preserved for future generations. Throughout this process, we proceeded with great respect to the history and heritage of this site, said Marie Williams, commissioner of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. When we appeared before the State Building Commission in 2023, we committed to adapt our plans if needed based on the results of an archaeological survey, and thats exactly what we are doing today. We know that publicly funded psychiatric beds are an essential emergency mental health safety net for our neighbors who have the greatest needs and little or no ability to pay for treatment. Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute will continue to provide these essential services to its 52-county coverage area while we work diligently to determine next steps. Until that determination is made, we will continue to operate the beds at MBMHI to provide high-quality care to the patients we serve. The Hamilton County Election Commission is aware of an article published by the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Sept. 21: Tax hike, city commission signs raise questions in Red Bank. The Election Commission was not contacted or asked to comment before the publication of this article. Any statements in the article that were attributed to employees of the Election Commission were taken from other contexts and were not made for purposes of the article. By way of brief explanation, when candidates complete all required qualifying documentation, it is the Election Commission's normal practice to provide a packet of information, including relevant state statutes. The Election Commission also makes it a practice to respond to and answer questions that are posed by voters, citizens, and candidates. We do our very best to answer questions to the best of our knowledge and understanding, but it is ultimately every candidate's responsibility to maintain legal compliance. We are unaware of any situation where information we have provided has been inaccurate or incorrect. We remain steadfast in our mission to continue communicating clear guidance to all voters, citizens, and candidates and to ensuring the integrity of elections in Hamilton County. We invite anyone to visit our website (https://elect.hamiltontn.gov/Home.aspx) and the Tennessee Secretary of State's website (https://sos.tn.gov/elections), each of which are useful sources of information. Scott Allen Election Administrator Without the restraints of royal life, will the duke's children have more choices than the Prince of Wales's? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live outside the royal bubble, allowing them to parent their children differently than Prince William and Kate Middleton. However, do they have it easier as parents than the future king and queen of the United Kingdom? Why is parenting easier for Harry and Meghan Markle than William and Kate Middleton? As reported by GB News, royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the UK edition of OK! Magazine that she believes its easier for Harry and Meghan to parent their children than Prince William and Kate Middleton. Without the restraints of royal life, the couple can be present for more life events. The warm weather and outdoor lifestyle in Montecito must make bringing up children a joy. It is so much easier to get them away from screens and TV, which Harry and Meghan clearly both feel very strongly about, Bond explained. I think [Harry] is relishing his role as a parent and playing the fullest part he can in the lives of his two tots. Hes lucky enough to be able to share most of their lives so Im sure Harry is a devoted dad and no stranger to nappy changing or school runs, she continued. In contrast, the Prince and Princess of Wales adhered to a structured royal family workload before Kate Middletons cancer scare. But, they always put their children first and werent busy frontline royals like Princess Anne, King Charles, and Camilla Parker Bowles. William and Kate are parenting the next generation of senior royals. Therefore, they must balance real life and royal structure. While their kids lives are predetermined by their pedigree, Kate and William allow their kids more freedom than previous generations of royal offspring, but definitely not as much as Harrys children will experience. Is Prince Harry trying to give his kids the perfect upbringing after Princess Diana, King Charles turmoil? Prince William and Prince Harry have prioritized their children from the moment they became fathers. Prince William is the father of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, while Prince Harry is the father of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. By concentrating on their roles as parents and husbands, both princes are breaking the cycle of divorce and its effect on the children at the center of the breakup. Jennie Bond spoke about how Diana and Charles split affected Harry. Its hard to know exactly when the damage wrought by his parents broken marriage began to make its mark on Harry. He was only eight when Charles and Diana officially separated, but he had witnessed the marital difficulties long before that, she explained. Im sure the insecurity of his own childhood has made him all the more determined to give his kids the perfect upbringing and to have them wrapped in a bubble of love and awareness of the love between their parents, Bond said of Harrys marriage to Meghan. Harry also shared with Anderson Cooper during a 60 Minutes interview that fatherhood helped him understand his mother more. He said he now comprehended Dianas position as a parent with intense media pressure. Prince Harry relishes fatherhood Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Meghan Markle and Princess Lilibet | Netflix Before his 40th birthday on Sept. 15, 2024, Prince Harry discussed the best gift hed ever been given. He bestowed the honor on his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. In a statement to the BBC, Harry discussed his children and praised the duo for changing his life. Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work, Harry explained. Being a dad is one of lifes greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place. Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, live in Montecito, California, with their two children. FAST Core Array to greatly improve 'eyesight' of telescope Global Times) 09:59, September 26, 2024 An aerial view of the 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in Pingtang county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo: courtesy of FAST) China launched the construction of the testing prototype for the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) Core Array on Wednesday, aiming to greatly enhance the astronomical observation capability of the FAST telescope. At 10:30 am, a 40-meter aperture antenna started to be installed on a hilltop less than three kilometers away from the current FAST site, also known as the China Sky Eye, located in a naturally deep and round karst depression in Southwest China's Guizhou Province. In order to further raise FAST's scientific observation capability, the team behind the project proposed a low-cost, quickly implementable plan for a radio telescope array. According to this plan, the well-suited electromagnetic environment within 5 kilometers surrounding FAST will be fully utilized to construct 24 fully rotatable 40-meter-diameter antennas, which will function as a synthesis aperture array when combined with FAST, known as the FAST Core Array, according to CCTV. Adding auxiliary telescopes around FAST is equivalent to turning FAST into a telescope with a much larger aperture, which will raise the observation capability of FAST, Zhu Weiwei, a researcher from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), explained, CCTV reported. When the FAST Core Array is completed, it will significantly improve the "eyesight" of the China Sky Eye by allowing it not only to see far but also with a higher degree of clarity, said Jiang Peng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories of the CAS, noting that the FAST Core Array functions are similar to a high-resolution "digital camera" that captures the distant starry sky, according to Xinhua. The FAST Core Array will significantly expand the existing scientific research fields. In particular, it will play a major role in areas such as gravitational wave events, fast radio bursts, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and black hole tidal disruption events. In addition to astrophysics research, the FAST Core Array can also play a role in deep space exploration fields such as near-Earth object early warning and deep space satellite communications, providing important strategic support for the development of China's aerospace sector. FAST is the world's largest single-dish and the most sensitive radio telescope. Since it started operation, FAST has achieved numerous significant original breakthroughs in multiple areas in the discovery of pulsars, fast radio bursts, and nanohertz gravitational waves. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Home News 'Women are dying': $500K ad says abortion misinformation led to deaths of Amber Thurman, Candi Miller A $500,000 TV and digital ad campaign says misinformation about abortion drugs and state laws spread by Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic lawmakers has resulted in women's deaths, including Amber Thurman and Candi Miller. Women Speak Out PAC, a partner of the national pro-life advocacy group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, launched the "Deadly: Democrats' Abortion Lies Put Women at Risk" ad campaign this week. The plan is for the digital ad to reach target voters, and it will also reach cable and broadcast markets throughout various Georgia cities, including Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Savannah. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "Candi and Amber should be alive," the ad states. "The left's scare tactics are deadly." The ad is a response to claims from media outlets and politicians that Georgia's restrictions on abortion as early as six weeks into gestation are responsible for Thurman and Miller's deaths. Both women experienced complications after taking the abortion pill in 2022. Harris and Democrats argue that doctors are confused about the care they can provide due to the law. But pro-life medical groups and experts say that Georgia's law prohibiting abortion after a fetal heartbeat becomes detectable does not prevent doctors from providing life-saving care, asserting that political leaders are endangering women by making them believe they cannot seek treatment while also ignoring the dangers associated with abortion drugs. In a Tuesday statement, SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser declared that "women are dying" due to the lies spread by political leaders like Harris. The pro-life research organization Charlotte Lozier Institute reports that complications from women who took abortion drugs are severely underreported to the FDA. From 2020-2022, six states reported 1,004 complications from drug-induced abortions, while the FDA reported 17. "Amber Thurman and Candi Miller died after they suffered complications from dangerous abortion drugs and did not receive appropriate, completely legal emergency care," Dannenfelser stated. Thurman, a 28-year-old single mother, died after she obtained abortion drugs from a facility in North Carolina after learning she was pregnant with twins. The mother developed an infection several days later because some of her twins' remains were still inside her body. While the doctors at the hospital discussed performing a dilation and curettage to remove the remains, this was not done right away. By the time Thurman made it to the operating room, her condition had worsened, and she died. The other woman, Miller, died in 2022 after she ordered abortion drugs online. An autopsy found the remains of her unborn child still inside her body. The autopsy also found that she took a combination of painkillers, including fentanyl. Miller did not seek help from a doctor because she thought she could be prosecuted due to Georgia's abortion law. "Georgia's law, like pro-life laws in every other state, allows emergency care, miscarriage care, and treatment for ectopic pregnancy," Dannenfelser said. "The laws do not penalize women who have abortions, and they use plain, commonly accepted legal language." "There would be no confusion if abortion advocates were not spreading confusion," she added. "Amber, Candi, and their babies should be alive today. Democrats are putting countless lives at risk, and we will relentlessly call them out." With abortion appearing to be a major issue this election cycle, Students for Life Action also released an ad campaign highlighting Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's views on abortion. The ad, set to air on Fox News this week, focuses on abortion and infanticide. "Kamala Harris may have played dumb during the debate on her record of literally voting to allow infanticide to continue, and she may try to ignore her chosen running mate's decision to hide cases of infanticide in his home state of Minnesota, but the Pro-Life Generation will not ignore a record of radical abortion support that includes allowing lives to be lost AFTER a botched abortion," SFLA and SFLA Action President Kristan Hawkins said in a statement provided to The Christian Post. In addition to Harris' record of advocating for access to abortion throughout her career, pro-life groups have raised concerns about the presidential hopeful's running mate. Walz signed a measure in 2023 that amends existing state statutes to ensure that state taxpayer funds can cover "abortion services" that are "determined to be medically necessary." The Minnesota governor also repealed a statute requiring babies who are born alive after an attempted abortion must receive medical care. During the years Minnesota's Born-Alive Infant Protection Act had been in effect, the state's health agency reportedseveralcases where a babyappears to have been born alive after an abortion. Home News 'Cartel style' network illegally shipping abortion drugs from Mexico into the United States Groups modeled after drug cartels are illegally shipping abortion drugs into the United States and contributing to the nation's drug crisis, according to a new report that highlighted one of the most popular abortion pill networks based in Mexico. Various networks and abortionists have continued to offer abortion drugs to women online and through the mail in states that have enacted abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, allowing states more leeway in regulating and restricting abortion and abortion drugs. As some reports suggest, chemical abortions have increased in the United States since the Supreme Court's decision. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe According to a Wednesday study by the advocacy group American Life League, "Beneath the Surface: Exposing the Abortion Pill Drug Cartel," women in all 50 states and U.S. territories can still access abortion drugs due to the FDA's 2023 removal of in-person regulations. The Mexico-based Las Libres is one of many networks illegally shipping abortion drugs into states and U.S. territories that have restrictions on abortion. In a Wednesday statement provided to The Christian Post, American Life League National Director Katie Brown said that women across America are accessing abortion drugs at an "astonishing rate" despite several states enacting abortion restrictions since 2022. "It's clear that the FDA has dropped the ball on this," she said. "As the government agency charged with oversight of drugs coming into this country, they have failed." "And where is the [U.S. Postal Service]?" she questioned. "The post office is supposed to screen packages for illegal items, yet black market abortion drugs are being mailed into every state." Per the report, Las Libres encourages women to open a Proton Mail account to obtain abortion pills. The instructions ask women to provide their name and date of their last menstrual period, but then they also state, "No other information is needed. You will receive instructions for how to order." One of the dangers of women ordering abortion pills online is that they could potentially be laced with other drugs, something that has proven to be an issue with other drugs like fentanyl. Dealers will often mix fentanyl with other drugs and make it resemble other prescription opioids, endangering people's lives. Another potential risk to women's safety that the American Life League highlighted in its report is how easily an abuser can obtain abortion drugs and provide them to their wives or girlfriends without their knowledge or consent. In March 2022, Catherine Herring's husband did just that after she told him she was pregnant. The pair had been married for 11 years and going through a separation at the time of the pregnancy. Herring credits an abortion pill reversal hotline with saving her pregnancy, and the woman's daughter is alive today. While many media outlets and abortion proponents insist that chemical abortions are safe, pro-life advocates have questioned the validity of such a claim due to a lack of reporting on complications. As American Life League's report noted, Las Libres tells women how to hide their online abortion pill requests and advises them to lie to physicians if they experience complications that require medical attention. The abortion pill network explains that doctors "can provide the appropriate postmiscarriage medical care without knowing that you took pills." "These unsupervised procedures self-administered without continuing medical oversight are incredibly traumatic and dangerous to women," Brown said on Wednesday. "Even legitimately distributed abortion pills come with an FDA boxed warning about potentially fatal infections." "The Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care reports that many women who have taken these drugs report extreme stress and trauma caused by expelling their dead baby's body at home, alone, after days of nausea, severe cramping, and bleeding," she continued. "The FDA and USPS should care enough to intervene in this illegal importing of the dangerous DIY abortion drugs." The Christian Post reached out to Las Libres for comment. A response was not immediately received. Home News Doctors urge American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to expose abortion misinformation An organization of over 7,000 OB-GYNs called on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to join forces and combat misinformation surrounding abortion drugs and state laws following the deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller in Georgia. In a letter provided this week to The Christian Post, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists outlined its efforts to provide clarity about abortion laws and induced abortions. The group emphasized the dangers of taking abortion drugs without medical supervision and women believing they cannot seek care due to abortion laws. "We have seen that this misinformation creates fear and confusion among physicians and patients," the pro-life medical group stated. "This has deadly consequences. Amber Thurman and Candi Miller both passed away in Georgia after taking abortion drugs." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Thurman, a 28-year-old single mother, died after she obtained abortion drugs from a facility in North Carolina after learning she was pregnant with twins. The mother developed an infection several days later because some of her twins' remains were still inside her body. Doctors diagnosed Thurman with acute severe sepsis, and while they discussed performing a dilation and curettage, medical professionals did not take her to the operating room until 20 hours after she arrived at the hospital. Some media reports suggested that physicians failed to provide Thurman with care due to confusion about Georgia's abortion law. The state bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat becomes detectable but allows physicians to intervene to prevent the death of the pregnant woman and "irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function." The other woman, Miller, died in 2022 after she ordered abortion drugs online. An autopsy found the remains of her unborn child still inside her body. The autopsy also found that she took a combination of painkillers, including fentanyl. Miller did not seek help from a doctor because she thought she could be prosecuted due to Georgia's abortion law. "Furthermore, both women passed away after taking abortion drugs, which we have long heard are 'safer than Tylenol' and can even be 'self-managed' without medical supervision," AAPLOG continued in its letter. "Lying to patients and physicians can have deadly consequences. For our colleagues and patients, medical organizations must commit to educating the public based on facts, not political agendas (on either side)." Despite differences in opinion on the abortion issue, AAPLOG asked the ACOG to join the pro-life medical group in educating the public and improving patient outcomes. In addition to ensuring women are aware of all the risks associated with mifepristone and misoprostol, AAPLOG advocated for improved standards to safeguard women's health. "This would include an in-person evaluation to rule out contraindications and at least one follow-up visit to ensure she is not experiencing complications," the letter stated. AAPLOG's other recommendations for improving patient outcomes include ensuring physicians receive guidance on their state laws and assuring women they will not be prosecuted for seeking care for abortion complications. The pro-life medical group also advocated for providing physicians with educational materials about abortion pill side effects so they can better care for women who arrive at the emergency room after taking the drugs. "As physicians, we cannot afford to let any more of the patients we were sworn to protect die due to false understandings of state abortion policy or distorted narratives surrounding abortion drugs," AAPLOG concluded. "We look forward to working alongside ACOG in the service of our patients and look forward to hearing from you." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. The two Georgia women's deaths were discussed at a Tuesday U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing titled "Chaos and Control: How Trump Criminalized Women's Health Care." Democratic Sen. Ron. Wyden, the committee's chair, asserted that women are not receiving emergency medical care at hospitals due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. During her testimony, AAPLOG CEO Dr. Christina Francis, a board-certified OB/GYN who works in Indiana, declared that the title of the hearing is another effort to distract the public from the "true danger" to women's health "unregulated and dangerous abortions" that the doctor said are ending the lives of women and their unborn children. "How to care for women in emergency situations is not confusing to physicians. We knew how to do it before the Dobbs decision, and we know how to do it now," the OB-GYN stated. "When faced with a complex patient, we assess their clinical status using our reasonable medical judgment and then proceed with the appropriate treatment based on standards of care and our clinical expertise as well as shared decision making with the patient." "It is not the laws to blame but rather the pro-abortion politicians and the media who have created deadly confusion as well as the professional associations who have failed to inform and train physicians and other hospital staff accurately," Francis continued. Home News Calling himself a miracle of God, Mayor Eric Adams wants New York City to be a place of faith Boldly declaring himself an unapologetic man of God and lamenting that Americans have lost their faith, New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a call to local faith leaders to work with him to make the city a place of faith and healing and help introduce faith back into our families. We must introduce faith and wellness back into our families. And I'm baffled that you could talk about cannabis in schools but not faith. I'm baffled. I'm baffled that we don't understand the importance of it, Adams said at a mental health faith-based summit hosted by the Mayors Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships at the International Interfaith Research Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University on Thursday. That's why we are rolling out in the Department of Education that every child is going to learn mindfulness, breathing exercises, they're gonna learn internal care. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Adams comments come after he made waves at another event last month where he declared that it was a mistake to take prayer out of public schools. The mayor, who was raised in the Church of God in Christ but now attends mostly nondenominational services, identifies as a Christian. He told his multifaith audience, which included Christian pastors and mental health professionals, that had it not been for his faith as a child, he would never have been able to escape the dysfunction that once marked his life. People wonder why I lean into my faith so much. If you only know how broken I have been as a child, and I am just a pure miracle of God, he said, sounding like a pastor delivering a rousing sermon. And every day, just to be able to just rejoice in the fullness of you can take a broken child and turn him into the Mayor of the city of New York. God is real. God is real. Adams expressed grave concern over the state of hopelessness among Americas youth and argued that the erosion of faith in society is partly to blame. I am so fearful of what is happening not only to New York City but what's happening to America, he said. You know, there was a scientific experiment I did as a child in biology class, it was, you think about it, it was a terrible experiment. But it was a reflection of where we are today. It was an experiment where if you placed a frog in hot water, it would jump out immediately. But if you placed it in cold water and turn up the temperature ever so slightly, it will stay there until it boils itself to death, he added. That is what's happening across our city and country. The temperature, it increases so slightly, that we have normalized the conditions we are facing. You know, my greatest probably handicap is that I have a maladjusted personality. I cannot adjust to the dysfunctionality of what's around me. He said when he visited China, for example, social media such as TikTok feeds positive content to users. They don't allow the TikTok that our children are looking at. They don't allow it in China. They only have education TikTok. Our babies are waking up every day in the morning, on their way to school, stopping into stores and bodegas, buying gummy bears and Skittles laced with cannabis and sitting inside the classroom, he said. Little girls across this country are defining themselves through social media, dealing with depression, asking their parents can they have some form of surgical changes to their figure, to having liposuction at 12 and 13 years old. Suicide rates are increasing among 9 and 10 and 11-year-olds. We are seeing the erosion of the foundation of our future. But the temperature is just so low. So slight, Adams continued. Just one Instagram post at a time, one Twitter at a time, one TikTok at a time and we think it's all in fun. Just the other day, a 14-year-old child stabbed his sister multiple times. [She was] 15 years old. And Adams isnt wrong about the decline of faith in America. Data from the National Public Opinion Reference Survey conducted by Pew Research Center shows that less than half of American adults pray daily as church membership continues to decline and the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated swells. The survey results published in late 2021, found that only 45% of U.S. adults say they pray daily compared to 58% who reported doing so in 2007 and 55% who said they prayed daily in 2014. Some 32% said they seldom or never pray, which is close to the 29% of U.S. adults who identify as religious nones people who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics or nothing in particular, the study says. The nations share of religious nones was 6% higher than it was five years earlier and 10% higher than it was a decade ago. And people asked me over and over again. Why do you keep saying it's time to pray? It's time to pray. We have moved our faith-based leaders outside of what we should be doing together, Adams said. Our challenge it's not economics. Our challenge is not finance. Our challenge is faith. People have lost their faith. And when you can take a broken child, one that was dyslexic, arrested, rejected, and now he's elected as the Mayor of the city of New York. That's what we are attempting to accomplish in this city, he added. A man of God is the mayor of the city of New York. And I'm unapologetic about that. Home News Al Mohler mourns sin of 'dear friend' Steven Lawson, promotes Billy Graham rule for young men in ministry 'I didn't see this coming,' theologian says Southern Baptist theologian Al Mohler has some advice for young men in ministry who want to avoid the fate of Pastor Steven Lawson and others alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct: don't allow yourself to be alone with a woman. The 73-year-old Lawson, lead preacher at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas and president of OnePassion Ministries, was removed from ministry in recent days after an alleged "inappropriate relationship" with an unidentified woman. Mohler, 64, shared his advice Tuesday following a chapel service at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he serves as president. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe While Mohler declined to refer to Lawson by name, he called him a "dear friend" who is a "well-known preacher" and admitted he "did not see this coming." "I want to share that I did not see this coming, and for the sake of history and anyone who may hear this, I don't want to send them Googling for a name, but I also didn't want to turn it off, so I won't use a name," said Mohler. "I'll simply say this preacher is well-known, a man who has preached right here from this platform, and a dear friend with whom I have preached all over the country and many parts of the world. I didn't see this coming." Mohler said while he couldn't have predicted his failure, there were some signs in retrospect, including the amount of time Lawson spent traveling alone. "When a catastrophe like this falls upon us, you can look backward and connect some dots, but they didn't appear until you look back," he said. "One of those patterns is just an awful lot of time traveling alone and the exposure of being all over the world alone. I just want to speak from the heart and say this kind of catastrophe the fall of this house is very great." He also warned his audience that while the sins of men in ministry in the past may have been revealed in a slow drip, the emergence of instant communication through the internet and social media results in a more immediate and public scandal that ultimately brings "disrepute upon the Gospel." "I honestly think it's not so much that more is happening, but that more is being immediately communicated everywhere with social media and the digital revolution," said Mohler. "Beware, your sins will find you out, and your sins will be broadcast across the world in a matter of seconds on social media platforms." Not only did Mohler say those who are called to ministry should "be absolutely horrified" by Lawson's fall, but they should also take heed to what's known in contemporary Christian circles as the "Billy Graham rule." He urged those looking to go into ministry to "make certain there are protections and policies in your life, which means the avoidance of certain patterns in your life that would expose you to this kind of vulnerability and this kind of temptation and this kind of sin." "I want to speak more bluntly than I have ever spoken in this chapel before," Mohler said. "I want to share with you a word that was shared with me by a man I won't name, a very, very honorable name in Christian ministry. His words were these: 'You will not have sex with a woman not your wife, if you are never alone with a woman not your wife,'" he said. "That's simple math. I'm not going to ask you to repeat it, but I want you to think about it. The moment we allow something to happen, we expose ourselves to a temptation greater than we can resist." Mohler, who appeared with Lawson, John MacArthur and late theologian R.C. Sproul in a number of Reformed events over the years, including the 2012 and 2017 Ligonier conferences, also suggested Lawson's sin is "as grievous as it looks, and honestly, it's almost always worse than it looks." Following the initial report about Lawson on Sept. 20, several allegations about Lawson's affair have surfaced, including a report from Phil Johnson, executive director of MacArthur's Grace to You, who suggested Lawson was engaged in a long-term extramarital affair. According to a series of now-deleted X posts, Johnson wrote that Lawson only informed the elders at Trinity Bible Church after "the girl's father had confronted Steve and threatened exposure." "This was not a noble confession of sin," Johnson added. In another reply on X, Johnson said the woman was in her late 20s and was not a member of Trinity Bible Church. He also said while the nature of the relationship had "strong romantic overtones," both Lawson and the woman "insist no literal fornication was involved, but their tie to one another was adulterous in spirit, if not in fact." Johnson later deleted the X thread but not before it was captured in a screenshot and shared across the platform. "In deference to the elders of Trinity Bible Church of Dallas, I removed the comments I posted this morning regarding the Steve Lawson scandal," Johnson wrote Wednesday evening. "Those elders shepherd the local church Lawson belonged to, so their pastoral duty takes precedence over mine." "These are godly men, committed to the truth of Scripture, and I'm fully confident they will do the right thing," he added. "They have every right to set their own pace." With more than 40 years dedicated to ministry as a prominent figure in the Reformed/Calvinist Evangelicalism movement, Lawson formerly served as a teaching fellow at Ligonier Ministries and as the dean of Doctor of Ministry Studies at The Master's Seminary but has since been removed from both websites. A frequent speaker with MacArthur at TMS events, Lawson often appeared in front of MacArthur's congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, for The Shepherds Conference and other events. Home News Bear Grylls bridges survival, faith in new series 'The Chosen in the Wild': 'I need Him every day' ORLANDO, Florida For Bear Grylls, faith isn't "just a Sunday thing" it's a connection to God woven into the fabric of every rugged climb, jungle expedition and quiet moment of doubt. "Faith is a journey, isn't it?" the 50-year-old former British Special Forces member told The Christian Post. "Faith and doubt are two sides of the same coin. I have many doubts, many struggles, and many days, I think it's all crazy, but through it all, I feel Christ has been a light to a dark path and strength to a failing body. Through many valleys and summits, jungles and deserts, He's always there. We need that in life. For me, it's not a Sunday thing. I really need Him every day. That's how I kind of approach life." "I don't really talk about faith unless I'm asked," he added. "It's just a part of my life, and it's something I really need. And it's the best bit of my life." This depth of connection to God has been a lifelong process for Grylls, who, in a 2023 interview with CP, spoke out about the state of modern church culture. "I think Jesus would really struggle with 99% of churches nowadays," he shared at the time. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe For Grylls, a bestselling author who has hosted several survival shows, including "Man vs. Wild," "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" and "Bear Grylls: Escape from Hell," faith is personal, raw and best practiced without the layers of formality and performance that, he believes, have clouded many contemporary religious spaces. "Our job in life is to stay close to Christ and drop the religious, drop the fluff, drop the Church if you need to," he said. "Keep the bit of church which is about community and friends and honesty and faith and love." Grylls' comments, which were met with both praise and controversy, reflected his belief that faith is about survival a spiritual survival that demands honesty, vulnerability and a deep connection to something greater than oneself. It's this outlook that fuels his latest project, "The Chosen in the Wild," a collaboration with the series "The Chosen," which follows the life of Jesus and His followers. The six-episode adventure series will follow various cast members of "The Chosen" as they join Grylls for outdoor challenges and navigate survival situations, reflecting on the faith that sustained Jesus' disciples. Grylls spoke to CP at the fan event ChosenCon in the Orlando World Center Marriott Hotel, where "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" was first announced. The How to Stay Alive author said he's excited to bring the adventure of faith and survival together, helping audiences witness Jesus' disciples through a new lens one that mirrors the challenges of the wild. "What we've tried to do with 'The Chosen in the Wild' is get to know the real people and show their real journey," Grylls said. "Isn't that the same with 'The Chosen'? It shows the real reality of what Jesus was like in their relationships and their journey. ... It's the element of faith I've always responded best to and not the fluff of it all, the rules and the regulations and the do's and the don't, but actually, as 'The Chosen' shows, as Jesus shows, 'Keep your eyes on me, you'll be OK. Then you won't sink in the water.' I felt that in my own life many times, through many adventures. It feels like a really special pairing to bring the best of 'Running Wild' to 'The Chosen' and to allow fans to see their favorite actors in a way that they never do normally." According to Grylls, "The Chosen in the Wild" mirrors his personal philosophy in both his adventures and spiritual life; he strips back the pretense and embraces the raw, unpolished truth of human experience. Grylls stressed that the outdoors, much like faith, reveals the core of humanity: vulnerable, flawed, yet capable of extraordinary things. "I think the wild always reveals who we are," he said. "Adventures opens us all. The outdoors lights us up." With "The Chosen in the Wild," Grylls said he hopes to highlight the humanity of Jesus' disciples ordinary men who faced extraordinary challenges, both physical and spiritual. For the adventure, the project is about showing that faith, like survival, is an ongoing journey one filled with doubts, fears, and the constant need to push forward. Yet, according to Grylls, through it all, God is always present, guiding His followers through the wilderness, both literal and metaphorical. "You go on an adventure, and you look eye to eye, there's a connection," Grylls said. "So that's what we're trying to do." Home News Judge blocks Biden admin. from forcing Catholic employees to accomodate abortions, IVF A federal judge has prevented the Biden administration from requiring Catholic employers to provide their employees time off for abortions and in-vitro fertilization treatments. Judge Daniel Traynor in North Dakota ruled Monday that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission cannot enforce the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck and the Catholic Benefits Association "in a manner that would require them to accommodate abortion or infertility treatments that are contrary to the Catholic faith." The ruling prevents the plaintiffs from having to "speak in favor of the same or refrain from speaking against the same." Monday's decision comes after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued guidance last year interpreting the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to require employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" for employees "having or choosing not to have an abortion." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The executive branch agency also listed the "termination of pregnancy, including via miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion" as examples of "pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions" for which an employer must provide "reasonable accommodations." The guidance identified "an employee who requests leave for [in-vitro fertilization] treatment for the worker to get pregnant" as an example of someone who has "a related medical condition" that must be accommodated by employers. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck and the Catholic Benefits Association, a nonprofit supporting Catholic employers and advocating for religious freedom," filed a lawsuit against the EEOC and its chairwoman alleging that the guidance is unconstitutional. Traynor, a Trump appointee, agreed that forcing plaintiffs to provide "reasonable accommodations" for employees seeking abortion and infertility treatments that counter the teachings of the Catholic Church constitutes a violation of their rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He issued a preliminary injunction preventing the enforcement of the EEOC guidance against the plaintiffs while litigation on the matter continues. "This challenge to religious liberty is a reminder of the danger of government action that is clearly anti-religion," Traynor wrote. "It should not take a legal challenge for the Agency to stop violating the constitutional rights of Americans. Wisely, our founders provided a separate but equal branch to keep this lawlessness in check." Traynor contends that the CBA has met the "burden to establish associational standing," stressing that its members "would be harmed by the implementation of the Final Rule and Enforcement Guidance." "The CBA is likely to succeed on the merits of the RFRA violation claim because the law forces members to choose between expressing sincerely held beliefs and compliance," the judge stated. "This harm is irreparable and upholding Constitutional rights always weighs in favor of the public interest and an injunction," he concluded. "The Agency should have known it would not be allowed to force individuals to violate sincerely held religious beliefs." Monday's ruling from Traynor is not the first time the judicial branch has sided against the EEOC in its attempt to require employers to provide their employees with accommodations so they can have abortions. A June court ruling from Trump-appointed Judge David Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana prevented the Biden administration from enforcing the provision of its interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act related to abortion against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic University of America, the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Lafayette and Lake Charles as well as the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. Home News Evangelicals for Harris spends over $1M on anti-Trump ad campaign featuring Billy Graham The political action committee Evangelicals for Harris rolled out an over $1 million ad campaign Thursday that features footage of the late evangelist Billy Graham and suggests former President Donald Trump exhibits the character of evil men in the last days. The ad, which will play out over the next three weeks in battleground states, features a sermon Graham preached from 2 Timothy 3:1-5, in which Paul describes the terrible nature of the last days and warns "men will become utterly self-centered and greedy for money, full of big words." The ad interspersed brief clips of Trump making comments that the PAC implied are indications he possesses the sinful characteristics of the End Times evildoers Paul was describing. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Our newest ad has dropped. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But you must realize that in the last days the times will be full of danger. Men will become utterly self-centered and greedy for money, full of big words. They will be proud and abusive without any regard for their parents. They will pic.twitter.com/4NMgvbILFc Evangelicals For Harris (@Evangels4Harris) September 26, 2024 After Graham reads about greed, the ad shows a clip of Trump joking about how he is "greedy, greedy, greedy" and "grabbed all the money I could get." When Graham reads about Paul writing against men who are "proud and abusive," the ad then shows the famous clip of then-Fox News host Megyn Kelley asking Trump during a debate in 2015 about the derogatory comments he has made about women. The ad suggests Trump is also "uncontrolled and violent," citing a speech when he said he wanted to punch someone in the face. Trump's joke in 2019 that he was "the chosen one" regarding trade with China is evidence that he is "treacherous, reckless, and arrogant," the ad implies. The ad then claimed Trump loves pleasure more than God by citing the leaked "Access Hollywood" tape that featured prominently in the waning weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign, during which he said, "I just started kissing" beautiful women. The ad ended by suggesting Trump maintains "the facade of religion" but that his life denies the truth, using a 2015 clip showing pollster Frank Luntz asking Trump if he had ever asked for God's forgiveness. "I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don't think so. I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't," Trump replied at the time, though he later backtracked. The Christian Post has reached out to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assocation for comment. The ad marks the second time the PAC has attacked Trump using footage from Billy Graham's sermons, prompting pushback from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association CEO Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son. Franklin Graham, who has been an outspoken supporter of the former president's policies and has claimed there is a "demonic power" behind the attacks against him, asserted that Trump was the last presidential candidate his father voted for before he died in 2018 and suggested that attempts to imply his father would not support Trump are deliberately misleading. "The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris," Graham said. "They even developed a political ad trying to use my father [Billy Graham's] image. They are trying to mislead people. Maybe they don't know that my father appreciated the conservative values and policies of President [Trump] in 2016, and if he were alive today, my father's views and opinions would not have changed." The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris. They even developed a political ad trying to use my father @BillyGrahams image. They are trying to mislead people. Maybe they dont know that my father appreciated the conservative values and pic.twitter.com/LZe3SEm9Al Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 14, 2024 Franklin Graham's niece Jerushah Duford is at odds with her uncle over Trump, recently suggesting during an "Evangelicals for Harris" Zoom call that Trump supporters are causing people to turn away from Christianity. She expressed support for his opponent in the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris. "Voting Kamala, for me, is so much greater than policies," Duford said. "It's a vote against another four years of faith leaders justifying the actions of a man who destroys the message Jesus came to spread, and that is why I get involved in politics." Since his two recent assassination attempts, Trump has spoken more openly about God, claiming he thinks about Him more often and attributes his narrow escapes from death to divine providence. Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, visited the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday to pay his respects at the graves of the late evangelist and his wife. He mentioned how Graham's Gospel message cuts across class and racial divides. Home News Indiana AG vows to fight court ruling demanding baby killer's taxpayer-funded sex change The Republican attorney general of Indiana has vowed to fight a recent court ruling that mandates taxpayer-funded sex change procedures for an inmate who is in prison for strangling his 11-month-old stepdaughter to death. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Young granted a preliminary injunction last Tuesday in favor of the ACLU of Indiana, ordering that the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC) must provide prisoner Jonathan C. Richardson with sex change surgery "at the earliest opportunity," according to the order. "Of course, I disagree, How could you not??" Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita wrote on X in the wake of the ruling. "An Indiana inmate convicted of murder wants our taxpayers to fund their gender-altering surgery! Hoosiers do NOT want this. We're still reviewing the court's opinion, but you can undoubtedly expect our office to appeal this decision." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Richardson, who now goes by the name Autumn Cordellione, sued IDOC in August 2023 for violating his rights under the Eighth Amendment by subjecting him to "cruel and unusual punishment" by prohibiting taxpayers from paying for his sex change surgeries in accordance with House Bill 1569, a state law that went into effect in 2023. The statute states that the state DOC "may not authorize the payment of any money, the use of any state resources, or the payment of any federal money administered by the state to provide or facilitate the provision of sexual reassignment surgery to an offender patient." With the help of the ACLU, Richardson alleged the statute violated his rights under the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, according to the lawsuit. The initial complaint claimed that Richardson was diagnosed with gender dysphoria in 2020 and has been consistently taking female hormones and testosterone blockers, as well as being provided "panties, make up, and form fitting clothing." Young ruled that the state law was unconstitutional and that Richardson's need for sex change procedures was "medically necessary" to treat the gender dysphoria that the ACLU claims he has experienced since the age of 6. "Specifically, Ms. Cordellione has shown that her gender dysphoria is a serious medical need, and that, despite other treatments Defendant has provided her to treat her gender dysphoria, she requires gender-affirming surgery to prevent a risk of serious bodily and psychological harm," Young wrote. "Ms. Cordellione has shown that injunctive relief is necessary," the judge also wrote. "There is no dispute that gender dysphoria is a serious medical condition under the objective prong." Despite Richardson's request for extensive surgeries that would include breast implants and a tummy tuck among other procedures, Young is only demanding an orchiectomy to remove the testicles and a vaginoplasty, which purports to construct a "neovagina" out of penile tissue. ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk praised Young's ruling in a statement last week. "Today marks a significant victory for transgender individuals in Indianas prisons," said Falk. "Denying evidence-based medical care to incarcerated people simply because they are transgender is unconstitutional. We are pleased that the Court agreed." Richardson is serving a 55-year sentence for reckless homicide related to the death of his 11-month-old stepdaughter while his then-wife was at work on Sept. 12, 2001. An appeal from 2003 describes how Richardson was charged in 2002 with the murder of the baby girl, who, according to an autopsy, "died of asphyxiation by manual strangulation." The ruling comes as the issue of taxpayers paying for these types of procedures has featured in the 2024 presidential election. In footage from the 2020 election cycle that has since reemerged, Vice President Kamala Harris touted her work "behind the scenes" while serving as attorney general of California to make sure "that every transgender inmate in the prison system would have access to the medical care that they desire and need." In an ACLU questionnaire she filled out in 2020, Harris affirmed her intention as president that she would "ensure that transgender and nonbinary people who rely on the state for medical care including those in prison and immigration detention would be allowed to receive "all necessary surgical care." Home News NYC Mayor Eric Adams asks for prayers as hes accused of taking $10M in illegal donations New York City Mayor Eric Adams asked his supporters for prayers just hours before he was formally indicted Thursday on charges that he took some $10 million in bribes and illegal campaign donations from foreign nationals in exchange for favors. In a video statement on Wednesday night, Adams has pre-emptively dismissed the allegations as "entirely false based on lies." "It is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false based on lies but they would not be surprising," Adams said as he became the city's first sitting mayor to be indicted. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The five-count indictment accuses Adams of engaging in a decade-long pattern of corruption from when he was elected as Brooklyn Borough President in 2014. He has been accused of conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery. "In 2014, Eric Adams, the defendant, became Brooklyn Borough President. Thereafter, for nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him," the 57-page indictment alleges. "As Adams's prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York City's mayor," it added. "Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received." In his remarks on Wednesday, however, Adams said he always knew he would become a target as he pointed to his fight with the federal government over broken immigration policies that have "overloaded" the city's shelter system. "I know I am innocent. I will request an immediate trial so New Yorkers can hear the truth. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life. That fight has continued as your mayor despite our politics," Adams said. "When the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded the shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics," he explained. "I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target and a target I became." On Thursday morning, the mayor's official residence, Gracie Mansion, was raided by federal agents, who seized his phone. Alex Spiro, Adams' attorney, dismissed the raid in a press statement as a "spectacle." "Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams' phone (again). He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in," Spiro said. Adams also maintained Wednesday that he will continue as mayor as he defends himself in court, saying he has been doing that for months now with "leaks and rumors" that have been aimed at him. "Just this past week, they searched the home of our new police commissioner looking for documents from 20 years ago, just one week after he joined my administration. Enough! I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit," Adams said. "Make no mistake, you elected me to lead this city and lead it I will," he told New Yorkers. "I humbly ask for your prayers and your patience as we see this through." Home News Pastor Tony Evans sin confession stuns Christian community, sparks questions and prayers Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship has declined to elaborate on the stunning decision of its influential leader, Pastor Tony Evans, to temporarily step down from his pastoral duties "due to sin" as followers of his massive public ministry offered prayers while wondering about the nature of the unnamed sin he confessed. "There will be no one to speak to about that statement. It's true; he announced it at both services [on Sunday], and that's it," a representative of the church told The Christian Post Tuesday. "The person who's taking over for him is stated in that little paragraph, and that's about it. There will be nothing anyone else will be able to tell you. It's over." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Evans, 74, confessed in a written statement Sunday that though he did not commit any crimes, he fell short of the biblical standards espoused by his ministry "a number of years ago," suggesting it was "due to sin." "The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God," Evans stated. "A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me," he added. "While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders." While many people offered prayers for Evans, others like Roy E. Ciampa, Armstrong Chair of Religion and Chair of the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University in Alabama, are disappointed with his statement and believe the decision to confess may have been forced. "This is very disappointing. If this took place years ago. Is he (temporarily) stepping back now, bc he was just recently exposed? In any case, he covered it up for years & he's supposed to be ready for healing & restoration? Consider me skeptical," Ciampa wrote on X. Michelle Lesley, a Christian blogger and co-host of "A Word Fitly Spoken Podcast," accused Oak Cliff Bible Church's statement of finessing sin. "When they euphemize in every way possible without naming the sin, it's usually some form of sexual immorality. If you're truly repentant over your sin, you'll confess it, not finesse it," she wrote on X. "I hate that this happened, but he was already not someone to follow." Evans, who has authored over 100 books, booklets and Bible studies, has been the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for over 40 years. He "is one of the country's most respected leaders in evangelical circles," according to his bio on the church's website. His radio broadcast "The Alternative" is aired in some 130 countries via more than 1,400 radio outlets. He is the first African American to write and publish a full-Bible commentary and study Bible. He is also the first black American to earn a doctorate in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Evans, who once served as chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys, was also listed as a member of the Dallas Theological Seminary Board. Seminary officials did not immediately confirm if Evans is still a board member when contacted by CP Tuesday. Church planter and lead pastor of Hope Church in Georgia, JC Groves, said the news broke his heart and issued a message for church leaders. "You. No matter who you are. No matter how long you've been in ministry. No matter how big or small the ministry is You are one decision away from stupid," Groves tweeted. "One decision away from ruining it all. Don't be a statistic. Tony Evans news absolutely breaks my heart." While admitting that he once "fed" on sermons by Evans and doesn't believe him to be a "wolf in sheep's clothing," Christian podcaster Nick Jones raised concern about Evans continuing in ministry for several years knowing that he was "unfit due to sin." "To some people it doesn't matter. Some people are saying you know what, this whole time he was preaching knowing that he was unfit due to the sin, due to the transgression that he committed. So why was he on stage? That's some people's perspective," he said in a Monday video. "I don't want to just gossip for no reason, but I am curious if he was trying to get it ahead of something leaking , so he made a statement first because potentially something was going to come out. I don't know. But it is interesting that that [so] much time went by, and now he's finally saying that he needs to step away," Jones argued. While Evans may be stepping down temporarily, he will remain active in his Christian Bible teaching and resource ministry, The Urban Alternative. In partnership with Christian travel management company Inspiration Travel, Evans and The Urban Alternative will host a Mexican Riviera Cruise planned for Nov. 9-16, with tickets starting at $1,198 per traveler. An agent with Inspiration Travel told CP Tuesday that the cruise is still on because The Urban Alternative is a separate entity from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. The agent noted that The Urban Alternative also has a contractual obligation to continue with the cruise. Home News Persecution of Christians spotlighted at Lausanne 4: 'The gates of Hell shall not overcome the Church' INCHEON, South Korea The concern that church leaders have shown for Christians suffering for their faith since the first Lausanne Congress in 1974 has grown so much that most of a day and night was devoted to persecution at the fourth Congress on Wednesday. The connection between evangelization and persecution was clear. Christian leaders and speakers who addressed persecution also highlighted the importance of discipleship for and by those suffering for their faith. A Christian leader based in Nigeria told the Congress on World Evangelization, where 5,200 Christians from around the globe gathered, that one challenge of persecution is the temptation to fall into syncretic faith marked by corruption and false idols. The Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam, executive director of the Para-Malam Peace Foundation in Jos, cited an earlier warning sounded by the Rev. Patrick Fung, global ambassador of OMF International. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Like Dr. Patrick Fung shared this morning, persecution will never kill the Church, but a compromised Gospel will, Para-Mallam told the Congress. So thats a real challenge for Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa lack of a united, continental biblical response to persecution. And its important that the global Church is aware of these challenges and they can pray for us. Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel are seeing mass killings that are largely hidden Human beings are literally slaughtered as the financial infrastructure of Islamic extremist forces appear to be greatly enhanced, Para-Mallam said. The consequences are devastating, and it has resulted in increased persecution and terrorist attacks against Christians, he said. There are different nuances to persecution as experienced by Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the end goal is the same: Islamism in Africa. Non-state actors such as the jihadist terrorist groups Boko Haram, al-Shabaab and the Islamic State have become sub-states, with the complicity of some state officials complicating the fight against terrorism in some countries, he said. Christians are uprooted from their ancestral homelands, with millions living as internally displaced or as refugees. In some countries there is gender-based violence, which has become a weapon of persecution by terrorist groups in countries like Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Eritrea and Mozambique, Para-Mallam said. Persecution becomes a means of discipleship as Christians endure suffering, including girls kidnapped in Nigeria who have become women in captivity, such as Leah Sharibu, abducted by Boko Haram in 2018, he said. God is at work among Christian girls in captivity you wont believe this, but in Boko Haram captivity, some of these girls are involved in praying, Para-Mallam said. In Bible studies, even fasting, one of the girls told a Boko Haram commander, I do not belong in this place. Im praying, Im trusting God. And exactly three years later, God brought her out. Shes free today despite increasing prosecution. Christians in Africa are reliving the book of Acts as they learn to lay down their lives for Christ as a testimony of their resilience, he said. God is also winning back to Himself converts from among the persecutors, Para-Mallam said. May God continue to do His work, and may God be glorified in spite of persecution. A Christian leader from Lebanon also spoke of the importance of discipleship, highlighting the need to proactively prepare to face persecution. This would happen by having discipleship programs and curriculum that would address issues like theology of minorities, said the leader, whose name is being withheld for security reasons. How can you, as a minority, be effective in your society? How can you be a citizen responsible for your own society? Half-Lebanese and half-Syrian, he said the Islamic State invasion of Syria and Iraq in 2014 showed how little prepared Christians in the region were for persecution. Syrian Christians were really not prepared to face persecution, he said. I think theological institutions now, churches are preparing and more ready than before, how to educate, how to inform and how to equip sisters and brothers, how to face persecution, especially those who are coming from a Muslim background and will face pressures from governments as well as communities. Those suffering for their faith have much to teach Christians who need to hear the voices of the persecuted through books and other media as part of their discipleship, he said. Its good to have a strong biblical foundation that the Church has always been persecuted, and that the Church has always been a minority, he said. Its really crucial that we hear the voice of the martyrs before they become martyrs. We also really need to hear the voice of the majority world and, hand-in-hand with a global Church, support and advocate for the suffering Christians. Christian leaders in Iran also spoke of suffering as a means of growth, both personally and for the Church. One speaker, whose name is withheld, said that despite persecution, the number of Christians in Iran has grown from 500 at most before the 1979 Islamic Revolution to at least 1 million converts from Islam. Thats why we are training more people, more leaders, printing more Bibles and resources for discipleship, because we are waiting for much more than this, he said. History has shown that persecution is not the end of the story, firstly because its part of any Christian story; when he accepted Christ, he knew that persecution would come, he said. The second reason that persecution is not the end of the story because we know the end of the story, he said, citing the biblical promises that the gates of Hell shall not overcome the Church and the final victory of Gods people in Revelation." The last reason persecution is not the end of the story is because we are all part of the story the whole Body of Christ, he said. Im talking from the bleeding part of the Body. [But] we are all part of the story. The speakers emphasis on discipleship for and through persecution aligned with a paper produced by an Issue Group on the topic at the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization hosted by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization in Pattaya, Thailand, in 2004. The paper noted that despite the fall of the Iron Curtain, oppression and persecution of Christians was on the rise due to globalization, nationalism, religious fundamentalism, economic disparity, post-modernism and secularism. But since 1989, the main context for Christian persecution has become the Islamic world, the paper noted. The clash of civilizations between Islam and the West has intensified since Sept. 11, 2001, and is contributing to anti-Christian violence in Muslim contexts. Other causes identified were Hinduism, communism and post-communist contexts, and secularism. The Churchs existing theology of suffering needs to be supplemented by developing a theology of persecution, and possibly even a theology of religious freedom, the paper stated, noting a need for capacity building within and for the persecuted Church by means of training, both spiritual training for ministry and enduring persecution and practical/vocational training to strengthen the Church economically. Originally published at Christian Daily International Home News Top UK pediatrician says US doctors 'out of date' regarding trans interventions for minors One of the top pediatricians in the United Kingdom, who recently issued a report urging caution regarding hormonal and surgical interventions for trans-identified minors, claims medical professionals in the United States are "out of date" regarding such practices. Dr. Hilary Cass, a pediatrician in England for more than 30 years, penned a landmark study published last month called the "Cass Report." This study prompted the National Health Service to advise its gender clinics to implement a pause on first appointments for those under 18. Cass, who was tasked with reviewing the country's process for treating young people suffering from gender dysphoria, interviewed minor patients, transgender-identifying adults, detransitioners, advocacy groups and clinicians. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The report was commissioned amid an exponential rise of minors in the U.K. pursuing treatment for their gender dysphoria over the past decade despite the lack of long-term studies examining the use of puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones on such patients. Cass' investigation involved systematic review of international healthcare guidance, though she concluded that evidence supporting puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for young people is "remarkably weak." Cass advised that such hormones should be prescribed with "extreme caution." The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Endocrine Society appeared to downplay the findings of the Cass review. "Politicians have inserted themselves into the exam room, which is dangerous for both physicians and for families," said Dr. Ben Hoffman, the president of AAP, according to The New York Times. The Endocrine Society told the newspaper that the "Cass Report" "does not contain any new research" that would contradict its guidelines. Cass, who served as president of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health, spoke highly of the AAP but told the Times in an interview published Monday that she "respectfully [disagrees] with them on holding on to a position that is now demonstrated to be out of date by multiple systematic reviews." "It wouldn't be too much of a problem if people were saying, 'This is clinical consensus, and we're not sure,'" Cass said. "But what some organizations are doing is doubling down on saying the evidence is good. And I think that's where you're misleading the public. You need to be honest about the strength of the evidence and say what you're going to do to improve it." Cass speculated the AAP is a "fairly left-leaning organization" and is afraid of making any moves against gender procedures for children because they are both under "political duress" and frightened to acknowledge that there are multiple ways out for children who experience gender dysphoria. Cass advised against a "politically driven" medical system, urging a more holistic approach to treating minors struggling with their gender identity. She suggested the U.S. medical system has failed such patients in part because it has been overwhelmed by the problem. "We're failing these kids, and we're failing other kids in terms of the amount of mental health support we have available," she said. "That is a huge problem not just for gender-questioning young people. And I think that's partly a reflection of the fact that the system's been caught out by a growth of demand that is completely outstripping the ability to provide it." The World Professional Association for Transgender Health's Standards of Care, now in its eighth edition, guides many leading health authorities worldwide regarding transgender healthcare. According to the leaked documents, members of WPATH admitted internally that minors are incapable of giving informed consent regarding irreversible treatments such as puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones. Home Opinion A friendly invitation to speakers at G3 Cessationist Conference To all the speakers at the G3 Cessationist Conference and to all those who appeared in the Cessationist movie, I want to give you a personal invitation. This is not a challenge, and this is not meant to be a provocation. Instead, this is a genuine, heartfelt invitation for the glory of God and the good of His people, an invitation to enter into a serious public dialogue about the cessationist-continuationist controversy. Will you please take a moment to read on? Since 2013, I have offered to debate any of the speakers from the Strange Fire conference on a simple topic: According to the Scriptures, are the gifts of the Spirit including tongues and prophecy and healing normative for today? To date, none of the speakers responded to my invitation, although I subsequently had debates with Dr. Sam Waldron, Dr. Theodore Zachariades, and (in more limited form) with my friend and colleague Dr. James White. Last year, at the invitation of Christianity Today, I wrote an article explaining why I was not a cessationist, offering to debate anyone who appeared in the cessationist movie or would be speaking at the conference. Pastor Andrew Rappaport, a Jewish believer in Jesus, like myself, was the only one to respond to the invitation, as he had participated in a previous, smaller cessationist conference and was a supporter of the movie. He actually reached out to churches in Oklahoma near the site of the upcoming cessationist conference area to see if any of them would be willing to host our debate the night the conference ended, but he got no takers. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Hopefully, Andrew and will be able to conduct that debate for the edification of the Church in the days ahead. But for now, I want to offer an alternate proposal to any of the G3 speakers or to those who appeared in the movie. Lets sit down together one- on-one in a full-length, non-hurried, non-timed discussion where clarity and understanding are our goal. We will each lay out our positions in a private setting before video cameras, make sure we understand one anothers positions, have the opportunity to challenge one anothers positions in a gracious way, and respond to those challenges. Then, we will post the video for free viewing on our respective social media platforms for everyone to watch and evaluate for themselves. Will you do it? Recently, on August 20, I did something similar with a brilliant, ultra-Orthodox rabbi. He and I have been engaging in discussion since 2001, exchanging many hundreds of pages of documents and emails over the years along with countless conversations by phone. Weve also had some limited YouTube interaction, with each of us posting a series of videos where we responded to one another. But this was the first time that we sat together and conducted our discussion in public (it amounted to almost four hours of content), where questions were asked of one another and where greater clarification could come. The response to the video has been overwhelmingly positive. People in both the Jewish and Christian communities are benefiting greatly by watching this dialogue and witnessing our respectful interaction. How much more could we do this as brothers together in the Lord? In the late 1970s and early 1980s, I tried to become a cessationist. I didn't want to be Pentecostal or Charismatic anymore for a number of reasons, and I bought books arguing against the Pentecostal-Charismatic position, also dialoguing privately with those who rejected the charismatic gifts for today. But the more I studied the Word, the more I was convinced that there was not a stitch of scriptural support for cessationism. In fact, it is my belief that there is not a single verse in the Bible that supports the cessationist position and that the doctrine would have been utterly foreign to the Apostles and the writers of the New Testament. My own view is that cessationism is either based on ones personal spiritual experiences, bad exegesis, or faulty theological presuppositions (or all three). You, for your part, feel you have very strong and robust Scriptural arguments against my position. You would also question my interpretation of the Word, my theological presuppositions, and my own spiritual experiences. Fair enough! Thats why we need to have this discussion: the Body of Christ deserves it. We will not debate contemporary miracles. We will not debate contemporary abuses. We will simply discuss one question: What does the Bible say? Surely, you know that the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement is growing rapidly around the world, with an ever-increasing number of Reformed continuationists as well. It is my conviction that there is a powerful, glorious wave of the Spirit sweeping the earth that cannot be stopped, mixed with many destructive excesses and even heresies that must be addressed. (For my relevant 2018 book, see here.) In your view, this is a dangerous movement that is deceiving many and must be confronted as loudly and clearly as possible lest millions of people are led astray. Suffice it to say that the stakes are high! Let us, then, as leaders with platforms in the Body, have a respectful, face-to-face discussion, one where we will be sure that each of us is satisfied that we have been able to present our views and respond to relevant questions. Im more than happy to use the platforms that God has given me to expose viewers to your position, and I hope that you feel sufficiently confident in your point of view that you would be willing to expose your viewers to my position. And Im happy to come your way to record or to fly you to North Carolina at my expense to record. We have a great studio and our team is ready to go. Rather than try to score points or win a debate, we will present a discussion between leaders in the Body with the goal of magnifying Jesus, exalting the Word, and building up the people of God. Are you in? You can reach out to me here. Of course, if you are convinced that I am not a brother, I can only pray for Gods grace to flood your hearts afresh. Be assured that I hold no animosity towards you! I do hope, however, that at least one of you will take me up on this invitation. May Jesus be glorified and may we all walk in the fullness of the Spirit for today. Home Opinion Ive had abortions, worked at an abortion clinic. Why Im horrified at Kamala Harris views As a mother of three, grandmother of eleven, and great-grandmother of three, Im not easily offended or surprised. Ive seen and heard nearly everything, more or less. But having watched Vice President Kamala Harris at the recent debate and seen her lean in so hard to the dehumanization of the unborn was triggering. The outright mockery and arrogance of Kamala Harris to dismiss so handily the lives of innocent babies have been horrific to see, watch, and read. Not only does she have her facts completely wrong, but she assumes abortion is the best decision for women, no matter the cost to the mothers own health mental, physical, and spiritual and the life of the unborn baby. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe My own story with abortion is a unique one where I've experienced my mother trying to abort me, being a mother who aborted her babies, and working in an abortion clinic helping other women abort their babies. When my mother was early in her second trimester, she went to an abortion clinic and underwent a Dilation and Extraction abortion. Through no less than a miracle, my life was spared but the life of my twin was not. The household I was born into lacked love. I was unwanted. I grew up not seeing the value in my own life or humanity. To no ones surprise, I got pregnant as an unmarried young woman. The first time, it was my parents who pressured me to have an abortion. The second time, it was my boyfriend who wanted his freedom more than fatherhood and true masculinity. The value of the lives of my babies wasnt on my heart and those abortions were detrimental to my mental and spiritual health. After my abortions, I worked in an abortion clinic for almost three years, which took me to a new level of devaluing and dehumanizing the unborn lives I was working to snuff out. Like nearly everyone who starts working in abortion clinics, I wanted to help women. And I thought I was because what was more important than their bodily autonomy? What could possibly trump their own sense of self and the dreams they had for their future? I thought I was giving them a way out of their situation. I fell so hard for the lies that the abortion industry tells the same lies that Kamala Harris repeated over and over at the debate and that she yells at rallies. I learned, through very difficult life experiences, that abortion is the opposite of empowerment. It takes away something so precious and unrepeatable and valuable that you can never get back. Kamala Harris is so resolutely one-sided in her religion of abortion that people like me dont exist to her. That whole discussion on abortion during the presidential debate was very difficult to watch because Im a mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Most importantly, Im a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. None of those titles I am so honored to hold would have been possible if that failed abortion was successful. I would not exist. My children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would not exist. My tiny body would have been torn apart in that second trimester abortion and discarded like trash which is still happening today to thousands of unborn babies every year. Those little lives will never hold the titles of mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, sister, or brother. And Kamala Harris is doing everything in her power to make that happen for many more years. Im really grateful for my life, for Gods redemption, mercy, and loving kindness. I really have a problem with the statements that Harris made during the debate, disregarding the rights and value of the unborn while elevating the rights of women in their own bodies. I realize now how important it is to value the unborn and say they have a right to life. She made a mockery of being a champion for women. Home Opinion No Christian should navigate politics soloheres why Election years bring out the worst in us. Never-ending news cycles, partisan divisions, and social media trolling make it hard to feel anything other than frustrated and overwhelmed by what were experiencing daily. For Christians, election season presents an added challenge one that none of us are up to facing on our own. Believers are called to engage in civic life by advocating for principles that reflect Kingdom values while speaking the truth in love, and holding fast to our unity with others. Doing any one of these three, much less all three at the same time feels overwhelming and impossible because it is. As a Christian whos worked in the political arena for 25 years, I personally can attest to the fact that its impossible to live up to Gods expectations of me during an election year. Something always gives either truth wins and love fails, or vice versa, with our unity inevitably suffering as a result of our failures. Literally every time I do politics in my own strength, I fail miserably. So, its no surprise that a question I regularly get is, How do we stay true to our convictions without compromising Gods command to love and stay unified with those we disagree with, especially in the heat of an election year? My best and only response to those brave enough to ask this question is by never doing politics alone. Believers only hope of not blowing their witness over politics, is actively partnering with the Holy Spirit. Politics are rife with traps and snares that only the Holy Spirit can help us navigate. We need the Holy Spirit to help us discern who and what to vote for, as well as how to engage those we disagree with. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In Ephesians 4, were warned to not be ...blown here and there by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming which sounds like every campaign Ive ever been a part of or observed. Instead, Jesus instructs us in Matthew 10, to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Its easy to get caught up in election-year lies, especially when we align with one party over another. Our natural inclination is to believe everything our side says while disavowing everything that comes out of the other sides mouth. However, doing so makes us beholden to the wisdom of man, which Scripture calls foolishness in Gods sight (1 Cor 3:19). By partnering with the Holy Spirit, rather than a political party, candidate, or ideology, we are empowered with supernatural wisdom to discern truth from lies. However, we only get wisdom if we do the actual work of acquiring it. Wisdom doesnt just fall into our lap as a by-product of our salvation; we have to get wisdom by proactively seeking it (Proverbs 4:5-7) which too few of us even bother to do. By this time in an election cycle, were usually convinced that we already have all the answers we need, which leads us to reject the gift of wisdom that King Solomon (the wisest man who ever lived) instructs us to sell everything to gain (Proverbs 4:5)! Thankfully, all that gaining wisdom requires is humility on our part, to seek and receive from the Holy Spirit all that is rightfully ours. The same Spirit that helps us discern truth also empowers us to speak with grace and love. However, I personally find it nearly impossible to speak lovingly with those I disagree with. As an attorney and paid political commentator, I want to win every argument and leave the other side bleeding (metaphorically speaking, of course). However, thats not my mandate as a Believer, whos instructed to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Apart from the Holy Spirit, this would be an impossible task for someone as petty as me. But by partnering with the Holy Spirit, I am empowered not only to speak the truth in love but also to pray for and bless my political enemies. This is easier said than done and takes practice. One way to grow in this area is by gathering a small group to commit to walking out these principles. Work through a study on civic engagement with Kingdom principles (heres a free one Ive put together). Ask questions. Share challenges. Gain insight from the testimonies and failures of others (like me) on the journey of learning how to speak the truth in love in politics. We were never meant to navigate the political realm or any cultural realm in our own strength and wisdom. We need the Holy Spirits help whenever we engage because loving our political enemies goes against the tide of everything thats modeled and taught. Rather than mimic the ways of the world, our job is to reset the political tone in America. As my youth pastor always said, Christians should be thermostats, not thermometers. Thats especially true in politics, and particularly important here and now. Because unlike those who consider foreign enemies the gravest threat to our nation, I believe that internal division is an immediate and existential threat to America. As both Scripture and Abraham Lincoln said, A house divided cannot stand (Mark 3:25). Right now, America is on the brink of splitting into red and blue halves. Only a commitment to partner with the Holy Spirit can empower us to unify our country and save us from ourselves. For what good would it do to win this election, and lose both our country and our souls? Lebanon churches open their doors amid airstrikes Churches in Lebanon have become sanctuaries for people displaced by Israeli airstrikes. While the airstrikes are aimed at militant group Hezbollah, Aid to the Church in Need's project coordinator in Lebanon, Marielle Boutros, said that the consequences are far-reaching and "affecting everyone" but especially those living in the south - a part of the country that is home to many Christians. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is partnering with local church organisations to help the thousands who have been displaced since the bombing began on Monday. "People are now living in church halls, so they will need food, sanitary products, mattresses, blankets and if it continues, we will need heating for winter, though of course, we hope it will not last that long," she said. Christians are among the people who have lost their homes. Some have sought refuge in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and northern regions. Beirut, which ACN said is a "stronghold for Hezbollah", has also been targeted by the airstrikes. Boutros explained the impact: "Beirut is not a big city, so if a part of Beirut is targeted, all Beirut will feel it, and all day people hear the sound of military aircraft or drones." She fears that the ongoing conflict might accelerate Christian migration from Lebanon and diminish the Christian presence in the region. Schools that were already being supported by ACN in Lebanon have now closed due to the violence and lessons are being taught online. Tragically, dozens of children are among the hundreds of casualties so far. Boutros asked that Christians would pray for peace "to finally come to Lebanon and the entire region, and for a just end to the current conflict." Persecuted believers need a 'united, biblical response' The concern that church leaders have shown for Christians suffering for their faith since the first Lausanne Congress in 1974 has grown so much that most of a day and night was devoted to persecution at the fourth Congress in South Korea on Wednesday. The connection between evangelization and persecution was clear. Consistent with the emphasis that other Christian leaders have expressed at the Lausanne 4 Congress taking place in Incheon, South Korea, speakers addressing persecution highlighted the importance of discipleship for and by those suffering for their faith. A Christian leader based in Nigeria told the congress on world evangelization, where 5,200 Christians from around the globe gathered, that one challenge of persecution is the temptation to fall into syncretic faith marked by corruption and false idols. The Rev. Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, executive director of the Para-Malam Peace Foundation in Jos, cited an earlier warning sounded by the Rev. Dr. Patrick Fung, global ambassador of OMF International. "Like Dr. Patrick Fung shared this morning, persecution will never kill the church, but a compromised gospel will," Para-Mallam told the congress. "So that's a real challenge for Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa lack of a united, continental biblical response to persecution, and it's important that the global church is aware of these challenges and they can pray for us." Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel are seeing mass killings that are largely hidden: "Human beings are literally slaughtered" as the financial infrastructure of Islamic extremist forces appear to be greatly enhanced, Para-Mallam said. "The consequences are devastating, and it has resulted in increased persecution and terrorist attacks against Christians," he said. "There are different nuances to persecution as experienced by Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the end goal is the same: Islamism in Africa." Non-state actors such as Boko Haram, Al Shabaab and the Islamic State have become sub-states, with the complicity of some state officials complicating the fight against terrorism in some countries, he said. Christians are uprooted from their ancestral homelands, with millions living as internally displaced or as refugees. "In some countries there is gender-based violence, which has become a weapon of persecution by terrorist groups in countries like Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Eritrea and Mozambique," Para-Mallam said. Persecution becomes a means of discipleship as Christians endure suffering, including girls kidnapped in Nigeria who have become women in captivity, such as Leah Sharibu, abducted by Boko Haram in 2018, he said. "God is at work among Christian girls in captivity you won't believe this, but in Boko Haram captivity, some of these girls are involved in praying," Para-Mallam said. "In Bible studies, even fasting, one of the girls told a Boko Haram commander, 'I do not belong in this place. I'm praying, I'm trusting God.' And exactly three years later, God brought her out. She's free today despite increasing prosecution." Christians in Africa are reliving the Book of Acts as they learn to lay down their lives for Christ as a testimony of their resilience, he said. "God is also winning back to himself converts from among the persecutors," Para-Mallam said. "May God continue to do His work, and may God be glorified in spite of persecution." A Christian leader from Lebanon also spoke of the importance of discipleship, highlighting the need to proactively prepare to face persecution. "This would happen by having discipleship programmes and curriculum that would address issues like theology of minorities," said the leader, whose name is withheld for security reasons. "How can you as a minority be effective in your society? How can you be a citizen responsible for your own society?" Half-Lebanese and half-Syrian, he said the Islamic State invasion of Syria and Iraq in 2014 showed how little prepared Christians in the region were for persecution. "Syrian Christians were really not prepared to face persecution," he said. "I think theological institutions now, churches are preparing and more ready than before, how to educate, how to inform and how to equip sisters and brothers, how to face persecution, especially those who are coming from Muslim background and will face pressures from governments as well as communities." Those suffering for their faith have much to teach Christians who need to hear the voices of the persecuted through books and other media as part of their discipleship, he said. "It's good to have a strong biblical foundation that the church has always been persecuted, and that the church has always been a minority," he said. "It's really crucial that we hear the voice of the martyrs before they become martyrs. We also really need to hear the voice of the majority world and, hand-in-hand with a global church, support and advocate for the suffering Christians." Christian leaders in Iran also spoke of suffering as a means of growth, both personally and for the church. One speaker, whose name is withheld, said that despite persecution, the number of Christians in Iran has grown from 500 at most before the 1979 Islamic Revolution to at least 1 million converts from Islam. "That's why we are training more people, more leaders, printing more Bibles and resources for discipleship, because we are waiting for much more than this," he said. History has shown that persecution is not the "end of the story," firstly because it's part of any Christian story; when he accepted Christ, he knew that persecution would come, he said. "The second reason that persecution is not the end of the story because we know the end of the story," he said, citing the biblical promises that the gates of hell shall not overcome church and the final victory of God's people in Revelations. The last reason persecution is not the end of the story is "because we are all part of the story the whole Body of Christ," he said. "I'm talking from the bleeding part of the body. [But] we are all part of the story." The speakers' emphasis on discipleship for and through persecution aligned with a paper produced by an Issue Group on the topic at the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization hosted by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization in Pattaya, Thailand, in 2004. The paper noted that despite the fall of the Iron Curtain, oppression and persecution of Christians was on the increase due to globalization, nationalism, religious fundamentalism, economic disparity, post-modernism and secularism. "But since 1989, the main context for Christian persecution has become the Islamic world," the paper noted. "The 'clash of civilizations' between Islam and the West has intensified since Sept. 11, 2001 and is contributing to anti-Christian violence in Muslim contexts." Other causes identified were Hinduism, communism and post-communist contexts, and secularism. "The Church's existing theology of suffering needs to be supplemented by developing a theology of persecution, and possibly even a theology of religious freedom," the paper stated, noting a need for capacity building within and for the persecuted Church by means of training, "both spiritual training for ministry and enduring persecution and practical/vocational training to strengthen the Church economically." Christian Daily International What does the Gutenberg Press teach us about the intersection of faith and technological innovation? The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century marked a transformative moment in the history of communication and the spread of Christianity. Born in Mainz, Germany, around 1400, Gutenberg's background as a goldsmith enabled him to develop movable-type printing, revolutionising the production of books. His many contributions to printing included the invention of a process for mass-producing movable type, the use of oil-based ink for printing, adjustable moulds, and the creation of a wooden printing press similar to contemporary agricultural screw presses. This innovation drastically increased the availability of texts, particularly the Bible, and played a significant role in shaping religious life across Europe. Before the Gutenberg Press, books were hand-copied by scribes, making them rare and expensive. Consequently, access to religious texts was limited to clergy and the wealthy elite, keeping Christian teachings and biblical interpretation under the control of a select few. Gutenberg's invention changed this by enabling the mass production of books, including Bibles, making them accessible to a far broader audience. For the first time, ordinary people could engage with scripture directly, fostering a deeper understanding of Christian doctrine. Gutenberg's technology was instrumental in the Protestant Reformation. Reformers like Martin Luther seized upon the press's ability to disseminate ideas quickly. Luther's translation of the Bible into German was printed and widely distributed, allowing ordinary people to read and interpret scripture in their own language. This accessibility challenged the Catholic Church's authority, which had long controlled the interpretation of religious texts. As a result, the Reformation spread rapidly, driven by the power of the printed word. In addition to its role in religious reform, the printing press facilitated the wider spread of Christian teachings beyond boundaries and into the rest of Europe. Evangelical messages, once confined to local congregations, could now reach diverse and distant audiences. Churches and religious institutions quickly recognised the potential of this new technology, commissioning printed Bibles and other religious texts to meet the spiritual needs of growing congregations. Gutenberg's invention reshaped the relationship between individuals and scripture, empowering believers to engage more deeply with their faith. It laid the foundation for broader intellectual and cultural developments, fostering the spread of knowledge, discoveries, and literacy during the Renaissance. The printing press helped drive a new era of learning and inquiry, establishing itself as a powerful tool for social and religious change. Johannes Gutenberg's printing press was more than just a technological breakthrough; it was a catalyst for major transformations in Europe's religious and intellectual landscape. By making the Bible widely accessible, it challenged the established Church, spread new theological ideas, and ultimately changed the course of history. His major work, the Gutenberg Bible, was the first printed version of the Bible and has been acclaimed for its high aesthetic and technical quality. Gutenberg died in 1468, but his legacy endures as a testament to the lasting authority of the printed word in advancing both faith and knowledge. In much the same way the Gutenberg Press revolutionised communication in its time, modern digital media - through the internet, broadcast channels, and the mobile devices we all carry - offers an equally transformative platform for sharing the Christian message today. Just as the printing press made scripture accessible to a wider audience, digital tools now allow believers to explore their faith through Bible apps, online sermons, and social media, reaching a global audience instantly. This modern technology provides an unprecedented opportunity for evangelism, enabling Christians to engage a generation already deeply immersed in digital media, much like Gutenberg's technology reached those eager for new ideas during the Reformation. Will NHS staff be able to veto Christian prayers during assisted suicides? If assisted suicide becomes legal in the UK, would NHS staff have a right to veto Christian prayers being said when the lethal injections are administered? The question may seem far-fetched, but it is raised by the experience of writer Matthew Hall who witnessed the recent death of his late aunt in Canada. In Canada, assisted suicide has been legal since 2016 and is officially termed Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Hall wrote about his experience in The Spectator magazine on September 21 and it makes for fascinating reading. His aunt was 72 and in the early stages of motor neurone disease. She made the decision earlier this year to undergo MAiD against the wishes of her family. Hall wrote: "My aunt had wanted me with her at the end. She knew that I am a practising Christian (there is nothing like being brought up in the 1980s by self-proclaimed 'radical vegans' to drive you into the arms of the church) and I sensed that deep-down she was conflicted about religion that beneath all the crystals and dream-catchers there was still a remnant of the faith that as a teenage art student in late-1960s London she had dismissed as stuffy and old-fashioned." Hall made it clear to her that he did not approve of euthanasia and would be saying prayers for her as she died. He did not tell her that he intended to read Anglican prayers for the dying. This left him with a "conundrum" - "how to give her what I knew she wanted but which might nevertheless upset the rebellious part of her even in her final moments". In her last moments of consciousness, Hall read out a short prayer which he had translated into Welsh. His aunt looked up in "momentary surprise and delight at the sound of the language her father had often spoken at home", although, not being a Welsh speaker herself, she did not know that Hall had prayed: "Into your loving arms, O Lord, we commend your servant..." Hall continued: "As the next syringe went in and the life drained from her, I was able to read the prayers for the dying aloud. The friends and family members in the room told me afterwards that they appreciated them, grateful that this traumatic occasion had been made into a solemn ceremony." But the doctor, Hall related, "seemed unmoved." "Less than a minute after declaring his patient dead, I heard him in the kitchen saying his goodbyes and chuckling at something, perhaps in relief that what had probably been an unexpected ordeal for him was over," Hall wrote. He recorded the discomfort of the nurse involved in his aunt's euthanasia at the Christian prayers being said: "For some reason, the nurse remained in the room a little longer than she needed to. I overheard her say to my aunt's friend that hearing the prayers had 'got to her'. "It occurred to me that those who opt to die this way must seldom be believers. The clinical process of putting someone down and I use the phrase advisedly to which she had become inured had been met on this occasion with a belief in the soul, in God, in consequences." It looks likely that, as with the Abortion Act 1967, euthanasia will be legalised in the UK through a Private Member's Bill in Parliament with government backing. The BBC reported last December that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer supports a change in the law to allow euthanasia. Now that he is Prime Minister he has the opportunity to get what he wants. On morally contentious issues like abortion and euthanasia, Private Member's Bills allow governments that want to lift existing restrictions on these practices to achieve their aim without ministers having to take responsibility for the legislation. The Mail on Sunday has reported that Labour MPs high up on this month's ballot allowing them to move Private's Member Bills in the House of Commons are being encouraged to take forward a proposal to legalise assisted suicide. One Labour MP admitted he has been offered two extra staff to help him draft legislation. https://www.christiantoday.com/article/pm.intends.to.fast.track.assisted.suicide.vote.before.christmas.according.to.reports/142171.htm Hall's story flags up the role religious rites may or may not be allowed to play in assisted suicides. It is significant that he had his late aunt's consent to say prayers at her death but she did not know in advance that these would be Anglican prayers. Moreover, before she lost consciousness she did not understand the meaning of the specific Anglican prayer he said. The Labour government would almost certainly want to regulate such a situation. It may well be that the NHS rules that followed the legislation laid down that relatives must have precise consent from their loved ones over the usage and content of prayers at the point of their death. It would surely be possible for NHS staff uncomfortable with prayers being said during euthanasia to influence patients to withhold their consent. The legislation may even give NHS staff the right to forbid prayers being said in the absence of legally witnessed written consent. Hall's experience shows that in the Brave New World of assisted suicide God is not wanted. Unfortunately, under the power structures prevailing in the UK it would appear to be frighteningly easy to banish him from the room. Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire. Aboneaza-te la rubricile dorite si primeste zilnic notificari pe email cu link-uri la articolele care au fost adaugate in ultimele 24 de ore. Notificarile vor fi expediate la adresa indicata mai jos. Daca doresti sa schimbi adresa - o poti modifica editand informatia de profil aici. Pfizer and Modernas legal battle over their rival COVID-19 vaccines will continue after Londons High Court on Wednesday gave Pfizer permission to take the case to the Court of Appeal. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech sued Moderna in London in September 2022, seeking to revoke two patents held by Moderna, which hit back days later alleging its own patents had been infringed. The High Court gave a mixed ruling in July, ruling that one of Modernas two patents relating to the messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that underpinned its COVID-19 vaccine was invalid. But the court ruled another similar patent was valid and that Pfizer and BioNTechs Comirnaty vaccine had infringed it, meaning Moderna is entitled to damages in relation to sales after March 2022. Judge Richard Meade gave Pfizer and BioNTech permission to appeal against that decision on Wednesday. The issue of any damages owed to Moderna is on hold pending their appeal. Moderna was refused permission to appeal in relation to its patent which was found to be invalid, but the company can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal. The London lawsuits are just one leg of a global battle between Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna, which have also been involved in proceedings in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States, as well as at the European Patent Office. (Reporting by Tobin; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar) DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am invited to attend my nephews wedding later this summer. On their website, instead of gifts, they are requesting money for a European honeymoon. I happen to own a house on the Adriatic coast of Italy that stands open and available for use during most of the year. Would it be appropriate for me to offer the use of the house in lieu of a monetary gift? GENTLE READER: Certainly. But are you sure you want to? (Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.) Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has announced that an official signing ceremony of an agreement to end the crisis at the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) will take place on Thursday after representatives of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, an advisory body, reached consensus on the appointment of a new leadership at the Bank following a new round of talks under its auspices American Eagle Outfitters is suing Amazon for trademark infringement, alleging the e-commerce giant used branding from its Aerie clothing line in search results, leading consumers to "inferior quality knock-offs." In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, American Eagle accused Amazon of "flagrant, unauthorized use" of the Aerie and Offline by Aerie trademarks on its site to deceive shoppers into believing the products were available on Amazon, drive traffic to its platform and sell competing merchandise. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. American Eagle said it didn't authorize Amazon to sell products from its Aerie line of yoga pants, lingerie, loungewear and other attire, adding that it "intentionally declined so Aerie can foster its own brand identity and customer experience." American Eagle, founded in 1977, launched the Aerie brand in 2006. A shopper searching for Aerie products on Google will see sponsored and organic links to Amazon's website, the lawsuit says. Clicking on a link leads to an Amazon webpage that "displays only knock-offs and 'dupes'" of Aerie products, including sweatshirts and exercise shorts, American Eagle alleges. The company said it notified Amazon "over a month ago" of the infringing products, but says they were relabeled with misspellings of its Aerie trademarks, including "Aeries," "Arie" or "Aries." "These ads are intended to (and do) trick customers into thinking that by clicking the provided link, they will be able to 'Shop Aerie' or 'Save on Offline by Aerie' on the 'Official Amazon Site,'" the complaint states. "These statements are patently false because customers cannot shop for Aerie products on Amazon." Many of the alleged Aerie knock-offs referenced in the lawsuit are sold by third-party sellers on Amazon's online marketplace. Launched in 2000, the marketplace allows businesses to hawk their goods on the company's site. It's amassed millions of sellers, and accounts for more than half of all goods sold on the site. Amazon has faced similar complaints for years. In 2016, shoemaker Birkenstock announced it would pull its products from Amazon in response to a surge in counterfeits. That year, German automaker Daimler AG sued Amazon after it discovered knock-off versions of Mercedes-Benz wheels sold by a third-party seller. In 2019, Amazon added a line to the "risk factors" section of its annual financial filing warning investors of the growing threat of third-party sellers peddling counterfeits. Since then, the company has stepped up its efforts to police counterfeits on its site, launching a team that pursues criminal action against counterfeiters, filing lawsuits and rolling out tools to help brands protect their trademarks. Amazon representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has previously said it prohibits the sale of counterfeits on its site. American Eagle is seeking an injunction and financial damages based on Amazon's alleged trademark infringement. WATCH: How the U.S. government and Amazon are fighting Chinese counterfeits The Chinese central bank unrolled the most significant stimulus program since the COVID-19 pandemic and Chinese equities are starting to show signs that the long history of underperformance relative to western equities could possibly be on borrowed time. The name that has already demonstrated leadership that we want to focus on should this move into Chinese names continues is Tencent Holdings (TCEHY) . Before we get further into the company specifics it's important to reiterate that Chinese equities have under-performed U.S. equities since 2007. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) unveiled a multiple trillion USD package to boost the sagging economy that has been mired with deflation, a sagging housing market, and a slowing economy. The goal of the program according to Chinese officials is to return the economy to a 5% growth rate. Looking at the weekly chart of the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) we can see the breakout from the blue dotted trendline on above average volume and a turn higher in the S & P 500/FXI ratio (bottom panel). The price of FXI is moving higher, but does face a challenge of resistance from the 200-week moving average as well as the 50% retracement. If this move is sustainable FIX should be able to continue through that $34-area resistance zone. Turning to the focus company Tencent Holdings (TCHEY) is a multinational technology conglomerate listed on the Hong Kong exchange since 2004. The company is most known for (according to Tencent.com) "some of the world's most popular video games and other high-quality digital content", but also offers "... a range of services such as cloud computing, advertising, FinTech, and other enterprise services to support (our) client's digital transformation and business growth" The company is also focusing on an AI project known as "LMM's" or "large medical models', similar to LLM's, that is boosting the healthcare industry. TCHEY also broke out on this rotation into Chinese equities above the yellow highlighted resistance zone , as well as the 200-week moving average around the $52-$53 zone that should now act as support. Tencent earnings have been accelerating with the prior 4 quarter-over-quarter growth rates in chronological order of 37%, 42%, 51%, and 55%. Analysts are looking for more conservative percentage growth rates in the 20's in coming quarters and if this improvement in Chinese equities on the back of central bank stimulus continues we may see TCEHY reach our $75.00 target. I do not yet hold TCEHY in any of our portfolios at Inside Edge, but following a small period of consolidation I will be looking to build a position with stops below the $52 breakout zone. -Todd Gordon, Founder of Inside Edge Capital, LLC DISCLOSURES: (Gordon does not own TCEHY in his wealth management company Inside Edge Capital. Charts shown are MotiveWave.) All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer. India's economic growth story is a stunning one but the question of where investors should park their money is not always straightforward, with one Blackstone executive highlighting a common mistake. India is set to become the world's third-largest economy by 2027, according to its finance ministry . The country's stock market has also been in the spotlight this year, overtaking Hong Kong to become the fourth-largest globally in terms of the total value of listed companies. India's benchmark indexes have notched successive record highs throughout the year the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex indexes are almost 20% and 17.5% higher year-to-date. However, focusing too much on the macro story can be dangerous for investors, according to Blackstone Private Equity's head of Asia, Amit Dixit. "The rising tide does not lift all boats. I think you go to India for the macro, everybody knows," Dixit said at the Milken Institute's recent Asia Summit in Singapore. "But if you just invest on that thesis, you get your head handed to you. The way you make money is on the micros. You have to own certain micros." Speaking to CNBC on the sidelines of the conference, Dixit said he sees potential in the technology, consumer, healthcare and unregulated financial services sectors. While the list of companies Blackstone invests in India are extensive, he spotlighted the likes of information technology service firm Mphasis , IT service management company R Systems and automotive components manufacturer Sona Comstar . 'Not an easy place to do business' Blackstone started investing in Indian companies and assets 19 years ago, but Dixit said its first five years were a "tough start." "Even now, it's not an easy place to do business for foreigners," he said. Foreign investors are not permitted to directly purchase stocks through online trading platforms , although they can invest in the Indian market through mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Additionally, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) enable international investors to access foreign stocks through their home stock exchanges. Dixit recommended a barbell strategy , particularly for chief investment officers looking to invest in the country. This involves being overweight on two distinctly different assets usually high risk and low risk to hedge against uncertainty. "I think, either end of the spectrum, you can make a lot of money as an investor," he said. Manraj Sekhon, chief investment officer of Templeton Global Investments, shares Dixit's optimism on India's growth given a range of factors: the country's pivot to manufacturing, a digitalization push facilitating easier trade and business transactions, and a rising middle class. Sekhon also touched on the country's secular growth story and the fact that investors are willing to pay a premium for the lack of correlation to global variables which affect most markets. He highlighted that as growth rates decelerate around the world, India's case is opposite. "In terms of valuation, I think it will continue to trade at a premium. And if you look at what's happening on the ground and what's happening elsewhere, we probably deserve that treatment," the chief investment officer said during a panel session at the Milken Asia Summit. "If you look at the last 10 years, if you had stayed invested in India [stocks], you would have made about 150% ... [But] if you had missed the best 10 days in those 10 years, your return will go down to 50%," said Sekhon. He also urged caution that India's stratospheric growth might not continue; it was the result of a confluence of factors which have already been "playing out over a couple of decades." "As market participants, we have to be cautious with that as well, because it is probably the most universally favored asset class in equity markets today, alongside perhaps some U.S. tech companies, but it's happened over a period of time," he added. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . Falling from highs U.S. stocks mostly fell Wednesday. The S&P 500 lost 0.19% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.7%, after scaling record highs earlier in the session. The Nasdaq Composite closed near the flatline. Europe's regional Stoxx 600 index retreated 0.11%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Bank Index fell 0.73% as investors monitored UniCredit's potential merger with Commerzbank . Google vs. Microsoft Google on Wednesday filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, over Microsoft's practices in the cloud computing industry. Google alleged that Microsoft employs unfair licensing contracts to "lock in" clients and exert control over the cloud market. Done selling Nvidia Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is done selling the company's stock for now. In March, Huang set out a plan to sell up to six million Nvidia shares by first quarter of 2025. He has hit that threshold ahead of schedule. Separately, AI chips like those Nvidia manufactures could face a global shortage as demand ramps up, according to a Bain & Company report. Turning VR into reality Meta took another step in making virtual reality part of our everyday life. The company's Reality Labs division announced the Quest 3S, its latest VR headset, which starts at $299 and goes on sale Oct. 15. Meta also showed off a prototype of augmented reality glasses called Orion. [PRO] It's time for you to buy That little green bird Duolingo's logo can seem a tad annoying when it reminds you for the hundredth time to practice your Japanese, but analysts are taking a shine to it. Duolingo, among other stocks like Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Roblox , is one of the names on the "buy" list of Wall Street banks. Federal prosecutors have honed in on ties between New York City Mayor Eric Adams and little-known Turkish businessman Enver Yucel, CNBC has learned from the indictment and other public records, including campaign finance documents. A federal indictment unsealed on Thursday describes a 2021 campaign fundraising scheme involving Adams, his team and a person only identified in the indictment as "Businessman-1." That man appears to be Yucel, the owner of a network of universities, including one in Turkey called Bahcesehir University and another based in Washington, D.C. named Bay Atlantic University. Yucel is described within the indictment as a businessman who owns a university in Turkey which helped pay for Adams' visit to the country in 2015 while the mayor was still the Brooklyn borough president. An August 2015 letter from New York's conflict of interest board approving the travel, lists Bahcesehir as the only university helping pay for the trip. The City reported that Adams met with Yucel in December 2015 as part of his second trip that year to the country. Requests for comment through leaders of the two Yucel owned universities and an email to the address listed on Yucel's personal website were not returned. A spokesman for Adams referred CNBC to his personal attorneys who did not return requests for comment. Adams has said he's innocent and did nothing wrong. A sign on the exterior of a BNP Paribas SA bank branch in Paris, France, on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. France's BNP Paribas on Thursday said there are simply too many European lenders for the region to be able to compete with rivals from the U.S. and Asia, calling for the creation of more homegrown heavyweight banking champions. Speaking to CNBC's Charlotte Reed at the Bank of America Financials CEO Conference, BNP Paribas Chief Financial Officer Lars Machenil voiced his support for greater integration in Europe's banking sector. His comments come as Italy's UniCredit ups the ante on its apparent takeover attempt of Germany's Commerzbank, while Spain's BBVA continues to actively pursue its domestic rival, Banco Sabadell. "If I would ask you, how many banks are there in Europe, your right answer would be too many," Machenil said. "If we are very fragmented in activity, therefore the competition is not the same thing as what you might see in other regions. So ... you basically should get that consolidation and get that going," he added. In this article GOOGL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Distance Technologies develops a product that it says can turn any transparent surface into an augmented-reality display. Distance Technologies Distance Technologies, a Finnish startup that aims to bring mixed-reality technology to any car windshield or plane cockpit, has raised 10 million euros ($11.1 million) of funding from GV, the venture capital arm of Alphabet and other investors. Distance raised the cash injection in a seed round led by GV, with existing investors FOV Ventures and Maki.vc also stumping up more cash for the startup, the company told CNBC on Thursday. Helsinki-headquartered Distance develops technology that it says can turn any transparent surface into an augmented-reality display, enabling the user to see 3D digital objects overlayed on top of the panel they're viewing. This avoids the need for any clunky hardware, like a mixed reality headset or augmented reality glasses, both of which require a user to pull an actual device over their eyes to immerse themselves in the experience. "One of the great barriers for mixed-reality is that, as long as you need to put something on your head, it will never be effortless or elegant as a solution," Urho Konttori, CEO and co-founder of Distance, told CNBC in an interview earlier this week. Konttori was formerly chief technology officer of Varjo, another Helsinki-based mixed-reality firm. Distance is primarily focused on selling into the auto, aerospace and defense markets. The way Distance works is by using tracking technology to identify where you are looking and then compute the correct light field to match the exact positions of your eyes, according to Konttori. Distance's solution adds a set of optics layers on top of most liquid crystal displays (LCDs), which allow its tech to beam an image onto the places where your eyes are focusing. Using this technique, Distance can separate the light fields into your left and right eyes, while also creating an additional optical layer underneath that creates a high brightness. Distance says its system is capable of "infinite" pixel depth, meaning it can create a life-size field of view in any setting whether behind the wheel of a car or flying an F-18 fighter jet. GV, which was formerly known as Google Ventures and counts the internet search giant's holding company Alphabet as its sole limited partner, told CNBC that it was attracted to invest in Distance due to the "potential to build the next-generation of user interfaces." "We are particularly excited about how some of the nearer-term pathways to bring this to market in automotive and aerospace allow the potential for users to get their hands on this technology," Roni Hiranand, principal at GV, told CNBC. Commercializing mixed reality isn't an easy feat. For one, mixed-reality devices are still expensive. Apple's Vision Pro and Microsoft's HoloLens 2 devices both start at $3,500 and they're not cheap to make, either. A new AR glasses concept device Meta unveiled Wednesday reportedly cost the firm $10,000 per unit to make, according to The Verge. Meta was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. watch now Augmented reality heads-up displays, or HUDs, aren't a new phenomenon in the automotive industry. Companies have been working to add AR features to cars for several years, with tech giant Huawei among the early movers to pioneer the tech in China. A slew of other display technology firms are developing their own AR HUDs for cars, including First International Computer, Spectralics, Envisics, Futurus, CY Vision, Raythink, Denso, Bosch, Continental, and Panasonic. According to Distance Technologies Chief Marketing Officer Jussi Makinen, the company's system can cover the entire surface of any transparent surface, not just a specific corner or the bottom half of a display a limitation that most automotive AR HUDs are facing today. "The main difference here is that we are driven by the software," Makinen told CNBC. The company previously showcased a proof-of-concept version of its technology at the Augmented World Expo USA 2024 mixed-reality industry trade show in June. For now, Distance has had to use simple optics and normal LCD displays to demonstrate its technology to prospective partners and investors. Going forward, Konttori said he's getting ready to push a "very expensive" button: advancing Distance's optics technology into what he calls the next generation early next year. "I would say that we have been in the research cycle now," Distance's CEO said. "Now, we are switching into the product cycle. And the key thing to do is work with somebody who will become your customer one or two to work very closely with, and then a finalized product specification." Election polling continues to forecast a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, but within corporate America, top executives are preparing for Harris to become the next president of the United States, according to a new CNBC survey of C-suite executives across the economy. A majority of chief financial officers (55%) say Harris will win the election, according to the Q3 CNBC CFO Council Survey. That's a reversal from the prior CFO survey in Q2 (when President Joe Biden was still the candidate) and a majority of CFOs (58%) believed Trump would win. About a third of CFOs (31%) now say Trump will win, while 14% remain unsure of the election outcome. In the Q2 CFO survey, 29% of executives said they were unsure who would win. More in the business world are gravitating to a belief that Harris will prevail, with another recent CNBC survey of top economists and money managers also seeing this election result as the most likely outcome. The majority belief that Harris will win comes despite an equal majority of CFOs (55%) telling the survey that Trump is better on inflation and for the economy. Only 17% of CFOs said Harris had a better plan for the economy. Inflation and interest rates (38%), followed by tax policy and regulation (both at 23%) were the issues CFOs taking the survey cited as most important to their companies. Trade and tariffs policy, which is a key talking point of Trump and some economists say will lead to higher inflation, was only cited by 10% of CFOs. The CNBC CFO Council Survey was conducted between Aug. 19 and Sept. 19, a period which included the presidential debate. The survey is a sampling of views from CFOs at large organizations, with 31 chief financial officers responding to the Q3 survey. CFOs expect government to remain divided after the election, with nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents saying that Capitol Hill will be split. Forty-five percent of CFOs predict the Democrats will keep control of the Senate and the GOP keeps control of the House, while another 29% expect a flip in control between parties, but the Hill to remain divided. This week, both candidates have been pressing their case on the economy, with Trump dangling new tax incentives for corporations and Harris attempting to sharpen her economic message in a speech to the Economic Club of Pittsburgh and an interview with MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday evening. Hoda Kotb has been a fixture on network television for decades. But the Today host, who on Thursday announced that she would be leaving the anchor desk early next year, almost never made it on-air at all. In a 2016 appearance on the Today show on SiriusXM, Kotb said that as a brand new college grad she thought she'd only need a single interview to land her first TV gig. "I said 'Mom, can I borrow the car? I need to drive to Richmond, get the job and come back,'" she said. "I got a new green suit. My hair was all blown out. I was ready. I had my resume tape and I drove to the station." Walking into the station, Kotb felt right at home. She looked around the station and "planned my whole life" in Richmond, certain she'd get the job. "The news director took my tape, he put it in the machine and played it for a couple of minutes and he stopped it," she said. "He said 'Oh, Hoda, you're not ready for Richmond. I don't know why someone sent you here. You're too green. You're not good.' And I was like 'Oh, I hadn't thought about that.'" As she was leaving, the news director told her that a friend of his was hiring for a role three hours away in Roanoke, Virginia, but she'd need to get there that same day before he left for a trip. Kotb made the drive and met the other news director, but he didn't watch her tape for more than "30 seconds" before popping it out and informing her that she wasn't ready to be on-air. "I was like, 'Who's not ready for Roanoke? Anybody should be able to get a job here!'" Kotb said. But before sending her on her way, her interviewer said he knew of a station in Memphis that was hiring and suggested she bring her tape there. "I drove all the way across [Tennessee] all night," she said. "The guy met me, he took the tape, he put it in, he said 'You are so not ready for Memphis.'" The trip that Kotb thought would just take an afternoon soon stretched on and on. "I was in that car driving around for 10 days," she said. "I got rejected everywhere. Anywhere you can think of in the southeast, I got rejected." After a week and a half, Kotb said, her mom needed the car back. But on her way back home, she got lost in Mississippi and passed a sign for a CBS station. "I said 'I'm going to go there and get rejected,'" she said. But the news director at the station watched her entire tape and hired her on the spot, she said. The job was her foot in the door, and kickstarted a career that would take her to Florida, Illinois and eventually New Orleans before she joined Dateline NBC in 1998. By 2007, she was hired at Today. "You just need one person to love you," she said. "You don't need everybody. Sometimes you think you need every single person to think you're good. You don't. You need one." Want to master your money this fall? Sign up for CNBC's new online course. We'll teach you practical strategies to hack your budget, reduce your debt, and grow your wealth. Start today to feel more confident and successful. Use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off, now extended through September 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. New York, US (PANA) - Participants at a Ministerial Meeting on Sudan have expressed deep concern about the catastrophic and still rapidly deteriorating situation in Sudan, reiterated the commitments made in the Declaration of Principles adopted in Paris on 15 April 2024, one year into the conflict, and informed about their initiatives for advancing peace in Sudan watch now A federal indictment charging New York City Mayor Eric Adams with a decade-long campaign contribution scheme, bribery and other crimes was unsealed Thursday morning, hours after FBI raided his Gracie Mansion residence and seized his phone. The 57-page indictment accuses Adams of five criminal counts related to obtaining illegal donations for his 2021 mayoral campaign, and accepting free luxury travel dating as back as far as 2016, when he was Brooklyn borough president. Much of the indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan centers on the Turkish community, Turkish businessmen and a senior Turkish government official who allegedly exerted influence on Adams, who is accused of accepting well over $100,000 in foreign travel benefits and illegal campaign donations. "Public office is a privilege," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damien Williams at a news conference detailing the charges. "We allege that Mayor Adams abused that privilege and broke the law -- laws that are designed to ensure that officials like him serve the people, not the highest bidder, not a foreign bidder, and certainly not a foreign power," Williams said. "These are bright red lines, and we allege that the mayor crossed them again and again for years." New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the press outside his official residence Gracie Mansion after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City, U.S. September 26, 2024. Caitlin Ochs | Reuters The indictment says a "senior official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment" facilitated illegal campaign donations to Adams, and also arranged for the mayor and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkey's national airline, which is owned in large part by that country's government, to France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary and Turkey. In September 2021, the indictment alleges, the Turkish official told Adams "that it was his turn to repay" that official by pressuring the New York City Fire Department to facilitate the opening of a new Turkish consulate building, which is 36-stories-tall, "without a fire inspection, in time for a high-profile visit by Turkey's president." "At the time, the building would have failed an FDNY inspection," the indictment says. Adams "did as he was instructed," and an FDNY official "was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce," the indictment says. The building then opened as requested, according to the indictment. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Source: SDNY "I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city, as I've done throughout my entire professional career," Adams said outside Gracie Mansion while flanked by supporters, after the indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Adams is due to be arraigned Friday but his lawyer, Alex Spiro, has asked a judge to push that back to next week to consolidate another planned hearing in the case. The indictment says Adams, a 64-year-old former police captain, received more than $10 million in public matching funds for campaign contributions by using so-called straw donors in the United States to hide the fact that he was accepting foreign campaign contributions. Download the full indictment. Starting in 2014, and "Thereafter, for nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him," the indictment says. "By 2018, Adams who had by then made known his plans to run for Mayor of New York City not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals," the indictment says. "As Adams's prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York City's mayor." "Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received. After his inauguration as Mayor of New York City, Adams soon began preparing for his next election, including by planning to solicit more illegal contributions and granting requests from those who supported his 2021 mayoral campaign with such donations." Adams is charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by a foreign national. He also is charged with wire fraud, two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national, and bribery. Adams is at least the second New York mayor to be criminally charged while still in office. And he is the first official in his administration to be charged as a result of multiple pending investigations that have ensnared the New York Police Department and the city's top schools' official. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams speaks as James E. Dennehy, FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge, looks on after the unsealing of an indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, during a press conference in New York City, U.S. September 26, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters Adams' lawyer Spiro, in a statement Thursday morning, said, "Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again)." "He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court," Spiro said. "They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in." Federal agents search Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor of New York City, on September 26, 2024, after Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on federal criminal charges. Timothy A. Clary | Afp | Getty Images On Wednesday, before news of the indictment first broke, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called on the mayor to resign, saying the "flood of resignations and vacancies" resulting from various federal probes of administration officials "are threatening government functions." "For the good of the city he should resign," Ocasio-Cortez said. A growing number of elected officials and other political figures in New York also called on Adams to step down, among them city Comptroller Brad Lander and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who are both running for mayor next year, and former Comptroller Scott Stringer, who is weighing a run for City Hall. If Adams resigns before his first term in office ends, he will be succeeded by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams as acting mayor. Williams in a statement issued Thursday said, "I feel the same disbelief and indignation that I know many New Yorkers feel, upset that this is where our city is in this moment." "This is a painful time, and the looming unknowns and uncertainties only add to the confusion and chaos at City Hall in an untenable situation," Williams said. "Justice presumes innocence until proven guilty, at the same time, these charges are even more sweeping and severe than imagined. In the face of this evidence, it is not enough to deflect blame and deny responsibility. "It is federal officials' obligation to prove their case, and it is the mayor's obligation to prove to New Yorkers that there is a real plan and path to govern the city effectively and regain trust, and his time to show that plan is rapidly running out." Democratic NYC Mayoral candidate Eric Adams raises hands with Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate, and NYC Comptroller candidate Brad Lander during a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rallyin front of Brooklyn Borough Hall on October 22, 2021 in Downtown Brooklyn in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images There are multiple federal investigations into Adams and people affiliated with him and his administration. On Tuesday, city schools Chancellor David Banks told Adams he expected to retire at the end of 2024. Banks' surprise announcement came weeks after federal authorities seized electronic devices belonging to him, his brother, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, and his fiancee, Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. Another Banks brother, Terence, is being investigated by the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office in connection with the allocation of city contacts worth millions of dollars to the companies who received them after hiring Terence Banks' consulting firm. Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Johnny Mercer Theatre in Savannah, Georgia on September 24, 2024. Brandon Bell | Getty Images News | Getty Images Donald Trump, who has been doubling down on his tariff-heavy trade policy, appears to have shifted the focus of his protectionist agenda from China to some of the closest U.S. allies. Speaking at a campaign event in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday, the Republican presidential nominee said he would build upon the tariff policies of his first term in an effort to take manufacturing jobs from foreign countries both friends and foe. "You will see a mass exodus of manufacturing from China to Pennsylvania, from Korea to North Carolina, from Germany to right here in Georgia," he said in his mostly economic-centered speech. "I want German car companies to become American car companies, I want them to build their plants here," he added. In his first term, Trump had imposed billions of dollars worth of duties on Chinese goods as part of efforts to rectify what he saw as an unfair trade balance. Trump has said he would consider new tariffs on imports from the country at rates of 60% or higher. watch now U.S. allies could become a key target of Trump's "America First" policy that is increasingly grouping European and Asian partners alongside rival China. The former President has proposed blanket tariffs as high as 20% that would hit imported good from all countries. "We have been treated so badly, mostly by allies ... our allies treat us actually worse than our so-called enemies," Trump said at a rally in Wisconsin earlier this month. "On military, we protect them and then they screw us on trade. We're not going to let it happen anymore. We're going to be a tariff nation," he added. The comments echoed statements Trump made about Taiwan earlier this year when he accused it of taking "about 100%" of U.S. chip business. He also said that the democratically governed island should pay the U.S. for its defense. Trump has long sought to place economic and diplomatic pressure on U.S. allies, accusing them of "free-riding," and his recent statements signal he's doubling down on that approach, said Nick Marro, Lead for Global Trade at Economist Intelligence. Experts have said that Japan is also worried about what could be another "transactional" Trump Presidency and his mentions of 100% tariffs on certain car imports. "Will that include Japanese automakers? So there's a lot of uncertainty here at the moment about what the next five years could look like," author William Pesek told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" in July. watch now "One of the riskiest aspects of Trump's proclivity towards tariffs is that other countries won't take these actions sitting down. Retaliation by other U.S. trade partners whether that be via reciprocal, retaliatory tariffs, or other non-tariff measures is a potential consequence of all of this," Marro said. Trump also said on Tuesday that he plans to create his "manufacturing renaissance" through the implementation of corporate tax cuts, the creation of low-tax special economic zones and tax credits for companies moving production to the U.S. "These policies could potentially attract some manufacturing back to the U.S., particularly for industries sensitive to trade barriers," said Stephen Weymouth, a professor of international political economy at Georgetown University. "However, these plans are unlikely to bring about a broad reshoring of industries, given the complexities of global supply chains and higher labor costs in the U.S.," he added. Economist Stephen Roach also told CNBC that Trump's tariffs would hurt America's trade partners while only increasing the costs of goods for American consumers and manufacturers. This is consistent with mainstream economic opinion on tariffs. "U.S. manufacturers who rely on foreign parts and components would take a double hit their inputs would be more expensive because of Trump's tariffs, and their exported products would be more expensive because of retaliatory tariffs," said William Reinsch, Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. watch now Nvidia might have to look outside of its artificial intelligence empire to acquire some key data center-related technologies, according to Susquehanna Financial Group. Analyst Christopher Rolland said Nvidia has "two glaring holes" for potential acquisition within optical and analog networking. "As NVIDIA attempts to further solidify its lead in both systems and networking, we believe it may increasingly look to insource or acquire optical and/or analog interconnect technologies, companies, or divisions," Rolland said in a Thursday note to clients. "As GPU clusters scale linearly, the need for interconnections grows exponentially." Optical technologies in data centers have a variety of purposes such as supporting network traffic growth, transmitting and receiving optical signals in data centers, and offering cost and power savings while facilitating high-capacity data transmission. Given the growth in cost and importance of these technologies, the analyst expects Nvidia to consider insourcing or acquiring companies that have leading products in linear equalizers, laser drivers, photonic integrated chip technology and digital signal processors, among other areas. Optical and photonic products manufacturer Lumentum Holdings , engineered materials and optoelectronic components maker Coherent and semiconductor producer Marvell Technology are among several names Rolland listed as potential candidates for an Nvidia acquisition. To be sure, the chipmaker has not said it is actively considering aquiring any of these companies. Lumentum shares are up roughly 16.3% this year, while Coherent's stock price has rallied more than 108% amid the AI excitement, which has led to soaring demand for optical receivers and related technologies. Marvell, meanwhile, is up 18% year to date. Analysts' average price target, per FactSet, suggests potential downside for Lumentum and Coherent given their recent stock run-ups. The consensus target on Marvell implies shares could gain about 30%, however. Rolland holds a positive rating on Nvidia shares with a $160 price target higher than the average from analysts polled by FactSet, which implies more than 29% potential upside for the chip darling. He remains bullish on Nvidia's competitive advantages in semiconductor design, holistic AI systems and its CUDA software toolkit, which he said gives the company a 15-year lead in AI enablement tools, libraries, and operating software. OpenAI is once again confronting a major shakeup. We're taking a keen interest because several stocks in the Club portfolio have ties to the startup behind ChatGPT. Less than a year after CEO Sam Altman's short-lived ouster rattled the startup behind ChatGPT, OpenAI is said to be mulling a plan to adopt a for-profit structure and a trio of high-profile employees are leaving. The latest upheaval comes as Microsoft -backed OpenAI works to complete a blockbuster fund-raising round, which would value the firm at more than $150 billion, according to media reports. In the crosshairs of these developments are all the companies that have relationships with OpenAI, which rose to prominence and sparked an investment boom into generative AI with the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 . Some firms are long-standing technology suppliers, such as Club holding Nvidia. Others have turned to OpenAI's software to advance their own business pursuits. There's also a whole class of companies that benefit from generative AI adoption more broadly because it drives demand for their own products. OpenAI, in many ways, is the poster child for the technology industry, putting its every move under scrutiny. And to be sure there have been a lot of them lately, including the release earlier this month of its latest large language model, codenamed Strawberry, which it says is even more capable than previous versions. OpenAI also recently started to roll out advanced voice mode for ChatGPT. The flurry of OpenAI news that hit late Wednesday started with technology chief Mira Murati announcing she's leaving after more than six years at the firm. The departures of Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew and Barret Zoph, a research vice president, also were announced Wednesday evening. Overshadowing the talent drain: OpenAI's work to become a for-profit benefit corporation that is no longer overseen by its nonprofit board. Reuters was the first to report the effort. CNBC later confirmed it. OpenAI's complicated structure came under the microscope last fall when the nonprofit board shockingly fired Altman, saying at the time it "no longer has confidence" in his ability to lead the startup. Just a few days later, following outcry from employees and some investors, Altman returned to OpenAI. The renewed drama at OpenAI raises questions about the downstream effects for companies, including those in the Club's portfolio, that are closely linked to the startup. Changing to a traditional, for-profit corporate structure could be positive for existing OpenAI investors, including Club holding Microsoft, and prospective backers because it may simplify the path to an initial public offering down the road. On the other hand, it's generally not ideal to see high-level technical employees defect from a company known for its cutting-edge technology. Co-founder Ilya Sutskever, who had been chief scientist, also left earlier this year and launched a new AI startup. In any case, it's too early to know how the recent news will impact OpenAI's relationships and its perceived leadership role in the world of generative AI. For now, here's a closer look at the seven Club holdings that have benefited or should soon start benefiting from OpenAI's rise to prominence. Apple When Apple Intelligence, announced in June , goes lives next month, ChatGPT will officially be integrated into some of the most iconic consumer hardware devices of all time. We expect Apple Intelligence, the company's AI feature set, to usher in a robust upgrade cycle for the new iPhone 16, which was launched earlier this month. That would be huge for the stock. Apple gets roughly 46% of its overall revenue from the flagship device. Prior to the slew of recent departures at OpenAI, Jim Cramer touted Apple's agreement with the startup because it comes at little financial cost for Apple, describing the iPhone maker as the "ultimate free rider" during the Club's September Monthly Meeting. That's because Apple can offer its customers access to OpenAI's tech free of charge in exchange for giving OpenAI exposure to its massive user base. "It's extraordinary that Apple does not have to spend, and instead can just piggyback off the big spenders," Jim added. That's not all. Apple and OpenAI's relationship may strengthen even further soon. The iPhone maker is in talks to join the startup's multi-billion dollar funding round, according to reports from Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal. Microsoft Microsoft got the first-mover advantage among big tech firms because of its early investment in OpenAI. This allowed the Redmond, Washington-based company to utilize OpenAI's large language models before its peers eventually leading to new offerings for both its ubiquitous software and Azure cloud-computing businesses. For example, Microsoft's Copilot virtual AI assistant can be integrated into the company's 365 productivity bundle creating a nice recurring revenue stream from monthly subscription fees. In addition to serving as OpenAI's go-to provider of computing power, Microsoft's Azure cloud has seen an acceleration in revenue as other companies seek out access to the startup's models. On its most recent post-earnings call, Microsoft said Azure and other cloud services revenue rose 29% year over year, with AI services contributing eight percentage points of that growth. Nvidia Unlike Apple and Microsoft, Nvidia is not utilizing OpenAI to improve or roll out its own offerings. Instead, Nvidia benefits because it is a massive supplier of graphic processing units (GPUs) that OpenAI has heavily relied on for many years. OpenAI's ascent and its continued investment in new models and products boosts demand for Nvidia's chips, which maintain a dominant position in the fast-growing market. At Nvidia's annual meeting in late June, CEO Jensen Huang said OpenAI plans to adopt its next-generation Blackwell chip platform. Nvidia may also join fellow "own it, don't trade it" name Apple in OpenAI's upcoming funding round, according to reports. Palo Alto Networks Over the summer, Palo Alto Networks announced a software integration with OpenAI's enterprise-specific offering with the goal of improving data security and regulatory compliance for customers who use both its security solutions and the startup's technology. More generally, Palo Alto Networks stands to gain from the proliferation of generative AI, whether it's from OpenAI or other model providers in the industry because the technology is making the threat landscape more complex. Palo Alto CEO Nikesh Arora previously told CNBC that the generative AI frenzy has been the "fastest any technology trend has taken off" and that CEOs all want to "figure out a way of leveraging AI in their business." He added: "And, guess what? The moment everyone starts to deploy, then they have to make sure that nobody's data is getting stolen." The Club sees less financial upside near term for the cybersecurity leader than what we expect for Apple or Microsoft. Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley has unveiled two AI-powered tools in its wealth management division in recent years. Both are powered by OpenAI. These virtual assistants are used internally by financial advisors and their staff to automate grunt work. Employees, for example, can get quick answers about investment recommendations as well as draft summaries of meetings and follow-up emails to customers. The goal of these tools is to free up employees to focus on building relationships with clients. In the long run, that additional time with clients could help Morgan Stanley's wealth business get closer to reaching its goal of $10 trillion in assets. The firm reported $7.2 trillion in client assets last quarter. Eli Lilly Eli Lilly announced in June a collaboration with OpenAI in an effort to come up with new treatments for drug-resistant pathogens. As of now, we still haven't heard much about Lilly's exact plan to utilize OpenAI's technology. But, in general, using AI could help speed up the drug-development process and bring Eli Lilly's offerings to the market much faster. That would help reduce costs for the drugmaker. Salesforce Salesforce is another beneficiary of OpenAI's meteoric rise to fame. The company tapped OpenAI for its initial foray into generative AI last year with the rollout of AI assistant, Einstein GPT. At last week's Dreamforce conference, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff detailed the company's new suite of AI-enhanced chatbot tools. Known as Agentforce, they have emerged as Salesforce's flagship offerings, and OpenAI's large language models, as well as those from other tech firms, can be utilized in running it, a Salesforce spokesperson confirmed to CNBC. Agentforce has sweetened investor sentiment on Salesforce by showcasing management's strides to develop internal innovation that can grow revenue. Multiple Wall Street analysts agree, with Barclays last week describing Agentforce as a long-awaited "new catalyst" for the stock . (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the Microsoft Build conference at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2024. Jason Redmond | AFP | Getty Images At an all-hands meeting Thursday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman denied that there are plans for him to receive a "giant equity stake" in the company, calling that information "just not true," according to a person who was in attendance. Altman and finance chief Sarah Friar both said at the meeting, conducted by video, that investors have raised concerns about Altman not having equity in the high-valued artificial intelligence company that he co-founded almost nine years ago, said the person, who asked not to be named because the gathering was only for employees. Regarding his potentially attaining an equity stake, Altman said, "There are no current plans here," the person said. OpenAI Chairman Bret Taylor told CNBC in a statement that while the board has talked about the matter, no specific figures are on the table. "The board has had discussions about whether it would be beneficial to the company and our mission to have Sam be compensated with equity, but no specific figures have been discussed nor have any decisions been made," Taylor said. The meeting late Thursday followed the board's decision to consider restructuring the company to a for-profit business, according to a separate person with knowledge of the matter. Should the change occur, the nonprofit segment would remain as a separate entity, said the person, who asked not to be named because no plan has been finalized. While directors consider OpenAI's future, key executives continue to walk out the door. On Wednesday, three execs announced their departures. OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, who briefly served as interim CEO, said she would be leaving after 6 years. Later in the day, research chief Bob McGrew and Barret Zoph, a research vice president, said they were leaving the company. In an interview Thursday at Italian Tech Week, Altman said, "I think this will be hopefully a great transition for everyone involved and I hope OpenAI will be stronger for it, as we are for all of our transitions." Altman said the departures were not related to the company's potential restructuring, contrary to some media reports. "Most of the stuff I saw was also just totally wrong," Altman said at the event in Turin, Italy. "But we have been thinking about that, our board has, for almost a year independently, as we think about what it takes to get to our next stage. But I think this is just about people being ready for new chapters of their lives and a new generation of leadership." Murati wrote in a memo to the company that she's "stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration." She said her focus will be on ensuring a "smooth transition." Before Thursday's moves, OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever and former safety leader Jan Leike announced their departures in May. Co-founder John Schulman said last month that he was leaving to join rival Anthropic. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft , is currently pursuing a funding round that would value the company at more than $150 billion, people familiar with the matter told CNBC. Thrive Capital is leading the round and plans to invest $1 billion, and Tiger Global is planning to join as well. While OpenAI has been in hypergrowth mode since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, it's been simultaneously riddled with controversy and executive departures, with some current and former employees concerned that the company is growing too quickly to operate safely. Altman was ousted in November, before being quickly reinstated. Almost all of OpenAI's employees signed an open letter saying they would leave in response to the board's action. Days later, Altman was back at the company and Murati moved from interim CEO back to the role of CTO. Russian President Vladimir Putin at an expanded Prosecutor General's Office meeting on March 26, 2024, in Moscow. Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin announced proposed changes to Moscow's rule book on the use of nuclear weapons in another thinly-veiled warning to Western nations that continue to back Kyiv in the war in Ukraine. In opening remarks before a meeting with senior officials on Russia's nuclear deterrence on Wednesday, which were released by the Kremlin and translated by NBC News, Putin said that "a number of clarifications ... defining the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons" are being made to the document that defines Russia's nuclear doctrine. He added that draft amendments to the doctrine expand "the category of states and military alliances in relation to which nuclear deterrence is carried out" and include a supplemented "list of military threats" that Russia would see as a justification to deploy nuclear weapons. In a pointed warning to the Western nations as they continue to support Ukraine, Putin announced that any attack against Russia by a non-nuclear state that was backed by a nuclear-armed one would be considered a "joint attack." "What I would especially like to draw your attention to, is that in the updated version of the document, aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is proposed to be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation," Putin said. The latest comments on imminent changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, which sets out the conditions under which nuclear weapons can be used, have been widely seen as a warning to the West as certain allies specifically the U.S. and the U.K. consider whether to give Ukraine the green light to use long-range weaponry they've donated to Kyiv against military targets within Russia. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 25, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is currently in the U.S., where he has pressed officials to maintain support for Kyiv as the presidential election nears in November. He is due to meet incumbent President Joe Biden in Washington on Thursday and is expected to press the Washington leader on Kyiv's request to use long-range missiles, a strategy that Ukraine believes could change the dial in the war that started in February 2022. Ahead of the visit, Zelenskyy said the U.S. and the U.K. had still not officially authorized Kyiv to use such weapons in this way, despite public comments to the contrary. "We have long-range weapons. But not in the amount we need, let's say. Nevertheless, we have this package [of long-range missiles] Storm Shadow, ATACMS, SCALP. But neither America nor Great Britain gave us permission to use these weapons on the territory of Russia, for any purpose at any distance. We did not use long-range weapons on the territory of the Russian Federation," Zelenskyy told reporters Friday, in comments translated by NBC News. Putin seemed to directly reference Ukraine's possible future launching of long-rang missiles at Russia, saying Moscow would consider a nuclear response if it receives "credible information about a mass takeoff" of strategic of tactical planes toward Russia, or the launch of cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons or drones toward its territory. Russia's latest comments on changing its nuclear doctrine are not a surprise Moscow has hinted for months that it was making changes to its official stance on the use of nuclear weapons. On Thursday, the Kremlin's Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that amendments to Russia's nuclear doctrine "must" be considered as a warning to "unfriendly states," in comments translated by NBC News. Asked how the changes should be interpreted by such unspecified countries, Peskov said were "a signal that warns other parties against involvement in attacks on our country with various means, including not only with nuclear ones." Comments by the Kremlin and senior Russian officials on the matter have become more frequent as Ukraine has overtly pressed its allies over the use of Western long-range missiles to strike targets within Russia. Ukraine's ongoing incursion into Russia's Kursk border region has also prompted more saber-rattling by President Putin and prominent Russian hawks, who claimed the cross-border raid was aided and abetted by the West. Ukraine's allies deny any prior knowledge of the operation, which started in August. Earlier in September, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow was in the process of amending its nuclear doctrine because of what it saw as a Western-backed "escalation" of the war with Ukraine amid the Kursk operation. As it stands, Russia's current nuclear doctrine states that Russia "reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear weapons and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation using conventional weapons, when the very existence of the state is threatened," according to a Google translation. Spectators watch Russia's Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system unit driving along a road after a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 79th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2024. Yulia Morozova | Reuters Other conditions that could determine the use of nuclear weapons by Russia include the "receipt of reliable information about the launch of ballistic missiles attacking the territory of the Russian Federation and (or) its allies," as well as "the enemy's impact on critically important state or military facilities," according to the same document. In its 2020 policy, Russia nonetheless described nuclear weapons as "a means of deterrence," the use of which would be "an extreme and necessary measure." Russia refers to its nuclear doctrine as "defensive in nature" and said it "takes all necessary efforts to reduce the nuclear threat and prevent the aggravation of interstate relations that could provoke military conflicts, including nuclear ones." Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko shake hands during a press briefing following their talks in Minsk, Belarus, May 24, 2024. Mikhail Metzel | Via Reuters Flags of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation Manuel Augusto Moreno | Moment | Getty Images Russia has established a weapons program in China to develop and produce long-range attack drones for use in the war against Ukraine, according to two sources from a European intelligence agency and documents reviewed by Reuters. IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Russian state-owned arms company Almaz-Antey, has developed and flight-tested a new drone model called Garpiya-3 in China with the help of local specialists, according to one of the documents, a report that Kupol sent to the Russian defense ministry earlier this year outlining its work. Kupol told the defense ministry in a subsequent update that it was able to produce drones including the G3 at scale at a factory in China so the weapons could be deployed in the "special military operation" in Ukraine, the term Moscow uses for the war. Kupol, Almaz-Antey and the Russian defense ministry did not respond to requests for comment for this article. China's foreign ministry told Reuters it was not aware of such a project, adding that Beijing had strict control measures on the export of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles. Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based defense think-tank, said the delivery of UAVs from China to Russia, if confirmed, would be a significant development. "If you look at what China is known to have delivered so far, it was mostly dual-use goods - it was components, sub-components, that could be used in weapon systems," he told Reuters. "This is what has been reported so far. But what we haven't really seen, at least in the open source, are documented transfers of whole weapon systems." Still, Samuel Bendett, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank, said Beijing would be hesitant to open itself up to international sanctions for helping Moscow's war machine. He said more information was needed to establish that China was playing host to production of Russian military drones. watch now The White House National Security Council said it was deeply concerned by the Reuters report of the drones program, which it said appeared to be an instance of a Chinese company providing lethal assistance to a U.S.-sanctioned Russian firm. The White House has not seen anything to suggest the Chinese government was aware of the transactions involved, but China has a responsibility to ensure companies aren't providing lethal aid to Russia for use by its military, a spokesperson added. Asked about the Reuters report, a NATO spokesperson said via email: "These reports are deeply concerning and Allies are consulting on this matter." "The Chinese government has a responsibility to ensure its companies are not providing lethal assistance to Russia," added the spokesperson, Farah Dakhlallah. "China cannot continue to fuel the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War without this impacting its interests and reputation." Britain's Foreign Office called on China to stop providing diplomatic and material support to Russia's war effort. "We are extremely concerned by reports that Russia is producing military drones in China," a spokesperson said. "This adds to a growing body of open-source evidence that Chinese companies are enabling Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. The supply of weapons would be a direct contradiction to statements from China that it would not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict." The G3 can travel about 2,000 km (1,200 miles) with a payload of 50 kg (110 pounds), according to the reports to the Russian defence ministry from Kupol, which was placed under U.S. sanctions in December 2023. Samples of the G3 and some other drone models made in China have been delivered to Kupol in Russia for further testing, again with the involvement of Chinese experts, they said. The documents do not identify the Chinese drone specialists involved in the project that it outlined, and Reuters was unable to determine their identity. Kupol has taken delivery of seven military drones made in China, including two G3s, at its headquarters in the Russian city of Izhevsk, according to the two separate documents reviewed by Reuters, which are invoices sent to Kupol in the summer by a Russian firm that the two European intelligence sources said serves as an intermediary with Chinese suppliers. The invoices, one of which requests payment in Chinese yuan, do not specify delivery dates or identify the suppliers in China. The two intelligence sources said the delivery of the sample drones to Kupol was the first concrete evidence their agency had found of whole UAVs manufactured in China being delivered to Russia since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. They asked that neither they nor their organization be identified due to the sensitivity of the information. They also requested certain details related to the documents be withheld, including their precise dates. The sources showed Reuters five documents in all, including two Kupol reports to the ministry in the first half of the year and the two invoices, to support their claims of the existence of a Russian project in China to manufacture drones for use in Ukraine. The program has not previously been reported. Kupol's reports did not give more precise locations for sites related to the project. Reuters was also unable to determine whether the defense ministry gave the company the green light to proceed with the serial production proposed. Beijing has repeatedly denied that China or Chinese companies have supplied Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, saying the country remains neutral. Super Micro Computer shares closed down 12% on Thursday after the Justice Department reportedly opened a probe into the company, which has been a major beneficiary of the artificial intelligence boom. The probe is in its early days, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, and it comes after Hindenburg Research disclosed a short position in the company in late August. Hindenburg said it identified "fresh evidence of accounting manipulation," according to its report. CNBC could not independently verify Hindenburg's claims. Super Micro makes computers that companies use as servers for websites, data storage and other applications, including AI algorithms. The company's customers include major players in AI such as Nvidia, AMD and Intel. A prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in San Francisco has asked for information about a former employee who has previously accused Super Micro of accounting violations, according to the Journal. Following Hindenburg's report in August, Super Micro said it would not file its annual report for the fiscal year with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on time, sending shares tumbling nearly 20%. It is not clear if the delay was related to the firm's report. Super Micro and the Department of Justice declined to comment. Hindenburg did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment. A host of China stocks are recommended by investment analysts whether or not the economy gets a lift from measures taken this week to boost the sluggish domestic economy there. On Tuesday, the People's Bank of China announced a series of steps designed to lift the country's slumping economy. Policies introduced by the central bank included slashing its reserve requirement ratio the amount of cash banks need to hold to increase lending, and cutting other corporate and household rates, including existing mortgages. Stocks in China rose in response, with the CSI 300 Index climbing 4.3% Tuesday, its best day since July 2020. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index also climbed more than 4% Tuesday. But whether or not the latest policy steps succeed, CNBC Pro screened for China stocks that analysts praise regardless of the pace of economic growth at home. We screened for stocks meeting the following criteria: Member of the SPDR S & P China ETF , which tracks publicly traded companies domiciled in China available to foreign investors Market capitalization of at least $1.5 billion Covered by at least eight analysts Buy ratings from at least 55% of those analysts Upside to average price target of at least 20% Shares of biopharmaceutical firm Structure Therapeutics are up about 4% this year. The company's lead pipeline asset, GSBR-1290, is an oral GLP-1 treatment similar to diabetes and weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Structure Therapeutics currently has a market capitalization of $2.5 billion. All of the analysts covering the stock rate it buy, and the upside to the consensus price target is around 104%. On Sunday, Morgan Stanley analyst Terence Flynn initiated research coverage of the stock with an overweight rating and $118 price target, implying that shares could soar 168%. "Based on Ph1/2a data, we believe GSBR1290's profile is competitive to that of other oral diabesity drugs on the market (i.e. Novo's Rybelsus) and in development (i.e. LLY's Orforglipron in Ph3). We expect Ph2b obesity data for GSBR-1290 by YE25, representing the next catalyst for the program," Flynn wrote. "We see room in the $100bn+ diabesity market for orals and injectables." Another stock that turned up was PDD , the parent company of e-commerce platform Temu. The company's market capitalization is around $158 billion. About three quarters of analysts covering PDD rate it a buy, and the stock could climb roughly 43% based on analysts' consensus price target. Shares are down 22% this year and plummeted more than 28% in a single day in August due to disappointing second-quarter results. Despite this, CoreValues Alphan founder and portfolio manager Ben Harburg told CNBC's " Squawk Box Asia " last month that he's still bullish PDD over the long term . Over a long time horizon, "this business is incredibly strong," Harburg said. "It is not just doing well in China, but obviously dominating [in] emerging and mature markets as well," he said. The investor believes that PDD will be "edging back upward" in the months to come. On Tuesday, after the announcement of the latest policies to revive the flagging China economy, PDD shares in the U.S. jumped more than 11%. Before that, more bad news had emerged for the company. A new proposed rule from the Biden administration designed to target companies that "overuse and abuse" a U.S.-China trade loophole drove shares lower earlier in September. Other names on the list of favored China stocks included online learning and tutoring provider TAL Education Group and digital shipping platform Full Truck Alliance . Investors looking to get in on the recent rise in real estate stocks should focus on quality, according to Bank of America. The real estate sector of the S & P 500 has been moving higher over the past month or so and is now up 10% year to date, after being in the red earlier this year. The sector hit a 52-week high last week. Real estate investment trusts are also an income play, often paying out attractive dividends. "Stocks with healthy yields become increasingly attractive in a Fed cutting environment," Jill Carey Hall, an equity and quant strategist at the bank, wrote in a Sept. 9 note that focused on small-cap and midcap REITs. Her work with small-cap and midcap stocks also suggests that dividend yield is the best factor to hedge cycle risk, she added. .SPLRCR YTD mountain S & P 500 Real Estate Sector The Federal Reserve started its rate-cutting cycle last week, slashing the federal funds rate by 50 basis points. The central bank also indicated another 50 basis points of cuts by the end of the year. In this environment, Bank of America likes health care, residential and retail REITs. Health-care real estate is a play on the aging of America , which will see more people seeking medical services and senior housing, Hall said. Residential REITs continue to see demand given housing affordability issues and a majority of retail REITs have beat and raised guidance, she added. When it comes to choosing specific stocks, analyst Jeffrey Spector, the bank's head of U.S. REITs, suggests looking at names with quality growth, quality value and with the anticipation of a soft-landing scenario quality risk. "Higher quality REITs will offer the best earnings and distribution growth," he wrote in the same note. Quality REITs have resilient pricing power, multiyear earnings visibility based on secular growth drivers, strong and flexible balance sheets and the highest prospect for global inflows. Here are some of the names that made Spector's top picks list. Welltower is the only large-cap stock that made the cut. The rest are small-cap and midcap REITs. Welltower owns and develops senior housing, skilled nursing/post-acute care facilities and medical office buildings. Near term, Welltower will benefit the most from accelerating occupancy gains amid the post-Covid recovery, Bank of America believes. "In addition, we believe senior housing rate growth will remain robust in 2024 & beyond. WELL has the highest exposure to senior housing operating assets within our coverage universe and based on our demographic analysis has the best positioned portfolio," the bank said. "Longer term, demographic trends are favorable as baby boomers continue to age." Shares of Welltower are up 40% year to date. Mid-America Apartment Communities and American Homes 4 Rent are both residential housing plays. The former is a multifamily REIT that operates in communities across the Sunbelt region, where the bank sees robust job growth and a lower cost of living. The latter owns the second-largest single-family rental REIT portfolio in the U.S., Spector wrote. "We remain positive on AMH's portfolio, limited new supply of single-family homes, structural demographic tailwinds with aging millennials, accretive consolidation/development opportunities, and a strong management," he said. Mid-America Apartment Communities has gained nearly 18% year to date, while American Homes 4 Rent is up close to 7%. Lastly, Federal Realty Investment Trust owns, operates and develops retail-based properties in coastal markets. Spector said this "blue-chip retail REIT" has a diverse portfolio of shopping centers and should produce growth above its peers in the long term. The stock has moved more than 9% higher so far this year. New York, US (PANA) - With war raging in Sudan and no end in sight to the catastrophic hunger crisis it has created, UN agencies and Member States meeting at the General Assembly in New York on Wednesday prepared to issue a renewed call for urgent action to protect the countrys people U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on during a meeting in New York on September 25, 2019, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. WASHINGTON Former President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday morning at Trump Tower in New York. Trump was previously not expected to meet with the Ukrainian president, who has already held meetings on Thursday with both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Both Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, have been critical of the U.S. aid to Ukraine. "It's a shame what's happening in Ukraine: so many deaths, so much destruction. It's a horrible thing," Trump said on Thursday. "And one of the things that are very bothersome to me is the fact that Europe is paying only a small fraction of the money that the United States of America is paying, and we have an ocean between Russia and ourselves. They don't." In what might have been one of his final visits with the Biden administration on U.S. soil, Zelenskyy traveled to the White House on Thursday to meet with Biden just weeks before his successor will be determined in the November presidential election. Biden announced nearly $8 billion in a new support package for Ukraine, which Zelenskyy called "a great help." The visit punctuated Democratic leaders' staunch support of Ukraine in its war with Russia but foreshadows a potential change in the countries' relationship if Trump clinches the election. During the September presidential debate, Trump was asked twice whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. Both times he ducked the question, avoiding saying that he wanted the U.S. ally to win. Instead, he said, "I want the war to stop." Zelenskyy and Harris have met seven times, the leaders said today, and the Democratic nominee has echoed Biden's steadfast support of the beleaguered country. "We have common view on the things that need to be done," Zelenskyy said ahead of a meeting with the vice president. "There are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality, and would require Ukraine to forego security relationships with other nations," Harris said ahead of her meeting with Zelenskyy, appearing to reference Trump. "These proposals are the same of those of Putin and let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable." Delegates attend day three of the Labour Party Conference 2024 at ACC Liverpool on September 24, 2024 in Liverpool, England. Ian Forsyth | Getty Images News | Getty Images Liverpool, ENGLAND U.K. finance chiefs are banging the drum for pension reforms to boost anaemic investment and growth in the country. The annual Labour conference the centre-left party's first in power for 15 years was awash with delegates from the City of London urging the government to move decisively with plans to make retirement schemes more competitive. William Vereker, chairman of Santander U.K., cited pension reform as one of three paths to economic growth, alongside skills and education, and regulation. "We are almost wholly reliant for investment in this country at the moment, on the kindness of strangers. We're reliant on external companies, external investors and so on, to invest in our stock markets, invest in our businesses, and that just isn't sustainable," Vereker told a room full of industry figures on Monday. "If we do not have domestic capital investing in domestic businesses, we will not see the growth that this government is so rightly focused on," he added. BlackRock's vice president of government affairs and public policy, Muirinn O'Neill, said the new government had a "once-in-a-generation" chance to overhaul the pensions system. If we don't unlock the capital in pension funds, we're not getting anywhere. Tulip Siddiq Economic secretary to the Treasury "In terms of the growth agenda, we have been long-term champions of getting more DC investment into private markets," she said Tuesday, referring to defined contributions, which are retirement plans based on money paid in as opposed to money earned. The comments echo those from Citi U.K. CEO Tiina Lee, who told CNBC last week that domestic funds have for too long focused on low-risk and low fee investments, leading to "sub-optimal" returns. "For me, pension reform is the way to unlock growth in the U.K.," Lee told "Squawk Box Europe." "When one thinks about the amount of long-term capital there is here in the U.K., it's nearly 5 trillion held in pension funds and insurance companies. In order to actually unlock even a fraction of that, to put into long-term infrastructure projects that ultimately will drive growth is absolutely the right route," she said. UK pensions review U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves in July announced a landmark pensions review as part of a "big bang" of reforms to unlock growth. The measures include plans to consolidate local government pension schemes into a larger fund, and increase allocation to U.K. high-growth businesses. Such investments could serve to further the U.K.'s strategic interests, for example by bolstering regional development, vital infrastructure, medical innovation and decarbonization, according to the government. Economic secretary to the Treasury, Tulip Siddiq, said Monday that raising the risk appetite of pension funds to invest more heavily in equities was critical to Labour's wider national renewals plans. "If we don't unlock the capital in pension funds, we're not getting anywhere and that's about putting investment into our country," she said. U.K. pension schemes have some of the lowest share of funds held in domestic stocks and private assets of any major global pension market, according to think tank New Financial. Just 4.4% of U.K. pension assets are currently held in domestic stocks, down from an estimate of 6.1% last year and well below the global average of 10.1%. watch now A man shelters from the rain under an umbrella as he walks past the Euro currency sign in front of the former European Central Bank (ECB) building in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany. Kirill Kudryavtsev | Afp | Getty Images European banking's latest takeover battle is widely regarded as a potential turning point for the region particularly the bloc's incomplete banking union. Italy's UniCredit has ratcheted up the pressure on Frankfurt-based Commerzbank in recent weeks as it seeks to become the biggest investor in Germany's second-largest lender with a 21% stake. The Milan-based bank, which took a 9% stake in Commerzbank earlier this month, appears to have caught German authorities off guard with the potential multibillion-euro merger. "The long-discussed move by UniCredit, Italy's number one bank, to seek control of Germany's Commerzbank is a watershed for Germany and Europe," David Marsh, chairman of London-based OMFIF, an organization that tracks central banking and economic policy, said Tuesday in a written commentary. Whatever the outcome of UniCredit's swoop on Commerzbank, Marsh said the episode marks "another huge test" for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. watch now The embattled German leader is firmly opposed to the apparent takeover attempt and has reportedly described UniCredit's move as an "unfriendly" and "hostile" attack. "The dispute between Germany and Italy over UniCredit's takeover manoeuvres branded by Scholz an unfriendly act threatens to inflame relations between two of the Big Three member states of the European Union," Marsh said. "A compromise could still be found," he continued. "But the hostility developing in Italy and Germany could scupper any meaningful steps towards completing banking union and capital markets integration, which all sides say is necessary to drag Europe out of its malaise." What is Europe's banking union? Designed in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, the European Union's executive arm in 2012 announced plans to create a banking union to make sure that lenders across the region were stronger and better supervised. The project, which became a reality in 2014 when the European Central Bank assumed its role as a banking supervisor, is widely considered to be incomplete. For instance, the lack of a European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS) is one of a number of factors that has been cited as a barrier to progress. European leaders, including Germany's Scholz, have repeatedly called for greater integration in Europe's banking sector. OMFIF's Marsh said Germany's opposition to UniCredit's move on Commerzbank means Berlin "now stands accused of favouring European banking integration only on its own terms." A spokesperson for Germany's government did not immediately respond when contacted by CNBC for comment. The logo of German bank Commerzbank seen on a branch office near The Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt. Daniel Roland | Afp | Getty Images Hostile takeover bids are not common in the European banking sector, although Spanish bank BBVA shocked markets in May when it launched an all-share takeover offer for domestic rival Banco Sabadell. The head of Banco Sabadell said earlier this month that it is highly unlikely BBVA will succeed with its multi-billion-euro hostile bid, Reuters reported. And yet, BBVA CEO Onur Genc told CNBC on Wednesday that the takeover was "moving according to plan." Spanish authorities, which have the power to block any merger or acquisition of a bank, have voiced their opposition to BBVA's hostile takeover bid, citing potentially harmful effects on the county's financial system. Mario Centeno, a member of the European Central Bank's Governing Council, told CNBC's "Street Signs Europe" on Tuesday that European policymakers have been working for more than a decade to establish a "true banking union" and continue to do so. The unfinished project means that the intervention framework for banking crises continues to be "an awkward mix" of national and EU authorities and instruments, according to Brussels-based think tank Bruegel. watch now Asked whether comments opposing banking consolidation from leading politicians in both Germany and Spain were a source of frustration, the ECB's Centeno replied, "We have been working very hard in Europe to bring [the] banking union to completion. There are still some issues on the table, that we all know." What happens next? [The stream is slated to start at 11:30 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] Federal prosecutors are expected to announce public corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams Thursday in a press conference in lower Manhattan. Adams has been indicted on criminal charges related to contributions to the Democrat's 2021 mayoral campaign. Agents from the FBI searched his Gracie Mansion residence Thursday morning. Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James Dennehy, FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, Department of Investigation Commissioner, will deliver remarks at the press conference. Of all Chinese internet stocks, one company has the "best risk-reward" for investors, Morgan Stanley says. That's tech giant Tencent, according to the bank. The company has games, online advertising businesses and also owns chat app WeChat, among other units. It called Tencent a "safe haven" and named it its top pick in this sector. Morgan Stanley raised its price target for Tencent from 450 Hong Kong dollars to 480 Hong Kong dollars ($57.80 to $61.70). That represents a potential upside of around 12%. "We think Tencent has the best risk-reward among Chinese Internet stocks, with structural tailwinds in games, share gain across segments, high earnings visibility," the bank said in a Sept. 25 report. "In the event of a sustainable rally in China's Internet industry, we also see further upside from potential monetization of the listed investment portfolio (US$79bn as of 2Q24)," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote, referring Tencent's equity ownership in other firms. According to its interim 2024 report, Tencent invests in the Fintech and retail, cloud and AI, social and digital content sectors. Tencent's valuation remains "undemanding" at 13 to 14 times 2025's price-to-earnings ratio, even after its recent rally, the bank noted. Its shares have jumped since mid September, from about around 374 Hong Kong dollars to the current 424 Hong Kong dollars. As for its games unit, Morgan Stanley says the firm will enjoy "near-term catalysts," adding that there will be a "robust" pipeline, with its evergreen games set to continue netting growth. It estimates Tencent's games revenue growth could rise 13% and 10% year on year in the second half this year and in 2025, respectively. Tencent's advertising growth is set to remain "resilient," with market share gains even amid weak macro economic conditions, said the bank. It estimates advertising revenue growth of 14% in the second half this year and 15% in 2025. "Rising adoption of mini-games should also lead to higher ad revenues, which is a key source of monetization (in addition to in-game purchases) for mini-games. Tencent is one of the largest beneficiaries, given its leading position in game distribution," it said. Amid intensifying competition, there's also "significant potential" for Tencent to capture higher advertising spending from Alibaba, the bank added. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. NSE Brent for November settlement fell 2.4% to $71.72 a barrel at 7:34 a.m. in London. WTI for November delivery dropped 2.4% to $68.01 a barrel. Oil fell for a second day as Saudi Arabia was reported to be weighing increasing output, and factions in Libya reached a deal that opens the way to the return of some crude production.Brent dropped below $72 a barrel for a loss of almost 5% since Tuesdays close, while West Texas Intermediate was near $68. Saudi Arabia is ready to abandon its unofficial oil price target of $100 a barrel in a bid to regain market share, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the deliberations.Representatives from Libyas rival eastern and western administrations initialed an agreement on steps for the leadership for the OPEC members central bank, the United Nations said.The potential revival in Saudi and Libyan production comes as crude is heading for its worst quarter this year, hurt by the prospect of additional supply from OPEC+ and Chinas dour economic outlook. While oil traders had largely shrugged off Chinas earlier monetary stimulus measures, President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for the government to provide more fiscal spending, underscoring the growing anxiety in Beijing over the nations slowing growth.A stronger dollar has also weighed on commodities such as oil priced in the currency with a Bloomberg gauge of the greenback rising by the most in three months on Wednesday as risk appetite abated in wider markets.Meanwhile, the US, European Union, and major powers in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia and Qatar have proposed a three-week cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, part of a bid to clear the way for negotiations and avert an all-out war in the region. Tajik PM meets with senior CPC official Xinhua) 10:03, September 26, 2024 DUSHANBE, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda met with Chen Wenqing, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official here on Tuesday. Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, noted that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, the relationship between China and Tajikistan has continued to improve and upgrade. Both countries are at critical stages of national development and rejuvenation, Chen said, adding that China is willing to work with Tajikistan to jointly promote the building of the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future, actively implement the three global initiatives, deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance law enforcement and security collaboration, and effectively address various regional threats and challenges, ultimately benefiting the people of both nations. Rasulzoda congratulated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and expressed Tajikistan's firm support for the three global initiatives proposed by Xi. He also expressed a desire to deepen practical cooperation in the security field with China and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. During the visit, Chen also met separately with Tajikistan's Secretary of the Security Council Nasrullo Mahmudzoda and Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Saimumin Yatimov. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Blog Archive: Oct 2024 (35) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) Getting a job after previously being a criminal can be tough. A lot of employers will discriminate against you once they hear of your past, as a matter of policy. But if youve ever found yourself in that position of a job seeker with a record, have you considered a career in politics? Voters might not hold your criminal past against you. If you're anything like the following men, it might even make them like you more. 5 Thomas Francis Meagher, Sentenced to Hang In 1848, Britain rounded up a quartet of Irish nationalists and sentenced them to die. The charge was sedition, and the punishment was being hanged, drawn and quartered, which sounds like overkill. One of them, Thomas Francis Meagher, said he might have been a criminal in English eyes, but according to Irish history, The treason of which I stand convicted loses all its guilt, has been sanctified as a duty, and will be ennobled as a sacrifice. Leon Gluckman Plus, he somehow managed to take this glamor shot while in prison. It turned out he didnt have to wait long to be vindicated. Before he went to the gallows, the public protested his sentence hard enough that Britain commuted it to exile to a Tasmanian prison colony. He was forbidden from leaving Tasmania as long as he lived. Then one day, he sent a letter to authorities saying, Nope. Im leaving now. He got on a ship and escaped to New York. When the American Civil War started, some other Irish nationalists sided with the South, on the general principle that succession is cool. Not Meagher, who formed his own branch of the U.S. Army called the Irish Brigade and led them in battle. After the war, he became the acting governor of Montana. He even set about turning the territory into a state, until he fell off a boat on the Missouri River one day and was declared dead. Maybe he was drunk. Or maybe one of his many political enemies finally found a chance to finish him off. 4 Amjad Ali, the Terrorist Hijacker Advertisement A plane made a stop in Fiji one day in 1987, as part of a longer voyage from Japan to New Zealand. An airport employee, Ahmjed Ali, boarded the plane, presumably as part of his refueling job. But in his bag was something that should be kept far away from fuel: six sticks of dynamite, taken from a gold mine. FotoNoir He left his nail clippers behind, though, as they werent allowed. Hed blow up the plane, he said, unless the government of Fiji agreed to release Timoci Bavadra. Bavadra had been the prime minister of the country a week ago, but then hed lost the election and staged a coup, winding up arrested. Ali had no connection with Bavadra or political ties at all. He also didnt have much experience with terrorism, as his first move now was to release all the passengers and almost all crew, depriving himself of valuable hostages. The plane stayed on the ground, and the remaining crew took Ali down by bonking him on the head with a bottle of whiskey. This was such a satisfying conclusion to the adventure that authorities charged him with bringing explosives onto a plane but nothing more serious than that. Advertisement Ali parlayed fame from the incident into becoming a member of parliament in Fiji. He later applied for asylum to New Zealand and became a permanent resident there. We guess he envied the passengers on that plane and never got over letting them go. 3 A Fraudster Declared Independence from the United States William Langer was already a politician when he committed his crimes. He was the governor of North Dakota, and he passed a rule saying all public employees had to donate money to his socialist party. This sounds like it breaks various laws, such as the one against theft, and the feds chose to nail him with conspiracy to defraud the federal government. This was 1933, and many of those employees were getting money from government relief programs. U.S. Senate If you played your cards right, the Great Depression was a great opportunity. Langer had to leave office due to now being a felon. But he had a trick up his sleeve. What if he declared North Dakota to be independent from America? While he worked on this, he remained in his office his physical office, barricading the doors to prevent anyone from expelling him. His supporters then marched on the capitol building, calling for the death of Langers appointed replacement. Advertisement Advertisement Langer eventually surrendered, and he successfully appealed his conviction. That meant he was eligible to be governor again, and voters welcomed him. Then he ran for the U.S. Senate, and he won that as well. An ethics committee early on said he was constitutionally ineligible to serve, because of his crimes, but the Senate voted to keep him in anyway. He spent almost two decades as senator from North Dakota, remaining till his death in 1959. The last time he ran for reelection, he didnt even bother campaigning, and his party didnt endorse him, but he won anyway. 2 Americas Most Successful Coup Advertisement Weve got one more coup to tell you about. And unlike Timoci Bavadras or William Langers, this one succeeded. Alfred Moore Waddell was a congressman from North Carolina during most of the 1870s. After this, he came back to his home state, where Black residents were gaining increasing political power. In 1898, Waddell campaigned locally on the seemingly winning platform of white supremacy, but that years election was won by a multiracial fusion party. So, Waddell and a mob of 2,000 took up arms. One target was a newspaper. They burned it down, retaliating for negative coverage. Advertisement via Wiki Commons Black and white and read all over? That sounds dangerously like integration. Many of the other targets were human, and we dont know exactly how many Black residents the mob murdered that day. Some estimates say 60. Some say 300. Due to what came next, survivors formally reporting the crimes wasnt advisable. Advertisement What came next was the mob made the city authorities resign, at gunpoint. Waddell became the new mayor of Wilmington. And that was that. He stayed in office for eight years, and the coup was never undone. It had been a race riot, reported newspapers (the ones that no one had burned down), and some people had committed violence, but the authorities assumed control in the end, and peace had been restored. Imagine turning down an acting student who would become the biggest television star in the history of the medium. Thats what one school did to 16-year-old Lucille Ball, refunding her mothers money and kicking the teen to the curb with a two-word message: No talent. Thats the version Ball told the Toronto Star, according to MeTV: All I ever wanted was to get to vaudeville, and I never made it. Others tell a more nuanced version of the story. It all began when Ball started dating a local hoodlum when she was only 14. Seeing as the guy was 21 and a hoodlum Balls mother was desperate for a way to break up the couple. Knowing that Lucy had a strong yearning to enter show business, her mother used her meager savings to send Ball off to the John Murray Anderson School for the Dramatic Arts in New York City. It was moms means of separating the young lovers. Don't Miss All I learned in drama school was how to be frightened, Ball said later, according to Ball of Fire: The Tumultuous Life and Comic Art of Lucille Ball. She didnt get much out of her classes there, despite having Bette Davis as a classmate. While her teachers might not have been so blunt as to say, No talent, they did let her know in no uncertain terms they thought she would fail in show business. Balls unsuccessful stay in acting school accomplished two things. First, since the name Johnny DeVita doesnt turn up later in Ball biographies, the plan to split up the comedian and the hoodlum appears to have worked. Second, Ball used the rejection as fuel to realize her show-business dreams. Ball soon returned to New York City, determined to prove her teachers wrong. She took a job working as an in-house model for Hattie Carnegie, who ordered Ball to bleach her brown hair blonde. (Carnegie didnt get that red was Balls color.) Hattie taught me how to slouch properly in a $1,000 hand-sewn sequin dress, Ball said, and how to wear a $40,000 sable coat as casually as rabbit. Advertisement Using the stage name Diane Belmont, Ball slowly built her career, working as a Chesterfield cigarette girl, a model and a showgirl on Broadway even if she was abruptly fired from those jobs as well. But she kept going because she just wanted to get into show business, she told John Davidson. And I didnt know what show business was. I thought it was vaudeville. When Ball told Davidson she turned to modeling and posing for artists because I have to eat, he asked if she ever did nudes. No! she responded. Im not that attractive. If I had been that attractive, I probably would have. Advertisement But once again, rejection turned out to be good for her career. I was lucky, she said. See, I had to do something else, and thats how I got into comedy. The Golden Age of Radio isnt known for featuring too many dirty jokes, probably because Jack Benny never dropped any F-bombs and Flash Gordon resisted the urge to recite obscene limericks about residents of Nantucket. But one iconic comedian made an impressively obscene quip during a popular game show according to legend, at least. The story goes that the great Groucho Marx, during a 1947 episode of the radio version of his popular quiz program You Bet Your Life, interviewed a female contestant with a large number of kids (the exact number varies depending on the telling). When Groucho asked how she came to have so many children, she responded, I love my husband. To which Groucho fired back: I love my cigar, but I take it out once and a while. Don't Miss Several sources suggest that the anecdote is genuine, including Groucho: The Life and Times of Julius Henry Marx, which notes that the shows director, Robert Dwan, thought that the line was too bawdy and excised it. And the stage play Groucho: A Life in Revue, co-written by Grouchos son Arthur Marx, features a version of the joke. As Snopes pointed out, the story is recounted in the book The Secret Word Is Groucho, which was credited to the comedian, but ghostwritten by collaborator Hector Arce. In the book Groucho recalls how he made the joke while chatting with a woman named Mrs. Story. Although, in this telling, the punchline was, I love my cigar too, but I take it out of my mouth once in a while, which kind of ruins the entire point of the joke. This claim was later backed by Steve Stoliar in his terrific book Raised Eyebrows, which chronicles the time he spent as Grouchos personal secretary in the 1970s. Stoliar recalled that You Bet Your Lifes head writer Bernie Smith specifically told him that the joke was made while Groucho was speaking with a sign painter named Mr. Story and his wife, and that they hailed from Bakersfield, California. The full episode was eventually tracked down although it aired in 1950, not 47. And it contains no ribald humor, which aligns with claims that the offending joke was cut from the broadcast. Advertisement So it definitely happened, right? Advertisement Yeah, not so fast. There are a few major problems with this story. For starters, Groucho himself denied ever making the joke during an interview with Roger Ebert. I get credit all the time for things I never said, Marx told the critic in 1972. And Groucho was never one to pass up the opportunity to take credit for his old one-liners. And Dwan, who supposedly cut the joke out of the broadcast, also had no memory of the incident, but was later convinced by Bernie Smith that it was true. So thats two instances in which Smith was the primary source for this anecdote. And it seems entirely possible that Smith could have been the source for the story in The Secret Word Is Groucho too, considering that he was interviewed for the book. Possibly ghostwriter Arce learned of the joke from Smith, then rewrote the story to read as if Groucho himself was describing the event. Advertisement Advertisement So where did the joke actually come from? Smith was one of several writers who worked for You Bet Your Life, prepping Grouchos apparent ad-libs based on pre-interviews with contestants. As the hosts of The Marx Brothers Council Podcast theorized, the joke very easily could have been something that was kicked around the writers room prior to the recording, but then ultimately scrapped. That would explain why Smith remembered the joke being told to Mr. and Mrs. Story, but nobody else seemed to. Also, if it had actually been recorded then cut out, there would still likely be evidence of it, because You Bet Your Life regularly saved any offensive content that didnt make the broadcast and edited it together to entertain the sponsors. Advertisement Advertisement But there are no recordings of the cigar joke anywhere, with the exception of an obvious fake that was included on a novelty blooper album. Advertisement Long story short: It sure seems like Groucho never actually told the cigar joke, despite what this retro deepfake would have you believe. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photos: Getty Images, Kevin Dugan, Willy Blackmore Where the hell does Eric Adams live? For anyone trying to get a grip on the notoriously hard-to-pin-down Democratic candidate who will likely be the citys 110th mayor, this has been one of the most confounding and difficult-to-answer questions in the weirdest race in recent memory. The vegan exNew York City police officer turned Brooklyn borough president insists he lives in Bed-Stuy, but has been hounded since June by questions about whether he actually lives in Fort Lee, New Jersey, thanks to Politico and The City reports that he had recorded spending zero days at his supposed residence in legal documents. Next came a bizarre tour of his Bed-Stuy basement apartment, which left reporters less convinced that he actually lived in the place. Since winning the primary, his campaign hasnt responded to questions about his schedule, and he seemed to disappear for weeks at a time. During the first mayoral debate on October 20, when moderator Sally Goldenberg asked Adams how often he spent the night at his place in the last six months, Adams only replied, I dont jot down the number of days Im there, but thats where I lay my head. Its an answer that, strictly speaking, is meaningless, but seems to satisfy the residency requirement for the New York City mayoralty, which defines it as having a place in the five boroughs where one intends to return. But its still not really an answer. Could the future New York City mayor really not live in the city? The editors at Curbed reached out to me to see if Id be interested in finding out if he really does return to his Bedford-Stuyvesant home during the week (Adams says he stays in Fort Lee on weekends). A private-eye source gave me tips on how to tail him (use two cars and a cyclist to follow him around a plan that never went anywhere) and surveil him (stay across the street or a few cars down the block, in a vehicle with tinted windows, and bring an empty jug to pee in). At one point, we tried using a camera trap the kind of motion-activated setup used to photograph wildlife to capture his comings and goings. But the machine wouldnt cooperate, even after I got assistance from Strategist tech contributor David Pogue. Ultimately, Curbed opted for an old-fashioned stakeout: seven reporters taking shifts hiding out in a rented gray Nissan Sentra with Florida plates parked directly across the street from his building. The plan was to be on the block overnight from Monday through Thursday during the first week of early voting. The stakeout started at 7 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Two full shifts went by 7 p.m. to midnight, then midnight to 4 a.m. without a soul entering or departing the apartment. Then: 4:18 a.m. on Tuesday morning. I was sitting in the car, bored, when I noticed a gray Toyota Prius with New York City plates circling the block, finally parking just past Adamss building. A tall Black man who looked a lot like Adams walked into the basement apartment, turned on the lights, then shut them off for about five minutes. Was he coming home from his Borough Hall office, where he slept for months during the pandemic? His favorite club, Zero Bond, where he recently hung out with the likes of Jonathan Foodgod Cheban and Equinox CEO Harvey Spevak? Either way, once he went inside, things got slightly weird. The Prius, it seemed, was illegally parked in front of an active garage for a plumbing-supply company. Which quickly became a problem for the trucks attempting to enter said supply company: They were soon backed up all the way down Lafayette Avenue, causing a bona fide pileup while Adams slept inside. This went on for hours the trucks sat there; a few of the drivers got out to see what was the holdup until finally, at 8 a.m., someone from the supply company came out in a forklift, tied a yellow rope to the back of Adamss car, and towed it a few feet so things could get moving. Photo: Kevin Dugan Before my shift ended at 9 a.m., I texted Curbed editor Willy Blackmore to say that someone should come take over for me (we hadnt planned to be there during the day) to confirm it was, in fact, Adams, and to see what he would do with the towed Prius, whose drivers side was now blocked by the very traffic jam he appeared to have caused. Willy arrived just in time to see Adams definitively Adams leave his apartment, climb into the car from the passenger side, shimmy into the drivers seat, then drive the car up onto the sidewalk. He drove blithely on the sidewalk until he was past the jam, then turned right on Stuyvesant Avenue. Photo: Willy Blackmore At 12:37 a.m., a couple hours after the final mayoral debate (during which Adams declined to shed more light on how often he sleeps at the Brooklyn apartment we were lurking outside of), Shant Shahrigian saw Adams walk back in his front door. A mere seven minutes later, he popped back out. He paced on the phone for a few minutes, then, looking directly at the car, yelled, Oh, shit! I caught you! I caught you! Assuming hed been made by the soon-to-be mayor (who, to be fair, is also a former cop), Shant left. So does Eric Adams live in his own home? Maybe. Though if there ever was a time for Eric Adams to live in his apartment, it would be the week before election day. In response to our findings, the soon-to-be mayor had this to say: I got home late and drove around my neighborhood several times looking for parking, like so many New Yorkers do, and thought I would be out of the house early enough to move my car before the business opened. There is no excuse for it. In reflection I should have just rode my bike. By SA Commercial Prop News Equites CEO, Andrea Taverna-Turisan, says a transaction of this size with a client of Pepkors stature, will assist to further cement the companys aim of being recognised as a developer of choice to the largest logistics Equites Property Fund (JSE: EQU), whose footprint extends to the UK, said on Tuesday that it will be developing a 122 734 square metre logistics warehouse facility in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu Natal to house JSE-listed retailer Pepkor (PPH). The real estate investment trust said the total cost of development is R1.3 billion, which includes the cost of the land of R281 million. It will enter into a 15-year "triple net" fully repairing and insuring lease with Pepkor on completion of the development. Pepkor will have a right to renew for three additional five-year periods. The development is expected to be completed by November 2021. Equites CEO, Andrea Taverna-Turisan, said the company is pleased with the transaction as it meets all its investment criteria. As a specialist logistics investor and developer, Equites has successfully delivered modern and efficient logistics facilities to users both in South Africa and the United Kingdom. A transaction of this size with a client of Pepkors stature and exacting requirements will assist to further cement the companys aim of being recognised as a developer of choice to the largest logistics, retail and e-commerce participants in the South African market. The modern, state-of-the-art logistics facility will be situated in Hammersdale, a prime logistics node due to its location along the N3 national road and its proximity to the rail network linking Gauteng to the Durban port. It is also close to the inland container terminal at Cato Ridge which is expected to change the logistics landscape in KZN. Other prominent South African retailers, such as Mr Price and Ackermans, have logistics warehouse facilities close to the property, providing further evidence of the attractiveness of this node. The warehouse will boast a clear height to eaves of 15.8 metres and yard depth in excess of 45 metres. Both companies place strong emphasis on sustainability in their assets from the outset and the facilities have been designed with increased steel tolerances to accommodate the installation of photovoltaic panels. Taverna-Turisan said: The development will increase Equites footprint in the key logistics node of KwaZulu Natal and create further scale in our high-quality logistics portfolio. Importantly, the developed facility will also add to the quality, defensiveness and income predictability of Equites. We are excited to welcome Pepkor as a client. Mahalaxmi's 'lover' killed her in fit of rage, chopped her body with axel blade Police investigation into the gruesome Mahalaxmi murder case in Bengaluru has revealed that her colleague and alleged lover killed her in a fit of rage and chopped her body into 59 pieces with an axel blade. The accused Mukthiranjan Roy, Mahalaxmi's team leader at a mall, smothered her to death, dragged her body to the bathroom and chopped her into pieces. Roy stuffed the body parts into the fridge and cleaned the bathroom with acid to erase the evidence. He had also cleaned the house to make it look like nothing had happened if someone tried to peep inside, police sources stated. The suspected killer wrote in his suicide note that he committed the brutal crime as he was fed up with her conduct. The police sources said that the suicide note was written in his diary. "I have killed my lover Mahalaxmi on September 3," the accused had written in his diary. "I was fed up with her conduct. I fought with her over personal matters and Mahalaxmi assaulted me. Enraged by her act, I killed her," he had stated. Roy was found hanging from a tree in a village in Bhadrak district in Odisha. "Roy arrived in Pandi village on Wednesday and later left on a two-wheeler. Roy's body was spotted by locals hanging from a tree," the police sources said. Since September 1, Roy has been absent from duty, coinciding with Mahalaxmi's last day of work. The murder case came to light on September 21 after neighbours noticed a foul smell emanating from Mahalaxmi's house for two days and informed her relatives. Mahalaxmi's mother and sister came to her house and witnessed the horrifying scene. Though the refrigerator was operational, the body had been infested by maggots. According to residents of the area, Mahalaxmi did not mingle much with her neighbours. For a few days, her brother stayed with her. The police have also found that she was married and had a child, but lived separately. Roy's absence at the workplace after the recovery of Mahalaxmi's chopped body parts in the fridge had made the police suspicious. During the investigation, police found that Roy was close to Mahalaxmi and frequently called her up. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. AMSTERDAM Montgomery County has awarded contracts to multiple firms totaling $3.73 million for the second phase of renovations to the Health and Human Services building. The project will complete the conversion of the former Recorder newspaper building at 1 Venner Road into offices for the Montgomery County Departments of Social Services, Public Health and Mental Health. The Venner Road project is going to allow us to deliver our services to the community in a more efficient and user-friendly manner, Montgomery County Executive Robert Purtell said. The Montgomery County Legislature authorized the contracts on Tuesday. District 4 Legislator Robert Headwell, Jr. was the only official to vote against awarding the contracts after having previously raised concerns about the many ongoing projects in the county. Headwell had indicated he would prefer to see other projects completed before the county took on more when he was the sole legislator in March to vote against a $1.75 million bond resolution partially funding the second phase of the Venner Road project so it could be sent out to bid. The second phase of the project is expected to be fully financed through bonds, which will be repaid over time. Work will largely involve renovations to the former printing press room at the rear of the building and construction of a small addition. Venner Road renovations contracts The following firms were awarded contracts for the renovations of the Venner Road property: General construction West Winds General Construction not to exceed $2,366,300 Plumbing Tri-Valley Plumbing and Heating, Inc. not to exceed $227,400 Electrical A. Treffeisen & Sons LLC not to exceed $448,300 Mechanical RMB Mechanical not to exceed $559,500 Fire protection Condor Fire Sprinkler not to exceed $130,700 Roughly 80% of DSS staff are already occupying the front half of the building where renovations were previously completed as part of the first phase, which was originally budgeted at $2.19 million. Staff relocated to the office from leased space in the Riverfront Center mall. More staff will move to the renovated offices in the city from their existing space in the Montgomery County Office Building in Fonda following the second phase of work. DSS Commissioner Matthew Beck said the modernized space with upgraded systems and equipment has already benefited employees and residents. The location in the countys population center is also more convenient for many accessing in-person services. It's been really great, Beck said. We average around 30 to 40 people a day who come in, its really good for them to have access to all of our staff at once and it really helps our staff work together a little better, instead of being spread out between Amsterdam and Fonda. Even after renovations are complete, Beck said DSS will maintain a presence in Fonda for staff working on cases involving legal elements or traveling to the western part of the county as needed to assist residents in-person. Population based, were going to have more service provided to the city of Amsterdam, but I think we do a great job of making sure all of the county needs are met, said Beck, noting the department tries to provide online options to complete forms and applications as much as possible. Were trying to use the latest technology to help cut down on distance. Public and mental health staff will relocate to the remaining space in the Venner Road building following renovations. The addition will feature a separate public lobby and main entrance for residents accessing those services. Purtell said accessibility is currently an issue for the department on the second floor of the County Annex Building. The phased building renovations are part of ongoing efforts to address overcrowded county facilities. Any space freed up after staff relocate will be considered for future reuse by other departments grappling with cramped quarters and outdated offices. The county Legislature in the past had decided to upgrade and modernize facilities for our departments, Purtell said. Were currently developing a strategic plan for space utilization throughout the county buildings. This will be an important part of that. Officials have previously said the renovations to the existing building would be less expensive than constructing new facilities. The county bought the roughly 27,600-square-foot building for $800,000 in 2020. The timeline for phase two of the project is still being determined, according to Beck, who said Department of Public Works Commissioner Eric Mead is developing plans with contractors to minimize disturbances at the partially occupied building. Officials are optimistic the co-location of DSS, public health and mental health at one site will enable staff in the related fields to work more closely together while making it easier for residents to access the range of programs and services offered by each department. Well be really excited when its all finally complete, Beck said. - Antioch police arrested a man suspected in a weekend double shooting. Rafe Swan/Getty Images A 44-year-old man was arrested Thursday in a double-shooting in Antioch that stemmed from a fight that broke out weeks earlier, police said. The shooting occurred around 9:20 a.m. Sunday behind a Rite Aid store on A Street near East 18th Street. The victims, a man and a woman, were taken to a hospital and are expected to survive. Their ages were not released. Investigators determined the male victim and suspected shooter were involved in a fight weeks earlier. The suspect, identified as Bobby Grigsby, was booked into jail after his arrest, police said. No further details were released. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hezbollah has spent years turning southern Lebanon into a fortress bristling with a formidable array of firepower. The Muslim Shi'ite towns it draws its fighters from and the Christian villages it uses as cover for its murderous campaigns are home to a vast stockpile of more than 150,000 rockets. What's more, it has had years to develop a sophisticated network of tunnels and observation posts in the hilly terrain that runs along Israel's northern border. And in the 11 months since Hamas launched the raid from Gaza that killed 1,200 Israelis last October, Hezbollah has maintained a near constant barrage of missile attacks involving no fewer than 8,000 rockets and 60,000 Israelis were evacuated from the area last year. Benjamin Netanyahu's government has vowed to return these people to their homes, but that can only be done once the threat of attacks by Hezbollah has been neutralised. An Israeli army tank, pictured in an area of Israel's southern border with the Palestinian Gaza Strip in August Smoke rises over the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Taibeh this week Benjamin Netanyahu 's government has vowed to return these people to their homes, but that can only be done once the threat of attacks by Hezbollah has been neutralised And that can only be achieved by a ground operation involving Israeli tanks, infantry, and special forces equipped with swarms of drones crossing the border into Lebanon. Some of the more excitable commentators would have you believe this could trigger the start of World War III but, as someone who's covered the activities of Hezbollah and Iran's other proxies in the region for a decade, I can tell you that is nonsense. But, having made regular visits to northern Israel since the Hamas atrocity, one thing I know for sure is that no ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah is worth the paper it's written on. In the aftermath of the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, for example, the terms of UN Resolution 1701 restricted Hezbollah to territory north of the Litani River, which runs 15 to 20 miles north of the border. This meant that Israel would be out of range of its anti-tank guided missile fire, the weaponry Hezbollah has used to target Israeli communities along the border. It would also prevent Hezbollah from carrying out an October 7-style surprise attack. Has Hezbollah abided by this agreement? Of course not. Prior to the Hamas incursion, Israel was preparing for the possibility that Hezbollah's well-trained elite Radwan Force would launch attacks on Israel at points along the 50-mile northern border in a bid to seize some of the small Israeli communities that dot the ridges along the frontline. In the event, Hezbollah has contented itself with its relentless missile bombardment, vowing to continue these attacks as long as the Gaza war continues. And it is only one element of Iran's multi-front war on Israel, which includes militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. These groups not only attack Israel itself but target commercial ships sailing through the region and U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Hezbollah is unwilling to stand down without an order from Tehran and the virulently anti-Semitic mullahs who run Iran are happy to keep sending Lebanese Shi'ites to their deaths. In such a context, a ground war looks increasingly likely. And Israel has spent years training its army for just such an eventuality. Only this week, the 7th Armoured Brigade of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) completed its preparations for an invasion of southern Lebanon. Just a few miles from the Lebanese border, troops were trained in 'manoeuvring and combat in thicketed, mountainous terrain', according to the IDF. As Israel's troops have seen tough combat in Gaza, they are probably the best prepared they have been in decades. But serious challenges lie ahead. A firefighter at the site of an Israeli strike, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Iran's proxies have started to intensify their attacks. Iraqi militias launched drones at the southern Israeli port city of Eilat on September 25. One reached its target while another was shot down. Drones and missiles don't win wars, however, and Israel has highly effective air defences to combat just such a threat. Nor is Iran likely to risk a major regional war by entering the fray itself. Instead, Tehran will try to diplomatically isolate Israel, as its new president attempted to do this week at the UN General Assembly. If Israel wants Hezbollah to move off the hills that overlook Israel south of the Litani, it looks increasingly likely that it will need to use tanks and infantry. Seth J. Frantzman is an analyst at The Jerusalem Post, an Adjunct Fellow at The Foundation For Defence Of Democracies and author of The October 7th War: Israel's Battle For Security In Gaza. Young people are looking for makeup inspiration from the zoo While an unlikely candidate for a makeup trend, Gen Z have elected a baby hippo as their latest cosmetic aspiration. The newest trend in makeup has young people trying to appear more hippo like, as they strive to capture the glow on a baby pygmy hippopotamus, Moo Deng, who has recently become an internet sensation. Makeup moguls across the internet are eagerly swiping their cheeks with vibrant pink and charcoal grey as they attempt to recapture the swampy look of the popular hippo. Moo Deng began growing a fanbase are zookeepers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Si Racha, Thailand after zookeepers posted dozens of videos on their social media account, which now has 2.5million followers. The sweet hippo - who's name translate to 'bouncy pork' - has since racked up millions of adoring fans, who have even gone as far as to try to look like her. One TikToker took inspiration from the pygmy hippopotamus by swiping bright pink flush over her cheeks and taking grey eyeliner from the edge of her eye down towards her nose Moo Deng began growing a fanbase are zookeepers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Si Racha, Thailand after zookeepers posted dozens of videos on their social media account, which now has 2.5million followers Fans went wild for videos of the sweet looking creature bathing, sleeping, and even blowing snot bubbles. One clip featuring Moo Deng's caretaker playing with her has reached more than 33 million views and has two million likes. She now has dozens of Instagram and Facebook pages documenting her daily life on social media. Moo Deng makeup has amassed more than seven million views since the baby pygmy became an internet celebrity, with dozens of beauty creators have tried to recreate her look. Inspired by the hippo's rosy pink cheeks and swamp washed dewy glow, beauty creators have attempted to recreate her look with makeup. The first to have recreated Moo Deng's now famous face, was American content creator, Mei Pang, who shared a tutorial on how to recreate Moo Deng's look with her three million Instagram followers. In the video she said: 'Makeup inspired be the legend herself, Moo Deng. Why do you ask? Because she is everything. She describes Moo Deng face as capturing the sought after look of 'Dewy skin, a great halo eye and a zest for life.' To duplicate the hippo's look, Mei goes on to spritz her face heavily with moisturising spray before blobbing her cheeks with a light pink blush. She mimics her eyes by creating a grey and brown halo eye with smears of white to accentuate. Mid-way through the clip she asked 'Do I look like a hippo yet?' The makeup look is finished with lips outlined in petal pink and then filled in with a hippo shade of grey. While an unlikely candidate for a makeup trend, Gen Z have elected a baby hippo as their latest cosmetic aspiration Moo Deng makeup has amassed more than seven million views since the baby pygmy became an internet celebrity, with dozens of beauty creators have tried to recreate her look Makeup moguls across the internet are eagerly swiping their cheeks with vibrant pink and charcoal grey as they attempt to recapture the swampy look of the popular hippo One evidently passionate fans even simple painted an image of Moo Deng on the side of her face 'I truly hope she knows the impact she's had on the world,' she added. In other clips, beauty creators opt solely to reproduce the pink undercarriage of Moo Deng by adorning their cheeks with a visceral skin pink. 'Moo Deng has such an adorable little face and her blush, I have to replicate that,' one creator said in a video showing others how to attain hippo cheeks. Another TikToker took inspiration from the pygmy hippopotamus by swiping bright pink flush over her cheeks and taking grey eyeliner from the edge of her eye down towards her nose. One evidently passionate fans even simple painted an image of Moo Deng on the side of her face. Other clips reveal eager hippo fans polishing their cheeks with vibrant pink blush, inspired by the hippo. The hippo fever has even been utilised by makeup brands themselves with the global beauty brand, Sephora, advertising blushes in Thailand which promise to recreate Moo Deng's 'pink & peachy tone' cheeks. In other clips, beauty creators opt solely to reproduce the pink undercarriage of Moo Deng but adorning their cheeks with a visceral skin pink Since Moo Deng was born in July, she has gone viral online with her miniature frame and podgy proportions inspiring a fervent following The first to have recreated Moo Deng's now famous face, was American content creator, Mei Pang (pictured), who shared a tutorial on how to recreate Moo Deng's look with her three million Instagram followers Since Moo Deng was born in July, she has gone viral online with her miniature frame and podgy proportions inspiring a fervent following. The pygmy has doubled the Chonburi zoo's visitors since becoming an internet star. The Associated Press described the baby hippo as having 'the kind of face that launches a thousand memes' At the weekend, the zoo brought in 10,000 visitors, up from around the usual 3,000, all thanks to the adorable hippo. However, thanks to overcrowding, restrictions have had to be placed on visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of Moo Deng, with viewing capped to just 30-50. Visitors can now only visit the hippo on weekends for a restricted time of five minutes. Emily Atack has revealed how she 'genuinely had no problems' with appearing nearly naked on lads' mags like Loaded and FHM as she saw it as 'celebrating my youth and my sexuality'. But the 34-year-old British actress has admitted that she 'naively didn't think what narrative was being painted for me', and is now 'really standing firm' against misogyny. Speaking to The Guardian , the mother-of-one revealed how her life-changing role as Charlotte 'Big Jugs' Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners meant she was suddenly getting recognised everywhere and booked for plenty of risque photoshoots. 'This is where I get confused. And I was confused then,' admitted Emily. 'I was told, "You've got a photoshoot today" and it would be for Loaded magazine, or for FHM... So I was all, "Yep, clothes off, bikini on. Whatever." Genuinely, I had no problems with that - I enjoyed those shoots.' The Duchess of York took part in a 'truly inspiring' panel on climate solidarity in the Commonwealth as both she and Princess Beatrice made appearances at New York Climate Week yesterday. Sarah Ferguson, 64, and her daughter, 36, were both spotted at events for the annual gathering in the US, which highlights environmental work and initiatives. The mother-of-two attended a discussion for Global Citizen NOW: Health and Climate Financing Sessions - The Urgent Need for Action at Guastavino's, and was later joined by Beatrice for a Youth Impact Council Launch in Manhattan. Sarah took to Instagram to praise the 'fantastic second day' she had at this year's New York Climate Week. Other attendees included Idris Elba's wife Sabrina and presenter and activist Suluafi Brianna Fruean. The Duchess of York took part in a 'truly inspiring' panel on climate solidarity in the Commonwealth 'Having kicked the day off at @glblctzn discussing Climate Solidarity in the Commonwealth alongside the brilliant @briannafruean and @sabrinaelba, I headed over to @the_explorers_club to see my friend @alexandracliment and listen to her talk about her inspiring work leading expeditions to reforest the Darien Gap in Panama,' she revealed. 'Again, a truly inspiring day and has left me feeling very grateful to have been a part of #climateweeknyc.' The Duchess shared snippets of her rewarding day in a social media reel, showing off her two ensembles for the different events. The first featured a black and white co-ord teamed with chic lace-up boots. Prince Andrew's ex-wife donned a checkered-print mini skirt and jacket, accesorised with golden jewellery. Sarah's make-up accentuated her eyes, and she styled her auburn tresses with a thin headband. For her second outfit of the day, Sarah wore a monochrome skirt and blazer over a multi-coloured ruffled blouse. Meanwhile, her daughter Beatrice appeared in good spirits as she was photographed at a Youth Impact Council Launch. The Princess - who earlier this year topped Tatler's best-dressed list - sported a chic ensemble in a collared top worn under a luxurious tan trench coat. Princess Beatrice appeared in good spirits as she was photographed at a Youth Impact Council Launch Sarah Ferguson, 64, and her daughter, 36, were both spotted at events for the annual gathering in the US, which highlights environmental work and initiatives The mother-of-two attended a discussion for Global Citizen NOW: Health and Climate Financing Sessions - The Urgent Need for Action at Guastavino's Sarah took to Instagram to praise the 'fantastic second day' she had at this year's New York Climate Week Other attendees included Idris Elba's wife Sabrina (left) and presenter and activist Suluafi Brianna Fruean (right) The Duchess shared snippets of her rewarding day in a social media reel, showing off her two ensembles for the different events She wore her sleek tresses down, and accentuated her visage with glamorous make-up. The initiative aims to 'accelerate tomorrow's youth leaders, today' with Sarah as a global ambassador. On Tuesday, Sarah once again took to social media to share her excitement at kicking off New York Climate Week. 'It was so inspiring to meet so many motivated young people who are looking to make the future a much more positive place to be,' she said in an Instagram post. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands cut an elegant figure on Wednesday as she attended a UN assembly anniversary event in New York. The royal and her husband King Willem-Alexander joined former CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates, at the UNSGSA event 'Inclusive Finance for Development 15 Years of Impact' held in New York on Wednesday. The mother-of-three, 53, looked typically glamorous as she stepped out in a vibrant orange ensemble for the event alongside her husband, 57, who looked dashing in blue. The elegant royal stepped out in an entirely orange suit with floor length trousers in a relaxed fit and long length sleeves with a stylish slit running up the arms. Pictured strutting down the streets of New York, Maxima beamed cheerily as she held a practical chestnut clutch bag under one arm, and linked arms sweetly with her husband. Queen Maxima (pictured right) of the Netherlands cut an elegant figure yesterday as she attended a UN assembly anniversary event in New York, alongside her husband, King Willem-Alexander (center), and Bill Gates (left) Pictured strutting down the streets of New York, Maxima beamed cheerily as she held a practical chestnut clutch bag under one arm, and linked arms sweetly with her husband The queen donned a pair of elegant brown heels with a a stylish pointed tip as she strode past the grey skyscrapers of New York city. She finished the look with a gem studded silver bracelet and a chic looking chunky black watch. Maxima wore her usual makeup look with a dark smoky eye to accentuate her stunning mahogany coloured eyes, and a petal pink shade emphasise her beautiful smile. Her bright blonde tresses were worn down by her shoulders in a relaxed by professional style, with her side part fringe giving her a stylish look. The Dutch royal attended the event in New York alongside her husband, King Willem-Alexander, who sported a fashionable navy suit and patterned baby blue tie. Among other guests who gathered at the United Nations headquarters in New York was the former CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates and the World Bank President Ajay Banga. The former Microsoft mogul, Bill Gates, 68, looked smart in an all black ensemble during his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly, where he also spoke. Maxima look animated as she chatted to the Microsoft founder during the event alongside her husband. Also attending the UN Assembly was the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoo, who beamed with recognition as he shook hands with Maxima. Another global leader in attendance was Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who was pictured chatting to the Dutch royal and her husband. During the event, A sweet picture captured the moment the queen was spotted giggling as she chatted cheekily with Prime Minister of Tanzania Kassim Majaliwa. Maxima look animated as she chatted to the Microsoft founder during the event alongside her husband The former Microsoft mogul, Bill Gates, 68, looked smart in an all black ensemble during his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly, where he also spoke The queen donned a pair of elegant brown heels with a a stylish pointed tip as she strode past the grey skyscrapers of New York city Maxima wore her usual makeup look with a dark smoky eye to accentuate her stunning mahogany coloured eyes and a petal pink shade emphasise her beautiful smile Also attending the UN Assembly was the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who beamed with recognition as he shook hands with Maxim The anniversary marked 15-years for progress in progressing financial inclusion, notably in achieving UN goals in Sustainable Development Goals Maxima - who is the United Nations Secretary General's Special Advocate on Inclusive Finance - was also appointed special advocate for Financial Health, yesterday Also in attendance was Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who was pictured chatting to the Dutch royal and her husband Bill Gates spoke at the UNSGSA event for Inclusive Finance for Development, marking 15 Years of progress Bill Gates pictured smiling as he was snapped up during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters in New York Bill Gates looked on at the assembly while World Bank President Ajay Banga (pictured right) spoke The anniversary marked 15-years of progress in advancing financial inclusion, most notably in achieving UN goals in Sustainable Development Goals. Maxima - who is the United Nations Secretary General's Special Advocate on Inclusive Finance - was also appointed special advocate for Financial Health, yesterday. In her new role for Financial Health, she will will work to ensure people have the financial tools at hand to be able to manage their expenses, as well as the ability to invest and secure their money in the future. In Maxima's current role, she works by offering advice to the Secretary-General, and working worldwide to make financial services accessible to all, including low-income groups and the SME sector. The Dutch royal delivered her speech passionately, evidently proud of the work she has achieved since becoming United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, in 2009 During her speech, Queen Maxima looked passionate, gesturing with her hands as she spoke to the assembly In her new role for Financial Health, Maxima will will work to ensure people have the financial tools at hand to be able to manage their expenses, as well as the ability to invest and secure their money in the future In Maxima's current role, she works by offering advice to the Secretary-General, and working worldwide to make financial services accessible to all, including low-income groups and the SME sector Maxima and Willem-Alexander were sat next to their Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoo, during the event Maxima wore her bright blonde tresses were down by her shoulders in a relaxed by professional style, with her side part fringe giving her a stylish look In one picture, Maxima was snapped up sharing a hug with World Bank President Ajay Banga Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander pictured arriving for the event in New York Queen Maxima and Willem-Alexander mimic the famous Beatles picture, from the English band's album cover, Abbey Road The Dutch royal delivered her speech passionately, evidently proud of the work she has achieved since becoming United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, in 2009 Maxima listened intently during other UN leader's speeches King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands pictured shaking hands with the President of the World Bank Ajay Banga Bill Gates pictured smiling as he left the UNSGSA event on Wednesday The Dutch royal appeared in good spirits throughout the event as she was pictured smiling throughout Maxima pictured during her impassioned speech A sweet picture captured the moment the queen was spotted giggling as she chatted cheekily with Prime Minister of Tanzania Kassim Majaliwa Maxima pictured while she was projected onto the screen so everyone could hear her deliver her speech at the event It comes after the Dutch royal spent a glamorous dinner alongside her daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia, last week as the pair headed to a Council of State dinner at the Palace Noordeinde in The Hague. Maxima looked glamorous in the pale blue strapless Valentino dress which she paired with a dazzling blue diamond necklace. She accessorised with a matching blue shawl and a silver clutch bag, adding a bit more sophistication to her ensemble. Meanwhile Princess Amalia, 20, looked incredible in a figure hugging Alex Perry gown which she paired with the Dutch Diamond Trellis necklace and matching drop earrings. King Willem-Alexander also looked smart in a black tuxedo which he paired with a bow tie and white shirt. The Council of State is an independent advisor to the government and parliament. The King is Chairman of the Council while Princess Catharina-Amalia has been a member since her 18th birthday, while Maxima is also a member. Maxima had a busy week in her native country last week, as just days before she had also attended Prince's Day (Prinsjesdag), the opening day of the Dutch parliament - which takes place every year on the third Tuesday in September. The event - attended by Maxima, her husband and three daughters - sees the royals take to the balcony of Noordeinde Palace to wave to crowds below. Firefighters walk through the burning forest in July as the Park Fire rages in Butte County. Prosecutors have accused a Chico man of starting the fire by letting his burning car crash off a cliff. Jungho Kim/Special to The Chronicle Power lines and lightning have ignited some of the largest wildfires that have menaced Californians in the past decade. This year so far, the big menace has been arson. Nearly half of the acres burned in wildfires so far this year in California involve suspected cases of arson. Thats roughly 475,000 acres out of 995,974 total acres burned, which is about four times more than the last seven years combined. The largest is the Park Fire, a nearly 430,000-acre wildfire that started July 2 in Chico and burned all the way to Lassen National Park, nearly 100 miles to the north, destroying 709 buildings in Butte and Tehama counties. Prosecutors have accused a Chico man of letting his burning car crash off a cliff in a city park. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cal Fire officials said the number of arson fires this year isnt unusual, and arson cases represent between 10% and 15% of fires in any given year and this years numbers fit that pattern, though the acreage is greater. These are hundreds of fires each year that do not need to happen, said Gianni Muschetto, staff chief in Cal Fires law enforcement division. Authorities had arrested 91 people suspected of arson this year by the end of August, the most recent data available. Last year, Cal Fire reported 111 arrests and 359 cases of arson that collectively burned 2,587 acres. There were 162 arrests in 2022, 149 in 2021 and 120 in 2020. In another arson case, firefighters in San Bernardino County were still working to contain the 40,000-acre Line Fire, which destroyed four buildings and forced thousands of people to evacuate communities in the surrounding mountains. Prosecutors have accused a 34-year-old man from Riverside County of intentionally starting the fire in a neighborhood in Highland. The 3,789-acre Thompson Fire, which ignited July 2 just outside Oroville, is also a case of suspected arson. Investigators suspect a 26-year-old man of tossing a firework out a car window as he drove on a rural road near the Oroville dam. He faces up to 21 years in prison if convicted of all charges. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Muschetto said that arson is an incredibly serious crime because there is no way to predict the consequences. He said Cal Fire receives reports of suspected arson every day. Once they light that fire, they dont know how big it will get, who its going to hurt or whose house will burn down, Muschetto said. Its a dangerous crime. Lightning is the only natural cause of wildfires (along with vanishingly rare volcanic eruptions), but these are are most common in wilderness areas. All other fires are caused by people either their actions or infrastructure. Most cases involve accidents and dont meet the level of arson, Muschetto said. To charge a person with arson, investigators must find evidence that the person acted recklessly or maliciously. Many fires are started by incidents such as car or machinery backfiring. The most recent arson case is unfolding in Sonoma County, where prosecutors this week charged a Cal Fire engineer with igniting five separate blazes since August. Luckily, the fires were extinguished while still small. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cal Fire engineer Robert Hernandez of Healdsburg was charged Tuesday with five counts of felony arson. Hernandez started his career as an inmate firefighter while serving out a sentence for a vehicular manslaughter conviction before joining Cal Fire, court records show. Muschetto said he couldnt yet reveal details about their investigation into Hernandez, such as how Hernandez came under suspicion or whether hes under investigation for lighting additional fires. Multiple posts on brand's Instagram account tells fans to 'enjoy before it's gone' The popular ginger beer, owned by Beliv Company, was launched in UK in 1988 Fans of a beloved British fizzy drink fear the beverage may soon be discontinued following an extensive online campaign from the brand announcing its 'departure.' Since the beginning of the month, Old Jamaica has uploaded a series of cryptic posts and videos on social media, appearing to announce the end of its popular Ginger Beer drink, which was first launched in the UK in 1988. The company, first introduced in 1927 in Kingston, England, began with ginger beer made from ginger imported from Jamaica, hence the name Old Jamaican Ginger Beer. One particularly bizarre clip on the brand's Instagram page features an actor playing the role of a shelf-stacker in an empty warehouse, solemnly holding a can of Old Jamaica Ginger Beer. The dimly lit warehouse and the actor's sorrowful tone gave the impression of a eulogy, with the shelf-stacker saying: 'I was given the task to deliver the news. Since the beginning of the month, Old Jamaica has uploaded a series of cryptic posts and videos on social media, appearing to announce the end of its popular Ginger Beer drink 'Perhaps because when the company started 25 years ago, I also started here as a shelf stacker. 'And just like a rock band saying goodbye to its fans, it's time for our Old Jamaica Ginger Beer to bid farewell to its beloved drinkers.' Even more peculiarly, the shelf-stacker adds: 'It's not the last dance, because cans don't even dance. This is more like the last toast. Let's say goodbye until every last can is gone.' A second post shows a screengrab of the actor sat on top of a forklift carrying wooden crates alongside a banner that reads: 'Farewell Old Jamaica.' The brand added: 'Very sad indeed, but we'll turn your tears into cheers with a legendary farewell. Stay tuned.' Another post, which features a close-up picture of the 330ml can against a bright orange background, reads: Farewell Old Jamaica. Enjoy it before it's gone.' The posts have left fans distraught, with hundreds taking to Instagram to express their sadness and confusion. One dismayed commenter pleaded: 'Please for the love of everything that's good in the world let this be a marketing stunt...' as another exclaimed, 'But what will we put with our rum?' One particularly bizarre clip on the brand's Instagram page features an actor playing the role of a shelf-stacker in an empty warehouse, solemnly holding a can of Old Jamaica Ginger Beer A second post shows a screengrab of the actor sat on top of a forklift carrying wooden crates alongside a banner that reads: 'Farewell Old Jamaica' The company, first introduced in 1927 in Kingston, England, began with ginger beer made from ginger imported from Jamaica, hence the name Old Jamaican Ginger Beer A third wrote, 'Put the sugar back in the drink and we'll buy you out,' as another shocked fan commented, 'Are you serious?!' Another reminisced: 'My grandma always had a can of this in the fridge, I'll grab a can sometimes to remember her.. so sad to hear this!! There's nothing else that JUST hits the spot on a blistering day!!' Panicked fans vowed to stock up on the beverage before it's potentially discontinued, with one writing: 'This can't be real. I'm gonna have to buy crates of it now.' Another said: 'Where do I buy in bulk before you leave?? I'll fill a bunker of the stuff, you can take it away from me when I'm dead.' Despite the panic, Old Jamaica Ginger Beer remains available at several major UK supermarkets, including Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsbury's. The posts have left fans distraught, with hundreds taking to Instagram to express their sadness and confusion However, Tesco has already run out of stock, adding to concerns that the beverage's days may be numbered. FEMAIL has approached Refresco, which manufactures the drink in the UK, and Beliv Company, which owns the brand, for comment. However, Hernan Cerdeiro, chief coordinating officer and campaign lead from SAMY Alliance - the creative agency behind the social media Old Jamaica campaign - told MediaShotz : 'The chance to 'retire a brand' was something that we relished, simply because as far as we can work out, it had never been done before so publicly. 'We wanted to give Old Jamaica's loyal customers one last chance to say goodbye, to take that final sip, and see the can ride off into the sunset.' True crime fans were on the edge of their seats when, two years ago, the Sweet Bobby podcast recounted a baffling and convoluted catfish story that saw a woman embroiled in a nine-year relationship without ever having met or video called the man who would go on to be her 'boyfriend'. And the bizarre tale will now be told in a Netflix documentary next month, with the trailer released yesterday. Kirat Assi, 43, of west London, spent nearly a whole decade believing she was communicating online with a doctor named Bobby Jandu; first starting as friendship before blooming into more. The 'couple' would at points speak on the phone nearly daily - the conversations at time becoming sexual - and endured shocking circumstances, including Bobby allegedly being shot, placed in the Witness Protection Programme and suffering a brain tumour. 'Bobby' eventually became obsessive and controlling, leaving Kirat suffering from chest pains and being signed off work due to stress. Kirat Assi, 43, of west London , spent nearly a whole decade believing she was communicating online with a doctor named Bobby; first starting as friendship before blooming into more But in reality, the profile - and those of some 50 others in the fake network of his 'friends' - was being managed by her female cousin, Simran Bhogal; whom Kirat had been confiding about her relationship troubles to. 'What happened to me is just one crazy story,' Kirat said in the trailer for the upcoming programme, which will be out on October 16. 'You can't make it up. We're talking about ten years of my life.' Kirat spent some of those years in a romantic relationship with the fake Bobby - who she believed was living in Australia and whose identity was based on the profile and photographs of a real man. The deception was only uncovered when a frustrated Kirat was driven to hire a private detective and was confronted with the bizarre and chilling truth. Kirat, who featured in the hugely popular six-part Sweet Bobby podcast hosted by Alexi Mostrous, has spoken candidly and openly about the horror of finding out the reality. It is believed to be one of the longest-running and most complex case of catfishing to have come to light because the deception involved creating not just one person, but an entire community. In 2009, Kirat, a prominent member of London's Sikh community, was working as an arts and events assistant for Hounslow Community Services and presenting a show on Radio Desi, a station for the Punjabi community. The fake profile used the real Bobby's photos and some biographical details without his consent, and in November 2010, Kirat had her first encounter with the fake Facebook profile. Pictured, the real Bobby in the Netflix documentary Kirat spent some of those years in a romantic relationship with the fake Bobby - who she believed was living in Australia and whose identity was based on the profile and photographs of a real man She was in a relationship when, out of the blue, she received a Facebook message seemingly from Simran's ex-boyfriend, JJ, asking for guidance on how to get her back. The pair struck up a friendship and communicated over the next five months before she heard news that JJ had died, and Simran passed on the email address of his brother 'Bobby' to send her condolences. The fake profile used the real Bobby's photos and some biographical details without his consent, and in November 2010, Kirat had her first encounter with the fake Facebook profile. The pair started off developing a friendship and he told her he was married, with a child on the way, however soon began divulging details of his collapsing relationship. 'We weren't close, but I saw him as a friend, a little brother,' she told the Daily Mail in 2021. In November 2013, she was at work when she received a Facebook message saying Bobby had been shot and was in a coma, suffering memory loss. And then in January 2014, she learned that he had died. 'Bobby' declared his love for Kirat some weeks before they actually 'got together' on Valentine's Day 2015. Kirat during a video call Simran - posing as Bobby (pictured, the real Bobby) - even called Kirat as she was physically talking to the real Bobby at his house What is catfishing and is it illegal? Catfishing is the phenomenon of luring someone into a relationship by creating a fictional online persona. The phrase gained popularity after the 2010 American documentary Catfish and subsequent TV show. At present catfishing is not illegal however elements of the online activity could be covered by different parts of the law. For example, someone who has duped another person out of money could be prosecuted for fraud. Legal experts involved with the Tortoise investigation believe that existing laws covering 'coercive and controlling' relationships should be adequate to bring a prosecution in Kirat's case (even though the coercive control was being exerted by a person who wasn't real). Advertisement 'I was invited to join a Facebook group of his friends. There were 39 people in it. I have since learned that none of them was real.' However soon after, Kirat received an email out of the blue informing her that Bobby was actually alive but faked his own death and was hiding in a witness protection programme. 'Ridiculous,' she acknowledged. 'But at every step, these mad happenings were being backed up by other people.' She was told 'Bobby' was drinking heavily and was suicidal. In 2015, she was informed he had suffer a brain tumour, followed by a stroke. 'Bobby' declared his love for Kirat some weeks before they actually 'got together' on Valentine's Day 2015. 'I was not expecting him to live. His consultant [there were also constant messages from his fake medical team] did not expect him to live beyond July,' she had said three years ago. Her feelings about this 'dying man' were confused. 'I am not a mushy sort of person. When he said "I love you", I didn't know what to make of it, but I did love him... as a friend, then. 'I also thought "Where's the harm?" It's not as if I was ever going to be in a physical relationship with this person. But he kept putting the idea in my head. And everyone else kept saying: "Oh, he's so in love with you".' Over the coming years the pair formed a relationship, exchanging several messages daily and their relationship even turned sexual - though Kirat never sent nude images of herself. But by 2017 'Bobby' was becoming controlling including an incident where he forced Kirat to pay for a private mammogram at a London hospital after she experienced chest pains - then flew into a rage when she told him the consultant had been male. She was signed off her job sick, with stress and eventually was let go. 'I tried to find another one, but Bobby did not want me to work,' she had previously explained. But in reality, the profile - and those of some 50 others in the fake network of his 'friends' - was being managed by her female cousin, Simran Bhogal (far right); whom Kirat had been confiding about her relationship troubles to Kirat was desperate to meet Bobby in person, but every time an arrangement was made, something would happen - including once when he supposedly had a heart attack. When Kirat pressed him too hard on details of his claims, or meeting up in person, he would threaten to commit suicide. Following more and more outlandish claims from 'Bobby', Kirat finally discovered that she had been communicating with Simran after hiring a private detective and confronting the 'real life' Bobby - who had no idea that his name was being used to launch a nine-year campaign of deceit. She went to police, who said no criminal offence had taken place. She later brought a civil action against Simran, which was settled out of court. 'She has taken ten years of my life from me, years I will not get back,' said Kirat. 'In that time I could have met someone real, had a baby. I lost my friends, my job, my savings. 'I opened up to him - her! - telling him things about my hopes, dreams, my childhood, that I'd never tell anyone. I feel violated.' On the podcast, Kirat revealed how she 'vomitted' and 'passed out' after Simran eventually confessed to the truth on June 11, 2018. After a private detective led Kirat to Bobby's real address, she confronted him at his doorstep - only to realise that he was still happily married with children and had no knowledge his identity was being used to trick her. Simran - posing as Bobby - even called Kirat as she was physically talking to the real Bobby at his house. After their meeting, both Bobby and Kirat went to the police - Simran had even gone to the station with her cousin and alleged that she had seen Bobby in New York on a work visit once, suggesting that he was simply being blackmailed by his wife. The following day, both Kirat and Simran were meant to work from Kirat's home together. 'Simran was supposed to come and work from here from the Monday morning but she took ages and I was a bit frustrated 'cause that wasn't like her,' she recounted. In the trailer for the upcoming Netflix documentary, social media footage and snippets of interviews with Kirat and the real Bobby can be seen The podcast also spoke to Bobby - who will also appear in the Netflix documentary - who also said he discovered that Simran was catfishing his brother at the same time as she was catfishing Kirat 'I still didn't grasp what she was saying,' she continued, and eventually revealed how she 'fell back', 'kind of collapsed' and called her best friend Harvey to come over. Pictured, Kirat's friend in the Netflix documentary 'I was pacing up and down my room just messaging people and the car eventually pulled up. 'She didn't get out immediately and I could see her and her brother arguing in the car... I wasn't sure what was going on. It didn't feel normal.' Eventually, Simran just said: 'It was all me.' 'I didn't understand... absolutely didn't understand what she meant by that,' Kirat said. 'And she said, "I was Bobby, Bobby's me".' 'I still didn't grasp what she was saying,' she continued, and eventually revealed how she 'fell back', 'kind of collapsed' and called her best friend Harvey to come over. 'I kept screaming at her' she recalled. '"Why, why did you do this, why would you do this.". Pictured: The real Bobby, whose identity and photos were used to deceive Kirat for nine years on social media After their meeting, both Bobby (pictured, the real Bobby) and Kirat went to the police - Simran had even gone to the station with her cousin In 2022, she told the Sunday Times that she wanted catfishing to be taken more seriously as a deterrent to online fraudsters. Pictured, Kirat 'Ten years of my life, you've stolen ten years of my life. How could you be so sick. You had every chance to stop. 'You had a million and one chances to stop. I tried to end the relationship so many times. What did I do to deserve this.' The podcast also spoke to Bobby - who will also appear in the Netflix documentary - who also said he discovered that Simran was catfishing his brother at the same time as she was catfishing Kirat. 'She's the last person I'd choose in a line-up as guilty for this whole thing,' he admitted. Eerily, the podcast also revealed that Bobby and Kirat both crossed paths on a night out after Simran began posing as him online - but Kirat thought he was simply pretending not to know her in front of his friends. In 2022, she told the Sunday Times that she wanted catfishing to be taken more seriously as a deterrent to online fraudsters. 'I think it might serve as a deterrent for a lot of people to know that if you're caught then immediately it's a crime, just like driving with a mobile in your hand', she said. 'I call it online entrapment. I wasn't on a dating site, I'm private online. The connotations associated with the term catfishing are that it's fun. 'This impacted my health, my family, friends, social life, my radio work, my career, absolutely everything.' Further investigation on the podcast also suggested that Simran may have had a history of being dishonest on social media as far back as when she was at college. In the trailer for the upcoming Netflix documentary, social media footage and snippets of interviews with Kirat and the real Bobby can be seen. It finishes on a haunting last line from Kirat, who asks: 'All this time, who have I been sleeping on the phone with?' A shocked mum has been left mortified after lifeguards asked her to stop breastfeeding her baby at a popular swimming pool. Layla Kalach was feeding her 14-month-old daughter at Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre, in Sydney's south, last Thursday. Ms Kalach was sitting at the edge of the toddler's pool keeping an eye on her older child playing in the water when she was approached by two male lifeguards. She was told that she couldn't breastfeed her child in public and was ordered to stop. 'I thought, 'What?' I couldn't believe it. I was so embarrassed and shocked,' Ms Kalach told 9news.com.au. 'So many things were going through my head. I had a moment thinking, 'Maybe I am in the wrong, maybe it's a pool thing.' She was 'embarrassed' by the bizarre demand and left the pool area a short time later to dress her children. Ms Kalach then asked staff at the front desk for an explanation and was told the manager would be in touch with her. Layla Kalach (pictured) was told to stop breastfeeding her baby while she was at the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre, in Sydney's south, last Thursday She later did some research and called the Australian Breastfeeding Association to ask whether she had been treated unfairly. According to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), it is against the law to treat someone unfairly because they are breastfeeding. Women also can't be asked to leave a building, facility or areas such as cafes for breastfeeding their baby. 'I was fuming. I would have thought we would have come further in society by now,' Ms Kalach said. Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre is run by leisure management company Bluefit General manager Brett McEwin insisted that facilities run by Bluefit do not discriminate against mothers. 'Recognising the busy environment, the lifeguards expressed concerns regarding safety while positioned on the poolside nurse feeding her infant,' Mr McEwin said. 'However, we acknowledge that the lifeguards' engagement with Layla could have been improved.' Ms Kalach was sitting at the edge of the pool when two lifeguards approached her and ordered her to stop breastfeeding . Pictured is a pool at the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre The general manager of the company that runs the acquatic centre (pictured), said the lifeguards expressed safety concerns about Ms Kalach nursing her child Mr McEwin also apologised for the experience Ms Kalach endured and agreed that public facilities should be more respectful of mothers while breastfeeding their children. Ms Kalach claimed she wasn't aware of any safety issues that were caused while she breastfeeding and that those concerns weren't mentioned by the lifeguards. She also spoke to management at BlueFit and they said staff at centres managed by the company would receive appropriate training around breastfeeding. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bluefit for further comment. The Duchess of Edinburgh has firmly established herself as one of the hardest working members of the Royal Family after stepping up to fill the gap left by King Charles and the Princess of Wales' health crises. With His Majesty, 75, continuing his cancer treatment and Kate, 42, slowly easing herself back into work after revealing she has completed chemotherapy, Sophie has become increasingly important to The Firm. More and more, the 59-year-old wife of Prince Edward is being called upon to represent the Royal Family, both on the world stage and at home. Indeed, the number of royal engagements carried out by the Windsor-based mother-of-two has more than doubled this month compared to the same time in 2023, reported The Times. The Duchess has completed 37 engagements so far in September, compared to 18 in the same dates last year. Sophie appeared in her element on Wednesday as she visited an animal sanctuary in Surrey, where she sweetly cuddled a rescue chicken called Stumpy She appeared in her element on Wednesday as she visited an animal sanctuary in Surrey, where she sweetly cuddled a rescue chicken called Stumpy. Sophie, known for being a good sport, even had the opportunity to take part in the weighing of Shetland Ponies with young children from the local community at Mane Chance Sanctuary, a horse rescue charity. Last week, Sophie travelled solo to Tanzania, delivering a message from the King to the Commonwealth nation, whilst at the start of the month, she was in France for the Paris Paralympics, alongside Prince Edward. Earlier this year, the Duchess further proved her importance in the Royal Family as she represented The Firm on the world stage. In April, Sophie become the first British royal to visit Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. She met with President Zelensky and his wife - and passed on a personal message from King Charles - as she showed her solitary with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture during her emotional one-day trip. The mother of-two travelled in her role as champion of the UK's Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. It is understood she was 'keen to show her solidarity with men, women and children affected by the Russian invasion'. Today, Sophie (pictured right) visited the Domaine Evremond Winery in Canterbury earlier this Thursday The Duchess of Edinburgh during a visit to the Hale Youth & Community Centre on September 25 in Farnham Last week, Sophie travelled solo to Tanzania (pictured right, during her visit), delivering a message from the King to the Commonwealth nation In May 2023, Sophie became the first UK royal to visit Baghdad as she made a surprise visit to Iraq as part of her work championing the survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Sophie spent two days in the capital, where she heard about the challenges facing Iraqi women and girls, and the ongoing work to protect and promote their rights, Buckingham Palace announced. The previously unannounced trip, which was kept secret for security reasons, was made at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in support of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS), the Palace said. Next month, Sophie will be just as busy as she joins her husband in Malta for several engagements. It will be a poignant trip for the pair considering the significance the country holds for the Royal Family. It's where the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip enjoyed their years as young newlyweds. For many years, Sophie, mother to Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex, was something of an outsider in the British Royal Family - but after decades of hard work and loyal service, she has established herself as a key figure in the monarchy. The Duchess' key role in the Royal Family became abundantly clear shortly after the King's May 2023 coronation. Just a month later, Sophie enjoyed a rare joint engagement with the Prince of Wales as they both attended the screening of Rhino Man at the newly renovated Battersea Power Station in south-west London. On September 4, Sophie was in France for the Paris Paralympics, alongside Prince Edward (pictured) Sophie cut a stylish figure at a British Fashion Council event on September 12, wearing tweed trousers and a maroon blouse It was a rare sight to see Prince Edward's wife on an outing with only the heir to the British throne - but royal experts said at the time that this was a clear indication of her new and improved status within The Firm. Speaking to FEMAIL, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the pair's engagement together was 'unusual, but it highlighted Sophie's role as one of the hardest working members of The Royal Family.' 'William and Catherine have a unique profile as the worlds most glamorous royal couple with enormous soft power reach. Sophie has clearly established herself as their indispensable support,' said the expert. He added that the Duchess' 'considerable charm' and similar style to Princess Anne - with both sharing a 'low-key approach' - has made her a great addition to The Firm. The royal expert continued: 'There is periodic interest in what she wears, but she and her husband Edward are not in the eye of the media storm. That is the way they prefer it.' However they are pivotal to the monarchys charitable role, which is one of its main functions. 'Her style is similar to Princess Anne, as she prefers a low-key approach to her duties. They have included trips to areas of conflict such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone.' Royal author Phil Dampier, meanwhile, explained: 'Sophie is becoming a big star in The Royal Family and boy do they need her! 'With Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew off the scene the King has got a slimmed down monarchy, but maybe its slimmed down too much. 'He and the Queen, and Princess Anne are in their seventies and others like the Duke of Kent are approaching retirement. Patrick McGrath and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at the Domaine Evremond Winery at Domaine Evremond on September 26 Sophie appeared in good spirits as she made a visit to sunny Canterbury for the winery on Thursday The Duchess laughed up a storm as she chatted with Patrick, who demonstrated some grapes for the royal Sophie appeared interested as she examined the grapes during her visit to the winery in Canterbury today The Duchess even got to sample some of the grapes as she enjoyed the sunny outing in Canterbury The royal grinned as she posed in the vineyard, and enjoyed the visit to the winery in Canterbury Patrick McGrath and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh pictured today at the Domaine Evremond Winery The Duchess enjoyed a glass of Champagne during her visit to the Domaine Evremond Winery today Sophie, pictured during the winery visit, accessorised her look with pearl earrings and other jewellery For her outing today, Sophie looked elegant as ever in a check blazer and matching wide-leg trousers 'Sophie is a much bigger star than her husband Edward. She has a natural warmth and is good on walkabouts. She has been quietly getting on with the job, rather like Anne, and made several visits abroad.' Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, meanwhile, told OK magazine how Sophie - who's previously been dubbed The Firm's 'secret weapon' by royal author Victoria Murphy - has the 'common touch' thanks to her her 'normal life' before marrying into The Royal Family. 'It is so much more evident now that Sophie is a key member of the list of working royals,' Jennie said. 'I think people have really taken her into their hearts, especially after she showed her obvious grief at losing Prince Philip and the Queen.' The former PR girl was said to be a firm favourite of Queen Elizabeth's, who reportedly viewed her as The Royal Family's safest pair of hands. Jennie added: 'Sophie is absolutely one of the new female stars of the show elegant, engaging and empathetic'. This is the moment a 'Dirty Dancing' lift went wrong and left a woman with missing front teeth and a broken nose. Flo Bragg, 27, was holidaying in Provence, France when she decided to try the famous lift from the 1987 smash, made famous by Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. The pair were 'bored' at their villa - when she decided to pass the time by recreating the famous lift with her partner, 40, in the pool. But it all went wrong when she flew face-first into a wall - knocking out her two front teeth, and breaking her nose in the process. Now, she's trying to raise money for her dental treatment - including x-rays and a double root canal - which will set her back 270. This is the moment a 'Dirty Dancing' lift went wrong and left a woman with missing front teeth and a broken nose Flo Bragg, 27, was holidaying in Provence, France when she decided to try the famous lift Flo, a sales executive from Exeter, said: 'We were just bored one day - we decided to attempt it a couple of times. 'I guess we thought it would be funny if we just nailed it. But I went face-first into a wall on my second attempt. 'My boyfriend had knocked out my two front teeth, and broke my nose!' In the video, the couple appear to be giggling as they perform the ambitious lift in the pool. But Flo soon plummets from the lift and crashes into the water, later revealing she hit the wall on her way down. Her partner initially laughs at the failed lift but quickly realises something is wrong when she cries: 'I split my lip, I split my lip! Help, help help!' Flo (pictured) was rushed to hospital and had a broken nose while missing her front teeth She is trying to raise money for her dental treatment - including x-rays and a double root canal He exclaims: 'You're bleeding, you're bleeding!' and they rush to the side of the pool. Flo's partner drove her to hospital after the accident on September 19 where she had her teeth temporarily glued back in. She felt unable to enjoy the rest of her holiday - because she wasn't able to eat 'regular' food and had to keep her face out of the sun. But she needs to raise 270 to cover the rest of her treatment now she's back in the UK - as well as French medical bills. 'Any money I can raise towards that would be great,' she added. 'I ended up with one broken nose, one split lip, and two lost teeth over a lift.' Initially Flo's partner laughed at the failed lift but soon realised that she was seriously hurt In 2021, a young dance teacher was lucky to be alive after attempting the Dirty Dancing lift. Millie Slennett, 25, challenged her sister Rosie to see who could do the iconic dance move better during a family lunch at their parents' Sydney home on Christmas Day. After a 'terrible' attempt by her fashion designer sister, Millie thought she had the competition in the bag when she ran towards her boyfriend Conner Justin. Mr Justin successfully lifted his girlfriend into the air above his head, but in a split second she tipped over his shoulders and slammed into the ground face-first. But Millie landed on her neck and was rushed to hospital, where doctors were shocked she could even walk. The Menendez brothers are serving life for killing parents in Beverly Hills in 1989 The family of Erik and Lyle Menendez has slammed Ryan Murphy's Netflix drama Monsters which revisits the brutal murder of their parents - calling it 'gross' and 'riddled with mistruths.' Monsters, created by Ryan Murphy, tells the chilling tale of the Beverly Hills brothers - and the sinister motives behind the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, who were shot dead in their $5 million mansion in 1989. The controversial series, now topping Netflix's global charts, explores the disturbing details behind the murders and the divisive trial, during which the Menendez brothers alleged years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father. The show, while reigniting public interest in the case, has now been met with backlash from those closest to the brothers. However, the brothers themselves are now telling the story in their own words - as Netflix has announced the Menendez Brothers, a documentary about the case, starring the brothers. It will air October 7. Monsters, created by Ryan Murphy, tells the chilling tale of Menendez brothers Erik (played by Cooper Koch, right) and Lyle (played by Nicholas Chavez, left) who killed their parents in 1989 Jose and Kitty Menendez (centre) were shot dead by their sons in their $5 million Beverly Hills mansion Extended members of the Menendez family have released a scathing statement criticising the new series - which is currently number one on Netflix's global top ten. Co-signed and shared by Erik's wife, Tammi Menendez, on a post on X today, the brothers' aunt, Joan VanderMolen, concluded the family's sentiments. VanderMolen's statement read: 'We are virtually the entire extended family of Erik and Lyle Menendez. We are 24 strong and today we want the world to know we support Erik and Lyle. We know them, love them, and want them home with us.' She went on to accuse the series of painting a false narrative, calling it a 'phobic, gross, anachronistic, serial episodic nightmare' that neglects recent revelations the family claims would exonerate the brothers. Contrary to Murphy's claim of extensive research, VanderMolen claims the family was never consulted during the production of the show. She added: 'The character assassination of Erik and Lyle, under the guise of a "storytelling narrative," is repulsive. We know what went on in their home and the unimaginably turbulent lives they have endured.' The family's statement suggests they have firsthand knowledge of the abuse Erik and Lyle allegedly suffered, with several members claiming to be 'eyewitnesses' to the 'atrocities' the brothers faced during their upbringing. The statement concluded with sharp criticism of Murphy, accusing him of lacking an understanding of the long-term effects of abuse and childhood trauma: 'Perhaps, after all, Monsters is all about Ryan Murphy.' Co-signed and shared by Erik's wife, Tammi Menendez, on a post on X today, the brothers' aunt, Joan VanderMolen, concluded the family's sentiments about the series The statement concluded with sharp criticism of the show's creator Ryan Murphy (pictured), accusing him of lacking an understanding of the long-term effects of childhood trauma Tammi Menendez (pictured), who married Erik in 1999 while he was serving his life sentence, has also been vocal in her disapproval. Erik married Tammi Saccoman in 1999. Their relationship started with her sending him letters for years Tammi Menendez, who married Erik in 1999 while he was serving his life sentence, has also been vocal in her disapproval. Shortly after Monsters premiered on Netflix, she shared a post titled In Erik's Words on X, expressing her husband's disappointment. It read: 'I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show,' with Erik further suggesting Murphy's 'inaccuracies' were 'done on purpose.' He added: 'How demoralising is it to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma. Violence is never an answer, never a solution, and is always tragic. 'As such, I hope it is never forgotten that violence against a child creates a hundred horrendous and silent crime scenes darkly shadowed behind glitter and glamor and rarely exposed until tragedy penetrates everyone involved.' Shortly after Monsters premiered on Netflix, Tammi shared a post titled In Erik's Words on X, expressing her husband's disappointment Erik said: 'How demoralising is it to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma. Violence is never an answer, never a solution, and is always tragic' Both Erik and Lyle Menendez have been serving life sentences without the possibility of parole since their second trial in 1996 Both Erik and Lyle Menendez have been serving life sentences without the possibility of parole since their second trial in 1996, but the controversy surrounding their case persists. While many believe justice was served for the cold-blooded murders of their parents, others are sympathetic to the brothers' claims of lifelong abuse. Meanwhile, the blood-curdling murder of 80s star Dominique Dunne has been brought back into the spotlight after her story featured in Netflix's latest series about the Menendez brothers. The series, which debuted on the streaming platform on September 19, has been a hit with true crime sleuths who have even unearthed more information about the 1982 murder of promising actress Dominque. Dominique's death was mentioned a number of times in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, leaving web detectives with a series of questions about her gruesome murder. Charles Spencer and Colin Firth both starred in the 1984 film Another Country Charles Spencer has revealed he once took a shower with Colin Firth - and the actor even said he had a 'fantastic bottom'. The brother of Princess Diana, 60, was an extra in the 1984 film Another Country, filmed in Oxford and London, which starred Firth and Rupert Everett. During one scene, Firth and Spencer even took a shower together while filming. Reminiscing on Instagram, Charles revealed he'd brought it up with the legendary actor almost 30 years later while promoting the King's Speech in 2011. To his surprise, not only had Firth remembered him, but he also paid compliment to his buttocks. Charles Spencer reflected on the time he was an extra in Another Country - and the interaction he had with Colin Firth. Pictured is Rupert Everett (centre), and Charles, two to his left Earl Spencer said he once took a shower with Colin Firth - and the actor even said he had a 'fantastic bottom'. Pictured: The shower scene in Another Country Charles wrote: 'I bumped into Colin Firth - whose first film this also was - when he was promoting The Kings Speech, and said: Colin, you wont remember me - but we took a shower together in Another Country. 'Of course I remember!, he laughed: You have fantastic buttocks! 'Had, Im afraid, I replied: not have...' On Twitter, Charles added that the film had marked the 'start and end' of his acting career, though it was just the beginning of Firth's. In Another Country, Rupert plays gay public schoolboy Guy Bennett and Colin was fellow schoolboy Tommy Judd, a Marxist. The story is based on the life of Cambridge spy and double agent Guy Burgess. It is based on the award-winning play by Julian Mitchell, and explores homosexuality in public schools in the 1930s. Charles (pictured) was delighted when Firth remembered the interaction almost 30 years later He recalled the incident in a post to Instagram reflecting on their meeting Another Country (1984) with Rupert Everett as Guy Bennett and Colin Firth as Tommy Judd It comes after reports that Prince Harry stopped at Althorp House and stayed with his uncle Charles Spencer during his trip to the UK last month. The Duke of Sussex stayed at the estate after going to the funeral of Diana's brother-in-law Lord Robert Fellowes, according to People. Despite Prince William also attended, the two brothers were reported not to have spoken to one another. The Duke has remained close to Diana's family - and Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, also attended a service in May for the tenth anniversary of Harry's Invictus Games at St Paul's Cathedral in London. MailOnline contacted representatives from Charles Spencer and the Duke of Sussex at the time. In July, Charles and his wife Karen - who announced their 'immensely sad' divorce in June - shared separate moving tributes after the loss of their beloved family pets. Prince Harry stands next to his uncle Earl Spencer and aunt Lady Jane Fellowes at St Paul's Cathedral in London on May 8 for the tenth anniversary service for the Invictus Games Prince Harry is reported to have stayed at the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire last month Princess Diana's brother, who lives on the Althorp Estate in Northampton, took to his Instagram on the weekend to reveal that his blonde Labrador Otis passed away. Earl Spencer shared an image of the 12-year-old pup sitting on a carpet in the monochrome tiled hallway of his home. He added that Otis was dubbed a 'total legend' by those at Althorp and that the estate would not feel the same without his presence. He wrote: 'Farewell to Otis, our wonderful Labrador, who had to be put to sleep last night. He was nearly 13. 'Otis will now join his father, Karoo, and grandmother, Ella, in a beautiful spot in the Park at @althorphouse. 'Everyone at Althorp loved Otis - several people here have talked today of his having been a "total legend". The place won't be the same, without his wise, sweet, intelligent presence. He was extremely special.' It has been a difficult time for the family, as Earl Spencer and Karen revealed their split a couple of months ago (both pictured at Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018) His wife Karen Spencer, who he has now separated from, also shared a heartbreaking update on their daughter's pony named Roo. Earl Spencer told the Mail on Sunday when news of their divorce broke: 'It is immensely sad. I just want to devote myself to all my children, and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future.' Earl Spencer and Karen Gordon, a Canadian philanthropist, married in June 2011 within the grounds of Althorp, where the late Princess Diana is buried. The couple had met the previous year on a blind date at a restaurant in Los Angeles. The shock announcement came amid the release of his book, A Very Private School, a harrowing memoir detailing the physical and sexual abuse during his childhood. The future Queen of Norway's official residence was reportedly raided after her troubled son threw a 'wild party'. Skaugum, the home of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, was burgled, according to Norwegian news outlet Se og Hr. This reportedly occurred after Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Hiby, who was arrested in August for assault, and again in September, held a party at the lavish property. Shortly after the get-together, a motorcycle gang reportedly stole private items from the Norwegian Royal Family. Items, including silverware, are alleged to have been taken and then attempted to be sold via an auction house. Skaugum, the official residence (pictured) of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, was burgled, according to Norwegian news outlet Se og Hr Marius, 27, who is Mette-Maritt's son from a previous relationship, is said to have thrown parties known as 'Skaugum festival' for his friends at the residence, which the Crown Prince and Princess have called home since 2003. One video, obtained by Se og Hor, shows a person using a Segway to navigate around the royal couple's private apartment, which appears to have been ransacked. Footage shows clothes thrown across the floor. MailOnline has contacted The Norwegian Royal Household for comment. The Crown Prince and Princess have renovated their home since moving in, turning it into luxury apartments, reported Hello! magazine. During the pandemic, they shared a glimpse inside their modern home, including in one photograph from inside their office during a video call. The room boasted a stylish blue colour scheme, with wooden panelling on the bottom half of the walls. Artwork and a gold-framed mirror decorated the space. Meanwhile, their dining room features grey sofas and a chic dining table, as well as more chic artwork. Earlier this month, the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, often referred to as the 'black sheep' of the royal family of Norway, was taken into custody after breaching a restraining order. This reportedly occurred after Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Hiby (pictured left), who was arrested in August for assault, and again in September, held a party at the lavish property Marius pictured left at a party. It's thought this photograph wasn't taken at the prince and princess's home. Pictured right, items appear to be thrown on the floor of an apartment, thought to be the home of the prince and princess The Crown Prince and Princess have renovated the palace since moving in, turning it into luxury apartments. During the pandemic, they shared a glimpse inside their modern home, including in one photograph from inside their dining room (pictured) The home of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. The couple lives in Skaugum, an estate in the municipality of Asker The restraining order in question was for the protection of Rebecca Helberg Arntsen, whom Borg Hiby admitted to assaulting, in a booze and drug-fuelled attack on 4 August, which saw him arrested for the first time and held in a police cell overnight. The order was not made immediately after the attack, but after Borg Hiby reportedly contacted the victim on several occasions following the assault. According to Norwegian tabloid Se Og Hor, Borg Hiby, 27, allegedly contacted his victim, whom he has previously referred to as his 'girlfriend', on Saturday, September 7, from a hidden telephone number. However, in a statement via his lawyer, Borg Hiby has strenuously denied the claim. Defender yvind Bratlien slammed the arrest as being made on 'thin' evidence and accused the police of 'reverse discrimination'. Meanwhile the charges against Borg Hiby have expanded to also include three more victims, after other women came forward in the wake of his arrest. One of the further victims has not been named. However, two have been named as Borg Hiby's exes Juliane Snekkestad and Nora Haukland. The Norwegian royal family was rocked by Borg Hiby's first arrest at the beginning of August, after Rebecca Helberg Arntsen was left in hospital with her injuries following the attack. A week after his arrest, Borg Hiby sensationally admitted to the assault on Rebecca, whom he referred to as his 'girlfriend' (her lawyers have refuted this claim). The son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship last month admitted to assaulting his 'girlfriend' in a booze and drug filled rage Borg Hiby, a former motor mechanic, has been previously labelled the 'black sheep' of the Norwegian royal family In a statement issued via his own lawyer, Borg Hiby said he suffers from 'several mental disorders' and has 'struggled with substance abuse for a long time', which he said he is resuming treatment for. The statement read: 'Last weekend something happened that should never have happened. I committed bodily harm and destroyed objects in an apartment in the intoxication of alcohol and cocaine after an argument. 'I have several mental disorders which mean that throughout my upbringing and adult life, I have had, and still have, challenges. I have struggled with substance abuse for a long time, something I have been in treatment for in the past. 'The drug use and my diagnoses do not excuse what happened in the apartment at Frogner on the night of Sunday last weekend. I want to be responsible for what I have done, and will explain myself truthfully to the police. 'For me, the most important thing is to say sorry to my girlfriend. She deserved neither what happened that night, nor the extreme pressure from both the Norwegian and foreign press afterwards.' Mette-Marit's eldest son also apologised to his family for his actions that have 'greatly affected you'. Norwegian tabloid VG has since published what it claimed were clips from two phone calls between the 27-year-old and his victim after the violent episode and vandalism in an apartment in Oslo on the night of August 4. During the conversation, former motorcycle mechanic Borg Hiby reportedly defended his assault as a 'little pat on the back...hit you with a flat hand'. Marius Borg Hiby (pictured) was uninvited from a celebrity wedding after guests threatened not to attend if he was present Borg Hiby (pictured with Prince Haakon in 2017) is under suspicion for causing bodily harm and criminal damage But the woman allegedly replies that he hit her a hundred times and strangled her at least five times until she struggled to breathe, according to the Norwegian report after it was translated into English. Borg Hiby also reportedly threatened to burn the victim's belongings in a bin if she didn't collect them from Skaugum Castle, his family's official residence, by a certain time. Elsewhere in the calls, which were said to have taken place before Borg Hiby was arrested by the police at 4.10pm, the Prince's stepson allegedly mentioned a third person, claiming they are scared 'because I'm going to kill him'. The individual isn't named by VG, but the publication did state that they are known to both Borg Hiby and his 'girlfriend'. The audio is reportedly part of the police investigation against the 27-year-old, who was arrested and placed in police custody for 30 hours, according to local reports. He has been accused of causing bodily harm and injuring a woman with whom he was having a relationship. In the first conversation, Borg Hiby reportedly says loudly: 'Yes, you should. If not, I'll burn up all your stuff', after explaining that he wants the woman to collect her belongings from him. When the victim asks why he would do this, he replies: 'Because you deserve all the s*** I can throw at you,' and refers to his girlfriend in derogatory terms, according to the publication. 'Your clothes are on fire at 4pm. 4pm. Everything you own is already in the space outside here. And I have a large can of petrol and a lighter in my hand. Do you hear that? You will be here at 4pm,' says Borg Hiby. Marius pictured with other members of the Norwegian royal family, including the King, Queen, and heir to the throne in June 2022 When he turned 20, the royal court announced Marius was stepping away from public life and his profile was removed from the family's official website Hiby (pictured in June 2022), son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, was raised by his mother and stepfather with his half-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18, but unlike them he has no official public role 'Then I'll set fire to your things', he adds, after the woman - who has apparently lived in Skaugum Castle with Borg Hiby and his mother and stepfather during certain points in the past year - insists she will not go to the 27-year-old. Borg Hiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, was raised by his mother and stepfather with his half-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18, but unlike them he has no official public role. The arrest and his admission cast a shadow over the recent royal wedding in Norway as Princess Martha Louise wed American Shaman Durek Verrett on August 31 in Geiranger Fjord. Ahead of the nuptials, the Norwegian palace confirmed Borg Hiby would not be attending the wedding with his mother, stepfather and half-siblings. Norwegian media later reported that the former motor mechanic had turned down the invitation to attend an Italian wedding of the son of a billionaire and an influencer. However, when news of the assault and arrest came to light, Borg Hiby was uninvited from that wedding after guests threatened to pull out if he was in attendance. Marius arrived in Pisa ahead of the wedding of Karianne Vilde Spetalen and Kristian Spetalen, both 30. It is believed that guests thought Norwegian press would travel to Italy to document the wedding if Marius was present, a circumstance some did not feel comfortable with. Sources told Se og Hr that Norwegian influencer Karianne also faced backlash from her family regarding Marius's planned attendance. The scandal of the Norwegian royal family's 'black sheep' Borg Hiby's arrest has damaged some Norwegians' affection for their monarchy, MailOnline previously revealed. Traditionally the people of Norway are even more fervent royalists than Brits, but we found that young people in particular were less forgiving of Borg Hiby's behaviour. When Hoda Kotb announced that she was stepping away from the Today show on Thursday morning, longtime fans of the series were left stunned and heartbroken. But once the initial shock subsided, many began to wonder: Who will takeover her role as anchor? Soon after, Today viewers erupted into a heated debate on social media over which star should replace Hoda when she officially departs in early 2025. The TV icon, 60, shared the heartbreaking news live on air, explaining that she will give up her hosting duties next year so she can give 'a bigger piece of her time pie' to her daughters. 'My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie,' she explained on the show, before breaking down in tears. When Hoda Kotb announced that she was stepping away from the Today show on Thursday morning, longtime fans of the series were left stunned and heartbroken But once the initial shock subsided, many began to wonder: Who will takeover her role as anchor? Here are all the candidates for the role 'I will miss you all desperately, but Im ready and excited.' Hoda - who has been a part of NBC for 26 years and reportedly earns about $8 million a year - not only serves as one of the main anchors on Today, alongside Savannah Guthrie, but she also cohosts her own segment with Jenna Bush Hager, called Today with Hoda and Jenna. So who is going to take her spot? Here are all the candidates for the role - and the one star who fans want most. Craig Melvin The top pick amongst fans seemed to be Craig Melvin, who became a news anchor for Today back in 2018. Craig, 45, had a knack for journalism from a young age, and landed his first job as a reporter at NBC affiliate WIS-TV when he was in high school. After graduating from Wofford College in South Carolina, he officially joined the network's morning news team, and for years, he slowly worked his way up before eventually switching to Washington, D.C.-based network WRC-TV. In 2011, he joined MSNBC as a daytime anchor, and within his first year there, he covered a slew of massive events including the Republican and Democratic national conventions and election night. Soon after, Today viewers erupted into a heated debate on social media over which star should replace Hoda, and the top pick amongst fans seemed to be Craig Melvin Craig, 45, began cohosting Today's Third Hour in 2018 after spending years working as MSNBC. He's seen in 2018 He began cohosting Today's Third Hour in 2018. Soon after news hit the web that Hoda was leaving, numerous social media users on X and Instagram said they wanted Craig to replace her. 'As far as I am concerned, there is only one replacement for Hoda. And that is Craig Melvin,' one Today fan wrote. 'I hope Craig Melvin fills her spot as co anchor,' someone else agreed. 'I will miss Hoda but really hope they give Craig his shot. Hes earned it,' another user added. 'Craig Melvin will be the best new anchor when Hoda Kotb steps down,' a fourth post read. A fifth said, 'So gonna miss @hodakotb at the @TODAYshow, she's one of a kind, but if you all do not give that vacancy to @craigmelvin... That man deserves it.' 'Surely that's who it will be. Who doesn't love Craig?' a different person asked. Sheinelle Jones Sheinelle Jones, Craig's cohost on Today's Third Hour, was also suggested to replace Hoda by a slew of social media users Sheinelle, 46, first joined Today as a part of Weekend Today, but was promoted to Today's Third Hour as a cohost in 2019 Sheinelle Jones, Craig's cohost on Today's Third Hour, was also suggested to replace Hoda by numerous social media users. The 46-year-old started her career off at Springfield, Illinois, outlet WICS, and moved around quite a bit before landing her role at NBC in 2014. She first joined Today as a part of Weekend Today, but was promoted to the Third Hour as a cohost in 2019. 'Hopefully NBC will ask Sheinelle or Craig to be the new anchor,' one person wrote on social media amid the Hoda news. 'I can see Sheinelle and Jenna ruling the fourth hour.' 'I really hope @SheinelleJones [is] next [in line],' someone else gushed. 'Let's go, Sheinelle Jones - you're up,' another post read. Dylan Dreyer Today's Third Hour cohost Dylan Dreyer is also a potential option to take over as anchor when Hoda departs She joined NBC News in 2012 as a weather correspondent and a weekend cohost, and in 2019, she joined the Third Hour with Craig and Sheinelle Today's Third Hour cohost Dylan Dreyer is also a potential candidate to take over as anchor when Hoda departs. After graduating with a degree in meteorology from Rutgers University, Dylan, now 43, landed a job at Erie, Pennsylvania-based publication WICU-TV. After that, she worked at WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, and WHDH in Boston, Massachusetts. She joined NBC News in 2012 as a weather correspondent and a weekend cohost. Then, in 2019, she became an anchor on the Third Hour with Craig and Sheinelle. She also runs the Earth Odyssey with Dylan Dreyer broadcast on The More You Know segment of NBC. Laura Jarrett One social media user said Today should consider Weekend Today anchors Laura Jarrett or Peter Alexander for Hoda's role Laura, 40, joined NBC in 2022; she's best known for breaking the news about former President Donald Trump's guilty falsifying business records verdict back in May One social media user said Today should consider Weekend Today anchors Laura Jarrett or Peter Alexander for Hoda's role. 'They should replace her with Peter Alexander or Laura Jarrett. They are much more professional than anyone else,' they wrote. Before her job at Today, Laura, 40 - the daughter of former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett - worked at CNN, where she cohosted the show Early Start, which has since been renamed to CNN This Morning. She joined NBC in 2022; she's best known for breaking the news about former President Donald Trump's guilty falsifying business records verdict back in May. Peter Alexander As for Peter, 48, he became the co-anchor of Weekend Today in 2018, and still serves as NBC's co-chief White House correspondent As for Peter, 48, he's been working with NBC for two decades, starting at NBC News where he covered a plethora of world events. In 2012, he became the NBC News White House correspondent, and spent two years traveling around the globe with President Barack Obama. He became the co-anchor of Weekend Today in 2018, and he still serves as NBC's co-chief White House correspondent. James Middleton has given an update on his sister, the Princess of Wales, after she announced earlier this month she has concluded chemotherapy. The father-of-one, 37, shared the health update on an interview with USA Today as he promoted his new book, Meet Ella, about how his beloved pet dog saved his life when he was depressed and suicidal. Speaking to the US news programme about his eldest sister, James said: 'Shes doing ok.' He continued: 'Its not for me to share on her behalf, you know, how everythings going. But shes getting all the right support and focus that she needs. And like anything, it takes time to process.' James's comments come as Kate has begun to take baby steps back into royal life, carrying out engagements for her early years projects behind the scenes and going to church with her family as she continues to recover from a difficult year. James Middleton has shared a health update on his eldest sister the Princess of Wales as he discussed his new book. Pictured: Kate and James in childhood Over the weekend, mother-of-three Kate, 42 was pictured arriving at Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral with Prince William. The Mail later revealed the couple enjoyed a child-free getaway to the Royal Family's estate in Scotland while Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis remained in Berkshire. This brief appearance came less than a week after the Princess of Wales hosted her first work meeting in over nine months, which marked the start of her slow and measured return to public duties. James, a father-of-one, discussed his new book Meet Ella on USA Today (pictured on Lorraine this morning) Pictured: the Princess of Wales was driven to Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral by Prince William yesterday Last Tuesday, the royal held a meeting at Windsor Castle with those involved in her 'Early Years' project, which delves into the crucial role the first few years of a person's life plays in the adults they become. The Princess officially launched the Centre for Early Childhood in 2021 - but has been researching the subject for the past 10 years and has vowed to highlight importance of the issues for the rest of her working life. Kate was joined by members of her household team as well as representatives from her Centre for Early Childhood at Kensington Palace. It was formally recorded in the Court Circular, the official record of royal engagements, which read: 'The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this afternoon held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor.' Pictured: the Princess of Wales made one of her only solo engagements this year when she attended the Wimbledon men's singles final in July 2024 It was the first meeting noted in the Court Circular since the Princess held a round table of her Royal Foundation on December 6 last year. Earlier this month, the future Queen bravely revealed she has completed chemotherapy and is now 'focused on staying cancer-free' as she released a touching new video of William and their three children. In the family video, the Princess told viewers that her cancer experience has taught her to appreciate the 'simple yet important things in life [...] of simply loving and being loved'. The royal then went on to briefly outline her plan to return to royal duties - acknowledging that she does not want to rush back into things. Earlier this month, the Princess of Wales announced that she had completed chemotherapy by releasing this touching family video Pictured: the Princess of Wales seen taking part in the Trooping the Colour procession in London in June 2024 Pictured: the Princess of Wales at the launch event of the The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in January 2023 She continued: 'Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes. 'I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can. Before this, Kate made a fleeting appearance in an Instagram video to congratulate Team GB on their Olympics effort, which was posted on their official page. In the short clip, Kate said: 'From all of us watching at home congratulations to Team GB.' The Prince of Wales, wearing an official blue Team GB top, then briefly added: 'Well done to Team GB you've been an inspiration to us all.' Just weeks after King Charles announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer, his daughter-in-law revealed in an emotional message in March that she was also receiving treatment for the disease. Since then, the mother-of-three has only been seen in public a handful of times - including Trooping the Colour and the Wimbledon's men's singles final. A beaming Princess of Wales has sent a heartfelt message to British Olympians ahead of the end of the Paris Olympics , which will be formally closed last month The royal then went on to briefly outline her plan to return to royal duties - acknowledging that she does not want to rush back into things Before appearing at Trooping the Colour in June, the royal released a statement saying that she hoped to attend the occasional engagement over the summer but urged the public to bear with her as, like many cancer patients, she has 'good and bad days'. After spending much of the year coming to terms with the diagnosis and receiving ongoing chemotherapy, Kate relaxed as she smiled and waved to the delighted crowds - making a triumphant comeback to public life in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Ahead of the Wimbledon's men's singles finals in July, officials had remained 'hopeful' that Kate may feel well enough to hand out trophies. Thankfully, their hope proved to be right and in her role as patron of the All England Club, which hosts the annual tournament, the royal handed Alcaraz the champion's trophy after the Wimbledon men's final. After leaving the court following the trophy ceremony, the princess and Alcaraz had a conversation in a room inside the tournament's main stadium. 'You played so well,' Kate told him. 'Enjoy the win.' Earlier, Kate went from the stands down to the playing surface to present the trophies, and shook hands with some of the ball kids who worked at the tournament. Although future public engagements have yet to be announced, the Princess does reportedly hope to attend Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph. However, she will not accompany her husband to his Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town in November. Jordan Parker is a breaking news reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. He graduated from Sacramento State University in May 2022 with a degree in journalism. During his time there, he spent three years as a reporter and editor for the university's award-winning student newspaper, The State Hornet. He spent his senior year of college serving as The Hornet's first Black editor in chief, leading the organization to two Pacemaker awards and several other national honors from the Associated Collegiate Press. When he's not chasing down a story, he likes watching movies, traveling and trying new restaurants. Tesco's Christmas range for 2024 goes beyond traditional festive favourites While you may not want to think about Christmas yet, Tesco is already firmly focused on the festive season - but it's doing things a little differently this year. The UK's largest supermarket chain has launched its Christmas range and while it's packed full of yuletide favourites, it's also clear that buyers were keen to branch out. Of Tesco's 250 new Christmas products, the stand-out items can mostly be found in the 'Party Food and Cheese' category. Shoppers entertaining friends and family can this year impress guests with Baja Fish Tacos with Yuzu Cabbage Slaw and Tomato, Pineapple & Chilli Salsa (5.50) or Mini Nduja Wellingtons with a Hot Honey Drizzle (5.50). The Baja Fish Tacos are made of crispy battered fish paired with a tangy yuzu cabbage slaw and a tomato, pineapple and chilli salsa while the Nduja Wellingtons combine British pork shoulder and fiery nduja. Tesco's Christmas range for 2024 includes Baja Fish Tacos with Yuzu Cabbage Slaw and Tomato, Pineapple & Chilli Salsa (bottom, centre), priced at 5.50 One of the range's stand-out desserts is the Raspberry & Prosecco Panna Cotta Wreath (top) Mini Nduja Wellingtons with a Hot Honey Drizzle (left) are priced at 5.50 Breige Donaghy, Tesco Director or Product Development & Innovation, said 'We know our customers have a list of festive favourites which will be returning to the shelves but there are also a host of exciting additions that will impress any guest.' And, alongside traditional festive desserts such as panettone and Christmas pudding, there are more interesting items like a Raspberry & Prosecco Panna Cotta Wreath and a Belgian Chocolate & Sea Salted Caramel Snowy Semi Freddo. The Panna Cotta Wreath is infused with Madagascan vanilla and Italian Prosecco while the Semi Freddo is made using British whipping cream and mascarpone cheese. It is filled with a layer of bittersweet Belgian chocolate sauce and slow baked chocolate meringue. Other tasty items included in the supermarket's 2024 range are the Dim Sum Selection (4.50) and the Mushroom Steamed Buns (4.50). Party food and desserts aside, Tesco's Christmas collection features a number of best-loved items, from the Turkey Christmas Dinner Sandwich and the Free Range East Anglian Gold Whole Turkey to the Roasting Carrots Clementine & Honey Glaze and the Pigs in Blankets. With six varieties of mince pies and two types of Christmas pudding, the supermarket's new range will equally appeal to those who prefer a more traditional take on Christmas. The British Free Range Easy Carve Turkey with Pork, Cranberry & Chestnut Stuffing will no doubt be a bestseller while the Scottish Salmon Plait is bound to please those who prefer seafood. The Butternut Wellington (top, right) will make an attractive and tasty veggie centrepiece The Turkey Christmas Dinner Sandwich (top, left) and the Plant Chef Christmas Veg Fest Wrap (bottom) are great for when you're on the go The new 2024 festive range also includes a wide variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Popular tipples such as English Sparkling Wine, Premier Cru Rose Champagne Brut and Elderflower Spritz feature alongside alcohol-free versions of classic cocktails like Pina Colada and Mojito. Tesco's Christmas stand-outs 8 Mini Nduja & Pork Wellington - 5.50 8 Crispy Baja Fish Tacos - 5.50 9 Vegetable Dim Sum Selection - 4.50 Raspberry & Prosecco Panna Cotta Wreath Belgian Chocolate & Sea Salted Caramel Snowy Semi Freddo Advertisement Tesco is just as eager to please its vegetarian and vegan customers this Christmas and has come up with a number of new takes on traditional items. The supermarket's Butternut Wellington will make an attractive and tasty veggie centrepiece while the Plant Chef Christmas Veg Fest Wrap is an excellent option for those who want to enjoy some Christmas cheer while on the go. Those who avoid gluten will be happy to hear that Tesco has added festive treats to its Free From range. The Free From Honeycomb Bauble and the Free From Almond & Orange Mincemeat Slices are both made with a gluten free pastry base. While Tesco is best known for its food and drink offerings, the supermarket chain also has decorations and homeware covered, helping customers to create perfect Christmas displays at home. Fun Christmas tree decorations include an Abominable Snowman Stocking and an Abominable Snowman Bauble Assortment. Abominable Snowman Christmas crackers are also available, as are Grinch decorations and 'Merry Christmas' signs. Tesco's F&F range has also had a festive makeover with Christmas tree-shaped serving plates and green and gold tableware on sale. The Tesco Christmas range will be available online and in stores from September, with selected centrepieces launching in November and December. It was good to have a life after a painful divorce, said my therapist. When a parent's life came to standstill, they were not a good role model for the children. Only it did not feel good, when six-year-old Emi, dressed like a sad clown in a ruffled skirt, stripy socks and sequins, wept in my arms on a rain-shined pavement. 'Whatever can I do?' she cried. 'I can't hug the babysitter!' 'Why not?' I said. 'Because she's not you!' After more than eight months of living together after our split, my ex-husband Simon had moved out of the family home to a rented flat. He wasn't seeing the kids much. And now I, the only huggable one, was leaving my children to go and have sex with my hot young boyfriend. Earlier in the evening, knowing this assignation was coming up, I hurried Emi, Hector, 14, and Maude, 12, through their dinner, as they chatted about Minecraft and didn't eat their vegetables. 'Are we annoying you very much?' said Emi. 'Because we can stop.' 'Darling, no you're not!' I said, guilt curdling in my throat. But they were so slow, I was late to meet Eliot. I'd been waiting to meet him all week, only now Emi swung against the radiator and didn't brush her teeth. My daughter told me that women in their late 40s never starred in anything, but here I was at the centre of my own melodrama, writes Annabel Bond 'Come on!' I said. I had drunk a large glass of wine already. In the mirror my face was feverish. I was not the mother I wanted her to remember. Furious, impatient, astonished that it had come to this me doing all the baths, all the hair washes, all the dinners while Simon could spend evenings at the pub. The doorbell rang, the sitter was here. I told Emi I had to leave and she started to cry. 'Wake me up when you get home. Pinch me awake. Promise you'll do it!' I promised, feeling horrible. How could I leave such a sad little girl? And why wasn't her dad here to comfort her? But my desire to see Eliot superseded everything. On the street the babysitter had to tear her away. Boarding the train I could still feel the imprint of Emi's hands on my thighs. But I deserved to have a beautiful young boyfriend after the horrors of my divorce to be having the best sex of my life! The train was when I changed from mother of three to hot older woman. I peered at myself in the window as the dark tunnel flashed past; applied my new red lipstick in the camera of my phone. My situation seemed to be written all over my face. Maude told me yesterday that women in their late 40s never starred in anything, but here I was, centre of my own melodrama. When I arrived at Eliot's flat in North London I was still self-conscious, trailing my old life, trying too hard. I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him, leaned too far forward. I tilted my chin and narrowed my eyes. He smelt of Sauvage, so he'd made an effort too, even though he wore just a pair of shorts and a plain white Tee. I had dressed carefully in jeans and a French linen shirt, with uncomfortable sexy underwear beneath. But I wasn't complaining: under his T-shirt Eliot's abs were solid. His chest was bigger every day, from all the weights he lifted. After we kissed, the transformation was easier: he made me dizzy with desire. We ate the dinner he'd prepared curry from scratch sitting at his little table together, hoping his flatmates wouldn't come home early. I watched his big, beautiful hands, with their bitten nails, as he ate. I thought of them on my body. Finally, he held out his hand. 'Let's go to bed.' In the bedroom Eliot took off my clothes down to my red matching underwear (found triumphantly in the mess of my bottom drawer) and touched me. I looked into his green eyes. He'd told me once that men had told him that, if they weren't straight, the colour of his eyes would make them fall in love. 'I'm aching for you,' he said. He bent his head to my breasts. I felt his shoulders, his strong neck. We fell on to the bed. When he pressed his weight on me, into me, it felt as if I might not exist. My orgasm was so intense I had to turn my face away so he wouldn't see. I said: 'I'm glad it's dark. I feel scattered to the four corners and now I need to recollect myself.' He said: 'What does it look like when you build yourself back together?' I thought: self-awareness creeps back into the cracks and here I am again thinking about the washing up waiting for me and Emi crying herself to sleep. But I replied: 'A ship, a sail, patched together.' We said goodnight at the bus stop, kissing in the way only those in love do. I wound my arms round him and tried to lose myself against him, succeeding for five minutes before the bus came. And then I wheeled away crying with the rage of being in the sheer hard grip of him, and having to return to my life. Annabel Bond is a pseudonym. Names have been changed. A young British woman has revealed the one thing she hates the most about each Australian city after moving Down Under for a better life, only to be left feeling very disappointed with reality. The expat went online to vent about the problems with some of the country's major cities and it appeared thousands of people agreed with her and many had their own reasons to add to the list. She said Melbourne is too much like the UK, Sydney is too expensive, Perth requires a car to get around and the Gold Coast is fiercely competitive for jobs and housing. The Londoner added that Melbourne and Brisbane also lack easy access to good beaches, which is the reason many Brits come to Australia in the first place. The harbour city with its great choice of surfing breaks was still a hard pass for the beach-loving Brit who said the cost of living there was just too high. She said rental prices in the NSW capital are on par with London. 'If you're working a casual hospitality job in Sydney, I just don't know if that would give you enough money to live a good life,' she said. Melbourne is too far from good surfing beaches, has a 'crazy' public transport system and 'psychotic' weather according to some The expat said that life on the west coast of Australia, which is 'quiet' and has the drawcard of some of the country's most stunning beaches, still has one flaw. 'Everything is quite spread out so you do need a car really to get around, which is quite annoying,' she said. Others who agreed that Australian cities weren't all they were cracked up to be had a few things to add to the list and said they were common across all the major cities. A general pet peeve about Australia is that cafes close around 3pm compared to global cities like London which have bars, cafes and restaurants open at all hours. 'In Australia all the coffee shops and the cafes shut at 2pm it's like they don't want to make money, that is my ideal time to go and sit in a cafe - why?' one asked. People complained that Sydney is expensive, cliquey and everything closes too early for it to be considered a fun place And many said the beach lifestyle, especially in Sydney isn't even as accessible as it first seems and there's only so much of it you can enjoy. 'For the much vaunted beach lifestyle, almost all are a massive pain to get to unless you live next door, Cronulla is the only one you can catch a train to,' one said. 'It sounds controversial but I actually found the beach really boring, like there's only so many times you can go and sit on the beach,' another added. Others said that Melbourne's 'psychotic' weather had eventually turned them off living there and then in springtime many are attacked by 'vicious' allergies. 'In one day, it can be rainy, sunny, windy and humid - you get all the four seasons,' one said. The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have perfect beaches and weather but the current rental and jobs market makes it too competitive for some to consider 'My hay fever was so bad in Melbourne, I'll never live there again,' another added. And the young Brit isn't the first person from the UK to be lured from London by the promise of paradise only to be left wondering why they got on a plane at all. Owen Willis, a British expat who moved Down Under, listed the five things he hated about Australia. After spending time living in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast he concluded that the Aussie experience didn't live up to the social media hype. 'Australia isn't going to solve all your problems. I actually don't think Australia is all that people think it is in their head,' he said in a video. Mr Willis was expecting a 'utopian paradise' when he relocated to the lucky country, but instead he found a cold, boring, expensive place where it's difficult to get a job. Owen said that the weather isn't that good, the cost of living is crazy, skilled jobs are hard to find, the lifestyle is 'really boring' and everyone knows everyone. 'The traveller warned people that moving to Australia wasn't the answer to everything, as your problems will only follow you: You'll just be depressed on the beach, or anxious on the beach,' he said. 'Yeah, as an Australian I'm pretty disappointed with our country, too,' another agreed. One in three drinkers is raising a glass to 'alcohol-free' versions of their favourite tipple, research suggests. Non-alcoholic spirits, wines and beers have surged in popularity over the past 12 months as consumers look for healthier options to booze. Experts say middle-class and young drinkers are increasingly using them to moderate alcohol intake, often alternating between full alcohol versions. Overall, 31 per cent have consumed teetotal beverages, up from 25 per cent last year, according to the annual survey by the charity Drinkaware. But the biggest leap is among higher social classes, whose consumption has more than doubled since 2018, rising from 18 per cent to 38 per cent. Your browser does not support iframes. One in three drinkers is raising a glass to 'alcohol-free' versions of their favourite tipple, research suggests (stock photo) Non-alcoholic spirits, wines and beers have surged in popularity over the past 12 months as consumers look for healthier options to booze (stock photo) Low-alcohol versions are also increasingly being used to cut down, with 36 per cent of drinkers saying they use them. Men have also closed the gap with women, with 31 and 32 per cent respectively now using non-alcoholic substitutes, compared with 15 and 21 per cent six years ago. Many said these were preferable to a soft drink or a cup of tea 'because they look, taste and feel like alcohol' so felt more sociable and were less likely to be asked why they were not drinking. Millennials are the most likely to forego alcohol with one in five of 18 to 34-year-olds now teetotal, compared to 13 per cent of 35 to 54-year-olds and 14 per cent aged 55 and over. Karen Tyrell, chief executive of Drinkaware, said: 'It is really encouraging to see the growth in people moderating their drinking, especially among the young. Experts say middle-class and young drinkers are increasingly using booze-free alternatives to moderate alcohol intake, often alternating between full alcohol versions 'The growth of low and no-alcohol drinks and their increase in popularity makes it much easier for people to moderate their drinking. However, more than 10,000 people died from alcohol-related illness last year, the highest on record. Understanding how much you drink can help prevent your health being put at serious risk.' Taking drink-free days remains the most popular way to moderate up from 67 per cent in 2023 to 71 per cent in 2024, according to the survey of more than 5,000 UK adults. But around eight million people are drinking to potentially harmful levels by exceeding the chief medical officer's guidelines of no more than 14 units per week. Some 28 per cent reported being concerned about someone else's drinking in the past 12 months, up from 26 per cent the year before. Despite this, only 27 per cent of UK adults have been asked to complete an alcohol assessment such as the Drinkaware Drinking Check. Experts have today issued fresh warnings over non-surgical butt lifts following the death of a mother-of-five. Alice Webb, 34, died on Monday just hours after having the procedure, understood to have been performed in the West Country. The practitioner alleged to have carried out the treatment whose identity is known to MailOnline has been arrested. One of Britain's leading plastic surgeons has told this website the individual is believed to have had a 'large volume of filler' injected into her buttocks. While the risks of a traditional Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) are well known surgery to transfer fat from other areas to the buttocks a non-surgical methods that aim to create the same result are less understood. So what is a non-surgical BBL, or liquid BBL? How safe really is the procedure? And why is it becoming increasingly popular? Alice Webb (pictured), 34, died on Monday just hours after having the surgery, which is believed to have been performed in the West Country Dane Knight (left) has been left devastated by the death of his partner Alice Webb (right) after she died from a Brazilian Bum Lift procedure in the UK What is a liquid Brazilian butt lift? BBLs are used to make buttocks bigger, more rounded or lifted. Unlike a traditional BBL which sees fat transferred from other areas of the body, a liquid BBL involves hyaluronic acid fillers. Dermal filler the same material used to fill lips is injected in large quantities into the buttock. They are often advertised on social media as a 'risk-free', 'cheaper' alternative to the surgical counterpart. Is the procedure banned in the UK? Non-surgical BBLs are not illegal in the UK. The popularity of non-surgical BBLs has increased significantly but there is no standard licensing scheme in England for businesses offering the procedure. Last year, however, Wolverhampton City Council barred a company from carrying out liquid BBLs after identifying risks associated with their processes. These included blood clots, sepsis, and the potential for the death of body tissues. Five local authorities in Essex and Glasgow followed suit and have banned certain companies from carrying out liquid BBLs in their area. What is a Brazilian butt lift? It sees fat transferred from other areas of the body, such as the hips or stomach, to give patients a fuller derriere. Despite the dangers, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) says the op is the fastest-growing type of cosmetic surgery, with its popularity increasing by 20 per cent year-on-year. It was shunned in the UK because of its risks. But in 2022, BAAPS, which creates guidelines for British plastic surgeons, partly reversed its decision on offering the procedure. Surgeons in the UK are now instead encouraged to do superficial gluteal lipofilling (SGL), which is considered a 'lite' form of the procedure. Alice Webb (pictured), 34, died on Monday just hours after having 'butt lift' injections Fat is first harvested from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction . Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the glutes at specific points, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance How is a traditional BBL carried out? Fat is first harvested from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction. Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the glutes at specific points, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance. The procedure, sometimes referred to as lipomodelling, usually lasts a couple of hours. According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgeons, it is typical for a portion of the injected fat not to 'take' in its new location. What are the risks of a liquid BBL? Last month, Save Face revealed it had seen an 'alarming increase' in the number of liquid BBL related patient complaints. The 'severity of complications caused by these procedures is alarming', the body added. Unlike with facial fillers where complications can be managed by skilled injectors, these procedures often require hospital settings, intravenous drugs, and surgical intervention to rectify. A Save Face survey of more than 2,200 health professionals who practice aesthetic medicine also saw 98 per cent of them say they do not offer liquid BBLs, given there is 'high risk of multiple complications'. The organisation has long called for the Government to ban the procedure. Save Face Registrant and Plastic Surgeon Dr Paul Baguley said: 'There is nothing about the way this treatment is currently offered that is either safe, moral, or ethical. 'The only outcome from this procedure is an unquestioningly poor result which comes at great cost to the patient who is drawn in by false advertising into a shockingly dangerous environment with a very real potential of death from complications.' In March, a mother-of-one also called for a ban on liquid BBLs after a botched procedure left her buttocks with leaking black holes and in pain 'worse than childbirth'. Earlier this year Monique Sofroniou (pictured), 30, called for a ban on 'liquid BBLs' after a botched procedure left her buttocks with leaking black holes and in pain 'worse than childbirth' Pictured: a recent image of Monique's buttocks more than a year after getting botched bum filler with just scarring left Monique was rushed to hospital where doctors attempted to remedy the situation (pictured: the mother-of-one after surgery in hospital to repair damage caused by the filler) Monique Sofroniou, 30, from London, booked an appointment at what she believed was a reputable salon to enlarge her bottom after undergoing a 'Brazilian Butt Lift' in 2021. The aesthetician spent 3,000 on the non-surgical procedure to have one litre of filler injected into each bum cheek. She was injected with silicone in a hotel room and has since been left with permanent scarring. She says she woke up the night after the procedure with a temperature, her sides red raw, and she was being violently sick. Doctors sent her to hospital where they told her she had a severe infection. Why do people want a BBL or liquid BBL? Unhappiness over a 'flat' buttocks that lack shape, despite a healthy lifestyle, is a common reason listed by those who choose to undergo BBL surgery. Experts have also blamed the allure of celebrity culture and choreographed social media images for fuelling the BBL trend. Last year, London-based aesthetic surgeon Dr Veerle Rotsaert told MailOnline she discourages patients from getting any BBL and instead recommends they go to the gym and do squats. She said: 'In my practice if people want more volume in the buttocks area, I first of all educate them on normal anatomy. 'I recommend going to the gym to do squats.' Dr Rotsaert also urged Brits to shy away from BBLs, stating that the 'Kardashian body type is a trend'. 'And we all know trends go out of fashion at some stage,' she added. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons analysed 324 cases of Brits needing medical treatment or corrective surgery after having gone under the knife overseas since 2018 Liposuction that offers to remove up to 15 litres of fat, BBL's, eye colour changing laser treatments and hymenoplasties are all offered in clinics across Turkey How much does it cost? On average, a liquid BBL costs around 2,000 in the UK, according to Save Face. By comparison, a traditional BBL sets people back around 6,000. But according to the NHS, it could be priced as high as 8,000. There may also be additional costs for consultations, aftercare and further treatment sessions, if required for both. Adverts for the procedure in Turkey, meanwhile, have been advertised online for as little as $2,750 (2,190). What are the risks of a traditional BBL? Traditional BBLs are one of the most dangerous types of cosmetic surgery available. The risk of death is higher than most operations, currently estimated at one in 15,000. Surgeons can accidentally inject the fat into the bloodstream which can cause a potentially deadly blood clot. Such a complication is what killed Leah Cambridge, 29, a British mother who died in August 2018 after paying 6,500 to get a BBL in Turkey. Generic side effects include bruising, swelling, temporary numbness and scars. And, like any op, it carries the risk of excessive bleeding and an infection. In her response to Ms Kerr's prevention of future death report, Maria Caulfield, minister for mental health and women's health strategy, wrote: 'The risk of death for BBL surgery is at least 10 times higher than many other cosmetic procedures, and it has the highest death rate of all cosmetic procedures. 'As you note, BAAPS has advised its members not to carry out BBL surgery until more is known about safer techniques for the procedure.' Experts also warn against the pressure tactics employed by cosmetic surgery clinics including time-sensitive deals and booking procedures informally using apps like WhatsApp. In a string of WhatsApp messages between Ms Kerr and a hospital worker before she travelled to Turkey, Ms Kerr arranged to pay 3,200 in cash. She asked four times to see photographs of previous patients but there is no evidence they were provided. An audit by BAAPS last year also found 324 Brits have needed medical treatment or corrective surgery after having cosmetic surgery overseas, with Turkey accounting for the lion's share. This figure has surged 94 per cent in three years, the organisation claimed, as increasing numbers of Brits seek to look more like their celebrity idols. BAAPS estimates the average cost to the health service of treating a Brit botched overseas is about 15,000, putting the total bill since 2018 at about 4.8million. This bill represents the cost of resources like medication and dressings, as well as the time surgeons and other NHS staff must spend on such cases. While the 15,000 figure is an average, surgeons have previously told this website more serious cases can cost upwards of 100,000 to the taxpayer. Save Face, a Government approved register of accredited practitioners, claimed this was the 'first case of a death caused by a non-surgical BBL in the UK' Why do people travel abroad for a BBL? For decades, Brits have been warned against seeking cheaper surgery in places like Turkey, Eastern Europe, or South East Asia. Turkey is not inherently more dangerous than other surgical tourism hotspots. But cheap flights between it and the UK as well as the rise of the trend combining cosmetic surgery with a holiday have made it one of the leading destinations for Brits looking to go under the knife. Nora Nugent, the Vice President of BAAPS told MailOnline: 'There are many reasons why people travel abroad for cosmetic surgery including BBL but one of the most common reasons is price. 'Overseas surgery can be cheaper than surgery in the UK. Differences in the cost of living, business expenses, cost of ensuring compliance of premises and processes with UK regulations and medical insurance are some of the reasons why it can be more expensive in the UK. 'The BAAPS urge people to look at quality and service provided as well as cost though as it is vital to know what is included and not included and to have full information on the procedure and your surgeon and hospital too.' In Turkey, the BBL and even what are dubbed 'extreme BBLs' are promoted. In fact, some clinics even underplay the risks linked with the surgery. A MailOnline investigation last year found one clinic claiming that a BBL is 'completely safe when carried out by a qualified BBL surgeon in Istanbul'. Another offered a more extreme BBL the 'BBL with Vaser Liposuction'. With this procedure, the clinic claims they are able to extract more fat from the body at once and says this results in a slimmer abdomen which makes the hips more noticeable. New research has revealed the dire state of the average Britons' personal hygiene. Nearly one in five British men admit they don't always wash their hands after doing a number two. The same is true for one in 10 women. Meanwhile, a staggering third of men admit slap-dash handwashing after a pee. One in five women confessed to doing the same. Neither sex practises perfect oral hygiene either. Some 36 per cent of men say they often only brush their teeth once daily, as do 22 per cent of women, according to the poll of 1,000 UK adults. Nearly one in five British men admit they don't always wash their hands after doing a number two. The same is true for one in 10 women Dental experts say brushing teeth at least twice daily is essential for ridding the mouth of harmful bacteria that can go on to cause plaque and gum disease. Studies also show that regularly washing your hands can reduce the risk of developing respiratory and bacteria infections by over 20 per cent. To prevent bugs like E. coli from spreading, public health chiefs advise regular hand washing using soap and water, particularly after using the toilet. Not washing your hands can increase the risk to others. E. Coli which can be found in water usually causes a fever, sickness and diarrhoea. Its symptoms typically fade naturally within days. But experts have also long been concerned by shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare strain of the diarrhoea-causing bug. STEC is considered to be extremely infectious, and in up to 15 per cent of cases, the bug can cause haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure. Experts have long been concerned by shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare strain of the diarrhoea-causing bug. STEC is considered to be extremely infectious, and in up to 15 per cent of cases, the bug can cause haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure A small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP). The study, by cosmetics brand Faith In Nature, also found around one in 10 men only bother cleaning their bathroom once a month. The same is true for one in 20 women. And when it comes to other questionable bathroom confessions, more than a fifth of Brits (21 per cent) confessed to leaving products sitting in the shower long enough for them to become grimy or mouldy. The poll also revealed bathroom behaviours that may prove infuriating to housemates and partners alike. For instance, a third of men say they often leave an empty toilet roll on the holder when the paper runs out. Around one in five women admit to this irritating habit too. The research was conducted in a bid to raise awareness surrounding general hygiene and prevent illnesses contracted as a result. Fluoride in US drinking water poses an 'unreasonable risk' to children's brains, according to a federal judge who has asked the Government to step in. Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further regulate the fluoride in tap water because of growing evidence it lowers the IQ of minors. He didnt say what measures should be taken, but a spokesman for the EPA told DailyMail.com that they were now reviewing the decision. In his ruling, Chen said: 'The scientific literature in the record provides a high level of certainty that a hazard is present; fluoride is associated with reduced IQ.' The issue around fluoride in tap water is controversial because its introduction is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century due to its effectiveness in reducing tooth decay in children. The above map shows estimated fluoride concentrations in community water systems between 2006 and 2011. It was published in 2023. Counties that are colored red have more than double the recommended level of fluoride in their water The court did not conclude with certainty that fluoride does damage children's brains, but said that it posed an 'unreasonable risk' which the EPA should investigate. More than 200million Americans drink water that contains fluoride, or 75 percent of the population, more than in any other country in the world. The mineral was added in the 1970s after studies showed it could prevent cavities, with the CDC now estimating it saves $6.5billion every year in dental costs. But a landmark Government report published last month also warned that the mineral could harm children's IQ in high concentrations. It said that this could happen when fluoride levels were above 1.5 mg/L, with hundreds of thousands of American children thought to be exposed to these levels in areas of Texas, Illinois and New Mexico among others. Results linked the highest levels with a five point drop. The ruling was made in the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Tuesday. Michael Connett, the lawyer for the advocacy groups that asked the courts to review the new report on fluoride, said in a statement Wednesday: 'The courts historic decision should help pave the way towards better and safer fluoride standards for all.' A spokesperson for the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) added: 'History has been made. 'After seven years of pursuing legal action against the EPA over the risk posed to developing brains by the practice of water fluoridation, the [court] has just ruled on behalf of FAN and the plaintiffs in a precedent-setting court case.' The EPA currently says fluoride levels should not be above 4 mg/L in order to avoid skeletal fluorosis, a potentially crippling disorder causing weaker bones. But in 2006, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the federal Government's primary scientific advisory institute, recommended that the EPA lower its limit in order to protect children. There has been controversy over fluoride in the water supply for years, with hundreds of communities voting against its use (Above is a campaign sign from Kennebunk, Maine) The above picture from the court case shows Michael Connett, the lawyer for the advocacy group The World Health Organization says the safe limit is about 1.5 mg/L. And the Government report published last month found that when fluoride levels are above 1.5 mg/L this can cause damage to children's IQ. For comparison, in the US most areas currently fluoridate their water supply at about 0.7 mg/L. This is well above the safe limit for pregnant women suggested by some studies of about 0.4 mg/L. Bottled water often does not contain fluoride. The court case was brought by Food and Water Watch and FAN among other groups after the EPA denied a petition to outlaw the 75-year-old practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to prevent cavities. Dentists, water utilities and chemical policy attorneys are among the groups that have tracked the case. Nearly six Americans killed themselves every hour last year, data suggests as suicide rates in the US remained near their highest level in the nation's history. Provisional data from the CDC showed 49,300 deaths by suicide were recorded in 2023, similar to the 49,500 registered the year before one of the highest numbers on record. A full report published today on suicide data from 2022, the latest year for which there are complete numbers, shows a five percent rise in suicides among middle-aged women over a year the group most likely to die by suicide among women. The above graph shows the suicide rate in the US compared to that in other countries up to the year 2021. It was prepared by Oxford University's Our World In Data And a four percent rise among men over 75 years old, who are also most likely to die by suicide among their sex. While the number of suicides remained steady from 2022 to 2023, it was generally on the rise and was up 20 percent from a decade ago and double the number from two decades ago. Suicide rates in the US have been increasing for nearly 20 years, aside from a two-year drop at the start of the Covid pandemic, with experts saying today's figures may be 'cautiously promising' as they suggest suicides are no longer rising. Among those to die by suicide in 2023 was mother-of-two Heather Armstrong, who was famous as a blogger for parents The US has one of the highest suicide rates out of western nations at 14.2 suicides per 100,000 people in 2022. This outpaced the rate in England and Wales (10.7 per 100,000 people), Australia (12.3), and Germany (12.1) But was below that of Japan's 15 suicides per 100,000 people. The country historically has seen an elevated rate of people taking their own lives. Suicide is currently the 11th leading cause of death in the US, statistics suggest. By age group, men accounted for three to four times more suicides than women in 2022 the new report found. The group most likely to die by suicide was men aged 75 years and older, which had a rate of 44 suicides per 100,000 people. Among women, those aged 45 to 64 years old had the highest rate, at 8.6 suicides per 100,000. Experts warn the reasons for suicide are often 'complicated' and that attempts can be driven by a range of factors. Contributors include depression, limited availability of mental health services, and the availability of guns. Estimates suggest 57.8million people in the US suffer from mental health issues every year, with 21million struggling with depression. The above graph shows suicide rates in the US over time. It highlights how rates among men are three to four times those among women The above shows suicide rates by age group over time among US women The above shows suicide rates by age group among US men Dr Katherine Keyes, a public health professor at Columbia University, cautiously welcomed the results saying a 'leveling off of any increase in suicide is cautiously promising news.' The US has now had a national crisis line allowing anyone to dial 988 to reach a mental health specialist for two years, which Dr Keyes said may now be starting to pay off. Among those to die by suicide last year was mother-of-two Heather Armstrong, a Utah-based content creator who earned the title the 'queen of mommy bloggers.' The 47-year-old built a lucrative online career writing about the unspoken realities of motherhood and the struggles of her two kids, her husband and her mental health. Her partner of six years Pete Ashdown spent months after her death in May 2023 trying to piece together how it happened. 'Losing Heather is the hardest thing I've ever had to go through,' he told ABC News. 'The mental torture I have gone through, wondering if I could have done something to prevent this outcome. 'When you lose somebody to suicide, you turn into somewhat of an investigator trying to figure out all of the confluences that came together to cause a person to do such a thing.' It took months of exams, scans, and blood tests for a Virginia mother to finally get life-changing health news about her daughter Eden. When she entered the third trimester of her pregnancy, Cheyenne suspected something was amiss with her unborn baby when she was losing weight. Soon after, doctors would discover Eden was not growing at a normal pace. When she was born, Eden was small, but generally healthy. However, when she missed several important milestones, like holding her head up or sitting on her own, Cheyennes worries reemerged and she pressed her doctors for answers. Eventually, they performed a full sequencing of Edens genes, which revealed the little girl had 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects around one in 5,000 people. Cheyenne [pictured holding baby Eden] had a difficult third trimester when she learned her baby was not growing at a normal pace Eden was born happy and healthy, but when she still had trouble holding her head up at four months, Cheyenne suspected something was wrong At 32 weeks of pregnancy with her second child, Cheyenne saw her doctor for a checkup. Her babys fundal height was smaller than normal. Fundal height is a measurement during pregnancy to approximate the size of the uterus and assess fetal growth. It is measured from the top of the mothers uterus (the fundus) to the pubic bone in centimeters, and it typically corresponds to the number of weeks of pregnancy. At 35 weeks, Cheyenne was able to get a growth scan, which revealed her baby was only measuring 28 weeks. Cheyenne learned her baby had intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a potentially dangerous complication that could mean low birthweight, developmental delays, a higher risk of respiratory distress syndrome, and feeding problems. IUGR affects around 10 percent of babies and is defined as weighing less than nine out of 10 babies (below the 10th percentile) of the same age. The delay was most stark in Eden's abdomen, so Cheyenne received steroid injections in her arms to accelerate the growth of her babys lungs, followed by non-stress tests (NST), which assess the health of the fetus by monitoring changes in heart rate as she moves in the womb. Cheyenne said at 35 weeks pregnant that Eden 'looked ok on the NST. She had two NSTs per week for the next three weeks until she gave birth in April 2023. Eden was small at five pounds and seven ounces, but not so small to worry the doctors and nurses. The average baby girl born in the US weighs seven pounds, two ounces, but Cheyenne never expected her baby to be anywhere near that big. Her first daughter weighed six pounds, 15 ounces. Eden was overall healthy, but over the next few months, Cheyenne realized her baby was missing important milestones, including being able to turn her head from side to side and hold it up on her own, which infants start being able to do between two and four months. Eden also struggled to push down on her legs, another milestone typically seen at around two months. Cheyenne told People: The weeks leading up to her delivery were full of anxiety for me. I knew in my gut that something wasnt normal, and no one could tell me what it was. After a few months, I noticed that she was still very floppy and had no head control.' Still, friends, family, and even medical professionals assured her everything was normal. Edens delays could be explained away. Every child develops at their own pace, so her delay might just be part of her unique timeline. Cheyenne said: This was the beginning of our journey. I knew at this point, in my mom gut, that my IUGR was related. Eden underwent an EEG scan to make sure she wasn't experiencing seizures. She also underwent X-rays because her hips were not supporting her weight Your browser does not support iframes. At Edens 4-month checkup, she was referred to physical therapy to help build her strength and muscle tone. She had been diagnosed with hypotonia, or muscle weakness. Cheyenne said: We had a CT of Edens head because of her macrocephaly (larger head) and an EEG for suspected seizures. Both came back clean. Additionally, we did a hip X-ray because she couldn't put weight on her legs. That was also clean. The hypotonia diagnosis was helpful. It connected Cheyenne to skilled physical therapists who could help Eden achieve first year milestones, from holding her own head up to scooting. But Cheyennes 'mom gut' persisted. She said: People told me I needed to chill and that Eden was fine. They told me well-meaning stories of their delayed children and told me to stop comparing Eden to my older daughter. I knew there was something more. At the start of 2024, Edens motor skills, lifting her head, pushing up on her arms, and rolling over, were showing signs of regression, so Cheyenne took her concerns to a new pediatrician and neurologist. According to the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, which assesses gross motor skills in infants, 'Eden wasnt (and still isnt) on the chart after being in the 10th percentile earlier on. 'So, if you lined Eden up with 100 other babies her age, she wouldnt even be close to any of them, Cheyenne said. A subsequent MRI was normal, but a full panel of genetic testing picked up on something a years worth of scans didn't detect. Eden is pictured being prepared to undergo a CT scan, one of many over about a year Cheyenne learned in July that Eden has 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the deletion of a small segment of chromosome 16 at a specific location on DNA known as 16p11.2. That missing piece affects genes that are essential for brain development and functioning. As a result, children born with 16p11.2 deletion syndrome typically have a more challenging time learning to walk and talk and socializing with other children. In 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, people usually have more trouble with expressive language skills using words and speaking than with receptive language skills, which involve understanding what others say. Some people born with this condition may also experience repeated seizures, though Cheyenne said Eden has not shown any signs of this. About one in 5,000 people have the chromosomal abnormality, and roughly 24 percent of them experience seizures. Researchers have not found evidence to show it shortens a person's lifespan. Cheyenne shared the details of her rocky third trimester on TikTok where she has since found a community of mothers who have had to advocate for themselves and their children Cheyenne was told by friends and family to stop worrying about Eden [pictured], who was generally healthy and happy The results were a relief for Cheyenne, who said she learned about them in the parking lot of a facility where she had just gotten Eden an assessment for a program called Early Intervention, a system of services such as speech and physical therapy aimed at helping babies and toddlers with developmental delays. She said: [I] found out that Eden, at 15 months, was still only at a 6-month level in all domains of development. I debated running back in there and saying, Wait! Here is why! While she was relieved to get the diagnosis, Cheyenne was frustrated that it took over a year. She said: I had no idea how hard Id have to fight and advocate for my girl and I realize now that Im not alone in having to do that. Cheyenne shared her story on TikTok, where she found community with other mothers who struggled to get answers for their struggling children. She told People: There is a whole community of moms suffering in what feels like silence because providers and others around us dont believe what we say when we express concerns about our children. She hopes her story will inspire parents to speak up if they suspect something unusual with their babys development. Cheyenne said: At the time, I worried I was being too extra or that I was being annoying. 'It is okay to get second and third opinions and if a provider thinks youre being annoying, then theyre not the right fit for your family anyway. If you worry about being a good mom, youre probably already a good mom. I spent months worrying about whether or not this was my fault. Did I take too many nausea medications? Is it because I hold her too much? Turns out, this had nothing to do with me. Who really carved the Great Sphinx of Egypt and constructed Mexico's Pyramid of the Sun? For centuries man has been baffled by the great monuments left behind by the ancients. How could various ancient peoples around the world have mastered the principles of advanced astronomy and complex mathematics? Now best-selling author Graham Hancock, who has spent the past five years researching these mysteries, believes he may have some answers. He has written a provocative book which challenges the exiting wisdoms about our past. Earlier this week he explained what his quest revealed in the high Andes and the plains of Central Mexico. He told how in both places there were legends of mysterious bearded pale-skinned `supergods' - named Viracocha in the Andes and Quetzacoatl in Mexico - who arrived after a great flood bringing with them the gifts of civilisation. Hancock believes these legends point to a lost civilisation which flourished before the last Ice Age but was wiped out in an apocalypse some 12,000 years ago. Today his mission takes him on to the Nile... You join me in the small hours of the morning at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Egypt. Together with my wife Santha and a local guide (who had bribed the guards to turn a blind eye to our presence), I made my way around the north-eastern corner of the last surviving wonder of the ancient world and then along the base of the eastern face. Our plan was to climb the pyramid - something that had been strictly illegal since 1983 when the messy falls of several foolhardy tourists had forced the Egyptian government to impose a ban. I realised that we were being foolish too (particularly since we were attempting the climb at night) and I didn't feel good about breaking what was basically a sensible law. By this stage, however, my intense interest in the pyramid and desire to learn everything that I could about it, had completely overridden my common sense. Uncanny precision is demonstrated in every feature of the Great Pyramid Long ago, I had familiarised myself with the monument's dimensions, noting that the northern face was aligned almost perfectly to true north, the eastern face almost perfectly to true east. The average error was only around three minutes of arc (three 60ths of a single degree), which was reduced to less than two minutes on the southern face - incredible accuracy for any building in any epoch, and an inexplicable, almost supernatural feat here in Egypt 4,500 years ago when the Great Pyramid was supposed to have been built. But then the same uncanny precision was demonstrated in every feature of the immense edifice. For example, its sides at the base are all almost exactly the same length, demonstrating a margin of error far smaller than modern architects would be required to achieve in the construction of, say, an average sized office-block. This was no office-block, however - this was the largest single stone structure ever built by man and also one of the oldest. We walked on, coming to the monument's south-eastern corner a little after 4.15am. Very few modern buildings, even the houses we live in, have corners that consist of perfect 90 degree right-angles. It doesn't make any difference structurally and nobody can notice such minute errors. In the case of the Great Pyramid, however, I knew that the ancient master-builders had found a way to narrow down the margin of error to almost nothing. Thus, while falling short of the perfect 90 degrees, the south-eastern corner nonetheless achieved an impressive 89 degrees 56' 27''. Of course, such accuracy is extraordinary. And like almost everything else about the Great Pyramid it was also extremely difficult to explain. Surely such building techniques - easily as accurate as the best we have today - could only have been evolved after thousands of years of development and experimentation? Yet the Great Pyramid and its neighbours at Giza had emerged out of a black hole in architectural history that was so deep and so wide, that neither its bottom nor its far side had ever been clearly identified. SHIPS IN THE DESERT We now began to make our way in a westerly direction along the monument's southern side. Here, there were two deep boat-shaped pits in the ground one of which, although still sealed, had been investigated with fibre-optic cameras and was known to contain a high-prowed sea-going vessel more than 100ft long. The other pit had been excavated in the Fifties. Its contents - an even larger sea-going vessel, this time a full 141ft in length - had been placed in the so-called Boat Museum, an ugly modern structure that gangled above us on stilts beneath the south face of the Pyramid. This beautiful ship - housed in the so-called Boat Museum next to the pyramids - was still in perfect condition 4,500 years after it had first been built Made of cedarwood, the beautiful ship was still in perfect condition 4,500 years after it had first been built. With a displacement of around 40 tons, its design was particularly thought-provoking, incorporating in the words of one expert 'all the sea-going ship's characteristic properties, with prow and stern soaring upward, higher than in a Viking ship, to ride out the breakers and high seas, not to contend with the little ripples of the Nile'. Another authority felt that the careful and clever design of this strange pyramid boat could potentially have made it 'a far more seaworthy craft than anything available to Columbus'. Moreover, the experts agreed that it had been built to a pattern that could only have been 'created by shipbuilders from a people with a long, solid tradition of sailing on the open sea'. Who were those as-yet-unidentified shipbuilders? Certainly they had not accumulated their 'long, solid tradition of sailing on the open sea' while ploughing the fields of the landlocked Nile Valley. Where and when had they managed to develop their maritime skills? THE PHAROAH`S CHALLENGE I do not recommend climbing a pyramid at night while fearful of getting arrested. The Great Pyramid consists of 203 separate courses of masonry. We had ascended some 30 courses and already our knees and fingers were stiff and bruised - yet we were barely one-seventh of the way to the summit. There were still more than 170 courses left to climb. To have worked effectively, the ancient pyramid-builders must have had nerves of steel, the agility of mountain goats, the strength of lions and the confidence of trained steeplejacks. As I continued to climb, I reminded myself of the implications of all of this. The pyramid contained thousands of truly enormous blocks each weighing 15 tons or more and some weighing as much as 70 tons. I do not recommend climbing a pyramid at night while fearful of getting arrested, writes GRAHAM HANCOCK But the real crises would have been caused by the millions of average-sized blocks weighing around 2.5 tons that also had to be brought to the working place. The pyramid (weighing more than six million tons) had been reliably estimated to consist of more than 2.3 million blocks. Assuming that the masons had worked ten hours a day, 365 days a year, then they would have needed to place 31 blocks in position every hour - about one every two minutes - in order to complete the Pyramid during the 20-year reign of Khafre, the Fourth Dynasty Pharaoh for whom the monument was supposed to have been built. Assuming that construction work had been confined to Egypt's annual three-month agricultural lay-off season (the only time when a sufficiently large workforce would have been available), then the problems multiplied; now four blocks a minute would have had to have been delivered. Such managerial obstacles seem staggering enough. But the master-builders had gone on to play some clever mathemical games with the monument's dimensions. Firstly, they had built the Great Pyramid exactly on latitude 30 - the 30th parallel - precisely one-third of the way between the Earth's North Pole and the equator. Secondly, they appeared to have conceived of this edifice as a mathematical scale model of the northern hemisphere. At any rate, the Great Pyramid's base-perimeter (3,023.16ft) multiplied by 43,200 gives an extremely precise `read-out' of the equatorial circumference of the Earth, while the Great Pyramid's height (481.3949 feet) multiplied by 43,200 gives an even more precise read-out of the polar radius of the Earth. Why is that ratio 1:43,200 significant? Today we know that the sun spends exactly 2,160 years in each of the 12 zodiacs. So it is most unlikely that the figure of 43,200 which provides the scale of the Pyramid/Earth ratio could have been arrived at by chance. This figure turns out to be exactly 20 times the number of years that the sun takes to pass through one zodiacal sign (20 x 2,160 = 43,200). Today we live very near the end of the astrological Age of Pisces. The `new Age' that is soon about to dawn is that of Aquarius. From around 2200 BC until just before the time of Christ, the constellation of Aries housed the sun on the vernal equinox. And at the date when the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Egypt are supposed to have been built - around 2500 BC - it was the astrological Age of Taurus, the bull, when the dominant motifs of Egyptian art and sculpture were the long-horned Apis and Mnevis bulls - and the symbolism switched overwhelmingly to rams during the Age of Aries. FIRST TIME OF OSIRIS For the next ten minutes of our climb, we struggled upwards in silence along the line of the Great Pyramid's south-western corner until we had reached the 100th course - roughly the half-way mark and already more than 250ft above the ground. Here we gazed over our shoulders to the south-west, where a once-in-a-lifetime vision of staggering beauty and power confronted us. In the vastly sophisticated religious system of the ancient Egyptians (which, mysteriously, was fully mature and complete at the very beginning of historical civilisation in the Nile Valley), the most important group of stars in the heavens was the giant constellation of Orion, identified with the high god Osiris. Remembered as tall and bearded, and as having come to Egypt from a distant land in a time of flood and chaos (the mythical `First Time'), Osiris was the counterpart of Viracocha in the Andes and Quetzalcoatl in Mexico - a bringer of laws, religion and advanced knowledge, who was honoured as the founder of Egyptian civilization. This was his human aspect as a man; it was his stellar manifestation, however, in the form of the constellation of Orion, that most interested me. Thanks to the work of the archaeo-astronomer Robert Bauval (whose bestseller The Orion Mystery recently topped the paperback charts), we now know that the layout of the three pyramids of Giza on the ground was designed to mimic the pattern made in the sky by the three stars of Orion's belt. Most interesting of all, however, is what computer reconstructions of the skies above Giza in antiquity tell us about the changes in altitude and orientation of these belt stars. The layout of the three pyramids of Giza on the ground was designed to mimic the pattern made in the sky by the three stars of Orion's belt The correlation with the three pyramids is general and obvious in all epochs, but specific and exact in only one - the epoch of 10,500 BC As we follow these changes back down the epochs, we find that the correlation with the three pyramids is general and obvious in all epochs, but specific and exact in only one - the epoch of 10,500 BC, around the end of the last Ice Age, when heavy rains were falling on Egypt and scientifically accurate maps of the lost continent of Antarctica were being prepared by the cartographers of an as yet unidentified civilization. What we have at Giza is a three-dimensional map of the belt-stars of Orion exactly as they looked in the sky in 10,500 BC and in no other epoch. Ever since then, the belt stars have been slowly but remorsely rising in the sky, reaching their maximum altitude above the horizon only today, in our own epoch. In this sense, therefore, we are living in the mythological `last of times', facing the end of a great cycle - a notion that coincides eerily with the ancient Mayan calendar which, as we saw yesterday, predicted the final cataclysm and the end of the world in AD 2012. The three stars of Orion's belt had not yet set when, panting and breathless, we suddenly found ourselves at the top of the Great Pyramid after a 30-minute climb, standing more than 450ft above the surrounding plateau on the most extraordinary viewing platform in the world. THE SILENT SPHINX The next day, Santha and I positioned ourselves at dawn between the paws of the Great Sphinx. Had it been the vernal equinox, we would have seen the sun rising due east of us at precisely the point on the horizon targeted by the Sphinx's inscrutable gaze. The Sphinx, in other words, was an astronomical monument designed to pinpoint the vernal equinox. Why, therefore, was it fashioned in the shape of a man-headed lion, 66ft high and more than 240ft long? If Egyptologists were right in attributing it to the Fourth Dynasty Pharaoh Khafre around 2,500 BC - the astrological Age of Taurus - then surely its shape should have been that of a bull? But perhaps it wasn't carved during the Age of Taurus. The Sphinx was a marker for the Age of Leo, which computer calculations tell us began at around 10,500 B Perhaps it was much older. After all, there was no hard evidence in support of the orthodox attribution to Khafre. Indeed, Professor Mark Lehner of the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute, one of the most orthodox Egyptologists of all, has recently been obliged to admit that the official dating was a matter of opinion only. There was, he confirmed, `no direct way to date the Sphinx itself, because the Sphinx is carved right out of natural rock'. Egyptians have always regarded the Sphinx as being very, very old and the possibility that the Sphinx could date from thousands of years before Khafre, was one I had long since learned to take seriously. On this dawn visit, everything that I saw around me further confirmed what I already knew. First and foremost, the rolling, undulating weathering patterns combined with deep vertical fissures - so prominently visible on the body of the monument and in the surrounding bedrock trench from which it had been hewn - had recently been proved by American geologists to have been caused not by wind and sand (the principal erosional agents at Giza today) but by thousands of years of heavy rainfall - climatic conditions that have not been experienced in this part of Egypt since around 10,000 BC. According to Professor Robert Schoch of Boston University, the vertical fissures in particular were conclusive evidence: `The fissures could only have been formed by water running down the trench wall,' the result of rain falling in enormous quantities and then cascading over the slope of the Giza plateau and down into the Sphinx enclosure below. `It picked out the weak spots in the rock,' Schoch elaborated, `and opened them up into these fissures - clear evidence that this erosional feature was caused by rainfall.' Schoch was not the first geologist to have noticed the `anomalous precipitation-induced weathering features on the core body of the Sphinx'. He was, however, the first to have become actively involved in public debates over the immense historical implications of this weathering. His attitude, very firmly, was that he preferred to stick to his geology: `I've been told over and over again that the peoples of Egypt, as far as we know, did not have either the technology or the social organisation to cut out the core body of the Sphinx in pre-Dynastic times. `However, I don't see it as being my problem as a geologist. I'm not seeking to shift the burden, but its really up to the Egyptologists and archaeologists to figure out who carved it. If my findings are in conflict with their theory about the rise of civilisation, then maybe it's time for them to re-evaluate that theory. I'm not saying that the Sphinx was built by Atlanteans or people from Mars, or extra-terrestrials. I'm just following the science where it leads me, and it leads me to conclude that the Sphinx was built much earlier than previously thought.' Naturally, Egyptologists have consistently refused to accept or even consider the momentous implications of Schoch's findings. From outside the discipline of geology, however, another piece of evidence strongly corroborates his conclusion. We have seen how the three gigantic pyramids at Giza are laid out on the ground in the pattern of the three stars of Orion's Belt - not quite as they look today, or even as they looked in the so-called Pyramid Age around 2500 BC, but exactly as they looked in 10,500 BC. We have seen, also, how the date of 10,500 BC (which the unknown founders of Giza so spectacularly immortalised in stone) marks a highly significant moment in the precessional cycle of those stars - their `First Time', the beginning of their great upward cycle above the horizon. Is it a coincidence that a second confirmation of this same remote date was also immortalised in stone at Giza in the form of the Great Sphinx? As high as a six-storey building and as long as a city block, it was unmistakably fashioned in the form of an enormous, crouching lion. Looking now along its powerful forepaws and heavily eroded sides, I understood very clearly that there was really only one epoch in which such symbolism would have been appropriate - certainly not in the astrological Age of Taurus but in the far earlier astrological Age of Leo, when the sun on the vernal equinox rose against the majestic background of the constellation of the celestial lion. The Sphinx, in other words, was not just an equinoctial marker but an equinoctial marker for the Age of Leo, which computer calculations tell us began at around 10,500 BC. This, at any rate, was the only epoch in which the due-east facing Sphinx would have manifested exactly the right symbolic alignment on exactly the right day - watching the vernal sun rising in the dawn sky against the background of his own celestial counterpart. Was this another Fingerprint of the Gods? Geology and astronomy combine with the testimony of ancient Egyptian myths to suggest that something astonishing must have happened at Giza in the 11th millennium BC - and that astonishing event appears to have been the entry into the Nile Valley of the `gods' of the `First Time', led by the bearded Osiris, remembered forever-after as a great benefactor and bringer of civilisation. In previous days of this serialisation, we have learned about similar bearded deities - Virachocha in the Andes, Quetzalcoatl in Mexico. Could all three of these `gods' and their bands of companions have been the survivors of an advanced prehistoric civilisation of map-makers, seafarers and architects - a civilization destroyed by the Ice Age and forgotten until now? UC Merced freshman students walk through the New Beginnings Statue to mark their arrival to the university on Aug. 27. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle When the Wall Street Journal published its list of best colleges last month, California took six of the top 10 spots in its ranking of public universities, with several unexpected schools scoring highly including San Jose State University and UC Merced. But this week, the more traditional and closely watched U.S. News & World Report rankings came out with San Jose State missing from its national list, and UC Merced down at No. 58. Advertisement Article continues below this ad How could rankings from two publications come to such different conclusions? Part of the answer is that the lists werent quite as far apart as they appeared to be. San Jose State, it turns out, ranked No. 4 on U.S. News list of regional universities in the western U.S., while UC Merced ranked No. 26 on the U.S. News list of public universities. While both publications break out separate lists of public universities, U.S. News has several other categories such as regional schools and liberal arts colleges, which can make the results hard to compare. Also key to the spread in results: The publications use different criteria to judge schools. While U.S. News relies on test scores and other academic criteria, the Wall Street Journal evaluates less traditional metrics, including measures of the extent to which the college boosts graduation rates and future salaries compared to the average school given the socioeconomic backgrounds of their students. Though such lists can offer valuable bragging rights for schools, they can be confusing for students who try to use them to find a campus thats right for them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Princess Agyapong, an Oakland High senior who will apply to colleges this fall, said she checks out the rankings but only in the way people peruse real-estate listings for homes they never plan to buy. Im picking my schools based on my major, location and resources, Agyapong said. I think rankings provide some kind of prestige for the schools, she said. So I like to know how prestigious the school I am applying to is. But at the end of the day, my decision is based on the resources I have available. UC Merced and San Jose State are cases in point for how perplexing the lists can be. The Central Valleys UC Merced, youngest in the UC system at 19 years old, exalts its new standing as the 26th best public school in the nation, a fact hard to miss on the campus website. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats compared to 225 schools in the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report, which also tout UC Merced as third best out of 433 schools ranked by social mobility. Yet the school is 58th best on the national list of 436 universities. The school ranks 18th best out of 500 universities included in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse latest rankings of public and private universities. It beat out UCLA, which typically ranks first or second among UC schools. UC Berkeley ranked 8th on the Journals list and first among public universities. The University of California itself ranks UC Merced as last in line among its nine undergraduate campuses. Its the only UC campus where applicants who qualify for UC are guaranteed admission if they cant get into any of the others. But is it really the worst? The U.S. News rankings released this month list UC Merced as a better public school than either UC Riverside (36th) or UC Santa Cruz (42nd). The Chronicle reported recently that UC Merced has seen a jump in popularity and selectivity. U.S. News ranks San Jose State in fourth place, compared with 118 regional universities in the western U.S. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yet the Wall Street Journal declared San Jose State to be the 16th best school in the country public or private. Thats two notches better than UC Merced in that comparison of 500 campuses, and just two steps below Ivy League Columbia University. Through a spokesperson, President Cynthia Teniente-Matson called the ranking remarkable, especially because last year San Jose State was not 16th on the list, but 173rd. Its a remarkable shift in our national recognition, Teniente-Matson said. Noting that the university is also proud of its U.S. News ranking among western regional schools, she called the rankings important tools that underscore the economic return on investment for our students and alumni, as well as the high-quality educational value that San Jose State brings to our region and the nation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Although San Jose State has worked to improve its focus on research and student interaction, the university recognizes that its monumental climb up the Wall Street Journals ladder likely has more to do with changes in the companys method of ranking schools. No longer are standardized test scores or extracurricular activities considered in the rankings. The Wall Street Journal gives 70% weight to student outcomes, such as graduates salaries and how long it takes them to pay off the net price of the school. Unlike the U.S. News ranking, the Wall Street Journal ranking takes into account differences in the academic and economic backgrounds of students who attend the school. If a school is good at helping students from poorer families graduate and make high future salaries, they will rank higher on the Wall Street Journal list. The Wall Street Journal also considers the schools learning environment and its diversity. By contrast, for the past three years, the U.S. News has ranked schools according to students standardized tests, graduation rates and faculty research (only for the national university rankings). Lady Pamela by India Hicks (Rizzoli 46, 256pp) Lady Pamela is available now from the Mail Bookshop When her daughter India suggested that she should dust off her photograph albums, dig out her old letters and write a book about her life, Lady Pamela Hicks asked: Who will be interested? Fortunately, she allowed herself to be persuaded, and the result is a delightful book which records an era of vast stately homes, lavish house parties, thoroughbred horses and ball gowns. What gives this account added spice is that Pamela Hicks, now 95, is not only fantastically posh but has also been part of the Royal Familys inner circle all her life. The daughters of Earl Mountbatten of Burma and his rich, beautiful wife Edwina, Pamela and her elder sister Patricia were favourite playmates of their cousins, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. Pamela was a bridesmaid at Elizabeths wedding to Prince Philip (another cousin). She was with the couple in Kenya when they got the news that King George VI had died and that Elizabeth was now Queen. Pamela watched at a distance as Philip broke the news to his wife: Princess Elizabeth stopping in her tracks and leaning into him, her body stiff with shock. In the early days of Elizabeths reign, Pamela was pressed into service as a rather reluctant lady-in-waiting. She recalls how happy and carefree the Princess had been as a young mother and naval wife in Malta. When she had to return to England, Pamela commented, it was like putting a little bird back into its gilded cage. There is a lot in this book that makes you realise how odd the upper classes can be. One summer, when Pamela was eight, Edwina Mountbatten left her daughters at a hotel in Hungary in the care of their nanny while she went off travelling round Europe with her lover (who was called, inevitably, Bunny.) Edwina and Bunny couldnt remember where they had left the girls and it was six months before they tracked them down again. Aside from this, Pamela and Patricia had a happy childhood in Sussex, looked after by their loyal nanny. The Mountbatten marriage soon foundered but they decided to stay together, with separate rooms and, to some extent, separate lives. Both had affairs. India Hicks with her mother, Lady Pamela When the Mountbattens were at home there were non-stop parties, the guests ranging from European royalty to Noel Coward, Fred Astaire and Charlie Chaplin. Edwina kept a pet lion, Sabi, who enjoyed hiding by the croquet lawn and charging out at the players, scattering croquet balls everywhere. In 1940, Pamela and her sister were sent to America for the duration of the war. On arrival they were whisked off to the palatial house of New Yorks legendary society hostess Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt. After a year, Pamela was still so horribly homesick that it was decided she would be far better off facing the bombs in England. At the end of the war, Lord Mountbatten was sent to India as the last Viceroy. Pamela, then 17, got to know Gandhi, even attending one of his prayer meetings, where she felt with absolute certainty that she was part of something extraordinary. When she had a fall from her horse, he sent her a get-well card addressed to his naughty friend. Back in England, Pamela was a bridesmaid at Princess Elizabeths wedding in 1947, wearing a Norman Hartnell dress that fitted like a glove. Theres a marvellous photograph in the book of Pamela and three other bridesmaids walking side by side and positively shimmering in their beautiful white gowns. After going on a lengthy tour of the Commonwealth with the Queen and Prince Philip in 1953 and 1954, Pamela was delighted to give up her position of lady-in-waiting as she would not need to attend an Opening of Parliament every few days or have to climb into a long evening dress and wear a tiara and gloves nearly every night. Pamela with her husband David In 1960, she married the brilliant interior decorator David Hicks, a daring choice of husband, as he was from Essex and neither an aristocrat nor a millionaire. India Hicks, the youngest of their three children, tactfully describes her parents relationship as a complicated marriage between two people who adored each other. David Hicks died in 1998. An obituary in the New York Times, while praising his genius as a designer, described him as a snob of Olympian proportions and quoted Pamela as saying that her husband started using high-gloss brown walls after she began throwing glasses of Coca-Cola at him during moments of marital discord. For all her wealth and privilege, Pamela Hicks has also known great sadness. In the summer of 1979, when she and her family were staying at their castle at Classiebawn on the west coast of Ireland, the IRA planted a bomb on Lord Mountbattens small fishing boat. Mountbatten, Patricias son Nicholas and her mother-in-law Doreen were killed, along with Paul Maxwell, a local boy who was serving as crew. Patricia, her son Timothy and her husband were badly injured. India, who missed being on the boat because she had stayed at home looking after Mountbattens labrador, Juno, was so distraught that Pamela insisted they sleep in the same bed; she was afraid her daughter might throw herself off a cliff. I lay awake waiting for another bomb, India remembers. After the funeral, which took place on Indias 12th birthday, the Queen asked Pamela to sit with her in the train taking them to the burial and tell her everything about the day of the bombing. She listened carefully, never interrupting, until my mother finished, then she put her hand over my mothers. Part coffee table book, part memoir, this is a touching and entertaining read. The many illustrations are superbly well chosen black-and-white photographs which ooze the glamour and style of an age that has now vanished. Lady Pamela Hicks is, as her daughter says, perhaps the last of her kind. I've been an American Express customer for years. I previously had a Gold card, but cancelled this in 2007 and switched to a British Airways Premium Plus card. However, I recently discovered the Gold card was never cancelled, and that I have been charged the annual membership fee for the last 17 years. The fee was initially 160 but then rose to 195. In total I've paid about 2,400. I am certain I cancelled the old card over the phone in 2007, but Amex says it can't check because it has deleted the call records in line with data protection rules. Card clash: M.H is certain he cancelled his Gold card on the phone back in 2007, but American Express has since deleted its records and can't prove that was the case (stock image) I only discovered the card was still active when I was reviewing my direct debits and found I was being charged twice a year by Amex, instead of once. I know I should have noticed earlier, but the two payments were several months apart and each time I saw one I assumed it was for my new BA Amex. Concerningly, I have now been told new cards have been sent in the post when old ones expired - I believe at least four - and have gone to my old address. I'm worried it has affected my credit rating, and that someone out there has a credit card in my name. I spoke to Amex about this, but there was no offer to return the membership fees and I was told that the manager refused to speak with me. M.H, London Helen Crane, This is Money's consumer champion, replies: You believed you held this card from 2005 to 2007, but it turns out it has remained active for much longer. To highlight how long you've been paying these fees, 2007 was the year the first iPhone went on sale, the final Harry Potter book was published and Gordon Brown became Prime Minister. You told me you updated Amex with your new address when you opened the BA credit card the same year, and all your correspondence from that card goes to the right place. CRANE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Helen Crane tackle reader problems and shine the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk As you remained a customer, you think the firm should have contacted you to check whether you really wanted the cards to go to two different addresses. This would have made you aware of its existence much sooner. You also think the fact that no purchases were made on the card for 17 years should have been flagged by American Express, in the same way that other unusual activity on an account would be. I accept those points, and share your concerns that you could have been exposed to fraud, had the renewal cards got in to the wrong hands. No one likes to imagine a criminal being given carte blanche to go shopping on a credit card in their name. Of the cards that have been sent to your old address, only one, the most recent, has been returned to Amex. Separately, you are upset at the treatment you received when you discovered the other credit card and called Amex to complain. You say you spoke to a customer service person in the Brighton office, and asked if they would refund some of the 2,400 fees you had paid. When they said they couldn't, you asked to speak to a manager - but you told me the person said the manager refused to speak to you. Returned: Only one of the Amex cards sent to M.H's old address found its way back to the firm While there are two sides to every story, that is no way to treat a loyal customer. I contacted Amex to ask what was going on. It confirmed it had deleted the call records from back in 2007, so it was your word against theirs as to whether you did indeed cancel the Gold card. The earliest statements it can retrieve on your account are from 2011. Amex accepts that what was said on the call was not appropriate. While it has taken on board your concerns about the card, it takes the view that you should have been alerted to its continued existence by the annual membership fee. It therefore has agreed to refund you 1,000. This includes a refund of a proportion of the earlier membership fees, and a goodwill gesture to apologise for the poor service you received on the phone. A spokesman for Amex said: 'We're sorry to hear about [the customer's] experience and are in direct contact.' It also confirmed there are no flags or marks on your credit score, so it appears you have had a lucky escape from any fraudulent activity. If you had been a victim of fraud, it is likely that Amex would have flagged any fraudulent activity and reimbursed you for any money lost. Amex wouldn't say how long it retains customer call records for, but said its policy was in line with the 'storage limitation' principle of GDPR. You are now considering a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman. Shares in Rentokil rose after a member of Nelson Peltzs hedge fund was handed a seat on the royal rat catchers board. The FTSE 100 pest control firm, which won contracts at Buckingham Palace in the 1960s, said Trians head of research Brian Baldwin will join from October, lifting it 4.5 per cent, or 16.1p, to 376.7p. The New York activist investor, which was co-founded by billionaire Peltz, owns a 2.26 per cent stake in Rentokil. Peltz, whose daughter Nicola is married to Brooklyn Beckham, sits on the board of Magnum owner Unilever and will be hoping his firm can exert influence over another blue-chip firm. Baldwin said Rentokil has significant potential for growth. Influence: Rentokil, which won contracts at Buckingham Palace in the 1960s, said Trian's head of research Brian Baldwin will join from October The FTSE 100 dipped 0.2 per cent, or 14.06 points, to 8268.70 while the FTSE 250 was down 0.1 per cent, or 14.68 points, to 20,755.44. The price of oil dropped as traders fretted over global demand. A barrel of Brent crude fell by more than 2 per cent towards $73, sending BP down 2.4 per cent, or 9.9p, to 400.25p while Shell gave up 1.6 per cent, or 40p, to 2532p. A bumper summer helped On the Beach report a record value of holidays booked. Bookings rose 15 per cent to 1.2billion in the year to the end of September but there were significant one-off costs linked to its new partnership with Ryanair, and it fell 2.9 per cent, or 4.2p, to 140.8p. Meanwhile, DFS reported resilient results as consumers reined in spending. The furniture retailers orders, which fell 1.8 per cent in the 12 months to the end of June, rose in the first 12 weeks of the new financial year. Shares gained 6.6 per cent, or 7.6p, to 122.6p. Stock Watch - Cirata Cirata plunged 15.2 per cent, or 4.4p, to 24.5p, after its finance boss revealed he will leave after less than two years in the job. Ijoma Maluza, who joined the data specialist in April 2023, was brought in to help turn around the company. He will step down in December and be replaced by Ricardo Moura, who will join next week. Cirata, formerly known as Wandisco, underwent a major rebrand following last years accounting scandal. Dialight edged back up 1.7 per cent, or 3p, to 182p, a day after the conclusion of its litigation trial with its former manufacturing partner. A jury awarded the London-listed LED maker 670,000 damages following Sanminas breach of contract. But Dialight also announced it was considering potential post-trial motions after the trial ruled it should pay 6.5million damages to Sanmina. Dialight fell 28.4 per cent on Tuesday. Raspberry Pi extended its gains a day after the Cambridge computer business revealed profits rose 55 per cent to 16million in the first half of 2024. Shares, which rose 6.6 per cent on Tuesday, added 5 per cent, or 18.4p, to 389.6p yesterday. Tekcapital reported a bumper first half as assets soared 46 per cent to 52million. The investment group said expansion of Microsalts retail distribution and Guidents second grant from Space Florida boosted its portfolio, and it rose 6.8 per cent, or 0.43p, to 6.75p. Funding Circle co-founder and former chief executive Samir Desai will step down from the board next month. He set up the small firm lending platform in 2010, and has been a non-executive for three years, a role he took on after handing the reins to Lisa Jacobs. He said he would step down on October 25 when his three-year term comes to an end, but will remain a shareholder in the peer-to-peer lender. Shares fell 2 per cent, or 2.5p, to 124.5p. Cinema group Everyman is looking for a boost from upcoming films such as Gladiator II and Wicked. It said revenues rose 22.5 per cent to 46.9million in the first six months of the year, with 1.9m tickets sold up from 1.6m year-on-year. And particularly strong films have still to hit the screens. Upcoming: Everyman highlighted the release of Joker: Folie a Deux in October as well as Gladiator II (pictured), Paddington in Peru and Mufasa: The Lion King in December Joker: Folie A Deux is out in October as well as Gladiator II. Paddington In Peru, Wicked and Moana 2 arrive in November, and Mufasa: The Lion King in December. The shares rose 3.5 per cent, or 2p, to 58.5p. Everyman said it weathered pressure on schedules from strike action by Hollywood writers and actors. Higher admissions were largely due to a strong awards season, with Poor Things, The Holdovers and One Life drawing good audiences. Bob Marley: One Love and Dune: Part Two also did well this year. Even so, pre-tax losses grew to 4.94million from 4.31million. Thames Water has suffered two more credit rating downgrades after the embattled utility went cap in hand to investors and creditors again last week. S&P Global Ratings and Moody's each downgraded their assessment on 16billion of Thames' top-tier debt late on Wednesday following the group's warning it could run short of liquidity if creditors do not let it access its funding reserves. Both agencies slashed their rating to an equivalent of CCC+ - one of the lowest ranked levels of 'junk'. Thames, which serves 15million households in London and the South East, faces a funding crisis leaving it on the brink of emergency nationalisation as it struggles under the weight of its debt. Downgraded: Thames Water appeals to investors and creditors amid liquidity woes Moody's cited a 'significantly tighter liquidity position than expected' in reference to Thames' warning last week. Similarly, S&P said the statement was 'contrary' to its understanding of Thames' liquidity as it assessed the utility's 'management and governance as negative'. It warned this 'indicates that the company will run out of cash by December 2024' unless creditors consent to the group accessing its reserves, 'rather than the company's previously stated liquidity runway to May 2025'. The agency, which is downgrading Thames for the second time in three months, said this would likely lead to a 'distressed exchange', with creditors agreeing to amend or extend terms that will result in a loss relative to the original agreement. It added: 'In the medium term, inability to attract new equity funding may ultimately lead to a creditor-led debt restructuring or one that is imposed as part of a special administration process, should the company meet the criteria for special administration to be called.' When Thames lost its mandatory two investment grade credit ratings in July it became in breach of its licence. In lieu of enforcement action, industry watchdog Ofwat said the firm could proceed with a series of 'undertakings' designed to encourage ratings agencies to reinstate investment grade status. Ofwat is also expected to publish its final tariff settlement in December 2024 or January 2025, thereby determining how much water companies will be able to charge customers. Thames Water has pleaded with the regulator to let it hike household bills by 18.99 a month or 52 per cent by 2030, but Ofwat's draft determination said it could only increase bills by 23 per cent over the five years. While Thames Water has the option to appeal, Moody's warned that if the final determination 'does not move materially' from the 'tough' draft, the group may struggle to bring in new investors. Moody's said: 'Inability to attract new equity funding may ultimately lead to a creditor-led debt restructuring or one that is imposed as part of a special administration process, should the company meet the criteria for special administration to be called. 'Thames Water's outlook remains negative, reflecting the risk that any potential creditor loss following a default may be higher than embedded in current ratings. 'An upgrade of the ratings is unlikely in the near term.' A Thames Water spokesperson said in a statement: 'The announcement by the credit rating agencies is consistent with our liquidity position set out in our market statement last Friday. 'We continue to operate to the undertakings agreed with our regulator in July 2024 following the reduction in our Class A debt rating to sub-investment grade and we continue to engage with creditors to consider options for the extension of our liquidity runway. 'Formal discussions with potential equity investors will commence in the coming weeks.' Landlords may choose to sell their properties due to the cost of meeting Government energy efficiency targets for rented homes, experts believe. The Government confirmed this week that all rented properties in England must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of 'C' or above by 2030. The requirement was part of the Government's election manifesto, and was repeated by energy security secretary Ed Miliband at this week's Labour Party conference. The plan will be consulted on later this year. Experts say many landlords may be forced to sell properties rather than meet the new EPC rules, unless the Government offers extra support. Rock and a hard place: Many landlords may struggle to achieve an EPC rating of C or above, and may decide to sell up rather than face potentially expensive upfront renovation costs A spokesperson for the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) said: 'Some landlords may find that they are unable to finance the improvements needed, particularly in areas with lower property values. 'However our past research has shown that over 80 per cent of landlords had either made or planned to make energy efficiency improvements, with most using or planning to use their own savings or rental profits to fund the upgrades.' A spokesperson for the British Landlords Association said: 'Yes, some landlords are already selling.' The cost of upgrading rented properties to an EPC rating of C and above can cost thousands of pounds. In theory this should also improve the value of the property, but it does mean landlords having to shoulder an upfront cost. For some properties, especially older ones, the cost rises substantially. NRLA figures show that solid wall insulation can cost more than 20,000, especially in homes built without cavity walls. Landlords with more modern properties will typically pay 9,000 to meet the new EPC standards, Government figures show. However, an NRLA spokesperson added: 'The costs of these changes vary greatly depending on the type of property. 'It is also important to take into consideration how landlords are impacted by the region their properties are based in. Our research in 2021 found that in some local authority areas of the North and Midlands, the estimated costs of improving home energy are around 25 per cent of property values. 'By contrast, in affluent parts of London and the South East the cost of retrofitting with heat pumps represents less than 2 per cent of overall property value.' It may not be possible for landlords to meet the 2030 deadline, either. The NRLA spokesperson said: 'If there is clarity at an early stage on whats required, sufficient tradespeople, and a financial package that means landlords can plan upgrades, 2030 may be possible. 'But equally, if the expectation is to retrofit every rental property not currently EPC C or above by 2030 there is an enormous amount of work to do in a very limited period of time. 'Otherwise, landlords may struggle to afford the high cost of home improvements, and may miss the 2030 target altogether, reducing the number of rental homes available and pushing up rents.' Asked if landlords would meet the deadline, the BLA spokesperson simply said: 'No.' Counting the cost: Some of the upgrades required to make properties more energy efficient can be expensive, such as replacing the boiler or installing a heat pump There is also a chance that rents might have to rise to cover the cost of energy upgrade work. The NRLA said: 'Upgrading to an EPC C will require a higher level of investment and the ability of landlords to fund this themselves will vary, particularly given the regional variability in their options to leverage finance from their property values. 'Some landlords may have to increase rents to match increased maintenance costs, but this will depend largely on the landlord's individual circumstances and the type of property.' The BLA said that rents would not rise for EPC reasons, but only as they are rising already due to many landlords already leaving the letting sector. Finding up-to-date figures on the number of rented properties in England that are below EPC band C is tricky. There are around 4.5 million rented homes at EPC ratings of D or below in the UK, according to data analysts Outra in 2023 - not just England, where the 2030 rule applies. The last Government figures show that 8 million properties in England were below band C - or 31 per cent of the total 25.2million properties - but this dates back to the 2021 census and is for all homes, not just rented ones. The number of well-off savers maxing out their 60,000 annual pension contribution has shot up ahead of the Budget, according to two top investing platforms. A 71 per cent increase in clients using their full annual allowance in the current tax year is reported by Hargreaves Lansdown, and a 64 per cent jump is cited by Interactive Investor. Neither firm would reveal the precise number involved, but both assured This is Money it wasn't just a small handful of their very wealthy clients, but a meaningful cohort of pension investors. However, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Interactive Investor refused to say whether the savers maxing out pensions numbered in the hundreds or the thousands. Pension tax relief: Are concerns about a major revamp overdone? Find out why Chancellor might decide against the move below... The annual allowance is the standard amount you can put in your pension every year and qualify for tax relief on what you saved. It is currently 60,000, or up to 100 per cent of your annual earnings if they are lower than this. The annual allowance includes your own and your employer's contributions into a pension, and the tax relief itself. That 60,000 limit came into play in the 2023/24 financial year. From 2016/17 until that time, the limit was a lower 40,000. Speculation the Government will overhaul pension tax relief in a way that penalises higher earners in the Budget on 30 October is likely to be a main driver of a rise in contributions in recent months. However, concerns about a move to flat rate pension tax relief could be overdone as it would be fiendishly complicated. Below, pension experts outline how arduous the task would be, and how controversial. This is Money's publisher Simon Lambert argues a pension tax relief raid would rob younger workers of a benefit from which older generations have profited. Some savers are piling cash into pensions... Pension savers are using a window of opportunity to increase contributions ahead of the Budget, according to Hargreaves' head of personal finance Sarah Coles. This is in response to rumours that Chancellor Rachel Reeves might have the annual allowance or pension tax relief in her sights, plus a way of protecting wealth against capital gains tax, dividend tax and inheritance tax bills, she explains. 'As a higher or additional rate taxpayer, you're benefiting enormously from tax relief that would see a 60,000 contribution cost just 36,000 for a higher rate taxpayer and 33,000 for someone paying additional rate tax. 'If you haven't been in a position to contribute much to a pension in recent years, then you can scoop up any remaining allowances from the previous three years through carry forward. 'This has the potential to turbo charge your contribution up to a maximum of 200,000 this tax year, provided you earn at least that much per year.' Coles says that people with modest rather than enormous sums to put away will also benefit from tax relief, adding that time in the market will see it grow and build your retirement resilience. Others are withdrawing tax-free cash - perhaps over-hastily Myron Jobson, senior personal finance analyst at Interactive Investor, says: 'With the swirling rumours of changes to the UK pension regime, it's understandable that many might feel a bit jittery about the future of their retirement savings. 'However, it's crucial not to let speculation drive hasty and irreversible decisions when it comes to your pension.' Interactive has also seen a 58 per cent jump in the volume of tax-free cash withdrawn from pensions in the first half of September, compared with the same period last year. This is likely to be in response to rumours the Government could change the rules on tax-free cash. But savers are being warned this is among the pre-Budget moves that could come back to bite you. Jobson says: 'Taking a tax-free lump sum, of up to 25 per cent, reduces the amount of money in your pension pot, which will decrease the amount available for your retirement income. 'The remaining 75 per cent of your pension pot, when accessed, would be subject to income tax at your marginal rate, meaning any withdrawals or annuities purchased with the remaining pension could be taxed as regular income. 'By taking out a big lump sum, you also reduce the amount that could potentially grow with investment returns, which could have a profound impact on the total value of your pension pot over time.' Everything you need to know about pensions with Steve Webb: This is Money podcast special With the Autumn Budget on the way and speculation at fever pitch, Steve, Simon and Georgie debate what might happen - and share their views on what should happen. Your browser does not support iframes. Will the Chancellor take axe to pension tax relief for higher earners? Pension tax relief rebates any tax you would have paid on your contributions into your pot, to put you back where you started. The present system is tilted in favour of the better off because they pay more tax. Speculation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will consider a pension tax overhaul - including a flat rate - has prompted warnings of a potential hit to six million higher earners' pensions. Other downsides being aired are the impact on economic growth if they invested less, a clash with salary sacrifice contributions, and complications with final salary pensions - which could even spark public sector strikes. We asked three top pension experts to explain the challenges of changing the long-established system, and whether they could be overcome. Calum Cooper: Salary sacrifice schemes, where employees trade part of their salary for pension contributions and tax savings, might need complex adjustments Flat rate tax relief would require overhaul of entire pension system 'Flat-rate tax relief on pensions may sound simple, but it's far from it,' says Calum Cooper, head of pension policy innovation, Hymans Robertson. 'Currently, pension tax relief is based on income tax bands, with higher earners getting more. Moving to a flat rate of, say, 25 per cent, would be a big change and would take time to get right. 'For example, salary sacrifice schemes, where employees trade part of their salary for pension contributions and tax savings, might need complex adjustments to align with the new rate. 'This would require new administrative arrangements for employers and workers.' Cooper says defined benefit pensions, which promise a set payout in retirement and are widely used in the public sector, would also be affected. 'These schemes use detailed calculations to value extra pension earned for tax relief,' he explains. 'A flat-rate system would add complexity and fairness challenges between higher and lower earners in the same scheme. Introduced bluntly, it might lead to large tax bills for higher earning public sector employees.' Cooper says flat rate pension tax relief would require an overhaul of the entire pension system including payroll, creating administrative headaches for businesses and pension providers. 'These challenges are just some of the reasons why the Government will be thinking hard about whether to introduce flat-rate pension tax relief.' Working out flat rate employer contributions into defined benefit pensions would be tough Jon Greer: A flat rate of relief would have to apply to employer pension contributions too A flat rate of relief would have to apply to employer pension contributions and that would involve complex valuations, says Quilter's head of retirement policy Jon Greer. 'If a flat rate of relief only applied to employee contributions higher rate tax payers could continue to get 40 per cent relief (or more) by giving up salary in exchange for higher employer contributions,' he explains. 'Basic rate taxpayers would not then benefit to the extent those advocating flat rate relief would want.' He explains that could mean some form of tax would have to apply to employer contributions, which would be administratively onerous and create a problem for defined benefit schemes -including public sector ones - because how would you value those employer contributions. 'In defined contribution schemes it's easy to identify the amount of employer pension contributions. 'But in defined benefit schemes the employer pension contribution reflects the cost of new benefits for the membership (and for funded defined benefit schemes possibly some deficit contributions) and aren't always identified for individual members.' Greer predicts there would be little understanding or trust in whatever method of calculation was devised for a tax charge on employer contributions into pensions. 'Of course the Government could look to ban salary sacrifice to avoid the above complexities,' he says. 'The issue would then be how to enforce that.' He says it could be done for existing employees, though they would see the cost of making pension contributions increase, much to their annoyance. Meanwhile, employers could offer new staff a higher employer pension contribution and slightly lower salary. Pension overhaul could cause strife with public sector unions HMRC has been assessing the amount of tax relief paid each tax year and what percentage of the population receive it, according to Gary Smith, partner in financial planning at Evelyn Partners. It is being rumoured higher and additional rate tax reliefs could be scrapped and replaced by a slightly increased tax relief for all, he says. Gary Smith: The Chancellor could leave public sector schemes untouched, but this is unlikely to go down well with the public - or the basic taxpayers who are members Smith explains doing this would be very complex, but trying to avoid the difficulties could mean ending up with a two-tier system where employees in some schemes continued getting different levels of tax relief put into their pensions, while others moved to a flat rate. 'The Chancellor could opt to leave the public sector schemes untouched, but this is unlikely to go down well with the general public,' he says. 'They would view it as being very unfair that those members continue to receive higher rate relief, when everyone else does not.' Also, basic rate taxpayers in those same schemes would lose out because they would carry on getting the same tax relief as before, rather the new higher flat rate received by other workers elsewhere. On the other hand, changing public sector pensions to accommodate flat rate relief would be costly and an administrative burden, points out Smith. And in that situation, it would instead be the workers who currently get higher and additional rate tax relief who would lose out on valuable contributions to their pensions. He warns that either scenario could lead to public sector strikes. 'Any such change would also likely be challenged by unions as either basic rate, or higher and additional rate members would be negatively impacted, regardless of which option is taken.' An Ivy League professor punished for her controversial takes on black students and Asian immigration described the investigation into her comments as 'brazen, absurd' and 'an absolute shambles.' Amy Wax, a tenured law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, learned her fate this week after more than two years of ongoing investigations. She will be suspended for a year on half pay from the fall of 2025, must declare that she does not reflect the faculty during speaking events and will face 'public reprimand by University leadership.' 'It was really a kangaroo court,' she said of her pending suspension back in March in an interview with Brown University academic Glenn Loury, while she was awaiting the verdict of an appeal. She described her comments as 'standard conservative takes on very important social issues on group differences and group performance. 'Social issues at the heart of woke ideology which is taking over the university and which are totally appropriate for comment and critique.' Amy Wax, a tenured law professor at the University of Pennsylvania , learned her fate this week after almost two years of ongoing investigations 'It is brazen and absurd. What this report seems to be saying is there is one and only one set of very narrowly defined statements or opinions that one can make about these sacred protected groups. Blacks, of course, being the main sacred protected group.' Wax's commentary over several years formed the bulk of the case against her, culminating in an appearance on the Tucker Carlson Show in 2022. 'Black students tend to clump in the bottom half of the class, and actually it's worse than that,' she claimed. This comment was disputed by the university and Wax was criticized for breaching student confidentiality clauses. 'In my civil procedure class they would clump in the bottom 10-15 percent of the class. Occasionally people would break out of that and even make it into the top.' In the complaint against her, seen by DailyMail.com, Wax was accused of making 17 remarks which served as 'examples of inequitably targeted disrespect' toward minorities. She will be suspended for a year on half pay from the fall of 2025, must declare during speaking events that she does not reflect the faculty and will face 'public reprimand by University leadership' The University of Pennsylvania was reportedly willing to strike a deal with Wax which would have limited the sanctions These included suggesting 'low-income students may cause reverse contagion -infecting more capable and sophisticated students with their delinquency and rule-breaking.' According to the report, Wax considered being branded a 'racist' the same as an honorific and a 'positive thing.' The report quoted Wax as saying: 'I have been called a racist. I lost count of how many times I've been called a racist, and my view at this point is, you know, being a racist is an honorific. 'To be called a racist means you notice reality and to me that's a positive thing not a negative thing that's an occasion for praise and admiration.' According to the report, she also said: 'I think the crime problem in this country, I'm sorry it is true, is overwhelmingly, certainly within cities, it is a black problem. It is a minority problem, okay? 'I often chuckle at the ads on TV which show a black man married to a white woman in an upper-class picket-fence house... They never show blacks the way they really are: a bunch of single moms with a bunch of guys who float in and out. Kids by different men.' Wax's stance on Asian immigration was also addressed in the report. She was quoted saying: 'As long as most Asians support Democrats and help to advance their positions, I think the United States is better off with fewer Asians and less Asian immigration.' 'It was really a kangaroo court,' she said of her pending suspension back in March in an interview with Brown University academic Glenn Loury, while she was awaiting the verdict of an appeal Separately, nine incidents were provided to the school - under oath - by alumni and former students which were considered damaging. Among the most severe of the complaints was telling a class that Mexican men were more likely to assault women, and emphasizing in another case that the witness was a black man, only to go on and call a black male student in class by the name of the witness. Wax was reportedly asked by a black law student to share her opinion on whether 'black people are inherently inferior to white people.' The report said that Wax told the student 'you can have two plants that grow under the same conditions, and one will just grow higher than the other.' Wax was also accused of remarking 'finally, an American... it's a good thing, trust me,' after a series of students with foreign-sounding names introduced themselves. On another occasion, she allegedly told a student that black peers do not perform as well as white students because they are 'less prepared because of affirmative action.' School Provost John Jackson, Jr. issued a statement this week which said 'academic freedom is and should be very broad.' 'Teachers, however, must conduct themselves in a manner that conveys a willingness to assess all students fairly. The Board has determined that your conduct failed to meet these expectations, leaving many students understandably concerned that you cannot and would not be an impartial judge of their academic performance.' The faculty Hearing Board concluded that you engaged in flagrant unprofessional conduct that breached your responsibilities as a teacher to offer an equal opportunity to all students to learn from you. 'That conduct included a history of making sweeping and derogatory generalizations about groups by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and immigration status.' Jackson Jr. said Wax also 'breached the requirement that student grades be kept private by publicly speaking about the grades of law students by race... and, on numerous occasions in and out of the classroom and in public, making discriminatory and disparaging statements targeting specific racial, ethnic, and other groups with which many students identify.' According to a new report in the Washington Free Beacon, the University of Pennsylvania was reportedly willing to strike a deal with Wax which would have limited the sanctions. The report stated she would have been required to sign a non-disparagement clause and would have prevented her from suing the school over the drawn out case. 'This case is about free expression,' Wax told the publication. 'Penn wanted absolute silence. The big question is: Why do they want to hide what they're doing?' The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Vice President Alex Morey said the outcome should be disturbing even for those who don't agree with Wax. 'If thats all it takes to sidestep tenure, the rights of even the most protected private college faculty are tenuous at best,' he said. Often the only thing standing between the angry college administrator or the disgruntled donor, or the social media mob, or the local legislator coming for that professors job is the time-honored principle of academic freedom. Hunter Biden is set to undergo a psychological evaluation lasting up to seven hours next month, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. The thorough mental examination is part of his defamation lawsuit against former Overstock chief executive Patrick Byrne, 61. In a joint filing with Byrne's lawyers on September 17, Hunter agreed to a battery of psychological tests to help establish whether he was emotionally damaged by Byrne's claims of corruption against him. Hunter, 54, sued the ex-CEO in Los Angeles federal court last year, claiming Byrne falsely accused him of soliciting a bribe from Iran. Hunter Biden and his wife Melissa Cohen, leave court after his guilty plea in his trial on tax evasion in Los Angeles on September 5 Byrne posted to his then-290,000 followers on social media site X claiming Hunter contacted the Iranian government offering to have his father Joe Biden 'unfreeze' $8 billion of their funds in exchange for an $800 million bribe. 'These defamatory statements by Byrne are not merely false and not merely malicious they are completely outrageous,' Hunter's November 2023 complaint said, adding the allegations were 'complete nonsense'. Byrne is a Trump supporter who pushed the conspiracy theory that Joe Biden stole the 2020 election, as well as negative claims about Covid-19 vaccines. Hunter's attorneys said instead of retracting his bribery claims when he was told they were false, Byrne 'doubled down' and republished them. A September 17 filing in the case declared Hunter was 'seeking emotional distress damages in connection with his claim for defamation', and agreed to the examination to prove it. Hunter filming himself smoking 'drugs' and fondling himself inside a sensory deprivation tank - during a detox program funded by his dad, President Joe Biden, in January 2019 Patrick Byrne, the disgraced former chief executive of Overstock.com, is being sued by unter for claiming he solicited a bribe from Iran. Byrne quit the company after admitting that he had a romance with Russian agent Maria Butina Hunter's mental exam is set for October 11, and will be conducted by Dr. Nathan Lavid in Long Beach, California. 'The parties hereby agree that the defense may conduct a single mental examination of plaintiff,' the joint legal notice read. 'No one will accompany plaintiff into the examination room. The examination will be limited to seven hours of face to face interview time and psychological testing.' Lavid will use 'diagnostic tests, including but not limited to a clinical interview of plaintiff and a testing period during which Dr. Lavid will administer a variety of standardized written tests,' according to the filing. Byrne stepped down as chief executive of the retail company Overstock in 2019 after the share price dropped when he started making cryptic comments about the 'deep state'. He also admitted in a letter to investors in August that year that he had a romance with Maria Butina, a Russian agent subsequently jailed for illegal influence peddling. Hunter Biden is caught by a court sketch artist at his federal hearing in Los Angeles, where he pled guilty to federal tax charges Hunter's mental exam is set for October 11, and will be conducted by Dr Nathan Lavid in Long Beach, California Hunter's suit against Byrne is one of several civil actions the First Son is still embroiled in, after receiving two guilty verdicts in the federal gun and tax crimes cases he faced this year. He is suing the IRS for allegedly improperly releasing his personal data though whistleblowers who ran the agency's criminal probe into the tax cheat First Son said they made disclosures to Congress through proper legal channels. Hunter has also sued Trump's former attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House staffer Garrett Ziegler for allegedly hacking his data by handling his abandoned laptop. But he could be fighting his lawsuits from prison in just a few months' time, as his sentencing hearings loom in December. He is set to be sentenced for his gun crimes in Delaware on December 4, and for his tax crimes in Los Angeles on December 16 for which he faces a maximum penalty of 17 years incarceration. His father has promised that he will not pardon him or commute his sentences. A woman says she was thrown out of a Texas megachurch by armed guards after speaking out over claims it mishandled child sexual abuse allegations. Valentina Hansen, 47, of Grapevine, says her membership of Gateway Church, where she was part of the congregation for three years, was rescinded as retribution for her public criticism of the church. Hansen, a Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the DOJ, told DailyMail.com the megachurch has tried to 'silence' her for 'exposing the truth' about senior members of the church. Despite having her membership revoked, Hansen said many people have applauded her for standing up. 'The reason I've done it is because ever since I started exposing the truth of Gateway, so many people have reached out to me, ex members, staff members, current staff members, current members, and have said "thank you so much for being my voice, I wasn't strong enough. I'm not strong enough. That happened to me. I was retaliated against, but I just left." 'So there's so many of those messages, that you know, that's what has kept me going,' Hansen said. Valentina Hansen, 47, of Grapevine, Texas, says her membership of Gateway Church, where she was part of the congregation for three years, was rescinded as retribution for her public criticism of the church Robert Morris, 63, the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake has been accused of sexually abusing former family friend Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s, when she was just 12 years old. He has since resigned Robert Morris, 63, the founder and former senior pastor of Gateway Church, one of the largest megachurches in the country, has been accused of sexually abusing former family friend Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s, when she was just 12 years old. On August 23, Hansen said in a Facebook post that she and another longtime member of Gateway sat down with Tra Willbanks, a Gateway elder, and Lorena Valle, the campus pastor, to discuss Clemishire's case. On September 6, she received a letter from the church informing her she was no longer welcome, and when she tried to show up for service the following day she was denied entry. During the meeting, Hansen said that Willbanks 'falsely claimed' that the church's attorney was in contact with Clemenshire's legal team 'regarding restitution efforts for her trauma' brought on by Morris' alleged actions. On September 7, Hansen recorded herself trying to enter Gateway Church, but she was soon blocked from doing so by an armed security guard (pictured) After allegations of 'sexual behavior with a child' were made against Morris he confessed to a 'moral failure' and resigned from his ministry. Hansen and another member sat down with Willbanks, a Gateway elder, and Lena Valle, the campus pastor, to discuss Cindy Clemishire's case. (pictured: Cindy Clemishire) The letter Hansen received from Gateway, reviewed by DailyMail.com, read: 'The past three months have been the most challenging in the history of Gateway Church, and it has been a time of entirely understandable concern and appropriate, earnest questioning of the Churchs leadership by its members. 'While acknowledging that we must rely on the strength of Christ to guide each and every one of our actions, the Board of Elders believes it has done, and continues to do, its utmost to be responsive and empathetic to current member concerns. 'As believers, all members of the Gateway community are bound by the commandments of the Bible, even in trying times. 'Despite our sincere attempts to walk with you down the path towards understanding and reconciliation, the Board believes that you have violated Biblical requirements by continuing to sow discord and conflict. Despite having her membership revoked, Hansen said many people have applauded her for standing up, including past members, current members, and Gateway Church (pictured) staffers After raising her concerns, Hansen received a letter from the church's board of elders on September 6, accusing her of 'discord and conflict,' as they revoked her membership 'Bearing in mind the wisdom of Titus 3:10, and pursuant to our roles as the highest ecclesiastical authority of Gateway Church as set forth in the Churchs Bylaws, it is with heavy hearts that we accordingly now inform you that we believe it is necessary to make the difficult decision to dismiss you from your church membership and volunteer services at this time. The church added: 'Please understand that this decision is not made lightly and it is rooted in our deep commitment to seek the well-being of the entire church body. We, of course, continue to care for you, and pray for your continued spiritual growth and wish you the best at your next Church home.' On September 7, Hansen recorded herself trying to enter Gateway Church, but she was soon blocked from doing so by an armed security guard. Although she said she 'expected' to face consequences for showing up to service that day, 'the letter did not say that I can't attend church.' 'It just said that my membership was revoked, and that my volunteering was no longer needed,' she added Hansen explained that you do not have to be a member of the church to attend service. During the meeting, Hansen said that Willbanks (pictured) 'falsely claimed' that the church's attorney was in contact with Clemenshire's legal team 'regarding restitution efforts for her trauma' brought on by Morris' alleged actions In the clip she was seen walking through the entrance just before an armed security guard approached her and said she could not come in. Hansen then asked to speak to his manager and was soon introduced to Mr. Miles and three other men who confirmed she was not allowed. She admitted that she felt 'embarrassed' and 'intimidated,' not because they were armed men, but because of how they handled the situation so publicly after being asked to leave by the guards and officers with the Southlake Police Department. On September 13 she received another letter from the church stating that she was not allowed to attend services at Gateway. 'So I sent a letter back saying, "Well, I need clarification. I need to know what businesses you actually own and operate. I don't want to violate this, so you need to be more detailed.",' she said. Lawrence Swicegood, a spokesperson for the church, told DailyMail.com that Hansen's membership was revoked 'because of her continued actions and proactive stances against' the megachurch. 'Within hours, she went on her social media account seeking to discredit the facts she was given calling out the elders as providing false information which is unfounded and untrue,' Swicegood said. He added that this is not the first time Hansen has been told to leave a church due to 'her disruptive behavior.' 'She relayed to a Gateway church staff member several years ago when being interviewed for a volunteer role that she had been removed from another church for her actions. 'We are saddened that Ms. Hansen has chosen not to believe the truth and we wish her all the best in her search for a new church.' Hansen said she was previously drawn to the popular church because of the sense of community it provided, but now she will never go back. (pictured: Robert and his wife Debbie Morris) Hansen told DailyMail.com out of the four churches she's attended in her life, 'Gateway Church is the only church that has dismissed me as a member.' She added: 'And here's the thing too... if I supposedly had this conversation with someone at church about being dismissed from a previous church, why do you not mention the name of the church?' On Wednesday Hansen sent a cease and desist letter to the church demanding that the religious institution stop 'spreading false and defamatory information regarding my church affiliations and personal experience.' She has not heard back from the church since September 13. Hansen said she was previously drawn to the popular church because of the sense of community it provided, but now she will never go back. 'I will not be returning to Gateway. I feel that the entire eldership at Gateway Church, especially those that were personally selected by Robert Morris, need to go,' she said. 'Gateway needs to do a full cleanse. They need to bring the bride of Christ back to being pure again,' she said. Hansen recalled another member of the church telling her that 'Gateway church is prostituting the bride of Christ. 'And that needs to stop. And the only way that that's going to happen is a full cleanse of the church,' she added. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said her office will seek to try two teens accused of fatally shooting another teenager as adults. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on Thursday asked a judge to transfer two juveniles accused of murder to adult court, a move that is a first for her administration and one that could result in vastly more serious consequences for the suspects. The two boys, then 16, were arrested in March on suspicion of fatally shooting a 17-year-old boy at the Powell Street BART Station that month. In California, judges decide whether a juvenile can be charged as an adult. But prosecutors can set the process in motion. Upon conviction, being tried in adult court could make the difference between a handful of years in juvenile lockup versus decades in state prison. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Juvenile justice is a polarizing topic within Californias criminal justice system, where laws and policies in recent years have favored a more rehabilitative approach to youth offenders. Some critics have said, however, that San Franciscos juvenile justice system is ill-equipped to reform some youth accused of the most serious crimes. Jenkins decision with the juvenile suspects in the BART shooting comes as she weighs another high-profile case involving a teenaged suspect: Jenkins has yet to announce whether she will seek to try the 17-year-old alleged shooter of 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall as an adult. Jenkins said in an interview with the Chronicle that the heinous, calculated nature of the shooting weighed on her decision, along with the lack of adequate resources at the juvenile level to rehabilitate two young men who went through with such a brutal and calculated murder. Brian Ford, a defense attorney in the case, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday afternoon. But Ford earlier in the day told Mother Jones that his client didnt meet the factors required by law to transfer the case to adult court. Brooke Jenkins decision to seek adult treatment is emblematic of her ongoing inclination to attack the most vulnerable persons in society, Ford told the outlet, which was the first to report on Jenkins petition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jenkins said it was her duty to speak for the teen victim, who was also from a vulnerable community. How many times am I going to have to sit across from Black families who are burying their Black sons? The 17-year-old Black kid who got chased and gunned down doing nothing but minding his own business?, she said. The deceased, the victims, are members of these vulnerable communities that must be fought for, must be protected. In a 2022 statement, Jenkins pledged to seek to try only 16- and 17-year-old juveniles as adults when they are accused of a heinous crime(s) that shock the conscience of the community. Each case would be reviewed by a team that would make recommendations to Jenkins before she makes her final decision, the statement said. The policy is a departure from that of her predecessor and former boss, Chesa Boudin, who barred prosecutors from seeking adult charges for juveniles under any circumstance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Passengers of a 'cursed' cruise ship which has been stuck in port in Belfast for four months had been told they could finally set sail today - only for the trip to be delayed by a new crisis, MailOnline can reveal. Hundreds of wealthy tourists, some of whom used their life savings to book a three-year world cruise on the luxury Villa Vie Odyssey costing up to 27,000-a-month, have instead been stuck in Northern Ireland since May as the boat has undergone a series of repairs and tests. The frustrated tourists, who had exhausted every tourist attraction that Belfast has to offer, with some visiting the famous Giant's Causeway twice to pass the time, were told earlier this week that the ship was finally ready to go and that they should pack their bags. But now it's emerged that despite the ship passing its sea tests a new critical issue will delay their departure for at least another three days - and potentially considerably longer. The unforeseen new problem is that the ship has been moored for all this time in docks owned by the world-famous Harland and Wolff company - famed for building the even more ill-fated Titanic - which went bust last week. The Villa Vie Odyssey, a US cruise liner operated by Villa Vie Residences (pictured), has been delayed once again after being stuck in a Belfast port for four months Gian Perroni, 62, (left) with his partner Angela Harsanyi, 53, (right) are engaged after meeting in Belfast after the cruise ship got stuck four months ago Passenger, Holly Hennessy, of Florida, (pictured), laughed and suggested that changing the boat's name may have brought bad luck Customers who have paid an eye-watering 27,000-a-month for the lavish cruise have been stuck in Northern Ireland for months (Pictured: the interior) This means the shipyard where the Villa Vie Odyssey is moored cannot legally allow passengers to enter - and there is currently no available mooring where this can happen. One dockyard worker told us today: 'I can understand why people are calling this trip 'cursed'. I've been working in this business for nearly three decades and I don't think I've ever seen a ship go through so many setbacks and delays. 'But they cannot board the passengers where the boat is moored now for safety and insurance reasons - so they're having to wait for a space to become free elsewhere and they don't know how long that will take. 'It's incredible that they've finally fixed the engine problems but now have nowhere to board their passengers. What a twist!' Harland and Wolff announced last week that it would be going into administration for the second time in five years, making dozens of its workers redundant. While sympathetic, the cruise passengers didn't grasp this would have any effect on them - until today when news filtered out that its new status will prevent any passengers now entering the vicinity of the ship. One passenger, Gian Perroni, 63, said today: ''As you know we're trying to keep the most positive attitude, but it certainly does seem like the gods are against us! 'Harland and Wolff going bankrupt was a surprise and once again it seems like the stars are not aligned with the Odyssey's plans, however perseverance has become our mantra. 'We're so close that nothing will stop us now!' Gian, 63, has every reason to be optimistic - he has met fellow passenger Angie Harsanyi, 53, during the delay and now they are engaged to be married. The pair believe they are soulmates after meeting in Belfast when the cruise ship suffered engine problems The couple have gone for a pink engagement ring rather than a more traditional clear diamond However with the cruise suffering more delays Gian Perroni, 63, said they were trying to remain positive onboard Fellow passenger Holly Hennessey, when asked about the latest delay, laughed and said she was concerned that the changing of the boat's name may have brought bad luck - The Villa Vie Odyssey was called the Braemar until her rebranding earlier this year. There is a superstition against doing this, Ms Hennessey - who has been to Giant's Causeway twice while stuck in Belfast as well as seen other attractions - explained: 'They say it is bad luck to change the name of a vessel. 'Being a yachtie, I take sea rituals very seriously. 'Anything to pacify Neptune or Poisiden to help us set sail, I would approve of. 'And since we haven't caught one lucky break in this entire process, I'm going to suggest they add Irish and Celtic sea gods to the ceremony.' 'I didn't have that experience with my own boat. But the Odyssey has had quite the pedigree with many name changes in her history. The couple even got matching tattoos in Belfast, a trinity knot to symbolise their never-ending love 'All that matters now is that she's ours. I expect she will love all the grateful souls that have the opportunity to live aboard her as much as we'll love her.' But she played down talk of a curse: 'I don't think she's cursed. No doubt that staffing at Harland and Wolff contributed [to the delays], but I'm heartbroken to see such an iconic brand suffer.' A chef from another ship docked in Harland and Wolff's shipyard added: 'I'm not sure I believe in curses but if I did I would say that ship could be. I don't work on that boat but I know she has had to have so many changes. The poor people waiting to board for that long, I feel sorry for them. 'They also changed the ship's name, which anyone who spends most of their time at sea knows is a bad omen.' The new blow comes just hours after Villa Vie Residences received their final Passenger Ship Safety certificate from the DNV, a maritime safety assessment organisation, which they had thought would mean they would finally be off to circumnavigate the world. Managing director Mike Petterson had told MailOnline last week that he was confident she would be able launch today or tomorrow - but the latest development means the ship will now need to be moved to another port before passengers can board. The luxury cruise liner also includes cabins that are worth between $92,000 and $920,000 The Odyssey, initially set to sail in May 2024 as part of Villa Vie Residences' luxurious plan to offer 'floating homes', has had more false starts than a cursed regatta. First, when it arrived at the shipyard for its overhaul, the problems started piling up: the ship's certifications were all out of date, and the vessel had been out of action for so long that it needed a complete reboot. Despite a series of fixesincluding a new rudder system in Julyby September, the Odyssey was still stuck in Belfast unable to secure the necessary paperwork to take passengers anywhere. The shipping company and Harland and Wolff have been approached for comment. An inmate who escaped jail with the help of his prison guard lover has shared stunning new details about their nearly two weeks on the run - before a wild police chase ended in bloodshed. Vicky White had worked at Lauderdale County jail for 17 years prior to convicted attempted murderer Casey White's arrival in August 2020. A new Netflix documentary, Jailbreak: Love on the Run, details the tempestuous affair the two embarked on prior to her decision to help him escape jail. The duo were on the run for 11 days before they were caught by police. Vicky shot herself in the head to avoid arrest. 'We was married in my laws,' Casey told the filmmakers following his subsequent arrest. He was sentenced to life in prison for the stunt, separate to the 75-year sentence he was already serving for attempting to kill a former girlfriend. 'We weren't married in faith laws... I was her husband and she was my wife,' he said. Casey said he and Vicky genuinely believed they'd never get caught. Vicky White had worked at Lauderdale County jail for 17 years prior to convicted attempted murderer Casey White's arrival in August 2020 Casey said he and Vicky genuinely believed they'd never get caught. Pictured after he was arrested and arraigned 'We thought we had enough cash money,' he said, revealing the plan was to find a 'rinky dink trailer' and pay a year's rent up front to give them time to 'hunker down.' 'When we got to Kentucky and got out of the shower she had me all new clothes laid out on the bed and that was the best night right here,' he said. The documentary included never-before-heard calls between the couple from November 2020 up until February 2022 - just two months prior to the April 28 jail break. Casey's cellmate Tyler Purser, who was clued into the affair and said nothing in part because he enjoyed the benefits Vicky bestowed upon him, along with Vicky's longtime colleagues broke their silence for the documentary. Medical nurse Kylie O'Bryant said Vicky would boast of her dreams to 'go out with a bang' after her retirement. 'I would always ask when she was going to retire and she would say ''I'm going out with a bang''.' O'Bryant thought that meant she had intentions to 'cuss em all out on the way out the door.' 'Well if she really wanted him that bad, I am proud of her. I am proud of her for doing exactly what she told me she was going to do and that was go out with a bang. Sister, she went out with a bang. 'Maybe she was tired of being the good girl, do what everyone says, follow the line, and when that caged bad girl was released it knew no bounds.' Intimate calls When Vicky's colleagues checked her home after the daring escape, they realised she had a burner phone which had made over 1,000 calls to Casey in jail. 'There was some phone sex... quite a bit of phone sex,' Vicky's boss Matt Burbank said. Among those calls was one in which Casey asked Vicky to share her fantasies. 'You're just bashful and shy,' he said when she tried to avoid answering. 'I want you to tell me.' She said: 'I always wanted to be a stripper. Ever since I was young. I thought it'd be fun to dance on a pole and make thousands of dollars. 'If I'd have been pretty enough, that's what I'd want to be.' Casey was flabbergasted, first asking 'why she'd want' to be a stripper, and then telling her 'you was pretty. You're f**kin' smokin' hot.' In another, more explicit call, the pair moaned each others' names while discussing their ambitions to 'one day have real sex.' Vicky White had worked at Lauderdale County jail for 17 years prior to convicted attempted murderer Casey White's arrival in August 2020 Burbank said that investigations suggest the pair did have sex inside the jail on an unknown amount of occasions. He said Vicky, who was the assistant director of the jail, would tell Casey's cellmates they were being granted yard time, and Casey would make some excuse to stay behind. 'We don't know how many times they were allowed to have intimate contact with each other, but we do know that it happened,' he said. In an endless stream of calls, the duo would declare their love for one another and fantasize about life together on the outside. He called her his 'queen' and 'cougar' due to the 18 year age gap - she was 56 and he 38 - promising she would never be 'too old' for him. He said in another call: 'After my first year being out, will you promise me you'll marry me? 'Don't give no other guys no attention in front of me. As long as you never do that, I swear I can work with anything else.' But there were other calls in which they were, in hindsight, plotting the daring escape. On one occasion, Casey told Vicky, 'it's about chicken day babe... we're gonna have fun on our adventure. Never looking back at little Alabama... around the world on a sailboat.' She told him to 'hush, change the subject.' 'Nobody knows nothin' unless you say somethin',' she said. In another audio call, Casey was instructing Vicky where to buy a 44 Magnum gun. 'We go up to Tennessee,' he said. 'In the backwoods. We ain't ever gonna be around people the rest of our lives. We're going to the f**king wilderness somewhere and build a log cabin. 'Anyone gets within 300 yards they're gonna be shot,' he said. Vicky responded: 'I wish I could kiss you right now, so bad.' Casey White seen in dashboard camera footage released by police in Indiana being taken into custody The compliment that sparked romance Burbank believes that through his investigation, he's narrowed down the interactions between Casey and Vicky to find the moment the romance blossomed. He said one day in late 2020, Vicky was walking through the corridor which passed by Casey's cell, while Casey lingered at the door, peering through the little window. 'You've got a nice a**,' he said. Burbank said: 'Instead of Vicky shutting him down, from all accounts she was flattered by that. 'And that's probably where it started.' The duo would go on to discuss that moment in phone calls in which Vicky confided she 'thought you was [sic] just messing with me.' But it was no secret to other guards or Casey's cellmates that he was a flirt. Renee Lewis, who also worked in the jail, recalled an early interaction with Casey in which he said: 'Miss Renee, it's been five long years since I've touched a woman. Do you think I could get a hug? Casey White was serving a 75-year sentence for multiple crimes when he met Vicky Casey White, in the white t-shirt, was serving a 75-year prison sentence for attempted murder and other offenses when he fled. He was also awaiting trial on charges of stabbing a woman to death during a 2015 burglary 'I said hell no you can't. You have to be very strong minded as a woman to work in a jail with male inmates.' Another said: 'I could definitely see a manipulation side to him where he was trying to size me up, see what he could get away with with me.' Casey's cellmate Tyler said: 'Old Casey White is a, uh, a romancer. I don't want to call him a stud muffin.' But he said Casey would 'light up like a Christmas tree' when Vicky was around, insisting that their love for one another was genuine. 'That woman was good to us. I never had much money but I was never hungry... She treated everybody like they were somebody. She was like a mother figure that everybody in there never had growing up.' Furious striking nurses have lashed out at boomers after being verbally abused by elderly men driving past their rally in Sydney. While protesting on the streets of Sydney for better pay on Tuesday, nurses reported being targeted by 'boomer' men shouting abuse from their cars. 'While we were peacefully rallying for fair pay and safe working conditions, an elderly gentleman screamed abuse at us from his car window,' a concerned nurse said in a video posted to social media. 'Another older man yelled, "get back to work f**kers" and "you signed up for this". 'Why do people hate nurses so much? We literally dedicate our lives to care for others. Who cares for us?' She had a message for the boomers who shouted at them during the rally. 'You're washed up, speeding past a nurse rally, ignoring the fact that we're fighting to retain the people who'll be wiping your a$$ in a few years,' she wrote. An Aussie nurse has hit back at boomer men who called out their protest NSW nurses and midwives, who are demanding a 15 per cent pay rise, have declared they will 'stand up and fight back' in their intensifying pay dispute Thousands of nurses and midwives chanted 'we want 15 per cent' as they marched from Sydney's Hyde Park to the state parliament on Tuesday, while mounted police patrolled the streets. This led to longer emergency department wait times and delays to elective surgeries, while only life-preserving staff remained in place. Some nurses opted for humour in their protest, with one sign reading: 'My bra offers more support than Minns.' However, others took a more personal and crude approach, with one nurse displaying a photo of Premier Chris Minns with a Hitler moustache and a sign that read: 'I enjoy being f*****, just not by Chris Minns.' While some resorted to insults, others kept their messages more matter-of-fact, such as one sign that read: 'Bringing babies into the world but can't afford to have my own.' It was the second industrial action taken by the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association in less than three weeks. The union is pushing for a one-off 15 per cent pay rise and has rejected an offer from the NSW Government for a 10.5 per cent rise over three years. Many nurses got personal and crude about NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) Some signs used fun messages to get their point across, such as one saying 'My bras offers more support that Minns' (pictured) One sign (pictured) featured doctored photos of Mr Minns and NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey wearing red Donald Trump-style caps saying 'Make nursing great again' The government said the state can't afford that big a pay hike, adding that it could lead to other emergency workers demanding much higher pay too. But union secretary Shaye Candish said nurses' wages in NSW were far lower than in other states. 'Nurses and midwives are paid approximately 18 per cent less than nurses in Queensland, which makes it really difficult to keep nurses here in our state,' she said. One of the protesting nurses referred to this with a sign saying: 'Don't call the midwife, she's in Queensland.' According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average salary for a registered nurse in Queensland ranges from between $79,058 to $106,144. The average salary in NSW for the same role ranges from $69,810 to $98,014. Victoria has the highest paid nurses, with salaries capped at just below $130,000. Minister for Health Ryan Park told Daily Mail Australia that he was 'focused on nurses pay, not their placards'. One nurse had a sign saying they were 'Praised like heroes, paid like zeroes' (pictured) Republicans are attempting to serve a subpoena to former special prosecutor Nathan Wade - but they have no idea where he is. The House Judiciary Committee wants to force the fallen prosecutor to testify about his personal relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, after it was revealed the two were dating as recently as last year. Willis, the one who brought the Georgia election interference case against Trump, has said their fling was a thing of the past, but police bodycam footage showed them together when Willis's daughter Kinaya was arrested on August 24. Willis has been surrounded by scandal since their romantic and financial relationship came to light after she had appointed him special prosecutor in the case. Trump has accused Willis of a 'display of racial animus' toward him, and has called her case 'a calculated effort' to bring flak against him and 'away from herself.' Wade, meanwhile, is still nowhere to be found, as The House Judiciary Committee said it has failed to locate him over the course of several days. The House Judiciary Committee has been unable to locate former special prosecutor Nathan Wade to serve him a subpoena, likely launched to force the fallen Fulton County prosecutor to testify about his relationship with DA Fani Willis. The pair are seen together in August 2023 Willis, the one who brought the Georgia election interference case against Trump, has said their fling was a thing of the past, but police bodycam footage showed them together when Willis's daughter Kinaya was arrested on August 24. A still of the stop is seen here 'Nathan Wade's evasion of service is extremely unusual and will require the Committee to spend U.S. tax dollars to locate him,' a House Judiciary Committee spokesperson said in a statement. A Republican lawyer familiar with the matter, meanwhile, told The Washington Examiner that the US Marshals Service has not been able to find Wade for days - and that 'at this point, we know he's trying to avoid service.' The insider called the attorney's actions 'clearly dilatory,' several months after a judge order him to step down from his position on the election interference case so that Willis would remain. Committee spokesman Russell Dye further confirmed The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the committee has tapped the US Marshals to locate him in order to serve him a summons so he may appear at a Thursday hearing in Washington. 'The Judiciary Committee has served over 100 subpoenas this Congress,' Dye said. 'We have done so, for the most part, without controversy or the need to use the U.S. Marshals.' He reiterated how American tax dollars will now be spent 'to locate him,' as Wade's own attorney, Andrew Evans, told the Journal-Constitution that his client 'has nothing that is of interest' to the committee. Trump has accused Willis of engaging in a 'public display of racial animus' toward him, and called her case 'a calculated effort' to bring condemnation against him and 'away from herself' 'This is all about political theater,' the lawyer said in a statement. 'Doesn't Jim Jordan have more important things to do?' Jim Jordan, a Representative from Ohio, is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, whose series of requests seek to scrutinize Willis' handling of the election case against Trump and several of his supporters. Trump has claimed Willis, 52, is attempting to interfere with the 2024 vote, after pleading not guilty to racketeering and other charges stemming from what prosecutors allege was a scheme to overturn Trump's defeat in Georgia in 2020. The case has been on hold since June while a Georgia appeals court considers whether the lead prosecutor, Willis, should be disqualified over alleged misconduct tied to her romantic relationship with Wade, who stepped down in March. The pair looked remarkably like a couple a few weeks ago in police bodycam footage obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, filmed together at the scene of her pregnant daughter arrest for allegedly driving with a suspended license. The footage shows them arriving in a black Ford SUV before approaching a group of cops at the roadside in Tyrone, Georgia. The officers mistake the pair for Kinaya's mom and dad but Willis corrects them, describing 51-year-old Wade who stepped down as her special prosecutor when their affair came under public scrutiny as 'just a friend.' Kinaya's older sister Nia, 26 - passenger in her sibling's silver Nissan Altima - had called their mom in the aftermath of the 7:03pm arrest. By the time Willis and Wade pulled up, her daughter was already en route to the Fayette County Jail, 30 minutes south of Atlanta, on a misdemeanor charge of driving with a revoked or suspended license. She was released later that day, and Wade has not been photographed publicly since. In a letter accompanying the subpoena, Jordan explained how Wade's attorney Evan had already agreed that his client would voluntarily sit for a transcribed interview a week ago, on September 18. The meeting, however, never materialized - with Jordan revealing how Evans asked to postpone days before, before later telling him Wade would not appear due to concerns raised by former Gov. Roy Barnes. Barnes, who is also an attorney, is representing Willis in the upcoming case, which the DA has branded as a bid by House Republicans to 'obstruct a Georgia criminal proceeding and to advance outrageous misrepresentations.' Word of her relationship with Wade first surfaced in January, leading to a litany of requests for documents related to his work on the ongoing Trump prosecution. In the bodycam footage, the officers mistake the pair for Kinaya's mom and dad but Willis corrects them, describing 51-year-old Wade as 'just a friend' Kinaya Willis, 25, the daughter of the Fulton County District Attorney, was placed in handcuffs before being booked into Fayette County Jail for driving with a suspended license In a letter to the committee sent a few weeks ago, Barnes claimed that Willis had objected to Wade providing the documents, branding the demands 'improper' Barnes has also asked the DA's office have a representative present at Wade's interview, so Willis could 'protect sensitive and confidential information related to ongoing criminal cases.' 'Any interview of Mr. Wade could implicate secret grand jury information, confidential investigative sources and information protected by attorney-client, work produce and deliberative process privileges, among others,' Barnes wrote. The congressional probe, meanwhile, continues, as some continue to criticize as an effort by Trumps allies to undermine Willis prosecution of the politician. Her case took a hit earlier this month, when Georgia judge dismissed two criminal counts in the election interference case one other count against co-defendants who have also pleaded not guilty Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee found that state prosecutors did not have the authority to bring those charges, which related to the alleged filing of false documents in federal court. The ruling meant that five of the original 13 criminal counts against Trump in the indictment obtained last year have now been tossed out. McAfee in March dismissed six other counts, including three against Trump. Trump lawyer Steve Sadow in a statement said the recent ruling showed that Trump and his legal team 'have prevailed once again.' Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for when Russia can launch a nuclear strike in a chilling new threat to the West. The despot, 71, announced yesterday during a meeting of Russia's Security Council that he needed to 'correct' Moscow's nuclear doctrine. Putin could now deploy his nuclear arsenal if the country was struck with conventional missiles, and the Kremlin chief said Moscow would consider any assault supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack. He said the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons are 'clearly fixed' and they could consider such a move if 'we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack assets and them crossing our state border'. The expansion of the policy comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the US to present his 'victory plan' and press the case to use long-range missiles on targets inside Putin's territory. Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for when Russia can launch a nuclear strike in a chilling new threat to the West Russia tests its deadly hypersonic 208-ton 15,880 'Satan-2' intercontinental ballistic missile Putin said Russia reserved the right to use nuclear weapons if it or ally Belarus were the subject of aggression. 'Aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is treated as a joint attack on the Russian Federation,' he said. Russia is making slow but steady gains in Ukraine as the conflict grinds through its third year, and the Kremlin is seeking to discourage stronger Western support for Kyiv. Russia's current published nuclear doctrine, set out in a 2020 decree by Putin, says Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state. Ukraine's ambassador Valerii Zaluzhnyi this week issued a fresh plea to use Western long-range weapons to strike Russian territory, saying they are 'critically important' for Kyiv's success. He warned it was a 'critical time' for allies to show 'fortitude' and 'patience' in bolstering Ukraine's defence, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged allies to show 'guts'. The expansion of the policy comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the US to present his 'victory plan' and press the case to use long-range missiles on targets inside Putin's territory This week, a devastating nuclear strike on London causing 850,000 deaths with two million injured has been simulated by a staunchly pro-Putin propaganda TV channel A ticker on the screen tots up the number of possible fatalities Russia's Channel 1 shows a CGI mock-up of Britain being 'wiped off the map' with the Poseidon missile Your browser does not support iframes. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Zaluzhnyi insisted that lifting restrictions on the weapons would be crucial to Kyiv's defence. This week, a devastating nuclear strike on London causing 850,000 deaths with two million injured has been simulated by a staunchly pro-Putin propaganda TV channel. Broadcasting the four minute video with an English commentary appears to be the latest move in a concerted campaign to scare Britain from giving permission to Ukraine to allow Storm Shadow missiles to hit targets inside Russia. Putin's propagandists and entourage have repeatedly warned that he could use nuclear weapons. The video shown on Tsargrad's Telegram channel begins by threatening: 'Imagine for a moment that the unimaginable happens. 'A nuclear weapon explodes over London. In this documentary, we explore the devastating consequences of this catastrophe. 'In the simulation, we will use a warhead with a yield of 750 kilotons. That's a pretty powerful charge.' The commentary warns viewers: 'Upon detonation, a fireball as hot as the sun rapidly expands, reaching a radius of 950 metres [1,039 yards]. 'Anything trapped inside this fireball is instantly vaporised. 'In our simulation, the epicentre of the explosion is at Westminster. 'People within that radius won't even feel anything because the nerve impulse transmission speed is slower. 'Within 5 km [3 miles] of the epicentre the blast radius city of London, Camden town, Kensington, Brixton these areas will receive the most destruction.' Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike near the village of Khiam, Lebanon, Sept 25. Mediators have scrambled to find a way to stop the conflict from spilling over into a much larger war amid fears Iran - a key ally of Russia - could be dragged in A ticker on the screen tots up the number of possible fatalities. 'Buildings will be destroyed and debris will fill the streets, creating extremely dangerous conditions for everyone in the vicinity. 'Given the population density in central London, the initial death toll could exceed 250,000 people and around 600,000 injured within a radius of 10 km [6.25 miles] the radiation will cause third degree burns. 'Within that radius anything that can burn will catch fire.' Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to be strained with US President Joe Biden saying the region is now on the cusp of 'all-out war'. Israel is preparing to open a second front with a ground invasion of Lebanon, while continuing with its war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel and Hezbollah's burgeoning conflict took a dramatic turn overnight as army chief Herzi Halevi told troops to 'prepare' themselves to strike into Lebanon behind the salvoes of rockets continuing to pound Hezbollah strongpoints. Mediators have scrambled to find a way to stop the conflict from spilling over into a much larger war amid fears Iran - a key ally of Russia - and its other proxies could be dragged in. The angry shopper who ambushed the CEO of Woolworths in her local supermarket has been identified as a pro-Palestinian student activist who has drawn a link between Australia's cost of living crisis and the conflict in Gaza. University of Wollongong student Megan Guy gained national attention after she confronted Woolies chief executive Amanda Bardwell at a store in Warrawong, in NSW's Illawarra region, on Tuesday. She asked the CEO how she could 'sleep at night' knowing 'millions' of working class Australians were going hungry while Woolworths was making 'massive corporate profits' during a cost of living crisis. Ms Guy defended her actions during an appearance on Sky News on Wednesday, revealing she had been tipped off that Ms Bardwell was visiting the store. 'I don't apologise for wanting to stand up against oppression, against genocide and against the profiteering of big companies like Woolies and Coles,' she said. 'I just thought I'd seize the opportunity to give the new CEO a piece of my mind and express the anger that I think millions of working class people are facing at the moment against the profiteering that's happening during the cost of living crisis.' Ms Guy told Sky News anchor Kieran Gilbert there was a link between Australia's cost of living crisis and its support of Israel. 'I think that there's a relationship between the Albanese government giving support to a regime that is committing genocide and wanting to advance the interests of Australia's imperialist connections, and a government that is overseeing one of the greatest attacks on living standards we've seen in decades,' she said. Pro-Palestinian student activist Megan Guy (pictured) gained national attention after she confronted Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell in a store in Wollongong on Tuesday Megan Guy gained national media attention when she confronted Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell (circled) at her local supermarket in Wollongong on Tuesday Gilbert asked Ms Guy if she had any 'regrets' organising an eight-week pro-Palestine encampments at her university, which led to Jewish students, staff and alumni experiencing anti-Semitism. 'Do you feel for those students though, who've got nothing to do with the state of Israel? They're simply trying to get their education,' Gilbert asked. The activist said there was a 'false conflation' between a student being Jewish and supporting Israel. 'But clearly that isn't the case for many, many young Jewish, students,' she said. 'That's at the forefront of the pro-Palestine campaign in the United States, students who are Jewish who don't agree that being Jewish means supporting a state that's committing genocide. 'So no, I wouldn't make that conflation.' Ms Guy claimed there was a link between Australia's cost of living crisis and its support of Israel. 'I think that there's a relationship between the Albanese government giving support to a regime that is committing genocide and wanting to advance the interests of Australia's imperialist connections, and a government that is overseeing one of the greatest attacks on living standards we've seen in decades,' she said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Wollongong University for comment. The activist was thrown into the spotlight on Tuesday after she questioned Ms Bardwell, who was visiting the store with chief legal officer Bill Reid and Big W managing director Daniel Hake, about Woolworths' profits. 'What do you have to say to the fact that your company is profiting off price gouging during the cost of living crisis?' she asked the CEO. 'Thank you for reaching out to us,' Ms Bardwell replied. 'We're doing everything we can to recognise that customers are doing it tough and to make sure that they're able to get great prices.' Ms Guy accused the supermarket giant of a 'vulture capitalist venture'. 'Your company has just bought a full extra supermarket chain through a vulture capitalist venture, so that you can continue to make big bucks while working class people suffer. Can you sleep at night knowing that?' she asked. Ms Bardwell replied: 'Our team are doing everything that we can to support our customers. We understand that it is an incredibly difficult time right now.' Ms Guy (pictured) was asked if she had any 'regrets' organising an eight-week pro-Palestine encampments at her university, which led to Jewish students experiencing anti-Semitism Many Aussies commended Ms Guy for her efforts. 'I'm sick of paying nearly $300 a week on groceries. That's choosing the cheapest products. My fridge still looks half empty when I unpack,' one said. 'I'm sure Coles and Woolworth management don't have cost of living crisis as they are getting bigger and bigger bonus year after year,' a second wrote. A third shared: 'The supermarkets are in it to make huge profits. They don't care about their customers, they never have.' Ms Bardwell, a long-time Woolworths staffer, was appointed the new CEO of the supermarket giant in February following the resignation of Brad Banducci. The CEO has worked with Woolworths Group for 23 years, including as head of marketing, and began her new role on September 1, 2024. Her new title will see her rake in $2.15million a year, slightly less than the base salary of Mr Banducci who was on $2.6million. Elon Musk has denied having an affair with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after pictures of them together sent social media into a meltdown as he referred to the lawmaker as 'beautiful.' Pictures shared online showed the Tesla founder and the Italian Prime Minister gazing into each other's eyes at the Global Citizen Awards in New York City on Monday, as Musk handed Meloni the titular award. 'Find someone who looks at you the same way the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks at Elon Musk,' one X user wrote, sharing a photo of Musk touching Meloni's shoulder. 'You can't have mELONi without ELON,' another added. The New York Post even went as far as to call the event a 'public love-in' between the world's richest man and the first female Italian prime minister. Pictures shared online showed the Tesla founder and the Italian Prime Minister gazing into each other's eyes at the Global Citizen Awards in New York City on Monday The photos from the event created a stir on social media, creation speculation about their relationship But as the photos started circulating on his social media platform, Musk denied having any amorous relations with Meloni at the black-tie event. 'I was there with my Mom. There is no romantic relationship whatsoever with PM Meloni,' Musk wrote on X in response to a post of a photo showing them gazing into each other's eyes at a banquet table, which had the joking caption, 'We all know what happened next.' Musk and Meloni have met several times before, with the Italian prime minister hosting the billionaire at her official residence in Rome in June of last year. He then returned to the country that December, when he spoke at a political festival hosted by Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party. They have previously discussed their shared interest in the West's declining birth rates and the positive potential of AI, according to the Telegraph. Meloni, who split from her longtime partner Andrea Giambruno after he made lewd comments on Italian television in 2023, even requested Musk hand her the Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council think tank. Meloni had requested that Musk hand her the Global Citizen Award at the ceremony in New York City Monday night In brief remarks before handing over the award, Musk said Meloni was 'someone who is even more beautiful inside than outside.' 'That can't always be said about politicians,' he joked, going on to refer to her as 'authentic, honest and thoughtful.' The Italian right-wing leader replied that the U.S. entrepreneur was a 'precious genius' before launching into her vision for western conservatism. 'I don't know if nationalism is the correct word because it often recalls doctrines of aggression or authoritarianism,' she told the 600-plus person crowd in Manhattan's Ziegfeld Ballroom. 'However, I know that we should not be ashamed to use and defend words and concepts like 'nation" and "patriotism."' Meloni went on to call patriotism 'the best response to declinism' as she challenged perceptions of the 'inevitable decline of the West.' Musk was seen nodding throughout her speech, and stood up to applaud her when she was finished. A lawyer copped a sobering blow from a magistrate after being found guilty of kneeing a police officer 'in the nuts' at Sydney's Vivid Festival last year. Sophie Holt yesterday denied in Downing Centre Local Court she was drunk during the altercation at The Rocks. But footage from a police officer's bodycam showed the 38-year-old slurring her words and appearing to stumble as police tried to tee up a lift home for her. 'I'm going to remind you that I'm an officer of the court,' she told one of the officers in the video from May 26, 2023. After trying to deny she was drunk, the officer told her she 'couldn't even stand up straight'. 'You walked into three walls and bounced off three people,' he said. Security footage then showed Holt getting into a taxi before hanging out the back window. It prompted police to stop her again, leading to the low blow to the officer as she's taken out of the cab. 'Don't kick him, don't kick him, you don't need to kick him,' one of the officers could be heard telling Holt. Sydney lawyer Sophie Holt during the incident with police at The Rocks last year The moment Sophie Holt is taken out of a cab and knees an officer in the groin The other said: 'Knee me in the nuts again and you're going to get charged.' Within moments, she's detained and told to put her hands behind her back. The law in NSW allows police to detain a person in a public place if they're deemed to be overly intoxicated, particularly if their actions could injure themselves or another person. Holt claimed in court that she accidentally kicked the officers, 7News reported. However, Magistrate Kasey Pearce did not agree. 'It was intentional,' she told the court. 'She is significantly shorter than the officer and had to lift her knee to reach his groin. 'This constitutes an assault.' Holt was handed a conviction and given a 12-month good behaviour bond. Outside court, her lawyer, Paul McGirr, said he was 'quite shocked with the decision'. 'We've already lodged an appeal.' Republican Clay Higgins sparked outrage after calling Haitian migrants 'thugs' and accusing them of eating pets and practicing 'vudu.' The Louisiana congressmen described Haitians as 'slapstick gangsters' in a now-deleted rant on X that sparked calls by his colleagues to be censured. In the post, Higgins repeated Donald Trump's debunked claims that Haitian immigrants had been eating their neighbors' pets. 'These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters,' Higgins said in the post on X. 'All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th,' which is Inauguration Day. Far-right Republican, U.S. Representative Clay Higgins is facing calls for him to censured on Wednesday after he repeated false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio The lawmaker posted, and later deleted, a message repeating Trump 's false claim Haitian immigrants have been eating their neighbors' pets, and calling on them to leave the country Similar false statements by Trump have been repeatedly debunked and only served to fuel threats and abuse against the Haitian community. Higgins, a staunch supporter of Trump, has voiced conspiracy theories in the past. He deleted the post after both Democrats and Republicans confronted him on the House floor. The head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic Representative Steven Horsford, denounced Higgins comments as inciting hate and vowed to offer a resolution to censure Higgins over the tweet. 'These words on an official post do not reflect credibly on the House,' Horsford said. 'In fact, they are inciting hate. They are inciting fear, and because of that, it is time for this body to stand with one voice and to ensure that there is accountability.' Florida Republican Byron Donalds confronted Higgins later saying: 'He and I had a conversation about it. I told him my thoughts. I thought it was not a good statement. I thought he should take it down.' Fellow Louisiana Republican, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise defended Higgins noting how his tweet had already deleted. The House went into recess afterward, without taking immediate action. Later on Wednesday night, Higgins appeared to stand by his earlier comments despite having taken them off line. 'I can put up another controversial post tomorrow if you want me to. I mean, we do have freedom of speech. Ill say what I want,' he told CNN. 'Its not a big deal to me. Its like something stuck to the bottom of my boot. Just scrape it off and move on with my life,' Higgins continued. Springfield city and Ohio state officials have repeatedly debunked the false claim, though Trump has doubled down, vowing to try to deport members of the community. The majority of the 15,000 Haitian Americans in Springfield are in the U.S. legally under a federal program that allows them to remain in the country temporarily. The head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic Representative Steven Horsford, denounced Higgins comments as inciting hate Trump said they were 'eating pets' in Springfield, Ohio, an unsubstantiated claim that first appeared on social media which was brought up during his presidential with Kamala Harris Clay Higgins threatened the Haitian community in a racist social media post The Haitian community has faced an onslaught of racist abuse after Trump and his running mate Senator JD Vance falsely claimed that Haitians were eating pets. Higgins was responding to a report that a nonprofit representing the Haitian community has invoked a private-citizen right to file charges against Trump and Vance, which is permissible under Ohio law. The Haitian Bridge Alliance brought the charges over the chaos and threats experienced by Springfield and for spreading the rumor about the pet-eating. Higgins' office has not responded to a request for comment about the post and its subsequent deletion. Top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries in a statement blasted Higgins' post as 'vile, racist and beneath the dignity' of the House. 'The disgusting statement by Clay Higgins about the Haitian community is vile, racist and beneath the dignity of the United States House of Representatives,' Jeffries said. 'He must be held accountable for dishonorable conduct that is unbecoming of a Member of Congress. Clay Higgins is an election-denying, conspiracy-peddling racial arsonist who is a disgrace to the People's House.' But Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly came to his defense stressing how Higgins had regretted the post. 'Clay Higgins is a dear friend of mine and a colleague from Louisiana and a very frank and outspoken person. He's also a very principled man.' J.L. Partners polled 1000 likely voters to get their views on fake claims that Haitians were eating pets. The results carry a 3 percent margin of error Trump supporters have used AI images and memes to portray Trump as savior of the animals He praised Higgins for deleting the post, saying 'he prayed about it, and he regretted it and he pulled the post down. That's what you want a gentleman to do. I'm sure he probably regrets some of the language he used, but, you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here.' Higgins had been 'approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive. 'He said he went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down.' Florida Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost chastised Higgins on X: 'One of the most racist and bigoted posts I've seen from a fellow member of Congress. And from his official government account at that. Disgusting.' Higgins has periodically stirred controversy with social media posts since his 2016 election to Congress - including a Facebook post in 2020 promising he would 'drop' armed protesters 'where they stand.' More recently he has spread a number of MAGA conspiracy theories including how the January 6 attack on the Capitol was orchestrated by the FBI. In 1992, Higgins he was a perpetrator of anti-black racism while an Army military policy officer, describing former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke as 'a homeboy' during Duke's unsuccessful run for the presidency. 'Regardless of the fact that David's a homeboy and all that, the boy's a Nazi, and that's a real problem,' Higgins was quoted as saying in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since Trump voiced the false claims during a debate against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, his rival in the November 5 presidential election, Springfield has faced a wave of bomb threats to schools and other facilities. Excessive work-from-home culture will stunt the development of young professionals in Britain, a Cabinet Minister has warned, opening new splits in Labour's top team. Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said inexperienced staff benefit from going to the office and that British businesses cannot reach the point where 'people are just working from home all of the time'. His words come in stark contrast to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who last week claimed a default right of flexible employment will make staff more productive. Mr Jones, who used his in-person training as a solicitor to criticise remote working, told a fringe event at the Labour conference: 'There's value to being in the office. People shouldn't forget that.' In the months before Labour's election landslide this summer, making flexible working the 'default' was touted as a potential vote-winner. Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said inexperienced staff benefit from going to the office He warned excessive work-from-home culture will stunt the development of young professionals in Britain (stock image) His words come in stark contrast to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds (pictured), who last week claimed a default right of flexible employment will make staff more productive Labour is broadly moving away from the Tory sentiment on WFH which saw Jacob Rees-Mogg leave notes on officials' desks when they worked from home saying he was sorry to have missed them However, since entering office, the Labour front bench have been conflicting on their WFH stance. Earlier this month, Mr Reynolds said he was happy for staff in the Department for Business and Trade he leads to work 'in any part of the UK' where it is possible. He told the Sunday Telegraph today Mr Reynolds said: 'You do your best work when you're happy at home and when you're happy at work.' The Business Secretary cited regional inequality as a reason to encourage civil servants to work from home if they are not in commuting distance of their government department. 'Where businesses can be open to UK-wide talent and have the opportunity to access that talent, I think that's got to be a good thing,' he added. Last month Cabinet ministers backed civil servants working from home in a green light for 'WFH Whitehall' as Home Office bosses struggle to get staff to come in even two days a week. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told staff they support 'flexible working'. Their comments have been interpreted by civil servants as a 'relaxation' of the drive to force them back to the office which was prominent under the Tories. Civil servants faced heavy criticism for continuing to work from home after the pandemic and the last Government tried to force thousands back to the office. Former Cabinet Office minister Jacob Rees-Mogg famously left notes on officials' desks when they worked from home saying he was sorry to have missed them. Tianjin holds activities for foreigners to strengthen exchanges People's Daily Online) 10:03, September 26, 2024 The Foreign Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government in north China's Tianjin Municipality held a seminar for foreigners to enhance exchanges on Sept. 22. The event was attended by over 20 representatives from foreign-invested enterprises, institutions in Tianjin, and foreign members of the Tianjin People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Photo shows a view of the seminar. (Photo/Global Tianjin) Ten foreign representatives shared their views on topics including improving Tianjin's profile as a city of global clout and promoting foreign exchanges and cooperation. Luan Jianzhang, director of the foreign affairs office, addressed the seminar. Luan emphasized the office's ongoing efforts to organize various people-to-people diplomacy activities to strengthen communication and exchanges and pledged continuous support for the internationalization of Tianjin and personalized services for foreigners in the city. Luan hoped to work together with all participants to promote Tianjin so that more foreign friends can understand and visit the city, better integrating Tianjin into the global community. Foreign representatives visit an agricultural science demonstration park in Wuqing district, Tianjin. (Photo/Global Tianjin) As the event coincided with the Chinese farmers' harvest festival, participants also joined a harvest festival event in the city's Wuqing district, gaining a more in-depth and intuitive understanding of Tianjin's business environment and its development achievements in both urban and rural areas. On Sept. 21, the foreign affairs office organized an activity for over 20 international students from 10 countries. Representatives of overseas students shared their views and offered suggestions according to their studies and life in Tianjin and their personal feelings about the city's economic and social development. Participants also joined a beach cleanup activity in Binhai New Area, Tianjin, learning about marine environmental protection. They expressed a deeper understanding of Chinese modernization, a greater affection for Tianjin, and their willingness to serve as bridges between the city and the world. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) A security guard stands outside Lululemon in San Francisco in August. Mark Farmer, 49, allegedly tried to steal approximately $18,000 in merchandise from Bloomingdales, Lululemon and other stores. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The San Francisco District Attorneys Office filed charges against a man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Union Square businesses, officials said. Mark Farmer, 49, tried to steal approximately $18,000 in merchandise from Bloomingdale's, Lululemon, the Gap and Athleta during numerous retail theft incidents dating back to December 2023, according to the DAs office. Farmer was charged Thursday with six counts of second-degree commercial burglary, four counts of grand theft and 11 counts of shoplifting. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied all allegations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My office will do everything we can to ensure that brazen retail thieves are held accountable for their crimes that impact not only the businesses but also the communities that they serve, said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in a statement. My office takes these cases seriously and will not allow us to lose ground and regress to an era where fighting these crimes was not prioritized. Australia's highest mountain could be the latest famous national landmark to change from a European to an Aboriginal name, if the Ngarigo people of the Snowy Mountains of NSW get their way. But who was Kosciuszko, and does his name deserve to stay? That question is answered by Australian author Anthony Sharwood in his new book Kosciuszko: The incredible life of the man behind the mountain. 'Kosciuszko was a skilful military engineer who fought in America's Revolutionary War and led an uprising against the Russians in his native Poland,' Mr Sharwood told Daily Mail Australia. 'But he was more than just a soldier. Everyone loved Kosciuszko because he was a humanist who tried to free the enslaved in America and end serfdom in Poland. 'George Washington was his biggest fan. Thomas Jefferson called him 'the purest son of liberty. Tsar Paul of Russia loved Kosciuszko so much that he freed him from a Russian prison even though he had led a revolution against his mother Catherine the Great. 'Kosciuszko remains morally unimpeachable. Nobody has 'cancelled' him and it's likely they never will,' Mr Sharwood added. Australia's highest peak was named Mt Kosciuszko in 1840 by the Polish explorer Strzelecki, who was the first European to ascend it with the help of two Aboriginal guides. Now the Aboriginal people want the name of their mountain back. The debate over the name of Australia's highest peak is just beginning. Above, a trekker who scaled Mount Kosciuszko, which is 2,228m above sea level A portrait of Tadeusz Kosciuszko - a Polish national hero who led an uprising against the Russians in Poland and fought in America's revolutionary war No formal proposal currently sits before the Geographical Names Board of NSW but according to Sharwood, it's inevitable that the issue will surface again. 'I don't know what the right name for Kosciuszko is right now, but I think between us all, we'll work it out,' Ngarigo woman Cheryl Davison said in the book. The high country around Mt Kosciuszko was an important place for Aboriginal people in summer, with many nations travelling long distances to meet up there for the annual bogong moth feast, and to engage in trade, ceremonies and settlement of disputes. Different groups have different names for the mountain, and even the Ngarigo themselves have several different names. A new book - Kosciuszko: The incredible life of the man behind the mountain - is set to ignite the debate over the name of Mount Kosciuszko 'I think between us all, we'll work it out,' Ngarigo woman Cheryl Davison (pictured) said One Ngarigo clan favours the name 'Kunama Namadgi' which roughly translate as 'Snow Mountain'. But to another clan, that means 'Shit Mountain'. Another favoured name is Tar Gan Gil, although some believe that was the original name of Mt Townsend, Australia's second-highest peak, just four kilometres from Mt Kosciuszko and only 19 metres lower. 'Whatever the future name of the mountain, one thing is clear,' Mr Sharwood said. 'Though he lived more than 200 years ago, there are countless historical documents that tell us that Kosciuszko was this really chirpy, good-natured fella who hated arguments.' Kosciuszko: The incredible life of the man behind the mountain is published by Hachette. Trade paperback RRP $34.99 Sir Keir Starmer was humiliated as unions and Labour members demanded he halt cuts to winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. In an embarrassing revolt as the partys annual conference in Liverpool yesterday came to a close, delegates backed a union motion calling for a U-turn on the plan. All but the countrys poorest pensioners will no longer receive the subsidy worth up to 300 on energy bills from this winter. A motion tabled by Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) demanded a reversal of the start of means-testing. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham won rapturous applause as she made a powerful plea for the allowance to be restored. The Prime Minister (Pictured) has been left humiliated after unions insist he put does not slash pensioners winter fuel payments Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) demanded u-turn on the motion at the Labour Party conference (Pictured: General Secretary of the Unite union, Sharon Graham) People simply do not understand, I do not understand, how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched, she said. This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed. We are the sixth-richest economy in the world. We have the money. She added: Yes, Britain is broken. Yes, the Tories have left a mess and yes, they are to blame. But Labour is now in government, and we cant keep making everyday people pay. Alan Tate, of the CWU, said the winter fuel payment cut had overshadowed the work of the new Labour government. But during a brief debate, Labour member Maggie Cosin said she did not need the winter fuel payment and the money should be used to help children and others in need. The motion was carried by a show of hands in a rowdy hall. The vote is not binding on the Government and ministers have made it clear the policy will remain despite the backlash. Earlier, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall defended the cuts by claiming the Government had done more to help the poorest pensioners in the last two months than the Tories did in 14 years. She said: The biggest-ever drive to get pensioners on pension credit, backed by our commitment to the pensions triple lock. This will increase the state pension by an estimated 1,700 this parliament, with an extra 6 billion of funding forecast next year. Alan Tate, of the CWU, said the winter fuel payment cut had overshadowed the work of the new Labour government (Pictured: Unite Union members) But the Tories hit back, with shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride accusing Labour of taking money from pensioners to pay off their trade union paymasters. He added: No wonder Labour embarrassingly lost the vote on winter fuel payments at the hands of their own members. Instead of telling pensioners they should be grateful, Labour should apologise and reverse this shameful political decision. Reacting to the vote, Labour MP Diane Abbott said it was still not too late to ditch the winter fuel payment cut. But Sir Keir, who had left the conference on Tuesday evening to attend a UN summit in New York, slapped down the vote. He told Channel 4 News: This is clearly a difficult decision, but a motion at conference doesnt dictate government policy. Its a difficult decision taken because the last government left a 22 billion black hole and we have had to take a tough decision. His comments came after he refused four times to apologise for stripping winter fuel payments, in a clash with Susanna Reid on ITVs Good Morning Britain. Asked if he wanted to apologise to pensioners, Sir Keir said: Well, I am really concerned that weve been put in this position. Labour MP Diane Abbott (Pictured) has urged her party's leader stating it isn't 'too late' to abandon the plan to axe winter payments for millions of pensioners However Sir Keir Starmer (Pictured at the Labour Party conference) remained steadfast in his position post conference despite being 'worried' Labour had been 'put' in the position where they had to do so When you inherit an economy with 22 billion missing, it is a really difficult set of choices. But what I dont want to do is to allow the economy to run out of control. What I want to make sure is that for every single pensioner, there is that increase through the triple lock each and every year... Asked again to say sorry, he said: The people who should be saying sorry are the last government who left a hole of 22billion. Reid persisted, asking: So youre not going to apologise? Sir Keir said: Ive come in to fix the mess, fix the problems, and thats tough, really tough decisions. The cost of not doing it is to run the risk that we lose control of the economy again. Im not going to do that because if I do, you will be saying to me in two or three years time, if we lose control of the economy, will you now say sorry for having lost control of the economy? Deborah Knight forced to deny speculation she was behind complaint EXCLUSIVE One of Nine's brightest stars has scotched speculation she had any involvement in the scandal surrounding Georgie Gardner's on-set spat with a young female producer. The Channel Nine rumour mill went into meltdown this week amid suggestions respected finance journalist Deborah Knight was the source of a complaint to management about Gardner's alleged tirade. But the A Current Affair weekend host was keen to set the record straight when Daily Mail Australia approached her about the cruel whispering campaign on Thursday. 'We actually pre-record the Saturday A Current Affair program - so I wasn't actually there that night,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I just hope that everyone involved is doing alright.' She added: 'I have no knowledge of any alleged incident, and have absolutely not raised anything with Nine Management.' The fake gossip about Knight's alleged involvement has been circulating at Nine for days - fuelled by the fact she once co-hosted the Today show with Gardner. Respected Nine star Deborah Knight has scotched speculation she complained to Nine management about her former Today show co-host Georgie Gardner Gardner was spotted looking distressed and dishevelled on Monday following revelations she is being investigated at Nine over an alleged spray she gave a junior female staffer in the network's Sydney studio The two network stars spent a year fronting the program after larrikin frontman Karl Stefanovic was 'rested' from the program in 2019. The all-female line up proved to be a ratings flop and the experiment was quickly shelved. Knight has since continued her successful career across both television and radio at Nine, while Gardner returned to reading weekend news bulletins two nights a week, while retaining her eye-watering $600,000 a year salary. Network chiefs privately insisted on Thursday the wild rumours were categorically 'factually incorrect'. The row blew up after Gardner allegedly slapped down a junior female producer during the on-set meltdown last month with a crushing outburst, telling her to 'grow up!' in the midst of a fiery blast over scripts. A TV source told Daily Mail Australia the alleged incident - which occurred during the Saturday night news bulletin on August 31 - was sparked by the way Gardner's scripts had been prepared prior to going on air. 'Georgie turned up in a terrible mood,' they said. 'She didn't think the rundown was satisfactory or the way the intros (to news stories) were written - and basically said it was s***. The mood was tense and she insisted on rewriting the intros herself. 'The junior producer said she wasn't finished with them yet, prompting Georgie to walk behind her and snap at her to "grow up".' Gardner presents Nine's news bulletin on the night of her alleged on-set tirade Gardner and Knight co-hosted Nine's Today breakfast show for a year - alongside then newsreader Tom Steinfort - in 2019 before the experiment was abandoned According to the source, the heated argument continued into the studio as the scripts were loaded into the teleprompter. At least part of the exchange was allegedly recorded and a clip handed over to management for an internal inquiry following an official complaint. It was intense but a lot of people were there, the source said. Gardner disappeared from her regular weekend newsreading duties for two weeks following the alleged altercation. However, she was reportedly on scheduled leave and returned to work last Friday. The high-profile newsreader was spotted crying in her car following a 'very animated' hour-long phone conversation on Monday, a day after it was revealed Nine were investigating the incident. Although Nine has refused to comment on the complaint made against Gardner, the network's director of news and current affairs, Fiona Dear, has thrown her support behind the embattled star. 'Georgie Gardner is a highly regarded longstanding member of our Nine News team,' she said. 'We offer no further comment.' It is not suggested that Gardner engaged in any improper conduct, only that a complaint has been made and an investigation is taking place. Daily Mail Australia has approached both Gardner for comment about the incident. Gardner was seen sporting a 'post-op' shoe on her left foot while out walking her dog The internal inquiry could not come at a worse time for Gardner. The long-serving newsreader's contract is among those being carefully reviewed by the company's financial controllers as the cash-strapped network desperately tries to rein in costs. Senior network insiders said her $600,000 deal was a legacy of her short-lived reign on the Today show and was 'no longer justifiable'. It is understood she is among a number of key stars expected to take massive pay cuts in the coming months. The work row is not the only battle Gardner is facing at the moment. The newsreader was seen wearing a ProCare 'post-op' shoe on her left foot while having her coffee on Monday, fuelling speculation her recent leave is related to medical dramas. Daily Mail Australia has approached Gardner and Nine for comment. QUESTION Ed Sheeran looks like he uses smaller acoustic guitars than usual. What are these? Ed Sheeran started out as a teenage busker on the streets of Galway and Dublin, playing a Dean Performer E Acoustic-Electric Guitar. This was a standard-sized guitar featuring a 25in scale length neck. A scale length is the distance from the nut (where the neck joins the headstock) of your guitar to the bridge saddle (where the strings are anchored). In 2008, Sheeran made a couple of early media appearances one on BalconyTV and another auditioning for the ITV series Britannia High. Here he used the Martin Backpacker, a lute-shaped, steel-stringed guitar weighing less than 2.5 lb. Martin was the brand with which Sheeran became associated as he rose to stardom. He graduated to the more traditionally shaped but small-bodied Martin LX 'Little Martin' guitars (LX1E). The LX1E is a -size guitar with a 23in scale, which means the frets are slightly closer together than they would be on a full-size acoustic, though the nut width is standard, so the string spacing is the same as a full-size. Ed Sheeran performs during the first day of Sziget Festival in Budapest in 2017 Ed Sheeran playing a surprise support set for The Darkness at The Roundhouse on December 9 last year Sheeran prefers this smaller model, as the shorter scale length generally means less string tension and therefore a warmer sound. Sheeran used the LX1E on his breakthrough albums Plus (+), Multiply (x) and Divide (). In 2019, Sheeran announced a partnership with George Lowden of Lowden Guitars, based in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. Sheeran has since exclusively used Lowden guitars, including a trio of new signature models for the release of his Subtract (), Equals (=) and Autumn Variations albums. Tomorrow's questions Q: Why was Upton Sinclair known as a muckraker? Jenny Innes, Manchester Q: Does anyone remember a sinister TV play where a council or government department gave elderly residents a day trip to the local crematorium and they didn't return? Philip Brannon, London SE25 Q: Crosse & Blackwell once advertised their products as '10 o'clock tested'. Was this something that happened? Bob Scott, Clare, Suffolk Advertisement Sheeran's first custom Lowden instrument, with a body shape designed specifically for him, was dubbed the 'Wee Lowden'. They have since launched an entirely new brand: Sheeran by Lowden. All the models are slightly smaller than full-size, in keeping with Sheeran's preference. Hannah Pierce, London W5 QUESTION How do they put vitamins in breakfast cereals? The fortification of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals is widespread. Minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium and zinc oxide, and the more heat-stable vitamins like niacin (B3) and riboflavin (B2), are usually combined into a powder known as a premix. This is then accurately metered into the flour or dough prior to processing. Other vitamins such as A, C and thiamine (B1) will break down if subjected to high temperatures. As a result, these are sprayed onto the cereals after any heated element of the production process, often in the form of an emulsion. Dr Ken Warren, Glasgow QUESTION When and where were pinking shears first used? Pinking, or cutting decorative slashes in material, dates from about 1500. Originally, steel hand punches were used to create decorative patterned slashes in men's doublets. This method of enhancing fabric became very fashionable after 1545. Ben Johnson, in Every Man Out Of His Humour (1599), wrote 'O, he look'd somewhat like a sponge in that pink'd yellow doublet, methought'. Pinking in the modern sense of cutting a decorative border for clothing into small scallops or zigzags, was used from the second half of the 17th century (stock photo) Pictured: Red fabric cut with pinking shears (stock photo) The term was probably inspired by the petals of the 'pink' flower, a type of carnation with jagged edges. Pinking in the modern sense of cutting a decorative border for clothing into small scallops or zigzags, was used from the second half of the 17th century. Several layers of silk material would be laid on a block of lead and a punch positioned near the edge of the material which was then hit with a mallet, enabling the shaped end to cut through the material. As women's fashions became more elaborately trimmed in the 18th and 19th centuries, this method of pinking became increasingly tedious. The problem was solved in the 1890s by two inventions: the pinking scissors patented by Louise Austin in 1893, and the Hannum Pinking Machine which was patented in the U.S. in 1897. This mechanical version had variously shaped interchangeable vertical wheels which could be rotated by a handle and enabled material to be pinked at speed. However, the Hannum was an expensive piece of equipment. Consequently, the more affordable pinking shears, as patented in 1934 by Samuel Briskman, were the earliest invention of the ubiquitous tool we still use today for decorative effect on garments. Lesley Edwards, Goostrey, Cheshire Vice President Kamala Harris gave a long pause during her interview on MSNBC when she faced a question over how she would pay for her economic plans. The moment came early in the interview where Harris batted away slow-pitch questions such as 'can we trust you?' Interviewer Stephanie Ruhle asked Harris, who was giving her first network TV interview since securing her party's nomination, how she would pay for her economic plans. 'If you can't raise corporate taxes or if GOP takes control of the Senate, where do you get the money to do that,' her interviewer asked, after Harris outlined some of her plans like a $6,000 credit for young couples or subsidies for new small business ventures. Republicans stand a decent chance of taking the chamber from the narrow Democratic majority, with a Montana Democratic-held seat growing increasingly vulnerable. But were going to have to raise corporate taxes, Harris told her after a pause. 'And we're going to have to raise we're going to have to make sure that the biggest corporations and billionaires pay their fair share. That's just it,' Harris said. 'Were going to have to raise corporate taxes, Vice President Kamala Harris said when quizzed on how she would pay for her economic plans She neglected to say the details of her plan, which include a new 25 percent minimum tax on people worth more than $100 million, a capital gains hike, and an increase in the corporate tax to 28 percent. Ruhle herself said after the interview that 'she doesn't answer the question ... Where is she going to get the money from?' 'She said we just have to do it. And that's great and that's a campaign promise,' she added. The moment came in an interview where Harris blasted Trump for wanting to extend the array of his 2017 tax cuts. The facts remain that Donald Trump has a history of taking care of very rich people, and I'm not mad at anybody for being rich, but they should pay their fair share, Harris said. Harris said her plan would cut taxes for 100 million American, protecting those earning less than $400,000 per year. She talked about building an economy where people have an ability to buy a home, to start a business, to take a nice vacation from time to time. She also responded to Trump's claims she never worked at McDonald's by revealing reciting one of the fast food chain's famous jingles. But the candidate avoided major stumbles, after facing pressure from Republicans and the media to do more interviews. Ruhle also asked Harris how she could raise taxes on corporations without sending them overseas where taxes were cheaper. 'I work with a lot of CEOs I have spent a lot of time with CEOs, let me tell you that the business leaders that are actually part of the engine of America's economy agree that people should pay their fair share,' she said. Harris avoided mostly avoided stumbles in a relatively safe space, on a day when she was campaigning in battleground Pennsylvania while Trump was hammering her in battleground North Carolina. Her first interview since her ascent, on CNN, featured more stumbles. She finds herself in a tight race with Donald Trump, who delivered a speech on his economic plans this week in Georgia where he vowed to 'take other countries' jobs' and once again slid into attacks on his rivals. President Biden's budget calls for hiking taxes for corporations and upper income earners to raise an estimated $5 trillion. A famous tool-using chimpanzee ripped a baby girl from her mother's arms before taking her into the forest to butcher her and harvest her organs. Distraught mother Seny Zogba was working in a cassava field in Bossou, in Guinea, when a chimp sunk his teeth into her and stole her eight-month-old baby, named as Yoh Helene. The little girl's mutilated body was found 3km from the Nimba Mountains Nature Reserve, with witnesses claiming she had been eviscerated - and it feared the chimp may have used his tools to maim her. Chief researcher Gen Yamakoshi chillingly told The Times the gruesome killing was because the chimps 'no longer fear humans'. An angry mob directed their fury towards the scientists who have been studying the remarkable animal community for decades, and brought the baby's corpse to their Bossou Environmental Research Institute. A famous tool-using chimpanzee ripped a baby girl from her mother's arms before taking her into the forest to butcher her and harvest her organs (Jeje, one of the chimpanzees in Bossou, Guinea, pictured yawning in December 2017) Distraught mother Seny Zogba was working in a cassava field in Bossou, in Guinea, when a chimp sunk his teeth into her and stole her eight-month-old baby, named as Yoh Helene They then ransacked the building, destroying and setting fire to equipment including drones, computers and over 200 documents, the centre's managers said. Joseph Dore, a young member of the group from Bossou, said 'it's the way she was killed, that's what angered the population'. Local ecologist Alidjiou Sylla said the dwindling supply of food in the reserve was pushing the animals to leave the protected area more frequently, increasingly the likelihood of attacks. The research centre said it had recorded six chimpanzee attacks on humans within the reserve since the start of the year. Moussa Koya, another youth leader, said 'It was not their will [to be violent] but it has become the habit of the chimpanzees.' Mr Yamakoshi though said it wasn't clear whether the attacks are because of food or 'excitement'. 'It is similar behaviour to how chimps treat one another,' he said. 'If they are excited they cannot control their behaviour.' There are just seven left in Guinea's Bossou forest, which forms part of the Nimba Mountains Nature Reserve, and is close to subsistence farming communities of the Nzerekore Region. In 2022, the oldest member of a chimpanzee tribe, Fana, died in solitude age 71, leaves behind two sons, Foaf and Fanwa. The tiny community of apes use stone hammers and anvils to crack open nuts - the most sophisticated act ever observed of humanity's genetically closest relative. The great apes live in the wild but share the territory and its resources with the locals, who protect them, believing them to be reincarnated ancestors. Chimpanzees are respected in Guinea and traditionally given gifts in the form of food, prompting some to venture out of the protected area and into human settlements, where they can sometimes attack. The research centre said it had recorded six chimpanzee attacks on humans within the reserve since the start of the year The tiny community of apes, famed for their remarkable use of tools, lives in a forest around the village of Bossou, in the far southeastern corner of Guinea A number of chimps have been shown to use tools - including this one at a sanctuary in Kenya - but its prevalence among the Bossou tribe in Guinea makes them particularly interesting But Bossou elder Michael Gamada Koiba said locals now don't know 'what kind of chimpanzees they are' after the fatality. Up until 2003, the Bossou chimp group had been relatively stable at around 21 animals. But it lost seven members to the flu that year. It has also been affected by human activities in the area. Locals traditionally use slash-and-burn agriculture, and though they had preserved a 320-hectare block of forest around Bossou, surrounding deforestation has cut it off from the rest of the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, where there are more numerous chimp communities. Slash-and-burn agriculture sees people cultivate lands until they become depleted, then clear forests to create new lands, and repeat the cycle. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed reserve straddles Guinea's borders with Liberia and Ivory Coast. The Nimba Mountains are also home to one of Guinea's largest iron ore reserves, which has raised concern among environmentalists about the impact of mining on chimpanzees. A leading child psychiatrist has won a lawsuit after he was abruptly fired for comments about gender dysphoria. Dr. Allan Josephson, 72, was tapped to head the University of Louisville's Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry more than 20 years ago. In 2017, Josephson expressed caution about gender treatments for children - leading to his termination in 2019. After being hit with a federal free speech lawsuit, the Kentucky school argued it was within its rights to fire Josephson for the criticism, aired at a Heritage Foundation panel. Attorneys for the university claimed his personal comments related to his professional role at the medical school and thus overcame his First Amendment claim. Now that he's been vindicated, his message for academia is 'tolerance is a two-way street.' In 2017, Dr. Allan Josephson, 72, expressed caution about gender treatments for children - leading to his termination from the Kentucky school in 2019 The decorated academic was tapped to head the University of Louisville's Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2003. In 2019, he was fired. On September 10, he won a federal lawsuit that alleged he was wrongfully fired for publicly speaking about gender dysphoria 'Last year, in a case I filed against [the] University of Louisville... over the violation of my constitutional rights and seeking reinstatement of my position with back pay, a federal district court ruled a jury should hear my claims,' Josephson wrote in an op-ed for the Daily Signal Thursday. 'And on Sept. 10, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit agreed.' The former chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology went on to quote the judgment that had exonerated him, following a lengthy court battle that lasted more than year. At its climax, jurists deemed that 'Josephson ha[d] shown that he engaged in protected speech when he spoke as part of the Heritage Foundation panel. 'Defendants should have known that Josephson's speech was protected and that retaliating against Josephson for his speech would violate his First Amendment rights,' it continued. 'The 6th Circuit recognized what the University of Louisville does not; namely, that under our Constitution, all of us - professors or not - should be free to speak our professional and personal views without fear of punishment or retaliation.' That, however, was exactly what the psychiatrist was met with in the fall of 2017, after stating a need to start finding out the cause of kids' 'transgender' confusion and resolving any emotional problems before considering risky treatments. The assertion came after Josephson was met with what he put Thursday 'as a straightforward and timely' question - that being, 'How does one best treat children diagnosed with gender dysphoria?' The Kentucky school argued it was within its rights to fire Josephson for the criticism, aired at a Heritage Foundation panel in 2017 (seen here) He responded: 'This is a socio-cultural psychological phenomenon, and the fact that we're even talking about using medicine to solve it, uh, I'm trying to remember - there's a kind of a joke. 'The guy looking for his wallet he lost his wallet - he lost his wallet - and somebody said, "Well, you lost it down the street. Why aren't you looking down there?' he continued. 'He said, "well, here's where the light is." 'The real issue is down there,' Josephson then asserted, before pointing to the proverbial problem. 'I'm here for two reasons,' he insisted. 'One: I have a commitment to the idea that parents children need help. And they're not getting help because of this phenomenon. 'I'm not going to use the word abuse,' he continued, 'but I will want you to think for a few brief moments about the idea of neglect '[I'll] give you some examples of why this is a neglectful phenomenon, neglecting the developmental needs of children.' 'I'm also here because I think truth matters,' he declared. 'There are a number of things that are just not true in the sociological phenomenon.' The fall 2017 event was not associated with the school, and saw experts like Josephson speak on the phenomenon and the public's response He went on to state how over the last several years, 'this thing [has] just mushroomed', before reciting a declaration from a licensed physician he found the matter. The doctor, he said, wrote that 'the cost of not assigning sex is dire,' and that 'it is counter to medical science to use chromosomes, hormones, internal reproductive organs, external genitalia, [and] secondary sex characteristics to override gender identity for the purposes of classifying someone as male or female. 'Gender identity should control when there is a need to classify an individual,' the physician went on to write, leading Josephson to express disbelief. 'I was stunned when I read that,' he said - claiming the assertion was 'counter to medical Science, chromosomes, anatomy, physiology, [and] genetics.' 'This is medical science,' he proclaimed. 'That's how we categorize things. but that should take second place to this feeling this notion of gender identity? 'Unbelievable,' he concluded. For this, the University of Louisville fired him, after first demoting him from the division chief role he assumed back in 2003 and stripping him of his teaching duties. In his piece for the Daily Signal, Josephson wrote how he had been 'ostracized' and 'subjected to other forms of hostility,' as faculty members demanded he apologize for his views on transgender issues, though without specifying to whom. Attorneys for the school had argued that Josephson's personal comments related to his professional role at the university's medical school and thus overcame his First Amendment claim. The argument did not sway the judge 'Others remained silent, knowing which way the cultural winds were blowing,' Josephson recalled. 'I was stunned to realize I was actually being punished for doing what I was paid to do; namely, think and speak.' About a year later, the university refused to renew his contract - 'in effect, firing me,' he wrote Thursday. 'Professionally speaking, I had strong reservations about such transgender policies and said so,' he continued. 'That was after 14 successful years rebuilding and leading the division, three years with perfect reviews, no disruptions in the divisions work, and no problems recruiting new faculty. 'I wasnt fired for poor management, teaching, or unprofessional conduct,' he went on to write. 'The university ended my career because I elected not to surf the current wave of social activism, because I expressed views -supported by scientific literature and clinical experience -that the university found politically incorrect, 'In my case, activism trumped academic thought,' he proclaimed. 'Worse still, by what it did to me, our university communicated to students and faculty things that should be unthinkable in higher education,' he continued. 'Dont ask questions or listen to anyone with a different point of view. 'I wasnt fired for poor management, teaching, or unprofessional conduct,' Josephson said after win. 'The university ended my career because I elected not to surf the current wave of social activism' 'Those are about the worst possible lessons we can impress upon those who will one day lead our communities or care for vulnerable patients,' he concluded, days after winning the case Travis Barham, a senior counsel from the nonprofit who represented Josephson, the Alliance Defending Freedom, celebrated the victory as well. 'Dr Josephson had a long and distinguished career at the University of Louisville, leading and rebuilding its child psychiatry program,' the attorney wrote in a statement. 'On his own time, he spoke about treatments for children struggling with their sex, and the university punished him for expressing his opinion. 'Thats exactly what the First Amendment prohibits, and when public universities disregard our nations highest law, they must be held accountable. 'We look forward to continuing to protect Dr Josephsons clearly established right to free speech and reminding all public universities that they are marketplaces of ideas.' The university of Louisville - whose LGBT center complained to the school about Josephson - has yet to issue a statement in response. Sue Gray's taxpayer-funded salary should not be a topic of public debate, Sir Keir Starmer has claimed. The Prime Minister also said the growing number of negative briefings about his powerful Chief of Staff were 'not helpful'. It emerged last week that she is being paid 170,000 a year, 3,000 more than his own salary, causing anger among advisers who have been forced to accept pay cuts. In an interview with the BBC during his visit to New York, the PM was asked if he is going to get rid of the 'grumblers' who are leaking information about Ms Gray - or get rid of her. He replied: 'I'm not going to discuss individual members of staff, whoever they are, any name of the staff you could have put to me in this interview, and I'd have the same answer to you. Downing Street sources said Sue Gray, a former civil servant, was being paid 170,000 as chief of staff, compared to the 166,000 earned by Sir Keir Sir Keir Starmer has now said that Ms Gray's salary should not be the topic of debate 'I don't believe that my staff should be the subject of public debate like this, and I'm not going to play any part in it.' Asked if he acknowledged that people within No 10 are unhappy and he has the responsibility to deal with it, Sir Keir said: 'Well, I acknowledge that briefings to you are not helpful to the government. 'My focus is on what we need to do as a government to change the country for the better.' He went on: 'It's my job to deal with briefings, and I take responsibility for that. But, you know, I get up every day to ensure that we're delivering the change that we're elected into government to deliver as does every member of the cabinet.' Sir Keir was also asked if Ms Gray or the Treasury are in charge of the Government. He replied: 'Look the way we do it is as you would expect, through strong Cabinet decisions. I will openly admit the Chancellor and I are very close. We think together we have got a shared strategy and approach, and therefore, the fact that there's nothing between the Chancellor and the Prime Minister shouldn't become a surprise. 'That's how we have been operating for a number of years.' His comments came as Ms Gray accompanied him to the UN Security Council, having been with him at the White House when he held talks with President Joe Biden earlier this month. However she did not attend Labour party conference in Liverpool this week in the wake of the row over her salary and influence. Ms Gray's salary was leaked last week by Downing Street sources to the BBC. In an astonishing briefing to the broadcaster, they also accused Ms Gray of acting 'increasingly grand' and acting as the only conduit for access to the PM. '[She] considers herself to be the Deputy Prime Minister, hence the salary and no other voice for the Prime Minister to hear as everything gets run through Sue,' they told the broadcaster. Another added: 'It was suggested that she might want to go for a few thousand pounds less than the Prime Minister to avoid this very story. She declined.' A Cabinet Office spokesperson said at the time: 'It is false to suggest that political appointees have made any decisions on their own pay bands or determining their own pay. 'Any decision on special adviser pay is made by officials not political appointees. As set out publicly, special advisers cannot authorise expenditure of public funds or have responsibility for budgets.' Labour ministers are eyeing up plans to create an American-style prison where inmates can reduce their prison time by earning points for good behaviour. Later this year, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to visit Texas to muster up some ideas of how Britain's struggling prison system can copy its success in lowering re-offending rates. Inmates in the southern US state famed for cowboys can slash their prison sentence by earning points for stellar behaviours. They are also awarded credits if they take part in workshops that face the underlying causes of their offending, for example substance abuse. Prisoners can also enroll in vocational and educational training, sessions on drug rehabilitation and behavioural change to reduce their time behind bars. Labour ministers are lining up plans to create an American-style prison where inmates can reduce their prison time by earning points for good behaviour and attending workshops (Pictured: Wandsworth Prison) Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (Pictured) is set to visit Texas to assess if Britain could replicate their scheme which has seen the Texan prison population fall by 15 per cent James Timpson OBE, who is the current Prisons minister will also be visiting the US state alongside the cabinet minister to assess if the plan could work According to The Times, it is believed that Prisons minister, Lord Timpson alongside the Justice Secretary are assessing whether a similar system could work on English and Welsh soil. Currently a prisoners in the two countries are released depending on how dangerous they are to the public. Back in 2007, Texan prisons were in a similar state to Britain's current crisis, with penitentiaries at capacity with an estimated $2 billion needed to create and operate an extra 17,000 in a five year time frame. However Republican governor Rick Perry, opted to launch a committee to brain-storm how to reduce re-offending in lieu of building more prisons. As a result hundreds of millions of dollars was pumped into vocational, education and drug treatment programmes which would earn inmates time off their jail time. The reforms meant the US state could shutter 16 jails and save around $2 billion, with the prison population decreasing by 15 per cent from 2007 to 2023. However, a UK source believes the Texas prison model would only be successful with considerable financial backing. This comes as Labour desperately scramble to tackle the over population crisis in English and Welsh prisons (stock image) Since taking office, Keir Starmer's Labour government has cut the proportion of a sentence inmates must serve behind bars from 50 per cent to 40 per cent in a bid to take on the issue The source told The Times: 'If theres no additional money then this will be a totally cosmetic exercise. The Ministry of Justice is currently stuck in negotiations with the Treasury ahead of next month's budget and the upcoming spending review this spring, amid worries that the department may experience significant cuts instead of increased funding. MailOnline has approached the Ministry of Justice for comment. This comes as Labour recently introduced an early release prison scheme in England and Wales in a bid to tackle the over-crowding epidemic in British prisons. However the early release prison scheme was in crisis last night as it emerged domestic abusers have been freed by mistake. Dozens of offenders convicted of breaching a restraining order have been wrongly let out of jail. The Ministry of Justice is now striving to avoid more ineligible offenders being freed after the oversight emerged. In all, 37 men were released in error. Most have now been recalled to jail but five were still on the loose last night. Jails have been ordered to manually recalculate prisoners' correct release dates after the shocking mix-up. File. A memo was sent last week requiring jails to reassess all prisoners serving time for an offence commonly imposed on domestic abusers within two days Justice Sec Shabana Mahmood delivers her keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduced the early release scheme, known as SDS40, earlier this month to free space in the overcrowded jails. An internal Ministry of Justice memo, seen by the Mail, said: 'It is essential that prisons take action to identify any releases in error and prevent any future releases in error as a result of this issue. 'Immediate action is needed to check all breach of restraining order sentences in custody and releases since SDS40 went live on September 10.' The memo was sent on Wednesday last week and required jails to reassess all prisoners serving time for the offence, which is commonly imposed on domestic abusers, within two days. The document said prisoners convicted of the offence may have been incorrectly sentenced under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 instead of the Sentencing Act 2020. Only those under the later legislation should have been eligible for early release. The memo said the issue 'could not have been foreseen or prevented by prisons' and they would not face further action. Instead, a ministry team will carry out a 'review of all cases caused by this issue', it added. Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs voiced her opposition to SDS40 earlier this month.The watchdog said the scheme did not go far enough to protect victims from their abusers. 'There is no justice in allowing perpetrators of domestic abuse to be released early,' she said. 'I have made it clear to Government that to safeguard victims, all offenders with a known history of domestic abuse must be exempt from this scheme.' The commissioner declined to comment on the latest development last night. There is set to be a review on sentencing next month, headed by Labour's home secretary where they will look to other countries such as Scandanavia and the Netherlands to better tackle the prison population crisis. A decision will not be made until the review has been released alongside its recommendations i 2025, according to The Times. There were sickening scenes of celebration outside jails as the first inmates were released on September 10, with some thanking Sir Keir Starmer and swearing to be 'lifelong Labour voters' as a result of the scheme. Terrorists and sex offenders are exempt from the sentence discount, along with violent criminals serving more than four years' imprisonment. The Mail revealed earlier this month that a criminal had been charged with sexually assaulting a woman just an hour after being let out under the scheme. The 31-year-old offender allegedly assaulted a woman while on the way from prison to a railway station, and then went on the run. File. Terrorists and sex offenders are exempt from the sentence discount, along with violent criminals serving more than four years' An MoJ spokesman said: 'We are working with the police to urgently return a very small number of offenders to custody. 'The convictions remain valid with offenders monitored since their release and will soon be back behind bars.' He added: 'Public safety is our first priority. 'That is why we took decisive action to fix the broken prison system we inherited and keep the most dangerous offenders locked up. 'This included blocking the early release of domestic abuse offences such as stalking and controlling behaviour.' A high-profile Sydney drill rapper will face court over the alleged stabbing death of a popular rugby league player on a Sydney street outside a fast-food restaurant. Jacob Tammer-Spence, who goes by rap name Snoee Badman, was arrested at Concord in Sydney's inner-west on Wednesday afternoon and is due to face Burwood Local Court charged with murder on Thursday. Sitaleki 'Leki' Filihiahekava, 32, was allegedly fatally stabbed outside a Guzman y Gomez outlet on Marrickville Road, Marrickville, at about 7.40pm on Monday, after having dinner with his family. Police canvassed CCTV footage from the road as they searched for his alleged attacker. Some restaurants had to stop trading for the night. Police believe the alleged stabbing was a targeted attack and are investigating possible links to organised crime. Filihiahekava was believed to have been dining before leaving and briefly meeting up with another man prior to the alleged stabbing, police said. It was revealed earlier on Wednesday that Mr Filihiahekava was an associate of Dejan 'Danny' Radulovic, who was beaten and stabbed to dath in July last year in Balmain. Radulovic was on parole for drug supply at the time, and police suspect the attack was over a drug-related dispute. Jacob Tammer-Spence, who goes by rap name Snoee Badman, has been charged with murder Snoee Badman is due to face court on Thursday Snoee Badman is a drill rapper - a subgenre of hiphop music Filihiahekava was also friendly with William Siale, who alongside his brother Eric, were shot while sitting in a barber shop in July last year. The Siale brothers survived the shooting which occurred on the same street where Mr Filihiahekava died on Monday. Police and distressed family members rushed to help him and administered first aid, but despite their efforts, Mr Filihiahekava could not be saved. Witnesses heard the 'heartbreaking' cries of the man's mother, while his brother arrived at the scene and tried to lift the sheet covering the body. Police held back the distraught man who was heard screaming: 'He's my f***ing brother, don't touch me.' 'It was a highly emotive crime scene,' Acting Superintendent Ben Kennis told reporters. 'A male did breach the crime scene and had to be restrained by the police.' Other distressed relatives were heard wailing as police searched the surrounding scene with flashlights searching for evidence, and interviewed nearby shopkeepers. Mr Filihiahekava's relatives were moved on by police before the scene was cordoned off. Sitaleki 'Leki' Filihiahekava, 32 (pictured) was allegedly stabbed to death outside a Guzman y Gomez store in Sydney's inner-west Sitaleki Filihiahekava (pictured centre) was a popular player with the Mascot Juniors, a semi-professional rugby league football based in Mascot, south Sydney Superintendent Kennis explained police allege the 'two people met, and the attack was somewhat targeted'. 'It was not random in nature,' he alleged. 'It's too early to say if they had arranged it ... it was clear that they did know each other.' Superintendent Kennis did not comment on Mr Filihiahekava's injuries but said they were inflicted with a 'sharp instrument'. 'I don't know whether it was a knife... I know it was a sharp instrument given the injuries. I cannot say with any certainty what weapon used was,' he said. On Tuesday morning, bouquets of flowers, handwritten notes and a lit candle were left outside the front of the Mexican restaurant, as Mr Filihiahekava's loved ones struggle to come to terms with his loss. 'Rest in peace my brother,' read one. Many were seen in tears and consoling each other as they stood on the same spot where Mr Filihiahekava died. Heartbroken loved ones returned to the scene of the shocking crime to leave flowers and pay their respects Flowers and cards were left outside the restaurant where Mr Filihiahekava was killed, while a vigil was held the following night Mascot Juniors rugby league club shared touching tribute on social media to the rugby player following his death. Mascot Juniors footy club president Frank Cookson described Mr Filihiahekava as a 'well-liked and respected' member of the A Reserve grade premier team. 'Leki was a much loved player of our club who played with his heart on his sleeve (and always with a joke and a smile), every time he took the field with those he called his brothers,' wrote. 'To the extensive Filihiahekava family and Leki's multitude of friends we express our deepest sympathy. RIP Leki your happy, friendly personality will be greatly missed.' Artem Chigvintsev, pictured in 2018 in Los Angeles, broke his silence following his arrest in Napa County on suspicion of felony domestic violence, a day after prosecutors declined to file charges. Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella are seen outside Good Morning America on Jan. 25, 2023, in New York. Former Dancing With the Stars pro Chigvintsev has broken his silence after his August arrest. Raymond Hall/Getty Images Former Dancing With the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev has broken his silence following his arrest in August in Napa County on suspicion of felony domestic violence, a day after prosecutors declined to file charges. I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped, Chigvintsev said in a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 25. This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed. Chigvintsev emphasized that his focus has always been and will always be on Matteo, the 4-year-old son he shares with his wife, Nikki Garcia known as Nikki Bella from WWEs Bella Twins. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He is my world, and being his father is the greatest blessing in my life, Chigvintsev said. All along, my main concern has been for him. I am committed to continuing to provide him with the love, support, and care he needs as we move forward. I am hopeful that securing an equal custody arrangement will help us move on. Artem Chigvintsev was arrested and booked on a domestic violence charge on Aug. 29. Napa County Department of Corrections via Associated Press Garcias representative confirmed she filed for divorce from Chigvintsev following his arrest at their Yountville home on Aug. 29. I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, and legal team for standing by me during this challenging time, the dancer continued. Your support has been invaluable, and I am thankful to everyone who believed in me and saw the truth for what it was. Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced Tuesday, Sept. 24, that her office will not pursue criminal charges against Chigvintsev following a comprehensive review of the criminal investigation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While we take every arrest seriously and stand firmly against domestic violence, we have an ethical obligation to only file charges when supported by the evidence, Haley said. Chigvintsevs attorney, Ilona Antonyan, said her client is focused on custody negotiations and indicated that he was not the primary aggressor in the incident. He is a very dedicated, interactive, nurturing, and loving parent, Antonyan said in a statement to People. My understanding of the investigated facts surrounding the 8/29/24 incident have led me to conclude from the beginning that Artem was not the primary aggressor. I believe that to be true even if the burden of proof would be the preponderance of evidence, which is the standard of proof in family court. He was protecting himself and Matteo. Nikki Bella, left, and Artem Chigvintsev attend Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sports 2019 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images A recorded 911 call obtained by TMZ reveals that Chigvintsev accused Garcia of throwing shoes at him following an argument. He later called off the paramedics. The dispatcher noted that a child was present and that Chigvintsev and Garcia were physically separated at the time of the call. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chigvintsev and Garcia first participated as a duo in Season 25 of Dancing With the Stars in 2017 when she was still engaged to John Cena (the couple broke up a year later) and were married in August 2022. The couple celebrated their wedding anniversary on social media days before Chigvintsevs arrest. I am confident he will move forward from this situation with strength and dignity, Antonyan added. Artem is fully committed to fostering a positive co-parenting relationship with his ex. Divorce is never easy, but once custody is settled, the remaining issues tend to be less emotionally charged and easier to resolve. Chigvintsev, who is not on the current season of Dancing With the Stars, appeared on 12 seasons of the show since 2014 and won the Mirrorball Trophy in 2019 with Bachelorette alum Kaitlyn Bristowe. Advertisement Article continues below this ad New York City Mayor Eric Adams painted himself as a victim of persecution after being indicted on federal charges last night, saying he was singled out by the Biden administration for his stance on the migrant crisis. Adams, 64, became the first New York City mayor to be charged criminally while still in office on Wednesday. The indictment remains sealed. In a pre-recorded video statement released on Wednesday night, Adams chalked it all up to a political witch hunt. He believes he is being unfairly cast out for speaking out against the Biden administration's disastrous handling of the migrant crisis. While the indictment remains sealed, Adams has came under fire in the past for questionable donations to his 2021 campaign from associates of the Turkish government. The New York Times reports that Adams' dealings with Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan are also under the federal microscope. His indictment on Wednesday comes after a turbulent month of investigations and subsequent resignations from senior members of the NYC government. Eric Adams has painted himself as a victim of persecution after being indicted - saying he was singled out by the Biden administration for his stance on the migrant crisis In a two-minute clip filmed from Gracie Mansion, the politician said he 'always knew' he would become a target because of his views, before reminding onlookers the he has beseeched Joe Biden for federal help. He claimed the investigations into him were started in response Defiant in his pre-recorded statement last night, Adams said: 'It is now my belief that the federal government is attempting charge me with crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies,' he continued, before laying blame elsewhere. 'But they will not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target. And a target I became. 'For months, leaks, rumors, have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty,' he went on. 'Just this past week, they searched the home of our new police commissioner, looking for documents from 20 years ago. 'Enough.' Adams went on to say, citing how the raid came just a week after new commissioner Thomas G. Donlon suddenly replaced predecessor Edward Caban, who was handpicked by Adams to replace outgoing Keechant Sewell. 'I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,' Adams declared. 'If I'm charged, I know I am innocent. 'I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth.' The political newcomer proceeded to point his law enforcement background, which he leaned on intensely three years ago during a successful campaign that touted him as tough-on-crime. 'New Yorkers know my story and know where I come from,' the former police captain said. 'I have been fighting injustices my entire life. That fight has continued as your mayor. Turning back to the migrant situation that has seen 217,300 foreigners funneled into the city, he proclaimed: 'Despite our pleas, the federal government did nothing as it's broken immigration policies [and] overloaded our shelter system. 'I put the people of New York before party and politics,' the mayor pressed on - before a lengthy pause. He went on to concede how in coming days, he will likely face calls to resign, but said he will resist all calls to step down. 'But I have been facing these lies for months, since I began to speak out for all of you - and there investigation started,' he continued, crying conspiracy 'Yet, the city has continued to improve.' A less somber Adams is seen outside Gracie Mansion flashing a thumbs up sign to a reporter just before news of the indictment broke. He was there Wednesday night as well He then offered a final sign-off. 'You elected me to lead this city, and lead it I will. I humbly ask for your prayers and patience as we see this through. God bless you, and God bless the city of New York. Thank you.' Adams initially welcomed the concept of New York being a sanctuary city - with the then campaigning mayor, just days before he was elected, celebrating the then new arrivals as 'keeping our city running' during the pandemic. 'The days I spent with our essential employees, a substantial number of them were undocumented,' he added at the time, before changing his tune a little over a year later. 'They were delivering out Uber Eats, they were stocking our stores, they were out in the streets keeping our city running.' Adams initially welcomed the concept of New York being a sanctuary city - with the then campaigning mayor, just days before he was elected, celebrating the then new arrivals as 'keeping our city running' during the pandemic As the border crisis worsened, Adams abruptly changed his tune, asking for federal help In July 2022. The following month, he said the city had a 'moral and legal obligation to house anyone who is experiencing homelessness.' By the start of 2023, he shifted gears completely, having civic staffers hand out yellow fliers to immigrants that disclaimed was 'no guarantee' they would receive shelter or services if they went to New York. 'Housing in NYC is very expensive,' the fliers said. 'Please consider another city as you make your decision about where to settle in the US.' But migrants remained undeterred, arriving in droves on a daily basis. And in the months that followed, many of his top aides became the targets of investigations. On September 4, agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks. In November, the home of Adams' top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, was raided. He side-stepped the scandal, quickly reassigning Suggs to a bureaucratic role. She is among those expected to be named in the indictment against him. Both reportedly had their electronic devices taken, as was the case with Adams back in November, when he had his phone snatched following a raid of the home of his campaign treasurer, Brianna Suggs Earlier this month, agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, in a series of raids that for now remain under wraps In the last month, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and the chief of NYC public schools have also resigned. Caban's resignation was the product of an investigation into whether or not his twin brother squeezed his political connections to win business favors with NYC nightclubs. Other recent exits include those of two ex-FDNY chiefs accused of bribery, corruption and false statements. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on September 13, as the nature of feds' renewed investigation remains unknown. Caban was personally picked to head the New York Police Department in 2023 Anthony Saccavino, 59, is facing charges of bribery, corruption and false statements for a building inspection scheme The new subpoenas came eight months after the initial corruption investigation surfaced, with the mayor struggling with approval ratings ever since. He also faces at least three challengers in the 2025 Democratic primary, if he plans to seek reelection. More federal investigations and resignations have ensued since, spurring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to demand Adams to resign on Wednesday night. 'The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function,' Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. 'Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.' Prominent Sydney businessman John Ibrahim has been revealed as the intended target of a would-be assassination near his eastern suburbs mansion. Ibrahim, who made his fortune running nightclubs, can be identified as the target of the July 25 attempted hit near his Dover Heights mansion after a court secrecy order was lifted on Thursday. Two men, aged 20 and 24, were arrested near the scene following a scuffle with police. They had allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a neighbour they mistook for Ibrahim when he drove a car similar to one Ibrahim owns out of the exclusive waterfront street. The two men, Yousif Zrayka and Siaosi Maeakafa Tupoulahi, have been charged with conspiracy to murder and firearms offences. Ibrahim, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, asked the court in July to suppress his identity but prosecutors did not ask for the non-publication order to be extended after he reportedly refused to make a statement to police about the incident. The drama unfolded in the upmarket neighbourhood about 8.30am on July 25 when a man wearing a balaclava and carrying a pistol was allegedly seen on the street. Police allege 24-year-old Tupoulahi then approached a car and pointed a gun at the driver causing a tense 10-second standoff before Tupoulahi allegedly fled. A pair of men were arrested near John Ibrahim's (pictured) house on July 25 after police were called to George Street at Dover Heights An alleged gunman struggles with an armed police officer near John Ibrahim's mansion Police swooped after a man was seen wearing a balaclava in broad daylight near Ibrahim's home, with both men arrested following a police operation It's alleged Tupoulahi got into a stolen rental car driven by 20-year-old Zrayka before they drove away along Old South Head Rd. Police were called and a short car chase ensued after which an officer was pictured scuffling with one of the occupants before they were arrested. A search of the pair's car allegedly uncovered a revolver, a semi-automatic firearm, a container of petrol and rubber gloves. Both of the arrested men were taken to Waverley Police Station and were later charged with a total of 19 offences, including the conspiracy to murder charge. Zrayka, from Bankstown, was charged with eight offences, including stalking and intimidating Ibrahim's neighbours, possessing an unauthorised and loaded black revolver and taking part in a police pursuit. Tupoulahi, from Campsie, has been charged with 11 offences, including possessing an unauthorised Glock pistol and ammunition, intimidation, assaulting police and not wearing a seatbelt. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has received a barrage of calls for his resignation immediately following news of his indictment by a grand jury on federal criminal charges. If Adams were to step aside following the indictment, he would initially be replaced by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a progressive Democrat. The next mayoral election is not due until June of next year. Williams has been the public advocate since 2019 and would take over as acting mayor. When the charges are made public, Adams, who was sworn in at the start of 2022, will become the first New York City mayor to be charged criminally while still in office Initially, Adams would be replaced by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a progressive Democrat Responsibility for setting a date for a special election to decide Adams' successor would fall to Williams and he would need to do so within three days of taking over the post. Williams has long been a harsh critic of Adams casting doubts about his ability to govern amid the current swirl of federal investigations. 'I'm not sure how you continue to govern with, every day, more corrupt arrests, more corrupt suspicions,' he said. He has attacked the mayor's policing strategy which he sees as aggressive. After Williams, fellow Democrat and City Comptroller Brad Lander, pictured, would be third in line. Lander had been Adams' rival and was planning to run for mayor next year. Williams has also pushed for an end to solitary confinement in city's jails. After Williams, fellow Democrat and City Comptroller Brad Lander would be third in line. Lander had been Adams' rival and was planning a run for mayor next year. A special election would only be necessary if it were 90 days before the set primary election date of June 24, 2025, making March 26, 2025 the latest possible date. Williams would also need to declare a date for the special election to take place at least 80 days from any takeover, according to the city charter. Different to a regular mayoral election, a special election would have no party affiliation and be strictly non-partisan with candidates appearing simply as a list of names. Voters would then rank their choice of candidates in a new 'ranked-choice voting system'. Adams has insisted he is staying in power, noting how 700,000 people voted for him in the 2021 election. 'I was elected by the people of the city, and I'm going to fulfill my obligation to the people of this city,' he said. If Adams refuses to step down, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, pictured, could use extraordinary powers to have him removed him from office before his term is up If Adams refuses to step down, New York Governor Kathy Hochul could use extraordinary powers to have him removed from office before his term is up. The indictment marks a stunning fall for Adams, a former police captain who won election nearly three years ago to become the second black mayor of the nation's largest city on a platform that promised a law-and-order approach to reducing crime. The indictment detailing the charges against Adams, a Democrat, was still sealed late on Wednesday night. 'I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target - and a target I became,' Adams said in a statement that implied he hadn't been informed of the indictment. 'If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.' It was not immediately clear when the charges would be made public or when Adams might have to appear in court. Earlier this month, agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, in a series of raids that for now remain under wraps Wednesday night's development came days after some of the mayor's major allies were targeted in raids by federal authorities. Earlier this month, agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, in a series of raids that for now remain under wraps. Both reportedly had their electronic devices taken, as was the case with Adams back in November, when he had his phone snatched following a raid of the home of his campaign treasurer, Brianna Suggs. Feds said that operation was part of a probe into the mayor's campaign finances, after which the former chief fundraiser for Adams' 2021 mayoral bid found herself with a job focused on filing paperwork. Former New York State Representative and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer called for Adams to step aside on Wednesday night. 'Eric Adams is indicted. There is simply zero chance that the wheels of government will move forward from this full steam ahead. Instead, we are left with a broken down trainwreck of a municipal government,' Stringer said. 'The mayor needs to resign for the good of the city. His legal fight is not our fight. While the mayor focuses on proving his innocence, the rest of us need to focus on the business of the city building affordable housing, educating our kids, and keeping this city safe.' This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Shock new details have emerged about a horror accident at a primary school in south-western Sydney on Wednesday afternoon that injured 10 children. Several students and one adult were injured after a lighting rig fell onto them as the school held an end of term performance at Barramurra Public School in Oran Park. Multiple ambulances were sent to the school about midday yesterday, as staff urgently called parents. Millie, an eight-year-old pupil at the school, told reporters that she was performing on stage when she 'all of a sudden heard a big bump'. 'It just fell straight down ... because somebody wiggled it and bumped it,' she told 7News. 'I looked back and my friends all looked back because it freaked me out,' she said. 'We were too close and I was crying because of that 'It freaked me out because I thought my friends were near it and my friend will get hurt because of how big (the light) it is.' She added that she was 'scared, because ... when my friend came down they saw the ambulances and they said "I'm very scared right now". Millie (pictured), an eight-year-old pupil at the school, told reporters that she performing on when she 'all of a sudden heard a big bump' 'The teachers just told us to get out quickly and to get upstairs (to our classrooms).' Her mother, who did not to be named, told the Daily Telegraph that she got to the school at around midday on Wednesday to watch Millie perform and saw there were several ambulances parked outside. 'I didn't even know about anything until I came here,' she said. 'No one was notified. No one knew about it.' A young boy called Kayden said 'we were doing a showcase, then this light fell on some kid and a couple of people got injured'. 'A little girl got injured really bad. She was bleeding, but she's OK,' he said. Veronica, a grandmother who had flown in to see her granddaughter perform at the school, said the situation was 'scary'. 'The first thing you think about is "How is my grandchild?" A NSW Ambulance spokesman said they were called to the school at around 12pm, while video showed at least one child being wheeled out on a stretcher. 'Paramedics treated multiple patients at the scene, most of whom were children, and also one adult,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'They were treated for minor injuries, with one child being transported to Campbelltown Hospital and two children being taken to Westmead Children's Hospital. 'They are all in a stable condition with minor injuries.' Speaking on Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for the NSW Department of Education said 'all the children were released from hospital on Wednesday evening'. He added that 'the investigation into what happened is ongoing and SafeWork is continuing to look at the incident'. Performances scheduled to take place at the school have been cancelled. Several primary school students and one adult have been injured after a lighting rig fell onto them The accident unfolded at Barramurra Public School at Oran Park in south-west of Sydney on Wednesday A landlord with at least three properties has issued a harsh warning to tenants, saying she would rather let her homes 'sit and rot' than allow renters to benefit from changes to housing policies. Tanya Young, from Melbourne, wrote the now-deleted comment in a Facebook group for landlords in Victoria last week, apparently in response to an article she read about Greens proposals to change tax cuts for property investors. The article detailed the party's campaign to address the national housing crisis by freezing rental prices, allowing tenants to sign longer leases, and to phase out negative gearing and capital gains tax exemptions for landlords. Negative gearing policies allow property investors to claim tax deductions when the costs of owning and maintaining the property, such as loan interest and maintenance expenses, exceeds the rental income. The benefits can reduce the investor's taxable income, lowering their tax bill. Ms Young wrote: 'Just read an article in The Age newspaper about 5 year leases, freezing rents and the impact of negative gearing and capital gains.' 'So to the tenants in [this group]. Know this...I will rather let me properties sit and rot then let a tenant gain from me.' Tanya Young (pictured) wrote the Facebook post in response to an article about improving conditions for renters Tanya Young (pictured with her partner) owns a number of investment properties in Victoria In her post, Tanya Young said she would rather let her investment properties 'rot' than reduce her prices for tenants 'If I'm going to lose I will lose on my terms .... Not yours'. It is understood the comment was quickly deleted, but not before it was shared in another Facebook group - this time, for tenants. A number of users pointed out that Ms Young would not make money from her properties if they were not occupied by tenants - particularly if negative gearing was phased out. Others wondered why she thought tenants would 'gain' anything from her if rental policies were changed. They would still have to pay to live at her properties. One person said, sarcastically: 'She's threatening to pay her own mortgage - oooooh - the same freaking mortgage she can't afford unless the tenant is footing the bill.' Another wrote: 'Jesus Christ. Openly saying you'd rather let people go homeless than be a decent human being. Wow. I'd be so embarrassed.' A third person said: 'Not sure how tenants are winning anything really. 'We are still paying off someone's mortgage and, in the end, coming out with nothing and not owning a home. Home ownership is still out of reach.' Victorian property records indicate Ms Young owns homes in Glen Huntly, in Melbourne, and Dandenong, south-east of the city, and a townhouse in Wangaratta - a regional town in the northern part of the state. Pictured: Ms Young Wangaratta investment property. Records indicate is was leased for $550 a month in August Pictured: Ms Young's investment property in Glen Huntly, Melbourne In April, Ms Young asked if anyone would like to move 260knm from Wangaratta to Melbourne to rent her investment property for $350/week (pictured) In April, she posted an ad in a Wangaratta Facebook group asking if anyone would like to move to her one-bedroom apartment in Glen Huntly - 260km away - with a private lease. 'I have a 1 bedroom apartment in Glen Huntly 3163 up for private rent if anyone is interested in a move to Melbourne,' she wrote. 'Fantastic location $350 a week.' Ms Young declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. On Wednesday it was revealed that Labor asked Treasury for advice on possible changes to tax exemptions for landlords, including modelling on the economic repercussions of phasing out the concessions. Speaking at a press conference in Tasmania, Anthony Albanese deflected questions about changing negative gearing and would not be drawn on whether or not his government asked Treasury for modelling. However, he ruled it out on Thursday telling Sky News that tax concessions could impact the housing supply. A teen mom was killed in a tragic freak accident that also left her boyfriend in critical condition after they left their high school to pick up their four-month-old daughter from daycare. Abbigail 'Grace' Callaham, 17, and her boyfriend, Thomas Kennedy, were on their way to the daycare following an early dismissal from Belton-Honea Path High School in South Carolina just after 11am on Tuesday when a 'large bird, possibly a turkey' flew out of the woods and into their windshield, the Anderson County Coroner reports. The impact made Kennedy lose control of the vehicle and he 'ran off the right side of the highway, where he overcorrected, crossed the center line and hit a tree on the left side of the roadway,' Coroner Greg Shore said in a news release. Abbigail Callaham, 17, (right) was killed in a tragic freak accident on Tuesday that also left her boyfriend, Thomas Kennedy (left) in critical condition The Anderson County Coroner says the couple were on their way to pick up their four-month-old daughter from daycare when a 'large bird, possibly a turkey' flew out of the woods and into their windshield, forcing Kennedy to lose control Callaham was not wearing a seat belt at the time, and was pinned to her seat by the tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries. Kennedy, meanwhile, was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to Fox Carolina. But he was reportedly able to talk to first responders when they arrived at the scene, WYFF 4 reports. Kennedy was reportedly able to talk to first responders at the scene 'It's just a tragedy,' Shore told the local news station. 'We are all heartbroken over the circumstances. He also told WSPA that Callaham's father was 'grief stricken' by the news, noting that her 12-year-old sister 'was also on the scene. 'It just breaks our hearts to see them suffering like that,' the coroner said. The coroner said Kennedy overcorrected and hit a tree that pinned Callaham in her seat Anderson School District Two, which Belton-Honea Path High School is part of, said it will now have grief counselors available for all students and staff. 'Please keep Grace's family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate through this difficult time,' the school district wrote on Facebook. It went on to say it will host an event to 'lift up prayers for both of these students and their families.' 'We talk a whole bunch at Anderson District Two that we are a family, so it's times like this that we can come together, we can remind each other that this is a support system, love on each other and just be there for each other,' Superintendent Jason Johns told Fox Carolina. Hurricane Helene is set to strike Florida's Gulf Coast within hours, threatening an 'unsurvivable' storm surge that would leave catastrophic damage and could deluge cities and swallow homes. Helene could roar ashore as a Category 4 hurricane by tonight, with wind speeds of up to 130mph after spending days strengthening in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center warned. Forecasters predict Helene could bring storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and warned they could be particularly 'catastrophic and life-threatening' in Florida's Apalachee Bay. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm's arrival. The storm may also bring heavy rain, damaging winds, and flash floods hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern US, forecasters said. The chilling warnings have sent residents scrambling for higher ground, closed schools, and led to states of emergency across the Southeast. Helene is strengthening as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast becoming a Category 1 hurricane today and expected to hit Florida's Big Bend late tonight as Category 4 storm People board up windows to prepare for Hurricane Helene, in Old Town, Florida Helene was about 425 miles (680 kilometers) southwest of Tampa and moving north at 9 mph (15 kph) with top sustained winds of 85 mph (137 kph) early Thursday morning. Forecasters said it should become a major Category 3 or higher hurricane, meaning winds would top 110 mph (177 kph). While Helene will likely weaken as it moves inland, its 'fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States,' including in the southern Appalachian Mountains, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The center posted lesser tropical storm warnings as far north as North Carolina, and warned that much of the region could experience prolonged power outages, toppled trees and dangerous flooding. 'A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves,' according to the NHC. Helene had swamped parts of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, flooding streets and toppling trees as it passed offshore and brushed the resort city of Cancun. People boarding up windows to prepare for Hurricane Helene, in Old Town, Florida on September 25, 2024 A family from the coastal town of Guanimar, in Artemisa province, southwest of Havana, move in a boat to safer areas after their homes were flooded due the passage of Hurricane Helene on September 25, 2024 Residents of Guanimar move on a truck to safe zones after the passage of Hurricane Helene in Guanimar, Artemisa province, Cuba, on September 25, 2024 People traverse a flooded street with a horse-drawn carriage after the passage of Hurricane Helene in Guanimar, Artemisa province, Cuba on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 The storm formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea. In Cuba, the government preventively shut off power in some communities as waves as high as 16 feet (5 meters) slammed Cortes Bay. And in the Cayman Islands, schools closed and residents pumped water from flooded homes. Rain was already falling steadily in Atlanta on Wednesday evening as shoppers emptied shelves of water at a Kroger supermarket east of downtown. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Atlanta issued flash flood warnings for much of the state. But it's not just those along the coast who will be at risk but inland as well with very real likelihood of life-threatening flash flooding, damaging winds and some tornadoes spinning out of the monster storm hitting parts of the southeast. Helene is the fifth hurricane of the 2024 hurricane season and as of Thursday morning is about 400 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida and moving northwards with sustained winds of 85mph. Floridians are making preparations before Helene makes landfall later on Thursday night Around 32 million people are under flood watch with millions more inland likely to be affected The National Hurricane Center says Helene could roar ashore as a Category 4 hurricane, with wind speeds of 130mph after spending days strengthening in the warm waters of the Gulf Forecasts suggest that landfall is most likely to happen along Florida's Big Bend or the eastern Panhandle region, although the impact will be felt far from the center. By Friday, Helene should move quickly northwards across the southeast and towards the southern Appalachians and Ohio Valley with strong winds and damaging gusts, together with the possibility of tornados. More than 40 million people in Florida, Georgia and Alabama were under hurricane and tropical storm warnings, the hurricane center said. Forecasters are warning the storm will intensify as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico on its path to Florida. The storm had already prompted residents to evacuate, schools to close and officials to declare emergencies in Florida and Georgia. Because Helene is such a fast-moving storm, it won't dump as much rain on Florida as past hurricanes have done, but its winds may impact places as far inland as northern Georgia, Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami said. 'You are going to see destructive winds not only in Tallahassee but in Atlanta,' McNoldy said. 'You are going to have a major hurricane plowing inland, and storms take a little time to decay once they're inland.' 'That this is going to be a large and strong storm,' McNoldy said. 'It is going to be moving very quickly.' The NHC has issued hurricane warnings for part of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and Florida's northwestern coastline, where large storm surges of up to 20 feet are expected. People prepare for Hurricane Helene, in Old Town, Florida People are seen buying groceries at a convenience store with windows covered with plywood as Old Town prepares for Hurricane Helen A satellite image showing a nighttime view of Hurricane Helene moving slowly up the Gulf of Mexico as it strengthens on the warm waters off Havana, Cuba State emergency officials in Florida have been partnering with Uber to take residents to shelters in communities under evacuation orders. 'The way this is tracking, it's a storm that is stronger than what we've seen in the region, I think, in anyone's memory,' DeSantis said on Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee. 'Some of this may be unchartered ground, certainly for most people who are living here now.' DeSantis warned residents they needed to make their final preparations with the governor urging coastal communities to heed evacuation orders, saying residents don't need to drive hundreds of miles away from their homes but just find higher ground at a shelter, hotel or friend's house. 'The models vary on how intense this could be, but there's clearly a pathway for this to rapidly intensify prior to making landfall,' DeSantis said. Airports in St. Petersburg, Tallahassee and Tampa are planning to close on Thursday, and 62 hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities evacuated their residents on Wednesday in anticipation of the storm. Residents of Pinellas Hope board buses that will take them to local hurricane shelters Approximately 400 residents were bused to two shelters in the Clearwater area Dakota Milan, 31, center, and his friend Christina Moody along with her dog Zoie walk toward a bus that will take them to local hurricane shelters ahead of Hurricane Helene Law enforcement planned to close bridges once winds reached 40 mph at a sustained level, officials said. Residents in coastal Wakulla County on the Florida panhandle are under a countywide mandatory evacuation order. But it doesn't mean they'll all leave. Shelby Hill made a stop at a Walmart in the city of Crawfordville with her husband and three kids Wednesday afternoon to pick up the fixings for a chicken enchilada casserole - some comfort food to ease their nerves. 'You can feel the energy. Everybody's moving,' Hill said. 'You can tell everybody's actually really nervous and wants to be prepared.' Hill said her family will soon be hitting the road to stay the night with her in-laws in the next county to the north, Leon County. After that, they plan to continue on to Georgia, in the hopes of outrunning the worst of Helene. A couple aisles over in the frozen food section, Christine Nazworth said she considered evacuating her home in 2018 ahead of Hurricane Michael and again this week ahead of Helene. Both times, she said she was 'outvoted' by other family members, so theyll be sheltering in place. 'Hating to leave but hating to stay too,' Nazworth said. 'So just kinda go with the flow.' A traffic advisory sign on westbound S.R. 408 near downtown Orlando informing commuters of approaching Hurricane Helene John Vann moves plywood on the upper level of a house on Wednesday on Alligator Point near Panacea, Florida Andrew Vann, left, and his son, John Vann, left, put plywood over the windows Karl Bohlmann, left, and Tangi Bohlmann, of Tarpon Springs, collect sandbags at a public site while residents prepare their homes for potential flooding in Tarpon Springs, Florida Residents Dennis Lusby, left, and John Guerra fill sandbags at the Orange County distribution site at Barnett Park in Orlando, Florida ahead of the approaching hurricane Sandbags are filled at a public site while residents prepare their homes for potential flooding, in Tarpon Springs, Florida Denis Keeran, of Maitland, fills sandbags at Barnett Park in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, ahead of the forecast for the possibility of heavy rains in Central Florida. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP) Georgia In the neighboring state of Georgia, at a Kroger supermarket east of downtown Atlanta, with rain falling steadily after sunset on Wednesday, one shopper was filling three separate orders; each included a dozen bottles of water. While there was still plenty of bread, water shelves were already growing barren. Sergio Garcia, who was shopping for himself, also had water in his cart, along with bread, Coca-Cola, macaroni, chicken wings and Pop Tarts. 'I'm here to lightly stock up,' said Garcia, who said he had experienced hurricanes while growing up in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. 'With the rain that just started picking up, I did want to pick up a few things for the storm.' Charles McComb, who has lived in Atlanta since 2003, said he still found it hard to believe Helene would seriously impact the city, which is more than 250 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. 'It would be really unique for it to hit so far inland,' Charles said as he bought water, bread and lunch meat. McComb, though, said he was worried about losing electricity. 'I do live in an area where it doesn't take so much for the power to go out,' he said. Because the storm is moving faster than previously forecast, hurricane warnings have been extended even farther inland. State meteorologist Will Lanxton said tropical-storm force winds are expected throughout the state. Due to the high winds, Helene could cause one of the most significant electrical outages the state has seen in a while. Kevin Guthrie, Director of Florida Division of Emergency Management, right, gestures as Gov. Ron DeSantis looks on during a news conference on Wednesday Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, second from right, speaks to linemen before a news conference at the Tampa Electric Company offices in Tampa Residents of Pinellas Hope board buses that will take them to local hurricane shelters Hurricane Helene is forecasted to make landfall along the gulf coast later on Thursday Terra Sterling retrieves a radio from her 1977 37 foot Irwin sailboat on Wednesday in Carrabelle, Florida. Sterling plans to ride out Hurricane Helene in a nearby motel Pinellas Hope staff waive as buses pull away while taking approximately 400 residents to local hurricane shelters Like officials in Florida, those in Georgia warned that people should be prepared to be self-sufficient for as long as 72 hours after the storm. Many Georgia schools have cancelled in-person classes for Thursday and Friday, including a number of large metro Atlanta school systems that had previously held off. Gwinnett County, the state's largest, said it would operate a virtual learning day on Thursday and call off classes entirely on Friday. The University of Georgia also canceled all classes at its main Athens campus on Thursday and Friday, while Georgia Tech in Atlanta said it would cancel in-person classes. Georgia has activated 250 National Guard soldiers beginning Thursday and will stage them for rapid deployment. State game wardens, foresters and Department of Correction teams will also help provide swift-water rescues and other emergency responses. All 159 counties in Georgia from Savannah to the Blue Ridge Mountains are under either a hurricane watch or warning or a tropical storm watch or warning. 'We're setting up for a shocking, intense storm from one end of the state to the other,' University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd said. Helene is quite big for an Atlantic hurricane and is moving fast - a combination that could mean major flooding and days if not weeks of power outages in Atlanta some 250 miles away from where the hurricane is expected to make landfall. South Georgia can expect hurricane force winds while no part of the state will likely avoid some kind of dangerous weather, Sheppard said. And for Atlanta, Helene could be the worst strike on a major Southern inland city in 35 years. 'It's going to be a lot like Hugo in Charlotte,' Sheppard said of the 1989 storm that struck the major North Carolina city, knocking out power to 85 percent of customers and leveling some 80,000 trees as winds gusted above hurricane force. The hurricane warning area for Georgia included Albany, southwest Georgia's largest city with a population of 67,000, as well as Valdosta, home to 55,000 along Interstate 75. Helene comes barely a year after Valdosta and surrounding Lowndes County took a beating from Hurricane Idalia, which damaged more than 1,000 homes and inflicted more than $6 million in damage. Visitors to the Southernmost Point marker in Key West are hit by wind driven waves Paulette McLin takes in the scene outside their summer home ahead of Hurricane Helene in Alligator Point, Florida on Wednesday Dave McCurley boards up the windows to his home in advance of Helene, in Ochlockonee Bay, Florida McCurley boards up the windows to his home on Wednesday Will Marx cleans up remodeling debris in advance of Tropical Storm Helene South Carolina In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency in South Carolina, saying Hurricane Helene is going to be a dangerous storm even as the state avoids the brunt of the impacts. Wednesday's declaration allows the state to put in place emergency plans to coordinate between agencies and the federal government and opens the doors for counties and local governments to request assistance. The coast and much of the western half of South Carolina is expecting tropical storm-force winds; a flash flood watch is also in effect. Parts of the mountains in extreme northern South Carolina could see up to 15 inches of rain, the National Weather Service said. 'Although South Carolina will likely avoid the brunt of Hurricane Helene's impacts, the storm is still expected to bring dangerous flooding, high winds, and isolated tornadoes to many parts of the state,' McMaster said in a statement. Hurricane experts worry that Helene's overall size and whip-fast forward speed will cause extra damage, keeping its strength longer as it penetrates inland into Georgia and beyond. A shopper passes by empty shelves in the bread section of a Walmart on Wednesday A shopper checks out nearly empty shelves in the lunch meat section of a Walmart in Tallahassee, Florida Bo Manausa , right, and his friend Josh Simmons pull a boat out of the water ahead of Hurricane Helene, in Alligator Point, Florida Jerry McCullen, top of ladder left, and Carson Baze, top of ladder right, put plywood over the windows of a house in Alligator Point, Florida Owners secure their boats outside the Davis Islands Yacht Club Wednesday in Tampa, Florida Rick Chouinard, right, and Donald Tointigh install boards over windows of their shop in Crawfordville, Florida Residents of an nursing and rehabilitation facility in Crawfordville, Florida are evacuated ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene With tropical storm force winds expected to extend for more than 200 miles, Hurricane Helene is forecast to be one of the largest storms in seven years to hit the Gulf of Mexico region, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. He said since 1988, only three Gulf of Mexico hurricanes have been bigger: 2017s Irma, 2005s Wilma and 1995s Opal. 'By every measure, this makes it worse,' said University of Miami senior hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. 'Hurricane force winds are just going to plow their way into Georgia too. Places that are not used to experiencing hurricanes are going to experience one. Given the storm's size and where it is forecast to hit, Gallagher Re, an insurance firm, is predicting between $3 billion to $6 billion in privately insured damages with another $1 billion in public insurance damage, including flood insurance. North Carolina North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday as the state prepares for severe weather impacts that could threaten life and property across North Carolina through Saturday morning. 'Helene threatens heavy rain, flash flooding, landslides, and damaging winds to the mountains and Piedmont areas of our state,' Cooper said. 'Now is the time for North Carolinians to prepare, make sure emergency kits are up-to-date and pay attention to the weather alerts in your area.' The State Emergency Response Team is deploying equipment, personnel and resources to support impacted communities, including resources from the North Carolina National Guard. A man spends time with his pig on his flooded porch after the passage of Hurricane Helene in Guanimar, Artemisa province, Cuba, on Wednesday People lounge on a flooded porch after the passage of Hurricane Helene in Guanimar, Cuba A man pushes his bike through a flooded street after Hurricane Helene passed through Cuba Neighbors chat on a flooded street after the passage of Hurricane Helene in Cuba A man observes a street flooded by Hurricane Helene in the beach resort of Cancun, Mexico A person crosses a street flooded by Hurricane Helene in the beach resort of Cancun Mexico & Cuba Parts of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula were under hurricane warnings as Helene wound between it and the western tip of Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday night. The storm formed Tuesday in the Caribbean, and it flooded streets and toppled trees as it passed offshore and brushed the Mexican resort city of Cancun. In Cuba, authorities moved cattle to higher ground and medical brigades went to communities often cut off by storms. The government preventively shut off power in some communities as waves as high as 16 feet slammed Cortes Bay. Further Storm Activity Tropical Storm Isaac formed Wednesday in the Atlantic and was expected to strengthen as it moves eastward across the open ocean, possibly becoming a hurricane by the end of the week, forecasters said. Isaac was about 690 miles (1,115 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda with top sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph), according to the NHC in Miami, which said its swells and winds could affect parts of Bermuda and eventually the Azores by the weekend. A man sails on a boat in a flooded street after the passage of Hurricane Helene in Guanimar, Artemisa province, Cuba, on September 25, 2024 Residents of the coastal town of Guanimar in Artemisa province, southwest of Havana, wade trough a flooded street after the passage of Hurricane Helene on September 25, 2024 A man prepares his boat for storm surge September 25, 2024 in Carrabelle, Florida. Hurricane Helene is forecasted to make landfall along the gulf coast In the Pacific, former Hurricane John reformed Wednesday as a tropical storm and was strengthening as it threatened areas of Mexico's western coast. Officials posted hurricane warnings for southwestern Mexico. John hit the country's southern Pacific coast late Monday, killing at least two people, triggering mudslides, and damaging homes and trees. It grew into a Category 3 hurricane in a matter of hours and made landfall east of Acapulco. It reemerged over the ocean after weakening inland. An Australian man has been found dead in Bali, prompting an investigation. Steven James Hunter, 68, was found dead in his home in Kuta on the southwest coast of Bali in Indonesia earlier this week. Mr Hunter, from Newcastle in NSW, lived in Darwin before moving to Bali in 2021. Denpasar Police spokesperson Ketut Sukadi said Mr Hunter was found in front of his room at the Kubuku Suli Homestay in Kuta. He said police investigated the scene and interviewed residents. Widiyanto, who lived next door to Mr Hunter, told police he heard what sounded like someone falling down and later discovered his neighbour lying on the floor. He called other another resident, Aldi, for assistance and asked them to call the owner of the homestay. They tried to assist Mr Hunter but were unable to detect a pulse and covered his body with a bedsheet. NSW man Steven James Hunter, 68, was found dead in his home in Kuta on the southwest coast of Bali in Indonesia earlier this week Mr Hunter, from Newcastle in NSW , lived in Darwin before moving to Bali in 2021 The Kubuku Suli Homestay in Kuta where the body of Mr Hunter was discovered is pictured Mr Sukadi said the forensics had conducted an investigation at the scene and confirmed there were no signs of violence or injuries to Mr Hunter's body. Police recovered over-the-counter medication, an asthma inhaler and alcohol from his room. Mr Hunter's body was taken to Prof IGNG Ngoerah Central General Hospital in Denpasar for an autopsy. The investigation is still underway. Mr Hunter wrote on his Facebook profile that he was a 'Rigger not working just surfing in Bali looking for work.' Friends shared tributes to Mr Hunter on social media. 'Rest in peace Steven Hunter,' one person wrote. 'Goodbye my love,' wrote another, followed by several crying emojis. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Bali.' 'We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.' 'Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.' Left-wing commentator Peter FitzSimons has taken a swipe at Elon Musk while admitting to owning an electric car produced by the billionaire. FitzSimons, 63, took to Musk's social media platform X on Tuesday to post a barbed confession about owning a Tesla. When asked what car he drove, FitzSimons replied: 'Tesla. But don't judge me. I bought it before Musk went mad, and disgraced himself.' Aussies were divided over FitzSimons' admission. 'Same. We have a fake Toyota badge on ours now,' one person wrote alongside a photo of their white Tesla. 'What's Musk got to do with it it's a public company I think you either like EVs or the car,' another user wrote. 'That you actually felt the need to make this tweet. As some sort of virtue signal to goodness knows who,' a third said. And it's not the first time FitzSimons has lashed the billionaire. Peter FitzSimons (pictured right with wife Lisa Wilkinson) has taken a swipe at Elon Musk FitzSimons admitted he owned Tesla but asked X users not to 'judge' him for the decision In late 2021, he threatened to leave X, then Twitter, if Mr Musk let former US President Donald Trump back onto the platform after he was banned in January. Replying to a tweet by Nalini Haynes who promised she would 'be gone' if 'allows Trump and the Parler mob back in' FitzSimons wrote: 'Me too'. This was despite Mr Trump already being reinstated on Twitter when FitzSimons made the post. Since that time Mr Musk has become a vocal supporter of Mr Trump's attempt to win back the White House in the upcoming US elections and he has declared war on what he calls the 'woke mind virus'. In April FitzSimons tweeted a piece with the headline 'Elon Musk might be doing a lot of damage to Tesla' by fellow Nine newspaper columnist Stephen Bartholomeusz. Noting Tesla's falling sales Bartholomeusz speculated they might 'relate to the brand damage being inflicted by Elon Musk, whose war on 'wokeness' has alienated large parts of his potential customer base'. One X user who also was not a fan of Mr Musk's political trajectory even posted a photo of their Tesla falsely rebranded as Toyota (pictured) FitzSimons once had a much more favourable view of Mr Musk's projects. In a Sydney Morning Herald column from 2017, Fitzgerald gushed over South Australia's decision to install a giant lithium ion Tesla battery. 'Yes, within 100 days, Elon Musk's mob, Tesla, will install the world's largest lithium ion battery, in Adelaide, to expand the state's renewable energy supply,' FitzSimons wrote, adding 'how sweet it is' that the deal had been done. 'Battery storage is the future of our national energy market, and the eyes of the world will be following our leadership in this space,' he said. Magistrate says he must enter a plea during his next court appearance Former celebrity game show host has become a prized target for taunts EXCLUSIVE Andrew O'Keefe is being relentlessly bullied by fellow inmates in prison as the one-time TV golden boy contends with his sad and solitary life behind bars. Daily Mail Australia can reveal the 52-year-old's celebrity status has afforded him no luxuries nor special privileges inside the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in Sydney's notorious Silverwater jail complex. Instead he has become a constant target of cruel taunts from the other accused criminals who call the centre home, with prison insiders revealing inmates take every opportunity to mock the former Deal or No Deal host about his tragic downfall. Sources said one group of inmates was particularly merciless and crossed their arms in front of their faces every time they spotted O'Keefe in the prison yard while shouting 'No Deal!' at him. Despite the ongoing bullying, O'Keefe has not made any formal complaints about his treatment inside the centre, preferring to keep a low profile and to himself as much as possible. Prison officials have not deemed the heckling serious enough to segregate the fallen Channel Seven star, who has been sharing a two-bed cell with another inmate at the centre, from the general population or offer him protective custody. His daily routine is a world away from the glitzy life he once led at his sprawling Bondi home while raking in $800,000 a year from his dual presenting roles on Weekend Sunrise and hit game show The Chase Australia. Andrew O'Keefe arrives at Rose Bay police station before being arrested last Monday The 52-year-old is currently sharing a cell in Silverwater prison's remand centre in Sydney The former star is allowed to exercise in the prison yard each the day before being locked away in his cell between 3pm and 7am When he was last at the remand centre two years ago, O'Keefe claimed the prison guards teased him about his fall from grace, only for the guards to accuse the one-time lawyer of being a 'demanding prima donna'. But this time there is no such animosity between O'Keefe and his keepers, with the guards noting the former TV presenter was far more demure about his tragic demise. 'Last time he was here, he was mouthy, entitled and arrogant,' one prison source inside Silverwater told Daily Mail Australia. 'This time, he's just really quiet and sticks to himself. 'We haven't had any issues with him - it's actually a bit sad seeing him like this.' O'Keefe's spartan prison cell includes a metal bunk, open steel toilet, jug and sandwich maker - but little else. He is bustled out of bed at 7am each day for 'let go' - when he is given a prison 'breakfast pack' comprising milk, bread, cereal and jam and is then free to roam the yard or watch a shared TV in the common room with the centre's other accused criminals. There are roll calls at 9am and midday, when O'Keefe and his cohorts are given their 'lunch pack', usually consisting of a sandwich and a piece of fruit. All meals are eaten in the inmates' cells before they are locked away for the day from 3pm and not allowed out again until the following morning. His dinner is heated up from a chill pack and also given to him at 3pm. It is the only hot meal O'Keefe eats during the day. During his long nights caged in with his cellmate, O'Keefe has access to a tablet computer on which he can pay to watch TV or play card games such as solitaire but he is not permitted to access the internet. Although he is allowed to purchase treats and additional groceries, he is limited to spending a total of $150 at the prison store each month. The one-time golden boy of television is adapting to his new life behind bars Corrective Services NSW would not comment on how O'Keefe was coping with life behind bars 'for security and privacy reasons'. O'Keefe has been remanded in custody since last Monday after he was arrested for drug possession and breaching his bail conditions. The troubled entertainer's latest run in with the law came two days after he overdosed on heroin in his eastern Sydney apartment and had to be revived by paramedics and taken to hospital. O'Keefe's lawyer was back in court on Thursday as a seperate, unrelated charge was mentioned for the first time. Police have accused the former TV host of driving while under the influence of an illicit drug in Darlinghurst, in inner Sydney, on April 14. His solicitor Jahan Kalantar sought a two-week adjournment so he could seek advice from OKeefe. The magistrate consented but said OKeefe must enter a plea when he next appears in court on October 8. Matthew Peterson, left, and Sally Mouzon from the American Guild of Musical Artists distribute information to guests arriving at the S.F. Symphony Opening Gala. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle A flyer handed out by San Francisco Chorus members at the Symphony gala on Wednesday, Sept. 25, notes that they had been trying to get a contract approved since May 2024, after management proposed an 80% cut. Mariecar Mendoza/San Francisco Chronicle Andrew De Los Santos takes a photo of Kayla Kane, right, on the steps of Davies Symphony Hall during the Opening Night Gala. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle Guests mingle in the Davies Symphony Hall lobby. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the San Francisco Symphony during the orchestras Opening Night Gala concert. The program Lang Lang, playing alongside his wife and fellow pianist, Gina Alice. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle As guests in tuxedos and gowns hurried to check in at the San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala, about a dozen members of the Symphony Chorus stood outside Davies Symphony Hall to continue protests of controversial budget cuts proposed by the orchestras administration. Members of the American Guild of Musical Artists, the union that represents the 32 paid choristers of the 152-person Chorus, quietly distributed flyers to gala guests on Wednesday, Sept. 25. They contend that Symphony leaders have been unwilling to meet their demands, despite negotiations resuming this week after a three-day strike that began on Sept. 19. Were all devastated our community was robbed of what was supposed to be a beautiful weekend of concerts, said Ellen Leslie, a Chorus member who was handing out flyers on the corner of Grove and Franklin streets. We are hopeful that management will come to their senses and come to the table with a fair proposal, but that hasnt happened yet. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Leslie noted that the Chorus was not invited to the gala, and that any members in attendance had bought tickets themselves. Matthew Peterson, left, and Sally Mouzon from the American Guild of Musical Artists distribute information to guests arriving at the San Francisco Symphonys Opening Night Gala to celebrate the start of the 2024-2025 season at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Choristers of the San Francisco Symphony are on strike. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle The flyers highlighted that since May, the Chorus which has helped win the Symphony eight Grammys and one Emmy has sought a fair contract after learning of managements 80% budget cut proposal. The choristers have been operating under an expired contract since July. Elliott Encarnacion, a Chorus member and AGMA governor who participated in Wednesdays demonstration, accused the Symphony of severely mishandling their funds, which strikers sought to educate patrons about with handmade posters featuring pie charts and bar graphs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We think the folks who are paying $25,000 a seat or more should know how their money has been spent, Encarnacion said. He urged patrons who had planned to see the Verdi Requiem, originally scheduled for Thursday to Saturday, Sept. 19-21, to return their tickets and donate the money to the Chorus strike fund. When asked about the ongoing issues with the Chorus, Symphony Executive Director Matt Spivey told the Chronicle he is sure were going to find a solution. The Symphony administration also provided a statement that reiterated that stance. Symphony CEO Matt Spivey talks with guests at the dinner portion of the Opening Night Gala in Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle Our Chorus, and each of its members, are an essential part of the Symphony, the statement read. The San Francisco Symphony administration and our AGMA union partners returned to the bargaining table this week and were committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More Information Salonen Conducts Nico Muhly: San Francisco Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 27-28. $30-$149. Davies Symphony Hall, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-864-6000. www.sfsymphony.org Wednesdays demonstration by the Chorus was just one of the several indications of the ongoing turmoil within the 113-year-old organization, which has faced nationwide scrutiny in recent months over program cuts following the disclosure of years of financial shortfalls and news of Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonens impending departure. The Finnish conductor announced in March that he is not renewing his contract with the Symphony and will be stepping down at the end of the 2024-25 season, citing differences with the Board of Governors. The Opening Night Gala performance, which featured Chinese virtuoso Lang Lang and his wife, fellow pianist Gina Alice Redlinger, was Salonens first orchestral series concert of his final year, after the Symphony Chorus strike canceled the Requiem program last week. Notably, no public mention was made by Symphony leaders of this being Salonens last season with the orchestra. Salonen also did not address attendees, either from the podium or at the patrons dinner. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Andrew De Los Santos, foreground from left, Marisa Rodriguez and Kayla Kane chat while other guests mingle in the Davies Symphony Hall lobby during the pre-concert cocktail portion of the evening. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle But the starkly understated pre-concert cocktail reception and patrons dinner certainly reminded those in attendance of the Symphonys struggles, as did the elimination of the popular after-party that closes a block of Grove Street in front of the Symphony Hall. Lisa Khan said she had appreciated how the after-party helped include more people in the gala and missed it this year. But the San Francisco resident optimistically added, Im sure they have something else in store to help bring more audiences and theyre not just committing it just to this night. The lavishly decorated tent that usually covers the parking lot next to Davies for the patrons dinner was also scrapped for a much smaller post-performance supper in the Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall. Spivey said the format changes were based on reevaluating what patrons wanted from gala nights after emerging from the pandemic shutdown. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We tried to streamline things a little bit, we tried to make things a little more open, casual and fun, and people have responded really well to that, Spivey said, noting that both the concert and patrons dinner had sold out. Proceeds from the Opening Night Gala support the organizations education, community and artistic programs. Symphony Board President Priscilla Geeslin, center, leads a toast at the Opening Night Galas patrons dinner. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle This is a difficult time for all the arts, not just the Symphony, said Gorretti Lo Lui, a Symphony Life Governor board member. The Opera, the Ballet, the museums are experiencing great budget cuts from the city. Every institution is appealing to their patrons and their supporters. We just hope the generosity comes from everybody. Wednesdays concert, which delivered performances of Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2 and the musical suite, The Carnival of the Animals, along with selections from Prokofievs Romeo and Juliet, was well-received by the audience, who gave Lang and Redlinger standing ovations. But new subscribers and first-time gala attendees Renee La Couture and Bill Tulloch of San Francisco admitted they had mixed feelings. Salonens departure at the end of the season particularly breaks my heart, La Couture said. Its unfortunate that the Symphony is going through this financial situation and that the performers are affected trying to make a living, her husband added. It didnt mar the performance, but theres a sadness (the Symphony) might not continue. Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, left, talks to a guest at the patrons dinner in Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle Board President Priscilla Geeslin emphasized, however, that despite the hard decisions the organization has had to make in recent months, theyre vital for the Symphonys longevity. We are making sure that we are going to be here for the next 113 years by demonstrating fiscal responsibility and doing what needs to be done to put us on the right path forward, she said. San Francisco Symphony has weathered so many struggles. We survived the great flu epidemic of 1918, the Great Depression, World War II, the last pandemic. We will come out of this and be stronger and even better. The season continues this weekend with the world premiere of Nico Muhlys new Baroque-inspired Piano Concerto starting Friday, Sept. 27. The Kentucky sheriff, who fatally shot a judge in his chambers, remained stone faced as he pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines appeared in court for the first time after allegedly marching into the Letcher County Courthouse in Kentucky and fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins last Thursday. The virtual arraignment was held with Stines appearing remotely from Leslie County Detention Center. He made no comment on the charges during the hearing and prosecutors presented no evidence. Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines appeared in a virtual arraignment for the first time since the fatal shooting of Judge Mullins last Thursday Judge Kevin Mullins, who held his judgeship for 15 years, was fatally shot multiple times and died on the scene Stines was also questioned on his financial status by Chief Regional District Judge Ruper Wilhoit, after he requested a court-appointed judge. Public defender, Josh Miller, said: 'Sir, its my understanding that he is in the process of losing his job as sheriff of Letcher County, obviously, and will not have income going forward,' reported CNN. Miller was granted allowance to represent Stines through his next court appearance, a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 1 where any evidence will be presented, but afterwards Stines may need to hire his own attorney. Stines remains jailed without bond after the arraignment, reported CNN. Mullins, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died at the scene and Stines surrendered without incident. Currently the motive for the shooting is still under investigation, The Kentucky State Police said last week that the two argued briefly in the judge's chambers before the sheriff shot him multiple times, reported The New York Times. The county's circuit court clerk, Mike Watts, saw the two also head to lunch together hours beforehand. Watts said he had worked alongside both men for years in the courthouse, and 'thought they were all friends' according to the outlet. The former brother-in-law of Mullins, Matt Butler who is also a commonwealth attorney for Letcher County, shared a video remembering him. He said: '[My children] lost their uncle. My beautiful nieces have lost their father.' Butler also said that the courthouse where the shooting took place is 'one of the last that you can walk into without a metal detector or security at the front door,' and said this is 'unacceptable in 2024.' '[My children] lost their uncle. My beautiful nieces have lost their father,' said former brother-in-law Matt Butler The virtual arraignment was held with Stines appearing remotely from Leslie County Detention Center, he made no comment on the charges during the hearing and prosecutors presented no evidence Patty Wood, the widow of District Judge Jim Wood and Mullins predecessor, told KCRA: 'I know Mickeys character. And I know there had to be something that did it. You couldnt find a better person on the face of the earth than Mickey Stines. I dont know what happened.' After pulling Mullin's aside for a private conversation, Stines reportedly locked the door, cell phones were pulled out and handed to each other before the father-of-two drew his weapon and shot Mullins' repeatedly. Earlier this month Stines was deposed as part of an ongoing case involving a former deputy accused of sexually abusing a former inmate. The lawsuit accuses Stines of 'deliberate indifference in failing to adequately train and supervise' his former deputy, Stines denied any wrongdoing after he also fired the deputy in question, reported the New York Times. The outlet stated that Gov. Andy Beshear wants the sheriff to resign by Friday. A Greek Orthodox priest remains unremorseful for sexually abusing a mother and her two children, viewing repentance as something reserved for others, a magistrate said. Mario 'George' Fayjloun used his church position to abuse the trust of the family and then sexually touched the three victims on six occasions during confession and at dinner. On two instances, the 36-year-old touched the mother on her groin and breasts and forced her to touch his penis. He also touched the eldest daughter on her inner thigh twice and kissed her on the lips, and separately placed his hand down the shirt of the younger daughter, touching her on the breast and back. His crimes occurred at the Greek Orthodox Church in Central Mangrove, north of Sydney, and at the family's home in the city's south-west between August 2019 and February 2020. On Thursday, the Mays Hill man appeared in Liverpool Local Court, where Magistrate Gareth Christofi delivered sentence after finding him guilty of nine counts of aggravated sexual touching. He noted the now-retired priest had 'cynically abused' the trust placed in him by his victims. 'The victims of these offences experienced significant emotional distress having been sexually touched in their own home by a man they say they trusted and revered,' the magistrate said. Mario Fayjloun is pictured arriving at Liverpool Local Court in Sydney, Thursday, September 26, 2024 While the touching was brief, without violence or threats, the crimes were aggravated because victims were abused multiple times within their own home, Mr Christofi said. 'The victims were inherently vulnerable on account of their relationship with the offender,' he said. 'The offender took advantage of that vulnerability for his own sexual gratification.' Fayjloun continued to deny the offences, claiming the victims had made up the allegations for financial gain, Mr Christofi said. 'Repentance for Father Fayjloun is something for others to do, it would seem,' he said. While the priest lost his income after being forced to resign from his role at the church after being arrested, he continued to provide services from his house, the magistrate noted. Fayjloun was sentenced to a two-year intensive corrections order, meaning he will serve his jail time in the community. He has been ordered to complete 300 hours of community service work and is barred from providing religious or spiritual services during that time. Fayjloun was surrounded by supporters as Mr Christofi delivered his decision, some of whom were in tears as the hearing adjourned. The priest did not say anything to reporters as he left the court. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Shocking footage has emerged of a truck driver heading down a busy Melbourne motorway with a dangerous modification to its rig. Huge spikes protruded from the rims of the front wheel as the truck made its way through heavy traffic down a highway. The video titled 'What a knob' was posted to Reddit this week, with Victoria Police saying the truck modification was illegal. A police spokesperson said they were following up inquiries about the truck and advised people not to make modifications to their vehicles that were unlawful. Under VicRoads vehicle standards, it is illegal to have anything protruding from the wheel wider than the mudguard. 'When in the straight-ahead position, the wheels and tyres do not project beyond the extreme width of the mudguards when viewed from above,' VicRoads stated. The original Reddit poster warned of the potential injuries the truck's spiked wheels could cause. 'This was slightly higher than the sill on an ordinary road car, so would slice right through a car door into your kids' hip.' Footage emerged on social media of the truck travelling down a busy motorway with illegal modifications They added sarcastically, 'Seems like a great idea.' Social media users were quick to point out that the modifications were illegal in Victoria, with one person commenting, 'Absolutely not legal in Victoria.' 'No part of the rotating wheel can extend past the guard when wheels are pointed straight ahead.' 'Also no sharp protrusions,' another agreed. 'Legal on a Roman chariot at the Colosseum,' a person said. Some Reddit users said the wheel modifications were made poorly and came off easily, destroying tyres that ran over them, while others said they were made of plastic. Others likened the wheel hub to something you would see in a Mad Max movie, not on city streets. 'Stop trying to make Mad Max a thing,' one viewer said. Another added: 'Mad Max: West Gate Bridge.' Under VicRoads vehicle standards, it is illegal to have anything protruding from the wheel wider than the mudguard. A third wrote: 'I'm living where they shot Mad Max ... I drive over the hill from the movie every day. I would laugh if I saw anything like this on there.' 'Wowee, you cross that bridge and go down the road about five kms and youre dead smack in a post apocalyptic dystopia - Avalon Beach. F**k me that joint is eerie,' another wrote. Another Reddit user jokingly posted people with truck nuts should not be shamed. 'They're a harmless way for people with bad taste to express themselves and if we go about accusing them of being insecure about their masculinity or whatever then we end up with s**t like this.' The UK has joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is 'intolerable' and could plunge the Middle East into chaos. In a joint statement, the 12-strong bloc called for a 21-day ceasefire 'to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement', as well as a ceasefire in Gaza. The call was supported by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said flatly: 'Hell is breaking loose.' But their hopes of salvaging a peaceful solution were seemingly dismissed by Israel, with IDF chief Herzi Halevi last night visiting soldiers close to the border to tell them they must prepare for a ground invasion of Lebanon. Halevi declared: 'We are attacking all day, both to prepare the ground for the possibility of your entry [into Lebanon], but also to continue striking Hezbollah. 'Hezbollah today expanded its [range] of fire. Later today, it will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves,' he said, before adding: 'your boots... will enter enemy territory.' Halevi's bleak declaration came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was being hit 'with blows it never imagined' and vowed to ensure the thousands of Israelis evacuated from the northern border would soon be able to return to their homes and jobs. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike near the village of Khiam, Lebanon, Sept 25 Emergency workers at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Maisara, Lebanon on Wednesday People inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike that hit the seaside town of Jiyeh Yemeni university staff and students burn an Israeli flag during a protest staged against the Israeli aerial attacks on Lebanon, on September 25 Vehicles wait in traffic in the town of Damour, south of Beirut as people flee southern Lebanon Major General Herzi Halevi (left) visits troops on the northern border on Wednesday French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2024 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (right) meets with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas ahead of a bilateral meeting at the United Nations in New York Yesterday's appeal for a last-ditch ceasefire was signed by the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. 'The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation,' it read. 'This is in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety. 'Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.' The statement calls for the governments of Lebanon and Israel to 'endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately... and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement'. It continues: 'We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.' Meanwhile, Iran - Hezbollah's chief backer - said late Wednesday that it would 'stand with the people of Lebanon with all means' if required. But Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned the Middle East faces a full-scale 'catastrophe' if the clashes continue to gather pace and urged the United Nations Security Council to 'intervene to restore peace and security'. The Islamic Republic's reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian, is currently in New York at the UN General Assembly, where he expressed a willingness to reengage with the West and revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Pezeshkian's presence in New York, where he is sure to be meeting with Western politicians on the sidelines of the assembly, is a move that analysts said suggested he may have been granted permission from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to try to avert a war in the Middle East. This has not been taken kindly to by more hardline Hezbollah supporters and Lebanese MPs, who expect full military support from their powerful ally. After Araghchi said on Monday Iran was willing to work with the West to discuss its nuclear programme, Lebanese MP Mark Daou declared: 'They negotiate over our corpses.' People stand by an impact crater next to a destroyed warehouse at the site of an Israeli air strike in Jiyeh along the highway linking Beirut to the southern city of Sidon on September 25 Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Tyre Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi addresses members of the press before an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting called to address the rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, New York, USA, 25 September 2024 Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Herzi Halevi (right) meets with the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, Major General Ori Gordin (left) in Israel, on September 20, 2024 US President Joe Biden and France's President Emmanuel Macron met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss new ceasefire proposals, and are the two heads of state leading calls for restraint. France pressed the UN security council to hold an emergency session on the matter soon and Macron said he would send his foreign minister to the former French administration by the end of the week. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged Israel and Hezbollah to step back, saying all-out war would be 'disastrous' for the region and its people. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who appears set on continuing to wage war, said via his spokesperson David Mencer that while 'we favour a diplomatic solution... we have tried... for eleven and a half months'. 'Yesterday our president described the US diplomat [involved in negotiations] as talented but with all his talent he hasn't been able to negotiate any sort of climbdown from Hezbollah,' Mencer said. Netanyahu delayed his departure for New York until Thursday, where he too is due to speak at the UN General Assembly. Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 600 people since Monday, including scores of women and children, according to the latest figures by the Lebanese health ministry. The ministry said that at least 72 people were killed in strikes and 400 injured on Wednesday alone. Netanyahu has promised 'total victory' over Hamas and the return of all the hostages held in Gaza - goals that many believe are simply unachievable. What's more, many analysts and observers accuse Netanyahu of having a personal stake in forging on with the war. His governing coalition relies on far-right ministers who want to permanently reoccupy the Palestinian enclave and destroy Hezbollah's ability to threaten Israel - and they have threatened to bring down the government if Netanyahu concedes too much. That would force early elections that could drive him from power at a time when he is on trial for corruption - charges that he will not face while war rages on. For many on both sides of the border, the violence of the past two weeks in Lebanon has sparked bitter memories of the 2006 war that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. According to the UN, the latest violence has sparked an exodus of around 90,000 people from their homes in traditional Hezbollah strongholds for safer areas elsewhere in the tiny Mediterranean country. Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on August 23, 2024 Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system engages as rockets are launched from Lebanon Yesterday's desperate plea by members of the international community for a ceasefire was issued after Britain's Prime Minister urged Britons to leave Lebanon immediately by the remaining commercial routes. Sir Keir said: 'I have a very important message for British nationals in Lebanon which is: the time to leave is now. 'The contingency plans are being ramped up but don't wait for those, there are still commercial flights. It's very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately.' Britain's Ministry of Defence has already drawn up plans for a desperate evacuation of UK citizens from Lebanon, with a 700-strong force of Royal Marine commandos, sailors and combat engineers en-route to the region. The MoD's rescue mission template, known in military circles as 'Operation Meteoric', could see commandos making beach landings in Lebanon with UK citizens escorted onto a flotilla of military vessels. Such plans would also see warships and RAF jets already stationed in Cyprus tasked with facilitating the rescue mission, with thousands of Brits still stuck in the country. Some have reported that their families have not received a response from the British consulate as flights out of Beirut are cancelled amid the ongoing Israeli airstrikes. Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey said on Tuedsay: 'Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is which is why our message is clear British nationals should leave now. 'We continue to urge all sides to step back from conflict to prevent further tragic loss of life. 'Government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British nationals should the situation deteriorate.' Britain will endure further torrential downpours today with up to four inches of rain set to fall as communities continue to recover from devastating floods. The Met Office has issued three separate yellow rain warnings for the UK today: one for the Midlands and South of England and Wales until 9am tomorrow; a second for North East England for the whole day; and a third for Northern Ireland until 12pm. The highest rainfall totals are likely across the Pennines and North York Moors where up to 100mm (3.9in) could accumulate over the whole day, while there could also be thunderstorms and strong winds in the southern half of the UK this afternoon. Forecasters warned fast flowing or deep floodwater could pose a 'danger to life', as well as power cuts, flooded properties, travel disruption and spray on roads. Some communities could even be cut off by flooded roads after parts of the country saw twice the average monthly average rainfall in 48 hours earlier this week. Further downpours will follow in central and southern areas tomorrow morning, but the rain is set to clear later in the day leaving conditions much colder on Saturday. The weekend will start drier, but with frequent showers in western Scotland and Northern Ireland. Then on Sunday night, strong winds and heavy rain will move in. A car is driven through a flooded country lane in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, this morning WEATHER WARNING 1: A rain alert for Northern Ireland from 8pm last night until 12pm today WEATHER WARNING 2: A rain alert for the whole of today covers much of North East England WEATHER WARNING 3: England and Wales are on alert from 6am today until 9am tomorrow The Environment Agency has issued 29 warnings for 'expected' flooding and 65 alerts for 'possible' flooding, most of which are across central and southern England. The Met Office said there could even be 'some snow on the Scottish mountains' tomorrow. It follows the coldest UK temperature in 150 days yesterday when Braemar in Aberdeenshire fell to -3C (27F) - the lowest minimum since April 28 when the same location dropped to -5.2C (22.6F). Met Office forecaster Paul Gundersen said: 'With the rain on Wednesday and Thursday potentially falling on already saturated ground a number of warnings for rain have been issued outlining the increased risks for potential impacts.' 'The highest rainfall totals are likely across the Pennines and North York Moors where 80mm (3.1in) to 100mm (3.9in) could accumulate on Thursday, while others within the warning area could see 20mm (0.8in) to 30mm (1.2in) quite widely. The rain is set to clear tomorrow afternoon leaving conditions much colder on Saturday 'More severe weather warnings may be issued over the coming days so it's important to check the latest forecast for your area.' Three weather warnings for heavy rain have been issued by the Met Office for the coming days. The first yellow warning - indicating heavy rain could cause some disruption was imposed on Northern Ireland from 8pm last night until 12pm today. The second was issued for the whole of today and covers much of the North East of England. And third was activated for southern England, the Midlands and Wales, between 6am this morning and 9am tomorrow on Friday. It comes after flash flooding damaged homes and disrupted travel, with extreme rainfall forcing 43 people to evacuate from a Northamptonshire holiday park. A road in Harrold, Bedfordshire, is closed yesterday after the River Great Ouse burst its banks Flooding around properties at Billing Aquadrome holiday park in Northamptonshire yesterday Horse riders make their way through floodwater at Walton in Warwickshire yesterday Firefighters and police worked to evacuate residents until late on Tuesday night at Billing Aquadrome holiday park. Teams used 4x4 vehicles and PPE to help people away from areas that were affected by the rising flood water. West Northamptonshire Council carried out welfare checks on any vulnerable people at the site and provided an overnight rest centre and emergency bedding at Lings Forum Leisure Centre for 52 people and 22 dogs displaced by the flooding. Volunteers from the Red Cross and Re:Act were supporting people at the centre who have been provided with hot food and drink. The neighbouring Cogenhoe Mill holiday park also flooded after the River Nene burst its banks. Areas including Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire were among the worst hit on Monday. Flooding also saw the AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle United third-round Carabao Cup match postponed after a sinkhole opened on the pitch in South West London. A Scottish paramedic who ditched the UK's National Health Service for a better life in Australia can now play bagpipes on the beach next to his four-bedroom home. Darren O'Hare, 38, originally from Fife, worked as a paramedic for the Scottish Ambulance Service in the Forth Valley area for 10 years but now earns thousands more as an Australian paramedic in a 'happier' work environment. Mr O'Hare had an 'enjoyable' experience in the NHS but it came with its 'challenges' - especially during the pandemic. The father-of-three shared the dream of moving to Australia with his wife Susan, 39, for 15 years before they finally made the trip. In June this year, Darren, his wife, their three daughters - Carmen, 21, Ellie, 15 and Keira, 12 - along with pet dog Finlay, packed up from their three-bedroom house in Grangemouth and relocated to Perth. His pay before overtime has increased from around 48,000 in the UK (AU$93,300) to AUD$109,000 (56,000) - even though he was a manager in Scotland and is a 'bottom level' paramedic in Perth. The family are renting a four-bedroom house close to the beach for $680 a week while they wait to obtain permanent residency and for the sale of their old home to be completed. Mr O'Hare said there was 'no chance on hell' they could have afforded a similar property in Scotland. Darren O'Hare (pictured) worked as a paramedic for the Scottish Ambulance Service in the Forth Valley area for 10 years but now earns thousands more as an Australian paramedic In June this year, Darren, his wife, their three daughters (pictured together) packed up from their three-bedroom house in Grangemouth and relocated to Perth Ms O'Hare has also noticed a difference between the working conditions in the NHS and the health service in Australia, saying his colleagues seem 'happier' and there is less 'stress' despite the similar challenges they face. He also feels his quality of life has improved, enabling him and his wife to give their three daughters 'the best chance in life'. 'I don't like bad mouthing Scotland and I'm fiercely proud of the Scottish but a major thing for me is opening my blinds and seeing some bright, sunny skies, it lifts your mood,' Mr O'Hare told PA Real Life. 'We finish work and go to the beach, we live right on the beach and we've booked various trips to see the wildlife, dolphins, whales, things like that. 'Western Australia is a massive place and there's so much more to do - the world is your oyster.' Darren enjoys a better life in Australia can now play bagpipes on the beach (pictured) next to his four-bedroom home Darren's (pictured working for the NHS) pay before overtime has increased from around 48,000 in the UK (roughly AUD$93,300) to AUD$109,000 (roughly 56,000) Darren spent almost 12 years in the British Army from the age of 16, working for the first five years as a mechanic before transferring to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, where he worked on battle tanks and, as a bagpipe player and joined the pipe band as a regimental piper. He joined the Scottish Ambulance Service in 2014, working as an ambulance technician for four years before qualifying as a paramedic in 2018. Darren described his time within the NHS as 'enjoyable' but said it came with its challenges. 'In December 2019 I got a promotion to a team leader as a front-line supervisor and obviously, five months after that, we were up to our necks in a pandemic,' he said. 'To be a supervisor through that period was wild, it was a really big challenge through Covid. 'But ultimately, 10 years and three months, it was a really enjoyable experience and I worked with really good people.' Darren was first inspired to move to Australia by a possible transfer during his time in the military to the Australian army, which in the end fell through. The father-of-three said it had had shared the dream of moving to Australia with his wife Susan (pictured together) for 15 years before they finally made the trip Darren said his family (pictured together) have settled well into work and school in Australia Mr O'Hare revisited the prospect of moving Down Under when he became a paramedic, saying he applied or reached out to every ambulance service in Australia and New Zealand but was informed they would need to favour their residents first. In 2022, a colleague told him St John Ambulance Western Australia were seeking international applicants and Darren said their dream was 'reignited'. He applied for a role within the ambulance service in December 2022 and was accepted in December 2023 and they moved in June this year. He said the process of obtaining visas for the family, enrolling his two younger daughters into new schools and selling their property in Scotland had been 'stressful' and time-consuming. After putting their three-bedroom house in Scotland on the market in February, the sale has fallen through twice and they are still waiting for it to complete before starting the process of obtaining permanent residency in Australia. He said they will purchase a house once everything is finalised. 'It was just such a long, drawn-out process but the house is the last tie (to the UK),' Mr O'Hare said, adding the family have settled well into work and school in Australia. After putting their three-bedroom house in Scotland (pictured) on the market in February, the sale has fallen through twice While waiting for their Scottish house sale to complete, the family are renting a four bedroom property in Perth (pictured) with a large backyard nd theatre room. It's also close to the beach While waiting for their house sale to complete, the family are renting a four-bed, two-bath property with a large backyard and theatre room close to the beach. 'There's no chance in hell that I could afford a house like this in Scotland,' he said, adding that he and his wife both earned a good income back home. 'The house we were living in was too small for us, the five of us plus our dog and we needed a bigger house but we could not have afforded one. 'We're hoping to buy something similar now in Australia, if not bigger.' Darren has noticed a few differences between the health services in the UK and Australia in terms of his pay, the morale amongst his colleagues and the cohesion between the hospital and the ambulance crews. 'I was a manager for the last three years in Scotland I'm earning more now as a bottom level paramedic here in Australia,' he said. Darren is also set to receive a pay rise over the coming weeks as he can apply to have his years as a paramedic recognised and ascend through the ranks. 'We all have bad days at work and there's challenges here, there's no denying it, but everybody seems to take it in their stride and there seems to be a lot less stress,' he said. 'It feels as though there's a much more collaborative approach between the ambulance and the hospitals, and I can only go from my experience, but on a recent shift, I spent a lot of time waiting to hand patients over but there's no stress. 'There's no aggravation from managers or hospital staff, everybody is understanding of the situation and we all work around it and with it as best as we can I think everybody's just a bit happier for it.' Darren (pictured) said of his Australian job: 'I was a manager for the last three years in Scotland I'm earning more now as a bottom level paramedic here in Australia' Darren described the process of obtaining visas for the family (pictured), enrolling his daughters into new schools and selling their property in Scotland as 'stressful' He also feels his quality of life has improved with regular trips to the beach and more activities for the family to do together. 'We want to give the girls the best chance in life,' he said. 'Ideally, we would have done it 10 years ago when we had a 10, a five and a three-year-old if everything would have lined up. 'Everything on offer for us is far better than what we had back in Scotland.' A young job candidate claims she was 'ghosted' by a fashion company after narrowly avoiding doing free labour in exchange for a better chance at the position. Florence Fahmy, a social creative and art director, has been seeking a job in London since moving from Australia a few months ago. A recent experience detailed in a video earlier this week has left the Aussie expat questioning how trustworthy some employers are. She claimed she went through six rounds of interviews before she received a late-night request via email. While playing 'put a finger down if...', she said: 'About 6pm on a Thursday night, you get a very informal email asking you to complete an assessment. 'They never mentioned an assessment would be part of the interview process. 'It is an entire social strategy, launch plan and four-week content rollout for an active campaign that they had mentioned throughout all of your interviews, saying this would be your job if you were hired.' Ms Fahmy immediately became 'suspicious' of the request, especially since the company was asking her to complete the task by Monday - giving her one working day to finish the project. 'I'm a little conscious knowing this is an active campaign, to put myself at ease would you be able to answer a few of my questions,' she replied to the company via email. Ms Fahmy questioned the company on whether she was the last candidate for the position, if she would be hired if they approved of her campaign and a timeline for a final job offer following the completion of the assessment. Most crucially, she requested the company sign a mutual NDA that would prevent them from using her work if she wasn't hired or compensated. 'You never hear back, ever. Technically, you were ghosted after six interviews because you questioned doing a campaign for an active project, because you were slightly suspicious they were going to use your ideas for free,' Ms Fahmy said. Florence Fahmy (pictured) believes the fashion company had no intention of hiring her and wanted to use her 'ideas for free' Several viewers shared their own experiences with recruiters giving candidates assessments. 'I did three interviews, did the campaign and calendar. And they decided the role was no longer needed, used everything I did. Pretty sure I just gave everyone on their team a lesson on how to do it,' one wrote. Another added: 'Nine times out of 10 I get ghosted for pushing back on unpaid assignments during the hiring process. It's honestly such a red flag. A portfolio and references should be enough.' A third commented: 'Similar for my current role (but this was after 1 interview). I put a copyright statement on each page, stating it's my intellectual property and couldn't be used without my written permission.' Recruitment expert Graham Wynn said that while assessments during interviewing processes are very common, applicants should be aware of companies trying to take advantage of their eagerness to please. 'Employers will still want a certain type of person only and will pay a certain wage for it. I just think that pushing the envelope a little bit too far can backfire,' he told Yahoo Finance. When asked if employers were legally allowed to use work submitted during recruitment, Mr Wyn said: 'Realistically, an employer could use it but nine times out of 10, employers do the right thing and don't.' Ultimately, Mr Wyn's advice was for candidates to complete any recommended projects, so long as they weren't a clear red flag. 'We've all been through it and it still happens today. It's not a generational thing, it's still happening today. And you just have to do it,' he said. A young Australian was left distrusting of employers after she was asked to complete a massive project before she was hired (stock image) Unfortunately, questioning whether she was being taken advantage of resulted in Ms Fahmy losing out on the position. 'If I'm going to put time into something, I want to make sure I understand what exactly it is that I'm wasting my time doing,' she said. 'The fact they didn't reply to any of these questions kind of shows they probably weren't going to hire me. 'There are times that companies will ask you to do assessments. I've done one before. 'I think there are also a lot of ways that people can share their thinking without doing direct work for a company.' Fish and chips or a Chinese have long been known as the favourite takeaways among Brits, but hungry customers have developed a growing craving for fried chicken. From McDonald's to Popeyes and KFC, the number of major chicken chains making their way to the UK from America is only growing, with Chick-fil-A the latest to announce its upcoming arrival. The American chicken sandwich shop plans to open five restaurants across London, Liverpool, Belfast and Leeds over the next two years. But feathers could fly in high streets across the country, with the US imports facing fierce competition from British institutions like Morley's, Chicken Cottage and Popeyes. In south London, a single stretch of road has a staggering 29 fried chicken shops, making it the biggest street in the UK for the fast food item. McDonald's is the largest US chain selling fried chicken in the UK, with 1,442 stores opened since it came over from America in 1974. This is closely followed by KFC, which has 1,040 branches in the UK and came over even earlier in 1965. Here, MailOnline takes a look at how American chicken offerings rival our homegrown favourites - and whether a cheeky Nando's beats a late night Maccy's, or whether Popeyes leaves the competition in a flap. Fried chicken is a craze in the UK with more restaurants opening every year. Pictured: Fried chicken from KFC Your browser does not support iframes. The video for rapper Stormzy's 2017 single Big for Your Boots, part of which was filmed in cult fried chicken chain Morley's The fried chicken craze has been helped by the popular show Chicken Shop Date, which sees its creator Amelia Dimoldenberg (pictured) take major celebrities on an outing to eat the fast food A map plotting the 29 shops offering fried chicken along a single stretch of road from Streatham to West Croydon Chick-fil-A American fast-food chain Chick-fil-A this week revealed it is coming to the UK. Poll What's your favourite? KFC Nando's Morley's Popeyes Chicken Cottage McDonald's What's your favourite? KFC 316 votes Nando's 129 votes Morley's 28 votes Popeyes 111 votes Chicken Cottage 14 votes McDonald's 91 votes Now share your opinion The chicken sandwich chain plans to open five restaurants across London, Liverpool, Belfast and Leeds over the next two years. It already has more than 3,000 restaurants across the US, Puerto Rico and Canada, with the new UK branches marking the first locations outside of North America. The brand will donate 25,000 to a local non-profit organisation in celebration of each new UK restaurant opening. The majority of Chick-fil-A restaurants will be owned by local, independent Owner-Operators - small business owners. Truett Cathy founded and opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in 1967 in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall. The chicken shop opened a pop-up store in Reading, Berkshire, in 2019, but closed after the initial pilot period when the lease on the site was not extended. American fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has revealed its first ever UK locations (File image) Truett Cathy (pictured) founded and opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in 1967 in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall Reading Pride gay rights campaigners held a demonstration outside the shopping centre, calling for a boycott over the chain's history of giving money to groups it claimed were anti-LGBT rights. The chicken chain is still significantly rooted in its founder's Christian beliefs. The owners of the chain, the Cathy family, have in the past donated money to various charities, some of which have been associated with anti-LGBT beliefs. The stores do not open on Sundays, in a tradition to honour a day of rest. This allows staff to worship and spend the day with family. McDonald's McDonald's is the biggest US chain selling fried chicken in the UK, with 1,442 stores opened since it came over from America in 1974. The restaurant chain was forged on a poisonous row between the two founders and an entrepreneur who was so angry he called them 'every kind of son of a b**** I could think of', MailOnline previously revealed. McDonald's is the largest US chain selling fried chicken in the UK, with 1,442 stores since coming over from America in 1974 Ray Kroc tore into Richard and Maurice McDonald when they demanded $2.7 million for their company in 1961. He said that he 'hated their guts' and was 'so mad I wanted to throw a vase through a window' because he felt they had tried to make him fail - and were now ripping him off. Kroc paid the money and enacted revenge by building a McDonald's right next to their last remaining restaurant and driving them out of business. Popeyes A newer addition to the UK is Popeyes, which arrived in the in 2021 and has already set up 50 stores here. Popeyes was founded in 1972 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by Al Copeland, who was known to stay up all night perfecting his mashed potatoes. A newer addition is Popeyes, which arrived in the UK in 2021 and has already set up 50 stores Nando's Chicken favourite Nando's came to the UK from South Africa in 1992 and has set up 392 restaurants so far. Specialising in Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri style chicken, Nando's has become one of the most popular dining locations in the UK. Fernando Duarte and his friend Robert Brozin, the founders of the first Nando's, bought a restaurant originally called 'Chickenland' and renamed it Nando's, opening it in 1987. By 2018, there were 340 Nando's restaurants throughout South Africa. Nando's initially struggled to get started in the UK, where the franchise rights were bought by the Enthoven family in 1992. The first UK restaurant opened a short time later in Ealing, West London. Nando's came to the UK from South Africa in 1992 and has set up 392 restaurants so far Chicken Cottage And Chicken Cottage, a UK-based fast food chain, was founded in 1994 and has 115 outlets. The founders opened a few stores in London, and after requests from close family and friends they began the journey of Franchising. Chicken Cottage said it has been built upon strong family values. KFC KFC has 1,040 branches in the UK and came over even earlier in 1965. The fast food chain was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders, an entrepreneur who started selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. The first 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' franchise opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1952. KFC has more than 1,000 stores across the UK and came over even earlier in 1965 Some have pinned fried chicken's popular status on its affordable prices which target 'deprived areas', while others point to its influence through social media and celebrity trends Morley's Iconic Morley's has been operating in London since 1985, and has more than 100 stores serving chicken, wings, ribs and burgers. The family-run chicken joint was referred to in Stormzy's 2015 track 'Wicked Skengman Part 4', while his 2017 video for 'Big for your Boots' was filmed inside one of its branches. The chain also worked with writer and performer Corey Bovell for his one-man theatre show Chicken Burger N Chips, while another grime star, Krept, released a song titled 'Morley's Freestyle' and used a prop of a Morley's store front on stage during a gig at the O2 Arena in 2019. The Morley's fast food chain has reached legendary status after its founding 40 years ago, having been championed by the south London rap star and other musicians But the chain's iconic branding this year ended up at the centre of a very different stage over claims a competitor had wrongly used signage too similar to the distinctive red and white, 'MMM... it tastes better', trade mark used by Morley's. It won the battle when Judge Melissa Clarke ruled in favour of Morley's, holding that competitor Metro's '...It's the real taste' sign 'infringed the Morley's red and white mark'. Why is fried chicken so popular? Some have pinned fried chicken's popular status on its affordable prices which target 'deprived areas', while others point to its influence through social media and celebrity trends. The craze has been helped by the popular show Chicken Shop Date, which premiered in 2011 and sees its creator Amelia Dimoldenberg take major celebrities on an outing to eat the fast food. Among the run of famous faces who have featured in her series - which began with her interviewing up-and-coming grime artists back in 2014- include Billie Eilish, Daniel Kaluuya, and most recently A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. The Deadpool & Wolverine stars also recently featured on US YouTube talk show Hot Ones with host Sean Evans, where guests answer questions as they eat spicy chicken wings. Sidemen, the YouTube group popular among teens, sent fans into a frenzy when they opened their own fried chicken chain Sides in 2021. A chicken fillet burger meal and spicy wings at Sunny Hill Chicken, situated just off Streatham High Road A Chicken Valley branch located on Streatham High Road, close to Streatham Hill station Reece was waiting for his order at Royal Wings when he told of how chicken shops have become 'historic' in working-class areas Richard Pigott, Slim Chickens UK Operations Director said last year that social media has 'supercharged' the demand for fried chicken. 'It is clear that fried chicken has a long-held affection in the UK, but even we were surprised at how much it's overtaken great British dishes like fish and chips. 'Undoubtedly social media has also supercharged demand for US fast food, playing a crucial role in shaping food trends and influencing people's culinary preferences.' Police Scotland have been accused of 'institutional gaslighting' after a 'policy U-turn' on trans rapists being recorded as female. Yesterday, Police Scotland insisted there were no cases of men who have been charged with rape being recorded as female by the force. In a letter to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee, Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs sought to provide assurance to MSPs on the issue. While he said claims had been made during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood that a male rapist could demand to be called a woman and 'further traumatise his victim', the senior officer made clear 'this would not happen'. He wrote: 'The committee should be absolutely assured that a man who commits rape or serious sexual assaults will be recorded as a male. The controversy comes in the wake of high-profile cases, including that of Adam Graham, who began identifying as Isla Bryson (pictured) while waiting to stand trial accused of two rapes Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton said: 'The Isla Bryson scandal exposed the dangerous way in which the SNP's flawed gender self-ID policy could be exploited' 'There is no instance or record on police systems of a male having been arrested and charged with rape whose gender has been recorded as female. This has not happened.' The senior officer wrote to MSPs ahead of a meeting of watchdogs at the Scottish Police Authority on Thursday, where Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell is expected to be questioned on the matter. MSPs on Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee are considering a petition raising concerns that a transgender offender, who was born male but self-identifies as female, could be recorded as female in crime statistics. The petition, which calls for the police, Crown Office and Scottish Court Service to 'record accurately the sex of people charged with or convicted of rape or attempted rape', was lodged by policy analysis firm Murray Blackburn Mackenzie (MBM). Lucy Hunter Blackburn of MBM welcomed what she said was a 'major U-turn by Police Scotland' on the issue. She said: 'We welcome that Police Scotland has at last recognised that allowing sex offenders to self-identify their sex is indefensible. 'It is, however, an extraordinary act of institutional gaslighting to pretend that this is not a significant policy change from their position over almost five years. 'Over that period, Police Scotland has persistently and vigorously defended the use of self-ID for recording the sex of all offenders, including sex offenders, as being in line with its 'values'.' Double rapist Adam Graham now identifies as transgender Isla Bryson In a letter to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee, Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs sought to provide assurance to MSPs on the issue The controversy comes in the wake of high-profile cases, including that of Adam Graham, who began identifying as Isla Bryson while waiting to stand trial accused of two rapes. Bryson was convicted of rape in February 2023 and jailed for eight years, initially being sent to the all-female Cornton Vale prison outside Stirling, before being transferred to a male prison. Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton said: 'Despite the Deputy Chief Constable's protestations, this announcement does appear to represent a significant change in policy from Police Scotland.' She added: 'The Isla Bryson scandal exposed the dangerous way in which the SNP's flawed gender self-ID policy could be exploited. 'It enabled a predatory male-bodied criminal to access a women's prison and led this rapist to be described as 'her' in government briefings. 'We need to know that this belated victory for common sense will now be embedded in Police Scotland, the wider justice system, and indeed all public bodies. 'The safety and protection of women and the safeguarding of single-sex spaces must always come first.' In his letter, Mr Speirs offered 'further reassurance' to MSPs by explaining that in cases where someone is charged with a serious sexual assault, Police Scotland use DNA samples to determine their biological sex. He added: 'This profile, and biological sex, is retained on the Scottish DNA Database and is available to be searched against crime scene samples to aid historic and future investigations.' He stressed to MSPs that an offender's gender self-identification would not supersede 'wider policing principles' as he added that Police Scotland 'is working hard, with partners and communities, to address the scale, prevalence and impact of sexual violence'. Mr Speirs continued: 'Whilst the matter raised around our procedures for gender self-identification is important, this is not the issue impacting on the safety of women and girls.' He also stressed that incidents involving transgender offenders 'are rare', noting the Scottish census in 2022 found there were just 19,990 people in Scotland who were either trans or had a trans history. The police officer noted: 'This is 0.44 per cent of people aged 16 and over, illustrating the rarity of these particular circumstances.' MailOnline has contacted Police Scotland for comment. Nineteen major railway stations across Britain including ten in London have been hit by a major cyber attack impacting their public wi-fi systems for passengers. Network Rail confirmed London Euston, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central were among those impacted. British Transport Police launched an investigation after travellers logging into the wi-fi at stations reported seeing a message about terror attacks in Europe. Wi-fi at the affected stations is controlled by a third-party provider called Telent, and MailOnline understands other organisations have also been impacted by the attack. The wi-fi landing page following the hack said 'We love you, Europe' and contained information about terror attacks, according to users posting on social media. The attack has been compared to the BBC's new drama Nightsleeper which features a sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London which is hacked and hijacked. The wifi webpage after the hack said 'We love you, Europe' and contained information about terror attacks, which has been obscured by MailOnline in the above image The wi-fi was still down this morning at the stations, which also include Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Leeds, Guildford and Reading. Full list of all Network Rail stations impacted by cyber attack Birmingham New Street Bristol Temple Meads Clapham Junction Edinburgh Waverley Glasgow Central Guildford Leeds City Liverpool Lime Street London Bridge London Cannon Street London Charing Cross London Euston London King's Cross London Liverpool Street London Paddington London Victoria London Waterloo Manchester Piccadilly Reading Advertisement The ten London stations affected were Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Clapham Junction, Euston, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo. According to its website, Telent helps design, build, support and manage some of the UK's 'critical digital infrastructure', and its other customers include Openreach, Transport for London (TfL), National Highways, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the NHS Ambulance Radio Programme. It has not yet been confirmed if any of Telent's other customers have been impacted by the incident. Among the cyber security experts commenting on the attack today was Alex Richards, director of Liberate IT Services, who told MailOnline: 'This will have been a malicious actor directly targeting the public wi-fi for propaganda purposes or to promote an agenda. 'Public wi-fi is always isolated and firewalled from any other network so there will be no risk to data held or processed by Network Rail themselves. Public wi-fi is the easiest target due to its accessibility, and the most visible when tampered with. 'The only potential danger is that anyone else using the public wi-fi at the time could have had their data snooped. This is where information being sent from/to your device on the public wi-fi is inspected and listened to. 'This is why it is important to only use encrypted services on public wi-fi, or a VPN service using encryption. Better yet, stay clear of public wi-fi and use your 4G or 5G data service.' The cyber attack has been compared to the BBC's new drama Nightsleeper, starring Joe Cole James Bore, director at security and technology consultancy Bores Group, also told MailOnline: 'This sort of attack largely isn't a threat to users of the wi-fi as it appears to be an activist attack designed to spread a message. ANALYSIS: Public wi-fi is the easiest target due to its accessibility By ALEX RICHARDS This will have been a malicious actor directly targeting the public wi-fi for propaganda purposes or to promote an agenda. Public wi-fi is always isolated and firewalled from any other network so there will be no risk to data held or processed by Network Rail themselves. Public wi-fi is the easiest target due to its accessibility, and the most visible when tampered with. The only potential danger is that anyone else using the public wi-fi at the time could have had their data snooped. This is where information being sent from/to your device on the public wi-fi is inspected and listened to. This is why it is important to only use encrypted services on public wi-fi, or a VPN service using encryption. Better yet, stay clear of public wi-fi and use your 4G or 5G data service. ALEX RICHARDS is director of Liberate IT Services Advertisement 'From the details available it's likely the provider of the wi-fi system was the one compromised, and a lot more of their clients than Network Rail will have been affected - however with the busy stations they were noticed first. 'This sort of attack involves changing the home page - called the captive portal - to another page, and it can be used to steal credentials but in this case was used to spread a message. 'Honestly, the protection against this sort of attack is not to use public wi-fi - when you do use it you are placing trust in the provider not to do this sort of thing, and while it's rare that these attacks happen there is nothing individuals can do to prevent them.' Meanwhile Adrianus Warmenhoven, cyber security expert at NordVPN, said: 'Cyber attacks at some of the UK's busiest railway stations are a stark reminder that public wi-fi can be a playground for cybercriminals. 'Unsecured public networks in busy areas are easy pickings for hackers and the incident highlights the need for heightened vigilance when using these services which can be more vulnerable to cyber attacks.' He added that the firm's research has found Britons are among the most vulnerable in the world for public wi-fi attacks, given more than two fifths are willing to use password-free services on their devices. Mr Warmenhoven continued: 'To protect yourself when using public wi-fi, avoid using sensitive accounts like online banking or shopping sites that require your personal information. 'Always ensure you are connecting to the correct network, as hackers have been known to create fake wi-fi hotspots with names similar to legitimate networks and lure unsuspecting users. 'If you are using public wi-fi, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your data and keep it safe from prying eyes.' Nightsleeper features a train travelling from Glasgow to London which is hacked and hijacked And Jake Moore, global cybersecurity adviser at Eset, said the incident appeared to be an attempt to draw attention to a lack of security, rather than a 'genuine threat'. 'Cyber attacks often occur in stealth mode and attempt to carry out activities without anyone noticing anything until the real damage is complete,' he said. 'However, by defacing the wifi logon screen with a terror message suggests that the motive may simply be to test its general security rather than to pose a genuine threat - and in this case, via the weakest link in the supply chain and most likely via a phishing campaign. 'Financially motivated cyber criminals are out to find data they can either steal or sabotage with a ransom demand put in place. 'However, it seems nothing more has been demanded here other than more security in place following a separate attack on TfL earlier this month.' Passengers at London Euston this morning, one of the stations affected by the cyber attack A Network Rail spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'We are currently dealing with a cyber security incident affecting the public wi-fi at Network Rail's managed stations. 'This service is provided via a third party and has been suspended while an investigation is underway.' Network Rail manages 20 stations across the network, with London St Pancras the only one that has not been affected by the attack. And a British Transport Police spokesman said: 'We received reports at around 5.03pm yesterday of a cyber-attack displaying Islamophobic messaging on some Network Rail Wi-Fi services. 'We are working alongside Network Rail to investigate the incident at pace.' Also today, a spokeswoman for Telent said: 'We are aware of the cyber security incident affecting the public Wi-Fi at Network Rail's managed stations and are investigating with Network Rail and other stakeholders. British Transport Police at London King's Cross station today after the cyber attack on wi-fi 'We have been informed there is an ongoing investigation by the British Transport Police into this incident, so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.' While the cyber attack itself did not appear to be affecting train services today, there was major disruption on Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express services. All lines between Lockerbie and Carstairs were blocked after an object got caught in the overhead cables, affecting services between Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Elsewhere, flooding continued to disrupt services between Wanborough and Ash in Surrey - while a tree was blocking the line between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden in West Yorkshire. It comes after a separate cyber security incident was launched on Transport for London (TfL) on September 1, which saw some customer data accessed. Network Rail confirmed Manchester Piccadilly is among the affected train stations (file photo) A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in Walsall on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences in relation to the TfL attack. TfL has been investigating the incident alongside the NCA and said some customer names and contact details had been compromised. Some Oyster card refund data may also have been accessed in the cyber attack which could include bank account details. TfL said this could include bank account numbers and sort codes for about 5,000 customers, and it has directly contacted these people with guidance. Meanwhile the Football League has issued an alert to clubs following a series of cyber attacks which have seen breaches at both Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday in recent weeks. Hackers are thought to be targeting many of the league's bigger clubs, hunting for the personal data of season ticket holders and those on email lists. Should they be successful, that information, which can include passwords, is often sold on to a variety of buyers which are thought to include organised crime networks who can then attempt to use the data to carry out a variety of scams. A further cyber attack back in June led to more than 10,000 NHS appointments being cancelled after pathology services provider Synnovis was targeted. The hackers were thought to have obtained confidential medical information and blood test results of more than 100,000 patients. Last month, they were ordered by a High Court judge to 'unmask' themselves and return or delete the stolen data. And in July, Microsoft suffered a service outage which affected some of its apps and features which was sparked by an attempted cyber attack. The US technology firm said problems on its Azure cloud platform had been triggered by a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, where hackers try to knock a platform offline by flooding it with traffic until it can no longer cope. Elena Kadvany has been a reporter on the Chronicles Food & Wine team since 2021. She covers the ins and outs of the Bay Area food industry, from breaking news about the latest restaurant openings to investigative stories into wage theft and workers rights. In 2024, her food writing portfolio won second place in the Society for Features Journalism Excellence-in-Features awards. Previously, she covered restaurants and education for the Palo Alto Weekly; her work has also been published in Bon Appetit and the Guardian, and her reporting has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She can be reached at Elena.Kadvany@sfchronicle.com. The tragic final post of a mother-of-five who became the first person to die from a Brazilian Bum Lift procedure in the UK has been revealed. Alice Webb, 33, died on Monday just hours after having the surgery, which is believed to have been performed in the West Country. The night before her sudden death, she posted a photo on Facebook of a small pumpkin, which she said was a 'present' from her daughter. She added: 'How cute.' In the comments, she shared a second photo of the pumpkin, having been carved with a candle inside, and wrote: 'My little lamp.' Gloucestershire Police confirmed it is investigating the death and has arrested two people on suspicion of manslaughter. The practitioner alleged to have carried out the surgery whose identity is known to MailOnline is one of those who has been arrested. Alice Webb (pictured), 33, died on Monday just hours after having the surgery, which is believed to have been performed in the West Country This was Alice's tragic final post on Facebook, thanking her daughter for a pumpkin present In the comments section, she shared another photo. This time it was carved and had a candle inside and she wrote: 'My little lamp.' Dane Knight (left) has been left devastated by the death of his partner Alice Webb (right) after she died from a Brazilian Bum Lift procedure in the UK Pictured is Studio 23, which is just a few miles from where Alice's home is in Wotton-under-Edge The Studio 23 sign could be seen at the property when MailOnline visited it in Gloucester today Yesterday evening, Alice's partner Dane Knight asked people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding her death and to be mindful around her five daughters, who are 'extremely vulnerable' at this time. In an emotional post on Facebook he wrote: 'Want to say a heart felt thank you to all family and friends that were here for us at our time of need, including all of the kind messages sent to my children and myself. 'There was some very beautiful messages sent by some of your children that formed a start of a smile from the corner of my kids mouth. 'I feel this is important saying this as I will not accept speculations from adults being accidentally being eaves dropped by children and unnecessary questions raised to the 5 girls, so be extremely carful on what you say and who's around! My children are extremely vulnerable! 'Alice left us Monday at 11.30pm. 2 people have been arrested and currently in custody on potential charges of corporate manslaughter. 'Please, please have these 5 girls feelings at heart here.' Alice was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge, a market town in Gloucestershire. A GoFundMe page set up by her pal Abigail Irwin revealed the tragedy. It said: 'I am hoping to raise as many funds as we can to support Dane, the partner of Alice and their five beautiful children at this very difficult sad time. 'Alice passed away Monday evening after having the BBL treatment which has gone wrong. 'Alice joined the beauty & Aesthetics industry two years ago and she has been smashing it, doing amazing. Dane Knight (pictured) has urged people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding Alice's death Alice (pictured) was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge and is thought to have had the operation in the West Country Alice Webb (pictured), 33, died on Monday just hours after having the procedure Alice was just 33 when she passed away following the bum lift procedure in the UK 'She cared about her clients, she would always check in to see if they were OK, Alice was a beautiful person inside and out and I feel very lucky to have known her and to have spent time with her in our salon. 'Alice would ask for advice all the time and ask to check if there was anything more she could do to improve her skills but she was just a pure natural and never needed my help but always wanting to be the best at her job and that she was. 'Alice has passed away at a young age of 33. Alice was beautiful inside and out with the biggest heart, her family was her world she is leaving behind her partner Dane & 5 beautiful children. 'Delsie 15, Preete 13, Gracie 12, Nylie 10, Clarie 7 as you can imagine this is a very difficult heart breaking time for them all so if we can all help donate or share to help take of some financial stress it would be really appreciated by the family.' By late Wednesday the fund stood at 740 of a 3,000 target. Alice's death was also confirmed by campaign group Save Face. Director Ashton Collins told MailOnline: 'We are aware of this sad incident and are offering our support to her family. 'This is a very tragic time for them and we warned the Government nine months ago that deaths were likely unless there was intervention. 'We get hundreds of complaints from people and more needs to be done to investigate these procedures and there have been deaths from sepsis as a result. 'I understand that the surgeon involved has been arrested and is being questioned by police.' Alice is pictured with partner Dane Knight, who asked people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding her death and to be mindful around her five daughters A GoFundMe page set up for Alice, where tributes have been shared to the much-loved mother-of-five A GoFundMe has been set up and a tribute said: 'Alice was a beautiful person inside and out.' According to a report from Save Face published in July there has been an 'alarming increase in the number of patient reported complaints relating to non-surgical breast augmentation and BBLs'. The report said that more than half have resulted in severe and life-threatening complications, including sepsis, abscesses and infections. Save Face's investigation tragically concluded by saying: 'This is a crisis waiting to happen. Without urgent intervention, we fear it will only be a matter of time until there are fatalities. 'We are calling upon the Government to take immediate action to ban these procedures to ensure public safety.' Speaking on Wednesday to The Mirror, Ashton Collins of Save Face said: 'We made it absolutely clear that without urgent intervention, someone would die. 'It makes me incredibly sad and angry that today our fear has been confirmed and a family has been shattered.' In a statement, Gloucestershire police said: 'Police had been called by the ambulance service at around 11.35pm on Monday (23 September) with a report a woman had become unwell following a suspected cosmetic procedure. 'She was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and died in the early hours of Tuesday morning. 'Her next of kin and the coroner are aware. 'The woman's family are being supported by specially trained officers. 'An investigation, led by the Major Crime Investigation Team, is ongoing. The two people who had been arrested have been released on police bail.' Kaydell Brown, 38, (pictured) is one of several Brits who have died abroad following BBL surgery. She died last month having paid 5,400 for a 'mummy MOT' in Turkey Kaydell had hoped the surgery would get her life 'back on track' after she put on weight due to breaking her ankle, according to her sister Several British women have died overseas following BBL surgery in the last few years as the procedure is usually cheaper and popular destinations include Turkey, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Last month, Kaydell Brown, 38, of Sheffield, died after having a BBL in Turkey that she hoped would change her life. The mother of two paid 5,400 for a 'mummy MOT' - a package deal involving a Brazilian butt lift, a tummy tuck and a boob job. The cost in Britain would have been around 15,000. The hairdresser underwent the procedures at Clinic Expert in Istanbul on the morning of March 26, 2024, but never came out. Her heartbroken sister Leanne, 40, who was due to have the same surgery, slammed the Turkish clinic, branding it a 'pop-up butcher shop that needs shutting down'. Demi Agoglia, 26, of Salford, Greater Manchester, died in January days after she also had BBL surgery in Turkey. She became ill despite doctors initially declaring her surgery was successful. The young woman was taken into intensive care but was tragically pronounced dead. The mother reportedly flew to Turkey having already had dental work which was botched as well as another surgery. Demi Agoglia, 26, of Salford, Greater Manchester, died in January just days after having a Brazilian bum-lift in Turkey Her devastated brother Carl, 37, said Ms Agoglia's family and partner had tried to convince her not to go through with the bum-lift as they were concerned for her safety. Fat is first harvested from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction . Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the glutes at specific points, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance Her devastated brother Carl, 37, said Ms Agoglia's family and partner had tried to convince her not to go through with the bum-lift as they were concerned for her safety. The father-of-four said: 'It is tragic what happened. We are just in shock. She went to Istanbul to have it done. 'She had previously gone to have her teeth done. No one wanted her to go out and have it done but she is one of those people. 'Her partner is still out there and his dad has just flown out there to be with him. 'If anyone is thinking of flying to Turkey for an operation I would say don't do it! Even her boyfriend didn't want her to do it. But she is 26 and has her own mind. Her mum didn't want her to go out either.' Last November the death of 31-year-old Melissa Kerr after BBL surgery prompted UK government officials to meet with their counterparts in Turkey to discuss the dangers of cosmetic tourism. Ms Kerr was admitted to the Medicana Kadikoy Hospital in Istanbul in 2019 and died after the procedure to collect fat and inject it into her buttocks. The procedure carries a death rate at 'least 10 times higher than many other cosmetic procedures'. Melissa Kerr, 31, from Norfolk, was on holiday in Istanbul when she had a BBL procedure She paid 3,200 for the surgery (Pictured is Ms Kerr and her partner Skye Birch) Ms Kerr's medical cause of death was given as pulmonary thromboembolism and fat embolism, as a result of elective cosmetic surgery Norfolk's senior coroner Jacqueline Lake said that Ms Kerr, of Denton, Norfolk, was only given 'limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate' associated with the operation. The coroner wrote to the Department of Health and Social Care with her concerns following an inquest heard in September last year. She wrote: 'I am concerned that patients travelling to Turkey for this procedure are not being made aware of the risks and the high mortality rate associated with this surgery.' Ms Lake also raised concerns that there were 'no or limited controls with regard to such surgery taking place'. She could not have been a more unlikely candidate, but a middle-aged literary translator was the first female MI6 spy, according to new research. Agnes Blake put her life in danger by spying on German officers. Her mission as 'Agent A' was to supply information on any possible German invasion or declaration of war. As 50-year-old widow whose family links to Germany, she had the perfect cover story, enabling her to visit and gather intelligence without raising suspicion. She was employed in 1909, when the Secret Service Bureau was founded. She reported to Mansfield Cumming, the first head of Britain's secret intelligence service, on the movements of both active and retired German officers. She has been identified for the first time by historian Claire Hubbard-Hall, who told MailOnline that she discovered crucial evidence on Agent A in overlooked accounting files of the secret service, held in the National Archives: 'No-one's gone through them.' Agnes Blake, MI6's first female agent (third from the left) with the Garraway Family at their home in Finsbury Park, London, 1906 Noting the secrecy surrounding intelligence work, she said: 'It's amazing that I've been able to identify her. On 17 December 1909, Agnes made history as the first woman employed as an MI6 agent.' Blake came from a wealthy family. In the 1820s, her grandfather, Frederick Garraway, made his fortune in Dominica, where he owned a sugar plantation. She established herself as a translator, adapting German plays for the British stage and translating German literary works into English. She even designed and patented a puzzle. Little is known about her husband, other than that they were married for 11 years before his death. Through her circle of friends, she was recommended to the MI6 paymaster, Sir Charles Hardinge, who realised that she could provide early information on a possible German invasion through her family links. Blake's older sister had married into an aristocratic German family in 1869. Dr Hubbard-Hall said: 'It was through her German brother-in-law's military connections as equerry to the Crown Prince and future Kaiser Wilhelm that made Agnes such an important asset to Cumming and the War Office.' While Blake particularly focussed on a 'Staff Corps man', she also assisted Cumming in writing letters and telegrams in German. Dr Hubbard-Hall said that there was an undoubted element of risk in her mission: 'If she had been caught, then it would have been quite severe. She would have been aware of the risk. That tells us inadvertently quite a lot about her strength of character. It was then the run-up to the First World War and the Secret Service Bureau was founded. That's probably why she was employed, as an 'early warning' system, so she could signal if an invasion was likely or Germany was going to declare war.' She was unable to gain access to Cumming's diary, which is in a MI6 safe. His biographer Alan Judd, a former MI6 officer, was the only person given access to it and he had highlighted a diary entry relating to Cumming's first meeting with 'Agent A', when he noted her 'very slight grasp of what is required'. But Dr Hubbard-Hall unearthed later letters which reveal that Cumming had changed his mind about her and tried in vain to persuade her to stay on. Blake was not prepared to access the annual salary of 100, equivalent to 8,000 today. It is her extensive correspondence on her pay that has now revealed her identity. It shows that she was discharged from the Secret Service Bureau in 1910 with a final settlement payment of 58 10s.58. Dr Hubbard-Hall's forthcoming book, Her Secret Service: The Forgotten Women of British Intelligence, to be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on October 24. Without that correspondence, 'the identity of "Agent A" would have been lost to history', Dr Hubbard-Hall said. She added: 'There's such a wad of letters in this bunch of files, which is basically the accounting files of the Secret Service Bureau. They've been laying there, but no one's gone through them Most people would perhaps think that there's isn't anything interesting there but, in fact, if you want to learn anything about an organisation, get your hands on the accounts 'The Secret Service Bureau was established in October 1909. Out of that was born MI5 and MI6. There's only a handful of agents that are recruited very early on, of which Agnes was one. Some of the other agents referred to by Alan Judd were all men. So I am 99% sure that she would have been the first woman employed.' Blake, who died in 1950 aged 91, never had children. When Dr Hubbard-Hall tracked down her living relatives, they were astonished: 'They had absolutely no idea at all. They couldn't quite believe it. They've still got the German aristocrat's ring. But they hadn't got any idea as to what Agnes was actually doing in terms of espionage work. So they found it all quite surreal.' Dr Hubbard-Hall is including her research in her forthcoming book, Her Secret Service: The Forgotten Women of British Intelligence, to be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on October 24. When Vladimir Putin sent thousands upon thousands of his troops streaming across the border and into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he delivered a chilling warning to the West. Stay out of it, or else. Now, more than two and a half years into the invasion of Ukraine, Putin and his mouthpieces have issued a near-constant stream of threats at the UK, US and other European nations, warning of nuclear Armageddon should NATO countries dare to intervene. Despite hesitance to deploy boots on the ground or green-light the use of long-range weaponry to strike targets deep into Russia, Western support for Ukraine has been significant, delivering billions upon billions of military aid up to and including the provision of F-16 fighter jets. But as Western support for Kyiv grew, so too did the intensity of Moscow's sabre-rattling. In recent months the threats have become increasingly unhinged, with officials and propagandists painting pictures of doomsday that include sinking the UK under a radioactive tidal wave and hitting Westminster with a direct nuclear strike. Now, as Sir Keir Starmer, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron mull over the prospect of allowing Ukraine to hit back at Russian targets with Western missiles, Putin declared yesterday that he will amend his nation's nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold at which Moscow will deploy its fearsome arsenal. Amid this latest thinly veiled nod to the prospect of nuclear war, MailOnline takes a look back at how the Kremlin's threats of Armageddon have changed since Putin's first warning upon the invasion of Ukraine. More than two and a half years into the invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin continues to rattle the nuclear sabre In this handout photo taken from video released by the Russian Defence Ministry's press service in 2022, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk While most experts agree the chances of a Russian strike on the West are minimal, Joe Biden has warned the risk of Armageddon is greater than at any time since the Cuban Missile Crisis (file image, nuclear blast shown on Russian state TV) Your browser does not support iframes. 'CONSEQUENCES YOU HAVE NEVER FACED' Putin said in a speech to launch his 'special military operation' in Ukraine that Russia is a leading nuclear power 'and possesses certain advantages in some of the newest types of weaponry. 'In this regard, no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to defeat and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.' He later adds: 'Whoever tries to hinder us, or threaten our country or our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to consequences that you have never faced in your history.' Putin told Russians: 'I have decided to conduct a special military operation. Russia cannot exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine. 'You and I have been left with no opportunity to protect our people other than the one we use today.' The Russian leader's chilling warning came just a day after the United Nations Security Council had convened an emergency meeting urging Putin to stop his tanks. Putin ignored the plea, going on TV to describe the invasion as a 'special military occupation' before saying he wanted to 'demilitarise' and 'de-Nazify', not occupy, the country. Putin says in a speech to launch his 'special military operation' in Ukraine: 'No one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to defeat and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor' Russian test-launch of a nuclear capable Sarmat-2 ballistic missile is seen in this image 'NOT A BLUFF' In September 2022, Putin ordered Russia's first military mobilisation since World War Two and said: 'If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will without doubt use all available means to protect Russia and our people - this is not a bluff.' He added: 'I shall stress - by all means available to us. Those trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the tables can turn on them.' Former Russian MP and Putin adviser Sergei Markov also delivered a bare-faced tirade on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, launching into a series of threats about nuclear war. 'It's not a good morning for everybody. In Russia, there's partial mobilisation and for your British listeners, Vladimir Putin told you that he would be ready to use nuclear weapons against Western countries... including against Great Britain. 'Your cities will be targeted.' Later that month, the Kremlin chief said the United States created a 'precedent' when it dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. He made the statement during a speech filled with hostility towards the West delivered from the Kremlin calling Western leaders 'Satanists' and accusing 'Anglo Saxons' of blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines. The Russian despot ranted about sex-change operations, claimed America is occupying Germany and Korea and vowed to 'smash' the West in the disturbing remarks as he announced the annexation of four regions in Ukraine. A Yars intercontinental ballistic nuclear missile is fired from Plesetsk cosmodrome in Northern Arkhangelsk region, Russia 'DESTRUCTION OF CIVILISATION' Putin declared that any attempt to use nuclear weapons on Russia would provoke a split-second response with hundreds of nuclear missiles that no enemy could survive. 'I think no person of sound mind and clear memory would think of using nuclear weapons against Russia,' he scoffed, before declaring that his forces had tested and will place on combat duty their latest nuclear-capable weapons, the Burevestnik cruise missile and Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. He said parliament should review Russia's position on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to 'mirror' the position of the United States, which has not ratified it. Russia's parliament later withdrew Russia's ratification of the treaty. Putin also told Western countries they risk provoking a nuclear war if they send troops to fight in Ukraine - one of many warnings to discourage the involvement of NATO. They 'must realise that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory,' he said. 'All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilisation. Don't they get that?' DISPLAYS OF NUCLEAR MIGHT Russia's threats of nuclear war are not limited to words or computer generated simulations - the Kremlin is often keen to display the weapons for real in various parades, tests and propaganda videos. On Russia's Victory Day celebrations in May, Putin warned his 'strategic forces' - the divisions that control Moscow's nuclear arsenal, were at 'full combat readiness' as he sent Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles trundling through Red Square and other locations in the capital. 'Russia will do everything to prevent global confrontation, but will not allow anyone to threaten us,' he said. 'Our strategic forces are in combat readiness.' One month later, Russia held nuclear missile drills amid an ongoing programme of strategic military exercises, wheeling out the Yars ICBMs in widely broadcasted footage and deploying them to forest locations in the remote Irkutsk region of Siberia for potential combat use. The missiles, which soar through space and re-enter the atmosphere at Mach 25 have a range of up to 7,500 miles, enabling a strike on Europe and the US. Yars ICBMs are currently the main element of the ground-based component of the Russian strategic nuclear force. Russian 'Yars' intercontinental ballistic missile launcher takes part in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, 09 May 2024 Drills of Russia's strategic missile forces in the Irkutsk region. Footage from the Defence Ministry's TV channel shows Yars missile carriers Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers parade through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2022 'WEAPONS EXIST IN ORDER TO USE THEM' Asked in an interview with state-controlled Rossiya-1 television if Russia is really ready for a nuclear war, Putin said in March: 'From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready.' In unsettling comments made during the interview, he reminded viewers that Russia's nuclear doctrine permitted the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a perceived threat to national security. 'Weapons exist in order to use them,' he declared. 'We have our own principles.' He warned that if US troops are deployed in Russia or Ukraine, the Kremlin will view this as American intervention, meaning Washington would be seen as an active adversary in the war. Putin went on to add that Russia's nuclear weapons programme was far larger and more advanced than any other. 'Our triad, the nuclear triad, it is more modern than any other triad. 'Only we and the Americans actually have such triads. And we have advanced much more here.' Russian President Vladimir Putin gives an interview to TV host and director-general of Rossiya Segodnya (RIA Novosti) news agency, Dmitry Kiselyov, at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 12, 2024 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile launch at Russia's Plesetsk cosmodrome THREAT TO 'SINK UK UNDER NUCLEAR TIDAL WAVE' Dmitry Kiselyov, one of Putin's leading mouthpieces and propagandists, has on several occasions threatened to sink Britain under a radioactive tidal wave - one of the more novel and menacing threats to have come out of Moscow. He made the threat in April of this year, taking to Russian state television to display a simulated mockup of how nuclear weapons would be used to wash away the UK. Any bid by the West to put boots on the ground in Ukraine to 'inflict a strategic defeat on Russia' would result in Armageddon, Kiselyov warned. Putin would unleash his Satan-2 and other deadly nuclear missiles, he said. 'France as a nuclear power will have to be disarmed instantly. The British Isles will simply go under water. 'There are technologies for this... This is not propaganda. In our programme ten years ago, in 2014, we said - possibly, for the first time - that guaranteed retribution was inevitable. 'Do not drive Russia into a corner. Russia is the only country in the world that is truly capable of turning (Western countries) into radioactive ash.' Russia's Channel 1 shows a CGI mock-up of Britain being 'wiped off the map' with the Poseidon missile The Belgorod submarine is designed to carry Moscow's super weapon - the nuclear-powered drones named Poseidon - which Russia claims are capable of causing nuclear tsunamis Then at the start of this month, Russian hardline MP Andrei Gurulev sneered 'swim, swim, swim' as he demanded the use of Moscow's unique Poseidon high-speed underwater atomic drone on Britain. Kremlin propaganda TV on the Rossiya-1 channel demanded a 'critical threat' from Putin to stop Britain, the US and other Western countries giving permission to Ukraine to use long-range missiles for strikes on Russian territory. 'There is, of course, a more radical option,' said Lt-Gen Gurulev, a former tank commander and military strategist. 'The people of Britain are there, they also want to live a good and happy life at our expense, right? 'But if there is no Britain, there is no problem,' he said, before calling for the use of the nuclear underwater drone. Pictured above is the Poseidon underwater drone Russian hardline MP Andrei Gurulev sneered 'swim, swim, swim' as he demanded the use of Moscow 's unique Poseidon high-speed underwater atomic drone on Britain NUCLEAR STRIKE IN CENTRAL LONDON In recent days, a staunchly pro-Putin propaganda TV channel unveiled a simulation of a devastating nuclear strike on London that it said would cause 850,000 deaths and injure 2 million people. The four-minute-long simulation overlaid with English commentary was part of a concerted campaign to discourage Britain from allowing Ukraine to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles to hit targets inside Russia. The video broadcast by Tsargrad TV channel began by threatening: 'Imagine for a moment that the unimaginable happens. 'A nuclear weapon explodes over London. In this documentary, we explore the devastating consequences of this catastrophe. 'In the simulation, we will use a warhead with a yield of 750 kilotons. That's a pretty powerful charge.' The commentary warns viewers: 'Upon detonation, a fireball as hot as the sun rapidly expands, reaching a radius of 950 metres' The simulation of a nuclear strike was broadcast by a staunchly pro-Putin propaganda TV channel Putin's propagandists and entourage have repeatedly warned that he could use nuclear weapons The effects of a 500kiloton nuclear bomb - a large device but certainly not the largest in Russia's arsenal - being dropped on London are illustrated above. Everything inside the yellow and red circles would be completely destroyed, with an almost 100 per cent casualty rate for anyone inside. Third degree burns are possible up to the edge of the orange circle The commentary warns viewers: 'Upon detonation, a fireball as hot as the sun rapidly expands, reaching a radius of 950 metres [1,039 yards]. 'Anything trapped inside this fireball is instantly vaporised. 'In our simulation, the epicentre of the explosion is at Westminster. People within that radius won't even feel anything because the nerve impulse transmission speed is slower. 'Within 5 km [3 miles] of the epicentre the blast radius city of London, Camden town, Kensington, Brixton these areas will receive the most destruction.' A ticker on the screen also totted up the number of possible fatalities. 'Buildings will be destroyed and debris will fill the streets, creating extremely dangerous conditions for everyone in the vicinity. 'Given the population density in central London, the initial death toll could exceed 250,000 people and around 600,000 injured within a radius of 10 km [6.25 miles] the radiation will cause third-degree burns. 'Within that radius, anything that can burn will catch fire.' UPDATING THE NUCLEAR DOCTRINE Russia's nuclear doctrine, last updated and published in 2020, sets out the conditions under which a Russian president would consider using a nuclear weapon. The doctrine as it stands says that Moscow can deploy nukes broadly as a response to an attack using nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, or to the use of conventional weapons against Russia 'when the very existence of the state is put under threat'. But Putin yesterday declared the nuclear doctrine needed to be 'corrected' to be brought in line with the increased threat he says Russia is facing amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and the West's support of Kyiv. The Kremlin has so far declined to specify exactly what those updates would be. Still, the innovations outlined by Putin include a widening of the threats under which Russia would consider a nuclear strike, the inclusion of ally Belarus under the nuclear umbrella and the idea that a rival nuclear power supporting a conventional strike on Russia would also be considered to be attacking it. The new doctrine has yet to be published and the Kremlin's press secretary declined to say if or when it would be revealed. But the move represents a lowering of the threshold at which Moscow may consider deploying its nuclear arsenal. Channel 5 bosses are set to keep a keen eye on ratings and reactions to Phillip Schofield's new survival series with hopes he could star in further projects. The disgraced presenter yesterday revealed he was taking part in his own Channel 5 survival show just 16 months on from leaving This Morning after admitting to having an 'unwise but not illegal' fling with a junior male colleague. Billed as 'an authentic and intense physical and mental challenge', the three-part show, Phillip Schofield: Cast Away, will give the 62-year-old free reign 'to tell his side' of the scandal that derailed his career. And Channel 5 bosses will reportedly asses the public's reaction and ratings of the new series, which starts next Monday, before lining up any future projects involving Schofield, according to The Mirror. Schofield is said to have turned down a selection of big money TV offers before choosing to sign up for Cast Away - which he believes will allow him to share his story in an 'unedited and honest' way. Disgraced presenter Phillip Schofield is starring in a new Channel 5 survival show just 16 months on from leaving This Morning. Promotional material for the show sees Schofield sitting on a beach looking disheveled while staring at the camera The three-part show, Phillip Schofield : Cast Away, will give the 62-year-old free reign 'to tell his side' of the scandal that derailed his career. Pictured: Phillip talking to the camera in a clip from the upcoming show Phillip Schofield is seen walking his dog on the day he announced his TV comeback The series will air across three nights from Monday September 30 to Wednesday October 2, in three 60-minute installments. It follows Phillip as he is cast away for ten days and nine nights on a remote, unpopulated island off the coast of Madagascar. Viewers will see the axed presenter reflect on the emotional impact of his exile from mainstream TV after news of his affair with a 20-year-old runner on This Morning came to light. It's understood that Schofield was given a handheld camera, body cameras and a sound pack before being left to record his emotional week-and-a-half long journey. But while Schofield may hope the move will allow him to reconnect with viewers, the show has already been met with disdain by the public and TV critics alike. Following the announcement of the show, TV critic Scott Bryan said: 'Quite shocked by that Phillip Schofield show but then I remembered that this is Channel 5 so hardly not surprising.' Meanwhile, TalkTV presenter Renee Hoenderkamp branded the star a 'narcissist', adding that she did not think he should be having anymore screen time. She said: 'Is this not a chance for a narcissist to just have more me time on screen? I don't want to know his story, I'm not interested in it.' The Cast Away trailer reveals footage of Phillip Schofield on a deserted island Schofield will discuss his acrimonious departure from ITV and daytime show This Morning while fending for himself on the island, located off the coast of Madagascar Schofield's predecessor on This Morning, Eamonn Holmes, reacted to news of the new show while live on GBNews. When former Home Office Minister Norman Baker sarcastically remarked 'my heart bleeds', Holmes let out a chuckle in a very telling reaction to the news. It was May 2023 when the presenter admitted to having a relationship with a much younger male colleague on This Morning, and later lying about it. He described their romance as 'unwise but not illegal' and explained it took place during his nearly 30-year marriage to Stephanie Lowe, with whom he is a parent to two children. Schofield subsequently resigned from both This Morning and ITV and said that he was 'so very sorry' to Lowe for being unfaithful. At the time, it was reported that Steph had been left 'devastated' by the revelation and angry that her husband had lied to her. However, it was later revealed she is choosing not to file for divorce because she does not want him to 'fall any further' then he already has, and despite everything, 'the love is still very much there.' As well as the breakdown of his marriage, Schofield's relationship with co-host Holly Willoughby faltered in the midst of the scandal, with the pair understood to be at loggerheads. Schofield's daughter Molly is now his publicist after she quit the talent agency that once represented her father. Phil broke his silence on his TV return on Wednesday. Posting on Instagram, the star shared photos promoting his Channel 5 show Cast Away One clip from the show, released ahead of its release, sees Schofield in tears telling the camera: 'I know what I did was unwise, but is it enough to completely destroy someone?' Another scene in the show sees Phil drinking from a coconut while decked out in full survivor gear PR guru Mark Borkowski says his tepid return to the public eye has come after a year away to disappear and get himself together. Calling him a rare talent, Borkowski said: 'He's testing the waters. But audiences are very forgiving.' Schofield told the BBC in an emotional interview last June the affair had finished his career and revealed that the fallout had left him feeling suicidal. He told how his two daughters - Molly and Ruby - had saved his life and had 'guarded me and won't let me out of their sight'. During the sit-down interview with Amol Rajan he denied he had groomed the younger colleague, before telling critics: 'Do you want me to die? Because that's where I am.' Schofield insisted he had not 'groomed' his young lover, despite first meeting him when he was 15. He said: 'Attraction is attraction. It's no different in the gay world as it is in the heterosexual world or in the lesbian world. 'There shouldn't be a difference. This is where homophobia comes in. We did first meet when he was 15, I visited the drama school [he attended].' He said the fallout from his admission that he lied about his affair with a younger male colleague had been 'relentless', revealing he has had suicidal thoughts. Schofield said: 'My girls saved my life. They said last week they haven't left me for a moment. They've been by my side every moment because they're scared to let me out of their sight. What is that like for daughters to have to go with something like that? 'And they said to me, "Don't you dare do this on our watch. We're supposed to be looking after you." If my girls hadn't been there, I wouldn't be here, because I don't see my future.' Schofield was given a handheld camera, body cameras and a sound pack before being left to record his emotional week-and-a-half long journey In many scenes from the show, he is seen in tears as he battles with the emotional toll of his experience Schofield also slammed 'a handful of people' with 'persistently loud voices' in a statement days after leaving This Morning - and rejected claims of a 'toxic' culture on the programme. The daytime show was plunged into meltdown since revelations over Schofield's relationship with a much younger man at ITV emerged with the channel losing millions of pounds in sponsorship deals and some guests refusing to appear on the sofa. ITV deny losing sponsorship deals. Shark Ninja have been the show's sponsor since September 2023. But speaking out on social media in May 2023, Schofield hit out at those 'with a grudge against me'. In a statement posted on his Instagram, the presenter said: 'Now I no longer work on This Morning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it's the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. 'This Morning IS the best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked there there was no toxicity. You can listen to those persistently loud voices if you like. 'But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know it, it IS a family of wonderful, talented, kind, hard-working people.' Bosses at ITV published the much anticipated review into the scandal and allegations of toxic working culture in December. It was conducted by an independent lawyer, Jane Mulcahy KC. It was May 2023 when the presenter admitted to having a relationship with a much younger male colleague on This Morning, and later lying about it (pictured with co-host Holly Willoughby) Schofield with his wife Stephanie Lowe and daughters Molly - who is now his publicist - and Ruby in London in 2018 One employee told the Mail of their 'sheer bewilderment' that only one junior worker was aware of the relationship. The report found that ITV did not cover-up the relationship and that station bosses had made 'considerable efforts' to discover the truth in 2019 four years before the affair broke. The external review found that the channel was 'unable to uncover the relevant evidence' until Schofield's own admission in May 2023, when he told the Mail that he had been having the relationship and later lied about it. ITV bosses have said both Schofield and his former lover, a runner who has never been named, 'repeatedly denied' allegations of a relationship until the star dramatically quit ITV and formally apologised. It added that only one person out of 48 interviewed a junior employee said they knew about the presenter's relationship with a younger male former colleague before he revealed it in May. Mulcahy revealed that Schofield refused to take part in the review into the circumstances surrounding his departure because of 'the risk to his health'. She added that she was informed that the host's mental health had since deteriorated. Schofield's former colleague and lover also declined to participate in the report. However, staff at ITV have been left cross, accusing the report of being a 'waste of time'. The findings did reveal that there was a culture of silence at the channel, saying that junior employees at ITV's This Morning still fear that speaking out will damage their careers in the industry. A death row inmate who denies firing the fatal shot in a convenience store burglary 22 years ago is waiting to learn if his life will be spared after the Oklahoma pardon and parole board recommended his sentence be commuted to life without parole. Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, is set to die by lethal injection today for his role in the June 1992 murder of Kenneth Meers, 31, at the Root-N-Scoot convenience store in south Oklahoma City. Meers was killed when Littlejohn, then 20, and co-defendant Glenn Bethany, then 26, robbed the store. He was shot and killed by a single bullet, but both men involved in the robbery were charged and convicted in his murder. Littlejohn and his attorneys allege that Bethany was the sole shooter in Meers' death and have argued that due to 'inconsistent prosecutions' in his case, he should not be executed. He is now waiting a clemency decision from Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt after the state's Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend commuting his sentence to life without parole. Stitt, in his six years as governor, has granted clemency only once and denied recommendations from the parole board in three other cases. Littlejohn's death by lethal injection is scheduled for 10am Thursday, while another execution was set to take place later in the day in Alabama. If both executions are carried out, it would be the first time in decades that five death row inmates were put to death in the US within one week. Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, (left) is set to die by lethal injection today for his role in the June 1992 murder of Kenneth Meers, 31, at the Root-N-Scoot convenience store in south Oklahoma City. Meers (right) was killed when Littlejohn and co-defendant Glenn Bethany (not pictured) robbed the store. He was shot and killed by a single bullet, but both men involved in the robbery were charged and convicted in his murder Littlejohn is now waiting a clemency decision from Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt (pictured in August 2024) after the state's Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend commuting his sentence to life without parole. Stitt, in his six years as governor, has granted clemency only once and denied recommendations from the parole board in three other cases Oklahoma is preparing to execute Littlejohn, who has exhausted his appeals, on Thursday while the inmate awaits a clemency decision from Stitt. Littlejohn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1994 for his role in Meers' death. Bethany was also convicted of first-degree murder and in 1993 sentenced to life without parole. Both men could be charged with the crime because of the felony murder statute, which allows anyone charged with a violent felony to also be charged with murder if the crime resulted in death. Littlejohn, during video testimony to the Pardon and Parole Board last month, apologized to Meers' family for his death - but denied firing the fatal shot. His attorneys pointed out that the same prosecutor tried Bethany and Littlejohn in separate trials using a nearly identical theory, even though there was only one shooter and one bullet that killed Meers. But prosecutors told the board that two teenage store employees who witnessed the robbery both said Littlejohn, not Bethany, fired the fatal shot. Littlejohn's attorneys also argued that killings resulting from a robbery are rarely considered death penalty cases and that prosecutors today would not have pursued the ultimate punishment. 'It is evident that Emmanuel would not have been sentenced to death if he'd been tried in 2024 or even 2004,' attorney Caitlin Hoeberlein told the board. Augustina Sanders hugs Kim Ludwig, a paralegal in the Federal Public Defender's Office in Oklahoma City, after the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend clemency for Sanders' brother, Emmanuel Littlejohn, on August 7, 2024 Littlejohn was prosecuted by former Oklahoma County District Attorney Bob Macy, who was known for his zealous pursuit of the death penalty and secured 54 death sentences during more than 20 years in office. Because of the board's 3-2 recommendation, Stitt has the option of commuting Littlejohn's sentence to life in prison without parole. The governor has appointed three of the board's members. On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Stitt said the governor had met with prosecutors and Littlejohn's attorneys but had not reached a decision. In 2021, Stitt granted clemency to Julius Jones, commuting his sentence to life without parole just hours before Jones was scheduled to receive a lethal injection. He denied clemency recommendations from the board for Bigler Stouffer, James Coddington and Phillip Hancock, all of whom were executed. Littlejohn's execution, which was scheduled for 10am at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, would make him the 14th person put to death in Oklahoma under Stitt's administration. Littlejohn's execution is scheduled for 10am today at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. If it is carried out, Littlejohn will be the 14th person put to death in the state under Stitt's administration (file photo) Alan Eugene Miller, 59, (pictured) is set to be executed Thursday in Alabama for the 1999 murders of three of his co-workers when he gunned them down over rumors about his sexuality. Miller will be the second inmate executed via nitrogen gas hypoxia It comes as Alan Eugene Miller, 59, is set to be executed Thursday in Alabama for the 1999 murders of three of his co-workers when he gunned them down over rumors about his sexuality. Miller will be the second inmate executed via nitrogen gas hypoxia despite the first attempt being described as 'torture' and the 'most violent' execution in modern US history. Unless there is a last-minute stay of execution, he will be strapped to the same gurney as Kenneth Eugene Smith, who endured the first nitrogen execution in January. Smith was said to have thrashed and retched against his restraints for a 'horrific' 22-minute ordeal, as a firefighters-style mask placed over his face filled with 100 percent nitrogen gas that suffocated him to death. The executions in Oklahoma and Alabama would make for 1,600 executions nationwide since the death penalty was reinstated by the US Supreme Court in 1976, according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. The executions in Oklahoma and Alabama would make for 1,600 executions nationwide since the death penalty was reinstated by the US Supreme Court in 1976. It will also mark the first time since July 2003 that five executions were held within a period of seven days (file photo of the gurney in the the execution chamber at Oklahoma State Penitentiary) South Carolina executed inmate Freddie Owens, 46, (left) last Friday. Marcellus Williams, 55, (center) was executed in Missouri on Tuesday. That same day Travis Mullis, 38, (right) was put to death in Huntsville, Texas It will also mark the first time in more than 20 years - since July 2003 - that five executions were held within a period of seven days. The first took place Friday when South Carolina executed inmate Freddie Owens, 46. He was sentenced to death for the 1997 killing of a convenience store clerk during a robbery. Marcellus Williams, 55, was executed in Missouri on Tuesday for the 1998 killing of Felicia Gayle. That same day Travis Mullis, 38, was put to death in Huntsville, Texas for stomping his three-month-old son, Alijah Mullis, to death in 2008. In Oklahoma, an appellate court on Wednesday denied a last-minute legal challenge to the constitutionality of the state's lethal injection method of execution. An allegedly corrupt former Albanian Prime Minister has reportedly spent more than 400,000 trying to overturn a ban on entering the UK because of 'clear links to crime groups'. Sali Berisha, who served as Albania's PM from 2005 to 2013 and as president from 1992 to 1997, was put under house arrest in his country while he is investigated for allegedly abusing his office to benefit his son-in-law. The 79-year-old - who is also the head of the opposition Democratic Party - was charged with corruption last October. Mr Berisha denied the allegations and claimed they were orchestrated by Edi Rama, the current Prime Minister. Prosecutors said that if is convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 12 years. The US government in May 2021 and the UK in July 2022 barred Mr Berisha and close family members from entering their countries after these allegations - a decision he has spent a great deal of money fighting against. The UK banned former Albanian president Sali Berisha from entering the country in July 2022 Mr Berisha is appealing against the decision by then-home secretary Priti Patel to ban him Sali Berisha pictured arriving at the office of Anti Corruption Special Prosecutor (SPAK) He appealed against the exclusion order at a special immigration tribunal. However, it was rejected because it is the sovereign right of the UK to control entry through its borders. According to The Telegraph, documents in Albania revealed Mr Berisha has spent more than 500,000 (417,500) employing lawyers in the UK to fight his ban. It is alleged he was abusing his post to help his son-in-law, Jamarber Malltezi, buy land in Tirana owned by both private citizens and the defence ministry, and to build 17 apartment buildings on the property. Mr Berisha and Mr Malltezi have both proclaimed their innocence. Mr Berisha has been appealing at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in London over the move by former Home Secretary Priti Patel. Documents relating to his appeal claim that links between politics and crime in Albania create a 'permissive environment in which serious criminals and OCGs (organised crime gangs) can operate and benefit from the political protection of corrupt politicians from law enforcement activity'. Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha speaks from stage after being punched in the face The papers also say political protection gives gangs more options to launder money and means Albania can be used as a 'safe haven from which to operate'. These gangs can then buy votes or intimidate voters during elections to help politicians, the documents claim. Government court papers relating to the legal battle revealed that a secret operation has been launched to stop Albanian gangsters flooding the streets of Britian with cocaine and bring down their criminal empires linked to people smuggling and sex trafficking. Officials at the Foreign Office and Home Office jointly launched 'Crime State Nexus' to target organised criminals and the crooked Balkan politicians assisting them. Albanian gangs were described in the legal documents as an 'acute threat' to Britain by being 'highly prevalent across serious and organised crime' through their involvement in the UK cocaine market, people smuggling and sex trafficking. The papers also cited data showing Albanians are by far the biggest foreign nationality in UK prisons, making up in one eight of all incarcerated criminals. After a spike in 2022 in the number of Albanian nationals arriving in the UK in small boats, the governments of both nations struck an agreement to work together to stop people getting in Albanian gangs are known for sharing photos of flash cars, drugs and money on social media A TikTok video showing Albanian migrants crossing the English Channel in 2022 The Crime State Nexus project tries to take action against politically exposed people in Albania, which can include banning them from Britain. The basic aim is therefore to break the links between politics, business and illicit activity. After a spike in 2022 in the number of Albanian nationals arriving in the UK in small boats, the governments of both nations struck an agreement to work together to prevent people from making the journey. This included placing UK Border Force staff in Tirana airport, the exchange of senior police officers and the creation of a joint migration taskforce. It is likely this contributed to a 93 per cent drop in Albanians crossing the Channel, down from 12,658 in 2022 to 922 between January 1 and November 29, 2023. Under the returns agreement, the UK has removed 26,000 people over the last year including nearly 6,000 Albanians, the Foreign Office said. Do you know the woman cyclist? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk A video captures the incredible moment a brave woman thwarted two crooks who stole her electric bike by yanking one off a moped as they tried to speed off with it. The middle-aged lady grabbed the bike with one hand and pulled one of the helmet-wearing thieves off the scooter with the other causing both him and the bike to crash onto the road, in Hertfordshire. Shocked passersby and customers in a nearby Starbucks watched on in horror. The e-bike and one of the crooks ended up lying on the concrete as the other offender sped off on the moped. A video captures the incredible moment a brave woman thwarted two crooks who stole her electric bike by yanking one off a moped as they tried to speed off with it The middle-aged lady grabbed the bike with one hand and pulled one of the helmet-wearing thieves off the scooter with the other causing both him and the bike to crash onto the road, in Hertfordshire One bystander in the coffee shop captured her heroics - which happened on on September 24 on Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire - on their mobile phone. The alarming incident took place just a stone's throw from the Elstree TV studios where ITV's Who Wants to be a Millionaire? , Dancing on Ice andThe Chase are all filmed. Local, Steve Blackman, said: 'Fair play to the lady having a go back. 'But I can't understand there's nobody helping and of course caught on camera taking the documentary of it all instead of helping? 'I know it's a bit daunting to get involved with something like this. 'But that's someone's family member and trust me the little sod needs more than being dragged off that bike and I say that in a non-violent manner.' Ben Hunt added: 'Good for her, shame people not helping her out.' Mohammed Abdul Aziz said: 'Wow the happiness I felt seeing that lowlife hit the floor.' Another - called Gareth - added: 'Love that. 'Good on her.' One fumed: 'Everyone just sitting back, sitting their overpriced coffee, doing f*** all.' Hertfordshire Police have been approached for comment. A man was thrown out of a restaurant after staff claimed his facial disfigurement had led to complaints from customers. Oliver Bromley, who has Neurofibromatosis Type 1 which causes non-cancerous tumours to grow on his nerves, was asked to leave the restaurant in Camberwell south London in August. - Mr Bromley was an inpatient at King's College Hospital when the incident occured. After being treated he decided to the visit the restaurant - which he has decided not to name - for a bite to eat. After noticing the eatery was cash only, Mr Bromley left to withdraw some money. However, when he returned staff told him to "please leave", because in their words, he was "scaring the customers." Speaking to the BBC, Mr Bromley said: 'There had not been enough time between the time I had been there first, and the time I went back, for anyone to have made a complaint about me so obviously the restaurant staff were not happy with the way I looked.' Oliver Bromley (pictured), who has Neurofibromatosis Type 1 which causes non-cancerous tumours to grow on his nerves, was asked to leave the restaurant in Camberwell south London in August The comment, which he took 'very personally', left Mr Bromley very upset but he did not challenge the staff member and chose to leave. He has since complained to the restaurant and reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police. Mr Bromley says he does not mind people asking questions about his condition and believes the incident boils down to a lack of education. He said: 'They probably thought having tumours was contagious or something.' Now, he wants to try and create 'some good' from the awful incident by creating more awareness for people with facial deformities. He added: 'It's not about me. It's never been about me.' Karen Cockburn, charity director of Nerve Tumours UK, said, 'We were extremely disappointed to hear news of the dreadful, but sadly not uncommon, incident that Oliver Bromley experienced whilst attempting to purchase lunch. Mr Bromley says he does not mind people asking questions about his condition and believes the incident boils down to a lack of education. He said: 'They probably thought having tumours was contagious or something' 'We work tirelessly to raise both the profile of the condition and the work that we do to help patients; and also to educate the wider public about the condition. 'We have written to both the restaurant concerned, and to UK Hospitality, the trade association body. 'Whilst we have not received any response from the restaurant, I am delighted to say that UK Hospitality has offered to work with us to raise awareness of the condition amongst the hospitality sector, and I am meeting with them shortly to kick start this joint venture.' In a statement the Met Police told MailOnline: 'Police were called at 7.20pm on Wednesday August 21 to reports of a discrimination incident in Camberwell. 'A man in his 40s stated that he was refused service at a local restaurant due to a facial disfigurement connected to his medical condition. 'Officers attended and spoke to the victim. No arrests have been made. 'We take reports of hate crime seriously and record all instances whether they pass the threshold to be classified as a crime or not.' A damaged vessel carrying 20,000 tons of explosive cargo remains moored off the Kent coast after being denied entry at other ports over safety fears. The cargo ship, nicknamed the Ruby, is travelling with the assistance of a tugboat and been located just outside British waters near Margate loaded with ammonium nitrate fertiliser. MailOnline's interactive map shows that the ship, flying under the flag of Malta, originally set sail from Russia and is now awaiting permission to enter the Strait of Dover. It is seeking a port in which to dock to undergo repairs for its cracked hull, having been turned away from Danish and Lithuanian waters due to concerns over its explosive cargo. Just 2,750 tonnes of this fertiliser caused the explosion that devastated Beirut in 2020 - causing 218 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries. HM Coastguard officials say they are currently in contact with the vessel and will continue to monitor its progress towards and through UK waters, but experts are questioning why the ship had not been ordered to return to Russia. Your browser does not support iframes. A Russian cargo ship (pictured) loaded with explosives was spotted off the coast of Kent The cargo ship, nicknamed the Ruby, has been located just outside British waters near Margate loaded with ammonium nitrate fertiliser Just 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser. caused the explosion that devastated Beirut , Lebanon, in 2020, causing 218 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen, a defence analyst at Nordic Defense Analysis and a former naval officer, said the ship's poor condition and cargo were an environmental risk. He told Danish Media: 'One can question whether it is at all justifiable for the ship to be allowed to sail. There are several reasons for this. 'It has cracks in the hull. It has rudder problems. It can no longer sail by itself, but must be towed. 'This is a ship that nobody wants, but that nobody can get rid of.' According to marine tracking data, Ruby's final destination is Malta. In order to get there, it is looking to enter the Dover strait. The boat is currently located three kilometers outside British waters, north of Margate and east of the Thames Estuary. The tugboat which has accompanied it from Norway is also under the Maltese flag. If it wishes to continue on its journey, it must report its presence, including ship condition and any hazardous cargo, to the British authorities. It has also been told by the Maltese transport ministry that it must empty its cargo before entering their waters. The Ruby is believed to have had the fertiliser loaded on at Kandalaksha, on the Kola peninsula in Russia, where it also set sail. Seeking repairs, it then docked in the Norwegian city of Tromso, where the authorities found six deficiencies including a cracked hull, unlawful fuel, various safety issues and expired crew documents. It has also been reported to have engine and rudder issues. Dubbed 'the floating bomb', the vessel also known at the Ruby was recorded by VesselFinder as being near Margate Norwegian officials moved the ship on amidst fears its explosive cargo posed a risk to the city, having been moored near a major hospital and university. It has since travelled south and briefly moored near to the Andoya Nato air base. When it requested permission to go to Klaipeda in Lithuania for repairs, the Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said: 'When we are dealing with Russia or other international actors that are unfriendly to us, we always keep this possibility in mind. 'In other words, we have to be better prepared, more prepared, more cautious than when dealing with another state.' Mr Landsbergis added that there was no evidence of 'malicious behaviour', but said the ship could only dock in the country if the boat first offloaded the fertiliser. Ammonium nitrate is significantly less explosive than TNT and requires a significant trigger, which makes it generally safe and stable during transport. However if it is stored poorly it can become a hazard. This was seen in Beirut in 2020, when more than 2,750 tons of the material detonated when a fire apparently sparked by a welder spread to a warehouse where it had been stored alongside fireworks for six years. Whilst the Ruby's background remains unclear, it is currently owned by a Dubai-registered management company, which appears to operate out of the Syrian port of Tartus. It has also been chartered by another Dubai-registered company with links to Russia. Airline tickets out of Lebanon have soared by more than 1,000 per cent with British nationals facing cancelled flights as they attempt to follow the Prime Minister's advice to leave the war-torn nation. Keir Starmer has urged all Britons to leave Lebanon immediately as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates. But many of the around 6,000 Brits that are currently in Lebanon are having issues leaving the Middle Eastern nation with flights cancelled or booked up for a week. And prices have also soared with flights out of Beirut costing over 1,000 today. Just four days ago flights to London cost 102 - before Israel launched airstrikes against Hezbollah. This has led some Brits to take drastic measures to get out - with Masters student Isabella Baker deciding to board a boat to Turkey to escape the conflict. Some Brits are taking drastic measures to get out - with Masters student Isabella Baker (pictured) deciding to board a boat to Turkey to escape the conflict Speaking to the BBC, Emma Bartholomew (pictured) said she plans to leave Beirut on a flight home to London next week Beirut Airport (stock image). Many of the around 6,000 Brits that are currently in Lebanon are having issues leaving the Middle Eastern nations with flights cancelled or booked up for a week. Meanwhile, prices have also soared with flights out of Beirut costing over 1000 The student said she is too scared to venture to Beirut airport, which is the nation's only commercial airport, and will instead head to Tripoli in northern Lebanon to catch the boat. Other Brits in Beirut are waiting for flights out of the country at a later date. Speaking to the BBC, Emma Bartholomew said she plans to leave Beirut on a flight home to London next week. She said that the conflict has led to gridlock on the street's of the capital as thousands of Lebanese refugees piled into Beirut to escape Israeli bombardments in the south. Freelance journalist Chloe Lewin said: 'My friends were meant to leave this morning on Egyptair - that got cancelled, so they can't get out. ' The 24-year-old has now booked a flight for Friday. Speaking to Sky News last night, Ms Lewin said: 'I haven't seen Beirut like I have since Monday as people left instantly to head to the mountains. The streets are empty now and it feels tense and anxious.' Also attempting to flee is Mahasan al-Dada from Manchester and her two young sons - aged five and six - however the family cannot get a flight for almost two weeks. Freelance journalist Chloe Lewin (pictured) said: 'My friends were meant to leave this morning on Egyptair - that got cancelled, so they can't get out. ' The 24-year-old has now booked a flight for Friday Also attempting to flee is Mahasan al-Dada (pictured) from Manchester and her two young sons - aged five and six - however the family cannot get a flight for almost two weeks Vehicles wait in traffic in the town of Damour, south of Beirut as people flee southern Lebanon. The conflict has led to gridlock on the street's of the capital as thousands of Lebanese refugees piled into Beirut to escape Israeli bombardments in the south She told Sky News: 'I've been trying all day to find tickets and there's no commercial flights. Everything has gone. Middle East (Airlines) is still flying, but the earliest flight is 8 October, and the tickets have gone up to 2,000. It's crazy.' Ms al-Dada moved to Lebanon in July to be with her husband but says she has been on the brink of a panic attack while spending restless nights fearing their home could be targeted. She added: 'It was really scary, it was something I've never been through before until now. It's really surreal, it feels like I'm awake but I'm dreaming.' The government would not go into any details at this stage about their evacuation plans but the Foreign Office is now advising against all travel to Lebanon. An additional 700 military personnel have been sent to British bases in Cyprus in case an emergency evacuation is required. However, some citizens have been critical of the government's response so far. Ms Baker said: 'The government should be doing a lot more. Of course it has to worry about its citizens I understand that there are priorities. Tensions across the region have been growing since October 7 last year when Hamas launched an attack on Israel where 1,200 people died. After the terrorist attack, Israel launched a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip and sporadic fighting between Hezbollah started shortly afterwards. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike near the village of Khiam, Lebanon, Sept 25. Since Monday Israel has launched a number of airstrikes in to Lebanon killing 569 people according to the Lebanese government Last week, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah - which the UK recognises as a terror group - escalated when Israel sent off explosives hidden in the group's communication devices. Since Monday Israel has launched a number of airstrikes in to Lebanon killing 569 people according to the Lebanese government. The UK joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is 'intolerable' and could plunge the Middle East into chaos. In a joint statement, the 12-strong bloc called for a 21-day ceasefire 'to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement', as well as a ceasefire in Gaza. The call was supported by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said flatly: 'Hell is breaking loose.' Faust Haus in St. Helena is one of many Napa Valley wineries that is rumored to be haunted. Rachel Bujalski/Special to The Chronicle Heres wine reporter Jess Lander. At the risk of tarnishing my journalistic integrity, I have something to admit: I believe in ghosts. So when I heard that a Napa Valley ghost movie was premiering at my local theater, I had to see it. Ghosts of Napa Valley is a fun departure for director Jason Wise, best known for the Somm documentaries. Spooky and funny in equal measure, the film follows three friends, including two paranormal skeptics, on their journey to connect with the dead at one of Napa Valleys most notorious haunting grounds: Spring Mountain Vineyard, which was the backdrop for the 1980s soap opera Falcon Crest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad No spoilers, but Ghosts of Napa Valley will validate believers (like myself), and at the very least, it may force doubters to dig deep in search of explanations. Wise insists that the film is a documentary that took no liberties. I cant tell you how many times I wanted to lie and do things and mess with the story, he said in a Q&A session that followed the screening in early September. But we didnt. The film didnt surprise me, for Napa Valley is riddled with ghost stories often tied to the regions ghost wineries. By definition, ghost wineries have nothing to do with spirits; this is simply the term used to describe a collection of 1800s buildings abandoned due to an array of early 20th century hardships, like Prohibition. (Spring Mountain Vineyard has three of these old buildings on its estate.) Many of these ghost wineries were revived decades later see Far Niente, Freemark Abbey, Chateau Montelena and Hall Wines but some remain deserted. Yet while the term ghost wineries wasnt meant to imply that these buildings are haunted, theres a widespread belief that many are, and Wises film sets out to prove it. Over the years, Ive heard ghost stories on visits to at least a dozen Napa Valley wineries, though most are hesitant to advertise it to the public. This reluctance is why the film took years to make: Wise struggled to find a winery that would let him document his ghost hunt. They dont want people to think anything is wrong, he said. Flora Springs Winery has arguably been the most open about its spooky roots and even hosted ghost tours at its former St. Helena estate (now Cathiard Vineyard). The property has an 1885 ghost winery that was significantly damaged in a fire but was later restored. Flora Springs which releases a Halloween-themed collection of wines each year once told me they brought in paranormal experts and discovered three spirits, including a flapper and a not-so-friendly ghost. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When I first visited St. Helenas Faust Haus, which opened its gothic-chic tasting room inside an 1870s Victorian mansion in 2020, I was told the winery worked with a medium to identify a pair of happy spirits: the son and wife of former owner Fritz Rosenbaum, who built the homes basement cellar for his winery. When the Faust team was renovating the mansion for the tasting room, they discovered a handwritten note inside a wall containing a poem meant to help the Rosenbaum spirits cross over. Soon after they hung a photograph of Fritzs wife Johanna on a wall, they found an old decanter shattered in the middle of the floor an incident they deem more than a coincidence. Some of my favorite ghost stories have come from St. Helena winery AXR. Its wine history dates back to the 1880s, and during Prohibition, it operated as a drinking establishment and brothel. We have always had activity on the property, said AXR director of operations Deven Paniagua, who believes she once caught a ghost opening a mini fridge on the winerys security cameras. AXR staff and overnight guests at the propertys cottages have witnessed a plethora of unexplained noises, like someone walking around, opening and closing cabinets and rustling blinds. Paniaguas dog has often barked at the tasting room door outside of operating hours, thinking someone is inside, and more than once, she, staff members and guests have heard what sounds like ancestral chanting emanating from the winerys Sonos speaker, which wasnt previously turned on. Its not a channel we would ever choose to play in the tasting room either, she said of the chanting, adding that she believes the spirits protected the property in 2020 when the Glass Fire burned everything around them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We embrace it, Paniagua said. Its nothing were scared of, nothing malevolent, not a bad energy, just the history of the place and I think it adds to the magic. An antiques dealer familiar to millions on TV and her husband were fined 3,000 after contacting British police to report a migrant who had snuck into their van in France. Mother-of-two Jane Cave, 56, who features on the BBC's The Bidding Room, and her husband Ed Masters had been on a trip to buy antiques when they passed through customs in Calais. They were heading through Suffolk on their way home to Norfolk when they heard noises in the back of their van and found a 'dark, shortish [man] carrying a mobile phone'. They immediately reported what had happened to Suffolk Police and the man was apprehended. But they later received a letter from UK Border Force saying they were being fined for unknowingly smuggling a migrant into the country after they failed to properly secure their vehicle. An antiques dealer familiar to millions on TV and her husband were fined 3,000 after contacting British police to report a migrant who had snuck into their van in France Antique dealer Jane Cave who features on show The Bidding Room, and husband Ed Masters 'We all thought we had done the right thing in calling the British police and making them aware of the situation. Little did I know the aftermath of this,' Mr Masters, 54, said, adding the experience had made him feel like a criminal. The couple were returning home from France on November 23 last year when they were held up at customs in Calais. They stopped at a supermarket to complete paperwork in their van for importing antique furniture and other objects under post-Brexit rules. Mr Masters was completing paperwork in his unlocked van for the crossing when he heard a noise and saw someone attempting to climb in the back. 'I shouted 'Get out' which he duly did and ambled towards the rest of the car park,' he said. They then continued on towards customs where the vehicle was pulled over and checked by a French border officer at passport control before it was allowed through. The couple were returning home from France on November 23 last year when they were held up at customs in Calais Mrs Cave slammed the fine as 'atrocious' and said: 'We all went into the supermarket and then Ed got an email and went back to the van to answer it on my iPad' The crossing went uneventfully and they were heading home on the dual carriageway A11 near Barton Mills when they heard a racket in the back and found their stowaway when they pulled over. The migrant leapt out and hid behind a petrol station before he was caught minutes later when police arrived following a 999 call. 'That should have been done thoroughly at the border in Calais,' Mr Masters said. After receiving the fine notification, he checked with the authorities and was told he should have informed border staff in Calais about the initial attempt to get into his van. Mrs Cave slammed the fine as 'atrocious' and said: 'We all went into the supermarket and then Ed got an email and went back to the van to answer it on my iPad. 'The back was unlocked while he was sitting in the front and he suddenly saw in the mirror that someone's leg was hanging out of the back and he realised they were trying to get in. 'Ed jumped out to get this guy out and he went off. Ed just didn't realise that anyone else was in there. 'When we got to the Eurotunnel terminal, we got pulled over by French customs who opened up the van and peered in, before waving us through. 'We arrived back in the UK and drove for a couple of hours before we slowed down on the A11 in a queue of traffic before the roundabout at Barton Mills. 'While we were nearly at a standstill, we heard this knocking and rapping from the back as if someone was asking to get out. 'As we were stopped in the traffic, we saw people videoing us from the cars which were nearly stationary around us. They were obviously filming this guy jumping out. Large groups of migrants who were picked up in the English Channel by Border Force last week Your browser does not support iframes. 'I saw him run off towards a garage. He was black and had a hoody on and looked like he was aged about 16. 'Ed dialled 999 and the police told us to pull over, so we stopped at a McDonalds and a garage on the other side of the roundabout. 'One police officer came along and he was fine. Ed explained what had happened and this officer spent a couple of minutes checking over our van to make sure nobody else was in there. 'It looked like the migrant had been hiding under a large shoe rack. But he had respected what was in the van and had not damaged anything. 'The only thing he left in there was a comb. He was caught almost immediately by the police. All we were told by the police was that he was quite young. 'The cop spent a couple of hours talking to Ed and then we continued our journey home.' Mrs Cave said she heard nothing more until her husband got the letter around three months ago saying he was being fined 3,000 for inadvertently bringing in a migrant. She said: 'My first reaction was 'Why?' because we had not done anything wrong. We would not have called the police if we had known this was going to happen. Migrants head to the processing station after being picked up by Border Force in the English Channel this week The PM's plan involves creating a new Border Security Command, bringing together existing immigration units given new 'counter-terrorism style' powers (File image) 'My advice now would be for anyone in the same situation to just let the migrant go off in a layby and not report it.' She said that it was her husband who was being fined as he was the driver of the van but she and her business partner were paying the fine as it was a trip for their work. Mrs Cave said Border Force had agreed to receive payment at the rate of 100 a month for now but had stated that all the money was due within two years. 'We can't afford 3,000. I think it's atrocious. We have done the right thing and have been honest, but we are being punished for it,' she added. The police officer told them the migrant was being taken to temporary accommodation. Mr Masters added: 'If I had just dropped him in a lay-by and not notified them, we would be 3,000 better off. Utter madness.' He claimed he had faced increased scrutiny from UK Border Force since the incident and had been stopped four times at different airports. A Home Office spokesman said: 'We are fully committed to stopping people from illegally entering the country and cracking down on people smugglers. 'The Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme aims to ensure drivers are taking every reasonable step to deter irregular migration and disrupt people smugglers.' A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said: 'Police were called at approximately 1.35pm on November 23, 2023, to reports that a couple travelling home to Norfolk from France had discovered a male hiding in their vehicle on the A11 at Barton Mills. 'It was reported that the couple had heard banging from within their van while they were driving near the Fiveways roundabout, so they stopped their vehicle at which point the male, described as a teenager, jumped out. 'Officers attended, [and] located and detained the male concerned.' Tourists and commercial drivers are at risk of being fined if they fail to adequately secure their vehicles, under the rules of the Government's civil penalty scheme. The Home Office said the scheme 'aims to ensure drivers are taking every reasonable step to deter irregular migration and disrupt people smugglers.' Budget supermarket Lidl has broken its silence after Iceland threatened legal action over its 'iconic' prawn ring. The frozen food giant is pulling no punches and has applied to legally trademark the term 'King Prawn Ring' and its design, which could prevent other companies from bringing out their own versions of the product. Executive chairman Richard Walker took to social media to directly address competitors such as Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury's and Asda, warning them: 'The King Prawn Ring is ours and we won't be letting you off the hook.' Today, fellow high street rival Lidl issued a withering response, with a spokesman telling MailOnline: 'Here was us thinking it was a classic 1970s party dish'. Aldi has also piped in on its social media platform saying: 'Lol our lawyers aren't scared of nothing'. The threats stir memories of how Marks & Spencer and Aldi were previously embroiled in a bitter supermarket cake war. British retailer M&S had accused the German discounter of copying the design of its famous Colin the Caterpillar for their rival Cuthbert, in a dispute which even made it to London's High Court before a truce was agreed in 2022. Aldi's response after Iceland threatened legal action over its 'iconic' prawn ring Iceland has announced it wants to trademark the term 'King Prawn Ring' as well as its product's design, while also announcing a new 'Luxury King Prawn Ring' offering The frozen food retailer published an open letter 'as a warning to all supermarkets' Tesco is among the rival supermarket chains directly called out by iceland's executive chairman Richard Walker as he threatened legal action over similar products Aldi was also named in Mr Walker's social media post sharing Iceland's newly-published letter Official records show Iceland filed the trademark claim with the IPO on September 9. The bid is currently under examination. The company announced its move in an open letter published today, packed with fish-related wordplay. The frozen food retailer insisted it wanted rivals to think twice about including what they called an 'impostor of a King Prawn Ring' in upcoming Christmas ranges. Mr Walker said: 'When it comes to the King Prawn Ring, Iceland are the OGs. From the idea to the name and the shape, we believe its our own iconic product that has been a staple of our Christmas range for the past 30 years. 'Weve had enough of the pretenders and were now taking action. Weve applied for a trademark and design application, and we expect our King Prawn Ring to be the only one on the shelves this Christmas.' Iceland posted a copy of the new warning letter on X, formerly Twitter. The post was shared by Mr Walker to his 25,300 followers, adding: 'I've rubber stamped this official warning today. 'The King Prawn Ring is ours and we won't be letting you off the hook, @AldiUK @Tesco @asda @LidlGB @Morrisons @sainsburys @coopuk.' Iceland executive chairman Richard Walker (right), pictured with the Princess of Wales during her visit to an Iceland store, has threatened legal action against rival retailers Mr Walker told other supermarket chains on social media: 'The King Prawn Ring is ours and we won't be letting you off the hook' The punning letter states that it is 'a warning to all supermarkets', telling them: 'We are today asking you to remove your pretender King Prawn Rings from sale and to not include them in any of your impending Christmas ranges. 'Doing so will ensure you dont have any action taken against you should our applications be granted. 'Our lawyers are more than ready to dive into legal waters, and trust us, theyre well-armed to claw back whats rightfully ours. 'We dont want to have to scale things up, but if you continue to flounder in your ways, well have no choice but to reel you in.' Among the responses on X was a comment from Lidl's account, saying, 'Sea-riously?' - to which the Iceland counterpart replied: 'Shell yes.' MailOnline has contacted all the supermarket firms named on social media by Mr Walker for comment. The cake-related battle between Marks & Spencer and Aldi saw high-powered lawyers called in on both sides. M&S argued it had three trademarks relating to Colin and the product had acquired and retained an enhanced distinctive character and reputation. A spawn of apparent imitators had been launched by rival stores such as Sainsbury's Wiggles, Tesco's Curly, Morris by Morrisons, the Co-op's Charlie, Cecil by Waitrose and Asda's Clyde. Marks & Spencer was previously in dispute with German discounter Aldi after it accused them of copying the design of its famous Colin the Caterpillar cake (pictured) for their rival Cuthbert The wrangle involving Aldi's Cuthbert (pictured) even made it to London 's High Court before a truce was agreed in 2022 M&S first launched the lawsuit against Aldi in April 2021 in a bid to force its rival to take its Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake off the shelves and agree to not sell anything resembling it in the future. The following month Aldi started selling its caterpillar cake again after making changes to its chocolate face design. The case reached London's High Court in 2021 - but the following year both supermarkets confirmed an agreement had been struck to resolve the conflict. It was understood that Cuthbert would not appear again in quite the same form and a version later arrived on Aldi shelves with the name Holly Lane Cuthbert Cake. The tragedy of a mother-of-five who died after having a BBL procedure in the UK has raised fresh questions over the alarming lack of regulation in the fast-growing industry. While Brits may be used to hearing about horror botched surgeries abroad, medical experts have today laid bare how practitioners shockingly require no training or qualifications to perform non-surgical BBLs in the UK. The popularity of non-surgical BBLs, which involves injecting filler into the buttocks, has increased significantly with the rise of influencers, but doctors have raised serious concerns over the 'disgraceful' lack of regulation. Reacting to the death of 34-year-old mother Alice Webb, one leading UK plastic surgeon told MailOnline today: 'In the UK it is, shockingly, not necessarily illegal to inject filler when you are not medically qualified. 'This is another tragedy which with better regulation could have been prevented.' Ms Webb died on Monday just hours after having the butt lift procedure, which is believed to have been performed in the West Country. Gloucestershire Police confirmed it is investigating the death and has arrested two people on suspicion of manslaughter. Earlier this year Monique Sofroniou (pictured), 30, called for a ban on 'liquid BBLs' after a botched procedure left her buttocks with leaking black holes and in pain 'worse than childbirth' Alice Webb (pictured), 34, died on Monday just hours after having the non-surgical BBL procedure Fat is first harvested from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction . Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the glutes at specific points, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance What is a liquid Brazilian butt lift? BBLs are used to make buttocks bigger, more rounded or lifted. Unlike a traditional BBL which sees fat transferred from other areas of the body, a liquid BBL involves hyaluronic acid fillers. Dermal filler the same material used to fill lips is injected in large quantities into the buttock. They are often advertised on social media as a 'risk-free', 'cheaper' alternative to the surgical counterpart. But Dr Nora Nugent, vice president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, today repeated major concerns over the regulation of non-surgical BBLs in the UK. The plastic surgeon told MailOnline: 'I'm not directly involved, but I understand it was filler and this was done by an unqualified person in an unregulated environment.' Laura Earps, a solicitor at Brabners Personal, added: 'Non-surgical BBLs are often advertised and promoted as 'risk-free and cheaper' alternatives to surgical BBLs, however it is clear that this could not be further from the truth.' How are non-surgical BBLs regulated in the UK? In a nutshell, they are not. Campaigners have been calling for better regulation as it is not mandatory to have training before injecting a patient with filler. Dr Nugent said that there are 'loopholes' in the UK which allow non-medical practitioners to perform these surgeries, something she described as a 'total disgrace'. She added: 'This is totally outside of a regulated environment.' 'It is an issue in UK. I have to say, there are a couple of cases floating around that have gone wrong recently. 'This is a non-surgical procedure, filler in the UK is not regulated. You do not have to be a medical practitioner to inject filler, it's shocking. 'It is a medical procedure, but it is not seen as such in a regulatory sense. It can have seriously dangerous consequences.' She added: 'This was not a doctor, not a surgeon at all - and it fell outside of the medical environment. 'For example, as a plastic surgeon I am required to have medical indemnity and to follow professional standards. 'But someone who doesn't have any qualification can inject a substance, an invasive procedure, in some poor woman's buttocks and here we have the consequences. Reacting to the death of Alice Webb, Dr Nora Nugent (pictured) told MailOnline today: 'This is totally outside of a regulated environment.' Alice (pictured) was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge and is thought to have had the procedure in the West Country Dane Knight (left) has been left devastated by the death of his partner Alice Webb (right) who died after she had a Brazilian Bum Lift procedure in the UK Alice was just 34 when she passed away following the bum lift procedure in the UK 'We know there are risks with every procedure. But we are trained, we are doing it in regulated environment. 'As a plastic surgeon, I have insurance, training, specialist registration. But someone can come along with any of that and perform an invasive procedure with awful consequences.' Dr Nugent said that there is no mandatory training for non surgical BBLs. She explained that while it is recommended and most non-medical practitioners have done a short raining course, some have not even done this before they start performing. How are UK councils clamping down on BBLs? With more awareness being raised about the dangers of these procedures, a number of councils across the UK are cracking down on companies offering non-surgical treatments. Last year, Wolverhampton City Council barred a company from carrying out non-surgical, or liquid, BBLs after identifying risks associated with their processes. These included blood clots, sepsis, and the potential for the death of body tissues. Five local authorities in Essex and Glasgow followed suit and have banned certain companies from carrying out liquid BBLs in their area. Just three days ago, Redbridge Council put out a warning about the dangers of BBLs and condemned companies operating in Brentwood, Essex. A spokesperson for Redbridge Council's Environmental Health Team said: 'Individuals who have undergone these procedures have experienced excruciating pain, discomfort and infections, some of which have required medical interventions and hospitalisation. 'We strongly recommend that anyone considering a non-surgical aesthetic procedure do their research. If the cost of the treatment is lower than the market average, proceed with caution, as the practitioner may not be using the advertised products.' Why do people want a BBL or liquid BBL? Unhappiness over a 'flat' buttocks that lack shape, despite a healthy lifestyle, is a common reason listed by those who choose to undergo BBL surgery. Experts have also blamed the allure of celebrity culture and choreographed social media images for fuelling the BBL trend. Last year, London-based aesthetic surgeon Dr Veerle Rotsaert told MailOnline she discourages patients from getting any BBL and instead recommends they go to the gym and do squats. She said: 'In my practice if people want more volume in the buttocks area, I first of all educate them on normal anatomy. 'I recommend going to the gym to do squats.' Dr Rotsaert also urged Brits to shy away from BBLs, stating that the 'Kardashian body type is a trend'. 'And we all know trends go out of fashion at some stage,' she added. Love Island star Olivia Attwood also warned people off BBL surgery in her documentary 'The Price of Perfection'. Love Island star Olivia Attwood has previously warned people off getting non-surgical BBLs due to lack of regulation She told viewers: 'If I was to consider any treatment to give my bum a boost, I would do some serious research first. When it comes to the use of bum fillers, it seems to be a bit of a minefield. During the show, Save Face Director Ashton Collins told her: 'It is incredibly risky. Our issue with it is when these vast amount of hyaluronic acid fillers are being injected into buttocks, that increases risk of complication significantly. 'In the last 18 months, we had over 120 come forward with issues from this treatment - sepsis, severe infection, embolism, these are life threatening treatments. 'We had one woman who had to have her buttocks surgically removed because she had such a severe infection. She's devastated, it's impacted how she lives her life now. They think it is a risk-free cheaper alternative and it's not. 'When a treatment risks outweighs the benefits, they shouldn't be carried out.' Olivia then asked her: 'As it stands in the UK now, anyone can inject someone with filler and it's not against the law?' Ms Collins replied: 'It is totally unregulated. We've investigated people working in retail a week ago, done an online course, bought their products over the internet and start injecting people. 'We want bum and boob fillers completely banned, they are just so unsafe. Olivia finished by saying: 'I wouldn't say no to a little more volume in the back, I know from asking that I'm not a suitable candidate for a BBL, so my only options were an implant which I wouldn't do, and filler. 'To me the filler was looking like the attractive standout option, in and out, quick and easy. 'After talking to Ashton today, no way. There's a reason why doctors and surgeons aren't doing dermal filler to the bum, it's because they have too much to lose and the risk is too high. That should tell you everything you need to know. ' Are there other examples of botched BBLs in the UK? Although many will travel to countries such as Turkey, there are still procedures that happen in the UK. In March, a mother-of-one also called for a ban on liquid BBLs after a botched procedure left her buttocks with leaking black holes and in pain 'worse than childbirth'. Monique Sofroniou, 30, from London, booked an appointment at what she believed was a reputable salon to enlarge her bottom after undergoing a 'Brazilian Butt Lift' in 2021. Monique Sofroniou, 30, from London, booked an appointment at what she believed was a reputable salon Pictured: An image of Monique's buttocks more than a year after getting botched bum filler with just scarring left Monique was rushed to hospital where doctors attempted to remedy the situation (pictured: the mother-of-one after surgery in hospital to repair damage caused by the filler) The aesthetician spent 3,000 on the non-surgical procedure to have one litre of filler injected into each bum cheek. She was injected with silicone in a hotel room and has since been left with permanent scarring. She says she woke up the night after the procedure with a temperature, her sides red raw, and she was being violently sick. Doctors sent her to hospital where they told her she had a severe infection. In another botched procedure, Bonnie Louise-Cooper was rushed to hospital while suffering hallucinations and an alarming temperature after having filler injected into her bottom in the UK. Just 36 hours earlier, the hair beautician from Swanage had forked out 1,500 on a 30-minute 'lunchtime liquid BBL' before contracting sepsis which left her fighting for her life. Louise Moller was also another patient who contracted sepsis and had surgery to remove dead tissue following a liquid BBL. And Paygon Harris told ITV she experienced 'excruciating' pain while the procedure was being done. In another botched procedure, Bonnie Louise-Cooper was rushed to hospital while suffering hallucinations and an alarming temperature after having filler injected into her bottom in the UK (L-R) Paygon Harris, Bonnie-Louise Cooper and Monique Sofroniou all had botched procedures What are the dangers of having a non-surgical BBL? Campaigners have called for certain cosmetic procedures to be banned and said they were supporting 500 women who were 'suffering' as a result. 'We launched a campaign in December 2023 calling upon the Government to take urgent action to ban these procedures,' Ms Collins, director of Save Face, said. 'We made it absolutely clear that without urgent intervention someone would die. 'I am devasted by the news of Alice's passing. It makes me incredibly sad and angry that Alice's death could and should have been prevented. 'Liquid BBL procedures are a crisis waiting to happen. They are advertised on social media as 'risk-free', 'cheaper' alternatives to the surgical counterpart and that could not be further from the truth. 'We have supported over 500 women who have suffered complications because of these treatments, many of which have nearly died. Over 50% of the cases reported to us contracted sepsis and 39% needed corrective surgery. 'All of the procedures reported to us were carried out by non-healthcare practitioners who are carrying out incredibly dangerous procedures in unsterile environments. 'I would advise anyone considering one of these treatments to avoid them at all costs. The risks significantly outweigh any associated benefits.' Unlike with facial fillers where complications can be managed by skilled injectors, these procedures often require hospital settings, intravenous drugs, and surgical intervention to rectify. Dr Thuva Amuthan, Expert Aesthetics Trainer, has also long been campaigning for improved regulation. Campaigners, including Ashton Collins (pictured), have called for certain cosmetic procedures to be banned and said they were supporting 500 women who were 'suffering' as a result. Liposuction that offers to remove up to 15 litres of fat, BBL's, eye colour changing laser treatments and hymenoplasties are all offered in clinics across Turkey Highlighting some of the major risks, she told MailOnline: 'According to peer-reviewed studies, BBL surgeries have the highest mortality rate of any cosmetic procedure, with estimates of 1 in 3,000 to 1 in 6,000 cases globally resulting in death. 'Other risks include infection, tissue necrosis (where tissue dies), asymmetry, scarring, and long-term complications that may require corrective surgery. 'These dangers make it crucial for it only to be performed by regulated, experienced healthcare professionalsspecifically doctors trained in anatomy, surgical techniques, and emergency proceduresto perform BBLs. She added: 'Practitioners that are not adequately medical trained, pose a greater risk to patient safety. 'Without formal medical training, they often lack a deep understanding of human anatomy, particularly when it comes to complex procedures like fat transfer. 'This makes it far more likely that non-medics will inject fat or fillers into the wrong anatomical planes, causing complications like fat embolism or vascular occlusion. 'More concerning is their inability to recognise early warning signs of complications. Trained medical professionals can identify symptoms such as pain, swelling, or sudden shortness of breath, which may indicate life-threatening issues like infection, vascular blockage, or embolism. 'Non-medics, by contrast, may miss these critical signs or fail to act swiftly enough, delaying the necessary emergency interventions that could save a patient's life. 'In a worst-case scenario, they may lack the skills and equipment to manage these complications effectively, leading to irreversible harm or fatality.' Dr Amuthan said that while cosmetic surgery in the UK is governed by the General Medical Council (GMC) and clinics must meet standards set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), there are currently no regulations specific to BBL surgery itself. She added: 'This leaves gaps in ensuring that patients receive the safest possible treatment. Non-surgical procedures, such as dermal fillers, are even less regulated, meaning non-medically trained individuals can legally perform these treatments.' Dr Amuthan said this can result in complications such as infections, blockage of blood vessels and facial disfigurement if fillers are 'incorrectly administered'. Why do people travel abroad for a BBL? For decades, Brits have been warned against seeking cheaper surgery in places like Turkey, Eastern Europe, or South East Asia. Turkey is not inherently more dangerous than other surgical tourism hotspots. But cheap flights between it and the UK as well as the rise of the trend combining cosmetic surgery with a holiday have made it one of the leading destinations for Brits looking to go under the knife. Dr Nugent told MailOnline: 'There are many reasons why people travel abroad for cosmetic surgery including BBL but one of the most common reasons is price. 'Overseas surgery can be cheaper than surgery in the UK. Differences in the cost of living, business expenses, cost of ensuring compliance of premises and processes with UK regulations and medical insurance are some of the reasons why it can be more expensive in the UK. 'The BAAPS urge people to look at quality and service provided as well as cost though as it is vital to know what is included and not included and to have full information on the procedure and your surgeon and hospital too.' In Turkey, the BBL and even what are dubbed 'extreme BBLs' are promoted. In fact, some clinics even underplay the risks linked with the surgery. A MailOnline investigation last year found one clinic claiming that a BBL is 'completely safe when carried out by a qualified BBL surgeon in Istanbul'. Another offered a more extreme BBL the 'BBL with Vaser Liposuction'. With this procedure, the clinic claims they are able to extract more fat from the body at once and says this results in a slimmer abdomen which makes the hips more noticeable. Illegal vapes are being sold at an alarming rate in top Labour MP's constituencies, as some sellers have openly admitted to breaking the law, an investigation has found. Founder of campaign group WeVape, Mark Oates, went undercover in the London constituencies of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting to see how many illegal vapes he could purchase over the counter. Within forty minutes, Mr Oates had bought four illegal devices those of super strength with double the legal tank sizes, which are often marketed at children. Some illegal vapes boasted 7,000 puffs the equivalent of smoking 460 cigarettes compared to the 600 to 1,000 puffs produced by a compliant vape. The group, which campaigns for the rights of vapers, said video footage proves government plans to introduce further vaping restrictions were pointless because authorities are not enforcing the laws which are already in place. When asked, Mr Oates said some vape sellers openly admitted they were breaking the law, but they were making several hundred pounds per day. Not only that, but they were operating without fear of punishment, highlighting a 'shocking failure of enforcement' by Trading Standards. Mr Oates said: 'The black market in illegal vapes is rampant and it is clear Trading Standards are already overwhelmed. If the current law isn't being applied, there is no chance they can enforce new ones introduced by the Tobacco and Vapes bill.' Mr Oates has written to Wes Streeting with his findings. Illegal vapes are being sold at an alarming rate in top Labour MP's constituencies, an investigation by campaign group WeVape has found Mr Oates said some sellers were operating without fear of punishment, highlighting a 'shocking failure of enforcement' by Trading Standards Founder of WeVape Mark Oates managed to buy four illegal devices in the London boroughs of St Pancras, Holborn and Ilford North those of super strength with double the legal tank sizes Mr Oates has written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured right with Sir Keir Starmer) about the investigation He added: 'These non-compliant devices I was able to buy should never have got onto the shelves. 'There should be a legal requirement for all vapes to be tested and certified as compliant with UK law before they are allowed to go on sale and it is shocking this isn't already the case.' Video footage, taken in Angela Rayner's Greater Manchester constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne, showed the confidence traders have in not being spot checked by Trading Standards. Mr Oates can be seen asking for 'big puffs' aka large tank sizes. A legal 2% tank will generate approximately 600 puffs, while Mr Oates was immediately offered vapes with 8000 and 12000 puffs, as well as devices with the 5% strength vapes 2.5 times the legal limit of 2%. When asked if he had other devices, the trader invited the campaigner behind the counter where he showed off a treasure trove of illegal products. Some offered 20,000 puffs, the equivalent of more than 1300 cigarettes. During the purchase, the trader even warned his customer 'be careful with them... some people think they are too strong. Too much... makes you dizzy.' A cabinet full of illegal vapes found under the counter at one store Regulated e-cigs or vapes come with a 2ml liquid capacity, this vape has a 13ml capacity When asked, Mr Oates said some vape sellers openly admitted they were breaking the law, but they were making several hundred pounds per day Mr Oates added: 'The fact that we could buy illegal vapes so quickly across Greater Manchester and London, within a stone's throw of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Secretary's own constituency headquarters shows why they need to act on this while they have the chance. 'The government needs to take back control of vaping. They don't even know what's in the vapes that are on sale in this country. Pre-market testing should be a mandatory requirement. Right now, anyone can sell vapes, unlike alcohol or cigarettes, which need a licence. We need a vape licence that can be taken away if shopkeepers are caught selling illegal vapes. If you abuse it, you lose it. ' Angela Rayner is regularly seen with an e-cig, and has boasted her children call her 'The Vape Dragon', due to her love of vaping. She was pictured sucking on the devices during her recent party trip to Ibiza with pals. Speaking to the comedian Matt Forde at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Ms Rayner said that she had just returned from a holiday in Spain where she had been drinking from mid-afternoon to sunrise the next morning with little food and only the occasional glass of water. She said her children call her 'The Vape Dragon' because she cannot give it up. She added: 'Vaping is probably really bad for you and I will find out one day, but yeah I enjoy a good vape.' Angela Rayner (pictured) is regularly seen with an e-cig, and has boasted her children call her 'The Vape Dragon', due to her love of vaping The MRVI disposable vape, originally manufactured in China A range of disposable vapes which are often marketed at children with the designs and various flavours An illegal disposable vape which boasts 4,500 puffs - equivalent to around 300 cigarettes Some disposable vapes appeal to children because of the range of flavours - this one boasts 4,500 puffs of blueberry, cherry and cranberry In one store, a WeVape campaigner was seen asking for the notorious 'Hayati Pro Ultra', which often exceeds the maximum allowable nicotine strength of 20 mg/mL and tank capacity of 2mL, mandated by UK law. The trader immediately asks whether the buyer wants 15,000 puffs or 10,000 both illegal and pushes open a lockable cupboard under the legally compliant vapes display. Dozens of black market devices are seen before he selects the Hayati and casually asks: 'Which flavour do you want.' Within seconds the trader offers 'Blue Razz Gummy Bears' non-compliant vapes that stand accused of being designed to appeal to children. When asked for another vape a 'Cola Ice Pro Max 4,000 puffs' the trader quickly steps to another concealed stash of illicit devices, hidden in a lockable slide door cupboard away from the legal, on display items. Mr Oates said: 'I am staggered at the blase way these products are sold. But there is an opportunity for government to address this with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. 'We need a licensing scheme for vape retailers, as we do with alcohol, which would ensure those selling illegal vapes or caught selling to children can be stripped of their licence.' Mr Oates said it was all too easy for people to ask for illegal disposable vapes behind the counter An illegal vape which boasts 5,000 puffs - the equivalent of smoking 100 to 150 cigarettes Mr Oates has written to health secretary Wes Streeting with his findings. He said the 'current situation illustrates that the problem is not a lack of laws but rather a lack of enforcement' What is the current law on vaping in the UK? It's illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under 18, and adults can't buy them for under-18s. Retailers must verify the age of customers before making a sale. Vape cartridges must not contain more than 20 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter and they must not hold more than two milliliters of liquid. Vaping is generally permitted in public areas, unless a specific establishment has banned it. Many venues have their own policies on vaping. Some venues ask customers not to vape because of the smell or the possibility of confusion with cigarette smoke. THC vape juice: THC vape juice is illegal in the UK. CBD vape juice: CBD oil is legal to sell in the UK, but it must contain no nicotine or detectable THC Advertisement Wes Streeting has promised to come down on the vaping industry 'like a tonne of bricks' and to ban flavours popular with kids. But campaigners have warned removing flavours will lead many smokers back to cigarettes. Research from Bristol University showed nearly 39% of smokers transitioning to e-cigs would 'smoke more or not quit', and 14% of ex-smokers who vape would 'relapse to smoking if their preferred flavour was restricted.' The investigation followed polling commissioned by We Vape, which made for sobering reading for Labour. Britain in Focus polled 2,775 adults in the UK on the biggest issues facing the country, public health and attitudes to vaping. Just 14% of the public think Keir Starmer is focusing on the right priorities, while only 37% of Labour voters think the Labour Government is focusing on the right priorities. It also showed 40% of vapers plan to defy a ban on flavoured vapes, while 24% of Labour voters who vape saying a ban on flavours would make them less likely to vote Labour. The poll revealed over a third of vapers in the UK today say they would ignore a ban on flavoured vapes, saying they would continue to buy them online, from abroad or elsewhere. It showed 5% would create their own vapes in order to get around the ban on flavours while 11% of vapers would go back to smoking if flavours were reduced. Mr Oates said: 'The Prime Minister and Health Secretary need to understand many of their core voters smoke or are trying to quit through vaping. 'This is a key issue and can sway votes if people feel they are being ignored on matters like flavours and the importance of them to smokers trying to make the switch to vaping.' 'Further restrictions will mean an increase in black market activity, which we have seen is already out of control, and drive ex-smokers who vape back to cigarettes. 'Pre-market checks on vapes by the MHRA, a self-funding Vape Licensing Scheme, that protects children and a protection of flavours to stop vapers from returning to cigarettes will have far more impact on cutting down smoking than banning it outside pubs.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Manufacturers and producers have a responsibility to ensure vapes are safe to use and fully comply with regulations. 'Local enforcement agencies are taking strong action to tackle illicit vapes. The government is providing 3 million over two years to specifically enhance the work to tackle the illicit vape market. 'The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will further strengthen enforcement activity, allowing Trading Standards to take swifter action to enforce the law, including on non-compliant products, and closing loopholes.' Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a 'full force fight against Hezbollah as his ministers warned there will be no ceasefire. Netanyahu has not responded to last night's ceasefire call, despite the world pleading with Israel to take a step back from fighting with a 21-day truce, his office said. In defiant response to the desperate ceasefire proposal put forward by 12 international allies, the president's office said: 'The news about a ceasefire - not true. This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister did not even respond. 'The news about the supposed directive to moderate the fighting in the north is also the opposite of the truth. 'The prime minister instructed the IDF to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to him. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike near the village of Khiam, Lebanon, Sept 25 Emergency workers at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Maisara, Lebanon on Wednesday People inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike that hit the seaside town of Jiyeh 'Also, the fighting in Gaza will continue until all the goals of the war are achieved'. Following the warning put forth by Netanyahu's office, Israel Katz, the country's foreign minister, joined the chorus, saying 'there will be no ceasefire in the north'. Israel 'will continue to fight against the terrorist organisation Hezbollah with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,' Katz said on a statement on X, formerly Twitter. Adding to the message, Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Hezbollah should be crushed and that only its surrender would make it possible for the evacuees to return. 'The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows he received and to reorganize for the continuation of the war after 21 days,' he said in a statement. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's far-right faction was due to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday but members of the party have already come out against the proposal. It comes after the UK joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is 'intolerable' and could plunge the Middle East into chaos. In a joint statement, the 12-strong bloc called for a 21-day ceasefire 'to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement', as well as a ceasefire in Gaza. The call was supported by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said flatly: 'Hell is breaking loose.' But their hopes of salvaging a peaceful solution were seemingly dismissed by Israel, with IDF chief Herzi Halevi last night visiting soldiers close to the border to tell them they must prepare for a ground invasion of Lebanon. Halevi declared: 'We are attacking all day, both to prepare the ground for the possibility of your entry [into Lebanon], but also to continue striking Hezbollah. Yemeni university staff and students burn an Israeli flag during a protest staged against the Israeli aerial attacks on Lebanon, on September 25 Vehicles wait in traffic in the town of Damour, south of Beirut as people flee southern Lebanon Major General Herzi Halevi (left) visits troops on the northern border on Wednesday French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2024 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (right) meets with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas ahead of a bilateral meeting at the United Nations in New York 'Hezbollah today expanded its [range] of fire. Later today, it will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves,' he said, before adding: 'your boots... will enter enemy territory.' Halevi's bleak declaration came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was being hit 'with blows it never imagined' and vowed to ensure the thousands of Israelis evacuated from the northern border would soon be able to return to their homes and jobs. Yesterday's appeal for a last-ditch ceasefire was signed by the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. 'The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation,' it read. 'This is in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety. 'Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.' The statement calls for the governments of Lebanon and Israel to 'endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately... and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement'. It continues: 'We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.' Meanwhile, Iran - Hezbollah's chief backer - said late Wednesday that it would 'stand with the people of Lebanon with all means' if required. But Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned the Middle East faces a full-scale 'catastrophe' if the clashes continue to gather pace and urged the United Nations Security Council to 'intervene to restore peace and security'. The Islamic Republic's reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian, is currently in New York at the UN General Assembly, where he expressed a willingness to reengage with the West and revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Pezeshkian's presence in New York, where he is sure to be meeting with Western politicians on the sidelines of the assembly, is a move that analysts said suggested he may have been granted permission from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to try to avert a war in the Middle East. This has not been taken kindly to by more hardline Hezbollah supporters and Lebanese MPs, who expect full military support from their powerful ally. After Araghchi said on Monday Iran was willing to work with the West to discuss its nuclear programme, Lebanese MP Mark Daou declared: 'They negotiate over our corpses.' People stand by an impact crater next to a destroyed warehouse at the site of an Israeli air strike in Jiyeh along the highway linking Beirut to the southern city of Sidon on September 25 Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Tyre Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi addresses members of the press before an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting called to address the rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, New York, USA, 25 September 2024 Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Herzi Halevi (right) meets with the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, Major General Ori Gordin (left) in Israel, on September 20, 2024 US President Joe Biden and France's President Emmanuel Macron met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss new ceasefire proposals, and are the two heads of state leading calls for restraint. France pressed the UN security council to hold an emergency session on the matter soon and Macron said he would send his foreign minister to the former French administration by the end of the week. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged Israel and Hezbollah to step back, saying all-out war would be 'disastrous' for the region and its people. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who appears set on continuing to wage war, said via his spokesperson David Mencer that while 'we favour a diplomatic solution... we have tried... for eleven and a half months'. 'Yesterday our president described the US diplomat [involved in negotiations] as talented but with all his talent he hasn't been able to negotiate any sort of climbdown from Hezbollah,' Mencer said. Netanyahu delayed his departure for New York until Thursday, where he too is due to speak at the UN General Assembly. Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 600 people since Monday, including scores of women and children, according to the latest figures by the Lebanese health ministry. The ministry said that at least 72 people were killed in strikes and 400 injured on Wednesday alone. Netanyahu has promised 'total victory' over Hamas and the return of all the hostages held in Gaza - goals that many believe are simply unachievable. What's more, many analysts and observers accuse Netanyahu of having a personal stake in forging on with the war. His governing coalition relies on far-right ministers who want to permanently reoccupy the Palestinian enclave and destroy Hezbollah's ability to threaten Israel - and they have threatened to bring down the government if Netanyahu concedes too much. That would force early elections that could drive him from power at a time when he is on trial for corruption - charges that he will not face while war rages on. For many on both sides of the border, the violence of the past two weeks in Lebanon has sparked bitter memories of the 2006 war that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. According to the UN, the latest violence has sparked an exodus of around 90,000 people from their homes in traditional Hezbollah strongholds for safer areas elsewhere in the tiny Mediterranean country. Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on August 23, 2024 Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system engages as rockets are launched from Lebanon Yesterday's desperate plea by members of the international community for a ceasefire was issued after Britain's Prime Minister urged Britons to leave Lebanon immediately by the remaining commercial routes. Sir Keir said: 'I have a very important message for British nationals in Lebanon which is: the time to leave is now. 'The contingency plans are being ramped up but don't wait for those, there are still commercial flights. It's very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately.' Britain's Ministry of Defence has already drawn up plans for a desperate evacuation of UK citizens from Lebanon, with a 700-strong force of Royal Marine commandos, sailors and combat engineers en-route to the region. The MoD's rescue mission template, known in military circles as 'Operation Meteoric', could see commandos making beach landings in Lebanon with UK citizens escorted onto a flotilla of military vessels. Such plans would also see warships and RAF jets already stationed in Cyprus tasked with facilitating the rescue mission, with thousands of Brits still stuck in the country. Some have reported that their families have not received a response from the British consulate as flights out of Beirut are cancelled amid the ongoing Israeli airstrikes. Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey said on Tuedsay: 'Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is which is why our message is clear British nationals should leave now. 'We continue to urge all sides to step back from conflict to prevent further tragic loss of life. 'Government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British nationals should the situation deteriorate.' A 45-year-old father found guilty of 97 counts of sexual assault after he filmed himself raping nine women and three teenagers is expected to spend decades behind bars. Adam Charles Lusk was convicted of 85 of counts of sexual penetration without consent and 12 counts of stupefying in order to commit an indictable offence in Perth's Western Australia District Court on Thursday. He was stony-faced in court as the jury delivered their verdict. The court heard that the FIFO civil engineer met his victims either through social interactions or online using Sugar Daddy Meet, Tinder and Snapchat over an almost two year period. The court heard the father would lure his victims to his Ascot home in the city's east, where he would drug, rape and film them. A jury found Lusk guilty after a gruelling five-week trial where several videos which were too graphic to be shown to an open court. He initially pleaded his innocence to 100 offences and claimed the women and teens had all consented to sex and that some pretended to be unconscious or semi-lucid. More than 80 of his offences were captured on video with the victims heard repeatedly telling Lusk 'no' and pushing him away. One begged him to 'show mercy'. Some of Lusk's worst offences were committed against a 16-year-old girl who he met on Sugar Daddy Meet in 2020, The West Australian reported. Adam Lusk (pictured) on Thursday was found guilty of raping nine women and three teenage girls over a two-year period On one occasion he recorded himself abusing the teen, who was only semi-conscious. When she began pleading for him to stop, Lusk pinned her arm behind her back and told her to 'ssh'. The other two underage victims were 17-year-old girls who were invited to Lusk's home to 'part' after one of them met him through Snapchat. They had begun talking six months earlier, when the girl was 16. Lusk recorded himself raping one of the girls. He was also accused of raping a third 17-year-old girl on the same night but was acquitted of the charge. Two charges of drugging women were also dismissed. Lusk admitted to raping one of the women he filmed during the trial as the jury was shown footage of her unconscious for 19 minutes. In a rare case, Judge Alan Troy instructed the jury to find Lusk guilty of raping the woman multiple times but that they to decide whether the victim had been drugged. Lusk claimed the woman had passed out due to a sex game but the jury found he drugged her. Lusk (pictured) would film the horrific assaults, during which the women were seen repeatedly saying 'non' and pushing him away Six women were completely unconscious in the videos and two appeared 'semi-disorientated'. The court heard Lusk kept the videos he considered 'noteworthy'. When asked if the women had consented to being filmed, Lusk claimed he believed it would be okay because he planned to share the footage with them. The videos were never shared with the women, with Lusk arguing he 'never had the opportunity' in several cases. A person known to Lusk submitted a video of one of the rapes to police in May 2021. But officers were unable to charge Lusk as they couldn't identify the victim. The acquaintance had confronted Lusk over text at the time. In one message, the person wrote: 'She was roofied'. Mr Lusk replied: 'No she wasn't. We'd been f**king all afternoon and she bombed out.' '...She liked to get wasted and f**k. She was drunk AF'. Following his arrest in January 2022, Lusk told police the woman was 'role playing' a fantasy they'd discussed beforehand. However, he later testified he filmed the video to 'tease' the woman for being 'lazy' during sex. Lusk (pictured) was convicted of 85 of counts of sexual penetration without consent and 12 counts of stupefying in order to commit an indictable offence Lusk was arrested after two women reported their assaults to police, allowing officers to seize his electronic devices. The woman in the video submitted in 2021 was found and she testified to having no recollection of the night or having sex with Lusk. She claimed she was given what she thought was a paracetamol after arriving at his home due to a headache. Lusk will be sentenced on December 20. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or the Sexual Assault Resource Centre 1800 199 888. A female police officer has been found guilty of harassment after sending a series of threatening messages to her convicted burglar ex when he dumped her. Police Constable Miriam Virgo, an online personality who had more than 160,000 social media followers, embarked on an 'ill-advised' relationship with Carl Cserfalvi-Young after he was released from prison. But after three weeks he broke it off, a move she 'didn't take well at all', prosecutors said. The Thames Valley Police officer threatened him 'gangster style' using a website which allows users to pay to send anonymous texts, the court heard during a week long trial. Police Constable Miriam Virgo, an online personality, embarked on an 'ill-advised' relationship with a convicted burglar Carl Cserfalvi-Young broke the relationship off after three weeks and the Thames Valley Police officer threatened him 'gangster style' using a website which allows users to pay to send anonymous texts, the court heard Virgo is said to have told Mr Cserfalvi-Young his days were 'numbered' in the messages which she also sent to his mother. A jury has now found her guilty of harassment but cleared her of a separate charge of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment. The constable - who now appears to have deleted her Instagram account - will be sentenced in November. Opening the trial last week, prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson told Salisbury Crown Court, Wilts, the offence was made up of nine separate events that took place between May 31 and September 10, 2022. 'This is about a woman who started threatening violence to a man following the break up of the relationship. '[Virgo] had told Mr Young that she was a serving police officer. 'It was an unusual and possibly ill-advised relationship between a burglar and a serving police officer. 'The relationship did not last very long,' he said. The court heard Mr Cserfalvi-Young had recently been released from prison for burglary when the pair met at a pub in Reading, Berks, in May 2022. After meeting again and exchanging messages online, they began a relationship. Mr Cserfalvi-Young ended their relationship via phone call at the start of June to get back with his ex-partner, jurors were told. Following the break up Virgo looked up his past girlfriend on Facebook and called her to say she had 'won' and 'got him back'. Virgo is said to have told Mr Cserfalvi-Young (pictured) his days were 'numbered' in the messages which she also sent to his mother Later that evening she messaged Mr Cserfalvi-Young to tell him she had 'a lot of people are looking out for me' and warned him her cousins had said 'of all the people you could have f***ed over you picked the wrong one'. Mr Ward-Jackson added: 'The implication of the messages is that she had people looking out for her to make Carl Young's life unpleasant.' She then rang him and said: 'You've seen a nice side of me, but you haven't seen the other side of me, and if you f*** with me I will f*** with you. 'I've got nothing to lose. 'I'm not okay, I'm ready to take a f***ing knife on [sic] my kitchen, so you better f***ing start talking to me right f***ing now.' The court heard there was then little correspondence until a 'small flurry' of anonymous messages in early September were sent to Mr Cserfalvi-Young and his mother. In 'disturbing and sinister' messages the prosecution alleges that Ms Virgo pretended to be a lover of Mr Cserfalvi-Young's girlfriend. In the first message, sent on September 3, she said: 'your days are numbered... I know where u live. Ur a dead man walking.' 'F*** off and leave her alone*u need to back da f*** off or ur gonna get hurt,' she said in a message on September 6. Mr Cserfalvi-Young reported the 'series of threats' to the police and a week later Virgo was arrested. The court heard her phone had been accessing a website where users can send anonymous texts for a small fee and payments had been sent to a company linked to the website. Mr Ward-Jackson told the court it became clear it was Virgo who had sent the texts and had simultaneously been sending threatening texts to herself to 'throw investigators off the scent'. In her police interview, she said Mr Cserfalvi-Young had 'love bombed' her at the pub and any threat had been 'misunderstood'. Mr Cserfalvi-Young broke down in the witness box when he talked about the anonymous threats made against his mum and said he was afraid of being sent back to prison. He said: 'All I knew is that she was threatening me with her cousins. I took her seriously. I was shocked and worried about what she was going to do. I felt threatened and worried. 'I have just come out of prison, I did not want to go back to prison. In my eyes it is a threat to me, to my safety.' Thames Valley Police have been approached for comment. The Labour Party is considering emulating a Texan-style prison system where inmates can reduce their jail time by earning points for good behaviour. Earlier this month, Keir Starmer introduced an early release prison scheme in England and Wales - which recently wrongly freed 37 criminals - in a bid to tackle the over-crowding epidemic in British prisons. Now, ministers are reportedly drawing up plans to build a points based system which aims at reducing re-offending in lieu of building more prisons. Back in 2007, Texan prisons were similarly at full capacity, but an investment into educational and drug treatment programmes for prisoners saw the US state save $2 billion and decrease their prison population by 15 per cent from 2007 to 2023. With Starmer clearly hoping to emulate this success, will such a change in initiative really work in the UK and what does a points-based system actually look like in reality? Labour ministers are considering implementing a Texan-style prison system where inmates can reduce their sentence by earning points. Pictured: The Harris County Jail in Houston The points based system aims at reducing re-offending in lieu of building more prisons. Pictured: The Cleveland Correctional Center Back in 2007 Texan prisons were similarly overcrowded to Britain's today. Pictured: An inmate works on a computer in his cell at the Estelle Unit in Huntsville, Texas As of April this year, it was recorded that there were 132,955 inmates in Texas prison facilities - the largest prison population of any US state - in comparison to England's prison population of 88,521 this month. According to the state's Department of Criminal Justice, prisoners wake up at 3.30am and breakfast is served no earlier than 4am. They then then report to their work assignments at 6:00am. What is the points-based prison the UK is trying to emulate? Inmates in Texas are able to cut their jail time by earning points through participation in courses, which is known as 'good conduct time'. The courses include: Education workshops, industrial, agricultural, and vocational. There are also classes aimed at tackling the root causes of their sentencing, such as drug use. Investment has also been made in parenting courses and drug rehabilitation sessions. The umbrella term for this is 'smart sentencing'. Rick Perry, the Republican governor in Texas in 2007 - when jails were at full capacity and 17,000 new beds were needed over five years - decided to focus on reducing re-offending instead of building more prisons. Advertisement Every prisoner who is physically able has a job in the prison system, but they are not paid. They can only earn privileges - such as watching television - as a result of good work habits. Of the roughly 40,000 Texans released from state prisons every year, nearly half are rearrested within three years, and between 15-20% return to prison. In England and Wales, reoffending former prisoners account for 80 per cent of all crime, at a cost to the economy of 18 billion a year, the Times reports. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice also employs over 33,000 people, and for 2024 it has an $8.5 billion budget, making it one of the largest state agencies in Texas. In comparison, the UK spent approximately 6.85billion on its prison system in 2023/24. After reintroducing the death penalty in 1982, Texas has also executed more prisoners than any other US state, and currently has 180 prisoners on death row. A total of 590 people have been killed by lethal injection in the state in the past 40 years. Just this week, Travis Mullis was put to death for killing his baby Alijiah in 2008. In his final statement he called his execution an 'assisted suicide'. Stacking each prison system up against each other, it is clear to see the differences in terms of their budget and the number of prisoners they have. Another major point of difference is the way prisoners in Texas are able to shorten the time they serve behind bars by earning credit for good behaviour, which was first thought of by Rick Perry, the Republican governor at the time. To do this, inmates can win points by participating in courses aimed at tackling the underlying causes as to why they are in prison, for example due to drug habits. Named as 'good conduct time', prisoners can enroll in educational, industrial, agricultural, and vocational workshops, as well as sessions on drug rehabilitation and behavioural change. Travis Mullis, 38, pictured above in the most recent image available of him through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Alijah James Mullis seen here in a photo shared by his family on Facebook. He was molested, stomped on and strangled The Texas death chamber in Huntsville where death row inmate Gary Graham was put to death by lethal injection on June 22, 2000 An investment into educational and drug treatment programmes for prisoners saw the US state decrease their prison population by 15 per cent. Pictured: A guard walks through a prison in Huntsville, Texas As of April this year, it was recorded that there were 132,955 inmates in Texas prison facilities. Pictured: Inmates at the Harris County Jail The thought behind this is so inmates can use their time behind bars proactively before they are eligible for a parole review. The bonus of being able to reduce their sentence also boosts participation rates. Hundreds of millions of dollars were also invested in schemes - like parenting courses - to prevent crimes being committed in the first place. For those whose offending was linked with drug misuse, special drug courts were set up to order them to attend rehabilitation courses. Inmates need to carry out weekly court reports and urine tests to avoid prison time. Non-custodial sentences are also given for low-level drug offences. Last year, the prison population in Texas fell from 152,661 to 129,653, which meant authorities were able to shut 16 jails. Crime rates also fell 29 per cent to their lowest level since 1968 and reoffending rates halved, while employments rates of ex-convicts increased by 50 per cent just ten years after the reforms. A UK source previously said the Texas prison model would only be successful in the UK with considerable financial backing. The source told The Times: 'If theres no additional money then this will be a totally cosmetic exercise.' And with reports that the Treasury ahead of next month's budget amid worries that the department may experience significant cuts instead of increased funding, there's a real doubt as to whether the UK would be able to afford these changes. This comes after dozens of offenders convicted of breaching a restraining order were wrongly let out of jail. The Ministry of Justice is now striving to avoid more ineligible offenders being freed after the oversight emerged. In all, 37 men were released in error. Most have now been recalled to jail but five were still on the loose last night. Jails have been ordered to manually recalculate prisoners' correct release dates after the shocking mix-up. Keir Starmer will visit Brussels next week on his mission to 'reset' relations - amid signs the EU's price could be a deal on taking illegal migrants. The PM has lined up talks with commission president Ursula von der Leyen after the pair met on the sidelines of the UN summit in New York last night. He has been stressing his determination to repair ties after years of Brexit wrangling. However, concerns have been raised about the quid pro quo of boosting trade and cooperation. Pedro Serrano, the EU ambassador to London, suggested in an interview that there should be a central agreement with the UK on handling 'irregular' migration. That could include quotas on taking migrants who arrive on the continent - a prospect Labour previously played down. The PM has lined up talks with commission president Ursula von der Leyen next week after the pair met on the sidelines of the UN summit in New York last night (pictured) Sir Keir has met a string of EU leaders since taking office and has spoken about his 'ambitious' plans for a new relationship. The PM said he was 'looking forward to visiting Brussels next week to start discussions' with the commission president. Ms von der Leyen said she was keen to consider the 'reset of EU-UK relations'. The EU has proposed a youth mobility scheme for 18-30 year-olds as part of a deal with the UK, but Sir Keir has resisted anything that could be seen as the reintroduction of free movement. Reports have suggested the EU could water down its initial proposals to make them more acceptable to Sir Keir. Earlier this month Sir Keir said: 'I want to be ambitious about what we can achieve within the EU reset. 'That does not mean going back into the EU, that does not mean going back into the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement. So they are the red lines within that framework.' Speaking to Times Radio from the Labour conference this week, Mr Serrano said the bloc was 'very keen to work even more closely together with the UK' in addressing irregular migration. Currently relations are managed through bilateral deals such as with France. Asked if that meant a 'formal deal', the ambassador replied: 'What I say is that we can have a stronger cooperation. 'We have to look at this in a very holistic perspective. There are countries of origin that we have to engage with, countries of transit that we have to engage with,' he said. A group of migrants attempting to cross the Channel from France earlier this month 'There are police aspects that need to be looked at. 'So it has to be looked at in a very holistic way. And I think it'd be great to have a good dialogue with the UK on these issues.' He went on: 'The problem is, it goes beyond the borders of France and Germany and UK and and an overall more holistic approach would probably be... 'In any case, we cannot handle migration just in France and Germany, it has to be handled as as an EU and and and it may be more profitable to look at it from that perspective.' He agreed that 'caps' or 'numbers' would be 'examples' of things that could be covered. A top campaign fundraiser and close aide of New York City Mayor Eric Adams will be among those named in the bombshell indictment expected to be unsealed today, sources have claimed. Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on criminal charges following a long-running federal corruption investigation. The mayor on Wednesday declared he was innocent. The indictment detailing the charges against Adams is expected to be unsealed Thursday, with sources alleging that least three other people will be charged. Brianna Suggs, who was a key consultant and fundraiser during Adams' mayoral campaign, and his current director of Asian affairs Winnie Greco are expected to be named in the indictment, The New York Post reported. FBI agents raided Suggs' home in November last year and four months later carried out a search at Greco's residence. It is unclear if the pair will be charged in the indictment or just named. The indictment comes after weeks of searches, subpoenas and resignations of top officials that have thrust the city's government into crisis. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, pictured Wednesday, has been indicted by a grand jury on criminal charges following a long-running federal corruption investigation. Adams on Wednesday declared he was innocent Adams' close aide Winnie Greco (left), who is his current director of Asian affairs, and top campaign fundraiser Brianna Suggs (right) are expected to be named in the indictment, sources told the New York Post. It is unclear if the pair will be charged in the indictment or just named Adams, a Democrat, said Wednesday he expected to be charged with federal crimes and declared he was innocent. In a speech recorded at his official residence, the mayor said he would remain in office, describing any charges he may face as 'entirely false, based on lies.' 'I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target - and a target I became,' Adams said. 'I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit.' It was not immediately clear what laws Adams is accused of breaking or when he might have to appear in court. The indictment detailing the charges against Adams is expected to be unsealed Thursday morning, according to insiders. The US attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment. The federal investigations into Adams' administration first emerged publicly on November 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Suggs. Suggs, who reportedly has close ties to Adams' inner circle, was the key campaign consultant and fundraiser during his mayoral campaign. She served as an intern at Brooklyn Borough Hall in 2017 when Adams was borough president, the Post reported. She was promoted to 'special liaison' in 2018 and worked on women's health for the next three years. This photo by the New York Mayoral Photography Office shows New York Mayor Eric Adams (left) as he delivers remarks and marches in the 21st Autumn Moon Festival and 12th China Day Festival, with Winnie Greco (right) on October 1, 2023 Suggs then worked on Adams' mayoral campaign in 2021, raising $18.4million. Campaign records reveal that his campaign spent a total of $18.5million. She made more than $150,000 from the 2021 campaign and the mayor's 2025 re-election campaign, records reviewed by the newspaper show. She was also issued a subpoena to testify in front of a federal grand jury following the FBI raid at her home in November 2023. At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be 'shocked' if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor's phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. In addition to the sprawling inquiries launched by Manhattan prosecutors, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn are investigating Greco, one of Adams' close aides who raised thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the city's Chinese American communities and later became his director of Asian affairs. Her home was raided by the FBI in February this year. Greco hasn't commented publicly on the FBI searches of her properties and continues to work for the city. Greco was already being probed by the city Department of Investigation over allegations that in 2022 she promised a campaign volunteer a job in Adams' administration if they renovated her kitchen. She has also been accused of reaching out to prominent Chinese business executives to male $10,000 donations to attend a Chinese-focused event at the mayor's mansion. Greco has been affiliated with Adams since his time as Brooklyn borough president. At the time she worked as the Chinese community liaison and a volunteer fundraiser. Eric Adams, pictured in November 2023, was elected as mayor in November 2021 - a victory he has repeatedly said was ordained by God. But after more than two years in office, his popularity has declined Eric Adams was among those invited to the White House in July 2021 to meet with President Joe Biden and discuss a plan to reduce gun crime and enhance public safety The retired police captain had previously campaigned on being tough-on-crime, doing so successfully to become the city's 110th mayor. When the charges are made public, he will be the first to be charged criminally while still in office Federal investigators, on September 4 this year, seized electronic devices from the city's police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall. Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations, but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. A week after the searches, the city's police commissioner, Edward Caban, announced his resignation. About two weeks later, Schools Chancellor David Banks announced he would retire at the end of the year. Adams himself insisted he would keep doing the city's business and allow the investigations to run their course. Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign arm and City Hall, requesting information about the mayor's schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government. When agents seized electronic devices from Caban, the former police commissioner, in early September, they also visited his twin brother, James Caban, a former police officer who runs a nightlife consulting business. Agents also took devices from the schools chancellor; his brother Philip Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief who is now deputy mayor for public safety; their brother Terence Banks, who ran a consulting firm that promised to connect businesses to government stakeholders; and from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is David Banks' domestic partner. All denied any wrongdoing. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on September 13, as the nature of feds' renewed investigation remains unknown. Caban was personally picked to head the New York Police Department in 2023 Earlier this month, agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright (left) and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, (right) in a series of raids that for now remain under wraps While those investigations churned, federal authorities also searched the homes of newly named interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, and seized materials unrelated to his police work. Donlon confirmed the search and said it involved materials that had been in his possession for 20 years. In his speech Wednesday night, Adams appeared to cite that search as proof of overreach by federal investigators. He is expected to surrender to authorities next week, sources told the Post. Adams, in a statement to the newspaper, claimed that he has become a 'target' after having 'stood my ground for New Yorkers'. 'I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life,' he told the Post. 'That fight has continued as your mayor. when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics.' DailyMail.com has approached Adams for comment. Adams spent 22 years in New York City's police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as mayor in November 2021 - a victory he has repeatedly said was ordained by God. But after more than two years in office, his popularity has declined. While New York City has seen an increase in jobs and a drop in certain categories of crime, the administration has struggled with an influx of tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the city's homeless shelters. Hours before the charges were announced Wednesday, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured in March) called on Adams to resign, the first nationally prominent Democrat to do so. Adams reacted with scorn, dismissing Ocasio-Cortez as self-righteous The indictment - first reported by The New York Times - marks a stunning turn for Adams, a former police captain who won election nearly three years ago to become the city's second Black mayor on a campaign that stressed his working class roots and commitment to public safety. But as Adams has made reducing crime a cornerstone of his administration, he has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations honing in on his top aides and his own campaign. In the last two weeks alone, the leaders he appointed to oversee the country's largest police force and largest schools system have announced their resignations. Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said 'Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement.' The indictment comes against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly, which has brought dozens of world leaders to New York, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. If Adams refuses to step down, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, pictured, could use extraordinary powers to have him removed him from office before his term is up Hours before the charges were announced Wednesday, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Adams to resign, the first nationally prominent Democrat to do so. Adams reacted with scorn, dismissing Ocasio-Cortez as self-righteous. Adams, who is expecting a tough primary election next year, faced additional calls to resign once the indictment became public Wednesday night, including from many of his declared or expected Democratic challengers in the mayoral race. Brad Lander, the city's comptroller, said the indictment marked 'a sad day for New Yorkers.' State Sen. Zellnor Myrie added that it was 'especially painful for so many Black New Yorkers who put our hope and faith in this Mayor.' Scott Stringer, a former city comptroller who is expected to run against Adams, said the indictment had left New York City 'with a broken down trainwreck of a municipal government.' Joe Borelli, the top Republican in the City Council, who is believed to be eyeing a run for mayor, said he would reserve judgment until viewing the charges. Daymond Gascon/The Chronicle In March 2020, not long before COVID shut down the country, California voters rejected a $15 billion school infrastructure bond that would have been the largest in state history marking the first state school bond failure in more than two decades. The measure had its problems, but need wasnt one of them. In the 2018-19 school year, 38% of K-12 students attended schools that didnt meet minimum facility standards, according to a 2022 Public Policy Institute of California report. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The picture hasnt gotten any rosier in the years since. California has a $3.3 billion funding-request backlog for K-12 school construction and modernization projects, and the independent state auditor estimated in 2022 that school districts would need $5.7 billion more over the next five years. California is also implementing a brand-new grade level transitional kindergarten for which all 4-year-olds will be eligible by the 2025-26 school year. Proposition 2, which the California Legislature placed on the November ballot with a bipartisan vote, would authorize $10 billion in bonds for school facilities $8.5 billion for K-12 public schools and $1.5 billion for community colleges. Of the $8.5 billion in K-12 money, $4 billion would be reserved for modernizing school facilities, $3.3 billion for new construction, $600 million for charter school facilities and $600 million for career technical education facilities. The state would dole out the first two pots of money mostly on a first-come, first-served basis which means districts stuck in the states funding backlog could be reimbursed for eligible projects that were already completed and award the latter two pots of money through a competitive application process. (Districts could also receive extra funding for certain projects, such as building transitional kindergarten classrooms.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad The $1.5 billion for community colleges would go to new buildings, renovations, land purchases and equipment. The governor and Legislature would decide which projects to fund after reviewing a project priority list from the community college system. One of the biggest criticisms of past state school bond measures confirmed by a 2022 state auditor report is that funds have disproportionately flowed to affluent school districts. The Public Policy Institute of California found that since the state created its school facility funding program in 1998, wealthy districts have received more modernization funding than high-needs districts and suburban districts have gobbled up money at the expense of rural schools. There are a few main reasons for the disparity. The states practice of distributing funds on a first-come, first-served basis gives an unfair advantage to bigger, wealthier districts that have the staff and technical expertise to craft complicated funding applications. Disadvantaged districts also face steeper hurdles in funding their share of project costs. The state typically covers 50% of the cost of new school construction and 60% of modernization projects, with local school districts covering the rest, according to the Legislative Analysts Office. Districts typically raise their portion through local school bonds, which require 55% voter approval and are often paid back through higher property taxes. That isnt usually a hard sell in wealthier, populous parts of the state, such as San Francisco which currently has a $790 million school infrastructure bond on the local ballot. But its a much harder threshold to reach in sparsely populated, low-income and rural areas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thankfully, Prop 2 contains key provisions to more equitably distribute funds. First, it requires up to 10% of both new construction and modernization funds to go to small school districts those with fewer than 2,501 students, which, according to a UC Berkeley report, account for about 6% of the states enrollment. Second, it ensures small districts will receive technical assistance from the state to navigate the complex process to secure these funds. Third, it increases the states cost-share of new construction and modernization projects for certain disadvantaged districts. And fourth, it allows districts unable to raise at least $15 million from local bonds up from the current $5 million cap to apply for additional state funding. Advertisement Article continues below this ad These measures wont completely close the bond equity gap, but, as Yuri Calderon, executive director of the Small School Districts Association, told the editorial board, Its a really good step in the right direction. We agree. Prop 2s opponents argue that California, which is facing several years of projected budget deficits, can ill afford to take on more debt. But, as the state auditor notes, bond funding remains the best method for the state to pay for its share of school facility projects. Prop 2 also contains enhanced accountability measures, such as public hearings, independent performance audits and a requirement that districts develop facility master plans to give the state much-needed data on where improvements are needed. Opponents also question the wisdom of issuing a school facility bond when many districts are facing declining enrollment. But, as proponents pointed out, schools wont be able to receive Prop 2 funding for new construction unless they can demonstrate a projected influx in students. About Opinion The editorial positions of The Chronicle, including election recommendations, represent the consensus of the editorial board, consisting of the publisher, the editorial page editor and staff members of the opinion pages. Its judgments are made independent of the news operation, which covers the news without consideration of our editorial positions. Furthermore, we wont be able to increase public-school enrollment either in K-12 schools or community colleges with crumbling, unsafe infrastructure. Prop 2 will help districts including those historically overlooked by state bonds ensure students can learn in clean, safe and modern environments. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Right-wing tech billionaire Elon Musk has been snubbed by a government business summit after he clashed with Keir Starmer in a row over summer race riots in the UK. The controversial X owner has reportedly not been invited to an investment summit next month after he used the platform to criticise Sir Keir and make unsubstantiated claimed about the UK. After three children were killed in a stabbing attack in Southport and violence erupted across the UK, Mr Musk branded the PM #TwoTierKeir, in reference to claims or allegations of 'two tier policing' in Britain complaining about harsh sentences handed out to those involved in the disorder fuelled by far-right thugs. He also said 'civil war is inevitable' in the wake of the chaos, and was left red-faced as he pushed false claims about the PM setting up detainment camps in the Falklands. Sir Keir will host the International Investment Summit on October 14 two weeks before the autumn Budget. The Government hopes the summit will attract hundreds of leading chief executives and financiers and is part of efforts to show that the UK is 'open for business' after a period of political and economic turmoil. The decision to NFI Mr Musk comes after he was feted by previous Tory PM Rishi Sunak at an AI event at Bletchley Park last year. The PM also conducted an interview with Mr Musk. In response to the reports Mr Musk tweeted: 'I dont think anyone should go to the UK when theyre releasing convicted pedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts.' The controversial X owner has reportedly not been invited to an investment summit next month after he used the platform to criticise Sir Keir and make unsubstantiated claimed about the UK. Mr Musk branded the PM #TwoTierKeir, in reference to claims or allegations of 'two tier policing' in Britain complaining about harsh sentences handed out to those involved in the disorder fuelled by far-right thugs. After three children were killed in a stabbing attack in Southport and violence erupted across the UK The decision to NFI Mr Musk comes after he was feted by previous Tory PM Rishi Sunak at an AI event at Bletchley Park last year. The PM also conducted an interview with Mr Musk (video below) BNY, Blackstone and CyrusOne have confirmed attendance, according to the Treasury. A list of attendees has not been released. Investment giant Blackstone has already confirmed a 10 billion deal to develop Europe's largest AI data centre in Blyth, Northumberland. The firm's president, Jon Gray, will be among the executives at a roundtable event hosted by Sir Keir on Thursday. Mr Musk was a star guest at the UK Government's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit last year, during which Mr Sunak interviewed him for almost an hour in front of business chiefs. Mr Musk shared a doctored headline that falsely stated Sir Keir was considering building 'emergency' prisons on the Falkland Islands for arrested rioters The billionaire shared the post on X made by Ashlea Simon, co-leader of far-right group Britain First But it appears he will not be courted by the new Labour administration after his posts about the disorder in the UK last month. False information that spread on social media about the identity of the alleged Southport knife attacker has been seen as playing a role in sparking the days of violence. The billionaire engaged with posts by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, suggested that civil war in the UK was 'inevitable', and retweeted a fake Daily Telegraph headline suggesting rioters would be sent to detention camps in the Falkland Islands. The social media tycoon also called the Prime Minister 'two-tier Keir', a reference to claims that police have a 'two-tier' approach to protests and deal with some more harshly than others. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander said at the time that Mr Musk's comments on civil war were 'deeply irresponsible' and Sir Keir's spokesman said there was 'no justification for comments like that'. The Government and X have been contacted for comment. A convicted killer has admitted to murdering Sarah Mayhew, whose body was cut up with power tools and dumped in a park and a river nine miles apart. In April, police were called to Rowdown Fields in New Addington, Croydon, where they discovered Sarah's arms, legs and head, believed to have been sawed off with power tools. And a month later, Officers from the Metropolitan Police were called to Rawnsley Avenue in Mitcham after contractors carrying out repair work discovered her torso - some nine miles away from where the rest of her body was found. Sarah, 38, from Croydon, was last seen in Sutton, south-west London, on the evening of March 8. Steven Sansom, 45 - who was known to Sarah - admitted murdering her and perverting the course of justice by dismembering her body, disposing of it in various locations, and then cleaning up the crime scene. He was previously convicted in 1999 for the murder of a cab driver, the Old Bailey heard. Sarah, 38, from Croydon, was last seen in Sutton, south-west London, in March Steven Sansom, 44, admitted to murdering Sarah Mayhew whose body was cut up and dumped in a park and a river nine miles apart His girlfriend Gemma Watts, 49, faces the same charges and was not asked to enter pleas In April, police were called to Rowdown Fields in New Addington, Croydon, where they discovered Sarah's arms, legs and head, believed to be sawed off with power tools His girlfriend Gemma Watts, 49, faces the same charges and was not asked to enter pleas. The cause of Ms Mayhew's death remains unknown, and her family are being supported by specialist officers. Examinations of her partial remains previously found two small vertebrae were broken in her voicebox, bruising to the skull and that her head had been shaved. Prosecutor Joel Smith KC earlier said: 'On 2 April a gentleman was walking a dog across the field in Croydon. The dog discovered a human bone and the police were called. 'A pair of arms and legs were found and the head which has been cut up using power tools.' He said said of Sansom: 'This defendant has a previous conviction for murder to which he pleaded guilty in 1999 and received a minimum term of 20 years.' Sansom stabbed popular cab driver Terrence Boyle, 59, in the throat and back before escaping with just 25 on Christmas Eve 1998. He had called Mr Boyle's firm, Kendal Cars in Station Road, Croydon for a lift from East Croydon station to his home in New Addington. Sansom knifed him as the car pulled up, inflicting a 12cm slash to the neck and cuts to the head and back. Police set up a forensic crime scene with tents and taped of areas of woodland as they search an area in southwest London after the limbless torso was found in the River Wandle A dog walker alerted the police to the first grim discovery after their canine had uncovered a human bone. A DNA test later found they belonged to Ms Mayhew (pictured) Father-of-five Mr Boyle also suffered a series of cuts to the hands when he desperately tried to defend himself. He managed to stagger into a flat doorway heavily bleeding, but collapsed and died shortly afterwards. Minutes later Sansom turned up at a friend's home in his blood-soaked clothes and started laughing as he discussed the killing. Sansom, then living in Applegarth, New Addington, admitted robbery and murder at the Old Bailey in May 1999. He was released from prison in December 2019 and has been recalled since his arrest in April. Watts's trial is due to begin on April 29 next year, with a hearing for both defendants set to take place on November 15. Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, who is leading the investigation, said at the time Sarah's remains were found: 'My thoughts remain with Sarah's family. We will continue to provide our support as our investigation progresses. 'Two people arrested, who were known to Sarah, were later charged with her murder. 'At present we are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death. Enquiries are ongoing.' A mother-of-five who died after having a non-surgical BBL procedure was treated at a UK clinic run by a glamorous beautician and a TV star dubbed the 'Lip King', MailOnline can reveal. Alice Webb, 33, died on Monday, just hours after having the procedure which is thought to have involved the injection of chemical fillers. It is understood that the procedure was carried out at The Studio 23 clinic in Gloucester, which is run by beautician Jemma Pawlyszyn and Jordan James Parke, 32, dubbed the 'British Lip King'. It is the first time a person has died in the UK from the procedure and comes after campaign group Save Face called for tighter controls in the cosmetic market warning that 'people could die'. Mr Parke, who describes himself on social media as 'The Plastic Surgery Advocate', is not a qualified surgeon and provides treatment from a clinic in Gloucester. The Kim Kardashian fanatic appeared on US reality TV series Botched in 2015, but he was turned away when he returned to the show in 2019 as doctors revealed a fourth nose job would have involved taking a piece of his rib to widen his nostrils. The procedure was carried out at The Studio 23 clinic in Gloucester, which is owned by Jordan James Parke Jordan James Parke works alongside his assistant Jemma Pawlyszyn (pictured) Alice Webb, 33, died on Monday, just hours after having the procedure which is thought to have involved the injection of chemical fillers Pictured is Studio 23, which is just a few miles from where Alice's home is in Wotton-under-Edge The Studio 23 sign could be seen at the property when MailOnline visited it in Gloucester today Parke, who has had major work done on his face, now has a private Instagram profile but it also links to another page called The Lip King Aesthetics. He also works in Manchester, Bristol and the West Midlands. Alice is understood to have had the procedure in Gloucester, which is just a few miles from her home in Wotton-under-Edge. The treatment is designed to make buttocks bigger, more rounded or lifted and sees fat or dermal filler injected into the buttocks to change size or shape. While non-surgical BBLs are not illegal in the UK, last year Wolverhampton City Council barred a company from carrying out the procedure after identifying risks associated with their processes, including blood clots, sepsis, and the potential for the death of body tissues. Parke is a Kim Kardashian fan who has spent more than 130,000 on cosmetic surgery and has appeared on TV to discuss his obsession on This Morning and Channel 4 Bodyshockers. He has had at least four nose jobs and 50 other procedures and once said: 'Plastic surgery is like sex. You can't have it once. You have to have it over and over.' Parke is a Kim Kardashian fan who has spent more than 130,000 on cosmetic surgery Parke has also appeared on TV to discuss his obsession on This Morning and Ch4 Bodyshockers Jemma Pawlyszyn works at The Studio 23 in Gloucester When he set up his business in 2017, he revealed that he would specialise in lip and cheek fillers and enhancements, as well as chemical peels and vampire facials one of Kim's favourite procedures. Yesterday evening, Alice's partner Dane Knight asked people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding her death and to be mindful around her five daughters, who are 'extremely vulnerable' at this time. In an emotional post on Facebook he wrote: 'Want to say a heart felt thank you to all family and friends that were here for us at our time of need, including all of the kind messages sent to my children and myself. 'There was some very beautiful messages sent by some of your children that formed a start of a smile from the corner of my kids mouth. 'I feel this is important saying this as I will not accept speculations from adults being accidentally being eaves dropped by children and unnecessary questions raised to the 5 girls, so be extremely careful on what you say and who's around! My children are extremely vulnerable!' Dane Knight (left) has been left devastated by the death of his partner Alice Webb (right) who died after a Brazilian Bum Lift procedure in the UK Alice (pictured) was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge and is thought to have had the procedure in the West Country Alice Webb (pictured), 33, died on Monday just hours after having the procedure Alice was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge, a market town in Gloucestershire. A GoFundMe page set up by her pal Abigail Irwin revealed the tragedy. It said: 'I am hoping to raise as many funds as we can to support Dane, the partner of Alice and their five beautiful children at this very difficult sad time. 'Alice passed away Monday evening after having the BBL treatment.' 'Alice joined the beauty & Aesthetics industry two years ago and she has been smashing it, doing amazing. 'She cared about her clients, she would always check in to see if they were OK, Alice was a beautiful person inside and out and I feel very lucky to have known her and to have spent time with her in our salon. 'Alice would ask for advice all the time and ask to check if there was anything more she could do to improve her skills but she was just a pure natural and never needed my help but always wanting to be the best at her job and that she was. Alice was just 33 when she passed away following the bum lift procedure in the UK A GoFundMe page set up for Alice, where tributes have been shared to the much-loved mother-of-five 'Alice has passed away at a young age of 33. Alice was beautiful inside and out with the biggest heart, her family was her world she is leaving behind her partner Dane & 5 beautiful children. 'Delsie 15, Preete 13, Gracie 12, Nylie 10, Clarie 7 as you can imagine this is a very difficult heart breaking time for them all so if we can all help donate or share to help take of some financial stress it would be really appreciated by the family.' The night before Alice's sudden death, she posted a photo on Facebook of a small pumpkin, which she said was a 'present' from her daughter. She added: 'How cute.' In the comments, she shared a second photo of the pumpkin, having been carved with a candle inside, and wrote: 'My little lamp.' Gloucestershire Police has confirmed it has made arrests and is investigating the death. On Wednesday despite being asked repeatedly for comment Gloucestershire Police refused to give any further details. North Korea has enriched enough uranium to build a 'double-digit' number of nuclear bombs, according to Seoul's spy agency. South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) claimed that North Korea is also making progress in its efforts to develop more powerful and accurate missiles to target the country. A behind-closed-doors parliamentary briefing by the National Intelligence Service came after North Korea offered a rare glimpse into a secretive facility to produce weapons-grade uranium earlier this month. This saw its leader Kim Jong Un reiterate his goal to 'exponentially' increase his stock of nuclear weapons. The NIS assessed that Mr Kim's disclosure of the facility was probably a statement of defiance towards Washington ahead of the US presidential election. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a ceremony where the new super-large multiple rocker launchers were presented on January 1 2023 This photo provided by the North Korean government shows a test of weapon systems, in North Korea on Saturday May 4 2019 This image released by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of a processing facility at the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Facility complex in Yongbyon, North Korea, on September 14 2021 A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul on Friday September 13. It reads: 'North Korea, unveiling the uranium enrichment facility for the first time.' It was also deemed by the organisation as a way of domestically showcasing his military accomplishments amid deepening economic struggles, according to Lee Seong-kweun, one of the legislators who attended the briefing. Lee said that North Korea's bomb fuel capacity included an unspecified but considerable amount of weapons-grade uranium that would be enough to build 'at least a double-digit number' of weapons. The agency also said that North Korea has an estimated 70kg (154lbs) of plutonium. North Korean state media did not disclose the location of the uranium enrichment facility that Mr Kim visited on September 13. However, Park Sun-won, another legislator who attended the briefing, said it was likely to be a site in Kangson, near the North Korean capital Pyongyang. Along with the North's main nuclear complex in the town of Yongbyon, the Kangson plant is one of two known sites in North Korea that has been linked to uranium enrichment activities. Some analysts say North Korea may have more hidden sites for enriching uranium. Mr Kim's visit to the uranium enrichment site was followed by a North Korean missile test days later, as the country continues to flaunt its weapons capabilities in the face of deepening confrontations with Washington and Seoul. North Korean state media said the test launches on September 18 involved two types of new missiles. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un looks on as a rocket carrying a spy satellite Malligyong-1 is launched in North Gyeongsang Province, North Korea on November 21 2023 One is said to be designed to deliver 'super-large' conventional warheads while the other is a 'strategic' cruise missile, implying that it was developed for nuclear strikes. North Korean state media reports on the tests suggested that the country was improving the capabilities of the weapons. They are designed for delivering precision strikes on South Korean targets, the legislators paraphrased the South Korean spy agency as saying. Some analysts speculate that North Korea could attempt to dial up pressure on Washington by conducting a nuclear test ahead of the US presidential election. However, the KIS assessed that North Korea could wait on a nuclear test until after the election since there are other steps it may want to try first. These could be in the form of test-firing a long-range missile targeting the US mainland or launching a military reconnaissance satellite, Lee said. Boris Johnson today reveals he will use his sensational new memoir to set out what he really thinks about Rishi Sunak and how and why I learned to keep my old friend Michael Gove firmly in the wing mirror. The former Prime Ministers new book, Unleashed, will be serialised on MailOnline from tomorrow and in the Daily Mail from Saturday, and is already tipped to become the political memoir of the century. In a short video to promote it and in typically colourful style Mr Johnson promises to spill the beans on which senior politician looks like a bullock having a thermometer shoved unexpectedly up his rectum and how I became obsessed with the weirdly shaped nostrils of a certain prime minister. The publication of Mr Johnsons memoir threatens to overshadow the Conservative Party conference which gets underway in Birmingham on Sunday. It will set out his view of the Tory machinations that forced him out in the summer of 2022. And the former PM will deliver his verdict on the record of his successors, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak and ponder whether the Tories crushing election defeat this year could have been avoided. He will also reflect on his political future after being cast out by his own MPs and a vengeful Labour Party. In his video clip today he poses the tantalising question: Will I be coming back? adding: Read the Daily Mail and find out. Boris Johnson today reveals he will use his sensational new memoir to set out what he really thinks about Rishi Sunak The book, which covers his years in politics, will detail the run up to the Brexit referendum, the furious campaign and the fallout from the biggest political earthquake in a generation. Mr Johnson will set out his reaction to David Camerons shock decision to resign in the wake of the Leave vote and how his battle to succeed him collapsed when he was betrayed by his Vote Leave colleague Mr Gove. The former PM will also describe the fights with Parliament, the courts and his own MPs as he battled to deliver on the vote to leave the EU. And he will reveal details of the tempestuous negotiations with EU leaders who feared that allowing Brexit to become a success could trigger the collapse of the whole bloc. In his promotional clip today, Mr Johnson says that French President Emmanuel Macron was always personally charming, but adds: He really meant it when he said that Brexit Britain must be punished. Mr Johnson will also detail how his government grappled with a once-in-a-century pandemic and tell for the first time the full story of how the Covid virus almost killed him. The book will provide candid insights into his relationship with the late Queen, including his final meeting with the monarch when he travelled to Balmoral to tender his resignation just days before she died in September 2022. In his video clip he says readers will also discover what the Queen said to me after her incredible performance with James Bond at the 2012 opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Supermodel Naomi Campbell has been disqualified as a trustee after an investigation into her Fashion For Relief charity uncovered 'serious mismanagement'. It follows revelations by the Mail On Sunday that official accounts showed that it spent more than 1.6million on a glittering gala in Cannes, but gave just 5,000 to good causes over a 15-month period. The Charity Commission confirmed in April that it had removed the supermodel's charity from the UK charity register while it continued its investigation into allegations of misconduct. And today the Commission published the report of its statutory inquiry into Fashion For Relief, concluding the charity was poorly governed and had inadequate financial management. Campbell, 54, was disqualified from being a trustee for five years, former colleagues Bianka Hellmich for nine and Veronica Chou for four. Supermodel Naomi Campbell - seen in Paris yesterday - has been disqualified as a trustee after an investigation into her Fashion For Relief charity uncovered 'serious mismanagement' Naomi Campbell played a prominent role in catwalk shows staged on behalf of her Fashion For Relief charity - seen here during London Fashion Week in September 2019 The model founded the charity in 2005, saying she had been inspired by her friend Nelson Mandela telling her to 'use [her] voice' for good. The organisation claimed to have raised more than 11million, mostly through glitzy fundraising events held all over the world, including in New York, Mumbai and Moscow. Campbell would take centre stage at the galas, appearing in showstopping designer gowns, and was honoured by the British Fashion Council for her services to and achievements in the fashion industry in 2019. But concerns were raised in 2021 about how much money was being passed on to people in need after the Mayor's Fund for London lodged an official complaint, saying that it was owed 50,000 by the charity. The Mayor's Fund, which helps young Londoners from low-income backgrounds, filed a 'serious incident' report with the Charity Commission, which announced a statutory inquiry in November that year. The commission said today that as a result of its investigation, more than 344,000 had been recovered and used to make donations to two other charities and settle Fashion For Relief's outstanding liabilities. The inquiry found that between April 2016 and July 2022, just 8.5 per cent of the charitys overall spending was on charitable grants. It also said it found some fundraising expenditure to be misconduct or mismanagement by the charity's trustees. This included a 14,800 (12,300) flight from London to Nice in 2018 for transferring art and jewellery. It also looked into the decision to spend 9,400 (7,800) of charity funds on a three-night stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, for Campbell. The supermodel, pictured on the red carpet at the Fashion for Relief show at London Fashion Week in September 2019, has now been disqualified as a charity trustee for four years Naomi Campbell is seen here attending a Fashion For Relief event at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival in France in May 2018 Among those at the Fashion For Relief event at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 were (left to right) Maria Borges, Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Winnie Harlow and Natalia Vodianova In these cases, the trustees 'failed to show how these were cost-effective and an appropriate use of the charity's resources', the Charity Commission said. The inquiry saw no evidence trustees had reviewed the charitys operating model to ensure fundraising methods were in the organisation's best interest and that costs were reasonable relative to cash brought in. And it also found some of the charitys fundraising expenditure was not reasonable. The charity had held fundraising events for the Save the Children Fund and the Mayors Fund for London. The inquiry found that the trustees of Fashion for Relief 'failed to manage these partnership arrangements'. The commission also said unauthorised payments totalling 290,000 for consultancy services had been made to trustee Ms Hellmich, which was in breach of the charitys constitution. And the charitys funds were held and applied on its behalf by external professional advisors rather than in a dedicated bank account in Fashion For Relief's name. Tim Hopkins, the Charity Commission's deputy director for specialist investigations and standards, said: 'Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charitys best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities. 'Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them. 'This inquiry, and the work of the interim managers we appointed to run the charity in place of the trustees, has resulted in the recovery of 344,000 and protection of a further 98,000 charitable funds. 'I am pleased that the inquiry has seen donations made to other charities which this charity has previously supported.' Veronica Chou (pictured left, with Naomi Campbell) has also been disqualified as a trustee Naomi Campbell helped launch a Fashion For Reliuef pop-up store at Westfield London in November 2019 The supermodel is pictured here at a Fashion For Relief event at Doha Fire Station in Qatar's capital in November 2021 The trustees were Ms Campbell, her key aide Ms Chou who is the heiress to a 2 billion textile fortune, and socialite and lawyer Ms Hellmich. Ms Chou quit the charity days after the Commission launched its probe in 2021. A spokesman for the charity said in April when it was removed from the charity register: 'The winding up of Fashion For Relief was a decision made by the trustees three years ago. It was not forcibly closed. 'Fashion For Relief operates in America and will continue to do fundraising initiatives worldwide.' MailOnline has contacted Fashion For Relief and representatives for Naomi Campbell for comment. A baby boy who suffered serious burns to his body after a stranger poured a thermos of hot coffee has returned to the scene where the harrowing ordeal unfolded. Little Luka was at a picnic with his mum and friends at Hanlon Park in Coorparoo in Brisbane on August 27 when an unknown man approached the group. He poured coffee over Luka before fleeing the scene and is believed to have since left the country. Luka was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries. Four weeks on, he has since turned 10-months-old and received a junior police uniform from detectives investigating his case and working to get justice. Following his recent release from hospital, Luka returned to the park with his parents and older sister on Thursday, where he happily played on the swings and slippery slide. His parents have renewed calls for police to share more information with the public about their son's suspected attacker, who understood to have fled Australia in the day following the incident. 'We would just like a bit of assurance that we are on the right track, and (that the offender) is going to get caught,' Luka's father told Seven News. Little Luka recently turned 10 months-old Luka returned to the park on Thursday for the first time since the harrowing ordeal 'How (do) they plan on bringing him back? And if they know where he is in that particular country, is that country working with us?' After a difficult month, Luka and his family are settling into a new home. He still has burns all over his body but his parent have been told they won't scar. 'He's really strong and resilient and brave,' his mother said. His father added: 'We can't believe how well he's doing. He's so happy and he's hitting all his milestones.' Queensland Police remains tight-lipped about the case and what they know about the attacker's potential whereabouts. 'We need to balance our investigative strategies with the need for the community to know what's going on,' acting commissioner Shane Chelepy said. Luka recently received a special gift from detectives investigating his case The global manhunt continues for the man who poured hot coffee over little Luka A specialist in international law at Australian National University, Professor Donald Rothwell recently warned that the suspect may be 'difficult to locate' after he fled the country within days of the incident. Professor Rothwell warned that the case may never be resolved because the foreign national flew out of Sydney Airport the day before police identified him on August 31. 'If someone doesn't want to be found and often they don't want to be found because they've fled Australia, because they are a suspect or a fugitive in this type of matter they can also be very difficult to locate,' Professor Rothwell told the ABC. He added that unless the man voluntarily hands himself in then, there could be nothing investigators can do to have him extradited back to Queensland. Professor Rothwell added that numerous factors such as the man's notoriety and his current location might become obstacles to the 'legal and a political process that needs to be followed'. The extradition process 'could be challenging and lengthy' for police, he added. Advertisement With 40 days until Election Day, polls in two of the most critical swing states show one presidential candidate holding an edge over the other. In Michigan, Kamala Harris is polling slightly above Donald Trump, but in Pennsylvania her lead is much smaller. And both states are considered to be toss-ups, coming down to turnout on November 5. The presidential hopefuls are in a neck-and-neck race in the majority of crucial states to capture if they hope to win the Electoral College in just a few weeks. Meanwhile Melania Trump sat down for her first interview in two years on Fox News ahead of the release of her new book and after two attempted assassinations on her husband. The former first lady described what she was doing when Donald was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania, and how she is dealing with her son Barron going to college. Her tell-all book titled Melania will be released on October 8 in the thick of the final days of the presidential campaign. Follow all the updates in our U.S. politics live blog. Vladimir Putin's move to update Russia's nuclear doctrine and allow Moscow to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states should be seen as a warning of 'consequences' to the West, the Kremlin has declared. The Russian President on Wednesday announced plans to broaden Russia's rules on the use of its fearsome arsenal, allowing it to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a 'massive' air attack. The proposals would also permit Moscow to respond with nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states, where they were being supported by nuclear powers - a thinly veiled reference to Ukraine and its Western backers. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the planned changes 'must be considered a specific signal that warns these countries of the consequences if they participate in an attack on our country by various means, not necessarily nuclear,' Peskov told reporters. The proposed changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, which Putin himself has the power to approve, come as Ukraine is seeking permission from Western allies to use long-range precision weaponry to strike targets deep inside Russia - so far to no avail. The West has accused Putin of irresponsible nuclear sabre-rattling throughout the Ukraine conflict, with the Kremlin leader having issued multiple apparent threats about Moscow's willingness to deploy its nuclear weapons. The expansion of the policy comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the US to present his 'victory plan' and press the case to use long-range missiles on targets inside Putin's territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk A devastating nuclear strike on London causing 850,000 deaths with two million injured was simulated by a staunchly pro-Putin propaganda TV channel Russia's current published nuclear doctrine, set out in a 2020 decree by Putin, says Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state. In comments yesterday, Putin said Russia reserved the right to use nuclear weapons if it or ally Belarus were the subject of aggression. 'Aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is treated as a joint attack on the Russian Federation,' he said. Adding to Putin's statement, Kremlin press secretary Peskov said today that Russia's 'nuclear deterrence is being adjusted on account of elements of tension that are developing along the perimeter of our borders'. He also said there was 'no question' of Russia boosting its nuclear arsenal. Peskov said a decision had not been made yet on whether the Kremlin would publish the updated doctrine following Putin's comments. But the European Union today rejected Putin's efforts to amend Russia's nuclear doctrine as as 'reckless and irresponsible'. 'Not for the first time, Putin is playing (a) gamble with his nuclear arsenal,' EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano told reporters. 'We of course strongly reject these threats.' Russia is making slow but steady gains in Ukraine as the conflict grinds through its third year, and the Kremlin is seeking to discourage stronger Western support for Kyiv. Ukraine's ambassador Valerii Zaluzhnyi this week issued a fresh plea to use Western long-range weapons to strike Russian territory, saying they are 'critically important' for Kyiv's success. He warned it was a 'critical time' for allies to show 'fortitude' and 'patience' in bolstering Ukraine's defence, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged allies to show 'guts'. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Zaluzhnyi insisted that lifting restrictions on the weapons would be crucial to Kyiv's defence. The expansion of the policy comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the US to present his 'victory plan' and press the case to use long-range missiles on targets inside Putin's territory Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for when Russia can launch a nuclear strike in a chilling new threat to the West Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) holds a meeting of the Security Council on nuclear deterrence at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 25 September 2024 Russia tests its deadly hypersonic 208-ton 15,880 'Satan-2' intercontinental ballistic missile Your browser does not support iframes. This week, a devastating nuclear strike on London causing 850,000 deaths with two million injured was been simulated by a staunchly pro-Putin propaganda TV channel. Broadcasting the four minute video with an English commentary appears to be the latest move in a concerted campaign to scare Britain from giving permission to Ukraine to allow Storm Shadow missiles to hit targets inside Russia. Putin's propagandists and entourage have repeatedly warned that he could use nuclear weapons. The video shown on Tsargrad's Telegram channel begins by threatening: 'Imagine for a moment that the unimaginable happens. 'A nuclear weapon explodes over London. In this documentary, we explore the devastating consequences of this catastrophe. 'In the simulation, we will use a warhead with a yield of 750 kilotons. That's a pretty powerful charge.' The commentary warns viewers: 'Upon detonation, a fireball as hot as the sun rapidly expands, reaching a radius of 950 metres [1,039 yards]. 'Anything trapped inside this fireball is instantly vaporised. 'In our simulation, the epicentre of the explosion is at Westminster. 'People within that radius won't even feel anything because the nerve impulse transmission speed is slower. 'Within 5 km [3 miles] of the epicentre the blast radius city of London, Camden town, Kensington, Brixton these areas will receive the most destruction.' Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference centre in central Moscow on February 29, 2024 October 2022 YARS missile launch 'Buildings will be destroyed and debris will fill the streets, creating extremely dangerous conditions for everyone in the vicinity. 'Given the population density in central London, the initial death toll could exceed 250,000 people and around 600,000 injured within a radius of 10 km [6.25 miles] the radiation will cause third degree burns. 'Within that radius anything that can burn will catch fire.' Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to be strained with US President Joe Biden saying the region is now on the cusp of 'all-out war'. Israel is preparing to open a second front with a ground invasion of Lebanon, while continuing with its war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel and Hezbollah's burgeoning conflict took a dramatic turn overnight as army chief Herzi Halevi told troops to 'prepare' themselves to strike into Lebanon behind the salvoes of rockets continuing to pound Hezbollah strongpoints. Mediators have scrambled to find a way to stop the conflict from spilling over into a much larger war amid fears Iran - a key ally of Russia - and its other proxies could be dragged in. Huw Edwards' former BBC colleague Jon Sopel has branded his crimes 'absolutely abhorrent' a year after he appeared in the media defending him. Sopel's intervention comes 58 days after the disgraced former News at Ten presenter pled guilty to three charges of making indecent photographs after he was sent 41 illegal images by a convicted paedophile. Edwards' career now lies in tatters after the sex offender was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years. But before he was charged former BBC News North America editor Sopel, 65, was one of Edwards' biggest defenders after he went out on the airwaves several times to back him, claiming he had a 'complicated private life'. He led the fury against tabloid journalism, blasting The Sun's claim that Edwards paid a teenager 35,000 for 'sordid images' as 'nonsense' and describing the decision to publish as 'half-cooked'. But he has now turned on his convicted criminal ex-colleague, claiming the two 'weren't mates' and saying he is not going to 'defend anything that he's done'. The police mugshot of Huw Edwards after he was given a suspended sentence for child abuse images on September 16 But before he was charged former BBC News North America editor Sopel, 65, was one of Edwards' biggest defenders and went out on the airwaves several times to back him, claiming he had a 'complicated private life' Jon Sopel's July 12, 2023, tweet which claimed his former colleague had a 'complicated private life' Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court after being spared jail on September 16 In an interview to promote his new book with the Guardian, Sopel responded to a question asking if he had been asked by Edwards to defend him. Sopel, who left the BBC in 2022 after nearly 40 years, replied: 'No, he didn't ask me to do anything. I've known Huw a long time, but we weren't mates, hadn't seen each other socially. 'The police came out and said there was nothing to it. I thought, if there's nothing to it and he sent a couple of inappropriate texts, he's just got a complicated private life.' 'You do what you do for the right reasons. 'I'm not going to defend anything that he's done. It's absolutely abhorrent.' When Edwards was revealed to be the unnamed male BBC presenter who offered a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images, the Metropolitan Police investigated and on July 12 confirmed there was no evidence to indicate a criminal offence had been committed. Edwards was later convicted in a separate incident which involved him accessing indecent photographs of children as young as seven after a man he met online sent him hundreds of sexual images on WhatsApp. Jon Sopel defends Huw Edwards on his The News Agents podcast on July 12, 2023 Shortly after Edwards stepped down from the BBC, Sopel went on Good Morning Britain on July 13, 2023, to defend his former colleague who he has known for more than three decades Edwards held his hands together and steadied himself as the Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring spared him jail earlier this month It later emerged that the BBC knew of his arrest in November, on 'suspicion of serious offences', but continued to employ him as the highest-paid news presenter, on a 475,000 salary, until April. Shortly after Edwards stepped down from the BBC, Sopel went on Good Morning Britain on July 13, 2023, to defend his former colleague who he has known for more than three decades, saying: 'We've had contact, obviously not since he has been hospitalised. 'He was very angry, I think felt very let down by what happened in The Sun, furious with their coverage, not overly impressed with the BBC's coverage either, and I think that he is just, I'm sure anyone who knows him is just wishing him well.' Sopel, who now hosts the podcast The News Agents with Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall, went on to say that he and Edwards used to 'compete against each other to get up the ladder at the BBC' and described him as 'incredibly funny' with 'an acid wit'. He said: 'He can be a complicated person to deal with, I just think if you're entering Huw's orbit, he's very defensive of his own territory, so I wouldn't say we're close friends but I thought that some of the coverage about someone's private life, which is complicated and possibly a bit messy and that some might find distasteful, I don't see what it's got to do with anyone else.' Sopel now hosts the podcast The News Agents with Emily Maitlis (pictured together) and Lewis Goodall Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis attend The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards in April 2024 Sopel also said at the time that he hoped Edwards would return to his broadcasting role, adding: 'If at the end of this, what you are left with is someone who had some personal struggles about who he was, what he was, how he lived his life, and he made some ill considered judgements along the way, I think it would be such a shame if such a talented and gifted broadcaster, and the way he navigates state occasions and the big events and reads the news with such authority, if that is lost, I think it will be a great loss. 'I hope he gets better, and I hope that some way, somehow, he's back, providing that nothing else comes out that we don't know about.' After the Metropolitan Police initially ruled out criminality, Sopel said: 'I don't know what went on at The Sun. But it just seemed to me that they had a slightly half-cooked story that they decided to go with. 'They went with the parents of a young man who was in turmoil and from a fractured family relationship. And they didn't even carry the denial from this kid It was nonsense. 'I think the BBC is a complicated beast and it would be lovely to think of it as a streamlined organisation where one bit knows what the other is doing. But the BBC is a series of completely uncoordinated limbs.' Edwards at the pinnacle of his career picking up a television award for Best Live Event for covering the late Queen's funeral in June 2023 The News Agents is recorded around lunchtime and aims to drop by 5pm on weekdays. It has hit 100 million downloads He said on The News Agents podcast: 'I would also say that I think that some of my BBC colleagues in news need to look at themselves because I think some of what was said, reported, and led on last night again showed that [Huw] had a slightly complicated personal life. 'It didn't show criminality.' Sopel also revealed to the Guardian he was being lined up to become the BBC's political editor, but realised he didn't want it due to 'laziness' as it would involve standing outside Downing Street at night in the rain. But Sopel was not the only media star to come out in defence of Edwards. Former BBC Political Editor Andrew Marr, also a former colleague of Edwards, told listeners to his radio show in July 2023: 'We're all human. We all have our frailties. 'We both know that Huw Edwards has a very, very nice and much-admired wife Vicky Flind and I think five children so there is a lot of family involved in this as well on his side.' Former Newsnight host Emily Maitlis and Sopel's The News Agents co-star meanwhile spoke out to claim Edwards's behaviour should have been reported to the corporation's HR department 'rather than turned' into a news story. Left-wing warrior Owen Jones claimed in July 2023: 'The Sun is a disgusting rag and they have to pay for what they've done to Huw Edwards. Huw Edwards shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth II during a royal visit to BBC Studios in London in June 2013. He enjoyed a glittering career until the scandal came to light Alongside Sopel, former BBC Political Editor Andrew Marr (left) and left-wing warrior Owen Jones (right) also came out in defence of Edwards 'They tried to destroy someone's life with false claims of illegality involving a minor. We know now there was no criminality.' Anti-newspaper pressure group Hacked Off used Edwards's mental health claims to launch a campaign criticising the original media reports and calling for tougher regulation of the press. Meanwhile online comedian Jonathan Pie got around two million views for a foul-mouthed video in which he ranted that Edwards's behaviour was 'nobody else's business'. In the aftermath of the Huw Edwards scandal, the BBC is commissioning an independent review of its workplace culture. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during a presidential debate hosted by CNN on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Gerald Herbert/Associated Press An Open Forum by Edward Wasserman, former dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, blaming mainstream news media for being slow to inform the public about President Joe Biden (Why did it take so long for the public to learn of Bidens decline? Blame the media, Insight Open Forum, Sept. 22) elicited many responses by Chronicle readers. Here are a few of them: Im not convinced that Edward Wassermans academic record, however impressive, qualifies him to convincingly judge Bidens cognitive abilities. To be clear, Bidens debate performance was troubling, but his grasp of facts and performance at his job had and continues to be stellar. Even Wasserman agrees, that the impression he was aging poorly might have just been a perception, and perhaps the medias failure to report Bidens decline only means that they were taken just as much by surprise as the rest of us. Of course, in politics, perceptions matter, a fact which Biden, eventually and greatly to his credit, acknowledged. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That in and of itself might be offered as proof that his judgment remains undiminished. And can you imagine Donald Trump even under duress, making such a sacrifice? David N. Kelso, Oakland And Trumps condition? Edward Wassermans Open Forum criticizing the media for failing to cover Bidens decline is old news. What the press is currently failing to do is cover Donald Trumps physical and mental decline. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He slurs his words, he loses his train of thought, exhibits short-term memory loss by constantly forgetting how to pronounce Kamala Harriss name, doesnt know where he is and where he was, mixes up names, walks with a slight stiffness in his legs, and spends days between rallies resting up, these are some of the signs of his 78-year age. Instead of ignoring his mental decline by characterizing his statements as lies or false, the press should report that his statements are signs of this decline. Michael Several, Berkeley Vet elected officials The media may have been complicit on not adequately covering President Bidens cognitive status but this goes to a bigger picture of people behind the scenes that are aware of health and mental issues. Consider Dianne Feinstein, Mitch McConnell, Strom Thurmond, Ronald Reagan and, yes, former president running against Biden. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When it is all too evident to the public that elected representatives are not performing to their fullest ability, its time to have a commission of independent health officials to properly evaluate the status of that individual. We, as American citizens, deserve nothing less. Kevin Kelem, Santa Cruz A media failure I fully agree with Edward Wasserman that the media should have done a better job in investigating and reporting on Bidens mental decline. I am sure the media were aware of Bidens decline, but hesitated to report it because of political bias. And that bias is a big problem. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While it is understandable that individual writers have an opinion, it should not prevent them from doing their job, which is to inform the public with objective, balanced and fact-based news. The media clearly failed their mission in this case. Joerg Herrmann, San Francisco No harm to Harris Edward Wassermans Open Forum on the alleged failure of the media to report President Bidens decline is about as comically wrong as it is possible to be. Advertisement Article continues below this ad First on the blatant false equivalency between reporting on the total chaos inside the Trump administration vs. some cognitive slowing on Bidens part while still functioning effectively and competently. About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies Then he really goes wrong on the idea that the late change at the top of the ticket is a major handicap to Kamala Harris. The late change means that we have a sprint of a campaign in which her smart, nimble and culturally up-to-date campaign is running against a dull, hidebound and incompetent Trump campaign that has spent years preparing to run against Biden and still has not figured out how to effectively switch. The Trumpers are left flailing around with a campaign of racism and misogyny that alienates women more and more with each passing day, while Harris campaign runs circles around them and makes them look foolish. A convicted killer who brutally murdered a teenager has been stabbed to death while serving a long sentence at a maximum security prison. Emergency services were called to Lithgow Correctional Centre in the NSW Central Tablelands west of Sydney around 2.45pm on Wednesday after Aymen Terkmani, 31, was allegedly set upon and knifed by two inmates with a sharp weapon. Terkmani suffered serious stab wounds to the chest, He was treated by paramedics and airlifted to hospital but died enroute. The jail went into lockdown as a crime scene was established. 'Detectives from Chifley Police District, with assistance from the Homicide Squad and Corrective Services, have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,' a police statement read. A report will be prepared for the coroner. Aymen Terkmani (pictured facing court in 2017) was fatally stabbed in his cell on Wednesday NSW Police said in a statement that the maximum security facility (pictured) was locked down following the incident and officers set up a crime scene Terkmani is understood to have been targeted after he allegedly assaulted another inmate earlier on Wednesday, Nine News reported. It's understood Terkmani was allegedly set upon by two inside his cell with a jail-made knife or shiv. It's understood that several alleged suspects have been identified on CCTV who are now being held in segregation. NSW Corrective Services and NSW Police have launched an investigation into Terkmani's death. Aymen Terkmani, 31, (pictured) was serving a long sentence at Lithgow Correctional Centre Terkmani was sentenced to 33 years behind bars in November 2017 over the bashing murder and sexual assault of teen Mahmoud Hrouk, 16, two years earlier. Mahmoud was lured into an abandoned home in Fairfield East, in Sydney's south-west where he was sexually assaulted and bashed to death. His bloodied and half naked body was found inside the home the next day. In sentencing, NSW Supreme Court justice Lucy McCallum said that the then-21-year-old had subjected Mahmoud to 'unspeakable violence'. 'The offender subjected the victim to the most brutal and horrific attack, inflicting injuries too numerous to list and too gruesome to describe,' she said. Right-wing tech billionaire Elon Musk has urged a boycott of the UK after being snubbed by Keir Starmer in a row over his comments about the summer race riots. The controversial X owner reignited his row with the Prime Minister after being denied an invite to an investment summit next month over false claims he made on his platform last month. In a blast at Sir Keir he urged people to stay away from the UK while it was 'releasing convicted paedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts'. The jibe appears aimed at the Government's decision to free prisoners early to jail those convicted after the racist violence. Mr Musk has previously alleged the UK has a 'two-tier' criminal justice system that treats those guilty of offences linked to the disorder too harshly. Sir Keir will host the International Investment Summit on October 14 two weeks before the autumn Budget. The Government hopes the summit will attract hundreds of leading chief executives and financiers and is part of efforts to show that the UK is 'open for business' after a period of political and economic turmoil. The decision to NFI Mr Musk comes after he was feted by previous Tory PM Rishi Sunak at an AI event at Bletchley Park last year. The PM also conducted an interview with Mr Musk. Mr Musk replied to a tweet saying he had been snubbed for 'defending free speech', writing: 'I don't think anyone should go to the UK when they're releasing convicted pedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts.' Paedophiles were explicitly blocked from the early release scheme and there are no reports yet that any were released by accident. The controversial X owner has reportedly not been invited to an investment summit next month after he used the platform to criticise Sir Keir and make unsubstantiated claimed about the UK. Mr Musk branded the PM #TwoTierKeir, in reference to claims or allegations of 'two tier policing' in Britain complaining about harsh sentences handed out to those involved in the disorder fuelled by far-right thugs. After three children were killed in a stabbing attack in Southport, and violence erupted across the UK The decision to NFI Mr Musk comes after he was feted by previous Tory PM Rishi Sunak at an AI event at Bletchley Park last year. The PM also conducted an interview with Mr Musk (video below) After three children were killed in a stabbing attack in Southport and violence erupted across the UK, Mr Musk branded the PM #TwoTierKeir, in reference to claims or allegations of 'two tier policing' in Britain complaining about harsh sentences handed out to those involved in the disorder fuelled by far-right thugs. He also said 'civil war is inevitable' in the wake of the chaos, and was left red-faced as he pushed false claims about the PM setting up detainment camps in the Falklands. BNY, Blackstone and CyrusOne have confirmed attendance, according to the Treasury. A list of attendees has not been released. Investment giant Blackstone has already confirmed a 10 billion deal to develop Europe's largest AI data centre in Blyth, Northumberland. The firm's president, Jon Gray, will be among the executives at a roundtable event hosted by Sir Keir on Thursday. Mr Musk was a star guest at the UK Government's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit last year, during which Mr Sunak interviewed him for almost an hour in front of business chiefs. Mr Musk shared a doctored headline that falsely stated Sir Keir was considering building 'emergency' prisons on the Falkland Islands for arrested rioters The billionaire shared the post on X made by Ashlea Simon, co-leader of far-right group Britain First But it appears he will not be courted by the new Labour administration after his posts about the disorder in the UK last month. False information that spread on social media about the identity of the alleged Southport knife attacker has been seen as playing a role in sparking the days of violence. The billionaire engaged with posts by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, suggesting that civil war in the UK was 'inevitable', and retweeted a fake Daily Telegraph headline suggesting rioters would be sent to detention camps in the Falkland Islands. The social media tycoon also called the Prime Minister 'two-tier Keir', a reference to claims that police have a 'two-tier' approach to protests and deal with some more harshly than others. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander said at the time that Mr Musk's comments on civil war were 'deeply irresponsible' and Sir Keir's spokesman said there was 'no justification for comments like that'. Earlier this month, some 1,700 prisoners were released early from their sentences in the first phase of the Government's plan to tackle overcrowding. Sex offenders are excluded from the policy. Some people have been jailed for stirring up racial hatred in relation to social media posts they made during the unrest in August. Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch has said she is a 'huge fan' of Mr Musk. 'I think Elon Musk has been a fantastic thing for freedom of speech. I will hold my hand up and say, I'm a huge fan of Elon Musk,' she said in an interview with The Spectator. The other three hopefuls were also asked whether Musk has been a good thing for freedom of speech. Robert Jenrick said he does not have a 'strong opinion' on the billionaire, but added: 'I'm not going to be booking a tete-a-tete with Elon Musk any time soon.' James Cleverly meanwhile warned against 'curtailing voices that you disagree with', while Tom Tugendhat said that 'If you are allowed to say whatever you like but you put your name to it, that's freedom of speech'. The Government declined to comment. Britain will be lashed by more torrential downpours later today with a chance of tornadoes and lightning as up to four inches of rain is set to batter the country. The Met Office has issued warnings of thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding for parts of Britain as communities scramble to recover from the devastating floods sweeping the country before the next wave of extreme weather hits. The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Toro) has even warned there's a chance of 'tornadoes' and The Environment Agency has 30 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 78 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible. Areas of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire are listed as being the most vulnerable. Pictured: Two women being rescued by Essex Fire and Rescue Service. Britain will be lashed by more torrential downpours later today with up to four inches of rain set to fall This image was taken moments before the two passengers had to be rescued in Essex. Communities are scrambling to recover from the devastating floods sweeping the country The women's BMW car became stuck in 3ft of water after more heavy rain poured down this morning The Met Office has issued two new ultra-rare amber rain alerts which will come in force in the Midlands and south of the country at 6pm today The River Thames breaches its banks after days of heavy rainfall flooding the surrounding car parks, fields and Thames Path Fears of travel chaos, power cuts and entire villages being cut off are beginning to spread. This picture was taken in Wallingford, Oxfordshire Areas affected by the amber warning, including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, could see 30 to 40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the forecaster. Water covers this car park in Wallingford, Oxfordshire A car drives through surface water along the country lanes at dawn in Dunsden, Oxfordshire Waves crash against the lighthouse in Seaham Harbour, County Durham Toro is also forecasting much of the south-east to see lightning, winds up to 50mph and 'isolated brief tornadoes'. This includes much of East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England. It comes after earlier today the Met Office issued two new ultra-rare amber rain alerts with maps showing which areas will be hampered the hardest as fears of travel chaos, power cuts and entire villages being cut off begin to spread. Warnings will come in force in the Midlands and south of the country at 6pm today and will last for 12 hours. Yellow rain warnings had already been in place for large parts of England and Wales and western parts of Northern Ireland. Areas affected by the amber warning, including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, could see 30 to 40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the forecaster. The Met Office said: 'Slow moving showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain through the evening, before clearing slowly south overnight. 'Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30 to 40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50 to 60mm or more in around six hours. 'This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears.' According to the warning, the weather could lead to difficult driving conditions and road closures, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and there is a 'good chance' some communities will be cut off due to floods. Delays and cancellations to train and bus services and power cuts are also likely. Parts of the country saw more than the monthly average rainfall on Monday, with flash flooding damaging homes and disrupting travel. There were further downpours on Wednesday evening. The Met Office has issued two new ultra rare amber rain alerts with maps showing which areas will be hit the hardest Met Office forecaster Paul Gundersen said: 'With the rain on Wednesday and Thursday potentially falling on already saturated ground a number of warnings for rain have been issued outlining the increased risks for potential impacts.' The Environment Agency has 27 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected and 67 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible. The rain is expected to clear during Friday leaving conditions much colder on Saturday. Earlier today three separate yellow rain warnings were issued for the UK. One for the Midlands and South of England and Wales until 9am tomorrow; a second for North East England for the whole day; and a third for Northern Ireland until 12pm. The highest rainfall totals are likely across the Pennines and North York Moors where up to 100mm (3.9in) could accumulate over the whole day, while there could also be thunderstorms and strong winds in the southern half of the UK this afternoon. Forecasters warned fast flowing or deep floodwater could pose a 'danger to life', as well as power cuts, flooded properties, travel disruption and spray on roads. Some communities could even be cut off by flooded roads after parts of the country saw twice the average monthly average rainfall in 48 hours earlier this week. Further downpours will follow in central and southern areas tomorrow morning, but the rain is set to clear later in the day leaving conditions much colder on Saturday. The weekend will start drier, but with frequent showers in western Scotland and Northern Ireland. Then on Sunday night, strong winds and heavy rain will move in. WEATHER WARNING 1: A rain alert for Northern Ireland from 8pm last night until 12pm today WEATHER WARNING 2: A rain alert for the whole of today covers much of North East England WEATHER WARNING 3: England and Wales are on alert from 6am today until 9am tomorrow The Environment Agency has issued 29 warnings for 'expected' flooding and 65 alerts for 'possible' flooding, most of which are across central and southern England. The Met Office said there could even be 'some snow on the Scottish mountains' tomorrow. It follows the coldest UK temperature in 150 days yesterday when Braemar in Aberdeenshire fell to -3C (27F) - the lowest minimum since April 28 when the same location dropped to -5.2C (22.6F). Met Office forecaster Paul Gundersen said: 'With the rain on Wednesday and Thursday potentially falling on already saturated ground a number of warnings for rain have been issued outlining the increased risks for potential impacts.' 'The highest rainfall totals are likely across the Pennines and North York Moors where 80mm (3.1in) to 100mm (3.9in) could accumulate on Thursday, while others within the warning area could see 20mm (0.8in) to 30mm (1.2in) quite widely. The rain is set to clear tomorrow afternoon leaving conditions much colder on Saturday 'More severe weather warnings may be issued over the coming days so it's important to check the latest forecast for your area.' Three weather warnings for heavy rain have been issued by the Met Office for the coming days. The first yellow warning - indicating heavy rain could cause some disruption was imposed on Northern Ireland from 8pm last night until 12pm today. The second was issued for the whole of today and covers much of the North East of England. And third was activated for southern England, the Midlands and Wales, between 6am this morning and 9am tomorrow on Friday. It comes after flash flooding damaged homes and disrupted travel, with extreme rainfall forcing 43 people to evacuate from a Northamptonshire holiday park. A road in Harrold, Bedfordshire, is closed yesterday after the River Great Ouse burst its banks Flooding around properties at Billing Aquadrome holiday park in Northamptonshire yesterday Horse riders make their way through floodwater at Walton in Warwickshire yesterday Firefighters and police worked to evacuate residents until late on Tuesday night at Billing Aquadrome holiday park. Teams used 4x4 vehicles and PPE to help people away from areas that were affected by the rising flood water. West Northamptonshire Council carried out welfare checks on any vulnerable people at the site and provided an overnight rest centre and emergency bedding at Lings Forum Leisure Centre for 52 people and 22 dogs displaced by the flooding. Volunteers from the Red Cross and Re:Act were supporting people at the centre who have been provided with hot food and drink. The neighbouring Cogenhoe Mill holiday park also flooded after the River Nene burst its banks. Areas including Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire were among the worst hit on Monday. Flooding also saw the AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle United third-round Carabao Cup match postponed after a sinkhole opened on the pitch in South West London. New Yorker could be run by an ultra progressive Black Lives Matter activist if Eric Adams is ousted following his federal indictment. Under New York's law, the city's Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, 48, who has a history of protesting against the police, will step into the mayor's office. Williams has similar political views to far-left Democrat progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He would replace Adams temporarily, until there is a special election 80 days after the change of power, sparking fears among New Yorkers that things could go from bad to worse in the city. 'A wounded Eric Adams, a weakened Eric Adams remaining in office, is better than the socialist Jumaane Williams,' former mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa told DailyMail.com. 'That will open up the floodgates to socialism, and we will become Chicago.' Adams, a moderate Democrat and former cop, has been the target of progressives like AOC, who oppose his pro-NYPD views and statements denouncing the Biden administration's migrant policies. New York City would be run by Jumaane Williams, an ultra progressive Black Lives Matter activist who has protested against police, if Eric Adams is ousted following his indictment Rep Ocasio-Cortez, who has repeatedly endorsed Williams, has been the leading Democrat voice against Adams, demanding his resignation in an essay for The New York Times published just hours before the mayor was indicted. 'I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,' AOC wrote Wednesday on X on Wednesday. 'The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. 'For the good of the city, he should resign.' Social media users have already started expressing fear about what a mayor Williams would mean for NYC. 'Jumaane D. Williams makes AOC look like Joe Manchin. Big defund the police/bail reform guy,' Joe Colangelo said on X. 'To say this would be the final nail in the coffin for NYC is an understatement. JW is basically a villain from Batman,' another X user added. Lisa Cappiello simply wrote: 'Lord help us.' NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, 48, is next in line for the mayor's office. He is seen kneeling against police brutality Adams, a moderate Democrat and former cop, has been the target of progressives like AOC, who oppose his pro-NYPD views and statements denouncing the Biden administration's migrant policies The failed gubernatorial candidate is a firm proponent of slashing the NYPD's budget but lives in a US military base in Brooklyn that offers 24-hour security During 15 years in public service, Williams has stoked anti-police sentiment and pushed for criminal reform, including to end solitary confinement in city prisons. He is also a prominent pro-Palestine activist. The failed gubernatorial candidate is a firm proponent of slashing the NYPD's budget but lives in a US military base in Brooklyn that offers 24-hour security. Williams was a leader of the 2020 BLM protests in NYC. In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, he led marches to Brooklyn Borough Hall to demand NYPD budget cuts. He also threatened to refuse to sign a warrant authorizing the collection of real estate taxes, which underpin the city's budget. Williams said he would not sign that warrant unless the city eliminated the next class of police officers. 'This guy hates the cops, hates America. Wears a Keffiyeh,' Sliwa told DailyMail.com. 'The police will no longer be able to function.... Sliwa added that even in a temporary position, Williams' mayorship could have lasting effects for NYC and it will spark an exodus from the city. '[City Council] will pass so much legislation that he will sign and will never be able to be rescinded,' Sliwa added. 'New York City will become the socialist capital of the world.' Former candidate for NYC mayor Curtis Sliwa, an opponent of Adams, told DailyMail.com on Thursday that a 'wounded Adams' is preferable to a 'socialist Williams' running the city Responding to AOC's tweet demanding Adam's resignation, X user Ralph Napolitano wrote: 'She wants to step in and be mayor. Hes an extreme progressive socialists who hates the cops. NYC will be worse than it is now. We cant let happen.' Williams, his wife and children live on the Fort Hamilton base in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn. The family, who have lived there for two years, rent a corner townhouse on the base with a backyard and water views of the Verrazano Narrows for about $4,000 a month. To enter the base, vehicles and passengers are subject to identity checks and surveillance. The base remains one of the most protected corners of Brooklyn. Adams was indicted by a federal grand jury on federal criminal charges - an extraordinary culmination to weeks of searches, subpoenas and resignations of top officials that have thrust the citys government into crisis. The indictment detailing the charges against Adams was expected to be unsealed Thursday. In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams said he would remain in office, describing any charges he may face as entirely false, based on lies. A NYPD officer stands outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday 'I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target and a target I became,' Adams said. 'I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit.' Federal investigators had seized Adams electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters. It marks a stunning turn for Adams, a former police captain who won election nearly three years ago to become the citys second Black mayor on a campaign that stressed his working class roots and commitment to public safety. But as Adams has made reducing crime a cornerstone of his administration, he has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations honing in on his top aides and his own campaign. In the last two weeks alone, the leaders he appointed to oversee the countrys largest police force and largest schools system have announced their resignations. Melania Trump said she believed God was watching over her husband Donald Trump during the two attempts on his life and blamed Democrats' for creating a 'toxic' political atmosphere the led to the two assassination attempts. 'Is it really shocking that all this outrageous violence goes against my husband?,' the former first lady said in an interview with Fox News to promote her forthcoming memoir. 'Especially that we hear the leaders from the opposition party and mainstream media branding him as threat to democracy, calling him vile names. They only fueling a toxic atmosphere and all of these people that they wanted to harm - this needs to stop this needs to stop. The country needs to unite and I encourage everybody to read my letter that I wrote on July 14th, again. Because that cannot continue.' Trump, 54, sat down with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt in New York for a recorded interview, excepts of which aired on Fox and Friends on Thursday morning. In the wide-ranging interview, which was her first in two years, she discussed the 2024 presidential race, her life in the White House, and how being a model prepared her to be first lady of the United States. It included behind-the-scenes photos, including some never-before seen pictures of Barron Trump. Melania Trump is promoting her memoir Melania, which comes out October 8th But she also discussed the recent attempts on the life of the former president. 'I think something was watching over him. It's almost like country really needed him,' she said. Melania Trump, who was always seen as a reluctant political spouse, said she supported Donald Trump's political ambitions. 'I support him. I know how passionate he is to make America great again,' she said. She demurred when asked about Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, pivoting to pitching her husband's presidential campaign. 'All he wants to as he says make America great again. He wants to make this country prosperous. Safe for everybody. He wants to make the American dream possible again,' she said. Melania Trump has yet to appear at a political rally for her husband. She was at his announcement speech for his presidential bid and watched him address the Republican National Convention. But she has not attended either presidential debate and has remained on the sidelines of the election. Still, she told Fox News that her early career as a model and being in the fashion world prepared her for being first lady. 'I think nothing prepared me more to be first lady in front of the world than the fashion industry,' she said. 'The fashion industry is glamorous but, at the same time, it's very tough. Everybody judges you. Looks at you a certain way. So, it can be mean world as well. So, nothing prepared me more for this world than fashion. It gives you a thick skin,' Trump added. The notoriously private former first lady also touched on her family life, saying it was hard to tell her 18-year-old son Barron about the assassination attempt on his father and gave some insight into her husband. She described Donald Trump as 'a family man. He loves his country. And all he wants is to build better. And prosperous.' And when asked what she loves about him, she said: 'His- humor, his personality, his kindness, he is very special. His positivity. His energy. It's unbelievable.' She also revealed that he wanted more children but she was fine with just Barron. 'I was always perfectly fine. And Donald was encouraging to have more and I said I'm completely fine with one because it's very busy life. And I know how busy he is. And I'm in charge of everything. So, that's why it's just perfect,' she said. When Melania married Donald Trump he had four children from two previous marriages. She offered her advice to blended families, pointing out 'you cannot control anyone.' 'To take the individual as they are. You cannot control anyone. You can control only your own behavior, your own words. Everybody's in control of own self. I'm not in control of my husband. I'm not in control of his children. I'm not even in control of my child. He is his own person. And we all have yes and nos and we all are all individual. Once you live your life with respect and love, that's all that matters,' she said. She spoke with pride about 18-year-old son, who is a freshman at New York University's Stern School of Business. 'I could not say I'm an empty nester. I don't feel that way. I raised Barron as own person and gave his own yes and nos. I respect that it was his decision to come here,' she said. 'He wants to be New York and study in New York and live in his home. And I respect that. And he's incredible, young man. I'm very proud of what he grow up to. His strength, his intelligence. His knowledge. His kindness. He's enjoying his college days. I hope he will have a great experience because his life is very different than any other 18, 19-year-old child.' Trump also talked about her first date with Donald Trump. He took her to Bedford, New Jersey, because he needed to check out some property he was interested in. But Melania said it was very nice because we were two of us alone in the car for hour, hour and a half. No other noise, no other people because, at that time, he was already known as a zit celebrity. So it was really nice to be just the two of us. She said she felt a connection with him from the start. I love the vision that he had. And the connection that we had. So it was very special, she said. She also said Trump never discussed his political ambitions or hinted that he wanted to be president. No. We didn't discuss at that time, no. But soon later, yes? Soon later. Not that he would be the president but he always was involved in politics. He was very in tune what is going on in the world, especially this country, she said. Melania Trump sat down with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt in New York for a recorded interview, excepts of which aired on Fox and Friends on Thursday morning The memoir includes behind-the-scenes photos like the one above Melania said her mother Amalija Knavs was like a second mother to Barron - above, Amalija Knavs, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Barron Trump, Santa Clauase and Viktor Knavs at Mar-a-Lago for Christmas in December 2008 Melania Trump also talked about the loss of her mother. Amalija Knavs died in January 2024. Trump is close with her parents, who moved to Washington D.C. during the Trump White House years to help her with Barron. 'She was very special woman. Full of warmth, kindness, and her life was incredible,' Melania said of her mother. 'Once Barron was born, he was her focus. She moved here to the united States to be close to him. And to raise him in one way. It's almost like she was a second mother, especially because of my schedule in the White House and being so busy. So they had an incredible bond. Her and Barron, it was a relationship like no other.' Her book touches on her four years in the White House. She described being first lady as having 'extra, extra responsibility.' And she told Fox News she bonded with Brigette Macron, the first lady of France, who she described as 'fun.' She also said she was close with Akie Abe, the former first lady of Japan, and expressed her condolences for her. Abe's husband, Shinzo Abe, was assassinated in July 2022. Trump, who was born in Slovenia, discussed her pride in becoming an American citizen. She became a citizen on July 28, 2006. She told Fox New she 'went through the process' but didn't elaborate. Questions have been raised about her visa status. She was on a visa reserved for immigrants with 'extraordinary ability' and 'sustained national and international acclaim'. There also have been questions as to whether she used her status to help her parents gain citizenship, a process known was 'chain migration.' Donald Trump has railed against 'chain migration' and immigration in general. 'I was very proud. I went through the process and that day was a big celebration, was very, very proud,' she said. Melania Trump included a photo of her and Barron as a baby Melania Trump's memoir comes out October 8th Trump sat down with Fox News to discuss Melania, her memoir that comes out October 8th. Earhardt got a sneak peak of the book and said it features behind-the-scenes photos from Barron as a child and the family in the White House. During the interview, she showed a picture of Melania working at her desk in Trump Tower with a young Barron playing in a toy car in front of her. 'I think it's very important that we show our children we are working to give them an example how life is. That they see us as real productive that we have ideas. That ideas come to life,' Trump. The former first lady, who has been the subject of various biographies, said she wrote her memoir because itt was time to tell her story. 'I believe that it was a time that I tell my story and the truth. It is a lot of misinformation and falsehoods written about me. And I want to put the record straight and people can learn some things that they were not discussed. And I hope they enjoy the book,' she said. Advertisement Late on Wednesday night, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, following a wide-ranging corruption investigation that has seen several top officials resign in recent weeks. Adams, 64, who has now become the first New York City mayor to be charged criminally while still in office, defied calls for his resignation on Thursday and vowed to fight the allegations against him. Follow here for live updates to stay up to date on the mayor's indictment and anticipated arrest. Convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Brueckner was named as the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2020. Born Christian Fischer in Bavaria in 1976, he descended into a life of crime as a young teenager, and was convicted of his first burglary in his home town of Wurzburg in 1992, when he was just 15. Over the years, the sex offender, 47, has been linked to several horrific cases, from sexual abusing children to raping a 72-year-old pensioner. Brueckner has more than a dozen previous convictions for burglary, theft, and sex offences, including serving an 18-month sentence for a sex attack on a youth when he was a teen. He is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping an elderly American in the Algarve and drug trafficking - but it is set to end early next year. Following the news of an alleged confession to a former cellmate that he took a child from a Portuguese apartment during a break-in, MailOnline has taken a look at the warped life of Christian Brueckner. Christian Brueckner, 47, is currently serving a seven-year sentence for the rape of a US pensioner in 2005 and drug trafficking, and is also the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann 1994 In 1994, when he was just 17, Christian Brueckner was convicted in his homeland of Germany of sexual abuse of a child, and carrying out sexual acts in front of a child. He molested a six-year-old girl in a playground in Wurzburg, Bavaria, only stopping when she began to scream and cry, a youth court heard. Brueckner then 'dropped his trousers' at a nine-year-old boy before fleeing the scene. The vile playground attack earned him a two-year youth sentence, of which he only served part, before fleeing to Portugal. 1995 The following year, as an 18-year-old who had just got his driving license, Brueckner fled Germany for Portugal with a girlfriend to escape the youth custody sentence he had received, while abandoning his car mechanic apprenticeship in the process. 'We knew nothing about Portugal,' he would later tell a court. 'We went to Lagos [in the Algarve] because we liked the name. We had a tent with us and camped in the wild.' His relationship soon ended but he took on an array of jobs over the years, including swimming pool installations and car repairs - before settling down in the resort of Praia da Luz - where Madeleine McCann would disappear from 12 years later. Brueckner's relationships with women, including an English woman in 2004 to 2005, were said to be frequent but short-lived. The convicted rapist was later linked to the disappearance of Jair Soares, a seven-year-old who vanished in August. 1996 Authorities in Belgium have linked Brueckner to the murder of missing 16-year-old Carola Titze, who disappeared while on holiday in De Haan on July 5. Christian Brueckner was pictured pulling up in prison van outside the courtroom in Brunswick, Lower Saxony, at the start of his trial 1999 In 1999, Brueckner was arrested by Portuguese police and and sent back to his home country to serve the rest of his youth sentence from 1994. He is believed to have served prison sentences in Portugal, where he became known to authorities for drug dealing and breaking into holiday apartments and hotels. Former detective Mark Williams-Thomas said: 'So in 1999 Christian Brueckner came to the attention of the Portuguese police, having committed a sexual offence against a child. 'It is now clear police failed to trace, interview and eliminate a local child sex offender. 'Had they done so, Brueckner would have been flagged up as a significant person of interest and potential forensic evidence obtained from his campervan'. 2001 Bruckener has been linked to the disappearance of Penny Knobloch, a German schoolgirl, after she went missing aged nine in May. Part of her skeleton was discovered 15 years later by a mushroom picker in a Bavarian forest, around 60 miles from her home in Lichtenberg, Upper Franconia. The town is roughly 100 miles from Brueckner's home town of Wurzburg. 2004 While dating an English woman living in Praia da Luz, Brueckner was later accused of raping an Irish mother-of-three in June 2004. Giving evidence in the trial of Brueckner in May this year, Hazel Behan alleged she was raped at knifepoint by the main suspect in the Madeleine McCann case and told the court she would never forget the eyes of her attacker, which 'bored into my skull'. She said on the second and final day of testimony, delivered over 10 hours, that she still bears the scars of the attack, which took place in Praia da Rocha, in the Algarve, where she was working as a holiday representative. In haunting remarks made to the court, Behan said: 'When you spend time in a situation like that with a person and there's nothing else you can see on this human except their eyes, it's the only thing you can remember. They bored into my skull. I'll never forget it. 'They were just so blue everything so dark they were like lights, they were so bright. I just know them,' she said. She said she suffered from recurring posttraumatic stress disorder and frequent panic attacks as a result of the assault and had scars on the backs of her legs that remain to this day from where she was tied with rope to a breakfast bar during the prolonged attack at the flat where she lived. Behan also said she still bled from wounds received during the vicious attack. Over the span of the two-day trial, the victim said her attacker had been masked and was covered head to toe in a leotard-style body suit of about 60-denier thickness, and wore leather, or fake leather, gloves. She recounted in graphic detail how she was repeatedly whipped, raped, tied up, and filmed during the attack while he threatened: 'If you scream, I'll kill you'. Hazel Behan (pictured) has publicly spoken about the alleged 2004 attack in TV interviews Behan alleged she was raped at knifepoint by Brueckner, pictured 2005 Just a year later, Brueckner donned a mask and broke into a Praia da Luz apartment where a 72-year-old American tourist was living. He is currently nearing the end of a seven-year sentence for the assault on pensioner and widow Diana Menkes. The victim was bound, gagged, blindfolded and whipped with a metal cane before being raped for 15 minutes. Menkes said afterwards that he had clearly enjoyed 'torturing' her before the rape. In 2006, Portuguese authorities dropped the rape investigation linked to the pensioner due to a lack of evidence. The following year he moved out of a farmhouse he was living in and into a campervan now linked to the crime. The farmhouse was cleared out and a bag filled with wigs and 'exotic clothes' were found. But earlier this month, Braunschweig regional court was told that Brueckner confessed to the rape of Menkes and Behan while behind bars in 2019. Prosecutor Vanessa Beyse said in one confession he boasted of 'raping an old lady' and 'tying up and beating her, which really excited him'. 2007 On May 3, 2007, three-year-old Madeleine McCann was snatched from her bed at around 10pm as her parents ate tapas with friends just yards away while holidaying in Praia da Luz. Her parents had devised a rota system to check on all of the children - Madeleine and her younger bother and sister - but when mother Kate McCann went to check, she realised Madeleine was gone. Police and resort staff searched for the missing toddler along with other guests until daybreak - but the efforts were unsuccessful and border police and airport staff were put on alert in the following days. On May 12, Portuguese police said they believed Madeleine was abducted but was still alive and in Portugal, and just over two weeks later, issue a description of a man seen on the night of Madeleine's disappearance, possibly carrying a child. Across the following months, British police became involved in the investigation and at the start of the following year, the McCanns released sketches of a suspect, based on a description by a British holidaymaker of a 'creepy man' seen at the resort. In April, Brueckner allegedly exposed himself to a German girl on a beach in Salema. The convicted paedophile is also said to have sold marijuana at parties for young teenagers close to the Portuguese holiday apartment where Madeleine had been staying. Before her disappearance, Brueckner sold drugs accompanied by another man, according to a witness, but both were assumed to be British as they always spoke English. A witness said he sold drugs at parties held for teenagers in the forests around the village of Barao de Sao Joao, five miles north of Praia da Luz where Madeleine was abducted. The village has a large German population and is regarded by locals as a 'hippy commune' where marijuana is openly smoked - villagers confirmed that Brueckner was a regular visitor. Madeleine McCann was three-years-old when she vanished from her parent's room while sleeping on holiday in Praia da Luz in May 2007 A house near Praia da Luz resort and Lagos in the Algarve, Portugal, that was used by Christian Brueckner, a German man suspected in the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann The house was used by the convict rapist at the same time McCann disappeared 2011 Just four years later, Brueckner was sentenced to 21 months behind bars for 'dealing narcotics' in Niebull, in northern Germany. In October, a district court in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein sentenced him to one year and nine months for a crime involving 'narcotics in large quantities'. The term was initially suspended. 2013 In 2013, the McCanns appealed to the German public on TV for evidence over their daughter's disappearance, and Brueckner's name cropped up in connection with the case. According to a report in the news weekly Der Spiegel, Brueckner received a letter from police in Braunschweig on November 4 inviting him to be interviewed as a witness in the 'missing person case Madeleine McCann'. Braunschweig police had sent the letter after noticing Brueckner's history of sexual offences following a routine request by the German Federal Office for Criminal Investigation. Federal investigators in Germany had received a tipoff linking Brueckner to Madeleine's disappearance following the TV appearance by her parents on October 16, Der Spiegel reported. A former colleague had recognised Brueckner on the basis of a photofit of a man spotted near the site where Madeleine went missing. The informant claimed the suspect had run a swimming pool service close to the Cala d'Or holiday resort. A month later he had also shared a string of sick messages with an undertaker, including some about snatching and imprisoning a toddler. Brueckner talked to the mortician - also a convicted sex offender - about making films to 'document exactly how she is tormented' The disturbing Skype conversation was found when Brueckner was arrested for molesting his girlfriend's daughter. Federal investigators in Germany had received a tipoff linking Brueckner to Madeleine's disappearance following the TV appearance by her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, on October 16 On May 12, 2007, Portuguese police said they believed Madeleine was abducted but was still alive and in Portugal 2015 Brueckner has been associated with the missing person's case of Inga Gahricke who disappeared during a family outing in Saxony-Anhalt on May 2. 2017 In June 2017, Brueckner was arrested again and convicted for 'sexual abuse of a child in the act of creating and possessing child pornographic material'. He was returned to Germany for a sentence of 15 months, but after his release he found himself homeless and said he felt persecuted by the police who followed his every move, even as he slept on a park bench. Brueckner is said to have been in a bar with a friend when a ten-year anniversary appeal following Madeleine's disappearance was shown on German television. He is said to have told him that he 'knew all about' what happened to her before showing his friend a video of him raping a woman. MailOnline understands the friend went to police shortly afterwards. 2018 After travelling to Italy to take a holiday, he was arrested again at the end of September in Milan. He was extradited to Germany on an arrest warrant for drug trafficking. When he arrived back in his homeland, Brueckner was put on trial for raping the American tourist in 2007 after a DNA match to hair found at the crime scene. Brueckner has been associated with the missing person's case if Inga Gahricke who disappeared during a family outing in Saxony-Anhalt on May 2 Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner pictured in a bar in Hanover in 2011, just four years after McCann vanished 2019 In July, Brueckner was jailed for 21 months for drug dealing in the northern German resort of Sylt. Just a month later, he was charged with the rape of the American tourist in Praia da Luz in 2005, and by December was convicted of rape and extortion of Diana Menkes based on DNA evidence. He was handed a seven-year sentence which he is currently serving at a prison in Oldenburg. 2020 Scotland Yard revealed in June that a 43-year-old German prisoner - named at the time by German media only as Christian B - had been identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. Brueckner was named after his yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly spotted near the resort where Madeleine vanished. He has repeatedly denied he was in the area at the time and distanced himself from the allegations against him. But German prosecutors say phone records allegedly show that Brueckner was near the McCanns' holiday apartment, near the Ocean Club, an hour before Madeleine disappeared. Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told the Times at the time that it was his 'private opinion' that the convicted rapist 'relatively quickly killed the girl, possibly abused her and then killed her.' Wolters added, 'We believe our suspect committed further crimes, especially sexual crimes, in Portugal possibly but also elsewhere like Germany.' Brueckner was named a suspect in 2020 after his yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly spotted near the resort where Madeleine vanished A former friend and roommate also sensationally claimed that he knew Brueckner was responsible for Madeleine's disappearance. Michael Tatschl, who lived with Brueckner in a ramshackle farmhouse near the Praia da Luz, described him as a pervert who was 'more than capable of snatching a child'. The pair spent eight months in the same prison after they were caught stealing 320 litres of diesel from lorries in Portugal. Both were released in December 2006 five months before three-year-old Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz. Tatschl became convinced of his friend's involvement after watching an eight-part Netflix documentary on the case. 'He was definitely a pervert and more than capable of snatching a child, for sexual kicks or money. 'When I saw the Netflix documentary I knew immediately that he was guilty,' he said. 'It was when the female tourist talked about the man turning up at her door where her child was playing, that I knew it was Christian for sure. 'She described him as a creepy guy with acne and blond hair, which fits his description.' Bruckner was also investigated over the rape and murder of a 13-year-old German boy Tristan Brubach. Michael Tatschl (pictured), who lived with Brueckner in a ramshackle farmhouse near the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz, described him as a pervert 2022 Two years after Brueckner was made an official suspect in the Madeleine McCann case and spoke out for the first time, denying allegations he was involved in her disappearance in a letter seen by MailOnline. In the five pages Brueckner described himself as 'the most known bad person in the world' and stressed that he was 'not there at the time and that he was not living close to the place [of her disappearance].' Brueckner said in the letter: 'Welcome to the biggest adventure you can imagine. 'I'm the most-known bad person in the world and I did nothing - well almost nothing.' He added: 'I wasn't kidnapping anybody and of course I wasn't killing anybody. 'I'll go further, I'll tell you I wasn't attacking anybody after I was 18. 'I made some silly mistakes when I was younger but who hasn't?' Then referring to the McCann case Brueckner said: 'Perhaps I was a suspect after all they found out about me. 'Drug dealer, breaking into houses, living in cars and there was something with kids when I was 17. 'But they had (sic) not even one proof that I was involved with the McCann case. And they still don't have it. 'I know why. Because they have no hairs or anything from Maddie what means (sic) that nobody can put anything like that into my stuff to find it. 'The idea behind that all perhaps was to make the BKA (German police) and German prosecutor famous as well known all over the world as the smartest organisation ever.' He added how there was 'no proof' against him and that the authorities in Germany were leaking information to portray him in a bad light. Brueckner wrote:'I know of about five open cases against me all of them including raping and abusing. 'They have manipulated the truth in such an unprofessional way that I am laughing. 'I still have not lost my sense of humour. Even in this critical situation. This is what keeps me alive.' The letter was sent to a woman who the MailOnline did not identify. 'They don't have proof': Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner claims in a letter (pictured) penned from his prison cell in northern Germany Picture shows the house in Lagos, Portugal, where McCann disappeared in 2007 while on holidays with her family 2023 At the end of May, police launched a major search of a Portuguese reservoir that prime suspect Christian Brueckner used to call his 'little paradise'. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said on June 1, 2023: 'A number of items were seized as part of the investigation. These will be in the evaluated in the coming days and weeks. 'Whether individual items actually have a connection to the Madeleine McCann case cannot yet be said. 'The investigations conducted here in Braunschweig against the 45-year-old suspect are expected to continue for a long time.' Police had said they found a 'relevant clue' during their search of the beauty spot after an informant was able to match photographs showing Brueckner close to the reservoir. Several items were removed from the site, which may or may not be of relevance to the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. They include a bra strap, pieces of clothing and plastic items. An area of about 160 square feet had been flattened and cleared of grass and shrubs with several holes dug into the ground to a depth of about two feet to collect samples of soil, which were sent for forensic and DNA testing in Germany. On May 30, it was revealed that there could be other areas surrounding Praia da Luz, where Madeleine had been staying with her family, that police can search after German detectives looked through more than 8,000 photographs belonging to Brueckner. A source told the Sun: 'German officers have gone through more than 8,000 pictures belonging to Christian B. 'That forensic work led to them to Barragem - but there are other places that have come up in the pictures too. 'Detectives are seeking to work out where they are and why Christian B was taking pictures of those places.' In June a key witness to the Madeleine McCann case - former friend of Brueckner, Helge Busching - spoke out for the first time, claiming the girl's suspected murderer said she 'didn't scream' and that Scotland Yard ignored his tip-off, in his first ever public interview. Busching explained how he came to know about Brueckner's shady past by discovering harrowing sexual abuse videos, and how his former acquaintance appeared to incriminate himself in Madeleine's disappearance. Helge said he learned of Brueckner's true nature well before the disappearance of McCann after stealing some videotapes and gun from Brueckner's house along with an accomplice. The house where German paedophile Christian Brueckner stayed near Praia Da Luz, at the time of Madeleine McCann's disappearance Remembering the moment he witnessed the clips, which purportedly showed Brueckner sexually abusing an elderly American woman and a teenage girl in Portugal, Helge recounted: 'You could see how someone whipped the woman. She was tied up, lying on the bed, wearing painted ski goggles... must have been 70 or 80 years old. She shouted: You fucking b******!... then I saw it was Brueckner. '[The teenage victim] said: ''This borders on rape!'' And he just said: ''Shut up.'' That's when I knew what kind of guy Brueckner was.' Helge then left Portugal, but told German outlet Bild how he crossed paths with Brueckner again in 2008 at a music festival in Spain. 'He asked me, ''don't you go to Portugal anymore and do business there?'' 'I said, ''no, since the girl disappeared there, there have been too many police checks for me and I don't need that at all.'' '[The topic of Madeleine's disappearance] came up and I said: ''Anyway, I don't understand how the little one could have disappeared without a trace.'' 'Christian had drunk two or three beers, and he said: ''She didn't scream.'' 'I thought: He knows that. He has something to do with it. But he also checked that I understood that and then left at night'. Helge went on to claimed he'd approached German authorities after finding the videotapes, but that a policeman told him to abandon them and keep quiet. 'I spoke to a police officer I know in Germany. He said: ''Helge, keep your hands off it.'' A lawyer told me the same thing. I wasn't sure what could happen to me - I would have incriminated myself!' He added that he tried to inform Scotland Yard about Brueckner in 2008 via the dedicated hotline for Madeleine McCann tips, but never heard back. 'I called Scotland Yard back in 2008. At the Maddie hotline. I said I knew someone who might have something to do with it and gave them the name. But nothing happened there. Nothing! I was never called back. 'In 2017 I had just served a prison sentence in Greece. When I heard about the 10th anniversary of the disappearance, I remembered. Apparently the call didn't help at all. So I contacted Scotland Yard again. 'Then they listened to me.' 2024 In February, the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case was spotted for the first time in public since 2020. He was seen being put into an ambulance to receive treatment after being attacked in prison. In the same month, the convicted paedophile appeared in court in the German city of Braunschweig facing charges of raping three women and molesting two children in Portugal. In early June, a German investigator testified that authorities discovered an email account that is 'related to the killing' of Madeleine. Titus Stampa, a detective with Germany's Federal Crime Police, told a court that the Hotmail account allegedly belonged to Brueckner, per the Times. Stampa said he wasn't allowed to talk about the account, according to the news outlet. At trial, Stampa alleged that authorities found a second email account he used to share photos and videos of child abuse, and that emails from that account were deleted in early 2007 when Madeleine disappeared, per the Telegraph. Convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner is loaded into an ambulance after being assaulted in prison in 2020 Christian Brueckner in court 'I can remember that things were massively deleted in the inbox. There was nothing in there from January 2007,' he testified. The following month German prosecutors called for 'biased' judges to be thrown off the trial of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner. Judge Ute Inse Engelmann overturned an arrest warrant for Brueckner after ruling the court had not heard strong enough evidence from witnesses to keep him behind bars. Judge Engemann's ruling was a strong indication that Brueckner will be cleared of the charges he is facing and if found not guilty, could be freed from prison by the early part of next year. The public prosecutor's office said it feared the criminal court had already formed its opinion about the crime and guilt. As well as rejecting the current judges in the rape trial due to concerns about bias, the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office requested that the case be 're-appointed with impartial judges'. In a bombshell confession this month, Brueckner told a former cellmate that he took a child from a Portuguese apartment during a break-in, a court in Germany heard in September. The paedophile is said to have asked inmate Laurentiu Codin if he too was behind bars for child offences while they were sharing a cell in 2020. Codin claimed that the convicted rapist had begged him to burn down his lair when he got out of prison, and asked him whether 'the DNA from a child can be taken from bones under the ground. 'He told me that in Portugal, that he had stolen there. He was in a region where there are hotels and rich people live,' Codin said. 'He said there was somewhere with an open window, he told me this. He was looking for money. 'He said he didn't find any money but found a kid and took the child. He said that two hours later, there were police and dogs all over the place, so he then went away, out of the area. Brueckner is seen in handcuffs in court on February 16 2024 Brueckner walks into court flanked by burly security guards Brueckner stands alongside his legal team as the court gives opening statements 'I am just saying what he told me. He told me that a person was with him, who he had had an argument with, allegedly it was his woman. 'He said he took the child in Portugal in his car, and in the time when the police and dogs were at the house, he drove away and he was gone. 'He asked me if the DNA from a child can be found as evidence and I answered yes.' In more disturbing testimony, Codin, 50, said Brueckner had told him how he had used a van to have sex with young girls near Hanover. 'There was talk of a girl, I don't know if what he said was true or not. He said that he had a bus and that he had taken her with it. He said he kept some of them, but not others, but he never said that he had killed them. 'We're talking about girls, not boys. Not all at once, always one at a time. He told me about two. He said that he had taken someone, had sex with her but he didn't kill her'. His current seven-year sentence ends early next year, and if he is not found guilty in the ongoing trial, he could be freed from jail. The trial is due to end in December. The Metropolitan Police has spent more than 13million on the case, dubbed Operation Grange, to date. The man who kidnapped Cleo Smith with a plan to make her his living 'doll' will find out next week whether an appeal to have his sentence reduced has been successful. Terence Kelly was sentenced to 13 years behind bars after he abducted then four-year-old Cleo from her parents' tent at Western Australia's Quobba Blowholes campsite in 2021. Earlier this year, he appealed the sentence handed down by District Court Chief Judge Julie Wager. The 37-year-old argued that the judge made a series of errors, including blaming his use of methamphetamine for Cleo's 18-day abduction and not properly considering the trauma he faced in his childhood. He considered the 13-year jail term excessive as his offences did not fall into the worst category. The outcome of Kelly's appeal will be handed down by Supreme Court Justices Michael Buss, Robert Mazza and Stephen Hall on Monday. Kelly's lawyer, barrister Julie Condon KC, highlighted Judge Wager's claim his drug use - combined with his complex personality issues, mental impairments and neuropsychological conditions - played a 'significant role' in Kelly's decision to kidnap Cleo. During an appeal hearing in February, Ms Condon argued Judge Wager was wrong in her finding Kelly's drug use 'tipped him over the balance' to abduct and keep Cleo captive, The West Australian reported. Terence Kelly (pictured), who abducted then four-year-old Cleo Smith in 2021, will learn the outcome of his appeal on Monday Cleo Smith (pictured celebrating her seventh birthday earlier this year) was abducted from her family's campsite and found 18 days later The lawyer further argued Kelly's background - which resulted in a severe personality disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, being exposed to chronic childhood trauma and profound disadvantage - was not properly considered. The court heard that Kelly's mother was a heavy drinker with alcohol once found in his baby bottle by child protection officers. Kelly's father was also abusive and he was abandoned by both his parents when he was two-and-a-half. Child protection officers at the time found Kelly had created a fantasy world as a coping mechanism to cope with his loneliness. He also dreamed of having a little girl to 'dress up, play with and be with'. The lawyer representing Kelly (pictured) believed the judge did not properly consider his traumatic childhood when sentencing him to 13 years in prison Ms Condon accused Judge Wager of only briefly mentioning Kelly's history during sentencing, which she claimed 'bespeaks of error'. However, state prosecutor Lindsay Fox SC in February told the hearing Kelly's offending was in the highest category due to the length of time Cleo was missing. Little Cleo was found alone in a bed in Kelly's home almost three weeks after she disappeared from her family holiday. She was located 75km from the campsite and just a few minutes from her family home in Carnarvon. The house where she was found was filled with dolls. Following Cleo's rescue on November 3, 2021, her mother Ellie revealed in a TV interview that she believed that Kelly wanted to turn her daughter into a doll and had dyed her hair pink. Cleo Smith (pictured) was just four-year-old when she was kidnapped and held captive The court heard Kelly had 'roughed up' Cleo a few times during her abduction because she was noisy and 'bossy' when asking for chocolate. However, he claimed he wanted to make the child 'comfortable' and recalled giving up tying her arms and legs to a chair with tape because 'she was a bit of a fighter'. Kelly was able to keep up appearances during the time Cleo was missing by befriending her mother on social media, driving around town, visiting relatives and attending arts and crafts meetings. A case involving a Walgreens security guard who sparked outrage last year after he shot and killed a transgender thief who had been caught stealing candy is at the centre of a row over whether shoplifting penalties should be toughened up. Private security guard Michael Anthony, 33, fired at 24-year-old Banko Brown on April 27 of last year with a -40 caliber Glock after allegedly seeing him take something from a shelf and shove it into his bag. Distressing CCTV footage released by the San Francisco district attorney's office showed how the tragic incident unfolded, and sparked anger in the local community. The video shows Brown, who was a homeless, transgender man, dressed in a white T-shirt and grey sweatpants walking towards the exit of the Walgreens store in San Francisco. Anthony appears to stop him, at which point the two suddenly engage in a struggle. A case involving a Walgreens security guard (seen in black) who sparked outrage last year after he shot and killed a transgender thief (seen in white) who had been caught stealing candy is at the centre of a row over whether shoplifting penalties should be toughened Private security guard Michael Anthony, 33, fired at 24-year-old Banko Brown on April 27 of last year with a -40 caliber Glock after allegedly seeing him take something from a shelf and shove it into his bag. Anthony is seen holding Brown in this CCTV footage Distressing CCTV footage released by the San Francisco district attorney's office showed how the tragic incident unfolded, and sparked anger in the local community The two men begin throwing punches at each other, before Anthony wrestles Brown to the floor and continues to violently beat him. The security guard manages to pin Brown down, and the altercation appears to be calming down with the alleged thief apprehended. However, despite having Brown pinned, the security guard then releases him. The 24-year-old then attempts to leave the store, but the argument continues. The guard can be seen pulling a handgun from his pants and - with Brown now just outside the exit - Anthony can be seen firing a single shot into Brown's chest. He immediately collapsed on to the street outside, the video shows. Brown, who was a part-time trans activist living between group homes and homeless shelters, was discovered to have stolen $14.64 dollars worth of candy. In the wake of the incident, Anthony was initially arrested by San Francisco police. During questioning, the security guard repeatedly misgendered Brown, who identified as a man, and told cops he had threatened to stab him. However, none of the witnesses said they heard Brown threaten Anthony, and no knife was ever found by police at the scene. The incident - involving a homeless transgender black man shot and killed over sweets, and a corporation relying on contract workers to combat a shoplifting epidemic - brought up several emotive issues including race, gender and class and - according to the Wall Street Journal - is at the centre of an on-going debate. CCTV footage shows the moment before Anthony fired on Brown through the entrance to the Walgreens last year Anthony was released without charge a few days after the shooting, with district attorney Brooke Jenkins saying that the guard had 'clearly' acted 'in self-defence.' According to a report obtained by the Chronicle, the district attorney alleged that Brown had 'transformed a simple theft into a robbery when he used physical force to take property without paying.' Brown's father Terry was furious at the decision not to charge his son's killer. 'If you said somebody is going to stab you and you're going to let them up and you're a security guard and you just beat the mess out of [Brown],' he said, according to the WSJ. 'Make that make sense to me.' While Terry Brown's anger has been shared by many in the community, Jenkins and other local authorities are also under pressure to punish shoplifters amid an ever-growing theft crisis in the Californian city. A number of major chains have announced they would be shuttering stores in San Francisco due to soaring crime figures. Nordstrom chief stores officer Jamie Nordstrom blamed the state of San Francisco in recent years for reducing foot traffic 'and our ability to operate successfully.' Remaining stores like Target have been reduced to locking up their entire stock behind glass to deter shoplifters. Banko Brown (pictured), was killed by Anthony but the San Francisco DA has refused to charge the security guard - sparking anger in the community Brown's death sparked outrage across the Bay Area, but despite the many demands to charge Anthony, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' office said Monday they would not be charging him But the district attorney' decision to not press charges against Anthony sparked widespread protests, as well as a heated debate over how the issue of shoplifting is treated as many Americans struggle to make ends meet. Desperation has led to many resorting to petty crime. Following Jenkins's decision, Brown's friends and family said it 'sets a dangerous precedent' that, they imply, could see other security guards taking drastic measures as their employers emphasise the need to crack down on shoplifters. Transgender activists gathered around City Hall demanding 'justice for Banko Brown' in April in the wake of Brown's death. Meanwhile, a statement made by the Young Women's Freedom Center, where Brown volunteered, said that 'in a city like San Francisco, where so many have to make tough decisions to meet their basic needs, arming stores with the pass to use armed force will result in much more tragedy.' What's more, civil-rights attorney John Burris filed a $250 million wrongful death lawsuit against Walgreens and Anthony on behalf of Brown's heartbroken family. With the anger and pain surrounding Brown's still raw for many, voters in California with have the chance to vote for or against a ballot initiative that would toughen penalties for shoplifting. Photos from the Justice for Banko Rally posted by the Young Women's Freedom Center Facebook page. Photos were posted , April 4, 2023 According to the gov.ca website, the measure would 'take down serial shoplifters' by establishing penalties for repeat offenders who are convicted three times for petty theft within three years' and introduce 'Aggregates Theft Amounts' which, it says, 'Empowers law enforcement to combine the value of multiple thefts - even from different victims - to charge a felony.' Governor Gavin Newsom said of the ballot: 'With targeted reforms to Prop 47, this ballot measure is a critical step forward in our efforts to strengthen Californias public safety laws and provide law enforcement with additional tools to address the growing concerns of property crime and the fentanyl crisis. 'This balanced approach cracks down on crime and protects our communities without reverting to ineffective and costly policies of the past.' According to the Wall Street Journal, the reforms are backed by San Franciscos Democratic mayor, London Breed, as well as retailers. However, others are not sold of the proposition, with detractors saying it will do little to combat the issues faced by millions living in California and will instead lead to an increase in people who are in prisons - costing the state more money that could otherwise be going towards mental health and drug treatment. Melania Trump revealed the details of her first date with Donald Trump, calling the time alone with him 'nice.' The duo met at a party at New York City's Kit Kat Club during Fashion Week in 1998. At the time, Melania Knauss was working as a model after immigrating from Slovenia in 1996. She refused to give him her number but took his. For their first date, the business tycoon took her to Bedford, New Jersey, because he needed to check out some property he was interested in. But Melania said it was very nice because we were two of us alone in the car for hour, hour and a half. No other noise, no other people because, at that time, he was already known as a zit celebrity. So it was really nice to be just the two of us. She said she felt a connection with him from the start. I love the vision that he had. And the connection that we had. So it was very special, she said. And she described Trump in one word: 'Caring.' Melania Trump is promoting her memoir Melania, which comes out October 8th Trump, 54, sat down with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt in New York for a recorded interview, excepts of which aired on Fox and Friends on Thursday morning, as part of her promotion tour for her forth-coming memoir Melania. In the wide-ranging interview, which was her first in two years, she discussed the 2024 presidential race, her life in the White House, and how being a model prepared her to be first lady of the United States. It included behind-the-scenes photos, including some never-before seen pictures of Barron Trump. Trump proposed to Melania in 2004 with a 15-carat ring valued at $1.5 million dollars. Melania told Fox News that Trump proposed to her on her birthday, which was also the date of that year's Met Gala. 'First of all it was my birthday as well. And it was the Met Gala. It was all in one. We were already at home. Both of us in black tie. So he proposed that time,' she said. She also said Trump never discussed his political ambitions or hinted that he wanted to be president. No. We didn't discuss at that time, no. But soon later, yes? Soon later. Not that he would be the president but he always was involved in politics. He was very in tune what is going on in the world, especially this country, she said. The notoriously private former first lady also touched on her family life, saying it was hard to tell her 18-year-old son Barron about the assassination attempt on his father and gave some insight into her husband. She described Donald Trump as 'a family man. He loves his country. And all he wants is to build better. And prosperous.' And when asked what she loves about him, she said: 'His- humor, his personality, his kindness, he is very special. His positivity. His energy. It's unbelievable.' She also revealed that he wanted more children but she was fine with just Barron. 'I was always perfectly fine. And Donald was encouraging to have more and I said I'm completely fine with one because it's very busy life. And I know how busy he is. And I'm in charge of everything. So, that's why it's just perfect,' she said. Donald Trump and then-Melania Knauss in New York in 1998, which is the year they met Melania Trump also discussed her pride in her son Barron, above she adjusts his tie at the January 2027 inauguration of Donald Trump When Melania married Donald Trump he had four children from two previous marriages. She offered her advice to blended families, pointing out 'you cannot control anyone.' 'To take the individual as they are. You cannot control anyone. You can control only your own behavior, your own words. Everybody's in control of own self. I'm not in control of my husband. I'm not in control of his children. I'm not even in control of my child. He is his own person. And we all have yes and nos and we all are all individual. Once you live your life with respect and love, that's all that matters,' she said. She spoke with pride about 18-year-old son, who is a freshman at New York University's Stern School of Business. 'I could not say I'm an empty nester. I don't feel that way. I raised Barron as own person and gave his own yes and nos. I respect that it was his decision to come here,' she said. 'He wants to be New York and study in New York and live in his home. And I respect that. And he's incredible, young man. I'm very proud of what he grow up to. His strength, his intelligence. His knowledge. His kindness. He's enjoying his college days. I hope he will have a great experience because his life is very different than any other 18, 19-year-old child.' Melania Trump also talked about the loss of her mother. Amalija Knavs died in January 2024. Trump is close with her parents, who moved to Washington D.C. during the Trump White House years to help her with Barron. 'She was very special woman. Full of warmth, kindness, and her life was incredible,' Melania said of her mother. 'Once Barron was born, he was her focus. She moved here to the united States to be close to him. And to raise him in one way. It's almost like she was a second mother, especially because of my schedule in the White House and being so busy. So they had an incredible bond. Her and Barron, it was a relationship like no other.' Various clips from the interview ran throughout the morning on Fox News. In one of the longest segments, Melania discussed the recent attempts on the life of the former president, saying she believed God was watching over him and blaming Democrats' for creating a 'toxic' political atmosphere the led to the two assassination attempts. 'Is it really shocking that all this outrageous violence goes against my husband?,' the former first lady said in the interview. 'Especially that we hear the leaders from the opposition party and mainstream media branding him as threat to democracy, calling him vile names. They only fueling a toxic atmosphere and all of these people that they wanted to harm - this needs to stop this needs to stop. The country needs to unite and I encourage everybody to read my letter that I wrote on July 14th, again. Because that cannot continue.' 'I think something was watching over him. It's almost like country really needed him,' she said. Melania said her mother Amalija Knavs was like a second mother to Barron - above, Amalija Knavs, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Barron Trump, Santa Clauase and Viktor Knavs at Mar-a-Lago for Christmas in December 2008 Melania also discusses her White House years, above she, Donald and Barron exit Air Force One upon their arrival in Palm Beach, Fla. Melania Trump, who was always seen as a reluctant political spouse, said she supported Donald Trump's political ambitions. 'I support him. I know how passionate he is to make America great again,' she said. She demurred when asked about Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, pivoting to pitching her husband's presidential campaign. 'All he wants to as he says make America great again. He wants to make this country prosperous. Safe for everybody. He wants to make the American dream possible again,' she said. Melania Trump has yet to appear at a political rally for her husband. She was at his announcement speech for his presidential bid and watched him address the Republican National Convention. But she has not attended either presidential debate and has remained on the sidelines of the election. Still, she told Fox News that her early career as a model and being in the fashion world prepared her for being first lady. 'I think nothing prepared me more to be first lady in front of the world than the fashion industry,' she said. 'The fashion industry is glamorous but, at the same time, it's very tough. Everybody judges you. Looks at you a certain way. So, it can be mean world as well. So, nothing prepared me more for this world than fashion. It gives you a thick skin,' Trump added. Melania Trump sat down with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt in New York for a recorded interview, excepts of which aired on Fox and Friends on Thursday morning The memoir includes behind-the-scenes photos like the one above Her book touches on her four years in the White House. She described being first lady as having 'extra, extra responsibility.' And she told Fox News she bonded with Brigette Macron, the first lady of France, who she described as 'fun.' She also said she was close with Akie Abe, the former first lady of Japan, and expressed her condolences for her. Abe's husband, Shinzo Abe, was assassinated in July 2022. Trump, who was born in Slovenia, discussed her pride in becoming an American citizen. She became a citizen on July 28, 2006. She told Fox New she 'went through the process' but didn't elaborate. Questions have been raised about her visa status. She was on a visa reserved for immigrants with 'extraordinary ability' and 'sustained national and international acclaim'. There also have been questions as to whether she used her status to help her parents gain citizenship, a process known was 'chain migration.' Donald Trump has railed against 'chain migration' and immigration in general. 'I was very proud. I went through the process and that day was a big celebration, was very, very proud,' she said. Melania Trump included a photo of her and Barron as a baby Melania Trump's memoir comes out October 8th Trump sat down with Fox News to discuss Melania, her memoir that comes out October 8th. Earhardt got a sneak peak of the book and said it features behind-the-scenes photos from Barron as a child and the family in the White House. During the interview, she showed a picture of Melania working at her desk in Trump Tower with a young Barron playing in a toy car in front of her. 'I think it's very important that we show our children we are working to give them an example how life is. That they see us as real productive that we have ideas. That ideas come to life,' Trump. The former first lady, who has been the subject of various biographies, said she wrote her memoir because itt was time to tell her story. 'I believe that it was a time that I tell my story and the truth. It is a lot of misinformation and falsehoods written about me. And I want to put the record straight and people can learn some things that they were not discussed. And I hope they enjoy the book,' she said. Yosemite National Park has banned sales of single-use propane canisters for years but collects and processes thousands left behind by campers each year. Tracy Barbutes/Special to the Chronicle Disposable propane canisters like the dark green ones used with camping stoves will soon be phased out in California, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Sunday requiring all one-pound cylinders sold in the state to be reusable or refillable starting in 2028. The portable fuel canisters, sold by brands like Coleman and Bernzomatic, are popular with campers but have long been a headache for park rangers as they sometimes end up littering campgrounds and dumpsters in state parks after hikers head home. Disposing of the cylinders properly can also be dangerous and expensive. Now, stores and businesses that sell the single-use canisters have until Jan. 1, 2028, to phase them out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For years these propane cylinders have placed a great burden on our park systems, beaches, material recovery facilities, and local governments, said Sen. John Laird, who introduced the legislation, in a statement. Signing SB 1280 will result in more reusable propane cylinders for consumers to refill which will lead to a cleaner and safer California. Between 4 million and 7 million of the single-use cylinders are sold in California each year, according to an estimate from the California Product Stewardship Council, a nonprofit local government coalition that sponsored the bill. Campers have long depended on single-use propane cylinders to fuel their cook stoves, but more reusable options are appearing on the market. Tracy Barbutes/Special to the Chronicle Because the cylinders are considered hazardous waste and can sometimes pose an explosion risk, waste managers have to use special equipment to empty the containers before processing them. These extra steps can run local jurisdictions up to $65 in disposal costs per cylinder, according to Laird. In 2022, Newsom vetoed a near-identical bill, SB1256. In his veto letter, Newsom raised concerns about prohibiting sales of disposable cylinders without a plan for collection and refill infrastructure. The governor also urged the legislature to consider market-based solutions over an outright ban. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After that veto, legislators made a real good faith attempt to negotiate with propane cylinder manufacturers on a market-based solution, Laird said, but he said he decided to introduce a new bill after negotiations failed. Reusable and refillable one-pound propane cylinders have been on the market for years. Yosemite has exclusively sold refillable cylinders since 2020, when the park pulled single-use cylinders from its shelves. But the more eco-friendly canisters have historically cost more than their single-use counterparts, often selling for up to triple the price. The market for refillables has expanded significantly since the last time a single-use cylinder ban reached Newsoms desk, said Yalin Li, a senior associate at the California Product Stewardship Council. Two years ago, refillable one-pound propane cylinders were only manufactured by two companies: Flame King and Little Kamper. Now, a new company, Fuel Keg, also offers the products, and the portable refillables are now stocked in national chains, like Ace Hardware and REI, Li said. With the market development, weve seen a new contender in the past few years, Li said. Its really showcasing that the market is ready to transition to fully refillables. Though this bill is almost exactly the same as the one from 2022, the markets growth since then may have made this bill more palatable to the governor, Li said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Worthington Enterprises, an Ohio company that makes most of the countrys disposable propane canisters, criticized the bill, saying it lacks a plan for developing refilling infrastructure and that its passage would push consumers to buy imported single-use cylinders. The ban does not allow for that plan, Worthington spokesperson Sonya Higginbotham wrote in an email. Instead, it removes a responsible U.S.-based manufacturer from the California market while providing little to no enforcement mechanisms for continued supply of non-refillable cylinders by less responsible market participants and does not address the safety of self-fill, refillable cylinders on the market. Infrastructure for refilling the cylinders is still in development, Li said. Places that refill larger, 20-pound propane tanks, like gas stations and hardware stores, dont always have the adapter thats necessary to refill a one-pound cylinder. But Li said the bills passage could incentivize those places to invest in that infrastructure. Next up, Laird said he intends to work with CalRecycle on a plan to develop infrastructure for collecting and refilling reusable propane cylinders. Newsoms signature now kicks off a three-year transition period for manufacturers to retire their single-use cylinders, start manufacturing reusable or refillable cylinders, or both. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the long term, Laird said a more sweeping approach to managing single-use waste is preferable to one-off product bans. A bill that incorporates extended producer responsibility, a policy approach that shifts the burden of waste disposal onto producers, is a future goal, he said. But in the short term, Laird said the urgency of the propane cylinder problem required an immediate solution. Sean 'Diddy' Combs can't wait to testify in his upcoming trial, according to his lawyer. Marc Agnifilo, a former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, gave TMZ a glimpse into how Diddy's trial might play out as part of the outlet's upcoming documentary on the case. 'I don't know that I could keep him off the stand. I think he is very eager to tell his story. And I think he will tell every part of his story,' Agnifilo said. Agnifilo is speaking out roughly a week after Diddy was indicted in New York and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy, 54, pleaded not guilty to all three charges and was denied bail. The judge who will preside over his case agreed with prosecutors that he was a serious flight risk and that he posed a danger to others. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, spoke to TMZ and revealed that the rapper will almost certainly testify in his own defense Agnifilo said Diddy will tell his story about the infamous video where he beat ex-girlfriend Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel Criminal defendants have the right under the fifth amendment not to testify so as not to further incriminate themselves. They also have the right to testify, even if it goes against their lawyer's advice. When any witness takes the stand in a trial, the opposing team of counsel, whether it be the prosecution or the defense, has the opportunity to cross-examine them and poke holes in their story. Based on what Agnifilo is saying though, it appears Diddy believes a jury ought to hear his version of events, despite the risks. 'He has his story, and he has a story that I think only he can tell in the way he can tell it, in real time,' he said. 'It's a human story. It's a story of love. It's a story of hurt. It's a story of heartbreak.' This comes as Agnifilo explained the supposed reason behind the '1,000 bottles' of baby oil and lubricant authorities found in Combs' homes in Miami and Los Angeles. 'I don't think it was 1,000. I think it was a lot. I mean, there is a Costco right down the street. I think Americans buy in bulk, as we know,' he told the New York Post. Agnifilo and Diddy stand before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky in a Manhattan federal courtroom during a hearing on September 17 Agnifilo said step one is to address what happened in the infamous video showing Diddy beating then-girlfriend Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel back in 2016. 'I expect it's going to be explained by the both of us,' he said. 'When he describes that relationship, the word he uses more than any other word is heartbreak. He was heartbroken. She was heartbroken.' Cassie, full name Casandra Ventura, sued Diddy last year, alleging he raped her and physically abused her over the course of 10 years. The lawsuit was settled just a day later for an undisclosed amount. Diddy has already given the world a sneak peak at how he might defend himself from prosecutors' questions about the beatdown, since he publicly addressed the controversy after CNN leaked the disturbing surveillance video in May. At the time, the music mogul took to Instagram to apologize, saying: 'I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses.' Looking into the camera, Diddy said: 'So difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you got to do that. I was f***ed up.' Sean Combs and Cassie Ventura attend the premiere of 'The Perfect Match' in Hollywood, California. Two days earlier Combs assaulted Ventura in a hotel hallway Looking into the camera, Diddy said: 'So difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you got to do that. I was f***ed up.' 'My behavior in that video is inexcusable,' he continued. 'I take full responsibility for my actions in that video, I'm disgusted.' He went on to say that he sought professional help through therapy and rehab after the assault. But that's not all he'll have to explain if he decides to take the stand. Prosecutors with the Southern District of New York accuse Diddy of orchestrating elaborate, often dayslong sex performances he called 'freak-offs,' where he allegedly forced his victims to have sex with male prostitutes. According to the indictment, Diddy masturbated during freak-offs and gained the compliance of his victims by giving them drugs and threatening them with violence. A picture from inside Diddy's Miami home shows how law enforcement agents conducted thorough searches His defense has said the freak-offs were consensual. Even if Diddy chooses to gloss over the freak-offs when questioned by his defense team, prosecutors will inevitably grill him on the topic and likely much more. No trial date has been set, but Diddy continues to face devastating allegations from women he crossed paths with during his decades in the music industry. The latest lawsuit against him was filed by Thalia Graves, who alleged that Diddy and his head of security Joseph Sherman raped her in the Bad Boy Records studios in New York back in 2001. Diddy is being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center and will remain there until his trial begins. The California town of Kelseyville has been plunged into a heated debate over changing the name of the area to a Native American word. The town is said to be named after 19th-century settler Andrew Kelsey, who is known for the torture and murder of the indigenous Pomo people. While some residents insist the name should stay, others feel different, with a campaign being launched to have it renamed to Konocti. Konocti is a Pomo word and the name of the dormant volcano that sits between Kelseyville and nearby Clear Lake. Those in favor say the current name symbolizes the atrocities by Kelsey and the massacre of the Pomo people by the US army after his demise. The town is said to be named after 19th-century settler Andrew Kelsey, who is known for his ruthless enslavement, torture and murder of the indigenous Pomo people The move, known as Measure U, was kickstarted by local group Citizens for Healing after they submitted a proposal to the US Board on Geographical Names. The agency is responsible for reviewing place names that use racist or derogatory language. Flaman McCloud Jr, chairman of the Big Valley of Pomo Indians, said in a letter in favor that the name served as a 'painful' reminder of ancestral hardships They then requested input from the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names, local tribes and the local county Board of Supervisors, according to SFGate. Local supervisors then created Measure U, an advisory measure that would result in the name change if passed. Citizens for Healing member Alan Fletcher, told the outlet: 'Hopefully 30% [of voters] will agree to the name change. 'I think 30% are going to vote no. The other 40%? Well, I do not know.' Some residents have responded by creating the 'Save Kelseyville' group in the hope of keeping the town's name. Fletcher told SFGate that the group is well funded and led by residents with a considerable financial stake in the area. In a letter against Measure U, Save Kelseyville said that there was 'no conclusive evidence' that the town was named after Kelsey. They argued that the name change would bring 'considerable administrative and financial burdens'. The move, known as Measure U, was kickstarted by local group Citizens for Healing after they submitted a proposal to the US Board on Geographical Names Flaman McCloud Jr., chairman of the Big Valley of Pomo Indians, said in a letter in favor that the name served as a 'painful' reminder of ancestral hardships. McCloud said: 'By voting YES to change the name, we can begin a healing process that unites our communities. 'It's a step towards fostering an environment of love, forgiveness, and growth for both current and future generations, showing that Lake County is a place where we honor and respect the history and the people who have shaped it.' Tension between residents is set to come to a head in November when they will be vote on whether to support or dismiss the notion. If Measure U does pass, the Board of Supervisors will then be able to recommend the town's name change to the California Advisory Committee on Geographical Names. They would then send their recommendation to the US Board on Geographic Names. The Pomo tribe rose up and killed Kelsey for his brutal abuse after he murdered a young Pomo man for reportedly insulting his wife. After the rising, Kelsey's brother Andrew rounded up a posse and began indiscriminately murdering natives. They fled to a nearby island, where soldiers then hunted them down. The mass killing, known as The Bloody Island Massacre, saw around 900 Pomo people die. A skilled carpenter's Georgia home was unexpectedly demolished without any notice or compensation from the county. Eric Arnold, from New Jersey, decided to pack up and move to Georgia to live where his mother grew up. He took on multiple home renovation projects, including the property in Macon-Bibb County. He bought the house in 2022 for $15,000 and started improving it to make it a future home for his children and grandchildren. But his plans were shattered when a neighbor called Arnold to ask about a dumpster that had been place on his property. Carpenter Eric Arnold was in shock when Macon-Bibb County demolished his home in 2023 Arnold filed a lawsuit against the county and alleges it was unconstitutional to destroy his house He told the Institute for Justice: 'I felt a bad vibe that something was wrong and I felt it right through the spirit of my soul. 'That's when all hell broke loose.' After two months of confusion and mixed signals from country officials, Arnold's home was demolished on November 15, 2023. He filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging that his home's destruction was unconstitutional. He told the Institute for Justice: 'When you knock something down like that and destroy families, he just destroyed my whole generation. Now I have nothing. Arnold's neighbor alerted him of a dumpster outside of his house in September 2023 Arnold spent years cleaning up and renovating the property 'When I pulled up and saw the house demolished, I was devastated. My heart started racing, I was tearing up, I started sweating.' Macon-Bibb county has a blight problem, but instead of working with community residents toward a solution or communicating their plans, they simply resort to knocking down houses. Blighted properties are those seen as a disruption to the surrounding area, according to the Center for Community Progress. Arnold argued that he was in the process of fixing the home. He had completely transformed it from its original state. The county prides itself on its anti-blighting efforts and has destroyed 800 houses In the last three years, more than 800 homes were destroyed in the county, according to the filed lawsuit. In the past five years, Macon-Bibb county has enacted several anti-blight efforts including demolitions and increased taxes on blighted properties. Arnold's lawyers claim that he is not the only victim of house demolition in the area. He told WMAZ-TV: 'They took my dignity away from me, like I wasnt even a person. They took my dignity away from me, like I wasnt even a person.' There have been at least nine other lawsuit against the county for similar situations, according to the Atlanta Black Star. Macon-Bibb county officials told The Macon Telegraph that despite Arnold's claims, he was given ample notice about the demolition. The devastated homeowner holds up a photo of what his property looked like before it was demolished But a source of confusion could be the fact that the house was listed under a previous owner's name. In the lawsuit, it is also mentioned that Assistant County Attorney Frank Howard told Arnold he could go to jail for renovating his home without a license and proceeded offensively to ask, 'What are you going to do make Macon Black again?' Other officials contradicted Howard and said that Arnold did not need a license to renovate the home. Could it be that the key to success at work is saying less rather than more? Experts say that well-timed silences have become crucial for employees looking to radiate confidence while maintaining good relationships with co-workers and/or clients. Administrative assistant Joan Moreno is one employee who supports this trick, and often believes she should 'shut up' when hearing herself talk, according to The Wall Street Journal. A Texas trial lawyer named Jefferson Fisher also implements this tactic by pausing for 10 seconds in court and letting his breath be 'the first word.' While remaining completely silent during the entirety of the workday is not advisable, there are some moments when silence is golden, and can help workers climb the career ladder. Staying quiet at work is essential for employees who wish to make a good impression or get ahead at work Quiet down during negotiations Well-timed silences can help during negotiations An expert advised employees to quiet down after suggesting a deal during a negotiation rather than rambling on. Daniel Hamburger, a former chief executive in education and healthcare technology firms, recalled a time he did this during a meeting while speaking with The Wall Street Journal. Hamburger explained that an executive from a company he wanted to acquire was convinced it was worth more than what the businessman was offering. Despite wanting to explain the math behind the acquisition, all Hamburger did was suggest a number, keep quiet, and eventually complete a deal with the executive. He also uses the tactic of posing questions back at his team when he's asked to make a decision. 'People were like, "Really? Are you really asking?,"' Hamburger said. He added that his silence paid off again, and employees completed a 50-page pitch for the project the next day. Make room for quiet time Experts insisted employees organize quiet time at work to help them them focus and make good decisions Communication is needed and expected among co-workers and with superiors, but there is a time and place for it. 'Our method of connecting - and we crave it - is talking,' psychology professor Robert N Kraft told The Wall Street Journal. However, he and his students discovered that they can bond better with peers if they communicate without words. Most workforces aren't interested in employees staying silent for an entire day, but a few minutes of quiet time could be crucial in having a well-balanced day. 'Thinking should always come before speaking or doing, but it's nearly impossible when professionals don't intentionally make time for it,' Joe McCormack, founder of The Quiet Workplace told YSF Magazine this year. 'Quiet doesn't mean the literal absence of sound. Rather it's about setting aside time each day to focus, plan, do deep work, and make smart decisions.' Draw questions An expert advised employees to take pauses while speaking, using a 'question mark trick' Former actor turned GK Training CEO Michael Chad Hoeppner advised employees to silently draw question marks as a reminder to take breaks while speaking. Hoeppner draws a question mark in the air after asking a question out loud. This simple question mark trick is what quietly helped him get through parties and boardroom meetings. 'That question mark is there to help you live through that fraught moment of, "I really should keep talking,"' Hoeppner said. Calm down before big meetings Meditation and various other breathing exercises can help create a sense of personal calm before high-pressure meetings Financial advisor Kyler Spencer recalled times when he struggled to get through meetings, which would either last long or be unsuccessful. Once he realized it was time for a change, he implemented methods to help him relax and stay quiet in meetings, according to The Wall Street Journal. He began meditating and doing breathing exercises, which calmed his nerves and helped him stop talking a minute or two into meetings. His successful meeting preparations have since led to a lengthy client list, along with referrals from customers. Shannon Palus, a features editor for Slate, also praised meditation and revealed that one can use apps to implement this technique. 'In moments of nerves, it can just be helpful to hear a familiar voice,' she wrote last year. The five-second rule More than one expert insisted the five-second rule can help when trying to get through meetings The five-second rule could be a good solution for those trying to inject small pauses into their speech. One example for someone is to wait at least five seconds after asking, 'Do you have any questions.' If it's still awkward, taking a sip of water could ease the tension in the boardroom. 'The five-second rule can help you stay silent at work by creating a conscious pause before speaking, allowing you to think before reacting and potentially preventing unnecessary chatter or interruption,' said Mel Robbins during a podcast episode. 'Essentially, by counting down "5-4-3-2-1" in your head before speaking, you give yourself a moment to decide if you need to interject or not.' Create other communication methods Other forms of communication like phone or email can help introverted employees Employees who prefer not to speak can use other forms of communication like Slack or email. The organization of a written message can help workers get points across effectively, while not talking at all. 'Companies have to face the reality that modes of communication change, and management needs to make adjustments accordingly,' business efficiency expert Andrew Jensen told SHRM regarding texting at work. He added that it's not always the best communication method, and that employees must watch out for what they say. 'You can text someone and write, "Hey, we don't need you in today, so don't come in,'" Jensen said. 'But you should not text, "We don't need you ever again, don't come back." Never text bad news like that.' New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by a federal grand jury following a wide-ranging corruption investigation that has seen several top officials resign. Adams, 64, became the first New York City mayor to be charged criminally while still in office on Wednesday - and afterwards issued a prerecorded response. In a two-minute clip filmed from Gracie Mansion, the Democratic mayor said he 'always knew' he would become a target because of his views, and also refused to leave office. He was indicted following a number of federal corruption probes into campaign finances and alleged kickback schemes among top brass that began with a raid of one of his top fundraisers last November. The exact charges against Adams are expected to be unsealed Thursday and could be connected to a series of scandals the first-term Democrat has been entangled in. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted following a wide-ranging corruption investigation Turkey The first sign that federal authorities were investigating people close to Adams came early last November, when agents searched the home of one of his top fundraisers, Brianna Suggs. On November 6, FBI agents stopped Adams himself as he left an event in Manhattan and seized his cellphones and iPad. Agents also searched the home of Adams' liaison to the Turkish community in New York and a former Turkish airline executive. Prosecutors are said to be looking into whether the Turkish government conspired with Adams' staff to bring money into the campaign. Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign arm and City Hall, requesting information about the mayors schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government. They are investigating whether Eric Adams received free flight upgrades on Turkish Airlines. Last November agents searched the home of one of his top fundraisers Brianna Suggs Federal authorities are looking into whether he was elevated to the most expensive seats available on international flights as part of a wider corruption probe, The New York Times reported. There are also allegations Adams pressured the New York City fire department to sign off on Turkey's high-rise consulate in Manhattan, even though there were safety concerns. Adams admitted he helped the Turkish consulate get approval to open as he said it's what politicians 'do every day.' 'When the constituency reaches out to us for assistance to another agency... you reach out to an agency and ask them to look into the matter,' Adams said. Raiding of top aides On September 4, agents seized electronic devices from the city's police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall. Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations, but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. Earlier this month, agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, in a series of raids that for now remain under wraps After the searches came to light, a Brooklyn juice bar owner publicly accused a mayoral aide, Ray Martin, of trying to extort him by claiming he would receive better police treatment if he hired the police commissioner's brother James Caban as a consultant. Federal investigators also seized devices from Philip and David Banks, as well as from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is David Banks domestic partner. A week after the searches, the city's police commissioner announced his resignation. The same day, Martin was fired from his job at City Hall. About two weeks later, Schools Chancellor David Banks announced he would retire at the end of the year. This past Friday, the city director of Asylum Seeker Operations, Molly Schaeffer, who worked closely with Pearson, received a subpoena to testify in front of a grand jury. Unlike other aides, her devices were not seized by federal agents. Trouble in the police and fire departments NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigned this month amid an ongoing investigation into corruption that is tied to his twin brother. Caban, a career cop who served with New York Mayor Eric Adams in the 1990s, announced his resignation in a letter to all officers. Federal investigators seized his phone and the devices of other senior aides. The investigation stems from his relationship with his twin brother, James. According to The New York Daily News, James is being investigated for allegedly selling favors to the nightclub venues he consults for. Two high-ranking fire chiefs were arrested on charges that they solicited tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from people seeking preferential treatment from the Fire Department's safety inspection bureau. Both have pleaded not guilty. NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban (pictured) resigned this month amid an ongoing investigation into corruption Two high-ranking fire chiefs were arrested on charges that they solicited tens of thousands of dollars in bribes Federal authorities searched the homes of New York Citys newly named interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, and seized materials unrelated to his police work. Donlon confirmed the search and said it involved materials that had been in his possession for 20 years. He did not address what the investigation was about, but a person familiar with the investigation said it had to do with classified documents dating from the years when Donlon worked for the FBI. Asian affairs liaison investigation Federal prosecutors are also investigating Winnie Greco, the city's director of Asian Affairs and a longtime Adams ally. She is one of Adams' close aides who raised thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the city's Chinese American communities and later became his director of Asian affairs. Her home was raided by the FBI in February this year. Greco hasn't commented publicly on the FBI searches of her properties and continues to work for the city. Federal prosecutors are also investigating Winnie Greco , the city's director of Asian Affairs Greco(pictured to the right of Adams) is being probed by over claims she improperly used her position in City Hall to get perks Greco was already being probed by the city Department of Investigation over allegations that in 2022 she promised a campaign volunteer a job in Adams' administration if they renovated her kitchen. She has also been accused of reaching out to prominent Chinese business executives to male $10,000 donations to attend a Chinese-focused event at the mayor's mansion. Greco has been affiliated with Adams since his time as Brooklyn borough president. At the time she worked as the Chinese community liaison and a volunteer fundraiser. The terror group's leader has remained elusive throughout the year-long war, with the only apparent glimpse of him coming in a video filmed just a couple of days after the bloody conflict began. The black and white images (right), uncovered by IDF troops during a raid earlier this year, show a man believed to be Sinwar making his way through a tunnel along with his wife and three children, while carrying a large bag. 'In that bag is about 25kg of dynamite. Around him are at least 20 hostages,' according to Kobi Michael, Sinwar's former Shin Bet interrogator. 'A few times we have had the chance to kill him, but if we do, he will kill all the hostages around him.' OceanGate's CEO continued diving his Titan submersible despite knowing it would eventually implode because he knew he wouldn't be 'held accountable', his friend has testified. Karl Stanley, a submersible pilot and designer of the Roatan Institute of Deepsea Exploration, told a US Coast Guard panel that Stockton Rush was more concerned with leaving, 'his mark on history'. 'He knew that eventually it was going to end like this, and he wasn't going to be held accountable,' Stanley testified Tuesday during the panel's inquiry into the fatal crash. 'But he was going to be the most famous of all his famous relatives.' Rush was among the five people - including adventurer Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood and Frenchman Paul-Henri Nargeolet - who died when the submersible imploded in June 2023. OceanGate 's CEO continued diving his Titan submersible despite knowing it would eventually implode because he knew he wouldn't be 'held accountable', his friend has testified Stanley said he had tried to flag safety concerns he noticed during a test drive in April 2019, including cracking noises and issues with drop weights. He emailed Rush, who dismissed the concerns. 'I felt also, this exchange of emails strained our relationship from what it had been previously,' he said. 'I felt like I pushed things as far as I could without him telling me to shut up and never talk to him again.' Stanley also said he viewed OceanGate's characterization of paid passengers as 'mission specialists' to be an attempt to avoid accountability. 'It's clearly a dodge with trying to get around U.S. regulations with passengers,' Stanley said. Additionally, the company's 'entire business plan made zero sense,' Stanley said. 'There was nothing unexpected about this. This was expected by everyone who had access to a little bit of information,' Stanley said. 'And I think that if it wasn't an accident, it then has to be some degree of crime. And if it's a crime, I think to truly understand it, you need to understand the criminal's motive. Stockton Rush was more concerned with leaving, 'his mark on history', his friend told a US Coast Guard panel probing the implosion Karl Stanley, a submersible pilot and designer of the Roatan Institute of Deepsea Exploration, said he had tried to raise safety concerns with Rush Father and son Shahzada Dawood, 48, (right) one of Pakistan's richest men and Sulaiman Dawood, 19, (left) were killed in the implosion They died alongside Paul-Henri Nargeolet (left) and adventurer Hamish Harding (right) 'The entire reason this whole operation started was Stockton had a desire to leave his mark on history.' Amber Bay, director of administration for the company that owned the doomed submersible, insisted Tuesday that the company would not 'conduct dives that would be risky just to meet a need'. But she agreed that the company wanted to deliver for those who paid $250,000 and were encouraged to participate as 'mission specialists.' 'There definitely was an urgency to deliver on what we had offered and a dedication and perseverance towards that goal,' she told a Coast Guard panel. She later broke down in tears when discussing the tragedy, which was personal, because she knew the victims. 'I had the privilege of knowing the explorers lives who were lost,' Bay said through tears. 'And theres not a day that passes that I dont think of them, their families and the loss.' Rush was among the five people killed when the submersible imploded in June 2023 Amber Bay, director of administration for the company that owned the doomed submersible, broke down at the hearing as she talked about the tragedy Former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge previously told the panel he frequently clashed with Rush and felt the company was committed only to making money. 'The whole idea behind the company was to make money,' Lochridge testified. 'There was very little in the way of science.' But at a previous hearing, Rush told staff he would not die on his Titan submersible five years before his ill-fated journey to the Titanic. The U.S. Coast Guard released a redacted transcript between Rush and his former director of marine operations David Lochridge from January 19, 2018 as part of the high level investigation into the cause of the implosion. Love Island's Eva Zapico appeared in court today charged with promoting a 'high-risk' foreign exchange scheme on Instagram. Zapico, 25, along with fellow Love Islander Biggs Chris, 32, 2016 Celebrity Big Brother winner Scott Timlin, 36, and original TOWIE cast member Lauren Goodger, 37, were allegedly paid to promote the scheme to 4.5 million Instagram followers. Also charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are former Love Islanders Rebecca Gormley, 26, Jamie Clayton, 32, Zapico and TOWIE member Yazmin Oukhellou, 30. The social media influencers and reality TV 'entrepreneurs' allegedly promoted @holly-fxtrends to millions of Instagram followers. Zapico appeared at Southwark Crown Court with manicured nails, a white shirt and a long black coat. Eva Zapico appeared at Southwark Crown Court with manicured nails, wearing smart black trousers, a white shirt and a long black coat Zapico has appeared in court accused of a 'finfluencer' plot to plug risky investments on social media Zapico on the TV series Love Island She is yet to enter a plea to one count of issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions on or about April 2, 2020. Judge Sally-Ann Hales told the star: 'We may need you back here on October 24, bail remains unconditional same as before.' Timlin, Clayton and Nwanze, Goodger, Chris, Gormley, Oukhellou and 33-year-old Holly Thompson - also known as Holly Zucchero - all denied issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions at a previous hearing. They are said to have promoted a foreign exchange scheme, linked to high-risk derivatives, run by Emmanuel Nwanze, 30. He allegedly paid seven of the influencers to promote an Instagram account that provided advice on buying and selling contracts for difference (CFDs) to their combined 4.5mn followers between 2018 and 2021. Nwanze denies one count of breaching the general prohibition of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and one of unauthorised communications of financial promotions. Eva Zapico and Nas Majeed during the dumping 'Love Island' TV Show, Series 6 Love Islander Biggs Chris, 32, (pictured in 2020) was also allegedly promoting the scheme Celebrity Big Brother winner Scott Timlin, 36, (pictured in 2016) is also accused of being paid to promote the scheme Lauren Goodger, 37, (pictured in 2023) is also accused of being paid to promote the scheme Judge Hales had earlier said the influencers would stand trial either on 1 February 2027 or 15 March 2027. Goodger, Chris, Gormley, Clayton, Zapico, Thompson, Timlin and Oukhellou are all released on unconditional bail. The case brought by the FCA relates to the 'promotion of the unauthorised provision of such advice through an Instagram account, using the handle '@holly-fxtrends' ('the Holly account') and the promotion of that account by a number of social media 'influencers'. The Holly account was registered, between 1 March to 26 May 2020, in the name of 'Holly Zucchero' with an e-mail address of holly-fxtrends@hotmail..com. According to the prosecution, Holly Zucchero is and was, a persona adopted by the second defendant, Holly Thompson'. It was allegedly used to promote a foreign exchange trading service and 'combined images of Ms Thompson, often in glamorous locations or surrounded by high value goods, with FX trading related posts. The family of Richard Simmons is contesting claims made by his house manager that she was pressured into relinquishing her role as a co-trustee of his estate. Teresa Reveles, the famed fitness guru's housekeeper, filed the petition earlier this week, over two months after she found the star dead in his Los Angeles home July 13. The distressed manager stated that she was misled by Simmons' brother Lenny and his wife Cathy into giving up the role while she was 'at her most vulnerable' while grieving for Richard. She further added that she was confused about what the documents stated at the time and was never explicitly informed or advised on the issue. But days later, the family has released a statement of its own, noting that they were 'heartbroken to learn of Teresa's greed and insulted that she would diminish their three decades of supposed friendship'. Richard Simmons' housekeeper of almost 40 years, Teresa Reveles, claims she was pressured into relinquishing her role as a co-trustee of his estate But days later, the family has released a statement of its own, noting that they were 'heartbroken to learn of Teresa's greed and insulted that she would diminish their three decades of supposed friendship' 'Richard's message was always one of joy and positivity. He would be heartbroken to learn of Teresa's greed and insulted that she would diminish their three decades of supposed friendship in such a public way. Her actions threaten to harm Richard's incredible legacy, which we are working hard to preserve. 'Richard took impeccable care of Teresa and made sure even after his passing that she was well taken care of. 'She is a significant beneficiary of his will. She made an informed decision to decline to serve as co-trustee of the estate, which does not affect her status as a beneficiary at all. 'The allegations in the petition are completely and demonstrably false, and we have informed her counsel of those facts. Simmons had fallen in the bathroom of his home on Friday, July 12 - which marked his 76th birthday. (Pictured in LA in 2013) The lengthy statement also noted that Reveles allegedly continues to live at the instructor's house despite having her own residence and as attempted to charge the estate for her living expenses 'Teresa's request to be reinstated as co-trustee was declined because co-trustees must work together in the best interests of the estate, and Teresa has shown by her actions that she does not share those interests,' the family told People. The lengthy statement also noted that Reveles allegedly continues to live at the instructor's house despite having her own residence and as attempted to charge the estate for her living expenses. As of now, Reveles told court that she wants to be named as a co-trustee. She also requested to have his brother Leonard blocked from selling any of her employer's possessions or property and to prevent him from making money off his image in commercial endeavors until the issue is settled by the court. Authorities said that Simmons' death was as result of blunt traumatic injuries from a fall he suffered in his bathroom the evening before he died. His heart disease was an additional factor. Authorities said that Simmons' death was as result of blunt traumatic injuries from a fall he suffered in his bathroom the evening before he died. His heart disease was an additional factor The fitness impresario was pictured at a March 1999 event at the University of Nebraska The New Orleans-born star, who had been a staple on television promoting his fitness industry endeavors - including studios, books, weight loss programs and videos - had been at the center of speculation over the past decade Simmons had fallen in the bathroom of his home on the evening of his 76th birthday and Reveles had attempted to persuade him to seek immediate medical help. But the instructor was reluctant to go and informed her that he might go the following day. Ultimately, the housekeeper helped him safely get back to his bedroom but found him the following morning on the floor at around 10am. The New Orleans-born star, who had been a staple on television promoting his fitness industry endeavors - including studios, books, weight loss programs and videos - had been at the center of speculation over the past decade after he ceased making public appearances, spurring questions about his safety and well-being. Israel has battered thousands of targets across Lebanon this week in a brutal bombing campaign on Hezbollah - but the next phase of war could soon see IDF troops face unprecedented levels of danger. At least 560 people, including 50 children, have died amid the bombardment that IDF officials claim has also destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rockets and artillery batteries. These attacks followed another punishing assault last week which saw thousands of Hezbollah members injured by booby-trapped communications devices before the commander who founded and led the group's elite Radwan force, Ibrahim Aqil, was killed in an air strike - along with several other senior commanders. However, if Israel proceeds with launching a ground invasion, as it is widely expected to do in the coming days, its soldiers will be at the mercy of every trick up the sleeve of Hezbollah's ruthless commanders. Like Hamas, the Lebanese group has constructed an enormous network of tunnels that experts believe will leave the IDF susceptible to violent guerrilla-style attacks. Some of the tunnels are said to be so large they can be used to transport Hezbollah's fearsome arsenal of rockets, missiles and armoured vehicles, and are so deep underground that Hezbollah members can shelter safely from Israeli bombs. A slick propaganda video released by Hezbollah last month appeared to corroborate those assessments, with mobile missile launchers seen trundling through cavernous underground roads. Hezbollah missile launcher is seen hidden in a tunnel A slick propaganda video released by Hezbollah last month showed mobile missile launchers trundling through cavernous underground road systems Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in Aaramta village in the Jezzine District, southern Lebanon, Sunday, May 21, 202 Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are seen riding on motorbikes and carrying Chinese QM-18 man portable air defence systems. Hezbollah has purchased Chinese tech in recent years to compliment its extensive Soviet built arsenal of air defence weapons A soldier stands in what the Israeli army says is a tunnel dug by Hamas militants inside the Al-Shifa hospital complex in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip A selection of the weaponry that IDF soldiers will face if they invade Lebanon to strike Hezbollah Sources familiar with Hezbollah's operations told Reuters this week that the group has managed to stockpile a vast arsenal of missiles over the past year, the most powerful of which it has refrained from firing into Israel - for now. The overwhelming majority of Hezbollah's military hardware is Soviet or Iranian made, and the group has either purchased or been offered a steady stream of heavy weapons and devastating missiles from their Iranian backers, or from the government of Syria's Bashar al-Assad. The sources also said that the tunnel network is helping Hezbollah's commanding suite weather the unprecedented Israeli strikes, adding that the group swiftly appointed replacements for Aqil and other senior figures killed in Friday's airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs. This means that despite Israel's recent attacks, Hezbollah's fighters could present a serious fighting force against the IDF divisions tasked with leading the invasion. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London, said: 'This is the most formidable enemy Israel has ever faced on the battlefield, not because of numbers and tech but in terms of resilience.' Israeli and Western intelligence organisations dispute Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's claim he has 100,000 fighters at his disposal. But even conservative estimates say the group has at least 25,000 - 30,000 combat-ready militants, with tens of thousands more in a position to pile into the frontlines with little training. Besides the sheer number of fighters in its ranks, Hezbollah boasts a range of anti-tank and anti-air systems, dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles, and its fighters are highly adept at guerrilla warfare. The Lebanese group has honed its tactics through decades of conflict - including their successful resistance against Israeli forces during the 2006 war - are intimately familiar with the terrain, and would enjoy the advantage of highly fortified positions should Israel decide to launch a ground invasion. Israel has already struggled to root out Hamas commanders and self-reliant fighting units from the tunnels crisscrossing Gaza. 'It is one of our biggest challenges in Gaza, and it is certainly something we could meet in Lebanon,' said Carmit Valensi, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, a think-tank. Krieg said that unlike Gaza, where most tunnels are manually dug into a sandy soil, the tunnels in Lebanon had been dug deep in mountain rock. 'They are far less accessible than in Gaza and even less easy to destroy,' he concluded. Andreas Krieg said that unlike Gaza, where most tunnels are manually dug into a sandy soil, the tunnels in Lebanon had been dug deep in mountain rock (Israeli troops are seen in a Hamas trench) Israel has already struggled to root out Hamas commanders and self-reliant fighting units from the tunnels crisscrossing Gaza Israeli soldiers stand next to tanks waiting for transportation after a day of training in the center of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, 19 September 2024 Grad rocket systems are seen in this Hezbollah training footage Even if an Israeli ground assault bolstered by constant airstrikes manages to break Hezbollah's chain of command, frontline fighters are trained to operate in small, independent clusters comprised of a few villages near the border. That is precisely what happened in 2006 when the group's fighters held out for weeks, some in frontline villages with little support. Amal Saad, a Lebanese researcher on Hezbollah who is based at Cardiff University, said of the group: 'It is extremely capable - and I would say more effective than Israel - when it comes to ground war, underground offensive, and we've seen this historically, particularly in 2006.' Hezbollah chief Nasrallah said last week a ground incursion would turn southern Lebanon into a death trap for Israeli fighters, adding that his troops could fight Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and fire rockets at northern Israel at the same time. Prior to the month-long conflict between the IDF and Hezbollah in 2006, Israel's previous occupation of southern Lebanon - which lasted 18 years from 1982 to 2000, showed just how challenging it is to maintain control of Lebanon's south in the face of ongoing guerrilla warfare. In 1982, when Israeli forces forced a path through Lebanon and besieged Beirut to oust the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) - some 15,000 to 20,000 people, many of whom were civilians, were killed, along with hundreds of IDF troops. After withdrawing from Beirut, Israeli forces patrolled a 'security zone' roughly 10 miles deep, but Hezbollah conducted a tireless campaign of guerrilla warfare, launching rocket attacks, ambushes and suicide bombings on Israeli units. Israel's then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak was eventually forced to order a full withdrawal amid public outcry at the costly operation. Israel military Chief of Staff, Major General Herzi Halevi, visited the divisional exercise of the 7th Brigade on the northern border with Lebanon, September 25, 2024 Even if an Israeli ground assault bolstered by constant airstrikes manages to break Hezbollah's chain of command, frontline fighters are trained to operate in small, independent clusters comprised of a few villages near the border Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in Aaramta village in the Jezzine District, southern Lebanon, Sunday, May 21, 2023 Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in Aaramta village in the Jezzine District, southern Lebanon, Sunday, May 21, 2023 Many analysts feel that negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza is the main path to simultaneously ending hostilities in Lebanon. This presents Hezbollah an off-ramp, and could even allow Nasrallah to spin a narrative that his resistance in the face of Israeli aggression played a role in supporting the plight of the Palestinian people and putting an end to the war 180 kilometres to the south. But Krieg expressed scepticism, telling MailOnline: 'We're far away from a negotiated settlement in Gaza, and I don't see the Netanyahu government making any concessions.' Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised 'total victory' over Hamas and the return of all the hostages held in Gaza - goals that many believe are simply unachievable. What's more, many analysts and observers accuse Netanyahu of having a personal stake in forging on with war in Gaza. His governing coalition relies on far-right ministers who want to permanently reoccupy the Palestinian enclave and have threatened to bring down the government if he concedes too much. That would force early elections that could drive him from power at a time when he is on trial for corruption - charges that he will not face while war rages on. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen ruled Tuesday that the maximum fluoride concentration the government allows in water poses an unreasonable risk to children and must be reduced. Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle The campaign to ban fluoride in drinking water where it can protect teeth from decay but may also damage the mental development of newborn children appears to have taken a step forward in a San Francisco federal court this week. After seven years of litigation and a pair of non jury trials, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen ruled Tuesday that the maximum fluoride concentration the government allows in water consumed by 200 million Americans, 0.7 milligrams per liter of water, poses an unreasonable risk to children and must be reduced. He did not specify the amount of reduction, leaving the initial decision to the Environmental Protection Agency. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But anti-fluoridation advocates who filed the suit in 2017 said Thursday that the ruling moves them closer to their ultimate goal. The court has ordered EPA to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to come up with a new regulation that will restrict or eliminate the risk posed by fluoridation chemicals to the developing brain, Stuart Cooper, executive director of the Fluoride Action Network, told the Chronicle. The solution is simple: ban the use of fluoride nationwide. A similar assessment came from Michael Connett, attorney for Coopers group and others including Food and Water Watch, Moms Against Fluoridation and the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, an organization of dentists and doctors who contend fluoride in water provides little or no dental protection. When an unreasonable risk is identified, the (federal) statute commands that EPA enact a rule that will eliminate the risk, Connett said. We believe the only effective way for EPA to accomplish this objective is by prohibiting the addition of fluoride chemicals to water. The suit drew supporting arguments from the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental organization that wants a reduction of fluoride levels in drinking water but does not favor a ban. Eric Olson, a health director for the group, said it has been trying unsuccessfully to get the EPA to tighten the standard since the 1980s, and was joined by the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The ruling will be helpful in trying to get the EPA to take action where the agency has been slow to address (complaints) or hasnt moved at all, Olson said. He said the case also illustrates the benefits of the Toxic Substances Control Act, a federal law that allows advocates to go to court if the EPA fails to adequately regulate hazardous substances and requires the judge to give equal weight to opposing sides rather than deferring to the agency. EPA spokesperson Jeff Landis said the agency was reviewing the ruling and will consider all options, which could include an appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. From day one, this administration has taken actions to protect peoples health that follow the science and the law, Landis said in a statement. EPA staff includes some of the best experts and scientists in the world and they will be crucial to whatever next steps the agency takes. The federal government authorized state and local agencies to fluoridate their drinking water 75 years ago after research indicated the chemical reduced tooth decay. Every state except Hawaii has authorized water fluoridation by cities and counties, although a number of cities have prohibited it, including Portland, Ore., Albuquerque, N.M., and Wichita, Kan. In California, bans have been imposed in Davis, Cotati, Gridley (Butte County) and Plumas Lake (Butte County), and the tribal community of Hoopa Valley (Humboldt County). Advertisement Article continues below this ad The anti-fluoridation movement has been joined in recent years by some members of the medical community who contend the chemical can protect teeth when applied directly, as in toothpaste, but may do more harm than good when added to tap water. The opposing sides in the suit including EPA officials under both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden presented conflicting studies on whether the currently authorized level of fluoride in drinking water is safe. Chen, an appointee of President Barack Obama, said in his ruling that the government is failing to adequately protect the public. There is substantial and scientifically credible evidence establishing that fluoride poses a risk to human health, the judge wrote. It is associated with a reduction in the IQ of children and is hazardous at dosages that are far too close to fluoride levels in the drinking water of the United States. Highly susceptible populations are impacted, including over 2 million pregnant women and babies, Chen said. He said the evidence also showed that young boys whose mothers had consumed fluoridated water were particularly at risk. The judge cautioned that he does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health. But he said the evidence shows an unreasonable risk of such injury, the standard the federal law established to require stronger government action. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Brazilian model, who ditched her former boyfriend for being cheap, is now hoping her 'gay' pet dog has better luck at finding love. Marina Smith took to her Instagram account on Tuesday and appealed to her 954,000 followers for help in finding a partner for her best friend, Bartolomeu. 'He is a sensitive, companionable, playful dog, a Leo, and needs a boyfriend,' the ad read. 'Do you know someone who fits this profile perfectly?!' The 34-year-old influencer, who was on the June cover of Glamour Bulgaria, claimed Bartolomeu prefers to interact with male pooches over females. Brazilian model Marina Smith asked her Instagram followers on Tuesday to help her find the perfect match for her pet dog, Bartolomeu, who has a preference for male pooches over females Bartolomeu 'always feels more comfortable and affectionate with other male dogs,' the Brazilian model Marina Smith says 'Guys, after observing Bartolomeu's behavior lately, I started to notice that he always feels more comfortable and affectionate with other male dogs,' she wrote. 'As a good pet mom, I believe he is just looking for someone special to connect with!' Although the post had garnered only 13 likes as of Thursday, Smith is hopeful that one of her followers knows of another four-legged creature who will match perfectly with her best friend. 'Do you know any pet that fits this profile?' she wondered. 'Let's see if we can find true love for Bartolomeu!' Smith made headlines earlier this month when she revealed that a former boyfriend demanded she refund the bill of an old coffee date. Brazilian model Marina Smith posted an ad on her Instagram account as part of an effort to find love for her pet dog, Bartolomeu. 'He is a sensitive, companionable, playful dog, a Leo, and needs a boyfriend,' the post read. 'Do you know someone who fits this profile perfectly?!' Brazilian model and influencer Marina Smith is appealing to her social media followers for help in finding a boyfriend for her 'gay' dog 'Let's see if we can find true love for Bartolomeu,' Brazilian model Marina Smith recently said in an Instagram post as part of her effort to find the perfect match for her 'gay' pet pooch Brazilian model Marina Smith says that 'as a good pet mom' she is aware that her 'gay' pet dog 'is just looking for someone special to connect with!' The content creator obliged by sending him 70 reals, about $13, in coins. She alleged that her ex-boyfriend's frugal behavior was the main reason why they are no longer together. 'He always liked to share everything. It was fine to share expenses, but it got to the point where it was tiring,' Smith said, as quoted by Brazilian news outlet O Globo. 'It was as if everything had to be an exact account, and there was no gesture of generosity,' she added. 'In the end, I realized that this was not the kind of relationship I wanted for myself.' Hopefully Bartolomeu's future boyfriend is not as cheap his owner's former flame. A female constable had a 'help me expression' on her face after Police Federation boss PC John Apter squeezed her bottom, a misconduct panel has heard. The junior constable looked 'very uncomfortable' thanks to PC Apter's behaviour and changed places with a colleague at a restaurant table after he allegedly groped her, the disciplinary hearing was told. It was heard PC Apter, chairman of the Police Federation, had been flirting with her and plying her with drinks by buying her a bottle of prosecco and repeatedly topping her up. PC Apter, 55, is also accused of making a 'sickening' lewd comment about Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, and making a sexualised comment about a pregnant colleague. He allegedly said he'd like to 'comfort' Mrs Harper 'in his hotel room' after her husband was killed in the line of duty and told his pregnant colleague 'maybe you'll get a bum now'. PC Apter, who has since retired from the Police Federation, has been brought before a nine-day Hampshire Constabulary gross misconduct hearing at the force's HQ in Eastleigh Apter allegedly made sexualised comments about Lissie Harper (pictured), who became a campaigner after her late husband PC Harper was dragged to his death by a car John Apter (left) stands with then Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Ken Marsh outside 10 Downing Street The police leader enjoyed 'locker room bloke banter' and the Police Federation was rife with unsavoury comments, it has been heard. PC Apter, who has since retired from the Police Federation, has been brought before a nine-day Hampshire Constabulary gross misconduct hearing at the force's HQ in Eastleigh. The hearing was told in December 2021 PC Apter got drunk on a police night out before the Police Bravery Awards in London. Barrister Cecily White, representing Hampshire Constabulary, said PC Apter was flirting with the constable at pubs on the night out before touching her bottom at a bar-restaurant. CCTV footage played to the hearing shows the group at various bars in London. PC Apter and the woman, who can't be named for legal reasons, were seen chatting. At one bar, PC Apter can be seen buying her a bottle of prosecco and topping her up repeatedly. At another bar, before they are seated at a table for food, PC Apter can be seen standing 'very closely' behind the constable, who is named only as Female A. PC Jonathan Carter-Lang, who was on the night out, told the misconduct hearing that Female A was initially flirty with PC Apter. Apter has a 30-year long policing career and was chief of the Police Federation Apter (pictured) allegedly also said to a pregnant woman working at the Police Federation: 'Maybe you'll get a bum now' PC Carter-Lang said: 'From watching the CCTV, Female A's demeanour is very touchy feely. 'That's how I do recall her being throughout the night - quite flirtatious.' After the panel was shown footage of PC Apter standing closely behind Female A at the bar, PC Carter-Lang said 'I remember her looking very uncomfortable'. He said he believed PC Apter had 'both hands' on Female A's hips. The panel also heard in PC Carter-Lang's witness statement, which was taken after the incident, he said: 'John and Female A were being flirtatious. 'I did not get the impression that she was attracted to John, just took advantage of the free drinks. 'I saw that John came up behind her and while standing very closely behind her put both his hands on her hips.' It is alleged PC Apter squeezed the constable's bottom and whispered in her ear 'is that OK?' as they took their seats a table at the bar-restaurant. CCTV footage filmed inside shows the constable choosing an end seat, before PC Apter walks over and urges her to move along so he can sit down next to her. Moments after PC Apter takes his seat, Female A can be seen getting up and leaving the table, heading in the direction of the toilets, before returning and sitting down in another seat at the other end of the table. The hearing was told in December 2021 PC Apter got drunk on a police night out before the Police Bravery Awards in London In his witness statement, PC Carter-Lang said: 'She had a "help me" expression on her face and we quickly discussed how we could get her to change places.' CCTV filmed at the restaurant after the alleged bottom grab show's PC Apter stumbling down stairs as he goes to the toilet, then stumbling back up stairs on his return. Michelle Commons, a civilian police staff member who was on the night out, told the hearing she initially said in her witness statement that she thought PC Apter standing closely behind Female A was inappropriate. However, giving evidence after she viewed CCTV, she said she made a 'mistake' and that PC Apter was not behaving inappropriately. She said she switched seats with Female A but said she did not know why Female A wanted to. Martin Buhagiar, then head of communications of the Police Federation, said that PC Apter liked 'locker room bloke banter' with vice chairman Che-Paul Donald. However, Mr Buhagiar said if a woman was in the room 'it was more professional'. Mr Buhagiar also told the panel that 'the Police Federation was not a nice place to work' and said 'it was not a professional organisation'. The panel has heard Mrs Harper said it was 'highly inappropriate' of PC Apter to allegedly say 'I'd like to comfort her in my hotel room'. Mrs Harper also suggested that the police leader abused his senior position by making the remark, for which he faces gross misconduct charges. PC Apter allegedly made the 'sexually suggestive' comment about Mrs Harper to colleagues while organising a visit from her four years ago to collect a posthumous award on behalf of her late husband, PC Harper, 28. PC Andrew Harper (left) died in 2019 after being dragged by a getaway car he had tried to stop and his wife Lissie Harper (right) has now become a campaigner for his cause PC Harper, of Thames Valley Police, died five months before the ceremony when he was dragged to his death by three teenagers in a getaway car PC Apter gave a speech at the ceremony and handed Mrs Harper the posthumous award. The evening before he had made the suggestive comment to a colleague, it was heard. Mrs Harper, upon being told about the comment, said that if PC Apter did make the remark it was 'highly inappropriate from someone in that position'. PC Apter is also accused of telling a pregnant colleague in the Police Federation that 'maybe you'll get a bum now'. PC Apter, who enjoyed a 30 year career in policing, was chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales from 2018 to 2021. The association represents the interests of over 130,000 rank and file officers. As an officer, he served for Hampshire Constabulary. He denies three counts of gross misconduct. The hearing continues. Never-before-seen pictures of a young Winston Churchill smoking a cigar on a luxury yacht from over 100 years ago have been unearthed. The rare photos of the war time leader were discovered among a box of maritime memorabilia bought recently at a job lot at auction. Its owner noticed the album inside, decided to get it individually valued and was left 'surprised and taken aback by the historical importance' of his new purchase. Inside it they found 125 pictures from the early 1900s for a 30-year-old Churchill aboard the yacht Oceana. Various images show Churchill steering the yacht with a cigar in his mouth, relaxing on the deck and striking a pose with his girlfriend and future wife Clementine Hozier. Another picture shows Churchill posing with his then girlfriend and future wife Clementine Hozier Never-before-seen pictures of a young Winston Churchill smoking a cigar on a luxury yacht from over 100 years ago have been unearthed One image from the collection shows a young Churchill smoking a cigar while steering the ship The pictures are believed to have been taken between 1903-1905 by family members of Gilbert A. Tonge who owned the yacht from 1894-1919. At the time, Churchill had already served as a second lieutenant with the British Army and was a recently elected MP for Oldham. The future PM defected to the Liberal Party around the same time before rejoining the Tories 20 years later. The album is now expected to sell for between 600-800 when it goes under the hammer at Charles Miller Ltd in London on November 12. Maritime memorabilia specialist Charles Miller said: 'This album is a rare find. 'Not only does it provide a snapshot into the life of Churchill at the time but unusually it contains images of people actually working on the yacht as well as images of the luxurious interior which is fully panelled and fitted to a very high spec. 'The backgrounds of the pictures are also fascinating - there are passing paddle steamers, warships and even a lady wearing a large hat steering a steam launch, and one shows a gramophone in a tent on deck.' The album was discovered in a Norfolk saleroom and also includes a photo of the tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton aboard. Churchill, who served as Prime Minister during World War Two from 1940-1945 and from 1951-1955. The album is now expected to sell for between 600-800 when it goes under the hammer at Charles Miller Ltd in London on November 12 At the time, Churchill had already served as a second lieutenant with the British Army and was a recently elected MP for Oldham. The future PM defected to the Liberal Party around the same time before rejoining the Tories 20 years later The pictures were taken aboard the Oceana yacht which was owned by Gilbert A. Tonge at the time The PM was renowned for his love of cigars. He is said to have become partial to cigars around 1895 when he was in Havana, Cuba, to observe the Spanish battles against Cuban guerrillas. It has been widely documented that the leader would smoke ten cigars a day - around 250,000 in his lifetime before he died in 1965 aged 90. It was customary for the World War Two leader to start the day with a scotch and a cigar and would often puff through working, meetings and meals. A disturbed Arkansas couple tried to trade their 2-month-old for a six-pack of beer and $1,000, officials said. Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, allegedly offered up their newborn to a neighbor in exchange for the beer and cash after stating that taking care of 'three dogs and a baby' was too much, court documents show. The couple first scoured the Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way Campground in Rogers, where they lived, for beers before deciding to hand their baby over to an intoxicated neighbor, Ricky Crawford, the documents say. Crawford, who records show was concerned about the baby's welfare, requested to take the baby for the night in exchange for 'several beers.' The couple agreed traded the the child and a diaper bag for the beer. Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, allegedly offered to trade their newborn for a six-pack of beer and $1,000 after claiming taking care of 'three dogs and a baby' was too much The baby was in need of medical attention when Benton County officers arrived at the campground following a concerned call from its manager's office Officers reported that Crawford 'smelled heavily of alcoholic beverage, his speech was slurred and he was unable to maintain his balance.' After taking the 2-month-old, Crawford visited the camper of Cody Nathaniel Martin, 29, who agreed with Urban and Ehlers to take custody of the child. Martin allegedly drafted an 'adoption letter' stating his 'official rights' to the child. The letter read: 'I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy for $1000 on 9/21/2024,' court documents show. Both parents signed the letter, which included a disclaimer: 'After signing this there will be no changing yall two's minds and to never contact again.' When Benton County officers arrived at the campsite following a concerned call from the campground manager's office, they noticed the baby was in need of medical attention. Urban (pictured) and Ehlers both signed the letter, which included a disclaimer: 'After signing this there will be no changing yall two's minds and to never contact again.' Following investigation, Ehlers (pictured) and Urban were charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to commit consideration for relinquishing a minor for adoption. Pictured: Shalene Ehlers via Facebook Felicia Ayers, another resident of the campground, stated the child 'had a bad ammonia and fecal odor and the diaper was full.' Ayers shared photos of a 'heavy rash, blisters and swelling of the baby's buttocks and genitals.' Following investigation, the couple was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to commit consideration for relinquishing a minor for adoption. It was later revealed that Urban had previous arrests for theft and domestic battering in 2023. His bail is set at $50,000. The City of Toronto is weighing up whether to remove the terms 'male' and 'female' from its online booking system. The request was made by the city's Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (2SLGBTQ) Advisory Committee during discussions about how best to update the gender categories used in the online form. In a Tuesday meeting, committee members said 'incredibly harmful' terms such as male and female are 'no longer used', because they refer to 'biological and reproductive' descriptors and should instead be replaced with the gender categories 'man' and 'woman'. His comments echo those made by the Toronto community, according to Kathleen Harquail, manager of Business Transformation and Change Management, who is overseeing the update. The City of Toronto is weighing up whether to remove the terms 'male' and 'female' from its online booking system She added that the use of 'man' and 'woman' aligns with the city's 'recommended' language'. Harquail also said her team had previously received requests from the 2SLGBTQ committee to remove 'male' and 'female' and replace them with 'cis male' and 'cis female'. However, she explained that the categories 'male' and 'female' are currently hard coded into the system and so cannot be amended. But Jaber insisted that they should still be deleted. 'Any type of "female" and "male" even though they are hardwired into the system when we speak about male and female we are speaking about biological and reproductive adjectives and adverbs and descriptions of folks. 'This type of language is no longer used, we speak about gender now. 'We speak "man", "woman" so for me at least, female and male definitely needs to be removed no matter how hard-wired they are.' His comments were echoed by fellow committee member Kay Mehrizi. Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (2SLGBTQ) Advisory Committee member Jad Jaber suggested the terms 'man' and 'woman' should be used instead Fellow committee member Kay Mehrizi agreed, stating that 'male' and 'female' places too much emphasis on biology 'As hard-wired male and female may be, they are incredibly harmful, so working to remove those and replacing them with the more updated language of man and woman would be great,' she said. The consultation is being held over changes to the gender categories on Toronto's recreation program registration and facility booking system with the update due to go live in December. Users of the system will have the chance to optionally state their gender for data collection purposes. Other recommendations the committee gave were to remove the 'outdated' category of 'transsexual', as well as 'female to male' and 'male to female' in favor of 'trans person' to avoid biological essentialism. 'The language of "trans" or "trans individual" is inclusive of those categories,' Mehrizi said. 'So just completely staying away from male/female.' Kathleen Harquail, manager of Business Transformation and Change Management, said she was open to hearing from the committee The changes are being proposed to a optional gender categories on a booking system for Toronto's recreational facility A suggestion to include a free form text box for users to input their own gender identity was also floated. However, the idea of removing 'male' and 'female' from the booking system has sparked outrage online. 'I am a female, not a cis-female. If you cannot respect that, I cannot respect you,' one person wrote on Instagram. 'This place is a joke,' another agreed. 'How this ends up on someones priority list is just bizarre.. do whatever the f**k you wanna do and be whatever the f**k you wanna be.. just dont expect others to believe in something simply because you do,' one person fumed. However, others were less concerned with the proposed changes. 'Cis means you are the gender you are born with it doesnt mean anything else its not that deep,' one person said. 'The City of Toronto strives to make its services accessible and inclusive to all Torontonians. To ensure accessibility and inclusion for the new Parks and Recreation registration and booking system, City staff have consulted with advisory committees to seek recommendations and will continue to do so,' a spokesman said. 'Disclosing gender is optional when registering for City programs. 'The Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee provided recommendations based on the limited options currently available in the system, as well as additional feedback should more options become available in the future. 'These recommendations are only applicable to the new registration and booking system.' Vice President Kamala Harris participated in an interview with MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle on Thursday, but one answer in particular drew attention online. Harris repeated the word 'holistic' three times in just 23 seconds to emphasize a point about how to increase available housing. 'For example, some of the work is going to be through what we do in terms of giving benefits and assistance to state and local governments around transit dollars,' she first replied. '... and looking holistically at the connection between that and housing, and looking holistically at the incentives we in the federal government can create for local and state governments to actually engage in planning in a holistic manner that includes prioritizing affordable housing for working people,' Harris explained to Ruhle. The elaborate emphasis on the word 'holistic' left viewers puzzled about what Harris was talking about as critics ripped into her latest word salad on social media. Kamala Harris talks about the economy with MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle The Trump campaign leaned into the moment, clipping the video for their followers. 'Kamala appears to have just learned the word 'holistically,' the account read. Others made the same observation. 'Kamala has learned the word holistic, guys. Proceeds to use it three times in under thirty seconds. Intelligent people don't talk like this,' conservative radio host Clay Travis wrote on social media. 'People trying to pretend to be intelligent do though,' he went on. 'Kamala learned a new word... "holistic," Watch her proudly use it 3 times in 15 seconds,' comedian Tim Young wrote. 'Today's new word in Kamala's word-salad buffet: "Holistic,"' remarked Mike Davis of the Article 3 Project. A review of Harris transcripts indicates that the VP has used the word from time to time in prepared speeches. Kamala appears to have just learned the word "holistically." pic.twitter.com/lMpxWEg3aB Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 25, 2024 Kamala has learned the word holistic, guys. Proceeds to use it three times in under thirty seconds. Intelligent people dont talk like this. People trying to pretend to be intelligent do though: pic.twitter.com/zIiSFDpZgq Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 26, 2024 Kamala learned a new word... "holistic" Watch her proudly use it 3 times in 15 seconds. She's like a drunk that doesn't realize everyone knows she's drunk... pic.twitter.com/51LHAG3Ouk Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) September 26, 2024 But she is increasingly using it during her presidential campaign while trying to detail ways she plans to fix problems. Harris also leaned on the word 'holistic' during her conversation with the National Association of Black Journalists earlier this month. Kamala Harris speaks with MSNBC about the economy Kamala Harris interviewed by National Association of Black Journalists 'The trauma that exists in communities around the violence of losing their children, losing a brother, losing a father, an uncle all of that must be addressed, and we have to have a holistic response to it,' she said, when asked about how she planned to address gun violence. She continued, 'It's about understanding what we need to do to, again, understand that, to your point, we have to have a holistic response to this issue and prioritize it, instead of reacting to the tragedy that, sadly, they are too predictable.' Throughout her career as vice president, Harris has had moments in interviews where she struggles to explain herself, sometimes skirting the question and focusing on defining the problem instead. Shocking details about Donald Trump's deadly July 13 Butler, Pennsylvania, rally are emerging. Law enforcement witnesses, many who were present at the rally during the shooting, are detailing grisly aspects that unfolded during the messy day during a public hearing. That includes the exact moment shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was taken out by a counter sniper, just seconds after he shot the former president. The officials expressed remorse over the death and carnage that ensued that day, and the lapses in preparation and communication with the U.S. Secret Service that led up to it. In addition, the long-awaited results of a series of tests conducted during Crooks' autopsy are finally being released. Commander Edward Lenz of Butler County Emergency Services Unit, Patrolman Drew Blasko of Butler Township Police Department, Lieutenant John D. Herold of Pennsylvania State Police and Patrick Sullivan attend a House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump hearing Opening the hearing, Chairman of the Trump Assassination Task Force Mike Kelly, R-Pa., said the Secret Service's miscommunication led to confusion. He likened it to the agency playing a game of telephone during the crisis. Kelly told the witnesses he sought clarity on the tragic events from July 13, and let them begin. Mr. Edward Lenz, Sergeant, Adams Township Police Department, Commander, Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU) opened up the hearing with his testimony. He was in charge of a large 44 member Emergency Service Unit that closely assisted the Secret Service, more officers than the agency requested. His wife, a medical professional, even aided some wounded that day, he added. Lenz testified that at no point during the preparation was the local ESU asked to secure the AGR complex from where Thomas Matthew Crooks shot from. Nor were they asked to put anyone on the roof. They did, however, have a sniper on the barn close to Trump. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa He described how that sniper shot at Crooks six seconds after the initial shots at the former president sounded off. That ESU sniper under his command shot at Crooks from 110 yards, he testified. 'When shots rang out he quickly was able to identify where the shots were coming from,' Lenz told the panel. 'He observed the shooter, shouldered his rifle, he acquired his target, and he fired one shot at the shooter which caused him to recoil and briefly fall out of site.' That individual saw through his scope Crooks recoil after firing, indicating that the 20-year-old was hit by the round, or at least frightened. Lenz testified that the ESU shooter was 'very confident' that the shot connected with the target. But seconds after Crooks disappeared following the initial volley, the 20-year-old reappeared and was immediately shot once more, this time fatally by the Secret Service. Lenz said there was 'no guidance' from the Secret Service on where he should station his ESU operators. They were also not given information on rules for engagement from the agency, Lenz said. Lenz talked about how his team of ESU operators was given scant instruction by the Secret Service on where officers should be stationed And Crooks's body showed signs that the Secret Service sniper's bullet was the one that killed the shooter. Dr. Ariel Goldschmidt, the medical examiner of Allegheny County, who conducted the autopsy on Thomas Matthew Crooks, confirmed Thursday he was killed by the sniper. Goldschmidt confirmed that gunshot residue samples were taken. He determined Crooks died as a result of a high-velocity gunshot wound to the head after conducting the autopsy the morning of July 14. The entrance wound was just above Crooks's lip, he testified. Then on July 22 his body was released to the funeral home at the directive of the county coroner. Goldschmidt also revealed that prior to his review of the body it was x-rayed and handled by the FBI. The medical examiner also said that he does not believe that Crooks' body was impacted by a ninth or tenth shot when pressed by Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., on whether there were additional wounds discovered during the autopsy. Previously Higgins released an independent report indicating that the stock of Crooks's gun could have been hit by gunfire and the resulting shrapnel from the strike could have injured the shooter. But the doctor dispelled that suggestion during the hearing Thursday. Higgins also had raised issues he encountered after he tried to view Crooks' body on August 5 as part of his own personal inspection. The former police captain said his request to view the body 'caused quite a stir and revealed a disturbing fact.' It was at this point that he learned that the FBI had 'released the body for cremation 10 days' after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Higgins says 'nobody knew' that the body had been returned to the family, including the county coroner and local enforcement. He writes that the coroner still had 'legal authority over the body' when the FBI made this decision and accuses the agency of 'obstruction'. John D. Herold, Lieutenant, Pennsylvania State Police, the officer in charge for the State Police on July 13, also testified. Lieutenant John Herold of Pennsylvania State Police attends a House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump hearing During the hearing he said there were 20 members of his team there to support the Secret Service, and his agency provided everything the agency requested. He also said that his team was not tasked with securing the AGR building from where Crooks shot the former president. The panel also played unseen footage of local enforcement officers attempting to confront Crooks before the shooting. The video shows dash-cam footage from a police car showing an officer attempting to climb onto the roof. Then the officer jumps down from the AGR roof building frantically. He appears to injure his ankle and hobbles away with haste, seemingly afraid. It was previously reported that an officer saw Crooks on the roof and tried to approach him before the 20-year-old opened fire, and the video confirmed the account. Hillary Clinton is not backing down from her most famous attack on Donald Trump's supporters. She ignited their anger in 2016 when she said half of them belonged in a 'basketful of deplorables,' comments which were then used against her to show her as not just out of touch but hostile towards white, working class voters. Eight years after losing that election, she admits the epithet was 'bad politics' but wonders whether she should have gone further. 'I was talking about the people who are drawn to his racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobiayou name it,' she writes in her new book, "Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty" excerpted by the Washington Post. 'The people for whom his bigotry is a feature, not a bug. 'It was an unfortunate choice of words and bad politics, but it also got at an important truth. Hillary Clinton is not backing down from her most famous attack on Donald Trump's supporters, saying that she could even have gone further with her 'basket of deplorables' line 'Just look at everything that has happened in the years since, from Charlottesville to Jan. 6. 'The masks have come off, and if anything, "deplorable" is too kind a word for the hate and violent extremism we've seen from some Trump supporters.' At the time, most of the rest of her remarks were lost in the storm triggered by the word 'deplorables.' It became a badge of honor for Trump fans, turned into T-shirts, hats and memes. Clinton lost the electoral college a little more than a month later, but triumphed in the popular vote. She said she felt vindicated in her analysis of the rise of hate under Trump, and recounted how a newspaper editor had contacted her in 2022 to see if she would revisit the term in the wake of a mass shooting. A gunman in Buffalo shot dead black shoppers at a supermarket, apparently influenced by the 'great replacement' conspiracy theory, spread by Trump allies such as then Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson. 'The newspaper editor said that he and his colleagues spent a half-hour at their editorial meeting talking about this report, and "the notion that the most racist show on cable news is also the most popular stuck with a lot of us,'" she writes. The insult became a badge of honor for Trump supporters, turned into T-shirts and hats 'Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty' was published by Simon & Schuster on September 17 'Several editors, he said, brought up my "deplorables" comment and "how prescient" I had been.' She turned down the offer, she continues, because she did not want to write about it through the lens of a six-year-old controversy. 'I do wish that back in 2016, people had heard the rest of my comments and not just the word "deplorables," she writes. 'I also talked about the other half of Trump supporters, "people who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and theyre just desperate for change."' But she says she regrets describing most of the deplorables as 'irredeemable.' Right-wing tech billionaire Elon Musk has urged a boycott of the UK after being snubbed by Keir Starmer in a spat over his comments about the summer race riots. The controversial X owner reignited his row with the Prime Minister after being denied an invite to an October investment summit over false claims he made on his platform last month. In a blast at Sir Keir, the world's richest man urged people to stay away from the UK while it was 'releasing convicted paedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts'. The jibe appears aimed at the Government's decision to free prisoners early to jail those convicted after the racist violence. The Tories today attacked the decision to bar Mr Musk from the summit, with shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt telling the BBC it was a 'big loss'. 'He told me last year he was planning a new car plant in Europe and had not decided where but the UK was a candidate,' Mr Hunt said. The controversial X owner has reportedly not been invited to an investment summit next month after he used the platform to criticise Sir Keir and make unsubstantiated claimed about the UK. Mr Musk branded the PM #TwoTierKeir, in reference to claims or allegations of 'two tier policing' in Britain complaining about harsh sentences handed out to those involved in the disorder fuelled by far-right thugs. After three children were killed in a stabbing attack in Southport, and violence erupted across the UK The Tories today attacked the decision to bar Mr Musk from the summit, with shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt telling the BBC it was a 'big loss'. It also emerged today that Peter Kyle, the Science, Innovation and Technology, has yet to speak directly to Mr Musk, despite being responsible for social media 'policing'. A source told the Independent they were in contact via an intermediary. The tech entrepreneur has previously alleged the UK has a 'two-tier' criminal justice system that treats those guilty of offences linked to the disorder too harshly. Sir Keir will host the International Investment Summit on October 14 two weeks before the autumn Budget. The Government hopes the summit will attract hundreds of leading chief executives and financiers and is part of efforts to show that the UK is 'open for business' after a period of political and economic turmoil. The decision to NFI Mr Musk comes after he was feted by previous Tory PM Rishi Sunak at an AI event at Bletchley Park last year. The PM also conducted an interview with Mr Musk. Mr Musk replied to a tweet saying he had been snubbed for 'defending free speech', writing: 'I don't think anyone should go to the UK when they're releasing convicted pedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts.' Paedophiles were explicitly blocked from the early release scheme and there are no reports yet that any were released by accident. The decision to NFI Mr Musk comes after he was feted by previous Tory PM Rishi Sunak at an AI event at Bletchley Park last year. The PM also conducted an interview with Mr Musk (video below) After three children were killed in a stabbing attack in Southport and violence erupted across the UK, Mr Musk branded the PM #TwoTierKeir, in reference to claims or allegations of 'two tier policing' in Britain complaining about harsh sentences handed out to those involved in the disorder fuelled by far-right thugs. He also said 'civil war is inevitable' in the wake of the chaos, and was left red-faced as he pushed false claims about the PM setting up detainment camps in the Falklands. BNY, Blackstone and CyrusOne have confirmed attendance, according to the Treasury. A list of attendees has not been released. Investment giant Blackstone has already confirmed a 10 billion deal to develop Europe's largest AI data centre in Blyth, Northumberland. The firm's president, Jon Gray, will be among the executives at a roundtable event hosted by Sir Keir on Thursday. Mr Musk was a star guest at the UK Government's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit last year, during which Mr Sunak interviewed him for almost an hour in front of business chiefs. Mr Musk shared a doctored headline that falsely stated Sir Keir was considering building 'emergency' prisons on the Falkland Islands for arrested rioters The billionaire shared the post on X made by Ashlea Simon, co-leader of far-right group Britain First But it appears he will not be courted by the new Labour administration after his posts about the disorder in the UK last month. False information that spread on social media about the identity of the alleged Southport knife attacker has been seen as playing a role in sparking the days of violence. The billionaire engaged with posts by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, suggesting that civil war in the UK was 'inevitable', and retweeted a fake Daily Telegraph headline suggesting rioters would be sent to detention camps in the Falkland Islands. The social media tycoon also called the Prime Minister 'two-tier Keir', a reference to claims that police have a 'two-tier' approach to protests and deal with some more harshly than others. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander said at the time that Mr Musk's comments on civil war were 'deeply irresponsible' and Sir Keir's spokesman said there was 'no justification for comments like that'. Earlier this month, some 1,700 prisoners were released early from their sentences in the first phase of the Government's plan to tackle overcrowding. Sex offenders are excluded from the policy. Some people have been jailed for stirring up racial hatred in relation to social media posts they made during the unrest in August. Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch has said she is a 'huge fan' of Mr Musk. 'I think Elon Musk has been a fantastic thing for freedom of speech. I will hold my hand up and say, I'm a huge fan of Elon Musk,' she said in an interview with The Spectator. The other three hopefuls were also asked whether Musk has been a good thing for freedom of speech. Robert Jenrick said he does not have a 'strong opinion' on the billionaire, but added: 'I'm not going to be booking a tete-a-tete with Elon Musk any time soon.' James Cleverly meanwhile warned against 'curtailing voices that you disagree with', while Tom Tugendhat said that 'If you are allowed to say whatever you like but you put your name to it, that's freedom of speech'. The Government declined to comment. Congressional lawmakers are 'terrified' after Donald Trump revealed details about how Iran has been plotting to kill him. The ex-president's campaign said that the hostile nation has made 'real and specific threats' to assassinate Trump very recently. The shocking revelations come after Trump was given a classified briefing by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The 45th president later confirmed on social media that there are 'big threats on my life by Iran.' More concerning was another portion of his statement: 'Moves were already made by Iran that didnt work out, but they will try again.' And lawmakers, who are already scrambling from the two assassination attempts on Trump in Pennsylvania and Florida, are now demanding to know what the classified briefing contained and whether Iran was behind the previous attempts. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei attends commemoration ceremony September 25, 2024. Former President Donald Trump was briefed by intelligence officials on Tuesday that Iran has made credible attempts on his life, and they likely will continue to do so 'I read it and I talk with him but I think people truly find that terrifying that a foreign government would actually develop a plan,' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a close ally of the former president exclusively told DailyMail.com. 'I think that's extremely concerning. It definitely moves things to another level.' Greene also mentioned confusion surrounding the classified briefings, highlighting how its unclear if Iran had any connection to the July 13 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, or the September 15 attempt in West Palm Beach, Florida. 'I don't know if it was the two attempted assassinations,' the Georgia Republican said. 'Maybe there were other things that we don't know about that were stopped.' 'And I'll speak on behalf most people I know at home, they're not interested in war right now. Most people I know at home want to fix the problems in our country.' Then she gave a warning. 'We will not tolerate Iran threatening the life of former President Trump or any anyone else.' A bloodied DOnald Trump stands back up after getting shot and pumps his fist on July 13 The bullet from shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks grazed Trump's ear. There were reports that Iran could have had some connection to the attempt, though those have not been verified Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who sits on the House Task Force investigating the assassination attempts on Trump, told DailyMail.com the committee has requested that ODNI give them a briefing as well. 'I saw former President Trump's statement that he put on Twitter, and as a result of that statement, I believe the task force has asked for a classified briefing to receive the same information that former President Trump got.' 'We have not gotten that same briefing from ODNI,' Moskowitz confirmed. Washington Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen told DailyMail.com: 'It's horrible that the Iranians would do this, if it could be true.' He said the country should 'be ready for the U.S. to ratchet up pressure' on Iran given their brazen threats. The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Mike Turner, R-Ohio, told DailyMail.com he could not speak to the specifics of the briefing when pressed about it on Wednesday. But on Thursday morning he came out with a strong statement seemingly pointed directly at U.S. and Iranian leadership. Heavy weapons, including ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles are displayed in Tehran this week The aftermath of the Butler campaign rally after everyone had left the venue Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., July 13, 2024 'President Biden and Vice President Harris must make it clear to Iran that any attempt on President Trumps life would be an act of war,' Turner wrote on social media. The briefing and subsequent questions arising from it comes days after investigators found that Iranian 'malicious cyber actors' emailed associates of President Biden's campaign with information 'taken from stolen, non-public material from Trump's campaign' over the summer. Multiple federal agencies discerned hackers from Iran had sent emails containing stolen material from Trump's campaign to people involved in Biden's then re-election campaign last week. Officials painted the breach as being part of a broader effort by Tehran to influence the upcoming election. 'We've emboldened a number of countries, Iran, China, Russia, to interfere with our elections,' Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told DailyMail.com. 'This isn't the first or the second or the third [attempt].' He warned that the country has seen their meddling in U.S. elections work before, and going after candidates is just the newest implementation of their meddling in American affairs. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris addresses the Economic Club of Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak at a campaign event at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press WASHINGTON Kamala Harris campaign is making the gamble that undecided voters care more about vision than specific policies. Experts say it could pay off. Ill be pragmatic. We shouldnt be constrained by ideology. We should seek practical solutions to problems realistic assessments of whats working and whats not, Harris said Wednesday afternoon during a speech at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh. She committed to cutting taxes for the middle class, unlocking the full potential of aspiring founders by increasing a tax deduction for startups and ensuring America is a global leader in growing sectors like blockchain and AI. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even as Harris provided more details about her economic vision lowering costs, investing in innovation and leading in growing industries she didnt mention specific policies she would enact. Voters are trying to get a sense of who this person is what their character is like; can I live with watching this person every day for the next four years more than theyre really evaluating what our policy positions are, Mike Madrid, a California-based Republican strategist who has been an outspoken Trump critic, told the Chronicle. Its very, very, very rare that people are actually doing that especially amongst undecided voters. Undecided voters want to learn more about Harris priorities and values than they do specific policy proposals, a senior campaign official who was granted anonymity in order to speak about internal research told the Chronicle. Her campaign believes the Pittsburgh speech will help her economic appeal, the official said. Recent polling shows Harris is closing the gap with who voters feel would best handle the economy, a trend her campaign is eager to continue. Five recent polls show Trump still has a lead, but it has narrowed from a 12 percentage point advantage against President Joe Biden earlier this year to a four- to seven-point advantage now. Its already crystal clear what she stands for and who she fights for and thats what people really care about. Undecided voters arent pouring over policy plans, theyre deciding who understands what theyre going through and who will fight for them, California political strategist Dan Newman told the Chronicle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even without the specifics, some members of Congress are already preparing to take up the work of turning Harris vision into legislation. Senate Democrats, led by Oregons Ron Wyden, are working on a legislative package, including a $6,000 child tax credit and eliminating taxes on tips, Semafor reported Wednesday. While the political right and left, and even some journalists, have expressed frustration at the lack of specific agenda items for a Harris presidency, recent evidence suggests detailed policy plans dont get someone elected. Both former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren had detailed policy agendas when they ran for president, but Warren didnt make it past the primaries and Clinton was ultimately unsuccessful. Its about time that a Democrat learned how communication with voters actually works, Gil Duran, who briefly served as Harris spokesperson when she was attorney general and has become a go-to source for Harris insight and criticism, told the Chronicle. Democrats traditionally think that lists of policies is whats going to convince voters, whereas the Republicans tend to speak in broad terms about things like freedom and liberty, and be a little more vague on the specifics of policies, Duran said. The laundry list trap is dangerous because voters actually base their choices on things like moral values, authenticity, trust (and) identity. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Clinton, the Democratic nominee in 2016, told the On with Kara Swisher podcast that she put out more policies than I think anybody ever has and I talked about the economy every day, but literally after the election, I was told that I never talked about the economy. Campaign policy is really about showing you can govern with your values in a way that can improve peoples lives. Harris doesnt have concepts of a plan; she actually has plans, Alencia Johnson, who worked on Warrens 2020 presidential campaign and was a senior adviser to the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign, told the Chronicle. Trump said he has concepts of a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act during the last presidential debate. The Warren campaign learned so long as youre talking about your policy positions and your plans in a way that voters understand, they engage, Johnson said. Harris 2024 campaign may also be learning from her failed 2020 campaign, which one former adviser called a poll-tested disaster, and even a recent rollout. Harris proposal to ban price gouging in grocery and food industries, part of her first policy rollout in August, was roundly criticized. Republicans claimed it would be instituting price controls, and Democrats were reluctant to defend it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris campaign is betting that an unpainted canvas is net positive for them if her favorables are high, especially against Donald Trump, Madrid said. Thats not a bad bet, but there is (a) huge downside risk, Madrid said. Without providing specific policies, Harris background being a Black woman from San Francisco and Oakland could lead voters to fill in certain negative imagery, Madrid said, which is why the campaign has focused on her prosecutorial background. While most strategists think it is the right move for her campaign, at least one said the risks are high. Its hard to beat something with nothing, Rich Thau, moderator of a monthly focus group of swing voters held by his firm Engagious and Axios, told the Chronicle. When youre comparing nostalgia for how good the economy was four years ago versus the unknown of Harris agenda, that can be a tough battle, he said. Former President Donald Trumps campaign has also lacked policy details, and when pressed for specifics he often has given unintelligible replies that dont shed any light on his plans. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Asking why Harris doesnt have more specific policies is an unfair question, Johnson said. Sometimes it comes from a place of bias because shes a woman candidate shes a woman of color and I dont hear these same questions towards our male candidates. While strategists appear to agree that offering few specifics makes sense for Harris, it has provided fodder for Trump. During their sole debate showdown this month, the two frequently traded barbs about who had fewer plans to offer the public. A grief-stricken grandfather has accused Bay Area social workers of knowingly sending his 6-year-old grandson to live in a home with drug addicts where he was killed. Morian Walker Sr. had told social workers that the two-bedroom apartment his grandson Jordan Walker was sent to live was filled with people who had criminal backgrounds, including a convicted rapist, The Mercury News reported. Walker said that these warnings were overlooked before the fatal stabbing of Jordan by his uncle, Nathan Addison, on August 4, 2023. Walker told The Mercury News: 'I talked to several people at Child Protective Services, to social workers. I asked them to do criminal background histories on everyone that's living there. 'I asked them to check the police reports, to see the police blotter at that location. It all fell on deaf ears.' Now the grandfather is suing the California institutions he claims are responsible for his grandson's death. The Santa Clara County child welfare agency, Washington Elementary School in San Jose, the city of San Jose and the San Jose Police Department have all been listed as defendants in the lawsuit filed on September 13, according to court documents. Jordan (middle) with his grandfather (left) and Moe Walker (right), who described the boy as her nephew Jordan's uncle, Nathan Addison, was charged with the boy's murder The lawsuit details the turbulent and tragically short life of Jordan. The boy was originally under the care of his mother, Danielle Walker Marshman, but her continued neglect and drug problems led to Jordan's removal from her custody. After the county's Department of Family and Children's Services received reports of adults in the household selling fentanyl and leaving drug paraphernalia where Jordan could potentially access it, social workers came to the house in August 2022. When Marshman refused a drug test and social workers didn't see drugs in the house, the case was closed, the Mercury News reported. Social workers would return two months later after reports that Marshman and Jordan's stepfather were smoking fentanyl and the boy was left to find his own food. When they didn't hear back from the mother, the case was once again closed. Jordan would finally be removed from the home in February 2023 after he arrived at Washington Elementary with a bag of methamphetamines and told the teacher his mother had given it to him. Walker's lawsuit says that the school sent Jordan home with his mother that day and had previously failed to report her neglect of the child. Jordan's grandfather is suing the California institutions he claims are responsible for his grandson's death Jordan with Moe Walker, who described the boy as her nephew Washington Elementary didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com. The 6-year-old was sent to live with his great-grandmother, Delphina Turner, 71, whose home was 'revolving door of different drug users and homeless people,' the lawsuit said. A convicted rapist, a felon who spent 20 years in prison, two drugs addicts and Jordan's uncle, Addison, who struggled with drugs and mental-health issues, all at one point lived in the home. Walker said he was upset by the decision and told social workers that he had a stable home for Jordan to live in. On August 4, police found the bodies of Jordan and his great-grandmother after being called to perform a welfare check. Both had been stabbed, and Addison was charged with their murders, The Mercury News reported. The 6-year-old was sent to live with his great-grandmother Delphina Turner, 71, but this was also an unstable household and some relatives who lived there were allegedly a convicted rapist, a felon who spent 20 years in prison, two drugs addicts and Jordan's uncle Nathan Addison The lawsuit says that the warning signs for social workers were apparent. In one instance, a social worker flagged that while Jordan was staying at his great-grandmother's 'the generational history of substance use, mental health, and criminal history indicate a risk for the family environment the child is exposed to,' the Mercury News reported. A social worker also allegedly told the family that 'social workers knew there were dangerous people going in and out of Ms. Turner's house, including Nathan Addison'. Walker told The Mercury News that he won't stop fighting for justice. 'I love him and I miss him. And with every day that goes by, I won't stop fighting for justice for Jordan and bringing to light the travesty that Santa Clara County Family and Children's Services and everybody involved have let Jordan down.' 'The murder of this child and his great-grandmother is a heartbreaking and shocking tragedy,' The Santa Clara Department of Family and Children's Services told DailyMail.com, adding that it has not been served the lawsuit yet but that it generally does not comment on pending litigation. Commuters in New York City were forced to abandon a subway car and walk along train tracks in the dark before clambering through an emergency exit. The incident unfolded on Tuesday, with those aboard the Brooklyn-bound L train having to exit between Knickerbocker Avenue and Myrtle-Wyckoff. Footage has since emerged on TikTok showing those onboard on the train being informed by a fire fighter that they would need to walk down the Brooklyn train tracks. A line of those who had been onboard can be seen shuffling along the dark tunnel guided by several fire fighters. Another clip then shows people exiting the underground network via an emergency exit in the Bushwick neighborhood, again aided by fire fighters. A line of those who had been onboard the train can be seen shuffling along the dark tunnel guided by several fire fighters Another clip then shows people exiting the underground network via an emergency exit in the Bushwick neighborhood, again aided by fire fighters TikTok user Nicole Barley who shared the footage of the train exit posted another video explaining what had happened. She said: 'We were stuck in that train for over an hour. They cut the power to the whole station so there was no AC in the train. 'People were holding the doors open because there was no ventilation getting in. We were waiting for the fire department the whole time. 'People just started hopping off the train and started walking into the subway tunnels, like into the void, to try and get out. Barley said that eventually the fire department arrived and filed them off the train and back down the tunnel to DeKalb station. Officials have yet to confirm to DailyMail.com the exact reason for the outage, but the L train service was dramatically cut on Tuesday after a person was struck by a train. According to the NYCT X account, there was no L service between Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenue and Lorimer St just after 5pm. The account said: 'No L service between Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenue and Lorimer St. L trains are delayed in both directions while emergency teams assist someone who was struck by a train at DeKalb Av.' Just under two hours later, the train service resumed according to the social media page. According to the NYCT X account, there was no L service between Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenue and Lorimer St just after 5pm It comes after four people were shot, including an NYPD officer, after a man with a knife was confronted by officers at the Sutter Avenue station. The encounter between officers and the suspect, who has since been identified as 37-year-old Derrell Mickles, ended with two bystanders being injured. Mickles was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charges held against him, which included attempted aggravated assault upon an officer and theft. Police leaders and Mayor Eric Adams have said the shooting was justified under the NYPD's department rules due to Mickles having a weapon. Critics however have accused the officers involved in the incident with overreacting. DailyMail.com has approached the MTA and the FDNY for comment concerning the incident on Tuesday. Archaeologists researching a church in northern Poland have discovered a 'vampire tomb' buried underneath the floor in what they say is a first-of-its-kind discovery. The skeletal remains of a man dating from the 17th century were found in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the small village of Paczewo after archaeologists discovered a stone slab decorated with an engraving of a skull. Buried around six-feet below the slab, they found three skeletons, one of which had a sickle around its neck, a medieval practice which - it was believed - was designed to stop vampires returning from the dead. Anthropologist Justyna Kargus said the skeleton's skull showed signs that the man who is thought to have been around 50 years old when he died had suffered from some form of trauma before his death. She said: 'His skull had numerous injuries indicating that he probably had many deep scars on his face. A grave containing a 'vampire' with a sickle around its neck to stop it 'returning from the dead' is found under stone with skull engraving at Polish church by archaeologists The skeletal remains of a man dating from the 17th century were found in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the small village of Paczewo Putting a sickle around a dead person's neck was a medieval practice used to stop people believed to be vampires from returning from the dead 'During one of the blows he also lost some of his teeth. He would've looked different to average people and that can be scary. She added that the discovery of a vampire burial in a church is especially rare, saying 'no one expects to find a vampire in a church. 'This is the first known case of an anti-vampire burial in a church.' 'People suspected of being vampires were normally buried away from local communities or in cemeteries. 'Inside the church, clergy, benefactors of the church, dignified and particularly deserving people were buried. 'Perhaps it was someone of merit in the local community, and something caused them to be afraid of him.' Records of myths about the dead date back as far as the 11th century in Central and Eastern Europe. People feared that some who were buried would claw their way back up to the surface as blood-sucking monsters and terrorise the living. It is not uncommon in the region to find burial sites where a metal rod - or a stake - have been hammered through the skull of the deceased. People at the time believed this was one way to ensure the person stayed dead. Three skeletons were found in the church in the town of Paczewo People feared that some who were buried would claw their way back up to the surface as blood-sucking monsters and terrorise the living In some parts of the continent - particularly among Slavic people - belief in the legends of vampires became so widespread that it caused mass hysteria In some parts of the continent - particularly among Slavic people - belief in the legends of vampires became so widespread that it caused mass hysteria, and even led to executions of people thought to be vampires. People who died in untimely ways - such as through suicide - would also often have been suspected of vampirism, and their bodies would have been mutilated to prevent them from rising from the dead. Various procedures were used to prevent them returning from the dead. Some placed sickle around the neck, others saw the corpse tied up, padlocks placed on the body, coins placed over the eyes, the body wrapped in fishing nets or the bodies crushed with stones or bricks. The most recent discovery is the latest in a number of vampire findings in Poland. Earlier this month, the decapitated remains of a 'vampire child' buried face-down was discovered over 370 miles away in the southeast of the country. In 2023 a mass grave containing over 400 decapitated suspect vampires with their skulls placed between their legs and a coin in their mouths was uncovered in Poland's northeast during roadworks. The skeletal remains of another 'vampire child' were found later that year lying face down with a triangular padlock attached to its foot in the village of Pien where archaeologists previously found the remains of a 'female vampire' pinned to the ground by a sickle across her throat and a padlocked toe. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio is making a splash with his new hairstyle as he went on TV to discuss Eric Adams' corruption indictment. De Blasio appeared on CNN to talk about his successor Adams, who was charged with five crimes in a federal corruption probe on Wednesday. The Democrat, who served as mayor from 2014 to 2021, said Adam deserves the presumption of innocence before he is convicted. But it was his dark hair that caught the attention of viewers, who took to social media to mock what they have called a 'bad dye job.' One X user said: 'Bill de Blasio on CNN right now with an absolutely terrible hair dye job.' Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio is making a splash with his new hairstyle as he makes the TV rounds to discuss Eric Adams ' indictment De Blasio's hair looked much whiter in 2020 Another added: 'WHO told Bill de Blasio to put that rinse job in his hair ?!' A third added: 'de Blasio needs to lighten up on the Just For Men hair dye.' De Blasio had his own legal issues from his time in office; last year he was ordered to pay pay $475,000 by a city ethics board that found he misused public funds on a police security detail during his failed presidential bid. He had faced previous allegations of misusing his security detail. Months before he left office in 2021, a report by the citys Department of Investigation found he treated the officers as a 'concierge service,' using them to move his daughter into an apartment and shuttle his son to college. 'I went through an experience with a Southern District where I saw a lot of things that did not come true despite allegations, I do think we have to be really careful here,' de Blasio said on CNN. 'We havent seen anything specific. We dont know what this is yet. We havent heard a defense so Im feeling very, you know, two different feelings at this moment.' The Democrat first showed off his brunette style in October 2022, and told The New York Times that he 'never anticipated ever doing anything with hair color.' He said his auburn shade is a little darker than he wanted, but added: 'I like feeling what I feel.' On Thursday FBI agents entered the official residence of Mayor Adams and seized his phone, hours before an indictment detailing criminal charges against the Democrat was expected to be made public. Adams was indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges of corruption and bribery among others. The UA attorneys office in Manhattan has declined to comment on the investigation, though it said it would announce 'significant public corruption charges' at an 11.30am news conference. In a video speech released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to fight any charges against him, claiming he had been made a 'target' in a case 'based on lies.' 'I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,' he said. It was not immediately clear what laws Adams is accused of breaking or when he might have to appear in court. de Blasio was spotted with noticeably darker hair at Bite NYC in Soho, New York City, NY, USA on September 27, 2023 Adams was indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges of corruption and bribery among others The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have homed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations. Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. In the last two weeks alone, the citys police commissioner and head of the schools system have announced their resignations. FBI agents had seized Adams electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters. In early September, federal investigators seized devices from his police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted confidants both in and out of City Hall. All have denied wrongdoing. A driver has been left furious after an innocent error left him with a 100 fine for parking in a free-to-use car parking space. Andy Hall was issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) by Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) just 20 minutes after parking outside a TK Maxx in Ayr, Scotland. Despite inputting his registration number to validate the two-hour free parking window, Mr Hall was informed by a parking warden that he had accidentally pressed the number 0 instead of the letter O when typing out his number plate. Although he has appealed to ARA, Mr Hall may still have to fork out for his mistake - with his initial appeal falling on deaf ears. It comes after a motorist was hit with an eye-watering 11,000 in fines from the same car park after falling foul of a bizarre five-minute rule. Andy Hall pictured with his ticket which featured a slight typo as he put the number 0 instead of the letter O when typing out his number plate Despite appealing to ARA, Mr Hall may still have to fork out for his mistake Mr Hall said: 'I turned up, went to the ticket machine and put in my registration. The machine then spat out a ticket for the free term which fell on the ground and was blowing about. 'I picked it up, crossed to TK Maxx and I was in there for approximately 25 minutes. I returned to my car and there was a big, yellow parking fine ticket on my windscreen. 'I thought: "What the hell?" I looked at the ticket and thought there was nothing wrong with that. I was going up the Sandgate to meet my son and I came across the traffic wardens. 'I approached them and I said: "Hi guys, I've got this parking ticket but 20 minutes earlier I actually got a ticket". 'The guy was like, "Let me see. I can see what you've done there, you've put in a 0 instead of an O." 'I hadn't noticed that but he still said it was 100 or 50 if paid in 14 days. Surely, when you look at that, that's been a simple mistake. A wee bit of common sense. 'I thought they had been a wee bit overzealous. They said it was my mistake, 'you could put mickey mouse in' was his exact words. 'They said I could phone the number on the ticket and appeal so I did that but the appeal was instantly turned down. Mr Hall was issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) by Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) just 20 minutes after parking outside TK Maxx in Ayr, Scotland (stock image) 'I don't stay in Ayr, I stay in Troon and it was my first time using the machines. They are quite awkward to use. I've pressed 0 by mistake and it's cost me 50. 'I'm really annoyed about this because I did get a ticket. You get free parking for up to two hours. 'I did make the effort to get the ticket and I thought I was doing the right thing but I shouldn't have bothered my backside.' Mr Hall has since received a Notice of Rejection of Appeal from Ayrshire Roads Alliance which stated: 'I can confirm as the vehicle was inspected with no valid parking session the PCN was correctly issued and may not be cancelled. 'The points raised in the appeal have been carefully considered and grounds for cancellation of the PCN have not been established. It is incumbent upon the registered owner/keeper/hirer of the vehicle to ensure it is parked in compliance with any underlying parking restriction.' A spokesperson for ARA said they were unable to comment on the issue as the case was still live. The convicted paedophile is said to have 'confided' in cellmate Laurentiu Codin Chief Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner asked a chilling question as he 'confided' in his former cellmate about his attacks on children, it was claimed in court yesterday. The 47-year-old paedophile is said to have confessed to fellow inmate Laurentiu Codin that he took a child from an apartment while living in Portugal. Raising the prospect that he might have buried one of his victims, Codin then claimed that the convicted rapist asked him whether 'the DNA from a child can be taken from bones under the ground.' Codin, who was behind bars with Brueckner in 2020, said the depraved criminal had asked whether such DNA could be used as evidence. 'I answered yes,' he is reported to have said. It comes four years after German investigators sensationally named Brueckner as the key suspect in the abduction of the British three-year-old Maddie from her family's Praia da Luz holiday apartment in May 2007. Brueckner denies any involvement. Christian Brueckner (C) is brought to the courtroom for a session of his trial at court in Braunschweig, northern Germany, on September 25, 2024 German investigators sensationally named Brueckner as the key suspect in the abduction of the British three-year-old Speaking in front of Braunschweig Regional Court on Wednesday, where Brueckner is standing trial for unrelated sex crimes, Codin told a story which bore striking similarities to the night Maddie disappeared. 'He told me that in Portugal, that he had stolen there. He was in a region where there are hotels and rich people live,' Codin said. 'He said there was somewhere with an open window, he told me this. He was looking for money. 'He said he didn't find any money but found a kid and took the child. He said that two hours later, there were police and dogs all over the place, so he then went away, out of the area. 'I am just saying what he told me. He told me that a person was with him, who he had had an argument with, allegedly it was his woman. 'He said he took the child in Portugal in his car, and in the time when the police and dogs were at the house, he drove away and he was gone. In more disturbing testimony, Codin, 50, said Brueckner had told him how he had used a van to have sex with young girls near Hanover. 'There was talk of a girl, I don't know if what he said was true or not. He said that he had a bus and that he had taken her with it. He said he kept some of them, but not others, but he never said that he had killed them. 'We're talking about girls, not boys. Not all at once, always one at a time. He told me about two. He said that he had taken someone, had sex with her but he didn't kill her.' Pictured: The holiday complex where the McCanns were staying in Portugal's Algarve region in May 2007, when their three-year-old daughter vanished without a trace Madeleine McCann (pictured) went missing on May 3, 2007 at the age of just three. She has never been found. German criminal Christian Brueckner has been named by German prosecutors as their chief suspect in her disappearance Kate and Gerry McCann pose with a computer generated image of how their missing daughter Madeleine might look now, during a news conference in 2012 A house near Praia da Luz resort and Lagos in the Algarve, Portugal, that was used by Christian Brueckner, a German man suspected in the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann Asked by the judge how old his victim was, Codin said: 'I don't want to get it wrong, but it was very young, tiny. I mean young. 'Each time when we were together he spoke about it because he was convinced that I was a paedophile.' Brueckner is serving a seven-year jail term for the 2005 rape of American pensioner Diana Menkes, 72, in the Algarve. He is standing trial at Braunschweig district court for unconnected sex crimes allegedly carried out in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017. The offences Brueckner is on trial for include the alleged rape of Irish tour rep Hazel Behan, now 40, in her Praia da Rocha apartment in 2004. The former tour guide, who waived her anonymity and has spoken publicly about her experience, broke down in tears as she told the trial that Brueckner had raped her at knifepoint. He has also been charged with the alleged rape of a teenage girl in his home in the same city and raping an elderly woman in her holiday apartment. Brueckner is also accused of exposing himself to a German girl on a beach in Salema in April 2007 and to an 11-year-old girl in 2017. His current sentence ends early next year, and if he is not found guilty in the ongoing trial, he could be freed from jail. The trial is due to end in December. Hazel Behan (pictured) has publicly spoken about the alleged attack in TV interviews Speaking outside court, Brueckner's defence team strongly refuted Codin's allegations. 'All of these claims are completely new. All of them. He has never said anything like this before, and they all contradict each other,' lawyer Philipp Marquart told reporters. Brueckner is said to have watched intently as as a video was shown to the court showing the apartment where Maddie disappeared in 2007. The footage went on to show her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, as they described the horror when they realised she was no longer in her bed. The couple had left Maddie and her two siblings sleeping in their apartment while they dined at a nearby tapas bar in the Ocean Beach complex. Christian Brueckner was named chief suspect in Madeleine's disappearance in 2020 Kate returned to the apartment at around 10pm to check on the kids, and made the horrifying discovery that her daughter was missing. Brueckner was sensationally named by German police as the prime suspect in the Madeleine's abduction. The revelation came in June 2020 - more than a decade after her disappearance. But he has never been charged in the case, and has long denied any involvement. A hippo which threw a father around 'like a rag doll' killed a fisherman two weeks earlier. Roland Cherry and his wife Shirley were on a river safari in Zambia when the animal rammed their canoe. Mr Cherry, was tossed into the air and crashed into the water with a dislocated shoulder. Shirley managed to swim to the riverbank while her injured husband, 63, was stranded in the water at the mercy of the 1.4 tonne monster. Moments later Roland was dragged to the bottom of the river by the enormous beast. Roland Cherry, pictured, was tossed into the air and crashed into the water with a dislocated shoulder He scrambled to safety and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was treated for his injuries Roland Cherry from Tysoe in Warwickshire being treated after he survived a Hippo attack He managed to scramble to shallow water but was grabbed again by the hippo which tossed him into the air for a second time. He scrambled to safety and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was treated for his injuries. The couple were attacked by a female hippo which turned aggressive while it protected its young calf which was nearby. It has now emerged the same hippo attacked a fishing boat which left one man dead and another injured two weeks before Roland was mauled on June 25. Roland, who is recovering at home in Tysoe, Warks., said: 'There was a briefing where they said in the unlikely event that we are attacked by a hippo they'll attack the biggest object, which is the canoe. 'But there was an attack by the same hippo just two weeks before. 'This hippo had attacked locals in a fishing boat. 'One of them was badly wounded while his colleague was flung out and eaten by a crocodile. But we weren't told about that. 'We've done a lot of kayaking in England and Wales, but we were never aware of the mortal danger we were in. 'We thought the guides would keep us safe. Had we known we wouldn't have set foot in the canoe.' Roland is raising 20,000 for Mtendere Mission Hospital which treated him after the attack Roland Cherry and his wife Shirley on holiday at the Victoria Falls prior to the Hippo attack Roland Cherry and his wife Shirley on holiday in Botswana prior to the Hippo attack Roland is raising 20,000 for Mtendere Mission Hospital which treated him and says he has no plans to take legal action against the tour operators. He said: 'The legal route is not one which we intend to go down. For me, life is too short. 'What I really want to do now is to give something back to the hospital which treated me. 'We are trying to raised 20,000 and we have already raised more than 16,000 which is just incredible. 'I am determined that something positive comes out of what was a challenging incident.' After being treated at the hospital in Chirundu, Roland was flown 900 miles a hospital in Johannesburg in South Africa. He spent two weeks being treated for his injuries before flying back to the UK. Roland still has deep scarring from the 10in (25cm) bite to his stomach as well as injuries to his thigh and shoulder. Despite his ordeal, Roland says people should not be put off touring Africa. He joked: 'I don't want anyone to be put off by Africa, because it is a wonderful place, but go in a bigger boat.' Figures show up to 3,000 people are killed by hippos every year. A glamorous beautician and TV star dubbed the 'Lip King' admitted today he had been arrested after a mother-of-five died shortly after having a non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lift procedure. When Jordan James Parke was asked to comment on the death of 33-year-old Alice Webb when approached by MailOnline, he said: 'I can't talk to anybody. I was arrested but I've been released.' Police later arrived at the house with an officer seen speaking to Parke as he climbed into his Mercedes 4x4 which was parked outside the property. Ms Webb died on Monday, just hours after having the procedure which is thought to have involved the injection of chemical fillers. She had travelled from her home in Wotton-under-Edge to a clinic in Gloucester on Monday. Later that evening, Alice was rushed to hospital but died in the early hours of Tuesday morning. It is the first time a person has died in the UK from the procedure and comes after campaign group Save Face called for tighter controls in the cosmetic market warning that 'people could die'. Jordan James Parke, 32, did not comment on the death of 33-year-old Alice Webb when approached by MailOnline Parke, the 'Lip King', is pictured climbing into his Mercedes 4x4 which was parked outside a property he came out of The 'Lip King' was seen getting into the large 4x4 which has a personalised number plate Alice Webb, 33, died on Monday, just hours after having the procedure which is thought to have involved the injection of chemical fillers It comes after Alice's 'second mother', Diana Webb, 58, revealed that she had warned her younger cousin about the procedure just hours before. An emotional Diana, who helped raise Alice, told The Sun: 'We had talked about it a lot before she went to have the procedure. 'She had told me she was going to have this done and I said she didn't need it - she already looked beautiful. And she was stunning on her own.' Diana also told The Sun how she had been on the phone to Alice for two hours beforehand, even saying how she felt at ease because everything seemed 'professional'. It's understood Alice worked in the industry and was attending a training session where she would learn how to perform the procedure before having her own done. 'She took every course she could take, including this one, because she wanted to make sure she got everything right,' Diana said. MailOnline revealed earlier that Alice was treated at The Studio 23 clinic in Gloucester, which is run by beautician Jemma Pawlyszyn and Parke, who is dubbed the 'British Lip King'. Parke, who describes himself on social media as 'The Plastic Surgery Advocate', is not a qualified surgeon and provides treatment from a clinic in Gloucester. The Kim Kardashian fanatic appeared on US reality TV series Botched in 2015, but he was turned away when he returned to the show in 2019 as doctors revealed a fourth nose job would have involved taking a piece of his rib to widen his nostrils. Her 'second mother', Diana Webb, has revealed how she told her younger cousin that she did not need the procedure. The procedure was carried out at The Studio 23 clinic in Gloucester, which is run by Jordan James Parke Jordan James Parke works alongside his assistant Jemma Pawlyszyn (pictured) Pictured is Studio 23, which is just a few miles from where Alice's home is in Wotton-under-Edge The Studio 23 sign could be seen at the property when MailOnline visited it in Gloucester today Parke, who has had major work done on his face, now has a private Instagram profile but it also links to another page called The Lip King Aesthetics. He also works in Manchester, Bristol and the West Midlands. Alice is understood to have had the procedure in Gloucester, which is just a few miles from her home in Wotton-under-Edge. The treatment is designed to make buttocks bigger, more rounded or lifted and sees fat or dermal filler injected into the buttocks to change size or shape. While non-surgical BBLs are not illegal in the UK, last year Wolverhampton City Council barred a company from carrying out the procedure after identifying risks associated with their processes, including blood clots, sepsis, and the potential for the death of body tissues. Parke is a Kim Kardashian fan who has spent more than 130,000 on cosmetic surgery and has appeared on TV to discuss his obsession on This Morning and Channel 4 Bodyshockers. He has had at least four nose jobs and 50 other procedures and once said: 'Plastic surgery is like sex. You can't have it once. You have to have it over and over.' Parke is a Kim Kardashian fan who has spent more than 130,000 on cosmetic surgery Parke has also appeared on TV to discuss his obsession on This Morning and Ch4 Bodyshockers Jemma Pawlyszyn works at The Studio 23 in Gloucester When he set up his business in 2017, he revealed that he would specialise in lip and cheek fillers and enhancements, as well as chemical peels and vampire facials one of Kim's favourite procedures. Yesterday evening, Alice's partner Dane Knight asked people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding her death and to be mindful around her five daughters, who are 'extremely vulnerable' at this time. In an emotional post on Facebook he wrote: 'Want to say a heart felt thank you to all family and friends that were here for us at our time of need, including all of the kind messages sent to my children and myself. 'There was some very beautiful messages sent by some of your children that formed a start of a smile from the corner of my kids mouth. 'I feel this is important saying this as I will not accept speculations from adults being accidentally being eaves dropped by children and unnecessary questions raised to the 5 girls, so be extremely careful on what you say and who's around! My children are extremely vulnerable!' Dane Knight (left) has been left devastated by the death of his partner Alice Webb (right) who died after a Brazilian Bum Lift procedure in the UK Alice (pictured) was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge and is thought to have had the procedure in the West Country Alice Webb (pictured), 33, died on Monday just hours after having the procedure Alice was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge, a market town in Gloucestershire. A GoFundMe page set up by her pal Abigail Irwin revealed the tragedy. It said: 'I am hoping to raise as many funds as we can to support Dane, the partner of Alice and their five beautiful children at this very difficult sad time. 'Alice passed away Monday evening after having the BBL treatment.' 'Alice joined the beauty & Aesthetics industry two years ago and she has been smashing it, doing amazing. 'She cared about her clients, she would always check in to see if they were OK, Alice was a beautiful person inside and out and I feel very lucky to have known her and to have spent time with her in our salon. 'Alice would ask for advice all the time and ask to check if there was anything more she could do to improve her skills but she was just a pure natural and never needed my help but always wanting to be the best at her job and that she was. Alice was just 33 when she passed away following the bum lift procedure in the UK A GoFundMe page set up for Alice, where tributes have been shared to the much-loved mother-of-five 'Alice has passed away at a young age of 33. Alice was beautiful inside and out with the biggest heart, her family was her world she is leaving behind her partner Dane & 5 beautiful children. 'Delsie 15, Preete 13, Gracie 12, Nylie 10, Clarie 7 as you can imagine this is a very difficult heart breaking time for them all so if we can all help donate or share to help take of some financial stress it would be really appreciated by the family.' The night before Alice's sudden death, she posted a photo on Facebook of a small pumpkin, which she said was a 'present' from her daughter. She added: 'How cute.' In the comments, she shared a second photo of the pumpkin, having been carved with a candle inside, and wrote: 'My little lamp.' Gloucestershire Police has confirmed it has made arrests and is investigating the death. On Wednesday despite being asked repeatedly for comment Gloucestershire Police refused to give any further details. In a country estimated to have around 124,000 lakes, America is home to the third oldest lake in the world - Lake Tahoe. And by default, the 191-square-mile body of water takes the cake for North America's oldest freshwater permanent lake. Lake Tahoe is at least 2.3 million years old, according to Winnie Kortemeier, a professor of geosciences who spoke about the ancient body of water to the Las Vegas Sun. Professor at Western Nevada College in Carson City, Kortemeier has been researching Lake Tahoe for nearly two decades. Lake Tahoe, which straddles on the border of California and Nevada, was revealed as the oldest lake in North America - placing it at 2.3 million years old, at least Winnie Kortemeier, a professor of geosciences at Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nevada, made the discovery after extensively researching Tahoe since 2005 And as recently as Monday, she presented her creation of a planetwide timeline - which used years of research and scientific data from other published research papers to compare Tahoe with other ancient lakes. That's when she shared her findings. 'It's just really hard to date a lake,' she told Las Vegas Sun. 'But in Tahoe, it's very clear what the age of the lake is. It has to be older than 2.3 million years.' She began her research of Lake Tahoe by studying volcanic rocks in the Tahoe City area. Figuring out the age of lakes is by no means a straightforward process, but she noted that Lake Tahoe is fortunate that the lava flow interacted with water - allowing the rocks to be dated. In rhw last 17 million years, Nevada has been stretched twice as wide as it started - and the lake is the first basin in this formation - with the Sierra Nevada running down its western side and the Carson range along its eastern shoreline Tahoe was created by faults - which is an uncommon phenomenon and distinct from other lakes that were created by glaciers Skylandia Beach, Commons Beach, the cliffs above the town and all the way down to Eagle Rock on the west shore are some of the spots where she collected the volcanic rocks. She had first made the discovery in 2012 after she sent five rock samples to the U.S. Geological Survey geochronology laboratory for radiometric dating. From there, she discovered that lava flows occurred in the Tahoe Basin at three separate points in time - 2.3 million years ago, 2 million years ago and 920,000 years ago. When the lava erupted, it interacted with lake water and sediments in the lake - further evidence pointing to the fact that Lake Tahoe existed at the time of the lava flows. A common misconception is that Clear Lake is considered to be the oldest lake in North America, but Kortemeier's findings dethrone that claim. Not only is Lake Tahoe the oldest lake in America, but it is placed at the third oldest lake on Earth Lake Tahoe also sits as the second deepest lake in America at its deepest point - which is 1,645 feet down Her research on continuous lake sediments found at Clear Lake puts it at 480,000 years old - significantly younger than Lake Tahoe. But she was still surprised when her research revealed Lake Tahoe as the third oldest lake on Earth. 'It's number three in the whole world, because it's really rare to have a lake form this way,' she added. She placed Lake Baikal, a lake in Siberia, as the world's oldest lake to exist - coming in at roughly 5 million to 10.3 million years old. The second oldest lake in the world, coming in just before Tahoe, is Lake Tanganyika in East Africa - estimated to be between 8 million and 10 million years old. The research for both of these lakes came from their continuous sedimentary sequence - which refers to the layers in the rock. Kortemeier placed Lake Baikal, a lake in Siberia, as the world's oldest lake to exist - coming in at roughly 5 million to 10.3 million years old Similar to Tahoe, Lake Baikal was also formed by faults All three of the lakes - Baikal, Tanganyika and Tahoe, were created by faults, Kortemeier added, which is an uncommon phenomenon and distinct from other lakes that were created by glaciers. Baikal, Tanganyika and Tahoe are all fault line lakes that carry similar characteristics to each other - long and skinny. Lake Tahoe itself is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. Tahoe's deepest area is 1,645 feet deep - making it the second deepest lake in America, next to Oregon's Crater Lake, according to Keep Tahoe Blue. 'The oldest lakes on the Earth are usually in an active fault basin, where the basin is still being actively faulted and formed,' Kortemeier added. 'So even if you put sediment in it all the time, the bottom is still being dropped down... and so the basins continue to deepen through time. And that's why you get these ancient, ancient lakes, these really old lakes.' The Tahoe Basin also has several fault lines that run underneath it, contributing to the reason why the west side of the lake is deeper than the east side. Overtime, it essentially was pulled apart by the Earth's movement. 'Nevada, in the last 17 million years, has been stretched twice as wide as it started out,' Kortemeier said. 'As that happens, the basins get dropped down. As you stretch the area wider and wider, the basins drop down along faults, and then you're thinning the crust and the mountains get raised due to the whole Great Basin.' Kortemeier's research places Lake Tanganyika in East Africa as the second oldest lake in the world - estimated to be between 8 million and 10 million years old. Just like Baikal and Tahoe, Lake Tanganyika was formed by faults which were studied using their continuous sedimentary sequence - which refers to the layers in the rock. And because Tahoe has seen volcanic activity within the past million years, it is considered dormant, not extinct or dead. Tahoe is also one of the most pure bodies of water in the world with 99.994 percent of the water pure, according to The Landing Tahoe. And as the second deepest lake in America, the amount of water in the lake is enough to supply each person in the U.S. with 50 gallons of water per day for five years. If you could take all the water out of Tahoe and pour it into an area that mirrors the size of California, the water would still be 14 inches deep. Roughly eight million people live less than a half-day's drive from the Tahoe basin, Keep Tahoe Blue reported. Consisting of 12 ski resorts and beautiful views that have been featured as locations for popular films throughout the years, Lake Tahoe is a landmark in the country. And now, it's the grandfather of American lakes. An armed forces veteran has claimed he has been left 18,500 out of pocket after a building firm carried out a botched job at his home. Former RAF serviceman Brian Jameson spent his life savings on work to fix a leaky roof after buying a mid-terraced house in Glasgow, Scotland, at the end of last year. But the 54-year-old claims First Roofing and Building Services cut corners on the repairs, with visible gaps between the tiles and his chimney left leaking water, and decided to take them to court. The firm has now been ordered by a judge to pay 5112 in compensation to Brian following a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court in August. However, First Roofing and Building Services are now said to be appealing the award and are bidding to have the case recalled, while Brian says he now faces having to fork out thousands more to bring the house back up to scratch. Former RAF serviceman Brian Jameson has claimed he has been left 18,500 out of pocket amid claims a building firm carried out a botched job at his home. Brian (pictured outside his house) spent his life savings on work to fix a leaky roof after buying a mid-terraced house in Glasgow , Scotland, at the end of last year Brian told the Glasgow Times: 'I bought the mid-terraced property at the end of last year and noticed water ingress in the loft not long after moving in. 'It's an older property so I decided to get it sorted out and contacted the company based on their good online reviews. 'They seemed to know exactly what needed to be done and I felt comfortable that they would do a good job. 'I was quoted 18,500 and after being sent the statement of work I paid in full in cash, a decision which I deeply regret now as I was never given a VAT receipt or any guarantee.' Brian says that alarm bells started ringing with him almost as soon as workmen arrived on the job. He explained: 'Within a day the scaffolding was up and they went around my house like a tornado. 'The place was left in a state and the roof had visible gaps, causing further water damage to the interior.' The 54-year-old (pictured) claims the firm cut corners on the repairs, with visible gaps between the tiles and his chimney left leaking water, and decided to take them to court Brian claims there were no nails in sections of the roof tiles, battens were left sticking upwards with no counters or clips on the vents. He also says that old lead was reused, and the chimney was left leaking water.' He added: 'The list went on and on and it was clear they had cut corners.' Brian claims that despite lodging repeated complaints with the company, he was forced to wait months before anyone was sent out to remedy the problems. He said: 'The work was carried out in the January, and it took until May before anyone arrived to sort the issues. 'The guys they sent arrived without what I felt was proper safety equipment for working on the roof and I felt I had to ask them to leave as I was worried about their safety. 'I just couldn't believe what I was seeing and had no confidence that the issues would be resolved.' The frustrated former RAF serviceman says he was left with no alternative but to take legal action against the firm, with a judge ordering the four-figure payout after a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court on August 22. Brian said: 'I used my life savings to pay for this work and it has caused me no end of stress and upset. 'I just can't believe the position I've been left in, and the reality is it's going to cost me thousands and thousands to get my home brought back up to a reasonable standard. The firm has now been ordered by a judge to pay 5112 in compensation to Brian following a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court (pictured) in August 'I just don't have that sort of money; I trusted this company to do a good job and feel badly let down.' A spokesperson for the Kirkintilloch-based firm told the Glasgow Times that they tried on two separate occasions to attend and carry out the necessary repairs. They added: 'We have successfully been in business for many years with a large number of satisfied customers who have come back to us. 'We do our best and like to think we offer good value and workmanship. 'With a large job like this, it is sometimes inevitable that issues of snagging occur. It is rare, but it does happen occasionally. 'If and when that happens, our policy is to return to remedy the issue as soon as possible. We attempted to do so twice in this case, but Mr Jameson then raised a court action which frustrated that. 'We have now instructed our solicitor to apply to recall the decree in absence on the basis that we have a valid defence and intend to defend the action robustly. 'As this now relates to an on-going court case, we are not able to comment much further on the merits of that action until it is concluded.' Chinese researchers isolate anti-HIV antibody from alpacas Xinhua) 10:16, September 26, 2024 NANJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese research team has isolated an antibody from alpacas that can effectively inhibit HIV, providing a promising avenue for the development of new anti-AIDS drugs. The findings were recently published in the international academic journal Nature Communications. Antiretroviral therapy is currently the primary clinical approach to inhibiting HIV replication, according to Wu Zhiwei, professor at the School of Medicine, Nanjing University. While this treatment effectively extends the lifespan of patients, it may lead to significant drug resistance in the virus. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new therapies, said Wu, who is also a co-corresponding author of the research. The primary approach in the clinical development of new anti-AIDS drugs targets the process by which the virus enters host cells. In this process, a receptor known as CD4 acts as a "doorknob," which the virus utilizes to open the cell's "door." The researcher team isolated thousands of CD4 nanobodies (a smaller, more stable type of antibody) from alpacas, of which Nb457 showed the potential to inhibit HIV. They built a series of pseudoviruses to simulate 117 HIV strains and caused them to interact with Nb457. The results showed that Nb457 effectively inhibited 116 virus strains, showing good broad-spectrum and antiviral activity. In true virus tests, the trimeric nanobodies engineered from Nb457 have demonstrated potent inhibition of HIV, said Wu Xilin, a researcher at the School of Medicine, Nanjing University, another co-corresponding author of the research. The results of mice experiments also showed that the virus was almost undetectable in the treated mice, and no drug-resistant mutations were found, Wu said. HIV mutates rapidly and is prone to drug resistance, leading to a decline in drug efficacy, according to Wu. The newly discovered antibody does not target the virus itself but the "doorknob" CD4, making it less likely to induce drug resistance in the virus and offering significant implications for the development of new anti-AIDS drugs and clinical treatment, Wu said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) From left: London Breed, Kamala Harris and Pamela Price Laura McDermott / Special to The Chronicle / Yoshi James / The Chronicle / Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price have two things in common: Both are invoking Vice President Kamala Harris signature line from her presidential campaign: Were not going back. Both share another trait: Neither is likely to be endorsed by Harris, the former San Francisco district attorney, Oakland native and Alameda County prosecutor. While a VP nod could provide both candidates a jolt given Harris rising popularity among Democrats, young people, women and Black voters, doing so could be too politically treacherous for Harris. Nevertheless, Breed invoked Harris when she dropped one of the vice presidents most popular campaign speech staples during her closing remarks at this months Chronicle/KQED-sponsored mayoral debate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Do we agree on everything that I do? I understand that we have had challenges in the past, Breed said. But you know that I know how to do this job. I will always put this city first. And like our vice president has said, Were not going back. Price, who is facing a recall in November two years into her term, uses the phrase We wont go back/Vote No on Recall on yard signs. Harris has been using the line We are not going back in campaign speeches since shortly after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid on July 23. It refers to the desire not to return to a Donald Trump presidency. The Harris campaign did not respond to multiple requests about whether its comfortable with other candidates using the phrase or if Harris plans to endorse either. Endorsing either would invite a reprise of two of Trumps well-worn if confusing and often contradictory attacks on Comrade Harris as a San Francisco radical. If Harris endorsed Breed, Trump would undoubtedly pounce, accusing Harris of backing the leader of what Trump and the conservative media echo chamber call the failed city of San Francisco. Then again, according to Trumps warped sense of time, Harris had already destroyed San Francisco during her stint as its district attorney 2003-2010, long before Breed became mayor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump cant be trusted to know what year it is. Last month, he said in an interview that San Francisco was the best city in our country 20 years ago, Or, for those consulting the Gregorian calendar, a year into Harris first term as district attorney. By Trumps logic, to use the term generously, San Francisco was both the best city in our country and destroyed at the same time. The lure to endorse Breed is likely strong for Harris, as the mayor and the vice president have a long mentor-mentee relationship. Harris, then Californias attorney general, swore Breed into office after she was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2013, and delivered a congratulatory message via video when Breed was inaugurated as mayor in 2018. Breed said the two met when Harris was working with an organization called Partners Ending Domestic Abuse during her stint as a prosecutor in Alameda County. They got to know each other better when Harris came to San Francisco to work in the city attorneys office, Breed said. Their friendship continues. Harris gave Breed a candle for her 50th birthday in August when Harris swung through San Francisco for a $12 million fundraiser. Breed interviewed Harris onstage about her newly published memoir in January 2019, shortly before Harris started her first presidential campaign. Harris has given her advice and counsel over their years in office, and Breed said Harris has told her she can call at any time. Yet Breed is clear-eyed about the political realities Harris faces in deciding whether to endorse her or any local candidate. Of course, I want her endorsement, Breed told me before the Democratic National Convention in July. I know I have her support. But theyre going to do what they need to do strategically around making endorsements for candidates. Because, you know, once you open it up the floodgates (will open up), and Im pretty sure theyre gonna, you know, make their decisions from a wider perspective, whether its the swing states that we need to focus on, and, you know, my race and others that she has relationships with. So well see. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Price is far less likely to get a nod from Harris for a couple of reasons. First, doing so would enable Republicans to tie Harris to high crime rates in Oakland. Harris campaign has avoided highlighting her Oakland and Berkeley roots, for fear it conjures up dusty images of radical protesters. Second, Republicans would link Harris, who has sought to carve out an image as a tough prosecutor in her duel with Trump, with Price, who is part of a wave of progressive prosecutors elected nationwide over the past few years, many of whom have been supported by wealthy progressive donor George Soros, a conservative bogeyman. The NHS is not set up to root out bad apples, an expert told the Lucy Letby inquiry today. Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, an expert in healthcare improvement at Cambridge University, said the health service had developed a no blame approach for dealing with medical errors or accidents over the past 25 years in a bid to improve. But, a consequence, hospitals struggle to identify bad apples individual staff members who display incompetent, abusive, bullying or even criminal behaviour, including murder - as a threat to patient safety, she said. Bad apples are people who demonstrate grossly incompetent or substandard clinical practice, she said. They demonstrate unacceptable behaviours, which might include things like abuse, bullying, racism or disrespectful or negligent care or transgressive behaviours, behaviours that are so transgressive they reach the threshold for criminality and that might include murder, assault, rape and other violations. Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole life sentence, with no prospect of parole, after being convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, an expert in healthcare improvement at Cambridge University, has said the NHS is not built to root out 'bad apples' due to its 'no blame' culture Teams that have a bad apple in them perform much less well, they express much more anxiety, they demonstrate huge effects, in terms of group cohesion. Its really important to deal with the bad apple problem, but Im not sure the way the NHS is set up at the moment is able to do that as effectively as it needs to. Letby, 34, is serving a whole life tariff after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others on the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, between June 2015 and June 2016. Professor Dixon-Woods highlighted the cases of killer GP Harold Shipman and Beverley Allitt, the nurse found guilty of murdering four children and attacking nine others at Grantham Hospital, in Lincolnshire, in 1991, to explain how difficult it is for the NHS to spot a member of staff is causing harm. She said the doctor who first suspected Allitt was initially treated as having fanciful ideas and not treated seriously. nstead the deaths and collapses in Grantham were initially put down to poor staffing and the poor hospital environment. It wasnt until doctors at a neighbouring hospital in Nottingham, which had received several children from Grantham after they fell ill, raised the alarm that Allitt was eventually identified as the bad apple or culprit, she said. The expert said the NHS had developed a no blame approach for dealing with medical errors or accidents over the past 25 years in a bid to improve (Pictured: A drawing of Letby at trial) Letby is one of only four women - which includes, Rose West, Myra Hindley, and Joanna Dennehy - who have been told they will never be released from prison (Pictured: Letby's arrest) Professor Dixon-Woods told Lady Justice Thirlwall, who is overseeing the inquiry into Letbys crimes, that it was extremely difficult for someone to voice concerns about possible malevolent acts. She said they may be met with the credibility gap a phenomenon that occurs when the issue is so extraordinarily egregious that it is difficult to believe that someone could have committed it. Professor Dixon-Woods also said there is currently no clear or specific procedure for NHS hospital managers to follow once suspicions are raised about an employee causing deliberate harm to patients. She told the hearing, sitting in Liverpool, that a framework was needed for clarity when whistleblowers come forward with concerns. What I would really like to see is a framework for handling transgressive behaviour that offers clarity in terms of procedures and processes to be followed, Professor Dixon-Woods said. I keep emphasising that these are not there (at present) in the way that we would hope for. Organisations need clarity about the steps they need to follow. She said families of Letbys victims ought to be involved in the design of any such framework. Doctors at the Countess say that they repeatedly flagged concerns about a spike in deaths on the neo-natal unit to hospital bosses but their concerns were dismissed and not acted upon. The inquiry has been told executives will dispute exactly when they were told specifically that Letby was being linked to any foul play. Professor Dixon-Woods also said the NHS is not good at dealing with bullying up the concept of junior staff bullying more senior colleagues by making formal complaints or grievances against them. The neo-natal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked Rachel Langdale KC, counsel for the inquiry, asked: Because we are ready to see the doctors as the ones who are arrogant, but not ready to think other groups are combative or difficult. Professor Dixon-Woods replied: I think thats fair. The criminal trial was told that after Letby was removed from frontline nursing, in July 2016, she launched a grievance against the hospital. It was upheld and managers ordered consultants to write a letter of apology to Letby, who was advised preparations would be made for her to return to the unit. It was only because consultants continued to object and insisted police were called in that this never happened. A German detective has provided an update on the claims against the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, confirming some of the bombshell revelations an ex-prisoner made about the suspected perpetrator earlier this week. Convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Brueckner is the man who German investigators believe abducted and killed Madeleine, then aged just three, from her parents' holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007. Yesterday at Braunschweig Regional Court, Larentius Codin, a former inmate in the same prison as Brueckner, made shocking claims that the suspect had told him about various rapes. He was giving evidence in Brueckner's trial for a series of sex offences unrelated to Maddie's disappearance. Codin, 50, claimed that Brueckner had boasted of raping young girls in a bus near Hanover, and also abducting a child from an apartment in Portugal, then driving away with her. He also claimed Brueckner had asked about whether sniffer dogs could detect children's bones hidden under the earth. Christian Brueckner (C) is brought to the courtroom for a session of his trial at court in Braunschweig, northern Germany, on September 25, 2024 Madeleine McCann (pictured) went missing on May 3, 2007 at the age of just three. She has never been found. German criminal Christian Brueckner has been named by German prosecutors as their chief suspect in her disappearance Christian Brueckner, 47, is currently serving a seven-year sentence for the rape of a US pensioner in 2005 and drug trafficking, and is also the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Speaking in Braunschweig today, detective Niko Mueller confirmed that some of the allegations Codin made in court earlier this week matched those he disclosed when questioned back in August 2020. Mueller, 35, is an investigator with the BKA, Germany's equivalent of the FBI, that has conducted investigations into the case. 'We had him named as a possible contact to Christian Brueckner, so we were able to establish he was in prison and so we approached him in this capacity,' the detective said. 'He was told what it was about, we said was a murder case involving Madeleine McCann and that there was a suspect, Christian and we wanted to talk to him about that. 'At first he talked about Christian Brueckner having asked him if he could sort him out with a fake passport and driving licence, as he said it would be good for Brueckner if he goes back to Portugal. 'But later he reported that Christian Brueckner had committed rapes in Hanover at this moment I hadn't heard of this before.' Mueller also confirmed that Codin had said Brueckner committed several rapes in Portugal. 'He talked about two rapes in Portugal. He said that one was a 70-year-old woman in a hotel and that another woman had been raped in Portugal.' There were however elements of Codin's testimony this week that the BKA had not heard. When it came to the issue of Brueckner having raped girls in a bus in Hanover, or of 'taking' them for a few days and then letting them go, officer Mueller said that Codin had not previously revealed this information to authorities. 'No, this not reported to me like this,' he said. He also said that Codin had not discussed anything about Brueckner having supposedly broken into an apartment in Portugal to find money and gold, or that he had instead found a child which he then took and drove off with, before asking about whether dogs could sniff out the DNA of children's bones hidden under the ground. German investigators sensationally named Brueckner as the key suspect in the abduction of the British three-year-old Kate and Gerry McCann pose with a computer generated image of how their missing daughter Madeleine might look now, during a news conference in 2012 Pictured: The holiday complex where the McCanns were staying in Portugal's Algarve region in May 2007, when their three-year-old daughter vanished without a trace There are strong indications that Brueckner will be acquitted of the offences he currently faces. The only way German authorities could then keep him in prison would be if the court's forensic psychiatric expert, Dr Christian Riedemann, deems him 'dangerous' for society. So far the presiding judge, Uta Inse Engemann, who the prosecution has already tried to have removed on the basis that she is allegedly biased in favour of the defence, has already stated that there is no longer 'sufficient suspicion of guilt for all of the charges', strongly indicating that he is likely to be acquitted. But if Brueckner is acquitted, the prosecution could then move to initiate 'preventative detention', whereby criminals deemed to pose a threat to society are kept in prison. Tomorrow will be the second time that Dr Riedemann gives an assessment of Christian Brueckner's personality. On day 33 of the trial, he also did this, first discussing an introduction of scientific research on sadistic offenders, and arguing that their main motivation is not sex, but rather power. Here he said that sadists enjoy humiliating their victims, physically hurting them, tying them up and subjugating them. Brueckner has never been formally charged in relation to Madeleine's disappearance and has always strongly denied any involvement. A major security incident has impacted some of Britain's biggest railway stations, with major terminals and commuter hubs affected today. Passengers logging into Wi-Fi networks at 19 stations across the UK reported seeing an 'Islamophobic' message about terror attacks in Europe, before the service was subsequently taken offline. Network Rail confirmed that several stations - used by millions of passengers every day across the UK - were impacted. Wi-Fi at the stations is controlled by a third-party provider named Telent, which has revealed an 'unauthorised change' was made to the landing page by a 'legitimate administrator account' for Global Reach, the provider of the Wi-Fi landing page. Is a station you use regularly to commute affected by the Network Rail cyber attack? Read on below for the full list of stations that have been impacted. A major security incident has impacted some of Britain's biggest railway stations , with major termini and commuter hubs being affected (File image) Full list of all Network Rail stations impacted by cyber attack Birmingham New Street Bristol Temple Meads Clapham Junction Edinburgh Waverley Glasgow Central Guildford Leeds Liverpool Lime Street London Bridge London Cannon Street London Charing Cross London Euston London Kings Cross London Liverpool Street London Paddington London Victoria London Waterloo; Manchester Piccadilly Reading The Menendez brothers have agreed to participate in their own Netflix documentary after their family slammed the streaming service for its series that dramatized the brutal murders of their parents. Netflix's documentary will feature phone interviews with Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted and sentenced to life with no parole for shooting their mother and father, Jose and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez. This is the first time the brothers, who were 22 and 19 at the time of the 1989 murders, are telling their story together outside of a courtroom. They will call in from Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, 150 miles south of where the murders occurred in their parents' $5 million Beverly Hills home. 'What happened that night is very well known, but so much hasn't been told,' one of the brothers is heard saying in the documentary's trailer. Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit in Beverly Hills Municipal Court on March 12, 1990, several months after the murder of their parents Monsters, created by Ryan Murphy, tells the chilling tale of Menendez brothers Erik (played by Cooper Koch, right) and Lyle (played by Nicholas Chavez, left) who killed their parents in 1989 In the new documentary, Erik (left) and Lyle (right) will call in from prison, where they've been since they were convicted in 1996 At their divisive retrial in 1996 - they were first tried separately in trials that both ended with hung juries - the brothers claimed their parents were abusive, especially their father, who they said sexually abused them throughout their childhood. Older brother Lyle also testified that their father had molested Erik when they were children. While many believe justice was served for the cold-blooded murders of their parents - with prosecutors arguing the motive was money - others are sympathetic to the brothers' claims of lifelong abuse. This comes as Ryan Murphy's 'Monsters,' the Netflix drama that revisited the Menendez case, got harsh reviews from the family after it was released on September 19. It stars Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny as the Menendez parents, and Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as their sons. Extended members of the Menendez family released a scathing statement criticizing the new series - which is number one on Netflix's global top ten. Co-signed and shared on X by Erik's wife, Tammi Menendez, the brothers' aunt Joan VanderMolen summed up the family's sentiments. In this family photo, Lyle flanks Kitty Menendez, while Erik stands behind Jose Menendez VanderMolen's statement read: 'We are virtually the entire extended family of Erik and Lyle Menendez. We are 24 strong and today we want the world to know we support Erik and Lyle. We know them, love them, and want them home with us.' She went on to accuse the series of painting a false narrative, calling it a 'phobic, gross, anachronistic, serial episodic nightmare' that neglects recent revelations the family claims would exonerate the brothers. Contrary to Murphy's claim of extensive research, VanderMolen claims the family was never consulted during the production of the show. The thing that possibly angered the family the most were scenes depicting the brothers in an incestuous homoerotic relationship. 'The character assassination of Erik and Lyle, under the guise of a "storytelling narrative," is repulsive. We know what went on in their home and the unimaginably turbulent lives they have endured,' VanderMolen wrote. Erik himself also released a statement slamming Murphy for the show's 'horrible and blatant lies.' 'I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show. I can only believe they were done so on purpose. 'It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent,' he wrote. Murphy was been blasted for making brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez kiss in the series The shocking moment unfolds in the show's second episode, titled Spree Murphy (pictured) shot back at critics of the show, and said he felt it was important to 'present he points of view and theories from so many people who were involved in the case' Murphy shot back this week, saying: 'I think its interesting that hes issued a statement without having seen the show.' 'Its really, really hard if its your life to see your life up on screen,' he said. The showrunner also dismissed claims from viewers that he overlooked the alleged abuse inflicted on the brothers in favor of running with a forbidden romance plot. 'The thing that I find interesting that he doesnt mention in his quote, is if you watch the show, I would say 60 to 65 percent of our show in the scripts and in the film form center around the abuse and what they claim happened to them,' he said. Netflix's documentary will premiere on October 7, and is only the latest retelling of the infamous case that captured the nation's attention throughout much of the 1990s. Fox and CBS aired TV movies about the murders in 1994, Lifetime ran 'Menendez: Blood Brothers' in 2017 and NBC's 'Law & Order: True Crime' also focused on the case. Peacocks 2023 documentary 'Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed' featured Roy Rossello, a former member of boy band Menudo, who claimed Jose Menendez sexually assaulted him as a teenager. A doctor accused of performing STD tests on Mohammed Al Fayed's employees has been seen for the first time since new claims of rape and sexual assault were made by multiple women against the late billionaire. Dr Ann Coxon, who still has a licence to practise medicine, carried out 'wholly unnecessary' medical examinations, according to a survivor known as Natacha who claimed she now had questions to answer. The doctor allegedly did the tests at her Harley Street clinic in London on behalf of the then-Harrods boss before the results were then shared with him. The allegations were aired in a BBC documentary last Thursday but today was the first time Dr Coxon has been pictured in public since then. The doctor, who was spotted leaving her flat in Notting Hill, west London, was asked whether she had carried out STD tests on the late Al Fayed's female employees, to which she responded: 'No, I did not.' Dr Ann Coxon, who has been accused of performing STD tests on Mohammed Al Fayed's employees, has been seen today leaving her home in Notting Hill, west London Five women have alleged they were raped by Mohamed Al Fayed, who died last year aged 94 A general view of the Harrods department store in Knightsbridge in London last Friday - Fayed is said to have carried out many of the alleged assaults while owner of the business The medical professional, who converted to the faith of Islam and occasionally goes by Amina, answered 'no', when asked if she regretted working for the ex-Harrods boss by The Mirror. As she walked home from her car in Notting Hill, she was also questioned if she would like to an extend an apology to the billionaire's alleged victims, to which she stated: 'I have no comment to make.' The victim Natacha, part of the Justice for Harrods survivors group, has told the BBC: 'The examinations carried out by Dr Coxon were intrusive and wholly unnecessary. 'They also resulted in many employees', including my own, confidential medical information being inappropriately shared within Harrods. This should not have happened.' Many of the women who appeared at the bombshell BBC documentary and podcast 'Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods' revealed that they underwent medicals including invasive sexual health tests when they began working for the department store. They are now planning a formal complaint to the General Medical Council (GMC) to investigate the allegations made in the documentary. Dr Coxon who was also disgraced publicist Max Clifford's physician - qualified from Guy's Hospital Medical School in 1963 and has run her medical practice on Harley Street since 1982. Another doctor who was claimed to have carried out the tests was a Wendy Snell, who died two years ago aged 64. Dr Ann Coxon has not commented since the claims were made in a BBC investigation last week She allegedly carried out 'wholly unnecessary' medical tests on Al Fayed's staff An Al Fayed survivor known only as Natacha says Dr Coxon now has questions to answer Natacha hugs American lawyer Gloria Allred at a press conference in London last Friday Three of Mr Al Fayed's accusers (left to right) Katherine (no surname given), Lindsay Mason and Gemma (no surname given), pose for a photograph after a press conference last Friday A new BBC documentary says the Egyptian-born businessman - who died in London aged 94 last August - carried out the attacks while Harrods boss between 1984 and its sale in 2010 The corporation says more than 20 female former workers at Harrods have come forward to accuse Al Fayed (pictured) of sexual abuse The GMC confirmed to MailOnline today that Dr Coxon was registered with a licence to practise, which is publicly-available information on the medical register. A spokeswoman added: 'The alleged sexual abuse conducted by Mohamed Al Fayed against multiple women is horrifying. 'The allegations relating to medical staff working for Mr Al Fayed are deeply concerning. 'If we identify any potential fitness to practise concerns about individual doctors, we will thoroughly examine all relevant information and take action as appropriate.' The GMC has the power to look into historical incidents when the allegations meet its threshold for investigation and the body deems it in the public interest to do so. Former GMC chief executive Niall Dixon said doctors in the UK should not share a patient's information without their consent, and even when this is disclosed to an employer it was 'usually very restricted'. Mohamed Al Fayed pictured with his wife Heini Wathen in 2016. The couple had four children Former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women including one, Gemma, who worked as his personal assistant between 2007 and 2009 Mohamed Al Fayed pictured alongside Diana, Princess of Wales at a charity event held at Harrods in London in 1996 Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods and Fulham FC, is seen here in 2018 On the allegations against Al Fayed, Mr Dixon told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there was 'no justification whatsoever for revealing a patient's information, for example to the chairman of a company'. He added that doctors reading about the claims would be 'utterly horrified because trust is at the absolute centre of that doctor-patient relationship'. Five women claim they were raped by Al Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94, with a number of others alleging sexual misconduct. The Crown Prosecution Service twice decided not to prosecute him after reviewing files of evidence presented by the police. Evidence was shown to the CPS in 2009 and 2015, but it decided not to go ahead with the prosecution because there was not 'a realistic prospect of conviction'. A legal team representing alleged victims confirmed on Saturday that they have 'had over 150 new inquiries' since the airing of the BBC documentary. The Duchess of Edinburgh has opened a UK winery co-run by global champagne firm Taittinger in a unique collaboration. Duchess Sophie joined co-founders Patrick McGrath MW and Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger in Chilham, Kent, today at the official opening ceremony. The vineyard Domaine Evremond was founded in 2015 and became the first time that a major Champagne house had invested in land in the United Kingdom with the ambition of producing a top-quality sparkling wine. At the event, the first edition of Domaine Evremond's Classic Cuvee was presented by The Taittinger family - who have been involved in Champagne House for nearly a century. It comes after it was revealed that the Duchess is doubling her number of royal engagements amid the King's cancer treatment and Kate Middleton's slow return to duties. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has opened the Domaine Evremond Winery The Duchess, left, at the opening of the winery on September 26 in Canterbury, England From left to right: Vitalie Taittinger, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Patrick McGrath The trio unveil the plaque at the opening ceremony of the UK winery in Kent The vineyard Domaine Evremond was founded all the way back in 2015 McGrath, the Founder and CEO of Hatch Mansfield, takes a stroll with Sophie The Duchess also revealed a commemorative plaque which was laid at the entrance to the winery where guests like The Lord Lieutenant of Kent and The Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy were also in attendance. On the opening, Patrick McGrath MW said: 'Domaine Evremond has been more than 10 years in the making. 'It has been an incredible and exciting journey for all the team, and the driving force throughout has always been that of friendship.' Vitalie Taittinger added: 'I feel blessed to have inherited this amazing adventure from my father, along with the friendship at its core. 'We would not be where we are today without Patrick's incredible hard work bringing the vision for Domaine Evremond to life, cementing the many layers of Anglo-French history and friendship behind this project.' The Domaine Evremond's Classic Cuvee will be released for sale in spring 2025. The winery is a unique partnership between Taittinger, one of France's best-known houses, and their UK partner, Hatch Mansfield. The Duchess of Edinburgh smells one of the wines during a visit to the vineyard This is the first time that a major Champagne house has invested in land in the United Kingdom The site is made up of 125 hectares of land, including 60 hectares of vineyards On the opening, Patrick McGrath, pictured with Sophie, said: 'Domaine Evremond has been more than 10 years in the making' Sophie and Vitalie Taittinger share an embrace during the official opening The Domaine Evremond's Classic Cuvee will be released for sale in spring 2025 Vitalie Taittinger said: 'I feel blessed to have inherited this amazing adventure from my father, along with the friendship at its core' It marks the first time a Champagne house has invested directly in English sparkling wine The winery is a unique partnership between Taittinger, one of France's best-known houses, and their UK partner, Hatch Mansfield The Cellar Door will open to the public when the wine is released in spring 2025 The Duchess recently revealed she is doubling her number of royal engagements amid the King's cancer treatment McGrath said: 'It has been an incredible and exciting journey for all the team, and the driving force throughout has always been that of friendship' It marks the first time a Champagne house has invested directly in English sparkling wine. The site is made up of 125 hectares of land, including 60 hectares of vineyards, and a 'state of the art' winery - which promises to have sustainability at its fore. The winery is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and had its first vines planted by Taittinger in 2017. The Cellar Door will open to the public when the wine is released in spring 2025. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty has admitted that the government may have overstated the danger of Covid at the start of the pandemic. At least 235,000 Brits are thought to have been killed by the virus since the pandemic began, with further fatalities caused by the disruption to the NHS and regular screening for health issues like cancer. Prof Whitty told the inquiry that the government 'tried' to do their best and 'tweeted, we talked over the podium and so on'. During a discussion on long Covid, he said he still worries about whether the Government got 'the level of concern' right about the dangers in the beginning. Prof Whitty went on to hedge: 'Whether we pushed too strongly on the messages the risks of Covid, I think that's a much harder one, actually. 'I was worried at the beginning. I still worry, actually in retrospect, about whether we got the level of concern right,' he said. 'Were we either over pitching it so that people were incredibly afraid of something where in fact, their actuarial risk was low, or we were not pitching it enough and therefore people didn't realise the risk they were walking into.' Chief medical officer Chris Whitty has admitted that the government may have overstated the danger of Covid at the start of the pandemic The National Covid Memorial Wall, a public mural painted by volunteers to commemorate the victims of the pandemic Chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty leaving after giving a statement to the Covid-19 Inquiry Speaking at the probe in London today, Professor Whitty was asked by the inquiry counsel: 'Do you think that we got the balance right between telling people the NHS was open, but equally, protect the NHS, save lives, stay at home? What do you think about that balance?' He replied: 'I don't think there was ever going to be a perfect balance on this one. I am confident what we didn't do, was to identify over and over again - you couldn't say it too often - that the NHS is open, in particular if it's an urgent and emergency life threatening situation, you must go to hospital, as you usually would. 'And there is reasonable evidence, in my view, for example, that the number of people who came into hospital with heart attacks was lower than you'd predict, I don't anticipate there's any reason that had been fewer. 'So some of those people were staying at home, who otherwise would not have done, and they would have had remediable conditions. 'So the bit of it, which is, did we get it across that people should still go to hospital? I think we didn't get it across well enough. 'We tried, I know we tweeted, we talked over the podium and so on. Whether we pushed too strongly on the messages the risks of Covid, I think that's a much harder one, actually.' A person paints on The National Covid Memorial Wall, dedicated to those who lost their lives to Covid-19, At least 235,000 people died due to Covid-19, according to estimates (Pictured: Covid testing) Professor Whitty said shielding was both beneficial and harmful but he is 'unsure' if shielding should be used as a measure to protect clinically vulnerable people in future pandemics. When questioned over the effectiveness of shielding, Prof Whitty said: 'I think it was beneficial in one way, harming another way, and uncertain in a third.' Asked if he would consider a similar approach in a future pandemic, he added: 'There are two things I would definitely do. I think shielding, I'm unsure about, it would depend on the situation. 'I definitely think that the risk classification is really important because there are many other things that flow from them. And indeed, you don't know what will flow from them always when you do it. 'And secondly, I do think it's important to put in place a mechanism to support people who rationally have chosen to take themselves out of society, to better their ability to protect themselves. 'Whether the particular approach to shielding we took is an appropriate one to use, again, in respiratory infection, I honestly don't know.' People, stop at the National Covid Memorial Wall in central London, during a Walk of Memories Prof Whitty also criticised the Great Barrington Declaration as making 'no medical sense'. The open letter was published in the autumn of 2020 and argued lockdowns could be avoided by shielding the most vulnerable and allowing others to become infected in a bid to achieve herd immunity. Prof Whitty said: 'The Great Barrington Declaration approach, where you say you can shield the vulnerable and leave everyone else makes no medical sense, because shielding someone from a respiratory infection is extraordinarily difficult to do. 'People tried really, really hard here. 'Part of the logic of shielding was we knew that, inevitably, there would be infections at a higher rate in hospital and out of it, and part of the point was to ensure that people who are the greatest risk didn't go into hospital at the point of the peak of the epidemic.' Professor Sir Chris Whitty has told the Covid-19 probe that there was never going to be 'perfect balance' when it came to stay at home messaging during the pandemic. The world's longest serving death row inmate was captured enjoying a fruit salad and a head massage from his sister after a Japanese court found the 88-year-old former boxer not guilty on Thursday more than half a century after his 1968 murder conviction. Footage captured this morning shows Iwao Hakamada leaving the Shizouka District Court following his victory, while another clip shows the man enjoying a fruit salad in his home in Hamamatsu. He was also filmed alongside his elder sister, Hikedo, who tenderly gave him a head massage as he munched on his snack. Hakamada had spent 48 years behind bars after he was convicted of murder in the brutal 1966 killing of an executive and three of his family members, setting fire to their home in central Japan. More than 45 years were spent on death row - making him the world's longest-serving death row inmate, according to the Amnesty International. Footage captured this morning shows Iwao Hakamada enjoying a plate of fruit at his home in Hamamatsu following his acquittal Iwao's elder sister Hikedo was captured giving him a head massage following today's victory The Shizuoka District Court ruled that 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada was not guilty in a retrial obtained by the former boxer and his supporters a decade ago His acquittal comes after a retrial obtained by the former boxer and his supporters a decade ago, making him the fifth death row inmate to be found not guilty in a retrial in postwar Japan, where prosecutors have a more than 99% conviction rate. The court found that evidence was fabricated and planted by investigators and that Hakamada was not the culprit, his lawyer Hideyo Ogawa said. After the ruling and an explanation were read out, his 91-year-old sister walked out of the courthouse with a big smile, as she was welcomed by cheers and two big bouquets of flowers to celebrate the acquittal of her brother after the 58-year legal battle. 'Thank you, everyone, we won an acquittal,' she told a televised news conference. 'When I heard the main sentence, it sounded almost divine. I was so touched and could not stop crying with joy.' He was sentenced to death in 1968, but was not executed due to the lengthy appeal and retrial process in Japan's notoriously slow-paced criminal justice system. The lawyer also said the defense team is considering filing a suit against the government, in part to learn more about the troubled investigation. If prosecutors do not appeal and his acquittal is finalized, Hakamada would be entitled to seek compensation. It took 27 years for the top court to deny his first appeal for retrial. His second appeal for a retrial was filed in 2008 by his sister. That request was granted in 2014, when a court ruled there was evidence suggesting he was wrongly accused. He was not cleared of the conviction, but he was released from prison and allowed to await retrial at home because his poor health and age made him a low risk for escape. Footage captured this morning shows Iwao Hakamada leaving the Shizouka District Court following his victory, while another clip shows the man enjoying a fruit salad in his home in Hamamatsu Iwao Hakamada pictured with his sister in 2014 Shizuoka District Court ruled that 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada (pictured today) was not guilty in a retrial obtained by the former boxer and his supporters a decade ago Hideko Hakamada (centre), sister of Iwao Hakamada (not pictured), and lawyers pose with a white banner reading 'Iwao Hakamada not guilty verdict' as she leaves the Shizuoka District Court in Shizuoka on September 26, 2024 Hideko (centre) smiles as a supporter holds up a sign (right) reading 'Iwao Hakamada acquitted of all charges' after the retrial before the Shizuoka District Court in Shizuoka, Japan Outside the court, Hakamada's supporters held flags and banners calling for a not-guilty verdict But the case continued to bounce among several courts, until one finally ruled in his favor in 2023, paving the way for the latest retrial that began in October. Following his arrest, Hakamada initially denied the accusations, but then confessed. He later said his confession was forced during a violent interrogation by police. 'I have nothing to do with the case - I am innocent,' he wrote in his letter to his mother while on trial in 1967. On Thursday, the court concluded that five pieces of bloodstained clothing that investigators claimed to have found hidden in a tank of fermented soybean paste, or miso, a year after Hakamada's arrest must have been put there long after the arrest. The court cited scientific experiments that showed the bloodstains should not have been visible on clothing soaked in miso for a year. The ruling concluded that investigators, who had said Hakamada wore the clothes during the crime, had applied the bloodstains themselves and planted the clothing. According to defense lawyers and earlier court rulings, the blood samples did not match Hakamada's DNA, and trousers that prosecutors submitted as evidence were too small for him. Thursday's ruling also blamed the prosecutors for forcing Hakamada into a false confession because of an 'inhumane' interrogation. Ogawa, Hakamada's lawyer, praised the ruling as 'groundbreaking' for clearly stating that the prosecution fabricated key evidence at the beginning. 'I believe this ruling puts an end to the case. ... Now we must prevent prosecutors from appealing no matter what.' Hakamada (second right) leaves the Shizuoka District Court in Shizuoka on September 26 'For so long, we have fought a battle that has felt endless,' Hideko (pictured) had told reporters in July Hideko Hakamada (R), sister of Iwao Hakamada (not pictured) leaves the Shizuoka District Court in Shizuoka Iwao Hakamada holding a cat in his home in Hamamatsu today After Hakamada was sentenced to death, he expressed fear and anger at being falsely accused. 'When I go to sleep in soundless solitary cell every night, I sometimes cannot help cursing God. I have not done anything wrong,' he wrote to his family. 'What a cold-blooded act to to inflict such cruelty on me.' Hakamada, whose Christian name is Paulo, was invited to a Mass in Tokyo during Pope Francis' visit in 2019, five years after his release. Supporters say Hakamada's nearly half-century detention took a toll on his mental health. Most of his 48 years behind bars was spent in solitary confinement. The first two months after Hakamada's release, he kept pacing inside the apartment, without even trying to go outside, his sister said. The case has drawn attention to Japan's legal system. Japan Bar Association Chairperson Reiko Fuchigami urged the government and parliament on Thursday to promptly take steps to abolish the death penalty and lower hurdles for retrials. At a final hearing at the Shizuoka court in May before Thursday's decision, prosecutors again demanded the death penalty, triggering criticism from rights groups that prosecutors were trying to prolong the trial. Japan and the United States are the only two countries in the Group of Seven advanced nations that retain capital punishment. A survey by the Japanese government showed an overwhelming majority of the public supports executions. Executions are carried out in secrecy in Japan and prisoners are not informed of their fate until the morning they are hanged. In 2007, Japan began disclosing the names of those executed and some details of their crimes, but disclosures are still limited. Hideko Hakamada has devoted around half of her life to her brother's case. Before Thursday's ruling, she said she was in a never-ending battle. 'It is so difficult to get a retrial started,' She told reporters in Tokyo. 'I'm sure there are other people who have been wrongly accused and crying. - I want the criminal law revised so that retrials are more easily available.' The Israeli military said it conducted wargames simulating manoeuvres in Lebanon after an IDF strike wiped out a top Hezbollah drone commander. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said in a defiant statement Thursday that Israel plans to continue targeting the Iran-back militant group with 'full force' and will not stop until its goals are achieved. Netanyahu make the remarks as he landed in New York to attend the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting and as US and European officials were urging him to agree to a 21-day halt in fighting between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah to give time for negotiations. Only a short time before his statement, the Israeli military said it killed a Hezbollah drone commander, Mohammed Hussein Surour, in an airstrike on an apartment building in the suburbs of the Lebanese capital. Two people were killed and 15 wounded in the strike, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. A view of damage after attacks by Israeli army, on September 26, 2024 in Lebanon A view shows the damage at the site of an Israeli strike that hit the Lebanese town of Younine late on Wednesday and killed at least 23 people Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike near the village of Khiam, Lebanon, Sept 25 Emergency workers at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Maisara, Lebanon on Wednesday Netanyahu said Israel's 'policy is clear. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes.' Soon after the statement was issued, Hezbollah TV station Al-Manar reported the Israeli airstrike in a suburb of Beirut. It and other stations showed a damaged apartment building in Dahiyeh, the mainly Shiite suburb where Hezbollah has a strong presence. The blast comes after Netanyahu's ministers earlier warned there will be no ceasefire. In defiant response to the desperate ceasefire proposal put forward by 12 international allies last night, the president's office said: 'The news about a ceasefire - not true. This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister did not even respond. 'The news about the supposed directive to moderate the fighting in the north is also the opposite of the truth. 'The prime minister instructed the IDF to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to him. 'Also, the fighting in Gaza will continue until all the goals of the war are achieved'. Following the warning put forth by Netanyahu's office, Israel Katz, the country's foreign minister, joined the chorus, saying 'there will be no ceasefire in the north'. People inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike that hit the seaside town of Jiyeh Yemeni university staff and students burn an Israeli flag during a protest staged against the Israeli aerial attacks on Lebanon, on September 25 Vehicles wait in traffic in the town of Damour, south of Beirut as people flee southern Lebanon Israel 'will continue to fight against the terrorist organisation Hezbollah with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,' Katz said on a statement on X, formerly Twitter. Adding to the message, Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Hezbollah should be crushed and that only its surrender would make it possible for the evacuees to return. 'The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows he received and to reorganize for the continuation of the war after 21 days,' he said in a statement. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's far-right faction was due to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday but members of the party have already come out against the proposal. It comes after the UK joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is 'intolerable' and could plunge the Middle East into chaos. In a joint statement, the 12-strong bloc called for a 21-day ceasefire 'to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement', as well as a ceasefire in Gaza. The call was supported by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said flatly: 'Hell is breaking loose.' But their hopes of salvaging a peaceful solution were seemingly dismissed by Israel, with IDF chief Herzi Halevi last night visiting soldiers close to the border to tell them they must prepare for a ground invasion of Lebanon. Halevi declared: 'We are attacking all day, both to prepare the ground for the possibility of your entry [into Lebanon], but also to continue striking Hezbollah. Major General Herzi Halevi (left) visits troops on the northern border on Wednesday French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2024 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (right) meets with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas ahead of a bilateral meeting at the United Nations in New York 'Hezbollah today expanded its [range] of fire. Later today, it will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves,' he said, before adding: 'your boots... will enter enemy territory.' Halevi's bleak declaration came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was being hit 'with blows it never imagined' and vowed to ensure the thousands of Israelis evacuated from the northern border would soon be able to return to their homes and jobs. Yesterday's appeal for a last-ditch ceasefire was signed by the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. 'The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation,' it read. 'This is in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety. 'Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.' The statement calls for the governments of Lebanon and Israel to 'endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately... and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement'. It continues: 'We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.' Meanwhile, Iran - Hezbollah's chief backer - said late Wednesday that it would 'stand with the people of Lebanon with all means' if required. But Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned the Middle East faces a full-scale 'catastrophe' if the clashes continue to gather pace and urged the United Nations Security Council to 'intervene to restore peace and security'. The Islamic Republic's reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian, is currently in New York at the UN General Assembly, where he expressed a willingness to reengage with the West and revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Pezeshkian's presence in New York, where he is sure to be meeting with Western politicians on the sidelines of the assembly, is a move that analysts said suggested he may have been granted permission from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to try to avert a war in the Middle East. This has not been taken kindly to by more hardline Hezbollah supporters and Lebanese MPs, who expect full military support from their powerful ally. After Araghchi said on Monday Iran was willing to work with the West to discuss its nuclear programme, Lebanese MP Mark Daou declared: 'They negotiate over our corpses.' People stand by an impact crater next to a destroyed warehouse at the site of an Israeli air strike in Jiyeh along the highway linking Beirut to the southern city of Sidon on September 25 Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Tyre Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi addresses members of the press before an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting called to address the rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, New York, USA, 25 September 2024 Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Herzi Halevi (right) meets with the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, Major General Ori Gordin (left) in Israel, on September 20, 2024 US President Joe Biden and France's President Emmanuel Macron met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss new ceasefire proposals, and are the two heads of state leading calls for restraint. France pressed the UN security council to hold an emergency session on the matter soon and Macron said he would send his foreign minister to the former French administration by the end of the week. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged Israel and Hezbollah to step back, saying all-out war would be 'disastrous' for the region and its people. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who appears set on continuing to wage war, said via his spokesperson David Mencer that while 'we favour a diplomatic solution... we have tried... for eleven and a half months'. 'Yesterday our president described the US diplomat [involved in negotiations] as talented but with all his talent he hasn't been able to negotiate any sort of climbdown from Hezbollah,' Mencer said. Netanyahu delayed his departure for New York until Thursday, where he too is due to speak at the UN General Assembly. Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 600 people since Monday, including scores of women and children, according to the latest figures by the Lebanese health ministry. The ministry said that at least 72 people were killed in strikes and 400 injured on Wednesday alone. Netanyahu has promised 'total victory' over Hamas and the return of all the hostages held in Gaza - goals that many believe are simply unachievable. What's more, many analysts and observers accuse Netanyahu of having a personal stake in forging on with the war. His governing coalition relies on far-right ministers who want to permanently reoccupy the Palestinian enclave and destroy Hezbollah's ability to threaten Israel - and they have threatened to bring down the government if Netanyahu concedes too much. That would force early elections that could drive him from power at a time when he is on trial for corruption - charges that he will not face while war rages on. For many on both sides of the border, the violence of the past two weeks in Lebanon has sparked bitter memories of the 2006 war that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. According to the UN, the latest violence has sparked an exodus of around 90,000 people from their homes in traditional Hezbollah strongholds for safer areas elsewhere in the tiny Mediterranean country. Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on August 23, 2024 Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system engages as rockets are launched from Lebanon Yesterday's desperate plea by members of the international community for a ceasefire was issued after Britain's Prime Minister urged Britons to leave Lebanon immediately by the remaining commercial routes. Sir Keir said: 'I have a very important message for British nationals in Lebanon which is: the time to leave is now. 'The contingency plans are being ramped up but don't wait for those, there are still commercial flights. It's very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately.' Britain's Ministry of Defence has already drawn up plans for a desperate evacuation of UK citizens from Lebanon, with a 700-strong force of Royal Marine commandos, sailors and combat engineers en-route to the region. The MoD's rescue mission template, known in military circles as 'Operation Meteoric', could see commandos making beach landings in Lebanon with UK citizens escorted onto a flotilla of military vessels. Such plans would also see warships and RAF jets already stationed in Cyprus tasked with facilitating the rescue mission, with thousands of Brits still stuck in the country. Some have reported that their families have not received a response from the British consulate as flights out of Beirut are cancelled amid the ongoing Israeli airstrikes. Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey said on Tuedsay: 'Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is which is why our message is clear British nationals should leave now. 'We continue to urge all sides to step back from conflict to prevent further tragic loss of life. 'Government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British nationals should the situation deteriorate.' British farmers have demanded that supermarkets stop 'farmwashing' in order to fool shoppers that their products come from 'quaint British family farms.' The Farmers against Farmwashing campaign, led by Riverford Organic vegetable box company founder Guy Singh-Watson, is urging the big six supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl - to support more local producers. They have accused the major supermarkets of using fake farm brands and overuse of Union Jack branding to give shoppers the impression that their products come from smaller farms. However, in reality, the group claims that much of the products on supermarkets shelves instead comes 'industrial US-style, mega farms' or from overseas, and masking the decline of Britain's family farms. The campaign comes after a survey of 202 farmers in July who are currently trading with supermarkets, or have done within the last five years, found that 61 per cent are concerned they will have to give up their farms within the next 18 months. The Farmers against Farmwashing campaign, led by Riverford Organic vegetable box company founder Guy Singh-Watson (centre), is urging the big six supermarkets to stop 'farmwashing' in order to fool shoppers that their products come from 'quaint family farms' The Supermarkets are accused by the group of slapping Union Jacks on products to make consumer think they are British.Last year, Lidl found itself embroiled in a 'flag-washing' controversy after it was accused of purposely making the Union Jack more prominent on its lamb products which have been imported from New Zealand Ad just one in four said they believed claims from supermarkets of supporting British farmers were credible and backed up by their buying practices. The poll suggests that two thirds of farmers feel under pressure from supermarkets' buying practices and 68 per cent fear they will be delisted if they complain about buying behaviour. A separate survey of consumers found 74 per cent want transparency around the sourcing of their food. The poll found that 60 per cent of shoppers actively look for the Union Jack on products to support British farmers. The open letter to supermarkets has been signed by more than 100 figures from the farming and food industry, including chef Rick Stein, the television presenter Jimmy Doherty and a number of MPs. Farmer and TV presenter Mr Doherty said: 'Britain's small-scale farmers are facing extinction, pushed to the brink by the rise of US-style mega-farms. These enormous operations might make meat cheaper, but the hidden costs are devastating compromises on animal welfare, environmental harm, and the destruction of traditional farming livelihoods. 'We're seeing generations of family farms swallowed up, replaced by faceless corporations that are driven by profit rather than people or the planet. It's time we take a stand and support real British farming before it's too late.' Mr Singh-Watson said: 'British farming is at a breaking point. The public cares deeply about where their food comes from - the supermarkets know this and they are using that trust to steal farmer stories and to hoodwink shoppers' Mr Singh-Watson said: 'British farming is at a breaking point. The public cares deeply about where their food comes from - the supermarkets know this and they are using that trust to steal farmer stories and to hoodwink shoppers into thinking they are buying from those small-scale, traditional British farms. 'Yet the reality is that these farms are being pushed to the brink. Is this the future we want for our food system and our countryside? 'Farmers are already struggling with weather extremes, labour shortages, and rising costs, and while supermarkets claim to support British farming, they fail to back it up with their buying practices. 'Supermarkets must stop exploiting farmers and start supporting them. If we want a future where our food system is resilient, our landscapes are preserved, and our farmers are treated fairly, we need more honesty and decency in the supply chain. 'The British public has shown they care and would pay a little more if they knew it supported better farming. It's time supermarkets and the Government listened.' Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Supermarkets are always keen to promote British farming and follow the strict legislation on the labelling of food, including the use of flags. In fact, they pushed the Government to tighten these rules earlier this year. TV presenter Jimmy Doherty is supporting the campaign. He said: : 'Britain's small-scale farmers are facing extinction, pushed to the brink by the rise of US-style mega-farms. These enormous operations might make meat cheaper, but the hidden costs are devastating' 'Retailers create new farm brands for some of their own-label goods in order to help consumers find the quality goods they are looking for.' The Times reports that a recent investigation by the consumer group Which? found that some shoppers could easily be misled by supermarkets use of Union Jack labels. It claimed that many products such as tomatoes from Morocco featured a large Union Jack seemingly suggesting the product if grown in Britain. Last year, Lidl found itself embroiled in a 'flag-washing' controversy after it was accused of purposely making the Union Jack more prominent on its lamb products which have been imported from New Zealand. At the time, British farmers made clear their fury with supermarkets for stocking imported lamb when there is plenty of supply available from UK producers. District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar stands at Lakeside Landing in San Francisco this month. Melgar helped create Lakeside Landing, a community space created in 2020 to draw shoppers and encourage families to visit Lakeside Village. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Myrna Melgar considers herself a bridge-builder on the at-times divided San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The District 7 Supervisor who represents the citys largest supervisorial district, spanning the Inner Sunset to Ingleside argues that she has brought political adversaries together, often striking compromises on housing, police reform and other divisive issues. In an interview with the Chronicle, Melgar touted her political victories over the past four years, including legislation that garnered support from progressives and moderates like free Muni for children, a proposal to make it easier and faster to redevelop large homes into multifamily buildings and the renaming of Stow Lake. Melgar also has authored or co-authored successful ballot initiatives, including one in 2022 that tried to reform the Building Inspection Commission and one co-authored with Supervisor Hillary Ronen that created a fund to help city schools. But not everyone is happy with Melgars record at City Hall, and now she is facing three challengers for her seat in Novembers election: Flower shop owner Matt Boschetto, firefighter Stephen Martin-Pinto and Dr. Edward Yee. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Matt Boschetto, a District 7 supervisor candidate, stands at his campaign headquarters on Sept. 6. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Some of her opponents say shes not the consensus-building, experienced politician she is portraying herself to be, but rather a City Hall insider who doesnt represent her district on issues like housing and public safety. Boschetto has so far outraised Melgar, according to campaign finance filings. He has pulled in more than $350,000, including matching funds, versus Melgars haul of $266,000. Historically, I shouldnt be this ahead at this point, Boschetto said about the fundraising. But its turned out to be a competitive race. Boschetto is speaking to issues that were seldom top of mind for District 7 voters in the past, but that residents have grown concerned about in recent years, like crime, homelessness and development. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Concerns about homelessness Jim Herlihy, who lives in the Lakeside neighborhood, wants to see more police on the street and a tougher approach to homelessness. Our sense is that the incumbent supervisor has taken a very hands-off attitude towards the homelessness and public safety issue, said Herlihy. He said Melgar should be making it more difficult for unhoused people to be in the district and pushing to have more police officers in the area around Stonestown and West Portal. Stephen Martin-Pinto, District 7 supervisor candidate, is seen in San Francisco earlier this month. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Martin-Pinto, a veteran who previously ran for supervisor in 2020, attacked Melgar for what he says is her failure to curb homelessness in the district, criticizing her inability to get a handle on RV dwellers specifically. Melgar had promised to find a safe parking site on the west side for RV dwellers three years ago, but now says city officials are unable to find a suitable site. Instead, officials banned overnight parking near Stonestown, sending some RV dwellers a few miles away. Others were housed or placed in shelters. Martin-Pinto wants stringent enforcement that would make it difficult for RVs to park overnight anywhere in the district. Mayor London Breed is already pushing legislation to ban overnight parking of oversize vehicles on most city streets. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shes reactive, he said of Melgar. She waits until the problem gets big and then she addresses it, rather than recognizing the problem when it first starts, and being proactive and addressing it before it becomes a big problem. A cyclist rides past a line of RVs parked along John Muir Drive in San Francisco earlier this month. Parking of such vehicles has become an issue in the District 7 supervisor race. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Crime in District 7 Boschetto told the Chronicle that public safety is the No. 1 issue in the district and said he was encouraged to run by retired employees in the DAs office, high-level command staff at San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Police Officers Association who feel Melgar is not a good match for the district politically. Im basing my campaign on what most District 7 residents want, Boschetto said. And that looks dramatically different from Myrna. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Boschetto said Melgar isnt doing enough to bolster the police presence in the neighborhood. He pointed to Melgars opposition to recalling progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin, her support for a controversial proposition to tie police recruitment and retention funds to a new or existing tax and her fast-tracking the appointment of progressive Cindy Elias to the police commission. A pedestrian walks past a vacant storefront along Irving Street in San Francisco earlier this month. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Melgar said while she supports comprehensive police reform, she has also worked to address safety concerns. She pointed to her successful launch of the citys first police ambassador program in the district and her effort to increase the number of female officers in the San Francisco Police Department through recruitment and retention incentives. Melgar argues that having more women on the force will lead to better interactions between officers and residents because female officers tend not to let tense situations escalate. Despite voters continued concerns, crime is down citywide and appears to be down in District 7. District 7 spans three police districts, making it difficult to gauge just how levels of reported crime have changed over the years. However, the Park, Ingleside and Taraval stations had all seen decreases of all crimes through mid-September from homicide and assault to robbery and motor vehicle theft compared to the same period last year. Overall there has been an almost 30% decrease in crime since last year across the three police districts. Big housing project split residents Housing has also become a hot-button issue in the district. Homeowners near the Stonestown mall, Parkmerced and Balboa Reservoir are worried that massive developments planned for those areas will bring thousands of new neighbors and make the area more congested. Separately, a city plan that calls for allowing denser housing has also incensed residents who fret over taller buildings looming over their low-slung homes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Herlihy, who lives near the Stonestown shopping center, said his neighbors are furious about the plan to allow denser housing at the mall. I havent found any support for upzoning among our neighbors, he said. Its absurd. But Janelle Wong, who lives in Ingleside and is executive director for San Francisco Transit Riders, backs the mega-projects in the district as well as creating greater density. A staunch defender of Melgar, Wong said she welcomes new development in the neighborhood to bring down the cost of housing. Janelle Wong, interim executive director of Transit Riders, lives in the Ingleside District in San Francisco and supports housing plans for the area. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Wong praised Melgar for pushing for large developments like Stonestown while also not shying away from supporting denser housing throughout the districts neighborhoods. Wong is worried that as she and her husband get older, they may have to leave to retire comfortably. My biggest fear is (my kids) wont be able to come back to the city theyre born and raised natives of unless we give them our house, Wong said. We need denser housing in D7 because Im not the only parent whos worried about this. Small business owners, she added, should welcome developments such as the massive plan to build homes at the Balboa Reservoir site, which could help merchants on Ocean Avenue, which is struggling with empty storefronts. Bill Ceragioli peeks through a tarp to watch the construction at an affordable housing site under construction at 2550 Irving St. in San Francisco on Sept. 9. Ceragioli, who has lived at his home a few blocks away since he was 4, said he thinks change is an important part of moving forward. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle But Boschetto said Melgar hasnt listened to angry voters who dont want development. When you have a NIMBY district, it means hyper-involved neighborhood groups. The upzoning has only bolstered them and re-energized them, he said. If youre going to make a big community decision you cant just piss off half your constituency. While the city has released draft maps showing where denser housing could be built, Melgar said the process Boschetto is talking about hasnt even happened yet and the Board of Supervisors hasnt approved any changes. The expectation that 100% of the people in this district 100% of the time will agree is just not realistic, Melgar said. I feel like my job is to thread that needle and I think Ive done it well. Melgar attacked Boschetto as somebody who has no background in government, has never been involved in civic life and doesnt really understand the business of government but thinks he can solve all of the problems. Boschetto said people who have been successful in business are exactly what City Hall needs. Under siege NYC mayor Eric Adams was supported by elderly civil rights leaders as New Yorkers drowned him out, shouting at him to resign after his indictment for corruption. The Democrat was flanked by respected black activists including Hazel Dukes, 92, and the Rev. Herbert Daughtry, 90, while he denied corruption and bribery charges against him on Thursday. Dukes, a former NAACP leader, shouted back at protestors who were drowning her out as she tried to speak in Adams' defense outside Gracie Mansion. 'Will you be quiet?' Dukes asked as the crowd chanted. 'Will you shut up?' Dukes continued: 'I'm 92 years of age. I've known this young man for over 40 years. I come with a heavy heart today but my head is unbowed. He's going to have his day in court and we're going to stand by him.' NYC mayor Eric Adams was supported by elderly civil rights leaders as New Yorkers shouting at him to resign following his indictment for corruption People protest as New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the press outside his official residence Gracie Mansion on Thursday A defiant Adams made a point of showing the support he enjoys from prominent black clergy and activists such as Dukes, but protesters insisted the mayor's legal issues have nothing to do with race. 'This is not a Black thing, this is a you thing, This is a you thing, Eric Adams,' a protester shouted through a bullhorn as Adams tried to speak. The protester added: 'Your policies are anti-Black, you're a disgrace for all black people in this city. The things that you have done are unconscionable. Our children are harassed by police. This is ridiculous, this is ridiculous. 'You can shush me all you want, but the people are with us. This is not a black thing, this is a justice thing.' Another protestor told the mayor he should resign because hes an 'embarrassment.' Another called him 'corrupt' and said he should be in handcuffs. Dukes, a former NAACP leader, shouted back at protestors who were drowning her out as she tried to speak in Adams' defense outside Gracie Mansion 'Will you be quiet?' Dukes asked as the crowd chanted. 'Will you shut up?' Adams vowed to continue his mayoral duties and urged New Yorkers to wait to make any judgments until after he presents his defense. 'Its an unfortunate day. And its a painful day,' he said. 'But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, Ive gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself.' According to the indictment, Adams accepted tens of thousands of dollars in free flights and upgrades on Turkeys national airline for him and his companions, stays in luxury hotel suites, as well as other amenities such as a car and driver, boat tour, a Turkish bath at a seaside hotel and high-end restaurant meals. Adams failed to disclose his free and discounted travel, created a false paper trail to suggest he had paid it, claimed to a staffer that he deleted his text messages and directed the staffer to ensure his activities in Turkey in 2021 were shielded from public view, prosecutors alleged. Another protestor told the mayor he should resign because hes an 'embarrassment.' Another called him 'corrupt' and said he should be in handcuffs. A protestor talks with law enforcement personnel and media while demonstrating The mayor and his co-conspirators, unnamed in the indictment, 'continued their efforts to defeat scrutiny of their criminal conduct after the federal investigation into those crimes became known to them,' the indictment said. Last November, as FBI agents knocked on her door to execute a search warrant, Adams fundraiser called the mayor five times and Adams later called her phone as agents were leaving her residence, the indictment said. The fundraiser refused to tell agents who paid for her 2021 travel to Turkey, the indictment said. Adams was in Washington, D.C. at the time, but upon learning about the search, he canceled the meeting and immediately returned to New York City. A few days later, the FBI executed a search warrant for Adams electronic devices. According to the indictment, Adams produced two cellphones but not the personal cellphone he used in conjunction with his alleged crimes. Adams later turned over the phone in response to a subpoena, but it was locked and required a password that Adams claimed to have forgotten, the indictment said. A Pennsylvania mother charged with killing her two young children by hanging them from a dog leash was found guilty of murder after blaming the grisly killings on her 8-year-old son. Lisa Snyder, 41, pinned the deaths on her son, Connor, who was found hanging from a beam in the basement of his mother's Albany Township home along with his 4-year-old sister, Brinley, in September 2019. Snyder said Connor killed himself to escape the torment of school bullies and also hung his sister so he wouldn't die alone. Snyder told police Connor was bullied at Greenwich-Lenhartsville Elementary School and had previously threatened suicide. But authorities said they found no evidence of the claim. Lisa Snyder, 41, was found guilty Tuesday for the murder of her two children Connor, 8, and Brinley, 4 Snyder, 41, pinned the deaths on her son, who was found hanging from a beam in the basement of his mother's home along with his sister in September 2019. Snyder said Connor killed himself to escape the torment of school bullies and also hung his sister so he wouldn't die alone The boy showed no outward signs of trouble on school bus security video recorded that day, and an occupational therapist later said he wasn't physically capable of causing that kind of harm to himself or his little sister. Police would find disturbing Google searches on Snyder's phone related to suicide and how to kill someone. Snyder also admitted going to a Walmart to buy a dog leash on the day the children were found hanging from it, authorities said. Her defense attorney, Dennis Charles, argued the online searches suggested Snyder's own suicide ideation and mental-health issues rather than an intent to kill. Testimony from her estranged son, Owen Snyder, 22, contradicted that argument. The boy showed no outward signs of trouble on school bus security video recorded that day, and an occupational therapist later said he wasn't physically capable of causing that kind of harm to himself or his little sister Police would find disturbing Google searches on Snyder's phone related to suicide and how to kill someone Owen, 22, took the stand on September 17 to speak about the killings, prompting Snyder to audibly gasp and start crying. When asked if Connor was suicidal, Owen described Connor as a happy kid. Owen added that his 8-year-old brother had physical limitations that would have made it difficult to set up the hangings. Snyder was initially also accused of having sex with her pit bull shortly before the killings after investigators at the time said they found evidence in Snyder's Facebook account. A judge ruled those claims would not be admitted into the murder trial after the defense team argued the claims would prejudice the jury. A judge found Snyder guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of endangering the welfare of children and one count of tampering with evidence Berks County prosecutors rested their case late Friday morning. Shortly after, Charles unsuccessfully argued for an immediate acquittal, saying the case was based on 'all guesswork.' Judge M. Theresa Johnson found Snyder guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of endangering the welfare of children and one count of tampering with evidence late Tuesday afternoon, WFMZ reported. The judge rejected the defense's call for a ruling that Snyder was not guilty by reason of insanity. A first-degree murder conviction means an automatic sentence of life in prison in Pennsylvania. A Texas mother was found murdered near a popular San Antonio trail with horrific head injuries. Stacey Dramiga, 63, was reported missing by her husband on Sunday when she did not come home from her routine walk along the trails in Dafoste Park. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told My San Antonio: 'She was known to frequently walk alone in the park and felt pretty comfortable doing so.' This case is being treated as a homicide, Salazar told the outlet. He added that detectives speculate that she was forced or taken into the woods. Dramiga was last seen alive at about 10 am. Before calling the police, her husband tried looking for her on his own. Stacey Dramiga, 63, was found dead on Monday about 30 yards off the paved trails on the Salado Creek Greenway He found her car parked at Covington Park, which is about an hour-long walk away from where her body was found. Dramiga was a fan of the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trail System, which spans about 100 miles citywide and connects many parks. Investigators issued a CLEAR alert - which helps authorities find where missing or endanger people are - and tried pinging Dramiga's phone. But this only led them to the general area of the park she was in. They then used a family iPad to more precisely locate the mother, which led to them discovering her dead body on Monday. She was found about 30 yards off the paved trails on the Salado Creek Greenway with signs of head trauma, reported by the county's medical examiner. Investigators believe Dramiga was forced off the trail into the woods Dramiga's family is not considered involved in her death and has been very cooperative, officials said. Her daughter, Maisha Dramiga, tearfully told KENS 5: 'I am so grateful I have the mom I have and she has been taken from us, but I still had almost 30 years with that. 'Some people don't even know that experience.' Dramiga was a beloved mother and employee at the Brooke Army Medical Center Aside from being a beloved mother and wife, Dramiga was also a highly valued employee at the Brooke Army Medical Center, according to KSAT. A statement the medical center released on Wednesday reads: 'Brooke Army Medical Center received the tragic news that a member of our family, Ms. Stacey Dramiga, was found deceased by the Bexar County Sheriffs office after having been missing since Sunday morning. 'Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and co-workers. Stacey was a beloved member of the BAMC staff and will be greatly missed.' The skipper of a pleasure boat that crashed into Hammersmith Bridge and caused 100,000 of damage said he was rushing to his destination to unload the 'volatile' and drunken West Hams fans on board, a court has heard. Daniel Davis, 52, was at the wheel of the Emerald of London when it struck the bridge on 10 December 2023 causing 100,000 of damage. The party boat had been hired by West Ham United fans to take them to a game against Fulham, which the Hammers lost 5-0. However, after picking up his passengers, Davis claimed the fans on board became rowdy and were shouting inappropriate comments to women on boats they went past. Wearing a dark blue suit, and a dotted dark blue tie, Davis told Westminster Magistrates' Court that he picked the fans up from Blackfriars pier at about 8.15am. Daniel Davis, the skipper of a pleasure boat that crashed into Hammersmith Bridge and caused 100,000 of damage, said he was rushing to his destination to unload the 'volatile' and drunken West Hams fans on board, a court has heard This is the moment the boat collided with Hammersmith Bridge on December 10 2023, causing 100,000 of damage The party boat had been hired by West Ham United fans to take them to a game against Fulham, but Davis claims the fans were being rowdy and made him and his colleague 'very, very nervous' with their behaviour He explained the boat company had a policy that only allowed passengers to eat food that they purchased on the boat. 'Some of them tried to get on sausage rolls. I told a couple that they couldn't bring them on. The reaction was 'Come on let us on. F***ing a--hole.'They were unreasonable.' Davis claimed that some of the passengers had made inappropriate comments to women. 'There were some girls in boats. Men on the back deck were hurling sexual comments at them, basically. 'Being the father of a young daughter myself I found that inappropriate.' He said that he wanted to get away from that part of the river and so decided to go under Hammersmith Bridge. 'I made the decision to go under Hammersmith Bridge which I've done hundreds of times.' 'What was the mood like on the boat?', asked Richard Berman, defending. 'From what I could hear the atmosphere on board was volatile. A lot of drinking, A lot of abuse being shouted. 'The mate I was with was terrified. There was banging on the wheel house door.' 'I was nervous, very nervous. 'I made the decision to try to get under the bridge to get to Putney Pier as quickly as possible and to get those passengers off.' He was asked if there was a tannoy he could have used to communicate with those on board. Davis, of Essex, who is on trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court, denies navigating a vessel in a manner likely to injure or endanger persons 'It would have been pointless. They would not have been able to hear me over the noise,' he said. Davis, of Essex, denies navigating a vessel in a manner likely to injure or endanger persons. The trial continues. Time is money, former President Donald Trump is betting, as he launches a new branded watch sale in the closing weeks of his presidential campaign. Trump, who has also peddled gold sneakers, NFTs, and even bibles this election campaign, announced 'my new Trump watches' on Truth Social on Wednesday. 'I'm doing quite a number with watches, and the quality to me is very important,' he said, hoping many of his online followers and political fans will rush to pick up one. The 'Trump Victory Tourbillon' watch he is selling has 200 grams of gold and 'more than 100 real diamonds' - with a price to match, selling for $100,000 each 'That's a lot of diamonds. I love gold. I love diamonds. We all do,' Trump said in a video advertisement. The watch has 'Trump' moniker in the middle and bears a 'Swiss made' label, as well as window that shows the mechanism, although an ad featuring it shows the watch sitting on the stars of an American flag. His ad does not disclose further details of the manufacturing or design or the origin of the diamonds. The images displayed in his promotional video 'are for illustrative purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the final product,' a disclaimer warns. It says they are 'intended as collectible items for individual enjoyment only. The 'Trump Victory Tourbillon' being promoted by the former president goes for $100,000 'Would make a great Christmas Gift. Dont wait, they will go fast,' Trump told his nearly 8 million followers hoping MAGA fans would scoop them up. A portion of the video touts 'exquisite Swiss craftsmanship' and says it features TX07 Tourbillon Movement. Trump promoted the watches on the day John Sauer, one of his stable of lawyers, was in a New York courtroom appealing his stunning $454 million fine in his New York fraud case. He has racked up an astonishing $24 million in interest amid the appeal, at a rate of about $1 million every nine days. Trump made a personal pitch for a new line of Trump watches Tourbillon movement, designed by Breguet, seeks to counter the effects of gravity with a rotating cage housing the tiny springs and wheels that allow a watch to keep time. The priciest one for sale on a web site goes for $100,000. The watch has 'almost 200 grams of 18 karat solid gold' and 122 VS1 diamonds. Trump says 'only 147 of these extraordinary watches will ever exist in the world.' It can also feature a 'personalized message'. The one featured says: 'JAMES, LET'S THINK BIG!' and included Trump's signature. 'Limited' numbered watches go from $499, with a specialized gold version going for $100,000 A watch in 'Fight Fight Fight' red references what Trump yelled to the crowd after the first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. It is billed as water-resistant Some watches feature a backing with an image of Trump with a raised fist The watch features Tourbillon movement and 122 VS1 diamonds A lower end 'Fight fight fight' watch goes for $499. Fine print in the online ad says they are manufactured by thebestwatchesonearth LLC under a paid license agreement. It states that the watches 'are not political and have nothing to do with any political campaign.' That could be said for several Trump recent business offerings, which are unusual in presidential politics. Last month, Trump rolled out World Liberty Financial, a crypto currency venture. Each watch comes with a signed letter 'Crypto is one of those things we have to do,' Trump posted on X. 'Whether we like it or not, I have to do it.' He had been a past critic of crypto but has embraced it more recently. That venture involves his sons Don Jr. and Eric Trump. In February, he began selling $399 gold sneakers at 'Sneaker Con.' They are gold high tops being sold under the name 'Never Surrender High-Tops.' He is also selling $99 digital trading cards, many of which depict him as a super hero. He's even selling Trump bibles for $59.99. Trump says he's going to keep a gold watch although he presumably has no intention of buying himself a traditional retirement gift as he seeks to reclaim the White House. 'I have watch Number One, and I'm going to keep it. It's mine, and that's the way I want to have it.' He says each watch is numbered and is a 'true collector's item.' Not everyone on his Truth Social website agreed. 'Every few days, he pitches another piece of junk and you suckers fall for his grift. This is embarrassing,' wrote a commenter in a top trending post. 'What next? Chip clips and beer coozies?' wrote another. Two pensioners are seeking to take the Scottish and UK governments to court over Labour's cut to the winter fuel payment. Peter and Florence Fanning, from North Lanarkshire, have raised proceedings against the Scottish Government and the UK Work and Pensions Secretary over the policy. Following Labour's election landslide, emboldened Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the winter fuel payment - which had previously been universal - will only be available to those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits this year. The decision led to the Scottish Government - which was due to take control over a similar payment through the devolved Social Security Scotland but has since announced a delay - to follow Prime Minister Keir Starmer's lead. The judicial review - which has been raised at the Court of Session - now requires a judge's approval to move to a hearing on the merits, with the Govan Law Centre - which is helping the Coatbridge couple in their case - seeking to ensure a decision can be handed down before the winter. Peter and Florence Fanning, from North Lanarkshire, are seeking to take the Scottish and UK governments to court over Labour's cut to the winter fuel payment Following Labour's election landslide, Sir Keir Starmer's government announced the winter fuel payment - which had previously been universal - will only be available to those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits this year Joining the couple at a press conference today, former First Minister Alex Salmond (left) said: 'The Scottish Government, instead of meekly accepting this, should have challenged it' The Fannings' case asks the court to rule on whether the cut was unlawful, which would then allow the petitioners to ask the court to, in effect, set aside the policy and restore the winter fuel payment to all. Speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh today, Mr Fanning, 73, said: 'We intend to sue both the London and Scottish governments, since both are guilty through action and inaction, of damaging the welfare of pensioners. 'We are hoping to be successful, given the manifest injustice involved, however, my work as a trade unionist and shop steward has taught me that some battles are worth fighting regardless of the outcome - I believe this is one such battle.' The case's argument rests on the accusation both governments failed to adequately consult with those of pension age on the change and did not release an equality impact assessment on the changes. A freedom of information request revealed an abridged version of such an assessment had been carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with the UK Government arguing a full study was not required. Former Scottish first minister and current Alba Party leader Alex Salmond was instrumental in putting the Fannings in touch with the Govan Law Centre ahead of the action being raised. Joining them at the press conference he said every person in Scotland 'should be grateful' to the Fannings for raising the action, which he said should have been taken forward by the Scottish Government in the first instance. Pointing to analysis by the Labour Party in 2017 - which suggested 4,000 people could die if the winter fuel payment was cut - Mr Salmond claimed it would be 'reprehensible' for the UK Government not to undertake an equality impact assessment because such a figure would be made public. He added: 'The Scottish Government, instead of meekly accepting this, should have challenged it. 'They should have stood up for pensioners and stood up for the people as opposed to meekly towing the line that was coming from Westminster.' The former first minister added that while it would be 'the most enormous humiliation' for the governments to lose the case: 'I wonder is that as bad as the humiliation if the health service in Scotland and England can cope with the health impacts of what they're doing?' Rachel Moon, the instructing solicitor and a partner at Govan Law Centre, said: 'Quite simply, [government] should have considered this rigorously. 'This policy and the decisions taken affect those with protected characteristics, including age and disability, and it affects 10 million people.' The legal challenge follows unions voting against the party at Labour's annual conference. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham is seen making her speech against the bill But insisting MPs 'don't have the luxury of ducking the difficult choices and decisions', Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the government would plough on with the policy The legal challenge follows the government being embarrassed at Labour's annual party conference, where trade unions said they want to axe the bill in a non-binding vote. However, Sir Keir ignored the internal party revolt as he rounded off the conference week. Despite the humiliating vote result, party chiefs and Cabinet ministers insisted the government would plough on with the policy. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he and fellow Labour MPs 'don't have the luxury of ducking the difficult choices and decisions', as he blamed a 22billion 'black hole' left in the public finances by the Tories. A British man who crammed a woman and child into a tiny car boot with little room to move or breathe has been jailed, the Home Office has said. Leon Leslie, 39, stashed the Vietnamese migrants - a 14-year-old girl and a 20-year-old woman - into the back of his hired Kia and tried to smuggle them to the UK. Border Force agents found the pair wedged in the boot when they stopped the car in Coquelles, France, on April 16 last year. Leslie, from Birmingham, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assisting unlawful immigration into the UK. Leon Leslie, 39 (pictured) attempted to smuggle to Vietnamese migrants into the UK in his car boot Border Force agents found the pair wedged in the boot when they stopped the car in Coquelles, France, on April last year Leslie refused to offer any explanation as to why the woman and girl were hiding in his vehicle when questioned by officials The blue Kia used by Leslie to attempt to smuggle the two migrants across the Channel When questioned, he refused to offer any explanation as to why the woman and girl were in his car, the Home Office said. Leslie was jailed for three years at Canterbury Crown Court On Thursday, having pleaded guilty. Home Office Criminal Investigation officer Nadia Kehayova said: 'This criminal crammed a young woman and a child inside his car boot with little room to move or even breathe, showing total disregard for their safety. 'The sole priority of these criminals is financial gain, at the expense of those they exploit under false promises of a better life in the UK. 'We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the people who heartlessly endanger vulnerable people to make money.' Prisoners at a 'crumbling' Victorian jail removed entire bricks from their cells using plastic cutlery while one person managed to take off an entire door, a shocking report has revealed. Inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said HMP Winchester, a 680-capacity category B jail built in 1846, was 'dilapidated' and crumbling. In a report released today, inspectors also said that inmates in 10 cells in the main jail had removed bricks and parts of window frames from their cells, often using plastic cutlery. In one case, a prisoner in the seg unit - called the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) - actually took his entire cell door off, prompting an 'escape risk'. The seg unit can house 12 inmates, often put there because they are a danger to others, but also if they are being bullied by inmates in the main jail. HMP Winchester (pictured), a 680-capacity category B jail built in 1846, was described as 'dilapidated' and crumbling. A total of 124 inmates were recently released from HMP Winchester as part of the early release scheme. (General view of HMP Winchester) The IMB said the fabric of the jail was 'under serious strain'. It stated: 'There have been at least 10 incidents of prisoners removing bricks and parts of window frames from their cells, as well as one case of a prisoner removing a CSU cell door. 'It is unsuitable for people to live in such conditions and the inadequate state of the fabric provides extra risk of escape.' The IMB added: 'HMP Winchester was built 178 years ago and is dilapidated and unfit for purpose.' It also said there were various leaks around the jail, dangerous staircases and a rat infestation, adding: 'Parts of the prison accommodation, in particular on the main wings, continue to be a concern to the Board. 'There are clear signs of dilapidation. 'This includes leaking roofs and ceilings, erratic heating and water systems, rat infestation and degraded brickwork, which prisoners have previously been able to dig through using plastic cutlery.' A total of 124 inmates were recently released from HMP Winchester as part of the early release scheme. A prison source said that many Victorian jails were 'crumbling'. The source, who has worked in jails for more than a decade, said: 'We see relatively new prisons experience major structural problems in just 10 or 15 years, so it is no surprise that prisons built in Victorian times are in a state. 'All the jails I've worked in have leaky roofs, crumbling brickwork and rat infestations - it would take hundreds of millions to do a decent repair job.' A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the Labour government had 'inherited a justice system in crisis'. They added: 'The new government inherited a justice system in crisis and has been forced to take action across the prison estate, so we can continue to lock up dangerous offenders, protect the public and make prisons safer for hard-working staff.' A mother of five who died after a 'botched' Brazilian Butt Lift was warned by her closest friend hours before not to go ahead with the procedure. Diana Webb, 58, spoke to her younger cousin Alice Webb, 33, on the phone for two hours and told her: 'You don't need it - you already look beautiful.' An emotional Diana, who was described as her 'second mother' after helping to raise Alice, told The Sun: 'We had talked about it a lot before she went to have the procedure. 'She had told me she was going to have this done and I said she didn't need it - she already looked beautiful. And she was stunning on her own.' Diana also told how she had been on the phone to Alice beforehand, even saying how she felt at ease because everything seemed 'professional'. Alice Webb, 33, died on Monday, just hours after having the procedure which is thought to have involved the injection of chemical fillers Her 'second mother', Diana Webb, has revealed how she told her younger cousin that she did not need the procedure. It's understood Alice worked in the industry and was attending a training session where she would learn how to perform the procedure before having her own done. 'She took every course she could take, including this one, because she wanted to make sure she got everything right,' Diana said. It comes after a glamorous beautician and TV star dubbed the 'Lip King' today admitted her had been arrested. Jordan James Parke was asked to comment on the death of Alice when approached by MailOnline, he said: 'I can't talk to anybody. I was arrested but I've been released.' Police later arrived at the house with an officer seen speaking to Parke as he climbed into his Mercedes 4x4 which was parked outside the property. Alice died on Monday, just hours after having the procedure which is thought to have involved the injection of chemical fillers. She had travelled from her home in Wotton-under-Edge to a clinic in Gloucester on Monday. Later that evening, Alice was rushed to hospital but died in the early hours of Tuesday morning. It is the first time a person has died in the UK from the procedure and comes after campaign group Save Face called for tighter controls in the cosmetic market warning that 'people could die'. MailOnline revealed earlier that Alice was treated at The Studio 23 clinic in Gloucester, which is run by beautician Jemma Pawlyszyn and Parke, who is dubbed the 'British Lip King'. Parke, who describes himself on social media as 'The Plastic Surgery Advocate', is not a qualified surgeon and provides treatment from a clinic in Gloucester. The Kim Kardashian fanatic appeared on US reality TV series Botched in 2015, but he was turned away when he returned to the show in 2019 as doctors revealed a fourth nose job would have involved taking a piece of his rib to widen his nostrils. Parke, the 'Lip King', is pictured climbing into his Mercedes 4x4 which was parked outside a property he came out of Jordan James Parke, 32, did not comment on the death of 33-year-old Alice Webb when approached by MailOnline The 'Lip King' was seen getting into the large 4x4 which has a personalised number plate The procedure was carried out at The Studio 23 clinic in Gloucester, which is run by Jordan James Parke Jordan James Parke works alongside his assistant Jemma Pawlyszyn (pictured) Pictured is Studio 23, which is just a few miles from where Alice's home is in Wotton-under-Edge The Studio 23 sign could be seen at the property when MailOnline visited it in Gloucester today Parke, who has had major work done on his face, now has a private Instagram profile but it also links to another page called The Lip King Aesthetics. He also works in Manchester, Bristol and the West Midlands. Alice is understood to have had the procedure in Gloucester, which is just a few miles from her home in Wotton-under-Edge. The treatment is designed to make buttocks bigger, more rounded or lifted and sees fat or dermal filler injected into the buttocks to change size or shape. While non-surgical BBLs are not illegal in the UK, last year Wolverhampton City Council barred a company from carrying out the procedure after identifying risks associated with their processes, including blood clots, sepsis, and the potential for the death of body tissues. Parke is a Kim Kardashian fan who has spent more than 130,000 on cosmetic surgery and has appeared on TV to discuss his obsession on This Morning and Channel 4 Bodyshockers. He has had at least four nose jobs and 50 other procedures and once said: 'Plastic surgery is like sex. You can't have it once. You have to have it over and over.' Parke is a Kim Kardashian fan who has spent more than 130,000 on cosmetic surgery Parke has also appeared on TV to discuss his obsession on This Morning and Ch4 Bodyshockers Jemma Pawlyszyn works at The Studio 23 in Gloucester When he set up his business in 2017, he revealed that he would specialise in lip and cheek fillers and enhancements, as well as chemical peels and vampire facials one of Kim's favourite procedures. Yesterday evening, Alice's partner Dane Knight asked people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding her death and to be mindful around her five daughters, who are 'extremely vulnerable' at this time. In an emotional post on Facebook he wrote: 'Want to say a heart felt thank you to all family and friends that were here for us at our time of need, including all of the kind messages sent to my children and myself. 'There was some very beautiful messages sent by some of your children that formed a start of a smile from the corner of my kids mouth. 'I feel this is important saying this as I will not accept speculations from adults being accidentally being eaves dropped by children and unnecessary questions raised to the 5 girls, so be extremely careful on what you say and who's around! My children are extremely vulnerable!' Dane Knight (left) has been left devastated by the death of his partner Alice Webb (right) who died after a Brazilian Bum Lift procedure in the UK Alice (pictured) was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge and is thought to have had the procedure in the West Country Alice Webb (pictured), 33, died on Monday just hours after having the procedure Alice was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge, a market town in Gloucestershire. A GoFundMe page set up by her pal Abigail Irwin revealed the tragedy. It said: 'I am hoping to raise as many funds as we can to support Dane, the partner of Alice and their five beautiful children at this very difficult sad time. 'Alice passed away Monday evening after having the BBL treatment.' 'Alice joined the beauty & Aesthetics industry two years ago and she has been smashing it, doing amazing. 'She cared about her clients, she would always check in to see if they were OK, Alice was a beautiful person inside and out and I feel very lucky to have known her and to have spent time with her in our salon. 'Alice would ask for advice all the time and ask to check if there was anything more she could do to improve her skills but she was just a pure natural and never needed my help but always wanting to be the best at her job and that she was. Alice was just 33 when she passed away following the bum lift procedure in the UK A GoFundMe page set up for Alice, where tributes have been shared to the much-loved mother-of-five 'Alice has passed away at a young age of 33. Alice was beautiful inside and out with the biggest heart, her family was her world she is leaving behind her partner Dane & 5 beautiful children. 'Delsie 15, Preete 13, Gracie 12, Nylie 10, Clarie 7 as you can imagine this is a very difficult heart breaking time for them all so if we can all help donate or share to help take of some financial stress it would be really appreciated by the family.' The night before Alice's sudden death, she posted a photo on Facebook of a small pumpkin, which she said was a 'present' from her daughter. She added: 'How cute.' In the comments, she shared a second photo of the pumpkin, having been carved with a candle inside, and wrote: 'My little lamp.' Gloucestershire Police has confirmed it has made arrests and is investigating the death. On Wednesday despite being asked repeatedly for comment Gloucestershire Police refused to give any further details. Eight female councillors in Hertfordshire sensationally quit the Lib Dems last night after claiming officials had failed to deal with 'toxic behaviour', including allegations of bullying and sexual harassment. The women, who were elected onto Dacorum borough council, claimed they were resigning after an internal committee overturned the verdict of a misconduct investigation into former leader Ron Tindall two weeks ago. Tindall has denied the allegations. Footage of their resignation was circulating on social media today, just hours after the dramatic live-streamed meeting on Wednesday night. Their en masse action means the Lib Dems have now lost their overall majority in Dacorum, just months after claiming victory at the 2023 local elections. The Lib Dems have lost majority control in Dacorum after eight female councillors sensationally quit last night. Pictured: Sir Ed Davey ploughs through bales of hay in a yellow tractor to kickstart the party's local election campaigning in Dacorum in 2023 At the time, the party hailed the seizure of Dacorum from the Tories as something of a coup, having won majority control for the first time in 20 years. It was also in Dacorum that leader Sir Ed Davey was pictured ploughing through bales of hay in a yellow tractor to kickstart the party's local election campaigning. But notions of a Lib Dem majority came to a crashing end last night as Claire Hobson, chairwoman of the council's strategic planning and environment overview and scrutiny committee, accused council leader Adrian England of 'failing' to deal with allegations of bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment. Councillor Claire Hobson (right) announced she was quitting the party alongside Councillor Victoria Santamaria (left) and six others after accusing Dacorum Borough Council leader Adrian England of 'failing' to deal with allegations of bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment She also accused him of failing to 'implement any safeguarding measures to protect members and officers.' She said at the meeting: 'In all good conscience I can no longer remain a member of the Liberal Democrat group.' Ms Hobson added: 'I am not alone in my concerns about this and other issues and a further seven colleagues are also tonight leaving the Liberal Democrat councillor group to sit as independent councillors.' She went on to name Sammy Mears, Michaela Capozzi, Toni Cox, Lara Pringle, Victoria Sanatamaria, Carole Weston and Sheron Wilkie as the councillors stepping down from the Liberal Democrat group alongside her. They will all now sit as independents. Tindall served as leader of the Lib Dem-controlled council between May 2023 until May 2024. He was suspended in July following allegations of misconduct, which were investigated both internally by the council and the Lib Dem party. Dacorum Borough Council also confirmed at the time that he was stepping down from his role as portfolio holder for people and transformation. In July, an investigation commissioned by the council concluded that Tindall's actions had 'constituted sexual harassment'. But earlier this month, a council sub-committee on standards dismissed the complaints against him. In a statement to The Times, Tindall described the complaints as 'malicious'. He said: 'As far as I'm concerned, the whole matter about the malicious allegations against me was dealt with by the standards committee and there was no case to answer and neither complaint was upheld.' In a statement from the eight councillors, the group said they were standing down because the Lib Dem group had 'enabled toxic behaviour'. Ron Tindall, who served as leader of the Lib Dem-controlled council between May 2023 until May 2024, has denied the allegations They said: 'The women are standing down from the Liberal Democrat group to sit as independents because they cannot be associated with the Liberal Democrat group which has enabled toxic behaviour towards women.' A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said: 'We have been made aware of a number of councillors resigning from the Liberal Democrat group on Dacorum borough council.' MailOnline has approached England for comment. A crane stands at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco, in 2018. The site will be entering its final phase of cleanup and remediation of radioactive sediment. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle An environmental cleanup that, for more than two decades, has sought to cleanse San Franciscos former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard of its alarming history of radioactive and industrial pollution is on the verge of entering its final phase underwater. On Thursday, representatives of the U.S. Navy and Environmental Protection Agency announced a remediation plan for a large offshore area which, due to its pollution from polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, and heavy metals like copper, lead and mercury, was identified as a toxic hotspot by regulating agencies years ago. The underwater site, known as Parcel F, consists of 433-acres of piers and sediment sloping around the entirety of the 500-acre shipyard, a decommissioned naval base that juts into the bay on the southeast corner of San Francisco. To date, Parcel F has remained untouched by the larger cleanup effort, which so far has focused on 10 land parcels that were earmarked for redevelopment in the late 1990s, before the remediation work began. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Contaminated sediments at Parcel F will be removed or cleaned through remediation strategies including dredging and taking away sediment near the shoreline, as well as capping covering areas of concern to prevent the spread of contamination polluted sediment in deep water parts of the bay, according to the cleanup plan that was finalized this month. A contractor to carry out the cleanup plan must also still be selected. The active sediment removal is expected to take less than two years, once the work begins in 2027 remedial design and planning documents need to be completed first. The Navy will dispose of the sediment in a landfill at a site that is still to be determined. The impending work on Parcel F is expected to cost $32 million. Today weve reached a milestone in finalizing the cleanup plan for the final parcel of the Hunters Point site, marking a significant step in ultimately returning this area to productive use for the local community, said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. For more than six years, the Navy, state and federal regulators have been assessing strategies to address the contaminated site, which they acknowledge poses health risks to humans and wildlife in the vicinity, but also say is challenging to clean due to its submerged status. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During the Cold War, parts of the shipyard were contaminated by fallout from irradiated ships that were brought to Hunters Point after atomic-bomb tests. The Navy, which operated at the shipyard from 1945 to 1974, and other agencies have spent decades trying to remove that contamination. The piers that are considered part of Parcel F were used for ship repair and maintenance, and spills and runoff from these activities seeped into the bay. Another source of contamination is a drainage discharge point in the area for the citys sewer systems. The Parcel F area, along with the 9.5-acre Yosemite Slough a shallow water channel between the shipyard and adjacent Candlestick Point that is also subject to separate cleanup efforts by the EPA and private entities represents one of the most significant areas of sediment contamination in the bay, said Michael Montgomery, director of the EPAs Superfund and Emergency Management Division. Data shows that there are contaminants getting into the environment, into the birds, into the fish and shellfish. Theres concern about people consuming those fish, he said, adding that the objective of the cleanup plan for Parcel F is to lower the current risk for the areas ecosystem. What this remedy will do is eliminate that exposure pathway of contaminated sediments moving up the food web, into natural systems and into human bodies. Montgomery said that the EPA will closely monitor the Navys cleanup of Parcel F and will require trucks entering and leaving the site to pass through a portal monitor that screens the removed sediment for radiation contamination. The Navy will be required to conduct daily monitoring for air quality, both upwind and downwind, during construction activities, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Montgomery added that on-site air monitoring equipment will also be installed and data submitted to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the California Department of Toxic Substance Control. These projects can be a little smelly, Montgomery said. We want to make sure people are aware that there are going to be some odors, and were going to be mindful of that, and work closely with the air district. Settling on a strategy to address the contamination in Parcel F was the last big remedy decision that the Navy has to make in regard to the cleanup, according to Montgomery. The larger shipyards redevelopment by Five Point Holdings into a new mixed-use neighborhood with thousands of new homes and millions of square feet of commercial space was suspended in 2018 after allegations of fraud surfaced in connection with Tetra Tech EC, the firm hired and managed by the Navy in 2004 to remediate the shipyard. At the time, only a few hundred homes had been built on a hilltop site known as Parcel A, which was cleared for redevelopment before cleanup efforts began at the shipyard below. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The mother of five-year-old Elijah Lewis, who was found dead in a Massachusetts park after being starved, has pleaded guilty to her son's murder. Danielle Dauphinais, 38, admitted to second-degree murder and two counts of witness tampering early today morning at the Hillsborough Superior Court South in Nashua. Elijah was killed by his mother in October 2022 after she starved him over a prolonged period, with the little boy weighing the same as a watermelon when his body was found, cops said. His corpse only weighed 19 pounds when measured by officials after his death. A healthy five year-old boy should weight between 34 and 52 pounds, according to CDC figures. Danielle Dauphinais, 38, admitted to second-degree murder and two counts of witness tampering earlier today at the Hillsborough Superior Court in Nashua Based on the charges, the killer mother could be jailed for 55 years to life for murder and receive two sentences of up to seven years for witness tampering. Her sentence hearing is scheduled for October 25. One of the key conditions to Dauphinais' plea agreement is that she is not allowed to profit off these 'offenses', including getting paid to write a book, movie, TV or any other medium on the murder of Lewis. During the hearing, chilling Facebook and text messages she sent to her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf were also revealed in which she admitted to hitting the child on his head. 'All this kid does is cry because he's f****** hungry. He said he wants food and he wants me to stop starving him because it's not nice,' Dauphinais wrote. While another series of messages read: 'I'm gonna kill this kid Joe, f****** screaming on the top of his lungs for f****** water and woke JoLeeya. 'Elijah!! I'm gonna kill him and I mean it.' Perhaps in one of the most surprising texts, she said: 'I hit him in the head with the shower rod that's all I did. Just whooped the maggot's a**'. The young child had gone missing on October 4, 2022 from the family home in Merrimack, New Hampshire. His body was found in Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, Massachusetts - just 70 miles from Merrimack - on October 23 by a police dog, 10 days after a search was launched by investigators across five states. Elijah Lewis was found in Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, Massachusetts - just 70 miles from Merrimack - on October 23, 2022 by a police dog, 10 days after a search was launched by investigators across five states Prosecutors revealed that Dauphinais and Stapf stuffed Elijah's body in a container, dug a hole and buried him in the park. His autopsy report revealed that he had been starved, neglected and physically abused while alive. Lewis had also suffered facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment and pressure ulcers. Bethany Durand, the New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General told the court: 'Between September 27, 2020, and September 21, 2021, Elijah was assaulted, starved, isolated and neglected. He was tortured.' Other texts revealed the same month he went missing showed Dauphinais complaining about Elijah to a childhood friend in June and calling him 'the next Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer' while saying she 'wanted him gone.' Lewis had also suffered facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment and pressure ulcers before he died During the hearing, chilling Facebook and text messages she sent to her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf were also revealed - where she admitted to hitting the child on his head His autopsy report revealed that he had been starved, neglected and physically abused Notorious serial killer and rapist Ted Bundy kidnapped, raped, and murdered several women and underage girls during the 1970s and possibly earlier. He confessed to more than thirty murders he committed across seven states between 1974 and 1978. Dauphinais also reportedly told her friend that she could not 'trust' her son 'anymore' as a result of Elijah urinating over his bedding and clothes and playing with his own feces. She also wrote to her friend: 'I want him gone. I can't handle it anymore,' Ultimately, Dauphinais was arrested in New York City on October 16 - a week before her son's discovery. She and Stapf were then charged with witness tampering and child endangerment before being extradited back to New Hampshire. Stapf has already been convicted of manslaughter in connection with the case and remains in prison. A troubled father of four told a court how he had sex with the Monster of Avignon's wife on a table while she was unconscious but later wrote her a letter from prison to say sorry for forcing himself on her. Fabien Sotton said he only stayed 15 minutes at the Pelicot's family home in Mazan after the woman failed to wake up during his sexual advances. Sotton 39, told the court he had had a troubled upbringing, had been abused in while in care and had been to prison for theft. He admitted that he had taken drugs on the day that he met up with Pelicot after meeting him on the internet chat room used by swingers. Sotton said he had previously indulged in three-somes with a couple where the woman was tied to the bed 'so he could do whatever he liked'. Gisele Pelicot, 71, arrives today at the Palais de Justice, Avignon France for the trial of her ex-husband Dominic Pelicot Dominique Pelicot, who has allegedly drugged and raped his wife Gisele Pelicot, appears during his trial with 50 co-accused at the courthouse in Avignon, France, September 17, 2024 Dominique Pelicot is accused of recruiting men online to assault his wife repeatedly over 10yrs He said he believed he was taking part in a sex game when he went to the Pelicot's home in Mazan in Provence one night in August 2018. Sotton discovered Madame Pelicot lying on a mattress on a table when he invited into the chalet late at night. But he feared that things were not normal when Madame Pelicot failed to react to his sexual advances. However he failed to stop the rape 'because he was in the moment'. He told the court: 'I'm not interested in sex where the woman is sleeping, I like to hear the woman scream. 'I didn't think she was asleep, I thought she was going to wake up.' Judge Roger Arata challenged Sotton, asking him to why he did not stop. The judge asked: 'Why didn't you stop when the victim didn't react?' The Pelicot home in the village of Mazan, now known as the house of horrors Abuse took place in the town of Mazan, south of France, and was only uncovered after the man was caught up-skirting women in a local supermarket, prompting officers to search his home Mr Pelicot depicted appearing at the courthouse in Avignon on September 11 He replied: 'I was too much in the thick of things to notice. 'I was in the excitement of the thing.' Sotton admitted to the court that the husband, Pelicot, could not give consent to sex on his wife behalf and that an unconscious person cannot give consent. The defendant said he only learned about Pelicot following his arrest in April 2021 and wrote a letter of apology to Madame Pelicot. He said: 'I was in jail with another defendant in this trial. 'We heard that he [Pelicot had killed and raped two people in the 1990's. We heard about everything he did. 'I was manipulated by him [Pelicot]. 'I regret what I did. 'I thought it was a sex game.' Turning to Madame Pelicot who was sitting in the court, Sotton said: 'I would like to apologise to you madame. I am sorry I was an accomplice. 'I am truly sorry.' Sotton is among 50 men who are accused of the aggravated rape of Gisele Pelicot over a ten-year period at her home in Her husband rendered her unconscious with powerful sedatives and invited strangers that he met on the internet to rape her while he watched and took videos. The case, dubbed by Pelicot's daughter as the 'worst sex crime for the past 20 years', has horrified France. The trial continues. Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief organisation splurged 12,000 on a flight to Nice to transfer art and jewellery, as well as splashing out 7,800 on a luxury hotel stay for the model. The details of the charity's spending have been revealed by the Charity Commission after Campbell, 54, was today disqualified from being a trustee for five years. An inquiry found that between April 2016 and July 2022, just 8.5 per cent of the charity's overall spending was on charitable grants. It also said it found some fundraising expenditure to be misconduct or mismanagement by the charity's trustees. This included a 12,300 flight from London to Nice in 2018 for transferring art and jewellery. It also looked into the decision to spend 7,800 of charity funds on a three-night stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, for Campbell.While there she spent 6,000 on spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes. The commission said today that as a result of its investigation, more than 344,000 had been recovered and used to make donations to two other charities and settle Fashion For Relief's outstanding liabilities. Naomi Campbell pictured in Cannes in 2018 when her organisation Fashion for Relief spent 7,800 on a luxury three night hotel stay Campbnell (pictured in Milan last week) has been disqualified from being a trustee for five years. The charity also spent 12,000 on a flight from London to Nice (pictured) in order to transfer art and jewellery Supermodel Naomi Campbell - seen in Paris yesterday - has been disqualified as a trustee after an investigation into her Fashion For Relief charity uncovered 'serious mismanagement' Naomi Campbell played a prominent role in catwalk shows staged on behalf of her Fashion For Relief charity - seen here during London Fashion Week in September 2019 It follows revelations by the Mail On Sunday that official accounts showed that it spent more than 1.6million on a glittering gala in Cannes, but gave just 5,000 to good causes over a 15-month period. The Charity Commission confirmed in April that it had removed the supermodel's charity from the UK charity register while it continued its investigation into allegations of misconduct. And today the Commission published the report of its statutory inquiry into Fashion For Relief, concluding the charity was poorly governed and had inadequate financial management. Campbell was disqualified from being a trustee for five years, former colleagues Bianka Hellmich for nine and Veronica Chou for four. The model founded the charity in 2005, saying she had been inspired by her friend Nelson Mandela telling her to 'use [her] voice' for good. The organisation claimed to have raised more than 11million, mostly through glitzy fundraising events held all over the world, including in New York, Mumbai and Moscow. Campbell would take centre stage at the galas, appearing in showstopping designer gowns, and was honoured by the British Fashion Council for her services to and achievements in the fashion industry in 2019. But concerns were raised in 2021 about how much money was being passed on to people in need after the Mayor's Fund for London lodged an official complaint, saying that it was owed 50,000 by the charity. The Mayor's Fund, which helps young Londoners from low-income backgrounds, filed a 'serious incident' report with the Charity Commission, which announced a statutory inquiry in November that year. The supermodel, pictured on the red carpet at the Fashion for Relief show at London Fashion Week in September 2019, has now been disqualified as a charity trustee for four years Naomi Campbell is seen here attending a Fashion For Relief event at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival in France in May 2018 Among those at the Fashion For Relief event at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 were (left to right) Maria Borges, Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Winnie Harlow and Natalia Vodianova In these cases, the trustees 'failed to show how these were cost-effective and an appropriate use of the charity's resources', the Charity Commission said. The inquiry saw no evidence trustees had reviewed the charity's operating model to ensure fundraising methods were in the organisation's best interest and that costs were reasonable relative to cash brought in. And it also found some of the charity's fundraising expenditure was not reasonable. The charity had held fundraising events for the Save the Children Fund and the Mayor's Fund for London. The inquiry found that the trustees of Fashion for Relief 'failed to manage these partnership arrangements'. The commission also said unauthorised payments totalling 290,000 for consultancy services had been made to trustee Ms Hellmich, which was in breach of the charity's constitution. And the charity's funds were held and applied on its behalf by external professional advisors rather than in a dedicated bank account in Fashion For Relief's name. Tim Hopkins, the Charity Commission's deputy director for specialist investigations and standards, said: 'Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charity's best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities. 'Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them. 'This inquiry, and the work of the interim managers we appointed to run the charity in place of the trustees, has resulted in the recovery of 344,000 and protection of a further 98,000 charitable funds. 'I am pleased that the inquiry has seen donations made to other charities which this charity has previously supported.' Veronica Chou (pictured left, with Naomi Campbell) has also been disqualified as a trustee Naomi Campbell helped launch a Fashion For Reliuef pop-up store at Westfield London in November 2019 The supermodel is pictured here at a Fashion For Relief event at Doha Fire Station in Qatar's capital in November 2021 The trustees were Ms Campbell, her key aide Ms Chou who is the heiress to a 2 billion textile fortune, and socialite and lawyer Ms Hellmich. Ms Chou quit the charity days after the Commission launched its probe in 2021. A spokesman for the charity said in April when it was removed from the charity register: 'The winding up of Fashion For Relief was a decision made by the trustees three years ago. It was not forcibly closed. 'Fashion For Relief operates in America and will continue to do fundraising initiatives worldwide.' MailOnline has contacted Fashion For Relief and representatives for Naomi Campbell for comment. Pedestrians and cars were soaked with poo after a sewage pipe exploded near a motorway. Stomach-churning CCTV footage shows the 'poo-cano' of browny orange waste showering the road. A pipe ruptured on a section of road undergoing work at around 11am on Tuesday September 24. The footage shows how the human waste thundered more than 33 ft into the air like a geyser. Vehicles are shown driving on the busy road when the 'poo-cano' erupted, sending a huge brown cloud into the sky in Nanning, in the southern Guangxi region of China. Cars and pedestrians were soaked in poo after a sewage pipe exploded near a motorway Cars were driving on a busy highway in the city of Nanning in southern China, when the 'poo-cano' suddenly erupted, sending a huge cloud of brown dust into the sky Dashcam footage shows how windscreens were pelted with globules of poo as it rained down all around. Unsuspecting pedestrians were also splattered from head to toe with human waste as they strolled along the avenue. One driver reportedly complained: 'I'm drenched in poo, my car is splattered yellow. It's ruined.' The blast was so powerful that a digger was flipped at the roadworks site where the eruption occurred. Local authorities confirmed that no one was injured by the explosion. Officials are investigating the cause of the incident, which reportedly happened as a pressure test was being conducted during the laying of the sewage pipes Several vehicles were damaged by the blast, which was so powerful that a digger was overturned at the roadworks site However, several vehicles sustained damage from the sudden explosion out of the ground. The rupture reportedly happened as a pressure test was being conducted during the laying of the sewage pipes. Officials were dispatched to the scene to carry out a large clean-up operation after the blast. The local authorities are reportedly investigating its causes to prevent similar incidents in the future. One local said: 'You can almost smell this video.' Oasis will take their Live '25 tour across the world with 13 cities in the US, Canada, Asia and Australia set to be played by the band. Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher had always been clear that their reunion tour next year would be a 'world tour', but until now have been tight-lipped on what form this might take. UK and Ireland dates were subject to 'unprecedented' demand when tickets went on sale last month, with fans left enraged by prices skyrocketing due to Ticketmaster's 'dynamic pricing', or by being kicked off the site once they had queued for hours to secure a spot. It had been suggested last week that US tour dates would be revealed on Friday, but NME have announced a day before then that 13 cities in the US and beyond will host the britpop legends. Though their report does not mention venues, it suggests Oasis fans stateside might be able to watch the band at the enormous MetLife Stadium with East Rutherford, New Jersey, one of the cities which will host the group. Oasis will take their Live '25 tour across the world with 13 cities in the US, Canada , Asia and Australia set to be played by the Gallagher brothers and their bandmates Oasis fans stateside might be able to watch the band at the enormous MetLife Stadium - which hosts both the New York Giants and the New York Jets - with East Rutherford, New Jersey, one of the cities due to host the group As well as East Rutherford, the Gallaghers and their bandmates will also be visiting Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles on the US leg of their tour. Heading north, Oasis will reportedly be stopping off in Toronto to play to some of their Canadian fans. Perhaps coincidentally, it has been revealed today that next year will see the construction of a new 50,000 capacity outdoor concert venue - which will be the city's largest. In the other direction, Mexico City is set to host the rock and roll stars, with more dates expected in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The world tour will apparently also take the band the other side of the Pacific Ocean, including in both Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Oasis are also set to appear in South Korea and Japan in Seoul and Tokyo respectively. Oasis Live '25 world tour cities Toronto, Canada Chicago, US East Rutherford, New Jersey, US Boston, US Los Angeles, US Mexico City, Mexico Seoul, South Korea Tokyo, Japan Melbourne, Australia Sydney, Australia Sao Paulo, Brazil Santiago, Chile Buenos Aires, Argentina Source: NME Advertisement Exact dates, venues and ticketing details are all due to be confirmed shortly. It remains unclear whether Ticketmaster will still be the main provider of spaces for fans at the gigs following the chaos which fans experienced when trying to book spaces in the UK and Ireland. After the first wave of sales, Oasis and Ticketmaster faced calls to 'do the right thing' and refund fans hit by dynamic pricing by consumer group Which? The band and ticketing giant faced the fury of those eager to watch Oasis's hotly-anticipated tour after the price of standard tickets more than doubled from 148 to 355. Ticketmaster said prices were driven up by surging demand and the policy had been agreed with the band's management, Oasis itself said they were unaware of dynamic pricing would be implemented when tickets initially went on sale. Since then the UK's government and competition watchdog have pledged to look into the implementation of the policy. And Which?, one of Britain's most well known consumer groups, has called for those who paid more than expected to seal their place at the gigs to have some of their money returned. Following the controversy, Which? asked Oasis fans to send in screenshots of the ticket-buying and checkout process to see if they were warned that ticket prices could surge due to high levels of demand. Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs), traders must not mislead consumers with how prices are presented or leave out key pricing information that they might need to make an informed decision about their purchase. Which? said many fans were not informed about the increases until after they had already tried to add cheaper tickets to their baskets. While the use of 'dynamic pricing' was mentioned in the terms and conditions on the website, fans were not warned that this practice would be used for Oasis tickets, the watchdog said. Boris Johnson made an extraordinary last-ditch bid to persuade Prince Harry not to quit the UK. The former Prime Minister reveals in his sensational new memoir that he was asked to give the Duke of Sussex a 'manly pep talk' to convince him it would be a mistake to leave Britain for a fresh start abroad with his wife Meghan. Mr Johnson's new book, Unleashed, will be serialised in the Daily Mail from Saturday, and is already tipped to become the political memoir of the century. He reveals that in January 2020, just weeks after his landslide election win, officials in Downing Street and Buckingham Palace believed he might be able to talk Harry out of his seismic decision to quit the UK and walk away from his royal duties. The ex-PM writes that there was 'a ridiculous business... when they made me try to persuade Harry to stay. Kind of manly pep talk. Totally hopeless.' Prince Harry and Boris Johnson on the day of the meeting in January 2020 where the former prime minister made a last-ditch bid to persuade Prince Harry not to quit the UK Boris Johnson made an extraordinary last-ditch bid to persuade Prince Harry not to quit the UK. Pictured are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in March 2020 during an event in London Mr Johnson's explosive new book will delve into some of his relationships with other members of the royal family. Pictured is late Queen Elizabeth II and her son, King Charles The secret meeting, which underlines the close links between No 10 and the Palace, took place in the margins of a UK-Africa investment summit in London's Docklands. It came just hours after the duke gave an emotional speech in which he said he and Meghan were leaving with 'great sadness' but felt they had 'no other option' but to step away from royal life. The two men met for 20 minutes without aides as Mr Johnson tried to persuade the prince to reconsider. A friend said Mr Johnson paid tribute to Harry's efforts on the Invictus Games and praised Meghan's work on their shared passion for promoting the education of women and girls in developing countries. 'He thought they were a great asset to UK plc and it was a real shame they were leaving when they were doing such great work,' the friend said. 'It was a man-to-man conversation, they were totally alone. But Harry wasn't for turning he was unpersuadable by that point. 'Boris succeeded in delivering Brexit but even he couldn't stop Megxit.' The following day, Harry flew to Canada to be reunited with Meghan and their son, Archie. The family later moved to Montecito, California, where they remain today, having given up their lives as working Royals. The publication of Mr Johnson's memoir threatens to overshadow the Conservative Party conference which gets under way in Birmingham on Sunday. Harry and Meghan left Britain for a fresh start abroad in 2020. The couple now live in Montecito, California Mr Johnson's book will provide candid insights into his relationship with the late Queen and other members of the Royal Family, including his final meeting with the monarch in 2022 It will set out Mr Johnson's view of the Tory machinations that forced him out in the summer of 2022. And the former PM will deliver his verdict on the record of his successors, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, while pondering whether the Tories' crushing election defeat could have been avoided. He promises to reveal 'what I really think about Rishi' and 'how and why I learned to keep my old friend Michael Gove firmly in the wing mirror'. In typically colourful style, he also offers to spill the beans on 'which senior politician looks like a bullock having a thermometer shoved unexpectedly up his rectum' and 'how I became obsessed with the weirdly shaped nostrils of a certain prime minister'. And he will reflect on his own political future after being cast out by his MPs and a vengeful Labour Party. In a video teaser last night, he posed the tantalising question: 'Will I be coming back?' adding: 'Read the Daily Mail and find out.' The book, which covers his years in politics, will detail the run-up to the Brexit referendum, the furious campaign and the fallout from the biggest political earthquake in a generation. Mr Johnson will set out his reaction to David Cameron's shock decision to resign in the wake of the Leave vote and how his battle to succeed him collapsed when he was betrayed by his Vote Leave colleague Mr Gove. The former PM will also describe the fights with Parliament, the courts and his own MPs as he battled to deliver on the vote to leave the EU. In his book Mr Johnson promises to reveal 'how and why I learned to keep my old friend Michael Gove firmly in the wing mirror'. He is pictured with Mr Gove (right) in 2016 on the Brexit campaign trail And he will reveal details of the tempestuous negotiations with EU leaders who feared that allowing Brexit to become a success could trigger the collapse of the whole bloc. In a promotional video on MailOnline, Mr Johnson said French president Emmanuel Macron was 'always personally charming', but adds: 'He really meant it when he said that Brexit Britain must be punished.' Mr Johnson will also detail how his government grappled with a once-in-a-century pandemic and tell for the first time the full story of how Covid almost killed him. The former PM will reflect on the Partygate scandal which brought him down less than three years after winning an election that looked set to give him a decade in power. And he will explain how he battled to persuade world leaders to rally behind Ukraine and its inspirational president, Volodymyr Zelensky, following Vladimir Putin's invasion in 2022. The book will provide candid insights into his relationship with the late Queen and other members of the Royal Family, including his final meeting with the monarch when he travelled to Balmoral to tender his resignation just days before she died in September 2022. In his video clip, he said readers will also 'discover what the Queen said to me after her incredible performance with James Bond at the 2012 Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games'. Costco has denied selling baby oil after Diddy's lawyer suggested the rapper had so many bottles of it at his home because he likes to buy in bulk, like any regular American. The rapper's attorney, Marc Agnifilio, gave the bizarre explanation earlier this week as he was asked about the over 1,000 bottles of baby oil that federal agents reportedly found in Diddy's Miami home. 'I don't think it was 1,000. I think it was a lot. I mean, there is a Costco right down the street. I think Americans buy in bulk, as we know,' Agnifilo told the New York Post. 'And you know these are consensual adults doing what consensual adults do, you know, we can't get so puritanical in this country to think that somehow sex is a bad thing because if it was there would be no more people.' But Costco, a member's only retailer, has now told TMZ on Thursday that they don't sell baby oil in any of their locations across the country. Costco has denied selling baby oil after Diddy 's lawyer suggested the rapper had so many bottles of it at his home because he likes to buy in bulk Costco, a member's only retailer, has now told TMZ on Thursday that they don't sell baby oil in any of their locations across the country Diddy, real name Sean Combs, has been accused of arranging 'Freak Offs,' described as 'elaborate and produced sex performances' arranged and directed by the star while he masturbated and often recorded them. Aside from the stockpile of baby oil, prosecutors say they also found bondage materials, sex tapes, hidden cameras and rooms designed for sexual performances. The indictment stated that some 'Freak Offs' would last for days, requiring Diddy, 54, and victims to receive IV fluids to recover from the exertion and drug use. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Agnifilio said his client is feeling positive about his chances in court. 'He's just laser-focused, he's engaged, he's helpful, he's confident. We're going through our defense as we do every day and his spirits are relatively good.' Marc Agnifilio said the bottles likely came from Costco and disputed there were as many as 1,000 A picture from inside Diddy's Miami home shows how law enforcement agents conducted thorough searches Diddy's arrest came 10 months after allegations of sexual and other abuse against the music mogul, and an announcement from prosecutors that he was being investigated for sex trafficking. The allegations began with a lawsuit by Diddy's ex Cassie Ventura which claimed she was beaten and raped by the star. The suit was settled the day after it became public, but Diddy has since been dogged by other claims. The indictment against him also alleges he coerced and abused women for years while using blackmail and shocking acts of violence to keep his victims in line. It refers obliquely to an attack on his former girlfriend, Cassie, that was captured on video. Prosecutors wanted him jailed. His attorneys proposed that he be released on a $50 million bond to home detention with electronic monitoring. US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky sided with the government. Like many aging hip-hop figures, Bad Boy Records founder Diddy had established a gentler public image. The father of seven was a respected businessman whose annual Hamptons 'White Party' was once a must-have invitation for the jet-setting elite. But prosecutors said he facilitated his crimes using the same companies, people and methods that vaulted him to power. They said they would prove the charges with financial and travel records, electronic communications and videos of the 'Freak Offs.' In March, authorities raided Combs' Los Angeles and Florida homes, seizing drugs, videos and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, prosecutors said. They said agents also seized guns and ammunition, including three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers. A conviction on every charge would require a mandatory 15 years in prison with the possibility of a life sentence. Eric Adams was branded a 'disgrace to all black people' Thursday as he was drowned out by furious New Yorkers gathered outside Gracie Mansion where he tried to brush off federal corruption charges in a hastily called press conference . The embattled New York City mayor, 64, stood defiantly, with a smile on his face, on the steps of his official residence on Manhattan's Upper East Side while the protestors screamed at him, making it hard for him to get a word. 'This is not a black thing, this is a YOU thing,' one furious Big Apple resident bellowed over a megaphone. 'Your policies are anti-black, you are a disgrace to all black people in this city.' Adams, who has faced mounting calls to step down from local Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, was joined by several respected black activists for the press conference, including Hazel Dukes, 92, who decided to shout back at the protestors when she took the podium. 'Will you be quiet?' she responded. 'Will you shut up?' Eric Adams was branded a 'disgrace to all black people' as he was drowned out by furious New Yorkers during a press conference on Thursday Furious New Yorkers descended on Adams' Gracie Mansion residence, telling the embattled mayor: 'This is not a black thing, this is a you thing' When news of Adams' indictment first broke the night before, the mayor responded by claiming he was being 'targeted' because of actions he took while in office. He cited his criticism of the federal government's handling of the migrant crisis, and while under investigation in recent months has repeatedly compared himself to the late David Dinkins, New York City's first black mayor, who served from 1990 through 1993. While Adams has attempted to imply that issues in his tenure have been hampered by race in the same way they were with Dinkins, protestors at Gracie Mansion roundly rejected that stance. 'You are a disgrace to David Dinkins,' the protestor with a megaphone shouted at one stage during Thursday's press conference. 'You hurt our schools, our streets are dirty... this is ridiculous,' they said. 'This is not a black thing, this is a justice thing.' As Adams proceeded on with his statement about the charges brought against him by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, he did not address the furious protests directly but thanked 'supporters of all ethnic groups' for attending. Protestors drowned out Adams and delayed the start of his press conference for several minutes, shouting at him: 'You hurt our schools, our streets are dirty... this is ridiculous' While under investigation in recent months, Adams has repeatedly compared himself to David Dinkins (pictured) New York City's first black mayor When he came to speak after the protestors died down, Adams defied mounting calls for his resignation as he spoke surrounded by Black community leaders in the city, saying he 'will continue to do the job that I was elected to do.' 'My day to day will not change,' Adams said, adding that his lawyers will 'take care of the case.' 'Everyone who knows me knows that I follow the campaign rules and I follow the law,' he said. At a press conference held just minutes after Adams held his own at the Gracie Mansion, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District, laid out his case against Adams. He accused Adams of failing to declare an alleged array of gifts and kickbacks on public disclosure forms, even as the mayor boasted that he 'never' accepted gifts. Williams said Adams' close ties with the foreign governments dated back as far as 2016, and claimed he would guide city policy to help those who gave him perks. '(Adams) crossed bright red lines' again and again, Williams said, alleging that Adams' took 'corrupt official action' while in office. This included free trips, hotel suites and airline upgrades valued at over $100,000, with prosecutors citing a hugely discounted stay at the Bentley Suite in the St. Regis Hotel in Istanbul in July 2017 - which was valued at over $3,5000 per night but for which he only paid $300 per night. Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, laid out his case against Adams in a press conference held shortly after the mayor held his own Although Adams insists that he has no plans to resign after a grand jury returned a federal indictment against him, he notably may not have a choice as New York Governor Kathy Hochul has the power to remove him from office through a complex system that hasn't been attempted since 1931. If Adams is removed, he would be replaced by ultra-progressive, Black Lives Matter activist Jumaane Williams, 48, who is currently the NYC Public Activist. He would replace Adams temporarily, until there is a special election 80 days after the change of power, sparking fears among New Yorkers that things could go from bad to worse in the city. If she chooses to do so, Hochul could suspend Adams for up to 30 days and then remove him 'after service upon him of a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in his defense.' A similar scenario played out in 1931, when then-New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt held two weeks of hearings into scandal-hit Mayor Jimmy Walker, who resigned the next year. Hochul has so far remained quiet on Adams' future, saying only that she she is 'monitoring' the situation. She added through her spokesman Avi Small that it 'would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement.' Former GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley hasn't 'forgotten' the tactics used by former President Donald Trump and his campaign when they were running against each other in the GOP primary earlier this year. Haley is hosting a new SiriusXM show and said during the first episode that her audience shouldn't expect to hear niceties about Trump, despite the fact that the former U.N. ambassador endorsed him. The former South Carolina governor dropped out of the presidential race in early March - after a dissapointing Super Tuesday - waiting until late May to give Trump the nod. She told listeners 'you're not going to hear me say glowing things about Donald Trump's personality.' 'I have not forgotten what he said about me. I have not forgotten what he said about my husband or his, you know, deployment time or his military service,' Haley said. Former GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley hasn't 'forgotten' the tactics used by former President Donald Trump and his campaign when they were running against each other in the GOP primary earlier this year While Haley was campaigning for the White House, her husband Michael was on a deployment to Africa as part of his service in the Army National Guard. 'I haven't forgotten about his or his campaign's tactics from, you know, putting a bird cage outside our hotel room to calling me "bird brain,"' she continued. 'I haven't forgotten any of that.' Trump's nickname for Haley was 'bird brain,' during the Republican primary. After DailyMail.com revealed new details about two alleged affairs Haley had in 2008 - which she's denied - Trump taunted Haley about her husband's whereabouts during a campaign rally in February. 'Where's her husband? Oh, he's away What happened to her husband? Where is he? He's gone,' Trump said at a rally in Haley's home state of South Carolina. Trump appeared to refer to the alleged affairs telling the crowd of Michael Haley, 'he knew, he knew.' Haley suggested that this behavior was expected because 'politics is not for thin-skinned people.' Former President Donald Trump nicknamed Nikki Haley 'bird brain' and suggested that her husband wanted to be away from her as they competed against each other in the Republican primaries earlier this year 'It's just not,' she said. After DailyMail.com reported on her alleged affairs, Haley's campaign barred the Mail's reporters from covering future campaign events. 'Daily Mail is not credentialed for any more events. I'm politely asking you to leave,' Haley spokeswoman Chaney Denton told a reporter and photographer at a campaign event in New Hampshire in mid-January. During her show's debut episode that was released Wednesday, Haley said she would 'put the personal part of it aside' and be a straight-shooter. 'I'm looking at what will make the country better,' she said. 'So that's what you're going to hear on the show. You're just going to hear the truth.' Appeal court judges had tough questions for New York prosecutors on Thursday as Donald Trump asked them to throw out a $454 million civil fraud judgment against him. They wanted to know why the penalties were set at almost half a billion dollars and who had been harmed in a case where neither side had lost money. It is the latest twist in Trump's multiple legal cases that are playing out as he campaigns to return to the White House. Justice Arthur Engoron in February ordered the former president pay $454.2 million in penalties and interest for inflating his net worth to dupe lenders and insurers into giving him better terms. The civil case was brought by New York state Attorney General Letitia James. Donald Trump's lawyer John Sauer makes his arguments to appeals court judges in the civil fraud case brought by New York state against the former president and his business The lawyers were back in court on Thursday as Trump seeks to have the judgement thrown out. The panel of five appeal judges bombarded Deputy New York Solicitor General Judith Vale with questions about the extent of James's authority, the lack of victims in the conduct and the size of the penalty. At least two of the judges seemed skeptical of the case against Trump, and interrupted her opening statement to ask whether there were other examples of the state suing over private business transactions between sophisticated parties using a law designed to protect market integrity. 'The immense penalty in this case is troubling,' said Justice Peter Moulton. 'How do you tether the amount that was assessed by the Supreme Court to the harm that was caused here where the parties left these transactions happy?' Vale responded: 'Although this is a large number, its a large number for a couple reasons. One, because there was a lot of fraud and illegality.' Trump arrived in New York on Thursday afternoon and is expected to address reporters at Trump Tower. But he was not present in court. The case is one of a number of legal entanglements Trump has faced since leaving the White House in 2021. Justice Arthur Engoron in February ordered trump to pay $454.2 million in penalties and interest for inflating his net worth to dupe lenders and insurers into giving him better terms The civil case was brought by New York state Attorney General Letitia James. He owes nearly $90 million in federal civil penalties for defaming a writer who accused him of sexual abuse, and was convicted in May on criminal charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star. Trump has denied all wrongdoing and has said the cases were brought to interfere with his campaign. Justice David Friedman pressed Vale on whether there was any precedent for the attorney general suing over transactions involving sophisticated parties where neither 'lost any money.' 'Every case that you cite involves damage to consumers, damage to the marketplace. ... We don't have anything like that here,' Friedman said. The case stemmed from Trump's leadership of his family real estate company, the Trump Organization, before he became president in 2017. The appeal judges bombarded Deputy New York Solicitor General Judith Vale with questions Trump's lawyer John Sauer told the judges that the case was brought too late and that it would be unfair to impose a 'crippling financial penalty' for the former president's decades-old financial statements, which Engoron found were illegally inflated. 'This case involves a clear-cut violation of the statute of limitations and relevant case law,' Sauer said. Sauer also said that trial testimony showed that any discrepancies in Trump's net worth were irrelevant to his lenders. 'What is not disputed is the testimony that if the net worth had been as low as one million (dollars), the deal would've been exactly the same,' Sauer said. He added that none of Trump's lenders and business partners were harmed by the discrepancies on the financial statements, an argument Trump's lawyers have made throughout the case. "There were no victims, no complaints," Sauer said. After 40 years of service, Air New Zealand Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer Captain David Morgan has today announced he is stepping down from his leadership position at the airline. While he will no longer be in his corporate role, David will continue flying for the company in what will be his sixth aircraft type, the Airbus A320. David has given a lifetime of service to Air New Zealand and across nearly four decades has been at the helm through the highest of highs and some of the toughest periods in the airline's history. Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said that while its a sad day for the airline, he knows it wouldnt be what it is today without the service David delivered throughout his tenure. When people think of Air New Zealand, many Kiwi will know or have heard of Captain David Morgan. Hes represented the airline on the ground and in the skies with the highest level of excellence, and I speak on behalf of all Air New Zealanders past and present when I say a heartfelt thank you for his service. David will be deeply missed by the leadership team and many others across the business and aviation community. We are grateful he is continuing to fly with us, and I look forward to the day I hear him say, Welcome on board this Air New Zealand aircraft when I board one of our flights. The airline is working through a replacement for the role with David staying on the leadership team until early 2025 to support the transition. This announcement is made pursuant to Listing Rule 3.20.1. Ends. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. 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Related News: TRU - WHO Agency UNITAID Features TRU in Tech Landscape Report PaySauce Quarterly Market Update - September 2024 October 2nd Morning Report Rua Releases Annual Report for Year Ended 30 June 2024 SCL - Settlement of orchard sales The Warehouse Group 2024 ASM and Director Nominations Comvita Limited - Annual Report 2024 September 27th Morning Report Spark announces departure of Finance Director FBU - Retail Entitlement Offer Opens Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter after he struck and killed a pedestrian with his SUV. The star did not turn up to court and was able to enter his plea through his lawyer since the charge is a misdemeanor offense. Klinghoffer, 44, who played with the band from 2009-2019, was driving a black GMC Yukon in Alhambra, California when he made a left turn and ran into Israel Sanchez, 47. Sanchez's daughter slammed the classification of the charge outside the Los Angeles Superior Court in Alhambra. 'I miss my dad,' Ashley Sanchez, told Rolling Stone after the hearing. 'We're seeking justice here. I don't know why Josh is getting just a misdemeanor. It's not okay. My father was a very great father.' Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter after he struck and killed a pedestrian with his SUV Klinghoffer's attorney Andrew Brettler previously told DailyMail.com that the March incident was a 'tragic accident' - with the musician 'fully cooperating' with an investigation. But Sanchez's family is suing the guitarist and claim he was using his phone at the time of the crash. The lawsuit alleges that Sanchez was dragged across the asphalt during the collision and sustained blunt force trauma to his head, causing his death hours later. The lawsuit claims Klinghoffer did not apply his brakes, while also alleging he was 'distracted behind the wheel' due to allegedly being on his phone. The suit adds that the family has 'video evidence' showing Klinghoffer on his phone just before the collision. The video then shows the SUV driver pulling over after striking the pedestrian, before walking over to the body and then turning around and walking back to the vehicle. He was not at court to face Sanchez's family, including his daughter Ashley Sanchez, pictured Sanchez said she is outraged that the offense has been classified as a misdemeanor Attorney Nick Rowley, who is representing Sanchez's family, previously said in a statement obtained by Variety: 'Mr. Klinghoffer should be arrested and prosecuted for homicide. 'We have a video of him on his cell phone at the time he hit and killed Israel Sanchez, a loving father, in a crosswalk. 'Israel Sanchez was on his way to the grocery store to make soup for his family and never came home. 'He did everything right, looking for oncoming traffic and abiding by pedestrian signage, but tragically Mr. Klinghoffer, in a rush and on his phone, hit him fatally from behind with a large SUV. Klinghoffer's case is due back in court on October 31. The civil case is due to proceed on October 18, with Sanchez's family seeking reimbursement for medical costs as well as damages for pain and suffering. Klinghoffer was able to enter his plea at Los Angeles Superior Court in Alhambra through his lawyer since it is a misdemeanor charge Klinghoffer is pictured with the Red Hot Chili Peppers members Chad Smith, Flea and Anthony Kiedis in 2014 Klinghoffer replaced John Frusciante in the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2009 and recorded two studio albums, I'm with You (2011) and The Getaway (2016), and the B-sides compilation I'm Beside You (2013). Age 32, Klinghoffer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2012, making him the youngest inductee at the time. After he was booted out of the group in 2019 following Frusciante's return, he became a touring and session member of both Pearl Jam (since 2021) and Jane's Addiction (2023). In a GoFundMe, Ashley said her father, 'Israel will always be remembered for his humbleness and kindness'. 'He would always go out of his way to help others, was the life of the party, had a great sense of humor, and his smile brighten anyones day,' she wrote. 'He had a great passion for cooking, those who knew him or simply ever got to taste his food would definitely say he was an amazing chef.' A liver doctor charged with using his position to sexually assault patients for decades tried to cover his face from the cameras after he posted a $1.5million bond. Dr John Hoefs, 79, is accused of groping dozens of female patients since 2006 at UCI Medical Center and a clinic at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in southern California. The hepatologist put his hand over his face as he exited Orange County Superior Court in Newport Beach on Wednesday with his wife and daughter, who aggressively tried to block the cameras. Hoefs, who lives in Irvine, was previously released from jail after posting a $500,000 bond in May, but was arrested again after more charges were filed. He has pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of sexual battery by fraud and three felony counts of sexual battery. Dr John Hoefs, 79, is accused of groping over a dozen female patients since 2006 at UCI Medical Center and a clinic at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in southern California The doctor was accompanied by his daughter and wife, who tried to block the cameras Hoefs is accused of demanding that his female patients undress and expose their breasts even though he was examining their livers. One of the alleged victims claimed Hoefs groped her breasts during five separate appointments that began in 2020 that were meant to treat a liver condition. The woman claims she tried to cover herself with a gown but Hoefs pulled it down to expose her chest. Hoefs has also been sued by 15 other women who claim the physician assaulted them The second alleged victim says Hoefs toucher her breasts while examining her in 2016 and again in 2017. Hoefs has also been sued by 15 other women who claim the physician forced them to expose their chest and in many cases groped them under the guise of medical treatment. One woman claimed in the suit, filed in August, that Hoefs claimed he was 'feeling for her liver' as he touched her breasts and pointed out he was aroused, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. 'Many of the female patients who were sexually abused by Hoefs were fighting for their lives against aggressive forms of liver cancer and hepatitis at the time they sought treatment,' according to the lawsuit. 'When, in return, Hoefs viciously violated that trust and confidence in order to sexually abuse these extremely vulnerable patients.' One woman claims she showed Hoefs a picture of a bruise to seek his advice but he said, he 'did not have time to look at photographs unless they were of her in a bikini.' The doctor's family is seen supporting him on Wednesday after he posted bail Hoefs, who lives in Irvine, was previously released from jail after posting a $500,000 bond in May, but was arrested again after more charges were filed The suit also named Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and the Regents of the University of California. The LA Times and the suit claim that Hoefs was repeatedly reported on online forums and to the California Medical Board, but he was not stopped until his arrest in May. The California Medical Board suspended Hoefs' medical license and UCI Medical Center and Hoag Memorial terminated their relationship with the doctor following his arrest. Hoag has claimed Hoefs never worked for them. 'Like many other private practice physicians, Dr. Hoefs leased office space in a building owned by Hoag,' they said in a statement. 'Upon learning of his arrest, Hoags medical staff immediately suspended his hospital privileges and Hoag suspended access to his leased space.' A horrified mother went to the police after discovering the nanny she had hired for her daughters spent a fortnight showing them porn, teaching them about sex and making out with her boyfriend. Helen Leah Ferriolo, 40, was supposed to be taking care of the two sisters aged eight and 10, along with their 10-year-old friend at the house in North Haven, Connecticut. Instead they were locked in a closet and endured weeks of sexualized behavior, lewd comments and lessons in masturbation and oral sex, an affidavit claims. Ferriolo repeatedly masturbated in front of the children and demanded that one girl sniff her fingers afterwards. She also grabbed her breasts, asked her to 'pose sexy' in her bathing suit, and held her hands behind her back to make her watch a porn video. Helen Leah Ferriolo, 40, has been charged with four counts of risk of injury to a minor, three counts of second-degree unlawful restraint and a single count of fourth-degree sexual assault She invited boyfriend Tim McNulty to the house without the parents' knowledge and would regale the children with details of the couple's sex life The girls revealed their ordeal to their horrified families after Ferriolo was sacked for repeatedly not turning up to work. The girls' aunt recorded a call in which she confronted the nanny about her behavior and pretended she had a recording of her sexualized conversations. Ferriolo claimed that the girls had initiated the talks before admitting she was sorry and ought to apologize to them. 'I probably shouldn't have said what I said,' she reportedly confessed. The nanny from Wallingford began working for the family on July 15 and would take the girls for days out at the beach in nearby East Haven. 'You have big t**s, the boys are going to love you,' she told one of the 10-year-olds as she changed. On a second visit Ferriolo 'began to touch and her rub (her) breasts', before the girl pushed her away. The nanny would also bring her boyfriend Tim McNulty to swim at the family's pool without the parents' knowledge. 'Leah and Tim were on top of each other while in the water and were kissing,' the affidavit records. 'Leah took her bathing suit off. She did not see anything else when the bathing suit was taken off because she went inside.' The elder sister was in her bathing suit at home when Ferriolo took out her phone and asked her to 'pose sexy', it is claimed. The nanny then took a second photo after the girl turned round, but the girl waited until Ferriolo had left her phone unguarded before deleting the photos from it. She allegedly told the girl's friend to wear a 'more revealing' bathing suit, and showed the girls a video of her and her boyfriend in bed immediately after having sex. The eight-year-old did not escape the nanny's attention either and recalled her on the 'couch rubbing her breasts and groin area under her clothing. 'She advised (her) that she should try it, but she refused. (Ferriolo) also made lewd gestures in front of (the eight-year-old). 'She described a particular incident where (Ferriolo) put her hands near her own mouth and moved them around in a circular motion.' The little girl and her sister was repeatedly locked in a closet by their carer who banged on furniture to pretend there was an 'intruder' in the house. Ferriolo was sacked on August 8 and the girls' mother went to the police on August 20 after they began revealing what had happened. The girls repeated the allegations in interviews with North Haven police and Connecticut Department of Children and Families. The nanny was arrested on Friday and has been charged with four counts of risk of injury to a minor, three counts of second-degree unlawful restraint and a single count of fourth-degree sexual assault. She has been freed on a $50,000 bond and is due to answer the charges at Superior Court in Meriden on October 3. A major UK cinema chain has gone to the High Court in a last ditch attempt to save numerous theatres being axed and thousands losing their jobs. The four companies which are part of the world's second largest cinema chain are in hot water and are 'presently unprofitable', the court heard on Thursday. The US branch of the troubled company has agreed to put forward funding to keep them afloat if they are granted the requested restructure according to lawyers. However they say the four 'plan companies' will enter into administration if the plans are not approve, their lawyers say. Published proposals revealed that more than 100 Cineworld Cinemas were 'uneconomic' and their leases would need to be renegotiated. Cineworld has gone to the High Court in a last ditch attempt to save numerous theatres being axed and thousands losing their jobs. The four companies which are part of the world's second largest cinema chain are in hot water and are 'presently unprofitable', the court heard on Thursday Pictured: The Bedford site They also propositioned closing six sites because they were 'commercially unviable'. Among the companies impacted include Cine-UK Ltd, Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, Cineworld Cinema Properties Ltd and Cineworld Estates Ltd. Tom Smith KC, for the Cineworld companies, said: 'If the plans are not sanctioned, the plan companies will not have sufficient funds to meet their payment obligations to creditors.' He continued: 'In these circumstances, the plan companies' directors will likely have no choice but to file for administration.' However the Crown Estate and UK Commercial Property (UKCP), who are the landlords of four sites in Newcastle, Harlow, Glasgow Renfrew and Swindon want to block the proposals. Both organisations have requested an injunction to stop the cinema chain from 'compromising' their rental agreements. Ben Shaw KC, for the Crown Estate and UKCP, said there would be 'adverse consequences' for the landlords if the leases were subject to restructuring plans. including receiving just one month's rent. He said: 'One of the things they bargained for was the plan companies not coming back for a second bite of the impairment cherry.' He added: 'What the plan companies promised not to do is precisely what they are now doing.' Mr Smith said that it was fair to treat all landlords equally, and that 'there was never any intention' to 'impose a further compromise' through restructuring when the agreements were made. But he explained restructuring was necessary due to 'unexpectedly poor performance of those sites in the period since the agreements were entered into'. The Cineworld brand currently runs 101 cinemas in the UK, with another two sites owned by the company under sublet, Mr Smith told the court. In a previous hearing, it was detailed that the cinemas employs over four thousand people, with the wider group operating in ten countries in total. However, the business was 'severely adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions', the court heard. Screen actors and writers strikes also were a huge blow to the chain, leaving the companies facing 'severe financial difficulties'. However, the landlords of certain sites are trying to block the chain's restructure stating it would have 'adverse consequences' Pictured: The Yate site Cineworld is being advised by AlixPartners. Pictured: The Swindon, Regent Circus sie While the group underwent a restructure in the US last year, the UK arm continued to struggle. Mr Smith said the 'significant' number of 'over-rented' leases, where the rent the company pays is higher than the property's market value, were a factor. This comes shortly after the brand announced it would close six sites in Glasgow Parkhead, Bedford, Hinckley, Loughborough, cineworld and Swindon Circus . However, the group confirmed that all sites would continue to operate until the restructuring plans were approved. Mr Smith also revealed that the US arm of the company had provided the UK firms with around $65 million dollars to allow it to keep trading up to the end of June this year. Rental costs of an eye-watering 19 million were also paid by the US arm on the condition that the company would undergo a restructuring. If the plans are approved, 16 million of new equity funding from the companies' indirect parent firm will be released to fund their immediate financial needs, with further funds of up to 35 million also made available. Mr Justice Miles will give his judgement at a later date. A tearful Naomi Campbell tonight insisted 'I was not in control of my charity' after she was banned as a trustee following an inquiry into her organisation's cash splurge. Campbell, 54, spoke to reporters in Paris to break her silence and address the Charity Commission's findings that of the 4.8million generated by Fashion For Relief between 2016 and 2022, only 389,000 was given to good causes. Details emerged earlier today that the organisation splurged 12,000 on a flight to Nice to transfer art and jewellery, as well as splashing out 7,800 on a luxury hotel stay for the model. Speaking ahead of a glitzy ceremony where she was honoured with the most prestigious cultural award in France, she explained she was 'extremely concerned' but said: 'I was not in control of my charity.' The details of the charity's spending were revealed as Campbell was today disqualified from being a trustee for five years. Naomi Campbell broke cover tonight for the first time since the model was banned from her charity trustee role The model broke down in tears as she received the medal of 'Chevalier de l'Ordres des Arts et des Lettres' in Paris She was given the honour by the French Culture Minister Rachida Dati The model, 54, brushed her hair aside to show off the insignia An inquiry found that between April 2016 and July 2022, just 8.5 per cent of the charity's overall spending was on charitable grants. It also said it found some fundraising expenditure to be misconduct or mismanagement by the charity's trustees. This included a 12,300 flight from London to Nice in 2018 for transferring art and jewellery. Campbell told reporters she only found out today she had been barred as a trustee. 'We are investigating on our side as I was not in control of my charity,' she said. 'I put the control in the hands of a legal lawyer so we are investigating to find out what and how, as anything I do and every penny I ever raise goes towards charities.' Campbell, wearing a black and white striped Chanel dress, broke down in tears as she received the Chevalier de l'Ordres des Arts et des Lettres, before embracing French Culture Minister Rachida Dati in an emotional hug. Dabbing tears away from her cheeks with the palm of her hand, she said it was with 'profound gratitude' that she accepted the appointment to the Knights of the Orders of Arts and Letters. The Charity Commission's inquiry also looked into the decision to spend 7,800 of charity funds on a three-night stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, for Campbell. While there she spent 6,000 on spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes. The commission said today that as a result of its investigation, more than 344,000 had been recovered and used to make donations to two other charities and settle Fashion For Relief's outstanding liabilities. It follows revelations by the Mail On Sunday that official accounts showed that it spent more than 1.6million on a glittering gala in Cannes, but gave just 5,000 to good causes over a 15-month period. The Charity Commission confirmed in April that it had removed the supermodel's charity from the UK charity register while it continued its investigation into allegations of misconduct. And today the Commission published the report of its statutory inquiry into Fashion For Relief, concluding the charity was poorly governed and had inadequate financial management. Naomi Campbell pictured in Cannes in 2018 when her organisation Fashion for Relief spent 7,800 on a luxury three night hotel stay Campbnell (pictured in Milan last week) has been disqualified from being a trustee for five years. The charity also spent 12,000 on a flight from London to Nice (pictured) in order to transfer art and jewellery Supermodel Naomi Campbell - seen in Paris yesterday - has been disqualified as a trustee after an investigation into her Fashion For Relief charity uncovered 'serious mismanagement' Naomi Campbell played a prominent role in catwalk shows staged on behalf of her Fashion For Relief charity - seen here during London Fashion Week in September 2019 Campbell was disqualified from being a trustee for five years, former colleagues Bianka Hellmich for nine and Veronica Chou for four. The model founded the charity in 2005, saying she had been inspired by her friend Nelson Mandela telling her to 'use [her] voice' for good. The organisation claimed to have raised more than 11million, mostly through glitzy fundraising events held all over the world, including in New York, Mumbai and Moscow. Campbell would take centre stage at the galas, appearing in showstopping designer gowns, and was honoured by the British Fashion Council for her services to and achievements in the fashion industry in 2019. But concerns were raised in 2021 about how much money was being passed on to people in need after the Mayor's Fund for London lodged an official complaint, saying that it was owed 50,000 by the charity. The Mayor's Fund, which helps young Londoners from low-income backgrounds, filed a 'serious incident' report with the Charity Commission, which announced a statutory inquiry in November that year. The supermodel, pictured on the red carpet at the Fashion for Relief show at London Fashion Week in September 2019, has now been disqualified as a charity trustee for four years Naomi Campbell is seen here attending a Fashion For Relief event at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival in France in May 2018 Among those at the Fashion For Relief event at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 were (left to right) Maria Borges, Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Winnie Harlow and Natalia Vodianova In these cases, the trustees 'failed to show how these were cost-effective and an appropriate use of the charity's resources', the Charity Commission said. The inquiry saw no evidence trustees had reviewed the charity's operating model to ensure fundraising methods were in the organisation's best interest and that costs were reasonable relative to cash brought in. And it also found some of the charity's fundraising expenditure was not reasonable. The charity had held fundraising events for the Save the Children Fund and the Mayor's Fund for London. The inquiry found that the trustees of Fashion for Relief 'failed to manage these partnership arrangements'. The commission also said unauthorised payments totalling 290,000 for consultancy services had been made to trustee Ms Hellmich, which was in breach of the charity's constitution. And the charity's funds were held and applied on its behalf by external professional advisors rather than in a dedicated bank account in Fashion For Relief's name. Tim Hopkins, the Charity Commission's deputy director for specialist investigations and standards, said: 'Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charity's best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities. 'Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them. 'This inquiry, and the work of the interim managers we appointed to run the charity in place of the trustees, has resulted in the recovery of 344,000 and protection of a further 98,000 charitable funds. 'I am pleased that the inquiry has seen donations made to other charities which this charity has previously supported.' Veronica Chou (pictured left, with Naomi Campbell) has also been disqualified as a trustee Naomi Campbell helped launch a Fashion For Reliuef pop-up store at Westfield London in November 2019 The supermodel is pictured here at a Fashion For Relief event at Doha Fire Station in Qatar's capital in November 2021 The trustees were Ms Campbell, her key aide Ms Chou who is the heiress to a 2 billion textile fortune, and socialite and lawyer Ms Hellmich. Ms Chou quit the charity days after the Commission launched its probe in 2021. A spokesman for the charity said in April when it was removed from the charity register: 'The winding up of Fashion For Relief was a decision made by the trustees three years ago. It was not forcibly closed. 'Fashion For Relief operates in America and will continue to do fundraising initiatives worldwide.' MailOnline has contacted Fashion For Relief and representatives for Naomi Campbell for comment. A baby gorilla left orphaned by his birth mother after she failed to bond with the newborn has been taken in by a foster mom. Seattle-born Abeo, a Western Lowland gorilla, was rejected by first-time mom Akenji, sending caretakers of the now one-and-a-half month old on a quest to find a loving mother. After an attempt at surrogacy didn't work out, the Woodland Park Zoo collaborated with the Gorilla Species Survival Plan to find the distressed infant a new home. Those behind the cooperative breeding program recalled a former foster success story at the Louisville Zoo, where a gorilla named Kweli adopted Kindi, who was orphaned at birth. Abeo, which translates to 'bringer of happiness,' has found a foster mother, Kweli, at the Louisville Zoo Abeo, a Western Lowland gorilla, was rejected by first-time mom, Akenji, sending caretakers of on a quest to find a loving mother Those behind a cooperative breeding program recalled a former foster success story at the Louisville Zoo, where Kweli adopted Kindi, who was orphaned at birth 'While we always hope for a natural mother-infant bond, circumstances sometimes require alternative solutions for the well-being of the gorilla,' Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said in a statement. With hopes for a seamless transition, zookeepers in Louisville carefully planned Kweli, 40, and Abeo's introduction. Abeo's human foster mother gave him a bottle and put him down for a nap before slowly creeping out of the baby's enclosure and opening Kweli's on the way out. After a few hesitant minutes and a display of restlessness from Abeo, Kweli embraced her new foster son - and the two have been inseparable ever since. Along with Kindi, now 8, the foster family is living together happily with many delighted visitors stopping by to see them. Although it is rare for a gorilla mother to abandon her newborn, it does happen, sending zoologists everywhere on a mission to turn humans into temporary gorilla moms. In cases like these, it is common practice for the human surrogate mother to feed the infants, hold the baby to their chest - while often wearing a black scrubs and a fur vest, mimicking the texture of a gorilla - before eventually carrying the baby on their back. It is common practice for human surrogate mothers to feed the infants, hold the baby to their chest - while often wearing a black scrubs and a fur vest, mimicking the texture of a gorilla One of Abeo's human mothers feeding the young gorilla Abeo's pregnant birth mother, Akenji Human surrogate mothers have even been known to 'knuckle-walk' and vocalize like a gorilla. Surrogacy teams often spend hours cuddling their charges and emulating primate behavior. 'Whatever a gorilla mom would do with her baby is what we have to do,' said Ron Evans, General Curator at the Louisville Zoo. 'The role of the human surrogate mother is critical for the development of the baby.' Western Lowland gorillas like Abeo are critically endangered in the wild, with less than 175,000. The near-extinction numbers are due primarily to habitat destruction caused by logging, mineral mining and agricultural expansion. The killing of wild animals to be used as human food is also a major threat to the Western Lowland gorilla population throughout the Central African rainforests. Over 1,000 gorillas are illegally poached for the bushmeat trade each year. The devastated family of a 77-year-old woman who drowned after her car plunged into a river 'swollen' by heavy storms has said the devoted grandmother-of-three will be 'missed beyond words'. Lesley Lee, from Northampton, died after her red Fiat Panda veered off Rushmere Road and into the River Nene on Monday, September 23. It is believed the incident occurred some time between 12.20pm and 4.20pm, when the submerged vehicle was spotted in the water. Northamptonshire Police confirmed no other car was involved and they do not know what caused the car to leave the road. The tragedy occurred as much of the UK was hit by heavy rainfall and storms in the early part of the the week, leaving many roads and even entire towns completely underwater. The family of Lesley Lee, 77, who drowned after her car plunged into a river 'swollen' by heavy storms has said the devoted grandmother-of-three will be 'missed beyond words' Just upstream from the incident, emergency workers had to rescue people on narrowboats, while static homes lay submerged in water as the River Nene's levels increased to dangerous depths. Today her grieving daughters Sarah and Nicola, and Lesley's partner Steve paid tribute to the 'exceptional lady', who 'always saw the best in people'. Lesley, who was born in 1947, lived in the village of Roade, Northampton her entire life and was an office worker first at her local council and later for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).' She was described as being very close to her family, including her parents Maisie and Sidney, and her Aunt Eileen and Uncle Bernard. They said: 'From a very young age, [she] always took it upon herself to help people, especially the elderly members of her family. 'She was a hardworking woman, studying at Secretarial College when she was younger and then using the skills she'd learnt there throughout her working life.' Her daughters described her as a 'wonderful mum' and 'brilliant' grandmother to Sean, Riley and Oscar, as well as her 'furry grandchildren - dogs Dahlie and Stan.' They said: 'She was nurturing, a lovely person to be around, and always made sure her two girls knew, unequivocally, how much she loved them both. 'As a grandmother, Lesley was brilliant. She always wanted to help in any way she could including picking the children up after school and was always very generous on birthdays and at Christmas, and always gave them some money to buy themselves a treat on their holidays.' She met her 'wonderful' partner Steve in the 1990s and they struck up a friendship. They lost touch over the years, but in the late 2000s she wrote him a letter to let him know she was thinking of him, her daughters added. 'He rang her as soon as he received it, and they met up at the cafe in Salcey Forest - and here began their wonderful relationship. The tragedy occurred as much of the UK was hit by heavy rainfall and storms in the early part of the the week, leaving many roads and even entire towns completely underwater. Pictured: The River Nene burst its banks on the same day Lesley Lee's car veered into the water 'She turned his life around and they enjoyed many happy years together, sharing a love of books and spending hours reading in each other's company. 'They enjoyed their daily afternoon strolls, many a crossword and puzzle, and many seaside holidays together.' Lesley was also described as a nature lover and enjoyed going on drives through the countryside. 'Steve recalls fond memories of pulling over every time they saw lambs in the fields on their countryside drives, as he knew Lesley loved to look at the 'boingers' as they used to refer to them.' The kindly pensioner was also an avid reader. Static homes lay submerged in water as the River Nene's levels increased to dangerous depths on the same day that the tragic death occurred Her family said: 'Lesley was such a family-orientated person and the only thing that came close to her love for them was her passion for reading. 'She discovered books as a young child and loved the escapism they provided. Through the books that she read, from Jane Austen to Richard Osman, Lesley would go on a thousand adventures as she turned the pages. 'She used to use the community book boxes to pick up some of her books, ensuring she always made a swap with a book she'd already read.' They added their loss is 'devastating' and had thought Lesley would 'live to 100'. Their statement added: 'Lesley was a kind, gentle and lovely lady. She didn't have the easiest of lives but she was always positive and a joy to be around. 'She was healthy and looked so good for her age, we thought she'd live to 100. 'To lose her in this way is devastating and it feels like we have lost a part of ourselves that no one can replace. 'She was such an exceptional lady - so loved, so deserving of good things, and she will be missed beyond words.' The head of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) refused to take questions from journalists after deeming herself 'not a public a figure'. Stacy Davis Gates, head of the CTU, told reporters at a planned appearance that they were 'making her' talk to them. When told that she was a public figure by a reporter, Davis Gates said: 'No I am not a public figure', despite being the head of one of the largest political groups in the Windy City. Davis Gates was asked to speak amid ongoing tensions between Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. According to ABC7, the two came to blows after Martinez refused to sign on to the mayor's proposal of a loan to help cover a pension plan for non-teaching staff and new costs related to a as yet to be settled union contract. Martinez had flat out refused to take out the loan saying it was fiscally irresponsible and the board of education had initially sided with him. Stacy Davis Gates, head of the CTU, told reporters at a planned appearance that they were 'making her' talk to them Mayor Johnson had asked Martinez to resign on Wednesday, but the public schools CEO declined to do so. When asked if she wanted Martinez to lose his position, Davis Gates added: 'No, I want the Chicago Public Schools, I want the Chicago Board of Education, I want the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, I want the Mayor of Chicago to fully fund public schools.' Martinez, seen here, had flat out refused to take out the loan saying it was fiscally irresponsible and the board of education had initially sided with him She accused Martinez of refusing to fill the current 1,200 employee vacancies in the system and for failing to find funding solutions. Sources inside Chicago Public Schools told Fox32 that offers which would see teachers' pay rise four and five percent is on the table. Despite this, Davis Gates is reportedly calling for raises as high as nine percent, as well as an increase in the number of school staff. Martinez has said that this would completely bankrupt the schooling system in the city. The Chicago School Board had approved a five-year plan for the public schools earlier this month before tensions came to a head. Officials published the plan, named 'Together We Rise', with goals they aim to put into action by 2029. Mayor Johnson and Davis Gates have since accused Martinez of supporting school closures, consolidations, furloughs, layoffs and more to balance the budget. Despite Johnson asking Martinez to stand down, he does not have that power. Only the seven-member board of education can do so. Mayor Johnson, seen here, had asked Martinez to resign on Wednesday, but the public schools CEO declined to do so Davis Gates is reportedly calling for raises as high as nine percent, as well as an increase in the number of school staff While the board has sided with Martinez this year of disputes, a senior aide close to the mayor told the Chicago Sun-Times that Martinez had now 'lost the board'. As the tension between Johnson and Martinez continues, leaders from different sectors have joined a rising tide of support for Martinez. Leaders including the city Comptroller Susana Mendoza, 22 members of the Chicago City Council and others have signed a letter of support. They wrote: 'It is in the interest of both the city and our schools to ensure that the next generation is not saddled with debts they did not seek to take on. 'CEO Martinez's responsible refusal to enter into short term, 'high interest' loans to address budgeting shortfalls should be lauded, not punished. Chicago needs more fiscal discipline, not less. 'We stand in firm opposition to Mayor Brandon Johnson's request for CEO Pedro Martinez's resignation. 'We also strongly call upon the School Board to continue its support for Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez and to stand its ground against the unprecedented demands of the Chicago Teachers Union to fire him.' A Memphis, Tennessee, Burger King that went up in flames now serves as a trash-covered homeless encampment and drug den - and community members are completely outraged. Blankets, pillows, shopping arts, bikes and two toilets are strewn across the property. The building itself has been vandalized with graffiti. A person and their dog are reportedly living in the dumpster, according to WREG. People who live in the area surrounding the vacant Burger King or go to the nearby businesses have strong opinions about the situation. A burnt-down Burger King in Memphis now serves as a homeless encampment The Burger King closed last years after a fire, but now garbage, shopping carts and more clutter the property Tony Myers, who lives close by, told WREG: 'It's terrible. I just live right around the corner and call the police and say "I see them doing drugs an bringing in stolen goods." 'They'll tell me "we'll go over there and see, but there is nothing we can do about it."' Myers told the outlet that he has called the police multiple times within the past month, but no actions have been taken. The owner of the animal hospital next door to the Burger King, Dr Bill Conley, said that his patrons are equally upset about the encampment and have tried to get the city involved. The garage-filled encampment has been complained about to the city at least three times this month Memphis received at least three formal complaints about the Burger King this past month alone. The property owner has been notified by code enforcement that the property is going to be cleared at the owner's expense and that its current state is a violation, according to WREG. Myers told WREG: 'That sounds good. Thats very good. Ive been here 25 years, and Ive been doing everything I can to get the neighborhood straightened out.' Locals like Conley are curious about what the future holds. Conley told WREG: 'I feel sorry for the people. They sometimes hang out under the awning at the hospital. 'I dont know what the franchise plans to do with the building. I would have thought they would have reopened it by now.' The Burger King, located in Berclair, caught on fire last October about an hour after the store had closed. Two toilet bowls and other clutter sit by the Burger King as the city claims they are going to clean it up Another Burger King in Seattle, has a similar story. Last year, KOMO news reported the store had shut down after a fire and then became a homeless encampment. The property became occupied by RVs, tents and cars. People living in the area were concerned about crime rates and there connection to the encampment's emergence. Developers plan to turn the Seattle property into low-incoming housing. The Urban League is the organization behind the decision, according to their website. The Kentucky couple that live streamed the moment they discovered the remains of a wanted shooter are cashing in on their find. Sheila and Fred McCoy filmed themselves trekking through thick brush and climbing over branches at the Daniel Boone National Forest on September 18 before ultimately finding a dead body. Two weeks prior on September 7, 32-year-old army veteran Joseph Couch shot at unsuspecting motorists on Interstate 75 with an AR-style semiautomatic rifle, injuring five people. Authorities believed the suspected gunman may have been hiding in the wooded area and offered a $35,000 reward for any information leading to his arrest. The McCoy's received a $10,000 portion of the reward on Tuesday and officials said they will get the rest of their payout in installments. Sheila (left) and Fred McCoy (right) received a $10,000 portion of their $35,000 reward for finding suspected Kentucky highway shooter Joseph Couch's remains Sheila and Fred McCoy filmed themselves discovering the wanted shooters body in the Daniel Boone National Forest 'It was a life changing event for me,' Fred told WKYT. 'I said [to Shelia] how about for date night we go get something to eat then find this guy.' 'The good Lord just told us, we just felt like we were going to find this body.' Sheila said their mission was to find Couch, convince him to turn himself in and let him know that nobody had died. They had been searching the forest for days in an effort to track down the suspected gunman, who been charged with five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault for the shooting. Eventually they noticed dozens of vultures circling a particular area of the forest, with Fred noting that 'At least one of them appeared to have something, so they're eating on something.' As they continued their search, the couple noticed a foul smell, which they also started to follow. Sheila (left) said their mission was to find Couch, convince him to turn himself in and let him know that nobody had died Officials said they will get the rest of their payout in installments 'Something's dead cause I got a whiff of something,' Sheila says in the video. 'Something's here, we're going to find it, we're going to find it,' Fred, a retired police chief, agrees. At first, though, the couple thought they might just find a dead animal or a carcass that the suspect may have been eating to survive. But they soon noticed that Kentucky State Police were scouring an area nearby, and after about half an hour of searching, Fred cried out: 'Oh got him here!' 'He's deteriorated!' Fred said, to which is wife responded: 'You found him? Oh my Lanta!' She is heard repeating the phrase several times in the clip. The couple are then seen easing down a slope to where the body was, at which point a third voice - assumed to be a cop - can be heard telling them to not take photos. Authorities have alleged that Couch, a former member of the US Army Reserves, fired 20 to 30 rounds at around 5.30pm on September 7. Couch (pictured) was charged with five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault for the shooting for firing an assault rifle into a highway Vehicles were parked on the side of the interstate highway with shattered windows and visible bullet holes When officers arrived at the scene, they noticed multiple vehicles were parked on the side of the interstate highway with shattered windows and visible bullet holes, according to the Courier-Journal. Fortunately, nobody was killed in the rampage, but Rebecca Puryear, who was shot across her chest in her right arm told the Lexington Herald-Leader she's thankful to be alive. Another bullet burst into fragments upon hitting the door of her Toyota Camry, injuring her left arm, too. It was later revealed that Couch sent a chilling text message to the mother of his child, informing her that he was 'going to kill a lot of people' and 'kill myself afterwards.' The woman called 911 after receiving the messages and was later interviewed by police. A Brazilian businessman is under arrest after he threatened a teenager over dating his 15-year-old daughter. Surveillance footage of the bizarre incident that took place Tuesday showed the 39-year-old man arguing with the 16-year-old boy at the cell phone store where he works in the central town of Vianopolis. He followed the teen around a display case and pushed it into him as the frightened boy took off running. The walked down the sidewalk as the teenager crossed to the opposite side and chased him for several blocks before a security camera showed him pulling out a gun and firing into the air. A 39-year-old (pictured in blue shirt) father was arrested Tuesday in Anapolis, Brazil after he threatened a 16-year-old boy and chased him with a gun, which he fired into the air, because he was upset he was dating his 15-year-old daughter An upset parent was seen chasing after a 16-year-old boy in the central Brazilian town of Vianopolis on Tuesday and firing a shot in the air because he did not approve of the relationship between him and his 15-year-old daughter The angered parent escaped and was eventually arrested 49 miles away in the town of Anapolis on Tuesday afternoon after he disobeyed a Goias Military Police order to pull over on a road. He initially presented an air gun during the search and lied about having purchased it after the shooting incident. Cops continued to search the vehicle and discovered the .22 caliber revolver that he had used while chasing the boy. He was taken to a local Goias Civil Police station, where the told investigators that he only wanted to scare the teenager after he had become aware of his conversations on his daughter's cell phone. The teen boy was not shot during the chase, police said. A scared 16-year-old boy (left) is chased by the 39-year-old father (right) of his 15-year-old girlfriend moments after he was confronted at his job over dating the girl An upset parent (pictured in the blue shirt) is now under arrest in Brazil after he threatened the 16-year-old boyfriend of his 15-year-old daughter with a gun. The businessman told Goias Civil Police investigators that he was trying to intimidate the teen The incident comes five years after a 38-year-old Cleber Pires gunned down 19-year-old man in Goiania because he did not want his 14-year-old daughter dating him. At the time of his arrest, Pires told the Goias Military Police that he had contacted his daughter's boyfriend and asked him to come to his home for 'manly conversation.' Once at his home, Pires claimed that teenager pulled out a knife to attack him and reacted by shooting him in the head. 'When I turned my back, I thought he was talking to me like a man. He took a knife from a wood stove in the area and came at me,' Pires told investigators. LIVING away from the old country can do strange things to the Scottish native. It turned the actor Alan Cumming into a global ambassador for fairy tales about the place that isnt his home any more. Cop the laddie fae Aberfeldy swathed in the most garish of tartans at the Emmys in LA last week after being nominated for hosting the American version of Traitors. During the show, he repeatedly peddled the fiction to stateside viewers that the whole thing was set in his Highland castle. He hammed up some preposterous Scottish baronial accent which went straight to my stomach. His wardrobe was a shortbread tin caricature on acid. Two gongs bagged for this phoniness. Glasgow-born broadcaster Andrew Marr branded spread of Gaelic signs 'ridiculous' Take the late Sean Connery, Scotland Forever tattooed on his arm since his teens. The flipside to his decades as the most famous Scottish nationalist on the planet was his penchant for spending forever in homes in the Bahamas and Marbella. The jibe that the 007 star would do anything for his country except live there was harsh but fair. There was not properly any us in his cries for independence. It was independence for them that he sought. Live with the consequences? Im fine here by the pool, thanks. But time away from the place neednt necessarily muddle the wandering natives understanding of what is really going on here. Sometimes the view from the outside looking in is sharper and more penetrating than the self-diagnoses we stay-at-home Scots attempt. Sometimes the nail is hit on the head by a son or daughter of these shores whose absence from them has brought wisdom rather than romantic piffle about a place that never truly existed. The man holding the hammer this week was Glasgow- born journalist Andrew Marr who has written extensively on the history of the British Isles. Significantly perhaps, the London-based broadcaster made his remarks from the relatively safe distance of Liverpool. Why, he wondered, was Scotland awash with Gaelic signs when it hasnt been widely spoken in much of it for centuries, if at all? Its ridiculous, he said. What is with the decidedly un-user-friendly Margadh an Fheoir sign which greets visitors to Haymarket station in Edinburgh? Literally it means market of hay. Is the idea that every second Edinburgher already knows this and regularly refers to the station as such? Or are we fictionalising our association with a language almost none of us speak to impress those who dont know any better? Emblazoned Mr Marr might equally have referred to the emergency vehicles seen whizzing around towns such as Cumbernauld and Glenrothes emblazoned with the word poileas or ambaileans. Is this for the benefit of the good people of these settlements who do not so readily recognise the words police and ambulance? Sometimes the Gaelic words on these vehicles appear in reverse writing. Its presumably so that motorists can grasp with a glance in their rear-view mirror that the poileas are in pursuit and to clear out of the way. A couple of years before Police Scotland announced they didnt have the resources to investigate every minor crime, and wouldnt do it any more, they launched their Gaelic Language Plan or Plana Gaidhlig if you prefer and outlined the resources they would be throwing into it. This included an audit of employees who understand Gaelic. An inventory would be compiled of all existing Gaelic and bilingual materials, including publications, stationery and online content. The sign at Haymarket Station complete with a Gaelic translation There would also be an assessment of internal and external signs to ensure equal respect was accorded to Gaelic. Henceforth, all high-profile press releases would be translated into the language too. You may surmise one of two things: either that the police were heavily leaned on by the Scottish Government, which has been at pains to embed confected Scottish culture into the nation throughout its 17 years of power or that men like Andrew Marr and me simply have it in for Gaelic. Let me address the second conclusion first. Im enchanted by the fact Gaelic is still spoken regularly by 58,000 of us or 1.1 per cent of our population every one of whom, incidentally, is also fluent in English. I want the language to survive. Long before the SNP came to power there were extensive measures to ensure this happened. The Gaelic Television Fund, for example, was established in 1992. It brought jobs and high-quality programming in Gaelic to the areas in the West of Scotland and the Hebrides where the language was most spoken. It served the tongue and its speakers. What it didnt do was pretend the 99 per cent of Scots who dont speak it were something they were not. The Scots are made up of many different peoples historically, said Mr Marr at an event at the Labour conference. I think we should let languages rest and prosper where they come from. Sounds to me like he and I are on the same page. Which just leaves us with the whas like us Scots, eh? guff that the SNP government has been determined to ram down our throats. They pretend that we are a nation of not just two languages, but three. Dont forget Scots. Recent plans include the conceit that some teachers should deliver lessons only in Scots to help embed the language in classrooms. Excuse me, but if it isnt embedded there already, what is the sense of filling childrens heads with it? The sense is in grafting identity or what Mr Marr might describe as Scottish exceptionalism onto young people before they are old enough to figure out who they really are. In Liverpool, the broadcaster fumed at the Scottish Nationalist view that if youre Scottish, youre a better person; because youre Scottish, youre more innately liberal; because youre Scottish, youre more progressive. Propaganda The truth is because youre Scottish, the facts will be misrepresented. You will be persuaded by those with no grounding in history that Scotland was colonised by the English when the truth is that, acting together, the two nations colonised much of the world. You will find propaganda masquerading as educational material such as Education Scotlands 27-page The Road to the Scottish Parliament, which baldly informed children that for 800 years the Scots have been struggling against English oppression. And you will discover at length, possibly years from now, that nationalism doesnt make you a better person. The movement is not exactly noted for its ability to see the good in people, whatever their world view. Rather it is consuming; it is intolerant; it narrows vision and clouds the lens with a fug of grievance and bitterness. No, while I like and admire many nationalists, they are dear people in spite of, not because of, their independence dream. Mr Marr, of course, is not resident here. Broadcasters who are would be too terrified to call out what is obvious to many of us. Do you suppose that fear is driven by the nationalists being such great guys? j.brocklebank@dailymail.co.uk. ITS barely months since they were toppling his predecessor but the Greens are finding a change in tone from John Swinney. The SNP leader used First Ministers Questions to butter up Lorna Slater, no doubt mindful of the forthcoming Budget, which will only pass if the Nats can secure the votes of another party. Slater has not been making it easy for them. Her new assertive stance has seen her take swings at the SNP over proposed Budget cuts. Yesterday, she was exercised about encouraging folk to use buses, trains and bikes, though presumably not all at once. She segued none too subtly into the Nats decision to ditch its off-peak fares scheme, introduced by the Greens. The First Minister agreed with Slater on the need to deliver modal shift, which sounds like something that happens when you spill coffee on a computer keyboard, but seemingly refers to taking the bus. And here I thought there was already a term for that: taking the bus. He lamented, in that more in sorrow tone he does, that the year-long pilot showed the policy was unaffordable. Douglas Ross was taking part in his final First Minister's Questions as Scots Tory leader We would need to find 40million to continue with that exercise, he sighed. She leapt up like an elastic band that had suddenly snapped. The First Minister is in luck, she announced, triumphantly, because I have a suggestion for how he could raise that money. Oh dear. The bright idea was a tax on private jets. That would certainly deliver a modal shift of the wealthy and their money out of Scotland. But Swinney called it a very interesting and welcome suggestion and professed himself very much in the spirit of doing that. Very interesting and welcome suggestion is politician-speak for your taxes are about to go up. Since politicians ideas invariably end up costing me money or collapsing amid spectacular incompetence, we ought to be discouraging them. Perhaps a Very Interesting and Welcome Suggestion Tax would do the trick. Swinney told MSPs he would be happy to engage with members across the parliament, including my friends in the Green Party. That last remark inspired some scoffing on the Tory benches but stranger things have happened. The Nats and the Greens might just dislodge the daggers they plunged into each others back long enough to carve up the countrys tax revenues. In the spirit of collaboration for which I am renowned, the First Minister said, I will happily take forward these issues with the UK Government, with which I am enjoying such collaborative and co-operative discussions just now. He had a twinkle in his eye and was having too much fun. Swinney is an old ham and while its a bit early for pantomime season, his self-deprecation is a welcome relief from the humdrum around him. Lordy, are they dismal. One blank-faced drone after another. Its like the pod people from Invasion of the Body Snatchers got together and formed a parish council. I am hereby instituting an Awareness Week Watch to keep track of all the international days, weeks and months used as a peg to hang questions on. Lorna Slater informed us it was Climate Week, Emma Harper that it was also Organ Donation Week, and Karen Adam revealed it was International Week of Deaf People, too. For those planning ahead, Swinney mentioned that next week is Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week. Imagine the size of calendar these people use. Yesterday was Douglas Rosss final FMQs as Tory leader. I cant say he looked especially glum about it. Ross gave some good performances against Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, but the one that will always stick out for me is the time, during Covid, when he was grilling Sturgeon via Zoom only to be suddenly drowned out by a relentless squawking. A hen from his farm had wandered in the back door. It was the most cogent contribution to FMQs Ive heard yet. A Louisiana pastor convicted of child abuse for taping children's mouths shut was a victim of 'woke' case and cancel culture, his lawyers argued. Pastor John Raymond, 62, a former contestant on the reality show Survivor, was the lead minister of New Horizon Church in Slidell and the founder and headmaster of Lakeside Christian Academy. He was found guilty on Monday of juvenile cruelty for taping the mouths of three 13-year-old students to punish them at the academy, among other offenses. But in closing arguments, his defense attorney Joseph Long said Raymond was simply a victim of cancel culture. In response, Northshore District Attorney Collin Sims said it was the first time the office been accused of being woke in court. 'Its not wokeness. It's dude that's my kid and I didn't tell you you could do that,' Sims told the jury, NOLA.com reported. Former Survivor contestant Pastor John Raymond, 62, who was convicted of juvenile cruelty for taping children's mouths shut at a Christian school he founded in Slidell, Louisiana, said his actions were aligned with the Bible and he was a victim of cancel culture Raymond was a contestant on the fifth season of Survivor, set in Thailand in 2002 Raymond has stated his actions were justified through the teachings of the Bible. He originally turned himself in in April 2022 after police received numerous complaints about abusive behavior at the academy. 'On March 18, several students were removed from a class due to excessive talking,' the statement from police said. 'John Raymond became angry and brought the students to his office. At some point, Raymond took a roll of packing tape and taped the students' mouths shut by wrapping the tape around their heads.' After taping their mouths, Raymond made the students sit in the back of the class for around 45 minutes until another teacher grew uncomfortable and took the tape off. John Raymond with his wife Elizabeth posing in front of the Seal of Louisiana During his appearance on Survivor, Raymond was the first contestant voted off the island The victims described struggling to breath and the painful process of taking the tape off. In a separate incident, Raymond covered the mouth and nose of a four-year-old pre-K student during a tantrum and prevented him from breathing. Officials stated that he suffocated the boy to the point of him going 'limp' and that he only stopped when a staff member intervened. The employee reportedly told detectives the child had mucus coming out of his nose, was unable to stand up and seemed 'out of it and lethargic.' He will be sentenced on October 23 and his bond is set at $100,000 The disgraced pastor is an elected member of the Republican Parish Executive Committee and currently serves on the Republican State Central Committee. He is likely to be removed from the position Another act of cruelty came when Raymond whipped a four-year-old's buttocks after dragging him across the floor 'by his ankles'. The disgraced pastor is an elected member of the Republican Parish Executive Committee and currently serves on the Republican State Central Committee, according to NOLA.com. He is likely to be removed from the position. Raymond was a contestant on the fifth season of Survivor, set in Thailand in 2002. He was the first contestant voted off the island. He will be sentenced on October 23 and his bond is set at $100,000. Sir Keir Starmer is to meet Donald Trump for the first time but not Kamala Harris. The Prime Minister is due to visit to the Republican presidential candidate at his Trump Tower in New York on Thursday evening. However in a blow to Downing Street, Sir Keir has not been able to arrange an introduction to Democratic candidate Ms Harris, whom he has not met before, before he has to return to the UK. She is in Washington DC seeing Ukraines leader as he presents his victory plan to the White House and it is unclear if Sir Keir will now be able to meet her before the US election in just over a month. Speaking ahead of his first encounter with Mr Trump, Sir Keir told reporters: As you know, I've said a number of times, I want to meet both candidates. We've now got the opportunity to meet Trump, which is good. Sir Keir Starmer is to meet Donald Trump for the first time at Trump Tower in New York The Prime Minister is due to meet the Trump, Republican presidential nominee on Thursday evening 'Obviously, I still want to speak to Harris as well. But you know, the usual diary challenges, but it's good that this one now has been fixed. Asked what his message would be to Mr Trump, the PM replied: It'll be really to establish a relationship between the two of us. I'm a great believer in personal relations on the international stage. I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them you know personally, get to know them face to face. But, in a blow to Downing Street, Sir Keir said 'diary challenges' meant he was unable to speak to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris as well But he added: I should probably add that, I mean that our camp, our embassy, has got good relations with both camps and has had for a long time. 'So it's not the sort of start of something, it's the continuation of those good relations that have been there with both camps, and that's a really good thing that the embassy has been doing. The meeting comes at the end of Sir Keirs first visit to the United Nations as PM. Kamala Harris insinuated Donald Trump would support Vladimir Putin over Ukraine when she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Thursday. 'There are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory.. These proposals are the same of those of Putin. And let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender,' the Democratic nominee for president said. She did not mention Donald Trump by name by her meaning was clear. There were reports Zelensky wanted a sitdown with Trump while he was in the United States for the UN General Assembly meeting. His visit came in the shadow of election-year politics and many want time with the two contenders fighting to be the next occupant of the Oval Office. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vice President Kamala Harris shake hands during a meeting at the White House Instead of a friendly meeting, Zelensky became a target of the former president's ire. Trump, at a campaign rally in North Carolina earlier this week, slammed Zelensky as 'probably the greatest salesman on Earth.' 'The president of Ukraine is in our country and he's making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me,' he told his adoring crowd of MAGA supporters. 'Any deal the worst deal would've been better than what we have now,' Trump said, painting the Ukraine as a lost cause. 'If they made a bad deal it would've been much better. They would've given up a little bit and everybody would be living and every building would be built and every tower would be aging for another 2,000 years. 'What deal can we make? It's demolished,' he added. 'The people are dead. The country is in rubble.' Ukraine has lost a fifth of its territory and tens of thousands of lives in the conflict. Zelensky is in the United States to persuade officials to his 'victory plan,' which includes enhancing Western security guarantees for Ukraine, increasing military aid and securing further financial support. He hasn't released the full details and wasn't expected to in his meetings with President Joe Biden and with Harris. Harris has pledged to continue sending military aid to Ukraine if she's elected president. Trump, however, has been more critical of Zelensky, raising questions about what he will do if he returns to the White House. The vice president, who has met with Zelensky seven times, was clear in her support. 'My support for the people of Ukraine is unwavering. I have been proud to stand with Ukraine. I will continue to stand with Ukraine, and I will work to ensure Ukraine prevails in this war, to be safe, secure and prosperous,' she said. 'Standing with our friends and defending our ideals against tyranny has helped make America the most powerful and prosperous nation in the world. Putin's aggression is not only an attack on the people of Ukraine, it is also an attack on fundamental principles such as sovereignty and territorial integrity,' she added. Vice President Kamala Harris and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wave from the balcony of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Joe Biden meet in the Oval Office Zelensky spoke after her, saying he looked forward to the conversation and thanking the U.s. for its support. 'We believe this war can be won and just peace can be close only with it,' he said. Before his meeting with Harris, Zelensky met with Biden in the Oval Office. 'Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and we'll continue to stand by you every step of the way,' Biden said, after thanking him for presenting the so-called victory plan. Zelensky also visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill -- where his government said he had also presented his victory plan -- and gave a defiant address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president's visit to the United States came as Putin upped the stakes, saying that his country should be able to use nuclear weapons if it was attacked by a state that was supported by a nuclear power. 'It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any nonnuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation,' Putin said in a meeting at the Kremlin on Wednesday. Zelensky has been pushing for permission to fire more Western-made weapons into the heart of Russia. Western leaders fear Putin will see that as an attack from the West and expand his war. He also has struggled to hold world attention as the war in the Middle East spreads. Israel has increased its attacks into Lebanon as it targets members of Hezbollah. 'The president of Ukraine is in our country and he's making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me,' Donald Trump said earlier this week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, walks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Republicans were also furious Zelensky toured a munitions factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, calling it an election year stunt. But the White House defended the visit, telling Republicans to drop the outrage. 'This came from Ukrainian. Not us,' press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said of the visit. Zelensky toured the factory with Gov. Josh Shapiro, a top Harris surrogate. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has called on Zelensky to fire his ambassador to the U.S. for arranging the trip. 'The Ukrainians asked to visit the facility, which employs American workers, as you know, for manufacturing critical supplies that the Ukrainian military is using every day on the front line of freedom because of its centrality of their to their country's continued existence,' Jean-Pierre said. She pointed out Zelensky visited Utah in July and Republicans expressed zero outrage. 'President Zelensky traveled to Utah and held an event with the Republican governor, a very similar event, and Republican officials were there at that event in Utah, and there wasn't a single demand, not one, not one single demand for an investigation. 'This was business as usual for a Ukrainian request during wartime, during wartime. And so I would encourage, we would encourage the House Republicans to drop this. These kind of political stuff, they need to drop this,' she noted. Overall, the United States has provided around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine. Heavy rain and strong winds will continue to smash Australia's east coast over the weekend with northern NSW to get the brunt of the wild weather. An upper-level trough is combining with tropical moisture to cause the rain, while blustery winds are whipping up from the south causing temperatures to drop and dangerous swells along the coast. 'Possible heavy rainfalls and flooding could hit the state's northeast on Friday,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Miriam Bradbury said. 'Thunderstorms are also a risk through southeast Queensland and northeast NSW and widespread falls of 20mm to 50mm are likely. 'Into Saturday, a low pressure system could draw in moisture from the coast causing heavier falls in the mid-north coast and Northern Rivers areas with a potential for flash and riverine flooding.' The Bureau has issued a hazardous surf warning for the Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Macquarie coasts advising people should exercise caution when boating, rock fishing, surfing or swimming. The wintry conditions caused a spring snowfall in the Central Tablelands just west of Sydney, while the city itself shivered through its second coldest day of 2024 on Thursday with a maximum of 13C, the coldest being June 22 at the height of winter. Further south, Melbourne will have milder weather with frost followed by sunshine on Friday and Saturday and showers on Sunday. Maximums will be around 20C. Over on the west, there will be showers over much of WA, clearing by Sunday with maximum temperatures in Perth also hovering around 20C. A wintry blast of strong winds and rain is likely to persist in NSW into the weekend (pictured: Sydney on Thursday) This rainfall map for Friday shows huge swathes of the country are in for a wet start to the weekend Sydney Friday: Max 18 Shower or two easing. Possible rainfall: 0 to 2 mm. Chance of any rain: 60 per cent. Sydney area: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, becoming less likely in the late morning. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h, increasing to 30 to 40 km/h along the coastal fringe. Saturday: Min 14 Max 20 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm. Chance of any rain: 50 per cent. Sydney area: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to northeasterly during the day. Sunday: Min 15 Max 23 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 6 mm. Chance of any rain: 70 per cent. Sydney area: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Brisbane Friday: Max 21 Rain easing. Possible rainfall: 7 to 25 mm. Chance of any rain: 95 per cent. Brisbane area: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, becoming less likely in the late morning. The chance of a thunderstorm this morning. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h. Saturday: Min 15 Max 20. Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 8 mm. Chance of any rain: 70 per cent. Brisbane area: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds southerly 25 to 35 km/h. Sunday: Min 15 Max 25 Possible shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm. Chance of any rain: 40 per cent. Brisbane area: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Strong winds and rain will particularly hit southeast Queensland and northeast NSW Melbourne Friday: Max 17 Becoming sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. Melbourne area: Becoming Sunny. Patches of morning frost in the northeast suburbs. Light winds. Saturday: Min 7 Max 23 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. Melbourne area: Sunny. The chance of frost about the nearby hills in the early morning. Winds northerly 30 to 45 km/h. Sunday: Min 15 Max 19 Showers. Possible rainfall: 2 to 9 mm. Chance of any rain: 95 per cent. Melbourne area: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds northerly 35 to 50 km/h tending northwest to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Canberra Friday: Max 16 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. Canberra area: Sunny. The chance of morning frost. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending easterly in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Saturday: Summary Min 1Max 19 Early frost. Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Canberra area: Partly cloudy. Patches of frost in the early morning. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Sunday: Min 5 Max 20 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 2 mm. Chance of any rain: 50 per cent. Canberra area: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. On Thursday the NSW Central Tablelands saw a Spring snowfall courtesy of the icy weather Adelaide Friday: Max 22 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 0 per cent. Adelaide area: Sunny. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to northeasterly in the early afternoon. Saturday: Min 13 Max 26 Showers developing. Possible rainfall: 1 to 7 mm. Chance of any rain: 90 per cent. Adelaide area: Mostly sunny morning. Very high chance of showers in the late afternoon and evening. Winds north to northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h tending north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the afternoon. Sunday: Min 12 Max 18. Showers easing. Possible rainfall: 1 to 6 mm. Chance of any rain: 90 per cent. Adelaide area: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning southwesterly during the morning. Perth Friday: Max 19 Showers. Possible rainfall: 3 to 15 mm. Chance of any rain: 95 per cent. Perth area: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, becoming less likely late this afternoon and evening. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning and early afternoon then decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Saturday: Min 9 Max 18 Partly cloudy. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm. Chance of any rain: 30 per cent. Perth area: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and early afternoon. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Sunday: Min 8 Max 20 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Perth area: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower about the southern suburbs, near zero chance elsewhere. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. The rain should ease by Sunday in most areas, according to the Bureau of Meteorology Darwin Friday: Max 33 Possible shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 2 mm. Chance of any rain: 40 per cent. Darwin City and Outer Darwin area: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers and the chance of a thunderstorm early this morning, then again this afternoon and early evening. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Saturday: Min 25 Max 33. Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent. Darwin City and Outer Darwin area: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Sunday: Min 26 Max 35 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent. Darwin City and Outer Darwin area: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm about the Cox Peninsula in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Hobart Friday: Max 17 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. Hobart area: Partly cloudy. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the middle of the day. Saturday: Min 4 Max 21 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. Hobart area: Mostly sunny. The chance of frost in the east in the early morning. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Sunday: Min 10Max 20Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 2 mm. Chance of any rain: 60 per cent. Hobart area: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds northerly 25 to 35 km/h turning northwesterly during the day then decreasing to 20 to 30 km/h during the evening. China's newest nuclear-powered submarine has sunk at a Wuhan port - with the Communist Party trying to cover up the blunder for months. The Zhou-class vessel plunged under water while being built, with the gaffe first being discovered by US officials who were assessing satellite photos of Wuchang Shipyard. The newly-built submarine, which features a distinctive X-shaped stern, is thought to have sunk in late May or early June while undergoing final equipping tests for sea. It is not known if any nuclear fuel was on board, but several experts have speculated it more than likely was, reported the Wall Street Journal. US officials said Beijing is yet to sample the water for raised radiation levels and have not ruled out that any military personnel or those working on board were killed. Commander Ryan Ramsey, a retired nuclear-powered submarine captain in the Royal Navy told MailOnline: 'It will be a setback and its really embarrassing. But they are good at learning quickly and moving on.' A series of satellite images from Planet Labs from June appear to show cranes at the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan Shi, China, June 15 Cranes were mobilised to salvage the sub, but it might require a major refit and will take months to clean with the electronics 'full of water' The newly-built submarine, which features a distinctive X-shaped stern, is thought to have sank in late May or early June while undergoing final equipping tests for sea The retired naval officer also warned China's rapid expansive of its military was threatening the West. 'The pace that China is building at is incredible and the West isnt keeping up with,' Cdr Ramsey said. Cranes were mobilised to salvage the sub, but it might require a major refit and will take months to clean with the electronics 'full of water'. A senior US defence official told The Wall Street Journal: 'It's not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside. 'In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLA's internal accountability and oversight of China's defence industry, which has long been plagued by corruption.' Brent Sadler, a former submarine officer at Washington's Heritage Foundation think tank, called the sinking 'significant' with it slowing down China's plans to expand its nuclear submarine fleet. China already has a substantial number of nuclear-powered submarines of its own. The Pentagon assessed in its 2020 China Military Power report that China has the largest navy in the world, with a battle force of some 350 ships and submarines, including more than 130 major surface combatants. It comes just under a year since 55 Chinese sailors were feared dead after their nuclear submarine apparently got caught in a trap intended to ensnare British sub-surface vessels in the Yellow Sea. According to a secret UK report the seamen died following a catastrophic failure of the submarine's oxygen systems which poisoned the crew. The captain of the Chinese PLA Navy submarine '093-417' is understood to be among the deceased, as were 21 other officers. Illustrative photo shows the Long, a nuclear submarine, during a naval parade in 2019 Officially, China denied the incident took place. It also appeared that Beijing refused to request international assistance for its stricken submarine. The UK report into the fatal mission read: 'Intelligence reports that on 21st of August there was an onboard accident whilst carrying out a mission in the Yellow Sea. 'Incident happened at 08.12 local resulting in the death of 55 crew members: 22 officers, 7 officer cadets, 9 petty officers, 17 sailors. Dead include the captain Colonel Xue Yong-Peng. 'Our understanding is death caused by hypoxia due to a system fault on the submarine. The submarine hit a chain and anchor obstacle used by the Chinese Navy to trap US and allied submarines. 'This resulted in systems failures that took six hours to repair and surface the vessel. The onboard oxygen system poisoned the crew after a catastrophic failure.' Beijing dismissed speculation about the incident as 'completely false' while Taiwan had also denied internet reports. A Republican lawmaker is floating a bombshell new theory that Donald Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks was actually shot multiple times. The revelation of the 'second bullet' theory came at the end of a congressional hearing Thursday aimed at investigating the deadly assassination attempt on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Louisiana Republican Rep. Clay Higgins asked Dr. Ariel Goldschmidt, the medical examiner of Allegheny County who conducted the autopsy on Thomas Matthew Crooks, if a second bullet could have struck Crooks. 'You stated that there was only one bullet wound,' Higgins told the doctor. 'I accept that you had only one observable bullet wound.' Then he asked a shocking question. Donald Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks at the Butler, PA, campaign event before opening fire on the ex-president and members of the crowd 'Could the injuries on Crooks's shoulders have been caused by a combination of shot number nine and shot number ten?' Higgins, a former law enforcement official, stunningly inquired. The Republican specifically wanted to know if Crooks was hit by the ninth shot fired that day. Crooks was killed by the tenth shot that rang out, a fact corroborated in congressional testimony. But earlier in the hearing before the House Task Force assigned to investigate Trump's myriad assassination attempts, a local law enforcement official testified that an Emergency Services Unit (ESU) sniper under his command shot at, and seemingly impacted, Crooks before he was fatally shot. 'Could the injuries on Crooks's shoulders have been caused by a combined impact of Butler County ESU shot number nine striking somewhere in the vicinity of the butt stock of of Crooks's rifle and some some fragmenting from that impact?' Higgins asked. 'Is that possible?' Goldschmidt responded: 'No, I don't believe so.' Higgins shot back: 'Does that mean it's possible?' Again the doctor said: 'No, it's not possible.' Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., speaks during a House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, 26 September 2024. He wondered if Crooks could have been struck by multiple bullets This image provided by the FBI shows Thomas Matthew Crooks' rifle broken down as was likely done for transport and the backpack recovered at the scene in Butler, Pa., July 13, 2024 Crooks's weapon seen here with the butt stock shattered. Higgins wondered if the shot that broke the gun also passed clean through Crooks' body The Louisianan again launched his theory at the medical examiner. 'The FBI recovered no other bullets, that's our understanding, no other projectiles, other than the partial projectile that you recovered from his shoulder.' 'So you don't know where shot number nine went do you doctor?' Higgins asked. The doctor responded in the affirmative. Then Higgins proposed a really bizarre theory akin to the Silver Bullet conspiracy that cropped up in the wake of former President John F. Kennedy's assassination. 'You're saying it's not possible that shot number nine went all the way through Crooks, and you had no way of knowing that, because it was in the same wound that was further affected by shot number ten,' Higgins said. His theory appeared to be that Crooks was hit by two bullets and they both entered the same location on the shooters body. One bullet went clean through Crooks, Higgins suggested, while the other was logged in his body and was later recovered by the medical examiner. 'There was no evidence' of that theory, Goldschmidt said. Witnesses arrive to testifies during a hearing of the House Task Force on the Attempted Assassinations of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, September 26, 2024 Then Higgins seemed to find solace in the examiner's answer. 'There you go,' the lawmaker responded to the doctor. 'So that's different than impossible,' Higgins said cracking a smirk as though his 'second bullet' theory was vindicated. The instance was a strange aside to a hourslong hearing that uncovered many new findings from witnesses from the Keystone State. Law enforcement witnesses, many who were present at the rally during the shooting, detailed grisly aspects that unfolded during the messy day during a public hearing. That includes the exact moment shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was taken out by a counter sniper, just seconds after he shot the former president. The officials expressed remorse over the death and carnage that ensued that day, and the lapses in preparation and communication with the U.S. Secret Service that led up to it. In addition, the long-awaited results of a series of tests conducted during Crooks' autopsy are finally being released. Commander Edward Lenz of Butler County Emergency Services Unit, Patrolman Drew Blasko of Butler Township Police Department, Lieutenant John D. Herold of Pennsylvania State Police and Patrick Sullivan attend a House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump hearing Opening the hearing, Chairman of the Trump Assassination Task Force Mike Kelly, R-Pa., said the Secret Service's miscommunication led to confusion. He likened it to the agency playing a game of telephone during the crisis. Kelly told the witnesses he sought clarity on the tragic events from July 13, and let them begin. Mr. Edward Lenz, Sergeant, Adams Township Police Department, Commander, Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU) opened up the hearing with his testimony. He was in charge of a large 44 member Emergency Service Unit that closely assisted the Secret Service, more officers than the agency requested. His wife, a medical professional, even aided some wounded that day, he added. Lenz testified that at no point during the preparation was the local ESU asked to secure the AGR complex from where Thomas Matthew Crooks shot from. Nor were they asked to put anyone on the roof. They did, however, have a sniper on the barn close to Trump. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa He described how that sniper shot at Crooks six seconds after the initial shots at the former president sounded off. That ESU sniper under his command shot at Crooks from 110 yards, he testified. 'When shots rang out he quickly was able to identify where the shots were coming from,' Lenz told the panel. 'He observed the shooter, shouldered his rifle, he acquired his target, and he fired one shot at the shooter which caused him to recoil and briefly fall out of site.' That individual saw through his scope Crooks recoil after firing, indicating that the 20-year-old was hit by the round, or at least frightened. Lenz testified that the ESU shooter was 'very confident' that the shot connected with the target. But seconds after Crooks disappeared following the initial volley, the 20-year-old reappeared and was immediately shot once more, this time fatally by the Secret Service. Lenz said there was 'no guidance' from the Secret Service on where he should station his ESU operators. They were also not given information on rules for engagement from the agency, Lenz said. Lenz talked about how his team of ESU operators was given scant instruction by the Secret Service on where officers should be stationed And Crooks's body showed signs that the Secret Service sniper's bullet was the one that killed the shooter. Dr. Ariel Goldschmidt, the medical examiner of Allegheny County, who conducted the autopsy on Thomas Matthew Crooks, confirmed Thursday he was killed by the sniper. Goldschmidt confirmed that gunshot residue samples were taken. He determined Crooks died as a result of a high-velocity gunshot wound to the head after conducting the autopsy the morning of July 14. The entrance wound was just above Crooks's lip, he testified. Then on July 22 his body was released to the funeral home at the directive of the county coroner. Goldschmidt also revealed that prior to his review of the body it was x-rayed and handled by the FBI. The medical examiner also said that he does not believe that Crooks' body was impacted by a ninth or tenth shot when pressed by Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., on whether there were additional wounds discovered during the autopsy. Previously Higgins released an independent report indicating that the stock of Crooks's gun could have been hit by gunfire and the resulting shrapnel from the strike could have injured the shooter. But the doctor dispelled that suggestion during the hearing Thursday. Higgins also had raised issues he encountered after he tried to view Crooks' body on August 5 as part of his own personal inspection. The former police captain said his request to view the body 'caused quite a stir and revealed a disturbing fact.' It was at this point that he learned that the FBI had 'released the body for cremation 10 days' after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Higgins says 'nobody knew' that the body had been returned to the family, including the county coroner and local enforcement. He writes that the coroner still had 'legal authority over the body' when the FBI made this decision and accuses the agency of 'obstruction'. John D. Herold, Lieutenant, Pennsylvania State Police, the officer in charge for the State Police on July 13, also testified. Lieutenant John Herold of Pennsylvania State Police attends a House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump hearing During the hearing he said there were 20 members of his team there to support the Secret Service, and his agency provided everything the agency requested. He also said that his team was not tasked with securing the AGR building from where Crooks shot the former president. The panel also played unseen footage of local enforcement officers attempting to confront Crooks before the shooting. The video shows dash-cam footage from a police car showing an officer attempting to climb onto the roof. Then the officer jumps down from the AGR roof building frantically. He appears to injure his ankle and hobbles away with haste, seemingly afraid. It was previously reported that an officer saw Crooks on the roof and tried to approach him before the 20-year-old opened fire, and the video confirmed the account. A couple caught red-handed trying to join the 'mile-high club' in front of appalled passengers - including a child - were today convicted of outraging public decency. Bradley Smith, 22 and Antonia Sullivan, 20, of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, were hauled off the plane by police for indulging in their X-rated antics while flying home from Tenerife, Spain aboard a packed easyJet flight on March 3. Unemployed Smith was heard asking his girlfriend to 'w*** me off' before care worker Sullivan was seen arranging several coats over his lap, The Sun reports. But the couple were not as discreet as they thought and were reported to flight attendants by outraged passengers who saw 'vigorous hand movements' beneath the coats. Witnesses to their lewd actions included a mother and her teenage daughter, who complained seeing Smith's 'bits' during their exploits. A couple caught red-handed trying to join the 'mile-high club' on an easyJet flight in front of appalled passengers - including a child - were today convicted of outraging public decency Witnesses to their lewd actions included a mother and her teenage daughter, who complained seeing Smith's 'bits' during their exploits Sullivan tried to excuse the situation by explaining she was merely rubbing her boyfriend's leg. On Thursday, the pair both pleaded guilty to one count of outraging public decency by committing a sexual act in a public place at Bristol Magistrates' Court. Judge Lynne Matthews said: 'You had no regard for the feelings of other passengers. 'There was a child sitting behind you who was able to see what was happening. 'Who do you think you are and what right do you think entitled you to behave in that way in full view of people on that flight?' Smith was given a 300-hour community work order, while Sullivan received 270 hours. They were also ordered to pay 100 compensation to each of three witnesses. Donald Trump said he will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and claims he'll be able to make a deal to end the brutal war with Russia. 'I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelensky quite quickly,' Trump predicted during remarks to the press at Trump Tower Thursday. 'I believe I can work that out,' Trump said. 'Its not my fight, but it is a fight to save humanity.' At the same time, Trump complained about the U.S. burden in funding Ukraine's defense. 'They should be equalizing. They should start paying up,' Trump said. Although the U.S. has sent billions in military aid, Europe has now overtaken the U.S. in commitments of support, according to the Kiel Institute. 'I see whats happening there is very, very sad,' Trump said. He also disputed Vice President Kamala Harris' comment blasting proposals that would have Ukraine relinquish territory to the invading Russians. 'Let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender,' said Harris. Former President Donald Trump said on the eve of his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky he thinks he can 'make a deal' to end the Ukraine war 'It's not a surrender,' said Trump when asked about the criticism. His planned meeting with Zelensky comes after Trump's GOP allies complained parts of his trip amounted to 'election interference,' a widening partisan split over Ukraine. 'Putin never, ever even thought about going in, and it was the apple of his eye,' Trump said, referencing the 2022 invasion, which came after Russia invaded the Donbas region in 2014. He said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin 'had a very good relationship, despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax,' he said, referencing the Russia probe. Asked by a reporter whether Ukraine should turn over some of its own land to end the war, Trump responded, 'We'll see what happened.' 'Let's get some peace. We need peace. We need to stop the death and destruction. Don't you think?' he concluded. Trump's confirmation of a meeting came shortly after he posted on X about Zelensky seeking a meeting with him, in just the latest communication between the two men to go public in a complex relationship. Trump has long defended the 'perfect' 2019 call he had with Zelensky where Trump asked him to 'look into' allegations about Hunter Biden and asked him for a 'favor' by investigating the 2016 election that featured in his first impeachment. The message, which Trump posted without explanation, is titled 'Denys Sienik, Deputy Ambassador of Ukraine, and is signed simply 'Volodymyr.' 'Dear Donald, I hope you're doing well,' it says, referencing a 'really good phone call.' The leader whose country is fighting off a Russian invasion and references a request for a meeting between the two men in New York. It defends his view in a 'just peace' and says 'I always speak with great respect about everything connected to you.' Trump dropped the message just as Zelensky was appearing with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Vice President Harris Thursday Zelensky also met with President Joe Biden, whose administration is pushing billions in military aid to Ukraine out the door before the end of the year Trump will sit down with his former phone mate at a time when his allies in the Republican Senate are fuming over Zelensky's recent trip to Pennsylvania, where the Ukrainian leader appeared with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and signed 155mm ammunition that a U.S. factory is sending to defend his country. 'Zelensky is openly campaigning for Democrats in battleground Pennsylvania today some 50 days out from our Presidential election. Unreal,' posted GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt (Mo.) House Speaker Mike Johnson, another Trump ally, said the move was 'designed to help Democrats' and said it was 'election interference.' Zelensky in an interview with the New Yorker called Vance 'too radical' and said 'The idea that the world should end this war at Ukraines expense is unacceptable.' Trump at his debate with Harris dodged the question when asked directly whether he wanted Ukraine to win its war against Russia. 'I want the war to stop. I want to save lives,' Trump said. And on Wednesday, at a rally in North Carolina, Trump said Ukraine should have 'given up a little bit.' 'We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Zelensky,' Trump said. Zelensky also met with President Biden to discuss his 'victory plan,' and the U.S. announced new moves to push billions of military aid to Kiev before the end of the year, after Congress failed to enact new authority. Biden on Thursday announced plans to send $8 billion in additional U.S. aid to Ukraine. But he has resisted Ukraine's request to be able to fire U.S.-made missiles deeper inside Russia. QUESTION: Have there been any accounts of alien encounters that included descriptions of what clothes the aliens wore? There have been a number of alleged alien encounters in which witnesses described the clothing, or attire, of the beings they met. Perhaps the most famous to date was that of civil rights activists Betty and Barney Hill, who claimed to have been abducted in rural New Hampshire in September 1961. In their first description of the alien, Barney described figures 'of human form dressed in shiny black uniforms and black caps with peaks or bills on them. The uniforms were like glossy leather'. The case became famous because the couple underwent post-abduction hypnosis by Dr Benjamin Simon, an expert in therapeutic hypnosis who had used it extensively to treat military personnel during World War II. There have been a number of alleged alien encounters in which witnesses described the clothing. (Stock photo) Tomorrow's questions Q: What became of Ed Milibands tablet of stone? William Ellis, Rugby, Warks Q: Why werent the crew of the aircraft carrier HMS Dasher awarded the Arctic Star medal? Terry Whippy,Eastbourne, East Sussex Q: Why do some bridges in the U.S. have open-ended barn structures on them, such as depicted in the films Beetlejuice and The Bridges Of Madison County? Tony Newton, Bude, Cornwall Advertisement Under hypnosis, the couple evidently completely believed in their story, though Simon attributed it to acute anxiety. Interestingly, during hypnosis Barney changed his description, correcting that only the leader wore black leather, while the crew wore 'light-coloured shirts, similar to blue denim, and no caps'. Four years earlier, a Brazilian farmer called Antonio Villas-Boas had finished his day's work when an 'egg-shaped' UFO approached him. Figures emerged from the craft, all wearing 'a very tight-fitting siren-suit, made of soft, thick, unevenly striped grey material. This garment reached right up to their necks...' In 1975, a forestry worker named Travis Walton was abducted from Arizona. He recalled that 'two men and a woman were standing around the table. They were all wearing velvety blue uniforms'. Closer to home, in August 1983, 77-year-old Albert Burtoo was quietly fishing on the Basingstoke Canal when a UFO landed. Two 'strange-looking beings' escorted him to their spaceship. 'They were about four feet high, dressed in pale green coveralls from head to foot,' Burtoo recalled. 'And they had helmets of the same colour with a visor that was blacked out.' These descriptions perhaps reflect the science fiction influences and cultural expectations of the time when the encounters were reported. J. B. Cunningham, Liverpool QUESTION: Where does the phrase 'tub-thumping' come from? Nonconformists those who, after the Act of Uniformity of 1559, did not conform to the established Church of England were in the habit of making speeches from a tub or a barrel, as opposed to a pulpit. They were known as 'tub preachers' from the 1640s, and finally tub-thumpers from the 1660s, the latter presumably for thumping their tubs for emphasis. The earliest reference comes from an anti-Presbyterian tract called The History Of The Wicked Plots And Conspiracies Of Our Pretended Saints... by Henry Foulis (1662). He wrote 'by the power which the Tub-thumping boute-feus [firebrands] had over the people's inclinations, and judgements, many had not onely a bad opinion of the King, but thought very well of the Parliament'. Foulis also used the terms 'Tub-pratlers' and 'Tub-tatler'. Janet Coe, Gainsborough, Lincs QUESTION: Did Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton ever make a record together? Clapton and Hendrix first met and played together at Regent Street Polytechnic, London, in 1966. (Hendrix pictured at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970) While the two guitarists played together, they never recorded together. The closest they came was on Stephen Stills's eponymous 1970 solo album. Eric Clapton provided the outro guitar solo for Go Back Home, while Jimi Hendrix added guitar to Old Times, Good Times. Clapton and Hendrix first met and played together at Regent Street Polytechnic, London, in 1966. Clapton was playing with Cream when Hendrix's manager Chas Chandler introduced them: 'He [Hendrix] asked if he could play a couple of numbers. I said, 'of course' but I had a funny feeling about him.' Hendrix then blew everyone away with a manic version of Howlin' Wolf's Killing Floor. The two men became friends, with Hendrix joining Clapton on stage a number of times, including a famous jam session at the Scene Club in New York with Jeff Beck in 1968. Clapton was devastated by Hendrix's death. In fact, Clapton had originally planned to meet Hendrix the night of his death on September 18, 1970: 'The night that he died I was supposed to meet him at the Lyceum to see Sly Stone play, and I brought with me a left-handed Stratocaster. I just found it, I think I bought it at Orange Music. I'd never seen one before and I was gonna give it to him.' Ryan Greenwood, Nottingham Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his troops to 'continue fighting with full force' against Hezbollah last night crushing hopes of a ceasefire. Rocket exchanges continued with another strike on Beirut reportedly killing the terror group's top drone commander. Israel's recent rejection for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, and killing hundreds in Lebanon with strikes has sparked fears of an all-out-regional war. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that 'hell is breaking loose' in the region as he backed a French-US peace proposal. Word spread early yesterday that a three-week pause could be agreed 'in the coming hours' before Mr Netanyahu's office shut down the rumour. 'The news about a ceasefire not true,' a spokesman said. 'This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister did not even respond he instructed the IDF to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to him.' Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his troops to 'continue fighting with full force' against Hezbollah today crushing hopes of a ceasefire Smoke billows over southern Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on September 26 As the Israeli PM touched down in New York, where he is due to speak at the UN, he said his 'policy is clear'. 'We will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes,' Mr Netanyahu said. The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon, known as Unifil, was supposed to disarm Hezbollah and prevent it building up on the border after the 2006 war. But it failed and on October 8 the terror group began bombarding northern Israel, forcing 70,000 to flee their homes as it tried to support the Hamas terror group in Gaza. It now appears the Jewish state is preparing a ground invasion to try to remove Hezbollah from southern Lebanon following nearly 20 years of diplomatic failure. Such a move could provoke Iran, which backs Hezbollah, to intervene and spark a regional war. The IDF's 7th brigade conducted exercises just a few miles from the border yesterday as its air force hit 75 terror targets across Lebanon. It struck weapons storage facilities and ready-to-fire rocket launchers, claiming as many as one in three houses in the south store weapons. Israel said it killed Mohammed Surur, the head of Hezbollah's drone unit, in southern Beirut. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on September 25 A fire burns as a result of projectiles fired from south Lebanon near the city of Safed, northern Israel on September 25 Rocket exchanges continued with another strike on Beirut reportedly killing the terror group's top drone commander (Pictured: A man watches as smoke billows over southern Lebanon) A woman walks her dog the beach to the Mediterranean Sea as smoke from an Israeli airstrike rises behind her on September 26, 2024 in Tyre, Lebanon He joined the terror group in the 1980s and was wanted for having 'directed and commanded' numerous UAV attacks on Israel. Footage showed the strike hit two rooms on the second and third floors of an eight-story building which local health agencies said killed two and injured 15. It is the fourth such strike on the capital in recent days as the relentless bombardment continues with at least 26 killed across the country last night. The US joined 11 other allies in calling for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the 'world is speaking clearly' on the need for the conflict to stop. Meanwhile US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the situation 'is deeply troubling' at a meeting with his British and Australian counterparts in London. Mr Austin said: 'We face the risk of an all-out war that would be devastating for both parties. Israel and Lebanon can choose a different path. 'Despite the sharp escalation a diplomatic solution is still viable. It is the only way displaced civilians on both sides of the border can return to their homes.' He warned the US remained 'postured to protect our forces and personnel across the Middle East' and, in a tacit message to Iran, warned no other state should attempt to 'exploit the situation'. UK Defence Secretary John Healey urged Mr Netanyahu and Hezbollah leaders to 'pay heed to the combined voices at the UN calling for a 21 day ceasefire... where talks can start, fighting can end and a longer term solution can emerge'. But Mr Netanyahu is under pressure to push ahead with the war from far-Right parties in his coalition. Itamar Ben-Gvir, minister of national security warned his extreme-Right Otzma Yehudit party would resign from the government if there is a ceasefire. He said: 'When your enemy is on his knees, you don't allow him to recover, but work to defeat him and strive to defeat him. If you don't do this, you convey weakness, endanger the security of your citizens and prove that you don't intend to win.' Israel 's recent rejection for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, and killing hundreds in Lebanon with strikes has sparked fears of an all-out-regional war UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Picutred) warned that 'hell is breaking loose' in the region as he backed a French-US peace proposal A building is damaged after a previous Israeli strike on a residential building on September 26 Foreign minister Israel Katz, who is serving as PM while Mr Netanyahu is in New York, said there will be 'no ceasefire in the north'. Israel 'will continue to fight against the terrorist organisation Hezbollah with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes', he added. Defence minister Yoav Gallant also approved 'continued IDF offensive activity'. A Western diplomat told Israeli newspaper Haaretz that some Israeli ministers are 'deliberately attempting to damage negotiations'. Any incursion into Lebanon would be devastating for the region. While Israel claims to have taken out half of Hezbollah's feared 150,000 rockets, it still maintains ferocious fire power. The proscribed terror organisation has 50,000 fighters embedded in tunnels in the south and represents a far tougher adversary than Hamas, which the IDF has still not destroyed despite nearly a year of war. BORDER OF BLOODSHED A view of damage after attacks by Israeli army, on September 26, 2024 in Lebanon Yemeni university staff and students burn an Israeli flag during a protest staged against the Israeli aerial attacks on Lebanon, on September 25 The bloodshed in Gaza has horrified observers but a war in Lebanon would be of a different magnitude altogether. Terror group Hezbollah's army of 50,000 includes 10,000 elite Radwan fighters embedded in tunnels in the mountainous border. From here they can unleash thousands of rockets, missiles and drones a day. The stockpile, from Iran, Russia and China, is thought to exceed 150,000. Israel says it has taken out as much as half, but that still leaves a huge armoury. It was assembled after the 2006 Lebanon War. Since then, a UN force of just 11,000 was supposed to oversee Hezbollah's disarmament and keep it north of the Litani River roughly 18 miles from Israel. But the Iranian proxy ignored the UN. On October 8 it started firing missiles in support of Hamas in Gaza. It has managed to continue this daily, killing around 50 Israelis and forcing 70,000 from their homes. As well as having precision missiles which can hit anywhere in Israel, the terrorists also have short-range rockets, suicide drones and anti-tank missiles. The IDF's biggest advantage is its air power. Hezbollah as none of its own and the Israeli Air Force, the region's strongest, has modern aircraft including US F-35s. Prime Minster Keir Starmer has called for Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire, saying 'escalation serves no one'. In his opening address to the United Nations General Assembly, Sir Keir urged the two sides to 'step back from the brink'. It follows a devastating few days which has seen Israel pounding suspected Hezbollah positions across Lebanon in a series of missile strikes that threatens to plunge the Middle East into 'all-out' war. The PM's message to UN leaders comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned his nation's military would continue with their onslaught 'fighting at full force' - as he rejected talks of a ceasefire between the two sides. Sir Keir warned fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has the potential to spill into a wider war 'that no one can control'. Prime Minster Keir Starmer has called for Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire, saying 'escalation serves no one' It comes as Israel continued with is assault against the Lebanon-based terror group, with missiles strikes across the country today 'I call on Israel and Hezbollah. Stop the violence. Step back from the brink,' he told leaders during his speech in New York. 'We need to see an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement and we are working with all partners to that end.' He warned the alternative is 'more suffering for innocent people on all sides and the prospect of a wider war that no one can control and with consequences that none of us can foresee'. Sir Keir also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages held by Hamas. Addressing the humanitarian crisis, he said: 'It shames us all that the suffering in Gaza continues to grow. 'The answer is diplomacy; the release of all the hostages and the unfettered flow of aid to those in need. 'That is the only way to break this devastating cycle of violence and begin the journey towards a political solution for the long-term which delivers the long-promised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.' He added: 'The world cannot look away.' Sir Keir called for the UN to be reformed and strengthened, saying the war in Ukraine was a test for the organisation. Addressing UN leaders in New York, Sir Keir warned fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has the potential to spill into a wider war 'that no one can control'. His speech comes after an devastating few days of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah which has seen the IDF pounding towns and cities across Lebanon He said the UK would 'stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes'. 'Because the alternative would be to confirm the worst claims about this place. 'That international law is merely a paper tiger and that aggressors can do what they will. 'We will never let that happen.' Sir Keir's speech was intended to show that under his premiership the UK would offer 'responsible global leadership'. He announced a new British International Investment initiative, working with the City of London to use billions of pounds from pension and insurance funds 'to invest in boosting development and fighting climate change'. Sir Keir also called for a new international levy on global shipping to 'put a price on the true cost of emissions' with the money raised going to tackle climate change. The Prime Minister also demanded changes to the UN Security Council 'to become a more representative body' which was 'willing to act - not paralysed by politics'. Sir Keir is pictured arriving to speak to the UN during an event in New York on Thursday The premier warned the alternative is 'more suffering for innocent people on all sides and the prospect of a wider war that no one can control' That would involve permanent African representation on the body, The existing five permanent members - the UK, US, France, China and Russia - should be joined by Brazil, India, Japan and Germany, he said. And he promised a change in the way the UK acted too: 'Moving from the paternalism of the past towards partnership for the future. 'Listening a lot more - speaking a bit less.' Sir Keir's plea comes a day after Joe Biden sounded a warning that the Middle East is now on the brink of 'all-out war'. The president joined pleas for de-escalation from international leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, adding that he thinks the opportunity remains 'to have a settlement that can fundamentally change the whole region'. Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss new ceasefire proposals. Macron had earlier told the UN that there 'must not be war in Lebanon', adding that he would send his foreign minister to the former French administration by the end of the week. US president Joe Biden has joined pleas for de-escalation at the UN General Assembly in New York Major General Herzi Halevi (left) visits troops on the northern border on Wednesday Vehicles wait in traffic in the town of Damour, south of Beirut as people flee southern Lebanon Israeli troops gather at the site of a rocket attack on Sa'ar settlement on Wednesday France pressed the UN security council to hold an emergency session on the matter soon. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged Israel and Hezbollah to step back, saying all-out war would be disastrous for the region and its people. Netanyahu's spokesperson David Mencer said that while 'we favour a diplomatic solution... we have tried... for eleven and a half months'. 'Yesterday our president described the US diplomat [involved in negotiations] as talented but with all his talent he hasn't been able to negotiate any sort of climbdown from Hezbollah,' he said. Aldi baked beans have beaten well-known brands Heinz and Branston in a blind taste test by consumer group Which?. The supermarket's Bramwells Baked Beans In A Rich Tomato Sauce costing 41p for a 410g can achieved a top score of 76 per cent from 66 tasters selected by the watchdog to rate 10 versions from supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco alongside their branded counterparts. The panel said Aldi's beans looked good and had an appealing aroma, with three-quarters agreeing that the strength of flavour was perfect. Branston's beans, costing 1 for the same-sized can, followed closely behind with a score of 75 per cent. Co-op's Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce at 49p for 400g can took third place with a score of 74 per cent, while Asda's version at 42p for 410g can achieved 73 per cent, although some of the panel were unsure about the colour of the beans and 29 per cent found the orange hue 'too vibrant'. Aldi baked beans have beaten well-known brands Heinz and Branston in a blind taste test by consumer group Which? with a 76 per cent score That is despite it being one of the cheapest options on the list at 41p per 410g can The budget supermarket beat well-known pricier brands Heinz and Branston to the crown, though the latter, costing 1 per can, came second Co-op's Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce at 49p for a 400g took third place with a score of 74 per cent, while Asda's version at 42p for a 410g can achieved 73 per cent M&S Baked Beans In A Rich Tomato Sauce costing 50p for a 400g can impressed the panel least, with a score of 67 per cent Heinz Beans at 1.40 for a 415g can scored 72 per cent, with the panel approving of the beans' appearance and texture but finding their aroma less pleasing than other versions, while 35 per cent of the panel thought the sauce was too thin. Which? noted that households consuming two tins a week could save more than 100 a year by switching from Heinz beans to Aldi's offering. M&S Baked Beans In A Rich Tomato Sauce costing 50p for a 400g can impressed the panel least, with a score of 67 per cent, with less than half satisfied with the strength of flavour and a third wanting them to be sweeter. Which? head of home products and services Natalie Hitchins said: 'Baked beans are a staple for many households and our results show you don't have to pay a premium for the best taste. 'Choosing supermarket own-label groceries is not only a great way to save money, but our tests prove that you can end up with a better tasting product and can save over 100 a year by making the switch.' Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, said: 'If Aldi stands for one thing, it's that low prices doesn't mean compromising on quality or taste. 'Which? recognising our Bramwells Baked Beans as a Best Buy and Great Value and rating them above so many higher cost options on the market, is testament to that.' In a separate taste test by Which? earlier this month, Asda beat big-name brands such as PG Tips, Tetley and Twinings to find Britain's best cup of tea. Asda's Everyday Tea Bags achieved the top score of 72 per cent in a blind tasting by 79 'experienced and committed' tea drinkers assembled by the consumer group. Donald Trump praised Sir Keir Starmer ahead of their first meeting tonight. The Republican candidate said the Prime Minister 'ran a great race' and described him as popular. Speaking at a press conference at Trump Tower in New York, Mr Trump was asked what he made of Sir Keir and joked: 'Well I'm going to see him in about an hour so I have to be nice!' He went on: 'I actually think he's very nice. He ran a great race, he did very well, it's very early he's very popular.' Asked if he wanted Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to have a bigger role, the former President said: 'I think Nigel is great, I've known him for a long time. He had a great election too, picked up a lot of seats, more seats than he was allowed to have actually. Donald Trump praised Sir Keir Starmer ahead of their first meeting tonight. It comes as Sir Keir delivered a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York today 'They acknowledged that he won but for some reason you have a strange system over there, you might win them but you don't get them.' His comments came as Sir Keir spoke at the United Nations General Assembly before heading to Trump Tower However in a blow to Downing Street, Sir Keir was unable to arrange an introduction to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, whom he has not met before, before his return to the UK. She was in Washington DC seeing Ukraine's leader as he presented his 'victory plan' to the White House and it is unclear if Sir Keir will now be able to meet her before the US election in just over a month. Speaking ahead of his first encounter with Mr Trump, Sir Keir told reporters: 'As you know, I've said a number of times, I want to meet both candidates. We've now got the opportunity to meet Trump, which is good. Obviously, I still want to speak to Harris as well. But you know, the usual diary challenges, but it's good that this one now has been fixed.' Asked what his message would be to Mr Trump, the PM replied: 'It'll be really to establish a relationship between the two of us. I'm a great believer in personal relations on the international stage. I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them you know personally, get to know them face to face.' But he added: 'I should probably add that, I mean that our camp, our embassy, has got good relations with both camps and has had for a long time. So it's not the sort of start of something, it's the continuation of those good relations that have been there with both camps, and that's a really good thing that the embassy has been doing.' Sir Keir urged Israel and Hezbollah to step back from fighting and agree a ceasefire In his opening address to leaders at the UN, Sir Keir urged for Israel and Hezbollah to 'step back from the brink' and agree a ceasefire. The PM's message to UN leaders comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned his nation's military would continue with their onslaught 'fighting at full force' - as he rejected talks of a ceasefire between the two sides. Sir Keir warned fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has the potential to spill into a wider war 'that no one can control'. 'I call on Israel and Hezbollah. Stop the violence. Step back from the brink,' he told leaders during his speech in New York. 'We need to see an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement and we are working with all partners to that end.' He warned the alternative is 'more suffering for innocent people on all sides and the prospect of a wider war that no one can control and with consequences that none of us can foresee'. Prime Minster Keir Starmer has called for Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire, saying 'escalation serves no one' Sir Keir also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages held by Hamas. Addressing the humanitarian crisis, he said: 'It shames us all that the suffering in Gaza continues to grow.' Sir Keir called for the UN to be reformed and strengthened, saying the war in Ukraine was a test for the organisation. He said the UK would 'stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes'. 'Because the alternative would be to confirm the worst claims about this place. 'That international law is merely a paper tiger and that aggressors can do what they will. 'We will never let that happen.' Sir Keir's speech was intended to show that under his premiership the UK would offer 'responsible global leadership'. He announced a new British International Investment initiative, working with the City of London to use billions of pounds from pension and insurance funds 'to invest in boosting development and fighting climate change'. Addressing UN leaders in New York, Sir Keir warned fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has the potential to spill into a wider war 'that no one can control'. His speech comes after an devastating few days of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah which has seen the IDF pounding towns and cities across Lebanon Sir Keir also called for a new international levy on global shipping to 'put a price on the true cost of emissions' with the money raised going to tackle climate change. The Prime Minister also demanded changes to the UN Security Council 'to become a more representative body' which was 'willing to act - not paralysed by politics'. That would involve permanent African representation on the body, The existing five permanent members - the UK, US, France, China and Russia - should be joined by Brazil, India, Japan and Germany, he said. And he promised a change in the way the UK acted too: 'Moving from the paternalism of the past towards partnership for the future. 'Listening a lot more - speaking a bit less.' Donald Trump knows why world leaders are clamoring for meetings at Trump Tower: It is because he is favorite to win November's election. And he cited the DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners election model which on Wednesday gave him a 55 percent chance of beating Kamala Harris, who is on 45 percent, as evidence of his rise in the polls. He made his comments as he ended a press conference on the ground floor of Trump Tower. The former president announced that he was due to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer later in the evening and was then going to sit down with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky on Friday morning. 'Many of the leaders have been calling me. They wanna meet,' he said. Former President Donald Trump spoke to reporters at Trump Tower on Thursday afternoon 'I guess they see the polling. We are leading in the polls very seriously. 'The Daily Mail just came out with a very big poll and we're leading by 10.' In fact, our election model crunches all the latest polling numbers, along with decades of voting figures and economic statistics, to try to forecast who has the best chance of winning the electoral college. Last week, Harris had nosed ever so slightly ahead after a strong debate showing. The numbers suggested she had a 50.2 percent chance of victory. But since then, a string of swing state polls has seen Trump regain the momentum he enjoyed earlier in the year. The race remains on a knife edge and Harris is on course to win the popular vote. Yet the results led some analysts to wonder whether Harris, catapulted into to the race when President Joe Biden dropped out in July, may already have enjoyed her best weeks. 'If current trends continue (although these have only been in place for a week or so) then we may see Trump take a more concrete lead in the race over the coming few weeks,' said J.L. Partners data scientist Callum Hunter. 'September seems to have been Harris' high point and trends suggest that this high has come to an end.' Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has been meeting U.S. leaders after addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York. On Friday he will meet Trump British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to meet Trump on Thursday evening It means Trump is in demand as world leaders hedge their bets and try to build relationships, or at least open lines of communication, with the man who could become the 47th president. Dozens and dozens of presidents and prime ministers are in town for the U.N.'s annual get-together of leaders just a few blocks from Trump's New York base. He had been due to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda at the weekend during a campaign event, but it was canceled. The former president hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago home in July. And he also entertained former British Prime Minister David Cameron, when he was serving as foreign secretary, in April. As well as a chance to build a relationship with a possibly future president, Trump is seen as a key influencer on Republican foreign policy making him a useful stop for visiting politicians looking to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine or push for a ceasefire in the Middle East. President Joe Biden on Thursday yelled that Democrats 'are the ones funding cops', referred to Kamala Harris as 'boss' and called J.D Vance 'Secretary' at a White House event about gun violence. Biden was flanked by Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, and went after both GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump, and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance. But the 81-year-old referred to the vice presidential contender as 'Secretary Vance of Ohio.' Then when he was signing the executive order on exploring new measures to regulate 3D printed guns and examine the best way to implement active-shooter drills at schools. 'Keep it going, boss,' Biden told Harris, the third time he's referred to her in such a way since she took over as nominee. Biden has mistakenly referred to Democratic presidential nominee Harris as the 'president' on at least seven occasions. President Joe Biden on Thursday yelled that Democrats 'are the ones funding cops' during an East Room event focused on how the White House is trying to curb gun violence 'Look folks, I taught Constitutional law for years. Constitutional law. Never was the Second Amendment meant to be absolute,' the president said. 'Back when it was passed, you could not own a cannon,' he claimed. The president then mumbled through the quote, 'The liberty of America is watered with the blood of patriots.' 'Like hell,' he told the East Room audience. 'I'm serious. Think about it. Think about it. It was never absolute. Never, never, never.' President Joe Biden (right) signs new gun control-related executive orders and hugs former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (left), who survived a 2011 assassination attempt in Tucson, Arizona Historically, Republicans have pointed to the Second Amendment - the right to bear arms - to oppose gun control measures. Biden said he wanted to see more funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 'We get a lot of heat from the other guy - she got a lot of heat from the other guy,' he said, speaking of Harris. 'Talking about, 'we're not helping ...' We're the ones funding cops!' he then yelled. 'We're the ones funding these things,' Biden added. Biden hammered his 'predecessor' - instead of saying Trump's name - and Congressional Republicans for being opposed to Democrats' crackdown on ghost guns, as they say that violates the Second Amendment too. 'Give me a break,' Biden said. 'If they got their way criminals could traffic guns and commit crimes.' Vice President Kamala Harris recalled meeting the victim of a school shooting last week - though didn't mention how she told Oprah Winfrey that as a gun owner, she's shoot an intruder 'They attack the FBI and want to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives. By the way, that's written out,' he added. 'Folks you can't be pro-law enforcement and be anti-FBI and ATF,' Biden said to cheers. Trump has complained about the FBI due to the bureau's 2016 Russia investigation, which he called a 'hoax,' and the August 2022 raid on Mar-a-Lago, to retreive classified documents the ex-president took from the White House. Harris spoke prior to Biden at the East Room event - attended by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was nearly killed in a 2011 assassination attempt, and Georgia Rep. Lucy McBath, whose son was shot and killed for playing his music too loud. She spoke about her meeting last week the a survivor of the recent Apalachee High School shooting - during her star-studded Michigan event with Oprah Winfrey. 'Last week I met with a young leader, her name is Natalie,' Harris recalled. 'When we met Natalie was still wearing bandages and she is extraordinarily brave.' 'So on behalf of her, on behalf of all the survivals, all the survivors that we have lost,' the VP continued, bungling the delivery, 'let us continue to fight to end the epidemic of gun violence.' What Harris didn't mention in front of the White House crowd - as nearly every member of the audience raised their hand to say they had lost someone from gun violence - was the pronouncement she made last week: that she would shoot an intruder dead. 'If somebody breaks into my house, they're getting shot,' she told Winfrey. 'I probably should not have said that. My staff will deal with that later,' the Democratic nominee added. It was a union that caused a family scandal and left the future King Edward VII fuming. In 1871, the Prince of Wales's younger sister, Princess Louise, controversially married a commoner (the first time a royal had done so since 1515) - albeit a very wealthy one, the Marquess of Lorne. But Queen Victoria, who adored Louise, was less upset - even if she had endeavoured to marry off her nine offspring to the royal families of Europe. Now, an engraved granite brooch that the monarch had made to celebrate her daughter's engagement in 1870 is set to sell at auction today. The piece, which has a green enamel border, is engraved with the Queen's initials, the date and the location of the Marquess's proposal: Dhu Loch on Her Majesty's beloved Balmoral estate in Scotland. The brooch, which also boasts a gold garland wreath, is one of several matching ones that the Queen gave to those closest to Louise. In 1871, the Prince of Wales' younger sister, Princess Louise, controversially married a commoner (for the first time since 1515) - albeit a very wealthy one, the Marquess of Lorne An engraved granite brooch that Queen Victoria had made to celebrate her daughter's engagement in 1870 is set to sell at auction today It is thought that the brooches were made by a local jeweller: M Rettie & Sons of Aberdeen. The one up for sale is tipped to sell for up to 400, via Fellows, an auction house based in London and Birmingham. Princess Louise's wedding took place in March 1871 at St George's Chapel, Windsor. The Illustrated London News described Louise's 'rich white satin dress and veil, trimmed with Honiton lace trim and decorated with blossoms'. The Princess was given a spectacular collection of bejewelled presents; many of which remain in the Royal Family. She left her jewellery collection to Prince George, Duke of Kent. As a wedding present, Victoria gave her daughter a large emerald and diamond set in a bracelet. Although there are no paintings of photographs of Louise wearing the piece, it was converted to a brooch and frequently worn by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent and most recently Princess Michael of Kent. Both wore the emerald with a huge baroque pearl, the Vladimir Pearl, suspended from it as a brooch. Victoria also gave Louise a tiara. Fast forward more than a century, and when Jodie Kidd married Aidan Butler in 2005, the model wore a tiara that she said was Louise's. When model Jodie Kidd married Aidan Butler in 2005, she wore a tiara that she claimed Victoria gave to Louise when she married in 1871. Above: Kidd wearing the tiara on her wedding day, at St Peter's Church in Twineham, West Sussex, September 2005 Princess Louise's husband, the Marquess of Lorne, became the 9th Duke of Argyll in 1900. He died in 1914 The one up for sale is tipped to sell for up to 400, via Fellows, an auction house based in London and Birmingham Princess Louise's wedding took place in March 1871 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne, later Duchess of Argyll. She passed away in 1939 Princess Louise (left) seen with her mother Queen Victoria and sister Princess Alice at Balmoral in 1863, two years after the death of Prince Albert Kidd said: 'My grandmother Bumby left it to me when she passed away in 1988. 'I think she wore it to her wedding--or one of them, she married quite a few times! Queen Victoria gave it to her fourth daughter Princess Louise when she married the 9th Duke of Argyll, and when my grandmother married the 11th Duke in 1927, it was passed on to her. I feel honoured to be wearing it.' Louise's three younger siblings, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice, gifted her three Garrard diamond set daisies - one of which was worn by the Princess on her wedding day, to secure her veil. The set consisted of one large daisy and a pair of smaller ones. She also wore them pinned in her hair in a beautiful portrait, painted by Heinrich Von Angeli for Victoria. After her death in 1939, the diamond daisies were often worn by Princess Marina as brooches - the largest with the Vladimir pearl suspended. Princess Michael of Kent playfully turned the two smaller daisies into earrings and all three into a Daisy Diadem. The Princess, perhaps partly because she was marrying a Scottish peer, was so beloved by the people of Balmoral that they collaborated to raise 250 (the equivalent of more than 25,000 now) to purchase a pearl and diamond necklace and earring set. The piece comprised of 24 Scottish river pearls, surrounded by tiny diamonds and interlinked with brushed gold and blue enamel accents - a design repeated in the earrings and brooch. It was created by Sanderson & Son's of Prince's Street in Edinburgh. As a wedding present, Victoria gave her daughter a large emerald and diamond set in a bracelet. Although there are no paintings of photographs of Louise wearing the piece, it was converted to a brooch and frequently worn by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent and most recently Princess Michael of Kent. Both wore the emerald with a huge baroque pearl, the Vladimir Pearl. Above: Seen on Princess Michael of Kent in 2016 Princess Michael of Kent playfully turned the two smaller daisies gifted to Princess Louise to for her wedding into a daisy diadem. Above: Princess Michael wearing the diadem with her husband Prince Michael From her in-laws she received a necklace set with diamonds and pearls. The necklace appears like a lace ribbon. It is set with 190 diamonds in interlocking rectangles, which are interspersed with 13 rosettes of natural pearls, surrounded by a halo of more diamonds. A locket is suspended from the lowermost rosette; the central pearl, encircled by two halos of a mixture of cuts of diamonds. And from this a pear-shaped sapphire and pave diamond set pendant hangs from a twig of myrtle set with emeralds - the Clan Campbell's emblematic plant. Princess Louise and her husband, who became the 9th Duke of Argyll on his father's death in 1900, never had any children. The Duke died of pneumonia in 1914. Widowed Louise lived in Kensington Palace until her death and she left her jewels to Prince George and Princess Marina, the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Her jewels have not been seen for a while - but of course, like with the Queen Mother's Strathmore Tiara - they will never be forgotten and hopefully, will be worn again. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to California to seek their fortune, their cheerleaders claimed they would be a new power couple, like George and Amal Clooney, who attended their wedding, but with added royal mystique. Comparisons were even made with former US president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, whose highly lucrative move into books and podcasts they hoped to emulate. This week, we have seen evidence of how that dream lies in tatters, with Prince Harry and Meghan travelling in different directions when it comes to their careers. It is a new strategy but to explain why they felt the need to adopt it, we have to go back to the moment they arrived in America. The Sussexes ambition to harness their power as a couple became clear soon after they landed in Los Angeles on what Harry described as a freedom flight from Canada during the Covid pandemic in 2020. Meghan has filmed a cookery and lifestyle show, expected to be broadcast next year While living in a mansion generously lent to them by American TV star Tyler Perry whom Harry admitted he did not know the pair started plotting how they would establish themselves as a new force in the US. They set up Archewell, a mixture of for-profit and not-for-profit business organisations, registered in tax-friendly Delaware, that they hoped would help give them the same sort of status as that which former US presidents including Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary derived from the foundations they had established. Then came the crucial business of cashing in on their royal connections as a couple. They did this by signing multi-million-dollar deals with media titans Netflix and Spotify. Making clear that audio giant Spotify had signed them as a pair, both Harry and Meghan appeared on the pilot episode of their podcast. A string of famous guests, including Sir Elton John, James Corden and Tyler Perry, were enlisted in an attempt to demonstrate their ability to attract big names. Three months later, they sat down for their explosive television interview with their Santa Barbara neighbour Oprah Winfrey. Following Meghans claims in the interview that the future Princess of Wales had made her cry, and her allegations of racism among unnamed senior Windsors, the sofa chat caused a devastating rift with the Royal Family. It also alienated millions of people who had previously been sympathetic to Harry and Meghan. The negative reaction to the interview may have been the turning point, when the first seeds of doubt crept in about the wisdom of their power couple strategy. They had, however, signed a deal with Netflix for a rumoured $100million, so still went ahead with their tawdry docuseries or reality show, Harry & Meghan, which was broadcast the following year. By the time their first series of podcasts was released by Spotify the same year, poor Harrys voice had been silenced. Instead, the dozen episodes of the series, Archetypes, were presented exclusively by Meghan. The former actress had, apparently, decided that she deserved top billing. Fat lot of good it did her, though. While living in a mansion lent to them by American TV star Tyler Perry, the pair started plotting how they would establish themselves as a new force in the US The series turned out to be their first and last for Spotify, with the company announcing in 2023 that it had ended its deal. Adding insult to injury, Spotify executive Bill Simmons described the couple as f***ing grifters and ridiculed Harrys attempts to contribute ideas for podcasts. Meghans solo series set the pattern for their future careers. She left Harry to promote his memoirs alone, as the book further antagonised the royals and their admirers around the world. Their forthcoming projects for Netflix are separate: Meghan has filmed a cookery and lifestyle show, expected to be broadcast next year, while Harrys made a programme about polo, his favourite sport. This week, Harry has been in New York on his own, carrying out charitable engagements connected to his late mother, Princess Diana, that would once have held much appeal for Meghan. Whats been most noticeable is that the duke has appeared far more relaxed than on his previous appearance in the city with his wife. That visit turned into a fiasco, with claims of a high-speed car chase with paparazzi that were denied by the police. Harrys smiles have also been in contrast to the frowns he often seemed to be wearing when he visited Colombia with Meghan last month. A source in California claims that Meghan has decided that their interests are best served by pursuing separate careers. They will still carry out some charitable engagements together and embark on foreign visits, but their work projects will be separate, the source tells me. Perhaps Meghan has decided that she is the bigger attraction when it comes to showbusiness. That would leave Harry free to continue trying to mend fences with his family on visits back home that are likely to become more frequent and longer. Sign up for Richard Edens Royal Newsletter. Click here. Follow me on Twitter: Richardaeden The Princess Royal paid her respects to two unidentified World War I soldiers who were buried in a cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle today. Gun salutes sounded out as the two brave British soldiers were laid to rest in northern France over a century after they were killed in the bloody conflict in 1915. Their burials marked the inauguration - which was led by Princess Anne - of an extension at the Loos British Cemetery., as fallen soldiers from the bloody conflict continue to discovered. Calamitous battles played out in the area, which is located 25 miles south of the city of Lille. Princess Anne, who is the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), stood before the two coffins, wearing a dark green coat coupled with a scarf emblazoned with poppies, signalling her respects to the fallen countrymen. Princess Anne, (Pictured) who is the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), paid her respects to two World War II soldiers who were buried today The Princess Royal led the inauguration of the extension of the war cemetery in northern France, which was marked by the burial of the two fallen soldiers The soldiers were carried to the 1,200-plot extension to the cemetery by Scottish soldiers donning traditional kilts and horsehair sporran belt pouches Little is known about the two men, who were buried alongside 46 unknown soldiers, only the Scottish regiments they served in. Unit Head of the CWGC Stephan Naji said there is 'very little chance' of identifying the pair. A message on their gravestones read: 'A soldier of the Great War - Known unto God', a phrase coined by writer Rudyard Kipling. The soldiers were carried to the 1,200-plot extension to the cemetery by Scottish soldiers donning traditional kilts and horsehair sporran belt pouches. They were honoured with three volleys of gunfire as well as a member of Scotland's Black Watch regiment playing a bagpipe. 'It's a tremendous sacrifice that these men, women, fathers, gave to us. It's a great honour to be here and to be a part of that,' said Private Chalmers of the Black Watch, who gave only his family name. He continued that war cemeteries similar to Loos allow people to 'remember these great men'. Bodies from World War I battles are regularly unearthed across much of northern France where hundreds of thousands of soldiers died. According to CWGC unit head Mr Naji '95 percent of our finds happen within two hours' drive of Arras.' Arras is around 100 miles north of Paris near the Belgian border, according to Naji. When a new hospital was built in Lens, a town located near loos, 120 human remains were unearthed over the course of three years, he explained. Not much is known about the two men, who were buried alongside 46 unknown soldiers, only the Scottish regiments they served in (Pictured: Princess Anne talking to a young boy and girl at the ceremony) Many remains are found in the area of northern France with many calamitous battles taking place 25 miles south of Lille during the World War I (Pictured: Princess Anne waving to the crowd as she attende the inaugaration in Loos-en-Gohelle) The CWGC aims to organise a burial within two years of the discovery of remains, but the effort can be painstaking. When a body is found the organisation is tasked with discovering the individuals nationality, regiment and when they may have served. Research begins at 'how many died in that area at that time, and how many of those are still missing. That gives us a short list...sometimes the list is not so short,' Alexia Clar, a caseworker at the British defence ministry said. If there are only a few candidates, a DNA sample from the bones can be compared with genetic material from descendants of the missing to offer definitive identification, she added. Remains of at least 500,000 British soldiers killed in the two World Wars are still unaccounted for, according to Clark. Mark Zuckerberg has revealed his 'time machine' to the future, in the form of Meta's first pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses. Meta - the parent company to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp - showed off its first working prototype of AR glasses, called Orion, during its annual Connect conference. At first glance, the chunky black glasses look like any other basic pair of spectacles. However, Zuckerberg explained at the event that the glasses can use holograms to overlay digital content on to the real world. 'For now, I think the right way to look at Orion is as a time machine. These glasses exist, they are awesome and they are a glimpse of a future that I think is going to be pretty exciting,' the Meta Chief Executive said. Mark Zuckerberg has revealed his 'time machine' to the future, in the form of Meta 's first pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses At first glance, the chunky black glasses look like any other basic pair of spectacles. However, Zuckerberg explained at the event that the glasses can use holograms to overalay digital content on to the real world The Orion glasses are made of magnesium alloy and powered by custom silicon designed by Meta. Users will be able to interact with the glasses through hand-tracking, voice and wrist-based neural interface. Surprisingly, Zuckerberg did not demonstrate Orion's capabilities directly during his announcement. Instead, he chose to play a video showing how people reacted to the device when they tried it. The video showed a few glimpses of text messages and images displayed through the glasses, and the CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, was prominent among the testers. The Orion glasses are made of magnesium alloy and powered by custom silicon designed by Meta Surprisingly, Zuckerberg did not demonstrate Orion's capabilities directly during his announcement. Instead, he chose to play a video showing how people reacted to the device when they tried it The glasses can use holograms to overalay digital content on to the real world, according to Meta Later this year, Meta plans to add video-generation capabilities and the ability to perform real-time language translation between English and French, Italian or Spanish. Zuckerberg held a live conversation with Mexican mixed martial arts fighter Brandon Moreno demonstrating the language tool, in which the glasses spoke translations from English to Spanish and vice versa. However, you'll have to wait a while to get your hands on the AR glasses. Meta plans to work on making the glasses smaller, sleeker and more low-cost before releasing them to consumers later on. During the Meta Connect event, Meta also announced a raft of other new product offerings for its AI chatbot, Meta AI Speaking to Reuters before the event, a source said that Meta aims to ship its first commercial AR glasses to consumers in 2027. The closest thing to the prototype currently is the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which initially inspired little interest but caught on last year after Meta added an AI assistant. During the Meta Connect event, Meta also announced a raft of other new product offerings for its AI chatbot, Meta AI. This will now respond to voice commands and offer users the option to make the assistant sound like celebrities including Judi Dench and John Cena. 'I think that voice is going to be a way more natural way of interacting with AI than text,' Zuckerberg added. Graphics experts have recreated the face of a pharaoh who founded the Valley of the Kings and rewrote history in ancient Egypt. Amenhotep I - the second ruler of Egypt's 18th Dynasty - is thought to have died 3,500 years ago at around age 35 before being painstakingly preserved through mummification. He was the first to be buried in the Valley of the Kings - the resting site of almost all the Pharaohs of the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties. He was worshipped as a god after he died, primarily because he ushered Egypt into a new age of peace and prosperity during his reign. Brazilian graphics designer Cicero Moraes digitally reconstructed Amenhotep's likeness, revealing his face for the first time in 3,500 years. Cicero Morares, a Brazilian 3D designer who specializes in forensic facial reconstruction, created these images by blending faces made through a variety of methods. One method involved distributing soft tissue thickness markers across the Pharaoh's skull, guided by computed tomography (CT) scan data from living donors. Another was a technique called anatomical deformation, in which a digital recreation of a donor's head was adjusted until the skull matched the Pharaoh's. This method was made possible thanks to CT scans of Amenhotep's skull that were taken in 2021. That work was conducted by paleo radiologist Sahar N. Saleem of the University of Cairo and Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, who do not endorse the digital recreations and described them to DailyMail.com as 'scientifically flawed'. Regardless, their work 'virtually unwrapped' Amenhotep's mummified remains using CT scanning, and revealed details his appearance, skeletal structure and some preserved internal organs, including his heart and brain. The scans did not indicate a cause of death, but estimated the age of death at roughly 35 years. Once Morares had revealed the Pharaoh's face, he noticed that it didn't match the god that had been depicted in statues Many mummies, such as Amenhotep I, show an overbite. But this is generally not reflected in a compatible way in statues Their work also suggested that he suffered a series of postmortem injuries 'probably inflicted by tomb robbers or by the embalmers who re-wrapped the mummy later,' said Morares' co-author, archaeologist Michael Habicht of Flinders University in Australia. It also showed that Amenhotep stood about five and a half feet tall, his teeth were in good condition and he had curly hair, Habicht added. 'By crossing the data from all the projections, we generated the final bust and complemented the structure with historical costume,' Morares said. Once Morares had revealed the Pharaoh's face, he noticed that it didn't match the god that had been depicted in statues. 'Many mummies, such as Amenhotep I, show a retrognathism or overbite, and this is generally not reflected in a compatible way in the statues,' he said. The mummy of Amenhotep I, the first to be buried in the Valley of Kings University of Cairo-led experts uses computed tomography (CT) scans to create 3D reconstructions of Amenhotep I 'In general terms, the statues of Amenhotep I are compatible in the nose region, but more gracile in the glabella region and more projected in the chin region.' Amenhotep I's reign came in the wake of his father Ahmose I's expulsion of the Hyksos invaders and successful reunification Egypt - and represented something of a golden age for ancient Egypt. Not only was the 'New Kingdom' both prosperous and secure, but Amenhotep I also oversaw a religious building spree and successful military campaigns against both Libya and northern Sudan. 'Under the peaceful rule of Amenhotep I, the rise of Egypt was initiated and the heyday of the New Kingdom began,' Habicht said. Amenhotep's name meant 'Amun is satisfied' - referring to the ancient Egyptian god of the air. Morares and Habicht's digital reconstruction offers a first-of-its-kind look at the face of this celebrated king. It was made possible by the Egyptologists who paved the way for this work. 'This work was not done just by us, but by all those who studied and study ancient Egypt seriously, always sharing information,' Morares said. Hunt master Ruslan sits astride his horse on top of the craggy mountain, with golden eagle Kara-Barachyn perched on his wrist. He lifts his arm and the bird takes wing in search of prey, her cruel talons ready to spear whatever it can find to the ground. This scene has been played out in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan for thousands of years. The only difference between now and the times of Genghis Khan is the holidaymakers snapping away furiously with their cameras. When Genghis was in charge, this mountainous country was part of the central belt of the vast trade routes known as the Silk Roads. For almost 2,000 years until the Middle Ages, goods and ideas flowed between China and Europe along these, with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan at their heart. Some of the finest surviving examples of those goods will go on display from Thursday at the British Museums Silk Roads exhibition, which runs until February. Dazzling: Matt Quinton embarks on a Silk Road tour through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (pictured) Above, an eagle hunter and his golden eagle in Kyrgyzstan. Matt says: 'My trip highlight is unquestionably the eagle-hunting display' For almost 2,000 years until the Middle Ages, goods and ideas flowed between China and Europe along the Silk Road, which passed through the three countries that sit between modern-day Russia and China But to see treasures in their original context head to the three countries, which today lie between modern-day Russia and China. I join a 15-strong tour group, accompanied by a driver and a guide in a high-end minibus. Hotels, some meals, and the itinerary are pre-arranged. We start in Kyrgyzstan, where people only recently gave up nomadic lifestyles, and some still live in yurts. After a gentle hike in the vast Ala-Archa National Park, we cool off in salty Issyk Kul Lake. At the 1,000-year-old Silk Road staging post, Burana Tower, we hear how merchant caravans grouped together here to shelter from brigands. Its a magnificent setting. But when I ask our guide, Vitaly, what drew his own grandparents here from Russia, he explains: It was Stalins decision that we should move not ours! In fact, the whole of Central Asia was used as a dumping ground for less-favoured USSR citizens. While these three countries have long since turned their back on communism, it would be wrong to say any are now free and fair democracies. However, this region is safe and welcoming for tourists, although English is not widely spoken. In a restaurant in Kyrgyzstans capital Bishkek, asking about local specialities resulted in staff talking about reality TV stars. Eventually, a manager explains: The best lamb comes from a breed we call the Kim Kardashian because of the size of its Ah, I see. At least it goes down easier than another local favourite, fermented mares milk. As strong as lager, this sour tipple like a boozy Yakult brings tears to my eyes. As my group sips, the vendor slaps me on the back: We have to feed the horses just the right grasses to get the taste perfect. My trip highlight is unquestionably the eagle-hunting display courtesy of Ruslan, but a close second is a night in a Kyrgyz yurt in the Djety Oguz mountains. Matt reveals that in Kyrgyzstan (pictured) people only recently gave up nomadic lifestyles, and some still live in yurts. He spent a night in a Kyrgyz yurt in the Djety Oguz mountains on his trip As the temperature drops, I bury myself in blankets and fall asleep listening to the horses whickering. Entering Kazakhstan, a country bigger than the whole of Western Europe, we visit the former capital Almaty and its fabulous restaurants. As my tour-mate David points out when the bill arrives: I paid more than this for a takeaway from the Pret A Manger at Heathrow. Here, the focus switches from nature to culture and history, and Im wowed by colourful Zhenkov Cathedral. We arrive as the bell-ringing team finishes practice and amazingly Vitaly convinces them to let us have a go. The teams willingness to give up their time just to show a group of total strangers the ropes despite the language barrier is really quite touching, though being up close to the huge chiming bells does make it hard for my group to hear the rest of the days tour. On a visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan, Matt is wowed by colourful Zhenkov Cathedral (pictured) Awesome: Above, the gleaming arches of a tiled mausoleum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which Matt says is 'the regions glittering jewel' Catching a sleeper train into Uzbekistan, I find a country thats notably hotter and, as a former part of the Persian empire, more culturally Middle Eastern. When I ask Dilshod, our guide for this portion of the trip, about a sticker of a high heel in a car window, he explains: Ah, that shows other drivers its a womans car, so they can be extra-considerate. Uzbekistans capital, Tashkent, has beautiful mosques, but the regions glittering jewel, just under 200 miles south-west, is the 2,500-year-old city of Samarkand. The towering madrasas of Registan Square are dazzling, with blue-and-yellow tiling sparkling in the light. In the 1400s, marine shipping brought the dominance of the Silk Roads to an end and sadly my trip must also finish. I may not be bringing back a camel-load of valuable goods. But Ive memories of an extraordinary part of the world which in many ways does not feel like part of this world at all. Ludwig (BBC1) Rating: There aren't many actors better than David Mitchell at pretending to be bewildered by the modern world. It's almost as if he's not actually pretending. This made him perfect for the title role in Ludwig, a clever comedy detective drama which might be the best thing he's done in years. Ludwig, whose real name is John Taylor, is a sort of reverse-polarity Inspector Morse. Morse is a policeman who enjoys crossword puzzles. Taylor sets crossword puzzles, under the name of Ludwig, but finds himself unexpectedly taking on a sideline as a detective chief inspector in the Cambridgeshire Police. Like Morse, he is a bachelor. Like Morse, he enjoys classical music. Like Morse, he is suspicious of new technology. Is it a complete coincidence that the show is based in Cambridge, rather than Morse's Oxford? There aren't many actors better than David Mitchell at pretending to be bewildered by the modern world. It's almost as if he's not actually pretending, writes Roland White Mitchell stars as Ludwig, real name James Taylor, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin (left) in the new BBC detective drama Mitchell alongside co-stars (L-R) Izuka Hoyle, Dipo Ola, Dorothy Atkinson and Gerran Howell The action begins with Ludwig working at home, being fussy and making his puzzles, when he gets a call from his sister-in-law and childhood friend Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin). Get in the taxi that is outside your home, she orders, and come to Cambridge this is very important. He reaches the city to find that his identical twin brother, DCI James Taylor, hasn't come home for three days. What's more, he has sent a strange letter to his wife. It takes clever Ludwig seconds to spot a hidden message, and before he knows it, he is striding reluctantly into police headquarters, pretending to be twin James in order to take a notebook from his desk. You can get into big trouble by impersonating a senior police officer, even if you're his brother. Especially if you're his brother. For a start, you might at any time be asked to investigate a murder. 'Chief Inspector' Ludwig doesn't even make it to his office before he's off to investigate the fatal stabbing of a solicitor. (Did anybody else notice, by the way, that the solicitor's office was full of clocks?) Ludwig, whose real name is John Taylor, is a sort of reverse-polarity Inspector Morse. Morse is a policeman who enjoys crossword puzzles. Taylor sets crossword puzzles, under the name of Ludwig Faced with a room full of suspects, Ludwig is pushed to breaking point. 'Everybody is talking at once,' he complains to Lucy on his ancient mobile. 'There's no order, no structure.' At which point he glances at a document, has a sudden moment of inspiration, and solves the case. It's often said that whodunnits are like crossword puzzles. We don't really care about the body count. We want to follow the clues and solve the puzzle. Ludwig takes this suggestion to its logical conclusion. He solves the murder with a dazzling display of logic, and suddenly finds he's in a world he understands. Away from the main action, there are hints of puzzles to come. Is the chief constable the obvious villain that he looks? Why did Ludwig's father leave home all those years ago? Why has the real detective gone missing? And, perhaps most intriguing of all, there are hints that Ludwig thinks his childhood friend married the wrong brother. BBC Breakfast underwent another hosting shake-up for Thursday's show, as regular presenter Naga Munchetty was notably missing from screens. The presenter, 49, was nowhere to be seen and instead her co-host Charlie Stayt, 62, was joined by Nina Warhurst, 43, who stepped in to deliver today's top lines. Nina has already stepped in twice within two weeks to cover Sally Nugent earlier this month - but today's instalment saw an awkward clash between the replacement host and Charlie. Leading up to the bizarre live TV moment, the pair watched a segment about Oasis and how they recorded their first studio album at Sawmills Studio on the River Fowey in Cornwall. The duo had high praise for the stunning building, with Nina quipping: 'Oh to be a fly on the wall in that building! It would have been amazing. BBC Breakfast underwent another hosting shake-up for Thursday's show, as regular presenter Naga Munchetty (above) was notably missing from screens The presenter, 49, was nowhere to be seen and instead her co-host Charlie Stayt, 62, was joined by Nina Warhurst , 43, who stepped in to deliver today's top lines Charlie added: 'Very beautiful location,' before Nina jumped in again with: 'It is stunning, isn't it? Shall we go and record an album there Charlie?' Taken aback, the BBC regular responded: 'No. I don't think so,' before Nina burst into laughter and the camera cut to local news. And it isn't the first odd moment Nina has had on screen, as back in February she made a very rude blunder. The broadcaster accidentally dropped the c-bomb as she presented a segment about money and business. She appeared on the morning show with main presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent who introduced her segment. The broadcaster then made the gaffe in her opening line as she said: 'Thanks Jon, yeah, when tax c****...' Nina speedily corrected herself as she said the word 'cuts' more clearly after the rude word as she continued her sentence. In full, she said: 'When tax c****, cuts are announced, the public listens which is possibly why the Chancellor has hinted at this ahead of the budget.' Charlie added: 'Very beautiful location,' before Nina jumped in again with: 'It is stunning, isn't it? Shall we go and record an album there Charlie?' Taken aback, the BBC regular responded: 'No. I don't think so,' before Nina burst into laughter and the camera cut to local news And it isn't the first odd moment Nina has had on screen, as back in February she made a very rude blunder The broadcaster accidentally dropped the c-bomb as she presented a segment about money and business In reaction one viewer wrote: 'Say what you think @NinaWarhurst.' Another penned: '8.11 on BBC Breakfast, @NinaWarhurst was talking about 'Tax Cuts' except I think she used slightly stronger language!' Another viewer replied: 'I nearly fell off my chair when she said it!' Someone else penned: 'Oopsy. Slip of the tongue, made me laugh.' A fifth wrote: 'Brilliantly rescued!', as they reacted to the hilarious moment. Naga's absence from the morning programme comes just after she was left lost for words last week when her co-star stripped topless in the middle of a live broadcast. The presenter and fellow host Charlie introduced a segment by journalist Steve Harris in which he reported on Dorset Museum's naked viewing in which naturists can roam around the galleries in the nude. Speaking about the eyebrow-raising segment, Charlie said: 'So normally when you think of nudes in a museum, your mind would naturally wander to statues or maybe sculptures.' Naga's absence from the morning programme comes just after she was left lost for words last week when her co-star stripped topless in the middle of a live broadcast In his report at the museum in Dorchester, Steve interviewed naked participants in the event which was organised by British Naturism, however, the broadcaster got carried away at the end of the segment as he decided to get involved himself Naga then added: 'That might change. A museum in Dorchester is literally bringing that idea to life. Recently it's opening its doors to visitors who want to wander through its galleries after hours, completely naked. 'Why? Well, that's what our reporter Steve Harris has been finding out.' In his report at the museum in Dorchester, Steve interviewed naked participants in the event which was organised by British Naturism, however, the broadcaster got carried away at the end of the segment as he decided to get involved himself. The broadcaster proceeded to strip off his shirt and blazer, much to the alarm of his co-stars in the studio. As the camera panned back to Naga and Charlie, Naga looked visibly shocked by her co-star's actions as an awkward silence ensued, before Charlie then remarked: 'Good. It's all good. Steve Harris that was.' Regaining her composure, Naga then asked: 'Does that appeal to you?', to which Charlie responded: 'No, I just think it's great. People being happy, doing their thing. Why not?'. This Morning fans were left divided after Jamie Oliver reignited his infamous school dinner row during his appearance on the ITV daytime show on Thursday. The British TV chef, 49, began his crusade into improving the nutritional value of school dinners in 2005 with his 'Feed Me Better' campaign. Almost a decade later he has unveiled what is being called his most ambitious school dinners mission yet - lessons teaching students how to cook from scratch. Dubbed '10 Lessons to Save Your Life', the 10-week programme is now being offered at 320 schools across the UK, taken up by about 80,000 pupils. Jamie appeared on the breakfast programme to promote his new book, and chat to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about what he's aiming to do this time, before he showcased recipes for people to try. This Morning fans have been left divided after Jamie Oliver reignited the school dinner row during his appearance on the ITV daytime show on Thursday Jamie appeared on the breakfast programme to promote his new book, and chat to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about what he's aiming to do this time, before he showcased recipes for people to try Reflecting on his previous campaign, he said: 'It was very hard. You'd think they'd welcome and want me doing that. It was 18 months it was very hard. 'And until the first thing was printed in black and white, that's when everyone turned and said yes, it's a great idea. 'So people hate change until the pain of not changing is worse than the change itself. So I've learned that through the medium of TV, documentary making, and also attaching a campaign.' He added: 'And I've had a team on school dinners for 17 years because we have to hold the government, whoever they are, to account because they'll always try to pull away and regress it. 'But I do believe now more than ever if you want a Britain that's more productive, that's less stress on the NHS, better educational attainment, levelling up as they call it, it happens at school 190 days of the years - breakfast and lunch.' Jamie's journey has by no means been easy, as revealed by the 2011 clip of him attempting to discourage children from eating processed chicken nuggets, which still does the rounds on social media. In Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, the father-of-five thought that by showing a group of children the 'horrible' process of how nuggets are made, it would put them off the snack, but in reality, it had the opposite effect. But, he didn't let it put him off and lesson plans, recipes and worksheets are being delivered to students as part of his new plan, while they are also shown videos featuring Oliver and his 13-year-old son Buddy. Discussing his previous campaign, he said: 'You'd think they'd welcome and want me doing that. It was 18 months it was very hard' He added: 'And I've had a team on school dinners for 17 years because we have to hold the government, whoever they are, to account' His Jamie Oliver Group organisation now hopes to ultimately reach as many as 4,000 different secondary schools Following his This Morning appearance, viewers took to X with divided opinions on the school dinner debate His Jamie Oliver Group organisation now hopes to ultimately reach as many as 4,000 different secondary schools. Following his This Morning appearance, viewers took to X with divided opinions on the school dinner debate, writing: 'My school dinners were amazing, I don't know what he's talking about #thismorning.' 'I'm so glad he didn't mess with our school dinners I used to love the pizza it was lush lol #ThisMorning.' 'So @jamieoliver is on #ThisMorning saying about school meals - I pay 3 for my child to come out starving - he gets 1 potato 1 piece of broccoli a wafer thin slice of meat and a little finger sized bread - stay away from school meals! A happy meal gives you more for less.' 'I find Jamie Oliver really cocky #thismorning.' 'I remember Jamie Oliver trying to ban Turkey Twizzlers and said to the kids 'offal. Hearts. Salt. Msg. Sugar'. Who wants to eat one now. They all put their hands up. His face was a picture #thismorning.' 'Jamie Oliver on again ffs. Why? Fast forwarding his part. Can't stand him. #ThisMorning.' 'Great to see appearing on #ThisMorning today and hear him speak so passionately about food. I agree wholeheartedly, free breakfast at school is only going to achieve something if they have standards. Nutrition inside a child's tummy will help them be ready to learn!' The celebrity chef is hoping to expand his food and nutrition teaching programme, which is currently used in 320 schools across the UK Jamie Oliver has been campaigning for years for healthier food to be offered to children at school - targeting Turkey Twizzlers in his shows since 2005 '#ThisMorning Jamie Oliver doesn't have a clue does he find him irritating too...' 'Thank goodness for Jamie Oliver and his school dinners and healthy eating campaign which ultimately helps the NHS. I've been saying this for years #thismorning.' Jamie also took to the kitchen to whip up some meals, including a chicken noodle traybake, however, some viewers were less than impressed, writing: 'That looks vile, Jamie! #ThisMorning.' 'WTF is that meant to be? Looks horrible #thismorning.' 'It's as though Jamie has just invented the oven. #thismorning.' The restaurateur told The Times: 'I've never lost my passion for improving school dinners, both in terms of how many children can access free school meals and in setting high standards for whats being offered. 'But having worked with eight different prime ministers over the years, what Ive learnt is that making progress at that level is tricky. Jamie's journey has by no means been easy, as revealed by the 2011 clip of him attempting to discourage children from eating processed chicken nuggets, which still does the rounds on social media Despite Jamie's efforts, all six children raised their hands and said they would still eat the chicken nuggets 'Which is why, as well as pushing for legislative change, I want to be proactive and show how things can be done in a really positive, celebratory way.' He called for ministers to stop what he called 'the bombardment of junk food ads' and also bring in new laws demanding 'clear, honest labelling on food packaging'. Jamie added: 'The UK is in the grips of a health crisis, which makes it an economic crisis too. 'Obesity rates are rising, the levels of child tooth decay are frightening, and the NHS is buckling under the strain - and all of this is being exacerbated by a cost of living crisis thats forcing more people to buy cheaper, processed foods that are missing the vital nutrients they need to thrive.' His foundation is now also campaigning for food and nutrition to be restored as a standalone A-level subject, having been discontinued in 2015 although it is available and proving popular with students as a GCSE. Gemma Collins recounted her mother being abandoned in hospital as a baby in a first-look clip shared to Instagram on Thursday ahead of her upcoming television appearance. Media personality Gemma, 43, will participate in Thursday night's episode of BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? The BBC hit is a genealogy series in which well-known people trace their family tree. The programme has been airing since 2004, and series 21 kicked off in August with actress Vicky McClure. Thursday's episode will see Gemma attempt to find her mother Joan's birth family. Gemma Collins, 43, recounted her mother being abandoned in hospital in a first-look clip shared to Instagram on Thursday of her upcoming television appearance Media personality Gemma will participate in Thursday night's episode of BBC 's Who Do You Think You Are? In a clip, she said: 'My mum was fostered. Why was she left at the hospital? Why did they not try and come back for her? She never talks about it. I just think it's too painful for her to go there' Gemma says in the clip: 'My mum was fostered. Why was she left at the hospital? Why did they not try and come back for her? She never talks about it. I just think it's too painful for her to go there.' The clip ends with Gemma saying: 'It will be nice to know where my mum is from. And just put all the pieces together. Each episode of Who Do You Think You Are? centres on one British celebrity. Across its two-decade run, Who Do You Think You Are? has traced the family history of Adil Ray, Kate Winslet, Jeremy Clarkson, Barbara Windsor, Stephen Fry, J. K. Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe, and many more. Gemma Collins will appear in series 21, episode 7 of Who Do You Think You Are? airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm Gemma has already shared her delight at the possibility of being related to serial killer Jack The Ripper. Jack, who has never been identified, is Britain's most notorious serial killer - murdering five women and terrorising London in 1888, but was never caught. And Gemma believes she has discovered the identity of Jack the Ripper and is convinced she is related to him. She was convinced of the link on Who Do You Think You Are? when she discovered that she has ancestors who lived on Dorset Street in East London - where Jack left some of his victims' mutilated corpses. Coronation Street fans have been left convinced that a legendary star has secretly filmed their final scenes and left after 'going missing' with no explanation in the most recent episode of the soap. Despite a major storyline kicking off for the Platts this week, Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, was yet again nowhere to be seen in Wednesday's episode. The character has been offscreen for several days now - and the same thing happened earlier in the year. As her family rallied around Bethany Platt and her mother Sarah after the former's liposuction mishap, matriarch Gail was absent. With Helen Worth scheduled to be leaving the show in the coming weeks after 50 years on the cobbles, the unexplained absence of Gail has left viewers worried that Helen has already left. Coronation Street fans have been left convinced that a legendary star has secretly filmed their final scenes and left soap after 'going missing' with no explanation in the most recent episode Despite a major storyline kicking off for the Platts this week, Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, was yet again nowhere to be seen in Wednesday's episode As her family rallied around Bethany Platt and her mother Sarah after the former's liposuction mishap, matriarch Gail was absent With her exit storyline yet to kick off amid drama behind the scenes, fans are already questioning it it will still air - while ITV has confirmed Gail's exit will unfold on screen. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, they wrote: 'Has Anyone Seen Gail Platt???' 'Wheres Gail in all this?'; 'Devastation for the Platt family but yet still no Gail to be seen'; 'Has Gail left already?'; Is Gail on holiday with Aggie [Bailey, a neighbour and Gail's friend]?' 'Where is Gail, her grand daughter in a Turkish hospital ICU, Sarah Louise needs her." Despite fans' anxiety, all seems to be on track for Gail to exit as planned at the end of the year. According to ITV, Helen will be back onscreen as Gail in October and will feature in Bethany's storyline. Gail will even suggest she sell her house to raise money for Bethany's medical bills. It comes after Gail's exit plot had to be rewritten, after initial plans for former character Martin Platt, Gail's second husband, to return were dropped It is now thought John Thomson's character Jesse Chadwick (pictured) will be involved in Gail's exit. The details are yet to be confirmed, but fans already aren't impressed Fans have wondered if this will pave the way for her exit, and of Gail will decide to move elsewhere. It comes after Gail's exit plot had to be rewritten, after initial plans for former character Martin Platt, Gail's second husband, to return were dropped. Despite filming some scenes, Sean Wilson left the role and the scenes and storyline were scrapped. It is now thought John Thomson's character Jesse Chadwick will be involved in Gail's exit. The details are yet to be confirmed, but fans already aren't impressed. Helen blindsided fans in June when she announced she was quitting Corrie, after joining the series way back in 1974. She is the sixth-longest serving character on the soap Helen blindsided fans in June when she announced she was quitting Corrie, after joining the series way back in 1974. She said in a statement: 'This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world. 'I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding. I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew. 'The past 50 years have flown by and I don't think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.' Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Emily Maitlis has revealed that she had to give herself a last-minute crisis talking to in the bathrooms of Buckingham Palace just seconds before her famous Prince Andrew interview. The journalist, 54, interviewed the royal in 2019 and has now told how she had to 'excuse herself' and flee to the toilet just before the chat to compose herself. The interview has now been turned into a three-part Prime Video series which has been lauded in its reviews. It follows actress Ruth Wilson, 42, who plays former Newsnight journalist Emily in a retelling of the car crash interview. He was quizzed about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein which threatened to damage the reputation of the entire royal family. Emily Maitlis has revealed that she had to give herself a last-minute crisis talking to in the bathrooms of Buckingham Palace just seconds before her famous Prince Andrew interview The journalist, 54, interviewed the royal in 2019 and has now told how she had to 'excuse herself' and flee to the toilet just before the chat to compose herself Speaking to Good Housekeeping Emily said of composing herself just before the career-defining moment: 'I remember shaking [the Prince's] hand, and then I excused myself and fled to the toilet. I locked the door and slumped in the corner of this wonderful, very chintzy, very ornate loo. 'I was holding the hand basin at one point and just saying to myself: 'Right, what is this interview about? 'Find the focus, find the point of the interview.' I was sort of lecturing myself: 'Don't interrupt, don't be rude, don't forget to be courteous in your address - but also don't pull your punches in the questions.' Canadian-born British journalist Emily went on to say that her younger self 'wouldn't believe' that parts of her life would end up on TV dramas. She added: 'I just thought it was a hoot. I couldn't believe it. 'It's the stuff of dreams, isn't it, to be portrayed by Gillian Anderson and Ruth Wilson? If I had to describe that to a younger version of myself, I just wouldn't believe it.' Emily said that, following the interview, 'far too much responsibility' was put on her and her team. The journalist said: 'There were some people saying to me, 'what have you done to the royal family?'. The interview has now been turned into a three-part Prime Video series which has been lauded in its reviews It follows actress Ruth Wilson, 42, who plays former Newsnight journalist Emily in a retelling of the car crash interview Speaking to Good Housekeeping Emily said of composing herself just before the career-defining moment: 'I remember shaking [the Prince's] hand, and then I excused myself and fled to the toilet' Canadian-born British journalist Emily went on to say that her younger self 'wouldn't believe' that parts of her life would end up on TV dramas He was quizzed about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein which threatened to damage the reputation of the entire royal family 'Stuff that was way too big and put far too much responsibility on our team's shoulders. 'But there's something very disturbing about seeing the effects play out in real time, because you do feel a sense of responsibility. 'The thing I keep coming back to is, I'm a journalist, I just ask the questions.' She also spoke about her decision to leave the BBC in 2022, saying she was 'grateful' to the corporation but had thought it was 'now or never' when she entered her 50s, so decided to leave. Her post-BBC work has seen her appear on Channel 4's election night coverage, present a daily news podcast called The News Agents and work as an executive producer on A Very Royal Scandal. Speaking on GMB last week Emily also recounted her time doing the interview, candidly saying watching the series back reminded her of the stress of taking on the challenge. She said: 'When I watch the drama I get palpitations - it takes me back to when I thought 'will I remember to ask the right questions? Can I do this?'' She added of her reaction to Prince Andrew's demeanour: 'I realised early on he would be candid in his responses. We never assumed guilt and it was an hour of his own words. 'It didn't matter what he said it was always going to make history. We knew we only had one shot at it to hear from the Prince. It was a document of public record if anything. 'We were building up the picture of what actually happened and it was quite forensic.' When asked by host Richard Madeley what she thought of the Prince when the interview was done she carefully answered: 'I thought he had tried very hard to remember his lines... 'He wanted us to film extra pieces too he wanted to expand on the Pizza Express stuff and things like that. It was a dilemma as a journalist whether to add stuff he wanted at the end. 'But he was happy with the interview he gave us a tour of the Palace after the interview and he even invited us back.' Ruth (left) stars as journalist Emily Actor Michael Sheen (left) portrays the Duke Of York (right) in the new production Emily and Ruth are pictured at a NYC screening for the series earlier this month Speaking on GMB last week Emily also recounted her time doing the interview, candidly saying watching the series back reminded her of the stress of taking on the challenge She added of the potential harm the interview could have caused: 'I do worry about the fallout from it. 'There was fallout for his family. I feel concern for him as I do for anyone that has had a drop in status. But I don't regret the interview.' To counter balance her point she added: 'But nothing has been concluded for Epstein's victims still.' The November 2024 issue of Good Housekeeping is now on sale. September 25, 2024: In July 2024 officials from Russian and North Korea signed agreements for scientific and engineering cooperation regarding missile technology. This announcement was a public acknowledgement of a relationship that long existed covertly. This agreement was Russias way of telling the world that North Korean sales of missiles and other weapons to Russia during the Ukraine War would continue and increase. An examination of the debris from missiles that were used in Ukraine revealed North Korean components. In Ukraine Russia soon discovered that it did not have an endless supply of missiles. Russia increased production of ballistic and cruise missiles but economic sanctions limited how many they could produce. Russia also has few allies. North Korea and Iran have been helpful but Iran is now at war with Israel and North Korean production facilities are limited. The agreement with Russia involves Russian material and technical assistance to increase North Korean ballistic missile facilities. So far North Korea has sent Russia over five million 152mm artillery shells in addition to the missiles. North Korea has several other customers. For decades North Korea has been smuggling weapons to customers around the world. Until recently Russia was a North Korean partner. The two countries cooperated in developing, building and delivering the weapons to Russian and North Korean customers. The Ukraine War changed this relationship. Russian forces have been fighting in Ukraine for over two years. Russia invaded in early 2022 expecting a quick victory. The Ukrainian did not cooperate and now Russia is losing its war in Ukraine. In 2023 Russia purchased some weapons from North Korea and shipped them via sea and railroad to a Russian supply center about 300 kilometers from Ukraine. In June 2024 Russian and North Korean officials signed a partnership agreement. This treaty obliged both countries to assist each other with military supplies during an emergency or when called upon. At the moment Russia is purchasing all the weapons and munitions North Korea can produce. Since both North Korea and Russia are forced to operate under Western economic sanctions, it is difficult to obtain the use of a ship that can carry North Korean or Russian cargo safely. First North Korea, in 2006 and then Russia in 2022 were placed under economic sanctions. North Korea was sanctioned internationally in 2006 but the United States imposed its own sanctions in 2005. The United States accounts for much of world trade so American sanctions can temporarily cripple a sanctioned nation's use of their own or chartered cargo ships or oil tankers. North Korea has found ways around this and passed on what they knew to Russia. North Korean and Russian ships are still at risk and some are caught because of fraudulent documents, or the Americans using electronic and space-based video monitoring to see where suspect ships are actually going. For years North Korean commercial ships regularly traveled with their mandatory position transponders turned off. This violates international shipping agreements but the North Koreans, and now the Russians dont care because both are outlaw states and do whatever it takes to keep some of their commercial ships operational. When ships from these countries carry Russian or North Korean cargo, they can deliver it to a Russian or North Korean port without penalty or any harassment from nations enforcing the shipping sanctions on Russia and North Korea. This is how Russia is shipping North Korean weapons from North Korean ports or the Russian Pacific coast port of Vladivostok despite the sanctions. Russia has become heavily dependent on North Korean munitions and weapons, which are the same caliber as Russian weapons. This is because Russia has been a major supplier of weapons and munitions to North Korea since the end of World War II. The trade has benefited North Korea because Russia can ship in food via the Trans-Siberian railroad or by ship. North Korea has been chronically short of food since the 1990s and additional Russian food supplies pay for the North Korean munitions going to Russia. Another thing North Korea has in its favor is that Chinese shipbuilders produce most of the cargo and tanker ships used by international shipping firms. While the ships come from China, the crews come from many other countries and shipping insurance is provided by Western firms if these ships are technically in compliance with shipping regulations. Major shipping insurance companies have been established in Japan, Singapore, Chinese controlled Hong Kong and Singapore. China has become a supplier of all manner of material and monetary services for shady operations like the North Korean and sanctions Russian merchant fleets. Katie Holmes will soon be visiting daughter Suri Cruise at her new school, Carnegie Mellon University, DailyMail.com has learned. That 45-year-old actress is squeezing the visit in between performances of her Broadway play Our Town at the Barrymore Theater on 47th Street in NYC. She may be going as soon as this weekend when the college hosts its Family Weekend. The college event takes place on September 27 and 28 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which is 371 miles away from Manhattan. Katie has several shows this weekend. The movie star has a performance at 8pm on Friday, at 2pm and 8pm on Saturday, and at 3pm on Sunday. She is finding a way to fit in a visit somewhere, a source has told DailyMail.com. 'Family Weekend brings together Carnegie Mellon undergraduate and graduate students and their families and friends for a weekend of events that showcase the vibrancy of the campus experience,' the CMU website shared. 'Family Weekend features academic welcomes, information sessions, campus tours, student performances and other events.' Katie Holmes will soon be visiting daughter Suri Cruise at her new school, Carnegie Mellon University, DailyMail.com has learned. That 45-year-old actress is squeezing the visit in between performances of her Broadway play Our Town at the Barrymore Theater in NYC She may be going as soon as this weekend when the college hosts its Family Weekend. The college event takes place on September 27 and 28 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which is 371 miles away from Manhattan 'We also encourage students and their families to use this time together to explore the city of Pittsburgh,' the site added. 'We invite family members to travel to Pittsburgh on the morning of Friday, September 27, as programming will start on Friday afternoon through Saturday evening.' Tom Cruise, whom Suri is estranged from, won't be there, even though - as DailyMail.com reported - he is paying her tuition. It was in his divorce settlement that he must cover all of Suri's education. Meanwhile, Holmes is doing well with her play. Katie plays Mrs Webb in the new production of the Broadway play Our Town. Katie has been getting raves online for her performance, being called 'phenomenal' and 'amazing.' Our Town - a play written by Thornton Wilder - has returned to the Broadway stage for the first time in over 20 years. The revival features a total of 28 actors, including Holmes, Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch, Ephraim Sykes, Julie Halston and Michelle Wilson. Holmes was last seen in New York City on Wednesday; she has been working hard on her play and receiving positive feedback online The premise follows the 'timeless tale of a small town' as 'a stage manager narrates the daily lives of its locals, depicts a childhood friendship turn into marriage, and sets the stage for magnificent truths of what it means to be alive,' per the official Broadway website. Previews kicked off on Tuesday, September 17 at the Barrymore Theatre with opening night on October 10. The show will run through January 19, 2025. Meanwhile, Suri is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Carnegie Mellon University. The 18-year-old student began classes on August 26. Holmes stars as Mrs Webb in a new production of the play Our Town. Our Town - a play written by Thornton Wilder - has returned to the Broadway stage for the first time in over 20 years Cruise is forking over the money to put her through college. That's because it was decided in 2012 when he divorced Katie after six years of marriage that he should cover all of her schooling. The divorce documents revealed Tom pays Suri's expenses, including 'medical, dental, insurance, education, college and other extracurricular costs.' 'Tom is indeed paying for Suri's tuition, he has always paid for her schooling and would never stop as he is a stand-up guy,' a friend of Tom's told DailyMail.com. The annual tuition at CMU is $65K. 'He has never hesitated paying his daughter's child support and expenses. He does not go back on his word. He is fulfilling his obligation.' Here Katie is seen on stage with Richard Thomas who was on The Waltons and Ozark The revival features a total of 28 actors, including Holmes, Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch , Ephraim Sykes, Julie Halston and Michelle Wilson Holmes (bottom right) posted this photo of the cast and said the production was a 'dream' It is odd to think that Tom is paying Suri's way considering they have not been photographed together in over a decade. Their last snapshot together in public was in April 2013. Suri hinted that she is not on good terms with her father as she changed her last name from Cruise to Noelle. Noelle is Katie's middle name. Cruise and Holmes with Suri at Nino's Restaurant at the bottom of the Piazza De Spagne (Spanish Steps) in Rome, Italy, two days before their fairytale wedding in November 2006 A look at a dorm room that Suri may be staying in at CMU It has been hinted by Katie that Suri may be studying acting and dance at Carnegie Mellon. Holmes told Town & Country magazine that after college, her daughter wants to enter showbiz. Both Katie and Suri's father Tom have been in the industry since their early 20s. The magazine claimed that Suri 'is said to be interested in pursuing a career in fashion or acting.' That does not sound off base; Suri starred in a high school production of The Addams Family. And Katie has already put Suri to work on two of her films. Suri contributed vocals to songs in two of Holmes' films - the 2023 drama Rare Objects and 2022 romantic drama Alone Together. 'I'm proud of my daughter,' Holmes told Town & Country of her daughter. 'Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I'm really proud of her and I'm happy.' Holmes, speaking with Glamour in April 2023, said that she has sought to encourage Suri's performing on her projects. 'I hope she always does something on my films,' Holmes said. 'I always ask her.' Holmes said that 'both of those experiences came out of the same sense of what I love about our industry, which is, you have these projects and you become a family with people.' Julie Chrisley's appeal for a shorter prison sentence has been denied after a judge declared she will continue to serve seven years for bank fraud and tax evasion leaving her daughter Savannah 'in ruins'. On Wednesday, a federal judge refused to hand the 51-year-old disgraced TV star a more lenient sentence, declaring it 'will not change' despite her appeal. It comes three months after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals claimed that Julie's initial judgement had miscalculated her sentence and did not find evidence proving her full involvement in the bank fraud scheme. An insider close to the family has revealed that her resentencing has devastated her oldest daughter Savannah, 27, who was so confident that her mom would be freed that she had planned a party. The source added that the rest of the Chrisley family fear that Savannah is putting her parents' case at risk by 'nonstop talking' about it. Julie Chrisley's appeal for a shorter prison sentence was denied on Wednesday The resentencing has devastated her daughter Savannah, 27, who was so confident that her mom would be freed that she had planned a huge party, insiders close to the family claimed 'Savannah is in ruins,' they said. 'She had everything prepared for Julie to come home. She was so certain of her being freed. 'There were decorations, all the food for a big lavish home cooked meal with all the trimmings and everyone was gearing up for a big welcome home. 'This makes no sense to Savannah who has spent every waking moment doing everything she can.' According to the source, Savannah is furious that Anna Delvey was able to appear on Dancing with the Stars with an ankle monitor for 'seemingly worse crimes'. They continued: 'She says it's a slap in the face. But her rhetoric and nonstop talking isn't helping the case at all. 'She has been told by family members to tone it down. She's crushed as are Chase, the kids and nanny Faye.' Julie dressed in a navy blue prison uniform for her resentencing. Addressing the judge, she said: 'I apologize for my actions and what led me to where I am today.' Julie and her husband Todd were found guilty in July 2022 of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million Savannah has been vocal about the abhorrent conditions her parents have faced behind bars She added that serving jail time had been 'the most difficult time in my life' and that it had taken a toll on her loved ones.' 'I cannot ever repay my children for what they have had to go through, and for that I am sorry,' she added. Julie and her husband Todd, 55, were found guilty in July 2022 of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans. The Chrisleys were also found guilty of tax evasion by hiding their earnings while showcasing an extravagant lifestyle, with both heading off to prison in January 2023. They had their sentences reduced in September 2023, with Julie given five and a half years in Federal Medical Center Lexington, while Todd received 10 years in a federal prison in Pensacola. Daughter Savannah, who starred alongside her imprisoned parents, has been vocal about the abhorrent conditions they have faced behind bars. An insider told DailyMail.com that Savannah had 'everything prepared' for Julie to come home In July, she claimed the heat in Julie's Kentucky prison had caused her mother to become 'physically ill.' 'In the visitation room, thank goodness, there's air conditioning,' Savannah said about the alleged prison conditions at FMC (Federal Medical Center) in Lexington. 'But outside the visitation room, there is zero air conditioning. 'The heat index was 105, 110 and that's what Mom's living in - in conditions like that with absolutely no air. 'And it can be 100 degrees inside the building.' Savannah continued: 'She literally said that she got physically sick because she got so hot. 'So, you have these women who are suffering from heat exhaustion and they're passing out. But yet, there's service dogs that have air conditioning. 'None of it makes sense to me. It is so beyond inhumane that you cannot make it up. And it's tough.' In July, Savannah claimed the heat in Julie's Kentucky prison had caused her mother to become 'physically ill' In July, she took her efforts to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, using the platform to blast the prosecution and conviction of her parents, who she claims were 'persecuted' due to their 'public profile and conservative beliefs.' She compared their alleged unfair treatment to that of Trump during his highly publicized hush money trial with porn star Stormy Daniels - something insiders claim was a calculated move to garner sympathy from the former President with the 'end goal' of getting him to release her parents. Julie and Todd both made their name on Chrisley Knows Best, which premiered in 2014. It followed Todd, an Atlanta-based, self-made millionaire, and the family's various exploits. It came to abrupt close in 2023 following the couple's convictions, which came after an in-depth probe from the Department of Justice. She is one of Britain's top trainers, and her racehorse Teaforthree was described by the late Queen Elizabeth as her 'favourite steeplechaser'. However, Rebecca Curtis is facing a High Court battle with bloodstock auctioneer Tattersalls, I hear. The business is suing her for more than 104,000, claiming that she has not paid in full for four horses she bought at sales in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, last year. Curtis, 44, was the successful bidder for the horses River Voyage and Milan AC at the Cheltenham January sale in 2023, for a price of just over 155,000, and for Ben Sole and Bridget Mary for 171,000 a month later, according to High Court documents. The auctioneers allowed her to take the horses away after the sales, even though she had not paid for them in full, the court will hear. Rebecca Curtis is facing a High Court battle with bloodstock auctioneer Tattersalls which claims that she has not paid in full for four horses she bought at sales in Cheltenham last year Curtis, 44, is one of Britain's top trainers, and her racehorse Teaforthree was described by the late Queen Elizabeth as her 'favourite steeplechaser' Curtis seen in Cheltenham's winner's enclosure in 2020 But although she has paid instalments towards their joint price in the following months, Curtis still owes 55,000 and is in breach of contract, Tattersalls alleges. Now, the Newmarket bloodstock company is suing the trainer, of Newport, Pembrokeshire, for the balance, as well as interest of 1.5 per cent a month, which now amounts to 50,000 and is continuing at the rate of 26.99 a day. The amount claimed, with court fees and other costs, totals 110,000 so far. Curtis has trained five winners at the Cheltenham Festival which is the blue riband of jump racing and saddled her first winner in 2008. She started riding at the age of four, and competed internationally as a showjumper with the Welsh junior team. Curtis tells me she plans to settle the claim. Solicitors for Tattersalls declined to comment. Meghan may shy away, but Oprah loves the UK While Prince Harry claims 'it's still dangerous' for his wife, Meghan, to return to Britain as he campaigns for his taxpayer-funded security to be reinstated, their pal Oprah Winfrey has been enjoying a carefree spree in London. The billionaire chat-show host, 70, looked relaxed as she posed for pictures in Bond Street this week, far left, with fellow US TV host Gayle King, 69, centre, who attended the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding with her. They were joined by film director Ava DuVernay, 52, right. The trio watched actor David Oyelowo perform on the first night of Shakespeare's Coriolanus at the National Theatre on Tuesday. Oyelowo, 48, described Winfrey as a mother figure to him after they starred in the 2013 film The Butler. While Prince Harry claims 'it's still dangerous' for his wife, Meghan, to return to Britain, their pal Oprah Winfrey (seen with Gayle King and Ava DuVernay) has been enjoying a carefree spree in London No hard feelings for party girl Priyanka Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra was left with a facial injury while filming stunts in London last year for her Amazon spy drama series, Citadel. But it didn't put the Indian-born actress off relishing life on this side of the Atlantic. Chopra, 42, wore an orange Frances dress by Silvia Tcherassi to a reception hosted by Amazon at the bar Fitz's Russell Square in the capital to celebrate a Citadel spin-off. The star, who is filming the second series in London with US actor Stanley Tucci, claims to have mastered spy craft. She says: 'You have to be able to get out of tricky situations without having too many eyes on you.' Referring to her sleek gown, she adds: 'You have to be less memorable than I am now. You should be able to buy a bus ticket but probably not like this.' Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra (seen with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, left, and Matilda de Angelis, right, this week) was left with a facial injury while filming stunts in London last year for her Amazon spy drama series, Citadel Giving the King a dressing down King Charles has been urged to break the habit of a lifetime and dress down for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next month. Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, prime minister of Samoa, which is hosting the summit, says: 'I've been very frank in my discussions in London. I had an audience with the King. October's very hot in Samoa. 'We're not really keen for people to wear suits and be hot and uncomfortable. We want to encourage more of an island vibe.' It's hard to imagine His Majesty turning up in a Hawaiian shirt, though. King Charles has been urged to break the habit of a lifetime and dress down for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa next month because it will be so hot Lofty fortunes for Merchant Stephen Merchant may have been Ricky Gervais's sidekick in comedies such as Extras and Life's Too Short, but he's narrowing the earnings gap with his multi-millionaire pal. Latest accounts show the 6ft 7in comedian, 49, has a 29.4million fortune at SJJM Ltd, the firm into which he channels his live performance and TV earnings. It holds 9million in cash and investments worth 17million, and is owed 3.3million. Francis family's thrilling imagination Dick Francis's son Felix, who continued to write equestrian-themed thrillers under his father's name after his death in 2010, says his wife, Debbie, 'is a great help'. However, they once left strangers alarmed by their terrifying imaginations. 'We discussed the plot of one of my novels in a restaurant in Melbourne, and we were having a heated discussion on how to kill somebody,' he tells me at the launch party for his latest book, Syndicate, at the Cavalry and Guards Club in London's Piccadilly. 'Suddenly, we realised that all of those around us had gone quiet.' Among his friends at the party was Sir John Major. The former prime minister, 81, aspires to write a novel himself. 'It's a very hard task,' he tells me. 'I've written several factual books. You need a remarkable imagination I wish I had the talent to do so. I haven't found that talent... yet.' Dick Francis's son Felix, who continued to write equestrian-themed thrillers under his father's name after his death, revealed his imagination can leave strangers alarmed by how terrifying it can be Fleet Street veteran dies age 79 Fleet Street has lost another old-timer. Revel Barker, who, as managing editor of the Mirror Group, had to endure Robert Maxwell's craziness, has died at 79 in Gozo, Malta, where he spent his final years. He had little time for Establishment gentility. After a lunch at the Athenaeum club, he found he had no matches for his cigar. So he ordered crepes Suzette and used the waiter's flambe stove to light his Havana. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley stunned as she joined stylish Gigi Hadid for dinner at Costes during Paris Fashion Week. The former Victoria's Secret angel, 37, looked incredible in a plunging, sheer lace bodysuit for the evening. She teamed the one-piece with a pair of smart black trousers and elevated her height with strappy heels. Rosie topped her outfit off by layering over a tan leather jacket and carried a small box clutch bag. Meanwhile, Gigi, 29, put on a quirky display in a Black T-shirt with grey satin midi skirt, that featured a tartan trim. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (pictured) stunned as she joins stylish Gigi Hadid for dinner at Costes during Paris Fashion Week Gigi, 29, put on a quirky display in a Black T-shirt with grey satin midi skirt, that featured a tartan trim The model added a black leather jacket, a pair of burgundy heeled boots and shielded her eyes with sunglasses. They were joined by Naomi Campbell who attempted to fly under-the-radar in a black bomber jacket and jeans. She rocked a much short hair style than usual and also wore sunglasses, despite it being dark. It's been a busy day for Gigi, who modelled another quirky ensemble as she walked for Rabanne earlier in the day. She wore three layered shirts, including a pink striped T-shirt, and two blue tops, with a pair of denim shorts. The television personality added pink stiletto heels, that featured an unusual clear cover, and slicked her hair back into a neat bun. Gigi was seen snapping selfies backstage at Palais de Tokyo before strutting down the runway for the brand's RTW Spring 2025 collection. Tuesday was the first full day of Paris Fashion Week proceedings in the French capital with Gigi having last walked for Versace in Milan. The former Victoria's Secret angel, 37, looked incredible in a plunging, sheer lace bodysuit for the evening She teamed the one-piece with a pair of smart black trousers and elevated her height with strappy heels Rosie styled her hair straight and opted for a subtle makeup look Gigi added a black leather jacket, a pair of burgundy heeled boots and shielded her eyes with sunglasses They were joined by Naomi Campbell who attempted to fly under-the-radar in a black bomber jacket and jeans She rocked a much short hair style than usual and also wore sunglasses, despite it being dark Vittoria Ceretti was also in attendance, she wore a grey mini dress with a leather blazer She opted for a red lipstick for a pop of colour Stella Maxwell (L) stepped out hand-in-hand with Barbara Palvin It's been a busy day for Gigi, who modelled another quirky ensemble as she walked for Rabanne earlier in the day On the first full day of proceedings in the French capital, the A-list partied into the night on Tuesday after Saint Laurent's triumphant Paris Fashion Week Show (Rosie at the event) On the first full day of proceedings in the French capital, the A-list partied into the night on Tuesday to celebrate Saint Laurent's triumphant Paris Fashion Week Show. The luxury brand - so often a pioneer of international style and sophistication - sexed up their Spring-Summer 2025 womenswear presentation as proceedings got underway at Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris. And after enjoying their FROW seats on the runway, the celebs made the hop across town to the afterparty held at the fashion house's HQ on Rue de l'Universite. Rosie looked incredible in a brown satin shirt dress with built-in suspender stockings, putting on a very leggy display at the event. Reese Witherspoon has revealed the casting process has begun for the young Elle Woods in her new Prime Video series Elle, a prequel to her Legally Blonde films. The project - dubbed simply Elle - was first announced by the Amazon streaming service back in May, which will follow the character's high school years. The 48-year-old actress will serve as an executive producer through here Hello Sunshine company, and she revealed at the Emmys that filming will start in March. She took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal that not only has the casting process begun, but it's completely open for any actress to submit to. Fans can visit FindingElle.com for more information on how to submit for a chance to play the teenage Elle Woods. Reese Witherspoon has revealed the casting process has begun for the young Elle Woods in her new Prime Video series Elle, a prequel to her Legally Blonde films The 48-year-old actress will serve as an executive producer through here Hello Sunshine company, and she revealed at the Emmys that filming will start in March She took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal that not only has the casting process begun, but it's completely open for any actress to submit to She shared a brief video with her 30.4 million Instagram followers on Wednesday to reveal the news. 'Hey everybody. OK, I have big news to announce today. As you probably know, we at Hello Sunshine are partnering with Amazon to launch a new television show called Elle, which is the prequel to Legally Blonde,' Witherspoon began. 'And today... I can't wait to tell you... that we are starting the casting process, and we are making it open,' Witherspoon enthused. 'Yes, that is right. This is an open casting for the young Elle Woods when she was in high school,' she clarified. 'So send your submissions to the link in my bio. I cannot wait to see all the Elle Woods' out there. This is gonna be really fun,' she concluded. The website reveals they are looking for white females over 18 to play Woods at 16 years of age. She is described as, 'A driven, natural-born leader who will always stop to straighten another womans crown.' She is also said tot have, 'Bel Air tastes and an allergy to social injustice,' with a, 'magnetic personality' and, 'an earnestness that charms everyone around her.' She shared a brief video with her 30.4 million Instagram followers on Wednesday to reveal the news 'Hey everybody. OK, I have big news to announce today. As you probably know, we at Hello Sunshine are partnering with Amazon to launch a new television show called Elle, which is the prequel to Legally Blonde,' Witherspoon began 'And today... I can't wait to tell you... that we are starting the casting process, and we are making it open,' Witherspoon enthused 'So send your submissions to the link in my bio. I cannot wait to see all the Elle Woods' out there. This is gonna be really fun,' she concluded 'Coming of age in the 90s, Elle will encounter her first love and her first heartbreak, and she will find her moral convictions,' the character description concludes. While Witherspoon said earlier this month that filming starts in March, the casting notice says filming is tentatively set for April through July 2025 in Vancouver. Actresses will have exactly one month to send in their submissions, with the videos due no later than October 25. The website also includes audition sides for two scenes - one where Elle confronts an angry drivers ed teacher and another where Elle has a heart-to-heart chat with a much more kind teacher. Kyle Sandilands showed off his $5million Los Angeles mansion on Thursday as he gave fans a virtual tour of the sprawling Beverley Hills property. The radio shock jock, 53, who is currently in America with his Kyle and Jackie O show in America, shared a peek of his luxury home-away-from-home to Instagram. He confirmed he was back at work after being absent for two days due to illness, which sparked backlash from listeners as his days off came after attending his colleague's big wedding. In the video, he welcomed followers from his grand entrance, which featured an enormous chandelier and glass doorway as he flaunted his home's lavish amenities. 'Oh, ding dong, look who's out of bed. Not a 100% well,' he said, referencing the sickness which has kept him off the air recently. 'Come inside. [I'm] well enough to do the show today. Welcome, to our Beverley Hills residence.' The camera then panned across the large living room, which guests can step down into from the entrance, before Kyle showed off the stunning city views from the pool. 'Normally out there you can see the Beverley Hills and Los Angeles area but the marine layer is still quite thick,' he said, pointing out the mist obstructing the view. Kyle Sandilands, 53, (pictured) showed off his $5million Los Angeles mansion on Thursday as he gave fans a virtual tour of the sprawling Beverley Hills property The radio shock jock who has been travelling with his Kyle and Jackie O show in America recently, shared a peek of his luxury home-away-from-home to Instagram. Pictured with co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson Kyle then took viewers through a spacious foyer lounge, poker room, bar and 'boys area', which was filled with white and cream designer furniture. A small toy tricycle could be seen abandoned by the bar, likely used by Kyle's son Otto, two, who he shares with his wife Tegan (nee Kynaston). 'I'll take you to Jackie in the studio,' Kyle then said as he led the camera through a dining area and past a luxury pool filled with inflatable pool accessories. In one humorous moment, Kyle pointed out a wet abandoned nappy at his poolside and said: 'That's bad mothering. Not bad fathering.' Kyle then entered his temporary at-home studio where co-star Jackie 'O' Henderson and newsreader Brooklyn Ross were waiting for him with his son. The multi-million dollar home, which Kyle often resides in when he visits America, is located in the same neighbourhood as the Playboy mansion. It boasts six bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, with Kyle once revealing it is 'five houses away' from the house pop sensation Michael Jackson died in. The camera panned across the large living room, which guests can step down into from the entrance, before Kyle flaunted the stunning city views from his pool The impromptu tour came after Kyle sparked backlash from Kyle and Jackie O listeners when he called in sick after attending a big wedding in Las Vegas. Fans slammed the radio star when the show aired pre-recorded content and repeats after promising live shows from LA. 'This is a joke! Did I miss something? I thought they were live this week from LA. I'm so over these repeats,' one person fumed on Instagram. 'It was another repeat,' someone else said of the Monday show as another bemoaned that it was 'not live'. The Kyle and Jackie O show aired from Las Vegas on Monday following their attendance at the iHeart Music Festival, but things took a turn on Tuesday. As the team hit Los Angeles, fans noticed the show was pre-recorded with only Brooklyn tuning in live following his Las Vegas wedding to partner Damien Dirienzo. Wednesday saw Kyle absent once more but Jackie, 49, returned with former NRL star Cooper Johns as her co-host. She revealed they were broadcasting from Kyle's Beverley Hills home but said: 'Kyle is sick. He was sick yesterday and he's still sick today. The multi-million dollar home, which Kyle often resides in when he visits America, is located in the same neighbourhood as the Playboy mansion 'We're in his house though, which is so weird, because we're here, but he's in the bedroom. She added: 'It was the worst timing yesterday, because it had just obviously happened where Brooklyn and Damien got married in Vegas. 'And then, oh, suddenly we're not there the next day. It wasn't the case. We actually just flew to LA and we all had a very early night.' Kyle returned to the show live with Jackie on Thursday morning. Joshua Jackson dressed to impress as he stopped by Good Morning America on Wednesday in New York City. The Dawson's Creek alum, 46 - who recently sparked romance rumors with German model Nastassja Roberts - has been busy promoting his upcoming Ryan Murphy series titled, Doctor Odyssey. The star sent a friendly wave towards fans as he arrived to the studio while sporting a short-sleeved, white shirt. Jackson additionally slipped into a pair of tan-colored trousers as well as brown, leather dress shoes that were secured with laces. He also easily carried a pair of stylish shades in his hand and later placed them around the collar of his shirt during the outing. Joshua Jackson, 46, dressed to impress as he stopped by Good Morning America on Wednesday in New York City Joshua is preparing for the release of his upcoming medical drama, Doctor Odyssey, which will begin airing on ABC on Thursday, September 26. Ryan Murphy - who is known for other projects such as American Horror Story and Glee - co-created the new show alongside Joe Baken and Jon Robin Baitz. Jackson took on the role of a doctor named Max, and joined other cast members including Don Johnson, Phillipa Soo and Sean Teale. The premise is: 'Max is the new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship where the small but mighty medical team navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore,' per an official IMDB synopsis. During his appearance on GMA, the actor opened up about his role - after the trailer raked in a record-breaking total of 78 million views in only 48 hours. 'What it lets me know more is that Ryan Murphy must have the craziest dreams, 'cause the things that we get up to on this boat will turn your hair gray,' Joshua joked. Shania Twain - who is known for hit songs such as Man! I Feel Like A Woman! - is just one of the many guest stars on the series. In regards to having a chance to work with her, Jackson expressed, 'Well, I'm a Canadian, so that's actually like working with an actual royal person.' The star sent a friendly wave towards fans as he arrived to the studio while sporting a short-sleeved, white shirt He also easily carried a pair of stylish shades in his hand and later placed them at the collar of his shirt during the daytime outing Joshua is preparing for the release of his upcoming medical drama, Doctor Odyssey, which will begin airing on ABC on Thursday, September 26 During his appearance on GMA, the actor opened up about his role - after the trailer raked in a record-breaking total of 78 million views in only 48 hours 'What it lets me know more is that Ryan Murphy must have the craziest dreams, 'cause the things that we get up to on this boat will turn your hair gray,' Joshua joked 'More than meeting the queen, meeting Shania was a big deal. So, that was awesome,' Joshua added. 'And again, it's part of the fun of our show. We have this crazy, over-the-top medical drama. We're on the ship. But every week, we get a new set of guest stars, because every week is a new cruise.' The Fringe star continued, 'So, we have the cavalcade of people coming through and Shania got the assignment, everybody gets the assignment. We're trying to have fun making it, so it feels like fun when you watch it.' Earlier this week, Jackson made an appearance at the premiere of Ryan Murphy's other new series titled, Grotesquerie, in NYC on Monday. The 10-episode FX show stars Niecy Nash, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Lesley Manville and Kanas City Chiefs star, Travis Kelce - who is notably dating Taylor Swift. Joshua sparked romance rumors with model, Nastassja Roberts, as they both attended the screening of the series in photos published by DeuxMoi. Although they were spotted together, there were no signs of public affection, making it unclear if they were there as friends or more. A number of anonymous sources also told DeuxMoi that Joshua and Nastassja were together at Gurney's Spa in Montauk this past week and were seen sharing a 'kiss.' 'And again, it's part of the fun of our show. We have this crazy, over-the-top medical drama. We're on the ship. But every week, we get a new set of guest stars, because every week is a new cruise,' he explained Earlier this week, Jackson made an appearance at the premiere of Ryan Murphy's other upcoming series titled, Grotesquerie, in NYC on Monday The Dr. Death star was most recently been romancing Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, 41, though the pair have not seen seen together since June. In the comments of the DeuxMoi post fans of Jackson were divided. Some were thrilled about his possible new romance, while others are questioned what happened to his relationship with Nyong'o. 'JJ is the modern-day George Clooney. How far he's come since Capeside,' one wrote, in reference to his role as Pacey on Dawson's Creek. 'He moves on like the flash,' wrote one commenter. 'Damn Pacey moves quick!' another user added. 'But Lupita!!!!' another added, with a crying emoji, while one asked, 'What happened to Lupita?!?' Joshua and Lupita went public with their romance in December 2023, after his split from wife Jodie Turner-Smith. Jodie filed for divorce in October 2023, citing 'irreconcilable differences' after four years of marriage. The two stars agreed to join custody of their daughter named Juno Rose Diana Jackson, four. Sources told DailyMail.com at the time Joshua had been left 'heartbroken' over the split. The Dr. Death star was most recently been romancing Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, 41, though the pair have not seen seen together since June; Lupita seen in June in Beverly Hills But, just weeks later, Joshua confirmed his romance with Lupita as they were photographed holding hands publicly. Lupita also endured a break-up in October 2023 as she confirmed the end of her relationship with longtime boyfriend Selema Masekela on Instagram. Joshua's ex Jodie recently broke her silence on the new romance - eight months after they went public - in an interview with The Cut in June. 'Good for them,' Jodie said of the couple. 'We need happiness in order to peacefully co-parent. I'm trying to get us to the Gwyneth [Paltrow] and Chris Martin level.' Joshua and Lupita went public with their romance in December 2023, after his split from wife Jodie Turner-Smith; seen earlier this month in Beverly Hills Joshua's ex Jodie recently broke her silence on the new romance - eight months after they went public - in an interview with The Cut in June; Jodie seen in May in Hollywood 'I truly hope they're happy and that it benefits us as a family,' The Acolyte starlet said, putting their daughter first. The actress went on to explain what co-parenting with Joshua is like and how she's adapted to life as a single mother. 'I just have to do everything that I can to set Juno up to win and to peacefully co-parent with someone whom I once loved very, very much,' she told the outlet. 'Peace is what's needed right now. Grace is what's needed right now. Love, empathy, compassion. I'm trying to be all those things and have faith that when I'm all those things, I will see that reflected back toward me,' she finished. Artem Chigvintsev has broken his silence over his arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence in Napa County, California on August 29. On Wednesday, the former Dancing With the Stars pro, 42, released a statement, one day after prosecutors declined to file charges against him. 'I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped,' he told People. 'This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed. My focus has always been and will always be, our son Matteo.' Chigvintsev explained that his four-year-old, who he shares with his estranged wife Nikki Garcia, is his 'world' and being 'his father is the greatest blessing.' 'All along, my main concern has been for him. I am committed to continuing to provide him with the love, support, and care he needs as we move forward,' the reality star explained of his mindset following the arrest and ongoing divorce. Artem Chigvintsev has broken his silence over his arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence in Napa County, California on August 29 'I am hopeful that securing an equal custody arrangement will help us move on,' he shared. 'I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, and legal team for standing by me during this challenging time. Your support has been invaluable, and I am thankful to everyone who believed in me and saw the truth for what it was.' Chigvintsev concluded his statement by saying: 'I look forward to moving past this chapter and focusing on what truly matterscontinue being the best father I can be.' Chigvintsev's attorney, Ilona Antonyan, went on to note that her client is focused on 'negotiating a shared 50/50 custody schedule.' Since Garcia filed for divorce last month, he 'has been able to spend time with Matteo almost every day since 8/29/2024 incident.' Antonyan went on to describe Chigvintsev as a 'very dedicated, interactive, nurturing, and loving parent.' 'My understanding of the investigated facts surrounding the 8/29/24 incident have led me to conclude from the beginning that Artem was not the primary aggressor. I believe that to be true even if the burden of proof would be the preponderance of evidence, which is the standard of proof in family court. He was protecting himself and Matteo,' she told People. Although his lawyer pointed out that 'ivorce is never easy,' she expressed hope that 'once custody is settled, the remaining issues tend to be less emotionally charged and easier to resolve.' In the meantime, Chigvintsev remains 'fully committed to fostering a positive co-parenting relationship with his ex.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Chigvintsev and Garcia's representatives, but have not heard back, at this time. On Wednesday, the former Dancing With the Stars pro, 42, released a public statement after prosecutors declined to file charges against him On Tuesday, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced that her office has declined to file criminal charges against Chigvintsev, 42, in connection with his August 29 arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence. The decision to not file charges against Chigvintsev was made after a thorough review of the criminal investigation and careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the DA's Office, officials said. 'While we take every arrest seriously and stand firmly against domestic violence, we have an ethical obligation to only file charges when supported by the evidence,' Haley said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com. Haley said, 'We are required to prove any and every criminal charge "beyond a reasonable doubt" which is the highest standard in the American criminal justice system. If the available evidence doesnt rise to this level of proof, then we cannot ethically file charges.' Domestic violence can either be filed as a felony or a misdemeanor and has a statute of limitations of three years or one year, respectively. At any time within the statute of limitations, the Napa County District Attorneys Office may revisit the case if it learns of other incidents, or otherwise learns of facts or evidence not previously known. Haley added that the Napa County District Attorney's Victim Services Division works closely with victims of domestic violence and other crimes and links them to available resources whether charges are filed or not. 'I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped,' he told People. 'This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed. My focus has always been and will always be, our son Matteo' Earlier this month, the Dancing With The Stars pro cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split in his own divorce filing. He listed the date of separation as August 29 - which was the same day that he was arrested for felony domestic violence charges following the alleged altercation at their home in Napa, California. Chigvintsev has also requested for joint legal and physical custody of his and Nikki's four-year-old son, Matteo. The Russian-born dancer has asked for spousal support, and also requested that Garcia pay for his legal fees. In the filing, Artem claimed that he was a putative spouse between the dates of August 26, 2022 and January 19, 2023. A putative spouse is an individual who believes they are legally married to someone, but the marriage itself is not valid. Earlier this month, the Dancing With The Stars pro cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split in his own divorce filing; seen with Nikki in 2019 Just days before the pro dancer was placed into handcuffs, the couple had marked their second wedding anniversary. At the time, Chigvintsev shared a heartfelt message in an Instagram post that read, 'Happy anniversary my love, can't see my life without you. You are my everything.' Richard Simmons' housekeeper of almost 40 years, Teresa Reveles, has asked a Southern California court to name her a co-trustee in his estate, saying Simmons' brother misled her after his death. Teresa Reveles filed a petition Wednesday, more than two months after she found the star dead at the age of 76 in his Los Angeles home July 13, TMZ reported after reviewing court docs in the case. Reveles told the court that she crossed paths with Richard's brother Leonard Simmons and his wife Cathy during a viewing of the late fitness expert's body following his passing. Reveles said that she 'was at her most vulnerable' at this time, according to the outlet, and that Leonard and his spouse took her to an attorney's office where she signed documents saying she would not be a trustee on Simmons' estate. Reveles told the court Leonard and his wife presented her with the documents under the premise that her inheritance could be voided if she didn't sign them, according to the outlet. Richard Simmons' housekeeper of almost 40 years, Teresa Reveles, has asked a Southern California court to name her a co-trustee in his estate, saying Simmons' brother misled her after his death Reveles found Simmons dead at the age of 76 in his LA home July 13. Pictured 2013 in LA Reveles said she was confused about what the documents stated at the time and was never explicitly informed or advised on the issue. She said she has since consulted with a lawyer and feels that she would be the best person to serve in the co-trustee position, which the late exercise guru specifically wanted her in, the outlet reported. Reveles' legal team said that they have not received an answer as to why Leonard won't concede in letting her serve as a co-trustee. Reveles told the court that she wanted to be named as a co-trustee; and requested the court block Leonard from selling any of Richard's possessions or property or making money off his image in commercial endeavors until the issue is settled by the court. Authorities said that Simmons' death was as result of complications from a fall he suffered in his bathroom the evening before he died, and that heart disease also was a factor. Simmons had fallen in the bathroom of his home on Friday, July 12 - which marked his 76th birthday - and Reveles had attempted to persuade him to seek immediate medical help, but he declined because it was his birthday. Simmons said he didn't want to go anywhere, informing her that he might go on July 13. Reveles helped him safely get back to his bedroom, where she found him the following morning on the floor at around 10 a.m., according to the outlet. Simmons acknowledged his legion of adoring fans in a moving interview he gave People on July 11, just two days before he died. Authorities were seen at Simmons' Beverly Hills home investigating his passing on July 13 Authorities were seen at Simmons' residence the morning following his death Simmons had fallen in the bathroom of his home on Friday, July 12 - which marked his 76th birthday. Pictured in LA in 2013 Simmons acknowledged his legion of adoring fans in a moving interview he gave just two days before his death at 76 on Saturday. Pictured in August of 2013 in LA The fitness impresario was pictured at a March 1999 event at the University of Nebraska At the conclusion of the interview, the fitness impresario was told by the outlet that he had been 'missed' after keeping a low profile over the past decade, and asked if he understood the fondness fans had for him. 'I know people miss me,' Simmons told the outlet. 'And you know what? I miss them, too. But I'm able to reach them through phone calls and through emails.' Simmons also revealed in his final interview that he had emerged into the public while concealing his appearance. 'I do leave the house sometimes,' Simmons said. 'But I'm in disguise.' The outlet reported that the interview with Simmons just prior to his passing was his first since 2014, the year he stopped making public appearances. The New Orleans-born star, who had been a staple on television promoting his fitness industry endeavors - including studios, books, weight loss programs and videos - had been at the center of speculation over the past decade after he ceased making public appearances, spurring speculation about his safety and well-being. Sources close to the late celebrity told the outlet that the reason he bowed out of the public eye was a knee surgery he had undergone, and a second surgery on the knee that he had refused to undergo. Simmons told People on Thursday that he'd also had a skin cancer scare after undergoing a procedure to have it extracted earlier this year: 'Basal cell carcinoma, it was scary. But it never came back.' Sources close to the late celebrity told the outlet that the reason he bowed out of the public eye was a knee surgery he had undergone, and a second surgery on the knee that he had refused to undergo. Pictured in NYC in 2006 Simmons told the outlet he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months. Pictured in October 2013 Simmons told the outlet that he strived to spread optimism and positivity to those dealing with similar health battles. 'So many people have cancer,' Simmons said. 'I call them, I sing to them: "You're gonna get through this. You just have to believe that."' Simmons told the outlet he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months. 'I've written 14 songs for a Broadway show,' he said. 'And I'm working with an amazing man - Patrick Leonard. I don't know if you know his name, but he wrote music for Madonna, Elton John. He's like one of the biggest. 'And we talk a couple of times a week. I write the lyrics, and he writes the music. The whole show is about my life - from selling pralines in New Orleans at a candy store when I was a kid, to when I decided to retire.' Simmons had been gradually reemerging into his public persona, communicating on X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with his fans. He told People Thursday, 'Today is a beautiful day. But nothing's really different. I got up this morning. I said my prayers, I counted my blessings, and then I went to work. 'You know? And writing messages, answering emails - and when the email is real extreme, I ask for their numbers, and I call them. I'm feeling great, cause I'm helping people.' Simmons had been gradually reemerging into his public persona, communicating on X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with his fans. Pictured in August 2013 His final social media post quoted a line from the 1968 musical comedy Funny Girl. Simmons was asked about his low-profile interactions with his fans, telling the outlet that his measure of success was the number of people he had provided assistance and inspiration to. 'Well, when I decided to retire, it was because my body told me I needed to retire,' Simmons said. 'I have spent time just reflecting on my life. All of the books I wrote, the videos. I never was like, "Oh look what I've done." My thing was, "Oh, look how many people I helped."' 50 Cent continued to troll Diddy as the In Da Club hitmaker made another humorous baby oil quip. In March, authorities raided Combs' Los Angeles and Florida homes, seizing drugs, videos and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, prosecutors said. The baby oil and lubricant were allegedly used in 'freak offs' - 'elaborate and produced sex performances' that Diddy allegedly arranged and participated in. Taking to X, 50 shared an image of a bottle of baby oil - which had been edited to read 'Diddy Oil.' 'Coming soon! LOL,' 50 - real name Curtis Jackson - tweeted, along with a squinty face emoji. 50 Cent continued to troll Diddy as the In Da Club hitmaker made another hilarious baby oil quip 50 Cent previously took aim at the baby oil claim after the baby oil revelation came out in an indictment against Diddy last week. Posting a snap of himself with Drew Barrymore, he wrote: 'Here I am keeping good company with @thedrewbarrymoreshow and I dont have 1,000 bottles of lube at the house' before tagging his companies @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi.' Fans quickly inundated the post with comments, including: 'Who else ran to his page?', 'We were all waiting on you', 'Why did we all wait for 50 to post.' It comes after 50's long-awaited Diddy docuseries exploring sexual assault and violence claims against the Making The Band vet officially went into production at Netflix. Last week Diddy - real name Sean Love Combs - was indicted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges - and is currently awaiting trial at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City. In Da Club hitmaker 50 Cent - a longtime enemy of Diddy's - has been teasing the docuseries for many months - with the star and director Alexandria Stapleton telling Variety the series would be a 'complex narrative spanning decades.' A statement read: 'This is a story with significant human impact. It is a complex narrative spanning decades, not just the headlines or clips seen so far. 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives. 50 Cent's long-awaited Diddy docuseries exploring sexual assault and violence claims against the star is officially in production at Netflix 'While the allegations are disturbing, we urge all to remember that Sean Combs story is not the full story of hip-hop and its culture. We aim to ensure that individual actions do not overshadow the cultures broader contributions.' 50 Cent will executive produce through his G-Unit Film & Television banner, while Stapleton executive produces for House of Nonfiction. 50 also took to X in the wake of the announcement, writing: 'I been telling yall about all this weird s**t, I dont do NO puffy partys. you didnt believe me but I bet you believe me now!' [sic] Last week Diddy - real name Sean Love Combs - was indicted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges - and is currently awaiting trial at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City - pictured together In Da Club hitmaker 50 Cent - a longtime enemy of Diddy's - has been teasing the docuseries for many months - with the star and director Alexandria Stapleton telling Variety the series would be a 'complex narrative spanning decades' 50 also took to X in the wake of the announcement, writing: 'I been telling yall about all this weird s**t, I dont do NO puffy partys. you didnt believe me but I bet you believe me now!' [sic] Others wrote: 'I got here as quickly as I could', 'I know Im not the only one who has been waiting on 50 to post' and 'I been waiting all morning for this post.' 50 and Diddy have bad blood stemming back at least 18 years, as 50 Cent in 2006 put out a song titled The Bomb hurling insults at his longtime rap rival, implying that Diddy was aware of the identity of the person who killed Notorious B.I.G. in 1997. The series was sold to Netflix after what was described as 'a massive bidding war' in May. This came days after a 2016 clip of Diddy beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie was released in a video by CNN. Diddy admitted that he beat his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 'truly sorry' and his actions were 'inexcusable.' 'I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. Im disgusted now,' the music mogul said in a video statement. After Diddy's apology video, 50 Cent expressed his skepticism of Diddy trying to navigate through what looks to be a career-ending crisis. He wrote: 'Now Im sure puffy didnt do it, he is innocent this proves nothing! 'This is what his lawyers are gonna say, God help us all,' he added. 'This is not going to work, who is advising him right now?' the Grammy-winning rap artist said on the social media platform. 'SMH bad move.' Combs was sent to jail last Tuesday to await trial in his federal sex trafficking case, after a magistrate ordered him to be held without bail in a case that accuses him of presiding over a sordid empire of sexual crimes 50 Cent, whose hits include Candy Shop, P.I.M.P. and If I Can't, initially reacted to the circulation of the clip Friday, saying, 'Now Im sure puffy didnt do it, he is innocent this proves nothing! This is what his lawyers are gonna say. God help us all.' 50 Cent led the initial charge of Hollywood stars reacting to raids on Diddy's homes in March. He was quick to repost footage of the investigation, writing: 'S*** just got real. The Fed's in all the cribs, d*** they got the kids in cuffs.' He subsequently turned his attention toward his ex-girlfriend Daphne Joy, who was alleged to be a 'sex worker' in a lawsuit filed by producer Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones Jr. against Diddy. Joy has adamantly denied the accusation, calling it 'character assassination.' It was recently revealed that Combs has 'been able to speak briefly to family members and his children via phone' as per People. Diddy's phone call home came amid news his lawyers are not asking for him to be moved from the 'Hell on Earth' Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset, Brooklyn. 'He is very concerned about his kids and their well-being,' the source stated. 'He has three minor children, two of whom now have no living parent available with him incarcerated. Four of his seven children have neither parent available with him incarcerated.' Another source said that the Combs kids are 'in a state of crisis and shock' following Diddy's arrest. 'It's heartbreaking to see the children in the state they're in. This is their father. But to them, he's not Diddy he's Dad. He has always been a loving, devoted father.' He shares Christian, Jessie and DLila with the late model and actress Kim Porter, who died in 2018 at age 47. Quincy was Porters son with partner Al B. Sure!, and Combs went on to adopt him. Among the most shocking claims is how federal agents seized 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant from his Miami and Los Angeles homes during raids earlier this year; seen in 2022 He shares Justin with stylist Misa Hylton, and Chance with businesswoman Sarah Chapman. In December 2022 he welcomed the arrival of his youngest child, daughter, Love, with model Dana Tran. Last Tuesday Justin, Christian, and Quincy arrived together at a New York City courtroom to support their father. Combss three daughters and 23-month-old baby girl were nowhere in view. Another source told People that Diddy is not getting any special accommodations at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. 'He is being treated like any other detainee awaiting trial. As with all public figures in his position, he was placed on suicide watch upon admittance to the facility as a precaution.' Diddy was arrested and charged last week for sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. The charge, which details allegations dating back to 2008, accuses him of abusing, threatening and coercing women for years 'to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.' He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following his arrest, he was denied bail by a judge after he used both his and his mother's homes in Miami - worth $50 million - as collateral. He lost an appeal to overturn the decision last week and will remain in custody while pending trial. September 25, 2024: Iraq remains a war zone, although not as violent as in the past. The main source of violence is Iran as well as Islamic terrorist groups that continue operating in the more remote parts of Iraq. This includes the northeastern Duhok Mountains and the Turkish border areas where Turkish airstrikes continue to hit Turkish rebels and Islamic terrorists with bases in Iraq. Iraq protests these Turkish attacks on Iraqi territory but the Turks are powerful enough to ignore the Iraqi government's criticism. The Turkish attacks are confined to border areas. Iraq continues to have problems with ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) and its predecessor al Qaeda. Iraqis created ISIL, helped create al Qaeda, and there continue to be plenty of Iraqi men willing to join these organizations and die for the cause of Islamic terrorism. Despite the late 2017 declaration that ISIL was defeated, the Islamic terror group remains active in northern and Western Iraq. ISIL no longer controls large areas of Iraq but is a problem because of its violence, extortion, and disorder in several provinces north of Baghdad. It took four years of effort, several hundred billion dollars to pay for an expanded military, battle damage and economic losses plus over 100,000 Iraqi lives, to kill at least 20,000 Islamic terrorists and eliminate ISIL control of Iraqi territory. That effort created other problems, and opportunities. Iran offered help and was allowed to organize, train and often lead in combat over 100,000 Iraqi, largely Shia, militiamen in what was and still is the PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces). Most Iraqis, including most Iraqi Shia, who are about 60 percent of the population, feared an Iran inspired coup but by early 2018 senior Shia clerics in Iraq and Iran agreed that the militias should stay out of politics. Irans government was not consulted on this decision and a minority of pro-Iran Iraqis still want an Iran-style religious dictatorship. National elections in 2021 revealed much less support for Iran, despite increased threats and financial promises Iran could not keep. The 2021 elections were mainly about doing something about widespread corruption and mismanagement of the economy. A new and hopefully more effective government emerged from this in 2022 and cracked down on corruption and Iranian interference. The other Arab oil states in the region, all run by Sunnis, offered peace and investment and the new Iraqi government accepted the offer, even if those Arabs were establishing diplomatic, economic and military relations with Israel. Iran responded with a failed assassination attack on the Iraqi prime minister plus rocket and mortar attacks on the American embassy and the remaining U.S. troops. Most Iraqis want some Americans to stay, more economic activity with Arab neighbors and an end to Iranian meddling in Iraq. American soldiers are still in Iraq, as is Iranian interference. A slew of Hollywood stars, filmmakers and other artists are calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to sign a new AI safety bill. An organization called Artists for Safe AI have penned an open letter to Newsom, urging him to pass Sen. Scott Wieners SB 1047. The law would require AI developers such as ChatGPT creator OpenAI to include various security protocols before training their AI models, which would join two new AI bills that Newsom signed just last week. While the bill has its detractors - including OpenAI and Nancy Pelosi - over 125 artists such as Jessica Alba, Jessica Chastain and Jane Fonda have signed the open letter. Other high-profile artists signing the letter include Pedro Pascal, Shonda Rhimes, Alec Baldwin, JJ Abrams, Mark Ruffalo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Patrick J. Adams, Ava DuVernay, Rosie ODonnell, Mark Hamill, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Allison Janney, Judd Apatow, Fran Drescher, Sean Astin, Janelle Monae, Don Cheadle, Jason Alexander, Mariska Hargitay, Sophia Bush, Connie Britton, Mahershala Ali, Annaleigh Ashford, Alyssa Milano, Rosanna Arquette, John Cho, Jennifer Beals and Tom Arnold. A slew of Hollywood stars, filmmakers and other artists are calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to sign a new AI safety bill An organization called Artists for Safe AI have penned an open letter to Newsom, urging him to pass Sen. Scott Wieners SB 1047, signed by stars like Jessica Alba The law would require AI developers such as ChatGPT creator OpenAI to include various security protocols before training their AI models, which would join two new AI bills that Newsom signed just last week, with Jessica Chastain one of the supporters. While the bill has its detractors - including OpenAI and Nancy Pelosi - over 125 artists such as Jessica Alba, Jessica Chastain and Jane Fonda (above) have signed the open letter Musicians such as Aloe Blacc, The Callous Daoboys, Spencer Compton and Grimes, the ex of OpenAI co-founder Elon Musk, who left the company in 2018. The letter begins, 'As you well know, some of the most lucrative and powerful companies in the world are currently racing to dominate the enormous business opportunity known as AI. Many of those companies are based in your home state of California.' 'Last week, you signed two bills into law that will help protect the rights and livelihoods of artists from various unethical uses of AI by those big tech companies. We are genuinely grateful for that. 'But right now, theres another bill urgently awaiting your signature that would regulate AI: Senator Wieners SB 1047,' the letter continues. 'This bill is not about protecting artists its about protecting everyone. Grave threats from AI used to be the stuff of science fiction, but not anymore,' they add. 'Even though the billionaire opponents of SB 1047 dismiss these concerns as fantastical, many of the industrys leading engineers, academics and policymakers warn otherwise,' the letter continues, referencing another open letter. 'In a recent open letter in support of SB 1047, over a hundred current and former employees of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, Meta, and xAI said: "We believe that the most powerful AI models may soon pose severe risks, such as expanded access to biological weapons and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. It is feasible and appropriate for frontier AI companies to test whether the most powerful AI models can cause severe harms, and for these companies to implement reasonable safeguards against such risks,"' the letter added. 'SB 1047 would implement the safeguards these industry insiders are asking for. The bill passed with overwhelming majorities in the California State Senate and Assembly,' the letter goes on. The letter begins, 'As you well know, some of the most lucrative and powerful companies in the world are currently racing to dominate the enormous business opportunity known as AI . Many of those companies are based in your home state of California' 'Last week, you signed two bills into law that will help protect the rights and livelihoods of artists from various unethical uses of AI by those big tech companies. We are genuinely grateful for that 'This bill is not about protecting artists its about protecting everyone. Grave threats from AI used to be the stuff of science fiction, but not anymore,' they add 'Polling shows 77% of Californians approve of the bill. Why would the Governor not sign it into law?' the artists asked 'Polling shows 77% of Californians approve of the bill. Why would the Governor not sign it into law?' the artists asked. They added, 'Governor Newsom, most of us are residents of California. We are your supporters. We voted for you.' 'We want to continue to believe that you are a leader who will stand up for everyones wellbeing, not just for a few Silicon Valley giants,' they said. The letter concluded, 'We fully believe in the dazzling potential of AI to be used for good. But we must also be realistic about the risks. Now is our moment, Governor, for California to set that practical and positive example for all of the United States, as well as the rest of the world.' Angelina Jolie shared a powerful photo of herself meeting with Sudanese refugees - as she called on the United Nations to take action on the country's humanitarian crisis. The poignant image showed Angelina, clad in a black cloak, meeting with several women in a thatched dwelling in Chad. Angelina, 49, an actress and humanitarian, captioned the post: 'This morning the UN General Assembly met to discuss the cost of inaction and urgent need to collectively scale up the humanitarian response in Sudan and the region. I recently returned from Chad, where I met Sudanese refugees who have escaped across the border. 'Due to relentless war and violence, Sudan is currently experiencing the largest displacement crisis in the world, with over 10 million people internally displaced and more than 2 million fleeing to neighbouring countries. The situation is also compounded by mass starvation, as approximately 25.6 million peopleover half the populationare facing acute hunger. 'Despite being one of the poorest countries globally, the people of Chad are sharing their land, food, water, and healthcare with nearly 1.4 million Sudanese refugees. Angelina Jolie shared a powerful photo of herself meeting Sudanese refugees - as she called on the United Nations to take action on the country's humanitarian crisis 'Volunteers in Chad and Sudan have established communal kitchens, collective shelters, makeshift clinics, and women's cooperatives. They have distributed medication and organized education programs. The efforts of these local grassroots organizations have been nothing short of inspiring they have achieved so much with so little. 'But they cannot meet the overwhelming scale of this crisis without proper international support and funding. And above all an immediate end to the fighting, to stop further loss of life, displacement, and suffering. 'My hope is that today's meeting will result in decisions, not just conversation. Every hour matters as lives are at stake. Sudan has been gripped by war since April 2023, when tensions between rival military leaders erupted into violence. It pits Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudan Armed Forces, against the the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by Gen, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known universally as 'Hemedti.' The conflict has so far displaced more than 10 million people, a fifth of Sudan's population, both within the country and across borders. An actress and humanitarian, Angelina shared a poignant message about the crisis in Sudan; pictured earlier this month at the Without Blood premiere in Toronto On Wednesday, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres voiced concern over 'escalation' in Sudan's conflict to the country's army chief when they met on the sidelines of a diplomatic gathering in New York. Sudan has been high on the agenda at the UN's centerpiece meeting this week, with the dire humanitarian situation and refugee crisis dominating discussions on the war that broke out last year. 'People in Sudan have endured 17 months of hell, and the suffering continues to grow,' said the UN's top relief official Joyce Msuya. A UN-backed assessment has warned of the risk of widespread famine in Sudan on a scale not seen anywhere in the world in decades. Jolie pictured in April 2024 'The secretary-general expressed deep concern about the escalation of the conflict in the Sudan, which continues to have a devastating impact on the Sudanese civilians and risks a regional spillover,' said a UN readout of Guterres's meeting with General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan. The United States, European Union, France and Germany in a joint statement after talks among their ministers urged an immediate ceasefire and negotiations, and voiced alarm over foreign interference. All foreign powers should 'refrain from providing military support to the warring parties,' they said after broader talks that included the United Arab Emirates, widely considered the top backer of the RSF. The World Health Organization said this month at least 20,000 people have been killed. But some estimates are far higher, with the US envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, saying that up to 150,000 people may have died -- far more than in the war in Gaza. On the latest episode of their new 7th Heaven rewatch podcast Catching Up with the Camdens, the show's Beverley Mitchell, David Gallagher and Mackenzie Rosman acknowledged the sex abuse scandal involving the show's Stephen Collins. The three actors - who played the respective roles of Lucy, Simon and Ruthie Camden on the The WB/The CW series from 1996-2007 - addressed the uncomfortable topic to lead off the recap of the pilot episode on their podcast. Collins, 76, in 2014 said on multiple platforms - including a statement to People and an interview with Katie Couric - that he had sexually abuse three underage girls from 1973 to 1994. 'Before we get into this episode, we want you to know that we see all of your comments and we know how excited you all are for the rewatch, so that's exactly what we're going to do,' Mitchell, 43, said. 'But before we get into that we do think it's important that we say something about Stephen Collins.' Gallagher, 39, said that 'all forms of abuse, sexual abuse of any kind, it's inexcusable; and victims of abuse need to be shown compassion and they should be given support.' 7th Heaven Mackenzie Rosman, 34, David Gallagher, 39, and Beverley Mitchell, 43, addressed the sex abuse scandal involving the show's Stephen Collins, 76, on the debut episode of their rewatch podcast Catching Up with the Camdens Collins, 76, in 2014 said on multiple platforms - including a statement to People and an interview with Katie Couric that he had sexually abuse three underage girls from 1973 to 1994. Pictured in April of 2014 in Anaheim, California Rosman, 34, explained why the trio began with the disclaimer, as 'it would be impossible not to talk about Stephen because he was such a big part of the show and our lives. She said they wanted 'to be clear that we did not have any inappropriate experiences with Stephen,' who portrayed Reverend Eric Camden on the program over its 11-season run. Mitchell said Collins 'will not be joining us on this podcast and we do not excuse or condone his behavior,' as their focus for the endeavor 'is to reconnect with you, our fans, to relive some 90s nostalgia and to share our fondest memories of 7th Heaven.' Gallagher wrapped up the disclaimer in saying, 'We know this is difficult and we understand that it can be triggering but we just want to say that we love you guys and we are so grateful for all the love and support that you, our community, have shown to us. 'So, hopefully you guys will stick with us as we continue on this journey.' Collins' past misconduct came to light in October of 2014, when he was heard in audio published on TMZ speaking in 2012 about sex acts with minors he had committed during the years 1973, 1982 and 1994. He subsequently submit a statement to People in December of 2014 saying that he had 'not had an impulse to act out in any such way' in the two decades since the last incident. 'Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret. I have been working to atone for it ever since,' he said in the statement. 'I've decided to address these issues publicly because two months ago, various news organizations published a recording made by my then-wife, Faye Grant, during a confidential marriage therapy session in January, 2012. Mitchell, 43, said, 'But before we get into that we do think it's important that we say something about Stephen Collins' Gallagher said that 'all forms of abuse, sexual abuse of any kind, it's inexcusable; and victims of abuse need to be shown compassion and they should be given support' Gallagher wrapped up the disclaimer in saying, 'We know this is difficult and we understand that it can be triggering but we just want to say that we love you guys and we are so grateful for all the love and support that you, our community, have shown to us' Mitchell said Collins 'will not be joining us on this podcast and we do not excuse or condone his behavior' The 7th Heaven cast pictured in 2005: (top row, L-R): Barry Watson, Stephen Collins, Nikolas/Lorenzo Brino, Jessica Biel, (bottom row, L-R): David Gallagher, Catherine Hicks, Beverly Mitchell, Mackenzie Rosman The WB/The CW series ran for 11 seasons from 1996-2007 'This session was recorded without the therapist's or my knowledge or consent. On the recording, I described events that took place 20, 32 and 40 years ago. Collins said, 'The publication of the recording has resulted in assumptions and innuendos about what I did that go far beyond what actually occurred. As difficult as this is, I want people to know the truth.' Collins lost a number of roles he was playing at the time, while submitting his resignation to the board of SAG-AFTRA. Reruns of 7th Heaven were taken off the air in the wake of the story. Jackie 'O' Henderson cut a low profile as she was spotted leaving Kyle Sandilands' very lavish $5million Los Angeles rental mansion on Wednesday. The radio queen, 49, has joined co-host Kyle, 53, and his wife Tegan Kynaston to stay at the $5million sprawling property while they helm their radio show live from LA. The multi-million-dollar home, available to rent for AU$272,000 (US$186,150) a month, and Kyle has been showing off the Beverly Hills pad on his Instagram in recent days. Stepping out of the 9,000 square foot home, Jackie looked effortlessly stylish in a laidback ensemble as she strolled with a drink in hand. She rocked her best angles in a plain white top paired with jeans as she made her way down the scenic street in the ritzy LA suburb. Jackie accessorised with stylish sunglasses, gold hoop earrings and a matching bracelet, while toting her essentials in a beige designer Yves Saint Laurent handbag. Jackie wore her luscious blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and she highlighted her natural beauty by going makeup-free for the outing. Jackie 'O' Henderson cut a low profile as she was spotted leaving Kyle Sandilands' very lavish Los Angeles rental mansion on Wednesday The radio queen, 49, has joined co-host Kyle, 53, and his wife Tegan Kynasto (pictured) to stay at the $5million sprawling property while they helm their radio show live from LA The multi-million-dollar home is believed to cost AU$272,000 (US$186,150) a month and Kyle has been showing off the Beverly Hills pad on his Instagram in recent days Meanwhile, Kyle's wife Tegan, 38, was also spotted outside the luxurious property as she made a coffee run to a local cafe. Tegan, who married Kyle in a lavish Sydney wedding ceremony in April last year, flaunted her enviable figure in a sleeveless black designer top and matching pants. Tegan allowed her blonde hair to hang in loose waves around her shoulders and looked to be in great spirits as she held hands with her two-year-old son Otto, who she shares with Kyle. She accessorised with stunning silver jewellery and looked to be in great spirits as she chatted to some locals. Jackie and Tegan looked thrilled to be living it up in the upmarket Los Angeles neighbourhood, which is home to many of Hollywood's most famous stars. The multi-million dollar home, which Kyle often resides in when he visits America, is located in the same neighbourhood as the Playboy mansion. Stepping out of the 9,000 square foot home, Jackie looked effortlessly stylish in a laidback ensemble as she strolled with a drink in hand She rocked her best angles in a plain white top paired with jeans as she made her way down the scenic street in the ritzy LA suburb Meanwhile, Kyle's wife Tegan, 38, was also spotted outside the luxurious property as she made a coffee run to a local cafe Tegan allowed her blonde hair to hang in loose waves around her shoulders and she looked to be in great spirits as she tenderly cared her two-year-old son Otto, who she shares with Kyle Tegan accessorised with stunning silver jewellery and looked to be in great spirits It boasts six bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, with Kyle once revealing it is 'five houses away' from the house pop sensation Michael Jackson died in. On Thursday, Kyle showed off the $5million Los Angeles mansion as he gave fans a virtual tour of the sprawling Beverley Hills property. The radio shock jock, who is currently in America with his Kyle and Jackie O show in America, shared a peek of his luxury home-away-from-home to Instagram. He confirmed he was back at work after being absent for two days due to illness, which sparked backlash from listeners as his days off came after attending his colleague's big wedding. In the video, he welcomed followers from his grand entrance, which featured an enormous chandelier and glass doorway as he flaunted his home's lavish amenities. 'Oh, ding dong, look who's out of bed. Not a 100% well,' he said, referencing the sickness which has kept him off the air recently. Kyle once proudly revealed the mansion is 'five houses away' from the house pop sensation Michael Jackson died in On Thursday, Kyle showed off the $5million Los Angeles mansion as he gave fans a virtual tour of the sprawling Beverley Hills property 'Come inside. [I'm] well enough to do the show today. Welcome, to our Beverley Hills residence.' The camera then panned across the large living room, which guests can step down into from the entrance, before Kyle showed off the stunning city views from the pool. 'Normally out there you can see the Beverley Hills and Los Angeles area but the marine layer is still quite thick,' he said, pointing out the mist obstructing the view. Kyle then took viewers through a spacious foyer lounge, poker room, bar and 'boys area', which was filled with white and cream designer furniture. Kyle then entered his temporary at-home studio where co-star Jackie 'O' Henderson and newsreader Brooklyn Ross were waiting for him with his son. The Kyle and Jackie O show has aired from Las Vegas since Monday following their attendance at the iHeart Music Festival. Kate Winslet joined glamorous Shailene Woodley and Andrea Riseborough at the screening of her upcoming film, Lee, in New York on Wednesday. The Titanic star, 48 who recently revealed she's undergoing testosterone replacement therapy wowed in a beaded black top with crystal details, and fitted satin black pants at the event, held at the Museum of Modern Art. The English actress portrays American photographer Lee Miller's journey from fashion model to acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II in the film. Ferrari star Shailene, 32, had all eyes on her in a plunging pastel yellow dress that clung to her formidable physique. Her blonde hair cascaded in soft curls. Her look was complemented by a pair of sleek snakeskin heels. Kate Winslet, 48, joined glamorous Shailene Woodley, 32, and Andrea Riseborough, 42, at the screening of her upcoming film, Lee, in New York on Wednesday The Titanic star wowed in a beaded black top with crystal details, and fitted satin black pants While at the event Kate also mingled with Lee Miller's son, British photographer Antony Penrose . Meanwhile Andrea, 42, sizzled in a daring low-cut silver and peach gown. The Grudge star wore delicate glam, and a pair of silver heels. Andrea stars as Audrey Withers, the late English journalist who edited the British magazine Vogue between 1940 and 1960. Andrea also posed alongside actor Karim Saleh, 46, who looked handsome in a grey suit and navy tie. Later in the night Andrea had an outfit change, as she swapped her plunging dress for a metallic silver gown. Andy Samberg, 46, sported a mustard suit and matching shirt. He portrays the late American photojournalist and editor David Scherman, who covered World War II for Life magazine. Others at the event included Kate Solomon, who looked chic in a white dress with a red panel, and added another touch of red with a fiery clutch. Celia Weston, 72, was elegant as ever in a black coat with a green silk scarf wrapped over her shoulders. Kate's blonde tresses were styled in curls The English actress portrays American photographer Lee Miller's journey from fashion model to acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II in the film Kate happily posed for the shutterbugs Earlier this month Kate said women need to celebrate 'being a real shape and being soft and maybe having a few extra rolls' after she was told to hide her 'belly rolls' on the Lee film set The actress said she found the comment 'absolutely bizarre' because Lee Miller's body 'would be soft' Ferrari star Shailene had all eyes on her in a plunging pastel yellow dress that clung to her formidable physique Shailene dazzled in the skintight dress Kate shared a warm embrace with Shailene Andrea sizzled in a daring low-cut silver and peach gown Kate and her co-star looked effortlessly stylish Andrea stars as Audrey Withers, the late English journalist who edited the British magazine Vogue between 1940 and 1960 Andrea also posed alongside actor Karim Saleh, 46, who looked handsome in a grey suit and navy tie Andy Samberg, 46, sported a mustard suit and matching shirt He portrays the late American photojournalist and editor David Scherman, who covered World War II for Life magazine Kate Solomon looked chic in a white dress with a red panel, and added another touch of red with a fiery clutch Celia Weston, 72, was elegant as ever in a black coat with a green silk scarf wrapped over her shoulders Giancarlo Esposito, 66, looked suave in a black sweater and tweed jacket The actor best known for portraying drug kingpin Gus Fring in the AMC crime drama Breaking Bad paired the look with black-rim eyeglasses Joe Pantoliano, 73, showed off his distinctive style in a denim look paired with a black beret He was seen catching up with Giancarlo Kate also mingled with Lee Miller's son, British photographer Antony Penrose The duo chatted it up (L-R) Antony Penrose, Solomon, Ellen Kuras, Samberg, Winslet, Riseborough and Eric d'Arbeloff Starring Kate in the titular role, the film also boasts Josh O'Connor, Marion Cotillard, and Succession star Alexander Skarsgard Later in the night Andrea had an outfit change, as she swapped her plunging dress for a metallic silver gown Andrea, Andy and Kate looked stylish as they posed together at the premiere The trio laughed it up together Kate cozied up to co-star Andy Giancarlo Esposito, 66, looked suave in a black sweater and tweed jacket. The actor best known for portraying drug kingpin Gus Fring in the AMC crime drama Breaking Bad paired the look with black-rim eyeglasses. Joe Pantoliano, 73, showed off his distinctive style in a denim look paired with a black beret. Also present the event were Antony Penrose, director Ellen Kuras, and Eric d'Arbeloff. Lee is a biographical drama telling the story of American ex-model Lee who took photographs of poignant moments during World War II for Vogue magazine. Starring Kate in the titular role, it also boasts Josh O'Connor, Marion Cotillard, and Succession star Alexander Skarsgard. Earlier this month Kate said women need to celebrate 'being a real shape and being soft and maybe having a few extra rolls' after she was told to hide her 'belly rolls' on the Lee film set. The actress said she found the comment 'absolutely bizarre' because Lee Miller's body 'would be soft'. Lee is set to hit theaters on Friday, September 27 Kate told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: 'It was my job to be like Lee. She wasnt lifting weights and doing Pilates, she was eating cheese, bread and drinking wine and not making a big deal of it, so of course her body would be soft.' 'But I think were so used to perhaps not necessarily seeing that and enjoying it the instinct, weirdly, is to see it and criticize it or comment on it in some way.' 'Its interesting how much people do like labels for women. And they very much liked them in Lees day, and, annoyingly, they sort of still do we slap these labels on women that we just dont have for men. Its absolutely bizarre to me.' She added: 'Life is too short, do you know? I dont want to look back and go "Why did I worry about that thing?" And so, guess what? I dont worry anymore. I dont care. 'Im just going to live my life, going to enjoy it, get on with it. Youve got one go around make the most of it.' Lee is set to hit theaters on Friday, September 27. Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling has taken to social media to share a major health update, as she recovers from chemotherapy for her colon cancer. The relationship expert, 52, shared a gallery of photos to Instagram on Thursday which captured her healthy day on a plate as she focuses on her recovery. Alongside a photo of some Chobani Greek yoghurt stirred into a muesli dish, Mel wrote upbeat words: 'Part of my recovery from chemo is about rebuilding strength. 'Protein is a huge part of this. @chobaniau has the highest protein content of any yoghurt I can find. And it's delicious... what's not to love? Strong women need strong food.' The post appears to be a paid promotion that Mel is doing on behalf of the popular food and beverage company. She also posted a happy snap of her posing up a storm at a Sydney spa, after she finished a flotation treatment, and wrote alongside it: 'Soaking up that sweet magnesium'. Mel underwent surgery to remove a tumour and recently completed her chemotherapy, following her shock cancer diagnosis last year. The reality TV host revealed her shock health battle in December and underwent colon surgery just before the end of the year. Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling (pictured) has taken to social media to share a major health update, as she recovers from chemotherapy for her colon cancer She explained her tumour - which she named 'Terry' - was removed by UK doctors - However, as the cancer spread through her colon into the muscle, Mel discovered she needed chemotherapy and began treatment at the end of February. She recently provided fans with an uplifting update on her health as she returned to Sydney to film the 2025 series of MAFS. Taking to Instagram, Mel shared her excitement about being back in Australia, specifically at Bondi Beach, where she will be living for the next couple of months. The relationship expert, 52, shared a gallery of photos to Instagram on Thursday which captured her healthy day on a plate as she focuses on her recovery Alongside a photo of some Chobani Greek yoghurt stirred into a muesli dish, Mel wrote upbeat words Mel, who is well-loved for her compassionate yet no-nonsense approach on MAFS, candidly spoke about the challenges of being separated from her family, though she noted that this time apart would be shorter than in the past. 'It's only six or seven weeks this time around, and certainly, I've done longer than that. We've had three-month separations before, so this one is much shorter,' she explained. Determined to make the most of her time in Australia, Mel revealed she is dedicating these months to prioritising her health and wellbeing. Lauren Phillips looked effortlessly chic as she was spotted leaving a Nova FM AFL Grand Final event in Melbourne on Thursday. The radio presenter, known for her sleek style, opted for a cosy black jacket adorned with brown shearling accents while clutching a $7,748 Louis Vuitton denim tote bag. She paired the look with black jeans and wore sneakers for a relaxed yet fashionable ensemble. Her hair was windswept as she strolled down the street, exuding confidence after an insider recently revelation of her campaign against rival shock jocks Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson. Phillips, 42, co-host of the Jase and Lauren show, has reportedly been asking her A-list friendsnames like Matt Damon and Zac Efronto steer clear of interviews with KIIS FM's top hosts. Despite already dominating the Melbourne radio ratings, the Nova presenter is reportedly pulling out all the stops to ensure her show remains the go-to destination for celebrity interviews. An insider revealed that Phillips has 'pleaded with her famous friends' to refuse interview offers from Kyle and Jackie O, focusing particularly on keeping the Sydney-based duo from gaining access to the Byron Bay celebrity circleof which Phillips is a key player. 'She's asked them to say no to KIIS for the next few months. The plan is to block Kyle and Jackie O from gaining access to the Byron Bay set - of which she is a major player,' an insider told Daily Mail Australia. Lauren Phillips was spotted leaving a Nova FM AFL Grand Final event on Thursday looking effortlessly chic while clutching a $7,748 Louis Vuitton denim tote bag The radio presenter, known for her sleek style, opted for a cosy black jacket adorned with brown shearling accents 'If Lauren can get these stars to turn down Kyle and Jackie O, that is a big advantage. Especially since KIIS prides itself on being the home of Hollywood stars. 'Kyle and Jackie O has really been the only radio show in the market to boast A-list guests consistently until this point. 'But Lauren's genuine connections to Byron Bay celebrity crew could be a threat to their monopoly if she can convince the Hemsworths and all their friends to boycott KIIS.' Lauren appeared in good spirits as she parted ways with Channel Nine presenter Clint Stanaway It comes after an insider recently revelation of Phillip's campaign against rival shock jocks Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson (pictured) The source revealed Phillips was continuing to build new contacts with A-listers while attending star-studded events with her fiance Paul O'Brien, who flies stars all over Australia with his private jet business. For example, she recently attended the wedding of personal trainer Luke Zocchi, Chris Hemsworth's best friend and right-hand man. O'Brien runs the high-end aviation charter group AVMIN which boasts celebrity clients such as Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso, as well as the Hemsworths. 'Lauren has been smart to mix with the Hollywood heavyweights and I bet she'll be networking like crazy to make these stars "friends of the show",' the source said. When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Phillips denied she had personally solicited her famous friends to not appear on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Kyle and Jackie O bill themselves as the radio show with 'cash, cars and stars' - but their Nova rival Lauren (pictured with her co-host Jason Hawkins) is determined to keep the stars as far away from KIIS FM as possible An insider revealed that Phillips has 'pleaded with her famous friends' to refuse interview offers from Kyle and Jackie O. Phillips is building contacts with A-listers while attending star-studded events with her fiance Paul O'Brien (second from left) The Jase and Lauren radio show had the ultimate revenge last month when it was crowned Melbourne's most listened-to breakfast radio program. 'The battle lines have been drawn and at this point Melbourne has been less than impressed with what Kyle and Jackie O have delivered. These small wins actually could mean something,' the source added. Jase and Lauren took home the coveted number one spot in the fifth GFK radio survey for 2024. It grew its audience by 0.3 points and rose to a 9.9 per cent share, giving it a clear lead over Kyle and Jackie O, which trailed significantly with a 6.1 per cent share. Despite initial hopes the KIIS FM provocateurs would replicate their No. 1 success in Sydney with Melbourne listeners, the duo are only the city's fifth most listened-to breakfast show. Made In Chelsea legend Cheska Hull has split from her fiance, MailOnline can reveal. The reality star, 39, said she felt like 'the luckiest girl in the whole world' after Damian Crook popped the question in June last year following a 'whirlwind' 11-month romance. But the couple, who met on the school run, have since parted ways after Cheska described their engagement as a 'fairytale' and like her bad luck with men had finally changed. Cheska and father-of-three Damian combined their families and were living together in Devon, where the former Chelsea regular moved to after quitting the E4 series and becoming a mother to her son, Charlie. She had been planning a beach wedding before the couple's relationship ended, with friends close to Cheska saying the breakup was the result of their lives being on 'different trajectories.' Made In Chelsea legend Cheska Hull has split from her fiance, MailOnline can reveal The reality star said she felt like 'the luckiest girl in the whole world' after Damian Crook popped the question in June last year following a 'whirlwind' 11-month romance But the couple, who met on the school run, have since parted ways after Cheska described their engagement as a 'fairytale' and like her bad luck with men had finally changed Cheska found fame as part of the original Made In Chelsea cast in 2011 alongside close friends Ollie Locke (pictured), Binky Felstead, and Gabriella Ellis A source revealed: 'Cheska and Damian remain friends rather than partners. 'Their lives were on different trajectories, but they still respect and care for each other. The children are and always will be their priority.' Cheska found fame on the E4 cast alongside close friends Ollie Locke and Binky Felstead, who announced this week she was returning to filming with former co-stars Lucy Watson and Rosie Fortescue in new show Beyond Chelsea. Binky confirmed the upcoming series will follow her life now she's a married mother-of-three 14 years after she joined as an original cast member. In 2014, Cheska quit fame in pursuit of a quieter life in her hometown Salcombe, admitting she struggled with how TV producers depicted her as unlucky in love. Speaking to MailOnline in June last year, she said: 'I remember saying to my best friend Gemma that Made In Chelsea used to portray me as a Bridget Jones character, which wasn't what I wanted but I was always dealt that card. 'They would say, "try and see if that guy will go out with you", and I put myself out there and it was almost like master planned that he would turn around and say "no." I always felt really embarrassed by that. It almost got to the point where I felt, am I this Bridget Jones type character and will I never find my Prince Charming.' She fell for 'ruggedly handsome' carpenter Damian after they met on the school run and the couple wasted no time before moving in together. Cheska explained last year how she didn't feel her relationship had been rushed due to their older age and getting engaged only made their family unit stronger. Binky (pictured with Cheska in 2011) confirmed she was returning to filming in new Channel 4 show Beyond Chelsea, which follows her life as a married mother-of-three In 2014, Cheska quit fame in pursuit of a quieter life in her hometown Salcombe, admitting she struggled with how TV producers depicted her as unlucky in love Finding herself single again hasn't left Cheska feeling miserable as she continues to flourish with new work projects including launching her own monthly column in Devon Life Magazine At the time, she explained: 'We moved in together 10 months down the line and now we're engaged. It is our one-year anniversary on July 10. It has been a real fairytale for me. We are older and because we have children, when you know, you know. 'I have gone from being a single mum, just myself and Charlie living alone in a cottage to meeting Damian, who has three children and integrating this family together and the engagement has made us feel like a proper team. 'We are a proper unit, and it is just wonderful. His children are incredible and we're all living together now, and the engagement has made it stronger for the kids as well. They are over the moon, the two teenage girls are going to be bridesmaids and that was said on day one and they're super excited.' Finding herself single again hasn't left Cheska feeling miserable as she continues to flourish with new work projects. The former TV star launched her new monthly column for Devon Life magazine titled Girl Gone West last week, where she speaks about her role on Made In Chelsea to settling down and finding serenity away from the cameras. Writing on Instagram, she said: 'This is the smile of a very happy and proud human. My first monthly column 'Girl Gone West' is out now in the October issue of Devon Life Magazine. I'm over the moon.' Cheska returned to London this week to celebrate with drinks brand Salcombe Gin, who have launched a limited edition bottle in Fortnum & Mason. She was joined at the event by former Made In Chelsea co-star and close friend Fran Newman-Young, who married her husband Peter Clarke last month. Priyanka Chopra dramatically ran away from co-star Stanley Tucci as they filmed intense scenes for Citadel season two in London on Wednesday. The actress, 42, got back into character as Citadel agent Nadia Sinh as she was spotted back filming the Amazon Prime spy thriller for the first time. Priyanka and Stanley, who portrays Citadel technical genius Bernard Orlick, were seen arguing in the capital streets. She looked incredible for the scenes as she slipped into a black leather look roll neck jumper which she tucked into a fitted midi pencil skirt. The mother-of-one added a long jacket over the number and added inches to her frame in a pair of short croc print dark boots. Priyanka Chopra dramatically ran away from co-star Stanley Tucci as they filmed intense scenes for Citadel season two in London on Wednesday The actress, 42, got back into character as Citadel agent Nadia Sinh as she was spotted back filming the Amazon Prime spy thriller for the first time Priyanka made her way down the street before Stanley chased after her and grabbed her arm to try and stop her. The Indian star was seen raising her hand to the Devil Wears Prada actor as he continued to prevent her from leaving. The duo later filmed a second argument in the street as Stanley pointed his finger in Priyanka's face. He cut a smart figure as character Bernard in a navy jumper which he tucked into a pair of khaki trousers and opted for chunky brown boots. While filming, male lead Richard Madden, who portrays Citadel agent Mason Kane, was not seen on set. The first series of the spy drama was one of the most expensive television shows ever created. During the first season couple Mason and Nadia discover a dangerous new organisation, Manticore, and their memories are wiped - with the pair living as strangers. Eight years later, Bernard (Stanley) desperately needs the help of Citadel's top operatives - but faces the battle of convincing them of their past selves that they can't remember. Priyanka and Stanley were seen arguing in the capital streets The duo filmed dramatic scenes in London The pair were scene filming on location in the city She looked incredible for the scenes as she slipped into a black leather look roll neck jumper which she tucked into a fitted midi pencil skirt The mother-of-one added a long jacket over the number and added inches to her frame in a pair of short croc print dark boots Stanley portrays Citadel technical genius Bernard Orlick He cut a smart figure as character Bernard in a navy jumper which he tucked into a pair of khaki trousers and opted for chunky brown boots Priyanka made her way down the street before Stanley chased after her Between scenes, the former Miss World couldn't contain her laughter as she joked around with crew members Stanley was seen pointing his finger in the star's face The Indian star was seen raising her hand to the Devil Wears Prada actor as he continued to prevent her from leaving The pair looked serious as they filmed close ups The duo later filmed a second argument in the street The original Citadel, which was co-led by Priyanka, is an American spy action for Prime Video and was executively produced by the Russo Brothers of Marvel fame. Series one of Citadel had six episodes. Citadel was renewed for a second series in March 2023, the month before it debuted, and Russo was announced to be directing all episodes. Filming on the main series began in January 2021 and wrapped in December 2022. However, reshoots occurred in early and mid-2022 under the supervision of creator David Weil, the Russos, and series one director Thomas Sigel. It comes as Priyanka's husband Nick Jonas departed the UK and headed to Milan and Barcelona to continue his European dates of the Jonas Brothers world tour. Ahead of the couple busy work schedules, Priyanka, Nick and their daughter enjoyed some quality time together during a lavish getaway in Saint Tropez earlier this month. Priyanka showed off her incredible figure in the dark red skimpy bikini as she reclined aboard a luxury yacht. The Love Again star shielded her eyes from the blazing sun with a pair of dark glasses and scraped her sleek black locks away from her face. While filming, male lead Richard Madden, who portrays Citadel agent Mason Kane, was not seen on set The first series of the spy drama was one of the most expensive television shows ever created The actress was seen storming across the street while filming She looked incredible as her long dark tresses blew in the wind Stanley got into his spy character while filming in London Priyanka patiently waiting on set to film The original Citadel, which was co-led by Priyanka, is an American spy action for Prime Video and was executively produced by the Russo Brothers of Marvel fame Series one of Citadel had six episodes. Citadel was renewed for a second series in March 2023, the month before it debuted, and Russo was announced to be directing all episodes Filming on the main series began in January 2021 and wrapped in December 2022 however, reshoots occurred in early 2022 under the supervision of creator David Weil, the Russos, and series one director Thomas Sigel Priyanka pictured as Nadia and co-star Richard Madden as Mason Kane Citadel was renewed for a second series in March 2023 It comes as Priyanka's husband Nick Jonas headed to Barcelona to continue his European dates of the Jonas Brothers tour but ahead of the couple busy work schedules, they enjoyed some quality time together in Saint Tropez Meanwhile, former Disney Channel star Nick, who tied the knot with Priyanka in 2018, snapped pictured of the couple's two-year-old daughter Malti. In another snap, the brunette beauty was seen playing with the little one as the toddler gleefully played with her mother's long hair. Last month, the couple were spotted jetting out of Sydney, Australia and preparing to return to the United States after a trip Down Under. Priyanka was there filming her new drama The Bluff with her husband and their daughter with her for support. Before jetting back home, she announced that she wrapped filming on the movie via a social media post. Phillip Schofield is forced to battle a raging storm in his upcoming show Cast Away, with a new teaser clip for the Channel 5 series revealing how the star copes alone on the desert island. The presenter announced this week that he secretly filmed Cast Away, in which he lives on a tropical island in the Indian Ocean for 10 days, this summer. The three-part series will air from Monday across three nights. The new teaser shows Phillip, 62, filming himself as he beds in for the night in his makeshift camp. The exhausted star tells the camera how hungry he is as he explains: 'I want to catch a fish that makes me feel full. I am literally going to sleep as I'm holding this. Anyway, there we go and um I'll see you tomorrow.' Phillip Schofield is forced to battle a raging storm in his upcoming show Cast Away, with a new teaser clip for the Channel 5 series revealing how the star copes alone on the desert island The presenter announced this week that he secretly filmed Cast Away, in which he lives on a tropical island in the Indian Ocean for 10 days, this summer Cutting to 12:34am the footage then shows a storm ravaging his camp as Phil shouts: 'Bloody hell. Disaster has struck, howling wind blowing through everything, it's taken out all the front.' Continuing to film with his night vision camera, the star's tent can be seen struggling against the wind as Phil tells viewers: 'This is about to tear itself to pieces and there's still every possibility that it will. I wasn't expecting that.' While Phillip was alone on the island for ten days, the production team were stationed 30 minutes offshore, and were told only to intervene in the event of an extreme emergency. Billed as 'an authentic and intense physical and mental challenge' Channel 5 have confirmed that Phillip was 'left alone with only a handful of cameras to document his own experience.' It will be the first time Schofield has been on TV since leaving the ITV's This Morning in May 2023 after admitting to having a relationship with a much younger male colleague. The scandal, which dominated the headlines for months, led to the breakdown of his friendship with co-presenter Holly Willoughby and 'devastated' his wife Steph. The couple separated in 2020 when Phillip came out as gay but had remained close until his betrayal was revealed. One clip from the show sees Schofield in tears telling the camera: 'I know what I did was unwise, but is it enough to completely destroy someone?' The new teaser shows Phillip, 62, filming himself as he beds in for the night in his makeshift camp before a storm hits in the early hours Cutting to 12:34am the footage then shows a storm ravaging his camp as Phil shouts: 'Bloody hell. Disaster has struck' Continuing to film with his night vision camera, the star's tent can be seen struggling against the wind as Phil tells viewers: 'This is about to tear itself to pieces' Viewers will see the axed presenter discuss the emotional impact of his exile from mainstream Viewers will see the axed presenter reflect on the emotional impact of his exile from mainstream TV after news of his affair with a 20-year old runner on This Morning came to light. In a statement to promote the series Phil said: 'This is most definitely a first for me and the only thing I felt compelled to do.' 'It appealed to me on so many levels. I've recently had a lot of time to think about my life, what went right and what went wrong, but I've always had the safe arms of friends and family wrapped around me.' 'This time it's just me, no 'phone, no comforts, no crew and only lip balm as a luxury. I'm looking forward to exploring the island, trying to tie knots to secure my shelter and foraging and fending for myself in the wild with no help.' 'Maybe I'll be Robinson Crusoe, or maybe I'll just be Tom Hank's Wilson and quietly drift off into the wild blue yonder!!' Channel 5 Commissioning Editor, Guy Davies, added: 'This isn't just a survival challenge, it's chance for Phillip to look back over the last explosive 18 months of his life, and explore what happened.' 'The audience will learn how he feels now about television and the future, as well as the past. And it will be Phillip Schofield as we have never seen him before unguarded, emotional and brutally honest'. 'This solitary island existence presents an opportunity for Phillip to confront the challenges of total isolation, the forces of nature and provides the time to battle within his own mind as he explores his own controversial story.' One clip from the show sees Schofield in tears telling the camera: 'I know what I did was unwise, but is it enough to completely destroy someone?' Billed as 'an authentic and intense physical and mental challenge' Channel 5 have confirmed that Phillip was 'left alone with only a handful of cameras to document his own experience' It was May 2023 when the presenter admitted to having a relationship with a much younger male colleague on This Morning, and later lying about it. He described their romance as 'unwise but not illegal' and explained it took place during his nearly 30-year marriage to Stephanie Lowe, with whom he is a parent to two children. Schofield subsequently resigned from both This Morning and ITV and said that he was 'so very sorry' to Lowe for being unfaithful. At the time, it was reported that Steph had been left 'devastated' by the revelation and angry that her husband had lied to her. However, it was later revealed she is choosing not to file for divorce because she does not want him to 'fall any further' then he already has, and despite everything, 'the love is still very much there.' Schofield will discuss his acrimonious departure from ITV and daytime show This Morning while fending for himself on the island, located off the coast of Madagascar As well as the breakdown of his marriage, Schofield's relationship with co-host Holly Willoughby faltered in the midst of the scandal, with the pair understood to be at loggerheads. Schofield's daughter Molly is now his publicist after she quit the talent agency that once represented her father. PR guru Mark Borkowski says his tepid return to the public eye has come after a year away to disappear and get himself together. Calling him a rare talent, Borkowski said: 'He's testing the waters. But audiences are very forgiving.' Schofield told the BBC in an emotional interview last June the affair had finished his career and revealed that the fallout had left him feeling suicidal. He told how his two daughters - Molly and Ruby - had saved his life and had 'guarded me and won't let me out of their sight'. September 26, 2024: Russian railroads are at the point of collapse. This process began before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. This process was underway before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The covid-19 pandemic disrupted ball bearing production worldwide. When production was back to normal, there were problems providing customers with all the ball bearings they requested. Another problem is that Russia has always imported most of its ball bearings, usually from American and West European manufacturers. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, most western suppliers of ball bearings ceased filling Russian orders. This caused a major shortage of the things in Russia as it was in the process of shifting all of its trains to relatively new coil bearings, none of which were produced in Russia. Since ball bearings are used in automotive equipment, which includes tanks and other armored vehicles, these vehicles received priority because Russia needed weapons for its troops in Ukraine. This was a higher priority that supplying Russian railroads. This ball bearing shortage for Russias state owned and operated railroads has, in the last few years gradually reduced service. By 2024 the Russian railroads were much less capable of moving people or freight over the vast Russian railroad system. These disruptions were also felt by essential long-distance routes like the Trans-Siberian line. The net result of all this is a sharp reduction the ability of the Russian military to move men, weapons, equipment and supplies by rail. Trucks, canal boats, high seas shipping and airfreight could not make up for the loss of railroad capacity even if they had enough ball bearings, but they dont because they now suffer from ball bearing shortages too. Meanwhile, the railroad situation in sanctions free Ukraine is not ideal. One of the transportation difficulties between Ukraine and the NATO countries is the different gauge railroads used in Europe and Ukraine. Europe uses what is known as Standard Gauge. Gauge means the distance between the two rails. Standard gauge rails are 1,455mm apart. The Russian gauge is wider with the rails 1,524mm apart. In other words, Standard gauge tracks are four feet 8.5 inches wide while Russian Gauge tracks are five feet wide. Since Ukraine was until 1991 part of the Soviet Union, all the Ukrainian railroads are Russian gauge. To deal with this problem, Ukraine is building a transshipment point in the west Ukraine town of Uzhhorod which is on the border with Slovakia and near the Hungarian border. Here there are cranes that will quickly lift standard cargo containers from Russian gauge flatcars and load the containers onto European Standard Gauge flatcars. Passenger trains have a similar arrangement where passengers can disembark and walk a short distance to trains with a different gauge. Until the Ukrainian military drove the Russian Black Sea Fleet away from the west coast of the Black Sea in 2023, the main Ukrainian port of Odessa was unsafe for commercial shipping. Now the Black Sea route from Odessa to the world is open, via the Turkish Bosphorus strait. Before that the best way out was via rail, and that required a transshipment facility where cargo could be transferred between rail cars using different rail gauges. Ukraine plans to build some European Gauge rail lines to major transportation centers in several Ukrainian cities. Eventually Ukraine wants to convert all its major rail lines to Standard gauge. This will make it easier to handle trade with Europe and, if theres another war with Russia, the Russians will not have all those Russian gauge rail lines available to quickly move troops and supplies into Ukraine on Russian gauge railroads. Instead, the Russians will have to use roads or capture Ukrainian railroad engines along with passenger, cargo, and flatcars so they can use Ukrainian European Standard gauge railroads. Converting Ukrainian rail lines from Russian to European gauge is not only necessary economically, but also militarily to deter the Russians from invading again or cripple their logistics if they do. Pete Wicks has shared the first look at Vicky Pattison's bridal gown after jetting to Italy for 24 hours amid his gruelling Strictly rehearsals. The former TOWIE star, 36, is gearing up to perform the American Smooth on Saturday's live show with Jowita Przystal, but took time out to be flower girl to Vicky, 36, and her husband Ercan Ramadan. Pete took to Instagram on Thursday to share a sweet photo from the lavish ceremony and called his best friend 'one of my biggest supporters'. Vicky looked stunning in the long sleeved lace dress which hugged her figure and featured a modest train. Pete, who looked dapper in a black suit, wrote: 'Couldn't be more proud of you @Vickypattison. For 10 years you have been one of my best friends and biggest supporters. I am so blessed and lucky to call you a friend. Pete Wicks has shared the first look at Vicky Pattison's bridal gown after jetting to Italy for 24 hours amid his gruelling Strictly rehearsals The former TOWIE star, 36, is gearing up to perform the American Smooth on Saturday's live show with Jowita Przystal, but took time out to be flower girl to Vicky, 36 'You are a wonderful person and have always been there for me, my life is better with you in it. 'This is your day and you deserve it more than anyone. Congratulations', An emotional Vicky replied: 'I have never been more grateful for you. I know how hard you're working with Jowita Przystal - can't believe you sacrificed a couple hours for me. Love you x '. Jowita commented with five heart face emojis. Pete also took to his Instagram stories to show he was busy practicing the routine, with the caption: 'Have a day off!'. Vicky and Eran tied the knot officially in Marylebone in August, surrounded by their loved ones. They married again on Wednesday in Puglia, with the whole event being captured for E4's new series, Vicky Pattison: My Big Fat Geordie Wedding. While discussing getting married again, Vicky explained on Lorraine she now feels 'less nervous' this time around and revealed she and Pete didn't know at the time that he would be taking part in the BBC competition. She told Lorraine Kelly: 'Pete is embracing his role of flower girl. Hes going to arrive tonight and I have no doubt going to show us some fantastic moves as he walks down that aisle. Pete, who looked dapper in a black suit, wrote: 'Couldn't be more proud of you @Vickypattison' The podcaster was dressed to impress in a dapper black tuxedo as he made his way down a giant outdoor staircase while smoking a cigarette Vicky and Eran tied the knot officially in Marylebone in August, surrounded by their loved ones It comes after Pete and Jowita are busy learning their week two Strictly dance after the TV personality the Paso Doble to The Prodigy's Breathe last Saturday After performing the routine during Saturday's show, Pete looked gutted as the judges dished out a score of just 17 She added: 'When we found out he had the Strictly gig we'd already planned him coming to the wedding so he's flying in and out very fast.' 'Hes a really good friend so this has been conflicting for him.' It comes after Pete and Jowita are busy learning their week two Strictly dance after the TV personality the Paso Doble to The Prodigy's Breathe last Saturday. After performing the routine during Saturday's show, Pete was disappointed after the judges dished out a score of just 17. The TOWIE star and the pro dancer, 30, sparked romance rumours earlier this month when they were spotted together at the National Television Awards. This up and coming actress has a very famous mother. Seen attending the London premiere of Joker: Folie a Deux on Wednesday, this beauty, 26, looked every inch the budding celebrity as she graced the red carpet. Wearing a black strapless dress which boasted a structured bust, the actress added a pair of chunky white loafers and opted for a subtle makeup look. And she could be set for stardom thanks to her upcoming role in the new historical drama series A Very Royal Scandal. But, can you guess which Hollywood star is her mother? Her mother is an award-winning British actress known for her quirky roles - can you guess who her A-list parent is? As Honor Swinton Byrne, 26, attended the London premiere of Joker: Folie a Deux, she looked every inch the budding celebrity as she graced the red carpet in a stunning black dress That's right, Honor's mother is Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton, 63 (both pictured 2021) Honor Swinton Byrne's mother is Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton, 63. Tilda and her ex, the late playwright John Byrne are also parents to 26-year-old Xavier Swinton Byrne, who is Honor's twin brother. As the daughter of actress Tilda, Honor has already enjoyed some high-profile roles. Now, she is set for success after landing a role in the new Prime Video miniseries A Very Royal Scandal. The actress, who is set to play the role of Princess Beatrice in the new series, told British Vogue that she had 'buggered up' her audition for the role. She told the publication: 'I was so nervous. I didn't think I looked like her. I was like, I don't know - I'm not really what they're looking for and really kind of b*****ed up, b*****ed up that audition.' Right after her audition, she met her boyfriend at a nearby pub for a pint and told him through tears 'It's okay I didn't want it anyway'. However, just a few days later, she received a phone call saying she had landed the role. Honor looked incredible in an LBD and pastel mint loafers for her walk down the red carpet Tilda is also mother to her 26-year-old son Xavier Swinton Byrne, who is Honor's twin brother (pictured in 2023) Honor landed her first film role at the age of 11 in a non-speaking cameo in her mother's 2009 film I Am Love as a younger version of her mother's character, Emma. Her first starring role was in The Souvenir, a semi-autobiographical film directed by Joanna Hogg in which she stars as Julie, a film school student who embarks on a relationship with an older man. She also starred in the final season of The Crown as a student named Lola Airdale-Cavendish-Kincaid, a clever stand-in for the aristocratic women Prince William was linked to before dating Kate Middleton. Last year, Honor revealed that she 'owns' being a nepo baby and is 'grateful' for the opportunities she has had. Honor, who starred in The Souvenir alongside her mother, admitted that she 'was considered' for the role due to her connections but has since landed other roles for her talent. Honor landed her first Hollywood film role at the age of 21 in The Souvenir alongside her mother, released in 2019 (both pictured in the film) Now, she is set for success after landing a role in the new Prime Video miniseries A Very Royal Scandal (Pictured from L to R: Michael Sheen, Sofia Oxenham, Honor, and Claire Rushbrook) She told The Times: 'I feel like its very important to own it [nepotism]. I completely admit and am grateful for the fact that I was considered for The Souvenir because of my connections.' 'But at the same time, I continue to act and get jobs because I have skill. Im still doing it.' Honor explained how she was cast by director Joanna, who is a friend of her mother's while working as a florists assistant in Inverness. She explained: 'I met Joanna in Caffe Nero in Berwick-upon-Tweed. I didnt have a clue that she was sussing me out for the part. From what I understand she had auditioned so many people and hadnt quite seen what she wanted. She saw the self-consciousness of 18-year-old me and, yeah, I got it.' The beauty gushed that it wasn't daunting starring opposite her famous mother but actually 'really fun'. Honor is one of the twins Tilda had with playwright John Byrne. John sadly passed in November 2023 at the age of 83-years-old (pictured in 2004) As well as her acting and modelling career, Honor completed a four-year psychology degree at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Honor's brother Xavier is also in the movie business but works with the props department. Tilda and Honor's father John split up after 14 years in 2005 but continued to live together while Tilda worked on various blockbusters. An unconventional living arrangement, the pair even co-habited while Tilda moved on to her next lover, Sandro Kopp, who was 18 years her junior. John sadly passed in November 2023 at the age of 83-years-old. Sienna Miller looked effortlessly chic as she arrived at the Chloe show at Paris Fashion Week on Thursday. The actress, 42, kept it casual and cool as she opted for a stylish floaty pale blue jacket which she wore over a simple white T-shirt. Clinging to the pastel shades of summer, the star opted for a pair of suede blush pink trousers which were slightly oversized to cover her shoes. Completing the look with some wide-square lens shades, Sienna pouted in snaps as she rocked the slightly bohemian look. Joined by Diane Kruger, the German actress debuted her new red locks as she posed for snaps at the show. Sienna Miller looked effortlessly chic in a floaty jacket and suede trousers as she joined red-headed Diane Kruger at the Chloe show for Paris Fashion Week on Thursday The actress, 42, kept it casual and cool as she opted for a stylish floaty pale blue jacket which she wore over a simple white T-shirt The Troy star, 48, opted for a more autumnal coloured look as she wowed in a copper leather jacket adorned with tasseled detailing. She paired the jacket with a crochet black jumpsuit, black strappy heels and a gold chain belt. Building up the layers to her look she added a statement gold necklace, matching dangly earrings and some aviator shades. Meanwhile Molly Gallagher looked incredible in a floaty mesh moss green dress which she paired with some thigh high black boots. Pixie Geldof kept it simple in a long tan sheer mesh shirt style dress as she smiled from ear to ear. The daughter of Irish musician Bob Geldof and Paula Yates added leather boots and a rust coloured leather bag to the understated ensemble. Paris Fashion Week kicked off on Monday with a star-studded L'Oreal show, featuring fashion's biggest names including Heidi Klum, Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne. The glitzy array of shows is set to run until Tuesday October 1, with runway events from designers including Dior, Chloe, Saint Laurent and Victoria Beckham. Molly Gallagher looked incredible in a floaty mesh moss green dress which she paired with some thigh high black boots Pixie Geldof kept it simple in a long tan sheer mesh shirt style dress The Troy star, 48, opted for a more autumnal coloured look as she wowed in a copper leather jacket adorned with tasseled detailing Building up the layers to her look she added a statement gold necklace, matching dangly earrings and some aviator shades Clinging to the pastel shades of summer, the star opted for a pair of suede blush pink trousers which were slightly oversized to cover her shoes Pixie kept her makeup to a minimum as she added some simple gold jewellery Sienna beamed beside fashion icon Anna Wintour who wore her usual signature sunglasses The pair were joined by Diane and Juliette as they waited for the show to begin Sienna looked postively radiant as she rocked the slightly bohemian look Anais Gallagher opted for a floaty nude dress and brown leather boots as she joined her cousin at the show The daughter of Noel Gallagher, 24, pouted in snaps as she posed up a storm in the dress which was adorned with ruffles Anais and Molly sat together as they were joined by model Elfie Reigate Vittoria Ceretti took to the runway as she fashioned a floaty pink slip dress with lace detailing In another sweet snap the duo smiled sweetly at each other The pair were joined by Juliette Lewis as the threesome sat together Sienna revealed earlier this month that she is now back from maternity leave after welcoming a baby girl with her boyfriend Oli Green back in January. The actress told this week's issue of Stellar Magazine that she could not recommend late motherhood more highly. 'My own experience of motherhood 12 years later is completely different' the British star told the publication. 'I'm a very different person. People often have lots to say about having babies in your 40s as women, but I can't advocate for it more. I feel very lucky.' Sienna went on to say that she has found it easy to balance motherhood and her career. 'I've just finished maternity leave. My baby is eight months old. It's great, since this whole focus on the female experience in Hollywood, I can take my baby everywhere and they'll have to stop filming for me' she said. Karlie Kloss showed off her slender figure in a low-waisted black trousers and a white lacy top The model, 32, completed her look with a silver chain belt and platform black heels Vittoria, 26, has been dating Leonardo Di Caprio since 2023 when they were both spotted together at Cannes in the May Milla Jovovich's daughter Ever Anderson opted for a risque take on business attire in a sheer white lace top under a tweed blazer It marked the first time Diane had debuted her new red locks as she made her departure from her usual blonde self Sienna showed off her increeible glowing complexion in a close up shot Sienna and Juliette posed together as the American actress opted for an all black ensemble Selma Blair opted for quirky baggy black jorts and brown boots Selma was joined by her son Arthur Saint, 13, as the pair sat beside Diane The models took to the runway as they put on a very leggy display in a stunning floral ruffled gown Another wore a similar style but in blue as they paired the look with some purple flip flop-style heels Debuting the swimwear range one model wore a tanned swimming costume patterned with a large flamingo Sienna revealed earlier this month that she is now back from maternity leave after welcoming a baby girl with her boyfriend Oli Green back in January Cole Sprouse wore a long leather trench coat as he posed beside his model girlfriend Ari Fournier Juliette, 51, accessorised her look with a dramatic dangly gold necklace and grey leather handbag karlie looked incredible in the stunning white lace top as she flashed hints of her toned abs Sienna styled her blonde locks in natural waves as she made her way to the show The actress told this week's issue of Stellar Magazine that she could not recommend late motherhood more highly after welcoming her second daughter back in January Anna Wintour wore a bold red and white print dress and rust coloured leather jacket Outside the venue Pixie covered up in a dark chocolate brown leather jacket Cole and his girlfriend sat beside Marina Ruy Barbosa and Taylor Hill French actress Pom Klementieff went braless in a risque plunging black top and furry black coat Arthur took inspiration from his mum as he styled bleach blonde hair Diane beamed as she strutted her stuff in the stylish black jumpsuit Pixie looked rather sophisticated as she went braless beneath the sheer dress Sienna kept her Chloe shades on inside the venue Juliette opted for a black ruffled top which matched her dark locks The model, 16, completed the look with a black skirt and leather boots The actress looked the epitome of style while leaving the venue Selma's boots were certainly a statement as she made sure to show them off in a snap with her son Sienna was spotted without her shades as she left the venue Sienna, 42, and Oli, 27, were first linked in February 2022 and welcomed their baby daughter together eight months ago. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar about Oli, Sienna said: 'I didn't expect to take it seriously and then quite quickly, I fell in love. I wasn't like, "I'm gonna get a younger boyfriend." It was more, "F*ck! Why are you young? That's so annoying".' 'There is a difference in the way that generation of men respect women. It's specific to him, he is very wise and well-adjusted, but I do believe it's also that generation. 'They have grown up with a slightly more level playing field. I see it in his female friends as well as in the men.' Rebecca Judd has described the experience of fronting Bianca and Bridgett's rebrand fashion campaign as one of the most surreal moments of her life. Speaking on stage at the launch event on Wednesday, the 41-year-old AFL WAG shared how a week working on the campaign in Paris left her unexpectedly in tears, despite not being someone who cries easily. 'I'm not a crier, I don't cry,' she shared emotionally. 'Lana [Wilkinson] cries all the time. But, as we're leaving the hotel after shooting the campaign in Paris - Lana and I were wheeling our suitcases out of the hotel, we both looked at each other, and we were just bawling.' Lana, who worked closely with the WAG during the campaign, added her own take on the heartfelt moment, describing the shock of seeing her usually composed colleague break down. 'And so, yeah, she dropped on the leg,' Wilkinson laughed. 'And I thought something had happened because she doesn't cry. And she's like, well, it's the best time, it's the best week. 'We didn't want to come home. And thank you so much. It was incredible.' Rebecca Judd has opened up about the emotional experience of fronting the latest Bianca and Bridgett's rebrand fashion campaign Speaking on stage at the launch event on Wednesday, the 41-year-old AFL WAG shared how the intense week left her unexpectedly in tears, despite not being someone who cries easily. (Pictured L-R: Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano with Bec Judd and Lana Wilkinson) The campaign, set against the picturesque backdrop of Paris, highlights the fashion-forward vision of Bianca and Bridgett's latest collection. The rebranding, which was announced last Sunday, sees Judd taking on a new role as the face of the Melbourne-based fashion label. Arriving at the chic French restaurant Entrecote on Wednesday, Rebecca joined 50 successful and glamorous women all in their own rights wearing the luxury, yet affordable collection. 'I'm not a crier, I don't cry,' she shared emotionally. 'Lana [Wilkinson] cries all the time. But, as we're leaving the hotel after shooting the campaign in Paris Lana and I were wheeling our suitcases out of the hotel, we both looked at each other, and we were just bawling' Bec showcased her flawless style in the statement red gown, which featured a daring thigh-high split, drawing attention to her toned legs. The dress was beautifully accented with a large, sculpted rose detail on the hip, adding an extra touch of elegance and drama. She paired the ensemble with matching red heels, elongating her already enviable figure, and carried a stylish designer clutch. Lana, who worked closely with the WAG during the campaign, added her own take on the heartfelt moment, describing the shock of seeing her usually composed colleague break down Bec showcased her flawless style in the statement red gown, which featured a daring thigh-high split, drawing attention to her toned legs Her long, honey-toned hair was worn down in soft waves, cascading over her shoulders, while her makeup was kept natural and glowing, highlighting her flawless complexion. With minimal accessories, Rebecca let her striking look do all the talking, embodying effortless glamour and sophistication. She was seen laughing and chatting with founder Bianca Roccisano as they made their way into the event, exuding confidence and style. Nadia Bartel also attended the event and stunned in a sophisticated neutral-toned ensemble The fashion entrepreneur and former WAG donned a chic camel-coloured blazer dress, which featured structured shoulders and a tailored fit, giving her look a sharp, polished edge Nadia Bartel also attended the event and stunned in a sophisticated neutral-toned ensemble. The fashion entrepreneur and former WAG donned a chic camel-coloured blazer dress, which featured structured shoulders and a tailored fit, giving her look a sharp, polished edge. The dress, with its short hemline, showed off Nadia's toned legs, adding a touch of glamour to the overall elegant style. Bianca opted for a chic monochrome outfit, wearing a strapless black-and-white mini dress that also featured bold lines and minimalistic design She paired the look with classic white pointed-toe stilettos, elevating her outfit with a sleek and refined touch. Nadia accessorised her ensemble with a Louis Vuitton tote bag, held stylishly in her hands, further enhancing the high-fashion feel of the look. Elsewhere, Bridgett Roccisano looked effortlessly stylish in a tailored black suit with contrasting white details. Businesswoman and entrepreneur Sophie Cachia looked chic in a black blazer-style mini dress with a striking white lapel detail Tayla Broad dazzled in a bold, vibrant red mini dress with a structured square neckline and thick straps, adding a modern, playful twist to the classic cocktail dress Brooke Warne was dressed in a stylish navy blue pinstripe blazer and matching mini dress, giving off a polished yet modern vibe Former MAFS bride Ella Ding teamed up the same pin striped blazer with matching pants Khanh Ong showed off his tattooed biceps dressed in a co-ordinated striped vest and pants Her ensemble featured a sharp black blazer with bold white lapels and cuffs, giving the outfit a modern and chic twist. The structured blazer was complemented by matching black wide-leg trousers, which also had sleek white stripes running down the sides, elongating her frame and adding a sporty yet elegant touch to her look. Underneath her blazer, Bridgett opted for a plunging neckline, adding a hint of sultriness to the otherwise structured outfit. She accessorised with a small, quilted white handbag, which added a pop of brightness and played perfectly with the white accents in her suit. Cardi B looked incredible as she headed to the Rabanne Paris Fashion Week show in a plunging gold mirrored dress on Wednesday. The rapper, 31, gave birth to her third child, a baby girl, just 18 days ago but has already made a number of public appearances. After hitting the Balmain front row, Cardi headed to see Rabanne showcase their womenswear Spring/Summer 2025 collection. It was an eventful day for Cardi as her estranged husband Offset made a bombshell claim she had sex with another man during her pregnancy. But Cardi brushed off the drama and didn't let the rain dampen her spirits as she headed to the show. Cardi B looked incredible as she headed to the Rabanne Paris Fashion Week show in a plunging gold mirrored dress on Wednesday The rapper, 31, gave birth to her third child, a baby girl, just 18 days ago but has already made a number of public appearances It was an eventful day for Cardi as her estranged husband Offset, 32, made a bombshell claim she had sex with another man during her pregnancy Cardi B appeared to acknowledge the accusation in a post on X/ Twitter Wednesday, writing, 'AND DID !!!!!!' The mother-of-three showed off her ample cleavage in the dress which had fringed detailing and a mirrored reflection. She complemented the head turning look with chunky gold necklace and added a boost to her height with metallic heels. Once inside, Cardi posed for photographers before taking her seat to see the likes of Gigi Hadid and others hit the catwalk. Designer Julien Dossena showcased a number of metallic and embossed dresses while Gigi sported a more androgynous look in an oversized striped shirt. On Wednesday, Offset appeared to accuse his estranged wife Cardi B of having sex with another man during her recent pregnancy. The Migos artist, 32, made the allegation about Cardi B as she spoke on Instagram Live about what appeared to be personal issues with her estranged spouse amid their increasingly-messy split. 'U f***ed with a baby inside, tell the truth!!' Offset said in the comment thread, according to Page Six, which cited a screenshot of the exchange. Cardi B, who filed for divorce from the musical artist July 31, appeared to acknowledge the accusation in a post on X, as she wrote, 'AND DID !!!!!!' After hitting the Balmain front row, Cardi headed to see Rabanne showcase their womenswear Spring/Summer 2025 collection She complemented the head turning look with chunky gold necklace and added a boost to her height with metallic heels The mother-of-three showed off her ample cleavage in the dress which had fringed detailing and a mirrored reflection Cardo sat next to Kolin Carter on the front row Once inside, Cardi posed for photographers before taking her seat to see the likes of Gigi Hadid and others hit the catwalk Designer Julien Dossena showcased a number of metallic and embossed dresses while Gigi sported a more androgynous look in an oversized striped shirt 3D dresses were a prominent feature of the catwalk Cardi stole the show at Balmain's star-studded show earlier in the day. The rapper wowed in a glamorous green fur coat that showed off her impressive cleavage Cardi's return to PFW comes just three weeks after the birth of her third child with estranged husband Offset (born Kiari Kendrell Cephus), 32 During the online broadcast, Cardi B claimed Offset told her he was going to withhold expensive gifts since she had been 'moving on' from him. 'I love me s***, but you can't buy me no more, motherf*****,' she said. 'It's not enough, honey.' She said she found it hypocritical that some people could behave in a promiscuous manner but get irate when their partner ventures astray from the relationship. 'You want to play those games with me? We gon' play them games too,' Cardi B said. 'You want to take my s*** because I'm moving on? Move on. Why can't you move on?' Cardi B has petitioned the court for full custody of her three kids with Offset: daughter Kulture, six, son Wave, three, and their newborn daughter. The discord between Cardi B and Offset comes after the pair have appeared to be on cordial terms amid their parting. Anais Gallagher and Molly Gallagher seemed in good spirits as they reunited at the Chloe show at Paris Fashion Week on Thursday. The cousins looked incredible as they both slipped into stylish floaty dress for the star-studded show which was also attended by Sienna Miller and Diane Kruger. The daughters of Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher beamed as they took their seats next to each other on the front row. Anais, 24, looked effortlessly chic in a layered nude dress which she teamed with brown leather knee high boots. The daughter of Noel, who he shares with first wife Meg Mathews, pouted in snaps as she posed up a storm in the dress which was adorned with ruffles. Anais Gallagher, (left) and her cousin Molly seemed in good spirits as they reunited and sat front row at the Chloe show at Paris Fashion Week on Thursday Anais, 24, who is the daughter of Noel Gallagher, looked effortlessly chic in a layered nude dress which she teamed with brown leather knee high boots Meanwhile Molly, 26, looked incredible in a floaty mesh green number which she paired with a pair of thigh high black boots and a white handbag. The daughter of Liam accessorised for the show with a chunky gold chain necklace and a pair of small matching hoop earrings. Molly's mother is Lisa Moorish, who Liam had a brief relationship with while he was married to Patsy Kensit in 1998. Liam did not meet Molly until 2018 after which he expressed hope he would remain in her life. Liam also has children Lennon, 25, who he shares with ex Patsy Kensit, and Gene, 23, whose mother is Nicole Appleton who he dated following his divorce from Patsy in 2000. Liam and Nicole married in 2008 after eight years together, however the pair got divorced in 2014. It comes after Lennon and Anais proved that Noel and Liam aren't the only members of their family to have buried the hatchet, as the two cousins posed in snaps at the the Burberry show during London Fashion Week. The pair were among a slew of stars who attended the show, years after Lennon famously mocked Anais for sharing a post complaining she 'needs a boyfriend.' Meanwhile Liam Gallagher's daughter Molly, 26, looked incredible in a floaty mesh green number which she paired with a pair of thigh high black boots and a white handbag Anais, who Noel shares with his first wife Meg Matthews, pouted in snaps as she posed up a storm in the dress which was adorned with ruffles Last week Anais and Lennon proved that Noel and Liam aren't the only members of their family to have buried the hatchet, as the two cousins posed in snaps at London Fashion Week Lennon cut a casual figure in a black jumper with branding from the legendary designer, while Anais opted for a zipped fleece boasting Burberry's famous print. Back in 2017, Lennon appeared to poke fun at her cousin after she shared a post on X complaining about her single status. She wrote: 'I need love today. I'm feeling super fragile and basically need a boyfriend. But keep reminding myself I'm too embarrassing to get one!' Quick to share his savage response, Lennon left the one-word comment: 'Really?' with many users quickly comparing him to his dad, who is no stranger to a social media quip. The show comes after Anais hit back at 'ageist and misogynist' fans who complained about young people jumping on the Oasis bandwagon since the brothers announced their long-awaited reunion. Social media sites were awash with the band's older fans complaining that 'Suddenly everyone loves Oasis' and arguing that they deserve priority when it came to getting tickets for the shows next summer. Taking to TikTok to express her anger, she said: 'One thing I won't stand for is the ageism and the misogyny around people getting tickets.' 'Sorry if a 19-year-old girl in a pink cowboy hat wants to be there, I will have my friendship bracelets ready.' She also showed her support for a fellow user, Josie, who wrote, 'What do you mean everyone suddenly loves Oasis? Everyone has always loved them. They're one of the most famous bands in the entire world.' 'Don't try and gatekeep Oasis because you can't gatekeep probably the most famous band to come out of the UK. Literally, the entirety of Britain is Oasis fans.' It comes after Anais recently weighed in on the Oasis ticket debate and hit back at 'ageist and misogynist' fans who complained about young people jumping on the Oasis bandwagon (pictured above in 2015) Taking to TikTok to express her anger, she said: 'One thing I won't stand for is the ageism and the misogyny around people getting tickets' Anais has become a firm fixture on her father's side, accompanying his solo band High Flying Birds on tour in 2023 and directing a documentary of the trip. She said: 'I know he likes to think differently, but I love my dad's music genuinely more than anything. I bang out Oasis and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in my room super-loud all the time.' The Mail revealed last month that Anais and Liam Gallagher's son, Gene, led the way in fixing their feud and convincing their dads to reunite after 15 years. A friend of the stars revealed: 'Anais and Gene led the way by showing their dads that they could set aside their differences.' 'They have made no bones about it, they told their dads that they love their old music and wanted to see them on the stage together.' Anais previously threw her support behind the news of Oasis' reunion by posting photos of her dad and uncle from the nineties and declaring: 'Summer 2025' She also reposted the band's announcement video and their statement: 'The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.' Liam and Noel Gallagher are set to reunite for the first time next week since their dramatic reunion tour announcement. To discuss their upcoming performances, it appears that the brothers will be enjoying some food and drinks in London. Asked by a fan on social media 'when will you get together with noel again', Liam replied: 'After Malta were going out for some food and drinks in London I cant say where as its top secret.' James Corden surprised fans with some sweet treats as he enjoyed a fast food break during filming for Gavin and Stacey this week. A fan has shared a video of the actor, who this week made the revelation that he turned to controversial jab Ozempic, at a KFC restaurant in Barry on Tuesday. The footage sees James leaving the fast food spot, which happens to be a favourite of his character Smithy and his on/off girlfriend Nessa. As he heads outside and towards the crowd, fans start chanting 'Smithy' before James offers up a tub of Celebrations chocolates. James Corden surprised fans with some sweet treats as he enjoyed a fast food break during filming for Gavin and Stacey this week The sweet gesture comes after the Gavin and Stacey star admitted he has turned to the latest celebrity staple in an effort to trim his waistline: Ozempic. James, who first found fame on slimming club comedy Fat Friends, has not had the same success with the hugely popular jab and has stopped taking it claiming it didnt work for him. Instead, he said he really resonates with those who argue that battling with mental health troubles can lead to food addiction, revealing he binge eats giant chocolate bars in his car. The 46-year-old said: I tried Ozempic, and it won't be surprising to you when you look at me now, that it didn't really work. I tried it for a bit and then what I realized was I was like, Oh no, nothing about my eating has anything to do with being hungry. All it does is make you feel not hungry. But I am very rarely eating [just because Im hungry]. Ozempic is a diabetes medicine, which costs around 200 a month, that has become a Hollywood favourite among those attempting to slim down, and works by suppressing the appetite. The fan=shot footage sees James leaving the fast food spot, which happens to be a favourite of his character Smithy and his on/off girlfriend Nessa (James and Ruth Jones pictured on the show) As he heads outside and towards the crowd, fans start chanting 'Smithy' before James offers up a tub of Celebrations chocolates But James thinks his tendency to binge eat is more deep-rooted and said that he really resonates with friends like TV presenter Richard Osman, who have recently spoken about how his own food addiction was triggered by childhood trauma and mental health struggles. The former chat show host said: 'You are looking at someone who's eaten a king size, and when I say king size Dairy Milk - one you give someone for Christmas - in a carwash. None of that was like, oh, I'm so hungry. It is not that, it's something else. James, who made the comments on his Sirius XM show, acknowledged how his food issues are tough to beat given he is a person 'with an addictive personality. Meanwhile fans will see if James' character Smithy makes it down the aisle with Ruth Jones' Nessa in the hugely anticipated Gavin and Stacey finale. Smithy and Nessa have famously had an on-off relationship over the course of the BBC sitcom, with the show's 2019 Christmas special ending on a cliffhanger after she proposed. After the last Christmas special ended on a proposal cliffhanger it looked as though Smithy could finally get his happy ending with Ruth Jones' Nessa Viewers are eager to see if they will finally get the happy ending they had hoped for in the last ever episode, set to air on Christmas Day. And to add fuel to the fire, cast members Ruth, Joanna Page, Julia Davis, Alison Steadman and Melanie Walters have been seen filming a girls' night out for Nessa's hen do this week. It was reported that bosses were forced to implement extra security measures to keep the Christmas special plot under wraps after a huge element of the script was leaked. Bosses are said to have ramped up security after a photo was taken of James, who plays Smithy, holding the script, which contained the plot detail, while filming in a department store. After the setback, producers are said to have warned the rest of the cast to be careful, especially with filming bringing so many fans to Barry. Gavin And Stacey's final episode will air on BBC One on Christmas Day (L-R) James as Smithy, Mathew Horne as Gavin, Joanna Page as Stacey and Ruth as Nessa 'Everyone is excited for the return of Gavin, Stacey, Smithy and the gang so naturally interest is at an all-time high,' a source told The Sun. 'Every day fans are flocking to the filming sites in Cardiff and Barry Island to see the cast filming and take their own photos and selfies. 'It's a challenge trying to keep key storylines under wraps but the cast have been reminded to be on alert.' The BBC declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Gwyneth Paltrow displayed her vast wealth as she left the Ritz in Paris carrying a 9,000 Hermes Birkin bag on Thursday. The actress, 51, whose net worth is around $250million, has jetted into the city with her husband Brad Falchuk, 53, for Fashion Week. And while Gwyneth cut a laidback figure in a V neck jumper and jeans, she made a statement with her sought-after designer burgundy handbag. The Goop founder teamed her look with black shades and opted for comfort on her feet with white trainers. Gwyneth was pictured leaving the hotel - which costs upwards of 2,000 a night - with a pal, while Brad, 53, was seen out separately in the city. Gwyneth Paltrow displayed her vast wealth as she left the Ritz in Paris carrying a 9,000 Hermes Birkin bag on Thursday And while Gwyneth cut a laidback figure in a V neck jumper and jeans, she made a statement with her sought after designer burgundy handbag The actress, 51, whose net worth is around $250million, has jetted into the city with her husband Brad Falchuk, 53, for Fashion Week Also spotted out and about in Paris on Thursday was Jared Leto, who was seen leaving hotel sporting a rather peculiar black full face mask. The actor was also wearing a Thirty Seconds To F***ing Mars t-shirt as he headed out into the French capital. The couple have been married since 2018 and waited a year until moving in together. 'We were just trying to be mindful and give them a little space and not move too quickly,' she explained later on Jimmy Kimmel Live. They have recently become empty nesters as all of their children are at college. Last month, they dropped off Brad's son Brody, 17, at the prestigious Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Brad shares Brody as well as daughter Isabella, 19, with his first wife and fellow TV producer Suzanne Bukinik, whom he was married to from 2002 to 2013. He and Gwyneth, who first met in 2010, were first linked in 2014, the year Gwyneth announced her separation from her first husband Chris Martin. Together Gwyneth and Chris have daughter Apple, 20, and son Moses, 18. Apple is at college too. She attends Vanderbilt University, a private university in Nashville, Tennessee, while Moses is at Brown University in Rhode Island. The Goop founder teamed her look with black shades and opted for comfort on her feet with white trainers Gwyneth was pictured leaving the hotel - which costs upwards of 2,000 a night - with a pal, while Brad, 53, was seen out separately in the city The couple have been married since 2018 and waited a year until moving in together The actress doubled up on shades as she tucked a pair of extra sunglasses into her jumper Rob Lowe was also spotted out and about in Paris The American actor, 60, cut a casual figure as he left the Ritz with wife Sheryl Berkoff Rob appeared in high spirits as he headed out for the day Also spotted out and about in Paris on Thursday was Jared Leto, who was seen leaving hotel sporting a rather peculiar black full face mask The actor was also wearing a Thirty Seconds To F***ing Mars t-shirt as he headed out into the French capital In May, Gwyneth talked about a how a blended family can be tricky when at the Visionary Womens International Womens Day Summit. After asking if there were any other stepmothers in the crowd, the Oscar-winning actress said frankly: 'Yeah, its a b****, right, guys?' per Page Six. Rob Lowe was also spotted out and about in Paris. The American actor, 60, cut a casual figure as he left the Ritz with wife Sheryl Berkoff. Dacre Montgomery, best known for his breakout role as Billy Hargrove in Netflix's Stranger Things, is gearing up to make his directorial debut with a film titled The Engagement Party. Set to be filmed in NSW next year, the 29-year-old is venturing behind the camera, marking a significant step in his career. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Thursday, Montgomery revealed he hasn't yet decided if he'll also appear on screen in the project. 'I'm not looking for this to be an engine for my acting career at all,' he said. 'I want to direct, and I'm serious about directing, so I'm taking it seriously and not trying to use it as something else.' Montgomery, who also starred in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, made the announcement while promoting his new campaign for Politix called Leading Man. Fresh off his appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival, where his film Went Up The Hill premiered, the actor is now shifting focus to the upcoming project. The Engagement Party is shaping up to be an intimate and intense drama. Dacre Montgomery, best known for his breakout role as Billy Hargrove in Netflix's Stranger Things, is gearing up to make his directorial debut with a film titled The Engagement Party 'It is a four-hander, a chamber piece like a play that takes place in one location with only four people over one night,' Montgomery explained, hinting at a tightly-focused narrative driven by character dynamics. Acclaimed Australian filmmaker Nash Edgerton has signed on as a producer for the film, adding further weight to Montgomery's directorial debut. It comes after Montgomery shut down rumours that he is replacing his friend and mentor Hugh Jackman in any upcoming Marvel films. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Thursday, Montgomery revealed he hasn't yet decided if he'll also appear on screen in the project He had been tipped as a possible replacement for Hugh, but he since said this isn't on the cards for him. Montgomery had supposedly been up against the likes of Taron Egerton, Paul Mescal, Milo Gibson and Daniel Radcliffe for the iconic role. He said his friendship with Hugh, who offered him guidance early in his Hollywood career, was more important to him than landing a big franchise role. Sienna Miller and her boyfriend Oli Green went for a Paris Fashion Week stroll on Thursday. The actress, 42, and her beau, 27, who are parents to a nine-month-old baby girl, made the most of some free time between shows and set off to explore the City Of Love. After attending the Chloe show in Paris, Sienna met up with Oli at Place Vendome. The stunning star looked casually chic in a stylish floaty pale blue jacket which she wore over a simple white T-shirt. Sienna Miller, 42, enjoyed a stroll in the City of Love with her boyfriend Oli Green, 27, as the couple hit Paris Fashion Week on Thursday Oli meanwhile was smart in a long coat and striped white shirt. The actress gave birth to her daughter Marlowe, now 12, with her ex Tom Sturridge in July 2012, and welcomed a daughter with Oli earlier this year. And Sienna has now told this week's issue of Stellar Magazine that she could not recommend late motherhood more highly. The American Sniper star welcomed a baby girl, whose name she has not revealed, with boyfriend Oli in January. 'My own experience of motherhood 12 years later is completely different' the British star told the publication. 'I'm a very different person. People often have lots to say about having babies in your 40s as women, but I can't advocate for it more. I feel very lucky.' Sienna went on to say that she has found it easy to balance motherhood and her career. 'I've just finished maternity leave. My baby is eight months old. It's great, since this whole focus on the female experience in Hollywood, I can take my baby everywhere and they'll have to stop filming for me' she said. The stunning star looked casually chic in a stylish floaty pale blue jacket which she wore over a simple white T-shirt Sienna looked casually chic in a stylish floaty pale blue jacket which she wore over a simple white T-shirt Sienna, 42, and Oli, 27, were first linked in February 2022 and welcomed their baby daughter together eight months ago. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar about Oli, Sienna said: 'I didn't expect to take it seriously and then quite quickly, I fell in love. I wasn't like, "I'm gonna get a younger boyfriend." It was more, "F*ck! Why are you young? That's so annoying".' 'There is a difference in the way that generation of men respect women. It's specific to him, he is very wise and well-adjusted, but I do believe it's also that generation. 'They have grown up with a slightly more level playing field. I see it in his female friends as well as in the men.' 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum held in Russia Xinhua) 10:19, September 26, 2024 The 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum is held in Kazan, Russia, Sept. 25, 2024. The 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum was held Wednesday in Russia's Kazan, highlighting opportunities for global youth within the BRICS framework. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) KAZAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum was held Wednesday in Russia's Kazan, highlighting opportunities for global youth within the BRICS framework. The event gathered officials, media representatives, experts, and opinion leaders from China and Russia, alongside young global participants from BRICS countries. The participants unveiled the BRICS Youth Cooperation and Development Initiative, a document encouraging youth from BRICS nations to seize opportunities, tackle challenges, and foster a culture of continuous innovation. The participants underscored the vast potential for youth engagement in sustainable development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange. China Daily and the Chinese Embassy in Russia co-hosted the event, which was organized by 21st Century Media and Education in partnership with Kazan Federal University. A youth representative signs on a board at the 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum in Kazan, Russia, Sept. 25, 2024. The 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum was held Wednesday in Russia's Kazan, highlighting opportunities for global youth within the BRICS framework. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) September 26, 2024: On August 6, 2024, Ukraine sent about a thousand troops and over thirty tanks and other combat vehicles into the Russian Kursk region. As of August 13th the Ukrainians had advanced more than 35 kilometers into Russia while surviving, and arriving, Russian forces were only trying to block further advances rather than counterattacking. Ukraine then sent in several thousand more troops as reinforcements in case there was a major response from the Russians. At first the Russians could not believe that Ukrainians were invading Russia. This should not have been a surprise because the Russian offensive into Ukraine has been stalled for over a year. The Russians were unable to counterattack for a number of reasons, including fear of failure and too many soldiers who did not want to be in Ukraine. There are other reasons for the different Ukrainian and Russian attitudes towards war. Ukrainian troops follow the rules while the Russians are expedient. Russian troops consider themselves as warriors while the Ukrainians strive to send trained soldiers into combat. Russia does have some well-trained and experienced troops in airborne and special operations units. These professionals will still slip into warrior mode when it suits them, or when ordered to do so. For the other ninety percent of Russian troops, warrior mode is often the default mode. By late 2023 there were few of Russian airborne and special operations troops left. Heavy Russian losses in Ukraine since 2022 are one of the reasons Russia was unable to move many troops and armored vehicles towards the Kursk incursion. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not expect such a bold Ukrainian attack into Russia and had little to say publicly. Instead he went off on a planned visit to another part of Russia while a few troops were sent to block the Ukrainian advance. Russian media were ordered to report little or nothing about the incursion. The media did publish vague reports of something happening in Kursk province, and most Russians were more afraid of their own government than they were of Ukrainian troops inside Russia. Putin enacted laws that punished critics of his policies in Ukraine. A few Russians were sent to prison and that was sufficient to frighten any other Russian critics of Putins policies. Meanwhile Putin has his own problems dealing with the invading Ukrainians. Over two years of fighting in Ukraine have severely depleted the Russian armed forces. There were not enough troops available to block the Ukrainian advance, This was what the Ukrainians expected because Ukrainian military intelligence has monitored Russian soldiers using cellphones and interviewed Russia prisoners. Ukraine knew that there were not many Russian troops left in Ukraine and Russian morale was low. Russia has not resorted to extreme measures to motivate their soldiers. In World War II methods were used to motivate reluctant troops that Russian does not believe will work 80 years after World War II. During World War II Russia resorted to ancient traditions when deadly force was necessary to encourage reluctant Russian soldiers. In 2022 Russian officers were expected to use deadly force on their own troops in order to ensure obedience. This was often used during World War 2. During some major offensives NKVD (secret police) personnel would be brought in to operate machine-guns behind the troops who were taking part in a major offensive. The NKVD machine-gunners fired on any Russian troops leaving the front-line forces. Many nations consider desertion in the face of the enemy to be treason, but they dont usually execute the traitorous deserters on sight. After 2022, Russians in Ukraine found that they could not get away with using NKVD methods. This meant there was no motivation to get reluctant Russian troops to move forwards. After more than two years fighting in Ukraine, Russian troops are often unable to motivate themselves into attacking. Even defending Russian troops will flee. The Ukrainians in Kursk are taking advantage of that and Vladimir Putin is receiving bad news he does not want to hear or deal with. Meanwhile there are still manifestations of this ruthlessness with Russian recruits. For example, when there is time and medical personnel are available, new recruits will get their health checked to ensure they are physically able to fight. This exam often includes dentists to check for dental problems that can be taken care of before training begins. This often includes extracting problematic teeth that will progressively cause more pain until dealt with. These teeth are promptly extracted without painkillers. Its just another way to remind these civilians that they are now in the mighty Russian army. They are expected to act as warriors, not armed civilians in uniform. Until some overdue reforms are made, these flaws will not go away. The fighting in Ukraine reminded Russian military and political leaders that the long delay is already working on needed reforms so, they hope, that the next time Russian troops are in combat they perform better and perhaps even win. There have been several rounds of unsuccessful military reforms since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. One of the major causes of that collapse was their unaffordable and largely ineffective armed forces. In post-Soviet Russia there are far fewer restrictions on criticizing the military. Most Russians have a very negative attitude towards conscription and the reforms underway because of the Ukraine War disaster are typical of several previous efforts to remedy problems that continue to resist any fundamental change. Kylie and Kendall Jenner headed out in Paris amid the city's Fashion Week on Thursday. The sisters looked stylish as they arrived for lunch at Zeffirino restaurant, which serves traditional Italian cuisine. Kylie put on a racy display in a perilously short brown miniskirt and went braless in an undone shirt. The reality star, 27, shrugged a cream trench coat over her outfit and accessorised with white heels and black sunglasses. Kendall, 28, meanwhile looked elegant in a structured blue blazer and matching pencil skirt. Kylie and Kendall Jenner headed out in Paris amid the city's Fashion Week on Thursday. Kylie put on a racy display in a perilously short brown miniskirt and went braless in an undone shirt The sisters put on stylish displays as they arrived for lunch at Zeffirino restaurant, which serves traditional Italian cuisine Kendall, 28, meanwhile looked elegant in a structured blue blazer and matching skirt as they left the restaurant The model has made a triumphant return to Paris, walking on the catwalk for L'Oreal earlier this week after overcoming her crippling anxiety. The supermodel has been notably absent from the catwalk during both the earlier London and Milan fashion weeks this season, walking only in the Alaia show in New York at the beginning of the month. However, Kendall proved she is still a force to be reckoned with as she stormed the runway alongside icons including Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria and Cara Delevingne. The show marked Kendall's catwalk debut for her new blonde locks, which she first revealed a couple of weeks ago after undergoing a hair transformation. The sister catch up comes after they headed to Rosalia's birthday party with Gigi Hadid on Wednesday night. Kylie also shared an Instagram snap of her look following the festivities. The sister catch up comes after they headed to Rosalia's birthday party with Gigi Hadid on Wednesday night. She was pictured back at her hotel holding a plate of pasta Kendall also shared a snap from her hotel with her pal Fai Khadra. He looked dapper in a white suit as he posed with the Vogue cover girl The model has made a triumphant return to Paris, walking on the catwalk for L'Oreal after overcoming her crippling anxiety She was pictured back at her hotel holding a plate of pasta as she posed for a mirror selfie. '1am. Paris. Pasta.' she wrote over the image. Kendall also shared a snap from her hotel with her pal Fai Khadra. He looked dapper in a white suit as he posed with the Vogue cover girl. Meanwhile birthday girl Rosalia, who turned 32, had all eyes on her in a white cropped T-shirt and a ballerina tutu as she departed the celebration. The Cure took to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday to announce they will be releasing their new album Songs Of A Lost World on November 1, their first in 16 years. The band - whose last album was 2008's 4:13 Dream - recently have been performing their new song 'Alone' during their 90-date world tour. And the single - which is also the opening track of the upcoming LP - is now available to stream as well. Taking to X, the rock band announced the exciting news to fans by saying: 'The new album arriving Nov 1st Pre-order now & listen to 'Alone'. Fans then flocked to the comment section to express their excitement over the latest single. The Cure took to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday to announce they will be releasing their new album Songs Of A Lost World on November 1, their first in 16 years (Robert Smith pictured 2023) The band - whose last album was 2008's 4:13 Dream - recently have been performing their new song 'Alone' during their 90-date world tour (Robert and Simon Gallup pictured 2023) One fan wrote: 'It's so beautiful, I'm already speechless and there's still the rest to come'; 'I've been listening to Alone on a loop & thank you!'; 'Alone is amazing, thank you very much. My bank account, on the other hand, does not thank you.' Reflecting on the song, frontman Robert Smith said in a statement: 'It's the track that unlocked the record.' 'As soon as we had that piece of music recorded I knew it was the opening song, and I felt the whole album come into focus.' He admitted he had been finding it difficult to settle on 'the right opening line' for the first song of the album, and in the end, it was Dregs by poet Ernest Dowson which helped everything fall into place. He added: 'I had been struggling to find the right opening line for the right opening song for a while,' 'working with the simple idea of 'being alone', always in the back of my mind this nagging feeling that I already knew what the opening line should be ' 'As soon as we finished recording I remembered the poem Dregs by the English poet Ernest Dowson.' And the single - which is also the opening track of the upcoming LP - is now available to stream as well Taking to X, the rock band announced the exciting news to fans by saying: 'The new album arriving Nov 1st Pre-order now & listen to 'Alone' Fans then flocked to the comment section to express their excitement over the latest single He added: 'And that was the moment when I knew the song - and the album - were real.' The cover art for the new album features Bagatelle, a 1975 sculpture by Janez Pirnat, while Cure's longtime collaborator Andy Vella handled the artwork and design. The tracks were recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, and the group will unveil the full tracklist over the coming weeks via their website and social media channels. As well as a single LP and CD, the new album will also be available as a Miles Showell Abbey Road half-speed master 2LP. While a marble-coloured LP, double cassette, and a deluxe CD package with a Blu-ray including an instrumental version of the collection will be available too. Initially formed in 1978, The Cure has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has headlined Glastonbury Festival four times. They were also inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and are considered to be one of the most influential bands to ever come out of the UK. Tilda Swinton cut an elegant figure in a dusty pink co-ord as she attended The Room Next Door press conference during the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain on Thursday. The beloved Hollywood actress, 63, looked typically gracious wearing a pale dusty pink long-sleeve top, teamed with a pencil maxi skirt of a darker shade - which also featured a front split. The Constantine sensation added a pair of classy cream stiletto as she carried a stylish plum fan. The British star posed up for a series of striking snaps ahead of the press panel, and was captured posing alongside the upcoming film's renown director Pedro Almodovar. The filmmaker cut a cosy yet stylish look in a checked jacket and denim, sporting dark shades as he held hands with Tilda. Tilda Swinton cut an elegant figure in a dusty pink co-ord as she attended The Room Next Door press conference during the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain on Thursday The beloved Hollywood actress, 63, looked typically gracious wearing a pale dusty pink long-sleeve top The duo seemed to be getting along well as they continued to engage in a busy chat after posing for snaps at the Kursaal Palace. They were then joined by the fellow co-stars including Juan Diego Botto, Melina Matthews, Raul Arevalo and Vicky Luengo. The eagerly-anticipated movie, distributed by Warner Bros, is scheduled to hit UK theatres from October 25. Tilda leads as Martha alongside Julianne Moore as Ingrid - who was not in attendance of the event on Thursday - but earlier made a stylish appearance at Milan Fashion Week. The drama/comedy deals with the rift between Martha (Tilda), a very imperfect mother and war correspondent, and her resentful daughter, as well as with the former's relationship with author Ingrid (Julianne). The cast also sees acting legend and filmmaker John Turturro, Face/Off star Alessandro Nivola, Esther McGregor, Alex Hgh Andersen, and Alvise Rigo. A native of Calzada de Calatrava, Spain, Almodovar's many directorial credits include the Festival selections Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown (1988), Talk To Her (2002), Bad Education (2004), Volver (2006), Broken Embraces (2009), Julieta (2016), and Pain and Glory (2019). In 2023, he received the Impact Media Award, which recognizes leadership in creating a union between social impact and cinema, at the TIFF Tribute Awards. She teamed it with a pencil maxi skirt of a darker shade - which also featured a front split Tilda also carried a stylish plum fan The star wore her platinum short locks with a side parting, posing for striking snaps ahead of the press conference The British star posed up for a series of striking snaps ahead of the press panel, and was captured posing alongside the upcoming film's renown director Pedro Almodovar The duo seemed to be getting along well as they continued to engage in a busy chat after posing for snaps at the Kursaal Palace They were then joined by the fellow co-stars including Juan Diego Botto, Melina Matthews, Raul Arevalo and Vicky Luengo While the ladies were doing their part in promoting the film at the Toronto International Film Festival, the filmmaker was basking in all the glory of taking home the Golden Lion Award at the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema in Venice, Italy, Variety reports. This is actually the filmmaker's second Golden Lion Award, which follows the honorary one he received in 2019. The two-time Academy Award winner thanked both Tilda and Julianne during his largely Spanish-language acceptance speech. 'This is my first movie in English but the spirit is Spanish,' the director revealed during that passionate speech. The Room Next Door is then scheduled to be released theatrically in Spain on October 18. Priscilla Presley caught a flight out of LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Thursday ahead of the October 8th release of her late daughter Lisa Marie Presley's memoir. The 79-year-old ex-wife of Elvis Presley clutched her black leather purse while wearing an animal-print top beneath a black jacket and grey trousers. Presley (born Wagner) is scheduled to appear at FanX Salt Lake Comic & Pop Culture Convention, which is held at Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT this weekend. Priscilla - who boasts 1.9M social media followers - tweeted on X: 'See you Thursday, Friday & Saturday Salt Lake City, Utah!' While there, the Brooklyn-born great-grandmother will be available to pose for $100 photos with fans and give out $60 autographs. Priscilla Presley caught a flight out of LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Thursday ahead of the October 8th release of her late daughter Lisa Marie Presley's memoir The 79-year-old ex-wife of Elvis Presley clutched her black leather purse while wearing an animal-print top beneath a black jacket and grey trousers Presley will then host 'Evening With' events on October 5 in Staten Island, NY and October 6 in Lancaster, PA. Priscilla's granddaughter Riley Keough co-wrote Lisa Marie's 272-page autobiography From Here to the Great Unknown, which Random House will publish on October 8. 'She said to me, "Pookie, I don't know how to write my book anymore. Can you write it with me?" Of course I can,' I said,' the 35-year-old Emmy nominee wrote in an excerpt obtained by People. 'The last 10 years of her life had been so brutally hard that she was only able to look back on everything through that lens. She felt I could have a more holistic view of her life than she could. So I agreed to help her with it, not thinking much of the commitment, assuming we would write it together over time. A month later, she died.' Readers of the audiobook version of the memoir will get to hear 'never-before-heard recollections' from Lisa Marie herself as well as professional narration by Oscar winner Julia Roberts. Oprah Winfrey will interview Riley (born Danielle) for an exclusive prime-time special on CBS and Paramount+ airing October 8, and then she'll kick off a six-date book tour on October 9 at The Strand at Cooper Union's The Great Hall in Manhattan. Lisa Marie passed away, at age 54, on January 12, 2023 from 'small bowel obstruction' as a result of bariatric surgery several years prior, and over 30ft of her small intestine was already dead before she was rushed to the hospital. Presley never got over the death of her and ex-husband Danny Keough's son Benjamin Keough, at age 27, in 2020 from a self-inflicted shotgun wound inside her former $1.8M Calabasas mansion. Presley (born Wagner) is scheduled to appear at FanX Salt Lake Comic & Pop Culture Convention, which is held at Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT this weekend Priscilla - who boasts 1.9M social media followers - tweeted on X: 'See you Thursday, Friday & Saturday Salt Lake City, Utah!' The Brooklyn-born great-grandmother's granddaughter Riley Keough co-wrote Lisa Marie's 272-page autobiography From Here to the Great Unknown, which Random House will publish on October 8 The 35-year-old Emmy nominee (L, pictured in 2022) wrote in an excerpt: 'She said to me, "Pookie, I don't know how to write my book anymore. Can you write it with me?" Of course I can,' I said...The last 10 years of her life had been so brutally hard that she was only able to look back on everything through that lens. She felt I could have a more holistic view of her life than she could. So I agreed to help her with it, not thinking much of the commitment, assuming we would write it together over time. A month later, she died' Oprah Winfrey will interview Riley (born Danielle) for an exclusive prime-time special on CBS and Paramount+ airing October 8, and then she'll kick off a six-date book tour on October 9 at The Strand at Cooper Union's The Great Hall in Manhattan Lisa Marie passed away, at age 54, on January 12, 2023 from 'small bowel obstruction' as a result of bariatric surgery several years prior, and over 30ft of her small intestine was already dead before she was rushed to the hospital (pictured January 10, 2023) Presley never got over the death of her and ex-husband Danny Keough's son Benjamin Keough (L, pictured in 2012), at age 27, in 2020 from a self-inflicted shotgun wound inside her former $1.8M Calabasas mansion Last year, Keough (L, pictured in 2022) paid a $1M settlement and $400K in legal fees to her grandmother so she could legally became the sole trustee of Lisa Marie's estate as well as the sub-trusts belonging to her half-sisters Harper (2-L) and Finley (2-R) Lockwood Presley will celebrate the sweet 16 birthdays of granddaughters Harper and Finley (who just got her braces off) on October 7 Priscilla welcomed Lisa Marie during her five-year marriage to The King, which ended in 1972 (divorce was finalized in 1973) The Naked Gun alum is also mother to son Navarone Garcia (R, pictured May 12) from her 22-year, live-in relationship with Brazilian screenwriter-turned-computer-programmer Marco Antonio Garcia, which ended in 2006 On August 20, the 37-year-old Them Guns frontman revealed he was recovering from fentanyl and heroin additions and travels to schools to speak to youth about the danger of drugs Priscilla welcomed Lisa Marie during her five-year marriage to The King, which ended in 1972 (divorce was finalized in 1973). 'There are things she doesn't talk about in the tapes, things she didn't get to, especially in the later part of her life. We saw each other five times a week throughout my life, and we lived together full-time until I was 25. Where there are gaps in her story, I fill them in,' Keough wrote. 'Everyone who ever met her experienced a force passion, protection, loyalty, love and a deep engagement with a spirit that was incredibly powerful. Whatever spiritual force my grandfather possessed undoubtedly ran through my mother's veins. When you were with her, you could feel it.' Last year, the Under the Bridge producer-star paid a $1M settlement and $400K in legal fees to her grandmother so she could legally became the sole trustee of Lisa Marie's estate as well as the sub-trusts belonging to her half-sisters Harper and Finley Lockwood. Presley will celebrate the sweet 16 birthdays of granddaughters Harper and Finley (who just got her braces off) on October 7. The Naked Gun alum is also mother to son Navarone Garcia from her 22-year, live-in relationship with Brazilian screenwriter-turned-computer-programmer Marco Antonio Garcia, which ended in 2006. On August 20, the 37-year-old Them Guns frontman revealed he was recovering from fentanyl and heroin additions and travels to schools to speak to youth about the danger of drugs. Hoda Kotb's two young daughters were the driving force behind her decision to quit the Today show after nearly two decades but they werent the only factor. Despite her close friendship with co-host Jenna Bush Hager, the TV anchor, 60, always felt they never quite captured the chemistry she shared with former host Kathie Lee Gifford, 71, insiders have exclusively told DailyMail.com. Fans were left devastated on Thursday morning when mother-of-two Hoda tearfully announced she will officially step down early next year after 17 years on the flagship show and nearly three decades at NBC. There was reportedly 'no amount of money' that she would accept to change her mind because she's looking forward to spending more time with Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, as well as grabbing the 'rich' opportunities - including potentially finding a new man - that Kathie Lee has enjoyed since she quit in 2019. 'Yes, it's about her girls and being able to walk them to school but also, she's seen how rich a life Kathie Lee Gifford has lived since quitting she's had a boyfriend, written a play, books, music, she even wrote and starred in a movie,' the insider said. Hoda Kotb's young daughters were the driving force behind her decision to quit the Today show after nearly two decades but they werent the only factor, insiders have told Daily Mail Despite her close friendship with cohost Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda Kotb always felt the chemistry was never quite the same as when she presented alongside Kathie Lee Gifford , 71 Hoda Kotb has announced that she is leaving TODAY early next year. pic.twitter.com/sXuRsDbNnI TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 26, 2024 'Kathie Lee is happier than ever before.' While Hoda didn't mention her former co-anchor during her shock announcement, a second source claimed Kathie Lee's exit inspired Hoda's decision. 'It was never really the same after Kathie Lee left they had the best chemistry together on the show,' the insider explained. 'Hoda adores Jenna of course, but the reality is Jenna is not a seasoned veteran like Hoda is.' The insider continued: 'Jenna has had some unfortunate on-air blunders and had to issue apologies to their celebrity guests. 'Hoda held her hand through all of that, and would constantly reassure her, and they have become close, almost like a mom and daughter duo at work. Jenna has looked up to Hoda like a mentor.' Hoda hosted Today's fourth hour alongside Kathie Lee from 2008 until 2019, with the pair delighting fans with their antics on the news and booze desk. She was replaced by Jenna, 42. The source continued: 'Hoda and Kathie are lifelong friends, and the show just hasn't been the same without them falling about laughing together while drinking white wine on the show it was a riot. Hoda has loved taking Jenna under her wing, but its been a different dynamic with them.' Hoda is conscious of how much her estimated $7million a-year role at the broadcaster takes her away from her daughters, with Hope's recent health scare a stark reminder that she needs to focus on motherhood. 'Nothing in the universe is, or ever will be, more important to Hoda than her role as a mother,' said a third insider. 'Last year work meant she was absent for periods of time and she refuses to let these girls grow up in the care of anyone but herself.' The 60-year-old TV star, pictured with her daughters Hope, five, and seven-year-old Haley, wants to focus on being a mother The source explained: 'With Hopes health issues, Hoda cannot take a backseat to parenting any longer' Hoda had taken a number of unplanned weeks off after Hope was hospitalized in the ICU in 2023. The broadcaster first opened up about her hospital stay on March 6 last year when she returned to Today, telling Savannah Guthrie: 'My youngest Hope was in the ICU for a few days and then the hospital for a little more than a week. 'I'm so grateful she is home, she is back home. I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely. I'm just so happy.' Hoda then paid tribute to all of the doctors and medical staff who took care of her daughter, before thanking her family and friends for all of their support during the difficult time. The insider explained that the star now refused to leave her daughter in the care of others and came to the realization that it is time for someone else to take the reins at Today. 'With Hopes health issues, Hoda cannot take a backseat to parenting any longer,' the insider said. 'Hoda has gotten everything she has ever wanted and more out of this job.' They added: 'There is no amount of money in the world that NBC could have offered to make her change her mind. Everyone fully understands and is supportive.' Hoda has made no secret about the struggles she faced while Hope was dealing with her undisclosed medical issue. Following Hope's time in hospital last year, the star recently moved out of her New York City apartment to a suburban home with her children Speaking to People, the NBC star said previously: 'We had a scary stretch. Any parent whos been through a scary thing with their child understands. Its like you just cant believe that your childs sick. 'You cant believe that theres nothing you can do. You cant believe that no matter what you do, you cant will it away or protect her, or all the things that were supposed to be doing as parents. And its a position Ive never found myself in.' The TV anchor initially hired extra help to balance the new medical demands alongside her rigid work schedule, a move that helped make life more 'stabilized' as she worked hard to try and 'make everything normal' for her young daughters. She admitted to the publication: 'Its really tricky, because I dont want Hope to get labelled. Shes a kid who is so vibrant, and most days everything is totally fine. I dont want people to look at her differently.' Naturally, the future is already looking bright for Hoda, with a source adding: 'Hoda has an impeccable record in broadcast - she's already got offers in the pipeline for work, but she wants to do things that fit around her schedule and not the other way around.' Meanwhile, a telling sign that the star was ready to make a change came earlier this year when Hoda moved out of her New York City apartment to a suburban home. Reflecting on the move in August, she stated on Today with Hoda and Jenna: 'Its all new new kids, new school, new things, new everything. 'And its funny because all I could think of was I want my house for the kids to feel warm and cozy and a place where they want to hang. And thats it.' She added: 'I do love the whole kind of restarting, repotting, starting something new. It feels really good.' During her emotional on-air announcement on Thursdays' show, Hoda tearfully confirmed that her decision had a lot to do with her daughters. She stated: 'Obviously I had my kiddos late in life and I think that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie, we only have an infinite amount of time.' During her emotional announcement on Thursdays' show, the star sobbed alongside her co-anchors Jenna, 42, and Savannah Guthrie, 52 Hoda sat holding hands with her cohosts, including Jenna, 42, who she called her 'ride-or-die.' Unsurprisingly fans were quick to share their devastation, with some even admitting they will be 'done watching' when she leaves. 'Please say this is a joke,' read one comment, while another viewer said: 'Huge loss, irreplaceable.' Others admitted that the news had brought them to tears: 'Literally crying after I put my makeup on. 'I start my day with you every single day. I will miss you. Best wishes to all of your future endeavors.' 'Oh lord. Im crying walking out the door to school drop-off,' added someone else. He's been hard at work filming his new drama about the origin of the Guinness Empire. But James Norton enjoyed some well-deserved downtime to catch up with his pal Jack Farthing, as the pair grabbed a coffee together in north London on Saturday. The actor, 39, cut a casual figure as he headed out for a stroll with the Poldark star, 38, with the pair struggling to contain their laughter during the outing. James wore a relaxed white T-shirt and green cargo trousers, with Jack opting for similar ensemble as they chatted while enjoying their coffee together. Filming for James' latest project, by Steven Knight, began last month, with the actor seen on set in Liverpool while filming fight scenes. James Norton enjoyed some well-deserved downtime to catch up with his pal Jack Farthing, as the pair grabbed a coffee together in north London on Saturday The actor cut a casual figure as he headed out for a stroll with the Poldark star with the pair struggling to contain their laughter during the outing James wore a relaxed white T-shirt and green cargo trousers, with Jack opting for similar ensemble as they chatted while enjoying their coffee together Netflix has now announced who will join James in the cast of the hotly anticipated show, The House Of Guinness. The Happy Valley actor will be joined by famous faces including Jack Gleeson who played Game of Thrones villain Joffrey Baratheon, and Fionn O'Shea who starred in Normal People as Daisy Edgar Jones' love interest Jamie. Others who have already been announced as part of the cast of the new series, written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, include Olivia Rodrigo's boyfriend Louis Partridge. The star-studded cast also contains Masters of the Air star Anthony Boyle, Emily Fairn who recently starred opposite Martin Freeman in The Responder, Niamh McCormack, Seamus O'Hara and Irish actress Dervla Kirwan. Michael McElhatton and Danielle Galligan are also set to star with David Wilmot, who was cast alongside Florence Pugh in The Wonder, and Hilda Fay to complete the line up. The show's creator said he was delighted with the star-studded cast. He said: 'I am thrilled that we have such an exceptional cast and such an exceptional team to tell this story inspired by an exceptional family' House Of Guinness was written by Steven Knight, who is currently also working on the Peaky Blinders film. James has been working on his role in Steven Knight's latest drama, House Of Guinness, which tells the history of the family behind the famous brewery The series will chronicle the extraordinary success of the family behind the famous Irish brewery, which was founded back in 1759 by Arthur Guinness Netflix announced the series - which will explore the history of the family behind the famous brewery - back in March. The series will chronicle the extraordinary success of the family behind the famous Irish brewery, which was founded back in 1759 by Arthur Guinness. But behind the story of wealth and prosperity lies a tragic tale of seemingly endless misfortune for the family. From Tara Browne, who died following a car crash in South Kensington, to scandalous affairs and divorces and the tragic drowning of Honor Uloth aged just 19 in 2020, the family seems to have been dealt a series of devastating blows. The personal losses faced by the Guinnesses have become so infamous that the company is thought to be 'cursed', despite holding a fortune of over 900million today. Lord Moyne, Walter Edward Guinness was an Anglo-Irish politician and businessman - but for many he marks the true start of the Guinness curse. The Guinness family member was a close friend of Winston Churchill, with the two becoming political allies. He served as the British minister of state in the Middle East until November 1944, when he was assassinated by the terror group the Stern Gang in Cairo. Lady Henrietta Guinness jumped off a bridge in Umbria, Italy, in 1978 after never recovering from an Aston Martin car crash in the French Riviera. James first rose to fame with his role as Sidney Chambers in the ITV drama Grantchester, and has since appeared in War and Peace, The Nevers and The Trial of Christine Keeler He enjoyed a well-deserved break from his busy schedule to chat with his pal Jack She is known to have said once: 'If I had been poor, I would have been happy,' seeming to reference the idea that the lives of the Guinnesses have been marred by misfortune and tragic circumstance. The legacy of Henrietta's death was followed by another example of the curse that same year - as four-year-old Peter Guinness tragically died in a car crash. Creator Steven commented: 'The Guinness dynasty is known the world over wealth, poverty, power, influence, and great tragedy are all intertwined to create a rich tapestry of material to draw from. 'I've always been fascinated by their stories and am excited to bring the characters to life for the world to see.' Ana de Armas is starring in the new John Wick spinoff Ballerina. And on Thursday a first look of the highly anticipated neo-noir action thriller was shared. In the fast-paced clip, Ana can be seen as a child with a bloodied face before she is recruited by Ian McShane to train at an elite assassin academy under a demanding instructor portrayed by Sharon Duncan-Brewster. Toward the end of the clip, Keanu Reeves is seen as John Wick as he confronts Anna's martial arts proficient ballerina. Ballerina, which was directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten, is set to be released on June 6, 2025. Ana de Armas is starring in the new John Wick spinoff Ballerina. And on Thursday a first look of the highly anticipated neo-noir action thriller was shared Toward the end of the clip, Keanu Reeves is seen as John Wick as he confronts Anna's martial arts proficient ballerina The Blonde actress plays the role of ballerina-assassin Rooney in the movie. She is joined in the cast by Reeves, McShane, Anjelica Huston, Norman Reedus, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Gabriel Byrne. Anjelica will be reprising her role as The Director in the project. The star appeared as the head of the Ruska Roma crime organization in John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum during a scene where a beleaguered John Wick came to her for help. Reeves has had a long John Wick run. The star started his work on the first John Wick film in 2014, which was about a legendary assassin who comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that killed his dog and took his car after the death of his wife. The Blonde actress plays the role of ballerina-assassin Rooney in the movie Keanu starred in John Wick: Chapter 4 in 223. The star started his work on the first John Wick film in 2014, which was about a legendary assassin who comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that killed his dog and took his car after the death of his wife By the end of its theatrical run, the first film had grossed $43 million in North America and $45.7 million in other territories for a total of $88.8 million worldwide. Due to the film's success, it was turned into a franchise with John Wick: Chapter 2 being released in 2017 and John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum being released in 2019. John Wick: Chapter 4 came out in 2023. Keanu has become very well-known in Hollywood for his work in action movies. He has starred in Point Break, Speed, and all four of The Matrix movies. In January 2023 Ana said her body was battered by combat scenes with Keanu. 'We've been in Prague filming for four months. We still have one more month to go. And I'm in pain. You know, my body, my back, everything hurts. I'm complaining, I'm sore, I'm bruised,' she said while on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In January she said her body has been battered by combat scenes with Keanu The star was no stranger to stunts after appearing in the James Bond film No Time To Die. But she admitted that Ballerina is on 'another level' compared to her brief appearance in the 007 flick although she is grateful to be working with The Matrix actor. Ana said: 'Bond was fifteen minutes. This is a whole movie, another level. 'But the other day, Keanu and I were rehearsing our very difficult stunt scene, and this man is just rolling and throwing me and doing crazy stunts. 'And I'm like I can't complain anymore because he is doing it! He truly is the best.' Tilda Swinton pledged her support for war-torn Gaza as she attended a photocall for her new film The Room Next Door at the San Sebastian Film Festival on Thursday. The actress, 63, cut an elegant figure in a stunning black satin gown as she posed for snaps to promote her role in the film, which translates from its Spanish title La Habitacion De Al Lado. Tilda exuded glamour in her quirky black gown adorned with black beaded detailing, and a voluminous skirt. Accessorising her outfit with a matching fan, she completed her outfit with a badge with the words SOS Gaza, as the country remains shattered by its ongoing conflict with Israel. More than 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced in the nearly year-long conflict, according to the United Nations. Tilda Swinton, 63, pledged her support for war-torn Gaza as she attended a photocall for her new film The Room Next Door at the San Sebastian Film Festival on Thursday The actress completed her outfit with a badge emblazoned with the words SOS Gaza The actress cut an elegant figure in a stunning black satin gown as she posed for snaps to promote her role in the film, which translates from its Spanish title La Habitacion De Al Lado Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 96,000 others, according to the latest figures released on Thursday by the Health Ministry. The ministry's count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but more than half the dead have been women and children, including about 1,300 children under the age of two. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza, vowing to destroy Hamas after its attack on October 7, during which militants killed around 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage. It blames civilian deaths in Gaza on Hamas, because the group's fighters operate in residential areas and use civilian infrastructure. The Room Next Door, distributed by Warner Bros, is scheduled to hit UK theatres from October 25. Tilda leads as Martha alongside Julianne Moore as Ingrid - who was not in attendance of the event on Thursday - but earlier made a stylish appearance at Milan Fashion Week. The drama/comedy deals with the rift between Martha (Tilda), a very imperfect mother and war correspondent, and her resentful daughter, as well as with the former's relationship with author Ingrid (Julianne). The cast also includes acting legend and filmmaker John Turturro, Face/Off star Alessandro Nivola, Esther McGregor, Alex Hgh Andersen, and Alvise Rigo. Tilda exuded glamour in her quirky black gown adorned with black beaded detailing, and a voluminous skirt Tilda and the film's cast also showed their support for Gaza with matching badges (L-R Raul Arevalo, Vicky Luengo, director Pedro Almodovar, Melina Matthews and Juan Diego Botto) After posing for snaps on the red carpet, Tilda took to the stage to accept the Donostia Award The Room Next Door is scheduled to hit UK theatres from October 25 Tilda leads as Martha alongside Julianne Moore as Ingrid - who was not in attendance of the event on Thursday - but earlier made a stylish appearance at Milan Fashion Week The drama/comedy deals with the rift between Martha (Tilda), a very imperfect mother and war correspondent, and her resentful daughter, as well as with the former's relationship with author Ingrid (Julianne) The cast also includes acting legend and filmmaker John Turturro, Face/Off star Alessandro Nivola, Esther McGregor, Alex Hgh Andersen, and Alvise Rigo This is actually the filmmaker's second Golden Lion Award, which follows the honorary one he received in 2019 A native of Calzada de Calatrava, Spain, Almodovar's many directorial credits include the Festival selections Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown (1988), Talk To Her (2002), Bad Education (2004), Volver (2006), Broken Embraces (2009), Julieta (2016), and Pain and Glory (2019). In 2023, he received the Impact Media Award, which recognizes leadership in creating a union between social impact and cinema, at the TIFF Tribute Awards. While the ladies were doing their part in promoting the film at the Toronto International Film Festival, the filmmaker was basking in all the glory of taking home the Golden Lion Award at the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema in Venice, Italy, Variety reports. This is actually the filmmaker's second Golden Lion Award, which follows the honorary one he received in 2019. The two-time Academy Award winner thanked both Tilda and Julianne during his largely Spanish-language acceptance speech. 'This is my first movie in English but the spirit is Spanish,' the director revealed during that passionate speech. The Room Next Door is then scheduled to be released theatrically in Spain on October 18. Kylie Jenner flaunted her hourglass physique as she made a busty first appearance at this year's Paris Fashion Week for the Schiaparelli show alongside her chic sister Kendall. The businesswoman and model, 27, - who regularly attends the haute couture house's shows - wowed on Thursday night in a figure-hugging black dress. The black and white number featured a perilously low-cut neckline and white criss cross detailing in the halterneck design. She boosted her height with a pair of towering black heels and wore her brunette tresses in a perfect bouncy blow dry. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star accessorised perfectly with gold bracelets and opted for a natural makeup look. Kylie Jenner flaunted her hourglass physique as she made a busty first appearance at this year's Paris Fashion Week for the Schiaparelli show She was seen alongside her sister Kendall as they attended the show together on a sister's night out The businesswoman and model, 27, - who regularly attends the haute couture house's shows - wowed on Thursday night in a figure-hugging black dress Meanwhile Kendall, 28, covered up in a long trench coat as she left the show arm in arm with Kylie. Earlier in the day Kylie and Kendall headed out in Paris amid the city's Fashion Week. The sisters looked stylish as they arrived for lunch at Zeffirino restaurant, which serves traditional Italian cuisine. Kylie put on a racy display in a perilously short brown miniskirt and went braless in an undone shirt. Kendall, 28, meanwhile looked elegant in a structured blue blazer and matching pencil skirt. Model Kendall has made a triumphant return to Paris, walking on the catwalk for L'Oreal earlier this week after overcoming her crippling anxiety. The supermodel has been notably absent from the catwalk during both the earlier London and Milan fashion weeks this season, walking only in the Alaia show in New York at the beginning of the month. However, Kendall proved she is still a force to be reckoned with as she stormed the runway alongside icons including Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria and Cara Delevingne. The show marked Kendall's catwalk debut for her new blonde locks, which she first revealed a couple of weeks ago after undergoing a hair transformation. The black and white number featured a perilously low-cut neckline and white criss cross detailing in the halterneck design She boosted her height with a pair of towering black heels and wore her brunette tresses in a perfect bouncy blow dry The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star accessorised perfectly with gold bracelets and opted for a natural makeup look She gave a friendly wave as she arrived for the show - which is a catwalk event that she regularly attends Meanwhile Kendall, 28, covered up in a long trench coat as she left the show arm in arm with Kylie Model Kendall completed her look with dark shades and a pair of grey trousers and shiny black shoes Model Kendall has made a triumphant return to Paris, walking on the catwalk for L'Oreal earlier this week after overcoming her crippling anxiety They both looked in great spirits as they headed out after the fashion show held amid Paris Fashion Week German fashion blogger and model Caroline Daur wore a striking white dress The off the shoulder number was teamed with a textured coat and quirky bag Influencer Leonie Hanne wore a leggy black number Artist Nadia Lee Cohen wore a gold dress and huge hat The sister catch up comes after they headed to Rosalia's birthday party with Gigi Hadid on Wednesday night. Kylie also shared an Instagram snap of her look following the festivities. She was pictured back at her hotel holding a plate of pasta as she posed for a mirror selfie. '1am. Paris. Pasta.' she wrote over the image. Kendall also shared a snap from her hotel with her pal Fai Khadra. He looked dapper in a white suit as he posed with the Vogue cover girl. Meanwhile birthday girl Rosalia, who turned 32, had all eyes on her in a white cropped T-shirt and a ballerina tutu as she departed the celebration. Naomi Campbell was reduced to tears as she was honoured at the French Ministry of Culture after her Fashion For Relief charity came under fire on Thursday. The supermodel, 54, was the epitome of chic in a black and white striped dress as she attended the award ceremony for the Insignia of Knight Of The Order of Arts And Letters. For the prestigious event, Naomi, who was seen shedding a tear during her acceptance speech, wore a 2020 couture Chanel floor-length gown, which featured a high-neck collar and diamante buttons. She added inches to her statuesque frame as she slipped into a pair of black satin heels. After being awarded the green ribbon medallion, she posed confidently alongside French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati. Naomi Campbell was reduced to tears as she was honoured at the French Ministry of Culture after her charity came under fire on Thursday The supermodel, 54, was the epitome of chic in a black and white striped dress as she attended the award ceremony for the Insigna of Knight Of The Order of Arts And Letters She was also seen flashing a smile as she caught up with David Guetta's ex-wife Cathy, who looked stunning in black leather. The Order of Arts and Letters is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its purpose is the recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields. French government guidelines state that citizens must be at least thirty years old, respect French civil law, and have 'significantly contributed to the enrichment of the French cultural inheritance' to be considered for the award. At the event, Naomi tearfully said: 'To my family, you are my foundation and I thank you for your unwavering support. 'I've also made a chosen family in this business of fashion, where some would say that we're very fickle. I can tell you that's not true. 'To the mentors and collaborators who have guided me, your confidence in me has been invaluable. 'To the designers, photographers, stylists, hair and makeup artists who have brought visions to life, your artistry has shaped my career and I'm profoundly grateful. Merci Beaucoup. For the prestigious event, Naomi, who was seen shedding a tear during her acceptance speech, wore a 2020 couture Chanel floor-length gown, which featured a high-neck collar and diamante buttons She added inches to her statuesque frame as she slipped into a pair of black satin heels After being awarded the green ribbon medallion, she posed confidently alongside French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati She was also seen flashing a smile as she caught up with David Guetta's ex-wife Cathy, who looked stunning in black leather At the event, Naomi tearfully said: 'To my family, you are my foundation and I thank you for your unwavering support' Her appeance comes after she was disqualified as a trustee after an investigation into her Fashion For Relief charity uncovered 'serious mismanagement' 'And to the aspiring models and creatives of our colour who have reminded me every day of the importance of representation and staying true to ourselves and yourself. I share this recognition with you. 'The Order of Arts and Letters represents a legacy of creativity and encouraging recipients to use their voices and spotlights. 'I pledge to continue this tradition, to use my platform to champion diversity in the arts, to elevate emerging talents and to advance the exchange of culture that is so vital in today's society. 'I stand here, not just as Naomi Campbell the model, but as Naomi the advocate, the collaborator and most importantly, the grateful human being. 'Thank you for this honour. I want to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has shared this journey with me. 'I'm proud to be part of this legacy and I'm appreciative to this country and the Order of Arts and Letters.' Her appearance comes after she was disqualified as a trustee after an investigation into her Fashion For Relief charity uncovered 'serious mismanagement'. Mail On Sunday revealed that official accounts showed that it spent more than 1.6million on a glittering gala in Cannes, but gave just 5,000 to good causes over a 15-month period. The Charity Commission confirmed in April that it had removed the supermodel's charity from the UK charity register while it continued its investigation into allegations of misconduct. And today the Commission published the report of its statutory inquiry into Fashion For Relief, concluding the charity was poorly governed and had inadequate financial management. Naomi was disqualified from being a trustee for five years, former colleagues Bianka Hellmich for nine and Veronica Chou for four. The Charity Commission confirmed in April that it had removed the supermodel's charity from the UK charity register while it continued its investigation into allegations of misconduct Naomi played a prominent role in catwalk shows staged on behalf of her Fashion For Relief charity - seen here during London Fashion Week in September 2019 The model founded the charity in 2005, saying she had been inspired by her friend Nelson Mandela telling her to 'use [her] voice' for good. The organisation claimed to have raised more than 11million, mostly through glitzy fundraising events held all over the world, including in New York, Mumbai and Moscow. Naomi would take centre stage at the galas, appearing in showstopping designer gowns, and was honoured by the British Fashion Council for her services to and achievements in the fashion industry in 2019. But concerns were raised in 2021 about how much money was being passed on to people in need after the Mayor's Fund for London lodged an official complaint, saying that it was owed 50,000 by the charity. The Mayor's Fund, which helps young Londoners from low-income backgrounds, filed a 'serious incident' report with the Charity Commission, which announced a statutory inquiry in November that year. The commission said on Thursday that as a result of its investigation, more than 344,000 had been recovered and used to make donations to two other charities and settle Fashion For Relief's outstanding liabilities. The inquiry found that between April 2016 and July 2022, just 8.5 per cent of the charitys overall spending was on charitable grants. It also said it found some fundraising expenditure to be misconduct or mismanagement by the charity's trustees. This included a 12,300 flight from London to Nice in 2018 for transferring art and jewellery. It also looked into the decision to spend 7,800 of charity funds on a three-night stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, for Naomi. In these cases, the trustees 'failed to show how these were cost-effective and an appropriate use of the charity's resources', the Charity Commission said. The inquiry saw no evidence trustees had reviewed the charitys operating model to ensure fundraising methods were in the organisation's best interest and that costs were reasonable relative to cash brought in. And it also found some of the charitys fundraising expenditure was not reasonable. The supermodel, pictured on the red carpet at the Fashion for Relief show at London Fashion Week in September 2019, has now been disqualified as a charity trustee for four years Among those at the Fashion For Relief event at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 were (left to right) Maria Borges, Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Winnie Harlow and Natalia Vodianova The charity had held fundraising events for the Save the Children Fund and the Mayors Fund for London. The inquiry found that the trustees of Fashion for Relief 'failed to manage these partnership arrangements'. The commission also said unauthorised payments totalling 290,000 for consultancy services had been made to trustee Ms Hellmich, which was in breach of the charitys constitution. And the charitys funds were held and applied on its behalf by external professional advisors rather than in a dedicated bank account in Fashion For Relief's name. According to news from Russia's digital ministry, alphabet's Google has imposed new restrictions on Russian users: creating new accounts is prohibited. The news comes years after pressure from Moscow has been mounting, where Google has been denounced for not taking down content banned by the Russian government. The search engine giant is also recently in trouble for suspending several YouTube channels linked to Russian media and public figures in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Google Sanctions Against Russian Users Google has taken a new account creation measure as part of its spectrum of actions launched against the backdrop of the heightening of Russia's geopolitical crisis over its policies toward Ukraine. Without Google saying anything about the latest development, the ministry said that the SMS confirmations used in two-factor authentication might be disrupted for users. This means there is a chance of disruption to the functionality of accounts already in existence. As per Reuters, the ministry advised its users to take backup copies of their data and seek other means of accomplishing two-factor authentication or change to domestic applications so that they would not lose either access to their accounts or the services. Long-running Feud between Google and Russia This is not the first time Google has faced criticism; however, it's certainly not been long in being exposed to criticism from the Russian side for several years. Indeed, after the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian state has barely stopped demanding Google remove content and block channels that make a case for the narrative of the state. The most drastic response came from Google: it suspended its AdSense accounts in Russia and blocked over 1,000 YouTube channels, of which most are state-sponsored media channels. The policy change that marked a significant shift for Google was when it opted to stop serving ads to Russian users. Furthermore, Google's decision to halt content monetization, deemed to either condone or exploit Russia's war on Ukraine, demonstrated a policy change. By limiting access to its services, Google has contributed to the deepening digital divide between Russian and Western platforms. Russian Users Facing Slowdowns and Service Interruptions Recent months have seen complaints from Russian users of significantly slower access to Google's YouTube, still, the resource most widely employed in the country. Russian lawmakers have accused Google of slowdowns because the company has refused to upgrade its equipment and pointed to the high speed of access to local content as a confirmation of claims about its reluctance to upgrade its equipment. Anyhow, YouTube is one of the most important sources of information for many Russians, so further restrictions on this platform could be a devastating blow to access to global content. Read Also: #TechTimesLifeHack: How to Use YouTube Like a Pro Using These Essential Keyboard Shortcuts Exploring Alternatives for Russian Users In trying to pass on stricter policies, Google is nudging Russian users toward alternatives for video and social networks. The growing divide in the digital landscape is forcing Russia to adopt homegrown alternatives that do not have to depend on Western tech companies. Still, future repercussions from this shift are unknown as global players like Google tie the user's link with the leading internet ecosystem. Meanwhile, Russians should act on ways to protect their data better and, when prompted, be ready to use alternative authentication modes to gain further access to their current Google accounts. Future developments are as fluid as they are; further steps may be imposed depending on the outcome of the ongoing geopolitical struggle. Related Article: Google Accuses Russia of Using Stolen Spyware Exploits From NSO, Intellexa Dave Grohl's wife Jordyn Blum is leaning on her close pals and finding comfort in her friendships following her husband's infidelity. On Thursday, the 48-year-old actress enjoyed an outing and caught up with a friend at a cafe in Encino. After having lunch together, Blum and her pal were pictured sharing a comforting hug. This comes after the Foo Fighters frontman, 55, went public and disclosed that he fathered a child with another woman outside of their 21-year marriage. Earlier this month, it was also revealed that a major Hollywood star has been consoling Blum and was 'disgusted' by Grohl's actions. Dave Grohl's wife Jordyn Blum is leaning on her close pals and finding comfort in her friendships following her husband's infidelity. On Thursday, the 48-year-old actress enjoyed an outing and caught up with a friend at a cafe in Encino For her outing, Blum put on a casual display in a stylish athleisure ensemble. She sported a gray racerback tank top paired with a high-waisted, black miniskirt. She also carried a gray zip-up hoodie in her arm and was seen toting a red leather purse as they exited the cafe. For their lunch plans, Blum opted for a makeup-free look and threw up her platinum blonde hair into a messy updo. She also sported a pair of all-black, cat-eye sunglasses for their outing during the sunny day. She wore no other accessories, and most notably, her hands were free of any rings at all. This comes after her husband of over two decades whom she married in 2003 revealed that he had been unfaithful and fathered a child with another woman outside of their marriage. She and Grohl share three daughters: Violet Maye, 18, Harper Willow, 15, and Ophelia Saint, 10. After having lunch together, Blum and her pal were pictured sharing a comforting hug For her outing, Blum put on a casual display in a stylish athleisure ensemble. She sported a gray racerback tank top paired with a high-waisted, black miniskirt This comes after her husband of over two decades whom she married in 2003 revealed that he had been unfaithful and fathered a child with another woman outside of their marriage; pictured February 2016 in Hollywood She and Grohl share three daughters: Violet Maye, 18, Harper Willow, 15, and Ophelia Saint, 10; pictured February 2023 in Los Angeles On September 10, Grohl took to Instagram to announce the bombshell that he cheated on his wife and fathered a secret love child. He said he wished to mend his marriage with his wife as he commits to being an active parent to his new child; pictured June 2021 in New York City On September 10, Grohl took to Instagram to announce the bombshell that he cheated on his wife and fathered a secret love child. He said he wished to mend his marriage with his wife as he commits to being an active parent to his new child. 'I've recently become the father of a new baby daughter, born outside of my marriage,' he admitted in his post. 'I plan to be a loving and supportive parent to her. I love my wife and my children, and I am doing everything I can to regain their trust and earn their forgiveness,' he wrote. 'We're grateful for your consideration toward all the children involved, as we move forward together.' Rebel Wilson, 44, will be getting married this weekend, DailyMail.com has learned. The comedienne plans to say 'I do' with her 40-year-old fiancee Ramona Agruma in Sardinia, a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. 'Rebel is really excited to be getting married to the love of her life, she is absolutely thrilled,' said a source. 'It is going to be stunning and super romantic. She is madly in love and can't wait to be wed.' The women were supposed to get married next year but Rebel moved up the date, DailyMail.com reported earlier this month. 'Rebel doesn't want to wait any longer, she is happy to marry this month because she is very much in love with Ramona and wants to be wed,' said a source. 'It will be a small ceremony with close friends and family, and also very elegant,' the insider added. Rebel Wilson , 44, will be getting married this weekend, DailyMail.com has learned. The comedienne plans to say 'I do' with her 40-year-old fiancee Ramona Agruma in Sardinia, a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea; seen in 2023 'Rebel is really excited to be getting married to the love of her life, she is absolutely thrilled,' said a source. 'It is going to be stunning and super romantic. She is madly in love and can't wait to be wed' In the past she has said she wanted to wed in 2025 on the beach. The Pitch Perfect actress has daughter Royce Lillian, almost two. Rebel came out as queer in June 2022. She shared the news on Instagram: 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess.' The star recalled how she challenged herself to date 50 men, before she fell in love with a woman. On her dating history, the blonde beauty said: 'I was a late bloomer in love, so dating was something I felt very, very shy about going on dates. That's why in 2019, when I was really single I realized I need to go on more dates!... 'I did my own little experiment, when I dated like 50 men - not at the same time - but anyone who asked me out, I had to say yes. I got more and more comfortable dating. I did lose my virginity late compared to a lot of people - 35 years old.' In the memoir, she divulged that she didn't lose her virginity until she was 35. 'Rebel doesn't want to wait any longer, she is happy to marry this month because she is very much in love with Ramona and wants to be wed,' said a source; seen September 14 Rebel first met Ramona in 2021, and they announced their engagement in February 2023 The women were supposed to get married next year but Rebel moved up the date Rebel then explained that she had shared the detail in the hopes that it will help young people because 'not everybody has to lose their virginity as a teenager.' She said: 'People can wait till they're ready or wait till they're a bit more mature... 'And I think that could be a positive message. You obviously don't have to wait until you're in your thirties like me, but you shouldn't feel pressure as a young person'. In the past, she even lied about having had sex just to not have to talk about it. Rebel first met Ramona in 2021, and they announced their engagement in February 2023. Rebel confirmed news of Rebel in a gushing social media post at the time. 'Beyond proud to announce the birth of my first child, Royce Lillian, born this past week via surrogate,' she wrote. Actress Michelle Williams could be your landlord if you have a cool $35,000-per-month to spend to live in her historic mansion in Brooklyn. The Brokeback Mountain actress, 44, recently listed her 6,500-square-foot property, which is often referred to as 'The Tara of Prospect Park South, for rent, according to Realtor.com. Her future renter will have full access to the five-time Oscar nominee's residence which is frequently compared to the pillar-covered mansion in the 1940 film, Gone with the Wind. The gorgeous estate, which was built in 1910 and meticulously restored, has eight bedrooms, six full bathrooms as well as a two-story porch and cinematic pilasters and columns. Its original architectural details include a grand staircase, formal living room and a library with floor to ceiling bookshelves. Actress Michelle Williams could be your landlord if you have a cool $35,000-per-month to spend to live in her historic mansion in Brooklyn According to the listing on Compass, Williams' home is situated on a sprawling corner parcel 'on arguably the most beautiful street in New York.' The fully furnished property has 23 rooms, a breathtaking foyer, a formal living room with an oversized bay window, huge kitchen island with marble countertops and a gym room with a Peloton treadmill, exercise mats and massage table. Williams bought the estate for $2.5 million in 2015. The contact agent is Laura Rozos. The property can be toured by appointment only. She worked with Matiz Architecture and Workstead Design to restore and renovate the property to maintain its 'stunning original detail.' A year before making the purchase, she sold her Boerum Hill townhouse for $8.8 million. Williams bought the home, where she lived with former fiance Heath Ledger, back in 2005 for $3.6 million. The Brokeback Mountain actress, 44, recently listed her 6,500-square-foot property, which is often referred to as 'The Tara of Prospect Park South, for rent, according to Realtor.com Her future renter will have full access to the five-time Oscar nominee's residence which is frequently compared to the pillar-covered mansion in the 1940 film, Gone with the Wind The gorgeous estate, which was built in 1910 and meticulously restored, has eight bedrooms, six full bathrooms as well as a two-story porch and cinematic pilasters and columns Its original architectural details include a grand staircase, formal living room and a library with floor to ceiling bookshelves Ledger passed away in 2008 at age 28 following an accidental overdose. Williams and Ledger welcomed their daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger, in 2005. The former couple famously met on the set of Brokeback Mountain and dated for three years, before ultimately splitting in 2007, just five months before his tragic death. In 2020, she and her husband, Thomas Kail, bought a $10.8 million townhouse in Brooklyn Heights together. Williams and Kail share two kids, one born in 2020 and their youngest in 2022. Although they confirmed their eldest is a little boy named Hart, they have yet to reveal their second's gender or moniker. According to the listing on Compass, Williams' home is situated on a sprawling corner parcel 'on arguably the most beautiful street in New York.' The fully furnished property has 23 rooms, a breathtaking foyer, a formal living room with an oversized bay window, huge kitchen island with marble countertops and a gym room with a Peloton treadmill, exercise mats and massage table Williams bought the estate for $2.5 million in 2015 Last month, reports surfaced that her and Ledger's daughter was planning to spend time in Australia with her late father's family. Matilda, 18, who currently resides in the U.S. and was raised by her mother Michelle Williams, is considering enrolling at an Australian university, reported Woman's Day. A source told the outlet Matilda was considering a move to Australia but intends to put off commencing her tertiary studies for an entire year so she can travel. A source said the teenager wants to spend a 'gap year' travelling the world before starting her studies. She worked with Matiz Architecture and Workstead Design to restore and renovate the property to maintain its 'stunning original detail' A year before making the purchase, she sold her Boerum Hill townhouse for $8.8 million Her father's home country is said to be a major destination of note for Matilda. 'She'll also be spending a large chunk of time in Australia. She always feels closest to her dad when she's there and loves nothing more than hearing his childhood stories from all his family,' the source said. The insider also claimed Matilda is considering remaining in Australia to pursue her studies. 'She may even decide to study in Australia, although she does seem to have her heart set on several colleges in New York for now,' they added. Chloe Madeley is set to jet off on holiday with her estranged husband James Haskell, her father Richard has revealed. The couple - who share two-year-old Bodhi together - confirmed they had split in a joint statement released in October last year, after tying the knot in 2018. But Richard, 68, has revealed that despite the end of their marriage, Chloe, 37, and James, 39, are in a 'very happy uncoupling' and said he has staying on friendly terms with his former son-in-law. He told The Sun: 'Chloe is very happy, she and James are going to France together, they have a very happy uncoupling. 'It's a very civilised relationship we see a lot of James, he's at the house quite a lot, either with Chloe or without.' Chloe Madeley is set to jet off on holiday with her estranged husband James Haskell , her father Richard has revealed Richard has revealed that despite the end of their marriage, Chloe and James are in a 'very happy uncoupling' and said he has staying on friendly terms with his former son-in-law 'I go for a drink with him from time to time. It's all good. It's a very civilised divorce. The co-parenting is going really well.' It comes after Chloe opened up on the difficulties of navigating co-parenting with her ex-husband James Haskell. Last month, she revealed to Closer Magazine that they do not always agree on parenting styles and get into arguments over their differing opinions. She admitted: 'We have always found a way to do it but it's not always great. We have really hard times with it sometimes. 'We also still argue- there is no denying that and it will probably be this way forever.' Chloe went onto insist however, that no matter how hard it may get between them, they have agreed not to weaponise Bodhi or use her as a bargaining tool. And despite their 'tricky' episodes, she added that there are days were they can be 'very good friends'. Chloe revealed in January that the former rugby player, 39, finally moving out of their home. The couple - who share two-year-old Bodhi together - confirmed they had split in a joint statement released in October last year, after tying the knot in 2018 The daughter of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan and former rugby player James, 39, confirmed they had split in a joint statement last year, after a decade together. The couple who had starred in their own ITV reality show Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair, announced: 'Chloe and I mutually decided separate at the end of September, 2023. 'We had not planned on releasing a statement at this time - certainly not while the television show was airing - but constant speculation about our marriage has, unfortunately, forced our hand. 'Beyond this statement, we will not be speaking about this matter publicly, and we would request privacy at this time. 'Our sole focus now is our beautiful daughter. We shall continue to co-parent with nothing but love.' Sharing his own statement to Instagram, James added: 'It's with a lot of sadness I write this post, but unfortunately, in the world we live in, it has to be done. Last month, she revealed to Closer Magazine that they do not always agree on parenting styles and get into arguments over their differing opinions 'My priority is my daughter's and Chloe's happiness and security. For that reason, I won't be commenting any further.' They first fuelled split speculation earlier that autumn, after Chloe was spotted without her wedding ring while partying with friends - shortly after James was pictured chatting to a mystery blonde outside a London nightspot. In May, Chloe opened up about how her separation from her estranged husband 'was f***ing awful' as she gave an insight into the break down of their relationship. She admitted the pair broke up as they both wanted their relationship to 'stop being awful' and 'miserable'. The couple still live together in their north London home and are often spotted together with Bodhi as they try to make the break-up as amicable as they can for their little girl. But despite their friendliness causing some fans to think they'll get back together, Chloe insisted that they have both moved on from their marriage. She added that she expects the former England player to find someone soon. She said: 'It'll probably happen for James long before it happens to me, if it hasn't already. I'm waiting for the conversation to happen at some point.' Hoda Kotb is starting a new chapter in the tiny village of Bronxville, just 15 miles north of Midtown Manhattan following her shock departure from the Today show. On Thursday morning, the 60-year-old veteran journalist revealed her plans to give up her fast-paced and busy lifestyle in New York to provide her two daughters Haley, seven, and Hope with a quieter upbringing in Westchester County. It has since been revealed by Realtor.com that the television personality, who has been a staple of the Today show for nearly two decades, quietly purchased a $2.89 million home in one of Americas most affluent suburbs at the end of April. The median home sales price in Bronxville, which has a population of approximately 6,000, is $2.325 million. The mother-of-two's new 4,000-square-foot home, which was built in 1952, is complete with a spacious backyard, four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a chefs kitchen and vaulted ceilings. Hoda Kotb is starting a new chapter in the tiny village of Bronxville, just 15 miles north of Midtown Manhattan following her shock departure from the Today show; seen in 2022 Another perk of the property is its close proximity to nearby schools and parks. In addition to giving her girls more space, Kotb's primary bedroom is 765 square feet and has a ensuite spa bathroom, according to the home's listing. Over the summer, the home-building company, EC Builders Inc., shared a post revealing they recently finished renovating the property. 'A couple of months ago we were asked to complete a near impossible task to give a face-lift to one of our distinguished clients,' the company wrote. 'Together with Rona Schloss Design, EC Builders was able to complete a remodel project just on time for Hoda Kotb, and her family to get settled in with a couple of weeks to spare at the end of the summer. We are so grateful and appreciative to have had the opportunity to work with Hoda and Rona Schloss Design to complete this project.' Kotb explained her decision to leave Today was influenced by her desire to spend more quality time with her kids. 'I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have,' she said on Thursday's live show. 'I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.' Previously, she and her daughters, who she shares with her ex-fiance Joel Schiffman, were living on the Upper West Side. Now, Kotb says 'everything changed' for their family. It has since been revealed by Realtor.com that the television personality, who has been a staple of the Today show for nearly two decades, quietly purchased a $2.89 million home in one of Americas most affluent suburbs at the end of April 'I have a whole new town and a whole new school and all the new things,' she said. She continued: 'We went for our first day of school, I carried a coffee, and I [was wearing] sneakers, and I walked my kids to school like normal people. It was awesome.' Kotb's new neighborhood previously was ranked number eight on Bloombergs list of Americas 100 Richest Places in 2018. While speaking about the town to the New York Times, one resident described Bronxville as 'not flashy or fancy' but 'bustling all day.' 'Everybody walks, even children, yet we are half an hour from Grand Central,' another noted. The mother-of-two's new 4,000-square-foot home, which was built in 1952, is complete with a spacious backyard, four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a chefs kitchen and vaulted ceilings Additionally, Bronxville is known for its award-winning school system and having two college campuses. Both Sarah Lawrence and Concordia are located in Bronxville. She's been a fixture at the Fashion Week calendar for many years. And Kate Moss made another stylish appearance as she departed The Ritz Hotel in Paris on Thursday. The model, 50, cut a chic figure in a fun printed blazer embroidered with strawberries as she headed into the French capital for another Fashion Week appearance. Kate teamed the stylish blazer with a black blouse with an oversized necktie, embroidered trousers and heels. The former Topshop mainstay has already made a string of stylish appearances during Fashion Week, including the Saint Laurent party, where she was joined by Rosie Huntington-Whitley and Amelia Gray Hamlin. Kate Moss, 50, showed off her signature sense of style as she departed The Ritz Hotel in Paris on Thursday The model cut a chic figure in a fun printed blazer embroidered with strawberries as she headed into the French capital for another Fashion Week appearance Paris Fashion Week runs from September 23 to October 1, with a string of major designers choosing the City of Light to showcase their next collections. L'Oreal kicked things off on Monday with a star-studded runway featuring the likes of Kendall Jenner, Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria and Cara Delevingne. Tuesday saw Dior welcomed Anya Taylor-Joy and Rosamund Pike to the FROW before Saint Laurent was the highlight of the evening calendar. The third day offers up Courreges and Mugler presentations while Thursday will see the spotlight on Hermes and Giambattista Valli. On Friday, Victoria Beckham will be supported by her A-list friends as she unveils her next ready-to-wear looks, with Rick Owens and Balenciaga also showcasing collections that day. Valentino and Stella McCartney will also be hot tickets before French fashion house Louis Vuitton closes the week with its glitzy show. Kate soared to fame as the world's most iconic supermodel after he shot her renowned Calvin Klein campaign in 1993. His book features intimate portraits of a young and undiscovered Kate, shot in the early 1990s. Kate teamed the stylish blazer with a black blouse with an oversized necktie, embroidered trousers and heels The former Topshop mainstay has already made a string of stylish appearances during Fashion Week, which concludes on Tuesday October 1 The photographer, now 52, was 19 when he began a romance with Kate, revealing the model 'swept him away' and felt like his 'heart stopped' when he first met her at a Wella hair photoshoot back in 1991. Speaking of their two-year relationship in an interview with the Telegraph, Mario said in 2018: 'We modelled together, travelled together, it was fun and innocent- a time of discovery for both of us, it just felt right. Talking about her lengthy career, he added: 'She turned from a gorgeous kid into a beautiful woman but its much more than that, she can embody and become anything.' 'You know, she has this strange depth, I dont know how to explain it, but when you photograph her, you dont just get her, the model, you get something that goes further, beyond. Kate was just 19 years old when she starred in the iconic Obsession campaign posing nude for the adverts, with the couple splitting shortly afterwards. Kate previously put on a showstopping display in a black velvet blazer and a dramatic frilled skirt as she attended the Saint Laurent show on Monday In an interview with Nick Knight, Kate previously spoke about working with her former flame. She said: 'When youre in a relationship with a photographer and they start abusing that relationship of being like, "I want you to do this, I want you to do that". Kate then revealed that living with Mario's mother, Francesca Sorrenti, at the time helped her come to grips with her new surroundings, as the Croydon native moved to New York for work. She said: 'Thank goodness I was living with her and not in some model apartment. Because New York is a hardcore place!' Despite travelling the world, she said she hasn't forgotten her roots, and quipped: 'Because Im from Croydon, if you get above your station somebody will f***ing knock you down.' General Motors is recalling 18,235 commercial vehicles in the United States over an issue with brake lines. The recall covers certain Chevrolet Express Cutaway and GMC Savana Cutaway models between 2013 and 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday. Body mounts on these trucks may be too close to the brake lines - the tubes that carry brake fluid. These lines can get damaged by repeated contact with the body mounts knocking against them. Brake fluid can then leak out and lead to the brakes not working - increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect and replace the brake line as necessary, the NHTSA said in the recall. The recall involves about 11,960 Chevrolet Express Cutaway models over brake line fears General Motors s recalling 18,235 commercial vehicles . The recall involves certain Chevrolet Express Cutaway and GMC Savana Cutaway models between 2013 and 2019 'The brake line may have insufficient clearance to the body mounts, which can result in brake line damage that can lead to a brake fluid leak,' the auto safety regulator said. The recall involves about 11,960 Express models and about 6,360 Savana units. Owners will be notified by letters expected to be mailed November 4. Ahead of that, they can contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N242466950. Owners may also contact the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236, or go to www.nhtsa.gov. General Motors issued another recall last month - for its Cadillac brand. Nearly all of Cadillac's all-electric Lyriq SUVs are being recalled by over a potentially catastrophic problem with their brakes. The recall covers 2023 and 2024 all-wheel drive models, amounting to 21,469 vehicles in total. Other automakers have also been forced to issued recent recalls over serious safety concerns. In August Ford and Mazda warned the owners of 477,000 older vehicles in the US not to drive them because they have killer air bags. The Takata bags explode with excessive force - and hurl metal fragments at drivers and passengers, safety regulators said. The cars are part of the biggest ever recall in the US. More than 400 Americans have been injured and 27 killed by the airbags, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. Southwest Airlines said Thursday that it plans to end the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years. It will start flights with passengers sitting in assigned seats during the first half of 2026 as the company remodels the airline to in hopes of boosting profits. But the company vowed to continue allowing passengers to check two bags for free, describing the policy as 'the most important feature by far in setting Southwest apart from other airlines.' CEO Robert Jordan and other Southwest executives gave details about the airline's future transformation at an investor meeting in Dallas. Shares in the airline were up 6 per cent in afternoon trading. The airline plans to reserve a third of seats on its flights for passengers who would pay a premium to get up to five extra inches of legroom - and provide a source of more revenue. Southwest Airlines is axing its open seating but has said it will continue to allow passengers to check two bags for free The changes to some of Southwests quirky habits are designed to reverse its slumping stock price and to fend off hedge fund Elliott Investment Management that could cost Southwest leaders their jobs. It has been a busy week for the airline. On Wednesday, Southwest said it is cutting almost a third of its flights to and from Atlanta in a cost-cutting bid. The changes will cut more than 300 pilot and flight attendant jobs from Atlanta, but there will be no job losses. Staff will have to relocate to another hub. That schedule change came two days after bosses warned that the company will have to make some 'difficult decisions' under a plan to restore profits. The loss of flights at Atlanta is not as drastic as other changes in April, when Southwest axed flights to four airports and fired 2,000 staff. Southwest is desperately trying to cut costs as it battles Elliott Investment Management, a powerful hedge fund that has amassed a ten percent stake in the carrier. Elliott is demanding measures to cut costs and boost profits. Southwest first said it would ax its popular open seating policy in the summer - but only revealed fuller details today. The airline said it expects to begin selling assigned seats just like all other airlines in the second half of 2025 and launch flights under the new model in the first half of 2026. The open-boarding system it has used will disappear, and passengers will get to pick their seats in advance, just like on all the other big airlines. Southwest says its surveys show that 80 percent of its customers now want to know their seat before they get to the airport instead of having to search for open seats when they board the plane. As part of the switch, the airline will have four airfare tiers - with customers paying more extra for so-called premium seats that offer more convenience or comfort. Southwest officials told investors that focus groups and surveys revealed a strong customer desire for the ability to personalize their flight experiences in accordance with their budgets. The airline said it expects the premium product to appeal to business travelers. The introduction of assigned and premium seating also will require some changes to how passengers board planes before takeoff. In the past, Southwest customers were assigned their places in boarding lines based on when they checked in and then left to scramble for their preferred places on planes. The system had become less democratic over time as Southwest let people pay extra to guarantee early spots. The airline said that in the future, boarding groups no longer will be based on check-in times and its 'most loyal customers and those who purchase premium seating' will receive priority. But the airline made clear it would continue to allow passengers to check two bags for free. There have been fears about the future of the 'bags fly free' perk. Elliott is demanding it is ditched, saying that charging for baggage will bring in tens of millions of dollars in revenue. A report out earlier this year showed how airlines including Delta, United and American pocketed a staggering $33.3 billion from just baggage fees last year - a sharp 15 percent rise from $29 billion in 2022. Wall Street has long argued that Southwest is leaving money behind. But Southwest has built years of advertising campaigns around bags-fly-free. Taking away that perk could change the airline's DNA as much as - or maybe more - than dumping open seating. The airline said doing away with its policy 'would drive down demand and far outweigh any revenue gains created by imposing and collecting bag fees.' The carrier has already pulled passenger-friendly policies like open seating, as it attempts to fend off changes demanded by activist Elliott Investment Management The new steps will be announced during an investor day in Dallas, as investors like Elliott look to oust CEO Bob Jordan and instill a new board with its own nominees Southwest has been contemplating an overhaul for months, but the push for radical change became even more important to management this summer, when Elliott Investment Management targeted the company for its dismal stock performance since early 2021. Elliott is fighting to oust CEO Bob Jordan and instill a new board with its own nominees. Southwest, which once boasted a record 47 consecutive years of profit prior to the pandemic, is currently struggling to regain sustained profitability. Shawn Cole, a founding partner of executive search firm Cowen Partners, whose firm has worked for other airlines but not Southwest, believes Southwest is too insular and should follow the recent examples of Starbucks and Boeing and hire an outsider as CEO. He thinks many qualified executives would be interested in the job. 'It would be a challenge, no doubt, but Southwest is a storied airline that a lot of people think fondly of,' Cole said. 'If Boeing can do it, Southwest can do it.' The board of global energy giant bp plc is holding its meeting in India, reflecting the importance of the country and its confidence in the opportunities it presents, the firm said on Wednesday. The board of bp began a 5-day visit on September 23, holding board sub-committee meetings as well as meeting government leaders and business partners. In between, it will hold its full board meeting. This is the second time that the bp board is holding its meeting in India. The firms board had visited India in May 2013, two years after the firm spent USD 7.2 billion in buying a 30 per cent stake in 23 oil and gas blocks of Reliance Industries Ltd. Just like 2013, the bp board met Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri over dinner on Tuesday evening, flew to Gadimoga in Andhra Pradesh for a visit to the landing point of gas produced from deepsea in Krishna Godavari basin, and will meet partner Reliance Industries officials in Mumbai. It will also visit bps global business services centre in Pune. In 2013, the bp board including the then chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg and then CEO Bob Dudley dined with the then Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily and partner Reliance Industries officials including chairman Mukesh Ambani, visited their flagship KG-D6 fields in Bay of Bengal and called on the then President Pranab Mukherjee. The 5-day visit of the bp board reflects bps significant and growing presence in India and its commitment to further develop its businesses in and with the country, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. Recognising Indias key role in global energy demand, during their visit the board will also hold meetings with the Indian government and bps business partners, as well as visiting key bp India locations. The statement, however, did not elaborate on the meetings or the venue of the board meeting. On meeting Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri, bp chair Helge Lund commented, bp is committed to working closely with the government of India to support its changing energy needs. By leveraging our combined experience and expertise with our partners, we aim to facilitate the secure, affordable, and lower carbon growth of Indias energy resources to meet the increasing demand. Bp chief executive Murray Auchincloss added: There is huge potential for bp to work even more closely with India. We see growing business opportunities, including through our world-class partnership with Reliance (Industries Ltd), producing the countrys gas and growing our joint retail presence. In turn, Indias highly skilled engineering and scientific talent can help us deliver our targets more effectively, efficiently and rapidly. Kartikeya Dube, bps Head of Country said, India is an important part of bps strategy as we transform into an integrated energy company. Building on the century-old legacy with India through our Castrol brand, our presence across the gas value chain, mobility retail businesses and our global business and technology centre, we expect to grow a material business here, and help support Indias aspiration for energy independence by 2047. Days after low-cost carrier SpiceJet raised Rs 3000 crore from institutional investors, the airline promptly cleared pending salary dues estimated to over Rs 80 crore. It is believed that the beleaguered low-cost airline will use much of the remaining funds to settle dues with a host of creditors from leasing companies to airports. However, even if much of the funds the airline has raised will go towards clearing dues, the fact is that SpiceJet did successfully manage to raise this large sum of money. This is despite the airline having to face a litany of problems and constantly being dragged to the courts by everyone from the previous owners, the Maran family of the Sun Group to various leasing firms. In fact, just last week the Supreme Court upheld a Delhi High Court order mandating the return of three engines used by the airline on their Boeing 737 aircraft. With leasing companies asking the airline to pay up, and taking their aircraft away, the airline is down to just having 21 operational aircraft according to website airfleets.net. This is a precipitous decline from the halcyon days of the airline before Covid when the airline had almost five times as many aircraft in its fleet and was the first Indian operator of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. However, the one-two punch of the coronavirus shutdown and the grounding of the Boeing 737MAX fleet worldwide following two deadly disasters almost knocked the airline out. But this is not a time to dwell on the past, the fact is that despite difficult odds the airline has managed to raise a large sum of money from Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) with institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Nomura and Tata Mutual Fund subscribing to the issue. The quality of investment is a very positive indicator of the future prospects of the airline. SpiceJet has a lot to do, first and foremost to regain the confidence of employees, service providers and most importantly customers. They can do this by becoming more reliable and offering more services. Due to issues with leasing companies, the airline has been forced to wet-lease temporary aircraft from airlines in Cambodia and Turkey. They should now concentrate on operating their own fleet and by repaying dues owed to leasing firms, rebuild their confidence in SpiceJet as a reliable airline. There is now talk of the airline growing to 100 aircraft by the end of 2026. If this fructifies, it is a welcome move as the Indian aviation sector needs the competition as the domination of IndiGo and Air India/Air India Express leave customers with little choice. This duopoly needs to be challenged, and SpiceJet was a capable third player in the sector. Now, however, they will have to deal with increased competition from the likes of Akasa. That said, the growth prospects for the Indian aviation sector are extremely high. Between January and June 2024, domestic air traffic numbered 79.35 million passengers, which was a growth at 4.28 percent from the same period last year. The growth could have been higher still had it not been for the collapse of Go First last year and persistent engine problems with Pratt&Whitney GTF engines plaguing IndiGo leading to almost a quarter of their fleet grounded. If SpiceJet can get their act together, and there is no reason to doubt that they cant after the fund-raise, the Indian aviation sector could easily grow to 250 million passengers per year by 2028. Pec Signs MoU with PSPCL Patiala: Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today, aimed at fostering technical support and research collaborations. Inter-College Youth Festivals from September 28 Amritsar: Inter-College Cultural competitions, the Youth Festivals of Guru Nanak Dev University will be held from September 28, 2024. The Zonal Youth Festival will feature an array of performances and competitions, including music, dance, art, and theater. GNDU participated in Science Summit AMRITSAR: Guru Nanak Dev University participated in Science Summit for the third time in a row with three online sessions under the leadership of Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor. GNDU among six institutes for AMRUT funded centre AMRITSAR: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has selected Guru Ramdas School of Planning, GNDU as AMRUT funded centre of Urban Planning for Capacity Building. NGEL Inks JV Agreement with MAHAPREIT NEW DELHI: NTPC Green Energy Limited, entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd. (MAHAPREIT) on 25th September 2024. SRM Hospital OPENS Tobacco Cessation Centre Kattankulathur: SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre (SRM SKMCH&RC) has inaugurated a Tobacco Cessation Centre at its Kattankulathur location. The center, located at the Psychiatry OPD (C-1/37), First Floor, C Block, will operate from Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 2 PM. Government High School Khataraye Kalan Renamed AMRITSAR: The Punjab government has approved the renaming of government schools to honor prominent freedom fighters and martyrs, aiming to commemorate their sacrifices for the country's independence. GNDU organised orientation workshop AMRITSAR: An orientation workshop for college eco-club in-charges from seven districts was organized by the College Development Council, Guru Nanak Dev University under the Environment Education Programme. By boosting productivity, promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact, these technologies offer a pathway for sustainable future As the global population heads toward an estimated 10 billion by 2050, the agricultural sector faces mounting pressure to significantly increase food production. For India, with its vast and diverse agricultural landscape, this presents a critical challenge. Traditional farming methods alone will not be enough to meet the needs of a growing population while also addressing the threats posed by climate change, dwindling natural resources and the imperative for sustainable practices. In this context, agri-tech, the convergence of technology and agriculture, offers a transformative pathway forward. By integrating cutting-edge digital technologies into farming, India has the potential to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience. This article explores how these emerging technologies are reshaping the agricultural sector in India, positioning it to meet the demands of the future. Agriculture at a Crossroads : For decades, agriculture has been the backbone of India's economy, employing over 50 per cent of the workforce and contributing significantly to GDP. However, the sector is now facing unprecedented strain. The growing population, along with environmental challenges such as erratic weather patterns, water scarcity, and soil degradation, has placed the industry at a critical juncture. The traditional methods of farming are no longer sufficient to meet the increasing demand for food while preserving the environment. This is where agri-tech comes into play, providing innovative solutions that can transform Indian agriculture by improving efficiency and promoting sustainable practices. Precision Agriculture: Data-Driven Farming: One of the most promising advancements in agri-tech is precision agriculture, which leverages technologies such as GPS, IoT sensors, and drones to optimise farming operations. By gathering and analysing real-time data on factors like soil health, weather conditions, and crop growth, precision agriculture enables farmers to make informed decisions. This approach helps in the efficient use of water, fertilisers, and pesticides, minimising waste and environmental harm while maximising crop yields. In India, the adoption of precision agriculture is accelerating. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), these techniques have the potential to increase yields by 15-25 per cent while reducing input costs by 10-15 per cent. The precision agriculture market in India is expected to grow significantly, from USD 57.6 million in 2020 to USD 124.2 million by 2025. Government initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for water conservation and the Soil Health Card Scheme for better fertiliser management are further driving this growth. AI and Machine Learning: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are also playing a crucial role in modernising Indian agriculture. By analysing vast amounts of data from satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and historical crop performance, AI algorithms can predict potential problems like pest outbreaks and suggest the best times for planting. AI-powered platforms are already being used to predict pest infestations and optimise pesticide use, potentially reducing the need for harmful chemicals by up to 30 per cent. Ensuring Transparency: Blockchain technology is emerging as a revolutionary tool in agricultural supply chains. By offering a decentralised ledger for recording transactions, blockchain ensures transparency, reduces fraud, and promotes fair trade practices. For farmers, suppliers, and consumers alike, blockchain provides verifiable information about the origin and journey of food products, ensuring adherence to sustainability standards. The blockchain market in India's agriculture and food supply chain is expected to grow at a CAGR of 47.8 per cent, reaching USD 289 million by 2027. IoT and Smart Farming: The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionising how farmers monitor and manage their crops. IoT devices, such as soil moisture sensors and weather stations, provide real-time data on environmental conditions, allowing for better decision-making in the field. For example, smart irrigation systems can adjust water usage based on real-time data, saving water and improving crop health. The IoT in agriculture market in India is projected to reach USD 634.5 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.5 per cent. Use ofDrones: Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, drones provide farmers with detailed aerial imagery of their fields. This helps in identifying issues such as nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, and water stress. Farmers can then take targeted actions, reducing waste and environmental damage. The use of drones in Indian agriculture is expected to grow substantially, with the market anticipated to reach USD 108 million by 2025. (The writer is chief growth officer with Arahas Technologies; views are personal) Quad summit focused on maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region as its top priority Prime Minister Modis high-profile visit to the US this week reiterated the salience of US-India bilateral, underscored by several key decisions with a clear focus on the future of this 21st century partnership. This visit by the Indian PM, coming after his trips to Russia and Ukraine, points towards a multi-pronged approach, where India is willing to have diplomatic engagements at the highest level, keeping its national interests sacrosanct. That PM Modi and President Biden have found a mutual friendship framework, despite the Indian PM having held a political roadshow of sorts with his predecessor in the Oval Office, is a signal to the large world, that the US-India bilateral has bipartisan support. The Quas leaders summit, Modis rockstar concert-style engagement with the Indian diaspora and his meeting with top CEOs from the technology sector in the US, all point towards an escape velocity having been achieved by the US and India, with no scope of a look back. China was the invisible elephant in the room, at the Quad leaders summit. The statement from the Quad summit without naming an aggressive, maritime international law violator, China, mentioned As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally stand for the maintenance of peace and stability across this dynamic region, as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity. We strongly oppose any destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. We condemn recent illicit missile launches in the region that violate UN Security Council resolutions. We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominatedone where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures. We are united in our commitment to upholding a stable and open international system, with its strong support for human rights, the principle of freedom, rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes and prohibition on the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. Respect for the leadership of regional institutions, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), is and will remain at the centre of the Quads efforts. While Quad is not a defence partnership like NATO, the presence of a global superpower, China with its coercive maneuverers in the entire Indian Ocean region, bore heavily on the leaders during the summit in Delaware. Delhi, Delaware (President Bidens hometown), Syndey, and Tokyo are keenly watching the international waters, and violations by China have been reported. The leaders announced Today we are announcing a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), to enable our partners in the region to maximise tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad partner initiatives, to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behavior. We look forward to India hosting the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025. In addition, Quad partners intend to layer new technology and data into IPMDA over the coming year, to continue to deliver cutting edge capability and information to the region. China would continue to be a key concern for Quad leaders, and would perhaps serve as the super glue closely packing these four countries, with major interest in the Indo-Pacific region in a tighter embrace. The next Quad leaders summit is likely to be hosted by Delhi, where a new US president is likely to be the key guest of honour. Given that ex-President Trump had encouraged the Quad grouping and President Biden has elevated it to leaders summit, it is safe to assume that QUAD is here to stay. (The writer is a policy analyst; views are personal) Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh was summoned to Delhi and reprimanded by the Congress brass over a controversial order issued by his department mandating food outlets across the State to display the name and address of their owners, which has however been withdrawn. Facing flak by the party high command the Himachal Pradesh Government on Thursday said no such decision has been taken. The State Government in a statement said it has not taken any decision that makes it mandatory for street vendors to display nameplates or other identification at their stalls. The development came as the Congress came under fire on social media as well as within the party over the move as it had criticised a similar move by the Uttar Pradesh Government during the Kanwar Yatra a few weeks back. Sources said Vikramaditya has been asked not to give controversial remarks on this matter. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was upset with Vikramaditya. The Himachal Urban Development Ministrys order came under criticism from Congress leader TS Singh Deo, who called it a reprehensible and discriminatory move. BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said Singh must stick to his words. If Vikramaditya Singh has talked about implementing vendors policy on the pattern of Uttar Pradesh, he should stick to his words, Thakur, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, said. Last week, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania constituted a seven-member committee headed by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan for the framing of a policy for Street Vendors, according to a statement. The decision to register outside workers with their identity came following massive protests weeks ago for the demolition of alleged unauthorised portions of a mosque in Sanjauli. Demonstrations were held across the state by Hindu outfits, who demanded workers coming from outside to work in Himachal Pradesh be registered. Citing alleged incidents of spitting and mixing of urine in eatables, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on Tuesday ordered operators, proprietors, and managers of food stalls to mandatorily display their names and addresses at their shops. He also ordered that chefs and waiters must wear masks and gloves, and made mandatory that CCTV cameras be mounted in hotels and restaurants. The Central Bureau of Investigation has reasons to believe that a section of Kolkata Police officials had tried to create fake documents in the Kolkata lady doctor rape and murder case. In its remand letter submitted before Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sealdah the CBI has said that the officials at Tala Police Station which has jurisdiction over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where the August 9 rape and murder took place had tried to create and alter certain documents that could change the direction of the case. Hearing a writ petition the Calcutta High Court had transferred the case to the CBI following allegations that the Kolkata Police was trying to suppress facts. While seeking an extended remand for former Officer in-charge of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal and arrested former RGKMCH Principal Sandip Ghosh the CBI has told the Court that some additional facts had surfaced during the investigation of the two accused persons. During custodial interrogation of both the accused persons, new/ additional facts have emerged to the effect that some false records pertaining to the instant case were created/ altered in the police station, the CBI letter said. The agency also told the court that the CCTB footages of the said police station had been confiscated and handed over to the Central Forensic Laboratory for analysis. The parents of the victim had also alleged similar things before the media. We had told repeatedly how we were given three versions of sudden illness, suicide and then death over telephone before we rushed to the hospital then in the hospital we were made to sit for three hours while her mother literally held their feet to let her see her daughters face once, said the father of the victim. The ordeal did not end there as the old parents were made to sit in the Tala Police Station for more than an hour and were repeatedly monitored while they wrote the FIR. They also forcefully cremated my daughter without our wishes as we wanted to get a second postmortem conducted as the autopsy was done post sundown defying the general protocol in the Kolkata Police manual, they alleged. Incidentally, the postmortem was done not on the request of a DCP but that of a sub-inspector, a letter recovered by the CBI showed. The CBI has been trying to find out who was instructing Mondal and also who was instructing the person and who was instructing the arrested police officer and for what reason, sources said adding everything will become clear in the coming weeks when the call details and forensic reports come up. Both Ghosh and Mondal were arrested by the CBI on charges of tampering evidence whereas prime accused Sanjoy Das was arrested by the Kolkata Police for perpetrating the rape and murder of a post graduate lady doctor of Chest Medicine Department of the Hospital. Though Ghosh has been arrested for tampering evidence, the CBI is not ruling out his culpability in the original crime, inside sources said adding the investigators were also working on additional inputs that have come up from the initial analysis of the former Principals mobile tower locations. According to sources, Ghoshs tower location was in and around the hospital in the wee hours of August 9 when the crime took place. Besides, some video footages allegedly found in the mobile phone of the victim also have increased suspicion on Ghosh, sources said adding, the victim doctor was not simply raped and murdered but he might have been raped and murdered as a part of a larger plan to eliminate her because she had come to know about some secret and was coming in the way of something very serious and illegal that was being done by these people. Sources said that the victim had even once approached Ghosh with some complaints on how some illegal acts including distribution of spurious and below quality drugs were taking place inside the hospital. The Principal had allegedly asked her to stop being too much inquisitive about things lest her career got ruined. Meanwhile, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday held a long meeting with the top Health Department officials including the principals of the 33 medical colleges, the Chief Medical Officers and members of the police force with a view to improve the health infrastructure of the State including the security network as was being demanded be the junior doctors. We discussed and took decisions on several issues including installation of CCTVs, construction of washrooms and restrooms in hospitals and conducting security audits from time to time we have earmarked Rs 100 crore for improvement of security infrastructure, the Chief Minister said. A day before the Delhi Universitys Student Union (DUSU) polls, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers participated in a cleanliness drive while National Students Union of India (NSUI) demanded that the administration and the Delhi Police to ensure fair and transparent conduct of the elections on Thursday. A blame game also erupted between the student unions as the ABVP alleged that students were being taken to a party organised by the NSUI where they got injured in road accident. Meanwhile, NSUI claimed that it is a false allegation and they hadnt organised any party. It is ABVPs cheap tactic to defame us. Our manifesto is an answer to their allegations and we follow Lyngdoh committee rules and regulations, the student outfit said in a statement. Earlier, ABVP has alleged that NSUI was luring students of Sister Nivedita College of Delhi University to Mojoland Water Park in Murthal, Haryana for a party on Thursday, when an accident took place on the way in which two students were seriously injured and other students were also injured. The seriously injured students are admitted in a hospital in Dwarka area of Delhi for surgery, they stated. They condemned NSUI for playing with the safety of DU girl students and corrupting the student union elections by using money and power. ABVPs National Minister Shivangi Kharwal said, On Wednesday, NSUI goons forcefully entered Miranda House of Delhi University and then by luring the students of Sister Nivedita College, they took them out of Delhi without the permission of the college administration and the parents of the students, where the students got seriously injured in the accident. Addressing a press conference, Varun Choudhary, president of the Congress-affiliated NSUI alleged that people linked to the ABVP and RSS had been appointed electoral officers for the polls. "Individuals previously associated with the ABVP are now serving as election commissioners that can influence the election results," Choudhary said. To maintain the integrity of the election process, proctors with ties to the RSS should also be barred from election duty, he said. The Congress-backed organisation, however, expressed confidence that it would win this year's elections and claimed that the NSUI's vision addressed key issues for students such as fee hikes, infrastructure deficiencies and women's safety. Moreover, ABVP panel appealed to the students to vote 100 percent in the Delhi University Students Union elections to be held on September 27 and stated that it trended on social media. The party expressed its excitement about the elections and stated that it is confident of winning all four seats. Its workers also cleaned the campus by running a cleanliness drive in the North Campus of Delhi University. ABVP National General Secretary Yagyavalkya Shukla said, DUSU elections are a festival for the students of Delhi University. To make this festival a success, we appeal to the students of Delhi University to vote 100 percent. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday, attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government after Indias apex drugs regulatory body found that samples of around 50 drugs were of substandard quality, and asked what action has been taken. The Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation has reportedly found that samples of around 50 drugs, including that of widely-used paracetamol, pantoprazole and some antibiotics for treating bacterial infections, were of substandard quality. In a post on X, Yadav said, Todays corrupt BJP government should answer, will taking such medicine cure or make you sick? As long as BJP keeps collecting donations from companies, the business of low-quality medicines will continue. Will any action be taken even after this report or will the matter be hushed up by increasing the rate of donations. This BJP game of playing with the lives of the public is not good. Condemnable! the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh said. On 24 September, Nagpur rural police claimed to have busted an interstate racket involving distribution of counterfeit medicines and arrested three people in this connection. The racket operated across Maharashtra and neighbouring states Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Haryana, they said. The accused supplied counterfeit versions of widely prescribed medical drugs such as Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Amoxicillin, Cefixime and Azithromycin under brand names of non-existent firms like Lab Evertouch Bio Remedies and M/s Ginx Pharmakon LLP, police said. | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated on Thursday that the Bharatiya Janata Party is essential for development and security in Jammu and Kashmir. He stated, With the return of the BJP, PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) is set to become a part of India. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath began his campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections on Thursday. Yogi sought votes for Ramgarh candidate Devendra Kumar Maniyal, Vijaypur candidate Chandraprakash Ganga, Samba candidate Surjit Singh, RS Pura candidate Dr Narinder Singh Raina, Suchetgarh candidate Prof Gharuram Bhagat and Bishnah candidate Rajiv Bhagat. BJPs Jammu and Kashmir unit president Ravindra Raina joined Yogi Adityanath at the RS Pura rally. Due to inclement weather, Yogi Adityanath sent a message via mobile, urging voters to support BJP candidate Rajiv Sharma from Chhamb. During a public meeting in the Ramgarh assembly constituency, Yogi Adityanath asserted that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will soon become a part of India with the BJPs return to power. He said, Pakistan is struggling to save democracy. Voices for separation are rising in PoK. If elections were conducted in Muzaffarabad alongside the Jammu and Kashmir polls, it would send a positive message. Balochistan itself is stating that its chemistry does not align with Pakistan, as Pakistan is a cancer to humanity, and the world should aim to eradicate it. Yogi highlighted the significant benefits provided by the Indian government, stating that 80 crore people in India receive free ration, 60 crore are covered by health insurance of Rs 5 lakh per year, and 12 crore benefit from Kisan Samman Nidhi. He also mentioned that 10 crore poor people received toilets in their homes and another 10 crore received cooking gas cylinders under the Ujjwala Yojana. In Jammu and Kashmir, 2.75 lakh poor individuals benefited from the PM Awas Yojana. In contrast, he pointed out that in beggar Pakistan, people are struggling for food. Stating that Prime Minister Modi fulfilled Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjees dream by abrogating Article 370, Yogi remarked, The nursery of terrorism has come to an end. The Congress, PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) and National Conference had turned Jammu and Kashmir into a warehouse of terrorism, but with Narendra Modi as prime minister and Amit Shah as home minister, terrorism is on its way out, and stone pelters have vanished. Mentioning the contributions of Maharaja Hari Singh, Premnath Dora and Brigadier Rajendra Singh, Chief Minister Yogi emphasised that these heroes had transformed Jammu and Kashmir into a paradise on earth. However, he criticised the Congress, PDP and NC for allegedly turning the region into a hub of religious frenzy. Yogi stated, This election is an opportunity to teach them a lesson. Prime Minister Modi facilitated the construction of the Kartarpur corridor. While the Congress celebrated Pandit Jawaharlal Nehrus birthday as Childrens Day, Prime Minister Modi has chosen to commemorate Veer Bal Diwas on December 26, honouring the memories of Guru Gobind Singhs four Sahibzadas. This significant event is also celebrated in Uttar Pradesh on the same day. Yogi Adityanath highlighted the transformation of Jammu and Kashmir, stating, You have witnessed the new Jammu and Kashmir of the new India. This is no longer a terrorism state; it has emerged as an exceptional tourism destination. During the tenure of Congress, PDP and NC, one had to make appeals for hoisting the tricolour here, but now we host the G-20 Summit. He added: Previously, there were threats against the Amarnath yatra, and people from these parties would tremble at the thought. Now, people from across the country and the world come to visit Baba Barfani and Maa Vaishno. Yogi Adityanath criticised the opposition, saying, Congress, NC and PDP operate like private limited companies that should be shut down in politics. These parties failed to provide reservations for Dalits, Bakarwals and Paharis, and made no sincere efforts to integrate local castes into the mainstream. Those whose properties were seized in 1947 and those who migrated from Pakistan were denied citizenship. He further asserted, When Modi and Shah introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act, these parties opposed it vehemently. The 1990s marked a peak of sins committed by Congress, PDP and NC, during which Kashmiri Pandits faced brutal persecution. Instead of supporting them, these parties sided with terrorists. Only the BJP stood in solidarity with the suffering Kashmiri Pandits. Yogi Adityanath criticised former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for imposing Article 370. The exodus of Kashmiri Pandits is a consequence of Congress and Pt Nehrus policies, he remarked. The UP chief minister highlighted key infrastructure developments such as the Chenab Bridge, Zojila Pass and the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee tunnel, as well as the introduction of the Vande Bharat Train between Delhi and Katra, asserting that these developments signify the progress of both the country and Jammu and Kashmir under BJP leadership. He stated, BJP and Modi embody the aspirations of both the nation and this region. Yogi Adityanath pointed out that despite Congress extended rule, the Ayodhya issue remained unresolved until the BJP took charge, leading to the peaceful construction of the Ram temple without any negative consequences. The temple was built without harming anyone. Mafias have been eliminated, ensuring safety for ordinary citizens. Congress, PDP and NC are the problem, while BJP is the solution. Congress misled the public with false promises and planted the seeds of terrorism, extremism, Naxalism, linguistic and regional divisions and casteism which weakened Hindus, he said. Continuing his criticism, Yogi Adityanath highlighted that during the Congress-led government at the Centre and its allies in Jammu and Kashmir, incidents of stone-pelting were rampant. He accused the opposition of prioritising personal interests over the welfare of the region, stating, These people had handed over guns to those who have tablets in their hands today. NC, PDP and Congress used to loot the funds of this region, spending eight months a year traveling through Europe and England. Yogi Adityanath reiterated that the BJP is committed to the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, while firmly opposing any form of appeasement. He emphasised that the BJP is a symbol of security, good governance and development, asserting that wherever the BJP governs, a new model of development emerges. He declared that Uttar Pradesh has firmly established itself as a growth engine in the new India, reflecting the partys vision and dedication to progress. Yogi Adityanath posed a series of questions to Rahul Gandhi regarding the National Conferences proposal for a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir, asking whether he supports this move. He questioned if Gandhi endorses the NCs demand to reinstate Articles 370 and 35A, which he argued would lead Jammu and Kashmir back into unrest and terrorism. He further asked if Congress backs the promotion of separatism through negotiations with Pakistan at the expense of Kashmirs youth and if they support the National Conferences decision to initiate LOC trade with Pakistan, which he claimed would foster cross-border terrorism. He continued: Does Congress endorse terrorism and unrest by providing government jobs to the relatives of stone-pelters and separatists? Congress appears to be showcasing an anti-reservation stance alongside the National Conference. While Prime Minister Modi has extended reservation benefits to Dalits, Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis, does Congress support the NCs proposal to abolish these provisions? Furthermore, he said, Does Congress wish for Shankaracharya Parvat to be referred to as Takht-e-Sulaiman, and Hari Parvat as Koh-e-Maran? Is Congress in favour of transferring Jammu and Kashmirs economy to a select few linked to Pakistan, effectively reverting it to a state of corruption? Additionally, does Congress support the NCs politics of discrimination between Jammu and the valley? Do Congress and Rahul Gandhi back the NCs divisive policies advocating for Kashmir's autonomy? Former Haryana Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Hooda on Wednesday alleged that the BJP has an anti-constitution and anti-reservation mindset and ate away reservations of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Campaigning for the partys candidate Pooja Chaudhary in the Mulana Assembly constituency, Hooda slammed the BJP for its efforts to end reservations and reduce access to education. The BJP has looted the reservation of Dalits and backward classes by ending permanent jobs and implementing Haryana Kaushal Rojgar Nigam, he said at a public meeting in Barada. Similarly, by closing 5,000 government schools and handing over the government education system to private hands, the BJP has given the biggest blow to the reservation of the deprived classes. But now the time has come to curb this anti-constitutional policy of the BJP. This time the public has made up its mind to oust the BJP from power, Hooda added. Former CM said that this fight to save the Constitution and reservation is not only political for us but also personal because the Constitution made by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, which gave reservation to the Dalits and backward classes, also has the signature of my father late Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda. He had also worked as a member in the Constituent Assembly under the leadership of Babasaheb. Therefore, we will not let the anti-constitution and anti-reservation plans of the BJP succeed under any circumstances, the Congress leader said. Mayawati slams Rahul over his remarks on scrapping reservation Lashing out at the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, BSP supremo Mayawati on Wednesday alleged that he was adopting double standards on the reservation system for the Dalits and backward classes. Addressing a rally organised by the INLD-BSP alliance to mark the 111 birth anniversary of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal at Uchana Kalan in Jind, Mayawati projected Abhay Singh Chautala as the CM candidate and two deputy CMs, including one from the BSP, and other from backward or upper caste community. The BSP supremo went whole hog against Rahul, who in the US, said the Congress would think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place, which he said was not the case right now. When he is in India and campaigns during elections, he changes his stand like a chameleon and claims that hes in favour of the reservation system, said the BSP supremo. This is a double-standard policy of the Congress. The Dalits need to teach the Congress a lesson. Constitutional rights were given by Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar and not by the Congress, she said. To protect the Constitution, you should neither vote for the Congress nor for the BJP. Both parties have not cleared their views on the Supreme Courts August 1 judgment, which had mentioned ending creamy layer in the SC and put in a provision of sub-classification of quota system, she said. She said Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims and other communities were left behind in terms of development. Terming the Congress and the BJP as Jatiwadi parties, she said the Dalits and backward classes had not got full benefits of the reservation to date. The BJP and other parties are not filling vacancies in the states ruled by them as they want to convert them into the general category, she alleged. Punjab Govt releases Rs 2-cr for repair and maintenance of Ambedkar Bhawans Chandigarh: Punjab Government has allocated Rs two crore for the year 2024-25 for the repair and maintenance of Ambedkar Bhawans established in six districts of the state. Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Wednesday said that under the Dr BR Ambedkar Bhawan Construction Scheme, approval has been given to release funds. Specifically, Rs 30 lakh for Amritsar, Rs 30.85 lakh for Ferozepur, Rs 50 lakh for Patiala, Rs 20.50 lakh for Sangrur, Rs 23.47 lakh for Faridkot and Rs 45.18 lakh for Roopnagar have been allocated for the Ambedkar Bhawans in these districts. Assuming Charge, Mundian outlines his commitment for pro-people initiatives Chandigarh: Sahnewal MLA Hardeep Singh Mundian on Wednesday assumed charge as the Cabinet Minister for Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Water Supply and Sanitation and Housing and Urban Development. He outlined his commitment to introduce pro-people initiatives within the public delivery system to enhance the functionality of the Revenue and Housing and Urban Development departments. Additionally, he aims to bolster the state's water supply and sanitation infrastructure for the betterment of all residents. Dr Ravjot Assumes Charge, presides over introductory meeting with Local Govt officials Chandigarh: Dr Ravjot Singh on Wednesday assumed the charge of his office as Punjab Cabinet Minister for Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs in the presence of Hoshiarpur Raj Kumar Chabbewal, his colleague Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora and Harbhajan Singh ETO, family members, party MLAs, and dignitaries. Dr Ravjot pledged to diligently discharge his duties and make a meaningful contribution to the government's initiatives aimed at promoting the state's welfare and development. He also convened introductory meeting with Local Government Department officials, and issued directions to compile a comprehensive status report on these projects, aiming to identify and resolve challenges promptly, and ensuring timely completion. Construction commences for School of Eminence in Kiratpur Sahib Chandigarh: Punjab Government has taken a significant step towards fulfilling a decades-old demand of the historic town of Kiratpur Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib Assembly constituency with the construction work on two new blocks for the School of Eminence beginning here. The states Public Works Department officials initiated these projects on Wednesday in the presence of local residents, said the state Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. Kiratpur Sahib had been neglected for decades, and this development addresses a long-standing demand of the inhabitants of this historically and religiously significant town, he said. Delegation of 1158 Asst Profs, Librarians thanks CM Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday reiterated the state governments firm commitment to ensure the well being of every strata of society. Mann, during a meeting with the delegation of 1158 Assistant Professors and Librarians, who had called on the Chief Minister to express their gratitude after the verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, said that the State Government has made every effort to give relief to all sections of society. The delegation profusely thanked the Chief Minister for making every effort to bail them out from the legal tangle. Mann said that the State Government has evolved a foolproof mechanism for the entire recruitment process due to which not even a single appointment out of more than 45,000 have been challenged so far in any court. The Economic Offence Wing of Raipur has registered a case in the alleged Rs 2050 crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. Apart from the officials of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand IAS and the then Excise Secretary Vinay Chaubey has also been accused in this case. The Inspector of EOW Raipur first investigated the matter on the statement of Vikas Singh, a resident of Argora police station area of Ranchi and then registered a case. Vikas Singh has accused Chhattisgarh officials including Chhattisgarh retired IAS official Anil Tuteja, Raipur Mayors brother Anwar Dhebar, Arunpati Tripathi and their syndicate of causing a loss of revenue worth billions of rupees to the Chhattisgarh government by committing the liquor scam. It has also been said in the allegations that this syndicate, in connivance with the officials of Jharkhand, changed the excise policy of Jharkhand and damaged the revenue of the government. It has also been said in the allegations that the officials of both the states together have also committed a scam in manpower supply. According to the allegations, several meetings have taken place between the officials of both the states from December 2021 to January 2022. It is noteworthy that earlier in April 2023, IAS Vinay Chaubey and Karna Satyarthi had recorded their statements in the Raipur office of ED regarding the liquor scam. ED is also investigating the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case. ED has lodged an FIR in ACB. The investigating agency found in its investigation that the scam was carried out during the tenure of the then Bhupesh government through an illegal syndicate of IAS officer Anil Tuteja, MD of Excise Department Arunpati Tripathi and businessman Anwar Dhebar. From the year 2019 to 2022, illegal liquor was sold from government liquor shops by affixing duplicate holograms, causing a loss of revenue worth crores to the government. It may be noted that in May this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigating the money laundering in the alleged Rs 2,161-crore liquor scam case in Chhattisgarh has attached Rs 15-crore worth properties of retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja, who was arrested on April 21. In all, the Central agency has attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 205.49 crore, which also include 115 properties worth Rs 116.16 crore of another accused Anwar Dhebar, who is the brother of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar. The attached properties of Anwar Dhebar include Hotel Vennington Court in Raipur being run under the aegis of his firm A Dhebar Buildcon and a commercial building in the name of Accord Business Tower. CMPDI, RI-III, Ranchi signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Ramakrishna Mission TB Sanatorium, Tupudana, Ranchi for providing Financial assistance of Rs. Rs 55.86 Lakhs for the procurement of Medical equipment as part of CMPDI Corporate Social Responsibility. Shri Jayant Chakraborthy, RD, RI-III, Ranchi and Shri Swami Satsanganand, Secretary, RK mission TB sanatorium signed the MoA. This initiative will augment diagnostic and treatment capabilities at the Ramakrishna Mission TB Sanatorium, which will benefit the Marginalized community located in and around Ranchi. It is peritent to mention here that, CMPDI under CSR has donated an Ambulance and installed Ultrasound Machine- Colour Doppler system facility at Ramakrishna Mission TB Sanatorium, Tupudana, Ranchi in 2022. In another development CMPDI, RI-III, Ranchi signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Yathasambhav Prayas Sampurna Vikas (YPSV) to support the installation of 20 water coolers with Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) systems at 04 Panchayats of Ranchi district, Jharkhand. Jayant Chakraborthy, RD, RI-III, Ranchi and ndrajeet Kumar, Secretary, (YPSV) signed the MoA. This CSR initiative is aimed at enhancing access to safe drinking water. Water cooler will be installed at Makka Panchayat; Murupiri Panchayat; Chakme Panchayat (Burmu Block); Boreya Panchayat (Kanke Block) panchayats of Ranchi District, Jharkhand: Through this Initiative, CMPDIL is committed to improving the quality of life in these communities as part of its ongoing efforts under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The ghost of the Vyapam scam returned to haunt the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, coaxing the Opposition Congress to demand the resignations of two top party functionaries. Controversy erupted soon after the state government issued directives for the annulment of the services of 45 transport constables in the wake of Supreme Court directives that sought their ouster due to alleged irregularities in their recruitment. Prompt in its response, the Congress immediately pounced on the opportunity and sought the resignations of former Chief Minister and incumbent Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jagdish Devda, the current Deputy Chief Minister in the state. Leading the Opposition charge, former PCC chief Arun Yadav and former party spokesperson KK Mishra had a field day reviving the controversy that had claimed national headlines after it came to light in 2012. The annulment of the services of the transport constables was ordered by the Hon'ble Court in directives issued in August 2023 and April 2024. On Wednesday, the transport secretary issued directives annulling the services of the 45 transport employees in adherence to the orders of the Supreme Court. The Congress has consistently maintained that the recruitment of 198 transport constables in 2012 was riddled with irregularities and has repeatedly targeted the BJP state government with allegations of impropriety and corruption in the process.The BJP, on the other hand, has been equally vocal in refuting the Congress claims and has stuck to its stance, saying the recruitment process was fair and in accordance with the regulations. Now, with the Supreme Court directing the state government for the annulment of services, the Congress is seeking an explanation from the ruling party. Mishra, who currently serves as media advisor to PCC chief Jitu Patwari, said that the state government has to explain why the annulment of services was sought by the SC when it had submitted before the courts that the recruitments had followed due procedures. Then PCC chief, Arun Yadav, too sought to revive the issue by highlighting the steps taken by the Congress party to corner the state government over the alleged recruitment scam.The Vyapam controversy was certainly one of the biggest issues in the Congress arsenal against its arch-rival, the BJP, but many in the state capital believe that the Opposition has failed to capitalize on the issue due to deft handling by the ruling party. The orders of the Hon'ble Court and the subsequent directives of the state government having revived the controversy, it remains to be seen if the Opposition will finally manage to settle scores. The Delhi Assembly on Thursday witnessed a heated discussion between the ruling AAP and the opposition on the first day of a two-day session over the termination of around 10,000 bus marshals, with both sides finally supporting a resolution to restore their jobs. Participating the short duration discussion on the regularization of DTC bus marshals, AAP MLAs Kuldeep Kumar, Rohit Kumar and Abdul Rehman hit out at Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena and the BJP holding them responsible for the bus marshals losing their jobs and their plight due to a non-payment of salaries. AAP MLAs, including Madan Lal and Jarnail Singh, accused a BJP MLA of uttering objectionable words against the bus marshals and calling them "rapists". They claimed that these civic defence workers belonged to the poor families and they not only provided safety and security to the women and children in DTC and cluster buses but also did the same for the families. The BJP MLAs opposed the charge and accused the AAP of doing politics on the issue. Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta alleged that the AAP government had betrayed the bus marshals. He claimed that in a letter to the LG on October 11, 2023, then chief minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote that "the correct legal position may be ascertained and till its determined, services of all civil defence volunteers may be terminated by October". Gupta also proposed that a resolution be passed in the House to restore the jobs of the bus marshals and provide them with "permanent" employment. In his reply to the discussion, minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the lives of 10,000 bus marshals have been ruined as they have not been paid their salaries. They are unable to meet their basic needs, the minister added. He alleged that since Saxena took over as the LG, it has become a "pattern" that officers will find some fault or the other with a scheme that is to be stalled. "The salaries of 10,000 bus marshals were stopped in January 2023 because of officers in the transport department who questioned the deployment of civil defence bus marshals because public transport buses had CCTV cameras for the purpose of security," Bharadwaj claimed. This observation by the officers was opposed by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and Revenue Minister Atishi, he said. Atishi has since been sworn in as the chief minister after Kejriwal stepped down.Bharadwaj said in his letter, Kejriwal had also sought disciplinary action against the officers responsible for stopping the bus marshals' salaries. "If the BJP is ready, we are ready to restore their jobs. A resolution can be passed by the House," he said and added that a resolution already passed on the issue on February 29 can be passed again. Bharadwaj also suggested that the resolution should have a paragraph that both the AAP and BJP MLAs will go to meet the LG at 11 am on October 3 (the first day of Navratri) and not return back till the implementation of the resolution is ensured. Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel put the resolution to vote and it was passed by a voice vote. However, Goel said the leader of opposition was backing out from the proposal to go to the LG's office for its implementation. Doctors serving the government of Jharkhand will get 13 months salary like the police department, because health service is also an emergency service like police service. The decision was taken in a high level meeting between Health Minister and officials and members of IMA and Jhasa on Wednesday. According to IMA much awaited demands related to medical, consensus was reached between the Health Minister, Principal Secretary, NRHM Director, IMA members and Jhasa members regarding amending the Clinical Establishment Act on the lines of UP. In the Clinical Establishment Act, there was a consensus on freeing up hospitals with up to 50 beds on the lines of Uttar Pradesh. The decision to issue the order related to this as soon as possible was taken by the Health Minister and the Principal Secretary. As per the order of the Supreme Court, there was a consensus on including the representative of the Indian Medical Association and Junior Doctors Association in the formation of the National Task Force. Health Minister Banna Gupta gave necessary instructions to the Deputy Commissioner of Sahibganj on mobile and said that the order related to this is being issued by the department. The Deputy Development Commissioner should be relieved from the post of nodal and instructions were given to stop action against on-duty doctors. Separate allocation of T.A./D.A will be given to the deputation doctor in Shravani Mela. In Lohardaga and other places where civil surgeons are in charge, orders related to declaring them D.D.O. will be issued as soon as possible. Whatever committee will be formed at the state/ district/ subdivision level, the IMA representative will also be a member in it as before. Consensus was reached on taking necessary decisions related to the safety of women doctors. In the meeting, mainly Dr. Ajay Singh, Dr. R.S. Das, Dr. Pradeep Singh, Dr. Vimlesh, Dr. Shambhu Prasad, Dr. Mrityunjay, Dr. Saurabh Chaudhary and Dr. Stiphen Khess were present. The Delhi High Court on Thursday halted the counting of votes of DUSU elections, which are scheduled on Friday, till all the defacement material, including posters, hoarding and graffiti, is removed and public property is restored. A bench of Chief Justice-designate Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said the elections process may proceed but the counting of votes will not take place till the court is satisfied that defacement of property has been removed. This court directs that the elections process may proceed yet no counting of votes shall take place either on Delhi University (Students' Union) elections or on college elections till this court is satisfied that posters, hoardings, graffiti, spray paints are removed and public property is restored, the bench said. It directed the varsity to file a fresh status report and to ensure that EVMs and ballot boxes, to be used in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, are kept secured in a safe place till further orders. The court also directed the Delhi University to pay the expenses incurred by the civic authorities, including MCD and Delhi Metro, in removing the defacement and added that the varsity may recover the amount from the candidates thereafter. Delhi University has to bear the cost for this. Civic agencies can't be made to suffer due to this. You (DU) are not doing anything, you don't have a system in place. DU was merrily going around with it. You never came to the court that guidelines were being violated by the candidates, it was private persons who approached the court and apprised us of the situation, the bench said. It said the varsity, where lakhs of students are studying, is not able to deal with the 21 candidates and added that the problem was lack of will and lack of courage. These 21 students are bringing a bad name to the university. How can you allow this to happen? You have to exercise your powers, you don't have to be scared of anyone, the bench said and listed the matter for further proceedings on October 21. During the hearing, the counsel for the DU submitted that out of the three options suggested by the court on Wednesday, counting of votes can be withheld. The petitioners, however, urged the court to cancel the elections till the time the defacement is cleaned. The court had suggested that the university should defer the elections, scheduled for September 27, or disqualify the candidates and start nomination afresh or should allow polling but not declare the results till all the defacement is removed. The court was hearing a plea seeking action against the prospective DUSU candidates and student outfits involved in damaging, defacing, soiling or destroying the beauty of public walls. Petitioner Prashant Manchanda, a practising advocate, also sought action against those involved in damaging classrooms, thus denying the citizens a clean and beautiful environment and surroundings free from defacement as well as depriving the students of their right to education. He also sought a direction to erring candidates and their parties to remove the defacement and refurbish the areas and further take efforts for beautification of the destroyed portions. On Wednesday, another petition by a group of students studying at DU came up for hearing. The petitioners, represented by advocate Govind Jee, highlighted the alleged nuisance, disruptions and other activities like defacement of public property under the guise of DUSU elections. MBABANE PUDEMO has alleged that its exiled President Mlungisi Makhanya was poisoned by a young boy, who was used by clandestine forces opposed to the organisations mission. In a press conference yesterday, the Peoples United Democratic Congress (PUDEMO) leadership avoided to reveal the name of the suspect, who was Makhanyas housemate, but alleged that he had been used to end Makhanyas life. The age of the young man was not stated. Makhanya was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, after he was found writhing with abdominal pain in a house that he occupied in SA. The location of the house has not been mentioned, because of the belief that Makhanya is living in exile. Announced PUDEMO Deputy President Wandile Dludlu announced that his organisation had analysed the poisonous substance that was used in the attempted murder. He said it was known as organophosphates and is manufactured for pest control. He said the organisation has gathered from close family members that Makhanya is now in a stable condition. The president, through the medical team, has been stabilised. Though he remains in a very critical condition, we remain indebted to the special medical team which is doing an extremely encouraging and commendable job. They are monitoring his condition closely, to ensure that the president continues to improve. We can say the president has been poisoned, as it is an assassination attempt. The poison used is called organophosphates and it is not possible for an ordinary person to procure it from the streets or anywhere. This indeed has assisted us to reaffirm that the people responsible for this is the Eswatini Government, who are the handlers of this young boy who has been used as an agent of an evil intent that seeks to undermine the course of democracy in our country, he alleged. A SiSwati online publication revealed the name of the suspect, and mentioned that he was a close ally to Makhanya and they spent time together in the house. The publication claimed that it had details of how the issue unfolded and would release the information in due course, pending the anticipated improvement of Makhanyas condition. However, it alleged that the suspect gave Makhanya food that had been laced with the poison. After eating the food, Makhanya complained of stomach pains and rushed to the bathroom. The suspect is said to have then locked the president inside the house and left with his cellphones. Makhanya is said to have screamed for help, until he was rescued by neighbours, who rushed him to hospital. It is alleged that he revealed some of the details as first aid was being administered to him. Meanwhile, PUDEMO said it is encouraging that Makhanya survived the poisoning thus far, despite that the poison has been described as extremely dangerous. Its a miracle that he has survived more than two hours. Because the president is in the hearts of the people, said Dludlu. He alleged that he has no doubt that government is behind the attacks, given the history of violent attacked on Makhanya. He quoted an incident in which Makhanyas home was bombed by unknown people at Malindza, afterwhich he was forced to go into exile. Ever since that incident, Dludlu said there were other related threatening encounters that Makhanya endured. We have no doubt in our minds that this is the work of government, Dludlu alleged. He then alleged that two months ago, an incentive was publicised whereby E200 000 was offered for anyone who would apprehend freedom fighters. We are very clear that this is a political fight between the oppressed masses, who are fighting for freedom versus government. We want to give assurance that the struggle continues. As Mzwakhe Mbuli puts it God sustains. I am unsinkable, this struggle is unsinkable, he said. Also with him at the press conference were PUDEMO Treasurer General Velaphi Mamba, Secretary General Penwell Malinga, and others. PUDEMO was also cynical that the incident comes a few weeks before a planned pro-democracy protest in Eswatini next month, which Makhanya had been spearheading. Just hours before announcing the dates for the upcoming panchayat polls, Punjab Government on Wednesday undertook an extensive administrative overhaul. The sweeping reshuffle affected a total of 49 civil officials, comprising 11 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and 38 Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officers, along with 22 police officers. The State Governments decision to transfer a substantial number of officials comes amid heightened scrutiny over the electoral process. Among the prominent changes, Gurpreet Singh Aulakh has been appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of Tarn Taran. Additionally, VN Zade, who recently returned to Punjab, has been designated as Secretary of Expenditure in the Finance Department. Gauri Prashar Joshi, who was awaiting new assignments, has been entrusted with the roles of Special Secretary (Personnel) and Managing Director of the Punjab Small Industries Development Corporation (PSIDC). Noteworthy among the other officers transferred is Sanyam Aggarwal, who will take on the role of Director of Higher Education; while Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa has been appointed as the Bathinda Municipal Corporations Commissioner. Ankurjit Singh will lead the Jalandhar Development Authority as its new Chief Administrator. Additionally, Rahul Chaba has been designated as the new Commissioner for the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar, In addition to the civil service reshuffle, the Government also restructured its police administration by transferring 22 officials. Among these changes, SPS Parmar has been appointed as the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Law and Order, following his tenure leading a Special Investigation Team that investigated recent sacrilege incidents in the state. His new role is pivotal as Punjab gears up for the elections, and his experience is expected to ensure adequate security measures. Inspector General of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar has been reassigned as the Commissioner of Police in Amritsar, a position he previously held before being moved to the state police headquarters after the Lok Sabha elections in June. Other notable appointments include Dhanpreet Kaur as IG for the Ludhiana Range; and Mandeep Singh Sidhu, who previously served as Commissioner of Police in Ludhiana, now taking on the role of Deputy Inspector General for the Patiala Range. Ranjit Singh Dhillon has been designated as DIG for the Ferozepur Range, while Harcharan Singh Bhulla assumes the same role for the Bathinda district. The timing of these administrative changes is particularly significant, occurring just before the imposition of the model code of conduct. The code is designed to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, limiting the influence of governmental authority during the electoral process. This is the third extensive transfer of officers in the past fortnight, signaling an ongoing effort to revamp the civil administration in Punjab. Kejriwal reiterates support for farmers, promises development in Haryana Ambala: Addressing a public meeting in Meham assembly constituency, Arvind Kejriwal, national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday sought support for party candidate Vikas Nehra. Kejriwal reminded the gathering of his role in supporting the 13-month-long farmers agitation at Delhi borders, which led to Prime Minister Modi revoking the three agricultural laws. Kejriwal criticised BJP MP Kangana Ranauts demand to re-implement the laws and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattars statement doubting the authenticity of the protesting farmers. He shared his personal connection to the region, being born in Bhiwani and educated in Hisar and IIT Kharagpur, before working as Joint Commissioner in Income Tax Department. Cong a divided house in Haryana, says Khattar Ambala: Addressing party workers in Naraingarh of Ambala district, Union Minister and former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday appealed to the farmers and Punjabi community to vote in large numbers to form the BJPs government for the third time. Khattar said, We want to make a record and form the BJP government for the third time under the leadership of Nayab Singh Saini. He said the Congress party was trying hard to have a pre-poll alliance but has failed so far. Khattar added that the BJP had declared its probable CM candidate but the Congress was a divided house and engrossed in family politics. Amit Shah to address rally in Badshahpur Gurugram: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a public rally in support of Badshahpur constituency candidate Rao Narbir Singh on September 29. The rally will be organised in village Dhorka in Sector 95 of Badshahpur Assembly constituency. In a statement, a BJP leader said that the rally to be held on September 29 will create a new history in Haryana. Singh said while addressing a public meeting organised in Farukhnagar, Bhangrola and Garhi village during his election tour on Wednesday. He said that before the ticket allocation, he had met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah who promised him that he would come to Badshahpur in his support. Voter Information Slip being issued for voter facilitation: Haryana CEO Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal on Wednesday said that 'Voter Information Slips' are being issued to provide voters with information related to polling. The slip will include details such as the polling booth, serial no. of electoral roll, poll date and time, along with a QR code, but not the photograph of the voter. Agarwal directed all District Electoral Officers and Returning Officers to ensure that the Voter Information Slip is distributed to all enrolled voters at least five days before the polling date i.e 30 September. It was further clarified that the slip will not be accepted as proof of identity for voters. To make the electoral process more accessible for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and ensure their active participation, the Commission will issue Braille Voter Information Slips along with the regular slips for visually impaired voters. Additionally, to fulfill statutory requirements under Rule 31 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, and to ensure accurate and proper information for voter awareness at each polling station, four standardized 'Voter Facilitation Posters' (VFPs) will be prominently displayed, he added. Congress candidate Chander Mohan releases his manifesto for Panchkula Panchkula: Former Deputy Chief Minister and four-time MLA Chander Mohan on Wednesday presented his manifesto to the people of the Panchkula constituency. In the manifesto, Chander Mohan made several pledges for Panchkula. In a statement, Chander Mohan highlighted key issues such as providing a permanent solution to the dumping ground in Sector 23 and Jhurriwala, granting tubewell connections to farmers for electricity, constructing a 100-bed multi-specialty hospital in Barwala, eradicating menace of flies from the Barwala block, and addressing the issue of stray animals in Panchkula. Additionally, he promised to be available for his constituents 24/7, 365 days a year. He also pledged to start a pink bus service for women, set specific hours for women to meet officials in government offices, and ensure that farmers receive payment for their produce within 48 hours. Chander Mohan also vowed to turn Panchkula into a smart city and make Barwala a subdivision. He emphasized that this manifesto is not just a declaration but a solution to all the problems of the people. AAP supremo and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, along with his successor Atishi, inspected the roads in the city, stating that the works of public welfare "stalled by the BJP" will be resumed and all damaged roads in the city will be repaired. "I want to assure the people of Delhi that I have come back and the stalled works will be resumed. All their problems will be solved," Kejriwal said, claiming that he was sent to jail because the BJP wanted to defame the AAP government in Delhi by stalling public works. He stated the AAP government will inspect all broken roads in Delhi and repair them. Asked if he would be seen playing a more active role, Kejriwal said, "We are in action mode round the clock. I was in action mode even in jail." Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia and local MLA Dilip Pandey also accompanied Kejriwal and Atishi during their inspection of a road in the Delhi University (DU) area. "A few days ago I met their big leader. I asked what did you get from my arrest? I was shocked and felt sad to hear him say that at least the Delhi government got derailed and the city was stalled," Kejriwal claimed. Their aim was to defame the AAP government by stalling works in Delhi, he alleged while asserting that the AAP and its government would not let people's works get stalled. During the inspection, Kejriwal was briefed by Pandey about the broken roads in his assembly constituency, a statement said. It added that there are some roads under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), for which the process of allocating the repair works was underway. There are about 36 projects, out of which 30 have been approved, it said. "Now that I have come, you don't worry. All your pending work will start again. All problems will be solved. We just came to inspect the road passing in front of DU's North Campus. There is a water pipeline under this road. The road has broken due to this pipeline."This road is used a lot by people. I have talked to CM Atishi about the repair of this road. This road will be repaired soon. Apart from this, we will inspect all the broken roads in Delhi and get them repaired," Kejriwal said. Sharing a video clip from this inspection, Kejriwal posted on his X handle and stated, They had stopped the work of Delhi by sending me to jail. Roads were also damaged. That was their purpose. Today I inspected a road in Delhi University with CM Atishi. This road will also be repaired soon, and the rest of the roads in Delhi will also be repaired soon. Now I am back, the people of Delhi should not worry. All the stopped work in Delhi will be done. On the other hand, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi tweeted, Today, I inspected the Vishwavidyalaya Marg road with Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. The road is in a very bad condition. It will be repaired soon. BJP had conspired to bring Delhi to a standstill by arresting Arvind Kejriwal. But Delhiites' son Arvind Kejriwal is now back among the people, under his guidance the stalled work of Delhi will be completed at double the speed. The Kiratpur Sahib Police Station in Punjab has achieved national acclaim by securing the 8th rank in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Annual Ranking of Police Stations for 2023. It also claimed the top spot in Punjab, making it the best-performing police station in the region. The ranking, based on a set of predefined parameters, reflected the stations commitment to law enforcement and public service. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav lauded the achievement, presenting certificates jointly signed by the Union Home Minister and Union Home Secretary to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rupnagar, Gulneet Singh Khurana. The certificates serve as recognition of the police station's efforts in efficient policing. DGP Yadav also extended congratulations to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kiratpur Sahib for this remarkable accomplishment. The MHAs evaluation process takes into account several factors, including the timely disposal of investigations, the resolution of public complaints, public interaction, record maintenance, and the conviction rate. The Kiratpur Sahib Police Station excelled across these key areas, reinforcing its standing as a model for effective, community-oriented policing. Yadav emphasized that this achievement is not only a result of strategic policing methods but also reflected the strong relationship the station has built with the local community. He expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Home Affairs for acknowledging the hard work of the Punjab Police. He also highlighted how this recognition would further motivate police personnel across the State to continue providing top-tier service and enhancing public safety. Only the BJP can protect Jharkhand's culture and civilization from Bangladeshi intruders, asserted former Chief Minister Champai Soren during a massive Parivartan Sabha held in Joodi Gaon Stadium Ground of Potka Assembly. His call for change resonated deeply with the thousands of local residents and BJP supporters gathered for the event, part of the Bharatiya Janata Partys ongoing Kolhan Mandal Sankalp Yatra. The assembly, chaired by BJP Jamshedpur President Sudhanshu Ojha, featured prominent leaders including former Union Minister Arjun Munda, Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Mahato, and former State President Dr. Dineshanand Goswami. They rallied the crowd with passionate speeches aimed at addressing the pressing issues facing Jharkhand today. Soren emphasized that the BJP has consistently worked to beautify and develop Jharkhand since the movement for its creation. The inclusion of the Santhali language in the Eighth Schedule is a testament to our commitment to the tribal community, he said. However, he lamented the current situation, stating, Bangladeshi infiltration has become a significant issue in the Kolhan region, and the solution is crucial. Former Union Minister Arjun Munda echoed Soren's sentiments, expressing the widespread frustration among Jharkhand's populace due to the coalition government's loot, lies, and broken promises. Munda highlighted the plight of tribal leaders, questioning why Hemant Soren, the current Chief Minister, has sidelined prominent tribal figures like Champai Soren. This is an insult to the entire tribal society, he remarked, criticizing the government's negligence towards implementing critical laws like the Forest Rights Act. Munda also drew attention to the plight of youth in Jharkhand, noting the distressing reality of 17 young candidates losing their lives in the race for merely 600 police constable positions. He called out the government for its failure to provide promised financial aid, accusing it of betraying the hopes of women, farmers, and the elderly. Jamshedpur MP reinforced the message of change, asserting that the past five years have been marked by corruption and mismanagement. The people of Jharkhand deserve better, he declared, while outlining how the previous BJP government was more responsive to public needs, including quick repairs of transformers and the opening of closed mines. Dr. Dineshanand Goswami, former state president of the BJP, lamented the rise in atrocities against women and the lack of accountability for offenders, stating that the government has failed to provide safety and justice. The law and order situation in Jharkhand has deteriorated under Hemant Soren's administration, he pointed out. Former Potka MLA Maneka Sardar voiced her concerns over women's safety, claiming they live in an atmosphere of fear due to government indifference and vote bank politics. She expressed confidence that the public is ready to respond to the governments failures in the upcoming elections. State Minister and Co-in-charge of the Parivartan Yatra, Nandji Prasad, called for unity against the current administrations negligence of tribal leaders. The people of Kolhan will not forget this humiliation, he asserted, highlighting a growing sentiment for change across Jharkhand. The much-awaited panchayat elections in Punjab are set to take place on October 15 with over 13,000 gram panchayats participating. The announcement comes after more than five years since the last panchayat elections were held in December 2018. State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary on Wednesday officially declared the election schedule, simultaneously enforcing the Model Code of Conduct across the states villages. The elections, which will involve the selection of 13,237 sarpanches and 83,437 panches, will be conducted through ballot boxes at 19,110 polling booths scattered throughout Punjab. The voting will take place between 8 am and 4 pm, and the votes will be counted at the same polling stations immediately after the polls close. One of the most challenging aspects of organizing the elections is their timing, as the polls coincide with the harvesting and procurement operations Asias largest. The mid-October date falls right during the peak of the paddy harvesting season, meaning that many farmers will be busy in their fields or at mandis (grain markets) for procurement. Chaudhary maintained that the State Election Commission considered the agricultural season and upcoming festivals, including Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti, when scheduling the polls. Despite these challenges, October 15 has been finalized as the most feasible date to accommodate all stakeholders, he said. The elections to Zila Parishads and municipal bodies will be announced later, he said. Only a few days ago, the states Rural Development and Panchayats Department had issued a notification under Section 299 of Panchayati Raj Act stating that the elections would have to be conducted in the state before October 20. The filing of nominations will open on September 27 and continue until October 4, excluding the holidays on October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti) and October 3. After scrutiny on October 5, candidates will have time until October 7 to withdraw their nominations. Depending on its size and population, each panchayat will elect one sarpanch and between five to 13 panches. The enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct will ensure that no new development schemes or funds are introduced in gram panchayat areas until the elections are over. State Cabinet Ministers and political leaders will be prohibited from using official machinery or conducting government-related activities in the panchayats. Chaudhary emphasized that the code of conduct would only be enforced in villages where elections are contested. In cases where panchayats are elected unanimously, the code will not apply. In case of panchayats getting elected unanimously, there would be no code of conduct in the village. But if even a single panch would be contesting, the code would come into place, he clarified. Additionally, provisions for the use of NOTA (None of the Above) will be available to voters during the elections. The SEC has also imposed strict regulations on campaign activities, banning the use of flags, banners, or other promotional materials on public property. Any violations will be closely monitored by election officials. No Party Symbols The panchayat polls, this time, will see the absence of party symbols a notable change introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led state government. Recently, the State Government amended the rules to bar candidates from contesting on party symbols. Instead, independent candidates will contest the elections using free symbols, with 173 symbols available for the panchayat polls. Of these, 38 symbols are reserved for sarpanches and 70 for panches, none of which are associated with the political parties. In addition, the State Election Commission has also placed a cap on the expenditure that candidates can incur. The sarpanches are allowed to spend up to Rs 40,000, while the limit for panches is Rs 30,000. To ensure compliance, Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to monitor election spending closely, and senior IAS and PCS officers will serve as observers during the polls. We are writing to Deputy Commissioners to monitor the expenditure. Nobody will be allowed to deface any property by putting any flag or banner on any property, Choudhary mentioned. Polls Delayed Due to Lok Sabha Elections The announcement of the panchayat elections had been delayed for several months, with the terms of many panchayats expiring in January 2023. Punjab Government had originally dissolved all gram panchayats, panchayat samitis, and zila parishads prematurely on August 10, 2023, to pave the way for fresh elections. However, this move faced legal challenges, with petitions filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Following this, the Government withdrew its notification, leading to further delays. The SEC stated that the delays were primarily due to the Lok Sabha elections and subsequent legal hurdles. However, with the High Court pushing the Government to clarify its intentions, the election dates were finally announced. Reservation Roster The Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, was recently amended by the AAP Government to modify the reservation system for sarpanch posts. Under the new rules, reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) and women candidates will be based on the block, rather than district, level. The changes will affect many villages, as sarpanch seats will now be reserved according to the 2011 census report. The previous Congress Government had reserved 50 percent of panchayat seats for women, a policy that will continue in these elections, covering both general and reserved categories. The process for finalizing the reservation roster is already underway, and the SEC will soon release updated voter lists and prepare ballot papers for the polls. In fact, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had raised questions about the same pointing that with the nomination process set to take off from a day after, the villages are unaware regarding the reservation that is whether their village is reserved for SC or women candidate causing confusion, especially among those who wanted to contest. Former Koderma MP and in-charge of BJP's Parivartan Yatra for North Chotanagpur, Ravindra Rai, held a press conference at Bokaro Parishadan , sharply criticizing the current State government. He stated that the BJP had envisioned great dreams while forming the state of Jharkhand, but under the present government, the state is witnessing a "jungle raj" situation. Rai claimed that since Hemant Soren's government came to power, Jharkhand has become a state of lawlessness, with rising instances of loot, the protection of rapists, and the resurgence of extremism. To free the people of Jharkhand from this chaos the BJP is carrying out its Parivartan Yatra. Rai further mentioned that State Government made numerous promises before coming to power, none of which have been fulfilled. Unemployment remains rampant, and the youth have yet to receive unemployment allowances as promised. With elections just two months away, the government is now rolling out various schemes to win over the public. However, the overwhelming support received during the Parivartan Yatra clearly shows that the people of Jharkhand are ready for a "double-engine" government once again. Further Speaking on the Mahiya Samman Yojana, Ravindra Rai pointed out that such schemes are already being implemented in BJP-ruled states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The press conference was attended by Bokaro MLA and Chief Whip of the Opposition Biranchi Narayan, BJP District President Jaydev Rai, former district president Rohit Lal Singh, Sanjay Tyagi, Mukesh Rai, Kamlesh Rai, Mantu Rai, Mathur Mandal, Vinay Kishore, Braj Dubey, and Radhekant Singh. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened new avenues for the comprehensive development of the Bundelkhand region by initiating the Ken-Betwa project. This project will boost both agricultural and industrial growth. The upcoming Regional Industry Conclave, scheduled for 27th September in Sagar, aims to give Bundelkhand often celebrated as the land of heroes a new identity while driving industrial development. Yadav noted that similar conclaves held in regional areas have achieved remarkable success in attracting investments, leading to the regions growth and creating numerous job opportunities. He assured that the Madhya Pradesh government is fully committed to the overall development of Bundelkhand and will leave no stone unturned in achieving this goal. Yadav said that before the Sagar Regional Industry Conclave, discussions were held with the industrialists of Bundelkhand region. Everyone has agreed to invest on a large scale to promote industries. Industrialists from India and abroad have shown interest in participating and investing in the conclave. Many important schemes for industrial development are being implemented in the major districts of Sagar division Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Damoh and Panna, which will increase investment in the state and generate new employment opportunities. As many as 206 industrial units are operating on a total of 440 acres of land in 5 industrial areas in Sagar district. Capital investment of about Rs 211 crore has been made in these units and 4789 have been employed. Major projects include an investment of Rs 15000 crore by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in the refinery at Bina and employment to 4000 people. Additionally, an additional investment of Rs 49000 crore is proposed for the expansion of the refinery and construction of a petrochemical complex, which will provide direct and indirect employment to thousands of people. Chhatarpur district has 3 industrial areas, located on 145 acres of land. A total of 82 industrial units are operating here, which have provided an investment of Rs 19 crore and employment to 560 people. There is a proposal to develop an industrial area on 131 acres of land in Dhadhari village in future. Development of new industrial areas is also proposed in Damchi, Nayagaon, Pathapur, and Sikarpura villages by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, which will give a boost to industries like food processing, mineral-based industries, and engineering works. There are 4 industrial areas in Tikamgarh district, in which a total of 32 industrial units are operating. This has resulted in capital investment of about Rs 12 crore and employment to 358 people. Among the major schemes, the construction of a bell metal cluster and furniture cluster is proposed. Apart from this, industrial areas are also being developed in Sunora Khiriya, Kari Khas, and Lidhaura Ugarh villages, which will provide further expansion to local industries. There are 3 industrial areas in Niwari district, in which a total of 119 industrial units are operating. Capital investment of Rs 135 crore has been made here and 1690 people have got employment. Among the important projects, an integrated steel plant is being constructed by Pacific Meta Steels with an investment of Rs 1772 crore, which will employ 1164 people. Also, new industrial areas are being developed in Babedi forest and Jer village. To ensure zero dropouts in schools, 100% enrollment and also to connect out of school children to schools, representatives of voluntary partner organizations operating in the State will now provide support to the School Education and Literacy Department on a non-financial basis. In this regard, the State Education Project Council organised a special joint training workshop for the representatives of 24 voluntary supporting organisations and district division in-charges on Tuesday. Addressing the representatives present in this workshop, State Education Project Director Aditya Ranjan said that along with the School Education and Literacy Department, voluntary supporting organisations also have an important contribution in ensuring a better education system and institutions should cooperate in making the quality of education excellent in schools and connect children to the mainstream of education. Ranjan further directed that in order to achieve the target of 100 percent enrollment, 100 percent transition and zero dropouts in schools, the institutions should target at least 10 schools every month. The representatives have also been directed to monitor the school score card of whichever school they visit. Ranjan also said that everyone's role in the voluntary supporting organisations is unique, and every institution is performing excellently in some field or the other. Ranjan directed the State Program Officer and State Program personnel to provide three days of special training to the representatives of the selected voluntary supporting organisations in the first week of October, so that they can complete the tasks with ease and efficiency. The representatives of these institutions will be responsible for the successful implementation of the said projects in 900 schools of the State. Like last year, this year also a special training program called 'Setu Guide' will be organised for the selected out of school children. Detailed guidelines regarding the implementation of the Setu Guide program have been sent to all the District Education Officers and District Education Superintendents. Under this program, Setu Guide centers will be established where volunteers will be selected through the School Management Committees of the schools associated with the Setu Guide centers and the voluntary organizations identified to work voluntarily from the State Office. Under this program, first of all, out of school children will be enrolled in the nearest government school. Out of school children will be determined on the basis of Shishu Panji survey. Setu Guide Centers will be established in the schools in those catchment areas where there are out of school children and these centers will be tagged with the respective schools. If there are five or less out of school or dropout children in the catchment area of a school, then a special training class will be conducted for them by a teacher of the same school every day in the last bell or PT period. The Fintech City, the Semiconductor Park, and the Software Technology Park are the three centerpieces of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority's (YEIDA) exhibits at the ongoing Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show that are attracting the attention of both domestic and foreign visitors. Detailed models and information about these projects are presented at YEIDAs stalls to inform visitors about their potential. Notably, YEIDA has been allocated 1,644 square metres in Hall No. 3, where 16 stalls have been established. According to the YEIDA CEO Arun Veer Singh, the main stall of YEIDA measures 9x12 metres. It primarily highlights three new themes Fintech City, Semiconductor Park and Software Technology Park. Of these, the Semiconductor Park is the most prominent, with land already reserved and acquired for the project. Following the recent Semicon Summit in Greater Noida, many investors have expressed interest in the initiative. Currently, three of our proposals are awaiting the Union cabinets approval, which could be granted soon. In addition, several other companies, including those from the US, are showing interest. Once the approval for the semiconductor project is secured, we will proceed with land allocation, which remains a key focus for us, he informed. Singh added that the YEIDA is also developing a Software Technology Park (STP). Until now, there has not been an IT or ITES sector along the Yamuna Expressway, so we have decided to establish the Software Technology Park to cater to these industries, he remarked. Major companies like Infosys, Wipro and Tata have shown interest in this project. Our goal is to create a world-class software technology park by bringing these companies together. We have already allocated a significant parcel of land for IT and ITES solutions, which has been acquired. The scheme for this project will be launched following the board meeting, likely during the International Trade Show itself, once board approval is secured, he added. Singh mentioned that in addition to this, the ambitious Fintech City project is also being showcased, which is set to be launched soon. It is being displayed alongside EMC-2, where companies like Havells and Anchor are establishing their units. The EMC-2 proposal is currently under review by the Government of India and could receive approval at any time. Simultaneously, we are conducting stakeholder meetings for Fintech City and expect to launch its scheme within the next 10 to 15 days. This scheme, developed in collaboration with stakeholders such as financial institutions, stock brokers, insurance companies, and regulatory authorities, will be shaped by their specific requirements, he added. The YEIDA CEO stated that apart from the three major stalls, other participating companies include Purvanchal Real Estate, Agras shoe export company Artek Van, New Gen, Film City, Patanjali, Noida international airport, Vivo, Surya Food and Sify Technology. All of these companies are either currently operating, or are set to begin operations in the YEIDA region. Family members of Akshay Shinde, the Badlapur sexual assault case accused who was killed in an alleged shoot-out with police earlier this week, on Thursday demanded security for his last rites. Amar Shinde, his uncle, told mediapersons that they were yet to decide where the body should be buried. We have been searching for a place. Police have called us to show some spots. We will bury the body at a secure place, he told reporters here. Police protection should be provided for the last rites, and also to Akshays parents and his lawyer as there was a threat to their lives, he said. We have also sent an email making this request to deputy chief minister and home minister (Devendra Fadnavis), he added. Akshay Shinde had in the past expressed desire that he would like to be buried instead of being cremated, his lawyer Amit Katarnavre told PTI. On Wednesday, his father had informed the Bombay High Court that the family was ready to take possession of his son's body but could not find a burial site. The public prosecutor assured the high court that a Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Thane crime branch would ask the local authority to make necessary arrangements. Akshay's father has filed a petition in the high court challenging the police's version that Akshay first shot a policeman while being taken out for probe, and was killed in retaliatory firing. He was killed in a fake encounter, the petition alleged, seeking probe. Akshay Shinde, 24, was arrested last month for allegedly sexually assaulting two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district. He was being taken to Badlapur for probe in another case on Monday evening when the alleged shootout occurred inside the police van, resulting in his death. Advocate Katarnavre told reporters at Kalyan that he had applied for a certified copy of the charge sheet filed by the police against Akshay in the sexual assault case, as no copy has been provided so far. "One will come to know what was his role in the crime only from the charge sheet. How did the government decide he is the culprit? The charge sheet is in the custody of the court. Let the charge sheet be examined, we will come to know the details," the lawyer said. Akshay was killed only because authorities did not want the trial with cross-examination to take place, and the police were not nabbing the "big fish" at the school where the alleged sexual assault took place, he claimed. The family had been attacked earlier (when the crime came to light and triggered massive protests) and needed protection, the lawyer said. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday accused BJP leaders of "provoking people of the state in the name of caste and religion". He claimed that BJP leaders who are being seen in the state at present would not be seen after the assembly elections in the state due later this year. Soren was addressing a government function in Ranchi where he waived Rs 400 crore of farm loans of around 1.77 lakh farmers in the state. Earlier, the government had waived farm loans of up to Rs 50,000 of around 4.73 lakh farmers. "Earlier, the government waived farm loans of up to Rs 50,000. Then, it decided to waive farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh," Soren said. Accusing the BJP government at the Centre of "ruining Jharkhand's 'Jal, Jungle and Jamin' (water, forest and land) for over 20 years", he alleged that leaders of the saffron party are "hovering" across the state as election is round-the-corner. "As election is round-the-corner, they (BJP leaders) are hovering across Jharkhand. Many faces, which you would not have seen earlier, are being seen now. They will be seen only for once and thereafter they will disappear," Soren said. "They are spreading communal tension and provoking people in the name of caste and religion. Beware of them," he alleged. Soren alleged that there were "preparations by the Centre to sell the country's farmers to the traders through the three farm laws". "The farmers protested against the farm laws for around a year and forced the government to revoke those," he said. Attacking the Centre, Soren said that it did not have the money to double farmers' income, increase MSP and empower women but there was no crisis of money when it came to waiving the loans of its "capitalist friends". Soren said his government has worked for every section of the society and fulfilled their basic necessity of 'Roti' (bread), 'Kapda' (cloth) and 'Makaan' (house). "We have waived farm loans, electricity dues and made consumption of electricity free up to 200 units," he said. He accused the BJP of "disturbing" his government for two years. "When they failed in their attempt, they put me behind the bars on false charges," he said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accused the Congress, the National Conference and the PDP of turning Jammu and Kashmir into a "warehouse" of terrorism and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi permanently destroyed this "nursery of terrorism" with the abrogation of Article 370. He said once the BJP forms a government in this Union territory, it will ensure the establishment of a state like that of Maharaja Hari Singh, whose boundaries extended to Kabul. "PDP, National Conference and Congress had turned Jammu and Kashmir into a warehouse of terrorism. With the scrapping of Article 370 by Prime Minister Modi, the nursery of terrorism has been permanently closed," Adityanath said at a public rally in the Ramgarh border area of Samba district. Adityanath, who hit the campaign trail in support of party candidates Devender Kumar Manyal and Chander Prakash Ganga contesting from Ramgarh and Vijaypur assembly seats, said the abrogation has brought peace, progress and development to Jammu and Kashmir. Accusing the Congress of being anti-Hindu, he said, "The party has committed the sin of weakening Hindus, resulting in the eruption of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir." He further claimed that during the Congress governments at the Centre, with the support of ruling parties in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorist incidents were a daily occurrence, stone-pelting was rampant, and Kashmir was bearing the brunt of such a situation. "This was not hidden from anyone. It was the reality of that period," Adityanath said. But after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah took charge at the Centre, terrorism is "now breathing its last" in Jammu & Kashmir and stone-pelting has completely stopped. "It is history now. This is not just a change, but this is a solution." In another dig at the Congress, Adityanath said India gained independence in 1947 but the Congress did not allow the resolution of the Ayodhya issue. "The name Congress itself is synonymous with problems, while the name Bharatiya Janata Party is the solution. To resolve every issue, Congress finds an excuse, and they always use these excuses to fool the people of the country," he alleged India's problems of terrorism, casteism, separatism and regionalism are gifts from the Congress, he further alleged. "It spread regionalism, language divisions, and practised divisive politics, nurturing a tree that divided the country along these lines, and this was nourished by them in independent India," he said. Hitting out at the NC and the Congress for the "treatment" meted out to erstwhile Maharaja Hari Singh, Adityanath said that once the government of BJP takes over in Jammu and Kashmir, it will restore that glory of this land as was during the Maharaja's times. The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last year in connection with a money laundering case. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih put onerous conditions while granting relief. The top court had reserved its verdict on August 12 after hearing submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and senior advocates Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Balaji. The high court, while dismissing Balaji's bail petition, had said if he is let out on bail in a case of this nature, it will send out a wrong signal and be against larger public interest. It had said since the petitioner was in custody for more than eight months, it will be appropriate to direct the special court to dispose of the case within a time frame. "Accordingly, there shall be a direction to the Principal Special Court, Chennai, to dispose of the case within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order," it had ordered. The high court ordered that the trial shall be conducted on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the guidelines issued by the top court. Balaji was arrested on June 14 last year by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister in an earlier AIADMK government. The ED had on August 12 last year filed a 3,000-page charge sheet against Balaji. On October 19, the high court had dismissed Balaji's earlier bail plea. A local court has also dismissed his bail petitions thrice. Vehicular and rail traffic in Mumbai resumed on Thursday, a day after heavy rains battered the city, inundating low-lying areas, halting local trains in their tracks and forcing the diversion of at least 14 incoming flights. A 45-year-old woman drowned in a drain overflowing due to heavy rains in suburban Andheri on Wednesday, police said. The police helped a woman, who was in her ninth month of pregnancy, reach a hospital in Ghatkopar after she was unable to find a vehicle to go there due to heavy rains at night, an official said. Rains stopped in most parts of the city on Thursday morning though skies were overcast. Local trains, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, were running normally though some services were slightly delayed, as per officials. Buses of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking also hit the roads since early morning. The India Meteorological Department earlier issued a red alert for Mumbai and its adjoining districts Thane, Palghar, and Raigad for Thursday morning. The civic body said the IMD has predicted "thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and heavy to very heavy rainfall with gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph" in its weather update issued at 8 am. The extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai on Wednesday prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to announce a holiday for all schools and colleges on Thursday. Schools and colleges in Thane, Palghar, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad were also closed on Thursday after heavy rains. The Mumbai civic body and police have advised people in the city and surrounding areas to stay indoors as much as possible. Mumbaikars, if not required, avoid stepping out of home, the BMC posted on X. After heavy rains on Wednesday, some roads, including in Sonapur area of Bhandup, virtually turned into rivers of fast-moving water as several areas received more than 100 mm of rain in five hours of evening. The Ghatkopar-Andheri Road, Khairani Road, LBS Marg and a few other roads were flooded with chest-deep water at some locations. Many people complained their belongings were damaged as water had entered their homes. As local trains stopped on Wednesday between Kurla and Thane stations on the Central line, thousands of commuters were stranded at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai and other stations, while there were traffic jams at various places. The Central Railway's suburban services were thrown out of gear at night for a few hours, when the railway tracks got submerged at a few locations between Sion and Thane stations on its main corridor and between Chunabhatti and Mankhurd stations on the Harbour corridor. A Maharashtra Security Force personnel deputed at Kalachowki police station told PTI that he boarded a fast train from Thane station for Byculla (in Mumbai) at 8 pm on Wednesday and reached Chinchpokli station at 12.55 am (normally covered in 45 minutes). Amid the showers, police helped a pregnant woman reach a hospital after she was unable to find a vehicle to go there. "I appreciate the commendable work done by the Pant Nagar Pstn officials & staff who helped a 9-month pregnant lady reach the hospital safely," Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar said on his X handle. "At 10.45 pm, due to heavy rains, the pregnant lady was unable to find a vehicle for hospital. Finding her in distress our patrolling Pant Nagar Mobile 1 van, helped her reach Rajawadi Hospital safely," he added. The Mithi river along with other water bodies and drains had swelled after extremely heavy rains. On Wednesday night, the Mithi river rose to its maximum level of 3.90 metres. On Thursday morning, it was flowing at 1.5 metres, the BMC said. In the 24 hour-period ending at 8 am on Thursday, the island city, eastern suburbs and western suburbs recorded 117.18 mm, 170.58 mm and 108.75 mm rainfall, respectively. Between 5 pm and 10 pm, the island city, eastern suburbs and western suburbs received 87.79 mm, 167.48 mm, and 95.57 mm downpour, respectively. Mankhurd and Powai areas in eastern suburbs recorded more than 275 mm rains during the period, as per BMC data. Mumbai municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has asked all assistant commissioners to ensure that respective executive engineers stay put in ward control rooms. Central Railway's chief public relations officer Swapnil Nila said, "All local trains are running normally. On the main line 3-4 minutes behind schedule because of rescheduled Mail, Express (train) movements and few cautions. Rest all normal." Western Railway's suburban services, which were mostly unaffected as there was no waterlogging on tracks anywhere between Churchgate and Virar stations, were also running normally since morning, an official said. A BEST spokesperson also said their operations were normal, though 28 buses, including seven hired from private contractors, broke down due to waterlogging at some roads in the city. The office of Benjamin Netanyahu said the cease-fire called on by the United States, France and other allies is only a proposal, and that the Israeli prime minister, who is on a flight en route to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly, has not responded to it. The US and its allies jointly called Wednesday for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon in recent days. Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who is the acting prime minister during Netanyahu's trip abroad, said there will be no cease-fire in the north, vowing to continue the fighting in the north with full force until victory and returning the tens of thousands of Israeli citizens evacuated from their homes. Netanyahu's office added that the Israeli military was continuing to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pune in Maharashtra on Thursday was cancelled following heavy rains in the city, sources said. Modi was to flag off a Metro train in Pune and launch various development projects, ahead of the state assembly elections. BJP sources confirmed that the PM's visit to Pune was cancelled. The new date for his visit will be announced later. After heavy rains on Wednesday evening, the SP College ground, the venue of PM Modi's programme, had muddy pools. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday visited the college ground and said arrangements were being made to ensure nobody is inconvenienced. The MeT department has also issued a warning of heavy showers in Pune and Mumbai for Thursday. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (NYSE:BBVA Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the four analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. A number of research firms have recently weighed in on BBVA. BNP Paribas downgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria to a moderate buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Get Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Price Performance Shares of BBVA stock opened at $10.75 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $62.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.31, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.30. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a one year low of $7.72 and a one year high of $12.20. The companys fifty day moving average price is $10.36 and its 200-day moving average price is $10.65. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The bank reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $9.93 billion for the quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria had a net margin of 27.55% and a return on equity of 16.40%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.36 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria will post 1.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Clearbridge Investments LLC boosted its position in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 172.8% in the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 3,096,738 shares of the banks stock valued at $31,060,000 after buying an additional 1,961,553 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 11,103,927 shares of the banks stock valued at $111,371,000 after buying an additional 619,836 shares during the period. Optiver Holding B.V. purchased a new stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria in the 4th quarter valued at about $4,309,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,412,058 shares of the banks stock valued at $44,253,000 after buying an additional 396,829 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 24.2% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,890,079 shares of the banks stock valued at $18,957,000 after buying an additional 368,660 shares during the period. 2.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (Get Free Report Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, SA provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and internationally. The company offers savings account, demand deposits, and time deposits; and loan products, such as residential mortgages, other households, credit card loans, loans to enterprises and public sector, as well as consumer finance. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Beazer Homes USA (NYSE:BZH Get Free Report) and Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos (OTCMKTS:URBDF Get Free Report) are both construction companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, risk and earnings. Insider and Institutional Ownership 85.7% of Beazer Homes USA shares are owned by institutional investors. 7.0% of Beazer Homes USA shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Beazer Homes USA alerts: Earnings and Valuation This table compares Beazer Homes USA and Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanoss top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Beazer Homes USA $2.17 billion 0.48 $158.61 million $5.18 6.36 Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Profitability Beazer Homes USA has higher revenue and earnings than Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos. This table compares Beazer Homes USA and Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Beazer Homes USA 6.63% 12.61% 5.81% Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos N/A N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Beazer Homes USA and Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Beazer Homes USA 1 0 3 0 2.50 Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos 0 0 0 0 N/A Beazer Homes USA presently has a consensus price target of $39.67, suggesting a potential upside of 20.31%. Given Beazer Homes USAs higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Beazer Homes USA is more favorable than Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos. Summary Beazer Homes USA beats Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Beazer Homes USA (Get Free Report) Beazer Homes USA, Inc. operates as a homebuilder in the United States. It designs, constructs, and sells single-family and multi-family homes under the Beazer Homes, Gatherings, and Choice Plans names. The company also sells its homes through commissioned new home sales counselors and independent brokers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Indiana, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Beazer Homes USA, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. About Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos (Get Free Report) Urbi, Desarrollos Urbanos, S.A.B. de C.V. engages in the design, development, promotion, and marketing of residential housing complexes in Mexico. The company is also involved in the sale of land for the development of real estate projects and houses to third parties; and management and construction administration services. It operates the UrbiVilla, UrbiQuinta, UrbiHacienda, and UrbiClub housing brands. The company was incorporated in 1981 and is based in Mexicali, Mexico. Receive News & Ratings for Beazer Homes USA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Beazer Homes USA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) insider William F. Scannell sold 42,595 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.29, for a total value of $4,995,967.55. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 73,263 shares in the company, valued at $8,593,017.27. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Dell Technologies Trading Up 2.4 % Dell Technologies stock opened at $120.17 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $85.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.52, a PEG ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.90. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $110.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $124.34. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 52 week low of $63.90 and a 52 week high of $179.70. Get Dell Technologies alerts: Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 29th. The technology company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.40. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 178.09% and a net margin of 4.32%. The firm had revenue of $25.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.44 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.9 EPS for the current year. Dell Technologies Announces Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dell Technologies The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.445 per share. This represents a $1.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 22nd. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.33%. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Accordant Advisory Group Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 58.2% in the first quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 223 shares of the technology companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the period. Nemes Rush Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the second quarter worth about $33,000. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, New Covenant Trust Company N.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the first quarter worth about $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.10% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently weighed in on the company. Fox Advisors upgraded Dell Technologies from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 30th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Dell Technologies from $142.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Dell Technologies from $150.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 30th. Mizuho assumed coverage on Dell Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, September 17th. They set an outperform rating and a $135.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their target price on Dell Technologies from $155.00 to $140.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Dell Technologies presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $143.47. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Dell Technologies Dell Technologies Company Profile (Get 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). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX Free Report) from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report published on Monday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has $109.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of $104.00. FMX has been the topic of several other research reports. Barclays decreased their price target on Fomento Economico Mexicano from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 15th. StockNews.com raised Fomento Economico Mexicano from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 29th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with 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 target price of $133.40. Get Fomento Economico Mexicano alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Fomento Economico Mexicano Fomento Economico Mexicano Trading Down 0.8 % Shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano stock opened at $100.15 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a 12-month low of $98.97 and a 12-month high of $143.43. The company has a market capitalization of $35.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.14, a PEG ratio of 5.75 and a beta of 0.94. The firms 50-day moving average price is $107.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $114.18. Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported $1.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $11.54 billion for the quarter. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a net margin of 3.75% and a return on equity of 8.65%. On average, analysts forecast that Fomento Economico Mexicano will post 5.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Fomento Economico Mexicano Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 29th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 17th were paid a $1.0206 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.5%. This is an increase from Fomento Economico Mexicanos previous semi-annual dividend of $0.74. Fomento Economico Mexicanos dividend payout ratio is currently 14.36%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fomento Economico Mexicano Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Park Place Capital Corp grew its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 78.2% in the 1st quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 221 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano in the first quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA acquired a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $51,000. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 22.1% during the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 741 shares of the companys stock valued at $97,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC raised its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 28.7% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 956 shares of the companys stock worth $103,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Fomento Economico Mexicano Company Profile (Get Free Report) Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home 'Draconian Decision': Mushawarat on CBSE order to drop Urdu All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat has slammed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for its decision to drop Urdu as one of the languages to write Class 10 and Class 12 board exams Thursday September 26, 2024 12:38 PM , ummid.com News Network All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat has slammed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for its decision to drop Urdu as one of the languages to write Class 10 and Class 12 board exams. Terming the CBSE decision, draconian and irrational, the umbrella body of Indian Muslim organisations and eminent personalities, urged restoration of the boards previous policy. All India Majlis e Mushawarat demand immediate withdrawal of the draconian decision of the CBSE and restoration of the previous policy to allow students to write answers in Urdu language, the Mushawarat said. Mushawarats demand came after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) directed school heads and exam centre superintendents to print the question paper for classes 10 and 12 only in English or Hindi based on the requirement at schools. Indias largest school board further said that answer papers written in any language other than Hindi and English without the board's permission would not be evaluated. MANUU Model Schools MANUU is running three model schools in Hyderabad (Telangana), Nuh (Haryana) and Darbhanga (Bihar) offering education in Urdu. While getting CBSE affiliation in 2010. The officials at MANUU said, the CBSE had granted them affiliation with full knowledge that their medium of learning was Urdu. Consequently, students in MANUU model schools were provided question papers in Urdu along with English and Hindi. The MANUU schools students were allowed to write answers in Urdu. In 2021, however, CBSE stopped providing question papers in Urdu but allowed the students to write answer sheets in Urdu. With the latest order, the CBSE decided to assess answer sheets only if they are in English and Hindi. " Answer sheets in other languages, including Urdu, will not be assessed", the CBSE said. Slamming the decision, the Mushawarat while asking the CBSE to revoke its decision also sought the intervention of the Ministry of Education. It is a matter of great concern that the Urdu medium schools in different parts of the country, including the MANUU Model Schools, are facing difficulties because of the irrational decision of the CBSE, the Mushawarat said. Mushawarat appeals for urgent intervention of the union minister of Education to direct the CBSE to scrap its policy to disallow Urdu medium students to write exams in Urdu language, the apex body of Muslim NGOs said. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Accent Group Limited (ASX:AX1 Get Free Report) insider Daniel Agostinelli sold 690,653 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of A$2.26 ($1.54), for a total transaction of A$1,557,422.52 ($1,066,727.75). Daniel Agostinelli also recently made the following trade(s): Get Accent Group alerts: On Monday, September 2nd, Daniel Agostinelli acquired 795,031 shares of Accent Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of A$2.22 ($1.52) per share, with a total value of A$1,764,968.82 ($1,208,882.75). Accent Group Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 129.46, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.36. Accent Group Increases Dividend About Accent Group The business also recently declared a Final dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 25th were given a dividend of $0.045 per share. This is a positive change from Accent Groups previous Final dividend of $0.04. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.96%. Accent Groups payout ratio is 118.18%. (Get Free Report) Accent Group Limited engages in the retail, distribution, and franchise of lifestyle footwear, and apparel and accessories in Australia and New Zealand. The company's brands and banners include The Athlete's Foot, Platypus Shoes, Hype DC, Skechers, Merrell, CAT, Vans, Dr. Martens, Saucony, Timberland, Hoka, Superga, Kappa, Palladium, Supra, Subtype, The Trybe, Stylerunner, Autry, Glue Store, and UCG. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Accent Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accent Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shimla in Grip of Islamophobia: Dimple Oberoi Muslims in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in Shimla, are presently being intimidated by the frenzied demand to demolish the alleged illegal part of the mosque in Sanjauli Thursday September 26, 2024 3:11 PM , Syed Ali Mujtaba Muslims in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in Shimla, are presently being intimidated by the frenzied demand to demolish the alleged illegal part of the mosque in Sanjauli. The Muslim community is also being blamed for migrating to the hill state for their livelihood purposes. Speaking with Syed Ali Mujtaba, a Journalist based in Chennai, Dimple Oberoi Vahali, a resident of Shimla and a social activist working for the rights of the minority community, said Shimla is under the grip of Islamophobia. Here is the Q&A that could illuminate the current situation in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh. Q: How is the current situation in Shimla about Sanjauli Mosque row? A: The present situation is extremely worrisome and disturbing. I am deeply aggrieved by the gravity of circumstances built up in the last few weeks around the Mosque in the Sanjauli locality of Shimla. It is a matter of serious concern that there was mass mobilization against the construction of the Mosque in the city. Q: Is the Sanjauli Mosque the only unauthorized structure in Shimla? A: No. It is part of public knowledge that thousands of illegal constructions in Shimla but they are not being questioned. It is well known that the portions of the newly constructed wing of the Shimla Secretariat and High Court building, and several buildings of prominent locals, the elite, and capitalists, including temples are illegally constructed in Shimla. Many of those protesting against the Mosque may be involved in illegal construction. As per Municipal Corporation records, the fact is, that Sanjauli and other parts of Shimla are full of illegal buildings. It wont be incorrect to say, that there are thousands of illegal buildings in Shimla. Q: Then why is the Mosque being singled out? A: There is a global trend towards Islamophobia that we are all well aware of. Then within our country too, for the last several years, much more than earlier times, we have witnessed a strong anti-Muslim wave. It is part of everyday knowledge of how the Muslim minority is being treated in India. Controversies are created and Muslims are being subjugated. Majoritarian politics has been divisive and has made deep inroads of othering into the collective psyche. " " Open call for economic boycott of "outsider Muslims" by Hindutva leader Kamal Gautam in Nerwa,Shimla. Y'day 100s of people joined this March in Nerwa following protests against mosque in Sanjauli. pic.twitter.com/EsiEVkHmHo Kaushik Raj (@kaushikrj6) September 20, 2024 The agitation around the Mosque should not be seen as a singular event but has to be contextualized within this larger scenario prevailing across the country. It is a hegemonic process where anti-Muslim sentiments can be easily ignited. The same is currently at work in Himachal Pradesh. History is witness to the fact that when the secular fabric of society is disturbed, majoritarian forces often assert their supremacy and collective power by making the minorities feel small and helpless. This phenomenon is seen to be at work in Himachal Pradesh, just as in many other parts of India. Q: What is the condition of the Muslim community in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh? A: The present situation is worrisome. As people belonging to Himachal Pradesh, we have not seen such mass mobilization against the Muslim community in the recent past. Muslims had a harmonious relationship with the Hindu community all these years. Muslims have respected and blended themselves into the composite culture of Himachal Pradesh. However. this is not the present situation. Muslims in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh are feeling insecure and intimidated. To maintain communal harmony the WAQF Board has volunteered to demolish parts of the Mosque that were alleged to be unauthorized In my view, this should not have happened because it will reinstate the minority binary of Muslims and make them feel small and helpless. It needs to be reiterated that the part of the Mosque under controversy, whether legal or illegal, should not be demolished. As conscious citizens, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that Muslims are treated with respect and equality and there should be empathy between all communities. Q: Are there any ripple effects of the controversy surrounding Sanjauli Mosque? A: Yes already news is coming from many parts of the state that the construction of several Mosques in other parts is being questioned. This is a very tension-provoking development. Q: What is the insider versus outsider controversy in Shimla? A: There are two levels of discourses that are operating at present. The questioning of the construction of the Mosques in Himachal on various grounds in several places, and the discourse of insiders and outsidersmigrant Muslims being Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. (At another level, we must ask ourselves where is this tendency to other the Bangladeshi and Rohingyas stems from. What is wrong with being a Bangladeshi or Rohingya? Why must we always see them as the fear evoking Other? This discourse of insiders vs outsiders is alarming and deeply troubling for those on the social margins. We urge the political powers to safeguard the interests and protect the rights of the Muslims in Himachal where at present the Congress government is at the helm. We fear that othering will continue to play a highly divisive role, making deeper inroads into the minds of ordinary citizens of Himachal Pradesh. Q: Is there a politics of the opposition BJP in this simmering controversy? A: The Hindutva party politics has a strong role in this simmering controversy. There is also a divide within the Congress which is also being utilized to the advantage of the opposition. However, even the party in power is not addressing the issue of what the minority community is being subjected to. Additionally, as I have said before, this is a complex matter in which anti-minority sentiments have made their inroads all around. The matter is not confined to the BJP or Congress but is one of deep hegemony against the Muslim 0community. This is the mindset of the State as well as the majority community. Q: Do you think communal forces have a role to play in this controversy? A: Saying that this only is a matter of illegal construction, and not paying heed to the communal shades is to ignore a situation that is getting out of hand. I feel this will have a grave consequence for our collective future. We must acknowledge that communal factors played a role in this entire issue. After accepting this fact, the collective effort should be to sincerely try to reverse the othering climate developing in Himachal Pradesh. We must first acknowledge a problem and make reparative efforts to safeguard the minority community and build peace and harmony in the State. It could be fair that the Muslim minority community be allowed to co-exist with respect and dignity in Himachal Pradesh. For this, all efforts should be made to maintain the secular culture of the hill State. This is a trying time and needs collective reaction to build a climate of peaceful coexistence in the state. Q: What do you suggest to be done to protect the Muslims in such circumstances? A: The State of Himachal Pradesh must immediately take action and stop the rising tension in Shimla and all over the state. The State is ethically responsible for offering safety and full security to its minority communities. The rational forces among the civil society should raise their voices to restore peace and communal harmony in the state. Amongst other steps to be taken, is immediate protection should be given to the Sanjauli Mosque, whether constructed legally or otherwise. The political parties are urged to safeguard the interests of the Muslims in Himachal Pradesh. I appeal to the present Congress government to protect the Muslims who have lived in peace and harmony for long years in the state. I also urge the state government not to encourage the issue of insider and outsider and to create an atmosphere of othering the Muslims. The state government must protect the rights of the Muslim community and should not demolish their places of worship. The government should also stand for the rights of the vendors and not make laws that will create further problems for their livelihood. I also urge the political parties to respect the composite culture of the state and talk about inter-religious tolerance and inter-faith respect. The State government must activate educational institutions and cultural forms to promote secular values. Thats the only way the future generations can imbibe true respect for composite cultural, and religious pluralism and create an inclusive society. [Syed Ali Mujtaba is a Journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. APG Asset Management US Inc. trimmed its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE Free Report) by 1.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,146,939 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 110,000 shares during the period. Alexandria Real Estate Equities makes up 4.7% of APG Asset Management US Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. APG Asset Management US Inc. owned about 4.09% of Alexandria Real Estate Equities worth $827,687,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Get Alexandria Real Estate Equities alerts: A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fulton Bank N.A. grew its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 2,074 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $267,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Arbor Capital Management Inc. ADV boosted its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Arbor Capital Management Inc. ADV now owns 8,639 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,000,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. SPC Financial Inc. boosted its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. SPC Financial Inc. now owns 1,950 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $251,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 13,544 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,584,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 7.9% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,414 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $165,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. 96.54% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE ARE opened at $124.26 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has a 52 week low of $90.73 and a 52 week high of $135.45. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $118.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $119.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 116.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 1.16. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Dividend Announcement Alexandria Real Estate Equities ( NYSE:ARE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 22nd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.34 by ($2.09). Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a net margin of 5.09% and a return on equity of 0.68%. The company had revenue of $766.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $775.03 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.24 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. will post 9.47 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 30th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.18%. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 485.99%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently weighed in on ARE shares. Bank of America cut shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $151.00 to $126.00 in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Wedbush cut shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $140.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Citigroup cut shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $130.00 to $125.00 in a research note on Friday, September 13th. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $140.00 target price on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 5th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $130.70. Read Our Latest Research Report on ARE Alexandria Real Estate Equities 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 our founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, agtech, and advanced technology mega campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Recommended Stories 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). Receive News & Ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. APG Asset Management US Inc. acquired a new stake in Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE:KRG Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 750,000 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $16,665,000. APG Asset Management US Inc. owned approximately 0.34% of Kite Realty Group Trust at the end of the most recent quarter. Get Kite Realty Group Trust alerts: Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its holdings in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 126,703 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,745,000 after buying an additional 649 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its holdings in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 275,494 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,973,000 after buying an additional 724 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Association lifted its holdings in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 17,781 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $398,000 after buying an additional 777 shares during the period. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 62,353 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,352,000 after buying an additional 900 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust by 42.7% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,314 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 992 shares during the period. 90.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have recently weighed in on KRG. Raymond James raised Kite Realty Group Trust from a market perform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $28.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, August 16th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Kite Realty Group Trust from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Compass Point raised their target price on Kite Realty Group Trust from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. KeyCorp raised their target price on Kite Realty Group Trust from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their target price on Kite Realty Group Trust from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $28.00. Kite Realty Group Trust Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of KRG stock opened at $26.70 on Thursday. Kite Realty Group Trust has a 52-week low of $19.64 and a 52-week high of $27.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a current ratio of 2.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.86 billion, a PE ratio of 102.68, a PEG ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 1.29. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $22.80. Kite Realty Group Trust Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 16th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 9th will be paid a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 9th. This is a positive change from Kite Realty Group Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. Kite Realty Group Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently 384.63%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Kite Realty Group Trust news, Director Steven P. Grimes sold 37,295 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.80, for a total value of $999,506.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 732,252 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,624,353.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Kite Realty Group Trust Profile (Free Report) Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Indianapolis, IN that is one of the largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets. The Companys primarily grocery-anchored portfolio is located in high-growth Sun Belt and select strategic gateway markets. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KRG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE:KRG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Kite Realty Group Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kite Realty Group Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG Get Free Report) and Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW Get Free Report) are both large-cap industrial products companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and risk. Get Packaging Co. of America alerts: Earnings & Valuation This table compares Packaging Co. of America and Smurfit Westrocks gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Packaging Co. of America $7.80 billion 2.47 $765.20 million $8.00 26.79 Smurfit Westrock $20.31 billion 1.22 -$22.40 million $1.19 40.17 Packaging Co. of America has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Smurfit Westrock. Packaging Co. of America is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Smurfit Westrock, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Packaging Co. of America 9.06% 18.21% 8.42% Smurfit Westrock 1.36% 7.13% 2.67% Analyst Recommendations This table compares Packaging Co. of America and Smurfit Westrocks net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Packaging Co. of America and Smurfit Westrock, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Packaging Co. of America 0 4 3 0 2.43 Smurfit Westrock 0 2 3 0 2.60 Packaging Co. of America currently has a consensus target price of $190.50, suggesting a potential downside of 11.13%. Smurfit Westrock has a consensus target price of $57.80, suggesting a potential upside of 20.92%. Given Smurfit Westrocks stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Smurfit Westrock is more favorable than Packaging Co. of America. Institutional and Insider Ownership 89.8% of Packaging Co. of America shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 83.4% of Smurfit Westrock shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.6% of Packaging Co. of America shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.5% of Smurfit Westrock shares are owned 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 Packaging Co. of America pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Smurfit Westrock pays an annual dividend of $1.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Packaging Co. of America pays out 62.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Smurfit Westrock pays out 101.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Packaging Co. of America has increased its dividend for 14 consecutive years. Risk and Volatility Packaging Co. of America has a beta of 0.77, suggesting that its share price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Smurfit Westrock has a beta of 1.05, suggesting that its share price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Packaging Co. of America beats Smurfit Westrock on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Packaging Co. of America (Get Free Report) Packaging Corporation of America manufactures and sells containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. The Packaging segment offers various containerboard and corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers used to protect and transport manufactured goods; multi-color boxes and displays that help to merchandise the packaged product in retail locations; and honeycomb protective packaging products, as well as packaging for meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and other industrial and consumer products. This segment sells its corrugated products through a direct sales and marketing organization, independent brokers, and distribution partners. The Paper segment manufactures and sells commodity and specialty papers, as well as communication papers, including cut-size office papers, and printing and converting papers. This segment sells white papers through its sales and marketing organization. The Corporate and Other segment includes corporate support staff services and related assets and liabilities; and transportation assets, such as rail cars and trucks for transportation. Packaging Corporation of America was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. About Smurfit Westrock (Get Free Report) Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box. It also produces linerboard and corrugated medium, paperboard, and non-packaging grades of paper, as well as converted products, such as folding cartons and corrugated boxes, and other products; recycled paper-based packaging products; and packaging machinery. The company primarily serves food and beverage, e-commerce, retail, consumer goods, industrial, and foodservice markets. Smurfit Westrock Plc was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Receive News & Ratings for Packaging Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Packaging Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Had highly productive meetings with PM Modi, President Murmu: Maldives President 07 Oct 2024 | 11:11 PM New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said he had highly productive meetings with both Prime Minister Modi and President Murmu and he is pleased with the in-depth discussions on enhancing development cooperation. see more.. Rajnath exhorts pvt sector to move from imitative to innovative tech 07 Oct 2024 | 11:02 PM New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday exhorted the private sector to move ahead from imitative to innovative technology so as to cater to the futuristic needs of the Armed Forces. see more.. India provides cash-strapped Maldives with major financial aid package as both sides reset ties 07 Oct 2024 | 10:38 PM New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) In a reset of bilateral ties that were on the verge of turning frosty, India and the Maldives on Monday adopted a vision document for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, even as New Delhi provided its cash-strapped Indian Ocean neighbour with a much-needed $400 million and Rs 30 billion financial aid package. see more.. Land-for-jobs case: Lalu, sons get bail in Delhi court 07 Oct 2024 | 7:22 PM New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav were on Monday granted bail by a Delhi court in the land-for-jobs money laundering case. see more.. SEEK Limited (OTCMKTS:SKLTY Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 700 shares, a decrease of 94.5% from the August 31st total of 12,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 30,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. Get SEEK alerts: SEEK Stock Performance OTCMKTS SKLTY traded down $0.49 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $33.30. The company had a trading volume of 12,029 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,282. SEEK has a 1-year low of $25.72 and a 1-year high of $37.64. The business has a 50 day moving average of $29.56 and a 200-day moving average of $30.42. SEEK Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 5th will be paid a $0.1697 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 5th. About SEEK SEEK Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of online employment marketplace services in Australia, South East Asia, Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Europe, and internationally. It operates through ANZ, SEEK Asia, Brazil Online, OCC, Platform support, Portfolio investments, and SEEK Growth Fund segments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for SEEK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SEEK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW Get Free Report) and Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG Get Free Report) are both large-cap basic materials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends. Get Smurfit Westrock alerts: Volatility and Risk Smurfit Westrock has a beta of 1.05, meaning that its stock price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Packaging Co. of America has a beta of 0.77, meaning that its stock price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Institutional and Insider Ownership 83.4% of Smurfit Westrock shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 89.8% of Packaging Co. of America shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of Smurfit Westrock shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.6% of Packaging Co. of America shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Smurfit Westrock 0 2 3 0 2.60 Packaging Co. of America 0 4 3 0 2.43 This is a summary of current ratings for Smurfit Westrock and Packaging Co. of America, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Smurfit Westrock currently has a consensus target price of $57.80, indicating a potential upside of 20.92%. Packaging Co. of America has a consensus target price of $190.50, indicating a potential downside of 11.13%. Given Smurfit Westrocks stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Smurfit Westrock is more favorable than Packaging Co. of America. Profitability This table compares Smurfit Westrock and Packaging Co. of Americas net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Smurfit Westrock 1.36% 7.13% 2.67% Packaging Co. of America 9.06% 18.21% 8.42% Valuation and Earnings This table compares Smurfit Westrock and Packaging Co. of Americas gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Smurfit Westrock $20.31 billion 1.22 -$22.40 million $1.19 40.17 Packaging Co. of America $7.80 billion 2.47 $765.20 million $8.00 26.79 Packaging Co. of America has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Smurfit Westrock. Packaging Co. of America is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Smurfit Westrock, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Dividends Smurfit Westrock pays an annual dividend of $1.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Packaging Co. of America pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Smurfit Westrock pays out 101.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Packaging Co. of America pays out 62.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Packaging Co. of America has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years. Summary Packaging Co. of America beats Smurfit Westrock on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Smurfit Westrock (Get Free Report) Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box. It also produces linerboard and corrugated medium, paperboard, and non-packaging grades of paper, as well as converted products, such as folding cartons and corrugated boxes, and other products; recycled paper-based packaging products; and packaging machinery. The company primarily serves food and beverage, e-commerce, retail, consumer goods, industrial, and foodservice markets. Smurfit Westrock Plc was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. About Packaging Co. of America (Get Free Report) Packaging Corporation of America manufactures and sells containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. The Packaging segment offers various containerboard and corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers used to protect and transport manufactured goods; multi-color boxes and displays that help to merchandise the packaged product in retail locations; and honeycomb protective packaging products, as well as packaging for meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and other industrial and consumer products. This segment sells its corrugated products through a direct sales and marketing organization, independent brokers, and distribution partners. The Paper segment manufactures and sells commodity and specialty papers, as well as communication papers, including cut-size office papers, and printing and converting papers. This segment sells white papers through its sales and marketing organization. The Corporate and Other segment includes corporate support staff services and related assets and liabilities; and transportation assets, such as rail cars and trucks for transportation. Packaging Corporation of America was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. Receive News & Ratings for Smurfit Westrock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Smurfit Westrock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sturgis Bancorp, Inc. (OTCMKTS:STBI Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 75.0% from the August 31st total of 400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. Get Sturgis Bancorp alerts: Sturgis Bancorp Price Performance OTCMKTS STBI remained flat at $17.15 on Wednesday. Sturgis Bancorp has a one year low of $15.74 and a one year high of $18.75. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $16.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.87 million, a PE ratio of 14.41 and a beta of 0.42. Sturgis Bancorp (OTCMKTS:STBI Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 19th. The financial services provider reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $9.04 million for the quarter. Sturgis Bancorp Dividend Announcement Sturgis Bancorp Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 15th were paid a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.97%. Sturgis Bancorps dividend payout ratio is presently 57.14%. (Get Free Report) Sturgis Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Sturgis Bank & Trust Company that provides banking products and services in Michigan, the United States. The company offers checking, savings and health savings, and money market accounts; and certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sturgis Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sturgis Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado trimmed its holdings in Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN Free Report) by 95.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,056 shares of the companys stock after selling 89,319 shares during the quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorados holdings in Vail Resorts were worth $731,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Get Vail Resorts alerts: Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in Vail Resorts in the second quarter worth approximately $315,000. Amalgamated Bank boosted its stake in shares of Vail Resorts by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 22,379 shares of the companys stock worth $4,031,000 after acquiring an additional 1,603 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of Vail Resorts by 36.3% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 356,386 shares of the companys stock worth $64,195,000 after acquiring an additional 94,923 shares during the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its position in shares of Vail Resorts by 318.8% during the second quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 201 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vail Resorts by 2.2% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 129,550 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,336,000 after purchasing an additional 2,730 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.94% of the companys stock. Vail Resorts Trading Down 2.9 % NYSE MTN opened at $182.79 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.88 billion, a PE ratio of 24.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 1.14. Vail Resorts, Inc. has a 1-year low of $165.14 and a 1-year high of $244.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $179.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $192.29. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on MTN shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Vail Resorts from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $217.00 to $176.00 in a research note on Friday, June 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Vail Resorts from $179.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Vail Resorts from $201.00 to $161.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, June 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on shares of Vail Resorts from $218.00 to $194.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and issued a $223.00 target price (down previously from $259.00) on shares of Vail Resorts in a report on Thursday, September 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have issued 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 $213.38. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on MTN Vail Resorts Profile (Free Report) Vail Resorts, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates mountain resorts and regional ski areas in the United States. It operates through three segments: Mountain, Lodging, and Real Estate. The Mountain segment operates 41 destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas. This segment is also involved in the ancillary activities, including ski school, dining, and retail/rental operations, as well as real estate brokerage activities. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vail Resorts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vail Resorts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. APG Asset Management US Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR Free Report) by 10.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,127,561 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,700,000 shares during the period. Ventas makes up about 4.4% of APG Asset Management US Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. APG Asset Management US Inc. owned 3.74% of Ventas worth $769,690,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get Ventas alerts: Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Profund Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Ventas by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 6,270 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $321,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its stake in Ventas by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 5,292 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $230,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Ventas by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 24,383 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,062,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares during the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management boosted its stake in shares of Ventas by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 33,717 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,728,000 after buying an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Czech National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Ventas by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 70,799 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,083,000 after buying an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. 94.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insider Buying and Selling at Ventas In other Ventas news, CFO Robert F. Probst sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.87, for a total transaction of $1,177,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 156,403 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,207,444.61. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Ventas news, CEO Peter J. Bulgarelli sold 6,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $389,940.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 90,795 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,900,767.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Robert F. Probst sold 20,000 shares of Ventas stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.87, for a total value of $1,177,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 156,403 shares in the company, valued at $9,207,444.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 77,065 shares of company stock valued at $4,526,464 over the last ninety days. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Ventas Price Performance Shares of Ventas stock opened at $64.89 on Thursday. Ventas, Inc. has a one year low of $39.33 and a one year high of $65.64. The stocks fifty day moving average is $59.35 and its 200 day moving average is $51.35. The stock has a market cap of $26.27 billion, a P/E ratio of -341.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.58. Ventas (NYSE:VTR Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by ($0.74). The company had revenue of $1.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.19 billion. Ventas had a negative return on equity of 1.63% and a negative net margin of 3.33%. Ventass revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.75 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Ventas, Inc. will post 3.18 earnings per share for the current year. Ventas Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 1st. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.77%. Ventass dividend payout ratio is presently -947.37%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on VTR shares. Scotiabank raised their price target on Ventas from $55.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Wolfe Research upgraded Ventas to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Evercore ISI raised their price target on Ventas from $64.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, September 16th. StockNews.com upgraded Ventas from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Ventas from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Three 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $58.67. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Ventas Ventas Company Profile (Free Report) Ventas Inc (NYSE: VTR) is a leading S&P 500 real estate investment trust focused on delivering strong, sustainable shareholder returns by enabling exceptional environments that benefit a large and growing aging population. The Company's growth is fueled by its senior housing communities, which provide valuable services to residents and enable them to thrive in supported environments. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VTR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ventas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ventas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. APG Asset Management US Inc. lifted its stake in Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL Free Report) by 7.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,237,867 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 85,000 shares during the period. Welltower makes up 0.7% of APG Asset Management US Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position. APG Asset Management US Inc. owned 0.21% of Welltower worth $128,738,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Get Welltower alerts: Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Welltower by 3.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 89,187,884 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $8,333,716,000 after buying an additional 3,257,213 shares during the period. Capital International Investors boosted its position in shares of Welltower by 26.4% in the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 29,236,326 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,731,842,000 after buying an additional 6,104,064 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Welltower by 0.8% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 7,814,741 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $814,678,000 after buying an additional 62,942 shares during the period. Centersquare Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Welltower by 19.0% in the first quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 5,329,248 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $507,771,000 after purchasing an additional 849,898 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in Welltower by 12.4% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 4,433,816 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $414,229,000 after purchasing an additional 489,533 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.80% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In WELL has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Welltower from $107.00 to $111.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Wedbush increased their price target on Welltower from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. KeyCorp increased their price target on Welltower from $95.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Welltower from $103.00 to $107.50 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised Welltower to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Welltower presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $113.38. Welltower Stock Up 1.2 % WELL opened at $129.08 on Thursday. Welltower Inc. has a 12 month low of $78.38 and a 12 month high of $131.31. The stock has a market cap of $78.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 159.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 1.21. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $118.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $105.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 4.07 and a quick ratio of 4.07. Welltower (NYSE:WELL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.08. Welltower had a return on equity of 2.21% and a net margin of 8.36%. The company had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.89 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.90 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Welltower Inc. will post 4.19 earnings per share for the current year. Welltower Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 12th were given a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 12th. This is a boost from Welltowers previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.08%. Welltowers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 330.86%. About Welltower (Free Report) Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), a REIT and S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. Welltower invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate and infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WELL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Welltower Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Welltower and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado trimmed its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Free Report) by 9.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 10,950 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,176 shares during the quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorados holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation were worth $688,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Get Western Alliance Bancorporation alerts: Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LHM Inc. raised its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 2,141.1% during the second quarter. LHM Inc. now owns 757,809 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $47,606,000 after acquiring an additional 723,995 shares in the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation by 170.5% in the 2nd quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 18,162 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,141,000 after purchasing an additional 11,448 shares during the period. Palouse Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 66.6% during the second quarter. Palouse Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,973 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $124,000 after buying an additional 789 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 19.3% during the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 7,575 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $476,000 after buying an additional 1,224 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation by 20.6% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,722,389 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $233,832,000 after acquiring an additional 636,577 shares during the period. 79.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Western Alliance Bancorporation Trading Down 0.8 % Shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation stock opened at $84.20 on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $78.93 and a 200 day moving average of $67.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.27, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 1.44. Western Alliance Bancorporation has a fifty-two week low of $38.81 and a fifty-two week high of $88.92. Western Alliance Bancorporation Dividend Announcement Western Alliance Bancorporation ( NYSE:WAL Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.04. Western Alliance Bancorporation had a return on equity of 13.98% and a net margin of 15.54%. The firm had revenue of $771.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $737.97 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.96 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 15.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Western Alliance Bancorporation will post 7.41 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 16th were paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 16th. Western Alliance Bancorporations dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.57%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently weighed in on WAL shares. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $78.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Truist Financial increased their target price on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $88.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $62.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Barclays raised their price objective on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $86.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $68.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $87.40. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Western Alliance Bancorporation Insider Transactions at Western Alliance Bancorporation In related news, Director Robert P. Latta sold 2,996 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total value of $247,919.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 4,056 shares in the company, valued at approximately $335,634. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Robert P. Latta sold 2,996 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total transaction of $247,919.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 4,056 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $335,634. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CAO J. Kelly Jr. Ardrey sold 2,116 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.95, for a total transaction of $160,710.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,520 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $267,344. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 21,265 shares of company stock worth $1,700,391 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 2.75% of the companys stock. Western Alliance Bancorporation Profile (Free Report) Western Alliance Bancorporation operates as the bank holding company for Western Alliance Bank that provides various banking products and related services primarily in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It operates through Commercial and Consumer Related segments. The company offers deposit products, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as fixed-rate and fixed maturity certificates of deposit accounts; demand deposits; and treasury management and residential mortgage products and services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. United Nations, Sep 26 (UNI) Requested by France, the UN Security Council on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting on Lebanon, the second meeting on the country's deteriorating situation in less than a week, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon." In his remarks, Guterres urged the Security Council "to work in lock-step" to end the escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants across the Blue Line, a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah and Israel must pull back from the brink of a potentially catastrophic regional war, he insisted, adding that there was now massive civilian displacement from southern and eastern Lebanon towards the Lebanese capital of Beirut, while the Israelis have endured repeated attacks from Hezbollah with more than 8,300 rockets, drones and increasingly high caliber missile attacks on military targets and residential areas. With an appeal for both sides to respect Lebanese sovereignty, Guterres said that Lebanon "must have full control of its weapons" throughout the country. "We support all efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces," he added. "We say it very clearly and honestly: what we have been witnessing over the past year in Gaza and what we are witnessing now in Lebanon is likely to expand to other areas in the region if the international community does not shoulder its responsibility to put an end to the machine of death and destruction," Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of Egypt, told the meeting. "They are spreading terror and fear among Lebanese citizens ... We cannot bear to lose another generation because of the war," said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. "The ongoing aggression against Lebanon is fueled by the failure of the international community, and in particular by the UN Security Council, to hold Israel accountable for war crimes and genocide in Gaza," said Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister. France on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States as the death toll mounted in deadly strikes by Israel. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the two Western powers were proposing a "temporary ceasefire" of 21 days "to allow for negotiations." The Arab League Council has at the level of foreign ministers warned of the repercussions of escalating "the Israeli aggression" against Lebanon in light of recent developments, which could lead to the outbreak of a large-scale regional war and threaten the security and stability of the entire region. Israel said on Wednesday it was readying troops for a potential ground incursion into Lebanon, telling soldiers to prepare to "enter enemy territory" as it called up more reservists and sent world leaders scrambling to prevent a full-scale war with Hezbollah militants. "We are preparing the process of a maneuver," Israeli Military Chief Herzi Halevi told troops at an exercise along the northern border. Israeli warplanes resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon. On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Israel's bombardment has displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in. UNI/XINHUA ARN An Irish film detailing the harrowing life of a Catholic priest evading capture during Penal times has won a prestigious Gabriel award, considered the United States Emmys of Faith Broadcasting. The film, 'Faith of Our Fathers,' was commissioned by global satellite giant EWTN and was written and produced in Ireland with an exclusively Irish cast and crew. Einin Duggan, from Maghera, who starred in the film, was delighted to learn of the award. I could hardly believe it when I heard the film had won the Gabriel award, she said. Faith of our Fathers is my first film, its just surreal. I'm so delighted for everyone. Everyone worked so hard and it's wonderful for that to be recognised. Executive Producer of the film, Aidan Gallagher of EWTN Ireland, said: This is an incredible honour and a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the entire cast and crew. The production comprised more than 90 people, including actors, extras, a film crew, and support personnel, who were on location for three weeks of filming and rehearsal. Faith of Our Fathers is available to watch on Amazon Prime and continues to be shown on EWTN which broadcasts to over 435 million television households worldwide on SKY 586, Virgin Media 815, Amazon Firestick, Roku and Online at EWTN.ie Aidan explained: The plotline, which has caught the imagination of audiences worldwide, follows a Catholic priest who lives in hiding, ministering in secret to evade capture and death. With the help of a devoted community, he continues to celebrate Mass at remote Mass Rocks and teaches in a hedge school. For realism, the hedge school scenes were dramatized with Irish as the main language spoken. Einin added: This top film award brings focus on the Irish language in the film, which is very special, and I'm very proud to have played a part in that. The movie was filmed in County Down, with the grounds of Dromantine Conference and Retreat Centre, outside Newry, serving as the main setting for the production. The Annual Gabriel Awards, now in their 58th year, celebrate outstanding achievements in film, broadcast, and digital media. The Gabriel Awards spotlight artistic excellence that embodies a profound vision of humanity and a true vision of life. The film director is County Down man Campbell Miller, a multi-award winner for his previous work in film. This is the second EWTN production to receive the prestigious Gabriel award, the first being in 2020 for the EWTN Hope docudrama. Both Gabriel Award productions, along with two other EWTN Ireland docudramas, have been presented in person to Pope Francis and screened in the Vatican, Rome. Two of Northern Irelands most acclaimed stage performers are teaming up for the very first time for a special show during the Bounce Arts Festival on October 5. Derry pianist Ruth McGinley and Belfast performance poet Alice McCullough are working together on this unmissable performance, which includes new material and some wonderful classics that the audience will know and love. The evening at the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in Limavady promises to be an emotional journey as these award-winning artists fuse their work with Ruth putting together new music to accompany Alices poetry. The Bounce Festival, organised by the University of Atypical and is supported by principal funder the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council and DOyly Charitable Trust. It takes place in Belfast, Limavady and Derry over the weekend of October 4-6 featuring 60 disabled artists. Alice, whose work has been praised by Stephen Fry, Van Morrison and Michael Longley, explains that this is a chance for audiences to see this work for the very first time. Ruth and I have found working together to be very special for both of us not just as performers but as individuals. We have both had difficult times. I am bi-polar and Ruth has been diagnosed with autism. We blend the humour with the darkness to bring a soulfulness and authenticity to our performance together. This show will make audiences laugh and cry, Alice said. Ruth, who was named the BBC Young Musician of the Year piano final winner when she was 16, went on to play with some of the worlds best orchestras. She gave solo performances at prestigious venues including the Southbank Centre, London and the Kennedy Centre in Washington last year. READ NEXT: Software jobs boost at Derry's North West Regional College During this show, she will play a solo set alongside Alice, who will perform her poems and sing. I have become totally swept away by Ruths playing. This is a very new, fresh show for us and I think it will be very special for the audience, Alice added. Ruth said: It has been a joy to work on this show with Alice. Her ability to express difficult subjects with such tenderness and levity is inspiring. We have found lots of common ground in rehearsal which I believe will be heart-warming for the audience to witness. A few other highlights in the Northwest include: Late Lunch Poetry show with Nina Quigley from Inishowen who will share poetry from her latest publication, Working for the Mafia: A Bipolar Experience. She will be joined by Elizabeth McGeown, a Pushcart-nominated poet and film artist on Oct 4 at the Playhouse. Foyle Pride and Mel Bradley present Not Your Pity Party in the Nerve Centre with disabled artists who also identify as LGBTQIA getting the spotlight also on the 4th at the Never Centre. And a sound and movement performance at the Nerve Centre by Amble Skuse a composer and sound artist from Scotland and Bosko Begovic, a writer, martial and movement artist from Belgrade. A three-year trauma, substance, recovery, and mental health project is set to launch across the city and district. The project will develop a peer support network through community collaboration to promote self-advocacy, develop knowledge, and support lifestyle changes for individuals, families, and communities. The Freedom ProjectJourney of Hope, is being delivered by Extern and funded through PeacePlus and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), administered by Derry City and Strabane District Council. The core focus of Journey of Hope will be on those affected by intergenerational trauma, a legacy of the Troubles that continues to impact our post-conflict society. Tiernan Thornton, project manager for the Freedom Project, said: The way we plan to run it will be through a six-week programme in different locations throughout the council area. By the end of a programme we will have hoped to have improved some of your addiction issues and also gotten a bit of peace and reconciliation out of it as well, interacting with people from the other side of the community that you may not have interacted with before and perhaps interacting with people from migrant communities you may not have done before. It is not just dealing with the person that has been through addiction, who has come out the other side hopefully, but also looking at the impact on friends, family, colleagues, and relationships; we are trying to address that as well. It will be open to anyone; it is self-referral. People who have had family members suffer or someone has needed help in the past and never wanted to talk about it. We can take anyone onto the programme. As much as that one person needs support, their circle needs support as well. The charity Extern was established in Derry in 1985, and this project will offer support to 520 individuals in the local area, including young people, families, and individuals in mental health crises. The Extern team will journey alongside people, supporting them with expert tools and resources to help build resilience to overcome the challenges faced and improve overall well-being. Mr. Thornton said: We have done the addictions programme in other parts of Northern Ireland, but this is the first time in Derry and Strabane. It has been done well in Ballymena, in the Southern Trust area in the Lurgan and Newry area, and also in Belfast. We are good at this work, and we realised there was a service like this missing in Derry. So people who have lived in certain communities for 20 or 30 years can feel they have a place in the community and somewhere to feel safe in it, and that comes through that education piece that we are trying to do, as through people understanding that everyone is different and has their own skills and abilities. We know there is a need for it, so we are going to use this Freedom Project to take our experience and put this into our programmes in terms of the mental health side of things, and it gives people the information in terms of understanding themselves in their community. A community development approach will form the basis of the project, which will be delivered in both urban and rural community settings to maximise reach. This project involves raising awareness, developing, and delivering training and educational programmes on community-identified health and well-being concerns. Mr. Thornton said: A lot of people we have working within our service or Extern have had that lived experience; people who have dealt with addiction or mental healthno amount of education can provide that insight, and that ability to connect with people who are going through something similar. As much as people think that addiction and mental health are the issue, it is the thing that has broken the camel's back; it is not necessarily the main issue. A lot of times people have other things going on, and then it just so happens that their mental health has suffered or they have used, whether it is alcohol, medication, or whatever, to mask how they are feeling, so it is going back to the root of the issue and trying to help them with that. The programmes being run may be more suitable for young mothers and another for older men, or a sports-related one, and we are finding this out through speaking to the communities, for where we are needed. The Freedom Project will constantly evolve over the three-year period as it is being run. Extern will analyse and learn from feedback of their programmes to inform them about where problems are arising and then put themselves in the best position to deal with those situations, starting with the first programme. Mr Thornton said: We are looking for the first programme to be up and running by Halloween, and some of them may work simultaneously, so we are reaching as many people as possible. Some of the programmes will be running in parallel. One may be in Derry and another in Strabane, on a Tuesday morning, while the other is on a Thursday morning. As well as those six-week programmes, which will be small groups of around 10, not classrooms full, we will also run large-scale community inclusion events potentially every six months where people can drop in for three or four hours to provide help and information for how they can battle their addiction. Extern CEO, Colin Hayburn, said The Freedom ProjectJourney of Hope is a significant milestone in the journey we are all on towards a better society where health and wellbeing are meshed into daily life. This new service, made possible through the PeacePlus funding, is a tremendous investment in community resilience and holds the promise of a brighter and better future for anyone who feels isolated and left behind by society. By integrating trauma-informed care with peer support, Extern will provide a comprehensive approach to well-being and recovery that empowers individuals and strengthens families. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to making a real difference in the lives of those affected by trauma and mental health challenges. The Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Cllr. Lilian Seenoi-Barr, said: I am delighted to see the launch of the Freedom Project Journey of Hope in our Council area, where so many people have been impacted by the trauma of a prolonged period of conflict. This project will support and engage hundreds of local people struggling to deal with a range of issues and provide practical and positive approaches to promoting better health and wellbeing. Well done to the Extern team on launching this really valuable initiative. And a representative for SEUPB said: The Freedom Project Journey of Hope will provide spaces for workshops, one-on-one support, and group meetings, with a strong emphasis on community collaboration and lived experience. This will help create long-lasting, positive change in the lives of individuals and families impacted by trauma, substance misuse, and struggles with mental health. For more information about the project, you can visit Freedom Project | Extern. Making the most out of his retirement, Young Witness Service volunteer, Basil Dalton, splits his time between playing games with his 10 and seven-year-old grandchildren, cuddling his little three-month-old grandson, keeping his mind and body healthy with walks around Roe Valley, reading books and newspapers and polishing his skills in silversmithing, creating spoons, bowls, and jewellery. Despite having a busy retirement schedule, Limavady man Basil finds the time to support children and young people attending court as prosecution witnesses at the Young Witness Service. NSPCC Northern Irelands Young Witness Service is a free, independent, and confidential service, funded by the Department of Justice NI. It provides support and assistance to children and young people under 18-years-old who attend court as prosecution witnesses in Northern Ireland. NSPCC NI staff and volunteers offer information and advice to children and young people, as well as their families, friends, and supporters, before, during and after the trial. The Young Witness Service is unique in the UK and last year provided support to almost 500 children and their families. Young Witness Service volunteer, Basil Dalton, 68, a retired arts and media manager of 37 years has volunteered with the service for more than seven years. He said: Because of my years of experience working in education, I felt I had something worthwhile to offer in retirement. I particularly enjoy the engagement with the young people and their parents and professionals who support them through the stressful court processes. Its not just about giving, however, as I get a lot of enjoyment from the interaction with the young people, their families, court officials, NSPCC Northern Ireland staff and other volunteers. Even though I had absolutely no experience of the court process, I did have experience of working with young people and felt able to support the young witnesses and their families through a stress-filled, anxious, and unfamiliar period in their lives. To have someone to talk through the process is always welcomed and greatly appreciated. Advising the young witness of the procedures and processes ahead is the most important role I play. Drawing on his experience as an arts lecturer, Basil, who lives in Limavady with his wife Margaret, particularly likes to use painting as a distraction technique for the young witnesses. He said: Once the formalities of procedures have been covered, its the volunteers role to try to divert attention and keep the young person calm and relaxed. I play games with the children. I particularly enjoy supporting younger children with art activities such as drawing and painting as these can be an excellent distraction. There are eight days of initial training and support, then ongoing training, individual supervision, and group meetings each year. Basil said: I was provided with all the training and support I needed. Continuous supervision by the staff made me feel supported, together with group meetings which looked at emerging policies and procedures. It is emphasised time and again that confidentiality is key, and while volunteers, working in pairs either with another volunteer or a staff member, can discuss the specifics of a court case, nothing can be divulged to those outside that immediate circle. Basil continued: During the training we met a Crown Court judge, a barrister, and a registered intermediary. Police officers explained the different roles they undertake when dealing with children and young people, including those with a disability. Child development milestones and identifying and dealing with children and young adults with special needs were areas I found particularly interesting. The year-long period of shadowing experienced volunteers that followed the initial training provided depth and breadth to our role and included cases in Crown, Youth and Magistrate Courts. The Childrens Service Practitioners are so accessible, and the other volunteers are very helpful and supportive. New and different situations often arise, and volunteers must be able to think on their feet but its heartening to know you can rely on the experience of others. Its important to remain calm and reassuring in stressful situations and to be able to cope with distressing information. Basil explained why volunteering with NSPCCs Young Witness Service is worthwhile and would encourage others to join. He said: It is a caring organisation, which provides a valuable service, and I get a real sense of being part of a team and feel appreciated for my contribution. I get to give something back to society, develop new skills, make new friends and most importantly, support children going through a challenging experience. I believe strongly that giving such support will help enhance society and that the kindness we show now will be reciprocated in the future. I find my work for the Young Witness Service very rewarding and would encourage anyone to consider offering their time. The volunteers come from all walks of life. For further information on volunteering with NSPCC Northern Irelands Young Witness Service, please contact billy.eagleson@nspcc.org.uk or 07825948244 or visit here A focused training session for new Young Witness Volunteer recruits will take place in the Derry area during November. To find out more information please contact billy.eagleson@nspcc.org.uk or 07825948244. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Economy Minister Conor Murphy has welcomed the job opportunities presented by the North West Regional College (NWRC) collaborative Assured Skills Academy in Software. Fully funded by the Department for the Economy, this Academy is an opportunity for 10 individuals to receive industry standard software training that will provide them with the skills to take up potential software roles with companies in the North West. Successful applicants will attend a 10-week training course delivered by NWRC at its dedicated training facility in Derry. The Minister said: This is a great opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge needed to become industry-ready for a career in software. It is quite clear from the number of local companies collaborating in this Academy that there is a need for individuals with specialist skills in this sector. With a 175 weekly training allowance for the duration of the Academy as well as help with travel and childcare costs, I would urge all who are interested to apply. Participants will study A4Q Software Development Engineer in Test and two modules from OCN Level 4 Diploma in Software Testing. Following successful completion of the training participants will be guaranteed an interview to take up a software position at one of the supporting companies. Leo Murphy, Principal and Chief Executive at North West Regional College said: Software Engineering is a growing industry in Northern Ireland and this collaborative Academy will provide individuals with a unique opportunity to advance their careers in this field. We are delighted to offer this opportunity in the North West, in partnership with local employers, which provides candidates with a guaranteed job interview on successful completion of the course, and offers a direct link into employment. The supporting companies are: Bioledger, Derry Challenge Curve, Derry Focused on Data, Garvagh ITUS, Letterkenny Foods Connected, Derry Telatec, Coleraine By applying for a place on this pre-employment training programme, applicants are committing to pursuing a job opportunity with one of the employers supporting this Academy. Applicants must: be at least 18 years old by Monday, November 4; have reached a basic level of skills and knowledge in the area of software development and/or software testing such that they are able to develop and test rudimentary software programs. Preferable level 3 in an IT related area pass a pre-course proficiency test and interview; have achieved GCSE English and Maths at grade C or above or equivalent; be eligible to work in the UK at the time of application. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/ articles/software-academy The online application form must be completed by 12.00 noon on Monday, October 14. A woman will be sentenced on November 13 after she admitted stealing more than 10,000 from the local Derry branch of Alcoholics Anonymous. Niamh Bonner (54) of Central Drive in Derry appeared at the local Crown Court today. She was charged with one count of theft of 10,500 from Alcoholics Anonymous on dates between August 1, 2018 and November 1, 2018. She was also charged with fraud by abuse of position on dates between August 1, 2018 and December 1, 2019. When the charges were put to her she pleaded guilty to both charges. In response to a question from Judge Neil Rafferty KC defence counsel for Bonner, Mr Dean Mooney, told the court that the defendant had been the Treasurer of the local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous. Judge Rafferty said that this was a breach of trust case and as such he would need a pre-sentence report and also an assessment of the damage done to the organisation. He told Bonner she would be sentenced on November 13 and in the meantime he released her on continuing bail. Belfasts new maternity hospital will not open until health chiefs are assured that the domestic water systems do not pose a risk to babies, MLAs have been told. The opening of the hospital is facing a significant delay after high levels of the bacteria pseudomonas were discovered in its water system earlier this year. Senior officials from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust appeared before Stormonts Health Committee to give an update on the project. Interim chief executive Maureen Edwards told the committee that the new building on the Royal Hospital site is state of the art. She said: We really need a 21st century service. Our mothers and babies deserve it. She added: Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been detected within the domestic water systems, the systems that supply waters to our taps, our showers and our baths in the maternity hospital. We recognise this has been a long-awaited project, this is the latest in a number of delays from the inception. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found widely in soil and stagnant water. It does not usually cause illness in healthy people but can pose a serious threat to people with weak immune systems. The project to open a new maternity hospital at the Royal Victoria has been plagued by delays for several years. The hospital had been expected to open next year and the Belfast Trust took possession of the building in March. Ms Edwards told MLAs that pseudomonas was first detected while the building was being constructed. The contractor carried out chemical treatment and pipe recovery work and after samples were taken the building was handed over to the trust. However, Ms Edwards said a subsequent commissioning process was carried out and further tests detected incidents of contamination in a significant number of outlets. She added: We cannot and we will not open a building until we are assured that the domestic water systems do not pose a risk to the safety of our babies. We took the decision we would pause, we would get an independent review of the situation. She said the review would be carried out by two industry experts including the UK Health and Security Agency at Porton Down. She said their analysis would inform the trusts next steps. Consultant neonatologist Alison Walker told MLAs that pseudomonas was an opportunistic bacteria. She said: Whenever it infects a patient or a neonate with an underdeveloped or compromised immune system, then the effects can be really quite devastating. Infections can be very serious and cause death in extreme circumstances. She added: There has been past experience in Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole with pseudomonas. There was an outbreak at the end of 2011, early 2012. At that point across five trusts 25 infants and families were affected and unfortunately there were five deaths from pseudomonas at that time. The new maternity hospital in Belfast is already several years overdue and is well over budget. A Northern Ireland Audit Office report earlier this year said the hospital was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2015. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Chinas durable goods trade-in program gains traction a move to stimulate domestic consumption Global Times) 10:33, September 26, 2024 China's national program to promote trade-ins of durable consumer goods has achieved marked progress, as the efforts by local governments to propel domestic consumption bears fruit, officials said on Wednesday. Taking automobiles for instance, a total of 1.13 million applications for trade-in subsidies eligible for the customers who scrap old cars and buy new ones have been submitted by Wednesday, while the number of registered customers has exceeded 1.68 million, said Geng Hongzhou, an official from the Ministry of Commerce. Amid the annual consumption peak season of the so-called "Golden September and Silver October," Geng said that the trade-in program will further spur auto consumption and promote the growth of adjacent sectors. In addition to auto vehicles, consumer spending on home appliances, furniture, and sanitation products also saw a noticeable rise, said Wen Hua, an official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In August, retail sales of household electrical appliances as well as audio-visual equipment reversed a decline in the previous year to a rise, with the month's sales up 3.4 percent year-on-year, Wen noted. The trade-in program has also driven up investment in the targeted sectors. The output of home appliances covered under the program including washing machines grew by 7 percent, while the production of smart televisions and refrigerators increased by 6.7 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, Wen said. Wen added that the ultra-long special treasury bonds worth 150 billion yuan ($21.36 billion) dedicated to trade-ins of consumer goods were issued to Chinese localities at the beginning of August. In terms of the strengthened financial support by various Chinese localities, Wen said that 24 Chinese provinces and cities including Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and East China's Jiangsu Province have introduced policy measures to support the replacement of old cars with new ones, with the maximum subsidy reaching 18,000 yuan. While China's domestic consumption is undergoing structural changes, the government's trade-in program will continue to drive consumption of durable goods in the remaining months of 2024, Cong Yi, a professor at the Tianjin School of Administration, told the Global Times. Cong said that he is optimistic about China's consumption potential, expecting the trade-in program to accelerate retail sales. Included in the government's trade-in program are products ranging from automobiles to home appliances and electric bicycles. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) A tenured University of Pennsylvania law professor has been suspended for what school officials called a history of derogatory remarks against minority groups. The Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility announced sanctions against Amy Wax on Tuesday for occasional discriminatory statements she made against people based on their race, sex, gender, ethnicity and immigration status. This includes a one-year suspension with half-pay, the loss of her designated chair, and the inability to represent UPenn in public engagements, among other things. "The faculty Hearing Board concluded that you engaged in 'flagrant unprofessional conduct' that breached your responsibilities as a teacher to offer an equal opportunity to all students to learn from you," university Provost John L. Jackson Jr. wrote in a public reprimand to Wax. Students from the National Black Law Students Association, the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, and the North American South Asian Law Students Association issued a unified letter in April 2022 calling for accountability as well. The controversial comments in question go as far back as 2017, when Wax said she had never seen a Black student graduate in the top quarter of their Penn Law class. Following a 2018 online petition calling for the school to seek legal action against Wax for her remarks, the university announced she would no longer be teaching a first-year course. Then at the National Conservatism Conference in 2019, Wax said the U.S. should favor Western immigrants at the National Conservatism Conference. "Embracing cultural distance, cultural distance nationalism, means in effect taking the position that our country will be better off with more whites than non-whites," BuzzFeed News reported Wax saying, which led to backlash from students. In another interview with Fox News in April 2022, Wax disparaged Indian Americans who criticize the United States, saying, "They climb the ladder, they get the best education, we give them every opportunity, and they turn around and lead the charge on 'we're racist, we're an awful country.'" According to ABC News, Wax has also made homophobic statements, including "commenting in class that gay couples are not fit to raise children" and telling students that "women, on average, are less knowledgeable than men." In May 2023, the committee determined Wax made "sweeping and derogatory generalizations" about minority groups over the years and recommended sanctions, which Wax opposed. However the committee denied her appeal on Tuesday, and interim President J. Larry Jameson confirmed he would respect this "final decision" and impose the sanctions proposed. While Penn's sanctions represent significant action against a tenured faculty member, students have previously pushed for Wax's removal. In 2022, a third-year law student told ABC News that Wax shouldn't be allowed on the school campus to interact with other students during the investigation into her controversial remarks. "We really need to fire Amy Wax," another law student said. Taiwan ramps up semiconductor innovation with US$9.3 billion initiative and global talent drive At its September 19 board meeting, Taiwan's Central Bank emphasized Taiwan's critical role in maintaining its semiconductor dominance amid escalating US-China trade tensions in technology and national defense. This point has been brought up in the reference material for the bank's ongoing seventh round of selective credit controls in the real estate market, including tightening loan-to-value ratios and grace periods. As major nations push for semiconductor self-sufficiency, leading chipmakers such as TSMC have been courted to invest around the globe. The bank's report suggests Taiwan's well-established supply chain and cluster advantages remain difficult to replicate in the short term. Photo: Governor of Taiwan's Central Bank Chin-Long Yang. Credit: DIGITIMES International collaboration is key The Central Bank advised that, as a small, open economy deeply integrated with global markets, Taiwan should continue optimizing its investment environment to attract domestic and foreign companies to invest in advanced technologies. Furthermore, the bank recommended fostering cooperation with allied nations and enhancing communication mechanisms for economic and trade policies to maintain its leading position in the global supply chain. In recent years, the US, European Union, and Japan have offered substantial subsidies to encourage TSMC to set up factories in their territories, underscoring the strategic value of the semiconductor industry. Under President Ching-te Lai's "Five Trusted Industry Sectors" initiative, the semiconductor sector ranks at the top. The "Taiwan Chip-based Industrial Innovation Program" is set to implement various semiconductor projects over a decade with a budget of NT$300 billion(US$9.3 billion), an unprecedented investment in Taiwan's history. According to government-approved policies, Taiwan will push for the localization of semiconductor equipment and materials. Related subsidy programs are expected to be introduced to production lines by the end of 2024, completing quality verification. The plan's framework revolves around research,co-creation, and development. It will encourage companies like Nvidia, Micron, and AMD to invest in Taiwan's advanced technologies and collaborate with local industries on research and development. In terms of international cooperation, semiconductor material and equipment companies from Japan, the US, and the Netherlands have already invested in Taiwan. Taiwan and the Netherlands will collaborate on the development of silicon photonics (SiPh), while cooperation with Lithuania will focus on laser technology. Talent recruitment efforts To expand its talent pool, Taiwan's first overseas chip innovation base in the Czech Republic has already begun operations. Additionally, Taiwan is implementing a customized international talent recruitment model, with 13 semiconductor companies and eight universities, including National Taiwan University, National Cheng Kung University, and National Tsing Hua University, traveling to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia to recruit talent. Due to a shortage of semiconductor professionals, the Ministry of Education is encouraging universities and technical colleges to increase enrollment in fields related to semiconductors, AI, and mechanical engineering. In 2024, approved enrollment increases will total 6,355 slots, including 4,098 in universities and 2,257 in technical colleges. The government is also focused on attracting more women to join the semiconductor industry as a key future priority. US DOC imposes ban on Chinese automotive software and hardware The US Department of Commerce (DOC) recently proposed a ban on automotive software and hardware technology and equipment from China and Russia entering the US market. Sino Auto Insights commented that the Biden administration's move could close a significant loophole in previous tariff measures on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). The proposal, suggested by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the DOC, aims to prohibit the import and sale of vehicle connectivity systems (VCS) and autonomous driving system (ADS) software and hardware produced in China or Russia. It also seeks to prevent the use of these technologies in any vehicle operating within the United States. In May, the US government raised tariffs on imported Chinese EVs to 102.5%. However, Chinese manufacturers could still avoid these tariffs by building factories in Mexico and entering the US market through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The new DOC rules would maintain USMCA terms while restricting vehicles with Chinese technology and equipment from entering the US market. According to reports from Bloomberg and The Register, the primary purpose of this proposed ban is to address concerns that China or Russia could use these technologies for espionage in the United States. The technologies in question include computer systems that control vehicle movement, monitoring devices that collect sensitive data from drivers and passengers, as well as cameras and sensors used in autonomous driving systems, which could be exploited by hostile nations through vehicle connectivity features. In February 2024, the Biden administration ordered an investigation into Chinese-made vehicles exported to the United States due to concerns that these vehicles might be used to gather data on US road locations and driving routes, or even be remotely controlled. DOC Secretary Gina Raimondo stated that if software from hostile nations can monitor American drivers or remotely control vehicles, it poses a threat to US citizens' privacy and national security. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan added that there is evidence China has embedded malware in US critical infrastructure. With the increasing presence of Chinese-made vehicles on US roads, the potential damage and threats to national security will only grow. Although Chinese-brand vehicles are currently rare on US roads, some American car manufacturers produce vehicles in China and then export them to the United States. Given that most modern vehicles are equipped with connectivity and data-sharing features, the new DOC proposal would effectively ban the import of all vehicles manufactured in China. This move could force American carmakers like General Motors (GM) and Ford to stop selling vehicles produced in China and imported to the United States. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation believes that some automakers may need more time to comply with the new regulations and may need to find alternative suppliers. However, the DOC stated that automakers will have the option to apply for special exemptions. The DOC's recent proposal also responds to a report submitted by the US Trade Representative (USTR) to Congress in July. The report argued that China is using government subsidies and other non-market policies to expand the production of EVs and related components in North America, disrupting supply chains and depriving American workers and businesses of fair competition. However, research firm Automobility raised doubts about the DOC's proposal, noting that Chinese software is already widely used in other consumer products, from televisions to the Internet of Things (IoT) and smartphones. The firm argued that the rationale for reducing risks from Chinese software lacks clear boundaries and is not convincing. Automobility also warned that continued unilateral bans by the United States would only escalate already tense geopolitical relations between China and the US and could provoke retaliation, potentially affecting American businesses operating in China. Quebec's strategy for closing America's semiconductor talent gap The existing competitive edge has prompted the birth of a semiconductor Innovation Zone in the city of Bromont, located in Quebec, Canada. World leaders like IBM, Teledyne DALSA, Fabritec, and GE Aviation are located in the area, taking advantage of Quebec's green energy. The Innovation Zone is strategically located in the North American semiconductor North-East Corridor and has the highest number of microelectronics jobs and clean rooms in the country. The North-East Corridor links Quebec with the U.S. semiconductor industry, which is booming thanks to the CHIPS Act. More than 60 new semiconductor projects have been announced in the U.S., including 23 new chip fabs and the expansion of 9 other fabs, many of them in New York State. This makes Quebec part of a cross-border supply chain, covering everything from chip design to R&D and manufacturing. The American semiconductor industry is facing a labor market gap, as the projected demand for talent is growing. Demand for engineers, technicians, and computer scientists is particularly expected to increase. Quebec is taking the lead in developing and implementing solutions to this challenge, building on its historic strengths while demonstrating agility in response to regional CHIPS investments. Incentives and international mobility programs have been created to attract top talent. At the federal level, companies can already benefit from the Intra-Company Transfer program, which allows for the temporary transfer of qualified employees from abroad to Canada within the same organization. Another immigration program, the Global Talent Stream, makes it easier to hire specialized or highly skilled talent from abroad. This program includes a simplified procedure in Quebec for high-demand skills within the province. There are also several Quebec-specific incentives aimed at talent development and attraction. Companies can benefit from programs provided by Employment Quebec, which offer competitive grants for training. In strategic sectorssuch as digital transformation, the green economy, or the energy transitionthe grants can cover up to CAD1 million of eligible expenses. Additionally, tax credits are available to help recruit foreign researchers for scientific research or experimental development (SR&ED) projects in Quebec. To further attract talent, the Quebec Perspective Scholarship Program, announced in 2021, is a CA$1.7 billion investment over five years to encourage Canadian or permanent resident students to pursue diplomas in strategic economic sectors such as engineering and information technology. Another strong incentive is the Quebec tax holiday for researchers and specialists recruited to work in the province. This holiday provides an exemption from Quebec income tax for five consecutive calendar years, including a full exemption for the first two years. Investissement Quebec, the Quebec government's financial arm and economic development agency, has established its own Talent team, whose mandate is to work closely with companies already in Quebec or those looking to establish a presence, helping to build resilience against workforce challenges. All levels of government work closely with businesses to adapt existing training programs and create new ones that target priority sectors. A great example is the swift action taken to support the large battery projects recently established in Quebec. Several partner organizations across the province collaborated on these structural changes and actively promoted them to attract both local and international students and talent. In addition to responsive policies, Quebec offers several lifestyle advantages. The region is one of the safest in North America, providing an outstanding quality of life, affordable housing, and competitive childcare. In 2020, the monthly childcare cost for an infant was just CA$181. Companies in Quebec also benefit from significantly lower labor costs compared to those in the U.S. Investissement Quebec offers 360-degree support for business growth and productivity. Its services range from financing to technological support and business consulting. To learn more about what the Quebec semiconductor ecosystem can bring to your business contact Rachel Yin (LinkedIn) Info@Invest-Quebec.com SK Hynix begins volume production of the world's first 12-Layer HBM3E SK Hynix Inc. announced today that it has begun mass production of the world's first 12-layer HBM3E product with 36GB[i], the largest capacity of existing HBM[ii] to date. 1Previously, the maximum capacity of HBM3E was 24GB from eight vertically stacked 3GB DRAM chips. 2HBM (High Bandwidth Memory): This high-value, high-performance memory vertically interconnects multiple DRAM chips and dramatically increases data processing speed in comparison to traditional DRAM products. HBM3E is the extended version of HBM3, the fourth generation product that succeeds the previous generations of HBM, HBM2 and HBM2E. The company plans to supply mass-produced products to customers within the year, proving its overwhelming technology once again six months after delivering the HBM3E 8-layer product to customers for the first time in the industry in March this year. SK Hynix is the only company in the world that has developed and supplied the entire HBM lineup from the first generation (HBM1) to the fifth generation (HBM3E), since releasing the world's first HBM in 2013. The company plans to continue its leadership in the AI memory market, addressing the growing needs of AI companies by being the first in the industry to mass-produce the 12-layer HBM3E. According to the company, the 12-layer HBM3E product meets the world's highest standards in all areas that are essential for AI memory including speed, capacity and stability. SK Hynix has increased the speed of memory operations to 9.6 Gbps, the highest memory speed available today. If 'Llama 3 70B3', a Large Language Model (LLM) is driven by a single GPU equipped with four HBM3E products, it can read 70 billion total parameters 35 times within a second. 3Llama 3: Open-source LLM released by Meta in April 2024, with 3 sizes in total: 8B (Billion), 70B, and 400B. SK Hynix has increased the capacity by 50% by stacking 12 layers of 3GB DRAM chips at the same thickness as the previous eight-layer product. To achieve this, the company made each DRAM chip 40% thinner than before and stacked vertically using TSV4 technology. The company also solved structural issues that arise from stacking thinner chips higher by applying its core technology, the Advanced MR-MUF5 process. This allows to provide 10% higher heat dissipation performance compared to the previous generation, and secure the stability and reliability of the product through enhanced warpage controlling. 4TSV (Through Silicon Via): This advanced packaging technology links upper and lower chips with an electrode that vertically passes through thousands of fine holes on DRAM chips. 5MR-MUF (Mass Reflow Molded Underfill): The process of stacking semiconductor chips, injecting liquid protective materials between them to protect the circuit between chips, and hardening them. The process has proved to be more efficient and effective for heat dissipation, compared with the method of laying film-type materials for each chip stack. SK Hynix's advanced MR-MUF technology is critical to securing a stable HBM mass production as it provides good warpage control and reduces the pressure on the chips being stacked. "SK Hynix has once again broken through technological limits demonstrating our industry leadership in AI memory," said Justin Kim, President (Head of AI Infra) at SK Hynix. "We will continue our position as the No.1 global AI memory provider as we steadily prepare next-generation memory products to overcome the challenges of the AI era." About SK Hynix Inc. SK Hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top-tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM"), flash memory chips ("NAND flash"), and CMOS Image Sensors ("CIS") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxemburg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK Hynix is available at www.skHynix.com, news.skHynix.com. An Indiana University student is facing rape and strangulation charges after allegedly assaulting two women at a campus fraternity house in the same week. He's the third student accused of sexual assault charges since the school year started about a month ago. Noah Apgar was taken into custody on Tuesday and is facing a slew of felony charges, including five counts of rape, one count of strangulation and a criminal confinement charge. Dave Pascarella, director of communications for Sigma Alpha Epsilon, where Apgar was a member, said in a statement, "Upon learning of the alleged incident, SAE immediately suspended the member and began working with the University administration." "Sigma Alpha Epsilon denounces all acts of sexual violence. Violence in any form does not represent the fraternity's values as defined by our creed, The True Gentlemen," he added. Apgar is the third male student at Indiana University to be arrested and charged in connection with sexual assaults since late August, according to the student-run television channel. Gregory Gabler, 18, was arrested earlier this month on rape charges, while 18-year-old Jackson Arnold was detained during welcome week after a female student reported that he repeatedly touched her sexually. Arnold is facing three counts of sexual battery. According to IU's 2023 Security and Public Safety Report, there were 38 recorded rapes on the IU Bloomington campus in 2022, with five reported off campus, for a total of 43. This was an increase from 2021, when there were 24 reported rapes on campus and seven off campus, for a total of 31. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Clogherhead RNLI came to the aid of a fisherman yesterday after their razor boat broke down near Gyles Quay nine miles north of Clogherhead. The volunteer crew were requested by the Dublin Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to go to the fishermans aid shortly before 8am on Wednesday 25 September. The boats engine had failed. The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, the Michael O'Brien, was launched under Coxswain Tomas Whelahan with mechanic Barry Sharkey and crew members Brian Sharkey, Carol Holcroft, Derek Shevlin and Paraic Costell onboard, on what was a crisp autumn morning with calm sea conditions. On arriving on scene near Gyles Quay, nine miles north of Clogherhead, the crew proceeded to assess the situation. The fisherman was safe and well but due to the boat having sustained engine failure and unable to make any safe onward progress, a decision was made that the best course of action was to establish a towline and bring the vessel to the nearest safe place, at Port Oriel. Read Next: Huge increase in shop thefts in Louth Speaking following the call out, Clogherhead RNLI Coxswain Tomas Whelahan said: "This was a straightforward call out in good weather conditions and we were happy to help the fisherman as the boat had lost all power and they wouldnt have made it back to shore safely unaided. "We would remind anyone planning a trip to sea to go prepared checking weather and tide times, ensuring your vessel is maintained and has enough fuel for the trip and that you wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device for your activity. "Let someone on the shore know where you are going and when you are due back and carry a means of communication should you get into difficulty. If you do get into trouble or see someone else in need of help, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard." An Irish beach walker claims to have spotted a Lough Ness monster-like creature off the coast of County Donegal. Dean Beattie managed to video the mythical sea creature on a beach near Buncrana briefly before his mobile phone battery died, with the clip appearing to show a large, serpent-like creature popping its head out of the water. The 31-year-old barber was out for a leisurely stroll along the beach when the creature appeared out of the water. The creature is reminiscent of an Oillipheist - a sea serpent or dragon-like monster in Irish mythology and folklore, believed to have inhabited lakes and rivers in Ireland. It looks exactly the same as the original pictures of the Loch Ness monster, the 31-year-old explained. Its not the best of videos as my phone died when I started to record but it wasnt a swan a seal or anything Ive ever seen. We sat and watched it for 20 minutess at least going under water then resurfacing a minute or so later, around 20 yards away, he told Whats The Jam. Then it just disappeared from sight. Im as curious as anyone would be. The more I compare the more it looks like the original Loch Ness monster photo. I feel like going back to see if I can see it again, Beattie finished. by Daniel Shotkin I was in 9th grade when I first heard the name Rudyard Kipling mentioned in school. My history teacher had decided to inaugurate a unit on imperialism, and Kiplings zealous verses soon rang loudly through the classroom: Take up the White Mans burden Send forth the best ye breed Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives need; To wait in heavy harness On fluttered folk and wild Your new-caught, sullen peoples, Half devil and half child. My teacher explained that Kipling exemplified the racist and jingoistic attitudes of late-19th-century European colonial powers. I was surprised because, to me, Kipling represented something else entirely. I didnt disagree with my teachers assessmentcertainly, no one could after hearing a poem called The White Mans Burden. But my confusion wasnt unwarranted; it stemmed largely from the fact that the Kipling recited by my teacher and the Kipling I had known prior to that fateful history class seemed to be two radically different authors. My first encounter with Kipling was categorically less ominous. One of my favorite bedtime stories as a kid was Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a short tale about a mongoose protecting a family from two cobras. Apart from that and other indirect encountersanimated versions of The Jungle Book and the song Bare NecessitiesKipling and I didnt interact until I was 11, when my dad insisted that I read Kim. As is often the case with lengthy Victorian epics, Kims very first pages didnt particularly captivate me. In fact, Kiplings dense, tangent-filled prose made me put the book down just minutes after I had picked it up. But months later, I gave it another go, trudged past the introduction, and realized that what I had in front of me was a novel about myself. For those unfamiliar with the story, Kim follows a young Irish orphan named Kim OHara as he becomes embroiled in the political intrigue of British-ruled India. Among his many adventures, OHara is taken up as the disciple of a Tibetan lama, becomes employed by a British intelligence agency, and travels into the foothills of the Himalayas. Kim is a coming-of-age story, an adventure tale, and a geopolitical thriller all in one. I read it as a thrilling, if somewhat dated, Victorian Spy Kids. What more could I ask for? But never mind the plotKiplings prose in Kim is so intricate it could easily be mistaken for poetry. Take the opening line, for example: He sat in defiance of municipal orders, astride the gun Zam-Zammeh, on her old platform, opposite the old Ajaib gher, the Wonder House, as the natives called the Lahore Museum. Who hold Zam-Zammah, that fire-breathing dragon, hold the Punjab, for the great green-bronze piece is always first of the conquerors loot. Kipling manages to cram in action, exposition, and historical context into two sentences, all without stereotyping local culturea novelty when compared to his Victorian predecessors. In fact, Kiplings attitude toward India specifically stands in stark contrast to the racist and imperialist ideas he is known for today. While Kipling refers to new-caught, sullen peoplesHalf devil and half child in The White Mans Burden, his depiction of the Indian subcontinent and its people in Kim, though idealized, is devoid of any overt stereotypes. He goes out of his way to convey the diversity of cultures and faiths in India, as well as the complexity of relations between the British and the native population. This is most clearly illustrated through Kims best friend, Mahbuba Sunni horse dealer and fellow spy for the British. When Kim asks Mahbub about his experiences with the British, he replies, It is with them as with all menin certain matters they are wise, and in others most foolish. Read this dialogue between Kim and Mahbub and youll understand why I had such trouble attributing White Mans Burden to Kipling. Kim: What am I? Mussalman, Hindu, Jain, or Buddhist? That is a hard knot. Mahbub: Thou art beyond question an unbeliever, and therefore thou wilt be damned. So says my Lawor I think it does. ButI love thee. Therefore I say in my heart the Faiths are like the horses. Each has merit in its own country. Kipling uses thou and thee to translate Hindustanis informal register. But back to my first impressionswhy did I feel Kim was about me? Well, to me, Kim was the only novel I had read that reflected my own childhood experience. Of course, I wasnt involved in any child espionage, but there were other commonalities. You see, Kipling, Kim, and I all grew up in a country different from that of our parents. For Kipling, that meant being born in Bombay to British parents and living there intermittently throughout his life. I was born in New York to Russian parents, but my family moved to Bangkok, Thailand, when I was six months old. I lived there until I was 14. Kiplings childhood explains why he portrayed India with such care in his stories, and shows the conflict he felt between his Indian childhood and his adult imperialistic tendencies. Kipling summarizes this conflict in his memoirs: In the afternoon heats before we took our sleep, Meeta would tell us stories and Indian nursery songs all unforgotten, and we were sent into the dining room after we had been dressed, with the caution Speak English now to Papa and Mamma. So one spoke English, haltingly translated out of the vernacular idiom that one thought and dreamed in. My childhood was similarly multicultural. My friends were from all corners of the worldSingaporean, Indian, Chinese, French, Japanese, and, of course, Thai. I spoke Russian at home, English with my friends, Chinese to my teachers, and Thai to strangers. I grew up with the strange feeling of knowing I was always a foreigner (or farang, as were called in Thailand), but also with the belief that I could fit in anywhere in the world. When I read about Kim OHara walking along the bustling Grand Trunk Road, I saw myself zipping through the equally bustling Bangkok rush-hour traffic on a motorbike taxi. Just as Kipling describes the pilgrimage of a Tibetan lama from the Ravi River to the Himalayas, I would see orange-robed Buddhist monks with alms bowls in hand walking past me on my way to school. And perhaps most importantly, just as Kim struggles to find a sense of identity between his British ancestry and Indian upbringing, I found it difficult to understand where I belonged when all I had grown up around was, at least on paper, alien. But my childhood certainly wasnt unique. Third Culture Kidschildren who grow up in a culture different from that in which their parents grew upare more common than ever. Bangkok today is home to 92 international schools that serve Third Culture Kids from all over the world, and the same can be said about every international city, be it London, Tokyo, New Delhi, or Mexico City. In this sense, Kim isnt just a dated book on empire; its a novel that describes a situation more and more young people find themselves in today. Kiplings legacy as a preacher of imperialism is problematic, and rightfully so. But his work doesnt have to be viewed strictly within the confines of the 19th century. In fact, I would argue that Kim is, at its heart, a novel that beautifully conveys the uniquely 21st-century experience of being a Third Culture Kid. His nickname through all the wards was Little Friend of all the World. Rudyard Kipling, Kim, 1901. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. Today marks the first Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Appreciation Day, with a number of schools in Cork taking part in the celebrations. The initiative, launched nationwide by Forsas education division, is aimed at recognising the work of SNAs across the Irish education system. As part of the inaugural celebrations, Forsa ran two competitions, which will see one school awarded 1,000 to be spent internally as well as one Forsa-registered SNA to be awarded a 1,000 voucher to spend as they wish. Speaking ahead of the day to The Echo, Terri OSullivan, who is an SNA at Douglas-Rochestown Educate Together National School, said: Its nice. Its the first ever SNA appreciation day, and I hope it takes off as the years go by. Its an important job, so its nice to highlight that. The job can be unrecognised, as a lot of the time SNAs are in the background, but really there are a lot of children who couldnt go to school without one. An SNAs job is to make a child feel comfortable and happy, she added. Its very rewarding, [and] I love the interactions with them. Our principal has organised a surprise for us, so Im not sure whats going to happen on the day, but its really nice that theyre marking it and everyone likes to be appreciated. I hope it will become an annual day, [because] I would like to see it recognised for the important job that it is. Three SNAs from North Presentation Primary School in Blackpool Tracy Wallace, Jill Haydon, and Georgia OCallaghan said that highlighting the day made them feel important and proud. Its brilliant. We know that the kids appreciate us, so its also great to be recognised on a broader spectrum, said Ms Haydon. I love the kids and, emotionally, we are a huge support for them. Theres never a day that Im driving to work thinking I dont want to come in, I actually cant wait to get to school and see them all. Ms OCallaghan said: Teachers have their appreciation day, so its nice to be recognised as SNAs. Its nice to feel important. Its a very rewarding job and, when you see how delighted the kids are to see us, you know youre doing something right. Ms Wallace added: Its great to get the acknowledgment, [and] it would be great if it became an annual thing. A huge drop in water pressure for the Ballyhooly area has left people in that north Cork community unable to shower or wash clothes or dishes for two weeks, an independent councillor for the Fermoy Municipal District told a meeting of Cork County Council this week. According to Willie OLeary, who raised the issues after the suspension of standing orders, the issue was that a section of pipe from the reservoir to the village had to be replaced. All were getting from Irish Water is the standard reply, we dont have answers for residents and, as public representatives, its embarrassing. I would plead with the Council Executive to use whatever leverage you have with Irish Water over the coming days to try and progress it, he said, outlining that funding for the replacement of pipes could be accessed under a national programme but that there was no scope to access that funding until the end of the year. The independent councillors colleagues on Fermoy MD spoke in support of his emergency motion. According to Fine Gaels Noel McCarthy, the people of Ballyhooley had suffered enough. Theyve been suffering for far too long because of the lack of pressure. Deirdre OBrien of Fianna Fail told her fellow councillors that the pressure was so low in the Ballyhooly water supply that it took two minutes and 12 seconds to fill a small bottle of water while Independent councillor Peter ODonoghue said the issue had been going on for years in the village but that it had worsened in the past number of weeks. Its catastrophic out there at the moment, he said. I work with a charity over in Kenya and we got water to a local village over there theres water in Kenya but they dont have water in Ballyhooley theres something seriously wrong in 2024 when theres no water in Ballyhooly. Former mayor Frank OFlynn, currently convalescing after an operation, spoke on the motion from his home and said that a long-term solution was required which he described as the installation of a new 3-4 inch pipe to connect the village and the reservoir, a distance of some 6km. Replying to a query from The Echo, an Uisce Eireann spokesperson said the recent supply disruption was due to a burst water main in the area which was investigated and repaired on September 16. The existing watermains have been identified as contributing to low water pressure in the area, said the spokesperson. Mains replacement will take several investment cycles to complete, having regard to available resources, funding and prioritisation; and the network needs to be managed in the meantime, responding to bursts and issues when they occur. In the short-term, to minimise the impact of potential supply disruptions and following reports raised by customers in the locality, Uisce Eireann has deployed a leakage investigation and repair team to Ballyhooly. Escatecs second family generation was taking over in 2023: Charles-Alexandre Albin, CEO. Escatec, a swiss/malaysian electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, is marking its 40th anniversary, celebrating a significant milestone as the family-owned Group looks toward future growth. Founded in 1984 on Penang Island, Malaysia, by Swiss engineer Christophe Albin, originally under the name LODA Electronics, Escatec has grown into an innovative mid-sized leader in the global EMS industry. The company remains family-owned, with the second generation, Charles-Alexandre Albin, taking over as CEO in November 2023. In its 40-year journey, the company has evolved from humble beginnings into a global powerhouse, achieving remarkable growth, innovation, and success, across diverse markets and geographical locations. The companys social committees have been actively planning a series of events to celebrate its 40th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, gala dinners are being organised at all locations, offering employees the opportunity to reflect on the company's achievements and look ahead to the future. Additionally, a variety of sporting events are being arranged to promote team spirit and camaraderie. These celebrations are a tribute to the dedication and hard work of the staff, who have played a crucial role in the companys success over the past four decades. Escatec`s success is rooted in its founder's values of ethical business practices, long-term partnerships, and a commitment to customer satisfaction - principles embedded in the companys culture and leadership. Our success has always been about maintaining direct personalised relationships with our customers. Its not just business; its about real human connections built on trust, says CEO Albin, recalling his early days learning the trade at the Penang factory. Escatec is well-positioned for further growth, boasting a strong financial base, zero external debt, long-term customers, and a range of vertically integrated design and manufacturing services which support customers throughout the entire product lifecycle. Major OEM brands from Europe and North America make up most of its customer base. The company currently operates four production facilities in Malaysia, two in the Czech Republic, and one each in the UK, Switzerland, and Bulgaria. It also has a standalone Design & Development Innovation Hub in Switzerland and strategic partnerships in Croatia and the US. Looking ahead, Escatec sees nearshoring and environmental protection as key to attracting new business. Emerging technologies in various sectors offer promising growth channels and these trends are already shaping the Groups strategies, including where and when it is likely to establish new production sites. The next logical step is to expand into North America, possibly Mexico or the United States, to better serve our customers and tap into new markets, noted Albin. Innovation and technology will continue to remain central, with the EscatecTechnology Council (composed of engineering leaders from all business units) continuing to explore new technologies, including AI and digital tools, to enhance preventative maintenance and diagnostics. Environmental sustainability will be another key focus for Escatec as it moves into its fifth decade. The Group has already made significant investments in this regard, with nearly 100% renewable energy usage in its facilities in Switzerland, the UK, and the Czech Republic. In Malaysia, solar panels were installed this year across its sites, moving the Group closer to energy self-sufficiency. We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and ensuring transparency for our customers and stakeholders, Albin emphasised. Lesen Sie mehr zum Thema The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against DoNotPay, alleging that the AI-powered company billing itself as "the world's first robot lawyer" failed to back its claims that it could replace human legal representation. The agency's complaint argues that DoNotPay did not conduct tests to assess whether its AI chatbot was equivalent to a human lawyer, and that the company did not hire or retain any attorneys of its own. DoNotPay has agreed to a proposed settlement that would see it face fines of $193,000. In addition, the settlement will require DoNotPay to inform customers who subscribed to its service between 2021 and 2023 about the limitations of its offerings. This proposed settlement is part of an FTC program called Operation AI Comply, which is targeting businesses that leverage artificial intelligence to make deceptive claims. "Using AI tools to trick, mislead, or defraud people is illegal," FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said. "The FTCs enforcement actions make clear that there is no AI exemption from the laws on the books. By cracking down on unfair or deceptive practices in these markets, FTC is ensuring that honest businesses and innovators can get a fair shot and consumers are being protected." The PS5 Pro improves on the four-year-old standard model with boosted internals. The upgrades start with a GPU with 67 percent more compute units and 28 percent faster RAM. These allow it to (at most) triple the PS5s ray-tracing performance, leading to fancier lighting, reflections and shadows. In the PS5 Pro, Sony introduces its AI-powered answer to Nvidias DLSS, called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). Built for 4K TVs and displays, the tech upgrades lower-resolution frames to ultra-HD graphics with astonishing detail. The console also promises more consistent frame rates (with less graphical sacrifice) and support for 60Hz and 120Hz displays. For games that arent updated for the new console, a PS5 Pro version of Game Boost will provide faster and smoother frame rates for over 8,500 supported titles, including some of the PS4 and PS5 consoles greatest games. The console includes 2TB of storage, double the originals capacity. It also supports Wi-Fi 7 and 8K resolutions. The PS5 Pro offers those upgrades in a familiar form factor: It has the same height as the original PS5 and the same width as the disc-less PS5 Slim. Like the latter, youll need to pay extra for a disc drive or a vertical stand. Select games from the PS5 library will be enhanced for the new console. The companys launch event highlighted Marvels Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Horizon Forbidden West as some of the first-party beneficiaries of the consoles upgraded capabilities. Third-party games getting extra attention for the PS5 Pro include Alan Wake 2, Assassins Creed: Shadows, Demons Souls, Dragons Dogma 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Games patched for the $700 system will be designated with a PS5 Pro Enhanced label. The PS5 Pro costs $700. You can pre-order it today, ahead of its November 7 release date. I have slowly turned into that frustrating person who won't go somewhere before checking its reviews on Google Maps. However, I also get suspicious when the reviews are too good there's no pleasing me, apparently so I'm relieved to hear that Google is making it easier to spot fake ones. Google is now issuing a warning for applicable businesses, stating, "Suspected fake reviews were recently removed from this place." Google has previously come under fire with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which opened an investigation into their handling of fake reviews in 2021. A user on X (formerly Twitter) first spotted the change in review handling on a Maps page for a company in the UK (possibly a coincidence). Google has yet to confirm the feature or where it will be available, but Search Engine Roundtable reports Google recently updated its relevant support page to apply globally. Google outlines possible restrictions that can be placed on businesses violating its Fake Engagement policy. One point is that the "business profile will display a warning to let consumers know that fake reviews were removed." Other temporary restrictions include not receiving new ratings or reviews, or having existing ones unpublished. If any of these actions occur, business owners will receive an email from Google and can appeal the decision. While fake reviews can come from businesses in an attempt to boost their ratings, they can also derive from people hoping to tank them. If a business reports these fake reviews, it's unclear whether the same warning will come up (as the wording certainly makes the business seem at fault). At her resentencing hearing on September 25, Julie Chrisley -- for the first time -- publicly expressed her regret for her involvement in the $30 million fraud and tax evasion case alongside her husband Todd Chrisley. Appearing before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Julie delivered an emotional apology before the judge ultimately decided to uphold her initial 84-month prison sentence. "I would like to say I've had years to think about what I've wanted to say and I'm sorry for my actions and situations that led us to where we are today," the 'Chrisley Knows Best' star said, fighting back tears. "I've had 20 months in prison, but it has been much more leading up to the trial and I apologize for my actions that led to where we are today." Read more: Abby Lee Miller Warns Todd Chrisley After Speaking About Living Conditions In Jail Julie, visibly shaken, went on to explain how she has used her time in prison to learn new skills in an attempt to make amends with her family. "I have done everything I can do to get closer to my family," she said. "I've taken tests for new skills, such as driving a forklift and serving food in proper ways ... this has been the most difficult part of my life. I can't ever repay my children for what they've had to go through and for that, I am so sorry." Despite her heartfelt apology and the letters sent by her children and their therapist, the judge ruled to maintain Julie's original sentence. The judge acknowledged the family's letters but stated how she doesn't "get a pass from criminal conduct because you're a parent." Julie's request for a 24-hour furlough before returning to prison was also denied. After the hearing concluded, Julie smiled at her daughter, Savannah Chrisley, before being taken away. Julie has been housed in several co-ed facilities in Georgia since her original sentencing in November 2022. The Chrisleys gained fame while showing off their opulent lifestyle on their USA Network TV reality show. In June 2022, a jury found them guilty of conspiring to defraud banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans and tax evasion by hiding their earnings, according to 'CNN.' Julie, 51, and her husband Todd, 55, were sentenced for their roles in the fraud case, with Todd receiving a 12-year sentence and Julie 7 years. While their appeal began in December 2022, Julie's sentence was briefly vacated in June 2024 due to insufficient evidence, though Todd's sentence remained unchanged. Cory Hardrict is wishing ex-wife Tia Mowry "the best unconditionally" after revealing the hardship he faced following their separation while speaking with Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder Jr., and Fred Taylor at 'Hollywood Unlocked.' When co-host Ryan Clark asked Hardrict how he found his way through his divorce while balancing work and fatherhood, the actor attributed his journey to prayer and "stillness." "You know, I feel like you'll never get through that. A lot of praying. A lot of knowing that God is real. God is actually truly real in my life," the 44-year-old replied. "A lot of stillness, man. When you sit still a lot, you can hear a lot of things, for me. A lot of isolation, solitude, and just knowing if I can just put one foot in front of the other and take it a day at a time, 'cause I'm taking it a day at a time... still to this day. "Black men have feelings. Black men hurt. Black men are in pain and sometimes we don't have outlets to... you know, talking to you now, no one's really asked me these questions never, really. So, it's like sometimes we feel like we're dealing with it alone, not unless you have a therapist or a close confidant or a friend." "But, it's not easy because it feels like as a Black man you can't show vulnerability to the world, because it's a form of weakness. But, it should be looked at as a form of strength. Like, men do need to cry, because when it's all bottled up and inside that's when stress and things can happen, different tensions. You gotta be able to have an outlet to release. Like I said, that's the only way that you can get to truly healing of everything." The 'Divorce in the Black' star continued: "I'm on my way. I want to be the biggest in the world. From a humble place, but, I feel like from a skill-set, I feel like I am that dude. That's just how I really feel." When the Netflix actor was asked about the co-parenting dynamic with his ex-wife, former "Sister Sister" star Mowry, 46, Hardrict explained that everything is about their children. "You know, I wish her the best with everything and that's unconditional for me," he stated. "You know, I love unconditionally." "I can't get caught up in what's going on out there and what people are saying. I just know where my heart is at and I have to continue to move that way because I want all my blessings for me." He concluded: "If I succeed, she succeeds, our kids succeed. So, I have no room for failure or no room for mistakes right now in my life, that's how I look at it." That said, Mowry described the process of navigating divorce and motherhood as a "whirlwind journey," according to 'PEOPLE.' The media outlet reported that Mowry and Hardrict officially divorced in April 2023 citing irreconcilable differences. They both requested joint physical and legal custody of their children: Cree, 13, and Cairo, 6. Read in Spanish here The Secret Service is once again being called into question after an armed man unknowingly approached former President Barack Obama's SUV in a Hollywood alleyway. The incident occurred outside the popular restaurant Mother Wolf, where the former president was seated in the back of his vehicle. The armed man, a security guard working at a nearby bar mitzvah, approached the SUV without realizing who was inside and came within inches of the former president before retreating. Read more: Former FBI Informant Says Barack Obama Was The Target Of A Ku Klux Klan Assassination Plot According to TMZ, the breach in Obama's security happened over the weekend, raising concerns about the agency's protection of the former president. The guard later revealed that no one was stationed at the rear of the SUV, leaving it vulnerable. Before noticing the presence of Secret Service agents nearby, the man was working at a bar mitzvah and was unaware that he had come within inches of the former president. The guard, whose name has not been released, went downstairs to investigate after being told that federal agents were outside. Once he stepped into the alley, he saw two men who turned out to be Secret Service agents and a black SUV with Department of Homeland Security plates. Curious, he snapped a quick photo, assuming a high-profile guest was inside. As he approached the vehicle, he was shocked to discover that Obama was sitting in the backseat, focused on his laptop. Realizing the severity of the situation, the armed guard quickly retreated, scared that the Secret Service might perceive him as a threat. He greeted the agents, who seemed startled by his presence and returned upstairs to his post at the bar mitzvah. About 30 minutes later, his boss requested that he hand over his credentials and concealed carry license to the Secret Service. After verifying the guard's information, the agents let the situation pass without further consequence. A significant lapse in security The security guard later reflected on the event, calling it a significant error from the Secret Service. "Definitely a security lapse on their part that there was no one on the backside of SUV, nor covering the stairwell," said the man. He speculated that if he had been a genuine threat, he could have potentially opened the car door, exposing Obama to danger. Obama later continued his evening with daughters Malia and Sasha at the restaurant. The Secret Service has recently received intense criticism following major security incidents during Donald Trump's current campaign, including two assassination attempts. Originally posted in the Latin Times In her Netflix special "For Your Approval," Ellen DeGeneres returned to the spotlight for the first time since her daytime talk show ended in 2022. The special, taped earlier this year, opened with DeGeneres confronting the negative headlines that followed her 2020 workplace scandal, in which her show was accused of fostering a toxic environment. During the intro, DeGeneres reflected on feeling "kicked out of showbusiness" and addressed the backlash that tarnished her public image. Allegations of 'Copying' Taylor Swift However, the special quickly ignited controversy online. The opening segment, which featured a series of negative headlines and social media posts criticizing DeGeneres, drew comparisons to the 2018 Reputation Tour opening by pop star Taylor Swift, which similarly highlighted negative media coverage. X (formerly Twitter) users pointed out the resemblance, with one post about the similarities racking up over 12 million views. One X user said that intro "soo ridiculous," while another commented, "This is copying Reputation tour intro." Another quipped, "Reputation (Ellen's Version)," referencing Swift's famous album re-release project. the intro to the new ellen special is soo ridiculous pic.twitter.com/MkeWLMP7XA sam (@samxmcgowan) September 24, 2024 this is copying reputation tour intro Erika Lee (@erikaleetv) September 24, 2024 insert cringe meme I'm too lazy to find Stephen Ford (@StephenSeanFord) September 24, 2024 Fans Defend DeGeneres Amid Criticism Despite the accusations of imitation, DeGeneres also received support from fans. Several viewers spoke out on X, defending her against the backlash. One fan praised her candidness in the special, saying, "Speaking about her struggles will really help people." The Ellen special has made me feel so many emotions Cancel culture is terrible, and we saw what it did to Taylor Speaking about her struggles will really help people her talking about OCD was something I could really relate to, so thank you @EllenDeGeneres Joe | eras philly & ldn (@joewilliams_cal) September 25, 2024 @EllenDeGeneres I will remember you as being belovededededededededed for being loved. Thank you. I am grateful. I am blessed. I love you. Jasonhausen (@PositivelyJC) September 25, 2024 DeGeneres on Cancel Culture and Moving Forward In the special, DeGeneres addressed the challenges of cancel culture head-on. While she maintains that her talk show did not end because of the negative press, she acknowledged the emotional toll it took on her, all while delivering the deadpan humor that made her a household name. "I'm here because I love doing stand-up, and I miss doing stand-up, and I like making people happy, and I do care what people think," she told the audience. Sterling K. Brown recently got candid with Jennifer Hudson while spilling details on his celeb crush who surprisingly became his co-star years later. During an episode of Hudson's eponymous talk series, 'The Jennifer Hudson Show,' the Emmy Award-winning actor sat alongside his wife, Ryan Michelle Bathe, while recalling a scenario years ago where Brown was infatuated by Jennifer Lopez during the height of her single, "Love Don't Cost A Thing." Years later, the two would be casted together to play in the sci-fi thriller 'Atlas.' That said, it nearly caused quite a stir in the early years of Brown and Bathe's young relationship, prior to marriage. "Is it true y'all broke up over Jennifer Lopez?" Hudson, 43, asked the now-married couple. "Who told you that?" Bathe asked, before laughing loudly. The two confirmed the rumor was true. "I was watching her first video what was her first video that came on MTV?" the actor asked, before his wife answered boldly, "Love Don't Cost A Thing!" "We had just gone out, we were living in New York City, we were in grad school, and we had gone to see a Broadway play and we came back to my place and my roommate was playing the video on MTV," the "Atlas" actor explained. "Now I'm a fan of Jennifer Lopez's dancing, and I was watching the video and I knew my young...21, 22-year-old girlfriend was looking at me watch the video. And I know I'm not supposed to have a reaction. In trying NOT to have a reaction, what had happened was, my eyes began to water," the 'This is Us' alum recalled. His now wife who appears to remember the incident vividly chimes in saying, "Otherwise known as, TEARS! I turn around and my boyfriend is weeping, tears like big fat [tears]," the actress detailed. "And I'm looking and she's just a shakin' and a shimming, and he's just crying. I said 'Oh no, I got to go.' " Bathe, 48, continued, telling the 'Dreamgirls' star, "I said, 'You crying over somebody else's booty... in front of me?' " That said, the conversation also took a turn, where Bathe revealed her celeb crush as Boris Kodjoe. In another turn of events, the couple detailed Bathe's run-in with Kodjoe who she ended up having a "love scene" with years later in the film, 'All About Us,' which seemingly had Brown shaken in return. "That must have been so hard for you to have naked meat on Boris' chest," he joked, referring to an intimate scene that she planned to wear "pasties" for, but they wouldn't stay on. Despite their run-ins with celebs in tense moments, the two have remained happily married. The Hollywood duo met in 1998 before eloping in 2006, and had a large wedding a year later. The loving couple share two children together: Andrew, 12, and Amare, 8. Kim Porter's father, Jake Porter, is speaking out amid rumors surrounding his daughter's death and the connection to Diddy. In a new interview, Jake said his feelings are complicated about the embattled rapper, but he knows that the truth will come out eventually. "The truth will come out. It always does in the end," he told the Daily Mail. While Jake declined to comment further on the matter, he did share that he was "aware of them from the news" when referring to the recent charges brought against Diddy. "When I saw the video of what he did to Cassie (Ventura). I was disgusted. I don't really have much to say beyond that. Everyone's innocent until proven guilty I guess, but the truth will come out," he said. Jake was then asked by the outlet if the truth that he was referring to included new details about Kim's death and a growing call for the case to be re-opened. He previously referred to the investigation as "a load of c**p." In June, Jake spoke about Kim's death and he said he had never seen Diddy be physically abusive with his daughter. However, he couldn't help but have a "different outlook" on the rapper after video of Diddy kicking Cassie at a hotel in Los Angeles was released by CNN. "I didn't know he could stoop that low. I imagine it surprised a lot of people. I wouldn't even do a dog like that. My heart goes out to Cassie," he shared. "I think he was a very jealous person. They both loved each other. Kim's love was legitimate. Puffy's love, I don't know what he calls love, you know what I mean? I really don't think he has any idea what love is," Jake continued. Previously, Kim's death was ruled natural and due to lobar pneumonia. She passed away on November 15, 2018. Earlier this month, Kim and Diddy's children spoke about their mom's death and addressed the false rumors their mother put out a memoir. "We are deeply saddened that the world has made a spectacle of what has been the most tragic event of our lives. Our mother should be remembered for the beautiful, strong, kind, and loving woman she was. Her memory should not be tainted by horrific conspiracy theories," they said in a joint statement. "Claims that our mom wrote a book are simply untrue. She did not, and anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves. Additionally, please understand that any so-called 'friend' speaking on behalf of our mom or her family is not a friend, nor do they have her best interests at heart," the kids shared. Diddy has been the subject of headlines lately as he faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Its easy to see why Eligio Kika de la Garza was elected to 16 consecutive terms in the House of Representatives (1965 to 1997) and served his final seven (1981 through 1994) as chairman of the wide-sweeping and often unruly House Ag Committee. Im a reasonable person, the south Texan, born just two miles from Mexico, liked to say, I can get along with anyone. And he mostly did, I once heard him explain to a crowd of farm leaders in a packed Washington, D.C. meeting, because his guiding legislative principle was from the Good Book itself, Isaiah 1:18: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord. It was a fitting code for the easy-going but tough-as-nails de la Garza. In the last 90 years, there have been 18 Farm Bills written and passed by Congress. Kika had a role in seven and chaired the process on three: the 1981, 1985 and 1990 bills. He was a legislative plow horse he got things done and, for a Democrat, was decidedly middle of the road, even conservative. For example, while he fought for food stamps, voting rights and sugar price supports, he also favored balanced budgets, free trade and prayer in classrooms. Most of these positions would not win any Democrat a House leadership post today. And yet he went unchallenged as Ag Committee chairman for 14 years and three tough Farm Bill negotiations because he was reasonable. Politics, he said at that same farmer meeting, is the art of the possible. The nation succeeds when politics succeed. And most everyone farmers, the nation, Congress did succeed under his leadership. The New York Times headline for his March 15, 2017 obituary would have met with his approval: Kika de la Garza, Texas Congressman and Farmers Ally, Dies at 89. Few on todays House Ag Committee stand out as lets-sit-down-and-reason leaders like Kika. Part of it is the blood-spilling tenor of todays winner-take-all politics; the goal is to win without compromise. Another key part of it is that most committee members dont know beans from buttermilk when it comes to farm and food policy. Farm visits are for a selfie on a combine or to tout Big Ag fantasies like manure digesters and carbon pipelines. That means most are easily swayed by special interests pushing special projects and by AgBizs never-ending lament of too much regulation and too little income support. The result often is legislation written by the permanent, unelected government the farm and commodity groups and agbiz lobbyists and not the elected government. In the past five years, recently noted Karen Perry Stillerman, the deputy director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, Agribusiness interests have spent a huge sum of money $523 million lobbying Congress And the money has bought what it wanted and what most American eaters and taxpayers dont want: a heavily-subsidized, commodity-driven farm policy focused on fading export markets, a slowly drying up ethanol market, and gazillion-dollar carbon schemes that wont save the environment in a million years. Now Big Ags big dogs are whimpering again, worried that todays Farm Bill already extended one-year and facing another extension will hang fire through Novembers general election. The delay risks the Republicans losing control of the House and with it, the big dogs their influence on any 2025 Farm Bill. If so, their failure is emblematic of a Congress that bloviates more than legislates; where committees hold hearings and no one listens; where it cant pass a bill, let alone an annual budget, on time and within its means. In short, Congress is broken and only good will and reasonable people will fix it. Dairy processor Lactalis has served notice 'without warning' on 12 of its Scottish dairy farmer suppliers, with NFU Scotland expressing anger at the decision. The processor's decision, whose headquarters are in France, will affect 12 producers ten in Dumfries and Galloway and two in Ayrshire. The farmers have been given 12 months' notice, something NFU Scotland said was without 'clear reasoning'. According to Lactalis, the decision has been taken following a business review of its milk supply in south west Scotland. Milk is provided to Lactalis and its creamery in Stranraer by the Milk Suppliers Association (MSA), a co-op of farmers supplying 210m litres of milk per annum to Lactalis. NFU Scotland has asked for a meeting with both Lactalis and MSA to get 'a full explanation' of the decision. The union has also urged affected farmers to reach out to the union or the Scottish Dairy Hub for support and assistance. It follows the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group confirming that it will reduce the number of Scottish farmers directly supplying the retailer for its own label fresh milk. NFU Scotland vice president, Andrew Connon said: Once again, it appears as though producers are to be dumped out of their current contract without clear reasoning and with few options to find alternatives in the current market. How can any milk producer invest, plan, and have confidence in what they are doing if they can be dropped on a whim should their milk purchaser perceive them as being awkward to deal with, geographically challenging to service or producing milk of unsatisfactory volume?" Mr Connon called for 'clear protocols' built into contracts that protect a producer when a processor faces a challenging market for its products. Without greater protection for producers in contracts, this would "continue to happen, allowing processors to squeeze out some suppliers in favour of others". Why would anyone push to keep up with multi-decade investments when confidence in contracts only extends to 12 months?" he asked. "Dairy is largely an unsupported sector, with no grant schemes in Scotland supporting investment, resulting in all improvements to meet market demand coming from private investment. There must be greater protection for dairy farmers, which reinforces NFU Scotlands position on the importance of the new milk contract legislation coming into force. Certain personal imports of pork from the European Union, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland will be banned to curb UK entry of African swine fever. The government has announced the new measure to better protect pig producers from a potential African swine fever outbreak, as the disease spreads in Europe. ASF is a highly contagious and deadly disease in pigs and wild boar that can be transmitted through infected meat, but poses no risk to human health. From tomorrow (27 September), those found to bring pork or pork products illegally could be fined up to 5,000, with the products seized and destroyed. The ban includes personal pork and pork product imports from the EEA (European Economic Area), the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland. However, products that are manufactured and packaged to EU commercial standards and weigh less than a maximum of 2kg will still be allowed. The National Pig Association (NPA) welcomed the new measure, but said it was not tough enough, as a total ban on personal imports of pork to the UK was needed. An outbreak of ASF could have a significant impact on the UKs 8 billion pig industry, as well as its annual pork and pork product exports worth 600 million. It is estimated that an outbreak of the disease would cost the UK anywhere between 10 million to 100 million. Defra said the new safeguarding rule aimed to help protect the British pig sector by mitigating ASF's spread across the border to the UK. Announcing the measure, Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman warned that the 'deadly' African swine fever disease was 'wreaking havoc' in Europe. She said: These new measures will protect British pig farmers and pork products, preventing infected meat from being brought over the border and threatening our biosecurity. The UK has never had an outbreak ASF, and commercial meat imports are checked at the border to ensure infected goods do not reach UK shores. Lidl has announced the creation of a new free range egg producer group as well as 1 billion worth of investments into its suppliers' businesses. The retailer's new announcement builds on existing financial incentives aimed at addressing the shortage of British free-range egg farms. The new 1 billion investment, to be made over five years, would "support farmers and ensure a consistent supply of high-quality, 100% British eggs". The producer group will enact long-term cost of production contracts and guarantee minimum volumes. It will also assist in helping producers secure finance from banks and issue funding to build new free-range sheds. It follows egg sector pressures including avian influenza outbreaks, surging costs and low prices. Richard Bourns, chief commercial officer at Lidl GB, said: "We are proud to support British farmers they are critical to our business, and we wouldnt be where we are today without them. "Together with our producer groups, weve developed long-term cost of production contracts, providing farmers with the confidence and security they need to invest in their business. "This commitment ensures a sustainable future for the industry and guarantees high-quality, affordable British eggs for our customers." Julia Brewster, a small family-run farm owner and producer group member, said that, in less than a year, the farm had already seen the benefits of joining the producer group. "Lidl has invested over 5 million into our business and with its support and commitment to buying all our eggs, weve gained the confidence to invest further. "Were expanding rapidly, quadrupling our output, and building multiple new sheds setting us up for the future. A new campaign aims to expose misleading 'farmwashing' practices adopted by retailers, who are 'exploiting' the public and farmers with the use of fake farm brands. The campaign seeks to shed light on the practice, which also includes the overuse of the Union Jack to give shoppers the impression that their food come from British family farms. However, campaigners warn that many of the products are increasingly being sourced from US mega farms and is masking the decline of Britains family farms. The campaign has been launched today (26 September) by organic veg box company Riverford, led by founder and farmer Guy Singh-Watson. The farm's research shows that 61% of farmers are concerned they will have to give up their farms within the next 18 months. Despite claims from the UKs Big Six supermarkets of supporting British farmers to the tune of billions, only 1 in 4 (25%) farmers believe these claims are credible and backed up by supermarket buying behaviour. Across four episodes as part of the campaign, Mr Singh-Watson, along with a team of farmers, uncover the truth behind some of the 'British farm' produce on supermarket shelves. The campaign is calling for transparency in supermarket sourcing and fair support for Britains farmers 'before its too late'. The launch of the campaign is supported by an open letter addressed to the CEOs of the Big Six supermarkets, calling for an end to the practice of farmwashing. The letter asks for retailers to honour their promises of supporting British farmers with better buying practices, especially the smaller-scale family farms who are 'struggling to survive'. The open letter has been signed by over 100 leading figures and counting, including Cat Smith MP, Jimmy Doherty, Rick Stein, William Chase and Ben Goldsmith. Farmer and TV presenter Jimmy Doherty, warned that Britains small-scale farmers were 'facing extinction' due to the rise of US-style mega-farms. He said: "These enormous operations might make meat cheaper, but the hidden costs are devastating compromises on animal welfare, environmental harm, and the destruction of traditional farming livelihoods. Were seeing generations of family farms swallowed up, replaced by faceless corporations that are driven by profit rather than people or the planet. "Its time we take a stand and support real British farming before its too late." Riverford's research found that two thirds (60%) of shoppers actively look for the Union Jack on products to support British farmers. When shoppers were shown a photo of produce in a UK supermarket under a Union Jack flag, more than two thirds (68%) expected more than half of it to come from a British farm, in fact, none of it did. Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford, warned that British farming was at a 'breaking point', and that the public were being 'hoodwinked'. "The public cares deeply about where their food comes from, the supermarkets know this," he said. "They are using that trust to steal farmer stories and to hoodwink shoppers into thinking they are buying from those small-scale, traditional British farms. "Yet the reality is that these farms are being pushed to the brink. Is this the future we want for our food system and our countryside?" To support the campaign, farmers and public can use the hashtag #FarmersAgainstFarmwashing on social media. Astronaut and space expert Chris Hadfield will present never-before-seen space images on his UK and Ireland tour in 2025. Chris Hadfield will be sharing his space memories on tour next year The acclaimed astronaut and spaceship will discuss the latest developments in space science and share memories from his career at 12 venues across the UK and Ireland next June. Audiences at 'Chris Hadfield: A Journey Into The Cosmos' will be able to observe never-before-seen space imagery from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the International Space Station (ISS) which features incredible views of Earth, Mars and the Moon. Hadfield went viral in 2013 as he filmed himself performing David Bowie's classic song 'Space Oddity' on the ISS. He has since become a media personality in regards to all things space as well as advising Elon Musk, Richard Branson and King Charles on how humans can make further exploration in orbit. He said: "I am so excited to be coming to the UK and Ireland to talk about the amazing recent events in space, from failing spaceships and private spacewalks, to stunning new images of Earth and James Webb's universe, and humanity beginning to settle on the Moon and then Mars. "The latest of exploration and high technology, where space fans will have the chance to ask me questions directly. A shared evening of discovery and wonder like no other." Chris Hadfield's 2025 Tour Dates: 8 June The Marlowe, Canterbury 10 June Royal Festival Hall, London 11 June Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle 12 June Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 13 June Warwick Arts Centre 14 June The Forum, Bath 15 June Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin 17 June The Octagon Centre, Sheffield 18 June The Usher Hall, Edinburgh 19 June King's Theatre, Glasgow 21 June New Theatre Oxford 22 June Brighton Dome Dedicated bus route helps farmers sell fresh food in urban markets Xinhua) 10:37, September 26, 2024 WUHAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Before sunrise, more than a dozen farmers gather at He Station in a suburb of Wuhan, in central China's Hubei Province, waiting for a special bus, together with baskets and bags filled with fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables. "People like eating fresh lotus seeds, so we pick them at around 3 a.m.," said Tu Jixing, adding that he can earn more than 300 yuan (about 42.73 U.S. dollars) a day by selling about 10 kg of lotus seeds. Tu is one of many passengers along the bus route who catch the bus every morning, carrying bags and baskets filled with fresh food, including peppers, tomatoes, fish and eggs. Taking the dedicated bus for vegetable transportation, farmers are able to sell agricultural and sideline products in a large wholesale market in the urban area of the city, more than 40 km away from He Station, the departure point of the route. The bus fare is 5 yuan for a single trip. "It's much more convenient now, and it doesn't cost much for a round trip," said Tu. Tu recalled that in the past, various areas around his village were not covered by public transport. Most people didn't want to rent vehicles or call a taxi to transport vegetables, as the cost was too high. So they would feed the surplus vegetables to livestock. The problem faced by farmers attracted the attention of the local public transportation company. At the end of 2020, it established a new bus route to meet the needs of villagers selling goods. The company has arranged staff to provide assistance at the stations where vegetable farmers gathered, and to clean the stains from soil, water and vegetable leaves, so that other types of passengers would not be affected. Hu Simin, a driver on the dedicated bus route, said it has become an important mode of transport for people living in about 30 surrounding villages. "On average, over a hundred villagers take the bus line to the urban area to sell vegetables a day," said Hu. Hu has gradually become familiar with the farmers. Before the bus departs early in the morning, he always helps the elderly villagers move their goods, and sometimes farmers give him a handful of vegetables as a gift. Some passengers have also become friends with each other. After selling their vegetables, they often hang out together in the urban area, then take the bus home and have a rest. In China, many regions, such as Nanchang and Qingdao, have attempted to extend and open bus routes to suburbs in recent years, making it more convenient for farmers to commute between remote villages and urban areas, and making it easier for residents to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By encouraging honest, respectful conversations and rejecting shame, parents can help their children navigate sexual education and body image with confidence and carejust as ancient Hawaiians did before colonization tried to suppress it, writes Dorimalia Waiau and Easa Mohamed Dorimalia Wailia Image credit Dorimalia Waiau When we think of Hawaiian women, the image that often comes to mind is one of vibrant skirts, semi-nudity, and graceful, hip-gyrating dancing. This celebration of the body and nature reflects a culture that was once deeply in tune with itselfespecially when it came to sexuality. But colonization changed all of that. It brought shame and nearly wiped out the free-spirited way of life that Hawaiian women (and men) once embraced so openly. image credit Dorimalia Waiau Before colonizers arrived, Hawaiian society had a refreshingly open attitude toward sexuality. The ancient Hawaiians understood that sexuality is a natural part of being human. It wasn't just about intimacy but also about connecting emotionally, spiritually, and socially. In fact, Hawaiians celebrated sexuality as something joyous and positive, and they didnt view it as something to be hidden or shamed. Family, or ohana, played a huge role in the communitys understanding of sexuality. Knowledge was passed down through songs, including those about love and sex, called mele mai (genital chants). One famous example comes from a song written by Lele-io-Hoku, brother of Queen Liliuokalani, which talks about the excitement and ecstasy of physical intimacy. This was just one way in which Hawaiians embraced sexuality, singing about it openly and joyfully. In pre-colonial Hawaii, children were raised in an environment that was incredibly open about sex and the human body. It wasnt unusual for young people to see adults in intimate moments or to witness births, which were community events where everyone played a role. They grew up with an understanding that sexuality was normal, healthy, and, most importantly, not shameful. As children reached puberty, grandparents and elders would take on the responsibility of teaching them about their bodies. This wasnt the awkward "birds and the bees" talk we know today, but rather an honest and respectful education about anatomy, reproduction, and sexual pleasure. Hawaiians believed it was essential for young people to understand their bodies and to be prepared for adult life. Puberty was seen as a natural time for this education, and boys and girls were encouraged to explore their sexuality in a responsible way. While sexual behavior was encouraged and accepted, there were certain guidelines that the Hawaiians followed. For example, sex during menstruation was considered taboo, but beyond that, there were few restrictions. Most importantly, they valued responsibilitymaking sure that sex was consensual and that any children born were cared for with love. In fact, the concept of an illegitimate child didnt exist in pre-colonial Hawaii. Every child was seen as a blessing, and families raised them together, without judgment or shame. Whats more, Hawaiians didnt judge people for their sexual orientation. Mahu, or third-gender individuals, were widely accepted and respected members of the community. Unlike many modern societies, ancient Hawaiians believed that love and intimacy came in many forms, and all were celebrated. Everything changed when Western colonizers arrived in Hawaii. Suddenly, the openness and acceptance that had defined Hawaiian culture were replaced with shame and judgment. The colonizers, unfamiliar with Hawaiian customs, saw the peoples semi-nudity, their dances, and their carefree attitude toward sex as scandalous. They imposed their own beliefs, which condemned these practices, forcing Hawaiians to cover up and change the way they thought about their bodies. This shift wasnt just culturalit became law. Between 1820 and 1840, Hawaiian royalty, influenced by Western advisors, began to outlaw certain sexual practices and behaviors. Sex was turned into something sinful, and shame became a tool of control. The introduction of new diseases, including venereal diseases, only added to the stigma, as many Hawaiians began to associate sex with sickness and death. Suddenly, being Hawaiian itself became something to be ashamed of. Colonization robbed Hawaiians of their natural connection to their bodies and their traditions, leaving a legacy of guilt and fear that still affects many families today. As modern Hawaiians reflect on the past, they realise how valuable their ancestors attitudes toward sexuality were. The open discussions, the lack of shame, and the emphasis on education all helped young people transition smoothly into adulthood. Today, as the world grapples with issues like body positivity, mental health, and sexual education, we can learn a lot from how pre-colonial Hawaiians approached these topics. Instead of shaming or avoiding discussions about sex, we should be preparing young people for the realities of adult life, just as the Hawaiians did. This doesnt mean encouraging reckless behavior, but rather teaching respect for the body, consent, and responsibilityvalues that Hawaiians have always held dear. In an age where children are constantly exposed to sexual content through technology, its more important than ever to have honest conversations with them about their bodies and their sexuality. By embracing our natural selves and teaching the next generation to do the same, we can create a culture where people feel good about themselves and their relationships. Dorimalia Waiau is a critically acclaimed Native Hawaiian author whose critically-acclaimed Be Manaful series of books, co-written with Easa Mohamed, are designed to empower young readers to confront lifes challenges with courage and resilience. Drawing on over two decades of teaching experience, the series addresses profound issues like abuse, bullying, and social anxiety through themes of self-healing and forgiveness. The books are inspired by Menehune legends and celebrate Hawaiian mythology and the islands rich, historic culture. The second book in the Be Manaful series is out soon. by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Brad Pitt imposters have been arrested after allegedly scamming two women out of over 270,000. Brad Pitt's representative has addressed reports of scammers posing as Hollywood star The Hollywood star's representative has been forced to remind fans he has "no social media presence" after the arrests of five people were announced this week over the online scam. Pitt's publicist Matthew Hilktzik told the New York Times newspaper: Its awful that scammers take advantage of fans strong connection with celebrities." He added while he hadn't been aware of the case, fans should note that the actor does not have any authorised social media accounts on the likes of X, Facebook and Instagram, which means fans should never believe anyone posing as him online. Hilktzik continued: But this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence. In a statement this week by Spain's Interior Ministry, the authorities confirmed three arrests were made last November, and another two in July. They added that the accused people had allegedly contacted contacted the women on an online fan page for the 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' actor while posing as him. It's said they exchanged messages with the victims, while the statement added that they "managed to make these women believe they had become so close to the well-known American actor that they believed they had a romantic relationship with him". One woman from Bilbao is said to have sent around 150,000 (125,000) in a series of transfers, while the other, from Granada, sent 175,000 (146,000). Around 85,000 (71,000) has been recovered amid the investigations, while the unnamed suspects face charges including money laundering and fraud. Brad is currently promoting his new AppleTV+ series 'Wolfs', and his friend and co-star George Clooney George recently revealed he had pretended to be his pal to prank other celebrities, using stationery purporting to be from the 'Moneyball' star. He told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel: I sent [a letter] to Tom Cruise, saying they want to do ['Interview with the Vampire 2'], but this time Brad wants to play Lestat." And when it came to Meryl Streep, the former 'E.R.' star sent her a gift that 'Brad' felt would come in useful for her. He explained: I sent [a letter] to Meryl Streep with a box of CDs for dialect and I said, This guy helped me with my accent in Troy and I think it could really help you.' " Julie Chrisley's seven-year sentence for bank fraud and tax evasion has been upheld, following an appeal. Todd and Julie Chrisley were jailed in 2023 after being found guilty of 12 counts of tax evasion and fraud The Chrisley Knows Best star and her husband Todd were jailed in 2023 after being found guilty of 12 counts of tax evasion and fraud, with Todd, 55, sentenced to 12 years behind bars and Julie, 51, ordered to serve seven. Julie appeared at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta on Wednesday (25.09.24) to hear the outcome of her appeal, and a federal judge refused to give her a more lenient sentence. Before the ruling was announced, Julie said: "I would like to say Ive had years to think about what Ive wanted to say and Im sorry for my actions and situations that let us to where we are today. "Ive had 20 months in prison, but it has been much more leading up to the trial and I apologize for my actions that led to where we are today. "I have done everything I can do to get closer to my family. "Ive taken tests for new skills, such as driving a forklift and serving food in proper ways ... this has been the most difficult part of my life. "I cant ever repay my children for what theyve had to go through and for that, I am so sorry." Julie's daughter, influencer Savannah Chrisley, is said to have been left devastated about her mother's sentence being upheld. An insider told DailyMail.com: "Savannah is in ruins. She had everything prepared for Julie to come home. She was so certain of her being freed." Earlier this year, Julie's conviction was upheld but her sentence was overturned by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and her case was sent for resentencing. However, Todd's appeal was rejected by the court. The modern business sector is facing increasing threats from financial crimes, which can undermine its financial stability and reputation on a global scale. Financial crimes encompass a wide range of illegal activities aimed at securing economic benefits through the violation of laws. In the context of business development and digitalisation, financial crimes are becoming more sophisticated and difficult to detect, necessitating a comprehensive approach to protecting your business. What are financial crimes? Financial crimes encompass a broad range of illegal activities related to financial transactions, including fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, corruption, embezzlement, and abuse of position. These crimes cause significant harm to individual organisations as well as to the economy as a whole, undermining trust in financial institutions and leading to market instability. The issue of financial crimes is particularly acute in Thailand, where fraudulent schemes are often disguised as legitimate financial operations. For instance, money laundering schemes involving shell companies and fictitious bank accounts are widespread. In 2023, the Thai government tightened measures to combat financial crimes by introducing stricter financial monitoring rules and cooperating with international organisations such as Interpol to track and prevent cross-border crimes. If you or your company have been the victim of financial crime, suffering both economic and reputational damage, we recommend getting in touch with our international fraud lawyers in Thailand. Our team will provide professional legal support and help you recover any losses incurred and restore your tarnished reputation. Types of financial crimes International financial crime can manifest in various forms, among which the most common include: Money laundering is the process of legitimising income acquired through illegal means, by using various financial mechanisms to conceal the source of the funds. Fraud is a deceitful act aimed at gaining financial advantage, involving the forgery of documents, financial statements, the use of insider information, and the establishment of fictitious companies. Tax evasion is the illegal concealment of income or distortion of information about financial transactions with the aim of reducing tax liabilities. Corruption is the abuse of an official position for personal gain, including bribery, graft, and kickbacks. Abuse of power the unlawful use of one's official position to gain personal benefit, which may include embezzling company assets or manipulating financial records. What impact do they have on business? Financial crimes can have a devastating impact on any business. Besides the obvious financial losses, businesses face a range of other consequences: Reputational risks: involvement in financial crimes or association with them can seriously undermine the trust of clients, partners, and investors in a company. Legal consequences: breaching financial legislation can lead to substantial fines, legal proceedings, and even criminal liability for the company's management. Loss of business opportunities: Companies involved in financial crimes may face refusal of credit, termination of business relationships, and exclusion from international trade agreements. Operational risks: Financial crimes can lead to disruptions in a company's operational activities, necessitate audits and inspections, and may also result in the temporary cessation of business. How does Interpol track financial crimes? Interpol plays a pivotal role in combating financial crimes on an international scale, coordinating the efforts of law enforcement agencies from various countries. As part of its activities, Interpol utilises several key tools: Red notices: Interpol issues red notices for the arrest of individuals wanted for financial crimes, enabling law enforcement agencies from different countries to detain criminals and extradite them for trial. Interpol's database: Interpol maintains a global database that contains information on individuals suspected of financial crimes, as well as related transactions and organisations. This enables the tracking of fund movements and the identification of international criminal networks. International cooperation: Interpol actively collaborates with national law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and international organisations such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to develop and implement standards for combating financial crimes. Preventive measures for businesses Protecting a business from financial crimes requires a comprehensive approach that includes implementing effective measures for prevention, detection, and response to potential threats. Key measures include: Internal control plays a key role in preventing financial crimes. It involves the development and implementation of policies and procedures aimed at monitoring and controlling financial transactions. This can include: Developing a reporting system. Creating transparent and accurate financial operation reports for the timely detection of suspicious activities. Separation of duties. A clear allocation of roles and responsibilities among employees to minimise the risks of abuse. Periodic inspections and audits. Conducting regular internal and external reviews to ensure that financial transactions comply with established standards. Staff training and awareness Raising employee awareness of the risks of financial crimes and methods of their prevention is an important preventative measure. As part of this measure, it is necessary to: Conducting training sessions and seminars. Organising regular educational programmes for staff, aimed at studying methods of identifying and preventing financial crimes. Creating a code of conduct. The development and implementation of a corporate code that clearly defines the norms and rules of behaviour within the company, as well as the responsibilities for violating them. Employee motivation. Implementing motivation systems that reward employees for their vigilance and participation in preventing financial crimes. Conducting a comprehensive inspection Due diligence is a crucial tool for assessing the risks associated with financial transactions and business partners. It includes: Due diligence on business partners. Assessing the reliability and legality of business partners, including their financial standing and market reputation. Analysis of financial operations. Conducting a detailed analysis of large and unusual financial transactions to identify suspicious transactions. Assessment of legislative compliance. Certification that all financial transactions adhere to international and national standards and regulations. How can a financial crime solicitor assist you? A solicitor specialising in financial crimes can provide substantial assistance in protecting your business from threats. Their key functions include advising on compliance with legislation, developing and implementing internal procedures that meet the requirements of both international and national laws, thereby minimising the risk of breaches. Should there be any suspicion or accusation of financial crimes, turning to our solicitors will ensure your company receives qualified legal defence in court, reducing potential losses and reputational risks. Furthermore, our solicitors will assist in devising an action plan in the event a financial crime is detected, including measures to prevent further violations and cooperation with law enforcement agencies. Junglee Music, a division of Times Music, and Windows Production are set to captivate audiences once more with a sensational lineup of Bengali films. This powerhouse collaboration, which has been a benchmark in Bengali cinema since 2013, is gearing up to release four highly anticipated films, including Bohurupi (October 2024) and Amar Boss (December 2024), with two more blockbuster projects planned for future release.This dynamic duo is renowned for their success, with previous collaborations such as Belaseshe, Belashuru, Gotro, Konttho, and Rosogolla. Their track record of hits has established Junglee Music and Windows Production as leaders in innovative music storytelling.The upcoming releases are generating significant buzz, especially with the track Dakatiya Banshi. This highly anticipated item song, composed by the renowned Bonnie Chakraborty and featuring vocals by Shrestha Das, Nanichora Das Baul, and Bonnie Chakraborty himself, is set to be one of the biggest hits of the year with its distinctive sound and engaging rhythm.Mandar Thakur, CEO of Junglee Music/Times Music, shared his enthusiasm, "Our collaboration with Windows Production has always yielded remarkable results. Together, weve created music that not only resonates with Bengali audiences but also reaches listeners across the country. With our upcoming projects, we are excited to continue this legacy."Shiboprosad Mukherjee, Co-Founder of Windows Production, added, "Our association with Junglee Music has been a remarkable journey of over 10 years, beginning in 2013. Together, we've given the Bengali film industry some of its most iconic hits, such as Rangabati and Tapa Tini. Junglee Music has played a pivotal role in bringing our cinematic stories to life through music, and their support has been invaluable to us. As we look forward to the release of Bohurupi and Aamar Boss later this year, we are thrilled to announce the launch of yet another dance anthem from Bohurupi today. With this track, we are hoping for a hat trick. We believe this song will continue the legacy of our historic association with Junglee Music and once again strike a chord with audiences."Bohurupi is set to hit theatres on October 8th, with the full album releasing on October 6th across all music streaming platforms.Watch the video on Times Music Bangla YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/wF9oo8dJ5t4 To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. PRIME Unlimited Access to Insightful Industry Information All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. Actor Triptii Dimri expressed her joy over landing a role in the much-awaited Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Speaking during a recent interview in Mumbai, she described her excitement about being part of the iconic franchise, directed by Anees Bazmee. Triptii shared how surreal it felt to be offered the role, calling it a "dream come true." While maintaining secrecy over the plot, Triptii praised her co-stars, Kartik Aaryan and Vidya Balan. She shared how inspiring it was to work alongside Vidya, mentioning, So many times I would find myself staring at her, just observing. She further applauded Kartiks brilliant performance in the film, which has raised high expectations among fans. Critic's rating 3.5 /5 Love, Sitara is a heartwarming film that beautifully explores the complexities of love and family. The story follows Tara (Sobhita Dhulipala), an interior designer, and Arjun (Rajeev Siddhartha), a chef, as they travel to Tara's picturesque backwaters town in Kerala for a meet-the-parents moment before their wedding. Tara is eager to have the ceremony in her beloved maternal grandmother's house, a place filled with cherished memories. Arjun's father, Anand (Ikhlaque Khan), a retired army colonel, has never fully supported his son's culinary career but agrees to join him on this journey. Taras parents, Latha (Virginia Rodrigues) and hotelier Govind (Sanjay Bhutiani), appear to be the picture-perfect couple. Tara is also surrounded by loving family members, including her doting Hema chechi (Sonali Kulkarni) and wise Amumma (B Jayashree). Adding to the warmth, her supportive photographer friend Anjali (Tamara DSouza) joins the festivities, along with childhood buddy Dr Majeed (Rijul Ray), who runs a free clinic in their village. Initially, the film captures the joyful spirit of a traditional Barjatya-style wedding. However, the mood shifts when secrets begin to surface. Tara is hiding a significant truth: she is pregnant and has not yet shared this news with anyone. This revelation sets off a chain reaction, exposing deeper fractures within relationships as uncomfortable truths come to light. Why wasnt this film produced by Karan Johar? Despite facing production challenges due to COVID-19, director Vandana Kataria and her team persevered, delivering a film that embodies the Dharma Productions ethos of family love, emphasising the vital themes of forgiveness and trust. Love, Sitara artfully intertwines these elements, crafting a narrative that resonates with real-life emotional complexities. Kataria's casting choices shine, featuring established actors in pivotal roles. While Kannada actress B Jayashree may be less known to Northern audiences, she delivers a memorable performance as the feisty yet soft-hearted grandmother. Malayalam actress Virginia Rodrigues excels as Tara's concerned mother, particularly in a powerful confrontation scene at the end that showcases her talent. Sonali Kulkarni brings depth to her role as an air hostess entangled in an affair, portraying her character's struggles with grace. Tamara DSouza and Rijul Ray also contribute strong performances as loyal friends who provide crucial support to Tara. Though Rajeev Siddharthas character is somewhat underdeveloped, he brings depth to Arjun, who grapples with a fraught relationship with his father and his fiancees's honesty. Sobhita Dhulipala, however, is the heart of the film. She convincingly portrays Taras journey from a young professional navigating love to a woman facing unexpected challenges and self-doubt as family secrets unravel, even as she struggles with her pregnancy. The actor has given a 100 per cent to each phase of her character. Ultimately, Love, Sitara teaches us that love and life are often intertwined with difficulty. Commitment and trust are essential, and sometimes, the lessons learned can be tough. Watch the film for its emotional narrative and outstanding performances. It is streaming on Zee5. TRAILER : Love, Sitara NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 25, 2024 / SCS Global Services Global Heat Reduction Initiative Helps Companies Answer This Question The Global Heat Reduction Initiative (GHR) is bringing advanced climate accounting metrics to the table to help companies and other decision makers identify mitigation strategies that can most rapidly and responsibly reduce excess trapped heat in the atmosphere. This was the message Executive Director Kiff Gallagher delivered on stage at the "Climate X Data" Knowledge Series event on Wednesday during Climate Week in New York, hosted at the global business law firm, Brown Rudnick. "While conventional climate accounting has provided valuable information about greenhouse gas emission levels and emission reductions, there's a lot more to the story," said Kiff Gallagher, GHR Executive Director. "Now we can fully value methane mitigation over the crucial next decade, account for very powerful short-lived climate pollutants like black carbon that have been largely left out, consider the effects of changing surface reflectivity, and much more." The newly launched initiative unveiled its first set of tools to help private and public sector organizations route their climate dollars where they have the greatest, most immediate impact. It is a groundbreaking, practical application of the latest IPCC-published consensus science aimed at moving the needle on climate stabilization and recovery. "As the saying goes, you can't manage what you don't measure," said Gallagher. "The comprehensive climate change information built into the peer-reviewed GHR protocols triggers an 'Aha!' moment. People immediately sit up straight when you tell them about this." The GHR initiative was launched?last week?by SCS Global Services, a pioneer and international leader in third-party certification and standards setting in the sustainability arena.?The initiative currently includes a climate registry, third-party footprint calculation and verification services, and advisory services. Background The summer of 2024 was the warmest on record for the Northern hemisphere - again. Nine of the ten hottest years on the books fell in the last decade, and expectations are that 2024 set another record. Climate efforts to date are not meeting the targets identified by the international community. Non-CO2 climate super pollutants are one of the keys.Roughly half of all current anthropogenic global warming is caused by supercharged heat-trapping pollutants such as methane, black carbon, and HCFs, with methane alone responsible for about 30 percent of all warming since the Industrial Revolution. Projects that reduce or eliminate these pollutants can often be undertaken with off-the-shelf technologies, with a huge pay-off in terms of short-term heat mitigation - enough to create the necessary bridge to longer term results from reductions of CO2 and other long-lived climate pollutants. And they can simultaneously benefit local communities and ecosystems by improving air and water quality and reducing environmental impacts. "Companies clearly care about getting heat reduction results - their supply chains, their own operations, and their customers are all being affected," said Gallagher. "The SEC just said that heat is a financial risk. The time to focus on heat is now." To learn more about the GHR, please visit:?https://www.heatreduction.com/documents About the Global Heat Reduction Initiative The Global Heat Reduction Initiative (GHR) was launched in 2024 to bring new tools to market that will help slow global warming within the next decade and beyond. The Initiative delivers the most comprehensive climate accounting approach available today, including critical data to?unlock financing for projects that can rapidly reduce excess atmospheric heat. GHR services include a climate registry, footprint calculation and verification, and advisory services. GHR is an initiative of SCS Global Services. Learn more at?www.heatreduction.com. ?About SCS Global Services SCS Global Services?is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification,certification, auditing, testing, and standards development, currently celebrating its 40th?year. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. ?SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business.? For more information,?visit?www.SCSGlobalServices.com. SCS Media Contact Tom Vandyck Public Affairs Manager, Global Heat Reduction Initiative Email View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SCS Global Services on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: SCS Global Services Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/scs-global-services Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: SCS Global Services KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - MobilityX 2024 is set to take center stage as one of the most anticipated exhibitions and summits in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, bringing together global leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore the future of clean mobility at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from 9-11 October, 2024. Co-located with the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM) and the Clean Energy Technology Asia (CETA) summit, MobilityX will highlight the latest advancements in the clean mobility market, facilitate cutting-edge partnerships, and ignite discussions that will shape the mobility landscape in Southeast Asia.As Southeast Asia positions itself as a rising global hub for the electric vehicle industry, MobilityX 2024 will serve as a premier platform for stakeholders to exchange insights on EV trends, technology advancements, and policy frameworks that are driving the sector forward. From OEM automakers to energy providers, government bodies to tech innovators, the event will feature groundbreaking innovations that address the growing demand for clean, sustainable mobility solutions.MobilityX 2024 will play a critical role in supporting Malaysia's aspirations as outlined in the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which identifies green mobility as a key pillar of the country's sustainable development strategy. The event will showcase how the growing EV ecosystem can help operationalise a low-carbon transport system, aligning with Malaysia's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050."Electric vehicles are steering nations towards a cleaner future, and Malaysia has the right foundations in place to build a low-carbon transport infrastructure," said Mel Lanvers-Shah, CEO of The Co_Lab Pte Ltd, the event's owner and organiser. "With the support of initiatives like MobilityX and collaboration among industry leaders, we are well on track to establish Southeast Asia as a leader in future mobility."As a dynamic platform for innovation, MobilityX 2024 will feature interactive exhibits, product launches, and expert panels at the co-located CETA Summit discussing the latest technologies shaping the future of mobility. Topics will include the integration of electric vehicles into smart cities, advancements in EV charging infrastructure, and the role of autonomous and connected vehicles in reducing emissions and transforming urban transport.In addition to showcasing technological advancements, MobilityX 2024 will foster cross-industry collaborations and partnerships essential to accelerating the global EV transition. It will provide opportunities for OEMs, Mobility Innovators, After Market Suppliers and Technology Providers to network and engage in strategic dialogues that address both the challenges and opportunities facing the clean mobility sector.With Southeast Asia on the cusp of a mobility revolution, Malaysia stands at the forefront of this transformation. MobilityX 2024 is set to cement the nation's role as a leading player in the global EV market, propelling the region towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.The IGEM, CETA, and MobilityX Exhibition and Summit is set to welcome nearly 50,000 attendees, with over 500 exhibitors and sponsors showcasing cutting-edge solutions. Energy professionals from across the region will gather to explore innovations and secure the resources needed to drive business growth and sustainability in the industry.Organised by The Co_Lab Pte Ltd, MobilityX is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) as its strategic partner.To register and for more information, please visit www.mobilityx.asia.About MobilityXMobilityX is an annual exhibition and summit focused on future and clean mobility and electric vehicle innovations, driving the mobility transition across Asia. Co-located with IGEM and CETA, MobilityX brings together OEMs, Mobility Innovators, After Market Suppliers and Technology Providers from around the region to explore the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of mobility.For media enquiries, please contact marcomms@mobilityx.asia.Source: The C0_LabCopyright 2024 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Co-created With Sierra Family Health Center and Western Sierra Medical Clinic, the Applied Science AdaptivMD Solution Integrates the Verily Retinal Service and eClinicalWorks EHR -- Raising The Bar For Early Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy GRASS VALLEY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 25, 2024 / Applied Science, Inc. (ASI), a leading provider of workflow automation and data integration platforms for whole blood collection and chronic care management, today announced the expansion of its AdaptivMD chronic care workflow technology to Sierra Family Health Center (SFHC) and Western Sierra Medical Clinic (WSMC). ASI has successfully integrated a retinal screening solution from Verily Life Sciences LLC (formerly Google Life Sciences) into its workflow automation platform to make easy, high-quality retinal health screenings conveniently accessible and efficient. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness among working-age adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early detection is critical to preserving eyesight. However, annual screening compliance is only 60% nationwide1. Applied Science's simplified clinical workflow solution, coupled with Verily's screening solution, aims to significantly increase compliance through improved clinical workflow and patient convenience. As Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), SFHC and WSMC are committed to delivering best-in-class care to patients in Northeast California's Nevada, Placer, Sierra, and Yuba counties. Instead of requiring patients to travel to San Francisco or beyond to receive high-quality retinal screenings, they are now locally available at SFHC and WSMC in Grass Valley. The solution combines best-in-class technologies from Verily, which has developed its easy-to-use retinal screening technology, and Applied Science, which has integrated the screening technology into its advanced clinical workflow software platform to ensure that the screening process is convenient, efficient, and secure for the patient and the clinician. Applied Science is committed to delivering tools and technologies that enable better access to care and efficient, high-quality outcomes for underserved rural and urban communities. Cumbersome workflow for the clinical staff and inconvenience for consumers are major barriers to adoption and compliance. Applied Science's AdaptivMD clinical workflow and integration engine solves these challenges by delivering to the FQHC market a suite of tools that are tightly integrated with the facility's electronic health record (EHR) system, resulting in simplified workflows, ease of use, and full integration of clinical and decision-support data. "Diabetic Retinopathy is a far too common cause of blindness, and it must be caught early to enable effective treatment," said Debra Plass, CEO of SFHC. "Unfortunately, too few people who need regular screenings get them. With this new technology in place in our clinics, our community members can now receive the essential, timely and convenient, five-minute screenings each year as medically recommended, without the hassle of leaving the community." Daniel Happs, WSMC's Chief Information Officer and Chief Quality Officer, continues, "We understand that managing diabetes can be challenging, so we have been working hard to improve compliance with what the science tells us. I have been impressed by the technology, safety and security of the Verily / Applied Science solution and look forward to deploying additional future innovations to simplify ways to help our community remain healthy." Jonathan Morgan, President and CEO of Applied Science, remarks, "There is a critical need to improve care among the rural and urban communities, especially those supported through the FQHC program. We are dedicated to delivering solutions that make advanced technologies accessible, easy to use, and directly impactful to quality of care for the 30 million Americans who are served by clinics facing the same challenges faced by SFHC and WSMC. No American should lose their eyesight due to missed screenings, nor suffer from the effects of hypertension through lack of monitoring, no matter where they live. Our AdaptivMD AI-powered clinical workflow solutions resolve many of the barriers to efficient, high-quality care for consumers living with chronic health conditions. Seamlessly integrating Verily's retinal screening solution is just one of ASI's answers to addressing these conditions." Rich Glenn, Head of Commercial and Care Delivery for Verily, adds, "Verily is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology, data science and healthcare. Born at Google with a goal to tackle health's biggest challenges, we are proud to see the work of our leading scientists in the hands of clinicians where it can have a positive impact on so many lives. We are pleased to have teamed up with Applied Science to seamlessly integrate data from our Retinal Service into the clinic's core technology platform, where it can be immediately actionable, and simplify workflows for busy clinicians so they can focus on helping patients." 1https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/diabetes/increase-proportion-adults-diabetes-who-have-yearly-eye-exam-d-04 About Applied Science Applied Science provides workflow automation and data integration platforms for whole blood collection and chronic care management. Through its HemoFlow brand, Applied Science is the industry-leading provider of automated workflow solutions for customers all over the world, from the American Red Cross to the UK's National Health Service. By extending its automation and integration expertise to underserved healthcare communities, the Company is empowering health systems to manage outcomes remotely and efficiently for their patients with chronic conditions. Through advanced devices, services, informatics, and data tools that automate healthcare workflow processes, customers of Applied Science capture healthcare data that enable actionable intelligence. For more information, please visit applied-science.com. About Sierra Family Health Center Sierra Family was founded in 1982 when Dr. Peter Van Houten opened a rural private medical practice in the geographically isolated area of Nevada County known as North San Juan. The full-service family practice had two physicians, two nurse practitioners, and 24/7 medical-call. In 2016, Sierra Family was awarded Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Sierra Family's mission is to provide quality healthcare and promote physical and mental wellness for the members of our rural communities across California's beautiful Nevada County. For more information, please visit https://www.sierraclinic.org/. About Western Sierra Medical Clinic In 1975, community volunteers led by Frank Lang established a Western Sierra Medical Clinic in Downieville, providing primary care services. In 1987, Dr. Dee Dawkins founded Miners Clinic in Nevada County. The two health centers merged in 2010, expanding their mission. Western Sierra now operates health centers in Grass Valley, Auburn, Penn Valley, and Kings Beach-Tahoe, committed to community-focused healthcare. Western Sierra offers quality medical, dental and behavioral health care and continues to expand its specialties to meet the needs of the region's residents, regardless of their income or insurance coverage. For more information, please visit https://wsmcmed.org. About Verily Verily is an Alphabet health technology company focused on research, care, and public health to deliver on the promise of precision health and help people live healthier lives. We are uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology, data science, and healthcare to create tools to accelerate evidence generation, products to enable more personalized care, and approaches to manage disease at a population level. For more information about the Verily Retinal Service, please visit: verily.com/solutions/numetric. Contact Information Shane Curd Applied Science, Inc. shane_curd@applied-science.com Julia Wu Verily wujulia@verily.com Dan Happs Western Sierra / Sierra Family danh@wsmcmed.org SOURCE: Applied Science, Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus. Korrektur als Einstiegschance Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen. 3 Kupferaktien mit hohem Potential Im neuen, kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir drei aussichtsreiche Unternehmen vor, die bei einem weiteren Anstieg uberproportional profitieren konnten. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! Arlington, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 25, 2024) - Edge Total Intelligence Inc. (TSXV: CTRL) (OTCQB: UNFYF) (FSE: Q5i) (the "Company", "edgeTI") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated August 2, 2024, the transaction pursuant to the merger agreement dated August 2, 2024 (the "Merger Agreement"), between the Company, Block X Capital Corp. ("BlockX") and 1494029 B.C. Ltd. ("AcquisitionCo"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has completed. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of BlockX (the "Transaction"), being 4,250,000 common shares, in exchange for an equivalent number of subordinate voting shares of the Company (each, a "SVS") by way of a three-cornered amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Amalgamation"), being 4,250,000 SVSs. The Company now holds all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of the corporation that resulted from the Amalgamation, being EdgeAI Technologies Inc. Each SVS issued as part of the Amalgamation to Victory Square Technologies Inc. ("VST"), the sole shareholder of BlockX, was issued at a deemed price per share of $0.40 for aggregate consideration of $1,700,000. The Company and VST share a common Chief Financial Officer, being Ms. Sheri Rempel; however, the consideration paid was determined through arm's length negotiation between the Company and BlockX. Ms. Rempel was not involved in any negotiations between the Company and Block X in relation to the consideration paid. The Company determined that $1,700,000 is a fair offer for BlockX based on the comparative development costs if undertaken by the Company independently, which would potentially cost the Company more than $3,000,000 when performed over a three-year period. The calculated price is reduced based on increased maturity risk as a result of little sustaining engineering since its acquisition by VST and no offsetting revenues. The Transaction is not a related party transaction as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, as such, is not subject to TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. A fee of $85,000 was also paid in connection with the Transaction to a finder of the Company, being Perihelion Holdings Ltd. (the "Finder"), which was paid through the issuance of 197,674 SVSs at the deemed issuance price of the Market Price (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV")) of the SVSs as of this date, being $0.43. The Finder is arm's length to each of the Company, BlockX and VST. No new control person and no change of control resulted from the Transaction. The Company has not assumed any long-term debt pursuant to the Transaction. No new directors or officers were added to the Company's management team in connection with the Transaction. The Transaction remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About edgeTI edgeTI helps customers sustain situational awareness and accelerate action with its real-time digital operations software, edgeCore, that unites multiple software applications and data sources into one immersive experience called a "Digital Twin". Global enterprises, service providers, and governments are more profitable when insight and action are united to deliver fluid journeys via the platform's low-code development capability and composable operations. With edgeCore, customers can improve their margins and agility by rapidly transforming siloed systems and data across continuously evolving situations in business, technology, and cross-domain operations - helping them achieve the impossible. Website: https://edgeti.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/edgeti YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/edgetechnologies 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 securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (together "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements related to the Company realizing any benefits or synergies as a result of the Transaction, the Company making any and all requisite filings and applications with respect to the Transaction, the receipt of all requisite approvals in respect of the Transaction, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its assets and other matters, the integration of the acquired assets and the Company's existing assets, and the ability of the assets acquired in assisting the Company in achieving its business objectives. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections including expectations regarding the successful integration of the acquired assets into the business operations of the Company, the receipt of all requisite third party approvals, expectations regarding general business, economic and public markets conditions as well as expectations concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the combined company. Among key factors and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information may include, without limitation, present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of inputs including labour costs; investor perception regarding the Transaction, the Company and its business, the ability to achieve its goals, expected costs and timelines to achieve the Company's goals; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; successful integration of the assets acquired in the Transaction; that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms; anticipated costs associated comparative development of BlockX assets; the general economic environment; cybersecurity risks; financial projections may prove materially inaccurate or incorrect; the Company may experience difficulties to forecast sales; general competition in the industry from other companies; management of growth-related risks; reliance on management; risks relating to insurance; our business could be adversely affected by increased labour costs or difficulties in finding suitable employees; changes in regulation; changes in customer demand; requirements for further financing; the Company may prioritize growth over short-term financial results. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of the Company and market conditions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224660 SOURCE: Edge Total Intelligence Inc. BUDAPEST, Hungary, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SonoScape (300633.SZ), a prominent innovator in medical technology specializing in ultrasound medical imaging, endoscopic diagnosis and treatment, minimally invasive surgery (MIS), and cardiovascular intervention solutions (IVUS), proudly showcased its advancements as a platinum sponsor at the ISUOG World Congress 2024 in Budapest. 2024 marks a pivotal year for SonoScape with the premiere of its newly-launched Fenix 80 Series. In celebration of this launch, SonoScape hosted 12 expert-led lectures within its "SonoElite Club" and supported two master classes featuring live demonstrations and tutorials. With participation from 14 globally renowned doctors and professors, SonoScape's sessions attracted around 2,000 attendees, fostering a highly professional and dynamic atmosphere. The company's presence garnered widespread praise and positive feedback from the international medical community. With its continued commitment to innovation and excellence, SonoScape remains at the forefront of advancing women's health through cutting-edge technology. The successful launch of the Fenix 80 Series at ISUOG 2024 underscores the company's dedication to empowering healthcare professionals with the tools they need to deliver better outcomes for patients worldwide. As SonoScape looks ahead, it is poised to further shape the future of medical imaging and provide transformative solutions that redefine the standard of care in OB/GYN and beyond. Fenix 80 Series Starting from a foundation of "Caring for Women", the Fenix 80 Series offers a comprehensive solution tailored to women's healthcare needs, including gynecology, reproductive health examinations, prenatal screening, and postpartum rehabilitation. Based on the C-Field+ platform, this premium ultrasound product achieves substantial advancements in intelligent image recognition and sophisticated features, presenting a multidisciplinary, integrated, and smart clinical solution. The Fenix 80 Series achieves heightened performance through an upgraded intelligent hash rate platform which leverages novel XPUs technology. Coupled with the Omni-Intelligence system, it harnesses AI-driven signal processing to optimize signal selection universally, enhancing user interaction via adaptable workflow management, which leads to superior computational power and accelerated diagnostic efficiency. About Founded in 2002 in Shenzhen, China, SonoScape has committed itself to "Unlocking Life's Potential" by providing ultrasound, endoscopy, MIS, IVUS solutions and delivering first-rate services. Ranked as the top 10 ultrasound brands globally, SonoScape reinvests 20% of its revenue into R&D annually, whilst establishing seven R&D centers worldwide. For more information, please visit at https://sonoscape.com/. For any inquiries regarding SonoScape, please kindly contact at market@sonoscape.net. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/isuog-2024--redefining-womens-health-with-sonoscapes-new-fenix-80-series-302259452.html Banyan Group's flagship brand unveils exclusive experiences to celebrate connection, community and nature PHUKET, Thailand, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Banyan Tree, flagship brand of Banyan Group ("Banyan Tree Holdings Limited" or the "Group" - SGX: B58) celebrates 30 years since its inception. To commemorate this milestone, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts worldwide are inviting guests to rediscover the romance of travel and engage in a curated collection of 30th anniversary experiences happening from today to 31 December 2024. Highlights include a series of celebratory events paying homage to the beginnings of the brand at Banyan Tree Phuket, a variety of experiences at Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts globally, a refresh and expansion of Saffron, the culinary heart of Banyan Tree, as well as a pledge to fund environmental and social efforts, reaffirming the Group's commitment to responsible stewardship. "For three decades, Banyan Tree has provided a sanctuary for global travellers in awe-inspiring locations around the world. Since the early years of our founders' journey, they have believed in the transformative power of travel, which formed the cornerstone of the Banyan Tree brand," says Eddy See, CEO of Banyan Group. "Today, Banyan Tree, along with its brand extensions, Banyan Tree Escape and Banyan Tree Veya, have planted roots in 13 countries, totalling 36 properties with an expected 46 more in the pipeline. We are excited to see the brand continue to flourish in the decades to come," he adds. Banyan Tree 30th Anniversary: Inspiring Personal Discovery Celebrations kicked off earlier this week at Banyan Tree Phuket, with an exclusive itinerary for guests and friends of the brand to immerse themselves in the full Banyan Tree experience, inspiring them to live more thoughtfully and empathetically. From wellbeing activities to destination dining experiences, cultural immersions, and outreach to local communities, the celebration festivities exemplify the romance of travel with authentic experiences. In the month following, the grand opening of Banyan Tree Dubai will continue to highlight the brand's 30-year legacy with a special event featuring a Sunset Soiree and an exclusive Urban Wellbeing Retreat. A nod to one of Banyan Tree's core pillars of wellbeing, the retreat exemplifies how transformative wellbeing travel is about purposeful experiences that nourish the mind, body, and soul. Over 60 experiences have also been curated for guests of Banyan Tree to explore, discover and actively engage with the wonders of the world and rediscover the romance of travel. From visiting a Noh Mask artisan with Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto to participating in the traditional practices of the Naxi ethnic minority with Banyan Tree Lijiang, immersing in a Tibetan Bonfire Dance with Banyan Tree Ringha, bonding with loved ones under the Arabian Milky Way with Banyan Tree AlUla and more, each experience has been crafted to inspire personal discovery and deepen our guests' connection to the world. Saffron: Celebrating Connections, Honouring Traditions Banyan Tree introduces a refresh of Saffron, the culinary heart of the brand. Honouring the essence of Thai culinary artistry and locally sourced ingredients, the new Saffron interprets heritage recipes with a contemporary spin, providing a feast for the senses and connection to the destinations it is in. In celebration of the 30th anniversary, guests are invited to savour Saffron's refreshed culinary expressions with Banyan Tree Bangkok on the Saffron Cruise along the Chao Phraya River, as well as with Banyan Tree Mayakoba's Ixchel dining experience on a traditional Mexican Trajinera. Saffron will also soon be introduced to new locations including Banyan Tree Dubai and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru. Embracing the Environment, Empowering People The flagship Banyan Tree Phuket was built on a rehabilitated tin mine land, pioneering sustainable hospitality in the nineties. Paying homage to its founding ethos of 'Embracing the Environment, Empowering People' and foundations of regenerative tourism, Banyan Group will be pledging a milestone commitment to the local Phuket community as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. Starting in November, the Group is also pledging USD$1 for for every direct booking to the initiative 'Rewilding Banyan', which aims to restore natural habitats in the areas it operates through pocket forests that enhance biodiversity, combat climate change, and support the wellbeing of local communities. For high-resolution images, please download here ABOUT BANYAN TREE Banyan Tree (www.banyantree.com) offers a sanctuary to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul in awe inspiring locations around the globe. Rediscover the romance of travel as you journey to iconic destinations where authentic, memorable experiences await. Banyan Tree provides genuine, authentic service and a distinctive, premium retreat experience. ABOUT BANYAN GROUP Banyan Group ("Banyan Tree Holdings Limited" or the "Group" - SGX: B58) is an independent, global hospitality company with purpose. The Group prides itself on its pioneering spirit, design-led experiences and commitment to responsible stewardship. Its extensive portfolio spans 90 hotels and resorts, over 140 spas and galleries, and 20 plus branded residences in over 20 countries. Comprising 12 global brands, including the flagship brand Banyan Tree, each distinct yet united under the experiential membership programme withBanyan. The founding ethos of "Embracing the Environment, Empowering People" is embodied through the Banyan Global Foundation and Banyan Academy. Banyan Group is committed to remaining the leading advocate of sustainable travel, with a focus on regenerative tourism and innovative programmes that elevate the guest experience. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2512405/Banyan_Tree_Phuket___Aerial_Shot___Hotel_Exterior.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/banyan-trees-30th-anniversary-rediscover-the-romance-of-travel-302258913.html $SNOOPLE is a vibrant new meme coin capturing the whimsical essence of the beloved Snoopy character. In the latest development, the company is excited to announce the upcoming launch of its NFT Marketplace, designed to enhance community engagement and celebrate creativity within the cryptocurrency space. Built on the high-performance Solana blockchain, $SNOOPLE aims to merge the playful spirit of meme culture with innovative blockchain technology. The new NFT Marketplace will allow users to buy, sell, and trade exclusive digital assets, enriching the overall experience for $SNOOPLE holders and fans of digital collectibles. The important features of $Snoopleare as follows: Exclusive Digital Assets: The marketplace will host a variety of unique NFTs tied to engaging themes and characters, encouraging community members to explore their creativity and collect exclusive items. User-Friendly Interface: Designed for both newcomers and seasoned crypto enthusiasts, the marketplace will feature an intuitive layout, making it easy to navigate and interact with various digital assets. Community-Centric Design: $SNOOPLE emphasizes the importance of community involvement. Users will have opportunities to contribute ideas, participate in events, and engage with fellow NFT enthusiasts, fostering a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. The vision for the $SNOOPLE NFT Marketplace is to create a space where creativity and community come together. The company focuses on by providing an engaging platform for digital collectibles, it can cultivate a deeper connection with their community and celebrate the whimsical spirit that inspired our project. $SNOOPLE operates on the Solana blockchain, renowned for its high throughput, low transaction fees, and scalability. Utilizing Solana's Proof of History (PoH) and Proof of Stake (PoS) mechanisms, $SNOOPLE ensures that transactions are fast, efficient, and environmentally friendly. Moving forward, $SNOOPLE emphasizes decentralized governance, granting token holders voting rights on essential decisions, including future developments and partnerships. A Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) will be established to manage community funds, propose new initiatives, and guide the project's direction, ensuring alignment with community interests In addition to the NFT Marketplace, $SNOOPLE is dedicated to creating a deflationary token model, with 90% of the total supply set to be burned after adding liquidity. This approach aims to enhance the token's scarcity and value over time, reinforcing the project's commitment to a sustainable ecosystem. $SNOOPLE is also actively exploring integration with metaverse platforms, allowing users to interact with their NFTs in immersive digital environments. This expansion aligns with the project's mission to innovate and provide new experiences for its community. About the Company - $SNOOPLE $SNOOPLE is a community-driven meme coin built on the Solana blockchain. Inspired by the playful spirit of Snoopy, the project aims to bring joy and inclusivity to the cryptocurrency space while exploring innovative uses for digital assets. For further details, visit the following links: Website: https://snoople.me X: http://x.com/snooplesolana Telegram: http://t.me/snoople1 Marketing partner: crmoonboy by crmoon Media Contact Organization: Snoople Contact Person Name: miguel del toro Website: https://snoople.me Email: support@snoople.me City: Madrid Country: Spain SOURCE: Snoople Pluxee announces completion of Cobee acquisition Paris, September 26, 2024 // Pluxee (the "Group"), a global leader in Employee Benefits and Engagement, today announces the successful completion of its acquisition of Cobee, a Spanish innovative digital player in Employee Benefits. The signing of this acquisition was announced on June 12, 2024, and, since then, Pluxee has obtained the necessary approval by the Spanish regulatory authorities. With this acquisition, Pluxee delivers the first milestone of its targeted and disciplined M&A strategy, strenghtening its position in the Spanish growing and underpenetrated Employee Benefit market. The combination of Pluxee's and Cobee's respective talents, capabilities, and technology will create a complete, competitive, and attractive solution in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico, broadening the Group's existing benefit offering and enhancing its tech capabilities at global scale. Cobee serves more than 1,500 clients and 100,000 employee consumers with a broad multi-benefit offering, including over 12 products covering meal vouchers, training, health and life insurance, physical well-being and employee discounts. The transaction is fully funded from existing financial resources, with limited impact on leverage. As such, the transaction is expected to be neutral in terms of Pluxee's Recurring EBITDA and Free cash flow in Fiscal 2025 and accretive to its Recurring EBITDA margin and Net income from Fiscal 2026. About Pluxee Pluxee is a global player in employee benefits and engagement that operates in 31 countries. Pluxee helps companies attract, engage, and retain talent thanks to a broad range of solutions across Meal & Food, Wellbeing, Lifestyle, Reward & Recognition, and Public Benefits. Powered by leading technology and more than 5,000 engaged team members, Pluxee acts as a trusted partner within a highly interconnected B2B2C ecosystem made up of more than 500,000 clients, 36 million consumers and 1.7 million merchants. Conducting business for more than 45 years, Pluxee is committed to creating a positive impact on local communities, supporting wellbeing at work for employees and protecting the planet. For more information: www.pluxeegroup.com About Cobee Cobee is a Spanish startup supporting companies in managing employee benefits and compensation through a centralized digital platform. Its powerful SaaS tool drastically reduces administration and paperwork and improves the company's employer branding. In turn, employees can access and enjoy all benefits in the most flexible manner, in a single place and with a single card, which translates into unprecedented usage and uptake ratios. Since its foundation in 2019 by Borja Aranguren, Ignacio Travesi and Daniel Olea, Cobee has been supported by well renowned venture capital funds through several financing rounds. It has expanded its Spanish operation to Portugal and Mexico. Today, it has over 180 employees and it serves more than 1,500 company clients with over 100,000 users. For more information: www.cobee.io Contacts Media Cecilia de Pierrebourg +33 6 03 30 46 98 cecilia.depierrebourg@pluxeegroup.com Analysts and Investors Pauline Bireaud + 33 6 22 58 83 51 pauline.bireaud@pluxeegroup.com Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Group's intentions, current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding the Group's future business strategies and the environment in which the Group operates, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Group's control, which may cause the Group's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed in the prospectus dated January 10, 2024 which is available on the Company website (www.pluxeegroup.com) and the AFM website (www.afm.nl). Accordingly, readers of this press release are cautioned on relying on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Pluxee Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Disclaimer This press release does not contain or constitute an offer of securities for sale or an invitation or inducement to invest in securities in France, the United States, or any other jurisdiction. Attachment Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - E-commerce businesses are grappling with a significant challenge, facing an estimated 28% loss in sales due to shopper uncertainty about the legitimacy of online retailers. This alarming statistic comes from a groundbreaking study conducted in collaboration with Truly Legit, the National Retail Federation, IBISWorld, and the Federal Trade Commission. The research highlights the escalating rise of online scams and their unforeseen consequences on the e-commerce sector. As consumer trust diminishes, the effects are profound, impacting E-Commerce businesses globally. High Fraud Rate's Influence On E-Commerce To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10836/224620_3406bc0b34c8e924_001full.jpg Key Findings from the Study Include: Truly Legit's Impact : What sparked this study was Truly Legit showing their team data from their most recent case studies, proving that businesses displaying verification badges see conversion increases of up to 26%. Truly Legit took this as a key indicator that shopper fraud fear has a much larger impact on conversions than anticipated. Rising Online Scams : According to the Federal Trade Commission, reported scams have surged over 130% since 2021, now affecting 1 in 2 consumers and significantly altering shopping behaviors. Cart Abandonment Rates : An analysis of heatmaps from over $1 billion in abandoned transactions across 14,000 e-commerce stores shows that "fraud fear" directly correlates with rising abandonment rates. The payment groups involved in this study conducted several A/B tests with their merchants, analyzing the differences in conversions after e-commerce stores displayed their legitimacy. Their research found that an estimated 28% of online purchases are abandoned due to uncertainty about a site's legitimacy. Business Viability : The fear of online scams is believed to be contributing to a rising number of failed e-commerce businesses in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for solutions that enhance consumer trust. Dependence on Legitimacy: As reviews become less credible, consumers increasingly trust verification badges. Just like social media platforms offer creators a way to get verified, there is a way for online retail stores to achieve verification. With only one solution available, Truly Legit has revolutionized the online commerce space, allowing businesses to get verified and showcase their legitimacy. This rising problem is being addressed by reputable sources, including industry experts and market analysts, who emphasize the importance of building trust in e-commerce. As Dan Schawbel, a New York Times bestselling author and Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, points out: "Trust is the new currency in the e-commerce world. If companies want to thrive, they need to build genuine relationships with their customers and ensure their online security." Conclusion: This exclusive data underscores a vital call to action for e-commerce retailers: prioritizing legitimacy and transparency is essential for survival and growth in an increasingly risky online environment. Related Links: TrulyLegit.com Media Contact Global Retail Trends Inc. Scott Baron retail.trends.news@gmail.com For any questions about this release, don't hesitate to get in touch. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224620 SOURCE: TrulyLegit Inc. Der Goldpreis haussiert und schwingt sich von Hoch zu Hoch. Getrieben von geopolitischen Unsicherheiten sowie der Aussicht auf eine lockere Geldpolitik der FED gehen Experten aktuell von weiter steigenden Notierungen bis sogar in den Bereich von 3.000 US-Dollar je Unze Gold aus. Im Schatten des Basispreises notieren Goldproduzenten aus der zweiten Reihe sowie Explorationsunternehmen noch weit weg von ihren historischen Hochststanden entfernt und bieten dadurch erhebliches Aufholpotential. In diesem kostenlosen Report geben wir Ihnen Favoriten an die Hand, die aufgrund von Sondersituation die Chance auf eine Kursvervielfachung besitzen. Handeln Sie Jetzt! Fordern Sie jetzt den brandneuen Spezialreport an und profitieren Sie von dem weiter steigenden Kurs des Edelmetalls. Sichern Sie sich jetzt Ihren kostenfreien Report. Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. (President: Hironori Ando) is pleased to announce a collaborative work designed and produced by Kunihiko Morinaga, the founder and designer of the Japanese fashion brand "ANREALAGE," using fabrics printed on our inkjet textile printer "FOREARTH". The collaborative work which was based on the concept of "WIND" was presented through a number of costumes at the women's collection of Paris Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2025 on Tuesday, September 24 at 17:00 in Paris, France. This is the second collaboration following the previous Paris Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2024-2025. In this collaboration, FOREARTH printed on fabrics such as high-density polyester taffeta which was then used in the costumes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925590660/en/ The second collaboration between the inkjet textile printer "FOREARTH" and the fashion brand "ANREALAGE" was presented at Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025. (Graphic: Business Wire) Features of the inkjet textile printer "FOREARTH" 1) Water Free Concept Dramatically reduces water usage in textile printing. 2) Creative Free Proprietary water-based pigment ink realizes both soft hand-feel prints and high fastness in a wide range of fabrics. 3) Location Free Textile printing does not rely on water resources, so it supports optimized production volumes and optimized manufacturing location setting and contributes to the reduction of logistic costs, time, and excess inventories. As "FOREARTH" dramatically reduces water usage in textile printing to next to zero, it does not require separate facilities such as for steaming and washing needed in pre- and post-treatment processes of conventional textile printing. This will also contribute to a significant reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Comment from Mr. Kunihiko Morinaga The reason we adopted "FOREARTH's" printing technique is because I believe that wind and water are closely related. Originally, when the wind blows, waves are generated on the surface of the sea, and those waves become ocean currents, which evaporate to form clouds. By creating clouds, rain falls on the ground and creates a water cycle on the earth. We believe that wind and water are inseparable for the environment. I felt affinity with the characteristics of "FOREARTH," which uses as little water as possible, and adopted it as a printing technology. For more information, please click here. https://www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.com/en/news/rls_2024/rls_20240926.html View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925590660/en/ Contacts: Contact for press and media inquiries Morita. Corporate Communications Section, Corporate Planning Division (Mobile phone: +81-70-7406-6371, Office: +81-6-6764-3515) Regulatory News: SEGRO plc ("SEGRO" or the "Group") (BOURSE:SGRO) today announces a trading update, relating to the period to 31 August 2024, to coincide with the publication of the Tritax EuroBox Scheme document in connection with the Group's Recommended Offer for Tritax EuroBox plc. David Sleath, Chief Executive, said: "Our business is performing well as we head into the final months of the year. The overall balance of supply and demand in our occupier markets remains favourable and we continue to make good progress in capturing the significant embedded reversion within our portfolio. "We are seeing liquidity return to investment markets and we continue to identify attractive opportunities to deploy capital both through asset acquisitions and into our profitable development pipeline, utilising our exceptional land bank. "Our prime urban and big box portfolio, market-leading operating platform and strong balance sheet position us well to deliver strong returns from our existing portfolio and capitalise on new opportunities, supporting attractive and compounding increases in both earnings and dividends. This provides us confidence in the outlook for the remainder of the year and beyond." KEY HIGHLIGHTS12 58 million of new headline rent signed so far in 2024, ahead of the equivalent period last year and positioning SEGRO for another year of strong rent roll growth. This includes 21 million of uplifts from rent reviews, renewals and indexation, reflecting a 30 per cent average increase at lease events, and 17 million of pre-let signings. Portfolio continues to deliver strong operating metrics: customer retention remains high at 83 per cent and occupancy is broadly unchanged since 30 June 2024 at 94.3 per cent. Profitable development programme expected to add 48 million of future rent through projects currently onsite and in advanced negotiations (including a further data centre in Slough). 63 per cent of this is pre-let and the average yield on cost is 7.8 per cent. Driving portfolio outperformance through disciplined capital allocation. 239 million of acquisitions and 311 million of development capex year to date, offset by 500 million of disposals above book value. The Group maintains its expectation to invest c.500 million of development capex during 2024 and has a further c.200 million of asset disposals under offer. Balance sheet remains in a strong position to pursue further growth opportunities with LTV of 29 per cent 3 and 2.1 billion of cash and undrawn committed facilities. A 500 million, 8-year bond was issued in September at an attractive 3.5 per cent coupon, demonstrating SEGRO's ability to access capital markets in an agile manner, while keeping the cost of funding low (average cost of debt post the issuance is 2.6 per cent). and 2.1 billion of cash and undrawn committed facilities. A 500 million, 8-year bond was issued in September at an attractive 3.5 per cent coupon, demonstrating SEGRO's ability to access capital markets in an agile manner, while keeping the cost of funding low (average cost of debt post the issuance is 2.6 per cent). Recommended all-share offer for Tritax EuroBox plc announced on 4 September 2024 and expected to close in Q4 2024. 1In this statement, space is stated at 100 per cent, whilst financial figures are stated reflecting SEGRO's share of joint ventures. Operational and financial figures are stated for the period to, or at, 31 August unless otherwise indicated and the exchange rate applied is 1.19:1. 2 Headline rent is annualised gross passing rent receivable once incentives such as rent-free periods have expired. 3 Based on values as at 30 June 2024, adjusted for acquisitions, disposals and other capital expenditure in July/ August. Financial calendar This update replaces our Q3 2024 Trading Update originally planned for 17 October 2024. The date for SEGRO's full year results for the year ended 31 December 2024 (provisionally set for 14 February 2025) will remain under review pending the Recommended Offer for Tritax EuroBox plc. This Trading Update, the most recent Annual Report and other information are available on the SEGRO website at www.segro.com/investors. About SEGRO SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 10.8 million square metres of space (116 million square feet) valued at 20.6 billion as at 30 June 2024, serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries. For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive. A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO's purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments and Nurturing Talent. Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGRO's ambition to be the best property company. See www.SEGRO.com for further information. Forward-Looking Statements: This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to SEGRO's expectations and plans, strategy, management objectives, future developments and performance, costs, revenues and other trend information. All statements other than historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations and all forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, risk and uncertainty. Many of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond SEGRO's ability to control or estimate precisely and which could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Certain statements have been made with reference to forecast process changes, economic conditions and the current regulatory environment. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of SEGRO are based upon the knowledge and information available to Directors on the date of this announcement. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any particular expectation will be met and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Additionally, forward-looking statements regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. The information contained in this announcement is provided as at the date of this announcement and is subject to change without notice. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the UK Listing Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority), SEGRO does not undertake to update forward-looking statements, including to reflect any new information or changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Past share performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit estimate or profit forecast. The information in this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or an invitation to buy securities in SEGRO plc or an invitation or inducement to engage in or enter into any contract or commitment or other investment activities. Neither the content of SEGRO's website nor any other website accessible by hyperlinks from SEGRO's website are incorporated in, or form part of, this announcement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925684512/en/ Contacts: CONTACT DETAILS FOR INVESTOR ANALYST AND MEDIA ENQUIRIES: SEGRO Soumen Das (Chief Financial Officer) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 9110 Claire Mogford (Head of Investor Relations) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 9048 Gary Gaskarth (External Communications Manager) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 9069 FTI Consulting Richard Sunderland Eve Kirmatzis Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 Lake Forest, California--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Gravity Medical Technology, a leading innovator in stroke treatment technology, announces the launch of the GRASSROOT (Gravity Stent-Retriever System For Reperfusion Of Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Trial) Trial in India. The trial aims to enroll 60 patients to study the safety and efficacy of the Supernova Stent-retriever. Gravity Medical Launches Landmark Stroke Trial in India to Evaluate Cutting-Edge Supernova Stent-Retriever To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/224349_dbc05f04947b6969_002full.jpg As India faces a growing stroke burden, innovative solutions like the Supernova Stent-Retriever are essential to improving outcomes. "For India to realize its demographic dividend, we must preserve health - especially in the realm of stroke and its consequences," says Dr. Shashvat Desai MD, Chief of R&D at Gravity. Successful trial enrollment sets a path for clinical use in stroke care in India. Gravity makes the Supernova, which is an innovative medical device known as a stent-retriever. The Supernova can remove blood clots from the arteries of the brain that cause stroke. Gravity is a global medical device company dedicated to expanding access to advanced stroke treatment through innovative technologies. By supporting research and development in emerging markets and prioritizing ethical practices, Gravity aims to make life-saving stroke care accessible to patients worldwide. Gravity has developed and successfully commercialized the most advanced and accessible devices for mechanical thrombectomy in South East Asia. India, the world's most populous nation with 1.45 billion people, has extremely low access to mechanical thrombectomy. Of the 375,000 Indians who qualify for stroke intervention annually, only 4,500 receive this life-saving treatment. As part of Gravity's mission to expand stroke care in India, the company is pursuing a two-fold strategy. First, it aims to strengthen national capacity by conducting large, multicenter stroke thrombectomy trials in both public and private hospitals throughout the country. Second, Gravity is leveraging this collaborative, stakeholder-driven approach to secure regulatory approval in India using local clinical data. The ultimate goal is to make advanced and accessible stroke treatment devices available to patients across India, addressing the country's urgent need for life-saving medical technology. The Supernova stent-retriever is a next-generation mechanical thrombectomy device. It overcomes current limitations of existing devices- specifically designed to treat all types of clots- soft and tough. This is especially important in India, South and East Asian, Middle Eastern, and African populations. The study went live in India on August 15th 2024 which is India's Independence Day. The first patient was successfully enrolled, treated, and discharged from AIIMS, New Delhi, under the leadership of Dr. Shailesh Gaikwad and Dr. Deepti Vibha. Commenting on this milestone, Dr. Kunakorn Atchaneeyasakul, MD, MPH, CEO of Gravity Mission, said, "We are confident that the first treatment in India with the Supernova Stent will begin a ripple effect of better stroke care for the world." This marks a significant achievement in the GRASSROOT Trial and sets the stage for improved stroke care both in India and globally. This is a landmark moment for India and Indian stroke care. The GRASSROOT Trial is the first stroke thrombectomy trial generating novel clinical data to improve understanding of pathophysiology of stroke patients in India. A groundbreaking clinical trial has been launched across 16 hospitals in India to assess the safety and efficacy of the Supernova Stent-Retriever, a device designed to treat ischemic stroke patients. This multi-center trial includes participation from several prestigious public institutions, including: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh The trial aims to enroll 60 patients, providing crucial data on the performance of the Supernova Stent-Retriever in real-world clinical settings. The full details and progress of the study are available on ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT06249776). About Gravity Medical Technology Gravity Medical Technology, born from the Gravity Mission, is a physician-scientist-led organization with global expertise. Committed to democratizing stroke care, Gravity Medical develops customizable and personalized stroke treatment technologies to ensure better access and outcomes worldwide. The company was founded to improve stroke care for all and is the brainchild of a collective of stroke and neurointervention experts from around the globe. Gravity Medical is uniquely positioned to understand clinical needs and develop life-saving, innovative technology that is accessible to all. For more information, please visit https://www.gravitymedtech.com/. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224349 SOURCE: Plentisoft HEIDELBERG, Germany, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NEC Laboratories Europe, the European research and development center for NEC Corporation, is improving NEC cotomi generative AI services for Japan by introducing LLM Explainer, an NEC technology that helps detect and explain hallucinations in output generated by commonly available large language models (LLMs). LLMs are a type of generative AI that understands and generates natural language and other content. While increasingly adopted by industries and end users to enhance knowledge-based activities, LLMs frequently produce incorrect output - commonly called hallucinations. This limits their use in situations that require accurate information or involve risk, for example, in business-critical operations or managing critical infrastructure. Dr. Carolin Lawrence, Manager and Chief Research Scientist of NEC Laboratories Europe, explains, "Currently, organizations using LLMs must manually check that output is correct, which can be time-consuming and costly. By incorporating LLM Explainer, NEC cotomi generative AI allows users to compare LLM output with relevant source documentation. This lets users efficiently check and verify the correctness of LLM-generated text and, if needed, correct it." Using the latest advances in natural-language processing, LLM Explainer compares both the words and meaning of sentences to detect omissions, duplications and changes in meaning between original source documentation and generated output sentences. For each output sentence, users can view relevant sentences from original source documentation, which lets them determine if the LLM-generated text is correct. Dr. Lawrence adds, "Highlighting evidence and potential discrepancies in a simple format, for what is often complex information, allows users to make corrections and quickly adapt LLM-generated text to their needs." NEC plans to enhance the detection of LLM hallucinations in generative AI services by adding functions such as finding hallucinated entities and identifying contradictions - further accelerating the detection and correction of LLM discrepancies. LLM Explainer will be integrated into NEC cotomi generative AI API services for Japan beginning at the end of October. A version of the service will also be available on premise. About NEC Corporation NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. About NEC Laboratories Europe GmbH NEC Laboratories Europe research and develop cutting-edge technology to create innovative social solutions. Located in Heidelberg, Germany, major research areas of NEC Laboratories Europe include artificial intelligence, blockchain security, 5G and 6G networks, and IoT platforms. These technologies promote NEC Group solutions for a better society in the fields of digital health, safer cities, public services and communication infrastructure. For more information visit https://www.neclab.eu. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515254/NEC_LLM_Explainer.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nec-improves-reliability-of-large-language-models-to-accelerate-business-applications-302259231.html SFO1 is Adyen's first proprietary multimedia countertop terminal Adyen is the first PSP to launch Klarna's BNPL in-store solution worldwide and initiates global roll out of Alipay+ Tap To Pay on Android now available in Europe, UAE, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, enabling businesses in these regions to cost-effectively scale AMSTERDAM, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Adyen, the financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, has today announced major advancement in the in-person payments (IPP) landscape, underscoring its commitment to innovation with industry defining solutions. This comprehensive update not only enhances the payment experience for both merchants and customers but also reinforces Adyen's position as a leading force in payment technology. "Adyen offers an industry-leading in-person payment solution, with one of the widest product portfolios in the market, ranging from mobile solutions to countertop terminals, catering to any business need-all powered by our single tech stack. This product update is a testament to our ambition in the unified commerce space," commented Derk Busser, VP Product - Payment Channels, at Adyen. "We see our customers still highly value in-person touchpoints and we are continuing to differentiate ourselves within the payments industry to be the market leader in omnichannel solutions. We're committed to revolutionize how the shoppers of today and tomorrow experience 'the store'." Unlimited branding opportunities with SFO1 countertop terminal Today, Adyen proudly unveils the SFO1, its proprietary multimedia countertop Android terminal. With an 8 inch touch screen, SFO1 enhances the payment experience by integrating functions of traditional terminals with customer-facing displays. This innovation marks a new chapter in transforming the in-person payment experience. "The SFO1 will fundamentally change the way brands interact with customers at the point of purchase," added Busser. "Rich video content allows fashion retailers to showcase next season's collection on stunning screens while offering shoppers the chance to sign up for loyalty programs to receive discounts or early access to the clothing shown. We are pushing the boundaries of innovation, ensuring that merchants can provide cutting-edge, customizable in-store checkout experiences." SFO1 allows enterprise and platform businesses to maintain consistent brand presence and engage customers dynamically, by seamlessly integrating with their point of sale (POS) systems or partners, while reducing counter clutter and costs. "We're excited to partner with Adyen on integrating the SFO1 terminal," said Amber Hovious, VP Partnerships at Teamwork Commerce. "As a leading POS & OMS software company, Teamwork Commerce knows how important it is to deliver cutting-edge customer experiences. The SFO1 device offers a great way to create engaging in-store experiences for shoppers, while also helping to streamline operations." SFO1 will be available in the U.S. and Europe by the end of 2024. Global first launch of Klarna in-store and extensive rollout of Alipay+ Adyen is breaking new ground as the first global PSP to launch Klarna's in-store solution worldwide and initiates the global rollout of Alipay+ on its terminals. This move fulfills Adyen's promise to unified commerce merchants by delivering a consistent payment experience both in-store and online. With the growing popularity of buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services-projected to reach $3.98 trillion by 20301-and the dominance of digital payment solutions like Alipay+, Adyen's integration allows merchants to reach a broader global audience. By enabling Klarna and Alipay+ in-store, Adyen empowers retailers to cater to Gen Z shoppers and global travelers, mostly from Asia, offering the flexibility to choose their preferred payment method regardless of the shopping channel. Tap To Pay on Android in new regions As the demand for contactless payments continues to soar, the introduction of Tap to Pay technology offers a game-changing opportunity for businesses of all sizes. Adyen was the first to introduce Tap to Pay solutions on a global scale and it is now expanding its Tap To Pay on Android capabilities into Europe, the UAE, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Adyen's Tap to Pay on Android solution transforms any NFC-enabled Android device into a secure payment terminal, eliminating the need for traditional POS hardware. This reduces upfront costs for merchants and offers greater flexibility in accepting payments-whether in-store, at pop-up events, or on-the-go. As a leader in the industry, Adyen is also one of the first to offer both a comprehensive SDK and a payments app, balancing robust control with ease of integration. Boilerplate Adyen (ADYEN:AMS) is the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies. By providing end-to-end payments capabilities, data-driven insights, and financial products in a single global solution, Adyen helps businesses achieve their ambitions faster. With offices around the world, Adyen works with the likes of Meta, Uber, H&M, eBay, and Microsoft. Adyen continuously improves and expands its product offering as part of its ordinary course of business. New products and features are announced via press releases and product updates on the company's website. 1 Buy Now Pay Later Market Outlook, Allied Market Research- 2030 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516332/Adyen_SFO1_Tap_to_Pay.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1490851/Logo__Adyen_green_RGB_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/adyen-continues-to-pioneer-the-in-person-payment-space-with-host-of-new-industry-defining-products-302259657.html Erinnern Sie sich, als Moderna und BioNTech von unbekannten Unternehmen zu globalen Marktfuhrern wurden und fruhzeitige Investoren reich belohnt haben? Die Branche steht vor einem erneuten Innovationsschub von bahnbrechenden Medikamenten bis hin zu revolutionaren Therapien. Warum sollten Sie dabei sein? Sie sollten jetzt in Biotech-Aktien einsteigen, weil wir am Beginn einer neuen Ara der medizinischen Innovation stehen konnten! Gen- und Zelltherapien, personalisierte Medizin und bahnbrechende Technologien konnten das Gesundheitswesen revolutionieren und die Aktienkurse in die Hohe schieen lassen. Die nachste Erfolgsgeschichte im Biotechbereich warten nur darauf, entdeckt zu werden. Wer jetzt investiert, hat die Chance, von gigantischen Durchbruchen und enormen Renditen zu profitieren. Warten Sie nicht, bis es zu spat ist - der nachste Biotech-Superstar konnte morgen schon durchstarten! Verpassen Sie nicht diese Chance! Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Biotech-Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 3 Biotech-Aktien das riesige Potenzial haben, Ihren finanziellen Erfolg zu sichern. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen zukunftstrachtige Investments im Biotech-Sektor. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! AI is now part of software development, integrated into both tools and development culture HELSINKI, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eficode grew by more than 51% last year, increasing revenue from 189.7 million to 287.2 million. Over the past four years, Eficode's compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was over 75%. Profitable, strong international growth Last fiscal year, Eficode acquired Avoset Oy in Finland and Jodocus GmbH in Germany. Eficode now has over 650 employees for DevOps, Agile, and associated tools and services, continuing its growth towards 1000 employees during the ongoing strategy period. Eficode's personnel in the United States doubled, while Eficode was recognized as the best company to work for in the UK. Both countries hit major milestones, including acquiring new customers for the Eficode ROOT Managed DevOps platform, and surpassing key Annual Recurring Revenue targets for the managed services from the customers in the region. Continental Europe experienced remarkable growth in consulting and managed services. Numerous large automotive, industrial, and financial enterprises continue to collaborate deeply with Eficode. "Every company will become a software organization and need to solve questions about the software development tools and culture," said Ilari Nurmi, CEO of Eficode. "Many of them are already expanding into platform engineering and GenAI, yet all of them need to improve their ways of working, the development tools, and the skillset. We take pride in transforming every industry with modern tools and processes." Cloud transition boosts the Atlassian ecosystem Large companies continue to transform their software development. Software development tools play an increasingly important role in this transformation, as tools on the cloud must be integrated for a seamless development pipeline to deliver common development processes. Eficode's customer base grew with a number of large enterprises, including the following. A leading global beverage producer selected Eficode as their partner in their Atlassian Cloud journey and established a long-term agreement for further advisory and solution development Qualco, a top credit management software provider adopted Eficode's entire solutions portfolio, including Eficode ROOT, Atlassian tools, and consulting services A significant Swiss insurance institution and a leading European logistics and postal services provider selected Eficode as their partner for Atlassian Cloud migration and consulting services A rapidly growing digital banking services business chose Eficode to assess its software development practices and selected Eficode as the Atlassian support and license provider. GitHub and Microsoft empower AI in software development Large enterprises explore and adopt GitHub Enterprise and GitHub Copilot for their modern software development practices. With AI capabilities in GitHub Copilot, customers gain faster development time, higher software quality, and a more enjoyable developer experience. Eficode delivered dozens of GitHub Copilot projects, and provided solutions including GitHub Enterprise, Eficode's Managed Services, and technology advisory. As a result, revenue from GitHub-related business multiplied year over year. During the financial year, Daimler Truck joined The DEVOPS Conference and Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit to share their experiences adopting GitHub with Eficode. DevOps platforms are vital in scaling software development Software development professionals continue to advocate the benefits of platform engineering and DevOps platforms. Eficode extensively covered these themes in The DEVOPS Conferences in Copenhagen, Stockholm, and London. Also, a reputable industry analyst firm covered Eficode in its report on selecting DevOps Toolchains and Platforms. Eficode's employee was honored as a GitLab Champion: an individual whom GitLab recognizes as a member of the GitLab Partner community who champions great customer outcomes based on the DevSecOps platform. Notable customer agreements include assisting a large European law enforcement authority to shift left using GitLab, a major global IT services provider for their GitLab needs, adoption and implementation projects and training to enterprise customers in the Finance, Healthcare and Automotive sectors. With the AI capabilities, GitLab Duo Enterprise is included in the key platforms that Eficode utilizes to drive DevOps with its customers. Media Contacts Lauri Palokangas, Chief Marketing Officer, Eficode. lauri.palokangas@eficode.com, +358 50 486 4918 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eficode-oy/r/eficode-s-revenue-grew-over-51--last-financial-year--fueled-by-development-tools-going-to-the-cloud,c4042247 The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/eficode-oy/i/success1-white-2024-illustration-eficode,c3337106 Success1 white 2024 Illustration Eficode View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eficodes-revenue-grew-over-51-last-financial-year-fueled-by-development-tools-going-to-the-cloud-302259693.html Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial. Im kostenlosen, exklusiven Spezialreport prasentieren wir ihnen 5 innovative KI-Unternehmen, die bahnbrechende Entwicklungen in diesem Sektor pragen konnten. Warum sollten Sie dabei sein? Trotz der jungsten Erfolge steht die Entwicklung der kunstlichen Intelligenz noch am Beginn eines neuen Superzyklus. Experten gehen davon aus, dass der Sektor bis 2032 global auf 1,3 Billionen US-Dollar explodieren wird, wobei ein groer Teil auf Hardware und Infrastruktur entfallen wird. Nutzen Sie die Chance! Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 5 KI-Aktien das grote Potenzial zur Vervielfachung besitzen. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen die aussichtsreichsten Investments im KI-Sektor. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Neotech Metals Corp. (CSE: NTMC) (OTC Pink: NTMFF) (FSE: V690) ("Neotech" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that, in partnership with SGS Laboratories ("SGS"), metallurgical testing has commenced on our flagship Hecla-Kilmer ("H/K") property. The testing aims to assess the economics of an expanded drill campaign that integrates the apatite-hosted rare earth mineralization, niobium-related mineralization and overall phosphate recoveries to help advance the project. This first-phase trial will focus on evaluating the project's metallurgical response to a variety of flowsheets, including gravity, flotation, and magnetic separation methods. The analysis will consider potential recoveries, liberation, beneficiation components, and other variables, progressing the project to its next milestone. LIFE Offering The Company announces that it has filed a new non-brokered private placement LIFE financing (the "Offering"). This replaces the LIFE offering initially announced on June 24, 2024 and amended on August 13, 2024. The total proceeds include a minimum of $1,350,000 and up to a maximum of $2,500,000, consisting of a minimum of 9,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") and up to a maximum of 16,666,667 Units at a price of $0.15 per Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the authorized share structure of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") of the Company. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share (a "Warrant Share") of the Company at a price of $0.25 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance. The Warrants will be subject to an acceleration provision whereby, if for any 10 consecutive trading days the closing price of the Company's common shares (the "Shares") exceeds $0.50 per Share on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company may announce by way of news release that the expiry date of the warrants will be accelerated to 30 days thereafter. The Company may compensate certain finders with a cash commission of up to 7% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised from the Offering and issue finder's warrants equivalent to 7% of the total Units subscribed under the Offering. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units issuable under the Offering will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in all of the provinces of Canada (except Quebec) pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A.2 of NI 45-106. Pursuant to NI 45-106, the securities issued to Canadian resident subscribers under the Offering will not be subject to resale restrictions. The net proceeds from the sale of the Units will be used for exploration expenditures and corporate and general operating expenses. There is an offering document related to this Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at Sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at https://neotechmetals.com/. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. Reagan Glazier, CEO stated, "This is a pivotal moment for the Company as we continue to develop the H/K Rare-Earth project. We're looking forward to the unique opportunity presented by the Apatite-hosted REE's and how they may differ from the typical Monazite-hosted deposits of North America. We're excited to look at the heavy-REE components of H/K which present high-value opportunities. The results will help us direct our focus on upcoming drill campaigns, allowing us to discover and address any unknowns and challenges that may arise." About the Neotech Metals Neotech Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company dedicated to discovering and developing valuable mineral resources within promising jurisdictions around the world. With a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, Neotech is positioned to make a positive impact while maximizing the potential of its exploration properties. Its new flagship, Hecla-Kilmer located 20 km from the Otter Rapids 180MW hydroelectric power generation station and active Ontario Northway railway, was recently acquired in July 2024, along with its TREO and Foothills projects located in British Columbia. All three projects are 100% wholly owned. Qualified Person Technical Information for this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101. Jared Galenzoski VP Exploration, P.Geo., and Qualified Person, has reviewed and approved all of the data and statements made for this news release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. 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/224643 SOURCE: Neotech Metals Corp. Iterable, the AI-powered customer communication platform, today announced it has expanded its global footprint with a new office in Lisbon, Portugal. Iterable's Lisbon office will serve as a cross-functional center for innovation and product development, strengthening the company's presence in Europe and enabling it to better serve organizations in the region ready to accelerate their growth. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926261406/en/ Iterable team meets with partners at AICEP to discuss growth plans and celebrate the vibrant tech community in Lisbon. (Photo: Business Wire) Iterable's expansion marks another milestone in the company's impressive global growth trajectory. With offices now spanning San Francisco, New York, Denver, London, Sydney, and Lisbon, Iterable has established a strong international presence. The company now has over 1,200 customers across over 50 countries globally, from brands like Wolt, Cinemark, Box, and Redfin. To fuel its continued growth, Iterable plans to hire at least 100 highly skilled professionals for key roles in Lisbon over the next few years. "Our expansion to Lisbon-now a thriving European innovation hub-allows us to fully engage with this dynamic ecosystem while bringing us closer to global organizations eager to enhance their customer engagement," said Andrew Boni, CEO and co-founder of Iterable. "We're excited to tap into the region's diverse, highly skilled workforce to drive growth for our business and fuel creative solutions for our customers. As we put down roots in Lisbon, we look forward to embracing the local entrepreneurial spirit and forging lasting partnerships that will contribute to the city's continued success." Accelerating Global Innovation In today's competitive and fast-paced technological landscape, brands face immense pressure to deliver personalized, impactful experiences to global audiences with unprecedented speed and efficiency. Iterable's recent innovations and groundbreaking AI capabilities directly address these challenges, empowering marketers to focus on higher-value, strategic pursuits that craft exceptional customer experiences. The company's product roadmap reflects a continued investment in making it easier for marketers to reach their audience and stand out in the competitive market. Iterable's new Lisbon office and talented team will bring fresh perspectives and skill sets that will play a pivotal role in driving the company's ambitious product strategy, with a continued focus on multichannel development, mobile technologies, and innovation in our core product. Iterable's Vice President of Product Engineering, Peter Oh, has relocated to Lisbon. Oh commented, "We're building a team here in Lisbon that not only lives and breathes Iterable's values but also brings fresh ideas to the table and finds new ways to tackle challenges and better serve our customers. This move is about more than growth it's about injecting more creativity and joy into what we do. We're excited to roll up our sleeves, contribute to the local tech community, and leverage these new perspectives to drive innovation that benefits our customers worldwide. It's a win-win that will help us stay ahead in today's fast-paced market." Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement Iterable's expansion to Lisbon has been made possible through a strategic partnership with AICEP Portugal Global, the Portuguese government's agency for investment and export promotion. This collaboration has been instrumental in facilitating Iterable's smooth entry into the Portuguese market, providing valuable insights into the local business landscape and connecting the company with key resources and talent networks. "We're thrilled to have worked closely with Iterable to bring their innovative technology and team to Lisbon. This collaboration exemplifies AICEP's commitment to fostering partnerships that drive economic growth and technological advancement in Portugal," said Ricardo Arroja, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at AICEP. "Iterable's decision to establish a presence here not only validates our country's appeal as a tech hub but also aligns perfectly with our strategy to attract high-impact investments that create skilled jobs and contribute to our knowledge economy." During their recent visit to Lisbon, Samya DasSarma, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Iterable, and Andrew Boni, CEO and co-founder, reinforced the company's commitment to the region through impactful community engagements, including a fireside chat hosted by Startup Lisboa at the Unicorn Factory Lisboa. Iterable's trip also included tours of local universities, such as Instituto Superior Tecnico, to connect with emerging talent. "Iterable's decision to expand into Lisbon is a demonstration on how Lisbon has become the European Capital of Innovation," said Gil Azevedo, Director of Unicorn Factory Lisboa. "At Unicorn Factory Lisboa, we are committed to supporting the growth of innovative companies at all stages. Iterable's arrival to Lisbon strengthens our mission to create a leading tech ecosystem in the city, while showcasing Lisbon as a hub for Unicorns and innovation." Iterable is actively recruiting in Lisbon. Visit iterable.com/careers for more information and to explore open roles. About Iterable: Iterable is the AI-powered customer communication platform that helps organizations like Redfin, Priceline, Calm, and Box to activate customers with joyful interactions at scale. With Iterable, organizations drive high growth with individualized, harmonized and dynamic communications that engage customers throughout the entire lifecycle at the right time. Learn more at www.iterable.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926261406/en/ Contacts: Lauren Kopulsky Director of Communications press@iterable.com 9fin, the data and predictive analytics platform for debt capital markets, has hired Moises Garcia as Chief Product Officer to accelerate its development plans and help position the company as a global leader in credit markets. Moises brings over 15 years of experience across leadership roles in high-growth tech startups and leading global firms. Most recently, he served as CPO at online car marketplace Carwow and has previously held roles at Boston Consulting Group, Morgan Stanley, and Deloitte. As CPO, Moises will lead the product management and design teams, collaborating with executive leadership to deliver 9fin's product strategy and roadmap. Moises Garcia, CPO, said: "I am excited to join 9fin at such a pivotal time. I look forward to working with the team to enhance our product offering, helping clients unlock opportunities and drive better investment decisions." Huss El-Sheikh, CTO and co-founder, said: "Moises joins 9fin at a time when demand for sophisticated financial tools is surging, with global spending in the financial data market exceeding $42bn in 2023. Moises will be a driving force in seizing this opportunity by boosting our product velocity and keeping 9fin ahead of the curve." Steven Hunter, CEO and co-founder, commented: "The evolution of our executive leadership team signals the exciting road ahead. Having Moises on board will supercharge our product roadmap and support our expansion, cementing 9fin's position as the go-to platform for debt capital market intelligence. Moises joins a growing executive team at 9fin, with Jen Speirs recently being promoted to Chief Operating Officer, Kerry McLelland joining as VP Finance, and Will Caiger-Smith moving up to VP Content, all within the past year. About 9fin 9fin is the faster, smarter way to find intelligence on leveraged credit. Our AI-powered data and analytics platform centralises everything that's needed to analyse a credit or win a mandate in one place, helping subscribers win business, outperform their peers, and save time. 9fin is trusted by the largest asset managers in the world, leading law firms and advisers in debt capital markets, and nine of the top 10 investment banks. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926349407/en/ Contacts: Sanaa Siddiqui, Content Marketing Lead marketing@9fin.com European Meetings & Events Conference Returns to Turkiye for the First Time Since 2014 Dallas, Texas, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dallas, TX - 26 September, 2024: Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world's largest Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) association with a global community of 140,000 professionals and membership of 13,000, is excited to announce that its 2025 European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) will take place in Istanbul, Turkiye, from 22-25 February, 2025. The dynamic city, known for its rich history, culture and unique position bridging Europe and Asia, will once again serve as a vibrant backdrop for the global meetings and events community. The last time EMEC was held in Istanbul was in 2014, and this return marks a significant moment for both MPI and its host. Registration for EMEC Turkiye officially went live on 26 September, 2024, at mpi.org/emec. In addition to serving as the largest global MICE association, MPI also boasts the industry's largest EMEA presence with 1,000 members and 10 Chapters and Clubs. Now in its 37th year, EMEC brings together 300-400 global MICE professionals within a format that has received multiple awards, including recognition by BEA and a Gouden Giraffe. Paul Van Deventer, President and CEO of MPI, emphasized the importance of this return to Istanbul, commenting that "EMEC has long been a cornerstone for the global events community, fostering professional development through innovation, learning and connections. Returning to Istanbul after more than a decade is not only a testament to the city's enduring appeal but also a clear indicator of the excitement and popularity surrounding this iconic destination. Istanbul offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity that resonates with our international audience, and we are thrilled to bring EMEC back to this vibrant city." EMEC is designed with three primary tenets at its core: to serve as an idea incubator for the global MICE community, designed by Europeans for Europeans and to carry a strong reflection of the host destination - its culture, history and heritage. Ismail Butun, General Manager of the Turkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) echoed Van Deventer's sentiments, underscoring the impact EMEC will have on their global MICE presence. "Hosting EMEC 2025 is a monumental opportunity for Turkiye to showcase its position on the global MICE stage. Istanbul has a proven track record of hosting large-scale international events, and EMEC's return highlights our commitment to growing and evolving as a premier destination for meetings and events professionals." As MPI continues to expand the reach of EMEC, the organization is also pleased to announce that it will soon be releasing a request for proposals (RFP) for the 2026 and 2027 host destinations. With the bar set high for EMEC Turkiye in 2025, MPI invites destinations from around EMEA to apply and showcase their ability to host this prestigious conference. For more information, visit www.mpi.org/emec. About MPI Meeting Professionals International Attachment SHANGHAI, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global energy storage pioneer, SolaX, has taken a bold step forward in information security by securing the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification from TUV Rheinland. This prestigious certification, a gold standard in the industry, reinforces SolaX's commitment to ensuring the highest levels of data protection and safety, setting a new benchmark in the energy sector. This certification is internationally recognized as the leading standard for information security management. SolaX's achievement demonstrates its dedication to protecting key processes such as the design and sales of its products, including inverters, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle chargers. This certification places SolaX among a select group of companies that take a comprehensive approach to data security, ensuring the protection of sensitive information and the reliability of its advanced technologies. Gao Zhiyong, Domestic Marketing Director at SolaX, expressed pride in this milestone: "Receiving ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification from TUV Rheinland is a significant accomplishment for SolaX. In today's interconnected world, safeguarding customer data is not just a responsibility-it is essential to building long-term trust. Our mission is to deliver the best energy solutions with the highest standards of security and transparency." This certification follows SolaX's earlier success as the first in the industry to secure the coveted AICPA SOC certification for its SolaXCloud platform. These dual recognitions underscore the company's leadership in information security, particularly in cloud computing and data management. By consistently prioritizing data protection, SolaX sets itself apart, not only advancing its own technology but also elevating the standards across the entire energy sector. As cybersecurity threats become more pervasive, SolaX's proactive stance on robust security protocols is both timely and essential. As energy systems become increasingly interconnected, data protection is crucial to ensuring a secure and sustainable future. SolaX is at the forefront of this evolution, balancing technological innovation with strong security measures. SolaX's achievements go beyond compliance-they reflect a new standard for the industry. By seamlessly integrating advanced technology with unyielding information security, SolaX is not just keeping pace with the future; it is defining it. In a world where data protection is as important as energy production, SolaX stands as a trusted leader, pushing the energy sector towards a more secure, reliable, and sustainable future. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2310000/_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/solax-secures-tuv-rheinland-isoiec-270012022-certification-leading-the-way-in-information-security-302259737.html BEIJING, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 25, the 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum took place in Kazan, Russia. The event was a gathering of officials, media representatives, experts, and opinion leaders from China and Russia, alongside global young participants from BRICS countries. The forum centered around the theme of "New Opportunities for a Shared Future", with a focus on exploring how young individuals can actively participate in and benefit from the cooperation within the BRICS framework. It highlighted the significance of youth collaboration in enhancing mutual understanding and promoting cultural exchanges among countries. China Daily and the Chinese Embassy in Russia co-hosted the event, which was organized by 21st Century Media and Education in partnership with Kazan Federal University. The Interregional Association for International Cooperation and the Confucius Institute at Kazan Federal University provided additional support for the forum. At the event, 21st Century Media and Education signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Tatar-inform and Kazan Federal University. Furthermore, young representatives endorsed the "BRICS Youth Cooperation and Development Initiative", which advocates for open-mindedness and collaboration, encouraging youth from BRICS nations to seize opportunities, tackle challenges, and foster a culture of continuous innovation. The event organizers stressed that the BRICS youth play important roles as both beneficiaries and contributors. The forum intends to amplify young voices, showcase their endeavors, and encourage collaboration among them. Additionally, the forum strives to cultivate relationships, inspire fresh perspectives, and instill a sense of responsibility among the younger generation. The participants of the forum perceived the event as a global platform for dialogue among young people from BRICS countries, aimed at fostering enhanced mutual understanding. They believed that youth, recognized as the driving force behind future progress, can broaden their international perspectives, and enhance their competitiveness through shared learning experiences. A standout feature of the event was the direct conversations among young representatives from BRICS nations. Potapov Gleb Sergeevich, the Russian founding curator of the S?OLAR hub in St. Petersburg; Shamim Zakaria, an Indian journalist and commentator based in Beijing; and Vitor Moura, a Brazilian marketing director for the Brazil-China Business Association, shared their thoughts on the opportunities and potential collaborations within the BRICS framework. They encouraged young people to strengthen cultural exchanges, mutual understanding, and collaborative efforts toward a shared future for humanity. Kleimenova Aleksandra, the first runners-up of China Daily Belt and Road Youth English Speaking Competition St. Petersburg Qualifying Competition from Russia, hosted a roundtable discussion where four young representatives from BRICS nations shared their experiences and insights on the opportunities arising from BRICS cooperation in their education, lives, and careers. Emphasizing the dawn of a new era of "Big BRICS" that emerged after BRICS expanded earlier in the year, these representatives highlighted the extended platform now available for youth engagement in areas such as sustainable development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange. The participants of roundtable discussion session consisted of Shannah Rose Erasmus, a South African promoter of traditional Chinese medicine, Li Yunqing, second-prize winner in the All-China Russian Language Competition Finals from China; Valieva Alina Ramilevna, a Russian enthusiast of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; and Delkhasteh Abalfazl, an Iranian Social Media Influencer. The event will receive extensive coverage on China Daily's media platform, local Russian media, international media outlets, and global social media channels. China Daily's programme Youth Power will also launch a special program in collaboration with local media to engage a global youth audience, fostering cross-cultural exchange among individuals from diverse backgrounds. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2024-brics-young-leaders-forum-held-in-russia-302259750.html ZHONGMU, China, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Sept. 20, the "Show My China" Annual show (2024 Zhengzhou) was held in Zhongmu County, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. The event attracted over 300 participants from across the country, including esteemed scholars, media professionals, and internet celebrities. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. During the showcase, outstanding influencers were awarded the title of "Show My China Column Walking Experience Officer". A team of internet celebrities delved into Zhongmu for a series of cultural and creative shoots, capturing and highlighting the unique allure of a city nestled along the banks of the Yellow River. Currently, the filming has concluded, and the works are being gradually disseminated. Nestled in the heart of the Central Plains and along the historic Yellow River, Zhongmu boasts a rich history spanning over 2,700 years since its founding in the Spring and Autumn period. It is renowned as the site of the Battle of Guandu, a pivotal and strategically significant conflict during the Three Kingdoms era. In recent years, Zhongmu County has tapped into its distinctive cultural resources and capitalized on opportunities in the cultural and tourism industry, and successfully created the city brand of "ZHONGMUCHINA THE WONDERLAND". By cultivating the cultural, tourism, and creative industries, Zhongmu has built 8 major theme parks, including Unique Henan - Land of Drama, Zhengzhou Fantawild Tourism Resort, Zhengzhou Haichang Ocean Park, Jianye Movie Town, and The China (Zhengzhou) Greening Expo Park, earning its reputation as "China's Premier County for Theme Parks." Source: "Show My China" Annual Show Cranbrook, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - DLP Resources Inc. (TSXV: DLP) (OTCQB: DLPRF) ("DLP" or the "Company") announces receipt of complete drill results for drillholes A24-017 and A24-018 on the Aurora porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver project in southern Peru. (Figure 1). Results for the first sixteen drillholes, were last released between January 04 and August 15, 2024 (see DLP Resources Inc., news release of January 04, 2024, June 25, 2024 and August 15, 2024 for results for the previous sixteen drillholes). Highlights Drillhole A24-017 was drilled off a drill platform approximately 169m northeast of A22-003 with the aim of expanding the copper mineralization further to the east. This drillhole intersected copper mineralization from surface extending to 125m in mineralized hornfels. Results were as follows: 0.63% Cu over 125m from 0.00m to 125.00m. from 0.00m to 125.00m. 0.81% Cu over 94.00m from 31m to 125.00m. Drillhole A24-018 was drilled off the same platform as the vertical hole A23-013 but drilled at -70 degrees to the south. The purpose of this hole was to expand the copper-molybdenum-silver mineralization towards the southwest side where the limits of mineralization are still uncertain. Results for this hole were as follows: 0.36% CuEq* (0.23% Cu, 0.02% Mo, 2.09g/t Ag) over 954m from 164.00m to 1118.00m. The complete set of results for A24-017 and A24-018 are summarized in Table 1 below. Mr. Gendall, President and CEO commented: "A24-017 confirmed shallow copper mineralization in the northeast with A24-018 expanding the footprint of copper-molybdenum and silver mineralization in the southwest side of Aurora. We continue to have success with the expansion drilling at Aurora and we look forward to results from further planned drilling in the southeast". Aurora Cu-Mo Project - Summary of Drill Results for A24-017 and A24-018 Drill hole A24-017 (Figures 2 and 3) commenced on June 24th at an inclination of -70 degrees on an azimuth of 085 degrees. and ended on August 15 at 987.25m. Summary geology is as follows: 0 - 125.00m: Mineralized hornfels with copper enrichment. 125.00m - 987.25m: Weakly mineralized hornfels. commenced on June 24th at an inclination of -70 degrees on an azimuth of 085 degrees. and ended on August 15 at 987.25m. Summary geology is as follows: Drill hole A24-018 (Figures 2 and 3) commenced on July 23 rd at an inclination of -70 degrees on an azimuth of 185 degrees. and ended on August 29 at 1118.00m. Summary geology is as follows: 0 - 113.50m: Mineralized hornfels with chalcopyrite, chalcocite and covellite within the enrichment zone. 113.50m - 429.80m: Mineralized quartz-eye-feldspar porphyry. 429.80m - 491.30m Mineralized quartz-eye-feldspar-biotite porphyry with intercalated mineralized hornfels 491.30m - 1118.00m: Mineralized hornfels with occasional mineralized porphyry dykes of between 2m and 8m in width. commenced on July 23 at an inclination of -70 degrees on an azimuth of 185 degrees. and ended on August 29 at 1118.00m. Summary geology is as follows: Table 1. Summary of Drill Results for Diamond Drillhole A24-017 and A24-018. All grades are length-weighted averages of samples within the interval reported. Hole From To Interval1 Description Cu (total) Mo Ag Cueq* ID m m m % % g/t % A24-017 0.00 125.00 125.00 Mineralized hornfels 0.63 0.0001 0.67 0.64 Includes 31.00 125.00 94.00 Mineralized hornfels - copper enrichment 0.81 0.0002 1.03 0.82 A24-018 0.00 164.00 164.00 Leached zone - hornfels + porphyry 0.07 0.0058 2.25 0.12 164.00 1118.00 954.00 Mineralized hornfels + mineralized porphyry 0.23 0.0214 2.09 0.36 Note: *Copper equivalent grades (CuEq) are for comparative purposes only. Mo and Cu are uncut and Ag values are cut to 100g/t, and core recovery is assumed to be 100% for the entire drilled lengths of A24-017 and A24-018 except for the following intervals; A24-017 from 0 to 8m, 25 to 31m, 42 to 46m and 63 to 67m with only 39 to 53% recoveries due to fractured rock and A24-018 from 0 to 12m and 19 to 23m with only 40 to 50% recoveries due to fractured rock. The project is at an early stage of exploration and recoveries of Cu 95.8%, Mo 86.4%, and Ag 89.3%, as determined from the recent metallurgical study, are assigned to the CuEq calculations. Conversion of metals to an equivalent copper grade based on these metal prices is relative to the copper price per unit mass factored by conceptual recoveries for those metals normalized to the conceptualized copper recovery. The metal equivalencies for each metal are added to the copper grade. The formula for this is: CuEq % = Cu% + (Mo% * (Mo recovery / Cu recovery) * (Mo $ per lb / Cu $ per lb) + (Ag g/t * (Ag recovery / Cu recovery) * (Ag $ per oz/ 31.1034768) / (Cu $ per lb* 22.04623)). *Copper equivalent calculations use metal prices of Cu - US$3.34/lb, Mo - US$18/lb and Ag - US$21.87/oz. 1 Intervals are downhole drilled core lengths. Drilling data to date is insufficient to determine true width of mineralization. Mo and Cu are uncut and Ag values are cut to 100g/t. Table 2: A24-017 and A24-018 Diamond drillhole locations, depth, orientation and inclination. Hole Easting Northing Elevation Length Azimuth Inclination ID m m m m Degrees Degrees A24-017 190,196 8,566,399 2837 987.25 85 -70 A24-018 189,904 8,565,904 3022 1118.00 185 -70 Co-ordinates are in WGS84 Zone 19S. Quality Control and Quality Assurance DLP Resources Peru S.A.C, a subsidiary of DLP Resources Inc., supervises drilling and carries out sampling of HTW, NTW and BTW core. Logging and sampling are completed at a secured Company facility situated on the project site. Sample intervals are nominally 1m to 3m in length. Drill core is cut in half using a rotary diamond blade saw and samples are sealed on site before transportation to the ALS Peru S.A.C. sample preparation facility in Arequipa by Company vehicles and staff. Prepared samples are sent to Lima by ALS Peru S.A.C. for analysis. ALS Peru S.A.C. is an independent laboratory. Samples are analyzed for 48 elements using a four-acid digestion and ICP-MS analysis (ME-MS61). In addition, sequential copper analyses are done where secondary copper mineralization is observed and reports, soluble copper using sulphuric acid leach, soluble copper in cyanide leach, residual copper and total copper. ALS meets all requirements of International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and ISO 9001:2015 for analytical procedures. DLP Resources independently monitors quality control and quality assurance ("QA/QC") through a program that includes the insertion of blind certified reference materials (standards), blanks and pulp duplicate samples. The company is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data except for intervals in A24-017 from 0 to 8m, 25 to 31m, 42 to 46m and 63 to 67m with only 39 to 53% recoveries due to fractured rock and A24-018 from 0 to 12m and 19 to 23m with only 40 to 50% recoveries due to fractured rock. Aurora Project Aurora Project is an advanced stage porphyry copper-molybdenum exploration project in the Province of Calca, SE Peru (Figure 1). The Aurora Project was previously permitted for drilling in 2015 but was never executed. Thirteen historical drillholes, drilled in 2001 and 2005 totaling 3,900m were drilled over an area of approximately 1000m by 800m, cut significant intervals of copper and molybdenum mineralization. From logging of the only three remaining holes DDA-01, DDA-3A and DDA-3 and data now available, it appears that only three of the thirteen holes tested the enriched copper zone and only one hole drilled deep enough to test the primary copper and molybdenum zone (see DLP Resources Inc. news release of May 18, 2021). Salient historic drillhole data of the Aurora Project are: 190m @ 0.57% Cu, 0.008% Mo in DDA-1 with a high-grade intercept of 20m @ 1.01% Cu related to a supergene enrichment zone of secondary chalcocite; 142m @ 0.5% Cu, 0.004% Mo in DDA-3; 71.7m @ 0.7% Cu, 0.007% Mo in DDA-3A (see historical Focus Ventures Ltd. news release July 11, 2012); and One of the historical holes ABC-6 drilled on the edge of the system intersected 78m @ 0.45% Cu and 0.107% Mo (Figure 2). A review of the historical drilling indicates that the majority of the thirteen holes were drilled in the leached and partially leached zones of the porphyry system. Ten of the thirteen holes never fully tested the oxide and secondary enrichment zone and/or the primary copper zone at depth encountered in DDA-01. Copper-molybdenum mineralization is hosted by quartz-feldspar porphyries intruded into slates-hornfels and pelitic sandstones belonging to the Ordovician (439 - 463 ma) Sandia Formation. NZOU Project - Sullivan Zn-Pb-Ag Target - SE British Columbia (Figure 4) A one-hole drill program which commenced in 2023 on the NZOU Project was re-started on June 18, 2024, at a depth of 1330m (see news releases of June 13, 2023 and June 21, 2024). This drillhole NZ23-01, was collared in Middle Aldridge siltstones and ended at a depth of 1759m on July 21st. From 1454m to end of hole at 1759m, Sullivan horizon siltstones and fragmentals with strong sericitization, biotite, albite and chlorite alteration were logged in meta siltstones. Pyrrhotite was disseminated throughout with trace to minor sphalerite, galena and arsenopyrite. No significant zones of zinc mineralization were observed. No further drilling on NZOU is planned. Figure 1: DLP Project areas in Peru with Aurora Project Shown. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/224668_945a0d89548048e6_001full.jpg Figure 2: Aurora Project - Plan view showing historic drilling and drilling by DLP in 2022-2023-2024 with A24-017 and A24-018 highlighted in red. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/224668_945a0d89548048e6_002full.jpg Figure 3: Aurora Project - Simplified NW-SE section 1-1' showing DLP and historic drillholes. Mo is on the left and the Cu is within the drillhole column. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/224668_945a0d89548048e6_003full.jpg Figure 4: Titan MT resistivity plan at 0m elevation with the main MT anomaly trending NE from DD21-02 onto the Moby Dick and NZOU properties. NZ23-01 shown with red dot. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/224668_945a0d89548048e6_004full.jpg Qualified Person David L. Pighin, consulting geologist and co-founder of DLP Resources, is the qualified person of the Company as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Pighin has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release. About DLP Resources Inc. DLP Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company operating in Southeastern British Columbia and Peru, exploring for Base Metals and Cobalt. DLP is listed on the TSX-V, trading symbol DLP and on the OTCQB, trading symbol DLPRF. Please refer to our web site www.dlpresourcesinc.com for additional information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 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 Note 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 without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to drilling on the Aurora Project in Peru. These 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 drill results expected from the Aurora Project in Peru. 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 out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224668 SOURCE: DLP Resources Inc. Escher strengthens senior leadership team as it looks to the next stage of growth BOSTON, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Escher, a leading global post and courier software and software services provider, is delighted to announce the appointment of Nick Stone as Chief Financial Officer. Nick is a highly experienced CFO with a strong track record, built over 20 years across a range of international businesses. Previously, Nick was CFO at Braemar plc, a global shipbroking operation, between 2019 and 2023, before which he held multiple financial and operational board positions in a mixture of public and private businesses. Alongside capital markets experience, Nick brings broad operational leadership skills, including executing corporate activity and delivering strategic changes, together with expertise running international finance operations. Nick Stone, incoming CFO, commented, "Escher has built an enviable position at the forefront of the global post industry. Its extensive customer base, growing level of recurring revenues and well-invested technology offerings all point to an exciting expansion opportunity. I look forward to joining Brody and the team, working together to drive the business forward." Brody Buhler, CEO of Escher, commented, "We are delighted to welcome a finance executive of Nick's calibre to the Escher team. His experience in supporting the growth of innovative global businesses will be invaluable to us as we continue our expansion strategy. I would also like to thank John DiBari for his support of the last two years. Together we have built a business with a strong financial foundation, and we wish him all the very best in his next endeavours." About Escher Escher provides software solutions to the world's leading Post & Courier operators to manage their mission-critical workflows across retail, delivery and distribution, helping connect nearly 1 billion consumers with global eCommerce networks. Escher's software powers Post office operations for approximately half of global GDP ex China, processes millions of parcels through sortation every year, and helps the smooth running of last mile delivery for dozens of Post and courier organisations across the globe. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515566/Escher_Nick_Stone.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/escher-appoints-nick-stone-as-chief-financial-officer-302258763.html WUXI, China, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 China International Intelligent Communication Forum (CIICF) was held in Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province on September 26. The forum was jointly hosted by China Media Group(CMG) and Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, and co-organized by agencies including CMG's Jiangsu office, cctv.com and Wuxi Municipal People's Government. Shen Haixiong, President of the CMG, and Xu Kunlin, Governor of Jiangsu, addressed the forum on behalf of the hosts. Distinguished guests from both domestic and international domains attended the event, including Martin Mpana, Ambassador of Cameroon to China and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps; Ahmed Mustafa Fahmy, Head of the League of Arab States' Representative Office in China; Tan Jianrong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a professor of Zhejiang University; Piero Scaruffi, President of the Silicon Valley Artificial Intelligence Research Institute; and Kang Zhen, Vice President of Beijing Normal University. Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin delivered a speech via video. The CMG documentary "Wuxi: A City for Music Lovers and the Capital of Traditional Chinese Music" was launched during the opening ceremony. The event featured activities focused on four dimensions: promoting international exchanges through intelligent technology, enhancing communication effectiveness, empowering a better life, and leading youth insights. Through thematic speeches and special performances, it showcased innovative practices from various fields. The Report on China Urban International Intelligent Communication Capability 2024 was released on the sidelines of the event. In the "World Youth Dialogue" roundtable, five young representatives from home and abroad, including Li Wenwen, gold medalist in the women's +81kg weightlifting competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, engaged in in-depth discussions, sharing stories of mutual learning through their vivid perspectives and creative audiovisual languages. During the 2024 CIICF, themed communication activities were held, including the Wuxi Forum on Urban Image International Communication, the Inaugural Forum on AI Digital Humans, and the Digital Cultural Tourism Forum. Besides, accompanying activities such as the 2024 "Encounter with Wuxi" Urban Cultural Exchange Festival, the "Wuxi Goes Global" live broadcasting event and the Visiting Wuxi Tour also took place in Wuxi. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515361/Image1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-2024-ciicf-kicks-off-in-chinas-wuxi-302259519.html DUSSELDORF, Germany, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital technologies are helping humans to live in better harmony with Nature, from tackling the impact of climate change to delivering high-speed broadband to remote communities, the latest episode of Discovery's "Being Digi-Sapiens" shows. Episode Three, "Connecting with Nature," follows the Swedish inventor, roboticist, and YouTuber Simone Giertz as she travels across Europe. Finland: high-quality broadband in a land of forests and lakes Providing high-quality Internet access to sparsely populated areas can be a huge challenge. Optical fiber, the gold standard in fast home networks, tends to be too expensive to deploy in more remote locations. This unequal broadband access separating large cities and rural areas creates a form of "digital divide" and a policy headache. When she travels to rural Finland, Simone discovers that Huawei is upgrading 4G equipment to 5G. Unlike 2G, 3G, or 4G, 5G works in multiple frequencies, including the sub-gigahertz range. One of the 5G frequencies used in Finland, 700Mhz, enables antenna towers to provide a signal over vast areas. Rural homes equipped with a CPE (customer premise equipment, also called 5G routers) convert the 5G signal to get quality Wi-Fi strong enough to simultaneously support cloud gaming, video calling, and the other applications used by typical families. With 5G, Finland is out of the woods when it comes to rural broadband. With one of the best 5G coverage rates in Europe, Finland is a poster boy for the benefits of digitalization. Recent achievements include operator DNA's successful 10 Gbit mobile network speed test, local operator Lounea's commercial launch of 50G PON, as well as operator Elisa's virtual battery solution, where base station backup batteries are used to balance the electric grid. Athens, Greece: Technologies that warn of extreme weather and protect forests Extreme weather events are becoming more common. In Greece, more frequent heat waves are increasing the threat that forest fires burn out of control. But when the Digi-Sapiens host travels to Athens, she learns about two technologies that help mitigate the harmful effects of weather extremes. Earlier prediction of potentially dangerous weather events gives people time to get ready before disaster strikes. A Huawei AI called Pangu Weather has proven adept at predicting extreme weather events. "We made a hybrid system that integrates the advantages of AI and conventional methods," Dr. Lingxi Xie, a Huawei senior researcher who worked on the development of Pangu Weather, tells Simone. "Pangu's AI algorithms will better predict extreme weather events," Xie adds. Although being warned of a heat wave is helpful, it's not by itself enough to protect Greek forests from catching on fire. At Syggrou Estate, a forested public space near Athens, Huawei has worked with partners to deploy an AI solution to detect fires at a very early stage, before they start burning out of control. Over 500 sensors monitor the estate day and night for smoke, air particles, dryness, or abnormal temperatures. Giertz gets the chance at Syggrou to test out an upgraded version of this fire detection system. Developed with partners National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the start-up PROBOTEK under the TECH4ALL project, it not only detects fires but also provides fire spread analysis, evacuation planning, and route planning for first responders. It can also estimate how many people in the area will be affected by the fire, and send personalized notifications via an app to residents' phones, suggesting evacuation routes based on the municipality's civil protection plans. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516326/Huawei_Technologies.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/taming-nature-and-connecting-remote-communities-new-discovery-series-highlights-innovative-tech-solutions-302259783.html Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Proactive Zone, a leading business and tax consultancy firm, today announced the launch of its comprehensive UK-to-Dubai business relocation service. This offering aims to assist UK entrepreneurs and non-domiciled individuals in seamlessly transitioning their businesses to Dubai, capitalizing on the emirate's favorable tax environment and pro-business climate. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10373/224680_47eb136da47be8ea_001full.jpg The service comes in response to the growing trend of UK business owners seeking to relocate their operations amid changing tax laws in the United Kingdom and the attractive benefits offered by Dubai's business ecosystem. Proactive Zone's end-to-end solution addresses the complexities involved in international business relocation, including tax planning, company formation, and residency applications. "Our new service is designed to simplify the daunting process of international business relocation," said Falak Yussouf, CEO of Proactive Zone. "We've identified a significant demand among UK entrepreneurs for expert guidance in navigating Dubai's business landscape while optimizing their tax positions." Key features of Proactive Zone's UK-to-Dubai relocation service include: Personalized tax consultancy to maximize benefits of Dubai's zero-income tax regime Assistance in selecting and setting up the most suitable business structure in Dubai's free zones or mainland Guidance on residency and visa applications for business owners and their families Support in opening local bank accounts and managing financial transitions Cultural orientation to ease adaptation to Dubai's business environment The launch of this service comes at a time when Dubai is increasingly seen as an attractive destination for international businesses. The emirate boasts a strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and a tax-friendly environment, featuring zero personal income tax and potential corporate tax benefits for businesses operating within free zones. "Dubai presents a compelling opportunity for UK entrepreneurs looking to optimize their tax planning and expand their global reach,"Yussouf added. "Our role is to ensure a smooth transition, allowing business owners to focus on growth rather than getting bogged down in regulatory complexities." Proactive Zone's approach differs from traditional consultancy firms by offering a highly personalized, end-to-end service. The company leverages its deep expertise in both UK and Dubai tax laws, as well as its extensive network of local contacts, to provide clients with tailored solutions that address their specific needs and objectives. The firm's commitment to client success extends beyond the initial relocation. Proactive Zone offers ongoing support to ensure businesses continue to thrive in their new environment, including assistance with regulatory compliance, annual license renewals, and long-term tax planning. To safeguard client information during the relocation process, Proactive Zone employs robust data security measures. These include encryption protocols for all digital communications, secure document-sharing portals with multi-factor authentication, and strict internal access controls. "Confidentiality and data security are paramount in our operations,"Yussouf emphasized. "We adhere to the highest standards of data protection to ensure our clients' sensitive information remains secure throughout the relocation process and beyond." As part of its service offering, Proactive Zone also provides guidance on navigating the cultural and business etiquette differences between the UK and Dubai. This includes cultural orientation sessions and advice on building relationships in the local business community, ensuring clients are well-prepared for success in their new environment. The launch of this comprehensive relocation service positions Proactive Zone as a key player in facilitating business transitions between the UK and Dubai. As more UK entrepreneurs seek to capitalize on Dubai's business-friendly environment, Proactive Zone stands ready to guide them through every step of the journey. For more information about Proactive Zone's UK-to-Dubai business relocation service, visit proactivezone.ae or contact Sebastian Rayer. About Proactive Zone Proactive Zone is a leading business and tax consultancy firm specializing in international business relocations. With a focus on UK-to-Dubai transitions, the company offers comprehensive services including tax planning, business setup, and ongoing advisory support. Proactive Zone's team of experts combines local knowledge with international expertise to provide tailored solutions for entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to establish and grow their presence in Dubai. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224680 SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on Publication of the IFRS version of Interim Report 2024 on Hong Kong Stock Exchange 26.09.2024 / 12:16 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Announcement on Publication of the IFRS version of Interim Report 2024 on Hong Kong Stock Exchange Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hongkong, 26 September 2024 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published the IFRS version of the Interim Report 2024 on Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The report is available at: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0926/2024092601203.pdf IR Contact: Haier Smart Home Hong Kong T: +852 2169 0000 Email: ir@haier.hk Press Contact: CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH Sara Pinto pi@crossalliance.de T: +49 89 1250903 35 About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud in the Chinese market, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. 26.09.2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE American.: NNVC ) (the "Company"), a clinical stage global leader in broad-spectrum antiviral nanomedicines, reports today that it has now obtained a right of first refusal (ROFR) for all antiviral drug developments from the R&D firm TheraCour Pharma, Inc. ("TheraCour"). NanoViricides has signed a broad Memorandum of Understanding Agreement (MoU) with TheraCour encompassing all antiviral drugs developments on September 23, 2024, an important step that provides the Company certain intellectual property rights for developing treatments against any viral infections. NV-387, the Company's lead drug, is proving to be a revolutionary drug that has demonstrated strong effectiveness, surpassing existing drugs, against a number of distinctly different types of viruses in animal studies. With this MoU in place, the increasing number of antiviral indications of a broad-spectrum drug such as NV-387 can be quickly and easily discovered and added by the Company to its portfolio of drugs in its development pipeline. In addition to NV-387, certain "Trojan Horse" drugs that can completely cure most viral infections by attacking the virus lifecycle in multiple ways have been developed by the Company. This MoU expands NanoViricides Inc's abilities to opportunistically and rapidly develop such drugs to treat viral infections of public health importance, even for those viruses that don't exist today and cannot be predicted. The new MoU provides NanoViricides with the ability to rapidly progress in such new endeavors and provides the important intellectual property rights to further develop multiple drug candidates towards a multitude of antiviral applications, many of which may have been previously considered to be intractable. The MoU also codifies the process by which the two parties negotiate licenses to specific antiviral fields. As in the past, a license would not be restricted to a single drug, but rather would encompass all drugs that can be conceivably applicable with the R&D performed against the licensed field of antiviral application. The revolutionary nanoviricide technology resulting in host-mimetic, direct-acting antiviral drugs is opening up a new era of treating viral infections just as penicillin opened up a new era and revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections, enabling "one drug - many bugs" model instead of the current "one bug - one drug" model. NV-387, an example of the capabilities of nanoviricide technology, was developed in 2020 in response to the COVID pandemic and has completed a Phase I human clinical trial successfully. The Company is now planning for NV-387 to enter into Phase II clinical trials for evaluation of its efficacy against several viral diseases that include RSV, Influenza, Bird Flu, COVID, as well as MPOX/Smallpox infections. What is a "nanoviricide"? A "nanoviricide" is a uniform polymer that self-assembles into nanoscale droplets called "micelles", that carries on its surface mimics of the cell-side receptor of the virus, and that hides in its belly lipid tentacles. It can also hold other guest APIs in its belly if needed. The nanoviricide thus "looks like" a cell to the virus, and the virus is fooled into binding it. Once the virus binds, we believe, the flexible and shape-shifting nanoviricide micelle would spread over the virus particle by virtue of merging the lipid tentacles that are hidden in its belly into the virus surface, in a well known process called "lipid-lipid mixing." We believe this would destabilize the virus particle, uproot the viral glycoproteins required for binding to and entering the host cell, and thus render the virus particle incapable of infecting a cell. What are "Trojan Horse" nanoviricide drugs? A nanoviricide can hide in its "belly" (i.e. encapsulates) one or more drugs that can attack the virus in other ways. The nanoviricide holding the drugs is expected to attack the virus particle itself and thus block the virus from infecting cells. We call this "Re-Infection Inhibition". The encapsulated drug can be protected from host's metabolism and delivered into infected cells to block the virus from replicating inside the cell. If both of these parts of the virus lifecycle are blocked, the viral infection would be cured, except in the case of viruses that create latency. A different encapsulated drug can also be delivered to attack the virus in its latent or dormant phase, although this has been a topic of scientific research rather than drug development as of now. Thus the "Trojan Horse" capability of a naoviricide enables developing drug that can cure most virus infections, and can be developed in the future to cure even viruses that cause latency such as herpesviruses and HIV/AIDS that are non-curable at present. TheraCour is founded by and substantially owned by Dr. Anil R. Diwan, who is also the Company's co-founder. Dr. Diwan recused himself from the MoU discussions that were led by the Company's Board of Directors in conjunction with legal advice from the Company's counsel. About NanoViricides NanoViricides, Inc. (the "Company") ( www.nanoviricides.com ) is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide class of drug candidates and the nanoviricide technology are based on intellectual property, technology and proprietary know-how of TheraCour Pharma, Inc. The Company has a Memorandum of Understanding with TheraCour for the development of drugs based on these technologies for all antiviral infections. The MoU does not include cancer and similar diseases that may have viral origin but require different kinds of treatments. The Company has obtained broad, exclusive, sub-licensable, field licenses to drugs developed in several licensed fields from TheraCour Pharma, Inc. The Company's business model is based on licensing technology from TheraCour Pharma Inc. for specific application verticals of specific viruses, as established at its foundation in 2005. Our lead drug candidate is NV-387, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug that we plan to develop as a treatment of RSV, COVID, Long COVID, Influenza, and other respiratory viral infections, as well as MPOX/Smallpox infections. Our other advanced drug candidate is NV-HHV-1 for the treatment of Shingles. The Company cannot project an exact date for filing an IND for any of its drugs because of dependence on a number of external collaborators and consultants. The Company is currently focused on advancing NV-387 into Phase II human clinical trials. NV-CoV-2 (API NV-387) is our nanoviricide drug candidate for COVID-19 that does not encapsulate remdesivir. NV-CoV-2-R is our other drug candidate for COVID-19 that is made up of NV-387 with remdesivir encapsulated within its polymeric micelles. The Company believes that since remdesivir is already US FDA approved, our drug candidate encapsulating remdesivir is likely to be an approvable drug, if safety is comparable. Remdesivir is developed by Gilead. The Company has developed both of its own drug candidates NV-CoV-2 and NV-CoV-2-R independently. The Company is also developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others. NanoViricides' platform technology and programs are based on the TheraCour nanomedicine technology of TheraCour, which TheraCour licenses from AllExcel. NanoViricides holds a worldwide exclusive perpetual license to this technology for several drugs with specific targeting mechanisms in perpetuity for the treatment of the following human viral diseases: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Rabies, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2), Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV), Influenza and Asian Bird Flu Virus, Dengue viruses, Japanese Encephalitis virus, West Nile Virus, Ebola/Marburg viruses, and certain Coronaviruses. The Company intends to obtain a license for RSV, Poxviruses, and/or Enteroviruses if the initial research is successful. As is customary, the Company must state the risk factor that the path to typical drug development of any pharmaceutical product is extremely lengthy and requires substantial capital. As with any drug development efforts by any company, there can be no assurance at this time that any of the Company's pharmaceutical candidates would show sufficient effectiveness and safety for human clinical development. Further, there can be no assurance at this time that successful results against coronavirus in our lab will lead to successful clinical trials or a successful pharmaceutical product. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. Certain statements in this release, and other written or oral statements made by NanoViricides, Inc. are "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. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors, they may include the following: demonstration and proof of principle in preclinical trials that a nanoviricide is safe and effective; successful development of our product candidates; our ability to seek and obtain regulatory approvals, including with respect to the indications we are seeking; the successful commercialization of our product candidates; and market acceptance of our products. The phrases "safety", "effectiveness" and equivalent phrases as used in this press release refer to research findings including clinical trials as the customary research usage and do not indicate evaluation of safety or effectiveness by the US FDA. FDA refers to US Food and Drug Administration. IND application refers to "Investigational New Drug" application. cGMP refers to current Good Manufacturing Practices. CMC refers to "Chemistry, Manufacture, and Controls". CHMP refers to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, which is the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) committee responsible for human medicines. API stands for "Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient". WHO is the World Health Organization. R&D refers to Research and Development. Contact: NanoViricides, Inc. info@nanoviricides.com Public Relations Contact: ir@nanoviricides.com SOURCE: NanoViricides, Inc. Market advances adoption of ready-to-use containers Improved operational efficiency in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes Increased patient safety with high-quality sterile primary packaging Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE: STVN), a leading global provider of drug containment, drug delivery and diagnostic solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences industries, together with Gerresheimer AG (MDAX: GXI) and SCHOTT Pharma AG Co. KGaA (MDAX: 1SXP), announced today that they have entered into a strategic industry alliance ("Alliance for RTU") to support market adoption of Ready-to-Use (RTU) vials and cartridges. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926050295/en/ Stevanato Group, Gerresheimer SCHOTT Pharma join forces in the 'Alliance for RTU' (Photo: Business Wire) The Alliance for RTU aims to share with pharmaceutical companies, CMOs and CDMOs expertise and technical knowledge in high-quality sterile primary packaging, specifically ready-to-fill vials and cartridges, highlighting RTU configurations' advantages over conventional bulk packaging. Reduced risks and lower total cost of ownership Traditional fill&finish processes present several operational risks and require increased efficiency. By adopting an industrial ready-to-use (RTU) setup, pharmaceutical companies and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) can benefit from reduced operational risks, enhanced flexibility and efficiency, and lower waste. RTU technology can help streamline processes, increase productivity, and thus lower total cost of ownership (TCO) while reducing contamination risks and easing EU GMP Annex 1 compliance. Pharmaceutical companies, CMOs and CDMOs opting for ready-to-use containers also can benefit from higher-quality products, which helps minimize the release of glass particles and risks of breakage or rejection while preserving the drug inside throughout its entire life cycle. Open expert platform for RTU industry standard Additionally, the market is driving investment in advanced aseptic filling technologies due to increasing demand for injectable medicines and regulatory pressure to meet safety standards. In this context, the Alliance for RTU aims to create an expert platform open to other industry players to help industry manufacturers learn about the key benefits of RTU processes and products and to better evaluate investments for transitioning to efficient filling systems and meeting their unique needs from clinical applications to widespread commercial use. "RTU vials and cartridges represent a significant advancement in product quality, offering enhanced reliability and efficiency in pharmaceutical processes. This alliance allows us to highlight further how RTU solutions elevate standards across the industry, ensuring safer and more effective delivery of medications to patients worldwide," said Franco Stevanato, CEO at Stevanato Group. "The shift towards ready-to-use vials and cartridges reflects a collective industry move to advance quality and efficiency in aseptic filling processes and this alliance shows readiness by expanding capacity and thereby supporting this market trend," said Andreas Reisse, CEO at SCHOTT Pharma. "Ready-to-use solutions can reduce complexities and better meet the stringent requirements of modern pharmaceutical production." "As an industry, we are fully prepared for the transition to RTU vials and cartridges", said Lukas Burkhardt, Member of the Management Board of Gerresheimer AG. "With recent advancements, RTU processing is now a mature technology which will improve our customers operations in terms of efficiency, cost and time to market." The Alliance for RTU will be officially presented at the CPHI in Milan on October 8 during a dedicated event at the tradeshow fairground. For more information, visit www.alliance-for-rtu.com. About Stevanato Group Founded in 1949, Stevanato Group is a leading global provider of drug containment, drug delivery and diagnostic solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences industries. The Group delivers an integrated, end-to-end portfolio of products, processes and services that address customer needs across the entire drug life cycle at each of the development, clinical and commercial stages. Stevanato Group's core capabilities in scientific research and development, its commitment to technical innovation and its engineering excellence are central to its ability to offer value added solutions to clients. To learn more, visit: www.stevanatogroup.com. About Gerresheimer Gerresheimer is an innovative systems and solutions provider and a global partner to the pharma, biotech, and cosmetics industries. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of pharmaceutical containment solutions, drug delivery systems and medical devices as well as solutions for the health industry. The product range includes digital solutions for therapy support, medication pumps, syringes, pens, auto-injectors and inhalers as well as vials, ampoules, tablet containers, infusion, dropper and syrup bottles, and more. With 35 production sites in 16 countries in Europe, America and Asia, Gerresheimer has a global presence and produces locally for regional markets. With around 12,000 employees, the company generated revenues of around 2bn in 2023. Gerresheimer AG is listed in the MDAX on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000A0LD6E6). www.gerresheimer.com About SCHOTT Pharma Human health matters. That is why SCHOTT Pharma designs solutions grounded in science to ensure that medications are safe and easy to use for people around the world. The portfolio comprises drug containment solutions and delivery systems for injectable drugs ranging from prefillable glass and polymer syringes to cartridges, vials, and ampoules. Every day, a team of over 4,600 people from over 60 nations works at SCHOTT Pharma to contribute to global healthcare. The company is represented in all main pharmaceutical hubs with 16 manufacturing sites in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. With over 1,000 patents and technologies developed in-house and a state-of-the-art R&D center in Switzerland, the company is focused on developing innovations for the future. SCHOTT Pharma AG Co. KGaA is headquartered in Mainz, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as part of the SDAX. It is part of SCHOTT AG, which is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. In light of this spirit, SCHOTT Pharma is committed to sustainable development for society and the environment and has the strategic goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. Currently, SCHOTT Pharma has over 1,800 customers including the top 30 leading pharma manufacturers for injectable drugs and generated revenue of EUR 899 million in the fiscal year 2023. Further information at www.schott-pharma.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include forward-looking statements. The words "aims", ""increase", "lower", is driving", "increasing", "create", "move", "expanding", "advance", "can", "will", and similar expressions (or their negative) identify certain of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the investments the Company expects to receive, the expansion of manufacturing capacity, the Company's plans regarding its presence in the U.S. and other markets, business strategies, the Company's capacity to meet future market demands and support preparedness for future public health emergencies, and results of operations. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Forward-looking statements involve inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Company's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behavior of other market participants, the actions of regulators and other factors such as the Company's ability to continue to obtain financing to meet its liquidity needs, changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in which the Company operates or in economic or technological trends or conditions. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926050295/en/ Contacts: Media Stevanato Group media@stevanatogroup.com Cassie Gonzalez: stevanatoUS@teamlewis.com Investor Relations Stevanato Group Lisa Miles: lisa.miles@stevanatogroup.com Media Gerresheimer AG Jutta Lorberg Head of Corporate Communication T +49 211 6181 264 jutta.lorberg@gerresheimer.com Investor Relations Gerresheimer AG Guido Pickert Vice President Investor Relations T +49 152 900 14145 gerresheimer.ir@gerresheimer.com Media SCHOTT Pharma Joana Kornblum Tel.: +49 151/29223552 E-Mail: joana.kornblum@schott.com Investor Relations SCHOTT Pharma Jasko Terzic, CFA E-Mail: ir.pharma@schott.com BankID BankAxept AS has acquired the Danish eID broker Criipto ApS. This move strengthens the company's position in Europe and adds a new and unique product platform to its portfolio. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926400333/en/ Picture from left: yvind Westby Brekke, CEO of BankID BankAxept and Niels Flensted-Jensen, CEO of Criipto. Photo by Sverre Christian Jarild. "Our ambition is to participate in the international growth of the eID sector. Together with Criipto we aim to deliver secure and user-friendly digital identity solutions and related trust services to banks, governments, and businesses," says yvind Westby Brekke, CEO of BankID BankAxept. Norway is among the leading countries in Europe regarding eID-use, with BankID enjoying a 90 percent market penetration and over 4.5 million users. Criipto is currently an official provider of eID solutions for businesses in Norway (BankID), Denmark (MitID), Sweden (Swedish BankID), Finland (FTN Finnish Trust Network), among others. The company is headquartered in Copenhagen. "Criipto has a unique and developer-friendly integration platform, offering a range of European digital identities-including BankID. We share an ambition for European expansion and the development of products based on the latest advancements in digital identity and upcoming EU regulations. We believe we can achieve great things together," says yvind Westby Brekke. Due to a new EU regulation, all European countries will be obliged to introduce digital identity solutions in the future. "Digital identity and related services represent a large and growing market, where we aim to establish a solid foothold. The Nordic region has every opportunity to lead the way in the market for digital identity solutions we have the experience and the technology," says Niels Flensted-Jensen, CEO of Criipto. Maintaining the partner model in Norway BankID services are currently sold to Norwegian businesses through a network of resellers. With the acquisition of Criipto, BankID BankAxept will be able to offer these services directly to the Norwegian market for the first time. "Many organizations wish to purchase BankID solutions directly from us-quickly, easily, and through self-service. Now that we own an eID broker, this becomes a reality. We have long stated our intention to transition from being an infrastructure provider to also becoming a service provider. A natural step on this journey is to offer BankID directly to the market," says Brekke. However, he emphasizes that the partner model will remain: "We are very satisfied with the collaboration we have with our resellers. They are among our most important partners, and they will continue to be so. With this acquisition, we establish our own direct sales channel, which will run in parallel with our reseller partnerships," Brekke adds. Criipto will operate as a subsidiary of BankID BankAxept. About BankID BankAxept The Norwegian banks developed BankID together, and it is the banks that conduct customer verifications and issue BankID to private customers. 4.5 million Norwegians have BankID. BankID BankAxept AS operates, develops, and sells BankID to Norwegian companies through a reseller system, which includes Criipto among others. BankID BankAxept holds a leading position in ID, payments, and KYC/AML in Norway, offering services under the brands BankID, BankAxept, Kundesjekk, and St. About Criipto: Criipto is a so-called eID broker, helping companies to implement and operate digital ID solutions. Criipto was founded 11 years ago by CEO Niels Flensted-Jensen and CTO Mikkel Christensen. Criipto has 20 employees with its headquarters in Copenhagen. Key markets for Criipto today include Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926400333/en/ Contacts: BankID BankAxept: Ida Havik, +47 975 22 627 ida.havik@bidbax.no Criipto: Katrine Thielke, +45 52179791 katrine.thielke@criipto.com REDMOND (dpa-AFX) - Chatbot ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which was founded as a non-profit to build safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence or AGI for the benefit of humanity, is considering plans to restructure its core business to become a for-profit benefit business, aiming to attract more investors, reports said citing sources familiar with the matter. Co-founder and Chief executive Sam Altman will also receive equity for the first time in the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence or AI startup. In a separate development, OpenAI's longtime Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, announced her resignation, citing an intent to create her own exploration. She had worked briefly as interim CEO of the company during last year's turmoil, when OpenAI's board abruptly ousted Altman, citing a lack of confidence in him. He was reinstated five days later with huge support from employees and investors, and following the restructuring of its board. In addition, research chief Bob McGrew and research vice president Barret Zoph also announced their departure from the firm. Responding to Murati's resignation, Altman, in a post of X platform, said Mira has been instrumental to OpenAI's progress and growth for the last 6.5 years. 'Mira, Bob, and Barret made these decisions independently of each other and amicably, but the timing of Mira's decision was such that it made sense to now do this all at once, so that we can work together for a smooth handover to the next generation of leadership... I have over the past year or so spent most of my time on the non-technical parts of our organization; I am now looking forward to spending most of my time on the technical and product parts of the company,' he said. OpenAI Non-profit was founded in late 2015 for the benefit of humanity, and in 2019, its 'capped profit' structure was introduced as a subsidiary of its non-profit. OpenAI's current structure, a partnership between the original Non-profit and a new capped profit arm, was designed as a chassis for OpenAI's mission. As per the latest reports, it is projected that the new firm will become a for-profit company, and it will no longer be controlled by its non-profit board, while non-profit segment will be retained as a separate entity. An OpenAI spokesperson reportedly stated that the company remains focused on building AI that benefits everyone, and that non-profit is core to its mission and will continue to exist. Earlier this year, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, had filed a lawsuit against the startup alleging that the firm was developing AI for profitability instead of its foundational mission of utilizing it for the benefit of humankind. The AI startup is expected to be worth more than $150 billion following the planned financing round, a surge from the $14 billion valuation in 2021, while Altman does not hold equity directly in the company. His only interest is indirectly through a Y Combinator investment fund that made a small investment in OpenAI before he was full-time. Amid the skyrocketing growth, especially after the launch of its highly popular ChatGPT, OpenAI's many key executives have left the firm. OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever and former safety leader Jan Leike in May announced that they were leaving the firm. Another co-founder John Schulman last month said that he was leaving to join rival Anthropic. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX 2024 AFX News Grid Battery Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Grid") (TSXV:CELL)(OTCQB:EVKRF)(FRA:W47) is pleased to announce that a reverse circulation drilling program is well under way on the Company's claim block at Silver Peak, Clayton Valley, Esmeralda County, Nevada. This strategic land package, covering approximately 2,300 acres (930 ha), directly adjoins the western portion of lithium producer Albemarle's (NYSE:ALB) evaporation ponds and is nearby Century Lithium Corp.'s (TSXV:LCE)(OTCQB:CYDVF) proposed 5,430-acre Angel Island Lithium Mine. The Company has completed the drilling of its first hole to a depth of over 870 feet, with the remaining drill holes proposed to a maximum depth of 1500 feet. Mr. Tim Fernback, Company President and CEO comments "Our Clayton Valley Lithium Project is situated near Albemarle Corporation's (NYSE:ALB) Silver Peak Mine which is North America's only producing lithium brine mining operation. Our property is located immediately to the west of this existing Albemarle lithium production facility. Additionally, our lithium property is near Century Lithium's (TSXV:LCE)(OTCQB:CYDVF) Angel Island lithium project, which recently released a Positive Feasibility Study detailing a 40-year mine life and an after-tax NPV8 of $3.01 billion . One of the stated goals of the planned drilling program will be to test the depth of the accumulated lithium brine and claystones on our property. With this knowledge, we can propose a significant follow-on exploration program that will work towards an eventual resource calculation and NI# 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment. We remain very excited about this opportunity in Nevada for our company and shareholders." Mr. Fernback continues "The reverse circulation drilling program is expected to continue until early October and is being performed by experienced mining contractor, Envirotech Drilling LLC and supervised by Rangefront Geological ("Rangefront") and our Company Qualified Person Steven McMillin P.G." Mr. Steven McMillin P.G. comments "There is considerable surface evidence of geothermal activity in this area. Our first drill hole found encountered hydrothermally altered sediments (sinter) affiliated with hot springs from 10 to 265 feet interspersed with intervals of gray clay altered air fall tuff at both 205 feet and 250 feet. It is located nearly 1200 feet east of the nearest mapped tufa and sinter. In Clayton Valley, sinter and tufa are considered surface evidence of geothermal waters that can leach and mobilize lithium from ash layers at depth. Heterolithic gravels occur immediately beneath the sinter and extend to 410 and basalt lava occurs from 410 to 820 feet. The hole ended in Paleozoic sediments at 870 feet." Images on Location (Clayton Valley Lithium Project) Planned Drill Locations (Clayton Valley Lithium Project) The Company also announces that further to its news release dated August 16, 2024, the Company has revised its Marketing Contract with i2i Marketing Group, LLC ("i2i") and the payments will now be as follows: Upon Exchange Approval the Company will pay i2i an initial payment of $150,000 USD (the "Initial Media Budget"); On the 1st day of October, November and December, 2024, the Company will pay equal payments to i2i of $150,000 USD for an initial term of four months (the "Initial Term"); and On the 1st day of January, 2025 and February, 2025 the Company will pay equal payments to i2i of $300,000 USD for a secondary term of four months (the "Secondary Term"). All other terms of the revised agreement remain the same. About Rangefront Geological Elko Nevada-based Rangefront Geological has combined in-depth expertise with cutting-edge technology to provide mining consulting services, contract labor, field crew services,and vehicular support to the mining industry. With services available across North America, Rangefront works closely with its clients to provide high-quality mineral exploration services. Qualified Person Mr. Steven McMillin, P.G. is an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this news release. About Grid Battery Metals Inc. www.gridbatterymetals.com. Grid Battery Metals Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market. About Texas Springs Property The Company owns a 100% interest in the Texas Spring Property which consists of mineral lode claims located in Elko County, Nevada. The Property is in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada, about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Nevada. The target is a lithium clay deposit in volcanic tuff and tuffaceous sediments of the Humbolt Formation. A Phase 1 exploration program at the Texas Springs Property (Fall 2023) yielded average lithium grades of 2010 ppm, applying a 1,000 ppm cut-off, and up to 5,610 ppm Lithium. The Texas Spring property adjoins the southern border of the Nevada North Lithium Project - owned by Surge Battery Metals Inc. ("Surge") (TSXV: NILI, OTC: NILIF) and comprised of 725 mineral claims. Surge's first round of drilling identified strongly mineralized lithium bearing clays. The average lithium content within all near surface clay zones intersected in the 2022 drilling program, applying a 1000 ppm cut-off, was 3254 ppm. (Press release March 29, 2023). More recent results have shown higher grade lithium up to 8070 ppm on this property after initial drilling (Press release September 12, 2023). Our exploration results are on-trend with these results. About Clayton Valley Lithium Project The Company owns a 100% interest in 113 lithium lode and placer claims covering over 930 hectares in Clayton Valley. Clayton Valley is a down-dropped closed basin formed by the Miocene age Great Basin extension and is still active due to movement along the Walker Lane structural zone. As a result, the basin has preserved multiple layers of lithium bearing volcanic ash, resulting from multiple eruptive events over the past 6 million years including eruptions from the 700,000-year-old Long Valley Caldera system and related events. These ash layers are thought to contribute to the lithium brines extracted by Albemarle and are also likely involved in the formation of the exposed lithium rich clay deposits on the east side of Clayton Valley. Volt Canyon Lithium Property The Company owns a 100% interest in 80 placer claims covering approximately 635 hectares of alluvial sediments and clays located 122 km northeast of Tonopah, Nevada. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Fernback" Tim Fernback, President & CEO Contact Information: Email: info@gridbatterymetals.com Phone: 604- 428-5690 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements. It should be noted that results from any adjacent property(s) are not an indication of what may be found on the Company's property(s). SOURCE: Grid Battery Metals Inc. Unconformity-Hosted Uranium Consists of 3.88% eU3O8 over 13.2 metres, Including 23.22% eU3O8 over 2.0 Metres Summer Drill Program Complete with Multiple Ultra High-Grade Uranium Intersections; Assays Pending Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the summer diamond drill program at the Pike Zone on the West McArthur Joint Venture project (the "Project") in the eastern Athabasca Basin. Multiple drillholes have confirmed high-grade mineralization, highlighted by WMA094-2 which intersected 3.88% eU3O8 over 13.2 metres, including 23.22% eU3O8 over 2.0 metres and WMA094-1 which intersected 3.41% eU3O8 over 9.9 metres, including 8.08% eU3O8 over 3.7 metres on expansion drilling to the west. These new drillholes expand the high-grade footprint at Pike Zone over 100 metres at the unconformity and indicate the potential for significant additional zones of ultra high-grade uranium mineralization to the west of the Pike Zone where the trend remains open along strike. The West McArthur project, a Joint Venture with Cameco Corporation, is operated by CanAlaska that holds an 83.35% ownership in the Project (Figure 1). CanAlaska is sole-funding the 2024 West McArthur program, further increasing its majority ownership in the Project. Figure 1 - West McArthur Project Location To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/224642_1b45be42f4292b85_002full.jpg CanAlaska CEO, Cory Belyk, comments, "The intersection of ultra high-grade uranium 100 metres west of the main pod at Pike Zone is exactly what the team was hoping to achieve as part of the summer drilling program. Tier 1 Athabasca Basin uranium deposits commonly occur as high-grade 'pearls on a string' and this is what we are seeing develop at the Pike Zone. The importance of this new ultra high-grade uranium discovery to CanAlaska, our shareholders, and the Joint Venture cannot be understated. With drilling now complete and with nearly $12 million in CanAlaska's treasury, the team is now focused on developing the 2025 exploration program and budget with our partner to follow-up these incredible drilling results." Figure 2 - West McArthur Pike Zone Plan To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/224642_1b45be42f4292b85_003full.jpg New Ultra High-Grade Uranium Discovered The summer drill program on the West McArthur project is now complete. The program consisted of 15 unconformity tests split between Pike Zone expansion and extensional testing along the geophysical corridor. At the Pike Zone, 12 unconformity tests were completed, 11 of which contained uranium mineralization. The results of the summer drill program indicate a strike length of uranium mineralization along the unconformity target area of approximately 200 metres that remains open in all directions. Multiple drill fences within the unconformity target area define a high-grade core that remains open and extends over 100 metres in strike length. In addition, these results confirm that the Pike Zone remains open along strike to the west where the nearest drill hole is over 1 kilometre away. Drillhole WMA094, completed along section L0, intersected the graphitic stratigraphy approximately 15 metres below the unconformity and contained multiple intervals of unconformity and basement-hosted uranium mineralization. WMA094 was completed approximately 100 metres up-dip along the graphitic stratigraphy from the first Pike Zone basement-hosted discovery hole (WMA067). Subsequent drilling along L0 and L15W intersected unconformity-associated uranium mineralization in WMA094-1, WMA094-2, and WMA094-3. Drillhole WMA094-2, which intersected high-grade unconformity uranium mineralization consisting of 3.88% eU3O8 over 13.2 metres, including ultra high-grade uranium mineralization of 23.22% eU3O8 over 2.0 metres, indicates the significant potential for additional ultra high-grade zones or pods within and beyond the currently established Pike Zone footprint. Figure 3 - Pike Zone L0 and L15W Sections To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/224642_1b45be42f4292b85_006full.jpg The Company completed one additional drillhole on L70E, WMA082-15, which tested down-dip of the ultra high-grade uranium mineralization reported in WMA082-7 (see News Release dated July 9th, 2024). WMA082-15 returned basement-hosted uranium mineralization along the controlling structures on L70E. Table 1 - Radiometric Equivalent Uranium Grades DDH From (m) To (m) Length (m)5 Average Grade (% eU3O8)6 WMA0941,3 790.5 796.7 6.2 0.54 Including4 794.3 794.8 0.5 3.21 WMA0941,3 807.0 810.4 3.4 2.17 Including4 807.7 810.0 2.3 2.95 WMA0941,3 812.7 813.3 0.6 0.48 WMA0941,3 815.6 823.2 7.6 0.35 WMA094-11,3 790.7 800.6 9.9 3.41 Including4 792.1 795.8 3.7 8.08 Including4 796.8 797.2 0.4 3.09 WMA094-11,3 803.2 803.6 0.4 0.2 WMA094-21,3 784.7 797.9 13.2 3.88 Including4 794.4 796.4 2.0 23.22 WMA094-31,3 787.5 790.4 2.9 0.17 WMA094-31,3 791.4 796.8 5.4 0.41 WMA094-31,3 800.8 806.7 5.9 0.51 WMA094-31,3 814.8 816.4 1.6 0.83 WMA082-152,3 824.2 829.0 4.8 0.8 Including4 828.4 828.7 0.3 2.89 WMA082-152,3 835.7 836.3 0.6 0.31 WMA094, WMA094-1, WMA094-2, and WMA094-3 were all drilled at an azimuth of 313 with an inclination of -80.0, collared at 477,236 mE / 6,396,517 mN, 600 m A.S.L. (UTM NAD83 Z13N) as a pilot hole with subsequent daughter holes from WMA094. WMA082-15 was drilled at an azimuth of 295 with an inclination of -79.3, collared at 477,345 mE / 6,396,525 mN, 605 m A.S.L. (UTM NAD83 Z13N) as a daughter hole from WMA082. Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 0.1% eU3O8 with a maximum of 1.0 m of internal dilution. Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 2.0% eU3O8 with a maximum of 1.0 m of internal dilution. All reported depths and intervals are drill hole depths and intervals, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent true thicknesses, which have yet to be determined. Radiometric equivalent ("eU3O8") derived from a calibrated gamma downhole probe. In addition, during the summer drill program, three drill holes were completed several kilometres along strike to the east of the Pike Zone on the geophysical target corridor. These drill holes were focused on testing geophysical gaps and structural targets identified from previous drill programs. Within WMA091 and WMA092, a broad sandstone structure characterized by strong silicification, clay alteration, and hydrothermal dravitic breccias was intersected. Within WMA093, a graphitic, chlorite altered fault zone was intersected approximately 90 metres into the basement. The results from the drill holes along strike to the east of the Pike Zone show encouraging post-Athabasca structural re-activation along the graphitic stratigraphy. The Company is currently engaged in the budget process for the 2025 exploration program. Geochemical assay results from the summer portion of the 2024 exploration program are pending. Figure 4 - WMA094-2 Core Photograph To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/224642_1b45be42f4292b85_008full.jpg Drillhole Details: WMA094: The lower sandstone column of WMA094 is strongly bleached with limonite alteration extending over 80 metres above the unconformity. Within the lower sandstone column, multiple metre-scale fault zones were intersected and are characterized by broken to blocky core, broad hydrothermal dravitic breccias with localized re-activation, and zones of quartz dissolution. One interval of unconformity-associated uranium mineralization was intersected and is associated with strongly grey-altered sandstone (Figure 3; Table 1). The unconformity contact between the Athabasca sandstone and underlying basement rocks is interpreted to be at 793.9 metres down hole. Several intervals of basement-hosted uranium mineralization were intersected throughout the graphitic pelitic rocks (Figure 3; Table 1). These zones are characterized by structurally-controlled, disseminated, and foliation-controlled uranium mineralization. Within the mineralized intervals, isolated intervals of core loss were recorded due to intense alteration and quartz dissolution. The basement is strongly clay and chlorite altered as a broad halo around the basement-hosted uranium mineralization with multiple re-activated fault zones throughout the interval. WMA094-1: The lower sandstone column of WMA094-1 is strongly bleached with limonite alteration extending over 90 metres above the unconformity. Within the lower sandstone column, multiple metre-scale fault zones were intersected and are characterized by broken to blocky core, large intervals of hydrothermal dravitic breccias with localized re-activation, and zones of quartz dissolution. Near the unconformity, the fault zones are associated with intense silicification and sooty pyrite alteration. WMA094-1 contains one main interval of unconformity-associated uranium mineralization characterized by massive to semi-massive, structurally-controlled, and disseminated mineralization associated with strong sooty pyrite, dark red hematite, and green-grey clay replacement immediately around the unconformity contact. (Figure 3; Table 1). Within the mineralized interval, isolated intervals of core loss were recorded due to intense alteration and quartz dissolution. The unconformity contact between the Athabasca sandstone and underlying basement rocks is interpreted to be at 795.1 metres down hole. The basement is strongly clay and chlorite altered as a broad halo around the high-grade uranium mineralization with multiple re-activated fault zones throughout the interval. WMA094-2: The lower sandstone column of WMA094-2 is strongly bleached with limonite alteration extending over 90 metres above the unconformity. Within the lower sandstone column, multiple metre-scale fault zones were intersected and are characterized by broken to blocky core, large intervals of hydrothermal dravitic breccias with localized re-activation, and zones of quartz dissolution. Near the unconformity, the fault zones are associated with intense silicification and sooty pyrite alteration. WMA094-2 contains one main interval of unconformity-associated uranium mineralization characterized by massive to semi-massive, structurally-controlled, and disseminated mineralization associated with strong sooty pyrite, dark red hematite, and green-grey clay replacement immediately around the unconformity contact. (Figure 3; Figure 4; Table 1). Within the mineralized interval, isolated intervals of core loss were recorded due to intense alteration and quartz dissolution. The unconformity contact between the Athabasca sandstone and underlying basement rocks is interpreted to be at 799.8 metres down hole. The basement is strongly clay and chlorite altered as a broad halo around the high-grade uranium mineralization with multiple re-activated fault zones throughout the interval. WMA094-3: The lower sandstone column of WMA094-3 is strongly bleached with limonite alteration extending over 80 metres above the unconformity. Within the lower sandstone column, multiple metre-scale fault zones were intersected and are characterized by broken to blocky core, large intervals of hydrothermal dravitic breccias with localized re-activation, and zones of quartz dissolution. Near the unconformity, the fault zones are associated with silicification and sooty pyrite alteration. WMA094-3 contains two intervals of unconformity-associated uranium mineralization characterized by structurally-controlled and disseminated mineralization associated with strong sooty pyrite, dark red hematite, and green-grey clay replacement immediately around the unconformity contact. (Figure 3; Table 1). Within the mineralized interval, isolated intervals of core loss were recorded due to intense alteration and quartz dissolution. The unconformity contact between the Athabasca sandstone and underlying basement rocks is interpreted to be at 794.6 metres down hole. Several intervals of basement-hosted uranium mineralization were intersected throughout the graphitic pelitic rocks (Figure 3; Table 1). These zones are characterized by semi-massive, structurally-controlled, and disseminated uranium mineralization. The basement is strongly clay and chlorite altered as a broad halo around the high-grade uranium mineralization with multiple re-activated fault zones throughout the interval. WMA091 was completed 4.3 kilometres along strike to the east of the Pike Zone. Within the basal sandstone, from 580 - 630 metres, a large post-Athabasca fault zone was intersected. The fault zone is characterized by strong bleaching and silicification with multiple re-activated hydrothermal dravitic breccia zones. WMA092 was completed 4.6 kilometres along strike to the east of the Pike Zone, following up the results from WMA091. In WMA092, a large post-Athabasca sandstone fault zone was intersected immediately at the unconformity, from 765 - 810 m, and was characterized by strong bleaching, limonite, silicification with multiple re-activated hydrothermal dravitic breccia zones. WMA093 was completed 5.1 kilometres along strike to the east of the Pike Zone, following up the encouraging sandstone structures in WMA091 and WMA092. WMA093 intersected a 7 metre-wide post-Athabasca basement fault zone approximately 90 metres below the unconformity. The fault zone was hosted in a chlorite-altered graphitic pelite interval with intervals of clay gouge and breccia. Other News The Company will be presenting a webinar hosted by Red Cloud on October 2nd, 2024. Registration is available through the following link: https://redcloudfs.com/events/rcwebinar-cvv-4/ The Company invites you to view a special video tour of the West McArthur uranium project. This video provides an exclusive look at our key exploration activities and the exciting potential of the Pike Zone discovery. The video tour is available on the Company's YouTube channel or through the following link: Inside West McArthur: Exploring High-Grade Uranium with CEO Cory Belyk and VP Nathan Bridge (youtube.com) Geochemical Sampling Procedures and Use of Radiometric Equivalent Grades All drill core samples from the program were shipped to the Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories (SRC) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in secure containment for preparation, processing, and multi-element analysis by ICP-MS and ICP-OES using total (HF:NHO3:HClO4) and partial digestion (HNO3:HCl), boron by fusion, and U3O8 wt% assay by ICP-OES using higher grade standards. Assay samples are chosen based on downhole probing radiometric equivalent uranium grades and scintillometer (SPP2 or CT007-M) peaks. Assay sample intervals comprise 0.3 - 0.8 metre continuous half-core split samples over the mineralized intervals. With all assay samples, one half of the split sample is retained and the other sent to the SRC for analysis. The SRC is an ISO/IEC 17025/2005 and Standards Council of Canada certified analytical laboratory. Blanks, standard reference materials, and repeats are inserted into the sample stream at regular intervals by CanAlaska and the SRC in accordance with CanAlaska's quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. Geochemical assay data are subject to verification procedures by qualified persons employed by CanAlaska prior to disclosure. During active exploration programs drillholes are radiometrically logged using calibrated downhole GeoVista NGRS and TGGS (Triple GM) gamma probes which collect continuous readings along the length of the drillhole. Preliminary radiometric equivalent uranium grades ("eU3O8") are then calculated from the downhole radiometric results. The probe is calibrated using an algorithm calculated from the calibration of the probe at the Saskatchewan Research Council facility in Saskatoon and from the comparison of probe results against geochemical analyses. At extremely high radiometric equivalent uranium grades, downhole gamma probes may become saturated, resulting in the probe being overwhelmed, which in turn can create difficulties in accurately determining extremely high-grade radiometric equivalent uranium grades, and a cap may be applied to the grade. The equivalent uranium grades are preliminary and are subsequently reported as definitive assay grades following sampling and chemical analysis of the mineralized drill core. In the case where core recovery within a mineralized intersection is poor or non-existent, radiometric grades are considered to be more representative of the mineralized intersection and may be reported in the place of assay grades. Radiometric equivalent probe results are subject to verification procedures by qualified persons employed by CanAlaska prior to disclosure. All reported depths and intervals are drill hole depths and intervals, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent true thicknesses, which have yet to be determined. About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) is a Canadian based exploration company and holds interest in approximately 500,000 hectares (1,235,000 acres) in Canada's Athabasca Basin focused on exploration and discovery of high-grade unconformity uranium deposits. The Company is actively advancing the Pike Zone discovery - a new high-grade uranium discovery on its West McArthur Joint Venture project in the eastern Athabasca Basin. In addition, the Company has several other uranium-focused exploration programs. CanAlaska deploys a hybrid project generator model, focusing on the acquisition and sale of prospective projects, while also executing exploration programs on CanAlaska's most strategic land holdings. The Company's extensive portfolio has attracted international mining companies, including Cameco Corporation and Denison Mines as active partners. CanAlaska is led by an experienced team of professionals with a proven track record of discovery. The Company's head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with a satellite office in Vancouver, BC, Canada. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration for CanAlaska Uranium Ltd., who has reviewed and approved its contents. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Cory Belyk" Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC CEO, President and Director CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. 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 information 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. 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. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend 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/224642 SOURCE: CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FWB: A0I0) (MUN: A0I0) (BER: A0I0) (the "Company" or "Appia") is pleased to announce the confirmation of intersecting uranium (U) and rare earth elements (REE) mineralization while drill testing the potential of three (3) exploratory targets at the southern limits of Appia's Loranger property located south of Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan. The drill results, analyzed and verified by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) Laboratories in Saskatoon, confirm the Company's early-stage geological hypotheses to locate a set of subsurface, variable length (2.2 to 2.5 km) electromagnetic (EM) conductors (Figure 1) favorable for U and REE mineralization. The success of this drilling program highlights the potential of the Loranger property as a dual-commodity property within Appia's portfolio. Highlights of the 2024 Assay Results: Uranium Mineralization: Drill Core 24-LOR-003: 0.10 m of 409.11 ppm (0.04 wt%) U3O8 from 171.31 m to 171.41 m, confirming the presence of uranium alongside rare earth elements within the same 2.2 km electromagnetic conductor / Tabbernor Fault intersection. Rare Earth Element (REE) Mineralization: Drill Core 24-LOR-003: 0.18 m of 0.56 wt.% TREO from 154.02 m to 154.10 m, including a 0.10 m interval of 0.80 wt.% TREO, confirming the presence of rare earth elements between the northeast trending 2.2 km EM conductor and N-S trending Tabbernor Fault (Figure 1). Drill Core 24-LOR-003: 0.10 m of 0.36 wt.% TREO from 171.31 m to 171.41 m. Additionally, 20 more samples within hole 24-LOR-003 returned REE values greater than 0.10 wt.% TREO, signifying sporadic rare earth element mineralization within this area. Full assay results click here. Stephen Burega, President of Appia, stated, "We are excited to announce the confirmed discovery of uranium and rare earth elements mineralization in our first exploratory drill holes within the southwestern block of the Loranger property. These results not only confirm our geologic hypotheses but also highlight the potential for further discovery along the set of variable length (2.2 to 2.5 km) EM conductors, giving our team new drill targets for future programs." Importance of Loranger's Location for Uranium and REE Mineralization: The Loranger property's location is strategically significant due to its proximity to the prolific uranium-bearing Athabasca Basin (Figure 2). The Athabasca Basin is renowned for its uranium deposits and nearby rare earth element discoveries, positioning itself as a major source of global uranium production. As a result of the Loranger 2024 diamond drilling program, Appia has confirmed both commodities are present on this property, validating the potential for further discoveries within the Company's early-stage geological model. Next Steps: Encouraged by the positive results, Appia plans to initiate a follow-up program at Loranger to investigate these findings further and expand its work efforts within the proximate area, specifically southwest along strike of the 2.2 km electromagnetic conductor, and within the proximate conjunction between it and the local Tabbernor Fault. This subsequent work will focus on delineating the extent of both uranium and rare earth element mineralization and evaluating the potential for additional discoveries. Appia remains committed to transparency and will continue to update shareholders and the public as exploration progresses. We look forward to sharing further developments and enhancing our understanding of the Loranger property's value. Summary assay tables are presented below. Click here to access the full, detailed geochemical assay results, providing comprehensive information on the highlighted drill hole samples identified during the 2024 Loranger Diamond Drilling Program. Figure 1 - Drill hole collars, electromagnetic conductors, and Tabbernor Fault System overlaying Electromagnetic Time Constant (dB/dT - EM Tau) Survey. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/224653_b1699d8424bb5ac5_001full.jpg Figure 2 - Prolific Mines and Exploration Sites - Athabasca Basin, and Peter Lake Domain near Appia's Eastside Property To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/224653_b1699d8424bb5ac5_002full.jpg Table 1 - Highlighted Drill Hole Composite TREO wt.% and U3O8 wt.% Grades for 24-LOR-003 Drill Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Composite Grade U3O8 (wt.%) CompositeGrade TREO (wt.%) Including 24-LOR-003 154.02 154.20 0.18 0.02 0.56 0.10. m of 0.80 wt.% TREO 24-LOR-003 171.31 171.41 0.10 0.04 0.36 n/a Note: -The REE Thulium (Tm) and Promethium (Pm) are not reported because they are both extremely scarce in nature, and Pm forms as a product of spontaneous fission of U-238. -TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides = sum of La2O3 + CeO2 + Pr6O11 + Nd2O3 + Sm2O3 + Eu2O3 + Gd2O3 + Tb4O7 + Dy2O3 + Ho2O3 + Er2O3 + Yb2O3 + Lu2O3 + Y2O3 Table 2 - Drill Collar Coordinates - 2024 Loranger Diamond Drilling Program Drill Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () EOH (m) 24-LOR-001 574947 6400472 430 320 -55 252 24-LOR-002 575667 6401504 408 140 -60 219 24-LOR-003 579625 6406313 430 140 -70 243 About the Loranger Project The Eastside Project is strategically located east of the prolific uranium-bearing Athabasca Basin region of Saskatchewan, Canada. This area is renowned for its significant uranium deposits, surrounding rare earth element plays, and favorable geological conditions that have historically led to high-grade uranium discoveries. The Loranger Property is situated in close proximity to several known uranium and REE deposits and mineralization trends, notably the Rabbit Lake and Eagle Point deposits. The Loranger project area is 26,409 hectares and is 100% owned by Appia. Based on previous and current geological exploration programs, the project area has been identified as prospective for uranium and rare earth element (REE) mineralization. * Critical rare earth elements/oxides (CREO) are defined here as those that are in short-supply and high-demand for use in permanent magnets that enable modern electronic applications such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. The "magnet alloy" rare earths (CREO) are neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb). Drill core was collected using a helicopter-portable diamond drill and samples were cut into split drill core. The location of the sample selection within drill core was determined using handheld scintillometers and spectrometers. All discovered locations within drill core above approximately 250 counts per second (cps) were sampled. A total of 41 split drill core samples were collected during the 2024 drilling program. Drill core samples were collected at variable lengths lines apart depending on lithological contacts and measurable radioactivity above Appia's cutoff of 250 cps. Sample intervals ranged from 0.01 m to 0.25 m in length. All lithogeochemical assay results of grab and channel samples were provided by Saskatchewan Research Council's Geoanalytical Laboratory, an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (CAN-P-4E) certified laboratory in Saskatoon, SK. All analytical results reported herein have passed internal QA/QC review and compilation. The technical content in this news release was reviewed and approved by Dr. Irvine R. Annesley, P.Geo., Senior Technical Advisor for Appia and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (Appia) Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project (See June 9th, 2023 Press Release - Click HERE) which is 40,963.18 ha. in size and located within the Goias State of Brazil. (See January 11th, 2024 Press Release - Click HERE) The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario. Appia has 136.3 million common shares outstanding, 145 million shares fully diluted. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, visit www.appiareu.com. As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages. To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224653 SOURCE: Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, launched the Small Hearts and Eyes Campaign on Thursday, at the National Hospital in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. The campaign is supported by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority in collaboration with the Sharjah Charity International, targeting patients who are unable to pay the costs of treatment. Sultan bin Ahmed listened to a detailed explanation from Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Kamali, a pediatric heart surgery specialist, about the cases that have undergone surgery, as well as those that will be examined and diagnosed to determine the appropriate type of treatment, whether through catheterization or heart surgery for the sick children. The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, learned about the procedures followed in diagnosing medical cases and determining the treatment plans for patients. He observed the preparation methods for patients undergoing catheterization and various surgical operations, such as heart hole and atrial septal defect surgeries at the hospital. The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah also met with a number of children benefiting from the medical support donated by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, reassuring himself about their health and the progress of their treatment plans. The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah wished them continued health and well-being, praising the significant cooperation from Dr. Ahmed Al Kamali and the local medical team at the National Hospital in Kyrgyzstan for performing surgeries on the patients. The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council moved to the Eye Diseases Building at the National Hospital, listening to the medical staff about the process of receiving patients for eye surgeries, diagnosing medical conditions, and the surgical operations supported by the campaign, such as those for vision impairment and cataract removal. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed talked with eye patients who had undergone surgeries, expressing their immense joy and extending their gratitude and appreciation for the charitable efforts of the United Arab Emirates and Sharjah in covering the treatment costs. This support has helped them regain their sight after a long period of loss and allowed them to resume their normal lives. They prayed that God would reward Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed and all generous individuals for the humanitarian services provided by the institutions of the Emirate of Sharjah in treating patients around the world. The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, directed the specialists to expedite the provision of the latest medical devices and equipment necessary for diagnosing medical conditions and offering full support to patients at the hospital. This directive followed Sultan bin Ahmed's visit to the examination rooms and medical laboratories, which contained outdated traditional equipment. This effort is part of the patient support campaign funded by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority through its charitable television and radio programs. The campaign to treat heart and eye patients, launched by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority through its charitable program "Pain and Hope," aims to collect donations from generous individuals and provide the necessary care and treatment to approximately 1,000 underprivileged children suffering from heart conditions and eye diseases. The Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed was accompanied with Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Charity International (SCI); Muhammad Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Tariq Saeed Allay, the Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau; Hassan Yaqoub Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Media Council; Rashid Abdullah Al Obeid, Director of Sharjah Media City "Shams"; Salem Ali Al Ghaithi, Director of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Abdullah Sultan bin Khadim, Executive Director of the Sharjah Charity International; and several directors and officials from the October Village in the Kyrgyz Republic. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516531/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_1.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516533/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_2.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516534/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_3.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516530/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_4.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516532/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_5.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sultan-bin-ahmed-launches-small-hearts-and-eyes-campaign-at-the-national-hospital-in-the-kyrgyz-republic-302259856.html QAD Inc., a leading provider of next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud, wrapped its EMEA customer conference, QAD Transform Europe, in Brussels, with final preparations now underway for its next event, QAD Transform Americas, happening November 4-6 in Chicago, Illinois. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926635086/en/ Colin Coleman and Michael White of luxury flooring manufacturer Amtico giving their "Transforming your Workforce with QAD Redzone" presentation at general session (Photo: Business Wire) "We are grateful for such a successful first Transform event and want to thank all who came together with us in Brussels, and our customers who shared such impactful success stories," said QAD Chief Product and Marketing Officer Carter Lloyds. "The only way for businesses to thrive is to transform, which is why we are excited to continue the thought leading discussions around mapping that transformation journey in Chicago." Customers, sponsors and other members of the QAD community will join fellow manufacturing and supply chain leaders from across the Americas for two and a half days of networking, education and technology innovation. Attendees will hear from industry experts and peers about the state of manufacturing and supply chains, what the future may bring and how to stay adaptive. Agenda Highlights: Introducing the Industrial Transformation Platform QAD's roadmap to help companies transform into an Adaptive Enterprise with QAD CEO Anton Chilton QAD's roadmap to help companies transform into an Adaptive Enterprise with QAD CEO Anton Chilton Panel discussion with industry leaders on the transformation imperative with industry leaders on the transformation imperative Effective change management across your organization across your organization Uncovering root causes not symptoms of supply chain disruption Keynote address on QAD's technology strategy and the benefits of the Cloud with QAD CTO Tony Winter AWS Enterprise Technologist Anand Desikan with QAD CTO Tony Winter AWS Enterprise Technologist Anand Desikan Keynote address on Artificial Intelligence with Dan Chuparkoff, Technology leader and AI expert Leveraging pragmatic AI Aligning ESG and sustainability with commercial objectives with commercial objectives QAD's new flagship ERP release ERP O Product updates on QAD Redzone Connected Workforce, QAD GTTE, QAD SRM, QAD DSCP and QAD Process Intelligence Customer success stories Panel discussion with Automotive industry thought leaders with Automotive industry thought leaders Life Sciences Roundtable Lunch : Software Validation and Assurance : Software Validation and Assurance The new QAD roadmap for the Food and Beverage industry Breakout sessions and QAD Sponsor Expo The full agenda can be accessed here. For the latest updates on QAD Transform Americas, follow us on social media and engage using QADTransform. Event Details What: QAD Transform Americas Customer Conference When: November 4-6, 2024 Where: Fairmont Millennium Park Hotel Chicago, Illinois Registration: To register to attend QAD Transform Americas, click here. A special thanks to the QAD Transform event sponsors: Adaptivity, Ambit Software, Arista Consulting, AWS, Broomstreet, Digitus Business Solutions, Discovery Intech, Doclib, DSR 4Factory, Eagle, JK Tech, Logan Consulting, Progress OpenEdge, Strategic Information Group, Yash About QAD Enabling Adaptive Enterprises QAD Inc. is a leading provider of next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud. To succeed in a turbulent world, facing disruptions in supply and fluctuations in demand, manufacturers and supply chains must rapidly respond to change and seamlessly optimize agility, efficiency, and resilience for effective customer service. QAD delivers Adaptive Applications to enable these Adaptive Enterprises. Founded in Santa Barbara, California, QAD has customers in 84 countries around the world. Thousands of companies have deployed QAD enterprise solutions including enterprise resource planning (ERP), digital commerce, supplier relationship management (SRM), digital supply chain planning (DSCP), global trade and transportation execution (GTTE), enterprise quality management system (EQMS), connected workforce and process intelligence. To learn more, visit www.qad.com or call +1 805-566-6100. Find us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. "QAD" is a registered trademark of QAD. All other products or company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926635086/en/ Contacts: QAD Inc. Caleb Finch Public Relations 805-566-6100 publicrelations@qad.com Beth Hespe Analyst Relations 609-709-3769 industryanalyst@qad.com Proactively responding to the strengthening trend of vehicle security, securing certification in Europe that leads global standards Established dedicated cybersecurity organization and system, continuously strengthening vehicle security management capabilities for the 'smartphone on wheels' SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Mobis (KRX: 012330), Hyundai Mobis has become the first Asian automotive supplier to obtain cybersecurity certification in Europe, where it is leading the global automotive security standards. Cybersecurity has emerged as a critically important area as the proportion of software in vehicles increases and user-customized data processing becomes more prevalent. Additionally, regulations regarding vehicle security are being tightened in various countries, making cybersecurity-related certifications a crucial competitive advantage for global products and orders. On the 26th, Hyundai Mobis announced that it held a cybersecurity certification presentation ceremony at its technology research center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, attended by representatives from the European Automotive Manufacturing and Supply Association (ENX). The European Automotive Manufacturing and Supply Association comprises European global automakers and automotive suppliers such as Daimler, Volkswagen, BMW, and Bosch and oversees vehicle cybersecurity-related certifications (VCS; Vehicle Cyber Security). The certification from this association is recognized as highly credible and has become a mandatory condition during the auto component ordering stages for European Global Automaker clients. In the automotive industry, cybersecurity involves protecting vehicle systems and networks with reliable security technologies to respond to risks such as external hacking and prevent the leakage of user personal information. With the increase in the application of various IT functions in recently released vehicles and the full-scale advent of the Software-Driven Vehicle (SDV) era, the cybersecurity response capabilities of both global automakers and automotive suppliers have become increasingly important. The VCS certification obtained by Hyundai Mobis signifies that the main products developed and produced by Hyundai Mobis comply with European automotive cybersecurity regulations and that the company has established the necessary business procedures and systems. The certification covers all areas from product design, evaluation, quality, and production to post-production management. Hyundai Mobis has swiftly responded to the global trend of strengthening automotive security regulations and standards, achieving the milestone of obtaining European certification as the first Asian company. With this certification, Hyundai Mobis is expected to enhance its global order competitiveness based on its outstanding capabilities and reliability in the automotive cybersecurity field. It has been reported that company officials showed significant interest in Hyundai Mobis having proactively obtained the cybersecurity certification during recent responses to orders from European Global Automakers. Europe has mandated cybersecurity certification for all vehicles released after July this year. Since 2020, Hyundai Mobis has established a dedicated cybersecurity organization and advanced its Cyber Security Management System (CSMS). By continuously strengthening vehicle security capabilities that comply with global regulations and standards for user safety, Hyundai Mobis has achieved this certification. Cheon Jae-seung, Head of Hyundai Mobis FTCI (Future Convergence Technology Institute), stated, "In the future automotive industry, often referred to as the 'smartphone on wheels,' the importance of cybersecurity is increasingly growing," and "We will elevate our capabilities to efficiently respond to not only European but also other regions' regulations and standards." Media Contact Choon Kee Hwang: ckhwang@mobis.com Myong Sun Song: sms@mobis.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1166884/hyundaimobis_CI_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hyundai-mobis-becomes-the-first-asian-company-to-receive-cybersecurity-certification-from-european-automotive-association-302258489.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Couloir Capital is pleased to announce it has initiated research coverage on Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: JUGR) ("JUGR," or "Company"). Couloir Capital's Senior Mining Analyst, Ron Wortel, MBA, P.Eng., Q.P. crafted a report titled "Making Tracks with Discoveries in the Golden Triangle." Report excerpt: "Juggernaut holds three claim groups in Northwest British Columbia, see Table 1. These projects are in or close to the well-known Golden Triangle region of the province, home to many significant mines, deposits, and recent discoveries. The projects in Juggernaut's asset base are based on discoveries made by the J2 Syndicate from whom they were optioned. The J2 Syndicate entered this prospective region, the Golden Triangle and environs, and found discoveries by searching the alpine regions in areas of glacial retreat. Table 1: Claim Groups and Prospects Source: Couloir Capital To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7358/224651_table1.jpg This process of on-the-ground prospective work has proven to be successful for the company as it holds several of these discoveries on its land package. The claim groups total over 31,660 hectares and are located at the southern limit of the Golden Triangle and its presumed extension. The rock types, mineralization, and favorable regional contact extend further south to these projects. The location of the Company's claim groups is given in Figure 1 below, and their position in relation to the Golden Triangle and its numerous deposits and projects. Figure 1: Claim Group Map* To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7358/224651_e638e08be410bb36_002full.jpg Source: Juggernaut Exploration *Surebet prospect on Golddigger claim group held by Goliath Resources Ltd. The Golden Triangle of Northwest British Columbia is one of the most active and mineralogically rich exploration camps in the world. The region currently hosts three operating mines: Brucejack, Red Chris, and the recently restarted Premier mine. A fourth mine, which is another restart at the Eskay Creek project, recently received project financing of US$ 750 million. The camp and its deposits are desirable for their quality, grade, size, and being in a safe jurisdiction. The market refers to the Golden Triangle as a Tier One jurisdiction. This discovery and development potential led to significant transactions over the past several years, as listed in Table 2, highlighting this market interest." The report can be accessed through Couloir Capital's portal: https://www.couloircapital.com/research-portal. Investors are encouraged to sign up for a subscription to receive research reports and other valuable information. About Couloir Capital Ltd. Couloir Capital Ltd. is an investment research firm with a team of experienced investment professionals dedicated to providing opportunities in the natural resource exploration and development sectors. Our research reports are disseminated through Bloomberg, FactSet, Capital IQ, LSEG, and many other portals, as well as through our social media and large email distribution list. To subscribe, please visit: https://www.couloircapital.com/research-portal DISCLAIMER: Analyst Disclosure: Couloir Capital does hold shares or options in the Company. The analyst does not hold shares or options in the Company. The company has retained Couloir Capital under a service agreement that includes analyst research coverage. Investors are encouraged to read the complete list of disclosures contained in the report. Juggernaut Exploration's CEO is a Dealing Representative (broker) at Couloir Securities Ltd. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224651 SOURCE: Couloir Capital Ltd The PeakMetrics 2.0 solution combines narrative clustering and customizable threat scores to detect, decipher, and defend against AI-driven misinformation, media manipulation, and adversarial attacks. PeakMetrics , a leading AI-powered narrative intelligence company, today announced the launch of PeakMetrics 2.0, an enhanced platform that offers cutting-edge narrative and threat detection. This major update equips governments and organizations with advanced tools to anticipate risks and mitigate emerging threats before they impact reputation, security, or financial health. PeakMetrics 2.0 introduces powerful features, including new narrative clustering algorithms and customizable threat score alerts, pushing beyond the limits of traditional media monitoring tools to offer a more comprehensive solution. The intuitive interface ensures that teams can identify, analyze, and act on emerging narratives with greater speed and precision. "PeakMetrics 2.0 reimagines how operators can sift through the information environment, with advanced features that address AI-driven threats like deepfakes and disinformation," said Nick Loui, co-founder and CEO of PeakMetrics. "This update provides organizations with early warnings and critical insights, helping them prioritize the risks that matter most. We're thankful to the many customers who have provided feedback along the way and are excited to officially launch these updates." As the complexity and costs of online threats continue to rise, corporate disinformation alone is estimated to cost the global economy $78 billion annually. Meanwhile, AI-driven misinformation is the biggest short-term threat to the global economy, according to the World Economic Forum. PeakMetrics 2.0 is built to meet these challenges head-on, evolving beyond traditional monitoring tools. "Many organizations are relying on a traditional media monitoring solution today because they feel it's their only option - even if it's not the right tool for the job," said Bobby Lincoln, co-founder and COO of PeakMetrics. "PeakMetrics 2.0 provides something different. It's designed to complement media monitoring tools, while specifically helping organizations identify, analyze, and act on the threats and risks that actually matter to their brand." The new features and functionality within PeakMetrics 2.0 align with the company's "Detect, Decipher, Defend" framework: Detect: Expanded Data Sources: The platform collects intelligence from millions of media sources, including fringe and emerging channels like TikTok, Telegram, Discord, and more. This ensures early detection, as harmful narratives often start on fringe platforms. Narrative Clustering: PeakMetrics 2.0 simplifies thousands of mentions into digestible narratives, reducing the need for complex Boolean searches and revealing emerging trends faster. Multi-Language Intelligence: AI-powered narrative identification technology works across languages to spotlight emerging narratives and region-specific conversations. Decipher: Custom Threat Scores: PeakMetrics 2.0 users can customize models to assign a "score" to each threat, helping determine the potential scope and impact of emerging narratives relative to their organization. Partner Integrations: Advanced deep fake detection - via a partnership with Reality Defender - helps protect against fraud, scams, and impersonation. Collaboration with NewsGuard provides added context on source credibility. Explore Topics: Easily monitor hot-button issues across the platform without writing complex queries. Instantly see how your brand, competitors, industry, or topics are discussed within key conversations for a complete view. Network Graphs: Visually map how narratives spread, identifying key media domains or influencers pushing them. Defend: Tailored Reporting: Customizable options offer even more flexibility and value to reporting workflows. A sleeker design with improved visualizations streamlines the sharing of insights across teams and stakeholders. Response Plans: AI-generated summaries, recommendations, talking points, and guided action plans help jumpstart reporting and response efforts in minutes - not hours or days. Universal Dashboard: This feature allows users to compare and contrast workspaces in one place. An integration with Visily enables rapid data visualization for easy cross-functional reporting. "PeakMetrics 2.0 is built to address the speed, scale, and complexity of online conversations," said Joe Raczka, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner, York IE, and a member of the PeakMetrics board of directors. "This next evolution of the platform is empowering commercial and government organizations with the AI capabilities and expert support they need to protect their organizations." The launch of PeakMetrics 2.0 adds to an exciting year for the company. In August, the company was awarded a $1.85 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract by the US Air Force. One month later, Loui was named to PR Week's 40 Under 40 list. PeakMetrics' proprietary data has been cited by national news publications such as The New York Times , The Wall Street Journal , and the Associated Press . Interested in learning more? Book a demo using this link . About PeakMetrics PeakMetrics offers a narrative intelligence platform that empowers governments and enterprises to detect and counter emerging narrative attacks- recently recognized by Forrester as 2024's top cybersecurity threat . Leveraging advanced AI, PeakMetrics monitors millions of media sources and 10+ different social media platforms to spot media manipulation and adversarial trends before they inflict serious damage to reputation, physical/cyber safety, or financial health. PeakMetrics helps clients collect early warnings and indicators that these attacks may be brewing on social media, decipher insights in real-time, and respond accordingly. Detect, decipher, defend at peakmetrics.com . Contacts: Jessica Pratt PeakMetrics jessica@peakmetrics.com Kate Campbell York IE kate@york.ie SOURCE: PeakMetrics September 29-30, 2024 at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Incline Village, Nevada M2i Global, Inc. ("M2i," the "Company," "we," "our" or "us") (OTCQB:MTWO), a company specializing in the development and execution of a complete global value supply chain for critical minerals, today announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Major General (Ret) Alberto Rosende will be participating at the Nevada Lithium Summit, with a focus on discovering the opportunities to learn about Nevada's growing battery supply chain. Organized by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, this conference seeks to harness Nevada's unique position, resources, and expertise to foster collaboration across sectors, promote advanced mining and energy practices, and encourage the development of a complete economy built around the state's lithium resources. This two-day event provides opportunities to learn about Nevada's lithium loop, meet with industry professionals, connect with local, state and federal leaders, and leverage your opportunity to be a part of Nevada's growing battery supply chain. M2i's ecosystem provides partners with access to turnkey solutions, facilitating expanded business opportunities, securing offtake agreements, influencing strategic government policy, engaging with aligned NGOs, and trusted laboratories. About M2i Global, Inc. (OTCQB: MTWO): M2i Global, Inc., through its subsidiary U.S. Minerals and Metals Corp., provides engineering, research, and services that integrate people, technology, and solutions from across sectors to ensure access to critical minerals and metals for national defense and economic security. The Company aims to establish a Strategic Mineral Reserve in partnership with the U.S. Federal Government, creating a resilient supply chain that addresses the global shortage of essential minerals and metals. For more information, please visit www.m2i.global FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Investor Contacts: IR@M2icorp.com SOURCE: M2i Global Inc. Recognizing innovative work in advancing global sustainable development through demographic research and equitable technology in emergencies HONG KONG, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global philanthropic organization Yidan Prize Foundation has awarded the 2024 Yidan Prize, the world's highest education accolade, to Professor Wolfgang Lutz for his work in understanding the long-term benefits of near-term investments in education, and to Professor Mark Jordans, Marwa Zahr, and Luke Stannard for their efforts in bringing learning to life for marginalized children in conflict-affected and resource-constrained settings through War Child Alliance's 'Can't Wait to Learn' digital learning intervention. To date, the Yidan Prize Foundation has awarded a total of HK$480 million (approximately US$ 61.6 million) to recognize and support changemakers, half of which (HK$240 million, approximately US$30.8 million) is an unrestricted project fund for laureates to scale their work in over 50 countries. "As the world evolves, so must education. The Yidan Prize champions changemakers and innovative solutions that advance education in a rapidly changing world. The exceptional achievements of our 2024 laureates are critical in preparing the next generations for an uncertain future," said Dr Charles CHEN Yidan, philanthropist and Founder of the Yidan Prize. The award recognizes ideas that are future-oriented, innovative, transformative, and sustainable in Education Research and Education Development. Yidan Prize laureates will receive HK$30 million (approximately US$3.8 million), half of which is an unrestricted project fund of HK$15 million to support them in scaling their work. "In times of complex global challenges, it is paramount to recognize the critical need to put education at the center of global development. By spotlighting and bridging research and practices to address education needs, we move closer to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 4 in ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all," said Lucy Lake, Director of Global Engagement at Yidan Prize Foundation. Elevating education in the global dialogue for sustainable development Professor Wolfgang Lutz, Distinguished Emeritus Scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), has won the 2024 Yidan Prize for Education Research. He is also the Founding Director of Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital, established in collaboration with IIASA, Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the University of Vienna. His statistical research shows the long-term benefits of investing in universal primary and secondary education. A statistician and demographer who pioneered assessments of education's impact on sustainable development goals including health, economic growth, gender equity, and climate resilience, Wolfgang's work highlights the multiplier effect of quality education for a brighter future. He plans to use the Yidan Prize project funds to establish two research centers in partnership with the University of Cape Town, South Africa and Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. The centers will support policy decision-making by training more statisticians in Africa, and expand the evidence base in building resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change in coastal areas through education, respectively. "Wolfgang Lutz's work provides a scientific foundation that helps us connect the dots between better skills, better jobs, better life in our populations. His datasets, that are available to the world as a global public good, are crucial in informing public policy where to invest scarce public resources, to make the most difference for our collective future," Andreas Schleicher, head of the Yidan Prize for Education Research judging panel and Director for the OECD's Directorate of Education and Skills. Improving equitable access to joyful learning through technology The 2024 Yidan Prize for Education Development is awarded to War Child Alliance's Professor Mark Jordans, Director of Research and Development, Marwa Zahr, Implementation and Practitioner Lead, and Luke Stannard, Program Director of Can't Wait to Learn. The award recognizes the collaborative effort of War Child Alliance's Research and Development team and the Can't Wait to Learn team in widening educational access for over 205,000 marginalized children. In line with national curricula, 'Can't Wait to Learn' uses digital technology and locally-contextualized content to deliver quality education through online and offline games in conflict-affected and resource-constrained settings across eight countries including Ukraine, Lebanon, Uganda, Jordan, and South Sudan. The team and its partners co-design educational games with children and educators to ensure cultural relevance and accessibility, and continuously improves the platform based on evidence from scientific research and implementation evaluation. Through 'Can't Wait to Learn', children learn to read and count at their own pace using tablets, laptops and mobile phones. The cost-effective platform is proven to build foundational literacy and numeracy skills. The team plans to use the Yidan Prize project funds to scale, test, and optimize the 'Can't Wait to Learn' program based on evidence from research and implementation experience in countries where Can't Wait to Learn is already in place, as well as countries not yet reached. "Can't Wait to Learn's innovative, iterative, and collaborative approach shows that thoughtfully designed and deployed educational technology, as well as culturally and contextually relevant educational content can significantly enhance access to quality and equitable learning opportunities for the most marginalized children. This broad-based approach not only works in tandem with national curricula but also responds to the realities faced by the most vulnerable," said Dorothy K. Gordon, head of the Yidan Prize for Education Development judging panel and Board Member of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. The achievements of the 2024 laureates will be celebrated at the Yidan Prize Awards Ceremony on 8 December. As leaders in education, public policy, and philanthropy gather in Hong Kong, the annual Yidan Prize Summit will also take place on 9 December to explore the importance of resilience in education. Accelerating positive changes in global education Since its inception, the Yidan Prize has supported 19 changemakers in education on their projects across geographies. These include the 2023 Education Development laureate Shai Reshef, who has expanded access to higher education through the University of the People, providing virtual learning to over 137,000 students facing financial, geographical, cultural, or geographical barriers worldwide. Meanwhile, the 2022 Education Research laureate Dr Linda Darling-Hammond has informed educators and policymakers in over 15 countries about equitable teaching and learning methods through her research. "This year's nominations paint a vivid picture of progress in education globally. We're particularly encouraged by the rise in team nominations. This reinforces the power of collaboration in driving lasting change in education," said Dr Koichiro Matsuura, Chairman of the Yidan Prize Judging Committee and former Director-General of UNESCO. Nominations for the 2025 Yidan Prize are open from 25 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. ABOUT THE YIDAN PRIZE FOUNDATION The Yidan Prize Foundation is a global philanthropic foundation, with a mission of creating a better world through education. Through its prize and network of innovators, the Yidan Prize Foundation supports ideas and practices in education - specifically, ones with the power to positively change lives and society. The Yidan Prize is the world's highest education accolade that recognizes individuals or teams who have contributed significantly to the theory and practice of education. It consists of two prizes, working in harmony: the Yidan Prize for Education Research and the Yidan Prize for Education Development. They're designed for impact: laureates of each prize receive an unrestricted project fund of HK$15 million over three years, helping them scale up their work, as well as a gold medal and a cash prize of HK$15 million. The project fund and cash prize are shared equally for teams. https://yidanprize.org Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2511589/2024_Yidan_Prize_for_Education_Research_Laureate__Professor_Wolfgang_Lutz.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2511588/2024_Yidan_Prize_for_Education_Development_Laureates__Professor_Mark_Jordans__Marwa_Zahr__and_Luke_S.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2511625/Yidan_Prize_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/worlds-highest-education-accolade-yidan-prize-announces-its-2024-laureates-302258166.html The ZEISS MICOR 700 uses the ZEISS NULEX (non-ultrasonic lens extraction) procedure to help surgeons broaden their intraocular working space, minimizing risk to surrounding eye structures and increasing operating room efficiency. DUBLIN, Calif. and JENA, Germany, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZEISS Medical Technology today announced the broad U.S. distribution of the MICOR 700 from ZEISS, reinventing lens extraction with the first hand-held lens removal device with ultrasound-free operation, providing a sustainable solution with a low initial investment to help surgeons broaden their intraocular working space. Creating a gentler patient experience, the ZEISS MICOR 700 offers a revolutionary approach to lens removal, including patented crystalline lens extraction technology, a blunt and rounded tip design, and a single-use "plug & play" system with a minimal operating room (O.R.) footprint. The ZEISS MICOR 700 will be demonstrated at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) conference from Oct. 19 - 21, 2024, in Chicago. "We're putting the future of lens extraction in the hands of surgeons today," says Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D., President of Ophthalmology Strategic Business Unit and Head of the Digital Business Unit for ZEISS Medical Technology. "The ZEISS MICOR 700 extends our cataract solutions portfolio and serves as a testament to ZEISS's ability to deliver revolutionary, state-of-the-art technologies that advance cataract surgery, benefiting both patients and surgeons." "I am surprised by what MICOR has been able to do for me and for my patients. Case times are faster, corneas are now clear. The staff loves it. The setup is easy," says Dr. Seth M. Pantanelli, Professor of Ophthalmology & Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Penn State College of Medicine, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. "I'm really looking forward to teaching the residents and giving them exposure to MICOR and seeing what the next chapter holds." Gentler patient treatment - The advanced features of the ZEISS MICOR 700 help to promote gentle lens extraction. The ZEISS NULEX (non-ultrasonic lens extraction) procedure is designed to deliver less thermal energy than phaco and to minimize the risk of thermal damage to ocular tissue. Asymmetric oscillation of the cutter tube allows cavitation-free lens removal. Broadened intraocular working space - The tip of the ZEISS MICOR 700 is designed to be gentle with the surrounding tissue. Its novel blunt tip design with rounded edges is designed to minimize the risk of tissue damage. A recent survey of surgeons reported that ZEISS MICOR 700 increases the comfort zone for surgeons maneuvering within the capsular bag.1 Quick and efficient setup - ZEISS MICOR 700 features a disposable "plug-and-play" system ensuring convenience, efficiency, and simplicity in the O.R. Each MICOR extractor comes in a sterile blister pack and only needs to be connected to the MICOR drive and plugged into a Balanced Salt Solution (BSS) source - then the surgery can begin. Additionally, the fluidics system is fully disposable. Thus, the device enables a quick setup and breakdown in the O.R. In a recent report, surveyed clinical staff said the MICOR technology is intuitive to use and saves time throughout the surgical day.1 Importantly, the single-use, fully disposable fluidics system mitigates cross-contamination risk. The portion of the device that contacts the eye and all associated fluid channels is not reused. 'I am really impressed with this technology. I love that there is no foot pedal and there is no console. It really saves space in the O.R. and is also quite efficient," says Dr. Sonia H. Yoo, Ophthalmology Professor of Ophthalmology, Cataract, Cornea and Lasik, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, in Miami, Florida, USA. The ZEISS MICOR 700 is FDA approved and commercially available in the U.S. For more information about the ZEISS MICOR 700, go to https://www.zeiss.com/micor700. 1Data available on request. Not all products, services or offers are approved or offered in every market and approved labeling and instructions may vary from one country to another. For country-specific product information, see the appropriate country website. Product specifications are subject to change in design and scope of delivery as a result of ongoing technical development.The statements of the healthcare professionals reflect only their personal opinions and experiences and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any institution that they are affiliated with. The healthcare professionals alone are responsible for the content of their experience reported and any potential resulting infringements. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and its affiliates do not have clinical evidence supporting the opinions and statements of the health care professionals nor accept any responsibility or liability of the healthcare professionals' content. The healthcare professionals have a contractual or other financial relationship with Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and its affiliates and have received financial support. Brief Profile Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE0005313704), which is listed on the MDAX and TecDAX of the German stock exchange, is one of the world's leading medical technology companies. The Company supplies innovative technologies and application-oriented solutions designed to help doctors improve the quality of life of their patients. The Company offers complete solutions, including implants and consumables, to diagnose and treat eye diseases. The Company creates innovative visualization solutions in the field of microsurgery. With approximately 4,823 employees worldwide, the Group generated revenue of 2,089.3m in fiscal year 2022/23 (to 30 September). The Group's head office is located in Jena, Germany, and it has subsidiaries in Germany and abroad; more than 50 percent of its employees are based in the USA, Japan, Spain and France. The Center for Application and Research (CARIn) in Bangalore, India and the Carl Zeiss Innovations Center for Research and Development in Shanghai, China, strengthen the Company's presence in these rapidly developing economies. Around 41 percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's shares are in free float. The remaining approx. 59 percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world's leading groups in the optical and optoelectronic industries. For further information visit: www.zeiss.com/med Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516297/ZEISS_MICOR_700.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/546786/ZEISS_v1_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zeiss-reinvents-lens-extraction-with-the-first-hand-held-ultrasound-free-lens-removal-device-available-in-the-us-302259802.html Clean Core Thorium Energy is verifying and validating their ANEEL fuel technology through research enabled by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories' Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative Canadian Nuclear Laboratories facilities - Photo Canadian Nuclear Laboratories CHICAGO, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clean Core Thorium Energy (Clean Core) is pleased to announce that it has been accepted to participate in Canadian Nuclear Laboratories' (CNL) Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI). Through the program, CNL and Clean Core will work to verify and validate the computer codes and analytical models employed in the design and safety analysis of Clean Core's ANEEL fuel which will enable its accelerated commercialization for the Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactors. Clean Core has developed and patented a fuel, named the ANEEL fuel, made of thorium and enriched uranium. The fuel is designed for use in existing pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) and CANDU reactors with flexibility across enrichment levels (LEU+ to HALEU) as well as fuel designs (such as 19-pin and 37-pin). The fuel retains the same external dimensions as the currently used natural uranium (NU) fuel and leverages a high burnup, once-through fuel cycle. With no modifications to the reactor or its core, the ANEEL fuel derives several advantages over the currently used low burnup, NU fuel including improved safety, economics, and operations as well as reduced nuclear waste volumes and proliferation resistance. Launched in 2019, the CNRI program was established by CNL to accelerate the deployment of nuclear technologies in Canada by enabling research and development, and connecting the nuclear industry with the facilities and expertise within Canada's national nuclear laboratories. Among the many benefits of the program, participants optimize resources, share technical knowledge, receive cost share funding and gain access to CNL's expertise to help advance the commercialization of nuclear technologies. "Clean Core recognizes this as a key collaboration for the ANEEL fuel by leveraging the technical capabilities and existing domain expertise at CNL for development and assessment of various fuel, physics and thermohydraulic models," says Mehul Shah, CEO and Founder of Clean Core. "This collaboration will meaningfully accelerate the deployment of the ANEEL fuel, which can impact the Canadian and global nuclear industries." Clean Core completed initial design studies, and recently announced the successful conclusion of the Phase 1 Pre-licensing Vendor Design Review process with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Additionally, Clean Core signed a Strategic Partnership Project Agreement with the US DOE and is currently performing irradiation testing and qualification of the ANEEL fuel in the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Labs with burnup targets of up to 60 GWd/T. About Clean Core Thorium Energy Clean Core Thorium Energy is a nuclear fuel company exploring thorium-driven nuclear innovations. Clean Core's patented nuclear fuel technology (called the ANEEL fuel) is comprised of thorium and enriched uranium (LEU+ to HALEU), which is capable of improving the safety and cost-efficiency of pressurized heavy-water reactors. The ANEEL fuel is a novel solution to safety, waste, and proliferation concerns in today's nuclear plants. Learn more at https://cleancore.energy/. Follow us on social media: LinkedInand X. Clean Core Contact: Milan Shah Chief Operating Officer milan@cleancore.energy A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/907e1d40-e8e4-4214-819e-1be40dd0050d Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Tower Resources Ltd. (TSXV: TWR) ("Tower" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has received assays for two-thirds of the core samples from its initial 2024 drilling program on the Rabbit North property in the heart of the Kamloops mining district (see Fig. 1), and is readying a follow-up drilling program based on the positive Au results obtained. Assayed Drill Holes The initial drilling campaign comprised five shallow (-50) drill holes, Nos. RN24-050 to 054 (see Fig. 2 and Table 1). Due to a core saw issue, only two-thirds of the core was cut and submitted for assay at the end of the drilling program and has now been analyzed. Three of the five drill holes, Nos. 051, 053 and 054, targeted Au mineralization along the southern (Lightning-Thunder) and central (Thunder North) shear trends. Complete assays have been received for Holes 51 and 54. Gold Highlights Hole 051 was drilled roughly halfway along the previously untested 450 m gap in the southern shear trend between the Lightning and Thunder Gold Zones (see 3D gold model and hole location map below) to test for continuity of the gold mineralization between these zones. It succeeded not only in confirming continuity of the mineralization but also returned the highest average Au grade obtained to date from the Lightning-Thunder trend - 6.06 g/t over 4.27 m including 24.0 g/t over 0.7 m (see Table 1). Block model of the shear-hosted Thunder, Thunder North and Lightning Au zones. The Au component of the Rainbow porphyry Cu-Au zone is included. Note the strategic location of the new, high-grade Hole 051 intersection midway between the Lightning and Thunder Gold Zones. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5023/224687_3c55d2b4d49d3ba9_002full.jpg Significant Au intercepts from Tower's drill holes in the Lightning-Thunder gold area. Note the strategic location of the new, high-grade Hole 051 intersection midway between the Lightning and Thunder Gold Zones. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5023/224687_3c55d2b4d49d3ba9_003full.jpg Hole 054 was drilled ~60 m west of and parallel to the Thunder North discovery hole, No. 039 (10.2 m of 1.46 g/t Au and 15.6 m of 2.41 g/t Au separated by a barren 4.5 m dyke) on the central trend (see Fig. 2). It intersected a similar thickness of favourably sheared and mineralized (pyritized) ash tuff and quartz-feldspar porphyry dykes. This mineralized section contained only anomalous levels of gold but was obtained at a shallower depth and confirms that the Au-fertile shear trend continues significantly westward into the magnetically active area that was previously thought to be prospective only for porphyry Cu-Au-Mo mineralization. Pending Assays The assays for Holes 050, 052 and 053 will be reported later. Hole 050 targeted a magnetic high north of the Rainbow porphyry Cu-Au-Mo Zone (see Fig. 2) which is hosted by magnetite-rich magmatic-hydrothermal breccia. No core was obtained from the upper part of the hole and the missing section was re-drilled as Hole 052. Complete assays have been received for the Hole 050 (lower) core but not for Hole 052 (upper) core. No assays are currently available for Hole 53 which targeted the eastern part of the auriferous central shear trend northeast of the Lightning Zone (see Target 1 of Fig. 2). Follow-up Drilling Plans Follow-up drilling will build systematically on the indicated continuity of the Thunder-Lightning and Thunder North gold trends using a mix of infill, stepout and steeper (i.e. deeper) holes. Methods and Qualified Person The drill core was logged at Tower's leased, fully equipped core facility near Kamloops by Matthew Husslage, P.Geo. and Sean Jubinville, G.I.T. Mr. Husslage has managed or co-managed all of Tower's Rabbit North diamond drilling programs since the discovery of the Lightning Zone in December 2021. Split samples of the core, generally 1.0 or 1.5 m in length, were delivered directly to Activation Laboratories (ActLabs) in Kamloops, BC, a laboratory certified as ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited (Lab 790) by the Standards Council of Canada. QA/QC samples including blanks and standards were inserted regularly into the sample sequence at a ratio of approximately 1:20. The samples were analyzed for Au by fire assay and ICP-OES and for Ag and 36 additional elements by ICP-OES using a four-acid, near-total digestion. Any over-limit (>5 g/t) Au analyses were repeated using the same fire assay procedure but with a gravimetric rather than ICP finish. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Stuart Averill, P.Geo., a director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Tower Resources Tower is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in the Americas. The Company's key exploration assets, all in B.C., are the Rabbit North copper-gold porphyry project located between the New Afton copper-gold and Highland Valley copper mines in the Kamloops mining district, the Nechako porphyry-associated gold-silver project near Artemis' Blackwater project and the More Creek epithermal gold project on the critical "red line" structural zone connecting the mineral deposits of the Golden Triangle. Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Figure 1 - Location of the Rabbit North property. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5023/224687_3c55d2b4d49d3ba9_004full.jpg Figure 2 - Locations of Holes 050 to 054 relative to the five targets of the 2024 drilling program. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5023/224687_3c55d2b4d49d3ba9_005full.jpg Total Depth (m) Mineralized Interval(s) Average Au Grade (g/t) Hole No. Easting (m) Northing (m) Azimuth () Dip () Mineralized Zone(s) From (m) To (m) Length (m) RN21-026 663345 5607460 60 -60 197.0 Lightning 51.0 144.2 93.2 1.42 Including 113.2 132.4 19.2 4.21 RN21-027 663339 5607455 300 -65 209.0 Undetermined 113.7 118.7 5.0 2.09 Undetermined 140.9 150.6 9.7 1.32 RN22-028 663378 5607499 130 -80 293.0 Lightning 36.5 174.5 138.0 1.55 Including 45.5 70.0 24.5 4.76 Including 57.5 59.0 1.5 43.60 Including 69.0 70.0 1.0 27.80 RN22-029 663414 5607464 310 -60 374.0 Lightning 18.5 89.0 70.5 1.78 Including 62.0 75.5 13.5 4.92 Including 66.5 68.0 1.5 20.50 RN22-030 663450 5607504 310 -70 236.0 Undetermined 47.0 52.0 5.0 0.99 Lightning 130.0 137.0 7.0 1.35 Lightning 146.0 156.5 10.5 3.40 RN22-031 663450 5607506 310 -45 230.0 Undetermined 158.0 164.0 6.0 1.94 Lightning North 189.0 211.0 22.0 2.09 Including 209.0 210.0 1.0 19.20 RN22-033 663481 5607558 310 -45 187.0 Lightning North 113.0 114.0 1.0 69.20 RN22-036 663326 5607534 80 -75 220.5 Undetermined 161.1 179.1 18.0 0.89 RN22-037 663353 5607580 250 -60 185.0 Undetermined 19.1 22.1 3.0 2.59 Undetermined 110.4 136.0 25.6 0.66 RN22-038 663307 5607420 52 -60 291.0 Undetermined 60.0 69.9 9.9 0.85 Lightning 136.0 184.0 48.0 1.57 Including 141.0 142.9 1.9 22.50 RN23-039 662871 5607561 144 -45 356.0 Undetermined 142.7 145.7 3.0 4.20 Thunder North 163.5 173.7 10.2 1.46 Thunder North 177.2 192.8 15.6 2.41 Including 191.0 191.8 0.8 25.40 RN23-040 662908 5607578 142 -45 263.0 Thunder North 188.7 196.3 7.7 1.42 RN23-041 662944 5607238 17 -46 303.5 Thunder 124.8 138.0 13.3 3.28 Thunder 148.0 158.1 10.1 2.16 RN23-045 663388 5607461 359 -80 299.0 Lightning 52.0 144.0 92.0 1.13 Including 124.0 144.0 20.0 2.13 RN24-051 663155 5607300 350 -50 281.0 Thunder-Lightning 244.23 248.5 4.27 6.06 Including 247.8 248.5 0.7 24.00 Table 1 - Significant gold intercepts of the shear-hosted type from the Thunder and Lightning trends. Gold-bearing intercepts of the porphyry Cu-Au type are excluded. Gold values are uncut. Samples with Au grades greater than 15 g/t are shown individually. True widths have not been determined. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224687 SOURCE: Tower Resources Ltd. The plant will be the only one of its kind in the United States. The constructed plant will be the only domestic producer of this critical mineral and high-grade industrial product. Extensive domestic and international interest in the new plant's output and products. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Ares Strategic Mining Ltd. (CSE: ARS) (OTCQB: ARSMF) (FSE: N8I) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the fabrication of its state-of-the-art flotation plant has been completed, and the Company has taken possession of the facility. The Company has now begun arranging to ship the plant to the United States, where it will be assembled and integrated into its production construction project. The plant, which will be housed within a specially designed 2-storey structure, is capable of manufacturing acid grade fluorspar (acidspar) through an advanced flotation process. This facility will be the only one of its kind in the United States, positioning Ares as the sole domestic producer of this critical mineral. To ensure the successful construction and optimization of the plant, Ares has arranged for experienced international operators to accompany the facility to Utah, where they will assist with the installation and fine-tuning of the operation. Acid grade fluorspar, or acidspar, is a highly sought-after industrial product, primarily used in the production of Hydrofluoric Acid (HF), which is the principal source of fluorine for various critical industrial applications. These applications include the production of LiPF6, a key electrolyte in Lithium-Ion batteries, aluminum production, refrigerants, fluoropolymers and fluoro-plastics, petroleum cracking, and other specialized uses. The Company is looking to supply this essential mineral internally within North America as part of its role as the only domestic U.S. producer. Ares Acidspar Production Facility To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10880/224619_f10c1daf54c6d82a_002full.jpg James Walker, President and CEO of the Company, said, "The completion of our flotation plant marks a significant milestone not only for Ares but for the entire U.S. industrial landscape. With this facility, we are bringing back a crucial industry to the United States. Acidspar accounts for approximately two-thirds of the U.S. market demand for fluorspar, and this will be the only facility of its kind in the country capable of meeting that demand domestically. By establishing this plant, we are taking an important step toward securing more robust and reliable domestic supply chains. As the U.S. continues to prioritize industrial self-sufficiency, our plant will play a key role in reducing reliance on foreign sources for this critical mineral. We are proud to be part of the drive to strengthen our nation's industrial base, and we will continue to keep everyone informed as we progress towards full production." In 2018 the U.S. government classified fluorspar as a Critical Mineral, "deemed critical to U.S. national security and the economy." Fluorspar remains the only non-metallic Critical Mineral, which is 100% imported in the entire country. Fluorspar's classification as a Critical Mineral in the United States translates to a faster permitting period, enabling mining operations to initiate more quickly than operations for conventional minerals. Lost Sheep Fluorspar Project - Delta, Utah 100% owned - 5,982 acres - 353 Claims Located in the Spor Mountain area, Juab County, Utah, approximately 214 km south-west of Salt Lake City. Fully Permitted - including mining permits. NI 43-101 Technical Report identified extensive high-grade fluorspar with low levels of impurities. Mining plan approved by BLM1 First approved by Rex Rowley - Area Manager, Bureau of Land Management - 24th August 1992. Renewed by Paul B. Baker - Minerals Program Manager, Bureau of Land Management - 12th December 2016. Raul Sanabria, P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release. Mr. Sanabria is not independent to the Company as he is a Director and shareholder. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ARES STRATEGIC MINING LTD. James Walker Chief Executive Officer and President DISCLOSURE AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Companies typically rely on comprehensive feasibility reports on mineral reserve estimates to reduce the risks and uncertainties associated with a production decision. Historically, situations where the issuer decides to put a mineral project into production without first establishing mineral reserves supported by a technical report and completing a feasibility study have a higher risk of economic or technical failure, though some industrial mineral ventures are relatively simple operations with low levels of investment and risk, where the operating entity has determined that a formal prefeasibility or feasibility study in conformance with NI 43-101 and 43-101 CP is not required for a production decision. Based on historical engineering work, geological reports, historical production data and current engineering work completed or in the process by Ares, the Company intends to move forward with the development of its Utah asset. Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. 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. 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 and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224619 SOURCE: Ares Strategic Mining Inc. Including Best Plans for Families, U.S. Citizens Abroad, Foreigners in the USA, and Global Nomads BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / International Citizens Insurance, a leading international insurance broker based in Boston, MA, is excited to announce its updated list of 2024's best global health insurance plans for expats, global citizens, remote workers, and immigrants. We aim to simplify the overwhelming array of international health insurance choices for the growing wave of expats moving to new countries. International Citizens Insurance - Global Health, Life, and Travel Plans International Citizens Insurance - Logo These providers represent the pinnacle of international health insurance, ensuring clients receive top-tier medical care, regardless of location. Whether for expatriates, retirees, long-term travelers, or digital nomads, these plans are designed to meet the diverse needs of today's global citizens. As international moves become increasingly common, access to reliable and comprehensive health insurance is paramount. Today, we are excited to announce the unveiling of the Top 10 International Health Insurance Plans, recognizing the providers that have excelled in offering exceptional global healthcare and peace of mind to clients worldwide. "Our top priority is helping international citizens find a suitable plan for their needs and budget. The companies in our list excel at the key criteria that are most important to people living abroad," said Joe Cronin, President of International Citizens Insurance. "These top insurers are trustworthy and reliable, providing great service to clients wherever they live. We're excited to congratulate this year's winners." International Citizens Insurance judged each insurer on key criteria: the size of its network, the breadth of benefits, the availability of features such as telemedicine, the user-friendliness of filing a claim, the ability to adjust a premium through copays or deductibles, and the insurer's financial stability (A.M. Best). The Top Global Health Insurance Providers for 2024: Cigna Global - A favorite among expatriates and families, Cigna Global offers customizable coverage across multiple regions, allowing policyholders to tailor their plans. GeoBlue Xplorer - Perfect for U.S. citizens abroad and foreign nationals moving to the U.S., GeoBlue Xplorer offers extensive benefits, including access to the U.S. Blue Cross Blue Shield network. IMG Global Medical Insurance - Known for its affordability and flexibility, IMG caters to those seeking comprehensive medical coverage on a budget. Additional options added this year include plans from WorldTrips and Trawick International, which offer short-term international medical plans for expats on shorter assignments. International Citizens Insurance has also identified the best plans for specific clients. These include the best premium health plans for U.S. citizens abroad, the best medical insurance plan for non-U.S. citizens, health insurance for foreigners residing in USA, and the most affordable plans for people on a budget. Learn more about the best international health insurers at: https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/best-companies.php About International Citizens Insurance International Citizens Insurance provides a unique platform that enable travelers and expatriates to research, quote, compare, and purchase international health, life, travel, and expatriate insurance from a variety of international carriers. Contact Information Joe Cronin President media@internationalinsurance.com 617-500-6738 Andrew Blomberg Vice President, Global Group Benefits andrew@internationalinsurance.com (339) 221-5190 SOURCE: International Citizens Insurance View the original press release on newswire.com. Celonis, the leader in Process Mining and Process Intelligence, and Ardoq, a leader in Enterprise Architecture (EA), today launched a joint solution that closes the gap between business and IT. Using Celonis Process Intelligence platform and Ardoq's modern EA technology, the solution creates an enhanced digital twin of the organization. This digital twin shows the correlation between IT operations and business process performance, enabling CIOs to align technology investments with business priorities. "Today's CIO must strike a balance between running the business by optimizing IT and empowering the business through digital transformation," said Eugenio Cassiano, SVP Strategy and Innovation at Celonis. "This new solution from Celonis and Ardoq gives CIOs unprecedented visibility into how IT and business performance relate to each other. It empowers them to make more informed strategic IT decisions and accurately track the business impact of system transformation initiatives." Get the Ultimate Digital Twin with Celonis and Ardoq The importance of digital twin technology in modern businesses cannot be overstated. McKinsey analysis projects the global market for digital twin technology to grow by approximately 60 percent annually over the next five years, reaching $73.5 billion by 2027. This rapid growth underscores the increasing value organizations place on the comprehensive operational visibility, scenario planning, and other benefits provided by digital twins. More than 1,500 of the world's most recognized companies use the Celonis Process Intelligence platform to build a living digital twin of their business operations. It's system-agnostic, without bias, and empowers companies to understand and improve their processes, end-to-end. Using each customer's unique digital twin, Celonis can find the untapped value and enable teams and technologies to capture it. In parallel, Ardoq's vendor neutral, data-driven platform has been adopted by nearly 400 digitally-forward enterprises worldwide. With Ardoq, organizations can unite their enterprise views, improve informed decision-making and accelerate transformation. By joining forces, Celonis and Ardoq are able to enrich the digital twin of an organization with Process Intelligence from Celonis and enterprise architecture data and insights from Ardoq. The solution provides: A single source of truth: Integrates business processes and supporting IT for a multi-dimensional perspective of the organization Integrates business processes and supporting IT for a multi-dimensional perspective of the organization Data-driven business impact: Quantify the impact of IT initiatives on key business metrics Quantify the impact of IT initiatives on key business metrics A system-agnostic solution: Ability to embrace multi-vendor application landscapes to obtain end-to-end integration transparency With the joint solution, CIOs and IT leaders can better support key organizational initiatives, such as: System modernization : The solution combines a process digital twin from Celonis with the context of how processes and systems relate to company strategy. This enables IT leaders to make more informed decisions related to business transformation and track the impact of these initiatives on business processes. : The solution combines a process digital twin from Celonis with the context of how processes and systems relate to company strategy. This enables IT leaders to make more informed decisions related to business transformation and track the impact of these initiatives on business processes. Process and App consolidation: The solution supports the analysis of the quantitative business impact of IT systems using Celonis' Process Intelligence. By combining usage data from Celonis and cost data from Ardoq, customers can better maintain Business Case Adherence by assessing the ROI of applications. "CIOs frequently share how challenging it is to measure the business impact of their technology investments," said Erik Bakstad, CEO and Co-founder at Ardoq. "Now they can. Using Ardoq's enterprise architecture data and Celonis' process intelligence, CIOs can see in real-time how their business transformation efforts are contributing to the organization's long-term goals and delivering maximum value." "As a customer, we are excited about the collaboration between Ardoq and Celonis and its promise to deliver transformative solutions that will enable us to align IT and business objectives more closely," said Jeroen Akkermans, Head of Digital Innovation Enterprise Architecture Digital Tech, DSM-Firmenich. "The integration of process intelligence and process modeling with enterprise architecture will enable us to make data-driven decisions with greater accuracy and agility based on a more comprehensive data foundation. We look forward to the enhanced capabilities and the significant impact this partnership can have on our business success." Register here to attend Celosphere 2024 if you would like to hear more about the latest innovations from Celonis. About Celonis Since 2011, Celonis has helped thousands of the world's largest and most esteemed companies yield immediate cash impact, radically improve customer experience, and reduce carbon emissions. Its Process Intelligence platform uses industry-leading process mining technology and AI to present companies with a living digital twin of their end-to-end processes. For the first time, everyone in an organization has a common language for how the business runs, visibility into where value is hiding, and the ability to capture it. Celonis is headquartered in Munich, Germany and New York City, USA with more than 20 offices worldwide. About Ardoq Ardoq provides a cloud-native SaaS platform for Enterprise Architecture and digital transformation. EAs, managers and enterprise stakeholders are empowered to execute their strategy, strengthening their decision-making process and leverage new technologies faster. Ardoq was founded in 2013 and has offices in New York, London, Oslo and Copenhagen. Ardoq's nearly 400 customers come from all over the globe and span various industries, including companies such as British Telecom, MUFG, Carlsberg Group and ExxonMobil. 2024 Celonis SE. All rights reserved. Celonis and the Celonis "droplet" logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Celonis SE in Germany and other jurisdictions. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926981050/en/ Contacts: Celonis PR Team press@celonis.com Click here to learn more about Celonis. Baoding, China--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - China News Service (CNS) reports on the towel production in Gaoyang County of Chinese northern Hebei Province to promote its unique craftsmanship, by issuing an article and promo video on September 12, 2024. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP-N73N0ey0 According to the article, Gaoyang is the largest hub of towel production in China, where one out of every three towels in the nation originates. More than 4200 textile enterprises are competing to flourish in this region, ranging from the time-honored brand "Yongliang"of Yanzhao, to "Hongrun" with 151 authorized patents, and from "Sanli" promoting branding and e-commerce, to the digital and international "Bailixin". Each is a proud business card of Gaoyang's local economy. Besides towels, other textile products also include quilts, spinning yarn, blankets, seat cushions, carpets ,and knitted fabrics. They have been exported to more than 100 countries and regions in the world such as Japan, the United States, and Russia, reported CNS. Textile manufacturing factory in Gaoyang To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8457/224677_995c2dda44df78a8_001full.jpg Gaoyang was one of the first provincial-level demonstration bases for foreign trade transformation in 2010. Its foreign trade volume, despite imports, or exports, have both maintained a good development momentum, the article reported. Statistics showed that from January to March this year, Gaoyang has exported textile raw materials and textile products worth 481 million yuan, around 67 million US dollars, which accounts for 93% of the total export volume in the county. More information please visit: https://www.chinanews.com.cn/m/cj/2024/09-12/10284615.shtml YouTube: https://youtu.be/oP-N73N0ey0 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224677 SOURCE: The China Box Urteste Expands Development of Innovative Diagnostic Projects Gdansk, Poland - 26 SEPTEMBER 2024, 16:00 CET - Urteste S.A. (Warsaw Stock Exchange: URT), a biotechnology company specializing in the development of breakthrough technology to detect cancer from urine samples, best known for its flagship project PANURI, a diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer. The company's breakthrough technology allows for early detection of cancer by measuring the activity of enzymes present in urine using proprietary synthetic peptides. One urine sample can be used to screen for many types of cancers. Urteste technology is non-invasive, low-cost to produce, and has high sensitivity and specificity, with results available in up to 2 hours. The diagnostic process is automated to minimize the likelihood of human error. A proof-of-concept study of 322 participants confirmed the high sensitivity (95.6%) and specificity (95.5%) of the PANURI test. Urteste is currently participating in the FDA Q-Submission program and is seeking an experienced CRO to support a clinical trial in the US. In addition, Urteste will start the development of a breast cancer diagnostic test project called NASTRO. The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development has just granted the company an approximately $3 million non-refundable grant, which will support clinical trials and move the project significantly closer to the commercialization stage. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the world. According to the "Global Cancer Statistics 2022" report, in 2022 there were more than 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer worldwide and nearly 0.7 million deaths due to these cancers. "The grant awarded will enable us to develop the NASTRO project independently. We have separated this project from MULTI-CANCER, in which we have a total of 12 oncology diagnostic tests. We see great potential in the NASTRO project. Breast cancers are very common. Their diagnosis at an early stage is still a major challenge. There is a lack of a non-invasive, and yet accurate, method of early diagnosis. We plan to conduct a relatively short, uncomplicated, and relatively inexpensive clinical trial in Europe. Our other projects will focus more on the US market," said Grzegorz Stefanski, CEO and co-founder of Urteste S.A. "However, our priorities remain unchanged. We continue to focus most of our attention on the PANURI project, a test for pancreatic cancer. We plan to have another meeting with the FDA under the Q-Submission program. We are also currently looking for an experienced CRO to support us in conducting a clinical trial in the US,"Stefanski added. In the MULTI-CANCER project, Urteste is developing a diverse portfolio of tests. Urteste now has a pipeline of 12 prototype diagnostic tests for the following cancers: pancreatic, brain, breast, stomach, bile ducts, ovary, endometrial, kidney, colorectal, lung, liver, and prostate, which collectively account for nearly 70% of all cancer deaths worldwide. Urteste holds Polish patents and international patent applications for its technology. Urteste's patent strategy is to seek patent protection in countries that collectively generate around 90% of global GDP. The Urteste Management Board will attend MEDICA in Dusseldorf (Germany), 11-14 November. Urteste (Warsaw Stock Exchange: URT) specializes in developing breakthrough technology to detect cancer at early stages. Urteste's motto is "Early cancer detection saves lives." The company's technology detects cancer by measuring the activity of enzymes present in urine. Urteste is developing tests for a dozen of the most common cancers. The Company's team consists of managers with extensive experience in managing medical companies and scientists specialized in the areas of proteolytic enzymes and peptide chemistry. For more information please visit www.urteste.eu/en/home/ For further information please contact: Urteste S.A. Grzegorz Stefanski, CEO urteste@urteste.eu Investor and Media Relations Kamil Majcher k.majcher@newtechcomm.pl Important information This press release (the "Press Release") has been prepared by Urteste S.A. with its registered office in Gdansk (the "Company") and is intended for informational purposes only. Its purpose is to present selected data on the Company and its development prospects. The Press Release does not constitute or form part of, and shall not be construed as, an offer, solicitation or invitation to sell or issue, or an offer, solicitation or invitation to subscribe for, underwrite, purchase or otherwise acquire, any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction, or as an inducement/a recommendation to undertake investment activities in any jurisdiction. This Press Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's business strategy, plans and objectives for future operations. Although the Company believes that these estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The information contained herein is current only as of the date hereof and is subject to material change. The Press Release will not be amended, updated or modified to reflect any changes occurring after that date, unless required by applicable law. The Company shall not be liable for the effects of decisions made after reading the Press Release. This Press Release is not intended for distribution to, or in, any state where the public dissemination of the information contained in this Press Release may be restrictions or be prohibited by law. SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Abzena, the leading end-to-end integrated CDMO for complex biologics and bioconjugates, has announced that its mammalian cell line development platform, AbZelectPRO, has significantly reduced its timelines by >30% and improved its overall protein production levels. The platform now offers biopharma customers the ability to bridge from DNA to research cell bank (RCB) in 10 weeks, producing up to 8g/L of high-performing titres before process development. As of today, AbZelectPRO will be Abzena's standard platform offering for all its customers. The AbZelectPRO platform combines ProteoNic's 2G UNic vector technology with Abzena's host CHO cell line to deliver a higher frequency of high-producing clones for therapeutic protein and recombinant vaccine production. The 2G UNic vector technology uses the combined effect of novel genetic elements to exert a positive effect on recombinant protein production levels and boosts the performance of other expression-enhancing technologies. This integration not only increases product development efficiency and capacity but also reduces the cost of goods for biopharma customers. Simon Keen, VP of Cell Line Development at Abzena, states: "Our goal with AbZelectPRO was to offer our customers a strong cell line development platform with shorter timelines, higher production levels and lower production costs. When we launched the platform in January 2024, we were utilizing data from initial research and development projects. Over the past 10 months we've been fine-tuning the platform, generating more data from real-world projects, which has allowed us to showcase its full potential and benefits to our customers. We are thrilled that AbZelectPRO has been able to consistently demonstrate improved cycle times and productivity, giving our customers more shots on goal in achieving success in the clinic." The AbZelectPRO platform utilizes an optimized expression cassette to generate highly stable clones that maintain productivity beyond 60 generations. The platform's integration with the 2G UNic vector technology has been proven to boost the expression levels for difficult-to-express proteins, including bispecifics, fusion proteins and other novel modalities. The 2G UNic vector technology enhances various facets of protein production, including increased transcription, improved mRNA stability and transport, and more efficient translation. These enhancements work synergistically to achieve significantly higher production levels with Abzena's high-performing cell line. "Integrating our 2G UNic technology into AbZelectPRO enhances the platform's ability to boost yields, especially for challenging modalities such as bispecifics and fusion proteins," said Frank Pieper, CEO of ProteoNic. "This collaboration provides biopharma customers with a more efficient path to higher productivity, addressing their toughest expression challenges" About Abzena Abzena is the leading end-to-end bioconjugate and complex biologics CDMO + CRO. From discovery through commercial launch, we support customers with fully integrated programs or individual services designed to de-risk and streamline the development of new treatments for patients in need. With the ability to tailor its strategy and customer experience to each project, Abzena develops and implements innovative solutions that enable biotech and biopharma companies to realize the full potential of their molecule and move medicines forward faster. The company has research, development, and cGMP facilities across locations in San Diego, CA, Bristol, PA, and Cambridge, UK. Abzena is owned by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, one of the world's leading private equity investors. Learn more at abzena.com. About ProteoNic ProteoNic is a privately held biotechnology company with offices in Leiden, The Netherlands. The company specializes in advanced cell line generation and viral vector production, with a focus on improving the yield and efficiency of protein production using its proprietary 2G UNic vector technology. ProteoNic collaborates with partners across the biopharmaceutical industry to bring innovative biologics as well as cell and gene therapies to market faster and more efficiently. For more information, visit proteonic.nl. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/abzelectpro-enables-biopharma-customers-to-reach-their-research-cell-bank-in-10-weeks-with-8gl-302260052.html DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global medical gas and equipment market is on track to reach $26.44 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% from $19.90 billion in 2024, driven primarily by the increasing prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases and a rising demand for home healthcare services. Key components include essential medical gases like oxygen and nitrous oxide, alongside crucial equipment such as ventilators and regulators that facilitate safe gas delivery for patient care. However, challenges such as declining reimbursements for respiratory therapies and the high costs of advanced systems may hinder market growth. North America currently leads the market due to its developed healthcare infrastructure and regulatory support. Key players like Air Liquide, Linde, and Messer are actively shaping the landscape through strategic acquisitions and technological advancements. As the healthcare sector increasingly prioritizes home-based solutions, the demand for portable medical gas systems is expected to surge, marking a significant opportunity for growth in this dynamic market. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=217979261 Browse in-depth TOC on "Medical Gas and Equipment Market" 394 - Tables 60 - Figures 380 - Pages By type, the medical gas and equipment market is segmented into medical gases and medical gas equipment. In 2023, the medical gas segment accounted for the largest share in the medical gas and equipment market due to the essential role of gases in various medical applications, including anesthesia, respiratory therapy, and medical imaging. The demand for medical gases like oxygen, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide has increased with the increasing prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, expansion of healthcare infrastructure, and the growing need for emergency care and surgical procedures. Additionally, the rising geriatric population and the growing demand for home healthcare services have further contributed to the segment's growth. By application, the medical gas and equipment market is segmented into therapeutic applications, pharmaceutical manufacturing & research, diagnostic applications, and other applications. Therapeutic applications segment dominates the medical gas and equipment market due to the increasing incidence rates of chronic diseases as COPD, asthma or other respiratory conditions that require constant oxygen therapy among other medical gaseous for patient treatment. An aging population that is more vulnerable to such diseases additionally contributes to an increased demand for therapeutic gases including oxygen, nitrous oxide and medical air. Additionally, the advancement of transportable gas delivery devices and home healthcare to facilitate patient treatment outside hospitals has further contributed its growth. By end user, the medical gas and equipment market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, home healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic & research institutions, and other end users. In 2023, the hospitals & clinics segment has emerged as the dominant force in the medical gas and equipment market owing to the rise in demand for their medical gases such as oxygen and nitrous oxide which play an important role in various therapies and diagnostic processes within these health care settings. This is because of the increasing number of surgical procedures being performed, the increasing prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases that require long term respiratory support as well as the rising number of hospitals and clinics around the world. Additionally, hospitals and clinics are the larger consumers of cutting-edge medical devices including gas dispensing systems due to the fact that they need dependable large-scale solutions for different patient care activities ranging from emergency cases to regular treatments. In 2023, North American region accounted for the largest share of the medical gas and equipment market due to several factors, such as the region's advanced healthcare infrastructure with high healthcare expenditure leads to significant demand for medical gases and related equipment. Moreover, the need for oxygen therapy, anesthesia and other medical gases has increased due to the aging population with a high prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases. Also, this region is aided by stringent regulatory standards, robust research and development programs, and presence of key market players in United States and Canada. All these factors combine to make North America a major player in the medicine gas and equipment market. Additionally, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the highest CAGR in the medical gas and equipment market due to an increase in the number of people who are getting old at a faster rate than ever before as well as chronic diseases like respiratory problems or heart problems becoming more common, medical gases and related devices are gaining acceptance hence driving their demand within this region. Furthermore, emerging economies such as China and India have been expanding their healthcare infrastructure thereby increasing their expenditure on healthcare services. Moreover, there has been rising awareness about advanced medical technologies which has made tourists traveling for medical reasons more frequent all of which combine to fuel the market growth in this region. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=217979261 The prominent players in the medical gas and equipment market are Air Liquide (France), Linde Plc (Germany), Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (Japan), Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (US), Atlas Copco AB (Sweden), GCE Group (Sweden), Messer SE & Co. KGaA (Germany), SOL Spa (Italy), Rotarex (Europe), Norco Inc. (US), Genstar Technologies (US), Southern Gas Limited (India), Calox Inc. (US), Ellenbarrie Industrial Gases (India), Steelman Gases Pvt. Ltd. (India), Butler Gas Products Company (US), SCI Analytical (US), Amico Group of Companies (US), Oxygen & Argon Works Ltd. (Israel), AOPL (India), Apex Medical Gas Inc. (US), Chengdu Taiyo Industrial Gases Co., Ltd. (China), Carbide and Chemicals (India), Holston Gases (US), and MEC Medical Ltd. (UK). These players have adopted various growth strategies such as product launches, acquisition, collaboration, agreements, and expansion to increase their presence and reach in the medical gas and equipment market. Air Liquide: Air Liquide is one of the leading supplier of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, technologies, and services. The company operates through three segments, namely, Gas & Services, Engineering & Construction, and Global Markets & Technologies. Air Liquide's Gas & Services business unit is further classified into different geographical areas of Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa and into business areas, namely, Large Industries, Industrial Merchant, Healthcare, Electronics, and Engineering. The company offers medical gas products under its healthcare business. It provides pure gases, specialty gases, and research gases, which include cryobiology and hyperbaric oxygen solutions. Moreover, the company is present in 73 countries and serves more than 3.9 million customers and patients. Linde Plc: Linde Group is a gas and engineering company that consists of two major product lines, namely, Industrial Gases and Engineering. Linde organizes its industrial gas operations based on geography, comprising three reportable segments, namely, Americas, EMEA (Europe/Middle East/Africa), and APAC (Asia/South Pacific). The company's Engineering business operates globally and manufactures equipment for air separation and other industrial gas applications tailored for end customers across all geographic segments. The company's medical gases business is operated through the Industrial Gases division. The company produces, sells, and distributes atmospheric, process, and specialty gases to a different group of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food, and beverage. The company's healthcare sector serves a variety of end users, including hospital care, home care, gas therapies, and care concepts. The Linde Group operates across the Americas, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation: Taiyo Nippon is one of the leading companies in the medical gas and equipment operating through its Matheson Tri-Gas Inc. subsidiary. The company has three business segments, namely, Industrial Gases, Electronics, and Thermos, which are operated & promoted by five reportable segments, namely, Japan, United States, Europe, Asia & Oceania, and Thermos. The company addresses the bulk requirements for gases, for a variety of end users across the aerospace, agriculture, aquaculture, automotive, biofuels, chemical processing, energy, food and beverage, manufacturing, medical and healthcare, metal processing, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, power generation and transmission, semiconductor, universities and research institutes, and welding and fabrication industries. Some of Taiyo Nippon's major subsidiaries include Matheson Tri-Gas Belgium (SPRL) (Belgium), Continental Carbonic Products, Inc. (US), Taiyo Nippon Sanso Clark, Inc. (Philippines), and Nippon Cutting & Welding Equipment Co., Ltd. (Thailand). For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: Home Healthcare Market Respiratory Care Devices Market Respiratory Diagnostics Market Molecular Diagnostics Market Top 10 Medical Device Technologies Market Get access to the latest updates on Medical Gases and Equipment Companies and Medical Gas and Equipment Market Share About MarketsandMarkets: 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. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/medical-gas-and-equipment-market-to-hit-usd-26-44-billion-by-2029-with-5-8-cagr--marketsandmarkets-302259697.html LONDON, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 19th, the catalogue "War and Peace in Russian Porcelain. From the collection of Elena Baturina" was presented at the conference dedicated to the issues of cataloguing art collections. Art historians, critics, experts, museum directors and curators discussed their vision and experience of working with private and museum collections of porcelain and other art objects. The scientific section of the event featured presentations by Khazar Zeynalov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Architecture and Art of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences; Igor Dukhan, Member of the European Society of Culture and the Academy of Architecture, Professor and Head of the Art Department at the Belarusian State University; Iraida Bott, Deputy Director for Scientific and Educational Work of the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve; and Pierre-Christian Brochet, curator of the Contemporary Art department at the School of Design HSE. All of the experts unanimously spoke of the grandeur of both the collection and the catalogue, as well as of their importance for art history in general, and the study of porcelain art in particular. John Bowlt, founder and Director of the Institute of Contemporary Russian Culture at the University of South Carolina and Nicoletta Misler, professor at the L'Orientale, art historian, head of the Center for the Study of Russian Art at L'Orientale prepared a joint address to the conference:"The care, patience, enthusiasm and determination with which Elena Baturina assembled the collection, whether its individual pieces or entire services, are truly admirable. As for the catalogue raisonne: what a magnificent example of scholarship and a monumental effort! Congratulations to all the editors and authors on completing such a pharaonic task - an example of persistent comparative research, a new intellectual perspective." Natalia Sipovskaya, Director of the Institute of Art Studies and the scientific editor of the publication spoke about the production of "War and Peace in Russian Porcelain" in greater detail. Developing the catalogue took seven years and involved more than 100 specialists. Its 1,500 pages contain unique photographs and texts: the analysis of exceptionally important works from the time of Catherine the Great to the last years of the reign of Nicholas II enabled the authors to truly create an encyclopedia of imperial porcelain. Their findings are illustrated and supported by more than 1,200 graphic sources, 800 archival documents, 300 names of commissioners and initial owners, and about 50 projects of forms and original sketches published for the first time. Three volumes, entitled in accordance with the items included "GLORY. Russian Imperial Porcelain: Presentation Pieces", "WAR. Items Painted with Military Figures" and "PEACE. Ceremonial Porcelain of Russian Dinnerware" contain detailed descriptions of 1,500 items out of the 2,000 in the collection overall, and cover all significant events in the history of Russian porcelain, also reflecting the historical and artistic context, dates of creation, names of commissioners and recipients of porcelain gifts, history of their existence reconstructed from hundreds of archival sources. Another achievement of the authors is the scientific apparatus, which contains the study of forms and decorative elements of imperial porcelain - for example, the first complete albums with samples of uniforms of Nicholas' I Russian Guard and Army, an Atlas of Porcelain Flora, an extensive study of Imperial porcelain factory marks are published for the first time. This became possible thanks to the painstaking collecting work of the owner, the experts concluded. Moreover, the analysis of the collection showed that it contains about 500 unique works that have no representation in any other collections. According to the experts, the cost of such a collection is very difficult to estimate with any proximity: "Elena Baturina's collection of Russian and European porcelain is not just large-scale and grandiose in its quantitative and qualitative composition, it is surprisingly cohesive. It is this integrity, consistency and structure of the collection that makes it extremely valuable. And I am not talking about the material value, although it is doubtless and impressive - only by rough estimates we are talking about a quarter of a billion dollars - but, first of all, about the historical, artistic, cultural and scientific value," said Natalia Sipovskaya. English-language copies of the catalogue "War and Peace in Russian Porcelain. From the collection of Elena Baturina" have been submitted to all the major art and art history museums, academies and libraries all over the world. The authors are confident that the publication can facilitate not only new art history discoveries, but overall development of porcelain art. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516779/Press_Office_for_Elena_Baturina.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-academic-catalogue-war-and-peace-in-russian-porcelain-from-the-collection-of-elena-baturina-presented-at-the-international-art-historians-conference-302260082.html Cook brings a wealth of leadership experience in data and analytics to DAS42 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / DAS42, a leading data consultancy and Snowflake partner, today announced it has welcomed industry veteran Susan Payne Cook as CEO. With a long and successful track record in leading some of the most well-known organizations in the data industry, Cook is uniquely qualified to drive innovation and growth, leveraging the company's deep expertise in modern data and analytics design and implementation strategies. "As I learned more about the team and customer use cases at DAS42, I jumped at the chance to take the CEO role. Data is the key enabler for enterprise AI initiatives, and DAS42 is well-positioned to leverage its unique full-stack approach to support customers on this journey. I am also a big believer that Snowflake will be one of the most significant players in modern data architectures going forward so this partnership makes perfect sense," said Cook. "Innovation and technology in data and AI is changing so rapidly that businesses require partners they can trust to have deep knowledge and a strong opinion about the future. Our people are so incredibly skilled and they have the conviction to do what's right for our customers for the long-term. I am honored and beyond excited for the opportunity to lead this team and work with businesses and executives who understand data is foundational for better decisions and outcomes." Most recently, Cook was the CEO and Director of Zaloni, a venture capital-backed end-to-end data governance software start-up that had a successful exit in 2023. Cook has a proven track record of leading large, global go-to-market organizations in companies like Oracle, IBM, and MicroStrategy. "We hand-picked Susan Cook for this role because of her exceptional career as a leader in some of the top data and analytics companies. She has a great balance of sales and operational leadership experience and has worked in big global enterprises and agile startups across both software and services," said Julia Senior, Board Director and Partner at M/C Partners. "We invested in DAS42 because we recognized that data was the essential fuel for businesses to make better and faster decisions and to leverage AI and machine learning to gain competitive advantage. Because of this very complex and fast-changing technology landscape in data, we are fortunate to bring in someone with Cook's deep expertise." Under Cook's leadership and with her extensive experience working across the enterprise technology industry, DAS42 will continue its focus on leveraging modern data technologies and expertise to solve the most vexing business problems for its customers. For more information on DAS42, visit www.DAS42.com. About DAS42 DAS42 is a premier data and analytics consultancy with deep technical and business expertise. We specialize in solving some of the most complex business challenges for the world's most successful companies. As a Snowflake Elite Partner, DAS42 crafts customized strategies that create a single source of truth and enable faster decision-making through sophisticated analytics and AI solutions. DAS42 has a presence across the U.S. with primary offices in New York City and Denver. Connect with us at das42.com and stay updated on LinkedIn. Join us today on our journey to help you realize the possibilities of transforming your business through data and analytics. About M/C Partners M/C Partners is a private equity firm focused on small and mid-size businesses in the digital infrastructure and technology services sectors. For more than three decades M/C Partners has invested $2.4 billion of capital in over 140 companies, leveraging its deep industry expertise to understand long-term secular trends and identify growth opportunities. The firm is currently investing its ninth fund, partnering with promising companies and leadership teams to support, scale, and improve operations and maximize value. For more information, please visit https://mcpartners.com/ Contact Information Colleen Trinkaus c.trinkaus@das42.com SOURCE: DAS42 View the original press release on newswire.com. Tampa, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQX: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company"), a vertically-integrated cannabis company operating under the Fluent brand, announces that it has changed its auditor from Baker Tilly US, LLP (the "Former Auditor") to PKF O'Connor Davies LLP (the "Successor Auditor"). At the request of the Company, the Former Auditor resigned as the auditor of the Company effective September 23, 2024 and the board of directors of the Company appointed the Successor Auditor as the Company's auditor effective September 23, 2024, to hold office until the next annual meeting of the Company. There were no modified opinions expressed in the Former Auditor's reports on any of the Company's financial statements relating to the "relevant period" (as such term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102")). There have been no "reportable events" (as such term is defined in NI 51-102) involving the Company and the Former Auditor. In accordance with NI 51-102, the notice of change of auditor, together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been filed on SEDAR+. About Cansortium Inc. Cansortium is a vertically-integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Company operates under the Fluent brand and is dedicated to being one of the highest quality cannabis companies for the communities it serves. This is driven by Cansortium's unrelenting commitment to operational excellence in cultivation, production, distribution and retail. The Company is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information about Cansortium, please visit www.getfluent.com. Cansortium Inc.'s Common Shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "CNTMF". For more information about the Company, please visit www.getfluent.com. Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward- looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in the public documents of the Company available at www.sedarplus.ca. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224697 SOURCE: Cansortium Inc. Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV:SIC)(OTCQB:SICNF) ("Sokoman" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following updates from the 100%-owned Moosehead Gold Project in central Newfoundland. The current focus at Moosehead is on plans to extract bulk samples. The first sample is a conventional bulk sample on the Western Trend using drill and blast methods (see Plan Map 1 for proposed locations). The second bulk sample is with Novamera Inc. at the Footwall Splay in the Eastern Trend, utilizing Novamera's proprietary surgical mining technique. Due to lengthy lab turnaround times, the Company is waiting for the gold assay results from 28 holes. Timothy Froude, P. Geo., President and CEO, states, "We are thrilled with the advances we've made on both bulk-sample projects and eagerly anticipate the completion of the Western Trend bulk sample this year. The exposed quartz veining is reminiscent of some of the best drill holes on the Moosehead property. This pivotal step will yield critical insights into the metallurgy and gold recoveries at Moosehead, marking a significant milestone in our project's development." Conventional Bulk Sample - Western Trend Three areas (labelled A, B and C on Plan Map 2) within the Western Trend were drill tested with a series of short holes to determine the best location to extract a conventional bulk sample of 1,000 cubic metres (approximately 2,700 tonnes). Area C (see Plan Map 2) was chosen, and the excavation is underway. A zone of quartz veining with associated altered and mineralized mafic dyke has been exposed in the center of the trench (see Image 1), which is believed to be linked to a 1.5 m wide quartz vein intersected in drill hole MH-24-618, which contained 25 specks of visible gold. MH-24-618 is located approximately 10 m south of the end of the exposed vein. The trench has yet to be fully excavated, with mapping and sampling to commence immediately upon completion. Preliminary examination of the exposed quartz veining has identified locally abundant boulangerite and arsenopyrite mineralization with random specks of visible gold noted in multiple locations. The final layout of the bulk sample dimensions will be completed in about two weeks once all sampling of the exposed mineralization has been done. All assays are pending. Novamera Partnered Bulk Sample - Footwall Splay To date, two sets of historical and Novamera drilled holes, six in total, have been surveyed by Novamera in the Footwall Splay area, and final modelling is ongoing. The objective is to define a similar-sized area to the conventional bulk sample to be extracted utilizing Novamera's surgical mining technique. Meanwhile, the Company has been informed by Novamera that the rig that will be taking the potential sample is under contract until June 2025, at which time it will be available for Sokoman's program. It is the Company's intention to use leftover material from the conventional bulk sample as ballast for the Novamera rig, saving time and cost on that program. The Company will provide further updates from Novamera as they become available. Plan Map 1: Proposed bulk-sample areas Image 1: Western Trend trench with exposed quartz veining Plan Map 2: Recent drilling and test sites for Western Trend bulk sample (A, B, C) Diamond Drilling Recent diamond drilling has focused on outlining an area suitable for a conventional (drill and blast) bulk sample in the Western Trend. Three areas were tested with a series of short holes; to date, all assays are outstanding. The Company also anticipates results from recent drillings at the 552 Zone and several reconnaissance holes north of the Eastern Trend. Currently, gold assay turnaround times exceed six weeks, with full and partial (metallics) results pending for 28 holes shown on the drill hole plan (see Plan Map 2). Diamond-drilling operations are on hold, pending guidance from Novamera and insights from Dr. David Coller's structural report for the deep-drilling program. Dr. Coller is producing a project-scale and regional-scale structural model on which to base a deeper drilling program at Moosehead. He is integrating regional structural data from the Valentine Lake and Queensway mineralized trends and areas northeast of Moosehead, recognizing its position within a larger, complex structural domain that extends beyond our property borders. This comprehensive understanding of the regional structural history is crucial for interpreting Moosehead's structural context. We anticipate Dr. Coller's final report by late Q4 2024 or early Q1 2025. QP This news release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Froude, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of Sokoman Minerals Corp. Analytical Techniques / QA/QC Samples, including duplicates, blanks, and standards, are submitted to Eastern Analytical Ltd. in Springdale, Newfoundland for gold analysis. All core samples submitted for assay are saw cut by Sokoman personnel with one-half submitted for assay and one-half retained for reference. Samples are delivered in sealed bags directly to the lab by Sokoman personnel. Eastern Analytical Ltd. is an accredited assay lab that conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. Samples with visible gold are submitted for total pulp metallics with a gravimetric finish. All other samples are analyzed by standard fire assay methods. Total pulp metallic analysis includes: the entire sample being crushed to -10 mesh; and then pulverized to 95% -150 mesh. The total sample is weighed and screened to 150 mesh; the +150-mesh fraction is fire-assayed for Au, and a 30 g subsample of the -150-mesh fraction is fire-assayed for Au; with a calculated weighted average of total Au in the sample reported as well. One blank and one industry-approved standard for every twenty samples submitted is included in the sample stream. Random duplicates of selected samples are analyzed in addition to the in-house standard and duplicate policies of Eastern Analytical Ltd. All reported assays are uncut. About Sokoman Minerals Corp. Sokoman Minerals Corp. is a discovery-oriented company and one of the largest landholders in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's emerging gold district. The Company's primary focus is its portfolio of gold projects; the 100%-owned flagship, advanced-stage Moosehead, Crippleback Lake, and the district-scale Fleur de Lys project near Baie Verte in northwestern Newfoundland, targeting Dalradian-type orogenic gold mineralization similar to the Curraghinalt and Cavanacaw deposits in Northern Ireland. The Company entered a strategic alliance with Benton Resources Inc. through three, large-scale, joint-venture properties including Grey River, Golden Hope, and Kepenkeck in Newfoundland. In October 2023, Sokoman and Benton completed an agreement with Piedmont Lithium Inc., a major developer of lithium projects and processing plants in the USA, and exactly the right partner to have to advance the lithium project. For full details of the agreement please refer to the Company's press release dated October 11, 2023. Projects optioned with optionee fully vested: East Alder Project optioned to Canterra Minerals Inc (SIC retains 850,000 shares of CTM plus 1% NSR) Startrek Project optioned to Thunder Gold (SIC retains 1,750,000 shares of TGOL plus 1% NSR) For more information, please contact: Timothy Froude, P.Geo., President & CEO T: 709-765-1726 E: tim@sokomanmineralscorp.com Cathy Hume, VP Corporate Development, Director T: 416-868-1079 x 251 E: cathy@chfir.com Website: www.sokomanmineralscorp.com Twitter: @SokomanMinerals Facebook: @SokomanMinerals LinkedIn: @SokomanMineralsCorp 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. Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of the Corporation should be considered highly speculative. Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward- looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Sokoman Minerals Corp. will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by Sokoman Minerals Corp. SOURCE: Sokoman Minerals Corp. Balekian Hayes, PLLC Partners Receive Recognition by Super Lawyers Magazine Each year, Super Lawyers identifies the top lawyers in Texas through a patented multiphase selection process. Those with the highest scores are recognized in Texas Super Lawyers' Top Lists. Among the distinguished five percent of Texas attorneys on this coveted list are Dallas-based family law attorneys Kris Balekian Hayes and John Withers, Jr. Honorees are selected based on peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research, with each candidate assessed on 12 criteria related to peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made annually on a state-by-state basis, aiming to create a credible and diverse resource for those seeking legal counsel. "It is a privilege to be recognized as one of the top attorneys in Texas," says Kris Balekian Hayes, managing partner of Balekian Hayes, PLLC. "Alongside my partner John Withers, Jr., we understand that divorce can be an incredibly stressful and challenging experience, which is why selecting a trustworthy attorney is so important. We are committed to being honest with our clients, while honesty may sometimes come at a cost, our clients deserve nothing less. This dedication has earned us recognition from industry leaders and referrals from our loyal clients." Hayes earned her law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, along with an MBA from St. Mary's University School of Business. With over 20 years of family law experience, she is distinguished by her dual certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in family law and child welfare-an honor held by only 47 family lawyers in Texas. Additionally, she is a credentialed mediator in civil, family, and CPS matters and is licensed by the Supreme Court of the United States, showcasing her exceptional qualifications. John Withers Jr., also a dual board-certified attorney, has earned accolades as a Super Lawyer and nominee for Best Lawyers due to his unwavering commitment to excellence and client advocacy. A Dallas native, he holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as part of the U.S. Army Reserve. Withers earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University and has extensive legal experience, having served as an assistant district attorney and co-founding a successful law firm. His dedication extends beyond the courtroom through his military service and involvement in the State Bar College and the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. At Balekian Hayes, PLLC in Dallas, leadership and commitment to clients are at the core of the firm's reputation. The repeated recognition by Super Lawyers highlights the individual excellence of each partner and reflects the firm's high standards. For more information about Kris Balekian Hayes, John Withers, Jr., and the services offered at Balekian Hayes, PLLC, please visit their website. About Balekian Hayes: Led by Kris Balekian Hayes, the family law attorneys of Balekian Hayes PLLC are dedicated to fighting for their clients and their clients' children. From contested divorces, to child possession disputes, to out-of-court mediation and arbitration proceedings, the firm provides the knowledge and expertise needed to help people during what can be one of the most stressful times in their lives. To learn more about Balekian Hayes, visit https://www.bh-pllc.com/. Media Contact: Katie Mudd katie@thevokolgroup.com 214-676-4254 SOURCE: Balekian Hayes Family Law On September 23, 2024, the Anhui Provincial Culture and Tourism Department successfully held a cultural tourism promotion event in Istanbul. The event was hosted by Deputy Director Wang Jing, with notable attendees from Turkey including Murat Cebi, Chairman of the AK Parti Istanbul Provincial Committee; Bilginer Arslan, Head of Foreign Relations for the AK Parti Istanbul; Mr. Huseyin Gazi Cosan, Deputy Mayor of Istanbul for Culture and Tourism; and Eda Caglayan, Director of TGA Asia Region. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926421153/en/ Anhui Provincial Culture and Tourism Department in Istanbul: Promotion and Exchange Activities for Mutual Development (Photo: Business Wire) During the promotional segment, Directors Qin Guowei and Hao Peizhong provided an in-depth introduction to the ecological tourism resources of Lu'an City and the historical and cultural features of Shou County. The event also featured a Huizhou tea ceremony performance showcasing Huangshan Mao Feng tea, allowing attendees to experience the essence of Eastern culture. Additionally, the promotion included a traditional Huangmei Opera performance, with actors Zhang Xiaowei and Wang Ying presenting an excerpt from the classic opera "The Couple Returns Home." Their excellent performances received enthusiastic applause. Beyond the promotional event, Deputy Director Wang Jing and her team also visited the Antalya Tourism Bureau and the Antalya branch of the Turkish Tourism Association. These activities aim to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Anhui and Turkey in the cultural tourism sector, enhance Anhui's international visibility and influence in cultural tourism, and actively integrate into global tourism development, establishing Anhui as an internationally influential cultural tourism destination. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926421153/en/ Contacts: Company Name: Anhui Provincial Culture and Tourism Website: https://www.ahctic.cn/ Email: ahswlt@163.com Contact: Ying Zhu Lyon, France - 26 September 2024 - 6pm CEST - Theranexus, a biopharmaceutical company innovating in the treatment of rare neurological diseases, today publishes its first half results as of 30 June 2024. Theranexus Chairman and CEO, Mathieu Charveriat, comments: "We have adopted a rigorous cost reduction policy, with a strong impact on our operating expenses, while maintaining our operational capabilities. The costs related to clinical trials fell sharply because of completion of the Phase I/II clinical trial of our Batten-1 drug candidate. We are convinced of Batten-1's strong therapeutic potential in light of the latest highly positive Phase I/II results[1] and following the reduction in overall costs for Phase III, and we are currently exploring several options to pursue development of our Batten-1 drug candidate in a pivotal phase trial in Europe and the United States". First half 2024 financial results Completion of the USA Phase I/II clinical trial of the Batten-1 drug candidate at the end of the first half of 2024, combined with the company's cost reduction efforts, resulted in a substantial decline in operating expenditure. Compared with the first half of 2023, other purchases and external charges were practically halved (-47%), and payroll costs fell by almost a third (-29%). With a grant of 2.2 million accounted for in the income statement, and the Research Tax Credit for the period, the company recorded a slight profit for the half-year period. In K (French GAAP) H1 2024 H1 2023 Turnover Operating income 2,221 254 Other purchases and external charges 1,294 2,457 Wages and social security charges 1,073 1,520 Amortization and depreciation 47 168 Other operating expenses 32 31 Operating expenses 2,446 4,176 Net operating income/(expenses) -226 -3,921 Net financial income/(expense) 36 59 Income tax -291 -216 Net income/(expense) 101 -3,646 The 2024 half-year results were approved by the company's Board of Directors on 26 September 2024 and were the subject of a report by the company's Statutory Auditors. Operating grants for the first half of 2024 amounted to 2,221 K, 2,201 K of which corresponding to 80% of the repayable advances granted in connection with the PSPC Neurolead project, canceled by BPI France on project completion. Other purchases and external charges decreased during the first half of 2024 to 1,294 K, down from 2,457 K. This item mainly includes R&D costs incurred by the company. The study purchases and research services item fell sharply due to completion of the Phase I/II clinical trial for Batten-1, which began in the first half of 2022. The other charges also fell due to the cost reduction policy implemented by the company at the end of 2023. Wages and social security charges decreased sharply, with 1,073 K in the first half of 2024 as opposed to 1,520 K over the same period in 2023. The Research Tax Credit (CIR) calculated for the first half is 291 K. The result is a profit of 101 K in the first half of 2024 as against a loss of 3,646 K in the first half of 2023. Total available funds on 30 June 2024 stood at 1,754 K (compared with 4,905 K on 31 December 2023). Taking into account the 785 K Research Tax Credit reimbursement expected in the third quarter of 2024 and the final instalment of the Neurolead grant, the company considers it will be able to cover the funding requirements of its operational activities until at least Q1 2025. Next financial publication: Wednesday 23 October 2024: Cash position as of 30 September 2024 About Theranexus Theranexus is an innovative biopharmaceutical company that emerged from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). The company has a unique platform for the identification and characterization of advanced therapy drug candidates targeting rare neurological disorders and an initial drug candidate in clinical development for Batten disease. Theranexus is listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris (FR0013286259- ALTHX). For more information : http://www.theranexus.com Follow us on Twitter et Linkedln Contacts : THERANEXUS Christine PLACET Chief Financial Officer contact@theranexus.com FP2COM Florence PORTEJOIE Medias relations + 33 (0)6 07 76 82 83 fportejoie@fp2com.fr [1] https://www.theranexus.com/images/pdf/Theranexus_PR_Results_18_Nf_biomarkers_DEF.pdf ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: yWycYZWXZGedlpppY5ptbZVqaZpjmWiabGibx5JoaZ6YmGtlnZdkaZWVZnFonmds - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-87926-theranexus_pr_first_half_financial_results_vdef.pdf West Allis, Wisconsin--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Milwaukee Fly Limo, with its late-model SUV fleet, is redefining what customers can expect from a Milwaukee limo service, offering top-tier luxury transportation throughout the area. This expansion is part of the company's vision of providing limo services to more people, especially those interested in exploring the city's rich culture and famous breweries. To celebrate this new chapter, the company has launched a new website. The site is uniquely designed to help visitors interested in learning more about the company, viewing the luxurious fleet, or reading reviews from other clients. Visitors can also book a ride, talk to a representative, or read more about limousines and airports in Southern Wisconsin. Milwaukee Fly Limo Debuts Elite Limo Service, Setting New Standards for Luxury Travel To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/224671_8f91bfd9d461c964_001full.jpg Milwaukee Fly Limo is a sister company to the award-winning Contact Limo LLC, which recently won Quality Business Awards in the "Best Limousine Service In Kenosha" category. The same management team, known for prioritizing client satisfaction with top-of-the-line vehicles, is also running the new company. The team intends to replicate its success in Kenosha, WI, while customizing its offerings to match Milwaukee's transportation needs. The team behind Milwaukee Fly Limo has over 20 years of combined experience in customer service and transportation, bringing a wealth of expertise to every ride. As a trusted limo service provider in Milwaukee, they ensure that each journey meets the highest standards of luxury and comfort. Milwaukee Fly Limo has a dedicated team available 24/7 to assist travelers from the initial booking until they arrive at the final destination. In addition to excellent customer service, all chauffeurs are highly trained, licensed, and dedicated to providing stress-free rides. Milwaukee Fly Limo serves all types of clients, including both first-time visitors and residents. Clients can request limousine services for airport transfers, corporate travel, special events, or any other need. In each of these travels, the team offers highly customized services to meet every need. If clients have specific needs or require more flexible packages, the company listens and tries to bring the ideas to life as much as possible. In addition to client-centered policies and services, Milwaukee Fly Limo has a fleet consisting primarily of the newest luxury SUV models, which are spacious for high-end occasions. The company ensures each vehicle is well-maintained and clean for added comfort. The Milwaukee Limo Service provider also believes that quality service should extend to transparency and competitiveness in pricing. There are no hidden fees or surprise price hikes, which gives clients peace of mind while enjoying limo rides. Additionally, the company provides clients with a clear breakdown of costs upfront to help them plan accordingly. About Milwaukee Fly Limo: Milwaukee Fly Limo offers luxury limo services to people planning special events, corporate events, airport transfers, and others such as weddings and wine tours. In addition to the company's dedication to professionalism, clients' comfort, and maintaining international standards, the chauffeurs are punctual, experienced, and professional. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224671 SOURCE: GetFeatured 2024 half-year sales at 13.8 million, down -7% Backlog 1 at 17.9 million in H1 2024, +73% vs. H1 2023 Gross margin drop to 21% from 41% in H1 2023 With a cash position 2 of 4.7 million as of June 30, 2024 and current orders forecast for H2, the Company's financial visibility goes until end of November 2024 Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on October 23, 2024, in view of a contemplated capital increase with preferential subscription rights3 Regulatory News: BALYO (FR0013258399, Ticker: BALYO), technology leader in the design and development of innovative robotic solutions for industrial trucks, today announces its results for the first half of 2024, approved by the Board of Directors on September 26, 2024. Pascal Rialland, CEO of BALYO, states: "The 2024 first half results were marked by a slower than expected dynamic in Direct Sales which was needed to compensate for the end of order commitments from Linde Material Handling. Still, order intake was in majority generated in direct, representing 68% of total orders received, and our sales were mostly driven by the US market. However, the deployment of service force combined with depreciation of stock and unfavorable product mix over H1 have generated higher costs compared with last year first semester, thus impacting our operating profit for the period. Concurrently, with regards to our current cash position, we recently announced our intention to launch a capital increase with preferential subscription rights of 36 million, which is subject to the Shareholders' Meeting to be held on October 23. The goal of this transaction is two-fold: reinforce our balance sheet and extend BALYO's cash requirements for the 12-month period following the implementation of the transaction to further support our sales momentum. All our teams remains highly dedicated to keep the sales momentum and maintain control over the costs to preserve our cash position." 2024 First Half Activity As already announced, in the second quarter of 2024, BALYO recorded sales at 8.5 million, compared to 7.6 million in Q2 2023, up 12%. In total, sales for the first half of 2024 stood at 13.8 million, a slight decrease of 7% compared with the first half of 2023. As a reminder, sales for the first half of 2023 had benefited from the order commitment contract from Linde Material Handling. By region, lower activity can be observed in the EMEA region in the first half of 2024, where BALYO posted sales of 5.9 million, down -45%. Sales in the United States and APAC grew respectively by +103%, to 6.6 million, and +54%, to 1.2 million, in the first half of 2024. After incorporating new orders, the backlog sets at 17.9 million as of June 30, 2024, up sharply over 10.3 million as of June 30, 2023. BALYO's sales momentum was mainly driven by a 69% increase in order intake over the second quarter of 2024, reaching 5.5 million at end of June 2024. The geographical breakdown shows a surge in the backlog, both in the United States (+215%) and the APAC region (+116%), while the business in EMEA slightly declined. Over the period, direct order intake represented 68% of total orders received, compared with 24% at end of Q2 2023, a level of performance very close to the Company's ambitions. 2024 Half-Year Financial Results* In million H1 2024 H1 2023 Change Sales revenue 13.79 14.89 -7% Cost of sales -10.84 -8.76 +24% Gross profit 2.94 6.13 -52% Gross margin rate 21% 41% -20pts Research and Development -2.77 -2.36 +17% Sales and Marketing -1.90 -1.78 +7% General and administrative expenses -4.11 -3.72 +11% Share-based payment expense -0.11 Other operating profit and expenses -1.16 Operating loss -7.01 -1.85 -279% Financial expense -0.39 -0.54 -28% Net loss -7.40 -2.43 -205% Cash position (as of June 30) 4.73 2.16 *The limited review by the Statutory Auditors and the related report are currently being finalized. In the first half of 2024, the gross profit amounted to 2.9 million, down -52% vs. the first half of 2023. BALYO recorded higher costs of sales relating to a defavorable product mix and an exceptional depreciation on components and batteries inventories amounting to 0.6 million due to obsolescence. As a result, the gross margin decreased to 21% as of June 30, 2024 from 41% as of June 30, 2023. Operating expenses stood at 9.95 million, up 25% due to higher expenses in R&D (+17%), sales and marketing (+7%) and general and administrative (+11%). This increase is related to higher personnel costs and BALYO's participation to major trade fairs to extend the Company's footprint in the United States. After taking these items into account, the operating loss for the period came to -7 million, compared with -1.9 million in the first half of 2023. Net financial expense came to -0.4 million, compared with -0.5 million as of June 30, 2023, impacted mainly by the fair value of convertible bonds. Overall, net income for the first half of 2024 totaled -7.4 million, compared with -2.4 million for the first half of 2023. As of June 30, 2024, BALYO had 169 employees, compared with 155 at the end of December 2023. Financial Position and Outlook On June 30, 2024, BALYO's cash position2 stood at 4.7 million, compared to 8.6 million as of December 31, 2023. Based on the Company's cash position on June 30, 2024, firm order intake, the level of the backlog1 and current forecasts and postponement of payment deadlines granted to BALYO by one of its main suppliers initially scheduled in 2024 to 2025, BALYO has the necessary financial resources to fund its operations until end of November 2024. On September 24, 2024, BALYO's cash position2 stood at 2.4 million. The Company currently anticipates that it will continue to generate losses in the short and mid-terms, and that its cash position as of September 24, 2024 will therefore not be sufficient to cover operating requirements for the next 12 months after that date. As a result, there is uncertainty about BALYO's ability to continue as a going concern over the next 12 months. Given the above-mentioned items, on September 9, 2024, BALYO announced its intention to launch a capital increase with preferential subscription rights of 36 million (the "Rights Issue"). An Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting will be held on October 23, 2024, to give a delegation to the Board of Directors to allow the Company to complete the contemplated Rights Issue. The purpose of this capital increase is both to reinforce BALYO's balance sheet as well as to satisfy its cash requirements over the 12-month period following the transaction. The contemplated Rights Issue is subject to (i) the approval by the Shareholders' Meeting of a financial delegation to the Board of Directors, and (ii) the French Autorite des marches financiers' (the "AMF") approval on the prospectus relating to the Rights Issue. Upon satisfaction of the above-mentioned conditions, the SoftBank Group ("SoftBank" through SVF II Strategic Investments AIV LLC ("SSI AIV"), the main Company shareholder), is planning to (x) subscribe to the Rights Issue prorata its shareholding of circa 80% following partial conversion of the convertible bonds in the Company issued to SSI AIV and (y) in the event of any shares remaining unsubscribed at the completion of the rights issue period, SSI AIV is willing to subscribe for such shares, up to 100% of the offering. SSI AIV's subscriptions would be partially effected through set-off against the then outstanding amounts owed to SoftBank under (i) the shareholder loan executed on March 21, 20244 (approx. 13.2 million), and (ii) part of the convertible bonds issued by the Company and subscribed by SSI AIV on June 14, 20235 (approx. 2.7 million). SoftBank has indicated that it contemplates, following the completion of the Rights Issue, to keep the Company listed for a period of at least 12 months. The financial terms of the Rights Issue would be determined on the basis of the then-applicable market conditions. Over the next weeks, BALYO will therefore keep on working in the rebound of its commercial momentum, by leveraging on its model based on Direct Sales and maintaining tight control over its costs to preserve its cash position. 2024 Half-Year Financial Report BALYO will make available to the public and submit to the Autorite des marches financiers its half-year financial report as of June 30, 2024, within the legal timeframe. The 2024 half-year financial report will be made available by September 30, 2024, on BALYO's website at www.balyo.com, in the "Documentation" section. Next BALYO financial announcement: third quarter 2024 revenue, on October 24, 2024 after market closing. About BALYO Humans around the World deserve enriching and creative jobs. At BALYO, we believe that pallet movements in DC and manufacturing sites should be left to fully autonomous robots. To execute this ambition, BALYO transforms standard forklifts into intelligent robots thanks to its breakthrough Driven by Balyo technology. Our leading geo guidance navigation system enables robots to locate their position and navigate autonomously inside buildings without the need for any additional infrastructure. To accelerate the material handling market conversion to autonomy, BALYO has entered into two global partnerships with KION (Fenwick-Linde's parent company) and Hyster-Yale Group. A full range of globally available robots has been developed for virtually all traditional warehousing applications; Tractor, Pallet, Stackers, Reach and VNA-robots. BALYO and its subsidiaries in Boston and Singapore serve clients in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The company has been listed on EURONEXT since 2017 and its sales revenue reached 26.7 million in 2023. For more information, visit www.balyo.com. _________________________________ 1 The backlog refers to all project orders received but not yet delivered. The backlog of BALYO refers to all orders for projects received but not yet delivered and evolves every quarter following the taking into account of new orders, the revenue generated by projects during the period and any orders modification or cancellation. 2 This cash position corresponds to the cash and cash equivalents item in the consolidated financial statements. 3 "Announcement of an Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting on October 23, 2024, in View of a Contemplated Capital Increase with Preferential Subscription Right", on September 9, 2024 4 Find the terms and conditions on BALYO's investor website in the "Documentation" section 5 "Proposed tender offer from SoftBank Group to acquire Balyo's shares", June 14, 2023 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926723488/en/ Contacts: BALYO investors@balyo.com NewCap Financial Communication and Investor Relations Thomas Grojean Aurelie Manavarere Phone: +33 1 44 71 94 94 balyo@newcap.eu TBILISI, Georgia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week, the union representing workers of Evolution Georgia, LABOR, petitioned the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen) to review Evolution's public filings. In a separate letter, LABOR warned the company's shareholders that Evolution's adversarial treatment of employees who seek to exercise freedom of association and collective bargaining rights undermines the core feature of its business model. "We asked for basic things like having a doctor on-site and addressing sanitation issues. They rejected everything, leaving us no choice but to strike. Evolution has built its business on the shoulders of its workers in Georgia and they're expanding in the United States and elsewhere. If this is how they're treating us it should be a sign to investors about their business practices going forward," said Evolution Gaming employee Makhare Patashuri, a worker on strike. On July 12, over half of Evolution Gaming's 8,000 employees in Tbilisi, the Republic of Georgia's capital, went on strike to protest low wages, unsanitary working conditions and other unfair labor practices. Workers presented 44 concerns to the company, noting safety and health issues, including ventilation and temperature control issues and unsanitary work environments. Evolution adheres to OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, under which investors have a responsibility to use their influence with companies to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts. On August 1, striking workers staged a sit-in at the company headquarters and were met with violence and intimidation, and more than 1,000 workers were laid off in retaliation. The company has been accused of sharing hundreds of strikers' personal information and risking their safety, and on the night of September 15, one of the strike organizers was attacked near his home. "The strikers have been locked out and kicked out," said Giorgi Diasamidze, Leader of the Trade Union LABOR. "Insulting remarks and workplace conflicts are becoming more frequent, and that's what brought even more people out in protest. Evolution's shareholders need to take a hard look at their investment and hold the company accountable for honoring the fundamental rights of the workers whose labor is crucial to the success and healthy reputation of the company." Evolution cannot afford to discount the importance of maintaining a stable, fairly compensated, duly respected gaming workforce at its main hub. Stakeholders in Evolution have a common interest with LABOR members in preserving the viability of Evolution's long-term market position. The ESG case from China's Sinopec, titled "Empowering Green Development, Co-Creating a Zero-Carbon Future," stood out from dozens of entries and was awarded the Best Case in the Environmental Protection category at the first Sino-European Corporate ESG Best Practice Conference held in Frankfurt, Germany. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926903754/en/ An ESG case from China's Sinopec was awarded the Best Case in the Environmental Protection category at the first Sino-European Corporate ESG Best Practice Conference held in Frankfurt, Germany. (Photo: Business Wire) Walter Doring, Chairman of German World Market Leaders Association, on behalf of the event's organizing committee, announced the results. He stated, "Sinopec has demonstrated exceptional practical value in environmental protection. Through its comprehensive environmental management system and innovative technological means, as well as the use of clean energies such as geothermal hydrogen and CCUS, Sinopec has achieved significant emission reductions and green development." The conference committee recognized that Sinopec's case reflects the company's firm steps toward green development, making it highly readable and valuable as a reference. As a result, they granted it the Best Environmental Protection Case award. In his keynote speech at the conference, Sinopec spokesperson Yu Yongsheng said that Sinopec, as an integrated energy and chemical company and a leading participant in the UN Global Compact, always upholds its brand commitment of "Clean Energy, Better Life." Sinopec actively incorporates ESG as a deliberate choice, embedding the concepts of responsibility, innovation, and sustainability into its corporate strategy and operations, transforming ESG from an "idea" into a soft power that strengthens the company, and striving to build a world-leading clean energy and chemical company. Sinopec continuously enhances its ESG capabilities, contributing to the high-quality development of the enterprise. As the world's largest oil refining company and the second-largest producer of chemical products, Sinopec adheres to its corporate mission of "fueling a better life" and seeks the harmonious development of the company and society. In recent years, in response to the severe challenges of global climate change and energy security, Sinopec has continuously improved its ESG governance structure, vigorously implemented its green and clean development strategy, steadily promoted energy transformation, embraced the trend of electrified transportation, and earnestly fulfilled its social responsibilities while strengthening corporate governance efficiency. Since 2007, Sinopec has published its corporate sustainability report for 18 consecutive years. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240926903754/en/ Contacts: PR Contact: EncycloVision (Shenzhen) Brand Communication Co., Ltd. Eason Zhou Email: evisionsinfo@gmail.com The CDC reports that healthcare workers in the U.S. face an estimated 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries every year. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Responding to the growing concern regarding needlestick injuries, BioMedical Waste Solutions, a leading medical waste disposal company with locations in Los Angeles, CA, is proactively informing the community about the risks of incorrect medical waste disposal, especially concerning needles. Los Angeles Biomedical Waste Los Angeles Biomedical Waste Based on a CDC report, roughly 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries occur annually among U.S. healthcare workers. This number could be much bigger due to unreported cases, particularly in private residences where elderly individuals and the 38.4 million Americans living with diabetes rely on daily needle use. Emphasizing the threats associated with sharps injuries in the transmission of severe diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports the following global annual infection rates among healthcare workers: Nearly 2,005,000 cases of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) 66,000 cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) 16,000 cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) These infections can lead to serious repercussions, including the possibility of fatality or enduring health issues, such as disabilities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mentions that nearly one in three sharps injuries happen at the time of disposal, reinforcing the critical importance of adhering to rigorous medical waste disposal standards to safeguard both healthcare workers and the broader community. To remedy this situation, the Los Angeles medical waste disposal company BioMedical Waste Solutions will release The Definitive Guide to Medical Waste Disposal in 2024. This essential guide offers crucial advice on safely disposing of needles, syringes, and other sharp materials, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to safety enhancement and infection prevention through proper waste disposal. The guide features five vital suggestions for minimizing the occurrence of needlestick injuries: Opt for containers that are FDA-approved for the secure disposal of sharps. Ensure disposal containers are filled within capacity. Refrain from inserting your hand into sharps disposal containers. Avoid the practice of recapping needles after use. Place sharp objects and disposal containers in areas that are inaccessible to children. JP Richards, Director of Communications at BioMedical Waste Solutions, remarked, "The increasing frequency of needlestick injuries and their serious implications for healthcare workers and the community are significant concerns. Our guide is vital for preventing these injuries and ensuring the safety of healthcare providers and individuals using needles at home. We are dedicated to delivering dependable Los Angeles medical waste disposal solutions. Together, we can mitigate the risks associated with needlestick injuries." BioMedical Waste Solutions urges healthcare facilities, professionals, and individuals using needles to explore their extensive guide for properly disposing of sharps and medical waste. The company's expertise and advanced technology guarantee the safe handling, transportation, and disposal of medical waste, adhering to the highest national, state, and local standards. For further details on safe medical waste disposal or to view the guide from BioMedical Waste Solutions, please visit their website at https://www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com/medical-waste-disposal/ or reach out directly at 346-660-4994 or JPRichards@BioMedicalWasteSolutions.com. To learn more about this Los Angeles medical waste disposal company, visit: https://www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com/locations/california/los-angeles-medical-waste-disposal/. About BioMedical Waste Solutions: BioMedical Waste Solutions is a leading medical waste disposal company dedicated to providing safe and reliable solutions for the management and disposal of medical waste. With a commitment to environmental responsibility and public health, the company serves healthcare facilities, private practices, dental offices, veterinarians and laboratories across America. BioMedical Waste Solutions offers comprehensive services to ensure the proper collection, transportation, and disposal of medical waste, including sharps, in compliance with all regulatory requirements. Contact Information JP Richards Director of Communications releases@drakedigital.com (346) 660-4994 SOURCE: Biomedical Waste Solutions View the original press release on newswire.com. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Wellfield Technologies Inc. (TSXV: WFLD) (OTC Pink: WFLDF) (FSE: K8D) ("Wellfield" or the "Company") announces that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") has accepted the Company's application for the reinstatement of trading in the Company's common shares (the "Shares"). On September 5, 2024, the British Columbia Securities Commission issued a ceased trade order ("CTO") due to the Company's failure to file its interim unaudited financial statements for the fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2024, as required under National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations, as previously disclosed on September 10, 2024. As a result of the CTO, trading of the Shares was suspended on the Exchange. The BCSC revoked its CTO effective September 9, 2024. The Shares will be reinstated to trading on the Exchange two business days after issuance of Exchange bulletin. Corporate Update As disclosed in the Company's audited financial statements dated March 31, 2024, the Company had a working capital deficiency of $12,481,148. The Company has the ability to remedy such deficiency by drawing down on its equity financing facility with Alumina Partners (Ontario) Ltd. Further information regarding the equity financing facility is available in the Company's March 12, 2024 press release. In addition, and further to the Company's September 6, 2024 press release, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Leonovus dated September 5, 2024 the result of which will be the spin out of the Tradewind business and a reverse takeover of Leonovus following which the shares of the resulting issuer will be traded on the Exchange. As consideration for the spin out, the Company will receive common shares of the resulting issuer equal to the value of the Tradewind business which is equal to $20 million. The Transaction is subject to Exchange acceptance and other customary closing conditions, including the completion of a concurrent financing by Leonovus. As disclosed in the Company's press release dated August 21, 2024, the Company has decreased the aggregate indebtedness to be settled (the "Debt Settlement") through the issuance of common shares in the capital of the Company to $676,970 through the issuance of 11,043,395 common shares. Pursuant to the Debt Settlement, the Company issued 3,724,727 common shares on September 17, 2024 and 5,918,668 common shares on September 25, 2024 at $0.06 per common share in settlement for existing convertible debentures. As well, the Company issued 1,400,000 common shares on September 25, 2024 at $0.0714 per common share in settlement for accounts payable. The Company's audited financial statements dated March 31, 2024 noted a receivable in the amount of $484,040. This amount was owed in relation to the subscription for certain convertible debentures as disclosed in the Company's August 4, 2023 press release. On closing of such transaction, the subscriber failed to deliver the subscription proceeds and therefore such convertible debentures were held in escrow pending delivery of the subscription funds. The subscriber ultimately did not advance the subscription funds. The parties entered into an agreement whereby such convertible debentures were cancelled and the amount owing by the subscriber and the debentures to be issued by the Company were both cancelled. In connection with the Company's business combination transaction as disclosed in the Company's press release dated November 24, 2021, the Company agreed to convert certain legacy SAFT agreements issued by its predecessor Seamless Logic Software Limited. The Company issued 3,776,932 RSUs to related parties in exchange for the settlement of legacy SAFT liabilities, including 2,682,326 RSUs issued to Brian Lock, Chief Financial Officer and 1,094,606 RSUs issued to Chanan Steinhart, Director, which will vest one year from the grant date, being September 5, 2024. On closing of such transaction, certain insiders and consultants of the Company deferred their entitlement to common shares until September 5, 2024. Such parties agreed to receive equivalent numbers of RSUs pursuant to the Company's equity incentive plan. In settlement for compensation, the Company issued 520,000 RSUs to settle $86,667 to Levy Cohen, CEO and Director of the Company on September 5, 2023 through the Company's equity incentive plan, which will vest one year from the date of grant being September 5, 2024. The Company was advanced a short-term credit line agreement in the form of cryptocurrency for a minimum of 20 BTC and a maximum of 30 BTC. The loan is subject to accrued interest of 2.5% per annum to be paid monthly, including a late payment interest of 1% per month if applicable. The total loan amount plus accrued interest is to be repaid 48 months following the January 1, 2022 effective date. In addition, the Company was advanced two minor loans from related parties in the form of cryptocurrency in the total amount of 2.7 BTC and 11 ETH. Pursuant to the loan agreements, the total loan amount shall be repaid plus accrued interest of 3% per annum in the same currency of the loan being either cryptocurrency or fiat no later than 12 months from the date of disbursement. About Wellfield Technologies Wellfield Technologies, Inc. (TSXV: WFLD) is a leading fintech company specializing in innovative solutions leveraging blockchain technology. Our platform Coinmama (web and Mobile app), provides seamless access to the cryptocurrency market for over 3.5 million registered users across 180 countries. We offer disruptive on-chain and web3 secure and friendly self-custody solutions through Coinmama. Additionally, Wellfield operates Tradewind Markets platform to digitize and trade real-world assets, including our flagship VaultChain Gold and VaultChain Silver products. Expanding our offerings for institutional clients, we present Brane Trust aiming to operate Alberta Canada's second qualified digital asset custodian. Join Wellfield's digital community on LinkedIn and Twitter, and for more details, visit wellfield.io. For further information contact: About Leonovus Leonovus is a secure data management software company. The Leonovus suite of data management tools offer customers a complete end-to-end data-centric solution. This solution can stand on its own or integrates with the organization's zero-trust strategy and architecture. It takes seamless advantage of the organization's existing storage infrastructure and network architecture, working on-premises in the cloud. It extends the data-centric controls across the entire architecture, including cloud resources. To learn more, please visit www.leonovus.com. For further information contact: Michael Gaffney, Chair and CEO mgaffney@leonovus.com Cautionary Notice on Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding: the completion of the RTO; the completion of the Financing; the timeline to complete the RTO and the Financing; the anticipated benefits of the RTO; the conditions to be satisfied for completion of the RTO; completion of the Stock Consolidation; the name and business carried on by the Resulting Issuer; the reliance on a prospectus exemption for the issuance of the Leonovus Shares to Wellfield; obtaining a waiver from the TSXV sponsorship requirements; the timing and completion of the Tradewind platform upgrades; the terms of the ancillary agreements to the Definitive Agreement relating to the RTO, including the support agreement, non-competition agreement and investor rights agreement; and the approval of the TSXV of the transactions contemplated herein, which are based on Wellfield and Leonovus' current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which may prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking information necessarily involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Wellfield and Leonovus' actual performance and results in to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to Wellfield and Leonovus satisfying the conditions for TSXV approval of the transactions herein; there is no assurance that the Financing will be completed or as to the actual gross proceeds to be raised in connection with the Financing; there is no assurance that Wellfield and Leonovus will obtain all requisite approvals for the RTO, including the approval of the shareholders of Leonovus, or the approval of the TSXV for the RTO (which may be conditional upon amendments to the terms of the RTO); following completion of the RTO, the Resulting Issuer may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations, which may not be available when needed or on terms and conditions acceptable to the Resulting Issuer; unanticipated costs and expenses of the RTO or the Financing; the ability of Wellfield to conduct the Tradewind platform upgrades, in a timely manner, if at all; new laws or regulations could adversely affect the Resulting Issuer's business and results of operations; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies, which fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Resulting Issuer's securities, regardless of its operating performance; and general business, financial market, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive, and readers are encouraged to review the disclosure documents accessible on Wellfield and Leonovus' respective SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Except as required by law, Wellfield and Leonovus disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information. All information contained in this news release with respect to Wellfield and Leonovus was supplied by the parties, respectively, for inclusion herein, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning such party. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) has approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release, nor do they accept 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/224715 SOURCE: Wellfield Technologies Inc. Altamonte Springs, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Premier Equipment, a CNC machine dealer is proud to announce the Premier Equipment Veteran Scholarship, providing $1,000 for students in manufacturing, and engineering. This scholarship is specifically designed for the U.S. Veterans and Active Military members, supporting their academic goals and future careers in manufacturing. The scholarship helps train the next generation of the manufacturing industry. Premier Equipment - CNC Machine Dealers Candidates interested in applying must submit their DD-214 to verify Honorable Discharge. Applications for the scholarship are now open, and the Company encourages eligible individuals to apply to advance their careers in CNC technology and engineering. The Premier Equipment Veteran Scholarship will be an annual scholarship targeted at college students who have served in the United States military. The $1,000 scholarship can be used for tuition, room and board, textbooks, or other educational expenses. The application deadline is Feb 14th, 2025, and the recipient will be announced Feb 28th, 2025. Thomas Khom, CEO of Premier Equipment, stated, "Veterans hold immense potential for the future of the U.S. manufacturing industry. Their hard work, dedication, discipline, and leadership qualities are invaluable assets in today's manufacturing landscape. At Premier Equipment, we are proud to offer opportunities to U.S. veterans, while also contributing to the growth and strength of the American manufacturing industry." Since 1988, Premier Equipment has established itself as a trusted name in the machine tool industry, serving the U.S. with high-quality used CNC machines. The Company's expertise in machine tools ranges from brands like Haas and Mazak to machine types like CNC lathes, vertical mills, boring mills, and even fabrication equipment. Premier Equipment is committed to more than just buying and selling; the Company provide solutions designed to drive customers' manufacturing success. For more information about the scholarship and to apply, visit the website at https://premierequipment.com/veteran-scholarship/ About Premier Equipment Premier Equipment is the largest seller of used CNC machines. Used CNC for sale are added on the hour. The Company is the #1 used CNC stocking dealer in the U.S. Premier Equipment's sales team possesses a collective 120+ years of extensive knowledge and experience with Mazak used CNC machines, as well as other brands including Mori Seiki, Okuma, Haas, Daewoo, Matsuura, Kitamura and many other used CNC brands. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224689 SOURCE: Premier Equipment AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of "aa" (Superior) of Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd (Switzerland) and most rated operating affiliates, all subsidiaries of Swiss Re Ltd (Swiss Re). At the same time, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IRs) on the debt and the indicative Long-Term IRs on securities available under Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd.'s debt issuance programme. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings.) Additionally, AM Best has maintained the under review with negative implications status for the FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICR of "aa" (Superior) of iptiQ Life S.A. (Luxembourg), as well as the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of "a" (Excellent) of Lumico Life Insurance Company (Jefferson City, MO) and Elips Life Insurance Company (Jefferson City, MO). Concurrently, AM Best has withdrawn the ratings of iptiQ Life S.A., Lumico Life Insurance Company, and Elips Life Insurance Company as the companies have requested to no longer participate in AM Best's interactive rating process. The ratings reflect Swiss Re's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, very favourable business profile and very strong enterprise risk management. Swiss Re's balance sheet strength is underpinned by its consolidated risk-adjusted capitalisation that is comfortably in excess of AM Best's minimum requirement for the strongest assessment level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The assessment considers the group's conservative asset allocation, strong asset liability management capabilities and low dependence on retrocession coverage. In addition, Swiss Re's financial flexibility is excellent, supported by effective capital management. Swiss Re's operating performance metrics, particularly in more recent years, have been supportive of a strong operating performance assessment. The group reported a strong net profit under IFRS of USD 2.1 billion in the first half of 2024 (compared with USD 1.8 billion in the restated prior year), reflecting the follow through of corrective underwriting actions taken in recent years, below budget natural catastrophe losses, and the solid performance of the L&H Reinsurance division. In this period, the group reported solid combined ratios of 88.7% (net-gross) for Corporate Solutions and 84.5% (net-net) for P&C Reinsurance, despite continued strengthening of its U.S. casualty reserves. Prospectively, underwriting performance is expected to remain robust, supported by favourable market conditions and effective cycle management. Swiss Re maintains a leading position in the global reinsurance market. In AM Best's view, the group's strong brand and excellent geographic diversification partly insulate it from competition in the international reinsurance market and leave it well-positioned to navigate the underwriting cycle. The FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICR of "aa" (Superior) have been affirmed with a stable outlook for Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd and its following affiliates: Swiss Re Asia Pte. Ltd. Swiss Re Europe S.A. Swiss Re International SE Swiss Re Life Health America Inc. Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation Westport Insurance Corporation Swiss Re Corporate Solutions America Insurance Corporation Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Premier Insurance Corporation Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Elite Insurance Corporation Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Capacity Insurance Corporation The Long-Term ICR of "a" (Excellent) has been affirmed with a stable outlook for Swiss Re America Holding Corporation. The following indicative Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IRs) on securities available under Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd's USD 10 billion debt issuance programme have been affirmed with a stable outlook: Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd- -- "aa-" (Superior) on all senior unsecured notes to be issued under the programme -- "a+" (Excellent) on all senior subordinated notes to be issued under the programme -- "a" (Excellent) on all junior subordinated notes to be issued under the programme The following Long-Term IR has been affirmed with a stable outlook: Swiss Re Treasury (US) Corporation (guaranteed by Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd)- -- "aa-" (Superior) on USD 500 million 4.25% senior unsecured notes, due 2042 The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with a stable outlook: Swiss Re America Holding Corporation- -- "a" (Excellent) on USD 600 million 7.00% senior unsecured notes, due 2026 -- "a" (Excellent) on USD 350 million 7.75% senior unsecured notes, due 2030 This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising 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 2024 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/20240926751632/en/ Contacts: Jessica Botelho-Young, CA Associate Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0310 jessica.botelho-young@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Dan Hofmeister, CFA, FRM, CPCU, ARe Associate Director, Analytics +1 908 882 1893 dan.hofmeister@ambest.com Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 al.slavin@ambest.com Louis Silvers Senior Financial Analyst +1 908 882 2316 louis.silvers@ambest.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Silver Elephant Mining Corp. (TSX: ELEF) (OTCQB: SILEF) (FSE: 1P2) ("Silver Elephant" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that all resolutions put forward at the Annual General & Special Meeting (the "Meeting") of the Company's shareholders held on September 25, 2024, as described in the Company's information circular dated August 9, 2024 (the "Circular"), were approved. A summary of the results are set out below: Number of Directions: set the number of directors at four (4). Election of Directors: the nominees listed in the Circular were all elected as Directors until the next annual general meeting of the shareholders. Detailed results of the vote are set out below: Votes For % For Withheld / Abstain % Withheld / Abstain John Lee 3,001,378 95.92% 127,602 4.08% Greg Hall 3,028,285 96.78% 100,695 3.22% Douglas Flett 3,027,888 96.77% 101,092 3.23% Nigel Lees 3,027,181 96.75% 101,799 3.25% Approved the appointment of Mao & Ying LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as the auditors of the Company and authorizing the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to Mao & Ying LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants. Re-approved the Company's 2021 Stock Option Plan, as more particularly described in the Information Circular dated August 9, 2024. For more information on the voting results, please see the Report of Voting Results which is available at www.sedarplus.ca. About Silver Elephant Mining Corp. Silver Elephant is a silver mining company, with its flagship Pulacayo-Paca silver project in production since October 2023 in Bolivia. Further information on Silver Elephant can be found at www.silverelef.com. SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "John Lee" Executive Chairman Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX) 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/224738 SOURCE: Silver Elephant Mining Corp. Fullerton, California--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - The Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman, a prominent criminal defense law firm in Los Angeles and Orange County, announces a renewed emphasis on handling rape and molestation cases in Irvine and Riverside. With over two decades of experience, this law firm has earned a reputation for providing skilled and compassionate legal representation to those facing serious criminal charges, particularly in sex crimes defense. Los Angeles and Orange County sex crimes defense specialist now focuses on Irvine and Riverside rape and molestation cases, offering expert legal representation for complex criminal charges. As a recognized expert in sex crimes defense, Jacqueline Goodman has a proven track record of defending clients accused of rape, sexual assault, molestation, and other criminal offenses. Her legal expertise covers all aspects of criminal defense, including domestic violence, drug crimes, and felonies, making her one of the most sought-after attorneys for high-stakes cases. With an expanding focus on Irvine and Riverside, the firm aims to provide top-tier legal support to individuals confronting life-altering allegations in these regions. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman stands out as a premier criminal law specialist, meeting the rigorous standards required of certified specialists in the field of law. With a broad range of criminal law experience, Jacqueline Goodman and her team have developed specialized skills to navigate the complexities of criminal procedure and provide a robust legal defense for their clients. Their extensive experience handling sex crimes cases, as well as white-collar crimes, positions the firm as a leader in criminal defense across Southern California. As a certified criminal defense lawyer, Jacqueline Goodman has met the strict requirements set by the State Bar of California, a testament to her exceptional knowledge and level of experience in criminal law. Her work as a criminal attorney spans a wide range of cases, from rape and molestation to more complex legal matters, ensuring clients receive the highest quality legal representation. The firm's legal professionals are equipped with the skills and expertise needed to guide clients through every step of the legal process. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVHLUlBNtVM This level of experience is particularly crucial when facing serious allegations in criminal justice cases. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman prides itself on offering each client a thorough initial consultation, allowing individuals to explore their legal options and build a strong defense strategy. Criminal law attorneys at the firm are dedicated to providing a personalized approach, ensuring that every client's rights are protected throughout the legal journey. By combining extensive experience with a deep understanding of criminal procedure, the firm continues to set the standard for criminal law attorneys in Los Angeles, Orange County, Irvine, and Riverside. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman invites those in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney to contact the firm immediately for a confidential consultation. Anyone facing charges related to rape or molestation is encouraged to seek professional legal counsel without delay to ensure their rights are protected. For more information, visit www.californiadefenselawyer.net or call 714-266-3945. Jacqueline Goodman is a well-respected figure in the legal community, frequently sought after for her insight on high-profile criminal cases. Her expertise in sex crimes defense has made her a powerful advocate for clients across Los Angeles and Orange County. With the expansion into Irvine and Riverside, the firm continues its mission to defend the accused with integrity, dedication, and an unparalleled commitment to justice. Listen to Jacqueline Goodman, a seasoned criminal defense attorney and former president of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, on The Attorney Post Podcast. About The Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman: Located in Fullerton, California, The Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman is a premier criminal defense firm known for its aggressive defense strategies and client-focused approach. Specializing in sex crimes, arson, domestic violence, drug crimes, DUI defense, felonies, theft, and violent crimes, the firm provides comprehensive legal services to clients throughout Southern California. Specializing in sex crimes, the Los Angeles and Orange County criminal defense expert expands to handle Irvine and Riverside rape and molestation cases, ensuring dedicated legal support. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/223959 SOURCE: The Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Safe Supply Streaming Co. Ltd. (CSE: SPLY) (FSE: QM4) (OTCQB: SSPLF) (the "Company" or "Safe Supply") is pleased to announce a proposed acquisition in Drug Lab 118 Ltd. a portfolio of proprietary harm reduction test strips, enhancing its moot and SKU portfolio. The Company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Druglab118 Ltd. ("Drug Lab Parent") in respect of an investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, Drug Lab 118 Ltd. ("Drug Lab U.S."), dated September 26, 2024 (the "LOI"). The LOI contemplates Safe Supply acquiring all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital stock of Drug Lab U.S. from Drug Lab Parent (the "Acquisition") in exchange for common shares in the capital of Safe Supply ("Consideration Shares") at a deemed value of $0.05 per share. It is currently expected that Safe Supply will issue 10,000,000 Consideration Shares to Drug Lab Parent in connection with the Acquisition, which will be subject to contractual restrictions on resale such that 1/3 of the Consideration Shares may be traded on each of the four, eight and twelve month anniversaries of the closing of the Acquisition. In addition, it is anticipated that Drug Lab Parent will appoint one nominee to the board of directors of Safe Supply at closing of the proposed Acquisition. In addition, upon closing of the Acquisition, the Company will issue 1,000,000 common shares of Safe Supply to an arm's length third party finder as a finder fee (the "Finder Fee Shares"). All securities issued connection with the above transactions will be subject to a hold period of four months and a day pursuant to applicable securities laws. This Acquisition significantly enhances Safe Supply's portfolio, expanding its capabilities in harm reduction with a suite of test kits developed through Drug Lab Parent's extensive research and development efforts over the last several years. Drug Lab Parent's team boosts an impressive scientific bench who have spent years refining and developing their portfolio of proprietary test strips and we are pleased to have them for the very important North American market. Drug Lab U.S., a Delaware registered corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Drug Lab Parent and it has an exclusive distribution agreement with Drug Lab Parent to distribute products of Drug Lab Parent in North America. With Drug Lab Parent's portfolio, Safe Supply now offers a comprehensive suite of test kits that address a wide range of narcotics, providing a competitive edge in the market. The ongoing collaboration with Greenlane Holdings amplifies the distribution and market reach of Safety Strips (an investee company of Supply), creating a robust pipeline for growth. Bill Panagiotakopoulos, CEO of Safe Supply, stated: "This Acquisition marks a salient milestone as we strengthen our growing portfolio in medical testing and harm reduction. We are confident that we can add substantial value to Druglab in their North American sales effort and position their products as leaders in their respective categories.." Colin L, CEO of Druglab Parent, stated, "We are excited to work with Safe Supply to expand our North American business, and we are confident with strong partners such as Safe Supply, we can successfully execute on our vision, while dominating the harm reduction space." A Growing Market Opportunity The global market for narcotic testing and harm reduction solutions is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing awareness and regulatory demands for safer drug use practices. The Acquisition of Drug Lab U.S. positions Safe Supply to capitalize on this expanding market, with proprietary technology that has already seen significant investment in Europe. The global market for drug testing kits is expected to reach $11.83 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2021 to 2028. (Polaris Market Research) This Acquisition is not only a testament to Safe Supply's strategic vision but also serves as a strong catalyst for future revenue growth. With the integration of Drug Lab Parent's technology, Safe Supply is poised to see a substantial increase in its market share within the medical testing and harm reduction industry. The acquisition of Drug Labs U.S. is a pivotal step in Safe Supply's journey to becoming a leader in the medical testing space, particularly in harm reduction technologies. Investors can look forward to continued growth, driven by strategic acquisitions, innovative partnerships, and a clear commitment to expanding the Company's market presence. Safe Supply remains committed to delivering shareholder value through strategic growth initiatives and its goal to achieve a leadership position in the rapidly evolving market for harm reduction solutions. About Drug Labs Parent, Drug Labs U.S. Druglab118 Ltd. was incorporated in the United Kingdom in March 2013 with a mission to deliver the science used in forensic testing and detection to consumers. The company is focused on the development of innovative chemical technologies. Druglab118 Ltd. has developed specific expertise in the area of illicit substance detection through the creation of innovative and patented drug detection solutions. Drug Lab 118 Ltd., a Delaware registered corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Druglab118 Ltd. and it has an exclusive distribution agreement with Druglab118 Ltd. to distribute products of Druglab118 Ltd. in North America. SPLY through this Acquisition will acquire all the issued and outstanding shares Drug Lab 118 Ltd. and will retain the exclusive rights to distribute current and future products of Druglab118 Ltd. in North America. About Safe Supply Streaming Co. Ltd. Safe Supply Streaming Co. Ltd. (CSE: SPLY) (FSE: QM4) (OTCQB: SSPLF) is a publicly traded company specializing in the acquisition, investment, and development of companies within the medical and wellness sectors. With a focus on innovative technology-driven solutions, Safe Supply aims to create sustainable value for its investors while addressing critical needs in the healthcare industry. The Company is committed to delivering high-impact solutions and fostering growth through its diverse portfolio of companies. The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The securities issuable under the Acquisition and the Advisor Agreement have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or under any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy such securities in the United States. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Company's performance, business objectives and milestones and the anticipated timing thereof, and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the potential benefits resulting from the entering of the LOI between the Company and Drug Lab Parent; the Company, Drug Lab Parent, and Drug Lab U.S. to maintain its stated licenses and obtain all necessary additional licenses and regulatory approval required for the Company to carry out its plans as described; the Company issuing 10,000,000 Consideration Shares to Drug Lab Parent in connection with the Acquisition, which will be subject to contractual restrictions on resale; the appointment of one nominee to the board of directors of the Company at closing of the proposed Acquisition; the issuance of 1,000,000 Finder Fee Shares upon closing of the Acquisition; the Company's portfolio being significantly enhanced due to this Acquisition, expanding its capabilities in harm reduction with test kits developed through Drug Lab Parent's research and development efforts; statements with respect to the growing market for narcotic testing and harm reduction solutions; statements with respect to the market for narcotic testing and harm reduction solutions experiencing rapid growth on a global scale; statements with respect to the ability for the Company to be a leader in the medical testing space due to this Acquisition; and statements with respect to the expansion of the Company's market presence due to continued growth, strategic acquisitions, and innovative partnerships. Forward-looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to maintain or exceed its current performance, and carry out its business objectives and milestones and under the anticipated timing and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the Company's ability to capitalize on the potential benefits resulting from the entering the LOI, including the potential distribution expansion in the North American market; the Company, Drug Lab Parent, and Drug Lab U.S's abilities to maintain its stated licenses and obtain all necessary additional licenses and regulatory approval required for the Company to carry out its plans as described; the Company's ability to issue 10,000,000 Consideration Shares to Drug Lab Parent in connection with the Acquisition, which will be subject to contractual restrictions on resale; the Company's ability to appoint one nominee to the board of directors of the Company at closing of the proposed Acquisition; the Company's ability to issue 1,000,000 Finder Fee Shares upon closing of the Acquisition; the Company's portfolio will be significantly enhanced due to this Acquisition, expanding its capabilities in harm reduction with test kits developed through Drug Lab Parent's research and development efforts; statements with respect to the growing market for narcotic testing and harm reduction solutions; statements with respect to the market for narcotic testing and harm reduction solutions experiencing rapid growth on a global scale; the ability for the Company to be a leader in the medical testing space due to this Acquisition; and that there will be continued growth, strategic acquisitions, and innovative partnerships that would expand the Company's market presence. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the Company's inability to maintain or exceed its current performance, and carry out its business objectives and milestones and under the anticipated timing and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the Company's inability to capitalize on the potential benefits resulting from entering the LOI, including the potential distribution expansion in the North American market; the Company, Drug Lab Parent, and Drug Lab U.S's inabilities to maintain its stated licenses and obtain all necessary additional licenses and regulatory approval required for the Company to carry out its plans as described; the Company's inability to issue 10,000,000 Consideration Shares to Drug Lab Parent in connection with the Acquisition, which will be subject to contractual restrictions on resale; the Company's inability to appoint one nominee to the board of directors of the Company at closing of the proposed Acquisition; the Company's inability to issue 1,000,000 Finder Fee Shares upon closing of the Acquisition; the Company's inability to significantly enhance its portfolio after this Acquisition, leading to the Company's inability to expand its capabilities in harm reduction with test kits developed through Drug Lab Parent's research and development efforts; statements with respect to the growing market for narcotic testing and harm reduction solutions; statements with respect to the market for narcotic testing and harm reduction solutions experiencing rapid growth on a global scale; the ability for the Company to be a leader in the medical testing space due to this Acquisition; and that there will be continued growth, strategic acquisitions, and innovative partnerships that would expand the Company's market presence. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224714 SOURCE: Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd. Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Micromem Technologies Inc. (CSE: MRM) (OTCQB: MMTIF) ("Micromem" or the "Company") announces its management met with Chevron representatives in their Houston offices on September 25th; several topics were reviewed and a go forward process and timetable has been mutually agreed upon, these are the subject of additional press releases. Micromem has secured access to the Chevron designed automated sampler system (the 'System'), the system and methods for the automated fluid sampling for tracer testing. The Company will not pay any fees for the use of the System and any intellectual property that it may generate will remain with Micromem. The System is crucial in any well mounted system for our ARTRA device. Chevron will introduce Micromem to the engineer that designed their sampler system; this will provide Micromem with the opportunity to make any required modifications for use with 3rd parties. Access to this system should save the Company substantial time and expense in developing sampler systems in future dealings with other users. Micromem will provide modified sampler designs to Chevron for their own testing and evaluation for potential future use. About Micromem. Micromem Technologies Inc. and its subsidiaries, a publicly traded (OTCQB: MMTIF) (CSE: MRM), company analyzes specific industry sectors to create intelligent game-changing applications that address unmet market needs. By leveraging its expertise and experience with sophisticated sensor applications, the Company successfully powers the development and implementation of innovative solutions for oil & gas, utilities, automotive, healthcare, government, information technology, manufacturing and other industries. Visit www.micromeminc.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. In particular, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: our inability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms; risk that our products and services will not gain widespread market acceptance; continued consumer adoption of digital technology; inability to compete with others who provide comparable products; the failure of our technology; the infringement of our technology with proprietary rights of third parties; inability to respond to consumer and technological demands; inability to replace significant customers; seasonal nature of our business; and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," "should," "intend," "may," "will," "would," "potential," and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. The CSE or any other securities regulatory authority has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release that has been prepared by management. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224742 SOURCE: Micromem Technologies Inc. CGTN America & CCTV UN releases "My China Story: the Future Youth Leaders Forum" WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As we approach the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a special event to be presented by the China Media Group and the Bank of China USA will highlight the country's commitment to peace, progress through our youth - the leaders of tomorrow. On September 28th in New York City, "My China Story: The Future Youth Leaders Forum" will bring together diplomats, professors, analysts and students from China and the U.S. to understand the complex challenges we face today and the solutions the leaders of tomorrow can provide. During last year's visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to San Francisco, he invited 50 thousand young Americans to visit China through study and exchange programs over the next five years. The belief is that the young can help forge better relations between China and the United States. Educators who visited China will tell us about their experiences, how these people-to people exchanges offer students a chance to learn more about Chinese culture, create lasting friendships and help them gain a global perspective. We'll hear from students about their trips to China - the places they visited, the people they met - and how that has enriched their education and bolstered their hopes for improved Sino-U.S. relations. The event underlines the importance for young people in both China and the U.S. to understand and appreciate each other as part of a broader effort to improve ties through steady public interactions. (This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.) Contact: Distribution@cgtnamerica.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cgtn-america--cctv-un-my-china-story-the-future-youth-leaders-forum-302260510.html Beijing Daxing International Airport welcomes 5th anniversary of operation, Chinese cities strive to become world-class transport hubs 10:38, September 26, 2024 By Tu Lei ( Global Times Passengers attend a celebration held by the Beijing Daxing International Airport on September 25, 2024, as the airport celebrates its fifth anniversary of operation. (Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Daxing International Airport) Beijing Daxing International Airport, the second international airport in the Chinese capital, celebrated its fifth anniversary of operation on Wednesday, as China plans to establish a group of world-class aviation enterprises and hubs by 2050. The airport has hosted 65 Chinese and foreign airlines, served more than 127 million passengers, and had more than 980,000 flight movements during the past five years, data from the airport showed. Carriers using the airport have 216 passenger routes, covering 197 destinations in 25 countries and regions. There are 43 international and regional destinations, and the cumulative number of international and regional passengers has exceeded 3.1 million. Passengers line up in the Beijing Capital International Airport on April 26, 2023. (Photo: Tu Lei/GT) During this year's summer travel season, the airport witnessed a single-day passenger volume of nearly 180,000 passengers, the highest since it began operating. Take China Southern Airlines as an example. The Guangdong-based airline is increasing the routes in Beijing, and it has resumed and opened 17 overseas routes since 2023. It is quite impressive for the airport to show such a performance, Li Yuan, an independent market watcher, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The airport adopted a comprehensive transportation planning concept from the start, as introducing fast rail and high-speed rail, and designing a terminal that is conducive to connecting flights, boosted passenger throughput, Li said. The airport is committed to building the world's most popular world-class hub airport, Wang Yaqi, head of the aviation business department of Beijing Daxing International Airport, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The number of international passengers has increased rapidly and the number of cities connected has gradually increased since the resumption of international routes on January 17, 2023. "We will focus on the development of the international route network, mainly on the European and North American routes," Wang added. The Daxing airport has made Beijing another city in China to have two airports. The number of passenger trips at the Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) is also rising fast. Passenger throughput at BCIA this year is expected to exceed 50 million, up more than 30 percent year-on-year, Si Rong, a deputy head of the aviation business department of BCIA, said at an industry forum held in Beijing on Tuesday. Our international passenger throughput this year surpassed 10 million in early September, and the overall growth rate exceeded 100 percent year-on-year. It is expected that the aviation market will continue to recover in the upcoming winter/spring season as carriers using the airport add routes, Si said. The fast expansion route of airports in Beijing is in line with a plan by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which has set a target of establishing a group of world-class aviation enterprises and hubs by 2050. The number of airports with an annual passenger volume of 10 million increased from 21 in 2012 to 39 before the pandemic. The global passenger throughput ranking of BCIA is second, with ninth for Shanghai Pudong International Airport and 11th for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Beijing and Shanghai rank among the top 10 cities in the world with annual passenger throughput exceeding 100 million. The CAAC said it will further strengthen the intercontinental connection capabilities and global radiation capabilities of the three major hub airports in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, and create an all-round, gateway international aviation hub. "I believe that Daxing airport still has great potential and will achieve an annual passenger volume of 70-80 million in the near future, with an annual passenger volume of more than 150 million in the city including BCIA," Li said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - SkyChain Technologies Inc. (TSXV: SCT.H) (the "Company") wishes to provide additional updates on its annual and general special meeting of the shareholders and its communication with Small Minority Dissidents (as defined in the Company's news release dated September 16, 2024 (the "September 16 News Release")). The Company advised the counsel for Small Minority Dissidents that their attempt to requisition a shareholders meeting (the "Failed Effort") is not compliant with corporate law and therefore is invalid and any proposed meeting of shareholders resulting from the Failed Effort is void. The Company also required the Small Minority Dissidents to issue a news release acknowledging that the Failed Effort was invalid to avoid causing confusion to the public. So far, they have either failed or are unwilling to do so, creating unnecessary issues for our shareholders. Accordingly, the Company wishes to reiterate that the shareholder meeting requisitioned by the Small Minority Dissidents purported to be held on October 10, 2024 in their Failed Effort will not take place and results from that meeting, if any, will have no force and effect at law. The Company has properly called an annual and general special meeting of the shareholders to be held on November 7, 2024 (the "Meeting") with a record date of October 3, 2024. The Company has received an advance notice (the "Advance Notice") from the Small Minority Dissidents seeking to nominate certain candidates for election as directors at the Meeting (effectively confirming that the Small Minority Dissidents acknowledge that the Meeting is valid and the Failed Effort is not). However, like the Failed Effort, the Advance Notice was also not compliant with corporate law and is invalid. The Company has communicated with the Small Minority Dissidents so they can rectify the deficiencies should they choose to do so. More details for the Meeting will be provided in the management information circular (the "Circular") to be delivered to the shareholders and filed on SEDAR+. The Company also wishes to reiterate its caution in its September 16 News Release to all persons against participating in arrangements for the purchase and sale or future purchase and sale of common shares of the Company (the "Attempted Arrangements") while the Company is subject to a cease trade order. Such Attempted Arrangements are prohibited under applicable securities law, and all persons engaged in such prohibited activities are subject to investigation and prosecution by securities regulatory authorities. About Skychain Technologies Inc. Skychain Technologies Inc. is a Vancouver based company providing crypto/data centre and NFT and valued added services. To learn more, visit skychaintechnologiesinc.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Don Gordon, President and CEO ___________________________________________________________ Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this news release may be viewed as forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. There are no assurances the Company can fulfill such forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224762 SOURCE: Skychain Technologies Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Aion Therapeutic Inc. (CSE: AION) ("Aion Therapeutic" or the "Company") is providing this bi-weekly update on the status of its management cease trade order issued on August 29, 2024 (the "MCTO"), by its principal regulator, the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC"), under National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). The Company announced on August 14, 2024 (the "Default Announcement"), that it expected to be unable to file its annual audited consolidated financial statements for the financial year ended April 30, 2024, the related annual management's discussion and analysis and the related CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the "2024 Financial Disclosure") by the filing deadline of August 28, 2024 (the "Filing Deadline") and last provided an update on the status of the MCTO on September 12, 2024. As a result of certain complexities associated with the acquisition of Toppen Health, Inc. on December 15, 2023, the accounting and audit process remains ongoing at this time. The BCSC has given the Company until October 28, 2024 to complete its 2024 Financial Disclosure, which the Company anticipates being in a position to meet. The Company confirms that there are no material changes to the information contained in the Default Announcement. In addition, (i) the Company is satisfying and confirms that it intends to continue to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in NP 12-203, including the issuance of bi-weekly default status reports in the form of news releases, for as long as the Company remains in default with its 2024 Financial Disclosure; (ii) the Company does not have any information at this time regarding any anticipated specified default subsequent to the default in filing the 2024 Financial Disclosure; (iii) the Company confirms as of the date of this news release, that there is no insolvency proceeding against it; and (iv) there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. About Aion Therapeutic Inc. Aion Therapeutic is a forward-thinking business within the health and wellness sector with a diverse portfolio of intellectual property. With a commitment to innovation and transformative solutions, the Company is poised to drive positive change to redefine the boundaries of health and wellness. Toppen, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aion Therapeutic, is a US-based health and wellness company dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art water filtration solutions. With a focus on innovation, affordability, and sustainability, Toppen's water filtration solutions are designed to meet the diverse needs of consumers, businesses, and industries around the world as they strive to provide access to clean and safe water. DISCLAIMER & READER ADVISORY This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Expressions such as "anticipates", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "could", "intends", "may", "plans", "predicts", "projects", "will", "would" and other similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are generally indicative of forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding: Aion Therapeutic and Toppen's business, business goals and management's expectation on the growth and performance of its business; the preparation and timing of filing the 2024 Financial Disclosure. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, such as, without limitation, the risk that the parties will be unable to complete, in a timely manner, the 2024 Financial Disclosure. In addition, the forward-looking information contained in this release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as it is inherently uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in such information will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. The securities of the Company have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This release is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224766 SOURCE: Aion Therapeutic Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Spark Energy Minerals Inc. (CSE: SPRK) (OTC Pink: SPARF) (FSE: 8PC) ("Spark" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Latam Energy Acquisition Corp. ("Latam") pursuant to a securities exchange agreement ("SEA") dated September 10, 2024, among Latam, each of the shareholders of Latam (the "Latam Shareholders") and the Company (the "Transaction"). Pursuant to the Transaction, the Company issued to the Latam Shareholders 20 million common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.7 per share in consideration for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Latam. Additional details regarding the terms of the Transaction can be found in the Company's news release dated September 12, 2024. None of the securities issued as part of the Transaction are subject to a statutory hold period, and no finder's fees were paid in connection with the Transaction. Through this transaction, Spark Energy Minerals has acquired the rights to the Joaima and Vertex Projects in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Joaima Project, located near Spark's flagship project, consists of 12 lithium tenements covering 21,165 hectares. The Vertex Project includes 7 lithium tenements and 1 gold tenement, totaling 15,314 hectares. Both projects are strategically located in Brazil's Lithium Valley, close to major lithium players like Sigma Lithium, Lithium Ionic, Pilbara Minerals, and Atlas Lithium. (see map below). Map of Minas Gerais's Pegmatite Province highlight Latam's tenements in relation to Spark's flagship project and other notable projects in the region To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10093/224764_1be1811a14a69b12_002full.jpg As seen in the map above, the tenements are located in Brazil's Lithium Valley, which the Government of Minas Gerais identifies as home to the country's largest lithium reserve. Lithium is a key mineral, primarily used in the production of long-lasting batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage. A major player in the region is Sigma Lithium, a multi-billion-dollar mining company with a 77 million-ton lithium resource at 1.40% Li2O and a 25-year mine life1 across two processing lines. Geologically, the area features rocks like meta-mafic, ultramafic, gneiss, and schist, along with S-type granitoid rocks. These formations are favorable for lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites and spodumene-rich pegmatites (SRP), as seen in the well-known deposits across the Eastern Brazil Pegmatite Province (EBPP). As part of the Transaction, Michael Stier, former CEO of Latam, has been appointed to Spark Energy Minerals' board of directors. Mr. Stier commented, "I'm thrilled to announce that the transaction has officially closed! I'm excited to join the board of directors and eager to embark on our exploration programs as we build the future of the company together." Additionally, Mario Drolet has resigned from the board of directors with immediate effect. The Company thanks Mr. Drolet for his service and support and wishes him well in his future endeavors. In connection with the resignation of Mr. Drolet, the Company has extended the expiry date of his outstanding stock options to the date that is one year from the closing of the Transaction. Eugene Hodgson, CEO of Spark Energy Minerals, stated, "The successful completion of this acquisition marks a pivotal moment for Spark Energy Minerals. By integrating Latam's assets into our portfolio, we've expanded our footprint in Brazil's Lithium Valley, positioning Spark as a major player in this region. Our newly acquired projects, combined with our existing assets, creates a large land package with promising exploration potential. We're excited to welcome Michael Stier to our board and look forward to leveraging his expertise as we advance our ambitious exploration programs. This strategic move aligns perfectly with our vision to become a key supplier of sustainable lithium to the growing electric vehicle and energy storage markets." Qualified Person The scientific and technical information disclosed in this document has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill BSc Hons, FAUSIMM, a Qualified Person consistent with NI 43-101. About Spark Energy Minerals Inc. Spark Energy Minerals, Inc. is a Canadian company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of battery metals and mineral assets, with a particular emphasis on its substantial interests in Brazil. The Company holds significant land and mineral rights in Brazil's renowned Lithium Valley, one of the most prolific mining regions in the world. This region is rapidly gaining global recognition for its vast deposits of lithium and rare earth minerals, positioning Brazil as a critical player in the global energy transition. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Source: https://sigmalithiumresources.com/sigma-lithium-increases-proven-probable-open-pit-mineral-reserve-by-40-to-77mt-extending-operations-to-25-years/ Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the businesses of the Company and Latam, the respective assets of the Company and Latam, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224764 SOURCE: Spark Energy Minerals Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Sanu Gold Corporation (CSE: SANU) (OTCQB: SNGCF) ("Sanu Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of the Company's C$5,000,000 non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") originally announced on September 6, 2024. The Company has issued 100,000,000 common shares (each, a "Common Share") at a price of C$0.05 per Common Share. Two new strategic investors have made lead subscriptions to the Placement: AngloGold Ashanti plc ("AngloGold Ashanti") participated for 33,400,000 Common Shares in the Placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$1,670,000. AngloGold Ashanti's strategic investment represents an approximate 14% ownership in the Company. Capital DI Limited, the investment subsidiary of Capital Limited ("Capital"), participated for 24,000,000 Common Shares in the Placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$1,200,000. Capital's strategic investment represents an approximate 10% ownership in the Company. "We are grateful to be welcoming two large, new Strategic Investors into Sanu Gold which highlights the prospectivity and high-quality nature of the Company's assets in Guinea, West Africa. AngloGold Ashanti plc, a top-tier global gold miner, has been operating its Siguiri mine in Guinea for the last 25 years, producing 221,000 oz of gold in 2023. Capital is a rapidly expanding international drilling and mining services provider, with deep operational roots in West Africa and Guinea. Capital is supporting the mining industry in Guinea with investments, drilling and laboratory services. We look forward to working with both AngloGold Ashanti plc and Capital on unlocking some potential major discoveries on both the Diguifara and Daina permits with up to 10,000m drilling," commented Martin Pawlitschek, President and CEO of Sanu Gold. The net proceeds of the Placement will be used to advance exploration, including ground geophysics and a 10,000m drilling program on the Company's Diguifara and Daina Gold Exploration Permits in Guinea, West Africa, the Company's other exploration permits in Guinea, West Africa and for general working capital purposes. The Placement is subject to the Company's filing requirements with the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). All securities issued pursuant to the Placement are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws and will be subject to a resale restriction expiring four months and one day from the closing date. In connection with the closing of the Placement, the Company paid aggregate total finders' fees of $177,450 to the following finders: Eventus Capital Corp. and Euroz Hartleys Limited. In connection with the closing of AngloGold Ashanti's strategic investment, the Company has entered into an investor rights agreement (with the "Investor", as defined below), whereby, subject to certain conditions, including time and ownership thresholds, AngloGold Ashanti will have certain rights, including the right to participate in future equity issuances to maintain its ownership in the Company, participation and top up rights, a right of first refusal on certain asset-level transactions for Diguifara, and the formation of a technical advisory committee focused on the Diguifara project. Two directors and officers of the Company ("Related Parties") acquired an aggregate of 3,500,000 Common Shares under the Placement for a total purchase price of $175,000. This participation by Related Parties of the Company constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). However, the Placement will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of any Common Shares issued to or the consideration paid by such Related Parties exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Early Warning Disclosure As disclosed above, AngloGold Ashanti Holdings plc (the "Investor") has acquired 33,400,000 Common Shares pursuant to a subscription agreement dated September 26, 2024. The Investor is a wholly owned direct subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti. Immediately prior to the Placement, the Investor did not have beneficial ownership of any securities of the Company. Immediately after the Placement, the Investor acquired beneficial ownership of 33,400,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 14% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis. The Investor acquired Common Shares in the Placement for investment purposes and intends to review its investment in the Company on a continuing basis. Depending upon a number of factors including market and other conditions, the Investor may from time to time increase or decrease its beneficial ownership, control, direction or economic exposure over securities of the Company. The Company is a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia with its head office at 918-1030 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 1Y3. An early warning report will be electronically filed with the applicable securities commission in each jurisdiction where the Company is reporting and will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. For further information or to obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact: Press Office Andrea Maxey +61 08 9435 4603 / +61 400 072 199 Investor Relations Andrea Maxey: +61 08 9435 4603 / +61 400 072 199 Yatish Chowthee: +27 11 637 6273 / +27 78 364 2080 AngloGold Ashanti Holdings plc Communications House, South Street, Staines-Upon-Thames Surrey, TW18 4PR United Kingdom This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any 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. About Sanu Gold Located within the Siguiri Basin, a world class gold district that is host to several operating mines and major new discoveries, Sanu Gold is exploring three high quality gold exploration permits in Guinea, West Africa. The Company has defined multi-kilometer long gold-bearing structures on each of the gold exploration permits, with multiple high-value drill targets and is targeting multi-million ounce gold discoveries. Sanu is operated by a highly experienced team, with successful records of discovery, resource development and mine permitting. Martin Pawlitschek President & CEO, Sanu Gold Corp. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated timing for completion of various exploration or drilling programs and the use of proceeds from the Placement. Although Sanu Gold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans for exploration on its properties and ability to execute on plans, ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward, ability to maintain its material property agreements, mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop its projects; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations, future prices of gold and other metals, changes in general economic conditions and local risks in the jurisdiction (Guinea) in which it operates, accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates, the potential for new discoveries, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel; general competition in the mining industry availability of capital and financing; general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes; timeliness of regulatory approvals as well as those factors discussed in the Company's public disclosure record. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Not for dissemination in the United States or through U.S. newswires To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224774 SOURCE: Sanu Gold Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Waraba Gold Limited (CSE: WBGD) (FSE: ZE0) (OTC Pink: WARAF) (the "Company" or "Waraba") is pleased to announce the continuation of its drilling program at the Fokolore Gold Project in western Mali, West Africa and the transition to a diamond core drilling program from reverse circulation ("RC") drilling. The initial results of the ongoing Phase 1 drilling campaign, which were announced on August 7, 2024, have provided significant geological and structural insights into the mineralized zones at the Fokolore Project. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the Fokolore Project. The diamond core drilling technique to be employed in the next part of the Phase 1 drilling campaign allows for the recovery of more detailed geological information, which is crucial for understanding the mineralization and structural controls within the deposit. Highlights : Transition to diamond core drilling following initial RC drilling marks a key milestone in Waraba's exploration strategy, aimed at systematically defining the extent and grade of gold mineralization. Diamond core drilling targeting both known zones and exploring new areas within the Fokolore Project will provide higher-quality samples and enable a more comprehensive analysis of the mineralized zones, in order to expand Waraba's understanding of the mineralized system. Carl Esprey, CEO of Waraba Gold, commented: "We are excited to advance our exploration efforts at Fokolore with the commencement of diamond core drilling. The data gathered from this work will enhance our geological model and guide us toward unlocking the project's full value. This step reaffirms our commitment to advancing Fokolore as a significant gold project in Mali." About Waraba Gold Limited The Company is a resource exploration company that is acquiring and exploring mineral properties. The Company is a reporting issuer in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. The Company's common shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the trading symbol "WBGD" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "ZE0". For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: the Company's plans and scope with respect to its drilling campaign, including, details of the Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3, and the stated timelines thereof; the Company's continued exploratory work of the Fokolore project; and the Company's anticipation of providing its shareholders with further updates. Forward-looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to carry out its plans with respect to its drilling campaign under the stated scope and timelines; the Company's ability to continue its exploratory work of the Fokolore project; and the Company's ability to provide its shareholders with further updates. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the Company's inability to carry out its plans with respect to its drilling campaign under the stated scope and timelines; the Company's inability to continued its exploratory work of the Fokolore project; and the Company's inability to provide its shareholders with further updates. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward- looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224707 SOURCE: Waraba Gold Limited Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Fraser Mackenzie Accelerator Corp. (TSXV: FMAC.P) (the "Company" or "FMAC") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche of its previously announced private placement of subscription receipts (the "Offering") of the Company (the "Subscription Receipts"). The second tranche consisted of the issuance of the remaining 3,594,927 Subscription Receipts available under the Offering at a price of C$0.107 per Subscription Receipt (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of C$384,657.19. Together with the previously announced first tranche, which closed on September 11, 2024, the Company issued a total of 15,887,850 Subscription Receipts for aggregate gross proceeds of C$1,699,999.95. In difficult market conditions the Company is pleased to have completed the maximum amount under the Offering. The Offering was completed in connection with the previously-announced arm's length Qualifying Transaction (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV")) (the "Qualifying Transaction") proposed to be completed by the Company and Forward Water Technologies Corp. ("FWTC"), further details of which may be found in the prior news releases of the Company, including the most recent news release of the Company dated July 22, 2024 and September 12, 2024. The Subscription Receipts were created and issued pursuant to the terms of a subscription receipt agreement dated September 11, 2024 (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") between the Company and TSX Trust Company (the "Subscription Receipt Agent"), as subscription receipt agent. Upon the satisfaction and/or waiver of certain escrow release conditions (the "Escrow Release Conditions") specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement at or before January 9, 2025 (the "Escrow Release Deadline") each Subscription Receipt will be deemed to be automatically converted, without payment of additional consideration or further action by the holder thereof, into one unit of the Company (each, a "Unit"). Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "FMAC Share"), and one-half of a common share purchase warrant of the Company (each such whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) Common Share at an exercise price of $0.15 for a term expiring on the third anniversary of the closing of the Qualifying Transaction. Upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction, each FMAC Share will be immediately exchanged for 0.95 (the "Exchange Ratio") common share of FWTC (after giving effect to FWTC's proposed 10 to 1 share consolidation), and each Warrant will be adjusted to entitle the holder to purchase common shares of the Resulting Issuer (as defined below) based on the Exchange Ratio at a purchase price of $0.1579 per share. The Company and FWTC are currently aiming to close the Qualifying Transaction on or about September 30, 2024, subject to the timely satisfaction of a number of customary closing conditions, all as more particularly described in the Company's management information circular dated August 23, 2024. At the closing of the Qualifying Transaction, the Company will pay to certain finders (each, a "Finder") a fee comprised of: (a) a cash fee not exceeding 8.0% of the gross proceeds raised from subscriptions in the Offering from persons who participate in the Offering that were introduced to the Company by such Finder (the "Finder's Fee"), and (b) a number of compensation warrants (the "Finder Warrants") issued by the Company that equal to not more than 8.0% of the total number of Subscription Receipts issued to persons who participate in the Offering that were introduced to the Company by each Finder. Each Finder Warrant shall entitle the holder to subscribe for one Unit at the Issue Price for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date that the common shares of FTWC (following the closing of the Qualifying Transaction) (the "Resulting Issuer") commence trading on the TSXV. The gross proceeds of the Offering were deposited in escrow with the Subscription Receipt Agent pending satisfaction and/or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions in accordance with the provisions of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. Unless the requisite approval is obtained pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement, if the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied and/or waived on or before the Escrow Release Deadline, each of the then issued and outstanding Subscription Receipts will be cancelled and the Subscription Receipt Agent will return to each holder of Subscription Receipts an amount equal to the aggregate Issue Price of the Subscription Receipts held by such holder plus an amount equal to the holder's pro rata share of any interest or other income earned on the escrowed funds (less applicable withholding tax, if any). The proceeds of the Offering are expected to be principally used for corporate and administrative expenses of the Resulting Issuer. Raising the maximum amount allows the Resulting Issuer more flexibility to drive its business plan going forward. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States or in any other jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold in 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. About Fraser Mackenzie Accelerator Corp. The Company is a "capital pool company" which completed its initial public offering on February 22, 2023. The FMAC Shares are listed for trading on the TSXV under the stock symbol FMAC.P. FMAC has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash. It is intended that the Qualifying Transaction, when completed, will constitute the "Qualifying Transaction" of FMAC pursuant to Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSXV. About Forward Water Technologies Corp. Forward Water Technologies Corp. (TSXV: FWTC) is a publicly traded Canadian company dedicated to saving the earth's water supply using its patented Forward Osmosis technology. FWTC was founded by GreenCentre Canada, a leading technology innovation centre supported by the government of Canada. FWTC's technology allows for the reduction of challenging waste streams simultaneously returning fresh water for re-use or surface release. FWTC's mandate is to focus on the large-scale implementation of its technology in multiple sectors, including industrial wastewater, oil and gas, DLE, mining, agriculture and ultimately municipal water supply and re-use market sectors. FWTC has immediate plans to treat brine from the direct lithium extraction (DLE) sector using is mobile pilot equipment this summer in conjunction with its partners. This project will establish FWTC's iFOTM technology as a valuable component in producing lithium carbonate from aquifer sourced brines for use in applications such as electric vehicle (EV) battery production. In addition, FWTC has initiated early-stage R&D for the treatment of food and beverage process streams. For more information, please visit www.forwardwater.com. Cautionary Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may', "should',' "anticipate',' "will',' "estimates',' "believes': "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Qualifying Transaction (including, without limitation, the anticipated timing of the completion thereof, the use of proceeds, and the satisfaction and/or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions). Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the parties, including expectations and assumptions concerning (i) the Company, the Resulting Issuer, and the Qualifying Transaction, and (ii) the timely receipt of all required shareholder, court and regulatory approvals (as applicable), including the approval of the TSXV. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements 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 Parties. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the respective management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, neither the Company nor FWTC undertakes any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Further Information For more information concerning the Offering and the Qualifying Transaction, see FWTC and the Company's 's joint news releases dated May 14, 2024, June 18, 2024, July 22, 2024 and September 12, 2024 and the Company's management information circular dated August 23, 2024. The parties will provide further details in respect of the Transaction in due course by way of press release in accordance with the requirements of the CPC Policy. 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. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/224788 SOURCE: Fraser Mackenzie Accelerator Corp. Relativity's annual Innovation Awards recognize the change agents of its user community CHICAGO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity, a global legal technology company, today announced the winners of this year's Innovation Awards at Relativity Fest. The Innovation Awards celebrate the trailblazing individuals and teams building custom solutions, empowering their peers and forging new paths to improve the legal industry and its communities. "Another year of the Innovation Awards signals another opportunity to celebrate our community's dedication to making a positive impact- whether that be through developing new solutions, providing excellent customer service, or elevating and advocating for their peers in the legal industry," said Laurie Usewicz, Chief Partner Officer at Relativity. "This year's winners exemplify the impassioned and innovative spirit that makes the future of our industry a bright one." The winners hail from, or work directly with law firms, financial institutions and consultant management companies large and small, private and public. Through a combined process of a judging committee and a community vote, Best Innovation winners are selected based on how they've leveraged the Relativity application programming interfaces in creative ways to solve Relativity's customers' most unique challenges. In addition to the standard six individual and two Best Innovation awards, a new Best Innovation category was added for this year, Developer Partner. This award recognizes solutions created by Relativity's independent software vendor (ISV) community that are offered directly to customers. Eligibility is restricted to solutions that are not owned by an Enterprise or Solution, Advisor, or Provider Partner. The 2024 Innovation Awards winners are: Artificial Intelligence: Ben Sexton, Vice President, JND eDiscovery Customer Experience: Jenna Rooney, Director, Client Services, Arete Incident Response Education & Mentorship: Deedra Smith, Managing Director, FTI Consulting Inclusion: Vazantha Meyers, Vice President, Discovery Services, Haystack ID Security: Jenna Rooney, Director, Client Services, Arete Incident Response Stellar Women: Stephanie L. Goutos, Lead Practice Innovation Attorney, Gunderson Dettmer Best Innovation: Developer Partner: Redaction Suggestions in Blackout by Milyli Best Innovation: Enterprise: Flywheel by Troutman Pepper eMerge Best Innovation: Partner: GenAI Toolbox by EY Switzerland Each of the award winners above exemplify what it means to be a changemaker at the individual, organizational and industry levels. All award winners are determined by a combination of Relativity judging committees unique to each category and a community vote. Relativity congratulates all submissions for the innovative work delivered this past year. About Relativity Relativity makes software to help users organize data, discover the truth and act on it. Its SaaS product, RelativityOne, manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. Relativity has more than 300,000 users in approximately 40 countries serving thousands of organizations globally primarily in legal, financial services and government sectors, including the U.S. Department of Justice and 198 of the Am Law 200. Please contact Relativity at sales@relativity.com or visit www.relativity.com for more information. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/445801/new_Relativity_logo_Logo_v2.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/relativity-spotlights-legal-industry-leaders-at-the-2024-innovation-awards-302257929.html Asabys Partners, a Barcelona, Spain-based life sciences focused venture capital firm, closed its second fund, Sabadell Asabys Health Innovation Investments II (SAHII II), with total commitments of 180m. LPs included new US and international investors in addition to investors from its previous fund, SAHII I, which closed with 117m in commitments. Read more on VCWire.tech, our new website dedicated to the tech venture capital industry. FinSMEs 26/09/2024 Boldstart Ventures, a Miami, FL-based venture capital firm, raised $250m for its seventh fund. According to a regulatory form filed with the S.E.C., 68 investors supported the raise efforts for Boldstart Ventures VII L.P.. Read more on VCWire.tech, our new website dedicated to the tech venture capital industry. FinSMEs 26/09/2024 DeepOpinion, an Innsbruck, Austria-based startup specializing in enterprise agentic process automation, raised 11M in funding. The round was led by Red River West and AIpha Intelligence Capital, with participation from existing backers Lunar Ventures and Stride VC. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its global expansion and further enhance the development of its core AI platform. Led by Stefan Engl, DeepOpinion has developed proprietary technology that leverages context-understanding capabilities and large language models (LLMs) to process data adapting to any document type, offering zero-shot document understanding that eliminates the need for templates or training data, and connects to over 200 enterprise software tools. It offers an enterprise-grade agentic automation platform enabling teams to put their business operations on autopilot, especially the unstructured data jobs like claims management, loan approvals, and purchase-to-pay processing. Combining agentic AI, business process digitization, and no-code development, DeepOpinion enables teams to create AI apps in minutes to achieve 90%+ straight-through processing efficiency. It used by companies like Allianz, HannoverRe, Erste Group, e&, Bitpanda, and Siemens. FinSMEs 25/09/2024 Despite efforts to attract students through free uniforms, mid-day meals, and promises of quality education, parents are increasingly turning away from government schools. According to the latest statistics from the states education department, more than 5,500 government schools have failed to enrol a single student in Class 1 for the 2024-25 academic year read more while over 5,000 government schools have recorded no admissions, approximately 25,000 schools have enrolled only one or two students in the first grade. Image for Representation. PTI Classrooms in Madhya Pradesh have fallen eerily silent, as thousands of government schools in the state have reported no admissions this year. Despite efforts to attract students through free uniforms, mid-day meals, and promises of quality education, parents are increasingly turning away from state-run institutions. Recent statistics from the states education department paint a concerning picture, revealing that more than 5,500 government schools have failed to enrol a single student in Class 1 for the 2024-25 academic year. This raises a critical question: Why is making them turn away from government schools? Lets take a closer look. The shocking numbers The report highlights a grim reality: while over 5,000 government schools have recorded no admissions, approximately 25,000 schools have enroled only one or two students in the first grade. Additionally, 11,345 schools have fewer than ten students each. Advertisement Certain districts are particularly affected, with Seoni, Satna, Narsinghpur, Betul, Khargone, Sagar, Vidisha, Raisen, Mandsaur, and Dewas reporting significant numbers of zero enrolments. Narsinghpur, which is also the home district of the states school education minister, Rao Udai Pratap Singh, stands out with 299 schools lacking any students in Class I, ranking among the top five districts for zero enrolments. Certain districts are particularly affected, with Seoni, Satna, Narsinghpur, Betul, Khargone, Sagar, Vidisha, Raisen, Mandsaur, and Dewas reporting significant numbers of zero enrolments. Image for Representation. PTI Seoni in the Jabalpur region has the highest number, with 425 schools, followed by Satna in the Vindhya region with 303. Narsinghpur is next, alongside Khargone in western Madhya Pradesh, which has 287 schools, and Betul with 265 schools. Expressing dismay over these government statistics, opposition Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta stated to The New Indian Express, These latest figures expose how the education system in the state has been ruined during the nearly two decades of BJP rule in the state. Still, this state government claims that the state is functioning smoothly. Why are parents avoiding government schools? The reasons behind parents steering away from government schools are becoming increasingly clear. According to NDTV, Mangal Tawde, a hotel employee residing in Berasia near Bhopal, initially intended to enrol his daughter in a government school. However, upon visiting the institution, he discovered rainwater leaking from the roof of the dilapidated building. Alarmed by the poor conditions, Mangal decided to enrol his daughter in a private school instead. This sentiment is echoed by many parents across the state. The government documents indicate that 7,189 schools in the state are in dire need of repairs, yet budget allocations for these renovations have stagnated. Despite the government spending between Rs. 1.5-2 lakh crore on school education over the past decade, experts have raised questions about the effectiveness of these investments. Advertisement Another pressing issue is the shortage of teachers. In total, 1,275 schools across 46 districts lack any permanent teachers, while 6,838 schools in 47 districts are staffed by only a single teacher each. In total, 1,275 schools across 46 districts lack any permanent teachers, while 6,838 schools in 47 districts are staffed by only a single teacher each. Image for Representation. PTI The Department of Public Instruction has stated that the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 mandates a pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) of 30:1 at the primary level and 35:1 at the upper primary level. To fill these gaps, the system relies on 1.7 lakh guest teachers. However, these teachers are often burdened with non-educational tasks, severely disrupting the learning process, Upendra Kaushal, President of the State Teachers Association, informed NDTV. He further said that teachers are frequently reassigned to other departments, further limiting their availability in classrooms. Advertisement As a result, many parents now prioritise basic amenitiessuch as functional toilets, well-maintained buildings, and the consistent presence of teachersover incentives like free uniforms and mid-day meals. What are authorities saying? Addressing the issue of low enrolment numbers, the states school education minister, Rao Udai Pratap Singh, highlighted that the absence of nursery classes in government schools plays a significant role. He pointed out that this gap leads to more young children being admitted to private schools, where they often continue their education. Well soon go for a drive to ensure that all those kids who complete six years by September 30, 2024, are enroled in Class I of the government schools. The drive will have the participation of all concerned, including the gram rozgar sahayaks (GRS), the secretary of every village panchayat, and all teachers in every village, Singh told The New Indian Express. Advertisement Educational Advisor BN Trishal, speaking to Free Press Journal, said the lack of accountability within the government is a critical factor behind this decline. He suggested that schools with fewer than ten enroled students should be closed, and those students transferred to other institutions. The funds currently spent on maintaining such schools could be better utilised for the overall improvement and development of the students, added Trishal. Sanjay Goyal, the secretary of the school education department, stressed the urgency of addressing the situation. He stated, Our current focus is on ensuring all students are enroled, as no student should be left behind. Additionally, schools should remain accessible to all students within their reach. Advertisement With input from agencies With Israels war entering the next phase, the focus has shifted from Gaza to Lebanon, where Hezbollah is its rival. Hundreds of people have died in airstrikes carried by Israeli forces, which are said to be ready for a ground invasion read more Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Lebanon as it intensifies its fight against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia militia currently engaged in a war with the Jewish in support of another Tehran-backed group, Hamas in Palestines Gaza. Amid international efforts to de-escalate Israel-Hezbollah conflict, with the US and France proposing an immediate 21-day truce, Israeli defence forces chief has asked troops to be in ready state for a ground invasion. Advertisement Israels military chief Lt Gen Herzi Halevi told troops that extensive air strikes in Lebanon were aimed at paving the way for them to enter enemy territory. Halevi said, You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day. This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah. More than 600 people have died in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including areas that are beyond Hezbollah strongholds, forcing Beirut to appeal to the US for taking immediate steps. Lebanon said only the US could end the ongoing conflict, emphasising Washington DC is the key to our salvation as Israel continues to pound the country. Why Lebanon cant act against Hezbollah Hezbollah has a unique role and position in Lebanon. It has legislators and enjoys wide public support among Shia Muslims, but it operates independently of the official government of Beirut. Hezbollah has about 80,000-100,000 armed fighters separate from the official army of Lebanon. Hezbollah watchers say that the militia is capable of defeating the Lebanese army if the two go to the war. While Hezbollah fighters are battle-hardened for having been in a state of war, not only in its campaign against Israel but also Syria, where it supported the forces of Bashad al-Assad. The backing of Iran and uninterrupted supplies of arms and ammunition to the Lebanon-based outfit gives an added advantage to Hezbollah over the Lebanese armed forces. Advertisement But the Iran-backed group is not only an armed unit, it is a political party its name translates to the Party of God. It has three ministers in the interim government of Lebanon. It is part and parcel of the government decision-making process in Lebanon, yet it maintains autonomy in its armed operations in West Asia say, against Israel. Lebanon has a complicated government structure that is based on sectarian distribution of power among Christians, Shias and Sunnis for the posts of the president, the prime minister and the speaker of its parliament. Most Shia groups are either aligned with Hezbollah or have ties of cooperation with it. This makes any action by the government of Lebanon, if in place, difficult to act against Hezbollah. Advertisement No president since 2022 Former Lebanese army commander and former prime minister Michel Aoun served as the Lebanon president from 2016 to 2022, when he quit. Parliamentary election was held in 2022 but no party gained a majority. Hezbollah, which earlier enjoyed a majority, lost its control of parliament. Najib Mikati, who has since been serving as the caretaker prime minister, leads an interim government that does not have control over Hezbollah. The Lebanese constitution says that the president can only be elected by the 121-member parliament through voting. For more than two years, Lebanon has been without a president. And every time the matter comes to vote in the Lebanese parliament, Hezbollah uses its might in the legislature to block the election of the countrys president. This works well for Hezbollah as it runs its writ without any nominal or real pressure from the official government of Lebanon. Advertisement The incumbency of the president gives the government the authority of popular mandate to act against a group, irrespective of its position in politics, if found to be a threat to national security a situation that Lebanon finds currently itself in because of Hezbollah stand on Israel-Hamas conflict. It was not the Lebanese army but Hezbollah that declared war on Israel, following its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas fighters killed more than 1,200 people and abducted over 250 during the October 7 raid last year from Israeli areas. This explains Lebanons hesitation in acting against Hezbollah. Lebanese prime minister, Mikati, who positions himself as a liberal leader, has failed to impress upon Hezbollah led by Lebanese Shia cleric Hassan Nasrallah, who has continued to keep fighting Israel until the Jewish state stops its Gaza campaign. Advertisement Lebanon, once called Switzerland of the East and was part of the Ottoman Empire, will likely plunge into a greater chaos if Mikati orders the national armed forces to rein in Hezbollah as the Shia group is capable of pushing the country to a civil-sectarian war, and be sure of victory with the help of and supplies from Iran. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus minority Liberal government survived a key no-confidence vote this week, defeating Conservative efforts to force early elections. With 211 votes against and 120 in favour, the motion failed, but opposition parties remain poised to challenge Trudeaus leadership read more Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, September 25, 2024. File Image/Reuters Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus minority Liberal government escaped a no-confidence vote this week, a critical test for his leadership after nine years in power. Despite slipping popularity due to mounting economic concerns, Trudeau secured enough parliamentary support to stay in office. However, the future remains fraught with political challenges as opposition parties, particularly the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois, prepare for renewed attempts to topple his government. How did Trudeau survive the no-confidence vote? Advertisement On Wednesday, Trudeaus government faced a no-confidence motion brought forward by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The motion was part of a broader Conservative effort to push for early elections, arguing that Trudeaus government had failed to address rising costs of living, the housing crisis, and an increase in crime. The vote took place amid a tense parliamentary session where Poilievre lambasted the prime minister, accusing him of overseeing a broken Canada and doubling the national debt. Why cant we bring it home today? Poilievre asked during question period, reiterating his pledges to axe the [carbon] tax, build the homes, fix the budget, and stop the crime should the Conservatives form the next government. Despite the heated rhetoric, Trudeaus government emerged victorious, with 211 MPs voting against the motion and 120 supporting it. The two Green MPs and two Independent MPs voted against the motion, while two other Independent MPs sided with the Conservatives. I believe today we will see that this House does not have confidence in the leader of the Conservative Party, Trudeau quipped during the debate, countering Poilievres slogans by accusing him of lacking actual solutions. This was the first major vote of the fall parliamentary session and also marked the first time the Liberals faced a confidence motion without the solid backing of the New Democratic Party (NDP). Advertisement The NDP had previously agreed to support Trudeaus government under a 2022 supply-and-confidence agreement, but they recently withdrew their backing due to concerns that their association with the Liberals was hurting their own political standing. Who holds the balance of power in Ottawa? Though the Liberals survived this vote, Trudeaus government remains vulnerable as opposition forces regroup. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet has issued a stark ultimatum, laying out key demands the government must meet to secure his partys continued support. Specifically, the Bloc demands the passage of two pieces of legislation: Bill C-319, which would increase Old Age Security (OAS) benefits by 10 per cent for seniors aged 65-74, and Bill C-282, which would protect supply-managed farm sectors such as dairy, poultry, and eggs from future trade negotiations. The deadline for these actions is set for October 29, reported CBC News. Advertisement Blanchet warned that if the government fails to meet these demands, the Bloc will engage in talks with the Conservatives and NDP to orchestrate the fall of Trudeaus administration. However, he softened his stance by noting that if the government complies, the Bloc would refrain from voting against the Liberals before Christmas, essentially guaranteeing Trudeaus survival into the new year. What we are proposing is good for retired persons in Quebec but also in Canada. Its good for milk, eggs, and poultry producers in Quebec but also in Canada. Thats good for everybody, said Blanchet, highlighting the national benefit of the Blocs legislative demands. Advertisement Despite the threats, analysts believe it is unlikely that the government will fall before 2025, when the next scheduled federal election is due. We are going to work piece of legislation by piece of legislation, issue by issue, negotiating with the different political parties, said Karina Gould, the Liberal House Leader, following the vote. Why havent the Conservatives been able to topple Trudeaus government? While the Liberals won this vote, the Conservatives have not given up their quest for a snap election. The party plans to introduce another no-confidence motion next week, taking advantage of their allotted opposition days. The Conservatives have three more such opportunities before the House rises for the Christmas break, while the Bloc and NDP each have one opposition day of their own. Advertisement Poilievre and the Conservatives are buoyed by a strong lead in opinion polls. According to an Angus Reid poll, the Conservatives currently hold 43 per cent of voting intentions, while the Liberals lag far behind at 21 per cent. The NDP holds 19 per cent. Such numbers have emboldened the Conservatives, who believe that an early election would result in a majority government under Poilievres leadership. Enough is enough. Costs are up, taxes are up, crime is up, and time is up, the Conservatives declared in a post-vote statement. However, the challenge for Poilievre lies in rallying enough cross-party support to bring down the government. Both the NDP and Bloc have signalled reluctance to align fully with the Conservatives. Jagmeet Singhs NDP, in particular, risks losing more ground if it backs a snap election, as recent polls show that the NDP would also struggle if elections were held today. Is Trudeaus government secure now? Although Trudeau survived this vote, his government is far from secure. The next major test will likely come during a budgetary vote, which also functions as a matter of confidence. That vote is expected next week, and while most political observers anticipate the Liberals will survive, the governments grip on power is precarious. Poilievre has already vowed to keep trying, saying, Were going to keep pressing this issue. This government is out of touch, and Canadians deserve better. The New Democratic Partys decision to terminate its formal cooperation with the Liberals further complicates Trudeaus political future. While the NDP continues to support the government on a case-by-case basis, the once-stable coalition has been shattered, leaving Trudeau dependent on individual policy negotiations to pass legislation. In the meantime, the Conservatives and Bloc are sharpening their strategies for what seems to be an inevitable push for elections. Also Watch: Trudeau himself acknowledged the struggles facing Canadians. During a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the prime minister said, People are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank. He conceded that these economic hardships have led many to seek political change. But he insists that the solution is not to replace his government with one he accuses of playing games and offering slogans without solutions. With Canadas next scheduled federal election not due until October 2025, the months ahead promise continued political uncertainty. According to University of Ottawa professor Genevieve Tellier, a weakened Trudeau administration will find it more difficult to govern as opposition parties keep the pressure on. While the harsh Canadian winter typically deters elections, Tellier tells AFP that anything is possible. It could come before Christmas. With inputs from agencies Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy will meet his American counterpart, Joe Biden during his US visit. Meanwhile in India, PM Modi is set to visit Pune to inaugurate a part of the underground Metro corridor. Heres what else to expect today read more Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet US President Joe Biden on Thursday. File Image/White House Its going to be a busy Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy will meet his American counterpart, Joe Biden during his US visit. PM Modi will inaugurate an underground metro in Pune as well several other projects. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will begin the Haryana campaign. The former first lady of US, Melania Trump will sit in the first interview in over 2 years. The Delhi Assembly will commence a special two-day session starting today. Japan to announce verdict for worlds longest-serving death row inmate Advertisement Heres a glimpse of what will happen today Zelenskyy to meet Biden in US Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet US President Joe Biden on Thursday. Volodymyr Zelenskyy will present his victory plan to [Biden]. He expects to discuss the details of the plan, as well as further US support for Ukraine, announced Zelenskyys spokesman, Sergii Nykyforov. In addition to Biden, Zelenskyy will meet US Vice President Kamala Harris, members of Congress from both parties, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to Nykyforov. In addition to Biden, Zelenskyy will meet US Vice President Kamala Harris. File Photo: AFP Zelenskyy is also scheduled to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly and meet with representatives from American defence and energy companies. During his visit, he will connect with the Ukrainian community and hold bilateral discussions with national leaders and international organizations on the sidelines of the General Assembly. PM Modi to inaugurate Pune underground metro PM Modi is set to visit Pune to inaugurate the underground Metro corridor connecting Civil Court to Swargate, marking a significant leap in the citys urban transport infrastructure. During his visit, PM Modi will also lay the foundation for the metros expansion from Swargate to Katraj, further strengthening Punes metro network. Since laying its foundation in 2016, PM Modi has personally participated in five Maha-Metro events, including ceremonies and inaugurations. Advertisement During his visit, PM Modi will also lay the foundation for the metros expansion from Swargate to Katraj, further strengthening Punes metro network. File Image/PTI The new underground metro line features modern amenities such as advanced security systems, digital information displays, and eco-friendly technology. Additionally, PM Modi will launch several other key initiatives, including the highly anticipated memorial at Bhide Wada, the historic site where Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule established Indias first female school. Rahul Gandhi to begin Harayana campaign Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to kick off the Haryana election campaign with rallies in Assandh and Barwala, following a truce between the states rival leaders brokered by the partys central leadership. Party insiders told ETV Bharat, that Rahuls rallies had been delayed due to internal conflicts between the camps of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda and former Union Minister Kumari Selja. The differences were resolved after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stepped in. Advertisement Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to kick off the Haryana election campaign with rallies in Assandh and Barwala .File image/ ANI Rahul Gandhis speeches will boost the Congress campaign in the state. The Congress is united and getting stronger, AICC Secretary Manoj Chauhan told the news outlet. Haryana will go to the polls for its 90-member assembly on October 5, with the results expected on October 8. Melania Trumps first interview in over 2 years USs former first lady Melania Trump is set to appear for an interview on Fox & Friends show on Fox News. The interview, conducted by co-host Ainsley Earhardt, will cover topics including the new book, Melania, the Trump campaigns strategy in the final six weeks before the election, the two assassination attempts on her husband, and other current news, according to the US-based news outlet. USs former first lady Melania Trump is set to appear for an interview on Fox & Friends show on Fox News. File Image/ Reuters This will be Melanias first sit-down interview in two years, as her husband faces a tight race against Vice President Harris in the upcoming election. Delhi Assembly to begin two-day special session Advertisement The Delhi Assembly will commence a special two-day session starting today. Chief Minister Atishi is expected to address her first session as the leader of the house, AAP functionaries told The Hindustan Times. While the agenda for the session hasnt been finalised, a senior party member shared that Atishi will be speaking at the house on the issues faced by Delhi and the way forward. The Delhi Assembly will commence a special two-day session starting today. Chief Minister Atishi is expected to address her first session as the leader of the house, AAP functionaries said. Reuters Typically, three major sessions the budget, monsoon, and winter sessions are held annually. However, there have been occasions where additional sessions were convened to address urgent government matters. Japan to announce verdict for worlds longest-serving death row inmate Advertisement Iwao Hakamada, the worlds longest-serving death row inmate, will learn today whether he will face execution or finally be acquitted, a decade after securing a retrial for his murder conviction. Hakamada, 88, spent 46 years on death row before being released in 2014 pending his retrial. The former boxer was convicted in 1968 for the murder of his boss, the bosss wife, and their two teenage children. Over time, doubts emerged about the case, including allegations of fabricated evidence and coerced confessions, raising concerns about Japans justice system, which critics say holds suspects hostage." While his family believes he will be released, prosecutors, however, remain convinced of Hakamadas guilt beyond reasonable doubt, AFP reported. With input from agencies Subodh Chandra, the leader of a non-profit representing the Haitian community in Ohio, has invoked a private-citizen right to file charges against Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance for spreading misleading claims about Haitians eating cats and dogs. He filed a criminal complaint against the Republican candidates with the Clark County Municipal Court on Tuesday read more Subodh Chandra is a co-founder and managing partner at The Chandra Law Firm LLC. Image Courtesy: chandralaw.com The Haitian community living in Ohio has been in the news since former President Donald Trump accused the immigrant community of eating cats and dogs during a presidential debate. The misleading claims even led to chaos and bomb threats to the region. Now, in a new development, the leader of a non-profit representing the community has invoked a private-citizen right to file charges against Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. The Haitian Bridge Alliance made the move after inaction by the local prosecutor, said their attorney, Subodh Chandra of the Cleveland-based Chandra Law firm. Advertisement Heres all we know about him. Who is Subodh Chandra? Subodh Chandra is a co-founder and managing partner at The Chandra Law Firm LLC. A former federal prosecutor, he focuses on civil rights litigation, along with white-collar criminal defence and internal investigations, according to his website. He has handled high-profile cases like the police shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice by Cleveland police. Chandra oversaw the work of an 82-lawyer department with both criminal and civil divisions while serving as the city of Clevelands director of law prior to starting the business. He began his legal journey as the American Bar Associations special presidential counsel. Chandra is an alumnus of the Yale Law School and has graduated with honours and distinction from Stanford University. He has long been involved in helping those who want to work in public service. In 2006, he ran for Ohio attorney general and received the majority of newspaper endorsements. He is the co-vice chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights Special Ohio Advisory Committee. Also read: Are US migrants eating pet cats and ducks? Bizarre rumour pushed by Donald Trump What are the charges against Trump and Vance? Chandra filed the criminal complaint against Trump and Vance with the Clark County Municipal Court on Tuesday, on behalf of the Haitian Bridge Alliance. Advertisement Trump and Vance, a US Senator from Ohio, are charged with disrupting public services, making false alarms, telecommunications harassment, aggravated menacing and complicity. The filing asks the Clark County Municipal Court to affirm that there is probable cause and issue arrest warrants against Trump and Vance or refer the matter to the prosecutor for further investigation. Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance have been repeatedly making claims of how Haitian immigrants pose a threat to Americans to target Kamala Harris in the White House race. Reuters Although Chandra has strong Democratic Party ties, he insisted that this had no bearing on his decision to take up the case. Their persistence and relentlessness, even in the face of the governor and the mayor saying this is false, that shows intent. Its knowing, wilful flouting of criminal law, Chandra said. Advertisement If it were anyone else other than Trump and Vance who had done what theyve done wreak havoc on Springfield, resulting in bomb threats, evacuated and closed government buildings and schools, threats to the mayor and his family they would have been arrested by now. They are not above the law, he added. Charges brought by private citizens are rare, but not unheard of, in Ohio. For instance, a grocery store charging a customer for a bounced check. State law requires a hearing to take place before the affidavit can move forward. As of Tuesday afternoon, none had been scheduled. What is Trump campaigns response? Advertisement Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump-Vance campaign, said, President Trump is rightfully highlighting the failed immigration system that (Vice President) Kamala Harris has overseen, bringing thousands of illegal immigrants pouring into communities like Springfield and many others across the country. Whats the controversy? For the past week, Springfield has been the talk of the town due to false rumours that Haitian migrants have been killing and eating pets. These claims have been reiterated by Republican presidential nominee and Vance. On September 10, in his first debate with Democrat rival Kamala Harris, Trump claimed, In Springfield, theyre eating the dogs the people that came in. Theyre eating the cats. Advertisement Thousands of Haitians are fleeing their homes every day and many are fleeing the country. Reuters Trumps comments echoed claims made by his campaign, including his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, and other Republicans. The claims attracted attention when Vance posted on social media that his office has received many inquiries, about Haitian migrants abducting pets. Vance later acknowledged it was possible all of these rumours will turn out to be false. Officials have said there have been no credible or detailed reports about the claims, even as Trump and his allies use them to amplify racist stereotypes about black and brown immigrants. Because of the claims, however, more than 30 bomb threats were directed at state and local government buildings and schools, prompting closures, and the assignment of additional law enforcement protection and security cameras. Some of the citys Haitian residents have also said they feared their safety as public vitriol grew, and Mayor Rob Rue has received death threats. Whats behind the rumour? On September 6, a post surfaced on X that shared what looked like a screengrab of a social media post apparently out of Springfield. The retweeted post talked about the persons neighbours daughters friend seeing a cat hanging from a tree to be butchered and eaten, claiming without evidence that Haitians lived at the house. The accompanying photo showed a black man carrying what appeared to be a Canada goose by its feet. That post continued to get shared on social media. Springfield is a small town in Ohio. 4 years ago, they had 60k residents. Under Harris and Biden, 20,000 Haitian immigrants were shipped to the town. Now ducks and pets are disappearing. pic.twitter.com/OOFq3ZdTiA End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 6, 2024 On Monday, Vance posted on X. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldnt be in this country. Where is our border czar? he said. The next day, Vance posted again on X about Springfield, saying his office had received inquiries from residents who said their neighbours pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. Its possible, of course, that all of these rumours will turn out to be false. Other Republicans shared similar posts. Among them was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who posted a photo of kittens with a caption that said to vote for Trump So Haitian immigrants dont eat us. Hours before Trumps debate with Harris, he posted two related photos on his social media site. One Truth Social post was a photo of Trump surrounded by cats and geese. Another featured armed cats wearing MAGA hats. Why did so many Haitians move to Springfield? Jobs and word of mouth. Springfield shed manufacturing jobs and its population decreased significantly as a result towards the end of the last century. However, the city has made a concerted effort to lure employers and Haitians immigrants have helped meet rising demand for labour in factories and warehouses. Word spread, and Haitians began arriving in greater numbers over the last few years. Haitians in Springfield and elsewhere came to the US to flee violence in their home country. The 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants who have arrived in Springfield over the past several years have been granted Temporary Protected Status to be in the US legally. With inputs from agencies Amid its barrage of airstrikes, Israels top general said that it was preparing for a possible ground offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah. Such a move, analysts believe, would be catastrophic, as it would lead to an all-out war between the Jewish nation and the militant group and its many allies, including Iran read more Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Tyre, Lebanon. Reuters It has been a devastating 10 days for Lebanon-based Hezbollah and the people of Lebanon. And, on Wednesday, it got even worse when Israel announced that it would be preparing for a ground offensive in the neighbouring country. The news of a possible invasion comes amid continued Israeli airstrikes, which have killed more than 615 people in the past three days and injured more than 2,000 others. It also comes as thousands of Lebanese try to flee the country, with many countries such as the United Kingdom and even India issuing advisories to their citizens to leave. Advertisement As the world watches on anxiously for the possible ground offensive, with France and the US trying their hardest to broker a ceasefire, we take a closer look at what could be the implications of such a move and what could be the potential outcome. Ground offensive in the making? Amid the barrage of missiles that Israel has been raining down on Lebanon since last Friday, the countrys top general on Wednesday said that the troops should prepare for a possible ground operation into Lebanon. Israels chief of staff, Maj Gen Herzi Halevi during a visit to the troops in the north, said, You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day. This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah. He added that the incursion would be to facilitate the re-entry of thousands of Israelis who were previously displaced from their homes. To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a manoeuvre, he said. It means your military boots, your manoeuvring boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts. People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit a hangar in the southern town of Jiyeh, Lebanon. AP Entering into Lebanon will show them what it means to face a professional, highly skilled and battle-experienced force, Halevi said. The remarks came amid Israel and Hezbollah trading fire in the air, with the Lebanese-based militant group even firing a ballistic missile at the headquarters of Mossad near Tel Aviv the first time the group has tried to strike so deeply into Israeli territory. The constant rain of rockets and firing over Lebanon has led to thousands of residents trying to flee the country, with the United Nations saying more than 90,000 people have been displaced by five days of Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Advertisement For the possible ground offensive, Israel has already recalled reservists. According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the Israeli army has summoned those who had been discharged from the army years ago, or had been exempted from service over the past few years. This will enable the continuation of combat against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, the Israeli military reportedly said. People inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike that hit the Lebanese seaside town of Jiyeh, early on Wednesday, Lebanon. Reuters Beginning of an all-out war? Defence analysts and geopolitical observers worry that Israels imminent ground invasion would be the start of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. US President Joe Biden in an interview said that an all-out war is possible. Others also agree. Imad Salamey, a professor of political science at the Lebanese American University in Beirut, told Al Jazeera, The possibility of an Israeli invasion in Lebanon is gaining momentum within the Israeli political and military establishment. Advertisement Should the Israeli government opt for this strategy, it is likely that the invasion could commence within 72 hours, as Israel may believe that Hezbollahs control and command structure has been sufficiently weakened, leaving the party vulnerable to a swift strike before it has the chance to regroup. Iran, who is a backer of Hezbollah, has said that Israel had crossed all red lines and their leaders must understand their crimes wont go unpunished. Irans Foreign Minister said that his country supported Hezbollah in its just cause to defend Lebanon against Israeli atrocities and occupation. A day earlier, Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian also said that Hezbollah cannot stand alone against Israel and called on the UN Security Council to take immediate action against the insane Israeli escalation. Advertisement Hezbollah supporters carry a flag depicting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as they ride a scooter following the funeral procession of Hezbollah commanders Ibrahim Kobeisi and Hussein Ezzedine in Beiruts southern suburb, on Wednesday. AP What an all-out war would mean? Israels possible ground offensive in Lebanon would be catastrophic for all, believe analysts. Many believe that a ground invasion would favour Hezbollah, as the true extent of its military might still remain unknown. Karim Emile Bitar, a professor of international relations at St Josephs University in Beirut, told Al Jazeera, If there is an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon, paradoxically, Hezbollah could feel that it is back in its comfort zone because they are used to fighting Israeli invasions, they know every single village in south Lebanon. They still have an abundance of fighters ready to try to repel this Israeli invasion. Advertisement Bitar also notes that a ground invasion is a different ball game for Israel and they might witness significant losses because even if Hezbollah has been weakened, Hezbollah still has the capacity to inflict harm on Israel. A protester waves a Lebanese flag as demonstrators gather to protest the war in Gaza and Lebanon in front of the Los Angeles Federal Building on Tuesday, in Los Angeles. AP Moreover, in the case of a ground invasion, Hezbollah fighters would receive support from other Iran-back groups as well as from groups in Yemen and elsewhere in the region. Others note that the ground offensive is simply a threat by Israel to goad Hezbollah into submission. Israel is really trying to do something quick, in the hopes that they might be able to bring so much pressure to bear on Hezbollah that they will have no choice but to try to negotiate a quick end to this thing, Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel Program and senior fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC, told Al Jazeera. Analysts also believe that if Israel were to put boots on the ground it would also risk international condemnation and greater isolation. It seems that neither side can win, but both continue the posturing. With inputs from agencies A 45-year-old woman in Mumbai drowned after falling into an open drain last night, as heavy rains lashed the city. This is not the first such death in Indias financial capital. In 2017, the tragic demise of a doctor who fell into a manhole had put the spotlight on the BMC. Is the civic body to be blamed for these accidents? read more Two school students share an umbrella to shield themselves during rain, in Mumbai, September 25, 2024. PTI Mumbai rains turned deadly as a 45-year-old woman died after falling into a drain in suburban Andheri on Wednesday (September 25). The victim, identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad, drowned in a nullah overflowing due to a heavy downpour in the city yesterday. The tragic incident reportedly took place at night near gate no. 8 of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Andheri East. The Mumbai Police has filed an accidental death report (ADR) in the matter. Advertisement The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has come under the scanner, said in a statement, A 45-year-old lady Vimal Gaikwad drowned in an open drain in the MIDC area of Andheri. She was rescued by the Mumbai fire brigade and sent to Cooper Hospital but was declared dead by doctors. The civic body has set up a three-member panel, headed by a Deputy Municipal Commissioner, to probe the incident. It has sought a report within three days. Lets take a look at how open drains turn fatal in Mumbai during monsoons. Mumbais killer drains In August 2017, a medical practitioner died after slipping into a manhole in Mumbai, causing outrage. The body of Dr Deepak Amrapurkar, the 59-year-old gastroenterologist, was found close near a drain opening in Worli two days after he went missing after a downpour in Indias financial capital. Dr Amrapurkar had fallen into a manhole near Lower Parel while returning home from Bombay Hospital. The incident had put the spotlight on the BMC which faced questions about its efforts to cover open manholes. In 2018, the counsel appearing for the Mumbai civic body had blamed residents near Dr Amrapurkars residence for his death, saying they kept the manhole next to his house open. The BMC had claimed that it was not at fault. In the next two years after the doctors death, a two-year-old and a seven-year-old lost their lives in Chembur and Dharavi, respectively. In 2021, a video of two women in Bhandup who fell into an open manhole went viral. They had both escaped unhurt. Advertisement In 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed it discovered 109 open manholes in Mumbai. A 68-year-old woman lost her life that year after falling into an open manhole in Virar. Why are drains open? There are two types of drains a sanitary drain and a storm water drain. A storm water drain is present as holes and gutters on the street corners or along the pavements. It collects rainwater and directs it into a natural body of water like rivers or ponds. However, people often clog storm water drains with garbage including plastic packets, leading to the accumulation of water. The destruction of wastelands and wetlands due to the constant concretisation of urban areas further exacerbates the problem of flooding in monsoons. Advertisement A sanitary drainage system is a system of piping that carries sewage or other liquid waste to a public sewer or private sewage disposal system. This drain is covered by manholes on roads. During heavy rains, people remove manhole covers of sanitary drains to divert the excess water as they panic that the entire street will be uncontrollably flooded, according to a DNA article. Workers clean drains at Vashi ahead of pre-monsoon season in Navi Mumbai, May 5, 2020. File Photo/PTI Sometimes thieves steal the manhole covers and sell them off in scrap markets. The BMC is trying to tackle the problem of stolen manhole covers. Is BMC to blame? The BMC Indias richest civic body has faced increased scrutiny since 2017 when the medical practitioner lost his life after falling into an open manhole. Advertisement In 2018, the Bombay High Court had issued directives to the civic body to repair potholes along all arterial roads in Mumbai and come up with a uniform mechanism to redress grievances of the citizens concerning bad roads. It had also ordered the BMC to cover manholes. A panel appointed by the BMC had submitted a 36-page report with several suggestions to prevent accidents due to open manholes. These recommendations included installing mesh wires under manhole covers, radio frequency identification (RFID)-tagging of these covers, and using hinge covers that cannot be removed completely, as per a Hindustan Times (HT) report. The RFID tagging would alert the BMC every time a manhole cover is removed or displaced. However, the Mumbai civic body had implemented only one of these suggestions installing mesh wires by 2019. Advertisement In 2022, the Bombay High Court had warned that the BMC officials would be held responsible if anyone died due to open manholes in Mumbai. It had dubbed the open manholes in the city death traps", asking the civic body to take immediate steps to cover these manholes. The court had questioned the BMC, In this day of modern technology, why dont you device something that if someone touches a manhole cover, tampers with the cover, you get to know immediately in your office? Why not something like a sensor? Last June, the Bombay High Court had asked why the BMC could not install protective grills on all 74,000 manholes in the city. This came after the court was told that only 1,908 manholes in flood-prone areas had protective grills. A BMC official told Mid-day in early June this year that over 80 per cent of manholes have been installed with safety nets. He said the work will be completed that month. In August, the civic body rolled out its smart manhole cover project, which was launched last year to combat the theft of manhole covers. Under this, the BMC planned to install smart sensors over manhole covers to arrest the rising theft incidents. If a cover was removed, sensors would ring an alarm and alert a control room. The death of a 45-year-old woman is a reminder that the BMC needs to do more to prevent the loss of lives in Mumbai due to open drains. The problem of open manholes has not only taken lives in Mumbai but also in Delhi. In July, a mother and her son drowned in a half-open under-construction drain in a waterlogged street in east Delhis Ghazipur as heavy rains lashed the National Capital. The Delhi High Court had come down heavily on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over the incident. With inputs from agencies Mira Murati, the chief technical officer, who has spent six and a half years with OpenAI, has announced that she quit the artificial intelligence startup after much reflection. The 35-year-old Murati has played a key role in OpenAIs advancements, including developing products like the GPT-4o model and DALL-E. What does her exit mean for the company? read more Murati is the latest addition to the growing list of high-profile executives who have announced their exit from the billion-dollar tech firm Open AI. Image Courtesy: Open AI Mira Murati, the Chief Technical Officer, who has spent six and a half years with Open AI, has announced her departure from the artificial intelligence startup. Murati, who played a key role in OpenAIs advancements, shared her decision in a post on X (formerly Twitter). She described the choice as a difficult decision made after much reflection, noting, Theres never an ideal time to step away from a place one cherishes, yet this moment feels right. Advertisement Murati is the latest addition to the growing list of high-profile executives who have announced their exit from the billion-dollar tech firm. But who exactly is Mira Murati, and what prompted her to leave Open AI? Whats next for the AI company? Lets take a closer look About Mira Murati Born and raised in Albania to Albanian parents, Murati moved to Canada to attend Pearson College UWC at 16. She obtained a degree in Mathematics from Colby College and went ahead to pursue another graduation in mechanical engineering from the USs Ivy League Dartmouth College. According to the New York Times, she constructed a hybrid race car as her final project while still a student. Her professional journey began in 2011 as a summer intern at Goldman Sachs, followed by a stint at Zodiac Aerospace. She then worked on the Model X for Tesla for three years as a Senior Product Manager. Mira Murati became the vice president of partnerships and applied AI at Microsoft-led OpenAI in 2018. AFP According to Tech Crunch, Murati became the vice president of product and engineering at sensor startup Leap Motion in 2016. After working there for two years, she resigned from the company to become the vice president of partnerships and applied AI at Microsoft-led OpenAI. Both in my time at Tesla, and at a VR Company (Leap Motion) I was doing applications of AI in the real world. I very quickly believed that AGI would be the last and most important major technology that we built, and I wanted to be at the heart of it, Murati told Wired in an interview in 2023. Advertisement In 2018, Murati started working on supercomputing as part of OpenAI. She was elevated to chief technology officer in 2022. The 35-year-old former CTO of OpenAI has led product development of OpenAIs groundbreaking products like the GPT-4o model and DALL-E. Sam Altman, right, then CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, and Mira Murati, chief technology officer, appear at OpenAI DevDay, OpenAIs first developer conference. AP Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote in a piece in Time Magazine that he believes Murati has a demonstrated ability to assemble teams with technical expertise, commercial acumen and a deep appreciation for the importance of mission As a result, she has helped build some of the most exciting AI technologies weve ever seen." Following Open AI founder Sam Altmans brief ouster last November, Murati led the AI firm as its interim CEO. Advertisement Why did Murati resign? Mira Muratis resignation from OpenAI surprised many, but in her post on X (formerly Twitter), she explained it was driven by a desire for personal exploration. Describing her time at OpenAI as an extraordinary privilege, Murati expressed gratitude for the individuals she worked with and thanked CEO Sam Altman for his trust in her. Im stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration. For now, my primary focus is doing everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition, maintaining the momentum weve built, she wrote. Murati also noted, While I may no longer be in the trenches with you, I will still be rooting for you all. With deep gratitude for the friendships forged, the triumphs achieved, and most importantly, the challenges overcome together. Advertisement I shared the following note with the OpenAI team today. pic.twitter.com/nsZ4khI06P Mira Murati (@miramurati) September 25, 2024 In response, Sam Altman paid tribute to Murati on X, acknowledging her vital contributions to the company. Its hard to overstate how much Mira has meant to OpenAI, our mission, and to us all personally, he said, expressing his immense gratitude for her role in shaping OpenAIs success. Advertisement Whats next for Open AI? Altman has announced the appointment of Mark Chen as Senior VP of Research and Josh Achiam as Head of Mission Alignment to ensure a smooth transition following Mira Muratis departure. According to Reuters, Muratis exit coincides with OpenAIs efforts to finalise a major $6.5 billion funding round, which could value the company at $150 billion. This deal reportedly involves restructuring OpenAI into a for-profit benefit corporation, granting CEO Sam Altman an equity stake. Muratis exit coincides with OpenAIs efforts to finalise a major $6.5 billion funding round, which could value the company at $150 billion. This deal reportedly involves restructuring OpenAI into a for-profit benefit corporation, granting CEO Sam Altman an equity stake. Reuters It remains unclear whether Muratis departure will affect the fundraising, as such agreements often include clauses allowing investors to reconsider terms in the event of significant leadership changes. Muratis exit is part of a wave of high-profile departures at OpenAI. On Wednesday, VP of Research Barret Zoph and Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew also announced their resignations on X. In August, co-founder John Schulman revealed he had joined rival AI company Anthropic. Co-founder Greg Brockman also announced he would be taking a sabbatical until the end of the year, while Chief Scientist and co-founder Ilya Sutskever left the company in May after a boardroom dispute. With Muratis resignation, only two of OpenAIs original 11 founders remain, raising further questions about the companys leadership and future direction amidst these major changes. With input from agencies The scandal around Qantas Airways, Australias national carrier, which was caught selling tickets for tens of thousands of cancelled flights has intensified after court documents revealed that the airline misled nearly a million passengers. Between 2022 and 2024, over 71,000 flights were scrapped, but tickets were still sold, leaving 884,000 customers unaware they had booked onto non-existent flights read more Qantas planes are seen at a domestic terminal at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, November 16, 2020. File Image/Reuters Months after Qantas Airways, revered as the Spirit of Australia, found itself entangled in a massive scandal involving fake flights, recent court documents reveal that national carrier had misled nearly a million passengers. The controversy, which has led to significant financial penalties, management changes, and legal consequences, revolves around the airline selling tickets for thousands of flights that had already been cancelled. What was the scandal? According to court filings, Qantas sold tickets for 71,000 flights scheduled between May 2022 and May 2024, despite knowing these flights were cancelled. Over 884,000 passengers were not informed that they had booked tickets on flights that would never take off. Advertisement The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) revealed that Qantas continued to sell these tickets for an average of 11 days after deciding to cancel the flights. For some flights, the notification delay reached as long as 18 days. Qantas settled the lawsuit in May 2024, agreeing to pay A$120 million (approximately $82 million) in fines and compensation. This settlement includes A$100 million (52.7 million) in penalties and an additional A$20 million (10.5 million) in compensation to 87,000 victims of its ghost flights policy. The case was initially brought by the ACCC, which sought a record penalty of over A$250 million. Vanessa Hudson, Qantas CEO since September 2023, acknowledged, We know many of our customers were affected by our failure to provide cancellation notifications in a timely manner, and we are sincerely sorry. Who at Qantas was responsible for the scandal? Court documents also reveal that senior managers at Qantas were aware of the systemic issues surrounding flight cancellations and the misleading sale of tickets. However, no single individual was found to have had complete knowledge of the scope of the problem. Former CEO Alan Joyce, who stepped down prematurely amidst the scandal, faced scrutiny over his leadership during the critical period when Qantas failings came to light. Advertisement The airlines systems, at the time, did not promptly remove cancelled flights from sale, which contributed to the widespread sale of tickets for non-existent flights. Qantas was aware of the way in which its system operated, read the court filing. In response to the legal actions, Qantas has since updated its processes and invested in new technology aimed at preventing similar issues from occurring again. Hudson said that these changes would restore public confidence, stating, We have since updated our processes and are investing in new technology across the Qantas Group to ensure this doesnt happen again. What was the financial fallout for Qantas? Advertisement The settlement marks a significant blow to the airline both financially and reputationally. Qantas was accused of selling over 8,000 tickets on cancelled flights between May and June 2022 alone. As the ACCC investigation concluded, Qantas admitted that it had indeed engaged in such practices between May 2021 and August 2023, a period that also coincided with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ACCCs chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, described the airlines conduct as egregious and unacceptable. She further stated, Qantass conduct was egregious and unacceptable. Many consumers will have made holiday, business, and travel plans after booking on a phantom flight that had been cancelled. Advertisement The settlement agreement, which is subject to approval by the Federal Court of Australia, ensures that 86,000 affected customers will receive compensation. Domestic travellers will be awarded A$225 each, while international travellers will receive A$450. These payments will be made in addition to any refunds or alternative flights that had already been provided. The legal action forced Qantas to take responsibility for its actions, and Hudson admitted the companys shortcomings. She acknowledged the companys failings following the COVID shutdown, stating, The return to travelling was already stressful for many, and we did not deliver enough support for customers. How has this scandal affected Qantas reputation? Advertisement The ghost-flight scandal is just one of several issues that have plagued Qantas over the past few years. The airline faced harsh criticism for its skyrocketing ticket prices, inadequate customer service, and the controversial firing of 1,700 ground staff during the pandemic. In 2023, despite the controversy, Qantas reported a profit of $1.1 billion, demonstrating its ability to rebound financially post-COVID, even while facing severe reputational damage. Qantas had previously defended its practice of selling tickets for cancelled flights, arguing that customers purchased a bundle of rights and that the airline was committed to doing its best to get passengers to their destinations on time. However, this defence crumbled in the face of overwhelming evidence from the ACCC investigation. The airlines long-held reputation for reliability and customer service has taken a major hit. Qantas has been working to address the damage done, with Hudson stating, Today represents another important step forward as we work towards restoring confidence in the national carrier. Whats next for Qantas? With the settlement in place and the compensation program ready to roll out, Qantas aims to put this scandal behind it. The airline has committed to improving its systems and customer service to prevent future incidents. As part of the settlement, Qantas has avoided further legal challenges by agreeing to expedite its compensation payments. Cass-Gottlieb of the ACCC noted, In the interest of getting an early settlement and the additional payments and compensation to customers, we are no longer taking forward a requirement that they admit to a contravention of selling the service and receiving payment with no intention of providing the service. Cass-Gottlieb stated, This A$100 million penalty, if accepted by the Federal Court, will send a strong message to Australian companies that they must comply with the Australian Consumer Law. With inputs from agencies Forty-three students went to protest 10 years ago in Mexicos Iguala, Guerrero, and disappeared. Their bodies were never recovered. Heres what happened read more The photos of 43 students, who have been missing for 10 years, cover the stairs at their former Raul Isidro Burgos Rural Normal School in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero state, Mexico. AP A decade has gone by and there are few answers to the mysterious disappearance of 43 students from a rural teachers college in Mexico. While authorities believe that they have been killed, the families have been demanding justice. The students belonged to the Rural Normal School, known for its radical activism, at Ayotzinapa. According to reports, they were planning to steal buses for a protest. However, there is little evidence of what went amiss. Advertisement What happened on September 26, 2014? The students were attacked by security forces linked to a local drug gang, Guerreros Unidos, in Iguala, when they were stealing buses to transport themselves to a protest. During the administration of then-Mexico president Enrique Pena Nieto (2012-2018), authorities said the students had gone to Iguala, Guerrero to protest at an event. They were allegedly mistaken for members of a rival gang. The Pena Nieto administration said that Guerreros Unidos had abducted and killed the students, burned their bodies in a huge fire and tossed their ashes into a river. But investigations by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the successor Attorney Generals Office and a Truth Commission created in 2019, found that the fire at a dump was a lie built on false statements extracted under torture and manipulated evidence. Classmates of the 43 Ayotzinapa students who went missing almost 10 years ago march to demand justice for their loved ones in Chilpancingo, Mexico. AP Those subsequent investigations found that an enormous operation was put in motion that night involving members of Guerreros Unidos, but also local, state and federal police. The army was aware of everything because it had a base in Iguala. Investigators said members of the army were involved with the gang in smuggling heroin from the mountains of Guerrero on buses to the United States. Prosecutors said the decision to hide the truth was taken at the highest levels of government. Has anyone been held responsible for the disappearance? Two weeks ago, Mexican authorities said they arrested an alleged cartel chief linked to the disappearance of students. Advertisement Gildardo Lopez Astudillo, the suspected cartel leader, was detained on charges of organised crime and taken to the Altiplano maximum security prison in south-central Mexico, Reuters news agency reported, citing a federal security source. Known as El Gil, he was arrested in 2015 but was released in 2019 after a judge found the evidence against him was obtained illegally. He leads the cartel accused of orchestrating the disappearance and murder of students. Apart from him, more than 100 people are in custody and dozens have been charged, but no one has been convicted. At the end of the previous administration, Mexican courts determined that the investigation was plagued by errors and manipulation. Advertisement There were dozens of cases of torture. Those abuses and missteps led to many of those involved being released. Some have been arrested again under the current administration. The highest-ranking person charged is former Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam, who is accused of torture, forced disappearance and obstruction of justice. There are also 16 soldiers, most of whom are awaiting trial on house arrest, which infuriates the students families. What is the current administration doing? Mexican President Lopez Obrador had promised to find students and hold those responsible accountable. But in 2022, when more and more evidence pointed toward the militarys involvement in the attack and cover-up, the administrations tone changed. Advertisement The president had ordered the military to open its archives to investigators. That didnt happen. Instead, Obrador shifted more power and responsibility to the military than any president in recent history. The prosecutor leading the investigation, Omar Garcia Trejo, was suddenly demoted after he sought arrest orders for two dozen soldiers. He was replaced by someone unfamiliar with the case. People protest the disappearance of 43 students from Raul Isidro Burgos Rural Normal School and demand authorities find them, in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico. AP There was also growing political pressure to show results, said Santiago Aguirre, one of the families lawyers. The administration presented some evidence that did not appear to come from reliable sources and the governments searches turned slipshod. What are the families alleging? Lawyers representing the family point out key arrests are still lacking. Among them is the man who led the investigation during the Pena Nieto administration, Tomas Zeron. In videos, Zeron is seen interrogating and threatening prisoners. He sought refuge in Israel, which has not agreed to extradite him despite Mexicos request. Advertisement They also say they want to see military intelligence records from that night that they still havent had access to. They want more cooperation from the United States government, which has prosecuted members of Guerreros Unidos in drug trafficking cases that also revealed their ties to the military. The families claim that a lack of political will is responsible for not finding the truth. If it was a state crime as the current administration says, the government must know what happened and who is hiding information. Why is the case still relevant? Mexico is notorious for its disappearances; at least 115,000 cases have been registered. The story of the students continues to hold the publics attention because it involves cartel violence and corrupt authorities and remains stubbornly unresolved. It is an example of abuses that occurred decades ago in Mexicos dirty war and were never corrected. With inputs from AP On Wednesday, Israel intercepted a Qader-1 ballistic missile fired by Hezbollah on a building near Tel Aviv using its Davids Sling defence system. Jointly developed by Raytheon and Israels Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, it is built to counter tactical ballistic missiles, medium-to-long range rockets, enemy planes, drones and cruise missiles, including the Scud missiles read more The David's Sling sits above the Iron Dome and Iron beam and below the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 missiles. Each interceptor costs ove a million dollars. Image courtesy: Raytheon On Wednesday, Hezbollah shot a ballistic missile at Israel. The Lebanon-based terror group said the Qader-1 missile was aimed at Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv where they believe the pager attacks had been planned. However, Israels defence forces said they intercepted the Qader-1 missile with their Davids Sling defence system and that there were no reports of deaths or injuries in the attack. The Qader-1 surface-to-surface missile is known for its accuracy and payload. Advertisement But what do we know about Davids Sling? Lets take a closer look: The Davids Sling is part of Israels air defence system. As per Jerusalem Post, it was previously known as the Magic Wand. It began being developed in 2006. A joint effort of US firm Raytheon and Israels Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, it was declared fully operational in 2017. It was developed under the direction of the Homa Missile Directorate at Israels Defense Ministry. It sits above the Iron Dome and Iron Beam and below the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 missiles. As per The Print, the Davids Sling is at the heart of Israels air defences. As per the Raytheon website, Davids Sling is built to work against tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, enemy planes, drones and cruise missiles, including the Scud missiles. It comprises the multi-pulse Stunner missile, which uses sophisticated sensors and control systems and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) multi-mission radar for targeting and guidance. It comes with a vertical launcher which comes a dozen stunner missiles which lets the missile hit the target. The stunner missile comes without a warhead it relies on impact to destroy targets. Advertisement It has been shown to negate all short-range ballistic missiles which comprise 92 percent of the worlds inventory of missiles. The The Qader-1 is a surface-to-surface missile developed by Iran. Image courtesy: Mohammad Sadegh Heydari Each interceptor costs over $1 million, as per Jerusalem Post. As per Inews.co.uk, it can intercept targets up to 300 kilometres away including the latest Russian Iskander and the Chinese DF-15 ballistic missiles. As per Washington Post, it can intercept targets at an altitude of 14.4 kilometres. The control system was developed by Elbit, while its radar was developed by Elta a division of the Israel Aerospace Industries. In 2018, Davids Sling failed in its first interception attempt of two missiles fired from Syria. Advertisement As per Jerusalem Post, this is perhaps why the Air Forces air defense system decided to try it this time to see if it fared any better. Finland has also bought the Slings Blade after Russias invasion of Ukraine. Finland in 2023 said it would buy the Slings Blade in a $345 million deal. Finland has the option to increase it to $600 million. As Dr Yehoshua Kalisky of the Institute for National Security Studies, explained to the Globes website why the David Sling is perfect for intercepting low-altitude missiles. A missile launched from Lebanon to Israel does not reach an altitude outside the atmosphere. A ballistic missile launched from Yemen, for example, climbs to the edge of the atmosphere, an altitude of over 100 kilometers, to reach its target. It therefore has to be intercepted by a long-range interceptor, Arrow 2 or Arrow 3, which have ranges of over 2,000 kilometers and can intercept a threat a long way from Israel. Since the distance is shorter, the missile launched by Hezbollah flies at a lower altitude, and so Davids Sling provides the appropriate response. It is designed for hit-to-kill at an altitude of 50-70 kilometers, Kalisky said. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Indias top drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has flagged over 50 commonly used medications, including household names like paracetamol, antiacid Pan-D, and Vitamin D3 supplement Shelcal, for failing to meet safety and quality standards. How big a concern is this? read more The alert issued by CDSCO in August revealed over 50 popular drugs failing to meet quality standards, spanning pain relievers, antibiotics, and supplements from major pharmaceutical manufacturers. Image for Representation. Pixabay In a shocking revelation, Indias top drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has flagged over 50 commonly used medications, including household names like Paracetamol and antacid Pan D, for failing to meet safety and quality standards. These are not obscure drugs, but essentials found in millions of homes across the country. From vitamins and calcium D3 supplements to antiacid Pan-D and diabetes and blood pressure medications have been listed as not of standard quality by the CDSCO. Advertisement These findings, released in a recent alert, have sparked significant worry among consumers and healthcare professionals alike. Heres what we know about the situation Which medicines have been flagged? Several well-known medications have been flagged by CDSCO, following random monthly testing by state drug officers. CDSCO is the sole authority that grants no-objection certificates to pharmaceutical companies that manufacture drugs that are unapproved, new, or banned for the sole purpose of exports in India. The alert issued in August revealed over 50 popular drugs failing to meet quality standards, spanning pain relievers, antibiotics, and supplements from major pharmaceutical manufacturers. Among the flagged medications are Paracetamol 500 mg tablets, the anti-diabetic drug Glimepiride, and high blood pressure medication Telma H (Telmisartan 40 mg). Acid reflux treatment Pan D and calcium supplements Shelcal C and D3 were also on the list. Additionally, the widely prescribed antibiotic Metronidazole, produced by Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, and Shelcal, distributed by Torrent Pharmaceuticals but produced by Pure & Cure Healthcare in Uttarakhand, did not meet quality standards. A Kolkata-based lab found that antibiotics Clavam 625 and Pan D, produced by Alkem Health Science, were substandard. This same lab also flagged Cepodem XP 50 dry suspension, used for treating bacterial infections in children, from Hetero as failing tests. Advertisement Several well-known medications have been flagged by Indias drug regulator, CDSCO, following random monthly testing by state drug officers. Image for Further concerns were raised over Paracetamol tablets from Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Additionally, Sun Pharmas Ursocol 300, a drug for dissolving gallstones, was labeled spurious, and several batches of Telmisartan, manufactured by Life Max Cancer Lab, failed to pass quality checks. Interestingly, a non-sterile gauze roll also made it onto the flagged list. Bhaskara Vilasam Vaidyasalas Haridrakhandam has also come under scanner as it failed the test pH as per API or the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Yogaraja Guggulu from the same firm has also failed the quality test, reported The Times of India. #UPDATE | The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued an alert regarding 59 medicines that were found to be substandard during tests conducted in August. The list includes commonly used medications such as Pan-D, #Paracetamol , antibiotics, blood pressure pic.twitter.com/GJ76VC8ab9 PB-SHABD (@PBSHABD) September 26, 2024 Advertisement This come after the the regulator previously banned 156 fixed-dose drug combinations in August, raising concerns about drug safety in India. These included popular fever medications, painkillers, and allergy tablets, commonly used for cold, fever, and pain relief. Pharma companies deny involvement Several pharmaceutical companies have denied responsibility for producing the drugs that were flagged in the CDSCOs quality tests. The drug regulator shared two lists: one featuring 48 drugs and a second with 5 additional medications. Advertisement In the reply column, many manufacturers claimed, The actual manufacturer (as per label claim) has informed that the impugned batch of the product has not been manufacturer by them and that it is a spurious drug. The product is purported to be spurious, however, the same is subjected to outcome of investigation." Several pharmaceutical companies have denied responsibility for producing the drugs that were flagged in the CDSCOs quality tests. Image for Companies like Sun Pharma and Glenmark have echoed similar denials. Sun Pharma, which had three drugsPulmosil (for erectile dysfunction), Pantocid (for acid reflux), and Ursocol 300fail the tests, stated they were not responsible for the production of the flagged batches. Likewise, Glenmark rejected claims that their hypertension drug Telma H (Telmisartan) was part of the substandard findings. Advertisement Additionally, Macleods Pharma faced allegations over its arthritis medication Defcort 6, which was flagged as failing quality tests. The pharmaceutical companies maintain their stance that the drugs in question were either counterfeit or spurious, as investigations continue. Monitoring drug quality alerts from regulatory bodies is vital for safeguarding public health. These alerts help identify harmful or ineffective drugs, reducing risks of adverse reactions, treatment failures, and serious health complications. Staying informed can ensure patient safety and maintain trust in the healthcare system. With input from agencies Swiss authorities have arrested four people after a woman ended her life using a Sarco suicide pod, a first for the world. This case has put a spotlight on Switzerlands laws on assisted dying. But what do they say? read more Swiss authorities have arrested four people in connection to a woman's death after she chose the Sarco capsule to end her life. File image/AP An American womans death in an assisted suicide capsule in Switzerland has snowballed into a criminal and legal matter with Swiss authorities arresting four people on Tuesday (September 24). Police in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, wrote in a news release that the public prosecutors office of the canton of Schaffhausen has opened criminal proceedings against several persons for incitement and aiding and abetting suicide and that several persons have been placed in police custody. Advertisement This comes after an unidentified 64-year-old American woman made use of the so-called suicide pod, called Sarco, on Monday afternoon in a forest close to the German border in the Swiss town of Merishausen. Whats the case? How does the suicide pod work? We take a closer look at this case and why it has become a legal matter. Death by capsule On Monday (September 23), a 64-year-old woman from the US Midwest died in the Sarco pod, becoming the first person to end her life using the controversial capsule. The Last Resort, the company that developed and manages the machine, said that the woman died under a canopy of trees at a private forest retreat in the canton of Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland. The firm said that the woman had chosen the Sarco capsule after suffering for many years from a number of serious problems associated with severe immune compromise. In a statement, it added that the death was peaceful, fast and dignified. The Sarco suicide capsule is a 3D-printed capsule that gives the user the ultimate control over the timing of her/his death, which was created by Australian euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke. File image/Reuters The pod in question The womans death has shone a spotlight on the Sarco pod, which is the brainchild of Philip Nitschke, an Australian physician famous for his work on assisted suicide since the 1990s. His work has also earned him the nickname of Dr Death. Advertisement The capsules have also been named, Sarco, as an abbreviation for the sarcophagus coffins that were used in Ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. But how does it work? First introduced in 2019, the sleek-looking contraption replaces oxygen with nitrogen inside the pod, leading to death through hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in body tissues). According to the company managing the Sarco pod, the user is meant to fall asleep and, according to rumours, suffocate to death within a few minutes. The Sarco pod is made with the help of a 3D printer and costs more than a million dollars to develop. Nitschke speaking on the pod had earlier said that theres no changing your mind when using it. Once you press that button, theres no way of going back, he was quoted as saying earlier. Advertisement Australian euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke is the brains behind the Sarco suicide pod. File image/Reuters The arrests and the legal case A day after news emerged that the woman had died using the controversial Sarco pod, Swiss authorities have arrested four people and opened criminal proceedings against them for inducing and aiding and abetting suicide. Police said a law firm informed them about the suicide involving the device. The Sarco suicide capsule was secured and the deceased person was taken to the IRMZ for autopsy, police were quoted as telling DW. In addition, several people in the Merishausen area were placed in police custody. Prosecutors are also examining other potential criminal acts. It remains unknown as to who has been arrested and what are the exact charges being levelled on them. Advertisement The arrests come as the use of these capsules is not fully compliant with Swiss law as of now. According to Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, the minister for health, the capsule does not meet the requirement of product safety law, and its use of nitrogen is not legally compliant. She told parliament on Monday, Firstly, it does not meet the requirements of product safety law and therefore cannot be placed on the market. Secondly, the corresponding use of nitrogen is not compatible with the purpose article of the chemicals act. However, the company, Last Resort, has defended itself by saying, The Last Resort was acting at all times on the legal advice of their lawyers. Legal advice since 2021 has consistently found that the use of Sarco in Switzerland would be lawful. Advertisement It further added that the woman, who had died, had confirmed that it had been her wish to die and she had the support of her two sons. Swiss laws on death The womans death in the Sarco pod has also raised questions about Switzerlands laws on assisted suicide and euthanasia. While these two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between them. Assisted suicide is the act of helping another person end their life intentionally. It can involve someone who is not terminally ill. Euthanasia, on the other hand, is the deliberate act of ending someones life to relieve them of their suffering. Euthanasia involves a lethal drug being administered by a physician. In Switzerland, the law states that the person wishing to die must perform the act leading to death themselves. Representational image/AFP In Switzerland, the law states that the person wishing to die must perform the act leading to death themselves. The doctors involved in the process are responsible for checking the capability of judgement and determining if the desire to die is well-considered, permanent, and comprehensible in view of the circumstances and the available treatment options. If this is met, they can prescribe the drug to the person. However, the Swiss Criminal Code adds that if these requirements are not met, and an individual induces or assists someone else to die of suicide for selfish motives, this could carry a jail penalty of up to five years. The laws on assisted suicide in Switzerland are also extended to foreigners, which means that people from outside the Alpine nation can also go there to end their life. This has, in fact, led to a form of death tourism with many foreigners choosing Switzerland for their final breath. Earlier in July, a report stated that over 1,000 people had chosen to end their life in Switzerland through assisted suicide organisations such as Exit or Dignitas. With inputs from agencies The prime suspect in the Bengaluru woman murder case, identified as Mukti Ranjan Ray, allegedly hanged himself from a roadside tree near his house in Odisha, fearing arrest read more A 30-year-old man, who was the prime suspect in killing 29-year-old Bengaluru woman, Mahalakshmi, and chopping her body into 59 pieces before storing them in a fridge, has allegedly died by suicide in Bhadrak district, Odisha. The prime suspect in the Bengaluru woman murder case, identified as Mukti Ranjan Ray, allegedly hanged himself from a roadside tree near Bhuinpur, where he lived, fearing arrest, police said. A massive manhunt was launched by Bengaluru police in Odisha to arrest Ray but they were informed by local cops about his death by suicide. Advertisement A bag, notebook, and a scooty (two-wheeler) were recovered by the police from the crime site. A purported suicide note was found inside the notebook in which he allegedly confessed to killing and dismembering Mahalakshmis body into pieces in Bengaluru. In the suicide note, Ray allegedly stated that he had killed Mahalakshmi and kept chopped pieces of her body in a fridge. Ended life fearing arrest A report by Times of India quoted Bhadrak SP Varun Guntupalli as saying that the cops strongly suspect that Ray ended his life fearing arrest in connection with the Bengaluru murder. Bengaluru police had been closing in on the suspect in Bhadrak and Balasore districts for the last three days. We extended all necessary assistance to them, Guntupalli said. The Odisha Police have already registered an unnatural death case. Based on the suicide note, the Bengaluru police have confirmed he is the accused in the gruesome murder case, a report by The Indian Express quoted Odishas Additional Director General, Law and Order, Sanjay Kumar, as saying. When asked if the Odisha police have handed over the purported suicide note to the Bengaluru police, Kumar said its now a court document. The Bengaluru police have to submit a requisition first and take permission of the court, following which we will hand over the suicide note, the senior police officer said. Advertisement How Ray & Mahalakshmi met As per police, Ray, who was a resident of Dhusuri area, used to work in a clothing store in Bengalurus Malleshwaram in the same mall where Mahalakshmi worked as a team leader with a costume outlet. The cops further informed that Mahalakshmi and Ray had been friends since 2023. Mahalakshi was married to Hemant Das for six years and the couple has a daughter. They started living separately about nine months ago due to domestic disputes. Recently, Das claimed that Mahalakshmi had an extra marital affair with Ashraf from Uttarakhand who could be behind her murder. Also Read: Did Mahalakshmis boyfriend Ashraf kill, chop her into 50 pieces? What Bengaluru womans husband says Advertisement How Bengaluru Police got to know about Rays death As part of investigation, the Bengaluru Police questioned several people associated with Mahalakshmi, including her colleagues, when they found Ray missing from his residence in the city. The cops then contacted his brother, who revealed that Ray had called him over the phone and confessed to the murder, Indian Express report said. He further told the police that he had asked Ray to leave Karnataka. Cops further said that Ray called his brother from West Bengal and that was his last location. The Bengaluru Police team, on reaching Bengaluru, had detained Rays brother. According to a report by India Today, the cops got to know about Rays alleged suicide after Odisha Police called his brother to inform him about brother. He later told Bengaluru Police about his death. Advertisement Also Read: 50 body pieces, foul smell: How shocking murder of Bengaluru woman found inside refrigerator unravels A report by ToI quoted police sources as saying that Rays family members claimed he arrived in Bhadrak on September 24. He left home early in the morning and after a few hours, he was found hanging from a tree, a few hundred meters from his home. The maggot-infested body of Mahalakshmi was found chopped into 59 pieces in a single-door refrigerator in her one-bedroom apartment in Bengalurus Vyalikaval area on September 21. With inputs from agencies. While the situation has calmed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and there have not been fresh rounds of clashes, the India-China stand-off remains far from over as the two militaries are yet to disengage from all friction points and de-escalation is yet to start read more Indian and Chinese militaries have been engaged in a stand-off in eastern Ladakh since 2020. (Representative Photo, Credit: CNN-News18) Four years after Indian and Chinese militaries clashed along the de-factor border, the India-China military stand-off is far from over. In April 2020, the Chinese soldiers crossed over into Indian territory in Ladakh and clashed with Indian personnel, triggering the stand-off that continues to this date. The stand-off and accompanying skirmishes, which turned fatal on June 15, 2020, when 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers were killed, plunged the India-China relationship to its lowest since 1962 when the two nations fought a brief war. Advertisement Since then, several rounds of talks at the level of senior military officers, top diplomats, and top ministers have taken place. While the troops have disengaged at some points, broader de-escalation is yet to take place. In such context, the comment by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar a few weeks back that 75 per cent of the stand-off had got resolved led to speculation whether the stand-off was heading towards a resolution. Later, however, Jaishankar clarified that he was merely talking about disengagement and the stand-off was far from any resolution. Here is how things stand in eastern Ladakh and what we know of the resolution of the stand-off so far. Jaishankar says 75% stand-off resolved then clarifies Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister Jaishankars comments at an event in Switzerland were interpreted as saying that 75 per cent of the border stand-off had been sorted but that was not what he meant. In a conversation with former diplomat Jean-David Levitte at the Centre for Security Policy in Geneva, Jaishankar said that 75 per cent of disengagement problems are sorted out with China even as some things are left out, according to ANI. Advertisement Then, earlier this week, Jaishankar clarified that he only referred to the disengagement and the broader de-escalation still remained. Disengagement refers to troops physically disengaging from a particular point of friction. De-escalation refers to the broader withdrawal of troops and war-waging equipment such as tanks, armoured vehicles, warplanes, and artillery guns, from the broader theatre. No de-escalation has taken place so far and even disengagement is not yet complete as Jaishankar also said. Clarifying the previous comments, Jaishankar said, When I said 75 per cent of it has been sorted out, I was asked in a way to quantify its only regarding the disengagement. Advertisement Jaishankar further said that the India-China relationship is significantly disturbed after 2020 and patrolling remained the main issue. The main issue right now is patrolling how both sides patrol up to the Line of Actual Control. The patrolling arrangements after 2020 have been disturbed, said Jaishankar. Series of high-level meetings but military-level talks delayed There has been a string of high-level engagements between India and China in recent months. In July and August, the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) met twice. In the past two months, Jaishankar also met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi twice. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval also met Wang earlier this month on the sidelines of a BRICS conclave in Russia the same visit in which he met Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly as a messenger of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Russia-Ukraine War. Advertisement There have been reports that some progress even if not an outright breakthrough has been made in the meetings. The tone of the public messaging around the meetings certainly suggests so. After the Doval-Wang meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said they reviewed the recent efforts towards finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC, which will create conditions to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations. Both sides agreed to work with urgency and redouble their efforts to realize complete disengagement in the remaining areas, said the MEA. The tone was much cordial than last year when Doval conveyed to him that Chinese actions since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the bilateral relationship, as per the MEA, which added that he also emphasised the importance of resolving the situation so that impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations may be resolved. Advertisement Even as talks at political and diplomatic level have continued, no military-level talks have taken place since February. Observers have said that the gap longest since 2020 when the stand-off began may reflect the fact that talks over certain friction points like Depsang Plains and Demchok may have stalled. This may be an over-interpretation as well. Military-level talks are meant for tactical ground-level affairs and actual decisions to disengage or de-escalate are taken at the top political level. As the purpose of military-level talks is to figure out the implementation of the understanding reached at the political level, the absence of talks may simply mean that as negotiations are ongoing at diplomatic and political level, the military-level talks are naturally on a pause. Once an understanding is reached at the political level, the military-level talks for its implementation may start. Glass half-full or half-empty: What happened in 2020, how is it now? While the situation along the LAC in Ladakh has calmed to the extent that no fresh round of significant clashes has happened in a long time, the situation remains far from ideal as the stand-off continues and patrolling remains limited in the region. As patrolling is critical to asserting ones claim to the territory and enforcing that claim, the lack of patrolling effectively negates your claim and control of that territory. It has been a Chinese practice to effectively gain control of stretches of territory by denying the other side the right to patrol that territory. In 2020, the deadliest confrontation took place at Pangong Tso lake, whose control is divided between India and China, and Galwan Valley where 20 Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with Chinese soldiers. Even though there are several locations and patrolling points (PPs) in contention, the major areas of contention have been Pangong Tso, PP-17 at Gogra-Hot Springs area, PP-15, Galwan Valley, Depsang, and Demchok. So far, disengagement has taken place at Pangong Tso, PP-15, PP-17, and Galwan Valley, whereas deadlock continues to persist regarding Depsang and Demchok, according to The Hindu. The disengagement had happened by 2022 and no change in the ground situation has taken place in the past two years, a defence official told The Hindu. Is an India-China thaw on the horizon? Even as no disengagement has taken place in two years and de-escalation is yet to start at all there are indications that a thaw may be on the horizon. India and China have made significant progress in narrowing their gap on pending issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, according to The Indian Express. Officials told the newspaper that the progress was made during the latest diplomatic- and political-level talks between India and China the series of high-level exchanges mentioned above. The newspaper reported that, following the progress made in the diplomatic- and political-level talks, the 22nd round of military-level talks are expected to be held shortly to chalk out the modalities, including the timeframe, for revised troop deployment in the region as per the terms of the agreement. Sources told the newspaper that this might imply that Indian personnel, whose access to certain PPs and areas along the LAC in Ladakh had been restricted since 2020, might be close to accessing the PPs and areas again. As per a report, India may have lost access to as many as 26 of 65 patrolling points along the LAC. In a research paper submitted to a national police conference last year, an officer said while initially the access is lost as Indian forces themselves dont patrol these areas and later the Chinese restrict them, according to The Week. The result is that ultimately such a situation leads to loss of control over these areas by India, said the report. Of the 65 patrol points, the presence was lost in PPs 5-17, 24-32, 37, 51, 52, and 62, according to the report cited by The Week. West Asia has been a region of special focus for India in the past decade and has truly been an unprecedented success story. This emphasis has been continued in the third term of the Modi government read more In a world of flux and uncertainty, Modi 3.0 took oath on June 9, 2024, making history as Narendra Modi was sworn as the Prime Minister for a third time in a row, an unprecedented feat in the past 50 years in India. The numbers were not as overwhelming as the previous two occasions resulting in the formation of a coalition government, thereby putting doubts in the minds if and how the government would be able to carry on its agenda as proactively as the previous two terms. Advertisement The results in parliamentary elections may have some restricting effects domestically, but on the foreign policy front, Modi 3.0 has hit the ground running. In fact, days after being sworn in, PM Modi attended the G7 Summit in Italy on June 14 as a special invitee. Developing Partnership West Asia has been a region of special focus for India in the past decade and has truly been an unprecedented success story. During this phase, India forged strategic partnerships with many countries in the region. The UAE emerged as a key anchor and Indias closest partner in the region with a strategic partnership agreement signed with it in August 2015 during PM Modis first visit there. The scope and depth of strategic convergence with the region got a further boost when India signed similar agreements with Saudi Arabia in October 2019 and Egypt in January 2023. Modis visit to Bahrain in August 2019 (the first-ever Indian PMs visit to the nation) and to Qatar in February 2024 were significant in enhancing outreach in the region. Indias traditional dependence on the region for its energy imports got a major boost in the past decade, with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE emerging as the top three exporters of crude oil, despite Russia offering discounted prices owing to the ongoing war in Ukraine since 202223. The UAE became the first country in February 2018 to agree to store strategic oil reserves in India. Advertisement Economic partnership with the region too has emerged as a major form of cooperation. The CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) signed with the UAE on February 18, 2022, developed and agreed upon in a record time of 88 days was the biggest highlight, aiming to increase bilateral trade to $115 billion in five years. Adding to it, on February 1, 2024, India also approved the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with the UAE. With PM Modi pushing for faster roll-out of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in India and in the region, Fintech emerged as yet another area of mutual convergence. The RuPay card was launched in the UAE in August 2019. Oman too signed an agreement on Fintech cooperation with India in October 2022, becoming the fourth country in the region after Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE where Indias UPI is accepted for financial transactions. Advertisement Security cooperation with the region has emerged as a new area of collaboration. Oman, with which India has the oldest military cooperation agreement in the region, signed in November 2008, has been a frontrunner in security cooperation. A military agreement facilitating the provision of logistical facilities to the Indian Navy in the port of Duqm in Oman was a game changer, as it now offers critical advantage to the Indian Navy in its operations in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and even the Red Sea. Interest in countries to import high-value weapon platforms like Tejas fighter aircraft, Brahmos missiles, and other weapons and ammunition offers a lucrative market for Indian defence exports. The nine million Indian expatriate community, through their discipline and hard work, too have contributed immensely to Indias growing ties with the region, and their safety and welfare is an important form of engagement. Advertisement Modi 3.0 and West Asia Modi 3.0 has started well in trying to build on the solid platform of the past decade and consolidate its relations further with the region. The start of the new phase was, however, not too auspicious, as a major fire in Kuwait on June 14 took 49 Indian lives. However, prompt action and close collaboration between both governments ensured that the repatriation of mortal remains and other settlements were smooth and seamless. It also perhaps paved the way for a closer understanding between the two countries in the future, as Kuwait is the only country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that is yet to host a Modi visit. Advertisement Later on August 18, S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister (EAM), visited Kuwait, where he held discussions with the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and the Prime Minister Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The strong interest to provide impetus to economic ties, both in trade and investments, as well as talks on new areas of untapped potential, is likely to impart a fresh momentum to the bilateral relations. The adversity of the unfortunate fire and the realisation that there is a need to make up for the lost time in re-invigorating ties may finally result in a visit by PM Modi to Kuwait later in the term. The UAE remains the primary focus and anchor of the ties with the region, and it was clearly evident when PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met at the G7 Summit in Italy on June 14. It was soon followed by the visit of S Jaishankar to the UAE on June 23, 2024, where he met the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Among other things, both sides reviewed the rapid progress being made under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has already contributed to bilateral trade growing to $84 billion in FY 2023-24. Shortly, thereafter, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled, the son of UAE President, and next in line for the leadership of the UAE, was on a state visit to Delhi where he was accorded protocols reserved for Heads of State. During the visit, he held talks with PM Modi on trade and strategic ties. As a result of the visit, five agreements pertaining to nuclear energy, LNG, petroleum, and food parks were signed. Qatar was another important visit undertaken by EAM soon when he visited Doha on June 30 and held talks with Qatars Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Apart from bilateral ties, a key element of talks was the Gaza war, where Qatar is playing a key role as an interlocutor. Perhaps the most significant engagement of the first 100 days was the First India-GCC Foreign Minister Meet held in Riyadh on September 9, formally institutionalising an important relationship with the region. During the visit, EAM not only held bilateral talks with counterparts of GCC countries but also forged a clear understanding of the basic tenets of the relationship with the region, which is built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the future. Also, the fact that the partnership in all areas, especially in the fields of renewables, technology and innovation, health, space, and education, can bring about collective prosperity as well as help realise respective national goals, was highlighted. This first dialogue has laid a strong foundation for an institutional arrangement of strong cooperation spanning various facets between India and the Gulf region in the future, including a possible Free Trade Agreement (FTA). India and Iran are looking to make up for the lost time and forge a stronger partnership. The operationalisation of the Chabahar port deal on May 14 is a major boost. But both need to build on other facets too. A statement by Irans Supreme Leader on September 16, where he listed India along with Gaza and Myanmar as one of the places where Muslims are suffering, was obviously not received well in India, which rebutted it immediately by stating that India strongly deplored the comments and called them misinformed and unacceptable. However, both nations have to understand that this bilateral partnership is too important and precious to be derailed by such stray statements (often targeted at domestic audiences). However, as Modi 3.0 progresses, India-Iran ties are likely to take better shape. With Oman, the strong security cooperation continues. The India-Oman joint military exercise, AL-NAJAH 5-2024, at the Rabkoot Training Area in Oman, is in progress, from September 13 to 26. A delegation from Indias National Defence College (NDC) too visited Oman in the first week of September to further consolidate bilateral defence ties. Conclusion Modi 3.0 and West Asia have started strongly and hope to continue their strong cooperation and collaboration across multiple fields. With four visits by the EAM to the region (more than any other region), ie, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, in the first 100 days, and a high-profile incoming visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, India has made it clear that West Asia continues to be its foreign policy priority. The Gaza war and the continued demand for India to take on the role of peacemaker too indicate the trust and confidence that the region places in India. As Modi 3.0 continues its term, there is hope and certainty that the relationship with the region will continue to grow stronger. A visit to the region by PM Modi shortly, perhaps to Kuwait, may work magic even faster. Col Rajeev Agarwal is a military veteran and West Asia expert. During his service, he has been Director in Military Intelligence as well as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs. His X handle is @rajeevidsa. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Sheikh Hasinas ouster and the consequent regime change in Bangladesh come out as another geopolitical shake-up in a series of tremors upsetting the existing world order. Bangladesh, a rare example of an Islamic nation with vibrant democracy and a burgeoning economy, falls flat and surrenders to Islamist forces led by the Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamic extremist organisation with proven links to terrorist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Undoubtedly, the drama that unfolded in Dhaka has global ramifications with several foreign players involved; however, a country that is going to feel the most pronounced impact will certainly be India. Advertisement India shares a 4,000-kilometre-long land boundary with Bangladesh. Bangladesh is Indias largest trade partner in South Asia, and India is Bangladeshs second largest trade partner in Asia. With its crucial role in the formation of Bangladesh as an independent nation in 1971, India has always been a key factor in Bangladeshs internal and external policies since 1971. Mujibs family enjoyed personal warmth and family ties with the Gandhi family in India. After the assassination of Mujib and his 18 family members, Indian PM Indira Gandhi offered security and shelter to Sheikh Hasina and her family, who were in West Germany then. The ousted PM Sheikh Hasina spent six years in exile in Delhi. In return, Mujib and his daughter remained firm supporters of India, and this equation further strengthened under the Narendra Modi government. However, the bilateral ties have not always been smooth and cordial. New Delhi has had its own share of troubles with Bangladesh, ranging from illegal immigration and boundary issues to anti-India terrorist activities. Nevertheless, the Sheikh Hasina government was always a preferable choice for New Delhi to guard and promote its interests in Bangladesh. Over the last 15 years of the Hasina government, India emerged as a robust strategic, economic, and development partner of Bangladesh. Dark Future for Indias Interests The recent geopolitical upheaval in Bangladesh will be severely detrimental to Indias security and economic interests vis-a-vis Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina was the last secular leader standing between Islamist radicals and secular democracy in Bangladesh. The biggest danger that India confronts with her ouster is the rise of Islamic extremist forces and their overwhelming sway over the state and society in Bangladesh. Not that under Hasina, Bangladesh was an epitome of secularism. It was already under the heavy undercurrents of extremist forces. The spread of Daesh was evident in the attack on the Gulshan bakery in the diplomatic enclave in 2016. The incidents of radical Islamists killing secular bloggers are well known. However, Hasina was well aware of the menace of fast-spreading Islamic extremism, and she dealt with it firmly and ruthlessly. Now in the Hasinaless Bangladesh, the extremist forces will be unchecked, riding roughshod over the state machinery and society. It is a known fact that in the recent anti-government protests, the banned extremist outfit Jamaat-i-Islami and its ally Bangladesh National Party played an instrumental role. The Jamaat cadres were the leading force mobilising the violent crowds in the streets. After Hasinas ouster, Jamaat opened its public office after more than a decade of being shut, and its chief Shafiq-ur-Rehman attended the meeting with the Army Chief Waker-us-Zaman to decide upon the formation of the interim government. On August 27, the interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus removed the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and released jailed Islamist leaders. Further, the leader of the largest Islamist group, Hifazat-e-Islam, AFM Khalid Hussain, has been appointed in the interim government. These events sufficiently indicate that Jamaat-i-Islami and its allies will be the principal players in the future. Advertisement Notably, Jamaat-i-Islami is an extremist organisation that supported the Pakistani army during the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971. It believes in fundamentalist Islamic thinker Maududis ideology of political Islam and is akin to the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt. Its final aim is the establishment of Taliban-styled sharia rule in Bangladesh. Reportedly, JI cadres were complicit with the Pakistani army in the mass slaughter, rapes, and torture of locals, mostly Hindus of Bangladesh. JIs top six leaders have been executed for heinous war crimes. Jamaat has proven links with Deobandi terrorist groups of Pakistan, such as Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (HuJI). Its cadres have participated in terrorist operations and training in Afghanistan with HuJI. Advertisement When Jamaat and its key ally BNP were in power in Bangladesh from 2001-2006, India had a tough time dealing with Pakistan-backed terrorists. There was a large-scale infiltration of Pakistani terrorists into the Indian territory from Bangladesh. Earlier, when BNP leader Khalida Zia served as the PM of Bangladesh between 1991 and 1996, some of the most dreaded terrorist commanders, such as Maulana Masood Azhar and Sajjad Afghani, infiltrated into India via Bangladesh. For the Deobandi groups like Harkat-ul-Mujahiddin, the Bangladesh route was one of the most convenient ones to enter India. The ISI had cultivated a robust base in Bangladesh, with a string of agents, sleeper cells, and proxy actors. Jamaat was the most powerful ISI proxy in Bangladesh. It is well known that during the 1990s and early 2000s, Pakistan orchestrated many big-ticket terrorist attacks in India. Also, the terrorist groups of the North East, like the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), found safe havens in Bangladesh. Advertisement The ISI was training and funding them. However, the Sheikh Hasina government extended full cooperation to Indian authorities in neutralising and arresting the terrorist elements escaping to Bangladesh. Unlike in the Sheikh Hasina regime, the Indian government is less likely to receive such cooperation and support from the future Jamaat/BNP political players. ISI-supported terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba had cultivated strong bases and sleeper cells in Bangladesh. In Chittagong, they were radicalising the Rohingya refugees. With BNP/Jamaat back in power, the ISI will have much stronger control and penetration in Bangladesh, which imposes a direct terrorist threat to India. The powerful presence of radical Islamists will bring the worst times for the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. After Hasinas ouster, Jamaat cadres and protestors have attacked several Hindu houses and temples, killed Hindu men, and raped their women. The gory images coming from Bangladesh have sent shock waves across the length and breadth of India, generating strong resentment and hatred towards Bangladesh. In the future, if these persecuted minorities immigrate to India, it will add more weight to the tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka. Advertisement India faces a major challenge of illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Massive influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingyas via Bangladesh has resulted in major changes in the demography of several districts in Assam and West Bengal, the two states bordering Bangladesh. Reportedly, the extremist and terrorist elements have strong penetration among these illegal immigrants. Settling of the illegal immigrants in the chicken neck corridor, the narrow strip that connects India with its North East, has raised alarming security concerns for India. With the potential revival of BNP/Jamaat governments, the problem of illegal immigration and human trafficking can metamorphose into serious frictions and major security threats for India. The anti-India Islamic radicals and extremist elements have established bases in that corridor. With the ISI-supported political system back in power in Bangladesh, this problem becomes more alarming. Accentuating these concerns are the rising trends in Islamic extremism and communal polarisation in India over the last ten years of the Modi government. Indian agencies have busted Islamic State-Khorasan Province modules in various parts of the country. A strong radical foothold in Bangladesh makes it easier for Pakistan to network with Islamic extremists in the Indian hinterland through northeastern India, infiltrate cadres, and create security threats for India. On account of the rising Hindu nationalism in India, the collective national sentiments against Islamic extremism are very harsh, and in the light of ongoing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, they are likely to get worse. That said, the bilateral relations will go for a toss. The regime change in Bangladesh provides China with ample opportunities to pressure India by tightening its noose in the North Eastern region. In the past, China has allegedly funded rebels and militants in the disturbed northeastern states of India. After the Galwan clash in 2020, the bilateral relations between Delhi and Beijing are going through a tough phase. With intransigence on both sides, the boundary dialogue has reached a stalemate. Hence, in such a scenario, China is likely to leverage the anti-India regime in Bangladesh to its advantage. Also, Chinas all-weather friend and Indias arch-enemy Pakistan will have a stronger foothold in Bangladesh, which is going to make things much smoother for China. A hostile regime in Dhaka will not be conducive to Indias deep-sea drilling projects in the Bay of Bengal. The oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal region can play a crucial role in reducing Indias dependence on oil imports. India is the worlds third-largest oil and gas importer. Before the Ukraine war, it imported most of its crude oil from West Asia; however, after the Ukraine war, India has been buying subsidised Russian oil. Today, Russia has the largest share of Indias oil imports, ie, 40 per cent. If India successfully exploits hydrocarbon reserves in the Bay of Bengal region, it will be a breakthrough development for Indias economic growth. Namit Verma, a veteran intelligence and security analyst, in an interview with an India-based thinktank, informed that deep-sea drilling in the Bay of Bengal region has been a bone of contention between India and the US. He further suggested that in the 1971 war, the US blatantly supported Pakistan by sending its 7th fleet to the Bay of Bengal region to ensure that India gets defeated. The objective was to stop India from deep-sea drilling in the region. However, in those days, despite winning the 1971 war, India chose not to start those projects because of the pressure from the US and the lack of technology. However, today India is in a much stronger position geopolitically and technologically to explore deep-sea drilling in the region. As of now, the Shwe gas project off the Myanmar Coast, jointly developed by POSCO DAEWOO Corporation, ONGC Videsh Ltd, GAIL, and Korean Gas Company, is in its second and third phases. However, a stronger foothold of Indias adversaries in Bangladesh, in the future, increases the chances of sabotage to Shew gas project. Conclusion It can be argued that regime change in Bangladesh is, in many ways, a colossal intelligence failure for India. In the past, India lost Nepal with such a regime change. The new communist government that came after deposing the monarchy has not been as loyal to India as the monarchs. Lately, in its neighbourhood, China has made significant inroads in most of the countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. Besides, one also comes across the genuine anti-India sentiment in these countries. In Bangladesh, due to Hasinas close friendship with India, there is strong anti-India sentiment. Hence, it will be extremely challenging for India to find synergies with the new political players in Bangladesh. For Bangladesh, history has come full circle. The man who liberated Bangladesh from the Islamist tyranny of Pakistan and established a secular republic, Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman, popularly known as Bangbandhu (friend of Bengalis), is a reviled and abused figure now. Violent protestors are demolishing his statues, and with this, his secular legacy comes to a dead end. Now begins a new chapter in Bangladesh where Islamist forces will reign supreme. It is pertinent to mention that such catastrophic changes can hardly happen without the backing of powerful foreign forces. However, their shortsighted approach has brought elements who believe in the ideology of Al Qaeda, Muslim Brotherhood, and Islamic States to power. Soon these elements will invade the streets of their foreign supporters, unleashing the destruction that many countries in Europe are witnessing already. The author is a Cornell University graduate in public affairs, bachelors from St Stephens College, Delhi. He is a policy analyst specialising in counterterrorism, Indian foreign policy and Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. The stakes in this new era of space exploration are high, and the choices made by major powersthe US, China, Russia, and Indiawill significantly influence the trajectory of global security read more After the successful Chandrayaan-3 moon mission, the Indian government approved the Chandrayaan-4 lunar mission in the Chandrayaan series. This demonstrates that the competitions to explore and expand and the dominance in space have intensified, evolving into a complex geopolitical arena marked by rivalry among great powersnamely the United States, China, Russia, and India. This reflects technological ambitions and deep-seated fears rooted in who can dominate this contested domain, which is vast and unexplored in many ways. The major geopolitical players have ambitions and high-end technological prowess to demonstrate dominance and hegemonise the space for more utility. Advertisement The recent launch of the Qianfan constellation by China, alongside the ongoing advancements in space capabilities by the United States, Russia, and India, demonstrates how this great-power competition is shaping the future of space as a potential military domain. Chinas rise in the space sector is particularly noteworthy. On August 6, 2023, a Long March 6 (LM-6) rocket launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, carrying 18 satellites as part of the Qianfan constellationan endeavour designed to rival SpaceXs Starlink. This launch highlights Chinas strategic pivot towards commercial space endeavours facilitated by non-state-owned companies like Yuanxin Satellite (SSST). As China strives to establish itself as a leading space power by 2045, its increasing capabilities in satellite technology and space exploration signal a shift towards a more competitive posture in space to counter perceived threats from American advances. The motivations behind Chinas rapid space ambitions are multifaceted. The expansion of Starlink, with over 6,000 satellites launched in a few years, has created a sense of urgency within China, prompting concerns about national security and economic viability. Chinese state media have characterised Starlink as a potential monopoly in global communications, reinforcing the perception of a strategic rivalry. As Chinas commercial space sector gains momentum, the countrys historical reliance on state-owned enterprises has evolved, indicating a newfound adaptability in the face of competition. Advertisement However, the space race is not confined to the Sino-American rivalry. Historically, Russia has been a significant space player and has developed counter-space technologies that challenged the US during the Cold War. Following a series of anti-satellite tests, Russias military initiatives have raised alarms regarding space weaponisation. The prospect of co-orbital weapons and the development of nuclear anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities illustrate a dangerous trajectory that not only threatens existing satellites but also complicates international security dynamics. The historical cooperation between the US and Russia is now strained by mutual distrust and military posturing, leaving the space domain increasingly fraught with competition rather than cooperation. The implications of this great power rivalry extend beyond technological advancements. As states pursue their security interests, the potential for conflict in space grows. The anarchic nature of the international system fosters a realist dilemma, wherein nations prioritise self-help measures to ensure their security. In this context, the militarisation of space seems inevitable. Advertisement The US and China have initiated efforts to develop space-based military capabilities, driven by fears of vulnerabilities posed by adversaries technological advancements. While traditionally maintaining a stance of neutrality in great power rivalries, India is now also asserting itself in the space race. Indias space program primarily focuses on socio-economic development, but recent developments indicate a pivot towards bolstering national security through space capabilities. The countrys successful ASAT test in 2019 demonstrates its commitment to enhancing deterrence, even as it continues to advocate against the weaponisation of space. Indias approach reflects a nuanced understanding of the strategic environment, seeking to leverage space technology for military applications while prioritising peaceful exploration and global cooperation. The growing competition among these major powers raises critical questions about the future governance of space. The legacy of cooperation in space explorationexemplified by initiatives like the Apollo-Soyuz handshake and the International Space Station (ISS)is now overshadowed by a prevailing atmosphere of rivalry. Advertisement Political manoeuvring among the US, Russia, and China has hindered meaningful dialogue on space security, leaving a vacuum where multilateral agreements could provide frameworks for responsible behaviour in outer space. As states increasingly perceive space as a domain for military engagement, the risk of conflict escalates. The historical context reveals a shift from focusing on scientific cooperation to strategic competition, where technological supremacy serves national interests. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which aims to prevent the militarisation of space, faces challenges in enforcement and interpretation in the current geopolitical climate. With the rise of counter-space capabilities and anti-satellite tests, the international community grapples with the implications of an unregulated arms race in space. The evolution of space competition is reminiscent of past geopolitical rivalries yet it also introduces unique challenges. The exponential growth of private space enterprises, particularly in China and the US, complicates traditional state-centric narratives. Advertisement The interplay between state and non-state actors raises questions about accountability, governance, and the future of collaborative endeavours. The increasing reliance on commercial entities for satellite technology and launch capabilities creates opportunities for innovation but also amplifies the risks of unchecked competition. As nations vie for supremacy, the potential for conflict looms large in an environment characterised by distrust, mistrust, and strategic posturing. The realist dilemma of fear and self-help manifests in pursuing military capabilities and counter-space technologies, heightening the risk of conflict in the final frontier. Moving forward, the need for robust frameworks to govern space activities and facilitate cooperation among nations is more pressing than ever. The stakes in this new era of space exploration are high, and the choices made by major powers will significantly influence the trajectory of global security and the future of humanitys endeavours in space. The author is a PhD candidate at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. A global reminder of the pressing need for nuclear disarmament, this day calls for renewed efforts to eliminate nuclear arsenals and safeguard future generations from the threat of nuclear warfare read more The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, observed annually on September 26, serves as a critical reminder of the worlds ongoing struggle against one of the most dangerous threats to humanitynuclear weapons. Established by the United Nations in 2013, this day aims to increase global awareness about the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear warfare and promote collective efforts toward achieving a world free of nuclear arms. Despite significant strides made in international diplomacy and non-proliferation treaties, the existence of over 13,000 nuclear weapons worldwide continues to pose a grave risk to global peace and security. Advertisement Here are 10 key points about the importance of the day and why it is observed: 1. UN General Assembly resolution: The day was established in 2013 through a UN General Assembly resolution, recognising the need to raise public awareness about the dangers of nuclear weapons. 2. Global disarmament efforts: It encourages countries to take active steps toward nuclear disarmament highlighting the urgency for the elimination of nuclear arsenals globally. 3. Link to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): The day aligns with the objectives of the NPT, which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote complete disarmament. 4. Historical context: It builds on the momentum of decades-long efforts, from the first atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the Cold War nuclear arms race, emphasising that the goal of nuclear disarmament remains unachieved. 5. Nuclear weapon-free zones: It highlights the role of established nuclear-weapon-free zones in various regions, such as Latin America and the Pacific, as steps toward a nuclear-free world. 6. Role of civil society: Civil society organisations play a key role by advocating for disarmament and raising public awareness about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. Advertisement 7. Humanitarian impact: The day stresses the severe human and environmental impact of nuclear weapons, urging countries to consider the global threat these weapons pose. 8. Multilateral diplomacy: It promotes the role of multilateral diplomacy and international cooperation encouraging countries to engage in meaningful dialogue and negotiations to eliminate nuclear arsenals. 9. Resistance from nuclear powers: Despite the global call for disarmament, nuclear-armed states continue to maintain and modernise their arsenals, creating a major challenge for the disarmament agenda. 10. Public awareness campaigns: Various events, discussions and educational campaigns are held globally to commemorate the day, fostering public engagement and support for a nuclear-free world. Advertisement According to World Population Review, the global stockpile of nuclear warheads is estimated to be around 13,080. While the overall number has significantly reduced since the Cold War era, more nations now possess nuclear capabilities. Russia holds the largest arsenal, with approximately 6,257 warheads, of which 1,458 are actively deployed. The remaining are either inactive, available for reactivation, or in the process of being dismantled. The US follows with around 5,550 warheads, including 1,389 that are currently operational, while the rest are either reserved for potential reactivation or slated for dismantling. These numbers highlight the enduring threat posed by nuclear weapons despite disarmament efforts. Advertisement The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is a clarion call for action, encouraging governments, civil society and the global community to reinvigourate efforts for disarmament. While challenges persist, particularly with nuclear-armed states resisting disarmament, the international movement for a nuclear-free world remains strong. By continuing to promote dialogue, enhance public awareness and support multilateral diplomacy, there is hope that future generations will live in a world free from the threat of nuclear annihilation. The Israeli military said on Thursday its latest strike on south Beirut killed Mohammed Srur, the head of Hezbollahs drone unit, who a source close to the group had earlier said was the target read more Lebanese soldiers cordon off the area at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs, on Thursday. AP The Israeli military said on Thursday its latest strike on south Beirut killed Mohammed Srur, the head of Hezbollahs drone unit, who a source close to the group had earlier said was the target. Following precise intelligence guidance from the Air Force and the Intelligence Division, fighter jets targeted and eliminated (Srur), the commander of Hezbollahs air unit, in Beirut, AFP quoted a military statement as saying. Srur studied mathematics and was among a number of top advisers sent by Hezbollah to Yemen to train the countrys Houthi rebels, who are also backed by Iran, AFP quoted a source close to Hezbollah as saying. Advertisement Earlier, Lebanons health ministry had said that the strike killed two people and injured 15. The Israeli enemy strike on Beiruts southern suburbs killed two people and wounded 15, including a woman in critical condition, AFP quoted a ministry statement as saying. pic.twitter.com/6KYlyqBDVN (@thisislebnews) September 26, 2024 Meanwhile, some 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon into the Upper Galilee a short while ago, according to a Times of Israel report, citing the IDF. IDF said sirens were activated in several northern communities and some of the rockets were intercepted by air defences, while others landed in open areas. Confirming the targeted strike on south Beirut earlier, the IDF said it will provide further details on the strike in the Lebanese capital soon, reported Times of Israel. Advertisement Meanwhile, Israel on Thursday flatly rejected a push led by key backer the US for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, vowing to keep fighting Hezbollah militants until victory. Israeli bombing of Iran-backed Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon has killed hundreds of people this week, while the militant group has retaliated with rocket barrages. There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office issued a statement earlier saying he had not even responded to the truce proposal, and that he had ordered the military to continue the fighting with full force. Advertisement The United States, France and other allies called for a 21-day halt, after President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The situation in Lebanon has become intolerable and is in nobodys interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon, their joint statement read. Despite these diplomatic efforts, violence raged on the ground. With inputs from agencies According to a statement released by the Oman embassy and obtained by Firstpost, the initiative is being organised in collaboration with IBEX Expeditions from India and the Bait Al Qanoon Foundation from Oman and will be implemented from 10-18 January 2025 read more The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the Republic of India recently hosted a ceremony to unveil its upcoming tourism campaign, A Journey to Explore Oman, set to take place from January 10 to 18, 2025. Source: Embassy of Oman The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in India announced an innovative tourist campaign Journey to Explore Oman. The project was unveiled at a ceremony which was hosted by H.E. Issa Saleh Shaibani, Omans Ambassador to India, earlier this week. According to a statement released by the Oman embassy and obtained by Firstpost, the initiative is being organised in collaboration with IBEX Expeditions from India and the Bait Al Qanoon Foundation from Oman and will be implemented from 10-18 January 2025. Advertisement The launch event conducted by the embassy on September 21 was attended by over 100 dignitaries from India and overseas as well as influencers and keen travellers who have experienced Ibex Expeditions curated journeys in and around the world. Through this initiative, the country is seeking to host travellers and open doors for more tourism exchanges between India and Oman. The embassy believes that initiatives like these would facilitate cooperation between India and Oman in areas of business and trade. Dignitaries with H.E. Issa Saley Shaibani and Consul, Yahya Aldugaishi with Anita & Mandip Soin of Ibex Expedition. Source: Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in India We are a place where history whispers through ancient forts: Omans envoy to India While delivering his address at the ceremony, Omans Ambassador to India Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Alshibani shared that the initiative will be part of Oman Vision 2024. During the event, Saleh extended gratitude to Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary Gulf at the Ministry of External Affairs for his support in strengthening India-Oman ties. Oman, as many of you know, is striving to continue along the path of development and progress as outlined by Oman Vision 2040. Central to this vision is the pursuit of a diversified economy, with sectors such as tourism playing a key role in supporting development, creating opportunities for Omani youth, and preserving both our environment and national identity. This evening is a reflection of that visiona blend of adventure, culture, and collaboration, showing how Oman continues to open its doors to the world," the ambassador said at the event. Speaking of Oman, our nations deep-rooted history, shared heritage, and people-to-people links with the rest of the world are what make it truly special. We are not just a destination but a place where history whispers through the ancient forts, where the warm desert sands and towering mountains tell stories of generations past, and where the embrace of our culture and hospitality welcomes you like family, he added. Advertisement Omans Ambassador to India Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Alshibani delivers an address at the ceremony. Source: Embassy of Oman in India The ambassador emphasised that India and Oman share deep cultural connections that resonate through history and continue to grow today. In Oman, you wont just find adventure; youll find connection. Whether through exploring our breathtaking landscapes or sharing a meal with a local family, every experience will bring you closer to the heart of our people. So, I encourage each of you to visit, explore, and discover the beauty, not only of Omans nature but of its soul. I promise you that once you do, you will feel at home, he concluded. Ms Tahra Albelushi graces the evening with the beautiful, nostalgic rhythms of Oman. Oman Embassy in India According to the embassy, the tourism campaign will be curated by Ibex Expeditions, taking in experiences of Muscat, the souqs, Nizwa, Jebel Akhder Mountain walk, the exciting via ferrata and hot air ballooning, quad biking, camel riding and dune bashing, not to mention the interaction with the Bedouin in the Wahiba Sands, snorkelling and walking through the wadis, visiting turtle nesting sites, to mention a few of the highlights. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys visit to the US did not sit well with the Republicans as the partys presidential nominee slammed the comedian-turned-politician. After former US President Donald Trump lambasted Zelenskyy and claimed that he is refusing to negotiate a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the Ukrainian leaders visit to a munitions factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In a public letter on Wednesday, Johnson demanded that Ukraine fire its ambassador to Washington, Oksana Markarova, after Zelenskyys controversial visit. He complained that Markarova had organised the visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant as a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats. Advertisement The accusation by the Republicans became ripe since the event was attended by the Pennsylvania governor, Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who has campaigned in support of Kamala Harris. The facility was in a politically contested battleground state, was led by a top political surrogate for Kamala Harris, and failed to include a single Republican because on purpose no Republicans were invited, Johnson wrote in a letter on congressional letterhead addressed to the Ukrainian embassy. The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference. This shortsighted and intentional political move has caused Republicans to lose trust in Ambassador Markarovas ability to fairly and effectively serve as a diplomat in this country. She should be removed from her post immediately, the letter continued. Trump refuses to meet Zelenskyy During a North Carolina rally, held the same day Johnson issued the letter, Trump called out Zelenskyy for taking billions of dollars from the United States. The president of Ukraine is in our country. He is making little nasty aspersions toward your favourite president, me, Trump said. We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal: Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, Trumps campaign made it clear that he will not be meeting the Ukrainian leader. Trumps barrage of attacks against Zelenskyy came after the latters controversial interview with the New Yorker in which he questioned Trumps plan to end Ukraines war with Russia and sharply criticized Republicans vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance. Zelenskyy went on to refer to the Ohio senator as too radical. Advertisement Earlier, Vance proposed that peace in Ukraine could entail Russia retaining the Ukrainian land it has annexed. His message seems to be that Ukraine must make a sacrifice, Zelenskyy said in the interview with the New Yorker. This brings us back to the question of the cost and who shoulders it. The idea that the world should end this war at Ukraines expense is unacceptable. But I do not consider this concept of his a plan, in any formal sense, he added. In the recent letter, Johnson also brought up the comments made by Zelenskyy about both Trump and Vance. Additionally, as I have clearly stated in the past, all foreign nations should avoid opining on or interfering in American domestic politics, he said. Advertisement Support for ending Russias war against Ukraine continues to be bipartisan, but our relationship is unnecessarily tested and needlessly tarnished when the candidates at the top of the Republican presidential ticket are targeted in the media by officials in your government, the Republican Speaker of the House averred. Other top Republicans condemned Zelenskyys recent remarks. I dont mind him going to a munitions plant thanking people for helping Ukraine. But I think his comments about JD Vance and President Trump were out of bounds, said the Republican senator Lindsey Graham. With conservatives, its going to hurt Ukraine, the veteran Republican politician added. The chief adviser of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, met with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif in New York and sought his support for reviving SAARC read more Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus meets Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Source: X / @CMShehbaz Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus met Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during which the two leaders called for the revival of SAARC for regional cooperation in South Asia. SAARC - a regional grouping comprising India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Nepal - has not been much effective since 2016. The last SAARC biennial summits was in 2014 in Nepals Kathmandu. Advertisement Now, the government of Bangladesh and Pakistan, both having anti-India sentiments running high, want the revival of SAARC. Why Bangladesh & Pakistan want SAARC revival Back in August, days after getting the charge to lead Bangladeshs interim government, Yunus called for revival of SAARC to boost economic cooperation in the neigbourhood. Back then he held this discussion with Pakistan high commissioner Syed Ahmed Maroof. On Wednesday (September 25) Yunus met Sharif and said reviving SAARC could be a good way to start and sought support from Pakistan. Meanwhile, Sharif promised Pakistans support for the initiative and suggested that they should move step by step in reviving the regional platform. Held a most cordial meeting with Chief Adviser of Interim Government of Bangladesh, Prof. Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of #UNGA79, today. While recalling their many commanalities and historic relations, both sides reiterated their common desire to enhance economic and pic.twitter.com/0Qo4U2z7fB Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 25, 2024 When was the last SAARC summit held? The last SAARC summit was in 2014 in Nepal after which the chairmanship was handed over to Pakistan. As per charter rules, a summit cannot be held if all the members do not agree. In 2016, the SAARC summit was planned to be held in Islamabad between 15 and 19, but India expressed its inability to participate. Advertisement Why India denied participating in 2016 SAARC summit in Islamabad India does not have any angst against SAARC. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited all the SAARC leaders to his swearing-in in May 2014. He invited several SAARC nations to a gathering of world leaders in Goa on October 14-15. However, things got bad in 2016 as there were two terrorist attacks in India that year - Pathankot attack in January and Uri attack in September. India did not attend the SAARC summit that year in Pakistan due to prevailing circumstances. Later, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan also declined to participate. SAARC pushed to back burner In January 2016, Pathankot airbase was attacked by Pakistani terrorists. Eight people, including seven security personnel, were killed and 38 others were injured in the attack. Advertisement A five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT), constituted by the government of Pakistan, visited India between March 27 and April 1, 2016. It was given evidence by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against individuals, including members of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), who had conspired in the Pathankot attack and the handlers of terrorists who facilitated and guided them. The NIA, in a chargesheet, also said the attack on the Pathankot airbase was planned in April 2014 at a meeting in Sialkot in Pakistan by Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Shahid Latif. However, reports in Pakistani media said that after returning from India, the Pakistan JIT claimed that the Indian authorities made it a three-day drama to get maximum attention from the world community in order to malign Pakistan." Advertisement A report on Pakistan Today, back then, also claimed the JIT alleging that India used the attack as a tool to expand its vicious propaganda against Pakistan without having any solid evidence to back the claim. The same year on September 18, a couple of months ahead of the SAARC summit in Pakistan, there was a terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed. Ten days after Uri terror attack, on September 28, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes against terror launchpads on and along the Line of Control (LoC) This did not end. On February 14, 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying CRPF personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a suicide bomber driving an explosive-laden vehicle in the Pulwama district of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir. The ghastly terror attack left 40 CRPF personnel dead and over a dozen injured. Advertisement According to the NIA, the Pulwama attack was a well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched by the Pakistan-based JEM terror outfit. The relationship between the two neighbouring nations deteriorated further after India withdrew the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into two union territories in August, 2019. Terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand In 2014, addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York in Hindi, PM Modi said, India was prepared to engage in serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan in a peaceful and violence free atmosphere. It is also upto Pakistan to create the right atmosphere and come forward for bilateral talks." On several occasions, slamming Pakistan, PM Modi has said, terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand." In 2022, the then spokesperson of Pakistan Foreign Office, Asim Iftikhar, claimed that Indias obstruction of the SAARC process was an established fact." His statements received a response from the then External Affairs Ministry (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, who said: You are aware of the background as to why the SAARC summit has not been held since 2014. There has been no material change in the situation since then. Therefore, there is still no consensus that would permit holding of the summit." Soldiers guarding French energy giant TotalEnergies project detained dozens of men in steel containers. The prisoners only got a handful of rice and a sip of water from a bottle cap after being starved for days read more French energy giant TotalEnergies said it was not aware of the human rights violations happening on ground. File image/Reuters French energy giant TotalEnergies had enlisted the help of Mozambican soldiers to safeguard its natural gas project in northern Mozambique in Africa. But these government forces reportedly strayed far away from their mandate, becoming the nightmare for desperate villagers. A report by Politico published earlier on Thursday (September 26) reveals that soldiers hired by TotalEnergies detained, tortured, and killed over 150 men from local villages. The atrocities took place in 2021 during a military operation to retake the Afungi peninsula from ISIS-linked insurgents, who had attacked the nearby town of Palma. Despite the militarys mission to protect the gas facility, villagers seeking refuge were caught in a deadly cycle of abuse and violence at the hands of government forces. Advertisement What happened? In 2021, as Mozambiques military forces battled Islamist insurgents in the countrys northern Cabo Delgado region, villagers near the Afungi peninsula found themselves trapped in a harrowing situation. They had come near the plant seeking refuge from the ongoing conflict. However, a commando unit led by an officer who said his mission was to protect the project of Total detained between 180 and 250 villagers, accusing them of being insurgents. Whether they had any proof of this is not known. Torture, killing, and rape The soldiers separated the men from women and children, subjecting the men to brutal treatment, including starvation, torture, and beatings, in shipping containers near the gates of a gas plant operated by French energy company TotalEnergies. At least one woman was gang-raped. Victims reported that the men were held for three months in the containers, where the extreme heat, lack of food, and cramped conditions made survival nearly impossible. The men soiled themselves as there were no toilets in the containers. The soldiers starved the prisoners of food and water for days. When they did finally give them sustenance, it was limited to a fistful of rice and a sip of water from a bottle cap, Politico reported. Advertisement Witnesses claim that only 26 men survived the ordeal, with others succumbing to suffocation or execution. Some prisoners, under the pretext of being assigned to trash collection tasks, were led away to be killed. TotalEnergies role The atrocities took place against the backdrop of a major natural gas project that was once heralded as Africas largest private investment, involving TotalEnergies and other international partners. While the company evacuated its staff and contractors during the Islamist attacks, the Mozambican military, including a Joint Task Force supported by TotalEnergies, remained in charge of securing the gas plant and the surrounding area. The company denies knowledge of the atrocities, stating they had no physical presence on the ground during the events and claiming their role was limited to funding the Joint Task Force to secure the plant. However, internal reports from TotalEnergies indicate that the company was aware of the militarys history of abuses, which included extortion, torture, and intimidation of civilians. Advertisement TotalEnergies now faces potential legal challenges, as questions persist about their responsibility for the Mozambican militarys actions. The Mozambican government has not commented on the incident Many villagers, meanwhile, are still grappling with the trauma of what they endured, living in fear that their plight will be ignored in favor of economic interests tied to the lucrative gas project. Israeli aerial bombardment of Iran-backed Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon has killed hundreds of people this week, while the militant group has hit back with barrages of rockets. read more Smoke and flames are visible near homes in Kiryat Shmona after a rocket attack launched from Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, September 26, 2024. - Reuters According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, countries worldwide including prominent Arab countries, G7 nations, and the European Union are urging an immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah along Israels northern border with Lebanon. Asked about Israels rejection of a U.S.-backed Lebanon ceasefire proposal, Blinken told MSNBC: The world is speaking clearly for virtually all of the key countries in Europe and in the region on the need for the ceasefire. He added that he would be meeting with Israeli officials in New York later on Thursday. Advertisement However, Israel flatly rejected on Thursday a push led by key backer the United States for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, as it vowed to keep fighting Hezbollah militants until victory. There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on social media platform X. Israel earlier this month said it was shifting its focus from Gaza, where it has been fighting a war with Hamas since the October 7 attack, to securing its border with Lebanon. Hamas ally Hezbollah has been fighting Israeli troops across the Lebanon border since October, forcing tens of thousands of people on both sides to flee their homes. The hostilities between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah group have raised fears of a regional war. Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and killed dozens. Israeli airstrikes this week have targeted Hezbollah militant leaders and hit hundreds of sites deep inside Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands have fled the border region, while the group has fired barrages of rockets into Israel. Scores have been killed in Lebanon. Advertisement According to the UN, Israels bombardment of Lebanon had by Wednesday forced 90,000 people to flee their homes in traditional Hezbollah strongholds to safer areas elsewhere in the tiny Mediterranean country. On Thursday, two Syrian security sources told AFP more than 22,000 people had crossed the Lebanese border into Syria this week, most of them Syrians. With inputs from agencies. The incident, confirmed by a senior US defence official, occurred between May and June but was concealed by the PLA Navy. Chinas defence industry has long been plagued by corruption and oversight challenges read more Chinese Navy's nuclear-powered submarine takes part in a naval parade off the eastern port city of Qingdao. Image used for representational purpose/Reuters File Chinas newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, a senior US defence official said on Thursday, a potential embarrassment for Beijing as it seeks to expand its military capabilities. China already has the largest navy in the world, with over 370 ships, and it has embarked on production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines. A senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Chinas new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank alongside a pier sometime between May and June. Advertisement The official said it was not clear what caused it to sink or whether it had nuclear fuel on board at the time. In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLAs internal accountability and oversight of Chinas defence industry - which has long been plagued by corruption, the official said, using an acronym for the Peoples Liberation Army. Its not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the sinking, the official added. Chinas embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. A series of satellite images from Planet Labs from June appear to show cranes at the Wuchang shipyard, where the submarine would have been docked. As of 2022, China had six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines, according to a Pentagon report on Chinas military. That submarine force is expected to grow to 65 by 2025 and 80 by 2035, the US Defence Department has said. On Wednesday, China said it had successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, a move likely to raise international concerns about the countrys nuclear buildup. The United States and China held theater-level commander talks for the first time earlier this month, amid efforts to stabilise military ties and avoid misunderstandings, especially in regional hot spots such as the South China Sea. India last sat at the UN high table as a non-permanent member in 2021-22. There has been a growing demand to increase the number of permanent members to reflect the contemporary global reality. read more Advocating for the expansion of the powerful UN body, French President Emmanuel Macron has extended support for Indias bid for permanent membership in a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Currently, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries, elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. Advertisement Macron said at the United Nations General Assembly in New York We have a Security Council that is blockedLets make the UN more efficient. We have to make it more representative,. Thats why, he said, France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa will decide to represent it. India has been at the forefront of efforts at the UN to push for urgent long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member. India argues that the 15-nation council founded in 1945 is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geo-political realities. In his address, Macron also called for a change in the UNSCs working methods, a limitation of the right of veto in cases of mass crimes, and more attention to operational decisions required for maintaining peace. The time has come to regain efficiency in order to act better on the ground, he said. Macrons remarks came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the Summit of the Future on Sunday emphasised that for global peace and development, reforms in institutions are essential, underlining that reform is the key to relevance. Advertisement Addressing the Summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also warned the 15-nation UNSC, which he described as outdated and whose authority is eroding, will eventually lose all credibility unless its composition and working methods are reformed. The UN chief gave a clarion call: We cant build a future for our grandchildren with a system built for our grandparents. With inputs from agencies. The White House eventually released a statement following the meeting, which called for ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza. However, the latest statement pushed by the US was more forgiving to Israel read more After an intense debate, the United States and France, along with some other European allies agreed to call for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Wednesday. The plan came as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, warned that hell is breaking loose in the country, and the UK foreign secretary called for an immediate ceasefire, a joint statement on which the US has not endorsed. Advertisement The White House eventually released a statement following the meeting, which called for ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza. However, the latest statement pushed by the US was more forgiving to Israel. The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023, is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation, the joint statement reads, citing the date Hezbollah began launching attacks on northern Israeli communities and military posts following its ally Hamass October 7 massacres in southern Israel. This is in nobodys interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety," the statement further reads. Diplomacy over conflict In the statement, the US and its Western allies emphasised that diplomacy cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict, before urging an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement. We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that end this crisis altogether, concluded the statement. Apart from the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar were the signatories of the joint statement. Advertisement Meanwhile, the White House released a separate Joint Statement from US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, who met on the sidelines of the UN meeting. The statement called for the immediate support of the governments of Israel and Lebanon. It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians, the two presidents averred. We therefore have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border, the statement further reads. Advertisement No explicit mention of Hezbollah: The cracks in the West It is interesting to note that neither of the joint statements made an explicit mention of Hamas and Hezbollah. Earlier today, reports emerged that the US thwarted the initial efforts of France and the UK, urging the UN to call for an immediate ceasefire. During the UNSC meeting, Washington actively avoided the suggestion that there was any equivalence of blame for the eruption of the crisis between the two nations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued to maintain that Israel has a legitimate problem to solve and blamed Hezbollah for continued rocket attacks into Israeli territory. Advertisement Hence, the whole ordeal reflected the tensions between the US and its European allies over how they are approaching the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told UNSC that the US and UKs unwavering support for Israel has given them carte blanche for all sorts of sinister behaviour. Without a ceasefire in Gaza there will be no guarantee for peace in the region, he added. The international community cannot afford to remain silent the UN security council must shoulder its responsibility and respond decisively. With inputs from agencies. In the first legal move of this type since the Taliban took over, Afghanistan will have six months to respond before the ICJ holds a hearing and likely proposes provisional measures read more In a groundbreaking move, Canada, Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands are taking the Taliban to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over gender discrimination, according to a report. Announced during the UN General Assembly, this is the first instance of one country suing another at the ICJ over gender discrimination. According to The Guardian report, the case is based on the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 1979 and came into force in 1981. Advertisement Afghanistan ratified this convention in 2003, prior to the Talibans takeover in 2021, added the report. In the first legal move of this type since the Taliban took over, Afghanistan will have six months to respond before the ICJ holds a hearing and likely proposes provisional measures. According to The Guardian, advocates believe that even if the Taliban dismiss the courts authority, a ruling could deter other countries from normalising relations with them, as signatories are expected to comply with ICJ decisions. Concerns have arisen over UN discussions with the Taliban that exclude womens issues to encourage their participation. The initiative is supported by three female foreign ministers: Penny Wong (Australia), Annalena Baerbock (Germany), and Melanie Joly (Canada), along with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, added the report. Recently, the Taliban banned Afghan women from speaking in public, sparking an online protest campaign where Afghan women sing in defiance. A female cat has more freedom than a woman. A cat may go sit on her front stoop and feel the sun on her face. She may chase a squirrel into the park. A squirrel has more rights than a girl in Afghanistan today because the public parks have been closed to women and girls by the Taliban. A bird may sing in Kabul, but a girl may not, The Guardian quoted actor Meryl Streep as saying at a UN side event this week. Advertisement The countries involved in the litigation are prepared to negotiate with the Taliban in good faith to address gender discrimination, but if those efforts fail, they will seek a hearing at the ICJ. Last month, the Taliban issued new vice and virtue laws stating that women must be fully covered when leaving the house and are prohibited from singing or raising their voices in public. Streep spoke alongside Afghan activists and human rights defenders, urging the UN to take action to protect and restore the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Asila Wardak, a leader of the Womens Forum on Afghanistan, emphasised that the system of gender apartheid imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan is not just an Afghan issue, but part of the global fight against extremism. Advertisement This case, by centering violations of womens rights not only has the potential to deliver much needed justice to the women and girls of Afghanistan, but also forge new precedents for gender justice, The Guardian quoted Akila Radhakrishnan, strategic legal advisor on gender justice at the Atlantic Council think tank, as saying. With inputs from agencies While she attacked Trumps economic policy agendas, the vice president dodged to answer specifics about her own economic proposals read more This combination of photos taken at campaign rallies in Atlanta shows Vice President Kamala Harris on July 30, 2024, left, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump on Aug. 3. File Image: AP As the race for the White House intensifies, US Vice President Kamala Harris slammed her Republican rival and former US President Donald Trumps economic policies. In a one-on-one interview with MSNBC, Harris criticised Trumps calls for broad tariff hikes and insisted that the 79-year-old Republican firebrand was not very serious. While she attacked Trumps economic policy agendas, the vice president dodged to answer specifics about her own economic proposals. You dont just throw around the idea of just tariffs across the board. And thats part of the problem with Donald Trump, Harris told MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle in a brief clip previewing an interview set to air later Wednesday. Advertisement Kamala Harris to MSNBC: "Frankly, and I say this in all sincerity, he's just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues. And one must be serious and have a plan that's not just a talking point ending in an exclamation at a political rally." pic.twitter.com/GnZYPq8Z3R Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 25, 2024 In the clip of the same interview, however, Harris declined to lay out a road map on how exactly she would achieve some of her own economic plans. Ever since Harris entered the presidential race after US President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid, she faced criticism for rarely sitting for interviews and holding news conferences. Frankly, and I say this in all sincerity, hes just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues. And one must be serious and have a plan thats not just a talking point ending in an exclamation at a political rally, she added. What is Trump saying on the matter? The former president has maintained that he would slap steep tariffs on companies that dont manufacture their goods in the United States. He insisted that these tariffs would raise hundreds of billions of dollars that would ultimately help the American people. The Republican presidential nominee floated the idea of imposing a 200 per cent tariff on auto imports from Mexico, as well as another tariff upward of 60 per cent on all Chinese imports. Advertisement He rejected the claims made by several economists that the companies would pass those costs to the customers through higher prices. Harris falls short of laying out a concrete plan While elaborating on her economic agenda, Harris told MSNBC that the United States is going to have to raise corporate taxes to pay for her economic proposals, such as an expanded child tax credit, downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers and more. But in the clip, she was not seen specifying exactly how she would raise those taxes if the GOP holds the Senate majority following the November polls. Its about paying their fair share, she said while speaking about big corporations and wealthy Americans. I am not mad at anyone for achieving success, but everyone should pay their fair share," she added. Advertisement The interview clip was released shortly after Harris delivered an economic-focused speech in Pittsburgh during which she pledged to expand the nations manufacturing industry. We will prioritize investments for strengthening factory towns, retooling existing factories, hiring locally and working with unions because no one that grows up in Americas greatest industrial or agricultural centres should be abandoned, Harris said in her address at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh. Harris told MSNBC, that Trump left office with the worst economy since the Great Depression, pointing to declines in manufacturing jobs under the former president whose last year in office also saw the economy dented by the coronavirus pandemic. She insisted that Trumps plans would only benefit wealthy people. Advertisement Donald Trump has a history of taking care of very rich people, Harris said. My perspective on the economy is when you grow the middle class, Americas economy is stronger," she concluded. While speaking to the reporter ahead of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, Araghchi warned that the region is facing a full-scale catastrophe read more Amid the brewing tensions in the Middle East, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened to back Lebanons Hezbollah, if Israel continued striking the country. While speaking to the reporter ahead of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, Araqchi warned that the region is facing a full-scale catastrophe. He made it clear that Iran will support the Lebanese group by all means if the fighting continues. The region is on the brink of a full-scale catastrophe. If unchecked, the world will face catastrophic consequences, he told the reporters outside the UN building. The Iranian diplomat made it clear that his country would stand with the people of Lebanon by all means. Araghchi also claimed that Israel has crossed all red lines and called the UNSC to intervene in this regard. Advertisement The proclamation from the Iranian official came as France pushed a 21-day ceasefire plan between Israel and Lebanon at the UNSC meeting. Netanyahu emplanes for New York in a bid to defend himself Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boards the Wing of Zion with his wife Sara for his trip to the United Nations. While several journalists posed many questions, the couple did not respond to any of them before boarding the plane. Netanyahu is now expected to defend Israels attack in Southern Lebanon at the UN. According to The Times of Israel, Foreign Minister Israel Katz will be Netanyahus stand-in until the Israeli premier is out of the country. With this, Katz will also have the power to convene a security cabinet in case of any emergency. Before heading to New York, the Israeli premier has already held a security cabinet meeting to discuss the escalating fighting with Lebanons Hezbollah. France pushes for 21-day ceasefire Amid the chaos, France pushed for a 21-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. While reports suggested that the US was thwarting the efforts, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the UNSC that the plans were discussed with the United States as well. Advertisement The plan came as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, warned that hell is breaking loose in the country, and the UK foreign secretary called for an immediate ceasefire, a joint statement on which the US has not endorsed. Hence, the French initiative reflected the tensions between the US and its European allies over how they are approaching the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the US deputy envoy Robert Wood said Washingtons plans would be unveiled in the coming days and would require a real and effective mechanism enforcing the blue line, the UN-drawn provisional border between Israel and Lebanon. We are working with other countries on a proposal that we hope will lead to calm, discussions and diplomatic solutions, he said. Advertisement In response to this, Araghchi told UNSC that the US and UKs unwavering support for Israel has given them carte blanche for all sorts of sinister behaviour. Without a ceasefire in Gaza there will be no guarantee for peace in the region, he added. The international community cannot afford to remain silent the UN security council must shoulder its responsibility and respond decisively. With inputs from agencies. Israel strikes have killed more than 630 people in Lebanon since Monday, about a quarter of them women and children. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of projectiles towards Israel over the past week, including a surface-to-surface missile toward Tel Aviv that was intercepted Wednesday. read more An emergency worker cuts concrete blocks as he searches for survivors at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in the town of Maisara, north of Beirut, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.- AP Twenty-three Syrian refugees were killed in east Lebanon after the Israeli military said it hit Hezbollah targets in the area. An Israeli enemy strike on the village of Yunin killed 20 people, including 19 Syrian nationals, the health ministry said in a statement, raising an earlier toll of nine dead. Lebanons state-run news agency Thursday quoted the villages mayor Ali Kassas as saying that the bodies of 23 Syrian citizens were pulled out from under the rubble, adding that four other Syrians and four Lebanese were wounded in the same airstrike late Wednesday in the village of Younine. Advertisement Israel on Thursday categorically rejected a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, spearheaded by its key ally, the United States. Instead, Israel reaffirmed its commitment to persist in its military campaign against Hezbollah militants until achieving victory. The Israeli military has intensified its aerial bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, backed by Iran, resulting in hundreds of casualties this week. Meanwhile, the militant group has retaliated with intense rocket fire. There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on social media platform X. Moments earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office issued a statement saying he had not even responded to the truce proposal, and that he had ordered the military to continue the fighting with full force. The United States, France and other allies issued a joint statement calling for a 21-day halt in the fighting, after President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The situation in Lebanon has become intolerable and is in nobodys interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon, the statement said. Advertisement On the ground, there was no let-up in the violence. On Thursday, the Israeli military said it had struck approximately 75 terror targets in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon and the south, both Hezbollah bastions that have seen a huge exodus people fleeing their homes in recent days. One strike on the town of Yunin near the ancient city of Baalbek killed at least 20 people, Lebanons health ministry said, with the official National News Agency describing the bombing of the area as the most violent of recent days. It was indescribable, it was one of the worst nights weve lived through. You think theres just a second between life and death, said Fadia Rafic Yaghi, 70, who owns a shop in Baalbek. Advertisement The Israeli military also said around 45 rockets had been fired from Lebanon, adding that some had been intercepted while others had landed in unpopulated areas. Hezbollah said that it had again targeted defence industry complexes near the city of Haifa in northern Israel, saying it was defending Lebanon and its people. Israeli strikes killed at least 558 people on Monday by far the deadliest day of violence in Lebanon not just in the latest escalation, but since the 1975-1990 civil war. For many on both sides of the border, the violence has sparked bitter memories of the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. Advertisement According to the UN, Israels bombardment of Lebanon had by Wednesday forced 90,000 people to flee their homes in traditional Hezbollah strongholds to safer areas elsewhere in the tiny Mediterranean country. On Thursday, two Syrian security sources told AFP more than 22,000 people had crossed the Lebanese border into Syria this week, most of them Syrians. The Lebanese health minister said Israeli strikes killed more than 72 people Wednesday. That raised the death toll since Monday to more than 630, with more than 2,000 people wounded, and thousands in southern Lebanon seeking refuge. The United Nations says over 90,000 people have been displaced by five days of Israeli strikes on Lebanon, bringing the total to 200,000 people who have been displaced in Lebanon since Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas after it stormed into Israel, sparking the Israel-Hamas war. Advertisement Syrian pro-government media outlets say Israels air force has carried out airstrikes along the Lebanon-Syria border, wounding five people and destroying a bridge that links the countries. Syrias Sham FM radio station and Dama Post reported that the airstrike wounded five people and destroyed the bridge near the Matraba border crossing on the Lebanese side in the northeastern Hermel region. Lebanons state-run National News Agency reported several Israeli airstrikes in Hermel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used to transfer weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza for nearly a year are urging Israel to ensure than any possible cease-fire deal with Hezbollah includes provisions for the war in Gaza. Gil Dickmann, whose cousin, Carmel Gat, was kidnapped and was one of six Israelis killed in Hamas tunnels in August, said the families of the hostages are feeling forgotten as attention shifts to the northern front. We know that these things are connected to each other, the northern part and the southern part, theyre all part of the same large situation in which we are at from October 7th on. And were very worried that if we dont make the right decisions now, we will miss this amazing opportunity to get the hostages out, Dickmann said on Thursday. He slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for missing multiple opportunities to free his cousin over the past 11 months and begged him to agree to a cease-fire with both Hezbollah and Hamas that would include provisions for the hostages. Dickmanns sister-in-law, Yarden Roman-Gat, was released in the week-long cease-fire deal last November, along with nearly 100 other hostages. Hamas-led militants abducted some 250 people during their Oct. 7 attack in Israel in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza since then. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cease-fire called on by the United States, France and other allies is only a proposal, and that Netanyahu, who is on a flight en route to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly, has not responded to it. The U.S. and its allies jointly called Wednesday for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon in recent days. Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who is the acting prime minister during Netanyahus trip abroad, said there will be no cease-fire in the north, vowing to continue the fighting in the north with full force until victory and returning the tens of thousands of Israeli citizens evacuated from their homes. Netanyahus office added that the Israeli military was continuing to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. An Israeli airstrike on a village in northeast Lebanon destroyed a building housing Syrian workers, killing 23 of them and wounding another eight people. State-run National News Agency quoted the villages mayor Ali Kassas as saying that the bodies of 23 Syrian citizens were pulled out from under the rubble, adding that four other Syrians and four Lebanese were wounded in the same airstrike late Wednesday in the village of Younine, just north of the ancient city of Baalbek in Lebanons eastern Bekaa Valley that borders Syria. The Lebanese Red Cross said it evacuated the bodies of nine people following the airstrike. Others were taken by Hezbollahs paramedic arm as well as the Lebanese Civil Defense, NNA said. A country of about 6 million people, Lebanon hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. The Israeli military says it struck 75 sites overnight across southern and eastern Lebanon, part of a punishing air campaign in response to Hezbollah rocket fire. The military said Thursday it was targeting Hezbollah military infrastructure, including weapons storage facilities and rocket launchers. Around half a dozen Israelis have been wounded in the latest escalation. The Israeli military said around 45 projectiles were fired from Lebanon on Thursday, all of them either intercepted or falling in open areas. There were no reports of casualties or damage. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel after Hamas Oct. 7 attack ignited the war in Gaza, hoping to pin down Israeli forces. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are close allies of Iran. The fighting has driven tens of thousands of people from their homes on both sides of the border. Israel has vowed to do whatever is necessary to allow its citizens to return, and has moved thousands of troops to the northern border in preparation for what could be a ground campaign into southern Lebanon. The United States, France and other allies jointly called for an immediate 21-day cease-fire in the conflict to provide space for diplomacy as fears grow that the violence could become an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, which would further destabilize a region already shaken by the war in Gaza. Britain says its sending $6.7 million worth of humanitarian assistance, including medical supplies, hygiene kits and fuel to Lebanon to support the civilian population there as fighting forces thousands to flee their homes. The United Kingdom said in a statement that the United Nations agency for children, UNICEF, will distribute the supplies, which will also help aid workers better deal with urgent health and nutrition needs. The UK earlier announced that 700 troops, including Border Force and Foreign Office officials, would be deployed to a British military base in Cyprus to prepare for possible evacuations of British citizens from the region as fighting could potentially escalate. An online portal and phone line have been reopened for British nationals in Lebanon to register their presence. Cyprus is situated approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) west of the Lebanese capital. The east Mediterranean island nation served as a waystation for the repatriation of approximately 60,000 foreign nationals who where evacuated from Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Britains Minister of State for Development, Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds, said the U.K. will continue to support Lebanese people as it urges British nationals to leave the country. British navy ships RFA Mounts Bay and the HMS Duncan were already in the eastern Mediterranean on Thursday, while the Royal Air Force has aircraft and transport helicopters on standby to provide support if needed. The United States, France and other allies called Wednesday for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon in recent days. The joint statement, negotiated on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, says the recent fighting is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. We call for an immediate 21-day cease-fire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy, the statement reads. We call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary cease-fire immediately. The signatories include the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. With inputs from agencies. The recent voyages did not sit well with China. As per the reports, 5 Chinese warships reportedly surrounded the two vessels. Meanwhile, the Japanese destroyer JS Sazanamis passed through the contentious Strait as well read more People stand near a building overlooking the Taiwan Strait, at the 68-nautical-mile scenic spot, one of mainland China's closest points to the island of Taiwan, in Pingtan island, Fujian province, China. File image/ Reuters After Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer, naval vessels from Australia and New Zealand sailed through the highly contentious Taiwan Strait. According to the Taiwan News, the three vessels sailed on Wednesday, September 25. This is the first time Australian and New Zealand vessels have transited through the Taiwan Strait together in 22 years. The recent voyages did not sit well with China. As per the reports, 5 Chinese warships reportedly surrounded the two vessels. Meanwhile, the Japanese destroyer JS Sazanamis passage through the contentious Strait on Wednesday. This is the first time in history, that the JMSDF vessel sailed through the region. Advertisement The transits also came just days after US President Joe Biden hosted the Quad Leaders Summit in Delaware. Which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida. The Aus, NZ keep a close eye According to Taiwan News, a missile destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy, the HMAS Sydney (DDG 42), and the supply ship HMNZS Endeavour (A11) of the Royal New Zealand Navy navigated from north to south in the strait. On September 13, the German Navy frigate Baden-Wurttemberg (F222) passed through the region with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) activated. The AIS allowed the world to navigate to track the movement over the vessel. However, this time, neither Australia nor New Zealand warships activated their AIS, making it difficult to determine their exact speed and location. As per the report, the Royal Australian Navy missile destroyer entered the northern entrance of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday afternoon and sailed east of the median line. The Peoples Liberation Army Navy dispatched five naval vessels in the morning to monitor the area, positioned both west and east of the median line. After the Royal New Zealand Navy ship entered the strait, the five Chinese warships reportedly surrounded the Australian and New Zealand vessels, conducting close surveillance. Meanwhile, Taiwans Ministry of National Defence stated that it is closely monitoring the situation. With inputs from agencies. Frequent government changes make it difficult for Japanese leaders to tackle long-term policy goals or develop trusted relations with other leaders. Japans diplomatic and security policies, though, will continue to be based on its key alliance with the United States. read more A poster showing portraits of candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday | REUTERS The Liberal Democratic Partys presidential election is set for Friday, with three key contenders vying for leadership in a race to determine Japans next prime minister. Former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, 67, economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, and former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, have emerged as front-runners. With nine candidates in the field, a runoff between the top two is expected if no one secures a majority in the initial round. Ishiba, Takaichi, and Koizumi have garnered strong backing from the 368 LDP parliamentarians and the 368 votes from rank-and-file party members. Advertisement The vote is limited to LDP lawmakers and 1.1 million grassroots members. Thats less than 1% of the countrys eligible voters. No candidate is expected to win a majority in the first round of voting because of split votes, so the winner will probably be determined in a runoff between the top two vote-getters. LDP leadership votes used to be determined by the partys powerful faction leaders, but experts say that may change this time because all but one of the six factions have announced their dissolution following the partys corruption scandals. The vote is crucial for the LDP, which seeks a leader who can revive public support for the party after scandals that hurt Kishidas popularity. Experts told news agency Associated Press that this election could return to an era similar to the early 2000s, when revolving door leadership changes and political instability ended only with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abes eight-year reign. This is because the new leader will lack stable backing by powerful factions. Kishidas three-year leadership stint followed Yoshihide Suga, who had one year in power before he was forced to resign over his unpopular handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. With less influence from factions, the prime minister can exercise more power, but stability depends on support ratings, said Yu Uchiyama, University of Tokyo politics professor. The question is whether the next prime minister can decisively carry out political reform. A new leader will also have to deal with soaring military, child care and climate change costs, he said. Advertisement The most damaging scandal centers on the failure of dozens of the partys most influential members to report political donations. That led to the indictment of several lawmakers, their aides and accountants. Kishidas party has tightened political funds laws and conducted an internal investigation, but critics say the measures werent enough. I foresee a continued stagnation in the political situation, with the LDP repeatedly changing faces, said Chiyako Sato, a political editorial writer for the Mainichi newspaper. With inputs from agencies. Days before Claudia Sheinbaum takes oath as Mexicos first woman president on October 1, thousands of relatives, students and other protesters are expected to march through Mexico City shouting their slogan: Alive they took them! Alive we want them! read more In this aerial view people belonging to collectives of missing persons march during a march on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on August 30, 2024. AFP Relatives of 43 Mexican students presumed to have been massacred will take to the streets on Thursday for an emotionally charged protest marking the 10th anniversary of a tragedy that shocked the nation. The case, one of the violence-plagued countrys worst human rights atrocities, has become emblematic of a missing persons crisis that has seen more than 100,000 people disappear. A decade later, we are still far from knowing the truth and the students whereabouts, said Vidulfo Rosales, a lawyer for the families. Days before Claudia Sheinbaum takes oath as Mexicos first woman president on October 1, thousands of relatives, students and other protesters are expected to march through Mexico City shouting their slogan: Alive they took them! Alive we want them! Advertisement But 10 years later, the focus has turned to finding the students remains as well as the truth about who was responsible, in a nation where criminal violence has claimed more than 450,000 lives since 2006. So far, the remains of only three of the missing students from the Ayotzinapa rural teacher training college in the southern state of Guerrero have been found and identified. The families hold the ruling left-wing party of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador a close ally of Sheinbaum responsible for the failure to locate the remainder. We believe this president lied to us. This president deceived us, Maria Elena Guerrero, the mother of one of the missing, said at one of a series of events marking the somber anniversary. Hilda Hernandez, whose son also disappeared, said the authorities are trying to wear down the parents, hoping they forget. But despite every attempt to divide and discredit, without rest or reprieve the parents continue to demand truth, justice and accountability, she said. President defends record Lopez Obrador defended his record in a letter sent to parents this week that underscored the prosecution of 151 people including 16 military personnel and the imprisonment of 120 people, as well as searches of hundreds of sites. Advertisement There is no evidence that the army participated in the disappearance of the young people, Lopez Obrador said at a news conference Wednesday, adding that military commanders had cooperated in the investigation. The students from the Ayotzinapa college whose members have a history of political activism had commandeered buses to travel to a demonstration in Mexico City when they went missing. Investigators believe they were abducted by a drug cartel with the help of corrupt police, although exactly what happened next is unclear. The so-called historical truth an official version of the case presented in 2015 under then-president Enrique Pena Nieto was widely discredited, notably the theory that the remains were incinerated at a garbage dump. Advertisement In 2022, a truth commission set up by Lopez Obradors government branded the case a state crime and said the military shared responsibility, either directly or through negligence. The commission found that the army was aware of what was happening and had real-time information about the kidnapping and disappearance. One theory it put forward was that cartel members targeted the students because they had unknowingly taken a bus with drugs hidden inside. On Tuesday, protesters demonstrated outside the Senate, throwing firecrackers to express the anger also voiced by frustrated relatives. For many of us, these 10 years represent impunity, injustice and a lack of commitment, seriousness and significant progress in this investigation, said Meliton Ortega, whose nephew is one of the missing. We invite ethnic armed groups, terrorist insurgent groups, and terrorist PDF groups which are fighting against the state to give up terrorist fighting and communicate with us," the junta said read more The military junta in Myanmar extended an invitation to armed groups for talks following several defeats on the battlefield. AFP Myanmars military junta on Thursday (September 26) extended an unexpected invitation to armed groups opposing its rule, calling for an end to fighting and the start of peace talks, after three and a half years of intense conflict. The offer comes as the military faces significant setbacks on the battlefield, losing ground to ethnic minority armed groups and pro-democracy Peoples Defence Forces (PDF) that emerged in response to the juntas 2021 coup. Advertisement We invite ethnic armed groups, terrorist insurgent groups, and terrorist PDF groups which are fighting against the state to give up terrorist fighting and communicate with us to solve political problems politically, the junta said in a statement. A human rights abyss The United Nations warned last week that Myanmar was descending into a human rights abyss, highlighting widespread torture inflicted on detainees by the military. In addition to the ongoing conflict, the junta is grappling with the devastation left by Typhoon Yagi, which has caused severe flooding, leaving more than 400 people dead and hundreds of thousands in urgent need of assistance. Unfulfilled promise of elections The military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyis elected civilian government in February 2021, sparking nationwide protests that were violently suppressed. In response, civilians formed PDFs to resist the military, while ethnic minority groups that have long fought against the military regime renewed their efforts, pushing the country deeper into civil war. Since the coup, more than 5,700 civilians have been killed and over 20,000 arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local watchdog group. The junta, which justified its coup by levelling fraud allegations on the 2020 election won by Suu Kyis party, has repeatedly promised to hold fresh elections once the country stabilises. Advertisement So far, there have not been any indications of serious preparations in holding fresh polls. With inputs from AFP Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not even responded to the US-French proposal for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, said Israel PMs Office read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied the existence of any ceasefire Israel and Hezbollah. Instead, Netanyahu said he has instructed the Israeli military to continue fighting the Iran-backed and Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah with full force. Netanyahus rejection of any ongoing ceasefire efforts with Hezbollah comes after the United States and France floated a ceasefire proposal to contain the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah. There were reports that a 21-day ceasefire in line with the proposal was imminent. Advertisement Rejecting such reports, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) said that Netanyahu has not even responded to the proposal. The news about a ceasefire not true. This is an American-French proposal to which the Prime Minister did not even respond, said the Israeli PMO. : - . -, . . , . , Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) September 26, 2024 One official told the newspaper that diplomats had conversations with both the Israeli and Lebanese governments and were hopeful they would accept the proposal for a cease-fire in the coming hours. Now, Netanyahu has not just rejected the peace proposal, but has vowed to continue attacking Hezbollah. He also refused reports that he has asked the military to tone down the assaults. The news about the supposed directive to moderate the fighting in the north is also the opposite of the truth. The Prime Minister instructed the IDF to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to him. Also, the fighting in Gaza will continue until all the goals of the war are achieved, said Netanyahu. Advertisement Previously, The New York Times had reported officials as saying that Israel had reacted positively in discussions over the past two days for a 21-day ceasefire with Hezbollah. The newspaper reported that the proposal was endorsed by Australia, Canada, the European Union (EU), Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. While endorsing the US-French ceasefire proposal, the leaders of the grouping said the proposed ceasefire would allow diplomatic efforts to succeed and enable civilians to return to their homes. The ceasefire proposal, announced after tense discussions at the United Nations on Wednesday, focuses on the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, with hopes of diffusing tensions and paving the way for a potential resolution. Advertisement Hezbollah has clashed with Israel on a near-daily basis since the October 7 attack of Hamas. The fighting along Israels northern region at the border with Lebanon has led to the displacement of several thousands of people. Over the past week, the fighting has intensified to the extent that now there are fears that the two sides may enter into a full-scale war that may destabilise the region further. Following the targeted attacks on Hezbollahs handheld communication devices, Israel has carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon on a near-daily basis. Earlier this week, Israel struck 1,600 Hezbollah targets in a single day in the most intensive strike since the Israel-Hezbollah War of 2006. Advertisement Netanyahus rejection comes after Israeli outlet Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu has ordered Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to lower the intensity of their attacks in Lebanon amid an international push for a ceasefire in the fighting. Another report by Channel 12 quoted officials at Netanyahus office saying that there is greenlight for ceasefire with Hezbollah. Even as Netanyahu has rejected the proposed ceasefire, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire proposal, though he emphasised the need for Israel to adhere to international resolutions to ensure the ceasefires success. Hopefully, yes, Reuters quoted Mikati as saying when he was asked if a ceasefire was likely soon. A Norwegian linked to the detonation of communication devices used by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been reported missing, prompting authorities to issue an international arrest warrant, police said Thursday read more Pagers on display at a meeting room at the Gold Apollo company building in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on September 18, 2024. Reuters File A Norwegian-Indian man linked to the detonation of communication devices used by Iran-backed Hezbollah has been reported missing, prompting authorities to issue an international arrest warrant, police said Thursday (September 26). The 39-year-old Rinson Jose is the founder of Norta Global, a Bulgarian company started in 2022 that was reportedly part of the pager supply chain. The company had last year declared revenue of 650,000 euros ($725,000) for consulting activities outside the European Union. Advertisement The company told the Verdens Gang newspaper last week that Jose has been on an overseas work trip since September 17 and that they had not been able to reach him. Reuters also reported that Jose disappeared while on a work trip to the United States last week. Oslo police had last week opened an investigation into his alleged links to the blasts. Norways National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos) told AFP that it had sent an international notice, without identifying the man. A missing persons case has been opened and we have issued an international search for the person, Mari Elise Bunaes Myhrer of the Oslo police told broadcaster NRK. Hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies detonated across Lebanon last week, killing at least 37 people and wounding nearly 3,000 in an attack widely blamed on Israel, which has refused to comment. Bulgarian authorities opened an investigation after Hungarian website Telex reported that Norta Global - a company registered in Bulgaria by a Norwegian - had imported the devices and then delivered them to Hezbollah. Bulgarias National Security Agency (SANS) later said the company had nothing to do with the delivery of the exploding devices, but Oslo police said they had opened a preliminary investigation into the information that has emerged. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The Pakistani operation targeted Taliban near the Afghan border seized weapons and ammunition read more Pakistani security forces killed eight militants in an overnight raid in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in the volatile northwest bordering Afghanistan, the military said Thursday. Troops also seized weapons and ammunition from the insurgents hideout after an intense shootout in North Waziristan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, it said in a statement. The military provided no details about the slain militants, including their affiliation. Such operations often target the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. Advertisement North Waziristan served in the past as a base for TTP and foreign militants until many were killed or forced out in multiple operations by security forces. The TTP are a separate group but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has emboldened the Pakistani Taliban. Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuaries in Afghanistan, raising tensions between the two countries. Pakistan wants the Afghan Taliban government to stop the TTP from using Afghanistan to launch attacks in Pakistan. Afghanistans government says it does not allow anyone to use Afghan soil to attack any other country, including Pakistan. The aircraft is co-produced by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and developed jointly with China, with whom Islamabad has grown increasingly close as ties with traditional military ally the United States have weakened over the last few years. read more Pakistans military announced on Thursday that it has signed a contract to sell JF-17 Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan. The aircraft, co-produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and developed in collaboration with China, with whom Islamabad has grown increasingly close as ties with traditional military ally the United States have weakened over the last few years. While the specific cost or number of jets involved in the deal was not disclosed, the military emphasised that the agreement reflects Pakistans commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with friendly nations and boosting Azerbaijans air power. Advertisement Pakistan is also a close ally of Turkey, which backed Azerbaijan in its standoff with Armenia when clashes erupted between the two South Caucasus countries last year, resuming decades-old hostilities. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev was in Pakistan in July on a state visit where the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in a number of areas, including defence. Following the visit, Pakistan deployed an air force contingent at Baku to participate in the Azerbaijan defence exhibition to showcase the aircraft, Pakistans military said. The aircraft is capable of undertaking a wide array of combat missions providing contemporary airpower employment options, the statement added. With inputs from agencies. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and well continue to stand by you every step of the way, Biden told Zelenskyy read more President Joe Biden meets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Thursday. AP US President Joe Biden met Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Thursday and during the talks on Kyivs victory plan against Moscow told the Ukrainian President that Russia will not prevail. Hours before their meeting, the US president had announced $8 billion surge in military aid for Kyivs fight against Russia. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and well continue to stand by you every step of the way, AFP quoted Biden as saying to Zelenskyy, who wore his trademark military-style clothes, in the Oval Office. Advertisement Zelenskyy replied that we deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side. Zelenskys visit, however, was clouded by a blazing row with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that underscored how Novembers US election could upend the support that Kyiv receives from its biggest backer. Zelenskyy is looking to shore up support for his war effort at the same time as Biden tries to lock in aid for Ukraine, ahead of the white-knuckle vote pitting Bidens Vice President Kamala Harris against firebrand Trump. This meeting between Zelenskyy and Joe Biden marks their 11th encounter and is Ukrainian presidents fifth visit to Washington since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ahead of the meeting, Biden had released a statement, saying, I am proud to welcome president Zelenskyy back to the White House today. For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my Administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail. Announcing more than $8 billion in military assistance for Ukraine earlier in the day, Biden said in a statement that the surge in security assistance for Ukraine would help Ukraine win this war. The aid includes the first shipment of a precision-guided glide bomb called the Joint Standoff Weapon, with a range of up to 81 miles (130 km). The medium-range missile gives Ukraine a major upgrade to the weapons it is using to strike Russian forces, allowing the Ukrainians to do it at safer distances. Advertisement The bomb, capable of striking targets with high accuracy, is to be dropped from fighter jets. Biden will not announce that Washington would let Ukraine use US missiles to hit targets deeper in Russia, Reuters quoted a US official as saying. Supporting Ukraine has been a US top priority, Reuters quoted Biden as saying in a statement. That is why, today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war, said Biden, who leaves office in January. The bulk of the new aid, $5.5 billion, is to be allocated before Mondays end of the US fiscal year, when the funding authority is set to expire. Another $2.4 billion is under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the administration to buy weapons for Ukraine from companies rather than pull them from US stocks. Advertisement According to The Guardian report, Biden has instructed the Defence Department to allocate all remaining security funding designated for Ukraine by the end of his term. Biden has also directed the Defence Department to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including support for training an extra 18 pilots next year, added the report. With inputs from agencies Rival tribes in Pakistans Kurram district are clashing over a land dispute. Efforts by police, government, and tribal elders to negotiate peace have failed, leading to food shortages, road blockades, and school closures read more Clashes between rival tribes in Pakistan has led to si days of violence and bloodshed. Reuters At least 36 people have been killed and 80 others injured in clashes between two warring tribes over a piece of land during the last six days in Pakistans restive northwestern Kurram district, bordering Afghanistan, police said on Thursday. According to police, the clashes started over a land dispute despite the efforts of the government and tribal elders to calm down the situation. So far, 36 people have been killed and 80 others injured in clashes during last six days, police said. Advertisement Locals, however, claimed much higher casualty figures. The fighting spread to areas such as Balishkhel, Sadda, Khar Kallay, Peewar and Maqbal in the district, which borders Afghanistans Khost, Paktia, Logar and Nangarhar provinces, which are considered strongholds of the ISIS and the Pakistan Taliban. In July, at least 50 people were killed and more than 225 injured in week-long clashes between Boshehra and Maleekhel tribes in the same region. A jirga (tribal council) consisting of tribal elders from both sides met with the Deputy Inspector General of Police and Commissioner Kohat to contain the clashes, without much success. The violent clashes entered their sixth consecutive day on Thursday, with fresh exchanges of heavy gunfire across Upper, Lower, and Central tehsils, resulting in six more fatalities and ten injuries. According to police, both sides continue targeting each other with small and large weapons. The intensity of the fighting has led to the closure of the Parachinar-Peshawar main road and the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border, disrupting transportation and movement. The road blockade has caused a shortage of essential items, including food, fuel, and medicines, worsening the situation for residents. Both private and public schools in the affected areas, including Parachinar City, have been closed for six days. Advertisement Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud said that efforts are ongoing for a ceasefire, with district administration, police, military leadership, and tribal elders working together to bring peace to the region. He said that the Jirga members had been dispatched to different areas to talk with stakeholders. Meanwhile, the Kurram Bar Association has moved a local court over the frequent tribal clashes and lawlessness, which has made the lives of the common people miserable. Kurram, a mountainous area in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that shares a long border with Afghanistan, has witnessed deadly conflicts among tribes and religious groups as well as sectarian clashes and militant attacks in the past. Advertisement The fighting in July turned into sectarian skirmishes and spread to other areas, including Peewar, Tangi, Balishkhel, Khaar Kalay, Maqbal, Kunj Alizai, Para Chamkani, and Karman. It stopped after the two sides agreed on a peace agreement brokered by Jirga leaders. We have confirmation that the Russians and the Houthis are in dialogue about ways to cooperate, including on weapon transfers, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York read more US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking takes part in a conference on Yemen's devastating war hosted by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 30, 2022, hours after the Riyadh-led coalition announced a ceasefire for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. AFP File The United States has accused Russia of discussing weapon transfers with Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels whose attacks on Red Sea shipping are holding hostage a vital commercial waterway. Speaking to AFP on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said Moscow was cutting its own deals with the Houthis to allow their ships to sail through the Red Sea unharmed. We have confirmation that the Russians and the Houthis are in dialogue about ways to cooperate, including on weapon transfers, Lenderking said Wednesday. Advertisement We dont know that weapons are being transferred as we speak, but its come to the point that were all sounding the alarm bell to make sure that this does not happen, he added. If the weapon transfers were to materialise, it could potentially change the conflict in a significant manner, Lenderking said, warning of an escalation that would derail already stalled efforts to end Yemens decade-long war. The notion that the Russians would provide the Houthis with lethal weapons is deeply alarming to the countries of the region, he said. Russia has been stepping up military relationships with Iran and North Korea, both under heavy sanctions, as it seeks to bolster its arsenal in its war in Ukraine. Russias relationship with the United States has deteriorated sharply since the invasion of Ukraine, with Washington leading the West in slapping sanctions on Moscow and arming Kyiv. Russia, however, has a cordial relationship with oil producer Saudi Arabia, which waged a military campaign against the Houthis and would be alarmed by any step to boost the insurgents. Advertisement Pressures and inducements The Huthis have been firing drones and missiles at ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November, saying they are targeting vessels linked to Israel, the United States and Britain in a show of solidarity with Palestinians over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Huthi campaign has killed at least four sailors and sunk two ships. One vessel the Galaxy Leader was hijacked in November and continues to be held by the Huthis along with its 25 international crew. The United States and Britain have been striking Huthi targets in Yemen since January in an attempt to deter further strikes. Advertisement Their efforts, however, have failed to slow the attacks that have disrupted maritime traffic in a commercial waterway that normally carries up to 12 percent of global trade. The US envoy noted a flurry of diplomatic efforts on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to curb the Red Sea attacks. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Yemen with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council in New York on Wednesday, Lenderking said. My team and I have been meeting with the Saudis, the Emiratis, the Omanis, and the Yemen government this week, he added. I think were all looking for what is the right set of pressures and inducements to encourage the Huthis to back away from the Red Sea, he said. Advertisement Our preferred outcome is diplomatic. When asked about Irans role in the Russia-Houthi talks, the US envoy said: Iran is always looking for ways to protect and amplify the interest of the Houthis. The increased high-level engagement with Russia and Ukraine in recent months has led to calls for India to have a proactive peacemaking role read more After more than two years of war, Ukraine is now counting on India to play peacemaker in the conflict with Russia, according to a report. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there have been multiple rounds of peacemaking efforts, but none has borne fruit. In the initial weeks of the war, talks between Russia and Ukraine were facilitated by Turkey and a draft peace agreement had also emerged, but talks fizzled out over Russian demands. Advertisement Now, as India remains the only major nation with constant open channels with both the countries, Ukraine has hopes with India, according to Politico. Despite Indias historically close ties with Russia, India appears to be open to a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine War that may be acceptable to Ukraine. So far, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said a surrender to end the war is not acceptable. He has also rejected proposals by Russia, which have also been nearly repeated by Donald Trumps camp in the United States, about ending the war with cessation of provinces. As India has cordial relations with both the countries, calls have mounted over time for India to play a major role in resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. India sympathetic to Ukrainian concerns: Ukrainian official Even as India continues to maintain close ties with Russia, which has drawn Western as well Ukrainian ire after the Russian invasion, India has been sympathetic to Ukraines concerns about the resolution of the conflict, according to a senior Ukrainian official. A high-ranking Ukrainian official told Politico that Ukraine is indeed counting on India regarding peace efforts. During his visit to Ukraine last month, Modi was clear in discussions that while Ukraine would inevitably need to compromise on some things for the war to end, any proposals to end the war should not include giving up territory to Russia, said the high-ranking Ukrainian official to the magazine. Advertisement Separately, Ukrainian Foreign Minister told Politico that India is a reliable partner and is a global force that can contribute to the peace formula. I can say that India is a reliable partner for Ukraine and it is a global force that can influence the dynamics and the course of events in the world and we want to see Indias participation in the peace formula process as India can make a difference," said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi. What we know of Indias role in Ukraine-Russia War In the wake of frequent high-level Indian exchanges with Russia and Ukraine, there have been reports that India may be playing a mediator behind the scenes. Advertisement Since the outbreak of the war, India has called for the two sides to engage and resolve the conflict through dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stated that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield. Following Modis visit to Ukraine, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval travelled earlier this month to Kyiv and met his counterpart Sergei Shoigu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The PTI reported that the talks between Modi and Zelenskyy the previous month had figured in Dovals talks. Previously, the NDTV had reported sources as saying that Doval was scheduled to meet top Russian officials and present a peace proposal outlined by Modi. The sources said that Doval would present the proposal to Putin. Advertisement After Modi returned from Kyiv last month, he held talks with Putin over phone and it was during that conversation that it was decided that Doval would travel to Russia for talks regarding the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine War, according to NDTV. After Dovals talks with Shoigu and Putin, Hindustan Times reported that Doval indeed carried a message from Modi to Putin regarding the Ukraine war. The newspaper reported that Doval told Putin that Modi was keen to brief him regarding Ukraine and had dispatched him as a messenger. He [Modi] was keen to brief you about his visit to Ukraine and his meeting with President Zelenskyy. He wanted me to come especially and personally to brief you about the talks. The conversation was in a very close formatonly the two leaders. I attended the conversation, said Doval to Putin, as per HT. Advertisement The newspaper reported that Modi during his visit to Ukraine shared interesting ideas with Zelenskyy that had previously been discussed in July with Putin during Modis visit to Russia. Doval accompanied Modi on both of the visits to Kyiv and Moscow is deeply involved in the peace initiative which aim to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine, according to the newspaper. Helene, now projected as Category 4, is likely to get stronger as it makes landfall on Floridas northwestern coast on Thursday evening. Along with devastating winds, rain, and flash floods, the hurricane is threatening an unsurvivable storm surge in the states northwest read more A man pushes his bicycle through a flooded street after Hurricane Helene passed through Guanimar, Artemisa province, Cuba, Wednesday, September 25, 2024. AP Fast-moving Hurricane Helene is advancing Thursday across the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida. Along with devastating winds, rain, and flash floods hundreds of miles inland throughout much of the Southeast United States, Helene is threatening an unsurvivable storm surge in the states northwest. There is not much time left for people in its path to be ready for what might be the strongest hurricane in more than a year. About Hurricane Helene Hurricane Helene is expected to be a major hurricane meaning a Category four when it makes landfall on Floridas northwestern coast. Advertisement By Thursday afternoon, the storm is predicted to have winds of at least 130 metres per hour, but the hurricane centre warned that additional strengthening is possible in the hours leading up to impact. The centre of the hurricane where the most dangerous winds are is expected to make landfall around Apalachicola on Thursday evening. This GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken at 5:51 p.m. EDT and provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico, Wednesday, September 25 2024. AP The National Weather Service in Tallahassee forecast storm surges of up to six metres and warned they could be particularly catastrophic and life-threatening in Floridas Apalachee Bay. It added that high winds and heavy rains also posed risks. This forecast, if realised, is a nightmare surge scenario for Apalachee Bay. Please, please, please take any evacuation orders seriously! the office said. Early Thursday, Helene was about 680 kilometres southwest of Tampa and moving north at nine 15 kilometres per hour with top sustained winds of 137 kilometres per hour. Forecasters said it should become a higher hurricane, meaning winds would top 177 kilometres per hour. A man lights charcoal to cook dinner in his flooded home after the passage of Hurricane Helene in Guanimar, Artemisa province, Cuba, Wednesday, September 25, 2024. AP Its fury The storm formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea and intensified into a hurricane on Wednesday, swamping parts of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, flooding streets and toppling trees as it passed offshore and brushed the resort city of Cancun. In several areas of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, torrential rains submerged cars, while strong waves battered the shore. Advertisement More than 50,000 residents in the province of Pinar del Rio in western Cuba lost electricity as a result of Hurricane Helenes powerful winds. Helene was expected to dump up to 15 inches (38.1 centimetres) of rain in some isolated spots after making landfall in Florida, causing considerable flash and urban flooding, the hurricane centre said. Air traffic is already being disrupted by the hurricane, and this will only get worse as it gets stronger. FlightAware reports that about 800 flights have been cancelled for Thursday. The majority were leaving Tampa International Airport, which made the announcement on Thursday that it would be stopping all commercial and cargo operations. There is also a significant impact on flights from Fort Myers, Clearwater, Sarasota, and Tallahassee. Advertisement While Helene will likely weaken as it moves inland, its fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including in the southern Appalachian Mountains, the National Hurricane Centre said. One of the largest storms Helene is forecast to be one of the largest storms in breadth in years to hit the Gulf of Mexico, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach, as per The Associated Press. He said since 1988, only three Gulf hurricanes were bigger than Helenes predicted size: 2017s Irma, 2005s Wilma and 1995s Opal. Areas 160 kilometres north of the Georgia-Florida line can expect hurricane conditions. More than half of Georgias public school districts and several universities cancelled classes. Advertisement People traverse a flooded street on a boat after the passage of Hurricane Helene in Guanimar, Artemisa province, Cuba, Wednesday, September 25, 2024. AP According to CNN, the hurricanes wind field could be big enough to stretch from Washington, DC, to Indianapolis. For Atlanta, Helene could be the worst strike on a major Southern inland city in 35 years, said University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd. Landslides were possible in southern Appalachia, and rainfall was expected as far away as Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana. Federal authorities have positioned generators, food and water, along with search-and-rescue and power restoration teams. Preparing for the storm As of early Thursday, hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into south-central Georgia. The governors of Florida, Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas have all declared emergencies in their states. More than 40 million people in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama were under hurricane and tropical storm warnings, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement A life-threatening storm surge, devastating winds, and flooding downpour have already forced thousands of Floridians to leave, and almost the whole state is under notice due to the storms potential. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida urged people to follow their emergency plans and stockpile supplies, but cautioned that because of the storms size and pace, they should not evacuate hundreds of miles away. He said that in counties where a state of emergency has been issued, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has teamed up with Uber to offer free transportation to shelters for Floridians. The governor remarked, Remember, you run from the water, but you hide from the wind. Rain was already falling steadily in Atlanta on Wednesday evening as shoppers emptied shelves of water at a Kroger supermarket east of downtown. The National Weather Service in Atlanta issued flash flood warnings for much of the state. In Crawfordville, farther inland and about 40 kilometres northwest of Apalachee Bay, Christine Nazworth stocked up on bottled water, baked goods and premade meals at a Walmart. Wakulla County was one of several to issue evacuation orders. Along Floridas Gulf Coast, school districts and multiple universities have cancelled classes. In Cuba, the government preventively shut off power in some communities as waves as high as 16 feet (five metres) slammed Cortes Bay. And in the Cayman Islands, schools closed and residents pumped water from flooded homes. Charles McComb said he still found it hard to believe Helene would seriously impact the city, which is more than 400 kilometres north of the Gulf of Mexico. It would be really unique for it to hit so far inland, Charles said as he bought water, bread and lunch meat. He was, however, worried about losing electricity. I do live in an area where it doesnt take so much for the power to go out, he said. In Hernando County, located along the states west-central coast, the county commissioner told residents under evacuation orders to get out now. The county could see up to 12 feet of flooding from storm surge in the most significant forecast that weve come up against, said Commissioner Brian Hawkins. Another storm in preparing In further storm activity, Tropical Storm Isaac formed Wednesday in the Atlantic. The storm was expected to strengthen as it moves eastward across the open ocean, possibly becoming a hurricane by the end of the week, forecasters said. Isaac was about 1,115 kilometres northeast of Bermuda with top sustained winds of 85 kilometres per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami, which said its swells and winds could affect parts of Bermuda and eventually the Azores by the weekend. In the Pacific, former Hurricane John reformed Wednesday as a tropical storm and was strengthening as it threatened areas of Mexicos western coast. Officials posted hurricane warnings for southwestern Mexico. John hit the countrys southern Pacific coast late Monday, killing at least two people, triggering mudslides, and damaging homes and trees. It grew into a Category three hurricane in a matter of hours and made landfall east of Acapulco. It re-emerged over the ocean after weakening inland. Storms that strengthen quickly, like Hurricane Helene, are happening more frequently as a result of pollution from fossil fuels. With inputs from agencies Revelations of corrupt practices by a high-profile Democratic mayor are likely to fuel Republican attacks. The charges may also undermine the Democratic narrative of restoring trust in government read more Mayor Eric Adams is present during a press conference at City Hall in New York. File image/AP New York Citys Democrat Mayor Eric Adams was charged with bribery and fraud on Thursday (September 26). Federal prosecutors have accused Adams of engaging in a years-long conspiracy involving illegal foreign campaign donations, wire fraud, and accepting bribes, including from Turkish officials, in exchange for political favours. The 57-page indictment alleges that Adams accepted luxury gifts and solicited illegal contributions dating back to his time as Brooklyns borough president. Likely impact on the Harris campaign Advertisement With just weeks to go before the 2024 presidential election, this scandal that could prove embarrassing for Democrats on the national stage. These charges come at a crucial time for the Democratic Party, as its candidate, Kamala Harris, is locked in a tight race against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Revelations of corrupt practices by a high-profile Democratic mayor are likely to fuel Republican attacks, complicating the partys messaging in the final weeks before the election. The charges may also undermine the Democratic narrative of restoring trust in government, a key theme of Harriss campaign. Political ammunition in the final stretch of the campaign in the opponents hand cant be a good thing. It could raise questions about the Democratic Ppartys leadership and integrity in major urban centres. Adams response and the potential fallout Mayor Adams has strongly denied the accusations, pledging to defend himself and urging the public to wait to hear our side of the story. However, the investigation has already led to calls for his resignation, including from fellow Democrats like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who stated that Adams must step down for the good of the city. Adams legal troubles may also have ramifications for local politics, with progressive figures like Public Advocate Jumaane Williams poised to take the helm if Adams is forced to resign. This could shift the citys leadership further to the left, creating new dynamics in one of the countrys most influential political arenas. Advertisement With inputs from AFP The possibility of Donald Trumps second term has made European leaders uneasy as they fear he would pull the plug on support against Russian aggression and reduce the commitment to NATO read more The FBI is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of Donald Trump at his Florida golf club. Trump was not harmed in the incident. AP The possibility of Donald Trumps second term has not just made many Americans uneasy. Europes leaders are also concerned about disruptions he may bring. While concerns regarding the future of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), particularly in the face of expansionist Russia, have been raised for some time, now such concerns have spread to other multilateral organisations as well. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is particularly concerned about the future of the United Nations (UN) in a second Trump presidency, according to Politico. Advertisement Trump has long been a critic of the UN. In his first term (2017-21), he cut funding to the UNs HIV/AIDS programme, the population programme, and the Palestinian relief agency, and completely stopped funds to the World Health Organization (WHO). Starmer is concerned that similar scenes may play out if Trump wins the US presidential election in November. A British diplomat told Politico that there was significant concern that if Trump cuts or even stops funds to the WHO, it will become very problematic very quickly. Two other British officials told the magazine that Trump is erratic and you just never know what youre going to get. Richard Gowan, the UN Director at the Crisis Group, said that senior UN officials are pretty convinced that a second Trump administration would impose even more savage financial cuts. UN is not a friend of US For years, Trump has been critical of the UN. Upon becoming the president, he implemented the budget cuts. In 2016, Trump said that the UN was not a friend of the United States. I also want to say to you that I have long felt the United Nations is an underperformer but has tremendous potential. There are those people that think its an underperformer and will never perform, said Trump at the time. As Trump and his far-right Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have become increasingly isolationist in foreign policy outlook, the allies have been concerned that the US support in a second Trump term may dry for NATO and other alliances. Advertisement Trumps main contention has been that the United States is bankrolling NATO and European security. He has also refused to commit himself to the victory of Ukraine against Russia and has been critical of support to Ukraine. He has gone to the length of saying that if nations dont pitch in funds to his liking, he would encourage them [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want with these countries. Kamala Harris, in the past, has mentioned owning a firearm but she has mostly kept that quiet on exactly what kind of weapon she owns. Her boldly pro-gun stance just a month and a half from the November 5 US Presidential election has surprised many read more Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that US Vice President Kamala Harris would try to take away Americans' guns in violation of the constitution's Second Amendment. Source: AFP. Kamala Harris packs a gun and wants Americans to know it. Im a gun owner, the Democratic presidential candidate said last week in a forum hosted by television star Oprah Winfrey. If someone breaks in my house, she said with a chuckle theyre getting shot. Harris has mentioned owning a firearm in the past, but she has mostly kept that quiet in line with her partys emphasis on curtailing access to guns in a country that has grown wearily used to armed crime and mass shootings. Advertisement The former longtime prosecutor also remains mum on exactly what kind of weapon she owns. So her boldly pro-gun stance just a month and a half from the November 5 election surprised many including Winfrey. I probably shouldnt have said that, laughed Harris after her vow to shoot intruders at her California home. Experts, however, say that the sitting vice presidents revelation was no accident. Putting kibosh on attacks Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Harris would try to take away Americans guns in violation of the constitutions Second Amendment. The billionaire former president has been endorsed by the powerful lobby group, the National Rifle Association. Harris has not made any such threat. In line with most of her party, she only backs tightening of current laws for example requiring criminal and psychiatric background checks for all firearms purchases. Harris says she supports a ban on semi-automatic assault-style rifles, but no longer backs a mandatory buy-back program. And when she jumped into the US election after President Joe Bidens late, shock exit, Harris picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz an avid hunter and National Guard veteran for vice president. Kamala Harris wants to stop her opponents from branding her as anti-gun, said Joan Burbick, author of the book Gun Show Nation: Gun Culture and American Democracy. Advertisement The easiest way to do that is to announce she is a gun owner. Steffen W. Schmidt, professor of political science at Iowa State University, added: Its also very interesting she joked with Oprah that if anyone broke into her house shed shoot the intruder. Democrats have been seen as soft on crime. This kind of puts the kibosh on that line of attack. Balancing act Harris faces a difficult balancing act. About one-third of US adults and 40 per cent of households own at least one firearm. They reportedly include Trump, who according to US media owns three handguns. A concealed carry permit, however, was reportedly revoked by the New York Police Department after Trump was charged and convicted on 34 criminal counts for falsified business records. Advertisement Typically, gun owners are more than twice as likely to identify as Republican as opposed to Democrat. But these are tendencies, not absolutes, said Gregg Carter, professor emeritus of sociology at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Many Americans are also eager for better controls on access to powerful weapons. A Pew poll showed that gun regulation is the seventh highest concern for voters in November. Harris has the pro-controls voting block firmly in her camp already. The inroads she needs to make are on the other side. Because the election is so close this year all but a dead-even heat each party, each candidate, is trying to pull over a few more votes to its side whenever possible, Carter said. Advertisement Harris, who back in 2019 told reporters that she kept a firearm for personal safety while working as a prosecutor, thinks shell be on target. Im a good marksman, she once boasted. The US president also announced Washington would provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition, to enhance Ukraines long-range strike capabilities. read more Ahead of a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday a surge in assistance to Ukraine, including nearly $8 billion in military aid and new long-range munitions. Reacting to the development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the military aid, saying it would significantly bolster Ukraines efforts to triumph over Russia. In a social media statement, Zelenskyy vowed to utilise the assistance efficiently and transparently to achieve a shared objective: a victorious Ukraine and enduring peace and transatlantic security. Advertisement I am grateful to @POTUS Joe Biden, U.S. Congress and its both parties, Republicans and Democrats, as well as the entire American people for todays announcement of major U.S. defense assistance for Ukraine totalling $7.9 billion and sanctions against Russia. On behalf of the Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) September 26, 2024 The announcement came as Russias nuclear threats intensified and Ukrainian President Zelensky engaged in a heated exchange with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. This rift underscores the potential risks to US support for Kyiv in its conflict with Moscow, with the US elections outcome hanging precariously in the balance. Today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war, Biden said in a statement. However, the statement did not mention Kyivs hoped-for permission to launch US-made long-range missiles into Russia which Zelensky has been pushing hard for, and which Biden has so far refused. Russia has strongly warned against such a step, and President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced plans to broaden Moscows rules on the use of its nuclear weaponry, allowing it to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a massive air attack. Advertisement The Kremlin said the updated doctrine should be seen as a warning to the West. Kyiv has relied on the United States as its main military backer, and Zelensky said his country would use the new assistance in the most effective and transparent way possible to achieve our main common goal: a victorious Ukraine, a just and lasting peace, and transatlantic security. But the white-knuckle US vote on November 5, pitting Bidens Vice President Kamala Harris against firebrand Trump, means that support may now hang in the balance. Trump had also been due to meet Zelensky during his US visit, but their talks now appear to be on ice. Advertisement The Republican accused Zelensky on the eve of the visit of refusing to strike a deal with Moscow and once again questioned why the United States was giving billions of dollars to Kyiv. Biden will host Zelensky in the Oval Office at 1:45 pm local time (1745 GMT), the White House said. The Ukrainian leader and Harris will deliver remarks at 3:05 pm before their meeting in the vice presidents office. Zelensky was also due to visit the US Congress, after giving a defiant address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday in a bid to rally international support amid an increasingly difficult situation on the battlefield. Advertisement The Ukrainian has for several weeks touted the so-called victory plan he will present to Biden, but has given no details of his proposals to end the war, which is now in its third year. Biden, in his last months in office, also said he would convene a high-level meeting of Ukraine allies in Germany in October to coordinate the efforts of the more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. With inputs from agencies. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued to maintain that Israel has a legitimate problem to solve and blamed Hezbollah for continued rocket attacks into Israeli territory read more The United States objected to an effort led by France and the United Kingdom to secure a joint statement from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling for a ceasefire in the newly escalating Israel-Lebanon conflict. During the UNSC meeting, Washington actively avoided the suggestion that there was any equivalence of blame for the eruption of the crisis between the two nations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued to maintain that Israel has a legitimate problem to solve and blamed Hezbollah for continued rocket attacks into Israeli territory, The Guardian reported. Blinken reiterated his proclamation in a round of morning interviews. Advertisement While the US diplomat did not call for a ceasefire in Lebanon, he stated that a diplomatic agreement could be in place to deal with the crisis. Meanwhile, at the G7 dinner on Tuesday, both French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy actively called for a ceasefire to end the fighting that has led to the death of hundreds of people. US thwarts any effort for a ceasefire in a bid to appease Israel In an interview with ABC News, Blinken noted that it was Hezbollah which started the rocket firing into Israel, shortly after Hamas deadly October 7 attack. People who lived in northern Israel had to flee their homes - homes were destroyed; villages were destroyed - about 70,000 Israelis. Israel started responding. You have Lebanese in southern Lebanon whove also had to flee their homes. We want to see people get back to their homes. The best way to do that is through a diplomatic agreement - [one that] pulls the forces back, creates space and security so that people can get back to their homes, kids can get back to school, Blinken averred. The remarks from Blinken came after US President Joe Biden told ABC News that all-out war was possible. Were still in play to have a settlement that can fundamentally change the whole region, he added after the shocking remarks. During his address to the General Assembly, Macron made it clear that any escalation of the conflict needed to be prevented. There cannot be, must not be war in Lebanon, he said. Earlier, foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq said in a joint statement: Israel is pushing the region towards total war. Advertisement Amid the chaos, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib slammed the US and called their approach not promising. It will not solve the Lebanese problem. The US is the only country that can really make a difference in the Middle East with regard to Lebanon, the Lebanese diplomat exclaimed. With inputs from agencies. Several countries, including the United States, France, Britain and Germany, have thousands of nationals living or travelling through Lebanon. All have worked in recent months to prepare plans with Cyprus in case of a full-scale war. read more A man stands on top of a damaged car at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Saksakieh, south Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. - AP Western nations are considering evacuation plans for their citizens in Lebanon amid concerns of a potential full-scale war with Cyprus and Turkey being discussed as potential safe havens for tens of thousands of people if the conflict escalates. Cyprus is the closest European Union member state, some 264 km (164 miles) from Lebanon. It has been at the forefront of maritime aid efforts for Gaza and in the past was used to coordinate evacuations from Lebanon. Advertisement Cyprus processed around 60,000 people fleeing the Hezbollah-Israel war in 2006, and a potential Israel ground invasion into southern Lebanon with a response from Iran-backed Hezbollah of ballistic missiles and drones could mean mass evacuations from both Lebanon and Israel. We have requests from a number of countries, not only from the European Union but also from other third countries. We are ready to play this role in case of a need, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides told Reuters on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. We did it back in 2006 and we are ready to do it again, Christodoulides said. It is difficult but also it is our moral responsibility. Dimming hopes for a cease-fire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel will continue striking Hezbollah with full force and will not stop until all of its goals are achieved. Israel carried out a new strike in the Lebanese capital, which it said killed a senior Hezbollah commander. Netanyahu spoke as he landed in New York to attend the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting. At the gathering, U.S. and European officials were putting heavy pressure on both sides to accept a proposed 21-day halt in the fighting to give time for diplomacy to avert a potential all-out war. Hundreds have been killed in Lebanon this week as Israel dramatically escalated strikes, saying it is targeting Hezbollahs military capacities. Israeli leaders say they are determined to stop more than 11 months of cross-border fire by the militant group, which has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of Israelis from communities in the north. Advertisement Netanyahu said Israels policy is clear. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes. With inputs from agencies. Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, the Ashanti king, holds a highly respected role as the Asantehene and is often referred to as Nyame Kessie, meaning greater god, a title that commands deference in Ghanaian society read more A public dispute between prominent journalist Afia Pokua and the Ashanti king, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, has sparked widespread attention in Ghana, after Pokua criticised the monarchs influence and the political deference shown to him. In a recent interview on local broadcaster Onua TV, Pokua voiced frustration over the dominance of the Asante community and the respect paid to the Ashanti king by political leaders. Even the president bowed to show respect to the chief, BBC quoted her as saying. Advertisement Asante is not the whole of Ghana. If you are only thinking about Asante, they can amend the laws so that you can separate yourself from the rest of the country. The comments were not well received by the king or his supporters. Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, the Ashanti king, holds a highly respected role as the Asantehene and is often referred to as Nyame Kessie, meaning greater god, a title that commands deference in Ghanaian society. Royal historian Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka told the BBC that any criticism of the king must follow strict protocol. You go through the queen mother she is the only person who can rebuke him. If you dont go through the queen mother and do it yourself, youre in trouble, he said. Pokua, accompanied by elders, visited the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to offer a public apology, kneeling before the traditional ruler. The apology, broadcast on television, was rejected by the king, who reportedly asked her to leave the palace, telling her to take your cursed self and your troubles with you. Despite Pokuas earlier apology on social media, royal representatives stated that the failure to follow proper customs was the reason her apology was refused. Kantanka explained that for her apology to be considered, she should have first sought permission from the Agona traditional authority and brought her parents and representatives of the TV station that aired her remarks. Advertisement If the correct steps are followed, it may still be possible for Pokua to make amends, according to the historian. The unprecedented indictment of New York City Mayor Adams exposes not only his alleged wrongdoing but also the larger, insidious issue of foreign powers attempting to manipulate US political arena read more On September 25, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted in a significant federal investigation into his 2021 mayoral campaign. The charges, though still sealed, reportedly centre around his alleged connections with Turkish officials and businessmen, who are suspected of funnelling illegal campaign donations through straw donor schemes. Adams indictment marks a historic moment, making him the first sitting mayor of New York City to face criminal charges while in office, an unprecedented blow to his political career and his administration. Advertisement The federal investigation focussed on whether Turkish nationals, seeking to influence New York Citys political landscape, illegally channelled campaign contributions to Adams through construction companies with ties to the Turkish government, a report in the Politico said. Earlier this year, authorities seized Adams phone and iPad, an extraordinary move for a sitting mayor. Moreover, three of his aides faced raids by federal agents, further intensifying the probe. Despite the mounting legal pressure, Adams has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In a public statement, he dismissed the indictment as politically motivated and pledged to continue his duties as mayor. This scandal, however, casts a significant shadow over his administration and could jeopardise his chances for re-election in 2025. Expanding threat of foreign influence in US politics The indictment of Mayor Adams is just the latest example of the increasing concerns over foreign interference in US politics. For years, foreign governments and actors have tried to influence the American political process, sometimes successfully. The use of political donations, lobbying and even espionage has become a sophisticated tool for foreign actors to exert influence on US decision-making, often undermining national security and the democratic process. Campaign finance laws in the US are designed to protect elections from foreign interference, yet they are frequently exploited. The Adams case may reveal just how vulnerable political campaigns are to foreign funds, especially when routed through intermediaries such as businesses, straw donors or shell companies. In Adams case, Turkish nationals allegedly used these methods to inject money into his campaign, possibly with the goal of shaping his political positions on issues related to Turkey. Advertisement Such interference raises alarming questions about the integrity of the political system, particularly in a city as globally influential as New York. The Adams investigation may only be the tip of the iceberg, highlighting broader vulnerabilities in how political donations are monitored and the ease with which foreign actors can bypass regulations. Recent cases highlighting foreign influence In addition to Adams, several other cases have emerged, illustrating the ongoing threat of foreign meddling in US politics. One high-profile example is Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Sun was arrested for allegedly acting as an agent for the Chinese government, using her position to block access for Taiwanese officials and promote Chinese interests. Her case demonstrates how foreign influence can penetrate the highest levels of state government and policy-making. Advertisement Similarly, former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez was convicted earlier this year for accepting bribes from Egyptian officials in exchange for using his position to influence US policy in favour of Egypt and Qatar. Menendezs case drew widespread attention due to the scale of the bribes and the seriousness of the charges, which involved compromising US foreign policy decisions. These cases emphasise the growing concern that foreign governments are using financial incentives and other forms of influence to manipulate US politicians and government officials. The damage goes beyond mere corruption as it can affect international relations, policy decisions and even national security. Advertisement Risks of espionage and compromised officials Foreign influence in politics is not limited to campaign donations and lobbying, espionage remains a constant threat. Several high-profile cases of espionage have compromised US national security, often involving officials and public servants who were turned against their country. Perhaps the most notorious example is Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent who spied for Russia for over two decades. Hanssens betrayal exposed numerous US intelligence operations, causing irreparable damage to the countrys intelligence network. Hanssen was arrested in 2001 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Similarly, CIA officer Aldrich Ames provided Russian intelligence with the names of American informants resulting in their execution. He was arrested in 1994 and is currently serving a life sentence without parole. Advertisement More recently, former CIA officer Kevin Patrick Mallory was sentenced for selling US defence secrets to the Chinese government. Mallorys actions were motivated by financial gain as were many other cases of espionage. The common thread running through these cases is the ability of foreign powers to exploit weaknesses in the US systemwhether through greed, ideology or coercion. Broader implications for 2024 elections The timing of the Adams indictment is especially significant as the US prepares for the 2024 presidential elections. Allegations of foreign interference are already a major issue, with concerns that nations like Russia, China and Turkey may attempt to influence the outcome. The Adams case is likely to be scrutinised in the context of these broader concerns as Americans demand transparency and integrity from their political leaders. As the 2024 election season intensifies, the indictment of a sitting mayor like Adams serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in the US political system. A call for vigilance Adams indictment, though still in its early stages, is emblematic of the growing issue of foreign interference in US politics. Whether through campaign donations, espionage or covert influence, foreign actors continue to pose a significant threat to American democracy. The Adams case serves as a critical reminder for US officials and voters alike to remain vigilant and ensure that safeguards are in place to protect the political system from corruption and foreign manipulation. Donald Trumps provocative remarks come after US intelligence warned of threats from Iran against his life after two apparent assassination bids in recent months read more Donald Trump claimed that he and the United States have been 'threatened very directly by Iran'. Source AFP. Donald Trump said Wednesday Iran should be blown to smithereens if the Islamic Republic is involved in the harming of a US White House candidate or ex-president. The provocative remarks come after US intelligence warned of threats from Tehran against the Republicans life after two apparent assassination bids in recent months. As you know, there have been two assassination attempts on my life that we know of, and they may or may not involve but possibly do Iran, Trump said at a campaign event in North Carolina. Advertisement If I were the president, I would inform the threatening country, in this case Iran, that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens, he added. Trump went on to say he and the United States have been threatened very directly by Iran and that a firm message needed to reach Tehran that there would be the most severe consequences should it be involved in plots to kill or hurt a US president or presidential candidate. The best way to do it is through the office of the president, that (if) you do any attacks on former presidents or candidates for president, your country gets blown to smithereens, as we say. Trump also said it was strange that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was in New York this week and accorded substantial protection as he attends the United Nations General Assembly even as news of the threats emerged. Also Read: US intelligence reveals real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate Trump We have large security forces guarding him, and yet theyre threatening our former president and the leading candidate to become the next president of the United States, Trump said, referring to himself. The United States is obligated to extend security to foreign heads of state at the General Assembly under its treaty with the United Nations and its own laws. Advertisement Credible intelligence Trumps remarks come as world leaders scramble to try to avert hostilities between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel escalating into a wider regional war. Iran has rejected accusations it is trying to kill Trump this summer, shortly after a gunman opened fire at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, killing one person and wounding the presidential candidate. Days later, Trump posted on social media that if Iran did kill him, I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth. In a highly critical report on the security arrangements around Trump at the Pennsylvania rally, a US Senate committee noted that the deployment of elite US Secret Service countersnipers was made in response to credible intelligence of a threat. Advertisement On Wednesday, the 78-year-old Trump suggested the would-be assassin in Pennsylvania had used potentially foreign-based apps, and that the alleged gunman in the second attempt in Florida had multiple mobile phones that Trump said US authorities have been unable to open. They must get Apple to open these foreign apps (and) open the six phones from the second lunatic, Trump said. Because we have a lot at stake. On Wednesday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland called the attempted assassination bids abhorrent. Our nation has now experienced two assassination attempts against the former President in just the last three months. That is abhorrent, he said. Advertisement The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy. And we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop. In August, the United States announced that it had foiled a plan by a Pakistani linked to Tehran to assassinate a US official in revenge for the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, killed in 2020 in a US strike in Iraq ordered by then-president Trump. US intelligence services have also warned of attempted cyberattacks on the presidential campaigns of Trump and rival Kamala Harris by actors it says are backed by Iran. The scandal severely damaged the political standing of former Prime Minister Theresa May, who had overseen immigration policy as Home Secretary during the period of enforcement read more A long-withheld official report released Thursday (September 26) has revealed that decades of discriminatory immigration laws, designed to reduce Britains non-white population, led to the wrongful detention and deportation of Caribbean migrants, known as the Windrush scandal. The newly published report, titled The Historical Roots of the Windrush Scandal, outlines how immigration and citizenship laws between 1950 and 1981 were systematically aimed at limiting the number of Black people allowed to live and work in Britain. Advertisement Every single piece of legislation during this period was crafted, at least in part, to diminish the Black population, the report found. The report highlights key immigration laws in 1962, 1968, and 1971 that were specifically designed to restrict non-white immigration, framing the scandal as an issue of deep-rooted racism in British immigration policy. It also details how Black and minority ethnic lives were profoundly shaped by the legacy of the British Empire. The Windrush scandal came to light in 2018, when it was revealed that thousands of Caribbean migrants, many of whom had legally arrived in Britain between 1948 and 1971 to fill labour shortages, were wrongly detained, denied rights, and deported under stricter immigration policies. The scandal severely damaged the political standing of former Prime Minister Theresa May, who had overseen immigration policy as Home Secretary during the period of enforcement. The previous Conservative government in 2022 refused to release the report, rejecting Freedom of Information requests. The document was finally made public by the newly elected Labour government. The report does not make any recommendations but illustrates the broader historical context, showing how Britains immigration policies grew out of the countrys colonial past. It also highlights how racial and immigration politics became intertwined over the decades. The report references the 1833 abolition of slavery, noting that the belief in Black inferiority persisted long after, influencing modern British policy. Advertisement Britain apologised in 2018 for its treatment of the Windrush generation and established a compensation scheme for those affected. With input from Reuters 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. International naval cadets leadership camp held in China Xinhua) 10:41, September 26, 2024 JINAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 60 cadets from over 20 countries are attending a leadership camp launched on Wednesday in Yantai, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province. The camp aims to create a platform for naval cadets to conduct exchanges, learn from each other and foster friendships. The cadets come from countries including Cuba, Nigeria, Indonesia, Venezuela, Myanmar, Vietnam and Singapore. Over six days, they will engage in interactive study and training, and an immersive cultural experience. The camp is organized by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy and hosted by the Naval Aviation University. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Utilities Engineer for the City of Aspen Phil Overeynder at the hydroelectric plant at Ruedi Reservoir. Releases from the reservoir in recent years have been too high in the summer and too low in the inter for Aspen to make hydropower efficiently. Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on September 16-22, 2024 Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-09-24 Security and defense policy On September 16-22 fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Detachment were scrambled five times to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. On September 16 fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Detachment were dispatched to patrol the Gulf of Finland and safeguard against two potentially incoming MIG-31 of the Russian Federation. The suspected Russian aircraft were identified by the Finnish control and reporting centre as an Aeroflot liner keeping a radio contact with the regional air traffic control centre of Tallinn, the NATO aircraft were notified and the scramble status was changed from alert to training. On September 20 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort one SU-30 flying via international airspace from Kaliningrad and back, it had no flight plan, the onboard transponder was switched off and radio communication was not maintained. On September 20 NATO fighter jets identified and escorted one SU-30 which flew into international airspace from Kaliningrad and then returned. It had no pre-filed flight plan, the onboard transponder was switched off, the crew was not maintaining radio communication. On September 21 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept four SU-30-SM and one SU-35 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace, without the flight plans, not maintaining radio communication, with their onboard transponders switched off. On September 22 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to identify and escort five MIG-31 in international airspace, flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia, without the flight plans, with onboard transpondesr switched off, not maintaining radio communication. Apart from that, on September 17NATO fighter jets were also scrambled to identify and uncertain aerial object crossing the border from Belarus to Latvia which was identified as a flock of birds and the alert scramble status was changed to training. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister L. Kasciunas to discuss terms of Lithuania's participation in a U.S.-led international operation during visit to Bahrain Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-09-24 International cooperation | Minister's news Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas departs for Bahrain to carry out discussions on the terms of Lithuania's contribution to U.S.-led multinational maritime security operations in the Middle East with the leaders of the Defence Ministry and the military of the country. Minister will also pay a visit to the Naval Support Activity Bahrain, base of the United States Fifth Fleet based in Bahrein and meet with Vice Admiral George M. Wikoff, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command/Commander, Fifth Fleet/Commander, Combined Maritime Forces. "The aim of my visit is to reach the agreements necessary for establishing the status of the Lithuanian military with the Ministry of Defence of Bahrain which is needed to be able to contribute troops to the U.S.-led maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian and Red Sea. The United States is a strategic partner so it is important that we send troops in response to the U.S. invitation to contribute to the maritime security efforts in the region. This is one of Lithuania's long-term aims," said Minister L. Kasciunas before leaving. Lithuania demonstrates solidarity with the U.S. and other Allies and is looking to join the international effort in support of security and safe navigation in the region of global strategic political and economic importance. The goal of the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain and led by the United States is to support the rules-based international order against illicit activities of non-state actors in international waters and to maintain security and stability in key maritime trade routes. The international operation aims to fight drug trade, smuggling, terrorism and piracy, and if necessary, to respond to humanitarian and natural disaster-caused emergencies. According to 2024 data, the Combined Maritime Forces includes 46 member states. Contribution to the U.S.-led international maritime security operation in the Strait of Hormuz is regulated by the mandate of the Seimas which allows to deploy up to 5 military and civilian personnel of the National Defence system until 31 December 2025. Currently there are 80 Lithuanian troops deployed across different multinational missions and operations, such as the NATO operations in Iraq and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, in contribution to the allied efforts to ensure peace and security in the Middle East. Lithuania marks the 30th anniversary since the first international deployment this year. More than 8 thousand Lithuanian military personnel from all Lithuanian Armed Force services have served in multinational operations in Europe, Asia and Africa since 1994. The active contribution and merits of the Lithuanian Armed Forces have earned high evaluation from the Allies and raised more than one generation of our troops on the invaluable experience. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Address by Gitanas Nauseda, President of the Republic of Lithuania, at the General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly President of the Republic of Lithuania September 24, 2024 Dear President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Over the last two days, in this very room, global leaders welcomed the Pact for the Future. Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to multilateralism, anchored in the three pillars of the United Nations - sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights. These are all great and noble principles that have defined the essence of the United Nations system ever since the end of the Second World War. Most significant global political developments, from decolonization to the end of the Cold War and the "singing revolutions" in Europe, have seemed to bring us closer to a bright future of peace, freedom and human dignity. While this international rules-based world order was never perfect, it helped us to search for joint solutions. For many decades, we have been trying to resolve multiple conflicts and crises and address emerging global challenges such as climate change, unequal development, food insecurity, terrorism, and illegal migration. And then, more than 10 years ago, something entirely different happened. A permanent member of the Security Council began military aggression against a peaceful member state. At first covertly. Then more and more openly, breaking ever more international norms. And finally, Russia started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, even though we face yet another distressing crisis in the Middle East as well as rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, the Russian war of aggression is the most dangerous threat. The entire international order, defined by sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, is under assault in Ukraine. Each and every member of the United Nations - every sovereign nation - has also much to lose. To fully understand what is presently at stake, we must all start paying attention to the words of Russian leaders and their representatives at the United Nations Security Council. How many times have they openly admitted that the Kremlin intends to wipe Ukraine from the face of Earth! If any sovereign nation is under the threat of complete destruction, no country is truly safe anymore. If the international community looks away and ignores the unpleasant truth, no country is truly safe anymore. And if mass killings, deportations and deliberate attacks on civilian population become the new norm, no country is truly safe anymore. That should be perfectly clear to anyone. That should disturb us all. Ladies and Gentlemen, What Russia presents to the world is a return to the era of imperial conquest, colonial domination and genocide. And I do not believe we are ready to follow this path. I do not believe any of us want to see powerful neighbors convincing themselves that from now on every dispute should be settled by force. Therefore, right now, Ukraine is fighting not only a war of self-defense. Ukraine is also fighting for the future of all those countries who believe in the United Nations Charter and its principles. Ukraine is fighting for us all! And yet our joint collective response to this day has been insufficient. We have not been able to stop this madness. We have not been able to force Russia to reconsider its dangerous course. We have not been able to hold it accountable for so many violations of the United Nations Charter! Why was that the case? Because to this day, the aggressor is hiding under the cover of the Security Council's permanent membership. Hiding in plain sight. Mocking every one of us with its unrestricted veto power. It is a terrible blow to the very credibility of the United Nations system. And still, we keep hearing some calls for Ukraine to surrender, to compromise on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, or to accept Russia's ultimatums. Why should the aggressor be rewarded? Why should appeasement work this time, when it failed so spectacularly almost 90 years ago? Why should the victim agree to the demands of the terrorist-in-chief, sitting safe in the Kremlin after so much bloodshed and loss of innocent lives? Ukraine is still fighting. Ukraine is still going strong, regardless of all the appeasers and doomsayers. And only Ukraine has the right to determine the actual conditions for peace. Meanwhile, we have the duty to support Ukraine. To restrict Russia's ability to wage war and ensure the accountability of those responsible for the crime of aggression and crimes against humanity. To reform the Security Council and to rebuild the credibility of the United Nations Charter. To withstand enormous pressure and win this war, Ukraine will need more military equipment, ammunition, medical supplies. Ukraine also urgently needs humanitarian and financial aid. This upcoming winter will be extremely difficult for the Ukrainian people. Constant deliberate Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure have destroyed more than 80 percent of Ukraine's thermal energy generation and a third of its hydro generation. To prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, our assistance should be swift and focused on the energy sector. Lithuania calls on other parties, including Belarus, Iran, North Korea, and China, to stop providing Russia with military support, including the transfer of dual-use materials. More arms for Russia means more civilian deaths. More civilian infrastructure destroyed. More chaos. There is only one path towards comprehensive, just and lasting peace - Ukraine's Peace Formula. It deserves universal support because it is based on the universal principles of the United Nations Charter - sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law. Lithuania urges all peace-loving countries to actively engage in these efforts, including preparation for and participation in the next Summit of the Peace Formula. The war could enter the end phase tomorrow if only Russia agrees to disengage and withdraw its forces from all the occupied territories. Ukraine does not want Russia's territories. It wants to liberate its own people - not Russia's. It wants to see prisoners of war and abducted children - thousands of them - returned. It wants the constant deliberate bombing of civilian infrastructure, of so many schools, hospitals, and power stations, to finally stop. To achieve lasting peace, more actions will have to follow. Justice will have to be served. Russia will have to atone for its many crimes and pay damages. The main culprits of the war of aggression and numerous war crimes will have to stand before the court. Vladimir Putin is already under an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for his crimes, specifically unlawful deportation and unlawful transfer of children. I call on the United Nations member countries to enforce this warrant. Immobilized Russian foreign assets should also be used to pay for the damage done to Ukraine. Finally, we must all join forces in pushing for a comprehensive Security Council reform. There is simply no place for Russia in the Security Council, which was created to maintain international peace and security. Excellencies, Lithuania hopes to witness Ukraine's victory soon. Until this becomes reality, Lithuania's position remains steadfast. We will not recognize Russia's illegal annexation of any Ukrainian region, be it Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, or Zaporizhzhia. We will not stop demanding that Russia ends grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Lithuania will continue providing shelter to Ukrainian war refugees. Lithuania will continue supporting Ukraine with all possible means. Ladies and Gentlemen, Today, as political divisions deepen and democracy seems to falter all around the globe, multilateralism remains our greatest hope. The United Nations has a crucial role to play not only Ukraine but also in the Middle East, Sahel, Horn of Africa, and the Indo-Pacific region. We, as representatives of the international community, cannot remain indifferent in the face of global crises. We cannot stay silent on breaches of international law and universal human rights, thus normalizing them. The pursuit of peace and justice requires our collective determination. It requires our unwavering adherence to the guiding principles of the United Nations. Now, as always, Lithuania is committed to promoting democracy, human rights and accountability on the global stage. We call on all the members of the United Nations to unite in securing a better future for all. A future where every sovereign country is protected from imperialism and every human being from arbitrary violence and war. Let us build a safer future together! Thank you. Gitanas Nauseda, President of the Republic of Lithuania NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President at the UN General Assembly: There is no place for aggressor countries in the UN Security Council President of the Republic of Lithuania September 24, 2024 President Gitanas Nauseda addressed world leaders on Tuesday during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. In his address, the President focused on the implications of Russia's war in Ukraine for global security and the failure of the international community to stop the brutal war in Europe, stressing the importance of restoring the world order based on international rules and the need to reform the UN Security Council. In his speech, the President stressed that the UN must play a more significant role in securing lasting peace in Europe. The President pointed out that more than 10 years ago, something entirely different happened that shattered the previous international order based on international rules: a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council began military aggression against a peaceful member state, violating an increasing number of international norms. According to the Lithuanian leader, this is a dangerous situation, the seriousness of which becomes evident through the statements made by the Russian leaders and their representatives in the United Nations Security Council. "How many times have they openly admitted that the Kremlin intends to wipe Ukraine from the face of Earth! If any sovereign nation is under the threat of complete destruction, no country is truly safe anymore. If the international community looks away and ignores the unpleasant truth, no country is truly safe anymore. And if mass killings, deportations and deliberate attacks on civilian population become the new norm, no country is truly safe anymore," President Gitanas Nauseda spoke. The Head of State pointed out that today Ukraine is fighting for itself and also for the future of all those countries who believe in the United Nations Charter and its principles. "Our joint collective response to this day has been insufficient. We have not been able to stop this madness. We have not been able to force Russia to reconsider its dangerous course. We have not been able to hold it accountable for so many violations of the United Nations Charter. All because the aggressor is hiding under the cover of the Security Council's permanent membership," the President underscored. According to Gitanas Nauseda, the duty of the international community is to support Ukraine, to restrict Russia's ability to wage war and ensure the accountability of those responsible for the crime of aggression and crimes against humanity, to reform the Security Council and to rebuild the credibility of the United Nations Charter. The Lithuanian leader emphasized the importance of support for Ukraine. To win this war, Ukraine will need more military equipment, ammunition, medical supplies, as well as humanitarian and financial aid, Gitanas Nauseda pointed out. The President called on Belarus, Iran, North Korea, and China to stop providing Russia with military support, including the transfer of dual-use materials, adding that more arms for Russia means more civilian deaths, more destruction and more chaos. The Head of State urged all peace-loving countries to support Ukraine's Peace Formula, which is grounded in the universal principles of the United Nations Charter: sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law. The President noted that in order to achieve lasting peace, more actions will have to follow justice will have to be served, Russia will have to atone for its many crimes and pay damages, the perpetrators of the war of aggression and numerous war crimes will have to stand before the court. According to Gitanas Nauseda, we must all join forces in pushing for a comprehensive Security Council reform. There is simply no place for Russia in the Security Council, which was created to maintain international peace and security, the President said. "I am confident that Ukraine will soon achieve victory. Until this becomes reality, Lithuania's position remains steadfast. We will not recognize Russia's illegal annexation of any Ukrainian region, be it Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, or Zaporizhzhia. We will not stop demanding that Russia ends grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Lithuania will continue providing shelter to Ukrainian war refugees. Lithuania will continue supporting Ukraine with all possible means," the Lithuanian leader spoke at the UNGA session in New York. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminita Odobescu in the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers Romania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press release 09/24/24 Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminita Odobescu attended on Monday, September 23, 2024, the informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU Member States. The event took place in New York, on the margins of the high-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. European foreign ministers had discussions on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the latest developments in the Middle East. The new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, was invited to the meeting, where he presented the current situation and called for increased efforts to support Ukraine, particularly at the military level, in order to counter Russian aggression. He also provided information on the reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian government and underlined the commitment to advance the accession negotiations with the European Union as soon as possible. Commenting on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminita Odobescu underlined the security risks posed by the repeated attacks on the Ukrainian population and civilian infrastructure, which are evidence of an irresponsible escalation by the Russian Federation. She condemned the violation of Romanian airspace and the attack by Russian forces on a merchant ship transporting grain in the Black Sea, showing that these developments threaten European security and constitute another flagrant violation of international law. The Romanian official stressed that, in these circumstances, it is essential that the EU continues to support Ukraine, at all levels, especially the military one. Minister Luminita Odobescu also stressed the importance of raising global awareness of the risks posed by the intensification of Russia's hybrid threats, which affect both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as well as the states of the South Caucasus. In this regard, she reiterated the need for the EU to adopt a new sanctions regime against Russia's destabilizing actions. The head of Romanian diplomacy stressed that a just and lasting peace in Europe can only be based on the UN Charter and international law, and in this regard expressed the support for the Peace Formula proposed by President Zelenskiy. With regard to the situation in the Middle East, the Romanian Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed her concern about the increasing volatility of the security situation in the region, both in Gaza and on the border between Israel and Lebanon, and reiterated the call for restraint on the part of all parties involved. She stressed that the priority for the international community at the moment must be to prevent war in the region. In this context, Minister Luminita Odobescu appreciated the mediation efforts of the US, supported by Egypt, and Qatar, aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, releasing all hostages and improving the humanitarian situation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bilateral Actions and Meetings of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, on the Occasion of Her Participation in the Plenary Session of the Summit of the Future (New York) Romania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press release 09/24/24 Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminita Odobescu delivered a speech at the plenary session of the UN Summit - Summit of the Future on September 23, 2024. The Romanian official presented Romania's perspective on the implementation of the Pact for the Future, based on the interdependence of the three pillars of UN activity: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. Minister Luminita Odobescu stressed that the rules-based international order must remain at the heart of Member States' efforts. She also referred to current global challenges such as climate change, managing the digital transition and misinformation, which require global solutions. All of these elements are essential in the collective effort to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. She noted that the adoption of the Compact for the Future provides useful guidance for the UN to adequately fulfil its role now and in the future. Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminita Odobescu also participated in a new G7+ Foreign Ministers' format meeting on support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The event was organized at the initiative of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, with the participation of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The meeting discussed the impact of Russia's recent attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and its current state of operation. Urgent needs and priorities for assistance from the international community were discussed as the cold season approaches. During her intervention, the Romanian official stressed the need to continue international efforts to support Ukraine, highlighting the consistent support that Romania has provided to the energy sector of this state, but also to the Republic of Moldova, since the beginning of the war. She also underlined Romania's commitment to working with international partners to find sustainable and lasting solutions to the effects of the war on civilians in Ukraine. In addition to the above activities, Minister Luminita Odobescu had a bilateral meeting with her counterpart from the Kingdom of Thailand, Maris Sangiampongsa. The Romanian Minister commended Thailand's decision to include Romania on the list of countries whose citizens can travel without having to obtain an entry visa for stays of up to 60 days. Both Ministers expressed their determination to work together to strengthen Romanian-Thai bilateral relations, both at the political level, through consultations at the level of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as at sectoral level, in areas such as trade and investment, the digital sector, etc. On the same day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the European Union. The main topics of discussion focused on the stage of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The objective was to coordinate European positions in the context of multilateral meetings in New York. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of State Antony Blinken's Call with Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson September 24, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth to discuss the strong U.S.-Mauritius partnership and our shared goal of enhancing security and prosperity for our people and the region. Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Jugnauth discussed ongoing formal talks between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on the status of the island of Diego Garcia and the surrounding territory which includes the site of the joint U.S.-UK military facility which plays a vital role in Indo-Pacific and global security. Secretary Blinken expressed strong support for the progress made in the ongoing UK-Mauritius negotiations, and highlighted continued close collaboration with Mauritius on a wide range of bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Roundtable On the Lobito Corridor: Supporting Transcontinental Connectivity US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Palace Hotel New York City, New York September 24, 2024 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. And to all of our partners from across governments, financial institutions, from regions around the globe, welcome. Thank you for being here this afternoon. Since 2022, the United States and other G7 members have been working together to finance infrastructure projects that support economic growth all around the world. We've been bringing together governments, business, financial institutions to pool our resources, to pool our expertise. And the goal, the objective, is to build quality, sustainable infrastructure - from roads to clean energy to fiber optic cables. We're doing this with the highest standards of transparency, labor and environmental protections, in partnership with communities, to make sure that we're being responsive to their needs. And just over the last two years, the United States has mobilized some $60 billion to support projects around the world, from South America to Southeast Asia to Africa. The Lobito Corridor - connecting Angola, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo - is one of our biggest projects. The ultimate goal is infrastructure connecting the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. The coalition that we've built includes three African countries, two of our G7 partners, and the Africa Finance Corporation and African Development Bank. We look forward to welcoming Italy, which has already made significant investments on the continent through its own Mattei Plan. So far, the United States and our partners have committed over $4 billion to Lobito Corridor projects. Together we're expanding access to clean energy, the internet, healthcare, and we're upgrading and building railways, roads, bridges. And we're already seeing results. It used to be that it took up to 45 days to get shipments to port by truck. Now, just a fraction of that time by train. Today, multiple international shipments are running every week - including to the United States - bringing, for example, copper, helping to fuel the clean energy transition. Regional shipments will soon include agricultural products to strengthen food supply chains. In January, I had a chance to visit Angola. I saw the benefits of this development firsthand. I heard from CEOs about investments they're making in the corridor, like developing solar grids to bring clean, affordable energy to more than a million people. Just moments ago, several members of the group announced new steps forward to build a railway connecting Zambia and the Port of Lobito, including: signed agreements between Angola, Zambia, and the Africa Finance Corporation to continue developing the project; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency providing more than 2 million in grants for environmental and social impact assessments to uphold standards, building on recently completed feasibility studies. Today, Tanzania is also joining conversations about the Lobito Corridor for the first time - something we very much welcome. This afternoon, we'll have a chance to discuss how we can expand the Lobito Corridor and also lay the groundwork for the convening of leaders in Angola, led by President Biden and President Lourenco. So I'm very eager to have this conversation, to get a chance to hear from our colleagues. This is an incredibly positive endeavor, one that's already showing results. But as I had a chance to see for myself, the possibilities are extraordinary. And the challenge before us is to continue the work to actually realize them. With that, thank you very much and I'll hand it over to you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza crisis reveals 'true nature' of Israeli regime, Iranian President says 24 September 2024 - The President of Iran told world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the past year revealed to the world the true nature of the Israeli regime. Addressing the general debate at the Assembly's 79th session, Masoud Pezeshkian, who assumed office in July, also expressed readiness to engage with the partners of the stalled Iranian nuclear deal. On the situation in Gaza, he emphasized that the world has witnessed Israeli atrocities, which "in eleven months has murdered in cold blood over 41,000 innocent people, mostly women and children." As Israel assassinated Iranian scientists, diplomats, and guests, Iran supported popular liberation movements of those victimized by the Israeli regime's crimes and colonialism, he continued. "We have been siding with the people across the world, who have flooded the streets in outrage against Israeli atrocities; we condemn Israeli crimes against humanity," he said, urging the international community to immediately stop the violence and establish a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. He also condemned Israel's "desperate barbarism" in Lebanon, warning that it must be halted "before it engulfs the region and the world." President Pezeshkian further noted that he campaigned on a platform focused on reform, empathy, and constructive global engagement and expressed his honour in earning the trust of Iranian citizens. "I aim to lay a strong foundation for my country's entry into a new era, positioning it to play an effective and constructive role in the evolving global order. My objective is to address existing obstacles and challenges while structuring my country's foreign relations in cognizance of the necessities and realities of the contemporary world." He emphasized that in today's globalized world, no country can attain security by undermining the security of others and called for a "new paradigm" built on opportunities and cooperation to address global challenges. Recalling the "historic" 2015 nuclear deal, he noted that Iran, under the Joint Comprehensive Programme of Action (JCPOA), had agreed to the highest level of nuclear oversight in return for the recognition of its rights and the lifting of sanctions. However, former US President Donald Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA represented a "threat-ridden approach" to politics, Mr. Pezeshkian added, stressing that unilateral sanctions targeted innocent people and weakened the Iranian economy. "We are ready to engage with JCPOA participants. If JCPOA commitments are implemented fully and in good faith, dialogue on other issues can follow," he said. "We have the opportunity to transcend limitations and enter a new era, commencing with the acknowledgment of Iran's security concerns and cooperation on mutual challenges," he said. Reiterating the destructive impact of sanctions, he emphasized that Iran is ready to foster meaningful economic, social, political and security partnerships with its neighbours and global partners, "based on equal footing." "The appropriate response to this message from Iran is not to impose more sanctions, but to fulfil existing obligations to remove sanctions, benefiting Iranian people and hence laying the foundations for more constructive agreements." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Qatar will continue to mediate for peace in Gaza, Amir Al Thani tells world leaders 24 September 2024 - The international community bears responsibility for its failure to stop the catastrophe in Gaza, the Amir of Qatar told world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, emphasizing that after almost a year of conflict, it is no longer tenable to speak of Israel's right to defend itself without being complicit in justifying their actions. Speaking at the Assembly's high-level debate, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani described the "blatant aggression" against Palestinians in Gaza as the "most barbaric, heinous, and extensive" breach of human values, international charters, and norms. "This is not a war as commonly understood in international relations, but a crime of genocide, by means sophisticated weapons against a people trapped in a detention camp, where there is no escape from a barrage of aerial bombing." Expressing opposition to violence and the targeting of civilians by any party, he stressed that "with all that has taken place and continues to be take place, it is no longer tenable to speak of Israel's right to defend itself in this context without being complicit in justifying the crime." The Amir said it was unfortunate that the Security Council failed to enforce its ceasefire resolution in Gaza and that it did not grant full UN membership to the State of Palestine, despite a General Assembly resolution. "The State of Palestine's full UN membership neither establishes its sovereignty nor ends the occupation, but at least it sends a clear message to the far-right government involved in challenging international legitimacy that force does not eliminate rights." In addition to its humanitarian efforts, Qatar has engaged in mediation alongside Egypt and the United States to end the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of prisoners and detainees. Despite challenges and attempts to obstruct these efforts, "we will continue our mediation to resolve disputes through peaceful means," he affirmed. The Amir also expressed concern over the escalation in Lebanon, particularly the targeting of communication devices with complete disregard for the identity or location of those affected. He also referred to other conflicts and crisis, including Yemen, Syria, Sudan and Libya, and the war between Russia and Ukraine, urging peaceful settlements of dispute, in line with UN Charter and international law. In conclusion, the Amir reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to working with international partners and the United Nations to strengthen peace, security, sustainable development, human rights, and the rule of law, to achieve a better future for all. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'We won't be silent as apartheid is perpetrated against others' - South Africa 24 September 2024 - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday told the UN General Assembly that his nation had benefited from a wave of international solidarity in the battle to end apartheid and usher in a new democratic era. In his address to Assembly's annual high-level debate, he said, "The South African story bears witness to the enduring role of the United Nations in global matters. In supporting our struggle, the UN affirmed the principles of the UN Charter - fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of every person, and the equal rights of nations large and small." With his country's historic struggle to secure a flourishing democracy in mind, President Ramaphosa emphasized: "We South Africans know what apartheid looks like [and] we will not remain silent and watch as apartheid is perpetrated against others" in Gaza as Israel continues its collective punishment of the Palestinians. He called for a collective effort through the UN system and other multinational institutions to end civilian suffering and for South Africa's legal action taken against Israel through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevail. "The only lasting solution is the establishment of a Palestinian State that will exist side by side with Israel with East Jerusalem as its capital," he stressed. On other issues, he said every effort must be taken to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine and the Sahel region, but that all requires a truly representative and inclusive Security Council. "The Security Council must be reformed as a matter of urgency. It must become more inclusive so that the voices of all nations can be heard and considered." He added that, "Africa stands ready to play its role in building a safer global order by participating in the work of the UN Security Council on the basis of respect and acceptance." President Ramaphosa said as part of the search for a safer world order, there must be greater cooperation between the UN and the African Union to resolve the root causes of wars on the continent. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'If we act together,' we can overcome global challenges - UN Assembly President 24 September 2024 - In a powerful address to the UN General Assembly, the 193-member body's President, Philemon Yang said the annual high-level debate "remains one of the world's most inclusive, represented, representative and authoritative platforms for global reflection of collective action". Emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to address pressing global issues, Mr. Yang highlighted the critical state of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that with only five years remaining until the globally agreed 2030 deadline, less than 17 per cent of the targets are on track. He also underscored the immediate threats posed by the climate crisis, which is impacting ecosystems and livelihoods worldwide. "The urgency of our task cannot be overstated," he said, calling for a united front against the escalating climate emergency. Call for ceasefires in ongoing conflicts The Assembly President then turned to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, Haiti, and Sudan, urging immediate ceasefires and adherence to international humanitarian law. He specifically called for an end to the violence between Hamas and Israel, advocating for the unconditional release of hostages and a two-State solution to ensure lasting peace and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis. Military spending and the rising nuclear threat Mr. Yang warned against the diversion of resources into military stockpiles, which he described as fueling an unprecedented arms race reminiscent of the Cold War. He reiterated the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons, calling for urgent measures to abolish these instruments of destruction. In his remarks, the Assembly President stressed the importance of dialogue and trust among nations, noting that old prejudices and new divisions hinder peaceful resolutions to conflicts. "Constant dialogue is a powerful weapon," he asserted, emphasizing that trust is essential for human dignity and lasting peace. Gender equality and human rights The President also addressed gender equality, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by women and girls worldwide who are denied basic rights and opportunities. He condemned forced labor and modern slavery, calling for a global commitment to combat these injustices. Reforming multilateral institutions Yang pointed to the urgent need for reform in the international financial system, as many countries grapple with crippling debt. He noted the widening digital divide, which excludes entire populations from essential resources needed for success in the modern world. Mr. Yang reminded world leaders of their collective responsibility to shape a better future. He referenced the recent Summit of the Future and the adoption of the Pact for the Future, which aims to reinvigorate multilateral institutions to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The world is at an inflection point but 'there's always a way forward', says Biden 24 September 2024 - United States President Joe Biden told leaders at the United Nations on Tuesday that with the world at a historical inflection point "our task, our test, is to make sure that the forces holding us together are stronger than those that are pulling us apart." In his fourth and final speech to the General Assembly, Mr. Biden stated, "The choices we make today will determine our future for decades to come." He also reflected on his more than 50 years in public life and counseled other leaders that "some things are more important than staying in power." While he sounded an optimistic note about the international community's ability to pull together to tackle global crises, he highlighted key problems that are yet to be solved. Indeed, the world "must not flinch from the horrors" of Hamas' 7 October attack on Israel, President Biden said and called for the return of the Israeli hostages taken during that attack and a ceasefire that will end the current conflict in the Gaza Strip. He underscored that innocent civilians in Gaza are "also going through hell, thousands and thousands killed including aid workers" and stressed that since 7 October, the United States has been determined to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire region. "Hezbollah, unprovoked, joined the October 7th attack, launching rockets into Israel. Almost a year later, too many on each side of the Israeli-Lebanon border remain displaced. Full-scale war is not in anyone's interest," said President Biden. He went on to warn that the world "cannot look away" from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but said "the good news is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war has failed at its core aim ... he set out to destroy Ukraine, but Ukraine is still free. He set out to weaken NATO, but NATO is bigger, stronger, more united than ever before." The US President also drew attention to the "bloody civil war" in Sudan, which he said has "unleashed one of the world's worst humanitarian crises." As such, he called for the international community to increase pressure to end the conflict. In the face of these and other challenges, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence, Mr. Biden asked the assembled leaders: "Will we stand behind the principles that unite us? Will we stand firm against aggression? Will we end the conflicts that are raging today? Will we take on global challenges like climate change, hunger and disease?" He argued that there is always a "way forward," and stressed: "Things can get better...We should never forget that. I've seen that throughout my career." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trust in UN's cornerstone ideals 'crumbling': King Abdullah II of Jordan 24 September 2024 - Addressing world leaders at the UN General Assembly, King Abdullah II of Jordan warned that the United Nations is facing an unprecedented crisis, one that threatens its legitimacy and undermines global trust in its moral authority. He noted that while the world has seen many conflicts over the years, "there has never been a time of greater peril than this." Even the UN is under attack, both literally and figuratively, with its sky-blue flag "powerless" to protect civilians from Israeli military bombardment, he stated, adding that its aid workers have been disparaged and targeted, and the opinions and rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) disregarded. "It is no surprise that both inside and outside this Hall, trust in the UN's cornerstone principles and ideals is crumbling," he said. This, he argued, is because many perceive that some nations operate above international law, global justice is swayed by power and human rights are selectively applied. King Abdullah II urged world leaders to reflect on the state of the world, asking: if nations are not united in their commitment to equal rights, dignity, and justice for all, what kind of world are they creating? While reiterating his country's condemnation of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israeli civilians, he said that the "unprecedented scale of terror unleashed on Gaza since that day is beyond any justification". "This Israeli government has killed more children, more journalists, more aid workers, and more medical personnel than any other war in recent memory," he said, noting also attacks in the West Bank and violations of the historical and legal status quo of Holy Sites in Jerusalem. "During this time, the Israeli government has been allowed to cross one red line after another," he said. "The world is watching, and history will judge us by the courage we show. And it's not just the future that will hold us accountable, so will the people of the here and now." He emphasized that it is the moral duty of the international community to establish a protection mechanism for Palestinians in the occupied territories, who have endured over 57 years of occupation and oppression. Nearly a year into the conflict, he stressed that while the world has failed politically, humanity must not fail the people of Gaza. Recalling his father's address to the fifteenth session of the General Assembly, he expressed the deep hope that world leaders will have the courage to act decisively and with urgency, as the crisis and their conscience demand. "My father was a man who fought for peace to the very end. And, like him, I refuse to leave my children, or your children, a future we have given up on." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of President Joe Biden's Meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh September 24, 2024 President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh to congratulate him on his recent appointment as the head of the interim government. Both leaders affirmed the close partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, which is rooted in shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties. President Biden welcomed further engagement between the two governments and offered continued U.S. support as Bangladesh implements its new reform agenda. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Washington Guard, Thailand Collaborate on Stryker Readiness By Peter Chang, Joint Force Headquarters - Washington National Guard September 25, 2024 CHON BURI, Thailand -- The 1st Battalion, 205th Regimental Training Institute, Washington National Guard, and the 112th Stryker Regiment, Royal Thai Army, strengthened their partnership during a Stryker maintenance exchange Sept. 7-19. The initiative in Chon Buri was part of the State Partnership Program, which enhances military capabilities and collaboration between the two forces. Since the Royal Thai Army fielded the Stryker combat vehicles, the 205th Regiment launched the Stryker Leader Course in Thailand. The course focused on operational effectiveness and tactical maneuvers. As the course progressed, the emphasis shifted to maintenance and logistics, critical components for maintaining unit readiness. "Operational training is important, but having a solid maintenance unit is equally vital for Stryker operators," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ricky Thomas, the exchange team lead. "We're working with their leadership and maintenance managers to identify ways to streamline operations. They currently lack some basic repair tools, and we are looking at ways to speed up parts acquisition and provide relevant training for fiscal year 2025." Training sessions have uncovered gaps in maintenance protocols and logistics, prompting discussions between Washington National Guard and Royal Thai Army leaders. The collaboration seeks to establish best practices in vehicle upkeep and supply chain management to improve overall efficiency. The Washington National Guard works closely with Thai soldiers, delivering hands-on equipment maintenance and inventory management training. "Our goal is to provide the tools, training and knowledge necessary for the NCOs and officer corps of the Royal Thai Army at the 112th Stryker Regiment and their support battalion," said 1st Sgt. Jacob Harrington, chief instructor for the 1st Battalion, 205th Regimental Training Institute. "If they require specific training, we can tailor our approach. Ultimately, it's about meeting their needs." This partnership enhances military readiness and strengthens the longstanding relationship between the United States and Thailand. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Address by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, at the plenary of the United Nations General Assembly Press and Information Office, Ministry of Interior, Republic of Cyprus 25-09-2024 18:51 United Nations, New York Madam President, Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, At the outset, I wish to congratulate His Excellency Ambassador Philemon Yang for his election as President of the 79th Session of the General Assembly. Rest assured, Mr President, of Cyprus' steadfast support for your mission. Your Excellencies, I humbly stood at this podium for the first time last year. My main premise then was that the United Nations (UN) Charter is not a reality. It is a promise. A sacred pledge that we inherited from our predecessors. From those who had the remarkable courage, the clarity of vision, to put pen on paper, vision to action, and to solemnly declare - Never Again. These great visionaries, who had the audacity to build peace upon still burning ashes of war, assumed the tremendous responsibility to look beyond the horrors of the past. To learn from history, no matter how painful, and to lay the foundations for a world anchored on peace and stability, respect for international law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. A world that leaves no one behind. hat ensures prosperity and human dignity for all. Burning like a torch, lit from those ashes, this promise was passed to us. Their voices are echoed in the halls of this building, which stands as a beacon and a symbol of the only path to the fulfilment of the UN Charter, which each and every state, each and every one of us, undertook to uphold - multilateralism and respect for International Law. Diplomacy, peaceful settlement of disputes, cooperation over use of force and aggression. Laying down arms. A world order that does not appease the aggressor, the violator of international legality. Ladies and gentlemen, Only a few weeks after last year's General Assembly, on October 7th, the world was shocked by the unimaginable, horrendous brutality of the terrorist attack against innocent civilians. No one was spared by the blindness and cruelty of terror that Friday morning. Women raped. Children killed and abducted. The elderly witnessing the burning flame of their loved ones; their future, extinguished before their eyes. Their screams penetrating their hearts, forever changing the landscape of their lives. Penetrating the conscience of humanity. There is never, ever, any justification for terror. There is never, ever, any justification for such blatant disregard for human life and dignity. No matter where it comes from, no matter whom it concerns. It concerns us all. When rape is used as a weapon of war against women and girls, when children are abducted, our voice needs to be loud, clear, united, unequivocal. Those are our daughters. Those are our children. And we failed them. Let me be clear - ours is a mission for the innocent. Innocence knows no country, age, race, nor religion. Human pain and human dignity is equal for all. And it must be upheld always, in each and every context. In the immediate aftermath of the October 7th attack, and as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated, the Republic of Cyprus acted. We acted on our moral responsibility to help the innocent civilians of Gaza - men, women, children - suffering abhorrent conditions no human should ever endure. As a country that is an integral part of the region, Cyprus built on the longstanding bonds of friendship and trust with our neighbours. Fulfilling our duty as an anchor of stability in a turbulent sea, as the European Union's lighthouse in the Eastern Mediterranean, we delivered the Amalthea maritime corridor to the international community. A lifeline of hope and humanity. The Cyprus humanitarian corridor is a manifestation of the spirit and the letter of the UN Charter: cooperation and multilateralism. It aptly demonstrates the power of diplomacy, one of our most powerful tools. Cyprus worked closely with regional and international partners - with the United Arab Emirates, the United States - with the concrete support of the European Union (EU), the UN, united by a shared vision. These guiding principles are the beacon of our engagement in international relations - the power of diplomacy as a force for good. We have consistently manifested this commitment, and will continue to do so. Cyprus has acted, time and time again, as a regional evacuation hub at times of crisis. A safe bridge, a safe haven for civilians. Ladies and gentlemen, The Palestinian children that have been orphaned, forced to live in tents, with no access to the most basic items of existence - food, shelter, education, safety - are also our children. No child should ever endure such nightmare. They did not cause this war. They do not deserve it. They suffer in silence. Their cries are haunting our conscience. We have also failed them. The situation in Gaza is a desperate cry for us to act decisively. We must do all that is in our power, we must act - as leaders, as states, as international and regional organisations. My country has emphatically stressed the need for the respect of international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians, the rapid, safe and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. For the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. This war must end now. The suffering must stop now. We have also consistently underlined and acted on the imperative of avoiding further escalation and destabilisation in the region, and of the vital importance of preventing regional escalation. We are deeply alarmed by recent developments in our neighbouring Lebanon and stress the need for restraint. A step back must be taken from the brink. Excellencies, The wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Greater Middle East - Cyprus' neighbourhood - is no doubt a turbulent region, faced with a multitude of complex challenges. And yet, this neighbourhood is so much more than the prevailing narrative. I will never accept the linear narrative of a region in turmoil. It is a narrative that ignores the complexities, but also the immense promise of the region and its people. The dynamics of opportunity and change that are unfolding. I have seen this journey closely, witnessed the fruit of cooperation in the region, experienced first-hand what countries of the region can achieve when they come together, behind a common vision for the future, committed to multilateralism, always in respect of international legality. And I am convinced that the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East can move decisively beyond the prevailing narrative of being a region in turmoil and become a hub of stability, peace, and cooperation. For the region to fulfil its promise, there has to be a path for lasting peace. There is an urgent need to reinvigorate the Middle East Peace Process and reach a political settlement, in line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. There is no other path to walk. Out of the tragedy and suffering of the last year, let us exert every effort to ensure there is a lifeline to peace. There are no shortcuts, no alternatives, or substitutes to a lasting peace. There are no frozen conflicts. The vacuum created in the absence of a viable peace becomes a breeding ground for crisis and conflict. We can never be complacent. This is a painful lesson recent history teaches over and over again. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign nation, came as yet another stark reminder of what is at stake if we do not defend and uphold the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. Cyprus strongly condemns any breach of international peace and security effected through military action by any state, against the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of another state. My country has stood in an unwavering manner, since the first day of the Russian invasion, on the right side of history. Cyprus, itself a victim of invasion and continuing occupation, has steadfastly supported the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Ukraine. Madam President, Your Excellencies, The torch for peace in Cyprus awaits to be lit. This year, on July 20th, we mourned 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Through use of force, Turkey occupies a sovereign European state. It violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an EU member state. Fifty years, half a century, of continuing Turkish occupation of approximately 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Of continuous violation of the UN Charter, international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law. Fifty years that the displaced stoically await to return to their ancestral homes. Fifty years that the mothers of the missing stoically await the remains of their loved ones. To lay them to rest in peace. Half a century of blatant disregard of UN Security Council Resolutions. Resolutions that have also called for the return of the fenced town of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants, and its transfer to the administration of the UN. And yet, 50 years of resilience and hope by Cypriots. Hope for peace. A burning desire and a deep belief by my people, by all Cypriots, that this cannot be the future of Cyprus. It cannot be the future of our children and of the generations to come. They deserve to live, to thrive in coexistence and co-creation in a reunified country, in conditions of viable peace. I am often asked if I am optimistic about peace in Cyprus after 50 years. Let me recall the words of Jean Monnet, one of the inspired founders of the EU, when he proclaimed that, "This is not a time for blind optimism or paralysing pessimism. Now is the time to be determined." And so, the answer is that I am determined to work tirelessly and bravely for peace in Cyprus. To reunify my country and its people, in a modern, viable European state, with no troops of occupation, no foreign guarantees. I am determined to provide for all Cypriots all rights and fundamental freedoms that other Europeans enjoy. They deserve nothing less. I am determined NOT to fail them. To my Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot compatriots, I hear your call for peace. It has not faded over time. It has grown louder. More determined. We look to the UN, to the UN Secretary General, who understands the imperative of reunification to fulfil the promise of peace. To deliver on the pledge of the UN Charter. I am determined to continue exerting all efforts to resume negotiations for a viable solution to the Cyprus issue, within the only framework: the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that call for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and fully in line with EU law, values and principles. Your Excellencies, Since the last time I stood before you in this hall, we have exerted every effort to resume the peace process. There is no alternative to the path of peace. I am committed and I am ready to sit at the negotiating table today. Not tomorrow. Today. I have clarity of vision for the future of Cyprus, for the future of our children in a reunified, prosperous, viable European state. To Mr Erdogan, history will judge us. And history is unforgiving in the light it casts on leaders who have an opportunity to deliver peace, and instead choose the path of revisionism and disregard for international law. Those who want to lead must lead by example. The voice of morality cannot have selective historical amnesia or selective sensitivity to violations of international law. The aggressor, the violator of international law, cannot be the advocate of legality, nor point the finger to others. On this podium yesterday we heard Mr Erdogan call for the disregard of the UN Charter, the violation of UN Security Council Resolutions, and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. And my response, the response of the international community is clear: Illegality stemming from invasion, aggression and use of force CANNOT be recognised. International law is not a la carte. Its interpretation does not change depending on who is the violator. It applies equally to all contexts, to all countries. It applies to Turkey, a country that 50 years ago, used force in violation of the UN Charter, invaded a sovereign state, and is an occupation force in Cyprus. It is an affront to this plenary to name an invasion a peace operation. Revisionism cannot change reality. Not now, not ever. To Mr Erdogan, I also say: now is the time to deliver on your proclaimed commitment to international law and to peace. No country that believes in the moral superiority of its position refuses to sit on the negotiating table. I adamantly believe that we can carve a new path, one of peace, cooperation and collaboration. We cannot change geography. It is an opportunity, not a curse. Turkey and Cyprus will always remain neighbours. Let us change the narrative. Let us transform our proximity into a promise. Let us build together a legacy of peace, that can be transformative for the whole region. Ladies and gentlemen, In "Our Common Agenda" the Secretary-General remarked that humanity faces a stark and urgent choice - "a breakdown or a breakthrough". I welcome the Secretary-General's New Agenda for Peace and support multilateral efforts towards peace and security. Collective action is urgently needed to address the changing nature of conflicts, including challenges posed by new technologies, the climate emergency, rising inequalities, and backtracking on human rights. Halfway to the deadline, it is alarming that our world is off-track to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite some glimmers of hope, action, transformative solutions, and comprehensive reforms are urgently needed. The Agendas and Resolutions are in place. We do not need more words. We need action. Human rights constitute the backbone of the multilateral system. And it is a top priority of Cyprus foreign policy. Guided by our longstanding commitment to promoting, protecting, and fulfilling all human rights, as well as advancing and strengthening international Human Rights within the UN, Cyprus has announced its first-ever candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the period 2025-2027, with elections taking place this autumn. Our candidature stems from our deep dedication to promoting, protecting, and fulfilling basic human rights for all, as well as advancing and strengthening international human rights within the United Nations' system. Ladies and gentlemen, The world is at an inflection point. Our children, the generations to come are watching. And they will hold us accountable. The decisions we make today, the courage and vision we transform into action, have the potential to change the trajectory of the world. We have an opportunity to come together and through multilateralism, by upholding the primacy of the UN Charter, to build a safer, more secure world. The nature of the challenges we face is such that no country can address it on its own. We need to come together. "We, the peoples of the United Nations, DETERMINED ." Thank you. (RM/AP/GS) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address September 25, 2024 Release Readout of Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ms. Amanda Dory Meeting With Minister of Defense of North Macedonia Mr. Vlado Misajlovski Pentagon Spokesman LtCol Garron Garn, USMC, provided the following readout: On September 25, 2024, Ms. Amanda Dory, the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, met with Mr. Vlado Misajlovski, Minister of Defense of North Macedonia. The meeting took place at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The leaders discussed progress made in the U.S.-North Macedonia bilateral defense relationship, including increased joint exercises and training, military-to-military engagements, and support to Ukraine. The leaders also exchanged views on security situation in the Western Balkans and how to strengthen their cooperation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/1926383/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address September 25, 2024 By Joseph Clark, DOD News DOD Official Briefs Lawmakers on Financial Management Progress, Path Forward A senior Pentagon official briefed lawmakers yesterday on the Defense Department's progress with improving and modernizing its financial management systems and strengthening the integrity and transparency in its financial reporting. Thomas C. Steffens, the senior assistant to the DOD's comptroller provided testimony before the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, outlining the Defense Department's recent financial management success and its path toward receiving an unmodified audit opinion by 2028. Meeting that objective, Steffens said, remains a top priority for senior DOD leaders, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. He said the Defense Department's focus on financial management, modernization and improvement have improved audit results, noting that in fiscal year 2023, the Marine Corps became the first branch to post an unmodified, or "clean," opinion indicating that a third-party auditor found no material errors or misstatements in financial statements. Each year, the department-wide audit, comprised of dozens of standalone audits of the services and other components, marks a significant undertaking for the Pentagon. DOD is one of the largest organizations in the world, accounting for $3.8 trillion in assets and $4 trillion in liabilities in fiscal year 2023. Steffens said at the start of the fiscal year 2024 audit, unmodified and unqualified audit opinions together covered 51% or $1.9 trillion of DOD's total assets. He said that figure will continue to increase in coming years. He added that investing in key financial management technologies will be critical to achieving the congressionally mandated timeline for a clean audit. In fiscal year 2023, DOD invested $991 million in audit remediation including investments in key technologies to accelerate audit progress and improve controls. "This investment focuses heavily on tackling the root cause of systemic, long-standing issues that impede success," Steffens said. He added that the Defense Department has also partnered with Congress to improve financial management by reforming the planning, program, budgeting and execution process. "The PPBE process is a fundamental strategic decision support mechanism for our leadership," Steffens said. This year, the commission on PPBE reform released 28 recommendations that were parceled into 35 recommendations. Hicks later endorsed 26 of those recommendations for implementation across the Defense Department. "The timeline for PPBE reform relies on outcomes from complex, multiorganizational discussions and legislative actions and success depends on sustained cooperation and transparency," Steffens said. "We appreciate congressional support for the National Defense Strategy and the [Defense] Department's financial management improvement efforts." He said Congress' continued support is critical for the Defense Department's ability to continue to make strides. That support, he said, includes passing full and on-time appropriations. He noted that over the last 15 fiscal years, the Defense Department has operated under 48 stop-gap funding measures, or continuing resolutions, lasting 1,794 days or nearly five calendar years. The unpredictability of funding, Steffens said, has compounding effects on the DOD's ability to make critical investments needed to accomplish its mission. Congress is expected to enact another short-term continuing resolution as fiscal year 2024 funding expires later this month. "Without a timely budget, we are challenged in investing in new technologies, equipment and training," Steffens said. "This has a profound impact on the quality of life of our service members, damages military hiring and delays vital investments in capacity such as submarine and shipbuilding." "Undersecretary of Defense Comptroller Michael McCord and I join Secretary Austin in urging Congress to act urgently," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address September 25, 2024 By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News Senate Confirms More Than 6,000 Military Leaders for Promotions, New Positions The U.S. Senate has confirmed, via voice vote, the promotions of some 6,030 military officers across the Department of Defense to both new ranks and in some cases to new jobs. "Last night, the Senate confirmed more than 6,000 of our highly qualified military nominees in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force," said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a briefing today. Less than a year ago, hundreds of similar nominations were held up in the Senate due to a blanket hold on confirmations implemented in February 2023. "We're very glad that the Senate has confirmed these officers for critical positions during this time and for our national security," she said. Among those names submitted to and confirmed by the Senate were Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, who was promoted to general and who will serve as chief of the National Guard Bureau; Navy Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey, promoted to admiral, who serve as commander of U.S. Southern Command; Air Force Lt. Gen. Randall Reed, to general, to serve as commander of U.S. Transportation Command; and Air Force Lt. Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, to general, to serve as commander of U.S. Forces Korea. Hurricane Helene Singh also said the department is monitoring the path of Hurricane Helene for what kind of impact it may have and what type of assistance will be needed. "Florida and Georgia have both declared states of emergency, and the governor of Florida has activated more than 3,300 National Guardsmen and 12 rotary wing aviation assets in state active duty status," Singh said. "These guardsmen are pre-positioned around the state to provide responsive state support, including high-wheeled vehicle rescues, aerial support, route clearance and commodities distribution." Singh also said that in the next 24 to 48 hours, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina are expected to activate their National Guard units as well. According to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration public advisory released earlier today, Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall Thursday evening along the Florida Big Bend coast. "After landfall, Helene is expected to slow down and turn toward the Northwest over the Southeastern United States Friday and Saturday," the advisory reads. "Data from an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds remain near 80 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Peace Facility: Council adopts the second EU assistance measure in support of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Press release 25 September 2024 16:25 The Council has adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) worth 13 million with the aim of strengthening the capacities and capabilities of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia. The assistance measure will strengthen North Macedonia's capacities with respect to its participation in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations and missions and other international missions. Today's decision further illustrates the growing association with North Macedonia on security and defence. It reflects the consistent commitment of the partners to enhance their cooperation in this policy area, in full alignment of North Macedonia's with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. The EPF will provide equipment not designed to deliver lethal force and, related supplies and services, including technical training as appropriate. The Assistance Measure will include support on technologies related to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and signal intelligence, logistics and engineering equipment, as well as communication and information systems. Background and next steps The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 for the financing of actions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability. In particular, the EPF allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third states and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Western Balkans: High Representative Josep Borrell hosts regional leaders in New York European External Action Service (EEAS) 25.09.2024 EEAS Press Team High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell hosted an informal meeting with Western Balkans leaders on Wednesday in New York, in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. The annual gathering reflects the European Union's commitment to our partnership with the Western Balkans - our future Member States. It serves as an occasion for exchange of views on issues of common interest, beyond enlargement, on issues of global security and stability. The discussion centred on the pressing geopolitical challenges, particularly the damaging impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and China's efforts to expand its economic influence. High Representative Borrell and the Western Balkans leaders discussed the importance of strengthening resilience, emphasising the need for strategic alignment with the European Union to safeguard regional stability. High Representative Borrell highlighted that the Western Balkans is an integral part of Europe's future. He emphasised the importance and strength of EU-Western Balkans ties, and reiterated that EU membership is within reach, provided that the key reforms are pursued with renewed focus. The meeting was an opportunity to recall the need to resolve existing bilateral disputes. High Representative Borrell underlined the importance of good neighbourly relations achieved through dialogue and compromise as essential steps toward the EU integration. The leaders must take bold, strategic decisions to advance their European aspirations. High Representative Borrell concluded by reaffirming the EU's commitment to supporting the Western Balkans on their European path, highlighting that enlargement remains a top priority for the EU. Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Becirovic, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Montenegro Filip Ivanovic participated in the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNGA: Address by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the G20 Ministerial meeting on the "Call to Action on Global Governance Reform" European External Action Service (EEAS) 25.09.2024 New York, 25/09/2024 EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Thank you to Brazil, I commend you, Minister, [for Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mauro Vieira] and President [of Brazil, Luiz Inacio] Lula [Da Silva] for making the G20 a driver for change and a key forum to address the complex challenges of our time. The G20 'Call to Action on Global Governance Reform' presented today, translates our commitment to move from words to action. We have a lot of words, maybe not so much action. And [it serves] to increase the effectiveness of the multilateral system, with the United Nations at the core. The European Union fully supports this text. These reforms should reflect our commitment to the rule of law, to humanitarian principles, and to protect human rights and dignity for all individuals. But how can we be credible, to reinforce our commitment to the United Nations Charter and international law, when Russia has started and continues a brutal, illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine? How can we say that we are committed to the United Nations Charter when, in the Middle East, so many resolutions of the United Nations have been unfulfilled, for many years? How many resolutions of the United Nations and rulings of the International Court of Justice have been completely forgotten and not implemented by Israel? How can we continue saying that we are upholding the United Nations Charter when some relevant actors continue forgetting, and misleading, and not implementing what the United Nations' institutions decide? We have heard President [of Ukraine, Volodymyr] Zelenskyy here in New York: we support the key objectives and principles of his Ukrainian 'Peace Formula' for a comprehensive, and lasting peace. Only this path will bring a durable solution, which matters beyond Europe as well. [There are] many other crises. I mentioned only two, but there are Sudan, Haiti - just to name a few, that call for an effective United Nations that can uphold in fact the United Nations Charter and deliver our commitment to peace and security. In the Middle East in particular, [it] is indispensable to reach a ceasefire to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation and stop the escalation of violence in the region. As my colleague from Australia [Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong] has said, Lebanon cannot become a second Gaza. And Gaza cannot become a second West Bank, and a second West Bank cannot become a third Gaza. The reforms addressed in the 'Call to Action' are of key importance. I think there are three issues in which we have to focus our attention. First, representation and accountability. Second, financial vulnerabilities. And third, stop the global economic fragmentation. We need a comprehensive reform of the [United Nations] Security Council - talking about representation and accountability. A Security Council that strengthens the voice of underrepresented regions, [especially, but] not only [limited to] Africa. We need a United Nations General Assembly working better and more on the areas of peace and security. The second in the 'Call to for Action' is an effective international financial architecture to address global challenges. Together, [with] the G20, we have identified the potential to unlock about $357 billion in additional lending from the headroom by multilateral development banks. This is remarkable. Just mobilising these resources would be already a great success. We have to, certainly, finalise the G20 Roadmap for a better, bigger and more effective system of Multilateral Development Banks by October this year. We know what it means: private sector mobilisation, domestic resource mobilisation, [and] increasing concessional finance for low-income and middle-income countries. The third [in the 'Call to Action'] global debt vulnerabilities. Low-income and middle-income countries cannot continue to pay their debt at the expense of investment in education or health. Our priority is not to create new debt relief instruments, but to scale up the implementation of existing ones. [Another] dimension: you have to face the risk of geopolitical tensions, by sustaining the multilateral trading system and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules as our best guardrail against global economic fragmentation. We have to restore a well-functioning dispute settlement system [of the World Trade Organisation], accessible to all Members. This is our top priority. Let me finalise by thanking again President Lula for his leadership in bringing the G20 closer to the United Nations and reminding us that only through an effective, representative rules-based international order, we can aspire to global peace and prosperity. Your Excellencies, I wish a successful outcome to this meeting. Thank you. Link to video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-261100 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari- September 25, 2024 IDF Press Release September 25, 2024 25.09.24 IDF Good evening, In the past few minutes, sirens were heard in Eilat following the infiltration of two UAVs. An Israeli Navy vessel intercepted one of them, while the second fell in the Port of Eilat area. Two people were lightly injured at the scene. Throughout the day, we continued conducting airstrikes across Lebanon. Fighter jets struck hundreds of terrorist targets across Lebanon, degrading Hezbollah's capabilities and infrastructure. So far, over the past three days, we struck more than 2,000 terrorist targets, including the rocket launchers that launched toward Safed, Nahariya, Wadi Ara, and HaAmakim today. In today's strikes, we carried out a wave of strikes on targets belonging to Hezbollah's Intelligence Directorate at 70 different sites, making it more difficult for Hezbollah to produce an intelligence situational assessment. The strikes that we have carried out in recent days have proven what we have been saying for yearsHezbollah exploits the civilian population and its surroundings in Lebanon for terrorist activities. In the footage we captured after the strikes, the weapons that were embedded in homes and destroyed after we struck the homes are visible. In the house you see here, in the village of Mayfadoun, in the heart of a civilian area, we struck a rocket launcher that was exposed after the strike. The house and the rocket launcher were destroyed. Another example is the house in the village of Baraachit, north of Bint Jbeil. The strike revealed a rocket launcher, which was destroyed. These are launchers that Hezbollah had embedded in the homes of Lebanese families, of civilians, preparing to launch rockets from them to distances of tens to hundreds of kilometers, in order to attack Israeli civilians. We are continuing to strike, we're not stopping, while simultaneously preparing plans for the next phases. Today, we mobilized two reserve brigades for operational missions in the northern arena, which will allow the continuation of the war. Hezbollah expanded its range of fire today. This morning, a surface-to-surface missile was fired toward central Israel and was intercepted by a David's Sling interceptor, destroying it at a very high altitude. We targeted the structure and launcher from which the missile was fired. Numerous alerts were triggered, some of them intended to prevent harm from fragments from the interception. We are continuously conducting a situational assessment regarding the home front, and we will update the defensive guidelines only when necessary, with your safety as our top priority. It is important that you continue to act responsibly and follow the Home Front Command's defensive guidelines. They save lives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns joint US-UAE statement on Persian Gulf islands IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has condemned a joint statement issued by the United States and the United Arab Emirates regarding the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf. "The three islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb are inseparable parts of Iran's territory and any remarks by third parties regarding them are fundamentally invalid and unacceptable," Kanaani said in a statement on Wednesday. He added that the repeated baseless claims by the UAE about the three Iranian islands and the issuance of political statements in collaboration with other parties lack legitimacy and do not undermine Iran's legal status or sovereignty over the islands. Following a meeting at the White House on Monday, US President Joe Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a joint statement on the strategic partnership between their countries, which included a paragraph repeating the UAE's claim to the Iranian islands. The three Persian Gulf islands have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found in historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other countries. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah carries out fresh missile attacks on Israeli-occupied lands IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah has launched a barrage of missiles on Israeli settlements in the occupied lands, local media reported. According to a report by Al Manar, the official television channel of Hezbollah, the resistance group struck the town of Sa'ir in southern West Bank and Kiryat Motzkin, a city in the Haifa district on Wednesday. The attacks came in retaliation for widespread Zionist strikes on southern Lebanon over the past few days. Hezbollah missiles have hit the towns of Zikhron Ya'akov and Bat Shlomo in southern Haifa, Israeli media reported, the first attacks by the group on this part of the occupied territories. A Zionist settler has reportedly been killed in the strikes with three others being wounded. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Pezeshkian warns of escalating regional instability due to Israeli regime's actions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian says that the people of Iran and the region are seriously affected by the Israeli regime's crimes, and the continuation of these crimes might lead to the situation getting out of control. President Pezeshkian made these remarks during a meeting with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, held on the sidelines of the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York late Tuesday local time. In the meeting, Pezeshkian stated that France can play a more effective role in preventing the Zionist regime from continuing its crimes. To prevent further tension and conflict in the region, the Islamic Republic practiced self-restraint towards Israel; however, the regime instead aggravated its crimes in Gaza and started attacking Lebanon, the Iranian president emphasized. Then, he censured the US and some Western states, including France, for excusing the crimes and claiming that they are being committed by the regime in self-defense. He went on to criticize the so-called advocates of human rights, who come together to defend an individual if they are abused, but remain silent on the massacre of thousands of innocent people in Gaza and Lebanon. The president urged Western countries to end to their double standards. Elsewhere in his remarks, the president said his administration seeks unity both within the country and externally, and follows a policy of constructive interaction with neighboring countries. The Iranian government is also ready to cooperate and interact with European states, he added. On the issue of Iran's nuclear program, the president reiterated that the Islamic Republic has never pursued and will not pursue nuclear weapons. For his part, the French president expressed concern over the situation in the region. Macron said his country condemns Israeli aggression against Lebanon and makes its all-out effort to put pressure to end the aggression. A few days ago, President Pezeshkian left Tehran for the New York City to participate in the 79th session of the UNGA, held from September 10-24. 1483**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's president: Israel has committed genocide in region IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian says the Zionist regime has committed genocide in the region. If everyone is united, Israel will not dare to continue its criminal actions, Pezeshkian told Al-Jazeera. He described Israel's actions in the region as genocide, saying that unfortunately, European countries and the US continue to defend these crimes. Israel hopes to expand the scope of the war in West Asia to guarantee its survival, he noted. He also pointed out that Israel has failed to achieve its goals and has not been able to destroy the Hamas movement, saying the regime has only destroyed the cities and prevented humanitarian aid. He also urged Islamic countries to give an integrated response to Israel. "We will determine the time for the response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh", the head of Hamas politburo, he said. Netanyahu is trying to gain political vitality through the current crisis, Pezshkian added. "We have never been after conflict with any side and have been committed to the nuclear agreement," he stated. "Our weapons and missiles are for self-defense, If we are threatened by an attack from Israel," he added. "We have no problem with talking to the US, but it did not fulfill its commitments," Iran's president said. 9376**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah carrying out major sacrifices, will emerge victorious: Supreme Leader IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Lebanese Hezbollah is making heroic sacrifices and will emerge victorious on the battlefield. Ayatollah Khamenei on Wednesday made the remarks on the occasion of the Sacred Defense Week in a meeting with a group of veterans from the era of Sacred Defense and the resistance in Tehran. Some influential and invaluable figures of Hezbollah have been martyred, he said, noting that the measures will not bring the resistance movement to its knees. The Sacred Defense Week marks eight years of the Iraqi imposed war on the Islamic Republic in the 1980s. This week is annually celebrated nationwide to mark martyrs and war veterans of the Iraqi-imposed war on the Islamic Republic in 1980-88. Commenting on the Iraqi imposed war against Iran, the Supreme Leader elaborated on the reasons behind the war. Saddam and the Iraqi Ba'ath regime were not alone in imposing the war against the Islamic Republic, he noted. The arrogant powers the US and the former Soviet Union at the time were hungrier than Saddam to attack Iran, he added. They could not stand the Islamic Republic as the country had created a unique Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei said. The Revolution had presented a new way of thinking to govern the world, he said, adding that the order that ruled the world at the time could not tolerate this new thinking. At that time, the hegemony ruled the world, he said, adding that some countries were domineers and some others were submissive. The Islamic Republic, the Islamic Revolution, and the Islamic system managed confront that order, he further noted. The Islamic Republic introduced a new notion against the false order, the Supreme Leader said. Warmongers and domineers at the time could not bear the notion, Ayatollah Khamenei stated. That new notion was promoted in the world and could attract the attentions of the nations, he added. An incident like the Sacred Defense is taking place in Lebanon and Palestine, he said. Defense in Lebanon and Palestine is regarded jihad for the sake of Allah, he said, referring to the ongoing developments in the Arab countries. Hezbollah, which is currently making sacrifices to back the people in the Gaza Strip, is carrying out jihad, said Ayatollah Khamenei. In the ongoing war, the foes are fully equipped and enjoy the American assistance, he stated. The US backs the enemy but denies its supportive measures, he said. The US is well aware of the measures and the country brazenly advocates the Israeli regime, he asserted. Americans will take advantage of the Israeli victory in the aggression, he added. The enemy is equipped with money, arms, equipment and propaganda, the Supreme Leader said. Hezbollah and the combatants of resistance have gained victory, Ayatollah Khamenei said. One of the reasons that confirms their victory is the killing of the innocent people, he added. Destroying houses, schools, and hospitals, and killing women and children prove that the Zionists have been unsuccessful in defeating the combatants of the Resistance, he said. The structure and human resources of Hezbollah are far more solid than that, the Supreme Leader said, adding that, of course, losing individuals like commanders is a loss. The Fronts of the Resistance and Hezbollah have succeeded on the battleground so far, and they will eventually triumph. Political, spiritual appeals of Islamic Republic attract nations The Supreme Leader said that the Islamic Republic boasts political and spiritual attractions among nations in the world. Confronting the inappropriate order in the world is regarded the political attraction of Iran, he said. Its spiritual attraction, on the other hand, addresses religious beliefs that create a source of calm for pious people, he added. While the young people in the so-called developed countries feel void, he further noted. Supreme Leader calls Sacred Defense jihad for Allah Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Sacred Defense has kept the Islamic Republic alive. The incident promoted spirituality in the country and helped the youth to enhance their faith, he said. As to the importance of the notion of martyrdom, he touched on a remark by Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, saying, "May God accept your 70-year-long worship. Time to read the wills of the martyrs." 7129**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address What do we know about Hezbollah's ballistic missile fired at Israel's Tel Aviv? IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanese Hezbollah has fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv for the first time since the beginning of the war. Hezbollah fired a medium-range ballistic missile which was intercepted by David's Sling air defense system (designed to intercept medium-range missiles), not the Iron Dome. The timing of this missile launch was especially significant. It was fired at 06:29, the same moment when the October 7th Operation started. This attack caught the Israelis off guard because they had concluded that Tel Aviv was not involved at this stage. Hezbollah has not yet issued any statement, and it is unclear what the exact target of this missile had been. The Zionists are distributing a photo showing that a plane was flying not far from the point of interception of the missile. 6125**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance conducts missile strike on Israeli position IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has launched an attack against a key target in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories using Al'Arqab cruise missiles. The group said in a statement on Wednesday that it had targeted a vital location in the occupied Palestinian territories with Al'Arqab cruise missiles. It said the operation was carried out in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and Lebanon facing heavy assaults from the Zionist enemy. The attacks were part of the Iraqi resistance's ongoing efforts to fight the Israeli occupation and were in response to the crimes committed by the regime against Palestinians, including women, children, and the elderly. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is an umbrella group of various resistance movements in the Arab country, has vowed to continue its operations on Israeli positions until the Gaza war comes to an end. In a related development, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced that it attacked a target in the Golan Heights in its third drone strike on the occupied territories on Wednesday. Since the start of Israel's genocidal war in the Gaza Strip last October, some 41,431 Palestinians have been killed and 95,818 others injured, according to the latest report from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. 7129**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel regime continues to strike Lebanese villages, towns IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Israeli regime has launched new airstrikes across several towns in eastern Lebanon, escalating tensions in the region, Al Mayadeen television channel reported on Wednesday. In a significant escalation of military aggression by the Israeli occupation, a series of airstrikes were reported across eastern Lebanon, affecting multiple regions including the areas around Baalbek, Al Jamila, Brital, and El Khodor. Hezbollah also launched a new wave of missile attacks towards the occupied territories on Wednesday. According to media outlets, the Lebanese resistance movement fired some 40 rockets towards 'Safed' in the occupied territories. The Zionist army started large-scale attacks on various areas of eastern Lebanon on Monday morning, and it continues until now. Lebanon's Hezbollah also has reacted decisively to the attacks on civilians in this country, and from the early hours of Monday morning, operations against Zionist positions and settlements in the north of occupied Palestine were on the agenda. 6125**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sirens blare in Tel Aviv, other occupied territories IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Rocket warning sirens have sounded in Tel Aviv and other areas across occupied Palestine, news outlets reported. According to Palestinian media, for the first time since the beginning of the war against Gaza, Tel Aviv has been targeted by a rocket attack from Lebanon. Following the attack, alarms sounded in Tel Aviv, Gush Dan, Netanya and some other areas. While Israeli media reported that a missile was fired from Lebanon towards Tel Aviv, they claimed that the missile was intercepted and destroyed by the David's Sling air defense system. The Zionist Army Radio also reported that Hezbollah fired a medium-range ballistic missile towards the Gliot base. According to Al-Mayadeen, Ben Gurion Airport flights have been suspended. Hebrew-language media also reported that more than one million Zionists were forced to flee to shelters after Hezbollah's missile attack on Tel Aviv. 9376**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Don't underestimate the power of Hezbollah: Iran FM warns Israel IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while reacting to the latest deadly Israeli mayhem in Lebanon, has warned the Zionist regime not to underestimate the power of the Lebanese nation and the Hezbollah resistance movement. Araghchi posted a message on his X social network and wrote: "Do not ever underestimate Hezbollah's ability to defend Lebanon against any aggression". "Hezbollah's true power is rooted in its own capacities and popular support. It is more than capable of flattering the bases and colonies of the Israeli regime", he said in the post The top diplomat continued by saying that of course, "this fact does not, however, excuse Arab & Islamic world from exercising duty to stand up to Israel". The recent Israeli bombardment of Lebanon that has claimed the lives of hundreds of people concurrently with the regime's ongoing genocide of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip have spared global condemnations. Also on Monday, the Iranian foreign minister in a message on social media reiterated his country's support for the people of Lebanon and Palestine in the face of the Zionist crimes. "Israel's crimes, enabled by the US, are crystal clear for the world to witness. Do not look away. This brutal and criminal disregard for human life cannot be permitted to continue Iran will NOT remain indifferent. We stand with the people of Lebanon and Palestine", Araghchi said. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran wants global peace, end to Israeli crimes: Pezeshkian tells UNGA IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 25, 2024 New York, IRNA -- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, in his debut speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has reiterated his call for global peace and justice, which he said, cannot be accomplished unless the rights of all people, communities and nations are respected within the framework of justice and fairness. Addressing the 79th session of the UNGA in New York on Tuesday local time, Pezeshkian began by congratulating the UN chief and expressed hope that the important issues of the meeting, that is, Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity would help open a clear horizon for current and future generations. The Iranian president touched on a wide range of issues facing the world today, especially the West Asia region, ranging from Israel's genocidal war on Gaza and the crimes in Lebanon to Iran's peacemaking efforts as well as its effective role in the emerging global system. While stating that Israel's recent terrorist crimes and the widespread aggression against Lebanon will not go unanswered, Pezeshkian said the only way to end the decades-long nightmare of insecurity in West Asia and the world is to restore the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. The following is the full speech of President Pezeshkian at 79th UN General Assembly: Mr. President, Excellencies, I extend my sincere congratulations both on the opening of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly and to you, Mr. President, on your well-deserved election. I trust that the crucial themes of this sessionpeace, sustainable development, and human dignitywill illuminate a bright path for both present and future generations. Last year, the devoted president of my country, Ebrahim Raisi, addressed you from this very podium. He was martyred in the service of the Iranian people. May his soul rest in peace. This is my first time addressing you as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a position I assumed after the Iranian people voted for my central campaign platform of "National Empathy". This guiding principle is rooted in the command of Almighty God, as set forth in the Holy Qur'an. According to the teachings of the Qur'an: Mankind was [once] one nation, so God dispatched prophets as heralds and warners. He sent the Book down along with them to bring the Truth, so as to decide among mankind concerning whatever they had been disagreeing about. However only those to whom it was given disagreed about it out of envy towards one another, after explanations had been brought them. (Quran, II:213) Imam Ali (peace be upon him) instructed one of his governors: Embrace the people with all your heart; show them kindness, and extend your compassion towards them. Never treat those under your command with harshness or violence. For people fall into two categories: they are either your brothers in religion or equals in creation. The mission of all prophets has been to establish and promote truth and justice in society among all people, regardless of color, race, gender, or language. Peace and security in the world will not be achieved unless the rights of all individuals, communities, and nations are upheld with justice and fairness. Let's ask ourselves: Are the roots of wars and bloodshed we see in today's world anything other than the fact that aggressors have violated the rights of others, overlooked the rights of nations, enforced discrimination and inequality, kept certain groups weak and underdeveloped, and disregarded the rights of individuals? As long as injustice, oppression, greed, poverty, and ignorance prevail in any region, violence and conflict will continue. Unless we confront the root causes of such disorders, we cannot rescue the future of our children from darkness and destruction. I embarked on my electoral campaign with a platform focused on "reform," "national empathy," "constructive engagement with the world," and "economic development," and was honored to gain the trust of my fellow citizens at the ballot box. I aim to lay a strong foundation for my country's entry into a new era, positioning it to play a effective and constructive role in the evolving global order. My objective is to address existing obstacles and challenges while structuring my country's foreign relations in cognizance of the necessities and realities of the contemporary world. Mr. President, Over the past year, the world has witnessed the true nature of the Israeli regime. It has witnessed how this regime carries out atrocities in Gaza; and in eleven months has murdered in cold blood over 41000 innocent peoplemostly women and children; Its leaders label this genocide; the killing of children, war crimes, and state-terrorism as "legitimate self-defense"; They label hospitals, kindergartens, and schools as "legitimate military targets"; They label the freedom-loving and brave people around the world who protest against their genocide as "anti-Semitic"; They label an oppressed people, who have stood up against seven decades of occupation and humiliation, as "terrorists". It is Israel that has assassinated our scientists, diplomats, and even guests on our soil; and supported - both covertly and overtly - terrorist groups like ISIS. Iran, in contrast, has supported popular liberation movements of people that have been victims of four generations of the crimes and colonialism of the Israeli regime. We have been siding with the people across the world, who have flooded the streets in outrage against Israeli atrocities; we condemn Israeli crimes against humanity. It is imperative that the international community should immediately stop the violence and bring about a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and bring an end to the desperate barbarism of Israel in Lebanon, before it engulfs the region and the world. Israel has been defeated in Gaza and no amount of barbaric violence can restore its myth of invincibility. Naturally, blind Israeli state terrorism over the past few days in Lebanon followed by a massive aggression with thousands of victims cannot go unanswered. The responsibility for all consequences will be born by those who have thwarted all global efforts to end this horrific catastrophe, and have the audacity to call themselves champions of human rights The only path to end this 70 years old nightmare in West Asia and the world is to restore the right of all Palestinians to self-determination. We propose that all the people of Palestineboth those who live in their motherland as well as those who have been forced into its diasporadetermine their future in a referendum. We are confident that through this mechanism we can achieve a lasting peace, with Moslems, Christians and Jews living alongside one another in one land in tranquility and peace, and away from racism and apartheid. Excellencies, Examine the contemporary history of the region: Iran has never initiated a war; it has only defended itself heroically against external aggression, causing the aggressors to regret their actions. Iran has never occupied the territory of any nation. It has not sought the resources of any country. It has repeatedly offered various proposals to its neighbors and international fora aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability. We have emphasized the importance of unity in the region, and establishing a "strong region." A "strong region" rests on several fundamental principles: First, we must recognize that we are neighbors and, because of this bond, we will always remain together. The presence of foreign powers in our region is temporary and leads to instability. Our development and progress are interconnected, and outsourcing security to extra-regional powers will not benefit any of us. Second, the new regional order must be inclusive and beneficial for all neighbors. An order that fails to safeguard the interests of each neighboring country cannot be sustained. Third, neighboring and brotherly countries should not waste their valuable resources on attritional rivalries and arms races. Our region suffers from war, sectarian tensions, terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking, water scarcity, refugee crises, environmental degradation, and foreign interventions. We can collectively address these common challenges for a better future for coming generations. I am the president of a country that has endured threats, war, occupation, and sanctions throughout its modern history. Others have neither come to our assistance nor respected our declared neutrality. Global powers have even sided with aggressors. We have learned that we can only rely on our own people and our own indigenous capabilities. The Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to safeguard its own security; not to create insecurity for others. We want peace for all and seek no war or quarrel with anyone. We seek lasting peace and security for the people of Ukraine and Russia. The Islamic Republic of Iran opposes war and emphasizes the urgent need to end military hostilities in Ukraine. We support all peaceful solutions and believe that dialogue is the only way to resolve this crisis. Mr. President, In the current globalized world, the security and interests of no country can be attained through undermining the security and interests of others. We need a new paradigm to address global challenges. Such a paradigm must focus on opportunities rather than being obsessed with perceived threats. Through such an engagement approach, we can find fresh opportunities for cooperation. Iran and global powers achieved a historic nuclear deal in 2015 through that fresh outlook, based on shared opportunities. Iran agreed to the highest, unprecedented level of nuclear oversight in return for recognition of our rights and the lifting of sanctions within the framework of the JCPOA. Trump's unilateral withdrawal from that agreement manifested a threat-ridden approach in politics and a coercion-driven strategy in the economic domain. Unilateral sanctions target innocent people and seek to undermine the foundations of the Iranian economy. The goal is to securitize Iran; which instead leads to insecurity for all. The policy of the U.S.' so-called "maximum pressure" was in fact implemented against the Iranian people when Iran was fulfilling all its obligations under the JCPOA, as was verified repeatedly by the IAEA. We are ready to engage with JCPOA Participants. If JCPOA commitments are implemented fully and in good faith, dialogue on other issues can follow. Here, I want to address the American people: It is not Iran that has established military bases along your borders. It is not Iran that has imposed sanctions on your country and obstructed your trade relations with the world. It is not Iran that prevents you from accessing medicine. It is not Iran that has restricted your access to the global banking and financial system. It is not we who have targeted your military leaders; rather, it is the United States that assassinated Iran's most revered military commander at Baghdad airport. My message to all states pursuing a counterproductive strategy towards Iran is to learn from history. We have the opportunity to transcend these limitations and enter a new era. This era will commence with the acknowledgment of Iran's security concerns and cooperation on mutual challenges. Sanctions are destructive and inhumane weapons designed to cripple a nation's economy. The deprivation of access to essential medications is one of the most painful consequences of sanctions, endangering the lives of thousands of innocent people. This measure is not only a blatant violation of human rights but also constitutes a crime against humanity. Our nation has demonstrated resilience in the face of numerous hardships caused by sanctions over the years. Although the wounds inflicted by these sanctions are deep within our society, confronting this bitter experience has transformed us into a stronger nation, with unwavering resolve and self-confidence. In order to build a better future world, Iran stands prepared to foster meaningful economic, social, political, and security partnerships with global powers and its neighbors based on equal footing. The appropriate response to this message from Iran is not to impose more sanctions, but to fulfil existing obligations to remove sanctions, benefitting the Iranian people and hence laying the foundations for more constructive agreements. I hope that this message from Iran is carefully heard. Thank You Mr. President 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Foreign Minister in New York: the transatlantic Alliance is the cornerstone of peace, security and stability Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25.09.2024 On 24 September 2024, in continuation of her working visit in New York, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, responded to an invitation from the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to attend the Transatlantic Dinner, underlining in her address the importance of transatlantic relations for peace, security and stability. The Minister stressed that Russia was the most direct and serious threat to the security of the Euro-Atlantic space and she called on the Allies to agree on a concerted action to achieve a comprehensive containment of the aggressor. "PeaceandsecurityinEuropeareonlypossibleifUkraine prevails,soitisvitaltogiveUkraineallthemilitary,humanitarianandfinancialsupportitneeds,whileerodingRussia'sabilitytocontinueitsaggression," Baiba Braze said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, took part in the opening of the 79thSessionoftheUnited Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the General Debate. On the first day of the General Debate, remarks were also delivered by the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics. As part of the UNGA High-Level Week, the Foreign Minister met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade of Tuvalu, Paulson Panapa, to sign a communique on cooperation in international organisations, especially on climate change and related issues of state sovereignty and state continuity. During her working visit, the Foreign Minister had several bilateral meetings - with the Foreign Ministers of Burkina Faso, Belize, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, and Trinidad and Tobago. The High-level Week the 79th Session of the UNGA in New York is held from 21 to 30 September. Alongside discussions on international developments, the key focus of this session will be placed on the strengthening of international solidarity and the rules-based order. Topics to be highlighted while participating in UN events will be Russia's accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine, the strengthening of multilateralism and international order, and the need for a global governance reform. At the events of the High-Level Week, Latvia is represented by President Edgars Rinkevics, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, and the Minister of Health, Hosams Abu Meri. For updates on the working visit, follow the Foreign Ministry on its social network accounts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Looking back and moving forward: Marking 20 Years of NATO - Istanbul Cooperation Initiative partnership NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 25 Sep. 2024 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for stronger, more strategic and results-orientated partnerships with countries in the Gulf region during an event in the margins of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday (25 September 2024). Hosted by the Crown Prince of Kuwait, his Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah, the event celebrated 20 years of NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI). It brought together NATO's four ICI partners (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) as well as Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Mr. Stoltenberg thanked the Crown Prince for hosting the anniversary event and reaffirmed the importance of the NATO-ICI partnership as a platform for cooperation, highlighting its evolution and achievements. The Secretary General underlined areas of close cooperation between NATO and the ICI partners - including cyber defence, security sector reform, climate change, energy security, maritime security, and the protection of critical infrastructure. "During these two decades, our cooperation has grown from strength to strength", he said, praising the Gulf partners' contributions and participation. Mr. Stoltenberg emphasized that, when faced with "a deeply deteriorated security environment, we see more than ever that our security is not regional, but global", closer cooperation with partners in the Gulf and wider Middle East region is a necessary step. He outlined the decisions taken by Allies at the Washington Summit in July 2024 to increase NATO's engagement in the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel. Referring to Javier Colomina's appointment as the new Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, the Secretary General stated that it is "the first time the Alliance has a dedicated focal point for this work". He also referred to the upcomingopening of the NATO Liaison Office in Jordan, the broadened scope of the training mission in Iraq, the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Centre in Kuwait and the Hub for the South in Naples, which provide "an even stronger basis on which to take our partnerships forward", said the Secretary General. The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) was launched in 2004 and provides a partnership forum to practical cooperation and political dialogue between NATO and partner countries in the Gulf region. Four countries, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have joined the initiative, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Centre in Kuwait (NIRC) opened in 2017 and helps strengthen political dialogue, education and training, and public diplomacy. The centre was inaugurated in 2017 by Secretary General Stoltenberg, marking NATO's first such presence in the Gulf region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO and Bulgaria announce major emergency response exercise NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 25 Sep. 2024 In September 2025, Bulgaria will host NATO's 20th civil emergency response exercise. These exercises are among the world's largest and most complex training events in disaster response and the management of complex emergencies. Organised by NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), the exercise will bring together Allies and partners, as well as other international organizations. Participants will be confronted with scenarios that include natural and industrial disasters, hybrid threats, and complex emergencies. They will be able to test procedures related to the coordination of different activities and logistical support. Exercises like this help to gauge the ability of personnel from different countries to work effectively alongside each other, promote cooperation between civilian and military actors involved in disasters response, and build up the ability of Allies and partners to tackle complex and interconnected security threats. This is essential to building resilience and to preparing for potential challenges, including those related to climate change. The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) is NATO's principal civil emergency response mechanism. It is available to all Allies and partner countries and can support them with both response and preparedness for natural and human-made disasters and other emergencies. The exercise was announced today (25 September 2024) at NATO Headquarters by NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Ms. Burcu San, and the Director General for Fire Safety and Civil Protection at the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria, Mr. Aleksandar Dzhartov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Outgoing KFOR Commander briefs Allied and partner Ambassadors on contributions to regional stability NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 25 Sep. 2024 The outgoing Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Ozkan Ulutas, from Turkiye, updated the North Atlantic Council and operational partners on Wednesday (25 September) at NATO Headquarters. He also met with NATO's Acting Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Boris Ruge. KFOR makes critical contributions to stability in Kosovo and the Western Balkans, providing a safe and secure environment for all communities and freedom of movement in an impartial manner. During his tenure, Major General Ulutas has forged close relations with representatives of the Institutions in Kosovo, the Chief of Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, and the international community, including the EU, the OSCE and the UN missions. One year after the attacks in Zvecan and Banjska, it is urgent to bring those responsible to justice and NATO looks to Serbia to help ensure full accountability. KFOR aims to ensure such attacks do not happen again. It is paramount that both sides refrain from uncoordinated actions which could fuel tensions, jeopardise security or put KFOR soldiers at risk. NATO continues to support the EU-facilitated Dialogue as the framework to achieve a long-term, sustainable solution that respects the rights of all communities. "Under my command, KFOR has successfully maintained peace and security throughout Kosovo, in accordance with our long-standing UN mandate. Through a visible, flexible and adaptable posture, we have prevented risks for renewed violence, and swiftly contained situations that could lead to incidents or escalation. We have further reinforced the mission and continued our role as an impartial force, working with all communities to foster safety and security, for all. We have also continued to provide the secure environment necessary for diplomatic efforts to move forward," said Major General Ulutas. Major General Ulutas steps down on 11 October 2024. He will be succeeded by Major General Enrico Barduani, from Italy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DND: PH not engaged in arms race, only boosting defense capabilities Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno September 25, 2024, 3:18 pm Updated on September 25, 2024, 3:52 pm MANILA -- The Philippines is only building up its defensive capabilities and is not engaged in an arms race, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday. "It seems to me that before other countries interfere (with) the creation of our credible defense posture, they should first stop their illegal activities, get out of the West Philippine Sea (WPS), take away their ballistic capabilities, destroy their nuclear arsenal, before they interfere with our creating a credible deterrent," he said at the sidelines of the Asian Defense and Security Exhibition (ADAS) 2024 being held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. The Defense chief issued the statement in reaction to claims that China has expressed alarm over ongoing efforts to build up Philippine defense posture. Teodoro maintained that the Philippines will do what it needs to beef up its defensive capabilities. "We will do what needs to be done to create a credible deterrent posture," he said. The DND chief also said China is using "reverse psychology" to deter the country from building its defensive capabilities. "So, as I said, before they start talking, why don't they lead by example? Destroy their nuclear arsenal. Remove all their ballistic missile capabilities. Get out of the WPS and get out of Mischief Reef. I mean, don't throw stones when you live in a glass house and that goes for other countries also that are worried about our defensive capability enhancement. Don't throw stones if you live in glass houses," he said. Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who was also present in the event, said the country's is looking for "big-ticket items" that will allow its military to comply with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept" (CADC). He said these "big ticket items" include naval ships for the Navy to have an "effective presence" in the WPS, platforms for maritime patrols, and multi-role fighters that augment the existing fleet of FA-50PH light combat aircraft. When asked if the AFP is looking to acquire the US-made Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile system which is still in the country and being used for training purposes by American and Filipino troops, Brawner said he would like to, but stressed there is a need to first develop the country's cyber defense capabilities and other infrastructure in order for the military to support these high-tech platforms. ADAS 2024 In a separate statement, the DND said Teodoro, representing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., officially opened this year's ADAS 2024. The event, which runs from Sept. 25 to 27, 2024, brings together key stakeholders in defense, security, and crisis management to explore the latest technologies and foster collaboration. Teodoro commended ADAS as a platform for showcasing the world's most advanced defense technologies and systems, creating valuable opportunities for partnerships and cooperation. He emphasized the importance of strategic decision-making in the defense sector, underscoring that the Philippines has a clear understanding of its needs and priorities. "The Philippines knows what it needs and what it wants. We know what we don't need and what we don't want. But what we don't need and don't want, other countries may want. So let's join hands to produce in this country, sustainably, what the Philippines needs and wants, and what other countries need but we don't want. Fair enough?" Teodoro said, stressing the need for sustainable approaches in defense initiatives. Global security Teodoro delivered the Chief Executive's message highlighting the pivotal role of ADAS in enhancing security not just in the Asia-Pacific but globally. Marcos highlighted the importance of comprehensive, cooperative efforts to tackle emerging security challenges, including cyber threats, natural disasters, and geopolitical tensions. "Over the past decade, ADAS has evolved into a premier platform for dialogue and collaboration among governments, military institutions, and defense contractors. This evolution underscores our shared understanding that the complexities of modern security threats cannot be effectively addressed in isolation," Marcos said. The President reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to multilateral platforms such as ASEAN, along with its robust bilateral relationships, which have been critical in responding to crises and safeguarding citizens. "In the Philippines, our experiences in humanitarian assistance and disaster response have demonstrated the profound impact of a shared purpose. Through multilateral platforms such as ASEAN and strong bilateral partnerships, we have successfully responded to crises, ensuring the safety of our citizens," Marcos said. The President stressed the need for engagement with technology providers to build mutual trust and fortify global partnerships. "As we engage with the diverse capabilities of technology solution providers, let us approach this exhibition as more than a mere showcase of advancements. It represents a unique opportunity to share best practices, exchange innovative ideas, and build mutual trust and confidence among nations," he added. ADAS 2024 will feature live demonstrations, product presentations, and networking opportunities with global leaders in defense and security. The event will also host a series of symposiums and panel discussions, offering expert insights into trends, innovations, and strategies shaping the future of defense and disaster management in the region. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel calls up 2 reserve brigades to Lebanese border amid fears of ground invasion Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 5:54 PM Israel is calling up two reserve brigades to the north of the occupied Palestinian territories along the Lebanese border. The military announced that in a statement on Wednesday as Israel's bombardment of Lebanese villages and towns continued for the third consecutive day. An Israeli infantry brigade typically comprises about 1,000 to 2,000 soldiers, while an armored tank brigade has about 100 tanks. According to the statement, Israel's Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers that the air attacks on Lebanon would continue in order to destroy the infrastructure and to prepare the way for a possible ground offensive. In an apparent reference to the missile aimed at Tel Aviv, he said, "Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves." "You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day," the Israeli military chief said. "This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah." Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed more than 50 people. That raised the death toll from the past three days to at least 620, with more than 2,000 people wounded. In the most recent retaliatory strikes, the resistance movement Hezbollah said it fired a Qader 1 ballistic missile targeting the headquarters of Mossad. Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Iraq, Egypt, Jordan said Israel was pushing the region "towards all-out war." The three Arab ministers met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and discussed the Israeli attacks in Lebanon and Gaza. Israeli troops to become 'sitting ducks' for Hezbollah The mayor of the northern Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shmona earlier highlighted Israel's vulnerability in the face of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force on the northern front. Stern has repeatedly urged Israeli settlers not to return to the settlements in the north. Israeli media have repeatedly said the northern settlements have been emptied of settlers, noting that it is doubtful whether the settlers will ever be able to return. Meanwhile, a Lebanese political analyst on Wednesday praised Hezbollah's operational capabilities, warning that Israeli forces will become "sitting ducks" for the Lebanese resistance group should they attempt a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. "Hezbollah's ability to rebound from the pager attacks and the assassination of its senior commanders is a testament to its operational resilience and capacity to withstand shocks to its command-and-control structure," Amal Saad, a lecturer at Cardiff University, said in a post on X. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address People fleeing Israel's Lebanon aggression Syria's top priority: President Assad Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 4:09 PM President Bashar al-Assad says the newly formed government of Syria will prioritize assistance to the people of Lebanon fleeing Israel's barbarism. The president issued a decree forming a new government under Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali on Monday. Addressing the newly formed cabinet, Assad instructed the ministers on Wednesday that Damascus has to "stand by our friends in Lebanon in all fields and in all sectors, without exception and hesitation." "With the first hours of your work, the main focus of your work must be, during these hours and days, before all other priorities, how can we stand by our friends in Lebanon." Syrian security officials said Tuesday that over 500 people have crossed from Lebanon to the country seeking refuge there. Israel's heavy shelling of Lebanon, which started on September 23, have claimed the lives of over 600 people, including more than 50 children, according to health officials. According to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), hundreds of vehicles are backed up in queues while seeking to cross the Syrian border on Wednesday. "Many people are also arriving on foot, carrying what they can," UNHCR said in a statement. "Large crowds, including women, young children and babies are waiting in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments." UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi described the news as "yet another ordeal for families" who had fled years of civil war in Syria, "only now to be bombed in the country where they sought shelter. He said West Asia "cannot afford a new displacement crisis. Let us not create one by forcing more people to abandon their homes." Millions of Syrians became refugees in Lebanon following the start of the 2011 foreign-backed militancy against the government of Assad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran dismisses joint US-UAE statement on Persian Gulf islands Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 4:01 PM Iran has condemned a joint statement by the United Arab Emirates and the United States regarding the three Iranian islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kana'ani reiterated on Wednesday that the three islands are inseparable parts of Iran's territory and sovereignty, and any comments by third parties in that regard are fundamentally invalid and dismissed. The Iranian official said the repetition of baseless claims by the UAE about the three Iranian islands and the issuance of joint political statements with other parties lack legitimacy and do not affect the legal status of these islands. The UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Joe Biden of the United States issued the joint statement following their meeting at the White House on September 23. The statement supported the UAE's claim to the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf. "The leaders stressed the importance of reaching a peaceful solution to the dispute over the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, in accordance with the rules of international law including the UN Charter," said the statement. The three Persian Gulf islands have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands. The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran's sovereignty over the islands was restored. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel kills 72 more people in Lebanon, Hezbollah responds with missiles Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 2:47 PM The Israeli regime has killed at least 72 more people and injured 400 others in Lebanon on the third consecutive day of psychopathic bombardment of the Lebanese territory amid the intensifying conflict with Hezbollah. The Lebanese health ministry announced the casualties on Wednesday, saying they had been caused during Israeli airstrikes against the country earlier in the day. The airstrikes included rare bombardment of the villages of Joun and Maaysramountain areas outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds in southern and eastern Lebanon. The regime's military reported conducting strikes in the Nabatiyeh region, with the National News Agency indicating that an Israeli strike partially damaged a hospital there. The Lebanese ministry stated that the strike on Joun in the Chouf mountains southeast of Beirut resulted in four fatalities, while another strike in Maaysra, a Shia-majority village about 25 kilometers north of Beirut, killed three people. Additionally, nine individuals were killed in strikes in southern Lebanon, and seven in the east. Meanwhile, the United Nations reported that approximately 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the ongoing Israeli bombardments targeting what the regime claims to be Hezbollah positions. Since September 23, the UN's International Organization for Migration has recorded "90,530 newly displaced persons" in Lebanon. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the escalating tensions in Lebanon. "International humanitarian law must be upheld, and ensuring the protection of civilians is a critical obligation," the UNHCR stated on X. "We are committed to standing by Lebanon during this critical time." The Israeli regime claimed to have hit more than 280 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Wednesday alone. Meanwhile, the head of Israel's Northern Command said the military should "strongly prepare" for a potential ground offensive into Lebanon. The regime has announced plans to call up reserve brigades for operational activities in the north. Hezbollah responds Hezbollah announced it had fired a ballistic missile that reached Tel Aviv for the first time. Hezbollah also claimed missile strikes targeting the Sa'ar kibbutz near Nahariya in northern Israel, resulting in injuries, according to local media reports. Since the Palestinian resistance group Hamas conducted the unprecedented Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in near-daily exchanges of cross-border fire. On September 23, Israel conducted devastating strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, resulting in over 550 deathsthe deadliest single-day toll since 2006. These attacks followed explosions from communication devices that killed 39 people and injured thousands on September 17 and 18. Three days of Israeli bombardment of Lebanon since September 23 has left at least 641 people dead. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah: Mossad HQ near Tel Aviv targeted with Qader 1 ballistic missile Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 7:25 AM Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah says it has targeted the headquarters of the Israeli spy agency Mossad with an advanced ballistic missile in response to the recent pager explosions and the assassination of top commanders of the popular group. Hezbollah announced in a statement on Wednesday that it has struck a Mossad headquarters in the suburbs of Tel Aviv with a Qader 1 ballistic missile. "In support of our defiant Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and as part of backing its daring and honorable Resistance, and in defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 6:30 a.m. the Mossad headquarters in the suburbs of Tel Aviv with a 'Qader 1' ballistic missile," the statement said. "This headquarters is responsible for assassinating leaders and blowing up pagers as well as the wireless devices," it added. The projectile triggered sirens in Tel Aviv as well as multiple other towns in the central occupied territories, with Israeli media reports declining to provide details on the extent of damage and the number of casualties. The Wednesday strike marks the first time Hezbollah has used a long-range missile in the near-daily conflict with the occupying entity. After the targeting, air traffic at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport stopped and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to postpone his trip to New York, which was scheduled for September 25. The Lebanese resistance movement had a day earlier fired 50 rockets at the Dado base, the headquarters of the Northern Command of the Israeli military, located northwest the occupied city of Safad, just 12 kilometers from Lebanon's border. In the early hours of Wednesday, Hezbollah announced the Israeli assassination of one of its senior commanders and another member of the Lebanese resistance movement in a raid on the capital Beirut. The group identified the victims as Ibrahim Mohammed Qobaisi, aka Haj Abu Musa, and Hussein Hani Ezz el-Din, aka Hajj Fares. The Israeli aggression also claimed the lives of six people and wounded 15 others. Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in fierce fire exchanges since early October last year, shortly after the regime launched a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip following a surprise operation by the Palestinian resistance groups. As part of the latest escalation, the regime carried out extensive airstrikes against southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, killing at least 569 people, including 50 children and 94 women, and wounding 5,000 others. The attacks came less than a week after the regime killed 38 people, including three children and seven women as well as Ibrahim Aqil, another one of Hezbollah's senior commanders, in an attack on a residential building in a southern Beirut suburb. A couple of days earlier, it had also detonated thousands of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkie radios across the country, killing at least 39 people and wounding 3,000 others. The Lebanese resistance movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory attacks as long as the Israeli regime continues its Gaza war, which has so far killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kashmir votes in second phase of regional polls under heavy security Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 6:32 AM People in Kashmir have started casting ballots in the second round of regional elections amid elaborate security measures. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0130 GMT) on Wednesday, as the region's 8.7 million registered voters prepared for electing their first local government under heavy security since the 2019 cancellation of the Muslim-majority territory's special semi-autonomous status by the government in New Delhi. In the biggest regional main city of Srinagar, some voters queued outside polling stations early in the morning, as paramilitary troops stood guard at polling booths and patrolled largely deserted streets. Turnout is expected to be high unlike in past elections when separatists opposed to Indian rule boycotted polls. Back in August, India announced three-phased assembly elections in the Kashmir region. Last week, the mountainous territory witnessed the first phase of its assembly election for 24 seats in six districts. The polls were the first for the region's assembly in a decade. The third phase of polling will be held on October 1, with results expected to be declared on October 8. About 500,000 Indian troops are deployed in the region, which has witnessed a 35-year violence that has killed tens of thousands, including civilians and soldiers. A federally appointed governor has controlled the disputed territory since August 2019 when the Hindu-nationalist government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the abrogation of the region's special status under Article 370. Modi urged people in all constituencies in a post on X to vote in large numbers and strengthen what he claimed to be the "festival of democracy." Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir in its entirety and have fought at least three wars over the territory. New Delhi accuses Islamabad of supporting pro-independence fighters, an allegation rejected by the Pakistani government. Islamabad, in turn, is critical of India's heavy military deployment to Kashmir and its crackdown on the region's Muslim population. Pakistan has described the move by the government in New Delhi to revoke the self-autonomy of Kashmir as illegal. Since the revocation, India has imposed more internet shutdowns and other restrictions in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah launches ballistic missile strike at Tel Aviv for first time Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 5:18 AM Hezbollah has launched a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv for the first time, triggering sirens in the city and elsewhere including Netanya, the Lebanese resistance group says. Israel's Arrow anti-ballistic missile system was activated in Tel Aviv early Wednesday, sending residents in the city to shelters. The Israeli military said that for the "first time ever" a missile fired by Hezbollah reached the Tel Aviv area. "It is the first time ever a Hezbollah missile reached Tel Aviv area." Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging deadly fire since early October last year, shortly after the regime launched a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip following a surprise operation by Hamas. Earlier, Hezbollah targeted the Israeli Ilaniya military base at the northern side of the occupied territories with a salvo of Fadi-1 rockets. The base is reportedly affiliated with the 146th Reserve Division of the Israeli military, which is part of the Northern Command. The group announced in a brief statement that the operation was carried out in defense of Lebanon and its people. Hezbollah also said it targeted a military base near Safad twice with salvos of rockets. The group stated that it targeted "the Dado base near Safad - the headquarters of the Israeli military's Northern Command - with a total of 90 rockets in defense of Lebanon and its people." Hezbollah said in a separate statement that it unleashed a squadron of attack drones on the headquarters of the Israeli army's Special Naval Task Force at the Alit Base. The group said the attack on the Alit base, south of the major port city of Haifa, targeted "the locations of [Israeli] officers and soldiers" and achieved direct hits. The Lebanese resistance movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory attacks as long as the Israeli regime continues its Gaza war, which has so far killed at least 41,467 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Hezbollah officials have repeatedly said they do not want a war with Israel while stressing that they are prepared in case it occurs. Two Israeli wars waged against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 were met with strong resistance from Hezbollah, resulting in the retreat of the regime in both conflicts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah announces martyrdom of senior commander, member in Israeli attack on Beirut Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 3:02 AM Hezbollah has announced the martyrdom of one of its senior commanders and another member of the Lebanese resistance movement during an earlier Israeli raid against the country's capital Beirut. The group provided the information on Wednesday, identifying the victims as Ibrahim Mohammed Qobaisi, aka Haj Abu Musa, and Hussein Hani Ezz el-Din, aka Hajj Fares. It denounced the raid as "a treacherous Israeli assassination operation," which, according to Lebanon's health ministry, claimed the lives of six people and wounded 15 others. Hezbollah also published Qobaisi's biography, in which it credited the 62-year-old with having served the group since its inception in 1982. Upon joining the movement, Qobaisi "rose through the ranks of organizational responsibilities within the structures of the Islamic Resistance and underwent many senior leadership courses," Hezbollah said. His leadership roles featured his commanding Hezbollah's Badr Military Unit between 2001 and 2018 and leading a number of the group's rocket formations among other things, it noted. Throughout his membership of the movement, Qobaisi "supervised and planned many operations of the Islamic Resistance against the Israeli occupation," the group stated. The assassinations came as part of the Israeli regime's escalation against Lebanon, which has been targeting the country since October 7, when the regime launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. As part of the escalation, the regime carried out extensive airstrikes against southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, killing at least 569 people, including 50 children and 94 women, and wounding 5,000 others. The attacks came less than a week after the regime killed 38 people, including three children and seven women as well as Ibrahim Aqil, another one of Hezbollah's senior commanders, in an attack on a residential building in a southern Beirut suburb. A couple of days earlier, it had also detonated thousands of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkie radios across the country, killing at least 39 people and wounding 3,000 others. Hezbollah has been responding to the aggression with numerous operations against the occupied Palestinian territories. Earlier this week, the group launched its farthest-reaching strikes on the territories since October, hitting Ramat David, an Israeli air force base, and the facilities of the Rafael weapon manufacturing company near the city of Haifa as well as many other targets. The movement has vowed to respond with all its resources and prowess in the event of another wholesale Israeli war. The regime waged wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 only to be forced into beating humiliating retreats as a result of Hezbollah's decisive defensive operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM: Do not underestimate Hezbollah's ability to defend Lebanon Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 September 2024 2:30 AM Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has hailed Lebanon's Hezbollah movement for its resistance against the Israeli regime. Araghchi said that no one should underestimate Hezbollah's ability to defend the country against any Israeli aggression. The top Iranian diplomat made the comments on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 2024 United Nations General Assembly in New York. Araghchi said Hezbollah is "more than capable of flattening the bases and colonies of the Israeli regime." He noted that Hezbollah's true power is rooted in its inner capacities and the popular support it enjoys among the Lebanese people. Araghchi called on the Arab and Islamic countries to fulfill their duty by standing up against Israel. On Monday, the Israeli regime's military carried out over 330 raids in more than 117 Lebanese towns and cities, particularly in the south and Beqaa regions. At least 569 people -- including 50 children, and 94 women -- were killed while 5,000 were wounded. In retaliation for Israel's bombardment of Lebanon, Hezbollah conducted new missile strikes against the northern occupied territories. On Tuesday, the Lebanese resistance movement fired 50 rockets at Dado base, the headquarters of the Northern Command of the Israeli military, located northwest of the occupied city of Safad, just 12 kilometers from Lebanon's border. Separately on Tuesday, Hezbollah said it had targeted the Samson base, a command preparation center and regional preparation unit, using Fadi 3 missiles for the first time. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Singapore commissions 2 new submarines The city state now has a fleet of six submarines, with two more expected to arrive by 2028. By RFA Staff 2024.09.25 -- Singapore has put two new diesel electric submarines into operation, expanding its fleet of underwater warships to six - the largest in Southeast Asia and on par with Vietnam. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong commissioned the two ships - RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable - at a ceremony on Tuesday. "Singapore's survival and prosperity depend on free and unimpeded movement over the seas," he said. The two advanced Invincible-class submarines were built by Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, which is expected to deliver two more of the same class by 2028 within a 1-billion-euro contract signed in 2013. Prior to these two, the Singaporean navy had only operated second-hand submarines of Challenger and Archer classes acquired from Sweden. Invincible-class submarines can operate longer underwater with better sensors, according to Singapore's ministry of defense. A ship is typically 70 meters in length, with a displacement of 2,000 tons when surfaced, and has a crew of 28. "Singapore has one of the world's most rigorous defense procurement policies that are premised on extant national interests, and this means purchases aren't made on flippant decisions," said Collin Koh, a security expert at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. "Submarines can provide an asymmetric counter against a stronger foe, at least complicate its war planning, and in times of peace helps to magnify the effect of deterrence," Koh said. "The other factor is that Singapore has a shrinking population that has a knock-on effect on the armed forces' manpower levels," the analyst said, noting that such "force multipliers," or tools with disproportionately large operational impact, as submarines could help maintain the overall deterrent and warfighting capability of a shrinking military. Shallow waters getting 'too busy' Several other Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia have their own submarine programs, with Vietnam, until now, fielding the largest fleet of six Russian-made Kilo-class diesel electric subs. Indonesia has four active submarines after one, the KRI Nanggala, sank in 2021. In April, Jakarta ordered two improved Scorpene-class submarines to be built in Indonesia with French technology. The Royal Malaysian Navy also operates two Scorpene-class diesel electric attack submarines. Another Southeast Asian country, Myanmar, has commissioned two submarines from India and China but has yet to operate an active fleet. Both the Philippines and Thailand have expressed interest in acquiring underwater boats to boost their maritime deterrence capabilities. "The undersea traffic is getting too busy," said Wendell Minnick, a U.S. defense analyst and author of the China in Arms Substack, "Too many subs in the water make accidents more probable, especially when the waters are shallow and busy in the Malacca and Singapore Strait." Compared with air traffic control, the rules undersea are less stringent and "some of the submarine countries don't necessarily abide by rules," Minnick said. According to him, the U.S. is not keen on countries acquiring too many submarines in the region. "It keeps the U.S. Navy busy trying to track all the underwater targets: Who is friend and who is foe during a war will make it unnerving," Minnick said. "The U.S. was very much against Taiwan procuring submarines for this very reason," he added. Koh from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said that besides threats to the safety of undersea navigation, more submarines raised the risks of diplomatic disputes. "There's of course the constant challenge of submarines being embroiled in diplomatic incidents between countries considering the geopolitical sensitivities these days," Koh said. Singapore's submarines are expected to be "operating across the Southeast Asian waters, right out into South China Sea for example, and even further," he said. The analyst added that regional nations should urgently work on a joint water-space management and prevention of mutual interference mechanism. Edited by Taejun Kang. Copyright 1998-2024, 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 September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden meets Vietnam's president in New York It ends an eventful trip for To Lam, who now heads to Cuba. By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.09.25 -- U.S. President Joe Biden and his Vietnamese counterpart, To Lam, met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, with the pair praising rapidly warming bilateral relations nearly half a century after the end of the Vietnam War. It marked the end of a whirlwind trip to New York for Lam, who in May became president - typically considered the second-most powerful office in Vietnam - and then ascended to the top role of general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam last month. Lam earlier met with U.S. business executives on Monday and delivered a concise - and mostly circumspect - inaugural speech as Vietnam's president to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. He also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday and with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday. Meeting at the InterContinental New York Barclay hotel three blocks from the U.N. Headquarters, Lam thanked Biden for sending condolences upon the passing of his predecessor as general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, who died aged 80 after 13 years in office. "Even during his lifetime, the late general secretary often spoke of you with fond memories and sincere appreciation," Lam said to Biden in his remarks in front of reporters prior to the closed-door meeting. "His historic visit to the U.S. in 2015 followed by your visit to Vietnam in September last year were historic milestones," he added, "and have significantly advanced the growth of the Vietnam-U.S. relations, resulting in the higher level of the relations that we enjoy today." "We appreciate very much your fondness for Vietnam, and your historic contributions have been pivotal in elevating our bilateral relations." 'Unprecedented cooperation' Reading from notes, Biden noted that he and Vietnam's leadership elevated bilateral ties to the "highest level possible" during his trip to Hanoi last year, which commentators at the time said was driven by the countries' mutual distrust of Beijing's growing power. "Since then, we've been very proud of the progress we've made," Biden said, pointing to U.S. investments in microchips and supply chains in Vietnam and the countries' "unprecedented cooperation" on cybersecurity as areas where the relationship was blossoming. Neither leader directly mentioned China in their remarks, with the Vietnamese government seeking to carefully balance its growing ties with America with productive relations with its northern neighbor. However, Biden said Hanoi and Washington were united in efforts to build "a more open and secure Indian Ocean, committed to freedom of navigation and the rule of law" - an apparent gaffe meant to refer to the Indo-Pacific region, which U.S. officials use for the vast region stretching from India through the Pacific to America's west coast. "We continue our path breaking work to heal the wounds of war," he added. "There's nothing beyond our capacity to work together." A senior administration official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity after the talks said it was "an extremely warm meeting" and that the pair had also discussed "stability in the South China Sea." Earlier on Wednesday, Lam met with Guterres, the U.N. secretary general, and discussed "the importance of multilateralism, the work of the U.N., international law including the Convention on the Law of the Sea," according to a readout released by the United Nations. Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also met with his Laotian and Cambodian counterparts, Saleumxay Kommasith and Sok Chenda Sophea, to affirm continuing cooperation in the wake of Cambodia's recent decision to withdraw from a three-country development pact. US business leaders Lam was not only in New York for diplomatic meetings, though. His meeting with U.S. executives at a forum on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Monday was a productive one, according to Vietnamese state media, which reported that numerous cooperation deals were signed by Vietnamese and American businesses. Former British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who is now the president of global affairs for Facebook parent company Meta, told Lam during their talks that the company planned to manufacture its Metaverse virtual reality glasses in Vietnam, the reports said. A separate meeting with Nick Ammann, Apple's vice president in charge of global government affairs, produced an agreement to create an Apple research and development center at the National Innovation Center in Hanoi, including scholarships for Vietnamese students to study artificial intelligence and "the internet of things." Vietnamese tycoon Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao's Vietjet Group also signed a $1.1 billion cooperation agreement with Maryland-based Honeywell Aerospace Technologies to provide avionics and aviation technical services for Vietjet's aircraft fleet, the reports said. Deals on liquid natural gas and data center development were also signed during the forum, according to the state media reports. After five days in New York, Lam is scheduled to fly to Cuba on Wednesday night for meetings with his country's old communist allies in Havana. He is scheduled to return to Vietnam on Friday. Copyright 1998-2024, 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 September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House Disinvites Georgian PM From UN Reception As Relations Sour By RFE/RL's Georgian Service September 25, 2024 The White House has disinvited Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze from a prestigious reception during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), another sign of souring relations between the two once-close allies over what Washington says are the "anti-democratic actions" of the Caucasus nation's government. Media reports about the White House's decision were confirmed to RFE/RL on September 25 by the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, which also said all meetings with Kobakhidze's delegation have been canceled. "The Biden Administration rescinded Prime Minister Kobakhidze's invitation to its annual UNGA reception and declined to meet with the Georgian delegation due to increasing concerns about the Georgian government's anti-democratic actions, disinformation, and negative rhetoric about the United States and the West," the embassy's statement said. The Voice of America's Georgian Service first reported that Kobakhidze's invitation to the traditional event had been canceled. Georgia's government, dominated by the Georgian Dream party, has come under fire from the country's Western allies following its move to introduce a "foreign agent" law that many fear will stifle media and independent voices. Parliament in May gave final passage to the law, overriding a veto by President Salome Zurabishvili, who split with legislators and party leaders in support of protesters who took to the streets en masse. The law is modeled on a similar measure in Russia, which was initially passed in 2012 and has been gradually expanded and toughened to encompass civil society groups, human rights activists, media organizations, and others. The law has forced the closure of dozens of organizations and individuals in Russia, and forced activists and reporters to flee the country. The Georgian Dream party insists the new law was needed to ensure transparency in the country's political scene and to protect its sovereignty, while the government has denied heavy-handed tactics were used against demonstrators. Last week, the U.S. ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan, reiterated Washington's displeasure over the Georgian government's recent statements and actions, saying they "further isolate Georgia from the West." "The Georgian people have overwhelmingly said that their future is a future with Europe and with the West, and actions and statements that isolate Georgia don't help that goal," she said. "I want to reiterate once again that there is no stronger supporter in the world than the United States for the Georgian people and for the Georgian people's Euro-Atlantic integration," Dunnigan added. Dunnigan's statement came after Kobakhidze summoned her to officially protest the sanctions imposed by the United States on two Georgian officials and two Georgian citizens associated with brutal crackdowns on peaceful protestors and political opponents who rallied against the foreign agents law. In May, the United States, which for years had been a steady supporter of Georgia's aspirations to join NATO and the European Union, announced visa restrictions on Georgian government officials and a comprehensive review of bilateral relations over the legislation, which was signed into law in June. Georgia was given EU candidate status on December 14, but has yet to start the accession negotiations, which can last for years. Georgians have also been given the green light for visa-free travel in the Schengen zone. Both of the diplomatic initiatives are under threat because of the law's approval. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kobakhizde-white-house-un- reception-invitation-cancellation/33134929.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IDF Preparing for All Options in Lebanon, Including Ground Operation - Representative Sputnik News 20240925 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing for all options in Lebanon, including for a ground operation, a representative of the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, told Sputnik on Wednesday. "We are preparing for all options, including for a ground operation," Adraee said, answering a question about the likelihood of such a development. He added that the IDF may launch more large-scale strikes against Hezbollah targets than those that were carried out in the previous hours. "It is time to add a goal to the goals of the war to ensure the safe return of Israeli residents to their homes. This requires the creation of a new security situation, completely different from the situation on the border that appeared on October 8 [2023]," Adraee said. Earlier on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces announced the decision to mobilize two reserve brigades to carry out tasks on the northern front. "In accordance with the situational assessment, the IDF is calling up two reserve brigades for operational missions in the northern arena. This will enable the continuation of combat against the Hezbollah terrorist organization, the defense of the State of Israel, and create the conditions to enable the residents of northern Israel to return to their homes," the IDF said on Telegram. In the meantime, the commander of the Northern Military District of the Israel Defense Forces, Major General Ori Gordin, announced a new phase of the military campaign on the northern front, and called on soldiers to be ready for "maneuver and action." "We have entered a new phase of the military campaign and are in the midst of 'Northern Arrows'. We need to be very well prepared for the start of the maneuver and actions," Gordin told IDF fighters who completed exercises simulating ground operations in Lebanon. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address $920 Million U.S.-Romania Foreign Military Financing Direct Loan Strengthens NATO US Department of State Press Statement Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson September 25, 2024 The United States announcing a new $920 million Foreign Military Financing (FMF) direct loan to Romania today. Romania is a valued U.S. partner and Ally, and this significant loan agreement will further strengthen NATO's Eastern Flank. Romania is undertaking a major military modernization program, including purchases of U.S. defense equipment such as Abrams main battle tanks and coproduction of ammunition. Romania is a leader in NATO, working closely with Allies to advance Black Sea security and providing critical assistance to Ukraine, including the transfer of a Patriot strategic air defense system and training Ukrainian F-16 pilots. The U.S. government is providing $60 million in FMF grant funding for the cost of this loan, which will help accelerate Romania's defense modernization by supporting urgent procurements of defense articles and services from the United States. FMF direct loans are a security cooperation tool reserved for some of our most important partners. Loan proceeds will further advance Romania's military modernization effort across a wide range of capabilities, substantially contributing to strengthening the defense and deterrence of NATO's Eastern Flank. Today's agreement further solidifies our unwavering commitment to enhancing NATO's eastern flank. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State UN Headquarters New York City, New York September 25, 2024 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Vieira, Mauro, thank you very, very much. I'm really grateful for this opportunity to gather with fellow G20 foreign ministers ahead of the Rio Summit in November. When President Lula and President Biden met here last year, President Lula said this: "Another world is possible with more fraternity, with more solidarity...with more fairness." That's the spirit in which we gather here today and that's the spirit the United States is bringing to the G20's agenda under Brazil's presidency. Our country is committed to broad-based, inclusive growth that can expand opportunity and lift up all of our people. That's only possible in an economy that honors and protects its workers, particularly the most discriminated against, the most vulnerable. President Biden and President Lula launched the Partnership for Worker Rights last year to promote labor rights, worker voices, collective bargaining - unleashing a race to the top for workplace, economic, and environmental standards. The United States is also investing in quality, sustainable infrastructure - roads, clean energy, fiber optic cables - through our Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. We're coming together with partner countries to enhance food security. The United States is proud to be the world's largest donor - funding one out of every three dollars of the World Food Programme's global operations, providing more than $17.5 billion in food aid since 2021, in addition to our long-term investments to prevent hunger. We strongly support Brazil's initiative to stand up the G20's Global Alliance Against Hunger. We'll do our part to ensure the alliance delivers on its ambitious - and crucial - mission. So many of us are also seized by the need to tackle the climate crisis, which threatens not only our individual nations but our entire planet. The United States is making the biggest investments of any country ever to accelerate the transition to clean energy, keeping us on track to cut our emissions by half by 2030. At the same time, we're working with partners like Brazil to preserve the Amazon, dedicating billions to help people in developing countries adapt to and manage the impacts of the climate crisis. Three years ago, President Biden pledged to quadruple climate financing to developing nations. This year we're on pace to provide $11 billion toward that goal. Effectively addressing any of these challenges - economic inequality, food security, climate change - requires us to reform global institutions to better reflect today's world, not the world of 80 years ago. Developing countries in particular must have a greater voice in the multilateral system. That's why the United States strongly supported the African Union joining the G20 - and we're so glad to have them with us today. Earlier this month, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield announced that the United States supports expanding the UN Security Council to include two permanent seats for African countries, a non-permanent seat for Small Island Developing States, and to move from talk to action - text-based negotiations through the intergovernmental negotiations process. We've reaffirmed our support for permanent representation for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as those countries we have long supported for permanent seats - Germany, India, Japan. It's critical as well that we reform the multilateral development banks - an effort that India did so much to advance during its own G20 presidency - to better deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, to ensure that the benefits of greater prosperity are shared more equitably. Our collective efforts have increased the capacity of our international financial institutions to support low- and middle-income countries as they respond to climate shocks, public health challenges, crushing debt. As the G20 Global Governance Call to Action and the Pact for the Future underscore, all of these reforms must be rooted in the principles at the heart of the UN Charter and international law. And I would add we were glad to see the near consensus on the Pact for the Future. It's unfortunate that there was one outlier. We also look and support reform of the WTO - this, too, would be important progress. Finally, let me just briefly address current challenges that many have alluded to and that actually are the things that make it harder for us to deliver on this affirmative agenda. We continue to strongly condemn Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. We continue to stand for the principles at the heart of the United Nations Charter. We all have to do that whenever those principles are being violated, especially by a member of the United Nations Security Council and a member of this group, the G20. And in the Middle East, we're intensely engaged with a number of partners to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon and to work to get a ceasefire agreement that would have so many benefits for all concerned. But mostly, what I want to say today and what we'll continue to do in Rio is to affirm the United States commitment to promoting an affirmative agenda. And we look forward to working with all of our partners toward a future of greater dignity and greater opportunity for all of our people. I thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sanctioning Former Haitian Politician and Gang Leader in Connection with Serious Human Rights Abuse US Department of State Press Statement Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson September 25, 2024 The United States is today sanctioning a former member of Haiti's parliament, Prophane Victor, for his role in forming, supporting, and arming gangs that have committed serious human rights abuse in Haiti, as well as the current leader of the Gran Grif gang, Luckson Elan, for his involvement in serious human rights abuse related to gang activity in Haiti's Artibonite department. Both Victor and Elan are highlighted in the recent final report of the United Nations Panel of Experts as being significantly responsible for the crisis in Haiti. The report states that the "levels of violence and the depths of cruelty that gangs will go to in violating human rights are unprecedented, with regular indiscriminate attacks against the population and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance. Sexual and gender-based violence and rape, in particular, have become one of the most horrific expressions of violence over the past two years." Promoting accountability for gender-based violence is a top priority for the U.S. government and for our use of the Global Magnitsky sanctions program. We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to expose those who commit such heinous crimes anywhere they occur. President Biden issued a Memorandum on Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in November 2022 that directs the U.S. government to strengthen our exercise of financial, diplomatic, and legal tools against this scourge. The Department of the Treasury sanctions actions today were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world. For more information, see Treasury's press release. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi At a Meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Palace Hotel New York City, New York September 25, 2024 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good morning, everyone. Colleagues, friends, so good to see you around this table at a critical time. But we start out with gratitude for this partnership. To the secretary general, to our foreign minister colleagues: Thank you. We meet at a time of high tension. Risk of escalation in the region is acute, and I know that we are all very much focused on that. The best answer is diplomacy, and our coordinated efforts are vital to preventing further escalation and to paving the path to greater peace and stability. With regard to Lebanon, we've been working tirelessly with partners to avoid a full-blown war and to move to a diplomatic process that would allow Israelis and Lebanese alike to go back to their homes. On Gaza, we are grateful to GCC partners - especially to our friends from Qatar and Egypt - for tireless efforts to get to a ceasefire, one that would bring the hostages home, bring immediate relief to the people of Gaza, and create an opportunity for more enduring peace and stability. Each of us has to continue to press all of the parties to make the decisions necessary to get this deal over the finish line. It remains, again, the best way to get hostages home, bring relief to people, and also can help us reduce tensions on other fronts. Even as we're working to advance the ceasefire deal and to prevent its derailment, even as we're working for de-escalation and preventing a broader conflict, we can't wait on any of that in order to continue to effectively address the humanitarian crisis that people are facing. My thanks to countries here today for all the work that is contributed to this effort thus far, providing thousands of tons in aid, building field hospitals, desalination plants, getting flour to bakeries. We not only have to sustain these efforts - we have to grow them. And I think we can take some inspiration from the effective polio campaign that demonstrated that we can have a strong, powerful impact, and we can get results, but it requires everyone to be working together and it requires that this effort be a focus, a priority for everyone involved. We also have to coordinate and work together to deter destabilizing activities by Iran. And I use - I urge all of us to use the leverage that we have to press Iran to stop fueling escalation via the Houthis, via Hizballah, in Iraq, on the West Bank. We also look to the West Bank to ensure that violence against innocent Palestinians stops. That, too, is critical. This is an opportunity today, all of us together, to further coordinate our efforts - to coordinate efforts with partners who have a shared belief in the necessity - indeed, in the urgency - of advancing a path to a better life for all people in the region that you share. So to each and every one of you, my thanks. I think now I would - yes, we're going to turn to Sheikh Mohammed. PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: Well, first of all, I would like to thank you, Mr. Secretary, for hosting us here today. On behalf of my colleagues from the GCC and myself, we really commend the relationship and the strategic partnership that GCC has with the United States, and we believe that throughout the decades, that we see a very positive outcome for security and stability of the region and for prosperity for both peoples. I think that our meeting cannot be more timely with all what's ongoing in the Middle East, whether it's in Gaza, the West Bank, the front in Lebanon that was just escalated to a situation which is going have a spillover on the entire region. I believe it's getting more and more dangerous and worrying, and we believe that all of us, we have a responsibility to stop this, and just to stand up and to step up and to say enough is enough, and we need to find a solution. Of course, we appreciate the commitment of the United States role in the Middle East and stabilizing the situation in the Middle East. We appreciate the partnership that we have together with you and Egypt in order to achieve outcomes and bring the hostages back and put an end for this war. This is a very important war. Qatar remain committed to that. And I think that we should do everything in our hands in order to achieve this goal. I'm very much looking forward for our discussion today, and I hope that this is - will be productive and fruitful and will bring us an outcome that stabilize the region. Thank you. SECRETARY GENERAL AL-BUDAIWI: Thank you. (Via interpreter) In the name of God the most - (in English) Your Highnesses and Excellencies, I would like to express my great pleasure to participate in this very important gathering, which is organized under the framework of the GCC-U.S. Strategic Partnership. I also want to welcome Secretary Blinken, his honorable team, and all involved for the efforts and commitment to make this meeting happen as well as moving forward with this very important strategic partnership. Our meeting today is very timely in response to the critical threats facing our region and the rest of the world, as well as promising opportunities for greater bilateral cooperation. I look forward to discussing these pressing challenges together and how to best work to utilize the opportunities at hand. Your Highnesses and Excellencies, the holding of this meeting comes at a - as an affirmation of the strategic importance of the historical relation between the two sides and their joint commitment to build upon achievements of previous ministerial meetings and summits held, the most recent being the Jeddah summit in July 16, 2022 to enhance consultation, coordination, and cooperation in all fields to support common interests in a way that contributes to achieving regional and international security and stability. We believe in the need to join hands to reduce escalation and prevent the region from being dragged into new levels of violence, tension, and instability, such as the threat of nuclear proliferation, ballistic missiles, threat to maritime security, and freedom of navigation, in addition to recent developments and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the military escalation between Iran and Israel, and escalating tension in the Red Sea. The ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, which remains unresolved, continues to threaten peace and security of this region, and prevents it from reaching its full potential. The continued mutual escalation across the region risks triggering a broader and uncontrollable conflict, potentially expanding the circle of violence and undermining security and stability. This requires all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomatic channels, sparing the region and its people the dangers of war. Moreover, the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirms its steadfast position in supporting Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and stability. The council also expresses deep concern regarding the recent Israeli violations in Lebanon territory, which poses serious threat of escalating the region. The GCC calls on the international community to take urgent measures to halt these provocative action and to work towards lasting stability in the region, thereby helping to prevent the risk of escalating into broader conflict. Your Highnesses and Excellencies, since the GCC-U.S. Strategic Partnership was announced in May 2015, we have all sought to strengthen our cooperation in all areas through maintaining regular engagement at all level. There have been four summits at the heads-of-state level, numerous ministerial meeting, and specialized working groups to translate this partnership into effective, practical steps. Our beneficial partnership contributes to peace and prosperity of both the United States and the GCC countries, as well as extending beyond our region and benefit the global community. The GCC-U.S. partnership is built on solid historical ties, shared interest, and the belief that international law and UN-centered world system is the best foundation for peace and security. The GCC Strategic Partnership with the United States is at forefront of our priorities, and this meeting underscores that fact. The joint summits and ministerial meetings have provided a clear guidance on the evolution of our partnership. We have established more than 10 working groups and task forces across GCC, covering critical areas such as integrated air and missile defense, maritime security, cyber security, logistics, military preparedness, military training exercises, special operations, counterterrorism, trade, investment, and other areas of cooperation. These GCC-U.S. groups are in addition to the important bodies established bilaterally between U.S. and other member-state. In May 2022, the integrated air and missile defense and maritime security working group met at the GCC headquarter in Riyadh to further strengthen our military cooperation. Similarly, the fifth Trade and Investment Dialogue and Business Roundtable held in Washington, D.C. on June 26, 27 resulted in an important outcome that will advance our mutual interest and objectives. I would like to thank the teams from both side for their planning and hard work for further meeting and workshop, including the discussion on the prevention of counterfeits, border enforcement, and free trade zone regulation, and scheduled - scheduled for January and February 2025; furthermore, the planned meeting and study tour focused on cooperation and capacity-building for the deployment of advanced nuclear energy technologies in April 2025. These initiatives reflect our shared commitment to cleaner, more secure energy solution, and are critical for ongoing collaboration in key areas. In all of these meetings, GCC and U.S. representatives have shown their commitment to their important political security and economic partnership, working together to achieve common objectives. I would like to point out that the upcoming year, 2025, will mark the 10th anniversary of the first summit that brought together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the President of the United States. We look forward to the possibility of convening a fifth summit during the next phase with the hope that this fruitful cooperation, which is built on a solid foundation of distinctive strategic relations between both sides, will continue to thrive. In conclusion, I would like our friends and partners from the United States to understand one crucial fact. The GCC countries are unwavering in their commitment to enhance and strengthen their relationship with the United States. A testament of this is that the United States is the only country with whom we have held two ministerial meetings, both in the year 2023 and 2024. Regardless of our growing partnerships across the globe, the United States remains one of the most reliable, steadfast partner. I look forward to a productive meeting that will advance our partnership in facing the growing challenges. Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken, White House Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, And Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo At the Ministerial Meeting on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Palace Hotel New York City, New York September 25, 2024 DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL: Good morning. It is my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome each of you here today, in particular our distinguished foreign ministers and endorsing country representatives who are joining us for this fourth Ministerial of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. Today marks an opportunity for us to celebrate over two years of progress that we have made together in addressing the migration challenge in our hemisphere under the Los Angeles Declaration, which is a framework that we have built together to share responsibility, partnership, and the pursuit of humane solutions that benefit the peoples of all of our countries. I am grateful to each of you for your unwavering commitment to addressing the hemispheric challenges that we face and to promoting a safe, orderly, and humane approach to migration. It is my privilege and pleasure to introduce Secretary of State Blinken for making opening remarks on behalf of the United States of America. Secretary Blinken. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Liz, thank you so much. And good morning, everyone, and thank you for being here today. To all our partners in this endeavor, thank you. As Liz said, back in June of 2022, during the ninth Summit of the Americas, President Biden convened nearly two dozen countries to launch the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. In doing so, we recognized together the need to strengthen regional cooperation to ensure safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration - and to help people lead peaceful, productive, and dignified lives in their countries of origin. Just over the last two years, our countries have taken meaningful, concrete steps toward these shared commitments. Together, we're making it easier for migrants, already in-country, to obtain legal status. For example, governments throughout the region are helping Venezuelans acquire lawful residency status. Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are at the forefront - advancing measures to fully incorporate migrants into their receiving communities and economies. We're also promoting secure migration pathways - to dissuade individuals from taking perilous journeys to our borders in the first place. Here, in the United States, we've led one of the largest expansions of lawful migration - including through new humanitarian and family-reunification parole processes, and raising our annual target for refugee resettlement to 125,000 - while also strengthening enforcement measures to discourage irregular migration. In the last year, we resettled more than 20,000 refugees from Latin America and the Caribbean - the highest-ever level. The Safe Mobility Initiative equips individuals in Latin America with accurate information and an online process to apply for lawful entry into the United States, among other countries. And again, that means that people can determine whether they have a legal means to come to the United States from their own countries, not making the journey to the border. Since its establishment in June of '23, this program has overseen the arrival of tens of thousands of qualified refugees into the United States - and helped many others access integration resources in their countries of first refuge. In the coming months, we will also push to further develop lawful and humane labor pathways that respect workers' rights - across our hemisphere. This follows the United States' decision in May to join the International Labour Organization's Fair Recruitment Initiative, which aims to ensure practices that protect migrants against exploitation. Together, we're also disrupting human trafficking and smuggling. Through visa restrictions, financial sanctions, we're cracking down on criminal networks. And we're applying similar measures against companies that charter flights and boats to facilitate dangerous, irregular migration routes. Just yesterday, the United States imposed visa restrictions on multiple travel agency executives engaged in this practice. Finally, we're working together to address the root causes of irregular migration, including the lack of economic opportunity, which we know is one of the biggest drivers of migration. Under Vice President Harris' Central America Forward initiative, we've generated over $5.2 billion in private sector investments in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador. These investments will expand economic possibility, creating good new jobs. They're also targeting groups traditionally excluded or underrepresented in the formal economy - and with an emphasis on encouraging good governance as well as growth. Building on this work, I can announce today that the United States will additionally invest more than $685 million across Latin America and the Caribbean. With this announcement, the United States has now dedicated - in 2024 alone - over $1.2 billion to advance the objectives of the Los Angeles Declaration. These new funds include nearly $369 million to aid refugees, vulnerable migrant populations, and host countries - as well as $228 million in emergency food assistance for Venezuelan migrants and displaced persons in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Our assistance also provides $10 million to the World Bank's Global Concessional Finance Facility's work in Latin America and the Caribbean. This programming promotes economic development that's tailored to benefit both refugees and their host communities. This support will also help institutionalize our partnership by setting up and maintaining a Technical Secretariat, with support from the Pan American Development Foundation and the Organization of American States. This office will oversee coordination between our countries. And it will monitor progress - so that we can hold ourselves accountable to the goals that we establish together. Our inaugural chair, Colombia, will work closely with the Secretariat - to guide our priorities for the L.A. Declaration's implementation in 2025. This morning, as we reflect on these last two years, the impact of our collective efforts is clear - but so, too, are the complex and ongoing challenges that we face in this era of unprecedented global migration. I'm confident that together we can move toward a hemisphere where migration is a choice, made freely, pursued lawfully, and where people - all people - can live with security, dignity, and opportunity. I thank you all again for your presence today but most of all for the work we're doing every day to advance this shared agenda. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you. DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL: Thank you, Secretary Blinken, for your leadership and for the leadership of your team in advancing the shared commitments that we made. And I am struck in listening to what you've recounted by how far we have come since your leaders around this table stood on the podium in Los Angeles with President Biden and made this bold promise that we would build a system in our hemisphere in which we shared the burden and responsibility that we have taken on together and which is showing results today. And as you've now said, we also have the opportunity to institutionalize this with the establishment of the new secretariat to ensure that the leadership endures and that our agenda is sustained throughout the region going forward. So with that, I want to introduce the foreign minister of Colombia, Luis Gilberto Murillo. We are so grateful for Colombia's leadership and partnership, particularly in welcoming and integrating more than 2 million Venezuelan migrants and serving as a model for the region and indeed for the whole world. We are thrilled that Colombia is taking on this new role as the first country chair of the Los Angeles Declaration and will host next year's ministerial to ensure that this work carries forward and that it is regionally based and regionally owned. So thank you, Ambassador, Minister. Welcome. FOREIGN MINISTER MURILLO: Thank you very much, Dr. Sherwood Randall. We are really pleased with the honor to chair for the next year Los Angeles Declaration and also very pleased that we are going to have the secretariat, which is very important to moving to institutionalization of this process. We have very important progress in responding to the joint challenge of migration, particularly in terms of the Western Hemisphere under the L.A. Declaration, but still we have a lot of challenges. Colombia, as Secretary Blinken was saying, have welcomed almost 3 million Venezuelans. Of those, 2.5 million have been already regularized. And we are pleased to announce that we are working on regularization of 500,000 more that are already in Colombia, but they need to be legal in our country with the necessary possibility to move into integrating to Colombian society if that's the case. In addition to that, Colombia have evolved from being a country that welcome migrants to a country that is a transit country. But in terms of welcoming migrants, we have - in a full capacity we are - we have invested almost one point of our GDP in responding to the needs of migrants. Almost 1 million and 600,000 migrant all already receiving health services. We have almost 600,000 kids in our schools. And we do that because that's our commitment to respond to the challenge of the hemisphere. Colombia in that demonstrate the principle that we committed under L.A. Declaration. However, we need to expand ways of responding to the migrants that are already transit to Colombia. We have a trilateral mechanism with the United States and Panama to respond to the challenge of the Darien Gap, where we have almost every year around 500,000 people crossing. It is obviously reducing them - we are reducing that number. And we are working with our partners in Panama to obviously have more migration control in those areas. In addition to that, we are working on providing some Safe Mobility Offices that we agreed with the United States to facilitate their process of migrants that are willing to come to the United States through legal pathways. That office has also have been very effective so far. But we need more - obviously more work to do, join with other countries. On a bilateral basis, we are working with our Mexican partners also to respond to some of the challenges in terms of joining an effort to provide more support to Colombia in term of responding to the new challenge of having migrants that are transiting to our country. Almost 92 nationalities have been dictated to go to Colombia, and we have the challenge of responding to those extracontinental migrant that are going through our country. In finalizing, let me say that Colombia continue committed to the goals of the L.A. Declaration, and we are very excited and motivated that we are going to work with all of you - the 25 countries in term of really having a migration process that is safe, that is doing it in a orderly way, and also provide the possibility of people to have human mobility in a human way. Thank you very much. (Applause.) DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL: Thank you, Minister Murillo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With George Stephanopoulos of ABC Good Morning America US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State New York City, New York September 25, 2024 QUESTION: Okay. And thanks very much. Let's take that question to Secretary of State Antony Blinken right now. He joins us live in the studio. Do you think this can be contained? SECRETARY BLINKEN: I do, and it needs to be contained. We're working to prevent escalation. We're working to make sure this doesn't get into a full-scale war. Look, Israel has a very legitimate problem it has to solve. Right after the horrific events of October 7th, Hizballah in the north, from Lebanon, starting lobbing rockets into Israel. People who lived in northern Israel had to flee their homes - homes were destroyed; villages were destroyed - about 70,000 Israelis. Israel started responding. You have Lebanese in southern Lebanon who've also had to flee their homes. We want to see people get back to their homes. The best way to do that is through a diplomatic agreement - pulls the forces back, creates space and security so that people can get back to their homes, kids can get back to school. That's what we're working on. QUESTION: Do you have any objections to the way Israel is prosecuting the war right now? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, you've got a group in Hizballah that's a designated terrorist organization. Back in 2000, Israel got out of southern Lebanon, which it had been occupying. All of these groups, including Hizballah, were supposed to put down their weapons. Hizballah didn't do it. It attacked Israel repeatedly in the ensuing years. It created insecurity in northern Israel. And then since October 7th it's really ramped that up. So this is an important problem to solve, get people back to their homes. But the best way to do it, George, is through diplomacy. If there were a full-scale war - and we've managed to avert one until now. We've had a number of times since October 7th where we seemed to be on the verge of it. Deterrence, diplomacy by the United States prevented that from happening. But if there were to be a full-scale war, that wouldn't solve the problem. It wouldn't get people back to their homes. QUESTION: Let's talk about Ukraine and Russia right now. President Zelenskyy is going to be visiting the White House tomorrow, visiting President Biden tomorrow. He has what he's calling a victory plan. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yeah. QUESTION: He's going to unfold that tomorrow, wants permission to strike deeper inside Russia. Will he get it? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So I was in Kyiv a couple of weeks ago with President Zelenskyy. I heard parts of this plan, but he's going to present the entire plan to President Biden when he sees him this week, and we're awaiting that. Look, every step along the way since before the Russian invasion, we've tried to make sure that Ukraine had what it needed when it needed it to defend against Russian aggression. We got them Stingers, Javelins before the Russian aggression because we saw it coming. That prevented the takeover of the country, the erasing of Ukraine from the map. The Ukrainians were able to repel the Russians, push them back. Every day since, we've been working to adapt and adjust depending on the battlefield needs, what does Ukraine need in any given moment. We'll continue to do that. QUESTION: What about striking inside Russia? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, we're looking at how we can make sure that Ukraine is most effective in deterring and dealing with this Russian aggression. And they have extraordinary means at their disposal, starting with their own resilience. We're going to make sure that they have what they need to succeed. QUESTION: Yesterday former President Trump expressed serious doubts about Ukraine's ability to win this war. He also praised Russia's military saying they beat Hitler, they beat Napolean. Do you have doubts about Ukraine's ability to win this war? SECRETARY BLINKEN: No, I don't, George. And in fact, to the contrary, remember what Putin tried to do. He tried to come in and erase Ukraine from the map. He's failed in that. That is not going to succeed. The challenge now is to make sure that Ukraine can be a strong independent country that stands up militarily, economically, democratically. We're working to ensure that, and not just us - more than 50 countries. Look, and this matters. It matters to the United States. It's not just about Ukraine. We're here in New York for this UN General Assembly. The UN was created after two world wars to make sure there wouldn't be another. And one of the things that it did was it got countries together and say - to say there are basic rules of the road. One country can't simply attack another, redraw its borders by force, dictate to another country its future, its decisions. That's what's going on in Ukraine. And if we allow that to happen with impunity, if we allow those basic principles, those basic rules to be violated, then its open season. Would-be aggressors everywhere will say hey, we can get away with it too. That's a world full of conflict, not a good world for the United States. That's why, with so many other countries, we've been working to help Ukraine not only defend itself but defend these principles that are at the heart of the international system. QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, thanks, as always, for your time. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, George. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Tony Dokoupil, Nate Burleson, and Adrianna Diaz of CBS Mornings US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State New York City, New York September 25, 2024 QUESTION: We're joined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in town for the United Nations General Assembly. Mr. Secretary, good morning to you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Morning. QUESTION: Thank you very much for being here. Boy, there's only so many times you can mention escalating tensions and risks of an all-out war before it becomes cliche, but things are definitely not going in the right direction. And I think there's a philosophy question here for the U.S. to answer: Do you end all of this violence in the Middle East by putting pressure on Israel to stop on both fronts, or do you empower Israel to finish the job? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, what we've seen since the horrific attacks on October 7th are periods when we've had a real risk of escalation, a real risk of something turning into a full-blown war, including in Lebanon between Israel and Hizballah. And through diplomacy, through deterrence, we've managed to avert that in the days immediately following October 7th, more recently in April. We're focused right now on making sure that we can de-escalate, avoid a full-scale war. But Tony, Israel's got a legitimate problem here. Starting on October 8th, Hizballah in the north from southern Lebanon started lobbing rockets and missiles into Israel. People living in northern Israel had to flee their homes - about 70,000 - and Israel understandably, legitimately wants a secure environment so people can return home. The best way to get that is through diplomacy, an agreement to pull back forces, allow people to return home in northern Israel - also many Lebanese in southern Lebanon forced from their homes. We want to get people back home. The best way to do that is not war; it's diplomacy. QUESTION: So Hizballah went to their weapon systems. Hizballah began firing into Israel after October 7th SECRETARY BLINKEN: That's right. QUESTION: in allyship with Hamas and the people in Gaza. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Exactly. QUESTION: Where do ceasefire talks stand? Because that - if that is their motivation there on the Hizballah side, that's the key to making them pull back and stop. SECRETARY BLINKEN: That would certainly be one of the keys. It would be an ideal key because it would end the horrific situation in Gaza - horrific for the hostages, horrific for so many men, women, and children who've been caught in this crossfire of Hamas's making. We've been working on this ceasefire deal for a while. We have an agreement, a piece of paper that's got 18 paragraphs. Fifteen of them are agreed. The last three continue to need some work. The problem we have right now is that Hamas hasn't been engaging on it for the last couple of weeks, and Sinwar, its leader, has been talking about an endless war of attrition. Now, if he really cares about the Palestinian people, he'd bring this agreement over the finish line. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you believe that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu truly wants a ceasefire? SECRETARY BLINKEN: If we're talking about Gaza, as I said, I think hard decisions remain to be made by Israel. But the problem right now in terms of bringing this across the finish line has - is Hamas, its refusal to engage in a meaningful way. We've been at this in recent weeks again trying to get these last QUESTION: So in no part do you put blame on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So what we're seeing is this. I don't think this is a question really anymore of the substance of the agreement, because it's very close. It is a question of political will. In the first instance, that political will needs to be demonstrated by Hamas. We haven't seen it the last couple of weeks. Israel would have some hard decisions to make to bring this to a close, but we've got to see if Hamas is actually serious. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, ProPublica has determined that two agencies found that Israel is deliberately stopping humanitarian aid from getting to civilians. And as you well know, the U.S. Government says that it has to restrict supplying weapons to a country that does this type of thing. Why have we not done so? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So this is actually pretty typical. We had a report to put out on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and what Israel was doing to try to make sure that people got the assistance they needed, and I had different assessments from different parts of the State Department, from other agencies that were involved like USAID. My job is to sort through them, which I did, draw some conclusions from that, and we put out our report. And we found that Israel needed to do a better job on the humanitarian assistance. We've seen improvements since then. It's still not sufficient. QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, the man in the arena, thank you very much. Appreciate it. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good to be with you. Thanks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Savannah Guthrie of NBC Today US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State New York City, New York September 25, 2024 QUESTION: And joining us now, Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Mr. Secretary, good morning to you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning. QUESTION: Let's start right there. Donald Trump says he was briefed by intelligence officials about Iran's efforts to assassinate him. The ODNI has confirmed this. U.S. officials have. How concerned are you about this threat? And will there and should there be consequences against Iran? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, this is something we've been tracking very intensely for a long time - an ongoing threat by Iran against a number of senior officials, including former government officials like President Trump, and some people who are currently serving the administration. So it's something we take very, very seriously. We're looking at it very carefully. I don't have any further information to share, but know that we're watching this very carefully. QUESTION: Let's talk about what's going on right now in the Middle East - as you well know, a massive bombardment by Israel into the north into Hizballah territory. The Israeli theory here is escalate to de-escalate; in fact, just in essence, hit Hizballah so hard they're forced to the negotiating table. Put simply, does the U.S. support this escalation strategy by Israel? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well first, Israel has a real and legitimate problem, because here's what happened. After the horrific events of October 7th by Hamas in Israel in the south, Hizballah from Lebanon joined in and started firing rockets into Israel. People who lived in northern Israel had to evacuate their homes. Villages were destroyed. Homes were destroyed. Seventy thousand Israelis were forced from their homes. And Israel started firing back. You had a tit-for-tat going back and forth. People in southern Lebanon had to leave their homes too. And what everyone wants is to have a secure environment in which people can simply return home, kids can go back to school. That's what Israel is after. So the best way to get that is not through war, not through escalation. It would be through a diplomatic agreement that has forces pulled back from the border, create a secure environment, people return home. That's what we're driving toward. Because while there's a very legitimate issue here, we don't think that war is the solution. QUESTION: Well fair enough, but Israel is not listening to that. In fact, the U.S. defense secretary on Sunday told his Israeli counterpart to give time for diplomacy to work. And on Monday, this Israeli bombardment was the most serious, deadliest day in Lebanon since 2006. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yeah, what QUESTION: But Israel is not listening to the U.S. Why not? SECRETARY BLINKEN: What we're focused on now, including with many partners here in New York at the UN General Assembly, the Arab world, Europeans and others, is a plan to de-escalate and, again, to make sure that people can go back to their homes. But if there were to be a full-scale war - which we don't have and which we're working to avoid - that's actually not going to solve the problem. It's unlikely that people would be able to return home if there's a full-scale war going on. QUESTION: Short answer: Does the U.S. support what Israel is doing right now in terms of this escalation in order to later de-escalate and get to the negotiating table? SECRETARY BLINKEN: What we support is solving the problem of making sure that people can go home. But we believe the best way to solve it is through diplomacy, not through war. QUESTION: Why does the U.S. not have or use more leverage over Israel, its ally? We are the supplier of the bulk of its weapons of war, and yet there are countless examples - and you probably know them better than I - where Israel seems to flout what the U.S. is asking or suggesting. Why is that? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, we have a longstanding relationship and security relationship with Israel, including making sure that it has what it needs to prevent the many enemies that it has from attacking it, to deter them. And that's important to avoiding war as well. And in this instance, there is a real problem that needs to be solved. Again, from our perspective, the best way to do it is diplomatically. We're engaged with Israel on that. We're engaged with others in the region on that. And we need to, I think, find the opportunity now to stop any escalation, prevent a full-scale war, get people back to their homes. QUESTION: Should the U.S. have been given a heads-up, for example, that Israel was going to assassinate a political leader in Iran, in Tehran, or this pagers attack of last week? Shouldn't the U.S., its Israeli ally, have gotten a heads-up at that a minimum? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, it's always nice not to be surprised by the action that someone takes. Certainly that's better. But since October 7th, besides trying to make sure that October 7th never happens again, besides trying to sure that civilians in Gaza - men, women, and children who are caught in this horrific crossfire of Hamas's making - are better protected and get the assistance they need. We're - we've also been working to prevent this war from spreading, from escalating, from going to other places. That's what we're focused on now - making sure that what you're seeing in northern Israel, southern Lebanon now, doesn't become a full-scale war, and on the contrary, that we resolve the problem that Israel has. QUESTION: Can I ask about that pagers attack where Hizballah members were the targets and their - literally in their hands their pagers exploded. Some see this as a technological coup and an ingenious move by Israel. Others, including John Brennan, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who you know well, saying it's a form of terrorism and it went too far. Where do you come down on it? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, we've got to start with the proposition that Hizballah is a terrorist organization. QUESTION: No question. SECRETARY BLINKEN: So designated by the United States. And the reality is Israel left southern Lebanon. It had been occupying southern Lebanon for 15 years. It left in 2000. And all of these militia that existed there were supposed to put down their weapons. Hizballah didn't do it. And then repeatedly in the time after that, it attacked and posed a threat to people living in northern Israel. So it's very legitimate that Israel do something about Hizballah. We'd like QUESTION: No question about it. SECRETARY BLINKEN: The only question is: What's the best way to do it? QUESTION: Oh, and the tactics. SECRETARY BLINKEN: And what are the best tactics? And those are things that we're always discussing with them. But right now, our main challenge is preventing a broader war, one that actually won't solve the challenge that Israel has, and by the way the Lebanese have because they want to get their people back to their homes in southern Lebanon too. We want that too. QUESTION: In fairness, you didn't answer whether or not you approved of this particular tactic. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, you're always looking at what someone is doing, trying to figure out what the second- or third-order consequences may be. Does it open up a whole new Pandora's box? It is something we're looking at. QUESTION: Both sides, as far as the ceasefire in Gaza, do not seem very interested in a deal. It seems like the U.S. is working quite hard at it, and you have Netanyahu moving the goal posts late in the negotiations in some case, you have the Hamas leader who's also doing the very same thing. And it goes without saying it is Hamas that broke the ceasefire that existed on October 6th. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Right. QUESTION: Let's not forget that. You had said in mid August that there was - this was sort of maybe the last best chance, you said, for the deal. So in that same spirit of candor, what is the likelihood of a ceasefire deal right now? SECRETARY BLINKEN: We have a piece of paper, an agreement. It's got 18 paragraphs. Fifteen of those paragraphs have been agreed between Hamas and Israel. But what's happened over the last few weeks is Hamas has simply not been at the table, not been willing to engage on the remaining outstanding issues that, if we close them, will close the deal, will get it over the finish line. Now, Israel would have some hard decisions to make in the very end game too, so we have to look to that. QUESTION: Well, let's just say the quiet part out loud. President Biden is a lame duck president. He's not running again. Do you think that Netanyahu, Sinwar, other world leaders, are biding their time just running out the clock hoping they'll fare better in a new administration, potentially one of Donald Trump? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, I can't put myself in the minds of other leaders, other partners. I can tell you though that with the end of a term, with the end of an administration - and I've been through a few of them in the past - there's also a certain amount of freedom because - and especially for President Biden, who has been doing this for so long and so well. He knows what he wants to get accomplished. He is determined to use the months that he has left as president to run through the tape. QUESTION: So your message to anyone who perceives weakness or indecision SECRETARY BLINKEN: Our message, my message to anyone who perceives weakness, is President Biden is here till January 20th. He's going to use every single day to advance the national interest. QUESTION: Secretary of State Tony Blinken, thank you so much for your time. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Great to be with you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Senegalese President Faye US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson September 25, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matt Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye yesterday in New York. Secretary Blinken and President Faye discussed their shared commitment to democratic values, peace and security, and economic growth and prosperity. President Faye briefed the Secretary on his vision for Senegal's development and emphasized his intent to create economic opportunities for youth and to bolster food security. He also discussed his efforts to work with partners in West Africa to counter terrorism. The Secretary welcomed this update and reiterated that the United States stands with the Senegalese people as they build a more prosperous Senegal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions Former Haitian Politician and Gang Leader for Their Connections to Serious Human Rights Abuse U.S. Department of the Treasury September 25, 2024 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning a former member of Haiti's parliament, Prophane Victor, for his role in forming, supporting, and arming gangs and their members that have committed serious human rights abuse in Haiti. OFAC is also designating Luckson Elan, the current leader of the Gran Grif gang, for his involvement in serious human rights abuse related to gang activity in Haiti's Artibonite department. "Victor and Elan, through their influence over or leadership of the gangs in Haiti, have sought to perpetuate the horrific violence and instability," said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. "Treasury remains committed to holding accountable those who seek to leverage human rights abuses, violence, and corruption to achieve their political aims." Promoting accountability for gender-based violence is a top priority for the U.S. government. President Biden issued a Memorandum on Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in November 2022 that directs the U.S. government to strengthen our exercise of financial, diplomatic, and legal tools against this scourge. The UN Panel of Experts report on Haiti states that the "levels of violence and the depths of cruelty that gangs will go to in violating human rights are unprecedented, with regular indiscriminate attacks against the population and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance. Sexual and gender-based violence and rape in particular have become one of the most horrific expressions of violence over the past two years. Such violence and insecurity not only undermine the political transition, but also decimate the national economy and threaten the future of the country." Today's action targets one actor directly responsible for gender-based violence and one that has provided material support to gangs, including those that have engaged in gender-based violence as a regular practice of intimidation, control, and extortion. serious human rights abuse IN ARTIBONITE, Haiti Prophane Victor is a former Haitian legislator who started arming young men in Petite Riviere, Artibonite to secure his control over the area and his election in 2016. Those men went on to form the Gran Grif gang, which is currently the largest gang in the Artibonite department and the main perpetrator of abuses, including sexual violence. Prophane Victor materially supported Gran Grif until at least 2020. Prophane Victor has also trafficked weapons to Haiti and is known to have relationships with and provided funds to other gangs throughout Haiti, including rivals of Gran Grif. Prophane Victor's gang affiliations and material support to them contribute to the climate of terror as the gangs engage in an array of cruelty and violence, fight for control, and leave residents to pay the consequences. Luckson Elan is the current head of Gran Grif gang. Luckson Elan and other members of the Gran Grif gang are responsible for serious human rights abuse including kidnapping, murder, beating, and raping of women and children, as well as looting, destruction, extortion, hijacking, and stealing crops and livestock. The situation is especially devastating for his child victims who have been subjected to forced recruitment and sexual violence. OFAC is designating Prophane Victor pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 for being a person who has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of an entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse, where the activity is conducted by a foreign person. OFAC is designating Luckson Elan pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being a foreign person who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse. OFAC also is designating Luckson Elan pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being or having been a leader or official of an entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse relating to the leader's or official's tenure. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 13818. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. sanctions, including the factors that OFAC generally considers when determining an appropriate response to an apparent violation. Financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here. GLOBAL MAGNITSKY Building upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, E.O. 13818 was issued on December 20, 2017, in recognition that the prevalence of human rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States, had reached such scope and gravity as to threaten the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; and undermine economic markets. The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons. Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNHCR scales up support as people flee Lebanon for Syria UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 25 September 2024 GENEVA -- Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian people are fleeing Lebanon for Syria in desperation as Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate civilian lives. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is scaling up its support to the growing number of displaced people. Hundreds of vehicles are backed up in queues at the Syrian border. Many people are also arriving on foot, carrying what they can. Large crowds, including women, young children and babies are waiting in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments. "This bloodshed is extracting a terrible toll, driving tens of thousands from their homes," said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "It is yet another ordeal for families who previously fled war in Syria only now to be bombed in the country where they sought shelter. We must avoid replaying these scenes of despair and devastation. The Middle East cannot afford a new displacement crisis. Let us not create one by forcing more people to abandon their homes. Protecting civilian lives must be the priority." UNHCR and partners, including the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, are present at the border crossings, providing food, water, blankets and mattresses to those arriving, and guiding them towards support available once in Syria. The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire; the 2023 earthquake and the drawn-out conflict there have left critical infrastructure in tatters and millions in need of assistance. According to the Lebanese authorities, over 27,000 people have been displaced over the past 48 hours, and more are abandoning their homes by the minute. The latest hostilities have killed 558 people and injured 1,835. UNHCR is responding to the needs of forcibly displaced people across Lebanon, coordinating closely with the authorities and other humanitarian organizations. Our teams are on standby to help more civilians who have fled the airstrikes, providing shelter, health care and psychosocial support. Lebanon hosts an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees and over 11,000 refugees from other countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Global community to urge action on escalating Sudan crisis at UN General Assembly UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 25 September 2024 17 months of brutal conflict in Sudan have fuelled the world's worst hunger crisis At the UN General Assembly today, the United Nations and Member States will call for stepped-up action to end the war and to fast-track the humanitarian response in Sudan and the region The meeting will be livestreamed from 10 a.m. EST/2 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. CET NEW YORK - As the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan enters its 18th month, the United Nations and Member States will today call for immediate steps to be taken to protect civilians, scale up humanitarian funding and access, and end the fighting once and for all. Relentless hostilities across the country have brought misery to millions of civilians, triggering the world's fastest-growing displacement crisis. More than 10 million people have fled their homes since April 2023 - half of them children - including more than 2 million people who have sought safety in neighbouring countries. Sudan is now also the world's largest hunger crisis, with over half of the country's population - nearly 26 million people - facing high levels of acute hunger. Famine has been confirmed in North Darfur's Zamzam camp, with many other areas at risk. Nearly 5 million children and pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished. Health care and basic services have been decimated, cholera and other diseases are on the rise, and children are out of school for a second straight year. The emergency is one of the worst protection crises in recent history, with alarming levels of sexual and gender-based violence continuing to terrorize civilians, particularly women and girls. As hostilities continue unabated, humanitarian action to support millions of people in Sudan and the region has never been more urgent. Inside Sudan, underfunding, insecurity and restricted humanitarian access continue to hamper efforts to scale up response efforts. Neighbouring countries - despite already grappling with chronic underfunding and large displaced populations before the Sudan conflict - have continued to welcome Sudanese refugees. More support is needed to help host governments provide essential protection and critical life-saving assistance to the new arrivals. Today's ministerial meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York is being co-hosted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency - alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States of America, the African Union, and the European Union. Together, they will outline the devastating human toll if the international community fails to take urgent and collective action to stem the humanitarian crisis and stop the fighting in Sudan. The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Sudan seeks US$2.7 billion to help 14.7 million people until the end of this year. It is currently less than half funded, at 49 per cent. This year's Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan requires $1.5 billion to support 3.3 million refugees, returnees and host communities in seven countries neighbouring Sudan. It is currently just 25 per cent funded. The Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, said: "People in Sudan have endured 17 months of hell, and the suffering continues to grow. Thousands of civilians have been killed, entire communities displaced and deprived of food, families scattered, children traumatized, women raped and abused. Decisive international action is urgent. We need humanitarian access to everyone in need, through all necessary routes, ramped-up funding for the response, ironclad commitments to protect civilians, and most of all, real and inclusive steps to end this ruinous war." said: "People in Sudan have endured 17 months of hell, and the suffering continues to grow. Thousands of civilians have been killed, entire communities displaced and deprived of food, families scattered, children traumatized, women raped and abused. Decisive international action is urgent. We need humanitarian access to everyone in need, through all necessary routes, ramped-up funding for the response, ironclad commitments to protect civilians, and most of all, real and inclusive steps to end this ruinous war." The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said: "This brutal war has uprooted millions of people, forcing them to leave their homes, schools and jobs behind in search of safety. Countries neighbouring Sudan are generously hosting a rising number of refugees, but cannot shoulder that responsibility alone. People need humanitarian aid now and support to rebuild their lives. Meaningful peace efforts are also urgently needed so people can eventually return home. The stability of the whole region hangs in the balance." said: "This brutal war has uprooted millions of people, forcing them to leave their homes, schools and jobs behind in search of safety. Countries neighbouring Sudan are generously hosting a rising number of refugees, but cannot shoulder that responsibility alone. People need humanitarian aid now and support to rebuild their lives. Meaningful peace efforts are also urgently needed so people can eventually return home. The stability of the whole region hangs in the balance." The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has spared no effort in supporting the Sudanese people since the beginning of the crisis. This includes our contribution to the establishment of a humanitarian hub for the World Food Programme in Jeddah, which serves as a centre for storing and sending aid to Sudan and neighbouring countries affected by the crisis. It is critically important to restore humanitarian operations, protect civilians and aid workers, and ensure the safety of humanitarian corridors for the delivery of essential aid." said: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has spared no effort in supporting the Sudanese people since the beginning of the crisis. This includes our contribution to the establishment of a humanitarian hub for the World Food Programme in Jeddah, which serves as a centre for storing and sending aid to Sudan and neighbouring countries affected by the crisis. It is critically important to restore humanitarian operations, protect civilians and aid workers, and ensure the safety of humanitarian corridors for the delivery of essential aid." The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Badr Abdelatty, said: "The Government of Egypt is committed to ending the conflict in Sudan, ensuring humanitarian assistance, and the protection of civilians. Collective action to preserve the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan is a must." said: "The Government of Egypt is committed to ending the conflict in Sudan, ensuring humanitarian assistance, and the protection of civilians. Collective action to preserve the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan is a must." The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States of America, H.E. Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said: "The war in Sudan has created the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth, and as leaders gather in New York, the country is on the verge of a generational famine. The United States has worked tirelessly with partners to negotiate life-saving humanitarian access across conflict lines and borders and mediate an end to the violence. The international community must redouble efforts to arrest this spiral of death and destruction. The Sudanese people deserve nothing less." said: "The war in Sudan has created the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth, and as leaders gather in New York, the country is on the verge of a generational famine. The United States has worked tirelessly with partners to negotiate life-saving humanitarian access across conflict lines and borders and mediate an end to the violence. The international community must redouble efforts to arrest this spiral of death and destruction. The Sudanese people deserve nothing less." The African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, H.E. Ambassador Cessouma Minata Samate , said: "The African Union (AU) has committed US$11 million in 2024, including $7 million from the AU Peace Fund, to support peace and stability in Africa. This funding will aid humanitarian efforts for Sudan and its neighbours hosting refugees, and back Sudan's peace process. The AU condemns the ongoing conflict in Sudan, urging swift action to protect lives and infrastructure." , said: "The African Union (AU) has committed US$11 million in 2024, including $7 million from the AU Peace Fund, to support peace and stability in Africa. This funding will aid humanitarian efforts for Sudan and its neighbours hosting refugees, and back Sudan's peace process. The AU condemns the ongoing conflict in Sudan, urging swift action to protect lives and infrastructure." The EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, H.E. Mr. Janez Lenarcic, said: "The situation in Sudan can now only be described as a humanitarian disaster of the highest level. All sides are committing atrocities, as recently confirmed by the United Nations fact-finding mission. The war, now in its second year, has pushed parts of North Darfur into famine conditions, with the situation expected to deteriorate. Atrocities, and famine, are the results of conflict: I reiterate my call on all parties to the conflict to explore all possible ways to resolve it, while at the same time respecting international humanitarian law. To help address the repercussions of war, I have requested from the EU's Budgetary Authority to approve additional humanitarian funding for Sudan and its neighbouring countries." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan: extension of transitional government will compound dire human rights crisis if leaders do not change course - UN experts United Nations Human Rights Council 25 September 2024 JUBA/GENEVA -- The further two-year extension of South Sudan's transitional government is in large measure due to the failure by the country's transitional political leaders to conscientiously implement the revitalised peace agreement, whose key provisions have the potential to consolidate peace, uphold human rights protections, and transform the country, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said today. On Saturday 21 September, the Transitional Constitution was amended, to extend by another two years the transitional governance arrangements in place under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Beyond delaying elections, the extension further defers action on human rights and peace. "Since independence in 2011, South Sudan's unelected leaders have continued to entrench impunity for systematic and gross human rights violations, fuel insecurity, and deliberately thwart efforts to democratise the country," said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission. "Addressing civil, political, and socio-economic rights is a core obligation of all governments, yet South Sudan's leaders have failed to fulfil these obligations. The challenges to a peaceful transition to democracy are not insurmountable if one implements the Revitalised Agreement as it was envisaged. However, the delays and unwillingness to compromise reflect the preoccupations of a predatory elite most concerned with remaining in power, and enriching themselves from the country's vast oil and other wealth. A flagrant disregard for the plight of their own citizens is a testament to unaccountable leaders not having the political will to respect and protect human rights," said Commissioner Sooka. "Across the country, South Sudanese face incredible economic and social hardships, and have shared with our Commission their deep sense of betrayal and helplessness. Meanwhile, their leaders have saddled current and future generations with unsustainable levels of debt to foreign entities, undermining popular aspirations for prosperity, peace and democracy," continued Sooka. "In the six years since the Revitalized Agreement was adopted, the main political parties have had sufficient time to implement its key provisions. But they have squandered the goodwill and practical advice of the African Union, IGAD and the international community, as well as the desperate hopes of citizens." The Commission observed that the delay by South Sudanese leadership to pursue peace has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, characterized by extreme hunger and food insecurity, and the displacement of more than four million South Sudanese both in the country and the region. In South Sudan, the basic needs of nine million people are unmet, equating to around three quarters of the population, while the humanitarian assistance levels are insufficient, with vulnerable women and children most profoundly affected. The Commission noted that despite the last two-year extension of the Revitalized Agreement in August 2022, most critical tasks remain unimplemented, including the comprehensive unification of armed forces and their deployment, development of a permanent constitution, establishment of rule of law and transitional justice mechanisms, and credible electoral arrangements. All these are the minimum requirements for good governance, to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights to prevent further violations, as well as being the pathway for South Sudan's durable recovery from devastating conflict. Commissioner Barney Afako observed that, "South Sudan faces a maelstrom of interlinked crises. Damage to one of the oil export pipelines, linked to war in Sudan, has significantly reduced national revenue at a time when South Sudan hosts hundreds of thousands of newly displaced persons, including Sudanese refugees. South Sudan is also at the frontline of the climate crisis, with both flooding and drought adding to widespread deprivations and prolonged displacement. In the face of these multiple challenges, South Sudan cannot afford to endure more business as usual. Its political leaders must finally and urgently invest in delivering tangible democratic, protection and human rights outcomes." "The latest two-year extension envisages 'austerity measures' - but this is in a context where most most civil servants are already unpaid, while schools, health clinics and courts are not even receiving their woefully inadequate budget allocations," stated Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernandez. "The vast theft of national revenue and its criminal diversion continues even with the interruption to oil exports this year. South Sudanese want to see where their national revenue is going. They want to see the resources supporting services essential to building a democracy, such as reliable law enforcement and administration of justice institutions, to address conflicts, violence and corruption, and resolve disputes through adjudication. With a dysfunctional justice system, the denial of the right of access to justice perpetuates impunity to the detriment of the most vulnerable groups, including women subjected to endemic sexual violence, and children abducted into enslavement or armed violence." Earlier this month, lawmakers submitted two bills to the President that would enable the establishment of a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing alongside a Compensation and Reparation Authority, as envisaged under the Revitalized Agreement. The Commission notes that while these bills represent an important step towards dealing with the past and responding to victims, the content of the bills has not yet been made public, and there are no known measures for open and broad-based public and victims awareness and participation in consultations, which is an existing requirement both domestically and internationally. The concerns shared by victims' groups and civil society on the lack of transparency and meaningful consultations must be addressed in implementation, starting with the critical process of selecting independent and impartial members of the independent bodies, to ensure the credibility and legitimacy of the truth-seeking and reparation processes. Since the original commitment to establish a Hybrid Court in 2015, the Government has failed to engage seriously with the African Union to establish it. Without a functioning Hybrid Court, there is little prospect that South Sudan will build an effective criminal justice system and a culture of accountability. Impunity for gross human rights violations has become entrenched, as evidenced by the lack of accountability for egregious violations across the country, with ongoing grotesque violations including widespread killings, sexual violence, abductions, and trafficking - continuing in the climate of near absolute impunity, and visiting immense suffering on South Sudanese communities. In a move that will further empower and embolden State repression, in July 2024 the Government adopted legislation preserving powers of detention routinely abused by the National Security Service, which maintains clandestine 'ghost houses' of torture and enforced disappearances. The determination of the President to keep this repressive legislation, despite pleas for revisions from several national, regional and international entities, including this Commission, reflects a troubling disregard for the basic rights of the people of South Sudan, and bodes ill for the prospects of a peaceful transition and credible elections. It is imperative that South Sudanese should be enabled to finally choose their leaders, participating in an an inclusive transformative processes such as making a permanent constitution and dealing with accountability for the past, which are preconditions for building a democratic and stable society. The Government should also ensure an inclusive and participatory process in regard to the peace processes, including through the ongoing Tumaini Initiative. More than ever, South Sudanese desperately need their leaders to become responsive to their rights, needs, and aspirations, otherwise the country's transition is in peril, with potential for catastrophic consequences. The members of the Commission urge the African Union, IGAD and the international community to continue their support to South Sudan and to hold the country's leadership to account for the implementation of the outstanding tasks linked to the transition. It also urges that the processes that remain are transparent, and provide opportunities for public participation in all their aspects, guaranteeing the safety and security of all. // END // NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan crisis: Top ministers meet in New York in call for concerted action 25 September 2024 - With war raging in Sudan and no end in sight to the catastrophic hunger crisis it has created, UN agencies and Member States meeting at the General Assembly in New York on Wednesday prepared to issue a renewed call for urgent action to protect the country's people. The development comes almost 18 months since rival militaries started fighting each other in Sudan, forcing more than 10 million people from their homes - half of them children. "People in Sudan have endured 17 months of hell, and the suffering continues to grow," said the UN's top relief official Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. "Thousands of civilians have been killed, entire communities displaced and deprived of food, families scattered, children traumatized, women raped and abused. Decisive international action is urgent. We need humanitarian access to everyone in need, through all necessary routes, ramped-up funding for the response, ironclad commitments to protect civilians, and most of all, real and inclusive steps to end this ruinous war." Difficult diplomacy Repeated warnings from UN humanitarians and appeals for an end to the hostilities from the Security Council have not halted the violence, although US-led peace talks in Switzerland in August with mediators from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates resulted in commitments to boost aid access from neighbouring Chad in the west and from Port Sudan in the east. The emergency is now the world's largest hunger crisis, according to UN humanitarians, who have warned that nearly 26 million people are already acutely hungry across Sudan. US pledges $242 million in new assistance Speaking at the high-level Ministerial side event in New York, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that many civilians "are in famine, some reduced to eating leaves and dirt to stave off hunger pains, but not starvation." "I feel, as I know all of you must, a sense of shame and embarrassment that this is happening on our watch. Of course, none of this just simply happened. This humanitarian catastrophe is a man made one brought on by a senseless war that has wrought unspeakable violence and by heartless blockades of food, water and medicine for those made victims of it, the rape and torture, ethnic cleansing, weaponization of hunger, it is utterly unconscionable." She said compassion fatigue must not win out: "In this moment, the international community needs to do everything in our power, in our power to silence the guns and massively scale up aid." OCHA's Ms. Msuya told the event that despite the "courageous efforts of local and international humanitarian organizations, we simply cannot deliver adequate levels of assistance. Let us not be here again in one year's time, lamenting another 12 months of death, destruction and unbearable suffering. Today, let us commit to taking urgent concrete steps to protect and support civilians in Sudan." Death toll warning "Without urgent assistance, hundreds of thousands could die," the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said, at a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday. The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, noted that famine has been confirmed in North Darfur's Zamzam camp, but "many other areas" are at risk. A staggering near five million children and pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished, latest assessments show. Sickness stalks weakest Disease is also spreading rapidly among malnourished communities whose immune systems have been laid low. "Health care and basic services have been decimated, cholera and other diseases are on the rise, and children are out of school for a second straight year," the UN agencies said in a statement. "The emergency is one of the worst protection crises in recent history, with alarming levels of sexual and gender-based violence continuing to terrorize civilians, particularly women and girls." In addition to the threat posed by ongoing heavy fighting, humanitarians have struggled to ramp up lifesaving relief deliveries because of restricted aid access and chronic underfunding. Of the $2.7 billion required to help 14.7 million people inside Sudan until the end of this year, funding is currently at just 49 per cent. The $1.5 billion appeal to help 3.3 million refugees from Sudan in seven neighbouring countries is only 25 per cent funded. Refugee agency appeal "This brutal war has uprooted millions of people, forcing them to leave their homes, schools and jobs behind in search of safety," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. "Countries neighbouring Sudan are generously hosting a rising number of refugees, but cannot shoulder that responsibility alone. People need humanitarian aid now and support to rebuild their lives. Meaningful peace efforts are also urgently needed so people can eventually return home. The stability of the whole region hangs in the balance." These and other challenges will be discussed at ministerial level at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, co-hosted by OCHA, UNHCR, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the US, the African Union and the European Union. All have underscored their support for the people of Sudan and a peaceful resolution to the crisis. "For over 500 days, the Sudanese people have been bearing the brunt of this war, feeling forgotten and abandoned by the world," said WFP spokesperson Leni Kinzli. "They are still holding on to the hope that one day they can return to their lives together. We owe it to the Sudanese people to step up collective action and prevent mass-scale starvation." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ongoing war in Gaza will set children and young people's education back by up to five years, report suggests UNRWA 25 Sep 2024 The ongoing war in Gaza will set children and young people's education back by up to five years and risks creating a lost generation of permanently traumatised Palestinian youth, a new study warns. The report, by a team of academics working in partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), is the first to comprehensively quantify the war's toll on learning since it began in October 2023. It also details the devastating impact on children, young people and teachers, supported by new accounts from frontline staff and aid workers. The study was a joint undertaking involving UNRWA and researchers at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge and the Centre for Lebanese Studies. It shows that Gaza's children have already lost 14 months of education since 2019 due to COVID-19, earlier Israeli military operations, and the current war. On this basis and using information such as global post-COVID-19 education recovery data, the researchers model several potential futures for Gaza's younger generation, depending on when the war ends and how quickly the education system is restored. The most optimistic prediction - assuming an immediate ceasefire and rapid international effort to rebuild the education system - is that students will lose two years of learning. If the fighting continues until 2026, the losses could stretch to five years. This does not account for the additional effects of trauma, famine and forcible displacement, all of which are deepening Gaza's education crisis. Without urgent, large-scale international support for education, the researchers suggest that there is a significant threat not just to students' learning, but their overall faith in the future and in concepts such as human rights. Despite this, the study shows that education has been deprioritised in international aid efforts, in favour of other areas. "Education, simply put, is not seen as lifesaving," the report warns. Professor Pauline Rose, Director of the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre, University of Cambridge, said: "Palestinian education is under attack in Gaza. Israeli military operations have had a significant effect on learning." "As well as planning for how we rebuild Gaza's shattered education system, there is an urgent need to get educational support for children now. Education is a right for all young people. We have a collective responsibility to protect it." According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 10,600 children and 400 teachers had been killed in Israeli military operations by August 2024, and more than 15,300 students and 2,400 teachers injured. Hundreds of thousands of young people have been displaced and are living in shelters. Satellite images analysed by the Occupied Palestinian Territory Education Cluster have verified that over 90 per cent of schools have been damaged, many beyond repair. Since August, UNRWA has provided education in the shelters, reaching about 8,000 children, but the study warns that much more is needed to mitigate lost learning, which was already considerable following COVID-19. The researchers calculate that 14 months of lost schooling so far have increased "learning poverty" - the proportion of children unable to read a basic text by age 10 - by at least 20 percentage points. The accurate figure may be even higher, as the calculation does not account for the wider impacts of the war on children and teachers. The study draws together information from different sources and includes a comprehensive involvement of the Education Cluster and Cluster partners sharing their inputs, challenges and progress to enrich the report. The report provides a comprehensive overview of those broader effects. It highlights the devastating psychological consequences for Palestinian children who were already living "in constant fear and lack of hope" after 17 years of blockade, according to a 2022 report by Save The Children. Professor Maha Shuayb, Director of the Centre for Lebanese Studies, said: "Young people's prospects in Gaza are being extinguished and our findings show that with it they are losing hope. Education is central to stabilising that spiral of decline. If it is simply erased, the consequences will be far-reaching." Save The Children has estimated that more than 10 children per day have lost limbs since the war began. The report warns of rising numbers of less visible disabilities, which will put further strain on an education system ill-equipped to support children with special needs. The study suggests that continuous shock and suffering are now shaping children's outlook and world views. Interviewees reported some children questioning values such as equality, human rights and tolerance when these are taught in the shelters. "This is a full generation of trauma," one humanitarian aid official said; "it will take a generation to overcome it." The report highlights the immense suffering teachers and counsellors have endured physically and mentally. The killings, displacement and daily realities of life during war have taken a tremendous toll on their ability to engage meaningfully in education and will, it says, adversely affect reconstruction efforts. Professor Yusuf Sayed, from the University of Cambridge, said: "It is important to recognise teachers and counsellors have, like the rest of the population, suffered immensely. There is evidence of extraordinary commitment from educators striving to maintain learning, but inevitably the deprivation, killings and hardship are affecting their ability to do so." Despite a flash appeal from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the analysis shows that just 3.5 per cent of aid for Gaza has been invested in education. Major donors like the US and Germany have neglected education in their aid packages, and blockades continue to hinder the delivery of resources on the ground. Without more funding and access to learning, structured play and other forms of support, the report warns, the long-term repercussions for Gaza's next generation will only worsen. It calls for immediate steps focusing on the resumption of education, which include providing counselling, safe learning spaces, and support for students and educators with disabilities. It also calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to occupation, in line with the International Court of Justice advisory opinion and UN recently-adopted resolution, as only then can Gaza's education system be rebuilt. This will require a focus on recruiting more teachers and counsellors to cope with the scale of learning loss and trauma suffered by children and young people. "Education is the only asset the Palestinian people have not been dispossessed of. They have proudly invested in the education of their children in the hope for a better future. Today, more than 625,000 deeply traumatised school-aged children are living in the rubble in Gaza. Bringing them back to learning should be our collective priority. Failing to do that will not only lead to a lost generation but also sow the seeds for more extremism, hatred and violence", said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner General. The study also stresses that Palestinians themselves must lead the education recovery. "A ceasefire is the key for the success of any human development activity in Gaza, including education," the authors write. "Children have seen that the international community will sit idly by as they are killed. This has left them with questions about values that schools and learning aim to instil around humanitarian principles that teachers will have to navigate." The full report, Palestinian Education Under Attack in Gaza: Restoration, Recovery, Rights and Responsibilities in and through Education, is now available online. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary-General's message to the Ministerial Meeting: "Building on Progress to Restore Security in Haiti" United Nations Secretary-General New York 25 September 2024 Delivered by the Chef de Cabinet, Courtenay Rattray I am pleased to send my greetings to this high-level event to spur progress on security in Haiti. The crisis in Haiti is a protracted human tragedy with a long and well-known history. It is one of the most disastrous humanitarian situations in the world. The international community has a responsibility to step up to support the Haitian people in their efforts to restore stability. Recently, we have seen some progress in putting transitional governance structures in place - a vital step on the way to inclusive democracy and the rule of law. But the Haitian people are still subjected to egregious human rights abuses by gangs. Young women and girls continue to suffer appalling levels of sexual violence and abuse. During the first half of this year, the United Nations documented 3,638 homicides -- an increase of nearly 74 percent over 2023. Despite the imposition of the arms embargo in October 2023, gangs and other non-State actors continue to procure arms and ammunition illicitly. The first deployments of the Multinational Security Support mission - the MSS - are a positive step. I commend Kenya for its leadership as well as those countries that have pledged to contribute with personnel, equipment, and necessary logistical resources. I also commend countries that have contributed to the Trust Fund for the mission, set up by the Secretary-General in accordance with the request of the Security Council. The fund now stands at $85.3 million. However, funding for the mission, and for the Haitian National Police, remains totally inadequate. I urge all those who have made financial commitments to deliver on them urgently. We must keep working to mobilize sufficient resources for the mission, and for the humanitarian response in Haiti. Close to 703,000 people have been displaced and more than 5 million Haitians are food insecure - almost half of the population. There is an urgent need for resources to support humanitarian efforts. The Humanitarian Needs Response Plan for Haiti, totaling $674 million, is currently only 39 per cent funded. Excellencies, A durable solution to the current crisis can only come from a political process that restores democratic institutions through elections. Improving security is crucial to creating the conditions necessary for these elections. The UN will not waver in its commitment to Haiti. We continue to support the transition process, in line with the mandate of our current mission, BINUH - the UN Integrated Office in Haiti. I also welcome CARICOM's support to the Haitian-led efforts and its cooperation with BINUH. Like people everywhere, Haitians demand and deserve to live in dignity, free from the threat of violence. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council - on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Leadership for Peace United Nations Secretary-General New York 25 September 2024 Mr. President, Excellencies, I thank the government of Slovenia for convening this high-level debate on Leadership for Peace. The topic is rooted in a fundamental truth: Peace is never automatic. Peace demands action. And peace demands leadership. Instead, we're seeing deepening geo-political divisions and mistrust. Impunity is spreading, with repeated violations of international law and the UN Charter. Conflicts are multiplying, becoming more complex and deadlier. All regions are affected. And civilians are paying the steepest price. From Gaza to Ukraine to Sudan and beyond wars grind on, suffering grows, hunger deepens, lives are upended, and the legitimacy and effectiveness of the United Nations, and this Council, are undermined. Mr. President, Excellencies, Leadership for peace requires action in at least two key areas. First leadership for peace means all Member States living up to their commitments in the UN Charter, in international law and in recent agreements such as the Pact for the Future. Among other things, the Pact calls for strengthening tools and frameworks to prevent conflict, sustain peace and advance sustainable development, with the full, equal and meaningful participation of women. It calls for updating our tools for peace operations to allow for more agile, tailored responses to existing, emerging and future challenges. It reinforces the commitment to all human rights civil, political, economic, social and cultural. It includes initiatives around disarmament, peacebuilding, and managing threats posed by lethal autonomous weapons and artificial intelligence and in new domains, including outer space and cyberspace. It calls for measures to quickly address complex global shocks. And it contains a new push to reform key institutions of global governance, including the global financial architecture and this very Council. The Pact is a down-payment on these reforms. But we will need strong political will to implement them, and rebuild the legitimacy and effectiveness of this Council. Which brings me to my second point about leadership for peace. Leadership for peace means ensuring that the UN Security Council acts in a meaningful way to ease global tensions and help address the conflicts that are inflicting so much suffering around the world. Geopolitical divisions continue to block effective solutions. A united Council can make a tremendous difference for peace. A divided Council cannot. It is imperative that Council Members spare no effort to work together to find common ground. And it has proven capable of doing so in some key areas. From currently overseeing 11 peacekeeping operations on three continents, involving nearly 70,000 uniformed peacekeeping personnel... To resolutions that help keep vital humanitarian aid flowing to the world's hotspots... To the landmark Resolution 2719, which provides for African-Union led peace support operations authorized by the Council to have access to UN assessed contributions... To the groundbreaking Resolutions that recognized the clear implications of peace and security challenges on the lives of women and youth... To this Council's growing ties to regional and sub-regional organizations to foster consensus and peace. These examples and more prove that forging peace is possible. When we consider the most difficult and intractable conflicts on this Council's agenda, peace can seem an impossible dream. But I strongly believe that peace is possible if we stick to principles. Peace in Ukraine is possible. By following the UN Charter and abiding by international law. Peace in Gaza is possible. By sparing no effort for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution. Peace in Sudan is possible. By sending a clear message to the warring parties that all Members of this Council including the five permanent Members will not tolerate the horrific violence and desperate humanitarian crisis being unleashed on innocent civilians. Mr. President, Excellencies, The situations on this Council's agenda are complex and do not have quick fixes. But the scale of the challenge should not deter us. Our only hope for progress on peace is active collaboration and unity among Council Members. Today, I call on all Members to live up to this great responsibility, and to the promise of the UN Charter. Contribute to this Council's success not its diminishment. Let's ensure that this Council serves as an effective and representative forum for peace today and in the years to come. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council on the situation in Lebanon United Nations Secretary-General New York 25 September 2024 Madam President, Excellencies, Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon. As I told the General Assembly yesterday, we should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. Of course, the Blue Line has seen tensions for years. But since October, exchanges of fire have expanded in scope, depth, and intensity. Hizbullah and other non-state armed groups in Lebanon and the Israel Defense Forces have exchanged fire on an almost daily basis - with Hizbullah indicating that they would require a ceasefire in Gaza to cease hostilities. The exchanges of fire have been in repeated violation of Security Council resolution 1701. The daily use of weapons by non-State armed groups is in violation of Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701. Lebanese sovereignty must be respected and the Lebanese state must have full control of weapons throughout Lebanese territory. We support all efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces. Madam President, Since October, nearly 200,000 people within Lebanon and over 60,000 from northern Israel have fled their homes. Many lives have been lost. All this must stop. The communities of northern Israel and southern Lebanon must be able to return to their homes, and live in safety and security, without fear. Madam President, Since the emergency Council session on Lebanon on 20 September - in the wake of the remote detonation of pagers and hand-held radios used by Hizbullah across Lebanon - hostilities have escalated dramatically. The past weekend saw heavy exchanges of fire endangering civilians on both sides of the Blue Line -- with Israel Defense Forces striking approximately 400 Hizbullah targets in Lebanon, while Hizbullah launched hundreds of missiles, rockets and drones into northern Israel. Monday was the bloodiest day in Lebanon in a generation. The Israel Defense Forces said that it struck some 1,600 Hizbullah targets. Many civilians were killed, and many, many more were injured. Since then, Israel continued its deadly strikes across Lebanon, including in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Hizbullah targets. Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health reported that 569 people were killed on Monday and Tuesday -- including 50 children and 94 women. Over 1,800 people were injured. Lebanese authorities report a total of 1,247 deaths since October. Two colleagues from UNHCR were among those killed in yesterday's bombing. Today, further strikes killed at least another 50 people and injured more than 200. Meanwhile, roads are clogged as families desperately seek safety. Many are stranded at the Beirut airport. The Ministry of Interior of Lebanon has reported that over 90,000 people have fled southern and eastern Lebanon towards Beirut and the northwest, with 30,000 people in shelters. At least $170 million are needed to respond to growing numbers of displaced and mounting humanitarian needs. Madam President, The people of Israel have endured also repeated attacks from Hizbullah and others. According to Israeli officials, since last October, more than 8,300 rockets, around 1500 anti-tank missiles and hundreds of explosive unmanned aerial vehicles have targeted Israel -- with 49 Israeli deaths and hundreds injured. Hizbullah continues to launch drone and increasingly high calibre missile and rocket attacks on military targets and residential areas in Israel. Earlier today, they launched a ballistic missile targeting Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv. The ongoing rocket attacks have injured several people in Israel, with homes and other structures damaged. Madam President, Diplomatic efforts have intensified to achieve a temporary ceasefire - allowing for delivery of humanitarian relief and paving the way for the resumption of more durable peace. We fully support these efforts. Earlier this week, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon - Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert - travelled to Israel for consultations, underscoring that military escalation is in no one's interest. The Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL - General Aroldo Lazaro - has continued his close engagement with the parties, supporting humanitarian access wherever possible and continuing to urge immediate de-escalation. Despite the dangerous conditions, our peacekeepers remain in position. To mitigate the risk to mission personnel, most civilian personnel have temporarily relocated north of the Litani River. A few critical staff members remain in the mission's area of operations, together with the Blue Helmets. I want to reiterate our sincere gratitude to our peacekeepers - civilian and military - who serve along the Blue Line, as well as to all the troop-contributing-countries. Madam President, I implore the Council to work in lock-step to help put out this fire. The parties must immediately return to a cessation of hostilities and take real action towards full implementation of resolutions 1559 and 1701. Civilians must be protected. Civilian infrastructure must not be targeted. The safety and security of all UN personnel and assets must be ensured. International law must be respected. To all sides, let us say in one clear voice: Stop the killing and destruction. Tone down the rhetoric and threats. Step back from the brink. An all-out war must be avoided at all costs. It would surely be an all-out catastrophe. The people of Lebanon - as well as the people of Israel - and the people of the world - cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza. And I thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Air Combat Command activates 3 Air Task Force units Published Sept. 25, 2024 By 1st Lt. Michael Caggiano Air Combat Command JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) -- Air Combat Command held an Assumption of Command ceremony for three Air Task Force units of action assigned to ACC at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Sept. 23. The ceremony, presided over by Lt. Gen. Michael Koscheski, deputy commander of ACC, marked the official activation of ACC's ATFs. ATFs are the next step the Air Force is taking toward Combat Wings as units of action to present to combatant commands. "This is a GPC-era defining event," Koscheski said. "This will start us on a journey creating a definable and sustainable force presentation model for the United States Air Force. With the ultimate goal of Combat Wings, ATFs will serve as pathfinders; helping the Air Force understand the necessary support and training Airmen will need to succeed under the Combat Wing concept. "These ATFs represent a significant milestone in ACC's journey towards modernization and readiness," Koscheski said. "They will lay the groundwork to ensure our force maintains its competitive advantage over our pacing challenge." Air Force leaders identified a need for cohesive and flexible units of action to be able to operate in contested environments with agility. ATFs are designed so that roughly 400 Airmen can train together as teams at separate bases prior to deploying, ensuring maximum capability and unit familiarization at the start of the deployment. The ACC ATFs are: 13th ATF, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, commanded by Col. Benjamin Donberg 22nd ATF, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, commanded by Col. William Watkins 23rd ATF, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, commanded by Col. Bradley Baker The ATF locations were selected based on the ability of a host installation to support with current personnel and infrastructure. The commanders of these ATFs were selected directly by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and their respective command chiefs were selected by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi. Throughout the global war on terror, the Air Force had been using a crowd-source model to fill deployment billets, essentially taking Airmen from across the Air Force and putting them together for the first time at a deployed location. As the threat evolves and the Air Force enters an era of Great Power Competition, a more agile and capable force presentation is required. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Deploys US Navy 25 September 2024 From Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs NORFOLK, Va. -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed Naval Station Norfolk for a regularly scheduled deployment, Sept. 23. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS Stout (DDG 55) will join the Harry S. Truman and guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), to conduct a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the commitment and power projection capability of the Navy's globally deployed force. "This deployment comes on the heels of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group's nine-month mission that highlighted the need for continuity in our sustained presence amid escalating international tensions," said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. "The Truman Carrier Strike Group will contribute to the ongoing training and combat readiness of our naval forces. The operational experience gained through these deployments is invaluable for maintaining a deep bench of skilled warfighters with trust and confidence in their system's reliability, adaptability, and lethality in a rapidly changing security environment." The Italian Navy Carlo Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carabiniere (F 593) is expected to join the strike group and support operations and exercises during portions of the deployment. HSTCSG practiced interchangeability and transfer of authority with Carabiniere during the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in August. "Over 6,500 Sailors of the Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group have put in a tremendous effort to train and prepare to demonstrate the combat power and flexibility of our U.S. Naval forces and the warfighting advantage they bring anywhere in the world," said Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander HSTCSG. "We are looking forward to operations in the SIXTH Fleet area of operations and to working with our Allies and partners to continue building interoperability and deter potential adversaries and threats." The deployment follows months of intense training and preparation, including the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) and various underway training exercises such as Group Sail and COMPTUEX. "At the heart of the Carrier Strike Group is the aircraft carrier, and this impressive warship remains the cornerstone of the Navy's forward presence through sea control and power projection capabilities," said Capt. Dave Snowden, commanding officer of Harry S. Truman. "I'm incredibly proud of our Team Truman and Tarbox Sailors and their warfighting spirit and professionalism that brings our ship and flight deck to life." Throughout its 26 years of service, Harry S. Truman has deployed nine times to support critical missions and numerous operations and played a pivotal role in the United States' commitment to ensuring a free and open international order that promotes security and prosperity. The squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 embarked aboard Harry S. Truman include: - The "Red Rippers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 - The "Pukin' Dogs" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143 - The "Sunliners" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 - The "Knighthawks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 - The "Main Battery" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 144 - The "Seahawks" of Control Squadron (VAW) 126 - The "Proud Warriors" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72 - The "Dragonslayers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11 - A detachment from the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 4 Ships of DESRON 28 include the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Stout and USS Jason Dunham. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Force Command Norfolk, U.S. Second Fleet Join 2024 Tri-Party in Halifax: Focuses on Arctic Defense and Homeland Security US Navy 25 September 2024 From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet NORFOLK, Va. -- Vice Adm. Doug Perry, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet (C2F) and Joint Force Command Norfolk, joins leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Canadian Joint Task Force Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the 2024 Tri-Party Staff Talks. The Tri-Party Staff Talks, established in 2015, bring together key maritime forces to enhance collaboration and ensure interoperability between U.S. and Canadian forces. The discussions center on joint operations, intelligence sharing, and defense strategy, particularly in the North Atlantic and Arctic. As Second Fleet leads naval operations in the western Atlantic, Perry's dual role with NATO adds further significance to the talks, underscoring the need for seamless coordination among Allied forces. "Our mission is clear, to safeguard the Atlantic and Arctic, maintain maritime security, and ensure free and open access to international waters," said Perry. "These talks enhance our joint capabilities as we confront emerging challenges, including the protection of undersea infrastructure and rising competition in the Arctic." This year's talks will address several pressing issues. A primary focus is the growing importance of Arctic operations as the region has increased activity. The Tri-Party will evaluate strategies for improving Arctic domain awareness, enhancing cold-weather capabilities, and refining joint responses to potential security threats. The 2024 Tri-Party staff talks also provide an opportunity to review joint exercises held earlier this year. Operation Nanook (OP NANOOK) 2024, conducted from August 15-27, brought together the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Danish Navy for exercise operations in the Arctic waters near Nuuk, Greenland. These exercises included maritime interdiction training, gunnery drills, and search-and-rescue simulations that tested the forces' ability to operate in harsh Arctic conditions. "Operation Nanook proved that our joint forces are ready to meet the challenges of the Arctic environment," said Perry. "It also strengthened our collaboration with Canada and other NATO partners. Second Fleet is a premier fighting force, and we will continue to demonstrate this to the world. We are adaptable, flexible and above all, ready to fight." Additionally, Tri-Party members conducted Frontier Sentinel 2024 in June; a tabletop exercise focused on refining operational procedures for defending undersea infrastructure. These exercises highlight the need for enhanced communication and operational alignment among the Tri-Party forces. Royal Canadian Rear Adm. David Patchell, Vice Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, emphasized the growing strategic importance of the Arctic. "The arctic environment is dynamic, its maritime terrain changes every day, and it is essential that we prioritize Northern operations," said Patchell. "The ability for the Tri Party forces to operate together in this environment is essential to maintaining stability in the region. This year's talks are focused on understanding our shared challenges and optimizing our joint training to ensure we're ready for future challenges." Perry noted the DoD's 2024 Arctic Strategy has provided a framework for the Tri-Party partnership to further strengthen Arctic defense amongst the everchanging Arctic landscape. The 2024 Tri-Party staff talks reaffirm the enduring partnership between U.S. and Canadian maritime forces and their commitment to maintaining peace, security, and freedom of navigation in the Atlantic and Arctic. With joint exercises, enhanced interoperability, and shared strategic planning, the Tri-Party partnership remains prepared to protect North American interests and address future security challenges. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CNO, NAVSOUTH Strengthen Partnerships at Inter-American Naval Conference in Brazil US Navy - Press Release 25 September 2024 RIO DE JANIERO - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSOUTH) Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, participated in the 31st Inter-American Naval Conference (IANC), Sep. 23-25, joining naval leaders from 18 countries from across the Western Hemisphere. IANC, hosted this year by Brazil, serves as a forum for partner nations to discuss maritime security challenges and promote hemispheric solidarity. "This conference has been crucial to strengthening our bonds of friendship, collaboration and partnership for more than half a century," said Franchetti. "We are all united by our shared values, our shared geography, and our shared stake in the continued stability, security and prosperity of the Western Hemisphere and our world." The theme for this year's conference is 'Naval challenges and strategies to ensure operational readiness in the face of new technologies and the expansion of the navies' responsibilities: strategic planning, doctrine development, and professional training in the medium and long term.' Franchetti emphasized the importance of working together as part of a security and warfighting ecosystem to address shared challenges, as outlined in her recently released Navigation Plan for America's Warfighting Navy, noting that every Navy and Coast Guard has a role to play as a vital link in the maritime chain. "In this increasingly turbulent and unpredictable world, security through partnership is essential because no single nation can handle our maritime challenges alone," said Franchetti in her remarks. "It is critical that we, the global maritime community, work together to align our efforts in a way that can benefit us all. And you will have no stronger partner than the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps team." As part of the visit, Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen, Commander of the Brazilian Navy, hosted the delegates aboard the multipurpose amphibious ship NDM Bahia (G40) for a celebratory dinner and performance by the Brazilian Marine Corps Symphonic Band. Franchetti also participated in bilateral meetings with her Head of Navy counterparts from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Colombia, and she had meaningful discussions with leaders from Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Meanwhile Sardiello participated in bilateral engagements with The Netherlands, Panama, Peru and Urugay, and had meaningful discussions with leaders from the Dominican Republic and Paraguay. During their engagements Franchetti and Sardiello discussed the role of USNAVSOUTH in employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. "This conference promotes an important permanent, professional interaction among Heads of Navy on a regular basis so that we can find solutions to problems that no one nation can solve on their own," said Sardiello. "The security environment has changed since 1959, and we are very focused on today's challenges to the security and welfare in our region." IANC was established in 1959 to strengthen the bonds of friendship, partnership, and collaboration among Western Hemisphere naval leaders through the exchange of ideas and knowledge. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden reaches out to Africa at UN General Assembly By Anita Powell September 25, 2024 President Joe Biden is turning to Africa in the sunset of his presidency. In the space of one day, in front of world leaders, he elevated Sudan's conflict to a priority, announced he would travel to Angola and endorsed adding two seats for African countries to the U.N. Security Council. In his valedictory speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Biden made several brief overtures to the African continent reminding world leaders of the evils of South Africa's apartheid regime, calling for an end to Sudan's grueling conflict and citing urgency in combating an mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But these two short lines may have the most weight: "The U.N. needs to adapt to bring in new voices and new perspectives," he said. "That's why we support reforming and expanding the membership of the U.N. Security Council." For years, African leaders have called for a seat at this table. But critics point out that Washington does not support a critical privilege enjoyed by the current permanent members of the Security Council: veto power. Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says African nations are puzzled by Biden's position. "This is really, I think, an unfinished project of his, probably more words than reality," he told VOA. The fact that Biden supported council membership for them but not veto power "has left Africans scratching their heads." John Fortier, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said it mattered that Biden used this platform to call for an end to Sudan's raging 17-month conflict, but he doubted whether that call would provoke action. Trying to elevate issue "This is one of the conflicts that is serious but has not been getting world attention, and I think his pointing to it is really to elevate it in world consciousness but not yet to really know how we're going to see an end to this," Fortier said. This conflict has displaced millions of people and sparked a near-famine. And so, analysts say, it matters that the American president is putting pressure on the warring parties. "I think Biden genuinely wants to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and resolve the conflict in Sudan," said Daniel Volman, director of the African Security Research Project, in an email to VOA. "But I think he is reluctant to press countries like Egypt and the [United Arab] Emirates that are arming the generals, because they are key allies during the Gaza war. "Also, Biden is being driven by pressure from some members of Congress to take stronger and more effective action. I think he will take some limited action, like the new funds for humanitarian aid just announced, but I don't think this will yield significant results." And finally, Biden's off-camera announcement that he will visit Angola next month allows him to keep his promise to visit the continent. But again, Hudson wondered how this long-delayed visit would land. "Coming, as it does, at the very tail end of his administration, without much to, I think, really celebrate in terms of his involvement in Africa, I think the visit will ring rather hollow," Hudson said. Biden has four months left in his presidency. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli army chief tells troops to prepare for possible Lebanon ground invasion By VOA News September 25, 2024 Israel's army chief told troops Wednesday to be prepared for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon even as Israeli fighter jets bombarded Hezbollah militant targets for a third straight day. "You can hear the planes here; we are attacking all day, both to prepare the ground for the possibility of your entry, but also to continue striking Hezbollah," Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told a tank brigade, according to a statement issued by the military. "We are not stopping. We will keep attacking and harming them everywhere," Halevi said. "To do this, we are preparing for the course of the maneuver, and the sense is that your military boots, your maneuver boots, will enter enemy territory." The army chief spoke to his troops just hours after Hezbollah launched a ballistic missile targeting the headquarters of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency near Tel Aviv. Israel shot down the missile, but Halevi warned, "Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves." Israel also said it has activated reserve troops in response to the fight against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Lebanese health officials said Israeli strikes had killed another 50 people on Wednesday, bringing the death toll over three days to 615, with more than 2,000 wounded. Despite the Israeli warnings, officials in Washington insisted there was still time for diplomacy and de-escalation. "It doesn't look like anything is imminent," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said when asked about the prospects of a major Israeli ground operation against Hezbollah. "What we're seeing on that northern border is an increase in the tit-for-tat, going- back-and-forth strikes between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah," Singh told reporters Wednesday. "We still believe that there is time and space for diplomacy." U.S. officials did voice concern that the fighting, combined with miscalculations and missteps, could bring on a bigger, more dangerous conflict. "An all-out war is possible," President Joe Biden told the ABC talk show "The View" on Wednesday. "What I think is, also, the opportunity is still in play to have a settlement that could fundamentally change the whole region," he said. The Pentagon described the U.S. efforts to secure a cease-fire as a "full-court press." "We want to see a diplomatic solution, and we want to see it urgently," Singh said, noting that the U.S. military was not providing Israel with any intelligence or military support for its operations in Lebanon. But she said discussions with Israel have been constant. "We do believe that Israel is listening," Singh said. However, obstacles to a wider, regional de-escalation remain. Negotiations for a cease-fire in the nearly yearlong war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza have been at a stalemate for months. The United Nations said more than 90,000 people have been displaced by the Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, with many of them trying to flee north to Beirut, even as Israeli jets have also targeted sites in the capital. Lebanon's state news agency reported heavy Israeli bombardments Wednesday hitting areas across southern Lebanon. Israel's targets included dozens of ammunition depots, the Israeli military said. It added that about 40 Hezbollah rocket launches were detected, with some being intercepted by Israeli air defenses. The escalated conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border was set to be the focus of a U.N. Security Council meeting later Wednesday in New York. Pope Francis said Wednesday he was saddened by the situation in Lebanon and that the international community will need to work to stop what he called "this terrible escalation." Diplomatic efforts to contain the fighting and prevent a wider regional conflict included a meeting Tuesday between French President Emmanuel Macron and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which Macron's office said he "highlighted the responsibility of Iran to support a general de-escalation and use its influence with destabilizing actors." Iran is a backer of both Hezbollah and the Hamas militant group that Israel is fighting in the Gaza Strip. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Israel's killing of top Hezbollah commanders will not bring the group to its knees. "The organizational strength and human resources of Hezbollah is very strong and will not be critically hit by the killing of a senior commander, even if that is clearly a loss," Khamenei said. Israel said one of its strikes in Beirut's suburbs Tuesday killed Ibrahim Muhammad Kobeisi, identified by Israel as a senior Hezbollah military commander who oversaw the group's missile systems. The conflict has also prompted some governments to urge their nationals to leave Lebanon. The United States announced it was sending more military personnel to the region to augment its existing forces, while Britain said it expected 700 of its forces to arrive Wednesday in Cyprus in preparation for potential evacuations of its nationals from Lebanon. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, "We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza." Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire since the outbreak of the war in Gaza last October 7, when the militant group began firing rockets in solidarity with Palestinians and its fellow Iran-backed ally Hamas. The fighting has killed dozens of people in Israel, along with hundreds in Lebanon, and displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border. The war in Gaza began with Hamas' October 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage. They are still holding around 100 captives, one-third of whom is believed to be dead. Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks have killed more than 41,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry, with the Israeli military saying the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters. Hamas has been designated a terror group by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and others. Hezbollah also is a U.S.-designated terror group. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egypt, Jordan and Iraq say halting Gaza war key to stopping escalation in region By VOA News September 25, 2024 Egypt, Jordan and Iraq said Wednesday that stopping "Israeli aggression on Gaza" is needed to halt dangerous escalation in the region. A joint statement following a meeting of the foreign ministers from the three countries also condemned Israel's military action in Lebanon and said Israel is "pushing the region into an all-out war." The ministers also called on the U.N. Security Council and the international community to act to stop the war. Israel has ramped up strikes targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, citing a need to enable residents of northern Israel to return to the homes they fled during a year of Hezbollah rocket attacks. Hezbollah launched its campaign against Israel the day after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. Israeli ground attacks and airstrikes have killed at least 41,495 Palestinians and wounded more than 96,000, according to the health ministry in Gaza. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its count. Crews on Wednesday recovered the bodies of four people killed in Israeli strikes in and near a refugee camp in central Gaza. Three bodies were recovered at the site of a strike that hit a vehicle near the camp. The fourth body was found in the rubble of a home in the camp where an airstrike killed a total of at least 11 people. Hamas said in a statement Tuesday that it is expecting the United Nations to take "immediate action" to end the war in Gaza. "We demand immediate action to stop the Israeli aggression and the war," said the Hamas statement, which was directed at United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. But the Palestinian group also said it will not participate in new cease-fire talks. It said will not waver from its position "against entering new negotiations that would provide [Israel] with cover to continue its aggression." Both Hezbollah and Hamas are Iranian-funded groups designated by the U.S. and other countries as terrorist organizations that have vowed to destroy the Jewish state of Israel. In remarks Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Gaza "a nonstop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it." Guterres told the opening of the annual United Nations General Assembly, "We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza." Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban formally seek invitation to Russia's BRICS summit By Ayaz Gul September 25, 2024 Afghanistan's ruling Taliban confirmed Wednesday that they have formally sought to join the upcoming Russia-hosted summit of the BRICS intergovernmental group of major emerging economies. The leaders of the 10 members of BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, are set to convene October 22-24 in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan for the meeting. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined the bloc this year. "BRICS is an important economic forum, and as a developing economy, Afghanistan needs to join such economic gatherings," Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy Taliban spokesperson, stated in a video message aired by their official broadcaster. "The Islamic Emirate is seeking a presence at the upcoming BRICS forum, and the request has been formally communicated to the host nation," Fitrat stated, using the official title of their government in Kabul, which is officially not recognized by any country. He shared no further details. There has been no immediate Russian response to the Taliban's assertion. Moscow has developed close informal ties with the de facto Afghan leaders since they retook control of the conflict-ravaged nation three years ago, when the United States-led Western countries withdrew their troops after almost two decades of war with the then-insurgent Taliban. However, Russia has not recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government in alignment with the global consensus on the issue of recognition. Taliban delegations have repeatedly visited Moscow in recent months for bilateral economic and trade discussions. The Russian foreign and justice ministries submitted a proposal to President Vladimir Putin in June to remove the radical Afghan group from Russia's list of designated terrorist organizations. The move prompted speculations that Moscow has come closer to officially recognizing the de facto Kabul authorities. The Taliban have been on Russia's list of transnational militant groups, which includes al-Qaida, since 2003. The de facto Afghan leaders have implemented their strict interpretation of Islamic law, known as sharia, in the impoverished South Asian nation, prohibiting Afghan girls from attending schools beyond the sixth grade, suspending female students from universities, barring women from most workplaces, and banning music. The Taliban also have introduced stoning and public executions of women for crimes such as adultery. The U.N. and other nations The international community, including the United Nations, has consistently called for the urgent reversal of restrictions on women before considering granting diplomatic legitimacy to the Taliban regime. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly this week that the Taliban's treatment of women can be compared to "some of the most egregious systems of oppression in recent history." "We will continue to amplify the voices of Afghan women and call for them to play a full role in the country's life, both inside its borders and on the global stage," he said. U.N. officials maintain that last month's enactment of a morality law by the Taliban has made it even more challenging to recognize Kabul rulers. Taliban leaders reject criticism of their governance, saying it is aligned with local culture and sharia. "It means that one of the major obstacles to Afghanistan's full reintegration into the international community cannot be part of a necessary dialogue," Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, told a Security Council meeting last week. China and the Taliban China has also ramped up its political and economic ties with Kabul and is one of two countries, along with the United Arab Emirates, that have formally accepted a Taliban-appointed ambassador. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a news conference that Beijing expects the Taliban to "look at the legitimate concerns" of the global community. "That said, women's rights and interests are not the entirety of the Afghan issue, nor the core or root cause of the issue," Lin said. He referenced the U.N. estimates stating that almost 24 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance, with more than half of them battling severe food insecurity. "The international community needs to focus on the most pressing difficulties Afghanistan faces, promote the rebuilding and development in Afghanistan ... and at the same time encourage, in the spirit of equality and respect, the governing authorities of Afghanistan to improve and strengthen protection of women and children's rights," Lin stated. Chinese companies have signed several agreements with the Taliban to enhance economic and trade cooperation, focusing mainly on the Afghan mining sector. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told a news conference in Kabul last week that his government controlled about 40 Afghan embassies and consulates worldwide, and that its diplomatic relations with the international community were improving. He stated that the Taliban are keen to develop "friendly" ties with Western nations. The U.S. and the West at large insist that formal recognition of the Taliban depends on their actions regarding women's rights, education for girls and women and freedom of movement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sri Lanka's new president faces uphill task in push for change By Anjana Pasricha September 25, 2024 Catapulted to power on an anti-corruption platform, Sri Lanka's new Marxist-leaning president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, faces an uphill task in meeting his commitments to clean up the country's political culture and improving lives for millions mired in poverty since the country's economic collapse two years ago, say analysts. With his party having only three lawmakers in the 225-member parliament, Dissanayake has called for fresh elections a year ahead of schedule to choose a new house that could give him wider support for the sweeping reforms that he has promised. "Dissanayake's hope would be to secure a comfortable majority in parliament," according to Jayadeva Uyangoda, a political analyst in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, told VOA. "In the past, it was customary for mainstream parties to bribe opposition lawmakers to join them, but his main plank is clean governance, so he will need to win the numbers." In a country that rejected mainstream parties in the presidential polls, there is what Uyangoda calls a "very good chance" that he will be able to substantially improve his party's parliamentary tally. Elections will be held on Nov. 14. Currently, Dissanayake has the smallest cabinet in the country's history as he lacks the numbers for a full-fledged cabinet. He has named a new prime minister, Harini Amarasuriya, and two ministers -- in Sri Lanka, only lawmakers can be appointed as ministers. Winning wider support will be crucial. "Otherwise attempts to deliver on his election promises can be blocked by knee-jerk opposition, due to differences in ideology or political opportunism," Rajni Gamage, a research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, told VOA. Meeting expectations of relief from the punishing austerity measures imposed by a $ 2.9 billion bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund is the first big test Dissanayake faces. He will handle the key finance portfolio. His pledge to renegotiate Sri Lanka's deal with the IMF - which he says is not favorable to working class citizens will not be easy at a time when the country is still heavily debt-ridden and has limited room to expand welfare measures. The package has helped steer the economy back to a nascent growth path, but the government will need to stick to the program's criteria of keeping the budget deficit in check. An IMF spokesman in Washington said on Monday that it looked forward to working with President Dissanayake "towards building on the hard-won gains that have helped put Sri Lanka on a path to economic recovery." While options for providing relief may be limited, analysts said Dissanayake is expected to reduce income taxes for lower income groups and lower taxes on food and medicine. There is also concern among the business community about the position the Marxist leader, the son of a laborer, will take on free market policies. The policies of his Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, are aligned with protectionism, according to Gamage. "Their party's economic growth policy is woven around prioritizing industrialization and domestic manufacturing, supporting local businesses and agriculture." However, Dissanayake now heads a coalition, the National People's Power, an umbrella group of small political parties, youth, civil society and women's groups and trade unions. In recent years he has also moderated his party's hard-left stance and said he believes in an open economy. "The business class is uneasy because of the Marxist tradition to which he belongs. But my sense is that Dissanayake is a very pragmatic and rational man," Jehan Perera, who heads the National Peace Council in Colombo, told VOA. "And the coalition the president heads is not a Marxist group." Delivering on the clean governance he has promised could also face a pushback. "Corruption is very deep-seated in the system. It is endemic in society and goes from top to bottom, so rooting it out is very tough," said Perera. "He will face strong vested interests to rebuild a system that has broken down. But on the positive side, he has the support of the people." After taking the oath of office, Dissanayake sounded a note of caution amid the widespread optimism raised by his victory among millions of Sri Lankans, saying he is not a "magician" but an "ordinary citizen." "There are things I know and don't know. My aim is to gather those with the knowledge and skills to help lift this country," he said on Monday. The coming months will be crucial for a country that is navigating a vastly altered political landscape. "The management of the economic crisis and management of public expectations will be his biggest challenge, otherwise discontent will grow again," said analyst Uyangoda. "Past leaders have all belonged to the political elite. This is the first time there is a president who belongs to the working class, so the hopes of the ordinary people are very, very high." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden gives final UN speech with 'competition' agenda on mind Global Times US urged to focus on joint efforts to address global challenges at UN platform By Zhang Han and Li Yawei Published: Sep 26, 2024 12:08 AM In his farewell speech at UN stage before leaving the Oval Office of White House, US President Joe Biden recalled his early political career as a US senator elected in 1972, summarized his "achievements" over the past four years as president before quickly shifting focus to China. Biden reiterated competition with China while implicitly boasting about certain areas of cooperation. China is such an important topic that the US president could not deliver his speech at the UN without it, Chinese observers said on Wednesday, urging the US to reflect on its domestic and international policy agenda as it is the US that has been fueling and instigating many of the global conflicts. Biden claimed the US seeks to responsibly manage the competition with China and stands ready to cooperate, when he addressed the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday. "We recently resumed cooperation with China to stop the flow of deadly synthetic narcotics. I appreciate the collaboration," Biden said, according to a press release on White House website. Biden also said the US is unabashed, pushing back against "unfair economic competition and against military coercion of other nations" in the South China Sea, in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, in protecting the US' most advanced technologies so they cannot be used against the US or its partners. Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that without saying the word "threat," Biden's remarks seem to send a message that "China is a threat to the US." Lu Xiang, an expert on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, saw Biden's mentioning of the South China Sea also as "offering comfort to the Philippines" as the US shows little credibility in its actions before its allies. Analysts pointed out that Biden's speech hijacked the UN platform to push its strategic competition agenda, which is irresponsible and harmful when the General Debate is supposed to be a most inclusive, representative and authoritative platform for global reflection and collective action to address global challenges. World leaders gathered in New York for the UNGA amid growing calls for more international cooperation to address challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while tackling the fallout from ongoing conflicts and global health crises, Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, is having a whirlwind of bilateral meetings with representatives of other countries and will address the UNGA on Saturday. On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the UNGA on September 18 passed a non-binding resolution by an overwhelming margin, demanding an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory within the next 12 months. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for a collective effort through the UN system and other multinational institutions to end civilian suffering and for South Africa's legal action taken against Israel through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevail, according to Xinhua. In regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the use of increasingly destructive weapons brings to mind the darkest times of the sterile confrontation of the Cold War. Creating conditions to resume direct dialogue between the parties is crucial at this time, a message of the six-point understanding that China and Brazil are jointly promoting. Wang said at a ministerial-level Security Council meeting on Ukraine crisis that the more weapons are sent to the battlefield, the more difficult it is to achieve the goal of cease-fire, while noting that "China has all along stood on the side of peace." But the US' attitude on the two most prevailing and devastating conflicts was frustrating, analysts said. Biden, although showing some concern over the crisis in Gaza in his speech, backed Israel's need for "security" without the mentioning of latest explosions in Lebanon that were widely believed to be Israel's action. Biden also underlined US-led aid to Ukraine, security and humanitarian assistance, and boasted about a bigger, stronger, and more united NATO. Lu said the US is just making a mediation gesture on the Mideast issue when it indulges Israel's behavior. As for Ukraine, the US keeps fanning flames so that its military-industrial complex can make a big fortune from the prolongation of the war, Lu noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thriving development of free trade zones, Hainan Free Trade Port mirrors China's high-level opening up 10:51, September 26, 2024 By Ren Ping ( People's Daily Photo shows the Dishui Lake in the Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. (People's Daily Online/Ji Haixin) As a significant strategic measure to advance reform and opening up, the establishment of pilot free trade zones (FTZs) and the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) marks an epitome of China's efforts to promote high-level opening up. From setting up the first pilot FTZ in Shanghai, China now boasts a formation consisting of 22 pilot FTZs. Together with the thriving Hainan FTP, they serve as comprehensive experimental platforms for reform and opening up. Today, the 22 pilot FTZs make up an innovative pattern of reform and opening up that covers the entire country. With less than 0.4 percent of China's land area, they account for approximately 1/5 of the country's total foreign investment and foreign trade. Compared to opening up based on flows of goods and factors of production, institutional opening up with regard to rules, regulations, management, and standards, represents a higher level of openness. With a focus on institutional opening up, a large number of landmark and leading achievements have been made in institutional innovation. Recently, the 2024 version of the negative list for foreign investment access was released. In comparison to the 2021 version, the new negative list reduces the number of restrictions from 31 to 29, achieving zero restrictions on the manufacturing sector. Aligning with international first-class standards at a higher level, it solidly leads the pace of reform and opening up. The Hainan FTP put into operation a multi-functional free trade account system, which greatly facilitates cross-border fund transfers for enterprises. Accelerating the alignment of domestic regulations with international standards, the system promotes deep-level reform at a faster pace. A cargo vessel docks at a port in the Qingdao area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone in east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Jingang) Following the implementation of an international trade single window system, the Xiamen area of China (Fujian) Pilot FTZ has seen significantly shortened time for goods declaration and release. The system has made it a thing of the past for enterprises to log in to multiple systems, fill out multiple forms, and make multiple trips to the port. Innovating management models to improve efficiency, the system is making further efforts to build first-class business environment. So far, successful practices in 349 cases of innovation in institutional reform have been promoted at the national level, leading to a favorable situation where dividends of reform and opening up are shared by all. China's efforts to promote alignment with high-standard international economic and trade rules also provide solid support for establishing a new system for higher-level open economy. It is reported that since the issuance of a circular on piloting international high standards and promoting institutional opening-up in some eligible pilot FTZs and the Hainan FTP in June 2023, all pilot measures have been fully implemented. For instance, the Beijing Pilot FTZ started piloting a mutual recognition mechanism for domestic and foreign professional qualifications and certifications; the Tianjin Pilot FTZ also introduced multiple innovative measures, including six-hour customs clearance for air express shipments. Besides, regulations on international commercial arbitration have been put into place in the Hainan FTP. In May this year, Tesla broke ground on an energy storage mega factory in the Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot FTZ. The project went from negotiation to signing in just one month, once again setting a new record for "Lingang speed." Photo shows the beautiful scenery in Sanya, south China's Hainan province, where the Hainan Free Trade Port is located. (People's Daily Online/Ye Longbin) It is expected that the factory will have an energy storage capacity of nearly 40 GWh upon completion, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 50,000 households in Shanghai. From the implementation of the foreign investment law and the regulation on optimizing business environment, to the introduction of the negative list for cross-border trade in services, and to the efforts made to advance institutional opening up through alignment with high-standard international economic and trade rules... As China continuously builds a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards, it is attracting more and more foreign investment. In the first seven months of this year, 31,654 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, representing a year-on-year growth of 11.4 percent. The "next China" is still China. China will remain the best investment destination globally. China's pilot FTZs and the Hainan FTP pursue differentiated and specialized development paths. They support the development of new industries, new business forms, and new models, gradually becoming demonstrators and leaders of China's high-quality development. The Tianjin Pilot FTZ, focusing on the financial leasing industry, has grown into the world's second largest hub for aircraft leasing. The Hubei Pilot FTZ has attracted over 16,000 optoelectronic information enterprises, becoming China's largest technology research and production base in the field of optical communication. The Jiangsu Pilot FTZ is home to nearly 4,000 bio-pharmaceutical enterprises, with an annual output value of nearly 300 billion yuan ($42.58 billion). From the pilot FTZs to the Hainan FTP, and from coastal to inland areas, China is steadfastly advancing high-level opening up, continuously injecting new impetus into the world economic development, and providing new opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with countries around the world. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu) Russo-Ukraine War - 26 September 2024 - Day 946 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 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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 181 combat encounters. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance into the depths of Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression. The hottest situation remains in the Pokrovsky direction, also Russia is active in the Kurakhiv direction. Russian zagarbniki launched on the territory of Ukraine four missile strikes with the use of six missiles, as well as 57 air strikes, dropping 66 cabiv. In addition, 729 kamikaze drones were recruited and carried out more than 3,800 shelling at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, there were three boons. Defense forces repelled Russian attacks near Staritsa, Tikhoy and Vovchansk. The battle is over. In the Kupiansky direction, Russian forces carried out offensive actions near Sinkivka, Glushkivka, Lozova, Stelmakhivka and Kolisnikivka. Nineteen battles completed, one more to go. In the Lyman direction Russian zagarbniki stormed the positions of Ukrainian troops near Grekivka, Nevsky, Novosadovy and Torsky. As of now, all 15 combat clashes are completed. In the Sivers komu direction Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian offensive actions in the areas of bilogorivka, verkhnyokamansky and spirnogo. In the Kramators komu direction, there were 10 battles near Minkivka, Grigorivka and White Mountain, where two Russian attacks are currently continuing. 17 combat clashes took place in the Toretsky direction. The Russians stormed the positions of Ukrainian units near Toretsk, scherbinivka and leonidivka. Fourteen clashes completed, three still going. On the Pokrovsky direction, since the beginning of this day, 39 battles have been sharpened in the areas of the settlements Green Field, Mykolaivka, Fox, Cool Yar, Novogrodivka, Selidove, Marinivka and Red Yar. The Defense Forces repelled 34 offensive actions, five are still continuing. Today 278 Russian invaders were defecated in this direction, of which 116 - irrevocably. Also destroyed two Russian cannons, four BPLAs, two trench REBS, three cars and two units of motor equipment. In addition, an armored transporter, four artillery systems, two cars and two motorcycles were damaged. In the Kurakhiv direction, Russian forces stormed 34 times near Tsukurinyogo, the desired second, Georgiyivka, Mykolaivka, Paraskoviyivka, Konstantinivka and Katerynivka. Ukrainian defenders have stopped 27 attacks, seven are still ongoing. In the Vremivs komu direction, Russian forces made five attempts to push Ukrainian units out of the occupied borders of defense near Vodyany, Katerinivka and Epiphany. Four fights down, one still going. In the Orihiv direction, there were three collisions. Russian zagarbniki attacked near Robotiny. In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian occupiers were defeated, twice storming the positions of Ukrainian troops. Defense Forces of Ukraine continue the operation in the Kursk region. The Russian enemy's aviation does not stop striking controlled aviation bombs on the territory of Russia. At this moment it is known about 12 aviation strikes with the application of 14 cabiv. In other directions - without much change. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 36th Marine Brigade, and 113th Territorial Defence Brigade near Liptsy, Volchansk, and Volchanskye Khutora (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 235 troops, three motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one 122-mm Grad MLRS launcher. Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 3rd Tank Brigade, 14th, 44th, 53rd, 63rd, 66th mechanised brigades of the AFU near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, Petropavlovka, Vishnyovoye, Pershetravnevoye, Olgovka (Kharkov region), Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 66th Mechanised Brigade was repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 435 troops, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, two Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery systems, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one Croatian-made RAK-SA-12 MLRS launcher. Two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar, and two ammunition depots were destroyed. Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on formations of the 24th, 54th mechanised brigades of the AFU, and 119th Territorial Defence Brigade near Seversk, Verkhnekamenskoye, Kramatorsk, and Nikolayevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 750 troops, ten motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm D-20 gun, two 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, Anklav-N and Nota electronic warfare stations. Nine ammunition depots were destroyed. As a result of decisive actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Ukrainsk (Donetsk People's Republic). Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the 53rd, 100th, 110th, 151st mechanised brigades, 68th Jaeger Brigade of the AFU, and 116th Territorial Defence Brigade near Leonidovka, Krasnoarmeysk, Shcherbinovka, Dobropolye, Nikolayevka, Gornyak, and Tarasovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Ten counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the 53rd, 150th, and 151st mechanised brigades, 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 68th Jaeger Brigade, 142nd Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 12th, 14th, and 15th national guard brigades were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 670 troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, two 152-mm D-20 guns, and one 152-mm Giatsint-B gun. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on formations of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU, and 118th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ugledar, Novoukrainka, and Zolotaya Niva (Donetsk People's Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 troops, one tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and one French-made 155-mm CAESAR self-propelled artillery system. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 39th Coastal Defence Brigade and 124th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ponyatovka, Antonovka, and Pridneprovskoye (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 troops, ten motor vehicles, one 155-mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system, and one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer. One P-19 radar station and one ammunition depot were destroyed. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces delivered strikes at power objects ensuring operation of Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, infrastructure of a military airfield, and engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 142 areas. Air defence units shot down one Neptune long-range guided missile, three French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, five U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 45 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 646 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 32,263 unmanned aerial vehicles, 579 anti-aircraft missile systems, 18,356 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,464 MLRS combat vehicles, 15,207 field artillery guns and mortars, and 26,510 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are repelling an attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the territory of the Russian Federation. Units of the Sever Group of Forces continued offensive operations and inflicted losses on formations of the 21st, 22nd, 41st mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade, 112th, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Lyubimovka, Daryino, Novy Put, Nikolayevo-Daryino, and Plekhovo. Over the past 24 hours, units of the Sever Group of Forces repelled one enemy counter-attack in the direction of Obukhovka. As a result, the AFU losses amounted to up to 15 troops killed and wounded; two armoured fighting vehicles and one motor vehicle were destroyed. With the support of Army Aviation and artillery fire, three AFU attempts to break through the border of the Russian Federation in the direction of Novy Put and Medvezhye were foiled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 troops killed and wounded, four armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles. Army Aviation and artillery fire inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the 21st, 22nd, 41st, 61st, 115th mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 80th, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 103rd, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Bogdanovka, Guyevo, Daryino, Kruglenkoye, Kubatkin, Knyazhy Pervy, Kositsa, Lyubimovka, Martynovka, Makhnovka, Malaya Obukhovka, Medvezhye, Novaya Sorochina, Novoivanovka, Novy Put, Orlovka, Plekhovo, Tolsty Lug, and Yuzhny. Operational-Tactical Aviation and Missile Troops delivered strikes in Sumy region at concentration areas and reserves of the 21st, 22nd, 41st, 47th, 115th mechanised brigades, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, 1st National Guard Brigade, 101st, 103rd, 106th, 129th territorial defence brigades near Barilo, Belovody, Byvalino, Vorozhba, Zhuravka, Glukhov, Gurinovka, Zarutskoye, Iskriskovshchina, Kislaya Dubina, Katerinovka, Pavlovka, Rechki, Starye Virki, Stetskovka, Sumy, Shalygino, and Khoten. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 340 troops and 12 armoured fighting vehicles as well as four artillery guns and 11 motor vehicles. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost more than 17,400 troops, 130 tanks, 62 infantry fighting vehicles, 95 armoured personnel carriers, 824 armoured fighting vehicles, 525 motor vehicles, 142 artillery guns, 31 MLRS launchers, including eight of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, eight SAM launchers, five transport-loading vehicles, 35 electronic warfare stations and eight counter-battery radars, two air defence radars, 18 engineering vehicles, including 11 counterobstacle vehicles and one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, as well as one armoured recovery vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by President Biden at the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats | New York, NY September 24, 2024 1:57 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. To all the a my fellow leaders from nations around the world, thank you for being here. It makes a big difference. A couple of years ago, a father who I got to meet from a small town here in the United States wrote me a letter about his daughter. Her name was Courtney. She was bright and smart, she had a laugh that was contagious, and wanted to travel the world. But in high school, she became addicted to pills. Her father eventually brought her to a treatment facility, but his insurance company wouldn't cover the cost. They said, quote, "It wasn't a matter of life and death." A month later, Courtney died from a fe- a fentanyl overdose. She was just 20 years old a 20 years old. In his letter that he wrote to me, he described life without his child. He said, and I quote, "There is no greater pain." "There is no greater pain." I told him I know what it's like, having lost several children myself a two children. There is no greater pain. They still live in your heart, but there's no greater pain. Ladies and gentlemen, that's why we're here. Too many people all across our nation have stories like this. Too many families have suffered unbearable pain and unbearable loss. Opioids are the deadliest drug threat in our history. I've been working on drug control for a long, long time a since the days I was a senator, but this is the deadliest of them all. For years, too little has been done to beat this threat here at home and around the world. In fact, before I came to office, overdose deaths in our country were increasing by more than 30 percent year over year. But when I became president, I made beating the opioid endemic [epidemic] a central part of the Unity Agenda, something that our entire nation could rally around and has. For over the last four years, we've turned that agenda into action. My administration made Nal- a excuse me, Na- a made Naloxone, a lifesaving overdose reversal medicine, available over the counter. You can purchase it over the counter for the first time. We invested over $80 billion across 50 states to expand access to addiction treatment and support. I issued an executive order that cut cartel leaders off from fina- a our financial system, including issuing 300 sanctions. And I've deployed hundreds of advanced X-ray ou- a machines to stop the threat of pills and powder coming across our border. Because I want to be clear: This is a this is a national security threat. In July of this year, I signed a national security memorandum. It officially recognized that fact, that it is a national security threat. It calls on every part of our government to do more to stop fentanyl and protect our homeland from this threat. But as all of you know, this a global challenge and it requires a global solutions. So, we established the Tri- a the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee with Canada and Mexi- a and Mexico to stop narcotics from crossing our border. I reignited counternarcotics cooperation with China to increase law enforcement cooperation and tackle the supply chains of precursor chemicals and pill presses. And I directed my team to build this coalition a this Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drugs. As all of you here know, this coalition now has, as the secretary of State said, 150 nations as part of it. The result of these efforts: More fentanyl has been seized at our border in the last two years than the previous five years combined a in the previous five years combined. Nearly 60,000 pounds of fentanyl have been seized. That's enough to kill every single American many times over. Dozens of major cartel leaders and traffickers are now behind bars. And I'm proud to announce, for the first time in five years, overdose deaths are actually coming down across America. The latest data shows a 10 percent drop. That's the largest decrease on record. Folks, this matters. These aren't just facts and figures. They're families a families who don't have to bear the loss of a child, a parent, a spouse a families who are kept whole. But there are too many that are still dying. There's so much more that needs to be done. So, my message today is very simple: We can't let up. We cannot let up. Drug manufacturers and cartels continue to adapt their practices, develop new chemicals, move fast to evade our efforts. We have to move faster. They continue to exploit the global supply chains to expand their networks. We've got to cut them off. They continue to fuel violence, corruption, and instability. We've got to protect our people and our communities. So, that's why I'm calling on every nation here to commit to our new global coalition pledge. This lays out the action we must all take to seize more drugs, stop more cartels, save more lives. I also want to thank the leaders here who are stepping up and launching a new initiatives today to advance coalition efforts all across three key a key areas. First, disrupting supply chain, including production and distribution of illicit a of illicit drugs. Secondly, detecting emerging drug threats and increasing information sharing across all our countries. And thirdly, preventing more deaths by treating more people through public health interventions, increased access to lifesaving medications. It's possible. It's about disrupt, detect, prevent, and treat. Together, we're making it clear: Enough is enough is enough. Let me close with this. As leaders, we all have one solemn responsibility: protect our people from harm. Together, through this coalition, I believe we can do just that. We can disrupt the cycle of violence and instability that drug cr- a traffickers create. We can get our people the care they need and deserve. We can save lives, but only a but only if we come together and work together. The choice is ours. And I believe there can be only one answer: We can, we will, and we must. So, thank you all for being here. Let's get to work. And I want to a you to hear from other leaders in this room as well. So, thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.) 2:04 P.M. EDT NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions Networks Enabling Illicit Trade that Benefits IRGC-QF and Hizballah U.S. Department of the Treasury September 25, 2024 WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned more than a dozen entities and vessels for their involvement in the shipment of Iranian crude oil and liquid petroleum gas to Syria and East Asia on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Hizballah. Among the vessels sanctioned today are four ships associated with the fleet of illicit shipping Syrian magnate Abdul Jalil Mallah (Abdul Jalil) and his brother Luay al-Mallah. Since Abdul Jalil's June 10, 2021 designation for his support to the network of IRGC-QF-backed Houthi financial official Sa'id al-Jamal, Luay al-Mallah has continued to use their shipping empire to support Iran's malign activities and those of its proxies. Luay al-Mallah is also being designated in this action. "Iran continues to rely heavily on the illicit sale of oil and liquid petroleum gas by the IRGC-QF and Lebanese Hizballah to fund its terrorist proxies and destabilizing activities," said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. "Treasury remains committed to disrupting the networks of shippers, brokers, and buyers that facilitate these schemes." Today's action is being taken pursuant to counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. OFAC designated the IRGC-QF pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007, for providing material support to multiple terrorist groups. The U.S. Department of State designated Hizballah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 31, 2001. HIzballah and IRGC-QF shipments Marshall Islands-registered, People's Republic of China (PRC)-based Star Ocean Shipmanage Ltd. is the ship manager, technical manager, and operator of the Panama-flagged vessel ETERNAL SUCCESS (IMO: 9307633), the Panama-flagged ETERNAL 8 (IMO: 9232448), and the Panama-flagged ETERNAL PEACE (IMO: 9259745). The IRGC-QF used the ETERNAL SUCCESS to facilitate illicit trade as recently as July 2024, manipulating its Automatic Identification System to disguise its movements while sailing toward East Asia, where it transferred its cargo to another tanker via a ship-to-ship transfer. Similar to its sister ship, the ETERNAL 8 has also been involved in transferring shipments for the IRGC-QF. Star Ocean Shipmanage Ltd. is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF. The ETERNAL SUCCESS, ETERNAL 8, and ETERNAL PEACE are being identified as property in which Star Ocean Shipmanage Ltd. has an interest. Marshall Islands-based Dragon Road Ltd is the registered owner of the Panama-flagged SERENE I (IMO: 9197832). As recently as summer 2024, the SERENE I loaded IRGC-QF-owned products in Iran on behalf of the U.S.-sanctioned, Lebanese Hizballah-affiliated, Lebanon-based company Concepto Screen SAL Offshore. Similarly, the Panama-flagged FENG TAI (IMO: 9248473) transported IRGC-QF-owned products, loaded in Iran, to the PRC on behalf of Concepto Screen SAL Offshore. Hong Kong-based Tai Feng Hai Shipping Limited is the registered owner of the FENG TAI. Dragon Road Ltd and Tai Feng Hai Shipping Limited are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF. SERENE I and FENG TAI are being identified as property in which Dragon Road Ltd and Tai Feng Hai Shipping Limited have an interest, respectively. MALLAH SHIPPING NETWORK Luay al-Mallah has assisted his brother, sanctioned Syrian shipping magnate Abdul Jalil Mallah, in running his family's business following the latter's designation for assisting the illicit shipping network of Sa'id al-Jamal, an IRGC-QF-backed Houthi financial official. The Mallah family's ships, including the Panama-flagged CONFIDENCE P (IMO: 9178044), Sao Tome and Principe-flagged NOVA (IMO: 9141259), Panama-flagged RIVAL (IMO: 9117818), and Iran-flagged TIYARA (IMO: 9231224), have facilitated illicit trade between Syria and Iran for the benefit of the IRGC-QF and Hizballah. As recently as 2021, Luay al-Mallah managed a shipment for Sa'id al-Jamal. In 2021, Sa'id al-Jamal's network used the NOVA and TIYARA to facilitate illicit trade between Iran and Syria. Luay al-Mallahowns the Abdul Jalil Mallah-directed, TArkiye-based Oryx Denizcilik Limited Sirketi. Luay al-Mallah is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Abdul Jalil Mallah. Oryx Denizcilik Limited Sirketi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Luay al-Mallah. CONFIDENCE P, NOVA, RIVAL, and TIYARA are being identified as property in which Abdul Jalil Mallah has an interest. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 13224, as amended. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. sanctions, including the factors that OFAC generally considers when determining an appropriate response to an apparent violation. Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with the individuals designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of an SDGT. In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. View identifying information on the individuals and entities designated today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN paralyzed, crises piling up, world leaders 'going around in circles', says Brazil's Lula 24 September 2024 - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday called for a major overhaul of the United Nations, including a critical examination of the Organization's nearly eight decades-old Charter, blaming the incapacity of the international community to engage in sincere negotiations for the failure to find solutions to the world's problems. Speaking to world leaders at the General Assembly's annual debate, President Lula lamented that the current global situation, including the seeming paralysis of the UN to act, reflects a "weakening of our collective capacity for negotiation and dialogue." By example he said that the recently adopted UN Pact for the Future was limited in scope, though its proposed aim is to chart the course for multilateral relations in the years ahead. "It's ...limited scope is also an expression of the paradox of our time: We go around in circles between possible compromises that lead to insufficient results," he argued. Moreover, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, no comprehensive treaty on pandemics has been adopted by the UN World Health Organization (WHO). He continued, "We are living in a time of growing anguish, frustration, tension, and fear" and criticized the rising military budgets and conflicts, stating that the use of force is becoming the norm, often without the backing of international law. Mr. Lula firmly condemned the invasion of Ukraine and, alongside China, has sought to promote constructive dialogue through a proposed "six-point plan." The humanitarian crises in Gaza and the West Bank were also focal points of his speech. Describing the situation as one of the greatest humanitarian crises in recent history, the Brazilian President condemned what he saw as the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, noting the tragic loss of over 40,000 lives, primarily among women and children. "The right to defense has become the right to vengeance," President Lula said, expressing his concern about the current escalating situation in Lebanon. Turning to climate change, President Lula warned that "we are doomed to climate change interdependence," stressing that future generations will bear the consequences of unfulfilled climate commitments. He emphasized Brazil's commitment to environmental protection, stating that deforestation in the Amazon has been reduced by 50 per cent and aims to be eradicated by 2030. In a call for reform of the global financial system, President Lula pointed out that low- and middle-income countries are often disadvantaged, leading to a "reverse Marshall Plan" where the poorest finance the richest. Highlighting the stark contrast in borrowing rates between African nations and wealthier countries, he urged greater representation of developing countries in institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Finally, he proposed a "comprehensive review" of the UN Charter and called for urgent reforms within the Organization itself, advocating for the Security Council to reconsider its exclusionary practices regarding permanent seats for Latin American and African countries. e concluded with a reminder that the world cannot afford to wait for another tragedy to prompt necessary governance changes, urging that the will of the majority must prevail over entrenched power structures. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau September 24, 2024 New York City, United States of America Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The leaders highlighted the close relationship between Canada and the European Union (EU) and the importance of continued collaboration on shared priorities, including economic security, sustainable development, and global stability. The Prime Minister and the President discussed the need to take action on climate change, carbon pricing, and industrial decarbonization. They emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in driving innovation and accelerating investments for a clean energy transition. The leaders exchanged views on pressing geopolitical issues. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's unjustifiable war of aggression, and emphasized the importance of promoting lasting peace and security in the Middle East. They also underscored their support for Haiti, highlighting the pivotal steps that have been taken toward restoring peace and stability in the country. Prime Minister Trudeau noted the need for additional support for the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support mission to ensure its success. Prime Minister Trudeau and President von der Leyen looked forward to continue strengthening the strong partnership between Canada and the EU, including in the context of Canada's G7 Presidency next year. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HMCS Shawinigan, HMCS Charlottetown and NATO Allies monitor Russian Navy Vessels in Western Europe and Mediterranean Sea National Defence News release A Russian submarine is monitored by the crew of HMCS Shawinigan, as it transits through the Baltic Sea, on Thursday, August 29, 2024. September 25 - Ottawa- National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces From August 29th to September 18th, 2024, while conducting vigilance activities alongside NATO ships, His Majesty's Canadian Ships (HMCS) Shawinigan and Charlottetown monitored Russian submarines and surface ships. Beginning August 29th HMCS Shawinigan monitored a Russian submarine and surface vessel through the Baltic and North Seas before handing over responsibility to His Majesty's Ship (HMS) Iron Duke, of the Royal Navy on September 1st. HMCS Charlottetown, flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) assumed monitoring duties on September 17th from ESPS Cristobal Colon of the Spanish Navy, also part of SNMG2, and monitored the vessels for the remainder of their journey through the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. During this period HMCS Charlottetown also conducted monitoring activities of a separate Russian Federation Navy submarine and three surface vessels as they participated in Exercise OCEAN 24, a large-scale Russian exercise. HMCS Shawinigan is currently deployed to Europe alongside HMCS Glace Bay on Operation REASSURANCE with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), working alongside allied NATO ships to safely dispose of historical ordnance in the region's waters, in addition to participating in NATO enhanced Vigilance Activities. HMCS Charlottetown is currently deployed on Operation REASSURANCE as the flagship for SNMG2, working alongside allied NATO ships to support regional maritime security in the Mediterranean. The right of innocent passage provides standards and expectations for ships to follow while transiting the waters of another country. At all times the Russian vessels were observed to have complied with these standards and expectations. Additional multimedia A Russian submarine is monitored by the crew of HMCS Shawinigan, as it transits through the Baltic Sea, on Thursday, August 29, 2024. A Russian submarine is monitored by the crew of HMCS Shawinigan, as it transits through the Baltic Sea, on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Quotes "I am immensely proud of the crew's unwavering dedication and skill. Their ability to successfully apply their training in anti-submarine warfare and monitor surface vessels is a testament to their hard work and professionalism. In the face of complex challenges, their commitment to excellence shines through, showcasing the true spirit of our Navy. Together, we stand vigilant, ready to protect our collective waters and uphold our values." Commander Nicholas Buxton, Commanding Officer, HMCS Charlottetown and Maritime Task Force Commander, Operation REASSURANCE Maritime Task Force 24-02 "I am proud of His Majesty's Canadian Ships Shawinigan's crewfor their dedication, flexibility and professionalism during the international monitoring effort that was recently conducted in concert with our NATO allies. The ship's company continues to showcase on a global stage that sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy are some of the best in the world, and we will continue to remain focused on our mission alongside our NATO allies for the remainder of our deployment." Lieutenant-Commander Andrew Foran, Commanding Officer HMCS Shawinigan "It fills me with a great sense of pride as the Maritime Task Force Commander to see our shipmates in His Majesty's Canadian Ships (HMCS) Shawinigan contribute in such a meaningful way to the safety and security of our NATO allies and partners in Europe. Ships of the Royal Canadian Navy deployed on Operation REASSURANCE are ready for a wide spectrum of operations such as this one which provided invaluable maritime domain awareness, in addition to supporting and protecting Canadian and Allied interests. HMCS Shawinigan has rejoined HMCS Glace Bay and the other Alliance ships of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 and will continue its important work in Europe." Lieutenant-Commander Paul Morrison, Commanding Officer HMCS Glace Bay and Maritime Task Force Commander, Operation REASSURANCE Maritime Task Force 24-03 Quick facts Canada has deployed Royal Canadian Navy ships on Operation REASSURANCE on a continuous, rotational basis since 2014, following Russia's illegal invasion of Crimea. Deploying Royal Canadian Navy ships in support of NATO provides Canada with the flexibility to execute a range of exercises and operations in real training environments with our Allies. This helps support the Alliance efforts in the Baltic region, including surveillance, monitoring, and diplomatic engagement. SNMCMG1 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom. NATO Standing Naval Forces are multinational, integrated, maritime forces made up of vessels from various Allied countries which demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support partner engagement, and provide a variety of maritime military capabilities to ongoing missions. Operation REASSURANCE is Canada's largest current international military operation. Under Operation REASSURANCE, the Canadian Armed Forces has deployed a Maritime Task Force, which contributes ships to the Standing NATO Maritime Groups; an Air Task Force, providing logistical support out of Prestwick; and a Land Task Force, including the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Latvia, for which Canada is the Framework nation. HMCS Shawinigan and Glace Bay are Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) with a ship's company of approximately 45 personnel of all ranks for a total of 90 sailors. The MCDVs are a modular platform which can accommodate several types of mission-specific payloads offering the Royal Canadian Navy a large degree of flexibility in support of Allies. SNMG2 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command. These groups provide NATO with a continuous maritime capability for operations and other activities in peacetime and in periods of crisis and conflict. They help to establish alliance presence and deterrence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support transformation and NATO interoperability, and provide a variety of maritime military capabilities to ongoing missions. HMCS Charlottetown is one of 12 Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates, that are considered the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China: High Representative Borrell met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi European External Action Service (EEAS) 25.09.2024 EEAS Press Team On 25 September, High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) Josep Borrell met with Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi in the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. They discussed the current geopolitical situation, focusing on the main challenges and threats that the EU and China have to face. The HR/VP raised Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, reiterating his conviction that China's ongoing material and diplomatic support to Russia fuels Russia's war, thus contributing to a direct threat to European security. He expressed deep concern about China's increasing exports of large amounts of dual-use goods and items, which substantially help the build-up of Russia's military industrial base. The HR/VP also underscored that any proposal for a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine must be based on the UN Charter and considered that the joint statement with Brazil of May 2024 does not go in that direction. The HR/VP and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also discussed the situation in the South China Sea and recent actions by the Chinese Coast Guard. The HR/VP called for de-escalation of tensions and reiterated that the UN Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should be upheld and respected at all times. On the Middle East, in the face of the ongoing dramatic escalation in hostilities, the HR/VP and Foreign Minister Wang Yi recalled their shared commitment to a just and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two-state solution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on September 25, 2024 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 25, 2024 19:12 China News Service: We noted that at the just concluded 2024 World Manufacturing Convention, Chinese companies shared the latest innovations in commercial aerospace, humanoid robot, quantum computer, among others. Some commented that China is turning from a follower into a pacesetter in tech innovation. Do you have any further comment? Lin Jian: Science and technology is the primary productive force, anda innovation is the primary driver of development. The CPC and the Chinese government view tech innovation as the core of national development. After 75 years of relentless effort, China has established the most complete academic discipline system and the largest human resource pool, broken new ground in basic research and research of cutting-edge technologies, achieved new milestones in strategic high-tech fields, made new progress in innovation-driven high-quality development and accelerated the building of a higher-standard national innovation system. China ranked 12th in the 2023 Global Innovation Index released by WIPO, the only middle-income economy among the top 30. In this globalized world where innovation factors flow across borders at scale like never before, no country can handle all difficulties in innovation alone, and humanity needs international cooperation, openness and sharing more than ever. Commitment to reform and opening up and mutually beneficial cooperation is the reason for China's leapfrog developmentathis is our invaluable experience. Having participated in and benefited from globalization, and also contributed to and worked for globalization, China advocates and practices open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory cooperation, and is committed to working with other parties to explore a new model for global innovation and cooperation that is win-win for all, share resources, match complementary advantages, and jointly resolve common challenges and difficulties. Going forward, China will, as always, advance international innovation cooperation and contribute its wisdom to building a better world for all. Bloomberg: China said it will investigate US apparel maker PVH Corp. for suspected boycotting of cotton sourced from Xinjiang. The Ministry of Commerce asked PVH to submit a written response in 30 days on whether it has adopted discriminative measures against Xinjiang-related products in the last three years. If found at fault, PVH Corp. could be added to an unreliable entity list, according to a 2020 order released by China. Is this connected to the US government's plan of blocking the sale or import of vehicle software and hardware originating from China? And will China initiate similar investigations in more US companies? Lin Jian: The Ministry of Commerce has made a response concerning the issue you asked about. Let me stress that the Chinese government is firmly committed to advancing high-standard opening up, upholding the multilateral trading system and defending the lawful rights and interests of various kinds of market entities. China always prudently handles issues related to the unreliable entity list, which only targets the very few foreign entities that undermine market rules and violate Chinese laws. There's nothing to worry about for honest and law-abiding foreign entities. CCTV: On September 24, at the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, over 100 countries spoke up to support China's position on issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang, and to oppose politicizing human rights issues. What's China's comment? Lin Jian: On September 24, at the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva, in response to the attacks and smears on China's human rights situation by the US and a handful of countries, over 100 countries supported China's just position and opposed the politicization of human rights issues in various ways, including making separate and joint statements. Cuba delivered a joint statement on behalf of nearly 80 countries. They stressed that issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang are China's internal affairs. They spoke against the politicization of human rights issues, the application of double standards and interference in other countries' internal affairs in the name of human rights. They called on parties to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, follow the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, and respect the right of people of all countries to independently choose development path in accordance with their national realities. China delivered a joint statement on behalf of member states of the Group of Friends on the Promotion of Human Rights through Dialogues and Cooperation. They called on the UN Human Rights Council to play its due role for countries to accumulate trust and advance cooperation through dialogue and exchanges. Statements were made in support of China's position by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, and Gambia on behalf of the African Group. The fact that over 100 countries spoke up once again for justice and voiced support for China at the UN fully shows that the US and a handful of Western countries politicizing human rights issues find no support in the international community, and such move is doomed to fail. China urges the US to deeply reflect on and earnestly address its domestic human rights issues, including racism, gun violence, social inequality, and infringement on the rights of refugees and immigrants, protect the human rights of its own citizens, stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs and play a constructive role in international human rights cooperation. Reuters: China said today that it has successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile to the high seas in the Pacific Ocean and that countries concerned have been notified in advance. A question is which countries did China notify and what path did the missile take?a Lin Jian: The Ministry of National Defense has released information on that. I'd refer you to the Ministry of National Defense for your specific question. Ukrinform News Agency: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with ABC News stated the Ukrainian side has evidence that Russia is using Chinese satellites to take a photo of nuclear power plants in Ukraine as part of preparations to potentially strike them. How can you comment on such a Ukrainian leader's statement? Lin Jian: I'm not familiar with what you mentioned.a Reuters: Follow up to my question. Has the Ministry received any objections from the countries that China notified about the missile launch or from any other countries as well? Lin Jian: I'd refer you to the Ministry of National Defense for your question. Shenzhen TV: It's reported that in the Global Financial Centers Index 36 Report jointly published by the UK's Z/Yen and China Development Institute from Shenzhen, Hong Kong ranked third globally among 121 financial centers, moving up one place from the March issue of the index this year. What's the Foreign Ministry's comment? Lin Jian: Under One country, Two systems, Hong Kong's economy has flourished, and its status as an international financial, shipping and trading center continues to be consolidated. In particular, it remains a strong magnet with great influence and competitiveness as an international financial center, and has stayed among the top in the global financial centers index. The latest ranking represents another vote of confidence from the international community for Hong Kong's unique status and advantages and the promising prospects of One country, Two systems. We have every confidence in Hong Kong's outlook after it has restored order and is set to thrive. We welcome companies and talents from across the world to invest, do business and tap full potential there so as to benefit from Hong Kong's development and One country, Two systems. Reuters: We have a follow-up question on the ballistic missile. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary has said that the missile launch is a matter of "serious concern" for Japan and the international community. And we would like to seek a comment on this. Lin Jian: The readout released by the Ministry of National Defense pointed out that this test launch is a routine arrangement in the annual training plan. It is in line with international law and international practice and is not directed against any country or target. I'd suggest you direct the specific question to the Ministry of National Defense. AFP: Israel said today that Hezbollah fired a missile on Tel Aviv for the first time ever. Is China concerned about the situation in the Middle East? Is China willing to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah? Lin Jian: At yesterday's press conference, I stated China's position on the current tensions between Lebanon and Israel. Let me reiterate that China calls on relevant parties to take measures immediately to cool down the situation, prevent further escalation of regional tensions, uphold peace and stability in the Middle East, and protect the safety of the people there. China stands ready to work with the international community towards this end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, EU demand China respond to human rights abuses in Xinjiang Diplomats made the statements at the current UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva. By Alim Seytoff for RFA Uyghur and Roseanne Gerin for RFA English 2024.09.25 -- The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Council called on China on Tuesday to implement recommendations made by the U.N.'s human rights office in a two-year-old report issued and to release Uyghurs and others unjustly detained in Xinjiang. American diplomat MichAle Taylor also demanded that China clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing family members and facilitate safe contact and reunion during a speech at the current Human Rights Council session in Geneva, which runs from Sept. 9 to Oct. 11. Taylor read the joint statement on behalf of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States - all members of the Core Group on Xinjiang. In September 2022, the U.S. and Norway cosponsored a proposal that the Human Rights Council hold a debate on the situation of human rights in Xinjiang, home to roughly 12 million Uyghurs, as a follow-up to a report issued that August by the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, or OHCHR. The 46-page report by then-U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said "serious human rights violations" had been committed in Xinjiang in the context of the Chinese government's application of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism strategies, and that repression of the Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities there "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity." But China and its allies on the 47-member Council defeated the proposal in a 19-17 vote, with 11 abstentions. "Over the past two years, China has had many opportunities to meaningfully address these well-founded concerns," Taylor said. "We regret that China has denied the impartial and objective findings and rejected the recommendations of the OHCHR's assessment," she said. Earlier this year during China's Universal Periodic Review - a human rights record review by U.N. member states that occurs every five years - "China rejected many legitimate concerns and dismissively labeled the OHCHR's assessment 'completely illegal and void,'" Taylor said. EU's statement Rushan Abbas, executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs, praised the Core Group's statement because it highlighted "the undeniable atrocities" of arbitrary detention, forced labor and cultural erasure occurring in Xinjiang, as documented by the OHCHR. "The way the CCP exerts influence in the U.N. is to bury the ongoing genocide, and these findings are deeply troubling," she told Radio Free Asia, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. "Every day of inaction only prolongs the suffering of Uyghur families." "It is essential that the U.N. strengthens its efforts to hold China accountable," Abbas said. The U.S.'s statement, along with another by the European Union, coincided with this week's U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. The EU's delegation to the U.N. Human Rights Council expressed concern over China's mistreatment of Uyghurs on Tuesday in Geneva, including political re-education camps, mass detentions, widespread surveillance, the use of forced labor, and sexual and gender-based violence in Xinjiang. "Numerous reports by U.N. treaty bodies and special rapporteurs, and in particular OHCHR's assessment report on human rights in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, confirm that the human rights situation requires the urgent attention of the government of China, U.N. bodies and the human rights system," the delegation said. It also noted that the human rights situation in neighboring Tibet "continues to be dire" with compulsory boarding schools for Tibetan children and DNA sampling, and said the EU would closely monitor the safeguarding of the fundamental freedoms, cultural heritage and identity of Tibetans. The delegation called on China to provide bilingual education in Tibetan and Chinese at all levels of instruction. "The EU continues to urge China to abide by its obligations under national law, including its own Constitution, and international law, to respect, protect and fulfill the rule of law and human rights for all, including Uyghurs, Tibetans and other persons belonging to national or ethnic, linguistic, religious or other groups and minorities across China," the delegation said. At a regular press conference on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Lin Jian noted that Cuba delivered a joint statement on behalf of nearly 80 countries at the Human Rights Council session in Geneva "in response to the attacks and smears on China's human rights situation by the U.S. and a handful of countries." "They stressed that issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang are China's internal affairs," he said, using the Chinese government's word for Tibet. "They spoke against the politicization of human rights issues, the application of double standards and interference in other countries' internal affairs in the name of human rights," Lin said. Edited by Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2024, 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 September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INTERVIEW: Umbrella Movement changed the face of Hong Kong politics 10 years on, protest leader Chan Kin-man says it pushed people into embracing more radical resistance. By Chen Zifei for RFA Mandarin 2024.09.25 -- In 2013, former politics lecturer Chan Kin-man, law professor Benny Tai and Rev. Chu Yiu-ming called a news conference to urge people to occupy Hong Kong's Central business district in a peaceful civil disobedience campaign for fully democratic elections. Many feared Beijing would not allow it despite promises made during the negotiations for the 1997 handover from Britain. The following year, the ruling Chinese Communist Party issued a plan on Aug. 31 setting out Beijing's plan for reforms of the electoral system that would give everyone a vote - but would also ensure that only candidates approved by the government would be allowed to run in elections. The public backlash amid growing calls for genuine democratic reform took the form of a student strike, camps on major roads, sit-ins, mass rallies of hundreds of thousands of people and an unofficial referendum that came out overwhelmingly in favor of open nominations for electoral candidates. While the authorities refused to back down, saying there was 'no room' for discussion on the electoral rules, police fired tear gas and beat protesters in clashes that began this week 10 years ago. To protect themselves, demonstrators used umbrellas, and the "Umbrella Movement" was born. 'Watershed' moment Ten years on, Chan, now 65 and living in Taiwan, told RFA Mandarin that the movement -- and the authorities' response -- served as a wake-up call to many in Hong Kong who may not previously have considered themselves political at all. Describing the 2014 movement as a "watershed" for Hong Kong, Chan said it turned his home city from a money-oriented former colony to a society that was willing to take radical action to protect its promised rights and freedoms. "The Umbrella Movement of 2014 was a watershed," he said. "It was the first time we had used a so-called illegal method -- that of occupation." "It was a citizens' resistance movement, fighting for democracy on a huge scale," Chan said, adding that an estimated 1.2 million people were involved at some point during the movement. "People who took part were willing to pay the price of legal action," he told Radio Free Asia. "The biggest impact of the pro-democracy movement was on people's political awakening - people who hadn't paid much attention to the issue in the past ended up joining in and caring what was happening," he said. "The fact that many more people just watched from the sidelines doesn't mean it didn't have an impact on them." Deeply etched memories Ten years on, the scenes he witnessed on Hong Kong's streets remained deeply etched into Chan's memory. "I remember seeing one lady at the Occupy site who was very conventionally dressed," he said. "She didn't look at all like the protesters." "She ran a business near Admiralty, and I started to apologize to her, saying our occupation was likely affecting her business, but she told me never to apologize, and that she wanted to thank me," Chan recalled. The woman told Chan that she hadn't been remotely interested in politics before this happened, but since then she'd started reading more news reports, and she had come to understand why the occupation was happening. "She started to feel that she had been in the wrong all these years, for not paying much attention to Hong Kong's political development, and just being focused on making money," he said. "She felt she was letting the next generation down." While the Umbrella Movement did have its critics among those who blamed it for accelerating China's meddling in the city's political affairs, Chan said Beijing had left young Hong Kongers with little option but to take to the streets. "It's simplistic to look at whether the movement succeeded in changing the system overnight - it managed to mobilize 1.2 million people and continue an occupation for 79 days," Chan said. "Not many movements in the history of the world have managed that." More militant And when the movement failed to pressure the authorities into allowing properly democratic elections, it was inevitable that the next round of protests in 2019 would become much more militant, he said. "When even civil disobedience fails, and there is no way to fight for democracy [under Chinese rule] using peaceful means, there is going to be a move towards localism and militancy," Chan said. "We warned people about this at the time." "Young people were very dissatisfied and impatient, and they were already starting to agitate [for a more radical approach]," he said. "This was a critical movement, but the root cause of it all was the authoritarian approach of the Chinese Communist Party." "It was they who forced the people of Hong Kong, bit by bit, down the road to civil disobedience," Chan said. "The whole thing stems from the fact that the Chinese Communist Party rejects and resists democracy at every turn." When protests against plans to allow extradition to mainland China erupted in 2019, Chan was still in prison. By the time he got out in 2020, the National Security Law had already been imposed on the city, ushering in a crackdown on public dissent and peaceful political opposition. Fleeing to Taiwan When Benny Tai was arrested alongside dozens of former pro-democracy lawmakers in 2021, Chan fled the city for Taiwan. He still keeps a close eye on developments there, but is unclear whether resistance of the kind he proposed in 2013 is even an option these days, now that the authorities have two national security laws to use against dissenting voices. "Overt resistance hasn't been possible since the National Security Law came out [in 2020], but it's too early to say whether Hong Kong is dead or not," he said, citing plummeting turnout figures in recent elections under Beijing's new, highly restrictive rules. "A lot of people may still be holding onto their beliefs -- the authorities say that this is a form of soft confrontation," he said of the recent lack of interest in voting. "But that would mean people haven't died inside," Chan said. "And that means there's still hope." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, 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 September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China In Eurasia Briefing: Beijing Flexes Its Muscles At The UN General Assembly By Reid Standish September 25, 2024 China And The UN General Assembly World leaders have gathered in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) under the shadow of global conflict as wars rage in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, and elsewhere. Here's what's on China's radar so far and what could play out as UNGA continues. Finding Perspective: While the gathering began with the adoption of an ambitious document called the Pact for the Future, which contains a series of pledges to improve development, fight climate change, and take more sustained action toward ending conflicts -- among other measures -- the mood is not particularly optimistic at the UN. In his opening speech, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "Our world is heading off the rails, and we need tough decisions to get back on track." U.S. President Joe Biden, in his last speech as president before the assembly, called for countries to band together amid the spiraling conflict in the Middle East, Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, and rising concerns about China's growing influence. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in New York as Beijing's highest-ranking official and used his remarks on September 23 at the Summit of the Future to stress China's position as a rival power to the United States and its role in leading shifts to the current global order. "We need to build an equal and orderly, multipolar world and defend the UN-centered international system. The international order is based on international law and the basic norms of international relations, underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," Wang said. China's top diplomat will also address the General Assembly on September 28. What To Watch: Israel carried out air strikes against Hezbollah sites in Lebanon this week, which Lebanese authorities said had killed hundreds of people and sent tens of thousands fleeing for safety. Wang already met with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on the sidelines of the gathering and strongly condemned violations after Israel's large-scale strikes while saying Beijing firmly supported Lebanon. Wang then said China has been working for peace in the Middle East and will continue to work with Arab countries and the international community. Things were much more tense when Wang met with his Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa, where she demanded a clearer explanation of the circumstances behind the recent stabbing death of a Japanese boy in China. Kamikawa asked that Beijing strongly punish the alleged perpetrator and that officials should also crack down on anti-Japanese comments online. Wang called the attack an "isolated incident" whose motive is unclear. Elsewhere, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva touted a joint Chinese-Brazilian proposal during his September 24 speech to the assembly that calls for talks to begin between Russia and Ukraine to end the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has already rejected the proposal as "destructive" but the Brazilian leader still said his foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim will seek support for the plan from representatives of 20 countries later this week in New York. Why It Matters: Beijing has been flexing its muscles at the UN for years to block and stymie Western initiatives as its international stature has grown, and now China is throwing its newfound superpower weight around, as well. And with Washington taking a more hawkish stance against China in general, and especially lately due to its support for Moscow's war in Ukraine, the dividing lines have only become starker. Beijing has sold itself as leader of the so-called Global South and through policies like the Belt and Road Initiative has aimed to offer the world's less-developed countries an alternative, non-Western model for growth and progress. That strategy has led to widespread influence within the UN General Assembly, with strong pro-China diplomatic support coming from African nations, Central Asia, and parts of Latin America. The current General Assembly also comes as Washington finds itself increasingly isolated from large portions of the Global South over its votes to protect Israel at the UN as the war in Gaza escalates. Three More Stories From Eurasia 1. Central Asia's Big Project Trickles Ahead Kyrgyzstan announced it will allocate 11 billion som (roughly $130 million) from its state budget for the construction of the high-profile China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, my colleague Ernest Nurmatov from RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. What It Means: The announcement of new funds is an important step for the long-planned rail line, but the amount announced still falls below the $573 million Bishkek is expected to contribute toward its share of construction costs. China announced the project would move ahead during a summit in May 2023 with Xi Jinping and Central Asian leaders. According to the agreements signed between Beijing, Bishkek, and Tashkent, China enjoys a controlling interest in the project, responsible for 51 percent of construction costs. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each have a 24.5 percent share. However, questions remain over when and how Bishkek will allocate the remaining $443 million it will need to contribute for its section of the railway, especially given previous statements that construction could begin as soon as October. 2. Uzbekistan's Cotton Industry Looks To China Uzbek officials are touting high yields in their cotton fields thanks to new technology and expertise brought from China, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reports. The Details: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev said an agricultural pilot program that aimed to experiment with different ways of growing cotton has brought encouraging results, with methods and equipment from China proving to be cost-efficient while still improving the quality of the crop. The main advantage brought from the imported expertise is water-saving and energy-efficient benefits that the new equipment was reportedly able to contribute. Uzbek Agriculture Minister Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov said Tashkent is satisfied with the results of the pilot project and now plans to expand it to cotton crops across the country. 3. More Joint Naval Drills In The Pacific A detachment of warships of Russia's Pacific Fleet and the Chinese Navy entered the Sea of Okhotsk in the western Pacific as part of joint naval exercises on September 24. What You Need To Know: Russia said earlier that it was starting the joint Russian-Chinese Beibu/Interaction 2024 naval exercise that would include anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapons. The Sea of Okhotsk in the western Pacific Ocean is located between Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, and Japan's island of Hokkaido to the south. The exercises follow a round of large-scale naval and air joint exercises in the Pacific and other oceans earlier this month. The joint drills, which are increasingly taking place in new locations around the world, have alarmed the West and its allies like Japan. On September 23, Japan said Russia violated its airspace with a patrol plane. Across The Supercontinent Up and Running: China's Linglong tire factory, one of the premier investments under way in Serbia, is now operating one of its three plants, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports. The Homeland: In 2024, 12,325 ethnic Kazakhs born outside Kazakhstan have moved to the country, according to official statistics. The largest share of those arrivals -- 45.6 percent -- came from China, followed by Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Russia. Middle Corridor Boost: With traffic along the Eurasian trade route growing, Kazakhstan and China are setto launch a new container hub in Aktau, where one of the key ports for the Caspian Sea is located. South Asian Expansion: Chinese electric-car giant BYD is expected to announce a new manufacturing hub in Pakistan, the Financial Times reports, which would be the automaker's first venture into South Asia. One Thing To Watch The death of Liu Wenjie, the finance chief of Hunan Province, by falling has triggered a flurry of speculation in China. Liu's body was found outside her apartment building in Changsha last week and police say she was killed by two men who also happened to fall to their deaths from the building. Amid an unconvincing official story for the turn of events, the case has captured the public imagination in China, even as censors work to delete online chatter. The case also adds to a growing list of deaths and disappearances that have set China's rumor mill into overdrive. Zhu Hengpeng, a top economist who served as deputy director of the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) for around a decade, has vanished from public life since criticizing Xi's policies. High-profile cases last year involving China's defense and foreign minister have also captured international headlines and sparked speculation about behind-the-scenes power struggles. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-eurasia-unga-global- south-russia/33134255.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi 25 September 2024 17:49 1768-25-09-2024 On September 25, Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The parties praised the development of political dialogue and practical cooperation between Russia and China amidst the highly turbulent international situation. Focus was placed on the implementation of agreements reached at the higher level, as well as the preparations for the BRICS summit in Kazan and new contacts between the two countries' leaders. The ministers stressed the importance of enhancing the two countries' foreign policy coordination at international platforms, such as the UN and its Security Council, BRICS, SCO, APEC, G20, and other formats. Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi mentioned that Western countries' illegitimate sanctions imposed in circumvention of UN Security Council resolutions are unacceptable as they undermine the stability of the global economy and universal forms of trade and economic cooperation. An in-depth discussion was held on global and Eurasian security, including settlement process for the Ukrainian crisis and measures to counter the West in escalating the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and around Taiwan, as well as on a number of other issues on the regional agenda. The conversation took place in the traditionally trust-based and constructive spirit typical of the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question about reports on closing the research of the alleged sonic attacks against US diplomats in Cuba 25 September 2024 15:09 1766-25-09-2024 Question: What can you say about US media reports saying that National Institutes of Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services is closing its research of the so-called sonic attacks against Western diplomats in Cuba, which it has been conducting since 2016? Maria Zakharova: When the staff of American and allied embassies, primarily the Canadian one, started reporting similar symptoms, as if on cue, which they claimed was the result of direct exposure to radiofrequency fields, the blame was immediately assigned to Cuba and several other countries, including Russia. A new round of anti-Cuba campaign was launched. Cuba was later designated a state sponsor of terrorism, although under another far-fetched pretext. It was proved to be ungrounded, but Cuba has not been removed from the notorious US list. They have been trying to find scientific and medical proof of the "sonic attacks" for eight years, but to no avail. Moreover, the Americans who worked in Havana publicly mentioned coercion by US security services, direct and veiled threats if they refused to "cooperate," and "stretch" their testimony to suit their goals. In short, the plan to blame Cuba, as well as Russia, of inhumane influence on the health of American foreign policy staff has turned out to be impossible to implement. But some of our questions remain unanswered. First, if the Americans and their Canadian satellites failed to sell their lies because their story has not been confirmed by medics, why can't they say that they were wrong? An honest self-assessment, even when this is painful, has never been perceived as a sign of weakness. Second, the media have written volumes about the "Havana syndrome." Why has the admission of being wrong not created a media sensation, or even a newsbreak for the self-respecting free press? Is it because a refutation was not ordered? Or because objectivity has fallen out of favour? Or life is easier when the US authorities try to remove alternative but highly professional media outlets, like RT or Sputnik, from the stage? Without them, it is much easier to shape a distorted reality where only appropriate news is welcome and anything else that does not fit the artificial information picture is blotted out, isn't it? We reaffirm our position of principle that we categorically reject any manifestations of sanctions pressure on sovereign states, including under far-fetched pretexts and in violation of the UN Charter and the universally recognised standards and principles of international law. We strongly reject unilateral restrictions. All and any elements of pressure on the government they do not approve of are illegal. It should be said in conclusion that we wish good heath to American, Canadian and other Western diplomats wherever they work. We can hold different political views, but health is no joke. If they felt ill for the past eight years, we hope that they took their problems to professional doctors who have helped them, without any political encumbrances. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea says its satellite spied US nuclear submarine The North's state media did not provide photos supporting the surveillance report. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.09.24 -- North Korea's space agency spotted a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in South Korea, the North Korean leader's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, said, in what would be the first confirmation that the North has a functioning spy satellite. Kim said the arrival of the submarine in South Korea's Busan port demonstrated what she said was an "insane" U.S. strategy to impose its superiority on the world. "The Aerospace Reconnaissance Agency, an independent intelligence agency directly under the head of state of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has reported that it detected an abnormal object at a pier in Busan Port, South Korea, on the 23rd," said Kim on Tuesday, cited by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is North Korea's official name. "A nuclear submarine has appeared in the harbor where a U.S. aircraft carrier is moored," said Kim. "This is a clear demonstration of the insane military-strategic prayer of the United States, which is preoccupied with deliberately demonstrating its 'power superiority' in the face of the world." The 7,800-ton USS Vermont submarine entered a major naval base in the South Korean city of Busan on Tuesday to replenish supplies and provide rest for crew members, South Korean media reported. KCNA did not carry photographs supporting Kim's assertion. In November last year, North Korea successfully placed a spy satellite into orbit, and said it planned to launch three more such satellites in 2024. Its attempt to launch another satellite in May ended in failure. In February, however, South Korea's National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik, who was then defense minister, said that the North's Malligyong-1 spy satellite appeared to be orbiting Earth without activity. Kim said the submarine's arrival was "proof that the U.S. ambition to often take up nuclear strategic assets, boast of its strength, increase its threat to the rival and enjoy its hegemonic privilege.," She vowed to "continuously and limitlessly" bolster the country's nuclear war deterrent against "U.S. threats." "The DPRK's nuclear war deterrent to cope with and contain various threats from outside is bound to be bolstered up both in quality and quantity continuously and limitlessly as the security of the state is constantly exposed to the U.S. nuclear threat and blackmail," she said. "The U.S. strategic assets will never find their resting place in the region of the Korean peninsula," Kim said, adding that such nuclear-powered submarines could never be an "object of fear." Quad summit Separately, North Korea's foreign ministry spokesperson criticized the U.S. for "violating" the North's sovereign rights and trying to justify its hostile policy by hosting the Quad summit. After holding the fourth in-person summit in Wilmington, Delaware, the leaders of the United States, India, Japan and Australia on Saturday denounced North Korea's "destabilizing" missile launches and its nuclear program, and reaffirmed their commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "QUAD, the end product of the U.S. Cold War mentality and policy of inter-camp confrontation, has become a dangerous factor that deepens mistrust and antagonism between countries in the Asia-Pacific region and provokes international instability," the spokesperson said in a statement carried by the KCNA on Wednesday. The North will never tolerate any hostile acts that encroach upon its national sovereign rights, security and interests and continue to make efforts to build a multipolar international order, the spokesperson added. Edited by Mike Firn. 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 September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address September 25, 2024 Release Readout of Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks' Meeting With Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout: Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks hosted Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the Pentagon today to discuss priorities for strengthening the U.S.-India defense partnership through defense industrial cooperation, technology innovation, and operational cooperation. She noted that the United States and India continue to break new ground in areas of cooperation that will enhance the security of both countries, as well as the broader Indo-Pacific region. Deputy Secretary Hicks thanked Foreign Secretary Misri for India's strong support of the maritime security and logistics initiatives announced at the Quad Leaders Summit last weekend. They also discussed ongoing efforts to co-produce jet engines, land mobility systems, and munitions, as well as the continued progress through the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to foster joint innovation among defense industry stakeholders in both countries. Deputy Secretary Hicks highlighted the success of the recent INDUS-X Summit, which resulted in the announcement of a new joint innovation challenge for space domain technologies, as well as an upgraded memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Indian Defense Ministry's Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) office. The two officials also discussed regional security issues and a range of operational cooperation initiatives aimed at promoting stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. Deputy Secretary Hicks expressed the importance of continuing to advance progress across all areas of the Major Defense Partnership, and pledged to deepen cooperation to promote a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3917528/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pezeshkian Says Tehran Ready To Cooperate To End Nuclear Standoff By RFE/RL September 24, 2024 Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Iran is ready to end its nuclear standoff with the West and called for an end to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East through dialogue. "We are ready to engage with JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) participants if JCPOA commitments are implemented fully and in good faith. Dialogue on other issues can follow," Pezeshkian said in his first address to the annual gathering on September 24. Pezeshkian, who was sworn in as president in July after being elected following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, has previously said Tehran would be open to holding talks with the United States to restart the 2015 nuclear deal. President Donald Trump in 2018 unilaterally pulled the United States out of the deal, which was also signed by China, France, Russia, Britain, Germany, and the European Union, and reimposed crippling financial sanctions against Tehran. President Joe Biden has sought to restart the agreement, but Washington and Tehran have disagreed on terms. Pezeshkian said Iran hoped to see an easing of sanctions, which he called "destructive and inhumane weapons designed to cripple a nation's economy." He called for a new global paradigm that focuses on opportunities "rather than being obsessed with perceived threats," saying there is an opportunity to transcend limitations and enter a new era. "This era will commence with the acknowledgement of Iran's security concerns and cooperation on mutual challenges," he said. Relations between Iran and the West have worsened since the Iranian-backed Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and as Tehran has increased its support for Russia's war in Ukraine. But Pezeshkian emphasized in his UNGA speech that Iran wants "peace for all and seek[s] no war or quarrel with anyone" and the urgent need to end military hostilities in Ukraine. "We support all peaceful solutions and believe that dialogue is the only way to resolve this crisis," he said. Pezeshkian also sharply criticized Israel for what he called "its genocide in Gaza" and said it should stop immediately. "It is imperative that the international community should immediately...secure a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and bring an end to the desperate barbarism of Israel in Lebanon before it engulfs the region and the world," he said. Pezeshkian earlier warned that Israel's air campaign in response to attacks by Hezbollah -- designated as a terrorist organization by the United States -- on its territory from southern Lebanon "may turn into a regional war." Pezeshkian told CNN's Fareed Zakaria in an interview that aired on September 23 that Iran is supporting Hezbollah because the group "cannot stand alone" in the face of the attacks. "The danger does exist that the fire of events that are taking place [in Lebanon] will expand to the entire region," he said in the interview, given in Persian and translated into English. Iran has long been Hezbollah's main sponsor. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pezeshkian-hezbollah- lebanon-israel-iran-regional-war/33132240.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran: High Representative Borrell met with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York European External Action Service (EEAS) 25.09.2024 New York EEAS Press Team On Tuesday, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell met with the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, for a bilateral meeting in New York in the margins of the UN General Assembly. The meeting provided an opportunity to share the EU's position on a wide range of problematic issues with a particular focus on Iran's military support to Russia and on the pressing regional crisis. High Representative Borrell stressed the EU strong condemnation of the recent transfer of Iranian-made ballistic missiles to Russia. He underlined to Minister Araghchi that the EU considers the delivery of such weapons a direct threat to European security and that it represents a substantial material escalation, after the provision of Iranian UAVs and ammunition, which Russia has used in its illegal attacks at civilian targets in Ukraine. On the situation in the Middle East, the High Representative stressed that the risk of full military escalation, with devastating consequences for the entire region, needs to be addressed with urgency. The European Union will continue to do its utmost to support the voices of peace and reason. The High Representative called on Iran to use its influence to avoid further escalation. A ceasefire and hostage deal should be the real priority to improve the situation for civilians in Gaza and ease the tensions. The High Representative also stressed the importance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU will continue to call on the Iranian authorities to respect and uphold the rights of all its citizens, and to cease the practice of arbitrary detention including of EU citizens. Finally, High Representative Borrell underlined the importance of renewed nuclear diplomacy. In his role as coordinator of the JCPOA, under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the High Representative expressed his continued readiness to facilitate a diplomatic solution that addresses the concerns of different sides. The UN High Level week provides an occasion to be in touch with relevant parties. Both sides acknowledged the importance of dialogue to address current geopolitical and bilateral challenges. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Junta offensive underway to recapture towns in northern Shan state Truck convoys carrying troops are headed north to Mongyai, Tangyan and Nam Lan By RFA Burmese 2024.09.25 -- Myanmar's junta is shifting troops from southern to northern Shan state in a bid to recapture several towns it lost to in an offensive launched by an alliance of ethnic armies last year, according to residents and rebel officials. The Three Brotherhood Alliance launched an offensive last October, codenamed Operation 1027, that pushed back the military from several regions in Shan state it controlled following its February 2021 coup d'etat, including along northeastern Myanmar's border with China. China helped to negotiate an end to hostilities between the junta and the alliance - made up of The Ta'ang National Liberation Army, Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army - but the alliance resumed attacks in Shan state in late June following the lifting of the ceasefire. On Wednesday, residents and a spokesperson for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, told RFA Burmese that the junta had dispatched troops from its Eastern Central Command based in southern Shan state's Hko Lan township to the townships of Mongyai, Tangyan and Nam Lan in northern Shan state. "I saw more than 10 covered military trucks as well as many soldiers in the cars," said a resident of Kyay Thee township who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. "I saw the vehicles near a village between Kyay Thee and Mong Yai townships." A resident of Panglong township told RFA that junta forces were using civilian cars to travel to Kyay Thee and Mong Yai, via the Panlong-Le Char road. "We saw around 15 covered military vehicles beyond Le Char about two days ago," said the resident. "A second military convoy included 12-foot long civilian light trucks in Panglong township, heading to Le Char and Kyay Thee. There were more than 10 vehicles in that group." Residents said the second convoy was likely to be transporting "about 1,000 soldiers." TNLA spokeswoman Lway Yay Oo confirmed the troop movement, but said her group was unclear which towns the junta is targeting. "We know that many junta troops are heading to our areas, but we have no idea about their intentions," she said. Other sources told RFA that the junta is gathering soldiers who retreated from the alliance offensive in northern Shan state in the townships of Mongyai, Tangyan and Hko Lan. They said that reinforcements are being sent from the No. 55 Light Infantry Division, as well as Nos. 18, 17 and 7 Military Operations Commands. Vow to retake lost towns Earlier this month, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said during a trip to southern Shan state's Taunggyi city that the junta would launch air and ground offensives to recapture lost towns in northern Shan state. The comments followed the junta's Sept. 2 designation of the members of the Three Northern Brotherhood Alliance as "terrorist groups." Since Min Aung Hlaing's vow to retake townships in northern Shan state, airstrikes have intensified, leading to a threefold increase in civilian casualties compared to August, according to data compiled by RFA. Between Sept. 1 and 24, junta airstrikes killed more than 130 people and injured more than 70 others across eight states and regions, including Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Shan, Rakhine, and Kayah, the data showed. Maung Maung Swe, the deputy secretary of the shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, told RFA that the uptick in airstrikes was part of a bid by the junta to show China it means business along its neighbor's border. "They resorted to bombing as a means to rekindle the support of their allies, which had waned due to territorial losses," he said. "Simultaneously, this tactic serves to instill fear within our population." A former military officer and political commentator, who also declined to be named, said that the junta likely decided to move on northern Shan state amid Chinese pressure on the alliance members to stop fighting. Attempts by RFA to contact junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun regarding military movements in northern Shan state went unanswered Wednesday. The Three Brotherhood Alliance captured a total of 16 townships in northern Shan state between October 2023 and January 2024 as part of the first round of Operation 1027, before China mediated a suspension in fighting. However, in late June the alliance launched a second round of the offensive, capturing Lashio city, where the junta's Northeast Military Command headquarters was located, Kyaukme township which was also the base of the junta's No. 1 Military Operations Command, and Nawnghkio township, as well as Mogoke township in neighboring Mandalay region. The junta has been conducting daily airstrikes and artillery strikes on Hsipaw and Nawnghkio townships, as well as Lashio city, according to residents. According to RFA data, junta airstrikes and heavy weapons attacks killed nearly 2,000 civilians and injured nearly 4,000 others between the military's February 2021 coup d'etat and May 2024. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, 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 September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President of the Grand National Assembly of TArkiye Numan Kurtulmus Vladimir Putin met at the Kremlin with President of the Grand National Assembly of TArkiye Numan Kurtulmus, who is in Russia on an official visit. September 25, 2024 17:30 The Kremlin, Moscow On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, I am delighted to see you. Welcome to Russia. I know that you have a busy programme here. We are very pleased that our relations with the Republic of TArkiye are expanding across the board, including parliamentary ties. Just recently, President of TArkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and I met in Astana, and we will see each other again at the BRICS summit in Kazan in October where we are scheduled to have a bilateral meeting. I would like to note that cooperation between TArkiye and Russia is making active progress along almost every avenue, including economic ties, social projects, and interaction between the foreign ministries. We are good neighbours overall, working for the benefit of our nations, and we are largely succeeding. There are specific issues that we need to review. We will briefly exchange views on all of them. Welcome again. President of the Grand National Assembly of TArkiye Numan Kurtulmus (retranslated): First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for your warm welcome and your kind hospitality. I would like to convey the sincere greetings and best wishes from our President, Mr Erdogan. Today is the third day of our visit. Our programme is very rich indeed. I met with Ms Matviyenko; we had a very extensive discussion on bilateral relations. I had the honour to speak at the assembly and meet with members of both houses [of the Russian parliament]. I also had the opportunity to visit the Diplomatic Academy, where I met with young people. I also visited the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and met with representatives of the clergy. I spoke at a ceremony at the Yunus Emre Institute. This visit has been productive for me, and I am taking home the fondest memories and impressions. I really do hope that my trip to St Petersburg will be just as rewarding. This morning, we held a meeting at the Federation Council, where I took the opportunity to express my vision of Turkish-Russian relations. We are now in a phase where deep ties are being forged on the basis of a shared history and neighbourly relations, and I hope that inter-parliamentary relations will contribute to the development of our solid relations, which grow deeper day by day within the framework of priorities outlined by our presidents. We are very pleased that we hold similar views on the global agenda and the deep crisis that is now raging in the Middle East. Israel's attack on Palestine is not merely a regional problem, not only a Palestinian problem; it is a problem of the international community. It is gratifying that we are in agreement on this. I would like to note with pleasure how similar our peoples and our priorities are, and I want to say that we have never supported the sanctions or embargoes that were introduced against the Russian Federation. The West is using these measures to punish the Russian Federation; this is wrong, and we have never supported this approach. During our meetings, we discussed what steps can be taken, and what else we can do to advance our relations. Thank you. I would like to thank Ms Matviyenko for her warm and friendly invitation and for the candid dialogue we had here in Moscow. I think that the progress we are making in inter-parliamentary relations will help expand our relations in general. Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Please convey my best wishes to President of TArkiye, Mr Erdogan. I am looking forward to seeing him in Kazan. Our bilateral meeting is scheduled for October 23. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Russia's Ukraine Invasion, The Burden Of War Falls Hard On Bashkortostan, Tatarstan By RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service September 25, 2024 More soldiers from the central Russian regions of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan have died than any other region in the country, according to a confirmed tally of war deaths compiled by RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service, with a further sharp increase recorded in recent weeks. The tally, corroborated in part by a separate count by the BBC Russian Service and Mediazona, is the latest indication of how the burden of the Kremlin's war on Ukraine is disproportionately falling on more distant regions of Russia, further away from the wealthy population centers of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The reason for the recent increase is unclear, but it comes two years after President Vladimir Putin stunned the country by announcing a "partial" mobilization that called up some 300,000 men to fight. Overall, Russian casualties -- killed or wounded in action -- are believed to exceed 500,000 according to Western estimates, with more men killed over the past 30 months than in an entire decade of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. That burden has fallen heavily on regions where members of other ethnic groups outnumber ethnic Russians, such as Bashkortostan and Tatarstan. "Tatarstan and Bashkortostan are not poor regions," said Dmitry Treshchanin, editor of the Russian-language Mediazona website, which together with the BBC Russian Service is independently compiling tallies of Russian casualties. "Tatarstan, in particular, is the envy of many other regions. It cannot be said that people in these two republics volunteer to fight because of a lack of resources or money," he told RFE/RL. "In my opinion, there is a lot of administrative pressure, and people are being sent there 'voluntarily-compulsorily.'" The situation with casualties from the two regions seems "irrational," he said. "At the beginning of the war, deaths from [the North Caucasus region of] Daghestan were conspicuous," Treshchanin said. "But now we see constantly Tatar and Bashkir names like Marat and Marsel." Death On The Volga The Russian government has been notoriously tightlipped about its war losses since it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Its last official figure came in September 2022, with 5,937 Russian soldiers killed. At the time, the Ukrainian side was reporting Russian losses at nearly 10 times that figure. That has made it difficult for reporters, analysts, and outside observers to gauge the full impact of the war on specific populations. Still, from the beginning of the full-scale invasion, analysts have noted that nonethnic Russians have been disproportionately represented among the country's military casualties. Bashkortostan, a mid-Volga republic with a population a little over 4 million, has 2,981 confirmed deaths, according to RFE/RL's accounting, which used announcements on social media, obituaries, and other open sources to gather the data. In Tatarstan, which has a similar population, RFE/RL registered 2,691 deaths from the region. Those figures are reflected in the BBC Russian/Mediazona tally, which used a similar methodology: 2,705 confirmed deaths in Bashkortostan, and 2,259 in Tatarstan. In addition to mobilized soldiers sent to fight in Ukraine, other populations include prison inmates and private military company mercenaries, as well as "kontraktniki"-- men who voluntarily sign contracts to fight, induced by extraordinarily high wages and veterans benefits, including for widows and survivors. Among kontraktniki, Bashkortostan leads Russia in the number of confirmed deaths: 965, according to the RFE/RL tally. Tatarstan ranked second, with 557 volunteer deaths. By comparison, only 135 volunteers from Moscow -- with an official population of more than 13 million -- have been confirmed as killed. Over the last four weeks, RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service has added 575 names to its list of dead soldiers from the two regions, nearly 20 per day. The confirmed figures are assumed to be a major undercount given the difficulty in identifying deaths amid official secrecy. It's also unclear exactly how many men in total have been sent from Bashkortostan and Tatarstan to fight in Ukraine: kontraktniki, prison inmates, mobilized troops, or otherwise. A Statistic Or A Tragedy? Moscow is paying "special attention" to the Volga region, Tatar political analyst Ruslan Aysin said, as part of what he said was a deliberate Kremlin attempt to "confuse the political status" of the so-called ethnic republics, as the regions of Russia with large nonethnic-Russian populations are known. Putin's government, he said, is trying to bolster support for the war -- or at least temper discontent -- among ethnic Russians in large cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg by minimizing their casualty burden. For the authorities, each military death, Aysin said, is "just a statistic." "But for the republic, for the ethnic group, for the individual family, this is a great tragedy," he said. "There is a big gap between the leadership and the average citizen. In January, Bashkortostan saw a wave of nonviolent protests over the sentencing of Fail Alsynov, a popular activist longtime advocate for minority rights and the Bashkir language and culture, to four years in prison for purportedly stoking interethnic enmity. The protests were fueled in part by simmering discontent about the costs of the Ukraine war for the region, analysts said. 'Most Of The Fatalities Now Are Volunteers' On September 20, the BBC Russian/Mediazona project -- which tracks war deaths by monitoring funeral notices and other open-source data -- reported it had confirmed more than 70,000 killed soldiers nationwide. In the early phases of the war, the average Russian war death was a contract soldier in his early 20s, the project noted. Now, however, typical deaths are volunteers in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s, "most often without military experience or specialized training." The oldest reported casualty was a 71-year-old volunteer, according to the report. Treshchanin said about 12.7 percent of all killed Russian soldiers were caught up in the September 2022 mobilization order. Officially, some 300,000 men were mobilized, but some analysts believe the figure was higher. Overall, BBC Russian/Mediazona estimated the total number of casualties nationwide ranging from 107,000 to 155,000. Western estimates are similar. In May, then French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said that about 150,000 Russian soldiers had been killed. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. in June that at least 300,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded, calling it "the price that Russia has paid for Putin's imperial ambitions." Treshchanin said he and his colleagues have a backlog of about 4,000 names that they are trying to confirm. But he said the main trend now involves volunteers, who have recently gone to fight. "It is not a rare situation," Treshchanin said, "when a man who went off to war in July already has his obituary published in August." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-war-casualties- tatarstan-bashkortostan/33131093.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Widens Scope Of Russia's Nuclear Doctrine By RFE/RL's Russian Service and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 25, 2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 25 that a conventional attack on Russia by any country that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack. Putin made the statement as he outlined revisions to Russia's nuclear doctrine at a meeting of Russia's Security Council in Moscow. Russia's current nuclear doctrine says Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state. The revised version of the document says that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack posing a "critical threat to our sovereignty," Putin said. "It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any nonnuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation," Putin said. "The conditions for Russia's transition to the use of nuclear weapons are also clearly fixed," Putin said, adding that Moscow would consider such a move if it gets reliable information about the start of a mass cross-border attack by air from strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, and hypersonic weapons. Putin also said the list of states and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence should be expanded but did not mention which countries would be added. A top Ukrainian government official denounced the revisions, saying they proved Moscow had nothing left but nuclear blackmail to intimidate the world. "Russia no longer has any instruments to intimidate the world apart from nuclear blackmail," Andriy Yermak said on September 25 on Telegram. "These instruments will not work." Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, he and others in the Kremlin have threatened the West with Russia's nuclear arsenal to discourage it from ramping up support for Kyiv. The revisions come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy seeks permission from his allies in the United States and Europe to use the longer-range weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory. The change follows Putin's warning to the United States and other NATO allies that allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied longer-range weapons to hit Russian territory would mean that Russia and NATO are at war. Putin said the revisions were carefully calibrated and commensurate with the modern military threats facing Russia. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-nuclear-doctrine- putin/33135153.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 4th-gen nuclear submarines Emperor Aleksandr III and Krasnoyarsk enter service with Pacific Fleet Submarine Force 25.09.2024 The Pacific Fleet Submarine Force base, located in closed town Vilyuchinsk, hosted a welcoming ceremony for the nuclear-powered strategic submarine Emperor Aleksandr III and the multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine Krasnoyarsk who made the Arctic inter-fleet passage from the Northern Fleet right to the base at the Pacific Fleet. The servicemen were met by Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Pavel Fradkov and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Alexander Moiseyev. The ceremony was also attended by Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Viktor Liina, Governor of Kamchatka region Viktor Solodov, personnel of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force, and families of submariners. Captain 1st Rank Oleg Grishaev, the commander of the nuclear submarine Emperor Aleksandr III, and Captain 1st Rank Ivan Artyushin, the commander of the nuclear submarine Krasnoyarsk, reported to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev. Pavel Fradkov presented gifts on behalf of the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation to the commanders of submarines during the solemn ceremony. Soon, the crews of the newest nuclear-powered submarine Emperor Aleksandr III and Krasnoyarsk will have to replenish their stocks to the required standards and start tasks of the Navy command according to the combat training plans. Constructing the strategic nuclear submarines and multirole nuclear submarines is one of the highest priorities of the Russian Ministry of Defence and the High Command of Navy. There is continuing work to develop a maritime strategic nuclear force in the Northern and Pacific fleets. Submarine seamen are performing successfully combat duty tasks in all latitudes of the World's Oceans and seas on the modern 4th-gen Yasen class multipurpose nuclear submarines and Borei class nuclear submarines. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Laros 2024: Russian and Laotian military train in liberating settlements from mock terrorists 25.09.2024 In Primorsky region at the Sergeyevsky training ground of the Eastern MD, an active phase of the Laros 2024 joint Russian-Laotian drills started. The joint group of troops of Russia and Laos practised negotiating with mock terrorists, evacuating civilians, isolating and moping up a settlement from illegal armed formations. According to the scenario, a detachment of terrorists seized a settlement and imprisoned local civilians. The Joint Staff of the drills decided to negotiate with the terrorists to free civilians. The Zhuk-75 robotic system, a Russian cutting-edge system, designed to lay cable lines, ammunition, and communication assets. Tank crews of the Lao People's Army have inflicted fire damage on mock manpower clusters. Special forces team, together with mine action specialists, carried out tasks to detect explosives, weapons and ammunition caches. The final stage of the Laros 2024 exercise is to take place on 26 September 2024. During the stage, tactical groups of the two armies will chase and isolate illegal armed groups in an assigned area, inflict fire damage on enemy manpower and hardware, and launch an air strike on enemy reserves. Special forces units, tank crews, artillery, infantry fighting vehicles, flamethrowers, and Igla man-portable air defence systems, as well as Russian ground-attack and army aviation will be involved in this stage. Tactical airborne troops of the Armed Forces of Russia and the Lao People's Army will also be deployed as part of joint assault groups. Press Service of the Eastern Military District NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin: Russia Reserves Right to Use Nuclear Weapons in Response to Critical Threats Sputnik News 20240925 On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a session of the permanent meeting of the Russian Security Council on nuclear deterrence, where he touched upon key issues pertaining to Russia's security. President Putin outlined plans to update Russia's nuclear doctrine, the Fundamentals of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence. The core principle of nuclear weapon use remains the same - they are a last resort to protect sovereignty. However, the changing geopolitical landscape and emerging military threats have required adjustments. "At the same time, we see that the current military and political situation is changing dynamically, and we are obliged to take this into account, including the emergence of new sources of military threats and risks for Russia and our allies," he emphasized. The Russian President noted that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia and Belarus. "We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia and Belarus, as a member of the Union State. All these issues have been agreed upon with the Belarusian side, with the President of Belarus, including if the enemy, using conventional weapons, creates a critical threat to our sovereignty," Putin said at the meeting. Clarifications of the foundations of Russia's state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence have been agreed with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as a member of the Union State, President Putin noted. "I note that all the clarifications are deeply calibrated and commensurate with modern military threats and risks with regard to the Russian Federation," he said. Putin added that today, the nuclear triad remains the most important guarantee of the security of the Russian state and its citizens and a tool for maintaining strategic parity and balance of power in the world. The fundamentals of state policy on nuclear deterrence need to be adapted to current realities, Putin stated. "It is necessary to adapt the provisions of the strategic planning document to current realities," he said. A deep and comprehensive analysis of Russia's approaches to the possible use of nuclear forces and their possible adjustment has been conducted, Putin added. "Over the past year, specialists from the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Security Council apparatus and other agencies have conducted a deep and comprehensive analysis and assessed the need to adjust our approaches to the possible use of nuclear forces," he said. It has been proposed to make a number of clarifications in terms of definitions of the conditions for Russia's use of nuclear weapons, Vladimir Putin elaborated. The scenarios under which Russia could theoretically use nuclear weapons are outlined in Russia's military doctrine and the "Fundamentals of State Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence." According to the documents, this is possible in the event of aggression against Russia or its allies using weapons of mass destruction or aggression using conventional weapons, when the existence of the state itself is threatened. Russia has always sought to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and their components, Putin stated. "We have always taken a highly responsible approach to such issues, well aware of the colossal power of these weapons, and have sought to strengthen the international legal basis for global stability, to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and their components," he said. Russia has always taken a highly responsible approach to the use of nuclear forces, which is an extreme measure to protect the country's sovereignty, President Putin pointed put. At the session, Putin suggested discussing an issue related to updating the foundations of the state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence. "Along with the military doctrine, this is the document that officially defines and details Russia's nuclear strategy. First of all, the basic principle of the use of nuclear weapons is fixed, namely, the use of nuclear forces is an extreme measure to protect the country's sovereignty. I emphasize that we have always taken a highly responsible approach to such issues," Putin said. The updated state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence proposes to consider aggression by a non-nuclear state with the participation of a nuclear state as their joint attack on the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin explained. "The draft framework expands the category of states and military alliances in respect of which nuclear deterrence is carried out, and supplements the list of military threats for the neutralization of which nuclear deterrence measures are carried out," he said. Russia, aware of the colossal power of nuclear weapons, has always sought to strengthen the international legal framework for global stability. "We have always taken a highly responsible approach to such issues, well aware of the colossal power of these weapons, we have always sought to strengthen the international legal basis for global stability, to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and their components," Putin clarified. Russia may consider the use of nuclear weapons as soon as it receives reliable data on the massive launch of aerospace attack means, including missiles and drones, and their crossing of the Russian state border. "The conditions for Russia's transition to the use of nuclear weapons are also clearly fixed. We will consider such a possibility already when we receive reliable information about a massive launch of aerospace attack means and their crossing of our state border. I mean strategic or tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other aircraft," the president said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Russia muzzling dissent amid climate of fear, repression By Lisa Schlein September 25, 2024 As Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine grinds on for a third year, a United Nations report says all dissenting voices in the Russian Federation have been muzzled, civic and political rights have been shut down, and the human rights situation in the country "has significantly worsened." "The country is now governed by a state-sponsored system of fear and punishment including the use of torture, with absolute impunity," Mariana Katzarova, who monitors rights in Russia under a mandate from the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council, said Tuesday. Katzarova said civil and political freedoms in Russia have become further restricted since she submitted her first report to the council more than a year ago. "The severity of the government's human rights violations has escalated, and its tools expanded to suppress dissent against its repressive domestic policy and war-driven foreign policy," she said. As with last year's report, Katzarova noted that she was obliged to gather information for this year's 23-page report from a range of sources inside and outside the Russian Federation. Despite repeated requests, she said she was not granted access to Russia, "which would have allowed a dialogue with the government and other stakeholders and enabled the reflection of their position in this report." The report paints a chilling picture of a dystopian society in which Russian citizens are not free to express their views, state-driven human rights violations are legalized by new or amended legislation, public anti-war expression or dissent of any kind is criminalized, the use of violence by law enforcement is condoned, and "an environment of absolute impunity has been created." 'War censorship' Under Russia's so-called "war censorship" legislation, Katzarova noted that hundreds of people who "dare to speak the truth" about what is happening in the war against Ukraine have been prosecuted, given long prison sentences and subjected to the "crippling financial punishment" of having property and assets confiscated. The report says at least 1,372 human rights defenders, journalists and anti-war critics have been detained on politically motivated charges and sentenced "in sham trials to lengthy imprisonment, often with treatment amounting to torture." While Russian authorities have intensified their crackdown on these "traditional sources of opposition," Katzarova said poets, playwrights, artists, religious figures, indigenous groups, migrants, and those who've fled abroad are often targeted with "harsh censorship, intimidation and prosecution for any perceived transgression." "Of particular concern is the evidence of state-condoned violence and torture against civilians arrested for peacefully exercising their human rights," she said. "Brutal assaults of detainees by law enforcement officials go unpunished; there is increased use of solitary confinement in prisons and other deliberate ill-treatment amounting to torture." The report spells out in searing detail the many human rights violations and state-condoned discriminatory policies used by the state to intimidate, harass and punish vulnerable groups, including women and girls, LGBTQ persons, indigenous peoples, minorities and migrants. "The risk of severe punishment for any form of public dissent is very high, particularly for individuals and groups vulnerable to discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, political opinion, religion, indigenous status or minority background," says the report, which devotes a long section to the wide range of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law precipitated by the ongoing war against Ukraine. Ukraine-related violations It expresses particular concern about Ukrainian civilians held in arbitrary detention because "Russian authorities do not provide information about their number, fate or whereabouts, and many are subjected to enforced disappearance." The report says at least 1,672 Ukrainian civilians are known to have been arbitrarily detained by Russian authorities and kept "in penal colonies, pretrial detention centers and temporary makeshift tent camps" located throughout Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. It also says an estimated 14,000 Ukrainian civilians are missing. The report documents the plight of captured military and civilian Ukrainians, including children, who have been forcibly transferred or deported to the Russian Federation. According to the Ukrainian government, 19,546 children were forcibly transferred to Russian-occupied Crimea or deported to Russia or Belarus as of the end of July 2024; 388 have been returned. The whereabouts and fate of the thousands of other children remains unknown, though some are believed to have been given up for adoption by Russian families. The report notes that some of the returned children who were interviewed said they "were subjected to sexual violence during their time in Russian institutions and some experienced or witnessed physical violence and threats against children by the staff." Last year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova for "the war crimes of unlawful deportation and unlawful transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation." Katzarova told council members that "The Russian authorities must bring to justice all those responsible for this torture and ill-treatment and immediately and unconditionally release all Ukrainian detainees, ensuring their safe return, especially of children. "As special rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Russian Federation, I will continue to call for accountability for these crimes," she said. It is a call likely to be ignored by Russia, which boycotted the meeting and did not respond as a concerned country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China distorting U.N. resolution to hamper Taiwan: Lai ROC Central News Agency 09/25/2024 03:18 PM Taipei, Sept. 25 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (ea) has reiterated the government's frequent criticism of Beijing for "distorting" a United Nations resolution to justify its claims over Taiwan and deny Taiwan's participation in the U.N. system. China has "distorted" U.N. Resolution 2758 "in support of its 'one China principle,'" Lai said in a pre-recorded speech at the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in New York on Tuesday. Through its misinterpretation of the resolution, Lai said, China has falsely "claim[ed] that Taiwan is a part of the People's Republic of China (PRC)" and that "we have no right to participate in the U.N. system and other international fora." The resolution, passed by the 1971 General Assembly, recognizes the PRC as "the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations" and confirms the expulsion of "the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy" at the world body. The resolution addressed the issue of China's representation at the U.N. and resulted in Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China (ROC), losing its seat to the PRC. "I want to emphasize that democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China are not subordinate to each other," Lai said at the summit being held Sept. 23-25 to coincide with the opening of the general debate of the 2024 U.N. General Assembly. Lai's comments were part of ongoing efforts by Taiwan's government to reject Beijing's claims that the U.N. resolution "confirmed" its one China principle, which asserts there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is "an inalienable part of China." The president also called on other democratic nations to support democratic institutions worldwide and "counter authoritarian aggression," including China's military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and East and South China Seas and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. China has employed gray-zone tactics, such as economic coercion and cognitive warfare, against Taiwan, Lai said, arguing that these activities posed a threat not only to Taiwan but also to the entire international community. According to Lai, Beijing not only intends to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait but is also seeking to change the rules-based international order and achieve global hegemony. "Taiwan will neither yield nor provoke, and will maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait," Lai said, adding that his administration remained committed to working to safeguard regional peace and stability through a four-pillar plan. The plan underscores the need to boost Taiwan's defense capabilities, economic security and partnerships with other democracies, and maintain a stable and consistent cross-strait policy. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Allies call for Taiwan's inclusion in U.N. system ROC Central News Agency 09/25/2024 11:24 AM New York, Sept. 24 (CNA) Four diplomatic allies of Taiwan have urged that the United Nations include the country in its system during the just-concluded U.N. Summit of the Future held during the annual U.N. General Assembly. Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, Palau President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, and Paraguay President Santiago PeAa all called for Taiwan's participation in the U.N. system at the inaugural Summit of the Future held Sept. 22-23, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). In her address, Heine highlighted Taiwan's role as a "key partner" to the Marshall Islands. "Taiwan's important partnership deserves appropriate recognition. If we are to truly 'leave no one behind,' then Taiwan deserves meaningful and enhanced participation in the U.N. system," she said. Whipps, Jr. said that Taiwan's absence from the international organization and its specialized agencies was "ironic" given that this year's U.N. General Assembly theme is "Leaving no one behind." He also said that Taiwan's absence from the U.N. was due to a "misinterpretation" of U.N. resolution 2758. Resolution 2758 was adopted by the 26th U.N. General Assembly in 1971 to address the issue of China's representation at the world body. It resulted in Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China (ROC), losing its seat at the U.N. to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan has since been excluded from participating in the international organization and its affiliates. In his Summit of the Future speech, Dlamini said Taiwan "contributes significantly to global public health, economic development and technological innovation" and called for Taiwan's "meaningful participation in international organizations." PeAa, meanwhile, said Paraguay was "convinced that the future should be one of peace, taking us further from violence and conquest." "In a phrase, 'might does not make right.' For this reason, we defend countries like Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, that have a right to be respected and treated with dignity." The inaugural summit came at the start of the U.N. General Assembly's "High-level Week" in New York. The summit endorsed a so-called Pact for the Future, a sweeping document intended to make the U.N. system fit for the needs of the 21st century. Among other ambitions, the pact includes commitments to reform the global financial architecture, adapt the U.N. to new security threats, advance sustainable development, harness digital technologies, and address the needs of youth and future generations. The 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly commenced at U.N. Headquarters in New York on Sept. 10, with the General Debate to be held Sept. 24-28 and Sept. 30. (By Tony Liao and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/09/25 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Date 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Tuesday to Wednesday, Sep. 24-25 PLA activities 2 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau September 24, 2024 New York City, United States of America Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated Canada's condemnation of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, including its horrific targeting of civilians and energy infrastructure. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada's commitment to continue providing military, financial, humanitarian, development, and other assistance to Ukraine as it fights to preserve its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. The two leaders discussed countering Russian misinformation and disinformation, and President Zelenskyy's diplomatic efforts toward peace, including through Ukraine's Peace Formula. They committed to continue building on the success of the recent Summit on Peace in Ukraine, and the Prime Minister underlined ongoing contributions to these efforts. This includes Canada's co-leadership, with Ukraine, of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, and the meeting of foreign ministers on the human dimension of Russia's war against Ukraine, to be hosted by Canada in October. Prime Minister Trudeau and President Zelenskyy reaffirmed their intention to remain in close and regular contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Director Rachel Rossi Delivers Opening Remarks at the World Affairs Council's "From Local to Global: Justice Reform & Community Engagement in the United States and Ukraine" Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Location Seattle, WA United States Remarks as Prepared for Delivery Thank you, Fraser, for that kind introduction and thank you to the World Affairs Council for organizing this panel. A big thank you to Jared Kimball and our colleagues with the Criminal Division's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) for inviting the Office for Access to Justice to partner in this engagement. It is an honor to be here in the company of distinguished representatives from Ukraine and Seattle - to learn about their respective community prosecution efforts and to think more deeply about the prosecutor's role in ensuring equal access to justice for all. I must first acknowledge and applaud the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office for its pursuit of community driven approaches to prosecution - especially during such a complex and devastating time. Roman Shpyrka is here with us from the Office of Ukraine's Prosecutor General with a number of his colleagues. Roman - thank you and your team for being here and for all you are doing in the face of unimaginable challenges. We are honored to stand with you as Ukraine plans for a future grounded in the rule of law. While our circumstances are quite different, through our collaboration we have seen that that community driven approaches to prosecution align with the mission of equal access to justice for all. Achieving "access to justice" requires that all communities can equally access public safety and the promise of justice. This requires equal enforcement of laws, but it also requires us to intentionally dismantle barriers many continue to face, to accelerate innovative strategies and to safeguard the integrity of our legal systems, so that justice doesn't depend on income, status, who you are or where you live. This, in turn, promotes trust in the rule of law. This is the mission of the Office for Access to Justice. As a stand-alone federal office, we are housed within the Justice Department - the United States' leading federal prosecuting agency - because closing access to justice gaps for all is central to the pursuit of justice. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland underscored the importance of our mission in quoting former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy who stated, quote "It must be our purpose ... to insure that the department over which I preside is more than a Department of Prosecution and is in fact the Department of Justice." Attorney General Garland further stated: "We are responsible not only for enforcing the law, but for upholding the Rule of Law. We are responsible for protecting civil rights and pursuing justice for all Americans." As prosecutors stand at the forefront of this pursuit of access to justice, community prosecution strategies incorporate a multi-dimensional approach. First, this mission requires consistent engagement with the community. We'll soon hear more about prosecutorial strategies to engage and collaborate with community members and community-based organizations in a variety of innovative ways. And it is with this commitment that our office is working to ensure engagement advances culturally responsive approaches, including for communities that don't speak or write English. Through our Language Access Program, we have partnered with 38 United States Attorneys' Offices and 24 other Justice Department offices to translate public-facing materials, include webpages, complaint forms and more. We've also launched the Access DOJ initiative, to make the Justice Department's programs and services more efficient and accessible. And we lead the Federal Government Pro Bono Program, assisting federal prosecutors and government employees across the country to engage with communities by volunteering to provide pro bono legal help. Prosecutors can also support access to justice by supporting access to counsel for the accused. A robust public defense function helps to ensure the integrity of convictions and that due process rights are protected - central elements to the pursuit of justice. Just last year, our office launched a Public Defense Resource Hub for professionals providing public defense services and related organizations. And we recently partnered with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to conduct a first-of-its-kind comprehensive review of access to counsel in federal pretrial facilities. Prosecutors can further pursue equal access to justice through the development of and support for innovative approaches to ensuring justice. For example, our office is supporting leaders across the country who are moving away from the reliance on fines and fees to promote economic justice. We recently published a spotlight report to uplift promising practices across the country, including those lead by prosecutors, to reduce these economic burdens faced by low-income communities. And over the last year, our office, led by my colleagues Jarvis Idowu, Jesse Bernstein and Lauren Lambert, has joined OPDAT to support the exchange of knowledge by organizing virtual sessions with Ukraine and U.S. prosecutors and experts from around the country to uplift a variety of innovative prosecutorial strategies. Topics have included youth justice, trauma-informed victims and witness engagement, community-based alternatives and partnerships, diversion programs and specialty courts, bail and pretrial detention, restorative justice, data-driven strategies and working with internally displaced persons and the veteran community. This week, we're thrilled to learn more about the innovations driven by the King County Prosecutor's Office a like their focus on access to justice for those struggling with addiction through LEAD, a community-driven partnership to direct people engaged in low-level drug activity into evidence-based, intensive wrap-around services. Finally, prosecutors pursue access to justice through efforts like this one today, to share best practices and engage with our partners at home and abroad. Our office proudly supports U.S. implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, focused on access to justice. We serve as the U.S. authority on access to justice internationally, like at the U.N. Crime Commission and the Cross Border Crime Forum, centering the importance of access to justice as we tackle complex cross-border criminal issues and pursue strengthened democracy and rule of law globally. Prosecutors carry a heavy burden and awesome privilege to pursue public safety. They regularly stand with those experiencing our society's worst violence, trauma and unimaginable harm. They lead the charge to safeguard the integrity of the criminal justice process, advance community collaboration, uphold civil rights, protect due process and pursue the promise of access to justice for all. And in Ukraine today, it is undeniable that this burden has only become more complex and difficult. We're impressed by the dedication of our colleagues, both here in Seattle and abroad in Ukraine to these principles. The Office for Access to Justice looks forward to continued collaboration as we stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this critical mission. Together, we can increase community trust and strengthen the rule of law. I'll now turn it over to our moderator, and former King County Prosecuting Attorney, Dan Satterburg. Speaker: Rachel Rossi, Director Topic: Access to Justice Component: Office for Access to Justice NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Speech by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Ukraine Germany Federal Foreign Office 24.09.2024 - Speech 943 days ago, Russia launched its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. 943 days of suffering. 943 days during which women were raped in Bucha, 943 days of people being tortured in eastern Ukraine. 943 days of children being deported. And, as we have heard here today, there is no denying this. The Russian Ambassador here didn't even say it wasn't true. He said it's better for the children. It has been estimated that more than 20,000 children have been deported. Imagine these were your children. And that you are told here in the Security Council that this is in the best interests of your child, to be stolen from you, as a mother or a father. I had the chance to speak to one of the very few teenage girls who could be returned to Ukraine. She told me, through tears: "Please promise me one thing. You won't stop. You won't stay silent until all the other girls, all the other boys, the little children, have been returned." And this is the promise we made. We as European neighbours. We as Germans. My country was responsible for the worst crimes on the European continent. Today, we are lucky to live in peace again. My generation was able to live in peace, in a reunified country in the middle of Europe, because others were there for us. Other European friends and partners. Today, some are asking us if it would maybe help to end the war if we didn't support Ukraine's self-defence. If we just ignored what's happening. We cannot do that because my country's pledge is that we will always stand up for the principles of the United Nations. And we won't rest until these children come back to their families. And to the Russian Federation's Ambassador, who always leaves after he has spoken here: you can fool yourself. The strongest man in your country can hide behind teenage girls who he kidnapped. But you cannot fool the world. We don't have to go through all the 943 days of atrocities to see this. We can all just remember what happened here in New York on Sunday. Russia wanted to prevent us from achieving a real breakthrough for the UN. But it didn't succeed when a vast majority of states rallied around the values of the Charter. And then we read what the Russian Deputy Ambassador wrote on Twitter. The truth is that the majority from the, and I quote, "jungle", was not capable of taking the right decision. This is how Putin's Russia speaks about other countries these days: "the jungle". And this is how they speak about Ukraine: "a beauty" that has to be raped. And this is how Putin's soldiers, Putin's army, behaves. Every day, for 943 days. Lately, we've seen heavy drone attacks and missiles directly targeting power plants. Two thirds of electricity and heating in Ukraine is destroyed. Even though we try to protect it with air defence. And Russia's actions are not a coincidence, but because winter is coming again. At minus 15 degrees, when electricity doesn't work, when heating doesn't work, when all water is frozen. This is a crime against humanity. People freezing to death. And this is why, again, I would like to call on all our friends around the world. We can totally understand that some of you think: maybe if there is no weapons support for Ukraine anymore, maybe if we just neutrally call on all sides, things will be better. But the truth is if there is no air defence left around the remaining electricity hubs, there is no electricity in Ukraine anymore. Then everything would be destroyed. President Zelensky invited the Russian President to the negotiating table in the summer. He offered dialogue, and Vladimir Putin responded with new levels of aggression. In June, Ukraine invited Russia to a second international peace conference. Putin responded by bombing a children's hospital in Kyiv. And this is why we believe we have to send further air defence to Ukraine. To protect children's hospitals. And this is why we are very grateful that an increasing number of our partners around the world are thinking about how to end this war. We need this. We need an end to this war. But this cannot mean that we stand by and watch while there is no end to this war. While Putin hasn't taken a seat at the negotiating table. To just stand by and watch Russia destroy the remaining half of Ukraine. When we speak about peace, we believe it must be a just and lasting peace. Speaking about peace means Ukraine must be sure that the end of the fighting does not mean another round of preparations in Russia. Neither for Ukraine, nor Moldova, nor Poland, as we've heard from our EU colleague. Speaking about peace, just and lasting peace, means that Ukraine's existence as a free and independent country must be guaranteed. It means security guarantees. This is hard. Every day, people are dying. But, Excellencies, on Sunday we showed what we can achieve if we join forces. We showed that those who want to destroy our Charter will not succeed if we stand together and rally around it. Let's rally around the Charter also for Ukraine. In the same spirit, for a just and lasting peace, for Ukraine, for Europe and the whole world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a UN Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State UN Headquarters New York City, New York September 24, 2024 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. And welcome, President Zelenskyy. We meet more than two and a half years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, shredding the core principles of the United Nations Charter - sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. Every day since, Russia has waged a war of aggression - the textbook example of a threat to international peace and security that this council was created to prevent and address. The question before us today is not what will Russia do. We already know that. Putin will continue to wage his unjust war. The question before us is how we, members of this council, can end Putin's war and reinforce the international rules and rights that make all of our nations safer and more secure. There are two immediate and interrelated steps that we must take. First, we must address Russia's growing cooperation with North Korea and Iran. Iran has been providing armed drones to the Kremlin since 2022. It built a drone factory in Russia. Just a few weeks ago, it transferred hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, and Tehran has trained Russian military personnel in Iran how to operate these weapons. Meanwhile, the DPRK has delivered trainloads of weapons and ammunition to Russia, including ballistic missiles, launchers, and millions of artillery rounds. Support from Tehran and Pyongyang is helping Putin inflict carnage, suffering, and ruin on innocent Ukrainian men, women, and children; demolish Ukrainian apartment buildings, grain silos, and ports; ravage Ukrainian power plants, heating, and natural gas facilities just as freezing temperatures are setting in. These actions by Iran, North Korea, and Russia have violated multiple Security Council resolutions - resolutions that Russia voted for, and as a permanent member, has a special responsibility to enforce. This is also not a one-way street. The more Russia relies on their support, the more Iran and North Korea extract in return. And the more Putin gives to Pyongyang and Tehran, the more he exacerbates threats to peace and security - not just in Europe, but in the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East, all around the globe. As North Korea ramps up its military support for Russia, Putin has reciprocated with military commitments and with money. The two countries recently revived a treaty pledging to provide military assistance if either is invaded. In March, Russia used its veto to end the work of the UN Panel of Experts on the DPRK, which for 14 years had monitored the regime's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Russia's banks are helping North Korea evade sanctions, freeing up more funds for its unlawful weapons programs. All this for a regime that has carried out more than 150 ballistic missile tests since 2022 and whose leader routinely threatens to obliterate South Korea and Japan and other countries. Meanwhile, as Tehran provides Putin with drones, ballistic missiles, and training, Russia is sharing technology with Iran on nuclear issues, as well as space information. The two countries have accelerated negotiations on a comprehensive strategic partnership. Last year, Russia announced plans to send Iran advanced fighter aircraft and attack helicopters. This as Iran continues to arm, to train, and to fund proxies in the Middle East to carry out terrorist attacks across the region and beyond - including Hamas, whose appalling October 7th attacks killed civilians from over a dozen UN member-states; and including the Houthis, whose attacks on international shipping have driven up the cost of food, of medicine, other supplies for people around the world, and have added to the suffering of the Yemeni people. North Korea and Iran are not the only ones aiding and abetting Russia. China, another permanent member of this council, is the top provider of machine tools, microelectronics, and other items that Russia is using to rebuild, to restock, to ramp up its war machine and sustain its brutal aggression. Now, some may ask how the United States or any other country helping Ukraine defend itself can criticize countries for providing military support to Russia. There is a profound difference. Russia is the aggressor; Ukraine, the victim. Russia fights for conquests. Ukraine fights for survival. If countries stopped supporting Russia, Putin's invasion would soon come to an end. If countries stopped supporting Ukraine, Ukraine could soon come to an end. This brings me to the second step that members of this council can take. One of the council's primary responsibilities is seeking to peacefully resolve conflicts. As President Zelenskyy has said, no one wants peace more than Ukraine. The United States also wants to end this conflict. And before Putin launched his full invasion, we used every tool we could to try to prevent it, including right here at the Security Council. But the way the council seeks to end this conflict matters. The UN Charter is crystal clear on this point. When fulfilling its responsibilities, the Security Council, and I quote, "shall act in accordance with the purpose and principles of the United Nations," end quote. In other words, we must seek a peace that upholds, rather than undermines the UN's core tenets. That's why all of us here have a responsibility to support Ukraine's call for a just and lasting peace to end Russia's war of aggression. A just and lasting peace must affirm the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. A just and lasting peace must preserve Ukraine's right to choose its own path, its own allies, its own future. A just and lasting peace requires Ukraine's full participation - and assent. A just and lasting peace must support Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery, with Russia paying to fix the damage it's caused. A just and lasting peace must address both accountability and reconciliation. The United States is ready and willing to work with any partner dedicated to supporting peace based on these principles. Ukraine has said multiple times that diplomacy is the only way to end this war - and that it's prepared to engage in negotiations. Putin, on the other hand, has no interest in such a peace - recently declaring that Russia would return to the negotiating table only when Ukraine withdraws its troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya; in other words, when Ukraine withdraws from its own territory. Putin continues to claim, falsely, that Ukraine is not a real state. He continues to deny that the Ukrainian people have their own identity. In Putin's eyes, the Ukrainian people - like Ukraine itself - do not exist. Other countries have put forward their own proposals - some of which make no mention of the UN Charter or its principles, fail to distinguish between the aggressor and the aggressed, and call on all sides to de-escalate. A proposal along these lines would reward Putin's aggression, allow him to rest, re-arm, re-invade Ukraine - as he has done time and again. It would also embolden would-be aggressors everywhere around the world. As history teaches us, peace without principle is prologue to more conflict, to more suffering, to more instability. So, to all nations who want this conflict to end - and do it in a way that will endure - the quickest way forward is simple: stop those who are enabling and fueling Putin's aggression and demand a just peace that upholds the principles of the United Nations Charter. I thank you, Mr. President. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine: Address by High representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell to the UN Security Council on the Russian aggression European External Action Service (EEAS) 25.09.2024 New York, United States, 24/09/2024 EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Ms President, Distinguished Members of the Council, We meet today as a Permanent Member of this Council, Russia, continues carrying a brutal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. As many have said today, it is a blatant violation of United Nations Charter. Russia launched a war against Ukraine. It is the first interstate war in Europe since World War II. Ukraine defends itself in line with its right to self-defence under United Nations Charter, and it does so against a nuclear-armed state. The international community must remain determined to support Ukraine's freedom, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised border. Some have declared here today that they love peace. Oh, yes, they love peace - no one loves peace more than the Ukrainians. [So,] they want peace quickly, [in] the quickest possible way. But they have not mentioned that the quickest possible way [towards peace] is Russia withdrawing their troops from Ukraine. This would be the quickest possible way. Yes, there is another way, Ukrainian surrender. But we do not want this kind of ending [of] the war. They are desolated, because the fact that we have been providing support to Ukraine has not finished the war. No, but it has allowed Ukraine to defend itself. We want Ukraine to continue defending itself. So, to all "lovers of peace", please take into consideration that it matters the way [how] this war is going to end. It matters. One way of ending this war, which is Ukrainian surrender in front of the violation of their territorial integrity, will be a "good example" for the perpetrator of this violation to start [doing it] again and again. So please, my call to all "peace lovers" is to keep in mind that what we are talking about is the freedom of one country, one people, who are defending themselves against an aggression. United Nations reports are unequivocal. The deliberate destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure, depriving the civilian population of services necessary for its survival. Particularly when the winter season starts - and two-thirds of electricity production capacity of the country has been destroyed. The recent transfer of short-range ballistic missiles by Iran to Russia, and in doing also with North Korea, is becoming an enabler of Russian aggression. This represents a sustained material escalation and a direct threat to European security. These weapons will be likely used against Ukrainian civilians, adding another layer of suffering and destruction of this war. The European Union remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine and to achieve a lasting peace. Yes, because we want peace, we too want peace, but based on international law and United Nations Charter. As do more than 110 partners who supported the Summit [on Peace in Ukraine's] Joint CommuniquA of this last meeting on a peace framework, supporting again sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of an aggressed country. At the end of the day, it is up to Ukraine, and only to Ukraine, to define the terms in which they want this war eventually to end. We need to pay more attention at the constant violations of the embargo against Russia. We need to be concerned by the circumvention of sanctions that is making the war longer. We have to reinforce the legitimacy of our support to Ukraine by being consistent with our values and applying these values everywhere. This is the best way of supporting Ukraine. Consistency is of the essence. In a world that is becoming less multilateral and more and more transactional, and in order to prevent this slide to have more transactions and less norms, we need to work very hard. This is the best way to support Ukraine for a peace, a just peace, that makes the aggressor fail. Thank you. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-261098 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine: Press remarks by the High Representative after the UN Security Council meeting on the Russian aggression European External Action Service (EEAS) 25.09.2024 New York, United States, 24/09/2024 EEAS Press Team Unfortunately, for the third year - it is already three times - the Security Council needs to convene to address this Russian full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine and against Ukrainian people. I reminded [the Security Council] that Russia is a permanent member of this Council and that despite of that, Russia continues this brutal war against Ukraine, violating its territorial integrity and the United Nations Charter. In July and August, we saw the highest civilian casualties since October 2022. It is the United Nations who reported that the number of civilian casualties has been increasing along the war. It is clear that for Putin the purpose is to deliberately destroy homes and civilian infrastructure, especially ahead of the winter. You know that two-thirds of the electricity production capacity has been destroyed. It is quite cold in Ukraine in winter. So, the purpose is to push people into the cold and the dark in the coming winter. This is not a 'special operation'. This is a way of terrorising the civilian population. We, at the European Union, commit to supporting Ukraine and we continue supporting Ukraine. And I heard here some "peace lovers" say that they love peace, and they want peace in the quickest possible way. Yes, they love peace; me too, the European Union [loves peace] too. Ukrainians more than anyone else. If someone is willing [to have] peace, it is certainly the Ukrainians which are suffering the consequences. Some said: "Oh, stop this war because it is too costly for us." Well, it is very costly for Ukrainians in terms of lives, not only in terms of money. Yes, we have to end this war quickly. What is the quickest way of ending this war? They have not mentioned the quickest way of ending the war, which is the withdrawal of Russian troops. Russia withdraws the troops and the war will end. But they have not mentioned this quickest way of ending the war. Maybe they are thinking of another quick way of ending the war, which is Ukrainian surrender. Yes, without our support, Ukraine would have to surrender. Is that what they are proposing? [It is] not our case. We do not want this way of ending the war. We do not want Ukraine surrendering and losing its national identity, its freedom and its territory, and becoming a second Belarus. That has to be clear. I would like to explain to all these "peace lovers" - who say they want peace - why we should continue supporting Ukraine, if they are attached to the United Nations Charter and the dignity and freedom of the people. Peace does not mean submission. We want a lasting peace. Peace does not mean surrender. We want a peace that respects the sovereignty [of Ukraine]. Peace does not mean occupation. Let's clarify what does it mean when we talk about peace: no occupation, no surrender, no submission. It is important to engage in peace efforts, certainly. To support the Ukrainian military does not exclude to support the peace process. Both things have to go together, hand in hand, the two sides of the same coin. The more Ukraine will be stronger, the more we will be able to go to a peace negotiation. A peace initiative that will not reward the aggressor. No peace initiative should succeed if it neglects the United Nations Charter. And as President [of Ukraine, Volodymyr] Zelenskyy said, there is one [UN] Charter, only one [UN] Charter, no different one for different situations, and borders cannot be re-drawn by force. As simple as that. Borders cannot be re-drawn by force. This is the first interstate war in Europe since the end of World War II [launched] in order to change the borders. The Security Council should stand to reaffirm its commitment to the United Nations Charter - it is quite elementary, no? - that the Security Council should support the United Nations Charter, demand an immediate end to Russia's [war of] aggression, and hold accountable those responsible for the many atrocities committed. I was in Bucha, and it was not 'theatre', as the Russian ambassador has said; "it was just a fake". Well, it was not a fake. The corpses of hundreds of people in the streets were not fake. They were there during the Russian occupation. The satellites do not lie. The satellite shows reality and shows who was there before the Russians left. This war will end. All wars end - but it matters how they end. Today, Ukraine is paying the highest price with their blood and their lives, with the destruction of their country. It also matters to the rest of the world. Because this war is not only destabilising the world. It is not only creating hunger and high prices of food and energy worldwide. It is also creating a new way of imperialism from the past, to try to dominate the common future. So, international law and rule is not a choice, it is a necessity. If we fail in Ukraine, we will fail everywhere else. That is the message I tried to convey to the Security Council. Thank you. Q&A Q. First of all, you have talked about the need for Ukraine not to lose this war. Yet we have in this country, Donald Trump has said if he seeks negotiation, he will not say who wants to win this war. What do you make of that approach, if you can comment on that? Secondly, if I may ask you about the Middle East. We are nearly a year now into this crisis, and I just wanted to ask you to reflect on the approach of the United States and its diplomacy, while on the one hand arming Israel but seeking a diplomatic outcome. Can you reflect on how effective you think that approach has been? Here we are a year later with still the war in Gaza, now the potential for a very serious escalation in Lebanon. On Gaza, you will have to wait for the debate of the Security Council on Gaza. Today is about Ukraine. There is another Security Council discussion in Gaza, and believe me, I will attend and I will answer your question. And the first question ... [former President Donald] Trump, for the time being, is just a candidate. I will wait until Trump is sitting again in the White House in order to consider his proposals. Q. What do you think of his comment that he will not say who should win the war? Well, I do not want to comment [former President Donald] Trump's comment. I am not a commentator. Q. Are you saying that the European Union is making no preparations whatsoever for a Donald Trump victory and you are only going to change course once the elections happen? No. I have been following this war from the beginning. One thing is clear: at the beginning of the war, nobody was expecting Ukraine to resist. At the American Embassy, immediately after the war started, they were packing to leave because nobody expected Ukraine to resist. The reason was clear: Russia is the number four in the world for military expenditure. Ukraine is number 35. So, the difference between the military capacity of Russia and Ukraine is an abysmal, it's incredible. So, the fact that Ukraine was resisting was a kind of miracle. In the beginning, we offered Ukraine - what did we offer to Ukraine? - helmets. Now we are offering F-16. It is quite a difference, no? But immediately after, when people in the Chancelleries - and myself in Brussels - considered that Ukraine was resisting, was not 2014. Allow me to remind you, in 2014, when the Crimea invasion [happened], in the Munich Conference, the Europeans did not want to arm Ukraine, they refused to arm Ukraine. They considered this.. well, impossible to resist. This time, we did it. We have to continue doing that. I do not know what the Americans, the United States with the new presidency will do or not. But for the time being, allow me to say that, European Union support - if you add military, civilian, economic, financial and humanitarian is greater than [from] the United States. More than a100 billion is the bill that we have paid. Among them, a45 [billion] for military support. Less than the United States, yes, certainly, but quite an important figure; a45 [billion] is not negligible. Adding everything together we are - I think, the European Union - no, I am sure: the greatest supporter to Ukraine. And one thing for me is clear. As long as the Ukrainians want to resist, we have to support them. Otherwise, we will make a historical mistake. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gitanas NausAda at the UN Security Council: The international community has a duty to support Ukraine until victory President of the Republic of Lithuania September 25, 2024 President Gitanas NausAda continues his working visit to the United Nations in New York, where on Tuesday, he participated in the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. The President addressed the meeting on behalf of the three Baltic States. In his address, the Lithuanian leader pointed out that Ukraine is currently being deprived of peace and security, and Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, bears direct responsibility for this. Russia can no longer be allowed to hide behind its status as a member of the UN Security Council and abuse its veto power, Gitanas NausAda said. "The entire political and military leadership of Russia, along with their accomplices, must face justice for their crimes. A Special International Tribunal has to be set up to investigate the crimes of aggression against Ukraine," the Head of State pointed out. The President stressed that without Ukraine's victory, true justice is impossible. "Peace can only come with the complete restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Only when Russia acknowledges that it can never defeat the courageous people of Ukraine will we secure lasting peace and security. It is the duty of the international community to support Ukraine for as long as it takesauntil victory," Gitanas NausAda underlined. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister RadosAaw Sikorski delivers speech at the UN Security Council Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 25.09.2024 On Tuesday, 24 September 2024, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland RadosAaw Sikorski delivered a speech at the UN Security Council. Madam President, Excellencies, The Russian ambassador predicated that this debate will consist of "hackneyed statements dictated by Brussels" - that's a lie. I assure you that what you're about to hear, I wrote myself. The Russian ambassador claims that Russia does not bomb civilian targets, that's a second lie. Two weeks ago I visited the Ukrainian city of Lviv, where a townhouse was hit with a Russian Kalibr missile. A man saw his wife and three daughters taken out of the rubble - dead. All of them were civilians, all of them lived far away from the frontline, and all of them were killed. Th Russian ambassador has talked about children's graveyard in Gaza, which is indeed a tragic situation. Well, Ukrainian children are targeted not only with bombs. Thousands have been kidnapped and taken into Russia where they are brainwashed in order to strip them of memories and national identity. Russia claims these children are orphans left alone in a war-zone. Another lie. Many of them were separated from their parents - either by accident during the attacks, or deliberately by the aggressor's army. Independent reports revealed that - and I quote - "officials have deported Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories without consent, lied to them that they weren't wanted by their parents, used them for propaganda, and given them Russian families and citizenship". Special camps offer the abducted children Russian "patriotic education" and a hotline was established to pair the minors with potential "foster families", luring the latter with money. On top of that Mr. Putin signed a decree fast-tracking the process of granting Russian citizenship to stolen Ukrainian children. This is not a collateral war damage. It was a plan devised before the war and ruthlessly executed. UN investigators concluded that these actions constitute war crimes. In October 2022 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin. Ambassador Nebenzia and Russian propagandists like to refer to the democratically elected government of Ukraine as Nazis - as you've just heard. It so happens that in Poland I live 3 kilometers from Potulice, the site of a former Nazi filtration camp during the Second World War. It's known for the fact that thousands of children were imprisoned there - from Poland and the Soviet Union, from around SmoleAsk and Witebsk. Up to 800 of these children died but thousands were transferred west to be Germanized. Blond, blue-eyed - Aryan - children deemed to be racially suitable. I therefore have a few questions to the Russian ambassador and his superiors: How does what you are doing to Ukrainian kidnapped children differ from what German Nazis did to your children and ours? How many Russian officials have adopted stolen Ukrainian children following - as reported by the BBC - the example of Sergey Mironov, former Chairman of the Russian Federation Council? When will you return the remaining thousands of stolen Ukrainian children back to Ukraine? Do you know that stealing another country's children is tantamount to genocide, as recently affirmed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe? Do you remember that diplomats and propagandists of a genocidal regime are also criminals - as Soviet prosecutors argued at Nuremberg with reference to Ribbentrop and Streicher? Permanent members of the UN Security Council are supposed to be guardians of peace and not to fight their wars with other people's children. This is Russia's shame that will not be forgiven or forgotten. And by the way, since Ambassador Nebenzia denies the reality of Soviet-Nazi collaboration in the invasion of Poland in 1939, here is a picture of their joint parade. I'm sure you recognize the Soviet uniforms. Thank you very much! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At UN, Zelensky rejects China-Brazil peace plan The Ukrainian president questioned the 'true interest' of the two countries in pushing the plan. By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.09.25 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used a speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday to forcefully reject China and Brazil's renewed push for a peace plan for Russia and Ukraine, questioning their "true" motivations in making the proposal. In his speech at the opening of the assembly on Tuesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva said Brazil and China wished to revive their six-point proposal to end the conflict, which was originally released in May. The two countries are reportedly set to host an event on the plan in New York on Friday with at least 20 other countries. But Zelensky said the only acceptable peace plan was for Russia to withdraw its forces from his country and end the invasion, in line with the U.N. Charter's principles of independence and territorial integrity. "If someone in the world seeks alternatives to any of these points or tries to ignore any of them, it likely means they themselves want to do a part of what [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is doing," Zelensky said, slamming China and Brazil for suggesting a brokered peace. "When the Chinese-Brazilian duo tries to grow into a choir of voices - with someone in Europe, with someone in Africa - saying something alternative to a full and just peace, the question arises: What is the true interest?" he said. "You will not boost your power at Ukraine's expense." Zelensky previously rejected the Chinese-Brazilian plan as "destructive" given that it would require Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, which the Ukrainian president said would be tantamount to defeat. Questionable source It's not the first time questions have been raised about China and Brazil's motivations in pushing for a negotiated peace. China has been repeatedly accused by the United States of materially aiding Putin's war effort, with officials in Washington going as far as to say the invasion would not be sustainable without Beijing's help. Outside commentators have suggested that China is closely watching the situation between Russia and Ukraine given its own aspirations to invade Taiwan, which it similarly regards as a renegade province. Chinese officials have rejected the claims, defended China's right to continue trading with Russia and said Washington is the only power sending munitions into the conflict through its support for Ukraine. Brazil's president, meanwhile, has also been accused of being too close with Putin, with whom he regularly speaks by telephone. During his campaign to return to the Brazilian presidency, Lula called Zelensky "a bit weird." He also accused him of not wanting to negotiate with Putin so the conflict could be prolonged and the former television star could spend more time in the global media speaking about it. Further irking Zelensky, in April Lula also said that there was "no use" in talking about "who is right" or "who is wrong" in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and that all that mattered was finding a peaceful outcome. In his speech Wednesday, Zelensky said Putin was trying to use Russia's power to return to a period of colonialism, and that previous victims of the practice should be the most outspoken critics. "The world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are smaller," he said. "Every country - including China, Brazil, European nations, African nations, the Middle East - all understand why this must remain in the past." "Ukrainians will never accept - will never accept - why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today can be imposed on Ukraine now instead of a normal, peaceful life." Edited by Joshua Lipes. Copyright 1998-2024, 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 September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At UN, Zelenskiy Claims Russia Plans Attacks On Ukraine's Nuclear Plants By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 25, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on September 25 said he has received reports saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to attack nuclear power plants and infrastructure in Ukraine with the goal of disconnecting the plants from the power grid. Speaking at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Zelenskiy said he recently received "yet another alarming report from our intelligence" saying that Russia is using satellites to gather images and detailed information about Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure. "Any missile or drone strike, any critical incident in the energy system could lead to a nuclear disaster, a day like that must never come," Zelenskiy said. Moscow "needs to understand this, and this depends in part on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor," he told the annual UN meeting in New York. "If, God forbid, Russia causes a nuclear disaster at one of our nuclear power plants, radiation will not respect state borders," he said. Zelenskiy also appealed to world leaders to keep his country's fight against Russia's invasion a top priority and warned that Putin is intent on seizing more territory, calling "more land" for a country the size of Russia an "insane" proposition. "I think every leader, every country that supports us...sees how Russia, a country more than 20 times larger than Ukraine in territory, still wants even more land," he said. Zelenskiy has been on an intensive diplomatic mission since his arrival in the United States for the annual UNGA event, meeting with key U.S. lawmakers and appearing on U.S. media to urge Washington to maintain its crucial support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian president plans to lay out a "victory plan" to U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on September 26 amid relentless strikes on Ukraine's cities and a grinding Russian offensive that is making slow but continuous advances into the eastern part of the country. He dismissed efforts by China and Brazil to end the war, questioning why the pair were proposing an alternative to his peace formula. Proposing "alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles" would give Putin the political space to continue the war, he said. China has been trying to enlist developing nations to join the six-point peace plan it issued with Brazil in May. Their proposal calls for an international peace conference "held at a proper time that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans." Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva advocated for the plan when he addressed the General Assembly on September 24. "Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve a lull instead of an end to the war," Zelenskiy told the 193-member assembly. "When the Chinese-Brazilian duo tries to grow into a choir of voices -- with someone in Europe, with someone in Africa -- saying something alternative to a full and just peace, the question arises, what is the true interest? Everyone must understand, you will not boost your power at Ukraine's expense," he said. The Ukrainian president told the UN Security Council on September 24 that Russia can only be "forced" into peace, and denounced Iran and North Korea as "accomplices" who have helped Moscow by providing weapons it has used in attacks on Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has "broken so many international norms and rules that he won't stop on his own. Russia can only be forced into peace, and that is exactly what's needed: forcing Russia into peace as the sole aggressor in this war, the sole violator of the UN Charter," Zelenskiy said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 25 that Zelenskiy's stance was "a fatal mistake" that would have grave repercussions for Ukraine. "A position based on an attempt to force Russia into peace is an absolutely fatal mistake, because it is impossible to force Russia into peace," Peskov said in a call with reporters. "This is a profound misconception that will inevitably have consequences for the Kyiv regime." Details about Zelenskiy's victory plan remain unknown, but he said the blueprint will be a "bridge" toward ending the conflict. Media reports say the plan will ask for stepped-up U.S. military and financial backing and security guarantees, as well as further sanctions on Russia. The United States, Ukraine's main supporter, and Western allies have given Kyiv billions of dollars in military aid and other assistance while also slapping several rounds of sanctions on Moscow. Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has said the main security guarantee that Kyiv wants is NATO membership, a demand Kyiv has been advancing for years but which has been met with skepticism by the West, including Washington. Zelenskiy has also indicated he will again seek permission to use long-range missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russia, a move Ukraine's allies are divided upon. On September 24, he called on Washington to take "decisive" action to bring the end of the war closer. In a meeting with a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers, Zelenskiy voiced Kyiv's gratitude for what he called Washington's unwavering support for Kyiv and highlighting the critical U.S. role in defending Ukraine's freedom. "Decisive action now could hasten the just end of Russian aggression against Ukraine next year. Our victory plan will help bring Russia to peace in practice," Zelenskiy said on Telegram after the meeting. "Now, at the end of the year, we have a real opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and the United States," he said. Even without the details of Zelenskiy's plan, some of Ukraine's most stalwart Western allies have pointed to the need to find a compromise solution to the conflict. Czech President Petr Pavel, whose country has been one of Kyiv's strongest backers and the driving force behind a multibillion-dollar program known as the Czech Ammunition Initiative that has provided Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of artillery shells, told The New York Times in an interview published on September 23 that Ukrainians "will have to be realistic" about their chances of recovering all territories occupied by Russia. "To talk about a defeat of Ukraine or defeat of Russia, it will simply not happen," the newspaper quoted Pavel as saying. "So the end will be somewhere in between." Pavel added that Ukrainians also need to be "realistic about the support that they can achieve" from allies who are increasingly under domestic pressure to scale back help against Russia after more than 2 1/2 years of war. Kyiv, which has around a fifth of its territory occupied by Russia, has repeatedly opposed such a possibility. "There can be no half-hearted solutions when it comes to human lives, freedom, common values, justice for Russian crimes, restoration of international peace, and security," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a post on Telegram after Pavel's interview was published. "Temporary solutions will not restore full-fledged peace but will only postpone war." Zelenskiy's diplomatic offensive came as Russia stepped up its strikes on Ukraine. On September 25, Ukrainian air defenses shot down 28 drones and four missiles launched by Russia at 10 regions, Ukraine's air force said in a statement on Telegram. Russian drones and missiles were downed over the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Sumy, Poltava, Mykolayiv, Odesa, and Kherson. Four more drones were "locally lost" in several regions of Ukraine, the statement said. In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops have stepped up their attacks on the Donetsk stronghold of Vuhledar as they seek access to the logistics hub of Pokrovsk, some 80 kilometers to the north. Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed head of Ukraine's Donetsk region, said on September 25 that fighting was ongoing in Vuhledar, although the Ukrainian military said the city was not yet surrounded by Russian forces. Moscow's advances in the east appear to be the fastest over the past two years, despite a shock Ukrainian counteroffensive into Russia's Kursk region last month. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/drone-missile- strikes-/33134209.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Speaker Urges Zelenskiy To Remove Ukrainian Ambassador By RFE/RL September 25, 2024 WASHINGTON -- The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson (Republican-Louisiana), has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to fire his ambassador to the United States after Zelenskiy took part in a tour of a manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, which is seen as a battleground state in the upcoming U.S presidential election. Johnson said in a letter to Zelenskiy on September 25 that Ambassador Oksana Markarova organized the tour of a Pennsylvania arms plant that produces munitions critical for Ukraine's country's war effort. The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is one of only two sites in the United States that produce 155-millimeter artillery shells, which are among the most important aspects of U.S. military aid to Ukraine with more than 3 million shipped to the country. Zelenskiy visited the plant on September 22 ahead of his meetings this week at the United Nations in New York and with President Joe Biden in Washington. Pennsylvania is one of the most important of seven swing states that will determine the U.S. election on November 5. U.S. aid to Ukraine has become an issue in the election after Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives held up the last aid package for six months in part because they said the money could be better spent at home. Democrats argued that most of the aid is spent on military equipment manufactured in the United States and therefore protects and creates American jobs. Johnson said the tour was led by a top political surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris and "purposely excluded Republicans." He did not identify that person, but Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat and vocal supporter of Harris, took part in the tour. Johnson added that Republicans have lost trust in the ambassador's "ability to fairly and effectively serve as a diplomat in this country" and demanded that Zelenskiy immediately remove her from her position. "As you have said, Ukrainians have tried to avoid being 'captured by American domestic politics, and 'influencing the choices of the American people' ahead of the November election," Johnson said in the letter. "Clearly that objective was abandoned this week when Ambassador Markarova organized an event in which you toured an American manufacturing site." He claimed the tour intentionally failed to include a single Republican, making it a "clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats." The Ukrainian Embassy to the United States did not return a call from RFE/RL requesting comment. Johnson added that support for ending Russia's war against Ukraine "continues to be bipartisan," but he said U.S.-Ukrainian relations are "tested and needlessly tarnished when the candidates at the top of the Republican presidential ticket are targeted in the media by officials in your government." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskiy-markarova- scranton-munitions-plant-johnson-harris/33135165.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Glide Bomb Attack On Kramatorsk Kills 2 By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 25, 2024 The number of people killed in a Russian attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk rose to two people, regional Governor Vadym Filashkin said on September 25. "As of 5:30 p.m. we know of 2 deaths in Kramatorsk. This afternoon, the Russians dropped three guided aerial bombs on the city. 2 people died and at least 12 were injured. Three children are among the wounded," Filashkin said on Telegram. Local authorities said Russian troops targeted the center of Kramatorsk, damaging two high-rise buildings, shops, and cars. Kramatorsk, which lies about 20 kilometers from the front line, has been hit by two deadly missile strikes that took numerous lives since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. One killed 13 in June last year, and the other hit the city's train station in April 2022, killing more than 60 civilians. The Kherson region also came under Russian shelling on September 25, local authorities report. An 80-year-old woman was killed, and two people on the street were injured. In addition, a 48-year-old local resident was taken to the hospital with injuries to her face and forearm, Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram. Prokudin said earlier that Kherson city was under attack by Russian aircraft. Russian forces also used glide bombs in that attack. One of the bombs hit a cultural institution, seriously damaging the building and setting off a fire. There was no information about victims, ahe said. Later in the day Prokudin said Kherson remained under attack and called on the townspeople to remain in shelters. Earlier on September 25, the Ukrainian Air Force said the country's air defenses shot down 28 drones and four missiles launched by Russia at 10 regions. In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops have stepped up their attacks on the Donetsk stronghold of Vuhledar as they seek access to the logistics hub of Pokrovsk, some 80 kilometers to the north. Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed head of the occupied part of Ukraine's Donetsk region, said on September 25 that fighting was ongoing in Vuhledar, although the Ukrainian military said the city was not yet surrounded by Russian forces. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-kramatorsk- kherson-glide-bombs/33135090.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Ministry report on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (25 September 2024) 25.09.2024 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of the Russian Federation. ?The Sever Group of Forces continued offensive and inflicted losses on formations of the 21st, 22nd, 41st mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade, and 112th, 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Lyubimovka, Daryino, Novy Put, Nikolayevo-Daryino, and Plekhovo. Over the past 24 hours, units of the Sever Group of Forces repelled two enemy counter-attacks near Lyubimovka. As a result, the AFU losses amounted to up to 15 troops killed and wounded, an armoured fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles. One AFU serviceman was taken prisoner. With the support of army aviation and artillery fire, three AFU attempts to break through the border of the Russian Federation in the direction of Novy Put were foiled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 troops killed and wounded, three tanks, an infantry fighting vehicle, an armoured fighting vehicle, and a motor vehicle. Air strikes, artillery fire, and actions of the troops inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the 21st, 22nd, 41st, 61st, 115th mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 80th, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 103rd, 116th, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Bogdanovka, Viktorovka, Goncharovka, Ivashkovsky, Kruglenkoye, Kositsa, Martynovka, Mikhaylovka, Malaya Loknya, Malaya Obukhovka, Medvezhye, Novy Put, Pravda, Pokrovskoye, Plekhovo, Rubanshchina, and Tolsty Lug. Operational-Tactical Aviation, and Missile Troops delivered strikes in Sumy region at concentration areas and reserves of the 21st, 22nd, 41st, 47th, and 115th mechanised brigades, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, 1st National Guard Brigade, and 103rd, 106th, 107th, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Belopolye, Belovody, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Bruski, Vladimirovka, Zhuravka, Komsomolsky, Manukhovka, Novaya Sloboda, Obody, Pavlovka, Rechki, Revyakino, Sosnovka, Stepanovka, Sumy, Shalygino, and Khoten. Over the past 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have suffered the following losses: over 300 troops, seven armoured vehicles, three tanks, including two German-made Leopard tanks, an infantry fighting vehicle, and three armoured fighting vehicles, two artillery guns, and six motor vehicles. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost more than 17,000 troops, 130 tanks, 62 infantry fighting vehicles, 95 armoured personnel carriers, 812 armoured fighting vehicles, 514 motor vehicles, 138 artillery guns, 31 MLRS launchers, including eight of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, eight SAM launchers, five transport-loading vehicles, 35 electronic warfare stations and eight counter-battery radars, two air defence radars, 18 engineering vehicles, including 11 counterobstacle vehicles and one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, as well as one armoured recovery vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Golob: "We will do everything to preserve the integrity of the Charter and international law" Republic of Slovenia Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia 25. 9. 2024 Yesterday late afternoon, Prime Minister Robert Golob presided over the high-level UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine. The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials, including UN Secretary-General, AntAnio Guterres, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. This was the first of three high-level discussions chaired by Slovenia this week under its Presidency of the UN Security Council. In his address as Security Council chair, Prime Minister Golob stated that European countries are united in their condemnation of Russia's aggression, which violates all principles of international law and the UN Charter. "At this dire moment, while Ukrainian civilian casualties are on the rise, while critical civilian infrastructure is collapsing and while battlefields keep expanding, Ukraine has not failed the international community," he said, adding that, despite its own problems, Ukraine helped Slovenia after last year's devastating floods. "Even in the darkest moments of this aggression, Ukraine has remained an active member of the UN which has stood in solidarity with other countries," said the Prime Minister. "For Slovenia, the case is clear: With this war, a lot is at stake. If Russia wins, then the trampling of international humanitarian law and gross violations of the UN Charter will win as well," said Mr Golob. "This is not a world that Slovenia wants to be part of. We will do everything in our power to prevent this from becoming a new normal and to preserve the integrity of the Charter and international law. Not just in Ukraine, but also in Palestine and the rest of the Middle East," he concluded. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Golob met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a bilateral meeting. They talked about Ukraine's European perspective, with a special emphasis on the enlargement portfolio envisaged for Marta Kos, candidate for European Commissioner. Both leaders expressed mutual satisfaction and hope for a fruitful cooperation, as this important responsibility has been entrusted to Slovenia. Prime Minister yesterday also had a telephone conversation with King of Jordan, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, with whom he exchanged views on the humanitarian situation in Palestine and discussed how to increase access to humanitarian aid in crisis hotspots. Today will be the main event of Slovenia's Presidency, an open debate entitled "Leadership for Peace", which will focus on Security Council's actions on three foreign policy issues: Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan. The debate will be chaired by Prime Minister Robert Golob. Before the meeting's beginning, Prime Minister Golob will make a statement to the media. A meeting on Palestine will be held on Friday. Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob will also attend an event dedicated to the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, hosted by the President of the United States, Joe Biden. In the evening, the Prime Minister and Ms Gaber will attend a reception hosted by President Biden and his wife Jill Biden. Ms Gaber will also attend a lunch hosted by the first lady of the United States of America, Jill Biden. Yesterday on the margins of the UN General Assembly session, Ms Tina Gaber attended an event hosted by the first lady of Turkey, Emina Erdogan, dedicated to the presentation of the African Culture House. The first lady of Turkey opened the African Culture House in Ankara following several visits to Africa alongside her husband, Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan. Its main mission is to promote the fair sale of handicrafts by African women artisans. Statement by Dr Robert Golob, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia at the Briefing on Maintenance of International Peace and Security in Ukraine, New York, 24 September 2024 I wish to thank the Secretary General for his insightful comments. I welcome the participation of President Zelensky at this meeting, and I also appreciate the participation of other countries in this discussion. Excellencies, The European countries are united in condemnation of this aggression, which violates every possible principle and law, including the UN Charter. My colleagues will elaborate on this. I am genuinely frustrated that I sit here in front of you at this Council, together with the most powerful countries in the world with the sole responsibility to ensure peace and security across the globe, and yet we are unable to do anything about the most extensive conventional war the world has seen in decades. That we are powerless to bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine. Now is a good opportunity to accept some sobering truths and acknowledge that this Council has failed the people of Ukraine. But please, allow me to share a slightly different view of the situation. Even at this dire moment, while Ukrainian civilian casualties are on the rise, while critical civilian infrastructure is collapsing and while battlefields keep expanding, Ukraine has not failed the international community. Far from it. Even in the darkest moments of this ongoing aggression, Ukraine has remained an active member of the UN which has stood in solidarity with other countries. I can personally attest to this. One year ago, Slovenia experienced unprecedented floods of catastrophic dimensions. Rivers were overflowing, family houses were buried underneath heaps of earth and people were drowning. It was a disaster of proportions never seen before in our country. And during all of this, Ukraine made a gesture Slovenians will never forget. During the war, while missiles and drones were hitting Kyiv and other cities, Ukraine sent a whole convoy of aid and over 50 members of its national emergency team to help deal with the aftermath of the floods in Slovenia. Usually we would say that we all stand with Ukraine, but when it really mattered to us, as Slovenians, it was Ukraine that stood with Slovenia. While Ukrainian ports and ships are under constant barrage, and while the Ukrainian civilian population is suffering, Ukraine has done its utmost to practise solidarity with the rest of the world. With its Grain from Ukraine initiative, it has ensured the flow of tens of thousands of tonnes of grain to those who need it most. Even in the midst of an existential war, Ukraine stands with the international community and member states when they need it. For Slovenia, the case is clear: With this war, a lot is at stake. If Russia wins, then the trampling of international humanitarian law and gross violations of the Charter will win as well. If Putin prevails, not only Europe but the whole world will become less safe and less stable. The United Nations was created to prevent bigger countries from imposing their will on their neighbours. We should not allow its members to violate the rules and UN Charter with impunity just because they believe they can. If unchallenged, each one of us will pay the price. And this is not a world that Slovenia wants to be part of. We will do everything in our power to prevent this from becoming a new normal and preserve the integrity of the Charter and international law. Not just in Ukraine, but also in Palestine and the rest of the Middle East. Dear colleagues, The process of restoring European security and healing the rifts in international relations can only begin when peace in Ukraine is achieved. Until then, we will keep pressing for peace. Only a just peace will give generations of Ukrainians a brighter future, and only a lasting peace will allow them to grow and flourish. Such a peace cannot come at the expense of the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter, including respect for territorial integrity. This vision is worth believing in and working towards. Slovenia will continue to stand by Ukraine until it achieves this vision of a just peace. And I know Ukraine will stand with us if and when we need it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Depleted Own Weapon Stockpiles by Helping Ukraine Sputnik News 20240925 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United Kingdom has run out of weapon stocks after having supplied arms to Ukraine for almost three years and needs to replenish them, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said on Wednesday. "We have depleted our own stocks in order to do that," Pollard was quoted as saying by The Times on the sidelines of a Labour conference, adding that national stockpiles were so "threadbare" that the government had to cut supplies to Kiev in mid-2023. Despite the fact that the UK's own stockpiles are critically low, Pollard argued that it was the "right thing" to supply Ukraine with as many weapons as possible. He said that the Labour government not only needed to replenish the depleted stockpiles but also to ensure reliable supplies for Ukraine. "I think most western nations have gifted most of the deployable resources they have ... so we are seeing a greater trading relationship being formed," Pollard added. Russia has continuously warned that arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the peace process and make NATO members party to the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will be a legitimate target for Russian strikes. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Says Ukraine Conflict Could've Been Settled If Biden Didn't Continue Inciting Crisis Sputnik News 20240925 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States could have helped broker peace in Ukraine if President Joe Biden had avoided inciting the ongoing crisis, former President Donald Trump said on Wednesday. "A deal could have been made if we had a competent president instead of a president that egged it all on," Trump said during a campaign rally in North Carolina. Trump further said that the Biden administration fuels the conflict by continuing to provide financial and security assistance to Ukraine. The Republican presidential nominee has previously pointed out that Biden's remarks about expecting Ukraine to be admitted into NATO provoked Russia. US officials have noted that the reason Ukraine hasn't been invited to join NATO is because it has to undertake a number of reforms to weed out corruption in its government and also because it would immediately drag the alliance into a direct war with Russia. Moscow has long expressed concerns about the Western alliance moving closer to its border and sought security guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Approving Strikes Deep Into Russia Will Make US Direct Participant in Conflict - Russian Deputy FM Sputnik News 20240925 UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The United States and its allies will become direct participants in the conflict against Russia if they let Ukrainian forces strike deep into Russian territory with Western-supplied weapons, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told Sputnik. "We have already repeatedly given an assessment of this scenario. The assessment of this scenario was given by the president of Russia. It is clear that in this case it will be confirmed that the US and its allies are becoming direct participants in military actions against Russia, which is a nuclear power," Vershinin said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that NATO countries are not only discussing the possibility of letting Kiev use Western long-range weapons against Russia, but are essentially deciding whether to get directly involved in the Ukraine conflict. The direct participation of Western countries in the Ukraine conflict would change its essence, and Moscow would be forced to make decisions based on the threats that would be created against Russia, he added. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hungarian FM Calls Out Ukraine Peace Conference As 'More Propaganda' Without Russia at Table Sputnik News 20240925 UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - A conference on the Ukraine conflict can only bear fruit if Russia participates in it and if there is a compromise plan on the table to reach peace, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told RIA Novosti. "My position is that a peace conference can be effective or can make sense only if two preconditions are met. First, both parties of the war must be present at the table. Second, there must be a plan that can be discussed. As of now, I don't really see the appetite from those speaking about the peace conference to see both sides around the table," Szijjarto said in an interview. Szijjarto pointed out that the conference on Ukraine as discussed by some politicians appears to be "more about propaganda than substance." Szijjarto also said that Hungary will continue to look for solutions to the conflict in Ukraine and make peace proposals. "We have a very clear position on this war. It must come to an end immediately. A ceasefire must be established, and peace talks should be started. This is a very clear position of ours. So, therefore, we will continue to make peace initiatives," Szijjarto said. Hungary is pursuing this stance both at the United Nations and the European Union, the minister added. The minister added that he plans to meet with his new Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, on Monday in Budapest. He noted that the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine have been seriously violated in the last nine years. Hungary wants to have good relations with all its neighbors, including Ukraine, the minister added. He highlighted that he is hopeful that steps will be taken at the UN General Assembly to deescalate tensions with respect to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. "I hope that some steps towards de-risking, lowering the risk of escalation of the two most severe armed conflicts in the world can be made. Steps towards de-risking or the de-escalation of the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza must be made," Szijjarto said. The global security situation is the worst it has been since the end of the Second World War, and steps must be taken to prevent further escalation of conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Szijjarto said, emphasizing that "steps towards de-risking or de-escalation must be made." The minister added that Hungary remains opposed to the idea of allowing Kiev to strike deep inside Russian territory with Western weapons as it can further escalate the situation. "If any step increases the risk of escalation, we are against it. When it comes to the question of using Western weapons against territories in Russia... there's no way to answer this other than to say: yes, it does increase the risk of escalation. Therefore, we definitely cannot support it," Szijjarto said. White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said on Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden are going to discuss Kiev's request to lift restrictions on the use of US-supplied long-range weapons deep inside Russian territory. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Forces Strike Ukrainian Communication Center and Drone Production Sites Sputnik News 20240925 Units of Russia's Battlegroup Yug have also liberated the settlements of Ostroye and Grigorovka in the Donetsk People's Republic. Russian aviation, artillery, and drone units have struck a Ukrainian Armed Forces communication center, as well as drone production workshops and warehouses, the Russian Ministry of Defense has reported. "Operational-tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket forces, and artillery units of the Russian Armed Forces struck the Ukrainian communication center, UAV production workshops, a drone warehouse, as well as concentrations of enemy personnel and military equipment in 153 areas," the ministry's report stated. Likewise, it informed that air defenses had shot down four French-made Hammer guided bombs, 14 US-made HIMARS rockets, Czech-made Vampire rockets, and 31 fixed-wing drones. Furthermore, as a result of decisive actions by units of the Yug Battlegroup, the settlements of Ostroye and Grigorovka in the Donetsk People's Republic have been liberated, the statement said. Other developments: Zapad Battlegroup - Defeated personnel and equipment of four Ukrainian brigades: the 14th, 28th, 116th Mechanized Brigades and the 115th Territorial Defense Brigade. - Gained more advantageous positions in Kupyansk, Boguslavkaya, Kolesnikovka, Kruglyakovka, and Lozovaya in the Kharkov region. - Repelled three counterattacks, causing up to 390 Ukrainian casualties. Vostok Battlegroup - Improved frontline positions and defeated formations of the 33rd Mechanized, 58th Motorized Infantry Brigades, and the 118th Territorial Defense Brigade near Novoukrainka, Zelenoye Pole, and Zolotaya Niva in the Donetsk People's Republic. - Repelled three counterattacks by the 72nd Mechanized Brigade and the 110th Territorial Defense Brigade. - Destroyed two foreign-made howitzers (British FH-70 and French Caesar). - Caused up to 135 Ukrainian casualties and destroyed three vehicles. Tsentr Battlegroup - Continued advancing into Ukrainian defenses, targeting the 23rd Mechanized, 116th and 118th Territorial Defense Brigades, and the 12th National Guard Brigade near Kleyban-Byk, Gornyak, Zoryanoye, and Shcherbinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic. - Repelled 10 counterattacks from various Ukrainian brigades, including airborne and mechanized units. - Caused up to 580 Ukrainian casualties and destroyed several pieces of equipment, including a combat armored vehicle, multiple artillery systems, and howitzers. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Kremlin could never have envisaged how war in Ukraine is developing: UK statement to the OSCE UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says the military situation is markedly different to what many expected two and a half years ago and this is a testament to the bravery and fortitude of the Ukrainian people. 25 September 2024 Thank you, Mr Chair. The present situation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is one that the Kremlin could hardly have envisaged when it embarked on its devasting war of aggression. Russia boasted that Ukraine would be defeated in a three-day lightning war, yet today marks two years and 219 days of this conflict. Ukraine now controls Russian territory in the Kursk Oblast. This is the first time that Russian territory has been held since the Second World War. We should be clear: this is a direct consequence of Russia's illegal invasion and entirely consistent with Ukraine's right to self-defence. To try and tackle this situation of its own making, Russia has been launching 50% of its glide bombs at its own territory, and on the neighbouring Sumy region of Ukraine. Since we met last week, on the evening of 17-18 September Ukraine conducted a successful attack on the Toropets strategic ammunition depot. Renovated in 2018, this was one of Russia's largest strategic ammunition depots supporting Russia's operation in Ukraine and housing ammunition of varying calibres, including ammunition procured from the DPRK. The resulting explosion recorded 2.7 on the Richter scale, equivalent to a mild earthquake. It forced Russia to declare a state of emergency, with the resulting fires 6 km wide and detectable from space. This was followed on 21 September by additional successful strikes on depots again in Toropets, and in Tikhoretsk. These Ukrainian strikes mark significant strategic setbacks for the Kremlin. The level of losses accounts for months of Russian ammunition expenditure rates. Moreover, Russia continues its attacks on Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure in an attempt to try and break the will of the Ukrainian people. Strikes in Ukraine's central region of Poltava cut power to 20 settlements, whilst in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, an attack on Monday killed at least one person and injured seven, amongst them a 13 year old girl and a 15 year old boy. The military situation is markedly different to what many expected two and a half years ago and this is a testament to the bravery and fortitude of the Ukrainian people. But it is also critical that Ukraine continues to receive the support of allies and partners, diplomatically and militarily. The Kremlin would like to portray such support as a western conspiracy. But the reality is that the Russian state isolated itself from the moment it instigated an unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state. Furthermore, Russia has contravened international law and misled this Forum completely. The United Kingdom's support to Ukraine is ironclad. To date the UK's total military, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine amounts to A12.8 billion, which includes A7.8 billion in military support. A3 billion in military aid has been pledged to Ukraine in 2024-25, a A700 million increase on 2023-24. The gap between Russia's expectation of a three-day operation and the 943-day reality continues to grow. The Russian state has a clear path to prevent this metric from diverging further. It must cease hostilities and withdraw from Ukraine's internationally recognised borders. The United Kingdom, alongside its partners, will continue in its enduring support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address There Can Be No Just Peace Without Ukraine - Speech of the President at the UN General Assembly President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 18:45 Dear leaders, Your excellencies, Today, I want to tell you about a day that has already passed, and a day that must never come. On the night of March 4th, 2022, I received one of the most terrifying reports since the beginning of a full-scale Russian invasion against Ukraine. The report was about Russian tanks firing directly at the buildings of our Ukrainian nuclear power plant. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The largest one in Europe. Six nuclear reactors. The Russian army stormed this facility just as brutally as any other during this war. Without thinking about the consequences. Possibly disastrous. This was one of the most horrifying moments of the war, when no one could know how Russian strikes on the nuclear facility would end, and everyone in Ukraine was reminded of what Chornobyl means. Now, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains occupied by Russian forces. Unfortunately. And it's at risk of a nuclear incident. This is the major source of radiation danger in Europe, possibly in the world. That's why, in the Peace Formula I presented, the first point is about nuclear safety. In Ukraine, we know exactly what we're dealing with. And I want to thank you - the General Assembly members - for adopting a resolution in July this year on the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. Most in the world understand - what's at stake. The General Assembly demanded that Russia return control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Ukraine. Only then real nuclear security will return to Europe and the world. And now about the day that must never come. Since Russia can't defeat our people's resistance on the battlefield, Putin is looking for other ways to break the Ukrainian spirit. One of his methods is targeting our energy infrastructure. These are deliberate Russian attacks on our power plants, and the entire energy grid. As of today, Russia has destroyed all our thermal power plants and a large part of our hydroelectric capacity. This is how Putin is preparing for winter - hoping to torment millions, millions of Ukrainians... Ordinary families - women, children... Ordinary towns, ordinary villages. Putin wants to leave them in the dark and cold this winter, forcing Ukraine to suffer and surrender. Just imagine, please, your country with 80 percent of its energy system gone - with such a destroyed part of the system. What kind of life would that be? Recently, I received yet another alarming report from our intelligence. Now, Putin does seem to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and their infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid. With the help of satellites, by the way, ladies and gentlemen, by the way, satellites of other countries, Russia is getting images and detailed information about the infrastructure of our nuclear power plants. But what does this really threaten? Any missile or drone strike, any critical incident in the energy system, could lead to a nuclear disaster. A day like that must never come. And Moscow needs to understand this. And this depends, in part, on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor. These are nuclear power plants! They must be safe. Ladies and gentlemen! Two years ago, in the fall of 2022, I proposed a comprehensive strategy to end the war - and to ensure security. And I presented the Peace Formula at a highly inclusive political platform for world leaders - the G20 Summit in Indonesia - representing billions of citizens from all parts of the globe. And it's important for us that all these people can understand us - understand that Ukraine wants to end this war more than anyone in the world. War always poses a threat to many. You all see in the media and read in reports what is happening in Ukraine because of Russia's war - it's something, many are imagining happening to themselves. And, yes, the smoke from fires in war-torn cities can reach other countries. And if, God forbid, Russia causes a nuclear disaster at one of our nuclear power plants, radiation won't respect state borders, and unfortunately, various nations could feel the devastating effects. Many are concerned, but the deepest understanding of war is always found in the home it destroys. It is the Ukrainian people who feel the full pain of this war. It's Ukrainian children who are learning to distinguish the sounds of different types of artillery and drones because of Russia's war. It's our people who are forcefully separated by occupation because Putin decided he could do whatever he wants. It's our heroic soldiers who are giving their lives to defend our country from invaders trying to steal our land. That's why we say, rightfully so - there can be no just peace without Ukraine. And I thank every leader, every country that supports us in this, that understands us - that sees how Russia, a country more than twenty times larger than Ukraine in territory, still wants even more land, more land - which is insane - and is seizing it, day by day, while wanting to destroy its neighbor. And Russia found very special buddies for that - North Korea and Iran, a telling choice of friends. Now every neighbor of Russia in Europe and Central Asia feels that the war could come to them as well, and just think - what kind of losses that would mean for the world. And I thank nearly one hundred nations and international organizations that have supported the Peace Formula. It's truly a global community - Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, the Pacific region - all united by the Peace Formula. And I'm glad that the first Peace Summit was so reminding of the UN General Assembly - everyone was equal. All nations that participated in the Peace Summit - large and small - no veto right, no blocking authority. Those that have been independent for ages, and those that have only recently gained independence. Those that have gone through wars themselves, and those accustomed to peace. All. All were equal - that is what Russia hates the most and cannot control, that's why Russia says the Peace Formula doesn't suit it. Here at the UN, I've already met with leaders from India and Guatemala, Japan and Italy, TArkiye and Finland, Canada and Paraguay, Slovenia, Germany and others. And my meetings will continue. These are different, absolutely, parts of the world and various political ways of life, but they share the same understanding - peace is needed, and it must be a real, just peace. Unfortunately, at the UN, it's impossible to truly and fairly resolve matters of war and peace because too much depends in the Security Council on the veto power. When the aggressor exercises veto power, the UN is powerless to stop the war. But the Peace Formula can - once again, there is no veto power in it. That's why it's the best opportunity for peace - everyone is equal, and it's effective and comprehensive. When some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans - so-called 'sets of principles' - it not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians, who are affected by the war the most, it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war and pressure the world to bring more nations under control. Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve a lull instead of an end to the war, as a global initiative - the Peace Formula - has already existed for two years. And maybe somebody wants a Nobel Prize for their political biography for frozen truce instead of real peace, but the only prizes Putin will give you in return are more suffering and disasters. We must restore nuclear safety. Energy must stop being used as a weapon. We must ensure food security. We need to bring home all our captured soldiers and civilians forcibly deported to Russia. We must uphold the UN Charter and guarantee our right - Ukraine's right - to territorial integrity and sovereignty, just as we do for any other nation. We need to withdraw the Russian occupiers, which will bring an end to the hostilities in Ukraine. We must hold those responsible for war crimes accountable. We need to prevent ecocide and stop the destruction of nature caused by the war. And we must not allow a second or third phase of this Russian invasion. And we need to make it clear - the war is over. This is the Peace Formula. What part of this could be unacceptable to anyone who upholds the UN Charter? If someone in the world seeks alternatives to any of these points or tries to ignore any of them, it likely means they themselves want to do a part of what Putin is doing - the point they ignore reveals the desire they are hiding. And when the Chinese-Brazilian duo tries to grow into a choir of voices - with someone in Europe, with someone in Africa, saying something alternative to a full and just peace, the question arises - what is the true interest? Everyone must understand - you won't boost your power at Ukraine's expense. And the world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are smaller. Every country - including China, Brazil, European nations, African nations, Middle East - all understand why this must remain in the past. And Ukrainians will never accept, will never accept why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on Ukraine now instead of a normal, peaceful life. I want peace for my people - real peace and just peace. And I'm asking for your support - from all nations of the world. We do not divide the world. I ask the same of you - do not divide the world. Be united Nations, and that will bring us peace. Thank you. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President: Putin Does Seem to Be Planning Attacks on Our Nuclear Power Plants and Their Infrastructure President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 19:41 Any missile or drone strike, any critical incident in the energy system of Ukraine, could lead to a nuclear disaster. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his speech at the UN General Assembly. The Head of State thanked the members of the General Assembly for adopting a resolution on the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine this July. "Most in the world understand - what's at stake. The General Assembly demanded that Russia return control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Ukraine. Only then real nuclear security will return to Europe and the world," the President said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russia is targeting Ukrainian power plants and the entire energy grid. The aggressor state has already destroyed all thermal power plants and a significant part of Ukraine's hydroelectric capacity. "Recently, I received yet another alarming report from our intelligence. Now, Putin does seem to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and their infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid. With the help of satellites, by the way, of other countries, Russia is getting images and detailed information about the infrastructure of our nuclear power plants," he noted. This can lead to a nuclear disaster, and Russia will understand this only through the determination and pressure of the world. The President urged everyone to unite and support the Peace Formula, where the issue of nuclear safety is the first point. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Only the Unity of World Leaders Can Force Putin to Stop the War - Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 21:11 Only the Unity of World Leaders Can Force Putin to Stop the War - Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met with the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. "We are very interested in developing relations between our countries. I want to thank you for your support during our Peace Summit in Switzerland. Thank you for your representatives, and we want to count on your constant support," the Ukrainian leader said. The President of Ukraine emphasized that only the unity of world leaders can force Putin to stop the war, and called all peace proposals based on its freezing unpromising. Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the implementation of the decisions of the first Peace Summit, in particular, the work based on individual points of the Peace Formula, and preparations for the second Summit, he also invited Cyril Ramaphosa to take part in it. The two sides separately discussed ways to expand the representation of the Global South. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and Panama Will Develop Cooperation in Agriculture President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 19:13 In New York, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of Panama JosA Mulino. The Ukrainian leader thanked Panama for its support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for signing the Joint CommuniquA following the Peace Summit. "I thank your country, your people for supporting us. We have indeed heard the loud voice of your country now. We really feel it. This is very important for us, for our people," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The meeting focused on implementing the Peace Formula, strengthening cooperation within the UN Security Council, developing bilateral relations, and conditions for achieving a sustainable and just peace in Ukraine. Ukraine and Panama agreed to expand cooperation in agriculture and other areas. In addition, Panama will become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on January 1. JosA Mulino noted that he will try to support Ukraine on this platform in every possible way. Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed about the plans to open an embassy in Panama next year and invited JosA Mulino to come to Ukraine on a visit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with Jens Stoltenberg President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 12:11 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in New York. The Head of State praised the significant long-term efforts to support Ukraine during Jens Stoltenberg's tenure as NATO Secretary General. "Thank you very much for your support. Your team worked hard together, and I think we have achieved a lot of various, very important results, especially during the war. You - as well as some other allies - helped to unite the world, including defense ministers, in helping Ukraine, in strengthening our army," the President said. He also thanked for the last two NATO Summits, which brought Ukraine closer to the Alliance. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of timely implementation of all the agreements reached at the NATO Washington Summit. In particular, for member states to realize their commitments on the allocation of 40 billion euros for the next year. Among the main topics of discussion were the need to enhance Ukraine's air defense, including the expedited delivery of additional systems, and the continued efforts on an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO as soon as possible. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and Vietnam Will Work to Expand Trade President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 11:32 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of Vietnam TA LAm in New York. The Ukrainian leader stated that Ukrainians need the voice of Vietnam to restore a just peace. The meeting focused on the development of bilateral relations and the expansion of trade, particularly in the agricultural sector. TA LAm noted that trade with Ukraine slowed down in 2022, but last year it started to grow again gradually. He suggested that both states work to expand it in various areas. "If the President wants and gives the appropriate impetus, I think it would be good for our teams, the Ministries, to work together and see what can be done to expand trade between our states," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He invited Vietnam to sign the Joint CommuniquA of the Peace Summit, and to join the work on the three points of the Peace Formula addressed at the first Summit, as well as to visit Ukraine. The Head of State thanked Vietnam for providing USD 500,000 through international humanitarian organizations and willingness to contribute to Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military Support and Return of Deported Ukrainian Children: President Held a Meeting with Justin Trudeau President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 11:21 In New York, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, and discussed with him the implementation of the Peace Formula and all the agreements reached at the first Peace Summit. The Head of State presented Justin Trudeau with the Order of Freedom and thanked him for military assistance packages, humanitarian support, participation in the first Peace Summit and efforts to bring home Ukrainian children deported by Russia. "I am very grateful to you, to your Government, for standing with us during the war and for continuing to do so after the war, after our victory. It is very important that the Canadian people stay with Ukrainians in the restoration and reconstruction of our country," the President said. During the meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation on the battlefield and the needs of Ukrainian defenders, and also stressed the importance of maintaining this year's level of military assistance in the Canadian budget. The implementation of the Peace Formula was one of the main topics of the talks. In October, Canada will host a thematic conference on the release of all imprisoned and deported Ukrainians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strengthening Trade and Economic Cooperation and Rebuilding Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with the President of TArkiye President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 04:11 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with President of TArkiye Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan. Special attention was given to enhancing bilateral trade, economic, and investment cooperation, as well as involving TArkiye and Turkish companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The leaders discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula in detail, emphasizing the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and TArkiye's key role in implementing the relevant point of the Formula related to food security. Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan to visit Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with the Prime Minister of Slovenia President of Ukraine 25 September 2024 - 02:30 In New York, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob. The President thanked for the defense support and the concluded bilateral security agreement, emphasizing the importance of its practical implementation. He expressed hope for fruitful cooperation with the new European Commission, where a Slovenian representative has taken up the position of Commissioner for Enlargement. During the meeting, the leaders discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula and the participation of Slovenian representatives in thematic conferences on specific points of the Formula. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy tells UN other nations won't impose their will on Ukraine By VOA News September 25, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that his country would never accept a deal imposed on it by other countries to end Russia's 31-month invasion, questioning the motives of China and Brazil in pushing for talks with Moscow. Instead, Zelenskyy called for adoption of his two-year-old proposal to restore internationally recognized boundaries between Russia and neighboring Ukraine before Moscow unilaterally seized the counntry's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and then invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow now controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory. "We must uphold the U.N. Charter and guarantee our right a Ukraine's right a to territorial integrity and sovereignty, just as we do for any other nation," Zelenskyy said. "We need to withdraw the Russian occupying forces, which will bring an end to the hostilities in Ukraine." "Ukrainians will never accept a will never accept a why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on Ukraine now," he told the 193-member Assembly. "When the Chinese-Brazilian duo tries to grow into a choir of voices a with someone in Europe, with someone in Africa a saying something alternative to a full and just peace, the question arises, what is the true interest?" he said, appearing to allude to developing nations where Russian propaganda has proven effective. "Everyone must understand a you won't boost your power at Ukraine's expense," Zelenskyy said. "The world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are smaller." Every nation, Zelenskyy added, "including China, Brazil, European nations, African nations, and Middle East, all understand why this must remain in the past. And Ukrainians will never accept why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on Ukraine now instead of a normal, peaceful life." Since Russia "can't defeat our people's resistance on the battlefield," he said, Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking "other ways to break the Ukrainian spirit." "One of his methods is targeting our energy infrastructure," the Ukrainian leader said. "These are deliberate Russian attacks on our power plants, and the entire energy grid. As of today, Russia has destroyed all our thermal power plants and a large part of our hydroelectric capacity. This is how Putin is preparing for winter a hoping to torment millions of Ukrainians." Zelenskyy's address before the annual meeting in New York came a day after he told the U.N. Security Council that Putin will not stop hostilities on his own and "can only be forced into peace." At the same meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged nations to support Ukraine, saying it is fighting for its survival. "If countries stopped supporting Russia, Putin's invasion would soon come to an end," he said. "If countries stopped supporting Ukraine, Ukraine could soon come to an end." Russia's envoy dismissed Blinken's fears for Ukraine. "It's not threatened with anything. We are not fighting against it," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said of Ukraine. "We are fighting against a criminal regime which seized power in Kyiv and is bringing its people towards catastrophe. And this is not a war for territory, regardless of the claims of our foes. This is a struggle for acknowledgment of people's rights." The General Assembly meeting is also hearing other leaders on Wednesday, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa and Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mirasol Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: MRZ) (OTC: MRZLF) (the Company or Mirasol) today announced it is arranging a non-brokered private placement financing (the Offering) of up to 666,667 Units (the Units) at a price of $0.45 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $3.0 million. Each Unit will be comprised of one (1) common share and one-half of one (1/2) non-transferable common share purchase warrant (the Warrant), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.60 for a period of twelve (12) months from closing of the Offering. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to expand Mirasols successful exploration programs and for general corporate purposes. Finders fees may be payable on a portion of the Offering. The shares issued under the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period. The Offering is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the TSX.V, and is expected to close on or about October 25, 2024. This press release is not an offer of common shares for sale in the United States. The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws. About Mirasol Resources Ltd Mirasol is a well-funded exploration company with 20 years of operating, permitting and community relations experience in the mineral rich regions of Chile and Argentina. Mirasol is currently self-funding exploration at the flagship Sobek Copper-Gold project located in the Vicuna Copper-Gold-Silver District of northeast Chile and controls 100% of the high-grade Virginia Silver Deposit in Argentina. Mirasol also continues to advance a strong pipeline of highly prospective early and mid-stage projects. For further information, contact: Tim Heenan, President & CEO or Troy Shultz, Vice President Investor Relations Tel: +1 (604) 602-9989 Email: troy.shultz@mirasolresources.com Website: www.mirasolresources.com Forward Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry and to policies linked to pandemics, social and environmental related matters. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding future exploration programs, operation plans, geological interpretations, mineral tenure issues and mineral recovery processes. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Mirasol disclaims any obligations 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 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. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westhaven Gold Corp. (TSX-V:WHN) (Westhaven or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. (the Agent) to act as sole agent and bookrunner in connection with a best efforts, private placement (the "Marketed Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 from the sale of the following: 10,000,000 units of the Company (each, a Unit ) at a price of C$0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$1,500,000 from the sale of Units; and ) at a price of C$0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$1,500,000 from the sale of Units; and gross proceeds of up to C$3,500,000 from the sale of any combination of (i) common shares of the Company that will quality as flow-through shares within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a Traditional FT Share) at a price of C$0.175 per Traditional FT Share and (ii) flow-through units of the Company to be sold to charitable purchasers (each, a Charity FT Unit, and collectively with the Units and Traditional FT Shares, the Offered Securities) at a price of C$0.22 per Charity FT Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a Unit Share) and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Charity FT Unit will consist of one Traditional FT Share and one half of one Warrant. Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a Warrant Share) at a price of C$0.22 at any time on or before that date which is 24 months after the closing date of the Offering (as defined below). The Agent will have an option, exercisable in full or in part, up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional C$1,000,000 in any combination of Units, Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units at their respective offering prices (the Agents Option and together with the Marketed Offering, the Offering). Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (NI 45-106), those Units, Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units representing gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 (the LIFE Securities) will be offered for sale to purchasers in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan (the Canadian Selling Jurisdictions) pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption). The Unit Shares, Traditional FT Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable pursuant to the sale of the LIFE Securities are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. The Units may also be sold in offshore jurisdictions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act"), as amended. Any Units and Charity FT Units sold in excess of gross proceeds of C$5,000,000 as well as the Traditional FT Shares (collectively, the Non-LIFE Securities) will be offered by way of the accredited investor and minimum amount investment exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Canadian Selling Jurisdictions, or in the case of the Units, also in offshore jurisdictions and the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The Unit Shares, Traditional FT Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable from the sale of Non-LIFE Securities will be subject to a hold period ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the closing date of the Offering under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Units for working capital and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Traditional FT Shares and the Charity FT Units will be used for Canadian exploration expenses on the Companys mineral projects in British Columbia and will qualify as flow-through mining expenditures, as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Qualifying Expenditures), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2025 and renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024 in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units. The Offering is scheduled to close on or around October 15, 2024, or such other date as the Company and the Agent may agree, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company will pay to the Agent a cash commission of 6% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering (the Agents Commission). In addition, the Company will issue to the Agent warrants of the Company (each warrant, a Broker Warrant), exercisable for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date, to acquire in aggregate that number of common shares of the Company which is equal to 6% of the number of Offered Securities sold under the Offering at an exercise price equal to C$0.15 per Common Share. There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Companys website at www.westhavengold.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. To the extent that any directors and/or officers the Company participate in the Offering, such participation will constitute a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company expects any participation by directors and officers in the Offering will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 based on the fact that neither the fair market value of the Units, Traditional FT Shares or Charity FT Units subscribed for by directors and officers, nor the consideration for such securities to be paid by them, will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, as amended, or any state securities law, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. On behalf of the Board of Directors WESTHAVEN GOLD CORP. Gareth Thomas Gareth Thomas, President, CEO & Director 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 Westhaven Gold Corp. Westhaven is a gold-focused exploration company advancing the high-grade discovery on the Shovelnose project in Canadas newest gold district, the Spences Bridge Gold Belt. Westhaven controls 60,950 hectares (609.5 square kilometres) with four gold properties spread along this underexplored belt. The Shovelnose property is situated off a major highway, near power, rail, large producing mines, and within commuting distance from the city of Merritt, which translates into low-cost exploration. Westhaven trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol WHN. For further information, please call 604-681-5558 or visit Westhavens website at www.westhavengold.com Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws, which is based upon the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company's expectations with respect to the Offering; the use of proceeds of the Offering; completion of the Offering and the date of such completion. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "potential", "is expected", "anticipated", "is targeted", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information 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 the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, and without limitation: that the Offering may not close within the timeframe anticipated or at all or may not close on the terms and conditions currently anticipated by the Company for a number of reasons including, without limitation, as a result of the occurrence of a material adverse change, disaster, change of law or other failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Offering; the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to complete its planned exploration program; that the Company will not derive the expected benefits from its current program; the Company may not use the proceeds of the Offering as currently contemplated; the Company may fail to find a commercially viable deposit at any of its mineral properties; the Companys plans may be adversely affected by the Companys reliance on historical data compiled by previous parties involved with its mineral properties; mineral exploration and development are inherently risky industries; the mineral exploration industry is intensely competitive; additional financing may not be available to the Company when required or, if available, the terms of such financing may not be favourable to the Company; fluctuations in the demand for gold or gold prices generally; the Company may not be able to identify, negotiate or finance any future acquisitions successfully, or to integrate such acquisitions with its current business; the Companys exploration activities are dependent upon the grant of appropriate licenses, concessions, leases, permits and regulatory consents, which may be withdrawn or not granted; the Companys operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; there is no guarantee that title to the properties in which the Company has a material interest will not be challenged or impugned; the Company faces various risks associated with mining exploration that are not insurable or may be the subject of insurance which is not commercially feasible for the Company; the volatility of global capital markets over the past several years has generally made the raising of capital more difficult; inflationary cost pressures may escalate the Companys operating costs; compliance with environmental regulations can be costly; social and environmental activism can negatively impact exploration, development and mining activities; the success of the Company is largely dependent on the performance of its directors and officers; the Companys operations may be adversely affected by First Nations land claims; the Company and/or its directors and officers may be subject to a variety of legal proceedings, the results of which may have a material adverse effect on the Companys business; the Company may be adversely affected if potential conflicts of interests involving its directors and officers are not resolved in favour of the Company; the Companys future profitability may depend upon the world market prices of gold; dilution from future equity financing could negatively impact holders of the Companys securities; failure to adequately meet infrastructure requirements could have a material adverse effect on the Companys business; the Companys projects now or in the future may be adversely affected by risks outside the control of the Company; the Company is subject to various risks associated with climate change, the Company is subject to general global risks arising from epidemic diseases, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising inflation and interest rates and the impact they will have on the Companys operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, supplies, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all is uncertain; as well as other risk factors in the Companys other public filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in the Companys expectations, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this offering document is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands , Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caymanian Entrepreneur and Director of Miss World Cayman Islands, Pamela Ebanks-Small is flipping the narrative. This is a unique opportunity for local and global businesses to be part of an empowering movement, one that redefines beauty and promotes leadership and community impact. As the Minister of Tourism & Ports, I am honored to be a major sponsor for this upcoming event.- Hon. Kenneth V. Bryan, MP, Minister of Tourism & Ports. The upcoming Miss World Cayman Islands pageant is set to break the mold, redefining what it means to be a beauty queen. On October 26, 2024, at the ARC Camana Bay, the organization will host Miss World Cayman Islands. The outgoing Miss World Cayman Islands Leanni Tibbetts will crown the winner of 2024-2025. These women represent not only grace and beauty but also a deep commitment to their communities, careers, and global impact. - Pamela Ebanks-Small, Director of Miss World Cayman Islands Hon. Kenneth V. Bryan, MP, Minister of Tourism & Ports, Major Sponsor of the Miss World Cayman Islands Organization Pamela Ebanks-Small, Director of Miss World Cayman Islands and former Miss Cayman Islands, has made it her mission to show that pageantry goes far beyond outward appearances. "This is about more than just a crown," she emphasizes. "Its about empowering young women to pursue their dreams, serve their communities, and use their platforms for meaningful change. We want to challenge the outdated notion that beauty is just skin deep. Our contestants are purpose-driven leaders, each with a unique story and vision for the future." Pamela Ebanks-Small, Director of Miss World Cayman Islands A New Chapter for Cayman Islands Queens In addition to crowning the Miss World Cayman 2024-2025, for the first time, the Miss World Cayman Islands pageant organization will feature Miss Supranational 2024-2025. These two beauty pageants will represent the Cayman Islands on the international stage. This milestone highlights the growth of the organization, which began in 2017 under Ebanks-Smalls leadership. The franchise has since expanded to include Miss Supranational Cayman and Miss Teen World adding to the depth and diversity of opportunities for young Caymanian women. Miss World Cayman Islands is more than just a beauty competition; its a not-for-profit organization aimed at creating leaders who can inspire change. Ebanks-Smalls vision is clear: "We want to change how pageantry is perceived, not just locally but globally. Our contestants are scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, and professionals, each with the power to inspire their peers and future generations." This years contestants reflect a diverse array of passions, talents, and ambitions. These young women are not only intelligent and driven but are also deeply committed to making an impact on their communities. -- Contestant #1: Jada Ramoon (26) from Bodden Town Jada is an administrative professional at the Cayman Islands National Attractions Authority (CINAA) and is working toward completing her degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. She also expanded her expertise by completing a non-credit course in Copyright Law through the University of Pennsylvania. Contestant #1 - Jada Ramoon -- Contestant #2: Linda Nahomi Duarte Rodriguez (23) from Cayman Brac Linda holds a Bachelors Degree in Science and Arts from Honduras and is currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Business Administration at UCCI. She also serves as a dedicated Customer Service Representative at the Cayman Brac branch of Cayman National Bank, bringing her passion for helping others to her community every day. Contestant #2 - Linda Nahomi Duarte Rodriguez -- Contestant #3: Estefania (Steff) McDermot (23) from Cayman Brac Steff is the owner and operator of a yacht lifestyle company, At Sea, and is also the project manager for a Virtual Reality Mangrove Experience with Sustainable Cayman. A maverick conservationist and entrepreneur, Steff is redefining environmental conservation. Contestant #3 - Estefania (Steff) McDermot -- Contestant #4: Angelina Brown (23) from West Bay Angelinas career spans customer service, the tourism industry, and administrative services. Her dedication to delivering exceptional service shines through in everything she does. Contestant #4 - Angelina Brown -- Contestant #5: Hailey Myles (25) from George Town A professional pastry chef, Hailey holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Baking and Pastry Arts as well as Food Science. She brings her expertise and creativity to every unique dessert she creates. Contestant #5 - Hailey Myles -- Contestant #6: Erica-Simone Powell (23) from Bodden Town Erica-Simone is a retail professional and Sunday School teacher pursuing a degree in Primary Education with a concentration in English literature. Her passion for teaching and literature is evident in her volunteer work and academic pursuits. Contestants #6 - Erica-Simone Powell -- Contestant #7: Ashley Lisayda Swaby (20) from West Bay A Certified Healthcare Assistant, Ashley has three years of experience working across more than seven departments in the medical field. Her dedication to healthcare and her community is her driving force. Contestant #7 - Ashley Lisayda Swaby -- Contestant #8: Latecia Bush (22) from George Town Latecia holds an associate degree in Social Sciences from UCCI and is pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer. She also has aspirations to run for public office one day. Contestant #8 - Latecia Bush -- Contestant #9: Tracey Campbell (19) from Bodden Town Tracey is currently pursuing a bachelors degree in Business Administration with aspirations of becoming a successful realtor. She also works part-time at Caymans first female-only gym, FitBabe. Contestant #9 - Tracey Campbell A Call for Sponsors with Purpose Ebanks-Small is calling on sponsors who align with this broader vision. "We want partners who see the value in supporting not just a beauty pageant but a movement for young women to lead with purpose and integrity," she said. "This is a chance for businesses to associate with a cause thats about more than appearancesits about empowering the next generation of Caymanian leaders." In a world where beauty pageants often face criticism, especially in religious and conservative communities, the Miss World Cayman Islands organization is flipping the narrative. With the support of major sponsors like the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Education, and F45 Training, the organization is proving that beauty can indeed have a purpose. Empowering Beauty with Purpose: Miss World Cayman Teams Up with KISS PR Digital, a Global Leader in PR, SEO, and Branding, to Champion Leadership and Community Impact Miss World Cayman is offering a unique opportunity for local and global businesses to join an empowering movement that redefines beauty by focusing on leadership and community impact. To support this initiative, Miss World Cayman has partnered with KISS PR Brand Story Public Relations, led by Qamar Zaman, a member of the Forbes Influencer Council, to build a powerful brand presence and promote this impactful cause. KISS PR is a leading PR company amplifies content for top organizations, including Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC) (TRADEGATE: 9SC) (OTCQB: MNXXF) and the Cayman Islands Department of Economics. KISS PR has helped over 130,000 small businesses globally achieve media exposure and brand growth. Join Us at the Grand Event The Miss World Cayman Islands and Miss Supranational Cayman pageant, alongside the inaugural Miss Teen World Cayman pageant, will take place on October 26, 2024, at the ARC Camana Bay. Tickets are available at ticketsplus.ky or through contestants and committee members. For Pamela Ebanks-Small and the entire Miss World Cayman Islands organization, this is about celebrating the holistic beauty of Caymanian womenmind, body, and spirit. As Ebanks-Small says, "These young women are not just beautiful; they are driven, intelligent, and ready to make a difference." For Media Inquiries: Cayman Islands: Pamela Ebanks-Small, Director Miss World Cayman Islands +1(345)938-0009 Global Media Inquiries: Jaci Patrick T: 1-305-988-8664 BANGALORE, India, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Preqin, the global leader in alternative assets data, tools, and insights, recently published its Preqin Territory Guide: Private Capital in India 2024 report. It covers private capital* growth in India, assets under management (AUM), deals volume and value, and fundraising data. Private debt fastest growing private capital asset class in India as businesses need more flexible financing options As Indias economy grows, many of its fast-growing mid-sized businesses need more flexible financing solutions. This has been influential in making private debt the fastest growing private capital asset class in India. India-focused private debt AUM grew from just below $14bn by the end of 2022 to near $18bn by the end of 2023 a rise of 29%**. Notably, Preqin data shows that India is now a regional leader in private debt, with AUM higher than each individual market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Alongside the need for flexible financing, the introduction of regulatory reforms such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code by the Indian government has also increased investor confidence in the private debt market. Venture capital and private equity buoyed by Indian economy and equity markets Venture capital is the largest private capital asset class in India due to the countrys strong economic growth and increasingly wealthy, young demographic. At the end of 2023, India-focused venture capital AUM was almost $45bn and accounted for 36% of all India-focused private capital AUM. India-focused venture capital deal volume and value were 961 and close to $14bn in 2023, respectively, while in 2024 to June, deal volume and value were 560 and nearly $6bn, respectively. Moreover, aggregate venture capital fundraising is on track to match 2023 levels, from $2bn in 2023, to $1bn by June 2024. India-focused private equity remains resilient in a softer global deal market, largely due to Indias public markets outperforming most major economies in recent years. Preqin data shows that exit volumes were 85 in 2023 and 46 in 2024 to June. Aggregate fundraising in 2024 is on course to surpass 2023, with over $1bn raised by June 2024, compared to just below $2bn in 2023. Harsha Narayan, lead author of the report, says: India's economy is experiencing rapid growth, fueled by strong GDP expansion, favorable demographics, large-scale infrastructure investment, and economic reforms. As a result, Preqin is seeing increasing numbers of eager global private capital players participating in this market, as India-focused private capital assets under management grows at a significant pace. Additional key findings include: Infrastructure deals in India: India-focused infrastructure deal volume and value was supported by government spending in this area, with its 2024 budget targeting capital expenditure of $133bn. There were 92 deals, aggregately worth over $14bn, in 2023. Preqin figures show that there were 77 deals, with an aggregate value of $9.5bn, by June 2024. India-focused infrastructure deal volume and value was supported by government spending in this area, with its 2024 budget targeting capital expenditure of $133bn. There were 92 deals, aggregately worth over $14bn, in 2023. Preqin figures show that there were 77 deals, with an aggregate value of $9.5bn, by June 2024. India-focused infrastructure AUM growth: India-focused infrastructure AUM grew from over $8bn by 2022-end to almost $9bn by 2023-end. India-focused infrastructure AUM grew from over $8bn by 2022-end to almost $9bn by 2023-end. India-focused real estate: By the end of 2023, India accounted for 8% of real estate funds APAC-focused AUM. India-focused real estate AUM grew from over $20bn at the end of 2022 to over $21bn by the end of 2023. Notes to editor: *The report covers the five key private capital asset classes: private equity, venture capital, private debt, real estate, and infrastructure. **Preqin has a six-month lag in its AUM analysis to ensure it has a complete dataset as possible when calculating values. If you would like more information or would like to speak with the report author, please contact Oliver Keyser at oliver.keyser@preqin.com. About Preqin Preqin, the Home of Alternatives, empowers financial professionals who invest in or allocate to alternatives with essential data and insight to make confident decisions. It supports them throughout the entire investment lifecycle with critical information and leading analytics solutions. The company has pioneered rigorous methods of collecting private data for over 20 years, enabling more than 200,000 professionals globally to streamline how they raise capital, source deals and investments, understand performance, and stay informed. For more information visit www.preqin.com. Austin, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Methanol Market Share was valued at USD 33.7 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 54.5 billion by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period 2024-2032. The global methanol market is quite vibrant in terms of rising demand coming in from multiple end-user industries including automotive, energy, chemicals, and pharmaceutical. Methanol represents a very basic alcohol but plays a pivotal role as feedstock for producing formaldehyde, acetic acid, and a wide range of derivatives across petrochemicals. Increased demand for energy resources has led to higher applications of the use of methanol in energy applications, especially as a fuel and fuel additive. There is an increasing demand with the march of methanol-powered vehicles and further integration of methanol with fuel cells. Book Your Sample PDF for Methanol Market Report @ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/2011 The rising applications of methanol in the manufacture of biodiesel mainly contributed to the growth in the market because of the trend of the world focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Methanol plays a very vital role in the chemical industry, acting as feedstock in manufacturing methyl tert-butyl ether used in producing high-performance fuels with lesser emissions in gasoline. The new technological breakthroughs in MTO keep opening up more possibilities in the market, especially in China and other Asian regions, because demand for plastics and other petrochemicals is heating up at a blistering pace. The market prospects seem generally promising given the increasing focus of governments on the use of sustainable sources of energy and their efforts at any cost to reduce the carbon footprint of fuels. Moreover, investments in methanol production facilities are also expected to gain speed in the next few years and therefore support market growth. What is the growth of the Fats and Oils market? Renewable fuel, especially in energy applications for biodiesel and clean energy, and the growth of formaldehyde and MTBE in the petrochemical sector, constitute the prime drivers for the methanol market. Besides, the production of more methanol as a renewable fuel source has created high growth demand mainly due to relatively low emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels. Supportive government policies also contribute to this growth. Top 10 Companies Operating in the Fats and Oils Industry Worldwide Methanex Corporation SABIC Celanese Corporation LyondellBasell Industries Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Southern Chemical Corporation Zagros Petrochemical Company OCI N.V. Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Petronas Chemicals Group Which segment dominated the Fats and Oils Market? In 2023, the Formaldehyde segment dominated and accounted for more than 30% of revenue market share in the Methanol Market. Formaldehyde is one of the most important derivatives of methanol, with wide applications in resins, adhesives, and coatings. The product also captures quick demand as it complements a growing trend in associated construction, automotive, and other consumer goods industries. For instance, formaldehyde resins - including urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins - have been known as the most important feedstocks to the production of engineered wood products whose demand increased because of continued development in construction sectors of Asia and North America. Thus, with applications such as construction materials, and even household items such as doors, tabletops, counters, and so on requiring formaldehyde, this compound will continue at the helms of the methanol market. If you need any Customization in the Report as per your Business Requirement Ask @ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/2011 What are the driving factors of the Fats and Oils market? Increasing Demand in Energy Applications Methanol is one of the fast-growing fuels for clean fuel utilization. Fuel cells and biofuels are taking forward strides in the market; hence the adoption of methanol also gains traction. Methanol, with potential for usage in vehicles in particular to China, is gaining momentum due to government policies regarding reduction in emissions and renewable fuel. Increase in chemical production One of the factors driving the production of methanol-based chemicals, including formaldehyde, MTBE, and acetic acid, is the rapid growth of these chemicals in plastics, resins, and solvents. The multifunctional characteristic of methanol is continually inspiring demand from different sectors as a chemical feedstock. Sustainable Solution and Environmental Advantages The appeal of methanol is its capability to reduce the overall emissions of greenhouse gases; hence, it stands as a popular commodity in the renewable energy sector. This is further enhanced by government support for the production of biodiesel, hence indirectly propelling growth in the market. What are the opportunities of the Fats and Oils market? Scaling Up of Methanol-to-Olefins Technology For the Asia market players, the rising adoption of MTO technology affords a major opportunity. MTO processes convert methanol to ethylene and propylene which are in massive demand for plastic production, thus very promising growth prospects. Increasing Demand for Marine Fuel Methanol is considered an emerging player in the marine fuel game because it has a significantly lower emissions profile compared to traditional marine fuels. With international regulations nudging the shipping industry toward cleaner fuels, this aspect of the industry promises significant growth potential for methanol. Which region dominated the Fats and Oils market? Asia-Pacific dominated the Methanol Market in 2023 with more than 45% revenue share in the worldwide market. In the region, China was seen as the largest consumer of methanol worldwide, and it is driven by huge demand for methanol-to-olefins (MTO) and the production of formaldehyde. The growing construction and automotive industries have made a significant contribution to the demand for methanol, primarily due to resin, plastics, and coatings. More so, its position in the alternative fuel category in the region has been gaining considerable momentum with governments across Asia-Pacific focusing increasingly on renewable energy and reduction of emission strategies. The increasing adoption of methanol in biodiesel production and blending fuel in the emerging economies of Asia further solidifies the region's leadership in the market. Key Takeaways MTO technology has a good chance of being absorbed by the market players, particularly Asian players; the process converts methanol into ethylene and propylene in high demand for plastic production, hence offering lucrative growth prospects. Increased Usage of Marine Fuels Methanol is a promising alternative marine fuel since it emits less than traditional marine fuels. Cleaner fuels for shipping, as mandated internationally will present bright growth prospects for methanol in shipping. Buy this Exclusive Report Which Includes @ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/2011 BENEFITS: 1 No. Of Pages: 310 Pages Report 2 Regions/Countries: North America (3 Countries) Europe (~15 Countries) Asia Pacific (~10 Countries) Latin America (~5 Countries) Middle East & Africa (~5 Countries) (Include Israel) 3 ME Sheet: Market Estimation in Excel Format 4 Company Analysis: Major 16 companies covered in final report. Additional 5 companies will be covered as per client demand complimentary. 5 Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting: Vehicle Production and Sales Volumes, 2020-2032, by Region Emission Standards Compliance, by Region Vehicle Technology Adoption, by Region Consumer Preferences, by Region 6 Buying Options Single User License: USD 3350 USD 3350 Enterprise User License: USD 5350 USD 5350 Excel Data Sheet: USD 2350 Read Full Report Description @ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/methanol-market-2011 [For more information or need any customization research mail us at info@snsinsider.com] SNS Insider Offering/ Consulting Services: Go To Market Assessment Service Total Addressable Market (TAM) Assessment Competitive Benchmarking and Market Share Gain About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. Austin, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Agricultural Tractor Market Share is expected to expand from 2024 to 2032 into USD 175.66 billion, while trailing a CAGR of 7%. Farmers are outpacing their means by investing in tractors due to the exponentially increasing need for agricultural mechanization. This can be attributed to the yield and labor shortages in the regions, especially with emerging economies. Other government incentives and credit-friendly financing will also propel the use of tractors across the world. Book Your Sample PDF for Agricultural Tractors Market Report @ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/2005 What Growth Drivers Dominate the Agricultural Tractors Market? The primary growth driver, in general, is the upward trend in high-tech farming systems to increase crop yield, especially in response to population pressure. Precision farming is the new global trend; to date, 40% of tractors used in advanced economies are fitted with GPS technology, changing the face of farming practices. There is, however, a steadily increasing concern over labor shortage issues, particularly in European and North American regions that motivate farmers to invest in autonomous tractors, the segment being expected to record a growth of 10% annually. Emerging Opportunities in the Agricultural Tractors Market The electric and autonomous tractors signal the future of agriculture. The growth in renewable agriculture technologies has added unprecedented opportunities to this market, and electric tractors are expected to account for 15-20% of the world's tractor fleet by 2030. The electric variants are being promoted by governments worldwide as part of their other strategies for agricultural carbon reduction. Besides, AI and IoT technologies have created unparalleled prospects for growth in smart tractors. Percentage of Agricultural Tractors Autonomous Around the World It is estimated that 5-7% of all the agricultural tractors in the world have gone autonomous, and this number is expected to accelerate as more firms present driverless models. To begin with, autonomous tractors are very popular, especially in North America, due to the need experienced from labor shortages and large-scale farming. Companies, including among others John Deere and CNH Industrial, are still at the helm, spearheading the trend to automate farming, seeing deployment of autonomous tractors increase by 30% by 2030. If you need any Customization in the Report as per your Business Requirement Ask @ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/2005 What segment of the Agricultural Tractors Market is most likely to grow the fastest? Compact tractors are likely to grow the fastest in the agricultural tractors market, mainly in smaller-sized farms and less arable regions. This compact tractor segment, with an annual growth rate of 8%, is expected to explode as increasing demand requires multi-function and versatile machinery. Compact tractors are gaining popularity in regions like Asia-Pacific and Africa where, on average, farms are much smaller in size and have fewer acres of arable land. Which Region Would Dominate the Agricultural Tractors Market by 2032? Asia-Pacific is expected to be the biggest market for agricultural tractors by 2032, largely due to rapid mechanization in countries like China and India. In the last few years, the region accounted for nearly 45% of the total tractor demand in the world and is likely to continue dominating the market as governments in countries here are providing strong support to agricultural modernization. Total investments in the farming infrastructures of the region have also seen a significant rise in the last few years, thereby creating more demand for agricultural tractors. North America and Europe are also expected to witness steady growth due to the increasing adoption of precision farming techniques as well as autonomous tractors. Which one among All Leading Players possesses the highest share of the market in agricultural tractors? Major players like John Deere, Kubota, and Mahindra will continue to lead the agricultural tractor market across the globe with about 50% of the market share. These players continue to innovate and focus on the development of advanced electric and autonomous tractors that will best meet the evolving needs of the farmers around the globe. Newer players are also entering the fray, especially in the compact and electric tractor categories, thereby expanding the competitive landscape. Key Takeaways: Precision farming and autonomous tractors tend to drive growth in the agricultural tractors market. Emerging opportunities of electric and autonomous tractors are witnessed as the governments focus on the sustainability agenda in agriculture. Compact tractors are the fastest-growing categories, primarily with increasing demand for versatile equipment among small and mid-sized farms. The Asia-Pacific market will dominate, while North American and European markets are expected to grow steadily with technological innovations in farming. Buy this Exclusive Report Which Includes @ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/2005 BENEFITS: 1 No. Of Pages: 350 Pages Report 2 Regions/Countries: North America (3 Countries) Europe (~15 Countries) Asia Pacific (~10 Countries) Latin America (~5 Countries) Middle East & Africa (~5 Countries) (Include Israel) 3 ME Sheet: Market Estimation in Excel Format 4 Company Analysis: Major 16 companies covered in final report. Additional 5 companies will be covered as per client demand complimentary. 5 Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting: Vehicle Production and Sales Volumes, 2020-2032, by Region Emission Standards Compliance, by Region Vehicle Technology Adoption, by Region Consumer Preferences, by Region 6 Buying Options Single User License: USD 3350 USD 3350 Enterprise User License: USD 5350 USD 5350 Excel Data Sheet: USD 2350 Read Full Report Description @ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/agricultural-tractors-market-2005 [For more information or need any customization research mail us at info@snsinsider.com] SNS Insider Offering/ Consulting Services: Go To Market Assessment Service Total Addressable Market (TAM) Assessment Competitive Benchmarking and Market Share Gain About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. Singapore, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The AI Apex Asia Capital Connect Forum served as a crucible for challenging established norms in AI investment and public listings, forcing a rethink of strategies in a maturing market. The high-profile panel discussion, featuring luminaries from venture capital, investment banking, and brokerage, painted a nuanced picture of an industry at a crossroads, balancing technological promise with financial realities. In a striking departure from the typical tech investment narrative, Joyce NG, General Partner of iGlobe Partners introduced the concept of "Joy of Missing Out" (JOMO) to the AI investment world. "We've seen the consequences of inflated valuations and rushed investments," NG cautioned. "It's crucial that VCs embrace the joy of missing out on deals that don't align with sound business fundamentals." This sobering perspective comes at a time when AI hype is at its peak, urging investors to recalibrate their strategies. The panel, moderated by Peter Chen of Tikehau Capital, grappled with a fundamental question: How can speculative AI technologies effectively communicate long-term value to investors? Chen posed the challenge bluntly: AI valuation can be speculative. How can companies effectively communicate the long-term value proposition to investors, especially when the technology might be several years from commercialization?" This dilemma was further complicated by Allen Chng of Insignia Ventures Partners, who insisted, "Any AI innovation any company is doing has to translate down to the bottom line, has to translate down to the financial performance of the company. If not, then the expanded multiples are worthless. It's just all hype and crash." This stark reality check suggests a coming reckoning for AI startups unable to bridge the gap between technological promise and financial performance. Yet, amidst these challenges, the forum also highlighted unexpected opportunities. Southeast Asia emerged as a dark horse in the global AI race. Ian Leong, CEO of Tiger Brokers Singapore noted, "Southeast Asia is a promising market whereby AI companies can take a look at... When it comes to the population, it's younger... When it comes to penetration, it's actually much higher." This view was echoed by Chng, who spoke of a "very big talent migration of entrepreneurs" to the region, particularly from China. The discussion also revealed a potential shift in the global center of gravity for tech listings. Jerry Chua, CEO of Evolve Capital highlighted Singapore's unique position, stating, "Singapore is positioning itself as an attractive venue for tech listings, offering a unique value proposition for companies looking to tap into Asian markets." This comes as Peter Chen called for a "paradox shift" in Singapore's exchange, suggesting that marginal changes are no longer sufficient in the rapidly evolving global financial landscape. As AI companies navigate this complex terrain, the panel emphasized the critical importance of "exit readiness" and building "optionality" for various listing venues from an early stage. This strategic approach, coupled with a focus on solid business models and revenue potential, may well determine the winners and losers in the next phase of AI industry evolution. Adding a fresh perspective to the listing strategy discussion, Xinhua Liu, a core founding member of AI Apex Asia and Venture Partner of Gaorong Capital, challenged entrepreneurs to think differently: "I encourage AI entrepreneurs to think out of the box when it comes to listing or exiting," Liu stated. "Sometimes, it's better to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a tiny fish in a big ocean. This approach can provide greater visibility, influence, and potentially better valuations in the right market." Liu's statement underscores the importance of strategic thinking in choosing a listing venue, suggesting that entrepreneurs should consider factors beyond just market size and prestige. The AI Apex Asia Capital Connect Forum has thus set the stage for a period of introspection and strategic realignment in the AI investment world. As the industry matures, several key takeaways emerge: 1. The era of unchecked optimism in AI investments is giving way to a more disciplined approach, with investors finding joy in selective, fundamentally sound investments. 2. AI companies must bridge the gap between technological innovation and financial performance to justify their valuations. 3. Southeast Asia is positioning itself as a new frontier for AI development and investment, offering unique opportunities for growth and talent acquisition. 4. Traditional listing venues are being challenged, with markets like Singapore emerging as attractive alternatives for tech companies looking to make a bigger splash. 5. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to think creatively about their path to public markets, considering strategic fit over conventional prestige. As the dust settles on this groundbreaking forum, one thing is clear: the future of AI funding and listings will belong to those who can balance innovation with pragmatism, embrace strategic thinking, and navigate the evolving global landscape with agility and foresight. About AI Apex Asia AI Apex Asia is a leading artificial intelligence community dedicated to advancing AI technologies and applications across Asian markets. With a focus on innovation, regional expertise, and responsible AI development, AI Apex Asia is committed to driving the adoption of AI solutions that address unique challenges and opportunities in diverse Asian industries. Dublin, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Pipeline & Process Services Market by Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2019-2029F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The United States Pipeline & Process Services Market was valued at USD 1.13 Billion in 2023 and is predicted to experience robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 5.01% through 2029, reaching USD 1.53 Billion. The United States Pipeline & Process Services Market is a crucial segment of the energy and industrial sectors, characterized by significant growth and evolving dynamics. This market encompasses a wide range of services, including pipeline maintenance, process services, dewatering, leak detection, cleaning, and more. The market is driven by the need for operational efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance across the oil and gas, chemical, and water industries. One of the primary drivers of growth in this market is the ongoing expansion and maintenance of the extensive pipeline network in the United States. The country's vast pipeline infrastructure, which is essential for the transportation of oil, gas, and other industrial fluids, requires regular maintenance and upgrades to ensure safety and efficiency. The aging pipeline infrastructure necessitates continuous investment in inspection, repair, and replacement services, further propelling the demand for pipeline and process services. Technological advancements are also playing a significant role in shaping the market. The integration of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and automation has revolutionized pipeline monitoring and maintenance processes. These technologies enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated operations, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of pipeline systems. Companies in the market are increasingly adopting these technologies to offer more sophisticated and efficient services, thereby gaining a competitive edge. Environmental regulations and safety standards are critical factors influencing the market. Stringent regulations aimed at preventing pipeline leaks and ensuring environmental protection have led to increased demand for compliance-related services. Companies are investing in advanced leak detection systems, corrosion protection, and environmental monitoring solutions to meet these regulatory requirements and avoid hefty penalties. This regulatory environment not only drives the demand for specialized services but also fosters innovation in safety and compliance technologies. Moreover, the market's growth is supported by the steady demand from end-user industries. The oil and gas sector, in particular, remains a major consumer of pipeline and process services, driven by ongoing exploration, production, and transportation activities. Additionally, the chemical and water industries contribute to the demand, requiring specialized services for their pipeline systems. Key Market Drivers Increasing Energy Demand Technological Advancements Regulatory Compliance and Environmental Concerns Aging Infrastructure Key Market Challenges Regulatory Compliance and Environmental Concerns Aging Infrastructure and Maintenance Costs Technological Advancements and Cybersecurity Threats Workforce Shortages and Skill Gaps Key Market Trends Integration of Advanced Technologies Focus on Environmental Sustainability Expansion of Natural Gas Infrastructure Increasing Investment in Pipeline Safety and Integrity Rise of Digital Transformation in Pipeline Operations Regional Insights Northeast dominated the United States Pipeline & Process Services market in 2023. The Marcellus and Utica shale formations, located primarily in the Northeast, are among the most prolific natural gas-producing regions in the United States. The abundance of natural gas in these formations has driven significant investments in pipeline infrastructure to transport the gas to markets across the country and for export. The high level of activity in drilling and production necessitates extensive pipeline networks to manage the transportation of natural gas, thereby driving demand for pipeline services in the region. The Northeast is one of the most densely populated regions in the United States, with significant urban and industrial centers such as New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. This high population density and industrial activity result in substantial energy consumption, requiring a robust and reliable pipeline infrastructure to ensure adequate supply. The region's energy needs encompass residential heating, electricity generation, and industrial use, all of which rely heavily on natural gas and oil delivered through pipelines. Aging pipeline infrastructure in the Northeast requires extensive upgrades and modernization to meet current safety standards and accommodate increased capacity. Many of the existing pipelines in the region were constructed decades ago and need replacement or significant rehabilitation to prevent leaks, improve efficiency, and comply with regulatory requirements. These infrastructure projects drive demand for pipeline and process services, contributing to the market's growth in the Northeast. The Northeast faces stringent regulatory and environmental pressures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources. States in the region, such as New York and Massachusetts, have implemented ambitious climate goals, including the reduction of carbon emissions and the promotion of renewable energy. These regulatory frameworks necessitate the construction of new pipelines for natural gas, which is considered a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, as well as the development of infrastructure for renewable energy integration. The Northeast's strategic location provides access to major export markets for liquefied natural gas (LNG). Ports in the region, such as those in New Jersey and Maryland, serve as critical hubs for LNG exports to Europe and other international markets. The demand for LNG exports drives the construction of pipelines to transport natural gas from production sites to liquefaction facilities and export terminals, bolstering the region's dominance in the pipeline and process services market. Economic growth in the Northeast, coupled with investments in energy infrastructure, supports the dominance of the pipeline and process services market. Economic development initiatives and government incentives for infrastructure projects attract investments from both public and private sectors. These investments are channeled into the construction, maintenance, and upgrading of pipeline networks, further enhancing the region's market position. The Northeast region is at the forefront of adopting advanced technologies and innovative solutions in pipeline and process services. Companies in the region are leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as smart sensors, IoT, and advanced monitoring systems to enhance pipeline safety, efficiency, and reliability. The focus on technological advancements drives demand for specialized services and expertise, contributing to the market's growth and dominance in the Northeast. The Northeast is actively engaged in energy transition initiatives aimed at reducing dependency on fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy sources. These initiatives include the development of infrastructure for renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen, which require new pipeline networks and retrofitting of existing ones. The shift towards cleaner energy sources creates new opportunities and demand for pipeline and process services in the region. Key Market Players Baker Hughes Company Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Altus Intervention Blue Fin Group Fortis Inc. ENERMECH UK Limited Enerpac Tool Group Corp. IKM Gruppen AS Ideh Pouyan Energy Co. Techfem S.p.A. Trans Asia Pipeline Services FZC Report Scope In this report, the United States Pipeline & Process Services Market has been segmented into the following categories: By Asset Type: Pipeline Process By Operation: Construction Maintenance Engineering & Design Inspection & Integrity Services Turnaround Management By End User: Oil & Gas Chemical Power Water & Wastewater Others By Region: Northeast Southwest West Southeast Midwest Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 88 Forecast Period 2023-2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.13 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $1.53 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5% Regions Covered United States For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/19wrzd 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, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Saudi Arabia Ultrasound System Market by Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2019-2029F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Saudi Arabia's Ultrasound System Market was valued at USD 119.05 Million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 168.13 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 5.88% during the forecast period. The market is experiencing robust growth, driven by several key factors. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the increasing demand for early diagnostic tools are significant contributors. Government initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure and the expansion of medical facilities also play a crucial role. Technological advancements, such as the development of portable and high-resolution ultrasound systems, are enhancing diagnostic accuracy and accessibility. The growing emphasis on preventive care and routine health check-ups fuels market demand. A rising awareness of women's health issues and an aging population further accelerate the adoption of ultrasound technologies. These factors collectively drive the expansion of the ultrasound system market in Saudi Arabia, positioning it as a dynamic sector in the healthcare industry. Key Market Drivers: Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Government Healthcare Initiatives Technological Advancements Increase in Preventive Healthcare and Routine Check-ups Key Market Challenges: High Costs of Advanced Ultrasound Systems Limited Availability of Skilled Technicians Key Market Trends: Expansion of Medical Facilities Rising Medical Tourism Regional Insights In the Saudi Arabia ultrasound system market, the Central Region stand out as the dominant area, driven by its significant healthcare infrastructure, high population density, and the concentration of advanced medical facilities. This region includes major cities such as Riyadh, which is not only the capital of Saudi Arabia but also a major hub for healthcare services and technological advancements in the country. The Central Region's dominance in the ultrasound system market can be attributed to several key factors. Riyadh, as the capital, is home to numerous large hospitals, specialized medical centers, and research institutions that are at the forefront of adopting and implementing advanced medical technologies, including ultrasound systems. The presence of leading healthcare providers and academic institutions in Riyadh drives high demand for state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, reflecting the region's role as a major center for medical innovation and comprehensive healthcare delivery. The Central Region benefits from substantial government investment in healthcare infrastructure. As part of the Vision 2030 initiative, there has been a significant focus on upgrading and expanding healthcare facilities in Riyadh and its surrounding areas. This investment includes the establishment of new hospitals, diagnostic centers, and specialized clinics equipped with the latest ultrasound technologies. The influx of advanced medical equipment in these facilities further consolidates the Central Region's leading position in the ultrasound system market. The high population density in the Central Region also contributes to its dominance. With a large and growing population, there is a substantial demand for diagnostic services, including routine and specialized ultrasound examinations. This high patient volume drives the need for more ultrasound systems and advanced imaging technologies to meet the diagnostic needs of the population. The Central Region's central location and connectivity also facilitate the efficient distribution and servicing of ultrasound equipment, further supporting its market dominance. Key Market Players: Siemens Ltd. Saudi Arabia Hitachi Saudi Arabia, Ltd. Medical Supply & Services Co. Ltd (MEDISERV) Emam Distribution Co. Ltd. (Fujifilm) ASCEND Solutions Report Scope In this report, the Saudi Arabia Ultrasound System Market has been segmented into the following categories: By Technology: Diagnostic Ultrasound Therapeutic Ultrasound By Display Type: Black & White Colored By Mobility: Fixed Mobile By Application: General Imaging Obstetrics/Gynecology Cardiology Urology Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Others By End User: Hospitals & Clinics Diagnostic Centers Ambulatory Care Centers Others By Region: Western Region Central Region Southern Region Eastern Region Northern Region Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 80 Forecast Period 2023-2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $119.05 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $168.13 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.8% Regions Covered Saudi Arabia For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3ffl61 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, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Bath and Shower Toiletries Market (2024 Edition): Analysis by Product Type, Sales Channels, and Price Point: Market Insights and Forecast (2020-2030)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides a complete analysis of the Global Bath and Shower Toiletries industry for the historical period of 2020-2023, the estimates of 2024 and the forecast period of 2025-2030. The market showcased growth at a CAGR of 5.64% during 2020-2023. The market was valued at USD 39.61 Billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 61.09 Billion in 2030. The global bath and shower toiletries market encompasses a wide range of products designed for personal hygiene and grooming. This market includes items such as body washes, shower gels, bar soaps, shampoos, conditioners, bath salts, bath bombs, and other related products. Preferences for natural and organic ingredients, as well as products with specific benefits such as moisturizing or anti-aging properties, influence product development and consumer choices. The bath and shower toiletries market, is competitive and fragmented, owing to the presence of many regional and international players. The leading companies are using strategic approaches, like mergers, expansions, acquisitions, partnerships, and new product developments, to boost their brand presence among consumers. Key players dominating the market include L'Oreal, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, etc. The growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental consciousness is reshaping the bath and shower toiletries market. Consumers are increasingly mindful of the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions, leading to a demand for eco-friendly packaging and biodegradable product formulations. Moreover, consumer preferences play a vital role in shaping product development and innovation within the bath and shower toiletries market. There is a growing demand for products formulated with natural and organic ingredients, catering to individuals seeking sustainable and skin-friendly solutions. Manufacturers are investing in research and development to introduce innovative formulations, packaging designs, and product variants that align with these preferences. Scope of the Report The report analyses the Bath and Shower Toiletries Market by Value (USD Billion). The report analyses the Bath and Shower Toiletries Market by Region (Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa) and 10 Countries (United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, China, Japan, India, and South Korea). The report presents the analysis of Bath and Shower Toiletries Market for the historical period of 2020-2023, the estimated year 2024 and the forecast period of 2025-2030. The report analyses the Bath and Shower Toiletries Market By Product Type (Bar Soaps, Liquid shower products, Bath additives, and Other Products) The report analyses the Bath and Shower Toiletries Market By Sales Channels (Online channels, Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Specialist retailers, Departmental stores, and Other Sales Channels) The report analyses the Bath and Shower Toiletries Market By Price Point (Premium, and Economy) The key insights of the report have been presented through the frameworks of SWOT and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. Also, the attractiveness of the market has been presented by region, By Product Type, By Sales Channels & By Price Point. Also, the major opportunities, trends, drivers, and challenges of the industry has been analyzed in the report. The report tracks competitive developments, strategies, mergers and acquisitions and new product development. The companies analysed in the report are: L'Oreal Unilever Johnson & Johnson ITC Ltd. Bath and Body Works Inc. Colgate-Palmolive Company Procter & Gamble Co. Beiersdorf Marico Limited Avon For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lzdslw 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. ZAOZHUANG, China, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the Cyberspace Affairs Office of the CPC Zaozhuang Municipal Committee, the 2024 Pomegranate Industry Development Conference was held recently in Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, China. Themed "Facilitate Industrial Revitalization through Pomegranates to Embrace a Thriving Life," this year's conference featured activities like the Pomegranate Bonsai Crafting Competition, the Zaozhuang Pomegranate Cultural Creative Design Contest, and the Selection for Zaozhuang's Best Pomegranate. Centered around the goal of achieving win-win outcomes, the conference exhibited new achievements in the development of the pomegranate industry in Zaozhuang. It also served as a platform for exchanges in scientific research, cultivation, processing, and brand marketing to advance the development of the pomegranate industry. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. Zaozhuang is renowned as the "Hometown of Pomegranates in China," with pomegranates serving as a distinctive and influential agricultural brand as well as a city hallmark. In recent years, the pomegranate industry in Zaozhuang has reached new heights and demonstrated fresh vigor and vitality. Currently, Zaozhuang boasts over 100 products in the deep processing domain of pomegranates, encompassing series such as food, beverages, health supplements, cosmetics, and handicrafts, making it one of the most significant pomegranate deep processing industrial clusters in China. The total area for pomegranate cultivation in the city has reached 120,000 mu, with an annual yield exceeding 120 million catties. The market entities involved in pomegranate cultivation, processing, and sales have grown to 118. Over 500 enterprises and cooperatives are engaged in the pomegranate bonsai industry, generating an annual output value of nearly 600 million yuan. Locally, more than 20 pomegranate-themed cultural and creative products have been developed, enriching the cultural significance of pomegranates. In 2023, the total output value of the pomegranate industry chain in Zaozhuang approached 4 billion yuan, solidifying the pomegranate's status as a genuine "fruit of wealth" in the region. Source: Cyberspace Affairs Office of the CPC Zaozhuang Municipal Committee Delhi, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global CD47 Inhibitor Drug Clinical Trials Insight & Market Opportunity Outlook 2028 Report Highlights Global & Regional Market Opportunity Outlook Insight On More Than 100 CD47 Inhibitor Drugs In Clinical Trials Global CD47 Inhibitors Clinical Trials Insight By Company, Country, Indication & Phase Orphan, Fast Track, Breakthrough Therapy Designation Insight Key Drugs Initiation & Completion Year CD47 Clinical Application & Development Outlook By Indication CD47 Inhibitor Drugs Clinical Developments & Trends By Country Global CD47 Inhibitor Drug Market Dynamics Download Report: https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-cd47-antibody-cd47-inhibitor-cd47-function-cd47-expression-cd47-t-cells-cd47-marker-anti-cd47-antibody Traditionally, cancer management has primarily relied on surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. While these treatments have demonstrated significant efficacy in eradicating primary tumors, they are accompanied by systemic toxicities and high rates of relapse, which represent major limitations. The increasing prevalence of cancer and the shortcomings of conventional therapies have driven the demand for novel targeted therapies that can address these limitations while enhancing specificity and targeting capabilities against the disease. One such innovative approach involves targeting the CD47 surface checkpoint, which can inhibit cancer proliferation. Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy capable of overcoming the challenges associated with traditional cancer treatments. This novel therapy aims to harness the immune systems ability to recognize, target, and destroy cancer cells. Preliminary and clinical studies have shown that CD47 proteins are overexpressed in various tumor types. A primary factor contributing to the hallmark characteristics of cancer is the inhibition of macrophage phagocytosis due to the blockade of the CD47/SIRP interaction, which sends a dont eat me signal to macrophages. Consequently, multiple antibodies targeting the CD47 checkpoint are currently in development to reduce cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, CD47-targeted therapies aim to utilize various components of the immune system, acting at different stages of the immune response to enhance the bodys natural defense against target cells. In support of this hypothesis, numerous clinical studies are underway. For example, HX009 is a recombinant humanized anti-CD47/PD-1 bifunctional antibody under development and clinical investigation by Waterstone Hanxbio. An ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial is assessing HX009 as a novel treatment for patients advanced solid tumors. The therapeutic landscape of immunotherapy now includes a range of agents, such as monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, antibody-drug conjugates, and more, all aimed at improving outcomes for cancer patients through combination therapies. For example, the novel CD47 inhibitor evorpacept (ALX148) is currently being evaluated in several clinical trials as part of various combination regimens. Specifically, evorpacept is being tested in combination with Cetuximab and Pembrolizumab for the treatment of colorectal cancer, with Venetoclax and Azacitidine for acute myeloid leukemia, and with Rituximab and Lenalidomide for various types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Furthermore, regulatory bodies have been supportive towards the growing class of CD47-targeting therapies, as suggested by the recent IND clearances and the awarding of drug designations. FDA granted the fast track designation to PT217, a bispecific antibody targeting CD47 and DLL3, in April 2024, while Chinas NMPA also accepted Immuneoncos clinical trial application to conduct pivotal phase 3 clinical studies for its CD47 inhibitor IMM-01, in combination with the PD-1 Inhibitor tislelizumab. All these factors indicate that the CD47 market is expanding rapidly and is expected to grow further due to the rising incidence of cancer, which is projected to increase in the coming years. Additionally, the involvement of multiple pharmaceutical companies in the field of CD47-targeted immunotherapy has spurred growth in clinical research. Various organizations, hospitals, and centers, such as The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, are conducting clinical trials to address cancer-related ailments. In summary, immunotherapy targeting the CD47 protein has emerged as a breakthrough therapy in cancer management, demonstrating promising responses in patients. Although no therapies have yet been approved for the commercial market, several CD47-targeted immunotherapies are anticipated to enter the market soon, driven by a surge in clinical trials and research in this area. Currently, the United States leads the CD47 immunotherapy sector; however, developing countries like China are increasingly engaging in numerous preclinical and clinical studies in this domain, fueled by technological advancements, a rising cancer patient population, and expanding collaborations. Dublin, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Africa & Middle East Alternative Lending Market Business and Investment Opportunities Databook - 75+ KPIs on Alternative Lending Market Size, By End User, By Finance Model, By Payment Instrument, By Loan Type and Demographics - Q2 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The alternative lending in the region is expected to grow by 31.3% on an annual basis to reach US$5.7 billion in 2024. Alternative lending adoption is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 21.4% during 2024-2028. The alternative lending market in the region will increase from US$4.3 billion in 2023 to reach US$12.3 billion by 2028. Medium to long term growth story of alternative lending in Middle East & Africa remains strong. This report provides a detailed data-centric analysis of the alternative lending market covers in-depth market potential and various. Embark on a detailed exploration of the alternative lending market with our latest report, dissecting key economic indicators to provide a holistic view of this dynamic landscape. Delve into the alternative lending market's expansive horizons, from overall market size and forecasts to granular analyses of end-user segments, diverse finance models, and payment instrument intricacies. The alternative lending sector is rapidly expanding, driven by rising demand for flexible financing, innovative fintech solutions, and supportive regulatory frameworks. Key developments include new product launches, strategic partnerships, and regulatory advancements, positioning alternative lending as a pivotal element of the region's financial landscape. Growth in the Alternative Lending Sector Alternative lending has experienced significant growth, driven by increasing demand for flexible financing options and the rapid expansion of fintech solutions. Key sub-segments such as buy now, pay later (BNPL) and digital lending platforms are gaining traction, particularly in markets like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where a tech-savvy population and favorable regulatory environments foster innovation. Alternative lending is expected to continue growing in the next few months, with firms likely to form strategic partnerships to launch new products and enhance service delivery. The ongoing economic pressures and the need for accessible credit solutions will further propel the sector's growth, positioning it as a vital component of the region's financial landscape. In Africa, alternative lending has surged due to growing demand for flexible financing among SMEs and mid-market businesses. Digital platforms and fintech innovations have enabled faster, more accessible lending tailored to diverse borrower needs. The alternative lending sector is expected to expand further in the next few months, particularly in areas such as peer-to-peer lending and microfinance. As economic conditions evolve and the need for inclusive financial services becomes more pronounced, alternative lending will likely play a crucial role in supporting economic recovery and development across the continent. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 1312 Forecast Period 2024 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $5.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $12.3 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 21.4% Regions Covered Africa, Middle East Product Launches and Innovations Halo's Mortgage Service in the UAE - Halo, a digital mortgage service provider in the UAE, recently completed a seven-figure seed funding round in February 2023. This funding will allow Halo to expand its mortgage offerings to meet increasing demand due to rising real estate prices in the region. Kiva's Expansion in Africa - Kiva, a global crowdfunding platform, has expanded its operations in Africa by launching new initiatives aimed at enhancing access to microloans for entrepreneurs. This expansion funds underserved communities, leveraging technology to streamline the lending process and promote financial inclusion. M-Pesa's Enhanced Lending Features - M-Pesa, the renowned mobile money service, has rolled out enhanced lending features that allow users to access credit directly through their mobile wallets. This initiative aims to simplify the borrowing process and make it more accessible for individuals and small businesses in Kenya and beyond. Lulalend's New Credit Solutions - South Africa-based digital lender Lulalend announced the launch of new credit solutions after raising $35 million in a Series B funding round. The firm has integrated its lending services with partners like Vodacom and e-commerce giant Takealot, aiming to better serve SMEs in various sectors, including construction and retail. Strategic Partnerships African Guarantee Fund and European Partners - The African Guarantee Fund (AGF) has partnered with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, the European Union, and the UN Development Programme to provide credit guarantees for around 5,000 SMEs in five countries, facilitate affordable financing for "development minerals" businesses, and improve access to capital for underserved sectors. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Ecobank Collaboration - The IFC and Ecobank are partnering to support SMEs in fragile and conflict-affected states in West and Central Africa. They have established a $110 million risk-sharing facility to enable Ecobank to provide credit to SMEs, bolstering economic resilience in these regions. EIB Partnerships with Local Financial Institutions - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has been collaborating with local financial institutions to improve SME access to finance across Africa, focusing on financial sustainability and positive developmental impacts. HES FinTech and AZM - HES FinTech partnered with AZM, a leading entity in digital lending, to enhance digital lending capabilities for SMEs as it expands into Saudi Arabia and the UAE. MasterCard and Egabi - In May 2023, MasterCard partnered with Egabi, an Egypt-based company, to expand digital lending services in the Middle East. This aims to enhance Egabi's digital lending capabilities, allowing more businesses to enter the market and enabling consumers to benefit from buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. Emkan Finance and IBM Collaboration - Emkan Finance partnered with IBM to launch a new digital lending solution aimed at small businesses in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration enhances Emkan's ability to provide financial support through a decision-making engine, streamlining the lending process for SMEs. Regulatory Changes South Africa's Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill (COFI) - South Africa will promulgate the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill (COFI) in 2024. COFI will provide a unified regulatory framework for financial institutions, ensuring fair treatment and protection for customers, while setting clear guidelines for alternative lending providers. Crypto Asset Regulations in South Africa - South Africa now regulates crypto assets, recognizing them as financial products. Crypto asset service providers (CASPs) are considered accountable institutions under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, requiring them to conduct customer due diligence, maintain client information and transaction records, and comply with reporting obligations to address money laundering and terrorist financing concerns. African Development Bank's Initiatives - The African Development Bank (AfDB) has actively promoted alternative financing solutions globally. In 2022, AfDB launched the African Guarantee Fund, providing credit guarantees to enable financial institutions to offer more affordable financing to SMEs. Additionally, the bank partnered with local financial institutions to enhance financing access for SMEs in fragile and conflict-affected states in West and Central Africa. Saudi Arabia's Fintech Strategy - Saudi Arabia leads fintech regulation in the Middle East. In 2022, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) launched the Fintech Strategy to establish the Kingdom as a global hub for fintech innovation, including initiatives to support startups, attract investment, and develop a strong regulatory framework. UAE's Virtual Asset Regulation - In 2022, the UAE introduced the Virtual Asset Regulation Law to oversee and license virtual asset service providers, ensuring consumer protection and market integrity. Bahrain's Open Banking Regulation - In 2020, the Central Bank of Bahrain introduced the Open Banking Framework, requiring banks to provide third-party providers access to customer data upon customer consent. This has facilitated the development of alternative lending platforms using open banking APIs to streamline the lending process and offer personalized solutions. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ciid7y 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 Highlights include new safety and efficacy data of Barrigel rectal spacer, the first and only sculptable rectal spacer1-3 Teleflex to host Barrigel Educational Symposium featuring a physician panel discussion on the Science of Personalized Spacing with Barrigel rectal spacer WAYNE, Pa., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX), a leading global provider of medical technologies, today announced three clinical studies4-6 focused on its Barrigel rectal spacer are to be presented at the 2024 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting, which will take place in Washington, DC, from September 29 to October 2, 2024. The featured data will contribute to the expanding body of clinical evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of Barrigel rectal spacer, the first and only commercial hyaluronic acid rectal spacer that separates the prostate from the rectum to protect the rectum during prostate cancer radiation therapy.1 The company will also be exhibiting and hosting a Barrigel Educational Symposium at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Barrigel rectal spacer is a Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA) spacer designed to reduce radiation that reaches the rectum during prostate cancer radiation therapy, with the goal of improving patient quality of life. It has been clinically proven to significantly reduce unwanted radiation exposure in 98.5% of patients.1 Barrigel rectal spacer is indicated for prostate cancer patients with T1-T3b disease. Radiation therapy can have a significant and positive effect on the treatment of prostate cancer, and these data further demonstrate Barrigel rectal spacer as a safe and effective option for patients that reduces prostate radiation side effects, said Jacqueline Welch, Vice President of Global Clinical and Scientific Operations at Teleflex. This research underscores Teleflexs commitment to advancing therapies that improve patient outcomes and set new benchmarks in prostate cancer care. Presentation Information: 1. Impact of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Rectal Spacer Quality Score (SQS) and Fischer-Valuck (FV) Spacer Symmetry Score on Rectal Dosimetry and Acute and Late Gastrointestinal (GI) Toxicity Outcomes an Australian Experience (Abstract #3222); Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2:30-3:45 ET, Hall C This retrospective multi-institutional review assessed the implant quality and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity of Barrigel rectal spacer in prostate cancer patients treated with moderately hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).4 2. Rectal Wall Infiltration with Hyaluronic Acid Based Rectal Spacer Reversal Protocol (Abstract #3185); Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2:30-3:45 ET, Hall C This retrospective analysis assessed the outcomes of inadvertent rectal wall infiltration (RWI), which can occur with rectal spacers, following use of Barrigel rectal spacer.5 3. Hyaluronic Acid Rectal Spacer in Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer with Prior Radiation Receiving SBRT: on Feasibility, Safety, and Toxicity (Abstract #3236); Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2:30-3:45 ET, Hall C This study evaluated outcomes in prostate cancer patients who had previously been treated with EBRT but experienced localized recurrence and were treated with SBRT. These patients often are not candidates for repeat radiation due to concerns about safely implanting a rectal spacer in previously irradiated tissue.6 Barrigel Educational Symposium Information: On September 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the REACH at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Teleflex will host an educational symposium, The Science of Personalized Spacing. The event will feature a panel discussion with Peter F. Orio III, DO, MS, FASTRO, FABS*; Daniel Kim, MD*; Nedhim Ruhotina, MD*; Michael Greenberg, MD*; and Martin King, MD,* who will discuss best practices for addressing challenging cases with Barrigel rectal spacer. Teleflex Booth Activities: At the Teleflex booth 1223 in the ASTRO Annual Meeting Exhibit Hall, clinicians can view the Barrigel rectal spacing procedure or perform it via a simulation. In addition, Michael Greenberg, MD* and John Han-Chih Chang, MD* will conduct clinical discussions and case presentations on September 29 and 30. Dr. Greenberg will present at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and Dr. Chang will speak at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. About Barrigel Rectal Spacer Barrigel rectal spacer is the first and only hyaluronic acid rectal spacer that separates the prostate from the rectum to protect the rectum during radiation therapy treatment for prostate cancer.1 Barrigel is made from Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA).7 Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally present in the human body and is highly compatible and fully absorbable. NASHA has a proven history of safety and efficacy in a wide variety of medical applications in men, women and children worldwide.8,9 Barrigel rectal spacer has been proven to significantly reduce unwanted side effects from prostate cancer radiation therapy and is approved for rectal spacing in the United States, Australia, and Europe. Barrigel rectal spacer is indicated for prostate cancer patients with T1-T3b disease. For more information about Barrigel rectal spacer, please visit https://barrigel.com/hcp/barrigel-control-matters. Barrigel Rectal Spacer Important Safety Information Barrigel rectal spacer is intended to temporarily position the anterior rectal wall away from the prostate during radiotherapy for prostate cancer and, in creating this space, it is the intent of Barrigel rectal spacer to reduce the radiation dose delivered to the anterior rectum. Barrigel rectal spacer is composed of biodegradable material and maintains space for the entire course of prostate radiotherapy treatment and is intended to be absorbed by the patients body over time. Barrigel rectal spacer should only be administered by qualified and properly trained physicians with experience in ultrasound guidance and injection techniques in the urogenital/pelvic area. As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved with the use of Barrigel rectal spacer. Potential complications associated with the use of Barrigel include, but are not limited to: pain associated with Barrigel rectal spacer injection; needle penetration of the bladder, prostate, rectal wall, rectum, or urethra; injection of Barrigel rectal spacer into the bladder, prostate, rectal wall, rectum, urethra, or intravascularly; local inflammatory reactions; infection; urinary retention; rectal mucosal damage, ulcers, necrosis; bleeding; constipation; and rectal urgency. More information on indications, contraindications, warnings and instructions for use can be found in the Instructions For Use at www.barrigel.com. Caution: Federal (USA) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. *Peter F. Orio III, Daniel Kim, Nedhim Ruhotina, Michael Greenberg, Martin King and John Han-Chih Chang are paid consultants of Teleflex. About Teleflex Incorporated As a global provider of medical technologies, Teleflex is driven by our purpose to improve the health and quality of peoples lives. Through our vision to become the most trusted partner in healthcare, we offer a diverse portfolio with solutions in the therapy areas of anesthesia, emergency medicine, interventional cardiology and radiology, surgical, vascular access, and urology. We believe that the potential of great people, purpose driven innovation, and world-class products can shape the future direction of healthcare. Teleflex is the home of Arrow, Barrigel, Deknatel, LMA, Pilling, QuikClot Rusch, UroLift and Weck trusted brands united by a common sense of purpose. At Teleflex, we are empowering the future of healthcare. For more information, please visit teleflex.com. References: Mariados NF, Orio PF, Schiffman Z, et al. Hyaluronic acid spacer for hypofractionated prostate radiation therapy: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2023; e1-e8.** King MT, Svatos M, Orio PF III et al. Evaluating the Quality-of-Life Effect of Apical Spacing with Hyaluronic Acid Prior to Hypofractionated Prostate Radiation Therapy: A Secondary Analysis, Pract Radiat Oncol. 2023;e1-e6. (Study sponsored by Palette Life Sciences, now part of Teleflex).** Data on File. As of 06/01/2024. Lin YH, et al. Impact of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Rectal Spacer Quality Score (SQS) and Fischer-Valuck (FV) Spacer Symmetry Score on Rectal Dosimetry and Acute and Late Gastrointestinal (GI) Toxicity Outcomes an Australian Experience. Abstract #3222. Presented at ASTRO 2024. Hong A, Bolton D, Ramani S, et al. Rectal wall infiltration with hyaluronic acid based rectal spacer reversal protocol. Abstract #3185. Presented at ASTRO 2024. McLean L, et al. Hyaluronic Acid Rectal Spacer in Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer with Prior Radiation Receiving SBRT: on Feasibility, Safety, and Toxicity. Abstract #3236. Presented at ASTRO 2024. Barrigel Injectable Gel Instructions for Use (2022). Restylane celebrates 25 years of natural-looking results with its signature line of hyaluronic acid fillers. 2021. Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/restylane-celebrates-25-years-of-natural-looking-results-with-its-signature-line-of-hyaluronic-acid-fillers-301388779.html. Accessed Sept 30, 2021. Svatos M, Chell E, Low DA, et al. Symmetry, separation, and stability: Physical properties for effective dosimetric space with a stabilized hyaluronic acid spacer. Med Phys. 2024; 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/mp.17292** **Study sponsored by Palette Life Sciences, now part of Teleflex. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on our management's current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results or company actions to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. These risks and uncertainties are identified and described in more detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Teleflex, the Teleflex logo, Arrow, Barrigel, Deknatel, LMA, Pilling, QuikClot, Rusch, Titan SGS, UroLift and Weck are trademarks or registered trademarks of Teleflex Incorporated or its affiliates, in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2024 Teleflex Incorporated. All rights reserved. APM942A Contacts: Teleflex Lawrence Keusch Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategy Development investor.relations@teleflex.com 610-948-2836 Media Contact: Glenn Silver Partner National Media Relations Specialist glenn.silver@finnpartners.com 646-871-8485 Dublin, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Brand Reputation Summit" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Brand Reputation Summit has been announced! Part of the 'TED-style' storytelling leadership Summit portfolio, this is a cross-industry event designed for PR/Marketing/Branding & Communications professionals to help create an infallible reputation management plan that ensures you can protect your company or brand against any potential reputational threat. In today's super-connected world, news travels fast, especially if it's bad news. A negative perception of your company or brand can have disastrous consequences for your company's stability and revenue. The smallest incident can snowball into a reputational threat and every organization - from Fortune 500s to start-ups, is vulnerable. Join PR/Marketing & Communications professionals for the Industry's ONLY 'TED-Style' Reputation & Brand Resilience Summit. By attending you will learn best practices in how to: DIAGNOSE where reputational threats to your company or brand currently lie IDENTIFY the types of PR crisis you may deal with in the future DEVELOP a robust and infallible reputation management strategy plan involving pre-emptive planning, contingency and recovery plans of action. KNOW the do's and don'ts from brand and communications experts when responding to major reputational threats TURN potential crisis moments into positive opportunities for future company success So whether you're a smaller company dealing with negative online reviews or a larger company dealing with increased scrutiny from the media, online and the general public, this event is not to be missed! Hear from 20+ cross-industry speakers sharing their stories and front-line experiences of planning, contingency & recovery, while managing internal and public communications in often challenging, fast-moving situations. Summit Themes Include: Critical Thinking: The Bridge PR & AI Need The Future of Online Reputation Management The Art of Storytelling to Enhance Your Brand Reputation You are only as good as your Reputation! Leading by Example in Your Organization From Unknown Brand to Known Brand Maintaining your Reputation: Do's & Don'ts Social Leadership & Accountability Protecting your Reputation from Imposters Building a Brand on Social Media Cyber Security for Reputation and Brand Resilience in the Digital World Integrating Old School Tactics with New Tools into Reputation Strategy What's next for Reputation Management: 2024 & Beyond? Marketers and Communicators: Take the Helm with Generative (Gen) AI Change Management Building your Brand with Diverse Audiences Developing & Maintaining an Authentic Brand Voice Choosing a Reputation Management Partner Turning Negative PR into Positive PR For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bhcem8 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. Dublin, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Analysis on Xiaomi Auto's Electrification, Connectivity, Intelligence and Sharing, 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Since the release of SU7, Xiaomi delivered 7,058 units and 8,630 units in April and May, respectively, and more than 10,000 units in both June and July. Xiaomi officially expects to fulfill 110,000 orders in November, which means it needs to achieve the average monthly delivery of 16,000 units in the next four months from August to November. Xiaomi Auto's first car was a success thanks to its advantages in many aspects, but there are also some shortcomings in its development. Strength 1: Sufficient funds, ten times more investment to polish hot-selling products Compared with other emerging auto brands that need to keep raising funds, Xiaomi Group itself is a listed company with about RMB100 billion in cash. Traditional OEMs generally input 300 to 400 people and RMB1-2 billion in R&D funds to develop a vehicle. Xiaomi put 3,400 engineers and a total R&D funds of RMB10 billion to develop its first car, of which the investment in the key technology intelligent driving was as high as RMB4. 7 billion, with the dedicated team size exceeding 1,000 people. By H1 2024, Xiaomi Auto has published about 1,200 Chinese patents/patent fillings, most of which are autonomous driving and vehicle design patents. Strength 2: High brand awareness and a huge fan base Xiaomi has built a fan base by marketing means such as community marketing. As of Q4 2023, the global monthly active users of MIUI have numbered 641 million. Lei Jun's personal Weibo has 24 million fans, far more than other emerging auto brand leaders. Traditional OEM bosses lack influence on Internet. Xiaomi Group's new retail system enables vehicle sales services. Xiaomi has created a new online and offline integrated retail model. Major online channels are Xiaomi Mall, Xiaomi Youpin (e-commerce platform), Xiaomi Tmall Flagship Store, Xiaomi JD Flagship Store, and offline channels are mainly Xiaomi Home (including direct-sale and franchised) in the core business districts of cities, authorized experience stores/special areas in suburbs and towns, and service outlets. As of April 2024, Xiaomi Group has boasted a total of 12,060 offline stores, including 5,993 Xiaomi Home stores/franchised stores/exclusive stores + 281 Xiaomi Home direct-sale stores + 1,595 service outlets + 4,472 authorized experience stores/special areas. By the end of July 2024, Xiaomi Auto has opened across China: 30 delivery centers, 102 sales stores, and 58 service outlets. Strength 3: The people-car-home ecosystem brings convenience to Xiaomi Auto users through integration of information and intelligent applications In 2022, Xiaomi decided to unify the OS of various devices, involving the software architecture of MIUI, Vela, Mina, and IVI OS. In October 2023, Xiaomi announced HyperOS, a system which is based on the fusion of Android in deep evolution and the self-developed Vela system, rewrites the underlying architecture, and enables dynamic real-time networking of all devices, bringing a new terminal interconnection experience. Strength 4: Excellent marketing and pre-sale activities Xiaomi is good at using social media and online and offline channels for all-round marketing and promotion. The Xiaomi Auto Launch in December last year and the Xiaomi SU7 Launch in March this year were particularly eye-catching. In these two launches, Xiaomi Auto easily dominated the top trending searches on major social media platforms. According to the statistical report of Zhiwei Data, on the Launch day in December, Xiaomi Auto had more than 350,000 posts and more than 200 hot searches/hashtags on the entire Internet. This launch event had an influence index of up to 80. 6, higher than 97% of events and higher than 98% of corporate events. It was really the king of traffic, and even the king of Weibo, Li Auto, could not catch up with it. Through well-planned launch and online live broadcast, it attracted a mass of viewers. Meanwhile, Xiaomi introduced limited-time offers such as generous gifts for first-day car purchase and exclusive rights for limited-time car ordering, which stimulated consumers' enthusiasm for ordering. Strength 5: Supply chain integration and manufacturing capabilities Although Xiaomi is a fresh entrant in the automobile manufacturing industry, it has been able to quickly build a high-quality automobile production system relying on its strong supply chain management and resource integration capabilities, ensuring the timely delivery and stable production supply, thus eliminating consumers' concerns about insufficient supply in the early stages of new product launch. Despite multiple advantages, Xiaomi Auto also has some obvious shortcomings: Shortcoming 1: Insufficient manufacturing experience Xiaomi has always adopted an asset-light business model, and often relies on external partners in product manufacturing. Yet the manufacturing process of automobiles is far more complicated than consumer electronics, which is a big challenge to Xiaomi. Since its birth, Xiaomi has entrusted mobile phone production to ODMs. Xiaomi is responsible for design and sales, while ODMs take charge of production. Among emerging carmakers, Li Auto, Xpeng Motors and NIO all chose the OEM/ODM mode to enter the market at the beginning. Under the premise that mobile phones are all produced by ODMs/OEMs, it is undoubtedly a huge challenge for Xiaomi to directly skip to building its own car factory and manufacturing cars. Shortcoming 2: The threshold for core automotive technology is high, and Xiaomi's automotive R&D expertise is insufficient. Although Xiaomi has gathered rich experience in intelligent hardware and electronics, automobile manufacturing is a complex system engineering that requires higher technical thresholds and longer technology accumulation. Xiaomi's technical expertise in battery management, vehicle systems, power batteries, and autonomous driving development is relatively insufficient. Compared with Huawei, Li Auto, NIO, and Tesla, Xiaomi makes underinvestment in EE architecture, automotive basic software, and charging/swapping facilities. Compared with traditional OEMs such as Geely, BYD, and Changan, Xiaomi has insufficient expertise in batteries, hybrids, chassis, and production & manufacturing. Shortcoming 3: BEV market growth slows down, and need to start from scratch in extended-range models. Sales data from 2023 to 2024 show that the BEV market has reached a growth bottleneck, and hybrid electric vehicles (especially the extended-range) grew much faster. Xiaomi plans to launch an extended-range SUV in 2026. It has started R&D of extended-range vehicles. After all, it needs to start from scratch and lags behind Li Auto and Huawei for several years. It is not easy to catch up with the two tough rivals. Shortcoming 4: There are many faults in new cars. Xiaomi still needs to polish software and manufacturing and improve after-sales services. According to feedback from some we-media (like Leyuan Wangchuang), Xiaomi Auto mainly has following problems since car release: 1. Battery: Many users said that the cruising mileage of cars is quite different from the officially announced, and even some cars had battery failures, thus failing to start normally. 2. Software failures: Problems such as vehicle system halt, inaccurate navigation system, and slow response of voice control affect user experience. 3. Manufacturing quality: Some car owners reported that there are defects in the vehicle assembly process, such as uneven door gaps, loose interior trims, and abnormal body noise. 4. After-sales services: Faced with frequent quality problems, Xiaomi Auto seems to be overstretched in after-sales services, for example, long time to wait for repair and insufficient supply of accessories. Xiaomi Auto's long-term goal is to 'become one of the top five global automakers with 15-20 years of efforts and create a mobile smart space that looks good and is easy to drive, comfortable and safe.' Relying on the strengths of Xiaomi Group, Xiaomi Auto has made an initial success in SU7. However, to achieve its long-term goal, Xiaomi Auto still has many problems to overcome. Key Topics Covered: 1 Overview of Xiaomi Auto Profile Core Team First New Car Sales and Channels Xiaomi Application Service Capabilities Xiaomi Software Product: HyperOS Investment Dynamics Supply Chain Comparison between Xiaomi SU7 and Its Competitors Reasons for the Success of Xiaomi SU7 2 Xiaomi SU7 E/E Architecture 3 Xiaomi Hyper OS Development History of Xiaomi's Operating System Overview of HyperOS Xiaomi Hyper OS Architecture Design (1): Overall Architecture Xiaomi Hyper OS Architecture Design (2): Cross-end Layer Xiaomi Hyper OS Architecture Design (3): Middleware Layer Xiaomi Hyper OS Architecture Design (4): Kernel Layer Xiaomi Hyper OS IVI Features Xiaomi Hyper OS Access to Foundation Models Xiaomi Hyper OS Adopts Nuttx kernel Comparison between HyperOS and HarmonyOS 4 Xiaomi Modena and SOA 'Modena' Architecture and Intelligent Driving Technology 'Modena' Architecture and Intelligent Cockpit Technology Xiaomi SOA Technology Vehicle OS Communication Technology under Xiaomi SOA 5 Voice and AI Foundation Model Xiaomi Software Product: AI Voice Xiao'Ai Tongxue Provides Scenario Coverage via Voice Commands Voice Task Parsing and Execution Flow Xiao'Ai Tongxue's Accurate Matching via RAG Xiaomi AI Service Framework Deployment Location in OS Two Types of Foundation Models as the Core of Xiaomi AI Essence of Xiaomi AI Intelligence Center 6 Intelligent Cockpit and Human-car-home Ecosystem Xiaomi Auto's Intelligent Cockpit System Xiaomi Auto's Intelligent Cockpit Domain Control Platform Xiaomi Infotainment System Xiaomi Human-car-home Eco-Strategy Xiaomi Cross-end Connection System Xiaomi Cross-end Connection System Application Xiaomi Cross-end Connection System Application in Vehicles Xiaomi SU7 Peripheral Products Xiaomi Phone-Car Integration Solution: CarWith Xiaomi Eco-Domain Extension Hardware Xiaomi Eco-Domain Partners 7 Electrification Layout CTB Technology Ten-way Valve Vehicle Thermal Management System Thermal Management System Patents Xiaomi HyperEngine 8 Integrated Die Casting and Chassis System Xiaomi Integrated Die Casting Core Technologies Xiaomi Integrated Die Casting Technology Solutions and Implementation Cases Xiaomi Integrated Die Casting Technology Patents Xiaomi Chassis System 9 Humanoid Robot Xiaomi AI Humanoid Robot Layout Xiaomi AI Humanoid Robot Planning Xiaomi AI Humanoid Robot Introduction Xiaomi AI Humanoid Robot Hardware Disassembly Xiaomi AI Humanoid Robot Software Algorithm For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l1epze 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. Dublin, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Market Industry Trends and Global Forecasts to 2035: Distribution by Application Area, Target Disease Indication and Geographical Regions" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Market is valued at USD 9 billion in 2024 growing at a CAGR of 16% during the forecast period from 2026 to 2035. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is a form of single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) that plays a crucial role in transferring genetic information necessary for protein synthesis. The instructions encoded in mRNA for producing proteins are relayed from a DNA strand to ribosomes, where they are translated into functional proteins. The advent of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines has emerged as a groundbreaking alternative to traditional treatment methods. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA therapeutics and vaccines have gained substantial attention, establishing themselves as a revolutionary class of drugs for treating not only COVID-19 but also various other conditions, including infectious diseases, cancer, genetic disorders, and more. To date, four mRNA-based vaccines have received approval for COVID-19 treatment, with numerous additional candidates currently undergoing evaluation as potential therapies. The overall success of mRNA-based vaccines and therapies against COVID-19 has piqued the interest of many investors, particularly in small and emerging biotechnology companies focused on mRNA technology. The achievements in mRNA therapeutics and vaccines have spurred increased research activity in the next-generation RNA therapeutics market. A robust pipeline of mRNA-based therapeutics and vaccines is also propelling growth in the mRNA synthesis and manufacturing sector, as drug developers seek contract services to scale up the production of mRNA-based treatments. Research Coverage: A general introduction to mRNA, featuring insights on the historical evolution of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines. It also presents elaborate description on advantages associated with mRNA therapeutics and vaccines. It also features some of the key applications of both mRNA therapeutics and mRNA vaccines. Additionally, the chapter includes details on the various types of delivery routes and delivery strategies for mRNA drugs. Further, the chapter discusses the challenges associated with large scale adoption of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines and the associated future perspectives. A detailed overview of the overall market landscape of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines, based on several relevant parameters, such as phase of development, type of drug candidate, therapeutic area, type of delivery system, type of molecule encoded and route of administration. A detailed overview of the current market of players engaged in the development of mRNA vaccine and therapeutics. An in-depth company competitiveness analysis of players in mRNA vaccine and therapeutics domain, based on their developer strengthand number of therapeutic areas targeted. Elaborate profiles of key companies engaged in mRNA vaccine and therapeutics market. Each profile features a brief overview of the company, financial information, mRNA vaccines and therapeutics pipeline, recent developments and an informed future outlook. A review of the various mRNA-focused initiatives undertaken by big pharma players, featuring a heat map representation that highlights mRNA therapeutics and vaccines under development, along with information on funding amount raised, partnership activity, and diversity of product portfolio, as well as a spider web representation, comparing the initiatives of big pharmaceutical players on the basis of multiple relevant parameters. An analysis of start-ups in this domain, based on several relevant parameters, such as number of candidates in discovery, preclinical and clinical phases of development. This chapter also provides details on amount raised, number of investors and number of deals inked. An analysis of completed, ongoing and planned clinical studies of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines, based on several relevant parameters, such as trial registration year, trial status, trial phase, therapeutic area, study design, type of sponsor / collaborator, leading industry players,enrolled patient population and geography. An analysis of recent collaborations and partnerships within the mRNA therapeutics and vaccines industry, based on several relevant parameters, such as year of partnership, type of partnership, therapeutic area, most active players and regional distribution of partnership activity that have been undertaken in this domain, since 2013. A detailed analysis of various investments made by players in this domain, since 2013, based on several relevant parameters, such as year of funding, type of funding, amount invested, therapeutic area, most active players and key investors. An in-depth analysis of the various patents that have been filed / granted related to mRNA therapeutics and vaccines domain, since 2016, based on several relevant parameters, such as type of patent, publication year, geographical region, CPC symbols, leading industry playersand patent valuation. An in-depth analysis of the factors that can impact the growth of the market. It also features information on key drivers, potential restraints, emerging opportunities, and existing challenges within the mRNA vaccine and therapeutics market. A detailed mRNA vaccine and therapeutics market forecast analysis with our estimates of the existing market size, market value and future opportunity for mRNA vaccine and therapeutics companies over the next 11 years. Based on multiple parameters, likely adoption trends and through primary validations, we have provided an informed estimate on the market size during the forecast period 2024-2035. Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the mRNA vaccine and therapeutics market across different application area, such as COVID-19 and other indications. Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the mRNA vaccines & therapeutics market across different target disease indication, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus infection and cytomegalovirus diseases. Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the mRNA vaccine and therapeutics market across different geographical regions. Leading Market Companies Arcturus Therapeutics BioNTech CureVac Ethris IMMORNA Moderna Providence Therapeutics RNACure Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Turn Biotechnologies Gennova Innovac Therapeutics Kernal Biologics Pantherna Therapeutics pHion Therapeutics Recode Therapeutics Rejuvenation Technologies RNAimmune Strand Therapeutics Walvax Ziphius Vaccines Key Topics Covered: 1. PREFACE 2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3. ECONOMIC AND OTHER PROJECT SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS 3.1. Chapter Overview 3.2. Market Dynamics 4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5. INTRODUCTION 5.1. Chapter Overview 5.2. mRNA Therapeutics 5.3. mRNA Vaccines 5.4. mRNA Delivery Routes 5.5. mRNA Delivery Strategies 5.6. Key Challenges Associated with mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics 5.7. Future Perspectives 6. MARKET LANDSCAPE 6.1. Chapter Overview 6.2. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics: Overall Market Landscape 7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 7.1. Chapter Overview 7.2. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics: List of Developers 8. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS 8.1. Chapter Overview 8.2. Key Assumptions and Parameters 8.3. Methodology 8.4. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Developers: Company Competitiveness Analysis 8.5. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Developers based in North America 8.6. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Developers based in Europe 8.7. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Developers based in Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World 9. COMPANY PROFILES Leading Companies in mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Market Arcturus Therapeutics BioNTech CureVac Ethris Immorna Moderna Providence Therapeutics Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Other Leading Players in mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Market Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Innovac Therapeutics Kernal Biologics Pantherna Therapeutics pHion Therapeutics Recode Therapeutics Rejuvenation Technologies RNACure RNAimmune Strand Therapeutics Turn Biotechnologies Walvax Ziphius Vaccines 10. BIG PHARMA INITIATIVES 10.1. Chapter Overview 10.2. Scope and Methodology 10.3. mRNA Related Initiatives of Big Pharmaceutical Players 10.4. Benchmarking Analysis: Big Pharma Players Amgen AstraZeneca Bayer BioNTech Eli Lilly Gilead Sciences GlaxoSmithKline Merck Moderna Novartis Novo Nordisk Pfizer Roche Sanofi Takeda 11. START-UP HEALTH INDEXING 11.1. Chapter Overview 11.2. Start-ups focused on mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics 11.3. Benchmarking of Start-ups 11.4. Startup-Health Indexing 12. CLINICAL TRIAL ANALYSIS 12.1. Chapter Overview 12.2. Scope and Methodology 12.3. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics: Clinical Trial Analysis 13. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS 13.1. Chapter Overview 13.2. Partnership Models 13.3. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics: Partnerships and Collaborations 14. FUNDING AND INVESTMENT ANALYSIS 14.1. Chapter Overview 14.2. Types of Funding 14.3. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics: Funding and Investments 15. PATENT ANALYSIS 15.1. Chapter Overview 15.2. Scope and Methodology 15.3. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics: Patent Analysis 15.4. Patent Benchmarking Analysis 15.5. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics: Patent Valuation Analysis 16. MARKET IMPACT ANALYSIS: DRIVERS, RESTRAINTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES 17. GLOBAL mRNA VACCINE AND THERAPEUTICS MARKET 17.1. Chapter Overview 17.2. Assumptions and Methodology 17.3. Global mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Market, till 2035 18. mRNA VACCINE AND THERAPEUTICS MARKET, BY APPLICATION AREA 18.1. Chapter Overview 18.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology 18.3. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Market: Distribution by Application Area, 2024, 2028 and 2035 19. mRNA VACCINE AND THERAPEUTICS MARKET, BY TARGET DISEASE INDICATION 19.1. Chapter Overview 19.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology 19.3. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Market: Distribution by Target Disease Indication, 2026, 2030 and 2035 20. mRNA VACCINE AND THERAPEUTICS MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS 20.1. Chapter Overview 20.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology 20.3. mRNA Vaccine and Therapeutics Market: Distribution by Geographical Regions, 2020, 2024 and 2035 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5o5abx 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 LAS VEGAS, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tritent International Corp. ("Tritent"), a US public company (US OTC: TICJ), and Burst Technologies, Inc. ("Burst Technologies"), a Delaware corporation, are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") that outlines the key terms and conditions for a proposed strategic merger. The MOU was officially executed on September 24, 2024. In a groundbreaking move to enhance healthcare billing efficiency, Burst Technologies and Tritent are excited to announce their potential merger, which introduces the build out of an AI-accelerated billing solution designed to recover Medicare Part B costs for nursing homes across the United States where in most cases currently goes unrecovered. This innovative technology aims to streamline billing processes, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure that nursing homes receive maximum reimbursement for these products and services. Key Benefits of Bursts AI-Accelerated Healthcare Solution Maximized Reimbursement: Nursing homes can achieve direct recovery of Medicare Part B costs, significantly improving their bottom line. Efficiency Boost: Automated processes reduce the time and effort required for billing, freeing up staff and resources to focus more on patient care. Enhanced Accuracy: Technology and AI-driven algorithms minimize errors and optimize claim submissions and help ensure compliance with Medicare and insurance regulations. Key Points of the MOU This proposed merger is designed to enhance the capabilities and market presence of both organizations by integrating Burst Technologies as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tritent. Merger Structure: Under the proposed terms, Tritent will become the primary entity, and Burst Technologies will be integrated as a wholly owned subsidiary, ensuring operational continuity and strategic alignment between the companies. Governance and Management: Post-merger, key management and operational roles within Tritent will be filled by executives from Burst Technologies. Additionally, Burst Technologies will appoint a majority of the Board of Directors of the merged entity, ensuring a cohesive leadership team. Share Exchange: As part of the merger, Tritent will issue common restricted shares in accordance with the Definitive Share Exchange Agreement, facilitating the acquisition of Burst Technologies. Good Standing and Compliance: Both companies have committed to maintaining good standing with relevant regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, including those set forth by the OTC Markets, FINRA, and the State. Mutual Responsibilities: The MOU emphasizes the spirit of cooperation, transparency, and mutual respect between the parties. Both Tritent and Burst Technologies will work together diligently to finalize the Definitive Share Exchange Agreement and ensure the success of the merger. Market Size: Burst Technologies has developed a multi-year financial plan, focusing on expanding its client base and boosting revenue inside the Nursing Care Facilities and Continuing Care Retirement Communities representing 4%, or $180 billion, of the $4.5 trillion National Healthcare Expenditure (NHE) marketplace1. "This MOU represents an exciting opportunity for both companies to leverage each other's strengths and drive growth in our respective markets," said Reno J. Calabrigo, CEO of Tritent International Corp. "We are confident that this merger will create significant value for our shareholders and position us for long-term success." Eric Hansen, CEO of Burst Technologies, added, "This partnership marks the first step toward making the nursing home industry a leader in technology. Well start by building the first AI-driven billing solution specifically for nursing homes. From there, well continue pushing boundaries to bring fresh innovation to an industry ready for transformation. Our goal is not just to modernize long-term care, but to set a new tech standard for the entire sector, and were confident this merger offers an exciting path for our shareholders." The MOU sets the framework for the negotiation and execution of a Definitive Share Exchange Agreement, which both parties expect to finalize in the coming weeks. About Burst Technologies, Inc. Burst is building out an AI-accelerated healthcare billing solution designed for America's nursing homes, addressing a critical gap where many Medicare Part B supply costs currently go unrecovered. Currently, Burst supports 30 nursing homes and over 3,000 residents, ensuring they receive the healthcare returns they deserve. With a market size serving 1.6 million elderly residents across 16,700 facilities, Burst can ensure that essential Medicare reimbursements are accessible, transforming the way nursing homes manage healthcare billing. With a focus on healthcare inclusion, Burst's success-based model allows any nursing home to sign up at no upfront cost, delivering reimbursements directly to their bank accounts. For more information please visit, www.burstmedicalbilling.com. About Tritent International Corp. Tritent International Corp. (US OTC: TICJ) is focused on the acquisition of controlling equity interests in disruptive companies by taking an active role to improve their growth, provide capital and management expertise. For more information, please contact: Tritent International Corp. Reno Calabrigo, Director Email: info@tritentintlcorp.com Burst Technologies, Inc. Eric Hansen, Director Email: Eric@Burstbilling.com Safe Harbor Statement This Press Release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "potential" and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with OTC Markets, including, without limitation, our latest Quarterly Report filed on August 13th, 2024. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise in the event of any change, addition or alteration to the information catered in this Press Release, including such forward-looking statements. Footnote 1: references Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, National Health Expenditures 2022 Highlights https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/national-health-expenditures-2022-highlights A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65b45d29-324a-4e7c-8687-64bd4f854a51 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMPACT Silver Corp. (IPT:TSX.V, ISVLF:OTCQB, IKL:FRA), based in Vancouver, BC, focused on silver and zinc exploration and production, today announced that Steven Gold, will present live at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on October 1st 2024. DATE: October 1st TIME: 11:00 AM ET LINK: https://bit.ly/3z584tW Available for 1x1 meetings: September 30, October 1 and October 2, 2024 This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com . IMPACT Silver Corp. (TSXV:IPT, OTCQB:ISVLF) is a successful intermediate mineral producer and explorer with three mining projects in Mexico. Royal Mines of Zacualpan Silver-Gold District: IMPACT owns 100% of the 211 km2 Zacualpan project in central Mexico where four underground silver mines and one open pit mine feed the central 500 tpd Guadalupe processing plant. To the south, the Capire Project includes a 200 tpd processing pilot plant adjacent to an open pit silver mine with an NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource of over 4.5 million oz silver, 48 million lbs zinc and 21 million lbs lead (see IMPACT news release dated January 18, 2016, for details and QP statement). Company engineers are reviewing Capire for a potential restart of operations to leverage improving commodity prices. Over the past 18 years, IMPACT has developed multiple exploration zones into commercial production and has produced over 12 million ounces of silver, generating revenue more than $271 million, with no long-term debt. Plomosas Zinc-Lead-Silver District: Plomosas is a high-grade zinc producer in northern Mexico with exceptional exploration upside potential. The Company recently restarted mining operations and is expected to reach design capacity production levels over the next six months. Exploration potential at Plomosas is exceptional where only 600m of the 6 km-long structure have seen modern exploration. This is in addition to other exploration targets on the 3,019-hectare property including untested copper-gold targets with indications of high-grade material from surface. Regionally, Plomosas lies in the same mineral belt as some of the largest carbonate replacement deposits in the world. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS: Jerry Huang Chief Financial Officer jerry@impactsilver.com Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com ATLANTA, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is pleased to announce the closing of tax equity financing for the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of 1904 Farnam, a major redevelopment project located in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. The $25 million development, spearheaded by Clarity Development, will transform the historic building into 54 studio and one-bedroom units, providing much-needed affordable housing for the community. The financing includes Nebraska Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) as well as State Historic Tax Credits (HTCs), making it a powerful tool for community revitalization. The 1904 Farnam project will offer affordable housing options to tenants earning 40%, 50%, and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). All units will be located in a seven-story, elevator-serviced building with ground-floor commercial space, designed to support the local economy and meet community needs. The development is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Originally constructed in 1927 as The Union State Bank building, 1904 Farnam is a significant part of Omaha's architectural and economic history. The building, which exemplifies early Art Deco design, reflects the spirit of modernity that characterized the 1920s and 1930s. Situated in the heart of Omaha, it has long been a landmark of the citys growth and development. Of note, the building is located directly across the street from Omahas City Hall and the District Courthouse; furthermore, Omahas streetcar main route from Downtown to Midtown Omaha will run down Farnam Street. "Being part of a development that benefits the community in such a meaningful way is a privilege," said Rick Chukas, Partner and Managing Director of Historic Tax Credits at Monarch Private Capital. "This project not only preserves a piece of Omaha's history but also addresses the critical need for affordable housing in the downtown area. We are proud to support developments that have a positive impact on communities." The 1904 Farnam project is a great example of how LIHTC financing can be used to create affordable housing in areas that need it most, said Steve LeClere, Partner, LIHTC at Monarch Private Capital. With the help of Nebraska LIHTCs, were able to transform a historic building into modern, affordable housing while preserving the character and history of Omaha. The redevelopment of the Farnam Building continues its legacy as an integral part of the downtown business community, while providing much-needed affordable housing in Omaha. Monarch Private Capital's involvement underscores its commitment to community impact and sustainable development. For more information about Monarch Private Capital and its investment initiatives, please visit www.monarchprivate.com. About Monarch Private Capital Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States. CONTACT Jane Rafeedie Monarch Private Capital jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com 470-283-8431 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b1343b0-2a34-4a27-ad7b-64b884c626ef CURITIBA, Brazil, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trans Obra announced today that it is offering a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to join its franchise model (franquia), allowing new partners to explore the growing market of construction equipment rental with the support of a well-established brand. With over 20 years of experience, Trans Obra is one of the most recognized names in Brazil, offering a proven business structure that has supported successful projects over the years. With a diversified portfolio that includes over 300 types of machines and tools, Trans Obra provides solutions for projects ranging from small residential renovations to large infrastructure works. Franchisees will have access to high-quality equipment such as concrete mixers, generators, and aerial platforms, ensuring their clients receive reliable solutions. Trans Obra's focus on well-maintained equipment gives franchisees a competitive edge, as clients rely on the safety and performance of these solutions. A key feature of the Trans Obra franchise model is the comprehensive support package offered to franchisees. This includes thorough technical and operational training, as well as ongoing guidance for business management. With over two decades of expertise in the construction equipment rental industry, Trans Obra ensures that each franchisee is equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary for success. Franchisees benefit from a proven business model, reducing risks and improving returns. For those unfamiliar with the term, (franquias o que e) what is franchising is a page on the Trans Obra website that explains the franchise concept. This page offers potential franchisees detailed information about the franchise process, its benefits, and opportunities for growth. As the Brazilian construction sector continues to grow, the demand for equipment rentals increases. Joining the Trans Obra franquia network allows entrepreneurs to enter this market while receiving full support from an established brand. Trans Obra offers a flexible business structure, ensuring each franchisee can operate efficiently from day one. Media Contact: Name: Jose Gomes Title: Franchise Development Manager Phone: +55 41 99245-4944 Email: franquia@transobra.com.br Website: https://www.franquiatransobra.com.br About Trans Obra Founded over 20 years ago, Trans Obra is a leading provider of construction equipment rental solutions throughout Brazil. The company supports projects of all sizes, from small renovations to major infrastructure works, with a commitment to offering high-quality equipment and full support. A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1ceab09-64fb-48ca-bc81-b190b02f2c5c SINGAPORE, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galaxy Girl Interactive (GGI), a web3 group co-founded by MixMarvel and Yeeha! Games, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with ArkForge, a groudbreaking move that signifies the fusion of traditional gaming with the cutting-edge world of Web3 games. This exciting collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the gaming industry, where the best of Web2 and Web3 come together to create a truly immersive and engaging experience for players worldwide. GGI is a leading Web3 gaming group based in Singapore. Born from MixMarvel and Yeeha Games' collaboration, it is all about fun and possibility, like exploring a galaxy. Our motto 'Play Together Create Together' perfectly matches the idea of forming communities, or 'Galaxies', where players share experiences and benefits. As we expand, this community will become a powerful force, shaping the Web3 gaming world and beyond. GGI serves as the definitive gateway to gaming for builders and mass players with cutting-edge infrastructure, platform and top-tier investment, incubation, and publishing services. ArkForge, renowned for its expertise in Web 2.0 gaming and full-suite marketing and publishing services, has been a dominant force in the Web2 space since its founding in 2017. With a strong presence in markets across Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, Europe, and the U.S., ArkForge has established itself as a leading player in the industry. Moreover, ArkForges unwavering commitment to Esports and its vibrant global community of passionate gamers, has demonstrated remarkable engagement and growth over the past years. Beyond Esports, ArkForge's platform has connected gamers from diverse regions, fostering a community of dreamers known as Raiders. Through captivating exhibitions and community events, ArkForge has rapidly expanded its reach across the globe, solidifying its position as a key player in the gaming industry. Meanwhile, GGI has been empowering growth in Web3 gaming, leading the movement in pioneering innovation and excellence within the decentralized web. As the leading Web3 group serving as the definitive gateway to gaming for builders and players, GGI has a proven track record of delivering high-quality titles celebrated by communities worldwide. MetaCene, the highly anticipated MMORPG incubated and published by GGI, has garnered over 100,000 players at its ongoing Gold Rush playtest on Mantle. GGIs upcoming publishing lineup includes 7 Telegram mini-games, 5 large-scale midcore games, and 10 indie studios, showcasing its expertise in selecting and optimizing diverse, high-potential projects across genres. GGI collaborates closely with seasoned APAC game developers and content creators, providing modular infrastructure and tailored go-to-market support, co-creating IPs that transcend ecosystems and attract mass audiences. By combining forces with ArkForge, GGI aims to create a more inclusive and dynamic gaming ecosystem that spans both Web2 and Web3. This partnership holds great promise for GGI. It is positioned to drive innovation and enhance the gaming experience for players by combining the strengths of both Web2 brought by ArkForge and Web3 technologies and insights from GGI. This will be achieved by utilizing ArkForge's extensive experience in Esports, Influencer Marketing, Exhibitions, and Community Events, along with GGI's expertise in Content Incubation, Gaming Distribution and Publishing, and Web3 Infrastructure. "We believe that this partnership represents a significant step forward in the evolution of gaming," said Nancy, CEO of Yeeha! Games, the co-founder of GGI. "By harnessing the strengths of both Web2 and Web3, we aim to create a more vibrant and inclusive gaming ecosystem that benefits players, developers, and the industry as a whole." While recognizing the challenges ahead, GGI and ArkForge are resolute in their commitment to progress, understanding that the fusion of traditional gaming and Web3 technology will yield remarkable outcomes for all stakeholders. Together, they eagerly anticipate the ongoing evolution of the gaming industry on Web3 and extend a warm invitation to gaming enthusiasts to join them in this exhilarating new chapter. About GGI GGI, the leading Web3 group co-founded by MixMarvel and Yeeha! Games, serving as the definitive gateway to gaming for builders and mass players with cutting-edge infrastructure, platform and top-tier investment, incubation, and publishing services. Affiliated Brands: MixMarvel Yeeha Rangers Protocol GGI Pillar Services: Investment Content Incubation Game Publishing & Distribution Platform Infrastructure Contact Details: Connie Wu Marketing Manager connie.w@yeehagames.com Fay Ying, Co-Founder fay@arkforge.gg Disclaimer: This content is provided by Yeehagames. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d0cd4af-4e03-459a-9dd7-fb16cf1ce046 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31188fb3-c040-4e79-8b07-504abb2663c3 MONTREAL, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From September 28 to October 1, the Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada will host the 4th International Symposium on Arthrogryposis. Organized in collaboration with the other Montreal pediatric centers - CHU Sainte-Justine, Centre de readaptation Marie Enfant and Montreal Children's Hospital - the symposium will take place at the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal, 1050 Sherbrooke Street West. Pre-conference workshops will be held on Saturday, September 28 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada. Arthrogryposis is a group of rare diseases that occur in around 1 in 3,000 children. Arthrogryposis manifests itself as joint stiffness, present from birth and affecting all four limbs to varying degrees. It may be accompanied by other signs: skeletal, visceral or neurological. People with arthrogryposis live with a limited range of movement, often restricting their participation in daily activities. Arthrogryposis is one of a wide range of so-called fetal immobility syndromes, encompassing a multitude of neurological and muscular abnormalities whose inventory is not yet complete. Over the course of four days, experts from around the world will discuss ways of approaching and treating this pathology, as well as the latest research projects in progress. For Dr. Reggie Hamdy and Dr. Noemi Dahan-Oliel, co-chairs of the scientific and organizing committees, the need for this 4th international symposium is clear. Noemi Dahan-Oliel, clinical researcher and associate professor at McGill University, explains: By promoting knowledge sharing and networking among an international community of experts and people living with this condition, we are on the lookout for scientific advances and discoveries that will enable optimal evidence-based care. One of our Quebec stars, Luca Lazylegz Patuelli, www.lucapatuelli.com, a member of the organizing committee for this 4th edition of the international symposium, will perform a dance show on Sunday, September 29 at the Omni Hotel's Salle Pierre de Coubertin during the cocktail reception at 5:45 pm. Luca embodies the can-do attitude of people living with a rare disease. He is proof that support for patients and families, as called for by Quebec's policy on rare diseases, is not only an inescapable necessity, but also a source of wealth. The Shriners Healthcare Network is at the forefront of clinical advancements, and its Genomics Institute seeks to better understand the genetic causes of rare diseases such as arthrogryposis. It's by working together with clinicians, researchers and people living with arthrogryposis that we can learn, innovate and move forward to meet the needs of this community, says Reggie Hamdy, MD, MSc (Ortho) FRCSC, orthopaedic surgeon and director of the Arthrogryposis Clinic at the Shriners in Montreal. Several patients and families living with arthrogryposis will also be there speaking about the care they received and their life experiences. To view the symposium program and find out more about the guest speakers: https://event.fourwaves.com/fr/amcinternationalsymposium/pages The first international symposium on arthrogryposis was held in 2007 in Birmingham, UK, to discuss different aspects of care for people with arthrogryposis. These learnings set the tone for the second symposium, held in St Petersburg, Russia, in 2014. Clinical and research advances made in the field of arthrogryposis were shared at the 3rd symposium in Philadelphia, USA, in 2018. The hospital, in collaboration with other Montreal pediatric facilities, is proud to welcome the 4th International Arthrogryposis Symposium to Montreal! About Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada Established in Montreal in 1925, Shriners Hospital for Children Canada is the only Canadian facility within the extensive Shriners Hospitals network. A bilingual hospital, it offers ultra-specialized acute orthopedic care to children from Canada, the United States and around the world. The hospital's mission is to promote health and provide treatment and rehabilitation for infants, children and young adults with orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions such as scoliosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, clubfoot, hip dysplasia and cerebral palsy. The hospital is committed to excellence and innovation in clinical practice, research and education. Affiliated with McGill University, the hospital enables resident physicians and healthcare professionals to take advantage of its facilities on the Glen site to further their training and experience. In addition to offering a patient- and family-centered care environment, the hospital is present in communities across Canada through telemedicine, outreach clinics and satellite clinics. Information: Emmanuelle Rondeau Communications Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada Tel.: 514-282-6990; Cell.: 514-207-1057 erondeau@shrinenet.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7dc067b6-e47b-49a5-99fd-8507debbcdf2 RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is proud to announce that the inaugural IMF Latin American Myeloma Network (LAMN) Summit will be held on Saturday, September 28, from 3pm 7pm, after the International Myeloma Society (IMS) Meeting at Lagune Barra Hotel in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The incidence of multiple myeloma in Latin America is becoming more prevalent. While the numbers are comparable to those in Western countries, it has become a concerning issue due to poorer outcomes. Similar to the Asian Myeloma Network (AMN), the LAMN was created by the IMF to conduct multinational trials, provide myeloma education to patients and providers, facilitate collaborative research, and deepen myeloma expertise across the Latin American region. Another important objective is to bring the Latin American perspective and expertise to the global programs of the IMF, including the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG). Through meaningful collaborations, the IMF aims to strengthen partnerships between institutions and the LAMN, establish low-cost combinations of novel therapies to make them more accessible to Latin American countries, as well as to give more prominence to Latin American researchers in the field of myeloma research and treatments. The LAMN Summit will gather top myeloma investigators from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay. The summit aims to enhance collaborations between member countries and to provide a forum for investigators and junior investigators to have a robust discussion on concepts and proposals for collaborative research and partnerships. Additionally, the first clinical trial for early relapsed disease (LAMN001) will be launched soon. It is such a privilege to bring together this wonderful group of myeloma physicians from across Latin American for the inaugural LAMN Summit. We have the unique opportunity to improve the outcomes of thousands of patients in jurisdictions where there tends to be minimal access to novel myeloma therapies. I am excited to discuss collaborative project proposals that will be presented at the Summit. We trust this will be the first of many others, said IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael, who will be leading this years first LAMN Summit. Participating in this inaugural LAMN Summit are the following myeloma experts: Natalia Schutz, MD Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology (Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires Argentina) Dorotea Fantl, MD International Myeloma Society Board Member Consultant Physician, Hematology Department (Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires Argentina) Angelo Maiolino, MD, PhD International Myeloma Working Group Member Professor of Medicine (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Director, Hematology Department (Oncologia Americas Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Principal Investigator (Instituto Americas de Ensino, Pesquisa Inovacao Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Vania Hungria, PhD, MD Co-Founder and Coordinator, Brazilian Multiple Myeloma Group (GBRAM) Clinical Director (Sao Germano Clinic Sao Paulo, Brazil) Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology (Santa Casa de Sao Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil) Co-founder and Chair, Scientific Advisory Board (International Myeloma Foundation Latin America) Member, Board of Directors (Brazilian Association of Hematology, Hemotherapy and Cell Therapy) Member, Membership Subcommittee (International Myeloma Society) Edvan Crusoe, MD, MsC, PhD Hematologist, Departamento de Medicina Interna e Apoio Diagnostico (Universidade Federal da Bahia Salvador, Brazil) Camila Pena, MD Hematology (Hospital del Salvador Santiago, Chile) Humberto Martinez-Cordero, MD HematologistMyelomaLymphomaTransplant and Cell Therapy Specialist National Cancer Institute (Hospital Militar Central Bogota, Capital District, Colombia) Aline Ramirez Alvarado, MD Hematologist (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Mexico City, Mexico) Eloisa Riva, MD, MEd Associate Professor of Hematology (Hospital de Clinicas Montevideo, Uruguay) Hematologist (Hospital Britanico Montevideo, Uruguay) Junior faculty from each member country are also expected to attend, along with a few North American myeloma investigators. The International Myeloma Foundation wishes to thank the following sponsors for making the inaugural LAMN Summit possible: Binding Site, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, Sebia, and Stemline - A Menarini Group Company. ABOUT MULTIPLE MYELOMA Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells white blood cells that make antibodies. A cancerous or malignant plasma cell is called a myeloma cell. Myeloma is called multiple because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in bone where it grows. It often involves damage to bone and kidneys. Multiple myeloma is still incurable, but great progress has been made in terms of survival over the last two decades. The disease is twice as common and is diagnosed at a younger age in African Americans than white Americans. The most common presenting symptoms include fatigue and bone pain. ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION Founded in 1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the first and largest global foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation's reach extends to more than 525,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. The IMF is dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure by focusing on four key areas: research, education, support, and advocacy. The IMF has conducted more than 250 educational seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned InfoLine, and in 2001, established the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), a collaborative research initiative focused on improving myeloma treatment options for patients. In 2012, the IMF launched the Black Swan Research Initiative, a groundbreaking research project aimed at curing myeloma. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE (2873). The global website is www.myeloma.org. Follow the IMF on: X (Twitter): @IMFmyeloma Instagram: @imfmyeloma Facebook: @myeloma LinkedIn: International Myeloma Foundation Media Contacts: Peter Anton Panton@myeloma.org Jason London Jlondon@myeloma.org MONTREAL, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genetec Inc. (Genetec), a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, today announced a new collaborative intelligence feature for its AutoVu Cloudrunner vehicle-centric investigation system. Collaborative intelligence facilitates the sharing of ALPR data between partnered organizations such as local police departments, private businesses, and community groups. By enabling organizations to connect and share on a secure single network, they benefit from enhanced situational awareness and a more unified response to security challenges. This way, no matter where a crime occurs, it can be addressed collectively and efficiently. Collaborative intelligence prioritizes data privacy, allowing customers to retain full ownership and control of their data. Organizations manage who can share and access ALPR data within the Cloudrunner platform, ensuring sensitive information is protected. Law enforcement cannot share ALPR data with private entities, and private organizations can revoke sharing permissions at any time. The platform also offers tools for managing discoverability, privilege-based access, and an audit trail for accountability. Thomas Sexton, Investigator at Belle Meade Police Department in Nashville (TN), shares his experience as an early adopter of the collaborative intelligence feature: "The ability to share data, from fingerprints to driver's license information, is essential for modern law enforcement. AutoVu Cloudrunner's collaborative intelligence feature allows our department to develop specific hot lists and securely share data with other agencies in real time, while safeguarding privacy. This technology enables us to operate more efficiently and securely." Securely Sharing Data Between Law Enforcement Agencies Sharing ALPR data among law enforcement agencies enhances their ability to catch suspects who cross jurisdictional lines. For example, if a vehicle linked to a recent crime is on a local hotlist, collaborative intelligence can immediately alert officers if the vehicle is detected by ALPR systems in neighboring areas. This real-time coordination enables law enforcement to quickly locate and apprehend the suspect before they travel further. Sharing Between Private Entities and Law Enforcement Collaborative intelligence helps communities proactively protect themselves by allowing law enforcement to initiate ALPR data-sharing requests with private entities like schools and neighborhood homeowners' associations (HOAs). For instance, if a private entitys Cloudrunner camera detects a vehicle on a law enforcement hotlist, officers can instantly be alerted, enabling them to respond quickly. Data Sharing Among Private Entities Retailers, residential communities, and parking companies can use ALPR technology to synchronize their security efforts by sharing data with other private entities. For instance, a network of different retailers can install Cloudrunner cameras to track vehicle plates across multiple locations. When a vehicle associated with thefts is detected, a real-time alert is sent to the store that flagged it. The store can then conduct a thorough investigation by reviewing data from partner ALPR systems to track the vehicle's movements. By sharing information about the suspect vehicle with their partners, retailers can work together to prevent further thefts, strengthen their cases against offenders, and enhance the protection of their assets. Availability Available to all Cloudrunner subscribers in North America, collaborative intelligence will be showcased for the first time at IACP (Boston, October 19-22, 2024) at booth 1540. For more information, please visit https://www.genetec.com/product-releases/autovu-cloudrunner-collaborative-intelligence. About Genetec Genetec Inc. is a global technology company that has been transforming the physical security industry for over 25 years. The companys portfolio of solutions enables enterprises, governments, and communities around the world to secure people and assets while respecting individual privacy and the demand for operational efficiency. Based on an open architecture, and built with cybersecurity at their core, Genetec solutions can be implemented on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid deployments. The companys flagship products, Genetec Security Center and Genetec Security Center SaaS, unify core physical security functions, such as access control, video surveillance, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), intrusion detection, communications, and analytics. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Genetec serves its customers via an extensive network of accredited channel partners and consultants in over 159 countries. For more information about Genetec, visit: https://www.genetec.com Genetec Inc., 2024. Genetec, AutoVu Cloudrunner and the Genetec logo are trademarks of Genetec Inc. and may be registered or pending registration in several jurisdictions. Other trademarks used in this document may be trademarks of the manufacturers or vendors of the respective product. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a32aee9d-5fdd-4835-85b4-b2033d7382cd MINNEAPOLIS , Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dominium, a leading affordable housing owner, developer, and manager, proudly reveals the recipients of the 2024 Opportunitys Front Door Scholarship Program. This initiative reaffirms Dominiums unwavering commitment to empowering individuals through education and bridging the gap between potential and opportunity. The Opportunitys Front Door Scholarship Program is dedicated to providing vital financial assistance to Dominium residents, employees, and their dependents, with the goal to facilitate access to higher education. In 2024, Dominium granted a total of 335 scholarships, amounting to over $1.6 million. These scholarships are awarded to individuals enrolled in two-year or four-year colleges, vocational schools, or certificate programs. Designed to support a diverse array of scholars including first-generation students, nontraditional students, and single parents, the Opportunitys Front Door Program exemplifies Dominiums commitment to forging pathways for individuals to unlock their potential through education. This extensive program stands as a resounding testament to Dominiums enduring dedication to fostering growth, empowering communities, and creating opportunities for success. Through these scholarships, Dominium is making a substantial investment in personal and professional growth, reinforcing its commitment to educational development. For more information about Dominium and Opportunitys Front Door Scholarship Program, please visit: https://www.dominiumapartments.com/scholarship.html. About Dominium Founded in 1972, Dominium is a leading national owner, developer, and manager of affordable apartment communities with offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, and Minneapolis. Owning and managing over 38,000 homes at over 230 sites in about half of all U.S. states, Dominium is known for creative solutions to unique and challenging development projects, and property management expertise. Dominium was named a Best Managed Company by Deloitte in 2020. For more information, visit www.dominiumapartments.com. Media Contact Miles Plueger For Dominium (952)851-7239 mplueger@tunheim.com CAMDEN, Ohio, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Officials from MedShip LLC, JobsOhio, the Dayton Development Coalition, Preble County, and local elected officials today celebrated the grand opening of MedShips new downtown headquarters. The investment is the most significant within the village in decades, completing the demolition of two blighted buildings, establishing a new 12,000-square-foot facility, and bringing jobs supporting logistics and distribution in the critical medical supply industry. This journey has been a testament to growth and opportunity. Due to growth, we expanded our facility to accommodate not just our original vision, but the workforce that has grown beyond our expectations, said MedShip COO Ryan Jarrell. With 86 of our 93 employees based here, we look forward to seeing our company and Camden thrive together. The new headquarters provides an anchor catalyzing additional investments in the rural village. Ohios historic small and medium-sized downtowns play an important role in the economic strength of the entire state, and MedShips new building in the heart of Camden will bring new jobs and renewed energy to South Main Street, said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. We welcome MedShip to Preble County and applaud their work to strengthen the healthcare supply chain here in the United States. JobsOhio assisted the project with a $750,000 Vibrant Community Grant, a program established to help small and medium-sized communities implement catalytic development. Eligible projects include mixed-use projects, real estate development projects, and shared spaces that meet the JobsOhio project criteria. MedShips decision to choose Camden for its new headquarters attracts a company on the cutting edge of creating solutions for caregivers, ensuring they are efficiently providing the most advanced surgical dressings to serve patients nationwide, said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. Through a combination of the JobsOhio Vibrant Community Grant and strong local partnerships, MedShip is investing with confidence, bringing jobs, new business, foot traffic, and vitality to a space that stood vacant for many years in downtown Camden. The now-demolished properties on S. Main Street had been in the heart of downtown Camden since 1890 and received little investment since their conversion from retail to multi-family housing in the early 1990s. The building at 25 S. Main has been vacant since 2017, and the 11-19 S. Main buildings have been vacant since 2021. MedShip is less than four years old and has experienced explosive growth. Like so many of our Ohio-grown start-ups, they saw a need and built a successful business meeting that need, said Dayton Development Coalition Executive Vice President of Regional Development Julie Sullivan. When a company like MedShip tells us they want to strengthen their roots in Ohio, we want them to stay. The grand opening is part of a long-term vision of Celebrate Camden, a strategic plan established by the community to provide a roadmap for future economic development. MedShip has invested more than $2.3 million in its headquarters. The company provides innovative surgical dressings to help patients reach their treatment goals while working alongside physicians and clinics nationwide to deliver solutions to increase compliance, provide convenience, and improve patient outcomes. MedShips investment in Downtown Camden has transformed the community. From removing blighted properties to employing local talent, MedShips choice to locate in Camden and Preble County will have a major impact for years to come, said Preble County Development Partnership Director for Economic Development Justin Sommer. The Preble County Development Partnership appreciates the collaboration with MedShip leadership from the start. The MedShip LLC headquarters project is a perfect example of how economic development and company leadership can work together toward positive outcomes. # # # About JobsOhio JobsOhio, Ohio's private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Nashville, Tennessee, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mars Veterinary Health today hosted the 23rd annual Pet Healthcare Industry Summit, convening more than 120 leaders from across the profession to collaborate on solutions to build a more sustainable future for veterinary medicine. Fostering open dialogue and collaboration among the veterinary industrys top leaders is critical to tackle the pressing challenges we face in creating a more sustainable future for veterinary medicine, said Doug Drew, president, Mars Veterinary Health. By working together, we can ensure our beloved profession not only adapts to the evolving landscape but also thrives as we work to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS, their caregivers, and our planet for generations to come. Making a Better Future for Pets by Expanding Access to Care With animal shelters and rescues across the U.S. in need of Veterinarians of Record (VOR) to provide veterinary care and medications to pets awaiting adoption, many shelters cant afford veterinarians on staff or have difficulty filling open roles due to the industry-wide shortage of veterinary professionals. Today, Mars Veterinary Health announced a grant to Shelters Uniteda national buying group dedicated exclusively to helping nonprofit animal welfare organizations save more livesto enable a free, online course that will train veterinarians on establishing a VOR relationship in their community through lessons and interactive experiences. The Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE)-approved offering will also train shelters and rescues to symbiotically work with veterinarians. This initiative aims to help increase access to care for shelter pets, improve relationships between veterinarians and animal rescues, and make it easier for veterinarians to give back to their local communities through shelter work. With support from partners like Mars Veterinary Health, our goal to create a sustainable and mutually beneficial VOR model will become a reality, said Mal Schwartz, founder and CEO of Shelters United. The new program will include relationship guidelines, an online education course, and a state-by-state resource directory to benefit rescue organizations, shelter pets, and veterinary professionals. The partnership originated from collaborative access-to-care ideation sessions during last years Summit and further demonstrates how Mars Veterinary Health is putting its reach into action to make a better, more sustainable world for pets and the people who care for them. Safeguarding the Future of Pet Health through Care for the Planet Todays Summit discussions also centered on reducing the climate change impacts of veterinary medicine, integrating sustainability into veterinary school curricula, and embedding sustainable practices in veterinary clinic operations. Building on its commitment to advance environmental sustainability in veterinary medicine, Mars Veterinary Health announced its founding sponsorship of the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance (VSA). The VSA is the first U.S.-focused nonprofit dedicated to preserving and protecting animal and human health by promoting sustainability. This partnership will provide extensive learning and networking opportunities, resources, and training to Mars Veterinary Healths Associates and include the development of resources to help all veterinary professionals practice sustainable medicine. Veterinary professionals are extremely passionate about caring for animals and for the planet that they depend on, said Will Sander, Founding Director, Veterinary Sustainability Alliance. Were thrilled to partner with Mars Veterinary Health to integrate sustainability into the veterinary sector. Advancing the Future of Veterinary Medicine through Educational Investments To address the industry-wide veterinary shortage and ensure best-in-class veterinary care for pets now and in the future, Mars Veterinary Health prioritizes education and training for its Associates and future veterinary professionals. In addition to creating career advancement opportunities, Mars Veterinary Health offers industry-leading professional educationand as one of the largest contributors to post-graduate veterinary education in the world, hosted more than 1,500 externs, hundreds of rotating and specialty interns, and 40 residents last year alone. Mars Veterinary Healths collaborations with industry and academic institutions boost interest in the veterinary profession and enable opportunities and training for students, interns, and residents. Additionally, its investments in inclusion and diversity initiatives and youth-centered programs help address profession-wide talent shortages, promote diversity in the field, and inspire the next generation of veterinary professionals. Enhancing veterinary education, creating new career pathways, and promoting diversity are pivotal to the future of our profession, said Molly McAllister, DVM, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Mars Veterinary Health. By fostering an inclusive environment and providing robust educational opportunities, we can empower students from all backgrounds to pursue careers in veterinary medicine. Together, we can build a more diverse and dynamic workforce, dedicated to advancing animal health and wellbeing. Summit discussions addressed the faculty shortage in academic veterinary medicine and solutions to enhance and modernize traditional approaches to filling academic positions and adequately educate and train future veterinarians. A Sustainable Future for the Veterinary Profession Mars Veterinary Healths 2024 Pet Healthcare Industry Summit provides an important opportunity to examine recent advancements and explore ways to make even more progress toward a sustainable profession. Impactful collaborations from past Summitspreviously hosted by Banfield Pet Hospitalhave included support to build the Veterinary Innovation Councils Access to Care Hub to help veterinary professionals expand access to care in their practices, and the founding of the Diversify Veterinary Medicine Coalition (DVMC), focused on meeting the needs of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community and other underrepresented groups interested in veterinary medical education. Sharing resources with the veterinary profession has been another critical component of previous Summits, such as the launch of ASK (Assess, Support, Know), a first-of-its-kind training to help veterinary professionals recognize and address emotional distress in themselves and others, and the founding of a working group with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to deliver the Positive Pet Care Guide, a resource aimed at strengthening the relationship between veterinary teams and clients in support of providing the best possible care to pets. These investments, collaborations, and resources build on more than two decades of industry dialogue fostered at the Summit, further demonstrating Mars Veterinary Healths commitment to advancing its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. ### About Mars Veterinary Health Mars Veterinary Health is a global division of Mars Petcare dedicated to delivering high-quality pet healthcare to further its collective Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Mars Veterinary Health's 70,000 Associates across 3,000 global veterinary clinics put pets, people, and the planet first. The Mars Veterinary Health family includes Associates at AniCura, Banfield, BluePearl, Creature Comforts, Gentle Oak, Hillside, Linnaeus, Mount Pleasant, Tai Wai, VCA, VES, and VSH who demonstrate compassion and expertise while enabling millions of pet visits each year. Learn more at marsveterinary.com. About Shelters United Shelters United is dedicated to helping nonprofit and municipal animal welfare organizations save money on the things they need to care for their pets awaiting adoption and earn money from the things their adopters purchase for their new pets. Members include more than 2,300 animal welfare organizations that purchased $44 million from Shelters Unitedwith $5 million saved in the past 12 monthsand adopt more than 1.8 million pets annually. Shelters Uniteds mission is to help the awesome people who help animals. Learn more at sheltersunited.com. About the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance The Veterinary Sustainability Alliance (VSA) is a non-profit organization committed to advancing sustainability in veterinary and animal health professions across North America for the protection of health and the planet. VSA has three strategic pillars focused on clinical tools, resources, and standards; educational materials and curricula; and policy utilization beneficial to the veterinary profession around sustainability. Learn more at veterinarysustainabilityalliance.org. Ottawa, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global healthcare cloud computing market size was USD 61.80 billion in 2023 and is predicted to grow from USD 69.80 billion in 2024 to approximately USD 210.51 billion by 2033, a study published by Towards Healthcare a sister firm of Precedence Statistics. The market is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 13.05% between 2024 and 2034. Download a sample version of this report @ https://www.towardshealthcare.com/download-statistics/5221 Major Key Insights of the Healthcare Cloud Computing Market North America dominated the healthcare cloud computing market share in 2023. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. By deployment, the private segment held the largest share in 2023. By application, the non-clinical information system segment dominated the healthcare cloud computing market share in 2023. By services, the Software as a Service (SaaS) segment held the dominant share of the market in 2023. By end-user, the healthcare providers segment dominated the market in 2023. Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Digital Revolution The healthcare cloud computing market encompasses the industry involved in providing clou-based solutions and services to healthcare organizations. This is mark increasing adoption of electronic health records (EHRs), the growing need for interoperability and data sharing, and the desire for cost effective IT infrastructure, these are some factors we chose significantly driving the healthcare cloud computing market. Healthcare providers, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies are increasingly turning to cloud-based solutions to manage their data, improve patient care, and enhance operational efficiency. The healthcare cloud computing market is characterized by a diverse range of players which includes technology giants, specialized cloud service providers and healthcare IT companies. These providers offer a variety of cloud-based solutions, such as infrastructure as a service, platform as service and software as service tailored to the specific needs of healthcare organizations. Get the latest insights on healthcare industry segmentation with our Annual Membership: https://www.towardshealthcare.com/get-an-annual-membership Top Companies in the Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Cisco Systems Inc Bayer Allscripts Healthcare Solution Inc Qualcomm Inc Cognizant GNAX Health EMC Corp Athenahealth Inc Iron Mountain Inc IBM Cor Oracle Corp VMware Inc Dell Inc Microsoft Corp Others Recent Developments in Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Company Name Genesys and Epic Headquarters USA, North America Development In March 2024, Genesys collaborated with Epic to ensure a more consistent, connected experience between patients and the care team and help in recording clinical data across systems and departments. Company Name Microsoft and Nivida Headquarters USA, North America Development In March 2024, Microsoft collaborated with NVIDIA to accelerate life sciences and healthcare innovation with advanced cloud, accelerated computing capabilities, and AI. Driver The Proliferation of High-Speed Internet Driving the Market In recent years the global expansion of high-seed Internet is proving a significant driver for the healthcare cloud computing market. As more regions are gaining access to high-speed and reliable Internet, healthcare providers are increasingly adopting cloud-based technologies to improve patient care, data management and communication across the industry. In developing nations such as North America and Europe, the presence of high-speed Internet has allowed healthcare institutions to seamlessly integrate cloud solutions reach out improving efficiency in clinical workflows, telemedicine and patient record management. For instance, in the United States, from March to June of 2020 alone, daily medicine consultants increased by over 150%, according to a study by the Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC). This shift demonstrated how healthcare cloud computing, backed by Internet infrastructure could enhance access to medical care in remote areas and during global health crisis. Telemedicine Adoption Rates (2019-2023) in percent: You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact us at sales@towardshealthcare.com Restraint Privacy and Data Security Concerns Restraining the Market In recent years healthcare cloud computing market has grown significantly and earned fair amount of fame in healthcare sector but data security and privacy concerns remain one of the major concerns our challenge for the healthcare cloud computing market. The healthcare industry handles sensitive data of patients, including medical histories, personal information and insurance details, which makes it a prime target for cyberattacks. The shift toward cloud storage raises significant concerns protecting this data from breachers, especially as regulations surrounding data security such as HIPPA (health insurance portability and accountability act) in the United States impose strict rules. For instance, the HCA Healthcare, one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States, in 2022, experienced a significant data breach that affected 11,000,000 patients records, exposing private health information. This incident highlighted the vulnerabilities associated with storing medical data in the cloud and the necessity of implementing robust security measures. Upcoming Opportunity for Healthcare Computing Expanding Use of Cloud Computing in Big Data Applications The growing use of cloud computing is creating new opportunities for big data applications in the healthcare sector. Cloud based systems allow for the integration of massive amounts of patient data from various sources, providing unprecedented access to real time data for healthcare professionals. This shift is transforming healthcare delivery by enhancing decision making, improving diagnostic accuracy and personalizing patient treatment plans. For instance, in April of 2024, Google Cloud announced a partnership with Mayo Clinic to implement cloud based-powered machine learning algorithms for predicting patient outcomes in oncology. The ability to store, process, and analyze vast amounts of data from electronic medical records (EMRs) and critical trials is accelerating advancements in precision medicine, allowing healthcare providers to tailor treatments based on individual patient data. The Private Segment Held the Largest Share of the Market in 2023 The private segment held the largest market share of healthcare cloud computing market by deployment in 2023. The heightened focus on data security and privacy in the healthcare sector are some of the factors this dominance can be attributed to. Private cloud services offer healthcare providers dedicated infrastructure that is not shared with other users, which ensures better control over sensitive patient data and compliance with strict regulations like HIPAA and GDPR. Major hospitals and clinics prefer private clouds for their ability to provide customized solution while mitigating risks related to data breaches and cyber-attacks. Private clouds enable healthcare organizers to integrate their system seamlessly without risking data exposure in a shared environment. The Non-Clinical Information System Segment Dominated By application, the non-clinical information system segment emerged as the dominant application of healthcare cloud computing market in 2023. Revenue cycle management claims processing and supply chain management are some of the essential administrative functions covered in this segment. These administrative functions are crucial for the efficient functioning of healthcare organizations. Cloud solutions in this area allow hospitals and healthcare providers to streamline operations, reduce administrative costs and improve workflow efficiency. Cloud based financial management systems help healthcare organizations manage their billing and insurance claims more reflectively, which enables real time access to financial data and reduces errors in the reimbursement process. Software as a Service (SaaS) Segment Held Dominant Share By services, the software as a service (SaaS) segment dominated the healthcare cloud computing market in 2023. Software as a service offers flexible, subscription-based access to various healthcare applications which eliminates the need for healthcare providers to invest in expensive hardware and software installations. This model is highly preferred because it reduces the upfront cost and allows for easier scalability as healthcare organizations grow. Software as a service also provides automatic updates which ensure that users have access to the latest features and security patches without needing internal I.T. Resources. Providers like Cerner and Alscripts have continued to innovative software as a service offering, which makes it easier for healthcare facilities to implement electronic health records and other essential healthcare software solutions. In February 2024, MyStay Mobile, a revolutionary Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that lets patients access digital services on personal devices, is being unveiled by Oneview Healthcare with much excitement. To co-design and test the new solution at the Long Island Community Hospital, Oneview has teamed up with longtime client NYU Langone Health. Healthcare Providers Segment Dominated the Market By End user, healthcare providers including hospitals, clinics and ambulatory centers dominated the healthcare cloud computing market in 2023. This can be attributed to the growing need for efficient patient management systems especially as patient data and healthcare records increasingly move to digital platforms. Healthcare providers rely heavily on cloud solutions to store, manage and access large volumes of patient data which improves collaboration among healthcare teams and ensures continuity of care. North America to Sustain the Leadership The region North America dominated and held largest share of the global healthcare cloud computing market, making hit the largest regional market in 2023. The technological advancements in countries like US and Canada, is one of the primary reasons for this growth. These nations have well established healthcare infrastructure, backed by a mature I.T. sector that promotes the adoption of cloud-based solutions across the healthcare industry. Do you know United States leads the regional market due to the early adoption of cloud technologies, increased government support and strong financial backing for healthcare advancements. For instance, in February of 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS), expanded its cloud-based solution specifically for the healthcare sector which allows hospitals to integrate artificial intelligence tools with patient data for better diagnosis and treatment outcomes. Asia Pacific on to Grow at the Fastest Rate During Forecast Period The region Asia Pacific is projected to witness the fastest growth in the healthcare cloud computing market. This growth is primarily driven by the rapid development of healthcare infrastructure and increasing patient populations in the major countries like China, South Korea, Japan and India. These nations are not only expanding their healthcare sectors but also embracing cloud computing to manage the influx of patient data, cost reduction and improve overall efficiency of healthcare services. In the year 2023, the Chinese government has made substantial investments in healthcare, with the national medical products administration reporting that healthcare funds reached 74.5 billion Chinese yuan in the year. In January of 2024, the Indian government announced plans to digitize 100,000 public health centers by 2025, with cloud computing playing a key role in managing patient records and enabling remote consultations. Browse More Insights of Towards Healthcare: The global healthcare revenue cycle management market was valued at $136.40 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $453.47 billion by 2034, with an annual growth rate of 11.54% from 2024 to 2034. was valued at $136.40 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $453.47 billion by 2034, with an annual growth rate of 11.54% from 2024 to 2034. The global healthcare IT market was valued at $238.30 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $1,404.55 billion by 2034, growing at a rate of 17.5% annually from 2024 to 2034. was valued at $238.30 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $1,404.55 billion by 2034, growing at a rate of 17.5% annually from 2024 to 2034. The market for conversational AI in healthcare is rapidly increasing, with revenue expected to rise significantly between 2024 and 2033. is rapidly increasing, with revenue expected to rise significantly between 2024 and 2033. The generative AI market in healthcare is expected to grow from $1.07 billion in 2022 at an annual rate of 35.1%, reaching about $21.74 billion by 2032. is expected to grow from $1.07 billion in 2022 at an annual rate of 35.1%, reaching about $21.74 billion by 2032. The AI in drug discovery market was estimated at $1,495.28 million in 2022 and is projected to hit around $14,518.68 million by 2032, growing at an annual rate of 20.08%. was estimated at $1,495.28 million in 2022 and is projected to hit around $14,518.68 million by 2032, growing at an annual rate of 20.08%. The blockchain market in healthcare was valued at $0.76 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $14.25 billion by 2032, with a strong annual growth rate of 34.02%. The telehealth and telemedicine market grew to $214.55 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $869.22 billion by 2033, with an annual growth rate of 15.5%. grew to $214.55 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $869.22 billion by 2033, with an annual growth rate of 15.5%. The electronic health records (EHRs) market grew to $27.42 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $41.87 billion by 2033, with an estimated annual growth rate of 4.32% from 2024 to 2033. grew to $27.42 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $41.87 billion by 2033, with an estimated annual growth rate of 4.32% from 2024 to 2033. The healthcare automation market was valued at $34.50 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $80.28 billion by 2032, with an expected annual growth rate of 9.3%. was valued at $34.50 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $80.28 billion by 2032, with an expected annual growth rate of 9.3%. The healthcare digital twin market was valued at $1.17 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $38.43 billion by 2032, with a remarkable annual growth rate of 42.2%. Segments Covered in the Report By Deployment Private Public Hybrid By Application Non-clinical Information System Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Billing & Accounts Management Solutions Claims Management Others Clinical Information System Telehealth Solutions Computerized Physician Order Entry Population Health Management (PHM) Solutions Electronic Medical Records Pharmacy Information System Radiology Information System Others By Service Software as a service (SaaS) Platform as a service (PaaS) Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) By End Users Healthcare Providers Healthcare Payers By Region North America U.S. Canada Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Thailand Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Sweden Denmark Norway Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Middle East and Africa (MEA) South Africa UAE Saudi Arabia Kuwait Acquire our comprehensive analysis today @ https://www.towardshealthcare.com/price/5221 You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact us at sales@towardshealthcare.com Gain access to the latest insights and statistics in the healthcare industry by subscribing to our Annual Membership. Stay updated on healthcare industry segmentation with detailed reports, market trends, and expert analysis tailored to your needs. Stay ahead of the curve with valuable resources and strategic recommendations. Join today to unlock a wealth of knowledge and opportunities in the dynamic world of healthcare: Get a Subscription About Us Towards Healthcare is a leading global provider of technological solutions, clinical research services, and advanced analytics to the healthcare sector, committed to forming creative connections that result in actionable insights and creative innovations. We are a global strategy consulting firm that assists business leaders in gaining a competitive edge and accelerating growth. We are a provider of technological solutions, clinical research services, and advanced analytics to the healthcare sector, committed to forming creative connections that result in actionable insights and creative innovations. Browse our Brand-New Journals: https://www.towardspackaging.com https://www.towardsautomotive.com https://www.precedenceresearch.com For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/towards-healthcare Get Our Freshly Printed Chronicle: https://www.healthcarewebwire.com Easton, MD., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qlarant announced today the appointment of Ms. Amanda Neal as the Executive Director of Qlarant Foundation. Having served for over 8 years on the Qlarant Board and most recentl as the Qlarant Foundation Chair, Ms. Neal has provided valuable insight and leadership to the organization. In recognition of her unique skills and contribution, she will now serve the Foundation in a leadership role as part of the Qlarant executive team. While her presence as a board member will be greatly missed, we are thrilled to welcome Amanda in her new role says Qlarant CEO Dr. Ron Forsythe, Jr. The Qlarant Foundation has a profound impact on our community and has become a significate component of the overall organization. Having Amanda at the helm will continue to ensure its success. From her previous role as Donor Relations Coordinator for Beebe Medical Foundation in Lewes, Delaware, Ms. Neal has experience executing multi-million dollar, capital fundraising campaigns; designing and implementing donor stewardship programs; and managing system-wide patient feedback programs. Her prior healthcare experience includes serving as the Director of Contracting and Procurement for United Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Ms. Neal has deployed her skills as a certified Six Sigma Green Belt, a Six Sigma Lean Professional, and a Change Management Specialist in multiple industries, including legal, information technology and finance. She has a bachelors in Communications from the University of Maryland and, prior to joining the Qlarant Foundation Board, Ms. Neal served on the Board of Associates for Kids Peace Foster Care in Baltimore, Maryland. The Qlarant Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Qlarant, Inc. It provides annually over $400k in grants to a variety of charities across Maryland and the District of Columbia. In 2024, 23 different groups received monetary support from the Foundation. To date, the Foundation has funded over $7 million in grants and continues to expand each year. The work done by our grantees is exceptional and often quite humbling, notes Ms. Neal. The dedication and commitment of each group is astounding. Its quite a difficult decision to allocate funds each yearso many groups have impact on the community and clearly deserve our support. As the current Vice Chair of the Qlarant Foundation, Lamont Thompson will serve as Chair until confirmed to officially fill the new vacancy in November. Lamont brings a wealth of experience and insight, and under his leadership, the board will continue to thrive and guide the Foundation to even greater heights. About Qlarant Qlarant is a not-for-profit, nationally respected leader in fighting fraud, waste, and abuse, improving program quality, and optimizing performance. The company uses subject matter experts and innovative data science and technology to help organizations see risks, solve problems, and seize opportunities. Qlarant provides customized solutions for state, federal and commercial industries across the nation. The Qlarant Foundation the mission arm of the organizationhas provided over $7 million in grants to charities throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia. Qlarant has a 50-year record of accomplishment improving the performance of some of the Nations most important programs. Headquartered in Easton, MD, Qlarant has offices throughout the country and employs over 500 people. Qlarant is a five-time winner of the Best Places to Work award. For more information, visit www.qlarant.com or contact boosp@qlarant.com Attachment Provincial and local results for students in English- and French-Language Schools TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has released provincial, school- and board-level data from its 20232024 assessments, which marks the third consecutive year of the agencys reporting on the student achievement results of its online provincial assessments. EQAO data provide an independent snapshot that shows whether students are meeting curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics at key stages of their education. The results also provide additional insights into students attitudes and perceptions related to their learning. More than 570 000 students across the province completed EQAO assessments at the elementary and secondary levels of the English- and French-language school systems during the 20232024 school year. EQAO is reporting on achievement results as well as data from student questionnaires. This provides contextual and attitudinal information about student learning to build a fuller picture of learners contexts and the factors that influence achievement. While mathematics results are generally stable relative to last years, many students across Ontario are meeting the provincial standard, or are very close to meeting the provincial standard. Several English- and French-language school boards across Ontario saw significant gains in students mathematics achievement in 20232024, thanks to a combination of factors. These include tailored and innovative strategies developed locally by educators with the support of the provincial Math Action Team and board math leads and EQAOs School Support and Outreach staff. Recently implemented plans across schools and boards have started strengthening students mathematics skills and are encouraging positive attitudes toward mathematics in numerous schools. Later this year, to inform best practices in student learning across Ontario, EQAO will share approaches educators used that made a marked difference in student achievement and attitudes. EQAO is reporting assessment data on its website through an individual school and school board search function and the EQAO data reporting tool, a platform that leverages interactive and user-friendly dashboards that educators, parents and guardians and the public can access to view assessment and questionnaire data at the provincial and local levels. EQAOs evidence-based data can be analyzed by educators across the province as they review and develop strategies to support each students learning journey. By making contextual, attitudinal and achievement data for each school and school board available, the agency satisfies its mandate to contribute to the accountability of Ontarios education system and to the ongoing conversation about student learning and achievement. Assessment Data and Observations Assessment results from the previous two school years are provided along with those from 20232024 to show trends in achievement and attitudes from year to year. Such analyses of results contribute to a better understanding of student learning over time. Students in English-Language Schools Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary and Junior Divisions The Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary Division (Grade 3) and Junior Division (Grade 6) are computer-based assessments that measure the reading, writing and mathematics knowledge and skills students are expected to have learned by the end of Grades 3 and 6 according to The Ontario Curriculum. Primary Division (Grade 3) According to the data from 20232024, Grade 3 student achievement results, which are given in relation to the provincial standard (Levels 3 and 4), have decreased in reading and writing relative to those from 20222023, and have increased in mathematics. The three-year trend shows a decrease in the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard in reading and writing, and an increase in mathematics. Percentage of Grade 3 students who met the provincial standard: 71% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in reading in 20232024 (73% met the standard in 20222023, and the same percentage met the standard in 20212022). 64% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in writing in 20232024 (65% met the standard in 20222023, and the same percentage met the standard in 20212022). 61% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in mathematics (60% met the standard in 20222023, and 59% met the standard in 20212022). Learners Context: 71% of Grade 3 students indicated that they like to read, and 73% that they think they are a good reader. 58% of Grade 3 students indicated that they like to write, and 59% that they think they are a good writer. 68% of Grade 3 students indicated that they like math, and 64% that they think they are good at math. Junior Division (Grade 6) According to the data from 20232024, Grade 6 student achievement results, which are given in relation to the provincial standard (Levels 3 and 4), have decreased in reading and writing relative to those in 20222023, and have remained the same in mathematics. The three-year trend shows a decrease in the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard in reading and writing, and an increase in mathematics. Percentage of Grade 6 students who met the provincial standard: 82% of Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in reading in 20232024 (84% met the standard in 20222023, and 85% met the standard in 20212022). 80% of Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in writing in 20232024 (84% met the standard in 20222023, and the same percentage met the standard in 20212022). 50% of Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in mathematics (50% met the standard in 20222023, and 47% met the standard in 20212022). Learners Context: 60% of Grade 6 students indicated that they like to read, and 69% that they think they are a good reader. 52% of Grade 6 students indicated that they like to write, and 49% that they think they are a good writer. 47% of Grade 6 students indicated that they like math, and 50% that they think they are good at math. Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics The Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics is a multi-stage computer adaptive assessment that measures the mathematics knowledge and skills students are expected to have learned by the end of the Grade 9 mathematics course according to The Ontario Curriculum. According to the data from the 20232024 EQAO assessments, Grade 9 student achievement results, which are given in relation to the provincial standard (Levels 3 and 4), have remained stable relative to those in 20222023. The three-year trend shows that the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard has increased. Percentage of students who met the provincial standard in mathematics: 54% of Grade 9 students met the provincial standard in mathematics in 2023 2024 (54% met the standard in 20222023, and 52% met the standard in 20212022). Learners Context: 48% of Grade 9 students indicated that they like mathematics, and 51% that they think they are good at mathematics. 64% of Grade 9 students indicated that they think they understand most of the mathematics they are taught. Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) The OSSLT is a linear test design computer assessment that measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9 according to The Ontario Curriculum. First-time eligible students typically take the assessment in Grade 10. According to the data from 20232024, overall success rates on the OSSLT are high, showing stability in students acquisition of the literacy knowledge and skills stated in The Ontario Curriculum. The three-year trend shows that success rates have increased. It is encouraging to note that the achievement gap between the success rates of students taking the applied course and those taking the academic course has been steadily narrowing over the past three years, although the achievement gap between academic and applied students remains an area of concern. Percentage of students who wrote the OSSLT and were successful: 85% of first-time eligible students who wrote the OSSLT were successful in 20232024 (85% were successful in 20222023, and 82% were successful in 20212022). 52% of previously eligible students who wrote the OSSLT were successful in 20232024 (63% were successful in 20222023, and 85% were successful in 20212022).1 First-time eligible students enrolled in the Grade 10 academic English course: 90% of first-time eligible students enrolled in the academic course were successful in 20232024 (91% were successful in 20222023, and the same percentage were successful in 20212022). First-time eligible students enrolled in the Grade 10 applied English course: 58% of first-time eligible students enrolled in the applied course were successful in 20232024 (55% were successful in 20222023, and 50% were successful in 20212022). Learners Context: 47% of students who wrote the OSSLT indicated that they read on their own time, 72% indicated that they think they are a good reader and 76% indicated that they think they can read easily. 35% of students who wrote the OSSLT indicated that they write on their own time, 59% indicated that they think they are a good writer and 62% indicated that they think they can write easily. Students in French-Language Schools Tests en lecture, ecriture et mathematiques, cycles primaire et moyen 2 The Test en lecture, ecriture et mathematiques, cycle primaire (Grade 3) and cycle moyen (Grade 6), are computer-based assessments that measure the reading, writing and mathematics knowledge and skills students are expected to have learned by the end of Grades 3 and 6 according to The Ontario Curriculum. Cycle primaire (Grade 3) According to the data from 20232024, Grade 3 student achievement results, which are given in relation to the provincial standard (Levels 3 and 4), have increased in reading and mathematics and decreased in writing relative to those from 20222023. The three-year trend shows an increase in the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard in reading and in mathematics, and stability in writing. Percentage of Grade 3 students who met the provincial standard: 84% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in reading in 20232024 (82% met the standard in 20222023, and 81% met the standard in 20212022). 67% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in writing in 20232024 (68% met the standard in 20222023, and 67% met the standard in 20212022). 74% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in mathematics (70% met the standard in 20222023, and 67% met the standard in 20212022). Learners Context: 69% of Grade 3 students indicated that they like to read, and 65% that they think they are a good reader. 60% of Grade 3 students indicated that they like to write, and 59% that they think they are a good writer. 81% of Grade 3 students indicated that they like math, and 72% that they think they are good at math. Cycle moyen (Grade 6) According to the data from 20232024, Grade 6 student achievement results, which are given in relation to the provincial standard (Levels 3 and 4), are the same in reading relative to those in 20222023, have decreased in writing and have increased in mathematics. The three-year trend shows an exceptionally high percentage of students meeting the provincial standard in reading, a decrease in writing and an increase in mathematics. Percentage of Grade 6 students who met the provincial standard: 97% of Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in reading in 20232024 (97% met the standard in 20222023, and the same percentage met the standard in 20212022). 79% of Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in writing in 20232024 (83% met the standard in 20222023, and 80% met the standard in 20212022). 58% of Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in mathematics in 20232024 (55% met the standard in 20222023, and 50% met the standard in 20212022). Learners Context: 57% of Grade 6 students indicated that they like to read, and 61% that they think they are a good reader. 50% of Grade 6 students indicated that they like to write, and 48% that they think they are a good writer. 60% of Grade 6 students indicated that they like math, and 58% that they think they are good at math. Test de mathematiques, 9e annee The Test de mathematiques, 9e annee is a multi-stage computer adaptive assessment that measures the mathematics knowledge and skills students are expected to have learned by the end of the Grade 9 mathematics course according to The Ontario Curriculum. According to the data from the 20232024 EQAO assessments, Grade 9 student achievement results, which are given in relation to the provincial standard (Levels 3 and 4), have increased relative to those from 20222023. The three-year trend shows an increase in the percentage of students meeting the provincial standard. Percentage of students who met the provincial standard in mathematics: 61% of Grade 9 students met the provincial standard in mathematics in 2023 2024 (60% met the standard in 20222023, and 56% met the standard in 20212022). Learners Context: 50% of Grade 9 students indicated that they like mathematics, and 52% that they think they are good at mathematics. 65% of Grade 9 students indicated that they think they understand most of the mathematics they are taught. Test provincial de competences linguistiques (TPCL) The TPCL is a linear test design computer assessment that measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects according to The Ontario Curriculum. First-time eligible students typically take the assessment in Grade 10. According to the data from 20232024, overall success rates on the TPCL are high, showing stability in students acquisition of the literacy knowledge and skills in The Ontario Curriculum. The three-year trend shows that success rates have increased. It is encouraging to note that the achievement gap between the success rates of students taking the applied course and those taking the academic course has been steadily narrowing over the past three years, although the achievement gap remains an area of concern. Percentage of students who wrote the TPCL and were successful: 92% of first-time eligible students who wrote the TPCL were successful in 20232024 (91% were successful in 20222023, and 89% were successful in 20212022). 67% of previously eligible students who wrote the TPCL were successful in 20232024 (76% were successful in 20222023, and 91% were successful in 20212022).3 First-time eligible students enrolled in the Grade 10 academic French course: 97% of first-time eligible students enrolled in the academic course were successful in 20232024 (97% were successful in 20222023, and 96% were successful in 20212022). First-time eligible students enrolled in the Grade 10 applied French course: 73% of first-time eligible students enrolled in the applied course were successful in 20232024 (71% were successful in 20222023, and 69% were successful in 20212022). Learners Context: 39% of students who wrote the TPCL indicated that they read on their own time, 64% indicated that they think they are a good reader and 73% indicated that they think they can read easily. 27% of students who wrote the TPCL indicated that they write on their own time, 57% indicated that they think they are a good writer and 64% indicated that they think they can write easily. Quotes EQAO contributes to the accountability of our public education system through assessments that are administered in elementary and secondary schools across the province. EQAOs modernized assessments serve the education community and other partners by producing evidence-based data that inform Ontarians on how students are doing in their learning year after year. Access to EQAO assessment data and appropriate use of this information is an important element of our collective support of students as they progress on their learning journey. Sanjay Dhebar, Chair, EQAO Each year, EQAO assessment and questionnaire results contribute insights into student learning throughout Ontario. Having completed the third administration of its provincial online assessments, EQAO is able to release achievement and contextual data that showcase trends over three years. The data at both the elementary- and the secondary-school levels show that mathematics achievement has been stable or growing since last year; this trend appears over three years as well. Reading achievement at the elementary-school level is high and shows an encouraging stability over time, while writing achievement deserves more attention. Closing learning gaps remains the ultimate goal of everyone invested in education. EQAO data and outreach help develop and strengthen initiatives that support students locally and system-wide, as assessment information enhances our understanding of students needs and strengths. The additional support that year-to-year data provide to parents and guardians, educators and policy-makers can lead to the development of effective plans of action that will assist every child and youth on their education journey and prepare for successful outcomes for all. Dan Koenig, Chief Executive Officer, EQAO Links For further information, please contact: Sophie Auclair Senior Communications Officer Sophie.Auclair@eqao.com _____________________ 1There was a considerable difference between the size and composition of the 20212022 previously eligible cohort and the size and composition of this cohort in both 20222023 and this school year due to the pandemic-related disruption to the tests in 20192020 and 20202021. 2The name of each assessment remains in French, since the French and English assessments are distinct in their content and the curricula they cover. 3There was a considerable difference between the size and composition of the 20212022 previously eligible cohort and the size and composition of this cohort in both 20222023 and this school year due to the pandemic-related disruption to the tests in 20192020 and 20202021. Lehi, Utah, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DigiCert, a leading global provider of digital trust, today announced the results of the inaugural DigiCert Quantum Readiness Awards. Cloudflare (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, won the prestigious honor, while Migros, one of the largest retail companies in Switzerland, and DXC Technology, a leading global technology service provider, were selected as finalists by the judges. The awards ceremony took place during DigiCerts World Quantum Readiness Day, a virtual event dedicated to raising awareness about the threats quantum computing poses and steps companies should take now to prepare. Cloudflare's journey towards post-quantum cryptography excellence started with experimentations in 2017, to deploying advanced algorithms to its services in 2022, to today providing broad post-quantum encryption support for free by default across its products and services to help customers secure their websites, APIs, cloud tools, and remote employees against future threats. Cloudflare has set a benchmark in the industry. Their proactive community-first approach, which includes open-sourcing implementations and extensive collaborations with industry partners, has significantly contributed to global standardization efforts. Cloudflares strategy of forming a dedicated task force, to facilitate the company-wide transition to secure both internal and external connections against quantum threats, showcases a commitment to innovation and security. Cloudflare's leadership in this field was further underscored by its commitment made at the 2023 Summit for Democracy, to make post-quantum cryptography available for free, solidifying its role as a pioneer in promoting a safer Internet for the future. "Cloudflare recognized early on that it was necessary to get our systems ready for the undefined time at which quantum computers would become a threat to cryptography," said John Graham-Cumming, Chief Technology Officer at Cloudflare. "We made a commitment to post quantum readiness in 2017 through the work of our Research team. We began working, doing experiments, and the result is this Quantum Readiness Award and the fact that all of our customers have post quantum cryptography available today." This year's honorees were selected by an expert panel of judges, including: Blair Canavan, Director, Alliances PQC Portfolio, Thales Tim Hollebeek, Industry Technology Strategist, DigiCert Dr. Ali El Kaafarani, CEO, PQShield Bill Newhouse, Cybersecurity Engineer & Project Lead, National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, NIST Alan Shimel, CEO, TechStrong Group Hugh Thompson, Chairman, RSAC Quantum computing presents both an unprecedented opportunity and a significant threat to the current encryption standards that enable security, trust and online privacy. It is encouraging to see many of the applicant companies leaning into this very important transformation to quantum agility in order to protect data and infrastructure, said Dr. Hugh Thompson, RSAC Chairman and Quantum Readiness Award judge. On behalf of the judging panel, we are excited to see Migros, DXC Technology, and of course, the winner, Cloudflare recognized for their efforts in acting with haste on this critical move to quantum resistant cryptography. Most enterprises (61%) report being unprepared for the threat posed by quantum computing. The DigiCert Quantum Readiness Awards recognizes organizations that are at the forefront of safeguarding digital security in the quantum era. These leaders are setting an example for what it means to be quantum-ready, demonstrating exceptional innovation in addressing quantum challenges. DigiCert Quantum Readiness Awards underscore the importance of collaborative efforts in developing robust defenses against the looming quantum threats. As quantum computing technology continues to advance, DigiCert remains committed to supporting organizations worldwide in their journey toward quantum preparedness. For more information about the Quantum Readiness Awards and World Quantum Readiness Day, please visit DigiCert's website. About DigiCert DigiCert is a leading global provider of digital trust, enabling individuals and businesses to engage online with the confidence that their footprint in the digital world is secure. DigiCert ONE, the platform for digital trust, provides organizations with centralized visibility and control over a broad range of public and private trust needs, securing websites, enterprise access and communication, software, identity, content and devices. DigiCert pairs its award-winning software with its industry leadership in standards, support and operations, and is the digital trust provider of choice for leading companies around the world. For more information, visit www.digicert.com or follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/digicert-inc-/. __PRESENT RANKIN INLET, Nunavut, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) and Sakku Investments Corporation (Sakku) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at fostering regional economic development, creating new opportunities for growth, while also deepening the historical connection between the Kivalliq Region and Manitoba. AGG, a proudly Indigenous- and northern-owned company, owns and operates the Port of Churchill, the Hudson Bay Railway, and other critical trade infrastructure in Northern Manitoba. This partnership with Rankin Inlet based Sakku, the Development Corporation of the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA), is set to advance joint initiatives that will contribute to the economic growth of both regions, with a focus on transportation, energy and telecommunications, infrastructure development, and workforce development. "We are excited to partner with Sakku to leverage the Arctic Trade Corridor. This agreement is designed to bring economic growth and cost savings to Kivallirmiut and Northern Manitoba, while also strengthening northern infrastructure to further assert Canadian Arctic sovereignty," said Chris Avery, CEO of AGG. "The revival of the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway is important for the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. We all benefit from increased frequency of resupply ships from Churchill, which will reduce costs for businesses and families in the region. The MOU weve signed means more of this work will continue for the benefit of the Kivalliq region. We look forward to working closely with AGG to achieve our shared goals," said David Kakuktinniq, President & CEO of Sakku Investments Corporation. Recent work undertaken by AGG is proving the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway are once again a viable and efficient way to ship goods and resources to and from the north, as well as international markets. The successful export of critical minerals from the Port of Churchill in August marks a key milestone in AGG's vision for an efficient, reliable, and prosperous Arctic Trade Corridor. These achievements demonstrate AGG's commitment to revitalizing the Hudson Bay Railway and diversifying the Port of Churchill and to its core principle of Indigenous economic reconciliation. With the support of the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba, AGG has replaced hundreds of thousands of rail ties, rebuilt multiple bridges, improved the reliability of operations, and cut rail travel times by 2.5 hours. These investments have been instrumental in securing important contracts and ensuring the stability and reliability of freight and passenger services. Sakku Investments Corporation has been advancing major projects in the Kivalliq region, including the recent acquisition of the Clarion Hotel in Winnipeg as the new Uquutaq Medical Boarding Home, is building the first modular housing manufacturing plant in Nunavut, now under construction in Arviat, and is leading major clean energy projects, including both transmission and solar generation and storage infrastructure. Looking ahead, AGG and Sakku will focus on: Continued investments in the Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay Railway to enhance capacity, efficiency and frequency of service to Nunavut. Exploring new joint ventures in areas such as renewable energy, telecommunications, and innovative technologies. Creating training and employment opportunities for local communities, with a focus on Indigenous and northern populations. Prioritizing projects that align with environmental sustainability and contribute to the long-term well-being of the region. About Sakku Investments Corporation Sakku Investments Corporation is an Inuit birthright corporation representing the interests of all Inuit in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. Sakku is the development arm of the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) and its objective is to generate sustainable revenue and strengthen KIAs capacity to enhance the quality of life of Kivallirmiut, fulfilling the promises of the Nunavut Land Claims agreement. About Arctic Gateway Group The Arctic Gateway Group is a proudly Indigenous- and community-owned Manitoba company that owns and operates the Port of Churchill, Canadas only Arctic seaport serviced by rail, as well as the Hudson Bay Railway, which operates from The Pas to Churchill. IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The burger world is ripe with tension as a potential Battle of the Better Burgers threatens to erupt. The spark? After Habit Burger & Grill's Double Charburger claimed the #1 spot on USA TODAY's 10Best list,* a series of billboards have popped up around California, with one particularly bold display catching eyes directly across from the iconic In-N-Out location near LAX. The billboards, part of a daring campaign by Habit Burger & Grill, congratulates In-N-Out on their second-place finish in a recent national burger ranking by USA TODAY 10Best. This not-so-subtle reminder of Habit's own first-place victory has set social media ablaze with speculation, arguments and excitement. Burger fans passionately defended their burger alliances in the comments section and questioning whether this playful jab will escalate into a full-fledged food fight. The most attention was drawn to In-N-Out's LAX location, where customers waiting in the drive-thru found themselves face-to-face with Habit's saucy billboard. Perched strategically above the drive-thru, the sign offers "congratulations" to In-N-Out for their #2 ranking, while proudly proclaiming Habit Burger's Double Char as the reigning #1 champ. This bold move has turned a simple burger run for In-N-Out fans into an unexpected talking point. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of burger options out there, and being second best is huge, said Habits Chief Marketing Officer Jack Hinchliffe. Second place is nothing to be ashamed of, especially in such a competitive field. I have immense respect for our competition and so although our tone is playful, the sentiment is genuine. We mean it when we say congratulations on #2. In a tale of two California burger titans, Habit Burger & Grill and In-N-Out have long been locked in a rivalry in the "better burger" category. In-N-Out, founded in Baldwin Park in 1948, and Habit, hailing from Santa Barbara since 1969, have spent decades competing for devoted fans. Now, Habit's Double Char has claimed the #1 ranking on USA Todays 10Best list. This victory may have officially ignited the "Battle of the Better Burger," transforming a simmering rivalry into a full-fledged grill-to-grill showdown. As Habit serves up playful jabs at its competitor, burger enthusiasts across California eagerly take sides, marking the dawn of a new era in the state's cherished burger culture. Known for its chargrilled, made-to-order burgers, Habit Burger & Grill reminds everyone that while they may have the #1-ranked burger, they're still the same humble, chargrilling neighbors they've always been just with a slightly bigger trophy case. Connect with Habit Burger & Grill on social media at: *Based on USA Today 10Best Readers Choice 2024 Awards for Best Fast Food Burger. (Published July 2024). About The Habit Restaurants, Inc. Born in sunny Southern California in 1969, Habit Burger & Grill is known for Charburgers cooked-to-order over an open flame. But the menu extends far beyond burgers it's a celebration of Californian-inspired flavors. Alongside the brand's signature Charburgers is a meaningful array of handcrafted sandwiches, crisp salads, and creamy shakes, ensuring there's something for everyone. Habit Burger & Grill has earned notable recognition, being featured in Newsweeks Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains 2023 and praised for its Tempura Green Beans, named as the top green bean dish in The Daily Meals Ranking Green Bean Dishes From 11 Chain Restaurants in 2023. Additionally, it was listed in Thrillists roundup of Underrated Burger Chains that Need to be in Every State! Habit Burger & Grill has since grown to over 385 restaurants across 14 states and internationally and continues to grow, serving up delicious meals that capture the essence of California feel-good food. Learn more at www.habitburger.com. The Habit Burger Grill Press Contact: HBGMedia@yum.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/45fd179a-d16a-40c8-bfe3-39adcdc88a07 MIAMI, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defiance ETFs, a leading provider of thematic and leverage-focused exchange-traded funds, is thrilled to announce that its MSTX ETF (1.75X MicroStrategy ETF) has surpassed $300 million in assets under management (AUM). This milestone underscores the strong investor demand and confidence in the products innovative approach to offering amplified exposure to MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR), a company known for its substantial Bitcoin holdings and cutting-edge data analytics solutions. Key Highlights: Unprecedented Growth: The MSTX ETFs rapid ascent to $300 million in AUM reflects investors growing interest in leveraged strategies and their desire to capitalize on the high volatility and significant movements in MicroStrategys stock. Innovative Investment Strategy: MSTX offers 1.75x the daily performance of MicroStrategys stock, providing sophisticated investors with a powerful tool to enhance their exposure to the companys dynamic market positioning. The ETF is designed for investors with a strong appetite for risk who seek the potential for amplified returns over short-term holding periods. Market Demand: The strong reception of the MSTX ETF signals confidence in Defiance ETFs ability to meet market demand for targeted leverage exposure, particularly in the tech and cryptocurrency sectors. MicroStrategys strategic focus on Bitcoin has made it a popular choice among investors looking to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency market. Strategic Timing: The launch of MSTX comes at a time when interest in both MicroStrategy and Bitcoin is surging, driven by the increasing institutional adoption of digital assets and the evolving landscape of corporate strategies centered around blockchain technology. We are excited to see such strong early interest in the MSTX ETF, which validates our belief in the demand for specialized leveraged products that offer precise exposure to high-growth sectors, said Sylvia Jablonski, CEO of Defiance ETFs. The rapid growth of MSTX is a testament to our teams ability to deliver innovative investment solutions that resonate with todays investors. About Defiance ETFs: Defiance ETFs is a leader in leverage-focused exchange-traded funds, providing innovative solutions designed for tactical traders and investors seeking amplified exposure to individual companies. For more information about the MSTX ETF or to explore Defiance ETFs full lineup of products, please visit DefianceETFs.com. Media Contact: David Hanono Defiance ETFs Tel: 833.333.9383 The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios. The Fund pursues a daily leveraged investment objective, which means that the Fund is riskier than alternatives that do not use leverage because the Fund magnifies the performance of its Underlying Security. The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by sophisticated investors, such as traders and active investors employing dynamic strategies. Investors who do not understand the Funds, or do not intend to actively manage their funds and monitor their investments should not buy shares of the Funds. About Defiance ETFs Founded in 2018, Defiance stands as a leading ETF issuer dedicated to income and thematic investing. Defiance also pioneers leveraged ETFs designed for traders seeking tactical opportunities. Our suite of first-mover leveraged & thematic ETFs empowers investors to express targeted views on disruptive innovations, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantum computing, while our actively managed options ETFs are designed to seek current income. Important Disclosures The Funds investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company. Please read carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectuses can be requested by calling 833.333.9383. Defiance ETFs LLC is the ETF sponsor. The Funds investment adviser is Tidal Investments, LLC (Tidal or the Adviser). Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee that the Funds investment strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment. Underlying Security Risk. The underlying security is subject to many risks that can negatively impact the Fund. Leverage Risk. Leverage may increase the risk of loss and cause fluctuations in the market value of the Funds portfolio to have disproportionately large effects or cause the NAV of the Fund generally to decline faster than it would otherwise. Derivatives Risk. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in market conditions and may amplify risks. Effects of Compounding and Market Volatility Risk. The Fund has a daily leveraged investment objective and the Funds performance for periods greater than a trading day will be the result of each days returns compounded over the period, which is very likely to differ from the Fund performance, before fees and expenses. Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security, may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole. MSTR Performance Risk. MSTR may fail to meet its publicly announced guidelines or other expectations about its business, which could cause the price of MSTR to decline. Bitcoin Risk. While the Fund will not directly invest in digital assets, it will be subject to the risks associated with Bitcoin by virtue of its investments in options contracts that reference MSTR. New Fund Risk. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund has no operating history and currently has fewer assets than larger funds. Like other new funds, large inflows and outflows may impact the Funds market exposure for limited periods of time. Brokerage Commissions may be charged on trades. MSTX is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/635bf72e-d601-46b0-ad6b-7b0377cd2e1f A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. SANDY, Utah, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain America Investment Services is pleased to announce the addition of Lucas Montes as the newest wealth advisor at its West Valley Branch. Originally from Argentina and a native Spanish speaker, Montes brings a wealth of experience and a unique bilingual capability that will enable him to serve a broader client base in the region. Montes joins Mountain America Investment Services from Fidelity Investments, where he developed a strong track record of helping clients navigate complex financial landscapes. His fluency in both English and Spanish will be a significant asset to the West Valley branch, providing personalized wealth management services to the growing Hispanic community. We are thrilled to welcome Lucas to the team, said Chad Waddoups, vice president of wealth management. His expertise combined with his bilingual skills will allow us to enhance the level of service we offer to our diverse clientele. We believe his experience and dedication will make a great impact here. As a wealth advisor, Montes will offer clients guidance on retirement planning, investment strategies, and comprehensive financial planning, with a focus on building long-term relationships. Montes attended Utah Valley University studying business administration and personal financial planning, graduating with his bachelors degree in 2018. To learn more or set up a virtual or in-person meeting with Lucas, visit macu.com/lmontes. For more information about Mountain America Investment Services, visit macu.com/wealth. About Mountain America Investment Services Mountain America Investment Services provides comprehensive, long-term wealth planning services to help credit union members work toward their goals. We specialize in offering support for personal investments, tax strategies, retirement, and estate planning. We provide investment services through LPL Financial at locations across the Intermountain West. Our team of experienced wealth advisors are here to guide you along your journey. About LPL Financial LPL Financial is a leader in the retail financial advice market and the nations largest independent broker-dealer.* We serve independent financial professionals and financial institutions, providing them with the technology, research, clearing and compliance services, and practice management programs they need to create and grow thriving practices. LPL enables them to provide independent guidance to millions of American families seeking wealth management, retirement planning, financial planning and asset management solutions. *Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine June 1996-2021 Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Mountain America Credit Union and Mountain America Investment Services are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Mountain America Investment Services, and may also be employees of Mountain America Credit Union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Mountain America Credit Union or Mountain America Investment Services. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: Not Insured by NCUA or Any Other Government Agency Not Credit Union Guaranteed Not Credit Union Deposits or Obligations May Lose Value Contact: publicrelations@macu.com MONTREAL, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX: SJ) (Stella-Jones or the Company) announced today that it has priced an inaugural offering of Canadian dollar denominated senior unsecured notes. Stella-Jones will issue C$400 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due October 1st, 2031, bearing interest at the rate of 4.312% per annum, payable semi-annually until maturity (the Notes). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay existing indebtedness under its revolving credit facilities, and any balance will be used for general corporate purposes. The Notes are being offered in Canada through an agency syndicate consisting of TD Securities Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc., as joint lead agents and bookrunners, along with Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc., as co-managers. The offering is expected to close on October 1st, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. The Notes will be unsecured obligations of Stella-Jones, will rank equally and pari passu with the other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Stella-Jones, and will be issued pursuant to a trust indenture, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, each to be dated the date of closing of the offering. Payment of the Notes will be guaranteed on an unsecured basis by certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of Stella-Jones. The Notes have been assigned a provisional rating of BBB, with a stable trend, by DBRS Limited.* The Notes will be offered on a private placement basis in each of the provinces of Canada in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws. The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Notes in the United States or any other jurisdiction where such offering or sale would be unlawful. * Credit ratings are not recommendations to purchase, hold or sell such securities as such ratings are not a comment upon the market price of the securities or their suitability for a particular investor. ABOUT STELLA-JONES Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX: SJ) is a leading North American manufacturer of pressure-treated wood products, focused on supporting infrastructure that is essential to the delivery of electrical distribution and transmission, and the operation and maintenance of railway transportation systems. It supplies the continents major electrical utilities and telecommunication companies with wood utility poles and North Americas Class 1, short line and commercial railroad operators with railway ties and timbers. It also supports infrastructure with industrial products, namely wood for railway bridges and crossings, marine and foundation pilings, construction timbers and coal tar-based products. Additionally, the Company manufactures and distributes premium treated residential lumber and accessories to Canadian and American retailers for outdoor applications, with a significant portion of the business devoted to servicing Canadian customers through its national manufacturing and distribution network. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains information and statements of a forward-looking nature, including statements regarding the timing and completion of the proposed offering of Notes and the expected use of the net proceeds of the offering. These statements are based on suppositions and uncertainties as well as on management's best possible evaluation of future events, including those referenced in the Companys continuous disclosure filings (available on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca). The completion of the proposed offering of Notes is subject to general market and other conditions and there can be no assurance that the proposed offering will be completed or that the terms of the proposed offering will not be modified. As a result, readers are advised that actual results may differ from expected results. Unless required to do so under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or other changes after the date hereof. EconoScope | World Manufacturing Convention welcomes rising global participation Ecns.cn) 11:51, September 26, 2024 The 2024 World Manufacturing Convention was held in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui province, from Sept. 20 to 23, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Han Suyuan) (ECNS) -- The 2024 World Manufacturing Convention, themed "Intelligent Manufacturing for a Better Future," was held in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, from Friday to Monday. The convention, focusing on the topic related to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, featured several exhibitions from domestic and international guests. It showcased achievements at national-level and Anhui manufacturing development since the founding of China, including the world's first 25MW offshore wind turbine main bearing, innovative Jinghua shield machine, Qijiang-2 humanoid robot, Jiuzhou Yunjian's LongYun rocket engine, Origin Wukong superconducting quantum computer, and FDS' Hedianbao nuclear power system. New and old friends commend business prospects John McLean OBE, chair of the China UK Business Development Centre, visited Anhui for the first time. He believed that the province has enormous growth potential, with its business environment and policy support making it an especially attractive investment destination. Among the first-time attendees was Vice Chairman of the Ulyanovsk provincial government of Russia Kabanov Oleg Vladimirovich. He told China News Network, the conference scale surprised him the most. As we all know, the larger the event, the more opportunities there are for participants to develop mutually beneficial cooperation." In 2017, Ulyanovsk and Anhui signed a cooperation agreement. Currently, both sides are working together to develop an action plan to implement a regional cooperation agreement. Sean Stein, chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, is an old friend of Anhui, and this marked his 15th visit to the province. Over the past 18 months, he has led delegations to Anhui twice, due to the growing interest of foreign companies and investors in the region. Stein noted that Anhui has a wealth of talent, a strong workforce, and a well-developed infrastructure, along with business-friendly policies introduced by the government. The government collaborates with businesses to create opportunities and improve the business environment, which he finds very encouraging. A Qijiang-2 humanoid robot hands fruit to a visitor at the 2024 World Manufacturing Convention held in Anhui Province on Sept. 20, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Han Suyuan) Carlos Magarinos, chairman emeritus of the Global Alliance of SMEs, was an important old guest at the convention. Magarinos said that returning to Anhui after six years filled him with joy. He was impressed by how Anhui has accurately grasped the new trends in global manufacturing development over the past six years and called the speed at which its manufacturing sector has grown truly remarkable. As one of the organizers, the alliance is very willing to engage in comprehensive, multi-level exchanges and cooperation with Anhui and other partners in fields including manufacturing. This will also encourage more international companies to establish themselves in China, especially in Anhui, to achieve resource sharing and win-win outcomes through practical cooperation, he said. Success of Chaohu Conference attracts global projects The Chaohu Overseas Chinese conference on innovation and entrepreneurship (Chaohu Conference) is a key event of the 2024 World Manufacturing Convention, aiming to bring together high-level talent from among the overseas alumni of prestigious institutions including the University of Science and Technology of China, to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Anhui, and further support high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. Li Shiyun, chairman of the Overseas Chinese Federation of Anhui Province, said that the Chaohu overseas Chinese conference has been successfully held seven times, including activities to present provincial development and new innovations by overseas Chinese, attracting over 1,000 alumni from prestigious universities in more than 100 countries and helping establish high-tech projects and talent teams locally. At the Chaohu conference matchmaking event of "Overseas Chinese innovation and entrepreneurship and Anhui-Hong Kong-Macao Manufacturing," 43 overseas Chinese projects, 33 Hong Kong and Macao projects, and five Hefei competition projects were signed, totaling over 36.3 billion yuan ($5.15 dollars) in investment. The China Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs signs several projects at each World Manufacturing Convention, with total contracts growing each year. Currently, the total investment from these signed projects is about 1.2 billion yuan, said Wang Bangkan, vice president of the federation. Over the past six years since 2018 when the World Manufacturing Convention made Hefei, Anhui, its permanent venue, the province has consistently issued invitations to the world, drawing in a diverse array of domestic and international business representatives. Notably, this year, foreign guests constituted more than 50 percent of key attendees for the first time. Since 2018, the convention has facilitated the signing of over 4,000 cooperative projects and attracted major initiatives, including Volkswagen's new energy vehicles from Germany. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Vancouver, September 26, 2024 - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: PEX) (OTCQB: PEXZF) (FSE: PQWN) ("Pacific Ridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has completed its inaugural drill program at the Chuchi copper-gold project ("Chuchi" or the "Project"), and that copper mineralization was intersected in every drill hole. Chuchi is road accessible and is located 35 km to the northwest of Centerra Gold Inc.'s ("Centerra") Mount Milligan mine in B.C. (see Figure 1). Highlights: Pacific Ridge completed 2,716 m in five diamond drill holes over a 750 m strike length across the BP Zone ("BPZ") (see Figures 2 and 3). Every drill hole intersected alkalic porphyry copper mineralization consisting of chalcopyrite and pyrite hosted in breccias, veins, and as disseminated mineral replacements. The results will be released once the assays are received and compiled. The Company believes that the BPZ has excellent potential for continued expansion of alkalic porphyry copper mineralization along strike and at depth. BPZ is just one of several porphyry targets that occur within a six-kilometre north-northwest trend at Chuchi (see Pacific Ridge news release dated April 30th, 2024). A two-hour drive from Fort Saint James, the drill program was completely ground-supported. Quote "The last major drill program at the BP Zone was more than three decades ago," said Blaine Monaghan, President and CEO of Pacific Ridge. The Company believes that the BP Zone has significant, untested potential for porphyry copper-gold mineralization along strike and at depth as many of the historical drill holes were shallow and ended in mineralization. We look forward to reporting the assay results from our very first drill program at Chuchi." Figure 1 Location of Chuchi and Pacific Ridge's Other Copper-Gold Porphyry Projects To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_001full.jpg Figure 2 Location of the BPZ and Other Targets at Chuchi To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_002full.jpg 2024 Drill Hole Program Design The 2024 drill program was designed to test the interpretation that BPZ mineralization forms a tabular shaped body with a high degree of northeast-trending structural control, has a steep westward dip (eastward tilt), and is deep rooted. It appears to be related to a 550 m (E-W) x 500 m (N-S) x 600 m (depth) stock complex. This interpretation is based on combined 3D geophysical inversion models (ZTEM and IP), grade shell model of historical drilling, and historical work. Further, drilling tested for evidence that BPZ is structurally segmented with greater preservation potential in downthrown blocks towards the northeast. Over the 750 m strike length of BPZ tested in 2024, sulfide mineralization appears to follow a northeast trending corridor centered on the North Central ("NC") fault zone (see Figures 3 and 4). Brecciated and altered lithological contact zones around the monzodiorite porphyry complex are also identified as areas of enhanced mineralization. Figure 3 2024 BPZ Drill Holes in Plan View with 3D ZTEM Model in Background To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_003full.jpg Figure 4 2024 Chuchi Drilling with 3D ZTEM Model in Background (450 m wide slice) and TMI Magnetics on Surface To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_004full.jpg CH-24-070 (azimuth 090, inclination -70, length 603 m) was collared on a historical drill trail near the centre of the BPZ, within the mapped calc-potassic alteration domain, and near drill hole CH-91-40 which returned 40 m at 0.45% Cu and 0.41 g/t Au from 64 m depth (see Table 1). Figure 5 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-070 at 406.0-406.5 m (See A in Figure 4) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_005full.jpg CH-24-071 (azimuth 088, inclination -80, length 577 m) was collared on a historical drill trail at the southern end of the BPZ, within the mapped potassic alteration domain, and in the area of historical drill hole CH-89-07 which returned 16 m at 0.71% Cu and 1.32 g/t Au within 100 m of 0.27% Cu and 0.37 g/t Au from 38 m depth (see Table 1). Figure 6 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-071 at 85.0 m (See B in Figure 4) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_006full.jpg CH-24-072 (azimuth 090, inclination -75, length 600 m) was collared on a historical drill trail at the southwestern side of the BP Zone, within the mapped calc-potassic alteration domain, and in the area of historical drill hole CH-90-27 which returned 70 m at 0.31% Cu and 0.34 g/t Au within 194 m of 0.21% Cu and 0.21 g/t Au from 32 m depth (see Table 1). Figure 7 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-072 at 388-389 m (See C in Figure 4) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_007full.jpg CH-24-073 (azimuth 036, inclination -55, length 588 m) was collared on a historical drill trail near the centre of the BPZ, within the mapped calc-potassic alteration domain. The in-field drill hole design was based on observations from the first three drill holes and on the identification of a previously unused drill trail that was optimally located to test the predicted high-grade core of the BPZ from numeric modelling of historical drilling results. Figure 8 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-073 at 505.0 m (See D in Figure 4) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_008full.jpg CH-24-074 (azimuth 300, inclination -70, length 348 m) was collared on a historical drill trail on the northeastern side of the BPZ, within the mapped calc-potassic alteration domain, and near historical drill hole CH-90-30 which returned 74 m at 0.26% Cu and 0.13 g/t Au from 182 m depth (see Table 1). Drilling tested the predicted core zone of the historical drilling results grade shell model. Figure 9 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-074 at 305.0 m (See E in Figure 4) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/224636_73ec6b91c47c39ad_009full.jpg Table 1 Historical Drill Highlights1 Hole No. From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) CuEq (%)2 AuEq (g/t)3 CH-89-07 38.0 138.0 100.0 0.27 0.37 0.51 0.76 Includes 82.0 98.0 16.0 0.71 1.32 1.60 2.37 CH-90-27 32.0 226.0 194.0 0.21 0.21 0.35 0.52 Includes 156.0 226.0 70.0 0.31 0.34 0.54 0.80 CH-90-30 98.0 256.0 158.0 0.22 0.10 0.29 0.43 Includes 182.0 256.0 74.0 0.26 0.13 0.35 0.52 CH-90-33 54.0 304.5 250.50 0.21 0.12 0.29 0.44 Includes 64.0 152.0 88.0 0.36 0.21 0.51 0.75 CH-90-37 54.3 262.1 207.8 0.22 0.12 0.30 0.45 Includes 110.0 154.0 44.0 0.35 0.18 0.47 0.70 CH-91-40 50.0 130.0 80.0 0.30 0.29 0.49 0.73 Includes 50.0 114.0 64.0 0.35 0.33 0.57 0.85 Includes 64.0 104.0 40.0 0.45 0.41 0.73 1.08 CH-91-42 91.4 320.6 229.2 0.10 0.61 0.51 0.76 Includes 94.0 144.0 50.0 0.09 2.10 1.50 2.23 Includes 94.0 122.0 28.0 0.07 3.61 2.49 3.70 And 200.0 242.0 42.0 0.13 0.55 0.50 0.74 CH-19-003 91.5 411.0 319.5 0.16 0.14 0.25 0.37 Includes 341.0 401.0 60.0 0.26 0.24 0.42 0.63 1Sources include: Chuchi project historical drilling database; also reported in BC Geological Survey (Branch) Assessment Reports 20018 (CH-89-7), 21113 (CH-90-27, CH-90-30, CH-90-33, CH-90-37), unpublished Placer Dome Inc. database (CH-91-40, CH-91-42), 39061 (CH-19-003). The Company has not independently validated all historic work, and the reader is cautioned about its accuracy. 2CuEq = ((Cu%) x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Au(g/t) x AuR/CuR x $Au x 0.032151) / ($Cu x 22.0462). 3AuEq = ((Au(g/t) x $Au x 0.032151) + ((Cu%) x CuR/AuR x $Cu x 22.0462) / ($Au x 0.032151). Commodity prices: $Cu = US$3.25/lb and $Au = US$1,800/oz. There has been no metallurgical testing on Chuchi mineralization. The Company estimates copper recoveries (CuR) of 84%, and gold recoveries (AuR) of 70% based on the average recoveries from Kemess Underground, Mount Milligan, and Red Chris. Factors: 22.0462 = Cu% to lbs per tonne and 0.032151 = Au g/t to troy oz per tonne. End of hole About Chuchi Chuchi is over 160 km2 in size and comprises three mineral tenure blocks, Chuchi, under option from Centerra, and Chuchi South and Chuchi West, under option from American Copper Development Corp. (ACDX: TSXV) and a private individual. The Project is road accessible and is located 35 km northwest of Centerra's Mount Milligan mine. The Project has seen less than 15,360 metres (89 drill holes) of historical drilling to an average vertical depth of 140 m. Most of this drilling was completed in 1989-1991. Chuchi hosts several compelling exploration targets within a six-kilometre-long porphyry trend, including the BPZ. The Company believes that Chuchi has significant untested potential for porphyry copper-gold mineralization at depth as many of the historic drill holes were shallow and ended in mineralization. Further, the porphyry centre has yet to be identified. About Pacific Ridge Our goal is to become B.C.'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 also includes the Chuchi copper-gold project, the 100% owned RDP copper-gold project, the 100% owned Onjo copper-gold project, and the 100% owned 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. 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 Danette Schwab, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration, and a 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 geological descriptions of the 2,716 m drill program at Chuchi. 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 because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Unconformity-Hosted Uranium Consists of 3.88% eU 3 O 8 over 13.2 metres, Including 23.22% eU 3 O 8 over 2.0 Metres Summer Drill Program Complete with Multiple Ultra High-Grade Uranium Intersections; Assays Pending Vancouver, September 26, 2024 - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the summer diamond drill program at the Pike Zone on the West McArthur Joint Venture project (the "Project") in the eastern Athabasca Basin. Multiple drillholes have confirmed high-grade mineralization, highlighted by WMA094-2 which intersected 3.88% eU 3 O 8 over 13.2 metres, including 23.22% eU 3 O 8 over 2.0 metres and WMA094-1 which intersected 3.41% eU 3 O 8 over 9.9 metres, including 8.08% eU 3 O 8 over 3.7 metres on expansion drilling to the west. These new drillholes expand the high-grade footprint at Pike Zone over 100 metres at the unconformity and indicate the potential for significant additional zones of ultra high-grade uranium mineralization to the west of the Pike Zone where the trend remains open along strike. The West McArthur project, a Joint Venture with Cameco Corp., is operated by CanAlaska that holds an 83.35% ownership in the Project (Figure 1). CanAlaska is sole-funding the 2024 West McArthur program, further increasing its majority ownership in the Project. Figure 1 - West McArthur Project Location To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/224642_1b45be42f4292b85_002full.jpg CanAlaska CEO, Cory Belyk, comments, "The intersection of ultra high-grade uranium 100 metres west of the main pod at Pike Zone is exactly what the team was hoping to achieve as part of the summer drilling program. Tier 1 Athabasca Basin uranium deposits commonly occur as high-grade 'pearls on a string' and this is what we are seeing develop at the Pike Zone. The importance of this new ultra high-grade uranium discovery to CanAlaska, our shareholders, and the Joint Venture cannot be understated. With drilling now complete and with nearly $12 million in CanAlaska's treasury, the team is now focused on developing the 2025 exploration program and budget with our partner to follow-up these incredible drilling results." Figure 2 - West McArthur Pike Zone Plan To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/224642_1b45be42f4292b85_003full.jpg New Ultra High-Grade Uranium Discovered The summer drill program on the West McArthur project is now complete. The program consisted of 15 unconformity tests split between Pike Zone expansion and extensional testing along the geophysical corridor. At the Pike Zone, 12 unconformity tests were completed, 11 of which contained uranium mineralization. The results of the summer drill program indicate a strike length of uranium mineralization along the unconformity target area of approximately 200 metres that remains open in all directions. Multiple drill fences within the unconformity target area define a high-grade core that remains open and extends over 100 metres in strike length. In addition, these results confirm that the Pike Zone remains open along strike to the west where the nearest drill hole is over 1 kilometre away. Drillhole WMA094, completed along section L0, intersected the graphitic stratigraphy approximately 15 metres below the unconformity and contained multiple intervals of unconformity and basement-hosted uranium mineralization. WMA094 was completed approximately 100 metres up-dip along the graphitic stratigraphy from the first Pike Zone basement-hosted discovery hole (WMA067). Subsequent drilling along L0 and L15W intersected unconformity-associated uranium mineralization in WMA094-1, WMA094-2, and WMA094-3. Drillhole WMA094-2, which intersected high-grade unconformity uranium mineralization consisting of 3.88% eU 3 O 8 over 13.2 metres, including ultra high-grade uranium mineralization of 23.22% eU 3 O 8 over 2.0 metres, indicates the significant potential for additional ultra high-grade zones or pods within and beyond the currently established Pike Zone footprint. Figure 3 - Pike Zone L0 and L15W Sections To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/224642_1b45be42f4292b85_006full.jpg The Company completed one additional drillhole on L70E, WMA082-15, which tested down-dip of the ultra high-grade uranium mineralization reported in WMA082-7 (see News Release dated July 9th, 2024). WMA082-15 returned basement-hosted uranium mineralization along the controlling structures on L70E. Table 1 - Radiometric Equivalent Uranium Grades DDH From (m) To (m) Length (m)5 Average Grade (% eU 3 O 8 )6 WMA0941,3 790.5 796.7 6.2 0.54 Including4 794.3 794.8 0.5 3.21 WMA0941,3 807.0 810.4 3.4 2.17 Including4 807.7 810.0 2.3 2.95 WMA0941,3 812.7 813.3 0.6 0.48 WMA0941,3 815.6 823.2 7.6 0.35 WMA094-11,3 790.7 800.6 9.9 3.41 Including4 792.1 795.8 3.7 8.08 Including4 796.8 797.2 0.4 3.09 WMA094-11,3 803.2 803.6 0.4 0.2 WMA094-21,3 784.7 797.9 13.2 3.88 Including4 794.4 796.4 2.0 23.22 WMA094-31,3 787.5 790.4 2.9 0.17 WMA094-31,3 791.4 796.8 5.4 0.41 WMA094-31,3 800.8 806.7 5.9 0.51 WMA094-31,3 814.8 816.4 1.6 0.83 WMA082-152,3 824.2 829.0 4.8 0.8 Including4 828.4 828.7 0.3 2.89 WMA082-152,3 835.7 836.3 0.6 0.31 WMA094, WMA094-1, WMA094-2, and WMA094-3 were all drilled at an azimuth of 313 with an inclination of -80.0, collared at 477,236 mE / 6,396,517 mN, 600 m A.S.L. (UTM NAD83 Z13N) as a pilot hole with subsequent daughter holes from WMA094. WMA082-15 was drilled at an azimuth of 295 with an inclination of -79.3, collared at 477,345 mE / 6,396,525 mN, 605 m A.S.L. (UTM NAD83 Z13N) as a daughter hole from WMA082. Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 0.1% eU 3 O 8 with a maximum of 1.0 m of internal dilution. Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 2.0% eU 3 O 8 with a maximum of 1.0 m of internal dilution. All reported depths and intervals are drill hole depths and intervals, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent true thicknesses, which have yet to be determined. Radiometric equivalent ("eU 3 O 8 ") derived from a calibrated gamma downhole probe. In addition, during the summer drill program, three drill holes were completed several kilometres along strike to the east of the Pike Zone on the geophysical target corridor. These drill holes were focused on testing geophysical gaps and structural targets identified from previous drill programs. Within WMA091 and WMA092, a broad sandstone structure characterized by strong silicification, clay alteration, and hydrothermal dravitic breccias was intersected. Within WMA093, a graphitic, chlorite altered fault zone was intersected approximately 90 metres into the basement. The results from the drill holes along strike to the east of the Pike Zone show encouraging post-Athabasca structural re-activation along the graphitic stratigraphy. The Company is currently engaged in the budget process for the 2025 exploration program. Geochemical assay results from the summer portion of the 2024 exploration program are pending. Figure 4 - WMA094-2 Core Photograph To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/224642_1b45be42f4292b85_008full.jpg Drillhole Details: WMA094: The lower sandstone column of WMA094 is strongly bleached with limonite alteration extending over 80 metres above the unconformity. Within the lower sandstone column, multiple metre-scale fault zones were intersected and are characterized by broken to blocky core, broad hydrothermal dravitic breccias with localized re-activation, and zones of quartz dissolution. One interval of unconformity-associated uranium mineralization was intersected and is associated with strongly grey-altered sandstone (Figure 3; Table 1). The unconformity contact between the Athabasca sandstone and underlying basement rocks is interpreted to be at 793.9 metres down hole. Several intervals of basement-hosted uranium mineralization were intersected throughout the graphitic pelitic rocks (Figure 3; Table 1). These zones are characterized by structurally-controlled, disseminated, and foliation-controlled uranium mineralization. Within the mineralized intervals, isolated intervals of core loss were recorded due to intense alteration and quartz dissolution. The basement is strongly clay and chlorite altered as a broad halo around the basement-hosted uranium mineralization with multiple re-activated fault zones throughout the interval. WMA094-1: The lower sandstone column of WMA094-1 is strongly bleached with limonite alteration extending over 90 metres above the unconformity. Within the lower sandstone column, multiple metre-scale fault zones were intersected and are characterized by broken to blocky core, large intervals of hydrothermal dravitic breccias with localized re-activation, and zones of quartz dissolution. Near the unconformity, the fault zones are associated with intense silicification and sooty pyrite alteration. WMA094-1 contains one main interval of unconformity-associated uranium mineralization characterized by massive to semi-massive, structurally-controlled, and disseminated mineralization associated with strong sooty pyrite, dark red hematite, and green-grey clay replacement immediately around the unconformity contact. (Figure 3; Table 1). Within the mineralized interval, isolated intervals of core loss were recorded due to intense alteration and quartz dissolution. The unconformity contact between the Athabasca sandstone and underlying basement rocks is interpreted to be at 795.1 metres down hole. The basement is strongly clay and chlorite altered as a broad halo around the high-grade uranium mineralization with multiple re-activated fault zones throughout the interval. WMA094-2: The lower sandstone column of WMA094-2 is strongly bleached with limonite alteration extending over 90 metres above the unconformity. Within the lower sandstone column, multiple metre-scale fault zones were intersected and are characterized by broken to blocky core, large intervals of hydrothermal dravitic breccias with localized re-activation, and zones of quartz dissolution. Near the unconformity, the fault zones are associated with intense silicification and sooty pyrite alteration. WMA094-2 contains one main interval of unconformity-associated uranium mineralization characterized by massive to semi-massive, structurally-controlled, and disseminated mineralization associated with strong sooty pyrite, dark red hematite, and green-grey clay replacement immediately around the unconformity contact. (Figure 3; Figure 4; Table 1). Within the mineralized interval, isolated intervals of core loss were recorded due to intense alteration and quartz dissolution. The unconformity contact between the Athabasca sandstone and underlying basement rocks is interpreted to be at 799.8 metres down hole. The basement is strongly clay and chlorite altered as a broad halo around the high-grade uranium mineralization with multiple re-activated fault zones throughout the interval. WMA094-3: The lower sandstone column of WMA094-3 is strongly bleached with limonite alteration extending over 80 metres above the unconformity. Within the lower sandstone column, multiple metre-scale fault zones were intersected and are characterized by broken to blocky core, large intervals of hydrothermal dravitic breccias with localized re-activation, and zones of quartz dissolution. Near the unconformity, the fault zones are associated with silicification and sooty pyrite alteration. WMA094-3 contains two intervals of unconformity-associated uranium mineralization characterized by structurally-controlled and disseminated mineralization associated with strong sooty pyrite, dark red hematite, and green-grey clay replacement immediately around the unconformity contact. (Figure 3; Table 1). Within the mineralized interval, isolated intervals of core loss were recorded due to intense alteration and quartz dissolution. The unconformity contact between the Athabasca sandstone and underlying basement rocks is interpreted to be at 794.6 metres down hole. Several intervals of basement-hosted uranium mineralization were intersected throughout the graphitic pelitic rocks (Figure 3; Table 1). These zones are characterized by semi-massive, structurally-controlled, and disseminated uranium mineralization. The basement is strongly clay and chlorite altered as a broad halo around the high-grade uranium mineralization with multiple re-activated fault zones throughout the interval. WMA091 was completed 4.3 kilometres along strike to the east of the Pike Zone. Within the basal sandstone, from 580 - 630 metres, a large post-Athabasca fault zone was intersected. The fault zone is characterized by strong bleaching and silicification with multiple re-activated hydrothermal dravitic breccia zones. WMA092 was completed 4.6 kilometres along strike to the east of the Pike Zone, following up the results from WMA091. In WMA092, a large post-Athabasca sandstone fault zone was intersected immediately at the unconformity, from 765 - 810 m, and was characterized by strong bleaching, limonite, silicification with multiple re-activated hydrothermal dravitic breccia zones. WMA093 was completed 5.1 kilometres along strike to the east of the Pike Zone, following up the encouraging sandstone structures in WMA091 and WMA092. WMA093 intersected a 7 metre-wide post-Athabasca basement fault zone approximately 90 metres below the unconformity. The fault zone was hosted in a chlorite-altered graphitic pelite interval with intervals of clay gouge and breccia. Other News The Company will be presenting a webinar hosted by Red Cloud on October 2nd, 2024. Registration is available through the following link: https://redcloudfs.com/events/rcwebinar-cvv-4/ The Company invites you to view a special video tour of the West McArthur uranium project. This video provides an exclusive look at our key exploration activities and the exciting potential of the Pike Zone discovery. The video tour is available on the Company's YouTube channel or through the following link: Inside West McArthur: Exploring High-Grade Uranium with CEO Cory Belyk and VP Nathan Bridge (youtube.com) Geochemical Sampling Procedures and Use of Radiometric Equivalent Grades All drill core samples from the program were shipped to the Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories (SRC) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in secure containment for preparation, processing, and multi-element analysis by ICP-MS and ICP-OES using total (HF:NHO3:HClO4) and partial digestion (HNO3:HCl), boron by fusion, and U 3 O 8 wt% assay by ICP-OES using higher grade standards. Assay samples are chosen based on downhole probing radiometric equivalent uranium grades and scintillometer (SPP2 or CT007-M) peaks. Assay sample intervals comprise 0.3 - 0.8 metre continuous half-core split samples over the mineralized intervals. With all assay samples, one half of the split sample is retained and the other sent to the SRC for analysis. The SRC is an ISO/IEC 17025/2005 and Standards Council of Canada certified analytical laboratory. Blanks, standard reference materials, and repeats are inserted into the sample stream at regular intervals by CanAlaska and the SRC in accordance with CanAlaska's quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. Geochemical assay data are subject to verification procedures by qualified persons employed by CanAlaska prior to disclosure. During active exploration programs drillholes are radiometrically logged using calibrated downhole GeoVista NGRS and TGGS (Triple GM) gamma probes which collect continuous readings along the length of the drillhole. Preliminary radiometric equivalent uranium grades ("eU 3 O 8 ") are then calculated from the downhole radiometric results. The probe is calibrated using an algorithm calculated from the calibration of the probe at the Saskatchewan Research Council facility in Saskatoon and from the comparison of probe results against geochemical analyses. At extremely high radiometric equivalent uranium grades, downhole gamma probes may become saturated, resulting in the probe being overwhelmed, which in turn can create difficulties in accurately determining extremely high-grade radiometric equivalent uranium grades, and a cap may be applied to the grade. The equivalent uranium grades are preliminary and are subsequently reported as definitive assay grades following sampling and chemical analysis of the mineralized drill core. In the case where core recovery within a mineralized intersection is poor or non-existent, radiometric grades are considered to be more representative of the mineralized intersection and may be reported in the place of assay grades. Radiometric equivalent probe results are subject to verification procedures by qualified persons employed by CanAlaska prior to disclosure. All reported depths and intervals are drill hole depths and intervals, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent true thicknesses, which have yet to be determined. About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) is a Canadian based exploration company and holds interest in approximately 500,000 hectares (1,235,000 acres) in Canada's Athabasca Basin focused on exploration and discovery of high-grade unconformity uranium deposits. The Company is actively advancing the Pike Zone discovery - a new high-grade uranium discovery on its West McArthur Joint Venture project in the eastern Athabasca Basin. In addition, the Company has several other uranium-focused exploration programs. CanAlaska deploys a hybrid project generator model, focusing on the acquisition and sale of prospective projects, while also executing exploration programs on CanAlaska's most strategic land holdings. The Company's extensive portfolio has attracted international mining companies, including Cameco Corporation and Denison Mines as active partners. CanAlaska is led by an experienced team of professionals with a proven track record of discovery. The Company's head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with a satellite office in Vancouver, BC, Canada. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration for CanAlaska Uranium Ltd., who has reviewed and approved its contents. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Cory Belyk" Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC CEO, President and Director CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. 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 information 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. 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. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend 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/224642 TORONTO, September 26, 2024 - Enerev5 Metals Inc. ("Enerev5" or the "Company") (TSXV:ENEV / OTCQB:ENEVF) announces that it plans to raise $150,000 for working capital and administrative expenses the details of which are below. The Company plans to issue up to 15,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.01 per unit ($150,000). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.05 for a period of five years from the date of issue. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general and administrative expenses and for working capital. Assuming aggregate gross proceeds are raised, approximately 20% will be used for Non-Arm's length salaries, 80% for its annual audit and corporate expenses. Insiders of the Company may participate in issuance of such common shares which may constitute a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemption from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 (as a result of its common shares being listed on the TSXV) and the exemption from the minority approval requirement in section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 (as neither the fair market value of the common shares distributed to, nor the consideration paid by, such directors and officers or insiders will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization). The Comapny also wishes to announce the settlement of up to $366,402 of debt with the issuance of 36,640,200 common shares priced at $0.01 per share. Management and directors will be participating in the debt settlement for a total of $189,750. Four insiders of the Company, Errol Farr (CFO), Michael Cachia (Independent Director), Samuel Peralta (former Independent Director) and the estate of William F. White (plus 10% shareholder), and four other arms'-length creditors have agreed to convert outstanding debt. No Warrants will be issued in connection with the debt settlement. The debt settlement transaction is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The debt settlement will not create a new Insider nor a new Control Person. The Company believes it is in the best interest of its shareholders to reduce the amount of accrued indebtedness to improve its financial position. The issuance of a portion of the Common Shares in the debt settlement transaction constitutes a Related Party Transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101, as directors, officers and Insiders of the Company will receive an aggregate of 26,754,900 Common Shares. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the debt settlement insofar as it involves Related Parties, does not exceed 25 per cent of the market capitalization of Enerev5. Additionally, no new Insider nor new Control Person will be created as a result of either the debt conversion transaction or the private placement Offering. All securities issued in these offerings are subject to a 4-month hold period from the date of closing. The Company also wishes to acknowledge that on March 22, 203, May 22, 2023 and September 26, 2023, William F White advanced $60,000, $34,000 and $28,000 repsectively to the Company in anticipation of participating in private placements then open at those times. The private placements did not close and Mr. White and the Company agreed to treat the advances as loans bearing interest at 7.2% annually. On April 17 and May 3, 2024, IBK Capital Inc. advanced $2,000 and $10,000 respectively to pay operating costs of the Company with these loans bearing interest at 7.2% annually. These loans plus accrued interest are part of the debt settlement contemplated above. About Enerev5 Metals Inc. Enerev5 Metals Inc. (TSXV: ENEV/ OTCPinks:ENEVF) is a Canadian resource company which has been focusing on exploration and development potential, related to energy metals such as nickel, copper, cobalt and other strategic battery minerals, as well as other net zero carbon related assets. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's filings at www.sedarplus.ca. For additional information, please contact: John F. O'Donnell CEO and Chairman of the Board Enerev5 Metals Inc. Telephone: +1-647-966-3100 Website: www.enerev5.com Forward-Looking Statements This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. .Such statements include those regarding the proposed financing and debt settlements, including the success and timing thereof. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such 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 the statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. These include market prices, exploitation, and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, including the continuing effects of the COVID pandemic and the situation in Ukraine. 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. For more information on the Company, investors should review registered filings at www.sedarplus.ca or on its website at www.enerev5.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ VANCOUVER, Sept. 26, 2024 - Outcrop Silver & Gold Corp. (TSXV: OCG) (OTCQX: OCGSF) (DE: MRG) ("Outcrop Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of 22,727,273 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.22 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $5,000,000 (the "Offering"). The Company is pleased to advise that Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., has subscribed for the entire Offering. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and of one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.30 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for the exploration and development of the Santa Ana Project, working capital and general corporate purposes. The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about October 3, 2024 (the "Closing"). The Units to be issued under the Offering will have a hold period of four months and one day from Closing. The Company will pay finder's fees to eligible finders in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). The issuance of the Units and payment of the Finder's Fee is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSXV. This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements and applicable U.S. state securities laws. About Outcrop Silver Outcrop Silver is a leading explorer and developer focused on advancing its flagship Santa Ana high-grade silver project in Colombia. Leveraging a disciplined and seasoned team of professionals with decades of experience in the region. Outcrop Silver is dedicated to expanding current mineral resources through strategic exploration initiatives. At the core of our operations is a commitment to responsible mining practices and community engagement, underscoring our approach to sustainable development. Our expertise in navigating complex geological and market conditions enables us to consistently identify and capitalize on opportunities to enhance shareholder value. With a deep understanding of the Colombian mining landscape and a track record of successful exploration, Outcrop Silver is poised to transform the Santa Ana project into a significant silver producer, contributing positively to the local economy and setting new standards in the mining industry. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking statements This news release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements relating to the expected size of the Offering, the anticipated timing of closing the Offering, the ability of the Company to satisfy all conditions to closing the Offering, and the expected use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include general economic and capital markets conditions, stock market volatility, the ability of the Company to obtain necessary consents for the Offering, including the approval of the Exchange, and the ability of the Company to complete the Offering on the terms expected or at all. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, they are based on factors and assumptions, based on currently available information, concerning future events, which may prove to be inaccurate. As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future plans, operations, results, levels of activity or achievements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Outcrop Silver & Gold Corporation /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ LONGUEUIL, Sept. 26, 2024 - Greenheart Gold Inc. (TSXV: GHRT) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that as a result of strong investor demand, the Company has amended its agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity and Paradigm Capital (collectively, the "Underwriters"), to increase the size of its previously announced "bought deal" private placement to aggregate gross proceeds of C$33,000,000 (the "Offering"), consisting of 66,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of C$0.50 per Common Share (the "Offering Price"). The Company has also granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 9,900,000 Common Shares at the Offering Price for additional gross proceeds of up to C$4,950,000 exercisable at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering. The net proceeds received from the Offering will be used by the Company to acquire and explore mineral properties in Guyana and Suriname, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. It is anticipated that closing of the Offering will occur on or about October 17, 2024, or such other date or dates as the Company and the Underwriters may agree. The Offering is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities sold under the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period in Canada. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. About Greenheart Gold Inc. Greenheart Gold is an exploration company that builds on a proven legacy of discoveries in the Guiana Shield, a highly prospective geologic terrain that hosts numerous gold deposits, though remains relatively under-explored. The Company is aiming to build a portfolio of early-stage projects in Guyana and Suriname that are prospective for orogenic gold deposits. Greenheart Gold is a Canadian corporation that was created as a "spin-off" from the business combination between G Mining Ventures Corp. and Reunion Gold Corp. completed on July 15, 2024. The Company is led by former executive team members of Reunion Gold, a team that was most recently noted for the discovery and delineation of the Oko West deposit in Guyana, which is set to become the next gold development project in the region. Greenheart Gold trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'GHRT'. Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.greenheartgold.com). Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to the listing of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange, the use of proceeds of the Offering, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, and the Company's plans and objectives and more generally, the section entitled "About Greenheart Gold Inc". Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions include, without limitation, those underlying the statements in the section entitled "About Greenheart Gold Inc.". Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific in nature, including among others, those risks and uncertainties set forth in the Listing Application (Form 2B) dated August 30, 2024, management's discussion & analysis for the initial period from April 19, 2024 to June 30, 2024 and other documents and reports filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulators available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and the risk that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future outcomes. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that the list of factors set forth in the Company's filings that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent 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 press release. SOURCE Greenheart Gold Inc. Spokesman plays down fears about Madrid GP A government spokesman in Madrid has played down new fears about the health of the new Formula 1 project. Singapore GP 2024 Haas The Spanish capital, via its events subsidiary Ifema, has agreed a long-term deal with F1 to host a brand new street race from 2026 - even taking over the Spanish GP title from the now-endangered existing host in Barcelona. But the city council's economy and finance head, Engracia Hidalgo, admitted this week that race organisers have yet to find any private investors for the F1 event. However, official Madrid government spokesman Miguel Angel Garcia insists that Ifema is still complying with its work program in preparation for the race's 2026 debut. He insisted that taxpayers will not provide funds for the F1 event. Ifema Madrid, as the promoter, is fulfilling its work program and taking the necessary steps so that our region can host an event like this, he added. (Ifema) is working with the calendar that had been set. We remain calm that the Formula 1 event is well underway. With a similar reassuring message is the urban planning delegate, Borja Carabante. No pessimism at all, he insisted. I think it is extraordinary news that such an important event as Formula 1 is coming, which represents a lot of money in investment and direct jobs, and above all positions Madrid as a capital that is experiencing its best moment. (GMM) After spending the last few weeks going over the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) updated plans for the Rock Springs Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP), the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners has submitted a letter to the BLM to protest the RMP and highlight their concerns about the plan. The county's protest focused on the BLM's failure to follow proper procedures in the RMP process, and highlighted the potential negative socioeconomic impacts the proposed RMP could have on Sweetwater County. After the RMP draft was released last year and received thousands of comments, the BLM made changes and released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Proposed Resource Management Plan on August 22, kicking off a protest period. With almost exactly a month to file a protest, the county started going through the document. Land Use Director Eric Bingham, Chief Civil Deputy and Prosecuting Attorney John DeLeon and Environmental Attorney Danielle Bettencourt have worked together on responding to the RMP over the past year, and they once again teamed up to put together the county's protest letter, working closely with the county commissioners. The commissioners discussed the letter's progress at both their September 3 and September 17 meetings, and hosted a special meeting on September 20 where they approved the protest letter, which had to be filed by September 23. "We have gone through the Resource Management Plan and identified some of the comments that were addressed by the Bureau of Land Management in their FEIS and some of the items that we still have concerns with," Bingham told the commissioners during the September 3 meeting. Bingham showed the commissioners maps comparing the differences between the currently existing RMP, the BLM's previous preferred Alternative B, and the new proposed plan. He used the maps to highlights changes in things like Areas of Critical Environmental Concerns (ACECs), trail corridors, visual resource management areas, and right of ways, all of which influence what development can take place in certain areas. Commission Chairman Keaton West noted that the proposed RMP did address some of the previous concerns, and made improvements in areas like the checkerboard and Little Mountain, but all of the commissioners expressed the fact that they still have concerns. "It has improved from Alternative B, but I don't think many understand the severity that Alternative B brought forth," Commission Chairman Keaton West said. "It's a large change from Alternative B to the proposed RMP, but it's still a significant hit, especially to oil and gas, and that's problematic." Commissioner Taylor Jones agreed, pointing out how different the proposed RMP is from what currently exists. Both he and Commissioner Island Richards expressed concern about the possibility of current leases for oil and gas being in restricted areas under the new RMP, and either being difficult to renew or difficult to access to get the product out. "They layered upon layered ways to destroy our economy," Commissioner Richards commented. "It hurts us in a number of different ways, and what they have proposed is absolutely not a balance," Jones said. During their special meeting last Friday to approve the letter, the commissioners and Bingham went over some of the final details to be added to the letter, including addressing the potential socioeconomic impacts of the proposed RMP. Commissioner Mary Thoman pointed out that the cooperators who worked on the RMP for years wanted to heavily emphasize the fact that the RMP used outdated models when it presented its information on socioeconomic impacts, using models that were nearly a decade old. Bingham also pointed out that the BLM didn't do much actual study on socioeconomic impacts, even with the outdated models, and only provided a range of potential effects but not specifics. The protest letter points out that the county relies on income from natural gas, oil and trona, and a decrease in valuation due to closing public lands to fluid mineral leasing or closing access to areas "will severely impact a wide range of County services that depend on this money." The proposed RMP shows a potential 74% reduction in oil and gas production, which the county explains would result in a loss of over $12 million. "The most significant revenue shortfall would impact local school districts, whose revenue would drop from $8,502,839.98 to $2,946,684.32," the protest letter states. "This loss of public revenue would further reduce funding for essential services, including health and safety agencies such as the Sheriff's Department, County Health, and Sweetwater County Public Works." "The biggest thing when you look at this letter and the protest is BLM's lack of following procedures and process," Bingham also explained to the commissioners. The bulk of the protest letter goes into detail about the ways the BLM failed to follow proper procedures. "The BLM's complete disregard for mandatory processes and procedures outlined in FLPMA, NEPA, and implementing regulations and policies has resulted in a flawed and unsupported Proposed RMPA and FEIS," the letter concludes. "The only way to sufficiently resolve the many errors and insufficient analysis is to either go back to step one and start the RMPA again or conduct a supplement environmental impact statement that is based on appropriate inventories of the planning area with the appropriate level of involvement of the cooperators during the process." Other leaders throughout Wyoming have also been at work to protest or try to stop the proposed RMP. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman introduced a bill to prohibit the implementation of the RMP and FEIS, which has been passed by the House Natural Resources Committee. Governor Mark Gordon announced on Wednesday that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming Game and Fish, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and Wyoming State Parks submitted protest packages to the BLM. The BLM Director is required to respond to these protests, and a Protest Resolution Report will be published by the BLM in the near future, according to Governor Gordon's office. The Governor is also conducting the 60-day consistency review that is part of the process, and his review will be submitted and reviewed in late October. Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann announced Sept. 13 that the Cody man whose girlfriend disappeared while the couple and their two children were returning from Alabama in October of 2023 was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson. Adam Shane Aviles, Jr., age 26, of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Based on evidence presented by the government at the sentencing hearing, Judge Johnson found that Aviles unlawfully possessed the ammunition in connection with the voluntary manslaughter of Katheryn Ferguson. She was reported missing in October 2023 and is presumed dead. Aviles was arrested in early November 2023, after the Park County Sheriffs Office found bullet holes, a fully loaded .45 caliber magazine and ammunition, and numerous blood-stained items inside his vehicle. Aviles is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. Aviles was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 15, 2023 and he pleaded guilty on Jun. 14. Todays sentence is a product of close cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors. We hope the sentence provides a measure of justice, however partial, for the loss of Katheryn Ferguson to her children and her family, said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. This case is a sad reminder that felons cannot be trusted with firearms. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to aggressively prosecute gun crimes to help make the people of Wyoming safer. This crime was investigated by the Park County Sheriffs Office, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Other recent sentencings, crimes on public lands: Clarence Yoder, 40, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty to three separate charges last week. The first offense was for intentionally disturbing bison for which he was sentenced to a ten-day term of incarceration with credit for two days served and was fined $3,000. He also pleaded guilty to being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that rendered him a danger to himself and others and was fined $200. Finally, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was fined $250. Yoder was placed on two years of unsupervised probation. He is not permitted to enter Yellowstone National Park during his term of probation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 10, in Mammoth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel C. Calmes prosecuted the case. Recognizing voter concerns over non-citizens attempting to vote nationwide, Governor Mark Gordon issued an Executive Order (EO) directing state agencies to take further steps to ensure Wyomings elections continue to be safe and secure. Recognizing the Biden/Harris Administrations disastrous border policies compel us to do all we can to protect the integrity of our elections, I, alongside fellow Republican Governors, have taken the action afforded to me by the Constitution and the Laws of Wyoming to confirm the security of Wyomings elections, Governor Gordon said. I remain confident Wyomings elections are the most secure in the nation, the Governor added. As required by the laws enacted by the legislature, our county clerks are thorough and diligent when determining, investigating and verifying voter citizenship. With this Executive Order, I reaffirm my commitment to that ideal. Residents can be confident that this order removes any confusion and clarifies for our agencies should there be any doubt that they will not enable or facilitate any noncitizen to register to vote or help them to vote. Executive Order 2024-11 directs State agencies to take a variety of actions to ensure that non-citizens do not vote or register to vote. State agencies may not provide voter registration materials to non-citizens and must confirm that they are not required to provide those materials to non-citizens when contracting with federal programs or agencies. In addition, the EO encourages the Secretary of State and the County Clerks to continue to effectively and efficiently use the tools provided to each of them by Wyomings election code to investigate and verify voter registration. The Wyoming Constitution requires every person to be a citizen of the United States before they can legally register and vote in Wyoming. As he did earlier this year, the Governor continues to urge the legislature to provide clarity on the definition of the term bona fide resident. Wyomings county clerks have indicated to the Legislature that this clarification is needed, and the Governor agrees. In response to Governor Gordons Executive Order 2024-11, Secretary Chuck Gray made the following statement: Im glad that Governor Gordon appears to be retreating from some of his previous wrong statements regarding our election integrity efforts. The Governors statement and executive order show he may be beginning to take the issues we previously identified with the Biden Administrations unconstitutional use of executive action to convert federal agencies into vote harvesting operations seriously. But this statement and executive order do not address in any way the problem he created when he vetoed our rulemaking in April, which would have been the key fix to stop illegal aliens from voting. Wyoming needs proof of residency and citizenship verification for voting to ensure that only Wyomingites are voting in Wyoming elections. As I have previously said, we also need a durational residency requirement. I continue to hope that Governor Gordon will agree to work with us and the legislature to actually address the problem head-on. The spirit of generosity has been strong in Sweetwater County recently, with several organizations working together to give and receive donations to support important causes. Boys and Girls Club "The Boys and Girls Club of Sweetwater County was gifted with an awesome donation for members and families to enjoy," the club recently announced in a press release. "Dawson Bernard chose to donate this year's 4-H pig to the club as part of the Fair to Fork program." Dawson Bernard is a freshman at Green River High School this year. This is his seventh year showing and raising pigs for 4-H, and his first year with Green River FFA. "He is excited to explore more with the FFA program," the press release said of Bernard. "In his spare time he enjoys fishing, playing Xbox and spending time with his family. He was excited to be able to help other youth in Sweetwater County." The Fair to Fork program is part of the First Lady Jenny Gordon's Hunger Initiative that helps many non-profits and organizations throughout Wyoming. "Sources of high-quality protein are notoriously expensive and difficult to procure for local anti-hunger organizations," the press release said. "In partnership with University of Wyoming Extension 4-H and FFA, Fair to Fork works to purchase secondary hogs through a lottery selection, from every county in Wyoming. Wyoming Hunger Initiative will purchase the pig, ensure the meat is processed by a USDA or state-inspected participating facility, and then coordinate with the 4-H or FFA member to donate it to a local anti-hunger organization in the county of origin." Women's Club The GFWC Women's Club of Sweetwater County recently received a donation to help with their latest community impact project. "This project was the purchase of a six-foot metal bench to be dedicated to veterans and placed beside the columbarium reserved for veterans in the Green River Cemetery," the Women's Club explained in a press release. JJ Hadley with BAB Investments recently gave the club a generous donation to help complete the project. "We want to thank BAB Investments as well as the people who donated at our booth at Green River Farmers Market and those who donated at the Green River American Legion," Club President Marcia Volner said. "It is through this support that we are able to help our community." Western awarded $1.9M to launch Nuclear Technology Program Western Wyoming Community College (Western) is excited to announce the award of $1.9 million from Governor Mark Gordons Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) to establish a groundbreaking Nuclear Technology Program. As Wyominglong known as the Energy Stateembraces the rapidly expanding nuclear energy sector, Westerns program will be the first of its kind in Wyoming, offering both a certificate and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Nuclear Technology. Wyoming has built its reputation as the Energy State through its vast resources in coal, oil, natural gas, and wind. Now, with the development of advanced nuclear power, Wyoming is poised to lead the nation in innovative energy solutions. A key part of this transformation is the construction of the TerraPower Natrium facility in Kemmerer, Wyominga next-generation nuclear plant backed by TerraPower, a company founded by Bill Gates. The Natrium facility, scheduled to begin operations in the late 2020s, represents a major step in diversifying Wyomings energy portfolio with a cleaner, more sustainable source of power. Westerns Nuclear Technology Program will equip students with essential knowledge and hands-on experience in areas such as reactor operations, radiation protection, and safety protocols. Utilizing industry-standard facilities, students will benefit from the expertise of Westerns experienced faculty, ensuring they are well-prepared to enter Wyomings emerging nuclear workforce. Westerns Nuclear Technology Program addresses a critical workforce need in Wyoming and in the future, the surrounding states, said Westerns President, Dr. Kirk Young. With TerraPowers advanced nuclear facility slated to begin hiring in 2027, our program will align perfectly with regional industry demands, preparing a pipeline of skilled workers ready to support the nuclear power sector. According to industry projections by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. nuclear sector anticipates approximately 500 job openings for nuclear technicians annually over the next decade. The TerraPower Natrium project is expected to create numerous job openings as it begins its hiring process in the coming years, further increasing the demand for well-trained nuclear professionals in Wyoming. Westerns Nuclear Technology Program will provide students with both the academic and technical skills needed for successful careers in nuclear power generation. The programs development is directly tied to the Natrium facility in Kemmerer, as Western recognized the need for nuclear industry expertise throughout Wyoming and neighboring states. Supported by the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP), this program will not only serve local economic and energy diversification efforts but will also contribute to the nations broader clean energy goals. Western launches new program in software development Western Wyoming Community College is proud to announce the launch of its new Associate of Science in Software Development, designed to equip students with the skills needed for a rapidly evolving technology landscape. This cutting-edge program aligns with the increasing demand for skilled software developers and addresses a critical need in the tech industry. The program is accepting students starting Fall 2024. According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of software developers is projected to grow 26% from 2022 to 2032, significantly faster than the average 3% for all occupations. This surge is driven by the continual expansion of technology and the increasing reliance on software solutions. With the software development field offering median annual wages exceeding $100,000, according to the BLS, it represents a promising career path for those seeking stability and growth in the workforce. The Associate of Science in Software Development program curriculum prioritizes projects developed with the help of our industry partners to use current trends in programming tools and languages. This prepares the students to become experts in practical coding applications by gaining experience in making the innovations our tech-driven world needs here and now. The digital world is rapidly changing, and the technology sector will need workers, said Dr. Tammy Robertson, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Western. We are excited to be able to meet this demand with support from the Wyoming Innovation Partnership program and our business partners. Its important to equip our students for the future workforce and thats just what were doing. The Software Development Program is a component of the digital infrastructure and technology category of the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP). Through WIP, Western is focusing on industrial partnerships and collaboration with the University of Wyoming and other community colleges in the state. Two separate vehicular crashes led to the death of a 22-year-old man on Wednesday night in Hagat, and another man on Thursday afternoon in Mangilao. These mark Guams 9th and 10th traffic fatalities for 2024, Guam Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Paul Tapao said on Thursday. Preliminary GPD reports suggest that at past 10 p.m. Wednesday, a 22-year-old operator of a truck was traveling southbound on Route 2A in Hagat, when he lost control of his vehicle and ran-off-roadway. The vehicle then collided with a guardrail, GPDs Tapao said on Thursday morning. The male operator was later transported to Guam Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by attending physicians, Tapao said. The Guam Fire Department responded at 10:13 p.m. Wednesday by Inn on the Bay in Hagat, where they found one vehicle off the roadway. GFD spokesman Lt. Nick Garrido said rescue personnel started extraction of the lone occupant but due to the nature of the injuries, sustained care was terminated by paramedics. GPDs Highway Patrol Division was activated to assume a fatal crash investigation. Thursday motorcycle crash At 2:42 p.m. Thursday, GFD crews were called to the entrance of Guam Community College in Mangilao where a motorcycle struck a tree, GFDs Garrido said. When they arrived, GFD personnel found a man with serious injuries, and CPR was started. However, because of the extent of the mans injuries, care was terminated by paramedics, Garrido said. GPD traffic investigators were on the scene, and motorists were advised to take alternate routes, avoiding the area near Gate 1 by the shooting range. Hours later, GPDs Tapao said preliminary reports suggest that the male motorcycle operator was traveling east on Corten Torres St. towards GCC while overtaking vehicles. As the motorcycle was entering the east campus entrance, the motorcycle operator lost control and ran off the roadway, colliding with a tree within GCC, Tapao said. The male operator was later transported to Guam Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by attending physicians, Tapao said. This case is ongoing as traffic investigators have yet to determine if speed, alcohol or drugs were factors of the crash. These two cases came just weeks after GPD reported a Sept. 5 Dededo traffic crash fatality. GPD earlier said that was the 9th traffic fatality for the year. Free workshops that are meant to get more people engaged in sustainable practices from composting to sustainable fishing, aquaponics and learning more about medicinal plants will be available on Sept. 30, courtesy of the University of Guam. UOG, the Office of the Governor and Guam Green Growth are capping off Sustainable September with a culminating event that will showcase the achievements and launch new partnerships in sustainability on Guam. This event will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday at Dusit Thani Guam Resort and is open to the public with no admission fee. The Sustainable September Finale will feature a series of engaging workshops led by partners of the Guam Green Growth Community Education Series. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about a wide range of sustainable practices. The workshops will provide valuable insights and practical tips for individuals and businesses looking to make a positive impact on the island. Workshop sessions from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Service learning and your NPO with Juanita Blaz: Coming together as a community to help children learn and grow through service-learning projects can help non-profit organizations, too. Learn more in this session. Aquaculture and aquaponics with David Crisostomo: Learn about the community-based aquaponics system and how one can start growing their own food. UOG online learning class creation with Andrea Sant: UOGs Andrea Sant from the Center for Online Learning talks about the process and the needs for the creation of sustainability courses offered through the university. Want to pitch one? Learn more during this session. Workshop sessions from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. Sustainable sishing with Kevin Rivera: How can people continue their traditional practice of fishing, while ensuring resources are there for future generations? Learn more in this session. Composting workshop with Michelle Crisostomo: Learn about how you and your family can start composting and the benefits that it can bring with Guahan Sustainable Culture. Place-based education: The CHalan Deskubre team discusses the placed-based educational products available to Guam students and how you can implement them. Workshop sessions from 4 to 5 p.m. Making Amot with Mama Lou Manglona: Learn about the ancient CHamoru uses of medicinal plants. Sea turtle conservation with Addie Ferguson: Find out more about conservation efforts for the local sea turtle population and the historical and traditional significance of this iconic species. Circular economy creation with Abby Crain: Participate in a hands-on class with renowned local artists from the G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub. We are very excited to celebrate all the great work our team and partners are doing through the year with this Sustainable September Finale, UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Director Austin Shelton, Ph.D., said in a statement. We welcome everyone from the community to join us for this opportunity to learn more about these projects and how they can help. G3 biannual meeting The sessions will begin after the Guam Green Growth bi-annual meeting, which will feature the G3 Working Group members and the G3 co-chairs Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez at 10 a.m. The University of Guam is dedicated to workforce development and enhancing educational opportunities for the entire community, Borja Enriquez said in a statement. These workshops will be giving concrete examples of sustainability in action and all the sustainable development goals that we are addressing with the Guam Green Growth Initiative. Space for each workshop is limited and interested attendees must register ahead of time at www.guamgreengrowth.org to secure a seat. The Guam Fire Department is down to having only four working ambulances out of its fleet of 15 as of Wednesday, while the 11 other non-operational vehicles await parts and repairs, GFD spokesperson Lt. Nick Garrido confirmed. GFD is doing everything within its power to provide the best service for the community, he said. Garrido said the four working ambulances are stationed in Astumbo, Yigo, Piti and Talofofo, and GFD continues to respond to emergencies with fire engines and rescue units. Those four ambulances are less than the five reported operational by GFD in July, and the seven reported in February, Pacific Daily news files show. GFD has put the ideal number of ambulances to handle emergency calls at eight. It should not be concerning for the public. The ambulances provide transport, however, if an emergency is called, we have our fire engines (and) rescue units (that) are equipped with medical equipment and EMTs who respond accordingly and provide care, Garrido told the PDN. Garrido said the fire department also has its mutual aid partnership agreement with federal partners in place. The local fire department can call on federal firefighters to assist, as needed, under the agreements. GFD is looking to purchase five new ambulances, to replace an aging fleet of vehicles between five and 15 years old, the PDN reported back in July. But a bid for new ambulances has not been announced as of Wednesday, according to Garrido. As for ambulances that are in the shop or waiting on parts, Garrido said, We are hoping they can be back online as soon as possible. But its ultimately with the vendor and how they are able to retrieve the parts needed. He said parts for the vehicles are not easily accessible. There are also multiple vendors involved, depending on the work required. The number of ambulances breaking down, and response time from GFD has prompted outrage from at least one doctor this year. Dr. Vince Akimoto in July said the shortage of ambulances saw a delayed response to one of his patients, who had a heart attack. The government of Guam has hired a construction manager to oversee the building of a new Simon Sanchez High School in Yigo, 10 years after local law authorized construction of a new campus. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Thursday afternoon signed off on the $7.9 million contract with construction management firm SSFM International Inc. According to Adelup, the firm will work to finance the project and bid out construction work for the new campus, alongside the Guam Economic Development Authority. Leon Guerrero, in a video statement, said the firm will be reviewing the designs for the new school and will oversee all of the actual construction work. Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio called the signing a major milestone towards construction of a new campus. This will really move us quicker and faster towards, as the lieutenant governor said, groundbreaking, Leon Guerrero added. The signing of the construction management contract comes over a year after senators changed the law to simplify the construction process for a new Simon Sanchez High School. It also comes after more than a year of Simon Sanchez High School students in double-session classes at John F. Kennedy High School in Tamuning. The old Sanchez campus in Yigo, first built in 1974, was abandoned in the summer of 2023 after Typhoon Mawar severely damaged the buildings. The governor, speaking to a frustrated, booing crowd of Sanchez Sharks during a town hall in May, said her administration will have the new campus built in three years. Its unclear what will happen to Sanchez High students in double-session classes in the meantime, with GDOE still waiting on word about funding for a temporary campus for the Sharks as of last week. Michael Lujan Bevacqua is an author, artist, activist and the curator for The Guam Museum. Angel R. Sablan is the current director of the Department of Parks and Recreation and a former longtime executive director of the Mayors Council of Guam. He is also currently vice chairman of the Guam Education Board. A hallmark of Florida southern comfort is closing, but what does it mean for the Villages of Florida? Harry and the Natives, the restaurant known for pig roasts, fried catfish and strong cocktails, is closing its original (and currently only) location in Hobe Sound, Florida. Harry MacArthur, the Harry of Harry and the Natives, shared the news that the popular southern comfort eatery would close Oct. 12, in a Facebook post Wednesday night. Unless something happens, we will be closing Harry and the Natives, MacArthur said. Yes, this is because of COVID. We have struggled the last four years, and weve never come close to coming back. During the less than two-minute video post, MacArthur did not mention what, if any, impact the closing will have on the new Harry and The Natives restaurant set to open in The Villages in Florida later this year. MORE: New restaurant hopes to bring southern comfort to The Villages of Florida However, in a phone call to the Hobe Sound location this afternoon, a worker who wished to remain anonymous told GulfLive.com that the new site in The Villages is owned by a different group of partners, and its scheduled opening should not be affected. In response to an email query, one of those partners, Scott Bianculli, reached out to GulfLive.com to confirm that Harry and the Natives is indeed, still coming The Villages. We are 100% moving forward with Harry and The Natives at The Villages. Construction is underway and we cant wait for it to be concluded, Bianculli said. Our exciting, over the water tiki hut and 100% from scratch food will be an exciting addition to The Villages in 25. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant, featuring a 2,500 square-foot waterfront tiki hut, broke ground in December, between The Village of Richmond and The Village of St. Johns, on the shores of Lake Okahumpka around four miles away from MacArthurs own home in The Villages. At the time, MacArthur said the only place hed would rather be is The Villages, adding, The Villages are such a special place, the people are so great, everything is so wonderful here, so its the only reason we would expand to do another restaurant. In the Facebook post, MacArthur said he put $400,000 of his own money into trying to save the landmark Hobe Sound restaurant but cant come close to doing it. Im broke, so were at the end, and were just going to try to say goodbye to our friends and everybody, he said. According to MacArthur, the business has been family run for 72 years. After leaving Hobe Sound in 1976, MacArthur traveled the world, honing his culinary skills, before returning home to the family restaurant in 1989, when he remodeled the kitchen and reopened the business as Harry and the Natives. Less than 24 hours after creating the post, it had already received more than 3,800 likes, comments and reactions. Haiti - US Sanctions : A former deputy and a gang leader on the list Yesterday, Wednesday, a former Haitian deputy and a gang leader were added to the list of people sanctioned by the US government. The U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning a former member of Haitis parliament, Prophane Victor, for his role in forming, supporting, and arming gangs and their members that have committed serious human rights abuse in Haiti. OFAC is also designating Luckson Elan, the current leader of the Gran Grif gang, for his involvement in serious human rights abuse related to gang activity in Haitis Artibonite department. "Victor and Elan, through their influence over or leadership of the gangs in Haiti, have sought to perpetuate the horrific violence and instability, said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. "Treasury remains committed to holding accountable those who seek to leverage human rights abuses, violence, and corruption to achieve their political aims." Prophane Victor is a former Haitian legislator who started arming young men in Petite Riviere, Artibonite to secure his control over the area and his election in 2016. Those men went on to form the Gran Grif gang, which is currently the largest gang in the Artibonite department and the main perpetrator of abuses, including sexual violence. Prophane Victor materially supported Gran Grif until at least 2020. Prophane Victor has also trafficked weapons to Haiti and is known to have relationships with and provided funds to other gangs throughout Haiti, including rivals of Gran Grif. Prophane Victors gang affiliations and material support to them contribute to the climate of terror as the gangs engage in an array of cruelty and violence, fight for control, and leave residents to pay the consequences. Luckson Elan is the current head of Gran Grif gang. Luckson Elan and other members of the Gran Grif gang are responsible for serious human rights abuse including kidnapping, murder, beating, and raping of women and children, as well as looting, destruction, extortion, hijacking, and stealing crops and livestock. The situation is especially devastating for his child victims who have been subjected to forced recruitment and sexual violence. OFAC is designating Prophane Victor pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 for being a person who has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of an entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse, where the activity is conducted by a foreign person. OFAC is designating Luckson Elan pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being a foreign person who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse. OFAC also is designating Luckson Elan pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being or having been a leader or official of an entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse relating to the leaders or officials tenure. As a result of todays action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFACs regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 13818. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFACs Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFACs enforcement of U.S. sanctions, including the factors that OFAC generally considers when determining an appropriate response to an apparent violation. Financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : Results of the 2024 Baccalaureate exams for 4 departments The Ministry of National Education informs that the results of the secondary school leaving exams (BAC 2024) are currently available for 4 Departmental Directorates of Education (DDE): Nippes, South, North and North-East. According to the information provided by the National Office of State Examinations (BUNEXE), for the secondary school leaving exams (BAC) in Nippes, out of a total of 3,922 participants, 2,629 candidates are admitted, i.e. a success rate of 67.03% (Strong increase 48.69% in 2023) For the second session of the failed candidates of the academic year 2023-2024 (permanent BAC), out of a total of 369 participants, 302 candidates are admitted, which gives a success rate of 81.84% (Significant increase 68.56% in 2023) For the South, out of a total of 6,372 participants, 2,350 candidates are admitted, i.e. a success rate of 36.88% for the BAC secondary school leaving exams (slight drop to 39.54% in 2023). For the second session of the failed candidates of the 2023-2024 academic year (permanent baccalaureate), out of a total of 584 participants, 145 are admitted, i.e. a success rate of 24.83% (a sharp increase of 13.12% in 2023) To date, the results are known for four departments: Sud, Nippes, Nord and Nord-Est. Results for the Nord and Nord-Est departments : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43277-haiti-flash-results-of-the-2024-baccalaureate-exams-for-2-departments.html School heads are invited to collect their school's rankings from their relevant Departmental Directorate. The Ministry specifies that the results of the baccalaureate exams for other DDEs will be published as they become available. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... UN : Antony Blinken advocates for Haiti US Secretary of State Antony Blinken : "I met with world leaders to encourage them to redouble their efforts to address Haitis security, economic and humanitarian needs. The United States is making its contribution to helping the Haitian people write the future they deserve by providing an additional $160 million in foreign aid" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43285-haiti-usa-$160m-for-the-pnh.html Twinning Cap-Haitien with Allada Yvrose Pierre, the Mayor of Cap-Haitien, accompanied by Antoine Augustin, the Minister of Culture, welcomed a Beninese delegation led by Joseph Cakpo, the Mayor of Allada (Southern Benin), at the diplomatic lounge of the Cap-Haitien International Airport. The authorities of the two cities will take the opportunity to finalize the signing of a twinning agreement between Cap-Haitien and Allada. Sunrise Airways : Baggage Notice As of September 22, 2024, additional baggage is no longer accepted on flights to Les Cayes. Only baggage included in the baggage allowance of the ticket price is accepted, informs Sunrise Airways. UN : Important meeting on security in Haiti Wednesday, September 25 an important multilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on the security situation in Haiti. Edgar Leblanc Fils, the President of the Transitional Council and Prime Minister Garry Conille took part, along with representatives of the United States, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Chief of Staff of the President of Kenya, who are leading the mission. Taiwan : Construction of the Saint-Pierre Hospital Georges Fils Brigno, the Minister of Public Health, met with the Ambassador of Taiwan to Haiti, Cheng-hao HU. They discussed cooperation between Haiti and Taiwan in the field of health, addressed the issue of the construction of the Saint-Pierre Hospital in Terrier Rouge, in the Northeast of the country and also discussed the ongoing training of young Haitian scholarship holders in Health Sciences in Taiwan. UNICEF : End of Mission for Bruno Maes Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in Haiti, is at the end of his Mission after 4 years of fighting to defend the rights of Haitian children. A farewell cocktail was organized at the beginning of the week in Petion-Ville with the organization's executives and partners and representatives of civil society organizations, community organizations and representatives of national and international NGOs. HL/ HaitiLibre The biggest problems with macOS 15, which has been available for a week, should actually have been resolved, as a beta phase has been running since the beginning of June. Nevertheless, major security companies have now reported problems with their filter and protection programs, which mean that users are better off not using them with the new Mac operating system Sequoia: Apparently, some of their entire functionality is disrupted. Anzeige Developers angry, hope for macOS 15.1 Difficulties have been reported by companies such as CrowdStrike, Microsoft, SentinelOne, ESET and smaller companies such as DoubleYou by well-known security expert Patrick Wardle. The creators of the Little Snitch network filter, Objective Development from Vienna, also advise against using macOS 15 for the time being. There are still "several errors in macOS 15 in the area of networks and firewalls", which could lead to "date corruption" in TCP connections. Christian Starkjohann from Objective Development told Mac & i that although it is possible to use Little Snitch 6 in Sequoia, the software only works "as well as the system allows". They are now hoping for macOS 15.1 and quick bug fixes. Wardle told TechCrunch that it was "incredibly frustrating to have to deal with users being understandably angry every time and understandably blaming their own tools for "breaking the Mac". Yet it is Apple's fault. Of course it is difficult to "write bug-free software". But Apple should perhaps spend less money on marketing and more money on software testing. "Then we'd all be better off!" Why the security companies apparently only noticed the problems with the general release of macOS 15 or whether they had already reported the bugs beforehand without Apple fixing them remained unclear at first. TCP packets corrupted, DNS requests thrown away So far, it is only partially clear what exactly seems to be happening with macOS 15. On Reddit and in other forums, the problems are mainly divided into two areas. For example, certain connection types with active network filters (via Apple's Network Extension Framework, which the security tools use) are said to cause connection problems at TCP level , possibly because they crash. This applies to ssh via terminal, for example, but also to other routines. With ssh , error messages such as "Connection corrupted" or "Wrong Key Size" are spit out. The connections work without a network filter. Sometimes, however, even when surfing the web, unexpected connection problems occur, even when reloading content. If Apple's own App Firewall is also activated, all incoming UDP packets are suddenly blocked , at least in some applications. This also affects DNS queries in browsers such as Firefox (Chrome and Safari apparently do not), which then simply stop working. According to Starkjohann, this has to do with the various developer interfaces used to access the UDP packets. Objective Development recommends simply switching off the Apple firewall until a fix is found , which is also a rather unsightly solution. Furthermore, shared networking for virtual machines no longer seems to work, or only stutter, and DHCP no longer assigns IPs to Macs from time to time. VPN clients such as NordVPN are apparently also affected by this. Anzeige Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen. Preisvergleiche immer laden Preisvergleich jetzt laden (bsc) To exaggerate, if nail care had at some point been incorporated into tax-funded services, its discontinuation would get the same reception today, she argued last week on X. MINISTER of Finance Riikka Purra (PS) has likened nail care with the health care services of undocumented immigrants following international attention for a government plan to restrict the service rights of undocumented immigrants. You cant. We have to have. A right. Human rights. What will people think of us? That made me think that the idea isnt limited to immigration. Purra made the post in response to a report by YLE. The Finnish public broadcaster highlighted last week that a government proposal to restrict the health care rights of undocumented immigrants has caught the attention of the Guardian. The proposal would reverse a decision made by the previous government to expand the rights from urgent to necessary care to services such as abortions, certain maternity and child health services, and treatments for chronic diseases. Those who tabled this proposal pretend that we dont have enough money for everyone and that full access to health care would invite more people to Finland, Aino Tuomi-Nikula, an adviser at Physicians for Social Responsibility, stated to the Guardian. We know this is not true, and that its actually cheaper to treat conditions in advance by primary healthcare than leaving them to emergency care. This measure is a political stunt to crack down on marginalised people and bank on public fear of migrants. Undocumented immigrants cause little health care costs in Finland, according to Helsingin Sanomat. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), the newspaper pointed out, paid 300,000 euros to well-being services counties in the whole of last year for health care services provided to undocumented immigrants. The Finnish government is nonetheless concerned that if the number of undocumented immigrants increased, their health care needs could pose a threat to both the health care system and central government finances. Also the Finnish Medical Association has expressed its disapproval with the plan to limit the health care rights, pointing to the already vulnerable standing of undocumented immigrants. The governments plan completely contradicts the fact that it has declared that it is working determinedly to promote equity, equality, non-discrimination in society, the association said in a statement urging the government to scrap what it described as a damaging and problematic proposal. The government is scheduled to bring the proposal to parliament next spring. Aleksi Teivainen HT Extinction Rebellion said the water-soluble paint was sprayed on the columns with fire extinguishers. THE COLUMNS AND STEPS of the Parliament House in Helsinki were daubed with red paint yesterday morning in a protest against peat extraction staged by Extinction Rebellion Finland and Aterstall Vatmarker, a group of environmental activists from Sweden. Helsinki Police Department on Wednesday reported that it received no advance notice of the demonstration a fact that was corroborated by the organisers and that roughly a dozen protesters were taken into custody at the scene of the protest. The incident is provisionally investigated as aggravated criminal damage. Lior Stefansson, the spokesperson for Aterstall Vatmarker, said the Parliament House was targeted because also Finnish lawmakers are responsible for some people losing their lives and homes due to the climate emergency. Finland has received over 400 million in support to discontinue its own peat production, but then Finland sends its own company, Neova, to Sweden to destroy Swedens nature. This has to stop, he stated according to YLE. Formerly known as Vapo, Neova operates around 200 peat production areas in Finland, Estonia and Sweden. The Finnish government is its majority owner, with a stake of 50.1 per cent. Neova on Wednesday rubbished the claims made by the activists. Id say that theyre completely false claims, Ahti Martikainen, the director of communications and media relations at Neova, said to Helsingin Sanomat. We havent moved peat production from Finland to Sweden. In both countries, the volume of peat production has decreased in recent years. In Sweden, its very low. In Finland, he added, the company expects to extract about five million cubic metres of peat this year, marking a 75-per-cent drop since 2018. In Sweden, the production will be slightly over one million cubic metres for the second consecutive year, possibly the lowest total ever for a two-year period. Martikainen also said Neova has received no support from the fund identified by the activists, the EUs Just Transition Fund. The fund was created to promote the 27-country blocs effort to become carbon neutral by 2050. Finland has received 466 million euros from the fund, allocating the sum for offsetting the adverse environmental and socio-economic effects of reducing the energy use of peat. Helsingin Sanomat wrote that most of the paint had been washed off from the columns and steps of the building by early yesterday evening, with the exception of some residue in the grains of the granite facade. Well start looking into it tomorrow, and well be accompanied by a representative from the Finnish Heritage Agency. Its a protected building, so the Heritage Agency is overseeing also the facade clean-up, Juha-Pekka Ryynanen, the property manager of the Parliament House, said to the newspaper on Wednesday. The protest was condemned widely by lawmakers. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) described it as a condemnable and incomprehensible act of disturbance. Finland is a free democracy. We have the right to protest and influence things, but we have civilised ways for doing so, he commented to members of the media in the Parliament House on Wednesday. He also argued that resorting to increasingly aggressive measures to secure an audience for protests does not promote the cause of the protest but will instead result to the ramping up of supervision in public spaces. You can demonstrate, protest, stand in elections, engage in all sorts of civic engagement, but acts like this dont belong in Finnish society. Aleksi Teivainen HT A JOURNALIST from Binfield Heath has won an award. Lucy Watkinson, who is a senior producer and reporter for BBC Health, won the award for best case study at the Medical Journalism Awards. She collected the prize along with cameraman and editor Niall Gallagher. Editor Dominic Hughes also won the award but was not present. The case study was about a 12-year-old girl, Sarah Griffin, from Belfast, who started vaping when she was nine and caused so much damage that she had to be put into a coma. The judges commended the portrayal, describing it as a powerful case study on one of this decades biggest health issues. They said: This entry created a strong emotional reaction in the audience in a way that places itself at the heart of the ongoing debate in this area. If we are considering impact, this particular case study was most likely to drive awareness, behavioural change and ignite policy discussions. It stuck in the minds of the judges; we knew it instantly which is a real mark of power. The story, Never start vaping, says 12-year-old girl with lung damage, was featured on BBC Breakfast and the 1pm and 6pm news slots as well as online. Ms Watkinson said her interest in the issue began at the end of 2022, having written articles on the issues, included revealing the high level of metal found in the vapes and how their promotion ahead of cigarettes backfired. She said: I became obsessed with it. I was looking at the bus stop when we were taking the kids to and from school. I knew the school had a problem with vaping but I did not really know anything about it. The private schools can afford monitors in the bathrooms but comprehensives cant. I needed a serious picture of whats in vapes and I found they contain high levels of metal. We then looked at kids who used them and I came across this girl. We obviously had difficulty trying to get parents and children to talk about their vaping habits and hers was particularly severe. There was a lot of people at the time who looked at vaping as not serious but this case study showed there was a huge problem with child vaping. I was following all the local and national wires on the story at that time and when this story came up with a 12-year-old girl from Belfast, I just knew it was a great case study. I phoned my editor and then Dominic and I flew to Belfast and the next morning we filmed with the mum and daughter and went to hospital to talk to respiratory doctors. It was a perfect storm. Ms Watkinson said the mother and daughter wanted to go on the record to warn off other children vaping in the hope some good would come out of the situation. She said: It was not until the girl was in hospital that the mum realised how addicted she was to vape she found vapes in her teddies. I dont think she realised the frequency she was vaping. It was a really difficult decision and when Dominic interviewed the mum sat around the kitchen table her mum was very upset because she didnt know the extent. She wanted it to be a warning to other parents. I went to speak to Sarah in her bedroom. It was a normal 12-year-olds bedroom but she talked about hiding vapes in her teddies and that vaping was the first thing she would do in the morning. The story also raised ethical questions for Mrs Watkinson. She said: I had to ask Sarah if she realised the impact of speaking about the story and how that might make her feel and whether she would be happy with the media interest. After our story she was on Good Morning Britain and ITV because of how huge the severity of the case was. I knew that what she was talking about was more common than people imagine. For me, she was the one that was brave enough to. The story was rolled out extensively by the BBC running on television, radio and online and Mrs Watkinson said this was due to the strong interviews. She said: No, I was not thinking about winning awards, I think she encapsulated all that of the work I had done around vapes. Its really nice to be recognised for that body of work. Ms Watkinson, who has worked as a BBC journalist for 15 years, previously for BBC news, BBC studios, Newsnight and Panorama, said: I felt really proud to get the award to be recognised, I worked for the BBC for 15 years on Panorama and Newsnight and then left taking a break for five years. She said that the time away from journalism made her realise what a privilege it is to be a journalist and have people share their story with her. She said: When I came back I wanted the BBC to cover stories around me that I felt were not being uncovered. I am quite nosey, I enjoy talking to people hearing their stories. I think its a huge privilege be a journalist, to go into peoples lives and that they trust you enough with their stories. I delivered a series of high impact investigations showing the effect of vaping on childrens health and the investigations were praised by the Prime Minister, cited in government policy documents and helped change the policy on vaping. The TikTok streams have had more than 12 million views. Headteachers wrote to parents warning of the dangers to their childrens health and now use our material in lessons. U.S. political manipulation of human rights issues unpopular worldwide: Chinese FM Xinhua) 13:17, September 26, 2024 NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday the political manipulation of human rights issues by a few countries, such as the United States, is becoming increasingly unpopular across the world. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and multiple countries' foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Over 100 countries have voiced their support for China's position and opposed the politicization of human rights at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held in Geneva on Tuesday, said Wang. During the session, nearly 80 countries, including many Muslim nations, delivered a joint statement supporting China, and more than 20 other countries expressed their support in various ways, backing China's just position when a few countries, including the United States, used Xinjiang-related issues to attack and smear China's human rights situation. The vast majority of Muslim countries have long seen through the tricks of the United States and understand that it is merely using human rights as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of China and other developing countries, he added. Wang said that the clear support from over 100 developing countries at the UNHRC is not only to defend China's legitimate rights but also to uphold international fairness and justice, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and protect the fundamental principle of non-interference in internal affairs in international relations, said Wang. Wang pointed out that such action of the United States and its followers once again exposed their double standards on human rights issues to the world. People cannot help but ask: if the United States is so concerned about the human rights of Muslims, why does it continuously provoke or support wars in regions like the Middle East, causing numerous innocent Muslim casualties? Why does it turn a blind eye to the historical injustices faced by the Arab people and not support Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations? Why does it fail to play its due role in achieving a permanent ceasefire and full military withdrawal from Gaza? The top Chinese diplomat emphasized that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and China's achievements in protecting and promoting human rights are widely recognized, and the development and progress in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are evident to all. Wang said China is willing to engage in dialogue with all countries on human rights issues on the basis of equality. China's doors are open to the world, and it welcomes friends from all nations to visit China and see for themselves, he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Founded 56 years ago near Pondicherry, the chosen abode of Bengal-born revolutionary-turned-philosopher Sri Aurobindo, the experimental community of Auroville was conceived with an eco-utopian vision aimed at building a community beyond cultural and geographical boundaries. On February 28, 1968, Aurobindo's spiritual collaborator Mirra Alfassa, also known as Mother, to countless followers across the globe, established it at a location in the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, hardly 10 km from the former French trading post of Pondicherry. She described it as a place of unending education, constant progress, and eternal youth. Termed an "ideal township" dedicated to human unity to accommodate 50,000 people from around 60 nations, Auroville was one of several attempts to create utopian communities. Representatives from 124 nations attended the inaugural event where the idea of unity beyond divisions was celebrated. Auroville appears more like a battleground now. The community, comprising a few thousand people, is divided over several issues. Several lawsuits are currently in progress. Accusations of corruption and infighting have altered the character of the township's recent history. Many members have been waging a legal war with its present administration, which, they said, is attempting to bring back total governmental control over this historic township. It has been just a month since Union minister of state for education, Sukanta Majumdar, informed the Lok Sabha that the Union government was investigating various complaints, including questionable land exchanges and encroachment involving Auroville members. Though the governing body (the seven-member body nominated by the union government) has welcomed investigations, most residents accuse the body of being part of Sangh Parivar's larger agenda to usurp the rich cultural legacy of Aurobindo and Alfassa. They are also seeking the resignation of Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi from the chairman post of the Auroville Foundation, saying his stand is also one-sided and beneficial to the Sangh Parivar. Despite being a universal township that evolved through voluntary contributions, Auroville has been under the oversight of the Union education ministry since 1980. Majumdar said he received representations and complaints from various sources, including community members, and said that the present investigations will expose criminal activities in Auroville. In his Lok Sabha statement, the minister alleged that the accusations include trespassing on land, drug abuse and sales, cybercrimes involving data theft and leaks via servers located outside of India, breaking immigration regulations, circulating illicit funds, money laundering and soliciting donations without first registering under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Representations and complaints regarding land exchanges have been forwarded to the Auroville Foundation to be examined, the minister said. The Auroville Foundation and its governing board are expected to recommend a course of action. However, some insiders, who asked not to be named, alleged that the government did not appoint the local member of parliament, the Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi party's D Ravikumar, as an ex-officio member of the executive council of the Auroville foundation. They allege that the government is using old, unfounded charges to claim control of the institution's legacy. According to Section 10(3) of the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988, the foundation comprises three authorities: the governing board, the resident's assembly, and the Auroville International Advisory Council (AIAC). The union government took control of the township in 1988 to resolve intense disputes between community power centres and representatives of the Sri Aurobindo Society of Pondichery, which had previously managed the township's affairs. Despite having jurisdiction over Auroville since 1988, the Indian government has largely allowed the community to govern itself. Civil servant Jayanti S Ravi was appointed as the new secretary of the foundation four years ago. Members have expressed concern that the current leadership in Auroville has shifted from a self-governing model to a more autocratic, top-down approach. They feel that power is now concentrated in the hands of a select few who have not been appointed by the residents and do not represent the needs and aspirations of the majority. Many members feel that they are not involved in the decision-making process and that the sustainable model that Auroville has been known for is being compromised. There are also concerns about large-scale construction projects and deforestation, as well as the misuse or unauthorized sale of funds and assets. Additionally, members have reported extreme censorship and fear of reprisal if they speak out. K. Kannadasan, a Kancheepuram-based activist, who has lodged several complaints against the governing board in the Madras High Court, said Auroville's current problems include governmental antipathy, environmental concerns, and ideological and cultural differences within the community. A section of the residents are also concerned that the sudden push for development may be part of a larger agenda to appropriate Aurobindo's legacy or to turn Auroville into a profitable destination for spiritual tourism. K Jayarajan, a Pondicherry-based rights activist, said tension has increased after the current administration, which took charge in 2020, fast-tracked a few pending controversial township projects. The administration wanted projects to progress quickly and resumed implementing the French architect Roger Anger's master plan by clearing trees and residential and community structures. A group of residents have opposed the development works, leading to ongoing legal battles. In response to Majumdar's statement, the working committee of the residents' assembly criticised it as "evasive and misleading, stating that it failed to address concerns regarding land exchanges in Auroville. "The present leadership diverts public attention by digging up old allegations related to activities in Auroville, which have neither been properly investigated nor proven, despite numerous audits conducted by the secretary and her office in the last three years," the committee members said in their mail. The members said the questions raised in parliament by MP Ravikumar rightly focused on the serious issue of Auroville's high-value lands being exchanged at alarmingly low rates without consultation including with the residents. They claim it resulted in a loss of 200 crore for Auroville. The members said the governing body has taken drastic decisions independently, disregarding the other committees outlined in the Foundation Act. In recent years, bulldozers and earth-moving vehicles have been deployed inside the campus to continue construction, cutting down trees and razing hillocks. The campus has also witnessed Aurovillians standing in their pathway and organising protests against the demolition drives. A few residents have filed a case against the Auroville Foundation with the Green Tribunal, India's highest environmental court, which has resulted in a temporary halt on the felling of trees. Residents who disagree with the foundation's land exchange mechanism, contend that the foundation should only engage in land exchanges after following the proper procedures or discussing them with the residents assembly and the advisory council. The situation has escalated with 22 court cases brought by a section of residents against the foundation and the authorities rescinding visas for several dissenting long-time Aurovillians who are foreign nationals. When contacted, the office of the secretary stated that she would not comment to the media on internal matters of Auroville. The office has confirmed that the investigations ordered by the union government are ongoing, and no official can comment on the issues involved until the investigations are over. Former Chief Justice of India, N. Ramana, in 2021 stated that the most dangerous places in the country for threats to human rights are police stations. Looking at the recent case of police brutality in Odisha, it seems nothing has changed in the last three years. Police brutality and custodial torture despite their shocking nature have been normalised in India. It is precisely because of this, that most people think twice before going to a police station. Courts over the years have ordered several reforms to prevent the occurrence of custodial violence, be it orders to install CCTV cameras inside every room in police stations, constituting a police review board and issuing fresh guidelines on arrest. The parliament has also amended laws to create stringent punishments against custodial violence and made judicial magisterial enquiries mandatory in case of custodial deaths. However, despite these steps, a report noted that from 2001-2020 a total of 1,888 custodial deaths had occurred a total of 893 cases registered and 358 personnel charge-sheeted. The report also noted that only 26 policemen had been convicted in this period. Subsequently, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recorded 88 custodial deaths in 2021 and 75 deaths in 2022. In 2021, 26 cases were registered against the police for human rights violations, which included extra-judicial killings, torture, illegal detention, and extortion along with deaths in custody with 16 personnel being arrested and 2 being charge-sheeted. There was an increase in this trend in 2022, a total of 30 cases have been registered against the police for human rights violations, with 41 personnel arrested and 24 charge-sheeted. As per NCRB data, there has been a total of 275 cases of custodial rapes from 2017 to 2022; there seems to be a gradual decrease in the trend with 24 cases of custodial rape registered in 2022 as against 89 cases in 2017. Of the 24 cases registered in 2022, seven are attributed to police personnel, three to armed forces, 12 to staff of jails and remand homes and one each to public servants and hospital staff. These are the statistics provided by the NCRB and include only cases where an FIR was registered. The reality is that most cases of police atrocity go unreported. The Supreme Court once said: Bound as they are by the ties of brotherhood, it is not unknown that the police personnel prefer to remain silent and more often than not even pervert the truth to save their colleagues. In 1992, in a shocking case of violence, a man picked up on the suspicion of being a thief was brutally tortured and died in custody while his wife was stripped and gang raped before him. The woman, a sweeper, ran from pillar to post seeking assistance but was up against an uncooperative criminal justice system. It was only after the intervention of the Madras high court and the transfer of the case to the CID did the investigation progressed. While framing the charges, the charge of murder was dropped and only charges pertaining to wrongful confinement, assault and custodial rape survived. The conviction of the police personnel for gang rape was sustained by all three courts. The Supreme Court in an appeal in this case (Mehboob Batcha & Ors v State) lamented the lack of a murder charge in the case, while quoting the judgment in Justice DK Basu noted, Experience shows that worst violations of human rights take place during the course of investigation when the police with a view to secure evidence or confession often resorts to third-degree methods including torture and adopts techniques of screening arrest by either not recording the arrest or describing the deprivation of liberty merely as a prolonged interrogation. This is a rare case where the police personnel were convicted. In most cases, FIRs once registered are put in the cold storage. The nature of the offence, lack of evidence and the confusing labyrinth of the criminal justice system make it very difficult for someone wanting to fight the system. Last year, the Delhi High Court in Pradeep Kumar v. State of UP, upheld the conviction of police personnel in a case of custodial death. The incident took place in 2006 in Uttar Pradesh. The complainant was informed by the police that his son had committed suicide in custody. Suspecting foul play the father began his fight for justice. The case was transferred to Delhi in 2011 by the Supreme Court due to the influence exerted by the police in Uttar Pradesh, making a free and fair trial an impossibility. While initially a charge of murder was framed, the Court on examination of the evidence concluded that an intent to kill was not present and modified the charge to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and convicted the personnel in 2019 and sentenced them to 10 years rigorous imprisonment. The conviction was upheld by the Delhi High Court in 2023. Thus, it took 13 years for the legal process to convict the errant officials. In March 2024, while reversing the bail granted to a police constable accused of being party to violence, the Supreme Court noted that a stricter approach needed to be applied while deciding cases of police personnel accused of custodial violence. Custodial violence is a deep-rooted problem and requires a multifaceted approach. Mere changes in the law or procedures will be redundant if reforms in the policing system are not undertaken. The errant officials need to be held accountable, with a fair and speedy investigation and trial. The Indian police still reel under a colonial hangover where its focus seems to be more on ruling over the citizens rather than serving them in their pursuit of justice. Only when the police realise that they are bound by the law and not a law unto themselves can there be any reform. Parijata Bharadwaj, a lawyer and researcher based in New Delhi, co-founded the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group that offered legal services to adivasis in Chhattisgarh. 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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. New Delhi, 26th September 2024 Knauf India, a leading name in building materials and part of global Knauf Group, has announced that all its plasterboard products now comply with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ISI norms. Knauf is one of the first companies in India to meet the new government regulations, which require gypsum-based building materials to adhere to stringent Indian Standards Institution (ISI) norms. 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Manufactured at state-of-the-art facilities in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, Knauf Indias plasterboards now meet the IS 2095 (Part 1): 2023 standards. These standards ensure the products meet the stringent safety, fire-resistance and durability criteria, essential for modern-day construction demands. Knauf India continues to ensure its products undergo rigorous BIS test and certification, giving customers and the concerned stakeholders peace of mind when it comes to safety and quality in construction business. For more details on Knauf India and its product range, please log on to https://www.usgknauf.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. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said it will take many years to resolve Googles antitrust battles, implying that they do not pose an immediate threat to the companys business. He said, Its going to take time for it to play out. Where we think it really harms our ability to innovate on behalf of our users, we are going to be vigorous in defending ourselves. Sundar Pichai indicated that Google's antitrust battles will take years to resolve without immediate business impact. He highlighted a new $120 million AI education fund and reflected on his journey from limited technology access in India to advanced resources in the US.(AFP) This comes as Google is embroiled in two separate antitrust trials brought by the US Justice Department, which alleges that the company illegally dominates the digital advertising market and online search. The ads trial kicked off in court this month while in the search case Google lost. Sundar Pichai said, We definitely disagree with the ruling, but its still in the middle of the remedies phase. And you know, we will appeal and this process will likely take many years. To explain how long appeals can take, Sundar Pichai pointed to Googles victory against a 1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) antitrust fine in the European Union General Court last week which came more than four years after it was levied. Sundar Pichai has also announced a new $120 million Global AI Opportunity Fund' which is aimed at expanding AI education and training across the world, with a focus on local languages and partnerships with nonprofits and NGOs. Reflecting on his own journey, he shared a personal story, saying, "Growing up in Chennai, India, with my family, the arrival of each new technology improved our lives in meaningful ways. I didnt have much access to one growing up. When I came to graduate school in the US, there were labs full of machines I could use anytime I wanted it was mind-blowing." Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with his cabinet ministers, launched Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation (KWIN) City near Bengaluru on Thursday. This project was earlier called Knowledge, Health, Innovation, and Research (KHIR) City, but it has now been renamed KWIN City. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, along with his colleagues launch KWIN city near Bengaluru. (X/MBPatil) Also Read - Karnataka government's KHIR city to be established 60 km away from Bengaluru. Here is what we know All we need to know about the KWIN city The project aims to create a parallel city to Bengaluru for equal growth and opportunities in all sectors within an accessible distance to Karnatakas capital. After taking all the suggestions, the state government rounded off the area between Doddaspete and Doddaballapur, which is roughly 60 kilometres from Bengaluru. This will be built in a total of 2000 acres of land which is on the Satellite Town Ring Road. (STRR) KWIN City will primarily focus on attracting top educational institutions, start-ups, research centres and global health centres, which can provide employment to the local people. The Departement of Commerce and Industries is implementing the project, and as it is away from the usual Bengaluru traffic, it is likely to attract investors, keeping its accessibility to the international airport in mind. The Kempegowda International Airport is just an hour away from the KWIN city, and a new real-estate boom is expected around Doddaballapur. Also Read - Viral video of train amid Bengaluru traffic: Railways says stop was for technical checks Karnataka minister MB Patil earlier said that the KWIN city is going to contribute a lot to the states GDP. He said, There is an increased economic activity in the state, and we need to attract investments. Karnataka is known for its public-private partnership, which will be enhanced further for the city of KHIR. It is also easy for the global players to find talent here in Bengaluru, and they would not find a better option than this new city. It will provide a big-time contribution to the state's GDP. According to Patil, this project is expected to attract investments worth 40,000 crores in all four segments and will likely create around 80,000 new jobs. The Karnataka government has revoked the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate cases in the state, citing the agency's alleged bias. The decision, announced on Thursday after a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, comes amid growing demands from the opposition BJP for a CBI investigation into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment case. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaks to the media, in Bengaluru on Thursday. (ANI Photo)(ANI) Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil dismissed claims that the withdrawal was linked to the MUDA controversy, where allegations surfaced regarding the allotment of 14 sites to Siddaramaiahs wife. Patil clarified that the CBIs consent has been revoked under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, and any future investigations will require case-by-case approval, news agency PTI reported. He accused the CBI of operating with prejudice, leading to the government's decision. Karnataka now joins other non-BJP-ruled states, including West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, in revoking general consent for CBI investigations. The decision follows a Special Court order instructing the Lokayukta police to investigate Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case. The court order comes after the Karnataka High Court upheld the Governors sanction for an inquiry into the allegations. Responding to BJP accusations of shielding the Chief Minister, Patil denied any connection between the withdrawal of CBI consent and the ongoing probe. He also emphasized concerns over the CBI's handling of past cases, including mining investigations where the agency allegedly failed to file chargesheets. Siddaramaiah has since rejected the BJPs claims of wrongdoing and accused the opposition of conspiring against him. He reaffirmed his intention to fight the case legally and stated he would not resign from the CM post. (With PTI inputs) A Special Court here on Wednesday ordered a Lokayukta police probe against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case, setting the stage for filing of an FIR against him. A Bengaluru court on Wednesday directed the Lokayukta to investigate Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in connection with land allotment involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (Muda). (PTI) Reacting to the Special Court order, Siddaramaiah reiterated that he was ready to face an investigation. The order of the Special Court Judge, Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, came a day after the High Court upheld the sanction granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah on the allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife B M Parvathi by MUDA. The Special Court exclusively to deal with criminal cases related to former and elected MPs/MLAs issued the order directing the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to initiate an investigation on the complaint filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna. The Court issued directions to take up the probe under section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) (that gives a magistrate the power to order an investigation into a cognisable offense.) and file the investigation report by December 24. "Acting under Sec.156(3) of Code of Criminal Procedure, the jurisdictional police i.e., Superintendent of Police, Karnataka Lokayukta, Mysuru is hereby directed to register the case, investigate and to file a report as contemplated under Sec.173 of Cr.P.C., within a period 3 months from today..." the court said. It has listed offences punishable under Sec.120B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 166 (Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person), 403 (Dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 ( Punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 ( Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 426 ( Punishment for mischief), 465 (Punishment for forgery) , 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating), 340 (Wrongful confinement), 351 (Assault) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The court has also listed offences punishable under sections 9 and 13 the Prevention Of Corruption Act, 1988 and under Sec.3, 53 and 54 of the Prohibition Of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 and 3, 4 of Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011. Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju (from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi) are the other respondents in the case. The HC had also vacated its August 19 interim order directing the Special Court to defer the decision on complaints against the Chief Minister, giving the green signal for ordering a probe. It had dismissed Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the legality of the Governor's August 16 order granting approval for investigation under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988. The CM said he was ready to face the probe. "Already I have said that I am ready to face an investigation. I am not afraid of a probe," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. "I am ready for a legal fight. I had said this yesterday and I am reiterating it today as well." Meanwhile, the BJP once again demanded Siddaramaiah's resignation to resign and cooperate with the probe. State BJP President B Y Vijayendra said: "the CM has said that he is ready for any probe, but has questioned why he should resign. Siddaramaiah seems to have forgotten what he preached as Leader of Opposition to the then chief minister Yediyurappa. He had asked Yediyurappa to resign for fair and impartial probe when the accused person is at the helm of affairs." "The Court might have asked Lokayukta police to probe, but we urge the CM -- before he resigns -- that he should order the investigation to be handed over to independent agency CBI, for free and impartial probe,", he said. The opposition BJP and JD(S) tried to lay siege to the CM's residence. Holding posters, placards and raising slogans, members of BJP Yuva Morcha marched towards "Cauvery" but the police thwarted their attempt, took them into preventive custody and whisked them away in a bus. Complainant Snehamayi Krishna hailed the Special Court's order and said, after filing of the FIR, he would appeal to the High Court to hand over the case to CBI. In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA. The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout. Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts. It is alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk. For over 18 months, residents of Kamadhenu Layout in Bengalurus Mahadevapura area have been battling a severe water shortage, relying heavily on expensive private water tankers to meet their daily needs. With no reliable water supply from the citys water agency, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), families are forced to spend between 10,000 and 25,000 per month on water, leading to fierce competition for tanker deliveries, The Times of India reported. BWSSB blames the delay on the pending release of Cauvery Stage 5 water, promising a resolution soon. (HT FILE PHOTO) A Bengaluru resident spoke to the publication and described the challenges his family faces due to the irregular supply. Homes with infants and/or the elderly also face various problems amidst uncertain and inconsistent water supply, having no choice but to depend on tankers. Due to high demand and constrained resources, tankers are now charging between 1,500 and 4,000 for 5,000 litres, often make deliveries as late as 1 am, creating further difficulties, the report noted. Larger families are hit even harder by these costs. Another resident revealed that his family spends up to 35,000 a month on water. Despite repeated complaints to the BWSSB, no immediate solution has been offered, the publication stated. Elderly residents, living on pensions and savings, are particularly affected, with a senior citizen expressing frustration at the financial burden, saying that the dependency on tankers is draining their savings. A local tanker owner Venkateshwar acknowledged the struggle to meet the area's high demand for water, though residents continue to complain about rising costs. BWSSB chairman Ram Prasath Manohar cited the delay in Cauvery Stage 5s activation as the cause of the shortage, as quoted in the report. He assured residents that water from the project would reach the area in a few weeks, and efforts were underway to address the tanker monopoly. BHOPAL: A five-year-old girl, who went missing on Tuesday, was found dead in a neighbours flat in Bhopals Vajpayee Nagar Multi area, police said on Thursday. The girl was found dead in a water tank in the house. Shalini Dixit said the police was waiting for the autopsy report to indicate the precise cause of death. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Shalini Dixit said: The girl went missing on Tuesday As many as 100 police personnel were searching for her. On Thursday morning, her family complained of a pungent smell coming from a locked flat. Police broke open the door and entered the flat where the body was found.... Police said the girl was in a small kitchen tank. Dixit said the police could not immediately comment on the precise cause of death and will wait for the postmortem report. Two-three people are being interrogated in connection with the case, she said, refusing to reveal any further details about the investigation. Police said the flat where the girl was found dead was put out on rent only five months ago by the landlord. The little girls family have accused the police of negligence when she was reported missing and led a protest blocking the TB Hospital Road. Congress MLAs Arif Masood and Atif Aqueel joined the protest. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed 10,000 fines on each of the municipal corporation (MC) and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) for failing to follow its orders in tow cases, officials said. The next hearing is scheduled for October 4. (HT File) They added that the penalty was imposed on the MC in connection with an ongoing case related to the green belt near Lodhi Club. The petition which led to the hearings is regarding the installation of inter-locking tiles. The NGT noted that the applicant, Kapil Dev, highlighted that the land in question was designated as a park in the citys master plan. The tribunal said that despite its order pronounced on September 2, the MC commissioner has not submitted the approved layout plan showing the status of this land. Submit master plan within two weeks, NGT tells MC chief The NGT has again ordered the MC commissioner to submit the approved layout plan or the master plan within two weeks, along with the payment the 10,000 fine. The next hearing is scheduled for October 4. In another petition against the MC, it was alleged that despite an NGT order, the MC and LIT continued to install solid inter-locking tiles in prohibited areas. In its response, the MC said it had decided to use perforated tiles in non-walking areas after approval from their technical advisory committee. The LIT failed to submit a compliance report and requested more time. The NGT granted them a week, subject to the payment of a 10,000 fine. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 3. Out for a swim, two Class 12 students drowned in the Sidhwan Canal on Wednesday, officials said. Vikas (HT Photo) They added that the body of 19-year-old Vikas has been fished out, divers are continuing the search for his cousin, Praveen, 19. Both the boys were students at a government school in Sangowal. According to the officials, the cousins were accompanied by their friend Suraj, who was rescued by the passersby. Officials said the three victims went to the canal to take a dip in cold water amid rising heat. They encounters issued while swimming began to drown. As passersby noticed them struggling, they managed to rescue Suraj using a rope. However, the strong current swept away the two cousins. Officials added that a terrified Suraj went home and did not inform anyone about the incident. He came clean the next morning, after both families had spent the night searching for the boys. Divers were called in and after hours of searching, Vikas body was fished out a kilometre from where the boys were swimming. Officials from the Kanganwal police post, with the help of divers, are continuing the rescue operation. Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Mewa Singh, who is investigating the case, said that soon after receiving information, police reached the spot and initiated a rescue operation. The ASI added that the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) has banned diving and bathing in the canal. The families hailed from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Vikas was the lone son of his parents and has a sister. Praveens parents, Raj Kishore and Sushma, have refused to leave the canals banks till their son is found. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government in Haryana of systematically ending the employment system in the country. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing a Congress rally at Assandh in Karnal district on Thursday in the run-up to the October 5 assembly elections in Haryana. (PTI Photo) Addressing a Congress rally at Assandh near Karnal, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha referred to his recent visit to the US and said he met immigrants from Haryana who went there in search of a better future as they were unable to get employment in their home state. I understood their journey, how they reached the US to live with 20 others packed in a house. They have seen our people die on their way. They first sold their land or took loans on high interest to reach, but could not spent 50 lakh to start their business because there is no guarantee of profit, he said. They cannot meet their families for 10 years and cant even return to perform the last rites if their parents die. They urged me to meet their parents and I did at 4am. Ive not seen such an emotional scene in my life. You must have seen the video how a son is crying before his father on video call, he said. Gandhi went on to claim: This is because of the Modi government and the state government that has systematically damaged employment. Modi brings black laws to snatch away what you have (agriculture). I went to J&K, in HP, apple businesses have been sold to Adani. Their loans worth crores are waived, but not yours. Raising the issue of caste census, he said that he will ensure that it gets passed in Parliament in front of PM Modi. We are just asking to find out how many Dalits, OBCs, STs/SCs are there in the country, what is the issue in that? Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi with party leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja during the rally at Assandh in Karnal district on Thursday. (PTI photo) He exuded confidence that the Congress would sweep the October 5 Haryana assembly elections. Congress MP Kumari Selja, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state unit chief Udai Bhan were present at the rally. This was for the first time that rivals Hooda and Selja shared the stage in these elections. Congress candidates from the region, namely Shamsher Singh Gogi (Assandh), Sumita Singh (Karnal), Rakesh Kamboj (Indri), Dharampal Gondar (Nilokheri), Subhash Deswal (Safidon), Virender Shah (Panipat City) and Sachin Kundu (Panipat Rural), were present on the stage. Gandhi also spoke about the Congress poll promises for Haryana, including 2,000 a month for women and LPG gas cylinders at 500 if his party is voted to power. Two lakh vacancies would be filled in Haryana and the Congress has promised a legal guarantee for minimum support price, he said. Polling for the 90 assembly seats in Haryana will be held on October 5 and votes will be counted on October 8. As many as 202 pilgrim deaths were reported so far due to health-related ailments during the Char Dham yatra which began on May 25, Uttarakhand state government official said. So far, 3.7 million pilgrims have visited Char Dham shrines. (PTI file photo) Of the 202 pilgrim deaths, 93 deaths, the highest, were reported from Kedarnath Dham, followed by 52 in Badrinath Dham, 38 in Yamunotri Dham and 15 in Gangotri Dham, the data till Wednesday evening stated. According to health department officials, the state government has stepped up its efforts to mitigate the number of deaths and is also conducting a health audit of the deaths occurring during the Char Dham Yatra. To check death duo to health issues, the state government has made effective interventions and up-graded health system by increasing the number of health screening centres, increasing the medical staff on Yatra route to ensure that the pilgrims get prompt medical service in case of any emergency, R Rajesh Kumar secretary health department said. Also Read:86 deaths during Char Dham yatra so far: State govt data We issued health advisory to all state governments in 12 regional languages requesting the pilgrims prior to start of Yatra to carry their health history and acclimatise before embarking on the arduous Char Dham. Apart from this, we have also created a mechanism for early evacuation of ill patients through Heli services and regular ambulance service, he added. He said that medical screening was increased at key points via 50 medical screening centres. Also 80 specialists and 426 doctors have been deployed on the yatra routes while additional medical staff has also been roped in from the periphery areas of other adjacent districts with all medical facilities available at medical relief posts on the yatra route, he said. So far, 3.7 million pilgrims have visited Char Dham shrines and Hemkund Sahib shrine since the opening of the portals. Out of 37,05283 pilgrims who have visited Char Dham shrines, 1.02 million visited Badrinath, as many as 17,103 visited Hemkund Sahib, 1.18 million visited Kedarnath, 0.69 million visited Gangotri Dham and 0.61 million visited Yamunotri Dham. Last year, Char Dham Yatra, which concluded on November 18, broke previous records with pilgrim influx crossing the 5.6 million-mark, tourism department officials said. The Delhi government on Wednesday launched a comprehensive 21-point Winter Action Plan, focussing on real-time monitoring of pollution using drones, deploying special task forces and putting into action emergency measures, such as artificial rain and vehicle rationing scheme, to tackle rising air pollution levels in the Capital. Evening haze engulfing Kartavya Path in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo) Environment minister Gopal Rai, introducing the plan at the Delhi Secretariat, said: This year our theme is Mil Kar Chalein, Pradushan Se Ladein and for that, we need public participation. For the first time, drones will monitor air quality at Delhis pollution hot spots, and an STF, comprising six members, will ensure enforcement of pollution control measures. He emphasised that the plan, which comes into effect immediately, also includes an anti-dust campaign from October 7. To be sure, the Delhi government makes a Winter Action Plan every year, but it has little impact on peak pollution, which plunges the city into a public health emergency. Drone monitoring In a first, drones will be deployed to monitor 13 pollution hot spots in Delhi, which have consistently recorded more than the average level of PM2.5 (particulate matter having a diameter of less than 2.5 microns). Earlier, pollution sources were identified manually. This will allow real-time identification and action against sources of pollution on the spot, Rai said. Identified by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2018, these hot spots are at Anand Vihar, Mundka, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Rohini, Punjabi Bagh, Okhla, Bawana, Vivek Vihar, Narela, Ashok Vihar and Dwarka. The annual average PM 2.5 concentration was 101 microns per cubic metre (ug/m3). According to CPCB, the permissible level of PM2.5 is 40ug/m3. A senior environment department official said one to two drones are planned to be utilised at each hot spot, and a tender will be floated soon. Public participation The Winter Action Plan also aims to mobilise public participation through various campaigns, including an e-vehicle parade, an anti-pollution march, and the Red Light On, Gaadi Off initiative at traffic signals, officials said. The government is also introducing the Harit Ratna award to recognise individuals, NGOs, and private companies contributing to reducing pollution. Rai said that the number of days having poor, very poor and severe air quality index reduced by 35% over a seven-year span. In 2016, we had 243 days of high pollution, whereas in 2023, we had 159 such days, Rai said, adding that the campaigns will be at the heart of this years efforts. CPCB classifies an AQI between 0-50 as good, between 51 and 100 as satisfactory, between 101 and 200 as moderate, between 201 and 300 as poor, between 301 and 400 as very poor, and over 400 as severe. Rai said that under the anti-dust campaign from October 7, dust pollution at construction sites and along roads will be tackled. All construction sites with an area over 500 square metres need to register with the government on on a web portal created by the government specifically to register and monitor construction sites. A total of 523 teams will inspect construction sites. For roads, we are deploying 85 road sweeping machines and 500 water sprinkling machines, Rai said. He said that over 200 anti-smog guns will also be deployed in three shifts. Emergency measures The government has proposed artificial rain and Odd-even vehicle rationing scheme as emergency measures to tackle a sudden spike in pollution levels, which is generally recorded between November 1 and 15. Last year, the AQI consistently remained in the very poor and severe levels. As part of the plan, the government will encourage people both in the government and private sectors to opt for work-from-home. The Odd-even scheme and out artificial rain have been included as emergency measures, said Rai. He said that if required, guidelines will also be issued in the next few weeks devising work-from-home schedules. For artificial rain, a letter has been written to the Union environment minister to call a meeting of all relevant departments to discuss this, Rai said, adding that departments concerned are also working on the vehicle rationing scheme. Tackling sources The Winter Action Plan 2024 aims to address various pollution sources, including open waste burning, industrial emissions, and vehicular pollution. To reduce vehicular pollution, 360 teams will be deployed to monitor both Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates and overage vehicles. Traffic police teams will be deployed on 134 roads to reduce congestion, Rai said. Rai said an advisory will be issued to encourage voluntary vehicle restriction. Besides deployment, a real-time source apportionment study, along with a Green War Room and the Green Delhi app will help tackle pollution, Rai said. The minister said the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) and the ban on firecrackers will be implemented stringently. Like previous years, there will be a complete ban on the production, storage, use, and sale of firecrackers in Delhi, including online delivery. The notification (for the ban) will be issued soon, he said. Additionally, 59 teams will inspect industrial areas, and 588 teams will prevent open burning. To combat stubble burning, a bio-decomposer solution will be sprayed over 5,000 acres of farmland, Rai said. Experts, while saying the plan was robust, cautioned that enforcement holds the key to its success. Many effective measures have been proposed, but their impact depends on how well they are enforced. For instance, the firecracker ban is a good step, but compliance has been inconsistent in past years, said Abhishek Kar, senior programme lead of the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW). Kar said there is limited evidence to suggest that measures, such as spraying water or artificial rain, have a significant effect on improving air quality. Meanwhile, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Virendra Sachdeva said it was regrettable that Rai keeps making announcements instead of taking serious anti-pollution steps. Rai claimed improvement in the pollution situation in Delhi on a day when morning newspapers brought news of stubble burning in Punjab much before time, Sachdeva said. Sachdeva urged Rai to call an all-party meeting on September 26 to address stubble burning concerns, threatening to otherwise contact Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann on Friday. KOLKATA: A special Alipore court on Thursday awarded the death penalty for a man convicted of rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in the citys Tiljala area in March 2023, lawyers who attended the hearing said. The West Bengal government had handed the case to the city polices detective department in 2023 (FILE IMAGE) The convict, Ashok Shaw, lured his neighbours little daughter to his apartment with chocolates, raped her and then smashed her head with a hammer. The girls mutilated body was found in his kitchen, said a police officer who had investigated the gruesome crime. There were 28 wounds on her body, he added. The case was tried by a special court notified for cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. As he handed down the death sentence to Shaw, special Pocso judge Sudipto Bhattacharya described the crime as rarest of the rare. The state government had handed the case to the city polices detective department following mass protests and even instances of vandalism. The court heard 45 witnesses, including the victims parents and forensic experts, during the trial, the officer cited above said. The crime took place on the morning of March 26 last year. The girl, who lived in an apartment building, went to buy a packet of milk from the local market but did not return home. Her family informed the police. Footage from security cameras in the area showed the girl heading for home after buying the milk. Her body was found in the convicts flat during a search of the building. The girls mutilated body was found inside a jute bag hidden in the convicts kitchen. Forensic reports confirmed that she was gagged and tied up when she was abused. The convict hit her on the head with a hammer to kill her, public prosecutor Shibnath Adhikari told reporters. Thursdays sentence comes weeks after West Bengals Mamata Banerjee cabinet on September 10 decided to set up five more fast-track courts for Pocso cases. On September 3, the state assembly also passed the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, piloted by chief minister Mamata Banerjee following the nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata. During the discussion on the Bill, Banerjee said Bengal has 88 fast track courts and 62 Pocso courts. The Bill has been forwarded to the President by governor CV Ananda Bose. LUCKNOW The CBIs Anti-Corruption Bureau busted a bribery nexus in RDSOs finance & accounts division in Lucknow after receiving information that some officers and employees, in connivance with other senior officers of the department, were allegedly taking bribes for clearing pending bills of firms. The CBI registered three FIRs against officers/employees of RDSOs division and three firms of Lucknow and Noida for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices under different sections of Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC section 120-B for criminal conspiracy. (Pic for representation) The agency registered three FIRs against officers/employees of RDSOs division and three firms of Lucknow and Noida for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices under different sections of Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC section 120-B for criminal conspiracy. The CBI slapped IPC section as the alleged malpractice happened before July 1, 2024, when the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) was made effective. Officials confirmed that CBI teams carried out searches at offices and residential locations of suspected officials, employees and others in Lucknow and Noida on Wednesday. A senior CBI official said the first FIR was lodged against RDSO (Lucknow) employees, including senior accounts officer Arpit Asthana, accounts assistant Abdul Latif and his brother Abdul Karim Siddiqui, director of Noida-based firm M/S ADJ Engineering Private Limited Manish Kumar Pandey and his firm as well as other unknown persons. The FIR stated that Latif indulged in corrupt and illegal activities in connivance with Arpit Asthana and other unknown officers of the finance and accounts division of RDSO, demanding and accepting undue advantage from private parties who applied for approval of some tender or whose bills were pending for payments from RDSO Lucknow. As per the FIR, Abdul Latif accepted bribes in cash either directly or in the bank account of his brother Abdul Karim Siddiqui. His brother used to transfer the bribe amount to the account of Abdul Latif or sometimes hand over the same in cash. The second FIR was registered against two brothers Abdul Latif and Abdul Karim Siddiqui, proprietor of Industrial Corporation Works of Lucknow, Abhinav Sinha and his firm and other unknown government servants for demanding and accepting undue advantage from private parties. Another FIR was registered against the two brothers as well as a junior assistant accountant Nasir Hussain for having connivance with them as well as the owner of Noida-based firm M/s Puri Electronics Private Limited, Ashok Puri, his firm and his firms accountant Vishal Sharma and other unknown persons. When contacted, RDSO (Lucknow) executive director Naveen Sharma refused to comment on the issue. Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai following a sudden deterioration in his health. Nationalist Congress Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal. (HT Photo) He was flown to Mumbai from Pune on a special flight and later admitted to Bombay Hospital, according to the office of Chhagan Bhujbal. The 76-year-old politician handles the portfolio of food, civil supplies and consumer protection in the Maharashtra government led by chief minister Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena. A statement from Bhujbal's office said he was in Pune to attend an event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was cancelled due to heavy rains. He was admitted to Bombay Hospital this afternoon due to complaints of fever and throat infection and his condition is stable, the statement mentioned. Chhagan Bhujbal's health is stable and people should not believe in rumours, the statement added. Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to flag off the metro train from district court to Swargate in Pune and lay the foundation stone for various projects worth over 20,900 crore. However, heavy waterlogging and mud slurry at SP College campus, where PM Modi was to hold a public rally after the metro inauguration, led to the cancellation of his visit. His health is stable and people should not believe in rumours, the statement added. Bhujbal also hared a health update on X (formerly Twitter), saying that he was admitted to Bombay Hospital due to fever and throat discomfort, but his condition is now stable. I was in Pune today for some events. Since yesterday, I have been experiencing a slight fever and throat discomfort due to the current weather. However, as the discomfort worsened today, I came to Mumbai in the afternoon and got admitted to Bombay Hospital for treatment. My condition is now stable, and theres no need to worry, wrote Chhagan Bhujbal. Mumbai: A metropolitan magistrate court in Mazgaon on Thursday sentenced Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut to 15 days of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of 25,000 in a criminal defamation case. The case was filed by Medha Somaiya, wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, over Raut's allegations of her involvement in a 100 crore "toilet fraud". Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut (Kunal Patil/HT Photo) Responding to the court order, Raut said, "I respect courts but can't believe that they passed such an order. How can we expect justice in a country where the PM goes to the Chief Justice of India's house for Ganesh festival and eats modak?" The allegedly defamatory statements were made by Raut in April 2022. While taking cognisance of the defamation complaint, the court observed that the words spoken by the MP had harmed the reputation of the complainant. Somaiya filed the criminal case after encountering an allegedly defamatory article in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, Saamna. The article accused her of building unauthorised toilets by cutting mangroves without obtaining the necessary permissions from environmental authorities. It further claimed that she was involved in a 100 crore scam, allegedly perpetrated through their NGO, Yuva Pratishthan. In addition to the article, Somaiya alleged that Raut gave interviews to electronic media, repeating the allegations the following day, 16 April. She submitted video clips of Raut's interviews to the court in support of her claims. Somaiya stated that the allegations were widely broadcast by leading news channels and were made solely to tarnish the image of the complainant, who has worked as a professor of organic chemistry and has been associated with prestigious institutions such as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Reacting to the verdict, Medha Somaiya said, "I am happy that I have got justice and the allegations against me and my family members have proved false. I fought to get justice and did it like any other woman in the family would have done. I think the court has respected my position as a teacher and a social worker. I have nothing to say about the right of the accused to move in appeal against the ruling." As many as 46 people, including 37 children, died in separate incidents of drowning across Bihar on the festival of Jitiya or Jivitputrika over the last 24 hours, a government official said. Devotees gather on the banks of the Ganga in Patna on the occasion of Jitiya festival on Wednesday. (Santosh Kumar/ HT Photo) Chief minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths, which included seven women, and announced an ex-gratia amount of 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. The incidents of drowning were reported from East and West Champaran, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj and Arwal districts. So far, 43 bodies have been fished out. The kin of the victims will be given 4 lakh ex-gratia. Eight of them have already been disbursed, a disaster management department (DMD) official said. DMD has pressed several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for search and rescue operations. The festival of Jitiya is observed by mothers for the well-being and prosperity of their children. The incidents took place when children, accompanied by their mothers, went to take a dip in various water bodies. Eight children drowned in Aurangabad district four at Itahat village under Baruna police station area and another four at Kushaha village of Madanpur police station. According to reports from Kaimur, seven minors drowned in Bhabhua and Mohania police station areas when they were taking bath in the Durgawati river and a pond, respectively. Four incidents of drowning were reported on Wednesday evening from Amnabad village under Bihta police station area of rural Patna and five persons, including two boys, drowned in Daudpur, Manjhi, Taraiya and Marhaura police station areas of Saran district. The incidents took place when the victims, along with their family members, went for a holy dip in the water bodies, Aurangabad District Magistrate Srikant Shastri said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pune has been cancelled due to heavy rains in the city, news agency ANI reported. Heavy water logging and mud slurry at SP College campus, where PM was to hold public rally after metro inauguration, has forced PM Modi to cancel his visit. The Pune metro stretch from District Court to Swargate spans 3.64 kilometres and includes three stations Budhwar Peth, Mandai, and Swargate. In February, a test run was conducted on the route that passes beneath the Mutha riverbed between District Court and Budhwar Peth. (HT FILE)(HT_PRINT) PM Modi was set to inaugurate the underground section of the city's Metro rail connecting Civil Court to Swargate. He was also planning to lay the foundation stone for the network's expansion from Swargate to Katraj, news agency PTI reported. The cost of the underground section between District Court to Swargate is around 1,810 crore, said an official statement. The inauguration of this underground section will mark the completion of Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase-1). Also read | Sule, Joshi criticise BJP over Pune Metro inauguration In addition to infrastructure push in Pune, Modi was to lay the foundation stone for the memorial for Krantijyoti Savitribai Phules first girl school at Bhidewada in memory of the noted social reformer. Traffic restrictions Traffic restrictions will be enforced in the city from 3 pm onwards and remain in force till the convoy passages are over. Entry for heavy vehicles have been banned on 13 roads, reported The Indian Express. -The road from Savarkar Statue Square to Sarasbaug Puram Chowk will be closed for traffic. Alternate routes have been arranged from Sinhagad Road and Mitramandal Chowk. -Vehicle passage will be stopped from Jedhe Chowk to Satara Road. Alternate road has been arranged via Vakhar Mahamandal and Market Yard Junction. -Traffic from Seven Loves Chowk to Jedhe Chowk will be closed. Alternate route will be via Vakhar Mahamandal and Satara Road. -Volga Chowk to Jedhe Chowk road will be closed to traffic. Vehicles will be diverted via Savarkar Chowk and Market Yard Junction. -The two-way traffic between Kamgar Putla and Shivaji statue will be closed. Alternate routes are through Shahir Amar Shaikh Chowk and Mangala Theatre. -Tofkhana Chowk to Shivajinagar Court road will beclosed. Traffic will be diverted via PMC and Khude Chowk. -Road from Na Si Phadke Chowk to Nath Pai Chowk will be closed. Alternate road is through Nilayam Bridge. -Baburao Ghule to Ambil Odha junction road closed. Traffic will be diverted via Shastri Road. Check allocated parking spaces Parking of vehicles has been banned on ten important roads. Pune District Collector Dr Suhas Diwase has issued an order under Section 65 of the Disaster Management Act 2005 to uphold peace and order during PM Modi's visit to the city on Thursday. According to the order, the following places have been marked as designated parking zones for vehicles - Neelayam Theatre, Vimaltai Garware School, Abasaheb Garware College, Kataria Secondary School, Patil Plaza, New English School Tilak Road, DP Road, Mhatre Bridge, New English School Ramanbaug, Harjivan Hospital, Savarkar Chowk, PMPML Ground, Puram Chowk, Neelayam Theatre, and Minerva Parking Mandai. SBI PO 2024 Live: The recruitment notification will be released on sbi.co.in SBI PO Notification 2024 LIVE: The State Bank of India will likely release the SBI PO Notification 2024 soon. Candidates waiting for the notice can check it on the SBI official website at sbi.co.in and also on sbi.co.in/web/careers/ after it is released. Like every year, this year too, SBI PO notification is expected to be out in September. However, the date and time of the release of the Probationary Officer recruitment notice have not been announced yet....Read More The official notification will include all the details, including important dates, eligibility, number of posts, selection process, application process, and other details. In 2023, the notice was released on September 6, and registration started on September 7. This recruitment drive had filled a total of 2000 posts. Similarly, in 2022, the notice was released on September 21 and the registration commenced on September 22, 2022. State Bank of India had filled 1673 Probationary Officer posts in the organisation. Follow the blog for latest updates on notification, direct link and more. India, with more than 1.4 billion, will be the most populous country in the world for the foreseeable future, according to the United Nations population forecast. This massive population presents a major challenge in delivering quality healthcare, with a critical shortage of doctors and health workers in the country, particularly in rural areas. According to a recent report by the Government shared with Parliament, India has achieved a doctor-patient ratio of 1:834, better than the prescribed norm of one doctor for every 1,000 people set by the World Health Organization. However, in most parts of the country, the need for medical professionals is still far outstripped by the supply, and the rural areas suffer the most. Despite an 82% rise in the number of medical colleges, from 387 in 2014 to 706 in 2023, and a 112% increase in MBBS seats, the gap between demand and supply of medical professionals in India remains stark.(Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image) Despite an 82% rise in the number of medical colleges, from 387 in 2014 to 706 in 2023, and a 112% increase in MBBS seats, the gap remains stark. India has made commendable strides in expanding medical education, but the path forward, particularly in post-graduate (PG) medical education, presents unique challenges. The main problem is that many MBBS graduates do not get the opportunity to pursue further specialisation, leading to a significant shortfall of highly trained specialists. This trend has critical implications for healthcare delivery in India, where the need for specialised doctors is growing alarmingly. Additionally, medical colleges in India are unevenly distributed geographically, so most are established in southern states, which worsens students' lack of access to quality medical education outside that area. The curriculum focuses less on critical issues such as medical ethics, health economics, and behavioural sciences. Besides, research in medical colleges is often conducted as a formality with little focus on the importance of its value, impact, or any other outcome. In response, the Government of India, in collaboration with the relevant medical institutes, is initiating many forward-looking reforms aimed at improving PG medical education, expanding seats, and enhancing the quality of education to meet the demands of a growing population. Expansion of Medical Colleges and Addition of Seats The growing demand for highly qualified medical professionals has, in turn, led to an increased focus on the quality and quantity of medical education in the country. The Government of India has sanctioned 157 new medical colleges in the form of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) to upgrade district and referral hospitals, out of which 109 are already functional. The Government has also increased the MBBS and PG seats at all existing medical colleges, which is continuing to record an enormous increase in available slots for medical professionals. The Government's move to establish six new AIIMS in underrepresented regions is yet another positive step toward achieving tertiary-level health care and eliminating regional imbalances. Medical institutions' spatial and geographic distribution still lies at the heart of proportionate healthcare accessibility across the country. Moreover, Super Specialty Blocks under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) has sanctioned 75 projects and completed 66. In addition, 22 new AIIMS institutions have been sanctioned with courses in place at 19 locations. Simulation-Based Education and Virtual Learning Simulation-based education (SBE) is emerging as an integral part of medical education training. In this regard, institutions such as JSS AHER Skill and Simulation Centre and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER) are using virtual reality to create an immersive, hands-on experience for students. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has mandated skills training using simulation in undergraduate education and recommended its use in PG programs. This revolution in medical training allows students to practice in a controlled, realistic environment, reducing the risk of patient harm. Additionally, the rise of virtual learning and gamification strategies is enhancing student engagement. Curricula now feature interactive technologies to intensify students' interest, including polling functions, virtual environments, and the flipped classroom model. These digital tools provide students access to global education standards, enhancing their problem-solving and decision-making capabilities. Building on the international reforms, the Indian Medical Council (now NMC) introduced a new curriculum of Competency-Based Medical Education in 2019. CBME was designed to teach medical content and equip the graduates with crucial skills in ethics, communication, and patient-centred care. Under undergraduate training, the introduction of the AETCOM module, attitudes, ethics, and communication is a huge leap towards humane and ethical medical professionals. CBME's focus on performance, rather than mere competence, represents a major paradigm shift. Tools like workplace-based assessments (WPBA) allow medical professionals to be assessed in real-time settings, allowing for more nuanced feedback. This system encourages continuous learning and growth, ensuring that trainees acquire and apply medical knowledge effectively in real-world scenarios. Aligning with Global Standards Recently, the NMC received recognition from the World Federation for Medical Education, making history of medical education in the country. For the first time, graduates of Indian medical education will be able to pursue PG training and practice thereafter in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Most importantly, this accreditation will ensure that all 706 existing medical colleges in India and any new college established over the next decade will have international standards. Apart from this, some Indian hospitals and universities also collaborated with international institutions to provide PG medical education. Max Healthcare has collaborated with the Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board of the UK to offer a three-year PG course in medicine. Similarly, Kasturba Medical College and Apollo University have collaborated with institutions abroad and provided opportunities to its students for clinical rotation and internship, which will improve student's exposure in the world arena. Addressing Faculty Shortage and Enhancing Teacher Training To address the acute shortage of qualified teaching faculties, the government has recognised the Diplomat of National Board (DNB) qualifications for faculty appointments, which has increased the availability of teaching faculty. The age limit of appointment to a teacher or dean in a medical college has been raised to 70 years so that experienced professionals may continue to contribute to the nation's medical education. In parallel, faculty development programs have been introduced, and simulation societies are actively working to educate teaching staff across healthcare disciplines. Technology, such as virtual learning platforms and interactive technologies, has been incorporated to enhance teaching methods. Future Perspectives and Recommendations The future of PG medical education in India lies in incorporating new strategies to address the growing healthcare needs of the population. One such strategy is achieving a balanced inter-specialty distribution of MBBS-to-PG medical education, with a 70:30 ratio between clinical and non-clinical seats. These should be well represented in the health care system to meet clinical and public health demands. We must encourage the use of technology more intelligently through artificial intelligence, virtual learning, and simulation-based studies to prepare future Indian healthcare providers. International collaborations must also be amplified so that Indian medical professionals get international exposure and learn the best practices worldwide. An emphasis on performance-based assessment rather than merely outcomes-based competence is needed for quality improvement in PG medical education. Tools like workplace-based assessments, clinical encounter cards, and DOPS can give rich feedback to the trainee concerning his real-world competency in practice. In conclusion, post-graduate medical education is on the right track with enhanced Government support, adoption of innovative educational tools, proper international alignment, and faculty development. These efforts will ensure the supply of skilled professionals to meet the country's healthcare demands and also place India at the forefront of global medical education. As these solutions take root, the future of healthcare in India looks increasingly promising, bridging the gap between current limitations and future potential. (Author HS Chhabra is National President, Association of National Board Accredited Institutions. Views expressed are personal.) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Govt. of India has teamed up with Amazon.in and Pi Jam Foundation to launch an Eco Creativity and Innovation Hackathon on Thursday, September 26, 2024. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Amazon.in and Pi Jam Foundation have joined hands to launch Eco Creativity and Innovation Hackathon' that seeks to empower students to become eco-problem solvers through technology and creativity. The objective of the Eco-Hackathon is to empower students to become eco-problem solvers through technology and creativity. As part of the program, school students from classes 6th to 12th from government schools have been invited to participate across 14 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, a press release informed. Also read: XAT 2025: 34 new test cities added, aim to improve accessibility for candidates nationwide Kriti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted that the Eco Creativity and Innovation Hackathon is an environment education program under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's LiFE campaign which seeks to ignite passion amongst young minds to solve environmental issues. We encourage and invite creative solutions to tackle pressing environmental problems, whether at home, in their neighbourhood, or on a global scale. This hackathon will improve their problem-solving capabilities by puzzle solving and thinking out of the box, Singh added. Akshay Kashyap, India Lead at Amazon Future Engineer Program, expressed delight at collaborating with the Ministry and Pi Jam Foundation to host the Eco-Hackathon, which he said is a step towards encouraging students from diverse regions across India to think creatively and develop solutions to some of the most pressing environmental issues of present time. Also read: Struggle is real: Grad student shares why it is difficult to get a job in Canada, says you got to keep trying your luck! Pranjali Pathak, Partnerships Lead at Pi Jam Foundation stated that hackathon engages students in gamified, sustainability-focused activities by combining environmental education with digital innovation. Powered by our Code Mitra platform and supported by Amazon Future Engineer, we have reached over 4 lakh participants and received nearly 2 lakh innovative ideas, Pathak added. Application process Students are allowed to submit only one application, although there is no restriction on the number of applications that can be submitted from a particular school. Students can submit their application under various themes including Save Energy, Say No to single use of plastic, save water, adopt sustainable food system, reduce waste, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and reduce e-waste. To apply, students need to register and sign up at codemitra.org/eco-life. Following this, students will need to watch the video prompted on their screens complete the activities as directed, and then submit a problem statement under the given themes on the environment and its solution. Participants will be provided with video content explaining the life themes and block-based coding projects to help them develop ideas. Initially, the participants will need to submit a detailed idea of the solution. The prototype development will be required in the later stages for shortlisted finalists. Also read: Kerala SET January 2025: Registration begins at lbsedp.lbscentre.in, direct link here Once shortlisted, the finalists will be provided with adequate materials, mentorship, and supervision for creating projects showcasing the implementation of their ideas. Notably, Amazon and Pi Jam will award top winners across three categories namely Class 6th to 8th, Class 9th to 12th, and UG & PG students at an event in Delhi. Two teenage tribal students died after getting electrocuted at a government-run hostel in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, an official said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday night at the Senior Students Hostel run by the state Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department at Ringnod, some 50 km from the district headquarters, said the official. (StockPic) The state government on Wednesday suspended the superintendent of the hostel and an assistant commissioner of the Tribal Welfare Department besides ordering a probe. The incident took place on Tuesday night at the Senior Students Hostel run by the state Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department at Ringnod, some 50 km from the district headquarters, said the official. "A live electricity wire fell near a water tank. When Vikas and Akash, both aged 17 years, went to fetch water from the tank, they came in contact with it," said Assistant Commissioner Brijkant Shukla. Also Read: Bridging the gap: Revolutionising post-graduate medical education in India They were immediately taken to hospital where doctors declared them dead, he told reporters. Later in the day, Shukla was suspended. Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah instructed officials to conduct a thorough probe and register a First Information Report against those found guilty, said a government release. He also asked officials to take preventive action at all hostels so that such an incident does not recur. On the minister's direction, Indore Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh suspended assistant commissioner Brijkant Shukla with immediate effect, the release said. District collector Priyank Mishra suspended hostel superintendent Bansingh Kannauj. A show-cause notice was also issued to the Block Education Officer, Sardarpur. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav sanctioned financial assistance of 2 lakh each for the deceased students' kin, the release said. Also Read: Exploring the benefits of integrating AI into hospitality management courses A remarkable trend has emerged in India's education landscape in recent years: an increasing number of parents are investing in their children's global education. This phenomenon has far-reaching implications for education providers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. A staggering 78% of Indian parents actively invest in their children's international education, reflecting a significant shift in educational priorities and aspirations. A staggering 78% of Indian parents actively invest in their children's international education, reflecting a significant shift in educational priorities and aspirations.(Shutterstock) Education as a Pathway to Economic Mobility To understand this trend, it's crucial to recognise the deep-rooted importance of education in Indian culture. For generations, education has been considered a critical element for upward economic mobility. In a country with a population of over 1.3 billion and intense competition for limited resources, education is often seen as the great equalizera means to break socio-economic barriers and achieve success. Indian parents have long prioritised education, often making significant sacrifices to ensure their children receive the best possible schooling. However, the focus on global education is a relatively new phenomenon, driven by several factors including the quality of education, career prospects, and cultural exposure that international study offers. The Global Education Investment The scale of investment in international education by Indian families is substantial. While exact figures can fluctuate, recent data suggests that Indians spend billions of dollars annually on overseas education. For instance, in the 2021-2022 academic year, Indian students in the United States alone contributed approximately $7.7 billion to the U.S. economy. Top destinations for Indian students studying abroad include: 1. United States 2. Canada 3. United Kingdom 4. Australia 5. Germany 6. Singapore Emerging destinations also include Ireland, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Regarding student population share, Indian students often form one of the largest international student groups in many countries. For example, in the United States, Indian students make up about 20% of all international students, second only to China. Degree Levels and Preferences The distribution of Indian students across different degree levels varies, but generally follows this pattern: - Bachelor's level: 15-20% - Master's level: 60-70% - Ph.D. level: 10-15% This distribution highlights a strong preference for postgraduate education, particularly at the master's level. Regarding degree preferences, STEM-based degrees (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) are overwhelmingly popular among Indian students, especially in the United States. Degrees such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, and Data Science are particularly sought after. This preference is partly due to these fields' career opportunities and partly due to immigration policies. For instance, STEM degrees offer a significant advantage in the USA: they allow for 36 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) on a student visa. This extended period provides students with valuable work experience and three opportunities to be selected in the H1B work visa lottery, greatly enhancing their chances of long-term employment in the U.S. Career Prospects and Quality of Life The allure of career prospects in countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, and Singapore, compared to India, is a significant driver for international education. On a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis, these developed nations often offer a higher quality of life, with lower levels of pollution and, in many cases, a better work-life balance. Moreover, these countries typically provide more opportunities for career growth and development. The exposure to cutting-edge technologies, diverse work cultures, and global business practices equips students with skills and experiences that are highly valued in today's interconnected world. It's worth noting that even when students return to India after studying and working abroad, they are often perceived as more valuable in the Indian job market. The international exposure, advanced skills, and global networks they bring back are highly prized by Indian employers, especially in multinational corporations and rapidly growing start-ups. The Continuing Trend and Its Implications As India continues to experience rising standards of living and increasing incomes, the trend of students choosing to study abroad is likely to persist and even grow. This is particularly true given the limited number of high-quality educational institutions in India compared to the large population of aspiring students. The intense competition for seats in top Indian institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) further drives this trend. Many students who might not secure a place in these elite Indian institutions find that studying abroad offers an alternative path to quality education and promising career prospects. However, this trend also presents challenges for India. The "brain drain" phenomenon, where highly skilled individuals leave to work in other countries, can result in a loss of productivity for the Indian market. While many students initially plan to return to India after gaining international experience, a significant number end up settling abroad for extended periods or permanently. Conclusion The growing trend of Indian parents investing in their children's global education is a complex phenomenon with multifaceted implications. It reflects the high value placed on education in Indian culture, the aspirations for better career prospects and quality of life, and the challenges within India's own education system. As this trend continues, it will be crucial for Indian policymakers and education providers to address the factors driving students abroad. This may involve increasing the capacity and quality of domestic institutions, fostering stronger industry-academia partnerships, and creating more attractive career opportunities within India. At the same time, countries receiving Indian students will need to adapt their policies and systems to cater to this growing demographic. This could include tailoring courses to meet the specific needs and aspirations of Indian students, providing better support systems, and potentially revisiting immigration policies to retain top talent. Ultimately, the global aspirations of Indian parents and students are reshaping not just India's education landscape, but also influencing global education and employment patterns. As India continues its economic rise and integration with the global economy, this trend is likely to play a significant role in shaping the country's future workforce and its position in the global knowledge economy. A theft took place at Mohan Babu's residence in Jalpally with a domestic worker stealing 10 lakh case, the police told PTI. The worker has now been arrested for allegedly straling money from the actor's residence, police said on Thursday. (Also Read: Lakshmi Manchu says men down south don't want sisters or daughters to act: My dad tried to) Mohan Babu's personal secretary was robbed of cash recently. What happened The domestic worker allegedly stole the cash from Mohan Babu's personal secretary who visited the house on Sunday, a police official told the agency. When the personal secretary noticed that the cash was missing, a case was registered at Pahadishareef police station. In course of the investigation, the domestic worker was nabbed in Tirupati and brought back to Hyderabad. The worker placed under arrest on Wednesday, an official said. The accused allegedly stole the cash from the personal secretary's bag, they added. While the police managed to recover 7.36 lakh cash from the accused, they found out that the worker had spent the remaining amount. Further investigation is on. The actor is yet to release a statement or address the issue at the time of writing. Upcoming work Mohan Babu's first major breakthrough as an actor came with the 1975 film Swargam Narakam, directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. After his movie, he began using the stage name Mohan Babu instead of his birth name, Bakthavatsalam Naidu. After playing the comedic villain in numerous films, he transitioned to playing the lead in films like Khaidi Kalidasu, Ketugadu, Gruha Pravesam, Assembly Rowdy and Allari Mogudu. The actor was last seen in the 2023 Samantha Ruth Prabhu-starrer Shaakunthalam as Durvasa Maharishi. He will soon be seen in Kannappa, sharing the screen with his son, Manchu Vishnu. His other children, Lakshmi Manchu and Manchu Manoj are also actors and are carrying on the family legacy. Alia Bhatt is busy promoting her upcoming film Jigra, which releases next month. In a recent chat with Devara: Part 1 star Jr NTR and filmmaker Karan Johar, Alia talked about the time she signed Jigra, right after giving birth to daughter Raha Kapoor. It was that maternal instinct that she found to be present in the film too, which revolves around her character trying to save her brother. (Also read: Alia Bhatt shares new pics with Heidi Klum from Paris Fashion Week; returns to India with Ranbir Kapoor, Raha Kapoor) Alia Bhatt talked about the connection she felt while signing Jigra. What Alia said During the chat, Alia opened up about the time she received the offer of doing Jigra, and said, When I signed Jigra I think I was in my tigress mode. I was in my most protective- like, No one come near her, mode. That was the energy. That is why I always say destiny, luck, life has so much to play in things going a certain way. Forget the fate of Jigra, the fact that it came to me also was wow what is this timing! That I am feeling this way and it came. It had all of those things laced over it. The focus is on her Alia shared how motherhood changed her as an actor and as a person, saying: I don't think I am the same person. Life has so much more meaning and I think like actors can get really self-obsessed if they are constantly thinking about themselves Now when there is another being in your life suddenly it is like Alia who? It is Raha, Raha, Raha! Alia comes in and out! The focus is on her and nurturing and my mind always being there is something that will never change now. Alia and Ranbir Kapoor welcomed their baby daughter Raha in November 2022. She is often spotted with the two of them during public appearances. Jigra is slated to release in cinemas on October 11. Directed by Vasan Bala, it stars Alia and Vedang Raina as the sister and brother. Also starring Manoj Pahwa, the escape thriller is co-produced by Alia and her sister Shaheen Bhatt's Eternal Sunshine Productions and Karan's Dharma Productions. Alia will also be star in Alpha, Love & War, and Jee Le Zaraa. Historian Makkhan Lal, sho has been appointed as subject expert by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for Kangana Ranauts political biopic Emergency, has defended the film in an interaction with India Today. The film, which retells the life and Prime Ministership of PM Indira Gandhi, has been stuck with the CBFC for months leading to a delay in its release as well. (Also read: Kangana Ranaut's Emergency can be released with cuts: Censor board to court) Kangana Ranaut stars as PM Indira Gandhi in Emergency Makkhan Lal clarified that he found the film factual and that it does not portray the late Prime Minister in a negative light. The film is entirely based on facts, and they havent altered the truth. I would say the filmmakers are very sympathetic to the issue depicted. While every political leader has flaws, the film does not show the negative aspects of Indira Gandhis character, he said. The controversy around Emergency As the film awaits certification from the CBFC, the censor board has filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court saying that the film can be released but with cuts. The affidavit includes Makkhan Lals name as the subject expert. Members of the Sikh community had raised objections on the film, following which the CBFC had convened a review committee. Makkhan Lal, however, dismisses those concerns, particularly about the depiction of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He said, Does Bhindranwale represent the entire Sikh community? If so, why do other figures from the community, such as former Congress Chief Minister Beant Singh or Parkash Singh Badal, differ from him? Why is criticising Bhindranwale seen as an insult to the Sikh community? Who shot Mrs Indira Gandhi? If they were Sikhs, that is a fact. How can this be denied? Emergencys release Emergency, directed by Kangana Ranaut, stars her as PM Indira Gandhi. The film also features Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhry, Milind Soman, Vishakh Nair, and the late Satish Kaushik. The film was slated to be released on September 6 but had to be postponed after it failed to receive the CBFC certification. A final call on the certification will be taken by the CBFC on Monday, which may pave the way for the films release. Actor Shah Rukh Khan was spotted at the Mumbai airport in the early hours of Thursday as he headed to Abu Dhabi for the IIFA event. Several videos and pictures of the actor arriving at the airport emerged on social media platforms. (Also Read | Gurdas Maan recalls Shah Rukh Khan's humility during Veer-Zaara shoot: 'Pyaar-satkaar karne waala fankaar') Shah Rukh Khan was spotted at the Mumbai airport. Shah Rukh Khan trips at airport In a clip, the actor was seen getting out of his car, escorted by his bodyguards and security personnel. Even though his team formed a ring around him, fans were seen running and screaming his name. A girl rushed towards him and started pushing, making Shah Rukh lose his balance briefly as he hopped to one side. However, he kept his cool and also waved before entering the airport. For the travel, he wore a black sweatshirt, matching pants, and shoes. He also wore a cap and dark sunglasses. Internet reacts Reacting to the video, a fan wrote, "The real star of the Indian film industry." A tweet read, "The way some fans are screaming, it sounds scary." "The girl pushed his team and tried to reach him, SRK, such a big actor. The security should be stronger." "SRK is SRK. How he kept his calm. But this isn't done. The girl nearly jumped on him." Shah Rukh and IIFA Shah Rukh is a part of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA), which will take place from September 27 to September 29. The three-day gala is set to kick-start with IIFA Utsavam, an event dedicated to southern film industries- Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Megastar Chiranjeevi will be honoured at the event. On the second day, Shah Rukh, Vicky Kaushal, and Karan Johar will come on stage to host the IIFA Awards night. Rekha will return to the IIFA stage after a long time. Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Ananya Panday, and Janhvi Kapoor will also perform at the event. Honey Singh, Shilpa Rao, and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy will perform live for the audience. Shah Rukh's next film Fans will see Shah Rukh next in King, directed by Sujoy Ghosh. Reportedly, his daughter, Suhana Khan, will also be part of the film. He will also lend his voice to the Hindi version of Disney's highly anticipated release, Mufasa: The Lion King, slated for release in Indian theatres on December 20. Shah Rukh Khan left Mumbai on Thursday morning to attend the IIFA Awards in Abu Dhabi. After getting mobbed at the airport and almost falling down, the actor received a warm welcome once he reached his destination. Take a look at what was waiting for him. (Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan almost falls at Mumbai airport as fan pushes through crowd to meet him, internet calls it scary. Watch) Shah Rukh Khan's room in Abu Dhabi was filled with delectable treats to make his stay special. He's there to host IIFA Awards. A sneak peek of Shah Rukhs room The official Instagram page of IIFA shared numerous pictures, captioning it, Sneak peak into Shah Rukh Khans room! #ShahrukhKhan #Hilton @hiltonabudhabiyasisland. The pictures show customised treats waiting for him in his room in Abu Dhabi. The first picture is that of a chocolate platter and a customised cake with posters of some of his recent films. Another picture shows numerous notes left for the actor, welcoming him for his stay. One picture shows how Shah Rukh can pick from truffle-flavoured chips and lush chocolate. I would gladly share the snacks with him, joked one fan commenting under the post. Most others commented with heart emojis. Trips at the airport On Thursday morning, Shah Rukh left the city in the wee hours. He reached the airport and was escorted by his security personnel as he exited the air. Despite a ring forming around him, fans ran and screamed his name. A fan rushed towards him and pushed, making him lose his balance briefly and trip. Despite that, he kept cool and waved at fans while heading inside. The IIFA Awards will take place from September 27 to September 29. The three-day gala is set to kick-start with IIFA Utsavam, an event dedicated to southern film industries- Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Telugu actor Chiranjeevi will be honoured at the event. On the second day, Shah Rukh, Vicky Kaushal, and Karan Johar will come on stage to host the IIFA Awards night. Upcoming work Shah Rukh will soon star in Sujoy Ghoshs King, which will reportedly also feature his daughter Suhana Khan. He also lent his voice for the Hindi version of Disneys Mufasa: The Lion King, which will be released in theatres in India on December 20. Hugh Hefner's ex-girlfriend Kendra Wilkinson shared her experience of partying with Sean Diddy Combs. The hip-hop artist, who is presently in detention awaiting trial on allegations of racketeering and sex trafficking, has reportedly hosted several wild parties involving various renowned figures and celebrities. Hugh Hefner's ex-girlfriend Kendra Wilkinson, the 39-year-old TV personality, gained notoriety as a party girl who attended upscale gatherings, such as Diddy's wild festivities. Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Kendra revealed that she attended a few parties where the rapper, who has refuted all of the accusations made against him, was present. I remember just going to like one or two (parties that Diddy was at), but again, like I had a great time in my youth, said Kendra, a former girlfriend of late Playboy mogul Hefner, during the radio interview. The 39-year-old TV personality gained notoriety as a party girl who attended upscale gatherings, such as Diddy's wild festivities. Stating that she did not see anything bad at Diddy's parties, she noted, Sex is sex, in my opinion. Kendra, however, added, that So, I'm not saying that something bad didn't happen, adding that what she is trying to say is nothing bad ever happened to me. KIIS FM host Jackie 'O' Henderson further inquired Kendra about her encounters with Diddy, who used to throw exclusive sex parties in opulent hotel suites with unlimited supply of wine and drugs, industrial amounts of baby oil and lubricants, and prostitutes. The federal authorities stated that they found 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant during raids at Diddy's houses in Miami and Los Angeles. Also Read: Justin Bieber trying to protect Billie Eilish from the dark music industry resurfaces amid Sean Diddy Combs fiasco Did Kendra Wilkinson see anything unusual at Diddy's parties? The host asked if she had never observed anything unusual that you wouldn't typically see at a major Hollywood party, Kendra stated, Look, you're going to the Playboy Mansion. You know, there's girls topless in the grotto. Don't we already know that? Diddy is charged with abusing, threatening, and coercing women for years to gratify his sexual urges, safeguard his reputation, and conceal his actions. He has entered a not guilty plea to the allegations. Upon his arrest, he offered his mother's and his $50 million Miami houses as collateral, but a judge denied him bail. He lost his appeal last Wednesday to overturn the ruling. Therefore, he will be in detention until his trial. Former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight has accused industry titans of manipulating Sean "Diddy" Combs through drugs and alcohol. Knight, currently serving 28 years in prison for manslaughter, claims that powerful executives introduced Diddy to these substances as a means of control. While Knight also mentioned Usher and Justin Bieber, no specific allegations of abuse have been made against them. The controversial figures claims came during a recent interview with Chris Cuomo, conducted from prison. Megyn Kelly criticises celebrities like Justin Bieber and Usher for their silence on Sean Combs' arrest for serious charges. Urges them to speak out, highlighting their close ties with Combs Suge Knight names figures who controlled Diddy Knight told News Nation that artists under his label were only exposed to marijuana, but heavier drug use reportedly became common once they signed with other record companies. In a phone interview with Chris Cuomo from prison, Knight expressed his belief that Diddy may have been a victim of sexual abuse, as the bad boy record producer faces accusations of sex trafficking, racketeering and sexual assault in addition to conducting his notorious freak off parties with Hollywood A-listers. Knight accused executives like Clive Davis, Russell Simmons, and Andre Harrell of using these substances to "control" and compromise the manhood of stars, particularly targeting Diddy. Those guys they introduced cocaine to my artists, Knight told the host during a live call. So once they got on cocaine, once they got on drugs, once they got on alcohol, then thats when the weird stuff happened. I think thats what took Puffy [Combs] down that lane, he added. Also read: Justin Bieber trying to protect Billie Eilish from the dark music industry resurfaces amid Sean Diddy Combs fiasco Suge Knight names Clive Davis, Russell Simmons and Andre Harrell [Combs] was taught that. He got Usher as a kid alcohol, drugs, sex. Justin Bieber and see they do these things to take control the convicted felon added in his statement. You choose to be gay thats your preference, but theyre doing this to people for control, he continued alleging that Davis, Simmons and Harrell are among the top musicians behind this ring. It is important to note that none of the individuals named by Knight have been charged with the allegations he made. While these claims have not been substantiated, and Davis' spokesperson has vehemently denied them, Knights accusations have sparked discussion on the internet. This is a completely fabricated thread that is being trafficked by an incarcerated felon, the spokesperson told PageSix. Mr. Knights assertions about Clive Davis are 100 percent false as nothing of the sort ever happened, they added. Despite never being accused of sexual misconduct, Clive Davis, who launched faces like Whitney Houston, Aerosmith etc, has remained a staunch supporter of Sean "Diddy" Combs, even during a high-profile rape lawsuit filed by Combs' ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Russell Simmons, another influential figure in the music industry, has been embroiled in his own controversies, with multiple women accusing him of sexual assault, allegations he has vehemently denied. While Andre Harrell, Diddy's mentor, was never charged with any sex crimes, he passed away in 2020. Also read: Leonardo DiCaprio breaks silence over appearance at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' wild parties: They were not freak offs Justin Bieber and Usher urged to speak out Following Diddy's recent arrest, former associates like Justin Bieber and Usher are facing increasing pressure to speak out against the disgraced mogul. Fans believe these young artists may have personal experiences that could help with the case. Earlier this year, a video surfaced of Combs publicly criticising a teenage Bieber for not spending enough time with him. A source earlier informed the outlet that, While Bieber is reportedly aware of the situation, he is currently focused on his family and kid. Usher, on the other hand, mysteriously deleted his entire Twitter account, claiming it had been hacked. Korean actor Park Seo-joon has expressed his love for Bollywood films and revealed he would love to visit India if invited. Speaking with news agency PTI, Seo-joon also spoke the second season of his soon-to-be-released web series Gyeongseong Creature, directed by Chung Dong-yoon. (Also Read | Are Park Seo-joon and Lauren Tsai in a relationship? His agency breaks silence on dating rumours) Park Seo-joon spoke about Bollywood and India. Park Seo-joon talks about visiting India When asked whether he would come to India to meet fans, Seo-joon said, "If you invite me, anytime. I love Bollywood... Yeah, please invite me. If I get the chance, I'd love to fly over." Han So-hee and Chung Dong-yoon agreed with him saying, "same here". Seo-joon on Gyeongseong Creature 2 The actor was asked whether the two-part Gyeongseong Creature appealed to him because it doesn't follow the traditional K-drama arc, Park said even when the narrative is similar, the way the story is told makes a show unique. "As an actor, it's my job to provide different content, stories to the viewers. In that sense, Gyeongseong Creature makes (for) really good content, and I'll be waiting for your invitation to India. Not everything that happened between the past and the present are in the script, so I had to fill in the void with my own imagination," he added. About Gyeongseong Creature The first part of Gyeongseong Creature, which premiered on December 22, 2023, revolved around Jang Tae-sang (Seo-joon), the owner of the House of Golden Treasure (Geumokdang), the best pawnshop in Gyeongseong, and Yoon Chae-ok (So-hee), a specialist in finding missing people who is searching for her mother. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the series saw the destinies of Tae-sang and Chae-ok intertwine. The second season is set in 2024 Seoul. It uncovers the never-ending ties the good and the bad that fate weaves in Gyeongseong via Ho-jae, a man deceptively similar in looks and demeanour to Tae-sang (Seo-joon), and Chae-ok (So-hee), a survivor of the Gyeongseong spring. Season two of the Netflix series will start streaming on Friday. Seo-joon is popular among K-drama fans for his shows, such as What's Wrong With Secretary Kim and She Was Pretty. So-hee is known for her work in K-dramas such as Nevertheless, The World of the Married and My Name, among others. Soudi Al Nadak, 26, has fanned up quite a frenzy on the internet with her latest reel. Originally from the UK, Soudi is wife to Dubai-based businessman Jamal Al Nadak. Having met in Dubai while studying, the duo soon took the plunge and have now been married for 3 years. Soudi appears to be quite happy in her life, regularly sharing updates of her whereabouts and experiences on social media. The latest revelation she made, was about Jamal buying a private island for her. Dubbing it to be "his best investment yet", the reason she cited is what appears to have caught the internet's fancy. What is it you ask? Well Soudi wanted to wear a bikini, albeit with complete privacy. Costing about $50 million, the private island whose exact location has for obvious reasons not been disclosed, is located in Asia. Both the loved up gesture as well as the reason behind it, has the internet running around in circles. Dubai businessman buys private island for wife for a peculiar reason: The internet dubs him 'husband of the year'(Photos: Instagram/soudiofarabia) Some just saw the gesture as simply an extravagant, yet wholesome result of the two being so in love with one another. Some comments echoing this read: "Things MEN do for love ", "*If he wanted to he would ", "Realllllll menn" and "Husband of the year". Some others wishfully expressed their desires to also land a man who would go to such lengths for them. Some of these comments read: "Why we don't get husband like him ", "I want a husband like him " and "Aisa ladka kaha milta hai". Humour of course, was not lost on the internet's conscience, with some hilarious comments reading: "Did he also stop helicopters from coming there ", "That's why one legend said-Habibi welcome to Dubai ", "Bhai ye dubai walo ne theka le rakha hai sab ko garib karne ka " and "Taj mahal wala award akbar se wapas leke ise dedo". Our favourite of the lot however, has to be this comment which reads, "But does he have a Coldplay ticket ?". What do you think about today's find from the internet true love, or overkill? The Telangana government on Wednesday will soon began the removal of 10,000-odd dwellings and commercial structures that came up all along the Musi river in Hyderabad and adjoining districts, officials said. In the first phase, 1,600 occupied houses in the Musi riverbed will be removed, with the residents relocated. (REUTERS) An official statement said a latest survey conducted by the revenue department along the Musi river revealed that there are 2,116 structures on the river bed and another 7,850 in the buffer zone. Municipal administration and urban development principal secretary Dana Kishore, who is also the managing director of Musi River Front Development Corporation, told reporters that the government has prepared an action plan to clear the constructions that came up along the river course. As per the directions of the chief minister, we are going to provide rehabilitation of the evacuees of the Musi river front in double bedroom houses. The government has allotted nearly 16,000 double bedroom houses in different parts of the city to provide accommodation for the people who will be evacuated from the dwellings along the river, Kishore said. In the first phase, as many as 1,600 occupied houses in the Musi riverbed will be removed, with the residents relocated. Those living in the buffer zone will receive compensation for their structures in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013. As part of the exercise, officials from the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset protection Agency (HYDRAA) began moving bulldozers to the riverfront area on Wednesday to demolish the illegal structures. The exercise is likely to begin by Saturday. Simultaneously, four teams of officials belonging to revenue department from Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts started surveying the constructions along the Musi river to conduct door-to-door survey of the people living in these illegal constructions and negotiate with them to vacate their houses and shops, which would be demolished. Kishore assured that the demolition exercise would begin only after relocating the people from the river front to the allotted double bedroom houses. We have sent proposals for the rehabilitation of people from the buffer zone to the government. Those who have clear title deeds would be paid suitable compensation as per the 2013 act, he said. On Tuesday evening, chief minister A Revanth Reddy held a high-level review meeting to discuss the modalities in carrying out demolition of structures along the Musi river and rehabilitating the people from there. He announced the allocation of 16,000 double-bedroom homes for such families. Reddy directed that not a single family should be left homeless and must either be allotted double-bedroom houses or provided with suitable alternatives, an official statement from the CMO said. The chief minister directed officials to collect detailed information on the eligible poor living in the Musi catchment area, including those residing around encroached lakes and canals in Hyderabad, who could be allotted double bedroom flats or assisted otherwise. Several temple authorities across Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj have advised devotees to bring alternatives such as dry fruits and coconut instead of sweets, news agency PTI reported on Thursday. The move comes amid concerns over purity of offerings after adulterated ghee with animal fat was allegedly used to make laddus in Tirupati temple. Bade Hanuman temple near Sangam in Prayagraj. (HT)(HT_PRINT) Prominent temples which have enforced these restrictions are Alop Shankari Devi, Bade Hanuman temple, Mankameshwar temple and Lalita Devi temple among others. Shiv Murat Mishra, the chief priest of the famous Lalita Devi temple, said, In the meeting of our temple management held on Tuesday, it was decided that prasad of sweets will not be offered to the goddess in the temple, but devotees have been requested to offer coconut, fruits, dry fruits, cardamom, etc. He added that plans were underway to open shops inside temple premises where pure sweets will be made available to the devotees. Mahant Shridharanand Brahmachari Ji Maharaj of the Mankameshwar temple said they have written to the district magistrate to test the laddu-peda being sold outside the temple. Until the purity of the sweets is clear in the investigation, they will not be allowed to be offered in the temple. Anyway, we believe in fruits more than sweets, he told PTI. After the controversy in Tirupati, the Mankameshwar temple has also banned devotees from bringing their own prasad as offerings to the deity. It also plans to conduct quality checks and potentially establish its own testing facilities. Bade Hanuman temple also plans to make sacred offerings inside temple premises. After the construction of the corridor of the temple is completed, the temple management itself will prepare 'laddu-peda' prasad for the Shri Bade Hanuman temple, said Mahant Balbir Giri Ji Maharaj, the patron of the temple. SIT to probe Tirupati Laddu row The Andhra Pradesh government appointed senior IPS officer Sarvashresth Tripathi as the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday to probe the alleged adulteration of ghee used in making the famous Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) temple laddu prasadam. Also read | Tirumala laddu row: TTD lodges complaint against ghee supplier SIT will comprise two more senior IPS officers Visakhapatnam range deputy inspector general of police Gopinath Jetty and Kadapa district superintendent of police Harshavardhan Raju. BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha man accused of killing and dismembering a womans body in Bengaluru told his family about the crime before dying by suicide and allegedly claimed that Mahalakshmi and her brothers used to thrash him and extort money from him. The man accused of murdering her died by suicide in Odishas Bhadrak district on Wednesday, five days after the crime came to light. (FILE PHOTO) On Thursday, the mans younger brother, a B.Tech student in Berhampur town, told reporters that his brother confessed to the murder and that he chopped her body after an initial plan to pass her death as a suicide did not work. My brother was with me for the last 9-10 days. After staying for 3 days, he confessed to killing Mahalakshmi. He told me that Mahalakshmi used to blackmail him and extorted money from him, the B.Tech student told reporters, adding that his brother blamed Mahalakshmi for messing up his life. He kept on saying that the girl has destroyed our family, the brother said. He wanted to marry her and was taking her on a bike to Kerala. However, she accused him of kidnapping and got him thrashed by the public. The public beat him up badly and handed him over to the police. He was also beaten by the cops and left after he gave 1,000 bribe. The womans brother along with his friends had also threatened to kill my brother. So, out of rage, he held her neck and choked her. After realising that she died, he initially tried to hang her body to pass her death as a suicide. However, he could not hang her and hence chopped it into pieces and put it in the fridge before fleeing to Odisha, he said. To be sure, the Bengaluru police believe that Mahalakshmi (29) was stabbed to death on the suspicion that she was involved with another man. The two were colleagues at a Bengaluru mall and had been in a relationship since late 2023. She was married to Hemant Das but came to Bengaluru nine months ago to start afresh following marital discord. The man accused of murdering her died by suicide in Odishas Bhadrak district on Wednesday, five days after the crime came to light. In a note, the man wrote: I was fed up with her conduct. I fought with her over personal matters and Mahalakshmi assaulted me. Enraged by her act, I killed her. It also said that he strangled her on September 3 after an altercation and later chopped the body. Before he died, the man visited his mother on Tuesday. She said he was tense when he came home at 10pm on Tuesday. When I asked him why he was so tensed, he told me that he had done something wrong. He revealed that he had killed the girl in Bengaluru who worked with her. He did not visit us for last 2-3 years and would not pick up our call or even tell us what was going in his life. He told me Mahalakshmi `used to beat him regularly. Once she beat him up and demanded 1 lakh. Her brothers threatened to kill him. He told me that he had to kill her to save himself, his sobbing mother told reporters. 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 (Secundrabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000, ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290 The body of a five-year-old girl was found in the water tank of a locked apartment at a multi-storeyed building in Bhopal on Thursday. The girl had been missing for two days, and an extensive search had been conducted by dozens of police officials, reported PTI. Body of a missing girl found inside water tank (Getty Images/iStockphoto) After the body of the girl was found, angry locals blocked roads and gheraoed the Shahjahanabad police station demanding the death penalty for the killers and questioning why it took three days for the police to find the body. Police have picked up two persons in connection with the incident, reported PTI quoting sources. At least 100 policemen, as well as drones and divers (for search in nearby water bodies and drains) had been roped in to trace the girl, who went missing on Tuesday noon from the building where her family resided, police said. The body was found in a water tank which was placed directly above a locked flat. Locals questioned why police questioned hundreds of people inside the apartment building but didn't open the locked flat despite neighbours complaining of a strong odour from the apartment. The girl's family members along with locals staged a road blockade, claiming they had asked police to get the locked flat opened after filing the missing complaint but the police did not pay heed to their demand. The protesters cleared the road after some time but continued their sit-in agitation outside the police station, seeking the death penalty for the killers. The police searched over 1,000 flats in the area in connection with the case, which included the inspection of washing machines, before they opened the locked flat, reported NDTV. The body of the girl has been sent to the hospital for a medical examination, but the police suspect that the girl was sexually assaulted and murdered, reported NDTV. The police are also probing a black magic angle in the 5-year-old girl's death. (With inputs from PTI) The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea from the Gujarat government seeking to review its decision, which criticised the state while overturning the remission given to 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing seven of her family members during the 2002 riots. The Supreme Court on January 8 overturned the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case and ordered that they return to prison.(PTI) A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan also denied the request to list the review petition in open court. Having carefully gone through the review petitions, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the review petitions, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The review petitions are accordingly dismissed, the bench said. In its plea, the Gujarat government argued that the Supreme Court's January 8 judgment, which found the state guilty of usurpation of power and abuse of discretion for following an order from another bench, contained an error apparent on the face of the record based on three main grounds. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning incident in February 2002. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15, 2022. In its more than 100-page judgment, the Supreme Court said the Gujarat government was not the appropriate government to pass the remission order. It clarified that the state in which an offender is tried and sentenced is competent to decide the remission plea of convicts. The convicts were tried in Maharashtra. The top court had also nullified its May 13, 2022 order of another bench asking the Gujarat government to consider a remission plea of one of the convicts as the order was obtained by "playing fraud on the court" and by suppressing material facts. With PTI inputs Calling the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) biased, the Karnataka government on Thursday decided to withdraw general consent given to the agency to probe cases in the state. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah addresses a press conference, in Bengaluru, on Tuesday. (PTI) The law and parliamentary affairs minister of the state, HK Patil, informed the media about the decision after a meeting of the state cabinet, which was chaired by chief minister Siddaramaiah. "The notification granting general consent for CBI to probe criminal cases in Karnataka state, under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, has been withdrawn," the minister said. According to the law, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) requires consent from the respective state governments to conduct investigations in their jurisdiction. "It has been done because it is clear that the CBI or the central government while using their instrumentalities are not using them judiciously. So, case-by-case, we will verify and give (consent for CBI probe); general consent has been withdrawn," the minister said, according to PTI. He further said that the decision was not taken to shield the CM in the MUDA case. "On CM there is a court order for the Lokayukta probe, so there is no such question," he added. He said the CBI was misused in several cases. He claimed the agency hadn't filed chargesheets in several of the cases in Karnataka. They (CBI) refused to file chargesheets, they refused to probe umpteen number of mining cases, he added. Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah today said he would not be resigning from his post amid the MUDA scam allegations. "I won't resign; why should I resign? There are allegations against HD Kumaraswamy, did he resign? Let Kumaraswamy resign. Has Modi taken resignation of Kumaraswamy," the CM said. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar also commented on the matter. "I think it is all a political drama which they are trying to do. There are a lot of cases against several central ministers and other leaders of the BJP. Have all of them resigned? There is no need for the CM to resign Being the party president, I am telling you there is no question of CM resigning," he said. With inputs from PTI, ANI Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday attacked the Communist Party of India (Marxist), saying that communists don't believe in God or religion and their ideology is similar to that of anti-nationals. Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav (ANI) Yadav, who was addressing a rally in Haryana's Bhiwani, said, It is very unfortunate to see that our opponent in the constituency is a CPI (M) candidate. Communists don't believe in God or religion and the country doesn't matter to them. Their ideology is similar to that of anti-nationals. In our country, there is not a single state that has a Left government, Yadav said. After a gap of thirty-seven years since its lone victory in the Haryana Assembly, the CPI(M) is aiming for a comeback as Congress unexpectedly allocated a constituency to the party for the upcoming elections on October 5. Om Prakash, CPI(M)s district secretary for Bhiwani and a state committee member is contesting the Bhiwani assembly seat with Congress party's backing. This is seen as a win for the CPI(M) even as the state Congress has held firm against other INDIA allies like the Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party. The BJP has chosen Ghanshyam Saraf, the current MLA and a former minister, to run against Prakash, who used to lead bank employees. Prakash retired voluntarily as the chief manager of UCO Bank in 2014 and said after submitting his nomination papers that he wants to focus on the issues faced by farmers and workers and also address social matters. His non-political entity, Jan Sangharsh Samiti, is widely recognised in the community for championing the rights of traders and everyday citizens against any form of oppression, Indian Express reported. The elections of Haryana assembly polls are slated to be held on October 5 and results of the same will be out on October 8. Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh was reportedly reprimanded by the Congress high command in Delhi over a contentious decision requiring food outlets across the state to display the identity cards of the owners prominently. PWD minister Vikramaditya Singh (HT File Photo)(HT_PRINT) The move, which the minister had announced earlier this week, sparked a backlash on social media and from within the party ranks, raising concerns about the Congresss stance on such policies after it had previously criticised a similar move by the Uttar Pradesh government during the Kanwar Yatra. Singh, who holds the Public Works and Urban Development portfolios, was summoned to Delhi for consultations and asked to refrain from making controversial remarks on the matter, reported India Today quoting party insiders. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is reported to have expressed his displeasure with Singhs handling of the matter, which has now snowballed into a significant issue for the states ruling party. The policy mandates that shopkeepers and street vendors display their identity cards at their establishments, ostensibly to improve transparency and enhance security, according to Singh. The minister cited public concerns about the growing number of migrants in the state as a justification for the move. "We have decided to make it mandatory for street vendors to display their ID cards, issued by the local street vendors' committee," Singh told reporters. He added that the measure was designed to allay fears among locals regarding the increase in migrant workers in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in popular tourist areas such as Shimla. Also Read | UP revives eatery nameplate diktat after Kanwar Yatra row Discontent in Congress The cards would be issued along similar lines as those implemented by the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh, which had generated controversy for allegedly targeting minority communities. Many within the Congress are concerned that the policy echoes the measures enacted in Uttar Pradesh, which were met with fierce opposition from prominent Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, earlier this year, reported ANI. The Congress leadership had cheered the Supreme Court's decision to stay the UP governments directive in July, with leaders hailing it as a victory for secularism and justice. Now, facing a similar issue within a state where it holds power, Congress finds itself in a difficult position. Singh has been asked by the Congress leadership to provide clarification on the rationale behind the decision and to ensure that future statements and policies are framed in a manner that does not generate confusion or controversy, according to ANI. With inputs from agencies The Enforcement Directorate (ED) uncovered a 400 crore fraud linked to the online gaming app, Fiewin, which reportedly involved Chinese nationals. The app allegedly attracted users by offering them a chance to easily earn money through mini-games. Binance, the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange, supported the investigation. (Shutterstock) According to an NDTV report, four Indians accused of aiding the Chinese nationals in this scheme were arrested by ED officials in Kolkata. Binance, the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange, supported the investigation. Additionally, approximately 25 crore has been frozen as part of the probe. How was the fraud uncovered? The Fiewin app attracted users by offering an easy way to earn money through mini-games, as noted in a Binance statement cited by NDTV. "New users could quickly create an account and begin participating in the app's activities, with the option to 'top up' their in-app balance via various payment methods. However, reports have surfaced suggesting that once users' accounts accumulated substantial funds, the app stopped allowing them to withdraw the funds, leaving them unable to recover their money, the statement said. The ED's investigation uncovered that approximately 400 crore was misappropriated through this scheme. "This money was transferred into various cryptocurrency addresses, which were later traced back to the operation," Binance reported. As more individuals fell victim to the online gaming app, local police began receiving an increasing number of complaints. Due to the rising complaints, the case was handed over to the ED. The ED's inquiry revealed that Chinese nationals, working in collaboration with certain individuals in India, were behind this fraudulent operation. Who are recharge persons involved in the fraud? The investigation revealed that the funds collected from gaming were deposited into the accounts of individuals referred to as recharge persons. These individuals permitted their accounts to be used in exchange for a commission from the app owners. According to the ED, the total amount was subsequently converted to cryptocurrency and transferred to the crypto accounts of Chinese nationals. Through its investigation, the ED discovered that the app had been part of a cross-border criminal network that used various methods to obfuscate the origin and movement of illicit funds by utilizing bank accounts of 'mules' and cryptocurrency wallets, creating a complex web of transactions to hinder detection and tracing, Binance said. Who has all been arrested so far? - The ED investigation revealed that Arun Sahu and Alok Sahu, from Rourkela, Odisha, acted as "recharge persons," collecting money from online gamers and depositing it into their accounts. This money was then converted to cryptocurrency and transferred to online wallets belonging to Chinese nationals. - Chetan Prakash, an engineer from Patna, was arrested for his role in converting funds from the recharge persons' accounts into cryptocurrency. - Joseph Stalin, a software engineer from Chennai, was also arrested. He allegedly assisted Pie Pengyun, a Chinese national from Gansu province, in becoming a co-director of his company. - The ED found that Pengyun utilised Stalin's company, Studio 21, for bulk payouts related to the Fiewin app, which initially built trust with online gamers, encouraging them to place larger bets. - The investigation has led to multiple arrests of individuals facilitating the fraud, who communicated using privacy-focused messaging apps and operated from various locations. - So far, approximately 400 crore has been laundered through the Fiewin app, deposited as cryptocurrency into eight Binance wallets owned by Chinese nationals. These Chinese nationals communicated with the Indian accused via the Telegram platform. Union minister Amit Shah on Thursday extended an olive branch to the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir while addressing a poll rally. Shah asked the terrorists to give up arms and approach the government for talks, or the armed forces would hunt them down. Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah speaks during a public meeting for J&K Assembly elections, at Chenani (PTI Photo)(PTI) The home minister, while addressing a rally ahead of the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly election, reiterated that there will be no dialogue or cross-border trade with Pakistan. Launching a scathing attack on the opposition parties, Amit Shah accused Congress and the National Conference of shielding terrorists in the union territory for the last three decades. Promising a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir, the home minister said that if the Congress-National Conference alliance won the assembly election, they would implement Pakistan's agenda in the UT. "For vote-bank politics, they (opposition parties) are asking for talks with terrorists. If they (terrorists) want to talk, let them come forward after giving up arms. In the northeast, 10,000 people have surrendered," Shah told the gathering at Jasrotia, extending an olive branch to the terrorists. Addressing back-to-back rallies in the Chenani and Udhampur Assembly segments in Udhampur district, Bani and Jasrotia in Kathua district and Marh in Jammu district, the home minister said, Give up arms and come for talks or our forces will hunt you down. While addressing a rally at Marh, he said that PDP, NC and Congress are advocating talks with Pakistan and the resumption of cross-border trade. "They want to do 'ILU ILU' (I love you) with Pakistan.... We will not talk to Pakistan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has closed the trade that will not be resumed," Shah asserted. While addressing a rally at Bani, the union minister said that the NDA government won't even allow the shadow of terrorism over the hills of the Jammu region. "Let Pakistan do whatever it wants, we will not allow the shadow of terrorism in the hills of the Jammu region. We have strengthened the VDGs and youngsters in villages and given them INSAS rifles to fight terrorism," Shah said. Slamming the opposition alliance, he said, If the NC-Congress alliance wins, there will be fireworks in Pakistan. Do you want Pakistan to celebrate? (With inputs from PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed God taught a lesson to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by defeating the BJP in Ayodhya in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public meeting for the Haryana Assembly elections, at Assandh, in Karnal district.(PTI) "Have you seen PM Modi's face these days? Earlier, he used to claim that he has a 56-inch chest, and now he says that he has a direct connection with God. He panicked. He tells the countrymen that they are biological but he is non-biological and he will directly speak to God. But God taught him a lesson in (Lok Sabha) polls, and Awadhesh Singh (Samajwadi Party candidate) defeated BJP's candidate in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh," he said in an election rally in Haryana. During his campaign rally in the poll-bound state, he claimed PM Modi and the BJP-led Haryana government have destroyed the employment system in the state. "What does Modi do? He gave away the farmland you have to Adani. The loans of Haryana farmers will not be waived off but he waived off the loans of capitalists," Rahul Gandhi said. He claimed in the US, people from Haryana live in difficult conditions. "A few days ago I went to America. I met young men from Haryana in my program in Texas. I saw the video from there. Do you want to understand Haryana today? In that video, I was told that 15-20 thousand people from Haryana are going to America. Then I met your brothers. 15-20 people sleep in one room," said the Congress leader. Also read: Rahul says would fight in Parliament, take to streets to restore J&K statehood Rahul Gandhi said the Congress will give women gas worth 500 every month. "For Mahila Shakti (women empowerment), we will be giving 500 gas every month, we will give two lakh jobs to the youth. We will give MSP guarantees to the farmer and insurance money as soon as the crop is destroyed, he added. The BJP won 240 Lok Sabha seats. The party later formed a coalition government with support from JDU and TDP. The biggest surprise in the elections was the BJP's loss in Ayodhya, where the party inaugurated the Ram Temple in January. With inputs from PTI, ANI The Supreme Court on Wednesday branded a remark made by the Patna high court in a 1985 murder case as highly objectionable, saying such a comment was not commensurate with the sensitivity and neutrality expected from a court. A view of Supreme Court of India (HT Photo/Sanjeev Verma) The court made the remark while hearing appeals filed against a high court verdict in which a woman was abducted and murdered over a house she had inherited. The high court had upheld the conviction of five persons in the case and had set aside the acquittal of two other co-accused. It had convicted the two persons, who were earlier acquitted of all charges by a trial court and sentenced them to life term, PTI reported. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma noted the high court had examined the question of whether the victim was residing in the house from where she was alleged to have been abducted. The apex court also noted that relying on the testimonies of the maternal uncle and brother-in-law of the deceased as well as the investigating officer (IO), the high court had concluded that the victim was residing in the said house. The bench noted the IO had inspected the house and no direct material, except some make-up articles, could be gathered to indicate that the victim was residing there. It said admittedly, another woman, who was a widow, was also residing in the same portion of the house. The Supreme Court said that the high court observed that since the woman was a window, the make-up articles could not have belonged to her. "...there was no need for her to put on make-up, being a widow," it said. The court said the remark was legally untenable and highly objectionable. "In our opinion, the observation of the high court is not only legally untenable but also highly objectionable. A sweeping observation of this nature is not commensurate with the sensitivity and neutrality expected from a court of law, specifically when the same is not made out from any evidence on record," the bench said in its verdict. It also said that the presence of make-up items can't prove that the victim was the house's resident. "The make-up articles were linked with the deceased based on a completely unacceptable reasoning and without any corroborative material," the bench noted. No other personal belongings of the deceased were found in the house. The bench noted that the victim had died in August 1985 in Munger district and a report was lodged by her brother-in-law that she was abducted by seven persons from their house. The bench noted that an FIR was lodged and later, a charge sheet was filed against seven accused, reported PTI. The trial court had convicted five accused for commission of offences, including that of murder while the other two were acquitted of all charges, it added. In its verdict, the apex court said there was no direct evidence on record to prove the commission of murder by the accused persons. With inputs from PTI Taking a cue from Uttar Pradesh, the Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday issued an order requiring shopkeepers and street vendors, particularly eateries, to display the owner's identification. State public works minister and Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh announced that this order was issued during a joint meeting with the Public Works, Urban Development, and Municipal Corporation. Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh (HT Photo)(HT Photo) We met with the UD (Urban Development) and the Municipal Corporation. To make sure that hygienic food is sold, a decision has been taken for all the street vendors... especially those selling edible items, Vikramaditya Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. We have decided to make it mandatory for the street vendors to display their ID cards given by the street vendor's committee, he added. This follows a directive from the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday, which mandated that the name and address of operators, proprietors, and managers be displayed at all food establishments. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath also instructed that chefs and waiters must wear masks and glovesand that CCTV cameras in hotels and restaurants be installed. Decision made amid rising number of migrants Vikramaditya Singh told reporters that the decision was made in response to apprehensions voiced by several locals regarding the increasing number of migrants in the state. People expressed their concerns and doubts, and considering this, we have decided to implement a similar policy to that in UP, in which it has been made mandatory that vendors have to display their names and IDs... Every shopkeeper and street vendor has to display their identification, he said. The ID cards will be issued based on the model adopted by the Uttar Pradesh government, which first introduced the idea and sparked considerable controversy. Street vendors, especially those selling food items, will also be checked for hygiene and quality by the food supplies department, the minister said. On Friday, in pursuance of a decision taken by the house on September 10, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania constituted a seven-member committee headed by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan to formulate a policy for 'Street Vendors.' A statement said Vikramaditya Singh, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Congress MLA Harish Janartha, and BJP MLAs Anil Sharma, Satpal Singh Satti, and Randhir Sharma are the other members of the committee. Recent protests by Hindu outfits The decision to register outside workers using their real identities followed significant protests a few weeks ago regarding the demolition of alleged unauthorised sections of a mosque in Sanjauli. Hindu organisations carried out demonstrations across the state, calling for the registration of workers from outside who come to work in Himachal Pradesh. The protesters also insisted that street vendor licenses be granted exclusively to locals. They expressed concerns over a rise in the number of street vendors from the Muslim community. As Israel prepares for a ground invasion in Lebanon amid rising tensions in the region, India on Thursday evacuated an injured Indian soldier from Tel Aviv and brought him to the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in New Delhi for further treatment, officials aware of the matter said. To be sure, the case is not related to the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. (ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY) To be sure, the case is not related to the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The 33-year-old-soldier, Havildar Suresh R, had suffered a serious head injury in an accident while serving with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Golan Heights. The mandate of UNDOF includes maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Syria and supervising the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces. He was transferred to India in a C-130J air ambulance. In a remarkable display of synergy, the Indian Armed Forces, supported by the #MoD successfully conducted a critical medical evacuation of Havildar Suresh R. On 20 Sept 2024, the individual suffered grievous injuries in the line of duty and was transferred to a #UN hospital in #Israel, the Indian Army wrote on X. Also Read: Watch: Army rescues over 800 stranded tourists in Sikkim However, as his situation required further treatment, it was decided to evacuate him to India, the army said. A team of Army Medical Corps #AMC in close collaboration with #IAF, #IDS & #DMA, in a highly coordinated mission, not only ensured that the injured soldier was evacuated amidst an extremely uncertain situation, but also provided state of the art critical care support en route to the patient, it added. The critical air evacuation medical team was led by Lieutenant Colonel Anuj Singh. The air ambulance took off from Tel Aviv on Thursday and reached Jamnagar from where the patient was further airlifted to Palam before being admitted to the RR hospital, HT has learnt. This mission exemplifying the highest values of the armed forces, highlights the unwavering commitment to saving lives, even in the most challenging circumstances, the army added. India has again urged its citizens to leave Lebanon in view of reports that said Israel is preparing its troops for a possible invasion of the country. Smoke billows over southern Lebanon amid the ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. (Reuters Photo) In an updated advisory issued on Wednesday, the Indian embassy in Beirut also strongly advised Indian nationals not to travel to Lebanon in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region. All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128, the advisory added. Also Read | Israel prepares for ground invasion of Lebanon; Joe Biden warns of all out war as US, France raise concerns: 10 points The updated advisory was issued as Israel continued its attacks across Lebanon that have already killed more than 620 people and injured thousands more. Israels military chief Herzi Halevi has told troops that the air strikes on Lebanon will continue to destroy Hezbollahs infrastructure and to prepare for a possible ground offensive. According to the website of the Indian embassy in Beirut, there are nearly 4,000 Indian nationals in Lebanon, and a majority of them are employed as workers in companies, the construction sector and agricultural farms. Also Read | Lebanon: How Israel sent warning texts before bombing Hezbollah locations Indian Army personnel have also been deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since November 1998. On August 1, the Indian embassy had issued an advisory asking citizens to leave Lebanon because of potential threats in the region following an escalation of tensions due to the killing of leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill condemned his party MP Kangana Ranaut for her recent statement on three farm laws and thanked the BJP for distancing itself from her consistent rant and illogical statements", news agency ANI reported. This is the second time in two months that Kangana Ranauts rash remarks on the 2020-21 farmer agitation has forced her party to reprimand her, and ultimately made her retract the comment. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) I am grateful to the BJP for distancing themselves from the comments of Kangana Ranaut, said Jaiveer Shergill, adding that Kangana Ranaut statements should not create any doubt on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bond with the people of Punjab. As a Punjabi, I must say that Kangana Ranaut's consistent rant, useless, baseless and illogical statements against the Sikh community, the farmers of Punjab are damaging all the good work, the welfare-oriented, the Vikas-oriented work being done, that has been done by PM Modi for the welfare of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat, Shergill told ANI. The BJP on Wednesday distanced itself from the Mandi MP's remarks clarifying that Kangana's statement on the need to bring back the now-repealed controversial three farm is her personal opinion and does not reflect the views of the party. Also read | 5 controversial statements by Kangana Ranaut On the social media platforms, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's statement on the farm bills that was withdrawn by central government is going viral. I want to make it clear that this statement is a personal statement of her. Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of BJP and it doesn't depict BJP's view on the farm bills. We disapprove of this statement, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said. Widespread condemnation from within the BJP and the opposition forced the actress to issue a clarification. Absolutely, my views on Farmers Laws are personal and they dont represent partys stand on those Bills. Thanks, Kangana Ranaut wrote on social media platform X. Ranaut's statements on the farmers protest or three farm laws is not a recent one. In August, she stirred yet another controversy by suggesting that the farmers' protests could have led to a Bangladesh-like situation if strong measures had not been taken by the government. Former Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautalas Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) was trounced in the Lok Sabha elections. It got less than 1% vote share months after its alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended in March. As the JJP is contesting the assembly election in alliance with Azad Samaj Party (ASP), Chautala spoke to HT about his partys prospects, the Lok Sabha poll debacle, etc. Edited excerpts: Former Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala. (X) What are your prospects given you were also in power for over four years? We are at the same position from where we started in 2019. But we are improving fast. ...there is a factor of anti-incumbency primarily because of the farmers agitation. But people also understand that JJP did a lot for farmers...hassle-free payment for crop procurement in two days, buying 14 crops on minimum support price, increasing the crop damage compensation amount to 15,000 per acre, and depositing it in farmers accounts within 30 days of crop loss. We have delivered successfully. Would the JJP have been a front-runner in the assembly elections had you resigned during the farmers agitation against the three farm laws? Who knows what would have happened? Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader...Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Union cabinet in protest against the three laws. Where do they stand today? Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Singh Chautala resigned from his assembly seat. Did he win the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat? No. It seems the public sentiment somewhere was that if I had resigned in 2020, the BJP government would have fallen which did not happen in March. I was out of the government in March and Nayab Singh Saini continued as the chief minister. The BJP broke ties with the JJP after four and half years. What went wrong? We could not come to an understanding regarding seat sharing for Lok Sabha elections. That is why we parted ways and decided to contest on our own. Did this hurt JJP in the Lok Sabha elections? National issues and a fight between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) influenced the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the fight between NDA and INDIA, regional parties that did not partner with either of the two alliances failed to gain any momentum... Was this the reason that the JJP performed poorly getting a mere 0.87% vote share in the Lok Sabha elections? The numbers went down. Look at the Lok Sabha election results for SAD in Punjab. They have never performed so badly. Their vote share decreased to 13%. However, the voting pattern will be entirely different in assembly elections in Haryana. It would not be on the lines of the Lok Sabha polls. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a constituent of the INDIA in Lok Sabha polls, is contesting against the Congress in the assembly polls. The vote share that the AAP got in Kurukshetra was an outcome of INDIA bloc where they had the Congress support. What are the issues on which the JJP is contesting the assembly polls? The law and order situation in Haryana is a big issue. The state is in a complete mess as no one is scared of the police now. This deterioration in the law-and-order situation has happened in the last five months. There have been a large number of extortion cases, firing incidents, murders, rapes. And no action has been taken. Saini does not have any control over the home department. How would you respond to Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hoodas claim that JJP is BJPs B-team? It is an absurd argument. Every party and its cadre work for themselves. No party would work for another political party. Did we fight for the Congress in 2019? No. We have allied with the ASP and will do well. Our target is to make maximum gains. What do you mean when you say the JJP holds the key [partys poll symbol] to the assembly elections? The JJP and ASP will jointly open the lock [to power]. In 2019, we helped the BJP open the lock. But this time we will form the government. Will you consider a post-poll alliance with the BJP again? I think it is too early to say this. First, we should have the numbers. If the numbers are positive, we will form the government. Let us see who all supports us. A Bengaluru court on Wednesday directed the Lokayukta to investigate Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in connection with land allotment involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (Muda), compounding the trouble for the senior leader a day after the high court approved the governors nod to probe him. A Bengaluru court on Wednesday directed the Lokayukta to investigate Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in connection with land allotment involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (Muda). (PTI) Special court judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat issued directions to take up investigation under section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure that gives a magistrate the power to order an investigation into a cognisable offence, and directed the police to file the investigation report by December 24. Acting under Section 156(3) of Code of Criminal Procedure, the jurisdictional police i.e., Superintendent of Police, Karnataka Lokayukta, Mysuru is hereby directed to register the case, investigate and to file a report as contemplated under Section 173 of CrPC, within a period 3 months from today, the court said in its order. This is the second setback in two days for Siddaramaiah, who is serving his second term as chief minister of Karnataka after winning a sweeping mandate in 2023. On Tuesday, the Karnataka high court rejected his petition challenging governor Thaawarchand Gehlots decision to permit his prosecution in connection with the Muda case. The case involves allegations of irregularities in a 2020 land allotment to Siddaramaiahs wife, Parvathi. The chief minister put up a brave face. It has come to my attention through the media that the special court for elected representatives has ordered an investigation by the Mysuru Lokayukta. I will provide a detailed response after reviewing the full copy of the order. I am ready to face the investigation and continue the legal fight, he posted on X. As I said yesterday, I repeat today: there is no question of fearing an investigation; I am determined to face everything. After discussing with legal experts, I will decide the next course of action, he added. The activists hailed the court order. FIR will have to be registered as per the order. Mysuru Lokayukta jurisdiction will register an FIR and do the investigation, advocate Vasant Kumar, representing petitioner activist Snehamayi Krishna, told reporters. The chief minister must resign so the Lokayukta can investigate transparently, he added. The special courts order compounds the problems for Siddaramaiah, who swept to power in 2023 on a promise of clean governance and after painting the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime as corrupt. Karnataka is one of only three states governed by the Congress, which has attempted to put up a united face and blamed the charges on political vendetta. Hours after the order, members of BJPs youth wing marched towards the CM residence and demanded his resignation. I welcome the order of the special court. I demand the CM to hand over the investigation to the CBI and tender his resignation immediately. Tomorrow [Thursday], BJP and JD(S) will hold a protest at the Vidhana Soudha premises [seeking his resignation], state BJP chief BY Vijayendra said. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched on the controversy. It has only been two years, and just look at the Congress government in Karnataka. The chief minister is facing accusations of a land scam. When he appeared in the high court, he was dismissed. The court stated that a proper investigation is necessary in this matter, he said in a rally in Haryana. The petition against the chief minister was filed by activists TJ Abraham, Snehamai Krishna and Pradeep Kumar SP, who alleged that Parvathi received 14 developed plots in a prime location in Mysuru as compensation for a three-acre plot of land, which they claim was excessive under MUDAs 50:50 scheme. On August 16, the governor granted sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, enabling the prosecution of Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged offences mentioned in the petition. On August 19, Siddaramaiah approached the high court, challenging the governors sanction. But on Tuesday, the high court sided with Gehlot. Justice M Nagaprasanna, who delivered the verdict, upheld the governors decision, explaining that under certain exceptional conditions, the governor can act independently, as per the provisions of the Constitution. The governor under normal circumstances has to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers as under Article 163 of the Constitution but can take independent decisions if exceptional circumstances arise. The present case projects one such exception, the court observed. The approval under 17A is mandatory in the fact situation. It nowhere requires a police officer to seek approval in a private complainant under 200 or 223 of BNSS. It is the duty of the complainants to seek such approval, the court clarified, rejecting the governments argument that sanction for prosecution should only be requested by a police officer, not a private party. The case pertains to a land deal when a 3.16 acre land plot was gifted to Parvathi by her brother, Mallikarjuna Swamy in 2010. Muda allegedly illegally developed the land between 2011-13, following which Parvathi , in 2014, sought compensation. In 2017, Muda agreed to compensate her and in 2022, she was given 14 plots. The complainants argued these 14 plots in the heart of Karnatakas second-largest city were far more valuable than the original land, under MUDAs 50:50 scheme. After the controversy came to light, Siddaramiah offered to return the 14 plots if his wife was given 62 crore as compensation. The Muda 50:50 scheme, announced in 2016, entailed offering 50% of the developed sites as compensation to the original land owners. The controversial scheme was scrapped in 2023. Monsoon remains active over central and western parts of the country due to cyclonic circulation that has caused heavy rainfall in the region. Since June 1, there is 5% excess rainfall with 4% excess over northwest India. (PTI file photo) According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts, monsoon had withdrawn from parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, some parts of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday but now the withdrawal is expected to slow down. Monsoon is very active now because of a cyclonic circulation. Its a very largescale system stretching from east to west over central India. There is already very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over west India. Heavy rain may continue till September 28 at least. There will be no progress in withdrawal of monsoon until this system weakens. Also, we have to see if more monsoonal systems are developing, said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD. In the next 2-3 days, there will be enhanced rainfall activity with isolated heavy rain is likely over Western Himalayan region, central, east and northeast India, IMD has warned. Also Read: Monsoon withdraws from parts of Rajasthan, Kutch There will also be isolated extremely heavy rainfall likely over Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Gujarat, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim till Friday. Monsoon normally starts withdrawing on September 17 and withdraws completely from the country on October 15. There is a cyclonic circulation over north Madhya Maharashtra and neighbourhood extending upto middle tropospheric level. A trough is running from the cyclonic circulation over north Madhya Maharashtra to north Bangladesh extending upto middle tropospheric level. Since June 1, there is 5% excess rainfall with 4% excess over northwest India; 16% excess over central India; 16% excess over south peninsula; 17% deficiency over east and northeast India. Maharashtra weather updates: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert warning for Mumbai, Maharashtra, till 8:30am, September 26, forcing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to declare a holiday for schools and colleges in Mumbai and its suburbs. Water logging in Chuna Bhatti area due to Heavy rain. Heavy rain continued to several parts of Mumbai city and suburbs, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Mumbai and Thane. Mumbai on Wednesday.(Raju Shinde/HT Photo) School education minister Deepak Kesarkar, the guardian minister for Mumbai city, declared a holiday as heavy rain pounded Mumbai. The IMD has also issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in the Palghar and Nashik districts of Maharashtra and an orange alert for Mumbai on Thursday in its overall forecast for the next five days. Torrential rain hit Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra on Wednesday, causing widespread disruptions, including delays in local train and flight services, and severe waterlogging, which led to traffic congestion across several areas. In response to the IMD's heavy rain forecast, officials in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Palghar have announced the closure of schools and colleges on Thursday. IMD's rain prediction for September 26 The weather agency has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in isolated areas of Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Dhule, Nandurbar, and Pune. The regional meteorological centre in Mumbai stated, "Heavy to very heavy rainfall & Thunderstorm with lightning & gusty winds at isolated places Very Likely" in its latest weather bulletin. Additionally, the department has warned of heavy rainfall in Madhya Maharashtra, as well as the Gujarat region, Konkan, and Goa, with the rain likely to continue from Thursday until Friday. Here's how torrential rains affected Maharashtra Waterlogging reported: Severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions were observed in various areas of the city. A landslide at the Mumbra bypass further impacted movement. Areas like Kurla East, Nehru Nagar, and Chembur were heavily waterlogged, while significant traffic jams were reported on the Kurla bridge due to the rainfall. Schools holiday in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Palghar: The BMC announced a holiday for all schools and colleges in Mumbai for Thursday, September 26, due to the heavy rain alert issued by IMD. The BMC urged citizens to leave their homes only if necessary. Similarly, Pune's District Collector Suhas Diwase, declared a public holiday for all schools and colleges in Pune city and Pimpri Chinchwad following IMD's orange alert. Thane Municipal Corporation also declared a holiday for all private and public schools. The Palghar district administration has announced that all public and private schools and colleges in the district will remain closed. Local train services: Mumbai's local train services on the Harbour line resumed after water levels receded following heavy rains on Wednesday. Trains were delayed and running at reduced speeds, as confirmed by Central Railways. In a statement, the CPRO of Central Railway said, Harbour line local trains have resumed after the water receded between Govandi-Mankhurd. Trains are running with caution and a restricted speed of 25kmph. Services resumed at 11.23 pm. With rainfall easing and water clearing from the tracks, train services on the Central Railway's main line also resumed. Landslide: Heavy rains triggered a landslide at the Mumbra bypass around 11:30 pm on Wednesday, causing a three-hour-long traffic jam. Fire officer Swapnil Sarnobat confirmed that no casualties were reported, and the traffic department managed the situation by controlling traffic from one side. The road was cleared using JCB machinery, and vehicles resumed movement towards Thane. Woman drowns to death: A 45-year-old woman, Vimal Gaikwad, drowned in an open drain in the MIDC area of Andheri after heavy rains on Wednesday. BMC officials reported that she was rescued by the Mumbai fire brigade and taken to Cooper Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. Flight delays: A total of 14 incoming flights to Mumbai Airport were diverted on Wednesday due to heavy rainfall, according to an airport official. Of these, nine were IndiGo flights that were not cleared to land because of the bad weather. The remaining diverted flights included two from Vistara, and one each from Air India, Akasa, and Gulf Air. Seven flights were redirected to Hyderabad, four to Ahmedabad, two to Mopa Airport in Goa, and one to Udaipur. Continuous heavy rainfall since the afternoon caused waterlogging and traffic disruptions in the city. Former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while addressing the Delhi Legislative Assembly for the first time since his resignation. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal addressing Delhi legislative assembly. "My colleagues in the opposition must be sad to see Manish Sisodia and me here," Kejriwal said. "I always say Prime Minister Modi is very powerful and has a lot of resources, but Modi is not God. The God who is there is with us. I want to thank the Supreme Court." Also Read | Delhi govt braces for heated assembly session Kejriwal, who once occupied the number one chair as chief minister, was assigned seat number 41, several paces away from his former position. His successor, Atishi, now occupies the chief minister's seat, while Kejriwal's trusted lieutenant, Manish Sisodia, was placed next to him at seat number 40. Kejriwal had served as chief minister of Delhi for nearly a decade before stepping down. His resignation followed more than a year of mounting pressure on the AAP over allegations of corruption in a liquor distribution scheme. Multiple AAP leaders, including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, were kept without trial for months in connection with the case. Kejriwal claimed that a recent conversation with a senior BJP leader had surprised him. "I asked how arresting me helped them. He told me that they derailed the entire Delhi government by arresting me," Kejriwal said. I was surprised by what he said to me. I wonder what kind of party it is that it is happy by ruining the life of the people of Delhi. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal and CM Atishi inspected a damaged road site in the capital. Kejriwal said that now that he is out of jail all the pending work in Delhi will be complete. "They stopped the work in Delhi by sending me to jail. The roads also got damaged. This was their only motive. Today I inspected a road in Delhi University with Chief Minister Atishi ji. This road will also be repaired soon, the rest of the roads in Delhi will also be repaired soon. Now that I am back, people of Delhi need not worry. All the pending work in Delhi will be completed," Kejriwal posted on X. Days after Nitin Gadkari claimed he was approached by a senior opposition leader, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, with an offer to be the country's next prime minister, he reiterated this on Thursday, and said he was approached after the general elections as well. Union road and transport minister Nitin Gadkari (File Photo) I got offers before and after (Lok Sabha) elections, the Union minister told India Today at its conclave in Mumbai. Further, the ex-BJP president stated he does not harbour prime ministerial ambitions. I asked them, Why do you want me to be the PM and why I should not be with the PM (Narendra Modi)? So, becoming prime minister is not my ambition," Gadkari remarked. I am not in any race, nor have I given my biodata to anyone. I keep doing my work. I am happy with where I am. I am a worker of the party and a member of the RSS. I won't bother if not made a minister. I will continue to work without any worry, he added. Meanwhile, Gadkari had first mentioned the offer at an event in Nagpur, his home city and Lok Sabha constituency, on September 14. "I told the (opposition) leader I follow one ideologoy and conviction. I am in a party that has given me everything that I never even dreamt of. No offer can entice me, he had said. Though the BJP won the Lok Sabha polls, it fell short of what would have been its third consecutive single-party majority in the House. However, it formed government with its allies and PM Modi achieved a hattrick of prime ministerial terms. New Delhi The Supreme Court on Wednesday stressed that off-the-cuff observations made by judges during legal proceedings can influence public perception and, at times, cause undue harm to the image of the judiciary. The courts observations came as it reproached a Karnataka high court judge for referring to a Muslim-dominated area in Bengaluru as Pakistan. The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, and justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bhushan R Gavai, Surya Kant and Hrishikesh Roy, warned that casual observations made by judges during open court sessions could inadvertently project bias. (Hindustan Times) While closing proceedings initiated on its own motion regarding the controversial remarks made by the judge during judicial proceedings, a bench comprising the five most senior judges of the top court noted that such comments not only undermine the territorial integrity of India but can also have broader social implications. No one can call any part of India as Pakistan. It is fundamentally against the territorial integrity of the nation, observed the bench, underlining the need for decorum and restraint from judges in the digital age when court proceedings are frequently live-streamed and closely watched and shared on social media. The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, and justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bhushan R Gavai, Surya Kant and Hrishikesh Roy, warned that casual observations made by judges during open court sessions could inadvertently project bias, particularly when the remarks are directed against a specific gender, community or region. Casual observations may indicate a certain degree of individual bias, particularly when perceived to be directed at a certain gender or community. Courts, therefore, have to be careful not to make observations that can be construed as misogynistic, or for that matter, prejudicial to any segment of our society, held the bench. A perception of justice to every segment to society is as important as the rendition of justice as an objective fact, stated the bench in its order, recording its serious concern over the high court judges reference to gender and a segment of the community. Such observations are liable to be construed in a negative light, thereby impacting not only the court of the judge who expressed them but also the wider judicial system, stressed the bench, calling for modulation of behaviour on the part of the bar and the bench to meet the expectations in the digital age. The top court on September 20 initiated proceedings on its own motion against controversial remarks made by Karnataka high court judge, justice Vedavyasachar Srishananda, in two videos widely that recently surfaced on social media. In one clip, the judge was heard referring to a Muslim-dominated area in Bengaluru, Gori Palya, as Pakistan, while in another, he was heard making inappropriate comments directed at a woman advocate, sparking widespread criticism on social media, drawing the ire of legal professionals and the public alike. On the day, the bench ordered a report from the Karnataka high court registry regarding these remarks. A day later, justice Srishananda expressed regret in open court, saying that his observations were unintentional, but they were reported out of context on social media platforms. I express my sincere regrets if they hurt any individual or any section of the society or community, said the judge on September 21, addressing bar leaders and other lawyers in the high court. On Tuesday, when the matter was taken up, attorney general R Venkataramani suggested that continuing with judicial proceedings against the high court judge may not be proper and that the top court may consider dealing with the issue on the administrative side. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta recommended that the judicial proceedings be closed in view of the judges apology, adding he completely agreed with the bench that a restraint by the bar and the bench is imperative to maintain judicial decorum. The five-judge bench decided to close proceedings against justice Srishananda after taking note of his contrite apology and in deference to the dignity of the institution, even as it was careful to frame its decision within a broader context. Noting how the digital age, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has made courtroom interactions accessible far beyond the physical boundaries of the courtroom, the court highlighted that judicial remarks are being scrutinised by audiences far removed from the legal profession. With this expanded reach comes a greater responsibility for judges, lawyers, litigants and all parties involved to be mindful of the impact their words may have on society at large, said the bench, delving into the necessity for judges to be self-aware of their own biases and predispositions and stressing the importance of impartiality. As judges, we are conscious of the fact that each individual has a set of predispositions based on early or later experiences of life. The heart and soul of a judge is the need to be impartial and fair. Intrinsic to this is for a judge to be aware of his own predispositions to be able to deliver objective and fair justice, it held. The only values that guide judicial decision-making are the ones enshrined under the Constitution of India, said the bench, cautioning against personal biases that may inadvertently emerge in casual remarks made in court. In the present case, the bench noted that justice Srishanandas remarks made in the proceedings in June and August were unrelated to the judicial determination and should have been eschewed. The bench said it was desisting from passing any adverse order against the high court judge since he was not issued personal notice of the proceedings in view of preserving the dignity of the institution. As the suo motu proceedings by the top court came to a close, AG Venkataramani cautioned against the vitriolic social media comments around the comments made by the high court judge. He added that the Supreme Court order should not become a handle for the social media users to target the judge again. SG Mehta added that social media cannot be controlled but anonymity attached to it makes it a very dangerous tool. Responding, the bench was emphatic that closing the doors of the court room cannot be an answer. Answer to sunlight is more sunlight... Not to suppress what happens in the court. This is a very important reminder to everyone. The answer is not to close doors and shut down, it told the AG. The benchs remarks came a day after the Karnataka high court restrained public and social media platforms from sharing the court proceedings, live-streamed on the high courts YouTube channel. The interim order was issued on Tuesday on a petition filed by the Advocates Association Bengaluru (AAB), which complained that the social media platforms and private YouTube channels were editing the videos of live-streamed proceedings of the high court, contrary to the Karnataka Rules on Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings, 2021. The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday, backtracking on minister Vikramaditya Singh's statement, said that no decision regarding the mandatory display of names by stalls and eateries has been taken by the administration, reported PTI. This comes after Singh faced flak for his announcement regarding the rule, and was reprimanded by the Congress party. Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh . (ANI Photo)(HT_PRINT) Singh, the public works and urban development Minister, had on Wednesday told media that it would be mandatory for street vendors, especially those selling food items, to display their identity cards at their shops. He had said that the call had been taken on the lines of the one taken by the Uttar Pradesh government. "We have decided to make it mandatory for the street vendors to display their ID cards given by the street vendor's committee on the pattern adopted by the Uttar Pradesh government, which pioneered the idea," Singh had said. The state government assured that it has not taken any decision on the rule that mandates street vendors to display nameplates or other identification at their stalls. BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Himachal assembly, said that Singh must stick to his decision. If Vikramaditya Singh has talked about implementing vendors' policy on the pattern of Uttar Pradesh, he should stick to his words, Thakur said. Vikramaditya Singh had said that the decision regarding the display of vendor names was taken due to apprehension by locals about the rising number of migrants in the state. He drew the censure of several leaders of the INDIA bloc when he posted his remarks on Facebook. The directive did not go down well with a section of the party's leaders, which slammed the decision and demanded its revocation. The central leadership intervened in the matter following which the state governments clarification came, reported PTI quoting people aware of the matter. AICC in-charge of Himachal Pradesh Rajiv Shukla said, They (shop vendors) will be given licences and regulated so that police do not harass them. The designated places will require identification such as Aadhaar cards and licences, but there is no requirement for them to display a sign stating their name as the owner. The senior Congress leader also debunked the notion that the Himachal government followed the footsteps of Yogi Adityanath-led UP government. "This is not on Yogi pattern, as those things are done in UP on communal pattern, which is not the case here. I want to clarify that the government has not given any such order... they (government or Vikramaditya) have not been reprimanded," Shukla said. (With inputs from PTI) Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader and Union minister Chirag Paswan on Thursday said that Kangana Ranaut, who has sparked a row with her remarks on reviving the controversial farm laws repealed in 2021, is no longer just an artist and it is her responsibility to prioritise the partys position over personal views. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan reacted to the controversy surrounding Kangana Ranaut's remarks on the now-repealed farm laws. I am not upset with Kangana, but she is no longer just an artist. She is now a member of a political party, Paswan told reporters on Thursday. He stressed that when someone joins a political party, it becomes their responsibility to prioritise the partys position over personal views. I accept the fact that you might have your own personal opinion but when you are part of a political party, it becomes your responsibility to put forward the topics of that party, the minister said. Kangana Ranaut and Chirag Paswan, now members of Lok Sabha, starred together in the 2011 movie Mile Na Mile Hum. She is new to politics and taking time to understand things, but she is intelligent enough and she will understand these things soon, Paswan added. Also Read | Queen of faux pas? Ranaut retracts farm comment in damage control What Kangana Ranaut said on farm laws Kangana Ranaut, a BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, found herself at the centre of the controversy after urging the government to reintroduce the three contentious farm laws during an event in Mandi earlier this week. "Farmers are a pillar of strength in India's progress," she had said, while expressing her belief that the laws would benefit the agricultural sector, despite protests that led to their repeal in 2021. The three farm laws had triggered a year-long protest, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, leading to their eventual withdrawal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Ranauts comments have come at a sensitive time for the BJP, which is heavily focused on retaining power in Haryana, where the farmers' protests were particularly intense. The BJP quickly distanced itself from Ranauts remarks, with party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia clarifying that she was not authorised to make any such statement and nor does her stand reflect the party's views. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said Ranaut's "consistent, baseless and illogical rant" against farmers and Sikh community has a "damaging impact" on all the good work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of "Punjab, punjabi and punjabiyat". Himachal Pradesh BJP leaders also sought to distance themselves from the actor-politicians remarks. Ranaut, facing backlash from opposition parties and even within her own ranks, backtracked by stating on social media that her views were personal and did not represent the BJPs official stance. My views on Farmers Laws are personal and they dont represent the partys stand on those Bills, she wrote in a post on X. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Modi of testing the waters by allowing Ranaut to make the statement. Those associated with the BJP keep testing ideas. They ask someone to voice an idea among people and then gauge the reaction. This is what has happened here. One of their MPs has talked about reviving the three black farm laws. Modiji, you must clarify whether you are against this or you are again up to some mischief, Gandhi said in a video message. A raft of farmer unions in Punjab have criticised the governments decision to mark red entries in land records of cultivators caught burning paddy stubble in the state, hitting out a key sanction that would disallow people from selling or mortgaging the plot or availing any farm loans. A farmer sets fire to paddy stubble after harvesting a paddy crop in the field, Amritsar on Wednesday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT) Around a dozen farmer unions have said the move unfairly penalises farmers and urged the state government to reverse the decision to clamp down on stubble fires, which are a major factor behind Delhis annual winter pollution scourge. Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan, a prominent farmers body, accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-run administration of turning away from earlier promises. Instead of addressing the problem of stubble management, the government is using pressure tactics that we will not succumb to. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann recently assured us that private biogas plants would collect stubble from paddy fields and pay farmers 3,000 per acre. Instead of implementing the CMs promises, government officials are issuing threats, he said. Speaking to HT, Amritsar deputy commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said that they have recovered environment compensation of around 50,000 from 29 farmers who resorted to stubble burning. She said that they were also cancelling the Arms licence of such farmers, have started the process of marking red entries, and have initiated criminal proceedings. Amritsar has so far reported the highest number of farm fire incidents. A red entry against a plot on the districts land records disallows a farmer from being able to take a loan against the plot, mortgage it or sell it. Owners of red-listed plots are also denied gun licences. To be sure, the Punjab government has attempted to impose such sanctions earlier as well in 2022 and 2023, but reversed the plan each time. The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on steps taken to prevent farm fires and on action taken against officers for allowing such incidents despite past orders to stop them, as news reports of such blazes trickled out of the agrarian state. Punjab has reported 93 farm fires so far. It reported 36,623last year. Sarwan Singh Pandher, convener of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, another farmer union, said, Will the Punjab government dare to threaten industrial owners for their role in air pollution? Farmers are being unfairly blamed. This is not a wise decision. Dharamshala/New Delhi This is the second time in two months that Kangana Ranauts rash remarks on the 2020-21 farmer agitation has forced her party to reprimand her, and ultimately made her retract the comment. (PTI) Mandi parliamentarian Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday retracted her controversial comments on three withdrawn agricultural laws after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) distanced itself from her views the latest in a string of instances where the actor-turned-lawmakers intemperate remarks have landed herself and her party in trouble. This is the second time in two months that Ranauts rash remarks on the 2020-21 farmer agitation has forced her party to reprimand her, and ultimately made her retract the comment. The gaffe by Ranaut embarrassed the party at a time when political parties are preparing for the October 5 assembly elections in Haryana, which saw major protests by farmers against the now-repealed three laws. The latest controversy began on Tuesday evening, when Ranaut said the farm laws which were withdrawn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021 after a months-long protest by cultivators should be brought back. As the row swirled, the party scrambled to distance itself from her comments and said it disapproved of her remarks. This was almost a play-by-play repeat of an earlier controversy on the same issue in August, when her comments were condemned by several party leaders and were finally retracted after a rebuke from the party. In a video posted on X on Wednesday, Ranaut said she must remember that she is not only an artiste but also a BJP member now and her statements should be in line with her partys policies. When the farmers laws were proposed, several of us supported them. But with great sensitivity and sympathy, our respected Prime Minister had withdrawn those laws. I must remember that now I am not only an artiste but also a member of the BJP and my opinion should not be personal but the stand of the party, the MP said, still hinting that her individual views remain out of sync with the party line. I regret if I left anybody disappointed with my words and opinions. I take my words back, she added. In a separate post, she said: My views on farmer laws are personal and they dont represent the partys stand on those Bills. Thanks. On Tuesday evening, Ranaut was speaking at an event in her constituency when she said the three farms laws faced protests only in some states. Farmers are a pillar of strength in Indias progress. Only in some states, they had objected to farm laws. I appeal with folded hands that farm laws should be brought back in the interest of farmers, she said. The comment sparked an immediate controversy, especially in poll-bound Haryana, a major node for the farm stir where the BJP is hoping to win a third straight term in the assembly elections next month. Late on Tuesday, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the statement was made in a personal capacity. I want to make it clear that this statement is a personal statement of hers. Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP and it doesnt depict the BJPs view on the farm bills. We disapprove of this statement, Bhatia said in a statement. Individual leaders of the BJP also distanced themselves from what they described as Ranauts tendency to flout the party line and stoke unnecessary controversy. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said Ranauts consistent, baseless and illogical rant against farmers and the Sikh community has a damaging impact on all the good work done by Modi for the welfare of Punjab, punjabi and punjabiyat. The Prime Ministers bond with the farmers and Punjab cannot be and must not be judged through the lens of one MPs irresponsible comments, Shergill said on X. The Congress sought to corner the BJP, alleging the ruling party was making efforts to bring back the three laws. The BJP people keep testing ideas. They ask someone to voice an idea among the people and then they see the reaction. This is what has happened, one of their MPs has talked about reviving the three black farm laws. Modi ji you must clarify, whether you are against this or you are again up to some mischief, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on X. Will the three farm laws be revived or not? If you do so, I guarantee you that the INDIA bloc will together stand against it. 700 people were martyred, they must be remembered and respected, he added. In 2021, while announcing the repeal of the three laws, Modi had apologised to the nation for failing to convince the farmers. A BJP leader, who did not wish to be identified, said the party leadership asked Ranaut to avoid commenting on issues that have the potential to trigger a controversy and create trouble for the party. As an MP, she cannot have an individual opinion on policy issues she was told this before as well. The party line must be followed, and statements must be made with sensitivity she was told, the leader said. Such statements have the potential to damage the partys prospects there is an election narrative decided by the leadership and taking a position contrary to that means giving the Opposition a chance to hurt the party and the government, the leader added. In August, Ranaut said the farmers protests against the three laws in 2021 could have caused a Bangladesh-like situation if India did not have a strong leadership. The BJP distanced itself from her remarks, saying it was not the partys position and directing her to not to make any statement of this kind in future. On behalf of the party, Kangana Ranaut is neither permitted nor authorised to make statements on party policy issues, the party said in a statement. The BJPs allies said Ranauts latest comments were a liability. After the partys decision to distance itself from the statement, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut had no option but to apologise, Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said. The three agricultural laws Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act were enacted by the Centre in September 2020 to liberalise the trade of farm produce. Farm unions, however, protested against the legislation, saying they would leave cultivators at the mercy of large corporations and with little bargaining power. The protests began in Punjab in October 2020 but snowballed into a full-blown political uprising spreading to several states in the course of a year, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The laws were repealed in 2021. Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hit out at opposition leaders Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference (NC) and Rahul Gandhi of the Congress saying not even their generations can bring Article 370 back in Jammu and Kashmir", news agency ANI reported. Union Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan speaks during a public meeting for Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections, in Kathua district, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (PTI) The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, addressing a rally in Jammu amid the ongoing assembly poll of Jammu and Kashmir, said, Today, I want to say that 'Farooq Abdullah aur Rahul Gandhi ki saat pidhiyan (generations) bhi Article 370 nahi la sakti' (even the generations of Farooq Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi cannot bring back Article 370)... the BJP government is there. Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused the Congress-NC alliance in the Union territory of diverting public attention from pressing issues such as employment, food, education, health, and development. We say what we do. Our goal is to change the fate of the people, to bring happiness into your lives, to bring smiles to your faces, and for you to live your life in peace. But what are they saying? They are saying that if our government comes to power, we will abolish Article 370. Rahul Baba, even the NC leaders cannot abolish Article 370. Is this the issue, brothers and sisters? Our issue is employment, food, education, health, and development. They are leading us in the wrong direction, Chouhan said. What has Opposition said Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi reiterated on Wednesday the Opposition will exert all its efforts to pressure the Centre into restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. Speaking at a public rally in Sopore, Rahuil Gandhi said for the first time in history, a state has been downgraded to a union territory which he deemed an injustice to the people of the region, asserting that the INDIA bloc will fight for its restoration. We wanted that the statehood be restored before elections. All the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted the elections to take place after the restoration of the statehood. The first and foremost issue is regarding your statehood. Several UTs have been made states, and states have been bifurcated. But this is the first time in history that a state has been turned into a Union Territory. It did not happen, the first step is election. But after this, the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir has to be restored, Rahul Gandhi said. Meanwhile, Farooq Abdullah reiterated on Monday his party would continue to fight a legal battle for the restoration of Article 370. He criticised the BJP, calling the Centres decision unilateral and unjust", which he claimed brought hardships to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The NC pledged to advocate for Articles 370 and 35A in their manifesto. The BJP revoked the contentious region's special status by abrogating Article 370, rescinding its statehood, and dividing it into two Union territories on August 5, 2019. Jammu and Kashmir assembly poll The assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in three phases. The second phase of voting took place on Wednesday, covering 26 constituencies across six districts of the Union Territory, with a voter turnout of over 57 per cent. The first phase, conducted on September 18, recorded a voter turnout of 61.13 per cent across 24 constituencies in seven districts, according to the Election Commission. Voting for the third phase is scheduled for October 1, with vote counting set for October 8, coinciding with the counting of votes in Haryana. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was sentenced to 15 days of simple imprisonment by a Mumbai court on Thursday in a defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya, the wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Sanjay Raut (PTI) The metropolitan magistrate at the Sewree court convicted Raut under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (punishment for defamation) and fined him 25,000. Reacting to the verdict, Medha Somaiya said, I am happy that I have got justice and the allegations against me and my family members have proved false. I fought to get justice and did it like any other woman in the family would have done. I think the court has respected my position as a teacher and a social worker. I have nothing to say about the right of the accused to move in appeal against the ruling. What is the case against Sanjay Raut? In her complaint filed through advocate Vivekanand Gupta, Medha Somaiya accused Sanjay Raut of making baseless and defamatory allegations against her and her husband, claiming their involvement in a 100 crore scam related to the construction and maintenance of public toilets under the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation. The statements made by the accused to the media are per se defamatory. The statements have been made to malign my character in the eyes of the general public, her complaint said. Somaiya initiated the criminal case after coming across an article in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, Saamna. She deemed the article defamatory. The article accused her of constructing unauthorised toilets by damaging mangroves without the required approvals from environmental authorities. Additionally, it alleged her involvement in a 100 crore scam purportedly carried out through their NGO, Yuva Pratishthan. Medha said that Raut, serving as the Executive Editor of the Saamna and the chief spokesperson for the Shiv Sena, made these defamatory comments on April 15, 2022. These remarks were widely published and circulated across both print and electronic media. She further alleged that these remarks were broadcast on major media channels and shared across social media platforms, aiming to tarnish her reputation publicly, as well as among her family and friends. Her lawyer submitted video clips and newspaper cuttings in court as evidence. Medha also highlighted her extensive academic and social work, including over 20 years as a professor of Organic Chemistry at Ramnarian Ruia College, Matunga, her involvement in over 25 charitable activities, and her receipt of a Doctorate in Slum Development. Her plea emphasised her "excellent reputation in society" and recognition in the educational and social sectors. In June 2022, the court issued a summons to Raut, stating that the complainant had "prima facie" demonstrated that Rauts statements harmed her reputation. Metropolitan magistrate PI Mokashi said that the video clips and documents submitted showed Raut made these defamatory statements on April 15 and 16, 2022, intending for them to reach the general public. The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in an alleged money laundering case related to a 2014 cash-for-jobs scam. Former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji. (PTI Photo) We have granted bail with some onerous conditions put in, a bench of justices AS Oka and Augustine George Masih said. While the court did not elaborate on the conditions, the bench stated that on examining the earlier decisions on the scope of granting bail in money laundering crimes, it believes stringent conditions on bail cannot go together with delay in prosecution. Balaji was arrested in the ED case in June last year. The bench had reserved orders in August on Balajis plea challenging an order of the Madras high court in February denying him bail and had noted that the trial was delayed on account of delay in granting sanction by the Governor for prosecuting Balaji. However, due to the courts nudge, after a seven-month delay, the Governor granted sanction on August 23. The court was even assured that the prosecutor conducting the trial is an experienced hand. Balaji is accused of allegedly receiving bribes for providing jobs in the state transport department during his tenure as state transport minister in 2014-15. Then, he was part of the AIADMK government. In 2021, he became a minister in the present DMK government and continued as a minister till his resignation in February this year. Appearing for Balaji, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that the former minister has remained in custody for over a year. The charge sheet had also been filed in the cases against him. The ED represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta submitted that Balaji had been trying to influence witnesses and releasing him would be detrimental for the trial. Balaji also sought bail on medical grounds claiming that he had undergone coronary bypass surgery and required medical attention. He also questioned the evidence produced against him by doubting that the material forming part of the charge sheet was not recovered from his residence. This fact was disputed by ED. The HC, while denying bail, had observed, The fact that the petitioner continued to hold the position as a minister for nearly 8 months and that too without a portfolio when he was inside the jail, shows the tremendous influence of the petitioner and the importance that is given to him by the state government. GUWAHATI: A special court in Arunachal Pradesh handed the death sentence on Thursday to a hostel warden convicted for sexual assault of 21 students at a government-run residential school from 2014 to 2022. The case came to light in November 2022 when a parent lodged a complaint at the Monigong police station in Shi Yomi district accusing hostel warden of rape (FILE IMAGE) Special judge Jaweplu Chai, who announced the death sentence for warden Yumken Bagra, also sentenced former headmaster Singtung Yorpen and Hindi teacher Marbom Ngomdir to 20 years for abetment of the offence under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and failing to report it. Some of the students had reported the abuse to Yorpen, but he asked them to keep quiet so that the reputation of the school is not sullied. We are happy with the verdict as the court heard our pleas for stringent and exemplary punishment, said Oyam Bingepp, who appeared for the 21 children before the Pocso special court. This is the first death sentence in India given to an accused under Pocso Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault of victims in which the victims had not died, Bingepp added. Jaweplu Chai convicted the three under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Pocso Act. Two other accused, Tajung Yorpen, another teacher in the same school, and Daniel Pertin, an acquaintance of the hostel warden, were acquitted. Yorpen, who was also accused of sexually assaulting one student, was acquitted after the victim turned hostile in court while Pertin, who was accused of giving shelter to the hostel warden prior to his arrest, was acquitted due to lack of evidence. The case came to light in November 2022, when a man filed a complaint against Bagra for sexually assaulting, harassing, and attempting to rape his 12-year-old twin daughters at the residential school. A special investigation team (SIT) which probed the case found that Bagra sexually assaulted at least 21 minors, including six boys aged 6-14 years, between 2014 and 2022 during his tenure as hostel warden at the school. The chargesheet, filed in July last year, accused the warden of drugging students before assaulting them and also threatening them against reporting the assault. The SIT said six of Bagras victims had unsuccessfully attempted to die by suicide. Bagra has been convicted under sections 328, 292 and 506 (administering poison/harmful substance with the intention of committing an offence, showing obscene material and criminal intimidation) of the IPC and sections 6,10 and 12 of Pocso Act that pertain to aggravated penetrative sexual assault and sexual harassment. Ngomdir, who was a female teacher in the school, has been convicted under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC and sections 17 and 21 (1) of POCSO Act for abetment of offence and failing to report an offence. According to the prosecution, the victims had narrated their ordeal to her, but she didnt report it to higher authorities, which allowed the abuse to continue. Yorpen, who was the headmaster of the government residential school at the time the assaults took place, has been convicted under sections 17 (for abetment of an offence) and 21 (2) (for failing to report an offence) of the IPC. A Lucknow court on Wednesday accepted a request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to declare Rashid Naseem, the promoter of real estate firm Shine City who has been wanted in a 1,000 crore money laundering case and is missing since 2019, as a fugitive economic offender (FEO). A Lucknow court accepted EDs request to declare Naseem a fugitive under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. (HT PHOTO) According to people aware of the details, the Naseem is reportedly residing in the UAE and is suspected of frequently travelling between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A Lucknow court on Wednesday accepted EDs request to declare Naseem a fugitive under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, which is a big win for us, a senior ED official said, seeking anonymity. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, empowers authorities for non-conviction-based attachment and confiscation of assets and proceeds of crime abroad in cases involving amounts above 100 crore. Officials said Naseem would be the 13th individual after diamantaire Nirav Modi, former liquor baron Vijay Mallya and arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, among others, to be declared a fugitive under the stringent law. Providing details of the money laundering case against Naseem, a second ED official said a probe was initiated in 2021 based on approximately 554 first information reports (FIRs) filed by Uttar Pradesh Police over a period. The group companies allegedly collected 800- 1,000 crore from the public, promising them huge returns under the guise of investment in real estate and other schemes. However, instead of giving any returns, the collected funds were utilised for buying land, office space for personal use by Naseem and his aides and allegedly diverted to foreign countries, the official said, seeking anonymity. Intelligence inputs revealed that Naseem fled India via Nepal in 2019 and settled in the UAE, the first ED official said. He did not respond to summons for a probe, after which an Interpol red notice was issued against him in March this year and subsequently, FEO proceedings were initiated, the official said. ED has identified several addresses of Naseem in the UAE. These include a villa at Dubai Library Road, Abu Dhabi; a property in District 1, Jumeirah Village triangle, Dubai; a commercial property in Dubai, and another residential address in Dubai, the official added. Eight people believed to have close ties with Naseem have been arrested by the federal agency so far. Besides, proceeds of crime worth 189.39 crore have also been attached by the agency. HT could not trace any legal representative of Naseem. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was granted bail on Thursday by a Mumbai court, after being convicted in a defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya, the wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. A Mumbai court on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, sentenced Raut to 15 days simple imprisonment in a defamation case. (PTI) Raut was sentenced to 15 days of simple imprisonment by Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Aarti Kulkarni. The court found Raut guilty under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to punishment for defamation. In addition to the jail sentence, a fine of INR 25,000 was imposed on the Rajya Sabha member. Raut, however, was granted a 30-day suspension of the sentence, allowing him to file an appeal. His lawyer filed applications for both suspension of the sentence and bail, which the court approved. Also Read | Sanjay Raut sentenced to 15 days imprisonment: What is the case against him? The defamation case was filed by Medha Somaiya, who alleged that Raut had made defamatory accusations against her and her husband, linking them to a INR 100 crore scam involving the construction and maintenance of public toilets under the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation. "The statements made by the accused to the media are per se defamatory. The statements have been made to malign my character in the eyes of the general public," Medha Somaiya said in her complaint, which was filed through advocate Vivekanand Gupta. Kirit Somaiya on jail sentence Reacting to the court's ruling, Kirit Somaiya said, Today, the punishment has been given to Uddhav Thackeray as Sanjay Raut is a leader of his party. They both are now exposed. In 28 months, Sanjay Raut couldn't bring a single document. "The court said that this is the first time and that's why the sentence is 15 days, if it happens again then the punishment will not be less than 2-5 years," he added. Somaiya criticised the alleged pressure exerted by the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government, which, according to Somaiya, had prevented the police from accepting his wife's complaint against Raut. "We tried filing a police complaint against Raut, but it was not accepted because of Thackeray's pressure. We approached the local court here on May 18, 2022, and today, it gave its judgement," Kirit Somaiya added. Medha Somaiya said she and her husband would not tolerate baseless allegations. "This case against Raut would set an example for society. If someone tries to tarnish me or my organisation, I will stand up against it," she said. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday reiterated that he would not resign while dismissing allegations of wrongdoings in Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA)s allotment of 14 sites to his wife a conspiracy of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah. (PTI) There is no question of resigning because I have done no wrong, Siddaramaiah said. He asked whether Narendra Modi resigned when he was the Gujarat chief minister during the 2002 Godhra riots. ...[Union minister HD] Kumaraswamy, who is in Narendra Modis government, is on bail. Has he resigned? Siddaramaiah said he would fight legally. I would not resign. Let them get Kumaraswamys resignation; he is on bail. He is in whose Cabinet...in which government? He should [resign first]. Did Modi resign? Despite hundreds of people dying, he did not resign. I have done no wrong. There is no need for me to resign. The comments came a day after a special court asked Lokayukta Police to investigate allegations in the MUDA case. Siddaramaiah was likely to challenge the single-bench high court order on Monday upholding the governors sanction to prosecute him. On Wednesday, a special court ordered the Lokayukta Police probe against Siddaramaiah. Lokayukta Police said they were studying the court order and will decide on the First Information Report soon. Siddaramaiahs deputy and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar also ruled out the possibility of Siddaramaiah stepping down, calling the case the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) political conspiracy. On Thursday, the BJP staged a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat, demanding Siddaramaiahs resignation. Two court orders have come against Siddaramaiah. When we first protested inside and outside the assembly, they termed it politically motivated. When the governors order came, they said it was at the behest of the BJP-led government at the Centre. Now the high court and special court have given orders...they have found truth in allegations and said they need to be investigated and the chief minister should resign, said BJP leader R Ashoka. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren has written to his Assam counterpart, Himanta Biswa Sarma, seeking scheduled tribes (ST) status for tea tribes underlining that the community was marginalised despite their significant contribution to the economy of the northeastern state. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren. (PTI) Soren expressed concern over the plight of around seven million-strong community in Assam currently categorised as other backward class (OBC) in Assam. Sarma, who is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s co-in charge in poll-bound Jharkhand, has been attacking the Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal alliance government over issues such as alleged reduction in tribal population and demographic change allegedly due to Bangladeshi infiltration. Soren said he was aware of the significant challenges the tea tribes face in Assam as a majority of them, including Santhali, Kuruk, Munda, Oraon, have their roots in Jharkhand. He noted their ancestors migrated to Assam during colonial rule to work in tea plantations. I very strongly feel that they meet the criteria for ST status, including their distinct cultural identity, traditional way of life, and vulnerability to exploitation. Soren added most of these groups are recognised as ST in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha but Assam continued to classify them as OBCs. Despite their vital contributions to Assams economy and culture, they continue to be marginalised and denied the benefits and protections accorded to Scheduled Tribes, Soren wrote. The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in the money laundering case related to the alleged 2014 'cash-for-jobs' scam. Former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji. (PTI file) A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih put onerous conditions while granting relief. The Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on August 12 after hearing submissions of solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and senior advocates Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Senthil Balaji. The high court, while dismissing Senthil Balaji's bail plea, had said if he was let out on bail in a case of this nature, it would send out a wrong signal and be against larger public interest. The high court had said since the petitioner was in custody for more than eight months, it will be appropriate to direct the special court to dispose of the case within a time frame. "Accordingly, there shall be a direction to the Principal Special Court, Chennai, to dispose of the case within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order," it had ordered. The high court ordered that the trial shall be conducted on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the guidelines issued by the top court. MK Stalin reacts Chief minister MK Stalin welcomed minister Senthil Balaji saying the ED is used to suppress political opponents. Even during the Emergency, there was no jail time for so many days. A political conspiracy continued for 15 months. By arresting him and keeping him in jail, they wanted to break the resolve of brother Senthil Balaji, MK Stalin said. Senthil Balaji's arrest last year Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14 last year by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister in an earlier AIADMK government. The ED had on August 12 last year filed a 3,000-page charge sheet against Balaji. On October 19, the high court had dismissed Balaji's earlier bail plea. A local court has also dismissed his bail petitions thrice. (With inputs from agencies) NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the Gujarat governments plea seeking a review of the order setting aside the remission granted to the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case of 2002. The top courts January 8 order had made harsh observations against the state for being complicit and acting in tandem with the accused -- statements that the Gujarat government wanted reviewed and expunged. A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan also turned down the request for an open-court hearing. (File Photo/PTI) Rejecting the review plea , a bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said: Having carefully gone through the review petitions, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the review petitions, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The judges also turned down the request for an open-court hearing. Along with the states plea, the court dismissed the review petition of one of the convicts, Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana, challenging the verdict that set aside Gujarat governments remission order passed in August 2022 and directed the 11 convicts to surrender. The court held that the Maharashtra government was the competent authority to decide on remission as the trial in the Bilkis Bano case shifted to Maharashtra on a direction passed by the top court in 2004. The state filed its review petition in February objecting to the remarks made against it claiming they were contrary to the record. Terming it as an error apparent on the face of the record, which justifies review of a top courts decision, the state sought these remarks to be removed. The review plea said, The extreme observation made by this Court that the state of Gujarat acted in tandem and was complicit with accused is not only highly unwarranted and against the record of the case, but has caused serious prejudice to the state of Gujarat. The January 8 judgment recorded these remarks while discussing the inaction of the Gujarat government to challenge an earlier decision of the top court on May 13, 2022. In that decision, the top court had directed Gujarat to process the remission plea of one of the convicts -- Radheyshyam Bhagwandas Shah -- without being informed that the same accused had earlier approached the Gujarat high court, which held that the Maharashtra government will be the competent authority to decide on grant of premature release. The January 8 judgment, which set aside the May 2022 order to be per incuriam as it was obtained without disclosing full facts to the court, said: The state of Gujarat never sought for the review of the order of this court dated May 13, 2022 by bringing to the notice of this Court that it was contrary to Section 432(7) CrPC and judgments of this court. Instead, the state of Gujarat has acted in tandem and was complicit with what the petitioner (Radheyshyam) had sought before this Court...the exercise of discretion and the passing of the impugned orders of remission in the case of respondent Nos.3 to 13 (convicts) was an instance of usurpation of power. Bano was 21, and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped as she tried to flee with her family to safety during the 2002 riots in Gujarat. The 11 convicts also killed seven members of her family including her three-year old daughter. The trial of the case took place at Mumbai and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigated the case. A Mumbai court convicted and sentenced the 11 people to life imprisonment in January 2008, and their appeals were dismissed by the Bombay high court in 2017. Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday hit out at the Congress-National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that neither them nor three generations of their family will be able to bring back Article 370 in the union territory. Shah claimed that Congress and NC were responsible for the killing of over 40,000 people in J&K, accusing them of propagating terrorism. Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah speaks during a public meeting for J&K Assembly elections, in Udhampur district (PTI Photo)(PTI) Addressing a public meeting in Chenani, Amit Shah said, "You will all vote not just for Chenani but make a decision for the entire Jammu and Kashmir. After independence, it is for the first time that an election is held here where there is no Article 370 or a separate flag...National Conference and Rahul Baba say that we will bring back Article 370, but I want to tell them that neither you nor the three generations of yours will be able to bring back Article 370." Attacking three political families - 'Gandhis'', 'Muftis' and 'Abdhullas' - the home minister said that they only gave tickets to their people and perpetuated terrorism in the region. "The three families have given tickets to their own people and made only 87 MLA. But we made more than 30,000 Panch, Sarpanch and Tehsil Panchayats... The river of corruption that they started was cleaned by Prime Minister Modi from the bottom," the home minister said. "The world is closely watching the Jammu and Kashmir elections, where two vastly different visions are at play. On one hand, the NC, Congress, and PDP parties, perpetuating terrorism in the region for around 40 years, are eyeing for power. On the other hand, the BJP, committed to rooting out terrorism entirely, offers an absolutely contrasting picture," he said. Shah said that the Abdullahs and Nehrus are to be held accountable for the killing of 40,000 people in Jammu and Kashmir. Where was Farooq Abdullah at that time? He was vacationing in London during the summers, and was riding expensive motorcycles, he said. The voting in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir elections took place on September 25, with over 57 per cent voter turnout recorded till 11:30 pm, according to the Election Commission data. The third and final phase of J&K assembly polls will take place on October 1. The results will be declared on October 8. (With inputs from PTI) The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust that manages the Lord Venkateshwara shrine in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday lodged a police complaint against a Tamil Nadu-based dairy firm for allegedly supplying ghee adulterated with animal fat to the temple for making laddu prasadam, people aware of the matter said. The complaint against AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd was lodged with the Tirupati town police comes amid the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) by the state government to probe into allegations of adulteration of ghee used in laddu prasadam offered to the deity. (PTI) The complaint against AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd was lodged with the Tirupati town police comes amid the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) by the state government to probe into allegations of adulteration of ghee used in laddu prasadam offered to the deity. In his complaint, TTD general manager (procurement) P Muralikrishna said the temple management had on May 15 this year placed an order with AR Dairy Foods for supply of 1 million kg of ghee. The firm supplied four tankers of ghee on June 12, 20, 25 and July 6. The TTD used this ghee for making of prasadam after conducting the quality test using old methods, but it did not go for adulteration testing. In view of various complaints from pilgrims over the lack of quality of laddu, the TTD decided to get the adulteration test done at National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Muralikrishna alleged in the complaint. The TTD collected ghee samples from the four tankers supplied by AP Dairy Foods and sent them to NDDB labs for adulteration testing. The reports indicated that the ghee samples had tested positive for presence of vegetable and animal fat, the complaint said. HT has not seen the report. After receiving the adulteration reports from NDDB, Muralikrishna said, show-cause notices were issued to the Tamil Nadu-based company on July 22, 23 and 27 seeking an explanation, however, the firm replied only on September 4 stating it had not done any adulteration. The development comes close on the heels of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu claiming that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddu prasadam during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government. The state government also formed an SIT headed by inspector general of police (IGP) Sarvashresht Tripathi to probe the matter. Former chief minister and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has dismissed the allegations, saying the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was politicising religious matters. He also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that attempts were being made by Naidu to irreparably tarnish the sanctity, integrity, and reputation of TTD. On Wednesday, YSRCP chief Reddy called on people to take part in temple poojas (rituals) across Andhra Pradesh on September 28 to atone for the sin allegedly committed by CM Naidu through his allegations on Tirupati laddus. Taking to X, Reddy urged the people to stand against the false claims made by Naidu that Tirumalas sacred laddu prasadam was adulterated with animal fat. It not only misled devotees, but also tarnished the revered image of Lord Venkateswara, he claimed in a post in Telugu on X. YSRCP is calling for statewide rituals in temples to sanitise (undo) this sin committed by Chandrababu on Saturday, September 28. Hitting back at the YSRCP, senior TDP leader and state finance minister Payyavula Kesav said the opposition party was trying to make the protests over Tirumala laddu issue a political event. It is a fact that the ghee was adulterated with animal fat, as indicated in the reports. Jagan had already hurt the sentiments of millions of people by allowing adulteration. He might not have faith in Lord Venkateswara, but we, millions of Hindus, have a strong faith in the Tirumala god. It is better that he doesnt indulge in further politics, Kesav said. Amid concerns about the alleged presence of animal fat in Tirupati laddus, the chief priest of the Ram temple on Thursday questioned the purity of ghee sold across the country and said that prasad should only be prepared under the supervision of temple priests. Ram Janmabhoomi temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das called for a complete ban on prasad prepared by external agencies in all major temples.(HT_PRINT) Acharya Satyendra Das also called for a complete ban on prasad prepared by external agencies in all major temples and monasteries. The controversy over the alleged use of fat and meat in Tirupati Balaji's prasad is escalating across the country. Both seers and devotees are expressing anger and demanding an investigation, PTI quoted him as saying. In an appeal to all monasteries and temples across the country, he said, Prasad for the deities should be prepared under the supervision of temple priests, and only such prasad should be offered to the deities. He reiterated the importance of inspecting the purity of oil and ghee sold nationwide, alleging an international conspiracy to undermine the sanctity of the countrys monasteries and temples by mixing meat and fat into offerings. He also urged the government to enforce strict inspections of the purity of oil and ghee available in the market. Meanwhile, several temple authorities across Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj have advised devotees to bring alternatives such as dry fruits and coconut instead of sweets, news agency PTI reported on Thursday. Prominent temples which have enforced these restrictions are Alop Shankari Devi, Bade Hanuman Temple, Mankameshwar Temple and Lalita Devi Temple among others. Shiv Murat Mishra, the chief priest of the famous Lalita Devi temple, said, In the meeting of our temple management held on Tuesday, it was decided that prasad of sweets will not be offered to the goddess in the temple, but devotees have been requested to offer coconut, fruits, dry fruits, cardamom, etc. He added that plans were underway to open shops inside temple premises where pure sweets will be made available to the devotees. Mahant Shridharanand Brahmachari Ji Maharaj of the Mankameshwar temple said they have written to the district magistrate to test the laddu-peda being sold outside the temple. With PTI inputs The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is the fourth largest party in Lok Sabha and third biggest in Rajya Sabha, is set to nominate Kirti Azad and Dola Sen as chairpersons of standing committees, people aware of the matter said on Thursday. Azad, a Lok Sabha member, is likely to head the chemical and fertilizers committee and Sen the commerce and industries panel. TMC lawmaker Kirti Azad. (sansad.in) The partys floor leadersSudip Bandopadhyay (Lok Sabha) and Derek OBrien (Rajya) Sabhaheaded two standing committees in the 16th Lok Sabha (the current being the 18th). Bandopadhyay had led the consumer affairs, food and public distribution committee in the 16th Lok Sabha while OBrien headed the transport, tourism and culture panel. According to an official, Bandopadhyay will remain a member of the co panel. In the 17th Lok Sabha, TMC didnt get any chairmans post. A TMC leader said the move to nominate Azad and Sen indicates the party wants to reward senior lawmakers and prevent centralisation of power. Azad, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker, won on a TMC ticket for the first time this year. Sen has been a key TMC Rajya Sabha member. TMC lawmaker Mahua Moitra is expected to remain in the information technology panel. Congress leader KC Venugopal is likely to be a member of the transport and tourism panel. Former Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb was expected to be a member of the science and technology committee. The standing committees are expected to be announced by Friday. The Congress is set to head four parliamentary standing committees including on external affairs and education. It might also head the panels on agriculture and rural development. The lawmakers of Congress, which has 98 lawmakers in the Lok Sabha and 27 in the Rajya Sabha, last time chaired environment, commerce and chemicals and fertilizers panel. A Congress leader said the party has asked for the chairmanship of the health panel but the government has indicated that it would possibly go to another Opposition party; Samajwadi Party (SP) has held the post before. SP, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party are expected to head one panel each. The BJP, which is likely to chair at least 14 of the 24 panels, has indicated it might accommodate some of the ex-chief ministers in the Union council of ministers. Manipur's security advisor Kuldiep Singh and director general of police Rajiv Singh released a joint statement on Wednesday evening disputing the chief minister's office (CMO) claim of over 900 Kuki militants entering the state from Myanmar, saying that it could not be sustained on the ground, The Indian Express reported. Subsequently, the CMO retracted its earlier statement, it added. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh (X/@NBirenSingh) On September 17, an intelligence report from the CMO was leaked and circulated widely claiming that over 900 Kuki militants, newly trained in drone-based bombs, projectiles, missiles, and jungle warfare, have entered Manipur from Myanmar". It further suggested that these militants are organised into units of 30, are scattered on the periphery", and are expected to launch multiple coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around September 28". On September 20, security advisor Kuldiep Singh informed reporters that security agencies, especially the Assam Rifles, had been placed on high alert in the hill districts bordering Myanmar following the intelligence input. He mentioned that the issue was discussed in a Strategic Operation Group meeting he chaired, which included top officials from various security forces such as the Army, Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, and state police. Kuldiep Singh's statement faced criticism from Kuki-Zo groups, with the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum accusing him of promoting devious propaganda to defame the Kuki-Zo people and use it as a pretext to attack Kuki-Zo volunteers". On Wednesday, Manipur's two top security officials issued a clarification", saying that the input was verified from different quarters, but it could not be substantiated on the ground". The statement indicated that security forces deployed on the ground were on high alert to protect the lives and property of citizens. It assured all communities of their safety and advised them not to believe in any rumors or unverified information. Following this joint statement, the chief minister's office also communicated with the Information and Public Relations Department, as well as security officials, retracting its earlier claims. Kuki groups react Several Kuki groups in Manipur have called for a shutdown in tribal-dominated areas after the government cited an intelligence report claiming that 900 Kuki militants had infiltrated the state from Myanmar to launch attacks on the Meitei community on September 28. Two Kuki apex bodies declared a total shutdown in all Kuki-inhabited regions and issued a public response to the intelligence report referenced by State Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, asserting that the claim was baseless. The statements were released on Tuesday by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), an apex Kuki organization, and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), another Kuki group, both based in Churachandpur, Manipur. The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) said that the information from the CMO regarding the supposed infiltration of 900 trained Kuki militants from Myanmar and a coordinated attack on Meitei villages scheduled for September 28 was unfounded. The Kuki organisation claimed that the statement was entirely baseless and allegedly fabricated by the Manipur government to justify a planned attack against the Kuki-Zo community It urged all Kukis to stay home and avoid travelling or working on September 27 and 28. The statement noted that a complete shutdown would be enforced on September 28 in all Kuki-Zo inhabited regions, monitored by Kuki Inpi and the KSO in their respective areas. The organization also expressed concern that coordinated attacks might be launched on September 28, targeting Kuki areas, and advised all Kuki-Zo village volunteers to strengthen their positions in the buffer zones. The first woman dafadar of the Greater Chennai Corporation has raised allegations that she has been removed from the post and transferred as officials were unhappy with her for wearing lipstick. SB Madhavi, 50, ceremonially accompanies Chennai mayor R Priya has been transferred to a civic role in Chennais Manali zone . Transferred for my lipstick choice: Chennai Mayors dafadar A week before they transferred me, the mayors office told me to wear at least a different and a lighter colour lipstick, Madhavi said. But I like applying lipstick. Its my personal freedom. If Im not working properly, they can find fault with it, she added. She also told the vernacular media that the Mayors office did not want her to wear the same shape of lipstick as the Mayor herself used. She received a memo from the Mayor, dated August 6, however, the issue came to light a month later and turned into a controversy in the city on Wednesday. They cited six reasons to transfer me and I responded on the same day, Madhavi said. HT has seen a copy of the order in which the reasons include reporting to work late and ignoring orders of superiors. To the last reason violation of office procedures, Madhavi responded, You told me not to wear lipstick and I defied you. If its wrong to wear lipstick, please show me a government order which prohibits wearing lipstick. BJP councillor Uma Ananthan defended the dafadar. She can wear whatever lipstick shade she wants. This is again womens rights, said Anandan. The BJP councillor highlighted the issues of ageism and sexism saying that though chief minister MK Stalin is two years older to her, shes addressed as paati meaning grandmother in Tamil. She (Madhavi) is 50 years old. Maybe they didnt want her to wear lipstick at that age. DMK has to respond to her. Though I dont wear lipstick, in the next corporation council, Ill wear lipstick to express my support to her. HT reached out to DMK but did not get a response to request for comment. The Greater Chennai Corporation on Wednesday evening released a statement denying the allegations. An explanation was sought through a memorandum last month as per the office procedures, due to Madhavis continuous violation of office procedures, coming late without properly reporting to the office, and not carrying out work in the office, the statement said. Apart from this, no explanation was asked about her personal make-up. No questioning was conducted. However, there have been reports in some media that she has been transferred for personal cosmetic choices. This is completely wrong, it added. The US wants the Indian Ocean to remain free and open and believes transparency about maritime activities, public-private partnership to improve maritime infrastructure, and multilateral coalitions to secure the waters are key to achieving this goal, a top National Security Council (NSC) official has said. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Quadrilateral Cancer Moonshot initiative event on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders Summit at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware. (PTI) Lindsey Ford, the senior director for South Asia at NSC who has earlier served in senior roles in Pentagon, also outlined the high costs of instability in the waters of the Indian Ocean, visible in the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the doubling of insurance costs for ships, the vulnerabilities due to disruptions and chokepoints, and warned that challenges were not standing still. Ford was speaking at the launch of The Contest for the Indian Ocean: And the Making of a New World Order, written by Darshana Baruah, the director of security and geopolitics at Australia-India institute, at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC. Veteran scholar, Ashley J Tellis, chaired the event. A key argument of the book is that while the Pacific may see military conflict, the key theatre of geopolitical contestation will be the Indian Ocean where China is continuing to make inroads and which Beijing depends on for its economic advancement from energy to minerals to trade to outreach to global south. Ford, who said that the first Indian Ocean dialogue between the US and India was on track to be held by the end of the year, acknowledged that keeping the ocean free and open was a lofty goal given its expanse and diversity and challenges, but pointed to three lines of effort towards this goal. The first is transparency. Lack of transparency about the activities or rules of the road is a recipe for instability, Ford said, giving the examples of illegal fishing, reclamation, and movement of dark vessels. She spoke about the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative of Quad as aimed to address this need by leveraging technology to bring transparency and offering real-time, integrated, cost-effective maritime information to over two dozen countries. Ford, who was a part of Bidens select delegation at the Quad Leaders Summit, also referred to the groups recent efforts to deepen analytical training and legal dialogue on maritime issues. Bringing transparency, Ford said, would help bring stability. The second line of effort that the US is pushing is around public-private partnership, with Ford pointing out that it was not just governments but port operators, insurance and shipping companies and private sector as a whole that shared this interest. They also had a shared interest in quality infrastructure. She placed Quads efforts on cable connectivity and resilience to support and strengthen the capacity, durability and reliability of undersea cable networks, the announcement of a Quad Regional Ports and Transportation Conference in India next year, and the US Development Finance Corporations $500 million support for a deep water shipping container terminal in Sri Lanka (in collaboration with Adani Ports) as examples of this line of effort. And finally, Ford suggested that the US believed in multilateral coalitions to secure the waters, but she emphasised this did not mean military alliances. This is not the goal that US has now or in the future, Ford reiterated, but added that it was not possible for a single country to manage problems in such a vast region. She gave the example of the Combined Maritime Forces, a 46-nation grouping where countries could come as they are and were not bound by any political or military mandate. This flexibility is particularly important of late, Ford said and offered the example of Operation Prosperity Guardian where a willing subset of countries worked together to secure the Red Sea against Houthi attacks. While Ford did not say it, other countries such as India worked separately but in close coordination with the same objective. Kriti Sanon and Parineeti Chopra were clicked at the Mumbai airport today. While Kriti arrived at the airport to catch a flight out of the bay, Parineeti arrived in the city with her politician husband, Raghav Chadha. Check out their stylish yet comfy airport fits. Kriti Sanon and Parineeti Chopra, with Raghav Chadha, at the airport. Kriti Sanon and Parineeti Chopra's Airport Fashion 101 The paparazzi clicked Kriti Sanon and Parineeti Chopra at the airport today. The two actors chose comfy yet chic fits for their airport look, proving that though they are comfy jetsetters, they don't forego style for comfort. While Kriti wore an elegant all-black ensemble and styled it with a printed cardigan, Parineeti embraced the co-ord fashion aesthetic with her husband for their arrival in Mumbai. Read on as we decode both the actors' outfits. Decoding Kriti Sanon's airport look Kriti wore a black bodysuit and matching high-waisted denim pants to the airport. While the blouse has a scoop neckline and a figure-hugging fit, the jeans comes with a flared silhouette and a floor-length hem accentuating the actor's long legs. Kriti layered the all-black fit with an olive green cardigan featuring a criss-cross pattern, an open front, full-length sleeves, and a relaxed silhouette. She accessorised the ensemble with a black leather belt, black slingback kitten heels, an olive green handbag, a beaded bracelet, a dainty necklace, and gold earrings. Lastly, she chose minimal glam and tied her hair in a centre-parted bun to complete the airport look. What did Parineeti Chopra wear? Parineeti opted for a co-ord ensemble for her arrival in Mumbai with Raghav Chadha. She wore a cobalt blue oversized shirt featuring an open front, a collared neck, side slits, half-length sleeves, and a curved hem. The actor paired it with a black tee and blue shorts. Parineeti completed the airport look with black loafers, a Saint Laurent tote bag, gold earrings, a sleek watch, and her hair tied in a centre-parted bun. Meanwhile, Raghav complemented her in a white T-shirt, a matching shirt, black shorts, and comfy sneakers. H D Kumaraswamy has often spoken about reviving the ailing Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) over the last couple of months. He also appears keen on bringing HMTs watch division back from the dead. In July this year, in Mandya, the union minister for heavy industries and steel lamented the fading out of Indias first watch brand. Earlier this month, on the occasion of the Gauri Ganesha festival, the minister reportedly bought two HMT watches, one of which he gifted to his son, JD (S) youth wing president Nikhil. Gyaneshwar Patil, the BJP MP from Khandwa, in Madhya Pradesh, is also reported to have gifted Kumaraswamy a pair of HMT watches. (While HMT Watches was liquidated in 2016, it is currently run as part of the Auxiliary Business Division and assembles rather unremarkable products.) The revival of nationalised watch brands, from HMT in India to Raketa in Russia, showcases a growing trend of breathing new life into legacy timepieces. We dont know how far the latest revival plan will go, or the direction it will take, but all this talk about PSUs and watches and revival packages made this reporter take a closer look at the fate of other nationalised watchmakers across the world. How many of these entities still survive? Has the phoenix risen from the ashes elsewhere and if so, what gave it wings? Watchmaking has been driven by private investment since 1735, when Blancpain, the worlds oldest watch company, was set up. The only exception to this rule was engineered by political and economic ideology: besides India, the other countries with a legacy of state-owned watchmakers were the USSR, East Germany, the former Czechoslovakia, and China. From Russia with love The USSR, which started its modern watchmaking journey after the Russian Revolution by buying the assets of bankrupt American watch company Deuber-Hampden, had about ten nationalised watch companies. These were set up across the confederation, from Moscow and Minsk to Petrodvorets and Chelyabinsk, and produced millions of robust watches with a utilitarian appeal and, often, space pedigree: Poljot, Slava, Strela, Vostok, Raketa The First Moscow Watch Factory, set up as part of the Soviet Unions first five-year plan, produced watches such as the Pobeda (victory) in 1946 and the Sturmanskie watch, believed to have been worn by Yuri Gagarin on the first human space flight in 1961. The Raketa Takema is a Russian-made wristwatch known for its robust design and reliability. The Raketa (Russian for rocket) Big Zero, on the other hand, was a favourite of the Russian statesman and the architect of perestroika, Mikhail Gorbachev. The story goes that when he was asked to define perestroika at a summit in Italy in the late 1980s, he pointed to his Big Zero watch, with its signature oversized numerals and a big zero, and said: Its like on my watch; the Soviet people want to start everything from zero. Three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, only a few of these brands still exist. The vintage Raketa Takema is a Soviet-era wristwatch Most of them are kept alive by licensing deals, globalised supply chains, and watch enthusiasts fascination for a different, and slightly quirky, philosophy of watchmaking. Poljot, now Poljot International, produces its watches in Germany, while Vostok largely makes its watches out of Lithuania, though its Christopol factory still produces classic hits such as the Amphibia and the Komandarskie on a small scale. Raketa, helped back on its feet by David Henderson-Stewart, a British entrepreneur with Russian roots, appears to be doing better. Its watches are still made at the historic St Petersburg factory, and the updated Big Zero is, in fact, available in India, with prices starting at 1.7 lakh. The Saxon Revival Unlike the USSR, East Germany, its puppet state, had an impressive watchmaking heritage, with watchmakers such as Ferdinand Adolf Lange, and Robert Muhle, brands such as Laco and Stowa, and thriving watchmaking hubs such as the towns of Glashutte, near Dresden, and Ruhla, in Thuringia. Several of these companies were corralled into collectives with rousing names such as the Volkseigener Betreib Glashutter Uhrenbetreib (GUB) or the Peoples Company of Glashutte Watchmakers after WW-II. The watches they made were made available across the Eastern Bloc and exported to countries on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Freed from the shackles of socialism after the fall of the Berlin Wall, many of these watch brands struck out on their own and began the arduous journey towards privatisation. The watches made by GUB inspired the creation of the high end Glashutte Original brand, which was acquired by the Swatch Group in 2000. Gunter Blumlein, the watch industry visionary who helped revive IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre, came on board to re-establish A.Lange & Sohne as one of the worlds greatest watchmakers. A.Lange & Sohne as one of the worlds greatest watchmakers. A. Lange & Sohne is now owned by the Swiss Richemont Group, while the premium watches made by the now family-owned Muhle Glashutte, and fliegers offered by Laco and Stowa offer, along with the rest of the German constellation of watchmakers, a solid, Bauhaus-inspired alternative to Swiss and Japanese timepieces. A similar story has been unfolding across the German border in the Czech Republic, where former nationalised and defunct watchmakers such as Chronotechna are getting a new lease of life, thanks to investors. The only country in which state- owned watchmakers appear to be doing well is China. The public sector Seagull, located in Tianjin, is believed to be Chinas biggest watchmakmer, and claims to make over 5 million movements annually. One doesnt have to be too astute to discern patterns from this brief plunge into the history of state-owned watch companies, but what is clear is that resuscitating ailing or defunct watch brands requires both passion and a relentless entrepreneurial drive. And two, governments across the world should ideally stay out of it. Vision issues are reaching alarming levels, resembling a pandemic. A recent study reveals that nearly a billion children globally may require glasses. Researchers in China have discovered a significant increase in myopia, or nearsightedness, among children and adolescents. Published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, the study predicts that by 2050, around 740 million young people worldwide could be impacted by this condition. Research indicates myopia among children is rising dramatically, with nearly a billion potentially needing glasses. (Unsplash) The study, conducted by researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University in China, examined data from 276 studies with over 5.4 million participants across 50 countries. It reveals a significant increase in the global prevalence of nearsightedness among children and teens over the past 30 years, rising from 24.32% in the 1990s to 35.81% in the early 2020s. This rise in myopia rates is especially notable in certain regions and demographics. East Asian countries have the highest prevalence, with Japan leading at an alarming 85.95%. Additionally, the study found that girls are more prone to developing myopia than boys, particularly during adolescence. (Also read: Dont let rain ruin your vision: Essential eye care tips for monsoon, to prevent infections ) Myopia Trends in Different Countries Interestingly, the research reveals a significant disparity between developed and developing countries. Contrary to expectations, developing or underdeveloped nations exhibit a higher prevalence of myopia at 31.89%, compared to 23.81% in developed countries. The researchers suggest that the early introduction of formal education in some East Asian nations may contribute to this trend. Projections for the future are even more concerning, with estimates indicating that by 2050, 39.80% of children and adolescents globally will be myopic. This equates to nearly four in ten youths requiring prescription glasses, posing a considerable public health challenge. Causes and Solutions The researchers identify several contributing factors to the rise in myopia, including increased screen time, decreased outdoor activities, and the early introduction of formal education in certain cultures. For instance, in countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, children as young as two or three often participate in supplementary educational programs before entering formal schooling. The gender disparity in myopia rates is also noteworthy. The study suggests that girls may be more susceptible to myopia due to earlier physical development, reduced outdoor time, and possibly more engagement in close-range activities such as reading. The study underscores the importance of cultivating good eye habits from an early age. This involves promoting outdoor activities, limiting screen time, and ensuring regular eye examinations. On a larger scale, the researchers recommend that governments introduce policies to alleviate the excessive homework and off-campus tutoring pressures faced by young students. With the large sample size considered, our estimates of myopia prevalence are likely very accurate, the team notes. It is essential to acknowledge that myopia could pose a significant global health challenge in the future. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. India's luxurious and oldest heritage train 'Palace on Wheels' has embarked on its first journey for this tourism season from New Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station on Wednesday. Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) Managing Director Sushma Arora, Executive Director Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, Managing Director of the private company operating the train, O&M, Bhagat Singh Lohagarh, and Director Pradeep Bohra flagged off the royal train. Palace on Wheels is a luxury tourist train in India renowned for its opulent amenities and royal travel experience.(Pinterest) For this year 32 passengers have set off on this Royal journey. The passengers included five each from the US and the UK, two each from Spain, Australia and Singapore, one each from Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Poland and 12 from India. The train can accommodate up to 82 passengers at a time. Palace on Wheels Embarks on a New Season of Royal Journeys RTDC's Managing Director Sushma Arora expressed her excitement and happiness as the train embarked on its first journey. She said, "It is a moment of happiness for all of us as 'Palace on Wheels,' which is the pride of Rajasthan, is ready to embark on its first journey for this tourist season. The train will reach its first destination Jaipur on Thursday morning, and then the tourist will leave for Sawai Madhopur. She further added, "This train is the pride of Rajasthan and has a global image. It is a landmark crane and people from different parts of the world come to travel on this train. The infrastructure of the train has a touch of Rajasthani art and culture. This is a prestigious project for RTDC. The tourists will receive all the five-star facilities and amenities throughout the journey." Celebrating Rajasthan's Rich Heritage RTDC's executive Director Rajendra Singh Shekhawat after flagging off the train said, "This train has been running since 1982. Keeping in mind the hospitality of Rajasthan, the people are very happy and get immersed in the journey. Rajasthan is famous for mainly three things i.e. hospitality, welcome and respect. Every guest or tourist in Rajasthan is welcome with the feeling of Atithi Devo Bhava and the royal train also rides on this principle." Managing director of the private company operating the train, O&M, Bhagat Singh Lohagarh told reporters about the design of the train and how it resembles the theme of Raj gharanas in Rajasthan. He said, "The renovation of the train differs from previous years, and people are really excited to embark on this journey. Every Raj Gharana of Rajasthan used to have their own theme and this has what been tried to keep in mind while designing the train. The restaurant has been designed keeping in the Sheesh Mahal in Amber." The travellers on the train also expressed their happiness and excitement. They were excited to embark on this Royal journey. One of the tourists from Chennai, Madana Gopal said, "I am looking forward to the journey and I am very excited to see the decor. I hope we have a good and pleasant experience. We would like to look to the hospitality of the train." A couple Pooja and Ajay Joshi who are travelling on this train also expressed how this has been their dream for quite some time. Pooja Joshi said, " It was a dream, his dream actually and we thought of doing it this year." To this, Ajay Joshi also added, It has been on our bucket list for a very long time and she was in India so I flew down here. We want to experience Royal treatment as well as the whole excursion. The train will cover eight cities starting from Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra in Uttar Pradesh in just 7 days. More about Palace on Wheels Palace on Wheels is India's first luxury and heritage train. It was launched 42 years ago in the year 1982 and was a joint initiative of Indian Railways and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. This super Luxury train has made an unparalleled contribution to elevating Rajasthan Tourism to new heights and has even made it popular overseas. Since Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was elected as the ninth executive president of Sri Lanka, there is speculation about the new governments foreign policy. Given the economic and geopolitical scenario, pragmatism is likely to take precedence Sri Lanka will continue to balance between India and China. The new dispensations quest for good governance and reforms will also likely benefit India. FILE PHOTO: Sri Lanka's newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addresses a gathering after taking his oath of office at the Presidential Secretariat, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, September 23, 2024. Sri Lanka President Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo (via REUTERS) At its inception in the 1960s, the JVP was a staunchly anti-Indian organisation with its Marxist and Sinhala nationalist ideology. Fighting Indian expansionism in South Asia was one of its core ideological themes. Its first insurrection against the Sri Lankan State in 1971 ended quickly, with India stepping in to secure the Colombo airport and conducting maritime patrols at the request of the Sri Lankan government. However, the second insurrection, between 1987-1990, became even more anti-Indian with the JVP criticising the Indo-Lanka accord that permitted the deployment of Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. While the JVP renounced its armed struggle and entered mainstream politics in 1994, it remained a non-traditional choice. It was during the economic crisis and the 2022 Aragalaya movement that Dissanayake emerged as a popular choice for a populace disenchanted with traditional elites. JVPs rising popularity compelled India to enhance its engagements with the party. The unpredictability of the elections also meant that India maintained engagements with all the key contenders. Delhi invited Dissanayake on an official visit, even as external affairs minister S Jaishankar and national security advisor Ajit Doval met Sri Lankan leaders across party lines in the run-up to the elections. Indias pragmatic engagement is part of its Neighbourhood First policy and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision. As Sri Lankas geopolitical significance increases, India has pushed for connectivity to further its leverage. In fact, during the island-nations recent economic crisis, India stepped in to offer assistance of $4 billion. As a result, India will be managing and upgrading airports and maritime ports in Sri Lanka, developing the Trincomalee region, and investing in renewable energy projects, oil refineries, an energy grid, and a bi-directional petroleum pipeline. Multiple Indian firms have expressed interest in investing in Sri Lankan State-owned enterprises (SOEs), and India and Sri Lanka are also discussing a land bridge and the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA). On their part, JVP understands that Cold War-era alliances and affiliations make little sense in the contemporary world order. This realisation existed even before the elections and underpinned its outreach towards India. It recognises that Indias geopolitical clout and economic growth will help the country recover and strengthen its economy. Several promises in Dissanayakes manifesto, such as developing Sri Lanka into a maritime hub, a port and trading hub, and a regional logistics management hub, will depend on the latters connectivity with India. Dissanayake wants to improve tourism and information technology revenues for which India will again prove to be an important country. It is this growing importance of connectivity and economic leverages that has prompted JVP to be sensitive to Indias concerns. Its manifesto specifies that the countrys land, sea, and air spaces will not be permitted to threaten the national security of any country, particularly India. That said, the new government will even attempt to balance relations with China, too. Beijing will continue to enhance its relationship, leveraging the new regimes Communist leanings. Dissanayake had visited Beijing before he visited Delhi; several high-level Chinese delegates had also visited him before the elections. As one of the biggest lenders to Sri Lanka, Beijing will continue to engage with the government to further its interests in the Indian Ocean. This capacity to invest and assist will continue to woo an economically recovering Sri Lanka. But having won the election with strong rhetoric on transparency and accountability, the governments balancing will be subject to more pressure. Dissanayake aims to promote a rigorous and transparent tender process for all foreign investments, avoid privatisation of critical SOEs, conduct detailed debt audits on foreign loans, and enact legal action against those misusing these loans. On a short-term basis, this will be challenging current Indian and Chinese competition for a stake in crucial SOEs, and their investments. The call to suspend the Adani energy project is a case in point. However, in the longer term, scrutinising loans and the new investment conditions (if implemented) are not likely to go down well with Beijing, which has exploited systemic loopholes, promoting corruption, and opaque loans. On the contrary, this could be more beneficial for India and its like-minded partners who are genuinely interested in strengthening institutions and promoting transparency and accountability in the countrys governance. Harsh V Pant is vice president for studies and foreign policy, and Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthyis associate fellow, neighbourhood studies, Observer Research Foundation.The views expressed are personal A boarding school in China faced severe backlash after an incident of staff members punishing a student for using the toilet at night came to light. The student, who went to the washroom at 11:00 pm, 15 minutes past curfew, was caught and reprimanded. This incident, which many have likened to a 'prison' environment, has sparked anger among people. The news of a student being punished for using the boarding school toilet at night left Chinese social media users angry. (Unsplash/amybethreed, hannaholinger) According to Beijing News, an anonymous teacher informed that students cannot walk around the dormitory after 10.45 pm, and there are restrictions on using the toilet. Students reportedly need to contact dorm administrators for permission if they want to use the toilet after curfew. What was the students punishment? According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the boy was asked to write a deep self-reflection letter and instructed to distribute 1,000 copies among his peers. Marks were also deducted from his class monthly discipline score. What did the student write? I have seriously breached the school rules, and going to the toilet in the evening not only disturbed other students sleep but also brought shame to my class, the student wrote in his letter. Reportedly, he also apologised to his teachers and fellow students, promising not to repeat this behaviour in the future. Social media outrage SCMP reported that an individual wrote on Chinese social media Douyin, I dont understand why going to the toilet after 11 pm breaks the schools rules. Who can control when they need to go? Another added, This school resembles a prison with such strict regulations. Action against school Following the outrage, the Education Department of Huairen, where the school is located, asked the institute to reflect on their errors. We instructed the school to learn from this incident and reflect on its errors. We told them to revise their discipline policies, the education authority stated, reported the outlet. They also asked the school to pay the student 100 yuan (US$14) to compensate him for printing 1,000 copies of his deep-reflection letter. Officials have reportedly instructed all the schools in the area to impose reasonable and humane discipline policies. The Delhi Police has arrested a 32-year-old woman for allegedly stealing gold jewellery worth lakhs of a social media influencer while taking taking pictures with him, an officer said on Thursday. The woman who stole the jewellery was arrested in Manali. The woman was apprehended from Manali in Himachal Pradesh with her husband and gold ornaments weighing 100 grams were recovered from her Haryana house, the officer said. The influencer had approached police alleging he was robbed by a woman who posed as a fan on social media. (Also Read: Viral video: Influencer dresses up as Spider-Man to beg for money in Mumbai) "On September 18, the woman insisted on meeting the complainant under the pretext of taking photos/videos with his expensive jewellery," Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Ankit Chauhan said. They both decided to meet at his office in South Delhi's Chattarpur and the woman asked him to wear his gold jewellery and pose for the camera. The man complied. "In the meantime, when the influencer was busy on a call, the woman fled with 100 grams of his gold ornaments," the DCP said to PTI. "CCTV footage was checked and the location of the woman was traced to Manali. Team apprehended her in Manali and recovered the gold ornaments from her Jhajjar's house. Further investigation into the matter is underway," he said to PTI. (Also Read: Mumbai woman conned out of 3.37 lakh on Tinder, saved from losing more by alert bank staff) Earlier, a 26-year-old man who aspired to be an influencer and content creator on social media was taken into custody for committing at least six burglaries in Vasant Kunj between June 5 and August 26. The police also found 12 pricey imported watches, seven perfumes, and three pairs of sunglasses that he had bought with stolen money. The suspect was identified as Vivek Kumar Gupta. Hundreds of CCTV footage were obtained and analysed and it was found that the burglaries were committed by the same set of people. They were identified as Gupta and his associate Vikhyat Sharma (22), an investigator said. A Dubai-based housewife claims her millionaire husband bought a private island so she can feel safe on the beach. Soudi Al Nadak, 26, shared an Instagram video of the private island with the caption: POV: You wanted to wear a bikini so your millionaire husband bought you an island. Soudi and Jamal Al Nadak say they have purchased a private island in Asia(Instagram/@soudiofarabia) Soudi, 26, is the British-born wife of Dubai businessman Jamal Al Nadak. In a conversation with HT.com, she described herself as a full time housewife. The high-profile couple met when they were both studying in Dubai and have been married for over three years now. Besides being a rich housewife, Soudi is also well known as an influencer - her Instagram and TikTok accounts showcase her lavish lifestyle. In one video, for example, the couple buys a diamond solitaire ring for $1 million and invests another $2 million in artwork - all in a days work. Private island life Soudi Al Nadaks video claiming that her husband purchased an entire island has gone viral on Instagram, collecting over 2.4 million views in less than a week. Speaking to HT.com, the Dubai-based influencer said that she and her husband had been planning to buy an island as an investment. It was something we were looking to do for a while for investment and my husband wants me to feel safe on a beach which is why he purchased one, she said. Soudi refused to disclose the islands exact location for privacy and safety reasons but said that her husband Jamal shelled out a whopping $50 million for the private retreat. For privacy reasons we arent sharing the exact location but its in Asia and it was $50 million, she told HT.com. You can catch a glimpse of the island in her video below: Message to haters In the past, the UK-born influencer has attracted criticism for what many call showing off on social media. Her feed is full of photos and videos that show glamorous holidays abroad, fancy dinners, shopping at designer boutiques and other assorted glimpses into her privileged lifestyle. Her video of the private island, too, attracted backlash, with some viewers doubting the authenticity of her claims. I dont understand why I get so much hate as I just like to share my lifestyle with everyone, Soudi told HT.com Google Trends Interest in the search term "Dubai man private island" surged on September 27, reaching its peak at 5.46 am and continuing to gain traction, according to Google Trends. Most searches originated from Chandigarh, Goa, Bihar, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. Related searches included "island" and private island. A chimpanzee who became popular in Guinea for using tools ripped an eight-month-old baby from her mother's arms and dragged her into the forest before killing her. The angry locals, who protected the chimpanzee as they believe them to be reincarnated ancestors, have now turned against the primates.(Pixabay) Seny Zogba, who works in cassava fields in Bossou, said the chimpanzee Jeje bit her and stole her baby girl, Yoh Helene. The mutilated body of the girl was found near a nature reserve and witnesses claimed the chimpanzee used tools to butcher her body. (Also read: Brutal hippo attack: 63-year-old dragged to bottom of river, tossed like rag doll opens up about the nightmare) "No longer fear humans" According to a primate researcher, the chimpanzees in Guinea are turning into killers as they "no longer fear humans". Upset over the gruesome killing, an angry mob of locals broke into the Bossou Environmental Research Institute, where the chimpanzees are being studied for decades by scientists. The mob destroyed the building and set fire to the scientists' equipment like drones and computers and torched research documents. "Violence has become a habit" The angry locals, who protected the chimpanzee as they believe them to be reincarnated ancestors, have now turned against the primates saying the way she was killed angered the population. In Guinea, chimpanzees are given gifts in the form of food, making them move out of the protected area and into human settlements. "It was not their will [to be violent] but it has become the habit of the chimpanzees," a youth leader told media. This is the seventh recorded chimpanzee attack on humans since last year, the research centre said. Killing out of excitement? Ecologists argued the attacks came as the supply of food in the reserve fell, pushing the chimpanzees to leave their protected area more frequently. However, some experts said that food may not be the only reason and some primates may act "excited" and cannot control themselves, much like how they treat each other. The chimpanzees in Bossou are known to use stone hammers to crack open nuts - a scientifically sophisticated act by the primates that are believed to be human's closest relatives. (Also read: Baby chimpanzee rushes to hug surrogate mom after spending a day apart) A fun trip for a 63-year-old man and his wife to Zambia turned into a horror show when a hippo attacked the couple's canoe. The animal dragged Roland Cherry underwater and tossed him into the air like a rag doll. The attack caused significant injuries, but thankfully, he survived the nightmarish ordeal. Reportedly, a hippo dragged a man to the bottom of a river before tossing him into the air (Representative image). (Unsplash/jwolpers) Recalling the attack: Cherry told the BBC that they were on Kafue River when the tragedy left him lodged between a hippos jaw. "When the hippo first hit the canoe, there was a massive crash, much like a car crash really," he told the outlet. "I remember surfacing, realising my shoulder was quite badly injured and I realised I'd dislocated it from the outset and the consequences were that I couldn't actually swim, he said, adding, "The instructions were to swim to safety but I couldn't swim so I was really a sitting duck, trying to swim with one arm which was never going to end well - and then it grabbed me." He recalled that he kept thinking, I dont want to die, and thought , That's not good when he saw blood over his abdomen at one point during the attack. Wifes account of the horror: "I did see him surface and I think he took a gulp, and then I thought I saw him being thrown in the air," Cherrys wife, Shirley, said. "The hippo could have attacked any one of us and I can't help feeling if the hippo had... if it had been me, I wouldn't be here now, so I think Roland took one for the team, she added. Injuries suffered: As per the outlet, Cherry suffered a 10-inch wound to his abdomen. He also has a dislocated shoulder and a thigh injury. The hospital staff where he was treated considered this his lucky escape, adding that he wouldnt have survived the attack if his injuries were even a little bit deeper. Dont hate hippos Cherry shared that he was "conscious we were in their territory" while navigating the river. He added that he was "not very fond of what [one] did to me". Also Read: Horrifying video shows seawater turning red as shark attacks four people in Texas Are hippos deadly? According to an article published by the BBC titled 10 deadliest animals to humansyou don't want to get too close, hippopotamuses kill more humans than predators like lions. The deadly land mammals reportedly cause 500 deaths annually. They are known to be aggressive and very territorial, often making them charge at boats and capsize them. The hippos, weighing an average of 1,500 kg (males), often kill people on board by drowning or biting with their large, sharp teeth. An American woman, residing in Delhi for the past two years, recently shared a video addressing those considering the merits of living in India versus the United States. She detailed her reasons for relocating from the US to India, adding her belief that the latter offers a superior quality of life to her former home. The image shows American content creator Kristen Fischer, who shared a US vs India video. (Instagram/@kristenfischer3) It is always the same question, Why in the world would I want to leave America and move to India? she wrote, adding two stereotypes people often have about these countries. I think my kids are being set up for a more successful life and future in India. They will have such a rich life, experiences, and community that they would never have gotten in the USA, she elaborated. She further stressed that while the United States of America may be ideal for those solely focused on financial gain, India offers a more fulfilling lifestyle for those seeking personal growth and a more meaningful existence. Take a look at the viral video here: Mixed reactions from social media users: Fischers decision to leave the US and settle in India has sparked a diverse range of opinions. Some resonated with her views, finding India a more favourable place to live, while others held contrasting perspectives. Making money in the US is not easy. The cost of living in the US is too high. Purchasing power in India is far better than in the US, and people in India with different socio-economic backgrounds live cohesively, an Instagram user stated. Another joined, India is not safe for women. Replying to this comment, a third expressed, "Neither is America. In that sense, Germany and Scandinavian countries are far better. And Israel, surprisingly. This individual, who claimed to be a foreigner, commented, Perfectly said. Im Tibetan, born and raised in India, but I'm now a Dutch citizen. When I was in India, my life was way better regarding my mind and health. You never feel alone. Im thinking of moving back to India next year! A fifth wrote, I agree with you. Despite living in the US for ten years, I have never felt at home here. Home will always be India. Who is Kristen Fischer? Kristen Fischer, a content creator at SkyFish Development, has called Delhi home for two years, where she resides with her family. Her Instagram page, boasting over 58,000 followers, offers a humorous glimpse into her life in India. Fischer candidly shares her experiences through her videos, often leaving viewers amused and nodding in agreement. Her content resonates with many as she navigates the cultural transition from America and documents the changes she's embraced in her new home. What are your thoughts on this video of a woman explaining why she prefers India over the US? Mumbai, often called the "City of Dreams," is a place where millions flock with hopes of building a future. Unfortunately, Mumbai's soaring rents have turned the City of Dreams into a daunting financial challenge for many. A 2BHK apartment in Mumbai is raising eyebrows for its unique design(X/PaneerMakkhani) The rent crisis in Mumbai is driven by limited land for a large population. It is not uncommon to find small apartments commanding a rent that would get you entire mansions in smaller Indian cities. People who move to Mumbai for higher education or jobs are no strangers to skyrocketing rent in the city of skyscrapers. But even they are sometimes left surprised by the lengths that Mumbaikars go to in order to conserve every inch in a city where space is a luxury. Take, for example, the X user who found a 2BHK in the posh Pali Hill neighbourhood of Mumbai while apartment hunting. Utkarsh Gupta was so surprised by the design of the apartments bathroom that he took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his disbelief. He shared a photograph that shows a washing machine installed above the commode in the small washroom. What made the whole thing even more hilarious was the expected rent for the apartment - 1.35 lakh per month, along with 4 lakh as security and 1.4 lakh as brokerage. Only in Mumbai, you can front load your washing machine while top loading your commode. At an affordable price of 1.35L per month! Gupta wrote while sharing the photograph. Take a look at his post below: People in the comments section dropped laughing face emojis to express their amusement. Everything is fair in Pali Hill, wrote one person. The apartment in question is listed on Housing.com and is built on the fourth floor of an eight-storey building. Covering an area of 850 square feet, it is advertised as having an affordable rent in Mumbai. The apartment has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and no balconies. It comes fully furnished, and the asking rent of 1.35 lakh is within the expected range for Bandra apartments of this size, says a Housing.com analysis. NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights Sept. 26, 2024 NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Bill Donohue, President, Catholic League: Every survey shows that most Americans do not consider Donald Trump to be a particularly devout Christian. Indeed, only 14 percent of U.S. adults say the word "Christian" describes the former president. Even among evangelical Protestants who think favorably of Trump, only one in five strongly associates the term "Christian" with him. This obviously does not bother his supporters, but it sure bothers others. The others are those who are unhappy with the faithful for standing by Trump, a man they say is characterologically flawed. They are basically saying that religious Americans who are in Trump's corner are hypocrites. R. Marie Griffith is a religion and politics professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Speaking of the faithful who support Trump, she says, "They really don't care about, is he religious or not." According to Newsweek, this signifies a "disconnect" between personal faith and political support, one that "prioritizes political goals over traditional religious values." Not really. What it suggests is that Christians who like Trump are mature voters: They are not choosing the most pious candidatethey are choosing the person who is the most likely to promote their values. Whether the candidate is religion-friendly matters gravely, not his personal relationship with God. In June, we published a report, "Biden and Trump on Religious Liberty," that compared the Trump-Pence administration's record on this subject to that of Biden-Harris. "In his four years as president," I noted, "Trump addressed religious liberty issues 117 times. From the beginning of his presidency in January 2021 to May 1, 2024, Biden addressed these matters 31 times." I added that while quantitative data were important, qualitative analysis was also critical. On this score, Trump wins easily: he expanded religious liberty while Biden often contracted it. Our report looked at the following issues: Faith-based initiatives; Conscience rights; Abortion; HHS Mandate; Foster Care; Gays; Transgenderism; and International Issues. "No one seriously believes that Trump is a man of deep faith," I said. "But his policies on religious liberty are a model of excellence. Biden, on the other hand, tries hard to convince the public that he is a 'devout Catholic' yet his religious-liberty rulings are unimpressive, and in some cases are subversive of this First Amendment right." Harris' views on religious liberty are inextricably linked to the administration she serves. This explains why Sen. Mike Lee recently said that "Kamala Harris doesn't believe that religious institutions should be able to live according to their faith. Rather, they must bend the knee to the popular social justice movement of the day." Lee does not exaggerate. Harris is a co-sponsor of the Equality Act and she introduced the Do No Harm Act. Both would gut religious liberty protections by sidelining the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. And unlike Trump, who gave us Supreme Court Justices who respect the First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty, Harris would go the other way. There is no disconnect between people of faith who are unimpressed with Trump's personal Christian credentials and his phenomenal record of promoting religious liberty for all Americans. After all, they know what the choices are. Harris, who is a religious hybrid (she was raised Baptist and Hindu), is not exactly known as Ms. Devout. But she is known as someone who entertains a militant secularist mindset. It is the latter that counts. Persona matters but policies matter more. That's the mature way of sizing up candidates for public office. UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on Lebanon amid Israel-Hezbollah conflict Xinhua) 13:19, September 26, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Requested by France, the UN Security Council on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting on Lebanon, the second meeting on the country's deteriorating situation in less than a week, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon." In his remarks, Guterres urged the Security Council "to work in lock-step" to end the escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants across the Blue Line, a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah and Israel must pull back from the brink of a potentially catastrophic regional war, he insisted, adding that there was now massive civilian displacement from southern and eastern Lebanon towards the Lebanese capital of Beirut, while the Israelis have endured repeated attacks from Hezbollah with more than 8,300 rockets, drones and increasingly high caliber missile attacks on military targets and residential areas. With an appeal for both sides to respect Lebanese sovereignty, Guterres said that Lebanon "must have full control of its weapons" throughout the country. "We support all efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces," he added. "We say it very clearly and honestly: what we have been witnessing over the past year in Gaza and what we are witnessing now in Lebanon is likely to expand to other areas in the region if the international community does not shoulder its responsibility to put an end to the machine of death and destruction," Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of Egypt, told the meeting. "They are spreading terror and fear among Lebanese citizens ... We cannot bear to lose another generation because of the war," said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. "The ongoing aggression against Lebanon is fueled by the failure of the international community, and in particular by the UN Security Council, to hold Israel accountable for war crimes and genocide in Gaza," said Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister. France on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States as the death toll mounted in deadly strikes by Israel. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the two Western powers were proposing a "temporary ceasefire" of 21 days "to allow for negotiations." The Arab League Council has at the level of foreign ministers warned of the repercussions of escalating "the Israeli aggression" against Lebanon in light of recent developments, which could lead to the outbreak of a large-scale regional war and threaten the security and stability of the entire region. Israel said on Wednesday it was readying troops for a potential ground incursion into Lebanon, telling soldiers to prepare to "enter enemy territory" as it called up more reservists and sent world leaders scrambling to prevent a full-scale war with Hezbollah militants. "We are preparing the process of a maneuver," Israeli Military Chief Herzi Halevi told troops at an exercise along the northern border. Israeli warplanes resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon. On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Israel's bombardment has displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Mira Murati, OpenAI's chief technology officer (CTO), announced her resignation from the Microsoft-backed company through an X post. She shared that she is leaving the organisation after spending six-and-a-half years there, adding that she came to the difficult decision after much reflection. OpenAIs CTO, Mira Murati, announced her resignation through an X post that went viral. (File Photo) Here are some things about Mira Murati, born on December 16, 1988. Education She attended the Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Canada at 16 after winning a scholarship. As per Live Mint, she also has a Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Mathematics from Colby College and a Bachelor of Engineering from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Career She started her career as a Summer Analyst intern at Goldman Sachs. She then started working as an Advanced Concepts Engineer at Zodiac Aerospace before moving to Elon Musks Tesla as a Senior Product Manager. She joined OpenAI in 2018 as VP of Applied AI & Partnerships. After a few years, she was promoted to CTO, a position she held for over two years. At OpenAI, she led product development, including GPT-4. Muratis take on supposed dangers of AI In an earlier interview with Time, she said, There are ... a ton of questions around societal impact, and there are a lot of ethical and philosophical questions that we need to consider. And it's important that we bring in different voices, like philosophers, social scientists, artists, and people from the humanities." Since news of her resignation broke online, there has been a surge of interest in the executive, with many curious about her former role and company. Hence, her name Mira Murati is trending on Google. Why did she resign? According to her X post, she expressed her gratitude for many individuals and also thanked Sam Altman, OpenAIs CEO, for his trust in her. I'm stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration. For now, my primary focus is doing everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition, maintaining the momentum we've built. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to build and work alongside this remarkable team. she wrote. While I may no longer be in the trenches with you, I will still be rooting for you all. With deep gratitude for the friendships forged, the triumphs achieved, and most importantly, the challenges overcome together, she added in her note. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday survived a vote of no confidence in the first major test for his minority Liberal government whose popularity has waned after nine years in office. (FILES) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives for the NATO 75th Anniversary Celebratory Event at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC, on July 9, 2024. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 25, 2024 survived a vote of no confidence, with 211 lawmakers opposing and 120 in favor, in the first major test of his minority Liberal government (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)(AFP) His tenuous grip on power, however, is already set to face more challenges in the coming weeks, with the main opposition Conservatives vowing to try again to topple the government as early as Tuesday. Following a heated debate that saw members of Parliament trade insults and slam their fists on desks, they voted 211 to 120 against the Conservative motion to unseat the Liberals. Also read | Canada to further reduce study permits for international students, know motive behind the move Far ahead in public opinion polls, Tory leader Pierre Poilievre has been itching for a snap election since the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP) earlier this month tore up a coalition agreement with the Liberals, leaving the Trudeau administration vulnerable to being toppled. A combative Poilievre railed against Trudeau for what he said was a failure to address soaring costs of living, a housing crisis and crime, while doubling the national debt. The promise of Canada, "after nine years of Liberal government, is broken," he said during a Commons debate on Tuesday. But other opposition parties, whose support is needed to bring down the Liberals, have pushed back against his right-wing agenda. After the vote, Liberal House leader Karina Gould accused the Tories of "playing games." "We are going to get back to work and do the hard work of governing this country," she added. Try, try again Immediately following the no-confidence vote, the NDP again sided with the Liberals to pass legislation on capital gains taxes, averting another political crisis. Poilievre vowed to keep trying, with the next opportunity to bring down the government to be presented next week. If that fails, he will have a few more chances before the end of the year. The separatist Bloc Quebecois has also demanded concessions from the ruling Liberals for its continued support in parliament beyond the end of October. In Canada's Westminster parliamentary system, a ruling party must hold the confidence of the House of Commons, which means maintaining support from a majority of members. The Liberals currently have 153 seats, versus 119 for the Conservatives, 33 for the Bloc Quebecois, and the NDP's 25. Trudeau swept to power in 2015 and has managed to hold on by defeating two of Poilievre's predecessors in 2019 and 2021 ballots. But he has faced a number of setbacks in recent months, including by-election losses in two of his party's strongholds. Also read | What you should know about Canadas new study permit rules People are hurting During an appearance in New York on the "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" TV program on Monday evening, Trudeau acknowledged that Canadians are facing "a really tough time." "People are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank," and "are looking at change," he said. The deal with the New Democratic Party to prop up the Liberals would have kept his government in office until late 2025. But the NDP, seeing its alignment with the Liberals hurting its own popularity, exited the pact early. Provocative, adept at catchphrases and a champion of an anti-establishment discourse, the populist Poilievre has continued to gain ground in recent months. According to an Angus Reid poll, the Conservatives are well ahead of the Liberals, with 43 percent of voting intention against 21 percent for the ruling party. The NDP is at 19 percent. With legislation pending on NDP priorities including a national dental plan, and because Canada rarely goes to the polls during its harsh winters, political analysts suggested an election will not likely be triggered until at least spring 2025. University of Ottawa professor Genevieve Tellier told AFP: "Anything is possible. It could come before Christmas." A weakened Trudeau administration under constant threat "will find it more difficult to govern" in the interim, she added. The Israeli Army asked its soldiers to prepare for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon, after the militant group Hezbollah claimed to have launched its biggest strike yet on Israel in response to airstrikes on Tuesday that killed more than 550 people in Lebanon, news agency AP reported. United Nations Security Council meets on the escalation in fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah during the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 25(Reuters) The war in Gaza looks set to take a deadly escalation with Israel and Hezbollah engaged in a constant battle since past week. On Wednesday, Hezbollah launched dozens of projectiles, including a missile aimed at Israel's capital Tel Aviv, which marked the group's deepest strike since the Gaza war began on October 7 last year. The attack came after Israel's biggest airstrikes claiming to target the group's weapon stores across south and eastern Lebanon. Earlier, thousands of pagers and radios exploded across Lebanon targeting Hezbollah members for which the Lebanese government blamed Israel's Mossad. Also read | Top Hezbollah commander killed; Israel airstrike death toll rises to 558 Daily skirmishes and rocket attacks has become a constant feature across Israel's northern border with Lebanon, as the group said it was responding in solidarity with Palestinians surviving Israel's brutal military action in Gaza. 10 points on the latest developments 1. Israeli Army chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi told the troops on the north that the punishing airstrikes was designed to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah. Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves, he added. 2. The Israeli military and the US had indicated over last week that there were no plans on ground invasion of Lebanon, but the recent comments are strongest indication in that direction. 3. The US told the annual UN Security Council that it was working with partners towards a temporary ceasefire plan to reduce tensions and allow Israelis and Lebanese to return to their homes in border areas. 4. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged both sides to step back from an all-out war saying it would be disastrous for the people and the region. 5. France Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also said his country is working with the US towards a 21-day ceasefire proposal to set the stage for negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah. 6. Barrot said the details of the proposal would be announced soon and he planned to travel to Beirut by the end of the week. We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay in order to protect civilian populations and allow for diplomatic negotiations to begin, he said. 7. Israels ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said his country is open to ideas to prevent an escalation. We are grateful for all of those who are making a sincere effort with diplomacy to avoid escalation, to avoid a full war, he said before Barrot announced the ceasefire plan. 8. Lebanons Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the Security Council to act immediately "to guarantee the withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied Lebanese territories and the violations that are repeated on a daily basis". 9. US President Joe Biden warned of an all-out war. I dont want to exaggerate it, but a possibility, if we can deal with a cease-fire in Lebanon, that it can move into dealing with the West Bank, and also in Gaza and so, its possible, Biden told ABCs The View in an interview. 10. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and warned, Hell is breaking loose. The UN said more than 90,000 Lebanese people have been displaced over five days of Israel's airstrikes. Over 200,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since the beginning of Gaza war on October 7. (With inputs from agencies) Open AI's chief technology officer Mira Murati announced on social platform X that she is leaving the company to create time and space to do her own exploration. The company's CEO Sam Altman also announced that chief research officer Bob McGrew and another research leader Barret Zoph are also leaving the company. FILE - Sam Altman, right, CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, and Mira Murati, chief technology officer, appear at OpenAI DevDay, OpenAI's first developer conference, on Nov. 6, 2023 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Barbara Ortutay, File)(AP) Mira Murati, in a statement posted on X, said she has made the difficult decision to leave the ChatGPT maker after much reflection. Im stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration. For now, my primary focus is doing everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition, maintaining the momentum we've built, read her statement. Also read | OpenAI close to releasing Strawberry Model with reasoning capabilities Speaking positively of the company, Mira Murati described it as being at the pinnacle of AI innovation and added that it's hard to leave the company she will always cherish. Mira Murati said her six-and-a-half years in the company has been an "extraordinary privilege" and thanked CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman for their support over the years. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to build and work alongside this remarkable team. Together, we've pushed the boundaries of scientific understanding in our quest to improve human well-being. While I may no longer be in the trenches with you, I will still be rooting for you all. With deep gratitude for the friendships forged, the triumphs achieved, and most importantly, the challenges overcome together, her statement read. Altman expressed this gratitude and thanked Murati for her service to the company. Noting that leadership changes are natural for a fast-growing organisation, he promised to announce transition plans 'soon'. I feel tremendous gratitude towards her for what she has helped us build and accomplish, but I most of all feel personal gratitude towards her for the support and love during all the hard times. I am excited for what shell do next. Well say more about the transition plans soon, but for now, I want to take a moment to just feel thanks, Altman wrote on X. President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Wednesday that Russia could use nuclear weapons if it was struck with conventional missiles, and that Moscow would consider any assault on it supported by a nuclear power to be a joint attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the west that any strikes by Ukraine could lead to nuclear action (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)(AP) The decision to change Russia's official nuclear doctrine is the Kremlin's answer to deliberations in the United States and Britain about whether or not to give Ukraine permission to fire conventional Western missiles into Russia. Also Read: US 2024 election: New poll shows Kamala Harris, Donald Trump locked in tight race in four swing states Putin, opening a meeting of Russia's Security Council, said that the changes were in response to a swiftly changing global landscape which had thrown up new threats and risks for Russia. The 71-year-old Kremlin chief, the primary decision-maker on Russia's vast nuclear arsenal, said he wanted to underscore one key change in particular. Also Read: Is Taylor Swift endorsement hurting Kamala Harris campaign? New poll finds "It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation," Putin said. "The conditions for Russia's transition to the use of nuclear weapons are also clearly fixed," Putin said, adding that Moscow would consider such a move if it detected the start of a massive launch of missiles, aircraft or drones against it. Also Read:US Secret Service agent under investigation, placed on leave after alleged sex assault on Harris campaign staffer Russia reserved the right to also use nuclear weapons if it or ally Belarus were the subject of aggression, including by conventional weapons, Putin said. Putin said the clarifications were carefully calibrated and commensurate with the modern military threats facing Russia - confirmation that the nuclear doctrine was changing. Russia's current published nuclear doctrine, set out in a 2020 decree by Putin, says Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state. The innovations outlined by Putin include a widening of the threats under which Russia would consider a nuclear strike, the inclusion of ally Belarus under the nuclear umbrella and the idea that a rival nuclear power supporting a conventional strike on Russia would also be considered to be attacking it. The United States in 2022 was so concerned about the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia that it warned Putin over the consequences of using such weapons, according to Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns. CONFRONTATION The 2-1/2-year-old Ukraine war has triggered the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis - considered to be the closest the two Cold War superpowers came to intentional nuclear war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been urging Kyiv's allies for months to let Ukraine fire Western missiles, including long-range U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, deep into Russia to limit Moscow's ability to launch attacks. With Ukraine losing key towns to gradually advancing Russian forces in the country's east, the war is entering what Russian officials say is the most dangerous phase to date. Zelenskiy has urged the West to cross and disregard Russia's so-called "red lines", and some Western allies have urged the United States to do just that, though Putin's Russia, which controls just under one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, has warned that the West and Ukraine are risking a global war. "Russia no longer has any instruments to intimidate the world apart from nuclear blackmail," Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, said in response to Putin's remarks. "These instruments will not work." Putin, who casts the West as a decadent aggressor, and U.S. President Joe Biden, who casts Russia as a corrupt autocracy and Putin as a killer, have both warned that a direct Russia-NATO confrontation could escalate into World War Three. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has also warned of the risk of nuclear war. Russia is the world's largest nuclear power. Together, Russia and the U.S. control 88% of the world's nuclear warheads. In his remarks to Russia's Security Council, a type of modern-day politburo of Putin's most powerful officials including influential hawks, Putin said that work on amendments on changing the doctrine had been going on for the past year. "The nuclear triad remains the most important guarantee of ensuring the security of our state and citizens, an instrument for maintaining strategic parity and balance of power in the world," Putin said. Russia, he said, would consider using nuclear weapons "upon receiving reliable information about the massive launch of aerospace attack vehicles and their crossing of our state border, meaning strategic or tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other aircraft." Social media is buzzing after former US President Donald Trump may have unintentionally violated federal law while on the campaign trail by trying to be good to someone. Donald Trump hands $100 to PA mom of 3 for groceries in viral video (@margommartin/X) The incident happened at a small grocery store in Pennsylvania, where Trump generously offered to pay $100 for a womans groceries. President @realDonaldTrump helps a mom of 3 pay for her groceries, the Trump Campaign posted the video on X (formerly Twitter.) ALSO READ| Donald Trump hands $100 to PA mom of 3 for groceries in viral video, gets mixed reactions: This is more than While some applauded the gesture, others pointed out that this action could be a breach of election laws The video shows Trump visiting Sprankle's grocery store in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. As he mingled with shoppers and store employees, he encountered a woman who was shopping alone with her three children. The ex-prez then pulled out a $100 bill from his wallet and handed it to the woman to assist with her grocery bill. As he handed her the money, Trump remarked, Here. It's going to go down a little bit. It just went down $100. Trump then added, Well do that for you for the White House, alright? and then went on complimenting her son, Beautiful. A lot of people have interpreted this statement as a veiled inquiry into womens votes, which has escalated legal worries about potential violations of election laws. Naysayers contend that it is unlawful, under federal election statutes, to offer money or any other valuable consideration in exchange for a ballot, thanks to the law prohibiting bribery in elections. ALSO READ| Transgender surgeries for minors, taxpayer-funded reparations: Donald Trump lays out Kamalas Project 2025 While the Trump campaign has not yet commented on the incident, opinions are divided. Some view it as a kind gesture, while others see it as Offering money or any form of valuable consideration as a Presidential candidate in exchange for a vote is considered bribery and violates federal election laws. Former head of the Federal Election Commission, Hans von Spakovsky, dismissed the claims of wrongdoing as absurd. He told the Daily Mail, Trump was obviously making what he considered to be a charitable donation and that in no way implicates any federal laws governing elections. Donald Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of the matter as foreign leaders scramble for face time with the Republican presidential candidate ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Starmer is set to meet the former president at his Trump Tower property in Manhattan after addressing the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday evening, said the source, who requested anonymity as Trump's schedule was not public.(Getty Images via AFP) Starmer is set to meet the former president at his Trump Tower property in Manhattan after addressing the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday evening, said the source, who requested anonymity as Trump's schedule was not public. Their encounter follows a separate meeting on Wednesday between Trump and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates president widely known as MBZ, the source added. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the embassies of the United Kingdom or the UAE in Washington. It was not immediately clear what Trump discussed with the UAE's leader, nor what he planned to discuss with Starmer, both of whom are in the United States during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. Starmer, the leader of Britain's Labour Party, sharply diverges from Trump on many public policy matters, but he has expressed an interest in getting along with whoever wins the U.S. election. He met with Democratic President Joe Biden earlier in September, for talks centering on whether to allow Western missiles to be used to hit targets in Russia. The UAE is an important geopolitical player in the Middle East, and the country has played a role in evacuating the wounded from the Gaza Strip, the scene of an ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants that has devastated the civilian population. The United States has been concerned about the UAE's warm relationship with China and has placed restrictions on exports of some American technology to the country. Some congressional leaders have also expressed concern that the UAE has been covertly supporting paramilitary fighters in Sudan, an allegation the UAE denies. Earlier in the week, the Emirati leader met with President Joe Biden, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate. Meetings between presidential candidates and foreign leaders have happened during previous elections. In 2016, Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton both met with the leaders of Japan, Egypt and Ukraine during that year's U.N. General Assembly. But such encounters are nonetheless sensitive, as the law limits what candidates can say or discuss during such encounters. The 1799 Logan Act permits Americans outside the government to meet with foreign officials, but it also limits their ability to negotiate U.S. disputes. Trump has opted against meetings with some foreign leaders in recent days. He canceled a joint appearance in Pennsylvania with Polish President Andrzej Duda over the weekend, and did not meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he had planned. He is also unlikely to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, despite saying last week the two likely would talk while Ukraine's leader was in the U.S. Billionaire Elon Musk clapped back at reports that he was not invited to an upcoming investment summit in the United Kingdom due to his provocative statements on social media regarding the far-right riots that swept over large parts of the nation this summer. Musk vs Starmer: Responding to reports of UK's snub, Musk reignited his row with Prime Minister Keir Starmer by declaring on X that people should stay away from the UK.(AP) Responding to reports of UK's snub, Musk reignited his row with Prime Minister Keir Starmer by declaring on X that people should stay away from the UK. I dont think anyone should go to the UK when theyre releasing convicted pedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts, he wrote. Starmer wants to bring together hundreds of top investors at the October summit in order to raise tens of billions of pounds in capital for the UK and stimulate economic growth. The billionaire's jibe seems to be directed at the government's choice to release prisoners who were convicted in the wake of the racist attacks. Meanwhile, Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt told the BBC that the Tories blasted the decision to exclude Musk from the summit as a big loss. He told me last year he was planning a new car plant in Europe and had not decided where but the UK was a candidate, Hunt stated. Also Read: We all know what happened next: Maye Musk reacts to Elon Musk, Giorgia Melonis viral pic All you need to know about Musk's feud with Starmer Following a stabbing attack in Southport that claimed the lives of three children, Musk frequently derided the UK PM on X and even predicted a civil war in the country. Subsequently, the government pledged to prosecute individuals involved in the riots, even if it had to free some prisoners early to relieve pressure on its deteriorating jail infrastructure. Musk called Starmer a two-tier Keir, alleging that non-white offenders commit violent crimes and that British Police handle them leniently. In addition, he shared and then deleted a conspiracy theory alleging that the United Kingdom had been housing protesters in detainment camps built on the Falkland Islands. He also compared the UK to the Soviet Union. UK ministers at the time chastised Musk for his remarks, calling them totally unjustifiable and pretty deplorable. Last year, Musk did not attend a similar investment summit held by the former Conservative government, despite receiving the invite, as per the BBC. Eric Adams has broken his silence after being indicted following a federal corruption investigation. In a video message, the New York City Mayor insisted that he has been targeted for speaking against the Harris-Biden administration on migrants flooding the city. Eric Adams indictment: NYC mayor says he became a target for opposing Harris-Biden policies (New York City Office of the Mayor via AP)(AP) I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. If Im charged, I know I am innocent, Adams said in the video. I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life, he continued. Adams added, That fight has continued as your mayor. when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics. According to the Big Apples own online asylum-seeker funding tracker, the migrant crisis has cost the city over $5 billion. New York City has reportedly spent a whopping amount on services for migrants, including housing them. Adams administration previously projected that the cost could rise to $10 billion over the three-year period that will end on June 30, 2025. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target Adams told New York Post in a statement that he always knew he would be targeted. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, he said. Adams added that he would not leave office even if he faces criminal charges. He also criticised the federal government for its broken immigration system. I put the people of New York before party and politics. Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case, he said. But I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigations started yet the city has continued to improve, Adams added. Make no mistake you elected me to lead this city and lead it, I will. A grand jury reportedly indicted Adams on charges tied to a federal probe. On September 4, several raids targeted various Adams administration officials. JD Vance, the Ohio Senator and Donald Trump's running mate in the 2024 White House race, clapped back at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after he labelled him too radical. JD Vance stated that he doesn't appreciate Zelenskyy's visit to the US and his instruction to the American taxpayer what they oughta do. (AP) In an interview published this past Sunday with The New Yorker, Zelenskyy assailed Vance for proposing a resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On September 11, Vance appeared for an interview with the Shawn Ryan Show podcast expressed his views on a deal to resolve Russia-Ukraine conflict. Ukraine retains its independent sovereignty, Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraineit doesn't join NATO, it doesn't join some of these allied institutions. In retaliation, Zelenskyy declared during a trip to the United States this week: The idea that the world should end this war at Ukraine's expense is unacceptable. He blasted Vance, saying that he should study the events of the Second World War, in which a nation was compelled to cede a portion of its territory to one individual. What did that man do? Was he appeased or did he deal a devastating blow to the continent of Europeto many nations, broadly, and to the Jewish nation in particular? Let him do some reading. Also Read: Zelenskyy visits Washington as election year divide grows over Ukraine war Vance hits back at Zelenskyy During Vance's campaign rally in Traverse City, Michigan on Wednesday, a reporter asked him to comment on Zelenskyy's statement. The Ohio Senator clarified that the deal he presented on the podcast was one possible scenario rather than a plan. He, however, added that he doesn't appreciate Zelenskyy's visit to the US and his instruction to the American taxpayer what they oughta do. Vance went on to suggest to the Ukrainian President that he should be grateful to the American taxpayers, in reference to US' financial and military aid to his nation. The Republican vice presidential candidate claimed in his speech in Traverse City that Trump will put a stop to the conflict in Ukraine by not being weak and not being dumb, which is unfortunately not something you can say for the current administration. He mentioned that Russia did not attack Ukraine under Trump's tenure. However, Russia continues to invade their neighbors under the administrations of Democratic government because they don't respect American leadership and because our leaders aren't smart. Trump, who served as the US President from 2017 to 2021, has stated repeatedly that if he had been elected in 2020, he would have resolved the conflict in Ukraine in 24 hours. He has also reiterated that he would speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin to quickly end the conflict in Ukraine if he gets re-elected to the White House. In her first one-on-one interview since being endorsed by president Joe Biden, Kamala Harris spoke out about her role at McDonald's during her student job. After her speech at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the vice president spoke to MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle, talking about her economic vision for the country and her previous role at the fast food giant. Kamala Harris open up about her role McDonald's during college years (Photo by JEFF SWENSEN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP) Ruhle noted while talking about the economy that polls still indicate that voters think Donald Trump will be better on the economy. Harris responded that because of her background, she has more in common with the average American than the former president does. Harris pointed out that she worked at McDonald's during her college years. Kamala Harris speaks out about her role at McDonald's Harris discussed dishing out hamburger buns when Ruhle asked, "At any point in your life, have you served two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun..." Harris replied, "On a sesame seed bun?" before adding, but it was not a small job. Like, I did fries. Harris then spoke more seriously about her past job. "Part of the reason I even talk about working at McDonalds is that there are people who work at McDonalds in our country there who are trying to raise a family. I worked there as a student. I was a kid who worked there. I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility is to meet those needs, she said. Elsewhere in the interview, Harris spoke about Trump saying he was a "protector" of women. The veep told Ruhle that Trump actually punishes women with his policies. Speaking about Trumps record in overturning Roe V Wade, Harris said, "So, I think we would all agree that, as a result of that perspective that he has about women, he also then chose three members of the United States Supreme Court who did as he intended, undid the protections of Roe v. Wade. She added, "And now in, state after state, you see laws being passed that do punish women, laws that -- I mean, most recently, a heartbreaking story resulted in a young woman dying, a mother of a 6-year-old, heart-wrenching stories. And thats for the listener, much less their family. Melania Trump, who has been active on social media for the past few weeks for the launch of her upcoming book, appeared for an exclusive sit-down interview with Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt on Thursday. The former First Lady shared her views on Biden-Harris record ahead of the 2024 White House race, stating the United States is witnessing several challenges under their leadership. Melania Trump shared her views on Biden-Harris record ahead of the 2024 White House race, stating the United States is witnessing several challenges under their leadership.(AP) On being asked about her opinion on Vice President Kamala Harris taking over President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party nominee, the former model hailed her husband Donald Trump's term in office and blasted Biden-Harris record, which according to her speaks for itself. The country is suffering. People are not able to buy usual necessities for their families. We have wars going on around the world. Soldiers are dying. They were dying under this administration because of weak leadership, Melania told Earhardt. As the border issue and surge of migrants remain key issues in this election, she continued, The border is open and dangerous. A lot of fentanyl is coming over, killing our youth. It's very hard to see. Urging US voters to compare the four years of her husband's leadership with four years of the Biden administration, she said, American people need to decide what they really want. Under Trump's leadership, she claimed there was more safety at the border, there were no wars and people had jobs. Also Read: Melania Trump reflects on Trump's miraculous survival after assassination attempts in rare interview Melania Trump's new book to hit the shelves on October 8 Notably, this was Melania's first television interview in almost two years. Her memoir 'Melania', which will provide an uncensored glimpse at her journey from the catwalk to the Oval Office, is all set for release on October 8. Earlier this month, Melania teased her memoir's unapologetic honesty in a social media post with a video, featuring the FBI's August 2022 search of her Mar-a-Lago residence. I never imagined my privacy would be invaded by the government here in America, Slovenian-born Melania stated. This is not just my story. It serves as a warning to all Americans, a reminder that our freedom and rights must be respected. Mar-a-Lago property was searched by federal investigators as part of a probe into claims that after leaving office, Donald Trump removed secret papers from the White House. The charges against the ex-President were rejected in July. Melania Trump, who appeared for her first TV interview in at least two years on Thursday, spoke candidly about her first date with Donald Trump, describing the time the duo spent together as nice. Melania Trump, the 54-year-old former First Lady, talked about her early courting with the former president and disclosed that he took her to Bedford, New Jersey, to explore some real estate he was interested in.(AP) Melania, who moved to the US from Slovenia in 1996 and began her career as a model, first met Trump at a gathering in the Kit Kat Club in New York City during Fashion Week in 1998. Melania took Trump's contact number, but she did not give him her's to him. In an interview, the 54-year-old former First Lady talked about her early courting with the former president and disclosed that he took her to Bedford, New Jersey, to explore some real estate he was interested in. Describing their nearly two hour car journey, Melania said it was very nice because we were two of us alone in the car for hour, hour and a half. No other noise, no other people because, at that time, he was already known as a zit celebrity. So it was really nice to be just the two of us. She mentioned that she felt some connection with Trump immediately, adding that she adored the vision that he had and their bond was very special. Melania further described the former President in one word: Caring. In a bid to promote her upcoming book Melania, the former First Lady sat down for an exclusive interview with Fox News's Ainsley Earhardt in New York. She discussed her life in the White House, the 2024 presidential race, and how being a model prepared her to be the First Lady of the US. Melania touches on her family life, reveals Trump wanted more kids In 2004, Trump proposed to Melania on her birthday with a 15-carat ring worth $1.5 million. However, she said that Trump never mentioned or gave any indications of wanting to run for president. As Melania touched on her family life, she shared that it was difficult for her to inform her son Barron,18, about the attempt on his dad's life. Trump, according to her, is a family man, who loves his country and wants to build better and prosperous. And when asked what it is about him that she finds so endearing, she replied, His humor, his personality, his kindnesshe is very special. She also disclosed Trump wanted to have more kids with her, but she was content with just Barron. I was always perfectly fine. And Donald was encouraging to have more and I said I'm completely fine with one because it's very busy life. And I know how busy he is. And I'm in charge of everything. So, that's why it's just perfect, Melania stated. Before getting married to Melania, Trump already had four children from two prior marriages. Also Read: Melania Trump breaks silence on Kamala Harris replacing Biden in fight with Donald Trump: 'It's very hard to' Melania says Barron Trump enjoying his college life Speaking about Barron's admission at New York University's Stern School of Business, she stated that it was his decision and he is having a good time at college. Lauding her son's move to stay in New York, she said he wanted to study in NY and live in his home. She called him incredible, young man, adding that I'm very proud of what he grew up to be. His strength, his intelligence. His knowledge. His kindness. He's enjoying his college days. She further hoped that Barron will have a great experience, admitting that his life is very different than any other 18, 19-year-old child. Former presidential hopeful Nikki Haley said on Wednesday that she hasn't forgotten former US President Donald Trumps behaviour toward her, her husband, and his military service, despite endorsing him for the presidency. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley makes a speech at the annual Ketagalan Forum in Taipei, Taiwan August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo(REUTERS) On her new SiriusXM radio show, Haley openly expressed, Youre not going to hear me say glowing things about Donald Trumps personality. I have issues with him as well. I have not forgotten what he said about me. I have not forgotten what he said about my husband or his deployment time or his military service. ALSO ERAD| Trump 'attacker' Ryan Routh supported Indian origin Republicans, Vivek, Nikki and Tulsi; voted for Trump Haley fires back at Trump Campaign's mean tactics Notably, during a rally back in February, Trump publicly questioned why Haleys husband, Michael Haley, was not appearing at her campaign events, quipping, Where is he? Hes gone. At the time, Michael Haley was deployed on a National Guard mission in Africa. And at that time Trumps own wife, Melania, has been largely absent from his current campaign. Haley also recounted another incident where Trumps campaign attacked them personally. I havent forgotten about his or his campaigns tactics, from, you know, putting a birdcage outside our hotel room to calling me birdbrain, she shared. I havent forgotten any of that, but politics is not for thin-skinned people. The best way to serve your country is to not get personal, but focus on where we are with the economy, focus where we are with the border, focus on national security, focus on freedom, she said. ALSO READ| Donald Trump apparently broke the law but this time just for doing good. Will he face any legal wrath now? Haley was highly critical of Trumps policies when she was still in the race During her campaign, the Indian-American politician frequently called out Trumps financial record, particularly regarding the national debt. In February, she remarked, President Trump has surrounded himself with the political elite, but they are the same political elite that have spent like drunken sailors, theyve raided social security, and they continue to waste taxpayer dollars. She also pointed out that while Trump often took credit for the economy, He put us $8 trillion in debt in just four years. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has reportedly been indicted following a federal corruption investigation, people with knowledge of the matter have revealed, according to The New York Times. The indictment remained sealed on Wednesday night, September 26. It is unclear what charge or charges he will face. Eric Adams indicted in federal probe amid calls to resign (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)(AP) When the charges are made public, Adams will become the first New York City mayor to be criminally charged while in office. It remains unclear how the indictment is related to a set of September 4 raids that targeted various Adams administration officials. However, this comes after federal prosecutors asked City Hall to cough up communication between the Adams administration, Turkey and five other foreign countries amid the probe. Mayor Eric Adams faces calls to resign, says it isdue to rumors and innuendo Adams indictment followed calls for the mayor to resign, including from USRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, AOC wrote on X. She added, The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. Adams later said in a statement that AOCs demand for his resignationis due to rumors and innuendo, The Hill reported. For anyone who self-righteously claims people charged with serious crimes should not be in jail to now say that the second Black mayor of New York should resign because of rumors and innuendo without even a single charge being filed is the height of hypocrisy, he said in the statement. I am leading this city to protect it from exactly that kind of phony politics. The people of this city elected me to fight for them, and I will stay and fight no matter what, he added. New York City Mayor Eric Adams sold his influence for bribes from foreign nationals in a grave breach of the publics trust," a federal prosecutor alleged Thursday. New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference outside Gracie Mansion, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)(AP) Adams had a duty to disclose gifts he received, but year after year kept the public in the dark," Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, said at a news conference after corruption charges against Adams were made public. Adams was indicted on federal charges alleging that he secured bribes from foreign nationals and illegal campaign contributions in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city. Adams, a former captain in the New York City police department, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment that describes a decade-long trail of crimes. Despite the corruption case, Adams said he does not plan to resign from his job running the countrys largest city, telling reporters he hopes New Yorkers will wait to hear his legal teams defense before making any judgments. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on federal charges alleging that he secured bribes from foreign nationals and illegal campaign contributions in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city. Adams, a former captain in the New York City police department, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment that describes a decade-long trail of crimes. Despite the corruption case, Adams said he does not plan to resign from his job running the country's largest city, telling reporters he hopes New Yorkers will wait to hear his legal team's defense before making any judgments. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, he said at a hastily assembled news conference outside Gracie Mansion after the charges were made public. It's an unfortunate day. And its a painful day. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, Ive gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself, he said. As Adams and others close to him addressed the media, protesters heckled them, with some chanting abuse of power" as police circled them and one shouting, Hes a corrupt mayor. He deserves to be in handcuffs. The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his mayoral campaign. A senior official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment facilitated many straw donations to Adams and arranged for Adams and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkeys national airline to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey, the indictment alleges. Adams compounded his gains from the illegal campaign contributions by gaming the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. His campaign received more than $10 million in matching public funds as a result of the false certifications, according to the indictment. Adams allegedly solicited and demanded bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official, the indictment alleges, noting that the official was seeking Adams help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails in order to falsely suggest he had paid for travel benefits that were actually free, prosecutors allege. He also deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, at one point assuring a co-conspirator that he always deleted her text messages, according to the indictment. The charges were made public hours after FBI agents entered the mayors official residence and seized his phone early Thursday. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan scheduled a late-morning news conference to discuss the case. Adams spent 22 years in New York Citys police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as the citys second Black mayor in 2021. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Her spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement. The indictment caps an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have honed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that have thrust City Hall into crisis. Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. In the last two weeks alone, the citys police commissioner and head of the schools system have announced their resignations. FBI agents had seized Adams electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters. In early September, federal investigators seized devices from his police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted confidants both in and out of City Hall. All have denied wrongdoing. The US Secret Service has responded to the reports of an armed stranger allegedly strolling up to former President Barack Obama's SUV in Los Angeles despite the presence of the federal agency in the vicinity. Former US President Barack Obama speaks after receiving the 2024 Sylvanus Thayer Award from the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, on September 19, 2024. (AFP) Disregarding the allegations levelled by a guard, who remained nameless, as inaccurate, a spokesperson for the Secret Service released a statement, which was shared with Newsweek and TMZ. The Secret Service cannot provide the details on our means and methods of protection, but we can confirm that at no time were any Secret Service protectees in the vehicle while the individual was walking down the alleyway. These claims are inaccurate, the rep said in an email on Wednesday. They also added, The photo in question was upon departure and not during the alleged incident. On the contrary, an eyewitness painted a different picture while recounting the purported incident in their interview with TMZ. The person maintained that an armed security guard came inches away from Obama and observed him sitting in the back seat of his SUV while using a laptop. He claims to have panicked at the moment he realised he was armed and at the mercy of the Secret Service. As a result, he instantly walked away from the vehicle. Also read | Kamala Harris opens up about her role at McDonald's during college years: Part of the reason I Secret Service security lapse allegations: What does the initial report say about the incident? The security guard said that the former president's vehicle was parked outside the restaurant Mother Wolf in a Hollywood alleyway on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The armed man employed for a bar mitzvah that day claimed to have gone downstairs at some point after someone told him federal agents were posted outside. After walking out from a staircase, the man seemed to have spotted two Secret Service agents in the alleyway. On the other side, he saw a black SUV with Department of Homeland Security plates. The media outlet also shared a snap, offering a look at the guard's view of the SUV. The eyewitness had no idea Obama was in the vehicle until he got closer to the passenger side. Once the man walked away from the vehicle, he greeted the agents on the street, who, as he said, were surprised to see him. Also read | NYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted in federal probe amid calls to resign Obama's daughters Malia and Sasha were pictured joining the former president for dinner at the same restaurant. As far as the guard's understanding goes, he labelled the incident as a definite security lapse on the part of the Secret Service as there was no one on the backside of SUV, nor covering the stairwell." He also believed the agents were obviously embarrassed by the situation. The alleged incident was reported on the heels of two assassination attempts targetting Donald Trump within months. As the agency faces a mountain of criticism, other emerging reports also state that a US Secret Service agent has been accused of sexually harassing a member of Vice President Kamala Harris' official staff during a trip last week. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, was vandalised with anti-Hindu messages on the night of September 25. This act of desecration comes less than ten days after a similar incident at the BAPS Mandir in Melville, New York. BAPS Mandir in Sacramento vandalised with anti-Hindu messages. Among the disturbing messages found on the walls were the threatening words "Hindus go back," which have sparked serious concern within the local Hindu community. In response to this intolerance, community leaders have pledged to come together against hate, emphasising their dedication to promoting peace and unity. BAPS mandir in Sacramento attacked, community unites "Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: "Hindus go back!" We stand united against hate with prayers for peace," the BAPS official X post reads. The incident marked by hateful graffiti and water supply cut, has sparked a strong response from the Hindu community. According to officials, hate crime investigation is currently in progress, with BAPS collaborating closely with law enforcement to address the vandalism and ensure the responsible individuals face consequences. In the wake of this troubling event, community members gathered for a prayer ceremony, taking comfort in the teachings of peace and togetherness from His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. local leaders such as California State Assembly Member Stephanie Nguyen, Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, Rancho Cordova Vice Mayor Siri Pulipati, and Police Chief Matthew Tamayo, among others, joined the prayers showing support and respect for the community and their beliefs. Investigation underway According to CBS, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of vandalism at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather. The vandals had spray-painted graffiti on the building and damaged the water pipes. The sheriff's office is currently investigating the incident and searching for the suspect. There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected, Ami Bera, who represents CA06 and Sacramento County in the US House of Representatives, shared a message on X. When BAPS New York temple was vandalised Before this incident, over two dozen prominent American lawmakers voiced their outrage regarding the recent vandalism of a Hindu temple in New York on September 17, which occurred just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the U.S. The exterior of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, was covered with with offensive graffiti. Congressman Brad Sherman condemned the act, calling it a "vile act of hate" directed at the Hindu community and an "unjust attack on our shared value of religious pluralism." He backed up Hindus living in America, saying the people who did this should really face the full wrath of the law. This wasn't the first time something like this happened either. The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, also got hit with graffiti in July. Alila Ventana Big Sur, the intimate luxury retreat nestled in the heart of California's breathtaking Big Sur coastline, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Skaletsky as its new General Manager. A seasoned hospitality professional with over two decades of experience, Skaletsky brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the iconic Big Sur resort. In his new role, Skaletsky will oversee the resort's day-to-day operations, lead and inspire the Alila Ventana team, and develop strategic initiatives to further elevate the guest experience. He is committed to enhancing the guest journey through fostering deeper connections, sparking wonder, and making a positive impact on the environment. Skaletsky's impressive career spans a variety of roles within the luxury hospitality industry, including significant contributions to renowned brands such as Montage and Ritz-Carlton. His expertise encompasses both culinary arts and food and beverage leadership, cultivated at some of the country's most prestigious resorts. Most recently, Skaletsky served as the general manager of The Islamorada Collection, a collection of four hotels in the Florida Keys managed by Davidson Hospitality. Prior to that, his career journey included positions in diverse locations such as the Caribbean, Washington, D.C., San Diego, Aspen, and Maui, where he oversaw food and beverage operations for a resort exceeding 1,000 rooms. A graduate of the esteemed Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina, Skaletsky's passion for hospitality began early in his career. Currently residing in Big Sur with his wife, Grace, and their two dogs, he is deeply connected to the local community and enjoys embracing the area's natural beauty. In breaking news, TFE Hotels has partnered with New Zealands leading accommodation provider, Heritage Hotels, in a multi-property management agreement that will see five hotels refurbished in the next few years and send a positive signal to the local accommodation sector amid a resurgent international tourism market. Under the newly inked agreement, Heritage Hotels retains ownership of its portfolio in New Zealand. TFE Hotels will manage more than 500 rooms across five properties, including the Adina Citylife Auckland and Rendezvous Heritage Auckland. In Wellington, the Adina CityLife Wellington will give TFE an apartment-style accommodation offering in the capital whilst in the south, the Rendezvous Heritage Hotel will re-establish a brand presence in Christchurch. The 175-room Rendezvous Heritage Queenstown rounds out the offering, delivering a strong MICE and leisure offering in New Zealands adventure capital. Heritage Hotels Managing Director, Jeffrey Tang, said the partnership added value to New Zealands economy and hotel sector, with plans already underway to upgrade all five hotels in a rolling refurbishment plan over the next few years. Rendezvous Heritage Aucklands rooftop pool with views to Waitemata Harbour. Photo by TFE Hotels TFE Hotels is an owner, manager and developer and we see their impressive presence in multiple markets - which includes more than 50 properties in Australia, a strong pipeline* of properties and ties to Singapore and Europe - as complementary to our vision for the future. In partnering, were bringing together two values-aligned, businesses and brands to work together in elevating guest experiences, strengthening our position in the competitive hospitality landscape, leveraging capability, and providing guests with a fresh, globally connected hotel experience. Tang said Heritage Hotels would also benefit from TFE Hotels global distribution systems and centralised service model. TFE Hotels Group Chief Operating Officer, Chris Sedgwick, said the partnership allowed TFE to establish a stronger presence in New Zealand and build a stronger platform for future growth. Auckland and Wellington are key target markets for us, with our Adina and Travelodge brands already well established. Plus, the reintroduction of the much-loved Rendezvous brand into New Zealand through the Rendezvous Heritage Auckland, Rendezvous Heritage Christchurch and Rendezvous Heritage Queenstown provides Asia Pacific scale to the portfolio and will see TFE venture into Otago for the first time. Given the expanded presence, TFE Hotels will also establish a New Zealand Country Office in Auckland. The partnership will support and offer expanded choice to international visitors to New Zealand, in line with tourisms upward trends post-pandemic. Overseas visitor arrivals were 3.22 million in the July 2024 year, an increase of 604,000 from the July 2023 year. Visitors from Australia for this period were up 73,000 to 1.31 million.[1][2] TFE Hotels Chief Executive Officer, Antony Ritch, said the partnership paid homage to the amazing work that Heritage Hotels has done in developing these assets and creating a strong New Zealand business. We look forward to working closely with Heritage Hotels and the local team to build on their stellar reputation with the continuation of a refurbishment programme across the portfolio, Ritch said. The partnership comes as TFE Hotels prepares for a busy year ahead with the opening of The EVE Hotel, a 102-room boutique property, in Sydney this summer and the $150 million Hannah St. Hotel in Melbourne in the back half of 2025. The next 12 months are shaping up to be an important time for TFE as we continue to invest in technology and in growing our quality, design-led hotel portfolio in strategic locations. " As our New Zealand hotels continue to forecast robust revenue growth for the year ahead. Beyond these five properties, Heritage Hotels and TFE Hotels will be seeking further opportunities to expand and develop together. There is also significant opportunity for professional development and growth for their valued and committed staff. [1] https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/international-travel-january-2024/ [2] https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/international-travel-july-2024/ Jodi Clark TFE Hotels (Public Relations and Communications) +61 2 9356 1048 TFE Hotels Innovations are decisive for the success of developing and securing the future of the tourism industry. As the Worlds Largest Travel Trade Show, ITB Berlin offers these innovations a groundbreaking platform. From 4 to 6 March 2025 the eTravel Stage, an integral part of the ITB Berlin Convention, will be focusing on technological change and digital progress in the travel industry. Experts can share their knowledge with an international audience of trade visitors at a total of five theme tracks. With the ITB Innovators, ITB Berlin puts the spotlight on the visionaries in the travel industry. The future-oriented platform presents the latest products, innovations and services by ITB Berlins exhibitors that have the potential to make a long-term impact on the industry. Call for papers: ITB Berlin eTravel Stage Travel industry specialists are invited to actively contribute to the convention programme. At live sessions they can present their ideas, case studies, best practices and report on their experiences in travel technology and digitalisation to an industry audience that includes travel industry executives, a wide range of decision-makers from eCommerce to IT, international industry professionals, media representatives, bloggers, young professionals and students. Topic headings range from AI and Travel Technology for a sustainable future to Mixed Reality, Web3 and Hotel Technology. The call for papers is open now and free of charge for anyone involved in the digital transformation of the travel industry. The final selection of entries for the eTravel Stage will be made by the Board of Experts of ITB Berlin and the convention team. Applications can be submitted until 31 October 2024. Additional information and an application form can be found here: Call for Papers ITB Berlin eTravel Stage. Entries for ITB Innovators 2025 can be submitted now Since 2023, ITB Berlins ITB Innovators has been a platform for exhibiting companies to present innovations with the potential to make a long-term impact on the travel industry by driving social, economic or technological change. Startups and established companies can submit their pioneering solutions to the ITB Innovators team, who will examine them free of charge. Ideas can be submitted until 17 January 2025. Additional details and an application form can be found here: Call for Papers ITB Innovators 2025. ITB 360 Travel Hero Podcast: the prospects for innovations in tourism In addition to being in the spotlight at ITB Berlin in March, trends and developments in the digital transformation of the tourism industry are the main focus at ITB 360 all year round. With its specialist content, interviews and the Travel Hero Podcast, ITB 360 offers a 365-day platform for groundbreaking ideas and industry pioneers. The latest episode of the Travel Hero Podcast entitled Tech Travel: AI Transforming the Future of Tourism looks at AIs prospects in the travel industry. Industry experts Leila Summa of Play To Change, Markus Stumpe, CEO of Cruisewatch, and Christian Watts, CEO of Magpie Travel, share their insights and discuss the opportunities this technology offers. Additional ITB 360 content is available online. About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention and ITB 360 ITB Berlin 2025 will take place from Tuesday, 4 to Thursday, 6 March as a B2B event. Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the World's Leading Travel Trade Show. As in previous years, the internationally acclaimed ITB Berlin Convention will take place parallel with the show as a live event on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Under this year's heading 'Pioneer the Transition in Travel & Tourism. Together.', leading speakers from business, science and politics examined current and future challenges facing the industry on four stages and at a total of 17 theme tracks with over 24,000 visitors in attendance. At ITB Berlin 2024 more than 5,500 exhibitors from 170 countries and territories displayed their products and services to almost 100,000 visitors. As a global innovation hub with a year-round presence, ITB Berlin offers the global tourism community valuable insights throughout the year with ITB 360 in the form of expert articles, podcast episodes and other innovative formats. Additional information is available at www.itb.com and from the ITB News & Insights & Social Media. Preferred Travel Group, parent company of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, PTG Consulting, and Beyond Green Travel, is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable tourism and climate action with the development of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CAP). Created in partnership with the Travel Foundation, a prominent international sustainable tourism organization, this initiative builds on the organizations signing of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. It underscores Preferred Travel Group's proactive role in leading by example to drive necessary change within the travel industry. Acknowledging the urgent need for climate leadership, scalable solutions, and collaborative efforts in the tourism sector, Preferred Travel Group is dedicated to taking real action by integrating climate action into its core priorities, supported by widespread employee engagement. By developing a corporate Climate Action Plan, the organization also aims to integrate climate action into its broader metrics for measuring business success. Partnering with the Travel Foundation ensures that Preferred Travel Groups climate action journey aligns with industry best practices and helps scale positive impact by empowering stakeholders to also join this journey. At Preferred Travel Group, we are resolute in our dedication to harnessing the power of travel as a force for positive change. Building upon our core 'Believe in Travel' ideology, we are stepping up our commitment by actively investing in climate action leadership. By prioritizing climate action, Preferred Travel Group is supporting efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient industry. Our commitment contributes to protecting our planet's natural and cultural heritage for future generations, and empowering local communities to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Preferred Travel Group We've seen very few organizations across all of travel and tourism make such an extensive and integrated commitment to climate action as Preferred Travel Group and want to shine a light on the example they are setting. We're proud to be their partner in this effort and are so pleased to see the way climate action is being meaningfully resourced, as well as the way strategic discussions on climate are engaging all employees across the organization, no matter which team or level of leadership they serve on. We are excited to continue collaborating as PTG prioritizes meaningful actions and expands its sphere of influence to generate changes on the ground, in destinations and through its growing network of high-quality boutique hotels. Jeremy Sampson, CEO of the Travel Foundation The development process for the organizations CAP is structured around the creation of a public-facing document that will define the companys objectives and key actions to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero as soon as possible before 2050, bolstered by an internal cross-departmental implementation strategy with slated activities for 2025 and beyond. Aligned with the five pathways of the Glasgow Declaration, the CAP will integrate associate engagement and input from across the organization to ensure seamless integration and support throughout every department. To kickstart this initiative, Preferred Travel Group worked with ecollective, a carbon consultancy based in the United Kingdom, to establish a baseline for its carbon emissions through a companywide measurement process. This baseline is guiding the development of the CAP, which will ultimately outline specific strategies to reduce emissions, reach ambitious targets, and enhance accountability and transparency within the organization. Following a detailed analysis of ecollective's findings, Preferred Travel Groups policies, practices, philanthropic efforts, and input from associates, the organization is working to identify opportunities to integrate climate action throughout its operations. An executive Climate Steering Committee and a Climate Action Task Force of associate volunteers have been established to prioritize actions for the plan. In addition, all-associate climate action training sessions will launch soon to build climate literacy, share best practices, and drive collective, meaningful change. This process is expected to culminate in a condensed public-facing CAP document to be released in December 2024, outlining PTGs climate action priorities in the coming years. With 468 seats in the U.S. Congress (33 Senate seats and all 435 House seats) and the U.S. presidency up for grabs this November, the stakes have never been higher for the hotel industry. This years AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) Fall National Advocacy Conference (FNAC) underscored hoteliers critical role in shaping policies impacting their businesses and the broader hospitality sector. On September 18 and 19, some 200 AAHOA Members and leaders came together in Washington, D.C., to spotlight the most urgent issues impacting hotel owners across the country. During nearly 200 meetings with Senate and House members and their staff, hoteliers had the chance to advocate for their key policy priorities, many of which were discussed face-to-face with U.S. senators and representatives. As hotel owners, we understand our businesses and the industry better than anyone, AAHOA Chairman Miraj S. Patel said. Its crucial that the voices of AAHOA Members are heard and their realities are taken into account when policymakers are making decisions that affect their livelihoods and businesses. Day 1 Advocacy Education, Keynote Speaker, Congressional Reception This years event featured keynote speaker U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who hails from the same state as AAHOA Chairman Patel. It was an honor to have Senator Cruz as the keynote speaker at this years event, said AAHOA Chairman Patel. As a fellow Texan, Im proud to see strong leadership from our state. His insights on the challenges facing our industry and the broader economy are invaluable, and his commitment to advocating for small businesses like ours is something all AAHOA Members can appreciated. Senator Cruz shared the story of his father, who fled Cuba, and how he started a small business in the oil and gas industry, likening his experience to many in the audience. He also discussed the 2024 presidential election and the need for job creation, border security, tax cuts, and a reduction in government regulations. My priority every day is fighting for you, fighting for your small businesses to grow and prosper, Senator Cruz said. He also praised the extraordinary impact of AAHOA Members, who own nearly 90% of the hotels in Texas, and added, I am proud of everyone in this room. Youre driving jobs, youre driving security. AAHOA also hosted a Congressional Reception for its members and legislators so they had the opportunity to further connect on issues. Those attending included: Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) Rep. John Duarte (R-CA) Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS) Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) Day 2 Advocacy in Action AAHOAs advocacy efforts support its members and their hotels while positively impacting the communities they serve. FNAC allows AAHOA Members to continue building relationships with members of Congress and discuss solutions to ongoing challenges faced by hoteliers, many of whom are small business owners. In talking to legislators, AAHOA Members focused on three key legislative priorities to ensure the sustainability of hotels and the broader American travel industry. AAHOA Members urged Congress to support the following issues: Expanding access to capital by supporting the Loans In Our Neighborhoods (LIONS) Act of 2024 (H.R. 9176), which seeks to increase the maximum loan amount for Small Business Administration 7(a) loans from $5 million to $10 million. Introducing more competition in credit card processing via the Credit Card Competition Act (S. 1838/H.R. 3881). This legislation aims to introduce more competition in credit card processing, potentially saving businesses billions annually by reducing transaction fees. Defending hotel owners from regulations that could impose significant financial burdens. A prime example is the Department of Labors new Overtime Rule, which has substantially raised the salary threshold for overtime exemptions. To address this, AAHOA is supporting the Congressional Review Act (S.J. Res. 97/H.J. Res. 166), which seeks to repeal the new rule. Engaging directly with lawmakers is how we turn passion into policy, said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. Representing more than 60% of U.S. hotel owners, it is essential that AAHOA leaders collaborate with legislators to drive positive changes that will support the industry in these challenging times. By sharing their experiences and addressing key issues, AAHOA Members are building meaningful relationships with the nations top policymakers. The long-term benefits will be substantial, allowing AAHOA to continue supporting the industry for generations to come. Day 2 PAC Reception AAHOA hosted a special reception for those members who donated $1,001 or more to its Political Action Committee (PAC). The AAHOA PAC gives AAHOA the opportunity to advocate on behalf of its members on Capitol Hill and in state capitals across the country. Our Political Action Committee is the cornerstone of AAHOAs advocacy efforts, giving us a powerful voice on Capitol Hill and in state capitals nationwide, Patel said. Im deeply grateful to our members who have generously contributed to our PAC. Their commitment ensures we can continue to fight for policies that protect and empower hotel owners across the country. Together, we are making a lasting impact on our industry and our communities. For more information on AAHOAs policy priorities and issues advocated for at the 2024 AAHOA Fall National Advocacy Conference, view the AAHOA 2024 FNAC Backgrounder. Photos of the event are available upon request to [email protected]. The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), an impartial body reporting directly to the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) General Assembly, met under interim chair and with a new composition. After deliberations, the Committee agreed to issue the following statement: The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE) welcomes the decision of World Tourism Organization(UN Tourism) to designate "Tourism and Peace" as the theme for World Tourism Day 2024. The theme is particularly timely in light of the current global climate of conflict and division. Recognizing tourisms significant influence in fostering cross-cultural understanding as a foundation for peace and sustainable development, the Committee reaffirms the vital role of tourism as a catalyst for peace, mutual understanding, and friendship among people worldwide. Acknowledging the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General building peace is a conscious, bold and even radical act. and guided by article 1 of the UN Tourism Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Committee calls for all efforts to support peace negotiations in conflict-affected destinations, adhering to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. The World Committee on Tourism Ethics interprets, implements, and evaluates the provisions of the UN Tourism Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, promotes its ethical principles, and monitors their practical application by the private sector including the right to Tourism. Tourism should always serve as a reminder of the importance of dialogue, peace, tolerance and mutually beneficial interactions between people and countries. Related links: The effectiveness of an upsell strategy hinges on understanding your guests needs and providing personalized, relevant offerings that enhance their stay. When upselling is approached thoughtfully, it not only adds value to the guest experience but also maximizes the utilization of the propertys amenities, benefiting both the guest and the hotel. Personalization is keyby tailoring upsell opportunities to individual guest preferences and timing them appropriately, you can significantly improve the guest experience. For example, offering a room upgrade, dining experiences, or spa services that align with the guests interests can make their stay more enjoyable and memorable. This approach ensures that the upsell feels like a natural extension of their journey rather than a sales pitch, making it more likely to be well-received throughout the entire guest journey, from inspiration to loyalty. Creating guest experiences that seamlessly integrate upselling opportunities through a website booking page, while also being sustainable, is an essential strategy for modern hotels. The digital landscape offers a unique opportunity to craft personalized, engaging, and responsible guest journeys that enhance both satisfaction and revenue. Heres how to achieve this effectively. The foundation of a successful upselling strategy begins with understanding the guests needs and preferences. This can be accomplished through data-driven insights gathered from past interactions, preferences indicated during the booking process, or demographic trends. By leveraging this information, hotels can present tailored upsell options on their website booking page that resonates with the guest. For example, a guest booking a room might be offered a discounted spa package, an upgrade to a suite, or a special dining experienceeach suggestion aligned with their profile and preferences. This approach not only increases the likelihood of a sale but also makes the guest feel understood and valued. Sustainability should be woven into the fabric of these upsell options. Hotels can promote eco-friendly choices that appeal to environmentally conscious travelers, such as offering organic, locally-sourced dining experiences, or suggesting carbon-neutral transportation options. When guests are presented with these sustainable choices during the booking process, they are more likely to engage, as they see their values reflected in the options provided. Additionally, by incorporating sustainability into the upsell strategy, hotels can differentiate themselves in a crowded market, appealing to the growing segment of travelers who prioritize eco-friendly practices. The booking page itself should be designed to facilitate smooth upselling. This involves creating a user-friendly interface where upsell options are seamlessly integrated into the booking flow. Rather than overwhelming the guest with multiple add-ons at once, these options can be presented in a tiered manner, allowing the guest to customize their experience step by step. For instance, after selecting a room, the guest might be prompted to choose personalized services such as airport transfers, wellness packages, or in-room amenities. Each upsell should be presented as a natural enhancement to their stay, rather than an unnecessary extra. Transparency is key in this process. Guests should feel that the upsell options are genuinely enhancing their experience, rather than being an attempt to simply increase the booking cost. Clearly communicating the benefits of each option, such as how a room upgrade includes access to exclusive amenities or how opting for a sustainable dining package supports local farmers, helps build trust. When guests understand the value behind their choices, they are more likely to opt for the upsell, knowing it contributes positively to their experience and the environment. Integrating feedback loops into the booking process can further refine the upselling strategy. After the guest completes their stay, follow-up surveys can capture insights into how the upsell options impacted their experience. This data can then be used to adjust and optimize future offerings, ensuring that the upselling strategy evolves in line with guest expectations and sustainability goals. Moreover, hotels can leverage the booking confirmation page to reinforce upsell opportunities. Even after the initial booking, there is an opportunity to offer personalized services or experiences, such as a pre-arrival room upgrade, spa appointment, or local tour booking. This approach keeps the guest engaged and excited about their upcoming stay while providing additional revenue streams for the hotel. The entire upselling process should be underpinned by a commitment to even sustainability. From reducing the carbon footprint associated with digital transactions to promoting eco-friendly services and experiences, every aspect of the upselling journey can contribute to a more sustainable operation. This not only aligns with the values of eco-conscious guests but also positions the hotel as a responsible and forward-thinking brand. Creating guest experiences that facilitate smooth upselling through a website booking page, while being sustainable, requires a thoughtful approach that combines personalization, transparency, and guest-friendly practices. By understanding guest needs, integrating sustainability into the offerings, and designing a seamless booking experience, hotels can enhance both guest satisfaction and revenue in a way that supports long-term sustainability. Incorporating a full runway of experiences in one holistic viewfrom the moment they first engage with your brand to the point of booking, during their stay, and even after theyve checked outcreates a seamless and enhanced experience. This holistic approach not only drives immediate revenue but also fosters long-term loyalty, encouraging guests to book directly and inspire loyalty. Its essential to redefine and expand the range of experiences offered through upselling. This could include exclusive access to certain amenities, personalized in-room services, curated local experiences, or special packages that cater to specific guest needs. By doing so, you not only enhance the guest experience but also increase the perceived value of direct bookings, making your property more attractive compared to third-party booking platforms. By strategically utilizing the propertys offerings, you can enhance both guest satisfaction and the overall success of your hotel. First lets talk about what services are considered as upselling and redefine and add new experiences that can encourage direct bookings, and inspire loyalty: Service category functionalities list: Dining Experiences Wellness & Spa Experiences Healthcare + Therapy Sessions Car Rental Service Airport Transfer Service Group fitness sessions Meeting space arrangements to celebrate the occasion Perks for Advance Booking Retail eGift Shop Local Adventure Experiences (Complementary or Paid) Hotel Property Tour Special Membership for Local Residents ....and more (hotel by hotel) Enhancing and expanding the above upsell and cross-sell services can be a powerful and profitable strategy for new business and revenue streams, as well as improving guest convenience. By offering personalized options that guests can easily add during room booking, you increase conversions and satisfaction. This approach will also promote direct bookings and help you: Forge a stronger connection with your target audience Build a more profitable and powerful direct business channel Differentiate your property in a sea of sameness Whether you use data on STR or Rate Shopper to beat the competition, an interactive booking page module will give you a competitive edge with minimal effort. This solution synchronizes the guest experience journey with your core system, streamlining the process for both staff and guests. Heres how you can redefine your upselling and guest experience strategy in just three steps: Target - Begin by thoroughly understanding the interests and needs of your target audience from the outset. Rather than waiting until real-time interactions, anticipate what your guests will value and suggest experiences and activities tailored to their preferences. Engaging with guests before, during, and after their stay can be overwhelmingso streamline this by understanding their needs early on. Design - Design a tech-agnostic approach that can seamlessly integrate with your existing website, app, or third-party tools. Let guests define their own inspiring moments by choosing personalized experiences through a user-friendly interface designed to reflect your unique brand identity .Serve - Enhance your guests experience by offering them the ability to select services and experiences in their native language, making their stay more personal and welcoming. This not only deepens their connection to your property but also aligns them more closely with your culture and services. Not every staff member can consistently remember to discuss upsell opportunities with guests. By providing pre-defined options, guests can plan and reserve the above services in advance, extending their stay or adding activities for a more complete experience. Whether you opt for a new booking system or integrate these strategies into your existing technology, the goal is the same: allow guests to easily add rooms, experiences, and services they value. Consolidating ideas, products, and business strategies into a cohesive and synchronized system can be a win-win-win for everyone involved. By revising your booking interface, you can reduce departmental costs while creating an innovative online visual journey that serves your guests before they even check-in. This approach offers a responsive, simple, intuitive, and enjoyable guest experience, leading to higher conversion rates and greater satisfaction. Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from www.HotelExecutive.com Holiday Travel Trends Upward As Culinary and Cruise Vacations Surge in Popularity Among Americans According to MMGY Report - Image Credit MMGY More than a third of all U.S. adults intend to travel for the winter holiday season Eat, drink and be merry: culinary tourism, cruises and the upcoming holiday season are among the trending topics featured in the Fall Edition of MMGYs Portrait of American Travelers study. An examination of the evolving habits, preferences and behaviors of todays U.S. travel consumers, the quarterly survey found that nearly 8 in 10 U.S. adults plan to take a vacation in the next 12 months, which represents an increase of 6% compared to the results from fall 2023. "Despite economic uncertainties and global complexities, travel continues to be a major priority for Americans," said Simon Moriarty, MMGY Travel Intelligences Vice President of Research and Analytics. "Our survey highlights a marked rise in interest in culinary and cruise experiences, reflecting a trend toward more immersive and meaningful travel. As we head into the busy but lucrative holiday season, marketers should recognize that travelers are planning their trips with increased thoughtfulness and genuine intent." Additional highlights from the report follow. Travel Plans and Concerns: In welcome news for the industry, U.S. travel intentions have increased across every generation and all household income levels. Since the summer survey, consumer concerns about the price of gas have decreased alongside price declines in the marketplace. Generational Differences: Among generations, Boomers anticipate spending the most on leisure travel during the next 12 months, while Gen Xers expect to take the most trips (3.9 on average). Interestingly, Gen Zs interest in travel has changed course and risen after four quarters of consecutive decline, with 67% now planning to travel for leisure in the next 12 months. Holiday Travel: As a whole, more U.S. adults (38%) intend to travel for the upcoming winter holiday season (compared to 34% in 2023). Thanksgiving travel intentions have increased slightly (53% this year compared to 51% last year), as have intentions to travel for the holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa (61% this year compared to 58% last year). Culinary Travel: For the second year in a row, the influence of a destinations culinary scene has grown in importance from the previous year. Although authentic local cuisine is still the most sought-after culinary experience (55%), there is growing interest in high-end culinary experiences such as award-winning restaurants or food and wine festivals. Cruising: Over half of active leisure travelers are interested in taking an ocean cruise (58%) or river cruise (52%) during the next two years, while 40% are interested in an expedition cruise. Notably, there is a statistically significant 6% increase in interest in ocean cruises, signaling a promising future for this mode of travel. Traveling Abroad: Interest in international travel remains strong, with 8 in 10 active leisure travelers interested in traveling internationally within the next two years (82%). This is up slightly from this time last year (79%). Hot Destinations: Hawaii, Florida, Colorado and California remain the top states that attract leisure travelers' interest. Beach experiences and visiting state or national parks remain consistent as the top two activities of interest for all generations both gaining in popularity since 2023. Featuring these findings and more, the Fall Edition of Portrait of American Travelers is now available for purchase or as part of an all-access subscription to MMGYs new Intel Library. To learn more, visit store.mmgyintel.com. MMGYs Portrait of American Travelers study provides an in-depth examination of the impact of the current economic environment, prevailing social values and emerging travel habits, preferences and intentions of Americans. Now in its 34th year, it is widely regarded as a leading barometer of travel trends and an essential tool for developing and evolving brand and marketing strategies. The travel trend information presented in this Fall Edition report was obtained from interviews with 4,501 U.S. adults in August 2024 and features data from four generations: Gen Zers (1824), Millennials (2540), Gen Xers (4156) and Boomers (5775). The Silent/GI generation (76+) was also surveyed, but results are not broken out for this specific generation due to a small respondent sample size. This is the third of four quarterly reports to be released this year. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Community Contra Dance in Williamstown WILLIAMSTOWN The North Berkshire Contra Dance returns to Williamstown on Saturday, Sept. 28, with a community contra dance taught by caller Jeff Walker and New England-style fiddle music. Contra dancing is the contemporary face of a living tradition; some of the dances are hundreds of years old, some are recently composed. Everyone is welcome. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive at 7:30 pm for an introductory lesson. Come with or without a partner; most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening. Kathy and Jeff Walker have been playing New England-style dance music for over 40 years. Kathy plays fiddle and Jeff accompanies her on guitar and calls. Their repertoire spans the Celtic world drawing tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Galicia, French Canada, Cape Breton, and Appalachia, and includes many kinds of dance music from fast, energetic jigs and reels to slow waltzes. The dance will run 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main St., Williamstown. Admission is pay-as-you-can, $12 - $20 suggested. The annual Halloween Parade is set for Friday, Oct. 25, on Tyler Street. Pittsfield Halloween Parade Returns with Hollywood Theme PITTSFIELD, Mass. The city's historic Halloween parade rises from the dead this year with a Hollywood theme. On Monday, the Department of Community Development Recreation Program announced that the "Spooky Hollywood" parade will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. on Tyler Street. Aside from the usual ghouls, goblins, and superheroes, there will be an abundance of spooky pop culture icons. Think the Sanderson Sisters from "Hocus Pocus," Michael Myers from the "Halloween" franchise, or even Casper the Friendly Ghost. "Participants are encouraged to base their float designs, decorations, and/or costumes around their favorite Halloween movie," the department wrote. "Every school and community/civic group is encouraged to participate in this great Pittsfield tradition." This will be the 78th Halloween parade in the city. It was originally held on North Street and was moved to Tyler Street in 2011. Trick-or-treat is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. rain or shine. Participants are asked to leave their porch or exterior light on. Every parade unit needs to review the application packet posted on the city website and a representative from interested parties must attend a float seminar on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. in Room 203 at City Hall. The Historical Commission approved the demolition of this Wahconah Street property to make way for a new Head Start building. Child-care Agency Plans Wahconah Street Facility PITTSFIELD, Mass. Berkshire County Head Start plans to demolish a Wahconah Street building and construct an early child-care facility near the people it serves. Last week the Historical Commission OK'd the demolition of 224 Wahconah St. The approval is contingent upon a letter of support from the owner, as the child-care agency is under contract and has not closed on the property yet. Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Hunter McCormick explained that this is in the beginning stages of a lengthy process because federal dollars will fund the project. "In addition to all of the proper procedures to meet all the city of Pittsfield requirements with the various entities and agencies, we are in the process of preparing what's called a 1303 application for the office of Head Start, which is a request for federal funds to fund the complete project," he said during the virtual meeting. "Which would start with a teardown of the existing building and then the construction of an early child-care facility at that location." The location is optimal for program purposes because of its proximity to several housing entities, McCormick said, and would provide easy access for families in the primary market. Head Start offers an evidence-based preschool curriculum for ages 2.9 to 5 years as well as family advocates who provide support through home visits and connection with other resources. The building is more than 120 years old and according to Zillow is being sold as is for $70,000. "Currently being used as storage but could be converted to [apartments], offices and/or retail. Property is in need of full renovation/rehab," the listing reads. A narrative provided to the commission demonstrated the long history of the property but nothing of particular historical significance. Berkshire Community Land Trust Awarded Grant BOSTON The state awarded Berkshire Community Land Trust a $172,500 grant to acquire a 66.75-acre CR at River Run Farm. The remaining 12.25 acres is designated as a farmstead area and includes a farmhouse and large barn. The full 79 acres will be leased through a 98-year ground lease to Off-the-Shelf Farm to pasture their mobile, pasture-grazed chicken and egg operation. The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $27.8 million in grant funding for park improvements and open space acquisitions across Massachusetts that will conserve 2,375 acres. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC), Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND), Conservation Partnership, Cranberry Bog Acquisition for Restoration, and Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants that will support 54 communities. The five grant programs will help municipalities and land trusts safeguard land for outdoor recreation, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and other purposes. "Investing in parks and open space is critical for our states resilience against climate change, tackling issues like urban heat islands, flooding, sea level rise, and drought," said Governor Maura Healey. "These projects boost public health, drive tourism, and strengthen our economy. By aligning our grants with the Resilient Lands Initiative, we commit to creating sustainable communities and safeguarding our natural resources for future generations." Also in Berkshire County, Monterey was awarded a $3,317 grant to fund the improvement of two town-owned properties, Bidwell Park and the Monterey Library, with interpretive signage. Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus visited Pittsfield Housing Authority and Berkshire Community Action Council's central office. PHA, Tina Danzy middle Mayor Peter Marchetti, Augustus, and State Rep. John Barrett III. BCAC, Deborah Leonezyk right of Augustus PreviousNext Housing Secretary Applauds County's Collaborative Housing Efforts taking a tour with PHA director of facilities Patrick Pettit PITTSFIELD, Mass.State leadership recognized the collaborative spirit that drives Berkshire County to address hard-hitting issues with a multi-faceted approach. On Thursday, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus visited Pittsfield Housing Authority (PHA) and Berkshire Community Action Council's central office. His overarching observation? The collaborative spirit that surrounds nonprofit providers, state, federal, and local government. "It's not about turf, it's not about fiefdom, it's about who you're trying to serve and the difference you're trying to make with your targeted population," he said, adding that there is still a lot of work to do and they will need the state's help with funding and technical assistance. PHA owns and administers public housing for over 200 families and more than 400 individual tenants. Augustus walked through Columbia Arms, which houses elders and disabled community members through income-based rental apartments. Earlier this year, Tina Danzy was hired as the executive director. During a private meeting, she and other PHA representatives discussed the city's aging housing stock, CARES Act funding increases, and community coordinators' positive impact. Augustus explained that both the housing authority and state are enthused about community coordinators, which track issues and assist with developing programs and events. "We know what a difference it makes to the quality of life of tenants in public housing but also the operations of public housing because when you have tenants who have behavioral issues, health issues, substance abuse issues, they can drain a lot of resources from the maintenance and administrative staff who aren't always equipped to deal with those underlying conditions," he said. "And just evicting folks doesn't really help solve the problem." The state much prefers solving problems and figuring out ways to support folks where they are, he added. During his keynote address at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's annual meeting on Wednesday, Augustus said the biggest growth area within individual homelessness is senior citizens. "They may be living in a rental property and all of a sudden, somebody else buys the property and says, 'Hey, I can get $500 more a month in rent than your landlord previously was charging you,' jacks it up, and the individuals, couple, don't have the ability to absorb those kind of rent increases and at 70 or 80 years old, find themselves living in a car or ultimately in the shelter," he said. "That is unacceptable in Massachusetts and so we are doing everything we can to really support those individuals and work upstream." Within the $5.16 billion Affordable Homes Act signed into law earlier this year included $2 billions or public housing. "Massachusetts is the only state in the country that has 43,000 units of state-owned public housing," Augustus said. "That is a huge benefit that we have as a state. Most of those elderly folks, folks with disabilities, or families who live in our state-owned public housing across the Commonwealth are folks who are living on less than 30 percent area median income so they are the most vulnerable folks in our communities. There are 70,000 people that live in those 43,000 units." Since 1966, BCAC has been designated as the anti-poverty community action agency for the county. It assists limited-income residents with heating and weatherization programs, food and warm clothing programs, financial assistance and money management programs, and more. "Our community action is not directly involved in housing per se," Executive Director Deborah Leonezyk explained. "What we are involved in is that preventative work to keep existing housing online." In 2023, over 9,100 families were assisted with the Low Income Energy Assistance Program which is in partnership with the Department of Housing and Community Development, and BCAC's Heating Emergency Assistance Retrofit Task Weatherization Assistance program replaced 174 heating systems. The agency received $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the city and spent $433,000 to weatherize 69 homes. It was described as "life-giving." "At an average cost of $6,000 of federal money, we were able to put in $14,000 per home of repairs and upgrades," Leonezyk reported. "So the leveraging power of that utility money to government money is pretty substantial. We put in about $1.30 for every dollar that we spent of federal money." BCAC is currently in the process of writing a federal grant that would allow it to address 300 existing homes in the county, as 37 percent of the area's homes were built before 1939. Leonezyk said the demand for weatherization and energy efficiency projects is skyrocketing and utility companies are willing to pay for the work but housing deterioration poses a problem. On Wednesday, Augustus said that one of the first jobs with the Affordable Homes Act is to protect the state's existing housing stock. Much of the public housing system was built for returning veterans from World War Two and is in desperate need of capital repairs, he reported. "We also want to shrink our carbon footprint. Housing is the biggest contributor to carbon emissions and we're never going to hit our carbon emission goals as a state unless we decarbonize our existing housing stock we ought to lead by example with the state and focus on our 43,000 units of state-owned housing," he said. "Transition to renewable energy sources, solar, better insulated, better windows, so that that is also what we're accomplishing, not just the housing needs but our climate goals at the same time, and our public housing needs to be and deserves to be healthy and safe and dignified and this $2 billion investment is going to help us get a long way toward that goal." State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier wants to see wifi become a utility at every public housing facility, explaining that it should be the same as having electricity, water, and heat. "People need this and they shouldn't be paying these outrageous prices and there shouldn't be this digital divide," she said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Farley-Bouvier was chagrined to learn that many children couldn't access virtual education because they didn't have wifi access. She said that the state needs to make sure it uses Massachusetts Broadband Institute monies to eliminate the digital divide and putting connectivity into public housing is one great way to do it. Exciting news ahead of payday! nubia Philippines is gearing up for a fantastic Shopee Exclusive Payday Sale on September 30. If youve been eyeing the nubia Focus Pro 5G and nubia V60 Design, now is the perfect time to make your move! For just one day, you can grab the nubia Focus Pro 5G for only 8,999, down from 11,999thats a whopping 3,000 in savings! While youll have the chance to own the nubia V60 Design for only 5,299 from 5,999! a 700 peso markdown! Focus like a pro The nubia Focus Pro 5G is not just another smartphone; its designed to elevate everyday experience. With its sleek design and powerful features, anyone will be ready to tackle anything life throws their way. 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For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} International bestselling author Sally Rooney kicked off an event about her new book Intermezzo with an impassioned speech about the ongoing crisis in Palestine. The 33-year-old Irish writer, dubbed the voice of a generation, is best known for her romantic fiction novels Conversations with Friends and Beautiful World, Where Are You?, and the TV adaptation of Normal People launched the careers of stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Rooneys fourth novel, Intermezzo, breaks the format of its predecessors as it follows two brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek, and their very different ways of dealing with the death of their father. The book has been released to critical acclaim. Opening an event held at the Southbank Centre on Wednesday (26 September), Rooney welcomed audience members, including The Independent, before delivering a speech about the ongoing conflict. Before we begin, I want to acknowledge the broader context in which were gathered here this evening, she began, before reading two pages from her book. For almost a year, the people of Palestine have faced a military campaign characterised by mass murder and structural devastation. All of this with the support of the European Union and the United Kingdom. She continued, referring to the Southbank Centre: Countless heritage sites, museums, libraries, schools and mosques, as well as art venues and cultural centres, much like this one, have been irretrievably destroyed. The author highlighted the death toll from the campaign, which has resulted in over 40,000 people killed since 7 October. Conservative estimates suggest nearly 17,000 of those are children. Sally Rooney discusses her new book Intermezzo in conversation with Merve Emre at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall on Wednesday 25 September 2024. Photo by Pete Woodhead for Southbank Centre. ( Pete Woodhead ) Each one a precious and irreplaceable life. Each one loved and mourned, she said. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that we are witnessing unfolding genocide. As Israels military action has expanded into Lebanon, with hundreds of civilians already killed as the state attempts to eradicate Hezbollah, Rooney added: The violent death of any civilian in Israel, in Lebanon, in Palestine, or anywhere is a terrible tragedy and an outrage and the roots of this particular tragedy are in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and the apartheid system under which Palestinians are forced to live. Israel has vehemently denied these claims, which have also been made by the UN, Amnesty International, human rights groups and the ICJ, and has said it is eradicating Hamas following the groups attacks on the state, which killed over 1,139 people including 815 civilians. Sally Rooney discusses her new book Intermezzo in conversation with Merve Emre at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall on Wednesday 25 September 2024. Photo by Pete Woodhead for Southbank Centre. ( Pete Woodhead ) As we are lucky enough to be here tonight in London and beautiful surroundings for what I hope will be an evening of celebration and community, I want to make clear that we are also here in solidarity with the people of Palestine, Rooney continued. She urged: I want to urge you all just as I also urge myself not to turn away, not to give in to despair or fatigue, to keep protesting, to keep speaking out to keep landing an end to this horrifying war. It is the least we can do. For the remainder of the event, Rooney engaged in a discussion with author and New Yorker contributor Merve Emre, touching on topics as diverse as the textual lineage of a novel, sibling dynamics, language theory and Wittgenstein, Marxism and climate collapse. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Japan has sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in its history in an attempt to send a message to China, media reports said. Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force warship Sazanami made the passage through the strait from the East China Sea on Wednesday morning, the Yomiuri newspaper reported citing multiple government sources, as Tokyo stepped up deterrence against Beijings territorial claims. The SDF destroyer spent more than 10 hours sailing southward to complete the passage along with naval ships from Australia and New Zealand. The three countries navies were on their way to participate in planned multilateral drills in the disputed South China Sea beginning Thursday. Japanese chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the transit but expressed concern about Chinas increased military activity in the region. "We have a strong sense of crisis that airspace violations have occurred one after another over a short period of time," he told a regular press conference. "We will continue to monitor the situation with strong interest." China is expected to respond to it in the regular press briefing on Thursday. The Global Times, a state media outlet, said: The PLA followed and monitored them throughout the process and the situation was under control. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has in the past reacted sharply to similar transits through these waters, perceiving them as challenges to its sovereignty. This latest passage is expected to further inflame tensions with Beijing, especially in light of recent territorial disputes between China and Tokyo. Last week, Japan lodged a protest with China over a new route taken by the People Liberation Army Navys aircraft carrier Liaoning and two destroyers on their way to the Pacific Ocean. It said a Chinese aircraft carrier entered the waters for the first time, sailing between Japans westernmost island of Yonaguni and nearby Iriomote. Tensions also ratcheted up last month after Chinese military aircraft entered its airspace for the first time, the Japanese defence ministry said. Recently, Germany also became one of the latest countries to sail through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in 22 years. The transit on 13 September irked Beijing which accused Berlin of increasing security risks but it said it operated in accordance with international standards. The US Navy and its allies such as the UK and Australia regularly transit through the strait to reinforce "freedom of navigation". Also, the leaders of the Quad grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the US last week expanded joint security steps in Asias waters due to shared concerns about China For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A court in Japan has acquitted an 88-year-old man after he spent nearly 46 years on death row for a quadruple murder. Iwao Hakamada, then a professional boxer, was accused in 1966 of killing four people, including two children, and burning down their house. He is the longest-serving death row prisoner in the world, after being sentenced to death in 1969. His execution was repeatedly delayed by lengthy appeals and several retrials, which eventually led to his acquittal on Thursday. Mr Hakamadas acquittal by the Shizuoka district court makes him the fifth death-row convict to be found not guilty in a retrial in post-war Japan. Presiding judge Koshi Kunii said that the court acknowledged there had been multiple fabrications of evidence and that Mr Hakamada was not the culprit, broadcaster NHK reported. He had allegedly admitted to the killings during the initial proceedings in the 1960s, but then retracted his confession, which he said was made in the course of a brutal police interrogation. Hakamada was a professional boxer before his arrest ( AFP/Getty ) His retracted confession was at the centre of a series of trials, with his death sentence ultimately upheld by Japans supreme court in 1980. Mr Hakamadas second appeal for a retrial was filed in 2008 by his sister Hideko Hakamada, now 91, and the court finally ruled in his favour in 2023, paving the way for the latest retrial, which began in October. For so long, we have fought a battle that has felt endless, Ms Hakamada told reporters ahead of the verdict. But this time, I believe it will be settled. Mr Hakamada was represented by his sister during the retrial, because of her younger brothers failing physical and mental health. There has been no immediate announcement of whether prosecutors will appeal against the verdict. His lawyers urged the prosecutors not to challenge the ruling, Kyodo News reported. Mr Hakamada was released from prison in 2014 when a court ordered a retrial based on new evidence suggesting that his conviction may have been based on fabricated accusations. Hideko Hakamada, Iwaos 91-year-old sister, fought for his release ( Kyodo News/AP ) After enduring almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial, this verdict is an important recognition of the profound injustice [Mr Hakamada] endured for most of his life, Amnesty International said in a statement. We strongly urge Japan to abolish the death penalty to prevent this from happening again. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The family of one of three Americans held prisoner by the Taliban in Afghanistan is urging Washington to confirm his whereabouts amid online rumours of his impending execution. Afghan-born US citizen Mahmood Shah Habibi, 37, was working with an American telecommunications company when he was arrested by the Taliban in August 2022 after a drone strike killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Taliban likely assumed Mr Habibis employer was involved in the strike, but did not charge him. Sarah Adams, a former American spy employed by the CIA, recently claimed without providing evidence that Mr Habibi had been transferred by the Taliban to al-Qaeda and would likely be executed soon. His family say they have received no such information from Kabul or the US State Department. I dont agree with reports that the Taliban have handed over my brother to al-Qaeda. As per my information, the Taliban have him. They took him in August 2022 and they still have him. The US government should verify such reports and confirm if the Taliban has handed over my brother to al-Qaeda, Mr Habibis brother Ahmad Shah Habibi told The Independent. In the history of the Talibans rule, we have not seen any case where they have handed over a detainee to any other group. We have not received any official information from the US government or from the Taliban. I am hoping it is just a rumour. The FBI last month issued a notice seeking information about Mr Habibis disappearance in Afghanistan. It is believed that Mr Habibi was taken by Taliban military or security forces and has not been heard from since his disappearance, it said. Mr Habibi urged the US government to redouble efforts to free his brother, noting that the Taliban had indicated a willingness to exchange the American prisoners. The Taliban claim they only hold two Americans, Ryan Corbett and George Glezmann, allegedly for violating the countrys laws. They are keeping them, Taliban spokesperson Zabiuhllah Mujahid indicated earlier this year, to exchange for Afghans imprisoned by the US in Guantanamo Bay. The Taliban denies having Mr Habibi in custody. I think the Taliban want three people. One is in Guantanamo Bay and two in the US. I dont know who they are asking for in the US, but the American government has to put in more effort in getting my brother released, Mr Habibi said. He said the family has had no communication with Mr Habibi since he vanished in Afghanistan. I dont know the reason why they are not acknowledging my brother when they actually detained him on 10 August 2022. Mahmood Habibi with his young daughter a few weeks before he disappeared in Afghanistan in August 2022 ( Sourced/ The Independent ) Mr Habibi served as director of civil aviation and deputy minister of civil aviation in the Nato-backed Afghan government that was overthrown by the Taliban in 2021. There is a possibility that he was arrested because he worked for the previous regime and also with the US embassy in Afghanistan between 2011 to 2013. We think his work for the US government and his American citizenship put him in trouble, his brother told The Independent. Mr Habibis detention was flagged in March by the US Congress in a resolution seeking his release. Mahmood Habibis family believes his work with the US government led to his alleged arrest by the Taliban ( Sourced/ The Independent ) His brother denied that Mr Habibi was in any way involved in the American strike that killed Mr Zawahiri. My brother had nothing to do with that, he said. When the strike happened, my brother was not even on Afghan soil. Mr Habibi said some workers of his brothers company told them they had been interrogated by the Taliban about two towers near the location of the drone strike. My brother worked with a telecommunication company with towers all over Afghanistan, around 600 in total. There were cameras installed on the towers for their security and not for civilians. My brother didnt decide where to install the towers or the cameras. He was just one of the 1,200 employees, working as an adviser. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The parent company of Poundland suffered a slump in sales this year amid delays in stock reaching its stores due to disruption to cargo ships travelling through the Red Sea. Pepco, which also runs discount brand Dealz, said like-for-like turnover fell 3.1% for the year ending September 22. It said that delays to shipments due to cross the Red Sea which have been redirected below the foot of Africa due to attacks on ships by Houthi rebels in the region were partly to blame. Pepco said the delays were affecting the consistent and timely availability of stock in stores. It said it was taking mitigating actions including asking ships to set off earlier, changing shipping routes and sometimes using faster carrier options to tackle the problem for the coming years trading. The company said Poundland has largely seen trends follow previous quarters, where it reported challenges linked to the launch of new clothing and general merchandise ranges from its Pepco business. Pepco said the problems are being addressed and initial benefits are expected to come in the next financial year. Andy Bond, chair of Pepco Group, said life-for-like revenues were down because of ongoing supply chain disruption but that the company expects to see record underlying earnings amid margin improvements. Meanwhile, the business also opened 390 new stores over the year across all of its brands, which operate across 20 countries stretching from eastern Europe to Ireland. Mr Bond added: While there is much more to do, particularly around like-for-like sales progress, we remain committed to expanding our price leadership position, enhancing the core customer proposition and improving our supply chain capabilities. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Award-winning writer John Vaillant provided a captivating yet disconcerting view of our new era of megafires at the launch of The Independents Climate 100 List, telling the audience: The world we thought we knew is changing because we changed it. Vaillant, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his book, Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World, is part of the inaugural 2024 class of The Independents Climate 100 List. The Vancouver-based writer uses both fiction and non-fiction to illuminate often overlooked consequences of human impact on the environment. Fire Weather was awarded the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2023. He spoke at Climate 100s launch event in New York City on Wednesday, alongside keynote speaker, former British prime minister Theresa May, leading Gen Z climate activist Wawa Gatheru, and The Independents chief international correspondent Bel Trew. open image in gallery Bestselling author John Vaillant (left) speaks at the inaugural Climate 100 List event in New York City on September 25. He read from his award-winning book Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World ( Alex Kent ) The Independents Climate 100 List celebrates the remarkable achievements of change-making activists, scientists, philanthropists, political figures, business and tech leaders, and more, tackling the most urgent challenge of our time. The list was published to coincide with Climate Week NYC, one of the climate worlds biggest annual events. Fire Weather recounts the 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, at the time the costliest disaster in Canadian history. It burned for more than a year and razed large parts of the city to its foundations but fortunately, the death toll remained low with only two indirect deaths. Many who ran out of gas as they were evacuating said it looked like the city had been nuked, Vaillant said. That apocalyptic scene was unusual back in 2016 but now a familiar sight with megafires erupting with stunning frequency not only in Canada but across the world from the US and Brazil, to Greece, Spain, France and China. The terrible irony of the devastating 2016 fire is that it struck Fort Mac, the heart of Canadas oil industry, which produces several million barrels per day of bitumen, one of the dirtiest, least economically viable fossil fuels, extracted from tar sands. Vaillant addressed the cognitive dissonance among Fort McMurrays hard-working residents, who have sought opportunities in the remote, oil boomtown 600 miles north of the US border, but where mention of the climate crisis is practically non-existent even when science has made clear fossil fuel emissions impacts on more dangerous, devastating fires. open image in gallery The smoke plume darkens the sky in Fort McMurray, Alberta, during the devastating wildfire of May 2016 ( Cole Burston/AFP via Getty Images ) You have to kind of agree with yourself to not understand this thing in order to feel okay about your salary, Vaillant said Wednesday. All of them were in it together, but thats where all their paychecks are. And so to become a climate activist, or to be critical of the company, or to question even its methods and policies, is not just a kind of professional suicide, its also a social suicide. In the years since, Fort McMurray has rebuilt with bigger and better houses, and the oil industry is enjoying record profits, the author said. But residents continue to experience post-traumatic stress. Many of the people who went through that fire moved away and many of them are still dealing with PTSD, Vaillant said. They really were living with this uncertainty of if they would live or die that day. And the next wildfire crisis is never far away. open image in gallery Smoke rises outside Fort McMurray in May 2016, as forest fires forced tens of thousands from their homes. Heat radiating from the fire caused structures to burst into flame ( Cole Burston/AFP via Getty Images ) A third of the city was evacuated this summer because of fire, he said. Several of the big [oil industry] operations were shut down due to fire. So,theyre living in this unbelievable tension and it cannot last, it cannot hold. He added: The world we thought we knew is changing, because we changed it. Valliant explained that the Fort McMurray fire was an early example of pyrocumulonimbus fires extreme systems which generate their own weather. They can be 45,000ft tall. They can generate their own lightning, which can start new fires 30-40 miles away. Theyre like perpetual combustion machines and thats what sat on top of Fort McMurray for about seven days, he said. The immense heat of that fire caused every flammable object to start off-gassing - releasing chemicals into the air. The house doesnt catch on fire, it bursts into flame all at once, he said. Fighting a blaze of this magnitude with water hoses is near useless, he pointed out. open image in gallery Vaillant described these extreme events as 21st-century fire ( Credit: Alex Kent ) Theres so much energy in this fire that it basically sucks the stream sideways, evaporates it, and then sends it up the fire column, he said. The next time youre going to see that water is after its gone up 30,000 feet and frozen in little droplets around bits of burned tree and house, and then come back down in a downdraft as black hail, Vaillant continued. If you want to find black hail in literature, you have to go to Exodus in the Bible. Vaillant has described these extreme events as 21st-century fire and pointed out that the day the blaze broke out in Fort McMurray, which is located in the sub-Arctic, the temperature was 93 degrees and humidity was comparable to Californias Death Valley in July. With these conditions in a fire-prone, boreal forest system, youre going to see something extraordinarily explosive, he said. Its just unheard of in the history of human beings. Vaillant spoke ahead of former British prime minister Theresa May who painted a troubling picture about the links between climate change and modern slavery, an issue she tackles by leading the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Some of the most dire outcomes of climate change are humanitarian, May said. Wawa Gatheru, founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, called on older generations to play their part in fighting the climate crisis, and not borrow hope from highly-engaged activists of Gen Z. The Independents award-winning, chief international correspondent Bel Trew reflected on the intersection of the climate crisis and conflict, which she witnessed during many reporting trips across Africa and the Middle East. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Leading climate activist Wawa Gatheru says there is no such thing as a perfect environmentalist. Gatheru is the founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, one of the largest youth-led climate organizations in the US, and part of the inaugural class of The Independents Climate 100 List. She spoke at the launch event in New York City on Wednesday alongside keynote speaker, former British prime minister Theresa May, award-winning author John Vaillant, and The Independents chief international correspondent Bel Trew. Gatheru hit back at the idea that people who care about the climate crisis must be perfectionists. I think that this idea of the perfect environmentalist is keeping us as a movement from building the strongest team possible, she said. Ultimately, were all flawed individuals. In order for us to apply ourselves meaningfully, we have to apply our unique talents, spheres of influence, and really bring ourselves to the table in authentic ways. By being so selective about the idea of an environmentalist, we risk being exclusionary, she said. How do we have holistic conversations around what access looks like in those circumstances? Are we leaving people out? she asked. When asked how she fights despair in the face of extreme climate challenges, she said that Gen Z feels like older generations over-rely on youth efforts. It almost feels as though people want to borrow our hope, as though theyre taking some of our inspiration, our energy, and feeling empowered in that moment, and... they can walk away, go back to their lives, and leave it to us, she said. open image in gallery Wawa Gatheru spoke at the inaugural Climate 100 List event in New York City on September 25 and stressed the importance of community in a warming world ( Alex Kent ) I dont think thats enough. I think its a cop-out. The Independents Climate 100 List celebrates the remarkable achievements of change-making activists, scientists, academics, philanthropists, political figures, business and tech leaders, and more, all trying to tackle the most urgent challenge of our time. The list was published to coincide with Climate Week NYC, one of the climate worlds biggest events. Gatheru, a Kenyan-American who grew up in rural Connecticuts Mashantucket Pequot land, founded Black Girl Environmentalist to support Black girls, women, and non-binary people in joining the climate movement and establishing green careers. Her numerous achievements include being the first Black person to receive the prestigious Rhodes, Truman, and Udall scholarships for her environmental work. She is an inaugural member of the Environmental Protection Agencys National Environmental Youth Advisory Council and serves on boards of organizations including Earthjustice and Climate Power. open image in gallery Wawa Gatheru poses in front of the step and repeat for The Independents Climate 100 List event, where she stressed the importance of community in the face of the climate crisis ( Alex Kent ) She told The Independents audience that many people care about tackling issues, but feel that they cant because they dont fit the narrative. There is this really interesting paradox where you look at polling on who is most upset about, or alarmed by climate change its communities of color. But then why is it that in the spaces that Im doing work for, that representation really isnt seen? Gatheru also noted that people of color were more likely to be considered the victim than problem-solver during climate disasters. She also stressed the importance of community and wondered if it was a Gen Z perception that many people now dont know their neighbors. If you think of a worst-case scenario, a hurricane or a flood, not being able to call out for someone by name: that is a problem, she said. Gatheru spoke ahead of the keynote address from former British prime minister Theresa May who painted a troubling picture about the links between climate change and modern slavery, an issue she tackles by leading the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. open image in gallery Former British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to attendees of The Independents Climate 100 List event, where she discussed links between the climate crisis and modern slavery ( Alex Kent ) Some of the most dire outcomes of climate change are humanitarian, May said. The event began with a captivating talk by author John Vaillant, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his 2023 book, Fire Weather: A True Story From A Hotter World, which recounts the catastrophic 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Through this harrowing tale, Vaillant provides a stark warning about the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, and the deep connections between the oil industry and climate change. The Independents award-winning, chief international correspondent Bel Trew, who reflected on the intersection of the climate crisis and conflict which she witnessed during her many reporting trips across Africa and the Middle East. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Brad Pitt representative issued a warning to fans after five imposters were arrested in Spain after defrauding two women out of $362,000 by posing as the actor. According to a statement released on September 23 by Spains Interior Ministry, five people have been arrested and face fraud and money laundering charges with three of the online swindlers arrested last November and two more arrested in July. The statement revealed that the imposters reached out through an online Brad Pitt fan page, exchanging instant messages and emails with the women, who were under the impression that they were speaking to the real A-list actor. The imposters tricked the women into believing that their online interactions had evolved into a romantic relationship. In order to find their victims, the cyber criminals studied their social networks and put together a psychological profile of them, discovering as a result that both women were vulnerable people suffering from depression and a lack of affection, the statement said. They also used instant messaging platforms to exchange messages and emails with the two women until they thought they were chatting via WhatsApp with Brad Pitt himself, who promised them a romantic relationship and a future together. Authorities added that the situation escalated once the Pitt imposters began to ask the victims for money, with one losing up to $168,000, while another sent around $195,500. Both of the women made numerous bank transfers to the imposters until realizing they were being scammed, thats when they went to the authorities. Throughout the ongoing investigation, they have so far only recovered $94,000. open image in gallery Brad Pitts representative remind fans that the actor has no social media presence ( Getty Images ) They also found that the scam was run via multiple bank accounts created using fake identity documents, with mules helping the fraudsters launder the money. As a part of their operations, they raided five homes, reportedly seizing several mobile phones, bank cards, two computers and a diary in which the phrases used by the fraudsters to deceive their victims were written down. Pitts publicist Matthew Hiltzik, dispelled any notion that the Bullet Train actor was on social media, stating to the New York Times: Its awful that scammers take advantage of fans strong connection with celebrities. But this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence. The Fight Club actor has long been off social media platforms including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has no intention of shuffling off now shes in her 60s. In fact, shes heading into this new life-chapter filled with goals, drive and newfound self-assuredness. Im of that age and Im surrounded by a lot of women, were all going through the same thing but I dont want to just shuffle off, Cleaver says as we chat over Zoom. I feel like Ive still got a lot to give, and I want adventures. Im not going to let fear hold me back, and Im not going to let society hold me back either absolutely not. I want to forge my own path, and I encourage all women to do the same. Are there areas of my life that could be improved? Of course. Is every day a great day? Of course not. But I know where Im going, and Im alright. I quite like myself now. I dont feel I need to hide certain parts of me. This is all new territory for Cleaver, who has played no-nonsense Eileen Grimshaw on ITVs long-running soap Corrie since 2000. Earlier this year, she took a break from the cobbles to star in a musical touring production of Sister Act it was the first time shed been on stage in 25 years and, she admits, she s*** myself with nerves. But it was fabulous, Cleaver beams. Im scared so what? I could have wound myself up and talked myself out of it in the past, going, Oh no what if, what if, what if? But I dont listen to those voices any more. If I want to do it, if it feels like a good opportunity, I go: Yeah OK, lets give it a go whats the worst that can happen? While its easy to think celebrities who appear in front of an audience of millions week after week must be brimming with confidence, for most of her life, Cleaver grappled with internal self-doubt, often feeling other and that she didnt really belong and its only in the last two years that this has changed. Cleaver, who has a grown-up son, Elliot Quinn, with her ex-husband James Quinn, peels back the layers on how she reached this point in her new book, A Work In Progress, which she describes as part memoir, part manifesto for women. It starts at the very beginning, when Cleaver was adopted as a newborn from a north London hospital. She recalls a wonderful childhood with loving parents the family moved locations a few times, including a spell in Scotland before settling in Manchester. But as Cleaver writes in the book: Despite the fact that I was never made to feel lesser in any way by my loving family, not knowing who I was or where I came from added another layer of uncertainty about myself, which has underlined my life for as long as I can remember, until relatively recently. It was her stint on Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2022 that triggered her to really start letting go of the negative self-beliefs shed been carrying. Although Cleaver had already started having therapy in her mid-40s, sharing her story publicly turned out to be a key step. It was never a plan, Cleaver says now. It happened really when I started opening up in the jungle, just talking about my adoption, and that wasnt planned. When youve got 24 hours to fill and a campfire and nothing else, you forget the cameras are there I completely forgot that and then I opened up, whereas Ive never spoken about that before. And that was the start of it. As Cleaver revealed in the jungle, she eventually met her birth mother through an extraordinary twist of fate while at drama school in her early 20s. Manchesters Royal Exchange were looking for actors for small parts in an upcoming production despite the fact theyd only been casting for males, she put herself forward and landed a part. On set, a fellow actor noticed Cleaver was a dead ringer for his wife when she was around the same age. He asked where and when shed been born, and quickly connected the dots his wife was Cleavers birth mother. Shed been a single, 17-year-old when Cleaver was born, later going on to meet her husband and have two other children. Getting into acting was also how Cleaver discovered her talents and found a sense of direction. But despite being outwardly successful, that internal uncertainty and low self-esteem often clouded how she felt and experienced the world. She knows shes far from alone in this, which is why she didnt want her book to just be a memoir, instead putting equal spotlight on all the things shes learned about anxiety, imposter syndrome and shaking off limiting self-beliefs. I dont think [my story] is any different to what a lot of us go through, says Cleaver. The circumstances may be different, but I think its universal that at some point we feel other or different or not quite good enough. One of the most transformative things shes discovered is just learning to be kinder to herself. The most important thing you can do is show yourself love and compassion... Id say the most important thing you can do is show yourself love and compassion. So often well say, Oh Im such a d***head, or, Oh God, Im so ugly. Would you go to your best friend and say, God, youre so ugly? No, you would not, you would be horrified, and yet we think its OK to talk to ourselves like that. Its not. Be kind to yourself, because actually, youre OK. We are all OK. Another thing Cleaver delves into is that oh-so human ability for negative thoughts and worries to spiral in our minds, and how shes learned not to give these thoughts so much power. We believe our thinking, and we dont need to, she reflects. Its interesting when were having a happy or good time, we dont sit and think, Oh Im having such a happy time, were just in the moment, enjoying it. And yet if I have a bad thought, its: Oh my god, Im having a really bad thought, why am I having a bad thought? Whats wrong with me? Wheres that come from? Why am I feeling that now? Then we go on this journey of layering and layering those thoughts, as opposed to just going: Oh, now Ive got the bad thoughts come into my head its alright, it doesnt mean anything, Im just going to ignore that. Its just a thought and it will pass. A Work In Progress by Sue Cleaver is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing, priced 20. Available now For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A judge on Wednesday ordered a halt to a special election initiated by residents of the one of the Souths last remaining Gullah-Geechee communities of Black slave descendants, who looked to voters to undo zoning changes that residents say threaten island homes. Senior Judge Gary McCorveys ruling to stop the referendum came after hundreds had already voted early in coastal McIntosh County and barely a week before polls countywide were to open on the official election day Oct. 1. The judge sided with McIntosh Countys elected commissioners seeking to cancel the election, ruling that Georgias constitution doesnt allow citizens to challenge zoning ordinances by referendum. He dismissed arguments by attorneys for island residents that county officials had no legal standing to sue. McIntosh County has the duty to avoid wasting public funds and must be afforded some remedy to challenge the decision to hold an election ordered erroneously, McCorvey's ruling said. Residents of the tiny Hogg Hummock community on isolated Sapelo Island said they were blindsided a year ago when county officials voted to weaken restrictions on development used for decades to protect the enclave their enslaved ancestors founded after the Civil War. Residents and their supporters spent months collecting 1,800 petition signatures to force the referendum, which a Probate Court judge approved after verifying the petition in July. ___ Bynum reported from Waycross, Georgia. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Nevada Supreme Court has ordered the dismissal of a sprawling sex abuse indictment against Nathan Chasing Horse, while leaving open the possibility of charges being refiled in a case that sent shockwaves throughout Indian Country and led to more criminal charges in the U.S. and Canada. The full seven-member court's decision, issued Thursday, reverses earlier rulings upholding the charges by a three-member panel of the high court and a state judge. Proceedings in the 18-count criminal case have been at a standstill for more than a year while the former Dances with Wolves actor challenged it. Kristy Holston, the deputy public defender representing Chasing Horse, had argued that some evidence presented to the grand jury, including an improper definition of grooming that was presented without expert testimony, had tainted the states case. Holston said prosecutors also failed to provide the grand jury with exculpatory evidence, including inconsistent statements made by one of the victims. The high court agreed. The combination of these two clear errors undermines our confidence in the grand jury proceedings and created intolerable damage to the independent function of the grand jury process, the court said in its scathing order. Holston declined to comment further. Prosecutor Stacy Kollins did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The ruling directs the judge overseeing the case in Clark County District Court to dismiss the indictment without prejudice, meaning the charges can be refiled. The allegations against Chasing Horse are indisputably serious, and we express no opinion about Chasing Horses guilt or innocence, the order says. Chasing Horses lawyer had also had argued that the case should be dismissed because, the former actor said, the sexual encounters were consensual. One of his accusers was younger than 16, the age of consent in Nevada, when the alleged abuse began, authorities said. The 48-year-old has been in custody since his arrest last January near the North Las Vegas home he is said to have shared with five wives. He also faces criminal sexual abuse charges in at least four other jurisdictions, including U.S. District Court in Nevada and on the Fort Perk Indian Reservation in Montana. Chasing Horse is best known for portraying Smiles A Lot in the 1990 film Dances with Wolves. But in the decades since starring in the Oscar-winning movie, authorities said, he built a reputation as self-proclaimed medicine man among tribes and traveled around North America to perform healing ceremonies. He is accused of using that position to gain access to vulnerable girls and women starting in the early 2000s. Las Vegas police arrested Chasing Horse in January 2023. The arrest helped law enforcement agencies in two countries corroborate long-standing allegations against the former actor. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A record nine candidates are running in Japan's ruling party election Friday to replace outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. A former defense minister who is a longtime veteran, the relatively young son of a popular former prime minister and the economic security minister who would be the country's first woman prime minister are considered top contenders. No candidate is likely to win a majority in the first round, so the top two vote-getters will advance to a second round to be held immediately after the first on Friday afternoon. Here are the candidates: Shigeru Ishiba Ishiba, a 67-year-old former banker, is running in the leadership race for a fifth time and said this will be his final battle. First elected to parliament in 1986, he has served as defense minister, agriculture minister and other key Cabinet and party posts. Despite his longstanding popularity among voters, the outspoken idealist has struggled to win enough support from fellow party lawmakers. But now, Ishibas experience, stability and expertise is increasingly considered a strength for the party as it prepares to face the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japans new leader, former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, a veteran known for gripping speeches. Considered a defense policy expert, Ishiba has proposed an Asian version of the NATO military alliance and a more equal Japan-U.S. security alliance. Ishiba is a supporter of Taiwan s democracy. He calls for an establishment of a disaster management agency in one of the worlds most disaster-prone country. Ishiba vows to push for more diversity and gender equality. He supports a revision to a 19th century civil code requiring married couples to choose one of their surnames, which has caused most women to adopt their husbands surname. Moves to change the code have stalled for decades due to the LDPs sole opposition. Ishiba also supports legalizing same-sex marriage. Shinjiro Koizumi Koizumi, the son of popular Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has been considered a potential candidate for the top position since he was elected to parliament in 2009 and at 43 would be Japan's youngest prime minister. Considered a political blue blood, he has been popular despite his relative lack of experience, and is backed by a former prime minister, Yoshihide Suga. But some of his popularity has eroded as policy debates have heated up, displaying his lack of expertise. Koizumi has vowed to push reforms that would create more choices in careers and life paths. In an attempt to promote paternity leave, he took two weeks off when his first child was born in 2020. Koizumi also supports allowing a duel surname option for married couples, an option that is now supported by the countrys powerful business lobby but opposed by conservatives in the LDP. His policy proposal of easing regulations on dismissing workers as a way of promoting a flexible labor market has stirred controversy because it was seen as a lack of protection of labor rights. He said he would further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and expand a cooperation network with other like-minded nations to deter Chinas growing influence. He regularly visits Tokyos controversial Yasukuni Shrine, seen by Asian neighbors as a symbol of Japans wartime militarism. As environment minister in 2019, Koizumi made his international debut at a United Nations summit, saying a big-scale issue like climate change has got to be fun, its got to be cool, and its got to be sexy, too. His choice of language was criticized as shallow. Koizumi holds a masters degree in political science from Columbia University. Sanae Takaichi Takaichi, 63, is the economic security minister and is making her second bid to become Japans first female leader. A protege of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she is a staunch conservative and attracts the right wing. In the 2021 party leadership vote, she finished third in a runoff. Takaichi has vowed to fortify Japans resilience to natural disasters and security risks by bolstering food security, supply chains and military capability. She calls for strengthening cyber and space defense, and has proposed the creation of a Cabinet-level intelligence bureau. She has stressed economic growth over fiscal discipline as a key pillar of her policies. A regular visitor to Yasukuni, Takaichi is known as a revisionist who downplays Japans wartime atrocities, and has called for a tougher stance on China. Her ties to Abe faction membes who have been implicated in a slush fund scandal have been seen as a potential weakness. Taikaichi opposes same-sex marriage and the proposal to allow married women to keep their maiden name, and supports the imperial familys male-only succession. Her support for traditions considered paternalistic have been cited by critics as bad for womens advancement. After serving as a newscaster for a Japanese TV station, Takaichi was elected to parliament in 1993 and has also served as minister of internal affairs and gender equality. She has said her role model is Margaret Thatcher. Additional candidates: Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63, is chief Cabinet secretary and a former foreign minister who is known as Kishidas confidante and for his all-round policy expertise. Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, a former economic security minister, is a rising policy guru among the younger generations and a conservative who backed Takaichi in 2021. Toshimitsu Motegi, 67, is the LDP's secretary general who has served as foreign minister and trade minister and who is known as a tough negotiator. Yoko Kamikawa, 71, is the foreign minister. She is a Harvard-educated former think tank analyst known as low-key and dilligent, and has pushed a U.N. initiative of women, peace and security. Taro Kono, 61, is the digital minister who is known as a maverick for criticizing party policies, but has reversed his opposition to nuclear energy citing growing power demands for data centers and AI. Katsunobu Kato, 68, is a former health minister who was close to Abe and shares his conservative views. His campaign policies include seeking to double income. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sometimes the issues brought forward at the United Nations signature annual meeting may feel a bit familiar. Climate change is always in focus, especially in the past few years. There are regular disputes about who is on the security council. Pleas to stop wars and address hunger. But this year, it's what's not getting as much attention that has Ukraine concerned. The war in Ukraine was center stage the last two times that world leaders convened for the high-level meeting of the General Assembly. But this year, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the escalating developments along the Israeli-Lebanese border have gotten much of the spotlight. Ukraine president VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, at the podium, implored world leaders not to give in to calls for a ceasefire that doesn't guarantee Ukraine's sovereignty. When some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles, it not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians who are affected by the war the most, it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war, Zelenskyy said. Heres your daily guide to whats going on at the United Nations this week, day by day: From the podium French President EMMANUEL MACRON told the U.N. General Assembly that "Israel cannot, without consequence, just expand its operations to Lebanon. He urged Israel to cease the escalation, and Hezbollah to cease missile launches to Israel. Panama President JOSE RAUL MULINO drew attention to the humanitarian crisis playing out in his country. More than half a million migrants crossed the Darien jungle last year that joins Colombia and Panama. Panama today is the new border of the United States, Mulino said, noting that the migrants crossing his country are seeking a better life in the U.S. I ask you to see the magnitude of what is happening because we feel like we dont have the international support we are due." On the sidelines The chance of a ceasefire proposal to try to stop fighting between Israel and Lebanon took up a lot of oxygen behind the scenes on Wednesday. Rumors floated through the halls, and France called a last-minute session to discuss the conflict. At the session, French Foreign Minister JEAN-NOEL BARROT said later in a meeting of the Security Council that France was working with the U.S. on a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire. Climate moment In a special high-level summit to address the impacts of rising seas, small island nations pleaded for the survival and insisted on their sovereignty despite overflowing oceans. Sea level rise threatens the well-being of our peoples cultures, food security and livelihoods, said Samoan Prime Minister FIAME NAOMI MATA'AFA, speaking for 39 small island nations. Marshall Islands President HILDA HEINE and others said even if their lands are submerged, their nations should still be recognized, asking the world not to rig the map and try to erase us with a pencil sovereignty ultimately rests with our people, not in distant diplomatic centers. U.S. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN said the United States is committed to counter or at least adapt to rising sea levels that pose an existential threat to many coastal communities around the world. Blinken also said that the Biden administration would oppose any effort to limit or curtail the rights of any countries affected by it. Voices you might have missed Globalization has failed in its mission to bring prosperity to people. XIOMARA CASTRO, president of Honduras ___ "In this emerging global order, we must ensure the United Nations remains at the forefront of global governance. If multilateralism is to trump unilateralism, the UNs role, as the worlds foremost multilateral organization, is pivotal. With the necessary resources and resolve, the UN can ensure a future of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity." MOHAMED IRFAAN ALI, president of Guyana ___ Island nation leaders warned about sea level rise in the most dire and personal terms. Our future is uncertain, Fiji President WILIAME KATONVIERE said. Will our children and their children have a place to call home? And Maldives President MOHAMED MUIZZU said: An emergency is upon us, threatening our way of life. Our fight to live on will survive. Something you might not know Leaders speeches take a variety of forms and are delivered in a variety of languages -- some rendered on plain paper, others on elaborate letterhead. Taken collectively, they represent the words and ideas of an entire governed world and the politics and maneuverings that come with leading, or helping to lead, one of the nations of Earth. In photos, you can sometimes see the speech on the lectern, including one of Zelenskyy from Wednesday. One notable number Number of speakers scheduled at a last-minute, evening Security Council session on conflict between Israel and Lebanon: 24 Quotable Colleagues, Im often asked which one issue keeps me up at night. What I always say is this: We cant afford to limit our attention to just one issue. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, speaking to the Security Council ___ Annihilation may bring military success but not political or moral victory. If security systems take over every political decision you forfeit your option to negotiate. MIRJANA SPOLJARIC EGGER, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross ___ Rising seas mean a rising tide of misery. Communities swamped, fresh water contaminated, crops ruined, infrastructure damaged, biodiversity destroyed, and economies decimated with sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, and tourism pummeled. The poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit. U.N. Secretary-General ANTONIO GUTERRES ___ Do not divide the world. Be united nations. And that will bring us peace. Ukraine's Zelenskyy, to leaders at the General Assembly Up next Palestinian President MAHMOUD ABBAS is scheduled to speak Thursday morning and Israels Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU on Friday. ___ AP writers Seth Borenstein, Michael Weissenstein and Matthew Lee contributed. See more of APs coverage of the U.N. General Assembly at https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A regional court in East Africa opened proceedings on Thursday in a case filed by Congo against neighboring Rwanda, accusing it of violating Congo's sovereignty and territorial integrity by sending troops to help rebels in the country's east. Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources, while others try to defend their communities. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings. Congo alleges that Rwandan forces have been involved in aggression and war crimes in the east. In July, U.N. experts estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwanda government forces are deployed in eastern Congo alongside the M23 rebel group, which has been making major advances. The East African Court of Justice, based in Arusha, Tanzania, was established as a regional court under a 1999 treaty among a group of east African nations and is meant to hear cases from Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. The court has been ratified by the United Nations. The proceedings came a day after Congos President Felix Tshisekedi called for sanctions against Rwanda at the U.N General Assembly, alleging it supports the M23 rebels in the restive eastern region. In the lawsuit, Congo seeks to hold Rwanda accountable for violations including atrocities against civilians and breaches of international law, and also secure reparations for the victims of these alleged crimes. The lawsuit underscores the long-running tensions between the two countries, particularly over the mineral-rich eastern Congo. We are happy the case has taken off, the lawyer representing Congo, Elisha Ongoya, told The Associated Press. Rwanda raised objections, questioning the court's jurisdiction in the case. Its lawyer, Emile Ntwali, urged for the case to be dismissed since the regional court does not handle criminal matters. Ntwali also pointed out procedural mistakes, such as Congo's failure to translate court documents into English, the official language of the court. Congos legal team asked the court to be allowed to submit new evidence and translated documents. Presiding Judge Yohanne Masara said the court would review each side's arguments and deliver a ruling on the objections at a later date. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The governing party of outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida holds a key vote Friday that will establish a new national leader. The vote is limited to the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party's parliamentarians and dues-paying members. Because the party's governing coalition dominates parliament, the winner is assured to be Japans next prime minister. A record nine lawmakers, including two women, are vying for the job in an unpredictable race. The winner must quickly regain public trust, or Japan could face a return to a damaging cycle of short-lived governments, experts say. How does the election work? The vote is limited to LDP lawmakers and 1.1 million grassroots members. That's less than 1% of the countrys eligible voters. No candidate is expected to win a majority in the first round of voting because of split votes, so the winner will probably be determined in a runoff between the top two vote-getters. LDP leadership votes used to be determined by the partys powerful faction leaders, but experts say that may change this time because all but one of the six factions has announced their dissolution following the partys corruption scandals. The vote is crucial for the LDP, which is looking for a leader who can revive public support for the party after scandals that hurt Kishida's popularity. What does the vote mean for Japan? Experts say this election could mark a return to an era similar to the early 2000s, when revolving door leadership changes and political instability ended only with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe' s eight-year reign. This is because the new leader will lack stable backing by powerful factions. Kishida's three-year leadership stint followed Yoshihide Suga, who had one year in power before he was forced to resign over his unpopular handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequent government changes make it difficult for Japanese leaders to tackle long-term policy goals or develop trusted relations with other leaders. Japans diplomatic and security policies, though, will continue to be based on its key alliance with the United States. With less influence from factions, the prime minister can exercise more power, but stability depends on support ratings, said Yu Uchiyama, University of Tokyo politics professor. The question is whether the next prime minister can decisively carry out political reform. A new leader will also have to deal with soaring military, child care and climate change costs, he said. The most damaging scandal centers on the failure of dozens of the partys most influential members to report political donations. That led to the indictment of several lawmakers, their aides and accountants. Kishidas party has tightened political funds laws and conducted an internal investigation, but critics say the measures weren't enough. I foresee a continued stagnation in the political situation, with the LDP repeatedly changing faces, said Chiyako Sato, a political editorial writer for the Mainichi newspaper. Who's running? All nine candidates are incumbent or former Cabinet ministers. Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister, has steadily ranked No. 1 in media surveys. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of a former popular prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, is behind Ishiba. Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, an Abe protege and staunch conservative who ran against Kishida in 2021, is third by a narrow margin. Experts say two of the three are expected to advance to a runoff. But it's difficult to predict a winner, because a runoff could be influenced by backroom dealing among party heavyweights. A first female prime minister? Takaichi and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa are seeking to become Japans first female leader. That, however, is largely in the hands of senior male veterans like former Prime Ministers Taro Aso, Suga and Kishida. Of the two women, Takaichi ranks higher in media surveys than Kamikawa. She has ties to Abe faction members, including those implicated in the slush funds scandal, and her conservative support for paternalistic traditions are criticized by some as bad for womens advancement. Kamikawa is seen as a safe choice by some. She has said that just being able to enter the race has demonstrated a new LDP. Women make up only 10.3% of Japan's lower house of parliament. That makes the country 163rd for female representation among 190 countries examined in an April report by the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union. In Japan's largely paternalistic culture, it's still normal for sons to inherit political power from their fathers, often limiting opportunity for women from nonpolitical families to run. The nine candidates include five male hereditary politicians. What happens next? On Oct. 1, Kishida and his Cabinet ministers will resign. The new leader, after a parliamentary endorsement, will then form a new Cabinet later in the day. While the current term for the lower house lasts until October 2025, most candidates say they'll hold an early election soon after taking office. Observers expect an election within weeks, so the new prime minister can try to capitalize on a fresh image. The main opposition the liberal-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has scored some wins in local elections this year. That was helped by LDP scandals. But the party has since struggled to build momentum. The CPDJ on Monday chose former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda as leader. That's a conservative shift likely meant to grab swing voters and LDP supporters disgusted by the scandals. Political watchers say the opposition is too fractured to attract voters who want to punish the LDP, and there's skepticism that the opposition parties are viable alternatives. At an LDP candidates' campaign event in Tokyo, party member Shohei Tsunoda, 72, said: It would be good if we could have a system like in America, where two parties compete and take turns in power. But right now, the CPDJ doesnt seem to have that kind of strength. ___ Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hong Kong welcomed a new pair of giant pandas gifted by Beijing on Thursday with a lavish ceremony, raising hopes for a boost to the city's tourism. An An and Ke Ke are the third pair of giant pandas to be sent to the city from mainland China since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Their arrival came after their new neighbor, Ying Ying, gave birth to twins last month and became the worlds oldest first-time panda mother on record. With the addition of the new bears, the twins, and their father, Le Le, Hong Kong now houses six pandas. Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said An An is a 5-year-old male panda who is agile, intelligent and active, while Ke Ke, a 5-year-old female, is good at climbing, cute and has a gentle temperament. The new arrivals will undergo two months of quarantine and adapt to their new home at Ocean Park, a zoo and aquarium that has long been a favorite of residents and tourists. Lee expressed hope that the public could meet the new bears in mid-December. In October, the government will invite residents to propose new names that showcase the pandas characteristics. Tourism industry representatives are optimistic about the potential impact of housing six pandas, hoping it will boost visitor numbers in Hong Kong. Officials have encouraged businesses to capitalize on the popularity of the new bears and newborn cubs to seize opportunities in what some lawmakers have dubbed the panda economy." Pandas are widely considered Chinas unofficial national mascot. The country's giant panda loan program with overseas zoos has long been seen as a tool of Beijings soft-power diplomacy. Giant pandas are only found in China's southwest and their population is under threat from development. But caring for pandas in captivity is expensive. A zoo in Finland agreed with Chinese authorities to return two loaned giant pandas to China more than eight years ahead of schedule because they were too costly for the facility to maintain amid declining visitors. Hong Kong's Ocean Park has been hosting pandas since 1999, when the first pair, An An and Jia Jia, arrived in the financial hub shortly after it was handed back to China. Jia Jia, who died at 38 in 2016, is the worlds oldest-ever panda to have lived in captivity. The average lifespan for a panda in the wild is 18 to 20 years, while in captivity its 30 years, according to the Guinness World Records. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A judge on Wednesday dismissed a federal lawsuit challenging a suburban New York ban on wearing masks in public except for health and religious reasons. The class action lawsuit was filed last month by Disability Rights New York on behalf of two individuals with disabilities against Nassau Countys Mask Transparency Act, or MTA. The law makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone in the county to wear a face covering to hide their identity in public. The lawsuit claims the ban is unconstitutional and discriminates against people with disabilities. The legal action includes two plaintiffs with various health conditions who wear medical-grade face masks to protect themselves. They said they were fearful of being harassed and possibly arrested because of the new mandate. But U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show they have legal standing to sue since the law since has exemptions for people who wear masks for health reasons. Plaintiffs wear masks to protect themselves from illness, the judge wrote. That is expressly excluded from the MTA's reach by its health and safety exception. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who signed the bill into law in August, said in a written statement that residents can be grateful that the court dismissed a lawsuit that would have made Nassau County less safe. An email seeking comment was sent to Disability Rights New York. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Taliban said Thursday it was absurd to accuse them of gender discrimination and other human rights violations, as four countries vow to hold Afghanistans rulers accountable under international law for their treatment of women and girls. Australia, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands are set to start legal proceedings against the Taliban for violating a U.N. convention on women, to which Afghanistan is a party. The countries launched the initiative on Wednesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, which is taking place in New York until Monday. Despite promising more moderate rule after they seized power in 2021, the Taliban have barred women and girls from education beyond sixth grade, many public spaces and most jobs. In August, the Vice and Virtue Ministry issued laws banning womens bare faces and prohibiting them from raising their voices in public. More than 20 countries expressed their support Thursday for the proposed legal action against the Taliban. We condemn the gross and systematic human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan, particularly the gender-based discrimination against women and girls," the countries said. Afghanistan is responsible under international law for its ongoing gross and systematic violation of numerous obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, they added. The countries said they did not politically recognize the Taliban as the legitimate leaders of the Afghan population. Afghanistans failure to fulfill its human rights treaty obligations is a key obstacle to normalization of relations, they said. The Talibans deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said human rights were protected in Afghanistan and that nobody faced discrimination. Unfortunately, an attempt is being made to spread propaganda against Afghanistan through the mouths of several fugitive (Afghan) women and misrepresent the situation, he said on social media platform X. It is absurd to accuse the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan of violating human rights and gender discrimination, he added. The Taliban reject all criticism of their policies, especially those affecting women and girls, describing it as interference. They maintain that their actions are in line with their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia. Fereshta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, urged other countries to register their support for the four countries legal action and for them to involve Afghan women as the process moved forward. The announcement by Germany, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands may mark the beginning of a path to justice for the Talibans egregious human rights violations against Afghan women and girls, said Abbasi. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man has been left in a life threatening condition after being stabbed at a London railway station, British Transport Police (BTP) have said. Police officers and paramedics rushed to Barnes Station in south west London after the attack unfolded at around 7.10am on Thursday. The first ambulance arrived at the scene in just one minute, according to London Ambulance Service. The station is currently closed and all trains have been cancelled. Commuters have been asked to use other means of transport. Disruption to train services serving the station is expected to last until at least midday, a spokesperson for South Western Railway said. The man has been rushed to hospital, where his injuries are said to be life-threatening and consistent with a stabbing, according to BTP. No arrests have been made so far. The spokesperson added: Enquiries into this incident are ongoing, and anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 89 of 26 September. Detective Superintendent Sam Blackburn said: There is absolutely no place for violence on the railway network and detectives are working at pace to investigate the incident. The station will remain closed while our initial enquiries are carried out, and the public will see increased high-visibility patrols in the area and across the network to provide reassurance. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: We were called at 7.07am this morning (Thursday 26 September) to reports of a stabbing in Station Road, Barnes. We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and Londons Air Ambulance. The first of our crews arrived in one minute. Our crews treated a man at the scene, before taking him to a London major trauma centre by road as a priority. A spokesperson from South Western Railway said on X: At this time, we estimate that disruption to our services will end at 12:00. We will let you know if this changes or when we have more information. A spokesperson for National Rail said: Trains are currently unable to call at Barnes in either direction due to the police dealing with an incident at the station. You may use your ticket on London Bus routes 33 and 337 in the Barnes area at no extra cost. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A mother-of-five has become the first person to die following a non-surgical liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure at a UK clinic. Alice Webb, 33, died at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning after falling unwell. Gloucestershire Police launched an investigation and two people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Both have since been released on police bail. Save Face, a national register of accredited practitioners who offer non-surgical cosmetic treatments, said its director Ashton Collins has been speaking with Ms Webbs family. The organisation was told that Ms Webb underwent a non-surgical liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL) before her death. Save Face also confirmed to The Independent that no one has previously died after having the cosmetic procedure in a UK clinic, although some have experienced life-threatening complications. It has been calling for the government to ban high-risk liquid BBL procedures since December, warning someone could lose their life unless urgent action was taken. Ms Collins said: It makes me incredibly sad and angry that Alices death could and should have been prevented. The procedure, which can legally be carried out by untrained individuals in the UK, involves injecting hyaluronic acid to change the shape of the buttocks or breasts ( Getty Images ) It comes as what is believed to be Ms Webbs final Facebook post was revealed. Alongside a photo of a pumpkin that appeared to have been given to her by a relative and then a later photo of the pumpkin carved and lit, she wrote: How cute. Dane Knight, who is thought to be Ms Webbs partner, wrote on Facebook: Want to say a heartfelt thank you to all family and friends that were here for us at our time of need, including all of the kind messages sent to my children and myself. There [were] some very beautiful messages sent by some of your children that formed a start of a smile from the corner of my kids mouth. He added: Please, please have these five girls feelings at heart here. Amy Seville, who says Ms Webb was her best friend, also wrote on Facebook: This past 24 hours has been a dream Ive so desperately wanted to wake up from. You were the best friend anyone could ever ask for. Im heartbroken that you had to grow your angel wings and become another guardian angel to watch over me, your family, the kids and Dane! I will forever love and miss you. Its not goodbye, just tada for now Amy ... Life will never be the same again. Ms Collins said: We launched a campaign in December 2023 calling upon the government to take urgent action to ban these procedures. We made it absolutely clear, that without urgent intervention someone would die. I am devasted by the news of Alices passing. Non-surgical BBLs are not illegal in the UK but Save Face said it has supported 500 women who have suffered life-threatening complications from the procedure, with more than 50 per cent of cases reported to the organisation contracting sepsis and 39 per cent needing corrective surgery. Ms Collins warned: Liquid BBL procedures are a crisis waiting to happen. They are advertised on social media as risk-free, cheaper alternatives to the surgical counterpart and that could not be further from the truth. All of the procedures reported to us were carried out by non-healthcare practitioners who are carrying out incredibly dangerous procedures in unsterile environments. I would advise anyone considering one of these treatments to avoid them at all costs. The risks significantly outweigh any associated benefits. The Independent recently reported hundreds of women have been rushed to hospital after getting botched bum lifts and breast enlargements from unregulated practitioners. The procedure, which can legally be carried out by untrained individuals in the UK, involves injecting hyaluronic acid to change the shape of the buttocks or breasts. Data shows that botched bum lifts have permanently disfigured women and required surgery to rectify the defective work. One woman told The Independent she was put in a coma for four days after a liquid bum job went wrong. She said the ordeal has left her with chest and arm pain. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Metropolitan Police has said it investigated 19 allegations against Mohamed al-Fayed, including rape and sexual assault, but none resulted in charges. Of the previous allegations, three were of rape, 15 were sexual assault, and one related to trafficking, with the offences claimed to have taken place between 1979 and 2013 against 19 separate women. The alleged crimes were reported to the Met between 2005 and 2023, during which time the force said it approached the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on five occasions. Two of these, in 2009 and 2015, were to pass full files of evidence, it said, while the remaining three approaches were for early investigative advice. The force said it has now received new allegations from people who have not previously contacted them about the former Harrods owner, although it is not confirming the number. It added that it will fully explore whether any other people could be pursued for criminal offences in connection with the Fayed accusations, which includes a review of all existing allegations. It comes as the current managing director of Harrods has apologised and said the business failed our colleagues following the sexual misconduct allegations against the stores former owner. Managing director of Harrods Michael Ward apologised and said we failed our colleagues ( PA Archive ) Michael Ward said in a statement that it is clear Fayed presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct. Mr Ward, who worked for Fayed for four years, said he was not aware of his criminality and abuse and described it as a shameful period in the business history. His statement comes as another alleged victim told the BBC she was summoned to the billionaire businessmans apartment where he became angry, the doors were locked and I couldnt get out. He raped me. Five women claim they were raped by Al Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94, with a number of others alleging sexual misconduct. Mr Ward said an independent review was underway into issues arising from the allegations and that he had provided all the information I have to ensure my own conduct can be reviewed alongside that of my colleagues. In his statement, Mr Ward said: As we have already stated, we failed our colleagues and for that we are deeply sorry. As someone who has worked at Harrods since 2006, and therefore worked for Fayed until the change of ownership in 2010, I feel it is important to make it clear that I was not aware of his criminality and abuse. While it is true that rumours of his behaviour circulated in the public domain, no charges or allegations were ever put to me by the police, the CPS, internal channels or others. Had they been, I would, of course, have acted immediately. The Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, central London, was owned by billionaire Fayed for 25 years ( PA Wire ) Mr Ward continued: Fayed, who owned Harrods from 19852010, operated this business as his own personal fiefdom. It is now clear that he presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct. The picture that is now emerging suggests that he did this wherever he operated. This was a shameful period in the business history, however, the Harrods of today is unrecognisable to Harrods under his ownership. As detailed new information has come to light over the past 18 months, the business has established a settlement process, designed in consultation with independent, external experts in personal injury litigation. We encourage former colleagues to contact us using this process so that we can provide the support, and recourse, they need. Sources within Harrods have said the business has accepted vicarious liability for the conduct of Al Fayed for the purpose of settling claims of alleged victims brought to its attention since 2023, reaching settlements with the vast majority. Mr Ward said he would in no way influence an independent review into the allegations. He said: Alongside this there is an independent review led by a non-executive committee of the board to further consider the issues arising from the allegations. I am not part of the committee conducting this review and will in no way influence its operation or recommendations. However, I have provided all the information I have to ensure my own conduct can be reviewed alongside that of my colleagues. I have also stepped back from my charity trustee positions while this review is taking place. The Met is urging any potential survivors to come forward. The force said lawyers representing those whose allegations have recently featured in media reports are among those officers are in touch with. Commander Stephen Clayman said: We recognise the significance of the allegations made against Mohamed Al Fayed and the impact this has had on those affected. It is vital that any victims have a voice and are able to report any allegations if they have not done so before, and know that they will be taken seriously. We have specialist teams to ensure all those victims who make contact with us are supported in the best way possible. I understand that for many years many people have sought answers in relation to this case. We will do everything possible to update on our progress when we can, but it is crucial we do this thoroughly and we do it right. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Five of the 37 prisoners who were revealed to have been incorrectly freed under the governments early release scheme are still not back in jail. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) admitted on Thursday that they and the police are still trying to return the five offenders to custody after they were wrongly released. It comes after the MoJ confirmed that 37 prisoners in jail for breaching restraining orders were mistakenly freed after their offences were logged under outdated legislation in a system error. The other 32 have since been taken back into custody. The department said that the prisoners were incorrectly charged and convicted under old legislation the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 when they should have been charged under the Sentencing Act 2020. This meant that their sentences were not identified as rendering them ineligible for the early release scheme, which they should have been. Around 1,750 inmates were released early from jails in England and Wales earlier this month ( Jeff Moore/PA Wire ) The MoJ said the prisoners will each serve the remainder of their custodial sentence, and guidance has been issued to staff to ensure that all future releases are correct. However, the department has offered little information on the five prisoners who have still not been locked up again, including progress on efforts to return them to jail, their crimes, and any indication as to their whereabouts. A MoJ spokesperson said: Public safety is our first priority. That is why we took decisive action to fix the broken prison system we inherited and keep the most dangerous offenders locked up. This included blocking the early release of domestic abuse offences such as stalking and controlling behaviour. We are working with the police to urgently return a very small number of offenders who were charged incorrectly and sentenced under repealed legislation to custody. The convictions remain valid with offenders monitored since their release and will soon be back behind bars." It added that victims have been informed. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduced the scheme to address prison overcrowding amid fears jails will run out of space ( PA Wire ) Around 1,750 inmates were released early from jails in England and Wales earlier this month in an effort to alleviate the overcrowding crisis that is overwhelming prisons. The policy saw the proportion of a sentence that some inmates must serve behind bars temporarily cut from 50 per cent to 40 per cent, amid government warnings that jails were being pushed to the point of collapse. The governments handling of the early release scheme has been fraught with problems. It emerged that hundreds of prisoners were freed without tags despite the devices being a condition of their release, and another prisoner was accused of sexually assaulting a woman on the same day he was freed. He has since been charged and recalled to prison ahead of a court date. Pictures emerged of an inmate being sprayed with champagne by their friends at the prison gates as they were released, while ministers faced accusations when the policy was launched that serious career criminals were among those walking free. Criminals serving prison sentences of less than four years for violent offences, including manslaughter, are among those eligible to be freed under the scheme. Despite government efforts to prevent domestic abusers from leaving prison early, the restrictions will not apply to all criminals with a history of domestic abuse, as the policy only excludes particular offences, such as stalking. Attackers convicted of other crimes, such as threats to kill or actual bodily harm, could still qualify for early release. Rioters involved in this summers unrest are also not specifically excluded from early release. They will only stay behind bars for longer if they are serving more than four years for a violent offence. Terrorists and sex offenders are excluded from the scheme, and will not be freed early. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Metropolitan Police officers have been accused of accessing files on Sarah Everard without a proper policing purpose just days after she was abducted. The 33-year-old was kidnapped, raped and murdered by then-serving firearms officer Wayne Couzens who used his warrant card to get her into his car as she walked home in March 2021. Five serving officers police constable Myles McHugh, police constable Clare Tett, detective constable Tyrone Ward, detective sergeant Robert Butters and sergeant Mark Harper will now face a hearing after an audit was carried out by the forces Directorate of Professional Standards. Wayne Couzens is serving a whole life sentence for the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 ( PA Media ) It is alleged each of the seven individuals accessed a police system relating to Ms Everards case between March 5 and 15 2021, some on multiple occasions, and that this was not undertaken in the course of their duties. The audit looked at who had accessed files relating to Ms Everards disappearance and the subsequent investigation, and whether those who had accessed the files did so with a proper policing purpose. They will answer allegations concerning breaches of confidentiality, orders and instructions, and discreditable conduct. Trainee detective constable Hannah Rebbeck and inspector Akinwale Ajose-Adeogun, who have resigned from their roles since the investigation, will also face the same hearing. Deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy apologised to the Everard family for any added distress ( PA Archive ) The Met said it would not be making any comment prior to or while proceedings were taking place, but added the allegations were serious enough to justify dismissal. Deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy said: First and foremost our thoughts remain with Sarah Everards family. We have kept them updated throughout the investigation and have apologised to them for the added distress this has caused. All Met officers and staff should have no doubt of the rules around accessing files and they know there must be a legitimate policing purpose to do so. As well as mandatory training on this issue, they are regularly reminded of our policies when logging into IT systems. It is right this was subject to an investigation. It will now be for the hearing panel to look at all of the evidence and decide whether conduct matters are proven for any of these individuals. All of the serving officers under investigation have been placed on restricted duties. Ms Everards family described her as a shining example ( PA Media ) Couzens pleaded guilty to Ms Everards rape and kidnap in June 2021 before admitting to her murder a month later while locked up at Belmarsh high-security jail. He is currently serving a whole-life sentence. The horrifying crime shocked the nation and led to a widespread outpouring of grief, thrusting issues of police corruption and violence against women and girls into the spotlight. After Ms Everards body was identified, her family issued a statement, describing her as a shining example. They said: Sarah was bright and beautiful a wonderful daughter and sister. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. The statement added: She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour. She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all. We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives. Police chiefs called Ms Everards death one the darkest days in police history as a shocking report uncovered the scale of failures in recruiting the monster, and eight missed chances to stop him in his tracks. The hearing will take place from October 28 to November 15 at Palestra House in central London. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An 18-year-old man has been charged with murder after a 15-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death with an alleged zombie knife in south east London. Jacob Losiewicz, of Church Manor Way, Abbey Wood, will appear at Bromley Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with the murder of Daejaun Campbell. Daejaun died from stab injuries after being attacked on Eglinton Road, Woolwich on Sunday. Neighbours described hearing the teenager cry out Im 15, dont let me die as a local woman tried to save his life. A ban on owning zombie-style knives and machetes came into force on Tuesday, just two days after the stabbing. A second man, aged in his 50s, who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released without charge, the Metropolitan Police said. Daejauns family are being supported by specially trained officers, the force added. The ban on zombie-style knives is part of efforts to reduce knife crime, with campaigners including actor Idris Elba pushing for the large blades to be outlawed. The new legislation closes a loophole to an initial ban on the knives first imposed in 2016, which meant the weapon could be kept and sold if it did not have images depicting violence. On Monday, a white forensic tent and police cordon were put in place at the scene in Eglinton Road, while officers searched the area and spoke to neighbours. Police officers work at the scene in Woolwich where a boy was fatally stabbed on Sunday ( The Independent ) Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, who is in charge of policing for the South East Basic Command Unit, said: Local officers will remain in the area whilst we continue with our investigation. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions, they are there to support you and the community. I want to appeal again for anyone who knows anything about the death of young Daejaun to come forward. Did you see anything suspicious around the Eglinton Road area? Did you see anyone running away from the area? Do you have any footage? If you do, then please contact police; you can upload any footage via a link or you can also remain anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8721 4005 quoting Operation Baghaze. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Welsh art gallery has been visited by police following allegations that pornographic material was being displayed in its window and now the controversial artwork has been sold. Featuring a woman wearing nothing but cowboy boots with her legs open and a black triangle preserving her modesty, the work at The Table Hay was said by police to constitute a potential public order offence. A representative for Dyfed Powys Police told The Independent: We can confirm we have received a report in relation to this, and officers have attended the gallery. But despite the police visit, the art, which was part of an exhibition running from September 16 to 22, was kept on display by gallery curator Val Harris and artist Poppy Baynham, 22. They subsequently took action to open up a conversation based on the work, adding a sign in front of the painting that said the gallery is willing to have dialogue on the issue. Passersby were also invited to share their thoughts in a book about the art, which is called: This is not p***ography. Following the controversy, Ms Baynham said she believes that the painting was doing exactly what she intended it to, but admits that she had no idea the exhibition of her work, which features several similar pieces, would be so controversial. Ms Banyham told The Independent: In the first minute of [the exhibitions] opening, we had a woman saying we need to take it down because of the children. I was confused but also didnt know how to react. The negative comments kept coming and we kept refusing, as I thought nothing was wrong with it. [But] we had made a book for people to comment in about the painting and 90% of it was positive. The painting has received largely positive feedback in a book inviting a conversation. Pictured here with its creator, Poppy Baynham. ( Billy Charity / Supplied ) The first complaints were received within hours of the paintings display at the gallery which is curated by Val Harris, pictured. ( Supplied ) Ms Baynham described the controversy as an important opportunity to have her work seen and open up a conversation about attitudes towards female genitalia, in particular. Thats all an artist ever dreams of their name getting out there and being heard and their work being seen, she said, as reported by the BBC. Following news of the controversy spreading, several people have publicly defended the painting. Jessie Dixon said: I thought of it as exciting and playful and I never thought of it as a sexual object or anything like that. Dawn Lewis similarly added: Its not my cup of tea, but I cant see it being offensive personally, its art. Ms Baynham told The Independent: that the piece has now sold to a local person who said they would put it in their window. Ms Harris, the gallerys curator, however, added that the piece would have likely sold anyway as its buyer is a fan of Ms Bayhams work who purchased an additional two pieces. Two-thirds of her exhibition sold which is excellent in these uncertain times, she said. The controversial artwork featured a felt triangle in place of the female figures genitalia. ( Val Harris / Supplied ) The artist and gallery wrote in a joint statement on Instagram: In my opinion, all the women that have something bad to say about the painting arent grossed out so much as insecure. And its sad to see so many women upset by something we all have. Most straight women havent seen a vulva, so I see why they might be scared of it. And its proving to me that there must be a lot of straight people here in Hay. I think also penises can be seen as comical, while vulvas are only sexual. The reason why I paint the female body and not the male body is because I want the world to normalise these nonsexual body parts that 50% of the world has. This is also the reason why I dont want to take it down. If I took it down the whole reason why I do art would be thrown back in my face. When I started painting it I didnt have one thought in my head thinking this would even get commented on. Half the art out there is nudity. So why should I remove it? Why is it inappropriate? Is it because its not a ladylike pose? Who made these rules about ladylike poses? Men? The world needs to get away from these normative rules and normalise vaginas. Ms Harris added: The exhibition has finished now so Im sure the police wont take it any further. The gallery is now looking forward to its inaugural Open Submission Slay Hay Life Drawing Exhibition at the end of October. Contributors are invited to submit up to six pieces each. A representative for Dyfed Dyfed Powys Police confirmed to The Independent that they would be taking no police action at this time. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A senior medic has broken down in tears as he described scenes from hell on intensive care wards during the Covid pandemic, with staff running out of body bags and sick patients raining from the sky. Professor Kevin Fong former national clinical adviser in emergency preparedness, resilience and response at NHS England told the Covid inquiry he was on the scene of the Soho bombing in 1999 and worked in A&E during the July 7 London bombings but nothing that I saw was as bad as Covid was every single day for the hospitals most badly hit during the pandemic. Speaking to the inquiry in central London, he said: The scale of death experienced by the intensive care teams during Covid was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Theyre no strangers to death they are the intensive care unit. They look after some of the sickest patients in the hospital, but the scale of death was truly, truly astounding. I worked on a shift where we had six deaths in a single shift. Another hospital told us that they had 10 deaths on a shift, two of whom were their own staff. We had nurses talking about patients raining from the sky, where one of the nurses told me they just got tired of putting people in body bags. (One hospital) said that sometimes they were so overwhelmed that they were putting patients in body bags, lifting them from the bed, putting them on the floor, and putting another patient in that bed straight away because there wasnt time. We went to another hospital where things got so bad, they were so short of resource, that they ran out of body bags, and they were instead issued with 9ft clear plastic sacks and cable ties. And those nurses talk about being really traumatised by that, because they had recurring nightmares about feeling like they were just throwing bodies away. These people are used to seeing death, but not on that scale, and not like that It really was like nothing else I have ever seen. Professor Sir Chris Whitty was questioned by the inquiry on Thursday ( PA Archive ) In one hospital, nurses took to wearing adult nappies because they were so stretched they could not take toilet breaks. Others went to Screw Fix to buy visors for their own protective equipment. Prof Fong also told the inquiry he undertook an informal visit to one of the hardest hit intensive care units in the country. It was very memorable, I was greeted at the entrance by one of the intensive care registrars, he said. I asked him immediately what things have been like. Ill never forget his reply, he said: Its been like a terrorist attack every day since it started, and we dont know when the attacks are going to stop. The senior medic described gruesome scenes in hospital during the pandemic ( PA Media ) Prof Fong said the experience for NHS staff on the front line in intensive care was indescribable and there were units where 70% of patients died. During one visit in late December 2020, Prof Fong said he was at a hospital with a medium-sized unit. Ill never forget it, he said. It was a scene from hell. This was a hospital in massive, massive trouble. We went to an intensive care unit There were so few staff that some of the nurses had chosen to either use the patient commodes in the side rooms, and some of the nurses had chosen to wear adult diapers because there was literally no one to give them a toilet break and take over their nursing duties. The intensive care unit was full. Their overflow areas were full, their non-invasive ventilation unit, their respiratory unit was full. This was a hospital bursting at the seams. I then toured the hospital with the intensive care staff a doctor who then looked after the unit and the rest of the hospital. Ill never forget being in the stairwell with him, and hes out of breath on the stairs because he has himself had Covid in the first wave and now is suffering the consequences of long Covid, but hes still there. The referrals were coming up all the time, (but there were) no places to put patients in the intensive care unit Prof Fong told how one patient died in an ambulance because they could not get into the hospital, while other patients could not be intubated as there was no room or staff and ICU was full. Its genuinely the closest Ive ever seen a hospital to a state of collapse in my entire career, he said. Earlier, Prof Fong told the inquiry that, in one unit, patients were close enough to hold hands when each bed in an intensive care unit should each be given a space the size of a very large living room. The anaesthetist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who was seconded to NHS England in March 2020, told the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry that a colleague at a district general hospital contacted him in the early days of the crisis to tell him they were overflowing with patients. He was told that the hospital was running out of staff and running out of basic consumable items including drugs and equipment. On another occasion, an intensive care consultant told him about the difficult experiences his unit experienced in the first wave including wearing gowns over underwear because of a lack of scrubs, and sleeping in cars. He talked about having to sleep in the boot of his Ford Galaxy when he was on duty for three months at the start of the pandemic, Prof Fong said. They talked about running out of PPE. They talked about going to Screwfix to get visors. They talked about running out of theatre scrubs and having to go to the local private hospitals and beg them for their supply. And when they ran out of that, they talked about having to have one shift where they had no theatre scrubs and they went around in their underwear and gowns for the shift. Prof Fong added: I went into another unit of similar size, where they talked about how on the television, what you saw was these big units who complained about being short of equipment, but were usually wearing PPE, and how they said that they were watching those programmes, and they were standing in their own units wearing cagoules and waterproof trousers that the chief exec had bought from an outdoor shop. And they were, they were angry, actually, that is all that people knew was, was this sight of well-resourced hospitals, when the truth in the smaller hospitals was just that. Several people in the public seating area at the inquiry wiped away tears during Prof Fongs testimony. Prof Fong added: Its easy for us to think that we knew whats going on this isnt just a problem with the NHS, any large organisation suffers this problem, of what you can measure most easily thats seen at the top, between what is actually happening at the front line. And I think that it was easy to convince ourselves that we knew what was happening. He broke down as he added: But you dont know unless youre the people going into that shop floor. You dont know if youre the not the people who are putting on PPE before we got vaccinations available, wondering if its buttoned up OK. You dont know unless (you are) the people are trying to find bodybags and putting people in plastic sacks. You dont know, if you are not the people who held onto iPads while relatives were screaming down the phone. You dont know if you havent sat in transfer vehicles next to a patient whos dying of Covid, wondering if your PPE is buttoned up well enough that you might not do the same. It is impossible to know. Although this is not hard numerical data, the information is important. There is more to know than just what you can count. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The ongoing public hearing into the Titan submersible disaster has revealed that part of the experimental vessel fell off before it imploded last June. Better known as the Titanic tourist sub, the Oceangate submersible had a controversial design that raised concerns inside and outside of the company before it led to the deaths of five men. Former Oceangate operations director David Lochridge revealed last week that he was actually fired for raising his concerns. It is believed that the vessels carbon fibre hull considered by experts to be unsuitable for use at depth was weakened on repeat dives to the Titanic wreck, which lies at around 12,500 feet below the North Atlantic Ocean, as testified by National Transportation Safety Board engineer Don Kramer on Wednesday. Now, the US Coast Guard, which is investigating the sinking, has released a picture showing that the dome part of the vessel, which was used to view the doomed Titanic, fell off when it returned to the surface after a dive in 2021. The inquest heard in an earlier session how the bolts around the dome shot off like bullets when the Titan hit the deck of its mother vessel. One of the Titans commercial passengers, Fred Hagen, testified: The force of the platform hitting the deck it basically sheared off several bolts and they shot off like bullets. And the titanium dome fell off. This was one of over 100 technical failings that the submersible was said to have suffered, including its earlier prototype being hit by lightning, before last Junes catastrophic implosion. It claimed the lives of Oceangate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, otherwise known as Mr Titanic, as well as commercial $250,000-a-head customers British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood, 48; and his son Suleman Dawood, 19. The Titans cone fell off as it returned from a dive in 2021, the public inquest heard. ( U.S. Coast Guard ) A mission specialist from the 2021 mission where the dome fell off, Renata Rojas, claimed in a hearing on 19 September that the Titan was working very smoothly before its dive. She recalled: There was only, I think, two bolts or four bolts on the dome. It started dripping, falling off. In response to the malfunction, 18 bolts were added to the dome to ensure it stayed in place, and Ms Rojas insisted that she never felt unsafe when she dived in the Titan. This was never sold as a Disney ride, she said. It was an expedition that things happen and you have to adapt to change. Other controversial elements of the Titan operation included the fact that the sub was reportedly controlled by a PlayStation controller and had its movements tracked on an Excel spreadsheet, according to previous witnesses at the hearing. Stocktons vision was give somebody this PlayStation controller and within an hour theyre going to be a pilot its not the way it works, Mr Lochridge said as part of his testimony. Antonella Wilby, a former OceanGate contractor, told the hearing last week: There were delays because there was this manual process of first writing down the lat-long coordinates and then typing them in. The Titan lost contact around an hour and 14 minutes into its dive to the Titanic wreck last June. What followed was an international search and rescue mission before its debris was discovered on the ocean floor. Footage from a remotely operated vehicle showed what the Titans debris looked like on the ocean floor. ( USCG/Reuters ) A spokesperson for Oceangate told The Independent: OceanGate expresses our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died in the tragic implosion of the Titan. There are no words to ease the loss endured by the families impacted by this devastating incident, but we hope that this hearing will help shed light on the cause of the tragedy. OceanGate, which is no longer an operating company, having ceased all business activity shortly after the tragedy, and which has no full-time employees, is a party in interest in the Coast Guard proceeding. The Company has been fully cooperating with the Coast Guard and NTSB investigations since they began, including at the ongoing public hearing convened by the Coast Guard. OceanGate is represented at the hearing by Jane Shvets and Adrianna Finger of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. The public hearing is set to come to a close on Friday. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer is still open to agreeing a deal on youth mobility with the EU but does not want to give away his negotiating hand too early as he prepares to head to Brussels next week. The Independent understands that the Labour government has a three pillar blueprint to reset the relationship with the EU in painstaking talks. The main talks will be headed by European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who is based in the Cabinet Office and has been handed some of the most complex and sensitive tasks in the Starmer government. The youth mobility scheme has become a symbolic issue for those who claim that Sir Keir is not being ambitious enough with his EU relationship reset. Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen talk at the UN ( Reuters ) While the prime minister has told The Independent that he is very serious about the reset, pro-EU activists in groups like the European Movement and sources in Brussels have questioned whether the government wants to achieve much change. With Sir Keir and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen tweeting their meeting at the United Nations this week and agreeing to meet in Brussels next week the talks seem set to properly start. The revelations come as Pedro Serrano, the EU ambassador, told Times Radio that he believes a youth mobility scheme will be agreed suggesting that it could cover areas like gap years for under-30s. There have been discussions that the scheme would cover all under-30s and allow for ease in getting jobs in the UK or EU but Mr Serrano appears to be suggesting a more limited deal. He said: This is about ensuring that our youth continues to get together to know each other. And if we have a mechanism that allows young British citizens to go for a gap year, for example, to any of 27 states within the European Union to do a bit of learning and get pay while theyre there, why not? It is understood that Mr Thomas-Symonds has made it clear that he wants to take a careful approach in a new positive atmosphere created by the change of government. He is understood to believe that the briefings from Brussels are coming from people who were involved in the talks after 2016 and still have the [negative] attitude of those years in their minds. Nick Thomas-Symonds will be heading the talks ( PA ) A source said: We are getting a much more positive response now, not least because we spoke a lot in the aftermath of the referendum and they know we have a much more positive attitude towards the EU than the last [Tory] government. But there is an acknowledgement that the talks will be incredibly difficult. The senior source noted: They [the EU] are very good at negotiations. They are very tough. This is why Sir Keir and his government have not been in a rush to agree to a Youth Mobility Scheme even though there is widespread support for it in Brussels and European capitals, particularly Berlin, If you agree to something like youth mobility and make it clear you want it then the cost of getting it goes up, the source added. We need to agree what youth mobility means as well. It needs to be beyond mobility for students with schemes like Erasmus+. At some point you have to say well we want this and we will agree to this but there is no point doing that too soon before you have got other concessions. Mr Thomas-Symonds is understood to believe the success of the talks will depend on whether a new pragmatic atmosphere prevails in the EU. The sense is that there are a lot of pragmatic things we could agree on which would be good for us both, but of course there are single market purists arguing about the integrity of the European Single Market, the source said. John Healey is in talks with Germany on a defence deal ( AFP/Getty ) The European affairs minister has spoken of a three pillar strategy for the rest - defence and security; safety including immigration and tackling crime; and finally trade. The defence strategy is based on reviving the Lancaster House defence pact with France, creating a new deal with Germany and using this as the basis of a EU/ UK security pact in conjunction with Nato. Defence secretary John Healey is understood to be preparing a major announcement for a substantial agreement with Germany before the end of October. Sources close to him have said: We will always base our defence policy on Nato but whoever wins the election in the US this year (Donald Trump or Kamala Harris) we know that their focus will be increasingly going towards the Pacific and China. That means Europe will have to do more of the heavy lifting, invest more in defence and work more closely together. The source close to Mr Thomas Symonds noted: We [the UK] are in a good place with defence and security because we have a lot to offer and the EU knows it. The safety issue will look at shared data and working together on tackling crime including organised criminal gangs particularly those involved in human trafficking and irregular immigration leading to the small boats on the Channel. A lot of this is very obvious and we all have a shared interest in making this work better. Complications may emerge over extradition agreements and border controls where UK citizens are going to have too soon fill in paperwork to travel into the EU. But the toughest area for the government is trade which is third on the list. Already there are concerns about the impact of BTOM, the digital border checks, where both the UK and EU have postponed the implementation for fresh goods such as fruit and vegetables because of the length of time checks will take. Sir Keir has indicated he is prepared to look at dynamic alignment of regulations with the EU. But there is an acknowledgement that with a market of 500 million people it is hard to get changes out of the bloc. However, Mr Thomas Symonds is said to believe that the EU is not happy with the agreement they made with Lord Frost and Boris Johnson and accept it is not working well. So if there is a pragmatic attitude then progress can be made. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The minister in charge of social media and digital technology has not communicated directly with X/Twitter owner Elon Musk, after the platform was linked to the summer riots. Sources close to Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science innovation and technology, have said that the two men have not spoken and there has been no attempt yet to reach out to the worlds richest man. Sources close to Mr Kyle have explained that he is connected to Mr Musk through a degree of separation in that they have a number of mutual connections and when the billionaire social media platform owner posts people will often contact the minister. But after the billionaire went on a social media blitz of toxic posts against the government around the time of the far-right riots, the two men have yet to meet or talk directly. This is despite social media, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, space travel and the internet all being major items in the ministers huge portfolio and fields led by Mr Musk. The revelation comes after news that Mr Musk has been snubbed for chancellor Rachel Reeves investment summit in London even though she has invited controversial Gulf nations including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to the event despite concerns over their human rights records. Ms Reeves is understood to be keen to rebuild relations with the UAE after anger there that the previous government blocked a deal to buy The Daily Telegraph. It is understood it left the UAE feeling humiliated and unsure they could trust the UK as an investment destination. But the biggest surprise omission from the investment summit is Mr Musk, who is also behind investments in space travel and Tesla electric cars. Mr Musk was the guest of honour when former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak hosted the worlds first summit on artificial intelligence last year, but Musk has been a severe critic of the Keir Starmer government. The billionaire spent much of the summer attacking Sir Keirs actions in swiftly ending the far-right riots and meting out justice to those involved. Peter Kyle is the new secretary of state for science, innovation and technology ( Sky News ) The X owner used his platform to attack the prime minister as two-tier Keir, a reference to a conspiracy theory about policing, and claimed the UK is clamping down on free speech. During the riots, Mr Kyle was on the emergency Cobra committee in his role of being in charge of policing social media and the digital realm. Mr Musk has responded to his snub from the investment summit with another attack on the UK: I dont think anyone should go to the UK when theyre releasing paedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts. Nevertheless, former Tory business secretary Kemi Badenoch has revealed she is a huge fan of Mr Musk. In an interview with The Spectator, the Conservative leadership hopeful said: I think Elon Musk has been a fantastic thing for freedom of speech. I will hold my hand up and say, Im a huge fan of Elon Musk. I look at Twitter before he took over and after: there is a lot more free speech. Yes, there are many, many more things that I see on X, as he calls it, that I dont like. But I also know that views are not suppressed the way that they were, that there was a cultural establishment that was very left that controlled quite a lot of discourse on that platform. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer recorded a Covid-era broadcast urging the public to work from home from a Labour donors 18 million penthouse. The Christmas message, broadcast in December 2021, was reportedly filmed at a flat belonging to Lord Waheed Alli - a donor who has handed hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Labour Party over the last two decades. It came five days after the previous Conservative government presided over new guidance to limit the spread of a new Covid-19 variant, including recommendations to work from home when possible. Sir Keir Starmer recorded a Covid-era broadcast from what appears to be a Labour donors 18 million penthouse ( BBC ) The footage was identified as having been recorded from Lord Allis flat by the Guido Fawkes website, as the designer shelves had previously appeared in a video from inside the penthouse. In his Christmas broadcast, Christmas cards and a picture of Sir Keir and his family can be seen on the shelves behind him. On Wednesday, it emerged he used the flat during his sons GCSE exam revision, telling the BBC: I promised him we would move somewhere, get out of the house and go somewhere where he could be peacefully studying. Somebody then offered me accommodation where we could do that. The Christmas broadcast aired on BBC One at 7pm on December 13 2021, the same day new Covid guidance urging people to work from home came into force. But Labour sources have insisted that all guidance was followed completely and no rules were broken. This is not the first time the prime minister has faced serious questions over potential lockdown rule breaches. He and party campaigners were cleared by Durham police of the so-called beergate party in April 2021 when the Labour leader was forced to admit more people were present than originally claimed as well as having to admit Angela Rayner was present after initially denying it. The Covid broadcast saw the Labour leader urge the public to resist the temptation to break from the guidance over the Christmas period and work from home where possible. He said: Lets pull together now and do the right thing once more. At times like this, we must all put the national interest first and play by the rules. Of course, I understand that sticking to the rules can be inconvenient, but stick to the rules we must. The latest revelations come amid a growing row over donations accepted by senior Labour figures, with the prime minister repeatedly having to defend his partys acceptance of hospitality and gifts. On Wednesday evening, Labour MP Zarah Sultana took aim at her own party over the donations row, saying: Google provided 10,000 of hospitality to senior Labour figures & the party ditched plans to raise the Digital Services Tax. Quadrature, a Cayman Islands hedge-fund which invests in fossil fuels, donated 4m & its climate advisory board co-chair is now Climate Envoy. It stinks. The Digital Services Tax, introduced in 2020, is a two per cent levy on the UK income of online companies. In August last year, shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds and the then shadow chancellor colleague Rachel Reeves had called for an increase in the tax to ten per cent, saying the income would be used to fund a slash in tax for small businesses but later abandoned the plan after accepting thousands of pounds worth of hospitality. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn ally Diane Abbott suggested Labour policies were for sale, posting on X: Streeting claims people giving big money to political parties are the same as people who donate to animal charities. Nonsense. People give money to political parties to buy politicians. The Labour Party has been contacted for comment. The prime minister addresses the UN General Assembly at a time when wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan (among many such tragedies) have pushed the organisation to its limits, and have left international diplomacy seeming virtually irrelevant. For his part, Keir Starmer will seek to emphasise why the global nature of the problems every country faces demands an international approach and international action. After the chaos and confusion of recent years, Starmer is also keen to project a new image of a stable Britain committed to playing its part in the world, just as Winston Churchill, a driving force in the foundation of the UN almost 80 years ago, wished it to be. Whats Starmers message? Both the prime minister and the foreign secretary, David Lammy, have already made powerful contributions at the UN Security Council, on which the UK sits as a permanent member. In terms of immediate priorities, Starmer made a plea for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, because the region is on the brink. (He has already called for a similar cessation of hostilities in Gaza.) Lammy made an especially personal and powerful appeal for Russia to end its war of aggression in Ukraine an example of the type of conflict that the creation of the UN was supposed to end: I say to the Russian representative, on his phone as I speak, that I stand here also as a Black man, whose ancestors were taken in chains from Africa, at the barrel of a gun, to be enslaved. Is this a new beginning for British diplomacy? Yes, in the sense that its a clear break from the Conservatives, whose divisions and confusions and above all, Brexit diminished the UKs voice in the world. Rishi Sunak did try to repair some of the damage wreaked on the UKs reputation by Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, but his complacency about the climate crisis and the concept of inviolable universal human rights were also marks of some shame for his administration. Aside from reiterating policy on Ukraine and the Middle East, Starmer is keen to show that the UK is returning to responsible global leadership, as it is in British interests to address problems around the world: War, poverty and climate change all rebound on us at home. They make us less secure, they harm our economy, and they create migration flows on an unprecedented scale. What was the low point? Undoubtedly the address delivered by Johnson on behalf of the United Kingdom to the General Assembly in 2021, when the then prime minister quoted Kermit the Frog and Sophocles to the bemused delegates of countries from Antigua to Zimbabwe: When Kermit the Frog sang Its Not Easy Being Green, I want you to know he was wrong and he was also unnecessarily rude to Miss Piggy. We have the technology; we have the choice before us. A serious point, and he did win some publicity for it, but also some derision. How about a highlight? As the first British prime minister to hold a science degree, Margaret Thatcher spoke with enhanced authority on the issue of global warming and climate change, and helped bring some attention to the issue in her address to the General Assembly in 1989. Her influence helped establish the first Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. Her words were prescient: While the conventional, political dangers the threat of global annihilation, the fact of regional war appear to be receding, we have all recently become aware of another insidious danger. It is as menacing in its way as those more accustomed perils with which international diplomacy has concerned itself for centuries. It is the prospect of irretrievable damage to the atmosphere, to the oceans, to Earth itself, she said. What we are now doing to the world, by degrading the land surfaces, by polluting the waters, and by adding greenhouse gases to the air at an unprecedented rate all this is new in the experience of the Earth. It is mankind and his activities which are changing the environment of our planet in damaging and dangerous ways. Prior to that, the most memorable British moment came in 1960. The British Conservative prime minister, Harold Macmillan, at the height of his power, was making a somewhat self-satisfied speech about decolonisation when Nikita Khrushchev, the excitable Soviet leader, began banging on the desk with his shoe. Macmillan paused, and asked quietly: Mr President, perhaps we could have a translation? I could not quite follow. No doubt Starmer wont be subjected to that sort of interruption; its not the Labour conference, after all. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ministers are looking at plans for Texas-style reforms that would allow prisoners to reduce their jail sentences by earning points. Inmates in Texas can cut down the amount of time spent behind bars by earning credit for good behaviour, as well as earning points for taking part in courses aimed at tackling the root causes of offending. The courses include vocational workshops, education and training, as well as sessions on drug rehabilitation and behavioural change. Shabana Mahmood said she would be setting out the Governments long-term plan for the justice system before the end of the year (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire ) Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood is said to be planning a visit to Texas later this year as part of an attempt to mirror their approach to reducing high prison populations, as well as cutting down the rate of reoffending. The Independent understands that it is not yet confirmed policy but Ms Mahmood, alongside prisons minister Lord Timpson, are interested in how the schemes could be implemented in Britain. The prison population hit a record high of 88,521 in September before emergency measures to release inmates 40 per cent of the way through their sentences came into effect. But this week it emerged that 37 offenders who were prosecuted using an old harassment law were released in error as part of the early release scheme. The mistake, first reported by the Mirror, resulted from the inmates not being flagged as exempt from the temporary early release scheme. Five prisoners have not yet been returned to jail but the remainder have been brought back into custody. The UKs prisons are facing an overcrowding crisis ( PA Archive ) Offenders who had committed crimes linked with stalking, controlling or coercive behaviours in an intimate or family relationship, non-fatal strangulation and suffocation, and breach of restraining order were exempt from the scheme. But a technical glitch meant that offenders prosecuted using the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 which was replaced by the Sentencing Act in 2020 - were not labelled as being ineligible for early release. Guidance has now been issued to staff to prevent further incorrect releases. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: Public safety is our first priority. That is why we took decisive action to fix the broken prison system we inherited and keep the most dangerous offenders locked up. This included blocking the early release of domestic abuse offences such as stalking and controlling behaviour. We are working with the police to urgently return a very small number of offenders who were charged incorrectly and sentenced under repealed legislation to custody. The convictions remain valid with offenders monitored since their release and will soon be back behind bars. Sir Keir Starmers spokesman added: Were working with the police urgently to return the people that you refer to who were sentenced using outdated legislation. Theyve all been monitored since their release so they will be brought back into prison. China will work with Russia to enrich bilateral ties: Chinese FM Xinhua) 13:31, September 26, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that China will always stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations with Russia and continuously enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era for the greater well-being of people of both countries. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The two sides should continue to hold high the banner of multilateralism and promote a more just and rational global governance system with the United Nations at its core, Wang said. China will fully support Russia in playing the role as the BRICS chair and ensure the success of the Kazan summit to open a new chapter in the greater BRICS cooperation, he added. For his part, Lavrov said that Russia is willing to work with China to push for greater development of bilateral relations. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Close Sue Gray quits: Defence secretary says Labour cabinet is most unified hes ever served in Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer has warned that a two-state solution is the only viable long-term route through the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as he said Britains thoughts are with the Jewish people on the anniversary of the 7 October attacks. In a speech to the House of Commons, the prime minister called for an end to the living nightmare Palestinians are enduring, and vowed to use the power of diplomacy to try to minimise suffering on the ground, as he urged Israel to renew efforts for a ceasefire and called for more relief for civilians. He took aim at Iran, saying the launching of 200 ballistic missiles at Israel last week exposes, once again, Irans malign role in the region. His speech comes as David Lammy sought to reassure MPs the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar are not up for negotiation amid backlash over his decision to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius. The Foreign Secretary told the Commons: I want to reassure the House and all members of the UK family worldwide that this agreement does not signal any change in policy to Britains other overseas territories. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tom Tugendhat has been criticised for his deeply distasteful remarks, after he said that taking part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was the naughtiest thing hes ever done. When he was asked the question as part of an interview with The Spectator alongside his fellow leadership contenders, Mr Tugendhat said: I invaded a country once which was a few years ago, 2003; I was part of the invading army in Iraq. Tugendhat served in both Iraq and Afghanistan ( Supplied ) Evie Aspinall, the director of the British Foreign Policy Group, accused the Tory leadership candidate of making light of conflict. She said: This response makes me deeply uncomfortable. Describing invading a country as naughty is deeply distasteful and makes light of conflict at a time of major global instability. Mr Tugendhat, who also served in Afghanistan, survived being shot twice in a friendly fire incident while serving in Iraq. His comments come as Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire across the Lebanese border, while the UK has sent around 700 troops to Cyprus in case an emergency evacuation is required. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer warned on Wednesday that the Middle East is on the brink of all-out war, before travelling to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mr Tugendhat gave the same answer to The Spectator during the 2022 leadership race. The question was popularised in 2017 when the then prime minister Theresa May confessed in an interview on ITVs Tonight programme that the naughtiest thing she had ever done was running through fields of wheat as a child. Asked the same question as Mr Tugendhat, fellow leadership contender James Cleverly said: Its all on a [BBC] interview I did with John Pienaar in 2015, referring to an interview in which he admitted to having smoked cannabis at university and watched online pornography. Robert Jenrick said he was actually quite naughty as a child and teenager, adding: A lot of the things I did probably should not enter the public domain. Ill give you one, which, Im afraid, is by no means the naughtiest thing I did. After a few too many drinks, as a teenager, I did accept a bet to climb the Christmas tree in Wolverhamptons city centre. That did not end well. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch said: I dont care to say. It definitely is not running through fields of wheat, but Im not going to tell you the naughtiest thing Ive ever done. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Supporters of former Tory chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi claim the Tories have lied over the requirement for an investigation which has forced her to quit the party. The furious row has exploded just as the party is preparing to gather for a crucial conference on its future in Birmingham where the four hopefuls to replace Rishi Sunak will make their cases to members. The Muslim peer was brought in as chair by David Cameron in 2010 to help detoxify the partys brand and bring it into the 21st century. But since leaving government in 2014 Warsi has had a difficult relationship with the Tory leadership consistently calling out racism and islamophobia in the Conservative Party. She has angered many recently as a passionate advocate for the suffering of Palestinians with Rishi Sunak as prime minister and the potential leadership candidates to replace him all supporting Israel instead of condemning the killing of 41,000 people in Gaza. Baroness Warsi was brought in as chair by David Cameron in 2010 ( PA Archive ) In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Baroness Warsi said: It is with a heavy heart that I have today informed my whip and decided for now to no longer take the Conservative whip. This is a sad day for me. I am a Conservative and remain so but sadly the current Party are far removed from the Party I joined and served in Cabinet. My decision is a reflection of how far right my Party has moved and the hypocrisy and double standards in its treatment of different communities. A timely reminder of the issues that I raise in my book Muslims Dont Matter. The row seems to revolve around her agreeing that referring to ethnic minority Conservatives like Rishi Sunak as coconuts - a slur which means of colour on the outside and white on the inside - was an acceptable criticism. Wars pointed out that a trial against the person who had held up the banner, which many deemed racist, had ended in a not guilty verdict. Baroness Warsi said: I will not be gagged on a point of principle. And I am not prepared to play games behind closed doors. If Rishi Sunaks party wants to retry and replay the coconut trial despite the acquittal of Marieha Hussain , the clear legal findings and the overwhelming expert witness testimonies then I wish to do so publicly and transparently. It would be unfair to do this whilst continuing to take the Conservatives whip. I realise I have the privilege of platform and I have decided to exercise that privilege by speaking truth to power. The Tories have insisted that they had no choice but to investigate a complaint into her. But this has been disputed by the Muslim Council of Britain who pointed out that their previous complaints were ignored. A Tory spokesperson said: Complaints were received regarding divisive language allegedly used by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. Baroness Warsi was informed an investigation was about to begin earlier this week. We have a responsibility to ensure that all complaints are investigated without prejudice. However, Miqdaad Versi, media spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain disputed this claim. Attaching a copy of a previous complaint about senior Tories, he tweeted: This is a lie by the Conservatives . They claim all complaints are investigated but the Muslim Council submitted this complaint in February about Suella Braverman, Lee Anderson, [GB News owner] Paul Marshall, Nick Timothy and Liz Truss . No investigation occurred and no reply given. Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Windrush scandal had its origins in laws that were specifically designed to strip Black and Asian people of their rights to live in the UK, according to a new report. The Conservative government refused to publish the report in 2022 but, following a decision by a tribunal judge last year, the Labour administration today published it in full. The report, The Historical Roots Of The Windrush Scandal, concludes that the scandal was the culmination of three decades of racist immigration laws designed to reduce the UKs non-white population and disenfranchise Black people. It highlights that the deep-rooted racism of the Windrush scandal is a result of government policies designed to reduce the proportion of people living in the United Kingdom who did not have white skin specifically major immigration legislation in 1962, 1968 and 1971. Every single piece of immigration or citizenship legislation was designed at least in part to reduce the number of people with Black or brown skin who were permitted to live and work in the UK, the report reads. It adds: The Windrush Scandal was caused by a failure to recognise that changes in immigration and citizenship law in Britain since 1948 had affected Black people in the UK differently than they had other racial and ethnic groups. The Windrush scandal erupted in 2018 when British citizens, mostly Black and from the Caribbean, were wrongly stripped of their rights to live in Britain ( PA ) As a result, the experiences of Britains Black communities of the Home Office, of the law, and of life in the UK have been fundamentally different from those of white communities. It says the relationship between the Home Office and organisations set up to deal with race relations was dysfunctional in the second half of the 20th century. The work of various governmental bodies in combatting discrimination in the UK was separate from the task given to the Home Office to reduce immigration, it says. This led to a paradoxical situation in which immigration policy assumed that too many immigrants from a minority ethnic background were bad for society, but race relations policy promoted the idea of racial equality. The Home Office, under Boris Johnsons Conservative government at the time, with Priti Patel as Home Secretary, refused to publish despite requests under the Freedom of Information Act. It argued that publication may result in communities trust in government being negatively impacted. However, a tribunal judgement declared last September that the department must disclose the report to the requester, while the new Labour government decided instead to publish the report in its entirety. The Windrush scandal previously led to protests against the government ( PA ) Responding to the reports publication, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said: This proves what we all know: this countrys immigration system is fundamentally racist to its very core. Instead of trying to suppress this report, the government must completely dismantle this racist system and start actually listening to Black and brown communities. Jacqueline McKenzie, a prominent human rights lawyer who represents Windrush scandal victims, is calling upon the new Labour government to take further action, saying it must address the Windrush scandal of which there remain thousands of victims in the UK and overseas. This included raising greater awareness of the schemes available and ensuring that justice be swiftly delivered to those affected. The Windrush scandal erupted in 2018 when British citizens were wrongly detained, deported or threatened with deportation despite having the right to live in Britain. Many lost homes and jobs, as well as being denied access to healthcare and benefits. Fitzroy Maynard ended up homeless because he could not prove his right to work in the UK ( PA ) Following the reports publication, Home Office minister Seema Malhotra said: Greater transparency from the Home Office will be accompanied by a commitment to listen and learn. For too long you have gone unheard, but that will not happen on my watch. As the home secretary did in opposition, we will continue to meet with victims, families, and stakeholders from the outset. As a department, we need to hear from communities first hand if we are to deliver on our promises to the Windrush generation for a fundamental reset, with respect and dignity at its very core. As a government, we are determined to make good on the commitments we made in opposition to reviewing the Home Offices continued response, by ensuring the compensation scheme is delivered effectively and that lasting cultural change is embedded across the department. Home secretary Yvette Cooper will outline the first steps she has set for the department to build trust and deliver the change owed to the Windrush generation and the country, Ms Malhotra added. Separate figures published by the Home Office on Thursday show that of the 868 Windrush compensation scheme claims that were still being processed at the end of August, 135 (16 per cent) had been in the system for at least 12 months. This proportion is broadly unchanged since recent months but is up from 12 per cent in October 2023. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A British businessman was nearly killed when he was attacked by a hippo in Zambia and dragged to the bottom of a river. Roland Cherry, from Warwickshire, said the animal chewed his flesh and he was badly injured when it threw him through the air like a rag doll. The 63-year-old says a local hospital saved his life, and he is now fundraising for it. A surgeon who treated him in South Africa said he had never met anybody who had survived a hippo attack before, Mr Cherry said. Hippos live in rivers in southern Africa ( Getty Images ) Mr Cherry and his wife Shirley were on the Kafue River, during a dream trip to Africa in June, when the hippo smashed into their canoe, tossing the couple into the water. The impact dislocated Mr Cherrys shoulder, leaving him unable to swim to safety, but his wife managed to escape. He told the BBC: I was really a sitting duck, trying to swim with one arm which was never going to end well and then it grabbed me. He said the hippo snatched him and kept him in its jaws before dragging him to the bottom of the river. I remember thinking oh no, what a way to go... Im not ready to die and I thought this was it, because nobody survives hippo attacks. He suffered severe bite wounds across his body, including a 10-inch wound to his abdomen, as well as a thigh and leg injury. He said he did not hate hippos since he was conscious we were in their territory while in the water, but he was not very fond of what [one] did to me. The couple were canoeing in the Kafue River ( Getty Images ) The hippo released Mr Cherry underwater, and his lifejacket lifted him back to the surface, where he took a big gulp of air. I was grabbed again and thrown through the air like a rag doll but towards the bank, which was the godsend, Mr Cherry said. The rest of the group raised the alarm, a motorboat came to my aid and I was pulled onto it, he wrote on his fundraising page. I was badly mauled with severe bite wounds to both my legs and my left side, my left upper arm and a dislocated right shoulder. I was in a very bad way. I looked down at my thigh, which was very badly chewed up, and I could see flesh sticking out from my shorts, and I could see the blood on my left side as well, Mr Cherry told Sky News. The abdomen wound... I wasnt really aware of it at the time because it was all covered up by the life vest. So it was really after that, I became aware of how badly injured I was. Mr Cherry, who has since undergone seven operations, set a target of raising 20,000 for the Mtendere Mission Hospital in Zambia, a small hospital which he says undoubtedly saved his life. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A slow-motion catastrophe has been playing out in the coastal North Carolina village of Rodanthe, where 10 houses have fallen into the Atlantic since 2020. Three have been lost since Friday. The most recent collapse was Tuesday afternoon, when the wooden pilings of a home nicknamed Front Row Seats" buckled in the surf. The structure bumped against another house before it bobbed in the waves, prompting now familiar warnings about splintered wood and nail-riddled debris. The destruction was decades in the making as beach erosion and climate change slowly edged the Atlantic closer to homes in the somewhat out-of-the way vacation spot. The threat is more insidious than a hurricane, while the possible solutions won't be easy or cheap, either in Rodanthe or other parts of the U.S. Barrier islands aren't ideal for building Rodanthe is a village of about 200 people on the Outer Banks, a strip of narrow barrier islands that protrude into the Atlantic like a flexed arm. Barrier islands were never an ideal place for development, according to experts. They typically form as waves deposit sediment off the mainland. And they move based on weather patterns and other ocean forces. Some even disappear. David Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, along which Rodanthe is located, said it was more common in previous decades for homeowners to move their houses from the encroaching surf. Perhaps it was more well understood in the past that the barrier island was dynamic, that it was moving, Hallac said. And if you built something on the beachfront it may not be there forever or it may need to be moved. The beach is rapidly eroding Rodanthe is one of many communities on Hatteras Island, which is roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) long and has been experiencing beach erosion for decades. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was 1,500 feet (457 meters) from the ocean when it was built in 1870, Hallac said. By 1919, the Atlantic was 300 feet away. The lighthouse was later moved to a more protected location. The erosion has been measured to be as much as 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) a year or more in some places. And so every year, 10 to 15 feet of that white sandy beach is gone, Hallac said. And then the dunes and then the back-dune area. And then all of a sudden, the foreshore, that area between low water and high water, is right up next to somebody's backyard. And then the erosion continues. Like a toothpick into wet sand Ocean waves eventually lap at the wooden pilings that hold up the beach houses. The supports could be 15 feet deep. But the surf slowly takes away the sand that is packed around them. It's like a toothpick in wet sand or even a beach umbrella, Hallac said. The deeper you put it, the more likely it is to stand up straight and resist leaning over. But if you only put it down a few inches, it doesnt take much wind for that umbrella to start leaning. And it starts to tip over. A single home collapse can shed debris up to fifteen miles along the coast, according to an August report from a group of federal, state and local officials who are studying threatened oceanfront structures in North Carolina. Collapses can injure beachgoers and lead to potential contamination from septic tanks, among other environmental concerns. Collapsed houses were likely in compliance Rules that govern coastal development in North Carolina have been in place since the 1970s, before many of the collapsed houses were constructed and when there was a lot more beach, said Noah Gillam, Dare County's planning director. At the time they were built, they were likely in compliance with all of the set-back requirements," Gillam said. "And they were set back, in many situations, hundreds of yards from the dune line, let alone the ocean." Since then, the rate of erosion has sped up, swallowing swaths of sand. Storms also have become more frequent and more intense, pounding the shoreline of a community that is acutely exposed to the ocean. This is a national issue Meanwhile, officials and experts have been focused on solutions or at least ways to address the problem. The report on threatened oceanfront homes noted that 750 of nearly 8,800 oceanfront structures in North Carolina are considered at risk from erosion. Among the possible solutions is hauling dredged sand to eroding beaches, something that is already being done in other communities on the Outer Banks and East Coast. But it could cost $40 million or more in Rodanthe, posing a major financial challenge for its small tax base, said Gillam, of Dare County. Other ideas include buying out threatened properties, moving or demolishing them. But those options are also very expensive. And funding is limited. U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, a North Carolina Republican, recently introduced a bill in Congress that would make some money available. For example, the legislation would authorize federal flood insurance dollars to help demolish or relocate erosion-plagued homes before they collapse. Braxton Davis, executive director of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, a nonprofit, said the problem isn't limited to Rodanthe or even to North Carolina. He pointed to erosion issues along Californias coast, the Great Lakes and some of the nations rivers. This is a national issue, Davis said, adding that sea levels are rising and the situation is only going to become worse. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A young Arkansas couple are accused of trying to sell their baby for a 6-pack of beer and $1,000 at a campground. Darien Tyler Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, have been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree and attempting to accept compensation for relinquishment of a minor, both felony offenses, according to Benton County Sheriffs Office court records obtained by Law & Crime. On September 21, Benton County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call from the owner of Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way Campground after he caught wind of the transaction, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case. Authorities found the two-month-old at the campground and alerted emergency services, who transferred the child to a hospital for evaluation, according to KFOR. The babys biological parents were nowhere to be found. Father of the two-month-year-old has a history of offenses including domestic battery in the third degree ( Benton County Sheriffs Office ) A witness told law enforcement the baby boy had a bad ammonia and fecal odor and a heavy rash, blisters and swelling on their buttocks and genitals, according to The Kansas City Star. Police ultimately tracked down a contract signed by both the runaway parents and one would-be buyer, who was identified by authorities as Cody Martin. It read: I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy for $1,000 on 09/21/2024. Disclaimer: Alter signing this there will be no changing yall twos minds and to never contact again. A video sent to authorities by a witness allegedly showed Urban, Ehler, and Martin signing the document. Ricky Crawford, a man at the campground who detectives say was drunk and slurring his speech, told authorities that the sale was prompted by his concern for the babys welfare, according to the affidavit. He asked the couple if he could take the child in exchange for several cans of beer, and they willingly agreed, handing him the boy along with a diaper bag. Crawford then went to Martin, who was also staying at the campground, and together they signed the document, offering the couple another $1,000 for the baby, according to police documents. Martin told law enforcement that, while he was the person who drew up the contract, no money ever changed hand, as he planned to bring the couple their $1,000 check in a couple of days. Benton County Sheriffs Office said: It is believed both Urban and Ehler created a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury by abandoning their minor child initially with an obviously intoxicated male and ultimately with someone they did not know. The couple was taken into custody, and held on $50,000 bail. The boys father appears to have since been released, while his mother is still being detained, according to Benton County Sheriffs Office records say Law & Crime. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A California man facing firearms charges threw a bomb into a courthouse shortly before his arraignment, police say. Nathaniel McGuire, 20, of Santa Maria, was apprehended outside the Santa Maria Superior Court complex at around 8.48am on Wednesday. Police say he entered the courthouse and threw a bag at the screening station that exploded. Five people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency personnel transported four individuals from the scene to a nearby hospital and one person later arrived at the hospital on their own. Three of the victims suffered burns from the bombing. Emergency personnel released all of the individuals later on Wednesday. After the bombing, officials evacuated the courthouse, surrounding homes, businesses and one school. The bomb squad searched the area for additional explosives before rendering the courthouse safe. McGuire was booked on felony charges of attempted murder, using an explosive in an attempt to kill someone and possession of explosive devices, Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office Undersheriff Craig Bonner said at a news briefing following the incident. McGuire had been booked in July for firearms violations after investigators found a loaded, concealed revolver in his pants pocket that was not registered to him. His arraignment in that case had been scheduled for Wednesday morning at the complex. The suspect attempted to flee the scene by getting into his car but was caught by officers. McGuire was alone when he was apprehended and officials do not currently believe there to be additional suspects. He was not injured in the explosion, but his mugshot shows bloody marks on his face. Police are separately investigating whether McGuire is connected to several arson fires that have taken place in the area, Bonner said. Investigators were preparing warrants for the mans home and car. McGuire is being held without bail. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A suspect has been charged with murder 40 years after the beheaded and burnt body of a 24-year-old woman was found dumped in a ditch in Wisconsin. Terry Dolowy, a student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, was last seen alive at her home at a trailer park in Barre Mills on February 14 1985, after she returned from her job at a local restaurant. She then vanished without a trace along with her white poodle. Police said at the time that the door to the trailer she shared with her fiance was found ajar but her personal items were still inside, The Vernon Reporter reported. Four days later, Dolowys decapitated and burnt body was found along Mohawk Valley Road, Vernon County. For 40 years, the case appeared to go cold, with over 500 people interviewed but no arrests made until now. At a press conference on Tuesday, Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger announced that Michael Raymond Popp, a 60-year-old truck driver from Tomah, Monroe County, had been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Michael Raymond Popp, a 60-year-old truck driver from Tomah, Monroe County, is charged with first-degree murder ( WMTV ) Advances in DNA technology had enabled investigators to match the DNA taken during Dolowys autopsy to DNA samples taken from Popp in January 2023, according to a criminal complaint. Popp initially told police that Dolowy was only a casual acquaintance but, when confronted with the DNA evidence, he claimed they maybe had a little affair lasting six to eight months, NBCChicago reported. Popp was arrested for Dolowys murder and is now being held in Vernon County Jail, Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson said at the briefing. He faces life in prison if convicted. Croninger said that Popp had also been charged with stalking, threats to communicate derogatory information, as well as other charges related to the possession of drugs in connection to a separate alleged victim. At the briefing, Torgerson insisted that the case had never gone cold. Those sheriffs carried the torch of this investigation, which as I talked about earlier, I dont feel ever went cold, he said, thanking the numerous law enforcement authorities that had collaborated in the investigation. He added: I really want to underscore that the La Crosse County Sheriffs Office has worked with the Vernon County Sheriffs office in tandem for all these years, 39 years, and have never ever given up. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Extreme Makeover: Home Edition star Eduardo Xol has died 10 days after he was stabbed in an apartment in Palm Springs, California. Xol, 58, was pronounced dead at the Desert Regional Medical Center on Friday 20 September, Riverside County Sheriffs Department confirmed. His death comes 10 days after the 58-year-old called 911 in the early hours of Tuesday 10 September to say that he needed help, People reported. Officers arrived on the scene of an apartment block on East Arenas Road, Palm Springs, to find the TV star suffering from multiple stab wounds. Palm Springs Police Department told TMZ that Xol sustained significant injuries and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in serious but stable condition. Richard Joseph Gonzales, a 34-year-old from Cathedral City, California, was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Following Xols death, Gonzalez has been charged with murder. It is unclear how the two men are connected, with police confirming to People that they were associates. Eduardo Xol (pictured) died 10 days after he was stabbed ( Picture Perfect/Shutterstock ) It is also unclear what led up to the fatal stabbing. However, Gonzales had allegedly contacted police later in the morning of September 10 after Xol had been stabbed to report that he himself had been the victim of an assault the night before, reported People. Following the call, police allegedly established that Gonzales was at the scene of the stabbing and was likely the suspect, according to the outlet. Gonzales was booked into John Benoit Detention Center in Indio where he is being held without bail. Xolss family released a statement to Deadline saying they are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved Eduardo Xol. As his family, we know that his kindness has touched the lives of so manywe ask for that kindness returned now allowing our privacy to be respected as we process our grief, the statement read. In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made in Eduardos name to the Lupus Foundation of America as he spent so much of his life in the service of others. Richard Joseph Gonzales, a 34-year-old from Cathedral City, California, is seen in mugshot ( Palm Springs Police Department ) Richard Perez Feria, a friend of the late TV star designer and former editor-in-chief of People en Espanol, took to Instagram to pay tribute to Xol. Its nearly incomprehensible that Im writing this post as a goodbye to someone who has been so present, so important in my life, he wrote. When I first learned that Eduardo Xol had passed, I went numb. It was impossible to process that information as it didnt square with my thousands of experiences with him. In the post, which pictured the star with friends, Perez Feria described Xol as a talented, beautiful, passionate friend, brother, son and partner. Xols was born in east LA to Mexican-American parents and studied musical theater and comedy at the University of California, Los Angeles, according to IMDB. He acted in Latin-American television projects for Latin-American audiences before appearing in seven seasons of Extreme Makeover, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, has asked a judge to let him wear civilian clothing to trial instead of a jailhouse orange jumpsuit. Kohberger, 29, is accused of killing the students at their off-campus house in 2022. He was a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University in Pullman at the time of the murders. The universities are a short drive away from each other. The defendant has been wearing suits to court ever since his first initial court appearances in 2023. His attorneys previously requested to move his trial from Latah County to Ada County citing a mob mentality that threatened their clients safety. The new motion on Kohbergers court attire has been submitted to Ada County Judge Steven Hippler for consideration. Kohbergers attorneys argue his right to a fair trial would be protected if he is allowed to wear civilian clothing to proceedings. Bryan Kohbergers attorneys have asked a judge to let their client wear civilian clothes to court ( Ada County Sheriffs Office ) Authorizing Mr Kohberger to wear street clothing to all public hearings is one way to reduce potential for prejudice, his attorney Anne Taylor wrote in court filings obtained by Fox News. Taylor cited a Supreme Court decision from 1976 stating that forcing a defendant to wear a jail uniform to court could negatively impact whether a jury saw them as guilty of alleged crimes. Additionally, his legal team has successfully argued against having media inside the courtroom, which has restricted the ability of news outlets to photograph Kohberger. Police say Kohberger entered an off-campus rental home around 4am on 13 November 2022 and stabbed four students to death: Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20 and Ethan Chapin, 20. Upon searching the home, police found a Ka-Bar knife sheath under Mogens body that they say had the mans DNA on it. Data from Kohbergers phone also put him in the same neighborhood at the time of the murders. Steve Goncalves, Goncalves father, has raised his frustrations over the defendants ability to wear suits in court, calling the move one of the unprecedented pretrial privileges that have been given to the accused murderer. Kohbergers trial has been set for 2 June 2025. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} When the state of Missouri put Marcellus Williams to death on Tuesday night, it did so over the strenuous objections of the same prosecutors office that tried him for the 1998 murder of former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Lisha Gayle. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, along with Williams legal team, had moved, unsuccessfully, to have the 55-year-olds conviction vacated based on new information they said raised questions about his identification as Gayles killer. At 6:01 p.m. local time, Williams was injected with a lethal dose of pentobarbital while his son, an up-and-coming prizefighter named Marcellus Jr., watched from the witness gallery. Nine minutes later, Williams was pronounced dead. There was reasonable doubt, Obie Anthony, a staunch Williams supporter who spent nearly two decades in prison on a wrongful murder conviction, told The Independent. How can you execute a man when there is reasonable doubt? No one was there from Gayles family, who continued to believe in Williamss guilt up until the very end but had been pushing for his sentence to be commuted to life without parole. In a statement issued shortly before Williams was executed, his attorney Tricia Rojo Bushnell, executive director of the Midwest Innocence Project , said, We must all question any system that would allow this to occur. The execution of an innocent person is the most extreme manifestation of Missouris obsession with finality over truth, justice, and humanity, at any cost. Tonight, we all bear witness to Missouris grotesque exercise of state power. Let it not be in vain. This should never happen, and we must not let it continue. Afterward, Bell who is presently running for Congress as a Democrat took to social media with a statement of his own, writing, Marcellus Williams should be alive today. There were multiple points in the timeline that decisions could have been made that would have spared him the death penalty. If there is even the shadow of a doubt of innocence the death penalty should never be an option. This outcome did not serve the interests of justice. We must all question any system that would allow this to occur, Williamss attorney Tricia Rojo Bushnell, executive director of the Midwest Innocence Project , said ( AP ) Sister Helen Prejean, the anti-death penalty activist portrayed by Susan Sarandon in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking, said Williamss execution called into question the legitimacy of the entire legal process. Rep. Cori Bush, Democrat of Missouri, called Williams execution a depravity. And the NAACP said Williams had been lynched, placing the blame directly at the feet of Missouri Gov. Michael Parson, a self-described pro-life Republican. Reached by phone on Wednesday, Gayles former husband, Daniel, a radiologist who has since remarried, declined to comment. Marcellus Williams Jr. was unable to be reached. The top concern Americans have about the death penalty, studies have shown, is the possibility of executing an innocent person, according to attorney Justin Brooks, a professor at University of San Diego School of Law and the founder of The California Innocence Project. Every time an innocent person is freed from death row, that concern is amplified, Brooks told The Independent. Now that 200 innocent people have been freed from death row, we can longer pretend that innocent people are not sentenced to death, nor that it has only happened a few times. Williams was set to be executed in January 2015 but was granted a last-minute reprieve by then-Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, for more DNA testing to be performed. In August 2017, he was hours away from being put to death when Greitens ordered the execution stayed after new testing techniques unavailable at the time of Gayles killing determined that DNA on the handle of the murder weapon could not have come from Williams. His execution on Tuesday generated global outrage largely because Parson cravenly pushed for Williams to die in the face of serious concerns about his guilt, Brooks went on. And of course, it is devastating to those of us in the innocence community because this time, no one was able to save him, he said. Joseph Amrine, who was exonerated two decades ago after spending years on death row, speaks at a rally to support Williams ( AP ) Williams execution had one of his fiercest supporters, an exoneree who himself spent nearly two decades in prison for a murder he didnt commit, wrestling on Wednesday with what he described as feelings of profound, deep pain. At the age of 19, Obie Anthony was wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole for a crime he didnt commit. In 2011, after 17 years behind bars which followed some 18 months in the LA County lockup Anthony was exonerated thanks to new evidence uncovered by a team of Innocence Project lawyers. He later founded Exonerated Nation, a nonprofit that helps other exonerees find their footing upon release. Today, Anthony, a Missouri native, splits his time between California and the St. Louis area, where he emerged in recent years as a firm believer in Williams innocence . By executing Williams, first and foremost, our presumption of innocence has been removed from the court, Anthony told The Independent. Even with evidence of [Williams] innocence, that didnt even matter, he said, voice shifting from outrage to deep sorrow and back again. ... Justice has been cuffed and put behind the bench. Reasonable doubt no longer matters. Putting Williams to death, Anthony went on, constituted a perversion, and, a tragedy in all forms. The justice system, in Williams case, contorted itself into an injustice system, according to Anthony. We know this is not justice, he said. The family members said this is not justice. The prosecutor said this is not justice. Over a million people [who signed a petition against Williams execution] said this is not justice How can people stand for this? The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Emmanuel Antonio Littlejohn has become the fourth US death row inmate to be executed in the last week, despite an Oklahoma clemency board voting to commute his sentence. Littlejohn, 52, was executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester at 10:17 a.m. Thursday. In August, the states Pardon and Parole Board voted in favor of granting clemency to Littlejohn who has long claimed he didnt commit the crime he was convicted of 22 years ago but Republican Governor Kevin Stitt moved forward with the execution anyway. Stitt had the power to commute his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole, something hes done once before in the case of Julius Jones in 2021. Littlejohn had been convicted of murdering Kenneth Meers, 31, during a convenience store robbery in Oklahoma City in 1992, but the case has been shrouded in doubt over whether Littlejohn was the one to pull the trigger. I didnt kill Mr. Meers, but I was there, he said in an NPR interview on Wednesday. So why am I to be put to death for not killing nobody but just being there? The death row inmate has admitted to being one of the two robbers but said his accomplice, Glenn Bethany, fired the fatal shot that struck Meers in the face. Littlejohn was 20 at the time. Both men were charged with first-degree murder. Bethany was given life in prison without the possibility of parole following his 1993 trial, while Littlejohn was handed a death sentence the following year, and then again in 2000, when he was retried because a jailhouse snitch gave improper testimony. I know that I didnt kill Mr. Meers. Ive admitted to my part. I committed a robbery that had devastating consequences, Littlejohn told a clemency board ( Oklahoma Department of Corrections ) Attorneys filed last-minute attempts to spare Littlejohns life, but judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals voted against a stay of execution 5 to 0 on Wednesday. Activists rallied to stop his execution in the days before it took place as part of a fierce clemency campaign. His attorneys also argued there were inconsistencies in how prosecutors handled charging the defendants. During his clemency hearing in August, Littlejohn said: I know that you have heard from a variety of people who think I deserve to die. They dont know me. They were not there. I know that I didnt kill Mr. Meers. Ive admitted to my part. I committed a robbery that had devastating consequences. But, I repeat, I did not kill Mr. Meers. Still, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and other state officials told the parole board Littlejohn admitted to killing Meers after the incident, claiming he told Meerss brother: Hes still dead. He aint coming back. After the clemency boards ruling, Drummond said he remained steadfast that the family of Kenny Meers has waited far too long for justice to be done. My office intends to make our case to the governor why there should not be clemency granted to this violent and manipulative killer. At a news conference on Wednesday, the death row inmates sister, Augustina Littlejohn, described Littlejohn as a big kid in a 52-year-old mans body. He is a son, he is a father, he is a brother, he is a grandfather, he is an uncle, she said. I am here to beg and plead for my brothers life. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Louisiana pastor, who once competed on the reality TV series Survivor, has been convicted of child abuse after taping students mouths shut. John Raymond, 62, was charged with cruelty to juveniles stemming from his disciplinary actions at a Christian school he founded in Slidell. Raymond had openly admitted to the abuse in online posts, and on another occasion allegedly held his hand over the mouth of a four-year-old boy until the child went limp. He was charged with second-degree child cruelty over that incident. Jurors reached guilty verdicts after only an hour on Monday following a six-day trial at district court in Covington, according to Nola.com. Pastor John Raymond, 62, was convicted of child cruelty on Monday ( Slidell Police Department ) Raymonds sentencing date has not been set but he could spend decades behind bars. Child cruelty carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and second-degree child cruelty carries up to a 40-year sentence. Raymond competed on Survivor: Thailand in 2002 and was the first contestant to be voted off the island. Raymond had maintained his innocence throughout the trial and claimed to have been the victim of cancel culture. I am not guilty. Ive never been cruel to a child, and I love children, he said after the verdict was returned. However, Raymond did not deny taping the childrens mouths shut, and had provided a detailed account of one incident in a post to his schools website in April 2022. He claimed his actions, involving three students, had been in defense of a member of the teaching staff. I pulled out a roll of clear Scotch packing tape and said, Im going to give you a choice. We can either go downstairs and call your parents and you can wait in the lobby to be suspended, or you can get tape on your mouth and learn how to be quiet during class, he wrote. The students all chose tape and I pulled off one piece at a time and carefully placed it over their mouths making sure that it did not touch their nose or interfere with their breathing. At no time was tape wrapped around any students head. John Raymond competed on reality show Survivor: Thailand in 2002 and was the first contestant to be voted off the island ( CBS ) Raymond said he had asked the students if they were in pain or hurting in any way and that all three unanimously shook their heads. The pastor was arrested on April 7 on three counts of cruelty to juveniles. He was arrested again on May 9 and charged with a further count after another student came forward. Police said other witnesses, including former teachers, faculty, and parents, associated with Lakeside Christian Academy, came forward to report additional incidents of juvenile cruelty, some dating back to 2017. One incident involved a four-year-old student, who would occasionally have tantrums. Raymond had once allegedly placed his hand over the boys nose and mouth, preventing him from breathing, to the point of him going limp, according to police. In another incident, Raymond allegedly held the boy upside down by his ankles and repeatedly whipped him on the buttocks. Raymond had said his actions were in line with the Bible and that he was a victim of cancel culture. His defense attorney had argued at trial that many of the 23 witnesses brought by prosecution were unreliable, and that the case was ultimately in the crosshairs of a culture war. Joseph Long framed the case during opening statements as the left against the right, the conservatives against the woke. Make no mistake, folks, this country is in the middle of a culture war, Long told jurors. In Europe, parents cant even physically discipline their children anymore. Its coming. This is government overreach. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sean Diddy Combss lawyer has offered a bizarre explanation for why 1,000 bottles of baby oil were found during raids on the disgraced rappers homes. According to an indictment unsealed last week, federal agents had recovered more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant when raiding the music moguls mansions in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25. Diddys lawyer Marc Agnifilio has now spoken of his skepticism at the absurd number of bottles authorities allege they found. I dont think it was 1,000. I think it was a lot, he told The New York Post, before suggesting that Diddy simply likes to stock up on his essentials. I mean there is a Costco right down the street. I think Americans buy in bulk, as we know. And, you know, these are consensual adults doing what consensual adults do, you know, he added, seemingly referring to the so-called freak offs Diddy is alleged to have held. Homeland Security Investigation agents load a box into a car at the entrance of Diddys Miami home in March ( AFP via Getty Images ) Agnifilio added: We cant get so puritanical in this country to think that somehow sex is a bad thing because if it was there would be no more people. Freak offs were sessions in which the rapper allegedly forced his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, to perform sex acts with male sex workers while he masturbated and filmed the encounters, according to her now-settled lawsuit. Attorney Marc Agnifilo speaks to the media outside federal court following Diddys hearing on September 18, 2024, in New York ( AP ) Diddy is being held behind bars in Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Center following his September 16 arrest on charges of sex trafficking, He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was denied bail twice. Diddy is said to be refusing to eat at the MDC and has been moved to an area of the facility with special protection. Hes really, really paranoid, former MDC inmate Larry Levine told NewsNations Ashleigh Banfield. Diddy is next due in court on October 9 ( Getty Images ) Hes really, really scared. Doesnt know what to think, he doesnt know who to trust or what to believe, However, Agnifilio cast doubts on this, describing Diddy as lazer-focused. Hes engaged, hes helpful, hes confident, he added. His spirits are relatively good. As well as the criminal charges, Diddy is also facing multiple civil lawsuits. In the latest, brought on Tuesday, Thalia Graves accused Diddy and his former head of security, Joseph Sherman, of drugging, and brutally raping and physically assaulting her in 2001. The rapper is due in court next on October 9. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A New York woman pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second-degree reckless endangerment, after her dog mauled a two-year-old boy. Amy Willi, 45, of Mastic, Suffolk County, admitted that on March 14, 2023, her dog Kojo ran out the front door of her house and attacked a toddler in a yard across the street. The childs uncle raced to pick up the boy, but the dog bit the mans left forearm, causing the child to fall to the ground. Kojo then set upon the two-year-old, biting his face, head, and leg, causing lacerations to the eye, cheek, scalp and leg, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. The child was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital and received stitches for his injuries. Willi admitted to law enforcement that she knew Kojo was a dangerous dog with violent tendencies and failed to secure the animal inside the house before the incident, per the DAs Office. The defendants dogs dangerous tendencies coupled with her failure to properly secure the animal led to an innocent child and his uncle sustaining serious injuries, District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. Pet owners must understand the serious responsibility that comes with owning animals. Necessary precautions pet owners must take to ensure the safety of their pets, and the community include maintaining secure enclosures, using leashes in public areas, and not leaving their animals unattended where they could potentially escape. Failure to do so can lead to tragic consequences, as seen in this case. As part of her plea, Willis will be barred from owning, posessing, or caring for any animals for three years. Shes due back in court on November 20. The Independent has contacted her lawyer for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two New York City men have been charged with murder after police found the body of a Bronx man dismembered in a city apartment. Muhammad Aadil, 40, and Ronei Harris, 18, allegedly killed and mutilated a man, and then took some remains, in a shopping cart, on a Metro North train to Yonkers where they burned the cart, stated Bronx County District Attorney Darcel D Clark. This was a brutal disregard for a human being. The suspects were indicted on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance over the death of 46-year-old Lutalo Henderson. Both Aadil and Harris were also hit with differing drug charges. Police say the mans murder took place between July 27 and August 5. Cops say the men cut off Hendersons legs below the knees and removed his hands hands and jaw. The suspects then wrapped the mans torso in trash bags and took it in a shopping cart to Yonkers using the Metro North train. After that, they set the cart on fire under the Oak Street Bridge over the Bronx River Parkway in Yonkers. During the course of an investigation, investigators were led to an apartment on Rogers Place in the Bronx where they found the body parts, including the victims legs in the freezer. His hands were found in a crockpot filled with bleach, ABC 7 reported. Additionally, police say drug paraphernalia and a gun were found in the kitchen of the apartment. The DAs office said Aadil and Henderson were roommates and Harris killed the victim following a dispute at their home. One of the mens neighbors reportedly heard loud noises after the incident that sounded like someone carrying something heavy down the stairs. It seemed like it was heavy, she told the outlet in Spanish. And I heard the voice of a man who was telling another man to hurry up. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least 41 people are dead after Hurricane Helene crashed into Florida as a Category 4 storm, pounding the states west coast with unsurvivable conditions, before tracking a destructive path north through Georgia and the Carolinas on Friday. The storm is tracking north over the Tennessee Valley Friday night and through the weekend, threatening dangerous flash flooding. Helene has since been downgraded to a tropical depression but remained life-threatening, according to forecasters, causing a flash flood emergency in metro Atlanta and putting Kentuckys Appalachia region on high alert for heavy rains and landslides. A map shows the expected trajectory of Tropical Depression Helene as it continues to move north over the Carolinas on Friday afternoon and is expected to stall over the Tennessee Valley Friday through the weekend ( NHC ) Sustained winds had dropped to around 35mph with higher gusts on Friday after Helene had slammed into the Gulf coast with 140mph winds, and 15ft storm surge, late on Thursday night. As the sun came up in Florida, the damage was widespread and catastrophic. Storm surge has left some homes underwater to the roofline, and boats in marinas were smashed together like bath toys. Downed trees, powerlines and other debris were making navigating roadways treacherous for emergency responders. Around 4 million people were without power from Florida up the east coast to Virgina. A map charts the Excessive Rainfall Outlook for Helene on Friday afternoon, with areas in the Carolinas the hardest hit by rainfall, landslides, and life-threatening flash flooding ( NHC ) Among the fatalities were a driver who was killed when a sign fell onto their car in Tampa. Five other deaths were reported in Floridas Pinellas County. Some 11 people died in Georgia, including two in Wheeler County who were killed after their trailer crashed on a highway. Another person was an emergency responder. At least six people died in South Carolina, including two people who died when tree fells on houses Friday morning in Anderson. In North Carolina, a person was killed by a falling tree in the city of Charlotte. NOAA satellite imagery shows the eye of Helene as it hammers the Carolinas and US Southeast on Friday afternoon ( NOAA Satellites ) Helene continued to bring historic and catastrophic flooding to the Appalachians and large parts of the Southeast on Friday afternoon as the storm hovered about 125miles south of Louisville, Kentucky. Some places in the Carolinas and Tennessee have seen a half of foot of rain since Tuesday. Helene is the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the US this year. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hundreds of people are still presumed missing across six states following the devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene. Helene is now one of the deadliest storms in US history, with 160 deaths reported late Tuesday. The majority of fatalities were in North Carolina. The current data that we have, is that it looks like there could be as many as 600 lost lives, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall said Monday. But, we dont have any confirmation of that. We know there are 600 who are either lost or unaccounted for. Sherwood-Randall cautioned that the numbers vary widely and theres a lot of reporting that doesnt add up about the numbers. A search and rescue dog and handler searches for victims through thick mud in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina on Tuesday. ( (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) ) She added: And so, while we may see the numbers go up as we get to more locations that have not yet been fully developed in terms of disaster, immediate emergency response operations, we may see more people who unfortunately perished. But we may also not see the numbers skyrocket as people have predicted they might. Governors in the impacted states did not provide an update to that figure on Tuesday. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Director of Emergency Management William Ray said that theyd work with the states information and referral service to determine the number of missing. We know that there will be more fatalities, Cooper said. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced that the number of confirmed deaths from the storm in his state rose to 36 on Tuesday afternoon. This has really hit our region hard, he said. White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall speaks Monday at the White House. She said deaths associated with Hurricane Helene and its devastating impacts could be as many as 600, but cautioned that its too soon to know. ( (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) ) A Facebook group with more than 477,000 members included posts from people looking for family members. Some also provided updates saying their loved ones had been found. Search and rescue efforts continued in western North Carolina with 92 teams working on the ground. Helicopters provided air support while rescuers trudged through deep mud with dogs. Images taken in the Wautaga County town of Boone over the weekend revealed the extent of the damage, with collapsed houses and whole areas underwater. On Tuesday, Watauga County Director of Emergency Management Will Holt said there was one team left in the area. Now were really starting to get into isolated pockets and finding where people are, he said. Scott Richardson surveys his collapsed house in Boone, North Carolina, on Saturday following impacts from Hurricane Helene. ( REUTERS/Jonathan Drake ) The Watauga County Sheriffs Office told The Watauga Democrat on Monday that there had been two deaths related to the storm. In hard-hit Buncombe County, 40 deaths were reported. Thousands of federal personnel have been deployed to respond to Helene, and President Joe Biden will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday. The president had waited to travel there until it was determined his presence would not to disrupt rescue efforts, according to officials. Hurricane Helene hit Floridas Big Bend region last Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Kirk had strengthened into a hurricane on Thursday. The storm is expected to become a major hurricane in the coming days. Close Long-time friend of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush said Titan sub explosion was expected The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush allegedly declared that he would buy a congressman to make issues surrounding the Titan subs certification go away, a witness testified. Matthew McCoy, who worked at the submersible company for six months from April 2017, addressed the Titan Marine Board of Investigation panel on Friday for the final day of the two-week long hearing into Titans disaster voyage in June 2023. After raising concerns about an alleged lack of certificate of inspection for the first Titan sub in 2017, McCoy testified that Rush told him, I would buy a congressman to make problems disappear during a lunch meeting. The ex-OceanGate employee said that he quit soon after. He was either trying to intimidate me or impress me, he testified. McCoy also alleged that the OceanGate engineering department was full of college interns during his time at the company, adding that he doesnt believe there was a professional engineer on staff. Captain Jamie Frederick, member of the US Coast Guard who oversaw rescue mission of the Titan and its five crew, began testifying after McCoy. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Specialist Scott Talbot was the last person to testify. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and Trump impeachment witness Alexander Vindman mocked the former president on Thursday for what he saw as the Republicans limited historical knowledge, after Trump seemed to describe just learning about WWII history during a recent campaign stop. At a rally in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday, the former president took aim at Joe Bidens vow the U.S. will continue supporting Ukraine until it finishes fighting off the invasion from Russia. Biden says, We will not leave until we win, Trump said. What happens if they win? Thats what they do, is they fight wars. As somebody told me the other day, they beat Hitler, they beat Napoleon. Thats what they do. They fight. And its not pleasant. Vindman, who served on the National Security Council, and whose family immigrated to the U.S. from the Soviet Union, took issue with these comments. "First, I have to address this commentary," Vindman told CNN. "I mean, just the other day somebody told him about World War II? I mean, how preposterous is this? It is embarrassing that a former president would say, even use that kind of language, that he just learned about World War II and his false impressions of how the records of the Soviet Union performed, really at the backbone was support from the West in massive casualties that they took. But I think I would say that we would be facing a different kind of disaster. It wouldnt be a complete collapse of the Ukrainians." The Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany on the eastern front in 1945, four years after the Nazis had invaded and at the loss of tens of millions of Soviet troops and civilians. Imperial Russia defeated a French invasion led by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812. Trump has insisted he would negotiate end to Russia war in Ukraine ( AP ) Russias military record has been far from the parade of victories Trump seemed to be describing, however. The Ukraine war, for instance, has stretched far longer than Russian war planners thought it would, and the Russian military has been bogged down in other quagmires before, including its campaign and eventual withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, as well as other major losses like the Cold War and WWI. Trumps attacks on the Ukraine war, which he often insists without evidence he would rapidly end, come as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris met with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has equivocated over whether he will meet with the Ukrainian leader, suggesting last week the pair would probably get together, a plan that then was reportedly scrapped, ABC News reports. Trump further muddied the waters on Thursday, sharing a purported message from Zelensky seeking a meeting for Friday, where the Ukrainian insisted, I believe its important for us to have a personal contact and to understand each other 100%. On Sunday, Zelensky said he doubted Trump could finish the conflict. My feeling is that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how, Zelensky toldThe New Yorker. With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it the less you understand. Ive seen many leaders who were convinced they knew how to end it tomorrow, and as they waded deeper into it, they realized its not that simple. Zelensky has also called into question recent comments by Vance appearing to suggest the war could be ended with Russia keeping the Ukrainian land it has conquered, and seemed to suggest that Germany not Russia should lead the way in paying to rebuild the damage Vladimir Putins troops have wrought. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Republicancongressman has faced heavy backlash following a racist online post, in which he described Haitian immigrants as slapstick gangsters who ate pets and practiced vudu. Scores of people, including fellow members of the House, condemned Louisiana representative Clay Higgins over the post, which came in response to news that citizen criminal charges have been brought against Donald Trump and JD Vance in Springfield. Lol. These Haitians are wild, Higgins wrote, in response to an article by the Associated Press about the charges. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters... but damned if they dont feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP. All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th. January 20 is the date that the next president is sworn into office. Higgins later deleted the post, after multiple complaints, including from fellow congressman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford on the House floor who submitted a motion to censure Higgins for bringing discredit and disgrace to the House of Representatives. Horsford said Higgins words are inciting hate, they are inciting fear and because of that it is time for this body to stand with one voice and to ensure there is accountability. Speaker Mike Johnson later defended Higgins, who he described as a dear friend of mine and told reporters that Higgins had prayed about the post and then regretted it. He was approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive. He said he went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down, Johnson said. Clay Higgins was accused of inciting hate through his tweet, in which he warned Haitians to get out of the US before January 20 the date that the next president takes office ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Im sure he probably regrets the language he used. But you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here. Despite its swift deletion, X users also reacted to the original post, including CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who brought up Higgins previous 1992 endorsement of notorious former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke for governor. By the way, yes, its 2024 and members of Congress are still saying things like this aloud! Tapper wrote. No dog whistle here this is a full-on bullhorn, wrote another user. I thought this was fake, I had to check myself, and he posted this from his official government account, added another user. Higgins tweet was responding to a report that a nonprofit representing the Haitian community has invoked a private-citizen right to file charges against Donald Trump and JD Vance. The Haitian Bridge Alliance brought the charges over the chaos and threats experienced by Springfield since Trump first spread the false claims about legal immigrants there during a presidential debate. Vance, his Republican running mate, has also repeated the slur, even appearing to suggest that he felt entitled to create negative stories about immigrants. Trump has also vowed to deport immigrants like those in Springfield who entered the country legally under a federal program that allows them to remain in the country temporarily. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden on Thursday said the billions of dollars of defense aid he has authorized for Ukraine will strengthen Kyivs hand in future negotiations as he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office for what could be the final time during his presidency. Sitting alongside Zelensky, Biden thanked the Ukrainian leader for sharing his own plan for victory in his countrys nearly three-year-old war against Russian invading forces. He added that it was important to strengthen Ukraines position on the battlefield by releasing all of the aid approved by Congress in the supplemental defense aid package he signed into law earlier this year. The billions of dollars worth of defense assistance will be delivered to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in January. He also told Zelensky of the importance of supporting Ukraines long-term success, including through eventual paths to European Union and NATO membership as well as through ensuring Kyiv retains sufficient capabilities to against future Russian aggression. I'm proud of the steps we've taken [and] of our partnership on these fronts, Biden said. Earlier this summer, we launched the Ukraine compact with more than 20 nations committed to Ukraine's long-term security, and yesterday, with over 30 nations and the EU, we launched the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine's recovery and assets as well... These two elements are critical to how this war ends. Russia will not prevail in war. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and [we] will continue to stand by you every step of the way, the president added. President Joe Biden and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak in the White House Thursday. ( Getty Images ) For his part, Zelensky thanked Biden once again for his strong support over the course of the war and told the American leader that Ukrainians deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side-by-side from the very first moment of this terrible Russian invasion. Your determination is incredibly important for us to prevail, he said. We must restore normal life, and we greatly value your leadership, Mr President. Zelensky said the $7.9 billion in aid announced by the White House will be a great help and revealed that he and the American president were preparing to discuss the details and strengthen his plan for victory over Russia. The Ukrainian leader also met with Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday in her ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, during which Harris the Democratic presidential nominee told Zelensky that her support for Kyivs defense is unwavering. I have been proud to stand with Ukraine. I will continue to stand with Ukraine, and I will work to ensure Ukraine prevails in this war, to be safe, secure and prosperous. The United States must continue to fulfill our longstanding role of global leadership, she said. We must stand with our allies and our partners. We must defend our democratic values and stand up to aggressors, and we must stand for international order, rules and norms. Each one of these principles is at stake in Ukraine, and that is why Ukraines fight matters, Harris added. She warned that allowing Putin and Russia to prevail would embolden the Russian leader to further threaten NATO members such as Poland and the Baltic states. We also know that other would-be aggressors around the world are watching to see what happens in Ukraine. If Putin is allowed to win, they will become emboldened, and ... history is so clear in reminding us: the United States cannot and should not isolate ourselves from the rest of the world. Isolation is not insulation, she said. In what appeared to be a veiled swipe at former president Donald Trump and his Republican allies, Harris admitted to Zelensky that there are some in the US who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality, and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations. Biden told Zelensky of the importance of supporting Ukraines long-term success, including through eventual paths to European Union and NATO membership as well as through ensuring Kyiv retains sufficient capabilities to against future Russian aggression. ( AP ) These proposals are the same of those of Putin, and let us be clear: they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable, she said. Zelensky has been in the United States for the UN General Assembly, where on Wednesday he warned world leaders that Russian president Vladimir Putin is attempting to break the Ukrainian spirit by targeting his countrys energy infrastructure. He also cautioned against accepting purported peace deals that would be negotiated without Ukraine having a say. Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve an out instead of an end to the war, he said, adding later that he was skeptical of the true interest behind a recent push by China and Brazil to foster an end to the conflict. When some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles, it not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians ... it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war, he said. Zelensky also toured a Pennsylvania plant where munitions destined for his armed forces are being made. That visit drew anger from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called for Zelensky to fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the US in response. Johnsons outrage was supposedly due to no Republicans being invited along to the tour of the plant, though White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed it as a political stunt by the GOP at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. The sit-downs between Zelensky and the two American leaders come after Biden announced another large tranche of US security assistance for Kyiv. That assistance includes nearly $8 billion in aid from Defense Department and State Department programs, as well as access to Joint Standoff Weapon long-range munitions and additional Patriot anti-aircraft missiles and another Patriot battery. Through these actions, my message is clear: The United States will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war, Biden said in a statement. The president noted that Ukraine has won the battle of Kyiv, reclaimed more than half the territory that Russia seized at the start of the war, and safeguarded its sovereignty and independence during the time that his administration has worked to surge defense aid to the country. For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail ... but there is more work to do, Biden added. Bidens announcement of more security aid to Kyiv comes just weeks before a US presidential election that could determine whether Ukraine remains a sovereign country or becomes a Russian vassal state. Trump was impeached in late 2019 for using US security aid to attempt to blackmail Zelensky into announcing sham investigations into Biden and his son. Nearly five years later, he has threatened to cut off American assistance to Kyiv if he gets a second term, all while promising to end the war by forcing Zelensky to accept terms that would be favorable to Putin. Zelensky was set to meet with Trump in New York, but it was initially canceled. Now, Trump said on Thursday that he plans to meet with the Ukrainian leader on Friday. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Democrats in Georgia have filed a lawsuit against three Trump allies on the state elections board, which has recently moved to require several changes to election procedures in the state. The suit was led by state senator Nabilah Islam Parkes and alleges that the three election board members violated the law when they pushed through a round of changes. Democrats say these will allow local election officials to unilaterally decline to certify the results of elections, doing so at an allegedly illegal meeting. They further allege that this could cause delays in Georgia reporting its results in the upcoming election. Georgia's Election Board has been hijacked by extreme MAGA operatives, changing election rules to help Trump. State law is clear, Kemp has a duty to act, but he's abdicated responsibility. If the governor won't stop MAGA from hijacking our election, a judge will force him to, Islam Parkes said on Wednesday. She added: The Governor must do his job and convene a hearing to start the process in removing these rogue State Election Board members who are violating the law. The Governor must do his job and convene a hearing to start the process in removing these rogue State Election Board members who are violating the law. https://t.co/O5B1VP2QXf Nabilah Islam Parkes (@NabilahIslam) September 25, 2024 The latest legal action follows a lawsuit filed in August against the state elections board for the same reason filed by the state Democratic Party of Georgia along with Kamala Harriss presidential campaign and the national Democratic Party. The latest suit filed Wednesday by Islam Parkes and her allies seeks to force the states GOP governor to begin the process which could result in the removal of the three GOP members accused of violating the law. While Democrats are leading the charge against the Trump-supporting elections board members, Republicans in the state also agree that the board has gone rogue. The GOP attorney general of Georgia issued an opinion stating that the board overstepped its bounds by issuing the new rules, while the states governor remains between a rock and a hard place. Brian Kemp, a Republican, fought against Donald Trumps stolen election claims in 2020 and in the weeks following the election but has since sought to repair his relationship with the MAGA right. Kemp has resisted calls to hold hearings in response to petitions from Democratic lawmakers in the state asking him to begin hearings to determine whether the three Trump supporters will be purged from the Elections Board, but a judges order could force him to do it. We have a board that appears to be running amok, and we have one avenue, the governor, for removing them in instances when they are breaking the law, said Cathy Woolard, a former chairwoman of the Fulton County Board of Registration & Elections, after the suit was filed Wednesday in a statement to The Washington Post. We simply must take this action in order to attempt to force him to do his job. Georgia was a shock pickup for Democrats in 2020 and was one of the key battleground state losses that led to Donald Trumps defeat to Joe Biden that year. Current polls show him maintaining a slim lead in the state over Kamala Harris, who took over the Democratic ticket in July. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on federal criminal charges on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter. It is unclear what the charges are, the indictment is currently under seal. However, Adams has been facing numerous federal investigations. The FBI and the New York City Department of Investigations will release more information about the indictment against Adams on Thursday. For months the mayor and those close to him, including employees, have been facing subpoenas, raids and allegations of wrongdoing. In a statement, Adams said, I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, pictures in November 2023, has been facing multiple investigations for over a year now the most prominent related to allegations of campaign finance corruption ( REUTERS ) Adams later released a video proclaiming his innocence. My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, said Adams in the video. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target, and a target I became. He added: I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations, but I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started. One of those allegations of wrongdoing is related to an alleged straw donor scheme. In November 2023, federal agents seized Adams electronic devices as part of an ongoing probe into allegations of corruption related to campaign finance misconduct. According to reports, Adams allegedly benefitted from a straw donor scheme during his 2021 mayoral campaign through his ties to Turkish government officials and Turkish nationals. The New York City mayor has been vocal about his longstanding relationship with Turkey and the Turkish-American community of New York. He previously boasted that hes made at least six trips to Turkey. Reports circulated that Adams received campaign donations from employees of a Brooklyn-based construction company owned by a Turkish-American businessman. That investigation came to light last year after FBI agents raided the home of his campaigns chief fundraiser, 25-year-old Brianna Suggs. It also adjacently related to an investigation into whether Adams pressured the New York City Fire Department to approve a new Turkish consulate. According to a recent Times report, federal prosecutors expanded that probe to include five other countries, Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan. Adams has vehemently denied any allegations of wrongdoing. New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a press conference after he was subpoenaed by the federal grand jury at New York City Hall on August 16, 2024 in New York ( AFP via Getty Images ) Members of Adamss administration and those in his inner circle have been subject to searches and subpoenas regarding various other investigations. In September, federal prosecutors conducted raids on Edward Caban, the former NY Police Commissioner, and his brother James Caban as part of an ongoing probe into whether James profited off his brothers position to serve as a consultant in the nightclub industry. Edward resigned from his position on September 17, less than two months after taking office. Another federal investigation is examining a potential bribery scheme involving Adams, senior members of City Hall and a government consulting company. Investigators seized the electronic devices of School Chancellor David Banks, Deputy Mayor Philip Banks III and their brother Terence Banks, who previously worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. They also conducted searches on First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. On September 24, David Banks announced he would retire at the end of the year. Separately, investigators in the Eastern District of New York have searched the homes of Winnie Greco, a former senior adviser to Adams. Greco has been placed on unpaid leave. News of the indictment led former and current politicians to call for Adams to resign. Earlier in the day on Wednesday, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked the mayor to step down amid the scandals. Former NY comptroller Scott Stringer, who is also running against Adams in the Democratic primary next year, said the mayor should resign for the good of the city. Adams is not required to resign. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Not even Donald Trump could summon a frenzied crowd outside of the federal courthouse in New York City like Eric Adams did Friday when the mayor pleaded not guilty to the five criminal charges hes facing. A sea of broadcast cameras, lighting equipment and reporters filled the sidewalk Friday morning in front of the courthouse. They also packed the area across the street it was more than the amount present at Trumps defamation trial with E. Jean Carroll in January. During the Trump case, the sidewalk across the street was filled with members of the media during that trial and even on the busiest day verdict day the sidewalk directly in front of the building was still navigable. New Yorkers did not seem to care to show up to see the action unfold outside of the federal building. Granted, it was freezing at the time. But even those who wandered by refused to stop to snap a photo or ask questions. Not today. On Friday, runners who, seemingly unintentionally, ran into the crowd stopped their jog to whip out their phones and record the action. Police barricades, holding back New Yorkers who turned up to see their mayor arraigned, stretched up and down the street. No, the mayors 8:45 a.m. arrival time for a noon arraignment was still not early enough to avoid the craze around his criminal allegations. He is, after all, the talk of the town not that he minds. Crowds of people took up the sidewalk in front of, and across the street from, the federal courthouse where New York City Mayor Eric Adams was arraigned. It created a circus-like atmosphere ( AP ) Adams seems completely unfazed by the mass attention. He rolled with Friday afternoons court proceedings as if it were an everyday occurrence, albeit an inconvenient one. Sporting a typical white button-down and dark suit jacket, he arrived early at the courthouse, and subsequently, the courtroom. Something the former president never did. By the time the general press and spectators were permitted in the courtroom, Adams had been seated with his one lawyer for at least 30 minutes. It was so unspectacular it took multiple reporters several minutes to notice the mayors presence. Adams arrived at federal court three hours before his arraignment time. Press line the streets and there were more members of the media present for Adams than former president Donald Trump when he was on trial in connection to sexual abuse allegations ( AP ) The courtroom filled up quickly, mostly with law clerks and attorneys who work in the building. An extra row of plastic chairs was added behind the benches to accommodate the number of people in attendance. A few lucky citizens got to see the historic arraignment from the benches, others were directed to watch from an overflow room on a different floor. It was a noticeable contrast to the number of average Americans who attended Trumps sexual abuse trial earlier this year. Despite that case involving a former president, only a few people enough to count on one hand showed up to see opening or closing arguments. Though the overflow room for Trumps case was almost always full, mostly with reporters. Shortly after noon, Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker entered the courtroom to begin the arraignment. She spent several minutes reading Adams his Miranda rights and then summarizing the allegations and charges laid out in the indictment that accuses Adams of corruption before, during and after his 2021 mayoral campaign. That includes allegedly accepting free or heavily discounted luxury travel, accommodations and other perks from Turkish officials and then wielding his power as mayor to circumvent an FDNY fire inspection on the Turkey consulate. Adams, depicted in a courtroom sketch, sat besides his attorney while being arraigned on Friday. He has denied the allegations against him and resisted calls to resign ( REUTERS ) In all, the five counts: bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, are punishable by up to 45 years in prison. Yet Adams seemed fairly relaxed at the list of allegations. He kept a straight face and stared forward refusing to even look in the direction of the press seated in the jury box to his right. I am not guilty, your honor, the mayor pleaded. Adams, depicted in a courtroom sketch, sat beside his attorney while being arraigned on Friday. He has denied the allegations against him and resisted calls to resign ( Getty Images ) It was expected that Adams would plead not guilty, he has vehemently denied all allegations of wrongdoing in multiple mediums. He proclaimed innocence in an official statement, in a pre-recorded video and at a chaotic press conference on Thursday. Hes certain he has not committed any crimes. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, informed Judge Parker they plan to file a motion to dismiss the indictment next week. Adams is permitted to be released while awaiting trial. It would probably be a bit of work to run the city from one of its jails. The conditions of his release are that he may not contact witnesses or the unnamed individuals in the indictment about the charges or facts of the case. Federal prosecutors said they would give Adams lawyer a list of those people and determine how to best approach this since some of those people may be staffers or family that Adams interacts with daily. Approximately 25 minutes after Judge Parker entered the courtroom, and three-and-a-half hours after Adams arrived at the courthouse, the arraignment was over. Maintaining his straight face, Adams exited the courtroom escorted by a group of US Marshalls. Outside the courthouse, New Yorkers and members of the media piled against the barricades, determined to get a photo of the mayor after his first court appearance. The scenes for Adams were dramatically different than Trump, who often only saw a handful of protestors outside the courtroom as he faced E Jean Carroll ( AFP via Getty Images ) A lone New Yorker shouted words of affirmation at Adams as he exited the building. The mayor stood stoically beside Spiro for a brief press conference where his lawyer told reporters the case isnt even a real case. As he entered a black SUV, the mayor flashed his signature thumbs up to the press while maintaining a straight face. Adams, the first New York City mayor to face federal criminal charges in modern history, went about his day on Friday attending an afternoon meeting with his advisory committee on the judiciary and left the circus he created behind. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch live outside Gracie Mansion in New York City as an indictment detailing charges against mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, is expected to be unsealed on Thursday, 26 September. Federal agents descended upon his home early that morning, hours after it was reported he was indicted on federal charges. People dressed in suits arrived at the Gracie Mansion in SUVs. A lawyer for the mayor told the New York Times that federal agents seized Mr Adams cell phone the second time this has occurred in a year. The indictment detailing the charges is expected to be unsealed in the Southern District of New York. Mr Adams is the first sitting New York City mayor in modern history to face a criminal indictment. For months, the mayor and those close to him, including employees, have been facing subpoenas, raids and allegations of wrongdoing. In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams said he would remain in office, describing any charges he may face as entirely false, based on lies. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Matt Gaetz has published a lengthy letter hed sent to the House Ethics Committee informing the panels lawmakers that he would no longer be complying with the Ethics investigation into allegations that he had slept with an underage girl. The Florida congressman rehashed a number of familiar complaints in the letter, which accused the panel of pursuing the investigation for the purpose of humiliating him and damaging him politically after a Justice Department investigation ended without charges being filed. But he went further than just denouncing the committee Gaetz also would go on to write a Twitter thread on Thursday discussing the evidence in his case, and included several pieces of evidence he argued exonerated his name. The tone of Gaetzs letter was angry and defiant: Your correspondence of September 4 asks whether I have engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18. The answer to this question is unequivocally NO. You can apply this response to every version of this question, in every forum. He also denied using illicit drugs. Altogether, the thread and letter represent Gaetzs latest salvo against the Ethics Committee, which clearly aims at repairing his image with both journalists and moderate voters. The congressman made no mention of the Deep State or any overarching conspiracies against him or the former president instead, he focused on two pieces of information he argued undermined the allegations against him. One was a grainy image of a text message, purportedly from his former friend and confidante Joel Greenberg, stating that he was arranging to pay for legal representation for someone presumably the underaged girl Gaetz is accused of having sex with. No actual evidence of transferred funds is shown, nor is the identity of the unnamed witness. My final response to the Ethics Committee: pic.twitter.com/iCBR3fyB6D Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) September 26, 2024 In a second image shared by Gaetz, an unnamed jailhouse informant describes in an affidavit hearing a plot by Greenberg to smear Gaetz and possibly others in order to secure a sentence reduction deal with federal prosecutors. Greenberg, a former friend and political ally of Gaetz, also served as Tax Collector for Seminole County, Florida, before he was indicted on nearly three dozen federal charges. He eventually pleaded guilty to six, including sex trafficking a minor. None of the images shared by Gaetz constitute the kind of hard evidence that would immediately exonerate him as he has claimed. But they do raise questions about the charges that need to be answered, including how much they revolve around Greenbergs accusations and whether the underage person whom Gaetz supposedly had sex with was financially supported by Greenberg. The Ethics probe into Gaetz has made little public progress under Speaker Mike Johnsons tenure as the highest-ranking House Republican, even as Gaetz contends that the investigation was triggered by allies of the former speaker, Kevin McCarthy. McCarthys political career did not survive to see the investigation completed; he left the House at the end of 2023 after an embarrassing ouster from the Speakers chair. Gaetz, meanwhile, is widely speculated to be considering a run for governor of Florida after Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited, leaves office. Hes expected to face a competitive Republican primary for the nomination, including potentially against a Republican backed in part by McCarthy, who has funded primary challenges against a number of his former party members who backed his downfall last year. McCarthy told The Independent at the Republican National Convention in July that the Ethics investigation would prevent Gaetz from winning that primary: I dont think hell ever be able to run for governor like he wants to. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trumps top ally and attorney Rudy Giuliani was disbarred from practicing law in Washington DC on Thursday, months after a similar decision in his home state of New York left his reputation in tatters. The former New York City mayor was Trumps lead attorney in 2020 and early 2021 as the ex-president launched a series of increasingly desperate schemes to hold on to power. It began in Ukraine, where Giuliani was Trumps man on the ground as part of efforts to coerce that countrys government into opening a criminal investigation into Joe Biden, with the purpose of damaging Biden politically. After Giulianis shenanigans abroad lead to the first impeachment of Trump that year, the ex-mayor would go on to represent Trump at home during the 2020 election and in the days following. In the weeks after his defeat by Biden, Trump leaned on Giuliani and other members of his legal team like Jenna Ellis and Jon Eastman to file legal challenges aimed at halting or reversing the certification of the election results in states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Arizona. Those efforts failed across the board, and Giuliani himself was forced to admit in one instance that the Trump campaign never had the hard evidence of massive numbers of fraudulent ballots which Trump himself was claiming to have obtained. Rudy Giuliani poses for a mugshot weeks after pleading not guilty in an Arizona election interference case ( Maricopa County Sheriff's Office ) On Thursday, the consequences of that admission and his overall scheme to undo the election, which culminated in January 6 were laid bare once again in the nations capital. Giuliani will be permanently banned from practicing law in the District of Columbia. His spokesman Ted Goodman told NBC News that the decision was an absolute travesty and a total miscarriage of justice" and called on top legal minds to speak out in Giulianis defense. But the exact opposite has been happening for years; all credible constitutional legal scholars have rejected the various arguments put forward by the Trump team in 2020, and have derided the continued inability of Giuliani or anyone else who represented those arguments to actually prove the unsubstantiated claims of fraud they were pushing at the time. The people coming after Mayor Giuliani cant take away the fact that he remains the most effective prosecutor in American history, who did more to improve the lives of others than almost any other American alive today, Goodman added. Rudy Giuliani takes part in a press conference alongside members of Donald Trumps legal team including Sydney Powell. ( REUTERS ) Giuliani himself added an element of comedy and sad bufoonery to the proceedings with his own behavior. He frequently made outlandish claims which neither he nor his allies could back up, all the while relying on far-from-credible eyewitnesses who where thrust into the spotlight by Trumps legal team. Then there was the spectacle presented by the former mayor himself sweating some kind of black ooze at one press appearance, audibly breaking wind during one hearing where he attempted to present a group of Trump supporters as eyewitnesses to fraud, and calling a press conference at a landscaping company due to a confusing mix-up with the Four Seasons hotel. Altogether Giulianis contributions to Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election likely hurt more than they helped. Now, he claims the RNC and Trump campaign still owe him $2m in unpaid legal fees and he has filed for bankruptcy as the staggering costs of his ride-or-die attitude come to bear. Theres also the issue of the stunning $148m defamation judgement won against him by two election workers in Georgia, whom Giuliani and other Republicans led a harassment campaign against over bogus election fraud claims. But the fallout is not likely to end there. The once-mayor of New York still remains under felony indictment in Arizona, for the Trump campaigns election schemes there, as well as in Georgia where the case is currently held up by the Trump campaigns efforts to delay or shutter the case. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Kamala Harris doubled down on her burger-flipping duties at McDonalds during her college years, as Donald Trump continues to baselessly claim that the vice president is lying about her summer job. Harris has repeatedly noted her brief stint at the fast food chain before her first law job in the 1980s since she ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket. If elected in the 2024 election, shed make history as the first US president to have worked at McDonalds. A tetchy Trump, however, has repeatedly dismissed Harriss employment as fake. The vice president sat down with MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle in her first one-on-one network interview since she became the Democratic partys presidential nominee, and at one point poked fun at the former presidents obsession with her days at the Golden Arches. Kamala Harris sat down with MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday night in a one-on-one interview ( MSNBC/YouTube ) I just want to ask you, yes or no, Ruhle said. At any point in your life have you served two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions I have, Harris replied. It was not a small job, I did the fries. She continued: Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonalds is because there are people who work at McDonalds in our country who are trying to raise a family. I worked there as a student. Harris has repeatedly compared her more humble beginnings to Trumps wealthy background, suggesting the former president is out of touch with the average citizen. I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility, then, is to meet those needs. Harriss rebuttal comes after Trump once again taunted his Democratic rival for her McDonalds job during his Indiana, Pennsylvania, campaign rally on Monday. Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Ed Fry Arena in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on September 23 ( AFP via Getty Images ) The former president said that he was going to stop by a fast-food joint to try the French fry job for a bit to see how it is. She never worked there! And these fake news reporters will never report it, they dont want to report it because theyre fake, he added. Theyre fake. Trump first declared that Harris was lying about her culinary career at a Moms for Liberty convention at the end of August. Since then, hes fired off numerous social media posts accusing Harris of lying about her stint at McDonalds including a poorly Photoshopped picture of the vice president sporting the iconic Golden Arches cap in a restaurant. On Thursday, Trump took another swipe at the vice president during a Truth Social tirade, once again claiming that her one-time McDonalds job was a lie. Comrade Kamala Harris just put up an Ad saying that I.V.F. was banned in certain areas because of me. That is another LIE, just like her working at McDonalds was a LIE! he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has suggested that he doesnt need to prepare that much ahead of his debate with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on October 1. The debate is set to take place at 9pm ET and will be hosted by CBS News. We have well-developed views on public policy, so we dont have to prepare that much, the Ohio senator said during a press call on Wednesday, according to the New York Post. However, The New York Times has reported that Vance is spending several days hosting prep sessions in rural Michigan this week. While President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spent days preparing for their debates, which in the end led to Bidens departure from the race, Vance said, Were not planning to do anything similar. What were going to focus on is that I make as concise and direct appeal to the American people as possible about Donald Trumps successful policies and Kamala Harris failed policies, he added. Kamala Harris record is one of unadorable groceries, unaffordable housing and Americans who are losing their jobs. So I dont think we have to prepare that much because we dont have to hide our record from the American people, we just have to talk about it, Vance said. Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) speaks to supporters during a campaign event at the Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds. He is now saying he doesnt have to prepare that much for his upcoming debate ( Getty Images ) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is playing Vance during Walzs mock debates while Republican and Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer playing the part of Walz during Vances preparations. Emmer was called in to emulate Walzs folksy demeanor, according to ABC News. Vances debate prep has consisted of sessions at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as online preparations with colleagues, including Trump advisor Jason Miller. The Ohio senator has over the course of the last month looked over debate plans, tactics, as well as questions that might arise during the debate, ABC noted. The Republican VP nominee is set to attempt to depict the Minnesota governor as a far-left progressive, taking aim at his policy priorities during his time in the governors mansion. Emmer, the House Republican majority whip, previously chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee. He endorsed Trump earlier this year even after the ex-commander-in-chief called him a globalist RINO (Republican In Name Only) as he took him out of contention for the House speakership following the departure of former California Representative Kevin McCarthy. Between 2015 and 2019, Walz and Emmer both served in the House. Vances wife Usha, a fellow Yale Law School graduate, has been taking part in the debate preparations, according to ABC News. Usha Vance previously clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. The debate prep has included watching footage of Walzs previous debate from earlier campaigns but a source close to Vance told ABC that his interviews with the press have also helped him prepare. The debate is set to be moderated by Norah ODonnell, the anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News, as well as Margaret Brennan, the moderator of Face the Nation and the chief foreign affairs correspondent for the network. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Stephen Colbert has continued to delight in Donald Trumps rage after baiting the former president by calling him boring. The Late Show host said that his description of the former president in a recent PBS interview was deliberate and intended to upset him. During the interview, Colbert was asked if he would consider having Trump as a guest on his show. Ive had him before and hes kind of boring, so no, he replied. Trump was quick to react, and apparently rattled, as he penned a long post on his social media platform, Truth Social, taking aim at Colbert, who he described a total loser and VERY BORING. The Late Show host said that his description of Trump in a recent interview was deliberate and intended to upset him ( The Late Show/ CBS ) I briefly watched an interview of Stephen Colbert on highly government subsidized PBS, and found it fascinating for only one reason Why would they be wasting time and the publics money on this complete and total loser? Trump wrote Tuesday. He is not funny, which he gets paid far too much to be, he is not wise, he is VERY BORING, and his show is dying from a complete lack of viewers. Colbert responded to Trumps Truth Social post during his late-night show on Wednesday. "Hes clearly upset because I called him boring. And I called him boring because I knew it would upset him, Colbert said, prompting laughter from the audience. Which it did, because hes so predictable. Which is ultimately what makes him kinda boring." During a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this week, Trump also lashed out at Colbert, and his fellow late-night show hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon. The former presidents two chief complaints related to a moment from Fallons show eight years ago, and a joke that Kimmel made at the Oscars more than six months ago. When I first ran in 2015 or was thinking about running I went on [Jimmys] show, The Tonight Show, which is dying. Theyre all dying, Trump added. Where is Johnny Carson? Bring back Johnny. It made you appreciate the greatness of Johnny Carson. These three guys are so bad. Trump responded to remarks made by Colbert on his social media platform, Truth Social ( AP ) Trumps comments about Carson have since gone viral, with a number of people wondering if he was speaking literally about bringing back Carson, who died in 2005. The former president often appears to take remarks from late-night comedians to heart and while in the White House, he reportedly tried to have Kimmel censored. Rolling Stone reported last year that Trump made at least two phone calls to a top executive at Disney, the parent company of ABC which airs Jimmy Kimmel, Live!, to demand action against the star in 2018. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Mark Robinson continues to be battered by staff resignations as the fallout from a CNN investigation into his past continues. The North Carolina lieutenant governor previously saw the lions share of his campaign staff quit over the weekend resignations which included his campaign manager and deputy campaign manager, leaving him with little more than a spokesman. On Tuesday, it was further reported by WRAL, a local news outlet, that the staff exodus extended to non-campaign staff at his state office in Raleigh. Just half of his staff remains, according to WRAL, which cited sources familiar with the situation. Four staffers have quit or are in the process of doing so, according to the news outlet; they include Robinsons spokesman, policy director, government affairs director and another top adviser. A request for comment from The Independent was not immediately answered. The website of the lieutenant governors office indicated that Robinsons scheduler and constituent services director remained as points of contact. Over the weekend, eight staffers resigned from Robinsons campaign. He had just three remaining after the initial exodus, according to reports. Mark Robinson joins Donald Trump onstage at the latters rally in Wilmington in May of 2023. The Trump-endorsed candidate is now seeing his campaign and state office staffers exit in droves after a damaging CNN report. ( Getty Images ) The total collapse of his campaign and state office follows the publication of a lengthy CNN KFile investigation last Thursday. The investigation reported that it had linked Robinson, through a known screenname and email address, to a long series of comments made on a porn site called Nude Africa. The contents of those posts were shocking in nature in addition to calling himself a Black Nazi and telling others he would like to own slaves, the account also made lurid and jaw-droppingly graphic comments about his own sexual habits and preferences, including a fascination for tranny porn, according to CNN. Robinson has strongly denied making the posts in a video message. On Tuesday, he also announced the hiring of a law firm to lead an independent investigation into the posts. He hasnt said what he would do with the results of that investigation, including whether theyd be made public, and has not commented further on a threat to file a defamation lawsuit against CNN over the report. Meanwhile, his own party is abandoning him in droves. Donald Trump declined to mention his candidacy at a rally on Saturday in Wilmington where he shouted-out numerous Republican electeds in attendance. The Republican Governors Association (RGA) has also pulled ad funding for his campaign and a number of GOP governors from neighboring states have withdrawn endorsements. Robinson was already trailing his Democratic rival Josh Stein in all available polling before the publication of CNNs report. Now, it seems like his party is pulling its lifelines at the worst possible moment in more ways than one. In the hours after the publication of CNNs report last week, North Carolinas deadline for the withdrawal of candidacy for the 2024 cycle came and went; Republicans are now stuck with their gubernatorial nominee. Polling of the state separately shows Vice President Kamala Harris trailing Donald Trump by a low single-digit margin, similar to the threshold by which Joe Biden was defeated in the state in 2020. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Melania Trump has opened up about her son Barrons decision to attend college in New York City, saying she doesnt feel like an empty nester because he still lives at home. In her first sit-down interview in over two years, Melania told Fox & Friendss Ainsley Earhardt that she respected her 18-year-old sons decision to attend college at New York University, which means he can live at home at Trump Tower during his studies. I could not say Im an empty nester, I dont feel that way, she said. I raised Barron as [his] own person and give him his own yes and nos. I respect that, it was his decision to come here, that he wants to be [in] New York and study [in] New York and live in his home and I respect that. Barrons childhood has largely been split between his fathers Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, and the familys sprawling Mar-A-Lago estate in Florida. After graduating from high school in Florida in May, he began his freshman year at NYU earlier this month. Melania fawned over her only son in the interview, crediting him as an incredible young man. Barron (pictured with Melania and Donald Trump) is living at home while studying at NYU ( REUTERS ) She said: Im very proud of what he grew up to. His strength, his intelligence, his knowledge, his kindness. Its admirable. And hes enjoying his college days. I hope he will have a great experience because his life is very different than any other 18 19 year-old child. When the freshman started at NYU, a flurry of videos popped up on TikTok of the 18-year-old making his way around campus, trailed by Secret Service agents. Fellow NYU students shared the videos of Barron, aptly described by WIRED as Sasquatch-esque: short, frantic, blurry clips of the elusive 69 freshman making his way to class. In the Fox & Friends interview, the former first lady was also asked for her advice on how to navigate being a parent of a blended family, with her husband Donald Trump having four other children with two other women. Everybodys in control of own self, said Melania. Im not in control of my husband. Im not in control of his children. Im not even in control of my child. Barron at his high school graduation in May ( AFP via Getty Images ) Trump has previously revealed that Barron who Melania has long sought to keep out of the spotlight has started to take an interest in politics. Hes really been a great student. And he does like politics, Trump told Talk Radio 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia in May. Its sort of funny. Hell tell me sometimes, Dad, this is what you have to do. Trumps former White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, recently revealed that Barron has been giving advice around how to attract support from younger voters. The teenager is said to have been behind Trumps on-camera interview with social media influencer Adin Ross, who is popular with young men. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} House Speaker Mike Johnson has rebuffed former president Donald Trumps overtures by letting the House of Representatives vote to approve a spending bill to keep the government funded until December despite the fact that it included no provisions to tighten elections. Trump had previously called on House Republicans to not agree to a continuing resolution without the SAVE Act, which claimed it would would prevent illegal immigrants from voting. This, despite the fact that US law already prohibits such a practice in federal elections. If Republicans dont get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form, Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. Some conservatives and members of the House Freedom Caucus expressed frustration at the fact that House Republican leadership gave up. And I realize he's got a tough job, but the country's in tough shape, financially, militarily in every way, Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina told The Independent. So I will wish he had fought harder, but it is what it is. But House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole told The Independent that including the SAVE Act was not feasible and a government shutdown would be worse. My personal opinion is, we were not likely to be able to get that and the government shutdown was not going to be helpful to President Trump, let alone to our efforts to hold on to the House, he said. The House voted 341-82 to pass the continuing resolution, which will fund the government at levels set in the fiscal year 2024 budget, through December 20. It's pretty consistent to where this congress has been on issues like providing funding to Ukraine and israel and funding government earlier this year, so it's not surprising, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California told The Independent. All of the chambers Democrats voted to approve the measure, joining with 140 Republicans to pass it under a provision of House rules requiring two-thirds of the chamber to vote on bills that bypass the regular legislative process. All Democrats voted with 138 Republicans to keep the government open. The House held the vote under suspension of the rules, which allowed for House Republican leadership to sidestep it having a vote in the Rules Committee, given opposition from far-right members. That meant that the legislation had to pass with more than two-thirds of the vote. Despite defying the former president, Johnson is a Trump loyalist who even turned up to the former presidents trial in New York to support him. It is unclear how Trump will respond to Johnsons defying his demands to keep the government open. Throughout the 118th Congress, Republicans have relied on Democrats to pass stopgap spending bills to prevent a shutdown, to raise the debt limit and pass aid to Ukraine and Israel. The House will now leave until the after the election. Republicans hope to hold onto and grow their narrow majority in the House while Democrats seek to flip a handful of Republican-held seats that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020. The legislation will now head to the Senate where it is expected to pass swiftly. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley detailed her long and complicated history with Donald Trump during an episode of her new Sirius XM radio show Nikki Haley Live on Wednesday. On this show, youre not going to hear me say glowing things about Donald Trumps personality. I have issues with him, as well, Haley said. I have not forgotten what he said about me. Ive not forgotten what he said about my husband or his, you know, deployment time or his military service. I havent forgotten about his and his campaigns tactics from, you know, putting a bird cage outside our hotel room to calling me bird brain. Despite serving in the Trump administration, Haley has had an often-times contentious relationship with the former president. During the 2024 primary campaign, Haley challenged Trump, and the former president often insulted her in return, calling her bird brain and making light of her husbands military deployment. Haley wasnt afraid to go after Trump either, arguing both he and Joe Biden were too old to still be in the running, and calling for mental competency tests for politicians above age 75. Nikki Haley has alternatively praised and criticized Trump since serving in Trump administration ( AP ) That disdain continued during Wednesdays broadcast, where Haley reiterated her reservations about both men. If I thought either one of those candidates were great, I wouldnt have run for office, she said. Still, despite her issues with Trump, Haley endorsed her rival in July during the Republican National Convention. "Ill start by making one thing perfectly clear: Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period," she told the crowd. I know there are people out there who dont agree with Donald Trump 100 percent. I happen to know some of them, Haley added. I want to talk to them tonight. My message is simple: You dont have to agree with Donald Trump 100 percent of the time to vote for him. The stance earned her the ire of other Republicans who have criticized Donald Trump, including former congresswoman Liz Cheney, who broke party ranks and endorsed Kamala Harris. I cant understand her position on this in any kind of a principled way, Cheney said. I think that the things that she said, that she made clear when she was running in the primary, those things are true, she continued. Those of us who have fidelity to the Constitution, have a responsibility and a duty to recognize [that] this is not about partisan politics. Embattled gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson was not the only Republican absent at former president Donald Trumps rally in Wilmington, North Carolina last weekend. While North Carolinas junior senator Ted Budd addressed the crowd, its senior senator and longtime power broker Thom Tillis notably did not speak. In the days after CNNs report that Robinson had allegedly commented on a porno site called Nude Africa calling himself a black Nazi and a perv who would have owned slaves if he had the chance, the incumbent lieutenant governor has vehemently denied his involvement. He has also hired a lawyer who he says will help to prove the allegations are false. But Tillis told The Independent that Robinson needs to come forward to substantiate his claims that artificial intelligence was behind the posts. What I've said publicly is I think it's on Mr Robinson to demonstrate to us that he has evidence to the contrary, he told The Independent in a brief interview on Tuesday. Its fair to say that there is no love lost between Tillis and Robinson. Back in 2023, Tillis endorsed Bill Graham in the primary for governor rather than Robinson, which led to Robinson calling Tillis North Carolinas Mitt Romney. (That is, of course, more than a little ironic, given that Romney put North Carolina back in the Republican column during his 2012 presidential campaign after Barack Obama won it in 2008.) Tillis denied that he endorsed Graham out of any animosity toward Robinson. The basis for me endorsing Graham and the primary was he has extraordinary experience, business experience, he said. That blew up in Tilliss face when Robinson won with overwhelming niumbers. But it doesnt look like such a bad move now. [Democrats] are going to blame other people for having endorsed Robinson before these revelations ever came out, Tillis said this week. Everybody's going to try and associate President Trump [with him] but there's no way on earth President Trump would endorse his person if this proves to be true and he was aware of the facts. Dan Bishop, the Republican congressman and candidate for attorney general, refused to comment on Robinson on Wednesday. Ive already spoken to that, Bishop, who previously backed Robinson, told The Independent when asked. Meanwhile, Representative Jeff Jackson Bishops Democratic opponent in the attorney general race credited Tillis for speaking out. He has basically pulled his support from Mark Robinson, he told The Independent. Not many Republicans in North Carolina have done so, so credit to Thom for doing the right thing here. Tillis and Robinson represent different approaches to Trump, the Republican Party and the future trajectory of the GOP. Tillis in many ways embodies the pre-MAGA Republican. After North Carolina voted for Obama in 2008, Tillis who is from the Charlotte suburb of Cornelius got to work and helped Republicans win both houses of North Carolinas legislature for the first time since 1898 in 2010. His political ally, former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory, flipped the governorship in 2012. Together, they immediately passed sweeping tax cuts, voter ID laws and other major conservative priorities. In 2014, Tillis would challenge Senator Kay Hagan, the states incumbent Democratic senator, who won the same year Obama won North Carolina. The race was one of the most expensive Senate campaigns in history at the time, and the attacks grew intensely personal as it heated up. Ultimately, Tillis eked out a win. All of this to say: he climbed the ladder in the traditional manner for a Republican. Robinson, on the other hand, largely rose to prominence in 2018 when he gave a scorching speech at the Greensboro City Council defending gun rights after the Parkland shooting. The speech went viral and it led to Robinson easily winning the lieutenant governorship in 2020. That was the same year Tillis won re-election for his second term for Senate. Since then, Robinson has become a favorite of Trump, who called him Martin Luther King on steroids. At the same time, this relatively inexperienced politician has accomplished little though he has made a number of misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic comments. Tillis, for his part, is hardly a moderate McCain-type character. He voted to repeal Obamacare, voted for the Trump tax cuts, confirmed all three of Trumps Supreme Court nominations and more recently helped block a tax package that would have included an expanded Child Tax Credit. Unlike his colleague, former North Carolina senator Richard Burr, Tillis did not vote to convict Trump for his actions on January 6. However, he is a consummate dealmaker in Washington, helping to pass criminal justice reform during the Trump administration and the bipartisan infrastructure bill during Joe Bidens presidency. After the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Tillis and Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn worked with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy and then-Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema to pass gun legislation. His friendship with Sinema also led to them passing the Respect for Marriage Act, which included protections for same-sex and interracial couples. In fact, Tillis likes Sinema so much that one Halloween, he dressed one of his dogs up as her. Thom Tillis famously dressed up his dogs as Mitch McConnell and Kyrsten Sinema one Halloween ( AFP via Getty Images ) Hes also been a major supporter of Ukraine and supported the border-Ukraine bill that Trump killed. But he was careful to couch his language as he did so, saying that supporters needed to tell Trump this was a good deal. Such willingness to work across the aisle has earned Tillis condemnation from some circles in the GOP. Last year, the state party censured him for working with Democrats. Tillis knows he has to walk a fine line and he has been careful not openly criticize Trump. Two weeks after Trump repeated the lie that Haitian migrants were eating pets, for instance, Tillis deflected. I'm worried about the damage being done by one and a half million got-away [migrants] since Biden came into office, he told The Independent. And what I'm saying is, whether it's true or not, it's not near as compelling to people who have not made up their minds as [talking about] the abject failure of the border of the Biden-Harris administration. On Wednesday evening, Tillis posted a photo on X/Twitter of Vice President Kamala Harris with indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams, writing: North Carolina Democrats made it clear this week that they believe in guilt by association. The message was pretty clear. But there is no simple solution to the Robinson conundrum. Tillis knows much of the MAGA-fied base of the Republican Party still likes Robinson, even if Trump seems to have been creating distance since the damaging CNN story. And even if Robinson loses his own election, Tillis will still need to cater to those voters if he is to have a future in Trumps Republican Party. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday by federal prosecutors on five counts, including bribery, wire fraud, solicitation of contribution by a foreign national, and conspiracy, making him the first mayor of the city to be charged in office. Prosecutors say Adams, who denies the charges, has been taking bribes and foreign campaign contributions since at least 2014, when he was elected Brooklyn Borough president. Since then, the indictment alleges, Adams has continued to seek out accept, improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. All told, he took more than $100,000 in luxury travel benefits and solicited campaign contributions from straw donors, allowing him to rake in at least $10 million in public funds for his campaiang, prosecutors alleged. The Democrat, a retired police captain who grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, is now fighting for his political career with several prominent politicians already calling for him to resign, including congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Adams was elected as New York Citys 110th mayor in 2021 and took office in 2022. He was due to run again in next years mayoral race for a second term. So what do we know about the indictment of Adams? New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he will fight the charges ( Eric Adams ) What are the allegations? Federal prosecutors hit Adams with five counts: wire fraud, bribery, conspiracy, and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. As Adams prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York Citys mayor, the indictment states. In exchange for the bribes and campaign contributions, Adams is accused of doing favors for foreign nationals, including a senior Turkish official. In one particularly egregious episode, prosecutors say Adams turned the screws on New York City Fire Department officials to approve an occupancy permit for a newly constructed Turkish consular building in Manhattan that the FDNY did not believe was safe. In all, the indictment says Adams received free international flights to France, Sri Lanka, Hungary, China, India, and Turkey, deeply discounted stays at opulent hotels, pricey meals, and other perks worth more than $100,000. He then repeatedly took steps to shield his solicitation and acceptance of these benefits from public scrutiny, omitting the gifts from his required annual financial disclosures, paying nominal amounts to make it seem as if he had in fact paid for the freebies, and created fake paper trails to obfuscate the truth, according to the indictment. Straw donors allegedly allowed Adams to secretly take in cash from foreign entities, wealthy individuals who had already maxed out their allowable yearly contributions, and corporations prohibited by New York City law from donating money to political candidates. Federal agents seized mayors electronic devices In November 2023, federal agents seized Adams electronic devices as part of an ongoing probe into allegations of corruption related to campaign finance wrongdoings. The New York City mayor has been vocal about his longstanding relationship with Turkey and the Turkish-American community of New York. He previously boasted that hes made at least six trips to Turkey. Reports circulated that Adams received campaign donations from employees of a Brooklyn-based construction company owned by a Turkish-American businessman. Adams denies any wrongdoing At a chaotic press conference on Thursday that was interrupted multiple times by protesters Adams denied all allegations of wrongdoing and said he would not be stepping down as mayor. On Wednesday evening, Adams had released a video statement that also proclaimed his innocence. My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, said Adams in the video. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target, and a target I became. He added: I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations, but I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started. Calls for mayor to resign Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has called for Adams to resign ( Getty Images ) Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams to resign on Wednesday. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, she wrote on X. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. Others have echoed her calls, including State Senator John Liu, ABC7NY reports. The people of New York City, however, need a mayor who is able to devote full time and full energy to putting the city on the right track, including recruitment and retention of top leadership for the City, he said. Mayor Adams is simply unable to do that for the foreseeable future and therefore, for the good of all New Yorkers, must resign immediately, Liu added. NYC council member Shekar Krishnan said: New Yorkers deserve better. Mayor Adams has already proven himself unfit and unable to lead from City Hall, Krishnan said. He will absolutely be unable to lead from inside a courtroom. He must resign. Who takes over if the mayor steps down New York City public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would step in as acting mayor if Adams resigns ( Getty ) Adams said he has no intention of resigning. Im stepping up, not stepping down, he said. I have a city to run that I will continue to run. But in the event of his resignation, the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would step in as acting mayor. A special election would be scheduled by Williams who is a fierce critic of Adams which would take place by the end of the year. As the facts emerge, the Public Advocate will have more to say to the people of New York City and right now, he is focused on how best to ensure that New Yorkers can regain trust, confidence and stability in city government, a spokesperson for Williams said in a statement. New York governor, Kathy Hochul ( AP ) Adams is not required to resign but there is only one person has the power to remove him from office before the end of his term: New Yorks governor, Kathy Hochul. A source told the New York Post there is no chance she would, however. String of mayors associates have already resigned Over the past several weeks several of the mayors political associates have resigned or announced their intention to leave their positions. These include the mayors police commissioner, the schools chancellor, the health commissioner and his chief counsel. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Barbara Comstock wants people to know that she is still very much a Republican despite the fact she is voting for Kamala Harris. Tonight, I'm going to a Larry Hogan event, the former Republican congresswoman told The Independent, in reference to the former governor and Republican Senate nominee in Maryland. But she said that former president Donald Trump was damaging the GOP, and in particular slammed Trumps running mate, JD Vance. While Republicans probably, certainly look to gain the Senate [in general], they are going to lose a number of winnable Senate seats, she said, adding that Vance is such a non-starter for me because of his misogyny. On Thursday, Comstock led an an event in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia to convince her fellow Republicans to vote for Harris, too. She was joined by former Republican congressman Denver Riggleman and former Trump administration official Olivia Troye, both of whom have emerged as major critics of Trump in the past few months. Throughout the event, each of the speakers emphasized their conservative credentials. Comstock talked about how she grew up in a family of Massachusetts Democrats, but was convinced to join the Republican Party when she interned for Ted Kennedy. She worked for numerous Republican administrations before serving in Congress. Former Trump official Olivia Troye, seen speaking at the Democratic National Convention, addressed in a Thursday event why as a Republican she could no longer vote for Trump ( EPA ) Riggleman discussed his time in the House Freedom Caucus, the group of right-wing hellraisers who often accuse other Republicans of being insufficiently conservative. Meanwhile, Troye spoke about her four years in the GOP. Harris has actively courted Republicans throughout her campaign, receiving the backing of some elected officials, as well as former staffers for the Bush and Reagan administration and staff for the late John McCain. Troye even spoke at the Democratic National Convention. What we're saying is, we don't have to be in agreement with everything when it comes to Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. But we can agree on fundamental things, like: we want to preserve our democracy, she told The Independent. We want to be strong on national security. We don't want someone that's cavorting with dictators and lauding praise on dictators like Donald Trump did during the debate. Troye also noted that she is neighbors with JD Vance, who she referred to as anti-women. Attendees at the event talked up their Republican credentials while explaining their decision to vote for Harris. Faith Rodill, who brought her young daughter along to the event, told The Independent that she had worked with numerous Republican members of Congress but I'm worried about the future of my children, especially my daughters, and having an example of the former president who's trying to get his job back is just absolutely unacceptable. I'm really jazzed to have my daughter see that justice needs to prevail, she added. We want to be strong on national security. We dont want someone thats cavorting with dictators and lauding praise on dictators like Donald Trump did during the debate, some Republicans said. Trump is seen meeting with Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban ( Zoltan Fischer/X/AFP/Getty ) Specifically, Rodill expressed her concern about reproductive rights being taken away from women. It shouldn't even be a question that, at the end of the day, these conversations need to be with a woman, her partner or her religious leader, not by the government whatsoever. I don't want that taken away from my girls, Rodill said. Steve Devaine said that he had worked on Richard Nixons re-election campaign, but called Nixon quaint by comparison with Trump. Donald Trump is a convicted felon, and guess what? He's going to be convicted of a whole lot more if he doesn't get elected and make sure the charges are dismissed, he said. This guys a bad guy. He is not interested in representational, constitutional democracy. Riggleman said that Harriss campaign has been incredibly welcoming to Republicans, which is a good sign for how she should govern. I think there should be, literally, Republicans at the White House with her after she's elected, just to talk to her about what we've seen, what we've done, he told The Independent. For her part, Harris expressed openness to hiring a Republican in her administration during her first sitdown interview with CNN. Many other notable Republicans such as former members of Congress Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, both of whom voted to convict Trump for his actions on January 6 and worked on the select committee investigating the riot, as well as former vice president Dick Cheney have all indicated they will vote for Harris. Comstock noted that while Virginia is seen as a state that will likely vote Democratic, she was also going to push for her relatives in Pennsylvania and North Carolina to break for Harris, particularly her Catholic family members. Im proud of my family, my Catholic family, who [Trump] said shouldnt be voting for Harris, she said, referencing a recent speech during which Trump said Catholics considering voting for Harris should have their heads examined. Most of my Catholic family is [voting for Harris], Comstock added. Particularly the ones in the swing states. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fox News host Martha MacCallum confronted Robert F Kennedy Jr about his alleged sexting scandal with New York Magazines star reporter Olivia Nuzzi live on air on Wednesday. Rumors began swirling last Thursday when the magazine announced that Nuzzi, 31, had been placed on leave after disclosing a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the election. The magazines media reporter Oliver Darcy revealed soon after that the alleged mystery subject was 70-year-old RFK Jr. MacCallum brought up the alleged scandal on air on Fox News on Wednesday. I want to give you an opportunity to address some headlines, she said. Nodding to wild, resurfaced stories that he dumped a dead bear cub in Central Park and beheaded a dead whale with a chainsaw, she said: Because you seem to be surrounded by, you know, scandals and old stories that keep coming up about animals and all of this. She continued: The latest one is an inappropriate relationship with a New York Magazine political reporter who was covering your campaign. Its gotten a lot of attention, so what do you say to your supporters who question your behavior and want to know whats going on? RFK Jr quickly tried to shut down the question. Reporter Olivia Nuzzi at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 29 2023 ( AFP via Getty Images ) I never comment on those kind of stories, he replied, telling the news anchor he was happy to discuss other topics, such as health and ending the conflict in Ukraine. But as a person do you have any regrets about any- she continued to ask. RFK Jr firmly repeated himself: Like I said, I dont make comments on it. MacCallum backed down, but added that she wanted to give him the opportunity to answer it because its been out there, but we thank you very much for being here, as always. RFK Jr, who has been married to actor Cheryl Hines for a little over 10 years, apparently boasted to his friends about receiving intimate photos from Nuzzi, according to reports from The Daily Beast and Puck News last week. These boasts managed to work their way back to Nuzzis boss, New York Magazine editor David Haskell, resulting in the journalist being put on leave while a review is carried out. RFK Jr (left) was asked about the alleged affair in interview with Martha MacCallum (right) ( Getty ) Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign, the statement from New York Magazine reads. Nuzzi released her own statement denying the relationship with Kennedy was physical. Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal, she said. During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source. She added: The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those Ive disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York. A spokesperson for RFK Jr told The New York Times that he had met Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece. The Independent has contacted RFK Jr and Nuzzi for further comment. Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza at the 2023 White House Correspondents Dinner After Party. The couple got engaged in 2022 but have since broken up ( Getty Images for CBS News ) Hines is RFK Jrs third wife. His first marriage to Emily Black ended in divorce in 1994, while his second wife Mary Richardson died by suicide in 2012, two years after he filed for divorce. On Friday, Nuzzis partner Ryan Lizza, a reporter at Politico, released a statement which referred to Nuzzi as his ex-finacee. It is not clear when the couple parted ways. Because of my connection to this story through my ex-fiancee, my editors and I have agreed that I wont be involved in any coverage of Kennedy in Playbook or elsewhere at POLITICO, Lizza said. Judging by social media posts, the couple had been engaged since September 2022. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Roseanne Barr shrieked on stage at a MAGA event sharing conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and the January 6 insurrection. During her Tuesday appearance alongside the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Barr baselessly claimed that the Democrats overthrew the government in 2020 because they didnt accept Trumps nonexistent victory, Mediaite noted. The former president lost the popular vote in 2016 and again by a wider margin in 2020, allowing President Joe Biden to claim an electoral college win where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came up short. On Tuesday, Barr made the fact-free claim that liberals have used the January 6 Capitol riot to distract the public from an insurrection of their own. They overthrew the Constitutional Republic of the United States of America. And then they covered it up with their January 6th bulls***. With their insurrection! she stood up from her seat and shouted from the stage. Roseanne Barr shared conspiracy theories at a MAGA event attended by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson ( Screenshot / X ) President Trump God bless that man I love him and everybody knows it, she added. I love him more now than I ever loved him and I loved him pretty damn good. He drove me out in a Bentley when I did my second HBO special at Trump Palace in Atlantic City if youve seen it. Hes always been a good friend and a good man, she said. Carlson has hosted a traveling talk show alongside other conspiracy theorists, such as InfoWars host Alex Jones, during his national tour. On Tuesday, he watched in silence as Barr yelled at the audience before starting to laugh. Barr recently attempted to distance herself from a video shared on social media in which former independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr told her about how he dumped a dead bear in Central Park a decade ago. This was not filmed by me or my team. This was off the cuff after the interview, she wrote on X on August 6. There is no spin here just a funny story. Its nice to see RFK finally get some press Albeit during an economic crash by the Biden-Harris administration. Great job journos! On Tuesday, Barr made the fact-free claim that liberals have used the January 6 Capitol riot to distract the public from an insurrection of their own by stealing the 2020 election ( AP ) Kennedy shared the video on X in an apparent attempt to get out ahead of the publishing of a story by The New Yorker magazine. Kennedy, who joined the Democratic primary before dropping out and running as an independent only to end his campaign before the election and endorse former President Donald Trump, said he left New York in October 2014 to go falconing over the weekend in upstate New York, when he supposedly spotted the driver ahead of him strike a bear, killing it instantly. He claimed that he pulled over to pick up the animal. I was going to skin the bear and it was in very good condition and I was going to put the meat in my refrigerator, he claimed. He subsequently attended a dinner before realizing that he didnt have time to go home before he had to head to the airport, prompting him to dump the bear in Central Park. The next day ... it was on every television station. It was [on the] front page of every paper and I turned on the TV and there was like a mile of yellow tape and 20 cop cars, there were helicopters flying, and I was like, Oh my god. What did I do? he added in the footage with Barr. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Secret Service agent is accused of sexually assaulting a staffer for Kamala Harris in a hotel room. The alleged incident took place over the last week, as a team of agents and Harris staffers did advance planning and security work for a September 20 event in Wisconsin that was later canceled, reports RealClearPolitics, citing four unnamed sources in the Secret Service community. The agent in question and the Harris staffers reportedly ate and drank together at a local restaurant, then went back to the female staffers room. There, the agent allegedly forced himself on the woman and groped her, an incident allegedly witnessed by others. Those inside the room allegedly kicked the agent out into the hallway, where he was said to have been so drunk he passed out. The U.S. Secret Service Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating a misconduct allegation involving an employee, a Secret Service spokesman said in a statement to the outlet. The Secret Service holds its personnel to the highest standards. The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Agent is accused of groping Harris staffer during advance trip to Wisconsin ( Getty Images ) The Harris campaign office also confirmed it was aware of the allegation. We have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, it told The Guardian. Senior OVP [Office of the Vice President] officials were alerted by the USSS about an incident involving an agent and informed that USSS initiated an investigation. Secret Service agents have been accused of misbehavior on trips in the past, including a 2012 scandal where agents in Colombia brought prostitutes back to a hotel, and a 2014 incident in which three agents protecting President Obama were sent home and suspended for excessive drinking during a trip to Amsterdam. In recent months, the elite outfit has been under scrutiny for potential security lapses, following multiple close-call threats against the life of Donald Trump, including an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and an alleged plot in Florida. On Wednesday, a bipartisan Senate report accused the Secret Service of major lapses in planning and communication over the recent incidents. [United States Secret Service] failures in planning, communications, security, and allocations of resources were foreseeable, preventable, and directly related to the events resulting in the assassination attempt, the report says. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former President Donald Trump has been forced to cancel an outside rally in Wisconsin because of shortages within the Secret Service. The rally was planned for Saturday at an airport, but the agency said it didnt have the staff needed to secure the area, according to CBS News. The former president is instead set to speak at a smaller indoor venue in Prairie du Chien in the southwestern part of the state on the border with Iowa. The Secret Service said it was low on personnel because of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where they have to provide security for foreign leaders during their time in the US. An agency official told CBS News the Secret Service was never configured to provide such an elevated level of protection for an increasing number of protected. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage by U.S. Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a Pennsylvania rally. He has now canceled an outdoor rally in Wisconsin due to Secret Service shortages ( Getty Images ) Our personnel and equipment are being pushed to their limits to sustain the current operational tempo, they added. This proposed Wisconsin event also took place during the United Nations General Assembly, where the Secret Service is responsible for the safety and security of over 140 world leaders amid a challenged global threat level. The Secret Service increased its protection for Trump following the assassination attempt against the Republican nominee in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 when he was grazed by a bullet before being covered by agents. One rally attendee was shot and killed by the gunman and two others were injured. An alleged second attempt on Trumps life was disrupted on September 15 when an agent opened fire on the suspect, who fled but was later detained going down I-95. Secret Service officials have asked Congress for more funding and resources even as legislators have severely criticized the agency for the July 13 security failures. This week, lawmakers approved $231 million in fresh funding for the agency. Trump has held outdoor rallies, such as in Butler, Pennsylvania, but now had to move a planned weekend outdoor event to a smaller indoor location due to lack of personnel ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The service is tasked with protecting foreign leaders while theyre in the US as well as President Joe Biden and his family, in addition to former presidents, vice presidents, their families and candidates for president and vice president. The service is currently protecting about three dozen people continually, CBS noted. The Trump campaign decreased the frequency of outdoor rallies following the Pennsylvania shooting as they require more coordination and planning. Former President Donald Trump is receiving heightened levels of US Secret Service protection and our top priority is mitigating risks to ensure his continued safety at all times, a spokesperson for the service told the network. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republicans may be outraged over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to a munitions plant in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, but the White House isnt paying much heed to their complaints. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre used her Thursday press briefing to bat down gripes from House Republicans who are accusing Zelensky of improperly interfering in the upcoming US presidential election by visiting a weapons factory where artillery shells used by his countrys armed forces are being produced. The Ukrainian leader is in the US to attend the UN General Assembly and is meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House later in the day Thursday. He drew Republicans ire when he visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania over the weekend. During his visit, Zelensky inspected production lines where the 155mm artillery shells, designed for the front lines in his countrys war with Russia, are manufactured. He did so alongside the states governor, Josh Shapiro. While inspecting the plant, he told workers: It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail. Thanks to people like these in Ukraine, in America, and in all partner countries who work tirelessly to ensure that life is protected. Zelenskys sojourn in the Keystone State and his subsequent criticisms of former president Donald Trump and his running-mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance led House Republicans to level charges of putting a thumb on the scales for Harris, particular since Pennsylvania is an important swing state. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer was moved to send letters to the White House, Department of Justice and Department of Defense in which he demanded any information and communication, both internal and external, about President Zelenskys visit to the United States, and griped that Zelensky was granted the use of an Air Force aircraft for his travel to Pennsylvania. Speaker Mike Johnson went a step further, calling for Zelensky to fire his widely respected ambassador, Oksana Markarova, because shed failed to invite any Republicans to the event. But White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back on the GOPs assertions by noting that the visit to the plant was arranged at the request of Zelenskys government and no one else. The Ukrainians asked to visit the facility, which employs American workers ... who are manufacturing critical supplies that the Ukrainian military is using every day on the front lines of freedom because of its centrality ... to their countrys continued existence. This came from the Ukrainians, not us, she said. This is something that they wanted to do after they made that request. DoD did what it has done for years: figure out how to provide transportation for foreign leaders traveling on US soil. As for Zelenskys use of an American military plane, Jean-Pierre pointed out that such arrangements are standard for foreign leaders who are traveling domestically within the United States. She stressed that using military aircraft in such instances is commonplace and not just because Zelensky is someone who the Russian government might like to see dead. She also noted that Zelensky had made similar trip to a different defense manufacturing facility in Utah earlier in the year without drawing any complaints. That trip, she said, featured no Democratic participants, but it did include Utahs Republican governor and other GOP officeholders. There wasnt a single demand, not one, not one single demand for an investigation when that occurred a couple months ago in Utah. So this was business as usual ... We would encourage the House Republicans to drop this, she added. This is a political stunt. In the final days of the Second World War, commandos from the SAS parachuted behind enemy lines to attack a crack German mountain unit in an operation which seems like something out of the pages of a novel. Rafael Ramos Masens killed six Nazi troops and carried his wounded captain to safety. His actions earned him the Military Medal for notable bravery during and after the attack behind enemy lines. Before he reached the attack in Italy, Ramos had walked about 125 miles and fought in two other battles. This is just one of many extraordinary tales of hundreds of Spaniards who fought across Europe and beyond for the British Army, to defeat fascism. Spanish soldiers fought in every theatre of war, including Tobruk, Crete, Salerno, Normandy, Arnhem and the Ardennes. When victory over Germany finally came, however, Spaniards who had risked their lives were disappointed that the Allies did not try to bring down the Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco. Their story is captured in dramatic fashion in Churchills Spaniards, published this month, which relates the heroism of these men, who were already veterans of the Spanish civil war when they enlisted for Britain. Sean Scullion, a lieutenant colonel in the British Army, who is based in the Netherlands for Nato, spent eight years researching the stories of about 1,200 Spaniards who fought for Winston Churchill. The SAS had at least nine Spanish troopers. Two of Ramoss comrades, Justo Balerdi and Francisco Geronimo took part in another operation with the secretive army unit. Balerdi lost his life when he was shot in the head. He was buried under the nom de guerre, R Bruce, after Robert the Bruce. He chose the name to avoid being sent back to Spain if he was captured or to escape summary execution under Hitlers 1942 commando order, which said that any Allied commando must be killed when captured. Geronimo, who was known as Frank Williams, wanted to be called Francis Drake but was not allowed to use the name of the English national hero. Angel Camarena, left, and Francisco Geronimo shortly after joining the SAS and arriving in Britain ( Francisco Geronimo collection ) Another remarkable character was Angel Camarena. Before the Spanish civil war, this poetry-writing free spirit worked as a driver for General Franco and played with the future dictators daughter. But after the civil war broke out, he was condemned to death as a Republican. As he was about to be shot by firing squad, he jumped off a prison ship and was picked up by a passing British ship, only to be returned to the Spaniards on the condition he was not executed. After five years in prison in Morocco, he was released, joined the Allies and was recruited by the SAS. Camarena becomes a good friend of Geronimo and after the war they end up living on the same street in Swansea, of all places, Scullion says. He was involved in the SAS operation which was one of the most famous and most dangerous, Operation Loyton. A lot of the SAS troopers were betrayed by infiltrators as they were close to the German border. I think over 30 SAS members were murdered by the Germans. He survived that. He was another hard as nails guy. Ramos, who was born in Barcelona, had fought on the Republican side in the civil war in the battle of the River Ebro in 1938. After being captured, he escaped to France. His story is typical of other countrymen who were forced to flee Spain after the victory of Francos forces in the civil war in 1939. Some ended up in refugee camps in southern France and then enlisted in the French Foreign Legion to fight the Germans after the Nazi invasion in 1940. But when France fell, many were anxious to change armies and fight for Britain as they respected British discipline. A second wave of Spanish troops joined the British in 1942 after the liberation of North Africa by Allied soldiers. Some joined the SAS and took part in long-distance desert forays with this elite unit. The No 1 Spanish Company of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps was the only exclusively Iberian company. Some were judged hotheads by the British, who disdained the lack of discipline of a few Spanish troops. However, Scullion notes, what some Spaniards lacked in discipline, they made up for in bravery. They were not generally great marksmen, he writes. But they loved the feel of cold steel in their hands: knives and bayonets. After the war, many former soldiers formed exile groups in Britain. Some of them settled down, married local girls or Spanish girls or got their families over from Spain. They formed ex-servicemen associations and carried on the fight [against Franco] from there, says Scullion, who speaks Spanish fluently as he spent part of his youth in Madrid. Scullions meticulous research involved interviewing the families of 70 soldiers but sadly all had died before he could reach them. So he had to separate fact from family myth. For Scullion, this was simply a tale which needed to be told: It is a fascinating story. Churchills Spaniards is published by Helion & Company Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump boasted of a very good relationship with both Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin on Friday as he hosted the Ukrainian leader for a meeting at his New York City skyscraper. The former president also repeated a bizarre boast that he could, if re-elected in November, negotiate an end to the nearly three-year Russian war against Ukraine. Trump, who was impeached in 2019 for using American defense assistance to pressure Zelensky to launch sham investigations into President Joe Biden and his son, was being briefed on Kyivs latest plan for victory against Putin. We have a very good relationship, he told reporters as he stood with Zelensky. And I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. And if we win, I think were going to get it resolved very quickly, he said. Zelensky quickly interjected: I hope we have more good relations between us. Zelensky said he and Trump share a common view that the war ... has to be stopped, and Putin cant win and Ukrainians have to prevail. And I want to discuss with you the details of our plan, he added. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump meets with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump Tower, Friday 27 September in New York ( AP ) For his part, Trump said he and Zelensky have had a great relationship, citing Zelenskys decision to deny that Trump had exerted any pressure on him during the July 2019 phone call in which hed linked sending Javelin anti-tank missiles to Zelenskys announcement of investigations into the Bidens. So we're going to sit down just discuss it, and if we have a win, I think long before January 20, before I would take the presidency ... I think that we can work out something that's good for both sides. It's time, he said. Trump had previously cancelled plans to meet with the Ukrainian leader after Zelensky sparked GOP outrage by visiting the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in the battleground state of Pennsylvania over the weekend. He reversed course late Thursday after Zelenskys meeting with Harris, during which the Democratic presidential nominee told Zelensky that her support for Kyivs defense is unwavering. In what appeared to be a veiled swipe at Trump and his Republican allies, Harris admitted to Zelensky that there are some in the US who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality, and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations. These proposals are the same as those of Putin, and let us be clear: They are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable, she said. Zelensky has been in the United States for the UN General Assembly, where on Wednesday he warned world leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to break the Ukrainian spirit by targeting his countrys energy infrastructure. He also cautioned against accepting purported peace deals that would be negotiated without Ukraine having a say. Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve an out instead of an end to the war, he said, adding later that he was skeptical of the true interest behind a recent push by China and Brazil to foster an end to the conflict. When some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles, it not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians ... it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war, he said. Earlier in the week, Zelensky also toured a Pennsylvania plant where munitions destined for his armed forces are being made. That visit drew anger from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called for Zelensky to fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the US in response. Johnsons outrage was supposedly due to no Republicans being invited along to the tour of the plant, though White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed it as a political stunt by the GOP at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Four people have been questioned as witnesses in the investigation into a Taiwanese company linked to pagers that detonated in Lebanon last week, prosecutors said. At least 39 people, including children, were killed and 3,000 injured after hundreds of pagers and walkie talkies exploded across Lebanon in what is widely suspected to have been an Israeli attack. Israeli president Isaac Herzog appeared to deny his countrys involvement in the attack. He told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: First of all, I reject out of hand any connection to this, or that source of operation. How or when the electronic devices were weaponised and remotely detonated remains under investigation, which has led prosecutors in Taiwan to look at the roles of companies at home as well as in Bulgaria, Norway and Romania. Manufacturing labels on the exploded pagers indicated they were made by Gold Apollo, but the Taiwanese company denied making them. "The product was not ours. It was only that it had our brand on it," company president Hsu Ching-Kuang said. He added that Gold Apollo had licensed BAC Consulting, a company in Hungary to which the devices were subsequently traced, to use its brand. But University College London (UCL) graduate Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, the CEO of BAC Consultancy, said she was just a link in the supply chain and did not make the pagers. Mr Hsu said his company had no knowledge of the pagers being rigged to explode. The remains of exploded pagers on display ( AFP via Getty ) Although the Taiwanese government also claimed that the pagers were not made on the island, prosecutors in Taipei opened an investigation into Gold Apollo. A spokesperson for the Shilin District Prosecutors Office said a current and a former employee of the company have since been questioned as witnesses. We are processing this case expeditiously and seeking resolution as soon as possible," the spokesperson said They declined to name the people questioned or confirm whether any more employees would be interrogated. "The two helped clarify the case and the whole case is under intensive investigation." Mr Hsu and Teresa Wu, the sole employee of a company called Apollo Systems, were questioned last week, the spokesperson said. The investigators reportedly also conducted searches at four locations linked to the company. A Lebanese security source claimed that Hezbollah had ordered 5,000 pagers from Gold Apollo a few months earlier. The group had reportedly asked members in February to stop using mobile phones, warning they could be tracked by Israeli intelligence. Israeli operatives allegedly manufactured the pagers and had them sent to Lebanon as a part of an elaborate ruse instead of just tampering with the devices at some stage, The New York Times claimed in a report. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israel is preparing for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon, army chiefs said on Wednesday, as US president Joe Biden admitted all-out war is possible and Sir Keir Starmer urged British nationals to leave the area immediately. Airstrikes in Lebanon are laying the groundwork for a possible operation to push Hezbollah back and safely return displaced Israeli citizens, said Israeli army general Lt Gen Herzi Halevi. He told troops on Israels northern border the military is preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots, your manoeuvring boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts. A woman reacts at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in the town of Maisara, north of Beirut ( AP ) It came as tensions escalated further with Hezbollah launching its deepest strike yet into Israel, targeting Tel Aviv. Following a day of heavy cross-border strikes, with Hezbollah firing dozens of projectiles into Israel, Lt Gen Halevis statement was the strongest yet that Israeli troops could move in. The intensified violence has led to hundreds of deaths in Lebanon, forced hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the north to huddle in air raid shelters and prompted the displacement of 90,000 Lebanese people from their homes. The prime minister renewed his calls for British nationals to get out while commercial flights are available though most, if not all, are sold out and others cancelled, leaving some stranded. The time to leave is now, he said. If Israel bombs Lebanons only commercial airport in Beirut, as it did in the 2006 war against Hezbollah, it would sever the only means of escape. Britons in Lebanon have told The Independent how they are considering routes out of Syria as they see no other means of escape. Rita El Kassis, 48, has a UK spouse visa and lives in London but is in Lebanon caring for a sick relative. Im trying not to panic but I have called the embassy and they said there is no plan, she told The Independent. Israeli emergency responders arrive at the site of a rocket strike, fired from Lebanon, in the northern Israeli city of Safed ( AFP via Getty ) She continued: I had a search online yesterday and the only alternative flight available was a business class flight for 4,600 to Dubai. I would then need to book another flight to London. Rita says she and her family have discussed getting a flight from Turkey but that first means an eight-hour taxi through Syria. President Biden said on Wednesday he remains hopeful a way can be found to prevent further bloodshed, but acknowledged all-out war is still possible. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah groups latest strike, it said in a statement, had targetted the Mossad spy agency headquarters in a Tel Aviv suburb in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip ... and in defence of Lebanon and its people. It blames Mossad for the recent assassination of senior commanders in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Lebanese capital, as well as the explosion of electronic pagers and walkie-talkies last week. Hours later, Israel announced it was carrying out more extensive strikes across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley running along the border with Syria. Israeli emergency responders inspect the site of a rocket attack, fired from Lebanon, in Kibbutz Saar, north of Nahariya ( AFP via Getty ) Hospitals in Lebanon have been filled with the wounded since a sharp intensification of bombing on Monday which was the countrys deadliest day since the end of a 1975-1990 civil war. Lt Gen Halevis comments came after the Israeli military began activating reserve troops to send to its northern front. Israels military said it would call up two reserve brigades which could consist of 6,000 to 10,000 troops for operational missions in the north. Israel has expanded the zones it has been striking since Tuesday night, with attacks for the first time on the beach resort town of Jiyyeh just south of Beirut and Maaysrah. The strikes also took place in Bint Jbeil, Tebnin and Ain Qana in the south, the village of Joun in the Chouf district near the southern city of Sidon, and Maaysrah in northern Keserwan district. In Beirut, thousands of displaced people who fled from southern Lebanon were sheltering in schools and other buildings. More than 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since Monday, the United Nations said on Wednesday. People take cover as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets fired from Lebanon, in Haifa ( AP ) This is in addition to the 111,696 people who have been displaced since October 2023. In northern Israel, about 60,000 people so far have been evacuated because of near-daily attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon since October. Hezbollah began to fire across Israels northern border on 8 October last year, a day after fellow Iran-backed Hamas launched a deadly attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage, around half of which remain in Gaza. The subsequent Israeli aerial and ground assault in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to the latest update from the local health ministry in the Hamas-run strip, and forced more than 90 per cent of the enclaves population to flee their homes, many on multiple occasions. Local officials in Gaza say the extent of Israels attacks on the enclave has lessened in recent days as Israel shifts its focus to the Israeli-Lebanon border and Hezbollah, at least temporarily. But Palestinians are still being killed. At least a dozen died on Monday, while 24 were killed on Sunday and 40 a day earlier, according to a civil defence spokesperson. People mourn near the coffins of three Hezbollah members, who were killed in Israeli strikes ( Reuters ) Hezbollah says it will not stop firing rockets at Israel until they halt their war on Gaza. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to New York for a speech on Friday. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report Close Israeli hostages families march to Netanyahus home on October 7 anniversary For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sirens have sounded in central Israel after five projectiles were launched from Lebanon on the first anniversary of the October 7th attacks. The Israeli military said some projectiles were intercepted, while the rest fell in open areas and added that there were no changes made in the Home Front Commands guidelines. Lebanons Hezbollah later issued a statement saying it launched a missile operation targeting a military intelligence unit near Tel Aviv. Earlier, the Israeli military said it will launch operations on Lebanons southern coast as it told residents on a 60-kilometre stretch along the Mediterranean to stay off the beaches. More than 2080 have been killed in total, and a further 9869 wounded, since Israel began bombing Lebanon a few weeks ago. It comes as Israeli civilians mark the anniversary of Hamas deadly 7 October attack, during which they killed around 1,200 people and took 251 more hostage in Gaza, 101 of which remain in the enclave. Nearly 42,000 Palestinians have since been killed by Israels retaliatory air and ground attack in Gaza, according to the local, Hamas-run health ministry. Families of the hostages marched to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus residence in Jerusalem this morning to mark the terror attack. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Iraeli military to keep hitting Hezbollah at full force in Lebanon despite growing international pressure for a ceasefire. The US and France have been joined by the UK and nine other allies in calling for a 21-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, to give mediators space to seek a diplomatic resolution to conflict before it becomes an all-out regional war. More than 630 people in Lebanon have been killed by airstrikes since Monday, with thousands wounded. An Israeli warplane struck the edges of the capital Beirut on Thursday, killing at least two people and wounding 15, Lebanon's health ministry said. That took deaths from hits overnight and during Thursday to 28. It is the heaviest bombardment since the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006. The Beirut strike killed the head of one of Hezbollahs air force units, Mohammad Surur, according to the Israeli army, the latest senior Hezbollah commander to be targeted in days of strikes. A man holds pictures of his dead relatives at the site of an Israeli airstrike ( AP ) Smoke was seen rising after the hit near an area where several Hezbollah facilities are located and many civilians also live and work. Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV broadcast images of a damaged upper floor of a building. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of missiles at targets in Israel including its commercial hub Tel Aviv, although Israels aerial defence system has ensured that the damage has been limited. Landing in the US to address the UN General Assembly, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters the military will keep hitting Hezbollah with full force and we will not stop until we achieve all our goals, first and foremost returning the residents of the north safely to their homes. In an earlier statement, Mr Netanyahus office said: The news about a ceasefire not true. This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister did not even respond. Israel Katz, the Israeli foreign minister, confirmed that there would be no ceasefire in the north. Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in the southern village of Kfar Rouman ( AP ) Mr Katz added on X: We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken told MSNBC that major world powers wanted a ceasefire and he would be meeting with Israeli officials in New York. A joint statement from the UK, US, France, Australia, Canada, European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, called for an immediate ceasefire in response to the intolerable situation in Lebanon. An immediate 21-day ceasefire would provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement, the statement added. It came after the US and France issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire, saying that the escalation in the past two weeks threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. In London on Thursday, the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, warned there was a risk of all-out war in the Middle East, but a diplomatic solution was still possible. So let me be clear, Israel and Lebanon can choose a different path, despite the sharp escalation in recent days, a diplomatic solution is still viable, Mr Austin said. Lebanese soldiers stand guard at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an apartment in Beiruts southern suburbs ( Getty ) Israeli opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid called instead for a seven-day ceasefire. The State of Israel should announce this morning that it accepts the Biden-Macron ceasefire proposal, but only for seven days so as not to allow Hezbollah to restore its command and control systems, he wrote on X. We will not accept any proposal that does not include removing Hezbollah from our northern border. One of Mr Netanyahus far-right coalition government partners threatened on Thursday to suspend cooperation with his government if it signs onto a temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah, and to quit completely if a permanent deal is reached. It was the latest sign of displeasure from Mr Netanyahus allies toward international efforts for a truce. If a temporary ceasefire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government, said the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party. If Mr Ben-Gvir leaves the coalition, Mr Netanyahu would lose his parliamentary majority and could see his government fall, though opposition leaders such as Mr Lapid have said they would offer support for a ceasefire deal Hezbollah launched 57 rockets towards Israel since Thursday morning, the Israeli army said on Thursday lunchtime. It is unclear whether these caused any damage, but since Monday most Hezbollah rockets have been intercepted by Israeli defence systems. John Healey, UK secretary of state for defence, speaks at a joint press conference with his counterparts from Australia and the US ( Getty ) On the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, the army staged an exercise simulating a ground invasion, a potential next stage after relentless airstrikes and explosions of communications devices. Top Israeli general Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told his troops to ready themselves for a ground invasion of Lebanon. He said on Wednesday the military is preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots, your manoeuvring boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts. Israel has vowed to secure its north and return thousands of citizens to communities there, who have evacuated since Hezbollah launched a campaign of cross-border strikes last year in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. The exchange of fire with Israeli forces has been almost daily since. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal for a pause in fighting. Lebanons caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati welcomed it, but his government has no sway over the group. Hezbollah has insisted it would halt its strikes only if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel has battled Hamas for nearly a year. A ceasefire in Gaza appears out of reach as in Lebanon currently despite months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. The war in Gaza was triggered by a Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October that killed around 1,200 people with another 251 being taken hostage. Israels ensuing aerial and ground assault on Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, and displaced more than 90 per cent of the population. In its statement, Mr Netanyahus office said that the fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved. More than 90,000 Lebanese people have been displaced from their homes as a result of the bombing campaign, while thousands of Israelis have sought cover in air raid shelters. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israeli troops have started an invasion of Lebanon crossing the border to carry out targeted ground raids against Hezbollah across a number of villages. Since the 7 October attack inside Israel by Hamas and Israels subsequent invasion of Gaza, Hamas-ally Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire almost daily over the northern border with Lebanon. Two weeks ago, a series of exploding device attacks in which Hezbollah pagers and walkie talkies blew up around Lebanon an attack widely believed to have been carried out by Israel the conflict has seen a major escalation. According to the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Lebanese authorities say more than one million people have been displaced in southern Lebanon since last October - 90 per cent of which have been in roughly the past week. Around 60,000 Israelis have been evacuated from northern towns in the same period. More than 1,000 people have been killed, including more than 100 women and children in the past two weeks, according to the Lebanese health ministry. A man who was injured in the exploding devices attack sits outside the Eye Specialist hospital in Beirut ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All right reserved ) This includes more than a dozen Hezbollah commanders, including leader Hassan Nasrallah, who led the militant group for more than three decades. But what is Israels goal in going forward with a ground invasion? What is Israels military doing? Nasrallah was killed in a large strike on Beirut, September 27 ( AP ) Israel says its invasion is aimed at guaranteeing security for the northern border. The Israeli military confirmed at 2am local time on Tuesday morning that it would be launching an asault into villages close to the border in southern Lebanon. On Tuesday morning, Israel said intense fighting had erupted with Hezbollah as commandos and paratroopers launched raids. Israel says it will be a limited, localised operation. In comments to the Washington Post, US officials suggested Israeli troops may withdraw after completing their objectives in southern Lebanon. But Israel has left the door open to a larger scale invasion in the coming weeks if its objective of pushing Hezbollah back and returning Israeli citizens to their homes. Israeli tanks were seen manoeuvring near the Israel-Lebanon border last night ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Major General Ori Gordin, the head of the militarys Northern Command, reportedly wants to clear Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure away from the border to create a buffer zone, which would allow the evacuated Israelis to return home. Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist group in the UK, was formed in 1982 but gained significant military power in the 2006 Lebanon War against Israel. Its stated objective is to drive Israeli forces away from southern Lebanon. The group is aligned with Iran, which is understood to provide most of its funding. Hezbollahs military wing is sophisticated and thought to be about the strength of a medium-sized army, stronger than Lebanons own forces. What could be the wider consequences of Israel crossing the border? With its close ties to Iran, a direct assault on Hezbollah runs the risk of drawing the country a long-time opponent of Israel into the conflict. Tensions already reached a high point in April when Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israeli targets in April, responding to the countrys bombing of part of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria. Netanyahu released a video address yesterday ( AP ) Speaking in a video which he said was addressing the Iranian people - but in which he spoke English - Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach. It was a thinly-veiled threat to Tehran, which Mr Netanyahu accused of bringing its own people closer to the abyss. There is nowhere we will not go to protect our people and protect our country, he added. When Iran is finally free - and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think - everything will be different. The West had urged Israel not to invade Lebanon amid concerns of an all-out regional conflict dragging in Iran and huge diplomatic pressure is also being applied on Tehran not to get involved. Israel and Iran have been trading barbed rhetoric and threats about escalation for months, but Mr Netanyahus decison to push into Lebanon is a risk. He may see it as a calculated risk but the US, UK and other nations across the West and Middle East will be deeply concerned about where it might lead. They will see Irans response or preferably a lack of one as key. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK has joined the US and France and a number of other allies in calling for a 21-day ceasefire in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. More than 600 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon this week, as Israel carried out an extensive bombing campaign days after a pair of attacks causing Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies to explode. Around 600 people have been killed and thousands more wounded in the strikes. Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rockets towards Israel including one at Tel Aviv - but most have been intercepted by Israeli defence systems. Israeli army general Lt Gen Herzi Halevi told troops to ready themselves for a ground invasion, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts. Thousands have been forced to flee southern Lebanon after a heavy bombing campaign by Israel ( EPA ) US President Joe Biden is among the Western leaders to express fears of an all-out war and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, has told a UN security council meeting that hell is breaking loose. The UK has now joined calls for a 21-day ceasefire. But what does this actually mean, and will Israel accept it? What would a 21-day ceasefire look like? The UK, US, France, have been joined by nine other countries - Australia, Canada, European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar - in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. In a joint statement, they described the situation in Lebanon as intolerable and in nobodys interest. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety, the statement said. More than 600 people have been killed in Lebanon amid Israels bombing campaign ( AFP via Getty Images ) Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict. An immediate 21-day ceasefire would provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement, the statement added. The signatories would aim to achieve a diplomatic settlement between Israel and Lebanon within the 21-day period, it adds. It comes after the US and France issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire, saying that the escalation in the past two weeks threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. An emergency worker cuts through concrete blocks as he searches for survivors following an Israeli strike in Maisara, north of Beirut ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Will Israel accept it? Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had not responded to the US-French ceasefire proposal, but called news of a truce not true. Mr Netanyahus office said in a statement: The news about a ceasefire not true. This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister did not even respond. He has instead ordered the Israeli military to continue fighting at full power. The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, said on X, formely Twitter: "There will be no ceasefire in the north We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes." Netanyahu will meet world leaders at the UN summit in New York this week ( PA Archive ) It comes as Mr Netanyahu prepares to join world leaders at the UN summit in New York, where he will face growing pressure to accept the proposal. Much will depend on Washingtons appetite for pushing a ceasefire through and how much they can convince Mr Netanyahu it is in his interests. far-right members of Mr Netanyahus governing coalition has, as with the war in Gaza, outright rejected suggestions for a ceasefire. On Thursday morning, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on X: The campaign in the north should end with a single result: crushing Hezbollah and elimination of its ability to harm the residents of the north. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has called for a 7-day ceasefire. He said Israel should accept the plan but only for seven days so as not to allow Hezbollah to restore its command and control systems. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Apple and Meta have both rejected a new AI safety pact put forward by the European Union amid ongoing regulatory feuds. Over 100 companies signed the EU AI Pact, including Amazon, Google, Microsoft and ChatGPT creator OpenAI. Other notable non signatories included leading AI firm Anthropic and video-sharing platform TikTok. The EU AI Pact is a voluntary pledge to develop safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence through three core actions: promoting AI awareness; identifying high-risk AI systems; and adopting an AI governance strategy. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology with numerous beneficial effects. Yet, its advancement brings also potential risks. In light of this, the European Union has adopted the first-ever comprehensive legal framework on AI worldwide, the AI Act, the pact states, referring to the AI regulation that came into force last month to provide a legal framework for companies developing artificial intelligence technologies. In this context and within the framework of the AI Pact, the AI Office calls on all organisations to proactively work towards implementing some of the key provisions of the AI Act, with the aim of establishing best practices for mitigating the risks to health, safety and fundamental rights. The refusal of Apple and Meta to join the pact comes amid ongoing disputes between the tech giants and EU governing authorities. Earlier this year, Meta was forced to pause the roll out of its AI assistant in Europe following a ruling by the Irish Data Protection Commission concerning the Facebook and Instagram owners use of peoples data to train its large language models. Meta said it was committed to meeting the regulatory requirements of the AI Act but would not be joining the pact at this time. We welcome harmonised EU rules and are focussing on our compliance work under the AI Act at this time, but we dont rule out our joining the AI Pact at a later stage, A Meta spokesperson said. We also shouldnt lose sight of AIs huge potential to foster European innovation and enable competition or else the EU will miss out on this once-in-a-generation opportunity. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A post titled Goodbye Meta AI has become one of the most viral trends ever posted on Instagram. The message has been copied and re-posted hundreds of thousands of times. It claims to be a way of stopping Meta the parent company of Instagram and Facebook from using peoples data for artificial intelligence and other features. But the truth is that the post and the disclaimer contained in it will change nothing. The original post is not legally meaningful, and re-sharing it does not represent any kind of objection to Metas policies. The company does offer a way to object to the way that Facebook and Instagram data is used. But even then there is no way of guaranteeing that Meta will actually do anything about it. The message has rocketed around Instagram recently, apparently taking advantage of concern about Metas artificial intelligence tools. The company is pushing heavily into AI, including with new technologies that would use peoples personal information. Those technologies and the data that is used to train and inform them are guided by Metas terms of service, which every user agrees to when they sign up. Those terms make clear that Meta has permission to use photos and videos, for instance, which is required so that it can actually show them to other users. Despite those existing terms, the message being shared on Instagram claims that it is possible to revoke permission for using information and photos. Goodbye Meta Al, the message reads. Please note an attorney has advised us to put this on, failure to do so may result in legal consequences. As Meta is now a public entity all members must post a similar statement. If you do not post at least once it will be assumed you are okay with them using your information and photos. I do not give Meta or anyone else permission to use any of my personal data, profile information or photos. But posting such a picture on Instagram has no legal standing. Whats more, it would not be possible for Meta to comply with the message, since it needs to use personal data, profile information or photos to be able to provide its service. Metas actual terms make clear that it is possible to terminate the agreement, but only by deleting an account. If you delete or we disable or delete your account, these Terms shall terminate as an agreement between you and us, the terms read, though it makes clear that some parts such as those relating to how disputes would be settled remain in place even after that. More usefully, the company does offer a way to actually object to the processing of data. On its website, it explains how users in the EU and UK can use local data regulations to officially object to the way their information is being used it is up to Meta to decide whether it will honour the objection and stop processing the data, but it does offer a more concrete way of responding to the companys policies. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Facebook and Instagram owner Meta has added a new AI translation tool that automatically syncs a persons lips to match a different language. The new feature is part of a package of updates for Metas AI assistant, Meta AI, which includes celebrity voice options for its chatbots. Dame Judi Dench, John Cena and Kristen Bell are among those to lend their voice to the artificial intelligence chatbots, which users can access on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp. The new features were unveiled at Metas annual Connect conference, with chief executive Mark Zuckerberg saying they offered a more natural way to interact with AI. The AI translation feature is not yet available to everybody, with Meta rolling it out to a small group of Instagram and Facebook users. Were testing a Meta AI translation tool that will automatically translate the audio of Reels, so more people can enjoy your content, even if you speak different languages, stated a blog post announcing the new tool. With automatic dubbing and lip syncing, Meta AI will simulate the speakers voice in another language and sync their lips to match. Other Meta AI updates include the ability to analyse images, as well as the option to create an AI-generated image using the Imagine feature. Earlier this year, Meta was forced to pause the roll out of its AI assistant in Europe after the Irish Data Protection Commission blocked the company from using peoples data to train its large language models. The company was one of 59 tech firms to sign an open letter warning that Europe risks falling behind in the AI race due to regulation. Meta was not among the signatories of a new AI Pact, which saw over 100 companies pledge to drive trustworthy and safe AI development. Metas share price hit a record high following the AI announcements, with the tech giants market cap now close to $1.5 trillion. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A woman has been arrested in front of her distressed children at Disneyland Resort for allegedly sneaking the two girls into the California theme park. The unidentified woman reportedly brought her children into the Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim on Wednesday (25 September) without paying for tickets, as is required for children over three years old. Disneyland officials told California-based KTLA5 that the woman had tried to bring the children in without valid tickets by lying about their age, with the Anaheim Police Department staing that the woman was taken into custody for obstructing a peace officer by refusing to show her ID when confronted by staff Video footage of the Disneyland drama shared on social media shows officers removing the woman from the park with two young girls shouting for help in Spanish as their mother was arrested. Disneyland ticketing rules allow children under three years old to enter Disneyland Resort theme parks for free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket and park reservation. Tickets for adults start from $104 (78), with admission for children aged three to nine from $98 (73). According to police, this is not the first time the woman has been suspected of attempting to bypass Disney ticket prices. The Independent has contacted Disney and the Anaheim Police Department for comment. Other parents have previously tried to bend the rules to avoid expensive entry fees at Disney parks. In 2022, a video on TikTok of a woman who disguised her child as a baby to avoid paying the admission price at Disney World sparked a debate about whether it was wrong or a genius idea. I fully support this because we went in May and it was literally like taking a second mortgage out on our house, wrote one social media user. While another stated: No way, I even explain to my kids its wrong to get fountain drinks with a water cup. Its the principle of it. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As Israel attacks targets in central Beirut, the UK Foreign Office has run the first evacuation fliight from Lebanon to help British citizens, their spouses and children under 18 to leave the country. The plane from Beirut touched down at Birmingham airport on Wednesday evening carrying more than 150 British nationals and dependents, according to the Foreign Office. More evacuation flights are planned. The government says they will continue for as long as the security situation allows. But the Foreign Office warns: Do not rely on FCDO being able to evacuate you in an emergency. It is nine weeks since the foreign secretary, David Lammy, first urged UK nationals to leave Lebanon while they could. Sir Kier Starmer reiterated the call last month. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Lebanon due to risks associated with the ongoing conflict between Israel, Lebanese Hezbollah and other non-state actors in Lebanon, and advises anyone in Lebanon to leave now. The preferred method is by a commercial flight. But options are extremely limited, with almost all airlines cancelling flights in and out of the capital, Beirut. Seven hundred British troops have been sent to Cyprus to prepare for a possible evacuation of around 6,000 Britons from Lebanon. The Foreign Office says: There are ongoing mortar and artillery exchanges and airstrikes in Lebanon, primarily on the boundary with Israel but also in other parts of the country, including Beqaa Valley and locations north of the Litani river. Tensions are high and the situation could deteriorate with little warning, which could affect or limit exit routes out of Lebanon. If the political or security situation, commercial routes out of Lebanon could be severely disrupted or cancelled at short notice, and roads across the country could be closed. We encourage you to book the next available flight, even if it is not a direct route. But how feasible is it to leave? These are the key questions and answers. Is Beirut airport still open? Yes. Rafic Hariri International Airport is operating but far from normally. MEA, the Lebanese national carrier, is running a full programme of flights, including the usual morning departures to London Heathrow. According to data from Flightradar24, the only other departures have been of private jets and some government aircraft flown in to bring citizens out. The UK government stresses it wants British nationals to leave on scheduled flights. The problem is: demand for the few seats is intense, and finding space within the next few weeks is very difficult. With capacity more than halved from Beirut, and large numbers of people of all nationalities seeking to leave Lebanon, The Independent has been able only to find two seats to London, on Friday 4 October, at a fare of 953 each. Some private jet flights to Turkey have been sold for tens of thousands of euros. The first UK evacuation flight from Beirut operated on Wednesday 2 October, and more are being organised. The Foreign Office warns: When planning your travel to the airport, monitor the local security situation and only make the journey if you judge it safe to do so. What do we know about the first rescue flight? Flight DN9999 from Beirut to Birmingham was the first rescue flight organised by the UK government to bring home British citizens since the Covid pandemic. The plane belongs to the Romanian airline, Dan Air. It is a 15-year-old Airbus A320 a standard low-cost jet equipped with 180 seats, . The aircraft began the rescue mission in Bucharest, the airlines base, with a two-hour positioning flight carrying no passengers to Beirut. The plane was on the ground in the Lebanese capital for three-and-a-half hours, missing its intended departure time by 90 minutes. On the 2,400-mile flight from Beirut to Birmingham, it made a technical stop at Bucharest along the way, about one-third of the way into the journey, to refuel and change crew. This was a much shorter stop, just 40 minutes. The plane eventually touched down at Birmingham at 8.39pm, The passengers on board were British citizens in Lebanon who were contacted from the register of those who have provided their contact details in advance. Ahead of the flight, the UK government said: Vulnerable British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18, will be prioritised for this flight. This includes those with greatest need, including those with medical conditions, over-65s and children. British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they have a confirmed seat on the plane. Passengers paid 350 for the one-way journey well above the average commercial fare. But seats on scheduled flights are extremely scarce, and some private jet operators have been asking tens of thousands of pounds to fly people out from Beirut to Turkey. Other countries have also laid on rescue flights, including Bulgaria, Germany, Jordan, Russia and Spain. What further rescue flights are planned by the UK? It appears the Dan Air DN9999 charter from Beirut to Birmingham via Bucharest will continue for the coming days. The plane that conducted the first flight is heading back empty direct from Birmingham to Beirut. On Thursday afternoon it is scheduled to depart at 3.40pm, Lebanese time, from Beirut, with another technical stop at Bucharest to refuel and change crew. Can people leave by land? The FCDO advises against leaving Lebanon through land border crossings. The border with Israel is closed. The border with Syria is open, but the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Syria due to the ongoing conflict and unpredictable security conditions. Some travellers may decide to risk the journey to Damascus, because the airport in the Syrian capital is running normally with flights to Kuwait City, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah (adjoining Dubai) probably the best bet, due to easier connections to the UK. But some British nationals are travelling to the northern border of Lebanon, taking a taxi for around 100 miles through Syria to Turkey and flying back from Antakya airport via Istanbul. The obvious destination for an evacuation by sea of British citizens would be Cyprus. At their closest the two countries are 100 miles apart. But the distance from the key port of Tripoli in Lebanon and Limassol in Cyprus is about 160 miles, representing typically seven hours sailing. Ferries formerly ran between Tripoli and the Turkish port of Mersin, but no longer operate. How do I contact the British Embassy? The Foreign Office says: If youre in Lebanon and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British Embassy in Beirut. But access to the British Embassy is by appointment only. The Embassy says: To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form. Should people with holidays planned in Cyprus be worried? Understandably people with trips booked to Cyprus are looking at the map of the eastern Mediterranean with concern. The popular Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa is barely 100 miles from the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Yet the Foreign Office does not have concerns about Cyprus. The official travel advice for the island has not been amended since June 2024, when it was reviewed for style and accuracy. Under the heading Regional risks the only concern is the long-standing warning about travel to the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: FCDO can only provide limited consular support if you are visiting areas in the north that are not under control of the Republic of Cyprus. Similarly, the governments of Ireland, Canada, the US and Australia express no alarms about Cyprus in their travel advice to citizens. I think their stance is the right one. Overspill from Lebanon to Cyprus looks extremely unlikely. Consider Syria, which has been in a civil war since 2011; even though the Mediterranean port of Latakia is only 70 miles from Cyprus, there has been no danger posed to the island as a result of that tragic conflict. As the Foreign Office does not warn against travel to Cyprus, there is no prospect of being able to cancel a trip for a full refund. Neither will travel insurance be of help; the insurer will say that there is no reason not to go. It is legally possible to transfer a proper package holiday to someone else. Alternatively, the holiday company may possibly offer the chance to switch to a different destination; this is relatively low season, and there may be capacity elsewhere. Residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes in Florida city as Hurricane Helene makes landfall. The hurricane could bring unprecedented damage to Florida on Thursday (26 Septem ber) with sustained winds up to 135mph and 20ft storm surge. Florida officials are warning residents to brace for life-threatening rain, floods and storm surge. All parts of Florida are under a hurricane or tropical storm warning. In Bradenton, police have issued a mandatory evacuation for residents to leave their homes immediately. A pier was smashed while Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on Mexico as it advanced across the coast towards the US on Wednesday, 25 September. Samantha Holland, who filmed strong winds in Cancun, told The Independent that guests at her hotel had been advised not to leave the building. Florida is bracing for the hurricane's impact, which threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year. It comes just over a month after Storm Debby hurtled into the Sunshine State. Florida officials warned residents to brace for life-threatening rain, floods and storm surge. It is a gauge of the alarm with which the West and its Gulf allies view the latest escalation in the Middle East that all the G7 states and a clutch of others issued a joint call for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, in the hope of paving the way for talks. There was the coincidence, of course, that so many national leaders had converged on New York for this years UN General Assembly, facilitating top-level meetings at short notice. But the will had to be there, and it was. There was also some tentative diplomacy by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, which produced a joint statement with the US president, Joe Biden, calling for a settlement that enabled civilians to return to their homes the professed aim of Israels campaign. The appeals fell on deaf ears, however. It was a matter of hours before Israel responded that it was not done yet. President Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his countrys forces to continue the fight with full force. And with the campaign which began with the exploding pagers and walkie-talkies a week ago so far going well for Israel, why would it not carry on? It remains to be seen whether what is planned is, as Israel says, a limited operation designed to secure the border and ensure the return of Israeli residents, or whether as has been mooted the missile attacks, which have extended into the Bekaa Valley and so far killed an estimated 600 people, might be the prelude to a ground invasion, designed to disarm, or even root out, the Iran-backed militia known as Hezbollah once and for all. Whatever the purpose (and it may not yet have been decided), the truth is that, with Israel now fighting on two fronts to its west and south in Gaza, and to its north in Lebanon the region is closer to all-out war than it has been for many years. With the spread of the war into southern Lebanon, any operations cannot but be haunted by many ghosts from recent history by no means all of which has gone well for Israel. It is 24 years since Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon after an occupation of more than two decades, leaving Hezbollah largely in place. Six years later, it was back in a month-long war after a series of incursions by Hezbollah, but again, there was no real resolution. And the difficult history goes back further. To the massacre by Israeli forces of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila camps in Beirut in 1982; to the suicide bombing at the US barracks at Beirut airport the following year, which killed more than 250 US marines; and to what became seen as the ignominious end to the US military presence in Lebanon, when President Reagan took the decision to pull US forces out the following year. With hindsight, this decision can be viewed as the start of the decline of US influence in the region. It is also seen as in the recent BBC TV documentary, Corridors of Power as helping to inform Barack Obamas decision 30 years later not to enforce his stated red lines in Syria. What, his argument went, would really be achieved? For all the evidence that the region could be on the brink of all-out war, however, there are compelling reasons why that might yet not happen. Quite simply, there are many most inside and outside the region who do not want it to happen, and are doing their best to stave it off. The most obvious is Lebanon itself, where memories of the 15-year civil war are still fresh, and where the political and demographic balance is so fragile that any upset in that balance could precipitate chaos. It is an extraordinary situation, where a part of the country and a part of its border are not under central government control, but the accommodation of Hezbollah has fostered a strange kind of stability. Fears that Hezbollah might exploit Israels war against Hamas after 7 October last year to intensify their attacks on northern Israel were also not realised, whether because the militia lacked the capacity or because it was restrained by its Iranian masters. Other Arab states also held back after 7 October. Qatar and other Gulf states initiated various mediation attempts without success. Egypt and Jordan, perhaps for reasons to do with their own weakness, or harbouring their own fears of Hamas, also remained on the sidelines, as Israel laid Gaza waste. The European countries, for the most part, have no interest in any all-out Middle Eastern war. Not only are they preoccupied with a war much closer to home, but many are finding it ever more difficult to persuade their voters of the need to keep their belts tightened for the sake of Ukraine. The new energy price spirals that could be caused by a Middle East war are the last thing they need. All-out war in the Middle East is also the last thing that President Biden needs at this point. There had been reports, in the weeks after 7 October, that the US administration might be eyeing a new peace process with the Gulf states, in the hope of using the new instability in the region as a pretext for trying to formulate a wider regional peace. Any efforts to that end now seem very far away. What is more, now that Biden has given up his ambitions for a second term, he has his legacy on his mind, and perhaps secondarily the prospects for a Democratic victory in the November election. Neither would be served by a conflagration in the Middle East, which could be the last word on his presidency and doom the Democrats to defeat. From a parochial perspective, the UK also has every reason to try to prevent the spread of war in the region. It would not just divert attention from Ukraine one war is enough at any one time but it could also revive the disagreements among Labour MPs about Britains policy towards Israel, at a time when Labours entry into government has not gone as smoothly as they might have hoped. The very public preparations for evacuating UK citizens from Lebanon also suggest an awareness somewhere of the criticism of the last Labour government over what was seen as the inadequate operation to evacuate UK nationals from the same country in 2006. The key to any escalation or not of the current conflict has to lie in Tehran. The signs so far have been that Iran is as averse to any spread of the conflict as is any country in the region and that is not for want of provocations, including an attack on its diplomatic buildings in Damascus and the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran. The most articulate exposition of Irans concern not to become embroiled in a Middle East war, however, came only this week, in the speech given by Irans new president to the UN. While Masoud Pezeshkian launched the standard attacks on Israel, and on the West for the sanctions that have so impoverished his country, the rest of what he said and how he said it seemed designed to send a rather different message. First, Pezeshkian appeared in Western dress. Second, he emphasised his election and the reform platform on which he had stood. He made a point of saying that Iran wanted to be an international player, and unlike, notoriously, at least one of his predecessors he expressly allowed for the right of Israel to exist. Proposing a referendum of all Palestinians on self-determination, he said: We are confident that through this mechanism, we can achieve a lasting peace, with Muslims, Christians and Jews living alongside one another in one land in tranquillity and peace... As a final olive branch, he suggested that Iran could return to a nuclear agreement noting that it was Donald Trump who had ended the last one in return for a loosening of sanctions. He concluded by saying that he hoped his message would be carefully heard. It should be. Objections may arise that the president of Iran is not the supreme leader, and that his word on the subject may not necessarily be the last. But none of his points suggest a country that is trying to shut itself off, still less preparing for war. So if Iran, and practically every other country in the region, and with interests there, is so clearly opposed to a wider war, this leaves Israel, and Hamas where this conflict began. In such a perilous situation, the possibility cannot be excluded that a wider war erupts by mistake, or that Iran might be provoked beyond its patience. But with the consensus as it is, and including Iran, there is surely a chance that it can be avoided. With the countdown underway to the ninth Property Industry Excellence Awards which will be presented on November 28, the organisers have appointed four new judges to the judging process. The panel comprises leading experts across various sectors of the property industry. Vincent Traynor, honorary secretary of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, brings his wealth of architectural experience to the judging panel. Gavin Lawlor, president of the Irish Planning Institute, is a seasoned expert in urban planning. Colum Breslin, managing director of property finance at Capitalflow, will provide a crucial lens for understanding the financial viability and impact of submissions. Capitalflow provides funding for acquisition, expansion and refinancing to property investors and SMEs. David Colbert, managing partner at Sheehan Solicitors, is a legal expert with years of experience and expertise in navigating the complex legal landscape of real estate. They will join the returning judges: Jim Clery, partner and head of real estate at KPMG; Dr Conor Norton, head of the School of Architecture, Building, and Environment at TU Dublin; Maeve Hogan, CEO Property Services Regulatory Authority; Pat Davitt, CEO Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers; Sean Lenihan, Fellow of Engineers Ireland; Shirley Coulter, CEO Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and Lorcan Sirr, senior lecturer in Housing, Planning, and Development at TU Dublin. The deadline to enter the KPMG Irish Independent Property Excellence Awards 2024 is October 19th - to enter and for more information visit www.propertyexcellenceawards.com Land at Dunsoghly, St Margarets, Co Dublin, close to the M2 motorway Lands near Dublin Airport with long-term potential for development of industrial properties are being offered for sale with a 4.5m guide price. Located in Dunsoghly, St Margarets, Co Dublin, close to the M2 motorway, they are about 1km from the airport and Dublin Airport Logistics Park is located within 2km. With the lands extending to 129 acres, the guide price equates to less than 34,884 per acre. Currently in tillage, the land could generate farm income while waiting for rezoning. Selling agent Knight Frank points out that the entire farm is zoned objective Green Belt to protect and provide for a greenbelt. About 75 acres are optimally located outside the Airport Public Safety Zones. Eirgrid had already factored data centre into capacity forecasts, says tech giant The data centre would be GILs third data-centre building in the business park. Photo: AP Lawyers for Google Ireland Ltd (GIL) have stated that South Dublin County Council (SDCC) erred in fact and in law in refusing planning permission for the firms planned new data centre at Grange Castle Business Park in south Dublin. The four-page legal letter by Google Irelands legal representatives, AL Goodbody, forms part of a comprehensive appeal to An Bord Pleanala against the council refusal, which was issued last month. In its decision, SDCC cited what it called the existing insufficient capacity in the electricity network (grid) and the lack of significant on-site renewable energy to power the data centre as reasons for refusal. In the letter, the lawyers say that GIL had already secured a grid connection for the data centre extension from Eirgrid in 2021, and add that South Dublin County Council is not the appropriate body to determine whether or not there is sufficient capacity on the network for the data centre. They say the council has made a clear error on the facts and circumstances related to the proposed development. AL Goodbody state: Eirgrid had already contracted with GIL to provide it with import capacity for the proposed development and therefore has already factored this demand into its capacity/demand forecasts. This suggests SDCC reached its decision without comprehensive and authoritative information GIL is planning that the application be the third phase of the Google Ireland data-centre campus at Grange Castle Business Park. The project involves the creation of 800 construction jobs and 50 jobs when operational. The new 72,400sqm data-storage facility involves the construction of eight data halls on a 50-acre greenfield/brownfield site. In the main 42-page appeal document drawn up by planning consultants Arup, they state that despite recognition in the South Dublin County Council Development Plan 2022-2028 of the need for data-centre development, the council has refused planning permission to every new data-centre application which has been submitted since the commencement of the development plan. The appeal states that this amounts to four refusals primarily on the same grounds insufficient capacity in the electricity network. Arup says that the councils error in its claim that there is insufficient grid capacity to allow the development goes to the central pillar of SDCCs decision. The planning consultants claim that it does not appear that any consultation was undertaken with Eirgrid by the council before the refusal was issued. Arup further states: This suggests that SDCC reached its decision without access to comprehensive and authoritative information regarding the electricity networks capacity. The appeal says that the data centre will be GILs third data-centre building and is needed to meet the growing demand for computing power, arising from increased internet use and adoption of artificial intelligence. The appeal concedes that it is correct to acknowledge that data centres do consume a large amount of energy. It adds however that it should also not be overlooked that they contribute to carbon de-intensification in other ways. Airline has been on a crusade against online travel agents, but has signed deals with many Ryanair is seeking legal clarification from a Barcelona commercial court after online travel agent eDreams secured an order instructing the airline not to use denigrating language to describe the travel firm. Ryanair has been on a long crusade against online travel agents that it had claimed resold its tickets with high mark-ups. Most big online travel agents have now inked deals with Ryanair to distribute its tickets on their platforms. eDreams has not, however. Ryanair, and its group chief executive Michael OLeary, have previously described online travel firms as pirates. The airline has claimed that eDreams overcharges what the online travel agent describes as its Prime members, for seats booked with carriers including Wizz and Transavia. Ryanair has also previously claimed that eDreams scams its own customers. In July, eDreams secured an injunction in Spain that ordered the airline to immediately stop using denigrating statements against the online travel agent and its Prime programme. The Court said at the time that Ryanairs denigrating claims constituted a perfectly organised campaign designed to promote the Ryanair website for booking flights and associated services. Despite the Courts clear and binding directive, Ryanair continued its denigrating misconduct on repeated occasions, prompting the Court to escalate the matter, according to eDreams this week. It added: In response to Ryanairs non-compliance, the judge agreed with eDreams request to put the airline on formal notice that any further disobedience may result in criminal consequences under Article 556 of the Spanish Criminal Code, which contemplates potential criminal penalties. eDreams stated that Spains Supreme Court has also confirmed that the online travel agent is legally entitled to distribute Ryanair flights. Ryanair has claimed that the Spanish commercial courts decision this week is unclear and vague, as the court did not specify what exact language eDreams claims has breached the original injunction. Ryanair has instructed its lawyers to appeal this vague ruling, and to seek clarification as to how Ryanair can refer to eDreams continued practice of overcharging its subscribers when purchasing airline tickets or ancillary services, the airline said in a statement. It added: Ryanair will continue to publicise the fact that eDreams continues to overcharge its subscribers, in particular its Prime subscribers, for airline services and ancillary services. Ryanairs lawyers will request the Barcelona court to provide it with guidance as to how these overcharges may be communicated transparently and openly to the travelling public, said the airline. In the past number of months, Ryanair has inked deals with OTAs including Expedia, Etraveli, Loveholidays, TUI, Lastminute.com and On the Beach to permit them to access the airlines website and sell tickets to their customers. However, the OTAs must sell them at the same price at which they are offered on the Ryanair site and must not add any hidden mark-ups. During the summer, it signed an agreement with Travelfusion, billed as the worlds largest flight aggregator, authorising it to offer Ryanairs flights to its network of online travel agent partners. Ryanair also won a case during the summer in the US against Booking.com, where the online travel giant had been accused of selling the airlines flights via its own website. Owner of the chain will run them directly The Wagamama restaurant chain is expected to open new outlets in Ireland, following the closure of three franchises in Dublin yesterday that were operated by the Press Up group. Branches on South King Street in the city centre, as well as in shopping centres in Blanchardstown and Dundrum closed after unsuccessful talks between Wagamamas headquarters and receivers appointed to part of the Press Up group. Sources with knowledge of Wagamamas plans say the British chain is preparing to open new Irish outlets that it will run directly, and this will include a bigger restaurant in Dundrum. Last year, The Restaurant Group which owns Wagamama agreed to be taken private by US equity firm Apollo Global in a deal that valued it at 560m. Since then Apollo has been taking back Wagamama franchises in a number of countries with a view to operating them directly. The company did not respond to a request for comment yesterday. The hope is to redeploy as many of the affected staff members as possible across the wider group Press Up is planning to reopen the premises in South King Street and Blanchardstown under new restaurant brands before Christmas. The Dundrum premises will not be re-opened by the group, however. Press Up has been taken over by Cheyne Capital, a UK-based investment firm, in a debt-for-equity swap that has left co-founder Paddy McKillen Jr, with a stake of about 10pc. His co-founder, Matt Ryan, is no longer involved. Elephant & Castle On Tuesday, Mr McKillen Jr resigned as a director of three companies associated with the group. Records at the Companies Registration Office show that among them was Greenfield Ideas Ltd, which holds the licence for Ashtons Gastro Pub in Clonskeagh and Thomas Rody Mahers on Baggot Street in Dublin. He also stood down from Sanphase Ltd, which held the licence for The Lucky Duck pub on Aungier Street in Dublin, and from Crawley Ltd, the operator of Captain Americas restaurant on Grafton Street. Last week Cheyne appointed Cormac OConnor and Shane McCarthy of KPMG as receivers to companies operating three chains within the Press Up group. They were Elephant & Castle, Wowburger, and Portalon, operator of Wagamama. It is business as usual at 17 other Press Up venues not included in the receivership process. These include the Stella Cinema in Rathmines, the Workmans Club in Temple Bar, and both branches of Captain Americas. Today's News in 90 Seconds - September 26th In a statement, Press Up said the joint receivers of Portalon had failed to reach agreement with Wagamama UK for the continued operation of the franchise in Ireland. They would liaise with the 106 employees at the three Wagamama locations in Dublin to discuss the implications of the move. The hope is to redeploy as many of the affected staff members as possible across the wider group, the statement said. It is understood all 106 employees, both full-time and part-time, are likely to be offered new jobs. The statement added that Press Up has come to an agreement with the landlords of the South King Street and Blanchardstown premises for the venues to remain within the group. Following the termination of the Wagamama franchise agreement, it has been determined that the Press Up group is not in a position to continue to trade at Dundrum Town Centre, the statement added. The Outrun, starring American-Irish actress Saoirse Ronan as Rona and British actor Paapa Essiedu as boyfriend Daynin, is about when 30-year-old Liptrot tries to come to terms with her alcohol addiction after it has swallowed the last decade of her life, and turns to the healing power of nature as she starts cold water swimming, tracking Orkneys wildlife and searching the night sky for the Merry Dancers. Ludwig on BBC One is a cut above the average TV murder mystery despite a tentative start David Mitchell is thoroughly convincing as an anxious intellectual struggling to fill his brothers shoes. Photo: BBC Is Ludwig (BBC One, 9pm, Wednesdays) just another TV murder mystery? Ill admit, the opening scene had me worried. A playful sweeping shot of a lively office block, where hard-working professionals are busy leading their lives, it reminded me a little of the animated title sequence from Only Murders in the Building. Every window tells a different tale, every movement is important. Ludwig | Trailer The score, too, is similar to that of the Steve Martin smash. I love Only Murders, but it doesnt need a copycat show. Later, Ludwig started to remind me of Father Brown, another quirky, lightweight endeavour about a man who really shouldnt be solving crimes. Nobody needs a second version of that, either. Stay with it long enough, however, and Mark Brotherhoods warmly anticipated six-parter begins to develop its own identity. In David Mitchells nervous, agoraphobic protagonist, it also gives us a loveable amateur sleuth who deserves to have his moment. Mitchell, dialling up the awkwardness levels to 11, is John Ludwig Taylor, a reclusive puzzle-setter who lives alone in a house overrun with crossword books. Its a lonely life but a structured one, and thats the way John likes things. Everything goes sideways after his sister-in-law Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin) calls to say shes booked him a taxi to Cambridge. Its a long journey, and John would very much like to know why she wants him to visit. Delicate matters should never be discussed over the phone, however, so John will just have to pack a bag and do what hes told. Arriving at his destination, the poor chap finally realises what hes getting himself into. This is what we know: John has an identical twin brother, James, who lives in Cambridge with his wife Lucy, and their teenage son. James is a detective chief inspector a popular man with a nice house and a nice life but he appears to have vanished, leaving behind a note that makes no sense. Lucy doesnt believe her husband just scarpered there must be more to it, and perhaps his disappearance is linked to an unsolved case. Whatevers happening, she wants John to pose as his brother so he can head down to police headquarters, pick up Jamess secret notebook from his office (there is always a secret notebook) and study it for clues. Absolutely not, says John, but if Lucy accepted his first answer, then we wouldnt have a show to be getting on with, would we? Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy in 'Ludwig'. Photo: BBC It doesnt take much to disguise John as James. A quick jacket change, some contact lenses to replace the glasses, so on and so forth. How does he look? Perfect. But thats not the issue. John has neither the confidence nor the social skills to interact with strangers, not like his twin, and his first day on the job gets off to an eventful start after Jamess partner, DI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola), informs him of a murder in a local office building. You can see where this is going. Indeed, a lawyer has been found dead with a knife in his chest, and Carter needs John/James to come and investigate. This isnt his territory and naturally, he panics. Whod have thought watching a David Mitchell-esque character, portrayed by the actual David Mitchell, solving crimes would be this fun? Not me However, John soon discovers that solving murders is a little like solving puzzles. Armed with just a collection of witness statements, a couple of markers and a whiteboard, our man is able to close the case in the time it takes others to grab a coffee. As for the secret notebook, its full of odd scribblings and cryptic symbols, as if James knew his brother might one day come in handy. Meanwhile, colleagues and superiors begin to suspect foul play (make room for stellar support from Izuka Hoyle, Dorothy Atkinson and Ralph Ineson), and its only a matter of time before one of them realises that James has been replaced by an imposter. The missing twin tale will undoubtedly deliver its share of surprises but it isnt enough to fill six hours of television. That probably explains why Ludwig distracts us with a smaller, mystery-of-the-week set-up to sit alongside the bigger story. Fair enough, its a neat touch and despite the occasional wobble, Ludwig is off to a satisfactory start. Whod have thought that watching a David Mitchell-esque character, portrayed by the actual David Mitchell, solving crimes and making a name for himself in the process, would be this fun? Not me, but its a brilliant idea and a lovely bit of casting, and Mitchell is thoroughly convincing as an anxious intellectual struggling to fill his brothers shoes. Worth sticking with. Ludwig continues Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One Maia Dunphy, Kathy Parke-McKenna and clinical nurse manager Princy Praveen at Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services in Blackrock, Dublin. Photo: Naoise Culhane. Maia Dunphy, Kathy Parke-McKenna, and clinical nurse manager, Princy Praveen at Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services in Blackrock, Dublin. Photo: Naoise Culhane. Maia Dunphy with Andy Conroy, a patient at Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services in Blackrock, Dublin. Photo: Naoise Culhane. Broadcaster Maia Dunphy was out supporting the coffee morning for hospices at a major fundraiser in Dublin today. She was out supporting her local hospice Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services in Blackrock at the 32nd annual Bewley's Big Coffee Morning for Hospice. She has rallied the nation to join the cause as one of Ireland's biggest fundraisers had kettles boiling in homes, schools, workplaces and sporting clubs across Ireland. The fundraiser is organised by Together for Hospice and represents 24 hospices across the country. Maia Dunphy at Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services in Blackrock, Dublin. Photo: Naoise Culhane. The funds raised will be used to innovate, build new facilities, develop new services and deliver quality improvements with extra benefits for patients and their family members. While the fundraiser has a 2.4m target this year, Dunphy advised people that there is still time to host a Coffee Morning for Hospice to raise funds for local hospices. The Dalkey native said: Well done to everyone who has hosted a coffee morning this year at such a vital fundraising time for hospices and you still have time to organise one on a date that suits you." If youre not in a position to host or attend an event, please consider donating as hospice care impacts so many families throughout Ireland, she added. Maia Dunphy, Kathy Parke-McKenna and clinical nurse manager Princy Praveen at Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services in Blackrock, Dublin. Photo: Naoise Culhane. Meanwhile, the broadcaster also shared a few photos and a video from this morning's event, where she was joined by the RTE 2FM presenter Carl Mullan. "What a fabulous morning at the Bewley's Ireland Coffee Morning for Hospice at Our Lady's Hospice! And it's not too late to host or donate," she wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The members of the public can register to host a coffee morning on a suitable date or make donations on the charity's website. The Unite union has announced that members including plumbers, fitters, welders and apprentices will mount pickets outside the construction site An aerial photo of the National Children's Hospital in Dublin Construction workers are set to mount pickets at the delay-hit National Childrens Hospital site tomorrow in a row over a travel payment. The Unite union has announced that members including plumbers, fitters, welders and apprentices will mount pickets outside the construction site. The union said the Mechanical Engineering and Building Services Contractors' Association (MEBSCA) had made an approach this week to resolve the dispute, but its disputes committee decided that there will be a further full-day stoppage from midnight tonight. The workers voted overwhelmingly for industrial action last month. They want the first hour of a travel expense payment restored after it was cut during the financial crash. It is thanks to the determined action of Unite members over the past three weeks that MEBSCA has made contact, said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. She said the employers need to remember that making contact is a long way from resolving the dispute. This is a highly profitable sector, and our members will continue to have Unites unstinting support as they fight to have the first hour of travel time restored, she said. Unite said talks with MEBSCA broke down. Three full-day stoppages have already been held at major construction projects around the country where MEBSCA employers are carrying out works. Unite is always prepared to talk where there is a basis for meaningful engagement and we welcome MEBSCAs approach this week, said regional officer James McCabe. He said the unions focus is on ensuring workers win back the travel time payment cut over a decade ago. The employers can well afford to meet our members demands, he said. A spokesperson for the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board said: As addressed with Unite, any issues or concerns regarding travel time payments to craft personnel who are employees of mechanical contractors involved on the National Childrens Hospital project should be addressed directly to BAM Building Ltd or Jones Engineering, as this is a matter entirely for those parties. A BAM spokesperson declined to comment on the Unite strike at the childrens hospital. The Irish Independent has contacted MEBSCA for a comment. Childrens Hospital The row over long delays to the completion of the new National Childrens Hospital resurfaced again in recent days as the hospital development board accused main contractor BAM of under-resourcing the project and failing to deliver on its contractual obligations. The fresh row over the hospital emerged after it was claimed that not one of the facilitys 5,500 rooms was finished to the expected standard. The beleaguered development has been delayed on 14 occasions four of which occurred within the last year. The projected costs of the hospital have spiralled to 2.2 billion, up from an initial estimated price tag of 650 million in 2014. The current completion date of the state-of-the-art hospital is set at a contested June 2025, followed by a six- to eight-month commissioning period. A DUBLIN man has been charged with hijacking a car and abducting a five-month-old baby who was inside at the time. Noel Ryan (47) appeared in Dublin District Court today after being arrested over the taking of the car in the city centre earlier this week. It is alleged that he got into the vehicle and drove off while the mother was outside taking a buggy from the boot and the child was still in the back seat. The car was found around two hours later with the child unharmed. Judge Gerard Jones remanded the accused in custody after no bail application was made on his behalf. Today's News in 90 Seconds - September 26th Mr Ryan, of no fixed address, is charged with abduction by taking a child from the lawful control of her mother at Mountjoy Square West on September 23. He is also charged with unlawful seizure of a car at the same time and date. The charges are under Section 10 of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976 and Section 17 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Detective Garda Paul Griffin said he arrested the accused for the purpose of charging him at Mountjoy station this afternoon. He was charged at 3.11pm, made no reply to either count after caution and was handed copies of the charges sheets. Det Gda Griffin said he was objecting to bail. However, defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght said the accused was not making a bail application at this time. Judge Jones asked the garda for an outline of the allegations. Det Gda Griffin said it was alleged the accused unlawfully seized a vehicle at 1.45pm on the day. It was taken by force from the mother of a five-month-old child who was in the rear seat, he said. She was at the rear of the vehicle taking the buggy out of the boot, Det Gda Griffin said of the mother. The woman was outside the car and it was alleged the accused entered it and drove off. The car was recovered at 4pm and the child was present, unharmed, he said. The garda confirmed again to the judge that the child was uninjured. Judge Jones remanded the accused in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on October 3. The defence is to give the prosecution 48 hours notice of any intention to apply for bail. The judge also granted free legal aid following an application by Mr Lysaght. Mr Ryan was not required to speak during the brief hearing and has not yet entered pleas to the charges. A male nurse at a care home falsely imprisoned and sexually assaulted a co-worker by cornering her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her against her will. Liju John (37) kissed the young nurses neck and tried to get her to remove her face mask while they were in a room with a non-verbal elderly patient at the height of the Covid pandemic. Star Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes must wait until at least December to find out if he will go to jail latest | Dad of teen charged with murder of Irish chef Shaun Brady says justice system failed his son Brady (44) was fatally shot during a confrontation with a group outside the Irish restaurant he co-owned in Kansas City Shaun Brady Neil Fetherstonhaugh Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 12:25 The father of one of the Kansas City teens charged with the murder of Irish chef Shaun Brady has said the juvenile system overlooked his son. Woman (50) held on suspicion of directing Irish arm of Black Axe gang that laundered 10m Suspect is key figure in Irish cell of international fraud organisation A 50-year-old woman linked to a Black Axe cell that has laundered over 10m has been arrested Ken Foy Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 03:30 A 50-year-old woman suspected of playing a major role in the activities of the Black Axe crime gang has been arrested under organised crime legislation. A solicitor representing seven of the victims' families wrote to Justice Minister Helen McEntee this week. Photo: PA Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the investigation into Creeslough has been thorough. Photo: Conor McKeown The scene of an explosion at Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal (Brian Lawless/PA) Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has confirmed that a file of investigation into the Creeslough explosion is nearing completion. Ten people were killed in the blast, which ripped through an Applegreen service station and a nearby apartment block in the Co Donegal village on October 7, 2022. Gardai are almost ready to submit a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). However, speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Superintendents in Trim, Co Meath, Commissioner Harris did not give an exact timeframe on when the file would be submitted. The garda chief was speaking after it emerged earlier this week that several families who lost loved ones in the tragedy have called on the Government to set up a public inquiry into the explosion as the two-year anniversary draws near. They have also called for an independent investigation into the tragedy to be established. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the investigation into Creeslough has been thorough. Photo: Conor McKeown Four men, three women and three children, ranging in age from five to 59, died in the explosion. Those who died were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine ODonnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, Sydney native James OFlaherty, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper. Commissioner Harris told reporters the comfort he could give grieving relatives is that an investigation into the tragedy was carried out by a committed group of garda members. He stated that when a file is submitted to the DPP, it is important to note that the DPP is entirely independent of the gardai who submit the file. The DPP will decide if there was any criminal liability in relation to the explosion. Describing the garda probe into the Creeslough explosion, he said it has been a very thorough investigation. A solicitor representing seven of the victims' families wrote to Justice Minister Helen McEntee this week. Photo: PA Mr Harris explained that gardai have used experts from Britain with knowledge of gas explosions to assist in their investigations. Four people, including two tradesmen, have been arrested by gardai investigating the explosion. Those arrests happened in March and May and all four were later released without charge. This week, it emerged that a lawyer representing the next of kin of seven of the 10 victims had written to Justice Minister Helen McEntee asking for an independent investigation to be established. At the same event in Trim on Wednesday, Ms McEntee told reporters that the garda investigation must be allowed to take its course. Expressing sympathy to the victims families and the huge amount of trauma and grief they have suffered, she said gardai have left no stone unturned in their investigation. She added that a tragedy like what happened in Creeslough can never happen again. While the cause of the explosion has yet to be formally confirmed by the authorities, a gas leak is the central line of inquiry. Darragh Mackin, solicitor for seven of the families, said they had also requested a meeting with Ms McEntee in the letter written to her. The letter, seen by the PA news agency, said the tragedy of Creeslough had been compounded by the absence of an independent human-rights compliant investigation. If they take away our Prosecco, what next? Mixed reactions to Ryanair boss Michael OLearys proposed crackdown on boozy behaviour Nervous flyers and those who like a drink or two before boarding among those sharing their views Ryaniar CEO Michael OLeary has called for a two-drink limit to be applied at airports as a result of unruly behaviour on flights. Photo: Steve Humphreys Arlene Harris Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 03:30 Ryanair boss Michael OLeary sparked another debate with his calls for air passengers to be limited to two alcoholic drinks before boarding a flight. OPW chair said total expense driven up by CCTV and unseen extras Micheal Martin was shocked by the cost of the security shelter. Photo: PA The security shelter at the Department of Finance, which was built at a cost of over 1.4m. Photo: Collins Photo Tanaiste Micheal Martin has described the 1.4m spend on a security shelter at the Department of Finance as ridiculous and called for a fundamental review of the cost. During a sitting of the Oireachtas finance committee yesterday, it emerged that the structure, which is located on Merrion Street in Dublin city, cost 1.429m. John Conlon, the chair of the Office of Public Works (OPW), revealed the cost of the shelter when he appeared before the committee to answer questions about the Leinster House bike shelter, which cost 336,000. I was shocked to hear that figure this morning. Its ridiculous, the Tanaiste said from New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly. Theres no need for that level of expenditure. I think we need a fundamental review of whats happening there and full transparency in front of the Oireachtas of the actual breakdown of costs. That does seem shocking, in terms of what is there that would cost that amount of money? Mr Martin said the Comptroller and Auditor General reviews public spending, adding that many projects come in under budget. However, he does not feel that controversies around public spending mean that a dedicated department of infrastructure is needed. While it looks like and is a fairly significant cost, there are very significant mechanical, electrical and security system costs in that I havent seen any blueprint for it at all, he said. And are we really saying that, for example, the Department of Education, which is building schools, goes into an infrastructure department, when theres already significant expertise that was built up over years in the building of schools? So my concern with that proposal is that it would actually lead to a greater delay and even more costly expenditure over time. Mr Conlon told Oireachtas committee members yesterday that the security shelter was built following an extensive review of security in this campus by An Garda Siochana Technical Advisory Group. He said the total cost of 1.429m included the costs of a temporary structure while the work was being completed. While it looks like and is a fairly significant cost, there are very significant mechanical, electrical and security system costs in that, Mr Conlon said. Micheal Martin was shocked by the cost of the security shelter. Photo: PA There was also a significant cost to provide a temporary structure while that building work was taking place. He added that there was a huge security element to the project that also included costs for CCTV, ventilation and underground works. The security shelter is located on Merrion Street and features a large swooping copper roof. Asked by Green Party TD Steven Matthews if he believed the cost was excessive, he disagreed. I dont believe it is, given the significant security dimensions to it and the security elements of it, which were very costly, Mr Conlon told the committee. He added that there were a lot of elements to the project that are not visible. These included mechanical and electrical security systems that link up with a control system across the campus of Government Buildings. Theres a huge amount of networking that arose in that project in the Leinster House and Government Buildings campus including power, communications, security, CCTV systems. So its not just what you see when you look down the south gate. Theres far more to that project than meets the eye. Mr Matthews said he has requested that Kieran ODonnell, junior minister at the OPW, come before the committee. He has also requested a full breakdown of the costs associated with the security shelter. Representatives for the OPW were also grilled over the 336,000 bike shelter at Leinster House. It has been described as the most expensive bike shelter in the world and will be the subject of an external audit. Mr Conlon told the committee that he accepted the location where the bike shelter now stands, close to the National Gallery, was not a cost-effective option. I do acknowledge that the location chosen turned out to be probably the most expensive location that could have been chosen, he said. Mr Conlon added that there were other locations nearby, including the West Road area, that would have been far cheaper. However, that location was rejected due to security concerns. Asked by Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty if he thought the spend on the bike shelter was a waste of taxpayers money, Mr Conlon said he did not. Taxpayers money was spent on the construction of a covered bicycle shelter, at a very expensive cost, he said. I dont accept it was a waste of taxpayers money. I do accept it was very, very expensive. A claim that former finance minister Paschal Donohoe had a confidential phone call in which he assured his Israeli counterpart that the Government would block the Occupied Territories Bill has been denied in the Dail. Sinn Fein foreign affairs spokesman Matt Carthy referred to allegations on The Ditch website, that Mr Donohoe, now Minister for Public Expenditure, had given assurances to Jerusalem that economic penalties on Israel would not be imposed. Tanaiste Micheal Martin told the Dail today that he had spoken to Mr Donohoe and the claim was false. The website reported that Mr Donohoe as Minister for Finance had a secret phone call with his Israeli counterpart in 2019. It was alleged that it was confirmed orally that the Government would block the Occupied Territories Bill, which would impose sanctions on certain Israeli goods because of Israels treatment of Palestinians. The claim about the call with Mr Donohoe was made in documents leaked from the Israeli Ministry of Justice, Mr Carthy said, quoting the website. But Mr Martin said he spoke to Mr Donohoe before he came into the chamber to take Leaders' Questions on Thursday. He is clear that he did not make any such phone call, Mr Martin said. "His published [ministerial] diary doesn't record any such phone call. "I think this speaks to people rushing to judgment before ascertaining the full facts." "He is very, very clear that there was no phone call, the Fianna Fail leader added. The Occupied Territories Bill would have banned certain imports from land illegally occupied by Israel, and imposed sanctions and fines. The Bill was introduced by Independent senator Frances Black and has been passed by both the Seanad and the Dail. However, the Government has failed to enact it and used the money message mechanism needed for Bills with financial implications to block it. The Government had previously been advised by the Attorney General that the Bill could not be enacted because trade was an EU competence, not within the national purlieu. But Tanaiste Micheal Martin said an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israel and its breach of obligations was a very significant turning point in relation to the Occupied Territories Bill. Further advice is being sought from Attorney General Rossa Fanning within the context of the International Court of Justice" advisory notice, he said. The ICJs opinion was a very significant turning point "and Europe has to face up for that reality, he added. On Tuesday as the Dail returned, demonstrators presented a petition of 40,000 signatures calling for the Bill to be enacted. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood (left) and former taoiseach Leo Varadkar (second left) talking to schoolchildren from Derry during today's event (David Young/PA Wire) Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has described comments made by the former taoiseach as him finding his inner Shinner, after Leo Varadkar said every party should make manifesto pledges that Irish reunification is an objective, not an aspiration. The former Fine Gael leader called for politicians in the Republic to back the establishment of a forum to set out plans for Irish unity. Speaking in Derry this afternoon, the former Fine Gael leader proposed a two-stage referendum process for a potential future vote on the reunification of Ireland. Mr Varadkar suggested an initial vote where people on both sides of the border would decide whether they agree in principle with constitutional change, and then a final confirmatory ballot once the structures and constitution of the new political entity were designed and presented to the public. Asked about his comments today, Ms McDonald said they were welcome but belated. Im glad that hes exited the position of taoiseach, that hes found his inner Shinner and his appetite for reunification, the Dublin TD said. This is where every political party should be. This is the big opportunity for our island to consolidate peace, to finally reach a point of reconciliation, and to benefit from the huge economic and social and political opportunity that will present to us. To us, this is a no-brainer. Of course, it has to be more than rhetoric. A soundbite is not enough. Those that are committed to reunification recognise there has to be a citizens assembly, a structured democratic conversation. There has to be commitment to the holding of referendums. Thats really the issue here. If you believe that we support and enforce all of the Good Friday Agreement, well then you have to have a commitment to the holding of referendums. Thats the point at which the people have their say. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Damien Storan/PA) The ex-taoiseach, who stepped down earlier this year, outlined that idea and a series of other proposals as he addressed schoolchildren at an event in Derry hosted as part of the SDLP's New Ireland Commission initiative. Under the terms of Good Friday peace agreement of 1998, the UK government is obliged to call a referendum in Northern Ireland if there is evidence of a shift in public opinion in favour of unity. In that event, there would be a simultaneous vote in the Republic of Ireland. The peace accord does not currently envisage a two-stage process as suggested by former Fine Gael leader Mr Varadkar. Mr Varadkar, who is not seeking re-election, said he would like to see all parties dedicate a section of their manifestos to the issue. He said the next Irish Government should boost funding in the States existing Shared Island initiative and also set up its own commission to examine reunification. He also insisted that a new Ireland would have to be co-designed along with those of a British identity. Mr Varadkar suggested the Dail could sit at Stormont in Belfast for parts of the year in the event of unification. He also proposed that the unified state could have a president and vice-president, one of whom would be from the unionist/British tradition. He said a unified Ireland would also need to strike international defence agreements and partnerships in order to protect its seas and airspace. In regard to his proposed two-stage referendum, Mr Varadkar acknowledged that it could prove controversial. One idea that Ive suggested, and it might be a terrible idea, but I think its worth thinking about is a two-stage process, one where people vote on the idea in principle, then we have a convention that works out the details and the new constitution, and people get to do a confirmatory vote, he said. A lot of people think thats a bad idea, because they want the clear question first, but its not one that I think should be thrown out. Its something I think should be thought about. And Im conscious that the new prime minister, Keir Starmer, actually advocated this approach in relation to Brexit, called for a second vote on the deal. So its not an entirely crazy idea, and one thats been suggested before. While schools from across Derry were invited to todays event at the citys Playhouse, only schools from the Catholic education sector attended. Mr Varadkar acknowledged that many unionists and loyalists do not wish to engage in discussions about Irish unification. He said he would take a similar stance if asked to consider the Republic of Ireland re-joining the UK. But he said a yes vote in the initial in principle ballot might persuade sceptics to get involved in the process of designing the new state. There are people who are very strong and avowed unionists who will never want to have this conversation, just as I wouldnt want to engage in a conversation about the Republic of Ireland joining the United Kingdom, I wouldnt be interested in that, so that is a real difficulty for us, he said. But I do think there are people who come from a Protestant background, or come from a Protestant/unionist/loyalist background who dont necessarily vote for the unionist parties anymore, who might be interested in engaging. They might vote Alliance, they might vote SDLP or Green, or they might not vote at all. So I do think there are people, and Ive met them, who are interested in having this conversation, and theyre coming from a background that traditionally would be Protestant or unionist, but it is one of the ideas why I think there is some merit in considering a two-stage referendum, because if we had the first stage and people north and south voted for unification in principle, I think you might then get a larger number who would accept the democratic outcome, and then might be willing to engage in the co-design of what that new Ireland looks like. Mr Varadkar said the concept of accommodating people from a British identity in a new Ireland did not go far enough. Its really important that we dont just try to accommodate them in a new Ireland, but that we try and design the new Ireland with them, so thats their home too, he said. Somebody said to me once that they really dont like the word accommodation, because accommodation, its like a hotel, or its a B&B, its somewhere where you get to stay, but its not really your home. And what we have to do to make sure a united Ireland works is to make sure that we co-design this, at least with those who are willing to talk to us about it, and we make accommodations or make changes and concessions that I think would work. Mr Varadkar said while he felt that unity would be achieved in the coming decades, he cautioned it was by no means certain. He said that was why preparation was vital, as he warned that a no vote in any referenda would knock the issue off the agenda for a long time. The ex-Fine Gael leader said unification was becoming a more attractive prospect for a variety of factors. He said the opportunity of Northern Ireland re-joining the EU through unification was one pull factor. Mr Varadkar also said the economy, health service, childcare support and welfare system were all in a better state in the Republic of Ireland than in Northern Ireland. So I think were in a very different place than we were 100 years ago, or 50 years ago, or even 20 years ago, he said. The case for unification and the arguments for unification are a lot stronger than they were then, because of the things that have changed. Courts Unacceptable behaviour for visitors to our country, judge says, as tourists arrested trying to sell cocaine to garda Michael Farrelly was killed in the hit-and-run. Gardai have arrested a man in his late teens over the fatal hit-and-run which killed a pedestrian in north Dublin in July. The collision occurred on the coast road in Baldoyle, Dublin 13 in the early hours of Wednesday morning, July 17. The victim, 40-year-old pedestrian Michael Mikey Farrelly, was pronounced dead at the scene. Michael Farrelly was killed in the hit-and-run. It is understood Mr Farrelly was walking to his home when he was struck by a stolen car, a Hyundai Kona. Gardai today announced that a second suspect has been arrested in connection with the collision. The male juvenile (aged in his late teens) was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin, a spokesperson said. He has since been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Garda Youth Diversion Office. A representative said: The previously arrested individual, a man (aged in his late teens) was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing. On September 10, Gardai arrested a key member of the Lucky Dip gang over his alleged involvement in the death of Michael Farrelly. The arrested teenager was a central member of the so-called Lucky Dip gang made up of juveniles and teenage males mainly from the Ballyfermot, Inchicore and Blanchardstown areas. The 'Lucky Dip' group is said to have stolen several dozen automobiles over the past year, mostly for joyrides rather than for resale. The 18-year old was a part of the car-theft gang causing disruptions in Leinster. At Mr. Farrelly's Co Meath funeral, it was revealed that he had recently completed his long-held goal of producing an album of original music. Gardai seized a firearm, ammunition and two vehicles during a search operation in Baldoyle, Dublin 13 on Wednesday evening. A sawn-off double barrel shotgun and ammunition were seized from an abandoned vehicle at a property in Dublin yesterday. Two vehicles were also seized by gardai during a search operation at a property on the Moyne Road in Baldoyle on Wednesday evening. It was conducted as part of ongoing investigations into recent criminal activity in the area. A sawn-off double barrel shotgun and ammunition were found concealed in an abandoned vehicle. Both were seized by gardai and are subject to further analysis by the Ballistics Section of the Garda Technical Bureau. Two vehicles were also seized by Gardai during the course of the search and are subject to a technical examination. Gardai in Howth received assistance from the District Detective Unit, Garda Dog Unit, Armed Support Unit, District Drugs Unit, the District Crime Task Force and uniform Gardai from Clontarf and Raheny. No arrests have been made at this time and investigations are ongoing, a garda spokesperson said. Today's News in 90 Seconds - September 26th Disability rights campaigner Cara Darmody (14) has told a protest that Ireland is an international embarrassment on child disability issues, and the Government has let children with disabilities down. Cara held a "Monster Meeting rally at 11am on Thursday outside the gates of Leinster House to protest against the Governments failure to provide proper assessments of needs, services and school places for children with autism and other disabilities. She told the crowd that the fact the Government failed to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international embarrassment. The Government needs to stop allowing the HSE to break the assessment needs law, she told the Irish Independent. "This is not a national crisis, this is an international embarrassment for our country, for the Government and for the HSE. Any normal person in Ireland would be so embarrassed to talk about how our country treats autistic and disabled people. As we're coming near the end of 2024, there's now over 20,000 kids rushing on the HSE waiting list and that needs to change. Speaking at the event, she said successive governments have let down children with autism and intellectual disabilities. The fact that permanent damage is happening to children is a national disgrace. Everything about me holding a Monster Meeting rally is wrong. I shouldnt be there I should be in school, in class being a normal 14-year-old, Cara said. "Instead, Ill be there standing up for kids who cannot fight back, all because our political system treats children with disabilities disgracefully. Cara, from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, is the older sister of Neil (11) and John (7) who are autistic and non-verbal. [My brothers] werent properly assessed, dont get proper services and are in the wrong school for their disability, she said. "No politician is treating this as a national crisis, or like the house is on fire. There is simply no immediate urgency being shown. We must stop the pain and suffering of children right now, she added. After the rally, she was due to go to the Dail by invitation, followed by a meeting with the HSE head of disability Bernard ORegan to discuss the issues brought up at the rally. She also pledged to continue to protest outside the Dail for two hours from noon every Wednesday, until she feels real action is taken on improving access to crucial services for children with special needs. Cara plans to bring this issue to the attention of the European Parliament and the United Nations, following the footsteps of climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. She believes the Governments minds might focus on this issue only when reputational damage is potentially caused. At the rally, many parents were seen holding banners with pictures of their children, including mothers Charlotte Cahill and Caitriona Rohan, who shared their journeys and struggle to navigate disability services and fight for their childrens rights. Cara and her father Mark were also joined by several TDs and party leaders, including Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, Independent Ireland co-leader Michael Collins, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett and Senator Tom Clonan, who all spoke to the crowd. Speaking at the rally, Ms McDonald pledged to support Caras campaign. "You can see the evidence of the pressure that [Cara] has put on the political system and I only have this to say keep doing it, she said. "This State is wealthy. This Government spent 10 million fighting for us not to get the 14 billion of Apple taxes to which the State was entitled. How many assessments of needs could have been funded with that 10 million? There is no defence. The State is breaking the law, she told the protesters. Ms Bacik said Caras campaign has brought much-needed progress. "But what we need to hear from the Government is a commitment that they will abide by Caras three asks and an apology to those children who have had to wait for so long with such severe impact on their health, well-being and on their future lives, she told the rally. Stay Well: Why do I have a dowagers hump on my neck and what can I do to fix it? At the United Nations opening conference in 1945, US president Harry Truman pleaded with delegates to reject the premise that might makes right. We must reverse it to right makes might, he said. Almost 80 years later, International Rescue Committee president David Miliband reminded those in attendance in New York of the terrible consequences of the failure to flip this equation, saying: In Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, might is making right. At a curtain-raiser for the General Assembly, US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said her countrys focus will be on ending the scourge of war, reminding the audience that two billion people currently live in conflict-affected areas. The most vulnerable around the world are counting on us to make progress, to make change, to bring about a sense of hope for them, she said. It is a tall order, requiring a level of determined leadership and commitment yet to be seen within the international community. This was the background against which US president Joe Biden made his final address to the assembly. But his efforts to strike the appropriate authoritative tone seemed to lack the resolve or conviction expected of the worlds remaining superpower in such a decisive moment, with so many lives on the line. His attempt to establish some grounds for optimism fell equally short. We are stronger than we think, when the world acts together, he said. The sentiment is a noble one. The difficulty stems from the fact that as Israels most influential ally, Washington has to lead, not follow. His foreign-policy legacy will chiefly be determined by what happens next in Israel and Ukraine Mr Biden said he came to office promising to rejuvenate US relations around the world and to extract the US from forever wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The jury may still be out on the claim. Either way, his foreign-policy legacy will chiefly be determined by what happens next in Israel and Ukraine. Efforts to contain the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East look anything but secure. There will always be forces that pull our countries apart, Mr Biden said. Our task, our test is to make sure that the forces holding us together are stronger than the forces pulling us apart. If he wishes to pass his own test, he has an opportunity even in a weakened political state to demonstrate to the world the US still has the power to marshal those forces. America is the sole voice Tel Aviv has to respect. Mr Biden has insisted full-scale war is not in anyones interest and said that despite escalating violence, a diplomatic solution is the only path to peace. He is, again, correct. But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rebuffed every appeal for restraint that he has made to date. Unless maximum pressure is put on Israel to pull back from the brink, full-scale war looks inevitable. The sustainable, integrated Middle East coming into view, of which Mr Biden spoke so confidently only a year ago, will disappear in the ashes. And the forever war proponents will continue to decide the issue. President Joe Biden addresses the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Photo: AP US president Joe Biden stood before the United Nations this week and quoted a line from WB Yeatss poem The Second Coming that says: Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold, mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Demurring from Yeats, Biden stated that the centre had held. It took some neck to say that from the podium of an institution that the United States and Israel have consistently ignored over the years. If they think a bloodstained Gaza is holding the centre, that a Middle East just one atrocity away from full-blown war and a continuing European war with Russia are barometers of central stability, we are truly sunk. Yeats also had this to say about those in the audience who mocked history, as happened with the jeering of Sean OCaseys play The Plough and the Stars in 1926. He told them: You disgraced yourself again. Biden started his political life with a nod to the old sod. He ends it holding Israels coat while it destroys Gaza. John Cuffe, Co Meath On the world stage, Simon Harris failed to back up previous words on Gaza Taoiseach Simon Harris sat on the fence this week when asked about the US supplying arms to Israel. How many more children need to die before we call out the US as a fading democracy? More appeasement. Politics before courage. It is either right or wrong to supply weapons, Taoiseach. All your words to date, while brave about Gaza, were not backed up on the world stage. Tony OGorman, Clonmacken, Co Limerick President should be asked why hes blaming Israel for leaking Iran letter I dont understand why our President decided to pick a fight with the Israeli embassy over his letter to the newly elected president of Iran. When asked about the criticism of his letter, President Higgins threw out a question to the media at the UN: Why dont you ask where it came from? He then went on to accuse the Israeli embassy in Ireland of circulating his letter to the media. Who is briefing him? A little bit of research would have shown his letter was released to the media by the Iranian embassy in London on July 28. In any event, it was not a private letter and is available under Freedom of Information. The President didnt like the criticism of the letter by the Israeli embassy and some TDs, including Fine Gaels Charlie Flanagan. He didnt like the embassy highlighting that, in his letter, he failed to criticise Iran for its constant call for Israels total destruction, for funding and arming terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah, not to mention the many violations of human rights against its own citizens. The President defended his so-called standard letter as normal diplomatic protocol. However, he cannot be above criticism on this he could easily have challenged the new Iranian president on some of the above issues. At a time when relations between Israel and Ireland are at a low point, why did he choose to ignore who actually released the letter and wrongly blame the Israelis? Paddy Monaghan, Glenageary, Co Dublin If Ryanair has its way for passengers who drink, it may be case of two will do Eavan Murrays story in the Irish Independent (September 25) says Ryanair would be willing to set a two-drink limit on passengers if airport bars did the same. This brings to mind the old saying: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Perhaps, the slogan should now be: Two will do. Leo Gormley, Dundalk, Co Louth Its easy to see why even atheists can find comfort in the pews of a church I have read a number of articles recently about atheists attending church and finding it beneficial for their health. In the current political and social climate, there are times when the divisions between friends and neighbours can feel very wide and deep. Although its impossible to see into the hearts of the people seated next to you in a pew, its still strange and perhaps naive comfort that those people are ostensibly there to learn useful real-world skills like forgiveness, charity and love. Going to church reminds people that everyone is just trying to figure out the best way to be human. Many atheists have shared with me, as a clinician and theology graduate, that they enjoy church music along with the intelligent and insightful sermons delivered by the priest. Many crave the human connection with others that such fellowship provides. I find many atheists, far from wanting to deny their children exposure to religious traditions, want to introduce them to religion in a way that allows them to make a thoughtful, informed decision about their own faith (or lack thereof). In the final analysis, I believe we are all on a life journey of discovery and must keep updating, amending and questioning the existential meaning of lifes trek. John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Bike shed is a sickener, but delays with new hospital could really finish us off It looks like the new National Childrens Hospital is about to put the Leinster House bike shed in the hapenny place. John Glennon, Hollywood, Co Wicklow Government should not be propagating mantras of the pensions industry I refer to a recent RTE report on pension research by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The 21pc of adults who do not have any financial arrangements in place for retirement are probably just surviving on their income. Encouraging them to set up a pension may only increase their misery. Claiming that these people, who may not now be paying any income tax, are potentially missing out on the tax benefits and then claiming tax deferral is tax relief is incredulous. Its very concerning that government agencies are propagating these misleading, well-worn pensions industry mantras. Those on low income may end up paying more tax when drawing their pension than any tax benefit received on pension contributions. Michael Terry, Lucan, Co Dublin Is YouTube Premium worth sticking with despite the price hike? What does Ireland get out of the Amazon.ie launch? And why is Metas Nick Clegg calling Irelands Data Protection Commissioner a mailbox? Producer, JJ Clarke, joined Adrian on this weeks episode of The Big Tech Show. Adrian spoke to the president of Global Affairs at Meta, Nick Clegg last week. The former deputy prime minister of the UK told him that the Irish Data Protection Commission risks morphing into little more than a mailbox. These inflammatory comments pose the question, is the EUs stance on privacy slowing the pace of innovation in the single market? You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. You might think Mr Beast is the name of a character from a children's story or the moniker of a gangland figure but you'd be wrong. Although you might not have heard of him, he is one of the world's most popular internet personalities. The 26-year old has built a global YouTube empire around; bingeable eye-catching videos, eye watering production budgets and impressive brand deals. But the man born as Jimmy Donaldson has been hit by multiple scandals in recent months and even faces a high-profile legal battle related to his upcoming Amazon co-production. Today on The Indo Daily, Dave Hanratty is joined by Darragh Nolan, journalist with the Irish Independent, to look at how a digital content king has found himself in the belly of the beast. Charleville residents have called for a bypass of the town to be designated funding in the upcoming Budget to prevent further losses of life on Main Street, where several fatalities have taken place after lorries collided with pedestrians. Locals have reiterated their calls for a bypass after a woman in her forties was involved in a collision involving a lorry on the N20 in the Rathgoggan South area of the town on Monday and was taken for medical attention for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. Banning a breed never solves the problem animal welfare groups Animal welfare groups in Dublin have said the upcoming ban on XL Bully dogs will never solve the problem and will lead to increased abandonment. From October 1, it will be illegal to import, breed, or re-sell XL Bully dogs. Then, from February next year, you will not be permitted to own an XL Bully without a a Certificate of Exemption confirming the animal is licenced, micro-chipped and neutered. Violators may face fines of up to 2,500 or imprisonment, while the dog will be seized. Minister Heather Humphreys announced the upcoming ban during the summer, following a number of horrific attacks by XL Bully dogs, including the death of a young woman who was mauled to death in Limerick. While some animal welfare organisations support the ban in principle due to concerns over public safety, many are also voicing concerns over its implementation, fearing it may lead to increased abandonment and mistreatment of dogs. Other animal shelters vehemently oppose the ban, arguing that it is a knee-jerk reaction that places undue pressure on already strained rescue services. Marie Hannon, founder of Irish Dog Rescue Charity, Dogs in Distress, told the Irish Independent she is horrified by the new regulations on XL Bully breeds. I think its just basically a knee-jerk reaction, and a copy of whats gone on in the UK, she said. All dogs falling into these particular categories are being tarred with the same brush, and its not true. To qualify as an XL bully, the dog must be at least 51 cm (20 inches) tall at the shoulder. There is no specific weight requirement mentioned, but XL bullies are generally characterised by their muscular build and blocky heads. However, animal welfare charities fear the ban could lead to increased abandonment of these dogs and further strain on their already stretched services. None of us have the time, effort, energy, space, or money to continue at this pace, and now this is thrown on top, Ms Hannon said. Banning a breed never solves the problem. Things go underground, and there are more dangerous dogs being brought in now. She said the Government should be targeting puppy farms and backyard breeders and focus on educating people about these types of breeds. Kerry-Anne Pollock, the previous chairperson of the ISPCA, who spoke on behalf of animal welfare organisation My Lovely Horse Rescue, said they fully agree with the ban on XL Bully dogs. However, she is critical of the implementation, arguing it could lead to more abandoned and mistreated animals. Since the ban was announced in July, weve seen a large increase in abandonment, which poses a public safety risk, she said. People who dont know what to expect may approach these dogs, and its not that theyre more dangerous, but their size and capability can be intimidating. My Lovely Horse Rescue is encouraging the Minister to push out a campaign to encourage owners to surrender their dogs to reputable animal welfare charities and rescues. They also request an exemption for XL Bully dogs already in pounds and rescues as they should be given a fair chance with thorough assessments for health, temperament, and suitability for rehoming in a controlled environment. We agree with the ban, but its how its being done thats problematic, Ms Pollock added. The dogs that are already here need to be treated humanely, and those that cant be re-homed should be put down in a stress-free way. Tanya Clarke, who finds rescue dogs forever homes at the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), said that while she and the DSPCA support responsible dog ownership, the upcoming ban on XL bullies will not solve the underlying issues. I think the ban will be detrimental to everyone who works in rescue because they care for animals, she said. Its in all of our natures to want to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals. The right to do that for these dogs, whether theyre friendly or not, is being taken away. She said that a lot of people with large bull breed crosses are currently panicking and thinking their dog will be mistaken for an XL bully. Theres going to be a lot of innocent dogs falling into the category of people thinking theyre XL bullies, even though they may look vastly different, she said. The office of Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural & Community Development, has been contacted for comment. Councillors pass motion calling for more regulation after a number of incidents in city David Mulreany (39) has been driving a horse and carriage in Dublin since he was 16 David Mulreany, who has been driving a horse and carriage in Dublin since he left school at the age of 16, is calling for more oversight of the industry as it has become a free for all. Dublin city councillors recently passed an emergency motion calling for the regulation of horse and carriage operators in the capital after several incidents of horse welfare concerns, dangerous driving, injuries and anti-social behaviour. Mr Mulreany (39), who is a traditional operator at Mulreanys Carriages, said he is concerned about the safety of the people and animals involved. It was totally different when I started back when I was 16, he told the Irish Independent. Dublins carriage office, the same place that used to pass the taxis, were the ones that passed us out. Your carriage got inspected, your horse was seen by a vet, there was a background check, everything was done. We needed a licence as well for your horse, carriage, and driver. You had to always display your badge too. Now theres none of that whatsoever. DCC have no authority to inspect your horse or carriage now, so they werent going to issue any more licences. It was more or less a free for all. Theres more competition now, its open across the board, we just dont know who half of the lads are anymore. Before there was 16 licences issued. Dublin City Council and the gardai knew exactly who was driving the carriages. Today, we don't know ourselves, he added. David loves his job, but with a lack of regulation and an increase in people riding horses around the city, he does it for pleasure now rather than income. It was very hard to take for the simple reason that it was how we put bread on the table. Its different now because its so hard to actually make any money whatsoever, he added. Now its more a pleasure than anything else to keep the horses. We dont mind everybody having a go at this, once they do it correctly. The people are looked after, tourists are looked after, the horses are minded, and we know whos driving these things. Mr Mulreany is a traditional operator at Mulreanys Carriages I left school to drive a horse and carriage for the simple reason there was no money in our area at the time. It turned out that it was the only thing I knew how to do. We have set routes around Dublin city, and you can travel for half an hour, an hour, the whole day. Dublin has so many hidden gems. Wed take you along Georgian Dublin, along the Grand Canal, the old Georgian houses, Merrion Square and so on. Then youd go by the brewery or Saint Patricks Cathedral and things like that. We go where the buses dont go, especially around the Liberties. Were Liberties lads. Its a proper bit of history. We learn something new every single day. Its the best part of Dublin. Its amazing. Its just one of the best jobs in the world when its done right and proper, he added. Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Heney is the chair of DCCs Animal Welfare Oversight Committee. She proposed the emergency motion as she believes the current state of the industry is an accident waiting to happen. We have no power to regulate the driver of a horse drawn carriage, so anyone from 16 and up, once they have an equine ID, which is nothing to do with safety, she said. You can just get it from the Department of Agriculture for a horse. Weve no way of regulating what behaviour or what happens in the city in terms of people riding a horse. A horse collapsed in Christchurch recently due to exhaustion and it went viral. This gave us the opportunity to put this as an emergency motion in DCC and put pressure on the Minister [for Transport] to reintroduce our horse and carriage regulations in the city. The Minister needs to bring forward legislation to amend this. Its a health and safety issue to the young drivers, members of the public who use the carriages and the welfare of the animal, some are working to exhaustion. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is calling on the Government to maintain momentum in funding dementia support and services in Budget 2025 by funding much-needed dementia-specific Day Care at Home Services in Louth. The ASI is looking to increase its Day Care at Home offering in Louth in areas such as Drogheda, Dundalk and Cooley but this is pending funding being allocated from the Government in Budget 2025 taking place on October 1st. In June, The ASI called on the Government to invest 5.5 million in dementia supports and services to address inequity of access across the country. The recommendations are contained in The ASIs Pre-Budget Submission 2025; Equal Dementia Supports, Building on Momentum in 2025. The ASIs submission asks Government to build on the momentum of the past four years with an investment of 5.5m, alongside tangible policy solutions to address ongoing geographical inequity in dementia services and supports, the financial struggles of family carers and the mental health needs of people living with dementia and those who care for them. The ASI also want to see funding for a sustainable dementia workplace and support for Irish dementia research. The ASI is seeking an increase in funding for Dementia Specific Day Care at Home Services by 1,000,000 in Budget 2025 to expand the reach of the services across all areas across the country. Day Care at Home meets an urgent unmet need for people with dementia and their families by providing variety, stimulation, and personalised enjoyable activities. It delivers quality psycho-social support by providing person-centred activities in block hours. The delivery of an additional 645 hours of Day Care at Home per week across Ireland, equating to 32,250 hours of care annually (based on 50 weeks of provision). This will enable The ASI to provide Day Care at Home to 230 more people with dementia per week across the country. In addition, the ASI is calling on the Government to invest 600,000 in the expansion of Day Centres outside major cities. Further investment in dementia-specific Day Centres is essential to support people with dementia, at different stages of their journey, to remain at home in their communities and to provide respite to family carers. There are currently 53 Day Centres in operation across the Republic of Ireland and in 2023 The ASI had just over 63,000 attendances which equates to 1,939 people. The ASIs Head of Operations and Community Engagement, Siobhan OConnor said: There has been enhanced investment in dementia supports from the Government over the last number of years however, there is a need to keep pace with demand. She added: "The ASI is asking the Government to build on the momentum of the last few years with increased funding for Day Care services and Day Care at Home to support, reach and help as many people impacted by dementia in our communities as possible. The Western Development Commission (WDC) has announced that the popular series Moving West will return for a third season on TG4, coinciding with the WDCs 25th anniversary celebration. The new season, airing from October 15 at 7.30 pm on TG4, will feature six weekly episodes, each focusing on a different county, beginning with County Mayo. Produced by Dundara Television & Media in collaboration with the WDC, and hosted by beloved Irish television presenter Mary Kennedy, Moving West continues to capture the heart and soul of life in the West and Northwest of Ireland. Through heartfelt, real-life stories, the series highlights individuals and families who have relocated to this beautiful region to embrace a new way of life. The first series of Moving West was produced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, capturing the surge in remote working and showcasing how the West of Ireland became an ideal destination for those seeking a new way of living. Initially focused on the rise of flexible working, the series highlighted the region as a perfect escape from the fast-paced urban lifestyle. Now, with its third season, Moving West has developed into a deeper exploration of the many reasons people move to or return to the West. This season not only features stunning shots of the breathtaking landscapes but also introduces viewers to people from all walks of life and from many parts of the world who have made the West their home. The series delves into the rich variety of storiesfrom families seeking a better quality of life, to entrepreneurs, artists, and professionals drawn by the regions opportunities in technology, tourism, and the creative industries. Its a celebration of the community, culture, and natural beauty that make the West of Ireland so unique. Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, welcomed the new season, saying: "The return of Moving West showcases the unique stories and experiences of the people who call this region home. This year's series will focus on the individuals who make the West so special, highlighting their journeys and the vibrant communities they've built. It's a testament to the enduring appeal and potential of rural Ireland." Allan Mulrooney, CEO of WDC, commented: "Our communities are defined by a rich mosaic of people and experiences that give the West of Ireland its unique character. Season Three of Moving West has been an incredible opportunity to showcase individuals working across some of the region's largest employers, from indigenous businesses to foreign direct investments, as well as the remarkable stories of cheese farmers, emergency consultants, and even those in the space industry. "The people we've met arent just drawn to the beauty of the landscape, but to the welcoming communities and the careers that push them to thrive. The support weve received from both local communities and our partners over the years has made all of this possible, and we look forward to continuing our journey of promoting this vibrant region." Mary Kennedy, presenter of Moving West, added: I am delighted to see the way Moving West has developed over three seasons, appealing to growing audiences, different age groups: those contemplating a change of lifestyle and those who are simply interested in hearing about other peoples lives of innovation, possibility and a can do attitude. Its always a joy for me to spend time in our beloved west of Ireland and to showcase this part of the country, rich in community, landscape and progression. Im very proud to be part of the Moving West team and to be working with TG4 on this important and timely programme. Follow Independent Roscommon on Facebook Producer and director Enda Grace of Dundara Television and Media commented: "Im thrilled to see how this season captures the beauty and essence of the West of Ireland in a way that is both authentic and inspiring. This series continues to explore not just the landscapes, but the stories of those who have embraced life in this unique region. This season is all about stories but its also about the warm and authentic welcome each mover received upon arrival to the west. Follow Independent Leitrim on Facebook "We meet wonderful people over the six weeks including a flying doctor, a goat farmer, a lighthouse guide and a professional rock climber! With each episode, we've delved deeper into the rich cultural fabric and diverse experiences that make the West such a vibrant place to live. The response to the first two seasons has been incredible, and I believe this series will resonate even more with viewers. Its a true celebration of community, resilience, and the unmatched natural beauty of the west." Follow Independent Clare on Facebook This series has been made possible with support from the Department of Rural and Community Development, as well as Sligo, Donegal, Roscommon, Galway, Leitrim, and Clare County Councils. To mark the 60th anniversary of Kilrush Drama Group the group is publishing a second book titled More Drama at Kilrush. This book continues on from their 50th anniversary edition, Drama at Kilrush. The newly published book, More Drama at Kilrush, will be launched at 7.30p.m on Sunday, September 29 in St. Brigids Hall Carnew. The new edition features over 30 productions by the group in the last ten years inclusive of two All Ireland Wins in 2015 and 2024. In the same format as the first edition, it includes a fantastic record of the plays and events over these years, based on records kept by founding member of the group Mick Byrne. It also includes hundreds of photographs of their productions and lists the names of actors, stage crews and a list of all awards won over this period. The book also features the pageants the group were involved in such as Flight to Grosse Ile, The Coolattin Pageant and Seven Men, Seven Days both written by Davy Donohoe as well as articles by a number of people who have been connected with the group telling of their own stories. Central to this publication are hundreds of colour photographs from Eamonn Dorans collection and photographs from other members. Eamonn has also once again undertaken the mammoth task of collecting and putting together the articles, information and photographs for the book. All are welcome and books will be on sale for 20 each. Copies of the original Drama at Kilrush book will also be on sale on the night. Meg (Rionagh Lombard) and Wendy (Jan Cullen) during the one act play 'Lucy in the Sky' in Gorey Little Theatre. Pic: Jim Campbell Garda Noreen, Jan Cullen, Garda Nuala, Sorcha Howell and the Sheriff of Nottingham, Ronan P. Byrne during a scene on stage. Alexia (Realtin Ryan), Wendy (Jan Cullen) and Meg (Rionagh Lombard) during a scene in the one act play 'Lucy in the Sky' in Gorey Little Theatre. Pic: Jim Campbell After gathering and brainstorming new ideas to develop and expand the drama element of the Gorey Little Theatre, its member decided to introduce a new initiative this autumn called Ten Tiny Plays. Under the guidance of Sally Stevens, 18 members of Gorey Little Theatre (GLT) met during the summer and embarked on a brave and bold project to encourage new directors to join the theatre. Starting in August, the group met on Monday evenings and began to work on skills and scripts. Each participant received an acting role and ten directors received a script to explore as well as a cast and stage. To direct theatre, a director must have vision, management skills and a toolkit of techniques for casting, rehearsal and workshopping their chosen piece. This initiative allows for novice directors to try their hand and experience the process in a safe and guided environment. The ten plays will take place across three nights on Wednesday, October 2, Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 5. The shows are set to start at 8p.m. and tickets can be bought at the door. Safety Announcement is directed by Lily Heinrich Doyle, a stalwart of Goreys theatre scene and owner of Innovations. Rionagh Lombard directs her own nine-year-old son, Donal Lombard Ryan, in his straight theatre debut. He is one to watch, he plays Boy in Between Us We Have Everything. Sadie Harpur, a member of the ensemble, will be part of a devised piece of theatre which uses material from her recently published book, The Hidden World of a Foster Child, to create a moving and shocking short play called Sadies Legs. Jan Cullen directs Leave written by Enniscorthy native, Paul OReilly, an exquisite piece which explores the emotions of persons missing as well as those left bereft and wondering. In a fast paced quirky comedy, Craig Bodger directs a couple in waiting in Masochism Tango. Audrey Doran directs a moving play called Somewhere Out There, which talks about romantic love and old time dancing, and trees and heartbreak. Lindsey Tindall takes on Ten Pages with a theme of writers block. Kingdom of the Spider, directed by Lisa Redmond tells the hilarious but sorry tale of a man, a baby, a spider and a missionary. Lastly, the group take on two versions of Broken by Deirdre Kinahan. Ciara Spellman directs the female version and a rehearsed reading of the male version will demonstrate what happens when genders are altered in playscripts. The ensemble consists of Priit Neilinn, Sophia McCarthy, Karen McGillicuddy, Suzi ONeill, Brendan Sheridan, David Pepper and Angus Laverty. Each of the directors will also star in another play and sound and lighting will be by Colin Doran. Kent Stainless has been announced as one of Irelands Best Managed Companies 2024 for the third year in succession. The company, which is based in Ardcavan, was honoured at an awards ceremony hosted by Deloitte.in the RDS on Thursday, September 19 Commenting on the award, Ann OBrien, Managing Director, Kent Stainless said, Achieving this recognition for the third year in a row is an extremely proud moment for all of us. It highlights the dedication and resilience of our team, who consistently push boundaries and deliver exceptional results. This award belongs to every single person at Kent Stainless." Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Irelands Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, said, The Irish economic growth story has been extraordinary, and we see this evidenced in the success of Irish indigenous businesses and the confidence shown by Best Managed Companies. Ensuring Irelands entrepreneurs and the companies they start get the support they need to grow and scale is crucial. A total of 116 companies requalified as a Best Managed Company. 19 of these achieved Gold Standard (four years as a BMC) and 12 achieved Platinum Standard (seven years as a BMC). Fexco won the Family Business Award in association with the Family Business Network. This year, Deloitte recognised 129 indigenous companies at the awards, representing 28 of the 32 counties across the island of Ireland. The network of companies has a combined turnover of more than 15 billion and provide employment to over 45,000 people across a range of sectors from technology and healthcare to construction. A thorough judging process precedes the recognition each year, evaluating the entire management team and the business strategy of each company. The judges examine a wide range of areas when assessing Irelands top privately-owned businesses, such as a business environmental, social and governance standards, strategic planning and talent strategy. Wicklow founder of GP Practice Ally, Rachel Bothwell, with her Enrepreneur of the Year award at the Lincoln Recruitment Irish Early Career Awards. Visionary Wicklow woman Rachel Bothwell, who stepped in to manage her fathers GP practice after his cancer diagnosis, has been crowned Irelands Entrepreneur of the Year at the Early Career Awards for her outstanding work with her GP practice management community. Using the experience she gained while managing the family GP practice, in 2021, Arklow native Rachel launched GP Practice Ally (GPPA), a unique professional development network serving the needs of GP practice managers in Ireland. Creating a deeply connected community of GP practices, equipped to deliver efficient, quality patient care, the 32-year-old has grown GPPA to become Irelands leading GP practice management community, with over 1,800 members across 75 per cent of the practices in Ireland. GPPA provides a range of supports for practice managers, from access to training and resources to bespoke toolkits, helping practices run smoothly and respond to the changing demands of healthcare. Recognising her innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, Rachel was among a string of rising stars invited to the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin for the Lincoln Recruitment Irish Early Career Awards, which celebrate the achievements of brilliant professionals across 13 diverse sectors who are in the first seven years. Wicklow founder of GP Practice Ally, Rachel Bothwell. Bringing home the coveted title of Entrepreneur of the Year, the award represented yet another prestigious accolade for Rachel, whose impressive CV includes being a finalist at the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year awards last year, and founding the annual GP Practice Ally (GPPA) Leadership Summit, attended by over 100 practice managers and GPs. Taking over my fathers practice gave me an inside view of the challenges GPs and their practice managers face. I wanted to create a support system that would help them navigate those challenges, Rachel reflected. This award means so much to me because it reflects what we are striving for building confidence in practice managers and making sure they feel valued. At GP Practice Ally, we are creating a supportive space where practice managers can truly thrive and make a meaningful impact in their work. Wicklow founder of GP Practice Ally, Rachel Bothwell. Praising Rachels leadership and community-building skills, Early Career Awards judge Laura Enache commented: Rachel stood out for her impressive results and resilience. She has built a strong network of support around her, embodying the values she promotes through GP Practice Ally. Bray author Alan Nolan has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to childrens literature, after he received the Annual Childrens Books Ireland Award at the Children's Books Ireland International Conference held in Dublins Light House Cinema, on Saturday, September 21. Nominated by fellow artists, Dublin-born Alan was presented with the prestigious award by Laureate na nOg Patricia Forde, who described him as one of the most hard-working and generous writers working in Ireland. Confirming his tireless commitment to childrens books, Alan who recently launched his latest book, Molly Malone & Bram Stoker in the Riddle of the Disappearing Dickens (The O'Brien Press), in the Halfway Up the Stairs bookshop in Greystones also joined Patricia at the launch of the Recommended Irish Reads 2024 guide at a Culture Night event in Dubray Books, Dublin last Friday, reading from and signing copies of his new book, which features in the guide. Curated by Childrens Books Ireland, the reading guide spotlights authors, illustrators and their publishers from or based in Ireland and features 200 titles, in Irish and English. Aimed at children aged 10-12, The Riddle of the Disappearing Dickens is a mystery novel that follows best friends Molly Malone and Bram Stoker on an adventure from Dublin to London, where they embark on a heroic quest to find the renowned author Charles Dickens who has been kidnapped. Sarah Webb, Natasha Mac A Bhaird, Alan Nolan, Una Woods, Eve McDonnell at Alan's launch at Halfway Up The Stairs, Greystones. Speaking at the launch of the reading guide, Patricia said: Our children need to see themselves in books, whether they trace their lineage back to Fionn Mac Cumhaill, or have only recently arrived on our shores. "This reading guide is an essential resource for parents/carers, educators, librarians and booksellers in Wicklow and of course, our young readers themselves. And it will definitely come in handy for anyone starting to think about gift-buying for young readers in the coming months, she said. Why does it matter that the writers and illustrators featured call Ireland home? Because our children need to see stories that reflect their identities and surroundings, from artists who understand and can relate to their lived experiences. Children in Wicklow need role models to pave pathways that will help them to realise their dreams. We see it in sport, we see it in theatre and film, and we need to see it in the realm of childrens books, she added. Alan visited Greystones on Saturday, September 7, to launch his new book, where he had a jam-packed house with some children coming from as far away as Cavan for the launch. The book is set in 1859 and is all about Molly and Bram going on the trail of a kidnapped Charles Dickens, the author said. "Its a tale of two cities, set in Dublin and London, so I was very glad I had rehearsed my readings (and all the posh London and gruff Cockney accents) beforehand. NYC mayor indicted by federal prosecutors: reports Xinhua) 14:14, September 26, 2024 NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury, according to multiple reports on Wednesday citing anonymous sources. A federal investigation is focusing, at least in part, on whether Adams and his campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations, said a report by The New York Times. Federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York are expected to unseal charges against Adams on Thursday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation made multiple raids targeting Admas and his senior aides since November 2023, and several high-ranking officials in New York City resigned in September. With a long police career, Adams became the 110th mayor of New York City in January 2022 and his term ends in January 2026. Adams faces multiple challengers within the Democratic Party in his re-election bid and some public figures called for him to resign following the reports of indictment. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The owner and founder of a Bray digital marketing firm, which specialises in helping salon and clinic owners create a strong online presence, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Business Director of the Year accolade at the Professional Beauty, Hair and Spa Awards 2024. Proving that beauty can be big business, Salon Solutions, founded by Lisa Kelly, is a leading provider of branding, websites, online shops, and mobile apps for the salon and aesthetic clinic industries. And the tech entrepreneur said she has seen a rise in demand for her services, year on year, since the business started in 2006. The industry is in the middle of a seismic transformation caused by new emerging aesthetic technologies and skin care products that offer a multitude of non-invasive treatments to address ageing and the more common skin complaints like acne, Lisa said. " "The introduction of these new technologies comes at a crossroads for the industry battling with the inability to pass on rising costs to the client, she added. What we see today is the more established salons making large investments into upgrading their skills and for the purchase of new aesthetic technologies so that they can transition their businesses into offering higher value more profitable services. To achieve this and get a return on their investment our clients need to re-position their business by rebranding and upgrading their online presence and service offerings, she explained. A strong online presence can determine if a business survives or thrives. We help salon owners attract and retain clients, generate new bookings, and grow online sales to make more money. Lisa Kelly, of Salon Solutions. Lisa said many of her clients are busy, time-poor working mothers, so the mission is to get them online as easily and cost-effectively as possible and to ensure they reap the rewards of extra business. Clients can lack technical skills and be daunted by a male-dominated IT industry," she explained. As a woman working in the industry for 18 years, I bridge the gap for them and speak their language. My first-hand knowledge of beauty products and treatments, combined with my background in tech and marketing, and our connections and specialism in beauty, means we bring salon and clinic brands to life, quickly and easily, with minimal input required from clients. Motivating and mentoring clients in the early stages of their business or guiding more established salons to transition to high-value services like aesthetics, is viewed by Lisa as central to the marketeers work. Salon Solutions hosts educational webinars and a business development blog, as well as providing e-books to help clients deliver more profit and better online service. Lisa has a background in digital marketing with blue-chip companies. Eighteen years ago, she started her first digital business, offering marketing consultancy. Salon Solutions grew from that, delivering what she calls big company solutions for little salon prices. I have supported well over 100 salons and clinics with an online presence, many of them start-ups. We help clients secure the online trading grant, and, especially during Covid, our online shops for salons made the difference in keeping many beauty businesses alive, she said. We create partnerships, on the basis that the business only succeeds if we all succeed. Irelands Professional Beauty, Hair and Spa Awards take place on Sunday, November 10, at the Intercontinental Hotel, in Dublin. Ukraines president urged global leaders yesterday to stand with his country and not seek a lull instead of a real, just peace more than two years into Russias war. At a time when he faces growing pressure from Western allies and some of his fellow Ukrainians to negotiate a cease-fire, President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN General Assembly theres no alternative to the peace formula he presented two years ago. Latest | Benjamin Netanyahu rules out US-led ceasefire plans and orders military to fight at full power UK, US, EU and other allies call for a 21-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah IDF announced this morning that it had targeted Hezbollah weapons depots, rocket launchers, military buildings and infrastructure in 75 attacks UK joins US and allies in calling for ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah John Besley Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 08:47 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out current US-led plans for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, instead ordering his military to fight at full power. Israeli troops told to prepare for ground operation in Lebanon Strongest hint yet that Israel plans further escalation, as military says it shot down missile aimed at Tel Aviv A Lebanese police intelligence officer stands near a crater at the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern town of Jiyeh. Photo: AP Melanie Lidman, Tia Goldenberg and Kareem Chehayeb Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 03:30 The Israeli military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon, the Israeli army chief said yesterday, as Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets into Israel, as well as a missile aimed at Tel Aviv that was the militant groups deepest strike yet. UK joins US and allies in calling for ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah UK joins US and allies in calling for ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 09:40 The UK has joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is intolerable. Donald Trump briefed on suspected Iranian plot to assassinate him Republican posts message saying he is aware of big threats on my life Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dances after speaking at a campaign event in Savannah, Georgia, earlier this week. Photo: AP Matt Viser Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 03:30 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was briefed by Biden administration officials on Tuesday about real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him, his campaign has said in a statement. Tensions high as Iran urged to attack Israel but timing not right for now Guard remains high as killing of Hamas leader yet to be avenged Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the UN general assembly in New York yesterday. Photo: Getty Melanie Swan UK Independent Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 03:30 Hezbollah urged Iran to attack Israel but it refused because the timing isnt right, two Israeli officials have said. Thailands landmark marriage equality bill has officially been written into law, allowing same-sex couples to legally wed. The law was published in the Royal Gazette after endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and will come into effect in 120 days. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Image Credit: Facebook/Siddaramaiah Bengaluru/IBNS: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a "direct debate" on corruption after the latter attacked the Congress leader over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Haryana, Modi said, "Congress government is in power in Karnataka for only two years. Within two years, the Congress has led Karnataka to a dire situation. Congress' Chief Minister is accused of a land scam. "The Chief Minister moved the High Court challenging the probe. Now the High Court has rejected his plea and cleared that the probe order was justified and investigation should take place. Just two years have passed and Congress is back in corruption." In a counter, Siddaramaiah said the Prime Minister has no "moral right" to speak on corruption as he too is involved in corruption. The Chief Minister wrote on X, "Prime Minister @NarendraModi, who is accused by his own party leaders of auctioning off the Chief Minister's post for 2,500 crores, has no moral right to speak about corruption! Even after a BJP MLA openly accused his own party of selling the CM post, no action has been taken. "Day after day, BJP MLAs are involved in corruption, yet Modi remains silent. Whats the reason for this silence, Mr. Modi? Are you complicit in this corruption? You lecture about corruption in your speeches, Mr. Modi. If you can show just one BJP leader in Karnataka without the stain of corruption, we will invite you to Karnataka and publicly honor you!" Siddaramaiah has also slammed the Prime Minister for allegedly dropping charges against corrupt leaders from the Opposition camp after they switched to Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress leader wrote, "You have inducted H.D. Kumaraswamy, who is facing a 100 crore illegal mining scam, into your cabinet without hesitation. Doesn't your conscience prickle when you accuse others of corruption? Why is the Honorable Governor turning a blind eye to Lokayukta's request for permission to prosecute in this scam? Whos pressuring him, Mr. Modi? The nation has watched for the past 11 years as your office has turned into a washing machine, cleaning the corruption stains of opposition leaders who join BJP. Bravo, Mr. Modi! "Since 2014, more than 25 opposition leaders with corruption allegations have joined your party, and 23 of them have been cleared by central agencies. Isnt this a miracle? From Himanta Biswa Sarma to Suvendu Adhikari, H.D. Kumaraswamy, Ajit Pawar, Ashok Chavan, Narayan Rane, and the latest, Muniratnahow many corrupt leaders have you washed clean in your machine? Is this your idea of public service, Mr. Prime Minister?" Prime Minister @NarendraModi, who is accused by his own party leaders of auctioning off the Chief Minister's post for 2,500 crores, has no moral right to speak about corruption! Even after a BJP MLA openly accused his own party of selling the CM post, no action has been taken. Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 25, 2024 The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday rejected the Congress veteran's plea challenging Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's approval for a probe against the state's administrative head in connection with the alleged irregularities in the land allocation by MUDA. A Karnataka High Court bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna said the Governor "did apply his mind in abundance" in sanctioning the prosecution. In a press statement, Siddaramaiah had termed the Governor's decision "anti-Constitution" and "contrary to the law." Siddaramaiah also alleged that it was a "conspiracy to dislodge a democratically elected government by the BJP, JD(S), and others". What is the MUDA scam? The MUDA 50:50 scheme, which was introduced in 2009 but was scrapped in 2020 by the then BJP government, promises land owners 50 percent of the developed land per acre which they give up. Though it was scrapped in 2020, MUDA continued to allot land under the scheme. MUDA continued even after the government ordered twice in the last six months asking it to cancel all allotments until clear guidelines are issued. It is suspected that the sites were alloted to influential people and real estate agents instead of giving them to the eligible beneficiaries. Photo courtesy: Sanjay Raut/ Facebook Mumbai/IBNS: A magistrate court in Mumbai has convicted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut in a defamation case which was filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya's wife Medha Somaiya, media reports said. Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, has been imprisoned for 15 days and a fine of Rs. 25,000 is imposed on him. Medha Somaiya, a professor of organic chemistry, had filed a complaint against Raut accusing him of making defamatory and incorrect statements on April 15 and 16. Medha had submitted video clips claiming Raut made the statements to media channels. The professor had demanded an unconditional apology to her and a restrain on him from making any defamatory statement against her in future. In her court plea, Medha claimed an editorial in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamana accused the Somaiya couple of being involved in an alleged toilet scam in the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation. Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video Mumbai/IBNS: A case has been filed against Mumbai's civic body (BMC) after a woman lost her life after falling into a drain amid downpour in the city on Wednesday, media reports said. Vimal Anil Gaikwad, 45, fell into an overflowing manhole near Gate number 8 of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation building in Andheri East, Mumbai, NDTV reports. The victim was rushed to a hospital where she was declared brought-dead. Vimal's husband, who filed a complaint with the police, said the victim was the sole breadwinner of his family. "I am a sick man, my wife used to take care of my house. We have lost everything, I want that whoever is at fault should be punished. We have lodged an FIR," the victim's husband said as quoted by NDTV. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has constituted a three-member panel and sought a report on the incident within three days. Photo courtesy: IBNS File New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court Thursday rejected the Gujarat government's plea to remove criticisms made in its order related to the release of Bilkis Bano's convicts. The state requested the removal of certain remarks against it in the apex court's order overruling the premature release of 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The Gujarat government plea highlighted the court's observation that it had "acted in collusion and colluded with the convicts". The state government stated the comment to be inappropriate and against the record of the case, and also biased against the petitioner. However disagreeing with the argument, a bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan sad: "Having carefully gone through the Review Petitions, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the Review Petitions, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned." Earlier in July, the top court had dismissed interim bail petitions filed by two convicts - Radheyshyam Bhagwandas and Rajubhai Babulal. The court also noted convicts could only be released by the state that tried them in the first place; which is Maharashtra in this case. "The exercise of power by the state of Gujarat is an instance of usurpation of power and abuse of power," the court had said. In passing this order the court also came down heavily on its judgment of May 2022, delivered by Justice Ajay Rastogi (retired), which allowed the convicts to appeal to the Gujarat government for their early remission. The convicts got the order "through fraudulent means", the judges said. They also noted that the Gujarat government should have sought a review of the 2022 order. The convicts were released by Gujarat on grounds of an obsolete 1992 remission policy, which has since been superseded by a law in 2014 that prohibits the release of convicts in cases of capital offence. The convicts were given a hero's welcome, with garlands and sweets, and they were seen sharing the stage with a BJP MP and an MLA. Convict Radheshyam Shah even started practicing law, the Supreme Court was told during an 11-day hearing last year of petitions, including one by Bilkis Bano. Bano was 21 years old and was five months pregnant when she was gang raped. The 11 convicts allegedly killed seven members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Photo courtesy: RG Kar website/Pixabay Kolkata/IBNS: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case, has told a local court in Kolkata that Tala Police Station, under which the FIR was registered, created "some false records". The federal probe agency, directed by the Calcutta High Court to investigate the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor on August 9, claimed to possess CCTV footage from the Tala Police Station and that this has been sent to a central forensics lab in the city for examination. The Kolkata Police is yet to respond. The significant revelation was made after the CBI interrogated Abhijit Mondal, the officer-in-charge of the Tala Police Station at the time. Mondal was arrested on charges of tampering with evidence, while Dr Sandip Ghosh, the hospital's former chief, was held over financial irregularities. Both are in CBI custody. Prime suspect Sanjay Roy - a civic volunteer with the cops, who was seen on CCTV footage entering the room in which the body was found, hours before it was - has also been arrested. On Wednesday the agency had produced Mondal and Ghosh before the court following completion of their remand. The court subsequently sent them to judicial custody till September 30. The CBI even told the court last week that it suspects a 'nexus' between Mondal and Ghosh referring to the phone calls between them. Mondal's lawyer pointed out that given a serious crime was reported from the hospital, it was normal for the two to speak multiple times. On Thursday too, the defence pointed out that the CBI had not provided evidence to back its claims. Apart from identifying those guilty of the killing of the 31-year-old junior doctor, the CBI is also investigating reports of destruction of evidence in connection with the rape and murder. Mondal, the CBI has said, is not accused of the rape or murder, but may have played a role in the cover-up that followed. The Bengal government and police force are facing severe flak over the handling of the case and allegations of trying to protect those guilty. The CBI is also probing a "criminal conspiracy" between Mondal, Ghosh, and accused Sanjoy Roy, citing the "unnecessary delay of two days" in the seizure of the clothes the latter wore on the day. This, the agency told the court, could have led to contamination of material evidence. Among the points of order flagged by the High Court and Supreme Court (which took suo moto cognisance) is that there was a 14-hour delay between finding the body and filing a police case. Both courts have demanded to know why the hospital administration, then led by Sandip Ghosh, did not act immediately, which would, in turn, have ensured the police filed an FIR. On Sunday, the CBI also questioned another doctor - Birupaksha Biswas, who was allegedly close to Ghosh - in connection with the rape and murder. Biswas was reportedly part of the 'North Bengal lobby', which medics in the state say have threatened medical students in the past. Meanwhile, on Saturday, junior doctors partially resumed duties after calling off their strike after 40 days to protest the killing of their colleague. They rejoined work for essential and emergency services only. They have been protesting since August 9 - which has included three failed attempts at talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - for justice for their colleague and the removal of three officials, including the Health Secretary, alleging their involvement in the case. Image Credit: x.com/netanyahu Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that his government had not responded to a proposal by the United States and its allies for a 21-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, news agency AFP reported. It is an American-French proposal, which the prime minister has not even responded to, read a statement from Netanyahus office. It further emphasized that the Prime Minister had instructed the Israeli military to continue the fighting with full force. The joint proposal, issued by the United States, the European Union, and several Arab states, called for a three-week ceasefire following intense Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon that have resulted in hundreds of casualties and displaced tens of thousands of people. The joint statement, issued by US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other international leaders, described the situation in Lebanon as intolerable and asserted that it is in nobodys interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. The statement urged an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement. This appeal was seconded by Western powers, Japan, and prominent Gulf states such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, during discussions held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The call for a temporary ceasefire followed remarks by Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, who on Wednesday instructed soldiers to be ready for a possible ground offensive against Hezbollah. Over the past week, Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon have led to significant casualties, while the militant group has retaliated with rocket barrages and claimed to have launched a ballistic missile aimed at Tel Aviv. Outer Banks Season 4 has set its much-anticipated OTT release date. The show that already has had three very popular seasons, is now back with another one and this time the show is going to be bigger and better. The show centers on the struggle between two groups of youngsters looking for a lost treasure and is set in a town on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Outer Banks season 4 Part 1 will be out on October 10 and Part 2 will release on November 7 on Netflix. Plot According to the streamer, the Pogues promise to lead a normal life upon their return to the OBX following their discovery of gold at El Dorado. They have established a new safe haven for themselves, which they have dubbed "Poguelandia 2.0," where they cohabitate and manage a thriving bait, confront, and charter tour business. However, following some financial difficulties, Wes extends an invitation to John B, Sarah, Kiara, JJ, Pope, and Cleo, who accept and are persuaded to return . Cast and crew Stokes as John B., Cline as Sarah, Bailey as Kiara, Daviss as Pope, Pankow as JJ, Grant as Cleo, North as Topper, and Starkey as Rafe are the returning series regulars. Furthermore, Fiona Palomo, who has been promoted to series regular, will reprise her role as Sofia. New stars include J. Anthony Crane, Pollyanna McIntosh, Brianna Brown, Rigo Sanchez, Mia Challis and a few others. For the unversed, the show received a third season renewal in June 2021, and it debuted on February 23, 2023. The show was renewed for a fourth season in February 2023, prior to the release of the third season. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Creating buzz on the internet with her recent appearance and social media posts, Ananya Panday is ruling our Instagram feed with ease! While more often than not it is her sartorial picks that become the talk of the town, her latest post has taken things to another level. To announce the release of the trailer of her upcoming Netflix thriller CTRL, the Gen Z diva shared a series of photos with her pet dog Riot. Ananya promotes CTRL with pet dog Riot In the bunch of photos, Ananya can be seen playing with her adorable dog, who is a regular in her photos. The wholesome photo shoot with her fluffy companion comprises of series of heartwarming photos of the duo and is sure to bring a smile to your face. Check out the post below: Soon after the photos were shared, the post went viral and fans showered the diva with their love and compliments in the comment section. One user added, "Aww the cutest!", while another commented, "Cutest pictures I have ever seen" Coming to Ananya's stylish pick for the shoot, we think it is safe to say Ananya and her team of stylists have done it again! They've delivered a perfect ensemble idea that is sure to suit everyone and is an excellent option for a casual outing. Let's decode her fashionable look! Decoding Ananya's fashionable look for the photoshoot Outfit Credit: www.harveynichols.com | Ananya Panday's outfit Starting with her dress, Ananya chose a white calf-length midi dress from the luxury fashion brand De La Vali. Priced at 280 pounds, which equates to about Rs 31,275, the dress features a corset-style bodice which flows into an A-line skirt. The strappy number comes with a delicate sweetheart neckline and is available in a black option as well. The best part about the dress though - it has pockets! Footwear Credit: www.zara.com | Ananya Panday's footwear To complete her look, Ananya went with bright red Mary Jane ballet flats from Zara. Priced at Rs 2,590, the patent leather flats add a bright pop of colour to her otherwise understated outfit and become the focal point of the photos. The shoes also match the colour of Riot's leash and are a smart touch that further elevates the aesthetic appeal of the pictures. She rounded off her outfit with simple barely-there makeup and kept her luscious locks open in a middle-parted style. Also Read: 5 sarees from 'Devara' actress Janhvi Kapoor's collection that you need to bookmark right away For more on celeb lifestyle and fashion from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle. Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon walked into the Mumbai airport today wearing an all black ensemble. She stepped out of the car, smiling and posing for the shutterbugs. The 'Crew' star opted for a fitted black top along with a high-waisted pair of tailored black trousers. The outfit is definitely appropriate for those cozy date nights and formal get togethers at work. Kriti made her entire look extra chic by throwing in a stylish Burberry cardigan, which we know is pure luxury and comfort. The V-neck style is cut to a relaxed fit. The fabric is a wool mohair blend knitted with Burberry check making Kriti's overall look sophisticated. This kind of lightweight cardigan is usually a looser cut than a regular one, making it perfect for those long hours on the flight, The premium Burberry cardigan is reportedly priced at Rs 1.10 Lakh. Credit: Burberry She completed her overall look with a black belt with a silver buckle and beautiful golden dangling earrings. Kriti tied her hair into a neat bun and took a matching handbag. Kriti opted for a black pair of pump heels adding a touch of style and glamour. Overall, Kriti's look is a 10/10. She inspired her fans to be classy and yet comfortable when going to the airport for those long hauls and flights. Kriti is reportedly flying for IIFA 2024, which is taking place in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. She will be performing at the award show. Kriti was last seen in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya and Crew. Both were commercial hits. Kriti is reportedly preparing for a biopic on Meena Kumari. For more such stories on celeb fashion, follow us on Indiatimes Lifestyle. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to decline the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award from the Noguchi Museum in New York City. This decision follows the museum's dismissal of three employees for wearing the keffiyeh, a headdress commonly associated with Palestinian solidarity, as reported by The New York Times. In a statement, the museum acknowledged, Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyones views. The museum recently instituted a new dress code prohibiting staff from donning items that convey political messages. This change was made after staff protests, with some asserting that the policy was distinctly anti-Palestinian. The keffiyeh has gained prominence as a symbol among demonstrators advocating for victims in Gaza, especially in light of Israel's ongoing military actions, which have caused significant casualties and displacement. Importance of the keffiyeh as a protest symbol The keffiyeh scarf is recognized globally as a symbol of Palestinian self-determination, worn by those calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza. It has historical significance; anti-apartheid South African leader Nelson Mandela was frequently seen wearing the scarf. However, some supporters of Israel contend that it represents support for extremism. Recently, an incident in Vermont involved three Palestinian descent students being shot, two of whom were wearing keffiyehs. The ongoing violence in Gaza, which has led to tens of thousands of deaths and mass displacement, escalated after a deadly attack by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7. Who is Jhumpa Lahiri? Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London in 1967 and raised in Rhode Island. She is celebrated for her profound portrayals of immigrant and Indian-American experiences, earning the Pulitzer Prize for her debut collection, Interpreter of Maladies (1999). This acclaimed work addresses themes of cultural displacement and identity, drawing from her own background as the daughter of Bengali immigrants. The collection features the award-winning title story and has been translated into 29 languages. Her first novel, The Namesake (2003), explores the immigrant journey through the character Gogol Ganguli, who navigates his Indian heritage alongside American identity. Also Read: Who is Harini Amarasuriya, the alumna of Hindu College who has been appointed as Sri Lankas Prime Minister? Lahiri has received numerous awards, including the PEN/Hemingway Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Currently residing in New York City with her husband, journalist Alberto Vourvoulias, and their two children, her work resonates deeply, capturing universal themes of longing, isolation, and the challenges of communication. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Who doesn't love a good snack? Whether it's a crunchy bag of chips, a decadent slice of cake for those with a sweet tooth, or a plate of cheesy nachos, snacks have a universal appeal. Interestingly, it turns out that the love for snacks isn't a modern phenomenon; it dates back centuries! Scientists have discovered that during the Bronze Age - between 3300 BCE and 1200 BCE - desert dwellers in northwest China were buried with cheese scattered on their heads and necks. This peculiar practice suggests they were perhaps packing a tasty treat for the afterlife! Say 'cheese' Cheese was unearthed from the necks and heads of Bronze Age desert dwellers in northwest China's Taklamakan Desert, where the arid climate remarkably mummified it. Notably, the world's oldest known cheese, dating back to 1615 BC, was discovered alongside these ancient mummies. This cheese was found in clumps resting on the bodies of the exceptionally well-preserved mummies in the site Small River Cemetery Number 5. Credit: Unsplash | Representational image The site is distinctive because the burial process essentially freeze-dried the bodies, allowing their features, clothing, and even culinary accompaniments to remain intact thousands of years later. This remarkable preservation can be attributed to the dry air, salty earth, and carefully sealed burial conditions of the region. Worlds oldest-known cheese Recently, scientists successfully extracted and sequenced DNA from the 3,600-year-old cheese, making it the oldest known in the archaeological record. Researchers speculate that the ancient cheese was made using a kefir starter, which combines bacteria and yeast with milk. In contrast, most modern cheeses utilize renneta digestive enzyme sourced from an animal's stomachto curdle milk and create the final product. This groundbreaking analysis has shed light on how the Xiaohe people crafted their cheese, illustrating the innovative ways in which humans have harnessed microbes to enhance their food. It also highlights how these microbes can serve as markers to trace cultural influences across the ages. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Another video showcasing a "gaffe" by US President Joe Biden went viral on Wednesday after he mistakenly welcomed world leaders to Washington while delivering a speech in Manhattan, New York. Reports highlighted that Biden, while speaking at the Inter-Continental New York Barclay hotel, made the slip-up in front of a gathering of international leaders. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. Welcome to Washington," the 81-year-old US President said during his remarks. Bidens speech, intended to reaffirm Western support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia, came during the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He addressed global leaders, emphasizing their collective support for Ukraines recovery. Joe Biden mixed up his location: Welcome to Washington, said the American president, while in New York. pic.twitter.com/2A1hCfNfFf InnA (@Inna_Inna_Iv) September 25, 2024 Fellow leaders, friends, for 944 days [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has waged his vicious onslaught against Ukraine. Ukrainian people have stood unwavering, unbroken, and unbowed. Today, we are launching a joint declaration of support for Ukraine recovery and reconstruction to make it clear we stand with Ukraine, Biden said. The event also preceded remarks from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as per a report by the New York Post. On the same day, the US announced a fresh military aid package for Ukraine, valued at $375 million. This package includes artillery and rocket ammunition, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weaponry, according to Bloomberg. Biden's awkward slip-up in front of Zelenskyy In a previous incident, Biden made headlines with another awkward gaffe involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During a NATO summit in July, Biden accidentally referred to Zelenskyy as "President Putin," shocking the gathered leaders. And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin, Biden said during the summit, prompting gasps from the audience. He quickly attempted to recover from the mistake, saying, "President Putin? You're going to beat President Putin. President Zelenskyy. I'm so focused on beating Putin we got to worry about it, anyway. Mr President." This was not Biden's only mix-up at the time. During a press conference that followed, he mistakenly referred to his Vice President Kamala Harris as his political rival Donald Trump. The July NATO summit came during a critical period when Biden was still a contender in the presidential race. However, after a less-than-stellar debate against Donald Trump on July 27, fellow Democrats grew concerned about Bidens campaign. These concerns eventually led to Biden stepping aside and supporting Vice President Kamala Harris as the partys 2024 presidential candidate. Another awkward mix-up involving PM Modi In yet another mix-up, Biden experienced an embarrassing moment at a Quad event in Wilmington, Delaware, where he struggled to introduce Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After finishing his remarks at the Cancer Moonshot event last week, Biden seemed unsure about who was next to speak. He looked to his staff for assistance, saying, "So, I want to thank you all for being here. And now, who am I introducing next?" A brief silence followed, after which Biden, sounding more urgent, repeated, "Who's next?" We really dont have a president. Biden completely FORGOT he was at a press conference with the Prime Minister of India. The entire world is laughing at us. This guy is COOKED. pic.twitter.com/useM07uh0R Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) September 21, 2024 Eventually, a staff member indicated to the podium, where Prime Minister Modi was set to speak. The announcer then took over, saying, "Distinguished guests, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India," allowing Modi to take the stage. Biden later embraced Modi, making a light-hearted comment as they shared the moment. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Mira Murati, the chief technology officer (CTO) of OpenAI, has stepped down after more than six years at the company. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Murati shared that she is leaving to make time for "personal exploration," reflecting on her experience as both rewarding and transformative. It has been an extraordinary privilege to work with OpenAI, Murati wrote, expressing her deep gratitude. During her time at OpenAI, Murati played a key role in advancing the companys AI technologies, including the development of ChatGPT. Her leadership helped push OpenAI to the forefront of the global AI landscape. While she did not specify her future plans, Murati mentioned she is looking forward to exploring new opportunities. I shared the following note with the OpenAI team today. pic.twitter.com/nsZ4khI06P Mira Murati (@miramurati) September 25, 2024 Murati extended her appreciation to OpenAIs CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman for their continued support, saying, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to build and work alongside this remarkable team. Altman responded to Muratis resignation with a post on X, acknowledging her significant impact on the company. I feel tremendous gratitude towards her for what she has helped us build and accomplish, Altman wrote, adding that the company will soon announce transition plans. This high-profile departure comes on the heels of other notable exits, including chief research officer Bob McGrew and research leader Barret Zoph. Mira Muratis journey: From engineering to AI leadership Mira Murati, an Albanian-born tech executive from Vlore, has been instrumental in shaping some of the most groundbreaking AI technologies of our time. Since joining OpenAI in 2018, Murati quickly rose to prominence, playing a key role in the development of ChatGPT and DALL-E. These innovations propelled OpenAI to the forefront of the AI industry, making Murati one of its most recognisable leaders. Her leadership was further solidified in May 2022, when she was appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of OpenAI, continuing to steer the organisation through its advancements in artificial intelligence. Born on December 16, 1988, Murati won a scholarship at 16 to attend the Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Canada. She later earned a dual degree in the United States: a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Colby College and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouths Thayer School of Engineering. Murati also pursued a Masters degree in Computer Science from MIT, reflecting her dedication to both technical depth and innovation. Before OpenAI, Murati worked at Tesla, where she led key projects, including managing the Model X program and contributing to the early releases of Autopilot. She then served as Vice President of Product and Engineering at Leap Motion, where she worked on augmented reality technology. At OpenAI, her leadership extended to GPT-4, enhancing AI models with features like realistic voice conversations. Through her work, Murati has become a key figure in the world of AI research and development. Mira Muratis financial standing and net worth As of 2024, Mira Muratis net worth is estimated to be approximately $5 million, a reflection of her success in the tech industry. While she maintains a private life, her role at OpenAI has inevitably brought attention to her financial status. Her wealth stems from multiple sources, with her earnings as OpenAIs CTO playing a significant role. It is estimated that her annual salary at OpenAI ranged between $1-2 million. Though details about her previous salaries remain limited, her prior positions at prominent tech companies like Tesla and Leap Motion likely contributed to her overall financial standing. Also Read: Who is Harini Amarasuriya, the alumna of Hindu College who has been appointed as Sri Lankas Prime Minister? Information about her real estate holdings and other assets remains private, as Murati has kept much of her personal life out of the public eye. Nonetheless, her estimated net worth of $5 million, according to a merca20.com report, underscores her considerable impact on the tech world. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Google, the search engine we rely on every day, is about to turn 26 in 2024. It was founded by two Stanford Ph.D. students, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, in September 1998. We celebrate Google's birth anniversary every year to recognise the moment Sergey Brin and Larry Page introduced what is now the world's most widely used search engine. Before finalising "Google" as the name, the two creators developed a search algorithm called "Backrub." They later chose "Google," a name inspired by "googol," a term representing the number 10 raised to the power of 100, highlighting their goal of organising a massive amount of data. Although we now celebrate Google's birth anniversary on September 27, this wasnt always the case. Before 2005, Google observed its birthday on different dates, such as September 7 and September 8. Eventually, it was set on September 27, and since then, it has been a fun tradition, often accompanied by a special Google Doodle. Today, Google operates in over 100 languages and handles trillions of searches every year. Its presence is worldwide, and it has become an important part of our lives. As Google's 26th anniversary is approaching sharing Happy Birthday Google wishes, quotes and thank you messages is a fun way to mark this impressive journey. To celebrate this milestone, here are some Happy Birthday Google wishes, thank you messages, and quotes to share on its special day. Best Happy Birthday Google Wishes, Messages, and Quotes Happy 26th birthday, Google! Here's to organising the world's information for all these years! Wishing you a very happy Google birth anniversary! Thank you for helping us find answers quickly. Happy birthday, Google! 26 years of making information easily accessible for everyone. Wishing Google a fantastic 26th birthday! You've changed how we search forever. Cheers to Google for 26 years of innovation and endless knowledge at our fingertips. Happy 26th birthday to the search engine that has been helping us with everythingGoogle! Congratulations on your 26th birth anniversary, Google! Keep transforming the world. From Backrub to Googlewhat a journey! Happy birthday! Sending warm happy birthday Google wishes to the tech giant that makes searching so easy! Happy 26th birthday to the search engine that has answers to everythingGoogle! Happy birthday Google 2024: Inspiring Quotes From a small project in a Stanford dorm room to becoming the worlds largest search engine, Googles journey is truly incredible. Happy birthday Google quotes remind us of how this tech giant started and how much it has accomplished over the years. "If it isn't on Google, it doesn't exist." - Jimmy Wales "You may think using Google's great, but I still think it's terrible." - Larry Page Solving big problems is easier than solving little problems. - Larry Page As a leader, It is important to not just see your own success, but focus on the success of others. - A person who is happy is not because everything is right in his life, He is happy because his attitude towards everything in his life is right. - Sundar Pichai Let yourself feel insecure from time to time. It will help you grow as an individual. - Sundar Pichai India has long been an exporter of talent to tech companies... But it is India that's now undergoing its own revolution. - Sundar Pichai "Some say Google is God. Others say Google is Satan. But if they think Google is too powerful, remember that with search engines unlike other companies, all it takes is a single click to go to another search engine." - Sergey Brin "If Google teaches you anything, it's that small ideas can be big." - Bill Callahan "Google is arguably one of the greatest inventions. The search engine is one of the greatest inventions in human history." - Franklin Foer "Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one." - Neil Gaiman Thank You messages to Google on its 26th anniversary Happy 26th anniversary, Google! Thank you for being our trusted search engine for all these years. From simple queries to complex research, you've been an essential part of our daily lives. We are grateful for your innovation, efficiency, and the endless information youve brought to our fingertips. Here's to many more years of growth and discovery with Google! Thank you, Google, for 26 years of making the internet accessible to everyone. Your journey from a small project to the world's largest search engine has been inspiring. Whether its finding a recipe, answering trivia, or solving problems, youve been a true companion. Congratulations on this milestone, and heres to more milestones in the future! Happy 26th birthday, Google! Thank you for helping us navigate the digital world with ease and speed. From learning new things to staying informed, youve made information available to millions in seconds. Your role in shaping the internet has been monumental, and we are truly grateful for all the innovations youve introduced. Wishing you continued success! Thank you, Google, for being a constant source of knowledge and information for 26 years. Youve made it so easy to find answers to our questions and connect with the world around us. Your impact on how we access and use information is immeasurable, and we appreciate all youve done to make our lives simpler. Happy anniversary, Google! Happy 26th anniversary, Google! Thank you for helping millions of people around the globe find answers to their questions with just a few clicks. From students to professionals, we all rely on you to guide us through a vast ocean of information. Your dedication to making the internet a better place has been remarkable, and we appreciate all that youve done for us! Congratulations, Google, on 26 years of revolutionizing the way we access information! Thank you for being more than just a search engine. Youve become a powerful tool that connects people, promotes learning, and helps businesses grow. Your innovations have touched every corner of the world, and for that, we are truly thankful. Here's to many more years of success! Thank you, Google, for 26 incredible years of simplifying our lives. Your journey from a dorm room project to a global tech giant has been inspiring. Youve made it easier for us to learn, discover, and explore the world, all from the comfort of our screens. Your impact on society is unmatched, and we are excited to see what the future holds for you. Happy birthday, Google! Happy 26th birthday, Google! Thank you for being a reliable source of information and for continuously improving the way we search. Youve changed the way we interact with the world, bringing knowledge and convenience to our fingertips. We are grateful for your constant innovation and dedication to making the internet a better place for all of us! A big thank you to Google on its 26th anniversary! Youve been with us every step of the way, making it easy to access the information we need. From solving small everyday problems to guiding important research, youve been there through it all. Your growth and achievements over the years are truly inspiring, and we look forward to more amazing innovations in the future! Thank you, Google, for 26 years of connecting people, ideas, and information. Youve made the vastness of the internet easier to navigate, and youve helped shape the digital world as we know it. Your contributions to education, business, and communication are invaluable. Happy 26th anniversary, and we are excited to see whats next for you! More Wishes for Googles 26th Birthday Happy birthday to Google, the search engine that never lets us down! Here's to 26 years of Google making the world more connected. Happy 26th Google birth anniversary! Youve made the internet smarter for all of us. Happy birthday, Google! Youve been answering our questions for over two decades! Wishing Google an amazing 26th birthday filled with more innovations! From Backrub to Google, what a transformation! Happy birthday! 26 years ago, Google was born, and the world has never been the same! Googles birth anniversary reminds us how technology can shape the world! Happy birthday to Googlethe search engine that has made life easier! Thank you, Google, for always being there with answers. Happy 26th birthday! 10 More Happy Birthday Google Messages Google, youve been making life simpler for 26 years. Happy birthday! Heres to Google, the search engine that never stops working! Happy birthday! Happy 26th birthday, Google! You've been our everyday helper. Google, youve been with us for 26 years, and we cant imagine life without you. Happy birthday! Happy birthday to Google, the search engine thats always ready to help! Thank you, Google, for 26 years of answers! Happy birthday! Cheers to 26 years of efficient searching. Happy birthday, Google! Google, may your 26th birthday be as extraordinary as your journey! Happy 26th birthday, Google! Heres to many more years of innovation! To Google on its 26th birth anniversarythank you for making a global impact! Why Googles Birthday Matters Celebrating Googles birth anniversary is about recognising a company that has dramatically changed the way we access information. Google has become an essential tool for navigating the internet. Sending a happy birthday Google message or sharing a happy birthday Google quote is a great way to appreciate this technology that plays a vital role in our daily lives. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Kanye West, now legally known as "Ye," is a well-known American music producer, rapper, fashion designer, and entrepreneur with a current net worth of $400 million as of September 25th in Forbes. At one point, Kanye West was a multi-billionaire and one of the richest self-made Black men in U.S. history. His rise to fame began with his 2004 album, The College Dropout, which propelled him into the global spotlight. Kanye West's career as a musician has been highly successful, earning him 24 Grammy Awards out of 75 nominations. In recent years, Kanye West has shifted focus from music to business, generating over $100 million annually from various ventures, including his Yeezy brand. However, his outspoken views and controversial statements have resulted in the loss of sponsorships and partnerships. Kanye West's Net Worth Drops from Billionaire to Millionaire Credit: Reuters Once celebrated as a billionaire, Kanye Wests net worth has taken a sharp decline, falling from $2 billion to $400 million according to Forbes. The significant drop in Kanye West's net worth was largely due to his broken partnership with Adidas, a deal that had previously been a major source of his wealth. His controversial opinions led Adidas to sever ties with him, drastically reducing Kanye Wests income. Despite the setbacks, Kanye West continues to pursue various business ventures. Kanye West's Career and Recent Challenges Even though Kanye West has been a leading figure in the music world for many years, recent events have affected his career. His latest album, Donda 2, was released exclusively on the Stem player, but it did not perform as well as expected. Along with financial troubles, Kanye West has also faced legal issues. He was ordered by a court to pay $200,000 per month in child support for his four children with ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Additionally, he is facing lawsuits from former employees who allege they were not paid their due wages. Although these challenges have impacted Kanye Wests career, he has always been known for his resilience and creativity. Many wonder whether he can once again rise to billionaire status and reclaim his place in the world of wealth and fame. Kanye Wests Real Estate Investments According to Celebrity Net Worth, despite the financial hurdles, Kanye West owns around $100 million worth of real estate in the U.S., including several homes and large estates. One of his most notable properties is the sprawling Hidden Hills estate in California, where he lived with Kim Kardashian during their marriage. This property was acquired in multiple transactions starting in 2014, and over $28.5 million has been spent on acquiring and developing it. After their divorce, Kim Kardashian purchased Kanyes share of the estate for $23 million, including $3 million for interior furnishings. In 2021, Kanye West bought a beachfront property in Malibu for $57.3 million, but he later put it on the market in 2023 for $53 million. Other properties in his portfolio include a 320-acre estate in Calabasas worth $16 million and several ranches in Wyoming, including one he sold in June 2024. Kanye West's Car Collection Credit: Carblogindia According to the website, Samma.tv Kanye Wests taste for luxury extends to his impressive car collection: Aston Martin DBS: Kanye West owns an Aston Martin DBS with a 5.2-liter V12 engine that gives 715 horsepower. It can reach a top speed of 211 mph. In 2023, it's worth $349,800. Kanye West owns an Aston Martin DBS with a 5.2-liter V12 engine that gives 715 horsepower. It can reach a top speed of 211 mph. In 2023, it's worth $349,800. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: Kanyes collection includes a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, priced between $58,489 and $748,453. It has a 5.4-liter V8 engine with 617 horsepower. Kanyes collection includes a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, priced between $58,489 and $748,453. It has a 5.4-liter V8 engine with 617 horsepower. Lamborghini Urus: Kanye often drives a Lamborghini Urus, one of the fastest SUVs. In 2023, it costs $233,995 and delivers 640 horsepower, with a top speed of 190 mph. Kanye often drives a Lamborghini Urus, one of the fastest SUVs. In 2023, it costs $233,995 and delivers 640 horsepower, with a top speed of 190 mph. Bugatti Veyron 16.4: Kanye owns a Bugatti Veyron 16.4, one of the fastest cars ever made. It has a price tag of $1.9 million in 2023 and produces 1,000 horsepower. Kanye owns a Bugatti Veyron 16.4, one of the fastest cars ever made. It has a price tag of $1.9 million in 2023 and produces 1,000 horsepower. Lamborghini Gallardo: Kanye is frequently seen driving his Lamborghini Gallardo, worth $209,500 in 2023. It has a V10 engine with 540 horsepower. Kanye is frequently seen driving his Lamborghini Gallardo, worth $209,500 in 2023. It has a V10 engine with 540 horsepower. Porsche 911 Carrera: Kanyes Porsche 911 Carrera has a 3.0-liter engine with 443 horsepower. It reaches a top speed of 308 km/h and costs $107,550 in 2023. Kanyes Porsche 911 Carrera has a 3.0-liter engine with 443 horsepower. It reaches a top speed of 308 km/h and costs $107,550 in 2023. Lamborghini Aventador: Kanye also owns a Lamborghini Aventador, with a V12 engine producing 730 horsepower. In 2023, it costs over $789,809. Kanye also owns a Lamborghini Aventador, with a V12 engine producing 730 horsepower. In 2023, it costs over $789,809. Porsche Panamera: Kanye added a Porsche Panamera to his collection. The base model starts at $92,400 in 2023. Kanye added a Porsche Panamera to his collection. The base model starts at $92,400 in 2023. Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss: Kanye has a rare Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, valued at millions due to its rarity. It has 641 horsepower. Kanye has a rare Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, valued at millions due to its rarity. It has 641 horsepower. Maybach 57: Kanye's customized Maybach 57, featured in a music video, is priced at $194,550 in 2023. Kanye's customized Maybach 57, featured in a music video, is priced at $194,550 in 2023. Dartz Prombron Red Diamond: Kanyes collection includes a Dartz Prombron Red Diamond, a million-dollar armored truck. Kanyes collection includes a Dartz Prombron Red Diamond, a million-dollar armored truck. Sherp: Kanye owns eight Sherp all-terrain vehicles, kept at his ranch. Each weighs 4,300 kg and has a top speed of 30 km/h. Kanye West's private jet Kanye West, now called Ye, still enjoys his luxury items, including large mansions, expensive cars, and possibly a private jet. His plane is a Boeing 747, a massive two-deck aircraft usually designed to carry 660 passengers. Its the same type of plane used by the U.S. president, known as Air Force One. Yes jet, the largest owned by any celebrity, is called the "Yeezy floating office." It comes with luxury features like a double-bed suite, marble bathrooms, a lounge, guest rooms, and a dining area. Some reports say Adidas gave Ye the jet in 2018 for the success of his Yeezy brand. However, a Forbes report from 2018 suggests it might actually belong to Las Vegas Sands Corp., owned by billionaire Sheldon Adelson before he passed away in 2021. His wife, Miriam Adelson, inherited part of his wealth. The plane is a Boeing 747SP, a smaller but longer-range version of the Boeing 747-100. Even if it was a gift from Adidas, its value would be less than $10 million. Also Read: P Diddy's net worth Kanye West's Personal Life Credit: Reuters Kanye Wests personal life has always been in the public eye. He was in a long-term relationship with designer Alexis Phifer from 2002 to 2008 and dated model Amber Rose from 2008 to 2010. Kanye began dating reality TV star Kim Kardashian in 2012, and they married in 2014. The couple had four children together before divorcing in 2022. Shortly after, Kanye briefly dated actress Julia Fox. In 2023, Kanye West reportedly married Bianca Censori, an Australian architect, in a private ceremony. In 2021, Kanye successfully changed his legal name to "Ye," a reflection of his evolving identity. Despite all his challenges, Kanye West continues to remain a significant figure in the worlds of music, fashion, and business. Whether he will regain his former financial glory remains to be seen, but his influence and impact on culture are undeniable. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis described the Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection project as being of "immense geopolitical importance." He emphasized that Greece took on the geopolitical risk with full confidence in itself and its alliances. This cable can, must and will be built, he stated in the Hellenic Parliament on Thursday evening , urging all parties to support the relevant amendment he introduced. Skylakakis stressed that the project offers significant benefits for both sides, economically and in terms of energy security. He also addressed the strong concerns raised by opposition party representatives regarding the geopolitical risk, noting, Geopolitical risk can come from many sources, such as a third country that opposes the project or a terrorist act, as seen in other cases." He added that Greece has full confidence in its international standing, international law, alliances, European backing, US support and the strength of its arguments. iefimerida.gr UK tabloids highlight PM Mitsotakis' plans to combat overtourism through a steep new tourist tax on popular destinations. Meanwhile, Germany warns that the move could drive their tourists to Spain and Italy His Excellency the Ambassador of state Kuwait , Mansour Al-Alolaimi, and his spouse Mrs . Kholoud Ahmed, hosted a distinguished musical event over two days at the Ambassadors residence The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom State Command, has detained five people for vandalising electrical installations, including high tension wires, in Akwa Ibom. Mr Bashar Hussaini, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, said this on Wednesday while briefing reporters at the command headquarters in Uyo. Hussaini stated that the suspects were apprehended on September 22, 2024, at approximately 2:30 a.m. in Ikot Obio Ekpong village, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, of the state. Advertisement The suspects were caught in the act with the help of the local community, while cutting the high tension cables in the border between Ikot Obio Ekpong and Ikot Ekong village. The suspects had also vandalised power infrastructure in Atanuk village, a neighboring village to the two affected villages. The suspects arrested include Uchenna Uguru, the buyer of the stolen cables. Emmanuel Sampson, Victor Sampson and Kingsley Umoren are the three suspects who vandalised the cables, while Joseph Emmanuel was the bike man who conveyed them, Hussaini said. Hussaini stated that the suspects confessed to the crime and described how they monitored and determined when the electrical supply was turned off, ascended their ladders, and climbed to cut the high tension lines in the early hours of the night. According to the state commandant, exhibits retrieved from the suspects include three bundles of high tension cables vandalised at various points, as well as a motorbike used in the operation. READ MORE: Tell Your Cheating Husband To Protect Himself, Dont Leave Your Marriage Toyin Tomato Advises Women Hussaini expressed his displeasure with the rising rate of vandalism against public infrastructure, particularly power plants in the state. He reaffirmed the Commands determination to confronting the scourge head on and making Akwa Ibom state uncomfortable for vandals and criminal groups. The NSCDC boss added that the Command will continue to use intelligence and a community-based approach to security because it is generating excellent outcomes. He urged individuals, community leaders, adolescents, and residents to work with the Corps to share information on criminal activity in their communities so that action can be taken quickly. The state commandant stated that the five suspects will be charged in court as soon as investigations are completed. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended soldiers for intensifying operations across various regions in the country. Lagbaja added that the activities of the troops have led to the neutralization of several terrorists and their leaders. COAS made this known on Thursday, while addressing newsmen at the media chat third quarter of 2024 held in Makurdi. Advertisement Represented by the Commander 4 Special Force Command, Major General Hilary Nzan, the Lagbaja noted that the operations have also helped in the restoration of socio-economic activities in some crisis-ridden communities. He said: The Nigerian Army has intensified operations across various regions with tailored strategies to address the unique security threats in each region. I am pleased to report significant successes in these efforts across multiple theatres. READ MORE: COAS Laments Drug Abuse Among Soldiers Fighting Terrorists These include the neutralization of several terrorists and their leaders, the rescue of some abducted Nigerians, and the restoration of socio-economic activities in affected communities, leading to the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes. Our efforts have also significantly boosted crude oil production while enhancing food security through special patrols and escort duties that enable farmers to cultivate their crops. In response to recent human-made and natural disasters in parts of the country, we activated our emergency response capabilities. We leveraged our unique competencies, as demonstrated in the recent flood incident in Maiduguri. The operatives of the Bauchi state police command have apprehended a 29 years old rail track vandalizer, identified as Heli Hassan. It was gathered that the suspect was arrested on Thursday, for allegedly destroying the federal government installation of 95 rail track components in the state. Advertisement Hassan confessed to having conspired with one Jacob Sulaiman (currently at large) to vandalize and steal the recovered items on the 24th of September, 2024, at about 2300 hours, in the vicinity of Inkil quarters, Bauchi. Disclosing this to the public on Thursday, the spokesman for the command, SP Ahmed Wakil, said that security agents, while acting on credible intelligence, apprehended the suspect. He said: This distressing incident poses a substantial threat to public safety and represents a severe act of economic sabotage as it pertains to a crucial infrastructure linking the Inkil community with Gombe State. READ MORE: Bauchi Police Nab Suspect For Allegedly Stealing Iron Rods From Graves, Selling Them To Scrap Metal Buyers (Pictures) The suspect conspired with one another now at large to vandalise critical rail track components. The incident occurred on September 24, at approximately 2300 hours, in the vicinity of Inkil quarters in the Bauchi metropolis. This achievement underscores the Commands dedication to safeguarding public assets and ensuring citizens safety through collaborative community efforts. Solomon Buchi, a social commentator, has expressed displeasure with popular activist, VeryDarkMans recent criticism. The criticism targeted Falz and his father, Femi Falana, amid Bobriskys alleged N15 million Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC settlement. A major controversy occurred after VeryDarkMan revealed audio recordings in which Bobrisky purportedly stated that Femi Falana and his son, Falz, had contacted him before his release from prison. Advertisement Following that, Falz gave VDM a 24-hour deadline to remove all of the disparaging remarks made about him. Solomon Buchi commented on the situation on his X page on Wednesday, stating that Falz and his father did nothing wrong because they are lawyers who can provide legal assistance to any client. He went on to say that VDMs lack of knowledge is obvious, and that the activist requires major education. READ MORE: EFCC Probes Bribery Allegations Involving Personnel, Summons Bobrisky, VeryDarkMan He tweeted: VDM, Falana and Falz have done nothing wrong. Theyre lawyers and can give valid counsel to anyone they deem a client. State/federal pardon is a thing in law. While some of the work you do is great, you need a lot of education because your illiteracy always shines through In another post, he wrote: Now Falz has served VDM papers and claims to have evidence that bobrisky first reached out to them. VDM does good, but he needs education and enlightenment. There are troubles that illiteracy can land you in. Confidence isnt all he needs. He needs education!!!! SEE POST: Nigerian activist VeryDarkMan has denied defaming human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, following a legal threat from his son, rapper Falz. Recall that Falz had given VDM a 24-hour ultimatum in which he demanded that all disparaging remarks be taken down. Falz further confirmed that he never contacted Bobrisky and that VDM had no communication with him prior to publishing the deceptive statements, which included homosexual insinuations. Advertisement The activist, according to a statement released on Wednesday by VDMs attorney, Deji Adeyanju, denies defaming Femi Falana, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, whom he regards highly. READ MORE: EFCC Probes Bribery Allegations Involving Personnel, Summons Bobrisky, VeryDarkMan VDM explained that he released the audio recordings to compel the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into Bobriskys charges, and Falz apparently validated some of the information. The letter read in part: Our client denies defaming Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and globally recognised human rights activist, but asserts that he only published the said communication with a view to getting the relevant agencies, and even your client, to initiate a thorough investigation into the far reaching allegations made by Mr. Okuneye in the said voice recording, especially as some element of the voice recording has been confirmed by Mr. Folarin Falana in his solicitors letter of September 25, 2024. SEE POST: Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered a detailed investigation into bribery allegations within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). The directive came after VeryDarkMan, an activist, shared a video online wherein Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) claimed he bribed some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials with N15,000,000 to drop the money laundering charges against him. The crossdresser, was released from prison on August 5 after he was sentenced to six months on April 12 for abusing the naira. Advertisement The crossdresser claimed her godfather alongside Haliru Nababa, the Comptroller General of the NCoS, ensured she served the six-month sentence in a private apartment, and not the prison. On my way to prison, my godfather called and assured me I wouldnt enter prison. He told me not to worry and said he would arrange an apartment near the prison and speak to the Comptroller General of Prisons in Abuja, she had said in the viral clip. Bobrisky however later deny the bribery claim, arguing that the viral recording was fake. The social media celebrity also insisted that I served my term in prison. The crossdressers denial came after the EFCC invited her and VeryDarkMan over bribery allegations against its officials. READ ALSO: VeryDarkMan Informed Me First About Bobriskys Leaked Audio, I Authorised His Exposure Seun Kuti Tunji-Ojo, reacting via a Wednesday statement by Alao Babatunde, his media aide, condemned the alleged behaviour of the NCoS. He also vowed to ensure that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law. The Minister of Interior has directed an unconditional and comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service. Tunji-Ojo unequivocally condemned the alleged reprehensible behaviour, emphasizing that any form of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, or corruption will be met with zero tolerance and severe consequences within the paramilitary services under the Ministrys purview. The ministry will not tolerate any compromise on its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law, the statement reads. The statement revealed that Magdalene Ajani, the Ministrys permanent Secretary , would head the team investigating the allegations. The minister reassures the public that the investigation will be rigorous, transparent, and impartial, and that appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against any personnel found guilty, it added. Former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has warned defectors planning to leave the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress, that the era of manipulating both parties has ended. The Edo North Senator, made this known on Wednesday, while addressing newsmen, following the conclusion of the state governorship poll. Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, had declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, winner of Saturdays governorship election. Advertisement INEC announced that Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes, and Asue Ighodalo of PDP, scored 247,274 votes while Labour Partys governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata got 22,763 votes to emerge third. READ MORE: Ill Continue Where Oshiomhole Stopped Edo Gov-Elect, Okpebholo Meanwhile, Oshiomhole, urged those considering a switch to APC to remain loyal with their party and its governorship candidate, Ighodalo. He said: You cant be with Asue Ighodalo and expect to eat, celebrate here. The days are gone when you play two sides. Go with your artificial intelligence while we stay without native and organic intelligence so we cant be fooled again. Youve lost. You bolt, and after the election, do you want to jump camp? No stay with him because we dont want people that stay on the fence. Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, has accused the Independent Electoral Commission and Nigeria police of stealing the governorship election victory from them. This was disclosed by the deputy director general of the Asue-Ogie Governorship Campaign Council, Olu Martins, during a press conference on Wednesday in Benin City. Martins said that the party had already started celebrating the victory before its mandate was stolen by INEC and the police force. Advertisement He added that from the 95 per cent results of the poll released by the electoral commission, PDP was already leading with over 45,000 votes. Martins said: We were already jubilating because by the time the result of the election got to 95 per cent, you know where you have won or not and even if the remaining five per cent voted for APC, we would have won the election with over 45,000 votes. But when we got to the collation centre, things changed as the police said they were on a mission and that whoever cant stomach it should leave. Speaking further, Martins noted that the battle was not between the All Progressives Congress, but with the Nigeria Police and INEC. He said: For us, despite what INEC announced, the governorship election contest was not between the PDP and the APC, who has now been announced as the winner. But the contestation is between the PDP and the police and INEC; the two of them collude together to rape democracy and declare who they have declared the winner. How do you explain that the whole world followed the result on the IREV and saw the result and if they wanted it to end that way, they wouldnt have introduced the IReV. READ MORE: Stop Questioning INECs Authority Over Edo Election Results APC Warns YIAGA Africa The form EC8 is the most important document in this election because it is the form where the election that took place in over 4000 polling units was imputed and any other form is from the collation centre and what you saw in IReV were results from polling units. By 9 pm on Saturday, 95 per cent of the results of over 4000 units were already posted on the IReV and once it is posted, you can begin your calculation and that was what we did in our situation room. When the APC saw that they were losing, they moved to Plan B and my problem is not with the APC or whoever it is that wants to take advantage of the porous system. But my problem is that it is impossible to rig an election or subvert the will of the people without the active connivance of the INEC, who is the umpire of the election and the security agents. Our director general was denied entry into INEC office but the APC were roaming and dictating how they wanted the election to go. It seems that the president wants a one-party state. The APC captured the INEC and the police. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh 16-count fraud charge against the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. The charges, which were filed by the Federal Government through counsels for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, Rotimi Oyedepo and seven other lawyers. Advertisement Joined as defendants are Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu. The fresh charges before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court were coming on the heels of the former Governors absence at a Court in Abuja where he was being tried for charges to the tune of N80.2 billion. READ ALSO: Kogi Assembly Tells Tinubu To Sack Olukoyede, Alleges EFCC Attempting To Assassinate Yahaya Bello, Is Threat To Gov Ododos Life In a fresh charge sheet sighted on Wednesday, the anti-graft agency revealed that it had uncovered alleged fresh fraud against the former Governor to the tune of N110,446,470,089.00. That you, YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometimes in 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdictions of this Honourable Court agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum N110,446,470,089.00 entrusted to you, the charge sheet partly read. The Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, has sentenced five individuals for allegedly involving in the 2018 Offa bank robbery incident to death. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the convicted criminals are; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham. Recall that in April 2018, some armed robbers stormed Offa town in Kwara State and robbed at least five commercial banks in the ancient town. Advertisement READ MORE: Abba Kyari Reacts To Offa Robbery Suspects Statement Saying He Asked Him To Implicate Saraki It was gathered that many people, including nine policemen, were killed in the incident which involved the stealing of an undisclosed sum of money from the banks. Delivering the judgement on Thursday, Justice Haleemah Salman of the State High Court found the suspects guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery and culpable homicide. She said: The five of you shall be hanged on your neck until you are dead to serve as a lesson to others. Some yet to be identified residents of Ndibokote village in Ezza-Inyimagu, Agbaja Autonomous Community, Izzi Local Government Area of the state have been killed by suspected cholera disease. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that among the dead person is a nursing mother, who left behind a nine-month-old baby. Speaking with newsmen on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma confirmed the outbreak and the death. Advertisement According to Ekuma, over 20 other residents in the area have been hospitalised for suspected cholera infection. Meanwhile, a member of the community, Stephen Nwankpuma linked the death to the burial of a woman last weekend. READ MORE: Cholera Outbreak In Adamawa Claims Four Lives, 36 Hospitalized He said: There was a burial there last week and also there were others who went and ate dog killed in the area. People who went to the burial and those who ate the dog were the main people who first got sick. Those who went to the burial ate a cow that was killed and prepared in a very dirty environment. Their community is located in the remotest part of the state. In fact it shares boundary with Benue State. There is no good source of water in the area. The only borehole in the area is no longer functional. The only source of water there now is a pond or stream and it is very dirty. The situation is worsened by the heavy rain falling this period which flowed into the stream carrying all the wastes with it and probably contaminating the pond. Evan Buckman walks out of a courtroom in the Montgomery County Courthouse on Tuesday during his trial on homicide by vehicle and related crimes. Read more A Pennsburg man involved in an illegal drag race that led to the death of a woman in 2023 was found not guilty of homicide by vehicle and related crimes, avoiding any prison time. After a one-day trial, Montgomery County Court Judge Wendy Rothstein on Wednesday found Evan Buckman, 20, guilty of racing, reckless driving, driving at unsafe speeds, and exceeding the speed limit by 40 mph, said Kate Delano, spokesperson for the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. Advertisement All of those charges are summary offenses, punishable by fines but no jail time, Delano said. Buckman was charged with homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, and related crimes for his involvement in the crash on Bethlehem Pike in Hatfield that caused the death of Ida Lillo, 62, but a jury acquitted him of those charges. The fatal crash happened the night of May 17, 2023, when prosecutors say Buckman was involved in an illegal drag race with Aidan Jarrett, 20, on Bethlehem Pike. Buckmans attorney, Matthew Quigg, told jurors in his opening statement Tuesday that his client was not responsible for Lillos death and was merely trying to keep up with Jarrett and navigate roads that he was unfamiliar with. Lillos death, Quigg contended, was caused by Jarrett losing control of his Mitsubishi Lancer while traveling twice the speed limit on Bethlehem Pike and T-boning a car driven by Lillos husband, Louis. As Louis Lillo was making a left turn onto Bergey Road, Jarretts Mitsubishi slammed into the Nissans passenger-side door. An airbag sensor taken from Jarretts Mitsubishi showed the car had been traveling at 110 mph at the time of the collision, prosecutors said. The posted speed limit on that stretch of road is 55 mph. When officers arrived, they found Jarretts Mitsubishi severely damaged, with its engine on fire, according to court testimony. The Nissan SUV driven by Louis Lillo had been pushed onto its side and rolled through the intersection of Bethlehem Pike and Bergey Road. Ida Lillo suffered severe injuries, including a punctured lung and shattered ribs, and was taken to Grand View Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Her husband also suffered serious injuries in the collision and died earlier this year of unrelated causes. Jarrett, 20, pleaded guilty in August to homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, illegal racing, and related crimes. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November. Quigg said in court that Buckman and Jarrett had not made plans to drive recklessly together but were merely headed to the Montgomeryville Mall. Assistant District Attorney Blair Rohlfing said Buckman was just as much at fault in the fatal incident as Jarrett, saying even though Buckman did not crash, he participated in the breathtakingly dangerous crash. File photo of Philadelphia police, crime scene, police tape, yellow tape. Photo take at crime scene N. Simpson Street and Callowhill Street, Philadelphia. Read more A trio of would-be beef thieves were foiled in their attempt to steal 1,600 pounds of meat from a tractor-trailer in Holmesburg on Tuesday after law enforcement officials tracked them to the scene of the crime, authorities said. Douglas Mathis, Jamir Scott, and Tariq Duncan, all of Philadelphia, were charged with corrupt organizations, theft, and related crimes for the brazen beef caper on the 7300 block of Edmund Street, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said Wednesday. Advertisement The men, wearing masks and dark clothing, were seen breaking a lock on the tractor-trailer and carrying 25 cases of beef valued at $7,000 from the rig to their getaway van, authorities said. They were each being held on $200,000 bail, court records show. The arrests were part of an interstate law enforcement investigation dubbed Operation Beef Bandit. The operation, which includes investigators from the New Jersey State Police, Philadelphia police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, has targeted crews of thieves who steal high-value goods including food and alcohol. Earlier this month, New Jersey State Police nabbed four Philadelphia men who authorities said were part of an organized cargo-theft ring that targeted service areas along the New Jersey Turnpike. The crew carried out nine burglaries at service areas along the turnpike, breaking into parked tractor-trailers and stealing cargo including meat, seafood, and alcohol, authorities said. They were connected to a series of thefts across the tristate area involving stolen goods worth millions of dollars, state police said. After an investigation, New Jersey state troopers zeroed in on men suspected of those thefts at the Molly Pitcher Service Area in Cranbury, N.J., on Sept. 13. Troopers spotted two vehicles entering the service area shortly before 1:30 a.m. that day and saw four men attempting to steal boxes of meat from a parked, occupied tractor-trailer, authorities said. When troopers moved in to apprehend them, the would-be thieves scattered, authorities said. Hanif Tucker, 31, was taken into custody, while Shaun Coleman, 23, attempted to run away but was arrested shortly afterward. The last two suspects, Salahudin Reddy, 37, and Rashan Clark-Reddy, 26, tried to get away in a stolen vehicle, ramming an occupied unmarked police car as they tried to escape, authorities said. After a brief pursuit during which the two damaged two marked trooper cars, they were also taken into custody, authorities said. All four men were charged with conspiracy to commit cargo theft and related crimes, authorities said. The beef theft was the latest in a string of cargo robberies in the Philadelphia region. Thieves, it seems, have a surf-and-turf approach to their schemes, with recent thefts including expensive seafood. Earlier this month, a crew of six thieves stole three large pallets of crabmeat worth $42,000 from a tractor-trailer in South Philadelphia. Officers responded to a report of a theft from the back of a tractor-trailer on the 600 block of Packer Avenue around 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 4, police said. The truck driver said he was sleeping inside the truck when he felt movement in the rear of the vehicle and saw six men stealing boxes of crabmeat from the truck. After loading the stolen seafood into three different cars, the crew split up and fled, police said. Philadelphia police said such cargo thefts have been a problem in the city, in part because the culprits can be elusive. Police officials said they have worked with multiple jurisdictions in recent months to target such crime. Department officials declined to comment on the most recent arrests and referred questions to the state Attorney Generals Office. Anyone with information about cargo thefts is encouraged to submit a tip to phillypolice.com or via the departments tipline at 215-868-8477. District Attorney Larry Krasner during a press conference at the DAs office in Philadelphia on May 17. Read more The Pennsylvania Supreme Court handed Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner another victory and perhaps a decisive one in his effort to block a long-stalled impeachment drive, ruling that state lawmakers who tried to remove him from office two years ago had improperly attempted to stretch that process across two different legislative sessions. The decision, issued Thursday, could spell an end to a 2022 effort to oust the citys reform-oriented prosecutor, and it raised significant new questions about how or whether lawmakers might move forward with any similar attempts in the future. Advertisement Krasner did not comment on the decision. But his office, in a statement, called the decision a victory for democracy and for the citizens of Philadelphia. And one of his lawyers, John Summers, said the ruling means that the impeachment effort is dead, saying it ended an unconstitutional effort to remove a locally elected official over policy disagreements. Legislators, predominantly from outside of Philadelphia, effectively tried to nullify [Krasners] election by trying to impeach him, and the courts said, appropriately, that there are guardrails on this process, Summer said. Jason Gottesman, a spokesperson for House Republicans who initiated the original impeachment process two years ago declined to say if the caucus might try to pursue the matter again. He said the measure that passed in 2022 was a momentous step in holding [Krasner] accountable and will remain a stain on his record. State Rep. Martina White, a Northeast Philadelphia Republican who was among the most enthusiastic backers of the impeachment drive, said Krasner had simply benefited from a legal technicality. He cannot claim his innocence, as [a] trial has not yet happened, White said in a statement. The House GOP launched impeachment proceedings in 2022 by accusing Krasner, a Democrat, of enacting policies that fueled the citys shooting crisis, mishandling criminal cases, and violating the rights of crime victims. They introduced an impeachment resolution that November, which passed almost exclusively along party lines. Krasner denied the allegations and cast the process as illegal and politically motivated. He sued to overturn the resolution, placing the issue on hold before a trial could begin in the state Senate. Last year, Commonwealth Court sided with Krasner on the heart of his challenge, ruling that none of the articles of impeachment met the required legal standard of misbehavior in office. READ MORE: Pa. Commonwealth Court releases opinion calling impeachment articles against DA Larry Krasner legally insufficient But the court rejected two other arguments raised by Krasner in the same suit, ruling that impeachment proceedings could occur across different legislative sessions which the district attorney said was unlawful and saying state lawmakers could impeach a locally elected district attorney. The high courts new ruling left intact Krasners initial legal victory. But it also sided with Krasner on one of the other issues, saying the articles of impeachment became null and void at the end of 2022, when a two-year legislative session came to a close. Most legislation must be proposed, voted on, and signed into law within the same two-year term because the makeup and leadership of the House or Senate can change from term to term based on election results. And Chief Justice Debra Todd said there are other practical reasons this principle must apply to impeachment, including that some senators who would have been asked to vote on Krasners fate in 2023 may not have been elected to office yet in 2022, when the articles were approved by the House and then accepted by the upper chamber. The Constitution simply does not textually permit the House and the Senate of a subsequent session of the General Assembly to take any further action on matters which the House or Senate of a prior session of the General Assembly may have begun, but not finished during that session, Todd wrote in her opinion. (Two justices did not participate in the decision: Justice Kevin Dougherty, a Philadelphia Democrat, who withdrew because he had written an earlier court opinion criticizing Krasner, and Justice P. Kevin Brobson, a Dauphin County Republican, who recused himself because a lawyer representing Krasners opponents had previously worked as the justices personal attorney.) Indeed, the issue of legislative timing was of particular interest to Krasner. When his impeachment was approved, House Republicans were on the verge of losing their controlling majority for the first time in decades. The district attorney and his allies believed it would be far less likely for Democrats to reintroduce or approve impeachment legislation while in control of the chamber. Summers, one of Krasners lawyers, said he believed Thursdays decision would have lasting significance because it made clear that those types of political calculations should not be a central consideration when legislators are weighing something as serious as impeachment. Someday, the majority may be different, and the politics may be different, and these [court] decisions stand for the neutral proposition that political majorities cant just try and remove elected officials or other officials because they have the power, he said. And that will be a long salutatory shadow of these decisions. Just after midnight, Philadelphia police investigate the scene of a one car crash at the intersection of Pattison Ave. and South 3rd Street in Philadelphia on Sunday. Read more A 25-year-old man has been charged with aggravated assault and related crimes for driving his car toward officers who had been attempting to break up one of nearly a dozen illegal car meetups throughout the city over the weekend, authorities said. Deonte Vincent of Tacony sped his vehicle toward two officers who had sought to detain someone at a meetup in Rhawnhurst on Saturday night, prosecutors said. Neither the officers nor the bystander was hit, officials said, but Vincent did strike the bystanders car before driving away. Advertisement Vincents arrest marks the second criminal case to be filed in the aftermath of a night of mayhem that began late Saturday and spread from Northeast to Southwest Philadelphia and just outside City Hall. The chaos attracted widespread attention on social media, with photos and videos spreading quickly and showing hundreds of people dressed in costumes and masks while drag racing, doing doughnuts, exploding fireworks, and jumping onto moving police vehicles. Participants dubbed the nights events Project X. A host of officials said Thursday that they were continuing to investigate the incidents using those same videos and social media posts to try to identify perpetrators. Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said police have identified nearly 40 cars across the various scenes, and five of them have been seized to be searched. About two dozen people were given citations that night, Vanore said, and some could end up facing additional criminal charges. Vanore and others, including First Assistant District Attorney Robert Listenbee, said the illegal meetups were dangerous and destructive, and would not be tolerated. They said law enforcement was continually monitoring social media to proactively identify potential gatherings and would work to ensure accountability afterward. If you engage in these kind of illegal [meetup] activities, drifting activities we are going to do everything we can to arrest you and prosecute you, Listenbee said. Still, Vanore acknowledged that police had been aware of the possibility for meetups over the weekend, but that the scale and persistence of the gatherings caught authorities by surprise leading a handful of officers to respond to an incident with hundreds of participants, only for the crowd to disperse and gather again elsewhere. The scope, the locations, the timing of this was not evident in advance, Vanore said. Car meetups, also known as takeovers or slide shows, have been going on for years, and are not unique to Philadelphia. One driver who spoke to The Inquirer earlier this week said drivers from states including New York, North Carolina, and Virginia had decided to gather in the city as a final ode to summer. But the spectacles quickly grew unruly, and remained that way throughout the night. One person was arrested earlier, police said: Jhonny Martinez, 19, of Upper Darby, was charged with recklessly endangering another person after crashing into a pole in South Philadelphia while fleeing officers. Vanore said that a 17-year-old girl from Delaware, who attended with one of the participants, was hospitalized after being struck by fireworks and that doctors initially thought she had been shot. He said detectives were continuing to review that incident and many others. We are nowhere near done, Vanore said. Editors note: An earlier version of this article provided an incorrect last name for Deonte Vincent. A new analysis by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute identified 500 historically struggling schools across the country that lost at least 20% of their enrollment.. Read more One in 12 U.S. public schools lost at least 20% of its students post-pandemic and it was often schools with significant academic struggles that displayed the sharpest enrollment declines, according to a new analysis by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Thats germane as leaders around the country, including in Philadelphia, prepare to make decisions about possible school closings. Advertisement The new analysis by the conservative-leaning think tank identified 500 historically struggling schools across the country that lost at least 20% of their enrollment, including eight in Philadelphia: Grover Washington Middle School in Olney Wagner Middle School in West Oak Lane Clemente Middle School in North Philadelphia AMY at James Martin in Port Richmond Steel Elementary in Nicetown Comegys Elementary in Southwest Philadelphia Heston Elementary in Overbrook Harrington Elementary in Southwest Philadelphia Fordham Institute officials argue that with an abundance of underutilized buildings, many of which have significant capital needs, closings are necessary. Philadelphias school board last week voted to formally begin the final phase of its comprehensive school facilities master planning process, awarding $5 million worth of contracts for planning and community engagement services and directing Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. to assemble a committee and start the work in earnest. Officials have said they expect the work to take multiple years to complete. District-run schools have space for 180,000 students, but currently have about 116,000 enrolled, meaning about 35% of seats districtwide are empty. In Renaissance schools, neighborhood schools run by charter companies in district-owned buildings, theres room for 19,801 students, but 14,387 are enrolled. Painful, politically fraught decisions Fordham chose its schools based both on enrollment lost and on designation by states as needing a Comprehensive School Improvement plan. CSI schools are the bottom 5% of Title I schools as measured by academic achievement, student growth, and other areas, or are schools with a graduation rate of 67% or lower. Fifty-five Philadelphia schools made that statewide list. It then cross-checked the struggling schools list with a list of schools that lost at least 20% of their enrollment in the three years since the start of the pandemic. Fewer students and the expiration of COVID relief funds mean that districts will have to tighten their belts, possibly in ways that affect already uneven educational quality, the report said. School closings are painful, politically fraught decisions, and we understand why district officials and local leaders often kick the school-closure can down the road for as long as they can, the report states. But many of them will eventually be forced to decide the fate of their near-empty buildings. What should inform that decision? To us, its clear: The foremost consideration is within the resources available to us whats best for educating the students of this community? Fordham officials do say, however, that inclusion on the list does not mean the identified schools will or should be closed. There might be some schools on the list with very low test scores but strong year-to-year growth. We would consider those good schools, not bad schools, the report says. Also, researchers note, simply making the list does not mean a high-quality alternative exists, or take into account the physical conditions or trajectory of the individual schools. One of the Philadelphia schools on the list, AMY at James Martin, is getting a brand-new building, for instance. (AMY at James Martin lost 45% of its students, or 195 students, between 2019-20 and 2022-23. It had 240 students in the 2022-23 year.) Clemente already shares a building with two other schools. Wagner is attempting to build a middle-grades career and technical education program. Fordham officials said closing schools can be traumatic and even harmful for students, especially if they end up attending lower-performing campuses. Yet closing a school is beneficial when displaced students land in better alternatives. And of course, the primary purpose of most closures isnt just to help this generation of students. Its to ensure that innumerable future generations are well-served. What have Philly officials said? Philadelphia leaders have not responded to the Fordham Institute analysis, but have previously stressed that no decisions have been made, and said that closings wont happen the way they did in 2013, when dozens of schools were closed, sometimes sending students into lower-performing schools. Multiple options will be considered, the board has said, including closings, new construction, and colocations of schools and other city services. And multiple pieces of information will be considered as decisions are made, not just building condition, enrollment, or academic performance. Board documents call for the district to maximize school building use, and provide more equitable prekindergarten programs, access to art and music, and career and technical education opportunities. Board officials also directed the administration to address enrollment trends that have created financial and operational inefficiencies, identify district schools/buildings to be modernized, colocated, repurposed or closed. Residents protest at the Souderton school board meeting on Aug. 29, held in the district's middle school auditorium. Read more People attending the Souderton school boards meeting Thursday night will be asked to show identification, as the board continues to face backlash over member Bill Formicas social media posts. District officials say the plan to check IDs is meant to ensure that residents are prioritized for entry following a school board meeting last month that drew hundreds of people, many demanding Formicas resignation in the wake of his comments that Vice President Kamala Harris blew a lot of dudes. Advertisement Unlike that meeting, which was moved to a middle school auditorium that could hold 550 people, Thursdays will be held at the boards usual meeting location in the districts administrative office building, with a 110-person capacity. They are intentionally trying to suppress public participation, said Stephanie Jamison, chair of Souderton Area for All, a community group that supports diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Im sensing theyre really uncomfortable with this level of criticism. Formica has defied the calls for his resignation over his comments about Harris, which he said he made impulsively on X while responding to another user asking people to name ONE thing this chick has accomplished, politically. But critics have pointed out a history of inflammatory comments by Formica, a Republican appointed to the board last year and elected in November including others targeting teachers, non-English speakers, and LGBTQ people. The Republican-controlled boards president, Ken Keith, said at last months meeting that the district does not condone Formicas comments. But the board has not urged him to resign, as opponents contend it should. Is checking IDs legal? Keith did not respond to questions Wednesday about the new ID practice and criticism of the board. Jeffrey Sultanik, the districts solicitor, said the board was not seeking to turn away nonresidents. The intention is just to give priority seating to residents first, and employees, and the press, Sultanik said Wednesday. He said the board had the authority to prioritize residents under a provision in Pennsylvanias school code that gives school districts power over the reasonable use of their facilities. Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, disagreed with that interpretation. While the Sunshine Act allows school boards to limit public comment to residents and taxpayers, it doesnt say boards can restrict attendance at public meetings to residents, she said. If theyre going to prioritize some, that may mean exclusion for others, and theres nothing that justifies that under the law, Melewsky said. If the district is concerned there wont be enough space for everyone who wants to attend, Melewsky said, the most obvious remedy for that is go to a bigger room. Sultanik said it was logistically easier for the board to run its meetings out of its typical room. He also said the board believes that the need for a larger size venue has been lessened, because its been receiving fewer emails in the wake of the Formica uproar. The board checked IDs at a recent committee meeting, and there was no one from the public or region who was denied access, Sultanik said. Jamison, who attended that meeting, said she saw some people leave because they didnt have IDs on them, which concerned her. The district does not appear to have publicized the new requirement, she said. There are also reasons for nonresidents, like advocacy groups or potential contractors or vendors, to attend board meetings, she said. Jamison questioned whether the impetus for the ID requirement stemmed from an online rumor by a local conservative activist who alleged that Antifa had attended the last school board meeting citing out-of-state license plates in the school parking lot. The activist, Kaitlin Derstine, declined to comment Wednesday on whether she made that assertion. The meetings are open to the public, Derstine said in an email. The school district is just making sure residents and taxpayers of the district get first seats. Jamison said she was aware of some people who did not intend to comply with the ID requirement, and said she was deeply concerned about potential conflict at Thursdays meeting, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Dwayne Dobbins, co-principal, Woodbury Junior/Senior High School, helps Elijah Morre, 16, 11th grade, with the locking mechanism for his phone pouch as he enters school on Friday, Sept 20, 2024. This program to keep kids off their phones during school started this school year. Read more Students at Woodbury High School begin lining up shortly after they arrive at 7 a.m. for a check-in: to lock up their cell phones for the duration of the school day. A new policy that took effect at the beginning of the school year bans students from using their cell phones and other electronic devices, including wireless headphones, during school. The devices are kept locked in a pouch until the final school bell. Advertisement The South Jersey school system joins a growing number of schools nationwide that are trying to limit cell-phone use while students are in school. Educators say the restrictions are needed to keep students engaged in learning, without distractions. READ MORE: Pa. is offering schools money for lockable cell phone pouches. Heres why some Philly-area schools arent taking it. Superintendent Andrew Bell pushed for a tougher approach after a policy in place for years banning students from using their cell phones proved difficult to enforce. Under that rule, students were instructed to keep their phones in their lockers or tucked away in backpacks. Now, Bell said, We just removed a distraction. We think its a game changer. Teachers are ecstatic to have control of the classrooms back, and not in a battle over cell phones. We had to do something Bell said the problems with cell phones had become untenable. Teachers were frustrated trying to enforce the rules in class. Cyberbullying was on the rise, with students using the devices to carry over conflicts that often began in neighborhoods, he said. We had to do something, said Dwayne Dobbins, coprincipal of the high school. Our kids werent paying attention. Senior Cassie Gallagher, 17, applauded the new policy but acknowledged it was a culture shock. Already, she can see a change in the school environment. Students are more attentive in the classroom and socialize with each other more, especially at lunchtime, she said. I have seen myself struggle downhill in school just because I use my phone so often in classes, Gallagher said. Were surrounded by technology so much nowadays that it is really hard to get out of that. Bell said the district, which enrolls about 1,600 students, spent $30,000 in federal pandemic relief funds to purchase gray neoprene pouches made by Yondr, a California-based company. The students keep the locked pouches in their possession all day. School officials have portable and mounted magnetic keys that are used to unlock the devices at dismissal. As older students arrived at Woodbury Junior-Senior High at the beginning of a recent school day, many already had their phones out ready for lockup. Some had to dig in their pockets or backpacks to pull the devices out. Signs in front of the entrances read: Cell phone free campus 7:15 a.m. to 2:37 p.m. Make sure theyre locked up, Kyle Grizzard, the schools dean, told them. Everything has to be away. Students without their pouches must place their phones in a box and retrieve them from the office at the end of the day. Six phones were placed in the box on a recent school day. Every student was assigned a pouch, which costs $40 to replace if lost or damaged. There is a separate entrance for sixth- through eighth-grade students who attend the junior high school in another wing. The same procedures and bell schedules are followed at both entrances, staffed by teachers and administrators. The cell ban applies to about 750 students in sixth through 12th grades. Woodbury also has three elementary schools for pre-K through fifth graders, but few have cell phones, Bell said. School officials say the ban is working with little pushback from students, though a few have tried to bypass the policy by having a second burner phone or purchasing magnets to unlock the pouches. Bell estimates that about 95% of the students have cell phones. READ MORE: To ban or not to ban the cell phone? Without them, schools see more learning, fewer fights, and calmer hallways. During the pandemic, students became accustomed to virtual learning and spending time on their cell phones, said Jeremiah Graham, 16, a junior. He believes the new policy will help his classmates cope better. Its not healthy for you because you need social skills, Graham said. A few parents have objected, and one started a petition to block the policy. Some parents have expressed concern about being unable to reach their children in the event of an emergency, such as a school shooting. Jessica Lorimor, who launched the petition, said she supports having a cell phone-free campus to avoid distractions, but said she would prefer a less restrictive policy, such as letting students place the devices in a bin at the start of class and retrieving them on their way out. For those kids who might need access, its a scary thought for them to not have their phones, said Lorimor, the mother of a sixth grader. Instead of hiding the technology, we need to find a way to work with it. Read the Woodbury cell phone policy Im not as exciting as TikTok So far, few students have been cited for violating the policy, Bell said. The policy calls for progressive discipline, beginning with a warning call home, detention, and suspension, he said. The policy allows exceptions for students with IEPs, or individual education plans, or a 504 Plan to use wireless communication devices as part of their curriculum. Its rare that you see a phone out, Dobbins said. Bell said he hopes the new cell phone policy will help boost academics and close the racial achievement gap. Hispanic and Black students compose about 75% of the student population and lag behind their white counterparts. Bell said other districts have inquired about Woodburys policy. Cherry Hill enacted a cell phone ban this year requiring students to secure their devices during instructional time. Students may use their cell phones and other wireless communications devices during study hall, lunch, and recess. Dobbins and coprincipal Mylisa Himmons said they have observed changed student behavior in Woodbury High since the school took a cell phone-free stance. Students are reading more books, talking to one another more, and playing board games at lunch instead of burying their heads in the phones. We havent done this to penalize or restrict, Himmons said. You come here to learn. Just put your phone away. Freshman biology teacher Megan Lucidi said it had not been uncommon to find students watching cartoons or Netflix movies during class, or FaceTiming friends at other schools. Others would frequently ask to go to the restroom and text friends to meet them there, she said. Im not as exciting as TikTok, she said with a smile. I couldnt compete with them. Their phone was their primary concern. Lucidi, a teacher for 27 years, said she is amazed by the changes since the new policy took effect. She also limits their time allowed on Chromebooks to engage them more. We dont want them to be thoughtless zombies, she said. When the final school bell sounded, students rushed to the exits, stopping to unlock their pouches and retrieve their phones. Some immediately began checking messages and making calls on the walk home. We are pleased to report, the letter from Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital read, that the result of your recent mammogram shows no sign of breast cancer. But the letter was wrong. Her scan had actually been inconclusive, and an internal error resulted in the patient not being notified to come back for additional testing. Advertisement The issue came to light one year later, when the patient returned for another routine mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cancer. The incident, described in a report released by Pennsylvania hospital inspectors in September, drew one of the states harshest warnings for the North Philadelphia hospital formerly known as Einstein Medical Center. Einstein staff realized that the patients scan a year earlier had been misclassified, which resulted in her receiving an incorrect notification letter, Damien Woods, a spokesperson for Jefferson, said in a statement. The hospital referred the woman for follow-up care and reported the incident to the health department. During the health departments investigation, inspectors found that the hospitals board of trustees had not done enough to prevent the mistake from happening again. The board had not investigated the incident or done quality control audits to ensure patient notification letters were accurate. In a lawsuit filed in Philadelphia in June, another Einstein patient claims doctors also never informed her that her mammogram results were inconclusive, and says she was never asked to come back for more testing. Earlier this year she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The womans case falls within the window of time in which health inspectors say the hospital was not conducting quality control audits. To fix the safety problems inspectors found, Einstein updated its protocol for reading mammograms to reduce the likelihood of another patient notification error. The electronic system now prevents radiologists from closing out their notes about a patients scan if they have not completed the entry. The hospital has also agreed to increased monitoring, to check daily that letters correlate with scans. Jefferson Health is committed to providing our community with the highest quality of care, Woods said. He said the hospital cannot comment on the pending lawsuit. The Inquirer was unable to reach the woman who is suing or her lawyer. READ MORE: Penns BRCA cancer vaccine trial aims to prevent the disease in healthy people Mammogram reading protocol Mammogram reporting mistakes are rare but alarming, medical experts said. Breast screening is considered medicines best tool for catching breast cancer in early stages, when it is most treatable. Routine screening is recommended for women with average risk of breast cancer beginning at age 40 by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, a panel of independent experts whose guidance sets national standards. We want to be treating cancer because we did the screening and found it, not because someone starts experiencing symptoms, said Oluwadamilola Lola Fayanju, the breast surgery division chief at Penn Medicine, who is not involved in the Einstein cases. Radiologists follow a detailed process to read and categorize screening mammograms, which are the routine scans for people of average risk. Mammograms are evaluated using a rating scale called Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, or BI-RADS. The rating system assigns each scan a number between zero and six. A zero rating means the scan was inconclusive, and the patient should come back for additional scans. A rating of one means the scan did not show any signs of cancer; a two means the scan showed an abnormality that doctors believe is benign and not likely to cause cancer. Higher numbers indicate a greater likelihood of cancer and more urgent need for additional testing. Each BI-RADS score correlates with a letter instructing patients on any additional steps they should take. Health inspectors found that a patients mammogram should have been rated BI-RAD 0, and she should have received a letter asking her to return for additional scans. The lawsuit from a different patient also alleges that her scan was rated inconclusive, BI-RAD 0, and that doctors didnt ask her to come for more imaging. Exact protocol can vary by health system, but doctors typically read screening mammograms in batches and send results to patients within a few days, said Claire Streibert, site chief of breast imaging at Fox Chase Cancer Center, who is not involved in the Einstein cases. Federal law requires notification to patients within 30 days. Typically notification letters are automatically produced and sent based on the BI-RADS score entered into the patients electronic health record, Streibert said, and providers are required by federal law to follow up with phone calls if patients do not respond to notification letters requesting additional testing. Jefferson said it plans to prevent future errors with a new hard stop in its electronic record system that requires a radiologist to enter a BI-RADS classification before they are able to close out their notes about a patients scan. Virtua Voorhees Hospital patients said they did not consent to being drug-tested before giving birth. Read more Virtua Healths policy of universally drug testing pregnant patients violates the states antidiscrimination law, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a lawsuit filed Thursday, claiming the nonprofit health systems policy unfairly catapults families into a child-welfare investigation that can separate newborns from their parents. The lawsuit, filed in New Jerseys Superior Court, also claims that Virtuas South Jersey hospitals in Voorhees, Mount Holly, and Camden violated patient privacy laws and their own policies by not obtaining informed consent before testing patients urine for drugs. Advertisement Virtua does not submit any other group of patients to universal drug testing, Platkins lawsuit said. In doing so with pregnant patients, Virtua violated its own policy, which requires providers to obtain consent before collecting urine samples for drug testing, the lawsuit claims. Virtuas practices single out pregnant patients for mandatory drug testing without informed consent. As a result, patients are unnecessarily traumatized and fear they will lose their children mere hours after giving birth, Sundeep Iyer, director of the Division on Civil Rights within the Attorney Generals Office, said in a statement. Drug screening among pregnant patients is controversial because the urine tests commonly used at hospitals have a high false-positive rate, and the results can be skewed by consuming items as common as poppy seeds, over-the-counter pain relievers, and some prescription anxiety medications. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a leading medical professional organization, recommends that drug testing only be done among pregnant patients who have agreed to it, and that families should not be separated solely based on a drug tests results. Following the national organizations guidance, many hospital systems have adopted drug-screening policies that require informed consent and that favor verbal screening methods over urine tests. Yet universal drug testing remains common nationally, and parents may be reported for suspected child abuse within hours of giving birth if their drug screen comes back positive, according to an investigation published by the Marshall Project earlier this month. A spokesperson for Virtua said the system provides safe, exceptional maternity experiences for thousands of families. We hold the safety and well-being of each patient paramount, especially our newborns. We have a relentless commitment to evidence-based, equitable care for every family, additionally meeting the highest standards of regulatory compliance, Daniel Moise, a Virtua spokesperson, said in a statement. He declined to provide more detail about Virtuas policy or respond to the attorney generals allegations of discrimination because the lawsuit is pending. New Jersey is among several states that require hospitals to report positive drug tests among pregnant patients to child protective services. Virtua hospitals in Voorhees, Mount Holly, and Camden accounted for nearly a quarter of such reports made to the states Division of Child Protection and Permanency between 2021 and 2023, despite delivering just 9% of babies in the state during that time, according to a state investigation. A total of 46 New Jersey hospitals made reports of substance-affected newborns. Two Virtua Voorhees patients at center of N.J. lawsuit The lawsuit details the experience of two patients who were subjected to mandatory drug testing before giving birth at Virtua Voorhees. After being admitted to the labor and delivery unit, both patients gave urine samples that they assumed would be tested for protein levels, a metric commonly used to monitor the babys growth and the mothers risk for complications, such as preeclampsia. Neither patient was told she was being tested for drugs, according to the lawsuit. Both women had eaten foods containing poppy seeds, and their tests came back positive for drugs. The women were subjected to monthslong investigations by New Jerseys child protective services agency after the hospital reported them for suspected abuse. Parents who are being investigated for potential child abuse may not be able to take their baby home from the hospital and are subjected to unannounced home visits, and their other children may be interviewed by authorities. Their child could ultimately be taken away from them, according to the Attorney Generals Office. High rate of false positive drug tests Hospitals across the nation commonly screen pregnant patients for drug use in the interest of protecting infants who may have been exposed to drugs in utero and require additional support or monitoring after birth, the Marshall Projects investigation found. But the urine tests used have a false positive rate of up to 50%, according to some studies. READ MORE: A Philadelphia man said he was sober, but kept testing positive for alcohol. How did a UPenn doctor crack the case? In other settings where urine drug tests are required, positive results must be verified with additional testing. But the Marshall Project found that hospitals often report positive drug screens from pregnant patients immediately, without additional testing to verify the results. This can lead to hardships, such as newborns being separated from their parents in their first weeks of life, unannounced home visits from social workers, and other children being removed from the home. Police officers stand outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, on Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024, in New York. Read more NEW YORK New York City Mayor Eric Adams vowed to stay in office Thursday after federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment accusing him of letting Turkish officials and businesspeople buy his influence with illegal campaign contributions and lavish overseas trips. Adams, a Democrat, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment outlining a decade-long trail of corruption that began when he served as an elected official in Brooklyn and continued through his mayoral administration. Advertisement READ MORE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted, sources say Among other things, prosecutors say Adams received free and steeply discounted flight upgrades valued at more than $100,000, free stays in opulent hotel suites and expensive meals, as well as campaign contributions from straw donors, some of which helped him qualify for more than $10 million in matching public campaign funds. I want to be clear, these upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent flyer or benefits program available to the general public, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a news conference. This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor from a single New York City official on the rise. In exchange for the bribes, Adams took actions that appeared to benefit Turkeys leaders, including expediting the fire safety inspection at a consulate building and not releasing a statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, according to the indictment. Adams had a duty to disclose gifts he received, but year after year kept the public in the dark, the U.S. attorney said. Speaking outside Gracie Mansion, Adams denied wrongdoing and said he doesnt plan to resign. Flanked by prominent Black clergy members, Adams, who is the citys second Black mayor, lashed out at federal prosecutors and suggested he had been unfairly targeted. I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments, he said. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city. Adams arraignment was scheduled for noon on Friday before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker. The indictment brought a stunning crescendo to the drumbeat of federal investigations that has engulfed the mayor and his top aides in recent weeks, prompting resignations from his police commissioner, schools chancellor and top legal adviser. While Adams faced calls to resign from Republicans and several of his likely opponents in next Junes mayoral primary, top Democrats such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stopped short of asking him to step down and instead said the legal process should play out. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. In a statement Thursday, she said shes considering the options. I expect the Mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders. If Adams were to resign, he would be immediately replaced by Jumaane Williams, a progressive Democrat who serves as the citys public advocate. Williams would then schedule a special election. In a statement Thursday, Williams said Adams time to show he can effectively govern and regain the citys trust is rapidly running out. Adams spent 22 years in New York Citys police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president, a largely ceremonial position but one that gave him a springboard to run for mayor in 2021. FBI agents initially seized Adams electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused on campaign contributions during his mayoral run as well as Adams interactions with the Turkish government and the Turkish American business community. Since then, he has been asked repeatedly at news conferences about his frequent global trips over the years and who paid for them. Adams said there was nothing nefarious about his trips and that he never did anything improper in exchange for campaign money. But prosecutors allege that Adams sought and accepted illegal contributions funneled to his campaign through an unnamed official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment. The official arranged for Adams and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkeys national airline to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey, the indictment contends. Additionally, Adams sought contributions from foreign officials who are banned by law from donating to U.S. political candidates then compounded his gains by gaming the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small-dollar donations, prosecutors allege. In total, his campaign received more than $10 million in matching public funds, which are only supposed to be available to candidates who play by the rules, according to the indictment. In September 2021, a Turkish official told Adams it was time to repay him for the contributions and benefits by pressuring the fire department to facilitate the opening of the consulate without a fire inspection, in time for a visit by Turkeys president, according to prosecutors. That request would have been a few months before Adams took office, but after it was clear he would become mayor. Even after a fire department official warned that major defects at the consulate building had left it unsafe to occupy, Adams pushed safety officials to allow it to open. Days later, Adams relayed news of the approval to the Turkish official, who called Adams a true friend of Turkey, the indictment states. Adams responded: You are my brother. I am hear (sic) to help, according to the indictment. Several months later, the Turkish official messaged an Adams staffer with another request: that the mayor not make any statement about the Armenian Genocide ahead of an April remembrance day, according to the indictment. The staffer confirmed that Adams wouldnt mention it, which he didnt. The Turkish government denies that the 1915 killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians qualifies as a genocide. At times, Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails in order to falsely suggest he had paid for travel benefits that were actually free, prosecutors allege. He also deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, at one point assuring a co-conspirator that he always deleted her text messages, according to the indictment. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, argued that the conduct described in the charges either didnt involve the mayor or wasnt illegal, noting that free flights are commonly afforded to politicians. He said Adams had responded to a courtesy request from a Turkish official seeking to expedite a fire inspection at a new consulate. New Yorkers do this all the time, Spiro added. The charges were made public hours after FBI agents entered the mayors official residence, Gracie Mansion, and seized his phone early Thursday. The U.S. attorney, Williams, said the corruption investigation would continue. Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. In the last two weeks alone, the police commissioner and schools chancellor have resigned. Neither has been charged with a crime or publicly accused of wrongdoing. In early September, federal investigators seized devices from the police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted Adams confidants. Scene of the swan boats from the 2023 Delaware River Festival held both in Philadelphia and Camden. Read more The annual family-friendly Delaware River Festival will take place Saturday in both Philadelphia and Camden, with activities including paddling in swan boats, crafts, games and free ferry rides. The event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Penns Landing in Philadelphia and at Wiggins Park directly across the river in Camden. Advertisement Organized by the nonprofit Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the rain-or-shine events goal is to promote awareness of conservation efforts regarding the river, and its recreational uses. The organizers say there will be hands-on activities for all ages, visits by animals and birds, and games with prizes. Theyll provide face painting, as well as educational experiences from environmental exhibitors. The Philadelphia Water Department will host its Philly Water Bar, offering to fill water bottles. The RiverLink Ferry will shuttle attendees across the river and back for free. Admission to Independence Seaport Museum will also be free, but fees will still apply to enter the museums two ships, the Olympia and the Becuna. Festival-goers should be aware there is construction along the waterfront at Penns Landing, and organizers encourage people to use public transit or carpool. There is limited parking at the Lombard Circle and Market Street Lots along the waterfront, as well as at the Hilton Hotel Parking Garage. Organizers posted travel information here: delawareriverfest.org/getting-to-the-festival. United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey laid of more than a third of its staff as part of an effort to narrow its focus to fighting intergenerational poverty. Read more United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey employees showed up at a quarterly meeting on Tuesday, expecting run-of-the-mill presentations from colleagues. Instead, their president and CEO, Bill Golderer, announced 16 people were being laid off, roughly 38% of the staff. The agenda was scrapped and the employees were told to return to their desks, where those terminated received an email informing them. Advertisement It is the latest in a series of layoffs since 2018, when the affiliate overhauled its mission to focus on eradicating poverty. The steady staff cuts have raised concerns from some employees about the future of the nonprofit. Former employees said they worry the United Way affiliate is trying to do more with less, having reduced its staff from 97 in 2018 to 26 this week. Golderer rejected that framing and said the nonprofit finds itself at an inflection point where it is investing in a new direction and trying to be more efficient. In the past five years, we have had success in reducing our footprint in terms of [full-time employees] and driving greater community investment year over year, he told The Inquirer. Whats more, the United Way affiliate plans to make some new hires and will be posting several positions in the next 30 days, Golderer said. The layoffs at United Way are the latest to hit the regions nonprofit sector. Resources for Human Development, a large Philadelphia health and social services provider, kicked off the year by laying off 65 employees, citing a cash crunch, and Benefits Data Trust announced its abrupt closure this summer. Rumors of layoffs and an abrupt dismissal Four laid-off employees, who spoke to The Inquirer on condition of anonymity due to terms of their severance packages, said Tuesday morning was full of sad goodbyes and contact exchanges in an open-floor office where in-office staffers condensed themselves on top of one another so they could easily communicate about work over their low-walled, modern cubicles. People were just crying, even the people who werent laid off, said one employee. Before the start of the July 1 fiscal year, former employees said, the company described a less-than-ideal financial picture at an all-staff meeting, citing a $3 million operating deficit. Employees recall being told layoffs were not on the table at the time. By September, however, rumors of layoffs were making the rounds in the office, but employees said no one anticipated the cuts would be so significant. Email access was cut off Tuesday before the laid-off employees could notify their contacts. One affected employee said the action felt disrespectful to staff as well as the organizations partners. Whats more, staff said the steady layoffs have been a gutting of institutional knowledge. Former staff pointed to the results of an internal employee survey presented at the June all-staff meeting that highlighted low morale and employee concerns about the nonprofits future. Employees said several staffers left on their own between that meeting and Tuesdays layoffs. Golderer said that the layoffs were difficult, but that he hoped the adjustments would yield results for partners, such as more money flowing to communities. The organization, he said, aimed to make the transition as smooth as possible. The challenges with workplace giving Originally called the Community Chest, the concept of what is the modern-day United Way was launched in 1887. Today there are more than 1,100 local United Way affiliates across 34 countries, with each choosing the causes most pertinent to its communities. The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey focuses on causes that aim to break the cycle of poverty. Their fundraising champions early learning, financial literacy and empowerment, training that gives people the ability to further employment and careers, and ensuring that basic needs are met for the people who need them most. Though the organization at large has long ranked as one of the top charities in the United States, its reliance on workplace giving campaigns has led to declines in the number of donations affiliates take in. In the past, people have reported feeling pressured to contribute to their works campaign and individual donors increasingly prefer to have more of a say in the causes they contribute to. Meanwhile, larger donors have demanded more accountability and clearer goals for their dollars. The changing habits of donors and demands for a deeper impact led to an overhaul of the local affiliates grant-making framework in 2018. It whittled its grant offerings to eight areas of interest that focus on poverty, down from having funded 57 types of activities before. READ MORE: United Way focuses on poverty, upsets groups cut out of funds A series of layoffs followed the mission change, the most significant taking place in 2018, when the nonprofit eliminated 37 of its 97 positions. Additional layoffs have taken place in subsequent years amid the pandemic. Where Golderer sees opportunities for efficiency, former employees see an organization thats getting in the way of its own success. The people responsible for doing the actual work are being laid off, said one employee who was let go Tuesday. Golderer would not confirm which departments were affected, citing personnel privacy concerns, but employees said marketing, mission, and development staff experienced cuts. Fundraisers and people who help organizations navigate the application process and then help steward the awarded funds have been let go, according to former staff. Yet Golderer pointed to the nonprofits successes. The United Way affiliate said in financial statements it invested more than $20.5 million in the 2023 fiscal year. The organization reported a $71.3 million endowment that same year, but Golderer said the affiliate would tap into those funds only to underwrite organizational expenses. Keeping a healthy endowment, said Golderer, is a way to demonstrate stability to donors. The United Way should be of service and not exist as an organization that exists for itself, but for others, and if it doesnt exist for others, it shouldnt exist, he said. Students eat at Champs Downtown in State College in September 2020, when pandemic restrictions impacted how bars could operate. LineLeap rolled out a reservation system around this time that let customers book spots at their favorite bars in advance. Read more Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Good morning, Philly. Our wet days will continue as Hurricane Helens leftovers may affect the region this weekend. (But no, its not expected to impact Sundays Eagles-Bucs game in Florida.) Its homecoming weekend at Penn State, and alumni wont need to bribe the bouncer to skip the line at their favorite bar. Theres an app for that. Advertisement And employment among Americans with disabilities soared during the pandemic. Can the trend survive the return to office? Plus, we have the story from Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers highly choreographed reveal about the citys agreement with the Sixers on the new arena project, the Aramark stadium worker strike, and much more below. Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. This homecoming weekend at Penn State, scores of students, families, and alumni will descend upon State College to celebrate their school and to drink. For those who dont want to wait hours in long lines to enter the central Pennsylvania towns bars and dont mind paying to avoid the hassle, theres LineLeap. How it works: Think of the app like Disney FastPass or TSA PreCheck. Users can skip the line at almost any downtown bar by buying digital passes that range from $10 to $100 or more per person, depending on demand. Thirsty lions: Despite that potentially steep price, Penn State is the $100 million start-ups most popular market. When alumni return, theyre not there to wait around, cofounder Max Schauff told The Inquirer. Theyre there to get into their spot and have a good time. What about Philly? Youd never call Philadelphia a college town, but the city has its share of queues. LineLeaps founders see expansion opportunities here along with the Jersey Shore and New Brunswick, N.J. The regions thousands of Penn State alumni and their families might be grateful for that. Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy explains how the app has changed the game when it comes to going out, especially during football season. The widespread embracing of remote work during the pandemic was a boon to many workers with disabilities. Employment for this group has spiked dramatically over the past five years, while employment of people without disabilities remained constant. The rise, according to new research, correlates with changing workplace norms that allow for more flexibility. By working from home, I dont have to worry about losing my job because I cant get to work, one South Philly resident said about the possibility of his wheelchair lift malfunctioning or public transportation delays. But as some employers move back to fully in-office employment, advocates are concerned these workers will be left behind. Reporter Jake Blumgart has the story. What you should know today Trivia time Which celebrity and Chicago Cubs superfan poured drinks at Bob and Barbaras after Mondays Phillies game? A) Bill Murray B) Common C) Bradley Cooper D) Jesse Williams Think you know? Check your answer. What were... Signing up for: The latest round of free COVID tests. Dancing along with: This eight-piece Philly band performing a mix of cumbia, klezmer, and punk. Wondering: How well Tom Brady will call Sundays Eagles game against the Buccaneers. Unscramble the anagram Hint: The former University of Pennsylvania president who is now back on campus MANNY GAMUT Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Matt Palombaro, who solved Wednesdays anagram: Graffiti Pier. The owner of the rebelliously decorated Port Richmond landmark plans to sell it by the end of the year. Photo of the day One last whirling thing: Gillians Wonderland Pier closes for good Oct. 13. Shore reporter Amy Rosenberg has the details to know about the beloved Ocean City amusement parks last days. Thanks, as always, for starting your day with The Inquirer. Back at it tomorrow. By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10. Standing atop the crushed roof of a campus police car, a University of California student asks Cal students to identify themselves during the third day of Free Speech Movement demonstrations in Berkeley, Calif., on Oct. 2, 1964. One student was arrested and confined in the police car, surrounded by the demonstrators. Read more Years later, somebody would dub them the Silent Generation. But on Oct. 1, 1964 60 years ago this Tuesday a cohort of young people born mostly during World War II, raised in consumer affluence and under the threat of nuclear annihilation, could not keep it bottled up any longer. The place was the University of California, Berkeley, and the trigger was school administrators telling students that the strip where students passed out political literature from support for voting rights in Mississippi to backing of right-wing Barry Goldwater for president was now off limits. What amounted to a campuswide ban on political activity simmered from the start of 1964s fall semester and finally boiled over on Oct. 1, when police arrived at a demonstration and arrested a recent grad named Jack Weinberg who refused to give them an ID. Advertisement The hapless Berkeley city cops seemed to have no idea that the sleepy 1950s of crew cuts and sexist fraternity pranks had passed its expiration date. Instead of scattering, a few hundred students surrounded the police car and, with Weinberg in the back seat, prevented it from going anywhere. Protest leaders not only continued the rally but decided to use the blockaded police car as a stage to address a crowd that kept getting bigger and bigger. I went up to the police car, and asked if we could use the car to speak from, Jackie Goldberg, a leader of what was becoming known as the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, recalled in an oral history. And the policeman said, Sure, if you take your shoes off. Upon hearing that, the fiery activist Mario Savio jumped on the roof of the cop cruiser, addressing the throng in his white socks. That really captured the moment a generation raised to respect authority, yet bubbling up with defiance against their elders hypocrisy. The Berkeley Free Speech Movement proved to be about much, much more than passing out leaflets on Telegraph Avenue. It was an unavoidable battle between an outdated notion that college students were still wards under the smothering in loco parentis of their universities, and the growing idea that free speech especially for undergrads is essential to the academys mission of promoting critical thinking. It took a tumultuous 10 weeks, an iconic speech, and even an appearance by Joan Baez, but the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, or FSM, won. In doing so, the FSM launched what we now recall broadly as the Sixties, and created the atmosphere to nurture the other movements including feminism, environmentalism, and LGBTQ rights, among others that shape our modern world. But it also triggered a powerful right-wing backlash, which started with Ronald Reagan elected California governor in 1966 ranting against the Berkeley protesters and also has not stopped. Indeed, the American conflict that began around that one police car still defines us. To call this falls 60th anniversary bittersweet would be a gross understatement. It coincides with a repressive nationwide clampdown on student protest both by school administrators and outside forces, citing the chaotic demonstrations over the war in Gaza that broke out last spring that advocates say threatens to return campus free speech back to where it stood before Berkeleys FSM. When I emailed Lynne Hollander, a 1964 protester who later married the late FSM leader Savio, about an interview, she replied that regarding the 2024 climate [I] dont know that I have more to say than Mario would turn over in his grave! Barely a month old, the new college semester has brought a bevy of new rules that limit the time or place or manner of protests not much different from what University of California leaders were doing in 1964 or add potentially chilling requirements for would-be demonstrators to register. Some have banned outdoor encampments altogether. Some prominent schools have threatened protesters, or even would-be protesters, with harsh punishment. Risa Lieberwitz, a Cornell labor law professor whos also general counsel for the American Association of University Professors union, told me that U.S. campuses are seeing a wave of repression unlike anything since the pitched battles of the 1960s. University administrators seem to be responsive to external pressures to crack down on actions by student and faculty, she said, as opposed to university administrators considering the fundamental principles of academic freedom and free speech. Lieberwitz is witnessing the new campus zeitgeist firsthand at Cornell, where administrators have threatened to suspend as many as 100 students who disrupted a job fair over the presence of military contractors, including a foreign student from the United Kingdom who would lose his student visa and face the risk of deportation. On the afternoon we spoke, the University of California board of regents, overseeing the sprawling system that includes Berkeley, approved a request from its Los Angeles campus, UCLA, to gear up for the new semester by purchasing three drones, 3,000 rounds of pepper bullets, and eight munitions launchers for its campus police. No doubt Savio, who died too young in 1996, would be shocked at what has happened in the Golden State, and across America. Its easy to blame the current mess on the unique situation that triggered it: Israels deadly war in Gaza launched in response to Hamas bloody attack on Oct. 7, and the web of political land mines around issues like religion, race, and colonialism that it touched off. Some have spoken of a Palestinian exception to campus free speech because of the sensitive accusations that have included both antisemitism and Islamophobia. But experts who focus on academic freedom say problems were brewing well before last Oct. 7, speaking to six decades of radical change in U.S. higher education. The 1964 Berkeley Free Speech Movement didnt happen in a vacuum. At the start of the 1960s, Black college students, later joined by a number of their white peers, protested off campus for civil rights. But back on campus, these young people remained under the thumb of their paternalistic institutions as the Red Scare of McCarthyism made university leaders wary of overt politics. Student activists began to recoil against rules that treated them as children, and were revulsed by Berkeley Chancellor Clark Kerr describing the university as a knowledge factory. We have an autocracy which runs this university, Savio declared at a December 1964 protest a complaint that might sound familiar to todays students. He added: If this is a firm, and if President Kerr is the manager, then Ill tell you something: the faculty are a bunch of employees, and were the raw materials! An offended and exasperated Savio countered, Were human beings! Seconds later, Savio intoned the words that would inspire a generation when he said: Theres a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart that you cant take part. You cant even passively take part. And youve got to put your bodies upon the gears, upon the wheel, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and youve got to make it stop! Savios speech not only inspired fellow students but won over the Berkeley faculty, which forced Kerr to back down and allow political activity on campus. For all its flaws, the system ultimately worked. Within weeks of the FSM victory, Berkeley emerged as an epicenter of protests against the Vietnam War. READ MORE: Storming colleges with riot cops to keep them safe should scare America about whats next | Will Bunch This California earthquake triggered both the protest culture that incubated many of the principles that still animate liberals six decades later, but also the right-wing backlash that was equally forceful. Reagans 1966 campaign for governor in which he famously said a Berkeley hippie is someone who looks like Tarzan, walks like Jane, and smells like Cheetah launched him on a path toward the presidency. There, he signed off on a 1980s era of college privatization as tuition rose, government support shrank, students became more reliant on loans, and universities became more reliant on billionaire donors and trustees, as well as corporate support for research. Lieberwitz said that from the Reagan administration on, neoliberalism became the dominant philosophy driving the corporatization of universities under leaders much more sensitive to what she called market forces than the notion that higher education is a public good. In particular, wealthy college trustees gained power during these years, often at the expense of the increasingly quaint notion of faculty governance. As many critics have noted, students especially on the left took the free speech rights won in the 1960s for granted in favor of aggressive identity politics. Only when protests over the Middle East erupted last year did activists begin to see what had been lost, especially when billionaire donors like the University of Pennsylvanias Marc Rowan or Harvards Bill Ackman weighed in. The backlash against student protest ran from bloodred Texas, where GOP Gov. Greg Abbott called out state troopers in riot gear to quash a pro-Palestinian protest before it could start, to deep-blue New York City, where doomed Columbia president Minouche Shafik brought in the New York Police Department to bust up a student encampment, leading to hundreds of arrests. Robert Cohen, a New York University history and social studies professor who authored the definitive biography of Savio and his role in the FSM, crunched the numbers and discovered that the largely peaceful Gaza protesters of 2024 were getting arrested at higher rates than Vietnam protesters at the end of the 1960s even as those protests had turned violent, including the burning down of dozens of military ROTC offices. All this suggests an erosion of free speech as a priority of university leadership, Cohen wrote in an unpublished essay about the Berkeley anniversary that he shared with me. He wrote that while college administrations in the Vietnam era used police force as a last resort in the face of major campus disruptions, this past semester administrators used police as a first resort to suppress student protests even when those protesters encamped outdoors on campus plazas or lawns did not commit major disruptions of the university and its educational functions. That was before students returned to campus late this summer amid a new climate of repression. In Manhattan, the student Columbia Daily Spectator published a bombshell report that aggressive surveillance tactics involving not just ID swipes and closed-circuit TV but the use of private investigators has created a climate of fear and paranoia for campus activists. I dont like going on campus, Layla Saliba, a Palestinian American grad student and activist, told the Spectator. It kind of feels like youre in a panopticon, like every time you go on campus, somebody is always watching you to see what youre doing or see what youre saying. Then theres Michigan Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel whod just electrified the Democratic National Convention in Chicago with her impassioned defense of LGBTQ rights, which had been won after protests that included civil disobedience in the late 1960s. She disappointed some supporters and drew the ire of the American Civil Liberties Union with criminal charges against 11 spring protesters at the University of Michigan. Hollander, whos returning to the Berkeley campus in mid-October for a 60th-anniversary forum, said she might not agree with all the tactics employed by todays Gaza protesters, but she is dismayed at the pushback against the rights she, her late husband, and their fellow protesters won in 1964. You constantly have to keep fighting for free speech, she said. No way can you say, Now we have it, and relax. All the time, you have to battle. But Lieberwitz noted that repression has a history of backfiring when it goes too far. It happened in 1964, and she thinks it could happen now. She sees the rapid rise of unions supporting adjuncts, grad students, and even undergrad student workers as signs that students were rising up against corporatized college even before the Gaza uproar. You saw free speech coming out of the 1950s because people finally pushed back, she noted. But will todays youth generation coming of age in a more repressive time, saddled with problems like debt and rampant careerism not faced by their predecessors be able to accept that torch? Huge issues, including the constitutional right of dissent and the future of colleges as bastions of open discourse and critical thought, hang in the balance. Sixty years later, America is desperately waiting for a second Free Speech Movement. READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter Oh, I get it now. Were just going to wait until the incompetence at the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office leads to someone dying or getting seriously hurt again before anyone is held accountable. Advertisement Silly us for thinking city leaders would step in prior to thoughts and prayers, or maybe even a slick City Hall video, a la the Sixers arena debate, where Mayor Cherelle L. Parker could look earnestly into a camera and tell another group of Philadelphians, I hear you. Can anyone in leadership hear us now? Because its been one ridiculous scandal after another while many mostly shrug. To name just a few of the most notable lowlights: Sheriff sales had been on hold for more than three years, leaving tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue uncollected. Deed transfers after mortgage foreclosures that typically took six to eight weeks were inexplicably taking seven months or longer. Meanwhile, Sheriff Rochelle Bilals staff continues to spend millions out of slush fund fee revenue thats supposed to be turned over to the city. But then, how else could they afford a new $9,000 office mascot? And thats just the financial issues, which on principle alone should have forced city leaders to insist on an overhaul of the office. Now comes the latest revelations by my Inquirer colleagues William Bender and Ryan W. Briggs that Bilals office is failing miserably in its handling of court security and inmate transportation two of its chief responsibilities because of a dangerous shortage of deputies the office blames on a lack of funding. But surprise that doesnt add up. One judge called the situation a disaster waiting to happen, but based on the examples we know of, the disaster is already happening. The disturbing video of a brawl inside Philadelphias Family Court that left one man seriously injured got a lot of attention earlier this year. But, in fact, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts tracked 72 security incidents at the Criminal Justice Center and the citys four other court buildings last year nearly triple the incidents logged in 2019 under Bilals predecessor. If all of that wasnt bad enough, there is also the matter of justice delayed and therefore denied, with court proceedings being put off for hours or postponed altogether because sheriffs deputies arent able to transport defendants from holding cells to courtrooms. Maybe that doesnt register with most people; theres not usually an overabundance of compassion for people who find themselves on the wrong end of our criminal system. But those delays dont just affect defendants. They also affect the loved ones of victims who have sometimes waited years, if not a lifetime, for justice. READ MORE: History makes it clear: Abolish the sheriffs office | Editorial I can only imagine the city leaders shrugging off the latest problems at the sheriffs office havent spent much time in courtrooms. Those who have know they can be tinderboxes. Court security officers deserve the support and resources to be able to do their jobs safely. And court staff should never be put in a position to have to fill the dangerous gaps. For her part, Bilal a former police officer who was elected to a second term as sheriff last year insisted budget limitations made it impossible for her to increase staffing, even though City Hall officials say shes authorized to hire 50 more deputy sheriffs. Meanwhile, Bilals chief budget director, Craig Martin, pointed to lengthy training requirements, and officers out on disability, for sucking away the money meant to hire more deputies. But the only thing consistently sucking away money seems to be the mess of a sheriffs office. Last year, according to an internal memo, the office diverted money intended for new positions to pay raises including one that would have seen Bilals then-$136,083 salary increased by 105%. Bilal later said a staffer had tried to double her salary without her knowledge. Sure, that tracks. Dont you hate it when your colleagues try to secretly give you a fat raise? The sheriffs office ended the last fiscal year with a $1 million payroll surplus due to unfilled positions. And in June, City Council voted to allocate $35.7 million to it for fiscal year 2025 $1 million more than what was in Parkers proposed budget. Fantastic message there, Council members: Welcome to Philly, where incompetence not only pays its rewarded! Id tell you how much down to the penny, but the city has yet to disclose the salary of a disgraced former lawmaker the sheriffs office recently hired as its new spokesperson. In fairness, some city officials have tried to push the issue. Most recently, State Rep. Jared Solomon wrote a letter to Nina N. Wright Padilla, the president judge, to diplomatically suggest that she hold an evidentiary hearing to fully document the current deficiencies. She has yet to publicly respond. No rush. The author writes that despite the School District of Philadelphia's rebranding, the process of applying to special admissions high schools still fosters inequity. Read more In 2019, I wrote about the disingenuous Find Your Fit campaign and the School District of Philadelphias failure to address the citys vast educational inequalities. Five years later, not much has changed. District leadership continues to hide behind catchy branding, neglect real problems, and fail its students. The Find Your Fit campaign is back. On Sept. 13, the annual race for special admission schools began, with eighth graders fighting to escape their struggling neighborhood schools for one of the coveted spots. Advertisement For context, special admission schools were originally introduced in Philadelphia in the 1960s to encourage voluntary desegregation by drawing families to specialized schools. What was once a well-intentioned desegregation tool is now marketed as an exciting school choice system a far cry from the equitable access to education promised by Brown v. Board of Education. Instead, for generations, the selection process has upheld a chasm between traditional neighborhood and special admission schools. Endorsing a system that intentionally bifurcates students is a clear violation of the law of the land. Since 1954, the Brown ruling has affirmed that education must be made available to all on equal terms. These two Philadelphia school types are on anything but equal terms. The school district continues to reward the privileged while punishing the vulnerable. While the district busies itself with rebranding, the inequalities between schools like Julia R. Masterman and Strawberry Mansion remain glaring. Masterman has a national reputation for excellence, boasting a 99% graduation rate and 89% college matriculation rate. These results are hardly surprising since the schools selection criteria require students to have already scored in the 80th percentile on state assessments. The district proudly celebrates its success as a beacon of Philadelphia schools. Meanwhile, Strawberry Mansion, just two miles from Masterman, has garnered national attention, but not the type that attracts families. Just over a decade ago, ABC journalist Diane Sawyer visited Strawberry Mansion with a film crew to investigate what had been designated one of the nations most dangerous schools. Indeed, there has been progress worth noting. Violence and discipline have been on the decline in Philadelphia schools. After years of ramping up the school-to-prison pipeline where harsh disciplinary measures such as suspensions and expulsions for minor infractions push students into the criminal justice system the district has facilitated a significant decline. This shift can be attributed to Police Commissioner Kevin Bethels Philadelphia Police School Diversion Program, which redirects students to social services rather than punitive measures. However, while violence and disciplinary issues have subsided, academic performance remains a concern. For Strawberry Mansion, this has meant a modest uptick in the graduation rate to 66% and college matriculation to 19% in 2023. These figures still lag behind district and national averages and markedly behind Mastermans results. And even though school violence has decreased, Strawberry Mansion students continue to struggle in the face of relentless neighborhood violence. Racial inequities are just as stark as the academic ones. At Strawberry Mansion, 92% of students identify as Black, 3% Hispanic, and 2% white. The racial makeup of Masterman is 40% white, 27% Asian, 17% Black, and 8% Hispanic. In fact, the Black student population at Masterman has dropped by 26% over the last decade. Even with calls for a more equitable system, the district offers little more than lip service to equity. The gap between Masterman and Strawberry Mansion is representative of other special admission and neighborhood schools, even when students share the same building. READ MORE: End the Philly School Districts unfortunate history of prioritizing the privileged | Opinion In 2019, my piece criticized the chaotic relocation of Science Leadership Academy, a special admission school, to the neighborhood school, Benjamin Franklin High. Asbestos, dust, and noise displaced over 1,000 students for five months. The districts own inspector general later admitted to a series of critical missteps that were largely ignored as they unfolded and led to the hospitalization of adults and children, among other incidents. Now that students cohabitate in the same building, disparities in racial makeup and academic outcomes are impossible to ignore. To add insult to injury, Science Leadership Academy and Ben Franklin students are physically divided by a wall of glass at lunch, so the disparities are on full display. Separating students by educational resources is one thing, but not allowing them to eat lunch together hearkens back to the antebellum era. READ MORE: The Ben Franklin and SLA asbestos crisis is a symptom of a bigger disease | Opinion Heres what the School District of Philadelphia has accomplished: more rebranding. Special admission schools are now criteria-based, and neighborhood schools are catchment. New name, same problems. Just like promoting Find Your Fit, relabeling schools is far easier than repairing and reforming crumbling and faltering institutions. Branding work, after all, is so much easier. This spring, students, often ones with greater resources, will be rewarded with acceptances to enriching criteria-based schools. The rejected and remaining students, disproportionately with greater needs, will be funneled into struggling catchment schools. The district claims its new processes will better account for student preference. But for students and families, this is no relief. Even the majority of students, over 54%, want the selection process removed altogether. Officials in other cities are not comfortable with this level of failure. In Chicago, leaders are courageous enough to take on real challenges. Earlier this year, the Chicago Board of Education passed a resolution to reduce the citys reliance on school choice, which forces families to compete for resources like Philadelphias. While there is much work to do, Chicagos leaders have at least begun to acknowledge that such systems harm neighborhood schools, particularly in communities that racist policies and disinvestment have long neglected. Theyve committed to prioritizing neighborhood schools, ensuring they are fully resourced, and addressing the inequities that continue to harm students of color and low-income families. Acknowledgment and action are far more palatable than complacency and catchphrases. While Chicago begins dismantling the inequitable system, Philadelphia is doubling down on its broken model, forcing students into a competition they cant win. The school district continues to reward the privileged while punishing the vulnerable. The Find Your Fit campaign is an attempt to gloss over this fundamental failure. Its abhorrent that we still treat quality education as something that must be earned or competed for when it is a civil right that should be afforded to every child in this city. The districts leaders should stop pretending that rebranding is the same as progress and start investing in the neighborhood schools theyve neglected for so long. We should applaud initiatives like former Mayor Jim Kenneys pre-K expansion and the future ambitions of current Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers year-round school. But every accomplishment will be tainted until the very structure of separate and unequal schools is addressed. No child in this city should be forced to leave their neighborhood just to get a decent education. Philadelphia deserves leaders who dont hide behind slogans. Until we have them, lets at least call this what it is: The Hunger Games. AJ Ernst worked as a teacher and administrator in Philadelphia for 13 years and has his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, where he studied school discipline. As an African American veteran who served in a military that values unity and diversity, Ive seen firsthand the dangers of division. This is why Donald Trumps continued association with far-right extremists like Laura Loomer is more than just political theater its a dangerous precedent. Loomers racist attack on Vice President Kamala Harris, mocking her Indian heritage, is just the latest in a troubling pattern. Trumps refusal to condemn these actions isnt just concerning; its a sign of how extremist rhetoric is creeping into the highest levels of leadership, threatening to further divide an already fractured nation. Advertisement Embracing individuals like Loomer, who openly espouse racism and Islamophobia, not only tarnishes the political discourse but undermines the very values our country and military are built upon. The military is one of the few institutions where Americans of all backgrounds come together in service of a common mission. We rely on each other, regardless of race or creed. Its disheartening to see someone who aspires to the highest office of leadership embrace a divisive figure like Loomer, whose rhetoric stands in direct opposition to these values. Trumps pattern of courting extremists isnt confined to isolated incidents like this. His promotion of the birther conspiracy, which aimed to delegitimize President Barack Obama, was an unmistakable dog whistle to his base, built on racist undertones. His very fine people comment following the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., further emboldened far-right extremist groups, signaling that he would tolerate if not embrace their presence in American politics. What makes this dangerous is that extremist ideologies, once on the fringes of political discourse, are now being legitimized by mainstream figures. When leaders refuse to condemn or distance themselves from individuals like Loomer, it sends a message that hate and division are not just tolerated they are part of the political strategy. And as history has shown, legitimizing extremist ideologies can have devastating consequences. Extremist rhetoric fuels resentment, encouraging acts of violence and discrimination against marginalized communities. For veterans, this is not an abstract problem. In a divided nation, leadership has the power to either unite or divide. The decisions and actions of those in power reverberate far beyond their immediate circles, influencing the behavior and attitudes of the broader public. When a leader, particularly a former president, refuses to stand up against hate, it emboldens others to act on their own prejudices. This has the potential to tear at the social fabric of our democracy, creating deeper divisions and encouraging violence and extremism. Just think back to Trumps infamous role in calling for the death penalty for the Central Park Five five Black and Latino teenagers who were later exonerated as an illustration of how hes long exploited racial tensions for personal gain. Even after the teens were cleared by DNA evidence, Trump refused to apologize, signaling that racial justice and truth take a back seat to his political ambitions. For veterans, this is not an abstract problem. Many of us have served in environments where extremism poses a direct threat to national security. When leaders tolerate racist and extremist ideologies at home, it weakens our ability to confront these threats abroad. The military thrives on unity and trust, and any effort to erode these values threatens the strength of our national defense. As Election Day approaches, we are faced with a critical choice. Do we want to continue down a path where extremists are welcomed at the highest levels of leadership, or do we want to chart a new course toward unity, inclusivity, and progress? Vice President Kamala Harris represents a vision of America that values diversity, fairness, and equality principles veterans like me fought to uphold. Trumps willingness to embrace and elevate figures like Loomer is a clear warning that his political strategy is rooted in division, not unity. This is not just about political preferences; its about the future of our democracy. America cannot afford to embrace the politics of hate, division, and extremism. We need leaders who will unite us in our shared mission to build a better future for all. Malcolm Nance is a career intelligence community veteran, counterterrorism expert, and New York Times best-selling author. He is a retired senior chief petty officer in the United States Navy and a veteran of the Ukrainian Army International Legion. He was born and raised in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said former President Donald Trumps repeatedly debunked claims about Haitian immigrants in Charleroi, Pa., are complete and utter bull during a recent podcast appearance. Hes been called out on it by the town manager, Shapiro said on an episode of the New Republics Daily Blast podcast released Thursday. Hes been called out on it by the Republican state senator who represents, quite honorably represents, that community. Hes been called out on it by local officials and others who have said what Donald Trump is saying is absolutely false. Advertisement Shapiro is the latest elected official to publicly condemn Trumps xenophobic and false claims about Haitian immigrants in Charleroi a small borough of about 4,000 people in Washington County. After Trump said Haitian immigrants were a burden on local taxpayers and bringing an influx of crime, Charleroi officials vehemently denied those claims. Trump doubled down on his lies about Haitian immigrants during his rally in Indiana, Pa., earlier this week, which took place about 65 miles away from Charleroi. Trumps disparaging remarks about the borough came soon after he baselessly said on the presidential debate stage in Philadelphia that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating the towns pets, which have culminated in threats to the city. When Donald Trump creates a kind of others in our community, he puts people at risk and he makes us all less safe, Shapiro said. That is really, really dangerous and destructive. Haitian immigrants have legally come to Charleroi for numerous reasons, including to escape violence and political unrest in their home country. Since Trumps surfacing of these vilifying remarks, conservative social media accounts and politicians including the former presidents running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, have been pushing these falsehoods. One far-right social media account, Libs of TikTok, posted a hateful video about Haitian immigrants on X and falsely claimed that 90% of the workforce in Charleroi is composed of Haitians and that Vice President Kamala Harris imported 2,000 Haitians to the town who are now taking American jobs. The account also said there is an operation in Charleroi where Haitians are being bussed to and from food factories operated by Fourth Street Foods, a food manufacturer. State Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R, Washington), who follows and often reposts Libs of TikTok, rebuked these unfounded remarks and said the account is playing into the hands of people who are jeopardizing the safety of innocent children in our local school. Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick has also propagated material that promotes these unfounded accusations. By the way, what Dave McCormick, the guy running for Senate against Bob Casey, has said about it is absolutely false, Shapiro said on the podcast. Charleroi is a wonderful community in Washington County, Pennsylvania, a community that has seen migrants contribute to their economy, contribute to their community. Youve heard that from residents in the area. Haitian immigrants have brought professional and entrepreneurial skills to Charleroi, opening businesses along the boroughs Main Street and working at businesses that are in need of employees. Echoing the sentiment of Charleroi officials and organizations, like the Mon Valley Alliance, Shapiro noted this rhetoric is a distraction from the real issues the borough faces. Charleroi is also a community thats facing serious economic challenges, Shapiro said. And instead of actually offering something thats going to help them address their economic challenges, Donald Trump goes and s on the community. Its not only disrespectful, its really dangerous. The town founded on glassmaking has experienced the closure of the Corning Glass plant and the Quality Pasta facility. Shapiro says his office has been working to address the economic issues in the borough. Both Casey and McCormick have pledged to assist the workers at the at-risk Corelle Brands glass plant, with McCormick attending a rally there late last week. Id love to have elected officials and wannabe elected officials like Donald Trump actually do something constructive that helps the community instead of tearing them down, Shapiro said. Staff writer Rob Tornoe contributed to this article. Phillip Pulley, photographed in Sept. 2022 outside a City Hall courtroom, following the partial collapse of one of his buildings, Lindley Towers, in the Logan section of Philadelphia. Read more Embattled landlord Philip C. Pulley finally got his comeuppance Wednesday in a Philadelphia federal courtroom. But it was not the 2022 collapse of one of his North Philadelphia apartment buildings a calamity that displaced nearly 100 residents that landed him, this time, in front of a judge. Nor was it the piles of unpaid tax and utility bills, building code violations, or complaints from tenants, contractors, and the state attorney general that have chased him for much of the last decade. Advertisement It wasnt even the legal fight with his insurance company over $300,000 in damage sustained by his 70-foot yacht when it ran aground near Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2019 a dispute that last year landed before the U.S. Supreme Court. Instead, Pulley, 62, strode into the courtroom Wednesday to admit to an entirely separate set of wrongs falsely registering to vote and casting multiple ballots in several recent elections. Are you pleading guilty because you are indeed guilty? U.S. District Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg asked Pulley near the end of the brief court proceeding. The landlord, seated next to his lawyer, responded with a terse: Yes. Pulleys guilty plea to counts including voter fraud, voter registration fraud, and voting more than once in a federal election came as part of a deal struck with prosecutors after elections officials in Philadelphia flagged his suspicious voter registrations last year and reported them to the FBI. Under questioning Wednesday from Goldberg, Pulley admitted that between 2020 and 2023 he had simultaneously registered to vote in three different counties, claiming false addresses as his primary residence and sometimes providing fake Social Security numbers. Then, as former President Donald Trump unsuccessfully sought a second term in the White House in the 2020 presidential race against Joe Biden, Pulley attempted to vote in all three. He successfully cast an in-person ballot in Montgomery County, where he has lived since the mid-1980s and in 2000 purchased a gated estate in Huntingdon Valley called Stonewall Manor. He had also voted by absentee ballot in Broward County, Fla., where the Pulley family owns a $1.7 million mansion overlooking an inlet and quay. Were it not for elections administrators denying a request he submitted that year for a mail ballot in Philadelphia, prosecutors say, its likely he would have attempted to vote there, too. But undeterred, Pulley told Goldberg on Wednesday, he continued to vote multiple times in elections for at least the next three years. He voted both in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties 2021 and 2023 municipal elections, he said, for which hes currently facing state charges. And during the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial matchup between then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Republican rival State Sen. Doug Mastriano, Pulley voted in person in both Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties a week after he had also cast an early ballot in Florida. Prosecutors did not identify Wednesday the candidates for which Pulley voted in any of those races. But voter records reveal hed registered as a Republican in Florida but as a Democrat in the two Pennsylvania counties. For his own part, Pulley declined to discuss his voting record as he left the courtroom, accompanied by defense lawyer Brian J. McMonagle. Its a silence he has maintained since an Inquirer investigation last month highlighted the myriad legal problems hes facing in his capacity as a landlord. Last year, the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office filed a consumer-protection suit against Pulley and his companies, accusing them of renting apartments with substandard living conditions and retaliating against tenants who complained. He has sued his insurers over denied claims, including costs linked to the 2022 collapse of his Lindley Tower apartments in North Philadelphia. And weeks after prosecutors unveiled the voter fraud charges against him this summer, government-backed mortgage financier Fannie Mae hit Pulley and several of his property holding companies with a suit over $60 million in defaulted mortgages. Those cases remain ongoing, and Pulley is expected to be sentenced in for his election crimes in the coming months. He faces up to five years in prison for each of the four counts to which he pleaded guilty Wednesday. Senator John Fetterman speaks during an event with US Vice President Kamala Harris & Gov. Tim Walz at Temple University's Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 6, 2024. Read more Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) is working with a Republican senator from Alabama to push for a mental health warning label on social media platforms. Fetterman and Sen. Katie Britt (R., Ala.) introduced the Stop the Scroll Act on Tuesday. The bill, if passed into law, would require the surgeon general to design a warning label system enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. The label would appear as a pop-up box warning users about the potential mental health risks of using social media and providing links to mental health resources every time a user opens a platform like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or X. Users would need to acknowledge the warning before continuing to the platform. Advertisement Find anybody that is like Hey, I just spent an hour on social media and I feel better about the world and about myself, Fetterman said in a Tuesday appearance with Britt on Fox News. Ive never met one, but if there is one, Id like to meet them. In the interview on Fox host Bret Baiers Common Ground segment, Fetterman and Britt described themselves as friends who bonded during their freshman orientation in the U.S. Senate along with each others spouses, Gisele Fetterman and former New England Patriots player Wesley Britt. Sen. Britt visited Fetterman when he was in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for major depression last year following his near-fatal stroke and election win in 2022. Fetterman said in the interview that he has witnessed the negative impact of social media both on himself and on his children. The two senators said they have bonded over their experiences as elected officials with children, which directly ties to their support for the bill. Fetterman has three children and Britt has two. If you have a person thats spending hours and hours every day with one of your kids, you would want to know who that person is about, Fetterman said. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy would be expected to be on board with the bipartisan bill, seeing that he already proposed these labels himself. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, as well as more than 40 other attorneys general across the country, urged Congress to pass legislation of this sort earlier this month. Murthy has warned of the negative impacts social media has on youth. He has said that 95% of young people ages 13 to 17 said they use social media, and more than a third said theyre on it almost constantly. He said young people who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms, yet a 2021 survey found that adolescents spend an average of 3 hours a day on social media. In 2023, the surgeon general made a call for urgent action to better understand how social media affects young people and how to protect children from its adverse effects. He warned that children are exposed to violent and sexual content, bullying, and harassment on social media, and that social media is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with loved ones. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis one that we must urgently address, he said. Fetterman called his safety warning bill common sense and something a parent would want for their kid. He described what kids see on social media as what he used to read on the back of the bathroom stall but its at their fingertips, and theyre on it for hours. Its a conversation that we would be having as a parent, let alone as a senator, so I think its an entirely appropriate conversation that we should be having at a national level, he added. READ MORE: John Fetterman was open about his depression. Now he wants to create a national mental health commission Fetterman has been open about his personal struggle with depression, and said social media was an accelerant for it. He wants to create a federal commission focused on mental health and introduced a bill in May with Sen. Tina Smith (D., Minn.) to do so. The commission, if created, would provide policy recommendations to Congress and the president about improving access to and affordability of mental health care. Smith has also spoken publicly about her struggle with depression. Fetterman also cosponsored a revised Kids Online Safety Act, which aims to improve privacy for minors, after LGBTQ protections were incorporated. Different versions of the bill passed the House and Senate, and it cannot move forward until they come to an agreement. He also cosponsored the Eyes on the Board Act with Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), a bill that would limit social media access in schools and has not progressed. Fetterman and Britt both said they would welcome more bipartisan opportunities. I think some people think we must hate each others guts, you know, D.C., Oh, youre Republican, Im Democrat or whatever, Fetterman said. But its just not true, it couldnt be further from the truth. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to Scranton earlier this week with Gov. Josh Shapiro is now a subject of a U.S. House committee investigation, as Republicans allege the trip had ulterior political motives in support of Vice President Kamala Harris presidential bid. Heres a look at why Zelensky visited Pennsylvania, what he did while he was here, and why House GOP leaders are investigating the trip. What Zelensky did during his visit to Pennsylvania with Shapiro Shapiro and Zelensky on Sunday visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Lackawanna County, which manufactures large-caliber metal projectiles that are being used by Ukraine to fight Russias invasion. Advertisement Specifically, the plant builds 155-millimeter howitzer rounds for the U.S. Department of Defense that the two leaders signed as part of a photo op. The plant is in President Joe Bidens hometown which is in an especially important battleground county in the critical swing state. The two leaders were joined by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, both Democrats who are up for reelection on the Nov. 5 ballot. Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American freedom, and our commonwealth proudly stands with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom against naked aggression, Shapiro said. Im proud to welcome President Zelensky and his delegation to Scranton, to visit with the women and men who are fueling his countrys fight for freedom. Shapiro also signed a five-year agreement with a Southeastern Ukrainian provinces military to enhance overall cooperation between the Ukrainian provinces military and Pennsylvania and support its rebuilding efforts. Why House Republicans are investigating the visit Republican leaders in and outside Pennsylvania questioned the motivations of Zelenskys trip almost immediately, arguing that the trip was a taxpayer-funded campaign event for Harris and that Zelensky was trying to interfere with the 2024 presidential election. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R., Ky.), opened an investigation into the trip on Wednesday, questioning the use of taxpayer resources to fly Zelensky to Pennsylvania, just days after the Ukrainian leader made critical remarks about former President Donald Trumps running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio), in a New Yorker article, in which he said Vance was too radical. The House Oversight Committee is now investigating any coordination among the Biden-Harris administration, Shapiros staff, and Zelensky to use government property to politically benefit Vice President Harris presidential campaign, Comer said in a news release. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) also canceled his scheduled visit with Zelensky on Thursday and demanded that he fire Ukraines ambassador to the United States. As you have said, Ukrainians have tried to avoid being captured by American domestic politics, and influencing the choices of the American people ahead of the November election, Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelensky on Wednesday. Clearly, that objective was abandoned this week when Zelensky visited the Scranton ammunition plant and no Republicans were invited, he added. The part of Scranton where the ammunition plant is located is represented by only Democrats at the state and federal levels. Johnson also noted that Pennsylvania is an important battleground state, and that Shapiro is a top surrogate for Harris. Shapiro was a top contender to be Harris running mate, and he remains a top supporter of Harris in Pennsylvania and nationally. Johnson called the visit a shortsighted and intentionally political move that has caused Republicans to lose trust in Ukraines ambassador to the U.S. Zelenskys recent comments and past visits Zelenskys visit to Pennsylvania was not entirely unusual. Zelensky has visited with other state governors, including Utahs Republican Gov. Spencer Cox earlier this year. However, Zelensky and Trump have a long history. Trumps first impeachment trial, which ended in his acquittal in 2020, was about whether he tried to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Biden and his son Hunter Bidens business dealings in the country. More recently, Trump has been increasingly critical of Zelensky and his leadership since Russia began its invasion of its neighboring country in 2022. He refused in the Sept. 10 presidential debate to say whether he wants Ukraine to win the war over Russia. Harris was scheduled to meet with Zelensky while he was in Washington on Thursday. Zelensky had been scheduled to meet with Trump on Thursday, too, but that meeting was canceled, NBC News reported. Ukraine has leaned on the United States throughout the Russian invasion for financial and arms aid. Biden announced Thursday he would send $7.9 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as part of a $61 billion aid package passed by Congress earlier this year. Generally speaking, the commissions can be as low as 10% on motor and commercial motor or motor fleet, but commissions can be as high as 25% on some of these negotiated products with the insurers, said Van Der Merwe. The vast majority of our business is negotiated directly with the insurers where the average commission rate would be 15% on the base premium. Safe Works report found that workers suffering from mental health issues experience median time lost from work that is more than five times longer than that recorded across all other injuries and diseases. The data indicates a worrying trend, with mental health claims increasing 19.2% compared to the previous year and showing a staggering 97.3% increase over the past decade. Price Forbes, a global specialty insurance broker with more than a century of experience, operates in various sectors including energy, property, and financial lines. It is part of Ardonagh Specialty, the largest independent specialty broker in the London market, which manages over $7 billion in gross written premiums globally. Commenting on the formalisation of the Lloyds-MIGA partnership, Lloyds chief executive John Neal (pictured) said: Collaboration is the hallmark of the Lloyds market, and through our ongoing partnership with MIGA, the (re)insurance industry has facilitated projects around the world which are having a tangible impact on the local and national communities that need it most. Phil and Kristen Shearer will remain involved temporarily to assist with the transition before retiring. First Wests team will continue to operate from Inszones Huntington Beach office, with access to additional carriers and support provided by Inszone. The company also said that it aims to maintain a local presence while offering the resources of a larger organization. At the same time, 65% of SBOs said they feel prepared to prevent an attack, a 17-point improvement from last year. This confidence may stem from the steps they are taking to educate their employees, as 71% of business owners now provide formal cybersecurity training for staff at least once a year. In addition, 36% of businesses conduct phishing tests on their employees every few months to help maintain awareness of cyber threats. David Self, chair of CIRCA, spoke on the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in the Cayman Islands. He pointed to the partnership between the private sector, the Cayman Islands Government, and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) as a key factor in the jurisdiction's success. However, Helene is not a typical storm due to its large wind radius, which is expected to bring hurricane-force gusts and significant storm surge to the densely populated Tampa Bay area, as well as tropical storm-force winds across most of the Florida peninsula, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and southern Appalachia. This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync. Insurance compliance is serious business. Falling out of compliance can have real consequences for everyone from insurance agencies, carriers, MGAs, and MGUs, to individual producers, adjusters, and dually licensed broker-dealers. Whom you choose to partner with for your compliance needs matters. Choosing the right technology partner can transform your insurance licensing compliance practices from a nightmare into a dream-come-true. Choosing the wrong partner, on the other hand, can lead to undesirable outcomes, such as: Spending too much money on something thats not meeting your needs Risking compliance and data security mishaps Failing to achieve organization-wide adoption and the continued use of manual and error-prone processes Losing staff and distribution channel partners because of how frustrating it is to work for or with you While the industry urges insurance businesses to adopt more modern practices, many insurance compliance technology vendors still have no qualms doing business the way theyve always done it. Often, this includes committing some serious crimes against their own customers. No, were not talking about the kinds of crimes that land anyone in jail, but these transgressions are frustrating, costly, and just plain wrong nonetheless. In this three-part series, well cover some of the most common crimes we see insurance compliance tech vendors committing against their customer base. Weve already covered crimes of the financial variety as well as support crimes. In this third and final installment, were taking a look at technology crimes. If youve fallen victim to any of these tech-related crimes, then were sorry to say it, but the vendor youve invested your money and resources in is a total dud. When insurance compliance vendors commit technology crimes You might be able to forgive the crimes that cost your business more money or even the ones that create friction in your user experience, but if the technology itself doesnt work, then what are you really getting from your compliance tech spend? Investing your time, energy, and money into a solution that doesnt pay dividends is more than just frustrating. It can negatively impact every aspect of your business, from your data security and reputation to your ability to scale and grow in the future. Set yourself up for long-term success by avoiding these commonly perpetrated technology crimes: 1. Dirty and stale data Making good business decisions relies heavily on your access to good data. The quality of your data is at the core of whether your compliance management solution is benefiting you or just costing you. Whether its due to technical errors that allow missing or inaccurate data into your system, or intermittent syncs with your data source, inaccurate producer and adjuster licensing and appointment data will cause problems for every part of your business. Insurance compliance standards and regulations are constantly changing and updating. If the solution you sought specifically to help you keep up with these things isnt providing you with accurate and complete data, you might as well still be managing things by hand. While most compliance tools on the market these days sync to the industrys one source of truth for producer information, remember that not all syncs are created equal. Consider how often the sync occurs, the quality of the data received, and how discrepancies are handled. Customer confession: Were finding that our current solutions PDB sync isnt occurring. Theres this constant defect they seem to be fighting and the information available through the product doesnt seem accurate. 2. Still requiring spreadsheets Some insurance businesses put up with technology crimes like bad or stale data and compensate for them by keeping internal spreadsheets to double-check the data thats in their system. This is quite possibly the biggest technology crime of them all! You likely went looking for a compliance vendor in the first place because you wanted to replace your spreadsheets with a more modern tech solution. So why settle for a solution that essentially puts you back at square one? No organization should pay for technology so unreliable that staff need to keep their own records and continuously cross-reference for accuracy. Talk about defeating the whole purpose of digitization. Customer confession: We frequently need copies of licenses. I cant get that from the product, so Im retaining copies of licenses in another system. 3. Old, siloed tech Your tech stack should create efficiencies that help modernize your business, not make your workflows clunkier. Modern insurance infrastructure means being adaptive and making constant improvements to your compliance ecosystem. Any solution that stops improving the moment the contract is signed should raise an immediate red flag. Solutions built on mainframe code dont offer the same flexibility as those that leverage a cloud-native architecture. Theyre typically harder (or even impossible) to integrate with the other software you use for daily business operations and can cause major downtime and cost inefficiencies when youre ready to scale your business. 4. Processing bad transactions Some producer license management technologies have built in checks and balances to stop an invalid transaction before it happens. Others dont. Incomplete producer applications or license renewal forms can result in the state canceling the application, but still keeping the associated fees. Without a system that can flag a potentially bad transaction, youre left with the risk of processing and paying for transactions that needed further human intervention before going through. At the very least, your compliance tech should give you the option to build warnings, alerts, and hard stops into your workflows to keep transactions from being processed when a producer doesnt meet certain criteria. The right compliance management solution will save your business money in the long run, not add extra (and completely avoidable) expenses to your bottom line. Customer confession: The notifications in our current solution are pretty lackluster, and were billed per transaction. Sometimes we end up paying for the same transaction multiple times even though it only went through once. 5. Exposes you to higher security risks The data-driven nature of the insurance business means industry players have more cybersecurity concerns than most. The success of your organizations data security depends on the security and preparedness of any third-party vendors or software you use. If youve taken the necessary steps to ensure your own cyber hygiene, dont let your compliance technology vendor take you down with their own lax security practices. By vetting compliance technology vendors for their cybersecurity practices, you can reduce the risk of a data breach and protect your reputation. If a vendor isnt up-to-date on their cybersecurity requirements, theyre putting you at risk, and thats just not the recipe for a good partnership. Avoid falling victim to technology crimes from your compliance vendor If youre currently working with an insurance compliance technology that isnt treating you the way you deserve in these ways or others! see how AgentSync is different. AgentSyncs committed to the idea of Customer Love. This means fair and transparent pricing, support thats actually supportive, and a tech platform that delights its users and receives regular updates and improvements. See how different insurance compliance could be at your organization; check out an AgentSync demo today. Topics Fraud Tech Lawyers for New Jersey insurance executive and political power broker George Norcross III say the states 111-page indictment against him and others for alleged racketeering is a crime thriller with no crime. In calling for dismissal of the charges, Norcross defense team says the indictment is less like a legal document and more like a screenplay for a putative summer blockbuster as it seeks to turn routine politics and everyday business negotiations undertaken to revitalize an economically depressed Camden waterfront into crimes of extortion, racketeering, kickbacks and bribery. Although the indictment exceeds 100 pages and asserts over a dozen counts, it still fails to properly allege a single crime, the defense filing asserts. Furthermore, according to Norcross lawyers, the alleged crimes occurred more than a decade ago and are barred by statutes of limitations, which his lawyers suggest might be why federal prosecutors did not pursue them. In June, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin charged Norcross with leading a criminal enterprise in the state for the past dozen years. Norcross, executive chairman of Camden-based insurance agency Conner Strong & Buckelew (CSB) and chairman of the board of trustees of Cooper Health, was among six people alleged to have acquired property rights and tax credits in Camden and elsewhere through coercion, extortion, and other criminal acts. Norcross and five alleged associates have been all charged with racketeering. Platkin said the 13-count indictment came after a years-long investigation into the activities of Norcross and his associates in South Jersey and elsewhere. The indictment filed in Superior Court alleged that from about 2012 through the present, the Norcross Enterprise used coercion, extortion, and other criminal acts to tailor legislation to serve its interests, obtain property and property rights on the Camden waterfront, collect as much as $240 million in government-issued tax credits, and control and influence government officials including a former mayor of Camden. The defendants include Norcross III, who now resides in Florida; his brother Philip A. Norcross, an attorney and CEO of Parker McCay, a New Jersey law firm; William M. Tambussi, a partner at the law firm of Brown and Connery and counsel to the Camden County Democratic Committee; Dana L. Redd, currently CEO of Camden Community Partnership and former mayor of Camden (2010 to 2018); Sidney R. Brown, CEO of NFI, a trucking and logistics company; and John J. ODonnell, an executive with The Michaels Organization, a residential development company. Norcross and the co-defendants entered not guilty pleas in July in state Superior Court in Mercer County. According to the Norcross defense filing on Tuesday, all 13 counts rest on two types of supposed wrongs: criminal threats and official misconduct. But the only threats alleged are everyday economic onese.g., to cease doing business, or to breach a contractthat are not prohibited. If its a crime to warn of consequences if a deal is not reached, or to use expletives in doing so, New Jersey needs to build more prisons, the filing states. As for official misconduct allegations, the indictment alleges that a former mayor of Camden solicited stakeholders views, supported efforts to revitalize the city, and declined to meet an out-of-town developer who was standing in the way. The defense argues that this is all normal conduct well within the discretion of an elected official. The indictment seems offended that some private citizens have close connections with public officials, but that is a feature of democratic self-governmentnot a bug. And certainly not a crime, the filing continues. The defense says that what the indictment calls unlawful threats were just ordinary hard bargaining: The Indictment tells a story of defendants hustling, cajoling, lobbying, and networkingall in an effort to push Camdens Waterfront redevelopment past those who would stymie it. But all of that arm-twisting and maneuvering is routine in both business and politics. Much of it is constitutionally protected. None of it is remotely criminal. The defendants argue that the state never alleges that any defendant threatened anyone with violence or blackmail; nor does it allege any corruption of public officials; rather, the indictment alleges the defendants exerted economic pressure and political influence. Many of the states allegations involve efforts by Norcross using the Camden Redevelopment Agency to obtain easements held by developer Carl Dranoff that limited the height of buildings. Norcross attorneys maintain he and his associates applied normal business leverage and threats that were not of physical harm or in any way criminal in nature. As the indictment itself details, all of Norcrosss alleged threats were made in response to Dranoff using hardball tactics of his own in a commercial negotiation. In particular, Dranoff was leveraging his view easement to block much of the planned (and highly beneficial) redevelopment until he obtained a payout, the defense filing maintains. Mercer County Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw has given prosecutors until November 22 to respond with briefs in advance of a January hearing to consider whether the court should dismiss the charges In a press statement, Platkins office said the motion to dismiss was expected and the state is confident in its charges and will respond with briefs to the court. Topics Fraud Wealthy neighborhoods in Quito remain under threat of flames, and schools have shifted to online teaching through the end of the week as firefighters battle forest fires in Ecuadors capital. Quito Mayor Pabel Munoz of the left-wing Citizen Revolution party declared an emergency for the city of almost 3 million residents to obtain additional funding to tackle more than two dozen blazes since Tuesday, almost of all of them set intentionally. Police detained a male, 19-year-old suspected arsonist after flames forced firefighters and government ministers to abandon a command post near a highway. Two hundred firefighters from seven local governments and 180 soldiers are working to contain the fires, while 1,600 police are keeping the peace. President Daniel Noboa canceled his planned speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York to return home and manage the crisis. An extended drought is also threatening agriculture in Ecuador and has prompted rolling blackouts nationwide. Were experiencing the worst climate situation in decades, which calls for urgent decisions at all levels of government, Noboa said late Tuesday in a post on X. Adversity will find us more determined than ever. Resurgent flames near the colonial neighborhood of Guapulo where Noboa rents a mansion led to a major highway and tunnel being closed again Wednesday, blocking direct access between north-central Quito and its eastern suburbs. Nearby homes are being evacuated. Air force helicopters outfitted with suspended buckets are flying between a low-lying reservoir and burning wooded mountain slopes that separate downtown from the valley a steep 400 meters below. While no deaths have been reported, the flames destroyed several homes in the Guapulo and Bellavista neighborhoods. Six firefighters and five civilians including an infant have been injured, newspaper Expreso reported. The health ministry reported 44 people treated and released for smoke inhalation. Volunteers flocked to support firefighters while neighborhood and animal welfare organizations worked to coordinate aid for people, pets and both feral and wild animals affected by the fires. Aid agencies and municipal offices called for water, eye drops, industrial-strength gloves and other help for firefighters and people evacuated from their homes. While the interior ministry ordered large-scale events canceled, the prosecutor generals office said it would investigate the causes of the blazes. Beyond the suspect arrested Wednesday, other individuals in recent days were found to have set fires in other parts of the capitals metropolitan area. Photograph: Smoke from a wildfire plumes above Quito, Ecuador, on Sept. 24, 2024. Photo credit: Galo Paguay/AFP/Getty Images Acrisure, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based insurance broker and fintech specialist, has launched an office in Bermuda to focus on wholesale insurance broking for its global clients. Trading as Acrisure Bermuda Ltd., the new business unit aims to complement current reinsurance and specialist MGA facilities, said Acrisure. Industry veteran Paul Scope has joined the company to serve as CEO of this entity, reporting to Jason Howard, president of Acrisure International and chairman of Acrisure Re. The new wholesale broking team will begin with professional liability, including directors and officers, errors & omissions, employment practices liability, cyber, and wage and hour, followed by property and casualty. An established leader in the Bermuda market, Scope brings more than 40 years of experience to Acrisure, joining from Ardonagh Specialty (Bermuda) Ltd., where he had been chairman since 2021. Prior to this, Scope spent six years as chairman of Willis Towers Watson Bermuda. In 1989, he founded Park International, which was acquired by JLT in 2007, becoming JLTPark. He served as chairman and CEO of this business until 2014. There has been a growing US and international appetite to access Bermudas wholesale market and, as a result, we are pleased to be opening this office, Howard commented. We are fortunate to have a leader of Pauls expertise, experience and industry connections. I look forward to working with him to further establish and expand our position on the island and in the wider wholesale market. Acrisure places $4 billion of premium into the wholesale market annually, and I am pleased to be a part of this rapidly growing business, according to Scope. There are a multitude of wholesale opportunities on the island which Acrisure is well positioned to access, he added. I look forward to working with Jason to build out our Bermuda team and proposition, continuing to partner with retail brokers and deliver tailored insurance solutions to our global client base. Additionally, I am delighted to welcome experienced Bermuda brokers, Alexandra Hayne and Trevor Ferguson to the team, Scope said. Source: Acrisure Topics New Markets Amwins has recommitted to giving the University of Louisiana Monroes Risk Management and Insurance program by donating $100,000 over 10 years. Amwins and ULM held a check presentation to commemorate the donation on September 17. David Lavins, president of Amwins Access, and Tammy Culmone, EVP and regional leader of AmwinsGroup, presented the check to ULM President Dr. Ron Berry and First Lady Dr. Christine Berry. The funds will support student and faculty travel to visit companies and brokers in cities such as Dallas and Chicago, according to a press release by ULM. The funds will also support recruitment and marketing efforts, student scholarships and support of events like the ULM RMI Career Fair and Career Fair Reception. ULM said more than 100 RMI students have interned and been hired by Amwins, more than any other company. Topics Louisiana In the long war between auto insurers and windshield repair shops, the Florida Supreme Court this week sided with glass companies, leaving GEICO with little choice but to ask lawmakers to change the law if it feels repair prices have been padded. The court on Wednesday answered two certified questions from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, finding that Florida law does not grant GEICO a private cause of action or right to sue Glassco Inc., one of Floridas largest windshield repair networks. The high court also found that GEICO cannot refuse to pay invoices as a punitive remedy when a repair shop allegedly violates statutes and does not provide a written estimate or invoice to the motorist. The answer to the first certified question is no: section 559.921(1) does not grant an insurance company a cause of action when a repair shop does not provide any written repair estimate,' Chief Justice Calos Muniz wrote in the opinion, seen here. The case began after 2019. From 2016 to 2019, Glassco sought and accepted assignments of benefits on almost 1,800 windshield repair or replacement jobs in Florida, farming most of them out to subcontractor shops. GEICO paid the invoices but only at a deeply discounted rate. Glassco sued in state court, and the state court found in favor of the glass firm in 11 claims, noting that the competitive price was, in fact, more than what GEICO had paid. Meanwhile, GEICO, one of the largest auto insurers in the country, filed its own suit in federal court, charging that the shops had committed fraud and had violated the states motor vehicle repair law. That act was adopted in 1980 and has been amended a few times since then. The insurance giant also argued Glassco had made other errors, such as failing to provide written estimates and written invoices to the insureds and failing to properly notify customers that the work would be subcontracted to other shops. The federal district court decided against GEICO, holding that the Florida Motor Vehicle Repair statute grants lawsuit rights only to an injured customer, not an insurance company. GEICO appealed to the 11th Circuit and that court asked the state Supreme Court for clarity. The Florida Supreme Court justices noted that the Florida statute provides administrative remedies by a state agency when repair shops are accused of not following the law. To now allow GEICO to create punitive actions that are not prescribed by statute would go beyond the judicial branchs authority, the high court wrote. GEICO misconceives a courts role in interpreting and applying statutes, the opinion reads. A court can look to statutory purpose to illuminate the meaning of the statutory text, but statutory purpose cannot be invoked to justify ignoring the text the Legislatures actual work product. GEICO essentially urged the court to engage in a form of imaginative reconstructionthe idea that a court may implement what it is sure the legislature would have done (had it faced the question explicitly) rather than what the legislature actually did,' the justices wrote, quoting from a 2006 court decision. The case now goes back to the federal appeals court, which will likely dismiss GEICOs suit. The Supreme Court also noted that if GEICO has identified a flaw in the Repair Act, policy-based fixes are for the Legislature. GEICO representatives declined to comment Thursday morning. The court decision may have less of an impact on the longstanding dispute between insurers and auto-glass shops than initially anticipated. The Florida Legislature in 2023 approved Senate Bill 1002, which ended AOBs for auto glass repair, after insurers complained for years that the arrangements had encouraged repairers to jack up prices then file excessive amounts of lawsuits against auto insurance companies. The law also barred shops from offering gifts to insured motorists. But some insurance agents have told Insurance Journal that some shops have recently tried to offer gifts to agents, hoping to influence their policyholders choice of repair firms. Others have said that repair shops continue to look for ways to elevate costs when insurers foot the bill. Background: Read More About Courts Questions in GEICO Case Topics Lawsuits Florida Auto As Hurricane Helene gains strength in the unusually warm waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico, forecasters, claims adjusting firms and analytics experts are warning that the storm could be more damaging than other recent storms that hit the same area. Helene, a Category 1 storm Thursday morning, could strengthen by landfall Thursday evening. Even if the worst of it misses the sprawling Tampa area in Florida, the system is expected to take dead aim at Atlanta, where millions of people and properties could be affected by Friday. CoreLogic, a property analytics company, said about 25,000 residential properties with a rebuild value of $5.6 billion are now at risk from storm surge and flooding. AccuWeather said Helene could soon become a Category 4 storm. That means the storm is likely to be more damaging than Category 3 Hurricane Idalia, which hit the same region of Florida in 2023, causing more than $2.2 billion in insured losses, Karen Clark & Co. estimated last year. Hurricane Debby, which made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida last month, caused an estimated $1.4 billion in privately insured losses, KCC said. Other estimates for Helene suggest losses could be greater. Moodys, an analytics and ratings firm, warned Thursday morning that almost 162,000 commercial properties lie in the path of the storm. That includes multifamily residential buildings, offices, industrial sites, hotels and retail shops. Gallagher Re, the global reinsurance brokerage, said that private insured losses could be from $3 billion to $6 billion higher if Helene strikes a major metropolitan area such as Tampa, according to public radio and the News Service of Florida reports. Altogether, damages and losses will likely reach about $15 billion, said Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler with Enki Research. Thats actually a bit less from an earlier estimate of $20 billion, based on the assumption that Helene doesnt hold onto its most powerful winds for as long after it comes ashore, Bloomberg news service reported. Meanwhile, almost every courthouse and most schools in Florida were closed Thursday ahead of the hurricane, which grew to more than 345 miles in width, according to news reports. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news briefing that Floridas long-stressed property insurance industry is improving and should be able to manage the losses. The worst impact wrought by Helene will likely be flooding, which could lessen the cost for property insurance companies that do not cover flood damage. As much as 8 inches of rain has already fallen across parts of the Appalachian mountains in advance of Helene and another 12 or more could fall as the storm heads north, Bloomberg noted. Photo: Paulette and Ben McLin outside their summer home on Alligator Point, Florida, on Wednesday. Their family has owned the home since it was built in 1963, and she is concerned this particular storm may impact them more severely than previous storms. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Topics Trends The passenger in a car was killed when a horse smashed through the windshield during a series of crashes on a Southern California interstate, authorities said. The first collision occurred about 2 a.m. Sunday when a Toyota Tacoma towing a horse trailer veered to the right and struck a guardrail on northbound Interstate 15 near Norco, according to the California Highway Patrol. The trailer split open, sending the horse onto the freeway. Then a semitractor-trailer smashed into the horse trailer. The horse made it to the median but then tried to cross the interstate, when it was clipped by a black Honda Accord, highway patrol Officer Javier Navarro told the Southern California News Group. Next, a gray Honda Accord struck the horse, which smashed through the cars windshield, Navarro said. The passenger, a 25-year-old man in the front seat, was killed. The horse also died. The Hondas driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered minor injuries, the news group reported. No one has been arrested, Navarro said Monday. What caused the Toyota towing the horse trailer to hit the guardrail is under investigation, he said. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Tradespeople who are members of the union Unite are set to picket the site of the National Childrens Hospital on Friday as part of their ongoing dispute with employers over pay. The tradespeople including plumbers, fitters, welders and apprentices have been taking industrial action against their employers, members of the representative group Mechanical Engineering & Building Services Contractors' Association, since the middle of August. They are seeking the restoration of payment for the first hour of travel time which Unite said was initially cut during the 2008 financial crisis in what was supposed to be a temporary measure. According to the union, 90% of their members voted for industrial action in order to restore this payment. Since the notice of industrial action was served, three full-day of stoppages have been held at major construction projects around the country where contractors' association employers are carrying out works. The National Childrens Hospital has been the subject of numerous controversies over the last several years but there has been renewed focus on it in recent weeks. Earlier this week, the head of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board David Gunning said he could not make assurances the hospital would be completed by June next year and it is now likely to be pushed back to 2026. The long-delayed project is now expected to cost the State 2.2bn, with Mr Gunning insisting the price would not be inflated further and the board was unwilling to give developers BAM Ireland any further funds. BAM Ireland has reportedly made thousands of claims for more money to the tune of 750m. Full-day stoppage In a statement, Unite said despite contact with contractors' association this week, their disputes committee had decided there would be a further full-day stoppage on Friday from 12.01am to 11.59pm. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said it was thanks to the determined action of Unite members over the past three weeks that the contractors' association had made contact. But the employers need to remember that making contact is a long way from resolving this dispute. This is a highly profitable sector, and our members will continue to have Unites unstinting support as they fight to have the first hour of travel time restored. Unite regional officer James McCabe said "employers can well afford to meet our members demands. When the industrial action first began, the contractors' association said its pay agreements had already been negotiated eight months prior and it was extremely disappointed its members were again being targeted by Unite for additional pay increases. In a statement, it called for an end to Unites picketing warning that continuing industrial action could cause "reputational damage to the sector, which will result in job losses". "The union is striking in pursuit of its claim for the 'restoration of the first hour of travel time'. This allowance was incorporated into hourly rates of pay in 2011 in accordance with an agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission between MEBSCA, Unite and Connect," it said. "Hourly rates of pay increased when the first hour of travel was incorporated into the rate and the higher rate is also paid for overtime and travel. "We urge Unite to withdraw their notice of further industrial action to protect jobs and livelihoods." The Irish Examiner contacted representatives of BAM Ireland for comment and to ask if the company expected the picketing to cause disruption to the site. A representative for the company said it would not be commenting on the picket. The current levels of bovine tuberculosis have gone through the roof in Cork, the Senate was told. Senator Tim Lombard said the reactor rate had increased by 22% across the county in the past six months, and was causing terrible stress and hardship for families. As he was walking to the Chamber, he said he received a phone call from a neighbour who had a TB test done on his farm that day and lost 10 cows. He met another man in Timoleague who had 52 reactors in his herd during the week. The numbers are frightening, he said, warning the problem would worsen when herds are housed over the winter. Mr Lombard said: We will see the levels of TB increase dramatically next spring, which will have a huge financial impact on family farms and the co-operative societies. It will cause unbelievable mental trauma for farmers to have their stock taken away to be slaughtered. Members of the veterinary community coming into the yards of farmers they know very well [and] they may have to put down a large percentage of their herds as reactors. That is another trauma in the system. Mr Lombard claimed the TB eradication programme, which started in the mid-1950s, had been a failure. Despite increased levels of funding, it had not dealt with the issue. I have farmers who are under financial, physical and mental pressure because of what has happened to their herds in the past few months, he said. Larger herds, fragmented farms, and herds with buy-in cattle are all more at risk of TB breakdown. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue earlier told the Dail bovine TB was a challenging disease to control and eradicate. He said he was committed to making real progress in controlling the disease as he was aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a herd breakdown for farmers. The minister said the number of new restrictions and reactor numbers had been increasing since 2016 and the pace of deterioration had accelerated in recent years. Nationally, as of September 1, 2024, on a 12-month rolling basis, herd incidence increased to 5.52%, compared to 4.74% at the same time last year. In the past 12 months, 5,607 herds were restricted, compared to 4,872 in the previous 12-month period. Mr McConalogue said Ireland's bovine TB eradication programme was guided by national and international scientific research and advice. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of TB in Ireland and the risks underlying its transmission. Movement of infected cattle with undetected infection, residual infection in cattle previously exposed to TB, and spread across farm boundaries from infected to uninfected cattle were among the principal causes. Indirect spread through other biosecurity breaches, and/or spread from infected wildlife to uninfected cattle were also found to be among the principal causes. Larger herds, fragmented farms, and herds with buy-in cattle are all more at risk of TB breakdown. Last year, more than 9,000 badgers were captured in the vaccination zones, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said In addition, the expansion of the dairy herd since 2015 has had an impact on increasing TB levels also, he said. Mr McConalogue, replying to a series of questions from Galway East TD Sean Canny, said the spread of the disease was multifactorial and was being fought on many fronts. Since he launched the TB Strategy in 2021, stakeholders have been working collectively to reduce TB rates. We must keep this going with the ultimate aim of eradicating TB from the herd, he said. Mr McConalogue said a large-scale rollout of badger vaccination commenced in late 2019. Every year, more and more of the countryside is designated as vaccination zones. This is reflected in the numbers of badgers captured for vaccination in these zones rising from an initial figure of 1,937 badgers in 2019, to 4,698 badgers in 2020. It rose again in 2021 to 6,586 badgers, with a further 7,244 badgers captured for vaccination in 2022. Last year, more than 9,000 badgers were captured in the vaccination zones, he said, adding there had been a significant increase in funding for the Wildlife Programme in recent years. Film: The Outrun Friday, September 27 Is this the film that finally nets Saoirse Ronan her Oscar? Based on the memoir of the same name by Amy Liptrot, Ronan plays Rona, who is out of rehab after suffering with alcoholism and decides to move from her wild life in London back home to the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. Its a coming-of-age tale about coming home. Music festival: Cork Folk Festival Wednesday, October 2 to Sunday, October 6 Folk legends and new talent mix for whats sure to be an exciting week of the 45th Cork Folk Festival. Meadhbh Hayes and Jimmy Crowley launching the 45th Cork Folk Festival. Picture: Darragh Kane Paul Brady, Frankie James, De Danann, Iarla O Lionaird, Ger Wolfe, and Mercury Prize-nominated Seth Lakeman all feature over the week, alongside art exhibitions and book launches. Literary Festival: Write by the Sea Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford. This boutique literary festival features readings, conversations, workshops, and interviews, opening on Friday with a special ceremony led by the poet Patrick Cotter. Colin Barrett: Longlisted for the Booker Prize, and set to appear at Write by the Sea Tessa Hadley, Lucy Caldwell, Cat Hogan, Booker Prize-longlisted Colin Barrett, and Elaine Feeney all star over the weekend in one of the most picturesque settings in the country. Arts event: Gleann a Phuca Saturday, September 28. The Glen, Cork. The year-long creative climate action arts project Gleann a Phuca, responding to the ecological, cultural, industrial, and historical heritage of The Glen River Park, culminates with a full day of events showcasing artist works and poetry trail launch. Ann Dalton is part of the art project in The Glen in Cork on Saturday. The day includes a picnic, dance performance, film and animation screenings and the launch of the FuaimMna audio trail celebrating the women of the Glen River Park. Streaming: Love is Blind Wednesday, October 2. Netflix. The global dating experiment returns to Netflix for its seventh season. Ranging from ages 27 to 37, the cast includes military veterans, multiple scientists, a lawyer, journalist, and for the first time ever a pair of siblings who will enter the experiment together. Two handsome rooks greet you at the entrance to a new exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland. Loaned by the Natural History Museum, the mounted pair guard a collection of large-scale watercolours by a painter who had a soft spot for these birds. Mildred Anne Butler was born in 1858 at Kilmurry House near Thomastown County Kilkenny. Apart from visits to London Paris and Cornwall, she lived her entire life in this 18th-century Palladian mansion, with its fields, woods, and a large pond. Not having to earn a living, she began painting rural scenes. Cattle, steam-powered threshing machines, and doves, were among her subjects. Of the 17 pictures on show at the Gallery, five depict rooks. Another features a magpie strung up as a scarecrow pour encourager les autres. Andrew Wyeth, in his Study for a Woodshed, would embrace that ghoulish theme in the 1940s. Mildred Anne Butler (1858-1941), Shades of Evening, 1904. Photo National Gallery of Ireland Crows, especially ravens, appear widely in Western art. A magpie is forced into respectful silence in Piero della Francescas Nativity. Van Goghs ominous Wheatfield with Crows is a cultural icon. A young woman hugs a crow in a Picasso Blue Period picture. Oliver Shephards Cuchulainn bronze includes the raven, while Vincent Sheridan celebrates corvids in his work. Butler kept stuffed specimens to ensure that her depictions were anatomically correct. Its distinctive profile makes the rook an ideal artists model. The shaggy plumage, long nose-like bill and trousers-covered knees, give it an uncanny human resemblance. She sets the black plumage against the pale mauve winter light of the Irish countryside. Her evocative Shades of Evening is an atmospheric masterpiece. Water Party, Kilmurry, by Mildred Anne Butler for auction on September 30 at Whyte's. Estimate: 15,000 - 20,000 Rooks are the most human of our birds. Feeding and roosting in flocks, they nest communally in tree-top rookeries, avian villages. Lively and quarrelsome, they chatter noisily, each trying to outdo its neighbour in a hierarchical rat-race. Lovable rogues, these 'neighbours from hell', who may steal nesting materials when owners backs are turned, are, to borrow Nietzsches phrase, human, all too human. Each bird species has its own unique personality. Having captured and ringed rooks for more than 30 years, I think I know their character fairly well. Perhaps its a figment of my imagination, but Butler seems to capture that essence perfectly. With their quasi-binocular vision, rooks seem to gaze knowingly into our souls. Resourceful and intelligent, their lifestyles uncannily resemble ours. Am I indulging in sentimental anthropomorphism? Yes, guilty as charged! But this is art, not science. Butler knew some of the impressionists. Like them, she painted en plein air an unusual practice in her day. But she didnt follow them down the fleeting impressionistic road. Instead, she turned to moral and traditional themes, even offering an avian version of Davids The Oath of the Horatii. "And straight against that great array went forth the dauntless three" wrote Thomas Babington Macaulay. Her Green-eyed Jealousy references Shakespeares Merchant of Venice. Our Mildred had a sense of humour. Crows, in their funereal attire, parody pompous lawyers in her High Court of Justice. A snowy avian procession caricatures the opening of Parliament. The curator of the exhibition is Niamh MacNally. Gardai have seized a shotgun and ammunition during a search operation in Co Dublin. As part of ongoing investigations into recent criminal activity in the Baldoyle area, Gardai in Howth searched a property on the Moyne Road in Baldoyle, Dublin 13, on Wednesday evening. Assistance was provided by the District Detective Unit, Garda Dog Unit, Armed Support Unit, District Drugs Unit, the District Crime Task Force and uniform gardai from Clontarf and Raheny. "During the course of the search, a sawn-off double barrel shotgun and ammunition was found concealed in an abandoned vehicle. The firearm and ammunition were seized by gardai and is subject to further analysis by the Ballistics Section of the Garda Technical Bureau," a garda spokesperson said. Two vehicles were also seized by gardai during the course of the search and are subject to a technical examination. Gardai also confirmed that no arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing. Children from an orphanage supported by the Irish Defence Forces have been forced to flee to Beirut from their southern Lebanon base because of Israeli bombing. Dubbed Irelands embassy in south Lebanon, Tibnine Orphanage was at the centre of a major bombing campaign that started on September 23. More than 600 people have already died, including more than 170 women and children. Bombs landed within 50 to 100 metres of the orphanage after the attacks began and saw 40 children cowering behind thick walls. It was absolutely terrifying, an orphanage staff member told the Irish Examiner. We could hear the jets overhead, then the bombs or missiles hitting and exploding. They were going off all around us and it was like a horrific war film, and you just didnt know where they were going to drop next. The children were absolutely terrified, especially when the bombs started landing near us and also the Tibnine Hospital. Bombs also landed near the towns Lebanese Red Cross HQ, with one exploding right beside the walls of the stations yard where its ambulances are parked. Orphanage staff put the children into a bus and they joined the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the Israeli air attack on targets across southern Lebanon, and more lately now, in Beirut itself. However, while the 105km journey to Beirut from Tibnine would normally take two hours, it took the orphanage staff 15 hours to get to the city. The roads were all packed with people trying to get away from the Israeli bombing, the staff member said. At one point, I think there were 500,000 people all heading the same direction. The orphanage was built with the help and support of peacekeepers from the Netherlands in 1979, but Irish peacekeepers have been heavily involved with it ever since. Funding for the orphanage, which normally houses up to 65 children, comes from a variety of sources, including the Lebanese government, Defence Forces personnel serving with the UN, and donations from UN veterans. Funding usually comes via Irish Aid, Irelands development co-operation programme, and is for so-called 'micro projects'. Micheal Martin has repeatedly met children and staff from the orphanage when he has visited in his capacity as Taoiseach or Tanaiste and Defence Minister. During the 1980s, Irish soldiers supplied the orphanage with food and helped to equip and install bedrooms. Irish medics serving with the UN also do health checks on the children and provide an element of care for them. As well as providing fresh water, soldiers also teach English to the children. Funds supplied by Irish Aid and Defences Forces personnel have also supplied buses over the years, as well as a kitchen and a playground. The Israeli Defence Forces was asked for a comment about bombs landing near the orphanage and the local hospital and Lebanese Red Cross. It was also asked if it could make any assurances that every effort would be made to ensure these and other civilian buildings in Tibnine would not be blown up. A spokesperson said a statement will be issued later today. George Mitchell has said he feared Northern Ireland was heading for true disaster in the months before the Good Friday Agreement was signed. The veteran US diplomat said that he had moments of despair after years of failed negotiations before the historic 1998 peace deal was agreed. Mr Mitchell chaired the negotiations which eventually led to the agreement, which largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland and the establishment of a powersharing Assembly at Stormont. Speaking at Queens University in Belfast, Mr Mitchell recalled the challenges he faced before the deal was agreed. George Mitchell spoke at the event at the Whitla Hall at Queens University, Belfast (Kelvin Boyes/PA) He said he had believed his previous experience as the US Senate majority leader had prepared him to deal with the polarised political landscape. He said: Nothing in the United States Senate came near to what I went through in Northern Ireland. It was very tough and very rough. I had been a federal judge before I entered the senate so I was used to presiding over disputes, but I had never encountered a dispute like this. It was very, very difficult. It was difficult, but I controlled myself. I had moments of great despair. The setbacks were many Monica (McWilliams, one of the founders of the Womens Coalition) will remember the early days, Paul (Murphy, former Northern Ireland Secretary) will remember the early days when it was impossible to have a reasonable conversation. When Monica and her co-chair of the Womens Coalition, Pearl Sagar, sought to speak, they were insulted, they were demeaned. I had a tough time making it plain that they were to be treated with the same respect as any other speaker in the room. Which, unfortunately, was not much respect, but at least it was better than the way they were treated. It was difficult, but I controlled myself. I had moments of great despair. The setbacks were many. Mr Mitchell said that when then US president Bill Clinton had first sent him to Northern Ireland, he had expected to stay for six months. I really did think we were headed for true disaster He said: It was five years. I chaired three separate sets of negotiations and for almost all that time it was failure, failure, failure, recrimination, anger, hostility. The ceasefires were routinely broken and killings in late 1997, early 1998 accelerated. I really did think we were headed for true disaster. He continued: I really felt it was critical that this could be an example, that you can end violence, you can bring an end to conflict, no matter how old it was, no matter how violent it was, no matter how vicious it was. If for no other reason than the fear of escalation. Reducing the number of children in poverty is a question of political priorities, an Oireachtas committee has heard, as proposals to lift 40,000 children out of poverty would cost the same as reducing the Vat rate for the hospitality sector to 9%. Trinity College Dublins Dr Barra Roantree addressed the Social Protection Committee on a report he recently co-authored with ESRI researchers on poverty, income inequality and income standards in Ireland. That report found around 250,000 children under the age of five in Ireland and their parents are living below the poverty line when housing costs are taken into account, as inflation has eroded real incomes in recent years. Dr Roantree told the committee: Welfare payments have not kept pace with inflation. If we look at them today, and by the end of this year, wed see theyre currently between 6-8% lower than their 2020 levels in real terms. And that poses a very real challenge to the Government in the upcoming Budget, given the limited resources that is allocated to tax and welfare measures in the Summer Economic Statements. The researcher said that the increases in welfare rates are unlikely to offset the eventual withdrawal of one-off payments that have characterised recent budget announcements, such as electricity credits. Dr Roantree said that, for children in poverty, a means-tested second-tier of child benefit payment could take over 40,000 children out of poverty, or one quarter of the current number living in poverty. But reducing child poverty will require spending money, he said. Our proposal which is much more effective than other approaches would still cost just under 700m. Ultimately, I think its a question of political priorities. That cost of 700m is similar to what we currently raise in capital acquisitions tax, often called inheritance tax, or what we would forgo by cutting the Vat rate on hospitality to 9%. Given the substantial body of evidence which shows the negative causal impacts that child poverty has on child and later life outcomes, theres a very strong argument that it would be money well spent. When pressed by TDs such as Fianna Fails Eamon O Cuiv and Sinn Feins Donnchadh O Laoghaire on how such a system would work, Dr Roantree said our current welfare system looks like the British one 30 years ago, and is in dire need of reform. While Taoiseach Simon Harris has ruled out a second, means-tested rate of child benefit in next weeks Budget, he has said he is open to the idea in the future. Chinese FM attends UN Security Council's high-level meeting on "Leadership for Peace" Xinhua) 14:38, September 26, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday addressed the United Nations (UN) Security Council's high-level meeting on "Leadership for Peace" at the UN headquarters in New York. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that to achieve peace, it is necessary to uphold the correct security concept. This requires abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, and resisting bloc politics and camp confrontation. Wang said to achieve peace, it is necessary to uphold international fairness and justice. Maintaining that all countries, regardless of size, are equal, Wang said they should safeguard the authority of the Security Council and oppose any illegal unilateral sanctions imposed without its authorization. Palestine should become a full member of the United Nations, Wang said, adding that the urgent task is to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and to prevent a new humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. To achieve peace, it is necessary to stick to political and diplomatic solutions, Wang said. He reiterated China's consistent position on the Ukraine crisis, which is to promote peace talks and a political settlement. To achieve peace, it is necessary to promote common and sustainable development for peace, Wang said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) " " We're not exaggerating when we say there are thousands of snakes on Ilha da Queimada Grande. John Lund / Getty Images Snake Island, also known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, is one of the most intriguing and dangerous places on Earth. Located off the coast of Brazil, this island is home to some of the most venomous snakes in the world. The isolation of the island, combined with its unique environment, has led to the evolution of a snake species that you cant find anywhere else on the planet. Advertisement What makes Snake Island so fascinating and terrifying is the sheer number of snakes that call it home. With no natural predators to keep their population in check, these snakes have become the dominant species on the island, creating a place so hazardous that the Brazilian government has made it illegal for anyone to visit without special permission. The Tanaiste said the Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe is clear he did not make any phone call to an Israeli minister about the Occupied Territories Bill. Micheal Martin said he spoke to the Fine Gael minister on Thursday, and was clear that the reported phone call did not happen, nor does his published diary record any phone call. It was reported by the online website The Ditch that the then finance minister had a secret phone call in 2019 with his Israeli counterpart to assure him the Irish Government would block the Bill. The website said the call was disclosed in documents leaked from the Israeli Ministry of Justice. Sinn Feins Matt Carthy raised the issue in the Dail on Thursday, calling on Mr Martin to clarify whether the phone call took place. Mr Carthy, the Sinn Fein spokesman on foreign affairs, said: One of the things that we can do and, in fact, should have done years ago, is to enact the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. The Bill is not controversial or, at least, it should not be. It simply bans trade with and economic support for illegal settlements and territories deemed occupied under international law. The Tanaistes party supported it when it was in opposition. It not only supported it but ran a roadshow in towns and cities across Ireland setting out its importance. On entering Government, Fianna Fail and the Green Party, it has to be said, have allowed Fine Gael to continue blocking this legislation. We have heard the excuses as to why the Bill has not been enacted. Reporting from The Ditch website suggests that following a confidential and unrecorded call with the minister, Paschal Donohoe, Israeli officials were in little doubt that the Bill would be blocked by the Fine Gael Government. We are told that Israeli officials emphasised that this was a confidential call and that, of course, chimes with the ministers own failure to record it in his ministerial diary and the Tanaistes contention that the minister cannot recall a conversation. Mr Martin said he spoke to Mr Donohoe on Thursday. He is clear that he did not make any such phone call, he said. His published diary does not record any such phone call. Sinn Feins Matt Carthy raised the issue of the reported phone call in the Dail on Thursday (Liam McBurney/PA) It speaks to people rushing to judgment before ascertaining the full facts. He is very clear and I think deputy Carthy should perhaps withdraw the assertions in his earlier public statements in that regard. Mr Carthy, a TD for Cavan Monaghan, called on the Tanaiste to commit to enacting the Occupied Territories Bill, and to allow for the passage of Sinn Feins Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023, which bans the state from investing in companies that profit from illegal Israeli settlements. Mr Martin went on to say that the Israeli response to the attack on October 7 by Hamas has been absolutely disproportional and led to near famine conditions and the killing of more than 40,000 people in Gaza. In my view, that is reprehensible, he told the Dail. Mr Martin said he met the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority (Mohammed Mustafa), who he said was very grateful and very appreciative of Irelands stance and support of the Palestinian right to self-determination. A 34-year-old man on a stag night could not keep pace drinking with younger men and ended up getting so drunk that he abused a member of An Garda Siochana and had no memory of doing so. Brian OConnell of 43 Grattan Street, Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to threatening and obstruction charges arising out of the incident as well as being so intoxicated that he was a danger to himself or others. Sergeant Gearoid Davis outlined in court the background to Garda Barry OSheas encounter with the defendant on the occasion last month. At 3.15am on August 3 Garda OShea observed a man causing a disturbance on Daunt Square. He was unsteady on his feet and slurring his words. Garda OShea found that he was engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and he called Garda OShea a c***. Garda OShea was attempting to arrest him and he resisted arrest, obstructing Garda OShea in the performance of his duty. The accused had a previous conviction for obstruction as well as four for engaging in threatening behaviour and three for being drunk and a danger. On hearing the list of previous convictions, Judge Philip OLeary said: He is a bit of a repeat offender. Defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, said: He is not happy that he finds himself here. On the night he went to a stag party. He was trying to keep up with young people drinking with him and he cannot drink like that. He cannot remember what happened after 10pm, Mr Burke said. In his favour, Mr Burke said Mr OConnell was in full-time employment. Judge OLeary said: He is not the worst offender but it is unfortunate that this has happened again. He has apologised for the disrespect shown. He fined the defendant 200 for his threatening behaviour, 250 for obstructing Garda OShea and took the drunkenness charge into consideration. He will have to be careful not to come back before the court again, Judge OLeary said. A man in his 20s was taken to hospital after being stabbed in Dublin. Gardai in Crumlin have arrested one man following a serious assault in Ballymount, Dublin 12, on Wednesday evening. A drug and alcohol addiction treatment charity has seen a 26% increase in the number of women accessing its recovery services in the Mid-West. Among them, a Cork mother joined an addiction centre after reaching her last straw. In 2023, Elaine Cremin, now aged 34, joined Westbourne House, a Coolmine addiction centre in Limerick City, which allows women to undergo treatment while remaining close to their children. From June to October of last year, she was in its residential treatment programme. She is now 15 months sober. It was her family who urged Ms Cremin to seek help. She contacted Coolmine for the first time in 2022. I would have been in and out of addiction for years. When I finally went to Coolmine, not that I was forced in, but my family started to realise I had a problem, so they asked me to seek help, Ms Cremin recalls. At first, it was so hard to stay sober, to stay clean. I kind of dipped in and out of addiction. In May 2023, I just had my final straw. Things had gotten worse between myself, my partner and my kids, to the point where I was just taking drugs all day, every day. That was when she asked if she could join Westbourne House. Things were really, really bad. I wasn't eating, I wasn't sleeping, I had a fear of people coming through the door, looking for their money and all of that, she says. In Westbourne House, Ms Cremin got back into a routine and joined groups to speak about her experience with addiction. I was in residential for 19 weeks, and Im now 15 months clean, she says. People suffer in silence in addiction, especially being a parent, sometimes it is very, very hard to ask for help with the stigma around having kids and addiction. Coolmine take that on board and they do try to help you as much as they can. Last year, Coolmine provided 2,523 treatments support in communities across Ireland, as well as 217 residential placements. So far this year, Westbourne House has welcomed 18 new admissions. Among the latest admissions, most women are from Cork and Limerick. The primary substance of abuse reported by more than a third of Coolmines clients is cocaine, closely followed by alcohol. According to Coolmine, the average age of its clients is 31. Self-referrals account for 44% of admissions, followed by referrals from Tusla at 39%. Notably, 78% of new admissions were homeless upon entry to the service. Coolmine team leader Aoife Marshall said: The unique thing about Coolmine Mid-West is we wouldn't just support the woman in isolation, we support your family. Ms Marshall understands women may be wary of contacting them. You can make that call yourself. We don't look for any identifying information if you call and look for information. We offer support and allow the woman to choose whether we're the service for her or not, she says. This Friday, a group of people will be taking part in a fundraising abseil at Thomond Park, to ensure Coolmine can continue to deliver vital addiction recovery services. Further information about the event can be found here. This time last year, President Michael D Higgins caused some consternation when he said that the United Nations was losing credibility. On Sunday, he spoke to the UN Summit of the Future, and asked all member countries to look not only at current weakness but at those abuses of power that have consciously undermined the UN since its foundation in 1945. Chief among those abuses of power is the exercise of the veto in the UNs Security Council. Oxfam has just published a major report entitled Vetoing Humanity: How a few powerful nations hijacked global peace, which shows how the use of the veto by the Permanent Five China, France, Russia, Britain, and the US has blocked efforts to bring peace to conflicts around the world. We have studied 23 of the worlds bloodiest conflicts in the past 10 years, and found the UN Security Council is paralysed on some, neglects others, and freely passes resolutions on the rest without following up with necessary actions and resources in order to make those resolutions meaningful. Of the 30 votes where the veto has been used to block resolutions, 27 of them have been on the conflicts in the occupied Palestinian territories, Ukraine, and Syria. Oxfam Ireland CEO Jim Clarken. Russia has used its veto four times on Ukraine, despite being an aggressor in the conflict, and should therefore be disqualified from voting. Russia, often with China, has vetoed 12 resolutions on Syria, and those resolutions that have passed have been weakened by fear of the veto. The US has used its veto and its well-known threat of a veto to repeatedly block actions on Palestine. It took more than six months to get the Security Council to agree to call for a ceasefire as thousands were being killed in Gaza. These votes have real and practical ramifications, as with a 2023 draft resolution where Russia vetoed a nine-month extension of cross-border assistance to northern Syria, leaving 4.1m people with little or no access to food, water and medicine. The Permanent Five have cherry-picked which conflicts to focus on, to appease their own geopolitical and economic interests. Eleven of the 23 conflicts studied have been largely ignored by the Security Council. These include Ethiopia, Burundi, Myanmar, Chad, and Niger. Even when resolutions are passed, for example, nearly 80 resolutions on Sudan and South Sudan, 53 on Somalia, and 48 on Libya, none of these have led to lasting peace. This is because there is a lack of political will to do the hard and necessary work of peacekeeping and peacebuilding on the ground in these conflict zones. The real consequences of this failure can be seen in the more than 1m lives that have been lost in these 23 conflicts alone over the past decade. The number of people in urgent need of aid has more than doubled to more than 230m over that same period. Globally, conflict remains the primary driver for hunger for more than 135m people. Nearly 100m people have been forced to flee their homes. The Irish Government does advocate for reform of the UN Security Council and for enhanced multilateralism. Indeed, one of Irelands own draft resolutions co-led with Niger on climate and security was blocked by Russia while we were members of the Security Council in 2021. Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he will prioritise resolution of the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan while he is in New York this week as well as for reformed multilateralism. We submit that a reformed UN Security Council is necessary to even begin to deal with the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and so many others. For every time the world seeks to act in unison, one of the Permanent Five will act only in their own interests. The veto should be abolished. No government should hold the power to block progress towards peace. At the very least, the Permanent Five must refrain from exercising vetoes on issues involving war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and other serious human rights violations. The rule against the Permanent Five using vetoes on disputes to which they are party Article 27(3) of the UN Charter must be adhered to. No country which is an aggressor in a conflict should be able to block the path to peace. Membership of the Security Council should be increased to include those under-represented regions and countries, particularly from the Global South. We recognise that some of these reforms will necessitate a review of the UN Charter but this is exactly what needs to happen. The architecture of the Security Council was designed after the Second World War when the UN only had 51 member states, many of which were colonies. Until the UN can enact the will of over 190 countries and not simply the big five, we will be stuck in a never-ending cycle of conflict and hunger. This week in New York, the rest of the world needs to unite, and Ireland can and should play its part. Jim Clarken is CEO of Oxfam Ireland and chair of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency The escalating conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has put a renewed focus on the battle-hardened Lebanese militant group. The two sides have been exchanging fire since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October last year, but the violence has increased markedly in the past week on the Lebanese side of the border, where Israel killed hundreds of people in strikes on Monday. The violence is seen as the most likely avenue for the war in Gaza to explode into an uncontrollable regional conflagration. Here is a guide to the Party of God and its position in and testy relationship with the fragile Lebanese state. What is Hezbollah? Hezbollah is a powerful Islamist movement that was founded by Iran during the middle of the Lebanese 1975-90 civil war. It was further shaped by its fight with Israeli forces after their 1982 invasion of Lebanon. While the US and other western governments deem it a terrorist organisation and Hezbollah has conducted mass-casualty attacks on civilians the groups reach extends far beyond militancy. The Shia Muslim movement has become a political and social powerhouse in Lebanon, running medical clinics, schools, a regional television network and even a hilltop museum that has been popular with European tourists. What is Hezbollahs position in Lebanon? For years, Hezbollah has played an official political role, with ministers in government and lawmakers in parliament. It holds the ministry of public works and the ministry of labour, and has often formed coalitions with other political parties, including Christian ones, under power-sharing agreements. Fractured, sectarian politics means the government in Lebanon has remained weak, politically divided and plagued by corruption. Currently, there is no president due to infighting. The upshot is that even Hebzollahs domestic adversaries are unable to reel in the group. Lebanons prime minister, Najib Mikati, for example, describes himself as liberal and is not part of Hezbollah, but he has little control over what it does. It is widely accepted that Hezbollah could overpower the national army if it wanted to, although the group appears to have preferred to maintain its current status as a powerful player. How has Hezbollah become so influential? Lebanons 15-year civil war, which was fought largely along religious and sectarian lines, ended with warring militias laying down their arms. Hezbollah, however, was the exception, keeping its weapons ostensibly to fight the Israeli forces that occupied southern Lebanon at the time. Hezbollah members march during the funeral procession of their comrades who were killed in in an Israeli strike, in the southern suburb of Beirut on September 21. Hezbollah garnered widespread domestic support for pushing out Israel in 2000, even among Christian, Druze and Sunni Muslim sections of society outside its main Shia base in the south of Lebanon. It fought a five-week war with Israel in 2006. Substantial backing from allies in Iran and Syria has also allowed Hezbollah to play an outsized role in the Lebanese state. How popular is Hezbollah in Lebanon? The local support Hezbollah received as the only Lebanese force able to provide a deterrent to Israels attacks has been chipped away over the years, most significantly after it helped the Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad, suppress a pro-democracy uprising with bloody and lethal force. As Irans most powerful proxy force in its region, Hezbollah could have been forced or at least coerced into fighting for Assad, who is a close ally to Tehran and part of its axis of resistance against Israel and the US. However, many Lebanese people saw Hezbollahs attacks on Syrians as an unjust intervention in a foreign conflict one that risked drawing their fragile state into further unrest while it was still recovering from the scars of its own civil war, decades after it formally ended. What is Hezbollahs relationship with Hamas in Gaza? Hezbollah has allowed Hamas to operate in Lebanon and coordinates closely with the group. However, while they share a common enemy in Israel, they are certainly not strong allies. The Sunni Muslim Hamas is also considered an Iranian proxy force but it operates with independence, notably by initially backing anti-Assad forces during the Syrian civil war, which strained its relationship with Hezbollah. Guardian For some companies, an initial public offering (IPO) a stock market flotation is seen as the best way to access capital on the public markets. What are the benefits of an IPO? Are there any disadvantages? And is it only for large companies? An IPO is the sale of a companys shares to the public and the listing of shares on a stock exchange for the first time, says Fergal McAleavey, corporate finance partner at EY Ireland. Through the issuance of new shares to public investors, it allows a company to raise capital in order to build and expand its business, he adds. Fergal McAleavey, corporate finance partner at EY Ireland. For private companies seeking to raise capital or provide exits for their shareholders, an IPO can be a compelling route or strategic option for funding growth and accessing deep pools of capital, says McAleavey. An IPO can fund innovation, growth, acquisitions, and internationalisation, as well as raise outside capital and enhance corporate governance, attract talent and incentivise management, and carve out and maximise values from different businesses. McAleavey says an IPO provides efficient access to capital markets to raise money through equity and bond offerings with better future financing opportunities. It creates flexibility to trade shares with high liquidity and daily valuation, he adds. Shares can also be used as a new liquid M&A currency. An IPO also garners attention and creates better brand recognition and prestige with customers and suppliers, which can also enhance the companys ability to attract, retain, and reward valued employees with long-term incentive plans. An IPO also gives the company the ability to benchmark operations against their industry peers, provides a diversification of wealth for shareholders, and improves standing and creditworthiness. The disadvantages of an IPO include the possibility of diluting existing ownership stakes and the potential risk of management distraction from core business operations, McAleavey says. Going public also requires more transparency and disclosure, demanding periodic reporting and higher corporate governance standards, and increased and ongoing regulatory scrutiny and supervision. Additionally, the initial IPO expenses and ongoing costs to maintain listing status can be significant. Pressure to deliver New investors also gain voting rights, which may put pressure on the company to deliver on its promises and manage shareholders expectations. An IPO is not only for large companies but is best suited to high-growth companies, private equity- and venture capital-backed companies, family businesses, scale-up companies, conglomerates, and state-owned entities, says McAleavey. With the volume of capital out there today dry powder as it is known an IPO is one option, but its no longer the holy grail that it might have been seen as 20 years ago. Becoming a public company was the ultimate way, whereas now there are substantial funds, including PE and VC funds, that can just as easily provide capital for a large company, says McAleavey. Alternatively, there are trade sales, mergers with special purpose acquisition companies, bank finance and other private funding sources. Key to an IPO is the careful evaluation of the pros and cons, which requires thorough preparation and planning, and viewing the IPO as a transformational process rather than just a financing event, in McAleaveys view. It is essential to have a Plan B, such as a multitrack approach, in case market conditions change, he says. Secondly, the Irish Stock Exchange (Euronext) recently launched its IPOready programme, which is seeking to attract Irish companies considering an IPO. This programme is really welcome and will be a positive option for companies seeking to understand the path to an IPO, the preparation required for an IPO and the requirements by the Stock Exchange and public markets once a company is listed. Frances foreign minister says his country and the United States are working on a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Jean-Noel Barrot told the UN Security Council during a meeting about the conflict that the proposal would be released shortly and we are counting on both parties to accept it without delay. Mr Barrot said France, a former colonial power to Lebanon, and the US had consulted with the sides on final parameters for a diplomatic way out of this crisis, adding that war is not unavoidable. Lebanons Prime Minister Najib Mikati speaks during a meeting of the Security Council (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) US deputy ambassador to the UN Robert Wood encouraged the council to support the diplomatic efforts but did not offer specifics about the plan. We are working with other countries on a proposal that we hope will lead to calm and enable discussions to a diplomatic solution, he said. Earlier on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US administration was intensely engaged with a number of partners to deescalate tensions in Lebanon and to work to get a ceasefire agreement that would have so many benefits for all concerned. Mr Blinken and other advisers to President Joe Biden have spent the past three days at and on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting of world leaders in New York lobbying other countries to support the plan, according to US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Americans hope such a ceasefire could lead to longer-term stability along the border between Israel and Lebanon. Months of Israeli and Hezbollah exchanges of fire across the border drove tens of thousands of people from their homes on both sides of the border, and escalated attacks this week have rekindled fears of a broader war in the Middle East. Mr Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior advisers Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein have been meeting with Middle East allies in New York and have been in touch with Israeli officials about the proposal, one of the US officials said. Mr McGurk and Mr Hochstein have been the White Houses chief interlocutors with Israel and Lebanon since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, another Iranian-backed militant group. Israels ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon arrives during a meeting of the Security Council (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) An Israeli official said Mr Netanyahu has given the green light to pursue a possible deal, but only if it includes the return of Israeli civilians to their homes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati threw his support behind the French-US plan that enjoys international support and which would put an end to this dirty war. He called on the Security Council to guarantee the withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied Lebanese territories and the violations that are repeated on a daily basis. When asked about the possibility of a halt in the fighting taking effect on Thursday, a Lebanese official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to share details with the media, said it was not wishful thinking. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Biden warned in an appearance on ABCs The View that an all-out war is possible but said he thinks the opportunity also exists to have a settlement that can fundamentally change the whole region. Mr Biden suggested that getting Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire could help achieve a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. That war is approaching the one-year mark after Hamas raids in southern Israel on October 7 killed about 1,200 people. Israel responded with an offensive that has since killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, who do not provide a breakdown of civilians and fighters in their count. The US government also raised the pressure with additional sanctions Wednesday targeting more than a dozen ships and other entities it says were involved in illicit shipments of Iranian petroleum for the financial benefit of Irans Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, the chief of Israels army said on Wednesday that the military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon as Hezbollah hurled dozens of projectiles into Israel, including a missile aimed at Tel Aviv that was the militant groups deepest strike yet. A Hong Kong court is set to sentence two journalists in a landmark sedition case widely seen as an indicator of media freedom in a city once known as a beacon of press freedom in Asia. Stand News former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam were the first journalists convicted under a colonial-era sedition law since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The now-shuttered news outlet was one of the last in Hong Kong that dared to criticise authorities as Beijing imposed a crackdown on dissidents following massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. The closure came months after the demise of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, whose jailed founder Jimmy Lai is battling collusion charges under a tough national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Jimmy Lai, centre, who founded the Apple Daily tabloid, is escorted by Correctional Services officers to get on a prison van (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Last month, the court found Chung and Lam guilty of conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications, along with Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Ltd., the outlets holding company. They face up to two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars. Judge Kwok Wai-king wrote in his verdict that Stand News had become a tool for smearing the Beijing and Hong Kong governments during the 2019 protests. He ruled that 11 articles published under the pairs leadership carried seditious intent, including commentaries written by activist Nathan Law and veteran journalists Allan Au and Chan Pui-man. Chan, who is also Chungs wife, earlier pleaded guilty in the Apple Daily case and is in custody awaiting her sentence. Mr Kwok said Lam and Chung were aware of and agreed with the seditious intent, and that they made Stand News available as a platform to incite hatred against Beijing or Hong Kongs government and the judiciary. On Thursday morning, dozens of residents were in lines to secure a seat in the courtroom. Former Stand News reader Andrew Wong, 35, said he wanted to attend the hearing to show his support though he felt like attending a funeral. Mr Wong, who works in a non-governmental organisation, said he had expected the convictions last month but he still felt a sense that weve passed a point of no return when he heard about the verdict. Everything we had in the past is gone, he said. Chung Pui-kuen, the ex-chief editor of the now-shuttered Stand News online outlet, outside the district court, in Hong Kong (AP Photo/Billy HC Kwok) Their trial, which began in October 2022, lasted some 50 days. The verdict was postponed several times for reasons including a wait for an appeal outcome in another landmark sedition case. Their lawyer Audrey Eu argued for the pair to be sentenced to up to time served, saying their case was different because they were journalists whose responsibility was to report on the citys situation and different peoples views. The pair also stressed their journalistic mission in their mitigation letters. The pair was detained for nearly a year after their arrests before being released on bail in late 2022. Ms Eu said Lam has been diagnosed with a rare disease and has had to undergo chemotherapy. Lam, who has a young daughter, lost his chance to pursue overseas studies due to this case, she said. Chung has been out of work and his wife is now in custody, she added. Hong Kong was ranked 135 out of 180 territories in Reporters Without Borders latest World Press Freedom Index, down from 80 in 2021, and 18 in 2002. Self-censorship has also become more common during the political crackdown on dissent following the 2019 protests, with increased reports of harassment against journalists in recent months. In March, the city government enacted another new security law that raised concerns about further curtailment of press freedom. A zoo in Finland has agreed with Chinese authorities to return two loaned giant pandas to China more than eight years ahead of schedule because they have become too expensive for the facility to maintain amid declining visitors. The private Ahtari Zoo in central Finland, some 330 kilometres (205 miles) north of Helsinki, said on its Facebook page that the female panda Lumi, Finnish for snow, and the male panda Pyry, meaning snowfall, will return prematurely to China later this year. The panda pair were Chinas gift to mark the Nordic nations 100 years of independence in 2017, and they were supposed to be on loan until 2033. 1.25 million Annual cost of upkeep of Lumi and Pyry, including a preservation fee to China But since then the zoo has experienced a number of challenges, including a decline in visitors due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as an increase in inflation and interest rates, the facility said in a statement. The panda deal between Helsinki and Beijing, a 15-year loan agreement, had been finalised in April 2017 when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Finland for talks with Finlands then-president Sauli Niinisto. The pandas arrived in Finland in January 2018. The Ahtari Zoo, which specialises in typical northern European animals such as bears, lynxes and wolverines, built a special panda annex at a cost of some eight million euros (6.7 million) in the hopes of luring more tourists to the remote nature reserve. The upkeep of Lumi and Pyry, including a preservation fee to China, cost the zoo some 1.5 million euros (1.25 million) annually. The bamboo that giant pandas eat was flown in from the Netherlands. The Chinese embassy in Helsinki noted to Finnish media that Beijing had tried to help Ahtari to solve its financial difficulties, including by urging Chinese companies operating in Finland to make donations to the zoo and supporting its debt arrangements. Male panda Hua Bao, named Pyry in Finnish, rolls in snow during the official opening of the Ahtari Zoo Snowpanda Resort in Ahtari, Finland, in 2018 (Tommi Anttonen/Lehtikuva via AP) However, declining visitor numbers combined with drastic changes in the economic environment proved too high a burden for the smallish Finnish zoo. The panda pair will enter into a month-long quarantine in late October before being shipped to China. Finland, a country of 5.6 million, was among the first Western nations to establish political ties with China, doing so in 1950. China has presented giant pandas to countries as a sign of goodwill and closer political ties, and Finland was the first Nordic nation to receive them. The tomato brown rugose fruit virus was first detected in the Northern Adelaide Plains last month. And dramatic measures have now been carried out. Perfection Fresh's SA facility has been forced to fire around 500 employees after the tomato brown rugose fruit virus was detected. Source: 7News Hundreds of employees have been axed after South Australia's government announced a very significant virus had forced it to shut down three tomato farms in the state including the southern hemisphere's biggest grower. Major grower Perfection Fresh broke the news to an estimated 500 workers on Wednesday after the companys glasshouse in Two Wells was cordoned off by authorities. Gawler River Tomatoes and South Australia Tomatoes have also been placed on lockdown following the sudden detection of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in the Northern Adelaide Plains. Worryingly, it is the first time the virus which causes brown wrinkled spots and deformations has been confirmed in the country. While it is safe for people to consume, the highly-contagious virus that also affects capsicums and chillies could bring the countrys multimillion-dollar tomato industry to its knees. The disease can result in a loss of yield of up to 75 per cent so that would have a very significant impact on South Australian and Australian growers more broadly, if that was to occur, Clare Scriven, SAs Primary Industries Minister, said during a press conference. Other states, if we were not to get on top of this or were not to put this quarantine in place, they would potentially close the doors to South Australian tomatoes. West Australia and Queensland have already moved to ban tomato imports from SA. Tomato grower Frank Pangallo earlier warned the virus could result in dramatic price increase of up to $20-$30 per kilogram. Tomato supply is set to take a huge hit from the shut downs in South Australia. Source: 7News Tomato farms to be closed for at least 'several weeks' Scriven said the virus appears to be contained at the three growers. All plants will be removed and the facilities will be disinfected. Nick Secomb, director of plant and invasive species biosecurity for SAs Department of Primary Industries and Regions, said the farms are expected to be closed for at least several weeks but that eradicating the disease is entirely possible. It has been agreed at the national level that this is a very significant disease and warrants further attention, he said, adding another 18 facilities had been tested but had negative results. Brown rugose can spread easily through contaminated tools, hands, clothing and direct plant to plant contact, according to the states Department of Primary Industries and Regions. It can also be seed-borne and remain in plant waste and contaminated soil for months. The rugose virus causes 'brown wrinkled spots and deformations' but is safe for consumption. Source: Department of Primary Industries and Regions Production Fresh's lockdown 'is simply devastating' Perfection Freshs chief executive Michael Simonetta said the company had been forced to destroy hundreds of thousands of tonnes of fruit following the quarantine announcement, Adelaide Now reported. While we appreciate the South Australian governments efforts to contain ToBRFV and recognise the pressure coming from other states, we believe the lockdown of our operations is entirely unnecessary as the virus has been successfully contained, he said. The impact of the lockdown on our employees and their families is simply devastating. With no timeline for when the lockdown might be lifted, we have no choice but to stand down workers, some of whom have been with us for many years. A state taskforce has been established to help growers contain the virus and support those who have lost their jobs. A worker assistance hub open from Thursday will connect workers with financial services and offer counselling. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. An Israeli air strike in Lebanon has hit a building that housed Syrian workers, killing 23 of them and wounding eight other people, Lebanons state-run news agency said. The National News Agency said the strike late on Wednesday occurred near the ancient city of Baalbek, in Lebanons eastern Bekaa Valley running along the Syrian border. The agency quoted Ali Kassas, mayor of the village of Younine, as saying that the bodies of 23 Syrian citizens were pulled from under the rubble. Emergency workers arrive at the scene of an Israeli air strike in the town of Maisara, north of Beirut (Bilal Hussein/AP) He said four Syrians and four Lebanese were wounded. The Lebanese Red Cross said it recovered nine bodies, while others were recovered by the Hezbollah militant groups paramedic service and the Lebanese Civil Defence. Israel has carried out days of heavy strikes across Lebanon targeting what it says are sites belonging to Hezbollah, which has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel. More than 630 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, according to local health authorities, who say around a quarter were women and children. Several people have been wounded by shrapnel in Israel. Lebanon, with a population of around six million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. A Hong Kong court has sentenced a former editor of a shuttered news publication to 21 months in prison in a sedition case that is widely seen as an indicator of media freedom in the city, once hailed as a beacon of press freedom in Asia. A second editor was freed after his sentence was reduced because of ill health and time already served in custody. Former Stand News editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam are the first journalists convicted under a colonial-era sedition law since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Patrick Lam, the former acting editor-in-chief of Hong Kongs now shuttered pro-democracy news outlet Stand News, arrives at the District Court in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, ahead of sentencing (May James/AP) Chung was sentenced to 21 months but is expected to stay in prison for about 10 months given his pre-conviction detention. Lam was also sentenced but allowed to go free. The online news outlet was one of the last in Hong Kong that dared to criticise authorities as Beijing imposed a crackdown on dissidents following massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. The closure came months after the demise of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, whose jailed founder Jimmy Lai is battling collusion charges under a tough national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Last month, the court found Chung and Lam guilty of conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious materials, along with Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Ltd, Stand News holding company. They faced up to two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (480). The company was fined that amount. Judge Kwok Wai-kin began Thursdays sentencing hearing two hours after the scheduled time. The journalists lawyer, Audrey Eu, requested a sentence mitigation, saying Lam had been diagnosed with a rare disease and she was concerned that he could not be treated by the hospital handling his case if he were sent to jail again. Everything we had in the past is gone She argued that they should be sentenced to up to time served, saying their case was different because they were journalists whose duties were to report different peoples views. The defendants were detained for nearly a year after their arrests before being released on bail in late 2022. In his sentencing, Judge Kwok dismissed the defences argument that the journalists had unintentionally fallen foul of the law, and accused them of siding with the protesters. Since Stand News had a mass following, the seditious articles caused serious harm to the Beijing and Hong Kong governments, he said. The three defendants were not engaged in genuine media work but were instead participating in the so-called resistance movement of that time, he said. Judge Kwok wrote in his verdict in August that Stand News had become a tool for smearing the Beijing and Hong Kong governments during the 2019 protests. He ruled that 11 articles published under the defendants leadership carried seditious intent, including commentaries written by activist Nathan Law and veteran journalists Allan Au and Chan Pui-man. Chan, who is also Chungs wife, earlier pleaded guilty in the Apple Daily case and is in custody awaiting her sentence. Media line up outside the District Court in Wan Chai, Hong Kong (May James/AP) Judge Kwok said Lam and Chung were aware of and agreed with the seditious intent, and that they made Stand News available as a platform to incite hatred against the Beijing and Hong Kong governments and the judiciary. Ms Eu told the court that the articles in question represented only a small portion of what Stand News had published. The defendants also stressed their journalistic mission in their mitigation letters. On Thursday morning, dozens of people waited in line to secure a seat in the courtroom. Former Stand News reader Andrew Wong said he wanted to attend the hearing to show his support, though he felt it was like attending a funeral. Mr Wong, who works in a non-governmental organisation, said he expected the convictions last month, but still felt a sense that weve passed a point of no return when he heard the verdict. Everything we had in the past is gone, he said. Their trial, which began in October 2022, lasted some 50 days. 135 Hong Kong's ranking out of 180 territories in Reporters Without Borders latest World Press Freedom Index The verdict was postponed several times for reasons including a wait for an appeal outcome in another landmark sedition case. After Thursdays sentencing, Cedric Alviani, Asia-Pacific director for media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, said Chung and Lam were serving the publics interest and should never have been detained. He urged the international community to increase pressure on China to secure the release of Chung and other journalists detained in the city. Amnesty Internationals China director, Sarah Brooks, said the sentences given to the defendants simply for doing their job makes this another bleak day for press freedom in Hong Kong. Hong Kong was ranked 135 out of 180 territories in Reporters Without Borders latest World Press Freedom Index, down from 80 in 2021, and 18 in 2002. Self-censorship has also become more common during the political crackdown on dissent following the 2019 protests, with increased reports of harassment against journalists in recent months. In March, the city government enacted another new security law that raised concerns about further curtailment of press freedom. Hong Kong officials insist the two security laws are necessary to maintain stability and that there are no restrictions on media freedom when journalists report the facts. The Israeli prime minister has appeared to downplay hopes of an imminent truce with Hezbollah after the United States and its allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to provide space for diplomacy. In a statement released as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was en route to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, his office said there was only a proposal on the table and that he had not yet responded to it. The statement also denied that there had been any directive to ease up on fighting on the northern border with Lebanon. The comments raised questions about a new international initiative to halt increasingly heavy exchanges of fire that have killed hundreds of people in Lebanon and threatened to trigger an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. The statement was issued as Israel threatens to launch a ground invasion into Lebanon to push the militant group away from the border and after an Israeli strike in Lebanon killed 20 people, most of them from Syria. Soon after the statement was issued, the TV station of Lebanons Hezbollah group reported an Israeli air strike in a suburb of Beirut. Al-Manar TV did not give details about the strike. The Israeli military said it carried out a strike south of Beirut without elaborating. Military officials said details will be released later. The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, previously said that the country would continue fighting with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal for a pause in fighting. Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed it, but his government has no sway over the group. If a temporary ceasefire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government Hezbollah has insisted it would halt its strikes only if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel has been battling Hamas for nearly a year. That appears out of reach despite months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. In its statement, Mr Netanyahus office said that the fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved. Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet with other world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. In other developments, a far-right partner in Mr Netanyahus government threatened to quit the coalition if a permanent ceasefire is reached with Hezbollah. Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party, threatened to suspend co-operation with the coalition if a temporary deal is reached. If a temporary ceasefire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government, he said. It was the latest sign of displeasure from Mr Netanyahus hard-line government towards international ceasefire efforts. If Mr Ben-Gvir leaves the coalition, Mr Netanyahu would lose his parliamentary majority and could see his government come toppling down, though opposition leaders have said they would offer support for a ceasefire deal. Israel launched a massive operation in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack into southern Israel on October 7 in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and some 250 were taken hostage. Theyre all part of the same large situation which we are in from October 7 on, and were very worried that if we dont make the right decisions now, we will miss this amazing opportunity to get the hostages out More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then, according to local officials. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel one day after the October 7 attack in support of its Hamas allies, and Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire ever since. Israeli families of the hostages said they are pushing for a possible ceasefire deal for Lebanon to include provisions for the war in Gaza, especially securing release of the roughly 70 hostages still presumed to be alive and the bodies of some 30 others. Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel Gat was kidnapped and was one of six Israelis whose bodies were recovered from tunnels in Gaza in August, said the hostages families are feeling forgotten as attention shifts to the northern front. We know that these things are connected to each other, the northern part and the southern part. Theyre all part of the same large situation which we are in from October 7 on, and were very worried that if we dont make the right decisions now, we will miss this amazing opportunity to get the hostages out, Mr Dickmann said on Tuesday, as hopes for a ceasefire deal swelled. He slammed Mr Netanyahu for missing multiple opportunities to free his cousin and begged him not to miss another chance by agreeing to a truce with both Hezbollah and Hamas that would include provisions for the hostages. Mr Dickmanns sister-in-law, Yarden Roman-Gat, was released in a week-long ceasefire deal last November, along with some 100 other hostages. Israel has carried out days of heavy strikes across Lebanon, targeting what it says are Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. An Israeli Air Force Black Hawk helicopter flies over the Mediterranean Sea near the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Yam (Baz Ratner/AP) The militants have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel and on Wednesday targeted Tel Aviv for the first time with a longer-range missile that was intercepted. On Thursday, an Israeli air strike in Lebanon hit a building housing Syrian workers and their families, killing 19 Syrians and one Lebanese, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. It was one of the deadliest single strikes in the intensified air campaign against Hezbollah. Lebanons National News Agency said the strike occurred near the ancient city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, which runs along the Syrian border. The news agency initially reported that 23 people were dead. Hussein Salloum, a local official in Younine, said most of the dead were women and children, and that rescue efforts lasted through the night and into Thursday morning. We dug through the rubble with our own hands until a small bulldozer was brought in, Mr Salloum told The Associated Press. We had very limited capabilities. A man stands in a damaged apartment after an Israeli air strike in Saksakieh, south Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) The Lebanese Red Cross said it recovered nine bodies, while others were recovered by Hezbollahs paramedic service and the Lebanese Civil Defence. Lebanon, with a population of around six million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. Israel struck 75 sites overnight across southern and eastern Lebanon, the military said. At least 45 projectiles were fired from Lebanon early on Thursday, all of which were intercepted or fell in open areas, it said. Israeli strikes since Monday have killed more than 630 people in Lebanon, according to local health authorities, who say around a quarter were women and children. Several people have been wounded by shrapnel in Israel. The fighting has killed dozens of people in Israel and driven tens of thousands from their homes on both sides of the border. Israel has vowed to do whatever is necessary to allow its citizens to return, and it has moved thousands of troops to the northern border in preparation for a possible ground operation. British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been disqualified from being a charity trustee for five years after the UK's Charity Commission found serious mismanagement of funds at Fashion for Relief, which she founded. This included using charity funds to pay for Campbells stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, as well as spa treatments, room service and cigarettes. The model is one of three of the charitys trustees to be disqualified as a result of the probe. The Charity Commission, which registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, opened an inquiry into Fashion for Relief in 2021. The charity, which it says was founded by Campbell in 2005, was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year. It had been set up with the aim of uniting the fashion industry to relieve poverty and advance health and education, by making grants to other organisations and giving resources towards global disasters. Our inquiry into Fashion for Relief has concluded the charity was poorly governed and had inadequate financial management. We've disqualified 3 individuals from trusteeship, recovered over 344,000 and protected a further 98,000 of charitable funds: https://t.co/xjlSvHMlRk pic.twitter.com/SgLtJpo7FG Charity Commission (@ChtyCommission) September 26, 2024 It hosted fundraising events to generate income, including in Cannes and London. Some 344,000 has been recovered and a further 98,000 of charitable funds protected, the regulator said. The Charity Commissions inquiry found that between April 2016 and July 2022, 8.5% of the charitys overall expenditure was on charitable grants. The probe saw no evidence that trustees took action to ensure fundraising methods were in the charitys best interests, or that the money it spent was reasonable relative to the income it generated. It also said it found some fundraising expenditure to be misconduct or mismanagement by the charitys trustees. This included a 12,300 flight from London to Nice for transferring art and jewellery to a fundraising event in Cannes in 2018. It also looked into the decision to spend 7,800 of charity funds on a three-night stay at a five-star hotel for Campbell. In these cases, the trustees failed to show how these were cost-effective and an appropriate use of the charitys resources, the Charity Commission said. Furthermore, it examined expenses incurred by Campbell totalling nearly 6,600, alongside the hotel stay, paid for by the charity. These costs included spa treatments, room service, and the purchase of cigarettes and hotel products. The regulator said trustees explained that hotel costs were typically covered by a donor to the charity, therefore not costing the charity, but failed to provide any evidence to support this. Bianka Hellmich has been disqualified as a trustee for nine years, and Veronica Chou for four years, as well as Campbells five-year ban. It means they are prevented from being a trustee or holding a senior management role in any charity in England and Wales during the length of the disqualification. The Metropolitan Police are investigating a number of new allegations made against late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed on top of reports previously made by 19 separate women. The force said it will carry out full reviews of all existing allegations of incidents which are said to have taken place between 1979 and 2013 to ensure there are no new lines of inquiry based on new information which has emerged. Police said although it is not possible to bring criminal proceedings against someone who has died, we must ensure we fully explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences. It comes as the current managing director of Harrods, Michael Ward, said he was not aware of the criminality and abuse and described it as a shameful period in the businesss history. Mr Ward apologised and said the business failed our colleagues following the allegations made against Mr Al Fayed. He said in a statement that it is clear Mr Al Fayed presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct. Managing director of Harrods Michael Ward apologised and said we failed our colleagues (Ian West/PA) His statement comes as another alleged victim told the BBC she was summoned to the billionaire businessmans apartment where he became angry, the doors were locked and I couldnt get out. He raped me. Five women claim they were raped by Mr Al Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94, with a number of others alleging sexual misconduct. The Met said officers are making contact with lawyers representing alleged victims to ensure they have the opportunity to speak with us and report any offences. Commander Stephen Clayman said: We recognise the significance of the allegations made against Mohamed Al Fayed and the impact this has had on those affected. We have specialist teams to ensure all those victims who make contact with us are supported in the best way possible. I understand that for many years many people have sought answers in relation to this case. We will do everything possible to update on our progress when we can, but it is crucial we do this thoroughly and we do it right. This was a shameful period in the businesss history, however the Harrods of today is unrecognisable to Harrods under his ownership The Met said the initial complaints made by 19 women were reported to the force between 2005 and 2023 including three allegations of rape, 15 sexual assaults and one related to trafficking. Police approached the Crown Prosecution Service five times including two occasions where a full file of evidence was passed on in 2009 and 2015. No further action was taken against Mr Al Fayed in respect of the original complaints. Mr Ward said an independent review was under way into issues arising from the allegations and that he had provided all the information I have to ensure my own conduct can be reviewed alongside that of my colleagues. In his statement, Mr Ward said: As we have already stated, we failed our colleagues and for that we are deeply sorry. As someone who has worked at Harrods since 2006, and therefore worked for Fayed until the change of ownership in 2010, I feel it is important to make it clear that I was not aware of his criminality and abuse. While it is true that rumours of his behaviour circulated in the public domain, no charges or allegations were ever put to me by the police, the CPS, internal channels or others. Had they been, I would, of course, have acted immediately. Mr Ward continued: Fayed, who owned Harrods from 19852010, operated this business as his own personal fiefdom. It is now clear that he presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct. The picture that is now emerging suggests that he did this wherever he operated. Five women claim they were raped by Mr Al Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94 (Anthony Devlin/PA) This was a shameful period in the businesss history, however, the Harrods of today is unrecognisable to Harrods under his ownership. As detailed new information has come to light over the past 18 months, the business has established a settlement process, designed in consultation with independent, external experts in personal injury litigation. We encourage former colleagues to contact us using this process so that we can provide the support, and recourse, they need. Sources within Harrods have said the business has accepted vicarious liability for the conduct of Mr Al Fayed for the purpose of settling claims of alleged victims brought to its attention since 2023, reaching settlements with the vast majority. Mr Ward said he would in no way influence an independent review into the allegations. He said: Alongside this there is an independent review led by a non-executive committee of the board to further consider the issues arising from the allegations. If we identify any potential fitness to practise concerns about individual doctors, we will thoroughly examine all relevant information and take action as appropriate I am not part of the committee conducting this review and will in no way influence its operation or recommendations. However, I have provided all the information I have to ensure my own conduct can be reviewed alongside that of my colleagues. I have also stepped back from my charity trustee positions while this review is taking place. Some women have claimed they were subjected to intrusive and wholly unnecessary gynaecological tests to work for Mr Al Fayed and have alleged the purpose of the tests was for checking for sexually transmitted infections. Alleged victims are set to lodge a complaint against Dr Ann Coxon, claiming she has questions to answer over the examinations. Dr Coxon declined to comment on the matter. A General Medical Council spokeswoman said: If we identify any potential fitness to practise concerns about individual doctors, we will thoroughly examine all relevant information and take action as appropriate. Vice President Kamala Harris said calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia were dangerous and unacceptable as she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday. The comments from the Democratic presidential nominee were thinly veiled criticism of suggestions from Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, that Ukraine should quickly cut a deal to end the war. They are not proposals for peace, Ms Harris said. Instead they are proposals for surrender. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said that calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia were dangerous and unacceptable (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) US support for Ukraine faces a partisan reckoning in this years presidential election, with Mr Trump criticising billions of dollars in military assistance and Ms Harris pledging to continue helping the besieged country. Ms Harris meeting with Mr Zelenskyy came shortly after the Ukrainian leader sat down with President Joe Biden, who announced billions of dollars more in missiles, drones, ammunition and other supplies. The weapons include an additional Patriot missile defence battery and a new shipment of glide bombs that can be deployed from Western fighter jets, increasing their strike range. Mr Biden pledged to ensure that all approved funding is disbursed before he leaves office, and he said he plans to convene a meeting with other world leaders focused on Ukraines defence during a visit to Germany next month. We stand with Ukraine, now and in the future, Mr Biden said, alongside Mr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail. Meanwhile, Mr Zelenskyys tumultuous relationship with Mr Trump continued to deteriorate this week. President Joe Biden with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky (Susan Walsh/AP) Instead of meeting with Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Trump criticised him. As for US support for Ukraine, Mr Trump complained that we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal to end the war. His message dovetails with Russian propaganda that claims intransigence by Kyiv not aggression from Moscow has prolonged the bloodshed. Its the most politically treacherous landscape that Mr Zelenskyy has encountered in Washington since Russia invaded nearly three years ago. Ukrainian officials are anxious to maintain good relations with whoever becomes the next president of the United States, which is its biggest and most important provider of arms, money and other support. But the effort risks slipping into the political blender of the presidential campaign, polarising the discussion around a war that used to be a bipartisan cause celebre in Washington. On Thursday, Mr Zelenskyy found some bipartisan support as he visited Capitol Hill, where he was greeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky met US officials(Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Mr Zelenskyy asked to use long-range weapons, such as British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles or US-made ATACMS, for maximum benefit to bring (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the table and increase Ukraines negotiating position. If we dont make that fundamental choice this week, I think the outcome for Ukraine is dire, Mr Graham said. Administration officials have been sceptical of Mr Zelenskyys request, believing the weapons could have limited benefits but increase the risk of escalating the conflict. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said senators gave Mr Zelenskyy advice on how to persuade Mr Biden to loosen restrictions. Jim Himes, another Connecticut Democrat and the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Mr Zelenskyy wanted more, faster. He was politely frustrated, Mr Himes said and specifically requested more Patriot missile defences as Russia escalates strikes on Ukraines cities and energy grid before the winter. Mr Zelenskyys trip to Washington coincides with the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, where the Ukrainian leader spoke on Wednesday. Donald Trump had originally said he would probably meet the Ukrainian president but a campaign official says no meeting was ever on the books (Seth Wenig/AP) Last week, Mr Trump said he would probably meet with Mr Zelenskyy while he was in the US, but a senior campaign official said there was never a meeting on the books. The official said Mr Trump had told Mr Zelenskyy back in July that it would probably be better not to sit down together until after the election. An aide for Mr Zelenskyy did not respond to questions about the potential meeting. Mr Trump was impeached during his first term for asking Mr Zelenskyy for help investigating Mr Biden, then a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, at a time when the Ukrainian leader was seeking support from Washington. Now there are fears that Mr Trump would cut off or add strings to US military assistance if he returned to the White House. Mr Trump has also spoken admiringly about Mr Putin, and this week he praised Russias record of winning wars. Mr Zelenskyy can expect a far different tone from Ms Harris, who met with him in Munich just days before Russia invaded. During her debate with Mr Trump earlier this month, she expressed pride in US support for Ukraines righteous defence. If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now, she said. Drivers face huge fines for flouting rules after the popular 4WD beach was shut down by council. 4WD access to the popular Harbour Beach will be closed off in just weeks. Source: CourierMail/Instagram A local council is bracing for backlash after taking a stand against what has been described as bad behaviour by "hoons and yobbos" who have been accused of degrading the sand dunes and putting wildlife in danger on a popular 4WD beach. Mackay Regional Council voted to close access to vehicles at Harbour Beach, a popular beach among the four-wheel-drivers and motorcyclists but also an important turtle nesting area in the Queensland town. There will be two weeks of educating the local community about the big change before council work with local law enforcement and Queensland police to close access. Those who break the rules will face "huge fines" of $774. "Weve put a stake in the ground," Mayor Greg Williamson said. "Were shutting off vehicle access altogether south of the harbour beach area through to the mouth of the river." He went on to explain that it is a protection mechanism for the dune system, coastal flora and fauna along with the nesting sites of turtles and shorebirds in the area. The impact of that damage over many years is threatening the ecological integrity of this area," he said. Mayor Greg Williamson addressed locals online. Source: Facebook 4WD ban coincides with start of turtle breeding season Council voted to make the move on Wednesday night, where ex-NRL star and local councillor Martin Bella blamed hoons and yobbos for turning the spot into an absolute mess. The drastic outright ban comes as turtle nesting season kicks off in October and runs through to January. "Weve tried in the past with barriers up but the 4WD and motorbikes just drive straight over them," the mayor said. Last year, rules were put in place for driving over the nesting areas which included using signage and cameras to deter drivers dishing out fines of $774 for those who broke the rules. And while there were benefits, according to council, the success was "temporary". "Once the campaign concluded at the end of the nesting season, vehicle access resumed," he said. The mayor told 7News they are "prepared to wear the public backlash because now the environmental damage has got to the point where it is unsustainable. Mackay District Turtle Watch (MDTW) President Steve Fisher told the Courier Mail Harbour Beach is one of the most dense turtle nesting beaches in the area with more than 1,000 hatchlings are born each year in the region and that there is "widespread community support" for the decision. The ban covers Harbour Beach foreshore of East Point, at the southern tip of the beach and foreshore. Police will be patrolling those flouting the ban in two weeks time. Access to the Pioneer River will still be available to fishing enthusiasts via an inland track. Reckless behaviour on Aussie beach tracks This instance is not the first where an Aussie council has been forced to take drastic measures on popular 4WD beaches. Yahoo previously reported that reckless behaviour on Goolwa Beach had devastating consequences for the environment. Cars were seen performing wild manoeuvres and causing significant damage to the area with the local mayor saying it would take "years" to recover. It resulted in a major rule change with new speed limits being set on SA beaches. Read more: Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Today Plenty of sunshine. Near record high temperatures. High 112F. Winds light and variable. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 76F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. Near record high temperatures. High around 110F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. A fellow prisoner has told a court the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case confided in him about an abduction where he "took the girl". German authorities have long believed Christian Brueckner to be the man responsible for taking Madeleine from her Portugal holiday apartment in 2007. Brueckner is standing trial for seperate charges of rape and indecent exposure in front of children and his old cell mate Laurentiu Codin has provided evidence in court, retelling a story he claims Brueckner told him in 2020, Sky News reports. "He told me that in Portugal, that he had stolen there... he was in a region of hotels where people are there, not sure how you say, rich people, where rich people live," he said. Christian Brueckner is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. "And when he was in the area of the hotels where the rich people live, there was somewhere an open window, he told me this, and this was the reason he asked me whether fingerprints could be left when he went out of the window. "He said he went into the flat because of money and said that he didn't find any money, but found a kid, and took the child, and that two hours later, the place he was, it was then surrounded by police and dogs. "And he then went away, out of the area, I am just saying what he told me... and he took the child in Portugal in his car, and in the time when the police and dogs were there at the house, he drove away, and he was gone, he asked me if the DNA from a child can be found as evidence and I answered yes." Codin also claims he was told he took a girl to a bus of his and "had sex with her... but he didn't kill her". Victorian Jim Zacharias said he sees seemingly dodgy builds like this all the time. He said it reflects a growing issue in Australia. There's merely centimetres between these two neighbouring properties in Melbourne. Source: TikTok An Aussie building inspector has blasted the company responsible for a half-finished home in Melbourne where the garage is so close to its neighbours it is nearly impossible to finish the job branding the project effectively "stuffed" and a total "shemozzle". A video posted online by Victorian man Jim Zacharias who also works in the construction industry as an excavator operator showed the two homes, in Sunbury in Melbourne, merely centimetres apart. "I'm just looking at these two garages side by side. They've framed it up. But how do you brick it?" Zacharias questioned in the video. "How do you put anything on it between that little gap? Seriously? What? What's happening here?" Speaking to Yahoo, Zacharias said this is just one example of a broader problem taking place around the country. "I see a lot of this stuff happening around in subdivisions, I came across this house and ...there's lots of them the same [in the area]," he said. Tradie Jim Zacharias blasted a Melbourne home build where the garage is so close to its neighbours, it's almost impossible to finish the job properly. Source: TikTok In the video, a complete home is seen on the right, beside a new home to its left. The newer build's framework has been erected, but there's merely centimetres between the structures, meaning it would be incredibly difficult to lay any brickwork. Prominent building inspector Zeher Khalil questioned how the project would be completed in this state, theorising that "they may install hebel panels". "But I don't think that will work," Khalil told Yahoo News Australia. "That builder stuffed the process up, most likely to get paid for the frame stage," he added, explaining that builders are paid in parts, across the base, frame, lock-up and fix, and final stage. "It's a complete shemozzle, it's going to be difficult to achieve compliance now," he said. Building standards on decline in Australia, experts warn The Melbourne home is the latest example of what industry experts warn is a worsening standard in the sector. Yahoo News has reported on a number of other recent instances in which Australians have been forced to fork out big bucks to fix dodgy construction jobs. Earlier this year a NSW resident was stunned to find their neighbour had built their home on the boundary line. Last year, a family were forced to give their brand new home a "1.5 metre haircut" after an oversight saw two properties constructed beside one another merely 40 centimetres apart. Gold Coast residents Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla say their neighbour's property was built so close to their future home still under construction that they had struggled to reach completion on the project due to builders being unable to squeeze scaffolding between the structures. The gap between the homes, in Coomera Waters, was the subject of an investigation by Gold Coast City Council, who have now officially found the "neighbour's building plans were in clear violation of a setback requirement". Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo By Mireille Rebeiz, Dickinson College | (The Conversation) Lebanese families have been fleeing the countrys south in the thousands amid escalating tensions and an Israeli bombardment that has so far killed hundreds. Their fear, echoed by many onlookers, is that Israel will accompany the airstrikes with something that has the potential to have far worse consequences: a ground invasion of south Lebanon. The rational behind such a move, from the Israeli governments perspective, is that a ground offensive may be its best chance to push Hezbollah fighters beyond the Litani River in the middle of the country. This would achieve an Israeli war goal of securing its northern borders and allowing an estimated 60,000 residents who have been forced to flee northern Israel to go back to their homes. Irrespective of motive, a ground invasion and potential occupation is more than wild speculation. Israel has placed thousands of soldiers on standby close to the Lebanon border for such an eventuality. Nor is such a move without precedent. As a scholar of Lebanese history, I know Israel and Lebanon have been here before. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon in the middle of the latters civil war, imposing a siege on the capital Beirut. The results were catastrophic for the whole region. Not only did the ground invasion result in the death of thousands of civilians, the occupation of Lebanon plunged an already fragile nation into lasting political and economic chaos and led to the birth of Hezbollah, the very group that threatens northern Israel today. Refuge and armed resistance The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982 had its roots in the PalestinianIsraeli conflict, much as the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel does today. The creation of the state of Israel in 1948 was accompanied by the Nakba, or catastrophe, for the Palestinians. In the violent birth pangs of a Jewish state on land inhabited by, among others, Arab populations with deep ancestral ties to villages, more than 750,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled. Many refugees entered Lebanon, where in 1964 the Palestine Liberation Organization was born. By the mid-1970s, the armed resistance group had recruited and trained over 20,000 fighters who actively participated in launching attacks on Israel from Lebanese soil. By 1982, Lebanon was already seven years into its civil war, with violence flaring between Lebanese Christians and Lebanese and Palestinian Muslims. On June 6, 1982, Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, a future leader of the country, launched Operation Peace for Galilee and invaded Lebanon with the purpose of eliminating the PLO. More than 40,000 Israeli troops with hundreds of tanks entered Lebanon from three points: by land across the border into south Lebanon; by sea from the coast of Sidon; and by air as the Israeli forces bombed the Beqaa Valley, Beirut and its Palestinian refugee camps. For two months, Beirut was under siege, with water and electricity cut off. As a result of the heavy bombardment and lack of access to basic needs, an estimated 19,000 Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian civilians and combatants died, of which 5,500 were civilians from West Beirut. The Lebanese authorities appealed to the United States, France, Italy and the United Kingdom for help. These countries formed the multinational peacekeeping force, which was designed to restore peace in Lebanon, assist the Lebanese armed forces and evacuate PLO fighters to Tunisia. By August 1982, the multinational force had successfully relocated PLO fighters and began pulling out of Lebanon. They were called back, however, as violence flared. After the assassination of Lebanese President-elect Bashir Gemayel on Sept. 14, 1982, the Christian Phalangist militia entered the two Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila and killed over 2,000 Palestinian civilians. The Israeli government later set up the Kahan Commission of Inquiry to look into the killings, which concluded that Israel was indirectly responsible for the massacres. The birth of Hezbollah All of this history remains relevant to the current situation in the region. Israels invasion and occupation of Lebanon, its siege on Beirut and the massacres that followed all led to the birth of Hezbollah. While members of Lebanons marginalized Shiite community in the south had long sought to mobilize through pan-Arab political parties and militias, it was Israels invasion that galvanized members of the community to ultimately create Hezbollah in 1985. As former Israeli Defense Minister and Prime Minister Ehud Barak noted in a 2006 interview: It was our presence there that created Hezbollah. Israels invasion also soured Lebanons relations with the West. Many Lebanese and Palestinian Muslims considered the multinational force especially the United States to be a failure and even an accomplice to Israel. From 1982 onward, Americans and other Westerners became a target. In the following decade, more than 80 Americans and Europeans were taken hostage by Hezbollah fighters. Some were tortured for months; others died in custody. And on Oct. 23, 1983, a terrorist attack targeted the American barracks in Beirut, killing over 300 people, including 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers. Minutes later, a second suicide attack killed 58 French paratroopers. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the two attacks; some of its members are thought to be among those who officially founded Hezbollah in February 1985. Aiding Hezbollah recruitment Israels 1982 invasion of Lebanon failed to accomplish its goals of stemming attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon. If anything, it had the opposite effect by turning many Lebanese against Israel and creating the conditions in which Hezbollah could recruit. Although Israel retreated from Beirut in August 1982, it continued to occupy south Lebanon until 2000. During that period it unlawfully detained many Lebanese suspected of resisting the Israeli occupation. Some were detained without charges in inhumane conditions, while others were illegally transferred into Israel. With such a backdrop, Hezbollahs legitimacy in the eyes of many Lebanese grew as did its support. So much so that in 1989, at the end of the Lebanese civil war, the authorities signed an agreement that, although not referencing Hezbollah directly, asserted Lebanons right to resist the Israeli occupation in the south. This clause was interpreted by Hezbollah as legitimizing its armed fight against occupation. After occupation ended in 2000, Hezbollah had to reinvent its role, claiming that it would continue fighting against Israel until the liberation of the disputed Shebaa Farms, the Golan Heights and occupied Palestine. In 2006, Hezbollah entered Israeli territory for the first time, killing three soldiers and kidnapping two, demanding the release of Lebanese prisoners in exchange. In retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces attacked Lebanon by air, sea and land, with Israeli ground forces entering Lebanon and carrying out a number of operations on Lebanese territory. A subsequent war saw no such prisoner swap but resulted in the deaths of about 1,100 Lebanese civilians and 120 Israelis, mostly soldiers. History repeating? Until Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, there had been hopes that decades of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel could be on the cusp of turning. In October 2022, Lebanon and Israel signed a maritime border agreement brokered by the U.S interpreted as the beginning of normalizing relations between two countries technically at war. But the magnitude of the human crisis in Gaza and the series of events that followed in Lebanon have ended such hopes for now. Hezbollahs vow of solidarity with Hamas has resulted in a running series of tit-for-tat attacks with Israel that have escalated over the past year. The attack using booby-trapped pagers that targeted Hezbollah fighters and killed several civilians across Lebanon on Sept. 17, 2024, has set off a chain of events that have now seen nearly 500 Lebanese killed and Hezbollah extend the geographical scope of its missile attacks in Israel. Its long-range ballistic missiles can reach 250-300 kilometers (155-186 miles) and have reached Haifa and the citys Ramat David Airbase. The next step in this deadly escalation could well be a ground invasion. But in 1982, such an operation resulted only in catastrophic results for all concerned and set in place the conditions for decades of hostilities across the Lebanon-Israel border. A similar offensive today would almost certainly have similar results especially for the people of Lebanon. Mireille Rebeiz, Chair of Middle East Studies & Associate Professor of Francophone & Womens, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Dickinson College This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Bonus video added by Informed Comment: People fleeing Israeli strikes on south Lebanon flock to Syria crossing | AFP Company Should Address Root Causes of Censorship of Palestine Content ( Human Rights Watch ) Earlier this month, Metas Oversight Board found that three Facebook posts containing the phrase From the River to the Sea did not violate Metas content rules and should remain online. The majority of the Oversight Board members concluded that the phrase, widely used at protests to show solidarity with Palestinians, is not inherently a violation of Metas policies on Hate Speech, Violence and Incitement, or Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI). In line with Human Rights Watchs submission, it affirmed that while the phrase can have different meanings, it amounts to protected speech under international human rights law and should not, on its own, be a basis for removal, enforcement, or review of content under Metas policies. Meta created the board as an external body to appeal moderation decisions and provide non-binding policy guidance. A minority of board members recommended imposing a blanket ban on use of the phrase unless there are clear signals it does not constitute glorification of Hamas. Such a ban would be inconsistent with international human rights standards, amounting to an excessive restriction on protected speech. The boards decision upholds free expression, but Meta has a broader problem of censoring protected speech about Palestine on its platforms. A 2023 Human Rights Watch report found that Meta was systemically censoring Palestine content and that broad restrictions on content relating to groups that Meta puts on its DOI list often resulted in the censorship of protected speech. Meta has said that core human rights principles have guided its crisis response measures since October 7. But its heavy reliance on automated detection systems fails to accurately assess context, even when posts explicitly oppose violence. Digital imagining of From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free, Dream / Dreamland v3 / Clip2Comic, 2024. For instance, on July 19, Human Rights Watch posted a video on Instagram and Facebook with a caption in Arabic that read: Hamas-led armed groups committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity against civilians during the October 7 assault on southern Israel. Metas automated tools incorrectly removed the post for violating its DOI policy. Formal appeals were unsuccessful, and the content was only restored after informal intervention. Meta should address the systemic issues at the heart of its wrongful removal of protected speech about Palestine. Amending its flawed policies, strengthening context-based review, and providing more access to data to facilitate independent research are essential to protecting free expression on its platforms. Via Human Rights Watch Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during his first appearance at the annual UN General Assembly meeting, met on the margins of the conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He elicited from the Chinese one of the strongest statements of Chinese support we have seen. According to the UAEs al-Khaleej, Wang told Pezeshkian, No matter how the international and regional situation develops, China will always be a reliable partner of Iran. This statement seems to have been intended to reassure Tehran in the wake of the Israeli attack on Lebanon, where the Hezbollah party-militia is a close ally of Iran. Wang continued, China will continue to support Iran in maintaining its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity. He insisted that China will take a strong stand against all those who interfere in Irans internal affairs and impose sanctions. The latter is a slam at the United States. Wang is not only the foreign minister but also serves on the 24-member Chinese Communist Party Politburo Iraqs Shafaq newspaper reports that China is more dependent than in the past on Iranian and Russian petroleum exports. About 17% of its oil comes from Iran now. These two countries have cut their prices for China and so have displaced Saudi Arabia and Iraq as the largest oil exporters to China. China is investing billions in the Iranian economy, especially in the transportation and industrial sectors. On Monday, Yi had met with his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib (a Christian), and attacked Israel for its invasion of Lebanon, Lebanons al-Ghad News reports. Wang pledged that no matter what changes take place, China will persevere in standing on the side of justice and on the side of our Arab brothers, including Lebanon. Wang added, We are closely following developments in the regional situation, especially the recent detonation of telecommunications equipment in Lebanon, and we firmly oppose indiscriminate attacks on civilians. He expressed the conviction that replying to violence with more violence will just lead to increased humanitarian catastrophes in the region. He called for a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of forces (including, he seemed to say, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territories), so that a two-state solution can be practically implemented. For his part, Pezeshkian addressed the UNGA on Wednesday concerning the Israeli wars on Gaza and Lebanon, saying that the global community must urgently halt the violence and establish a lasting armistice immediately, bringing an end to Israels extreme brutality in Lebanon before it incites further chaos in the region and across the globe. The Iranian president implied that the Israelis are now attacking Lebanon in a bid to cover up their failures in Gaza and the loss of their myth of invincibility. He vowed that the indiscriminate and terroristic actions of recent days, along with the extensive aggression against Lebanon, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent individuals, will not go unpunished. He implicitly slammed the US for forestalling any international effort to resolve the appalling crisis, while posing as a champion of human rights. He said that the only solution was to reinstate the Palestinians right to self-determination through a referendum in which all Palestinians, including expatriates in the diaspora, could participate. This is a reference to Irans long-standing proposal for a one-party state in which both Palestinians and Israelis could vote equally. He concluded, Only through this approach can Muslims, Jews, and Christians coexist harmoniously in a united land, free from racism and segregation. Bonus video added by Informed Comment: South China Morning Post: China voices support for Lebanon as Israeli strikes kill hundreds Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 25, 2024) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Allen Palmiere, an existing member of the Company's board of directors (the "Board"), has been named Chairman of the Board. John Hayes has stepped down as Chairman but will continue as a member of the Board. Garett Macdonald, President and CEO, commented, "This change is being made to support the Company as it transitions towards development with the near term cash flow from our Hammerdown Gold Project in Newfoundland and Labrador. Maritime closed an $8 million rights offering backed by the Company's largest shareholder Dundee Corporation, who further increased their ownership to approximately 43% (calculated on a partially diluted basis), since the rights offering closed on September 11, 2004. This represents an important endorsement of the Company's potential. We think that Allen's 35 years of management experience in the mining industry will be of significant benefit to Company at this stage. I would like to thank John Hayes for his contribution as board chair over the last five years, where he successfully led the board through challenging capital markets while being instrumental in Maritime reaching this important inflection point." Echoing support for the current position of the Company, Jonathan Goodman, CEO of Maritime's major shareholder Dundee Corporation commented, "Maritime presents a unique opportunity. With a fully permitted mine at Hammerdown and an operational mill at Pine Cove, Maritime has a pathway to become a cash flow generating company. Add the exploration potential, and you have the requirements for a long-term successful venture. Dundee is committed to supporting Maritime and all our portfolio companies to unlock value for investors." About Maritime Resources Corp.: Maritime (TSXV: MAE) (OTC Pink: MRTMF) is a gold exploration and development company focused on advancing the Hammerdown Gold Project in the Baie Verte District of Newfoundland and Labrador, a top tier global mining jurisdiction. Maritime holds a 100% interest directly and subject to option agreements entitling it to earn 100% ownership in the Green Bay Property which includes the former Hammerdown gold mine and the Orion gold project. Maritime controls over 439 km2 of exploration land including the Green Bay, Whisker Valley, Gull Ridge and Point Rousse projects. Mineral processing assets owned by Maritime in the Baie Verte mining district include the Pine Cove mill and the Nugget Pond gold circuit. The Company also owns the Lac Pelletier gold project in Rouyn Noranda, Quebec. On Behalf of the Board MARITIME RESOURCES CORP. 3200-650 West Georgia St. Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 4P7 Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements: Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations of the Canadian Securities Administrators. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. 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 information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements in this news release include without limitation, statements with respect to development of the Hammerdown Gold project and near term cash flow, among others. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof, and is based on the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Outcrop Silver & Gold Corporation (TSXV: OCG) (OTCQX: OCGSF) (DE: MRG) ("Outcrop Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of 22,727,273 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.22 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $5,000,000 (the "Offering"). The Company is pleased to advise that Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., has subscribed for the entire Offering. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and of one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.30 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for the exploration and development of the Santa Ana Project, working capital and general corporate purposes. The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about October 3, 2024 (the "Closing"). The Units to be issued under the Offering will have a hold period of four months and one day from Closing. The Company will pay finder's fees to eligible finders in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). The issuance of the Units and payment of the Finder's Fee is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSXV. This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements and applicable U.S. state securities laws. About Outcrop Silver Outcrop Silver is a leading explorer and developer focused on advancing its flagship Santa Ana high-grade silver project in Colombia. Leveraging a disciplined and seasoned team of professionals with decades of experience in the region. Outcrop Silver is dedicated to expanding current mineral resources through strategic exploration initiatives. At the core of our operations is a commitment to responsible mining practices and community engagement, underscoring our approach to sustainable development. Our expertise in navigating complex geological and market conditions enables us to consistently identify and capitalize on opportunities to enhance shareholder value. With a deep understanding of the Colombian mining landscape and a track record of successful exploration, Outcrop Silver is poised to transform the Santa Ana project into a significant silver producer, contributing positively to the local economy and setting new standards in the mining industry. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking statements This news release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements relating to the expected size of the Offering, the anticipated timing of closing the Offering, the ability of the Company to satisfy all conditions to closing the Offering, and the expected use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include general economic and capital markets conditions, stock market volatility, the ability of the Company to obtain necessary consents for the Offering, including the approval of the Exchange, and the ability of the Company to complete the Offering on the terms expected or at all. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, they are based on factors and assumptions, based on currently available information, concerning future events, which may prove to be inaccurate. As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future plans, operations, results, levels of activity or achievements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 /GMV Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "GMV") (TSXV:GMV) (OTCQB:GMVMF) is pleased to announce that, pursuant to its news release dated September 10th, 2024, it has completed its initial drill program on the Daisy Project, located in Lander County, Nevada. The Company drilled five targets with 643m (2109 feet) of RC and tricone drilling. All holes intercepted various claystone horizons and claystone with felsic ash to lapilli tuffs with a distinctive trend towards more abundant claystone in the central portions of the caldera. Abundant alteration was noted in some drill holes with both oxidized and sulphide-bearing horizons observed. A total of 221 samples have been submitted to ALS Global for analysis in Elko Nevada, including 10 Certified Reference Standards. The results will be released once they have been received and checked. No lost time accidents occurred, and all disturbed sites were graded and reseeded with the recommended seed mix. Dr. D.R. Webb, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Eng. is the Q.P. for this release within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical content of this release and has approved its content. About GMV Minerals Inc. GMV Minerals Inc. is a publicly traded exploration company focused on developing precious metal assets in Arizona. GMV, through its 100% owned subsidiary, has a 100% interest in a Mining Property Lease commonly referred to as the Mexican Hat Property, located in Cochise County, Arizona, USA. The project was initially explored by Placer Dome (USA) in the late 1980's to early 1990's. GMV is focused on developing the asset and realizing the full mineral potential of the property through near term gold production. The Company's NI 43-101 resource estimate (Inferred) is 36,733,000 tonnes grading 0.58 g/t gold at a 0.2 g/t cut-off, containing 688,000 ounces of gold. In 2023, GMV acquired a total of 165 lode claims covering 3,408 acres in Lander County, Nevada where it is exploring highly prospective claims for uranium & lithium. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ian Klassen, President For further information please contact: GMV Minerals Inc. Ian Klassen Tel: (604) 899-0106 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Mining Corp. (Prime, or the Company) (TSV: PRYM) (OTCQX: PRMNF) (Frankfurt: O4V3) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sunny Lowe to its Board of Directors. I am very pleased to welcome Sunny to the Prime Board, stated Murray John, Chair of the Board of Directors. As an Independent Director, Sunny brings a wealth of financial, mining and executive experience to Prime. We are looking forward to working with her as the Management team advances the Los Reyes Project. Ms. Sunny Lowe is a CPA, CA with more than 20 years of finance, international tax and risk management experience mostly spent in the mining sector. Ms. Lowe is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Solaris Resources Inc. Prior to joining Solaris Resources, Ms. Lowe was with INV Metals as Chief Financial Officer and at Kinross Gold Corporation, first as Vice President, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk Management and then as Vice President, Finance, overseeing the companys External Financial Reporting and Corporate Controllership functions. Ms. Lowe also worked at Inmet Mining Corporation where she held leadership roles across functions including Enterprise Risk Management, Global Taxation & Compliance, and Business Systems & Controls. Ms. Lowe obtained her CPA, CA designation while working at Ernst & Young LLP and a MBA from the Schulich School of Business. The Company has granted Ms. Lowe 88,415 deferred share units (DSUs) effective September 25, 2024 at Primes 5-day volume weighted average price of $1.64 on the terms set out in the Companys DSU Plan. About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver Project Los Reyes is a rapidly evolving high-grade, low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent approximately CAD$55 million on direct exploration activities and has completed over 198,500 metres of drilling. On May 2, 2023, Prime announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit constrained resource (see the May 2, 2023 press release for more details). May 2, 2023 Resource Statement Assurance Category Ore Tonnes Mt Average Gold Grade (g/t) Contained Gold (k ozs) Average Silver Grade (g/t) Contained Silver (k ozs) Average AuEq Grade (g/t) (1) Contained AuEq (k ozs) Measured (M) - - - - - - - Indicated (I) 27.2 1.16 1, 013 40.40 35,263 1.68 1,470 M+I 27.2 1.16 1, 013 40.40 35,263 1.68 1,470 Inferred 18.1 0.85 497 31.52 18,334 1.26 734 (1) Refer to the Additional Technical Notes section for the gold equivalent grade (AuEq) calculation method. Drilling is on-going and suggests that the three known main deposit areas (Guadalupe, Central and Z-T) are larger than previously reported. Potential also exists for new discoveries where mineralized trends have been identified outside of the currently defined resource areas. Historic operating results indicate that an estimated 1 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver were recovered from five separate operations at Los Reyes between 1770 and 1990. Prior to Primes acquisition, recent operators of Los Reyes had spent approximately US$20 million on exploration, engineering, and prefeasibility studies. About Prime Mining Prime is managed by an ideal mix of successful mining executives, strong capital markets personnel and experienced local operators all focused on unlocking the full potential of the Los Reyes Project. The Company has a well-planned capital structure with a strong management team and insider ownership. Prime is targeting a material resource expansion at Los Reyes through a combination of new generative area discoveries and growth, while also building on technical de-risking activities to support eventual project development. For further information, please visit https://primeminingcorp.ca/ or direct enquiries to: Scott Hicks CEO & Director Indi Gopinathan VP Capital Markets & Business Development Prime Mining Corp. 710 1030 West Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3 Canada +1(604) 238-1659 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Notes to U.S. Investors Concerning Resource Estimates This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of the U.S. securities laws. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the terms mineral reserve, proven mineral reserve, probable mineral reserve, inferred mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, measured mineral resources and mineral resources used or referenced in this presentation are Canadian mineral disclosure terms as defined in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) under the guidelines set out in the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines, May 2014 (the CIM Standards). The CIM Standards differ from the mineral property disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) in Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 (the SEC Modernization Rules) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multijurisdictional disclosure system, the Company is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, the Companys disclosure of mineralization and other technical information may differ significantly from the information that would be disclosed had the Company prepared the information under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation as may be amended from time to time, including, without limitation, statements regarding the perceived merit of the Companys properties, including additional exploration potential of Los Reyes, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, the potential size of the mineralized zone, metallurgical recoveries, and the Companys exploration and development plans in Mexico. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Companys management on the date the statements are made, and they involve several risks and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements were made, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the price of gold, silver and copper; the accuracy of mineral resource estimations; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained, including concession renewals and permitting; that political and legal developments will be consistent with current expectations; that currency and exchange rates will be consistent with current levels; and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its properties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks related to uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral resource estimates, including but not limited to changes to the cost assumptions, variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, failure of plant, equipment or processes, changes to availability of power or the power rates, ability to maintain social license, changes to interest or tax rates, changes in project parameters, delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks, title risks, including concession renewal, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, risks inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Companys objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, as well as its annual information form dated March 25, 2024, available on www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - American Pacific Mining Corp (CSE: USGD) (OTCQX: USGDF) (FWB: 1QC) ("American Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to report high-grade underground sampling results and provide an update on the ongoing regional sampling work at the Company's 100%-owned Madison Copper-Gold Project ("Madison" or the "Project") in Montana. During a recent visit to Madison, the Company accessed the upper levels of the Madison Mine and collected four (4) samples from the ribs of the old mine workings where visible copper oxidation and copper sulfide mineralization remains in the exposed back and ribs (see Photo 1). Sample Highlights: MADZH24-003: 45.50% Cu and 2.17 g/t Au MADZH24-001: 31.00% Cu and 8.40 g/t Au MADZH24-002: 23.30% Cu and 1.90 g/t Au MADZH24-004: 3.19% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au Notes: Cu = copper; Au = gold; g/t = grams per tonne Sampling Methodology Samples were collected across a 20-foot section, with each sample being five feet wide. These were taken in the form of channel samples, ensuring representative material was extracted for analysis. This consistent sampling methodology helps provide accurate and reliable data reflective of the target area. "These incredibly high copper values from the past underground workings highlight the type of grade the mineralized system at Madison can carry, and our recently completed Phase I drilling demonstrated that significant grades continue well beyond the areas mined out by predecessors," commented CEO Warwick Smith. "Our ongoing regional sampling and structural mapping work is designed to refine our step-out and extension focused drilling plans and generate additional discovery targets throughout the broader property package. We look forward to sharing further results and our updated 3D model and Phase II plan in Q4, 2024." Watch: Short video clip of CEO, Warwick Smith, collecting high-grade copper samples at Madison Photo 1: CEO, Warwick Smith, collects rock chip samples from Madison underground (left); high-grade copper associated with chalcanthite and chalcocite from the Madison underground workings (right) Mapping and Sampling A comprehensive geological exploration program has now commenced at Madison, aimed at identifying new mineralized zones and expanding known areas of interest. The program will follow up on historic high-grade samples, while detailed mapping of geological structures will provide insights into the mineral potential of areas beyond the current mine sites. This work, along with data collected from mapping and sampling efforts, will inform the design and implementation of future drilling and exploration programs. The Madison Mine is dry to the 200-foot level of the 600-foot final mining level by Coronado in 2012. Nine hundred feet of the 2600 feet of ramp, are currently accessible. The focus of Coronado was on the high-grade copper sulfide material (chalcocite) with no real consideration for the gold or native copper mineralization. Conversely, the Broadway Mine, active from 1900 to 1950, focused exclusively on oxidized gold mineralization with no consideration of copper mineralization or gold in sulfides. This provides American Pacific with numerous opportunities in the near-mine area due to those past highly selective mining techniques. Madison Project Sampling and Analysis Quality Assurance and Quality Control Statement The Company is committed to maintaining high standards of accuracy and reliability in our sampling and analysis procedures. The following Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) measures are employed in our sampling and analysis processes. Analytical Methods for the samples include: ME-MS61 - 48 Element Suite using a Four Acid digestion followed by ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) ME-OG62 - Ore Grade Elements using Four Acid digestion and analysis by ICP-AES (Optical Emission Spectroscopy) Cu-OG62 - Ore Grade Copper using Four Acid digestion and analysis by ICP-AES for high-grade copper samples Au-AA23 - Au analysis using a 30g fire assay with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish The Company believes that the QAQC measures employed provide a reliable basis for the assay data presented in this release. Qualified Person Technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved by the designated Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, Managing Director of Exploration, Eric Saderholm, P.Geo. About American Pacific Mining Corp. American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company has two flagship assets: the Palmer Project, a Volcanic Massive Sulphide-Sulphate (VMS) project in Alaska, under a joint-venture partnership with Dowa Metals & Mining, owner of Japan's largest zinc smelter; and the Madison Project, a past-producing copper-gold project in Montana. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for 'Deal of the Year' at the S&P Global Platts Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories. Also, in American Pacific's asset portfolio are high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts in Nevada, USA, including the Ziggurat Gold project and the Tuscarora Gold-Silver project. The Company's mission is to grow by the drill bit and by acquisition. On behalf of the American Pacific Mining Corp Board of Directors: Warwick Smith, CEO & Director Corporate Office: Suite 910 - 510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada Full disclosure can be found in our NI43-101 Technical Report for the Madison Project at www.americanpacificmining.com. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Vancouver, British Columbia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surge Copper Corp. (TSXV: SURG) (OTCQB: SRGXF) (Frankfurt: G6D2) (Surge or the Company) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its 2024 field program at its 100%-owned Berg and Ootsa copper-molybdenum-precious metals projects located in central British Columbia. Field crews have now been demobilized, and with the conclusion of physical operations, the Company is ramping down associated expenditures as it transitions into the data analysis and reporting phase. 2024 Field Program Highlights Completed a total of 13 diamond drill holes for 5,054 metres: At the Berg Project, 10 holes were drilled for a total of 3,707 metres within the main Berg deposit, with an additional 450-metre hole testing the Berg SW exploration target. At the Ootsa Project, two holes were drilled for a total of 897 metres, targeting the copper-gold porphyry zone discovered in 2022, northeast of the Seel deposit (see January 9, 2023 press release). All 10 holes at the Berg deposit are expected to support resource definition and conversion of Inferred resources to higher confidence categories. Six of the Berg deposit holes underwent downhole geotechnical testing, including Packer tests, piezometer installations, and televiewer surveys, supporting pre-feasibility mining studies. Core samples will also undergo geochemical analysis and acid-base accounting test work during the winter, supporting ARD/ML environmental baseline and pre-feasibility studies on waste rock management. An environmental baseline data collection program was initiated across the project area to bolster previously completed database efforts. A pre-feasibility level metallurgy program is ongoing and slated for completion in early 2025. Assay results from all drill holes will be released once data are received, verified, and interpreted. Leif Nilsson, Chief Executive Officer, commented: Were pleased with how efficiently this years field program progressed. We achieved all the critical objectives, and thanks to high productivity and favourable weather conditions, we exceeded our original drilling target. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the employees and contractors whose hard work and dedication contributed to this successful program. We look forward to providing further updates as we analyze the results in the coming months. Annual General Meeting The Company held its Annual General Meeting on September 25, 2024. All proposed resolutions, as described in the notice of the meeting and information circular dated August 13, 2024, were approved by the shareholders of the Company. Qualified Person Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for the Berg Project and the Ootsa Property as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 41-101") and has approved the technical and scientific disclosure contained in this news release. About Surge Copper Corp. Surge Copper Corp. is a Canadian company that is advancing an emerging critical metals district in a well-developed region of British Columbia, Canada. The Company owns a large, contiguous mineral claim package that hosts multiple advanced porphyry deposits with pit-constrained NI 43-101 compliant resources of copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver metals which are critical inputs to the low-carbon energy transition and associated electrification technologies. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Berg Project, for which it announced a maiden PEA in June 2023 outlining a large-scale, long-life project with a simple design and high outputs of critical minerals located in a safe jurisdiction near world-class infrastructure. The PEA highlights base case economics including an NPV8% of C$2.1 billion and an IRR of 20% based on long-term commodity prices of US$4.00/lb copper, US$15.00/lb molybdenum, US$23.00/oz silver, and US$1,800/oz gold. The Berg deposit contains pit-constrained 43-101 compliant resources of copper, molybdenum, silver, and gold in the Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories. The Company also owns a 100% interest in the Ootsa Property, an advanced-stage exploration project containing the Seel and Ox porphyry deposits located adjacent to the open pit Huckleberry Copper Mine, owned by Imperial Metals. The Ootsa Property contains pit-constrained NI 43-101 compliant resources of copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver in the Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Leif Nilsson Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Riley Trimble, Corporate Communications & Development Telephone: +1 604 416 2978 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Twitter: @SurgeCopper LinkedIn: Surge Copper Corp https://www.surgecopper.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the commencement of drilling at the Berg Project and the timing thereof; the surface exploration work at the Berg Project and the timing thereof; the size and focus of the exploration drill program at the Berg deposit; the potential for program expansion based on initial results of the exploration drill program; the objectives of the drill hole design; the use of proceeds from the Top-Up Offering; and the Companys plans regarding the Berg Project and the Ootsa Property. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, actual results of the Company's exploration activities being different than those expected by management, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals, the ability to obtain adequate financing to conduct its planned exploration programs, inability to procure labour, equipment, and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis, equipment breakdown, impacts of the current coronavirus pandemic, and bad weather. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions, or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. Kelly Rocheleau Education, court and crime reporter Follow Kelly Rocheleau 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 AUBURN For years, Cayleb Blay and Evan Townes heard about the Harvest of Sound. The senior and junior members of the Auburn Vanguard Marching Band knew the competition was a beloved fall tradition. For 39 years it saw Auburn host marching bands from throughout central New York, with a performance by the home band as well. But the competition hasn't taken place since COVID-19, so Cayleb and Evan didn't know if they'd ever get to experience it. "It's been going on for so long," Cayleb told The Citizen, "so it's hard not to think of everyone else who's done the exact same thing and how awesome it is." This Saturday, however, Cayleb and Evan and every other member of the Vanguard will finally get to experience the Harvest of Sound for the first time when the competition returns to Auburn Junior High School after five years. Featuring eight other school bands and coordinated by the Auburn Music Boosters, it will also be the first competition in the USBands circuit held in upstate New York. 'When is there going to be Harvest?' Vanguard Director Erin Coughlin and Auburn Music Boosters President Allison Fennessy, both alumnae of the band, told The Citizen they attempted to bring the Harvest of Sound back in 2022 and 2023. "The main thing I've heard in three years is, 'When is there going to be Harvest?'" Fennessy said. Along with being the first in five years, this year's Harvest of Sound will mark its 40th anniversary. To celebrate, Vanguard alumni will be invited on the field of Holland Stadium during the competition. Many will also be volunteering there, Fennessy said, noting that Auburn music alumni hold the tradition in high regard. Coughlin, who began performing with the Vanguard as an eighth grader and continued until graduating in 2013, said the event highlights senior band members and serves as a reunion for those alumni. "I just hope they get to come back and reminiscence on their time in the marching band and it gives them a little taste of, 'Oh wow, I had such a great experience and I'm so glad to be back,'" she said. The boosters asked USBands about hosting a competition earlier this year. Fennessy said the Vanguard took part in two of the scholastic band association's competitions last year, and it was a good experience for the students and the adults. She has been working on the Harvest of Sound since February, she continued, and she praised the work of the boosters and other volunteers. "I'm nervous, but at the same time, I know we're going to pull it off," she said. "I'm really fortunate that I have a great team, we have a great group of band parents and without that support, I wouldn't feel as comfortable as I do right now." 'Put it all on the field' Cayleb and Evan, who as the Vanguard's drum majors conduct the marching band on the field, said work on this year's performance began in mid-July. The theme of the performance is "Voyage to Valhalla," and it honors Viking warriors and their journey to the afterlife with Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries," Dvorak's "New World Symphony" and more. The music is harder than recent Vanguard material, Cayleb and Evan said, but they feel they and their bandmates have risen to the challenge over the last few weeks. Evan said he didn't have much leadership experience before becoming a drum major, but he's developed his skills over time. "I (had) to learn, basically, to work better with much larger groups than I'm used to, how to be able to raise my voice when I need to be able to, to keep things under control," he said. While he's looking forward to everything about the Harvest of Sound, Cayleb said he's most excited to become part of the tradition. "Everyone around us has done a ton of work, including our staff. It's been really hard on all of us, but with all that work being done, that makes it easier and easier as we go," he said. "I'm confident that we'll be able to put it all on the field." If you go WHAT: Harvest of Sound WHEN: Noon Saturday, Sept. 28 WHERE: Holland Stadium, 191 Franklin St., Auburn COST: Admission $8 in advance, $10 at the gate INFO: Visit facebook.com/groups/auburnvanguard Harvest of Sound schedule 11:55 a.m.: National anthem Noon: Jordan-Elbridge High School (Group II, A Class) 12:15 p.m.: Phoenix High School (Group III, A Class) 12:30 p.m.: Le Roy Jr.-Sr. High School (Group III, A Class) 12:45 p.m.: Auburn High School (Group III, A Class) 1 p.m.: Jamestown High School (Group IV, A Class) 1:15 p.m.: Intermission 1:45 p.m.: Corning-Painted Post Area School District (Group III, Open Class) 2 p.m.: Liverpool High School (Group IV, Open Class) 2:15 p.m.: Cicero-North Syracuse High School (Group IV, Open Class) 2:30 p.m.: Baldwinsville High School (Group V, Open Class) 2:45 p.m.: Alumni and senior recognition 3 p.m.: Awards VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Scottie Resources Corp. ("Scottie" or the "Company") (TSXV: SCOT) (OTCQB: SCTSF) (FSE: SR8) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its 10,000-metre diamond drill program on the Scottie Gold Mine Project, located in BC's Golden Triangle. This milestone marks a significant step forward in advancing the Company towards a Mineral Resource Estimate, anticipated in late Q1 2025. Assay results from the drilling are pending, and the Company is awaiting these results to further evaluate the potential of the mineralized zones. The Company is proud to report that the program was completed within the planned budget of $4.5 million, while also intersecting substantial intervals of mineralization and instances of visible gold across multiple exciting targets. Drilling Highlights The 10,000-metre program, originally budgeted for 6,000 metres, was extended due to promising early mineralization and drilling efficiencies while remaining within the allocated $4.5 million budget. Key targets included the Scottie Gold Mine, Blueberry Contact Zone, C and D Zones, and the 2023 outcrop discovery named the Golden Buckle Zone. President and CEO, Brad Rourke commented: "We are thrilled with the results of our 2024 drill campaign. Not only did we achieve significant mineralization and visible gold across several key targets, but we also stayed on budget, reflecting the efficiency and effectiveness of our team. With these results in hand and a robust financial position, we are well on track to deliver a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in early 2025." Next Steps As Scottie Resources progresses towards the release of its maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in Q1 2025, the Company will continue to focus on expanding its high-grade targets and evaluating new opportunities within the Golden Triangle. The results from this drill program affirm the significant upside potential of the Scottie Gold Mine Project. About the Scottie Gold Mine Project Exploration of the Scottie Gold Mine Project over the past 5 years has produced exceptional drill results through the discovery of high-grade gold in four new zones (Blueberry Contact Zone, Domino, D-Zone, P-Zone) and the expansion of previously drill confirmed targets (Scottie Gold Mine, C-Zone, Bend Vein, Stockwork). When depicted on a map of property scale geology there is a clear spatial relation between the outcropping and drill-confirmed high-grade gold targets and the contact with the Jurassic aged Texas Creek Plutonic suite intrusion. The new 2023 surface discovery (Golden Buckle Zone) of gold-rich vein style mineralization between the Scottie Gold Mine and the C & D-Zones further supports this relationship. Geological work in the area has established strong connections between the various deposits. The chemical, mineralogical, structural, and age relationships of the deposits and host rocks support a genetic model whereby all deposits are linked to the same mineralizing event. About the Blueberry Contact Zone The Blueberry Contact Zone is located just 2 kilometres northeast of the 100% owned, past-producing Scottie Gold Mine located in British Columbia, Canada's Golden Triangle region. Historic trenching and channel sampling of the Blueberry Vein include results of 103.94 g/t gold over 1.43 metres, and 203.75 g/t gold over 1.90 metres. Despite high-grade surficial samples and easy road access, the Blueberry Vein had only limited reported drilling prior to the Company's exploration work. The target was significantly advanced during Scottie's 2019 drill program when an interval grading 7.44 g/t gold over 34.78 metres was intersected in a new N-S oriented zone adjacent to the main Blueberry Vein. The drill results received from 2020 - 2023, coupled with surficial mapping and sampling suggest that the N-S mineralized trend is a first order structure that hosts an array of SW-trending, sub-parallel, sulphide-rich veins that obliquely crosscut it which host high-grade gold. As of the end of 2023, the extent of the N-S zone, defined by the contact between andesite and siltstone units of the Hazelton Formation and the presence of the cross-cutting sulfide-rich structures, has a drilled strike length of 1,550 metres and has been tested to >525 metres depth. The Blueberry Contact Zone is located on the Granduc Road, 20 kilometres north of the Ascot Resources' Premier Mine. Newmont's Brucejack Mine is located 25 kilometres to the north. Quality Assurance and Control Results from samples taken during the 2021-2024 field seasons were analyzed at SGS Minerals in Burnaby, BC. The sampling program was undertaken under the direction of Dr. Thomas Mumford. A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Gold was assayed using a fire assay with atomic absorption spectrometry and gravimetric finish when required (+9 g/t gold). Analysis by four acid digestion with multi-element ICP-AES analysis was conducted on all samples with silver and base metal over-limits being re-analyzed by emission spectrometry. Dr. Thomas Mumford, P.Geo., a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information contained in this news release on behalf of the Company. ABOUT SCOTTIE RESOURCES CORP. Scottie owns a 100% interest in the Scottie Gold Mine Property which includes the Blueberry Contact Zone and the high-grade, past-producing Scottie Gold Mine. Scottie also owns 100% interest in the Georgia Project which contains the high-grade past-producing Georgia River Mine, as well as the Cambria Project properties and the Sulu and Tide North properties. Altogether Scottie Resources holds approximately 58,500 hectares of mineral claims in the Stewart Mining Camp in the Golden Triangle. The Company's focus is on expanding the known mineralization around the past-producing mines while advancing near mine high-grade gold targets, with the purpose of delivering a potential resource. All of the Company's properties are located in the area known as the Golden Triangle of British Columbia which is among the world's most prolific mineralized districts. Forward Looking Statements This news release may contain forwardlooking 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 the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forwardlooking 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. Forwardlooking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date such statements were made. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements 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 the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release. September 26, 2024 TheNewswire - Vancouver, British Columbia - Pampa Metals Corp. (Pampa Metals or the Company) (CSE:PM / FSE:FIR / OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Oscar Nunez as Project Director Piuquenes and the appointment of Gladys Castro as Senior Geologist. Oscar Nunez Project Director Piuquenes Oscar Nunez is a San Juan based geologist with over 40 years experience in management positions across exploration, production and development. Oscar gained significant experience managing exploration programs in the San Juan high cordillera during his 17-year career at Barrick Exploration Argentina, including direct oversight of a >140,000-meter drill program during his time as Head of Project Lama. Oscar has assumed operational responsibility for the 2024/25 Piuquenes field season. Gladys Castro Senior Geologist Gladys Castro is a San Juan based geologist with over 15 years experience in copper-gold porphyry systems and was involved in an earlier exploration program at the Piuquenes project during her time at Anglo American. Gladys has also previously worked in the San Juan high cordillera with Barrick, and more recently served as a Senior Geologist on Sendero Resources Penas Negras project. Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: We are delighted to welcome Oscar and Gladys to our team, their enthusiasm and local operational and technical experience will prove valuable as we rapidly advance the Piuquenes Project. The Piuquenes project is a Company making asset and we are all looking forward to more fully delineating the size and grade potential of the first deposit during the 2024/25 field season and concurrently testing a second undrilled, outcropping porphyry at Piuquenes East. Desktop work to-date confirms the potential for a cluster of deposits along a trend, and we will advance several other targets this field season through surface exploration and possibly geophysics. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD INVESTOR CONTACT Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO Joseph van den Elsen | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ABOUT PAMPA METALS Pampa Metals is a copper-gold exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE: FIR), and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF) exchanges. In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina. Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 26, 2024) - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: PEX) (OTCQB: PEXZF) (FSE: PQWN) ("Pacific Ridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has completed its inaugural drill program at the Chuchi copper-gold project ("Chuchi" or the "Project"), and that copper mineralization was intersected in every drill hole. Chuchi is road accessible and is located 35 km to the northwest of Centerra Gold Inc.'s ("Centerra") Mount Milligan mine in B.C. (see Figure 1). Highlights: Pacific Ridge completed 2,716 m in five diamond drill holes over a 750 m strike length across the BP Zone ("BPZ") (see Figures 2 and 3). Every drill hole intersected alkalic porphyry copper mineralization consisting of chalcopyrite and pyrite hosted in breccias, veins, and as disseminated mineral replacements. The results will be released once the assays are received and compiled. The Company believes that the BPZ has excellent potential for continued expansion of alkalic porphyry copper mineralization along strike and at depth. BPZ is just one of several porphyry targets that occur within a six-kilometre north-northwest trend at Chuchi (see Pacific Ridge news release dated April 30th, 2024). A two-hour drive from Fort Saint James, the drill program was completely ground-supported. Quote "The last major drill program at the BP Zone was more than three decades ago," said Blaine Monaghan, President and CEO of Pacific Ridge. The Company believes that the BP Zone has significant, untested potential for porphyry copper-gold mineralization along strike and at depth as many of the historical drill holes were shallow and ended in mineralization. We look forward to reporting the assay results from our very first drill program at Chuchi." Figure 1 Location of Chuchi and Pacific Ridge's Other Copper-Gold Porphyry Projects Figure 2 Location of the BPZ and Other Targets at Chuchi 2024 Drill Hole Program Design The 2024 drill program was designed to test the interpretation that BPZ mineralization forms a tabular shaped body with a high degree of northeast-trending structural control, has a steep westward dip (eastward tilt), and is deep rooted. It appears to be related to a 550 m (E-W) x 500 m (N-S) x 600 m (depth) stock complex. This interpretation is based on combined 3D geophysical inversion models (ZTEM and IP), grade shell model of historical drilling, and historical work. Further, drilling tested for evidence that BPZ is structurally segmented with greater preservation potential in downthrown blocks towards the northeast. Over the 750 m strike length of BPZ tested in 2024, sulfide mineralization appears to follow a northeast trending corridor centered on the North Central ("NC") fault zone (see Figures 3 and 4). Brecciated and altered lithological contact zones around the monzodiorite porphyry complex are also identified as areas of enhanced mineralization. Figure 3 2024 BPZ Drill Holes in Plan View with 3D ZTEM Model in Background Figure 4 2024 Chuchi Drilling with 3D ZTEM Model in Background (450 m wide slice) and TMI Magnetics on Surface CH-24-070 (azimuth 090, inclination -70, length 603 m) was collared on a historical drill trail near the centre of the BPZ, within the mapped calc-potassic alteration domain, and near drill hole CH-91-40 which returned 40 m at 0.45% Cu and 0.41 g/t Au from 64 m depth (see Table 1). Figure 5 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-070 at 406.0-406.5 m (See A in Figure 4) CH-24-071 (azimuth 088, inclination -80, length 577 m) was collared on a historical drill trail at the southern end of the BPZ, within the mapped potassic alteration domain, and in the area of historical drill hole CH-89-07 which returned 16 m at 0.71% Cu and 1.32 g/t Au within 100 m of 0.27% Cu and 0.37 g/t Au from 38 m depth (see Table 1). Figure 6 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-071 at 85.0 m (See B in Figure 4) CH-24-072 (azimuth 090, inclination -75, length 600 m) was collared on a historical drill trail at the southwestern side of the BP Zone, within the mapped calc-potassic alteration domain, and in the area of historical drill hole CH-90-27 which returned 70 m at 0.31% Cu and 0.34 g/t Au within 194 m of 0.21% Cu and 0.21 g/t Au from 32 m depth (see Table 1). Figure 7 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-072 at 388-389 m (See C in Figure 4) CH-24-073 (azimuth 036, inclination -55, length 588 m) was collared on a historical drill trail near the centre of the BPZ, within the mapped calc-potassic alteration domain. The in-field drill hole design was based on observations from the first three drill holes and on the identification of a previously unused drill trail that was optimally located to test the predicted high-grade core of the BPZ from numeric modelling of historical drilling results. Figure 8 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-073 at 505.0 m (See D in Figure 4) CH-24-074 (azimuth 300, inclination -70, length 348 m) was collared on a historical drill trail on the northeastern side of the BPZ, within the mapped calc-potassic alteration domain, and near historical drill hole CH-90-30 which returned 74 m at 0.26% Cu and 0.13 g/t Au from 182 m depth (see Table 1). Drilling tested the predicted core zone of the historical drilling results grade shell model. Figure 9 Chalcopyrite-Pyrite Mineralization in CH-24-074 at 305.0 m (See E in Figure 4) Table Historical Drill Highlights1 Hole No. From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) CuEq (%)2 AuEq (g/t)3 CH-89-07 38.0 138.0 100.0 0.27 0.37 0.51 0.76 Includes 82.0 98.0 16.0 0.71 1.32 1.60 2.37 CH-90-27 32.0 226.0 194.0 0.21 0.21 0.35 0.52 Includes 156.0 226.0 70.0 0.31 0.34 0.54 0.80 CH-90-30 98.0 256.0 158.0 0.22 0.10 0.29 0.43 Includes 182.0 256.0 74.0 0.26 0.13 0.35 0.52 CH-90-33 54.0 304.5 250.50 0.21 0.12 0.29 0.44 Includes 64.0 152.0 88.0 0.36 0.21 0.51 0.75 CH-90-37 54.3 262.1 207.8 0.22 0.12 0.30 0.45 Includes 110.0 154.0 44.0 0.35 0.18 0.47 0.70 CH-91-40 50.0 130.0 80.0 0.30 0.29 0.49 0.73 Includes 50.0 114.0 64.0 0.35 0.33 0.57 0.85 Includes 64.0 104.0 40.0 0.45 0.41 0.73 1.08 CH-91-42 91.4 320.6 229.2 0.10 0.61 0.51 0.76 Includes 94.0 144.0 50.0 0.09 2.10 1.50 2.23 Includes 94.0 122.0 28.0 0.07 3.61 2.49 3.70 And 200.0 242.0 42.0 0.13 0.55 0.50 0.74 CH-19-003 91.5 411.0 319.5 0.16 0.14 0.25 0.37 Includes 341.0 401.0 60.0 0.26 0.24 0.42 0.63 1Sources include: Chuchi project historical drilling database; also reported in BC Geological Survey (Branch) Assessment Reports 20018 (CH-89-7), 21113 (CH-90-27, CH-90-30, CH-90-33, CH-90-37), unpublished Placer Dome Inc. database (CH-91-40, CH-91-42), 39061 (CH-19-003). The Company has not independently validated all historic work, and the reader is cautioned about its accuracy. 2CuEq = ((Cu%) x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Au(g/t) x AuR/CuR x $Au x 0.032151) / ($Cu x 22.0462). 3AuEq = ((Au(g/t) x $Au x 0.032151) + ((Cu%) x CuR/AuR x $Cu x 22.0462) / ($Au x 0.032151). Commodity prices: $Cu = US$3.25/lb and $Au = US$1,800/oz. There has been no metallurgical testing on Chuchi mineralization. The Company estimates copper recoveries (CuR) of 84%, and gold recoveries (AuR) of 70% based on the average recoveries from Kemess Underground, Mount Milligan, and Red Chris. Factors: 22.0462 = Cu% to lbs per tonne and 0.032151 = Au g/t to troy oz per tonne. End of hole About Chuchi Chuchi is over 160 km2 in size and comprises three mineral tenure blocks, Chuchi, under option from Centerra, and Chuchi South and Chuchi West, under option from American Copper Development Corporation (ACDX: TSXV) and a private individual. The Project is road accessible and is located 35 km northwest of Centerra's Mount Milligan mine. The Project has seen less than 15,360 metres (89 drill holes) of historical drilling to an average vertical depth of 140 m. Most of this drilling was completed in 1989-1991. Chuchi hosts several compelling exploration targets within a six-kilometre-long porphyry trend, including the BPZ. The Company believes that Chuchi has significant untested potential for porphyry copper-gold mineralization at depth as many of the historic drill holes were shallow and ended in mineralization. Further, the porphyry centre has yet to be identified. About Pacific Ridge Our goal is to become B.C.'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 also includes the Chuchi copper-gold project, the 100% owned RDP copper-gold project, the 100% owned Onjo copper-gold project, and the 100% owned 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. 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 Danette Schwab, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration, and a 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 geological descriptions of the 2,716 m drill program at Chuchi. 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 because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westhaven Gold Corp. (TSX-V:WHN) (Westhaven or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. (the Agent) to act as sole agent and bookrunner in connection with a best efforts, private placement (the "Marketed Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 from the sale of the following: 10,000,000 units of the Company (each, a Unit ) at a price of C$0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$1,500,000 from the sale of Units; and ) at a price of C$0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$1,500,000 from the sale of Units; and gross proceeds of up to C$3,500,000 from the sale of any combination of (i) common shares of the Company that will quality as flow-through shares within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a Traditional FT Share) at a price of C$0.175 per Traditional FT Share and (ii) flow-through units of the Company to be sold to charitable purchasers (each, a Charity FT Unit, and collectively with the Units and Traditional FT Shares, the Offered Securities) at a price of C$0.22 per Charity FT Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a Unit Share) and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Charity FT Unit will consist of one Traditional FT Share and one half of one Warrant. Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a Warrant Share) at a price of C$0.22 at any time on or before that date which is 24 months after the closing date of the Offering (as defined below). The Agent will have an option, exercisable in full or in part, up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional C$1,000,000 in any combination of Units, Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units at their respective offering prices (the Agents Option and together with the Marketed Offering, the Offering). Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (NI 45-106), those Units, Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units representing gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 (the LIFE Securities) will be offered for sale to purchasers in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan (the Canadian Selling Jurisdictions) pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption). The Unit Shares, Traditional FT Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable pursuant to the sale of the LIFE Securities are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. The Units may also be sold in offshore jurisdictions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act"), as amended. Any Units and Charity FT Units sold in excess of gross proceeds of C$5,000,000 as well as the Traditional FT Shares (collectively, the Non-LIFE Securities) will be offered by way of the accredited investor and minimum amount investment exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Canadian Selling Jurisdictions, or in the case of the Units, also in offshore jurisdictions and the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The Unit Shares, Traditional FT Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable from the sale of Non-LIFE Securities will be subject to a hold period ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the closing date of the Offering under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Units for working capital and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Traditional FT Shares and the Charity FT Units will be used for Canadian exploration expenses on the Companys mineral projects in British Columbia and will qualify as flow-through mining expenditures, as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Qualifying Expenditures), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2025 and renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024 in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units. The Offering is scheduled to close on or around October 15, 2024, or such other date as the Company and the Agent may agree, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company will pay to the Agent a cash commission of 6% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering (the Agents Commission). In addition, the Company will issue to the Agent warrants of the Company (each warrant, a Broker Warrant), exercisable for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date, to acquire in aggregate that number of common shares of the Company which is equal to 6% of the number of Offered Securities sold under the Offering at an exercise price equal to C$0.15 per Common Share. There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Companys website at www.westhavengold.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. To the extent that any directors and/or officers the Company participate in the Offering, such participation will constitute a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company expects any participation by directors and officers in the Offering will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 based on the fact that neither the fair market value of the Units, Traditional FT Shares or Charity FT Units subscribed for by directors and officers, nor the consideration for such securities to be paid by them, will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, as amended, or any state securities law, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. On behalf of the Board of Directors WESTHAVEN GOLD CORP. Gareth Thomas Gareth Thomas, President, CEO & Director 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 Westhaven Gold Corp. Westhaven is a gold-focused exploration company advancing the high-grade discovery on the Shovelnose project in Canadas newest gold district, the Spences Bridge Gold Belt. Westhaven controls 60,950 hectares (609.5 square kilometres) with four gold properties spread along this underexplored belt. The Shovelnose property is situated off a major highway, near power, rail, large producing mines, and within commuting distance from the city of Merritt, which translates into low-cost exploration. Westhaven trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol WHN. For further information, please call 604-681-5558 or visit Westhavens website at www.westhavengold.com Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws, which is based upon the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company's expectations with respect to the Offering; the use of proceeds of the Offering; completion of the Offering and the date of such completion. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "potential", "is expected", "anticipated", "is targeted", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information 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 the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, and without limitation: that the Offering may not close within the timeframe anticipated or at all or may not close on the terms and conditions currently anticipated by the Company for a number of reasons including, without limitation, as a result of the occurrence of a material adverse change, disaster, change of law or other failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Offering; the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to complete its planned exploration program; that the Company will not derive the expected benefits from its current program; the Company may not use the proceeds of the Offering as currently contemplated; the Company may fail to find a commercially viable deposit at any of its mineral properties; the Companys plans may be adversely affected by the Companys reliance on historical data compiled by previous parties involved with its mineral properties; mineral exploration and development are inherently risky industries; the mineral exploration industry is intensely competitive; additional financing may not be available to the Company when required or, if available, the terms of such financing may not be favourable to the Company; fluctuations in the demand for gold or gold prices generally; the Company may not be able to identify, negotiate or finance any future acquisitions successfully, or to integrate such acquisitions with its current business; the Companys exploration activities are dependent upon the grant of appropriate licenses, concessions, leases, permits and regulatory consents, which may be withdrawn or not granted; the Companys operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; there is no guarantee that title to the properties in which the Company has a material interest will not be challenged or impugned; the Company faces various risks associated with mining exploration that are not insurable or may be the subject of insurance which is not commercially feasible for the Company; the volatility of global capital markets over the past several years has generally made the raising of capital more difficult; inflationary cost pressures may escalate the Companys operating costs; compliance with environmental regulations can be costly; social and environmental activism can negatively impact exploration, development and mining activities; the success of the Company is largely dependent on the performance of its directors and officers; the Companys operations may be adversely affected by First Nations land claims; the Company and/or its directors and officers may be subject to a variety of legal proceedings, the results of which may have a material adverse effect on the Companys business; the Company may be adversely affected if potential conflicts of interests involving its directors and officers are not resolved in favour of the Company; the Companys future profitability may depend upon the world market prices of gold; dilution from future equity financing could negatively impact holders of the Companys securities; failure to adequately meet infrastructure requirements could have a material adverse effect on the Companys business; the Companys projects now or in the future may be adversely affected by risks outside the control of the Company; the Company is subject to various risks associated with climate change, the Company is subject to general global risks arising from epidemic diseases, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising inflation and interest rates and the impact they will have on the Companys operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, supplies, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all is uncertain; as well as other risk factors in the Companys other public filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in the Companys expectations, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this offering document is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. US President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged all countries to stop arming rival generals in Sudan, whose bloody war has triggered a major humanitarian crisis. "The world needs to stop arming the generals. Speak with one voice and tell them: 'Stop tearing your country apart. Stop blocking aid to the Sudanese people. End this war now,'" Biden told the UN General Assembly. The address came one day after Biden met in Washington with the leader of the United Arab Emirates, widely accused of arming the Rapid Support Forces, which the United States says has carried out war crimes against the ethnic African population of Darfur. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking before Biden, voiced frustration at the role of foreign powers in the "brutal power struggle" in Sudan that has "unleashed horrific violence." "A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads. Yet outside powers continue to interfere, with no unified approach to finding peace," Guterres said. Biden pointed to US efforts to mediate the crisis. A US-led conference in Switzerland last month led to limited promises by the two sides on aid access. "The United States has led the world to provide humanitarian aid to Sudan, and with our partners, have led diplomatic talks to try to silence the guns and... avert a wider famine," Biden said. The United States has quietly pressed the United Arab Emirates over support to the Rapid Support Forces, according to diplomats. In a joint statement on Monday, Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said they shared concerns about "the risk of imminent atrocities" in Darfur. They urged all sides to "comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law." Sudan's army has also allegedly received foreign support in its fight against the Rapid Support Forces, including from Iran. The World Health Organization said this month at least 20,000 people have been killed since the war began, but some estimates show up to 150,000 dead, according to US envoy on Sudan Tom Perriello. The war has also displaced more than 10 million people -- a fifth of Sudan's population -- both within the country and across borders. A UN-backed assessment has warned of the risk of widespread famine in Sudan on a scale not seen anywhere in the world in decades. Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of his country becoming an "alternative homeland" for the Palestinians, warning that their forced displacement by Israel would be a "war crime." Speaking during a gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, King Abdullah said "the idea of Jordan as an alternative homeland (for Palestinians)... will never happen." He said he was responding to proposals floated by "extremists who are taking our region to the brink of an all-out war." Jordan, which borders the West Bank and Israel and has a large Palestinian population, "will never accept the forced displacement of Palestinians, which is a war crime," King Abdullah said. The monarch urged the international community to join "a massive relief effort to deliver food, clean water, medicine and other vital supplies" to the Gaza Strip, where nearly a year of war has triggered "unprecedented suffering." "I urge all nations of conscience to unite with Jordan in the critical weeks ahead on this mission," he said. "Our world has failed politically, but our humanity must not fail the people of Gaza any longer." US President Joe Biden asked world leaders Tuesday to prevent "full-scale war" over Lebanon, as clashes escalated between Israel and Hezbollah, prompting the UN chief to warn of a situation "on the brink." The UN General Assembly, the high point of the diplomatic calendar, comes as Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes killed 558 people -- 50 of them children. "Full-scale war is not in anyone's interest. Even though the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible," Biden said in his farewell address to the global body. "In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely," Biden said. Biden also pushed again for an elusive ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, telling the global body it was time to "end this war." Mediator Qatar accused Israel of obstructing talks, with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani saying "there is no Israeli partner for peace" under the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. But he added: "We will continue our efforts of mediation to resolve the disputes through peaceful means." UN Security Council member France called for an emergency meeting on the crisis, and the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell warned "we are almost in a full-fledged war." "We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran -- which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas -- condemned the "senseless and incomprehensible" inaction by the UN against Israel, as Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of dragging the entire region "into war". "Not only children but also the UN system is dying in Gaza," Erdogan said. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has opposed a ground invasion into Lebanon. A senior official said ahead of Biden's speech that the United States would bring "concrete" ideas for de-escalation to the UN. It is unclear what progress can be made to defuse the situation in Lebanon as the efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, which Israel has relentlessly pounded since October 2023, have come to nothing. Guterres cautioned against "the possibility of transforming Lebanon (into) another Gaza," calling the situation in the embattled Palestinian territory a "non-stop nightmare." - 'Charade of hypocrisy' - Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon hit back at the UN chief, calling the General Assembly debate an "annual charade of hypocrisy." "When the UN Secretary General speaks about the release of our hostages, the UN assembly is silent, but when he speaks about the suffering in Gaza, he receives thunderous applause," Danon said. Since last year's annual gathering, when Sudan's civil war and Russia's Ukraine invasion dominated, the world has faced an explosion of crises. The October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Israel and the ensuing violence in the Middle East has exposed deep divisions in the global body. Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group think tank said he expected many leaders to "warn that the UN will become irrelevant globally if it cannot help make peace." Palestinian president Abbas took his seat alongside the Palestinian delegation, placed in alphabetical order in the General Assembly for the first time after the delegation received upgraded privileges in May. At the rostrum, Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday ruled out the forced displacement by Israel of Palestinians to his country, which he said would be a "war crime." "The idea of Jordan as an alternative homeland (for Palestinians)... will never happen," he said. - Ukraine - Ukraine will also be on the agenda Tuesday when President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a UN Security Council meeting on the Russian invasion. Biden said that Russian President Vladimir "Putin's war has failed at its core aim. He set out to destroy Ukraine, but Ukraine is still free." Despite lofty speeches, it was uncertain what the grand diplomatic gathering can achieve for the millions mired in conflict, poverty and climate crises globally. "Any real diplomacy to reduce tensions will take place behind the scenes," Gowan said. World leaders lined up at the United Nations on Tuesday to call on Israel to refrain from a full-scale war in Lebanon, with the organization's chief warning the situation was on the "brink." The UN General Assembly, the high point of the international diplomatic calendar, comes after Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes had killed 558 people -- 50 of them children. "Full-scale war is not in anyone's interest. Even though the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible," US President Joe Biden said in his farewell address to the global body. "In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely," Biden said ahead of an emergency UN Security Council session on Lebanon planned for Wednesday. Biden's remarks drew disappointment from Lebanon's foreign minister Abdullah Bou Habib who said they were "not promising" and "would not solve the Lebanese problem," as he estimated that the number of people displaced by Israel's strikes has likely soared to reach half a million. "We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said when he opened the gathering. Israel's ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said his country was "not eager" for a ground invasion of Lebanon. "We don't want to send our boys to fight in a foreign country," he said. - 'End this war' - It is unclear what progress can be made to defuse the situation in Lebanon, with efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza -- which Israel has relentlessly pounded since October 2023 -- coming to nothing. Biden on Tuesday pushed again for an elusive ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, telling the global body it was time to "end this war." Mediator Qatar accused Israel of obstructing Gaza ceasefire talks, with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani saying "there is no Israeli partner for peace" under the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. But he added: "We will continue our efforts of mediation to resolve the disputes through peaceful means." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of dragging the entire region "into war." "Not only children but also the UN system is dying in Gaza," Erdogan said in a scathing speech. Guterres cautioned against "the possibility of transforming Lebanon (into) another Gaza," calling the situation in the Palestinian territory a "non-stop nightmare." European Council President Charles Michel said that Israel had the right to exist and defend itself but without inflicting "collective punishment" on civilians living in areas targeted by its military. President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran -- which backs Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza -- condemned "senseless and incomprehensible" inaction by the UN against Israel. - 'Charade of hypocrisy' - British foreign minister David Lammy also sounded the alarm over the escalating violence in Lebanon. "I am very worried about the risk of escalation, and this breaking into a wider regional conflict," he told AFP as Britain announced it was deploying military units to Cyprus to assist with any evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon. Responding to criticism of Israel, Danon called the General Assembly debate an "annual charade of hypocrisy." Since last year's annual gathering, when Sudan's civil war and Russia's Ukraine invasion dominated, the world has faced an explosion of crises. The October 7 attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people and prompted a military response in Gaza that authorities say has killed at least 41,467 people. Militants also seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Violence has raged across multiple fronts in the Middle East since the crisis erupted, with the conflict exposing deep divisions at the UN. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas took his seat alongside the Palestinian delegation, placed in alphabetical order in the General Assembly for the first time on Tuesday after the delegation received upgraded privileges in May. At the rostrum, Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday ruled out the forced displacement by Israel of Palestinians to his country, which he said would be a "war crime." Ukraine was also on the agenda Tuesday with President Volodymyr Zelensky addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the Russian invasion. "Russia can only be forced into peace, and that is exactly what's needed -- forcing Russia into peace," Zelensky said. US President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged all countries to cut off weapons supplies to rival generals in Sudan, as the UN chief said he regretted inaction in stopping a war that has triggered a major humanitarian crisis. "The world needs to stop arming the generals. Speak with one voice and tell them: 'Stop tearing your country apart. Stop blocking aid to the Sudanese people. End this war now,'" Biden told the UN General Assembly. The address came one day after Biden met in Washington with the leader of the United Arab Emirates, widely accused of arming the Rapid Support Forces, which the United States says has carried out war crimes against the ethnic African population of Darfur. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking before Biden, voiced frustration at the role of foreign powers in the "brutal power struggle" in Sudan that has "unleashed horrific violence." "A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads. Yet outside powers continue to interfere, with no unified approach to finding peace," Guterres said. Biden pointed to US efforts to mediate the crisis. A US-led conference in Switzerland last month led to limited promises by the two sides on aid access. "The United States has led the world to provide humanitarian aid to Sudan, and with our partners, have led diplomatic talks to try to silence the guns and... avert a wider famine," Biden said. The United States has quietly pressed the United Arab Emirates over support to the Rapid Support Forces, whose fighters worked with Abu Dhabi in an offensive against Yemen's Iranian-backed Huthi insurgents, according to diplomats. Biden nonetheless designated the United Arab Emirates as a "major defense partner." Abu Dhabi has worked closely with the United States on other issues and won Washington's praise for the landmark step of recognizing Israel in 2020. In a joint statement on Monday, Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said they shared concerns about "the risk of imminent atrocities" in Darfur. They urged all sides to "comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law." - Major humanitarian crisis - Sudan's army has also allegedly received foreign support in its fight against the Rapid Support Forces, including from Iran. Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani -- whose wealthy nation has been comparatively less involved in Sudan than its rivals -- called for international efforts to "ensure the unity of state institutions and the sovereignty and stability of Sudan." The World Health Organization said this month at least 20,000 people have been killed since the war began. But some estimates are far higher, with the US envoy on Sudan, Tom Perriello, saying that up to 150,000 people may have died -- a toll far above that in the more closely watched conflict in Gaza. The war has also displaced more than 10 million people -- a fifth of Sudan's population -- both within the country and across borders. A UN-backed assessment has warned of the risk of widespread famine in Sudan on a scale not seen anywhere in the world in decades. World leaders expressed alarm Tuesday over the prospect of a wider war after Lebanon suffered its deadliest day in two decades after Israeli air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds. After nearly a year of cross-border fire since the Gaza war erupted, Israeli bombardment on Monday killed 558 people in Lebanon, including 50 children, according to the country's health ministry. The toll, the highest since Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah went to war in mid-2006, raised fears of an all-out conflict engulfing the Middle East. - 'Nonstop nightmare': UN - "Lebanon is at the brink," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said before the United Nations General Assembly in New York. "Gaza is a nonstop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it," he said, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian territories. "Look no further than Lebanon." Guterres is "gravely alarmed by the escalating situation... and the large number of civilian casualties, including children and women", his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes yesterday and overnight, and the numbers continue to grow," UN refugee agency spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said in Geneva. - 'Spiral of violence': US - The United States, Israel's closest ally, urged against any Israeli ground invasion targeting Hezbollah. "We obviously do not believe that a ground invasion of Lebanon is going to contribute to reducing tensions in the region, to preventing an escalatory spiral of violence," a senior US official said Monday on condition of anonymity. - 'Full-fledged war': EU - "We are almost in a full-fledged war," EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said Monday. "We're seeing more military strikes, more damage, more collateral damage, more victims... Everybody has to put all their capacity to stop this," he said. - 'Another Gaza': Iran - "We must not allow Lebanon to become another Gaza at the hands of Israel," Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told CNN when asked if Tehran would use its influence with Hezbollah to urge restraint. "Hezbollah cannot stand alone against a country that is being defended and supported and supplied by Western countries, by European countries and the United States," he said. - 'Attacks against civilians': China - China's top diplomat Wang Yi said: "We pay close attention to developments in the region, especially the recent explosion of communications equipment in Lebanon, and firmly oppose indiscriminate attacks against civilians." Later Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing was "deeply shocked by the relevant military actions that have caused a large number of casualties". - 'War crimes': OIC - The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is headquartered in the Saudi city of Jeddah, denounced the strikes as "an extension of ongoing Israeli war crimes and a violation of international law" and UN resolutions. The OIC said it held Israel "fully responsible for this dangerous escalation, which threatens the security and stability of the entire region". - 'Israeli escalation': Jordan - Jordan's King Abdullah II called on the international community to take action to stop the "danger of Israeli escalation" in Lebanon and "protect innocent civilians... before the region is dragged into a comprehensive regional war". In a phone call with the Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the king said that "stopping the escalation in the region begins with an immediate end to the war on Gaza", according to a palace statement. - 'Brink of the abyss': Qatar - In a statement Tuesday, Qatar "condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli aggression on Lebanon". A key mediator in talks on reaching a Gaza truce, Qatar said the escalation "puts the region on the brink of the abyss and exposes it to more tensions". - 'Complete destabilisation': Russia - Russia called the strikes "an event that is potentially very dangerous", risking the expansion of the conflict and "complete destabilisation of the region", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Of course that causes us extreme concern and worry," Peskov said. burs-sbk/tw/ju/js Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 25, Great Wall Motor's HAVAL brand officially put the second-generation HAVAL H9, the flagship model in its new family-oriented off-road vehicle category, onto the market. Photo credit: HAVAL The new vehicle offers three petrol-powered variants, each priced lower by 6,000 yuan compared to pre-sale prices. To be specific, the Jijing ("Extreme") edition is priced at 229,900 yuan, the Tuojing ("Explore") edition at 215,900 yuan, and the Tanjing ("Adventure") edition at 199,900 yuan. In terms of exterior design, the second-generation HAVAL H9 adopts the latest family style, featuring a bold, boxy appearance. The front end is characterized by a large grille with thick horizontal chrome accents and a prominent "HAVAL" logo, flanked by distinct LED headlights. The sculpted hood lines and wide front bumper further enhance the vehicle's rugged and muscular look. Photo credit: HAVAL The new SUV's side profile emphasizes straight lines, with slightly flared wheel arches and multi-spoke rims adding to its off-road aesthetic. Additionally, blacked-out roof rails, window frames, and side skirts give the vehicle a more modern and stylish appearance. At the rear, vertically arranged LED taillights and a rear-mounted spare tire enhance its distinctive look. Notably, the vehicle comes with towing capability, an approach angle of 31, a departure angle of 26, and a ground clearance of 224 mm when unloaded. Photo credit: HAVAL Inside, the second-generation HAVAL H9 also reflects the brand's latest design language. The cabin features a dual-tone color scheme and extensive use of soft-touch materials on the dashboard and door panels, creating a more refined interior atmosphere. The vehicle comes equipped with a fully digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen (with 540-degree camera view), and a multifunctional steering wheel, adding to its tech-savvy appeal. The center console retains physical buttons and knobs for enhanced practicality. The new HAVAL H9 offers eight pre-configured modification points, including spaces for a detachable grille, front and rear bumpers, fender flares, skid plates, a snorkel, a front winch, a floating roof rack, and a secondary fuel tank. It also boasts a towing capacity of up to 2.5 tonnes. Photo credit: HAVAL Built on the off-roader-dedicated TANK platform, the second-generation HAVAL H9 features a body-on-frame design. The variant with an exterior-mounted spare tire measures 5,070mm long, 1,976mm wide, and 1,930mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm, while the version with a rear storage box measures 4,950mm (5,000mm) long, 1,960mm (1,976mm) wide, and 1,930 mm tall, with the same wheelbase of 2,850 mm. Photo credit: HAVAL The new HAVAL H9 is equipped with a range of advanced off-road features, including seven driving modes, TOD intelligent four-wheel drive, Mlock mechanical locks, and electronic differential locks on both the front and rear axles, providing excellent adaptability to various challenging terrains. Under the hood, the second-generation HAVAL H9 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering a maximum output of 165 kW. It also includes off-road capabilities such as an all-terrain control system, low-speed four-wheel drive, and a tank turn feature. Norwegian police on Wednesday said they had arrested a man on suspicion of incitement to commit crimes against humanity in Cameroon, with sources identifying him to AFP as separatist leader Lucas Cho Ayaba. The Kripos police unit that deals with war crimes and crimes against humanity said in a statement that it had arrested "a man in his 50s" on Tuesday, but did not name him. "Kripos considers that the suspect is playing a central role in the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon," it added. Cameroon has been gripped for years by a conflict in its two anglophone regions, in the northwest and southwest, between separatists and the state. The anglophone community, which has long complained of marginalisation and discrimination, makes up about 20 percent of the largely-francophone central African country. Ayaba is the leader of the Ambazonia Defence Forces, one of the main armed groups operating in the anglophone areas. According to a source in the communications ministry and a lawyer representing victims of the armed conflict, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Ayaba was the man arrested. The 52-year-old, a former student union activist in the 1990s, holds German nationality. It was the first time that Norway arrested someone on suspicion of inciting crimes against humanity. If convicted, he could face 30 years in prison. Norwegian police on Wednesday said they had arrested a man on suspicion of incitement to commit crimes against humanity in Cameroon, where a radio station identified him as "separatist leader" Lucas Cho Ayaba. The Kripos police unit that deals with war crimes and crimes against humanity said in a statement that it had arrested "a man in his 50s" on Tuesday, but did not name him. "Norwegian police have arrested the separatist leader Lucas Cho Ayaba. He is implicated in atrocities committed in the northwest and southwest," said CRTV radio station. Two sources had earlier told AFP that Ayaba, 52, was the man arrested. Cameroon has been gripped since 2016 by a bloody conflict in its two anglophone regions, in the northwest and southwest, between separatists and state forces. The conflict was sparked by the brutal suppression of peaceful protests in the anglophone regions by long-time President Paul Biya. "Kripos considers that the suspect is playing a central role in the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon," the Norwegian police statement said. The anglophone community, which has long complained of marginalisation and discrimination, makes up about 20 percent of the largely-francophone central African country. Ayaba is the leader of the Ambazonia Defence Forces, one of the main armed groups operating in the anglophone areas. International NGOs accuse both the armed separatists and government forces of abuses. More than 6,000 people have been killed and at least a million displaced during the conflict, the International Crisis Group has said. A lawyer representing victims of the conflict filed a complaint in the United States against Ayaba and the Norwegian state. In February, the lawyer, Emmanuel Nsahlai, also petitioned the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation. Ayaba was a former student union activist in the 1990s and holds German nationality. It was the first time that Norway had arrested someone on suspicion of inciting crimes against humanity. If convicted, he could face 30 years in prison. Relatives of 43 Mexican students presumed to have been massacred will take to the streets on Thursday for an emotionally charged protest marking the 10th anniversary of a tragedy that shocked the nation. The case, one of the violence-plagued country's worst human rights atrocities, has become emblematic of a missing persons crisis that has seen more than 100,000 people disappear. "A decade later, we are still far from knowing the truth and the students' whereabouts," said Vidulfo Rosales, a lawyer for the families. Days before Claudia Sheinbaum takes oath as Mexico's first woman president on October 1, thousands of relatives, students and other protesters are expected to march through Mexico City shouting their slogan: "Alive they took them! Alive we want them!" But 10 years later, the focus has turned to finding the students' remains as well as the truth about who was responsible, in a nation where criminal violence has claimed more than 450,000 lives since 2006. So far, the remains of only three of the missing students from the Ayotzinapa rural teacher training college in the southern state of Guerrero have been found and identified. The families hold the ruling left-wing party of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador -- a close ally of Sheinbaum -- responsible for the failure to locate the remainder. "We believe this president lied to us. This president deceived us," Maria Elena Guerrero, the mother of one of the missing, said at one of a series of events marking the somber anniversary. Hilda Hernandez, whose son also disappeared, said the authorities are "trying to wear down the parents," hoping they forget. "But despite every attempt to divide and discredit, without rest or reprieve the parents continue to demand truth, justice and accountability," she said. - President defends record - Lopez Obrador defended his record in a letter sent to parents this week that underscored the prosecution of 151 people -- including 16 military personnel -- and the imprisonment of 120 people, as well as searches of hundreds of sites. "There is no evidence that the army participated in the disappearance of the young people," Lopez Obrador said at a news conference Wednesday, adding that military commanders had cooperated in the investigation. The students from the Ayotzinapa college -- whose members have a history of political activism -- had commandeered buses to travel to a demonstration in Mexico City when they went missing. Investigators believe they were abducted by a drug cartel with the help of corrupt police, although exactly what happened next is unclear. The so-called "historical truth" -- an official version of the case presented in 2015 under then-president Enrique Pena Nieto -- was widely discredited, notably the theory that the remains were incinerated at a garbage dump. In 2022, a truth commission set up by Lopez Obrador's government branded the case a "state crime" and said the military shared responsibility, either directly or through negligence. The commission found that the army was aware of what was happening and had real-time information about the kidnapping and disappearance. One theory it put forward was that cartel members targeted the students because they had unknowingly taken a bus with drugs hidden inside. On Tuesday, protesters demonstrated outside the Senate, throwing firecrackers to express the anger also voiced by frustrated relatives. "For many of us, these 10 years represent impunity, injustice and a lack of commitment, seriousness and significant progress in this investigation," said Meliton Ortega, whose nephew is one of the missing. For four hours on the afternoon of September 18th and one more the following morning, retired Colonel Hernan Mejia Gutierrez sat silently not far from the man who, two decades ago, was his number two in the La Popa No. 2 Artillery Battalion, in charge of security in a vast cattle-raising and coal mining area flanked by mountains in Colombias Caribbean region, near the Venezuelan border. Heber Hernan Gomez Naranjo, also a retired colonel, recounted how Mejia pushed since early 2002 for soldiers and officers in the military unit he presided to present the bodies of a dozen unidentified persons as false combat kills. My colonel, you talk a lot about honour. I dont think its honourable to give orders to your subordinates and then turn your back on them and wash your hands, he told him, the only moment that he addressed him directly. The scene took place in a small courtroom in the scorching city of Valledupar. It was the opening of the first adversarial trial conducted by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the judicial arm of Colombias transitional justice system stemming from the 2016 peace deal with the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla. Mejia is accused of being involved in 72 extrajudicial executions between 2002 and 2003. The two former high-ranking Colombian army officers have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, but represent two opposites of the countrys transitional model. While Mejia chose not to acknowledge his role in the scandal known by the euphemism of false positives, his interlocutor was one of the 12 military from the La Popa battalion who accepted the JEPs charges. But after admitting his role during a public hearing in Valledupar in 2022 and apologising to victims, Gomez Naranjo is set to receive a more lenient sanction than his former boss will receive if defeated in the trial running until later this year. After admitting his guilt at a public hearing in Valledupar (north-east Colombia) in 2022 and apologising to the victims, Colonel Hernan Gomez Naranjo (centre) recounts how his superior Mejia (left) asked for unidentified bodies to be presented as fake deaths in combat. Photo: JEP The JEPs first adversarial trial The JEPs first adversarial trial has been very different from what Colombians have seen so far from the special tribunal. Instead of carefully choreographed public hearings in which former members of the military or FARC listened to the painful accounts of dozens of victims and admitted their participation in extrajudicial executions or kidnappings, the trial against Mejia has a staccato rhythm more typical of an ordinary criminal trial, with the fragmentary responses and small theatricalities of interrogations and cross-examinations. Its also not taking place in a large auditorium decorated with giant photos of victims and filled with their relatives. In the anodyne courtroom on the fifth floor of Valledupars tallest building, only ten victims silently follow the judicial proceedings, some of them wearing their relatives faces printed on T-shirts. Their voices are only heard when one of them takes the stand to testify, as when Alith Pacheco narrated how his brother Anuar de Armas was killed in February 2004 by paramilitaries of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) and his body presented by the army as a National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel killed in combat. The windows reveal five overlapping layers of emerald green to greyish purple foothills, as the countrys highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, rises. But its not an ordinary criminal trial either. It wasnt decided until a week before it would be public, as the defence and the JEPs own prosecutors office requested that it be kept confidential. The three justices who will rule on it decided however that the transitional justices principle of publicity prevailed and ordered a live broadcast which reached 19,700 views except when theres a security risk for a witness. It was also unclear whether victims lawyers would be able to intervene, something that the criminal justice system excludes but that the JEP has favoured. Mejias defence and the Inspector Generals Office opposed it, and after the justices decision allowing it, the defence appealed. Mejia, emblematic figure of the false positives During the trials first three days, Colonel Mejia remained unmoved, his hands forming a triangle on the table, or his arms folded. From time to time, hed jot something in his notebook. The rest of the time his gaze remained fixed, inscrutable, on the witness stand to his left. He spoke only once. Your Honour, as I have said and I reiterate, for the truth and the history that the JEP must reconstruct for this country, for the respect of victims and dignity of the institutions, I do not accept the charges brought against me. I cannot accept what I never did, he said at the outset, dressed in a grey pinstripe suit and blue tie. To most Colombians, Mejia has been one of the emblematic figures of the false positives. Considered one of the armys most decorated officers and holder of five public order medals, Mejia was relieved of his post in January 2007 by Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos, during the administration of Alvaro Uribe, in one of the first corrective measures before the scandal broke publicly. It was also the first time in history that a defence minister publicly acknowledged the links of a senior active military officer with paramilitaries. His case was referred to the Attorney Generals Office following a whistle-blower complaint by one of his subordinates, in Santos words, over possible links to paramilitarism, human rights violations, casualties that may not be the result of military operations, and acts of corruption. Six years later, he was sentenced by the ordinary justice system to 19 years in prison for links to paramilitaries. Years later, the political faction led by Uribe started using his case to oppose peace negotiations with FARC, disseminating his thesis that he was the victim of an alleged plot hatched by then President Santos and his peace commissioner Sergio Jaramillo, or that the guerrillas had a special secretariat that secretly controlled the state and even the church and large corporations. The colonel who designed the criminal plan Colonel Mejia is accused of devising, designing and executing, through an illegal organised apparatus of power, a criminal plan that consisted of murdering civilians and presenting them as combat casualties, motivated by giving society a false perception of security and seeking to consolidate his image as the best officer in the National Army, according to the indictment by the JEPs Investigation and Accusation Unit. It is the body in charge of accusing those who after previous investigations conducted by the tribunals Acknowledgement Chamber refuse to admit their role, clarify the truth and redress victims. According to prosecutor Samuel Serrano in Valledupar, there is copious evidence that Mejia was aware of and participated in 72 of the 75 extrajudicial executions attributed to the La Popa battalion during his command between January 2002 and November 2003. These crimes occurred, the prosecutor argued, in three modalities. Initially, the military banded together with paramilitaries, who targeted or killed people who would end up being presented as false combat kills, in what he described as a mutually beneficial alliance. They then went on to personally murder civilians. And in parallel, they executed combatants whod surrendered or were hors de combat to inflate their casualty numbers. Call for the harshest transitional justice sentence It was irrelevant whether Mejia was present or not in the place where events took place. Members of the illegal organised apparatus of power that he devised, created and now directed knew what tasks each of them had been entrusted with [and] once again the cycle of crime was activated, the prosecutor said. One received from paramilitaries the location where theyd find false casualties and simulate a combat, another took them to the morgue in Valledupar and accompanied the officials whod carry out the autopsy, another wrote the patrol report and the false operations order used to legalise the alleged combat, and all of them then coordinated the stories theyd tell the justice system. In prosecutor Serranos words, the train was in motion: it was enough to get on it to commit these crimes. The battalions victims, the prosecutor explained, were young men and in some condition of vulnerability. Out of a total of 129 victims, 39 were farmers and 30 informal workers, a third never finished school and five were children. Thirteen were indigenous Kankuamos or Wiwas from the Sierra Nevada. Id like you to think about what has happened in your lives over the past 22 years: many finished studying, built a home, said goodbye to loved ones and welcomed others, saw or lived in new places. All of this was denied to 72 persons, as well as to their parents, siblings, children and wives. Arguing that Mejia was given multiple opportunities (...) to acknowledge responsibility but cast them aside, he called for Colombias harshest transitional justice sentence of 20 years imprisonment. The murderous train was not created by my client On the other side, the defence characterised Mejia as an exemplary military official who saved [Cesar department, whose capital city is Valledupar] from the plagues ravaging it and received the battalion command at a turbulent time, three months after FARC kidnapped and murdered Consuelo Araujo, the godmother of Valledupars famous vallenato music festival and the countrys minister of culture until just six months before. This wasnt a murderous train created by my client, said defence lawyer German Navarrete, picking up on the prosecutors metaphor in a country that has no passenger rail transport. The defence didnt deny that crimes were committed in the battalion, but sought to distance Colonel Mejia from them, insisting that he never gave an illegal order. There were soldiers who killed and officers who promoted crimes within the battalion. We have them in the police and everywhere because of the great corrupting power of drug trafficking and criminality. But we cannot blame commanders for everything that some of their subordinates do, he argued. That train of death was already there According to the defence, Mejias leadership conducted 500 successful military operations in two years and prosecuted soldiers who diverted weapons to the paramilitaries, always adhering to military regulations in force at the time. He had 2,000 soldiers under his command in a battalion the size of a brigade, meaning context, he argued, should not be considered sufficient evidence to convict him. Today we are prosecuting him for what some lieutenants and officers and a colonel did, Navarrete said, referring to the 12 officers who, after being indicted alongside Mejia in July 2021, have accepted responsibility and are still awaiting their more leniente 5-to-8-year sentence in a non-prison setting. Two already testified against Mejia and eight others should do so at the remaining three hearings later this year. The defence lawyer portrayed them as a gang of hired killers committed to paramilitaries and guerrillas who will now serve as witnesses and with whom the prosecution made a convenient alliance, in which they receive favourable criminal treatments. How strange that [Mejia] created a train of death and it only ever worked in Valledupar! That train was already there, he closed. The commander according to his subordinates Among the first group of 63 witnesses requested by the prosecution, three served under Mejia in Valledupar and recounted several of the crimes in which they were directly involved. First Colonel Gomez Naranjo recounted how Mejia instructed him to go at night with a group of soldiers to a rural road near Valledupar where hed spot a bonfire. Right in front of the place, a car fled while firing shots into the air, after which they found a uniformed corpse in the bush, which they presented as a combat kill. There was no combat, the dead man was already there, he said, adding that he raised his concern to Mejia, who told him not to worry, as he was a bandit. Gomez Naranjo, who was a major at the time, said he received similar oral instructions from Mejia, picking up corpses without even firing a shot and legalising them as combat casualties. No one forced him, he underscored several times. Lieutenant Nelson Llanos who was detained for eight years but wasnt deemed as most responsible for these crimes then recounted how on another occasion he arrived at a designated spot in Patillal where four bodies were found. Gomez Naranjo ordered him to prepare the operations order detailing the combat but, after the 21-year-old refused, sent him to talk to Mejia. There are always things in life that you remember very well, he said, his hand clutching a golden rosary. According to his account, the colonel told him, they were bandits and had to die, ok? He obeyed because, in his words, when the battalion commander speaks to you in those terms, you cant even utter a word. A more cryptic account was given by Manuel Valentin Padilla, who was often seen in the battalion dressed as a civilian but in fact was unbeknownst to others a sergeant in counter-intelligence duties. Padilla narrated how, hidden behind his alias Hugo and his disguise as a banana seller in the public market, he became the human courier between the paramilitaries and Mejia, reporting directly to him messages detailing where theyd find bodies of new casualties. For this role he was indicted by the JEP and accepted the charges. According to lieutenant Nelson Llanos account, the colonel Mejia told him, when he refused to report on a combat that had not taken place, they were bandits and had to die, ok?. Photo: JEP My image of the honourable officer was shattered The names of their victims were surprisingly absent from their testimonies. Asked if hed ever known them, Colonel Gomez Naranjo replied never. On the contrary, their emotion was visible when they recounted the moment they decided to break with their former boss. For Gomez Naranjo, it happened when, while both were detained, hed asked about several innocent indicted soldiers and, according to his account, Mejia told him not to worry about them. Thats when I saw that the leader wed defended for so long wasnt who we thought he was. My image of the honourable officer who was close to his troops was shattered, he said. Lieutenant Llanos, who described Mejia with awe as the person we all wanted to become one day, said that his turning point came when, having been deprived of his liberty for four years, he heard him say that theres nothing in those [criminal] cases. At that moment Llanos replied, according to his account, that after reading the case files and realising what we did, he couldnt go on manipulating me. Politicians who defended him are now silent Besides the indictment, another significant change occurred during the six years of the JEPs investigations. Despite his combative attitude, Mejia doesnt seem to enjoy today the ascendancy and magnetism of the past, when the political sector most critical of peace negotiations with FARC lauded him as a victim of infamy and a great hero. Many politicians who fiercely defended him a decade ago are now silent. Former president Uribe, who spread the thesis of an alleged conspiracy against him, last tweeted about him in 2018, the year Mejia flirted with being a presidential candidate. It is not yet clear whether Uribe will testify on Mejias behalf as requested by his defence. Uribes party, the Democratic Centre, has similarly not spoken about him since 2016. Several of its most visible senators, like Paola Holguin and Paloma Valencia, also ceased defending him around that time. Only Maria Fernanda Cabal, currently a presidential pre-candidate and part of the partys far right, has continued doing so, even from the courtroom. Invitamos a reflexionar sobre lo dicho por el Cr Hernan Mejia pic.twitter.com/ZUAKTnV2b4 Alvaro Uribe Velez (@AlvaroUribeVel) December 6, 2015 Former president Uribe shares Mejia's quote saying that the Colombian justice system is in collusion with terrorists to persecute soldiers like him. My rest will come when he says my son was not a rebel For the dozen victims who attended the trial, seeing Mejia on the stand was difficult - especially at moments like the first lunch break when they all coincided on the lift landing - but satisfying. I feel a sense of calm because the truth is emerging about what he was not, says Carmen Ruidiaz, referring to her son Jaider Valderrama who was murdered on 22 March 2003 and presented as a paramilitary. It was also comforting for victims, like Mara Nieto, who werent part of the trial. Her brother Jose Luis disappeared in 2003 on his way to the Valledupar bus terminal where he sold coffee and was found murdered five years later. Its like when youre very sick, youve been to all kinds of doctors and suddenly one calls you to announce that you have cancer but that its at a stage where something can be done. Thats what I felt, she says. A similar sentiment was expressed by Armando Pumarejo, whose son Carlos Alberto was killed inside the battalion on 22 June 2002 and presented in the media as a FARC militiaman. He attended the three days of the trial, jotting down on his notebook. He was accompanied by his daughter-in-law Gelka Hinojosa, who was one month pregnant with twins when she lost her husband and had to use her holidays to attend the trial. My rest will come when this man, having tarnished Carlos Albertos good name, says my son was not a rebel, Pumarejo says. Or at least that the transitional justice system says so. Read the full story on The Auto Wire Cop Shot Right After Performing PIT On Fleeing Suspects Being a cop puts a target on your back with some of the worst elements of society. Unfortunately, one never knows which people during a routine situation will suddenly turn violent. But even when doing a risky maneuver like a PIT, the danger can escalate dramatically and things take an even more vicious turn. Thats exactly what this New Mexico trooper faced in the town of Edgewood after he pitted two suspects for alleged drug use in a gas station bathroom. Watch a trooper PIT a fleeing Nissan into a church. At first the trooper responds to a call from the gas station attendant who suspected a woman who was taking a long time in the restroom was in fact doing drugs. She claims that after the woman finally emerged there was burnt aluminum foil in the garbage can. If you know, you know. With that information in hand, the trooper pulled up behind the Cadillac the woman and her male friend were sitting inside. Hed probably done something like this dozens of times, possibly hundreds or maybe more. But this time was a little different than most others because the man who was in the drivers seat threw the car into gear, ramming the troopers cruiser. ADVERTISEMENT After doing a 15-point turn, the driver jumped the curb and drove the Cadillac through an empty lot to the road. Chasing them down, the trooper was able to catch up, then performed a beautiful PIT to spin the Caddie out. And thats when all hell breaks loose. Literally one second into the bodycam footage one of the suspect starts firing at the trooper, reportedly with an AK-style rifle. The trooper returns fire with his sidearm but is hit in the neck. Eventually, he retreats behind a barrier on the other side of the road and the suspects flee by foot. Shot in the neck, the trooper retrieves his AR from the trunk in case the suspects return to finish him off. Still, the guy is in obvious pain. Thankfully the trooper in this video didnt die and the suspects didnt come back to have another gunfight. Instead, thanks to a tip SWAT was able to pay the man and woman a nice visit at their house. You get to see that and the male suspect whine about how hes actually the victim in the whole situation. Predictable. Story continues Because of the obvious graphic nature of this video, it is age restricted, meaning youll have to watch it on YouTube. This gives anyone who isnt a cop a better appreciation for how quickly things can turn downright deadly during a tactical vehicle intervention and why those wearing the badge act so aggressively when ordering suspects out of the car. Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. Shin Min Ah was spotted at Incheon International Airport today en route to Paris Fashion Week 2024. Her airport fashion was casual and dressy all at the same time. She wore a pastel-colored blouse and tan pants. The oversized look really suits the A-list actress, and her fans heartily agree. See: 'No Gain, No Love' Recap Episode 10: Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae's Relationship Faces a New Crisis Jasmineuelese730:"She's so beautiful always!" Kryst_al1996: "The protagonist of the best drama of the moment, loving 'No Gain, No Love!' You are amazing, Shin min." Dorisblessrg: "That's Cha Eun Woo's ideal woman!" See: 'No Gain, No Love': Shin Min Ah Shines in Never-Before-Seen Photos An exclusive video and images of her at the airport were shared online via 'Korea Dispatch.' Paris Fashion Week 2024 concludes on October 1. She is currently starring in the hit tvN series 'No Gain, No Love'. It costars Kim Young Dae, Lee Sang Yi, and Han Ji Hyun. The story is about a woman who wants to secure her job promotion by entering a fake marriage. 'No Gain, No Love' airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:50 PM KST on tvN, and it's streaming for a global audience on Amazon's Prime Video. Are you loving her performance in 'No Gain, No Love?' What do you think about Shin Min Ah's chic airport fashion? Netflix is bringing the role-playing game show back to his streaming platform. 'Crime Scene', which is also known as 'Crime Scene Returns,' is currently in production.Today, the official announcement was made about the new season that the global audience can enjoy. See: Blue Dragon Series Awards 2024: YoonA, Jun Hyun Moo Return as the Ceremony's MCs 'Crime Scene' is a famous series where hosts and guests alike work together to solve a pretend murder case. Jang Jin, SHINee's Key, IVE's An Yu Jin, and more were part of the 2024 season. See: 5 Mini Crime K-dramas To Watch On Netflix: 'My Name,' 'Mask Girl,' More! "We're thrilled to introduce the new chapter of 'Crime Scene,' which has opened new horizons for mystery variety shows to fans in Korea and around the globe through Netflix," a Netflix representative said in a statement, according to a report from 'Soompi.' Director Yoon Hyun Joon added, "We wanted to share the excitement of 'Crime Scene,' which has been so well-loved, not only with domestic fans but also with audiences worldwide. We ask for your support and interest in 'Crime Scene' new journey." 'Crime Scene' premiered in 2014 on JTBC. It ran for a while before taking a seven-year hiatus, and TVING joined forces with Netflix to resurrect it earlier this year. Season one, which aired in 2014, featured Kim Yoon Ji, Hong Jin Ho, and Jun Hyun Moo. Will you be watching another season of 'Crime Scene' on Netflix? The 'Queen of Tears' actress attended BVLGARI's Eternally Reborn Exhibition at a museum in Seoul today. After making history as the first model for their Korean house, she is ready to promote the posh Italian jeweler and perfumer. Photos of Kim Ji Won arriving solo were shared online. She wore a glamouous white gown with a plunging neckline. Of course she was adored in BVLGARI jewelry. See: Fans Respond to Kim Ji Won's History-Making BVLGARI Ambassador Title Fans raved about her beauty and congratulated her 'Queen of Tears' costar and rumored boyfriend Kim Soo Hyun on his beautiful significant other. They proved their Kdrama love through the comments. Spanishguitar2024: "Congrats to Kim Jiwon for being the face of Bulgari! She deserves it 100%, slaying every look and looking absolutely gorgeous in that BVLGARI fashion. That white dress-oh my goodness, she's like an angel!" kangnan_02: "@soohyun_k216 So beautiful. Why not marry her?" Behindmycloset: "@soohyun_k216 Your wife is so damn damn gorgeous. You are so lucky. We envy you." See: Kim Ji Won's BVLGARI Announcement Ignites Dating Buzz with Kim Soo Hyun as Fans Detect Lovestagram Hints 'Korea Dispatch' shared her photos from the event. Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun have been the target of dating rumors since their hit Netflix show 'Queen of Tears ended in March. Fans saw similarities between their Instagram posts, which they affectionately call "Lovestagrams." He openly supported BVLGARI brand before she was hired, and their social media posts allegely link them at the same locations. Neither star has confirmed the relationship. Do you love her BVLGARI fashion? What do you think about her dating rumors with 'Queen of Tears' costar Kim Soo Hyun? LOS ANGELESMen.com will soon release Rise of the Prison Bitch, a new series starring contract star Jake Preston. The three-part prison-themed series also stars Joel Hart, Cole Connor, Bruce Jones and Brody Meyer. In the first scene, Jake Preston plays a delivery guy who is arrested after sending a dick pic with the package confirmation. Now transported to prison, the young convict is processed by prison guard Brody Meyer. But Jake finds the cavity search a turn-on, and he's hard as he steps into his orange prison scrubs. Soon Jake has the guard stripping and sucking him. He's the one in charge as he fucks Brody doggystyle. The bottom rides the inmate, then takes it bent over the table. In the second scene, prison guard Cole Connor warns new inmate Jake Preston to make nice with his celly, because he's kinda crazy. As soon as Jake tries to introduce himself, Joel Hart pops off, so Cole restrains him and brings him to solitary. Joel says he'll chill out if Cole sucks him, so the guard does, unstrapping the prisoner so Joel can pound him from behind and on his back on the bunk. In the third and final scene, Joel Hart and Jake Preston start fooling around in the cell while the guard has his back turned. Trusty Bruce Jones sees Jake sucking his celly and gets horny, telling the twink to put his ass by the bars so he can fuck it. The CO is getting some shuteye, so Bruce lifts the keys, but instead of trying to escape, he lets himself into the cell to join Jake and Joel for a threesome. Then Jake and Joel double penetrate Bruce. Thursday, September 26, 2024 Renowned activist Boniface Mwangi has urged Narok Senator Ledama Olekina to pay child support for his son. Taking to his X account, Mwangi castigated Olekina for supporting Ruto, whom he claims murdered innocent people. The vocal activist alleged that ODM leader Raila Odinga received billions from Ruto to support his government and he might have dished out millions to Olekina, one of his key allies. Mwangi shared photos of Olekinas look-alike son and urged him to pay for his child support. Olekina was taken to court by the mother of his son, who demanded Ksh 200,000 monthly child support. She claimed that she went through pregnancy and even during the birth of the child alone and without any assistance or financial help from him. The woman said she was left with no other choice but to settle the bills of the prenatal and delivery all by herself without any involvement from Ole Kina. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, September 26, 2024 - Drama unfolded within the court premises after angry investors accosted Cytonn Investments Chief Executive Officer Edwin Dande and threatened to beat him up. The investors had turned up for the hearing of a case filed in the High Court after they lost Ksh 14 billion to the company through a dubious investment scheme. They accused the CEO of being protected by the court and rogue police officers. Police officers whisked him away after the situation escalated. When launching operations, Cytonn ran glitzy ads in which it invited prospective investors to be Cytonnaires and not regular millionaires. Promising annual returns of up to 18 percent with minimal risk, Cyton drew thousands of middle-class Kenyans and wealthy investors from whom it raised billions of shillings. For about three years, investors enjoyed the highest returns in the fixed-income world which Cytonn said was due to the elimination of middlemen such as banks by connecting savers with property developers directly. Cytonn, however, went into a comprehensive default in early 2020, a move it blamed on the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the legal battles unfolded, it emerged that Cytonns founders had deliberately structured to shield the real estate assets from the investors. Earlier this year, the High Court ordered the liquation of investment projects owned by Cytonn Real Estate to recover more than Ksh 14 billion the firm owes 4,000 investors. Watch the video of the CEO being confronted by angry investors. We will not allow fraudsters to use the court process to frustrate creditors never Hii pesa sio ya mama yake pic.twitter.com/D5n6OE7Pft kioko Nguti (@miamoreazure) September 25, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, September 26, 2024 - Reports of substandard cooking oils flooding the Kenyan market have sparked a heated debate, with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) now dismissing claims of a suspension on ten popular brands. KEBS has labeled recent news circulating on the suspension of edible oils as false, warning the public against misinformation as the quality of products continues to come under scrutiny. The alleged suspension followed shocking revelations that Kenyans might be consuming cooking oils that fall short of health standards. Cooking oil is among the commodities commonly used in many households, and it poses a huge health hazard if substandard cooking oil is not removed from the market. However, KEBS has categorically denied these reports, terming them as misleading. The Bureau flagged the news as fake, contradicting claims that it had temporarily suspended several brands of edible oils and fats. A letter purportedly written by Peter Kaigwara, KEBS Director for Market Surveillance, allegedly directed the Retail Traders Association of Kenya (RETRAK) to remove the products from shelves. But KEBS maintains that no such communication was issued, instead pointing to routine inspections as part of its consumer protection mandate. This comes against the backdrop of a Senate inquiry that exposed damning details about the quality of imported cooking oils. KEBS managing director Esther Ngari, addressing the Senate Committee on Trade and Industrialization, revealed that substandard edible oils had found their way into Kenyan kitchens. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 While President William Ruto has kept Kenyans focused on Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas impeachment talks, his son, Nick, has been quietly securing billion-shilling deals at their expense. This is after it merged that Lawyer Nick Ruto is the one representing the rogue company by the name Adani Holdings as its lawyer in the controversial deal to take over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Nick Ruto was controversially hired by Dentons, Hamilton Harrison & Mathews, the law firm that is defending Adani Airports Holdings in the lawsuit contesting its takeover bid for JKIA. Safaricom board chair Adil Khawaja is the managing partner at the law firm. He has been Rutos friend for over 30 years and he has accompanied the head of state on several foreign visits. Khawaja defended Nick's appointment, claiming that he was employed in a fair recruitment process. "I didn't even know that he (Nick) had applied. We receive thousands of applications each year, and he was one of the applicants. He went through the process and was selected," Khawaja stated. Rutos government is leasing JKIA to the Adani group for 30 years for Ksh 238 Billion amid uproar from the public. Suppose that Nick Ruto and his company are paid only 0.1 percent of the contract as legal fees, that's a cool Ksh238 million, which is equivalent to salaries for 4 MPs for for 5 years. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 - Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, has confirmed that he supports the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah has allegedly drafted a motion to impeach Gachagua, and it's now a question of when, not if, it will be tabled in Parliament. Gachagua is being impeached for gross violation of the constitution, related legal breaches, and abuse of office. Other charges include his contentious remarks about the Mt. Kenya region's share in the Kenya Kwanza government and accusations of promoting divisive politics in the country. On Tuesday there were claims that Nyoro was among MPs who were opposing Gachaguas impeachment. However, in a social media post on Wednesday, Nyoro denied opposing the impeachment of Gachagua and terms the claims as fake. "Fake news alert: We've recently and consistently seen some fake news on social media that started with a video posted last week that is 4-year-old trying to distort information, Nyoro stated after a post claimed he was opposed to Gachaguas impeachment. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 - Muranga County Woman Rep Betty Maina has stated that the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is irreversible, and no one, including his restive Mt. Kenya electorate, can save him. Speaking on Wednesday, Maina, who is among the lawmakers preparing a motion to impeach Gachagua, said Kenyans are tired of his blackmail and his tribal remarks and they have instructed their lawmakers to send him home. She also criticised Gachagua for his perceived arrogance and urged him to stop threatening her. Betty assured Mt Kenya residents that they have capable leaders to fill the Deputy President's role, mentioning potential successors like Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah, and Kirinyaga County Governor, Anne Waiguru. "He shouldnt threaten me, he shouldnt tell me about votesonly God commands my destiny, not him. Even when we stood, we didnt look for him; he found out that we were standing. "He should stop boasting, stop beating his chest in front of the Presidenthis time is done; it's home, express," Maina said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 - Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was yesterday kicked out of the Senate after he failed to substantiate and withdraw remarks he made against President William Ruto during a session last week. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi made the ruling after he directed the Senator to substantiate claims he made regarding the President and the recent abductions of Kenyans. On his part, Sifuna noted that he had gathered evidence to back his claims. However, he expressed that the speaker would not find them satisfactory. The Nairobi representative also maintained that he could not withdraw the remarks which apportioned blame on Ruto for the recent abductions and killings alleged to have been commissioned by state officials such as the police. "Hon. Speaker, I suspect that you know that it might not be possible for me to withdraw those words and apologise. "Therefore, I request that I sit down and await judgment as shall be directed by the Chair," Sifuna responded. Consequently, Kingi ruled the ODM SG out of order and directed him to leave the chambers. "Speaker Kingi rules Senator Sifuna out of order for failing to substantiate his statements regarding the President's conduct, directing him to withdraw from the Senate precincts for the remainder of the day," read the statement by the Senate. In the meantime, the Speaker cautioned Senators against making claims against state officials without substantiating them. The Kenyan DAILY POST Ancient crop brings tourism boom to village in NW China's Shaanxi People's Daily Online) 14:39, September 26, 2024 Aerial view of newly planted buckwheat in Yukou village, Jiujianfang township, Lantian county, Xi'an city, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) A village in northwest China has transformed its centuries-old buckwheat fields into a tourist attraction, boosting local incomes and revitalizing its economy. Yukou village, located in Jiujianfang township, Lantian county, Xi'an city, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has grown buckwheat for over 200 years. In the spring of 2021, villagers in Yukou, which is situated on the northern slopes of the Qinling Mountains, planted buckwheat on nearly 200 mu (13 hectares) of barren mountain slopes. When the buckwheat flowered, it created a stunning visual spectacle that quickly became an internet sensation, attracting tourists from Xi'an and surrounding areas. Buckwheat flowers bloom in Yukou village, Jiujianfang township, Lantian county, Xi'an city, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) Encouraged by this success, the villagers expanded the buckwheat planting area to 300 mu by transforming more barren slopes, renovating poor-yielding farmland, and transferring land use rights. This year, the total area dedicated to buckwheat planting has surpassed 1,000 mu in the village. In 2022, Shaanxi Province initiated a broader project to restore the ecology of the Qinling Mountains' northern slopes, including Yukou village. This initiative has further supported the village's efforts in ecological restoration and agricultural development. Tourists photograph a sea of buckwheat flowers in Yukou village, Jiujianfang township, Lantian county, Xi'an city, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) "We plant buckwheat twice a year. Since early spring, lines of tourist vehicles have stretched for several kilometers, said Lin Pengtao, Party chief of Yukou village. With this latest planting, visitors can come to see the flowers around November." Lin added that the village's annual collective income now stands at about 1.8 million yuan ($255,274), with villagers' average income doubling each year. Buckwheat coffee served at a shop in Yukou village, Jiujianfang township, Lantian county, Xi'an city, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Li) The once-abandoned land now hosts buckwheat fields, creating scenic views and economic opportunities. Villagers have opened B&Bs and campsites, developing rural tourism. Lei Na, a local, returned to work at a village coffee shop. She said they sell up to 100 cups daily, especially during the blooming season. Enthusiastic villagers are developing a range of buckwheat products, including wine, vinegar and tea, as well as innovative items like coffee and ice cream. Buckwheat flowers in full bloom in Yukou village, Jiujianfang township, Lantian county, Xi'an city, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) Shaanxi has restored 31,916 hectares of land and 592 kilometers of river courses in this project. It has improved the ecosystem of mountains, water, forests and fields, connecting over 70 villages and establishing an ecological industry. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) BROOMFIELD, Colo.Eldorado Trading Company has scheduled a live, virtual Elevation event as part of their sexual health and wellness educational programming for Oct. 2. This live webinar will be hosted by Kristen Denton, Doc Johnsons Senior Sales Executive, and Krystal Silva, Doc Johnsons Brand Manager. Doc Johnson is a family-owned American pleasure products brand that was first established in North Hollywood, California in 1976 and has become one of the leading manufacturers in the world. The virtual event will take place on Wednesday, October 2 at 11 a.m. MT. This 60-minute training is a private event for adult retailers and will review the top new product releases and sales tips and tricks for Doc Johnson bestsellers. Denton is looking forward to next weeks event. We are so excited to be partnering with Eldorado for this Virtual Elevation event," she said. "We truly value the opportunity to engage with customers. During this event, we will be giving you a detailed overview of our hottest new releases! We will cover item features and functions as well as advice and recommendations on how to best sell and promote these items in-store. Eldorado Marketing Manager Nathan Morimitsu encourages retailers to register for these training events. Unlock expertise from the comfort of your screenjoin our virtual training event to elevate your knowledge and enhance your retail sales experience," he said. Register here. For more information about Doc Johnson products, contact your Eldorado Account Manager. For more information about Eldorado, call 800.525.0848 or visit eldorado.net. Thursday, September 26, 2024 New Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja is under siege. This is after Busia Senator and Activist Okiya Omtatah filed a court petition seeking his removal from office. In the petition, the Senator avers that Kanja's appointment contravenes the Constitution since he believes the new IG was handpicked and the appointment is not subjected to a competitive process. IG Kanjas appointment was approved a week ago by the National Assembly. He would later be sworn in by Chief Justice Martha Koome and subsequently, installed into office by President William Ruto. The High Court of Kenya has since certified the petition filed by Omtatah as urgent. Besides the issue of competitive recruitment, several other issues are hanging over Kanja's head including atrocities meted on demonstrators during his stint as Acting Inspector General. The Inspector General is also battling with the critical question on how to address the issue of police reforms which Ruto is on record stating will require Ksh106 billion in funding. The Inspector General of Police position has been riddled with several controversies since it was declared vacant on July 12 after then IG Japhet Koome tendered his resignation. Koome had been accused of presiding over the brutalization of Gen Z protestors, the abduction of activists and the murders of tens of protestors. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 Former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi-led KANU has weighed in on the planned impeachment against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. In a bold statement yesterday, Gideon Mois party blasted President William Ruto and his allies, accusing them of focusing on the wrong things like impeaching the DP instead of working for Kenyans. "While we respect the role of impeachment as a crucial tool for parliamentary oversight, our nation is currently facing pressing issues that demand urgent legislative attention and vigilance," the statement read. "We cannot be preoccupied with an impeachment as the country stares at significant failures in public policy decisions, including the potential takeover of key strategic national assets, such as JKIA, by the now infamous Adani Group, failed funding model for tertiary education, and a broken public healthcare system." According to the Independence party, if an impeachment motion is to be tabled, it should be aimed at both President William Ruto and his deputy. "If Parliament decides to pursue impeachment, it should be of both the President and the Deputy President, having been elected as a package, for the executives continued malfeasance," the statement went on. Gideon Moi, the chairman of KANU, is not fond of the Kenya Kwanza regime, especially because he has been embroiled in a battle to reign supreme in his native Rift Valley, which also happens to be Ruto's stronghold. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 - A section of Mt Kenya elders has endorsed their preferred individual to replace Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja in 2027. Since his election in 2022, Sakaja, who won on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, has done little to improve the lives of Nairobi residents. The only thing Sakaja is good at is looting money from Nairobi county and buying houses in South Africa, Dubai, and the Americas as claimed by Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino. Due to his nonperformance and endemic corruption in his administration, Sakaja has fallen out with the Mt Kenya electorate who supported his bid in 2022. On Tuesday, Mt Kenya elders met at a Nairobi hotel and endorsed politician Agnes Kagure as Sakajas replacement during the 2027 general election. The elders accused the Sakaja administration of harassing traders through an increment of county fees and making many Nairobians suffer. "My fellow Kenyans, especially those from Mt Kenya, we have really suffered because we don't have caring leaders. "We want to value Kagure so that Nairobi can reform so our children can attend school. "Right now, even our university students are not getting help from the county, even though we have not benefited from the governor's bursaries. "But we know Kagure is on the way coming," one of the elders said. On her part, Kagure urged leaders to serve the people, as she emphasized important places of cultural heritage ahead of Kikuyu Cultural Day in October. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 - Renowned Nairobi lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has dismissed claims that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is being mistreated by President Ruto's allies. Gachagua has in the last six months claimed that he has been abused and humiliated by men close to President William Ruto, led by his PA Farouk Kibet and State House blogger Dennis Itumbi. In a post on X on Tuesday, Ahmednasir challenged Gachagua to provide more clarity on his allegations, suggesting that the DP's complaints lack public evidence. Drawing a contrast between the treatment of Gachagua and that of Ruto during the Jubilee administration, Ahmednasir pointed out that when former president Uhuru Kenyatta's allies showed disrespect toward Ruto, it was always evident and public. "When H.E UHURU's sidekicks used to abuse his Deputy William Ruto, it was in the open. Even CSs like Fred Matiang'i and Tobiko never used to hide their disdain and contempt for Ruto. "Now DP Gachagua is telling Kenyans he is being abused by H.E Ruto's sidekicks, and we, the public, haven't heard anything in the open," Ahmednasir wrote on his X page. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 - Job scam victims stormed the Nairobi offices of Vintmark Agency on Wednesday demanding refunds after the agency allegedly collected millions of shillings from them under the pretense of securing overseas jobs that never materialized. The chaotic scene unfolded at Kenindia House in the city centre as angry victims gathered to confront the agency, which is linked to Ceaser Wagicheru King'ori. Reports indicate that guards hastily closed the offices for most of the day as the number of frustrated victims grew. The owner of the recruitment agency is reported to have defrauded numerous job seekers by promoting non-existent employment opportunities in Canada and Germany. His promises of greener pastures led many to part with their hard-earned money in pursuit of better futures that ultimately vanished into thin air. Numerous victims, both Kenyans and foreigners, have shared their experiences, collectively reporting losses nearing Ksh 720 million due to Vintmarks marketing strategies, which heavily utilize platforms like TikTok and other social media. Kingori recently accompanied President William Ruto to Germany for a diplomatic trip where several agreements were signed aimed at facilitating job placements for Kenyans abroad, despite being under the radar of DCI. It is alleged that he is connected to high-ranking government officials. Watch the video of victims of the multi-million jobs scam camping outside the recruitment agency. Job scam victims stormed the Nairobi offices of Vintmark Agency on Wednesday demanding refunds after the agency allegedly collected millions of shillings from them under the pretence of securing overseas jobs that never materialized. The chaotic scene unfolded at Kenindia House pic.twitter.com/5RVzRFyn1w Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) September 25, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, September 26, 2024 - A close ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said they must impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua despite the threats they are receiving. The motion to impeach Gachagua has been finalized and is awaiting to be tabled in Parliament anytime from today. The charges against Deputy President Gachagua are believed to focus on violations of the Constitution, gross misconduct, and abuse of office, particularly concerning his public statements, which MPs claim have alienated other Kenyans. Commenting on social media on Thursday morning, Narok County Senator, Ledama Ole Kina said they will impeach Gachagua despite threats from the Mt Kenya region. We must make decisions regardless of threats! Its so decided, Ole Kina wrote on X Mt Kenya residents who have been interviewed have issued threats to lawmakers who will impeach Gachagua warning them of dire consequences in 2027 should they support Gachagua impeachment. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, September 26, 2024 As President William Ruto and his allies prepare to table a motion of impeachment against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the second in command has received support from unlikely quarters. This is after Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his DAP-K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa pledged their support to Gachagua, saying they will never let Ruto and Raila Odinga have their way. While speaking during the Memorial Service of the Hillside Endarasha Academy Fire victims, Kalonzo assured the deputy president that he would not stay silent while a section of politicians attempted to impeach him. The former Vice President believes now is the high time for Kenyans to remain united and avoid falling prey to schemers planning to divide the country. We have a nation to model together. I never liked pretence, there is tension in this country. Political tension. When the moment comes, we will always be there for the people of Nyeri, Kalonzo stated. The country is bigger than all of us. Respect is vital in this country, he added. While reiterating his stance, the Azimio principal called on the deputy president to stand firm on his decision despite the lack of respect for him by some of the politicians. Kalonzo's sentiments were echoed by Wamalwa who also assured support for DP Gachagua. While commenting on the matter, Wamalwa called on the deputy president to stand firm on his decision. Those planning to burn the mountain, I want to tell them that this mountain has friends. If you seek Kalonzo here, he is the friend of the mountain just like me, Wamalwa said. "I told Gachagua that there is a plan to split the Mt Kenya region. If the day comes and the mountain calls upon us, we will stand with you. You will not walk alone." The Kenyan DAILY POST Credit: ABC 7 Whatever Oakland As owner John Fisher was hoping to accomplish by publishing an open letter to fans as they conclude their time in the Bay Area, it doesnt seem to have happened. As fans chided Fisher, who will move the team to Sacramento for several years until their new stadium is built in Las Vegas, for trying to make it seem like he did everything in his power to keep the team in Oakland where theyve played for 57 years. Former SportsCenter anchor and current ABC7 broadcaster Larry Beil synthesized all of the anger, frustration, and pain that As fans are feeling in a scathing rant against Fisher on Monday, which included him literally ripping the letter into pieces. The clip invariably went viral. Larry Beil of KGO (Bay Areas ABC affiliate) read a great work of fiction, AKA John Fishers letter to Oakland As fans. Then strongly reacted to it. Well worth the time. (H/T @LastDiveBar)pic.twitter.com/JJmyDVuKyY Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 24, 2024 John, you tried five different extremely flawed stadium proposals. You never got even close to a shovel in the ground. Yes, Oakland politics is often a mess, I will give you that. But John, you surround yourself with incompetent yes men. And because you were born into a billionaire family, apparently never learned you have to spend money to make money. John, youre a serial penny pincher. Youve destroyed your familys great name and legacy because of your cheapness. Beil spoke with The San Francisco Standards Michael McLaughlin about the rant, saying his intention wasnt to go viral. Lord councilors at the City Hall in Kampala will hold an ordinary council meeting on Thursday to discuss, among other things, a report on the Kiteezi landfill. The report is expected to be presented by the council executive after they failed to do so on September 17, 2024, which resulted in chaos. The chaos ensued after a group of councilors demanded an apology from members of the executive for their failure to present the report during the meeting. According to Thursdays order paper, the council will also consider and approve the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) land management policy, among other matters. The Kiteezi landfill in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, was a disaster waiting to happen, based on unmet promises by Kampala City authorities, and warnings from several reports. BY REUTERS Representatives of Libyas rival eastern and western legislative bodies, in talks facilitated by the United Nations, signed an agreement on Thursday to end a crisis over the leadership of the central bank, nominating an interim governor and deputy. The agreement could help to defuse a crisis over control of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) and oil revenues that has sharply reduced Libyas oil output and exports. The crisis began when the head of the Presidential Council based in Tripoli, Mohammed al-Menfi, moved to replace veteran central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir last month. That led eastern factions to order a halt of output from Libyas oil fields in protest. The rival factions agreed on nominating Naji Mohamed Issa Belqasem, the CBLs director of banking and monetary control, as an interim governor. Mari Muftah Rahil, who was appointed deputy governor in 2023, is nominated to continue in his position. I want to emphasise the urgent need to end the closure of oil fields and disruption of oil production and export and to channel the revenue from this vital resource through the appropriate institutional framework to the Central Bank of Libya, the U.N. secretary-generals special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, said. The legislative bodies are the House of Representatives in Benghazi and High State Council in Tripoli. Libya has been divided since 2014 into rival authorities in the west and east that emerged from the chaos following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. This crisis has shown the imperative for all parties to refrain from unilateral decisions. Such decisions not only escalate tensions, but they also deepen the institutional divisions, Williams said. Libyas National Oil Corporation said on Aug. 28 that oil production had dropped by more than half of typical levels. It has not made public any new production figures since then. The North African countrys crude exports have averaged about 400,000 barrels per day in September, down from over 1 million bpd in August, shipping data show. President Yoweri Museveni stated that the commissioning of the 600MW Karuma Hydropower Plant will support the countrys development goals. He directed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to explore ways of increasing electricity consumption per capita for all Ugandans. The President made the remarks on Thursday during the official commissioning ceremony of the plant in Kiryandongo District. Museveni also proposed four other strategic economic initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable economic development. These include modernizing the transport sector by focusing on railways and water transport, addressing the high cost of business financing, improving human capital through skills development, and leveraging regional markets. We are moving now but we are going to continue because there is no time to relax. The electricity we have here is enough because it is going to support all the factories very soon because right now the surplus is like 500 megawatts but very soon it will be overtaken, Museveni said. Additionally, Museveni instructed the Ministry of Energy to address the current low electricity consumption per capita, which stands at 218 kWh, emphasizing that developed countries have a per capita consumption of over 20,000 kWh. President Museveni has accused moneylenders of using fraudulent agreements that ultimately result in the confiscation of peoples assets, vowing to take action against them. The President made the remarks on Thursday during the official commissioning ceremony of the Karuma Hydropower Plant in Kiryandongo District. Im going to crash the moneylenders. They are criminals but they are encouraged by you people. How do you allow somebody to say that he has given you money but you make an agreement saying he has bought? Why should you do that? But anyway we are going to rescue you now, Museveni said In addition, Museveni directed the Ministry of Energy to address the countrys low per capita electricity consumption, which currently stands at 218 kWh, emphasizing that developed nations have a per capita consumption of over 20,000 kWh. The possibility to give parking grace to Community First Responders (CFRs) whilst on call despite opposition from both legislation and the Executive stayed alive to fight another day after a compromise offered by a third councillor managed to buy this worthwhile idea some more time. The Social Democrat pair of Cllrs Chris Pender and Pat Balfe brought this motion at this weeks meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District: that the Council implements a parking pass scheme specifically for emergency first responders to allow them to park in designated areas when responding to emergencies. This pass should grant temporary parking access without the risk of penalties, ensuring that first responders can efficiently and safely attend to emergencies in a timely manner. Something similar to what key workers had during Covid, maybe not as expansive, but we are talking about people who are integral to our communities, offered Cllr Pender. I have been approached by CFRs who have been fined while attending an emergency, and they havent got past the first stage of appeal, he noted. To double down, its proven they save lives and everything they do I on their own time with their own car, but they are part of the official response service, clarified Cllr Balfe. Every second counts and they have enough to be thinking about without worrying about getting a fine, so is there any way Kildare County Council can issue a bye-law on this? However, he did not get the reply they were hoping for. There are no provisions in road traffic legislation to permit this, [only] official emergency vehicles such as ambulances are exempt under road traffic legislation in the event of attending an emergency, explained Mark McLoughlin, Chief of the Roads Section in the formal reply. There is also an appeal process in place where persons or organisations can appeal fines which will be considered, he offered as a compromise. The concern here is that the precedent would be very had to police, and might encourage members to hand out their permits, he shrugged. I dont like this, Im not saying everyone would, but there are bad actors everywhere, said Cllr Suzanne Doyle in support of the official line. This would not be a problem if the appeal process worked, but at the moment Im with Mark, she said. They have attended 125 calls in Newbridge this year alone, and they save lives, theyd be unlikely to abuse the system, said Cllr Pender. It worries me that there might e too much permits to issue, offered Cllr Rob Power, but there is an official log book they must sign in on, and maybe we could use that in an appeal? If we can get details of those appeals, we can have a look at that, conceded Mr McLoughlin, and it was agreed that this issue would now go on the monthly Progress Report. In solidarity with the CFRs Cllr Peggy ODwyer, Chair of the meeting said: that happened to me in Dublin during Covid when I was a vaccinator, and the appeal failed. I wasnt an essential worker. A staggeringly high level of alcohol was detected in the breath of a driver who twice tried to evade arrest following a car accident. Kilkenny District Court heard that Andreia Dos Santos Araujo, Barrack Lane, Kilkenny, was pleading guilty to charges including drink driving, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence, following an incident on February 7 last. Garda Aoife Doyle gave evidence that she attended a call following a crash on Bishops Hill, Kilkenny, at about 9.30pm on that date. Driver of the car, Ms Dos Santos Araujo, had fled the scene. Garda Doyle saw her, followed and caught her. She tried to flee again as the garda was arresting her. Ms Dos Santos Araujo was known to the garda, who knew she was disqualified from driving. She was cautioned and then informed the garda she had a fight with her husband, was scared and drove. Ms Dos Santos Araujo was arrested for drink driving and taken to Kilkenny Garda Station. A breath sample was provided at the station, showing a level of 94mcg of alcohol per 100mls of breath. Garda Doyle said Ms Dos Santos Araujo had driven from the direction of the army barracks, across Greens Bridge and on to Vicar Street, where she turned right then collided with the wall. There was a witness to all this, the garda said. There were 16 previous convictions recorded against the defendant, including three for drink driving and six for driving without insurance. Inspector Barry Smith confirmed those previous convictions included an occasion when Ms Dos Santos Araujo was convicted of driving without insurance in court and within an hour of leaving court was apprehended again after a garda watched her drive away from court. Garda Doyle agreed with solicitor Ed Hughes that Ms Dos Santos Araujo was erratic in her interactions but was pleasant thereafter. The defendant has alcohol dependency issues, the solicitor said. His clients vehicle was substantially damaged in the incident but, luckily, there was no third party involved, Mr Hughes said. Ms Dos Santos Araujo has lived in Ireland since 2011 and has a mother and daughter in Brazil. She started a business here that was going well. However after a rough divorce ended up in debt she developed a significant alcohol dependency. She was not doing it on purpose. Mr Hughes said his client was under severe pressure which is why she kept getting back into her vehicle. She has not replaced her car so cannot drive now. Judge Geraldine Carthy noted the level of alcohol in Ms Dos Santos Araujos system was staggeringly high. Getting behind the wheel not only put herself at risk but other road users, the judge said, adding that the defendant has a dependency that has to be addressed. Stark The judge said Ms Dos Santos Araujos previous convictions were quite stark. Referring to the charge of driving without insurance, Judge Carthy said the defendant had been given numerous opportunities and she was satisfied it would not be appropriate to impose a suspended sentence, as a lesson had not been learned. For driving without insurance, a sentence of five months imprisonment was handed down, with a driving disqualification of 10 years. Convicting Ms Dos Santos Araujo of drink driving, a sentence of five months in prison was imposed and a disqualification of six years, to run concurrently. Charges of dangerous driving and driving without a licence were taken into consideration. Recognisance was set in the event of an appeal, which Mr Hughes said would be taken up immediately. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has described comments made by the former taoiseach as him finding his inner Shinner, after Leo Varadkar said every party should make manifesto pledges that Irish reunification is an objective, not an aspiration. The former Fine Gael leader called for politicians in the Republic to back the establishment of a forum to set out plans for Irish unity. He made the comments in an interview with the Irish Times ahead of his appearance at the SDLPs New Ireland Commission. Asked about his comments on Thursday morning, Ms McDonald said they were welcome but belated. Im glad that hes exited the position of taoiseach, that hes found his inner Shinner and his appetite for reunification, the Dublin TD said. This is where every political party should be. This is the big opportunity for our island to consolidate peace, to finally reach a point of reconciliation, and to benefit from the huge economic and social and political opportunity that will present to us. To us, this is a no-brainer. Of course, it has to be more than rhetoric. A soundbite is not enough. Those that are committed to reunification recognise there has to be a citizens assembly, a structured democratic conversation. There has to be commitment to the holding of referendums. Thats really the issue here. If you believe that we support and enforce all of the Good Friday Agreement, well then you have to have a commitment to the holding of referendums. Thats the point at which the people have their say. I very much hope that every single political party will make clear-cut commitments on this regard, not just to move from an aspiration to an objective, but rather to move from an objective to an active plan of action. I hope that will be the case for Fine Gael. I wonder, will the taoiseach now make absolutely clear that the position of Fine Gael is now finally to recognise the need for referendums, the need for planning. Ms McDonalds comments were put to Mr Varadkar during the event in Derry as he was asked why he was being more outspoken on the issue of unification since he had stood down as taoiseach. One of the advantages of not being involved in electoral politics now is Im more free to say what I think and do what I think is right, he said. Whereas you know, when youre taoiseach, when youre a leader of a political party, you have to think about how your partys going to react, how your coalition partner is going to react, how the media might interpret it, how it might be heard in London, for example. And, look, Im less concerned about those things. Constraints come with office, and you accept them, but when you dont hold office anymore, you dont have the same level of constraints. Speaking at the Sinn Fein alternative budget launch, Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh also welcomed Mr Varadkars comments. But it needs to mean much more than that, she added. He was taoiseach and he should have been planning. I think its absolutely reckless for any government not to be planning for reunification at this stage. Obviously, Sinn Fein believes that citizens have the right to national self-determination. Currently, were living on a partitioned island, and that is costing us dearly. Addressing this by achieving Irish unity through the referendums included within the Good Friday Agreement is and always has been a Sinn Fein priority. A new and united Ireland with citizens rights as its core is what we seek to deliver. The Irish Government has a constitutional obligation to pursue and to prepare for unity. Giant panda Ke Ke eats bamboo at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Li Chuanyou) A farewell party was held for panda pair An An and Ke Ke at the base on Wednesday. They will arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday, and settle down at the Ocean Park. New President of KIT: Professor Jan S. Hesthaven will take office on October 1, 2024. (Photo: Markus Breig, KIT) On October 1, 2024, Professor Jan S. Hesthaven will take office as President of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The first term of office of the 58-year-old Dane will focus on a clearer positioning of KIT within the national and international science community. Central issues will be the close interplay of research, academic education, knowledge transfer and engagement with society, attracting international talent and close collaboration with strong partners worldwide. KIT is an institution with an enormous potential both nationally and internationally. It is my clear goal to enhance its strengths, make KIT more visible, and fully utilize the numerous areas of exceptional strength, says the designated President of KIT, Professor Jan S. Hesthaven. KIT has already achieved a lot, but has the potential for a lot more. Together with the researchers, employees, students, and my colleagues in the Executive Board, I will continue to shape KIT. I am very much looking forward to this. I am very pleased that with Professor Jan S. Hesthaven we have been able to recruit an internationally recognized and renowned scientist to head KIT. Now, we have to continue KIT's success story and tackle the upcoming tasks and challenges with full power. For this, I wish him good luck, says Baden-Wurttemberg Minister for Science, Research, and the Arts Petra Olschowski. I am convinced that President Professor Hesthaven will successfully lead KIT into the future. His vast expertise and his vision for KIT make him the ideal person to further shape this unique institution and to advance KITs positioning in the international science community, says Professor Michael Kaschke, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of KIT. For his coming into office I wish him the very best. With Professor Hesthaven taking office, KITs Executive Board will be complete again after a transitional period of just over a year, says Professor Oliver Kraft, Vice President Research of KIT, who has been Acting President during the transition period. I am very pleased that we will be able to tackle the upcoming challenges together such as the upcoming reviews for the excellence strategy and program-oriented funding within the Helmholtz Association at the beginning of 2025. I look forward to cooperating with Jan S. Hesthaven. His vast international expertise, outstanding scientific know-how, and strategic intuition will not only advance research and academic education at KIT, but also enrich the exchange of ideas within the Helmholtz Association, says Professor Otmar Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association. With him, we win an acknowledged expert for the transfer of information sciences to industry and society. For instance, Hesthaven developed new computation methods and algorithms for machine learning, for supercomputers, and for complex simulations. These are valuable instruments to jointly address the challenges of our time. Strong Partnerships in Germany and Worldwide Hesthaven emphasizes that research and academic education are poised to change substantially in the years to come, not least as a result of the opportunities and challenges associated with Artificial Intelligence. It is now time to discuss how this can be handled by KIT as an institution. To have an impact and to keep up with the best international institutions, KIT needs strong partners: I believe much more in collaboration than in competition. We will need reliable and complementary partners in the region, in Germany and worldwide, with whom we can collaborate in our core areas of research, academic education, innovation, and transfer as well as engagement with society, Hesthaven points out. Science to Benefit Society He emphasizes that it will be important to never lose sight of the ultimate goal: Science and technology must eventually seek to impact and improve society by which it is financed. In research, we do this by developing solutions for societal challenges. However, education is equally important: It is a core part of our mission to educate young people as the future workforce to help address current and future challenges. The success of this combined mission is our contract with society. Attracting Talent from All Walks of Life Overall, KIT needs to open up internationally, Hesthaven points out. To achieve this, it is essential to attract talent from all over the world. In terms of diversity, however, socio-economic diversity needs to be taken into account as well. We cannot afford losing young talented and committed people, who decide against studies at a university because it makes them feel like strangers in a strange land, Hesthaven says. Central Role within the Helmholtz Association KIT should take a central part as The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, emphasizes Hesthaven. The unique strength of a university is that it, in contrast to a research center, can undertake very-high-risk research and occasionally fail while still fulfilling its educational mission, effectively hedging the risk with the educational mission. This opens up unique opportunities for closer collaboration with the research centers in the Helmholtz Association, which in turn provides exciting options for our students. We need to make optimal use of our resources across the Helmholtz Association to collaborate more closely across disciplines in research and education to enable the transition from fundamental research to applied research at realistic levels of complexity to provide solutions to societal challenges. Hesthaven, the new President of KIT, will succeed Professor Holger Hanselka, who moved to Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in August 2023. In January 2024, KITs Supervisory Board elected Hesthaven President. In February, his election was confirmed by the KIT Senate. During the transition period, Professor Oliver Kraft, Vice President Research of KIT, has been Acting President. (mle) About the Person Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, born in 1965, has been Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) since 2021. His scope of responsibility included strong integration of research and academic education, all appointment and promotion procedures, as well as close cooperation with the President of EPFL on the universitys strategic orientation. Since 2013, Hesthaven had been Professor of Mathematics of EPFL. Before, in 1995, he was a faculty member at Brown University, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in the USA, where he was Founding Director of the Center for Computation and Visualization (2006 to 2013) and co-founder of the Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics. Hesthaven studied Computational Physics and earned his doctorate at the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen. Hesthaven is Fellow of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, the American Mathematical Society, and the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics. He also is member of the European Academy of Sciences and Academia Europaea. In May 2024, the Technical University of Denmark awarded Hesthaven an honorary doctorate. More Information: I Believe much more in Collaboration than in Competition Interview with Professor Jan S. Hesthaven in the research magazine lookKIT KIT Press Release Supervisory Board Elects Jan S. Hesthaven President of KIT (January 23, 2024) KIT Release KIT Senate Confirms Election of Jan S. Hesthaven (February 19, 2024) Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. The 2024 World Manufacturing Convention, themed "Intelligent Manufacturing for a Better Future," was held in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, from Friday to Monday. The 2024 World Manufacturing Convention, themed "Intelligent Manufacturing for a Better Future," was held in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, from Friday to Monday. The convention, focusing on the topic related to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, featured several exhibitions from domestic and international guests. It showcased achievements at national-level and Anhui manufacturing development since the founding of China, including the world's first 25MW offshore wind turbine main bearing, innovative Jinghua shield machine, Qijiang-2 humanoid robot, Jiuzhou Yunjian's LongYun rocket engine, Origin Wukong superconducting quantum computer, and FDS' Hedianbao nuclear power system. New and old friends commend business prospects John McLean OBE, chair of the China UK Business Development Centre, visited Anhui for the first time. He believed that the province has enormous growth potential, with its business environment and policy support making it an especially attractive investment destination. Among the first-time attendees was Vice Chairman of the Ulyanovsk provincial government of Russia Kabanov Oleg Vladimirovich. He told China News Network, the conference scale surprised him the most. As we all know, the larger the event, the more opportunities there are for participants to develop mutually beneficial cooperation." In 2017, Ulyanovsk and Anhui signed a cooperation agreement. Currently, both sides are working together to develop an action plan to implement a regional cooperation agreement. Sean Stein, chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, is an old friend of Anhui, and this marked his 15th visit to the province. Over the past 18 months, he has led delegations to Anhui twice, due to the growing interest of foreign companies and investors in the region. Stein noted that Anhui has a wealth of talent, a strong workforce, and a well-developed infrastructure, along with business-friendly policies introduced by the government. The government collaborates with businesses to create opportunities and improve the business environment, which he finds very encouraging. A Qijiang-2 humanoid robot hands fruit to a visitor at the 2024 World Manufacturing Convention held in Anhui Province on Sept. 20, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Han Suyuan) Carlos Magarinos, chairman emeritus of the Global Alliance of SMEs, was an important old guest at the convention. Magarinos said that returning to Anhui after six years filled him with joy. He was impressed by how Anhui has accurately grasped the new trends in global manufacturing development over the past six years and called the speed at which its manufacturing sector has grown truly remarkable. As one of the organizers, the alliance is very willing to engage in comprehensive, multi-level exchanges and cooperation with Anhui and other partners in fields including manufacturing. This will also encourage more international companies to establish themselves in China, especially in Anhui, to achieve resource sharing and win-win outcomes through practical cooperation, he said. Success of Chaohu Conference attracts global projects The Chaohu Overseas Chinese conference on innovation and entrepreneurship (Chaohu Conference) is a key event of the 2024 World Manufacturing Convention, aiming to bring together high-level talent from among the overseas alumni of prestigious institutions including the University of Science and Technology of China, to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Anhui, and further support high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. Li Shiyun, chairman of the Overseas Chinese Federation of Anhui Province, said that the Chaohu overseas Chinese conference has been successfully held seven times, including activities to present provincial development and new innovations by overseas Chinese, attracting over 1,000 alumni from prestigious universities in more than 100 countries and helping establish high-tech projects and talent teams locally. At the Chaohu conference matchmaking event of "Overseas Chinese innovation and entrepreneurship and Anhui-Hong Kong-Macao Manufacturing," 43 overseas Chinese projects, 33 Hong Kong and Macao projects, and five Hefei competition projects were signed, totaling over 36.3 billion yuan ($5.15 dollars) in investment. The China Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs signs several projects at each World Manufacturing Convention, with total contracts growing each year. Currently, the total investment from these signed projects is about 1.2 billion yuan, said Wang Bangkan, vice president of the federation. Over the past six years since 2018 when the World Manufacturing Convention made Hefei, Anhui, its permanent venue, the province has consistently issued invitations to the world, drawing in a diverse array of domestic and international business representatives. Notably, this year, foreign guests constituted more than 50 percent of key attendees for the first time. Since 2018, the convention has facilitated the signing of over 4,000 cooperative projects and attracted major initiatives, including Volkswagen's new energy vehicles from Germany. DAKOTA CITY Within an hour of finding Jason Jones guilty of shooting four Laurel, Nebraska, residents and setting fires in their homes, jurors were back in the courtroom, this time to decide if certain circumstances existed that could lead to Jones receiving a death sentence. The 12 jurors reached their verdict Thursday morning, concluding six and a half hours of discussions that began Wednesday afternoon. Jones, 44, was found guilty of four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of second-degree arson for the Aug. 4, 2022, shooting deaths of Michele Ebeling, 53, in her home and Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their home. Jones was initially charged with first-degree arson, but jurors found him guilty, instead, of the lesser charge of second-degree. Relatives of Ebeling and the Twifords remained composed as the verdicts were read. Some smiled and one woman happily rubbed the shoulder of the person seated next to her. "We are relieved by todays conviction and appreciate the hard work of the legal team and law enforcement throughout this process. We would also like to convey our gratitude to the jury for their time and attention in this long process. While this is one step toward justice for our loved ones, we must respect the ongoing investigation and the legal proceedings in the second case. Our focus remains on healing and honoring our mother/grandma, father/grandpa and sister/aunt, while carrying their love and memories in our hearts every day," the Twiford family said in a statement released to the media. Because of the first-degree murder convictions, jurors are being asked in an additional hearing, Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Corey O'Brien said, to determine if there are aggravating facts in Jones' case that "distinguish his crime from an ordinary murder." The state is alleging six aggravating circumstances: In four instances, that Jones committed a murder at the same time he committed another murder. In the other two aggravators, the state alleges Jones killed Janet and Dana Twiford after he killed Gene Twiford in order to conceal his identity as the shooter or to conceal the commission of another crime -- murder or his break-in at their home. Nebraska State Patrol investigator Pedram Nabegh testified that when mapping bullet trajectories and the location of spent shell casings in the Twiford home, he believes Jones first shot Gene Twiford while standing in or near the doorway to the bedroom, then walked into the room and shot Janet Twiford. Dana Twiford likely was shot last while standing near the bedroom doorway and then falling onto her back into an office across the hall from the master bedroom. After a lunch break, the defense will put on any evidence before closing arguments. The jury will again deliberate, and if jurors unanimously decide any of the aggravating circumstances were present, the case becomes eligible for the death penalty. The case then would go before a three-judge panel consisting of District Judge Bryan Meismer, who is presiding over the trial, and two randomly appointed judges. They would hear evidence at a hearing weeks later and decide whether to sentence Jones to death. If the jury does not find aggravating circumstances, Jones would be sentenced to life in prison. Thursday's verdict came after 10 days of evidence and witness testimony. Throughout the trial, moved to Dakota County from Cedar County after Meismer determined Jones was unlikely to receive a fair trial there, jurors heard from 38 witnesses and saw more than 1,000 exhibits and pieces of evidence. "Everything leads to Jason Jones at both of those houses," Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Sandra Allen said during Wednesday's closing arguments. "His DNA's on everything. It's all over the place." The defense did not deny Jones killed the Twifords, but said he'd had a mental breakdown and was not capable of premeditation, an element necessary for a first-degree murder conviction. Jones instead should be found guilty of second-degree murder, defense attorney Matthew McDonald said in his closing argument. "Yes, he's liable," McDonald said, "but what he did in his mind was involuntary. Because he had a mental breakdown, it was not voluntary." As evidence of Jones' mental state, McDonald pointed to a purported suicide note Jones left for his wife, Carrie Jones. McDonald said Carrie Jones killed Ebeling. Firefighters were dispatched to Ebeling's house at 209 Elm St. at 3:11 a.m., and found Ebeling's body, with two gunshots, inside. Firefighters had barely left the scene when there were called to the Twiford home, just down the street at 503 Elm St., at 9:30 a.m. Responders found the bodies of the three family members, all with gunshot wounds. At trial, investigators said they determined the Twiford fire likely had been started first but smoldered unnoticed for hours and had burned itself out before a neighbor saw smoke coming from the eaves. Evidence from both homes pointed in Jason Jones' direction. Inside Ebeling's home, investigators found a burned plastic gas can, three .44-caliber shell casings and a live round. Outside the house they found a flashlight and a lighter and a drop of blood on the garage. At the Twiford house, a Ruger 57 handgun, along with an extra ammunition magazine and 11 shell casings were found. Just outside the back door, they found a pry bar and a broken door frame, plus a Mountain Dew bottle with gasoline and a rag stuffed inside. All the items were tested at a crime lab and contained Jones' DNA, fingerprints, or both. Ballistics experts determined the shell casings and bullets removed from the Twifords' bodies during their autopsies all had been fired from the Ruger 57, which was traced back to Jones. A bullet removed from Ebeling's body at autopsy, plus two more from her kitchen wall, and the shell casings all had been fired by a .44-caliber handgun found inside a dresser drawer in Jones' bedroom. Jones emerged as a suspect after receipts for gas at two stores in Laurel and gas cans and a backpack purchased at the Sioux City Fleet Farm store were found in Ebeling's kitchen. Investigators traced credit card numbers on the receipts to Jones, and surveillance video showed him buying the gas cans in Sioux City and later filling them with gas at a Laurel gas pump. Jones, who lived at 206 Elm St. across the street from Ebeling, was arrested early on Aug. 5, lying in his bed and barely able to move because of severe burns on his legs, arms and hands. Because of his injuries, it's hard for him to sit upright for long periods of time, and he did not attend his trial, instead remaining in custody in Lincoln. Carrie Jones had accused Gene Twiford of continually driving by her house and verbally harassing her. Text messages between Carrie and Jason Jones presented at trial showed she was fed up with Twiford's alleged behavior. In April 2022, Jason Jones texted his wife, "I really f-----g hate that guy about to go kill his ass." A second string of text messages on Aug. 3, hours before the shootings, showed Jason Jones was tracking Twiford as he drove about Laurel. Jason Jones told his mother in a recorded jail phone call, a portion of which was played for the jury, he thought Ebeling and her boyfriend, Brian Welch, were possessed and they often sat outside their house and watched Carrie Jones when she was working in her yard. Welch denied it in his testimony. The defense's lone witness, who lived across the street from Ebeling, testified that shortly after 3 a.m. on Aug. 4, she heard one or two gunshots from Ebeling's house, looked out and saw someone with long hair leaving the house. Jason Jones had short hair at the time, but Carrie Jones has long hair. Carrie Jones' fingerprints and DNA weren't found inside Ebeling's house, the state countered, and the gun used to kill her had Jason Jones' DNA on it. A second person's DNA also was found on it, but could not be identified. "There was no evidence she pulled the trigger. There is nothing in that house that points the finger at her," Allen said. Carrie Jones, 45, is charged with and has pleaded not guilty of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony. She is accused of aiding and abetting the death of Gene Twiford. Her trial date has not been set. NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR Get Free Report) major shareholder 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 26,926 shares of NET Power stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.00, for a total transaction of $188,482.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 73,074 shares of the companys stock, valued at $511,518. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Large shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. 8 Rivers Capital, Llc also recently made the following trade(s): Get NET Power alerts: On Monday, September 23rd, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 1,764 shares of NET Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.00, for a total transaction of $12,348.00. On Wednesday, September 18th, 8 Rivers Capital, Llc sold 80,122 shares of NET Power stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.02, for a total transaction of $562,456.44. NET Power Stock Down 0.3 % NPWR stock opened at $7.13 on Thursday. NET Power Inc. has a 12 month low of $6.57 and a 12 month high of $15.69. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $8.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.64. Institutional Trading of NET Power NET Power ( NYSE:NPWR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 12th. The company reported ($0.06) EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $0.24 million for the quarter. On average, equities analysts anticipate that NET Power Inc. will post -0.4 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. purchased a new position in NET Power during the first quarter valued at approximately $128,000. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of NET Power during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $133,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of NET Power during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $136,000. K2 Principal Fund L.P. acquired a new position in shares of NET Power in the 1st quarter valued at $148,000. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of NET Power in the 4th quarter valued at $163,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.62% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades NPWR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup reduced their target price on NET Power from $11.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. Barclays reduced their price objective on NET Power from $13.00 to $11.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Read Our Latest Analysis on NPWR About NET Power (Get Free Report) NET Power Inc operates as a clean energy technology company. The company invents, develops, and licenses clean power generation technology. NET Power Inc was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. See Also Receive News & Ratings for NET Power Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NET Power and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the sixteen analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $86.31. Several equities analysts recently weighed in on BJ shares. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of BJs Wholesale Club from $86.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Thursday, June 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of BJs Wholesale Club from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the company from $75.00 to $92.00 in a report on Friday, August 23rd. Melius Research started coverage on shares of BJs Wholesale Club in a report on Monday. They issued a buy rating and a $90.00 price objective for the company. Loop Capital raised their target price on BJs Wholesale Club from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded BJs Wholesale Club from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the stock from $76.00 to $78.00 in a research note on Monday, August 26th. Get BJ's Wholesale Club alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BJs Wholesale Club Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Inflows and Outflows In related news, CEO Robert W. Eddy sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.90, for a total value of $955,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 467,792 shares in the company, valued at $40,651,124.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . In related news, CEO Robert W. Eddy sold 11,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.90, for a total value of $955,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 467,792 shares in the company, valued at $40,651,124.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, EVP Graham Luce sold 16,596 shares of BJs Wholesale Club stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.15, for a total transaction of $1,512,725.40. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,131 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,288,040.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 79,438 shares of company stock worth $6,980,938 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Blue Trust Inc. acquired a new position in shares of BJs Wholesale Club in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new stake in BJs Wholesale Club in the first quarter valued at $26,000. J.Safra Asset Management Corp acquired a new position in BJs Wholesale Club during the second quarter worth $45,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of BJs Wholesale Club by 394.5% during the second quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 628 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after acquiring an additional 501 shares during the period. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. boosted its stake in shares of BJs Wholesale Club by 103.6% in the 2nd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 745 shares of the companys stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.60% of the companys stock. BJs Wholesale Club Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:BJ opened at $82.14 on Thursday. BJs Wholesale Club has a 12-month low of $63.08 and a 12-month high of $92.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.24. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $83.63 and a two-hundred day moving average of $82.16. BJs Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 22nd. The company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.09. BJs Wholesale Club had a return on equity of 36.12% and a net margin of 2.62%. The firm had revenue of $5.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.15 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.97 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that BJs Wholesale Club will post 3.83 EPS for the current fiscal 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 groceries, general merchandise, gasoline and other ancillary services, coupon books, and promotions. The company sells its products through the websites BJs.com, BerkleyJensen.com, and Wellsleyfarms.com, as well as the mobile app. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BJ's Wholesale Club Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BJ's Wholesale Club and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have assigned a hold recommendation and seven have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $119.36. CAH has been the subject of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Cardinal Health from $95.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Cardinal Health from $115.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, August 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Cardinal Health from $111.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Cardinal Health from $130.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Cardinal Health from $114.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Get Cardinal Health alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CAH Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cardinal Health In other news, CEO Jason M. Hollar sold 26,716 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.87, for a total transaction of $2,908,570.92. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 244,091 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,574,187.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . In other news, CEO Jason M. Hollar sold 46,455 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.02, for a total value of $5,064,524.10. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 197,636 shares in the company, valued at $21,546,276.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CEO Jason M. Hollar sold 26,716 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.87, for a total value of $2,908,570.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 244,091 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,574,187.17. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders sold 113,963 shares of company stock worth $12,379,980. Company insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cultivar Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Cardinal Health in the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Cardinal Health by 4,466.7% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 274 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 268 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Cardinal Health in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Cardinal Health in the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Cardinal Health during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.17% of the companys stock. Cardinal Health Price Performance Shares of CAH stock opened at $108.82 on Thursday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $106.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $103.99. Cardinal Health has a 1-year low of $85.82 and a 1-year high of $116.05. The company has a market cap of $26.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.60. Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 14th. The company reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.74 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $59.87 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $58.74 billion. Cardinal Health had a net margin of 0.37% and a negative return on equity of 54.85%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.55 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Cardinal Health will post 7.62 earnings per share for the current year. Cardinal Health Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.506 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 1st. This is an increase from Cardinal Healths previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. This represents a $2.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.86%. Cardinal Healths dividend payout ratio is 89.78%. About Cardinal Health (Get Free Report Cardinal Health, Inc operates as a healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Cardinal Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cardinal Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday. Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on M&T Bank from $160.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 19th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of M&T Bank from $180.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 19th. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of M&T Bank from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $170.00 to $165.00 in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Wedbush lifted their price target on shares of M&T Bank from $208.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, DA Davidson increased their price objective on shares of M&T Bank from $159.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, M&T Bank presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $178.35. Get M&T Bank alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on M&T Bank M&T Bank Trading Down 1.2 % Shares of MTB opened at $172.66 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.00. M&T Bank has a one year low of $108.53 and a one year high of $180.63. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $168.09 and a 200 day moving average price of $154.06. The company has a market capitalization of $28.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.67, a P/E/G ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.76. M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $3.73 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.50 by $0.23. M&T Bank had a net margin of 17.84% and a return on equity of 9.62%. The company had revenue of $3.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.27 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $5.12 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that M&T Bank will post 14.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at M&T Bank In other news, Vice Chairman Gary N. Geisel sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $172.50, for a total value of $86,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 16,429 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,834,002.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Vice Chairman Gary N. Geisel sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.50, for a total value of $86,250.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 16,429 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,834,002.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Denis J. Salamone sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $172.03, for a total value of $1,720,300.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 44,902 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,724,491.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 32,699 shares of company stock worth $5,115,349 over the last ninety days. 0.82% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in shares of M&T Bank by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,781,816 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $269,696,000 after acquiring an additional 81,004 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in M&T Bank by 6.1% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,613,174 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $244,129,000 after purchasing an additional 93,113 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in M&T Bank by 3.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,513,452 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $229,076,000 after buying an additional 44,442 shares during the period. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC lifted its stake in M&T Bank by 3.2% during the second quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 1,398,199 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $211,631,000 after buying an additional 43,795 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of M&T Bank by 77.0% in the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 733,304 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $110,993,000 after buying an additional 319,051 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.68% of the companys stock. M&T Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) M&T Bank Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association that engages in the provision of retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Commercial Bank, Retail Bank, and Institutional Services and Wealth Management. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for M&T Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for M&T Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $117.05. A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on PM shares. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Philip Morris International from $120.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Bank of America increased their price objective on Philip Morris International from $125.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Philip Morris International from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, September 9th. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on PM Philip Morris International Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:PM opened at $121.72 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $118.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.17. Philip Morris International has a 52 week low of $87.23 and a 52 week high of $128.22. The company has a market cap of $189.25 billion, a PE ratio of 23.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.55. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The company reported $1.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.57 by $0.02. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 113.32% and a net margin of 9.41%. The company had revenue of $9.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.19 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.60 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Philip Morris International will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current year. Philip Morris International Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 26th will be issued a $1.35 dividend. This is a positive change from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.44%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 26th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 101.56%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.01, for a total value of $2,260,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 158,447 shares in the company, valued at $17,906,095.47. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 20,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.01, for a total value of $2,260,200.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 158,447 shares in the company, valued at $17,906,095.47. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Massimo Andolina sold 9,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.35, for a total value of $1,038,150.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 85,629 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,877,305.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Philip Morris International A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. GQG Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 5,006.0% during the first quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 5,958,391 shares of the companys stock valued at $545,908,000 after buying an additional 5,841,696 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its holdings in Philip Morris International by 9.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 58,416,175 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,495,794,000 after acquiring an additional 4,869,272 shares in the last quarter. Lone Pine Capital LLC acquired a new position in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $282,785,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 79.3% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,878,158 shares of the companys stock worth $595,634,000 after acquiring an additional 2,599,684 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 5,045.1% during the 1st quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 2,122,729 shares of the companys stock worth $194,484,000 after purchasing an additional 2,081,472 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.63% of the companys stock. About Philip Morris International (Get 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:CEV Get Free Report) major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. sold 15,017 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.83, for a total value of $162,634.11. Following the sale, the insider now owns 836,608 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,060,464.64. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Saba Capital Management, L.P. also recently made the following trade(s): Get Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust alerts: On Wednesday, September 18th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. sold 28,682 shares of Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.89, for a total value of $312,346.98. On Monday, September 16th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. sold 11,503 shares of Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.02, for a total value of $126,763.06. On Friday, September 13th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. sold 23,665 shares of Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.03, for a total value of $261,024.95. Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Stock Down 0.2 % Shares of CEV opened at $10.81 on Thursday. Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust has a 52-week low of $8.83 and a 52-week high of $11.29. The firms fifty day moving average is $10.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.77. Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Dividend Announcement Institutional Trading of Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 20th. Investors of record on Friday, September 13th were given a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 13th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.55%. Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Napa Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust during the 4th quarter worth approximately $665,000. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust by 37.5% in the second quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 174,143 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,895,000 after purchasing an additional 47,514 shares during the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust during the second quarter worth approximately $328,000. Finally, Cypress Wealth Services LLC acquired a new position in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust during the first quarter worth $335,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 35.88% of the companys stock. About Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust (Get Free Report) Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It invests in the fixed income markets. The fund invests primarily in debt securities issued by education, hospital, housing, insured-education, insured-electric utilities, insured-hospital, insured-transportation, insured-water and sewer, transportation, and other sectors. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New program to highlight modern Korean composers By Lee Gyu-lee This year, the Seoul International Music Festival (SIMF) will take the audience on a musical tour around Central European countries, introducing classical masterpieces by highly recognized composers from Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary. "The theme Central Europe is a geographical interpretation from Poland and Slovakia stretching to the Czech Republic. We organized this festival with the intention of exploring Central Europe this time," the festival's artistic director, Ryu Jea-joon, said during the press conference for the festival in Jung District, Seoul, Wednesday. "Most of the noteworthy musicians that celebrated the anniversary this year seemed to be mainly from Central Europe. So, we decided to bring these artists together under this one festival." The 16th SIMF is set to run from Oct. 18 to 26 at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho District and Ilshin Hall in Yongsan District, Seoul. This year's festival will consist of seven programs, encompassing four countries' music and a special program dedicated to Korean composers. The programs will feature world-class musicians from Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck, English tenor Ian Bostridge, Croatian hornist Radovan Vlatkovic, Finnish violinist Elina Vahala and Korean pianist Mun Ji-yeong. The artistic director emphasized the two purposes of this festival for the audience and the performers themselves. "I set two goals for SIMF. First, the audience should come, enjoy the music and leave satisfied. Second, to create a platform for collaboration and exchange among good performers who gather together," Ryu said, adding he hopes this year's festival can open up more opportunities for wind instrument players. "There are much fewer good wind instrument performers compared to string instruments in Korea, although they have been gradually increasing. However, it's still not enough. We need more talented individuals. And the opportunities for these musicians to perform are limited. Outside of orchestras, there aren't many venues for them to perform and showcase themselves. So we intend to introduce the charm of wind instruments." The festival will open with "Autumn in Warsaw" on Oct. 18 at the Seoul Arts Center, which will explore the deep romantic music of renowned Polish composers Karol Szymanowski, Wojciech Kilar and Krzysztof Penderecki. The following day is "Summer in Vienna" at the Seoul Arts Center, which will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Austrian American composer Arnold Schoenberg's birth. The concert will have Schoenberg's "Verklarte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op.4" and Franz Schubert's "Octet in F Major, D. 803." The director shared that this program aims to introduce audiences to the lesser-known side of Schubert's music. "Schubert's pieces, there are often seen as having too many musical barriers, but when they are performed well, they make you want to listen again," Ryu said. "So the reason we deliberately included (Schubert's) piece is that we hope these excellent performers will give us such an experience, for which we would be very grateful." On Oct. 20, "Spring in Prague" will present three pieces from two Czech composers: Bedrich Smetana's "Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15" and Antonin Dvorak's "Serenade in D minor, Op. 44, B. 77" and "Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81." For the first time in SIMF's history, the festival is showcasing a program dedicated to modern Korean music. "The Mood of Seoul," scheduled on Oct. 21 at Ilshin Hall, will introduce pieces from three composers: Lee Won-jung's "Back to Heaven for Female Gagok and String Ensemble," Kang Suk-hi's "Buru" and Kim Ji-hyang's world premiere song "Tenebrae." "If he were alive, composer Kang would be turning 90 this year. To commemorate his 90th anniversary, we planned this program with his music, along with pieces by two Korean composers, Lee and Kim, who, in my opinion, are doing incredibly interesting and excellent work," Ryu said, describing the program. "The music created together by the pioneer, Kang, who first established contemporary music in Korea, and his successors is the history we are making right now." The next stop of the festival is Hungary. "Winter in Budapest," on Oct. 23 at the Seoul Arts Center, will have Zoltan Kodaly's "Serenade for two violins and viola. Op.12," Erno Dohnanyi's "Piano Quintet No. 2 in E-Flat minor, Op. 26," Bela Bartok's "Suite for Brass," and Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 C# minor." The show will wrap with "SIMF Orchestra with Manfred Honek" as the closing concert on Oct. 26, after a program dedicated to Schubert, "Schubert Winterreise," on the day before, both at the Seoul Arts Center. "Schubert Winterreise" will play the composer's "Auf dem Strom, D. 943," and "Winterreise, Op. 89 D. 911," and the closing concert will present the artistic director's world premiere song "Concerto per Clarinetto e Orchestra," and Bruckner's "Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107." By Vanessa Cai The musical theater scenes in Korea and China are experiencing an increase in cultural exchanges, with Korean productions captivating Chinese audiences and Chinese musicals making a notable debut on Korean stages. This dynamic interplay is not only attracting theatergoers but also reshaping the musical landscapes of both countries. This growing relationship began with Chinese musical enthusiasts traveling to Korea, drawn by the country's reputation for high-quality productions featuring A-list actors. Xiao Yimeng, a 25-year-old who works in Beijing, has been visiting Seoul for musicals on a regular basis since June 2023, after hearing praise about Korea's musical scene from friends. She estimated that she has seen more than 60 shows since then. The first performance she watched left her amazed with the casts excellent singing skills. I felt as if I could touch the waves of the actors voices," she recalled. I can feel the actors vocal foundations are all very good ... Not only the lead actors but the whole ensemble is at this high level. Xiao is among many Chinese musical enthusiasts who find Seoul a go-to destination for overseas trips for the shows, while others who study or work in Korea also appreciate the opportunities to see the performances during their stay. Korean original musicals including Frankenstein and La Rose de Versailles as well as Korean licensed productions of Western musicals Hadestown, Chicago and Les Miserables, all recognized for their quality, are warmly accepted by Chinese viewers who share their reviews and comments on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Xiaohongshu after seeing the performances. The cast is so incredible that I want to see it in various combinations (of the cast) dozens of times, one wrote on Xiaohongshu, after seeing a performance of Hadestown. Unlike Broadway, where lead roles are typically cast with one actor, Koreas musical productions often feature multiple actors for the same part, resulting in a wealth of diverse interpretations and combinations. On stage, theres a collision of souls among the actors ... It instantly became my favorite show, I ended up crying from start to finish. The atmosphere and impact can only be truly understood by experiencing it in the theater! For Xiao, the musicals Dear Evan Hansen and Hadestown have become her new favorite shows. And for Korean productions of Western musicals, while (the original) scripts and compositions are used, Korea can often raise the same play to a higher level, she noted. Another Chinese viewer surnamed Sheng, who lives in Tokyo and traveled to Seoul for the musicals Hadestown and Chicago, also said she was impressed by the actors who are very dedicated. Hadestown is my favorite musical. I used to live in New York and saw it many times, so I was very curious about the Korean version, the 28-year-old said. For Chicago, I was amazed by the high level of performance I saw in the clips of the Korean version on YouTube and wanted to see those two actors, Choi Jae-rim and Min Kyoung-ah, in person, so I specifically chose the cast to see them, she added, highlighting how social media has blurred borders in theater, making international performances more accessible. Despite language barriers, Sheng noted that she doesnt really feel affected as long as she prepares with some understanding of the plot and lyrics before viewing. Shana Ma, a 31-year-old who works in Beijing, has been a musical fan since she was studying in Korea for a masters degree about a decade ago and now she still frequently travels back for shows. The most popular original work might be Frankenstein, which is quite representative of large cast Korean musicals. I flew there three times, in June, July and August, to see it, she said, adding that she also likes the original Korean musicals staged in smaller theaters in Daehangno, where her interest in musicals started. Ma also organizes several chat groups on Chinese messaging app WeChat, where about 2,000 musical fans gather to share information and tips about Korean musicals. She also pointed to some K-pop idols who join musicals as actors as one of the reasons behind the popularity of Korean musicals among Chinese fans. Cross-cultural appeal Korean original musicals such as "Gloomy Day" and "Fan Letter" are finding enthusiastic audiences in Chinese cities, signaling an expanding appeal. In Shanghai, which also has a burgeoning musical theater scene, the Chinese versions of Korean musicals "Mia Famiglia" and "Mio Fratello" have enjoyed popularity since opening in August 2020 and April 2021, respectively. Both productions feature immersive stage sets and directing styles, allowing audiences to engage more deeply with the performances. Due to their immense success, these shows are running as open-ended, site-specific immersive productions, further cementing the status of Korean musicals in the Chinese market. The cultural exchange flows both ways. In July, the Chinese musical "The Butterfly on the Bund 1939" became the first Chinese production to be licensed and staged in Korea. Set in Shanghai under Japanese occupation, the musical resonated with Korean audiences by exploring the shared historical experience of colonization between the two countries. The Chinese production company Focustage praised the performances of Korean actors, stating that they brought fresh perspectives to the production, while the plot which closely reproduces the original content allows audiences to experience the unique charm of an authentic Chinese story. Chinese fans who have watched both versions of "The Butterfly on the Bund 1939" mentioned subtle differences between the original and the Korean adaptation. Xiao said she felt quite satisfied with the Korean version, though she still spotted some nuances in the lyrics that got lost in translation. The original lyrics are really well-written and there are many nuances that only someone who understands the language can fully appreciate. This part inevitably gets lost due to word count limitations or other challenges during translation, she said. Ma, who has also seen the Korean version, agreed but also said she was still fully drawn into the story. I think this play has a solid foundation, with a complete story, good pacing and music. So no matter which language its performed in, I think it remains a highly complete work, she said. These cultural exchanges are fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding between the audiences of both nations, proving that musical theater is a medium for bridging cultural divides beyond language barriers. Ma noted the broader benefits of these exchanges, suggesting that musical theater not only entertains but also educates audiences about historical and cultural contexts. Regardless of the type of cultural work, there will always be a sense of cultural exchange. We will come to understand some of the stories background as long as we are willing to step into the theater, she said. Vanessa Cai is a reporter with the South China Morning Post. She is currently based in Seoul, reporting for both The Korea Times and the South China Morning Post under an exchange program. By Yi Whan-woo Nearly one in three elderly Koreans living alone have no one to talk to, as more senior citizens are living longer but often find themselves isolated after the death of a spouse and other family members, according to data, Thursday. Data released by Statistics Korea also revealed that more than half of individuals aged 65 or older who live alone are not well-prepared for the remainder of their lives. The data was released amid Korea's rapid aging, with senior citizens comprising 19.2 percent of the countrys 51.75 million population this year. The country is expected to become a super-aged society by 2025, with senior citizens making up 20 percent of the population. And by 2072, the proportion of older adults out of the entire population is estimated to reach 47.7 percent. As of 2022, the remaining life expectancy for individuals aged 65 was estimated at 20.7 years on average, which is approximately one year higher than the average for Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member nations. Under the circumstances, the stats agencys data showed the number of households headed by senior citizens stood at 5.65 million this year, accounting for 26.5 percent of all households nationwide. Of the 5.65 million households, 37.8 percent of them were one-person households. Among single-person households headed by seniors, 32.6 percent reported having no one to talk to. Some 34.8 percent of single-person households reported having no one to turn to for help when they were sick or needed support with household chores. Additionally, 71 percent indicated they had no one to borrow money from when they were financially strained. Approximately 18.7 percent of single-person households reported experiencing all three of the aforementioned problems. When asked if they were financially prepared for their later years, 55.8 percent of senior citizens living alone answered "no." Some 50 percent of them said they solely rely on the state-run pension to sustain a living. With regard to quality of life, 47.8 percent of the senior citizens who live by themselves said they were unsatisfied with their income, compared to 20.7 percent who were satisfied. Of the elderly people who constitute single-person households, women account for 69 percent compared to 31 percent for men. Those in their 70s accounted for 40.3 percent of the senior citizens who live alone. Those aged between 65 to 69 made up 30.1 percent, and those in their 80s accounted for 29.6 percent. By Lee Yeon-woo The Corporate Value-up Index is facing continued criticism from the securities industry, both domestically and abroad. Critics argue that the index has strayed far from its original purpose, as many undervalued high-dividend stocks were excluded, while stocks with low dividend yields and limited shareholder returns were included. The index announced by the Korea Exchange (KRX) on Tuesday is part of the Corporate Value-up Program, a government-led initiative to revamp the stagnated stock market by improving corporate governance and shareholder returns. An employee at UBS, a global investment bank based in Switzerland, commented that it was left "speechless" after reviewing the 100 stocks on the index. In an investment note sent to institutional clients, Wednesday, he slammed the KRX, urging the exchange to quickly realize that the index will not function as intended. The market's dissatisfaction with the index largely stems from the stock selection process. The exchange said it underwent a five-step screening. Initially, stocks within the top 400 by market capitalization were selected, excluding those with consecutive losses or combined losses over the past two years. The selection was then narrowed to include companies that had consistently paid dividends or conducted share buybacks over the past two years and whose price-to-book ratio (PBR) ranked within the top 50 percent, either overall or within their respective industry. "The index faces a significant limitation due to its overly simplistic stock selection criteria, which rely primarily on high PBR and return-on-equity (ROE). Companies making efforts to align with the policy objectives are not being properly recognized," iM Securities analyst Lee Woong-chan said. The low PBR led to the surprising exclusion of KB Financial Group and Hana Financial Group from the index, despite their proactive shareholder return initiatives. On the other hand, several significantly overvalued companies were included, such as HANMI Semiconductor with a PBR of 18 and POSCO DX with a PBR of 9.8. The criteria for shareholder returns are also being criticized. It only considered whether returns have occurred, without factoring in qualitative aspects such as scale. According to iM Securities, 53 out of the 100 stocks in the index have a dividend yield below 2 percent, while 54 percent of the stocks have a dividend payout ratio under 20 percent. Another concern is that the index may closely mirror a semiconductor index, as both Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the top two companies by market capitalization, are included. Combined, these two companies account for nearly 30 percent of the index. When adding mid-cap stocks related to semiconductor equipment and components, the weight of the industry becomes even more pronounced. Amid concerns about the ambiguous identity of the index, attention is now shifting to the potential success of the Value-up exchange-traded fund (ETF), set to launch in November. CLSA, a Hong Kong-based brokerage, released a report titled "Value-down?" and claimed that the amount of capital flowing into the upcoming ETF will be limited unless the composition of the stocks is revised. Facing increasing criticism, the KRX held an emergency media briefing on Thursday. The exchange stated that the primary goal of developing the index is not to identify undervalued or high-dividend companies. Instead, the aim is to build an index composed of leading companies across various sectors that demonstrate strong qualitative indicators. Actively involving these companies, it said, will enhance the overall value of the Korean stock market. The exchange also explained that if the size of shareholder returns becomes the sole selection criterion, high-growth companies that prioritize value creation through future investments rather than dividends could be at a relative disadvantage. Additionally, the exchange plans to differentiate itself from major market indices by capping the weight of individual stocks within the index at 15 percent. "We plan to maintain ongoing communication with the market regarding the future operation of the index," it said. A Billings woman was sentenced Wednesday to prison time for running over her boyfriend, then leaving him to die. Nicola Ann Beverlin previously admitted to counts of negligent homicide and fleeing the scene of a fatal accident in Yellowstone County District Court. At Beverlins sentencing, the 40-year-old listened to testimony from three siblings of Luis Torres, who died of his injuries after being left for several hours in a grassy lot near Wilson Park. If I could tell Luis one thing, said Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney Sabrina Currie, reading from a statement provided by Torres sister. Its that he wasnt alone that night. He had a family that loved him and really good friends that miss him every day. And we will be his voice for justice. Late on the night of Aug. 12, 2023, Beverlin and Torrez were traveling together in a pickup truck in the southwest corridor of Billings. Prior to that, the two had visited several bars in town. Both had been drinking and Beverlin was at the wheel of the truck. Beverlin later told police and testified in court that she couldnt remember much of what happened that night, but detectives with the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office gathered surveillance footage showing the pickup truck traveling north on King Avenue East, then veering off the right side of the road and into the lawn of a business on City Center Circle. The truck stopped on the lawn. At that point, Torres got out of the passengers side of the pickup truck, YCSO Det. Bethany Richter testified Wednesday. With Beverlin still driving, the truck went forward briefly. Investigators later determined that the truck had rolled over Torres. Beverlin then got out of the truck and stayed with Torres, who was lying on the ground, for roughly 40 minutes, Richter said. Beverlin spoke with him and occasionally tried to pull him up. She then got back into the pickup truck and drove away, Richter said. Beverlin left Torres without his cellphone, wallet or his shoes, and never reported the crash. Torres survived another six hours, Richter said, with surveillance footage showing him writhing on the ground. An autopsy later determined that hed suffered multiple broken ribs and eventually died of flail chest, a condition caused by trauma to the chest in which a portion of the rib cage is cracked and impeding the respiratory system. In plain terms, Torres suffocated to death. He was 44 years old and left behind a large family that included his children and nine siblings. Three of those siblings were present in court Wednesday, while around two dozen other friends and family members watched the proceedings over teleconference. Had he received timely medical care, or someone had contacted emergency medical services, Richter said, recalling the conclusions of the Montana Medical Examiners Office, he could have survived those injuries. Richter, one of several YCSO members assigned to investigate the case, met with Beverlin the same day that Torres body was found. After agreeing to speak with investigators, Beverlin responded with shock upon learning that Torres was dead, Richter said. In subsequent interviews with law enforcement, Beverlin said she did not remember driving the pickup truck because she had blacked out from too much drinking. The night she left Torres, the two had visited three bars in Billings within the span of a few hours, Richter testified, and Beverlin had consumed over a dozen alcoholic drinks. The alcohol use on the night of the offense, the amount used, is stunning, said Yellowstone County District Judge Rod Souza, who presided over the case, before issuing Beverlin her sentence. You should never have been near a vehicle. In late September 2023, Yellowstone County prosecutors charged Beverlin with vehicular homicide while under the influence. In the alternative to vehicular homicide, prosecutors charged her with negligent homicide and failing to remain at the scene of the accident. Beverlin, a tattoo artist with two children who live with her, was released from custody on a $50,000 bond after she pleaded guilty to the accusations. In April, Beverlin reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Through tearful testimony shared at her sentencing, Beverlin heard from Torres brothers and sister and her own children. When given the chance to speak, Beverlin said she never would have left Torres had she been sober. Beverlin pleaded for forgiveness from her children and Torres family, and said she knows she can prove herself to be a better person. In total, Judge Souza sentenced Beverlin to 25 years in Montana Womens Prison, with 10 years suspended. Although Beverlin cooperated with investigators after the crash, and spared Torres family the grief of sitting through a trial, Souza said Beverlin still left an man she injured to die, and left him with no means of calling for help. Mr. Torres was alive for approximately six hours. This is an extremely long period of time for this man to suffer alone, Souza said. And this was unquestionably an agonizing death. Before adjourning the court, Souza encouraged Beverlin to take advantage of treatment court, specifically Yellowstone Countys STEER treatment court headed by Judge Mary Jane Knisely. Beverlin owed the work of seeking treatment to herself, and to the family of Luis Torres, he said. You are a young woman. You have a lot of life left, Souza said. I believe that a treatment court as your return to the community would help address some of those long-term issues that are at the root of all this. By Jun Ji-hye Attention is focused on whether IMM Private Equity, which holds the management rights for Hanssem, a Korean home appliances and furniture company, can restore it to a leading position in the industry. After Hanssem relinquished its top spot to Hyundai Livart for the first time ever in the first quarter of this year, IMM took the drastic step of selling Hanssems company building instead of opting for an exit. On Aug. 30, Hanssems board of directors approved a plan to sell Hanssems headquarters located in Sangam-dong in Seoul to Gravity Asset Management for 320 billion won ($240 million). This amount represents a substantial 30 percent of Hanssems total assets as of the end of last year. The furniture brand received the sale proceeds from Gravity Asset Management on Tuesday, though it plans to continue utilizing the current building through a sale and leaseback arrangement. The home furnishing firm purchased its current headquarters for 148.5 billion won in 2017, resulting in more than double the profit after just seven years. IMM, which led the sale, jointly acquired a 27.7 percent stake in Hanssem with Lotte Shopping for 1.45 trillion won in 2021, becoming the largest combined shareholder. The private equity firm paid about 222,550 won per share, which was more than double Hanssems stock price at the time, as it included a management rights premium. However, with the real estate market downturn, Hanssems performance began to decline. In 2022, its revenue was limited to 2 trillion won and recorded an operating loss of 20 billion won for the first time. In response, IMM appointed its partner and head of operations Eugene Kim as CEO of Hanssem. Since then, the firm has successfully returned to profitability in 2023, although its revenue decreased to approximately 1.9 trillion won. In the first quarter of this year, Hanssem reported sales of 485.9 billion won, losing its number one position for the first time to Hyundai Livart, which achieved over 500 billion won in sales. According to investment banking industry officials, the sale of Hanssems headquarters has enabled the company to gain time to make a comeback, as IMM has obtained a waiver for financial covenants from the senior lenders involved in the acquisition financing of Hanssem. The lenders reportedly agreed to the waiver, considering the improvement in Hanssems financial situation due to the sale of its headquarters, as well as the recent performance and potential for future performance improvements. A Hanssem official said, While no specific plans have been established for the use of the 320 billion won we secured this time, the intention is to secure future resources for the companys development, including enhancing corporate value. Private equity firm MBK Partners and Young Poong raised their tender offer price for shares in top non-ferrous metal smelter Korea Zinc to 750,000 won per share, up from 660,000 won initially, they said in a regulatory filing. The move makes the tender offer now worth as much as 2.3 trillion won ($1.7 billion), according to Reuters calculations. On Wednesday, Korea Zinc shares closed at 704,000 won. The tender offer ends on Oct. 6, with the last trading day on Oct. 4. Young Poong is already Korea Zinc's largest shareholder, with a 25.4 percent stake as of end of June. The current management at Korea Zinc, which has deemed the tender offer a "hostile" takeover attempt, is working to secure support from various parties, officials said. They declined to confirm the parties. An analysis by Meritz Securities showed that as of early September Young Poong and investors supportive of it controlled a 33.13-percent stake, while Korea Zinc's current management and supportive investors controlled a 33.99-percent stake. (Reuters) By Lee Hae-rin ATLANTA Incheon International Airport has become the first and only airport in the world to receive the highest level of passenger experience accreditation for three consecutive years, the airport operator announced on Wednesday local time. The announcement was made during the sixth edition of the Airports Council International (ACI) Customer Experience Global Summit, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia. Launched in 2019, ACIs customer experience accreditation program is the industrys first and only customer experience certificate that assesses the customer experience management and service innovations of airports, aiming to elevate the overall airport experience for passengers. In 2022, the airport became the first in the world to acquire level 5 in the five-tier system for its customer service and systematic operations handling regarding increased demand for air travel. Accreditation is valid for 12 months and the airport has renewed the certificate for three years in a row. Additionally, the airport received the Best Airport award and the Most Enjoyable Airport award this year. Thanks to the tireless work of some 85,000 airport families, including Incheon International Airport employees, resident institutions and subsidiaries for service innovation, the airport was evaluated as the world's No. 1 in both the customer experience certification system and Airport Service Quality (ASQ) evaluation, which are the two prominent pillars of airport service evaluation, Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) President and CEO Lee Hag-jae said. To make 2024 the first year for digital airport innovation, we will focus on improving airport operation efficiency and passenger convenience with cutting-edge technology, he added. The airport's success is driven by innovations aimed at reducing passenger stress through digital technology. Last July, IIAC introduced a new biometric identification system, which uses the facial features of travelers instead of passports and boarding passes to make passenger identification quicker and more efficient. The system is currently available across all departure gates and 16 boarding gates. Incheon airport previously set a milestone as the world's leading airport, ranking number one in ASQ for 12 consecutive years from 2005 to 2016, and no airport has broken this record so far. Over 600 international delegates, including government officials, and airport and aviation executives from 130 airports in 65 countries attended this years four-day event hosted by the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The ACI is the trade association for the worlds airports, with 814 members operating 2,110 airports across 169 countries as of September. North Korea may carry out its seventh nuclear test after the U.S. presidential vote in November, South Korea's spy agency was quoted as telling lawmakers Thursday. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment to the parliamentary intelligence committee, saying Pyongyang has other options, such as an intercontinental ballistic missile test, according to Rep. Lee Seong-Kweun of the ruling People Power Party and Rep. Park Sun-won of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. The NIS also reported that the North possesses around 70 kilograms of plutonium and a significant amount of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which is sufficient to build at least a two-digit number of nuclear weapons. The agency said the North appears to have the U.S. election in mind when it disclosed an HEU facility for the first time earlier this month. The disclosure could also be targeted at instilling confidence in the domestic audience struggling with the country's crippling economy, the NIS reported. "Externally, it can be interpreted as a move conscious of the U.S. ahead of its presidential election, while internally it appears to be an attempt to boost confidence among the population amid the extremely dire economic situation," Lee said. Earlier this month, North Korean state media publicly disclosed details of its uranium enrichment facility for the first time in the form of leader Kim Jong-un's visit there, but it did not disclose the location of the facility or date of Kim's visit. As to the facility's location, the NIS said it is likely to be the Kangson nuclear complex near Pyongyang, though it is hard to give a definite answer. The agency said the North's test launch of new tactical ballistic missiles on Sept. 18 was aimed at verifying its precision strike capability. One of the two missiles fired successfully reached the target, the NIS said, calling it a "slight improvement from the past." (Yonhap) A Korean national who was kidnapped in Peru has been safely rescued, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The businessman, abducted by members of a criminal ring in the Peruvian capital of Lima on Tuesday (local time), was rescued by local police authorities the following day, the ministry said. The victim, who is in his 60s, was transferred to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, officials added. "At present, it does not appear that the individual was specifically targeted for being Korean. There was a kidnapping incident in 2011, but such cases involving Koreans are considered very rare," the official added. According to Peru's interior ministry and police, three kidnappers were arrested while attempting to move to another location after demanding a large ransom. A gunfight broke out in downtown Lima during the rescue operation, with a grenade being thrown at a police car, injuring one officer in the process. Authorities believe the kidnappers, who are Venezuelan nationals, are part of a criminal ring. The victim has been conducting business in Peru for a significant period of time. Although Peru was once considered relatively safe, the country has seen a sharp rise in crime rates since the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by economic downturns and an influx of migrants. About 1,200 Koreans live in Peru, with 1,000 of them residing in Lima, the official said. (Yonhap) By Lee Hyo-jin Korea and Japan will hold a rare meeting in Tokyo on Friday to discuss the joint development of Block 7, an area located on the continental shelf of the East China Sea, marking the first such talks in nearly four decades. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday, this will be the sixth meeting of the joint committee established under the Korea-Japan Agreement on Joint Development of the Southern Part of the Continental Shelf, commonly known as the Joint Development Zone (JDZ) Agreement. The fifth meeting took place in 1985. In effect since 1978, the agreement was designed to facilitate joint resource exploration and development in designated areas of the continental shelf between the two countries, approximately 200 kilometers south of Jeju Island. However, since the 1990s, progress has stalled due to Japan's reluctance to pursue further exploration, as it perceives the area's resource potential to be lower than Korea's assessments. Japan has not officially designated operators for additional exploration since 1993. "While it is significant that this meeting is taking place after a nearly four-decade hiatus, convening the joint committee does not automatically lead to resumed joint development, nor can we expect all outstanding issues related to the agreement to be resolved in one meeting," a ministry official said during a closed-door briefing. The official emphasized that the Korean government has been in regular communication with Tokyo across multiple channels and is thoroughly reviewing various scenarios related to the agreement. This meeting comes as the agreement approaches a critical juncture. From June 2025, either party can formally declare its intent to extend or terminate the agreement, which is set to expire in June 2028. "Even if the JDZ agreement is terminated, Block 7 will not vanish. The waters in that area will remain where the maritime boundaries of Korea and Japan overlap. According to international law and relevant U.N. conventions, in cases of overlapping boundaries, neither party can unilaterally develop the area or draw a boundary to claim it," the ministry official explained. Korean officials are said to have been more proactive than their Japanese counterparts in reaching out to arrange Friday's meeting. The resumption of talks concerning the JDZ is expected to gain significant attention, as some observers have expressed concerns that the continental shelf could become a new flash point in Korea-Japan relations, despite recent improvements in ties following diplomatic efforts to address historical grievances. Experts discuss necessity of South Koreas nuclear armament By Kwak Yeon-soo Regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election, the outcome is expected to significantly impact South Korea's national interests, particularly the U.S.-South Korea alliance and East Asian security, according to political analysts on Thursday. At a forum titled "The U.S. Presidential Election, the Restoration of the Russia-North Korea Alliance and South Korea's Nuclear Strategy," hosted by The Sejong Institute, a Seoul-based think tank, U.S. and South Korean experts discussed how the change in U.S. administration could see it shift its policies regarding the Indo-Pacific region and affect its alliance with South Korea. Two U.S. experts assessed how the outcome of the U.S. presidential race could change the United States' commitment to the alliance and the Indo-Pacific region. Jennifer M. Lind, professor of government at Dartmouth College, said a Kamala Harris victory would reassure South Koreans that the U.S. would continue to station military forces on the Korean Peninsula. "If elected, Harris is expected to follow the Biden administration's policy with respect to the U.S. alliance with South Korea and its nuclear umbrella against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. She would oppose South Korea developing its independent nuclear arsenal," Lind said, adding that the Biden administration has engaged in bilateral diplomacy with President Yoon Suk Yeol, notably at the 2022 summit in Washington, to dispel concerns over whether the U.S. nuclear umbrella remains a credible deterrent. However, she argued that the shift in the global balance of power from U.S.-dominated unipolarity to bipolarity, along with the enduring appeal of the anti-globalization backlash in the U.S., could pose challenges to South Korea's future foreign policy direction. "South Korean hedging vis-a-vis China and North Korea's growing ability to strike the U.S. with nuclear weapons has significantly raised the risks of the alliance to the U.S.," Lind said. Daryl G. Press, professor of government at Dartmouth College, said a second Donald Trump presidency wouldn't disrupt the U.S.-South Korea alliance because the two have substantial shared interests on every issue the economy, international governance, markets and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. "Trump will say things like burden-sharing that will frustrate South Korea, but the foundation of the alliance will remain strong," Press said. Press, however, pointed out two sources of tension for U.S.-South Korea relations. "The first is the asymmetry at the core of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. The reliability of U.S. promises on nuclear assurance comes into question as North Korea's nuclear arsenal matures and begins to hold the U.S. mainland at risk," he added. He noted that the Washington Declaration failed to fix the problem of deterrence. Instead, it was aimed at reassuring its allies of the U.S.' extended deterrence and increasing visibility. "If Trump is reelected, his administration will likely make (an) adjustment to the U.S. nuclear posture. The U.S. arsenal size would likely grow, and some modernization efforts would move forward. South Korea could provide the additional security its partner needs as it stands out among U.S. allies in actual military capabilities," he said. South Korean experts discussed the necessity of South Korea's nuclear armament. "Nuclear-armed South Korea can effectively deter North Korea's attack more than the U.S. extended deterrence. The balance of terror between the two Koreas can contribute to peace and stability to the peninsula. By removing the need to deploy strategic assets, it is likely to relieve the financial burden for the U.S.," Kim Min-hyung, professor of political science at Kyung Hee University, said. He also shared the cons of South Korea's nuclear armament, saying, "It could reduce the possibility of a nuclear war but increase low-intensity conflicts and result in regional instability. It could also weaken the role of the U.S.-South Korea alliance in security." Lee Jeong-kyu, former South Korean ambassador to Sweden and another advocate of the country's own nuclear armament, argued the Washington-Seoul alliance would presumably be upgraded to a "nuclear alliance." A total of 387 individuals have been apprehended this year for deepfake sex crimes, with 80 percent of them teenagers, police said Thursday. From January to last Wednesday, a total of 812 police reports were filed nationwide for deepfake-related sex crimes, with 387 suspects apprehended during this period, according to the National Police Agency. Of the total reports, 367 were filed in the past month since Aug. 28, when police launched a special crackdown on such crimes due to the increasing severity of the issue. Of the apprehended suspects, 324, or 83.7 percent, were teenagers, including 66 under the age of 14, who are legally exempt from criminal punishment. Suspects in their 20s numbered 50, or 12.9 percent, followed by nine in their 30s, two in their 40s and another two at 50 or over. Among the suspects were two teenage men arrested for selling deepfake content on Telegram between November last year and July this year, along with 24 individuals booked for investigation for purchasing such content from them. Another man in his 30s was also referred to prosecutors on charges of manipulating the face images of 24 colleagues and friends to create 128 deepfake videos, which he distributed on Telegram between December last year and July this year. (Yonhap) The operator of Amanda, a Korean dating app, was fined for allegedly creating fake accounts using photos of its members without notice and matching them with real users, the data protection watchdog said Thursday. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said it decided to impose a penalty of some 220 million won ($165,712) on Techlabs during a plenary meeting Wednesday. Investigations found that Techlabs, which operates three dating apps in Korea and Taiwan, created 276 fake accounts in total and automatically matched the false profiles with its real users for about a year, starting in October 2020. The company also allegedly ordered its employees to take part in the fabrication process. The commission concluded that taking photos on dating apps without consent is a deviation from its original purpose and a "deeply grave violation" of the rights, interests and privacy of the subjects of that information. The commission also reported the company to police on charges of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and recommended it notify its members whose profiles were misused. (Yonhap) Law proposed to ban unauthorized occupation By KTimes A video showing a woman blocking a parking spot with her body in a parking lot has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism. The incident was shared on the YouTube channel "Han Moon-chul TV" on Tuesday under the title, "I spent 30 minutes looking for a parking spot, only to have a woman rush in to reserve it." According to the video, the incident occurred during the Chuseok holiday at Lotte Premium Outlet in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. The parking lot was completely full due to the large number of visitors. The video uploader, identified as A, said that he had been circling the parking lot for 20-30 minutes in search of a spot. When a car finally began to pull out, A prepared to reverse into the space. However, as soon as the spot opened up, a woman ran from the opposite direction and stood in the middle of the parking space, effectively blocking his car. The video shows the woman making a phone call while standing in the space. When A asked her what she was doing, she simply replied, "A car is coming," and continued to stand her ground. Despite A's attempts to back into the space, the woman did not move until he insisted by inching his car closer, at which point she finally stepped aside. A expressed his frustration, saying, "Its supposed to be a car that parks, not a person. What car is coming?" According to A, the woman eventually left to find another spot. Parking disputes lead to legislative proposals A shared his disbelief, saying, "I never thought Id experience something like this in real life only on TV. Its really absurd. We should all avoid such selfish behavior that goes beyond common sense." Lawyer Han Moon-chul, who runs the YouTube channel, said, "In most cases, people come first, but when it comes to parking, the car comes first." Disputes over parking spot reservations have become a growing social issue. Last month, a similar incident occurred at Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, where a woman stood in a parking space to reserve it, leading to a confrontation with a driver. In April last year, a video went viral on social media showing a woman lying down in an empty parking spot in Busan's Haeundae, claiming to reserve it. As controversies over parking spot reservations intensify, legislative efforts to prohibit such actions have emerged. In the 21st National Assembly, Rep. Song Ki-heon of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposed an amendment to the Parking Lot Act that would ban obstructing parking spaces by placing objects or standing in parking spaces, but the bill was scrapped when the session ended earlier this year. In the current 22nd National Assembly, Rep. Han Min-goo of the DPK has reintroduced a similar amendment to the Parking Lot Act, which would prohibit unauthorized occupation of parking spaces and obstructing their use. This bill is currently under review by the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times. By Jung Min-ho Seoul Cyber University has been approved to offer online doctoral programs in social work and counseling psychology, according to officials on Thursday. After the recent approval by the Ministry of Education, Seoul Cyber University will become the first online university in Korea to offer doctoral programs in social work, starting next year. It will also become one of the first cyber universities to offer doctoral degrees in counseling psychology, officials said. The school plans to start accepting applications for its masters and doctoral programs in social work and counseling psychology in the coming weeks. It is also working on integrating its two graduate schools into a unified new graduate school for these programs. Before the approval, Seoul Cyber University offered only two "special graduate schools," which provided masters programs primarily for working professionals. These programs awarded professional degrees that did not require a dissertation. The school has been promoting itself as a leading online institution for counseling psychology, highlighting that students can gain practical experience through courses partnered with counseling centers in five major cities, including Seoul and Incheon. Established in 2000, Seoul Cyber University offers over 40 majors, with the most popular being social work, psychology, and counseling. It is one of the most popular fully online schools among the 22 nationwide, with over 16,000 undergraduate students and 398 graduate students. By Jung Da-hyun K-water is working to globally standardize its artificial intelligence (AI) water treatment plant technology and has been exploring enhanced cooperation with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) during Asia International Water Week, Wednesday. The water treatment system uses AI throughout all stages of production and distribution, aiming to optimize resources and energy through autonomous operations. K-water is striving to establish its AI-driven water treatment technology as a global standard, aiming to lead in climate technology. Its AI water treatment plant has been recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for its innovation in water management. To advance this goal, K-water CEO Yun Seog-dae met with John Albert, Vice President of the AWWA, at the third Asia International Water Week in Beijing. They discussed expanding cooperation to promote AI-based water treatment technologies globally. Yun reaffirmed AWWA's support for the establishment of an international organization for standardization (ISO), a position first expressed at the AWWAs annual conference (ACE) 2024. They also explored joint initiatives to tackle key challenges, such as droughts and aging water infrastructure in the U.S., as part of broader efforts to develop digital water management solutions. Both K-water and AWWA underscored the need for proactive measures to address rising water demand, driven by industrial growth in sectors like AI and semiconductors. K-water has been strengthening its global network, collaborating with countries such as the U.S., Australia, France and China, participating in ISO/TC224, which focuses on water services, to secure approval for the joint development of international standards. In addition, K-water signed a memorandum of understanding with AWWA in 2023 and took part in ACE 2024 in California, where it showcased innovations in smart water management. Yun emphasized that leading in standardization is crucial for shaping the future, and K-water is committed to advancing global water management with its advanced technology. "Based on our cutting-edge water management technology, we will strengthen cooperation with nations that have advanced water technology and spearhead the international standardization of AI-driven water treatment plants," he said. Prosecutors are expected to announce their final decision next week to drop charges against both first lady Kim Keon Hee and a Korean American pastor in connection with the pastor's gift of a luxury bag to her, sources said Thursday. The announcement is expected to follow the final approval by Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung of the investigation result reported earlier in the day by Lee Chang-soo, the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, legal sources said. The first lady and Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young have been under investigation for the pastor's gift of a Dior handbag worth 3 million won ($2,256) and other expensive items to Kim at her office in 2022. Choi secretly filmed the meeting with a hidden camera and the video was later published by an online news media outlet last year. Lee reportedly submitted the conclusion that graft charges are not applicable to Kim because the gifts were not related to President Yoon Suk Yeol's official duties and no favors were exchanged in return. It was also reportedly concluded that charges cannot be pursued for Choi, and therefore, Yoon had no obligation to declare the gifts received by his wife. The reported conclusion followed the prosecution's independent investigation review committee's decision recommending Choi's indictment earlier this week. The unexpected recommendation was an embarrassment for the prosecution, as Choi's indictment could raise questions about the prosecution's tentative decision not to pursue charges against the first lady over the scandal. Prosecutors were reportedly leaning toward dropping charges against Choi as well, following a legal review, despite the panel's recommendation. (Yonhap) By Lee Nan-hee A lot of time has passed since the incident happened in January this year. That was none other than the horrific, sudden incident of attacking and supposedly an attempt to kill the leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea. I couldn't believe the fact that such a terrifying incident took place in a crowded place with many reporters in broad daylight in the large city of Busan in 21st-century Korea. I have thought that such political violence usually happens in foreign countries, thus strange to us. For example, just about two months ago, on July 15, former U.S. President Trump was shot by a young man. But I came to realize that such frightful incidents are not strange at all to us. I was reminded of many people who had been attacked and killed unfairly, desperately in our modern history. Cho Bong-am is precisely the individual I referenced in my research article. He served as the minister of agriculture during the Syngman Rhee administration. Cho founded a progressive party at that time, and in addition, he was a lawmaker in the National Assembly. As he asserted a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula, he was accused of being a communist at a trial and killed. It was obviously a judicial murder. At that time, Rhee astonishingly and openly asserted reunification by invading even without estimating the exact military power of South Korea. From the present perspective, it is a shocking and deplorable irony. Several decades later, under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, false accusations surrounding Cho were cleared. Cho's honor was restored. He was actively involved in the Korean independence movement during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945). He had encountered socialist ideas but broke up with them due to conflicts with Park Heon-young, the then-leader of a socialist group. Our society has gone through severe conflicts and hostility deriving from ideological differences between left and right, more than any other society. Such conflicts still continue. Thus, the political world has always been boisterous and unpredictable. Ideologies and ideas (that is, a system of thoughts and beliefs) are made up of human beings. Nonetheless, ideas or ideologies make people live or rule and even kill people. Above all, no idea or ideology is perfect. In a way, every idea and ideology seems so vain in people's daily lives. It feels pitiful and deplorable that so many ordinary people had to suffer and die swayed, swirled by striking, dazzling ideas and ideologies. The famous American thinker and poet Ralph W. Emerson wrote in "What is success?", "To laugh a lot, to be respected by the wise ... to appreciate beauty, to find out the best in other people ... to make this world a bit better place to live in than before... these are the true success." Reading these words, I think to myself that the best success would be for me to be happy. I would rather laugh and love more today than be swung by grand, systematic ideas. I would rather call my friends and say good things to them with a warm voice. Lee Nan-hee studied English in college and theology at Hanshin University. Google, Apple under fire for unfair practices Criticism is mounting against global tech giants like Google and Apple for paying disproportionately low taxes despite their substantial earnings in Korea. In its 2023 financial report, Google Korea reported sales of 365.3 billion won ($274 million) and paid 15.5 billion won in corporate taxes. Concerns are growing over potential underreporting of Google's sales, as its revenue amounts to just 3.8 percent of Naver's and 4.8 percent of Kakao's, two major local competitors. In contrast, Naver posted 9.67 trillion won in sales last year and paid 496.4 billion won in taxes. Rep. Choi Soo-jin of the ruing People Power Party (PPP) claimed that Google should have paid 622.9 billion won in taxes, based on an estimated revenue of 12.13 trillion won, which includes income from ads, YouTube services, and app market commissions. Her claim is supported by research from the Korea Financial Management Association. Industry insiders are also voicing suspicions that other tech companies, such as Facebook Korea and Netflix Korea, may have underreported their actual revenues. Global tech giants operating in Korea often place their servers in low-tax countries like Singapore and attribute their local earnings to their overseas headquarters. This practice allows them to pay significantly less tax than what their actual earnings in Korea would require. As a result, the Korean government faces reduced tax revenues, potentially worsening its budget deficit. More critically, domestic companies are forced to compete under unfair conditions, as these global firms can reinvest the money saved through apparent tax avoidance, giving them a financial advantage. In 2020, the National Tax Service imposed a 500 billion won tax on Google Korea, arguing that the company is conducting business in Korea despite its servers being located abroad. Google Korea is currently challenging this ruling in court. Meanwhile, more countries are adopting policies that require tech giants to pay taxes in the nations where they generate their profits. Earlier this month, Google successfully appealed a 1.49 billion euro fine imposed by the European Union in 2019 for anticompetitive practices in its online advertising business. However, member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development are still working to implement a global digital tax system to ensure tech giants pay taxes in countries where they generate profits. Google and Apple, which control 85 percent of Korea's app market, have been taking up to a 30 percent commission on payments. This practice has reportedly cost domestic game companies around 9 trillion won in commissions over the past four years. To address this issue, action must be taken to end what is seen as an unfair practice. Both the United States and the EU have already reduced fines, arguing that the 30 percent commission is excessive. As a result, the commission rate in the EU has been lowered to around 17 percent, while the U.S. has provided 1,100 trillion won in relief to app developers and consumers. In 2021, Korea passed a bill aimed at preventing the forced use of in-app payment systems. However, Google and Apple have continued to collect commissions by exploiting legal loopholes in the legislation. This has allowed them to maintain their commission practices despite the new regulations. The government and political parties must take action to prevent global tech firms from earning excessive profits while evading significant taxes, and also address the reverse discrimination faced by local tech companies. An immediate priority is investigating whether these global firms are underreporting their sales. Efforts to pass relevant legislation have stalled, as political parties have failed to make progress. Although the Korea Communications Commission imposed a 68 billion won fine on Google and Apple last year for forcing the use of their apps and payment systems, the National Assembly has not held a plenary session to finalize the punishment in over a year. This political inaction has left businesses and consumers vulnerable. By Jason Lim So, Korean boys and young men are taking the photos of their classmates or acquittances and superimposing them onto pornographic videos or photos for personal titillation, group sharing, and even distribution for money. Such pornographic deepfakes are old; however, the recent advancement of AI has made creating such deepfakes much more accessible and seamless. Gone are the days when deepfakes were obviously fakes. These days, a few minutes on a free app can produce deep fakes that look indistinguishable from the real thing except for the fact that its not. Add to this the anonymity of encrypted group chat programs like Telegram that makes discovery by law enforcement very unlikely. The only way that a woman is made aware that she has been victimized is when someone, for whatever reasons, show her the deepfakes that feature the victim. I cant imagine the ickiness that the victim would feel upon knowing that her likeness, without her knowledge or consent, has been abused in such a fashion, fantasized over by trusted acquaintances and total strangers alike. Its definitely enough to lose faith in all men, if not humanity. Korea actually has laws on the books that makes creating deepfakes illegal. In Article 14-2 (Distribution of False Video Products) of the Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, it states: (1) A person who edits, synthesizes, or processes photograph, video, or audio (hereinafter referred to as photograph, etc. in this Article) targeting the face, body or voice of a person for the purpose of dissemination, etc., in a form that may cause sexual desire or shame against the will of the person who is subject to video, etc. (hereinafter referred to as editing, etc. in this Article), shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than five years or a fine of not more than 50 million won. Compared to the U.S. in which a patchwork of state and local laws forbids deepfakes for specific purposes such as abusing of minors, defamation, election interference, etc., Korea is actually better off from a legal framework perspective despite gaps in the law. As New York Times pointed out in its article titled, In South Korea, Misogyny Has a New Weapon: Deepfake Sex Videos, Under the law enacted in 2020, people convicted of making sexually explicit or abusive deepfakes with an intent to distribute them can be sent to prison for up to five years. Those who seek to profit financially from distributing such content can face up to seven years. But there is no law against buying, storing or watching deepfakes. The New York Times articles title echoes the interview that it includes with Lee Yu-jin, a female university student who states that, Korean society doesnt treat women as fellow human beings. The article doubles down on this conclusion that pornographic deepfakes are a symptom of societal misogyny: But to many women, these deepfakes are just the latest online expression of a deep-rooted misogyny in their country a culture that has now produced young men who consider it fun to share sexually humiliating images of women online. Is it all attributable to misogyny though? I agree that creating and distributing deepfakes should be a crime. But is it happening because Korean men hate women, which is what misogyny means? Granted, my age has long freed me from the clutches of testosterone, but I remember having crushes on pretty classmates and fantasizing about them (and feeling guilty about it) in private. I am sure that I am not the only boy who has done this. I have also found opportunities to peek at dirty magazines (this was before internet) whenever older boys would surreptitiously but proudly share them with their younger hangers-on. The difference today is that these young men have access to advanced technologies that allows them to bring literally their fantasies to life and share them with others to elevate their in-group status. Their brain and maturity have stayed the same, but what they can do with that immaturity and underdeveloped prefrontal cortex is outlandish and dangerous. In a way, I feel sorry for access that todays young men have to the capacity to cause harm. Instead of misogyny, however, can we also consider that the deepfake phenomenon is also driven by natural curiosity about sex? In fact, the same New York Times article actually quotes Kim Ji-hyun, a Seoul city official whose team has counseled 200 teenagers implicated in digital sexual exploitation since 2019, who is quoted as saying, many young people were first drawn to deepfakes out of curiosity. Of course, this doesnt mitigate the shock and shame that female victims would feel upon finding out pornographic deepfake should and is a crime. However, I would like to see a more thoughtful and nuanced discussion about the motivations that drive such behavior, rather than a wholesale and indiscriminate condemnation against young men. Not everything is the Nth Room or Spycam. Generalizing extreme cases of criminal sexual abuse and blackmail to another phenomenon based on superficial similarities doesnt help resolve the situation. Rather, it actually exacerbates what it already assumes: misogyny. Jason Lim (jasonlim@msn.com) is a Washington-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not reflect The Korea Times editorial stance. By Park Jae-hyuk The chairmen of SK Group and LG Group each convened their top executives and examined various ways to exploit artificial intelligence (AI) in their businesses, the companies said Thursday. During the 2024 Ulsan Forum on Wednesday in the city housing SK Innovation's refinery, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won proposed developing AI infrastructure for manufacturers in the southeastern industrial city so that they can share their data and commercialize AI. "To avoid underutilization, AI should be trained by a large scale of well-cleansed data, but it is difficult for individual companies in Ulsan to do so," he told the forum's participants, including the group's senior executives, as well as businesspeople and politicians in the city. Expecting other cities to follow Ulsan's footsteps, Chey added that a vast AI infrastructure embracing the data sets of the manufacturing industry can be facilitated. He also advised Ulsan's policymakers to discover cultural content and focus more on residents' main concerns if they want to prevent the outflow of the population. "You may consider painting pictures on exterior walls of oil storage tanks in use and transforming tanks out of use into a library or an opera house," Chey said. LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo discussed the group's responses to the rapidly changing business environment and studied cases related to the use of AI by the group's affiliates. During a workshop with the conglomerate's top executives in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday, LG executives explored the so-called "affectionate intelligence," which modifies in-car environments, when driving conditions change. The conglomerate said that they also examined an AI phone agent, which summarizes conversations and helps with scheduling. "Although everyone talked about the limitations of white goods, we aimed for 30 percent growth, instead of 5 percent growth, becoming the world's leading home appliances brand," Koo said. "In the battery business that had once been at risk of liquidation, we became the first company to mass-produce electric vehicle batteries. Additionally, we received a U.S. (Food and Drug Administration) approval for a new drug, which had once been considered impossible in Korea." Korea plans to launch an antidumping investigation into stainless steel plates imported from China after a local company claimed that cheap imports have damaged the domestic market, the industry ministry said Thursday. The move came after DK filed a complaint with the Korea Trade Commission in June, claiming that stainless steel plates from four Chinese companies were imported at below reasonable market prices, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The plates are widely used in various industries, including the petrochemical, shipbuilding, and semiconductor sectors. The commission said it plans to carry out investigations on products imported in 2023. (Yonhap) SK On, the battery unit of Korea's chip-to-construction conglomerate SK Group, said Thursday it has offered a retirement program to its employees to ride out the slowdown in electric vehicle sales. SK On has decided to adopt the "efficiency measures" to reduce its workforce and stay competitive against challenging EV market conditions, people familiar with the matter told Yonhap News Agency. The company confirmed the voluntary retirement package for workers who joined the company before November 2023. SK On employees stood at about 3,500 as of end-June. If they opt to retire early, the company will offer 50 percent of annual salaries plus a lump-sum cash payment. It also proposed an unpaid leave option to its employees, an SK On spokesperson said over the phone. "These proactive measures are aimed at establishing a lean, agile workforce, so that we can better navigate shifting EV market conditions," he said. SK On said it will help employees use the "special leave program" to recharge and advance their professional skills for the future. The company will support half of tuition costs for two years for workers pursuing academic degrees during their unpaid leave. If they earn degrees related to their professions and return to work, they will receive the remaining half of the tuition, the spokesperson said. In July, SK On announced it will make companywide cost-cutting efforts that include freezing the salaries of all executives until it turns a profit. SK On has posted operating losses for the past 11 consecutive quarters since it began operations in October 2021. In the second quarter ended in June, it reported an operating loss of 460 billion won ($346 million). Car battery makers have suffered from lower utilization rate in their plants and higher costs amid the EV chasm, which occurs before the widespread adoption of pure electric cars. SK Innovation Co., the country's leading refiner, holds an 89.52 percent stake in SK On. (Yonhap) By Nam Hyun-woo Construction project management firm HanmiGlobal said Thursday it was named as one of the worlds top 10 non-U.S. firms in construction management (CM) and project management (PM) for the fourth consecutive year. The company ranked eighth in Engineering News-Record's (ENR) 2024 list of the top 10 non-U.S. firms in Total Global CM and PM fees, with a combined revenue of $244.8 million last year. This represents a two-spot improvement from its 10th-place ranking the previous year. ENR is a leading magazine in the construction industry, publishing annual rankings of top global players. Hanmi Global first appeared on the list in 2005 at No. 18 and has consistently remained within the top 10 since 2021. Since 2000, HanmiGlobal has been engaging in more than 3,000 construction projects in more than 60 countries. The company now has units, affiliates and branches in 16 countries. The company noted that 57.7 percent of its total revenue in the first half of this year came from overseas businesses, demonstrating its expanding presence in the global market. HanmiGlobal said its overseas subsidiaries, such as OTAK in the U.S., K2 and Walker Sime of the U.K., are achieving solid earnings, and secured a series of major projects last year, including the development of Kuwait's South Saad Al-Abdullah City and the construction of worker accommodations for Saudi Arabias NEOM City project. Domestically, we have diversified our business portfolio by expanding into sectors such as high-tech plants, data centers, and energy infrastructure projects, including the modernization of cogeneration power plants, a HanmiGlobal official said. China's listed firms sustain recovery momentum as policy support builds up Xinhua) 14:40, September 26, 2024 BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's listed companies have seen improvement in performance quarter by quarter since the beginning of this year, with service consumption, export growth and new economic drivers contributing to the recovery trend. A total of 5,104 companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses saw their combined profits decrease by only 0.4 percent from a year earlier in the second quarter, significantly improving from a drop of 4.5 percent in the first quarter, according to their latest half-year financial reports. Listed firms have seen narrowing declines in profits and a drop in the proportion of loss-making companies, their reports showed. Nearly 80 percent of the listed firms reported profits while around 50 percent of the companies experienced profit growth in the first half. Experts held that Chinese listed firms, whose revenue accounted for 56.5 percent of the country's GDP in the first six months, serve as a window to observe new trends in the country's economic development. RECOVERY IN CONSUMPTION AND EXPORTS Despite rising challenges from home and abroad, China's economy expanded 5 percent year on year in the first half, putting the country on track to hit its full-year economic growth target of around 5 percent. During this period, service consumption has continued to recover, supported by robust travel and tourism growth. Airport companies reported a year-on-year rise of 20.7 percent in revenue. Commodity consumption has also seen positive signs, with net profits of listed companies in sectors such as food and beverage, consumer electronics and automobile rising by 14.1 percent, 24.4 percent and 22.7 percent, respectively. Moreover, listed companies have increasingly tapped into international markets, with improving competitiveness in overseas markets. In the first six months, China's exports in goods rose 6.9 percent year on year, while the overseas revenue of listed companies surged by 13.4 percent. Companies in the electronics, household appliances and automobile industries reported rises of 17.6 percent, 13.8 percent and 10.7 percent respectively in overseas revenue. Huang Wentao, chief economist at China Securities, said that China's trade structure has shown continuous improvement, signaling the strengthening global competitiveness of the country's economy. NEW GROWTH DRIVERS China's manufacturing companies, which account for nearly 70 percent of the total number of the listed firms, demonstrated resilience in the first half, underpinning the foundation for the country's high-quality economic development. Listed companies in high-tech manufacturing sectors, including electronics, automobile and communication equipment, stood out with net profits up 39.6 percent, 22.7 percent and 17.6 percent respectively. During this period, investment in research and development (R&D) for listed companies reached 709.46 billion yuan (about 100.84 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 5.1-percent increase from the previous year. The R&D intensity, measured as a percentage of revenue, rose to 2.3 percent, up from 2.2 percent in the same period last year. Li Zhan, chief economist at China Merchant Fund, said that with the accumulation of positive factors in China's economy, there is a solid foundation for the country to realize this year's growth target. China has rolled out an array of measures to boost growth this year, including a program that promotes large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins, and the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds, among others. In the latest move, China announced a raft of monetary stimulus, property market support and capital market strengthening measures earlier this week to shore up the economy. The country will cut the reserve requirement ratio, lower mortgage rates on existing home loans and create new monetary policy tools to support the stock market, and encourage medium and long-term funds to enter the capital market. Experts consider the release of the new batch of policies a positive signal of strengthening policy coordination and efforts to boost the vitality and resilience of the Chinese economy. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it plans to develop an unmanned firefighting robot to deal with underground electric vehicle fires in underground parking lots. The automotive group said it will partner with the National Fire Agency to develop the firefighting robot by the end of the year and deploy them for real use starting in 2026. Hyundai Motor Group expressed its intention to provide firefighting equipment to the government through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in August. The fire agency proposed developing a fire suppression vehicle using Hyundai Rotem's multipurpose unmanned vehicle platform by equipping it with water cannons and enhancing its heat resistance. Following further discussions and a demonstration of the vehicle platform this month, the parties reached a final agreement to co-develop the unmanned firefighting robot. The agency plans to deploy a prototype of the unmanned firefighting robot for trial operation in the first half of next year. Based on feedback, the agency aims to distribute updated units to regional special firefighting rescue teams by the end of 2026. The robot is expected to allow remote-controlled fire suppression, providing an effective solution for fires in underground facilities, where it is difficult or dangerous for firefighters to enter, the group said. (Yonhap) The United States, France and several allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border while also expressing support for a ceasefire in Gaza following intense discussions at the United Nations on Wednesday. The ceasefire would apply to the Israel-Lebanon "Blue Line," the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, and would allow the parties to negotiate towards a potential diplomatic resolution of the conflict, a senior Biden administration official said. "We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately," according to a joint statement of the countries released by the White House. The allies that signed the joint statement included Australia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the European Union. Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and at least 72 people were killed, according to a Reuters compilation of Lebanese health ministry statements. The ministry earlier said at least 223 were wounded. Israel's military chief said a ground assault was possible, raising fears the conflict could spark a wider Middle East war. Over the last several months, Washington has been engaging with officials in Israel and Lebanon to reduce hostilities, the senior White House official said. "We have had those discussions for quite some time," the official said, adding Washington and its allies were aiming to convert those discussions into a broader agreement during this 21-day ceasefire period. The official said Biden had been focused on the possibility of a ceasefire "in almost every conversation he had with world leaders" at the United Nations General Assembly this week. Based on discussions with Israelis and Lebanese, the U.S. and its allies felt this was the right time for a call for a ceasefire, the official added. Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters before a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday that Israel would welcome a ceasefire and preferred a diplomatic solution. He then told the Security Council that Iran was the nexus of violence in the region and peace required dismantling the threat. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters before the council meeting that his country supported Hezbollah and would not remain indifferent if the conflict in Lebanon spiraled. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the call for a ceasefire, saying the key to its implementation is whether Israel is committed to enforcing international resolutions. Asked earlier if a ceasefire could be reached soon, Mikati told Reuters: "Hopefully, yes." World leaders voiced concern that the conflict running in parallel to Israel's war in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas militants also backed by Iran was escalating rapidly as the death toll rose in Lebanon and thousands fled their homes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to arrive in New York on Thursday and address the U.N. General Assembly on Friday. Lebanon conflict puts pressure on Biden, Harris The U.S. administration has for nearly a year sought unsuccessfully to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. The conflict has been costly politically for U.S. President Joe Biden and by extension Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign with the violence in Lebanon increasing pressure on his administration to find a diplomatic solution. Earlier on Wednesday Israel shot down a missile that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement said it had aimed at the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency near Israel's biggest city, Tel Aviv. Israeli officials said a heavy missile had headed towards civilian areas in Tel Aviv, not the Mossad HQ, before being shot down. "You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day," General Herzi Halevi told Israeli troops on the border with Lebanon, according to a military statement. "This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah." A Pentagon spokesperson said an Israeli ground incursion did not appear imminent. As many as half a million people may have been displaced in Lebanon, its foreign minister said. In Beirut, thousands of people displaced from southern Lebanon were sheltering in schools and other buildings. Israeli airstrikes target Hezbollah leaders Israeli airstrikes this week have targeted Hezbollah leaders and hit hundreds of sites deep inside Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands have fled the border region, while the group has fired barrages of rockets into Israel. Mourners thronged a funeral on Wednesday in Beirut's suburbs for two senior Hezbollah commanders killed in Israeli strikes the day before. Fighters in fatigues carried the flag-covered coffins as a band played. The crowd chanted Hezbollah slogans and some wept. Israel said its warplanes were hitting south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, a Hezbollah stronghold further north, and that it was calling up two more reserve brigades for operations on Israel's northern border. In a video message that made no comment on diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, Netanyahu said Hezbollah was being hit harder than it could ever have imagined. Israel has made a priority of securing its northern border and allowing the return there of some 70,000 residents displaced by near-daily exchanges of fire since war broke out in October between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on Israel's southern border. Lebanese hospitals have filled with the wounded since Monday, when Israeli bombing killed more than 550 people in Lebanon's deadliest day since its civil war ended in 1990. (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called for changes to rules on the use of Russia's nuclear deterrent, a move that could affect Moscow's approach to the current conflict in Ukraine. In a televised meeting with security officials, Putin detailed proposed changes to the country's nuclear doctrine, adding new criteria for launching a nuclear response. "We see the modern military and political situation is dynamically changing and we must take this into consideration," Putin said, citing "the emergence of new sources of military threats and risks for Russia and our allies." Putin outlined a potential update, saying that "it is proposed to consider aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear power, as their joint attack on Russia." This would seemingly apply to Ukraine, a non-nuclear state that receives military support from the United States and other nuclear-armed countries. Putin also said that proposed changes "clearly set the conditions for Russia to transition to using nuclear weapons." "We will consider such a possibility once we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing our state border," the president added. "I mean aeroplanes of strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other aircraft," Putin said. The president said the proposed changes also meant "we reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia and Belarus," Moscow's close ally. He added that this included a situation in which another state "using ordinary weapons, creates a critical threat to our sovereignty." The president said that Russia's nuclear weapons were "the most important guarantee of security of our state and its citizens." "It's important to predict how the situation will develop and accordingly adapt the clauses of the document on strategic planning to current realities," Putin said. (AFP) Hezbollah's flexible chain of command, together with its extensive tunnel network and a vast arsenal of missiles and weapons it has bolstered over the past year, is helping it weather unprecedented Israeli strikes, three sources familiar with the Lebanese militant group's operations said. Israel's assault on Hezbollah over the past week, including the targeting of senior commanders and the detonation of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies, has left the powerful Lebanese Shiite militant group and political party reeling. On Friday, Israel killed the commander who founded and led the group's elite Radwan force, Ibrahim Aqil. And since Monday, Lebanon's deadliest day of violence in decades, the health ministry says more than 560 people, among them 50 children, have died in air barrages. The Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that Aqil's death had shaken the organisation. Israel says its strikes have also destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rockets and shells. But two of the sources familiar with Hezbollah operations said the group swiftly appointed replacements for Aqil and other senior figures killed in Friday's airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in an Aug. 1 speech that the group quickly fills gaps whenever a leader is killed. A fourth source, a Hezbollah official, said the attack on communication devices put 1,500 fighters out of commission because of their injuries, with many having been blinded or had their hands blown off. While that is a major blow, it represents a fraction of Hezbollah's strength, which a report for the U.S. Congress on Friday put at 40,000-50,000 fighters. Nasrallah has said the group has 100,000 fighters. Since October, when Hezbollah began firing at Israel in October in support of its ally Hamas in Gaza, it has redeployed fighters to frontline areas in the south, including some from Syria, the three sources said. It has also been bringing rockets into Lebanon at a fast pace, anticipating a drawn-out conflict, the sources said, adding that the group sought to avoid all out war. Hezbollah's main supporter and weapons supplier is Iran. The group is the most powerful faction in Tehran's "Axis of Resistance" of allied irregular forces across the Middle East. Many of its weapons are Iranian, Russian or Chinese models. The sources, who all asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, did not provide details of the weapons or where they were bought. Hezbollah's media office did not reply to requests for comment for this story. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London, said that while Hezbollah operations had been disrupted by the past week's attacks, the group's networked organisational structure helped make it an extremely resilient force. "This is the most formidable enemy Israel has ever faced on the battlefield, not because of numbers and tech but in terms of resilience." Powerful missiles Fighting has escalated this week. Israel killed another top Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Qubaisi, on Tuesday. For its part, Hezbollah has shown its capacity to continue operations, firing hundreds of rockets towards Israel in ever deeper attacks. On Wednesday, Hezbollah said it had targeted an Israeli intelligence base near Tel Aviv, more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the border. Warning sirens sounded in Tel Aviv as a single surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by air defence systems, the Israeli military said. The group has yet to say whether it has launched any of its most potent, precision-guided rockets, such as the Fateh-110, an Iranian-made ballistic missile with a range of 250-300 kilometers (341.75 miles). Hezbollah's Fateh-110 have a 450-500 kilograms warhead, according to a 2018 paper published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Hezbollah's rocket attacks are possible because the chain of command has kept functioning despite the group suffering a brief spell of disarray after the pagers and radios detonated, one of the sources, a senior security official, said. The three sources said Hezbollah's ability to communicate is underpinned by a dedicated, fixed-line telephone network - which it has described as critical to its communications and continues to work - as well as by other devices. Many of its fighters were carrying older models of pagers, for example, that were unaffected by last week's attack. Reuters could not independently verify the information. Most injuries from the exploding pagers were in Beirut, far from the front. Hezbollah stepped up the use of pagers after banning its fighters from using cellphones on the battlefield in February, in response to commanders being killed in strikes. If the chain of command breaks, frontline fighters are trained to operate in small, independent clusters comprised of a few villages near the border, capable of fighting Israeli forces for long periods, the senior source added. That is precisely what happened in 2006, during the last war between Hezbollah and Israel, when the group's fighters held out for weeks, some in frontline villages invaded by Israel. Israel says it has escalated attacks to degrade Hezbollah's capabilities and make it safe for tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return to their homes near the Lebanon border, which they fled when Hezbollah began firing rockets on Oct. 8. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has said it prefers to reach a negotiated agreement that would see Hezbollah withdraw from the border region but stands ready to continue its bombing campaign if Hezbollah refuses, and does not rule out any military options. Hezbollah's resilience means the fighting has raised fears of a protracted war that could suck in the U.S., Israel's close ally, and Iran - especially if Israel launches, and gets bogged down in, a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Israel's military did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Monday of "irreversible" consequences of a full blown war in the Middle East. A U.S. State Department official said Washington disagreed with Israel's strategy of escalation and sought to reduce tensions. Underground arsenal In what two of the sources said was an indication of how well some of Hezbollah's weapons are hidden, on Sunday rockets were launched from areas of southern Lebanon that had been targeted by Israel shortly before, the two sources said. Hezbollah is believed to have an underground arsenal and last month published footage that appeared to show its fighters driving trucks with rocket launchers through tunnels. The sources did not specify if the rockets fired on Sunday were launched from underground. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday's barrage had destroyed tens of thousands of Hezbollah rockets and munitions. Israel's military said long-range cruise missiles, rockets with warheads capable of carrying 100kg of explosives, short-range rockets, and explosive UAVs were all struck on Monday. Reuters could not independently verify the military claims. Boaz Shapira a researcher at Alma, an Israeli think tank that specializes in Hezbollah, said Israel had yet to target strategic sites such as long-range missiles and drone sites. "I don't think we are anywhere near finishing this," Shapira said. Hezbollah's arsenal is believed to comprise some 150,000 rockets, the U.S. Congress report said. Krieg said its most powerful, long-range ballistic missiles were kept below ground. Hezbollah has spent years building a tunnel network that by Israeli estimates extends for hundreds of kilometres. The Israeli military said Monday's air strikes hit Hezbollah missile launch sites hidden under homes in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has said it does not place military infrastructure near civilians. Hezbollah has issued no statement on the impact of Israel's strikes since Monday. Tunnels The group's arsenal and tunnels have expanded since the 2006 war, especially precision guidance systems, leader Nasrallah has said. Hezbollah officials have said the group has used a small part of the arsenal in fighting over the past year. Israeli officials have said Hezbollah's military infrastructure is tightly meshed into the villages and communities of southern Lebanon, with ammunition and missile launcher pads stored in houses throughout the area. Israel has been pounding some of those villages for months to degrade Hezbollah's capabilities. Confirmed details on the tunnel network remain scarce. A 2021 report by Alma, an Israeli think tank that specializes in Hezbollah, said Iran and North Korea both helped build up the network of tunnels in the aftermath of the 2006 war. Israel has already struggled to root out Hamas commanders and self-reliant fighting units from the tunnels criss-crossing Gaza. "It is one of our biggest challenges in Gaza, and it is certainly something we could meet in Lebanon," said Carmit Valensi, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, a think-tank. Krieg said that unlike Gaza, where most tunnels are manually dug into a sandy soil, the tunnels in Lebanon had been dug deep in mountain rock. "They are far less accessible than in Gaza and even less easy to destroy." (Reuters) The Israeli prime minister appeared to downplay hopes of an imminent truce with Hezbollah on Thursday after the United States and its allies called for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to provide space for diplomacy. In a statement released as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was en route to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly, his office said there was only a proposal on the table and that he had not yet responded to it. The statement also denied that there had been any directive to ease up on fighting on the northern border with Lebanon. The comments raised questions about a new international initiative to halt increasingly heavy exchanges of fire that have killed hundreds of people in Lebanon and threatened to trigger an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. They came as Israel has threatened to launch a ground invasion into Lebanon to push the militant group away from the border and as an Israeli strike in Lebanon killed 23 people. The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, had previously said that the country would continue fighting with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes. Hezbollah has also not yet responded to the proposal for a pause in fighting, although Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed it. The Lebanese militant group has insisted it would only halt its strikes if there is a cease-fire in Gaza, where Israel has been battling Hamas for nearly a year. That appears out of reach despite months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. In its statement, Netanyahu's office said that the fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved. Netanyahu is expected to meet with other world leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Israel launched a massive operation in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack into southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and some 250 were taken hostage. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then, according to local officials. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel one day after the Oct. 7 attack in support of its Hamas allies, and Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire ever since. Israeli families of the hostages said they are pushing for a possible cease-fire deal for Lebanon to include provisions for the war in Gaza, especially securing release of the roughly 70 hostages still presumed to be alive and the bodies of some 30 others. Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel Gat was kidnapped and was one of six Israelis whose bodies were recovered from tunnels in Gaza in August, said the families of the hostages are feeling forgotten as attention shifts to the northern front. We know that these things are connected to each other, the northern part and the southern part, theyre all part of the same large situation which we are in from Oct. 7 on, and were very worried that if we dont make the right decisions now, we will miss this amazing opportunity to get the hostages out, Dickmann said on Tuesday, as hopes for cease-fire deal swelled. He slammed Netanyahu for missing multiple opportunities to free his cousin and begged him not to miss another chance by agreeing to a truce with both Hezbollah and Hamas that would include provisions for the hostages. Dickmanns sister-in-law, Yarden Roman-Gat, was released in a weeklong cease-fire deal last November, along with some 100 other hostages. Israel has carried out days of heavy strikes across Lebanon, targeting what it says are Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. The militants have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel and on Wednesday targeted Tel Aviv for the first time with a longer-range missile that was intercepted. On Thursday, an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon hit a building housing Syrian workers and their families, killing 23 people, Lebanese officials said. It was one of the deadliest single strikes in the intensified air campaign against Hezbollah. Lebanons National News Agency said the strike occurred near the ancient city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, which runs along the Syrian border. It quoted Ali Kassas, mayor of the village of Younine, as saying that the bodies of 23 Syrian citizens were pulled from under the rubble. He said four Syrians and four Lebanese were wounded. Hussein Salloum, a local official in Younine, said most of the dead were women and children, and that rescue efforts lasted through the night and into Thursday morning. We dug through the rubble with our own hands until a small bulldozer was brought in, Salloum told The Associated Press by telephone. We had very limited capabilities. The Lebanese Red Cross said it recovered nine bodies, while others were recovered by Hezbollahs paramedic service and the Lebanese Civil Defense. Lebanon, with a population of around 6 million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. Israel struck 75 sites overnight across southern and eastern Lebanon, the military said. At least 45 projectiles were fired from Lebanon early Thursday, all of which were intercepted or fell in open areas, it said. Israeli strikes since Monday have killed more than 630 people in Lebanon, according to local health authorities, who say around a quarter were women and children. Several people have been wounded by shrapnel in Israel. The fighting has killed dozens of people in Israel and driven tens of thousands from their homes on both sides of the border. Israel has vowed to do whatever is necessary to allow its citizens to return, and it has moved thousands of troops to the northern border in preparation for a possible ground operation. (AP) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. After School Nana turned heads at the Courreges show during the Paris Fashion Week, and made people scream after giving a kiss to a lucky fan! During the event, Nana didn't disappoint with her $1,300 black Midi Tulle Dress from the brand Undressed. It is an unconventional slip outfit that showcases the illusion of a half-exposed bra. She completed her regal look with her blood-red lipstick and bob cut. the getty image curse doesnt work on NANA pic.twitter.com/VY3ErbQ01I NANA (@Nanaarchives) September 25, 2024 When Nana reached the show's venue, all eyes were on her. She took photos of the venue, and even when she was just sitting in the front row, she was giving off an unmatched aura. She has an impressive background when it comes to modeling as she joined the Asia Pacific Super Model Contest in 2009. After her debut in After School in the same year, she was hailed by TC Candler as the "Most Beautiful Face in the World" for two consecutive years (2014-2015). In 2021, she was listed as one of the "Most Beautiful Faces of the Decade 2010s" for appearing on the rankings for nine years since 2013. the luckiest girl who got a kiss from nana pic.twitter.com/hZWFUAqFqG NANA (@Nanaarchives) September 25, 2024 READ ALSO: Only 6 Kpop Idols to Rank #1 in TC Candler's 'Most Beautiful/Handsome Faces' Through the Years: Nana, Tzuyu, Nancy, V, More! As she graced this beauty at the show then, she decided to greet her fans and walked to them closer, and one lucky fan not only got to meet her up close but got a souvenir kiss from the star! In a video, the fan was admiring Nana at a safe distance when the idol actress approached her and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. The whole crowd who were also surprised can be heard cheering for the girl. On X, netters also expressed their jealousy and happiness for the fan, writing comments such as: has anyone seen this person since this video was taken? im afraid i would die if this happened to me https://t.co/PIJGkvIkbt September 25, 2024 a kiss on the cheek?? A KISS ON THE CHEEK FROM NANA??? THIS FAN IS LIVING THE DREAM https://t.co/NCUu5blzBo (@friedkimchae) September 25, 2024 RELATED ARTICLE: Top 10+ Second-Generation Female Idols with Unrivaled Visuals For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dela Cruz A West Virginia man who allegedly told authorities he came to North Dakota to sell fentanyl pills because "there was money to be made" pleaded not guilty to felony charges Thursday in Burleigh County. Jamone Walker Estes, 31, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted on either of two counts related to conspiracy to possess and distribute fentanyl. Walker Estes is the final of four people charged in connection with a search warrant that was executed in August at an apartment on East Arbor Avenue, according to an affidavit. Steven Hicks of Huntington, West Virginia, and Davon McClinton of Detroit, Michigan, face the same charges. The fourth defendant, Albrina Curtis, of Los Angeles, faces one count of conspiracy to manufacture or deliver fentanyl. Her charge carries a 20-year maximum prison sentence as well. All three previously pleaded not guilty. Authorities found Walker Estes, McClinton, Hicks and Curtis inside the apartment with more than 720 suspected fentanyl pills, with a street value of about $20,000, according to the affidavit. The apartment's resident told authorities she was aware McClinton was staying there for more than a month while he was also selling fentanyl pills, the document stated. Walker Estes allegedly told police in an interview that he had come to Bismarck on McClinton's advice and that Hicks was a recent arrival, the affidavit stated. The apartment's resident also allegedly told officers she overheard Walker Estes and McClinton talking about Hicks bringing more fentanyl pills with him. Hicks' involvement was allegedly confirmed by officers who interviewed Walker Estes. Walker Estes also implicated Curtis, whom investigators found at a Bismarck motel, according to the affidavit. Inside her motel room authorities found more than $1,000 that Curtis allegedly said came from acting as a prostitute, as well as records that allegedly showed money transfers associated with drug sales, the document stated. Other evidence found on Curtis' cellphone allegedly revealed conversations between McClinton and Curtis about drug sales. Walker Estes, Hicks and McClinton remain in custody at the Burleigh Morton Detention Center on $200,000 cash bonds. Curtis remains in custody on a $100,000 cash bond. Trials in all four cases are scheduled to begin Dec. 4. Chappell Roan declined an invitation to perform at the White House for a Pride Month event, in protest over the conflict in Gaza An appeals court has sent back part of a lawsuit brought by a protester of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, who alleged excessive force by law enforcement officers. Eric Poemoceah, of Oklahoma, filed the federal court lawsuit in 2020 against Morton County, County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, then-Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney and other officers, including unidentified ones. He sought unspecified damages to be determined at trial. Poemoceah alleged that during a demonstration in February 2017, when a protest camp was being evacuated, Bismarck Police Officer Benjamin Swenson tackled him, causing a pelvic fracture. He also alleged other injuries from other officers, and that the officers disregarded his pelvic injury and retaliated against him for livestreaming the events. The defendants sought to dismiss the case. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor granted their motions to dismiss in December 2020. He said the officers were entitled to qualified immunity regarding use of force, and that Poemoceah didn't sufficiently back up his claims. Poemoceah appealed in 2021. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the judge's dismissal of most of Poemoceah's claims. But the panel said he "plausibly alleges a Fourth Amendment excessive force claim against Swenson," and sent that claim back for further proceedings. The Associated Press emailed attorneys for both sides, but did not immediately receive responses to requested comment. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's opposition to the pipeline's Missouri River crossing drew thousands of people who demonstrated and camped for months in 2016 and 2017 near the crossing. Hundreds of arrests resulted from the sometimes-chaotic protests. The multistate pipeline has been transporting oil since 2017, including during an ongoing, court-ordered environmental review process for the controversial river segment. Law enforcement has long denied using excessive force against the pipeline protestors. Authorities maintain some protesters used violent and illegal tactics and assaulted officers. Many protesters allege law enforcement acted unreasonably and violated their rights. Several other excessive force lawsuits stemming from the DAPL protests were filed. Some have been resolved, including the cases of two photographers who sued law enforcement individually in federal court. Tracie Dawn Williams, who said she was on assignment for the National Press Photographers Association, and Oregon photographer Tonita Cervantes both lost their cases when Traynor earlier this year granted defendants' motions to dismiss. International declaration on the fight against AMR The Commission welcomes the Political Declaration reached today at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to step up action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). At the High-Level ministerial meeting in New York, UN member countries, including EU Member States, and the EU committed to concrete actions to address AMR across all sectors, through a One Health approach that acknowledges that human, animal and environmental health are intrinsically linked. The Declaration is a strong signal of the global consensus on the necessity to address this serious global health threat, which was directly responsible for almost 1.2 million deaths worldwide in 2021 and contributed to another 4.7 million deaths the same year. It is estimated that there could be over 8.2 million deaths linked to resistant bacteria globally in 2050, if urgent action is not taken. Political leaders committed to a series of measures to tackle AMR, including improved prevention, surveillance, monitoring, financing, access, innovation and awareness-raising. Among the commitments in today's declaration are: A target to reduce the number of global deaths from bacterial AMR by 10% by 2030. from bacterial AMR by 10% by 2030. The implementation of national action plans by all countries, to address AMR through One Health approach. by all countries, to address AMR through One Health approach. The establishment of an independent panel for evidence-based action against AMR. The panel, which the EU will help to fund with 2.5 million in 2025, will gather and consolidate data on AMR and provide guidance to policymakers worldwide. for evidence-based action against AMR. The panel, which the EU will help to fund with 2.5 million in 2025, will gather and consolidate data on AMR and provide guidance to policymakers worldwide. The use of existing frameworks to exchange experiences and best practices , and to assess progress in implementing national action plans, drawing the scientific guidance above. Regular ministerial meetings will take stock of global progress. , and to assess progress in implementing national action plans, drawing the scientific guidance above. Regular ministerial meetings will take stock of global progress. A pledge to meaningfully reduce the use of antibiotics in agri-food by 2030. by 2030. The promotion of sustainable financing, with particular support for low- and middle-income countries, and mapping of available funding for AMR. Background AMR is one of the greatest health threats of our times, placing significant strain on our healthcare systems. In Europe, 1 in 5 bacterial infections is resistant to antibiotics, with this figure as high as 40% in some Member States. Additionally, AMR has a serious economic impact, estimated to cost healthcare systems alone an additional US$ 1 trillion by 2050. In Europe, the current estimated cost of AMR is 11.7 billion per year in health expenditure and lost productivity. At EU level, AMR is one of the highest public health priorities, reflected in the action taken to tackle it at all levels of the ecosystem. Among the key EU measures to address AMR are targets to reduce antibiotic consumption in humans, rules to limit antibiotics in livestock, Research and Development investment to support the development of novel antibiotics, and strengthened environmental monitoring to prevent antibiotic residues from contaminating soil and water. Furthermore, the Commission has also launched a new campaign this week to promote greater awareness of AMR amongst young people and tackle AMR through a whole of society approach. The EU is also a vocal advocate of a stronger One Health response to the threat of AMR globally. More information Remarks by Commissioner Kyriakides at UNGA High Level meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance EU statement at High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance Quote Todays Political Declaration is a strong signal of the global commitment to address antimicrobial resistance a significant and evolving health threat to every person, community and country. The Declaration puts a much-needed spotlight on AMR. We now need to turn these commitments into real actions and intensify our global collaboration in tackling AMR. We are at a turning point that could define the health and well-being of future generations. Team Europe, through our European Health Union, is ready to play its part in this global effort. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety 2024-09-25 Zarazeno ct 26.09.2024 18:09:00 Zdroj Evropska komise en Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=IP/24/4847&language=en lang en guid /IP/24/4847/ The story behind the release of The Plot Against Harry is a jaw-dropping bit of showbiz insanity. The film was shot and completed in 1970, but it couldn't garner any traction with distributors, exhibitors, or other early viewers. It was deemed a comedy too impenetrable to laugh at. So director Michael Roemer decided to cut his losses and move on to the next project. In the late '80s, Roemer decides to have a video transfer of Harry made for himself and his family. When he does, the technician at the post house who is doing the transfer immediately starts laughing at the film. Thinking the film might have a second shot, Roemer has new prints struck and sent to festivals. And the film gets accepted: to New York, to Toronto, to Cannes. It gets an indie distributor and is released in 1989 and 1990 as a "new" release. Looking at the film now, it's more than a little baffling that those early viewers didn't know what to make of it. It's such a delightfully wry and richly conceived depiction of both small-time racketeering and the social circles of New York Jews that this viewer was instantaneously disarmed. I will admit that the movie is light on schtick or hard jokes, but lead actor Martin Priest is a consistently warm and charming presence, even as his character gets more and more beleaguered and confused. The film opens with Harry Plotnick (Priest) getting out of prison. Even though he was only gone for a short stint, he returns to find his numbers racket is nearly in shambles. One of his runners, Big Julie (Julius Harris), has decided to go into business for himself, and a few others from his crew have joined up. Against his better judgment -- and in violation of his parole -- Harry goes to his Italian capo to ask him to intimidate Big Julie into falling back in line. Meanwhile, Harry reconnects with his ex-wife Kay after a silly traffic accident and discovers that he has two grown daughters, a grandchild, and another grand-baby on the way. Kay is cautious but the others are oddly welcoming to Harry and are willing to give him a shot at rejoining their family. The film is light on its feet at 80 minutes and mostly consists of Harry's attempts to rebuild his business and his family life, with a seemingly inverse amount of success at every turn. His attempts to lead a "straight" life are undercut by his history of racketeering and his attempts to reclaim his place in the rackets seem destined to lead him straight back to prison. (He hasn't even been out a week!) Writer-director Roemer peoples his film with a lot of non-actors who offer the necessary authenticity of the characters they are portraying and without the stiffness you sometimes find in performances from first-timers. Ben Lang is particularly good as the social climbing ex-brother-in-law who wants Harry's help in boosting his catering business. Margo Solin also impresses as Harry's younger model daughter who immediately understands that she has her prodigal father neatly under her thumb. While The Plot Against Harry might have seemed offputting in 1970, with its streetwise naturalistic style and unrepentantly Jewish sense of humor, now it feels like a forbear to work of Albert Brooks and Larry David (among others). As the camera slowly pulls back in the film's final shot, we see Harry standing in the middle of his kid's wedding, seemingly as lost and uncertain as the couple at the end of The Graduate. In this moment, I could almost hear the signature theme tune from Curb Your Enthusiasm kicking in before a final cut to black. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray The initial limited run of The Plot Against Harry with a collectible slipcover has already sold out. No matter, the flick is still worth owning, and The Film Desk's standard keepcase still comes with a generous booklet featuring photos, critical writing from four different critics, and a piece by director Michael Roemer that introduced the published screenplay. The disc loads to a copyright warning and the Film Desk logo before landing on a full motion menu. If you stop the disc and restart, it will play the warning and logo again before offering the option to play from where you left off. Newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath assumed duties at the Ministry today (25 September 2024) at a simple ceremony. Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane and senior officials of the Ministry were present. As a Member of Parliament, Minister Herath has represented the Gampaha District since 2000. He had also previously served as the Minister of Cultural Affairs & National Heritage. Minister Herath holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kelaniya. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Colombo 25 September 2024 James Cox Gardai in Crumlin have arrested one man following a stabbing incident in Ballymount, Dublin 12 on Wednesday evening. At approximately 9pm, gardai were alerted to an assault at an industrial estate in Ballymount. A man (aged in his 20s) received a stab wound during the course of an altercation with a second man. The injured man was taken to Tallaght University Hospital where he remains in a stable condition. A man, aged in his late teens, was arrested at the scene of the incident and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin. A weapon which is understood to have been used during the course of the incident was seized by gardai for a technical examination. Investigations are ongoing, gardai said. A new speed record has been set for completing the Appalachian Trail, according to media reports and the feat-tracking website fastestknowntime.com. Tara Dower finished the 2,189-mile trail southbound from Katahdin, Maine, to Springer Mountain, Georgia, on Sept. 21, in just 40 days, 18 hours and 6 minutes, the website states. Supported by a crew, Dower had set out Aug. 12. The site lists the previous fastest known time as set northbound in the summer of 2018 by Karel Sabbe, in 41 days, 7 hours and 39 minutes. Dower surpassed her goal, shared via social media, of raising $20,000 during the trek for the Charlotte, North Carolina-based nonprofit Girls on the Run International. Virginia-based Tara Dower, 31, on Sept. 21, 2024, completed the 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail in under 41 days, setting the fastest known time. Here, she is seen during her trek in a photo taken by friend Rascal.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Dower spoke with Easton-based Runners World magazine following her journey, saying her crew shares in her record and detailing the grueling schedule that kept her on pace. The 31-year-old is an ultra-runner and long-distance hiker originally from North Carolina and now based in Virginia, according to a profile by Outside. With a vertical gain of 465,000 feet, the Appalachian Trail is known for its scenic beauty but also challenging, rugged stretches. Pennsylvania is home to 229 miles of the trail, the fourth-longest stretch among the 14 states it passes through, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Another 72 miles cross through northern New Jersey. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. The most popular visitor attraction in Laois last year was Emo Court Parklands, clocking in a whopping 238,039 visitors at the site. Failte Ireland has published the results of its annual survey of attendance at Ireland's visitor attractions for 2023. The report released today shows a breakdown of how each county performed. County Laois pulled in a respective number of visitors in 2023 to some of its visitor attractions. It is worth noting that participation in the survey was voluntary and therefore it is not a complete record of all visitor attractions that were open in Laois in 2023. As well as Emo Court Parklands bringing in over 230,000 visitors at the site, Emo Court House also welcomed 337 visitors. The historical site the Rock of Dunamase greeted 48,832, while Timahoe Round Tower & Heritage Centre saw 15,000 visitors. READ NEXT: Daring abseil attempt in memory of Laois Credit Union manager Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum had 2,486 visitors and Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery saw 2,126. Despite only being open for 2 months during last year, Abbeyleix Heritage House welcomed 1,000 visitors. Some key findings in the survey showed that visitor levels in 2023 were 95% of 2019 overall, and were higher than in 2022 (85%). The number of international visitors to Ireland has risen in 2023 to 57%, as attendance at visitor attractions continues to grow following the pandemic. Dublin hosted the greatest share of international visitors at 68%, while Irelands Hidden Heartlands experienced the biggest shift from 21% of international visitors in 2022 to 32% in 2023. Mountrath Town Team have secured over 315,000 in funding to improve and regenerate the town. Having worked with Laois County Council Town Regeneration Officer, Denise Rainey, to secure the funds, the team are encouraging local people to have their say and take part in their upcoming consultation events. In the past 12 months, in collaboration with Laois County Council, they have sourced the funding for a range of projects which aim to transform and regenerate and improve Mountrath. The largest sum secured by the team was 250,0000 under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme which will see improvements to the Town Square, enhanced public lighting in the town centre, improved landscaping and signage along the River Walk and Patrick Street and enhancements to the Farmers Market. A further 50,000 was secured under the Town & Village Project Development Measure to re-design the Town Square and 6,800 has been allocated under the Community Climate Action Fund for the provision of a bicycle repair station, rack and shelter in the centre of Mountrath. Meanwhile, a total of 10,000 in funding was awarded by the Irish Architecture Foundation Re-Imagine Project. This funding will be used for a design project to explore ways to enhance the White Horse River as an amenity in the town. Chairman of Mountrath Town Team, Mark Sheeran is determined to follow through on the plans for Mountrath. We are committed to implementing these schemes over the course of the next year. People living and visiting Mountrath will start to see real improvements in our town centre," he explained. Anyone who wants more information on any of the above, should contact Denise Rainey Town Regeneration officer with Laois County Council by emailing drainey@laoiscoco.ie. Consultation Clinics will be held in Mountrath over the course of the next year to get your feedback and input into the above schemes. The Town Team welcomes your opinions and would love to hear from residents, businesses, community groups and people who visit Mountrath." said Mark. Ms Rainey said that while the exact dates of the consultation clinics have yet to be confirmed, the consultation will likely take place next month for the Re-Imagine Project . She said the consultation for the redesign of Town Square won't take place until 2025. A daring vertical abseil will soon be attempted, in memory of a Laois Credit Union manager who died suddenly while at work. Colm Heslin managed Mountmellick Credit Union, where he took ill and died on October 11 2022, to the shock and grief of his family, his fiancee Michelle Kemmy, manager of Kildare Credit Union, and of his staff and friends in Mountmellick. It was all the more tragic because Colm's younger brother Ollie had died in a road crash just four months previously. Now Michelle's sister Edel is planning a heroic feat in Colm's honour, and to help others. Edel Kemmy from Kildare is asking for donations for the Irish Heart Foundation, ahead of her attempt to abseil down the Generator's Skyview Tower in Smithfield Square, Dublin 7. Edel launched her online fundraiser in late August. "In Loving Memory of my sisters fiance, Colm, Im taking on an abseil challenge in November in support of the Irish Heart Foundation. Please donate &/or share my page https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/EK72283369". She set herself a target to raise of 1,000 and in less than a month it received 840, along with many messages of support, including from Colm's former colleagues in Mountmellick. "Such a worthy cause. Colm is sorely missed," one colleague said. "Fair play Edel! We all miss him in MMCU x," another said. The Skyview tower in Smithfield is 60 metres tall, one of the tallest structures in Dublin. Previously a chimney for the Jameson Distillery, it is now topped by a glass viewing platform taken from a former air traffic control tower. Edel's abseil will be part of a group challenge on Saturday, November 2, with red heroes cape provided to everyone, all in aid of the charity. It is fully booked for participants. Each will have the help of experienced, qualified instructors to guide them through every step, with all safety equipment provided. Concerns have been raised to Kildare County Council (KCC) in relation to one section of the River Barrow in Monasterevin. Fine Gael councillor Kevin Duffy raised the concerns via a motion he submitted at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which was held on Wednesday, September 18 last. His motion asked that the council 'prioritises the dredging of the River Barrow Special Area of Conservation (SAC) between the Monasterevin Town Bridge to the Passlands Bridge as part of the 2025 program given the significant in river overgrown that is impeding the navigation of the river.' The motion was seconded by Cllr Duffy's party colleague, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, and also found support in Social Democrats Cllr Pat Balfe and Fianna Fail Cllr Brian O'Loughlin. In response, KCC told Cllr Duffy via its report at the meeting: "Drainage maintenance works carried by KCC include: silt and vegetation management, aquatic vegetation cutting, bank protection, tree cutting, branch trimming, bridge and structural repairs, in specific drainage districts across the county. "In-stream works with machinery are limited to the months of July, August and September." KCC continued: "Due to the width and depth of the River Barrow, its designation as a SAC and limited access to the riparian zone, standard machine maintenance has not been possible in some sections. "To resolve this, KCC are piloting the use of a weed cutting boat on the Barrow this year. "Similar boats are used by Waterways Ireland. "Weed cutting, when carried out over a number of years, may reduce the likelihood of vegetation regrowth." KCC concluded: "The boat is currently working close to Dunrally Bridge (see photos) and is scheduled to move to Monasterevin in mid-September." A representative of KCC who was present at the meeting also told Cllr Duffy that if he had any more concerns, that they would take them to a KCC engineer. Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Duffy. Photograph credit: Facebook. USE ARROWS OR NEXT BUTTON TO SEE MORE Newbridge Musical Theatre (NMT) is thrilled to present our upcoming concert, Now Thats What I Call 80s!, taking place at the Riverbank Arts Centre on October 17 and 18. This exciting show will transport you back to the decade that gave us some of the most iconic music in history. With unforgettable performances of hits like Time After Time, Total Eclipse of the Heart, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Eye of the Tiger, and many more, this concert promises to be a celebration of 80s music, showcasing incredible local talent. Our members have been hard at work rehearsing to bring these beloved songs to the Riverbank stage, and we cant wait to share the results with you. As a community-driven local theatre group, we are proud to bring together performers and volunteers not just from Newbridge, but also from surrounding towns across County Kildare. Each year, we stage a large-scale musical production at Easter in Newbridge College Theatre. NMT is a proud member of the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS), which represents over 130 musical societies across Ireland, involving around 14,000 people in the world of musical theatre and reaching an audience base of 1.2 million. The talent on the amateur musical scene in Ireland has gone from strength to strength in recent years. We are deeply connected to this thriving community, which is driven by a passion for performance, creativity, and community spirit. Aside from our Easter productions, we remain active throughout the year, hosting a range of fundraising and social events, such as concerts, table quizzes, coffee mornings, bake sales, and carol singing. These events not only help to support our productions but also offer our members a chance to connect with the local community and provide a great social outlet. Its a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and engage in something fun and fulfilling. We welcome everyone over the age of eighteen who is interested in joining uswhether on stage or behind the scenes! Were always looking for new members, so reach out to us on social media or at hello@ newbridgemusicaltheatre.com if youre interested. After much anticipation and with the recent release of rights for a show weve had our eye on for years, we are delighted to reveal that our 2025 production will be...The Witches of Eastwick! In collaboration with CAMERON MACKINTOSH LTD and Music Theatre International, we will bring this magical musical to life. Based on John Updikes novel and the 1987 film starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Mark your calendarsthis spectacular production will take place April 21st to 26th, 2025, at Newbridge College Theatre. Now Thats What I Call the 80s! will be a true celebration of music, community, and nostalgia, and we cant wait to share it with you. Tickets are available now, so dont miss out on an incredible night of 80s hits performed by our talented cast. For more information and to book tickets, visit HERE.. We cant wait to welcome you to our upcoming showsboth Now Thats What I Call the 80s and The Witches of Eastwick! Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more unforgettable performances with our local community! A Kildare secondary school pupil is one of two deaf students campaigning to have Irish Sign Language (ISL) made a Leaving Certificate examination subject. Shane Hamilton (17) from Kilcullen and Ellie Woods (18) from Clonee, Co Meath are both Leaving Certificate students at the Holy Family School for the Deaf in Dublins Cabra, and say they and other students who are users of ISL are being unfairly disadvantaged in the third level points race. The passing by the Oireachtas of the Irish Sign language Act of 2017 gave ISL official language status, alongside Irish and English, but it is not available as a Leaving Certificate exam subject. Chime, the national charity for deaf and hard of hearing people, says there are over 5,000 deaf and hard of hearing students in the Irish education system, with 95% of those in mainstream schooling. There are approximately 40,000 daily Deaf and hearing users of ISL. Currently, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) provides Leaving Certificate examinations in a range of what it refers to as non-curricular EU languages. These include Latvian, Romanian, Slovenian, Modern Greek, Finnish, Estonian, Slovakian, Swedish, Czech, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Danish, Dutch, Croatian and Maltese. The SEC states on its website that it is its policy to accede to requests to provide examinations for native speakers in their mother tongue in the case of national languages of EU states, as per Article 149 of the Treaty of Nice. The Irish Sign language Act requires that public services are available through ISL and also outlines the need for greater access to education through sign language. ISL is Shanes first language and says the campaign is about equal rights for deaf students. I learned ISL before English and it is an official language of the State. Surely it is only fair that I sit a Leaving Certificate examination in it? Other students get to sit an exam in their first language, he said. According to Ellie, provision of an ISL Leaving Certificate examination would remediate the fact that many deaf students are unable to learn Irish. It is about getting the points that deaf Leaving Certificate students deserve. A lot of colleges require a grade in Irish but many deaf students are unable to study it, she said. Both students hope to progress to third-level education. Shane has an ambition to study politics, while Ellie hopes at some point to work with deaf children in the area of early intervention. And they say that placing ISL on the Leaving Certificate curriculum would provide students who are not deaf the option of learning another practical language and gain an understanding of issues faced by the deaf and hard of hearing. Chime says ISL as a Leaving Certificate exam subject would also benefit family members who are not deaf but who have deaf parents and siblings. While my deafness is not a barrier to what I want to achieve, I need the support of a fair system, said Ellie. According to Brendan Lennon, Director of Advocacy, Research and Public Affairs at Chime, not having ISL on the Leaving Certificate curriculum clearly marginalises the deaf community, which is already under represented at third level. It is manifestly unfair and disadvantages deaf students because it means they cannot compete on the same basis as their peers for third level places and career opportunities. It is blatant inequality, he said. Aside from ignoring an indigenous Irish language, the failure to include ISL as a Leaving Certificate examination subject runs counter to the inclusivity and equality which should underpin education. Irish Sign Language Awareness Week 2024 takes place until Sunday, September 29. On Wednesday, September 25, Dail Eireann held a debate on the Carers Allowance Means Test. The personal toll of caring for a loved one was brought to the attention of the Dail by a Sligo-Leitrim TD. Carers Allowance is a means-tested payment, meaning eligibility depends on the applicant's income being below a certain threshold, assessed by the Department of Social Protection. For those caring for two or more people, the allowance is increased by 50 percent. However, if a person is receiving another social welfare payment, they may only qualify for the half-rate Carers Allowance. Many TDs and councillors have been calling for an abolition of the means test for Carers Allowance, arguing it is unfair and undermines the vital work of Irelands carers. More than 500,000 people in Ireland, or one in eight of the population are carers. Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny brought a local case to the attention of the Dail, and called for these carers in the North West to receive fair payment. Most of the people doing the care are female and are caring for the people they love. They are caring for a sibling, or an elderly parent or child, Deputy Kenny said. In many of those cases, they would do it even if money were taken off them, never mind if they got money. That needs to be recognised. Deputy Kenny discussed a local case involving a woman who has been caring for her child for 25 years, but is unable to access full Carers Allowance because income coming into the house from her husbands work exceeds the eligibility threshold. It causes such stress and hardship on that woman. I have seen her age significantly over the past decade because the child she cares for is deteriorating continuously, Deputy Kenny explained. It is the worry about all of that which is putting such a plight on her. The notion of carer's allowance and carer's benefit, and the amount of money put into those, is simply not adequate to reflect that support. We need to ensure that happens. The Minister of State needs to listen to what is happening here. We need to ensure that we provide for people into the future. The budget coming up in the next couple of days needs to deliver, Deputy Kenny concluded. In Family Carers Irelands pre-budget submission for 2025, the charity called to raise the weekly Carers Allowance income disregard to 1,250 for couples and 625 for single carers. Additionally, they have also advocated for the abolition of the means test and the introduction of a Family Carer Payment by 2027. As the upcoming Budget approaches on Tuesday, October 1, it is imperative for carers that the Government takes decisive action to ensure that support provided is fair and sufficient for more than half a million carers nationwide. READ NEXT - Leitrim house prices jump by 2.4pc in three months, latest figures show The Holey Soles Hill Walking Group, in collaboration with guide Dave Lawless, is hosting its annual Fr. Ed Memorial fundraiser on Sunday, 6th October. This years event will support the Warmi Huasi project in Peru, which works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities. Speaking about the event, Noirin Clancy from the Holey Soles group said, This walk is not just about coming together for a beautiful day outdoors; it's about making a real difference to peoples lives in Peru. All funds raised will go directly to support the Warmi Huasi project, which provides essential services to vulnerable families. The fundraiser offers two walking options, both set in the picturesque surroundings of Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim. Registration will take place at St. Michaels National School starting at 10:30 AM, with the hill walk beginning at 11:00 AM and the ramble at 11:15 AM. Theres no need to register beforehand, Clancy explains. Participants can simply turn up on the day, and well have everything set up to get everyone on their way. Its a fun, inclusive event thats open to all, whether youre an experienced hill walker or someone looking for a more gentle ramble. The 8km ramble along Barrs Line promises a relaxed walk with panoramic views of Glenfarne Valley, Thur Mountain, and Cuilcagh Mountain. According to Clancy, "Its the perfect route for those who want to take things a little easier while still enjoying the beautiful surroundings. You dont have to be a seasoned walker to enjoy this one. For those looking for a challenge, the 10km hill walk follows a historic route over Thur Mountain, providing sweeping views of Sliabh an Iarainn, Cuilcagh Mountain, and Lough MacNean. Walkers will be transported by minibus to McManus Quarry to begin the hike. This route holds a special significance, Clancy explains. It retraces the footsteps of local people from pre-famine times who carried coffins over the mountain to Kilmakerrill Graveyard. We walk this path today in solidarity with the people of Peru, who, like our ancestors, continue to show resilience in the face of hardship. After the walk, participants can enjoy a short film titled Kilmakerrill Graveyard, produced by Leitrim County Councils Heritage Office. The film tells the poignant story of the local history behind the route, says Clancy. Its a fitting way to end the day and reflect on the deeper connections between our past and the communities were supporting in Peru. All donations raised will go directly to the Warmi Huasi project. Every cent raised on the day will help the people of Peru," Clancy emphasizes. "For those who cant join us, theres still the opportunity to contribute through our Eventbrite page, where people can 'buy a ticket' and support the cause remotely. For more information on the Warmi Huasi project, visit www.warmihuasi.org. To learn more about the event, check out www.leitrimhillwalking.org. By joining this walk, participants will not only experience the beauty of Glenfarne but also make a tangible difference to communities in need. Gardai are appealing for witnesses following the death of a cyclist in a fatal road traffic collision in Monaghan in the early hours of Saturday morning. Gardai and emergency services were alerted to a "single vehicle road traffic collision involving a male pedal cyclist" near Gort an Teannal, Knockatallon, at approximately 1.15am on Saturday, September 21. The cyclist, aged in his 30s was seriously injured and removed from the scene to Enniskillen Hospital. He passed away soon after, on the night of Tuesday, September 24. Read Also: Man hospitalised following 'serious' stabbing incident at industrial estate in Dublin Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time of the incident, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Monaghan Garda Station on 047 77 200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Gardai have received footage of violent disorder in Dublin which was first broadcast during an RTE documentary. They are examining the footage to see if charges can be brought against further individuals involved in the unrest. The site of the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, Dublin, was subjected to a blockade for more than 100 days after it was earmarked for use to accommodate asylum seekers. In the early hours of Monday July 15, the Public Order Unit assisted the owner of the site to regain access to the property. He was accompanied by security and maintenance workers. The Public Order Unit left the scene hours later at 7am. Soon thereafter, tensions escalated at the site and a digger and mattresses were burned. The public order unit was later redeployed to the site but security staff at the building had been injured during the intervening period. Thirty-four people have been arrested and 26 people have appeared before the courts charged with offences. RTE Investigates broadcast footage from the unrest last week showing workers at the site expressing frustration in the response time of Gardai to their calls for assistance, following shouts of racist abuse and the throwing of projectiles. The footage included what appeared to be bodyworn cameras worn by security on the site on the day. On Thursday, Commissioner Drew Harris said gardai received the footage which was shown in the documentary. He had previously said that he first saw the footage during the RTE broadcast. He said gardai would now assess whether the footage would relate to people who had already been charged or could be used as evidence for additional resources. Speaking at a meeting of the Policing Authority, he said 7am would have been the normal finishing time for the public order unit after working through the night In hindsight and a lot of things are very clear in hindsight that wasnt the correct decision given what subsequently developed, he said. Elsewhere, authority member Paul Mageean asked for clarity as to when gardai were informed the contractor wanted to re-enter the site on July 15. He said he had been told at a previous meeting that gardai had been given only five days notice, on July 10. However, the documentary shows that the contractor met the local superintendent about the matter weeks before that date. Assistant commissioner for Dublin Metropolitan Region Angela Willis acknowledged a meeting with the contractor and superintendent did occur on June 12, but said the July 15 target for commencing works was put forward only as a tentative date. However, she said many things had to happen before assuring the security for the work would be put in place for the July 15 date. There was an agreement there would be a minimum of seven days notice provided of any intended works to commence to the gardai in Coolock to enable relevant planning to take place, she said. She said the next time the contractor contacted the superintendent was on July 10, where he expressed his desire to move into the site on July 15. The superintendent expressed concern that it was very short notice and that he may not be in a position to have an appropriate amount of resources. She said there were competing demands in the city including at Croke Park and the 3Arena. RTE has handed over documentary footage featuring public disorder to gardai following receipt of a court order. The Garda Commissioner said he had received the footage of the violent disorder in Dublin which was first broadcast in an RTE Investigates documentary last week. Gardai are examining the footage to see if charges can be brought against further individuals involved in the unrest. The site of the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, Dublin, was subjected to a blockade for more than 100 days after it was earmarked for use to accommodate asylum seekers. In the early hours of Monday July 15, the Public Order Unit assisted the owner of the site to regain access to the property. He was accompanied by security and maintenance workers. The Public Order Unit left the scene hours later at 7am. Soon thereafter, tensions escalated at the site and a digger and mattresses were burned. The public order unit was later redeployed to the site but security staff at the building had been injured during the intervening period. Thirty-four people have been arrested and 26 people have appeared before the courts charged with offences. RTE Investigates broadcast footage from the unrest last week showing workers at the site expressing frustration in the response time of Gardai to their calls for assistance, following shouts of racist abuse and the throwing of projectiles. The footage included what appeared to be bodyworn cameras worn by security on the site on the day. On Thursday, Commissioner Drew Harris said gardai received the footage which was shown in the documentary. He had previously said that he first saw the footage during the RTE broadcast. He said gardai would now assess whether the footage would relate to people who had already been charged or could be used as evidence for additional resources. In a statement, RTE said: Following the receipt of a court order, RTE can confirm it has provided An Garda Siochana with footage it recorded inside the former Crown Paint factory for the recent RTE Investigates documentary, while fulfilling its journalistic obligations to protect sources. The RTE Investigates documentary demonstrated a clear public interest in highlighting the use of disinformation to initiate violence, showing the extent of how the state has, at times, struggled to respond when these protests have gotten out of control, and raises questions around freedom of speech and intimidation of immigrants, journalists, business people, volunteers and the An Garda Siochana themselves. Speaking at a meeting of the Policing Authority on Thursday, Mr Harris said 7am would have been the normal finishing time for the public order unit after working through the night In hindsight, and a lot of things are very clear in hindsight, that wasnt the correct decision given what subsequently developed, he said. Elsewhere, authority member Paul Mageean asked for clarity as to when gardai were informed the contractor wanted to re-enter the site on July 15. He said he had been told at a previous meeting that gardai had been given only five days notice, on July 10. However, the documentary shows that the contractor met the local superintendent about the matter weeks before that date. Assistant commissioner for Dublin Metropolitan Region Angela Willis acknowledged a meeting with the contractor and superintendent did occur on June 12, but said the July 15 target for commencing works was put forward only as a tentative date. However, she said many things had to happen before assuring the security for the work would be put in place for the July 15 date. There was an agreement there would be a minimum of seven days notice provided of any intended works to commence to the gardai in Coolock to enable relevant planning to take place, she said. She said the next time the contractor contacted the superintendent was on July 10, where he expressed his desire to move into the site on July 15. The superintendent expressed concern that it was very short notice and that he may not be in a position to have an appropriate amount of resources. She said there were competing demands in the city including at Croke Park and the 3Arena. A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the hijacking of a car and the abduction of a baby girl. Noel Ryan, 47, of no fixed abode, appeared before Dublin District Court on Thursday. The court heard that the babys mother was taking the buggy from the boot of the car when the incident happened at Mountjoy Square West in the capital on Monday. Ryan is accused of unlawfully taking the baby girl from the lawful control of her mother and the unlawful seizure of a vehicle. Detective Garda Paul Griffin, of Mountjoy Garda Station, told the Dublin court that Ryan was charged with the offences shortly after 3pm on Thursday. He made no reply to the charges. He told the court that at around 1.45pm on Monday, the five-month-old baby was sitting in the rear seat of the vehicle while her mother was removing the buggy from the boot of the car. It was alleged that the vehicle was taken by force from the mother while the baby was inside the car. It is alleged that Ryan entered the vehicle and drove off. The car was then recovered at around 4pm later that day. The court heard that the baby was in the car and unharmed. Mr Griffin said there was objection to bail, however the accuseds solicitor Eoin Lysaght said there was no application for bail. Mr Lysaght said there was also an application for legal aid, which was granted. Judge Gerard Jones adjourned the case until October 3, with Ryan appearing before Cloverhill Court. Epicenter Bolsters AI Strategy with Appointment of Veteran Tech Leader Babita Tomar as Chief Strategy Officer MUMBAI, India, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Epicenter, a tech-driven customer experience management firm, is deepening its investment in digital transformation and artificial intelligence with the addition of an experienced Chief Strategy Officer. Babita Tomar is joining Epicenter to lead the practical application of artificial intelligence in augmenting the call center operations and business process outsourcing needs of their customers. Epicenter's focus on customer-centricity and human-centric design enables it to deliver transformative outcomes... For the last 20 years, Ms. Tomar has been helping major financial institutions and technology companies to deploy analytics to improve operations, while deepening their understanding and measurement of the customer experience. Working with companies like Wells Fargo and Amazon Web Services, her role in deploying analytics teams, and leading organization transformations makes her a powerful addition to the Epicenter team. "We are lucky to be adding such an experienced officer to our ranks. We have always had a focus on technology, and Babita will focus on the strategic use of AI/ML technologies to provide maximum impact across our organization," expressed Epicenter CEO - Rajesh Thankappan. In Epicenter, she will drive projects to identify and bring together the data needed to deploy machine learning and advanced data analytics, with the goal of providing end users/consumers with a better experience working with call center agents. With her help, we will identify opportunities to maintain our competitive advantages in technology through the application of artificial intelligence. "I am very excited to take on new challenges that will directly impact both the consumers we service and our enterprise customers who place their trust in us as an extension of their business. Through my decades of experience, I have been responsible for the practical application of technology to finance and technology businesses. Working in the BPO space will provide new challenges, and the opportunity to apply my experience to gain traction and quickly make an impact at Epicenter," said Ms. Tomar. About Epicenter: Epicenter is a global partner in business transformation, leveraging over two decades of expertise to drive innovation and operational excellence. It specializes in cutting-edge technology solutions and data-driven strategies that optimize processes, costs, and revenue streams. Epicenter's focus on customer-centricity and human-centric design enables it to deliver transformative outcomes for Global Fortune 500 companies across diverse industries. For More Information: www.epicenter.tech | Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epicentertech SOURCE Epicenter 25 september 2024 at 18:32 News published onand distributed by: O2Gold Announces AGM Results TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- O2Gold Inc. (TSX-V: OTGO) ("O2Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its annual and special meeting of shareholders ("AGM") held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. AGM Results The nominees listed in the Company's management information circular dated August 23, 2024 (the "Circular"), which was mailed to O2Gold shareholders of record as of August 26, 2024, were elected to the board of directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly appointed or elected. Nominee Percentage of Votes For Percentage of Votes Against Scott Moore 74.90% 25.10% Kam Gill 99.93% 0.07% Roger Lemaitre 76.20% 23.80% A total of 11,067,073 common shares were voted at the AGM, representing approximately 40.33% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. In addition, O2Gold shareholders received the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023, and approved all of the other resolutions detailed in the Circular and put forward at the AGM, namely: Re-appointing McGovern Hurley LLP as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year; Approving the proposed omnibus incentive plan of the Company (the " Omnibus Plan "), to be implemented upon completion of the uplisting of the Company's common shares from the NEX board of the TSX Venture Exchange (" TSXV ") to Tier 2 of the TSXV (the " Uplist "); "), to be implemented upon completion of the uplisting of the Company's common shares from the NEX board of the TSX Venture Exchange (" ") to Tier 2 of the TSXV (the " "); Re-approving the existing stock option plan of the Company, which will remain in effect if the Uplist is not completed or the Omnibus Plan is otherwise not implemented; and Approving the acquisition of a gold mining exploration property in Quebec through the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding securities of Quebec Aur Ltd. from its shareholders, one of which is a related party (as such term is defined in MI 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions) of the Company. The Circular is available under O2Gold's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. About O2Gold O2Gold is a mineral exploration company. For additional information, please contact: Scott Moore, Chief Executive Officer Phone: (416) 861-1685 Email: [email protected] Cautionary Notes Certain of the information contained in this news release may constitute ?forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including (but not limited to) statements with respect to the election and appointment of directors and the Uplist, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, obtaining regulatory approvals. Although the Company 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, 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. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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. 25 september 2024 at 21:00 News published onand distributed by: Arizona Sonoran Appoints Nick Hayduk as VP Corporate Development, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc. (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) ("ASCU" or the "Company") today announces the appointment of Mr. Nicholas (Nick) Hayduk as VP Corporate Development, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary complementing the team with a wide-range of Corporate Development and General Counsel expertise for the metals and mining industry. Effective October 1, 2024, Mr. Hayduk will replace Ms. Rita Adiani who will be leaving the Company following a two-week transition period. The Company wishes Ms. Adiani success in her future role. George Ogilvie, Arizona Sonoran President and CEO commented, "I am delighted to be re-united with Nick after working so successfully with him at Battle North Gold prior to its sale to Evolution Mining. His extensive experience providing strategic and legal advice to established mining and metals companies will be an asset to the team as we build and derisk Arizona's low-risk copper developer through technical studies, and towards final investment decision. I'd like to thank Rita for her good work steering the Company through the IPO in 2021 and being instrumental in giving the Company other strategic alternatives. The Board and I wish her every success in her future endeavours." Nick Hayduk has been a corporate lawyer for over 23 years, including 16 years in senior management and executive roles at publicly traded mining companies. Most recently, Nick was Chief Legal Officer, Vice President Corporate Affairs and Corporate Secretary at Excellon Resources Inc., and previously he was Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Battle North Gold Corporation, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer at Lundin Mining Corporation, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Kinross Gold Corporation, General Counsel, Operations ? Canada and U.S. at Goldcorp Inc. and General Counsel, Canada at Placer Dome. Nick's experience in these roles includes corporate governance best practices, securities and other regulatory compliance, public M&A and private asset transactions valued at over US$18 billion, public equity and debt offerings raising over US$3 billion, senior secured credit facilities of up to US$1.5 billion, multi-national joint-ventures, a wide variety of domestic and international contracts, litigation management, global compliance programs, enterprise risk management, and land title and mineral tenure management. His other professional activities have included being a member of the Advisory Group to the UN Global Compact Network Canada for its Guide for General Counsel ? How to influence the board of directors to drive sustainability and the Steering Committee for the European Commission's Feasibility Study for EU-Canada Mineral Cooperation. Prior to joining the mining industry, Nick practiced corporate law at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. Nick is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, Canada. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and a Law Degree from Dalhousie University, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the University of Alberta. About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (www.arizonasonoran.com) ASCU's objective is to become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs and to develop the Cactus and Parks/Salyer Projects that could generate robust returns for investors and provide a long term sustainable and responsible operation for the community and all stakeholders. The Company's principal asset is a 100% interest in the Cactus Project (former ASARCO, Sacaton mine) which is situated on private land in an infrastructure-rich area of Arizona. Contiguous to the Cactus Project is the Company's 100%-owned Parks/Salyer deposit that could allow for a phased expansion of the Cactus Mine once it becomes a producing asset. The Company is led by an executive management team and Board which have a long-standing track record of successful project delivery in North America complemented by global capital markets expertise. Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ASCU to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. Although ASCU has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and ASCU disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. 26 september 2024 at 06:35 News published onand distributed by: Surge Copper Completes 2024 Field Program and Provides Corporate Update Vancouver, British Columbia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surge Copper Corp. (TSXV: SURG) (OTCQB: SRGXF) (Frankfurt: G6D2) ("Surge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of its 2024 field program at its 100%-owned Berg and Ootsa copper-molybdenum-precious metals projects located in central British Columbia. Field crews have now been demobilized, and with the conclusion of physical operations, the Company is ramping down associated expenditures as it transitions into the data analysis and reporting phase. 2024 Field Program Highlights Completed a total of 13 diamond drill holes for 5,054 metres: At the Berg Project, 10 holes were drilled for a total of 3,707 metres within the main Berg deposit, with an additional 450-metre hole testing the Berg SW exploration target. At the Ootsa Project, two holes were drilled for a total of 897 metres, targeting the copper-gold porphyry zone discovered in 2022, northeast of the Seel deposit (see January 9, 2023 press release). All 10 holes at the Berg deposit are expected to support resource definition and conversion of Inferred resources to higher confidence categories. Six of the Berg deposit holes underwent downhole geotechnical testing, including Packer tests, piezometer installations, and televiewer surveys, supporting pre-feasibility mining studies. Core samples will also undergo geochemical analysis and acid-base accounting test work during the winter, supporting ARD/ML environmental baseline and pre-feasibility studies on waste rock management. An environmental baseline data collection program was initiated across the project area to bolster previously completed database efforts. A pre-feasibility level metallurgy program is ongoing and slated for completion in early 2025. Assay results from all drill holes will be released once data are received, verified, and interpreted. Leif Nilsson, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We're pleased with how efficiently this year's field program progressed. We achieved all the critical objectives, and thanks to high productivity and favourable weather conditions, we exceeded our original drilling target. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the employees and contractors whose hard work and dedication contributed to this successful program. We look forward to providing further updates as we analyze the results in the coming months." Annual General Meeting The Company held its Annual General Meeting on September 25, 2024. All proposed resolutions, as described in the notice of the meeting and information circular dated August 13, 2024, were approved by the shareholders of the Company. Qualified Person Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for the Berg Project and the Ootsa Property as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 41-101") and has approved the technical and scientific disclosure contained in this news release. About Surge Copper Corp. Surge Copper Corp. is a Canadian company that is advancing an emerging critical metals district in a well-developed region of British Columbia, Canada. The Company owns a large, contiguous mineral claim package that hosts multiple advanced porphyry deposits with pit-constrained NI 43-101 compliant resources of copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver ? metals which are critical inputs to the low-carbon energy transition and associated electrification technologies. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Berg Project, for which it announced a maiden PEA in June 2023 outlining a large-scale, long-life project with a simple design and high outputs of critical minerals located in a safe jurisdiction near world-class infrastructure. The PEA highlights base case economics including an NPV8% of C$2.1 billion and an IRR of 20% based on long-term commodity prices of US$4.00/lb copper, US$15.00/lb molybdenum, US$23.00/oz silver, and US$1,800/oz gold. The Berg deposit contains pit-constrained 43-101 compliant resources of copper, molybdenum, silver, and gold in the Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories. The Company also owns a 100% interest in the Ootsa Property, an advanced-stage exploration project containing the Seel and Ox porphyry deposits located adjacent to the open pit Huckleberry Copper Mine, owned by Imperial Metals. The Ootsa Property contains pit-constrained NI 43-101 compliant resources of copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver in the Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Leif Nilsson" Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Riley Trimble, Corporate Communications & Development Telephone: +1 604 416 2978 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @SurgeCopper LinkedIn: Surge Copper Corp https://www.surgecopper.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the commencement of drilling at the Berg Project and the timing thereof; the surface exploration work at the Berg Project and the timing thereof; the size and focus of the exploration drill program at the Berg deposit; the potential for program expansion based on initial results of the exploration drill program; the objectives of the drill hole design; the use of proceeds from the Top-Up Offering; and the Company's plans regarding the Berg Project and the Ootsa Property. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, actual results of the Company's exploration activities being different than those expected by management, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals, the ability to obtain adequate financing to conduct its planned exploration programs, inability to procure labour, equipment, and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis, equipment breakdown, impacts of the current coronavirus pandemic, and bad weather. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions, or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. 26 september 2024 at 07:00 News published onand distributed by: Pan American Energy Announces Board and Management Changes CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG | OTCQB: PAANF | FRA: SS60) ("Pan American" or the "Company"), an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America, announces that Mr. Jason Latkowcer has resigned as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company in order to pursue other interests. Mr. Latkowcer will continue to support the Company through an advisory role. Mr. Paul Gorman, a seasoned executive, will assume the role of Interim CEO. Mr. Gorman is a resource sector-focused corporate specialist with over 25 years of experience in junior mining finance, public listings, viability assessment, and the operational rationalization of several emerging-growth public companies. For 18 years, he served as President and Managing Partner of Riverbank Capital, working with small-cap companies to assist in financing, property, and profile development. Paul was instrumental in raising over $85 million of capital, and in developing plans for ongoing sustainable business growth. He was instrumental in revitalizing the junior graphite space in North America in 2008 by funding Industrial Minerals Inc, which became Northern Graphite and assisting four other graphite companies in an advisory role. Paul founded Mega Graphite Inc. in 2009 and has served as chief executive for three other companies. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Reflex Advanced Materials Corp and the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Traction Uranium Corp. Sean Kingsley, Director of the Company, comments, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, shareholders, and the entire management team, we extend our sincere gratitude to Jason for his exemplary leadership and tireless dedication to Pan American Energy. Under his guidance, the Company achieved significant milestones, including multiple successful financings, strategic project acquisitions, and the spin-out of Legacy Lithium, which led to a subsequent asset sale. Jason was also instrumental in establishing key partnerships, and fostering strong collaborations with industry partners, enabling the Company to secure several non-dilutive grant funding opportunities. His contributions to resource exploration and development, including the ongoing mineral resource estimate and metallurgical testing in Ontario, have positioned the Company for continued success. We wish Jason the very best in his future endeavors." The Company would also like to announce the resignation of Mr. William Gibbs from the Board of Directors and would like to thank him for his service. About Pan American Energy Corp. Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTCQB: PAANF) (FSE: SS60) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America. The Company has executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources pursuant to which it has acquired a 75% interest in the Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company can earn an additional 15% interest in Big Mack, for a total of 90% interest. To register for investor updates, please visit https://panam-energy.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors: Paul Gorman CEO Contact: Phone: (587) 885-5970 Email: [email protected] Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein. 26 september 2024 at 08:00 News published onand distributed by: Phenom Resources Corp. to Present at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference October 2nd VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phenom Resources Corp. (TSX-V: PHNM) (OTCQX: PHNMF) (FSE: 1PY0) ("Phenom" or the "Company"), focused on gold and vanadium in Nevada, today announced that Paul Cowley, President & CEO, will present live at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on October 2nd, 2024. DATE: October 2nd TIME: 10:30am EST LINK: https://bit.ly/3z584tW Available for 1x1 meetings This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com Recent Company Highlights Phenom to Drill Crescent Valley Gold Project in October Phenom Reports Strong Gold Results from its Dobbin Gold Project, Nevada Phenom Shares Historic Drill Results from its King Solomon Gold Project, Nevada About Phenom Resources Corp. Phenom has 100% interest in the Carlin Gold-Vanadium Project, located in Elko County, 6 miles south from the town of Carlin, Nevada and Highway I-80 which hosts the Carlin Vanadium deposit, North America's largest highest grade primary vanadium resource. The Project lies within the prolific Carlin Gold Trend. Approximately 9 million ounces comprised of multiple gold deposits, including past producing mines, are present near the Phenom property (5-15km). The Company has options on three gold projects in Nevada, the King Solomon and Dobbin Properties which are Carlin Gold-type targets and the Crescent Valley Property, a Bonanza high grade gold vein-type target. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS: Phenom Resources Corp. Paul Cowley CEO & President (604) 340-7711 [email protected] www.phenomresources.com Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 [email protected] 26 september 2024 at 08:35 News published onand distributed by: Trulioo and Airwallex Expand Global Partnership Trulioo, an industry-leading identity platform with proven global coverage for person and business verification, today announced its partnership expansion with Airwallex, a leading global payments and financial platform for modern businesses. Since the two joined forces in 2017, Airwallex has integrated Trulioo Identity Document Verification, Business Verification and Person Match to achieve compliance and robust fraud prevention across 181 countries. Airwallex recently announced it surpassed $100 billion in annual processing volume and achieved an annual run rate of nearly $500 million. The global fintech platform maintains more than 60 licenses and permits across the globe, including money transmitter licenses in 42 U.S. jurisdictions. Airwallex adheres to regulations set by, among others, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, the Financial Conduct Authority of the U.K. and the Dutch Central Bank. Airwallex relies on advanced verification technology from Trulioo to navigate a complex, global regulatory landscape. Since integrating Person Match and Identity Document Verification in the APAC region in 2017, Airwallex has extended its use of Trulioo capabilities to the Americas and Europe. In 2022, the partnership expanded with the integration of Trulioo Business Verification to streamline verifying businesses and their beneficial owners. "Trulioo delivers a dynamic solution, enabling Airwallex to adapt our identity workflows over time to outpace fraud and maintain compliance," said Elliot Colquhoun, vice president, IT & Information Security at Airwallex. "Partners like Trulioo are essential to effectively identify and block fraud so that we can ensure the security of over 100,000 global businesses while allowing legitimate transactions to proceed without interruption." Across the 181 countries in which the companies have partnered, Trulioo has verified passports from 162 countries, ID cards from 119 countries and 104 types of driver's licenses for Airwallex. In 2024, Airwallex achieved significant improvements in automatic document verification that led to a reduction in median processing times. "We take pride in supporting Airwallex's remarkable global expansion," said Steve Munford, Trulioo CEO. "Our cutting-edge verification technology has empowered Airwallex to confidently enter new markets, meet stringent regulatory requirements and build trust and safety. This collaboration goes beyond technology. It's a relationship built on flexibility, innovation and a commitment to navigating the complexities of compliance and fraud prevention across the globe." With flexible integration options from Trulioo, including a modern API and a hosted image-capture SDK, Airwallex can quickly adjust its verification workflows to comply with evolving regulations. That agility is crucial for supporting the company's continuous, rapid international expansion. For more information about Trulioo, please visit trulioo.com. About Trulioo Trulioo is the world's identity platform, trusted by leading companies for their verification needs. Offering business and person verification across the globe, Trulioo covers 195 countries and can verify more than 14,000 ID documents and 700 million business entities while checking against more than 6,000 watchlists. Its comprehensive suite of in-house capabilities, integrated across a single automated platform, powers customizable onboarding workflows tailored to meet any market requirement. Combining its state-of-the-art technology with expert verification knowledge across diverse markets, Trulioo enables the highest verification assurance levels, optimizing onboarding costs and fostering trust in the global digital economy. About Airwallex Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 100,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more. For more information, visit www.airwallex.com. 26 september 2024 at 09:05 News published onand distributed by: Siemens Launches Digital Decarbonization Tool at Climate Week NYC to Help Simplify the Path to Net-Zero Facilities Siemens Financial Services launched the Decarbonization Business Optimizer (DBOtm), a cloud-based tool created to help address the overwhelming complexity of decarbonizing buildings and the financing needed to get to net-zero emissions. The DBO is a free, digital web tool that removes the initial knowledge barrier and uncovers more efficient strategies to help decarbonize a company's facilities. The scenario modeling and optimization tool aggregates and leverages data from relevant governmental agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). "Companies, specifically those in the supply chain, are increasingly asked to report their carbon footprint to their customers -- yet many do not know where to begin," said Anthony Casciano, President and CEO of Siemens Financial Services, Inc. "The DBO addresses these barriers by taking action and puts companies of all sizes, and at all stages, in a better position to create long-term value, accelerating participation in the transition to net-zero emissions." The DBO generates cost effective decarbonization scenarios for each facility using the address, facility size and type (for example, a hospital, office building, manufacturing plant, etc.). The estimated carbon footprint calculated for the facility, as well as the energy cost, is based on data relevant to its geographic location, enabling a more accurate estimate than using country-wide averages. The tool also considers site-specific data such as the annual energy use or load profile, if available, to generate an even more accurate result. "A lack of data sometimes can deter companies from initiating a sustainability strategy," said Lee Evangelakos from American Industrial Partners (AIP). "As an initial tester, we found that the DBO tool is a great way to get started in estimating facility footprints. The tool enables industrial businesses to think through the building blocks of their emissions profiles and how they could begin to take action towards decarbonization." Users can discover and choose a combination of generation and storage technologies that makes the most sense for their site such as solar panels, combined heat and power (CHP), thermal energy storage, battery storage, and more. Customized decarbonization scenarios can also be generated based on a desire for specific technologies, resilience to grid outages, or a maximum budget, enabling data-driven decarbonization decision making. The tool also provides a summary of estimated return on investment (ROI). "Trusted data sets coupled with credible modeling and analysis tools are vital in the complex decision-making process to achieve a clean energy future," said Roderick Jackson, Laboratory Program Manager for Building Technologies at NREL. "NREL-developed tools are built to be leveraged in this way?including ComStocktm, REopt, and our Annual Technology Baseline framework. It's great to see that in practice." SFS developed the tool in partnership with Siemens Technology, the company's central R&D department. The tool is built on AWS, utilizing server-less architecture to lower its workload carbon footprint by allowing the DBO to operate only when needed, rather than running constantly. A recent study estimates AWS's infrastructure is up to 4.1 times more efficient than on-premises, and when workloads are optimized on AWS, the associated carbon footprint can be reduced by up to 99 percent. The tool also leverages public data made available through the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative (ASDI) to help estimate thermal properties of materials in buildings. ASDI works with sustainability-focused government agencies to host, and deploy key datasets on the AWS Cloud, including weather observations and forecasts, climate projection data, satellite imagery, hydrological data, air quality data, and ocean forecast data. "At AWS, we are committed to helping our customers build a more sustainable future," said Chris Walker, Director of Sustainability for AWS. "This is a shared goal we have with Siemens and all of our customers. We also provide knowledge and tools, such as Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative (ASDI), for organizations of all sizes, and across all sectors, to build and implement solutions like DBO that support their sustainability goals." Looking ahead, SFS will add a vehicle fleet analyzer to assist companies with fleet electrification and a climate resiliency feature to help identify a site's ability to withstand extreme weather. To access the DBO and learn more, those interested can visit www.dbo.siemens.com. The tool is currently available for free in the U.S. and can be accessed via Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform that helps companies accelerate their digital transformation easier, faster, and at scale. Companies can reach out to Siemens Financial Services for more information and to learn about how Siemens Smart Infrastructure can help act on their DBO results toward realizing their sustainability strategies. For more information about the DBO, please visit: http://www.dbo.siemens.com For more information about technology and financing from Siemens, please visit: www.usa.siemens.com Siemens Financial Services (SFS) ? the B2B financing arm of Siemens ? provides financing that makes a difference. At SFS, we empower customers around the globe to access technology with purpose and increase their competitiveness. Based on our unique combination of financial expertise, risk management and industry know-how we provide tailored financing solutions ? including flexible leasing and working capital products, project-related and structured financing, corporate lending, equity investments, finance advisory, as well as trade and receivables financing. With highly experienced and passionate teams in 20+ countries, SFS paves the way for industrial productivity, smart infrastructure and sustainable mobility, facilitating the energy transition and enabling high-quality healthcare. Supporting the Siemens DEGREE framework, SFS is one of the leading providers in financing greenfield renewable projects. www.siemens.com/finance. Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, the company creates technology with purpose, adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for billions of people. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a global leading medical technology provider shaping the future of healthcare. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power. In fiscal 2023, which ended on September 30, 2023, the Siemens Group USA generated revenue of $19.9 billion and employs approximately 45,000 people serving customers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. 26 september 2024 at 09:05 News published onand distributed by: BAE Systems awarded modernization contract for USS Halsey SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BAE Systems (LON:BA) has received a $177.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy for the maintenance and modernization of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97). The total value of the previously awarded undefinitized contract award could reach $225.5 million if all options are exercised. BAE Systems will dry-dock the ship, perform underwater hull preservation, upgrade systems, and refurbish living spaces. Under the Depot Maintenance Period (DMP) contract, BAE Systems' San Diego shipyard will dry-dock the 509.5-foot-long ship, perform underwater hull preservation work, enhance the ship's Aegis combat system with the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (Block 3), upgrade the command-and-control systems, and refurbish the living spaces for the ship's 260 crewmembers. The work is expected to begin later this month and will continue into 2026. "This type of deep-level sustainment work is necessary and critical to maintain the combat effectiveness of the USS Halsey," said Eric Icke, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair. "Our San Diego team is ready to conduct the assigned DMP work that will enable the Halsey to move into its next phase of fleet readiness." The San Diego shipyard recently completed similar work aboard the USS Mustin (DDG 89). The Halsey will be the shipyard's fifth DMP project. USS Halsey is the 47th ship in the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers and was commissioned in July 2005. It is the second Navy ship named in honor of Fleet Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey, who gained fame in the Pacific theatre during World War II. BAE Systems is a leading provider of ship repair, maintenance, modernization, conversion, and overhaul services for the Navy, other government agencies, and select commercial customers. The company operates three full-service shipyards in California, Florida, and Virginia, and offers a highly skilled, experienced workforce, seven dry-docks and railways, and significant pier space and ship support services. The company's San Diego shipyard employs about 650 people and works with the Navy and several subcontractor companies to accomplish ship sustainment work. For more information, please contact: Karl Johnson, BAE Systems Mobile: 757-375-5086 [email protected] www.baesystems.com/US @BAESystemsInc SOURCE BAE Systems, Inc. 26 september 2024 at 10:00 News published onand distributed by: Media advisory - First Nations National Guardians Network joins Ministers Guilbeault and Hajdu to announce major investment in Indigenous-led stewardship initiatives GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Media representatives are advised that the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will make an announcement on Indigenous-led stewardship initiatives. He will be joined by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services; Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay?Rainy River; Jaimee Gaunce, Executive Director, First Nations National Guardians Network; and Valerie Courtois, Executive Director, Indigenous Leadership Initiative. Following the announcement, Minister Guilbeault will hold a media availability. Event: Announcement and media availability Date: Friday, September 27, 2024 Time: 9:00 a.m. EDT Location: Spirit Garden Sleeping Giant Parkway (near Prince Arthur's Landing) Thunder Bay, Ontario Media representatives are encouraged to register for this in-person event by contacting Media Relations at Environment and Climate Change Canada to be made aware of any changes. Environment and Climate Change Canada's X (Twitter) page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada 26 september 2024 at 10:38 News published onand distributed by: Smoke billows over southern Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as pictured from Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, September 26, 2024. KARAMALLAH DAHER / REUTERS The United States, European Union, and Arab countries including Saudia Arabia and Qatar issued a joint call Wednesday, September 27, for a 21-day "temporary ceasefire" in Lebanon after Israeli strikes on Hezbollah threatened to tip the Middle East into all-out war. Hundreds have been killed and thousands have been displaced since Israel launched its strikes, with the Lebanese health ministry saying that another 72 people died on Wednesday. Read more Subscribers only Israel triggers sudden escalation of conflict with Hezbollah "It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety," said the joint statement issued by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. "Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict. Thus we call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement." France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Lebanon that Paris and Washington were proposing a three-week truce "to allow for negotiations and a more sustainable ceasefire." Wednesday saw a flurry of diplomatic activity on the issue at the United Nations, which is hosting its flagship world leaders' week. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had urged an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and warned "hell is breaking loose." Lebanon and Israel were expected to decide "within hours" whether to accept, a US official said, adding: "We have had this conversation with the parties and felt this was the right moment." Read more Understanding the tensions between Hezbollah and Israel in five key dates Ousmane Sonko speaks after he was appointed prime minister by Senegal's newly-elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in Dakar, Senegal on April 2, 2024. ABDOU KARIM NDOYE / REUTERS Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Thursday, September 26, vowed investigations into what he termed "widespread corruption" under the previous administration, accusing it of having fiddled its financial figures. "The policy of unbridled indebtedness [under former president Macky Sall] has led to the use of resources that is not transparent and that is conducive to widespread corruption," he told journalists, denouncing the "embezzlement of public funds en masse." Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye swept to power in March on a pledge of radical change in the West African nation. The pair ran on a ticket of social justice, sovereignty and leftist pan-Africanism raising hopes in the country battling a high cost of living and widespread unemployment. After being sworn in in April, Faye requested that Sonko conduct a thorough review of the country's financial situation, with the stock-take's conclusions shared on Thursday. "We had no idea that things were so catastrophic," Sonko said, accusing the former authorities of having lied and falsified figures, particularly with international partners. Read more Senegal President Faye announces dissolution of parliament "The Macky Sall administration lied to the people, lied to its partners, fiddled with the figures to give an economic and financial picture that had nothing to do with reality," Sonko said. "All those who played their part ... will have to explain to the Senegalese people why and how they were able to plunge the country into this situation," he added. Besides former president Sall, Sonko pointed the finger at ex-prime minister Amadou Ba and two former finance ministers. Also speaking at the press conference, Justice Minister Ousmane Diagne said the actions appeared to be "criminal in nature, which the competent judicial authorities will have to determine by means of investigations that they deem appropriate". 'Challenging' economic prospects Taking place weeks before snap parliamentary elections scheduled for November 17, Thursday's press conference was the first held by the new government. Faye, in mid-September, dissolved the opposition-dominated national assembly and called fresh legislative elections, banking on the move to implement his policy agenda. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned in September that Senegal's economic prospects remained "challenging for the remainder of the year." Following a visit to the country by its staff, the fund said it expected the country's budgetary situation "to deteriorate amid lower revenue collections and increased expenditure on energy subsidies and interest payments". To lower public debt the IMF urged Sonko's government to implement measures "including streamlining tax exemptions and phasing out untargeted and costly energy subsidies". Senegal's national statistics agency in September reported an unemployment rate of 21.6% in the second quarter, up three percent on the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, scores of Senegalese continue to risk their lives leaving the country in search of a brighter future in Europe, with dozens dying every year on the perilous Atlantic crossing. The government has said it will launch a national transformation agenda in early October, aimed at bringing about "a lasting transformation of the Senegalese economy and build a sovereign, fair and prosperous Senegal." Faye and Sonko have repeatedly said they will seek accountability from the previous administration, with a number of former officials having been prevented from leaving the country. Speaking at Thursday's press conference, economy minister Aboudrahmane Sarr said the budget deficit which was put at an average of 5.5% of GDP over the period 2019 to 2023 had in reality been 10.4%. Public debt had been announced at 65.9% of GDP, when in fact it had been 76.3%, he added. Sonko and Sarr said they planned to broaden the tax base, cut waste in government spending, abolish energy subsidies and attempt to formalize Senegal's largely informal economy. Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, during a campaign rally at the Mosack Group warehouse on September 25, 2024 in Mint Hill, North Carolina. BRANDON BELL / AFP Donald Trump said Wednesday, September 25, that Iran should be blown "to smithereens" if the Islamic Republic is involved in the harming of a US White House candidate or ex-president. The provocative remarks come after US intelligence warned of threats from Tehran against the Republican's life after two apparent assassination bids in recent months. "As you know, there have been two assassination attempts on my life that we know of, and they may or may not involve but possibly do Iran," Trump said at a campaign event in North Carolina. "If I were the president, I would inform the threatening country, in this case Iran, that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens," he added. Trump went on to say he and the United States have been "threatened very directly by Iran" and that a firm message needed to reach Tehran that there would be the most severe consequences should it be involved in plots to kill or hurt a US president or presidential candidate. "The best way to do it is through the office of the president, that (if) you do any attacks on former presidents or candidates for president, your country gets blown to smithereens, as we say." Trump also said it was "strange" that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was in New York this week and accorded substantial protection as he attends the United Nations General Assembly even as news of the threats emerged. "We have large security forces guarding him, and yet they're threatening our former president and the leading candidate to become the next president of the United States," Trump said, referring to himself. The United States is obligated to extend security to foreign heads of state at the General Assembly under its treaty with the United Nations and its own laws. 'Credible intelligence' Trump's remarks come as world leaders scramble to try to avert hostilities between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel escalating into a wider regional war. Iran has rejected accusations it is trying to kill Trump this summer, shortly after a gunman opened fire at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, killing one person and wounding the presidential candidate. Days later, Trump posted on social media that if Iran did kill him, "I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth." In a highly critical report on the security arrangements around Trump at the Pennsylvania rally, a US Senate committee noted that the deployment of elite US Secret Service countersnipers was made "in response to 'credible intelligence' of a threat." On Wednesday, the 78-year-old Trump suggested the would-be assassin in Pennsylvania had used "potentially foreign-based apps," and that the alleged gunman in the second attempt in Florida had multiple mobile phones that Trump said US authorities have been unable to open. "They must get Apple to open these foreign apps (and) open the six phones from the second lunatic," Trump said. "Because we have a lot at stake." On Wednesday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland called the attempted assassination bids "abhorrent." "Our nation has now experienced two assassination attempts against the former President in just the last three months. That is abhorrent," he said. "The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy. And we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop." In August, the United States announced that it had foiled a plan by a Pakistani linked to Tehran to assassinate a US official in revenge for the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, killed in 2020 in a US strike in Iraq ordered by then-president Trump. US intelligence services have also warned of attempted cyberattacks on the presidential campaigns of Trump and rival Kamala Harris by actors it says are backed by Iran. China ready to join El Salvador for upgrading ties -- Chinese FM Xinhua) 14:42, September 26, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday that China is willing to make joint efforts with El Salvador to upgrade bilateral ties and help the country achieve better national development. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco. China will continue to support the Salvadoran side in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, he said. He also said that Beijing is ready to work with El Salvador to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement so as to allow more Salvadoran products to enter the Chinese market. For her part, Hill said El Salvador firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and is committed to expanding cooperation with China and deepening bilateral friendship. She added that her country looks forward to reaching a free trade agreement with China at an early date to upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A LIMERICK-based woman, who was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 13-months-old, is helping organise a national awareness event this October. The annual event, Thriveabetes, is led by an organisation with the same name and aims to bring people with diabetes together so that no one feels alone. The volunteer group leading the event includes Aisling White, who lives and works in Limerick city as a primary school teacher in a school for children with additional needs. The organisation Thriveabetes was founded by two individuals who live with type 1 diabetes and they now have nine volunteers, including Aisling. Also involved in running the Limerick Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Support Group, which meets regularly in the city, Aisling participated in the International Diabetes Federation Europes Youth Leadership Programme and the One Young World Leadership Platform, in 2022. READ MORE: All smiles at the Croom Community Development Association Seniors Party A distinguishing feature of Thriveabetes is its peer-led and community-driven approach, organisers say. Our peer-led model ensures that Thriveabetes is deeply relevant and responsive to the needs of the community. We understand first-hand the challenges of living with diabetes, which allows us to create programmes and resources that resonate on a personal level with participants. This is the seventh conference since its creation in 2015. The conference is open to adults, young adults and parents with children living with type 1 diabetes. The event also includes an exhibition involving companies that provide diabetes devices to the community, as well as some small diabetes businesses. Thriveabetes was created to offer somewhere people with diabetes could connect with others like them and, because of the unmet need, to discuss the psychological aspects of living with the condition. This years annual event takes place on Saturday, October 5, in The Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois. COUNCIL has said it cannot change the pay rates of its staff members, despite a motion from a new member urging them to do so. Sinn Fein councillor Ursula Gavan asked at this months metropolitan meeting that the local authority pays everyone a living wage, and ensure any contracts it hands down go to companies which do likewise. As it stands, the living wage is 12.70 per hour in Ireland. READ MORE: Pharma worker refuses to pay TV licence due to 'corruption in RTE', court told A voluntary rate, its based on living costs including energy, food and personal care among other things. Cllr Gavan said: One in five of the Irish workforce is on low pay. We can lead in Limerick City and County Council by ensuring all staff in our employ and contractors earn a living wage thus assisting those most vulnerable in our society for a more liveable and prosperous Limerick, she said. In a written response, Deirdre Minogue, the acting head of human resources stated pay rates at council are set nationally by the Minister for Housing and Local Government. Limerick, she added, has no discretion to deviate from this. George Mitchell has said he feared Northern Ireland was heading for true disaster in the months before the Good Friday Agreement was signed. The veteran US diplomat said that he had moments of despair after years of failed negotiations before the historic 1998 peace deal was agreed. Mr Mitchell chaired the negotiations which eventually led to the agreement, which largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland and the establishment of a powersharing Assembly at Stormont. Speaking at Queens University in Belfast, Mr Mitchell recalled the challenges he faced before the deal was agreed. He said he had believed his previous experience as the US Senate majority leader had prepared him to deal with the polarised political landscape. He said: Nothing in the United States Senate came near to what I went through in Northern Ireland. It was very tough and very rough. I had been a federal judge before I entered the senate so I was used to presiding over disputes, but I had never encountered a dispute like this. It was very, very difficult. Monica (McWilliams, one of the founders of the Womens Coalition) will remember the early days, Paul (Murphy, former Northern Ireland Secretary) will remember the early days when it was impossible to have a reasonable conversation. When Monica and her co-chair of the Womens Coalition, Pearl Sagar, sought to speak, they were insulted, they were demeaned. I had a tough time making it plain that they were to be treated with the same respect as any other speaker in the room. Which, unfortunately, was not much respect, but at least it was better than the way they were treated. It was difficult, but I controlled myself. I had moments of great despair. The setbacks were many. Mr Mitchell said that when then US president Bill Clinton had first sent him to Northern Ireland, he had expected to stay for six months. He said: It was five years. I chaired three separate sets of negotiations and for almost all that time it was failure, failure, failure, recrimination, anger, hostility. The ceasefires were routinely broken and killings in late 1997, early 1998 accelerated. I really did think we were headed for true disaster. He continued: I really felt it was critical that this could be an example, that you can end violence, you can bring an end to conflict, no matter how old it was, no matter how violent it was, no matter how vicious it was. If for no other reason than the fear of escalation. It is important for Stormont ministers to listen to everyone, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has said. He made the comments after his DUP party colleague and Education Minister Paul Givan faced criticism for meeting a group which represents loyalist paramilitaries. Mr Givan met the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) earlier this week. In a statement after the meeting, the LCC said that it had advised Mr Givan that a proposal to build an Irish language school in east Belfast should be stopped. The LCC, chaired by David Campbell, is an umbrella group which represents the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando. North Belfast MP John Finucane (Sinn Fein) described reports of the meeting between Mr Givan and the LCC as deeply concerning. Its outrageous that a group which includes representatives of loyalist gangs are attempting to influence decisions about our childrens future and right to be educated through the language of their choice, he said. The Education Minister must make it clear that his department rejects this outrageous demand and that work will continue to progress on delivering this facility. Former Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he did not believe the stance taken by the LCC represents the majority view of the loyalist community. Alliance Party education spokesperson Nick Mathison also joined the criticism, saying: Questions must be asked about the ministers judgment in this case. A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the meeting had been arranged at the LCCs request and had discussed educational underachievement in loyalist areas. On Thursday, Mr Lyons said it is important that ministers meet with all who have an interest in Northern Ireland. I have many, many invitations from many, many different groups, I dont turn those down because I think that it is important to listen, to hear from people, he told the PA news agency. I want to see Northern Ireland move forward. I want to make sure that were improving the lives of people. The only way to do that is through democratic processes, through politics, and I will engage with those, including those within loyalism if they have a positive role to play. He added that the school referenced is not a decision for the education minister, adding it is right that the normal processes take place on that. We should always listen to those who are interested, local residents, the education sector, those who are involved, he said. I think it is always a good idea to talk and to make sure that we have the opportunity to discuss all of these issues, but obviously the normal processes need to be followed. Belfast City Council gave planning permission for the proposed temporary nursery and primary school and soft play area in June. Met Eireann has issued its full weather forecast for Ireland this weekend and it makes for grim reading after the sunshine of last week. The national forecaster has already issued a weather warning for Thursday in Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, alerting residents there to "rain, heavy at times, coupled with gusty winds, strongest near the coasts and on higher ground." The warning is in place until 8pm on Thursday with people also warned of the risk of spot flooding and disruption to travel. Their outlook beyond that warns of "rather mixed weather over the next few days and quite cold too for this time of year." They say Thursday "will be dull and wet as rain in the northeast and east extends across most of the country. The rain will be heavy at times, particularly in eastern parts of Leinster, and may cause spot flooding. It will become windy with fresh to strong and gusty northerly winds, strongest on Irish Sea coasts. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees. "The heavy and persistent rain will gradually clear southwards through the evening but it will remain rather cloudy. Fresh to strong and gusty northerly winds will gradually ease too with lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees. READ NEXT: Met Eireann update on flooding risk for Ireland amid brutal weather twist "A rather cloudy start with a good scattering of showers drifting down from the north [on Friday]. Some sunny spells will develop later in the afternoon as the northerly breeze weakens. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees. "Rather cool with a fresh northerly breeze [on Friday night]. Quite cloudy too with a few showers drifting down over the country but it should stay mostly dry across the southern half of the country. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees." Looking to the weekend, Met Eireann predict Saturday will be "a mostly dry day then with scattered cloud and good sunny spells at times too especially in the south and east. A few isolated showers will develop over Connacht and Ulster at times. Westerly winds will fall light later in the day with highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees. "Cloud will thicken early [on Sunday] in the day with outbreaks of rain developing across parts of the southwest too. More persistent rain will move over from the west later in the morning as southerly winds increase fresh to strong and gusty. Winds will increase to very strong at times along the west coast later in the afternoon with some heavy falls of rain spreading throughout the country. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees." Next week isn't looking any better with Met Eireann's latest forecast concluding: "Looking ahead, current models indicate another very unsettled day with heavy rain at times and very strong and gusty winds throughout. Temperatures likely to be in the mid-teens." Lincoln University welcomed Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft as a guest speaker in Dr. Elizabeth Dorssoms American State and Local Government class, offering students a unique opportunity to engage with a government leader. Dr. Dorssom, who has taught the course since 2018, regularly invites government officials to enrich student learning. Guest speakers are an important part of the learning experience because it helps students apply topics theyve learned in class, Dr. Dorssom said. Lincolns location in the capital allows for frequent guest lectures from state and local officials, enhancing the educational experience. During his talk, Secretary Ashcroft discussed the multifaceted role of the Secretary of State and emphasized that elections in Missouri are not just statewide but are, in fact, conducted as 114 separate elections at the county level. I really enjoyed hearing Secretary Ashcroft explain this, as I had recently covered it in class, Dr. Dorssom said. Jay Ashcroft has been serving as the 40th Secretary of State of Missouri since 2017. Ashcroft, who has been in office since 2017 and was re-elected in 2020, brings a rich and diverse background to his role as Secretary of State. Prior to his public service, he gained valuable experience as an engineer, professor and attorney. His leadership has played a significant role in establishing Missouri as one of the top ten states for election integrity. In his capacity as Chief Elections Official, Ashcroft oversees various responsibilities, including the storage and publication of state documents, management of business services, administration of the State Library, records services and enforcement of administrative rules. This was a great opportunity for Lincoln students to meet Secretary Ashcroft, as this creates more trust between our community and our elected officials, said Nia Walker a senior political science major. I felt it was important to hear firsthand from an elected official who plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of our states democratic processes. The session concluded with a Q&A, where students engaged with Ashcroft, seeking advice on entering politics and the importance of being informed voters. He encouraged them to research candidates and issues thoroughly, urging students to utilize resources like sample ballots and the Secretary of States website for further information. I am very fortunate to have the chance to meet Secretary Ashcroft through our University, Walker said. Kieron Walquist, a 2020 graduate of Lincoln University of Missouri, has been named a winner of the 2024 National Poetry Series. Walquist's debut full-length collection, Our Hands Hold Violence, was selected by renowned poet Brenda Hillman for publication with Beacon Press. The National Poetry Series, a prestigious literary awards program, annually sponsors the publication of five poetry collections selected from an open competition judged by prominent poets. Past winners include literary luminaries such as Tyehimba Jess, Billy Collins, Terrance Hayes and Naomi Shihab Nye. It wasnt long ago that Kieron was studying past winners of this competitions poems right here in LU classrooms and workshops," said Eli Burrell, professor of English and creative writing at Lincoln University. "This achievement is a testament to Kierons commitment to craft, creativity and raw talent. It's exciting to see a Blue Tiger make such a tremendous mark on the national stage. Walquist, a former fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, has also earned residencies at the Monson Arts Center and the Vermont Studio Center. After completing their Bachelor of Arts at Lincoln University, Walquist earned an MFA from Washington University in St. Louis and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in English with a specialization in creative writing at the University of Utah. In 2022, Walquists chapbook "Love Locks" won the Quarterly West Chapbook Competition. Lincoln Universitys Department of Humanities and Communications, housed in Martin Luther King Jr. Hall, offers a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis on creative writing and a minor in English with an emphasis in creative writing. For more information about the program, contact Professor Burrell at BurrellE@LincolnU.edu. New Delhi: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and the Volkswagen group are exploring a partnership in which the Indian company will contribute the bulk of investments in future vehicle platforms and technologies in exchange for around 50% stake in Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd, two people privy to the discussions said. Mahindra may get access to Volkswagens underutilized Pune factory as part of the non-cash transaction, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. The factory has an annual capacity of 190,000 vehicles, while Volkswagen India managed to sell only 136,000 vehicles in 2023, including exports. According to the two people, the two automakers hope to finalize a deal focusing on future investments in platforms and technologies before the end of the year. Volkswagen's Pune factory capacity can be expanded to 350,000-400,000 units, one of the two people cited above said. "Besides, with half of the available land in the Volkswagen factory in Chakan still vacant, this facility could expand to accommodate 700,000-750,000 units annually with the necessary investments. A deal will also help Mahindra better challenge domestic rival Tata Motors, which will benefit from Jaguar Land Rover's EV platform expertise for its future vehicles. Moreover, Skoda Volkswagen's manufacturing facility is located just a stone's throw away from Mahindra's largest facility in Pune, and the company has been finding it difficult to find a suitable parcel of land to expand in Chakan", the person said on the condition of anonymity. Also read | Mahindra rolls out 1.5 lakh discount on Thar after Thar Roxx launch While extra capacity from Volkswagen would help Mahindra overcome production bottlenecks at its Chakan plant running at full capacity, finding an Indian partner will help Europe's largest automaker share investments to scale in India, where it has just 2% of the passenger vehicles market despite continued presence over 20 years. A deal will also help Mahindra better challenge domestic rival Tata Motors, which will benefit from Jaguar Land Rover's EV platform expertise for its future vehicles. For Volkswagen, the premise of the discussions is to achieve scale via joint platform production to achieve better cost structures", the person cited above added. While the transaction valuing Volkswagen India slightly below a billion dollars will primarily involve Mahindra's future investments, it may involve a small element of cash as well, the person cited above said. Mahindra to fund the deal via platform investments, not cash The partnership will likely involve sharing platforms and components, particularly for EVs, with both companies looking to pool resources for future growth. SAVW will be able to build SUVs on Mahindra's NFA platform, which will also be able to accommodate hybrid technologies, the people cited above added. It was made clear from day one: This is more about building up future business rather than paying for what has already been built", the person cited above said. The deal will not involve cross-badging of products or utilization of each other's local sales networks. "We are closely monitoring recent developments to see which products and platforms will be shared between the two players," Gaurav Vangaal, analyst, S&P Mobility said. "At present, all automakers are striving to reduce the risks associated with powertrain investments, and collaborations like these often lead to innovative solutions. After more than two decades in India, it is good that Skoda is now open to partnerships with Indian companies, while Mahindra's recent product successes are driving their interest in collaborating with global partners for export market aspirations," Vangal added. The two companies began collaborating earlier this year, under which Mahindra will source components from Volkswagens Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform for EVs built on its own INGLO platform. The supply agreement came nearly two years after the company first expressed intent to explore a strategic alliance in 2022. Volkswagens underutilized Indian capacity Volkswagen operates two India factories; the Pune plant makes mass-premium brands Volkswagen and Skoda, while the one in Aurangabad handles and assembles premium models such as the Tiguan and Kodiaq, as well as imported Audis, Porsches and Lamborghinis. The Pune plant has a capacity of 190,000 vehicles, while the Aurangabad plant can produce 60,000 vehicles annually. The Ford connection between Mahindra and Volkswagen This isnt the first time Mahindra and Volkswagen have explored a partnership. When Ford exited its joint venture with Mahindra in 2020, it opened a gap in Mahindra's expansion strategy. To fill this void, Mahindra approached Volkswagen for a potential collaboration, the second person said. The discussions initially focused on platform-sharing, where Mahindra, Skoda and Volkswagen vehicles would be built on a common architecture. However, concerns arose around the feasibility of selling multiple brands on the same platform, particularly with pricing differences and the potential for cannibalization between models. Mahindra eventually grew skeptical of the arrangement, citing challenges in differentiating products enough to maintain brand integrity. Still, those talks laid the groundwork for ongoing discussions between the companies years later, focusing on new opportunities in both ICE and electric vehicles. Lowering costs to tame India's predatory market For the Volkswagen group, cost optimization is the most critical element of the partnership, leveraging Mahindras established supplier network to bring down the cost of producing its vehicles, which are currently priced at a premium in Indias competitive market. "Skoda wants to leverage Mahindra's relationships and bring down costs. The idea this time may be to reduce the price gap between Mahindra cars and Skoda-VW cars," the second person said. We are very impressed with what Indian OEMs like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have managed to achieve in terms of costs with their suppliers", a Volkswagen India executive said on the condition of anonymity. In June, Klauz Zellmer, chairman of the board of Czech carmaker Skoda Auto said it is looking to partner an Indian automaker to grow its business in a market that's brutally price-competitive, and one that it's been unable to crack in more than two decades of its existence there. It believes that finding a local partner is a "very attractive" scenario, as it aims to make deeper inroads into the Indian market with the help of a domestic entity that has close linkages in the supplier ecosystem, a rich understanding of local customer preferences and scale that can drive down the European carmaker's costs in the country's competitive market. Also read | Mahindra set to drive in its first electric truck in 2025 However, concerns may could still arise over potential cannibalization of sales and an adverse impact on brand image if Mahindra and Volkswagen share platforms. The products will be very differentiated and not comparable, I dont see a need for one brand to be cheaper than the other because they will target very distinct audiences. There will be some bit of cannibalization between the two German brands - but not with Mahindra", the first person said. Mahindra also stands to gain a lot from a highly trained workforce which pays a lot of attention to detail and quality", the person added. In a statement to Mint, Volkswagen said, "Skoda Auto is leading the India operations on behalf of the Volkswagen Group and its brands. To fully explore the countrys growth potential, we are always considering new business opportunities and are evaluating various options to ensure the best possible solution to implement our strategy in the highly dynamic Indian market. Earlier this year, Volkswagen Group and Mahindra signed a supply agreement on components of Volkswagens MEB for Mahindras purpose-built electric platform, taking a step further on a joint vision for e-mobility collaboration. Volkswagen Group and Mahindra continue to explore multiple opportunities to expand the collaboration potential." On 23 September, a Mahindra statement to the stock exchanges said, Mahindra and the VW Group continue to explore multiple opportunities to expand the collaboration potential. In case there are any concrete outcomes with regard to any of the aforementioned discussions, appropriate disclosures will be made in a timely manner" GEORGETOWN, GuyanaMore than 100 miles off the coast of Guyana, Exxon Mobil is pumping hundreds of thousands of barrels every day from a gargantuan oil discovery that is transforming the sparsely populated South American country. Back onshore, much of the transformation is being undertaken by China. Chinese companies are building waterside hotels, bridges, roads and shopping centers. They mine for bauxite and manganese in the remote areas of the countrys Amazon region. The main international airport was renovated with a $150 million loan from Chinas Export-Import Bank. Outside of the oil project, Chinese companies are edging Western rivals out of major projects with aggressive terms, and ushering in large groups of Chinese workers. Shipping containers turned into makeshift lodging for Chinese laborers are sprouting up at new construction sites across the country. The Chinese are slowly owning this country, through and through," said cabdriver Raphael Singh, echoing a popular refrain from Guyanese citizens. That trend has some U.S. diplomats and lawmakers concerned that Chinas investmentswhich go back more than five decadesare translating into political clout in the resource-rich country, as it has in other parts of South America. We need to show up," said Geoff Pyatt, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for energy resources. Pyatt has visited Guyana twice since taking the role and said the U.S. is closely watching Chinas activity in Guyana. [Guyanas leaders] want the U.S. to be their partner of choice and we want to be their partner of choice." While China has doubled down on its investments in Guyana, the U.S. has been more selective in the projects it supports. In 2022, the Biden administration rejected a $180 million Inter-American Development Bank debt consolidation for a Guyanese port servicing the oil-and-gas industry, though the U.S. Export-Import Bank is now backing a project to use Guyanas natural gas in the countrys power plants. Resource rich The attention Guyana is drawing reflects its vast petroleum resources. It is on track to surpass neighboring Venezuelas oil production and has been courted by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to join the global cartel. An Exxon-led consortium, which includes Hess and Chinese oil company Cnooc, is expected to pump more than one million barrels a day throughout the 2030s. Exxon has spent close to $1 billion in the local economy and on community outreach across Guyana, but China has largely surpassed its Western competitors in commercial projects, particularly in construction. Guyanas trade with China has ballooned nearly 600% since oil began flowing five years ago. Near an unfinished bridge over the Demerara River that China Railway is building, a Chinese construction firm is revamping a plot of land with Asian-style pavilions and walkways for families that is slated to be redubbed the China-Guyana Friendship Park." Last year, a multistory mall was built just yards away from the Chinese Embassy, which features an office of telecom company Huawei, a hot pot and karaoke restaurant, a casino and a gym for foreign executives. Economists say China appears to be making a longer-term bet on Guyanas small economy, which has yet to see the exponential growth from oil and gas spread to other sectors. The oil sector expanded 67% in the first six months of 2024 compared with last year, according to the Finance Ministry, while traditional industries such as sugar, bauxite and gold contracted 60%, 20% and 10%, respectively. For decades, China has invested heavily in countries with natural resources, often bringing in Chinese workers to build roads and ports to ship those commodities to China. In Argentina, Chinas recent investments in lithium and agriculture are making it difficult for Javier Milei, the countrys anticommunist president, to distance his government from Beijing. Now, Guyana is at risk of becoming economically dependent on Beijing, say former U.S. diplomats and foreign affairs analysts, though Guyanese officials reject the assertion. Guyana President Irfaan Ali said his country isnt economically dependent on anyone, pointing to billions in investment offered by the U.S. and other countries. He said large U.S. oil-field services companies, hotel brands and airlines have expanded in Guyana in recent years. Ali met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week, and touted the expanding bilateral partnership between the two countries. Today, Guyanas relationship with our Western partners are at their strongest ever at any time in our countrys history, and we intend to build even further on this," Ali said. The president also said in a televised interview last year that China would play a role in every area of advancement" in Guyana. Deep ties In Guyana, China has longstanding advantages over the U.S. Its diplomatic relationship with the country stretches back to 1972, with Chinas first Western foreign aid project, a brick factory near Georgetown. The South American country, with about 800,000 inhabitants, has had a sizable ethnic Chinese population since the mid-19th century, counting the diaspora in its national anthem as one of its six peoples." Arthur Chung, a Chinese-Guyanese land surveyor, served as Guyanas president throughout the 1970s. Chinese restaurants, retail stores and other businesses have proliferated for decades. Chinese companies have been involved in Guyanas agriculture sector and bauxite mining before the oil discovery. Last year, Ali was welcomed during a state visit to Chengdu where Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to deepen the two nations ties with more economic support through Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, a hallmark of Beijings global aspirations. China has also worked to shape Guyanas foreign policy. In 2021, the Guyanese government scrapped an agreement to open a trade office with Taiwan just hours after a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the plan and called on Georgetown to correct its mistakes." During his trip, Ali reiterated his support for Beijings position that Taiwan is part of China, known as the One China" policy. Chinese interests are diversifying into other areas including the countrys electrical systems and a stalled effort to build a hydroelectric plant. Last year, Guyana hired Chinese telecom giant Huaweisanctioned by the U.S. over security concernsto expand its Safe City" surveillance technology to various regions, an effort to cut down on crime. Some analysts said China offers Guyana much-needed investments in projects while counterparts in the U.S. lag behind. We ignore this at our peril," said Dennis Hays, a former U.S. diplomat who served as an acting ambassador to Guyana. If we allow the Chinese to continue to basically dominate every bidding cycle that comes along, it hurts us in the long run and the short run." Write to Collin Eaton at collin.eaton@wsj.com and Kejal Vyas at kejal.vyas@wsj.com The lenders of Jet Airways informed the Supreme Court that the Jalan-Kalrock Consortium (JKC) has not released the full first tranche of a 350-crore deposita key condition for transferring the bankrupt airlines ownership. The lenders, led by the State Bank of India, also stated that the consortium has not complied with any conditions necessary for ownership transfer, making a case for the bankruptcy resolution plan to be set aside, which could potentially result in Jet Airwayss liquidation. Jet Airways, founded by Naresh Goyal, went bankrupt in April 2019 when it suspended all flight operations due to financial woes. The Jalan-Kalrock Consortium comprises Murari Lal Jalan, a UAE-based non-resident Indian, and Florian Fritsch, who holds shares in Jet Airways through his Cayman Islands-based investment holding company, Kalrock Capital Partners Ltd. The National Companies Law Tribunal approved the consortiums resolution plan for Jet Airways on June 22, 2021. At the Supreme Court on Thursday, Jet Airwayss lenders argued that JKC was in breach of a previous Supreme Court directive requiring the consortium to deposit 150 crore to complete the first tranche of 350 crore. Jet Airwayss lenders also informed the Supreme Court that they had only received 200 crore out of the 4,783 crore promised to them as per the resolution plan, which is to be paid over 5 years, and that they were incurring losses of 22 crore monthly while maintaining the airline and its assets. Furthermore, they stated that Jet Airways owes around 7,500 crore to lenders. This is a case of gross abuse of the (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) process. This is a definite momentenough is enough. The court must make it clear that the IBC is not for abuse but a genuine facilitator for takeovers. Operators like this cannot come and play with the courts, stated additional solicitor general N. Venkataraman, representing Jet Airwayss lenders. Stalling the takeover The lenders reiterated that JKC had not fulfilled various preconditions necessary to take over Jet Airways, including obtain an air operator certificate (AOC), approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, slot allotment, bilateral rights, and international traffic rights. Additionally, JKC has failed to pay dues amounting to about 272 crore for provident fund and gratuity to workers, they said. The lenders added that JKC had not released three Dubai-based immovable properties offered as security for the 150 crore performance bank guarantee. In response, JKC maintained its argument that the lenders were stalling its takeover of the airline. The consortium had announced in September last year that it had infused 350 crore equity into Jet Airways and fulfilled its financial commitment as per the court-approved resolution plan. The Supreme Court will continue hearing the case on October 1. The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, was hearing the lenders plea against the National Company Law Appellate Tribunals ruling in March upholding the handover of Jet Airwayss ownership to JKC by approving its resolution plan. A fraud investigation in Europe The NCLAT had affirmed NCLTs January 2023 order allowing the transfer of ownership and directed the lenders to complete the handover process within 90 days. This process includes transferring the shares of Jet Airways to JKC and obtaining an air operators certificate. The NCLAT also instructed the lenders to create security on the three Dubai-based properties within 30 days. Upon the creation of this security, the lenders were to adjust the 150 crore performance bank guarantee, with JKC required to complete payment of the first tranche of 350 crore as a condition precedent to ownership. The appellate tribunal noted that JKC had already raised 200 crore out of the 350 crore. However, lenders appealed NCLATs ruling in the Supreme Court, arguing that the January order mandated a cash deposit of 150 crore and set aside the earlier NCLAT ruling that permitted JKC to submit a bank guarantee to fulfill its obligations. Previously, lenders also expressed concerns about the source of the 200 crore payment, stating that JKC was not cooperating with an investigation to determine the source, as directed by the NCLT, after consortium member Fritsch was investigated for fraud and money laundering offenses in Europe. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced updates to its virtual reality (VR) headset and Ray-Ban smart glasses, demonstrating its commitment to artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation computing platforms, per Reuters. At the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed a prototype called Orion, which he described as the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen. During the Meta Connect 2024 on September 25, Zuckerberg said these holographic augmented reality (AR) glasses were designed to be lightweight and wireless and feature a unique wrist-based neural interface that translates brain signals into digital commands. The technical challenges to make them are insane, Zuckerberg told the audience. While no release date was announced for Orion, Zuckerberg referred to it as a glimpse of the future, as quoted by Reuters. The event also showcased updates to Meta's AI system, including voice interaction capabilities featuring celebrity voices. Zuckerberg emphasised the company's vision: We are trying to build a future that is more open, more accessible, more natural, and more about human connection. Also Read | Meta turns to Awkwafina, John Cena to draw users to AI Meta's AI launches Meta introduced new AI features aimed at content creators, allowing them to create AI versions of themselves for fan interactions. The company also demonstrated live translation capabilities using its smart glasses, with Zuckerberg conversing in English while Mexican mixed martial artist Brandon Moreno replied in Spanish, with real-time translation. The company announced that its Meta AI now has 500 million users, a figure that industry analyst Jeremy Goldman called jaw-dropping. In terms of hardware, Meta unveiled the Quest 3S, a more affordable version of its VR goggles priced at $299, ready to ship on October 15. The company also highlighted the success of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, which Zuckerberg described as the perfect form factor for AI. While Meta continues to generate a vast majority of its revenue from advertising, it is heavily investing in AI and emerging computing platforms. However, some industry experts remain sceptical about the mainstream adoption of VR headsets, with Forrester research director Mike Proulx stating, VR headsets, despite Meta's assertion, will not go mainstream. They're too cumbersome, and people can only tolerate them in short bursts. (Bloomberg) -- OpenAI is discussing giving Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman a 7% equity stake in the company and restructuring to become a for-profit business, people familiar with the matter said, a major shift that would mark the first time Altman is granted ownership in the artificial intelligence startup. The company is considering becoming a public benefit corporation, tasked with turning a profit and also helping society, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. The transition is still under discussion and a timeline has not been determined, one of the people said. In a statement, a spokesperson said OpenAI remains focused on building AI that benefits everyone, adding, the nonprofit is core to our mission and will continue to exist. OpenAI is mulling these changes against the backdrop of an exodus of senior managers. Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati said on Wednesday she is leaving, a surprise move that marks the latest high-profile departure from the startup. In the months after it suddenly fired and then rehired Altman last year, OpenAI has been in a state of flux losing multiple managers and shifting the structure of some of its teams. In a statement on X, Murati said she was stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration. In response, Altman expressed tremendous gratitude for Muratis contributions, writing, Its hard to overstate how much Mira has meant to OpenAI, our mission, and to us all personally. He also said that he would share more with employees about transition plans soon. Murati does not yet have a exit date at the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. She is still speaking with OpenAIs leadership about plans for her replacement, including the timeline. In the post, she wrote, For now, my primary focus is doing everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition, maintaining the momentum weve built. Representatives for OpenAI and Murati declined to provide further comment. OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit research organization with the goal of building artificial intelligence that would be safe and beneficial to humanity. The company created a for-profit subsidiary in 2019 in order to help fund the high costs of AI model development, and has since drawn billions in outside investment from Microsoft Corp. and others. This month, Bloomberg reported that OpenAI is currently working to raise $6.5 billion at a $150 billion valuation, making it one of the most valuable startups in the world. In keeping with the companys nonprofit origins, Altman had famously not taken equity, stressing that the company was meant to broadly benefit society, and that he had enough money. But he has also occasionally said in interviews that he wished he had taken equity so that people would stop asking him about it. Reuters earlier reported on the companys plan to restructure and give Altman equity for the first time. On Wednesday, many employees were shocked by the announcement of Muratis departure. On the companys internal Slack channel, multiple OpenAI employees responded to the news with a WTF emoji, according to a person familiar with the matter. Murati, an Albanian-born Dartmouth-educated engineer, played a key role in shepherding major product releases, including OpenAIs popular ChatGPT chatbot, its DALL-E image generation software, and its recently released advanced voice mode that lets users talk to ChatGPT in essentially real-time. This spring, Murati came under fire for saying in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that she wasnt sure whether Sora, a text-to-video generator that OpenAI has showed off but not yet released, was trained on user-generated videos from YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Such a use of YouTube content would be an infraction of the platforms terms of service, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan later told Bloomberg. After Altmans ouster, Murati gained a higher profile when she was appointed as interim CEO but she quickly joined a group of executives pushing for Altman to be reinstated. Her departure marks the latest executive exit at OpenAI since Altmans firing and rehiring last year. Ilya Sutskever, the companys chief scientist, left in May. In August, co-founder Greg Brockman said he would go on leave until the end of the year, and researcher John Schulman left for AI rival Anthropic. The departures leave only two members of OpenAIs original founding team at the startup: Altman and Wojciech Zaremba. In her post on X, the text of which she earlier sent to employees at the company, Murati said she was grateful to have worked with the OpenAI team. Together weve pushed the boundaries of scientific understanding in our quest to improve human well-being, she wrote. The company currently has about 1,700 employees, more than double the roughly 770 it had in late 2023. Also Read | Who Is Mira Murati? All about OpenAI CTO who quit after shaping ChatGPT Altman subsequently announced additional changes to OpenAIs management. In a memo to OpenAI he also posted to X on Wednesday, he wrote that Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew is leaving, along with Barret Zoph, a vice president of research who worked on products like ChatGPT. In his own post on X, Zoph said it was a very difficult decision to leave and he plans to explore new opportunities outside the company. OpenAI is doing and will continue to do incredible work and I am very optimistic about the future trajectory of the company and will be rooting everybody on, he wrote. Altman also named six existing employees who will now report directly to him, some in new roles, including Matt Knight as chief information security officer. I have over the past year or so spent most of my time on the non-technical parts of our organization; I am now looking forward to spending most of my time on the technical and product parts of the company, the CEO wrote, adding that there will be an all-hands meeting Thursday to answer employee questions. NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL), which is preparing for a public listing, has entered into a joint venture with Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd (Mahapreit) to develop renewable energy parks and projects with a cumulative capacity of 10 GW across Maharashtra and other states. In a statement, the NTPC subsidiary announced that both companies signed a joint venture (JV) agreement on Wednesday. The agreement was signed by Rajiv Gupta, chief executive, NGEL, and Bipin Shrimali, managing director, Mahapreit, in Mumbai. "The JV company will undertake development of 10 GW of renewable energy parks and projects in Maharashtra or in any other state of India," the statement added. This development comes shortly after NGEL filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for a 10,000 crore initial public offering (IPO). The public offering is expected to launch in the first week of November, with roadshows planned in key markets like Mumbai, London, the US, and Singapore. As per the DRHP, NGEL's installed solar capacity stood at 3,071 MW as of 31 August, while its wind power generation capacity was 100 MW. The IPO aims to fund the companys ambitious expansion, with a target of reaching over 60 GW capacity by 2030. This aligns with the governments broader goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by the end of the decade. As part of our strategy, we intend to expand our renewable energy business, NGEL noted in its DRHP. And this | NTPC arm in talks with HPCL, Hindalco for green hydrogen supply joint ventures The company also intends to increase its power generation capacity by completing ongoing solar and wind projects and exploring growth opportunities with both public sector units (PSUs) and private corporations. We regularly evaluate potential opportunities to acquire renewable energy assets, the company added. Alphabet Inc CEO Sundar Pichai has indicated that Google's ongoing antitrust challenges will likely take years to resolve, suggesting they do not pose an immediate risk to the tech giant's operations, as per a report by Bloomberg. In a recent interview for The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations, Pichai addressed the company's legal battles, stating, It's going to take time for it to play out. He added, Where we think it really harms our ability to innovate on behalf of our users, we are going to be vigorous in defending ourselves, as quoted by Bloomberg. Antitrust trials The tech leader is currently facing two separate antitrust trials initiated by the US Justice Department. One case alleges Google's illegal dominance in digital advertising, while the other focuses on its control of online search. The advertising trial has recently begun, and in the search case, which Google lost, Judge Amit Mehta aims to resolve final issues by August. Also Read | Visa stock plunges as DOJ files antitrust lawsuit alleging market dominance Regarding the search case ruling, Pichai commented, We definitely disagree with the ruling, but it's still in the middle of the remedies phase. And you know, we will appeal, and this process will likely take many years. The legal proceedings are unfolding against a backdrop of rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, where Google is striving to establish a strong foothold. Industry experts note that by the time these cases conclude, the tech landscape may have undergone significant changes. In the advertising case, if the government prevails, it could lead to a breakup of Google and the forced sale of some assets. Google is expected to appeal any such decision, arguing that it has competed fairly against rivals like Facebook and Amazon. The Radisson Hotel Group is ramping up its presence in India, tapping into a burgeoning demand for hospitality services and strategically expanding across both metropolitan and emerging tier II-III markets. With 200,000 branded rooms currently available in India, demand is significantly outpacing supply, creating an opportunity for growth in the hospitality sector. Demand is risingand so are room rates," Nikhil Sharma, managing director and area senior vice president, told Mint exclusively. "India has only as many branded rooms as New York, and demand will continue to outpace supply for the next 7-10 years. Before the pandemic, there was a latent demand but somehow people were conservative in terms of spending a lot of money on hotel rooms. That perception has now evolved." The international hotel management company's India arm is estimated to have had a revenue of about 4,000 crore across its 123 hotels, putting it ahead of competitors such as IHG and Hilton here. It has another 80 hotels in various stages of development. The group's strategy includes a robust expansion into religious tourism, with recent openings in Ayodhya and Vrindavan. "We were the first movers in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. We also recently opened a hotel in Vrindavan. We are moving at a fast clip. Next on the horizon is Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, and Guruvayur, Kerala. We are also present in Katra in Jammu and Kashmir and Amritsar, Punjab, where the circuit is becoming much stronger," Sharma said. Occupancy rate The company's occupancy rate - the percentage of hotel rooms that are filled with guests during a specific time period - exceeds 70%. "That is higher than most other competitive players today, according to data from hotel market research company, STR. We will continue to grow," he said. Radisson Hotel Group is owned by Radisson Hospitality AB, a subsidiary of the Jin Jiang International Holdings Company, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, which acquired it in 2018. The group operates brands including Radisson, Radisson Blu, RED, and Park Inn by Radisson. Globally and in India, it competes with Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels Corp, and InterContinental Hotels group. View Full Image Sharma was appointed as India head in April this year In India, it is also focusing on smaller cities, planning new hotels in Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), Phagwara (Punjab), and Saputara (Gujarat). Srinagar, Goa, and Dhanbad in Bihar are on its list of openings in calendar year 2024. About 50% of its hotels are in tier II and III towns. The company aims to have an all-round development strategy and has plans for asset acquisitions through conversions and soft branding. Soft branding is when the hotel owners work with a hotel management company like Radisson and are allowed some flexibility in terms of managing their own property. Goa exception Sharma said there was a drastic shift in hotel consumer behavior after the pandemic. Disposable incomes are growing, he said, adding that he does not expect any price corrections now, except, possibly in Goa, where occupancy has fallen by about 4%. "Prices (in Goa) have stayed constant there by and large too, despite a drop in demand. This market could be an exception because of new supply coming in. With the exception of a black swan event, we are spread almost evenly between leisure and business properties," he said. Today, as much as 50% of the company's revenues are from food and beverage operations. It introduced a high-end Indian sweets brand, Meetha, which it operates as luxury retail stores outside its hotels. The overall buoyancy of the hospitality sector has not gone unnoticed in the stock markets. Prashant Biyani, vice president of institutional equity research at Elara Capital, said there is strong investor confidence in the hospitality sector right now. "Stock prices for hotels have held around the same place as a few months ago, despite there being a small correction in Q1 in terms of consumption. The market has faith in the sector still," Biyani said. As demand surges, Sharma said the next few years are crucial for Radisson. "While the bigger cities are getting penetrated in terms of spaces where new hotels can be built, there will be a lot of developments in redeployed and redeveloped land parcels. Now the market is maturing to see some amount of re-branding of hotels as well," he said. Rebranding is when hotel-managing companies change while the owners of the assets remain the same. Experiential travel "We are also focused on developing the Radisson RED brand and will have two more assets by next year," Sharma said. This brand was announced in 2021 and is a lifestyle-oriented millennial brand catering to younger travellers. In response to changing market dynamics, the company introduced the Radisson Individuals and Radisson Individuals Retreats brands in India about two years ago, targeting the experiential travel segment. Sharma said the company has set a goal of opening 20 properties this calendar year. A fifth of them will be leisure resorts in places like Jawai in Rajasthan and Nainital in Uttarakhand, which command higher prices. "India's average daily rate for organised hotels is about 7,000. Exclusive resorts are able to command anything upwards of 10,000 a night," he said, highlighting the potential for revenue growth. Chinas over $100 billion push to bolster its stock markets has stirred optimism, but begs the question of whether investors and businesses will take the bait amid lingering doubts about the economys underlying weakness. In an unprecedented move, the Peoples Bank of China vowed to invest 800 billion yuan of liquidity, equivalent to $113.77 billion, into Chinese stock markets through new swap and loan facilities, a move cautiously welcomed by analysts. While the measures are an absolute positive," the key will be in the implementation, Morgan Stanley analyst Laura Wang said in a note. Under the liquidity facility, 500 billion yuan will be available in the first phase for funds, brokers and insurers to buy Chinese stocks, while an additional 300 billion yuan will go toward financing share buybacks by publicly listed companies. Analysts say some challenges that are likely to arise during implementation include the ability and willingness of investors to take risks, and the gestation period it takes for the support to positively affect economic data points, which will signal whether the Chinese economys fundamental challenges have been addressed. Institutional investors incentives to use PBOC facility to build up leverage remains constrained by the availability of attractive investment options," Citi analysts said in a note, adding that the investment risk and repayment of debt taken from the facilities would ultimately rest with the borrower. The size of the fund itself could be another challenge. Some say the fund, in this first phase, isnt big enough to be meaningful. CreditSights said in a note that the liquidity facility announced by the central bank in the first phase accounts for only 1% of Chinese equity markets market capitalization. The central banks moves were part of a broader monetary package that included slashing banks reverse ratio requirements. Chinese authorities could introduce more easing measures in the coming months. Chinas equity markets experienced some of its biggest gains in more than four years immediately after the announcement of the stimulus package. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.2% on Wednesday after ending 4.15% higher Tuesday. Similarly, Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index gained 0.7% after surging 4.1% in the previous session. Stock markets in China have been among the worst performers globally since the pandemic, dragged by a slowing economy and capital outflows. Last year, the Hang Seng Index lost 14%, while the Shanghai benchmark was down 15%. Since the start of the year, authorities have undertaken piecemeal measures to instill confidence among investors and address market volatility, such as suspending the lending of restricted shares to make short selling more difficult and tightening supervision of new listings. But the measures havent been able to move the needle much due to lingering concerns about the economys health, especially after August economic data came in weaker than expected. Home prices in China registered their steepest decline in nine years for the month, while retail sales and industrial production activity continued to slow. Aside from the facilities to inject liquidity, the PBOC is also studying the likelihood of a market-stabilization fund, PBOC Gov. Pan Gongsheng said Tuesday. While direct government buying of stocks could help boost returns in the short run, plans to address structural headwinds facing the Chinese economy are required to rerate China equity, analysts said. The scale of the rebound and its sustainability hinge on a successful breakout from deflation and corporate earnings growth bottoming out," Morgan Stanleys Wang said. Write to Sherry Qin at sherry.qin@wsj.com and Jiahui Huang at Jiahui.Huang@wsj.com New Delhi: To promote electric ambulances in India, the heavy industries ministry will consult with the health ministry next week to determine the technical specifications needed for these vehicles, according to two people aware of the matter. Discussions with the health ministry will cover issues such as the weight of these ambulances, including heavy medical equipment, that will play a pivotal role in deciding how to electrify them while maintaining safety and performance. The final guidelines are expected to be rolled out after these consultations. With a total outlay of 10,900 crore, the PM E-Drive scheme aims to sell various electric vehicles, including e-ambulances, at subsidized prices to accelerate the countrys transition to cleaner transport. Out of this, 500 crore is for the production of e-ambulances over the next two years, ending FY26. "Ambulances have to carry heavy loads, and the equipment inside the vehicle may also be particularly heavy. The e-ambulance will need to carry this weight quickly and safely, and the deliberations (with the health ministry) will be about this, among other things," one of the officials said on condition of anonymity. The Centre had previously said it would collaborate with all stakeholders to notify performance and safety standards of e-ambulances. An email query sent to the ministry of heavy industries and the ministry of health and family welfare about the deliberations remained unanswered till press time. The PM E-Drive scheme, launched recently to replace the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (and Hybrid) Vehicles (FAME) programme, is a big leap in Indias push for e-mobility. By offering subsidies to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the government intends to incentivize affordable electric vehicle sales while ensuring reimbursement for manufacturers on the discounted amounts. This push for e-ambulances aligns with Indias larger goal of achieving 30% electric vehicle adoption by 2030. With over 30,000 ambulances currently in operation, a shift toward electrification in this sector could significantly contribute to the countrys e-mobility targets. The cost benefits are clear: electric vehicles are cheaper to maintain and operate, and they offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fuel-powered options. International crude oil prices reversed their gains picked after the US Federal Reserve's supersized interest rate cut and dropped over three per cent on Thursday, September 26, on a media report that Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, will give up its price target in preparation for raising output. Brent crude futures were last down $1.62, or 2.2 per cent, to $71.84 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.6, or 2.3 per cent, to $68.09 per barrel. Both contracts fell more than $2 per barrel. Back home, crude oil futures tarded 2.9 per cent lower at 5,667 per barrel on the multi-commodity exchange (MCX). What's dragging crude oil prices? -Saudi Arabia is preparing to abandon its unofficial price target of $100 a barrel for crude as it prepares to increase output, the Financial Times reported. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countriesled de facto by Riyadhalong with the group's allies, including Russia, are known as OPEC+. -The OPEC+ cartel has been cutting oil output to support prices. However, prices are down nearly six per cent so far this year, amid increasing supply from other producers, especially the US, and weak demand growth in China. Also Read: Oil dips as weak euro zone business activity compounds demand worries -Analysts said the prospect of additional supply from Libya and Saudi Arabia has been the main driver behind the latest weakness. A United Nations statement on Wednesday said delegates from divided Libya's east and west agreed on appointing a central bank governor. -This step could help resolve the crisis over control of the country's oil revenue, which has disrupted exports. Libya's crude exports have averaged about 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September, down from over 1 million bpd in August. -The news of a new Chinese stimulus package limited further losses. The top government officials in China, the world's largest crude oil importer, pledged on Thursday to deploy "necessary fiscal spending" to meet this year's economic growth target of roughly five per cent, acknowledging new problems and raising market expectations for fresh stimulus in addition to measures announced this week. Where are oil prices headed? Analysts said WTI crude oil prices surged above $72 per barrel on Tuesday due to concerns about potential supply disruptions in the US from hurricane threats, escalating conflict in the Middle East, and an improving demand outlook driven by fresh stimulus in China. Pranav Mer, Vice President, EBG - Commodity & Currency Research, JM Financial Services Ltd said, "Prices are additionally supported by a higher than expected drawdown in oil and products inventories, as reported by API. On chart, trend remains positive till prices are above support at 5,920, can buy at dips for target at 6,050/ 6,100". In the Middle East, Israel conducted strikes across southern Lebanon, resulting in nearly 500 fatalitiesthe deadliest day of conflict since the 2006 war with Hezbollah. The looming threat of a second hurricane in two weeks has prompted US oil producers to evacuate personnel from offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. "Today, oil prices steadied around $71.30 per barrel amid rising geopolitical risks related to the Israel-Lebanon situation and expectations of a draw in US EIA oil inventories. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Israeli attacks in Lebanon cannot go unanswered. Meanwhile, the API reported a significant draw of 4.339 million barrels for the week ending September 20," said Kaynat Chainwala, AVP-Commodity Research, Kotak Securities. ITC share price gained nearly a per cent on Thursday, September 26 to hit a record high of 522.50 on BSE, with its market capitalisation crossing 6.5 lakh crore for the first time. The hotels-to-FMCG conglomerate ITC on September 25 announced that it has been allotted 1,413 Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of Sproutlife Foods Private Ltd. The preference shares of Sproutlife have been acquired pursuant to a follow-on investment in terms of the Securities Subscription & Purchase Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement executed on 19th April, 2023 to acquire 100% of the share capital (on a fully diluted basis) of Sproutlife in one or more tranches. With the acquisition of 1,413 CCPS, ITCs shareholding in Sproutlife aggregates to around 47.50% of its share capital at a total investment of 255 crore. The acquisition is in line with the strategy to augment the Companys future ready portfolio in the foods segment, ITC said. Sproutlife is a start-up engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling food products under the trademark Yoga Bar. It currently has high salience of on-line sales (D2C, e-commerce platforms etc.) with growing presence in offline stores. Also Read | Easy Trip Planners share price rises 5%: Promoter stake sale overhang is behind ITC Share Price Outlook ITC stock price has seen a gradual upmove as it has risen nearly 22% in the past three months. The stock has gained over 12% year-to-date (YTD), while it is up more than 17% in the past one year. Analysts are bullish on ITC shares as long as they remains above the psychological mark of 500 level. I expect ITC shares to stay strong and make incremental highs. The overall FMCG sector is expected to outperform the broader markets and so will ITC stock. ITC shares are estimated to do well above the 500 level, which is its major technical as well as psychological support, said Milan Vaishnav, founder of ChartWizard FZE and Gemstone Equity Research. He expects ITC stock to see an upside to 530 - 538 levels in the near term. However, if ITC shares fall below 500 level, Vaishnav expects the stock to see a consolidation thereon. At 11:45 am, ITC shares were trading 0.39% higher at 519.45 apiece on the BSE, commanding a market cap of over 6.49 lakh crore. Rappid Valves SME IPO: The Initial Public offering closed for subscription on 25 September. On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the allocation for the Rappid Valves (India) IPO is anticipated to be completed. The tentative listing date for the Rappid Valves (India) IPO is set on Monday, September 30, 2024 on NSE SME. The Rappid Valves (India) IPO's book running lead manager is Shreni Shares Limited, and the registrar is Link Intime India Private Ltd. Here are the steps to check allotment status online, GMP as focus shifts to listing Since Link Intime India Private Ltd is the registrar to the Rappid Valves (India) IPO and Rappid Valves share is to be listed on the NSE , investors can check allotment status on the Link Intime website or the NSE Step1- Click on registrar Link Intime India Private Ltd website by clicking on this link Step2- click on Company selection and thereafter from the drop down select the company name Rappid Valves (India) Ltd. Step 3 Select from among any one of the following as - Application No., Demat Account, PAN number or Bank account number along wih IFSC code Step 4- Enter these details from the option selected Step 5 Enter the Submit button and Don't forget to enter Captcha code if asked for before submitting for search Also Read | Diffusion Engineers IPO subscribed over 6x on day 1 of issue; Latest GMP here Similar to this, investors can use the NSE website to verify the status of Rappid Valves IPO allotment by providing the required information.. Rappid Valves IPO Grey Market Premium or the GMP The GMP for the Rappid Valves IPO was +100, per information obtained from Investorgain.com. This indicates that Rappid Valves' IPO shares ae available for 100 more than the issue price in the Grey market, at the time of the IPO. This shows that the market is expecting the share price of Rappid Valves to list at 322, which is 45.05% more than the top range of the issue price of 222. In Ullozhukku, the first feature film by writer-director Christo Tomy, the women are not only confined to their home, but also unable to find terra firma. Set in Alappuzha, Kerala, during the monsoon, the film looks at the aftermath of a death in the family, as relatives gather in the house for days to mourn the deceased. Forced to sit together and grieve (not unlike the tradition of sitting Shiva under Judaism), the characters slowly reveal secrets and own up to their transgressions. This Malayalam film, which released in June, is founded on the relationship between Leelamma (Urvashi) and her daughter-in-law, Anju (Parvathy Thiruvothu). Both are caregivers to Thomaskutty, the ailing man whose death sets the film in motion, yet their purpose in the film is at odds. In the hands of any other actor, Anju the pregnant widow would be an unsympathetic characterafter all, she cheats on a dying man. But as played by Parvathy, Anju is an incandescent being. There is anger at her circumstance, but also the light in her determination. Also read: Hanif Kureshi (1982-2024): Bringing art out into the open The film makes no mention of patriarchy, yet reminds us how limited a womans choices are. Forced to give up a previous romantic relationship due to religious differences, Anju also forsakes her job and accepts Leelammas son as her husband. Soon enough, Anju is confined to the role of caregiver with no employment or financial independence or prospects. The drudgery of caregiving is mechanical, yet Parvathy comes alive with a kind of loose tension. When Thomaskutty dies, the flooded home, in turn, becomes the symbol of a possibility of a happier future. If inherited by the widowed, adulterous, pregnant daughter-in-law, the house has the potential to finally become her home. In India, where inheritance by women is often turned into a morality tale, the question of whether Anju deserves the house becomes paramount. Succession is lightly worn as legacy by men. But for women, inheritance is a very complex legal matter which involves jumping through many hurdlesprimarily, a hostile legal framework. For example, only in 2005, Hindu women, through an amendment in the Hindu Succession Act, gained equal inheritance rights to her family assets. (Unsurprisingly, Dr Ambedkar, in 1948, had suggested a reformist Hindu Code Bill which proposed equality of inheritance rights of widows.) Succession is rarely straightforward. In India, religions are allowed flexibility to deal with succession as a personal matter. In Ullozhukku, there is a clever engagement with the issue of inheritance rights of widowed daughters-in-law. The film does not make a mention of the tangled legal situation of inheritance by the widow and her illegitimate unborn child, but hints at the financial destitution that awaits. It is also revealing to look at the law that applies to widows such as Anju. For matters related to the succession rights of Christians, the Indian Succession Act of 1925 is applicable, and needless to say, the law is complicated. Religious freedom, a constitutional right, has led to development of personal religious laws. Sadly, such laws have developed at the expense of women, often siding with confusion over cogency. The poll plank of the central government of implementing a Uniform Civil Code is not likely to help. Take the instance of the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code, 2024: the issue of reform in the structure of the Hindu Undivided Family to allow greater participation of widows has not been addressed. There are several other provisions in the Code which erode the agency of women; when gender justice is one of the stated objectives of implementing a uniform code throughout the country. Ullozhukku offers a fresh look at the consequences of a family as an economic unit for women. It might not be long before the issue of succession rights is not just an undercurrent but the primary focus in a film. Bengaluru horror: The accused who allegedly killed a Bengaluru woman, chopped her body into over 50 pieces and stuffed the body parts into a fridge, had told his family that the victim Mahalakshmi used to blackmail and extort money from him. Before ending his life in Bhadrak district of Odisha, the accused, identified as Mukti Ranjan Ray, told family members that his initial plan to pass her death as a suicide. His body was found hanging from a tree in a village in Bhadrak district. According to Hindustan Times report, before committing suicide, Ray told his family about the crime and allegedly claimed that the woman - Mahalakshmi - and her brothers used to thrash him and extort money from him. On Thursday, Muktis younger brother told reporters that his brother confessed to them about committing the crime, saying he chopped her body after an initial plan to pass her death as a suicide did not work. My brother was with me for the last 9-10 days. After staying for 3 days, he confessed to killing Mahalakshmi. He told me that Mahalakshmi used to blackmail him and extorted money from him, the report quoted younger brother as saying. Mukti had blamed Mahalakshmi for messing up his life, he added. Also Read | Headless body of a woman found on Kanpur highway; investigation on Before Mukti died, he had visited his mother on Tuesday. She said he was tense when he came home. The maggot-infested body of Mahalakshmi, chopped into several pieces and stuffed into the fridge, was found by her mother and elder sister at her Vyalikaval home on Saturday. The deceased woman's estranged husband on Sunday expressed suspicion about the involvement of a man known to Mahalakshmi, who had been living alone, in her neighbourhood. He kept on saying that the girl has destroyed our family, Muktis brother said. WASHINGTON : President Biden on Thursday directed that Ukraine receive the remaining $5.5 billion worth of American weapons and equipment previously authorized by Congress, underlining his commitment to Kyivs cause ahead of his meeting Thursday with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. The administrations announcement also includes separate funding of about $2.4 billion through whats known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which will provide Ukraine with air defenses, drones and other weapons that over the long term will help to sustain its military needs. The president also approved the transfer of the Joint Standoff Weapon, a long-range munition that will help Ukraine strike faraway Russian positions in its own territory and within Ukraine, as well as one Patriot missile-defense system to protect Ukrainian cities facing consistent Russian bombardment. The announcement included the expansion of the F-16 pilot-training program for 18 additional Ukrainian pilots. Through these actions, my message is clear: The U.S. will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war," Biden said in a statement. Bidens announcement came on what could be a pivotal day for Zelensky, who retains significant support in Washington but has faced relentless criticism from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and has recently angered some GOP backers over perceived political missteps. Zelensky is meeting with Biden as well as with congressional leaders from both parties and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. During his visit, Zelensky is set to present his full victory plan" in Washington, which U.S. officials have described as underwhelming, saying that Ukraine is mainly asking for advanced weapons to continue repelling Russian President Vladimir Putins forces. The aid plan announced Thursday concludes a dispute between the White House and Congress that averts the possibility that previously authorized funding for Ukraine could be lost after the fiscal year ends Sept 30. It assures funding for Ukraine at least through the end of Bidens term but doesnt give the administration the flexibility it sought to potentially use the money for any new programs, only existing ones. Critics from both parties contended that the administration had dragged its feet on providing weaponry to Ukraine, while administration officials pointed out that the supplemental funding bill first proposed last fall wasnt passed until April, thus forcing officials to scramble to get the money spent on time. Just the dribbling of what weve authorizedwhy in the world would you do that?" said Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. That doesnt sound like a good way to help our friends." Biden has also declined to lift restrictions on Ukraines use of long-range missiles against Russia, despite Kyiv and European allies, as well as members of Congress, openly calling for him to do so. The administration has argued such a move could escalate the conflict with Russia. I think at this point, we need to make the case strongly to the administration that they need to provide permission for him to strike deeper into Russia," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.). Russia and Ukraine are in an effective stalemate, with Moscow pushing to solidify gains in the southeast even as Ukraine holds, for now, the territory it took in a bold offensive inside Russia in the Kursk region. Much has changed in the U.S. and Ukraine since Zelensky received a heros welcome while delivering a joint address in a packed House chamber two years ago. Republicans were sharply divided earlier this year in votes to approve a $95 billion package of new aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and the uncertainty over which party will control the White House and Congress next year has cast doubt over future assistance. At his campaign rallies, Trump has pledged to end the war and jabbed at Zelensky. We will win, we will win," the former president said, mimicking Zelenskys accent, at a rally in Pennsylvania this week. Hes been saying that for three years. Every time Zelensky comes to the U.S. he walks away with $100 billion," he said, to boos. But were stuck in that war unless Im president." Trump wont be meeting with Zelensky during this visit to the U.S., according to people familiar with his plans. In a recent interview with the New Yorker, Zelensky said Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how" and that Trumps vice presidential pick, Ohio Sen. JD Vancean outspoken opponent of Ukraine aidis too radical." Some Republican lawmakers complained that Zelenskys appearance at an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania alongside Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Bob Casey, both Democrats, was inappropriate. In a letter Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) demanded that Zelensky fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. for organizing the event, denouncing it as election interference." Johnson said he had no plans to meet with the Ukrainian president. It was a major screw-up," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), an ally of Trump who has been supportive of Ukraine aid. Sen. Mike Rounds (R., S.D.) said it is up to Zelensky to begin repair work with Trump and other Republicans right away. Hes working with us to get more resources for his country, but these types of activities probably do not help his cause long-term." Casey, who is running for re-election, scoffed at the idea that Zelenskys appearance at the plant, which makes shells for Ukraine, was political. How could you be against him visiting a plant where theyre helping Ukraine win the war?" Casey said. Supporters of Ukraine in Congress say theyre expecting that Zelensky will need another aid package early next year, or potentially in the lame-duck period between Election Day and Jan. 3, when the new Congress will be sworn in. The most critical element is assurance of uninterrupted support over the course of the next several months and beyond, and thats what I hope we can assure him," said Sen. Jack Reed (D., R.I.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Vivian Salama contributed to this article. Write to Lindsay Wise at lindsay.wise@wsj.com, Gordon Lubold at gordon.lubold@wsj.com and Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com The man accused of killing and dismembering a Bengaluru woman earlier this month was found dead in Odisha on Wednesday. A suicide note left behind by the suspect suggests that Mahalakshmi was killed following a heated altercation with Muktiranjan Pratap Ray at her residence in Vyalikaval. A diary recovered by the police also had the suspect confessing to the murder and subsequently dismembering the woman into 59 pieces. The two had met while working in a garment shop and entered into a relationship. According to the police, Mahalakshmi was pressuring him to marry her which led to constant arguments and finally an altercation. Preliminary investigation suggests that the short-tempered accused had killed her and later dismembered her body. The maggot-infested body of Mahalakshmi, chopped into several pieces and stuffed into the fridge, was found by her mother and elder sister at her Vyalikaval home on Saturday. Also Read | Bengaluru traffic halts train: Video causes hilarious comments on social media A senior police officer told PTI that Ray had called up his younger brother after the killing and asked the latter to immediately vacate the rented house. He did not give a reason but insisted that he would share details once they met. During an interrogation the younger brother of the accused revealed that Ray had confessed to the crime upon returning home. He had also said that he was unable to stay in the city any longer and would be leaving for their native place. Ray returned to the Odisha village in the days following the murder with the police hot on his trail. Also Read | North Indian influencer takes a U-turn after getting slammed by Karnataka celebs With the help of technical analysis and Call Record Details, the accused was identified and his mobile location was initially traced to West Bengal but later he switched it off. However, with the help of technical surveillance, his location was traced to a village in Odisha where we sent our teams to nab him, a senior police officer said. News of his death also came mere hours after Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara indicated that the police had information about the presence of the suspect in Odisha, and teams formed to crack the case have been sent there to nab him. With India becoming the third non-African country to report a case of clade 1b Mpox, the Union health secretary Apurva Chandra has directed state governments to take preventive measures to minimize the risk of Mpox outbreak in the country. He directed all states to spread awareness about the disease, its mode of spread, the need or importance of timely reporting, and preventive measures. It is crucial that any panic amongst the masses is prevented, he said. Also Read: How prepared is India for an Mpox outbreak? Samples from skin lesions of any patient with suspected symptoms of Mpox should be sent to the designated labs immediately, and for those that test positive, a sample should be sent to ICMR-NIV for genome sequencing to determine the clade, Chandra said in a letter dated 26 September. He informed that robust diagnostic testing capabilities are already available with 36 ICMR-supported labs across the country, and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has approved three ICMR-validated commercial PCR kits. On Monday, India reported clade 1b strain in a 38-year-old man from Kerala, who recently returned from the United Arab Emirates. The patient is currently stable and under observation. Also Read: ICMR conducting serosurvey to assess mpox risk in India Earlier this month, India's first Mpox case was reported in a 26-year-old man from Haryana who returned from one of the affected African nations. However, the Mpox strain was the one that was prevalent in the previous outbreak seen in India in 2022. Meanwhile, the Union health secretary has advised states to review public health preparedness, identify isolation facilities in hospitals, and train human resources, etc. On 14 August, the World Health Organization announced that the current Mpox outbreakpreviously known as Monkeypox diseaseis a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This is the second time the WHO has declared Mpox PHEIC under the International Health Regulations, 2005, to which India is a signatory. Also Read: A deadly new strain of Mpox is raising alarm A previous Mpox outbreak in 2022 was caused by Mpox virus clade 2. The 2024 PHEIC is related to Mpox virus clade 1, which is more virulent and more transmissible than Mpox clade 2. This clade has been found outside Africa. One case each of clade 1b has recently been seen from Sweden and Thailand. Manipur's security adviser said last week that authorities had received reports from local intelligence agencies about a possible crossing by "Kuki militants". The intelligence report suggested that 900 suspected militants from war-torn Myanmar have crossed over into Manipur. There were claims that these militants were planning to attack peripheral villages of Imphal valley districts around September 28. Days later, the Manipur government retracted its statement, asserting that the likelihood of "any such misadventures by armed groups is minimal and unsubstantiated", news agency PTI reported. Also Read | Why is Centre allowing Manipur to be like banana republic, asks Congress MP In a joint statement, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and DGP Rajiv Singh said on Wednesday, "In view of recent reactions from different communities regarding the input on the infiltration of 900 trained Kuki militants from Myanmar to carry out attacks on Meiteis on September 28, it is clarified that the input was verified from various sources but could not be substantiated on the ground. There is no current basis to believe in any such input." As per the report, the statement assured that "security forces are on high alert to protect the lives and property of citizens. All communities are assured of their safety." It also advised the public to not believe in any rumors or unverified news. What was claimed earlier? On September 20, the security advisor said security forces have taken a number of steps in the wake of reports that militants might carry out violence in peripheral villages. He had said that reports of movement of these militants have been circulating for the past three to four days. The security advisor had also indicated that security forces were on high alert following reports that the militants had entered the state to target peripheral villages, with potential attacks expected around September 28. Singh had said that the hill districts of Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul, Kamjong, and Pherzawl have been placed on high alert. Manipur govt spreading misinformation Earlier on Wednesday, Manipur Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar expressed concern over Singh's claim that 900 Kuki militants had entered the state, which he argued had caused panic in the outlying villages of the Imphal valley. He demanded clarity on the assertion. Lokeshwar stated, "Singh's claim has created unrest in peripheral areas. He should clarify the grounds for his assertions and outline what measures are in place to counter the militants entry. Villagers should not be left to live in fear." On Wednesday, the Manipur Tribals' Forum Delhi also accused the Manipur government of spreading misinformation about Kuki-Zo communities and urged the Centre to intervene and address the "bias and injustice" against them. Also Read | Manipur violence: Indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal amid renewed violence "The Manipur Tribals' Forum Delhi (MTFD), representing the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar communities, strongly condemns the recent acts of misinformation, unjust allegations, and systematic marginalisation against our people," the forum said in a statement. "We call on the national government to intervene and address the bias and injustices perpetuated by the Meitei-majority leadership in Manipur," it was quoted by PTI as saying. Top Events of the Day: Today's global stage is set for high-stakes diplomacy as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with US President Joe Biden, presenting his victory strategy and discussing continued US support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Pune today to inaugurate the citys new underground metro corridor. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is beginning his Haryana election campaign with rallies in Assandh and Barwala today. Meanwhile, in Japan, the world watches as Iwao Hakamada, the longest-serving death row inmate, awaits a verdict that could end his 46-year ordeal or seal his fate. Amazon Great Indian Festival sale to start for Prime members Starting September 26, midnight, the sale prices across all the categories went live and is available exclusively to Prime members. Zelenskyy to meet Biden during crucial US visit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet US President Joe Biden today. During the visit, Zelenskyy plans to present his victory strategy and discuss continued US support for Ukraine. Apart from Biden, Zelenskyy will meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris, members of Congress, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. He will also address the United Nations General Assembly and engage with representatives from US defence and energy companies. Modi to sound poll bugle at the Maharashtra public rally Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Pune on September 26, where he is expected to kick-start the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls with a public rally at SP College Ground. Diffusion Engineers IPO The Diffusion Engineers IPO is scheduled to open for public subscription on September 26, 2024. The company, known for its expertise in heavy machinery repair and reconditioning services, is attracting significant interest following its successful anchor book allocation. PM Modi to inaugurate Pune underground metro Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Pune today to inaugurate the citys new underground metro corridor, linking Civil Court to Swargate. This development is expected to boost Punes urban transport infrastructure significantly. Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the metros extension from Swargate to Katraj. Other key initiatives include the launch of a memorial at Bhide Wada, marking the site of Indias first female school founded by Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. Also Read | Vladimir Putin previews changes to Russias nuclear doctrine Melania Trumps first interview in over two years Former US First Lady Melania Trump is set to give her first interview in two years on Fox Newss Fox & Friends today. In the interview, Melania will discuss the Trump campaigns strategy, her new book Melania, and other current issues, including the assassination attempt on her husband. As Donald Trump faces a challenging race against Vice President Kamala Harris, this interview marks a significant return to the public spotlight for the former First Lady. Rahul Gandhi to kick off Haryana campaign Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is beginning his Haryana election campaign with rallies in Assandh and Barwala today. His campaign follows a reconciliation between rival state leaders Bhupinder Hooda and Kumari Selja, mediated by the central Congress leadership. Haryana will go to the polls on October 5, with results expected on October 8. Delhi Assembly special session begins The Delhi Assembly will begin a special two-day session today, where Chief Minister Atishi is expected to address the house for the first time as its leader. Although the sessions agenda has not been finalised, Atishi is expected to discuss key issues affecting Delhi and propose solutions for the future. Kerala news: Kerala Police issued a lookout notice on Thursday against Malayalam actor Siddique in connection with a rape case, reported ANI. All district police chiefs in Kerala, in addition to the police chiefs of all states, received the notice on September 26. Siddique faces serious allegations in a rape case and is on the run after the Kerala High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail application on September 24. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala government is currently investigating the case. Also Read | Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor buys EV scooter: Netizens react The museum police in Thiruvananthapuram on August 27 registered a case against the Malayalam actor under charges of rape and criminal intimidation. The case was filed after a young actor pressed charges against Siddique. The former General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), Siddique, has categorically denied the accusations and filed a countercomplaint against the victim. However, a comprehensive court order is awaited. This development comes in the light of the #MeToo movement that has rocked the Malayalam film industry and has uncovered stories of numerous victims who reported and levelled various sexual abuse allegations. The actor resigned from his AMMA position after allegations accusing him of rape surfaced. Consequently, AMMA's entire 17-member executive committee resigned. Several women actors levelled serious allegations against prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry. The list of actors accused of sexual abuse includes director Ranjith and actors Mukesh, Jayasurya, and Edavela Babu, among others. Justice Hema Committee report was the first to highlight the issue, following which allegations erupted against leading figures from the industry. The Committee report released on August 19 detailed disturbing accounts of harassment, exploitation, and the systematic mistreatment of women in the industry. The report said the Malayalam film industry is controlled by about 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors who dominate and exert control over the industry. A 45-year-old woman drowned in an overflowing nullah in Andheri, a suburban area, on Wednesday, September 25, according to police. The incident took place around 9:20 pm near gate no. 8 of MIDC in Andheri East during heavy rains. The victim has been identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad. The woman was rushed to Cooper Hospital by local police and the fire brigade but was declared dead on arrival. Her husband has told NDTV that she was the sole breadwinner of the family. I am a sick man, my wife used to take care of my house. We have lost everything, I want that whoever is at fault should be punished. We have lodged an FIR, he said. Mumbai Police has filed a case against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and a contractor for negligence after the death of the woman by drowning in a nullah. The civic body, too, has announced a high-level investigation into the case. In a statement released Thursday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed the formation of a three-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee, led by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Devidas Kshirsagar (Zone 3), includes Mumbai fire brigade chief Ravindra Ambulgekar and Chief Engineer (Vigilance) Avinash Tambewagh. The committee is expected to submit its report within three days. The incident has been reported amid the heavy rains on Wednesday that threw the lives of Mumbaikars in disarray. Commuters were stranded, train services were cancelled and schools were closed as the weather department predicted more rains in the city. Residents were advised to avoid leaving their homes. Sean Diddy Combs, the music mogul, is making headlines again, but this time not for sex trafficking and racketeering allegations but instead for Netflix docuseries,Variety reported on Thursday. The American rapper and actor Curtis James Jackson III, popularly known as 50 Cent, will furnish details in the upcoming documentary, which will throw light on sexual assault and violent abuse allegations against the rapper P Diddy. The project, directed by Alexandria Stapleton, is currently under production. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), 50 Cent said, I been telling yall about all this weird shit, I dont do NO puffy partys. you didnt believe me but I bet you believe me now! This is a story with significant human impact. It is a complex narrative spanning decades, not just the headlines or clips seen so far, Variety quoted 50 Cent and singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton as saying. In an interview with the News Daily, the duo said they are committed to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives. Providing a disclaimer to the documentary, they said Sean Combs story is not the full story of hip-hop and its culture. 50 Cent and Stapleton added, We aim to ensure that individual actions do not overshadow the cultures broader contributions." It is important to note that 50 Cent executive produces through production houses G-Unit Film and Television. Meanwhile, Chris Stapleton executive produces for House of Nonfiction and Texas Crew Productions. G-Unit's Diddy project first announced that its production plans for the docuseries were set in early December. At this point, the music mogul was sued by four different women. Ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed the first lawsuit. Boarding schools in India and abroad are considered tough and strict. Often, cases of punishment of children staying in hostels become newspaper headlines. A similar incident took place in Yundong Secondary School in China's Shanxi province, where incidents of students being punished by staff members for using the toilet at night came to light. According to a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP) that cited Beijing News, the student went to the washroom at 11 pm, which is 15 minutes past curfew, and was caught. Following this, he was reprimanded by the staff members, and the boarding school administrators forced him to write a 'deep self-reflection' letter and distribute 1,000 photocopies of the essay to his schoolmates as punishment. The school even deducted five points from his classs monthly discipline score. The Beijing News further reported, citing a teacher, that students were prohibited from walking around the dormitory after 10:45 PM, including a bar on using the toilet. The students needed to contact dorm administrators for permission in case they wanted to use the toilet after curfew. As quoted by SCMP, the student's letter read, I have seriously breached the school rules, and going to the toilet in the evening not only disturbed other students sleep but also brought shame to my class. He even apologised to his classmates and teachers, stating he would not repeat the same mistake. The incident has gained momentum in social media, and people have compared the boarding school with a prison. Government's response: The South China Morning Post reported that the Education Department of Huairen asked the institute to reflect on its errors in reaction to the incident. We instructed the school to learn from this incident and reflect on its errors. We told them to revise their discipline policies, SCMP quoted the education authority as saying. Also Read | 19-year-old daughter of IPS officer found dead in hostel room in Lucknow Apart from this, the Education Department of Huairen directed the school to engage with the boy caringly, mandating compensation of 100 yuan to cover the cost of copying the self-reflection essay. Some former staff of Meghan Markle have described her as a difficult boss, with one source calling her a "demon" who had moments of extreme anger, according to The Daily Beast. This comes after positive reports from other staff members who painted Prince Harrys as a thoughtful boss, gifting flowers and eggs, and making her employees feel valued. The supportive comments about the Duchess of Sussexs management style were published in Us Weekly, likely in response to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, which portrayed Meghan as a demanding leader who caused emotional distress to some of her employees. Meghan and Prince Harry's team denied those claims, calling them fabrications. One former palace worker admitted that while Meghans tough moments were real, they may have been exaggerated after the Sussexs departure from Royal duties, known as "Megxit". The worker also compared Meghan's behaviour to other Royals like Princess Margaret and Prince Andrew, who also had difficulties with their staff. There have been plenty of difficult Royals over the years, and I do think that after the ill-feeling of Megxit, Meghans bad moments were amplified and distorted and blown out of proportion, one source told The Daily Beast. That said, there definitely were bad, very bad, even psycho moments. I witnessed people being chewed up in person and over the phone and made to feel like s**t. But it was an incredibly fraught time and Im inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt, the source added. Meghan Markle: A classic narcissist Another former worker said that Meghans behaviour often came across as narcissistic, where she was kind when things went well but harsh when faced with challenges. Also Read | Not Harry or Meghan, Ipsos survey reveals THIS person is most popular UK royal I always thought she was a classic narcissist and getting her staff to tell a magazine how amazing she is only confirms that in my mind. She is lovely when it is all going her way but a demon when the worm turns, another source told The Daily Beast. Kristen Fischer, an American who permanently relocated to New Delhi in 2022, recently shared her thoughts on Instagram about why she chose to leave the USA for India. Addressing a common question she faceswhy she would move from America to IndiaFischer challenges the assumptions that India is a lesser place to live and that she is worse off for making the move. Fischer feels that these questions often suggest two things: that living in India is a downgrade, and that leaving the USA is an irrational decision. However, she disagrees with both ideas. According to her, India offers something unique, particularly for her children, who she believes are set up for a more successful future here. Fischer highlights that the life, experiences and sense of community her children will gain in India are things they would never have had in the USA. Reflecting on conversations with Indians living abroad, Fischer notes that many people realise how much they miss India after leaving. They often assume life will be better elsewhere, only to discover the value of what they left behind. She also emphasises that life is about more than just financial wealth. While the USA may offer more money, Fischer believes that India offers a richer life in terms of community, relationships, experiences and overall happiness. She shares that these aspects of life matter most to her, and they make India a place of true wealth. I think my kids are being set up for a more successful life and future in India. They will have such a rich life, experiences, and community that they would never have gotten in the USA, Fischer says. Social media divided There are some Indians who disagree with Fischer, though. One of them wrote, You live the life 99.99% Indians don't. So your opinion is not a representative of a major population of India where they struggle to make ends meet to just get basic food!! As an introvert America is a perfect place for me, wrote another Indian user while an American user wrote about India, Lovely people but they suffer the same social ills as any other place. Here are some comments from users who agree with Fischer. India is a place where the warmth of its people makes it feel homely, whether youre a local or a foreigner. I agree with you, living in US since 10 years, still never felt like home here. Home will be always India. A horrific incident was reported from Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh district where a 7-year-old boy was allegedly stripped, brutally beaten and given electric shocks by the school teacher for forgetting his bag at home. The incident came to the fore after thetraumatised boy came home crying and narrated his ordeal to his mother. The incident took place in Lodha police station area of Aligarh. The boy,James,is a class UKG student studying at a private school near Khereshwar Dham temple. Jamesfamily immediately went to the school and protested about the incident. The family has filed a complaint with the police. Dilip Kumar, James's father,alleged that his son had forgotten his school bag at home. After learning about this, the teacher beat him up brutally. The teacher beat him severely, the father said. They removed his clothes and shoes, gave him electric shocks and subjected him to extreme cruelty, he added. However, the school's principal has denied the allegations, saying that the student's complaint of being subjected to electric shocks was false. The principal also asserted that the school authorities were ready to provide the CCTV footage. The allegations are unsubstantiated, said the principal. On the day of the horrific incident, Dilip Kumar was out of town, and James mother was unwell, so the child's grandfather dropped him off at the school. The police are probing the matter further. Class 2 student dies under mysterious circumstances In another incident, a class 2 student at a private school in Hathras died under mysterious circumstances. According to the complaint filed by the student's father, Krishan Kushwaha, he received a call from the DL Public School administration on Monday informing him that his son had fallen ill. When he reached the school, the staff told him that the school director, Dinesh Baghel, had taken his son to a hospital in his car. In his police complaint, the father alleged that he later recovered his son's body from Baghel's car. He accused Baghel and four unidentified men of being responsible for his son's death, said Himanshu Mathur, the Circle Officer (CO) of the area, on Wednesday. Rumours continued to swirl this week about the origins of a tell-all memoir outlining the many transgressions of Sean Diddy Combs. The book purportedly based on the diary and notes of late model Kim Porter has been denounced as a complete fabrication by their children. Claims that our mom wrote a book are simply untrue. She did not, and anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves. Any so-called friend speaking on behalf of our mom or her family is not a friend, nor do they have her best interests at heart, the statement read. The missive posted on Instagram also flagged hurtful and false rumors about the relationship between Porter and Combs without making any direct mention of his arrest. This is the first statement they have shared since criminal charges were levelled against their father. Allegations against the music mogul have been building since last year when Casandra Ventura claimed that Combs subjected her to more than a decade of coercion by physical force and drugs as well as rape. A spate of lurid lawsuits have followed in recent weeks as 11 women stepped forward to allege sexual assault and physical violence with some incidents dating back to the 1990s. The rapper and music producer is currently in federal custody awaiting trial on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. He has has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges. Combs was indicted last week on three criminal counts that allege he sexually abused women and coerced them into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence. The statement from Combs' children came even as Thalia Greaves sued the artist for rape the latest accuser to come forward. The woman alleged that Combs and his bodyguard had drugged, bound and violently raped her. He had allegedly filmed the assault so he could sell it for the titillation of others. Republican activists in swing states say they have seen little sign of the teams tasked with knocking on doors and turning out infrequent voters on behalf of Donald Trump, raising concerns about the party's presidential nominee relying on outside groups for an important part of his campaign operations. The states that supported Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020 and former Republican President Donald Trump in 2016 are frequently cited as swing states. These seven statesArizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsinare critical to determining the next president. Michigan (Electoral Votes: 15) Michigan has been a bellwether state, supporting the winning presidential candidate in the last two elections. While it backed Biden in 2020, recent tensions surrounding his support for Israel during the Gaza conflict have sparked backlash. Amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, the USIsrael's primary ally and weapons supplierhas supplied Israel with over 10,000 highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles since the conflict began in October, according to US officials reported by Reuters in June. The state also has the highest percentage of Arab-Americans in the country, a demographic whose support for Biden has come under scrutiny. In response, Harris has adopted a firmer stance on Israel, and some protesters advocating for Gaza have expressed hope that she will be more sympathetic to their concerns. As reported by Reuters, the Harris campaign celebrated a new endorsement just a week after the pro-Palestinian grassroots organization, Uncommitted National Movement, announced it would not endorse Harris, Trump, or any third-party candidate. Despite this setback, Harris has gained support from smaller Muslim groups, including the Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund and the American Muslim Democratic Caucus. Arizona (Electoral Votes: 11) In 2020, Democrats secured the presidency with Arizona's support, marking the first time since the 1990s that the state voted for their candidate. Located along the US-Mexico border, Arizona has become a key battleground in the national immigration debate. Recently, border crossings have decreased from record highs, making immigration a top concern for voters, BBC reported. Trump has frequently criticized Kamala Harriss immigration record, given her role in addressing the border crisis under President Biden. He has also pledged to implement the largest deportation operation in US history if he returns to the presidency. Additionally, Arizona has seen contentious debates over abortion access, highlighted by state Republicans' unsuccessful attempt to reinstate a near-total ban on abortions from 160 years ago. Georgia (Electoral Votes: 16) In Fulton County, Georgia, Trump faces allegations of election interference as part of one of his four criminal prosecutions, having already been convicted in one case while the others are still pending. He and 18 co-defendants are accused of conspiring to overturn his narrow loss to Biden in the state. Trump denies any wrongdoing, and it appears the case may not reach court before the upcoming election. Georgia has a significant African-American population, making up about a third of its residents, which played a crucial role in Biden's victory in 2020. This demographic's support is believed to have been instrumental in flipping the state blue. North Carolina (Electoral Votes: 16) Polling in North Carolina has tightened since Harris took the lead on the Democratic ticket, with some analysts now labeling the state a toss-up. This shift may be influencing Trump's decision to hold his first outdoor rally there since the assassination attempt in July. In 2020, Trump won North Carolina by a narrow margin of just over 70,000 votes, fueling Democratic optimism that this purple statecapable of swinging either red or bluecould be a competitive target in the upcoming election. North Carolina (Electoral Votes: 16) Analysis by US News suggests that North Carolina may lean Republican, as Trump won the state in 2020 by a narrow margin of 1.3 percentage points. Democrats are hopeful that North Carolina could mirror Georgia's success in 2024. Biden notably made it his last stop on a post-State of the Union tour of swing states before he suspended his campaign. If other battlegrounds favor Trump, North Carolina could become a vital win for Harris. Pennsylvania (Electoral Votes: 19) In the 2020 election, Pennsylvania played a key role in helping Joe Biden secure the presidency and reclaim the blue wall. Historically, Democratic candidates have had significant success in the state until Donald Trump's win in 2016. Bidens victory in 2020 was tightly contested, decided by just 1.2 percentage points. As the swing state with the highest electoral votes, Pennsylvania remains crucial in elections. Wisconsin (Electoral Votes: 10) Wisconsin has been pivotal in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, with the winning candidate decided by just over 20,000 votes each time. Analysts believe that third-party candidates could significantly influence outcomes in marginal states like Wisconsin, especially as they campaign against the dominant two parties. Also Read: Nevada attorney general appeals to state high court in effort to revive fake electors case Trump has emphasized the state's importance, stating, "If we win Wisconsin, we win the whole thing." Notably, the summer Republican National Convention took place in Milwaukee, further highlighting the state's strategic value in the electoral landscape. WASHINGTON : Chinas newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank in the spring, a major setback for one of the countrys priority weapons programs, U.S. officials said. The episode, which Chinese authorities scrambled to cover up and hasnt previously been disclosed, occurred at a shipyard near Wuhan in late May or early June. It comes as China has been pushing to expand its navy, including its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. The Pentagon has cast China as its principal long-term pacing challenge," and U.S. officials say that Beijing has been using political and military pressure to try to coerce Taiwan, a separately governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory. China says its goal in building a world-class military is to deter aggression and safeguard its overseas interests. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. doesnt know if the sub was carrying nuclear fuel at the time it sank, but experts outside the U.S. government said that was likely. Undersea technology has long been an area of U.S. advantage, but China has been pushing hard to narrow the gap. China has been moving to diversify the production of nuclear-powered submarines. Production has been centered in the northeastern city of Huludao, but China is now moving to manufacture nuclear-powered attack submarines at the Wuchang Shipyard near Wuhan. Beijing had 48 diesel-powered attack subs and six nuclear-powered attack subs at the end of 2022, according to a Pentagon report issued last year on Chinas military power, That report said that Chinas aim in developing new attack submarines, surface ships and naval aircraft is to counter efforts by the U.S. and its partners to come to Taiwans aid during a conflict and to achieve maritime superiority" within the first island chain, a string of territory from the Japanese archipelago through Taiwan and the Philippines to the South China Sea. The Zhou-class vessel that sank is the first of a new class of Chinese nuclear-powered subs and features a distinctive X-shaped stern, which is designed to make the vessel more maneuverable. The sub was built by China State Shipbuilding Corp., a state-owned company, and was observed alongside a pier on the Yangtze River in late May when it was undergoing its final equipping before going to sea. After the sinking, large floating cranes arrived in early June to salvage the sub from the river bed, according to satellite photos of the site. The sinking of a new nuclear sub that was produced at a new yard will slow Chinas plans to grow its nuclear submarine fleet," said Brent Sadler, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank, and a retired U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer. This is significant." Neither the Peoples Liberation Army, as the Chinese military is known, nor local authorities, have acknowledged the episode. Its not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside," said a senior U.S. defense official. In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLAs internal accountability and oversight of Chinas defense industry, which has long been plagued by corruption." The first public indication that something was amiss at the shipyard near Wuhan came in the summer when Thomas Shugart, a former U.S. submarine officer and an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, wrote a series of social-media posts noting the unusual activity of the floating cranes, which was captured by commercial satellite imagery. Shugart surmised that there might have been an incident that involved a new type of submarine, but he didnt know at the time that it was nuclear-powered. Can you imagine a U.S. nuclear submarine sinking in San Diego and the government hushes it up and doesnt tell anybody about it? I mean, Holy Cow!" Shugart said in an interview this week with The Wall Street Journal. While the submarine was salvaged, it will likely take many months before it can be put to sea. The whole boat would be full of water," Shugart said. Youd have to clean out all the electronics. The electric motors may need to be replaced. It would be a lot of work." American officials havent detected any indication that Chinese officials have sampled the water or nearby environment for radiation. It is possible Chinese personnel were killed or injured when the sub sank, but U.S. officials say they dont know if there were casualties. Shugart said that the risk of a nuclear leak was likely to be low as the sub hadnt ventured out to sea and its reactors were probably not operating at a high power level. The U.S. has suffered similar setbacks, which proved costly. In 1969, the nuclear-powered USS Guitarro was moored at a shipyard in California when it sank following a series of mistakes by construction workers. It wasnt officially commissioned until 32 months after its sinking. Write to Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com France on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in a UN diplomatic push with the United States as the death toll mounted from strikes by Israel against Hezbollah. Shortly after talks at the United Nations between Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, France outlined the proposal at an emergency Security Council session. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the two Western powers were proposing a truce of 21 days to allow for negotiations and a more sustainable ceasefire. "There has been important progress in the past few hours," Barrot said. "We've been working since the start of the week in New York on a diplomatic solution with our American friends in particular." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and warned, "Hell is breaking loose." Israel said it welcomed diplomacy on Lebanon but did not commit to a ceasefire, vowing to pursue its goal of degrading Hezbollah. "We are grateful for all those who are making a sincere effort with diplomacy to avoid escalation, to avoid a full war," Israel's envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told reporters before entering the session. But he added: "We will use all means at our disposal, in accordance with international law, to achieve our aims." The violence comes after the failure to reach a ceasefire in Gaza where Israel for nearly a year has been seeking to wipe out another Iranian ally, Hamas, which carried out the deadliest attack ever on Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran, which in recent weeks has held back on retaliatory strikes on Israel after attacks targeting Iranian interests, may no longer be restrained. "The region is on the brink of a full-scale catastrophe. If unchecked, the world will face catastrophic consequences," he told reporters. Hezbollah holds powerful influence within long-turbulent Lebanon. The country's foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, asked by reporters if a ceasefire was possible, said: "Hopefully yes." - 'Acute' risk of escalation - Israel went ahead with the offensive in Lebanon despite repeated appeals by the United States to avoid a wider war. "Risk of escalation in the region is acute," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has made 10 trips to the Middle East since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. "The best answer is diplomacy, and our coordinated efforts are vital to preventing further escalation and to paving the path to greater peace and stability," Blinken said as he met Gulf Arab counterparts at a New York hotel. Israel and Hezbollah had been skirmishing since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, but at a lower level. Last week pagers and other handheld communications devices of Hezbollah exploded in an operation widely attributed to Israel. Hundreds have died and thousands have been displaced since Israel launched its strikes, with the Lebanese health ministry saying that another 72 people died on Wednesday. Diplomats said that the United States was no longer directly linking its struggling push for a Gaza ceasefire with Lebanon efforts. US officials said their main goal was to avoid a wider conflict. "An all-out war is possible," Biden said on ABC's chat show "The View." "What I think is, also, the opportunity is still in play to have a settlement that could fundamentally change the whole region," Biden said. Robert Wood, the deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, told the Security Council he was concerned by deaths in Lebanon. Also Read: The vast Hezbollah arsenal awaiting Israel in Lebanon But he also pinned blame on Hezbollah, accusing it of violating Security Council resolutions through its alliance with Hamas since October 7. "Nobody wants to see a repeat of the full-blown war that occurred in 2006," Wood said. Advocating the expansion of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), French President Emmanuel Macron has supported India's bid among other nations for permanent membership of the UNSC. We have a Security Council that is blocked...Lets make the UN more efficient. We have to make it more representative, Macron said at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. That's why, he said, France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa will decide to represent it. Macron's remarks came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the 'Summit of the Future' on Sunday emphasised that for global peace and development, reforms in institutions are essential. India has pushed several times for long-pending reform of the UN Security Council, seking its permanent membership. India argues that the 15-nation council founded in 1945 is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geo-political realities. Also Read | UN Chief Rues World Without Rules With Eye on Israel, Russia Presently, the UNSC comprises five permanent members -- Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States --, and 10 non-permanent members, which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The French president has also called for a change in the UNSC's working methods, a limitation of the right of veto in cases of mass crimes, and more attention to operational decisions required for maintaining peace. The time has come to regain efficiency in order to act better on the ground, he said. Also Read | PM Modi emplanes for US to participate in Quad Summit UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also warned the 15-nation UNSC, which he described as outdated and whose authority is eroding, will eventually lose all credibility unless its composition and working methods are reformed. Israel has rejected Western efforts to broker a ceasefire in Lebanon and vowed to ramp up its attacks against Hezbollah. The appeal for a 21-day truce came hours after Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi asked soldiers to prepare for a possible ground offensive against Hezbollah. There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a social media post. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office added that he had "not even responded" to the truce proposal and ordered the military to continue the fighting with full force. IDF chief Halevi also assured a very strong response to Hezbollah after the militant group fired a missile at central Israel on Thursday morning. You can hear the planes above, we are attacking all day. Both to prepare the area for the possibility of your entry [into Lebanon], and also to continue causing blows to Hezbollah. Hezbollah today expanded its [range] of fire. Later today, it will receive a very strong response. Today we will continue, we do not stop, we continue to attack and continue to strike them everywhere. The goal is a very clear goal, to return the [displaced] residents of the north safely. To do this, we are preparing the [ground] maneuver, Halevi said. Also Read | The vast Hezbollah arsenal awaiting Israel in Lebanon The developments came even as Israeli fighter jets hit infrastructure on the Lebanese-Syrian border on Thursday, allegedly to stop the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah. Hezbollah uses these means of warfare against the citizens of the State of Israel. The IDF will continue to strike and act against the Hezbollah terrorist organization's attempts to arm itself and transfer weapons into Lebanon from Syrian territory, read an official statement. Also Read | Backed into corner, Hezbollah must make a fateful decision An incident on 28 March 1979 changed the course of energy forever, at least in the US. The Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station at Pennsylvania had a partial meltdown of a reactor core. No injuries were reported, but the reactor was mothballed, and it heightened public fears of nuclear power. So, it came as a bolt from the blue when Three Mile owner Constellation said last week that it will restart the nuclear reactor and Microsoft will buy the energy generated for 20 years. The reason: to meet its burgeoning need for clean energy for its massive artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, as the tech industry balances building giant energy-sucking AI models with its environmental, social and governance goals. The GenAI revolution sparked off by the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 has catalysed an insatiable appetite among tech firms and countries to build bigger AI models in their race towards artificial general intelligence (AGI) and global domination. AI bots are adding hundreds of millions of users and promise to reshape industries and societies. As Big Tech CEOs commit hundreds of billions of dollars to lead this era-defining technology, they also face huge obstacles in scaling up. Data availability is one, the price of Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) is another, but the biggest perhaps is the availability of clean and reliable power for both the training and inferencing needs of large language models. For example, Microsoft and OpenAI are contemplating a $100 billion AI supercomputer, and the five gigawatts it would take to power it is whats required for all of New York City today! The Electric Power Institute expects data centres to consume up to 9% of US electricity generation by 2030, more than double what they currently use. This translates to 50 gigawatts (GW) of additional power, a colossal amount of energy which could power 10 New Yorks. Moreover, it requires an investment of over $500 billion in data centre infrastructure alone. Most of the power generated globally is from coal and other fossil fuels, making it a top contributor to carbon-dioxide emissions and global warming. The global concern this spawned has led Big Tech firms to declare aggressive net-zero targets, which would mean they must rely on green power for almost all their needs. They have signed long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with wind and solar power companies, but as the Electric Power Institute reports, those deals typically do not match electricity demand hour by hour with local resources" and so there is no guarantee that all electricity-related greenhouse gas emissions are offset." Internal data released by Microsoft, Google and others supports this claim. Thus, the gold rush for clean power. Other than the Three Mile Island revival, Microsoft has made other moves. It has tied up with Brookfield Asset Management in a $10 billion deal to develop another 10.4GW of renewable energy capacity across the US and Europe. It has even started dabbling in nuclear fusion energy, with an agreement with Helion Energy and by hiring people to build small modular nuclear reactors. Google is signing PPAs with companies to procure 100 megawatts of offshore wind farm energy. The question is whether it is worth chasing the AI dream, with all this potential damage and what it will cost to undo it through clean power generation. The tech industry thinks so. McKinsey estimates (bit.ly/47DYYB2) that GenAI could help create $2.6-4.4 trillion in economic value for the global economy. Sam Altman believes Artificial Super Intelligence will help humanity solve big problems like climate change, longevity and nuclear fusion, thus making the investments worthwhile. Even Bill Gates has said, The question is, will AI accelerate a more than 6% reduction [in emissions]? And the answer is: certainly." He also believes that Big Tech businesses would pay a green premium for clean energy, thus incentivising its development and deployment over fossil fuels, and so the AI rush would be worth it. Every technology has raised such existential questions, and none of them has been as consequential as AI promises to be. Another such technology was nuclear, but the spectre of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made a fearful world clamp down on it. While there has not been another nuclear attack since 1945, the flip side was that we slowed down nuclear power generation in favour of coal and gas, which, in turn, worsened global warming. There were no easy solutions then and there arent any now. Electric Vehicles (EVs) replace petrol as a source of energy used in petrol vehicles (PVs) with electricity. While electricity can be generated from fully renewable sources, such as the sun and wind, and can be completely green, petrol comes from fossil fuels, which results in air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As climate change caused by these emissions increasingly threatens life on Earth, the world needs to replace fossil fuels with green sources of energy and PVs with EVs. This was not possible some years ago, as green electricity and EVs were very expensive. However, things have changed and green electricity now costs less than the electricity generated using fossil fuels such as coal, gas and diesel. At the same time, EVs are becoming cost-competitive vis-a-vis PVs. Manufacturers of PVs that have failed to carry out sufficient R&D in time to switch over to EV-making seem to have embarked on a campaign to run down and slow the emergence of EVs. First, they claimed that EVs are not green, as the power used is sourced from fossil fuels, that they cost too much, do not go long distances, and that they lack charging infrastructure. These half-truths did not stop EVs from selling. Then, to prolong the life of their PVs, they came up with hybrids and tried to portray them as part-EVs. Let us examine what these hybrids are. Ever since the use of petrol grew, auto-makers have been carrying out R&D to enhance the efficiency of their vehicles and reduce the amount of petrol used per kilometre. As petrol costs rose, fuel efficiency arose as a marketing edge. This was indeed welcome. Energy in a vehicle is wasted when brakes are applied while descending a slope or slowing down. As power electronics advanced and EVs emerged, researchers developed a mechanism called regeneration to recover part of this energy and convert it back into electricity to charge the vehicles battery. This made these vehicles more efficient. Makers of PVs seized upon this technology to stretch the life of their product portfolios. They inducted regeneration into their vehicles and started charging auxiliary batteries to deliver better fuel economy. They called these vehicles hybrids. But, as they could derive only a small advantage through regeneration, they started doing more. Recognizing that petrol engines reach peak efficiency only when these vehicles are driven at a particular speed, torque and power, they came with another form of hybrid. They added an electric drive-train with a small battery and motor to be used while starting the vehicle and to increase speed; the petrol engine would turn on only once its speed reached a certain level. To differentiate between these and vehicles using only regeneration, they rechristened the former as mild hybrids and these new ones as strong hybrids. The latter assured higher energy efficiency, using less petrol per kilometre, and resulted in less GHG emissions. This led PV makers to project such hybrids as EV equivalents. The fact that these vehicles still use a fossil fuel as their energy source has largely been obfuscated. As regulators refused to accept strong hybrids as EV equivalents, PV makers came up with yet another version: plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). These would indeed have an electric drive-train, but with a small battery to be charged using electricity from the grid. PHEVs operate as EVs for a limited range (say, the first 60km), but to go further, they have a petrol fuel tank and a generator that converts petrol to electricity and charges the battery. The argument was that since most vehicles travel only a small distance on most days, they would be driven with grid electricity. Only if they needed to go longer distances would petrol be used for range extension. PV makers have used these arguments to lobby for green incentives for PHEVs of the kind that EVs are given (with success in some places). However, the experience of some European countries shows that PHEV users usually do not plug their vehicles in for grid charging and mostly use just the petrol engine to drive their vehicles. The plug-in apparatus then looks like just a facade to get incentives. Manufacturers have also come up with parallel PHEVs, with an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric motor designed to work in parallel. Confusing? It sure is. The primary purpose of these so-called hybrid variants appears to be largely to obtained EV-like incentives. It is unfortunate that some governments are falling for such tricks that extend PVs lease of life and slow down the adoption of EVs. In Series PHEVs, an internal combustion engine cannot drive the vehicle directly, but only charge the battery. Such vehicles have a real-life driving range of 100km with air-conditioning (equivalent to a 140km certified range) and could be useful if they use GPS technology to stay strictly off ICE in geo-tagged urban centres, so as to restrain emissions. If these conditions are satisfied without exception, incentives provided to Series PHEVs will not go waste and could perhaps be used till such time that our charging infrastructure gets strengthened. Else, incentives for hybrids could hurt the climate by prolonging the life of ICE in the name of going green. The planets future depends on fully replacing energy from fossil fuels with renewable electricity and the latters use for transport. This transition is what people and governments need to support. There is the letter of the law and then theres the spirit of the law. The letter could be followed while ignoring the spirit. This is not lost on the government, which might be veering that way on genetically modified (GM) crops. Towards the end of July 2024, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdictas well as significant observationson a case going back to October 2022. Back then, the University of Delhi had developed GM mustard seeds which the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MOEFCC) approved for cultivation. This was opposed and a case filed; the apex court not only stayed the distribution of these seeds, but also added them to a two-decade-old case it has been hearing on constitutional challenges to Indias regulatory regime for GM crops. The July verdict being split means the case is headed for a larger bench, but both judges asked the government to develop a national policy for GM crops, after due consultation with all stakeholders and adequate publicity for the exercise. The government has now duly set up an expert committee, but secrecy around the panels composition gives rise to suspicion over how bipartisan it is. A larger question has arisen too. Does the Centres policy push for GM crops miss real concerns about food security? Reservations over the new panels neutrality are aroused by the governments recent record on exercises that need a bipartisan approach, which has not been exemplary. Consider the manner in which the ruling party managed the passage of bills in Parliament during the last Lok Sabhas tenure, bypassing the time-tested ritual of letting departmental standing committees critically examine the validity of various provisions, or overlooking the need for a wide range of views. In August, a confederation of agricultural activists and citizens wrote to the MOEFCC secretary, expressing the hope that the proposed panel will adhere, in spirit, to the Supreme Courts direction on meaningful stakeholder consultations. However, news reports now suggest that the GM committee is expected to submit its report in two months. Given the complexity of the issues at stake, this hurry is inconsistent with the top courts obiter dicta to engage in wide consultations. To be fair, the governments policy predilection for GM crops perhaps emanates from concerns over future food security; in other words, it may be looking to mitigate future risks arising from Indias food demand outstripping its production, given that the country is now the worlds most populous, and that too, with its agriculture sector contributing only 18% to GDP. Add to this the myriad problems that plague the farm sector: fragmented land holdings leading to low productivity, an over-dependence on monsoon rains resulting in frequent crop failures, and uncertainty over the supply and pricing of both raw materials and finished products. In the face of these challenges, GM crops promise higher yields, which would translate into higher income for farmers and better food availability for consumers. But that may turn out to be a simplistic line of reasoning; there are many unresolved concerns about GM plants, especially when combined with herbicides that are suspected carcinogens. The Supreme Courts call for wider consultation has merit. Diverse representation on the panel will help contain future health and environment risks. Hezbollah is dealing with some disagreement among its ranks over how to respond to a series of devastating attacks on the Lebanese militant group, according to people familiar with the groups deliberations. With no good options available, the group faces one of the most consequential decisions in its four-decade history. Hezbollah, the worlds most heavily armed nonstate paramilitary group, fired its first missile at the commercial capital of Tel Aviv on Wednesday, its boldest response yet to a dramatic series of strikes by Israel. It must now choose whether to unleash more of its advanced weapons, striking deeper into Israel and potentially triggering a full-scale war, or hold back and risk diminishing its reputation as one of the fiercest fighting forces in the Middle East. This is the single most crucial moment for Hezbollah since it was created," said Rym Momtaz, a security analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace with expertise in Hezbollah. Hezbollah has no good options." A full-scale war, such as the one Hezbollah fought with Israel in 2006, would likely be devastating for Lebanon, exacerbating its economic crisis and eroding Hezbollahs support among the population. Still, if the group doesnt respond in kind to the recent attacks, it could undermine the deterrence that Hezbollah spent decades building against Israel, largely with military and financial help from Iran. Israel says the recent attacks were aimed at stopping Hezbollah strikes that have continued for nearly a year and allowing Israelis to return to parts of northern Israel. A series of attacks by Israel have left Hezbollah in disarray. Last week, thousands of Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies exploded, and an airstrike in Beirut killed a group of elite military commanders. On Tuesday, another Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut killed Hezbollahs top missile commander, Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi. There is disagreement among Hezbollah members over how to respond, the people familiar with Hezbollahs discussions said. Some members say the group has been too cautious about escalating the conflict. They argue that Hezbollah should retaliate now, taking advantage of the anger in its own ranks and the broader Lebanese population. Hezbollah members also have expressed frustration in conversations with Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials that Tehran hasnt stepped in to support its Lebanese ally, the people said. But Hezbollahs leadership wants to avoid what it sees as a trap set by Israel: Getting Hezbollah to be seen as starting a regional war that draws in Iran and the U.S., the people said. The groups leadership is trying to figure out how to re-establish deterrence without going to war with Israel, these people said. It isnt clear how much Israels attacks have degraded Hezbollahs weapons. Until recently, the group possessed an estimated 150,000 missiles and rockets, about 10 times the number it had in 2006. Israels military says Hezbollah has fired 9,000 projectiles at Israel since last year, and the recent strikes have destroyed tens of thousands of munitions. I believe Israel disrupted the groups military capability, at least temporarily, and made it harder to respond coherently," said Daniel Byman, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington who co-wrote a recent study of Hezbollahs arsenal. Hezbollah is believed to still possess a vast arsenal, including hundreds of guided ballistic missiles. A Hezbollah official said Israels recent strikes had destroyed fewer munitions than during the 2006 war. On Monday, Hezbollah fired tactical surface-to-surface rockets, known as Fadi, with a range of up to 65 miles, into Israeli territory. Aside from the Qadr-1 medium-range ballistic missile fired at Tel Aviv on Wednesday, it has yet to deploy its most-advanced weapons, including an estimated tens of thousands of unguided ballistic missiles with a range of 80 to 180 miles, and hundreds of guided ballistic missiles with a range of 150 to 300 miles. Some current and former Israeli security officials said they were surprised that Hezbollah didnt retaliate with more force after Israels strikes in recent days. Emergency and municipal authorities, who were briefed by the Israeli military weeks ago in preparation for possible Hezbollah strikes, were told to expect 4,000 missiles and rockets each day and to prepare for possible daily casualties in the thousands. The strikes targeting Hezbollah launchers likely helped subdue the response, said one official, who added that the military wasnt counting on its ability to consistently pre-empt those attempts. One possible response by Hezbollah could be to launch hundreds of nonguided rockets to overwhelm Israels air defenses and target nonmilitary sites. When Iran attacked with more than 300 rockets and drones in April, Israel relied on assistance from the U.S., Jordan and other countries to shoot them down, even though Tehran had telegraphed its attack in advance. One complication is that Hezbollahs longer-range precision missiles are more visible when being set up, potentially exposing them to Israeli strikes, Byman said. The risk is amplified by the recent attacks, which have shown Hezbollah to be thoroughly infiltrated by Israel. The pager and walkie-talkie attacks also likely complicatedbut didnt destroyHezbollahs communications. Most of the groups communications take place through coded language over landlines and human couriers, not pagers and radio. Hezbollahs predicament is partly of its own making. The group has fired rockets at Israel since Oct. 8the day following Hamass attack on Israeland has refused to halt its attacks until there is a cease-fire in Gaza, an ultimatum that has now backed it into a corner. It tied its fortunes to the Gaza front, which it cannot control, is constrained by the dire Lebanese situation, was pulled into an attritional war it wasnt built to fight, and has been outgunned and outfoxed by Israel," said Momtaz, the security analyst. Even after Hezbollahs top military commander, Fuad Shukr, was killed in an airstrike in Beirut in July, the leadership overwhelmingly refused to separate the fighting in southern Lebanon from the conflict in Gaza. Hezbollah officials have been concerned about penetration by Israeli intelligence since it began shelling northern Israel last October. Officials were concerned about leaks and Israeli infiltration and were trying to plug holes in the organization, they told The Wall Street Journal at the time. By the end of that month, Hezbollah operatives were being killed at a rapid clip, in areas that hadnt previously been exposed as housing weapons facilities. Hezbollah officials believe Israels recent attacks are aimed at offsetting the tactical win the group scored in northern Israel, where some 60,000 Israeli residents have been evacuated, by exacerbating the mass displacement and humanitarian crisis in southern Lebanon, the people familiar with the matter said. Hezbollahs leadership still believes Israel is hesitant to launch a ground invasion, which would be harder to pull off than airstrikes and likely cause significant Israeli casualties, the people said. There is precedence for diplomacy. The most recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, in 2006, ended when the Lebanese and Israeli cabinets voted for a United Nations Security Council Resolution, which positioned U.N. peacekeepers in south Lebanon. As part of the cease-fire, Hezbollah agreed not to place armed forces south of the Litani River, 18 miles from the Israeli bordera requirement Israel wants the group to adhere to today. Hezbollahs decision in the coming days could have momentous consequences for its future. It could cost the group credibility in Lebanon, where it is also a powerful political party, a welfare provider and a stronger military force than the national armyall founded primarily on resistance to Israel. Hezbollah are damned if they do and damned if they dont," said Aram Nerguizian, a nonresident senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies with expertise in military dynamics in the Middle East. The risk for the group is that the longer this goes onand the longer the Israelis are able to avoid getting into a ground campaign that only benefits Hezbollahthe more rapidly the groups credibility, monopoly on national security politics, and de facto political hegemony are degraded," Nerguizian said. Carrie Keller-Lynn and Shayndi Raice contributed to this article. Write to Sune Engel Rasmussen at sune.rasmussen@wsj.com and Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com An associate of Jamestown drug trafficker Rocco Beardsley has pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced. Charles Lawson, 34, of Jamestown, also known as Charley Marley, entered his plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date will be scheduled. Prosecutors said Lawson worked with Beardsley and others to sell heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine and assisted in a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Beardsley by undercover investigators on Jan. 23, 2020. They noted that Lawson used social media to advertise drugs for sale and received narcotics for his own use as compensation. Beardsley was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal, who has accused Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar of assault at his residence, has slammed the former Delhi chief minister, saying he hired the most expensive army of lawyers to save him. She said that his actions crossed all limits of shamelessness. In a long post on X, Swati Maliwal said, You have crossed all limits of shamelessness. @ArvindKejriwal Sir, the goon who attacked me in your presence at your residence, while he was in jail, you hired the country's most expensive army of lawyers to save him, got PC after PC done against me. Today, when he is out on bail, he is being called the biggest leader of the party and they are saying that he has been put in jail in a fake case. Even the Supreme Court said that who keeps such goons in their residence. If these statements of theirs do not boost the spirits of goons like Bibhav, then what else will? The message is clear - even if you thrash again, we will save you, Swati Maliwal said. Continuing her attack on Arvind Kejriwal, Swati Maliwal said, Not every person who is a partner in all your wrongdoings is a great leader. You have a hobby of keeping people who say Wah Sir, Wah Sir around you, that is why the world has started looking blurry. Every other day you compare yourself with Maryada Purushottam Ram! So much arrogance is not good. If someone cannot take a stand for his party's female MP, how will he take a stand for the women of Delhi? Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday denied the BJP's charges that the state's demography has changed. He said people in the state are living peacefully. "But these people [RSS, BJP] don't like it when people live in peace...so don't let them enter your villages," the Jharkhand Chief Minister said. Soren compared the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to rats, saying, "These people of RSS will enter society like rats and destroy it." He also urged the people of Jharkhand to recognise "these forces and not let them enter villages." The Jharkhand CM dismissed the BJPs allegations of demographic changes in Jharkhand, suggesting that critics should examine the demographic data of neighbouring West Bengal. "Go and see what is Bengal's data. Then see the data of various districts in Jharkhand. You would find no change in the demography here...," Soren added. Soren also took a jibe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and said, "...Assam CM comes to Jharkhand and criticises the state's people and state government...We will give a befitting reply..." "They talk about spoiling the demography and Bangladeshi intruders. I would like to tell them to go and get the data from the Centre and see in which district and in which state it has changed," Soren said. BJP hits back at INDIA bloc BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit back at Soren over his "rat comment" and said the Jharkhand chief minister "has accepted that there has been a demographic change in West Bengal, which was ruled by the Left as well as Mamata Banerjee." "He [Soren] says that no demographic change has occurred in Jharkhand, it has happened in West Bengal. Who has had governments in West Bengal? Not BJP. Left, followed by the TMC," said Poonawalla. "It means that one party of INDI Alliance is targeting another party of the alliance. No mission, no vision, no common part, only ambition, their own confusion and their own corruption...," Poonawalla said. Did he [Soren] attack them [TMC and Mamata Banerjee] inadvertently or was it deliberately, he only knows it, the BJP leader said. He added that Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren calls nationalists and people elected by the public 'chooha'. BJP's claim Soren's statement days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that infiltration from Bangladesh is "changing Jharkhand's demography." PM Modi said in Jamshedpur on September 15, every Jharkhandi is feeling unsafe because of the infiltrators... The JMM is standing with Bangladeshis and Rohingyas... On Wednesday, BJP MP Ravi Kishan also accused the Jharkhand government of trying to change the demography of the state for political mileage. Meanwhile, Himanta Biswa Sharma informed that the Assam government will bring out a white paper by April-May of next year on the demographic changes in the state. "We are bringing a white paper, how on polling booth level demography is changing in Assam so the people at large realise the challenges. Yesterday I told it in the Assam Assembly that by April or May, we are bringing a comprehensive white paper," CM Sarma said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Pune on Thursday, where he is expected to kick-start the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls with a public rally at SP College Ground. Meanwhile, PM is slated to launch projects worth 22,600 crore. Here are the top ten updates: 1. An official statement said the inauguration of Pune Metro section of District Court to Swargate will mark the completion of Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase-1). The cost of the underground section between District Court to Swargate is around 1,810 crore. 2. He will also lay the foundation stone for Swargate-Katraj extension of Pune Metro Phase-1 to be developed at the cost of around 2,950 crore. This southern extension of around 5.46 km is completely underground with three stations namely Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj, it said. 3. Among other projects, he will lay the foundation stone for the memorial for Krantijyoti Savitribai Phules first girl school at Bhidewada in commemoration of the noted social reformer. The statement said, Modi will dedicate to the nation three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers worth around 130 crore, developed indigenously under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). 4. Supercomputers have been deployed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata to support groundbreaking scientific research. The Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune will utilize the supercomputer to investigate Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and other astronomical phenomena. Meanwhile, the Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi will enhance research capabilities in areas such as material science and atomic physics. 5. The S N Bose Centre in Kolkata will drive advanced research in areas such as physics, cosmology and earth sciences, it added. During his visit to the poll-bound state, the prime minister will inaugurate a high-performance computing (HPC) system tailored for weather and climate research. This project represents an investment of 850 crore, marking a significant leap in India's computational capabilities for meteorological applications. 6. Located at two key sites, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and the National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) in Noida, this HPC system has extraordinary computing power. The new HPC systems are named 'Arka' and 'Arunika,' reflecting their connection to the Sun, it said. 7. Modi will launch various initiatives of petroleum and natural gas sector worth 10,400 crore. These initiatives will focus on energy, infrastructure, safety and convenience of truck and cab drivers, cleaner mobility and a sustainable future. 8. To enable ease of driving, he will launch way side amenities for truck drivers at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra, Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab, Songadh in Gujarat, and Belagavi and Bangalore Rural in Karnataka. With the objective of developing modern facilities for the comfortable journey break at one place designed to cater to the needs of truckers and cab drivers during their long journeys, way side amenities such as affordable boarding and lodging facilities, clean toilets, safe parking space, cooking area, WiFi and Gym are being developed at a cost of around 2,170 crore at 1,000 retail outlets. 9. Among numerous other projects, Modi will inaugurate Bidkin Industrial Area, a transformative project covering an expansive 7,855 acres under the National Industrial Corridor Development Program of the government of India, situated 20 kms south of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. 10. The project developed under Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor holds immense potential as a vibrant economic hub in the Marathwada region. The Central government has approved this project with an overall project cost of over 6,400 crore for development in three phases, it said. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will head to the International Space Station on Saturday after several delays. The SpaceX Crew-9 mission will launch from the Cape Canaveral region with live coverage accessible across the globe. An official release from the space agency indicates that the duo are scheduled to lift-off from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 1:17 pm EDT on September 28. The targeted docking time is approximately 5:30 pm on Sunday. Launch coverage will begin around 9:00 am on Saturday (6:40 pm in India) through the NASA+ site as well as the official NASA website. Arrival coverage will pick up the next day at 3:30 pm on the same platforms. The Crew-9 mission was originally slated for a mid-August launch. It was pushed back a month to spend more time analyzing issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft which remains docked at the station. The departure date was moved yet again this week amidst tropical storm Helene. The hurricane is expected to bring high winds and heavy rain to the launch area in Florida as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico. This will be the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX under the space agency's Commercial Crew Program. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Indian-origin Sunita Williams have been stranded in space for several weeks after their Boeing Starliner suffered helium leaks and experienced issues with the its reaction control thrusters while approaching the space station. NASA had later deemed it too risky' for the duo to return by the same capsule extending their eight day mission to more than eight months. The duo are now full-time station crew members along with the seven others on board. They will fly home in February aboard a Dragon spacecraft with the two other crew members assigned to the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Two women made initial federal court appearances Thursday on misdemeanor charges they participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Wendy Dominski, 55, and Traci Quimby, 54, both of Porter, face four charges, including two counts of disorderly conduct in the Capitol grounds or buildings. The two friends traveled together to Washington on Jan. 4 and for two days attended election-related protests, including the Stop the Steal rally where they listened to former President Donald Trump. They were among those who supported Trump and objected to President Bidens election. After the rally, the two headed for the Capitol. Ignoring a blaring alarm, the two entered the Capitol at 2:24 p.m. through the Senate Wing doors, which had been kicked open by rioters, according to the criminal complaint against the two. The pair remained inside the Capitol for about 11 minutes, according to the complaint. Upon entering the Capitol Crypt, Quimby spotted a rioter who was wearing a Confederate flag beanie and smoking a marijuana joint. Quimby moved over to the rioter, took the joint or cigarette, and after the rioter with the Confederate flag beanie lit it, took a puff and then handed it back, the complaint alleges. As Dominski exited the Capitol through a smashed window, she stood on the outside ledge facing a crowd of rioters, raised her hands above her head as if in triumph and danced side to side, according to the complaint. Quimby then followed Dominski out of the window. Dominski and Quimby are the eighth and ninth Western New Yorkers, respectively, who have faced Jan. 6 charges. Six of the previous cases have been resolved through pleas, usually followed by sentences of probation or home confinement. But judges imposed jail time for two local defendants. Thomas Sibick, an Amherst man who pleaded guilty to stealing a police officers badge and radio during the insurrection, was sentenced to 50 months behind bars as punishment for his crimes. Thats the stiffest punishment for any of the previous local defendants. It took four years to bring these charges, and were certainly prepared to go down to D.C. to defend this, said attorney Thomas Eoannou, who represents Quimby. These are not major players by any means. Attorney Herbert Greenman, who represents Dominski, called the women two nice people. They love their country, Greenman said. They really do. A court document included a screenshot of a photo of Dominski and Quimby posing at the Capitol on Jan. 4. Dominski posted it on her Facebook page with the message, Prayer time in DC, Gods victory!! The two were shackled in the seventh-floor courtroom at the federal courthouse in Buffalo during their court proceeding before Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder. A prosecutor did not seek either of them to be detained, so the judge released both with some conditions. The lawyers for the two women waived preliminary hearings. The next court appearances for the two will be on Oct. 8 in U.S. District Court in Washington, although the two women will be allowed to participate remotely through video if they choose. Since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals from nearly all 50 states have been charged for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol. About 140 police officers were assaulted that day. Upon leaving the Capitol building on Jan. 6, the two made their way back through the Capitol grounds toward the edge of the restricted area at the Lower West Plaza. A photojournalist questioned the two about whether they entered the Capitol. The criminal complaint recounted their conversation. How did it go down? the photojournalist asked. Well, we tried to go upstairs and they smoked us down twice, Dominski replied. We all, thank you Jesus, finally stood together and went right through it. Got up to the doors. The door busted out, the windows got busted out, and we barged into our house. Its our house. Let me tell you, Dominski continued. I approached a police officer because my daughter is a police officer and I asked him, I said, Can I walk out or are you taking me to jail? Because Im ready today. The officer threw up his hands and shrugged, she told the photojournalist. And I said done. Hes done. Theyre done. The cops are done. They all threw their hands up. Theyre done. Quimby told the photojournalist the two went to the round chamber, so there was a lot of people there. Once we saw the breakthrough, we pushed through, Quimby told the photojournalist. We pushed through because we told our grandchildren were not letting this happen. The ambitious plans to develop the motte and bailey in Granard have been pared-back as the project experienced a massive 600% increase in costs in five years. Billed as a major tourism and amenity attraction featuring a living model of a Norman village the project was poised to be developed at the site of Granard Motte. In 2019 it was announced that the project would develop the heritage park on 15 acres of land at a cost of 2.8 million with support from Failte Ireland. The village and park was to be built adjacent to the Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre. The plan was to build a Norman village located near the site of Ireland's highest Norman Motte, originally built in 1199. PICTURES: Charming bungalow within walking distance of Lough Ree for sale in Longford At the September meeting of Granard MD, Cllr Padraig McNamara called on Longford County Council to provide an update on the GMCE project. Mr McNamara declared an interest in the project as a committee member of Granard Motte Community Enterprise Ltd, which was formed in 2018. Paul Newell, Acting Director of Services, told members that the project had been through a number of iterations since 2018. Acknowledging a number of setbacks he said: You'll be glad to know that the current iteration is now going to progress. Above: An image of the original plan unveiled in 2019 Mr Newell said the original plans put forward by GMCE in 2019 was costed at 3m, however escalating costs saw that figure jump to 9m by 2021. The feedback from the market was that it was actually more expensive, around 9m. So we then appointed a QS to look at the project. The QS report came back then in July last year for a project of 15m. Additional works, design breaks and overruns, would probably have brought the project up to about 18m. So something had to give, he told the meeting. Also read: Restaurant worker very thankful he was not seriously injured in Longford blaze The project has been backed by the local authority, the Rural Development Fund, the Department of Rural Development, Community Development and Failte Ireland. However the funding only stretches to 3m, with 682,000 already spent on reports. We had a high level meeting on September 9 with Minister Peter Burke, Senator Micheal Carrigy, a local councillor in Granard who has been involved in the project for 11 years, members of GMCE, our Chief Executive and the Director of Services, John Bannigan. We have now pared back the plans to a 4m project, Mr Newell told the meeting. Also read: Granard primed for 3.8m Norman Heritage Park The scaled back work focuses on the core of the land: It's to the north west of the site, it is the bailey, which is the centre, the focus point of the project. This bailey is a three metre high fortress built in the middle of the site, in a circular culture. Inside that there's going to be a granary, which is like an old Norman store, a chapel, and then activity shelters. Also read: Failte Ireland invests in new state-of-the-art visitor attraction for Granard Mr Newell said a steering group is being established to coordinate the project. He said the massive jump in the cost of the project is down to a number of factors: There has been significant delay, I suppose, over the last three years. Covid didn't help us. The price increase was significant. It was only really that we got to grips with the price last July after we appointed the QS. Cllr Turlough McGovern, who seconded the motion, expressed his dismay at not being invited to the meeting on September 9: As a Granard elected member, along with other members that I wasn't invited to the meeting. I don't know how Cllr McNamara worked in the Post Office, but usually you want the support of your colleagues. I wasn't asked to that meeting and I felt a little left out. Also read: Concerns north Longford tourism project monies being spent elsewhere He continued: It will be great to get it started. It will expand the Rebel Trail we have in North Longford. We will look to push on this project. Replying to the rebuke, Cllr McNamara, said an email was sent out to local representatives about the meeting. Cathaoirleach Garry Murtagh said: It's a fantastic project. This is only Phase 1 of it, we will keep chipping away and it will come to fruition over time. PICTURES | Longford ASI Memory Walk raises awareness and funds for dementia supports Longford triplets who were born three months premature and survived against all the odds enjoyed their first day at school recently. Mother Marie Murphy, from Campbells Drive, said they were very proud to bring Darcie, Daisie and Dominic (all 4) to St Eimear's National School where they have settled in very well. "They are the first ever set of triplets to go to the school. They are the liveliest little kids that you would ever see in your life and they are all go all day long." she stated. "They are best friends one minute and they are boxing the head off each other the next. But then if you give out to one for fighting with the other the other one is hugging her and saying don't give out to her." Also read: Longford nurse Siobhain Kiernan breaking new ground with key appointment at Portiuncula University Hospital Marie insisted they are very close and she compared them to a little army who protect each other. The adoring mother said the triplets have brought a lot of happiness and joy to her, dad Warren, their five older siblings and their grandparents. PICTURES | Longford enjoys amazing array of cultural events and exhibits on Culture Night 2024 "The biggest challenge they overcame was that they were three months premature and I was told none of them would ever live," she recalled. "They fought the whole way, the smallest one was born just one pound in weight and they really were up against it, they were in hospital for the first 12 weeks of their lives." Also read: Triple joy for Longford couple as triplets are brought home after nine weeks in intensive care The mother of eight, whose eldest child is 21, stated that it is a very busy house in the mornings with plenty of chaos and noise. "It is tough going getting them all out but I am lucky to have them," she added. Proud grandparents PJ and Lucy Finnan were also at the house to mark the occasion before the triplets milestone first day. Also read: Mum of triplets at wits end over Longford boil water saga Mr Finnan, from Springlawn, was seriously injured following a shooting on July 17. He was in the downstairs living room of his home at around 7:50pm when shots were fired through the window. The 74 year old was taken to Regional Hospital Mullingar following the incident. Marie said thankfully PJ was there to mark the special occasion with them. It was an even better day to have dad there, we were very lucky, she added. Two teenage brothers will go on trial after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) gave its approval for the pair to be prosecuted in connection with a violent county Longford train station assault that left another teenage boy hospitalised and in a serious condition. The siblings, who are aged 18 and 17, were arrested and charged with assault causing harm days after the alleged attack on April 6 at Edgeworthstown Train Station. The brothers cannot be identified due to the age of the younger accused. Sgt Enda Daly, court presenter, informed Judge Bernadette Owens at Longford District Court on Tuesday the DPP had given the green light for the two brothers to be sent forward for trial. PICTURES: Charming bungalow within walking distance of Lough Ree for sale in Longford The alleged victim was left with a fractured skull, a bleed on his brain and bruising on his head and body following the incident. Gardai stated that the alleged attack was captured on CCTV and a clawhammer was produced and used by one of the alleged attackers to strike the injured party. After the alleged assault, the four assailants fled the scene and the injured party was taken to Mullingar hospital, before later being transferred to Beaumont Hospital after a deterioration in his condition. PICTURES: Longford bungalow with lots of potential on the market for 185,000 During the course of the assault, the court heard, the injured party was punched twice to the face and 16 times to the back. Defence solicitor Fiona Baxter told Judge Owens on Tuesday she would be looking for the case to be given priority ahead of the servicing of books of evidence and before the sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court in November. Judge Owens said the court was required to enable the younger of the two accused had the protection of a Section 75 of the 2001 Children's Act hearing before he could be sent forward. PICTURES | Longford enjoys amazing array of cultural events and exhibits on Culture Night 2024 Those sittings heard by a district court judge consider the defendant's young age and level of maturity and any other notable information and they must proceed before a final decision is reached to send an accused minor forward for trial. The youngest accused brother has made no bail application since being taken into custody and he is currently at Oberstown Children Detention Campus, while his older brother is subject to strict bail conditions. The younger accused sibling was remanded in continuing custody by Judge Owens on Tuesday until September 24 for the Section 75 hearing, while his older brother was remanded on continuing bail until October 22 for the service of a book of evidence. Also read: Garda probe launched after vicious group assault of 12 year-old girl during hurling match A former Longford county councillor accused of assault was given the benefit of the Probation Act at Longford District Court after he pleaded guilty to the offence. Gerald Farrell (43) of Aughamore, Lanesboro, Longford came before Judge Bernadette Owens charged with a Section 2 assault on Sara O'Connor at Adie Farrell's Bar, Main St, Lanesboro on January 8, 2022. Counsel for the State, Shane Geraghty BL, said the matter originally came before the court in March of this year when the defendant was facing a sexual assault charge in respect of the incident, however this was changed to the lesser assault charge. Prosecution witness Detective Garda Deirdre Morris outlined the details of the matter before the court. The witness said the incident took place on Saturday, January 8, 2022. The injured party, Ms O'Connor, was visiting a friend in Lanesboro and they went to Adie Farrell's Pub with a group of her friends at about 7:30pm on the evening in question. Also read: Large Longford residential farm to go under the hammer at online auction on Friday The Detective Garda said the group were drinking and went out to the smoking area in the course of the evening. Mr Farrell, who was known to other members of the group, engaged in conversation with them. When speaking to Ms O'Connor he said he was low on staff and the victim said she had bar and waitress experience. Mr Farrell asked for her Snapchat details and in the course of the evening exchanged messages with her on the online platform. Mr Farrell closed the pub, but the group stayed on chatting and singing. The defendant got a round of drinks for the group and sat in on the couch beside Ms O'Connor. At around 1:07am Ms O'Connor felt a flick on her right thigh, she was shocked, upset and welled up. Mr Farrell got another round of drinks, but Ms O'Connor did not drink hers. Also read: The Crypt in Longford's St Mels Cathedral is unique venue for National Womens Enterprise Day event The group left the bar at 1:50am. The following day Ms O'Connor returned home and when she spoke to her mother about what had happened she got upset, started crying and became hysterical about the incident, which was described as a pinch. Detective Garda Morris told the court that on April 27, 2022 she met Mr Farrell by arrangement to speak to him about the matter. She said he was 41 years of age at the time and in a relationship, and his partner had given birth to a child three months earlier. The defendant said he had just sent some silly Snapchats and denied sexual assault. He volunteered passwords for his phone and allowed access to the pub CCTV. Most of the group with Ms O'Connor declined to make a statement. One female member of the group expressed reluctance, saying that they knew both parties and didn't want to get involved, however they added that if sometime of that order (sexual assault) had happened I would have got up and left. Also read: Longford nurse Siobhain Kiernan breaking new ground with key appointment at Portiuncula University Hospital The CCTV footage of the incident was shown to the court. Ms O'Connor could be seen sitting on the couch in the bar with her legs tucked up and her arms wrapped around them. The defendant was on his phone sitting beside her. Mr Farrell was visible in the footage moving his hand toward the victim, who made a sudden movement. In cross examination Michael Bowman SC, counsel for the defendant, put it to Detective Garda Morris that there were discrepancies between the account Ms O'Connor initially gave to Gardai and what is visible on CCTV. You can see from the footage that she did not say get off me, she did not jump up and she did not say what the f**k when the incident happened, Mr Bowman said. Also read: Restaurant worker very thankful he was not seriously injured in Longford blaze Counsel explained that a family member of Mr Farrell had died in a car accident on the day of the incident. Mr Bowman described a split second of gross stupidity that brought his client before the court. He said his client is an active member of the local IFA and GAA. Counsel said Mr Farrell's relationship at the time had been in difficulty, and has since broken down and he now has limited access to his son. Ms O'Connor took to the witness stand to give her victim impact statement. The victim described suffering behind closed doors for two years awaiting the trial. She said at that time she had wanted to end it all and said it could have ruined her relationship, but the support and love of her partner and her family had helped her through. The victim acknowledged she had accepted 5,000 in compensation from the defendant. In closing Mr Bowman asked Judge Owens to consider a number of factors. He pointed out that Mr Farrell had been drinking during the day and that violence or threats were not a factor in the case. PICTURES | Longford ASI Memory Walk raises awareness and funds for dementia supports He said the defendant approached the prosecution responsibly, realistic and as faithfully as he could. Mr Bowman asked to judge to note the considerable contribution Mr Farrell makes to his community. In concluding matters Judge Owens commended the victim on her impact statement. The judge observed that the court has the benefit of an independent eye in the CCTV, which she said gave a clear picture of the assault and the aftermath. It's my job to impose a penalty that is proportionate, Judge Owens said. The judge noted a number of factors including that Mr Farrell had no relevant previous convictions, cooperated fully with the investigation and assisted the progress of the prosecution with a guilty plea. Judge Owens also pointed out the defendant had apologised to the injured party, expressed remorse and paid a sum of compensation. Taking all the facts into consideration the judge said the matter would be dealt with by Section 1.1 of the Probation Act. PICTURES | Longford enjoys amazing array of cultural events and exhibits on Culture Night 2024 Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is calling on Longford to support their Annual Fundraising Day that takes place today, Thursday, 26 September 2024. You can show your support by making a donation to one of their on-street collectors or by donating online at www.iwa.ie. This year, IWA is excited to announce that donations can also be made at over 30 Chadwick stores. Chadwicks has been a longstanding supporter of IWA at a local level, and their partnership will help further the organisation's mission. IWA's Community Centre based in Kenagh, will also be out shaking buckets to fundraise for the day. IWA is dedicated to supporting people with disabilities in communities at a local and national level, helping people live a life full of choice, freedom, and joy. The charity relies on donations to fund essential services that benefit over 20,000 individuals nationwide. Also Read: Longford Disabled Activist James Cawley and 300 others "Reclaim their Rights" These services include sport, accessible homes, transport, assisted living services, and Community Centre programmes that are a vital lifeline for many, helping to combat loneliness and isolation. Stephen Cawley, an IWA member, shared his gratitude for the organisation stating, "They seriously help out with everything, every single problem you could ever think of. There's really nothing that they won't go out of their way to help you with. That's what makes this place so special. I've been here for two years, and I hope to be here for many more, so please donate now." Stephen is among the many who receive a variety of supports from IWA, including their accessible bus service. Also Read: PICTURES | Longford ASI Memory Walk raises awareness and funds for dementia supports Without IWAs bus service, many of our members would be isolated in their homes. Without our Community Centres, many would miss out on opportunities for learning and that social connection everyone needs. So much magic happens daily in IWA communities across Ireland and we rely on the generosity of donations to help to continue this amazing work. Says Breige McGinn, Head of Fundraising at Irish Wheelchair Association. For more information on how you can support Irish Wheelchair Association's Annual Fundraising Day, visit www.iwa.ie. Sinn Fein has pledged to abolish the universal social charge (USC) for average workers, reduce childcare costs to 10 euro per day, and abolish the TV licence, as part of its alternative budget. The party said it will undo the damage of previous governments, while ramping up public spending. The document, published on Thursday, set outs the partys budget plans, with a lot of focus on measures for families in an attempt to reduce everyday costs. Pearse Doherty, the partys finance spokesman, said it is a budget package of 12.4 billion euro, including 7.3 billion euro of new measures. In this document youre not going to see bike shelters for 336,000 euros. Youre not going to see security huts for 1.4 million euro and youre not going to see runaway projects like the Childrens Hospital, costing us now 2.2 billion euro, he said. That happens under (Minister for Public Expenditure) Paschal Donohoe and Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Sinn Fein knows that your money needs to be invested and needs to be spent wisely. Launching the 57-page plan at the Irish Architectural Archive in Dublin, Mr Doherty said it includes an additional four billion euro of capital investment. As we know that the Government have failed to meet their own capital investment targets over the last number of years, targets that they set out. The National Development Plan set out annual targets and they have been missed every year. The under-investment from those missed targets is approximately 7.6 billion euro in capital investment over the last four years alone. As part of their cost-of-living package, they party said they will provide 450 euro electricity credits to householders; a double child benefit payment in October and December; reverse excise duty on petrol and diesel; reduce student fees by 1,500 euro and abolish the TV licence. Nothing frustrates people more than seeing public money go to waste. From the bike shed to the Childrens Hospital, it's always someone elses fault. Now we can add the 1.49m security hut to the list. This Gov continues to prove its incompetence in spending taxpayers' money. pic.twitter.com/EyvV18i4rw Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 26, 2024 The party said it will reduce childcare costs for parents to 10 euro a day in centre-based care and Tusla registered childminders, rolling out fully to childminders thereafter, at a cost of 35 million euro. As part of its healthcare package, the party said it would also reduce the cost of medicine by lowering the maximum monthly drugs payments by households from 80 euro to 50 euro, and reduce prescription charges and extend the medical card to 150,000 additional people. The party said it would also put one billion euro of the Apple tax money into a community fund to invest in working class communities. As part of the partys alternative budget plan, it said it will increase the minimum wage by 1.10 euro and increase child benefit by 10 euro, at a cost of 152.60 million euro. The party said it would also provide funding for 1,000 garda recruits in 2025 and increase the garda trainee allowance of 30%. It said it would also tax wealth emissions via a levy on private jets, which would raise 18 million euro. Mr Doherty said his party is committed to abolishing the USC on the first 45,000 euro that every worker in the State earns. Sinn Feins alternative budget would deliver immediate and long lasting benefits to workers and families and help ordinary people struggling with the cost of living. You can see our fully-costed budget at https://t.co/Pjc1bNOqnX pic.twitter.com/nwtX2FPbgW Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 26, 2024 The alternative budget process allows us to show how we would invest in the future. This is a fully costed set of budget proposals, and no other opposition party provides the level of detail for voters. Mr Doherty accused the Government of failing to provide the projected surplus for the year. The Donegal TD said it will be quite substantial, and could be as much as eight billion euro. This is the first time that weve ever gone into an alternative budget where the Government has not given or published what the expected surplus is, he added. They have refused to provide any information in relation to whats called the general government balance, which is the projected surplus measure. This is unheard of. In my view, I think its anti-democratic. Its not acceptable. But what they have said is they expected the surplus in the region of about six billion euro. We know that that figure is no longer accurate, because that was before we seen the most recent tax receipts, where they expected an increase of tax receipts compared to next year. Were already two billion ahead of that, so therefore the service will go up and if that trend is continued for the remainder of the year, then it will go up even further. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said their budget plan is fully costed and presents the necessary investments for the country. She said that many people are desperate for change. We have 14,000 people in emergency accommodation, more than 4,000 of those are children. Thats pretty desperate, she added. Our young people are voting with their feet. Theyre leaving. Theyre in Toronto and Perth and Boston, and many who are away dont have any real prospect of coming back. So we are in desperate need of a change of government. We are very clear that we have to be setting out choices for people. We have to make clear to people that we live in the real world, that unlike the Government, were not sloppy and negligent with public money, that we know the value of a euro. We certainly know the value of 336,000 euros and 1.5 million euros, and we recognise that in areas of childcare, health and cost of living, things need to change. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: September 26 2024 This tiny pest, no larger than a grain of rice, has wreaked havoc on over 5,000 acres of forest in my district alone, threatening our ecosystem and critical natural resources, said LaLota. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) successfully passed his amendment to H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, focusing on the devastation caused by the southern pine beetle in the Northeast, particularly within Long Island's Pine Barrens. LaLotas amendment directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on the causes, effects, and solutions for the infestation of pine beetles in the Northeastern United States, ensuring that the problem is addressed with targeted actions. This tiny pest, no larger than a grain of rice, has wreaked havoc on over 5,000 acres of forest in my district alone, threatening our ecosystem and critical natural resources. The southern pine beetle infestation has put immense pressure on Long Island's Pine Barrens, which serve as a vital habitat for wildlife and play a crucial role in protecting our water supply, said LaLota. My amendment is not just about studying a pest; its about taking proactive measures to protect our environment, safeguard the drinking water of millions, and ensure that our forests' rich biodiversity and natural beauty remain intact for future generations. Without intervention, the consequences for our ecosystem and local economy could be severe so we must take action now. LaLota spoke on the House floor ahead of the amendments passage, click HERE to watch. To read the full text of the amendment, click HERE. Background: The Pine Barrens, crucial for preserving clean drinking water and home to endangered species, have suffered significant damage from the pine beetle infestation. LaLotas amendment will enable federal, state, and local officials to better understand and mitigate the pine beetle's impact, fostering resilient forest ecosystems across the region. Along with this amendment, LaLota has fought to preserve the abundant natural environment Long Island is blessed with. Earlier this year , LaLota announced he had secured $40 million in federal funding for the Long Island Sound Program. This funding for the Sound is provided by the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill LaLota helped pass, which was signed into law in March. In January , LaLota testified at a Natural Resources Committee hearing in support of his Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The same month , LaLota testified at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of including a reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Program in the biannual Water Resources Development Act. The Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program through 2028. In 1985, Congress created the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to identify and address the major environmental problems affecting the Long Island Sound. The LISS brings together the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New York State, Connecticut, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to help restore and protect the Long Island Sound, including the watershed, which spans up towards New Hampshire and Vermont into Canada. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: September 26 2024 Dr. McCormick expressed his gratitude for being welcomed to the Stony Brook community with warmth and generosity. Yesterday, Stony Brook University Interim President Richard L. McCormick delivered his first Stony Brook State of the University address to faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni, healthcare workers, elected representatives and local community members. Dr. McCormick expressed his gratitude for being welcomed to the Stony Brook community with warmth and generosity and how he immediately felt at home having spent many of his early years and most of his adult life on public university campuses. President McCormick grew up near Rutgers University where his father was a history professor and where he served on the history faculty for sixteen years and later returned as the universitys president. He spoke fondly of his experience team-teaching a course with his father on the history of American politics. President McCormick indulged in a brief history lesson that clearly illustrated the link between Stony Brooks extraordinary trajectory and the most important developments in modern American higher education including: Stony Brook has been attracting a growing and highly diverse student body with half who are from economically disadvantaged families. Stony Brook has a large and expanding research enterprise that is fueled by more than $300 million annually, mostly from the federal government. Stony Brook graduates and research have a profound impact on the economies of Long Island, New York, the nation and the world. Dr. McCormick touted the universitys historic enrollment increase of first-year students this fall saying, Their presence testifies to our universitys reputation as a top choice for talented, diverse, and ambitious students from all backgrounds across New York State, the nation, and the world. He added over forty percent of our undergraduates receive federal Pell grants, which means they come from financially qualifying families. And, by the way, our Pell students graduate at a rate that is slightly higher than that of the rest of the student body. Dr. McCormick praised the universitys best fundraising year in its history, including securing $655 million dollars in contributions with $563 million going directly to the endowment. He also acknowledged the passing of Dr. James Simons, who with his wife Dr. Marilyn Simons, has impacted Stony Brook University with their unwavering support, visionary generosity and decades long friendship. Dr. McCormick recognized Stony Brook Medicine for greatly contributing to the health and wellness of the Long Island community. They do so through the proud stewardship of the Long Island State Veterans Home, and a myriad of other health care programs that are carried on at Stony Brook University Hospital, our Childrens and East End hospitals, and in more than two hundred ambulatory care facilities. Stony Brook University Hospital is one of the first eight hospitals in the United States to attain Health Care Equity Certification from The Joint Commission. It is Long Islands only institution to achieve this level of certification and demonstrates Stony Brooks commitment to embracing diversity, addressing health disparities, and providing equitable, patient-centered care. While celebrating the universitys momentum, Dr. McCormick identified some institutional challenges including the need to: Expand and encourage more interdisciplinary research; Invest in the universitys facilities to support the needs of a true flagship university; and Make strategic decisions about increasing our enrollment as a first-choice destination for both undergraduate and graduate students Dr. McCormick challenged the university community, lets take our university to the next level. Lets be a true flagship. We can do it together. Russian rocket fire hits Vuhledar. (Via Telegram) Ukraines yearslong defense of Vuhledar, a small city serving as a defensive stronghold in the Donetsk region, appears to be nearing its denouement. Russian advances on Vuhledars flanks have put it at risk of encirclement, and Russian troops have now begun attempting to enter the city itself. Located in the southern part of Donetsk Oblast, Vuhledar had a prewar population of around 14,000. Ukrainian troops often refer to it as a fortress. The city sits on high ground, and its high-rise buildings provide advantageous positions for first-person view (FPV) strike drone and anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) operators. The current battle for Vuhledar is not the first. Russia attempted to take the city in the fall and winter of 20222023, likely seeking to gain breathing room for a nearby rail line running from Donetsk to Volnovakha. Moscows forces managedat a high costto push Ukrainian troops out of the nearby village of Pavlivka but were stymied at Vuhledar. Russian commanders stubbornly threw troops into fruitless attacks, destroying the better part of two naval infantry brigades (the 40th and 155th). Anti-tank mines, ATGMs, and artillery destroyed many Russian armored fighting vehicles as they drove down routinized avenues of advance under constant Ukrainian surveillance. Due to insufficient mine clearing, attack after attack foundered in the same fields after Ukrainian troops re-mined them. The commander of Russias Vostok grouping of forces, responsible for southern Donetsk Oblast, was fired the following March. Estimate of current Russian and Ukrainian lines in the Vuhledar area, based on geolocated footage and data from the Ukrainian analytical project DeepState. (Google My Maps image annotated by LWJ) However, this time around, the Russians have benefited from a weary Ukrainian defense. The 72nd Mechanized Brigade, which has anchored Ukraines defense in the Vuhledar area for the last two years, is exhausted, one of its deputy commanders recently acknowledged. With Ukraine short on combat-ready forces, the brigade has had zero rotations since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, he said. Ukraine reportedly rushed some territorial defense troops to the Vuhledar area earlier this month to try to stem the bleeding but to no avail. On September 21, the Ukrainian military announced that the 72nd Brigades commander had been reassigned, though the reason remains unclear. The Russians have also been smarter than in past operations. Rather than immediately attempting to assault Vuhledar, Russia first captured villages on its flanks. Over the last few weeks, Russia has taken the village of Vodiane, northeast of Vuhledar, as well as the nearby Pivdennodonbaska-1 and Pivdennodonbaska-3 coal mines, whose large concrete structures offered advantageous defensive positions. In early September, Russian forces captured Prechystivka, which was defended by Ukraines 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade. The Russians have advanced several kilometers northeast of Prechystivka in recent days, threatening Vuhledars western flank. Russia is thus dangerously closing to cutting the corridor from Vuhledar to the village of Bohoyavlenka, north of the city. This route is already well within range of Russian artillery and FPV drones. On Tuesday, a soldier from the 72nd Brigade said the Russians were pushing toward the Vuhledar-Bohoyavlenka road and using drones to mine it. Meanwhile, Russia has closed in on Vuhledar itself while pounding the city with glide bombssomething Moscow largely lacked during the last battle for Vuhledarand artillery. In recent days, Russia captured the cottages on the citys eastern outskirts. And as of Tuesday, small groups of Russian assault infantry began penetrating Vuhledars eastern edge. Whether the Russians have managed to secure a foothold there remains unclear. Given the risk of encirclement, Ukraine may soon decide to withdraw from Vuhledar. In prior situations like this, however, Ukrainian commanders have often clung to positions for longer than is advisable. This tactic tends to result in higher casualties for troops defending the pocketsomething Ukraine can ill-afford, given its current manpower shortage. Vuhledars fall will aid Russias efforts to push Ukrainian forces out of southern Donetsk Oblast. A northward push from Vuhledar would complement Russias ongoing efforts to reach the city of Kurakhove from the north, east, and southeast. Without the Vuhledar fortress to lean on, maintaining a defense in that area may require additional forces, even as the 72nd Brigade is in dire need of rotation. With few units available to plug the gap, Ukraines lines may soon be stretched even thinner. John Hardie is the deputy director of FDDs Russia Program and a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal. LIVONIA, MICH. Each year, on the last Sunday in September, the Catholic Church commemorates World Day for Migrants and Refugees. This commemoration reminds us that the Holy Family was forced to leave Israel and flee to Egypt to protect the life of the infant Jesus. For this years 110th observance, Pope Francis selected the theme God walks with his people. Pope Francis calls for solidarity with migrants, reminding us that their journeys mirror the biblical Exodus, with God as their guide and companion, said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration. He emphasizes that every encounter with migrants is an encounter with Christ, urging us to respond with compassion, recognizing their struggles as a reflection of our shared journey toward the Kingdom of Heaven. Our Catholic faith inspires us to stand with the vulnerable and protect the dignity of each person. As a Felician-sponsored ministry, Madonna University has a special connection to the people of Haiti. The Felician Sisters have a ministry in Jacmel, Haiti and the University, offers bachelors and masters degrees in business administration for Haitian students. The Bible asks us to show hospitality to strangers. [Hebrews 13: 2] Our support for the people of Haiti extends to Haitian people in the United States as well. The Felician Sisters, in their September 2024 Solidarity Statement, stress the time is now for us to stand up for the dignity of Haitian Americans: The negative media these past weeks concerning our Haitian brothers and sisters has been very painful for us. We have lived and worked with Haitians in Haiti for 10 years, and Haitian immigrants in North Miami these past two years. We know them well. Haitians take great pride in family and community they are survivors, talented, hardworking and are seeking the American dream like many of our families did when they arrived in America. The lies being spread have been verified to be false and demean the human dignity of Haitian Americans. This is not what America was built upon. We are to be one nation under God, where all should be respected and not be disparaged. We can do better.1 We reaffirm the Mission and Core Values of Madonna University on behalf of Haitian migrants: Respect for the Dignity of Each Person Peace and Justice Reverence for Creation Education for Truth and Service These values, grounded in Gospel teachings and experienced through a Felician-Franciscan lens, reflect the constitutive element of radical inclusion. Therefore, we stand in solidarity with our Haitian Brothers and Sisters as well as all migrants and refugees who flee oppression, violence, or climate change. Our hope is that we may embrace, welcome, and show kindness to all migrants and refugees who are hurt by false statements and the threat of violence. We hold ourselves to a higher standard and strive to live in a society where all are encouraged to reach their full potential. Please join Madonna University students and staff this Sunday, September 29, at 2:30 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, in Detroit, as they participate in the march to commemorate the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. May we as a Catholic institution, live fully our values to protect life and to stand with the most vulnerable in our world. 1. https://www.felician.org/2024/09/19/felician-sisters-of-north-america-stand-in-solidarity-with-our-haitian-brothers-and-sisters/ Leaders convene at UNGA79 to address urgent threat of antimicrobial resistance 26 September 2024 World leaders are meeting to address the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance and form a united response against this multifaceted problem. Community dialogue facilitator in Bangladesh leads meeting to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance as part of the COSTAR project Today, world leaders convene in New York for the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance to tackle this urgent threat to human, animal and environmental health. The high-level meeting is being held as part of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The meeting highlights the critical need for multi-sectoral global, regional and national actions and investment to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drug-resistant infections know no borders, which means countries must work together to respond to it effectively. AMR is one of the most pressing public health and development threats facing the global community. Findings from a recent Lancet study show that in 2019, bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths and contributed to 4.95 million deaths. That number could rise to 10 million deaths by 2050. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics to prevent, control and treat infection are key drivers in accelerating its spread. The problem is global, but exacerbated by inequalities and a lack of resources, its impact is felt most by people in low-and middle-income countries, where access to healthcare and proper medical resources is limited. Without urgent action, AMR could reverse decades of medical progress, making it harder to save lives and control diseases worldwide. Helen Hawkings, Malaria Consortiums Senior Social and Behaviour Change Specialist commented, AMR knows no boundaries, neither should our response. Urgent action is needed to unite and innovate for effective solutions to AMR. In our COSTAR project in Bangladesh and Nepal, we are applying innovative models like interactive community dialogues, which strengthens local communities capacity to identify the contextual drivers of AMR and develop sustainable, tailored action plans. These kinds of creative solutions are needed to de-activate the ticking time bomb that is AMR. Prevention of AMR has been a particularly neglected area for investment. A key area of discussion at the high-level meeting will be on sustainable financing for AMR and the financial mechanisms and innovations that can be leveraged for AMR financing at the national, regional and global levels. Alongside this discussion, the meeting will explore how AMR can be tackled across sectors human, animal, plant and environmental by raising awareness, using novel approaches and addressing socio-economic inequities that impact on healthcare access. Engaging communities to better recognise their role in mitigating the causes and protecting themselves against the consequences of AMR plays a vital part in addressing AMR in a sustainable manner. It is hoped that the actions resulting from the high-level meeting will be taken forward in a meaningful way, measuring progress and ensuring accountability at all levels. Creative, tangible, impactful solutions are needed, delivered through coordinated response globally and at the country level, to tackle this multifaceted problem. Read about the COSTAR project Manchester, VT (05254) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 39F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 39F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Kate Middleton ensured she reached out to her estranged brother-in-law on his 40th birthday to leave him a "thoughtful message", despite the ongoing feud between Prince William and Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex quit his status as a working member of the British Royal Family in 2020 when he relocated to California with Meghan Markle as tensions flared between Prince Harry and his blood relatives. It then exploded with the infamous Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021 and since then, there appears to have been an irreparable breakdown in relations between the two sons of Princess Diana and King Charles III. But surprisingly on September 15 a post appeared on X.com, formerly Twitter, from Prince William and Middleton's shared account that read, "Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex," and it turns out the mother-of-three was the reason behind it The Princess of Wales made a kind gesture by ensuring she organized the post as Prince Harry hit his fourth decade after suspecting the runaway royal was feeling homesick some 5447 miles away from the United Kingdom. "Kate was very much the driving force behind Harry's birthday wishes," a source told Bella. "As she slowly makes good on her vow to restore some kind of peace and forgiveness between the estranged royal and his family before it's too late. "She told William in no uncertain terms that this is not the time for resentment, they needed to show the world that love and family are front and centre of their values. "But more importantly she wanted Harry to have this message on his big day. It meant the world to Harry that the royals, as well as the Waleses, sent this olive branch on social media. And Kate made a point to call him and send a thoughtful gift his way as well." Middleton ready to move on and forgive Prince Harry Prince Harry revealed the brothers have always been rivals since their early childhood in his 2023 memoir, Spare, but things took a serious turn for the worse when Markle entered the picture following claims of mistreatment towards the ex-Suits actress. It even extended to questions regarding the skin color of her baby, since the Duchess is mixed race, before the Oprah interview in which the pair made a series of explosive claims about the Royal Family. But Middleton enjoys a close relationship with her parents, brother and sister and her husband, children and extended family and in her eyes, that includes Prince Harry and despite what happened in the past, she's ready to let bygones be bygones. "Kate's always had a soft spot for Harry, and despite the hurtful things he's said and done, she's found it in her heart to forgive him and has quietly been chipping away at William to convince him it's time to let the anger go. "She doesn't believe it's right to just give up on Harry. She's worried for him because she sees all the signs of how homesick and vulnerable he is. Her view is that no matter what, family is family." UFC Paris is continuing to transcend, both spectacle and its big special guest. Benoit Saint Denis [13-2-0 and 1NC] (Nimes, France), who although he is not a champion and must sweat blood to be one in the very complicated lightweight is already an idol of the masses. And UFC rewards him. The life of 'BSD' would be comparable to a film character. Because he was part of the first Marine Parachute Regiment, a Special Forces Command unit of the French Army. There he became a textbook tough guy and then jumped into mixed martial arts. In the octagon, he was a cyclone. Tough as nails, a puncher of infinite class and with a score to settle after losing at UFC 299. Saint Denis is the man to watch in UFC Paris Because the man from Nimes had only lost in his debut. He competed against Elizeu Zaleski out of his category, took a beating and resisted. He moved up, and UFC wanted to put him in the 155-pound contenders. He was paired with Dustin Poirier, a legend, and the American didn't allow 'BSD' another afternoon of glory. In Miami, he landed a huge hand that knocked the Frenchman out. He changed plans in Saint Denis. He was in line for the belt, but stopped, won't be back until UFC Paris and the lightweight took another turn. Arman Tsarukyan, the best physique in the division, will challenge UFC No. 1 Islam Makhachev when the Russian recovers from injury. Charles Oliveira, a pure spectacle, is still there and will meet Michael Chandler (he stopped waiting for Conor McGregor). Dustin Poirier has (in his words) one more fight left. Justin Gaethje is ready to return. And Dan Hooker comes flying in after a spectacular win over Mateusz Gamrot. In conclusion, there is a lot. And there the Gallic hero has to know how to survive. Something that has become a regular feature of his life. He's up there with another big name in the division, Brazil's Renato Moicano, for moving up, burying ghosts and keeping the God of War's UFC bid on top. His four tattoos, with the special forces dagger, the helmet of the first club he fought for, Joan of Arc and a Templar cross (for his missions in Mali), will continue to shine. Starmers government has been one of crisis since day one rocked by riots, rebellions, and scandals. All of this overshadowed this years party conference, spoiling the celebrations that the Labour leaders were expecting. But worse is yet to come. [Originally published at communist.red] Protests over Palestine. A snowballing scandal over grubby freebies. And clashes over cuts to pensioners winter fuel allowance. Welcome to the latest annual conference of Starmers Labour the party that hubristically promised to bring about political stability and decency after 14 years of Tory chaos and corruption. The Labour leaders were hoping that their first conference since coming to power would be a celebratory affair; a chance to parade the party before the establishment and the capitalist press, showing how much things have changed since the troublesome Corbyn days. Instead, this years event in Liverpool has been dogged by disruption, dodgy dealings, and division, providing a microcosm of the turmoil that Starmers government has already experienced since the 4 July election and which it will continue to face in the months and years ahead. Out of touch Problems were mounting for Keir Starmer and co. before delegates had even arrived. Over the last week, revelations have unravelled about the grotesque amount of lavish gifts that the Labour leaders have received from wealthy donors most notably from multi-millionaire media mogul Lord Waheed Alli. Starmer alone is estimated to have accepted over 100,000-worth of designer clothes, sporting and concert tickets, and other such corporate perks. Deputy PM Angela Rayner, meanwhile, shrugged off questions about donations that she and her cabinet colleagues had accepted including a five-day stay in Allis Manhattan apartment by saying that all MPs do it. Well thats ok then! Starmer and his team have attempted to sweep the story under the carpet, with pledges that Labour ministers would not be taking any free clothing in the future. But the damage is already done. With a drip feed of shocking stories emerging almost every day, this scandal has become Labours #partygate. The hypocrisy of all these out-of-touch capitalist politicians is sickening. Boris Johnson and the Tories seemingly saw no problem with boozing it up in Number 10, while the rest of the population stayed at home, alone and isolated, in order to protect against the pandemic. Similarly, while the elderly shiver in the cold this winter, Starmer and his cronies will be wrapped up nice and warm in their fancy gear, rubbing shoulders with the super-rich at VIP events, and heating their homes and offices at the taxpayers expense. They are all a bunch of liars, crooks, and thieves living on another planet from the rest of us. Blood on their hands The question of Palestine has also overshadowed this years Labour Party conference. On Saturday, thousands of protestors marched through the streets of Liverpool to denounce Labours complicity in the genocidal slaughter taking place in Gaza, calling on Starmer and his government to end all arms trade with Israel. Rather than heed these demands, however, Labour officials doubled down banning the use of the words genocide and apartheid from a Palestine solidarity fringe event, for example. Undeterred, pro-Palestine protestors decided to spray paint genocide conference on the walls of the venue. This proved a little more difficult for conference managers to censor. Yesterday, meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves faced heckles from the audience while she attempted to deliver her speech on the partys economic programme, with one activist dragged away by security as he called out the governments continued arms sales to the murderous Israeli regime. While a small number of delegates applauded this act of defiance by this young demonstrator, the majority clapped at his violent removal an indication of how Labour has been transformed into a reliable champion of the establishments interests. This is a changed Labour Party, Reeves stated in response to the interruption. We are not a party of protest. We changed the party, Starmer repeated in reply to similar jeers during his speech today. This guys obviously got a pass from the 2019 conference, the Labour leader smugly quipped. Yes, Labour has certainly changed. Just like the good old days of Blairs imperialist adventures in Iraq, Labour is back to being a party of warmongers and proudly so, it seems. The partys henchmen might have tried to scrub off activists Gaza-related graffiti. But Starmer and Reeves, desperate to prove their loyalty to western imperialism, arent even trying to wash away the blood on their hands. BREAKING: Campaign group Youth Demand have painted the words "Genocide Conference" on the Labour conference marquee. The Labour party reportedly banned the words "genocide" and "apartheid" from its 2024 conference. pic.twitter.com/8Y84JTBweZ Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) September 24, 2024 BREAKING: A heckler interupts Keir Starmer's speech Starmer: His pass must be from the 2019 conference pic.twitter.com/enZ5JuB3NW Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) September 24, 2024 Austerity by another name The main priority for the Labour leaders this week, and ever since they arrived in Downing Street has been to reassure their big business backers. Speaking at the partys main corporate-orientated event on Monday (priced at 3,000 per ticket), Keir Starmer told his 500-strong audience of CEOs and business leaders that wealth creation is the [Labour governments] number one mission. I want you to invest in the UK and make a profit, chimed in business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, in a further effort to woo the assembled crowd of capitalists. The main priority for the Labour leaders this week, and ever since they arrived in Downing Street has been to reassure their big business backers / Image: The Communist The Financial Times, meanwhile, the organ of UK finance, reported that the Prime Minister told executives that if they were struggling to get a response from the government or find the right person to talk to they should contact his office directly. The same paper also noted that the contents of Reeves conference speech was warmly received by the representatives of big business, including the British Chambers of Commerce and the Confederation of British Industry, the disgraced lobbying group. And no doubt they would have been similarly impressed by Starmers keynote speech today, which repeated the motifs earlier introduced by the Chancellor: that the Labour leaders are prepared to take the tough decisions needed to fix the foundations of British capitalism. Having been criticised by establishment figures for painting too gloomy a picture of the UK economy in recent weeks, damaging investors confidence and enthusiasm, Reeves and Starmer both tried to strike a more upbeat tone from the conference platform. My optimism for Britain burns as bright as it ever has done, the Chancellor stated on Monday. There is light at the end of the tunnel, the PM promised. Furthermore, Reeves assured that there will be no return to austerity. But what on Earth do they call their Dickensian cuts to energy subsidies for vulnerable pensioners? Or their decision to maintain the Tories two-child benefit cap, which keeps an estimated 1.6 million of the countrys children in poverty? If these policies arent austerity, then what is? No, this isnt austerity, the Labour leaders tell us. Instead, these attacks on the working class and the poor are euphemistically described as a framework of fiscal stability and economic responsibility. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, Shakespeares Juliet tells Romeo. And austerity by any other name still stinks however Starmer and Reeves try to spin it. Storm and struggle Starmers Labour may take us all for fools. But ordinary people will not be so easily duped. And nor will workers and their families take these attacks lying down. Already, the Labour leadership is facing a backlash to their winter fuel allowance cut, with affiliated unions such as Unite and the CWU pushing a motion of opposition to this cruel measure at conference. Worried about the embarrassment this could cause, party officials have manoeuvred to move the vote to tomorrow, in an attempt to shut down the debate and muzzle any voices of dissent. But whether it takes place on the conference floor or on the streets, there will be a wave of resistance to this big business governments onslaught against the working class. Delegates in Liverpool can be silenced and ejected. But workers and youth organised and mobilised will not be suppressed or subdued. Yesterday, for example, the RCN union announced that nurses have rejected the governments pathetic pay offer. And other public sector workers could well follow suit. Moving the #WinterFuelPayment motion to Wednesday when the 'lights are out' at conference is a tin-eared approach by @UKlabour. People are talking about the fuel allowance and to shut it down at your own conference is not a good look. #LabourConference2024 pic.twitter.com/sckgvFZ2Uk Sharon Graham (@UniteSharon) September 23, 2024 Starmer and Reeves can arrogantly congratulate themselves all they like from the podium, in an effort to impress their chums in the City, their pals in the capitalist media, and the rest of the British establishment. But their smirks and smiles will quickly be wiped away by the coming storms. Next months Budget will confirm what is already clear to most: that a tsunami of cuts and attacks is heading for working-class communities; that Britain is entering into a new period of turbulence and upheaval, which will leave no stone unturned. This summers far-right riots and social explosions; the collapse in support for Starmer and his government over the past few months; the scandals and splits that have recently emerged at the top of the Labour Party: all of these are a harbinger of the titanic and tumultuous events that will shake Britain in the coming years. So strap yourself in. Its going to be a bumpy ride. Somaek in Boston, a Korean restaurant that opened in March, was named one of the New York Times 50 best restaurants in the United States. New York Times annual search for the countrys best restaurants led staff from eating dishes served out of a trailer in a rural Virginia field to tasting menus in one of San Franciscos most refined rooms. Among the 50 finalists, 32 opened since the outlets 2023 list was published, including Someak. Times writer Julia Moskin said the restaurant presents Korean home cooking in all its magnificence and abundance. Alongside robust classics like chilled pork belly, seared beef and stir-fried squid with rice cakes, Soamaek serves a master class in banchan, like chive-garlic salad, radish kimchi and pickled perilla leaf, Moskin wrote. Mr. Bissonnette, a veteran of Bostons fine-dining kitchens (and the tapas juggernaut that was Toro), has built his dream chef cave, with a vinyl listening bar next door and a sushi speakeasy downstairs. The restaurant pays tribute to the food that chef Jamie Bissonnette fell in love with while cooking with his mother-in-law, Soon Han, whom the Someak is named after. In addition to the traditional Korean fare, the menu boasts a convivial cocktail menu, featuring flavor-forward, low-ABV libations, and, of course, the eponymous Somaek, a popular Korean drink made with soju and maekju (beer), the restaurants website states. Someak is located at 11 Temple Place in Downtown Boston. The restaurant is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday. While Someak was the only Massachusetts spot on the NYTs list, other New England eateries that made the cut were The Shipwrights Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut; The Alna Store in Maine and Gift Horse in Providence, Rhode Island. Click here to see the NYTs full list. Designer and TV personality Eduardo Xol, who starred in the popular ABC series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, has died after reportedly being stabbed. He was 58. Xol died on Sept. 20 after he was injured in an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of Sept. 10 in Palm Springs, California, according to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriffs office. Officers received a call at about 5:41 a.m. from a man at a home in the 400 block of E Arenas Road who requested help but was unable to provide specific details, the Palm Springs Police Department said. When they arrived, police heard a mans voice in apparent distress. The man later identified as Xol told officers that he had been stabbed, but did not identify the stabber. Xol was brought to the hospital where he died 10 days later, according to the Riverside County Sheriffs office. Richard Joseph Gonzales, 34, of Cathedral City, California, was arrested in connection with the stabbing. He was charged with attempted murder and booked on Sept. 10, Palm Springs police said. We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved Eduardo Xol. As his family, we know that his kindness has touched the lives of so many, Xols family said in a statement shared with TODAY.com. We ask for that kindness returned now allowing our privacy to be respected as we process our grief, the statement reads. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in Eduardos name to the Lupus Foundation of America as he spent so much of his life in the service of others. Xol appeared in more than seven seasons of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that aired from Feb. 15, 2004, to Jan. 13, 2012. His acting credits include roles in the 1998 film Bravo and telenovelas like La Jaula de Oro, Sentimientos de Oro and Acapulco, Cuerpo y Alma. Xol was also a correspondent for People en Espanol and AOL Latino, a published author and involved in charity work. The city of Boston will devote $100 million to new housing as it implements other changes to encourage and accelerate new development. Newly announced recommendations to tweak the development planning and approval process are expected to shorten the time between proposal submission and beginning construction. For affordable housing, that timeline is expected to be cut in half by next year, Mayor Michelle Wu said. With these changes, were confident we can add predictability and cut time and expense for everyone, the mayor said during her annual address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Wednesday morning. We heard loud and clear that a fast no is better than an endless series of maybes and projects that are checking all the boxes should sail through the process to deliver the housing and other benefits the city needs quickly and predictably. The first project to benefit from the new Housing Accelerator Fund will be a Boston Housing Authority redevelopment project in Charlestown. Wu said the funds will be invested alongside private capital in other mixed-income, public-private partnership residential projects, but the city is considering if it could be effective for fully private projects as well. Since 2022, the Boston Planning and Development Agency board has approved more than 170 new projects, including nearly 13,000 new homes, Wu said. Of those, more than 4,000 are income-restricted. The city has also seen a rise in market-rate housing development. In Roslindale, Hyde Park and Mattapan, there has been a 66% rise in new housing construction in 2024 compared to the previous year. Wednesday afternoon, the citys Planning Department released its draft recommendations for updates to the development review process known as Article 80. The existing process has been criticized for dragging on for months or even years as developers try to achieve all of the necessary approvals. The recommended changes include increased engagement and feedback opportunities for community members, clearly defined standards for community benefits and better coordination among city departments along the review process. The draft recommendations come as the city has been overhauling its zoning laws. Wu said this would let developers know right from the start what they can and cannot build and avoid having to request zoning variances. Our decision-making should track the way buildings are actually envisioned and built, with a process that locks in major decisions and avoids relitigating every aspect of the project until the board votes, she said. The draft recommendations will enter a 60-day comment period, and the Planning Department is expected to release final recommendations in 2025. However, the city is already overhauling other processes that can also hold up construction and other economic development. A team within City Hall has been tasked with streamlining the more than 85 permitting processes, everything from food trucks and portable generators, fuel storage, open burning and cooking, Wu said. Already, the amount of time from application submission to approval has been cut by more than 40%, she added. In addition, two weeks ago, the Inspectional Services Department established a new, centralized process for submitting building inspection requests over the phone. A new, online inspection request portal will launch in the next few months. The permitting process for construction will also be restructured and modernized. Wu said that under the current system, plan examiners do not specialize in any particular type of project, so if youre trying to build a skyscraper, you could get stuck behind someone whos building a triple-decker. Instead, small and large projects will be separated into different teams to allow them to move through more quickly. Business leaders critical of Wu Business leaders have at times criticized Wu for being against development, and during a question and answer session after her speech Wednesday, she addressed two policies that have been particularly called out. The first, an update to the citys inclusionary development policy requiring larger residential projects to set aside 17% of their units as income-restricted and reserving another 3% for housing voucher holders, is set to go into effect on Oct. 1. Earlier this week, a local real estate association publicly asked the mayor to delay that implementation, saying the changes would slow housing production, Boston Business Journal reported. Wu pointed out that the new policy had originally been meant to begin in January, but was delayed to avoid hurting development during difficult market conditions. She said that while the existing IDP rules require only 13% of units to be income-restricted, in practice, the average percentage ends up being around 17% after negotiations between developers and the city. Our adjustment was really to just set that as the actual baseline, to remove the need for years of having to meet in the middle, Wu said. Commercial tax rate increase Wus proposal to temporarily raise commercial property taxes to reduce the burden on residential property owners has received perhaps even more pushback from business leaders. While the proposal passed the City Council this summer, it requires state legislative approval, which thus far has not happened. Real estate and business leaders have said the plan will hurt them during an already difficult economic period, but Wu has repeatedly rejected that argument. She said Wednesday that currently, because of falling commercial property values, residential taxes are expected to go up significantly to make up for that drop in commercial taxes. Under this proposal, residential taxes would still go up, commercial taxes would still go down, but it would be less of an extreme in either direction for a three-year period to make sure that were smoothing that curve, Wu said. She said that when Proposition 2, the law limiting municipal property tax increases in Massachusetts to 2.5% per year, was passed in 1980, about 30% of Boston property taxes came from the residential sector and 70% from commercial. This year, the split is closer to 40% residential and 60% commercial, and next year, it could be about 45% to 55%. Too extreme of a jump in residential taxes would also hurt local businesses as residents would have to deal with increasing housing costs, Wu said. I see our dual mandate as balancing opportunity and stability, she said. We want to be the place where were incentivizing growth, where theres new development, where we are creating every possible opportunity for entrepreneurship and investment, and we want to make sure that the pressures on our residents from gentrification or cost of living going up or displacement are managed very carefully as well. While some critics have said the city should consider using its cash reserves to balance the budget rather than moving forward with the tax shift, Wu said that would cut the reserves nearly in half, calling it not a fiscally responsible choice for the city. Suggestions to cut the budget would not be effective either, she said, because the amount needed would equal about half of the police budget or more than the entire budget for the Public Health Commission. If I didnt have to, I would be trying to pursue a different method, because getting through all these levels of approvals is tough, but it is the one that maintains balance while managing this unique moment, Wu said. Despite concerns about falling commercial property values and struggling businesses, Wu was optimistic about the citys future. She said requests for new business licenses have increased in 2023 and 2024; retail vacancy rates are between 2% and 3%, which is lower than in other major cities, downtown foot traffic is close to reaching pre-pandemic levels and consumer spending is even higher than before the pandemic. In addition, Wu said office occupancy from Tuesdays to Thursdays is at about 96% of pre-pandemic levels, though the percentage on Mondays and Fridays is lower. When it comes to purpose-driven work, inspiring workplaces, amenities, benefits packages, training and a laser focus on workers all-around well-being, Bostons business community is in a league of its own, she said. And we need to be because were competing on an international scale when it comes to the best talent, where they want to put down roots and where companies will choose to grow. MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Hispanic and Latino leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference across the state. Profiles of these leaders will be published over the course of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change. Elizabeth CruzSebastian Restrepo Elizabeth Cruz Community: Worcester Her story: Elizabeth Cruz is the president of the Latin American Business Association (LABO), the president and founder of Empowering Latina Leaders Affirmation (ELLA) and a Worcester-area realtor. She has over 20 years of experience in IT software development, project management and business consulting and over 30 years of experience as a realtor, according to Cruz and her Worcester Business Journal (WBJ) profile. My work is dedicated to advancing the Latinx community through economic and personal development, she wrote. Cruzs journey to success wasnt an easy one. While earning a degree in computer science from Central New England College which closed in 1989, she was the only woman and Latina in her class. She found the lack of peers challenging, she wrote. Soon, Cruz realized that there was a need for more minority role models and mentors. The experience ultimately led her to found ELLA in 2023 after 30 years of meditating about the concept, according to her WBJ profile. ELLA works to empower Latina leaders through mentorship, leadership development and networking opportunities, according to Cruz. It also offers college scholarships to young Latina women who lack the financial means to pay for higher education on their own. We address challenges such as imposter syndrome and advocate for increased Latina representation in leadership roles, she wrote. LABO has a similar mission of helping Latinx-owned businesses grow and prosper, according to Cruz. The non-profit holds workshops and expos that serve as networking opportunities and offers a variety of professional training programs in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The challenges of starting and running a business can be significant, especially with language barriers or limited resources, she wrote. ELLA and LABO also offer awards to celebrate the success of the people they empower. Both organizations contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive community, she wrote. We drive economic growth, support entrepreneurship, and promote personal development, ensuring Latinx individuals have the opportunities and resources needed to thrive and succeed. Cruzs commitment to lifting up the Latinx community and other women is longstanding. She previously served on the board of directors at the Central Massachusetts YWCA and was a vice president with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) of Central Massachusetts, according to her biography on LABOs website. Before entering the non-profit world, Cruz worked as a programmer for Tennessee-based Unum Insurance for 15 years, according to her LinkedIn profile. After leaving Unum, she spent over 15 years in project management roles at large companies such as Fidelity Investments and Dell EMC. Today, Cruz owns and operates two businesses: Cruz Realty Group a Shrewsbury-based Century 21 real estate group and Cruz Control Property Management, which manages 26 units in Worcester County, according to her LABO biography. Over the years, shes helped over 500 families buy, sell, invest and lease properties, she wrote. Anyone looking to follow in Cruzs footsteps should work to build relationships that will help further their career, be prepared for unexpected setbacks and use their unique perspective to drive meaningful change, she wrote. My journey in IT, real estate, and community leadership has taught me that success often comes from understanding and addressing the specific needs of your community, she wrote. Seeking out people whose success you aspire to emulate is also key, Cruz wrote, but being a mentor to others is just as important. Sharing your knowledge and experiences helps build a supportive network and promotes growth in others, she wrote. In her words: My professional journey has been driven by a deep commitment to community development and empowerment. Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form. MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Hispanic and Latino leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference across the statee. Profiles of these leaders will be published over the course of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. These are people readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change. Shirley Arriaga.Courtesy photo Shirley Arriaga Age: 34 Community: Chicopee Her story: A lifelong resident of Chicopee and U.S. Air Force veteran, Shirley Arriaga is the Democratic state Representative on Beacon Hill for the 8th Hampden District. Advocating for the needs of Chicopee residents under the golden dome, Arriagas legislative priorities are empowering women and girls, assisting veterans and elders and championing education. During her 10 years with the Air Force, Arriaga was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. She continued her education at Springfield Technical Community College, Elms College and Western New England University, obtaining several degrees. Her military service eventually led her to civil service. She was elected to state office in November 2022, a role that had been held by an incumbent for more than three decades. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to help those who are the most vulnerable in our communities, Arriaga said. I had a plan to arm myself with education and knowledge so that one day I would be able to serve and advocate for the laws and to help those in our community. Arriaga is also a mother and educator at Chicopee High School. In her words: I encourage all who aim to serve to do so. There are many methods and ways in which one can help. Whether its by advocating for legislation, whether is sharing information and resources throughout our community, whether supporting those who want to run for office or simply by running themselves if they feel that it is their calling. It is not easy, but I encourage all to do so because otherwise change will never come. Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form. MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Hispanic and Latino leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference across the state. Profiles of these leaders will be published over the course of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. These are people readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change. Yadilette Rivera ColonSebastian Restrepo Yadilette Rivera Colon Age: 38 Community: Holyoke Her story: A native of Puerto Rico and proud first-generation college student, Yadilette Rivera Colon calls herself a rebel teacher. A researcher and educator who chairs the undergraduate science programs at Bay Path University, Rivera Colon has a strong, personal drive to connect with Latinas and other underserved populations to share her love of science. She earned her doctorate in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2013 and went on to become a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Today, Rivera Colon splits her time between the labs at Bay Path helping students with their research projects, teaching biochemistry, visiting the Holyoke STEM Academy to open students there to the wonders of the scientific world, and an array of community service roles. Rivera Colon is passionate about inspiring the next generation of women scientists, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Her community service has also included involvement with Girls Inc. of the Valley, Latino Scholarship Fund of Western Massachusetts and MassHire Holyoke. She is also a Holyoke School Committee member. Rivera Colon said one of her greatest accomplishments has been the development of a new STEM class for 7th and 8th grade students in Holyoke Public Schools, focused on hands-on learning and problem-solving. In her words: Grow your network. Everyone has something to offer to this world and has different talents, so meet others. Once you identify your passion find opportunities and get involved. Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form. What, him worry? The top Democrat in the State House shrugged off the results of a new poll showing widespread public dissatisfaction with the Legislatures job performance. I dont read the polls, state House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, told reporters Thursday during a brief interview at the State House. I dont know what the questions were, the Quincy Democrat said. To refresh the speakers memory, the WBUR/CommonWealth Beacon poll released this week asked: Do you approve or disapprove of the job the Massachusetts state Legislature is doing lately? Forty-seven percent of respondents to the poll of 800 likely voters said they somewhat or strongly disapproved of the Legislature, which is entirely controlled by Democrats. Forty-two percent of the polls respondents said they somewhat or strongly approved of the 200-member body (40 in the Senate, 160 in the House). The poll, conducted from Sept. 12 to Sept. 18, had a margin of error of 4.1%, putting that 5-point split just outside the margin. Even with that margin, 70% of respondents also said theyd vote in favor of a fall ballot question that would give state Auditor Diana DiZoglio the power to audit the Legislature. Legislative leaders have bitterly contested the question, arguing that DiZoglio, a fellow Democrat, doesnt have the authority to force the Legislature to throw open its books. The Methuen pol has remained undeterred. This is a nonpartisan issue, it impacts all families in Massachusetts, regardless of bank balance or political background, she told MassLive last fall. ... Its about us as the people of Massachusetts, regardless of where we stand, about getting information. Its about how our tax dollars are being spent on Beacon Hill. So we can get a seat at the table. The poll comes amid grumbling that lawmakers are lagging on passing the half-dozen remaining bills that didnt make it over the goal line when formal sessions ended in July. Lawmakers have whittled down the list. Marianos remarks Thursday followed a news conference at which Gov. Maura Healey signed one of those bills that was finally passed, a measure strengthening state oversight of the long-term care industry, into law. But other significant measures, including the Democratic governors signature economic development proposal, remain unfinished with the clock ticking down to Election Day. Asked Thursday whether it mattered if those bills were passed in informal sessions after Nov. 5, Mariano offered a simple No. Because these things take time, he continued. Its like making a stew. Its not done until its done. The Democratic boss bristled when he was asked whether potentially lame-duck incumbents, who would not have to face voters again, should cast a ballot on those bills. So what? They were elected to fill the whole term to January of next year, he said. Reminded that roughly two-thirds of legislative incumbents are expected to coast to reelection, Mariano quipped thats an editorial comment you can make, [Im] not gonna make it for you. BOSTON (AP) The U.S. Senate approved a resolution Wednesday intended to hold Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre in criminal contempt for failing to testify before a Senate panel. The senate approved the measure by unanimous consent. Members of a Senate committee looking into the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care adopted the resolution last week after de la Torre refused to attend a committee hearing last week despite being issued a subpoena. The resolution was sent to the full Senate for consideration. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said de la Torres decision to defy the subpoena gave the committee little choice but to seek contempt charges. The criminal contempt resolution refers the matter to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia to criminally prosecute de la Torre for failing to comply with the subpoena. A representative for de la Torre did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sanders said he wanted de la Torre to explain how at least 15 patients at hospitals owned by Steward died as a result of a lack of medical equipment or staffing shortages and why at least 2,000 other patients were put in immediate peril, according to federal regulators. He said the committee also wanted to know how de la Torre and the companies he owned were able to receive at least $250 million in compensation over the past for years while thousands of patients and health care workers suffered and communities were devastated as a result of Steward Health Cares financial mismanagement. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the ranking Republican on the committee, said communities were harmed because of the actions of Steward and de la Torre. Stewards mismanagement has nationwide implications affecting patient care in more than 30 hospitals across eight states including one in my home state, he said. In a letter sent to the committee ahead of last weeks hearing, Alexander Merton, an attorney for de la Torre, said the committees request to have him testify would violate his Fifth Amendment rights. The Constitution protects de la Torre from being compelled by the government to provide sworn testimony intended to frame him as a criminal scapegoat for the systemic failures in Massachusetts health care system, Merton wrote, adding that de la Torre would agree to testify at a later date. Texas-based Steward, which operates about 30 hospitals nationwide, filed for bankruptcy in May. Steward has been working to sell a half-dozen hospitals in Massachusetts. But it received inadequate bids for two other hospitals, Carney Hospital in Boston and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in the town of Ayer, both of which have closed as a result. A federal bankruptcy court this month approved the sale of Stewards other Massachusetts hospitals. Steward has also shut down pediatric wards in Massachusetts and Louisiana, closed neonatal units in Florida and Texas, and eliminated maternity services at a hospital in Florida. Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts said over the past decade, Steward, led by de la Torre, and its corporate enablers, looted hospitals across the country for profit, and got rich through their greedy schemes. Hospital systems collapsed, workers struggled to provide care, and patients suffered and died. Dr. de la Torre and his corporate cronies abdicated their responsibility to these communities that they had promised to serve, he added. In a post to X, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, who also has been a vocal critic of de la Torre said that after spending nearly two decades sucking every last bit of value out of Steward Health Care, the high-flying executive will be held accountable. Ellen MacInnis, a nurse at St. Elizabeths Medical Center in Boston, testified before the committee last week that under Steward management, patients were subjected to preventable harm and even death, particularly in understaffed emergency departments. She said there was a time when Steward failed to pay a vendor who supplied bereavement boxes for the remains of newborn babies who had died and had to be taken to the morgue. Nurses were forced to put babies remains in cardboard shipping boxes, she said. These nurses put their own money together and went to Amazon and bought the bereavement boxes. Its here and it only happens once a year thats right The Big E. Nothing says fall in Massachusetts quite like kicking off the fair season, and what better way to ring it in than trying all the flavors the fair has to offer? After all, The Big E has been known to get people talking for its elaborate shows, concerts and of course, food. This year brought in some new recipes like Fluffys Donuts Glazed Donut Coffee Float, while embracing some returning favorites like LuAnns Bakery pickle cupcake. But between admission costs, amusement rides and carnival games, celebrating can get expensive rather quickly. With this in mind, MassLive made our rounds of the fairgrounds in search of food options that were budget-friendly but still fun. Check it out. Traditional Poutine Traditional poutine, featuring french fries, gravy and cheese curds, are $10 at Poutine Gourmet.Dallas Gagnon At Poutine Gourmet, you can get a bowl of french fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds for $10. This option offers attendees a pretty good bang for their buck and is a safe option for picky eaters. The ratio of gravy to potato makes it an easy-to-eat option providing you use a fork. Pickle Lemonade Pickle lemonade made with bread and butter pickles. $6 Vendor: Lemonade & Corn DogsDallas Gagnon This unconventional take on lemonade features a bread and butter pickle flavor rather than dill. Other vendors offer $3 cups of pickle juice and pickle juice only. The pickle lemonade shown is available at Lemonade & Corn Dogs for $6. Cookie Dough Sugar cookie, cookie dough from Cora and Mika's Cookie Dough. $8.Dallas Gagnon For $8, fairgoers looking for a little something sweet and light for an afternoon pick me up can enjoy hand-dipped cookie dough on a stick from Cora and Mikas Cookie Dough. We opted for the classic sugar cookie dough, but other options such as chocolate chip, Oreo crumble and chocolate cookie dough are also available. Mac N Cheese Cheddar Mac n' Cheese from the Mac Trailer. $9Dallas Gagnon Those who need something more sustainable than cookie dough or pickle juice can get a heaping bowl of fresh Mac N Cheese from the Mac Trailer. This cheesy classic is not only budget-friendly, but a good option for both adults and children who arent feeling too adventurous in the food category while at the fair. Also available at the Mac Trailer are $8 cheddar melts. Smores Smoked Bacon Candy A stick of S'mores Smoked Bacon Candy | From the House of BBQ & Bacon | Behind the Connecticut Building at The Big E.(Nick O'Malley, MassLive) Ever get the urge to try candied bacon on a stick? Well, at The Big E, you just might. And in case that happens, House of BBQ & Bacon, behind the Connecticut Building, has got you covered. For $5 you can try a smores smoked bacon. Our self-proclaimed, staff Weird Food Guy, Nick OMalley described this treat as having a delicious coating of brown sugar, though not a lot of chocolate or graham cracker notes. He concluded it was $5 well spent. Doughnuts 5 1 / 5 Fluffy's Donuts Fluffys Donuts offers an array of classic and specialty doughnuts for $10 or less. Specialty doughnuts include a Strawberry Lemonade option, Cookie Monster doughnuts, Stores, Oreo and more. The Strawberry Lemonade doughnut is a hand-cut, yeast-raised doughnut frosted with buttercream frosting and rolled in strawberry lemonade toppings. Its topped with a lemon gummy candy, a freeze-dried strawberry and a pipette of strawberry lemonade you can squeeze into the pastry yourself. For those wanted a sweet treat thats a little lighter can get hand-cut doughnut holes for $2 each. Pizza Pizza by the slice at Angela's Pizza is $7 for cheese and $8 for a slice with toppings.Dallas Gagnon Angelas Pizza offers a variety of pizzas including slices of pickle pizza, street corn pizza, plain cheese and more. A slice of cheese is $7 but those feeling a bit more adventurous can splurge on an $8 slice of street corn pizza topped with buttered sweet-corn, mozzarella cheese, drizzled mayo, parmesan and Tajin seasoning. Angelas is also home to a foot-long mozzarella stick, which costs $11. Veggie Egg Rolls Veggie egg rolls from the Veggie Patch. Two rolls for $8.Dallas Gagnon For $8, attendees can get two veggie egg rolls from The Veggie Patch stuffed with cabbage, carrots, celery, onions and mushrooms. These rolls are fried to perfection, sporting a golden dough and crunchy texture. Funnel Cakes and Fried Dough Tootsie's Fried Dough funnel cakes, $10 a funnel cake. Toppings, such as strawberries, are a $2 up charge.Dallas Gagnon Fried foods are a fair season staple, and at Tootsies Fried Dough attendees can get a fried dough or funnel cake for a flat $10. This price does not include additional toppings. For extras, such as strawberries, there is a $2 upcharge. Candy Apples, Hot Dogs, Popcorn and more Candy apples at Cotton Candy Apples are $5 each.Dallas Gagnon At Cotton Candy Apples, everything is $10 or less. For just $5, guests can score a candy or Carmel apple, small popcorn, cotton candy, hot dog or snow cone. For $7, you can upgrade to a jumbo bag of cotton candy, large popcorn, nachos or traditional lemonade. China ready to work with Bangladesh to carry forward traditional friendship -- Chinese FM Xinhua) 14:45, September 26, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday that China is ready to work with Bangladesh to carry forward their traditional friendship. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Muhammad Yunus, leader of the interim government of Bangladesh. China and Bangladesh enjoy traditional friendship, he said. Wang also called on the two sides to consolidate political mutual trust and deepen their Belt and Road cooperation. The Chinese side, Wang said, is ready to expand cooperation in agriculture, poverty alleviation and new energy in light of Bangladesh's needs, strengthen the exchanges of experience in governance as well as in reform and opening up, and help boost economic and social development in Bangladesh. Yunus, for his part, said his country is ready to learn from China's experience and expand the friendly cooperation of the two countries. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) BOSTON About $14 million in grants will aid in the repair of dams and coastal flood prevention structures across the state, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced Thursday, with a share of the money destined for Western Massachusetts. The fixes about a $1 million locally will help deal with severe weather, flooding and rising tides across the state. Devin Bryden, a man charged with first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of a woman in July 2022, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Hampshire County Superior Court and sentenced to life in prison. Bryden pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, armed robbery and tampering with evidence, all in connection with the stabbing death of Jana Abromowitz, 21, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivans office said in a statement. Bryden and Abromowitz lived together as roommates at 11 Hatfield St. WESTFIELD The Episcopal Church of the Atonement will host a Recovery Service at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, to mark National Recovery Month. A few days later, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, the church will begin its Recovery Bridge Fellowship program, a series of weekly get-togethers that aims to create a bridge between recovery and faith. Jon Taffer, host of the Bar Rescue television series, will meet and greet fans and sign bottles of Taffers Brown Buttered Bourbon in Shrewsbury on Monday. Taffer will be at Market Basket Spirits at 200 Hartford Turnpike in Shrewsbury at noon, according to the Taffers Brown Buttered Bourbon social media page on X, formerly known as Twitter. Ill see you soon Massachusetts! Taffer wrote in a post on X. In addition to making an appearance in Shrewsbury, Taffer will hold meet-and-greets and bottle signings at Liquor Junction in Reading at 5 p.m. on Oct.1, Julios Liquors in Westborough at 7 p.m. on Oct. 2, and Billys Liquors in Abington at 5 p.m. on Oct. 3, according to posts on X. Taffers Brown Buttered Bourbon is available for purchase in Massachusetts and Nevada, according to the companys website. On his show Bar Rescue, Taffer offers advice, renovations and equipment to save struggling bars from closing. The show currently has nine seasons, according to IMDB Taffers Tavern, a restaurant chain named after Taffer, opened a location in Watertown in 2022 but closed in 2024. The first location of Taffers Tavern opened in Atlanta, Georgia, in October 2020, according to Taffers website. The restaurant chain is known for being an innovative, casual dining restaurant franchise concept that provides a solution for many of the woes that plague the restaurant industry, according to Taffers website. Recent comments from architect Hugh Wallace, describing Castlebar as depressing and lacking in vision, must surely have stung. Its not the first time Wallace has taken aim at Mayo; back in 2019, he basically suggested that we may well just turn off the lights in North Mayo and stop bothering to try, because town and city living is where it is at these days, apparently. So, the good people of Castlebar have this writers sympathy its not nice when someone, even if theyre not all that famous, takes aim at the place you call home. But there is nothing like it to motivate people either. We must be doing something right in Ballina these days. Doubling down on his comments about the county town, Wallace used Ballina as an example of a town that has taken significant steps forward with public works and community-driven initiatives to make it better. High praise, but the man seems fickle. Whatever about the work of officialdom, I can certainly testify to the contribution of hundreds of community volunteers to driving Ballinas fortune. So much so, that Ballina has just been announced as a candidate for the title of European Volunteering Capital 2026 by the Centre for European Volunteering in Brussels, one of just three European municipalities shortlisted for the prestigious title. But I wouldnt say that proving Hugh Wallace wrong was the main motivation. There is no denying the issues that Wallace has highlighted in Castlebar. I work in the town now, and I see it up close every day. I love it there. It is a place for which I have always held a soft spot, and it is home to some of the best people I know. Its a town that has only this year been publicly named as a great place to live, and in which to achieve a great work-life balance. As an outsider looking in, I cant help feeling it deserves better, both from public authorities and from its own people and businesses. Wallace highlighted the dearth of town centre dwellings. He pointed out the use of a huge swathe of town centre land for a car park. He mentioned dereliction and a lack of vision. To be fair, the only remarkable thing about these observations is that he targeted Castlebar, when it could have been any town in Ireland. Ballina certainly suffers from plenty of these issues, but has perhaps had better PR. Wallace did, however, point out that 11 million had been allocated to Castlebar in 2021 under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) with very little visible evidence of this money having yet been spent in the town. Aside from the welcome plans for the old Post Office, is anything else even happening? Ballina, having received a comparatively small 3.2 million in 2018, has meanwhile transformed its town-centre military barracks into the modern Innovation Quarter. Volunteers from Ballina have also worked incredibly hard fought, in fact over the past decade, in large numbers to create a vibrant programme of events, and to address some of Ballinas unsightly public-realm issues. These things have been achieved, it must be noted, sometimes with the help of officialdom, but sometimes in spite of it. Could a similar effort happen in Castlebar? Town planning has played a huge role in Castlebars problems. Unlike Ballina, which kept its town centre intact, commercial development on the fringes has hollowed out Castlebars nucleus, and creeping dereliction and boarded-up buildings have taken its place, with no penalties for those irresponsible property owners. Yet it is still home to some lovely shops, eateries and bars. It just lacks people. Town-centre living is not regarded as sexy these days (and being honest, I cannot fathom why not), so town-centre land is used to park cars, including my own, five days a week. Active volunteer groups, such as Castlebar Tidy Towns and Castlebar Community Clean Up, are doing great and visible work, but there is only so much they can achieve. It is frustrating, because the raw materials are there; some of the buildings being left to crumble and rot are, heartbreakingly, some of the most beautiful. And Ballina would kill for a green space like the Mall in the centre of our town. So why isnt Castlebar capitalising? Is the issue one of a lack of leadership and vision, as Wallace suggests? Is it a lack of consensus and common will, or a lack of volunteerism? Is it down to bureaucracy stifling development? Who will step up and take the bull by the horns? Or does anyone have the time and energy these days to take on the responsibility and meet the demands of this often thankless work? Cllr Ger Deere was absolutely right to invite Mr Wallace to visit and engage with the community, risky though it might be. People are the main strength of any town. Wallaces criticisms, though uncomfortable and maddening, can potentially serve as a catalyst for the county town to reassess its direction and inject it with a shot of pride. Theres nothing like adversity and criticism to light a fire. Revitalising Castlebars town centre wont happen overnight, and a clear rethink of government policy is required to assist towns like it all over Ireland, but with vision, strategic collaboration and community input, it is still possible for it to flourish. Lets hope that in a few years, Mr Wallace will be eating his words. Mayo based charity, Western Care Association, who were accused of operating six care homes within the district without registering them, have been cleared of all charges brought against them. In a prosecution which is the first of its kind in Ireland, Western Care Association were accused of six counts of breaching the Health Act 2007 by operating six care homes within the district without registering them with the Chief Inspector of Social Services. The Castlebar-based charity which provides support to people with intellectual disabilities and their families denied that the homes in which the residents were living were care homes as outlined in the act. The evidence in the case was heard over a number of days before Judge Adrian Harris in Castlebar District Court in April and June. In his judgement at a special sitting of Castlebar District Court this morning, Judge Harris said that for the court to find the accused guilty of the offence, it must be satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the accused was carrying on the business of a designated centre on the dates referred to in the summons and providing residential services. The court is not satisfied, based on the evidence heard and documents submitted in evidence, beyond reasonable doubt that Western Care Association provided or was providing residential services on the dates in question and at the six residences in question as set out in the summons before the court, he said. On that basis Judge Harris said the court is not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Western Care Association carried on the business of a designated centre and he was dismissing all the charges. Judge Harris had heard evidence that unannounced inspections of the properties which were located in various locations around Co Mayo took place in May and June of 2023. The court heard that there was concern in the office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services regarding a number of properties where Western Care provided care that they believed should have been registered as care centres. These concerns were flagged with Western Care in advance of visits to five properties conducted on May 2 and 3, 2023. A separate inspection took place at the sixth property on June 13, 2023. The court heard that many of the residents of the properties inspected needed one to one care and a staff member of Western Care had to be present on the property at all times. In their defence, Western Care argued that they did not believe the majority of their services met the criteria for designated centres to be registered as the properties were not owned or leased by the charity. The residents who were provided with care by Western Care were the tenants of the property. Ms Tia Crowley, who served as CEO of Western Care between 2019 and 2022, gave evidence where she felt that guidance from HIQA at the time was clear that designated centres were where accommodation and support was being provided and they only provided care. Judge Harris was informed that the Chief Inspector of Social Services had no issue regarding the level of care given to the care user. It was also agreed that the media would not report the location of the properties in order not to identify the service users. Few characters in Mayo history are as infamous as George Robert Fitzgerald of Turlough House, more commonly known as Fighting Fitzgerald. Now, a new book Fighting Fitzgerald The turbulent life and terrible death of a Mayo legend, George Robert Fitzgerald, by Patrick Butler seeks to cast a fresh light on this most fascinating and troublesome character. It could be argued that no one is better placed than Butler to write about the subject. He lived in Turlough Park a building in ruins at the entrance to what is now the National Museum of Country Life for 40 years, from 1952 to 1991, maintaining the house and grounds for much of that time. He could feel the history of the place and has a keen appreciation of those who were there before him and none more so than George Robert Fitzgerald. As I would explore the grounds and the old Turlough House over the years, I would ask myself more and more questions about what had happened there, Butler explains. Because of my connections with the house, I felt I had a responsibility with the information I had and managed to collect. I was at it for 24, years and the more information I got, the more of an appetite I got. Fighting Fitzgerald was one of the most colourful and dangerous personalities of the mid 1700s. A small man but a larger-than-life character, he was considered part genius, part madman. Ultimately, he was wholly tragic. Here was a man born with all the privileges of high social status, great wealth, intelligence and good looks, but whose career ended on the gallows. He strode across the stages of Mayo, Dublin, Paris, Florence, Brussels, Rome and London, dominating attention. He became involved in a bitter feud with his father and brother over the control of the vast Fitzgerald estate in Mayo, during which time he took his father prisoner, tied him to a bear, kept him in a cave, fortified his own house with cannon from a shipwreck and defended it with his own militia. He was sent to prison, but with his connections, not for long. The final chapter in his erratic, tempestuous life was typically explosive. Fitzgerald was found guilty of involvement in the murder of Patrick Randal McDonnell, a neighbouring small landowner and attorney and long-time adversary, and was sentenced to death an end that was not without drama either. Published by Mayo Books Press, Butlers book is based on extensive research and contains new, previously unpublished material. It seeks to clarify the narrative that lies behind the legends that have grown up and flourished around an extraordinary man. He spent 24 years researching and writing this book, and also spent decades researching various aspects of Mayo history, historical houses, buildings and churches. I want people to read this book and make up there own minds on Fighting Fitzgerald. All I will say is he was a very unusual and mercurial character. Women loved him, but watch out men if you so much as looked at him crosseyed, trouble was coming your way, he said. LAUNCH Fighting Fitzgerald The turbulent life and terrible death of a Mayo legend, George Robert Fitzgerald will launch at the Wild Atlantic Words Literary Festival in Castlebar on Tuesday, October 8, at 7pm. The book is available in all good bookshops and online on mayobooks.ie. FORMER NASA astronaut Cady Coleman has visited one of Westports most iconic traditional music pubs. Ms Coleman, one of approximately 600 people in history to travel to space, joined Matt Molloy and friends for a music session in the Molloys renowned pub during a recent visit. In 2011, Ms Coleman took a 100-year-old Irish wooden flute belonging to Molloy Matt into space and marked St Patricks Day by playing a solo. Her stopover in Westport came during a visit to the west of Ireland, where she gave a talk to over 250 secondary school students from across the region at ATUs Sligo campus. The event was held to highlight the importance of science and space exploration and the need for more young people to explore careers in STEM subjects. The visit was organised by Dr Jerry Bird, Head of the Faculty of Science at ATU Sligo, in collaboration with the American Embassy in Ireland. Ms Colemans journey into space began with NASA in 1992. She later flew two space shuttle missionsSTS-73 in 1995 and STS-93 in 1999before spending nearly six months aboard the ISS in 2010. Dur her career, she logged more than 180 days in space, conducting numerous scientific experiments. She even performed a flute duet with the Chieftains and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull from space, a first in the history of music. In addition to her educational talk, Ms Coleman took part in a traditional Irish music session hosted by ATUs Traditional Music Society, who presented her with a tin whistle to commemorate her visit. We are incredibly honoured to have Cady Coleman here at ATU Sligo, said Dr Gerry Bird. Her career with NASA and her time in space serve as a real inspiration to the students, staff, and the entire community. She shows just how far a love of science can take you, and her message will resonate with these young minds for years to come. News / National by Gideon Madzikatidze President Emmerson Mnangagwa's non-committal to handover Isuzu double cab vehicle to the allegedly fraudulent Chief Chivero has been welcomed by several communities and Mashonaland West provincial chiefs council executive.The reversal by Mnangagwa to recognise Chivero chieftainship (by withholding vehicle and supposed benefits) after leadership wrangle and contestation spilled into courts of law, was described as the best sign of non-interference and neutrality.Speaking after the handover of ninety vehicles by President Mnangagwa in Harare this Wednesday, Tendai Chitinhe described Mnangagwa as the best template for a true leader who values, listens and respects diverse traditional customs and procedures."We really appreciate President Mnangagwa for listening to our plea for Chief Chivero installation redress. This shows that he considered our complaints against imposition of Cornelius Chengera Chivesani as Chief Chivero," Chitinhe said."Despite being dictated by some corrupt elements, Chengera was disowned by everyone because he is not the rightful heir to the Chivero chieftainship," Chitinhe added."My candidature and ascendancy was confirmed by everyone including Chief(s) Ngezi, Nebiri, Nyamweda and Nherera; whilst district, local and provincial authorities have also endorsed that am the rightful heir to the throne," Chitinhe said."To consider Chengera continuing to serve as Chivero is a gross miscarriage of traditional justice. He is bogus and will merely serve as a mediator," Chitinhe said.Another Chief from Mashonaland West province also echoed the same sentiments, describing that the Chivero chieftainship wrangle has been kept hanging for quite long and there is a need to address it soonest."Since the matter will be addressed soon in Kadoma, it is important to note that President Mnangagwa has given courts and traditional resources to play their role without interfering with procedures," the Chief said."Chitinhe is the rightful heir and it was unfortunate that there are elements who misled our leadership into believing that Chengera is the best candidate of which this was wrong," he added."It would therefore distort our historical traditions, norms and values to entertain Chengera in assuming the chieftaincy," he remarked.Tendai Chitinhe who is involved in a fierce wrangle for the Chivero chieftainship with Cornleous Chengera once took Mnangagwa to court before the case was removed from the roll then.Chitinhe argues that the installation process then, was done fraudulently and is therefore seeking to be declared substantive Chief Chivero instead.Chengera of Chivesani sub-house was appointed substantive chief by Mnangagwa on the 21st of May 2020 succeeding Chief Shopo who died in 2009.Chitinhe said due process was not followed and accused the Director Traditional Leadership Support of diverting his appointment.He said the Chivero chieftainship has its traditions and customs when it comes to ascension.Meanwhile, when contacted for comment, Chengera was evasive to justify his ascendancy, describing Chitinhe as a public nuisance who deserves no attention."Chitinhe is a public nuisance and he is a victim of greediness. Everything that he does is associated with dismal performance and absolute failure," Chengera said.Of the ninety vehicles dished out to Chiefs this Wednesday, the Chivero chieftaincy bites dust as Mnangagwa gives them a chance to put their house in order through addressing their wrangle using internal conflict resolution mechanisms. News / National by Staff reporter The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has issued a stern warning to truck drivers who are contributing to the growing congestion at the Beitbridge Border Post by failing to follow proper clearance procedures.In a public notice released on Wednesday, Zimra expressed concern over the increasing number of trucks parked within the border area without having completed the necessary customs processes. This, Zimra stated, has led to severe congestion at the border and on the major highways leading to the Beitbridge crossing.Under current procedures, commercial truck documents are meant to be processed before arrival at the border. However, some truckers have been parking their vehicles near the border post while waiting for clearance, contributing to unnecessary traffic.Zimra emphasized that only trucks with completed documentation will be permitted to enter the control zone at Beitbridge for release and departure."Trucks are therefore directed to park at truck stops until their documentation is ready. They can then proceed to the border control zone for release and departure," Zimra said in the notice.The authority warned that any trucks found parked within the control zone or joining queues without proper clearance will face fines. Zimra clarified that this decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders to streamline operations at the busy border post."Any trucks found parked within the control zone or joining the queue without complete clearance of documents shall be levied with appropriate fines. This decision has been taken after extensive consultations with relevant parties," the notice added.Truckers were also reminded of the provisions under Statutory Instrument (SI) 57 of 2007, which regulates the movement and parking of vehicles within customs-controlled areas. Zimra urged full cooperation from all stakeholders to reduce congestion and improve efficiency at the border.The Beitbridge Border Post is a vital transit point for trade between Zimbabwe and South Africa and has often been plagued by congestion, leading to delays and frustration for truckers and businesses alike. The new measures are expected to reduce delays and improve traffic flow at the border. Finance Officer, USAID Central Africa Regional Third-Party Monitoring Project, Kinshasa, DRC Company profile: Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations, and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com Project summary: The USAID Central Africa Regional Third-party Monitoring (CART) project establishes independent, impartial, timely, responsive, contextualized, and forward-looking third-party monitoring (TPM) and operational support services. CART provides a comprehensive range of verification and outcome monitoring and learning services that increase USAID BHAs and its implementing partners (IP) understanding of the outputs, outcomes, progress, challenges, successes, results, and lessons learned for both emergency and non-emergency activities within Central Africa Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Republic of Congo (ROC). This project seeks to improve BHAs capability to utilize humanitarian assistance resources to ameliorate the drivers of poverty and malnutrition characterized by complex emergencies within the region **Please note: Only [Congolese (DRC)]citizens are eligible for this position** Position summary: The Finance Officer, based in Kinshasa, DRC will be responsible for all financial and operational tasks associated with the projects Kinshasa office. This position reports directly to the Director of Finance and Administration. Responsibilities: Oversee the Kinshasa offices day-to-day financial management and accounting. Maintain and manage field accounts, in coordination with the Finance and Administrative Director and MSI/HO. Prepare and track activity budgets and budget projections. Review vouchers and payment requests, including proper back-up documentation to ensure compliance with TT/MSI and USAID policies, procedures, rules and regulations. Maintain complete, accurate and timely financial records in compliance with USAID and TT/MSI policies and procedures. Assist with developing financial reports as needed. Help reconcile monthly accounts; submit receipts and invoices to MSI HO as required. Set up and oversee management of field office financial filing system (both paper and electronic), in coordination with the Senior Finance & Administration Officer. Ensure adherence to USAID rules and regulations and subject matter relevant Congolese laws. Process bank and cash transactions, including reconciliations. Maintain adequate administrative and financial controls and records pursuant to MSIs financial and administrative procedures. Perform other tasks as needed. Qualifications : Bachelors degree in relevant field is required: accounting finance, business administration, economics. Masters degree is preferred. Minimum of five (5) years of experience in finance and administrative and/or operational management, preferably in an international organization required. USAID experience is a plus. At least three years of experience working for a USAID project is desirable with experience in accounting for similar projects financed by donors. Thorough knowledge of USAID rules and regulations in the areas of financial management, procurement and compliance required. Strong multi-tasking, organizational, and time-management skills. Must be able to problem solve. Understanding of the principles of adequate documentation and audit, and of the procedures necessary to ensure audit compliance. Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions. Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions. Strong oral and written communication skills are required. Discretion and respect for confidentiality is required. Strong Knowledge of accounting software, including Quick books Knowledge of MS Office programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) is required. Experience in a USAID project will be prioritized. Fluency in written and oral French is required. Fluency in written and oral English is preferred. MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs. MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer. Reasonable Accommodations: MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Techs Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates. Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. To apply: Please visit our website, Finance Officer, CART Project - Tetra Tech Careers (selectminds.com) Please submit your application by October 8, 2024 ----------------------------------------------- Finance Officer, USAID Central Africa Regional Third-Party Monitoring Project, Kinshasa, DRC Profile de la compagnie : Management Systems International (MSI), une compagnie Tetra Tech, est une societe de conseil en gestion dans la region metropolitaine de Washington, DC, avec une histoire de 40 ans dans la fourniture de resultats a nos clients. Notre expertise principale se situe dans les domaines du suivi et de l'evaluation (S&E), democratie et gouvernance ; paix et stabilite ; etat de droit et responsabilite ; education ; genre et inclusion ; communication strategique ; et le leadership et le developpement organisationnel. MSI a mis en uvre les projets dans 90 pays a travers le monde, dont la Colombie, lIndonesie, la Jordanie, le Kenya, le Mexique, le Nigeria, le Pakistan, la Syrie et lUkraine, et travaille au niveau national. Nous soutenons des clients allant du gouvernement americain (par exemple, lUSAID, le Departement de Defense, le Departements d'Etat et du Travail, et la Millennium Challenge Corporation) aux grands donateurs bilateraux et multilateraux (par exemple, la Banque mondiale et le Programme des Nations Unies pour le developpement). Nous travaillons egalement avec des gouvernements nationaux et locaux, des organisations non gouvernementales (ONG), des groupes de reflexion, des fondations et des universites. Pour plus d'informations, veuillez visiter notre site web a l'adresse www.msiworldwide.com. Resume du projet : Le projet de lUSAID Central Africa Regional Third-Party Monitoring (CART) etablit et met en uvre un mecanisme de suivi par tier qui est independant, impartial, reactif, contextualise et prospective avec des services de soutien operationnel. CART fournit une gamme complete de services de verification et de suivi des resultats, et d'apprentissage qui permettront aux partenaires du Bureau de lUSAID en charge de lAssistance Humanitaire (BHA) de mieux comprendre les realisations, les resultats, les progres, les defis, les succes, les resultats et les lecons apprises pour les projets d'urgence et non-urgence en Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC), Republique Centrafricaine (RCA) et la Republique du Congo (RC). Le projet CART vise a ameliorer la capacite de lUSAID BHA a utiliser les ressources destinees a l'assistance humanitaire pour attenuer les facteurs de pauvrete et de malnutrition caracterises par des situations durgence complexes dans la region **Remarque : seuls les citoyens de la Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC) peuvent pretendre a ce poste** Resume du poste : Le Charge de Finances, base a Kinshasa, RDC sera charge de toutes les taches financieres, et operationnelles associees au bureau du projet a Kinshasa. Ce poste est directement rattache au Directeur Administratif et Financier. Responsibilities: Superviser la gestion financiere et la comptabilite du bureau de Kinshasa au quotidien. Maintenir et gerer les comptes sur le terrain, en coordination avec le Directeur Administratif et Financier et le siege de MSI. Assister dans la preparation et suivi des budgets dactivites et les projections budgetaires. Examiner les pieces justificatives et les demandes de paiement, y compris les documents justificatifs appropries, afin de garantir la conformite aux politiques, procedures, regles et reglements de TT/MSI et de l'USAID. Maintenir des dossiers financiers complets, precis et opportuns, conformement aux politiques et procedures de l'USAID et de TT/MSI. Aider a developper des rapports financiers selon les besoins. Aider a reconcilier les comptes mensuels ; soumettre les recus et les factures au siege de MSI, si necessaire. Assurer la gestion du systeme de classement des dossiers financiers (a la fois papier et electronique), en coordination avec le Senior Finance and Administration Officer. Faire le suivi des avances de voyage du personnel et s'assurer qu'elles sont reconciliees conformement a la politique de MSI en coordination avec le DAF Assister dans la verification de la paie mensuelle et le paiement des impots aux organes statutaires du pays dans les delais, en coordination avec le Directeur Administratif et Financier Traiter les transactions bancaires et de tresorerie, y compris les rapprochements. Maintenir le controle des dossiers administratifs et financiers adequats conformement aux procedures financieres et administratives de MSI. Effectuer toutes autres taches connexes selon les besoins Qualifications : Licence en comptabilite-finances, en administration des affaires, en economie est requis. Niveau Master prefere. Minimum de cinq (5) ans d'experience en finances et en gestion administrative et/ou operationnelle, de preference dans une organisation internationale est requis. L'experience avec l'USAID est un plus. Au moins trois ans d'experience de travail pour un projet USAID est souhaitable, avec une experience de la comptabilite pour des projets similaires finances par des donateurs. Une connaissance approfondie des regles et reglements de l'USAID dans les domaines de la gestion financiere, des achats et de la conformite est requise. Solides competences multitaches, d'organisation et de gestion du temps. Doit etre capable de resoudre des problemes. Comprehension des principes de documentation et d'audit adequats, et des procedures necessaires pour assurer la conformite en matiere d'audit. Forte attention aux details et capacite a suivre des instructions. De solides competences en communication orale et ecrite sont requises. Discretion et respect de la confidentialite sont requis. Avoir la maitrise des logiciels comptable entre autres Quick books La connaissance des programmes MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) est requise. L'experience dans un projet USAID sera priorisee. La maitrise du francais ecrit et oral est requise. La maitrise de l'anglais ecrit et oral est preferable MSI est un employeur garantissant l'egalite des chances qui valorise la diversite et l'inclusion. Nous nous efforcons de developper et de maintenir une culture qui honore les perspectives et les identites de nos employes, de nos communautes et de ceux qui sont touches par notre travail. Nous ne faisons aucune discrimination sur la base d'attributs proteges, y compris la race, la religion, la couleur, l'origine nationale, le sexe, l'orientation sexuelle, l'identite de genre, l'expression de genre, l'age, l'etat matrimonial ou de veteran, la grossesse ou le handicap, ou toute autre base protegee en vertu de loi applicable. Conformement a la loi en vigueur, nous faisons des amenagements raisonnables pour les pratiques et croyances religieuses des candidats et des employes, ainsi que pour tout besoin de sante mentale ou de handicap physique. MSI est un employeur soucieux de l'egalite des chances, de l'action positive, des Americains handicapes et des veterans. Amenagements Raisonnables : MSI est dedie a lembauche dune main-duvre inclusive. Si vous souhaitez demander des accommodements raisonnables pendant le processus de soumission, veuillez visiter, priere de visiter Tetra Techs Disability Assistance Page. Notre equipe de recrutement se rejouit a lidee de sengager dans un processus interactif afin doffrir des mesures dadaptation raisonnables aux candidats. Seuls les candidats selectionnes pour un entretien seront contactes. Nous vous remercions de ne pas nous contacter par telephone. Pour postuler : accedez a notre site web, Finance Officer, CART Project - Tetra Tech Careers (selectminds.com) Veuillez soumettre votre candidature au plus tard le 8 octobre 2024 by Danielle Oster , September 24, 2024 Over the course of the last several months, a number of companies have capitulated to demands from the far right and ended or altered DEI policies and programs, partnerships with civil rights organizations, and long-standing event sponsorships including Ford, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, Lowes, and Tractor Supply. Last week, 20 civil rights organizations responded in the form of an open letter to Fortune 1000 companies, with a clear message: Enough is enough. Put simply, hastily abandoning efforts that ensure fair, safe, and inclusive work environments is bad for business, unpopular and unwise, one section states. As business leaders who helped to build DEI programs, you know it's good business, and we have the receipts that show it. Groups signing the letter, entitled Collective Statement to Fortune 1000 CEOs to Defend Values of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, include the American Association of People with Disabilities, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Human Rights Campaign, the NAACP and the National Womens Law Center, among others. advertisement advertisement The letter was sent to leaders at the Fortune 1000 companies, as well as being published across channels owned by the organizations involved, including the Human Rights Campaign's website. The recent wave of attacks on corporate DEI polices have largely been fueled by far-right media figure Robby Starbuck. A former music video director and failed GOP congressional candidate in Tennessee, Starbuck pivoted to attacks on companies over DEI and Pride event sponsorship after publishing on X an anti-trans disinformation film he co-directed earlier this year. Notably, the letter from civil rights organizations calls out the business risks inherent in capitulating to extremists and abandoning DEI efforts, characterizing such decisions as short-sighted and a fiduciary failure to investors. In fact, the letter further notes, Businesses that fail to include women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people neglect their financial duty to recruit and retain top talent from across the full talent pool and limit their company's performance overall." The letter also cites a survey of top companies that found better business performance among those in the top quartile for gender and ethnic diversity, along with further data demonstrating that such decisions are unpopular with employees who broadly support DEI efforts. Companies in the bottom quartile of executive diversity on gender and ethnicity underperform all other companies by 27%, the letter further notes, citing a McKinsey & Company report. The letter concludes by calling on business leaders and corporate board members to lead, by publicly and unequivocally defending the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion from attacks by politically motivated, anti-business forces." It also notes the safety risks inherent in such attacks on brands, given their potential to spark violence. Target cited threats to employee safety when customers began harassing employees and destroying property after absorbing hateful disinformation on the stores Pride Month collection in 2023. We welcome your partnership and understand the safety risks posed by bad actors are serious, the letter notes. Abandoning long-standing commitments to DEI values only serves to empower those who threaten your workers and customers. by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, September 25, 2024 Image: Kroger Given the neck-and-neck nature of the presidential race and considerable macroeconomic challenges, it makes sense that consumers might be holding off on major purchases. And thats what researchers at 84.51, Krogers retail data and insights company, thought as they fielded the companys latest research. What they found, instead, was a surprisingly unfazed consumer. Our original hypothesis was that more people would delay big-ticket purchases, expecting well over 47% to hold back until after the election, says Melissa Myres, insights director for 84.51. But what stood out was that 53% of shoppers are not holding off on any purchases, which shows a bit more optimism than anticipated. advertisement advertisement In an email to Marketing Daily, she explains that the company decided to probe Kroger shoppers on election topics this year, even though it hasnt done so in the past. We thought it was important to see if people were holding off on major purchaseshomes, cars, investmentsbecause of uncertainty. The data shows that election outcomes will likely do little to change how consumers make their day-to-day financial decisions. But it doesnt mean they arent thinking about big-picture economic issues. Indeed, the latest polling from Pew Research finds that the economy is the top issue among voters, with 81% saying the candidates economic policies are very important to their vote. Among voters likely to support former President Donald Trump, 93% say economic considerations are very important, compared to 68% of those likely to support Vice President Kamala Harris. Younger shoppers in the 84.51 survey are most likely to say they are deferring significant purchases, with 62% of those between 18 and 34 holding back, compared to just 44% of shoppers between 55 and 74. Weve seen a similar pattern with this group beforethey tend to be more cautious during uncertain times, and that held true here, Myres says. Kroger shoppers are highly engaged in the political races, with 34% describing themselves as extremely engaged, 57% moderately engaged and only 9% extremely unengaged. Image: Kroger Both older and younger consumers are more optimistic about the election outcome, with 29% of those 55 to 74 saying they are upbeat versus 20% who say they are gloomy. In the 18 to 34 group, 19% are optimistic versus 17% pessimistic. But among those aged 35 to 54, 21% are pessimistic, versus 19% who are optimistic. While Kroger, Americas biggest grocery chain, may reflect a broad cross-section of America, the company leans Republican. In its report on political donations in 2021, Kroger says it gave $307,771 away, with 26% going to Republican Party candidates and 23% to Democratic candidates. KroPAC, its political action arm, made 57% of its gifts to Republicans and 43% to Democrats. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 26, 2024 Lawmakers throughout the country, as well as parents and teenagers, have accused social media platforms addicting young people by serving them with personalized content, sending notifications and automatically playing video after video. Now, the Federal Trade Commission appears to be gearing up to weigh in on social media use by teens. On Thursday, the agency said it plans to hold a virtual workshop to study the use of design features on digital platforms aimed at keeping kids, including teens, online longer and coming back more frequently. The FTC elaborated that the workshop will delve into whether design features result in more engagement or time spent on digital platforms, the effects of design features on minors' physical and psychological health, and what measures might be effective, feasible, and consistent with the current legal landscape. advertisement advertisement News of the workshop comes amid increasing efforts to regulate how social platforms display material to teens. For instance, California Governor Gavin Newsom late last week signed a bill requiring social media platforms to display content to known minors in reverse chronological order, as opposed to algorithmically curating their feeds, unless parents consent to the curation. Earlier this year, New York enacted similar legislation. Both state laws also restrict platforms from sending notifications to minors during certain hours. In California and New York, the statutes were touted as measures that would help combat social media addiction. But critics say the laws unconstitutionally interfere with platforms' First Amendment right to wield editorial control. Opponents also argue that algorithms benefit users by weeding out problematic posts -- such as bullying comments -- that would appear if comments were displayed chronologically. Neither one of those bills has been challenged in court -- at least not yet. But a federal appellate court recently blocked key portions of a different California bill -- the Age Appropriate Design Code -- that also would have regulated social media companies' ability to display content to minors. That statue requires online companies likely to be accessed by users under 18 to evaluate whether the design of their services could expose minors to potentially harmful content, and to mitigate that potential harm. The law also includes privacy provisions, such as a requirement to configure default settings in a privacy-protective way, unless the business can show a compelling reason that a different setting is in the best interests of children. The FTC workshop will take place on February 25, 2025. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 26, 2024 Meta is pressing a judge to reject Amherst University professor Ethan Zuckerman's request for an order preventing the company from suing over a research tool designed to study how Facebook's algorithms affect people's health. Among the many reasons why the court should decline plaintiffs invitation, the most important is that his grievances are not ripe, Meta writes in papers filed this week with U.S. District Court Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco. Meta adds that Zuckerman hasn't yet released the tool, and that there's no guarantee that the tool -- a browser extension dubbed Unfollow Everything 2.0 -- will operate as expected. Until the extension actually exists, Meta cannot determine how it might respond, the company adds. The company's argument comes in a legal battle that began in May, when Zuckerman sought a judicial declaration that Unfollow Everything 2.0 doesn't violate Facebook's terms of service or anti-hacking laws, and an injunction that would prohibit Meta from suing over the extension. advertisement advertisement Unfollow Everything 2.0 is designed to allow Facebook users to automatically unfollow friends, groups and pages, and then decide which people or groups to manually follow again. Downloaders would be able to opt in to Zuckerman's proposed study, which aims to collect anonymized data in order to study the impact of Facebook's news feed on users' well-being. He alleged in the complaint that he hadn't yet released the extension because Meta previously threatened legal action over similar tool issued in 2021 by developer Louis Barclay. In July, Meta urged Corley to dismiss the case as premature. Zuckerman's lawyers countered in court papers filed late last month that the case is timely because he has a real and reasonable apprehension that Meta will take legal action against him if he releases Unfollow Everything 2.0. But Meta argues in its newest papers that Zuckerman's abstract fears of legal action aren't enough to warrant a lawsuit. There is no substantial, immediate, or real controversy, not least because 'Unfollow Everything 2.0' is hypothetical, the company says. Meta adds that its terms of service as well as computer hacking laws focus on specific, technical conduct relating to the interaction between data, computers, and servers. Even if plaintiff could allege sufficient details about a nonexistent tool he plans to invent to allow an initial hypothetical adjudication, readjudication would be required if the tool were to operate differently than suggested, Meta adds. The dispute has drawn the attention of outside organization, including the civil rights groups Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, and Center for Democracy & Technology. They say in a friend-of-the-court brief filed earlier this month that Zuckerman's tool is protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act -- an argument he also raised in his complaint. In addition to immunizing web publishers from lawsuits over users' posts, Section 230 protects interactive computer services providers that offer technology that restricts objectionable material. The civil rights groups contend Unfollow Everything 2.0 is covered by that provision -- essentially arguing that certain Facebook pages or groups are objectionable to users, and the extension prevents that material from appearing in the newsfeed. Unfollow Everything 2.0 is a prime example of user-empowerment technology that can help people using the internet control their online experiences, the groups write. Corley is expected to hold a hearing in the matter in November. Opinion / Columnist Preparing the public's mind Mobilising MPs Preparing Western allies Why Hichilema is desperate to retain power at all costs 'I can't wait to vote Hichilema out' On 13 September, Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema addressed parliament in fulfilment of the Constitution that requires the president to address the National Assembly every year and provide a report on the progress made in the application of the national values and principles. During his address, Hichilema made a series of revealing and largely off-the-cuff remarks on constitutional reform that are worth quoting at length.He said: "The country has failed to reach consensus on this very important national document over many years. As a country, therefore, we still need to reform our constitutional order to ensure that it is truly reflecting the aspirations of our citizens. Given the substantial work that has already been done in the past, this government is committed to facilitate a least cost, efficient, and credible process [of constitutional reform] to address lacunae, omissions, or oversights in our Republican Constitution. So, we are looking at this House to be supportive of a process that would be least cost, that will be time conscious, that would not lead to allowances and more allowances and sittings and [more] sittings. And this House is the one that should help us. After all, some of your constituencies are too big. After all, I don't understand the wisdom of how members of parliament were taken out of the council chambers. After all, some lacunae can lead us to a situation where we could have no general election for eight years. That is not a joke. Yes, we could have no elections for eight or nine years. Those lacunae sit in the Constitution. So, those who designed or signed off that Constitution, I am not sure what they were intending to do."Many organisations and individuals have since condemned Hichilema's remarks. Former president Edgar Lungu described the comments as "reckless" and urged Zambians to "wake up and stop this apparent dictator from tampering with our Constitution to extend his stay in power even when he has lamentably failed to improve the lives of the people."Several opposition parties accused Hichilema of not understanding the Constitution and attempting to distract attention from the real issues that affect Zambians such as mass hunger, the cost-of-living crisis and the 21 consecutive hours of load-shedding a day.This condemnation is necessary, but not sufficient. Zambians also need to understand why Hichilema is making such comments. The president's implied threats to extend his stay in power were neither random nor a result of ignorance of the law. Hichilema has a proven record of undermining democratic institutions in a crude manner. If Zambians wish to reclaim their democratic institutions and space, they will do well not to underestimate Hichilema and the lengths to which he is prepared to go in his bid for absolute power. His warning that Zambia could have no general election for eight years should be seen as part of his wider strategy to stay in power beyond 2026.Hichilema's remarks were directed at different audiences for different objectives.The first targeted audience was the public. His objective here is to prepare the minds of Zambians to accept both his U-turn on a major policy issue and the changes that his administration plans to make to the Constitution on the understanding that the exercise would be cheap, time efficient and result in the removal from the Constitution of clauses that have been the subject of criticism. A brief discussion of the wider context that preceded Hichilema's comments is needed to understand this point.Over the past year, some opposition parties and prominent individuals have repeatedly accused the government of scheming to amend the Constitution to, among other objectives, extend presidential term limits from five to seven years and remove the requirement that a winning presidential candidate should secure a minimum of "50 percent + 1" of the total vote. For instance, in October 2023, 11 opposition parties wrote a joint open letter to Hichilema in which they criticised the secretive commencement of the constitution-making process."We are alarmed that there are secretive efforts aimed at amending the Republican Constitution in which people are being asked to submit recommendations on non-contentious issues," the letter read in part. It continued: "Given the lack of criteria on what constitutes non-contentious, we do not think that these non-transparent efforts represent the best way of carrying our constitutional reform forward, unless the objective is to remove popular clauses such as that relating to the running mate and the 50+1."In July this year, Lungu, who presided over the 2016 constitutional amendment, repeated these assertions, urging "Zambians to stand up and oppose any arbitrary attempts to defile and rape their Republican Constitution to oppose and stop President Hichilema from taking Zambia back to autocracy and tyranny through these UPND [United Party for National Development] arbitrary schemes to alter our Constitution only to suit their agenda".These allegations prompted Hichilema to finally respond on 2 August. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Clayson Hamasaka, Hichilema assured Zambians that he has no plans to alter the country's Constitution. As well as criticising "the emotive debate and the distorted narrative being peddled by the opposition to the effect that government wants to embark on a secret constitutional review process", the president vowed that he will "continue to uphold and defend the Constitution" and touted his lack of "interest in manipulating it for personal benefit".This reassurance earned a response from the highly regarded constitutional lawyer, John Sangwa. In a letter to the president dated 8 August, Sangwa made observations that are worth quoting at length, including the point that successive Zambian governments are addicted to amending the Constitution.Sangwa wrote: "I take this opportunity to commend you for clarifying your position on the allegation that you intend to amend certain provisions of the Constitution ahead of the 2026 general election. Your statement that you: (a) "swore to uphold and defend the Republican" (b) "remain resolute to defend the Constitution" and (c) "have no interest in manipulating it [the Constitution] for [your] personal benefit" is commendable. The clarification, coupled with the fact that after nearly three years into your presidency no Bill to amend the Constitution has been published, is noteworthy. It represents a radical departure from what we have witnessed in the last 60 years. Since independence in 1964, all your predecessors either initiated or continued the process to make a new Constitution or amend the Constitution. Their motivation, invariably, was the desire to use the Constitution as a political tool to further their personal benefits. They prioritised their interests over those of the Republic. It is laudable that you have so far not succumbed to his temptation."Sangwa's letter continued:"Any person that seeks the office of president who believes that the fulfilment of his promises to the people, once elected, is dependent on the amendment or making of a new constitution, does not deserve to be re-elected. The promises to the people must be made within the confines of the Constitution as it is and not as it ought to be Your primary focus, Mr President, should be to address the pressing economic, social and political challenges facing the Republic. So far, there is no evidence which shows that the Constitution, as it stands, hinders or undermines your ability to fulfil your campaign promises. Your additional obligation must be to ensure that your commitment to uphold and defend the Republican Constitution' is not just a slogan. You must respect the constitutional limitations on your office and ensure that the Zambians who voted for you and those who did not are: (a) treated equally; (b) afforded the same opportunities" and (c) enjoy the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. In short, you must do better than your predecessor."This is the wider context within which Hichilema's latest comments should be understood. By claiming that "we could have no general election for eight years", Hichilema is finally confirming that he will, like his predecessors, take to parliament a constitutional amendment Bill that would alter the Constitution ahead of the next election. The objective was to announce this major U-turn using the least embarrassing platform and initiate public conversation on his new position using his set agenda; the process that would inform the content, the mobilisation of resources required to undertake the exercise, and the timing.The reference to the substantial work that has already been done in the past' constitutes a public disclosure of how Hichilema intends to go about this exercise. He may ask the minister of justice to lead the process or appoint a small team of ruling party sympathisers to undertake the amendments using previous reports of constitutional review commissions or identify the so-called non-contentious clauses that must be revised. Both routes may result in the publication of a constitutional amendment Bill.The talk about controlled allowances and sittings is a strategic way of pre-empting public opposition to the exercise on account of the huge costs involved - especially at a time of more pressing national concerns - by suggesting that cost-saving measures will be adopted. The emphasis on efficiency is meant to prevent potential public criticism about the timing: with less than a year and a half remaining before the dissolution of parliament in readiness for the 2026 election, can the exercise be completed in time? Hichilema is suggesting it can be because it would be - in his words - time-conscious.The second audience Hichilema was speaking to are MPs from the governing UPND, opposition parties led by the Patriotic Front (PF) and the Independents. On this front, he has three objectives.Firstly, through his comments, Hichilema was effectively encouraging the MPs to imagine an impossible scenario where a general election is repeatedly postponed for eight or nine years. To avert such a scenario, the president was pleading with MPs to support his planned changes to the Constitution to "straighten" specific provisions that require the cancellation of an election whenever a validly nominated candidate resigns from the race before the date of the election.Here, it is important to briefly discuss the three grounds on which an election can be postponed: death, resignation or disqualification by court. Article 52 (6) of Zambia's Constitution provides that "Where a candidate dies, resigns or becomes disqualified in accordance with Article 70, 100 or 153 or a court disqualifies a candidate for corruption or malpractice, after the close of nominations and before the election date, the electoral commission shall cancel the election and require the filing of fresh nominations by eligible candidates and elections shall be held within thirty days of the filing of the fresh nominations."In June 2023, the constitutional court ruled - in the case of GEARS Initiative Zambia Limited v Electoral Commission of Zambia and the Attorney General - that although this provision does not apply to an independent candidate, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is obligated to cancel the election in instances where the candidate who has died, resigned or been disqualified after the close of nominations but before the election date was sponsored by a political party. This, the court added, is meant to ensure that the affected political party is not disadvantaged by circumstances beyond its control. To avoid misinterpreting what the concourt said, it is worth quoting its ruling at length:"When a political party's candidate resigns from the political party [that sponsored their nomination for election to a given office], that candidate's nomination is invalidated as the candidate can no longer represent that political party in that election. The political party therefore must be given another opportunity to field another candidate for the election which is why the ECZ is required to cancel the nominations and call for fresh nominations from eligible candidates before the election can be held in terms of Article 52 (6) of the Constitution For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that in terms of Article 52(6) of the Constitution, where a political party sponsored candidate for election as a member of parliament resigns after the close of nominations but before the election date, the Electoral Commission is obligated to cancel the election and call for fresh nominations from eligible candidates and call for fresh elections in accordance with Article 52(6)."The implication of this judgment is that a general election cannot be postponed on account of the resignation, death or disqualification of one candidate - even if sponsored by a party - who had been validly nominated for election to any public office. Article 266 of Zambia's Constitution provides that "general election" means "presidential, National Assembly and local government elections when held on the same day".The Constitution also states that "A general election shall be held, every five years after the last general election, on the second Thursday of August." This means that if a parliamentary candidate dies, is disqualified or resigns from the political party that sponsored them to parliament after the close of nominations but before the election date, what would be postponed is only the election in the affected constituency. All other elections - presidential, national assembly and local government - will proceed.Similarly, if a presidential candidate dies, is disqualified or resigns from the political party that sponsored them to parliament after the close of nominations but before the election date, what would be postponed is only the presidential election, not the parliamentary or ward elections. Even then, the cancellation of the presidential election itself would be followed by the filing of fresh nominations by eligible candidates and the holding of a new election within the next 30 days.Triggering the postponement of the general election after the close of nominations but before the election date would require the death, resignation or disqualification of a presidential candidate AND at least one candidate sponsored by a political party in ALL the parliamentary constituencies and ALL the wards in Zambia. The prospect of this calamity happening, let alone for eight consecutive years, is exceedingly remote. By asking MPs to support his planned constitutional changes using the threat that failure to do so could delay the general election for as long as eight years, Hichilema is demonstrating his desperation to change the Constitution.The question is: what is in it for him? The simple answer is everything. As well as lacking the capacity to manage the magnitude of the national problems that confront him, Hichilema is realising that he is unlikely to fulfil his campaign promises and secure re-election on merit. As a result, he seems to have decided that the surest way of guaranteeing his stay in power is by manipulating the Constitution to secure political advantage. If he was confident of delivering his promises, he would not be making the kind of desperate manoeuvres he has now resorted to.In any case, Hichilema's opposition to Article 52 (6) demonstrates his opportunism or inability to stick to one position. In opposition, the UPND leader supported the very constitutional provision he is now opposing, stating in early 2021 that Article 52 (6) is "in good faith": "That article protects citizens from having a president who is an imposter, who does not qualify. That article is in good faith. If the election is postponed for 30 days to remove an imposter from the ballot paper, [that is] perfect. 30 days is fine for me. If 30 days are a price we have to pay in order for the people of Zambia to get a leadership that will end violence, corruption, a leadership that will bring credibility and restore the kwacha, stop people [from] sleep[ing] without food, 30 days is a good price to pay."What exactly does Hichilema believe in? How has the same constitutional provision that he previously defended as a necessary check become problematic today? Moreover, even his criticism of his predecessor for the passage of the 2016 constitutional amendment represents a needless attempt to apportion blame and escape responsibility. This is because the amendment was a bi-partisan affair that was supported by both PF and UPND MPs. Without the support of MPs from Hichilema's party, the 2016 amendment could not have passed. In fact, Hichilema's assertion that Zambians have previously "failed to reach consensus on this very important national document over many years" is incorrect. Both the 1991 and 2016 constitutional amendments were products of consensus.In 1991, for instance, the ruling UNIP and the opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) came together to produce a Constitution that was meant to facilitate the holding of the elections. Both parties reached a general agreement that after the election, they would work on a new constitution-making exercise, which is how the John Mwanakatwe Commission came about. But, after former president Kenneth Kaunda returned to active politics in early 1995, the MMD abandoned the agreement and settled for an amendment to the Constitution that excluded Kaunda from running for office. After Levy Mwanawasa came to power in 2002, he attempted to complete the constitution-making exercise by appointing the Willa Mung'omba Constitution Review Commission.Unfortunately, Mwanawasa died in office and his successor, Rupiah Banda, botched the process. When Michael Sata came to power in 2011, he attempted to complete the exercise by appointing the Annel Silungwe Technical Committee, whose draft constitution provided the basis on which the PF and the UPND reached consensus to pass the 2016 constitutional changes that were a product of wider public assemblies at district, provincial and national levels. Hichilema will do well to acquaint himself with the accurate history of constitution-making in Zambia.Second, Hichilema's speech seems intended to use bribery to secure the support of MPs who may be unconvinced by his scaremongering prediction. To pass in Zambia's 167-member National Assembly, the planned constitutional amendment Bill would require at least two-thirds support (at least 111 MPs). This is a tall order given the current composition of party representation in parliament.The UPND has 93 MPs - 85 directly elected and eight nominated. The main opposition PF has 58 MPs. There are 13 independent lawmakers, seven of whom are working closely with Hichilema. Even with the combined support of all UPND MPs, most independents, the deputy speaker (the speaker cannot vote) and the one MP belonging to a small opposition party that tends to support the ruling party, Hichilema would still require the backing of several PF MPs. To induce these legislators to support the Bill, Hichilema has dangled a carrot in front of them by promising to deliver three specific changes - delimitation; the reintroduction of MPs on council chambers; and the "editing" of specific clauses that relate to nominations.The 2016 constitutional amendment removed MPs from municipal councils, much to their annoyance. This change has undermined their capacity to accumulate through increased business opportunities and to check the decisions of the local authority that adversely affect the interests of sitting MPs. Some lawmakers have also repeatedly called for delimitation, blaming their failure to deliver services and the high turnover during general elections to the large size of their constituencies. By claiming that he does not understand why they "were taken out of the council chambers" and decrying the size of some constituencies as "too big", Hichilema is effectively mobilising lawmakers to support the proposed constitutional amendment on the premise that the Bill will include two of their longstanding demands: their reinstatement onto municipal councils and the breakup of some constituencies into two.Here, we see that the would-be content of the "very important national document" has already been decided in a manner that reflects the aspirations of the president and governing party, not the citizens. Gerrymandering would increase the number of constituencies - mostly in Southern, Western, Northwestern, and Central provinces, a region that has historically voted for the ruling party. Winning the new constituency seats created by this partisan exercise would then increase the UPND's overall majority in parliament and make it easier for the president to make further changes to the Constitution in future.Third, if there is credibility in the claims by opposition parties that Hichilema plans to extend the president's term of office to seven years, then his comments also have an indirect appeal to all MPs: that is, in exchange for supporting his own bid, he is offering them the promise of greater security in their positions through longer terms of office.The final audience that Hichilema was speaking to are Western governments, whose representatives in Zambia endured his hours-long address to parliament. His unscripted comments are meant to prepare them to "understand" how he may end up in power for eight or nine years without elections if the constitutional changes he wishes to make do not pass. In effect, the president is warning that if Zambia fails to hold the next general election, it would be because of the unspecified lacunae in the current Constitution, not because he wishes to perpetuate himself in power.Now, it is possible that the planned constitutional amendment Bill may fail since the ruling party lacks a two-thirds majority in parliament, but I should hasten to mention that Hichilema has tried to secure this elusive majority since his election in 2021. His bid to take control of the main opposition party using Miles Sampa was intended to secure the clear majority either through the subsequent cooperation of the PF MPs with his proxy or by inducing by-elections in the constituencies of uncooperative MPs who were to be expelled from the party by Sampa. Hichilema, who set this process in motion in October 2023, went very far in this regard. But he has hit some roadblocks in recent months.Majority PF MPs have refused to cooperate with the Hichilema proxy and remain loyal to former president Lungu. This prompted Sampa to expel in December last year nine PF MPs for alleged gross indiscipline and insubordination. The main motivation behind these expulsions was to trigger several by-elections in the affected constituencies, which the UPND hoped to win to raise the two-third majority needed to make changes to the constitution. Frustratingly for Hichilema, the expelled MPs have challenged the actions of his proxy, slowing the president's desperate search for a two-thirds majority. Despite this setback, Hichilema remains confident that the courts and the electoral commission will yield to his manoeuvres and has now proceeded to publicly disclose that his administration plans to change the constitution and to mobilise MPs to support the exercise that would help him perpetuate his stay in power.In the unlikely event that he fails to secure the majority he craves, Hichilema is revealing a strategy he has carefully devised on how he may avoid elections and prolong his stay in power for at least eight consecutive years: sponsoring some proxy candidates - the same way he has used Sampa to weaken the PF - to file nominations for each presidential election and then inducing them to resign from their political party after the confirmation of nominations but before the election date. Unless induced by an incumbent president who is politically insecure, there is no incentive for opposition parties to delay the presidential election. In fact, opposition parties would wish for an earlier election date, not a delayed one. By law, as earlier shown, the electoral commission will be required to call for a new election each time a validly nominated candidate resigns from the party that sponsored their nomination. He would then be able to tell Western allies that "I warned these natives that this could happen, but they did not listen. They vetoed the constitutional amendment Bill that we took to parliament that could have removed the lacunae that are responsible for the status quo."If Hichilema manages to secure a clear majority in parliament and change the constitution, nobody knows when he may finally leave power.There are three reasons behind Hichilema's desperation to secure a second term and prevent an early assumption of the title he is seeking to avoid: former president of Zambia.The first is the fear of what might happen to his extensive businesses were he to lose power. Hichilema has refused to publish his assets and liabilities, which makes it difficult to work out to what extent his policies are benefiting companies in which he has an interest. Once he leaves office, a new government can revisit the subject and seek to charge him with corruption, such as in relation to his controversial decision to allow private companies with links to him to audit the security wings.The second is that Hichilema wishes to avoid the embarrassment of losing power after just one term. During his decade-and-a half in opposition, he cultivated close ties with private supporters - local and external - who backed his election bid and would wish to recoup their investments. This includes local business people, multinational corporations in the extractive sector and the Johannesburg-based Brenthurst Foundation, a creation of the Oppenheimer family, that appears to have undue influence on the president and direction of policy especially in mining. Given the escalating rivalry between major powers, Western countries would also prefer having Hichilema in office as a gateway to a region that is still dominated by liberation parties and as a counterweight to the growing illiberal influences of China and Russia.Third, Hichilema appears to see himself primarily as the leader of Zambians from one half of the country. Many people from Southern, Northwestern, and Western provinces believe they have been historically marginalised by their counterparts from the Eastern and the Bemba-speaking provinces of Northern, Luapula and Muchinga. As was the case under Lungu, the binary between us and them has been sharply drawn under Hichilema's leadership and found expression in the skewed distribution of appointments to public office.As well as heading the executive, parliament and the judiciary, Zambians from Hichilema's region dominate the key ministries, the leadership positions of four of the five security services, the justice system, electoral commission, foreign service, and most posts in the civil service and parastatal bodies. Hichilema - the first president from his region since independence in 1964 - does not see anything wrong with this, believing he is simply addressing historical imbalances. Fearful that a leader from the other region would reverse the trend were he to lose, the solution is to remain in power until 2031 and then organise a successor from his region who can consolidate its hold on power.As a 55-year-old distressed Zambian who voted for Hichilema in 2021 told me in an email message recently: "I do not know why you bother yourself writing, offering advice or suggestions to our president. Hichilema does not listen to advice, unless it comes from his white friends. He is extremely arrogant and set in his ways, does not care about the poor, and only cares about his rich friends and private businesses I am in Zambia right now, and we have not had electricity for three consecutive days due to load-shedding. It finally came today but lasted for only 45 minutes. I do not know what is worse: the absence of electricity or the tragic lack of leadership Like most Zambians, I have stopped talking. What is the point? In fact, I wish I could go into a coma and only wake up in August 2026 to vote him out."I am just from reading your 2022 article in which you wrote this: Hichilema has shown himself to be out of his depth on many key issues. He only appears positive in contrast to the disastrous Lungu, but as memories of the PF's terrible record fade, the new president's shortcomings may dawn on many people.' I did not agree with you then, but I do now. He is clueless, so terribly out of touch and incompetent that he makes Edgar Lungu look like a better option. It pains me to write the last sentence. We were so consumed by the dislike of Lungu that we did not pay attention to Hichilema's weaknesses. The drought that is affecting Zambia is a natural phenomenon, but it has exposed how poorly equipped he is for the office. He clearly walked into that office without a plan. I can't wait to vote him out."The problem is that voting out Hichilema is no longer as straightforward as it once seemed. At the very least, the exercise of the right to vote would require the holding of a presidential election. Whether that election takes place on 13 August 2026, as provided for in Zambia's Constitution, or in eight or nine years from now, nobody knows for certain.Nothing is guaranteed anymore in Zambia under Hichilema. Not electricity, not food, not water, not even the hope that tomorrow will be better than today.-------------------Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa is a senior lecturer in history at Stellenbosch University. His latest publications are Party Politics and Populism in Zambia; Populism in Africa in Research Handbook on Populism (Elgar, 2024); Defamation of the President, Racial Nationalism, and the Roy Clarke Affair in Zambia, African Affairs, Vol. 122, Issue 486, (2023); Multi-ethnic Vision or Ethnic Nationalism? The contested Legacies of Anderson Mazoka and Zambia's 2006 Election, Canadian Journal of African Studies, Vol. 57.No. 2 (2023). Media: How Zambia's president is using lawfare to subvert democracy, Mail &Guardian; Compromised by politics? A response to the judiciary of Zambia, News Diggers; Zambia is on the verge of being a one-party state, African Arguments Is the #birdflu changing? Recent human infections with #H5N1 have a lower fatality rate than past outbreaks. Could this mean a less severe #pandemic if it happens? #publichealth H5N1s Evolving Threat Trusted Source CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement Advertisement CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response - (https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/h5n1-response-09272024.html) A study on sustained mammal-to-mammal transmission of bird flu across various species reveals that global control measures are falling short. Published inthe research examined outbreaks in European fur farms, South American marine mammals, and U.S. dairy cattle, raising concerns about the potential risk to humans. Zoonotic influenza expert Dr. Thomas Peacock and his team assessed how recent shifts in the ecology and molecular evolution of H5N1 in wild and domestic birds have heightened the chances of spillover to mammals.They also weighed various evolutionary pathways that could turn the global H5N1 influenza panzootic into a human pandemic virus. Influenza A viruses (IAV) have caused more documented global pandemics in human history than any other pathogen. Historically, swine are considered optimal intermediary hosts that help avian influenza viruses adapt to mammals before jumping to humans, said Dr. Peacock, who investigates the drivers of the current H5N1 avian influenza panzootic. However, the altered ecology of H5N1 has opened the door to new evolutionary pathways.The review highlights potential gaps in control mechanisms, including a reluctance to engage with modern vaccine and surveillance technologies and a dearth of data collection around the transmission of H5N1 between cows and to humans on US dairy farms.Whilst previous generations of US cattle producers had eradicated foot-and-mouth disease by rapidly sharing epidemiological data, the authors say months of missing data is leaving researchers, veterinarians, and policy makers in the dark.H5N1 () is a reportable disease in poultry, but not mammals, in the US. The US Department of Agriculture requires H5N1 testing only in lactating cattle prior to interstate movement, said Dr. Peacock.Current practices for H5N1 testing in wildlife focus on carcasses, not monitoring animals whilst alive, the paper notes, providing opportunities for variants of H5N1 to spread silently undetected.What keeps scientists up at night is the possibility of unseen chains of transmission silently spreading through farm worker barracks, swine barns, or developing countries, evolving under the radar because testing criteria are narrow, government authorities are feared, or resources are thin.An evolutionary process of genomic reassortment in viruses with segmented genomes is driving the global panzootic outbreak. When two or more viruses co-infect a single host, they can swap entire segments during genome replication to create novel hybrids.The reassortment between H5N8 and low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses that generated the panzootic H5N1 virus in the Americas is believed to have occurred in Europe or central Asia around 2020, infecting South American marine mammals and US dairy cattle.The writers say the prospect of H5N1 becoming continually present in Europe and the Americas is a turning point for High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI).New control strategies are needed, including vaccination. Influenza vaccines are licensed for poultry that reduce disease burden, but do not prevent infection and have varying degrees of success.Stocks of H5 vaccine that are antigenically related to circulating viruses are available and could be produced at scale using mRNA platforms if H5N1 begins spreading in humans, the authors note.The severity of a future H5N1 pandemic remains unclear. Recent human infections with H5N1 have a substantially lower case fatality rate compared to prior H5N1 outbreak in Asia, where half of people with reported infections died. The lack of severity in US cases may be due to infection through the eye, rather than through viral pneumonia in the lung .Older people appear to have partial immunity to H5N1 due to childhood exposure, whereas younger people born since the 1968 H3N2 pandemic may be more susceptible to severe disease in a H5N1 pandemic.Source-Eurekalert Highlights: Female physicians have seen a decrease in suicide rates, yet remain at a 24% higher risk compared to the general public Contributing factors include the double burden of work and home life, sexual harassment, and perfectionism Strategies to reduce risks involve improving mental health support, combating gender discrimination, and balancing work burdens Trusted Source Suicide rates among physicians compared with the general population in studies from 20 countries: gender stratified systematic review and meta-analysis Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Female doctors (physicians) are significantly more likely to face workplace harassment, impacting their mental health and suicide rates. #medindia #mentalhealth #femaledoctors Female doctors (physicians) are significantly more likely to face workplace harassment, impacting their mental health and suicide rates. #medindia #mentalhealth #femaledoctors Advertisement Suicide Rates Among Male and Female Doctors Factors Contributing to Suicide Risk in Female Physicians Double Burden: Women often struggle to balance their demanding medical careers with household responsibilities. This can lead to increased stress and burnout. Women often struggle to balance their demanding medical careers with household responsibilities. This can lead to increased stress and burnout. Sexual Harassment: Schernhammer points to data from 20 years ago that showed three-quarters of female physicians experienced sexual harassment from male colleagues. Schernhammer points to data from 20 years ago that showed three-quarters of female physicians experienced sexual harassment from male colleagues. Mental Health: Perfectionism and self-criticism are common traits among physicians, making them more prone to depression and other mental health issues. Perfectionism and self-criticism are common traits among physicians, making them more prone to depression and other mental health issues. Drug Access and Usage: Female doctors tend to use poisoning as a method of suicide, leveraging their knowledge of drugs for a higher completion rate. Advertisement Addressing Female Physician Suicide Rates Advertisement Strategies to Reduce Suicide Rates Among Physicians Improved Mental Health Support: Creating environments where doctors can freely discuss their mental health without fear of stigma is critical. Creating environments where doctors can freely discuss their mental health without fear of stigma is critical. Combating Gender Discrimination: Addressing and preventing gender-based issues, including harassment and unequal treatment, remains a priority. Addressing and preventing gender-based issues, including harassment and unequal treatment, remains a priority. Reducing Work Burdens: Continued efforts to balance workloads and support work-life balance, particularly for female physicians, are necessary. Suicide rates among physicians compared with the general population in studies from 20 countries: gender stratified systematic review and meta-analysis - (https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj-2023-078964) Women physicians face a 24% higher risk of suicide compared to the general population a recent study by Harvard epidemiologist Eva Schernhammer reveals. Although this is a marked improvement from 20 years ago, when the risk was 76% higher, the issue remains significant. Schernhammer first embarked on this research after losing close colleagues to suicide ().Historically, suicide rates among male doctors have been higher than the general public. Schernhammers 2004 analysis showed a 5% higher risk for male physicians. However, the data on female doctors, who had only recently begun entering the field in significant numbers, was less studied. Her findings were shocking at the time, with female physicians exhibiting a much higher suicide risk compared to male counterparts.Several factors contribute to the elevated risk of suicide among female doctors:The recent study confirms that the suicide rate among women physicians has decreased compared to two decades ago. Schernhammer credits the increase in women entering the medical profession and the progress in addressing workplace issues like harassment and the double burden at home. Supportive environments, reduced working hours, and mental health interventions have also contributed to this improvement.However, the study predominantly focuses on women from the U.S. and Europe, with limited data from other regions like India. Schernhammer emphasizes the importance of expanding research globally, particularly in countries where working conditions for female physicians remain challenging.The interview with Schernhammer highlights several strategies to further reduce suicide rates among female physicians:As Schernhammer suggests, Improving strategies for doctors mental health is crucial, as well as creating supportive environments, combating gender discrimination, and including mental health in training.The reduction in suicide rates among female doctors over the past two decades is promising, but the 24% elevated risk remains a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by women in medicine. By expanding research globally, implementing effective mental health programs, and continuing to address gender-based disparities, further progress can be made. As more awareness is raised, it is crucial that female physicians feel empowered to seek help, knowing they are not alone in their struggles.Source-Medindia Trusted Source "I hear you". Validation in the context of children's pain as an untapped opportunity to prevent chronic pain Go to source Trusted Source Listening to children's pain helps them trust and manage it more effectively later in life. #pain #kids #childhealth #medindia Advertisement Building Trust in Childrens Pain Advertisement Consequences of Ignoring Childrens Pain Advertisement Methods to Support Childrens Health and Well-Being I hear you. Validation in the context of childrens pain as an untapped opportunity to prevent chronic pain - (https:journals.lww.com/pain/citation/9900/_i_hear_you___validation_in_the_context_of.669.aspx) Parents and doctors shape how children manage pain later in life by the way they treat pain, whether its a minor injury or fear of injections Researchers at the University of South Australia (UNiSA) urge parents and doctors to be cautious of how they treat and care for children in pain . Acknowledging pain during childhood directly influences their pain responses as adults ().Experts, drawing from research in developmental psychology, child mental health, and pain science, explain the need to validate childrens pain, ensuring their emotions and reactions are recognized as normal and understood.By validating a childs pain, the child feels heard and believed, reinforcing their trust and connection with their parent or a treating doctor. UniSA researcher Dr. Sarah Wallwork says social relationships play a critical role in shaping how health is experienced throughout the lifespan.When a parent or doctor validates a childs experiences in a way that matches their expressed vulnerability, it helps the child to feel accepted, builds connection and trust, and may help the child to develop critical skills in regulating their emotions, Dr. Wallwork says.For example, when a doctor is attentive and responds to a childs emotional and behavioral cues, particularly about seeking help, the clinician tells the child their pain is real and concurrently reinforces helpful pain management behaviors, such as attending the clinic."However, if these cues are missed, or the doctor questions the validity of their pain, this can have negative consequences for the child. Not only can it affect the clinician-patient relationship and trust, but it can also impact future appointment attendance and adherence to a pain management plan.Pain and emotion are inextricably linked, with emotion dysregulation commonly co-occurring with chronic pain. By validating childrens experiences of pain, they are likely to hold fewer negatively biased memories of pain and be in a better position to seek help in the future, when they need it.In Australia, as many as one in four children experience chronic pain. The economic burden of chronic pain in Australia is more than $139 billion, mostly through reduced quality of life and productivity losses.Dr. Wallwork says that setting children up for success should cover all aspects of life, including pain management.Our research highlights an underemphasized element of child and youth pain treatment, especially for children in minoritized groups, who are systematically undertreated for pain, Dr. Wallwork says.People with chronic pain often report that their pain-related experiences are met with disbelief or dismissal. This can have significant consequences, including poor mental health and reduced quality of life.Given the significant burden of chronic pain, and the clear intersection with the rising child mental health crisis, its important that we better manage pain earlier on, rather than waiting until it is too late.Dr. Wallwork says this review provides a building block for future empirical research.Source-Eurekalert Trouble doesnt seem to end for Diljit Dosanjh starrer upcoming film Punjab 95. The Honey Trehan directorial is a biopic on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra who was a prominent figure during the Punjab insurgency and plays an important role in investigating the disappearance and killing of Sikh youths during the Punjab insurgency between 1984 and 1994. Earlier this year, it was reported that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had demanded 85 cuts in the film and now the revising committee along with CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi watched Punjab 95 and the required cuts to secure a certificate is increased to 120, as per Mid-Day. The board has also asked the makers to change the films title along with the name of the lead character played by Diljit. The 95 in Punjab 95 signifies the year Khalra was killed and a decade later six Punjab police personnels were convicted of his murder. RSVP A source told the website, Per the CBFCs suggestion, the film will now be called Sutlej, denoting the river that unites Punjab. There are a total of almost 120 changes! The most pivotal change is to not call the protagonist Jaswant Singh anymore. Honey and producer Ronnie Screwvala told CBFC that they wont allow this change in a film that highlights Khalras role in investigating the disappearance and killing of Sikh youths during the Punjab insurgency between 1984 and 1994. Their point of argument was that Khalra is seen as a martyr by the Sikh community and removing his name will be disrespectful not just to him and his family, but to the entire community. Not to mention that it then wont be a biopic anymore. The CBFC also stated that the movie cannot claim to be based on real-life incidents as they felt it would lead to swaying of sentiments. As for some of the cuts demanded by the board, the source revealed, In a scene, there is a Gurbani that has been asked to be removed. They have also instructed that any mention of Punjab and the district of Tarn Taran be dropped. Moreover, display of the national flag and any reference to Canada or the UK has to be dropped altogether. If the makers agree to these changes, they will be handed the certificate before the week ends. It is also reported that the film was first screened for the CBFC in 2022 and has been stuck with the board for two years now. Recently, it was announced that India has selected Kiran Raos Laapataa Ladies as its official submission for Oscars 2025 leaving behind the other 28 films that were in contention. However, the decision was met with some resistance by a number of people on social media who wondered why Payal Kapadias All We Imagine as Light wasnt selected despite it having better chances at the Oscars considering the film won Grand Prix - the second highest honour at the Cannes Film Festival. Aamir Khan Productions While the Aamir Khan-produced Laapataa Ladies is now Indias best bet at the Oscars, the United Kingdom (UK) made a surprising selection while submitting a film for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards 2025. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, filmmaker Sandhay Suris feature film debut Santosh which is an Indian police procedural drama has been selected as the UKs official submission for Oscars 2025. The film stars Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar in the lead roles and is about a young Hindu widow named Santosh (Goswami) who inherits her husbands job of a police constable and finds herself investigating the brutal murder of a lower caste teenage girl from Dalit community. While doing so, she also finds herself embroiled in institutional corruption as he has to work with veteran detective Inspector Sharma (Rajwar). BBC Film Before her feature-length debut, Sandhya Suri made acclaimed documentary I For India (2005) and short film The Field which earned a BAFTA nomination in 2019. As for Shahana Goswami, the actress has starred in many popular Indian films like Rock On, Ra.One, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Zwigato, Heroine etc. Sunita Rajwar was recently seen in mega blockbuster Stree 2 and is known for her performance in the much-loved web series Panchayat. Veteran actress Urmila Matondkar has recently filed for divorce from her Kashmiri husband Mohsin Akhtar after 8 years of their marriage. The reason behind the divorce The real reason behind the divorce is yet to be revealed. A source close to the Mumbai court told Hindustan Times, After careful consideration, Urmila has decided to call it quits on her marriage with Mohsin. She has already filed for divorce in court. While the reason behind the separation is still not known, the divorce isnt happening on mutual terms. The reactions This news has shocked Urmila Matondkar fans and they are sad that the couple had to endure this. One user commented, Hope the media doesnt turn this into another endless debate. Personal matters deserve privacy and respect. Hope the media doesnt turn this into another endless debate. Personal matters deserve privacy and respect Being Indian! (@sangene4life) September 25, 2024 Another user commented, What happened in their life that the take a decision of Urmila Matondkar files for Divorce from husband Mohsin Akhtar after 8 years of marriage. what happened in their life that the take a decision of Urmila Matondkar files for Divorce from husband Mohsin Akhtar after 8 years of marriage #UrmilaMatondkar Baishnva Mishra (@Haruto657359301) September 25, 2024 One user reacted, One more divorce in bollywood Industry. Urmila Matondkar files divorce against her husband after 8 yeard of marriage. One more divorce in bollywood Industry. Urmila Matondkar files divorce against her husband after 8 yeard of marriage. #UrmilaMatondkar#Divorce pic.twitter.com/Sz8MfreJPA RiyA Rawat (@RiyaRawat07) September 25, 2024 The marriage and controversy Urmila and Mohsin got married on February 4, 2016, in a private ceremony. Their wedding gained a lot of attention at the time, not only because they were from different faiths but also due to the 10-year age difference between them. A planned strike by US dockworkers in key US ports such as New York, Houston and Savannah will cause immediate disruption to US-UK trade and a strike lasting just two weeks could disrupt goods into 2025. US dockworkers are planning to strike at 36 ports on the US East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico from 1 October. The UK-US delivery specialist Parcelhero says the strike, if it goes ahead, will have an immediate and significant impact on the flow of goods (ranging from cars to food and beverages) between the USA and the UK. David Jinks M.I.L.T., Parcelheros Head of Consumer Research and former Editor of Lloyds Shipping Index, says: A strike by US dockworkers, known as longshoremen in the US, now looks increasingly likely. It will immediately disrupt the US-UK flow of goods including vehicles, domestic appliances, electronics, cosmetics and plastics such as toys. While it could take up to six days to recover from a single days strike, action lasting more than a fortnight could impact Christmas and beyond. The strike is being organised by the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) union, which represents port workers across the East and Gulf Coasts. The ILA is demanding sizable wage increases for its members as well as protection from loss of jobs through automation. The ILA says its strike will affect ports from Maine to Texas and could involve up to 45,000 workers. Around 60% of all US shipping traffic could be caught up in the strike. For example, the Port of New York and New Jersey is set to be disrupted by the strike. In 2022, it became Americas largest port in terms of volumes handled. 80% of imports destined for use in the US use the port and in 2023 alone it handled 7.8 million TEU containers. The key ports of Houston, Texas and Savannah, Georgia, are also likely to be impacted by strike action. Already, many shipping companies sailing between the UK/EU and the US are diverting cargo to West Coast ports such as Long Beach and Los Angeles to ensure containers arent trapped. Long Beach has just had its busiest-ever month as shipping companies and exporters hurriedly divert. Many UK-US products rely on direct routes across the Atlantic and they will be heavily impacted. For example, depending on the UK port, it typically takes 12-15 days for a sailing between the UK and New York. By contrast, a typical shipment between the UK and Los Angeles takes around 30-39 days and is likely to be more expensive. One major problem is that container ships leaving the UK now will arrive in the US days after the strike has started, if it goes ahead. Critically, shipping lines may not be able to divert vessels bound for the US East Coast to West Coast ports after 1 October, as the ILA has made it clear it would picket such a move. UK manufacturers and exporters could have their products stuck in US ports just as the run-up to the Christmas peak gets underway, while UK importers will be impacted by the delay of many US-manufactured products. Better news is that most smaller items, such as parcels, are unlikely to be caught up in the strike. Its only once a shipment weighs more than around 100-500kg that shipping by sea becomes potentially a cheaper option than airfreight. That means the strikes are unlikely to significantly impact courier express parcel deliveries such as typical Parcelhero services to and from the US East Coast. Mostly, it will be larger, heavier goods, which cannot be airfreighted, that will be hit by delays. However, UK businesses should also be aware of a potential impact of the restrictions on budget, low-urgency surface mail, the term used by freight companies to describe mail transported by land and sea. We do advise everyone sending items to the US to regularly check Parcelheros USA page, which gives full details of changes in prices, Customs advice and details about sending food etc. Days before deployed soldiers were due to begin getting a much anticipated monthly pay bonus, the Army has delayed the payments with no timeline as to when they will debut. The pay bump was due to begin next Tuesday, but Army officials said that all the details of the bonus had never been sorted, inevitably leading to pay errors if the program was rushed. Military.com was first to report on a draft memo last week that outlined a plan to pay soldiers between $210 and $450 per month extra depending on rank, a bonus dubbed Operational Deployment Pay, for time away from home exceeding 30 days. Read Next: Senate Approves National Guard Chief, Ending 2-Month Vacancy "The Army is reviewing the Operational Deployment Pay policy and, as such, we will not be implementing the policy on Oct. 1," Bryce Dubee, a service spokesperson, said in a statement. "When the review is complete, we will provide additional guidance." The memo was widely circulated and briefed to commanders as recently as two weeks ago, service officials told Military.com. At the time, the Army did not respond to requests for comment when asked about numerous uncertainties in the policy -- such as how the service is paying for it or whether it stacks on top of other deployment bonuses, including imminent fire pay for troops in combat zones. The policy also suggested troops who are hospitalized would lose their bonus pay, which was potentially a typo or gross oversight. "We got ahead of our skis here; it was inappropriate to brief leaders on clearly underbaked policy," one Army official with direct knowledge of the situation told Military.com on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. "This should've never made it as far as it did." Traditionally, such huge policy shifts are tweaked for months at the Pentagon and circulated among top brass for feedback, but word of the bonus pay made its way down to the junior soldier level in some units currently deployed -- leading to some commanders having to warn subordinates not to rely on any new money in their pockets, given the uncertainty around the policy. The deployment bonus was exclusive to the Army. Some services have unique duty pay, such as the Navy's sea pay. The move to give soldiers a little extra pay comes amid a frantic schedule of deployments that outpaces the cadence of missions from the peak of the Global War on Terrorism. The pace of combat missions has dramatically scaled down in the past decade, but troops are still deployed in combat zones in Africa and the Middle East -- though conventional units are rarely engaged in direct combat operations. However, the Army is spread thin across two hemispheres: It is maintaining its mission to bolster NATO's front line in Europe amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- as soldiers run prolonged training missions with allies in countries such as Poland, Germany and Lithuania. Meanwhile, the service is also expanding its footprint in the Pacific with the Biden administration's move to establish a powerful foothold in the region to rein in China's expansionist goals. Related: Soldiers Are Getting Burned Out. Army Leadership Knows It's a Problem. WASHINGTON House Republicans on Wednesday voted to condemn President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, capping their work in Washington with legislation that carried no legal weight but drove a political point ahead of the November elections. The resolution passed 219 - 194 with 10 Democrats and all Republicans voting in favor. It condemned Biden, Harris and other officials in the administration for decision-making and execution failures throughout the withdrawal from Afghanistan as well as blamed them for the deaths of 13 U.S. service members who were killed by a suicide bomber at Kabul's airport during the final days of the evacuation. On the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who as president negotiated the withdrawal deal with the Taliban, has repeatedly blamed Harris for the chaotic and deadly evacuation while she was serving as Biden's vice president. Harris, now the Democratic candidate for president, has shot back that Trump is to blame for his role in the deal and that she agrees with Biden's decision to end America's longest war. Republicans have used their House majority to make Trump's case in recent weeks, releasing a report that mostly blamed Biden. On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee also advanced contempt of Congress charges against Secretary of State Antony Blinken following a contentious back-and-forth with the Cabinet secretary over an appearance to testify on the withdrawal. Three years ago, the world witnessed one of the most devastating policy disasters in American history. The Biden-Harris administration withdrew all U.S. forces from Afghanistan with no plan, no care and no remorse, Rep. Michael McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on the House floor Wednesday. As a result, 13 brave U.S. servicemembers and over 170 Afghan civilians were murdered and 45 U.S. servicemembers and countless others were injured, added McCaul, a Texas Republican. Most assessments have concluded Trump and Biden share blame for the collapse that concluded the 20-year war, which saw Taliban fighters take over Afghanistan again before the last American troops even flew out of the Kabul airport. Over 2,000 U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan. The reviews, including the 18-month House investigation led by House Republicans, have not pinpointed any instance where Harris had a particular impact on decision-making on the withdrawal. The main U.S. government watchdog for the war points to Trumps 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw all U.S. forces and military contractors as the single most important factor in the collapse of U.S.-allied Afghan security forces and Taliban takeover. Bidens April 2021 announcement that he would proceed with the withdrawal set in motion by Trump was the second-biggest factor, the watchdog said. Democrats on Wednesday faulted House Republicans for rushing the resolution to the House floor and criticized it as an attempt to further politicize blame for the withdrawal. Republicans are trying desperately to clean up a candidate, a candidate that truly has a flawed record Trumps record on this withdrawal, said Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. President Joe Biden announced $2.4 billion in military assistance for Ukraine on Thursday and plans to convene a leader-level meeting of key allies to coordinate additional support when he visits Germany next month. The announcement, which came ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the White House later in the day, said Biden was directing the Pentagon to allocate the full remainder of Ukraine assistance before the end of his term. The Defense Department is also unveiling an initial package that included additional air defense systems, drones, and munitions. Biden is also providing Ukraine with a new long-range munition known as the Joint Standoff Weapon, and has asked the Pentagon to refurbish an additional Patriot air defense battery and expand the F-16 training program for Ukrainian pilots. Additionally, the U.S. is moving to disrupt a cryptocurrency network it says has been helping Russia to evade sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. And Biden said he was working to ensure that restrictions on the drawdown of U.S. equipment didn't prevent Ukraine from receiving assistance. "There is more work to do," Biden said in the statement. "That is why, today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war." The new steps are in addition to a new $375 million weapons package that included rocket systems and artillery announced Wednesday as leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Still, the effort is likely to fall short of some of the security and economic guarantees Zelenskyy is expected to seek as part of his proposal, including NATO membership and promises of guaranteed access to certain advanced weapons systems. Long-term prospects for Ukraine assistance have also been muddied this week amid a simmering dispute between Zelenskyy and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. While the Ukrainian leader will meet with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris during his trip to the White House, Trump declined Zelenskyy's offer for a meeting. The snub came after the New Yorker published an interview in which Zelenskyy called Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance "too radical." Trump's campaign was dismayed that Zelenskyy visited the battleground state of Pennsylvania on his U.S. taxpayer-funded trip to the U.S., according to a person who requested anonymity to detail internal discussions. At an event Wednesday, Trump said Zelenskyy was "making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president" and criticized Ukraine for failing to broker a deal with Russia to end the war. "The president of Ukraine is in our country, and he's making little, nasty aspersions toward your favorite president," Trump said Wednesday. "Biden and Kamala allowed this to happen by feeding Zelenskyy money and munitions like no country has ever seen before. Every time he came to our country, he'd walk away with $60 billion." House Speaker Mike Johnson will also not meet Zelenskyy during his visit to Washington, and the Louisiana Republican said Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, should be fired over her president's visit to a munitions plant in Pennsylvania. "The facility was in a politically contested battleground state, was led by a top political surrogate for Kamala Harris, and failed to include a single Republican because -- on purpose -- no Republicans were invited," Johnson said in a statement. "The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference." 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico The president of Haitis transitional presidential council announced Thursday that he supports a U.N. peacekeeping mission to fight gang violence still overwhelming authorities. It was the first public support announced by a Haitian government official since the U.S. proposed a U.N. peacekeeping mission earlier this month as one way to secure more resources for a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenya that officials say lacks personnel and funding. I am convinced that this change of status, whilst recognizing the errors of the past cannot be repeated, would guarantee the full success of the mission, Edgard Leblanc Fils, council president, said at the U.N. General Assembly. On Wednesday, Fils met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others to talk about the state of the mission, which began when the first contingent of Kenyan police arrived in Haiti in late June. Nearly 400 Kenyan officers are now in Haiti, joined by nearly two dozen police officers and soldiers from Jamaica. The officers fall significantly short of the 2,500 pledged by various countries, including Chad, Benin, Bangladesh and Barbados for the mission. The mandate of the current mission expires soon and must be renewed by Oct. 2. We would like to see a thought being given to transforming the security support mission into a peacekeeping mission under the mandate of the U.N. Leblanc said. A senior U.S. State Department official said Wednesday that the U.S. and some of its partners would like to make changes to the mandate to lay out a path to become a more traditional peacekeeping operation, but the Russians and Chinese, who supported the initial mandate, have expressed concerns about doing that. The U.N. Security Council would ultimately have to vote on a peacekeeping mission, and experts have said its unlikely it would support one. They have noted many Haitians would likely balk at it given the introduction of cholera and sexual abuse cases that occurred when U.N. troops were last in Haiti. Since the early 1900s, there have been at least three major foreign military interventions in Haiti led by the United States and the United Nations. A U.N. peacekeeping effort was launched in September 1993 and ran until 2000. Then in February 2004, former President Jean Bertrand Aristide was overthrown a second time and flown out of Haiti by the U.S., which sent troops as did Canada, France and Chile. They were soon replaced by troops of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, which stayed until 2017. Although some of these missions have helped to temporarily stabilize the country, they also have left behind a heavy heritage, Leblanc said. The U.N.s 2004-2017 peacekeeping mission was marred by allegations of sexual assault by its troops and staffers and claims that peacekeepers from Nepal introduced cholera into Haitis largest river in October 2010 through sewage runoff from their base. The U.N. has since acknowledged it played a role in the epidemic and that it did not do enough to help fight it, but it has not specifically acknowledged it introduced the disease. The epidemic killed nearly 10,000 people. Leblanc said that while the current U.N.-backed mission has made some inroads, a lot still remains to be done. He said Haitians continue to live in fear and cannot move around the country freely, unable to work or send their children to school without great risk. He said the country's security continues to deteriorate. Armed gangs that control 80% of the capital of Port-au-Prince have only grown more powerful since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Its weakening institutions, paralyzing the economy and its undermining hope in a better tomorrow. The future of the country is under threat, Leblanc said. More than 3,600 people have been reported killed during the first half of this year, a more than 70% increase compared with the same period last year. The violence also has left nearly 700,000 Haitians homeless in recent years and thousands have fled Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. On Wednesday, Dominican President Luis Abinader said he would take drastic measures if the mission in neighboring Haiti fails. He did not provide specifics. Also on Wednesday, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille noted that about 25% of Haitis police officers have left the country, and of those still working, about two are wounded and one killed every week. He said he expects Haiti to hold elections by November for the first time since 2016 even though we know we will not have the highest level of security. On Thursday, Leblanc said Haitis government was thinking of all the hard-working Haitians who have left their country because of the insecurity and hoped they would return once conditions improve. He thanked those showing solidarity with Haitian migrants, especially those in Springfield." Haitians living in that Ohio town have said they fear for their safety after former President Donald Trump falsely accused immigrants there of abducting and eating pets. The passions that naturally arise during an election campaign should never serve as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country such as the United States, a country forged by immigrants," Leblanc said. MOSCOW Changes in Russia's nuclear doctrine that were announced by President Vladimir Putin are intended to discourage Ukraine's Western allies from supporting attacks on Russia, the Kremlin said Thursday. The United States and the European Union both denounced the latest statements by the Russian leader as irresponsible. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the revisions in the document outlined Wednesday by Putin are a warning signal to those countries about the consequences in case of their involvement in an attack on our country with various assets, not necessarily nuclear ones. In the strong, new warning to the West, Putin said that any nations conventional attack on Russia that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country. The threat was clearly aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range weapons and appears to significantly lower the threshold for the possible use of Russias nuclear arsenal. Speaking at Wednesdays Security Council meeting that discussed changes in the doctrine, Putin didnt specify whether the modified document envisages a nuclear response to such an attack. He emphasized, however, that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional assault posing a critical threat to our sovereignty, a vague formulation that leaves broad room for interpretation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Putin's statement as totally irresponsible, saying on MSNBC that many in the world have spoken clearly about that when hes been rattling the nuclear saber, including China in the past. To do that now while the worlds gathered in New York, including talking about the need for more disarmament, nonproliferation, I think thats going to play very badly around the world, Blinken said, referring to the meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. European Commission spokesman Peter Stano similarly criticized Putins statements about the nuclear doctrine as a continuation of the very irresponsible and unacceptable behavior by the Russian leader, showing that he doesnt shy away from playing the nuclear gamble over and over again. Russia is making slow but steady gains in Ukraine as the conflict grinds through its third year, and the Kremlin is seeking to discourage stronger Western support for Kyiv. Ukraine has repeatedly struck Russian territory with missiles and drones in response to Moscows attacks, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing the U.S. and other Western allies for permission to use the longer-range Western weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory. The Biden administration has said it hasnt given Kyiv the go-ahead for strikes with American weapons deep inside Russia. Zelenskyy is meeting Thursday at the White House with Biden, who announced billions of dollars more in new weapons deliveries, including an additional Patriot missile defense battery and a new shipment of glide bombs that can be deployed from F-16 fighter jets, a few of which already have been supplied to Ukraine. Putin said the revised doctrine spells out conditions for using nuclear weapons in greater detail, noting that they could be used in case of a massive air attack. The new phrasing holds the door open to a potential nuclear response to any aerial attack -- a deliberate ambiguity intended to make the West more reluctant to allow longer-range strikes. Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, he and other Kremlin voices have frequently threatened the West with Russias nuclear arsenal to discourage it from ramping up support for Kyiv. Earlier this month, Putin warned the U.S. and other NATO allies that allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied longer-range weapons to hit Russian territory would put Russia and NATO in a direct conflict. ___ Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters (including Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet) that shortstop Bo Bichette is slated to undergo surgery to repair a displaced fracture in his right middle finger. Bichette was placed on the injured list due to the fracture last week in a move that had already brought his 2024 season to a close, and Schneider indicated that Bichette should be good to go come Spring Training in February. Bichette, 26, endured the worst season of his career this year as he battled injuries and ineffectiveness all year. The two-time All-Star was limited to just 81 games this season due to multiple IL stints caused by calf strains this year, and even when healthy enough to take the field he hit a lackluster .225/.277/.322 (70 wRC+) in 336 trips to the plate. Thats a less than ideal slash line for any regular big leaguer, but its especially troublesome for a young star who has never posted a wRC+ below 120 in his major league career prior to this year. Prior to this years injury-marred blip, Bichette has been among the most consistent stars in the league with a career slash line of .299/.340/.487 (127 wRC+) entering the 2024 campaign. That strong pedigree was enough to generate some trade buzz regarding Bichette ahead of this years trade deadline as the Blue Jays fell out of the postseason picture, though the club seemed hesitant to deal either him or fellow star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before Bichettes injury woes ultimately snuffed out whatever possibility for a deal to come together there may have been. Looking ahead to the offseason, the Blue Jays have generally indicated that they hope to return to contention in 2025, and if truly the club is committed to putting the best possible team on the field for next season its hard to imagine that being possible while also dealing either Bichette or Guerrero this winter. Of course, that doesnt mean a trade of either or even both stars is impossible with one year left before the pair heads to free agency, and it seems likely that this surgery will do little to dissuade interested parties from pursuing the shortstop given that hes expected to be ready to go by the time Spring Training rolls around. The Blue Jays also provided an update on the status of center fielder Daulton Varsho today in the aftermath of his previously announced surgery to repair a rotator cuff injury in his shoulder. As noted by Scott Mitchell of SportsCenter, no further damage was discovered in Varshos successful rotator cuff surgery today, leading to a standard procedure. That said, Toronto was unwilling to commit to Varsho being ready for Spring Training when his surgery was first announced, and Mitchell indicates even with the procedure completed his readiness for the start of camp is still up in the air. According to Mitchell, Varshos current timeline has him toeing the line to be fully ready for this spring even in the event that he avoids any setbacks over the offseason. Still, even a delayed start to Spring Training wouldnt necessarily stop the outfielder from being back in time to make the clubs Opening Day roster in 2025. The 28-year-old enjoyed a solid season in 2024, slashing a roughly league average .214/.293/.407 (99 wRC+) while also chipping in ten stolen bases and playing superb defense in center field. September 30: Irvin has been outrighted to Triple-A St. Paul, per his transactions tracker at MLB.com. September 25: The Twins made a handful of moves before tonights games against the Marlins. Minnesota designated left-hander Cole Irvin for assignment, optioned southpaw Brent Headrick and placed outfielder Matt Wallner on the 10-day injured list due to a left oblique strain. Theyre replaced on the active roster by Justin Topa, Jorge Alcala and Austin Martin. Minnesota recalled Alcala and Martin from Triple-A St. Paul while activating Topa from the 60-day injured list. Minnesota brought Irvin in on a waiver claim from the Orioles last week. The 30-year-old southpaw made four appearances out of Rocco Baldellis bullpen. He allowed five runs across 3 2/3 innings with four walks and only two strikeouts. Irvin made it through a scoreless inning yesterday against Miami but needed to work around a pair of free passes. This has been a generally tough season for Irvin, whom the Os had DFA twice as well. He bounced between Baltimores rotation and long relief work, combining for a 4.86 ERA across 107 1/3 innings. Irvin had been a durable source of roughly league average innings for the As between 2021-22, but he allowed 4.68 earned runs per nine over a season and a half in Baltimore. The Twins will put Irvin on waivers in the next few days. Hell almost certainly clear and would likely elect free agency at that point. Minnesota acquired Irvin after the calendar flipped to September. Even if they make the postseason which now looks to be a long shot as theyve fallen two games back of the Royals and Tigers with five to play Irvin would have been ineligible to participate. Its possible hell need to take a minor league deal this offseason. Topa, 33, steps right into must-win games for his team debut. The Twins acquired him from the Mariners as part of the Jorge Polanco deal. They no doubt envisioned him as a high-leverage bullpen piece after hed thrown 69 innings of 2.61 ERA ball in a breakout year for Seattle. A lengthy injury history had prevented Topa from emerging until his age-32 campaign, though, and that unfortunately resurfaced with his new organization. The right-hander suffered a left knee injury in Spring Training and was eventually diagnosed with a partially torn patellar tendon. A rehab stint in July proved unsuccessful. Topa began a new rehab stint last week, pitching two innings in as many Triple-A appearances. With the minor league season finished and time running low for the MLB club, hell head to Target Field. Minnesotas bullpen has played a role in their second half collapse. Only the Red Sox have a higher bullpen ERA since the All-Star Break. They havent blown many leads but have had a tough time keeping games from getting out of hand. Baldelli might be reluctant to plug Topa into leverage spots after a six-month layoff. Hell at least be a high-upside option in the middle innings. The Twins will need to mount their playoff push without one of their more productive offensive players. Wallner is hitting .259/.372/.523 with 13 homers across 261 plate appearances. Hes done for the rest of the regular season and would miss at least the Wild Card series if the Twins qualify. Oblique strains usually cost a player multiple weeks, so theres a good chance his season is over. Max Kepler told reporters yesterday that he also wont make it back during the regular season (link via Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune). Kepler has missed most of September with a left knee injury. The Twins are going with an outfield of Willi Castro, Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach tonight against Miami righty Edward Cabrera. House Democrats have unveiled additional financing that could restore close to half the hundreds of millions of dollars in school mental health and safety funds initially axed this year from Michigans state budget. During a press conference Wednesday, Sept. 25, party lawmakers announced roughly $125 million would be reappropriated in a move they celebrated as just one education-related measure ushered through the Democratic-majority state legislature this week. LANSING, MI Independent auditors submitted their final marks for how well Michigans largest two utilities provide power to 4.1 million ratepayers and its unclear whether the companies even earned passing grades. Investigators submitted to state authorities a wide-ranging laundry list of problems found with power grid infrastructure owned by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy. Not only did auditors confirm a pattern of lengthy and widespread power outages, but they also found heightened electric shock risk to workers and the public, outdated electronic equipment, and often overgrown power line rights-of-way zones. State utility regulators called this an extraordinary and first-of-its-kind examination of the utilities operations. They will hear a rundown of the auditors findings during a Michigan Public Services Commission meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. Dan Scripps, commission chairperson, said the nearly 500-page report will be a valuable tool as the regulatory agency works to reduce power outages, shorten the time for services to be restored after storms, and keep people safe when power lines come down. He called it a roadmap to a grid that meets customer expectations. The audit underscores that now is the time for both companies to focus more on strategic investments to prevent outages rather than reacting to them, Scripps said. DTE Energy crews on the scene of a winter power outage in Ann Arbor on Jan. 13, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News Officials with both DTE and Consumers acknowledged the audit revealed major electric grid improvements are expected by their customers. Matt Paul, DTE president and top operating officer, said the company is determined to reduce outages by 30% and cut outage time in half by 2029. He said dramatic improvement in reliability will happen in the next five years with a company plan that includes significant investments in smart grid technology, aggressive tree trimming, infrastructure upgrades and rebuilding portions of the grid. (Auditors) also point out that our plan is both ambitious and aggressive, and we accept that challenge, Paul said. Consumers Energy officials said the audit was constructive and the auditors were deeply experienced. The utility pointed to its reliability plan for fewer and shorter power outages, including a goal that no customer goes without electricity more than 24 hours. Our investments are focused on the customers we serve by adding technology, burying power lines and clearing trees, said Katie Carey, Consumers spokesperson. Consumers Energy workers replace power lines along West Michigan Avenue in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com A quick analysis of the reports shows there were both overlapping and distinctive concerns about the two utilities electric service distribution systems. Both DTE and Consumers ranked worse than average among utilities for the average time required to restore service. Also, both utilities failed to keep up with planned tree-trimming rotation schedules, despite falling branches being a key cause of outages. Unique to DTE was that about 45%, or about one million electric ratepayers, are served by an ungrounded 4.8 kilovolt system that requires more time to locate and fix faults. Thats rather than more modern 8.3 kV or 13.2kV systems, which come with lower risk of electric shock for workers and the public. Also, auditors found old and badly maintained substation transformers leave DTE with a high failure rate because of that legacy equipment. Auditors found Consumers had unique issues with its power grid system, too. Warning tape that reads Danger - live wire - keep away surrounds a fallen limb and power line at the corner of Brockman Blvd. and Copley Ave. in Ann Arbor on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com Consumers low-voltage distribution poles are smaller and more susceptible to breaking in storms. Additionally, the companys use of catchall weather and unknown as the listed cause of outages is imprecise and masks real causes for loss of service, auditors said. The audit took more than a year to complete and was performed by Liberty Consulting Group, based in Lebanon, Pa. Experts with utility watchdog organization Citizens Utility Board of Michigan have been poring over the audit reports since they were submitted this week. Amy Bandyk, group executive director, said the audit appears to support what theyve been arguing in rate cases and distribution plan cases for both companies. The big utilities are not paying enough attention to the cost-effective, most-bang-for-ones-buck solutions to reliability, like more frequently trimming trees, and too much attention to proposing capital expenditures that cost ratepayers a ton while delivering questionable benefits for reliability, Bandyk said. The audit is proof that both DTE and Consumers need to get these basic practices in order before regulators should even consider massive rate increases both have requested. As we saw in a recent hearing, DTE was already pushing for more capital spending based on what the auditors were saying, even before these reports came out. So we expect DTE will find aspects of this audit to support a narrative for more rate hikes to support more capital improvements, Bandyk said. Complete audit reports for both utility companies can be found on the states electronic docket system. Related articles: Outage-prone Michigan utilities could face $10M in annual fines Michigan utilities ordered to issue higher bill credits for extended power outages Michigan utilities ordered to communicate better during power outages Michigans utilities struggle to keep the power on as climate change intensifies Ice storm showcased Michigans fragile electric grid. Heres what could be done to bolster it BRIGHTON, MI -- There werent any seats at Lukes Diner this weekend, in fact the line was out the door. Gilmore Girls fans flooded a small Michigan town for a chance to step into the fictional Stars Hollow for the day. The viral event brought 40,000 Gilmore Girls fans to the small town of Brighton. Thats about five times Brightons typical population, according to the 2020 Census. Each store on Brightons Main Street transformed into namesakes from the show: Lukes, Kims Antiques, Taylors Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe, Dooses Market, Stars Hollow Books and more. Merchants reported their sales were double their best days. Hotel bookings increased for visitors staying for VIP experiences. The candy store emptied its shelves. The book store took an extra day off to restock. And, there was a proposal in the middle of it all. The visitors bureau, Explore Brighton Howell Area, called it mind blowing. It was lightning in a bottle, event co-founder Kathleen London said. They came for Stars Hollow, but they discovered Brighton. A huge social media audience gathered in the weeks leading up to its inaugural event, but even still it surpassed all expectations, event co-founder Laura Boote said. I dont think any of it has set in yet, said Boote, 23, who works as mortgage originator and a social media influencer. Bootes social media catapulted the event into virality. The last TikTok promoting the event has nearly 300,000 views. Even before Destination Stars Hollow was in motion, much of Bootes social media was bringing her small town to the small screen. She was the main character in her own idyllic CW show. And since shes rewatched the series 30 times, its easy to draw the parallels shes a familiar face at the local coffee shop, book shop, candy store and farmers market. One of those local merchants is London, who founded London Beauty, a skincare and cosmetic store. London, also a year-round rewatcher, hosted a Gilmore Girls-themed party at her shop the year prior and the two instantly connected. Im sitting here looking at what a cute town this is, but so many people dont come down. They never shop. And yet they all want to be in Stars Hollow, London, 56, said. If you just get [away from] your TV and get off your cell phone and come downtown, we are your Stars Hollow. All of us merchants are just waiting to have the kind of connection I have with Laura. The 41 participating businesses were the centerpiece of the event by design. After all, Stars Hollow is just as much of a character as any of the Gilmores. Boote and London assigned each store a character or place, even providing them with an episode to watch as reference. The cohesive marketing message online and in person brought the magic to life. Boote and London delivered specific design pieces to each shop including Easter eggs like wanted posters for the vicious swan that attacked Jess and the worlds largest pizza (almost) from Lorelais birthday episode all the painstaking details only true fans can appreciate. And yes, Boote and London have a running Google Doc with pages of ideas for future events. ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have signed their second big-bodied wideout of the week, inking Allen Robinson off the practice squad on Thursday afternoon. Tim Patrick was also added off the P-squad earlier in the week. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said he wanted more size on the perimeter during training camp, but all the big bodies wound up striking out. So the Lions turned to their pro scouting department, which identified Patrick (6-foot-4) and Robinson (6-2) as potential fits. Both players signed with the practice squad heading into Week 1, and Patrick made his Lions debut in Week 2, with Robinson following in Week 3. Patrick has three catches for 20 yards, the only production by a Lions receiver not named Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams this season. Robinson played one snap in his Lions debut last week in Arizona. Robinson is a Detroit native who played his high school ball at Orchard Lake St. Marys. He became an All-American at Penn State and was a second-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014. He caught 34 passes for 280 yards in Pittsburgh last season. Franz Ferdinands 2025 tour heads to the U.S. and Canada in March following the release of their new album, The Human Fear. Find tickets on Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, StubHub, and Ticketmaster. The members of Scottish band Franz Ferdinand. (Courtesy of Domino Records). Scottish alternative/indie-rock band Franz Ferdinand is embarking on a 2025 North American and European tour in support of their upcoming album release, The Human Fear, expected January 10. The route hits the States on Monday, March 24, performing at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, The Fillmore Minneapolis, Brooklyn Paramount, and more before closing out the North American leg at History in Toronto. Upon its release early next year, The Human Fear will be Franz Ferdinands first studio drop since Always Ascending came out in 2018. Ahead of the tour and corresponding album, Take Me Out and Darts of Pleasure remain some of the bands biggest hits. Tickets: Vivid Seats | SeatGeek | StubHub | Ticketmaster Schedule: Mon, Mar 24 Showbox SoDo; Seattle, WA Tues, Mar 25 Commodore Ballroom; Vancouver, BC Fri, Mar 28 Warfield; San Francisco, CA Mon, Mar 31 The Grand At The Complex; Salt Lake City, UT Thurs, Apr 3 The Midland Theatre; Kansas City, MO Fri, Apr 4 The Fillmore Minneapolis; Minneapolis, MN Mon, Apr 7 The Anthem - D.C.; Washington, DC Tues, Apr 8 The Fillmore Philadelphia; Philadelphia, PA Thurs, Apr 10 Brooklyn Paramount; Brooklyn, NY Sat, Apr 12 Orpheum Theatre; Boston, MA Mon, Apr 14 MTelus; Montreal, QC Tues, Apr 15 History; Toronto, ON An estimated 57% of residents are unsatisfied with the quality of Michigan roads, according to a recent road funding survey. However, only 27% are willing to pay more for better infrastructure, and residents are split on the most fair way to fund road improvements in the future as the state seeks a remedy for declining fuel tax revenue. Residents were invited by the state to weigh-in on the future of road funding last winter via an online survey. More than 19,000 residents gave their input, helping leaders gauge interest in a pay-per-mile charging system, among other funding streams. Related: Keep gas tax or adopt pay-per-mile system? Michigan residents are split As it stands, the current funding system leans on a fuel tax and vehicle registration fees. But with an increasing move toward electric and more fuel-efficient vehicles, that revenue isnt keeping up with road deterioration. In 2023, there were nearly 4.25 billion gallons of gas sold in Michigan. Aside from 2020 -- when the COVID pandemic forced many drivers off the roads -- it was the lowest gas sales in more than 20 years, according to Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency data. Revenue from the gas tax fell as a result, affecting road repair funds. It wasnt until 2023 that revenue returned to the levels of 2018 and 2019. The survey, conducted by the firm Via Strategies, was open from late January into early March. Below are five key takeaways from the survey results, released by the Michigan Department of Transportation last week: How do residents feel about existing road conditions? Unsatisfied was the most common answer, with 57% of residents unsatisfied or very unsatisfied with the current quality of roads. Of the remaining respondents, 25% said they were neutral and 18% were either satisfied or very satisfied with conditions. Whats the most fair way to fund roads? Residents were split on whats the most fair method for funding road maintenance and repairs. The states general fund was the most popular answer (31%), followed by a pay-per-mile driven charge (25%) and the existing gas tax (23%). Another 14% of respondents chose other, which may include taxing by vehicle weight, toll roads, or increased fees for electric and hybrid drivers. How popular is a road usage fee system? Sixty percent of respondents said they were familiar with a usage based charge system, even before watching a short educational video as part of the survey. Opinions regarding a pay per mile driven system were about 43% negative and 37% positive before respondents watched the video. Afterward, about 34% were negative and 43% were positive. Where is the most regional interest in the proposed system? The Ann Arbor, Lansing and Detroit regions showed the most interest in a usage based charging system, with about 45% of respondents in support. Officials said thats to be expected given that people tend to travel fewer miles to reach essential destinations in more urbanized regions. Northern Michigan residents, who have to drive further for essential destinations, were most likely to be opposed to the proposed change. Whatre the most common reasons for concern? More than four in 10 respondents said they werent confident that a new system would even result in improved roads. Data and privacy was another significant source of concern (39%), as was the difficulty accurately tracking miles driven (31%). Other popular answers included negative affect on low-income people (27%), having to pay more than under the current system (24%), and being double charged if purchasing fuel in other states with a gas tax (20%). Only 6% of residents said they didnt have any concerns. By ED WHITE Associated Press DETROIT (AP) The Michigan Court of Appeals threw out a manslaughter charge against a Detroit gas station clerk who locked the door before an angry customer shot three bystanders, killing one. Prosecutors have argued that clerk Al-Hassan Aiyashs actions make him criminally responsible. But the appeals court said an involuntary manslaughter charge doesnt fit. It was not reasonably foreseeable that the customer, Samuel McCray, would pull out a gun and start shooting, the court said Wednesday. Aiyash was working behind protective glass at 3 a.m. when McCrays failed attempt to make a $3.80 electronic purchase turned into violence in May 2023. Video showed McCray repeatedly cursing and insisting he was going to leave the gas station with the items. Three more people entered before Aiyash pushed a button to lock the door, keeping the four inside. The door was eventually unlocked. But before anyone left, one person was fatally shot and two more were wounded. Prosecutors seeking to keep the case on track cited a groundbreaking 2023 legal precedent that cleared the way for charges against the parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley. Authorities said their sons actions were foreseeable. The appeals court, however, said the Crumbley case is not a match. Holding a defendant criminally liable for a third partys intentional misconduct remains the exception, not the rule, the court said in a 3-0 opinion. The prosecutors office could ask the Michigan Supreme Court to take an appeal. We are currently deciding on next steps, spokesperson Maria Miller said. McCray, meanwhile, faces trial in October on murder and attempted murder charges. ___ Follow Ed White at https://twitter.com/edwritez DETROIT -- A judge who ordered a teenager to be handcuffed for falling asleep in his courtroom during a field trip has returned to the bench, but has been demoted from his previous role. According to the Associated Press, Judge Kenneth King is now overseeing speeding tickets and other smaller cases at the 36th District Court. Kings return to the bench comes after he was suspended and ordered to undergo social-emotional training in the aftermath of having 15-year-old Eva Goodman handcuffed and ordering her to change into jail clothes as a punishment. King also threatened to have the teen jailed before eventually releasing her. We appreciate his efforts in preparing for this role, and wish him success as he transitions into this new responsibility, Judge William McConico said in a statement. McConico serves as the chief judge at the 36th District Court. In response to being moved away from overseeing felony cases Kings lawyer told the AP that his client is willing to work anywhere in the court. He truly understands and wholeheartedly embraces the concept of teamwork, said Todd Perkins, Kings lawyer. Goodmans family has filed a lawsuit against King accusing him of humiliation, false arrest and unlawful detention. The lawsuit claims Kings actions were extreme and outrageous and calculated for the purpose of inflicting fear and severe emotional distress. The family is seeking more than $75,000 in damages and King has apologized for his actions. INKSTER, MI The former mayor of Inkster has pleaded guilty to bribery. Patrick Wimberly, 50, of Inkster, served in the Detroit suburb from 2019 through 2023, but lost reelection after he was charged in a corrupt land deal scheme in which he accepted $50,000. According to United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison, Wimberly regularly received payments between $5,000 and $10,000 from someone who wanted to buy a parcel owned by the city. Wimberlys goal was to collect $100,000, but the FBI stepped in before the property was transferred. Public officials who act in their own best interests, motivated by greed, betray the trust of their communities and the general public, Ison said in a statement. We will continue to aggressively prosecute corrupt public officials for their illegal actions. The bribery charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Wimberly acknowledged last October that he was in trouble, according to the Associated Press. Did I put myself in a situation that I shouldve never been involved with? Yes, I did. I take full responsibility for that, he said in a video. Im going to have to go through the process but know that Im standing here and Im standing strong. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown. Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also involved. Investigating public corruption is a primary concern and priority of the FBI in Michigan, Gibson said. Patrick Wimberlys guilty plea is a step forward in reminding public officials that they will be held accountable for their actions and should always operate with the highest level of integrity. Inkster, which has a population of about 25,000, is located in Wayne County about 14 miles southwest of Detroit. OTSEGO COUNTY, MI The death of a man found in Northern Michigan is being investigated has a homicide. The Otsego County Sheriffs Office said Thursday that a 31-year-old Otsego County man was found unresponsive at a home in Hayes Township on Wednesday. He had been dead for an undetermined amount of time, deputies said, but a medical examiner quickly determined he had been murdered. No suspects have been identified, but deputies say they believe it was an isolated incident and that they do not believe there is any danger to the public. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriffs office by calling 989-732-3555. Michigan State Police in Grayling are assisting in the investigation. ANTRIM COUNTY, MI -- The Mancelona man who was killed Monday in a motorcycle crash has been identified as longtime paramedic Daniel Patton. In a Facebook post published Thursday, the Traverse City Firefighters L646 offered condolences to Patton and his family, following Mondays crash. Mr. Patton was a well respected paramedic that served Northwest Michigan for the past 25 years. He responded and cared for patients in the City of Traverse City for many of those years. He was dedicated to helping others and had a great personality, reads part of the post. Patton, 54, died after he crashed into the side of a semi-truck that pulled out in front of him at the intersection of Alden Highway and Bailey Road. The semi-truck driver failed to stop at a stop sign according to police. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Police were called Thursday afternoon to an Ypsilanti-area high school for an unfounded threat of a firearm. Roughly a half dozen deputies from the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office were still at Ypsilanti Community High School, 2095 Packard St., in Ypsilanti Township around 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. A comment was added from attorneys for the eight women. ANN ARBOR, MI - A judge has dismissed the remaining lawsuit against former University of Michigan Rock n Roll professor Bruce Conforth. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Two men charged in connection to a shooting that left one man dead, and a teen badly injured took plea deals for their individual roles in the killing. A third codefendant is awaiting his next court appearance after a plea hearing scheduled earlier this week was adjourned. The shooting happened April 14 as 20-year-old Julius Hight and a 15-year-old boy were walking in the area of Batchawana Drive SE. Grand Rapids police said shots came from two vehicles. Hight was killed and the teens injuries required surgeries and multiple hospital stays, police said. RELATED: 1 dead after double shooting on Grand Rapids Southeast Side Officers found multiple shell casings inside one vehicle that matched those found at the shooting scene. Detectives later used surveillance video, cell phone data, interviews and other evidence to link the three suspects to the shooting. Police arrested Cartier Lawrence-Murray, Gemir Blakely, and Omarion Dixon in October on open murder charges. Blakely, 20, appeared Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Kent County Circuit Court and avoided trial by accepting Kent County prosecutors plea agreement for his part in the shooting. He stood between his defense attorneys and pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, attempted murder and felony firearms. RELATED: 3 accused in April fatal shooting in Grand Rapids As part of the deal, minimum sentencing guidelines will be 20 years for the murder and attempted murder charges plus an additional two years for the gun charge totaling at least 22 years behind bars. Lawrence-Murray, 21, took a plea deal on Monday and pled guilty to identical charges. Both men, who remained lodged in jail, will be sentenced on Nov. 6. An upcoming hearing for Dixon, 19, has not been scheduled, according to online court records. 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. OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Sawyer Schipper encouraged his friends and other teens to be themselves not what others thought they should be. Be yourself, he wrote in a journal. He was, he is, and always will be remembered that way! his father, Michael Schipper, said in an online interview with MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Sawyer was wise well beyond his years. His son, 16, died Sunday, Sept. 22, in a one-vehicle crash. Related: 1 killed, 2 critically injured in Ottawa County crash He was driving on Lakeshore Drive in Ottawa Countys Park Township just miles from his West Olive home when his vehicle left the road and crashed into a tree. Two passengers suffered serious injuries but are recovering, Michael Schipper said. Sawyers family parents Michael and Chelsea Schipper, and siblings, Henry and Evie is devastated. Our sweet, sweet boy , his parents said on Facebook. The pain is just overwhelming. Sawyer Schipper wrote "Be yourself," a phrase he shared with other teens, in a journal. (Provided by Michael Schipper)Michael Schipper A friend said: Sawyer was such an incredible kid, loved deeply by all of us. He touched our lives in meaningful ways, and we should all strive to love like Sawyer - unconditionally. Born in Grand Rapids, Sawyer attended Holland Christian Schools through the ninth grade then attended ICademy as a sophomore and junior. He loved the outdoors, dirt-biking and hunting, and liked detailing cars, especially his dads, his family said. Best times were with family, his dad said. His humor would light up a room, his contagious laugh could make everyone smile. His dad said he has thought a lot about his sons words: Be yourself. He wrote that in a journal last year, the father said. Sometimes the world is just unfair. But we cannot let anyone else tell us who we are, who we arent, nor who we should be. When everyone else dressed up, Sawyer was in shorts and T-shirt. He was himself and thats just how he rolled. The family has turned to faith in the loss. As much as we dont understand, and as much as it makes us angry, as much as it sounds too simple, this is Gods plan. Sawyers life has purpose and promise, even through his passing, his father wrote on Facebook. Visitation is 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Central Wesleyan Church in Holland. A celebration of life will be held later. His family is establishing the Sawyer Schipper Memorial Foundation in his honor. Here is his obituary. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - At Caledonia Elementary School, fourth-grader Janessa Munger held up photos of a small wooden disc painted with an American flag-patterned heart. This is my Mona Lisa, Munger said. Munger was one of 1,800 students from three West Michigan schools who were given the prompt and asked to draw, What does living in America look like to you? RELATED: 5 West Michigan schools earn 2024 National Blue Ribbon recognition Their drawings, everything from flags and eagles to Spongebob and capybaras, can now be seen during ArtPrize, part of an exhibit titled Celebrating America and located at Veterans Memorial Park, 101 Fulton St E. The annual international art competition kicked off Sept. 13 and ends Sept. 28. Artist Kelly Dentler created the exhibit along with her husband, Michigan Army National Guard Sergeant and veteran James Dentler. Students from Kent, Kalamazoo and Newaygo counties created the drawings in the spring on wooden discs, which were made into hanging ornaments. Dentler said she and her husband envisioned this project as a way to involve the community in something positive, allowing people to see through the eyes of children and giving a greater appreciation for all the good things that really are good in our country. Political differences are high right now, she said. Theres a lot of negativity about our country during this time period, with the election. We thought, lets ask kids whats great about America. RELATED: 15 years later, can ArtPrize still wow Grand Rapids? Students created the drawings in the spring of 2024 on wooden discs, which were made into hanging ornamentsDanielle James | MLive Dentler said outside of the typical flags and red, white and blue, some of the pictures that made her laugh the most were images like the arches of McDonalds, or one drawing that said Taylor Swift, 2024. Ashton Smith, another Caledonia Elementary fourth grader, said he drew a capybara - the worlds largest living rodent, which is native to South America. I chose a capybara because I love capybaras, he said. Ashton Smith, a Caledonia Elementary fourth-grader, drew a capybara - the worlds largest living rodent, which is native to South America.Danielle James | MLive Fourth grader Claire Abraham drew an Upper Peninsula waterfall, inspired by a hopeful future opportunity to visit the area with her grandfather, while Blessed Karageya painted the word freedom on a red, white and blue background. She said it was to represent Black Americans who didnt historically have the same freedoms. I drew a flag with the word freedom, because back in the 1800s, some people werent treated as well as others, Karegeya said. Four Caledonia Elementary fourth-graders display their drawings, part of an ArtPrize exhibit in Veterans Memorial Park celebrating America From left to right: Janessa Munger, Claire Abraham, Blessed Karageya, Ashton SmithDanielle James | MLive Karegeyas and other students work is one of 27 ArtPrize exhibits created by veterans through Art for Honor, a partnership between the Kent County Veterans Services, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and Pamela Alderman Art. Dentler, a painter and project manager for Art for Honor, said the collaborative was started four years ago to expose more veterans to art. It sets up in Veterans Memorial Park each year. She and her husband were inspired this year, Dentler said, to create an exhibit at the Fulton Street entrance to the park that would attract visitors in. Artist Kelly Dentler created the exhibit along with her husband, Michigan Army National Guard Sergeant and veteran James Dentler.Danielle James | MLive Dentler said the couples own children attend Caledonia Community Schools, so they started there with around 1,000 students. The couple also worked with students at Schoolcraft Elementary School, Walker Charter Academy and the VFW Camp Trotter in Newaygo. I reached out to the art teachers at all those schools, and they were all just super willing to do it, because its just really cool for the kids to be part of ArtPrize, she said. Dentler said shes received numerous messages and photos from parents and art teachers who went to visit their exhibits. Both him and I were really happy about how it came together, Dentler said. Its really cool to watch people walk through it, and everybody smiles, because everybody sees something that makes them smile. Dentler said its good for veterans, like her husband and others who have artwork at the park, to see the U.S. painted in a positive way when sometimes were surrounded by a lot of negativity. With the election coming up, it seems like all youre hearing is how horrible our country is, or how horrible our country is going to be, she said. As a veteran, he is a veteran himself, and he actually is still active duty, its good for him to get that reminder too. Dentler said the best part of her job working with Art for Honor is getting to hear the stories of veterans. Thats what the program is all about - giving them an opportunity to share their experience, share their story with the community, she said. A lot of times theyre active duty, they deploy and they do all these things, and then they come home and theres a lot of thank yous and celebrating. Then, I think sometimes they feel a little bit forgotten, she said. I think this is an opportunity for them to really connect. More on MLive: Whats being built in Rockford? It will have 10 exam rooms. Oktoberfest Grand Rapids 2024 guide to beer, bands and events State board waives $500,000 fee for struggling Grand Rapids apartment, retail building Take a peek at new health center opening inside a West Michigan high school JACKSON COUNTY, MI A woman who admitted to firebombing a mans house is wanted by police after she didnt show up in court for her sentencing. A judge issued a bench warrant for San Derria Lee Ervin, Sept. 19, after the probation department notified the court Ervin has disappeared, court records show. Ervin, 25, was on bond and set to be sentenced Sept. 19 on various felony counts in connection with the firebombing Instead, an officer with the probation department was at the hearing to notify the court the office had detected Ervin had cut off her GPS tether about 10:45 p.m. the night prior, Sept. 18, court records show. Ervins whereabouts, as of Thursday, are unknown and she is wanted for failing to appear in court and breaking the conditions of her bond. She admitted in May to second-degree arson and manufacturing explosives three months after authorities arrested her for tossing a pair of lit Molotov cocktails into the home and a vehicle parked in the driveway, court records show. Related: Detroit woman accused of firebombing Jackson County home pleads guilty In exchange, the prosecutors office agreed to reduce a charge of first-degree arson, which carries a possible life sentence, to second-degree and dismiss at sentencing charges of possessing an explosive Molotov cocktail, fourth-degree arson and witness interference in another case associated with the arson, records show. Ervin had previously waived her right to a preliminary examination and was set for trial proceedings. The cases stem from a fire reported at 2:18 a.m. Feb. 27 in the 200 block of Bayport Circle. The homeowner suffered minor injuries when his clothing caught fire while he attempted to put out the fire, according to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, which investigated. Ervin fled the scene before officers arrived, police said. However, investigators identified her as a suspect and were able to track her entering and fleeing the area at the time of the fire utilizing Flock license plate-reading cameras, police said. The cameras are mounted along public roads in the county. They are not monitored, live video recordings. Instead, they take a single photo of the back of a vehicle, capturing its license plate. The plate captured in the photo, saved for 30 days, is cross-checked with a hotlist. This means if a license number is identified as being involved in an assaultive crime, police will be alerted to where and when the photo was taken. Investigators can also run checks for vehicle descriptions passing through an area. Her bond was reduced from $250,000 to $10,000 when she pleaded guilty and she was released from the Jackson County Jail after paying $5,000 to a bondsman. Anyone with information about Ervins whereabouts is asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriffs Office at 517-768-7901 Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. ONSTED, MI An Americana landmark in southeast Michigan is celebrating centenarian status. The Irish Hills Historical Society is hosting a 100-year celebration at the Irish Hills Towers along U.S. 12 near Brooklyn this Saturday, Sept. 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. The three-hour celebration event will feature a food truck, music and allow people to walk the grounds and putt-putt course around the twin towers a former roadside attraction that narrowly escaped demolition several years ago. I figured, 100 years we should make that some sort of an event, said Donna Boglarsky, president of the historical society, which owns the property. Built as a roadside attraction in 1924, the towers eventually closed in 2000 and were condemned by Cambridge Township in 2013 after suffering years of disrepair. The society replaced windows and roof caps, installed siding and performed other restoration to avoid demolition. Today, the towers remain closed to the public due to lack of funding necessary to rehabilitate the structures enough to make them safe to ascend again. The towers once featured observation decks and a bridge at the top. Boglarsky said the eventual goal is to reopen them as a museum, but estimated it would take about $1 million. We are just not in a position to do that, she said. The original 50-foot tower was built by the Michigan Observation Company and opened in 1924 when U.S. 12 was still a dirt road. Admission was five cents. Annoyed at how closely the tower was to his property line, the owner of the other half of the hilltop, Edward Kelley, built a similar tower 12 feet away. It was dubbed the spite tower. Michigan Observation retaliated by adding 14 feet and a viewing area to its tower. Kelley then added another four feet to his tower, which was subsequently matched by Michigan Observation. The feud stopped when the company told Kelley it would build a much-taller steel structure if he didnt stop trying to outdo it. The towers soon became a popular roadside attraction that sprouted a small zoo, amusement rides, a hotel, restaurants and Greyhound bus station. The putt-putt course was built in 1987. The towers closed to the public in 2000 and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Boglarsky said a National Register plaque will be installed this weekend, and the event will feature dedications from local legislative representatives. Memorabilia and items from the former gift shop will be on sale. The Irish Hills Towers are located on U.S. 12 roughly 4 miles east of the Michigan International Speedway in Lenawee County. Related stories: Irish Hills Towers spared the wrecking ball Michigan is filled with historic bridges War of 1812 battle site gets archeology grant China, U.S. are partners, not rivals -- Chinese FM Xinhua) 15:04, September 26, 2024 NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The most important lesson from the China-U.S. relationship is that the two countries should be partners, not rivals, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting U.S. representatives from the National Committee on United States-China Relations, the U.S.-China Business Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Aspen Institute, the Asia Society, and the Council on Foreign Relations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The U.S. side needs to recognize that China also has the right to develop, Wang said, adding that China's development is an opportunity, not a challenge, for the United States and the world. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world's two largest economies, China and the United States should strive for a stable, healthy, and sustainable development of their relationship and work with the international community to address the numerous global challenges facing today's world, Wang said. He expressed hope that the United States will adopt an objective and rational understanding of China to enhance mutual understanding and trust. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Jerry Kracl hasn't always been director of Kracl Funeral Chapels, he said. Once upon a time, he ran the Last Chance Bar with his father, but in 1991, after going back to school and having some work done on his back, he decided to change direction and get licensed for funeral directing and embalming. Two years later, his son Matt Kracl followed suit and the pair started working together. "We both lived in and worked in a funeral home in Leavenworth, Kansas. That's where we learned the trade and then Matt worked in Wahoo for 10 years and my wife and I started (Kracl Funeral Chapels)," Jerry said. The first location opened in Schuyler in 1994 and 10 years later, they bought the David City office and four years after that, one in Leigh. There were a few factors that nudged him in that direction, Jerry said, like health and his personal interest in the work. "I had had several back operations. The bar business was just too rough, and then I was involved in the church, and I liked that aspect of it and the medical part," Jerry said. "I helped the local home for a while, you know, just doing front end stuff, driving cars and I thought, 'Well, might as well try it myself.'" His son, Matt, was studying computer science when he decided to move to funeral directing and embalming 30 years ago. Now Matt's son, Jordan, helps out where he can at the family business. Matt also has an assistant around the office, a comfort dog named Bowzer. She came to them by accident, Matt said, but now she goes wherever he goes, providing a friend for those in mourning. "She lived with a bachelor on a farm and when I went to the house when he died, to get him, I saw her, and I told the guy's daughter the next day, if she needed somewhere to go, I'd take her," Matt said. "About three weeks later, she called and asked I wanted to take her. So she came with me and she's been glued to me since the day I brought her home." Matt said Bowzer is a natural at her job and even seems to have a knack for picking the person who needs her most. "The first day I brought her to the funeral home, I had to meet with a family, and one of the family members walked in and started crying. She goes, 'Oh, you have a comfort dog!' and it was the first time she was there. I just started taking her after that," Matt said. The people are the difference when it comes to funeral directing, Jerry said. Most funeral chapels are going to be pretty similar, he noted, but the people who run them and interact with the families of the deceased make the real difference. "It's the people that you work with," Jerry said. "It's about the service. You know, all funeral homes, we all had the same thing. We all got a hearse, sell caskets, vaults. It's how you take care of the people." They try to focus on that aspect of the business, Jerry added, with things like military insignia that can attach to their hearse or services for those without a clergy. People, Jerry said, are also his favorite part of their work. "It's the people. You get to help people at the worst time in their life and help them through that and start to smile again, come out the other side. It's working with friends and neighbors, and that's the joy that I find in it," Jerry said. Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center has announced details about its 20th Annual Fall Health Fair. This years event will be held at Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center in Osceola on Tuesday, Oct. 1. This years event will have some on-site information available along with discounted blood draws, flu shots, and free skin analysis evaluation. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, including but not limited to fever, coughing and/or shortness of breath, if you or a member of your family have traveled from an area where COVID-19 is spreading or if you or a member of your family have been in close contact to or exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, the health center ask you do not attend the health fair. This years event will be held from 6:45 to 11 a.m. Annie Jeffrey Health Center will be providing comprehensive blood screening profiles including general blood chemistry analysis, cholesterol profile, and complete blood cell count at a discounted rate of $35 (a $315 value). Thyroid screening (TSH), diabetes screening (Hemoglobin A1C), Vitamin D, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing will also be available for $25 per each additional test requested. All participants who want a blood test are asked to not eat or drink 8-12 hours before the test. You are encouraged to drink as much water as possible to keep hydrated and to take your medications as you usually do. You are asked to bring a self-addressed, stamped legal sized envelope so that your test results can be mailed directly to you. The Comprehensive Blood Screening Profile provides information on your bodys ability to fight infection along with helping identify health issues such as but not limited to anemia, diabetes, heart disease, some clotting disorders, cancers, and liver disease. The thyroid screening, TSH, measures a thyroid stimulating hormone that tells if your thyroid is working too hard or not hard enough. The diabetes screening, Hemoglobin A1C, measures your average blood sugar for the past 2 to 3 months. This test provides a much better indication of long-term glucose control than a blood glucose. Vitamin D screening provides a baseline Vitamin D level which is important since insurance companies will not cover this screening unless you are pre-diagnosed with a deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency presents a silent danger, it has been linked to several different illnesses and conditions including osteoporosis, respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, depression, fatigue, mood changes, psoriasis, muscle weakness, bone pain, and kidney problems. The prostate cancer screening, PSA, measures a prostate specific antigen in men. This protein produced by the prostate gland tells men information about their prostate health. The Polk County Health Department will also be on site offering seasonal flu shots. Regular flu shots will be available to fair goers for $35. The Polk County Health Department will also have High Dose Flu shots available for $76 for individuals with Medicare Advantage and Railroad insurance plans. These are recommended for individuals 65 years of age and older. They will be available at no cost for fair goers with a current Medicare Part B card; this does not include Medicare Advantage or Railroad plans. Donations will be accepted by the health department to help cover the expense of administering the immunizations. The Four Corners Health Department will also be on site offering free blood pressure checks. They will also have their skin scope available to provide a free skin analysis evaluating damage caused by the sun. No appointment is necessary; walk-ins are welcome for lab work and flu shots from 6:45 until 11 a.m. Individuals are encouraged to call 402-747-2031 and ask for Robin to address any questions or concerns. State Police at Carlisle said a Mechanicsburg woman faces charges after she imitated being an FBI agent looking to take custody of an inmate. 8 2024 :, , , , , , 1906 . 1955 , . 1958 . . 1972 . 1996 . 2005 7,6 , 50.000 . Australian Agricultural Company Limited (ASX:AAC Get Free Report) insider David Harris purchased 34,866 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 16th. The stock was acquired at an average price of A$1.40 ($0.96) per share, with a total value of A$48,812.40 ($33,433.15). Australian Agricultural Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 31.55, a current ratio of 5.68 and a quick ratio of 0.52. Get Australian Agricultural alerts: About Australian Agricultural (Get Free Report) Read More Australian Agricultural Company Limited produces and sells cattle and beef in Australia. The company engages in owning, operating, and developing pastoral properties; and produces beef, including breeding, backgrounding, and feedlotting. It provides its products under the Westholme and Darling Downs brands. Receive News & Ratings for Australian Agricultural Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Australian Agricultural and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Envista Holdings Co. (NYSE:NVST Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Hold by the fourteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have assigned a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $19.59. Several research analysts have recently weighed in on NVST shares. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Envista from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Envista from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Envista from $22.00 to $19.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Evercore ISI increased their target price on shares of Envista from $18.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a hold rating on shares of Envista in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Get Envista alerts: View Our Latest Report on NVST Insider Activity at Envista Institutional Trading of Envista In related news, CFO Eric D. Hammes acquired 24,532 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $16.33 per share, with a total value of $400,607.56. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer now owns 24,532 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $400,607.56. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its holdings in Envista by 1,420.3% during the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 3,147 shares of the companys stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 2,940 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Envista by 538.0% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 3,209 shares of the companys stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 2,706 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Envista in the second quarter valued at approximately $78,000. Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Envista during the second quarter valued at approximately $85,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC lifted its holdings in Envista by 85.9% during the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 5,345 shares of the companys stock worth $89,000 after acquiring an additional 2,470 shares during the period. Envista Price Performance Envista stock opened at $18.64 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.21 billion, a P/E ratio of -25.94 and a beta of 1.31. The stocks 50 day moving average is $17.52 and its 200 day moving average is $18.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 2.22 and a quick ratio of 1.90. Envista has a one year low of $15.15 and a one year high of $28.67. Envista (NYSE:NVST Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by ($0.16). Envista had a negative net margin of 52.25% and a positive return on equity of 4.86%. The firm had revenue of $633.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $646.88 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.43 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Envista will post 0.69 EPS for the current year. About Envista (Get Free Report Envista Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells dental products in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Specialty Products & Technologies, and Equipment & Consumables. The Specialty Products & Technologies segment offers dental implant systems, guided surgery systems, biomaterials, and prefabricated and custom-built prosthetics to oral surgeons, prosthodontists and periodontists, and general dentist; and brackets and wires, tubes and bands, archwires, clear aligners, digital orthodontic treatments, retainers, and other orthodontic laboratory products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Envista Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Envista and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Inghams Group Limited (ASX:ING Get Free Report) insider Andrew Reeves acquired 158,373 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The stock was bought at an average price of A$1.00 ($0.68) per share, with a total value of A$158,373.00 ($108,474.66). Inghams Group Price Performance The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 785.75. Get Inghams Group alerts: Inghams Group Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a Final dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 8th will be paid a $0.08 dividend. This is a positive change from Inghams Groups previous Final dividend of $0.01. This represents a dividend yield of 2.68%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 19th. Inghams Groups payout ratio is currently 59.26%. About Inghams Group Inghams Group Limited, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells chicken and turkey products in Australia and New Zealand. The company provides frozen, gluten free, and ready to cook chicken and turkey products under the Ingham's brand name. It also offers stock feeds for poultry and pig industries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Inghams Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Inghams Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CCL Industries Inc. (TSE:CCL.B Get Free Report) Senior Officer Sean Washchuk sold 657 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$82.02, for a total transaction of C$53,887.14. CCL Industries Price Performance Shares of TSE:CCL.B opened at C$81.72 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.08. The company has a market cap of C$13.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.73, a PEG ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 0.56. CCL Industries Inc. has a 52 week low of C$52.82 and a 52 week high of C$82.96. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$76.72 and a 200 day moving average price of C$73.02. Get CCL Industries alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have issued reports on CCL.B. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of CCL Industries from C$80.00 to C$84.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of CCL Industries from C$84.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. CIBC upped their price objective on shares of CCL Industries from C$86.00 to C$88.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of CCL Industries from C$84.00 to C$87.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Finally, TD Securities increased their target price on shares of CCL Industries from C$90.00 to C$92.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$85.44. About CCL Industries (Get Free Report) CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells labels, containers, consumer printable media products, technology driven label solutions, polymer bank note substrates, and specialty films. The company operates through four segments: CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia. The CCL segment offers pressure sensitive and specialty extruded film materials for decorative, instructional, functional, and security applications in the consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer electronic device, and automotive markets. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for CCL Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CCL Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ranger Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE:RNGR Get Free Report) SVP J. Matt Hooker sold 7,803 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.27, for a total transaction of $95,742.81. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 92,600 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,136,202. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. J. Matt Hooker also recently made the following trade(s): Get Ranger Energy Services alerts: On Friday, August 23rd, J. Matt Hooker sold 7,803 shares of Ranger Energy Services stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.92, for a total value of $93,011.76. Ranger Energy Services Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:RNGR opened at $11.94 on Thursday. Ranger Energy Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $9.27 and a 1 year high of $14.64. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of $11.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $265.31 million, a P/E ratio of 17.56 and a beta of 0.49. Ranger Energy Services Dividend Announcement Ranger Energy Services ( NYSE:RNGR Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, July 29th. The company reported $0.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.06 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $138.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $138.00 million. Ranger Energy Services had a net margin of 2.61% and a return on equity of 5.73%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.24 EPS. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 9th were issued a $0.05 dividend. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 9th. Ranger Energy Servicess dividend payout ratio is presently 29.41%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently weighed in on RNGR. Barclays increased their target price on Ranger Energy Services from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 16th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Ranger Energy Services from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Read Our Latest Stock Report on RNGR Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in RNGR. Gladius Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Ranger Energy Services during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of Ranger Energy Services by 60.2% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,512 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,320 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Ranger Energy Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $96,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ranger Energy Services during the second quarter worth approximately $125,000. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new stake in shares of Ranger Energy Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $134,000. 68.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Ranger Energy Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ranger Energy Services, Inc provides onshore high specification well service rigs, wireline services, and complementary services to exploration and production companies in the United States. It operates through three segments: High Specification Rigs, Wireline Services, and Processing Solutions and Ancillary Services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ranger Energy Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ranger Energy Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Maggie Beer Holdings Limited (ASX:MBH Get Free Report) insider Thomas (Tom) Kiing bought 10,208,993 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 19th. The stock was bought at an average price of A$0.05 ($0.04) per share, with a total value of A$541,076.63 ($370,600.43). Maggie Beer Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 2.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.65. Get Maggie Beer alerts: Maggie Beer Company Profile (Get Free Report) Recommended Stories Maggie Beer Holdings Limited manufactures and sells food and beverage products in Australia. It operates through three segments, Maggie Beer Products, Hampers & Gifts Australia, and Paris Creek Farms. The company provides pates, fruit pastes, jams, sugo, sauces, wine, and other products under the Maggie Beer brand; and hampers and gifts under the Hamper Emporium and Gifts Australia brand; and organic dairy products, such as unsalted butter, bush honey and vanilla yogurt, swiss style cheese, triple cream brie, cream on top milk, and natural swiss yogurt under the Paris Creek Farms brand. 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I Accept Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Museum's themed exhibition celebrates Handan tourism conference Chinadaily.com.cn) 15:36, September 26, 2024 With the opening of the 7th Handan Tourism Industry Development Conference in Daming county of Handan city in Hebei province on Sept 21, local museums are delving deeply into the cultural imagery of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), offering a cultural feast that celebrates this rich historical period. Daming county, with its profound historical roots, was one of the three main capitals during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Today, it is leveraging its historical and cultural heritage to boost tourism development. As a significant event of the conference, the Song Dynasty Jinshi Art Museum has recently planned a grand themed exhibition featuring ancient porcelains and coins. The exhibition is organized into 16 chapters, each showcasing the unique historical atmosphere of the era through its distinct cultural logic. The exhibits include 32 elegant porcelains from the Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), as well as coins inscribed with different scripts of the Khitan, Tangut, Mongol and Jurchen peoples. Additionally, the exhibition features coins with inscriptions by renowned scholars, politicians and calligraphers from Chinese history such as Su Dongpo, Sima Guang, Wang Anshi and Fan Zhongyan, among others. The Song Dynasty Jinshi Art Museum has now become a stunning landmark within the historical and cultural blocks of the county. The museum comprises several specialized institutions, including the Song Dynasty Porcelain Culture Appreciation Museum, the Daming Jinshi Research Institute, the Coin and Folklore Study Center, the Wulu City Jade Culture Research Institute, and the Han and Tang Dynasty Bronze Culture Research and Appreciation Park. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A view of the exterior of Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, amid reports that he will be charged with federal crimes in New York City, Sept. 26, 2024. Kenyan service provider Safaricom has been in the news this week for an initiative involving healthcare and also for a sustainability-linked loan. The company has reportedly collaborated with a coalition of businesses to introduce a multi-million-dollar Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS system) in Kenya to support the Ministry of Health. Safaricom will lead a partnership that includes Apeiro, said to be a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, Sirius International Holding, and East Africa-based local technology firm Konvergenz Network Solutions to deliver the IHITS. These three partners will invest roughly US$815 million over ten years to develop, manage and support the IHTS system, beginning in February 2025. The consortium will recover the investment through monthly instalments based on the successful completion of key milestones. The project's key component, according to ITWeb Africa, is the establishment of a Health Information Exchange. This will enhance interoperability among all health systems in the country, allowing for the unification of patient records across healthcare facilities, boosting efficiency and continuity of service. The project also aims to develop a Standards-Based Integrated Hospital Management Information System to digitise public health facilities. The initiative will provide a comprehensive infrastructure for Kenya's digital healthcare ecosystem. This will feature a locally hosted health cloud, devices such as tablets and PCs for healthcare personnel, and a secure mobile and fixed network infrastructure across public health facilities. Power backup systems will ensure uninterrupted operations. Cybersecurity, patient data protection and compliance with Kenyan legislation will also be part of the package, along with training support, project management, and the rollout of technology components nationwide. Safaricom has also this week announced that it has raised about US$116.73 million via the second tranche of a sustainability-linked loan from a consortium of local banks. The sustainability-linked loan programme began last year with a similar amount in the first tranche. The cash will be used for such investments as the conversion of Safaricoms transmission sites to renewable energy instead of expensive and polluting diesel. Zimbabwean telecommunications firm, Powertel Communications, has thrown down the gauntlet to global satellite internet giant, Starlink, claiming superior speed and affordability. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and a Class A Internet Access Provider licensed by POTRAZ, boasts speeds exceeding those offered by Starlink, while matching its entry-level pricing. Powertels acting managing director, Willard Nyagwande, made the bold assertions during a recent connectivity products briefing in Harare. He highlighted a significant US$10 million investment aimed at enhancing Powertels service and solidifying its competitive edge. Nyagwande directly challenged Starlinks advertised speeds and said their network speed is up to four times faster than Starlinks speeds. The speed for Starlink goes up to 250 Mbps; its not a secret, ours can go up to Gigabit per second, he stated. He further emphasised the reliability of Powertels infrastructure: Why would you invest in other technologies that are not all-weather friendly? I want you to be loyal to the most dependable technologies. Powertel leverages a diverse technological infrastructure, including satellite, LEO, LTE, 5G wireless radio technology, and its primary technology fibre optic cables utilising existing ZESA pylons across Zimbabwe. This extensive network, Nyagwande explained, underpins the companys strategy of providing universal access to both data and electricity. Our clientele is the corporate world, the retail market and our drive called urban and rural datafication. I want Zimbabweans to understand that our strategy is to give universal access to data as well as electricity, he said. The companys confidence stems from its substantial investment in infrastructure development. Six months ago, Powertel announced its pursuit of both domestic and foreign partners to implement a new optical ground wire (OPGW) project, significantly boosting internet connectivity. This is further evidenced by a recent US$5.5 million investment in a dual gateway between Zimbabwe and South Africa via Beitbridge, designed to enhance network redundancy and affordability. This year, we have invested more than US$5.5 million in building another gateway, a dual gateway into South Africa through Beitbridge in trying to embrace our redundancy [in case] Mozambique, Beitbridge or Plumtree are down. As you know, in Zimbabwe, internet is very affordable through Beitbridge, so we have invested more than US$5.5 million and that link is almost done, Nyagwande explained. This investment is part of a larger plan outlined in Powertels network investment roadmap, allocating up to US$355 million to fixed access and over US$50 million to LTE, 5G, and the national backbone network. An additional US$2 million has been invested in acquiring its own technologies, rather than relying on borrowed solutions. In terms of investment, remember our brand is 25 years old. We have continued to invest in fibre technology, wireless technology and geo technology, Nyagwande added. Powertel operates an extensive network comprising an optic fibre backbone network, an optic fibre distribution network, and optic fibre and wireless access networks. This infrastructure allows for blazing-fast internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps, significantly faster than Starlinks advertised maximum of 250 Mbps. Technology experts generally agree that fibre internet offers superior speed and lower costs compared to satellite internet, although fibre availability is more limited geographically. Fibre internet, delivered via cables, utilises electricity to transmit data, resulting in its high-speed capabilities. The companys commitment to providing reliable, affordable internet is evident in its promotional materials. Powertels website boasts of lightning fast and uninterrupted connectivity no matter what Mother Nature throws at you!, highlighting the weather-dependent nature of satellite internet services like Starlink. The company directly challenges Starlinks pricing, offering an unlimited home internet package from as little as $30, mirroring Starlinks entry-level offering. Another promotional phrase on the website reads: Whether it is sunny days or cloudy days, whatever the weather, our hybrid connectivity solutions have your business reliably covered at the most affordable price. Furthermore, Powertel has already demonstrated its capacity for large-scale projects. Nyagwande revealed that 200km of ZESA and PowerTel lines have been connected to Bikita Minerals, addressing connectivity challenges within the mining sector. This initiative also involved millions of dollars invested to enable ZETDC to connect miners such as Dinson Iron and Steel Company and Bikita Minerals. We recently powered up Bikita Minerals and as we speak now, they are both electrified and datafied by ZETDC and Powertel, enjoying speeds of more than 100 gigabites per second so that is our relationship. So, if we put that investment combined, it is a lot, Nyagwande confirmed. The entry of Starlink into the Zimbabwean market has ignited a price war, intensifying competition among internet service providers. Econet Wireless Zimbabwe (EWZ), the countrys largest mobile network operator, is also responding aggressively, currently conducting a closed beta test of unlimited data packages priced at $15, $23, and $30 per month for select subscribers. Upon completion of this trial, Econet plans to offer these competitively priced packages to the general public. While Powertel highlights its strengths, the challenges faced by internet service providers in Zimbabwe, such as vandalism and accidental damage to infrastructure, remain a significant factor. For instance, this reporter experienced a week-long internet outage in Marondera in November 2014 while using Powertel, reportedly due to a severed cable caused by another ISP during trench digging. At the time, the lack of a local Powertel office made it difficult to obtain immediate information, with ZESA employees in Marondera providing the explanation. Breaking News via Email Related Zimbabwe Latest News Bird Song of the Day Sage Thrasher, Gunnison, Colorado, United States. Twelve minutes! I guess people become fascinated with the mimicry and wonder what will come next? * * * In Case You Might Miss * * * Politics So many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital. Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles * * * Trump Assassination Attempts (Plural) Biden pretends to squish a bug on the table on The View after Whoopi Goldberg compared Trump to an insect following two assassination attempts [Daily Mail]. Forty days to go, so theres still time for the light bulb to go on in some lone gunpersons brain. Wowsers: Ready for a mindf**k? This video includes a precise POV rendition of the golf course assassination attempt on Trump It is 2 1/2 years old https://t.co/eUr52mziLk Walter Kirn (@walterkirn) September 25, 2024 Not sure what to make of this. 2024 Less than fifty days to go! Fridays RCP Poll Averages: Once again, the Democrats must be very puzzled to have virtual unanimity across the political spectrum that Harris is the one, and yet the election is a virtual tie. How can this be? Perhaps a few more Republicans, generals, or celebrities will turn the tide. * * * Kamala (D): FULL TRANSCRIPT: Kamala Harris Speech At Pittsburgh, PA (Sept. 25, 2024) [The Singju Post (venue)]. And I promise you I will be pragmatic in my approach. I will engage in what Franklin Roosevelt called bold, persistent experimentation. Because I believe we shouldnt be constrained by ideology and instead should seek practical solutions to problems. Realistic assessments of what is working and what is not. Applying metrics to our analysis. Applying facts to our analysis. And stay focused, then, not only on the crises at hand, but on our big goals. On whats best for America over the long term. And part of being pragmatic means taking good ideas from wherever they come. Listen, you all know my career. Andrea shared it with you. I am a devout public servant. I also know the limitations of government. Ive always been and will always be, and be clear about this, Ive always been and will always be a strong supporter of workers and unions. I also believe we need to engage those who create most of the jobs in America. Look, Im a capitalist. I believe in free and fair markets. I believe in consistent and transparent rules of the road to create a stable business environment. And I know the power of American innovation. Ive been working with entrepreneurs and business owners my whole career. And I believe companies need to play by the rules. Respect the rights of workers and unions and abide by fair competition. And if they dont, I will hold them accountable. And if anyone has a question about that, just look at my record as Attorney General. Look at my record in California, taking on the big banks for predatory lending. For Kamalas record on taking on big banks, see NC here. On the mortgage settlement after the Crash, see NC here. And in any case, if you believe Biden now, Kamala was practically co-president during his entire term. So why are we only hearing about this now, 40 days before the election? (And when did people start saying Franklin Roosevelt instead of FDR? Under Obama, wasnt it? It always bugged me that now we leave out Delano, too. Kamala (D): Read the transcript of Kamala Harris exclusive solo MSNBC interview [MSNBC]. The start: RUHLE: Madam Vice President, you just laid out your economic vision for the future. HARRIS: Yes. RUHLE: But, still, there are lots of Americans who dont see themselves in your plans. For those who say, these policies arent for me, what do you say to them? [what a banal softball lambert] HARRIS: Well, if you are hardworking, if you have the dreams and the ambitions and the aspirations of what I believe you do, youre in my plan. I have to tell you, I really love and am so energized by what I know to be the spirit and character of the American people. We have ambition. We have aspirations. We have dreams. We can see whats possible. We have an incredible work ethic. But not everyone has the access to the opportunities that allow them to achieve those things. But we dont lack for those things. But not everyone gets handed stuff on a silver platter. And so my vision for the economy I call it an opportunity economy is about making sure that all Americans, wherever they start, wherever they are, have the ability to actually achieve those dreams and those ambitions, which include, for middle-class families, just being able to know that their hard work allows them to get ahead, right? I think we cant and we shouldnt aspire to have an economy that just allows people to get by. People want to do more than just get by. They want to get ahead. And I come from the middle class. The rest of it is in substance the same as the Pittsburgh speech, except (naturally) no mention of FDR (Pittsburgh being a union town). Commentary: Strong interview for @KamalaHarris just now w/@SRuhle on @MSNBC. Good, detailed conversation on the economy. The @VP made a good case for her plan and the values behind it. David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) September 25, 2024 I think Axelrod is stretching it with conversation. (Here the Daily Mail uses how you gonna pay for it as a gotcha; NC readers know about MMT, so theres no gotcha here. Kamala doesnt know, and so slithers off into fair share foofra). Kamala (D): Huge ad spending pours into defining Harris in the blue wall battlegrounds [NBC]. The deck: Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are absorbing more than half of the presidential campaigns ad spending, with both sides trying to fill in voters perceptions of Harris. And: Harris campaign is running an equal mix of positive and negative ads on broadcast TV, according to the tracking firm AdImpact, while former President Donald Trumps campaign is running almost exclusively negative and contrast ads a demonstration of how focused voters and both campaigns are on defining Harris as she runs against a three-time candidate who has inspired entrenched views among American voters. Its simple: Everyone has made up their mind about Donald Trump. Trumps numbers are the stickiest things in politics; they dont move, said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist and presidential campaign veteran. Whats moveable is Harris weve seen a lot of movement in her numbers since she entered the race, Conant continued, noting the dramatic increase in Harris favorability numbers since she took over as the Democratic Partys presidential candidate. And there are a lot of voters who havent made up their minds about her because shes new to the campaign, so theres an ability to introduce new information. Thats why youre seeing Trump pounding negative information about Harris and Harris feeling the need to give positive information to push back. The trend is similar to how the two parties handled the same period in the 2020 election when Joe Biden ran a significantly higher share of contrast and positive ads compared with Trump, who relied primarily on contrast and negative ads but still ran a small share of positive spots. * * * Trump (R): Trump Should Be Running Away With the Election. Why Isnt He? [The Free Press]. With only a handful of interviews and some help from a sympathetic press corps, Harris has shed her image as the most unpopular vice president in recent history and rebranded as a viable candidate. But more to the point, Trump has allowed her to rebrand. Instead of working hard to convince voters Harris is unfit for the top job, the Trump campaign has wasted too much time on two things: stupid stuff and bad stuff. First, the stupid. On Saturday, Trump posted a video on Truth Social, hawking silver Trump Coins. Last week he paid a visit to a bar in Greenwich Village, where he bought a burger with cryptocurrency (all part of a Trumpworld crypto push). None of this screams I am laser-focused on delivering victory in November. Second, the bad. Hanging out with nutso racist troll Laura Loomer. Preemptively blaming the Jews if he loses in November. Indulging an unproven, sinister fantasy about pet-eating Haitian migrants in Ohio. Greenlighting J.D. Vances onstage appearance with Tucker Carlson last Saturdayjust weeks after Carlson interviewed a Nazi apologist [Darryl Cooper] who he called the best and most honest popular historian working in the United States today. All of thisthe stupid and the badhurts Trumps reelection chances. (Though at least the Trump campaign was smart enough to snub Mark Robinson from a recent North Carolina rally after reports revealed the gubernatorial candidate calls himself a black Nazi on porn websites.) All of this is to say: We are a long way from Butler, Pennsylvania. In the aftermath of the Trump assassination attempt, people around the former president described him as a changed man. Yep. As I pointed out at the time, Trump had the opportunity to turn from a Heel into a Face (which he tried for a moment at the beginning of his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, but he didnt persist in it). Theres still a chance for him to make a populist turn in the next 40 days, because IMNHSO Kamalas support cannot but be shallow in the newly persuaded, but the bell will soon signal the end of the round. Trump (R) (Smith/Chutkan): The fruits of Jack Smiths 2-year investigation into Trump will land on Tanya Chutkans desk today [Politico]. On Thursday, Smiths prosecutors are scheduled to submit to Chutkan a 180-page dossier distilling their case against Trump the fruits of a two-year investigation that included secret grand jury testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence and former chief of staff Mark Meadows. It is likely the special counsels final chance before Election Day to lay out his case for why Trump deserves to be put on trial and convicted. The filing a legal brief accompanied by supporting exhibits is expected to contain never-before-seen evidence about Trumps efforts to subvert the last election. It could include snippets of interviews prosecutors conducted with some of Trumps top advisers, documents Smith procured from the National Archives and a log of Trumps Twitter activity as violence raged [oh come on] on Jan. 6, 2021. But prosecutors are not going to file these documents publicly. They must first submit them under seal to Chutkan, who will then decide how much of the evidence is fit for public release. Its all a far cry from the dramatic courtroom showdown Smiths team had been preparing for a year ago, when they hoped to bring the case quickly before a jury. But it is likely to include damaging details for Trump just weeks before Election Day. Trumps lawyers oppose any disclosure of the evidence that prosecutors have amassed, arguing that it amounts to interference in the final weeks of the campaign. They have repeatedly called for the entire case to be dismissed in light of the Supreme Courts July 1 decision granting broad immunity for official presidential acts. But the very purpose of Smiths brief is to advise Chutkan on how much of the case can proceed in light of the immunity ruling. Prosecutors are expected to argue that most of Trumps allegedly criminal acts were in his capacity as a political candidate, not as president or that any purportedly official acts are not entitled to immunity. The very purpose my Sweet Aunt Fanny. Trump (R): Watchdog report on Justice Departments Jan. 6 response wont be done by election [Politico]. How odd. Trump (R): In blow to Trump campaign, Nebraska wont go through with electoral vote change [Scripps]. In a blow to the Republican party and its presidential nominee, Donald Trump, Nebraskas governor said Tuesday he wouldnt call a special session to change how electoral votes in the state are awarded. The decision follows a key state senator saying he would not support the effort. Former President Trump and his allies have been pressuring the state to change its 32-year law that awards electoral votes by congressional district instead of a statewide vote, otherwise known as a winner-take-all system. In winner-take-all states, the candidate winning the popular vote receives all of the states electoral votes. But in Maine and Nebraska, the states popular vote winner receives two electoral votes, and the popular vote winner in each congressional district receives one electoral vote. Nebraska has three congressional districts, and the Republican party believes their candidate will win two along with the two electoral votes coming from the states popular vote. But its Nebraskas 2nd District thats pushed the party to rally for a change in the electoral system, as the Omaha-based seat has tilted blue recently and could be the single electoral vote to decide a 269-269 tie. But no. * * * Its not just Springfield, Haitians being flown to small towns nationwide [Center Square]. Note lack of agency in being flown. This continues throughout the story. Springfield, MO: due to an influx.' Sylacauga, AL: being dropped into their community. Coffee County, TN: are scheduled to arrive. Charleroi, PA: has grown. Del Rio, TX: descended on. Is it too much to ask who, if anyone, organized the flying, the influx, the arrival, the growth, and the descent? Surely it would not have been hard for the writer to have included this information in the story. Is there a Haitian refugee program, as for the Hmong? (For example, a few Somalis chose Lewiston, ME because of low cost of living and cheap land, despite the snow. More followed. The process was organic.) * * * The Undecided Voters Are Not Who You Think They Are [Ron Brownstein, The Atlantic]. When most people think about a voter still trying to make up their mind, they probably imagine a person who is highly likely to vote but uncertain whether to support Harris, Trump, or a third-party candidate. Both political parties, however, are more focused on a differentand much largergroup of undecideds: potential voters who are highly likely to support Harris or Trump, but unsure if they will vote at all. Campaigns typically describe the first group of reliable but conflicted voters as persuadable; they frequently describe the second group as irregular voters. Persuadable voters get the most attention from the media, but campaigns recognize that irregular voters can loom much larger in the outcomeespecially in presidential elections when more of them ultimately participate. And: Among the operatives and strategists that I spoke with in both parties, the best estimate is that just 4 to 7 percent of voters in the battleground states are such persuadablespeople highly likely to vote but genuinely uncertain about whom they will support. But: Catalist, a Democratic voter-targeting firm, shared with me data rarely disclosed in public, based on its modeling, that attempt to quantify the number of infrequent voters in each of the swing states who lean strongly toward Harris or Trump. That research shows, first, that across the battleground states white people without a college degree routinely account for 70 percent or more of the Trump-leaning nonvoters; and, second, that people of color make up a big majority of Harriss potential targets across the Sun Belt battlegrounds, as well as in Michigan. In the three big Rust Belt battlegroundsMichigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsinworking-class white women without a college degree, Catalists projections show, also make up a significant share of the voters who lean Democratic but dont vote regularly. The infrequent voters on both parties target list have some common characteristics, other strategists say. Part of what you are seeing in this electorate is: a) a lot of anger; but b) discouragement, Page Gardner, a Democratic expert on voter turnout, told me. People are discouraged about their lives and feel Im trying really hard and Im not getting anywhere. Against that backdrop, she said, the challenge for Democrats is giving them some sort of agency to feel like my vote matters, because a lot of people feel that no one is paying attention to them.' This accords well with alert reader ChrisRUEcons comment yesterday: Those undecideds are likely Chris-Arnade-Dignity adjacent (for undecided, read irregular). If you squint, you can see Kamala trying to make the irregular voters believe their vote counts; Im not sure her logos, ethos, and pathos are up to the task, though. Trump taking over a MacDonalds grill would blow that verbiage away. Happiness swings votes and Americas current mood could scramble expectations of young and old voters [The Conversation]. Research worldwide indicates that happy people prefer keeping things the same, and they tend to vote for the incumbent in political elections. Voters who arent as happy are more open to anti-establishment candidates, seeing the government as a source of their discontent. These findings may help to explain the Democratic Partys waning support among young people. The changing political preferences of unhappy young Americans are particularly revealing when compared with those of older Americans, who have been getting happier in recent years. The 2024 presidential candidates seem to have intuited this. The Harris campaign is all about joy and celebrating happiness and community. The Trump campaign adopts an angrier tone and a grievance-filled approach. Change (not happy) vs. More of The Same (happy). Somehow, I dont think the irregular dignity voters (see above) are happy. But will they be unhappy enough to get off the couch? Democrats en Deshabille NYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted on 5 federal public corruption charges, including bribery and wire fraud [CNN]. Well, so much for Black cop with a million-watt smile. More: The indictment alleges illegal actions stretching back to 2014, from when he was Brooklyn Borough president. For nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him, the indictment reads. Specifically, Adams received luxury travel and other benefits from a Turkish official and later in exchange pressured the NYC Fire Department to open a Turkish consular building without a fire inspection, the indictment says. The mayor engaged in a long-running conspiracy, Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Thursday. ;Mayor Adams took these contributions even though he knew they were illegal, Williams said. He knew these contributions were attempts by a Turkish government official and Turkish businessmen to buy influence with him. Adams said Thursday morning he was not surprised by the charges and encouraged the public to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments, adding he would not be changing his day-to-day responsibilities in light of the indictment. Turkey? Why?! Realignment and Legitimacy Partisan Split on Election Integrity Gets Even Wider [Gallup]. Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they are very or somewhat confident that the votes for president this year will be accurately cast and counted. That aligns with how Americans have viewed the election results most years since 2008. However, it masks Democrats becoming more confident in the process and Republicans becoming less so. This has led to a record-high 56-percentage-point partisan gap, with 84% of Democrats versus 28% of Republicans having faith in the accuracy of the vote . This is a big problem, to understate radically. Any Sanders voter knows Democrats have no issue with jiggering election results. Any Green voter knows that Democrats ruthlessly control all aspects of the balloting process (that being the distinctive competence of the modern political party). And given that digital = hackable, hand-marked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, are the only way to truly secure the vote (and how odd that nobody in the intelligence community, which is quietly but busily amassing the power to legitimate or delegitimate election results, supports them). All that said, Trumps attempt to challenge the 2020 election result driven by the kraken lady and poor old brokedown Rudy Guiliani, and taking into account exactly zero technical experts from the balloting communmity was farcically bad; given every advantage, the AZ recount effort came up dry. So we the voters are in the unenviable position of knowing that the opportunity for fraud exists, while having no evidence that a fraud has been committed in the last Presidential election (and dont @ me without showing a non-crank lawsuit now wending its way through the courts). And that said, threatening election workers makes me want to defend the little old church ladies who checked my name against the voter roll, and gave me an I voted sticker after I handed in my ballot. Very unpleasant possibilities for stochastic terrorism here, I would say. Nobody said the volatility would stop the day after election day. The Potential National Security Consequences of Unplanned Domestic Military Missions [Lawfare]. The headline, combined with the Lawfare venue, gives me pause. What missions do they have in mind, exactly? It reads like Imperial bafflegab, but if I wanted to translate this concluding paragraph into something more menacing, it would not be hard to do: Many interrelated factors should be carefully examined when considering the use of the military. The defense mission and core capabilities developed to carry it out often do not correspond to the skills needed to perform domestic tasks. Serious and likely harmful consequences flow from diverting the armed forces and the resources that support them to missions more appropriately tasked to domestic agencies. Those consequences include distracting the military from its main functiondeterring and if necessary fighting Americas warsand blurring the lines between what civilians are trained and resourced to do and what is expected from a professional military. Speedrunning The History Of The Intelligence State [Mike Benz, RealClearPolitics]. Good research, and you should consider reading in full. Heres how it starts out: Well sort of speed-run the essential history all the way up to the present, but were going to start in the year 1948. This is the sort of Year Zero of the founding of the intelligence capacities of the U.S. government. Instead of learning what youd find in an ordinary history book, were going to start with a document that Im curious if anyone has ever seen, called The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare. Did you know that George Kennan, in 1948, wrote this memo called The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare? George Kennan is known as a godfather figure of American diplomacy and the Central Intelligence Agency. He was famous for his long telegram and was the chief strategist of the containment strategy against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. But before all that, when all of this was getting started, he penned this top-secret memo, which was not declassified for 60 years. It was declassified in 2005, and I think it helps elucidate the story as were going to proceed here. Were going to go through this memo, but I want to give some context first. The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare was written just 12 days after the Central Intelligence Agency did its first government overthrow operation, its first election-rigging event. That was on April 18, 1948, and this memo was written just 12 days after that. Quite an introduction. Read the whole thing, and youll see why I place it here. Its hard to draw connections without creating a yarn diagram especially in the right-wing fever swamp but Benz avoids that here. Very clarifying. Syndemics I am in earnest I will not equivocate I will not excuse I will not retreat a single inch AND I WILL BE HEARD. William Lloyd Garrison * * * Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot ; includes many counties; Wastewater Scan, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); Iowa COVID-19 Tracker (in IA, but national data). Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts (especially on hospitalization by city). Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put COVID in the subject line. Thank you! Resources, United States (Local): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater reports); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur dAlene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard) ; NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard) ; PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (wastewater); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV ( wastewater ); WY ( wastewater ). Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (Government of Canada). Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usees); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater). Hat tips to helpful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). Stay safe out there! * * * Morbidity and Mortality Predictors for COVID-19-Specific and Non-COVID-19-Specific Deaths: A Cohort Study in Taiwan [Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health (RK)]. N = 2196. From the Abtract: Predictors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-specific and non-COVID-19-specific deaths have not been extensively studied. This cohort study in Taiwan investigated predictors for COVID-19-specific and non-COVID-19-specific deaths among hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. From January to July 2022, 2196 COVID-19 patients at Taipei City Hospital were consecutively recruited in this cohort study Our study findings suggest that vaccination and Paxlovid treatment are crucial for reducing SARS-CoV-2-specific mortalities, while comorbid patients need careful monitoring to reduce non-COVID-19-specific deaths. Science Is Popping Toward a Radically Simple Multi-Modal Nasal Spray for Preventing Respiratory Infection (PDF) [Advanced Materials]. Mouse study (sigh). See the Conflict of Interest statement (page 18). Nevertheless, very big if true. The Abstract: Nasal sprays for pre-exposure prophylaxis against respiratory infections show limited protection (2070%), largely due to their single mechanism of actioneither neutralizing pathogens or blocking their entry at the nasal lining, and a failure to maximize the capture of respiratory droplets, allowing them to potentially rebound and reach deeper airways. This report introduces the Pathogen Capture and Neutralizing Spray (PCANS), which utilizes a multi-modal approach to enhance efficacy. PCANS coats the nasal cavity, capturing large respiratory droplets from the air, and serving as a physical barrier against a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria, while rapidly neutralizing them with over 99.99% effectiveness. The formulation consists of excipients identified from the FDAs Inactive Ingredient Database and Generally Recognized as Safe list to maximize efficacy for each step in the multi-modal approach. PCANS demonstrates nasal retention for up to 8 hours in mice. In a severe Influenza A mouse model, a single pre-exposure dose of PCANS leads to a >99.99% reduction in lung viral titer and ensures 100% survival, compared to 0% in the control group. PCANS suppresses pathological manifestations and offers protection for at least 4 hours. This data suggest PCANS as a promising daily-use prophylactic against respiratory infections. And from the Conclusion: PCANS presents a promising chemoprophylactic approach against respiratory infections. Besides its potential to act as a first line of defense against respiratory pathogens and emerging variants for which there are no vaccines available, our approach could also be potentially used as an added layer of protection with existing vaccines. Given its broad-spectrum prophylactic activity and shelf stability, we anticipate PCANS holds the potential for global distribution, especially in countries with low vaccination rates against respiratory pathogens. Alongside, the benefits of PCANS can also be extended to immunocompromised patients, high-risk individuals with co-morbidities, and vaccine-hesitant populations. Its pocket-sized spray format allows for easy portability, making it convenient to carry during social gatherings and travel. With these significant benefits, we believe PCANS will experience rapid widespread adoption, enhancing the accessibility of respiratory infection prevention. Lets see what the regulators think. And Big Pharma. * * * TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts Wastewater This week[1] CDC September 16 Last Week[2] CDC (until next week): Variants [3] CDC September 14 Emergency Room Visits[4] CDC September 14 Hospitalization New York[5] New York State, data September 23: National [6] CDC August 31: Positivity National[7] Walgreens September 23: Ohio[8] Cleveland Clinic September 7: Travelers Data Positivity[9] CDC September 2: Variants[10] CDC September 2: Deaths Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11]CDC September 14: Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12]CDC September 14: LEGEND 1) for charts new today; all others are not updated. 2) For a full-size/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and open image in new tab. NOTES [1] (CDC) This weeks wastewater map, with hot spots annotated. Keeps spreading. NOTE The date seems to be wrong, but the number of sites has changed so this is new. [2] (CDC) Last weeks wastewater map. [3] (CDC Variants) KP.* very popular. XDV.1 flat. [4] (ED) Down, but worth noting that Emergency Department use is now on a par with the first wave, in 2020. [5] (Hospitalization: NY) Definitely down. [6] (Hospitalization: CDC). The visualization suppresses what is, in percentage terms, a significant increase. [7] (Walgreens) Big drop continues! [8] (Cleveland) Dropping. [9] (Travelers: Positivity) Down. Those sh*theads at CDC have changed the chart so that it doesnt even run back to 1/21/23, as it used to, but now starts 1/1/24. Theres also no way to adjust the time range. CDC really doesnt want you to be able to take a historical view of the pandemic, or compare one surge to another. In an any case, thats why the shape of the curve has changed. [10] (Travelers: Variants) What the heck is LB.1? [11] Deaths low, but positivity up. [12] Deaths low, ED up. Stats Watch GDP: United States GDP Growth Rate [Trading Economics]. The US economy grew at an annualized rate of 3% in the second quarter of 2024, unchanged from the second estimate and above an upwardly revised 1.6% expansion in the first quarter. Employment Situation: United States Initial Jobless Claims [Trading Economics]. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US dropped by 4,000 from the previous week to 218,000 on the period ending September 21st, below market expectations of a rise to 225,000, and reaching a new 4-month low. Despite this decline, the claim count remained above the averages seen earlier this year, as the US labor market has softened since its post-pandemic peak, although it remains historically tight. Manufacturing: United States Durable Goods Orders [Trading Economics]. New orders for manufactured durable goods in the US were loosely unchanged from the prior month in August of 2024, compared to the revised 9.8% surge in July which was the highest in four years, and contrasting sharply with market expectations of a 2.6% drop. The result challenged the growing pessimism over manufacturing activity in the United States, suggesting the current slowdown may be temporary. Manufacturing: United States Kansas Fed Manufacturing Index [Trading Economics]. The Kansas City Feds Manufacturing Production index fell to -18 in September 2024, from 6 in the previous month, marking the lowest reading in 14 months and way below forecasts of 9. * * * Manufacturing: Boeing, workers union to resume talks on Friday [Reuters]. So much for the final part of Best And Final Offer. Negotiators from Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) will meet with federal mediators in a bid to break the deadlock, after two days of previous talks collapsed a week ago. Manufacturing: Can the Machinists Save Boeing from Its Management? [Labor Notes]. While Boeing wailed that the strike may cause mortal wounds to the company, the Machinists union has for decades been fighting against the companys self-wounding practices: rampant outsourcing, undermining of quality inspections, moving work to non-union shops, and hollowing out what used to be a coveted family-sustaining job. Company policies have resulted in the loss of experienced workers, production delays, mismatched and shoddy parts, and the disastrous quality lapses that led to an Alaska Airlines door plug blowout in January. It was the union that was originally responsible for pushing the separation of quality inspection from production pressures, said Steve Cabana, a quality assurance inspector for 13 years. Having quality separate in the supervisory chain is the only way quality can have any teeth, he said. I can look at a process and stop it. This is not true at vendors the company buys parts from, Cabana said, where they have the same management system for manufacturing and quality. Thats how the company figured it could save money by outsourcing, because other people didnt have the same rigorous standards, Cabana said. Its a fragile network of suppliers who honestly arent compensated all that well for the work that they do, said Mylo Lang, an apprentice machinist at Auburn with six years at the company. Theyve really been squeezing them, in fact, over the years. In Boeings own plants, the company has tried to slash inspections, too. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires in-person inspections by qualified workers, but in 2017 Boeing tried to speed up production by having mechanics sign off on their own work. At the companys assembly plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, which currently has no union, the lack of worker power and input meant the company tested out cuts to quality inspections there first, around 2017, then expanded into the Puget Sound plants, where union members rallied to stop the cuts, flooding meetings and making the question a shop floor issue. Manufacturing: Boeing confirms production of 737s has halted [Fortune]. Boeings production of 737 jets has come to a complete halt as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) strike continues, according to a Bank of America analyst note sent out on Tuesday. Two separate representatives for Boeing confirmed the production stoppage to Fortune. Airplane production in Washington state is temporarily paused including work on the 737 MAX, 767, 777/777X, P-8, KC-46A Tanker, E-7 Wedgetail, a spokesperson wrote Fortune in an email Wednesday. Work at our Fabrication sites in Washington and Oregon will also temporarily pause. Employees not represented by this union will continue to report to work as normal. Boeings stock fell more than 2% on Wednesday, at the time of publication. The stoppages full impact on actual deliveries of the planes remains uncertain, BofA analysts wrote. But the pace has nonetheless slowed significantly. Only two 737s have been delivered in the last week, which they say is well below normal levels. As for the 787 jetsa different, less embattled modelBoeing has made zero deliveries over the past week, and has only delivered two in all of September. But BofA expects Boeing to maintain the same levels of rollouts compared to last month because the assembly line tasked with 787 production is mainly unaffected by unions. As a result, BofA maintained its rating on the stock as neutral. That unaffected by unions (carbon fibre) makes me think. I believe Boeing promised to make the next aircraft, the 797, in Seattle, presumbly also from carbon fibre, if they began it during the life of the contract currently being negotiated. But did Boeing promise the 797 would be built with union labor? Readers? Manufacturing: Spirit Aerosystems beginning to see effects of Boeing strikes reports [Airport Technology]. Boeing parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems has reportedly warned it may begin furloughing employees soon if the strikes at the aircraft manufacturers production plants continue much longer. The supplier, which is set to fall back under Boeings control next year, is currently using the lull in work at the aircraft factories to address a backlog of orders but will soon begin seeing the effects of the work stoppage. Manufacturing: Boeing strike squeezes California aerospace suppliers, including Independent Forge in Orange [Orange County Register]. Machine tool and metal shops across the region are feeling the effects of the Boeing strike, as is a complex supply chain that stretches across the world. This could be devastating for us, said Andrew Flores, president of Independent Forge Co. Inc. Forgings are the start of most parts made in the aviation business, and thats the first thing they want to stop. The company also is worried about a second strike that emerged earlier this week when unionized machinists with a general aviation unit owned by Textron Corp. in Kansas walked off their jobs for higher wages and benefits, Flores said. Hmm. Only Textron, then? Manufacturing: Boeing strike leaves Asian airlines sweating on plane deliveries [The Business Times]. The Seattle factory strike crippling production at Boeing is triggering delays to 737 Max deliveries across Asia, a region thats already home to some of the biggest order backlogs for the flagship aircraft. The US manufacturer is due to hand over 981 Max jets to carriers in Asia, led by Air India and Indonesias Lion Air, by 2030, according to data from Cirium. Thats close to one-third of all scheduled deliveries of the aircraft worldwide over that period. But with Boeing at loggerheads with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents some 33,000 Boeing employees who have been striking for almost two weeks, concerns are escalating about the reliability of the plane pipeline. Responding to queries from Bloomberg News, Korean Air Lines, Vietjet Aviation and Japan Airlines said they were either suffering delivery delays due to the strike, expecting planes to arrive late or concerned about handover dates slipping. Others including Singapore Airlines said they were working with Boeing on delivery schedules in light of the factory shutdown. Manufacturing: Senators want to see major changes at Boeing. The FAA says that could take years [Politico]. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration warned senators Wednesday that ensuring troubled planemaker Boeing rights its ship will take years not months even with the FAA looking over its shoulder. But [FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker] said that while Boeing has improved on short-term challenges in its manufacturing lines, [we] would be kidding ourselves to think you can change 170,000 people, culture in 18 months so its going to be a long haul.' Tech: Millions of Vehicles Could Be Hacked and Tracked Thanks to a Simple Website Bug [Wired]. * * * Todays Fear & Greed Index: 67 Greed (previous close: 65 Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 60 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Sep 25 at 1:55:41 PM ET. The Current Cinema Coppolas Megalopolis: Universal derision from the reviewers, which intrigues me. Has anyone seen it? Gallery Quite modern: Class Warfare Amazon Logistics under investigation for alleged labor violations [Seattle Times]. Seattles Office of Labor Standards is investigating Amazon Logistics the companys vast network of delivery services for alleged violations of labor laws, including the citys ordinance requiring paid sick time for gig workers that went into effect this year. The investigation appears focused on Amazons Flex drivers, who operate like gig workers and make deliveries for the company using their own vehicles and on their own schedule. News of the Wired The history of telecoms is at an end [Intermedia]. The deck: In his latest book, William Webb argues that we mostly have all the connectivity we need. The telecoms industry needs to refocus away from technical innovation and towards efficiency. Governments and regulators, he says, will need a new mindset. Perhaps even too much. The power of leisure: How everyday hobbies stop cognitive decline [Study Finds]. In community centers across the country, seniors gather for book clubs, chess matches, and art classes. These social hubs of mental stimulation may be more than just pleasant diversions they could be unofficial cognitive health clinics, according to new research. The study suggests that engaging in cognitively stimulating leisure activities (CSLAs) might be key to preserving cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This research offers hope for those looking to stave off cognitive decline and potentially reduce their risk of developing dementia. Maybe I should stop reading Model Railroader and build a layout, Perky Pat-style. Not. * * * Contact information for plants: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. From: JG: JG writes: My old neighbor gave me the Roseville pitcher decorated with an abstract landscape and a chain of bows in relief. The mesh pattern on the vase comes from the screen window which provided the lighting on the subject. The zinnias came from another kind neighbor. A lovely pitcher indeed! * * * Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. Material here is Lamberts, and does not express the views of the Naked Capitalism site. If you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for three or four days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals: Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated: If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you! ASN announced on Wednesday it is collaborating with seismic instrumentation company Nanometrics and environmental monitoring firm RBR to integrate climate-change monitoring tech into subsea cables, starting with a new cable project underway in the Pacific Islands. ASN signed a deal with Vanuatu-based telecoms infrastructure firm Prima in January 2024 to design, manufacture, and deploy the Tamtam subsea cable that will run from Vanuatu and New Caledonia, with an option to extend it to Fiji and Australia. The Tamtam cable is billed as the first-ever Scientific Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) cable, which means that in addition to providing telecoms connectivity the cable will be fitted with climate change nodes that enable real-time monitoring of seismic activities and efficient tsunami detection. The Tamtam project is being spearheaded by French telecoms company Pacific Peering, which manages international data communications and plans for all of its cables in the Pacific to support environmental sensor technology by 2030, according to the companys website. Under the collaboration deal revealed Wednesday, ASN will use high-precision seismic sensors from Nanometrics and advanced environmental monitoring technologies from RBR for the climate-change nodes. Nanometrics has developed custom ocean-bottom seismic instrumentation, while RBRs sensors monitor critical environmental parameters such as temperature and pressure. According to Pacific Peering, the data from the sensors will be stored in a data centre in New Caledonia, and will be made accessible license-free to the scientific community and civil protection agencies. ASN says the technology will enhance security and preparedness against natural disasters in that part of the South Pacific near the seismically volatile New Hebrides Trench. ASN said the SMART technology is also being integrated into the Atlantic CAM subsea cable ring that will connect Portugal and the Autonomous Region of Azores and Madeira by 2026. Our efforts to develop the SMART technology is another testimony of ASNs commitment to sustainability in the implementation of subsea optical networks, said ASN president and CEO Alain Biston in a statement. We believe that Nanometrics and RBR are the right partners for developing this complete SMART solution. The 375-km Tamtam cable will be the second to connect Vanuatu after the Interchange Cable Network 1 (ICN1) system that has connected the island to Fiji since 2014. Apart from Prima and ASN, the project is also supported by New Caledonias Office des Postes et Telecommunications (OPT) and the governments of Vanuatu and France. The cable will have landing sites on Lifou Island in New Caledonia and Port Vila in Vanuatu. OMS has been contracted to install the subsea cable, which is scheduled to be completed and operational in 2026. Yves here. It seems puzzling that the CBO has found that at proposed GOP plan to reduce Social Security benefits by increasing the full retirement age from 67 to 69 would succeed in lowering payments, particularly to those who wanted/needed to retire at an earlier age and receive reduced benefits, without actually improving fund solvency. The nomenclature is confusing, since the later you begin taking Social Security, the higher the benefits are, with 70 the latest start date now. I have not had the time to kick the tires and hope to be able to look at analyses. Perhaps the reason for the lack of a solvency improvement is a gradual phase in. Having said that, it seems that this plan is an existing Republican scheme (I took a brief look at the CBO study and it links to a 2022 description as a source) that has also in some form (not sure if that embodiment or a more general handwave) been picked up by Project 2025. Even though the Democrats have been trying to make Project 2025 a Trump agenda, it is an extreme conservative wish list (with internal contradictions!) that hard core Republicans would try hard to get Trump to adopt. So even though one should indeed worry that Trump is on board, no one has produced the receipts. On top of that, let us also not forget that both Clinton and Obama fully intended to reform as in cut, Social Security, but for different reasons never got there. So those who want to protect and strengthen Social Security must not assume Team Dem is their friend. Both parties need to get the message that they must increase payroll taxes by ending the income cap or otherwise taxing higher income earners more, rather than lowering benefits. Separately, even though the Social Security Administration is the most important actuarial position in the US, I wonder to what degree its models have been updated to reflect the shortening in US lifespans (which for the moment has stalled out) and the prospects for more of the same given long-term Covid health effects and ever-less-affordable US health care. You would think that the resulting thinning of the aged would somewhat improve Social Security solvency, but I have seen no reports of the kind. Note that Trump is presenting himself as increasing incomes of Social Security beneficiaries in his ads. I have seen YouTube promos with a clip from one of his rallies in which Trump says he will stop taxing tips and Social Security benefits. Natch, the roughly 40% who pay income taxes have higher earnings. By Jessica Corbett, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams Social Security defenders have long argued that former Republican U.S. President Donald Trumps return to the Oval Office could spell disaster for seniors, and a nonpartisan government analysis released Wednesday bolsters their warnings. U.S. House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) asked the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to analyze the impact of raising the full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security from 67 to 69, as various Republican groups have proposed. This report shows that raising the retirement age to 69 would slash benefits by an average of $3,500 a year, Social Security Works executive director Alex Lawson told Common Dreams. For seniors and people with disabilities, that means not being able to buy groceries, pay a heating bill, or buy birthday presents for their grandkids. This cruel benefit cut would hit those who claim benefits earlylargely people who work on their feet, not those who work in officesthe hardest, Lawson noted. Even worse, it is only one of the benefit cuts that Republicans are backing. Their goal is to destroy our Social Security system. As CBO Director Phillip L. Swagel wrote to Boyle: All people affected by such an increase in the FRA would receive a smaller amount of Social Security benefits over their lifetime. Workers who chose to delay claiming their retirement benefits by the same number of months as the increase in the FRA would receive the same monthly benefit for a shorter period. Those workers who claimed retirement benefits at the same age as they would have claimed them under current law would receive a smaller benefit for the same number of years. In a statement responding to the report, Boyles office highlighted that for workers currently in their 30s and 40s who are subject to the full retirement age increase, the average annual benefit cut would be 13%, or around $3,500 a year. As the congressmans office pointed out, the CBO also found that though increasing the retirement age would reduce spending, it would not create enough savings to change the expected exhaustion date of the Social Security Trust Fund, which is projected to be unable to pay full benefits by the end of fiscal year 2034. Boyle and Senate Budget Committee Chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) have introduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act, which would extend the solvency of both programs by requiring Americans with higher incomes to pay more than they do now. BREAKING: The Republican Social Security scams (looking at you Project 2025) are a BAD deal for the American people https://t.co/A9zYuqlwoJ Ways and Means Democrats (@WaysMeansCmte) September 25, 2024 Social Security is a sacred promise that after a lifetime of hard work, Americans have earned the right to retire with dignity, Boyle said Wednesday. This independent, nonpartisan report shows just how devastating Republican plans to rip away hard-earned Social Security benefits would be for American workers. Instead of saving Social Security by making the ultrarich pay their fair share, the GOP is hellbent on gutting benefits for the middle class, he warned, specifically calling out the congressional Republican Study Committee and the Heritage Foundation, which is behind Project 2025. Democrats will never stop fighting to keep the promise of Social Security and defend Americans retirement security from Republican attacks. The CBO report comes less than six weeks away from the U.S. general election. Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is facing Trump in the race for the White House. Donald Trump plans to slash Social Security and Medicare while giving massive tax handouts to billionaires. https://t.co/lAPsSoEVMQ Social Security Works (@SSWorks) September 25, 2024 Before President Joe Biden left the contest and passed the torch to Harris, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, National United Committee to Protect Pensions, and Social Security Works Political Action Committee were backing him over Trump. All three groups have endorsed Harris. As president, Biden has been an unwavering protector of Social Security and Medicare, Social Security Works president Nancy Altman wrote in a July opinion piece for Common Dreams. Harris will be as fierce a defender, and she will do more. She will expand Social Security and Medicare and ensure that all benefits will continue to be paid in full and on time for the foreseeable future by requiring billionaires to pay their fair share. In stark contrast, Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are a serious threat to our earned benefits and to our families, she stressed, also warning of the GOPs positions on medication prices and tax breaks for the rich. A vote for Democrats is a vote to expand benefits, lower prescription drug prices, and require those billionaires to start paying their fair share. Amazon bans Dr. Paul Mariks book on traditional, natural remedies for cancer The Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance has written an open letter to Jeff Bezos and the entire executive leadership structure of Amazon asking them for an explanation as to why they banned a book by Dr. Paul Marik that contains important, life-saving information about how to overcome cancer with easily-accessible remedies. Dr. Marik's work, entitled "Cancer Cure: The Role of Repurposed Drugs and Metabolic Interventions in Treating Cancer," cites 840 peer-reviewed studies on both old pharmaceuticals and natural substances like curcumin alike that are powerfully effective at fighting cancer. "Why burn this book?" asked journalist and author Mary Beth Pfeiffer. "It threatens cancer profits. *Amazon bans access to life saving cancer treatment!* At FLCCC, we advocate for cancer patients worldwide who deserve access to all available treatment options. In this open letter to @jeffbezos and @Amazon leadership, we address their recent decision to ban a critical pic.twitter.com/YIIEpzfspb FLCCC Alliance (@Honest_Medicine) September 20, 2024 (Related: Remember back in early 2023 when Amazon banned Leo Hohmann's book about the Muslim invasion of America?) Another Amazon book burning In their letter, the FLCCC Alliance team questioned how Bezos and Amazon came to the conclusion that withdrawing a valuable resource that has helped thousands of cancer patients find integrative relief was a good idea. "Cancer is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time," it reads. "The American Cancer Society projects an unprecedented rise in cancer diagnoses this year, especially in younger people." "Traditional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation have advanced, but they are not enough. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, emerging threats like turbo cancers have pushed oncologists and medical researchers to explore every possible avenue of treatment including the use of repurposed drugs and metabolic interventions as highlighted in Dr. Marik's book." Speaking of repurposed drugs, those also saved many lives during COVID as patients willing to go out on a limb explored the use of drugs like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine rather than the "vaccines" that were pushed under Operation Warp Speed. Before getting pulled from the Amazon database, Dr. Marik's book ranked #118 out of over 50,000 books on cancer. It also ranked #35 in the medical research category of books on Amazon. More than 20,000 people found Dr. Marik's book through the FLCCC Alliance website alone, proving how popular it is among the general public. Amazon, conversely, wants to keep the publication out of the hands of the people who need it most. "The book has provided a clearinghouse of essential information, allowing doctors to think creatively about accessible, affordable therapies that could significantly improve patient outcomes. However, despite the overwhelming support, Amazon unjustly banned this book on September 16, 2024, citing claims of 'misleading information' and 'defrauding customers.'" At no point since the platform decided to ban the book has Amazon offered Dr. Marik any tangible examples of "misleading information" in the book. It is also unclear how offering the publication could be considered as "defrauding customers" since anyone who is dissatisfied with their purchase can simply return it to Amazon for a refund. "It is essential to understand that 'Cancer Care' does not replace conventional treatments but complements them," the letter continues. "Dr. Marik's extensive research is designed to support patients and physicians in using scientifically backed, repurposed medications alongside traditional therapies to enhance results and improve quality of life. The decision to censor this book silences a critical conversation on innovative cancer care options and undermines the principles of free speech and medical information access." If you are interested in learning more about how to deal with cancer as naturally as possible, be sure to check out CancerSolutions.news. Sources for this article include: X.com X.com NaturalNews.com FTC: Tech giants collecting MASSIVE amounts of data from kids and teens The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has disclosed in a report that tech giants are collecting massive amounts of data from their young users. The FTC report published Sept. 19 expounded on how social media and streaming companies endanger children and teens who use their platforms. It also showed how "the tech industry's monetization of personal data has created a market for commercial surveillance especially via social media and video streaming services with inadequate guardrails to protect consumers." Staffers at the commission examined the practices of various Big Tech companies, including Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp), YouTube, X, Snapchat, Reddit, Microsoft (Discord), Amazon (Twitch) and ByteDance (TikTok). Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, outlined in the report that "these companies engaged in mass data collection of their users and in some cases non-users." He also wrote that "many companies failed to implement adequate safeguards against privacy risks." The report also expounded on the various ways the aforementioned companies made use of personal data "from serving hypergranular targeted advertisements to powering algorithms that shape the content we see, often with the goal of keeping us hooked on using the service." "These practices pose unique risks to children and teens, with the companies having done little to respond effectively to the documented concerns that policymakers, psychologists and parents have expressed over young people's physical and mental well-being." In a statement, FTC Chair Lina Khan said her agency's report "lays out how social media and video streaming companies harvest an enormous amount of Americans' personal data and monetize it to the tune of billions of dollars a year." "With few meaningful guardrails, companies are incentivized to develop ever-more invasive methods of collection. While lucrative for the companies, these surveillance practices can endanger people's privacy, threaten their freedoms, and expose them to a host of harms, from identify theft to stalking." Bills meant to protect kids online could infringe on First Amendment rights Following the release of the FTC report, child welfare advocates urged U.S. lawmakers to pass a pair of controversial bills that seek to protect the youth from "dangerous and unacceptable business practices." But the two proposals, the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), could infringe on young Americans' rights as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Josh Golin, executive director of the nonprofit organization Fairplay, lauded the FTC report in a statement. He also called for the COPPA 2.0 and KOSA bills to be enacted into law. "This report from the FTC is yet more proof that Big Tech's business model is harmful to children and teens," he wrote. "Online platforms use sophisticated and opaque techniques of data collection that endanger young people and put their healthy development at risk." But rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have condemned the KOSA. According to the ACLU, the KOSA which the U.S. Senate passed in July "would violate the First Amendment by enabling the federal government to dictate what information people can access online and encourage social media platforms to censor protected speech." ACLU and other rights groups have pointed out that the KOSA won't keep children safe. It would instead threaten young people's privacy, limit minors' access to vital resources and silence important online conversations for all ages. Moreover, the ACLU has also raised concerns about how this bill could be used to limit adults' ability to express themselves freely online or access diverse viewpoints. Visit BigTech.News for similar stories. Watch this video about online privacy and security, and how to protect yourself online. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Big Government and Big Tech both want your biometric data. Social media use linked to TEENAGE DEPRESSION, warn mental health experts. Social media is the JUNK FOOD of human connection: Looks and feels like connection, but leaves you empty, just like junk food. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org ACLU.org. Brighteon.com Israels exploding pagers attack qualifies as a WAR CRIME under Geneva Conventions of 1949 As clever as some of Israel's leaders seem to think it is that Mossad decided to cause a bunch of seemingly innocuous pagers to explode in Lebanon this past week, the Geneva Conventions of 1949 says otherwise The simple fact that there was no way to know who was even holding the pagers the moment they were detonated, nor was there any way to know who was standing near them, Israel's execution of this sinister operation constitutes a serious war crime. "Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited," explains a section of the Geneva Conventions about how wars are to be conducted. "Indiscriminate attacks are: (a) those which are not directed at a specific military objective; (b) those which employ a method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific military objective; or (c) those which employ a method or means of combat the effects of which cannot be limited as required by this Protocol" (Related: The West continues to cross all of Russia's red lines, including by waging war on the press.) Blowing up handheld radios is also a war crime Israel did not stop after the pagers, though. It proceeded to then also detonate a batch of handheld radios, which similarly injured and killed thousands of people, including innocent children. Around 4,000 people in total were maimed in the two attacks, sustaining serious injuries to the head and stomach. Some of them are now blind or disabled, including the loss of fingers. "As is its policy, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its alleged involvement in the attacks," reported Middle East Eye. "But multiple media organisations, including within Israel, have reported that the Mossad secret service infiltrated Hezbollah supply chains and planted explosives in the devices." The reason why the International Court of Justice (ICJ) continues to go after Israel for its actions in the Middle East is because the Jewish state is playing the part of the bully and criminal who rejects what is right and true and instead pursues its own ends through any means necessary. Before a nation takes any kind of military action, it is supposed to abide by certain core principles, including: 1) Distinction, which stipulates that all parties involved in warfare must distinguish between combatants and civilian populations. Israel is notorious for not abiding by this one. 2) Proportionality, which means not launching outsized attacks that result in lots of civilian injuries and deaths. Israel also blatantly disregards this tenet of war. 3) Military necessity, which means carefully assessing how to best accomplish a legitimate military purpose while limiting civilian casualties. Israel has shown that it is willing to do just about anything while calling it necessary. "We don't have enough information to know how exactly the pagers were detonated, but if, as it seems from existing reports, they were simply simultaneously detonated, then it is difficult to see how these checks could have been undertaken," commented Alonso Gurmendi-Dunkelberg, a researcher at the London School of Economics. In order for Israel to meet the above-outlined obligations under the Geneva Conventions, it would need to have checked each individual communication device to make sure its detonation occurred only against a targeted combatant and not against any civilian that might have mistakenly held it or been near it the moment it exploded. "The question arises whether such a proportionality calculation for each explosion would even have been possible or meaningful given that we are talking about hundreds of explosions triggered at the same time," said Janina Dill, co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict. "People typically carry their pagers with them, including taking them home. It is hard to imagine that it would have been possible for the attacking party to limit the effects of these attacks in accordance with the demands of international law." The latest news about the explosive situation in the Middle East can be found at Prophecy.news. Sources for this article include: X.com NaturalNews.com MiddleEastEye.net NYCs political elite were PARTYING with drugs, sex while everyone else was locked up at home during Covid The jig is up for former senior advisor for public health in New York City Dr. Jay Varma who this past week was publicly exposed for engaging in raunchy, drug-fueled sex parties during the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "pandemic." Steven Crowder captured undercover footage of Varma admitting that he was engaging in all sorts of perverse debauchery at the very same time he was telling New Yorkers to stay at home to stay safe from Covid. "I had to be kind of sneaky about it," Varma told the undercover reporter before proceeding to admit that he and his friends took ecstasy / MDMA while dancing and having an orgy. "I did all this deviant, sexual stuff while I was, you know, like, on TV and stuff." BREAKING: Former NYC Covid Czar Held Secret Drug-Fueled Sex Parties During Global Pandemic; Says New Yorkers Would Have Been Pissed If They Found Out Because He Was Running Entire Covid Response For City Dr. Jay Varma, Former Senior Advisor for Public Health, NYC Mayors pic.twitter.com/YrgniDUdFc Steven Crowder (@scrowder) September 19, 2024 NYC councilwoman Inna Vernikov spoke at a public gathering this week about Varma and former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio whom she exposed for the world to see. "We couldn't bury our grandparents," Vernikov told the crowd. "People couldn't attend burials of their own parents, all while one sicko was partying at the same time he was mandating this on all New Yorkers." Today just keeps getting worse for Jay Varma and @BilldeBlasio. Councilwoman @InnaVernikov at New York City Hall: "We couldn't bury our grandparents. People couldn't attend burials of their own parents. All while one sicko was partying at the same time he was mandating this on pic.twitter.com/uzkofeZN9T Steven Crowder (@scrowder) September 23, 2024 (Related: Remember when de Blasio doubled down on forcing New Yorkers to get "vaccinated" for Covid as a condition of riding the subway?) Tyrants getting exposed It has been a really long time coming, but the dam is finally starting to crack. Those who spread Covid lies, including those who spread tyranny as the solution while breaking all the rules in secret like Varma did, are finally being exposed for the crooks and perverts they really are. "Covid was a scam and millions suffered and millions will continue to suffer for years with all the small businesses that were forced to close and never reopen while the fat cats made billions!!!" wrote someone on Twitter / X about the hypocrisy of people like Varma. "Covid was an experiment to see how far they could go to control us," wrote another. "Guess what? They succeeded far beyond their expectations." Numerous others who live in the city added to the conversation anecdotes about how they and their families suffered big time under Varma and de Blasio's rules, only to now find out that Varma et al. partied it up in the background where nobody could see them until now. "My family and my father's friends couldn't attend his memorial service because of the mayor, the city council, etc.," one said about the tyranny that ruled the day in NYC during Covid. "They all need to be jailed and sued into oblivion." The far-left The Atlantic magazine once tried to defend Varma, only to now change its tune following his exposure as a crook: Turns out even The Atlantic has some limits - it stealth-edited its headline on its insane defense of Dr. Jay Varmas COVID sexcapades so its no longer calling them relatable pic.twitter.com/FTtyt1TygC Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) September 23, 2024 More related news about the Covid crimes of the political elite can be found at Plague.info. Sources for this article include: X.com NaturalNews.com If our cities already look like they belong in Grand Theft Auto, what will they look like once the economy implodes? As you will see below, video footage that was just captured on the streets of Philadelphia looks like it could have been pulled out of an extremely violent video game. If this is what our streets look like now, what are they going to look like once economic conditions become very harsh in this country? Just a few days ago, I wrote about the tremendous chaos that is erupting in cities all over America. When I wrote that article, I wasnt even aware of the drama that had just played out in the city of Philadelphia. From late on Saturday night through the early hours of Sunday morning, there were multiple clashes with police as authorities attempted to break up a series of illegal street takeovers (Article republished from TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com) Philadelphia continues its spiral into chaos under Democratic leadership, with violent mobs once again taking to the streets, this time attacking police officers and patrol cars in a brazen display of lawlessness. According to reports from 6 ABC, hundreds of cars and massive crowds participated in illegal car meetups, causing widespread chaos that lasted from 9:30 p.m. Saturday until 4:30 a.m. Sunday. At least 11 meetups took place, six of which turned into violent confrontations with police. The mayhem resulted in the hospitalization of one officer, while five police cars were heavily damaged. These kids are completely and utterly out of control. One of them even had a flamethrower that he used to create a ring of fire in the middle of one major intersection. And when the police arrived at these events, these kids were not afraid to attack them at all Everything they do is disruptive, theyre ruining the quality of life. At one point, they had a flamethroweryes, theres video with a flamethrower. Theyre able to disperse quickly and then reform at other locations. Thats why we have officers dedicated. Its playing wack-a-mole. We hit them at once, and they move to another, he added. It was the aggressiveness at some of the locations the incident outside of City Hall was aggressive. They physically went after our officers, Cram said. They dont care about your safety, their own safety. Youve all seen the videos of their behavior. How much chaos can they cause? Isnt it odd how the word chaos just keeps popping up all over the place these days? As you can see in this video footage, the streets of Philadelphia really do look like they belong in Grand Theft Auto Of course Philadelphia is far from alone. At this point, there are millions of Americans that are literally afraid to leave their own homes because violent crime has become so pervasive. Read more at: TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com Vermont Sen. Sanders: Pharma companies charge more than $1,000 for diabetes drug that costs $5 to make U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has accused pharmaceutical companies of price gouging , alleging that they charge almost $1,000 for diabetes drugs that only cost them a measly $5 to manufacture. The lawmaker zeroed in on pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, on Sept. 17. He slammed the company for charging Americans more than $900 a month for Ozempic. According to Reuters, Novo Nordisk sells Wegovy for $1,349 a dose and Ozempic for $935 a dose. During a panel discussion with experts, Sanders said he and his staff have been in touch with executives of major drug firms. These drug firms, he continued, could sell a generic version of Ozempic for less than $100 a month and still turn a profit. A study published March 27 in JAMA Network backed up the Vermont senator's points. According to the paper, a month's supply of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could be manufactured for an estimated 89 cents to $4.73. Given this, the study authors concluded that GLP-1 drugs "can likely be manufactured for prices far below current prices, enabling wider access." "Novo Nordisk, which has made nearly $50 billion in sales off of Ozempic and Wegovy, charges Americans almost $1,000 a month the highest prices in the world," Sanders said. "Why? Excessive corporate greed." According to his office, Novo Nordisk sells Wegovy at lower prices in other countries. It is sold in Denmark for $186 and costs $140 in Germany. Meanwhile, Wegovy which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic costs only $92 in the United Kingdom. (Related: DYING TO LOSE WEIGHT: Study finds alarming link between popular weight loss drugs and increase in suicidality.) Reuters reported that the senator seeks to lower the price of Ozempic to $155, which is the same price for the drug in Canada. Sanders ultimately warned that Medicare premiums could surge if the prices of Ozempic and Wegovy aren't reined in. "Our healthcare system, I think most people understand, is in crisis. The business model of the pharmaceutical industry is unsustainable." Sanders optimistic that Novo Nordisk will bow to pressure, lower prices According to Reuters, the senator for the Green Mountain State is confident that Novo Nordisk can be pressured to lower its prices for the two GLP-1 drugs by shaming it. "I think the major thing that we can do, and we've done this successfully in the past with insulin is to put a focus on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry in general and Novo Nordisk in particular in terms of them ripping off the American people," he said. A Novo Nordisk spokesperson wrote a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee chaired by Sanders in response to his remarks. According to their letter, the net prices of Ozempic and Wegovy have dropped since their launch. More than 80 percent of Americans with insurance pay $25 or less per month for the drugs, the Novo Nordisk spokesperson added. The spokesperson lamented that those savings do not make their way to the general public because of pharmacy benefit managers, who act as middlemen between drug companies and consumers. But according to the senator, the price drop wasn't enough. People paying that amount continue to be affected by the high prices because insurance companies still pay a lot for the drugs, he added. This, in turn, drives up insurance prices as well as hospital costs. "It is very hard for any company, especially one that is making record-breaking profits, to defend itself when they are charging the American people many times more for the same exact drug than they charge people in other countries." Visit BigPharmaNews.com for similar stories. Watch retired chiropractor Dr. Bryan Ardis warning that weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can cause cancer. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Ozempic and Wegovy weight loss drugs are injectable LIZARD VENOM PEPTIDES that may unleash a devastating wave of organ failure side effects align with symptoms of SNAKE BITES. Novo Nordisk makes absurd new health claims about Wegovy weight loss medication, which is synthesized based on REPTILIAN venom peptides. Business Insider confirms Dr. Bryan Ardis allegation that Ozempic weight loss drug comes from Gila monster reptile venom. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org JAMANetwork.com Reuters.com Brighteon.com UN agency declares war on GENDERED LANGUAGE, starting with the word man An agency under the United Nations has unofficially declared war on gendered language , starting with the word "man." In its latest crackdown on such language, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has advised staffers to eschew masculine terms. WIPO, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, is responsible for protecting trademarks and patents globally. According to the agency's guidance, masculine terms such as "forefathers" and "brotherhood of man" should not be used. The WIPO also proposed several gender-neutral suggestions to replace these gendered terms: Faithful dog to replace "man's best friend" to replace "man's best friend" Birth attendant to replace "midwife" to replace "midwife" Ordinary citizen or typical person to replace "man in the street" or to replace "man in the street" Fair or sporting to replace "sportsmanlike" or to replace "sportsmanlike" Cave dweller or prehistoric people to replace "caveman" / "cavewoman" or to replace "caveman" / "cavewoman" Humanity to replace "the brotherhood of man" According to the Daily Mail, the WIPO is "bent on going after the use of so-called masculine terminology in its communications and documentation." The tabloid explained that the agency's guidance followed the British Red Cross (BRC) receiving accusations of being "hijacked by political extremists" after it issued similar guidelines. The BRC ostensibly prohibited staffers from using phrases such as "ladies and gentlemen" and "maiden name." (Related: UN agency plays language police with new rules against gendered language.) WIPO says its language guidelines are "not prescriptive" According to the WIPO's guidelines signed off by its Director-General Daren Tang, using "masculine-specific" terms risks giving the impression that women are not represented in certain groups or do not possess certain skills. Nevertheless, it reiterates that the guidelines are "not prescriptive and common sense and clarity of text should always prevail." The agency also argued that the guidance was designed to be a straightforward awareness-raising exercise on how to use language that resonates with the widest possible audience, which may include avoiding terms that are linked to one specific gender when other neutral, more-inclusive words are available. But for Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union (FSU), "Orwellian" is the right term to describe the WIPO's new guidance. According to its website, FSU is a non-partisan, not-for-profit membership organization that stands up for people whose right to freedom of expression has been violated. "This is precisely what George Orwell warned us about," said Young. "Banning certain words and phrases to advance a dogmatic political ideology is a hallmark of totalitarianism." "While language critics of WIPO note that there is little in the spoken jargon that will encourage people to adopt the nuances of WIPO the same goes for businesses working with patents and trademarks. As confusion abounds, the logical next step is for the agency to take a more aggressive approach to enforcing the guidelines." Head over to SpeechPolice.news for similar stories. Watch this clip of American pediatricians denouncing gender surgeries for minors. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Another gender confused teenage mass shooter kills 1 child, injures 5: Pushing gender madness on our nations children is creating murderers and suicidal teens. "Ze" gender-neutral pronoun being pushed by safe space universities is identical to Communist China pronoun. Erasing women: CDC quietly replaces pregnant women with "pregnant people" in its new inclusive flu vaccine advice. Canadian Cancer Society apologizes for using scientific term "cervix" that some trans people find offensive because they are delusional. Facebook censors biologist Richard Dawkins for saying male transwomen boxers shouldnt fight women at Olympics. Sources include: InfoWars.com DailyMail.co.uk Brighteon.com The U.S. military, creator of the COVID VACCINE, already knew since 2016 that IVERMECTIN was the BEST product to use in the event of a pandemic According to Dr. Christopher Shoemaker, an emergency and general hospital medicine doctor across Canada, when the original SARS-CoV-1 occurred, many experiments were conducted by top-level scientists and immunologists to see what could be a useful response if something similar was to spread. This research was done over 15+ years, completed by 2016. DARPA, the American research arm of the U.S. military, specifically knew and specifically recommended information to the CDC that Ivermectin, in particular, was the absolute number one product to be used in the event of a Coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Shoemaker, a courageous whistleblower of the whole scamdemic, emphatically added that hydroxychloroquine was also a known go-to cure for Covid. Both of these antidotes were highly antiviral and immune modulatory, and those two things were the key. He said both elements were totally proven and of course, we knew it was completely safe for humans, because these medications have been used for 35 to 40 years in humans, so thats what was sitting there, ready to be used at the next pandemic. Well-respected Canadian Dr. Shoemaker describes the disastrous and unprecedented prohibitions on prescribing known proper medications to Covid patients Dr. Shoemaker, a very knowledgeable physician, describes a stunning amount of data revealing that the vaccine actually helps children and society to contract Covid, and he also says we should all avoid the dirty, deadly mRNA vaccines. He said the vaccines RAISE death rates to significantly high numbers in children, youth and young adults. This is exactly why the CDC and FDA strictly prohibited medical doctors from prescribing Ivermectin to patients before and during their Covid attacks, so that the virus numbers and death tolls would skyrocket, enabling Big Government to take away Americans medical freedom of choice, constitutional rights to free speech and free press, and help Big Pharma bankroll off the Fauci Flu trillion-dollar cash cow. This testimony by Dr. Shoemaker is another smoking gun about how the whole pandemic really was a PLANDEMIC, including the lab-made gain-of-function virus, the deadliest vaccines to follow, and the absolute censorship and disinformation campaign about the best cures for Covid. Mainstream media was the right arm of Big Pharma, pushing all the lies and disinformation on the masses, around the globe, but especially in America. Its unbelievable that nobody is in prison for it. Not one single politician, scientist, disease expert, reporter, news pundit, talk show host, Biden, Harris, nobody. Where is justice? People should be on trial for mass murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession and distribution of (mRNA and Covid) biological weapons of mass destruction. Its vaccine violence. Ivermectin was identified by DARPA Biological Technologies as a curative, in April 2020, for Covid, and was declared through scientific evaluation to work throughout all phases of Covid illness because it both inhibits viral replication and modulates the immune response. To add insult to injury, take a look at the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Report System) graph for the first 14 days after the masses got vaccinated for Covid, and check out the mass-murdering first TWO DAYS after the injections were administered. These folks were listed by the corrupt Vaccine Industrial Complex as unvaccinated so that the massive death toll wouldnt be documented properly for all to see. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on Long-Vax-Syndrome thats about to be made worse with the next plandemic and the dirty vaccines that come with it as a package plan. #IvermectinCuresCovid Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com X.com Odysee.com TotalityofEvidence.com Volkswagen to trim upwards of 30,000 German employees as global economy falters German auto giant Volkswagen is having trouble selling cars , which means a large number of the company's employees is now on the chopping block. The latest reports suggest that VW could end up laying off 30,000 of its 300,000 German employees as part of a massive restructuring plan. Between 4,000 and 6,000 of the company's 13,000 research and development employees are expected to go, along with thousands from other divisions of the company. Overall, VW is expected to slash upwards of two billion euros (about $2.23 billion) in investments over the medium term to help steady the ship. From there, the company will take further action if necessary to plug the holes of the sinking ship. The company hinted at some employee trimming earlier this month, but this latest update suggests that VW is planning even more aggressive cuts than previously believed. Official news about the company's final decision on how many jobs to slash is expected to come any day now. VW to close factories for first time in 87-year history In addition to laying off tens of thousands of employees, Volkswagen also announced plans to close production plants in Germany as Europe's industrial collapse accelerates. VW's factory closures mark a first in the company's 87-year history. Executives say the changes are necessary to address soaring business costs, including labor and energy, as well as logistics and supply chain problems, many of which still linger in the aftermath of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "pandemic." "It would mark the end of a 3-decade long pact guaranteeing worker safety," tweeted Remix News & Views (@RMXnews). "VW employees [sic] 300,000 workers in Germany, making it a bedrock company for the economy." According to Arno Anlitz, VW's chief financial officer (CFO), the company is simply not selling enough cars anymore to warrant keeping all of its existing plants open into the future. "The market is simply no longer there," he said somberly at the start of September. Should VW follow through on these aggressive cost-cutting plans, it will make Germany's far-left ruling government look really bad in the eyes of the populace. The ruling regime already has record-low support at the polls, and any further destruction of Germany's economy will only worsen the German public's opinion of their government. Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel regularly refers to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the "chancellor of decline" and she says this straight to his face. Since Scholz became chancellor of Germany, 500,000 jobs have been lost throughout the country, including: 14,000 jobs lost at auto supplier ZF 10,000 jobs lost at SAP 4,600 jobs lost at Ford 3,760 jobs lost at Bosch ?? AfD co-leader Alice Weidel calls German Chancellor Olaf Scholz the "chancellor of decline" to his face. ?500,000 jobs lost since Scholz became chancellor ?Auto supplier ZF will cut 14,000 jobs ?SAP will cut 10,000 ?Ford 4,600 ?Bosch 3760 And the list goes on... pic.twitter.com/cxbTQ8NPOx Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) September 15, 2024 Another factor in VW's decline, not to mention that of the greater automobile industry, is the failure of electric vehicles (EV). Consumers simply do not want EVs, no matter how aggressively the government and media try to push them. And VW is among the automakers that threw a lot of cash at EVs, only to learn that they do not sell. "If you don't have cheap energy, your manufacturing industry collapses," someone wrote on X about the deindustrialization of Germany and Europe at large. "If the EU, UK, and U.S. do not totally ban autos from China, millions of jobs will shift to China in the next five years," wrote another. The global economy is largely a mirage that will very soon fade into oblivion, unleashing hell from behind the veil. Find out more at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: RMX.news NaturalNews.com Zelensky outlines his victory plan against Russia using American and British long-range missiles Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed his so-called "victory plan" against Russia, which ostensibly requires the use of long-range missiles provided by the United Kingdom and the United States. He expounded on this victory plan during a Sept. 20 press briefing that coincided with a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. This plan reportedly involves the U.S. and the U.K. authorizing Ukraine to launch long-range missile strikes inside Russian territory. According to YourNews, Zelensky's plan stresses "the critical role" of Washington and London in giving the go signal for such strikes. During the briefing, Zelensky disclosed that he plans to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden on Sept. 26 to present this victory plan. He stressed the significance of Washington's support and appealed directly to the Democratic incumbent. According to the Ukrainian leader, his American counterpart could "earn a place in history" by backing Kyiv's strategy. "All the details I will discuss, first of all, with the president of the United States. Most of the decisions from the plan depend specifically on him. [I'll discuss the plan with] other allies too, but there are certain points which depend on the goodwill and support of the United States. I hope [Biden] supports the plan," Zelensky said. "Biden can strengthen Ukraine and make important decisions for Ukraine to become stronger and to protect its independence while he is U.S. president. I think it is a historical mission." In a separate statement on social media posted Sept. 20, Zelensky said he and his team are preparing for negotiations with two major presidential candidates in the U.S. the Republican Party's Donald Trump and the Democratic Party's Kamala Harris. He also expressed plans to meet both candidates, who are set to face each other in the U.S. presidential elections in November. "We are ready to present a concrete plan not just for Ukraine to endure, not just to maintain our resistance at the current level, but to strengthen ourselves right now. To strengthen in such a way that brings a just peace closer, that brings victory closer," the Ukrainian leader said in his post. Russia warns Ukraine's "victory plan" will only trigger WWIII "Despite Zelensky's insistence, both the U.S. and the U.K. have refrained from allowing the use of their missile systems for long-range strikes within Russian borders, limiting their support to strikes near border regions," YourNews continued. "Moscow, meanwhile, has repeatedly warned of dire consequences should Western-backed long-range missile strikes into Russia be authorized. The Ukrainian leadership's proposal and Russia's stark warnings illustrate the growing risks in a conflict that has already significantly impacted global security dynamics." Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued such a warning on the same day as Zelensky's press conference in Kyiv. She reiterated that the West's continued military support for Ukraine could escalate tensions further, potentially triggering a nuclear conflict. Ceasing arms shipments to Kyiv would be the only credible step to resolve the war peacefully, she added, and continuing such shipments would merely escalate the already volatile situation. "As soon as [the West stops] supplying arms and sponsoring the terrorist activities of [the Kyiv regime], then it can be perceived as a signal for political and diplomatic settlement," Zakharova said. (Related: Maria Zakharova warns: Ukraine is spreading TERRORISM worldwide.) "Everything else is either strengthening of anti-Russian ties with the West or an attempt to attract other members of the international community to their reckless schemes or elements of the current White House's electoral program, so to speak, or maneuvering. In fact, this has nothing to do with peace." Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of Russia's State Duma (lower house of the Russian legislature) and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, also issued a similar admonition. He warned Western governments that a nuclear war would surely break out if they permitted Kyiv to use long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Head over to WWIII.news for similar stories. Watch this clip of Volodymyr Zelensky aboard a military transport plane en route to the United States. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Bulgarian President Radev: It is IMPOSSIBLE for Ukraine to beat Russia. Biden could allow Ukraine to use long-range Western missiles against Russia. Downing Street BANS Ukraine from using Storm Shadow missiles to strike Kursk. U.S. "close" to giving Ukraine long-range JASSM missiles, despite direct warnings from Russia. Delusional Biden declared Ukrainian victory back in February 5 months later, Russian forces are still in control. Sources include: YourNews.com TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.com Why are Barack and Michelle Obama so closely tied to P. Diddy and many other elite rapists, sex offenders? The downfall of rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs (aka P. Diddy) and Harvey Weinstein before him is once again shining a light on the many elitist rapists and sex offenders who are close friends of Barack and Michelle Obama. P. Diddy is dominating media headlines right now for the wickedness he and his friends perpetrated on Justin Bieber and many others in the music industry who were taken advantage of, often in sexually perverse ways. And the Obamas keep coming up as co-conspirators in the whole mess. Barack and P. Diddy have been close friends for a long while now. They attended the same parties, appeared in pictures together, and were all-around chummy with one another until P. Diddy's time was up, which appears to be now. To be fair, P. Diddy appeared in pictures with Donald Trump, too, along with Kamala Harris and many others. It would seem as though both sides of the aisle roll with the same perverts, though perhaps not for the same reasons. (Related: Did you know that Joe Biden was just Obama's "useful idiot" puppet? "It's always been Obama," says analyst.) Michelle Obama praised Harvey Weinstein, called him a "wonderful human being" Much of the world missed it, but back in Nov. 8, 2013, Michelle Obama appeared before a gathering of students at the Careers in Film Symposium, which just so happens to have been organized by Harvey Weinstein. At the event, Michelle praised Weinstein as a "wonderful human being," a "good friend" of the family, and, creepily, as a "powerhouse." Snopes, which usually lies about these kinds of things and claims they are fake, agrees that Michelle said these words. You can watch her (or him?) say them in the following video clip captured at the event: Harvey Weinstein is a wonderful human being and a good friend, and just a powerhouse Michelle Obama. pic.twitter.com/InKpUbVE9P Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 25, 2024 The Obamas appear to have first crossed paths with P. Diddy back in 2004 when the rapper came out in support of Democrats ahead of that year's Democratic National Committee (DNC). That same year, P. Diddy interviewed both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who we also know would go on to run for president on the Democrat ticket. With the now-downfall of P. Diddy, video footage of the guy carousing with Barack has resurfaced to suggest that the two were much closer than many people would choose to believe. "This is part of what is important about giving back," the young Obama said about P. Diddy, praising him for supporting Democrats that year "because he doesn't have to do this." P. Diddy's responded jovially to Obama's praise, making fun of him for sweating at the convention. P. Diddy also said to Obama that he "wanted to apologize for not sweating" and as he said this, Obama patted P. Diddy on the head with a napkin. P. Diddy reemerged in 2008 to push Obama on America for what would become Obama's first presidential term. P. Diddy hosted a "Last Chance for Change" rally in support of Obama just days before the election that year. Kamala likewise praised P. Diddy in a tweet, suggesting that she, too, is buds with the disgraced rapper and sexual pervert. "'Vote or Die' was Diddy's claim to fame a campaign that pushed young people to vote with brute-force rhetoric," reported Revolver.news. "Fitting, isn't it, for a man accused of being a cruel slavemaster who forced women to do unspeakable things things everyone knew about but said nothing about. Right, Barack?" Politics is a dirty, ugly game. Learn more at Evil.news. Sources for this article include: Revolver.news NaturalNews.com Blinken SNUBS Congressional hearing on botched Afghanistan withdrawal Secretary of State Antony Blinken has snubbed a Congressional hearing on the botched Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021 , in defiance of a subpoena ordering him to testify before lawmakers. The Biden-Harris administration official was a no-show during a Sept. 24 hearing convened by the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC). According to the Washington Free Beacon, the committee subpoenaed Blinken to elaborate on the failed 2021 withdrawal that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and brought the Taliban back to power after 20 years. The secretary of state was expected to face tough questions detailing how the U.S. abandoned a "significant amount of classified information," advanced biometric data and millions in cash when it fled the war-torn country as revealed by a new Congressional report. But a day prior, on Sept. 23, the Department of State told the HFAC that Blinken won't be appearing before it. According to sources familiar with the situation, the secretary was reportedly too busy with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City to attend. "The committee received a letter stating the secretary will not come," said one source. "He didn't provide any other dates for this week, claiming he's busy with events and gatherings at the UNGA. Instead, he offered his deputies neither of whom worked at the State Department throughout 2021 nor the Afghanistan withdrawal." The Free Beacon noted that the State Department has long accused the HFAC, chaired by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), of "pursuing a politically motivated investigation into Afghanistan." The department has also claimed that Blinken would never have been able to make the Sept. 24 hearing due to his UN obligations. But according to HFAC sources, the secretary of state was offered any day in September to appear for testimony with the State Department failing to select another day of its choosing. Lawmakers also were not informed of Blinken's UN schedule in advance, leading them to choose Sept. 24 for the hearing, they added. Blinken's no-show paves the way for contempt citation Blinken's no-show and defiance of the subpoena angered GOP members of the HFAC, including McCaul himself. The committee chairman is now pushing a measure to formally hold the secretary of state in contempt of Congress. During the Sept. 24 HFAC hearing, McCaul announced that Blinken chose to "willingly defy this subpoena." The hearing concluded shortly after the announcement, and the Texas representative later said the HFAC would reconvene to "begin the formal process of holding the secretary in contempt of Congress." The committee later voted along party lines to advance the resolution, which will now be voted on by the entire House floor. McCaul told the Free Beacon before the vote that Blinken "probably had pressure put on him to not testify prior to the election." He continued: "What they were trying to do was push my report and investigation until after the election because then it wouldn't have the impact. There's a campaign to try and bring it down." The Free Beacon managed to obtain a copy of the contempt resolution, with the document pointing fingers at Blinken for the botched Afghanistan withdrawal. The secretary's "pattern of obstruction throughout the course of this committee's investigation is consistent with a finding of contempt now," the document stated. It also emphasizes that Blinken's appearance before the HFAC "is critical to understanding a series of missteps that only became clear years after the Biden-Harris administration abandoned Afghanistan." "[Afghanistan is now] the most gender-oppressive regime in the world, as well as a breeding ground for terrorism. The U.S.'s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan kickstarted aggression from America's adversaries like Russia, China and Iran," the resolution stated. "Much of the accountability for the failures involved in that withdrawal belongs with Blinken as head of the State Department." The Free Beacon noted that if the resolution is approved, Blinken would be the first secretary of state to be held in contempt of Congress. This misdemeanor is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and potential jail time. In June, the Biden-Harris administration declined to prosecute U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland after the GOP-controlled House voted to hold him in contempt of Congress in June. (Related: Florida Rep. Luna: House sergeant-at-arms CAN ARREST U.S. AG Garland.) Visit BigGovernment.news for similar stories. Watch this clip of U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) questioning Antony Blinken about Chinese nationals entering the U.S. during an HFAC hearing in May. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden knew all along the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan was imminent. Congressional report: Biden-Harris admin DECEIVED Americans on Afghanistan withdrawal. White House now claims it did not leave American weapons in Afghanistan, calls accusation a "farce." Sources include: FreeBeacon.com Brighteon.com Court dismisses wrongful death lawsuit against hospital where COVID-19 patient died after being switched from ivermectin to remdesivir The Nevada Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the family of a man whose doctors switched his ivermectin treatment to remdesivir and other drugs without his permission while he was hospitalized with COVID-19. Hal de Becker was being treated by his family doctor with ivermectin after he developed COVID-19 symptoms in spring of 2021. However, he was then admitted to the Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center out of an abundance of caution so he could undergo close monitoring. The two doctors who served as his attending physicians at the hospital decided to stop giving him ivermectin and started giving him remdesivir and other drugs instead, and his condition quickly deteriorated. He died shortly after being released from the hospital. His family says that this change was made against their wishes, which they clearly expressed to the hospital and two of the doctors treating him, and they insist the drug was switched without consulting them. They filed a lawsuit, suing the doctors and the hospital itself for wrongful death and negligence. They maintain that the physicians and hospital were aware of the scientific evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of ivermectin against the virus but chose remdesivir instead in decisions that they believe were influenced by the media and political beliefs. They also claim that the hospital and the doctors violated the family's right to informed consent when they failed to consult with them or his family doctor about the decisions they made about his treatment. Hospital claims PREP Act protects them The lawsuit was dismissed by the Nevada Supreme Court, who ruled that the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act gives medical professionals and healthcare institutions immunity from liability for any claims of loss that are caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the administration to or the use by an individual of a covered countermeasure. These covered countermeasures include not only medications and vaccines but also devices and other products that have been authorized to treat patients in declared medical emergencies. According to the court, the man's family does not have grounds to sue because remdesivir is considered a covered countermeasure. However, they added that even if the PREP Act was not applicable in this case, the fact that the family did not provide some specific legal documents that were needed in an affidavit to prove professional negligence would have put the case in jeopardy either way. The family has already appealed the dismissal. PREP Act helps doctors get away with violating patients' fundamental rights Unfortunately, the PREP Act offers broad legal protection for doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies even when they are violating patients' fundamental rights. Some legal experts believe that the case should serve as an example of why legislative action is needed to prevent these acts from causing damage. Children's Health Defense General Counsel Kim Mack Rosenberg said: The decision illuminates the way in which PREP has essentially run roughshod over other laws, including here, state informed consent law. She added that a classification of a product shouldnt overrule a persons rights to make decisions about their own healthcare. It is concerning that simply because a pharmaceutical product is defined as a covered countermeasure, doctors can ignore, without repercussions, an obligation to obtain informed consent. The status of a product should not determine a patients rights to make a decision about whether or not to receive a treatment, she said. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org ChildrensHealthDefense.org Report: Nearly 900K deceased individuals still registered as active voters in Puerto Rico A report from the Puerto Rico-based investigative journalism firm, the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (CPI) report has found that hundreds of thousands of deceased individuals in the commonwealth remain registered active voters in the General Registry of Voters (RGE). The investigators analyzed data from the RGE, interviewed sources from major political parties in the territory, spoke with individuals in the Puerto Rico State Commission on Elections (CEE) and assessed hundreds of other documents. The CPI discovered widespread irregularities in the electoral process in Puerto Rico. For instance, the CPI found that at least 5,872 deceased individuals who passed away between 2015 and September 2020 were still marked as active voters in the RGE. Some were even able to vote in the 2016 and 2020 elections after they had been marked as deceased. (Related: Texas PURGES one million ineligible voters from voter rolls, including non-citizens and dead people.) The RGE also includes around 2,865 voters who would be over 100 years old, with some having birth dates in the 1800s. Out of a sample of 450 of these centenarian voters, the CPI found that fewer than two percent had been excluded from the voter rolls due to death. Shockingly, the investigation uncovered records of a voter named Luquillo, born in 1828, who reportedly "reactivated" his registration to cast a ballot in the 2020 election. The discrepancies do not end there. The RGE contains 682,938 active or inactive voters over the age of 80, yet the 2023 Census Community Survey lists only 221,216 living individuals of that age group in Puerto Rico. Similarly, cross-referencing conducted by the CPI between the RGE and the commonwealth's Central Office of the Demographic Registry confirmed that there were at least 155,611 deceased individuals who were registered voters between 2015 and 2022. The CPI could not analyze the deaths before 2015 and in 2023 as the registry refused to provide death records during those years due to ongoing legal battles. The CPI concludes that nearly 900,000 deceased individuals are listed as either active, inactive or excluded voters in the RGE's database, which contains the personal data of nearly five million voters. Puerto Rico practices widespread electoral fraud and the CEE does nothing about it Aside from dead people voting, the CPI also uncovered other kinds of electoral fraud such as submission of false endorsements, exploitation of personal data from RGE and "list clearing" at polling stations on election day to benefit candidates. "List clearing" involves using the RGE or party membership records to conduct false transactions on behalf of voters, including endorsing candidates or submitting early vote requests in the name of incapacitated, elderly or deceased individuals. These votes have been cast by citizens who are bedridden, mentally incapacitated or dead. Many of these individuals are still listed in the electoral rolls and were recorded as having voted in the last three election cycles. The CPI also found that political activists, mobilizers and electoral managers employed by political parties are instrumental in the fraud. These managers, often former employees of the CEE, can access voter information and manipulate it for the benefit of their chosen candidates. Several sources with direct knowledge confirmed that these managers charge candidates for getting endorsements, often forging signatures or falsely claiming endorsements on behalf of real or deceased voters. Moreover, mass submission of early voting requests, which is directly prohibited by the Electoral Code of 2020, is another electoral fraud. Article 9.38 of the code states that early voting requests must be submitted individually by each voter, yet the CEE allows large batches of such requests to be processed. In short, the CEE has shown neither the capacity nor the will to address these issues. The CEE has failed to oversee the issuance and handling of the documents necessary for voting. Follow VoteFraud.news for more stories about voting issues in America. Watch the video below about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton investigating the voter fraud happening in his state. This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: CLEANING HOUSE: Ohio removes nearly 155,000 names from voter rolls due to inactive or expired registrations. 14% of illegal immigrants in Georgia admit they are registered to vote in America's elections. California sending voter registration forms to illegal immigrants. Questions persist about falsification of 100,000 mail-in ballots in Michigan as Gov. Whitmer changes election laws to make fraud harder to expose. Texas AG announces major election fraud raids after organization accused of registering noncitizens to vote. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com PeriodismoInvestigativo.com Brighteon.com Facebook provided secret online tools and trained CDC employees how to censor the American public The American First Legal team is currently litigating against Facebook and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for violating the First Amendment and censoring Americans on important topics that drastically affect their lives. The litigation has just exposed onboarding documents that Facebook (Meta) employees used to train CDC employees on how to censor the American public. Facebook employees coordinated with government employees under the Biden regime to block Americans from learning the truth about COVID-19 and the so-called vaccines. Their censorship portal was titled Covid & Vaccine Misinformation. The CDC was allowed to censor more than 16 million pieces of content on Facebook and Instagram, citing vaccine misinformation as the reason. Biden regime and Facebooks censorship machinations are a threat to the republic In 2021, the Biden-Harris regime pressured social media companies to eliminate important dialogue and public discourse on various issues related to COVID-19. Only accepted government narratives were allowed online. Facebook caved to the pressure and gave the CDC online tools so the government could control speech online. In fact, the litigation documents reveal that Facebook, under pressure from the administration, implemented a new system of censorship, allowing government officials to efficiently request the removal of Facebook posts. This system streamlined the process, enabling officials to submit multiple links for censorship and providing a way to track compliance through ticket numbers. In the portal, CDC employees chose their Reason for Reporting to remove a Facebook users post. These reasons included COVID Misinformation, Vaccine Discouragement, and COVID Vaccine Misinformation. Access to this portal was restricted to approved personnel, making oversight by outside organizations more difficult. Additionally, Facebook clarified the criteria for content removal in collaboration with the CDC. The documents indicate that Facebook outlined specific types of content it would remove and detailed what information it required from the CDC to justify censoring certain narratives while adhering to its community standards. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has publicly acknowledged that Facebook caved to government pressure. American First Legal Executive Director Gene Hamilton wrote about the latest findings: These documents showdefinitivelythe architecture behind the systems that political appointees and governmental bureaucrats used to unconstitutionally censor the free speech of Americans online. The right to speakto even question authorityis so fundamental to our national identity, yet in the name of a public health crisis, Biden Administration officials worked with major companies to silence dissent. The American people need to review these documents and understand just how far our leaders in Washington went to violate the First Amendment to our Constitution. CDC removed vaccine truth from Facebook, brainwashing the public and harming countless lives The CDC removed Facebook posts dissenting about social distancing, face masks and testing. All of these devices of control turned out to exacerbate disease theater that not only caused further hysteria, but also damaged the social fabric of society. When the disastrous COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out, the CDC targeted information on spike protein shedding from the vaccines and disregarded the negative effects shedding had on womens menstrual cycles, ovulation and miscarriage risk. The CDC censored common adverse events from the vaccine and ignored the fatalities from the shot, disregarding all evidence suggesting the vaccine was a depopulation weapon. In fact, any information that discouraged vaccine uptake was targeted and removed. These coercive actions had a chilling effect on the informed consent principle and led to widespread violations of body autonomy rights and medical ethics throughout society. Updates to Facebooks community standards were quick to punish repeat offenders who spread so-called misinformation. People who made repeated false claims about masks for example, or who discouraged social distancing had their accounts reach reduced or removed altogether. Pages Groups, profiles, and Instagram accounts that repeatedly post misinformation or coordinated harm (see Coordinating Harm policies at the top of this entry) related to COVID-19, vaccines, and health may face restrictions, including (but not limited to) reduced distribution, removal from recommendations, or removal from our site. The Biden regime made censorship easy, and Facebook caved to the pressure, providing them unlimited power to restrict free speech and stifle the truth on matters that affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans. The federal agents who participated in this censorship scheme harmed countless lives with their vaccine propaganda and controlling narratives. Sources include: AFLegal.org Judiciary.House.gov [PDF] FBI claims it disrupted Chinese hacking campaign on critical U.S. infrastructure Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray recently said that the agency has disrupted a major hacking group nicknamed "Flax Typhoon, " an allegedly China-backed cybercrime group that threatened to hold more expansive power over key infrastructure in the United States. The said hacking campaign, also known as Ethereal Panda and Red Juliett, has so far infected home routers, firewalls, storage devices and Internet of Things devices like cameras and video recorders. As of June, its botnet included more than 260,000 malware-infected devices across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia, according to a U.S. government advisory. Wray said at a cybersecurity conference in Washington that Flax Typhoon was being run by a Chinese company called the Integrity Technology Group, which "collected intelligence and performed reconnaissance for Chinese government security agencies." The director also said the operation against Flax Typhoon took place earlier this month. He noted that Flax Typhoon was targeting not only critical infrastructure but also corporations, media organizations, universities and government agencies. Reuters reported that the hacking campaign routed their malicious traffic through something called "a botnet," a network of hijacked devices that in this case included cameras and digital storage devices. When the FBI tried to take control of the botnet's infrastructure, the hackers responded with a cyberattack before abandoning the fight. "When the bad guys realized what was happening, they tried to migrate their bots to new servers, and even conducted a DDoS [distributed denial of service] attack against us," Wray said. "Working with our partners, we were able to not only mitigate their attack but also identify their new infrastructure in just a matter of hours." "At that point, as we began pivoting to their new servers, these guys finally realized it was the FBI and our partners that we were up against. And with that realization, they essentially burned down their new infrastructure and abandoned their salvation efforts." Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Washington accused U.S. authorities of having "jumped to an unwarranted conclusion and made groundless accusations against China," claiming that Beijing cracks down on "all forms of cyberattacks." This is not the first encounter of the U.S. with a Chinese-backed hacking group. Earlier this year, the country's top cybersecurity officials warned Congress about a similar cybercrime group known as "Volt Typhoon," and shared that they had taken down that hacking group's network of infected devices. In May 2023, Volt Typhoon accessed several major critical infrastructure organizations, including a West Coast port, a utility in Hawaii and at least one oil and gas pipeline. Chinese hackers have been lurking in U.S. infrastructure systems for years Earlier this year, a report by U.S. and allied security agencies indicated that Chinese hackers trying to infiltrate transportation hubs and other critical American infrastructure have had access to some of their targets' computer networks for "at least five years" now. (Related: White House official: China maintained PERSISTENT ACCESS to U.S. networks for years.) According to the nearly 50-page report, the Chinese hackers' activity began much earlier than previously known, with the hackers scoping and accessing IT systems years ago. From there, they have spent months looking for ways to maneuver onto more sensitive industrial systems that help control power flow and water. Back then, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington Liu Pengyu denied the U.S. hacking allegations and accused Washington of conducting its own cyberattacks. Meanwhile, Chinese-operated hacking campaigns continue. In August, cybersecurity experts said massive efforts by the U.S. to curb the attacks haven't made a dent, particularly on the Volt Typhoon. "Volt Typhoon is active to this day," Sherrod DeGrippo, director of threat intelligence strategy at the tech giant Microsoft, said on the sidelines of the BlackHat conference. "Have they stopped? Absolutely not. Will they stop? Doubt it." "Generally, there has not been a change in the targeting at all," DeGrippo added. "I would say we're about the same volume, but what the story is there to me is actually the consistency and the persistence. We don't see big changes there." Alex Stamos, chief information security officer of cyber group SentinelOne and former chief security officer at Meta, agreed with the statement and noted that the Biden administration's efforts have not made any difference in stopping China from its efforts. "The fact that it does not deter them does scare me," Stamos lamented. Check out CyberWar.news to read more stories similar to this. Watch the video below where Chinese President Xi Jinping commits to a "stable relationship" with the United States. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: CCP is embedding itself into U.S. utility infrastructure; Biden administration issues warning about situation they created. Leaked documents reveal China's hacking abilities and potential targets. Patients across the U.S. still unable to access lifesaving medications nearly two weeks after CYBERATTACK on UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare unit. Sources include: Axios.com Reuters.com Politico.com Brighteon.com PUSHED TOO FAR: Former Putin advisor says Russia has no choice but to use tactical NUCLEAR WEAPONS against NATO The continued Western provocation of Moscow via Ukraine will eventually force Vladimir Putin to use tactical nuclear weapons against Western targets, according to former Putin advisor and political analyst Sergei Markov. In a recent interview with Times Radio (United Kingdom), Markov worried out loud about the endgame of all this tension and escalation as the West keeps on poking the bear despite repeated warnings that these provocations will not go unpunished. "You want to target your rocket missiles to Russian cities, to kill our people, and you, Great Britain, are going to do it. And you think we will keep silent?" Markov said. In the event that Ukraine uses Shadow Storm missiles inside Russia, Moscow will have no choice but to launch tactical nuclear weapons on NATO airfields in Ukraine, as well as on British territory. "You want to have war? Go ahead," he added. "You want to have war? Go ahead." Former Putin advisor Sergei Markov has warned that Russia could attack British territory and launch "tactical nuclear weapons" on NATO airfields if Ukraine is allowed to use Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia. @AdamBoultonTABB pic.twitter.com/k8LPab7V7c Times Radio (@TimesRadio) September 15, 2024 (Related: Earlier this year, Putin revealed that Moscow is ready to start manufacturing previously banned missile systems now that NATO countries have abandoned their part of the arms treaties.) It's only a matter of time Moscow has thus far shown incredible restraint in the face of Western aggression, but things can only go so far before Putin has to respond with something formidable to let the West know that it is not playing around. When asked if he sees a tactical nuclear strike happening soon, Markov responded in the affirmative. He revealed that many Russian experts now agree that Moscow has no choice but to take this kind of action, particularly against NATO airfields. As for the possibility of Moscow striking British territories, Markov responded that this could happen "eventually" depending on how Ukraine uses its Western-supplied weapons moving forward. "British missiles may be used from F-16s, but F-16 bases are not in Ukraine they are based in the Romanian and Polish airfields," Markov explained. "Possibly, the Russian army will have to give a real strike to those F-16s, which are on the Romania and Polish airfields." Russia is still open to peace talks, should the West want to play ball. Certain conditions will need to be met, though, including the democratization of Ukraine and the removal of the "Kyiv regime," which at the current time is run by corrupt actor and LGBT stripper Volodymyr Zelensky. "Ukraine could be independent like Switzerland," Markov proposed as one possible option. Many supporters of NATO and the West see Markov as a Kremlin propagandist who should not be allowed on British airwaves. Others see him as holding the West in check with these warnings. What do you think? "I propose that the ruling class be sent to the front line," wrote a member of the general public in response to these escalations of war. "These clowns have thrown almost 600,000 young people to injury or death," wrote another. "My father used to say that the West always wanted a conventional war with the USSR," told another, recollecting what his father told him way back when. "He told me about the death camps in Ukraine and how many Jews the Ukrainian SS killed in World War II. But you never hear about that stuff." "Stop these wars that our leaders want, not the people," said another. "Peace and love, everyone." The latest news about Russia versus the West can be found at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: RMX.news NaturalNews.com Mayor of Muslim-majority city in Michigan endorses DONALD TRUMP for president The mayor of a Muslim-majority city in the state of Michigan has formally endorsed former President Donald Trump as his pick for the next chief executive. Hamtramck, Michigan Mayor Ameer Ghalib issued his endorsement of Trump on Sept. 22 through a Facebook post. According to 100 Percent Fed Up, the Arab-American mayor was elected in 2021 with 68 percent of the votes cast for him. "Trump and I may not agree on everything, but I know he is a man of principles. I believe he is the right choice for this critical time. I'll not regret my decision no matter what the outcome would be, and I'm ready to face the consequences," Ghalib wrote. "For this and for many other reasons, I announce my support and endorsement for the former and hopefully the next president of the U.S., Donald Trump. Now, let the caravan begin its journey. This is just the starting point." Days before the Yemeni-born Hamtramck mayor posted his endorsement, the Detroit Free Press reported that he met with the former president shortly before Trump's town hall in Flint, Michigan. Ghalib described the 20-minute meeting as "productive" to the outlet, and disclosed that the former president asked for his endorsement which the mayor did through his Sept. 22 Facebook post. "[Trump] knew a lot about me prior to the meeting. We talked about various topics including the debates, the polls updates, the statistics of votes in Michigan and Wayne County, the Arab American concerns and the Yemeni Americans in particular," he said. Ghalib continued that before he and Trump parted ways, he handed the former president "an official letter with some details about our concerns and to invite him to come to Hamtramck if possible." The Free Press continued that "Ghalib appeared to receive a positive response from Arab Americans to his meeting with Trump." It also pointed out that Ghalib and all six members of the Hamtramck City Council are Muslims. (Related: City council in Michigan BANS LGBT flags from public property take note, White House.) Why Ghalib's endorsement of Trump matters "Hamtramck has the second highest percentage of Arab American residents in Michigan after Dearborn, and also [has] a growing Bangladeshi American population," the outlet continued. "Michigan, which has the highest percentage of residents with Middle Eastern ancestry among all states in the U.S., is seen as a swing state." A separate piece on County Local News meanwhile expounded on why Ghalib endorsing Trump matters. First, his endorsement of the real estate mogul "challenges the notion that all Arab Americans are staunch Democrats" and "showcases the diversity of opinions within the Arab-American community." Second, "Ghalib's endorsement could potentially sway other Democrats to reconsider their stance on Trump." The piece also pointed out that it took a huge amount of courage for Ghalib to endorse Trump, given that he hails from Wayne County a Democratic stronghold. "His endorsement of Trump goes against the grain of his constituents and could have far-reaching implications for his political career," it added, with the mayor acknowledging this consequence. "The Democratic Party has been quick to distance itself from Ghalib's endorsement of Trump. Party leaders have emphasized that his views do not reflect the values of the party as a whole. Many Democrats view Ghalib's endorsement as a betrayal of the party and its core principles." Despite condemnation from the Democrats, the Hamtramck mayor's move received much acclaim from Republicans. "Today is a good day in America," political activist Hassan Aoun told the Free Press of Ghalib's announcement. "An Arab American mayor endorses Donald Trump." Dearborn resident Khalil Othman, a former Democrat who jumped to the GOP for his opposition to LGBT books in libraries, also praised the Hamtramck mayor. "Thank you for changing the perception that all Muslim Americans are default tickers to (the) Democratic party," he said. Head over to Trump.news for more stories about the former president. Watch this video about the National Fraternal Order of Police endorsing Donald Trump for president. This video is from the 22Ten.TV News Channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends campaign, endorses Donald Trump. Muslim Women for Harris-Walz disbands and pulls its support for Kamala over Palestine. Democrats using Muslims to steal elections illegal ballots being filled out in dining rooms. America's first all-Muslim city council just got exposed for participating in mass voter fraud. Tulsi Gabbard endorses Donald Trump for president as former Dems reject the tyrannical, Marxist Left. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com MSN.com USAToday.com Brighteon.com Trump warns ILLEGAL VOTERS in 2024 elections you will GO TO JAIL Former President Donald Trump has warned that those who plan to vote illegally in the elections this November will spend time behind bars The real estate mogul took to his Truth Social platform to issue a stern warning for those planning to engage in election fraud come November, vowing that they would face severe consequences. "If you vote illegally, you're going to jail," Trump wrote in a brief but direct message on Sept. 20. "The warning comes as part of Trump's recent focus on ensuring election integrity," YourNews remarked. The warning followed an earlier post of Trump three days prior. The Sept. 17 post warned that anyone caught cheating during the election would be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law" if he returns to the White House. He wrote: "I, together with my attorneys and legal scholars, am watching the sanctity of the 2024 presidential election very closely. Because I know, better than most, the rampant cheating and skullduggery that has taken place [under] the Democrats in the 2020 presidential election. "It was a disgrace to our nation. Therefore, the 2024 election where votes have just started being cast will be under the closest professional scrutiny. When I win [a second term], those people that cheated will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, which will include long-term prison sentences so that this depravity of justice does not happen again. "We cannot let our country further devolve into a third-world nation, and we won't. Please beware that this legal exposure extends to lawyers, political operatives, donors, illegal voters and corrupt election officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught and prosecuted at levels never before seen in the country." Trump's warning coincides with the start of voting window for elections The former president's warning to those who plan to commit vote fraud came amid the opening of the voting window for this year's elections. According to FOX 40, the voting window's opening for this year is on Sept. 21. "The first batch of ballots typically sent out are the ones to military and overseas voters. Under federal law, that must happen at least 45 days before an election," the outlet added. "State and local election officials have warned that problems with the nation's mail delivery system threaten to disenfranchise voters in the upcoming presidential election, telling the head of the U.S. Postal Service that it hasn't fixed persistent deficiencies." But Trump himself faces potential election interference as the Republican presidential nominee. Originally scheduled to be sentenced for the hush money trial on Sept. 18, Judge Juan Merchan has since moved the date to until after the election. In May, the former president was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. (Related: Judge Merchan DELAYS Trumps hush money sentencing until after election.) "As the 2024 election begins, Trump's comments have further heightened focus on the issue of voter fraud, a topic that has remained at the forefront of his political agenda since the 2020 election," YourNews concluded. "He remains committed to ensuring that the integrity of the upcoming election is protected, promising strict legal action against any attempts to subvert the process." Visit Trump.news for similar stories. Watch Glenn Beck explaining that Americans are finally starting to feel the impact of unchecked immigration under the Biden-Harris administration. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Guess what? Illegal immigration is a RICO offense. Is it time to lock up the Harris/Biden regime? Charleroi, Penn., saw 2,000% population surge after Kamala unleashed weaponized Haitian migrants. Pharrell Williams NOT HAPPY with fellow celebs telling people who to vote for. New complaint filed alleging that U.S. Postal Service (USPS) committed electoral fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election. SURVEY: More Americans might NOT VOTE in the 2024 presidential election. Sources include: YourNews.com TruthSocial.com 1 TruthSocial.com 2 Brighteon.com LinkedIn has unveiled its 2024 LinkedIn Top Startups Australia list, highlighting emerging companies that are attracting attention from both investors and job seekers. These startups are not only experiencing rapid growth but are also pioneering innovative solutions across various industries, from lab-grown meat to 3D-printed hypersonic rockets. The list is based on data from LinkedIns 1 billion members, measuring companies across four key metrics: employee growth, jobseeker interest, member engagement, and the ability to attract talent from LinkedIns Top Companies list. To qualify, companies must be headquartered in Australia, privately held, fully independent, and five years old or younger, with at least 30 full-time employees. Top 10 Startups Australia Montu Headquarters: Melbourne | Founded: 2019 Montu is a medical cannabis company connecting Australians with qualified doctors through its telehealth platform. Eucalyptus Headquarters: Sydney | Founded: 2019 Eucalyptus is a telehealth platform covering four key areas: contraception and fertility, skincare, mens health, and sexual wellness. ProcurePro Headquarters: Brisbane | Founded: 2020 ProcurePro creates software that helps construction firms manage and digitise their procurement processes. Heidi Health Headquarters: Melbourne | Founded: 2021 Heidi Health developed an AI tool that automates administrative tasks for medical practitioners, such as writing clinical notes and referral letters. Constantinople Headquarters: Sydney | Founded: 2022 Constantinople offers an all-in-one software platform helping banks manage operations, customer service, compliance, and anti-money laundering. Vow Headquarters: Sydney | Founded: 2019 Vow is a food biotech company using animal cells to produce lab-grown meat products. Ofload Headquarters: Sydney | Founded: 2019 Ofload is a freight logistics platform that digitises trucking fleets, aiming for a more sustainable supply chain. Howatson+Company Headquarters: Sydney | Founded: 2021 This full-service advertising company has experienced rapid growth since its launch in 2021. Zeller Headquarters: Melbourne | Founded: 2020 Zeller provides payment and financial services for small and medium-sized businesses, helping them manage transactions and finances. Safewill Headquarters: Sydney | Founded: 2019 Safewill is an end-of-life planning platform that allows users to create digital wills. The full top 20 list is available on LinkedIn. Cayla Dengate, LinkedIn Australia Career Expert, says the 2024 list demonstrates the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Australia, with startups making an impact across diverse industries. Dengate also shared tips for professionals interested in joining a startup: Adopt a Growth Mindset : Startups value adaptability and a willingness to learn. Showcase your ability to overcome challenges and develop new skills. : Startups value adaptability and a willingness to learn. Showcase your ability to overcome challenges and develop new skills. Highlight Cultural Fit : Research the companys culture and demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively within their team environment. : Research the companys culture and demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively within their team environment. Demonstrate Critical Thinking : Startups seek fresh perspectives and creative problem solvers. Provide examples of how youve tackled challenges in the past. : Startups seek fresh perspectives and creative problem solvers. Provide examples of how youve tackled challenges in the past. Showcase Your Passion: Express genuine interest in the startups mission, showing youre invested in their success. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Closer China-ASEAN cooperation boosts regional high-quality development Xinhua) 08:04, September 26, 2024 NANNING, China, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visitors arriving at this year's China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) will encounter an intriguing blend of fresh innovations and familiar attractions. A new section spotlights emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and lithium batteries, while longstanding crowd favorites, like durian, longan, and rice, continue to draw attention. This evolving landscape mirrors the deepening partnership between China and ASEAN. China's commitment to expanding high-standard opening-up and the rapid industry upgrading in ASEAN nations has fostered stronger economic ties between the two sides. Together, these efforts drive regional high-quality development while sharing China's development opportunities with ASEAN. EMPOWERING ASEAN SMES Stepping into the Thai Pavilion at CAEXPO, visitors are greeted by the distinct aroma of durian mingling with the herbal scent of Zam-buk, a popular Thai remedy for insect bites. A booth showcasing the collaboration between TOPTHAI and China's e-commerce leader, JD.com, drew significant interest. A visitor learns about a durian-flavored coffee at the booth of Malaysia during the 21st China-ASEAN Expo at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin) TOPTHAI store on leading e-commerce platforms is an initiative launched by the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion this year. It aims to help Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expose their products to more overseas markets, among which the Chinese market is a crucial destination, said Dr. Nisachol Thaithong, a Thai trader and researcher in China-Thailand cross-border e-commerce. For SMEs and small-scale farmers in ASEAN countries, participating in e-commerce with China has transformed their businesses. "It (CAEXPO) is moving forward dynamically in terms of the more areas of cooperation, in terms of engaging wider stakeholders," said Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of ASEAN, in an interview on the sideline of CAEXPO and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS). "Now they are involved in the Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), for example. MSMEs are really the backbone of the economy on both sides. We have to get them involved, in addition to the big cooperations. I think this is the right direction that we are taking." Frequent exchanges between China and Malaysia leadership have set a positive tone for SMEs, said Ravenna Chen, the CEO of TusStar Malaysia, an innovation and entrepreneurship platform. Huang Aimin, chairman of the first council of the Guangxi Cross-border E-Commerce Association, said cross-border e-commerce has the potential to be a critical platform for promoting in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN. Collaborating with China has sped up modernization in Laos. For instance, working with China to digitize businesses and develop e-commerce skills has been advantageous for both businesses and young individuals in Laos, according to Thanongsinh Kanlaya, Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. UPGRADING AGRIBUSINESS At a durian orchard in Thailand's Chanthaburi province, Kosai, the 32-year-old owner and a Chinese social media influencer, was promoting durians to Chinese netizens through the live streaming e-commerce platform Tmall. Kosai is proud that his orchard is a smart orchard jointly built by the Commercial Association for Sustainability of Agriculture in Thailand and the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The Internet of Things installed by the Chinese side in Kosai's orchard, which includes meteorological, water level, and soil moisture monitoring, could provide data support for the scientific cultivation of durian and the improvement of fruit quality. Klos Hirunburana (R), chairman of the Commercial Association for Sustainability of Agriculture (CASA) in Thailand, promotes durians to Chinese netizens through the livestreaming on e-commerce platform Tmall at a durian orchard in Thailand's Chanthaburi province, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong) Modern farming is a sector with a promising future for cooperation between Malaysia and China, said Low Kian Chuan, president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. Despite the difference in size and population between Brunei and China, CAEXPO and CABIS have offered a platform for Brunei enterprises to conduct win-win cooperation with Chinese peers, said National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam President Haji Abdul Saman bin Haji Ahmad. Platforms like CAEXPO and CABIS incentivize Brunei SMEs to grow "more resilient and more proactive" by exposing their products and services to the Chinese market, said Saman, adding that he sees particularly promising opportunities for Brunei's halal food. GREEN TRANSITION Leading Chinese renewable energy firms are working closely with ASEAN enterprises and investing in new facilities to produce innovative, locally adapted products, thus actively contributing to ASEAN's green transition. In July, BYD opened an electric vehicle plant in Thailand, the automaker's first Southeast Asian factory, a fast-growing regional EV market. The same month Eve Energy announced a plan to build a new factory in Kulim, Kedah state, Malaysia to meet the fast-growing demand for energy storage and consumer batteries in the South East Asia region. Guests inscribe signatures on the first battery product of NV Gotion jointly established by Gotion High-tech and Nuovo Plus at Siam Eastern Industrial Park in Rayong, Thailand, Dec. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng) In August, Gotion High-tech announced that a battery assembly plant project in Malaysia is under negotiation, in addition to its assembly plants in Indonesia and Thailand. The battery manufacturer's Vietnam factory is expected to begin production in October this year. Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link under the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to drive economic development in the east coast areas and promote more balanced development among regions within the countries, said Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the minister of transport of Malaysia. This photo shows the launching site of the East Coast Rail Link project, a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), in Kuantan, Malaysia on Dec. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung) As outlined in the National Automotive Policy 2020 and National Energy Transition Roadmap, Malaysia is developing its renewable energy battery sector and welcomes leading battery manufacturers to invest in it, said Loke. Malaysia encourages Chinese companies to form partnerships with local companies to further promote the use of electric and hybrid vehicles in Malaysia, not only in terms of car manufacturing but also in the entire ecosystem, from charging networks to battery manufacturing, said Zalina Zainol, deputy chief executive officer of investment development at Malaysian Investment Development Authority. Malaysia highly encourages such cooperation to further create high-skilled jobs in engineering, research and development, and advanced manufacturing, thereby boosting economic growth here, Zainol added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) China and Vietnam unite to protect rare gibbons People's Daily Online) 16:39, September 26, 2024 A eastern black crested gibbon (Photo/www.gxnews.com.cn) China and Vietnam's long-standing collaboration to protect the eastern black crested gibbon, one of the world's most critically endangered primates, continues to show positive outcomes. Once thought extinct in the 1950s, this rare species was rediscovered along the China-Vietnam border at the turn of the 21st century. This surprising find spurred both nations into action, culminating in a 2011 memorandum of understanding to collaborate on protecting these critically endangered primates. The partnership has yielded impressive results. According to CCTV, in the Chinese reserve, the population of eastern black crested gibbons has now grown to 39 individuals, marking a significant milestone in the species' recovery. This cross-border cooperation between China and Vietnam serves as a model for international biodiversity conservation efforts. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Wu Chengliang) The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Act 2024 (Cth) (Closing Loopholes No.2 Act) has introduced a swath of reforms that impact both small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Are you a small business? Businesses who employ fewer than 15 staff members at a time are classed as small business employers under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act). Several of the legislative changes are more lenient for small businesses. For example, small business employers may be given additional time to comply with the FW Act changes. Changes to the employer and employee definition All employers should familiarise themselves with the revised definition of employer and employee in section 15AA of the FW Act. Until recently, courts in Australia considered the totality of the relationship between the worker and the principal, by reference to various indicators of the day-to-day relationship to determine the nature of the relationship. That changed following the High Courts decisions in Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd and ZG Operations Australia Pty Ltd v Jamsek, which benched the prevailing approach in favour of one that focused primarily on the terms of the contract between the parties. Section 15AA effectively reverses the High Courts ruling by putting the focus back on the real substance, practical reality, and true nature of the relationship between the parties. Section 15AA provides a statutory guideline that courts and the Fair Work Commission (FWC) must consider when interpreting these terms. Misclassification can lead to significant legal and financial repercussions, including penalties, back payments of entitlements and potential litigation. Small business employers who wish to maintain a staff cohort of fewer than 15 employees should review their employment contracts to ensure that workers categorisations align with the new interpretative framework. Changes to the casual employee definition Section 15A has altered the definition of casual employee in the FW Act. Whether an employee is a casual employee now depends upon whether: the employment relationship has no firm advance commitment to ongoing work; and the employee is entitled to a casual loading or specific casual rate of pay under an employment contract, a modern award, or a registered agreement. The amended definition may require your business to revisit and revise how it classifies casual employees. It is important to ensure that your contracts and employment practices reflect this new definition to avoid risks of misclassification. The employee choice pathway The new employee choice pathway allows casual employees to request to convert to permanent employment if they have served at least 6 months of employment. For employees of small businesses, the service requirement is at least 12 months. This pathway replaces the old casual conversion process. For employees who commenced work before 26 August 2024, the employee choice pathway will completely replace the current casual conversion procedure from 26 February 2025 (or 26 August 2025 for employees of small business employers). For those who commenced work after 26 August 2024, the employee choice pathway applies immediately. As employers, you can only refuse a conversion request on certain grounds, such as if granting the request would require substantial changes to how work is organised or if it significantly impacts the operation of your business. For small and medium enterprises, it is more likely that an influx of casual conversion requests under the employee choice pathway could impact business operations and organisational requirements. It is advisable to have clear policies and communication strategies in place to manage these requests and ensure they are handled in compliance with the new requirements. Small businesses are also relieved from the obligation to provide existing casual employees with an annual Casual Employment Information Statement. Right to disconnect for employees New sections 333M and 333N of the FW Act preserves an employees right to refuse to respond to employment-related communications outside working hours unless such refusal is deemed unreasonable. In a post-Covid era where remote work blurs the boundaries between work and personal life, this change reflects the need to protect employees time outside of work. Under section 111D, certain small business employers are exempt from complying with the right to disconnect until 26 August 2025. Unfair contract regime for independent contractors A new unfair contract regime is being introduced in Part 3A-5 of the FW Act, targeting independent contractors who earn under a high-income threshold. This will allow contractors to apply to the FWC to vary or set aside a services contract if it is deemed unfair. Employers should review all existing contracts with independent contractors to ensure they meet the new fairness standards. Considerations might include the balance of power between the parties, the clarity and transparency of contract terms and whether the contract imposes undue disadvantage on the contractor. Failure to adjust could result in contracts being set aside or varied by the FWC, which could disrupt your business operations and lead to unforeseen costs. By Holding Redlich Partner Charles Power, Associate Dogu Yesildag and Undergraduate Isabella Beale Disclaimer The information in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, we do not guarantee that the information in this article is accurate at the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. National Pension Scheme sees 62,880 new contributing subscribers in July T he Centre on Wednesday said the total number of new contributing subscribers under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) stood at 62,880 in the month of July. In June, 64,799 new contributing subscribers joined the NPS in June. The newly registered employees and paying contribution under the Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme in July stood at 16,61,836 which was 16,33,848 during the month of June, informed Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The Cabinet last month approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees, which will provide an assured minimum pension and a family pension. Around 23 lakh Central government employees will benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme. These employees will now have the option to choose between the NPS and the UPS. In UPS, the government has offered several advantages of the previous Old Pension Scheme (OPS) like assured pension, family pension and indexation benefits. This pension scheme is only for government employees unlike NPS which is offered to both government and private employees. In a key move to secure the financial future of young children in India, the government has also launched the NPS Vatsalya pension scheme, which offers flexible contributions and investment options for parents or guardians. The Vatsalya scheme is a saving-cum-pension scheme, which will be regulated and administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory Authority of India (PFRDA). Under the NPS Vatsalya scheme, parents can invest a minimum of Rs 1,000 per month with no upper limit. The scheme will be operated by parents until the child reaches 18. At the age of 18, the account will transition into the childs name. Meanwhile, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has added 19.94 lakh net members in the month of July, marking the highest recorded increase since payroll data tracking began in April 2018. EPFO added 10.52 lakh new members in July, a 2.66 per cent increase over June and a 2.43 per cent rise compared to the same month last year. National Pension Scheme sees 62,880 new contributing subscribers in July Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Digital India movement to push nation towards Viksit Bharat, says IBM's Patel (IANS interview) T he Digital India movement is the foundation for moving towards a Viksit Bharat, said Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India. In an interview with IANS, Patel said the country is witnessing this with the governments significant investments in frontier technologies like AI, semiconductors, and quantum technologies. Here are some excerpts from the interview: IANS: How can India become the AI capital of the world? Patel: We are already seeing a huge amount of experimentation with AI in India. We recently did an AI adoption index survey globally and found that 59 per cent of Indian enterprises -- the highest among all the countries surveyed -- said that they were experimenting or deploying AI within their enterprises in some way, shape, or form. So we are already ahead in terms of adopting and using AI in our businesses. Further, looking at the demographic dividend that exists in India, if we can skill that human capital in AI, and also the new skills that are going to be required to deploy AI at scale, I think we can make India the AI capital of the world. This will not only be in terms of scaling AI responsibly but also being the net exporter of AI skills for the world. IANS: How can the industry help develop safe and responsible AI? Patel: Trust is one of the key elements that is a hindrance today in the scaling of AI. During the AI adoption index survey, Indian CEOs pointed out trust as a factor in why they were not moving from experimentation to scale. So this is where responsible AI becomes very critical. This means that when we are creating use cases using AI, we are thinking very carefully about data stewardship. We also have to think about AI as augmented intelligence, because it can help in making better decisions and increase productivity. AI also needs to be transparent, and explainable, and it needs to be free from any bias. If we can do that effectively, both through regulation and how we are deploying AI, that will lead to the right form of responsible AI that we can scale for enterprises as well as for citizen services. IANS: How do you look at Indias digital transformation under PM Modi? Patel: The Prime Minister has rightly said that the whole movement around digital India is going to be the foundation for moving towards a Viksit Bharat. We are already seeing that with the investments that the government has outlaid in terms of focus on technologies, like AI, semiconductors, and quantum technologies. I think this focus on using technology for both commercialisation, as well as citizen services, collectively will continue to move us towards the vision of Viksit Bharat. IANS: Any further investments and hiring plans for India? Patel: So we continue to operate as a microcosm of the IBM Corporation here in India, which means that in addition to having a very healthy IBM domestic business, we have all of our global missions represented in India. We are continuing to focus on innovating in India, for India and the world, and we will continue our growth trajectory in India ahead of the market. We have been doing that for the last several quarters, several years. We will continue to do that going forward. Digital India movement to push nation towards Viksit Bharat, says IBM's Patel (IANS interview) Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Women's representation in India Inc remains stable: Report W omens representation in India Inc remains stable and the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector leads when it comes to women in leadership roles, a report said on Wednesday. In the BFSI segment, 24.5 per cent of corporate executives are women, followed by FMCG which has 21.5 per cent women at the leadership levels, according to the report by Avtar, a leading workplace culture consulting company. Global capability centres (GCCs) report the lowest attrition rate of women at 10 per cent. Data showed that average women representation across industries today is at 36.6 per cent and close to 40 per cent at the entry level. Sectors like professional services are close to gender balance with 46 per cent women while manufacturing reported a gender ratio of 20 per cent, an indication of intensifying efforts. According to Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Founder and President of Avtar, we are at a unique, paradox and juncture in India with respect to women's participation in the workforce. We have made significant progress in many areas such as the sheer volume of the women workforce, the facilities and flexibilities provided and the benefits to name a few but yet far behind in leveraging the opportunity - of enabling women in leadership positions, of ensuring rise in women participation and distribution across sectors and needless to emphasise women's safety and well-being at the workplace so that they are encouraged to stay and grow, Rajesh explained. The 2024 annual listing established that IT industry as the single largest employer of women with 24 per cent companies. BFSI followed with 11. Notably, from 58 per cent companies focusing on people with disabilities (PwDs) in 2019, the number has risen significantly to 98 per cent of companies focusing on building inclusive work environments for PwDs. The index further broadens the understanding of inclusivity in India by evaluating diverse dimensions including gender, disability, age and culture, said the report. Women's representation in India Inc remains stable: Report Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! DRDO develops indigenous 'ABHED' bulletproof jackets T he Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said that the DRDO has developed the indigenous Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat (ABHED) bulletproof jackets. The ministry said the jackets have been developed at the DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT, Delhi. "This is an indigenous product and the jackets have been created from polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material. The design configuration is based on characterisation of various materials at high strain rate followed by appropriate modelling and simulation in collaboration with DRDO," the ministry said. It added that the armour plates for the jackets have passed all necessary research and development (R&D) trials as per the protocols. "The jackets meet the highest threat level and are lighter than the maximum weight limits stipulated in respective General Staff Qualitative Requirement of the Indian Army. With a minimum possible weight of 8.2 kgs and 9.5 kgs for different BIS Levels, these modular-design jackets having front and rear armours provide 360-degree protection," the ministry said. It added that based on the selection-criteria matrix, some Indian industries were shortlisted for the Transfer of Technology and handholding. "The government is ready to transfer the technology to three industries," the ministry informed. Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat said that the lightweight bulletproof jacket exemplifies the effective ecosystem of successful defence R&D by DRDO, academia and the industry. The DIA-CoE was formed by modifying the Joint Advanced Technology Center of DRDO at IIT Delhi in 2022 to involve Industry and Academia in defence R&D. It has been actively pursuing various projects on advanced technologies, involving DRDO scientists, academic researchers and industry partners, official added. DRDO develops indigenous 'ABHED' bulletproof jackets Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! PM Modi meets Chess Olympiad gold-winning Indian men's and women's teams P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met the Indian men's and women's teams that won historic maiden gold medals in the recently-concluded 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary. The Prime Minister individually spoke to each player, giving his blessings to them. The teams presented him with a chess board and the PM also watched Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi play a blitz game. The PM shared lighter moments with the players and on one occasion, Praggnanandha was seen laughing as he introduced himself and PM Modi commented, according to an audio-less video provided by the authorities. In a historic triumph, India's men's and women's teams clinched gold medals for the first time in the 45th Chess Olympiad last Sunday. Led by the stellar performances of D. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, the men's team, which also included R. Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna, secured the gold medal after a thrilling final round victory over Slovenia. Undefeated throughout the event, India finished well ahead of top-seeded United States, China and 2022-winner Uzbekistan. The women's team comprising Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev and led by non-playing captain Abhijit Kunte, also secured the gold medal after beating Azerbaijan. It finished ahead of Kazakhstan and the United States to claim gold. The men's team, with Srinath Narayanan as the captain, led throughout the tournament, winning 10 matches and drawing just one. Before the last round, they were two points ahead of China. In the final round, India only needed a draw to clinch the gold medals or for China not to win their match. However, India continued to press for a win and defeated Slovenia 3.5-0.5. The womens team had a very strong start, leading the event after 7 rounds, having won all their matches. They stumbled in round 8, losing to Poland and then drawing with Team USA, but made a strong finish. Going into the final round, India was tied for first with Kazakhstan, and the race for the medals was down to the wire. The team of Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali R, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev, with Abhijit Kunte as the captain, demonstrated excellent composure and delivered, winning the final match against Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5. At the same time, Kazakhstan only drew with the USA 2-2, making India the sole winner of the event. PM Modi meets Chess Olympiad gold-winning Indian men's and women's teams Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! No romantic relationship whatsoever with Italian PM Meloni: Elon Musk N ot too long after calling her "beautiful" at an event in New York, American billionaire businessman Elon Musk - the founder of SpaceX and Tesla who also owns X (formerly Twitter) - on Wednesday denied any romantic relationship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. At a glittering awards ceremony held on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Monday evening, New York time, Musk had bestowed an Atlantic Council Global Citizen Award on Meloni, calling the Italian PM "someone who is even more beautiful on the inside than she was on the outside." "She's also someone who is authentic, honest, truthful. That can't always be said about politicians," Musk added while praising Italy's economic growth and record low unemployment. The Italian leader responded by referring to Musk as a "precious genius". "I thank Elon for the beautiful words that he had for me, and for his precious genius for the era in which we live," she said at the start of her speech. As videos and photographs of Musk and Meloni went viral on social media, Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, which calls itself "the most notorious Tesla club in the world", shared a picture of Musk and Meloni from the event late Tuesday night, asking followers, "do you think they'll date?" Responding to the post early Wednesday, Musk clarified, "We are not dating". Replying to another post that said "we all know what happened next", Musk made it clear that he was at the event with his mother, Maye Musk. "I was there with my Mom. There is no romantic relationship whatsoever with PM Meloni," Musk wrote on X. In December, Musk travelled to Rome to attend Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party gathering 'Atreju' before Christmas. "We invited Elon Musk because Elon Musk is a person who has things to say, who is relevant in the current context, also on the topic of artificial intelligence. You will know that Elon Musk, who is one of the people who developed artificial intelligence, has asked for a moratorium on the use of artificial intelligence precisely because he is a person who knows it better than us and who can help you on this," Meloni had said while justifying invitation to Musk. At the convention, which was also attended by the then UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Musk had advised Italians to increase the low birth rate in the country. "My advice to all government leaders and people is: make sure you have children to create a new generation," he had said. No romantic relationship whatsoever with Italian PM Meloni: Elon Musk Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Southeast Asia's largest economy to open commercial airport in new capital Trucks are seen near a palm oil plantation at a village located near Indonesia's projected new capital, known as Nusantara National Capital, in Sepaku, East Kalimantan province, Indonesia, March 8, 2023. Photo by Reuters Indonesia's planned new capital, Nusantara, will open its airport for commercial flights by the end of this year, President Joko Widodo announced on Wednesday. "I have instructed the Minister of Transportation to convert this airport into a commercial one for public use," Widodo said during his visit to Nusantara, located in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo as quoted by Jakarta Post. The airport was initially meant for so-called very, very important persons, or VVIPs, which refer to those with large spending power, high political rank or socio-economic status. Currently under construction, the airport is expected to accommodate 200,000 passengers once operational. In the future, the airport is projected to handle up to seven million passengers annually, offering easier access for religious pilgrims. Originally scheduled to open in August, the airport's completion was delayed. Built at a cost of 4.3 trillion rupiah (US$283 million), it will feature a 3,000-meter-long and 45-meter-wide runway, capable of supporting wide-body aircraft for international flights. While the terminal and main access roads are nearing completion, construction on other supporting facilities is still ongoing, according to The Straits Times. The airport's conversion is also expected to boost tourism to Nusantara. Now visitors have to travel to the city of Balikpapan, a two-hour drive from Nusantara, to board their commercial flights. Construction of Nusantara, which spans 2,600 square kilometers within a dense jungle, began in mid-2022. Indonesian officials envisioned the city as a green urban center, integrating renewable energy sources and smart waste management systems. The new city is poised to replace the current capital Jakarta which already struggled with pollution and traffic gridlock. Bihar govt to allocate INR 12.40 cr to promote jaggery industry I n an effort to promote the jaggery industry in Bihar, the state government has allocated INR 12.40 crore for its development. "We urged interested entrepreneurs to apply through the portal to take advantage of the government support. It is a significant step towards strengthening Bihar's traditional jaggery industry and promoting rural economic development," said Krishnandan Paswan, Bihar's Sugarcane Minister, who confirmed that this funding will be distributed to 81 jaggery units across the state. The initiative is aimed at encouraging industrialists in Bihar to establish jaggery production units, thereby boosting the local agro-industry. The funds will be provided in the form of loans, with the application process available online through the portal of the state's sugarcane ministry. The Bihar government, through its sugarcane department, has structured loan amounts to support the establishment of jaggery units based on their production capacity. The financial assistance is aimed at boosting jaggery production while making it easier for industrialists to invest in the industry. The minister pointed out that for units with a capacity of 5 to 20 tons of sugarcane per day, a maximum loan of INR 6 lakh or 50 per cent of the total cost, whichever is lower, will be sanctioned. Units with a capacity of 21 to 40 tons per day, will be eligible for a maximum loan of INR 15 lakh or 50 per cent of the total cost. A loan of up to INR 45 lakh will be sanctioned for the units with a capacity of 41 to 60 tons per day. Larger units can receive up to INR 1 crore in financial assistance if they have a capacity exceeding 60 tons per day. Apart from the jaggery industry, the minister emphasised Bihar's growing significance in sugar production. "The state is the fifth-largest producer of sugar in India, with ambitions to become the third-largest," he said. Sugarcane is a key commercial crop in Bihar, as highlighted in the state's fourth agricultural roadmap. Sugar production has shown consistent growth, increasing from 4.51 lakh metric tons in 2006-07 to 6.87 lakh metric tons in 2023-24. Bihar govt to allocate INR 12.40 cr to promote jaggery industry Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Another narrative war by China? (IANS Analysis) P ropaganda and narratives have consistently formed a fundamental part of the ideological framework within Communist regimes. This was particularly evident in the Soviet Union during Stalin's era, where widespread famine in Ukraine coincided with the exportation of wheat to other nations, all while the regime maintained a facade of normalcy in Ukraine. Similarly, since the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War and its consolidation of power on the mainland, China has established an intricate propaganda apparatus. In today's digital age, characterised by limited internet access and social media restrictions within China, the government has sought to sway foreign public opinion. This includes inviting international vloggers and influencers, predominantly from Taiwan, to counter allegations regarding human rights abuses and other criticisms from democratic nations and global organisations. This article will examine the situations in Xinjiang and Tibet, alongside China's strategy of engaging these influencers. Notably, many of these influencers hail from Taiwana territory that China claims as its own. The implications of this outreach extend to Taiwan itself and resonate with a wider global audience. What is Happening in Xinjiang and Tibet Xinjiang and Tibet represent two of China's most sensitive and contentious regions. Xinjiang is predominantly inhabited by the Uyghur Muslim minority, while Tibet is home to ethnic Tibetans, the majority of whom are practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. In both areas, China faces accusations of undermining local cultures, restricting religious freedoms, and suppressing dissent. In Xinjiang, allegations of "re-education" camps, extensive surveillance, and forced labour have led to significant international backlash. Conversely, in Tibet, the ongoing exile of the Dalai Lama and China's stringent control over Buddhist practices remain highly controversial issues. China has consistently rejected these allegations, framing its actions as essential for maintaining state integrity, combating terrorism, and facilitating economic advancement. However, the reality presents a stark contrast. Numerous reports from the United Nations document human rights violations perpetrated by China in Xinjiang. The region has effectively become a vast prison for the Uyghur population, where the Chinese government imposes extensive surveillance and restricts religious freedoms. The situation in Tibet mirrors this repression; since the early 1950s, China has systematically undermined local authority and religious practices. Currently, construction projects in the area have led to the destruction of significant Tibetan religious sites and have inflicted considerable harm on the environment and local ecosystems. How China is using influencers in Xinjiang and Tibet The Communist government in China has faced ongoing scrutiny from democratic nations, human rights organisations, and international bodies regarding alleged human rights violations in the regions of Tibet and Xinjiang. The engagement of foreign and Taiwanese social media influencers, particularly on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, serves as a crucial mechanism for Chinese propaganda. By inviting Taiwanese influencers to visit Xinjiang and Tibet, China gains a strategic advantage, enabling it to connect with a broader demographic of young, tech-savvy audiences both in Taiwan and internationally. Many of these influencers boast substantial followings and significantly shape public perceptions of the regions they depict. Consequently, China aims to present Xinjiang and Tibet as safe, thriving areas, directly opposing the claims of human rights abuses that have been levelled against it. The regions these influencers portray to their audiences are meticulously selected: they visit prosperous urban centres, attend culturally vibrant performances, and tour well-maintained religious sites. Through visually appealing photographs, video blogs, and social media posts, they depict an image of harmony, economic progress, and cultural preservation. This narrative stands in stark contrast to the accounts provided by independent journalists, human rights groups, and Uyghur and Tibetan exiles, who describe a region where state oppression is pervasive. On September 5, Taiwan announced that it was aware of reports suggesting that China had been recruiting Taiwanese influencers to visit Xinjiang and create content aimed at promoting a more favourable image of the region. The Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees cross-strait relations in Taiwan, indicated that it is investigating the recent surge in Xinjiang-related content produced by Taiwanese influencers. The council also cautioned these influencers against violating anti-infiltration laws by accepting financial incentives from Beijing. In June, Taiwanese YouTuber Potter Wang claimed that the Chinese government was inviting Taiwanese influencers on sponsored trips to China to create content. In response to his assertions, several Taiwanese YouTubers who recently published videos about Xinjiang denied receiving any payments from Beijing. The Taiwan Affairs Office in China addressed concerns raised by Taiwanese officials, stating that Beijing had invited "Taiwan compatriots" to visit China to experience "the magnificent mountains and rivers, savour a variety of foods, engage with local customs, and share their observations." What is China trying to achieve through this? Through these sponsored influencer initiatives, China aims to reshape its global image as a violator of human rights. However, for Taiwan, there are underlying motives. Earlier this year, Taiwan conducted democratic elections where Chinese influence was evident in attempts to sway the electorate towards the Kuomintang (KMT), a party more amenable to Beijing. Instead, the Taiwanese populace opted for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which displeased the Chinese government. One of Xi Jinping's long-standing ambitions is to incorporate the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan into mainland Communist China. To achieve this, China has employed various strategies, including military threats, blockades, and misinformation campaigns targeting Taiwan. The current effort to engage Taiwanese influencers is intended to attract citizens who can significantly influence public opinion. Any content shared online can reach a global audience; thus, if Taiwanese influencers produce favourable narratives about China in relation to Tibet and Xinjiang, it may not be perceived as propaganda since it originates from Taiwan. In January, Taiwan's government effectively countered misinformation campaigns from China during its elections. It can identify and disclose any payments made by China with caution. Other countries can adopt similar measures regarding influencers who have visited Xinjiang and Tibet at China's invitation. Regarding the potential impact of this strategy, it is unlikely to have a significant effect as most of the world is already aware of China's human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet; however, Taiwan must remain vigilant.(Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd) is Editor, Global Strategic & Defence News and the Author of Chinas War Clouds: The Great Chinese Checkmate) Another narrative war by China? (IANS Analysis) Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! When Madhuri Dixit revealed about her goof-up incident B ollywood actress-dancer Madhuri Dixit, known for her commendable works like Lajja and Devdas, once revealed an incident while making prawn curry. In a throwback video with talk show anchor Simi Garewal, Madhuri said, You know, for a woman, I always say she wears many hats. It's like, this is the wife's hat, this is the mom's hat, this is the professional hat and this is the cook's hat, I surprised myself a lot of times and him too. Madhuri continued, But there were a few goof-ups too. I didn't realize, you know, prawns out there are already cooked. So all you do is make your curry, and when the curry is hot, just put them in the curry and I was cooking prawns, and I cooked them for 10-15 minutes and I was cooking them, and I was like, oh, this is going to be really good. I think by the time I got done with those prawns, you can imagine what happened to them because it was so chewy like rubber and he ate them. He ate them, and he's like, mm, really good. I was just, you know, trying to make me feel good and he said, dont worry youll get a hang of it. Madhuri concluded. Madhuri Dixit married Dr. Shriram Madhav Nene on October 17, 1999, in a traditional ceremony held at the residence of Madhuri's elder brother in Southern California. Their wedding reception in Mumbai was attended by several prominent Indian personalities, including then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh, Shivsena chief Bal Thackeray, Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu, Yash Chopra, Sridevi, and many others. Later, the Tezaab actress relocated to Denver, Colorado, for over a decade. On 17 March 2003, Dixit gave birth to a son, Arin and two years later she gave birth to another son, Ryan on 8 March 2005. In October 2011, Madhuri Dixit moved back to Mumbai with her family. On the work front, Madhuri was last seen in the 2022 drama film Maja Ma helmed by Anand Tiwari. The film also featured Gajraj Rao, Ritwik Bhowmik, Barkha Singh, Srishti Shrivastava and Simone Singh in pivotal roles. The film is currently streaming on Prime Video. Madhuri will be next seen in 'Bhool Bhulaiyya 3' opposite Kartik Aaryan, Triptii Dimri and Vidya Balan in a crucial role. IANS When Madhuri Dixit revealed about her goof-up incident Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! AU expresses concern over deteriorating security, humanitarian situation in Sudan A frican Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Tuesday expressed concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Sudan. The chairperson of the 55-member organisation, in a statement issued Tuesday, expressed "grave concern" regarding the security and humanitarian situation in the conflict-affected Sudan, with particular emphasis on the situation in El Fasher, Darfur. Condemning the recent escalation of the crisis and the spread of violence, Faki called for an immediate cessation of the fighting across Sudan, Xinhua news agency reported. He further reiterated the AU's conviction that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Sudan. He said the ongoing "unjustified fighting" only prolongs the suffering of all Sudanese people and the devastation of the country after decades of conflict and forced displacement. Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since mid-April 2023. Faki urged the two warring parties and their allies "to immediately and unconditionally embrace a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire." He said a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire would pave the way for an inclusive all-Sudanese political dialogue to address the deep-rooted causes of the conflict and reset Sudan toward constitutional democratic order and stability. He further reiterated the AU's commitment to contribute with all means at its disposal to ending the conflict through various African mechanisms, including the High-Level Panel on Sudan and the AU Special Envoy for the Prevention of Genocide. As the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York, the AU Commission chairperson also renewed the call for effective unification of efforts for collective international action to solve this extremely dangerous crisis in Sudan. AU expresses concern over deteriorating security, humanitarian situation in Sudan Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! CM Yogi welcomes Vietnamese delegation U ttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a special meeting with the Vietnamese delegation during the inaugural ceremony of the UP International Trade Show 2024 on Wednesday. As part of the five-day Global Industry Mahakumbh, which commenced on Wednesday at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, CM Yogi engaged with various delegates, including the Ambassador of Vietnam. It is anticipated that Vietnamese companies will soon invest in the food processing and IT sectors in Uttar Pradesh. Notably, Vietnam is serving as the partner country for this major event. In this context, CM Yogi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Vietnamese team for their participation. He praised Vietnam from the stage during the inaugural session. The Chief Minister also thanked the Vietnamese ambassador during his meeting with him. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese delegation also featured artists showcasing traditional arts, who captivated visitors from across the nation and around the globe during the cultural program held on Wednesday. CM Yogi welcomes Vietnamese delegation Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! UPITS 2024: Entrepreneurs commend CM Yogi govt's commitment to law and order T he remarkable progress of Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership took centre stage at the UP International Trade Show, held on Wednesday at Expo Mart in Greater Noida. The event drew a large crowd on its opening day, showcasing the state's rapid development. Utprerak from Siddharthnagar launched a startup a year ago, producing bakery products made from black salt rice. He shared that he applied for startup support through Invest UP. The business commenced within the designated timeframe, and the Yogi government provided a subsidy. Furthermore, the government consistently encourages my business, he noted, mentioning his participation in exhibitions in countries such as Thailand. Ayesha Begum from Prayagraj creates products from Munj, employing 20 additional women in her venture. Ayesha explained that the government trained her team in Munj production, providing food and kits during the training. Plastic poses a significant threat to the environment. The Yogi government has raised public awareness about this issue, leading to an increased demand for Munj products, she stated. On the opening day of the trade show, Gunjan's stall in Ambedkar Nagar attracted a significant crowd, with attendees praising her pizzas while she expressed gratitude to the government. Gunjan recounted how her husband lost his hotel job during the COVID-19 pandemic. I borrowed Rs 10,000 from a self-help group to purchase a pizza-making machine. The business quickly took off. Later, I borrowed Rs 50,000 for a second machine and eventually obtained Rs 100,000 for a larger machine, she explained. Sanyam from Muzaffarnagar, who runs a jaggery business, noted the substantial benefits entrepreneurs gain from such trade shows. He stated, The Yogi government offers more subsidies than those available in Delhi. Law and order in Uttar Pradesh has improved significantly, and we now have 24-hour electricity, which is boosting business activities. Sanskriti from Varanasi, a Zari craft entrepreneur, remarked on the eradication of corruption under Yogi Adityanath's administration. She noted the enhanced law and order, stating, As a woman, I never feel afraid. The government is empowering women with security, respect, and self-reliance. Roshan Kumar, a handloom entrepreneur from Gazipur, mentioned that this is his second consecutive year setting up a stall at the trade show. He expressed optimism based on last year's successful business. Vinod Kumar from Aligarh also commended the Yogi government for fostering a business-friendly environment. UPITS 2024: Entrepreneurs commend CM Yogi govt's commitment to law and order Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Industry conclave in Sagar will pave for Bundelkhand's growth: MP CM M adhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday said that the industry conclave scheduled to be held in Sagar on September 27 will pave the way for Bundelkhand growth while the focus will be to bring new industries for the comprehensive development of the region. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already set the path for development of ther region by initiating the Ken-Betwa project. He asserted that the project will boost both agricultural and industrial growth. The Chief Minister added that similar conclaves held in regional areas have achieved remarkable success in attracting investments, leading to the regions growth and creating numerous job opportunities. "Madhya Pradesh government is fully committed to the overall development of Bundelkhand and will leave no stone unturned in achieving this goal," he said. The Chief Minister also informed that before the Sagar regional industry conclave, discussions were held with the industrialists of Bundelkhand region. "Everyone has agreed to invest on a large scale to promote industries. Industrialists from India and abroad have shown interest in participating and investing in the conclave," he added. He also highlighted existing industrial units in different parts of the Bundelkhand region - Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Damoh and Panna. The MP government has high hope from the upcoming business event, the Chief Minister said. He said that this region holds tremendous potential in various industries, including mineral-based industries, tourism, food processing, brass, petrochemicals, bidi, furniture, engineering works, plastics, and packaging. The proactive measures being implemented by the state government are expected to attract significant investments in these sectors, driving economic growth and creating new employment opportunities, the Chief Minister said. Previously, the regional industry conclaves held in Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior and Indore. After Sagar, the similar events will be held in Rewa and Shahdol in October. Industry conclave in Sagar will pave for Bundelkhand's growth: MP CM Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Govt to make Assam Accord's committee report public: CM Sarma C hief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that the state government will make Justice (Retd.) Biplab Kumar Sarma committee report regarding clause 6 of Assam Accord public in a day. The Chief Minister's announcement came after he had a meeting with the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) delegation to implement the recommendations of the high-level committee. "We have discussed the Biplab Kumar Sarma committee report at length with the AASU leaders. The panel gave 67 recommendations regarding the implementation of clause 6. Out of a total 67 points, 40 recommendations come under the purview of the state government while in 12 cases, the involvement of both state and central government is required. In the rest of the recommendations, the centre has to take required steps," the Chief Minister said. He added that AASU leaders agreed with the state government and an action plan in this regard will be prepared. "We will prepare an action plan regarding the recommendations of the committee and it will be submitted to AASU on October 25. On that day, another meeting will be held with the student body leaders," the Chief Minister said, adding that the high-power committee report will be uploaded on the government website within the next 24 hours. The Chief Minister further said that if AASU agrees with the stand of the government, then before April next year, recommendations of Biplab Kumar Sarma under the purview of the state government will be implemented. "We are looking to carry out 52 recommendations of the clause 6 panel," the Chief Minister added. Notably, clause 6 suggested that, as a stopgap measure, the post-1971 stream of proclaimed foreigners should be placed in locations outside Assam until their expulsion is finished. Additionally, the panel also gave the definition of 'Assamese'. The committee mentioned that a number of constitutional and parliamentary reforms will be required in order to fully implement its recommendations. It has stated that the current Article 371-B of the Constitution will need to be changed. The Assam Accord, signed following a six-year foreigners' agitation (1979-1985), stipulates that all foreigners entering the state after March 24, 1971, will be deported regardless of their religious affiliation. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord states that appropriate constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards will be provided to protect the cultural, social and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. Govt to make Assam Accord's committee report public: CM Sarma Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Vizag to be developed as economic capital of Andhra: Nara Lokesh A ndhra Pradesh Minister for Education, Information Technology (IT) and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, on Wednesday said that Visakhapatnam will be developed as the economic capital of the state and fifth largest city in India. He also revealed that a route map has been designed to take Andhra Pradesh to the number one position in the country. He was addressing the Infrastructure Summit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organised in this port city. Nara Lokesh claimed that the TDP-led NDA government is according highest priority for creating basic amenities. Regretting that due to the previous government's negligence industrial development in the state came to a standstill, he said, adding that all necessary steps were being taken to bring the state back on track. Promising to develop Visakhapatnam as the economic capital of the state, Nara Lokesh said that the works on the Visakha-Chennai Industrial Corridor are being accelerated. "Ease of doing business is past but now we are moving forward with speed of doing business," he added. Maintaining that the target is to develop Visakhapatnam as the number one IT hub in the world, the IT Minister announced that as part of the scheme an international-level data centre is going to be established here. North Andhra Pradesh will be developed as a pharma hub, he said and expressed the hope that all the North Andhra Pradesh districts, including Visakhapatnam, are going to witness a radical progress once the Bhogapuram international airport comes into existence. Nara Lokesh declared that new industrial, IT and electronics policies will soon be announced with industrial-friendly schemes and said that under the leadership of an young IAS officer the Economic Development Board has been revived. Claiming that the state is moving at a fast pace towards development under the able guidance of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, he said now the focus is on decentralisation of development. Steps are being taken now to take all the districts towards the progress path by setting up different sectors in each district, he added. Regretting that basic amenities and roads have been completely neglected in the past five years, Nara Lokesh said the largest petrochemical corridor is coming in the Godavari districts. Calling upon the industrialists to become partners in achieving the goal of creating 20 lakh jobs in the state, the IT Minister asked them to play a key role in Vikasitha Andhra Pradesh. The Minister for Infrastructure, Investments, Roads and Buildings, B.C. Janardhan Reddy; the Chairman of the State unit of the CII, V Murali Krishna; and the GMR Airports Business, GBS Raju were among those who addressed the meeting. Janardhan Reddy said that works of Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, Bhavanapadu and Kakinada ports are moving at a fast pace with an investment of Rs 17,000 crore while the national infrastructure project is in the pipeline. The Visakhapatnam MP, Mathukumilli Bharat, said that the state government has already initiated steps to complete the Bhogapuram international airport in another 18 months. Vizag to be developed as economic capital of Andhra: Nara Lokesh Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Meghalaya govt approve proposal to acquire additional land for expansion of two airports T he Meghalaya government on Wednesday approved the proposal to acquire additional land for expansion of the two airports in the state - Shillong and Baljek Airport, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said after a Cabinet meeting. The state Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister also decided to seek necessary permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following the latest survey report which indicates the possibility of expansion of the Shillong Airport for operating bigger aircraft. The Baljek Airport in the West Garo Hills district is currently non-functional. The Chief Minister said that the Transport Department has given a detailed presentation on its survey conducted along with the Airport Authority of India (AAI). Sangma said that the survey suggested that the Shillong airport could be expanded and then it would facilitate the operation of A320 and Boeing 373 aircraft. The runway of the Shillong airport, which is 30 km away from the capital city, can now handle only smaller aircraft like ATR. The survey report said that Shillong Airport's runway can be expanded by 571 meters with a cost of Rs 100 crore to ensure bigger aircraft to operate. Urging the cooperation of all concerned, Sangma said that if the Shillong airport expanded it would be a major game changer for the state. If the Shillong airport expanded, it would boost tourism and related other sectors, he said. I am hopeful that the DGCA would approve the proposal of expansion of the Shillong airport, the Chief Minister said. On Tuesday, the AAI informed the Meghalaya High Court that the expansion of the Shillong Airport's runway by 571 meters can be possible with a cost of Rs 100 crore by the state government, excluding the other costs that would be borne by the AAI which would be to the tune of Rs 500 crore. About the status of Baljek Airport, the Chief Minister said that discussion for land acquisition for Baljek Airport is also underway. Meghalaya govt approve proposal to acquire additional land for expansion of two airports Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Its been two months since the Venezuelan people cast their ballots and chose Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to be their president. Their rejection of Nicolas Maduro, who has wielded power in Venezuela for over a decade, was decisive, as the United States and other democratic countries have acknowledged. But Maduro and his allies continue to reject the will of the Venezuelan people. With no evidence, Maduro insists he won, and, threatened with arrest and imprisonment, Edmundo Gonzalez has been forced into exile in Spain. At a recent Congressional hearing, Enrique Roig, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, said post-election repression in Venezuela has been both severe and unprecedented in the countrys history: Nicholas Maduros regime has resorted to a campaign of violence and intimidation aimed at suppressing the democratic opposition and the Venezuelan people. As of September 9th, there have been 24 deaths and over 2000 detentions, he said. The daily average number of detained or disappeared is nearly ten times higher than the pre-election average. Security forces routinely stop citizens to review their WhatsApp messaging chats for potential organizing involvement and deployed an app for Maduro sympathizers to report suspected efforts to assemble. In addition, an anti-NGO law passed by Maduros National Assembly in August, along with revival of a law against fascism, highlight Maduros intention to undermine civil society, said Deputy Assistant Secretary Roig: These laws are designed to make it nearly impossible for NGOs and opposition organizations to operate in Venezuela, limiting their ability to provide services, organize, or campaign freely. The United States and international partners have signaled to Maduro and his representatives that their fraudulent claims about the election and their subsequent repression of Venezuelan citizens are unacceptable. On September 12, the U.S. Departments of Treasury and State announced sanctions and visa restrictions on Maduro-aligned officials for their role in election manipulation and repression. Democratic governments in the region and beyond have joined with the United States in pressuring Maduro for transparency and for an end to violations of the rights of Venezuelans. The United States, said Deputy Assistant Secretary Roig, will continue to work tirelessly with the international community to apply pressure, demand accountability, and support those who are fighting for a free and democratic Venezuela. If Himachal govt is behind minority boycott, its right to be in power could be questioned, warns TS Singh Deo (IANS Interview) F ormer Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader T.S. Singh Deo on Wednesday sounded critical of his own party which is in power in Himachal Pradesh, slamming the government's instructions to all the street vendors and food establishments to prominently display the names of owners, proprietors and staff members. During an interaction with IANS, Deo said that he disagrees with the decision taken by the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government in Himachal Pradesh. "I do not agree with the Himachal government's decision. I saw a video on social media showing crosses being marked above the shutters of minority-owned shops, indicating a boycott. This is condemnable, and if the Himachal government is doing this, questions will arise about whether it deserves to remain in power," Deo told IANS. The move, seen as following in the footsteps of the Yogi Adityanath government, is aimed at bringing cleanliness and hygiene to the food outlets. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also mandated the display of the names of eatery shop owners, managers, and proprietors outside their food centres. Installation of CCTVs in hotels and restaurants has also been made mandatory. Himachal Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, briefing the media on Wednesday, said that the state government has made a decision similar to that of Uttar Pradesh to ensure that people have access to clean and hygienic food. On Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government's instructions to put name plates outside shops, Deo slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying it has no issues left with and therefore, the party is latching in on to the 'Hindu-Muslim' matter. "The BJP has been gradually able to up its seat count on the basis of 'Hindu-Muslim' matter and Babri Masjid issue. The party believes this is the only formula it is left with to attain power," Deo told IANS. Further criticising the BJP, the Congress leader said the party is unable to believe that it can come to power even after the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi. "The BJP cannot come to power unless it plays up the Hindu-Muslim card," Deo said. The former Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister said that in the regional pockets, the BJP has been facing the "minority versus majority" factor. "... and these minorities include not just Muslims, but also Christians and members of other sections of the society," Deo concluded. If Himachal govt is behind minority boycott, its right to be in power could be questioned, warns TS Singh Deo (IANS Interview) Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! EAM Jaishankar meets Russia Foreign Minister after PM Modi's talks with Zelensky A mid a flurry of diplomacy to end the Ukraine war, India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. EAM Jaishankar wrote on X after their meeting at the Russian Mission, "Discussed our bilateral cooperation and regional issues." On Tuesday evening, EAM Jaishankar had indicated that India is trying to see if it could involve the two countries in a peace effort. He said at the Asia Society, "We have been engaging both the Russian government and the Ukrainian government -- in Moscow and in Kyiv and in other places -- to see whether there is something we can do which would hasten the end of the conflict and initiate some kind of serious negotiation." He added that India was "sharing" with both countries the conversations it had with them and his sense was that "both sides appreciate it". New Delhi, which has historically had close diplomatic and strategic ties with Moscow, is forging an independent path open to the West giving it room to be a conduit between the two countries for peace diplomacy. In his Wednesday morning address to the General Assembly, Zelensky mentioned his meeting with PM Modi, and on Tuesday at the Security Council he said that he had invited India to a "second peace summit to end the war". At Monday's PM Modi's meeting with Zelensky, their second within a month, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that "the way forward on pursuing a path to peace" came up "prominently in their discussions". PM Modi reiterated "India's clear, consistent, and constructive approach" to resolving the conflict with Russia through diplomacy and dialogue," the Ministry said. When he visited Ukraine last month, PM Modi said, "Personally, as a friend, if there is any role that I can play, I would very much like to play that role toward peace." After his return home, PM Modi spoke via phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and he wrote on X that they "exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and my insights from the recent visit to Ukraine". India followed that up with a trip earlier this month by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to meet Putin and, according to reports, brief him on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Kyiv. In the month before his Ukraine trip, PM Modi had visited Moscow to meet Putin. While India, which is heavily dependent on Moscow for defence materials, continues to buy oil and petroleum products from Russia, an investigation by the news agency Reuters said that munitions made by Indian companies were finding their way to Ukraine through third countries in Europe. EAM Jaishankar meets Russia Foreign Minister after PM Modi's talks with Zelensky Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Dev Anand: The ageless romantic who pioneered Bollywood's 'Neighbourhood First' initiative F or over six decades, he strode jauntily across the screen - and into the hearts of legions of fans with his distinctive diction, nonchalant nod, and flamboyant fashion, but Dev Anand had another major contribution to Indian cinema than his stardom - pioneering its 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Look East' focus. It was in the 1950s that Indian filmmakers set their sights outside and Ashok Kumar-Nalini Jaywant's "Naaz" (1954) was the first to be shot abroad - in Cairo and London. Raj Kapoor's "Sangam" (1964) opened the floodgates and was followed by the likes of "Love in Tokyo" (1966), "An Evening in Paris" - which marked the start of Bollywood's Switzerland tryst, and "Around the World" (both 1967) and many others. However, Dev Anand, who would have turned 101 on this day (September 26), had his sight on equally picturesque, much closer, yet virtually untapped foreign locales - the Himalayan kingdoms on the country's eastern borders. When his younger brother and collaborator Vijay 'Goldie' Anand wanted to work on suspense thrillers, after the ambivalent response to their ambitious bilingual "Guide" (1965), Dev Anand suggested that he "should explore a new location as the backdrop, a region so far unexplored in Indian cinema". It was then, as Dev Anand recalled in his autobiography "Romancing With Life", that Sikkim came to his mind, as he had been entranced by its scenic locales when he had gone there on a daylong visit in the early 1960s while shooting in Darjeeling for "Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai" (1960). He had even espied then Chogyal, Tashi Namgyal holding court on a hill. Putting thought into action, both brothers visited Sikkim, where they called on Palden Thondup Namgyal, who had succeeded his father and would be the last Chogyal, and his American wife, as well the redoubtable (then) Major General Sagat Singh, whom Dev Anand threw "an army salute in my best 'Hum Dono' style. They were granted permission to shoot wherever they wanted, including in the areas marked 'Entry Not Allowed'. The filming, Dev Anand said was done in "a very disciplined manner". "The whole kingdom of Sikkim was all smiles and courtesies, and participated in the joy of our filming, like in a grand jamboree, for all the days we stayed there". The outcome was the taut and engrossing gems heist "Jewel Thief" (1967), with its unexpected twist and abundance of female glamour - Dev Anand has to contend with Vyjayantimala as well as Tanuja, Helen, Faryal, and Anju Mahendru. The next port of call was Nepal. Among the guests at the marriage of then Crown Prince Birendra in 1970, Dev Anand ran into a German documentary filmmaker he knew and both decided to go and see the hippies one night. Though they stayed a bit away on the latter's urging, Dev Anand saw something that piqued his interest - and this went on to become the plot of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" (1971). Meeting King Mahendra to take his leave, Dev Anand broached his idea to shoot a film in Nepal and the monarch was receptive. Not only did he freely grant permission, but invited the actor to stay back and work out his script, placing a royal guesthouse in Pokhara at his disposal. The shooting of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna", which made Zeenat Aman a star, was a mammoth affair but, as he recalled, wrapped up in 10 weeks, due to the exemplary hospitality of the Nepalese who were "agog with excitement" and the King's support. Not only in Kathmandu, the same enthusiasm was witnessed in communist-dominated Bhaktapur, rife with anti-Indian sentiments, but people came out in full force to participate in a song picturised on him and Mumtaz in its main square. While "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" was confined to the Kathmandu Valley, Dev Anand, who would befriend King Birendra and Prince Gyanendra too, was impressed by Nepal's mountains and their "wild natural beauty" and "mystical, ethereal quality" to return to shoot "Ishk Ishk Ishk" (1974) - marked by some stunning visuals of Mount Everest. Bhutan was another destination that Dev Anand, who attended the coronation of Jigme Singye Wangchuk in 1972, wanted to immortalise on screen - but never managed to. All three Himalayan locales would feature in many more Indian films, not just Bollywood, but it was Dev Anand who led the way. It was fitting for an actor and filmmaker known for going off far the beaten track, who discovered/gave a break to a host of film mainstays from Guru Dutt to Sahir Ludhianvi, Waheeda Rehman to Tabu, and Shatrughan Sinha to Jackie Shroff, and among many other impressive performances, essayed a long song as a religious hymn, and stole his elder brother's wallet and younger brother's girlfriend - in the same film! (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) Dev Anand: The ageless romantic who pioneered Bollywood's 'Neighbourhood First' initiative Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Not Shabana Azmi but this actress was Shyam Benegal's first choice for 'Ankur' I n a fascinating throwback video, acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal, a pioneer of parallel cinema in India, revealed that actress Shabana Azmi was not initially his first choice for the lead role in 'Ankur', instead, the legendary Waheeda Rehman was considered for the part. A throwback video shared by Prasar Bharati Archives features clips from 'Ankur,' directed by Shyam Benegal. In the footage, Benegal reflects on the casting process, stating, "As far as the main part is concerned, Shabana's part was very interesting because the first person I asked was Waheeda Rehman. I could see Waheeda in my mind for that particular part. She said yes in the beginning, but later on, she wasn't sure she could do it. So she said no." This candid insight highlights the complexities of casting and the pivotal moments that shape cinematic history. 'Ankur' also marked the debut of actor Anant Nag. Like many of Shyam Benegal's films, 'Ankur' falls within the genre of Indian art films, specifically known as Indian parallel cinema, a genre known for its realistic portrayal of social issues and human emotions. The storyline is inspired by a true event that took place in Hyderabad, reportedly in the 1950s, and was predominantly filmed on location. It showcased the struggles of its characters against the backdrop of a rural setting, reflecting the complexities of caste, gender, and personal relationships. Its narrative, inspired by true events, deviates from mainstream Bollywood norms, focusing instead on character-driven storytelling and nuanced performances. It revolved around social issues like -- alcoholism, casteism, rich vs poor, sexual drive, religious differences and dowry. Benegal is the pioneer of parallel cinema, and he is considered as one of the greatest filmmakers post 1970s. His work includes movies like - Manthan, Bhumika, Kalyug, Hari Bhari, and most recently Mujib. Not Shabana Azmi but this actress was Shyam Benegal's first choice for 'Ankur' Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Farhan Akhtar makes the most of his off day by riding a bicycle in the mountains B ollywood multi-hyphenate Farhan Akhtar, who is shooting for a yet-to-be-titled project in Ladakh, is enjoying his day off in the mountains. However, the actor is still working despite taking time off from work. The actor is working on his fitness. On Thursday, Farhan took to his Instagram, and shared a Reel of himself riding a bicycle. The video shows the actor riding a mountain bike uphill as he dons all the necessary bike gear. The actor wrote in the caption, "A day off work is a day on the bike .. #cycology #FarOutdoors #pedaljayenge #ladakh". Earlier, during a podcast, Farhan had said that he and his wife Shibani Dandekar are not a very outgoing couple, and they find the utmost comfort staying in their house. The couple spoke to Rhea Chakraborty about being happy at home, and their aversion to meeting people at social gatherings. Shibani told Rhea, "We don't like to leave the house after 7:00 pm. We will be social maybe once every two months, and even then it is painful. We have a bit of a reputation of being boring among our friends". Farhan then raised an important question, as she said, "I'm saying this very sincerely because I'm sure there are many people like us in the world. The fact is, if you or someone in your life is happier spending time at home, is happy to meet you during the day or evening till a certain time, and doesn't want to go to a club or a bar, and want to hang out at home, let that person be. Why should that person be considered boring because he or she doesn't want to do those things?". He further mentioned, "If I go around asking people, 'I'm planning a 7-day trek, you have to come to the 7-day trek with me'. Where are those people? Are they gonna come? Should I tell them, 'Oh you guys are so boring because you don't want to sign up for a 7-day trek'?" Well, it's interesting how a few days ago Farhan was talking about a trek in the mountains, and now he is riding a bicycle at one of the most scenic mountain passes in the world. Farhan Akhtar makes the most of his off day by riding a bicycle in the mountains Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Macron backs India for permanent UNSC membership, calls for comprehensive reforms F rench President Emmanuel Macron has voiced strong support for India's inclusion as a permanent member of a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), along with Germany, Japan, Brazil, and two African nations. "Germany, Japan, India and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa would designate to represent it. New elected members should also be admitted," Macron said while addressing the general debate at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York early Thursday, India time. The French President stressed the need for reforms within the UN to make it more effective and representative, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the current structure of the Security Council. "The United Nations should not be discarded, but rather reformed to reflect today's realities," he said. He said that the current Security Council, often blocked by conflicting interests, needs to evolve. "Is there a better system? I don't think so. So let's just make these United Nations more effective, first by perhaps making them more representative. That is why France and I repeat here, is in favour of the Security Council being expanded," Macron said. The French President said that he hopes that "this reform will also make it possible to change working methods, to limit the right of veto in the event of mass crime and to focus on operational decisions that are necessary to maintain international peace and security. This is what we must have the courage and audacity to do and that we must carry forward with the current permanent members." Earlier, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font also advocated for India's inclusion, proposing a deadline for the reform to align the UNSC with modern geopolitical realities by the UN's 80th anniversary. The call for India's permanent membership has also been echoed by other global leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who reiterated Washington's full support for India's bid during his recent bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russia, too, continues to back India's aspiration for a permanent seat, with the country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasising the need for greater representation of developing countries in the council during the ongoing annual UN event. The growing consensus among world leaders highlights the urgency of reforming the UNSC to reflect the contemporary global order and ensure more inclusive and effective international governance. Macron backs India for permanent UNSC membership, calls for comprehensive reforms Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Karisma Kapoor showcases her wild and free side A ctress Karisma Kapoor, who was last seen in the streaming movie 'Murder Mubarak', soaking in the London sun. On Thursday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a series of pictures and videos in which she can be seen roaming around the streets of London.The actress also shared pictures of flowers and apparel in her photo dump. In one of the pictures, the actress can be seen strutting around Oxford street in the British capital. She wrote in the caption, "In a world full of roses, be a wildflower". Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, running from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch via Oxford Circus. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, and registers half a million daily visitors. It is designated as part of the A40, a major road between London and Fishguard, though it is not signed as such, and traffic is regularly restricted to buses and taxis. Karisma Kapoor belongs to the first film dynasty of Hindi cinema, the Kapoor family. She is the daughter of actors Babita and Randhir Kapoor, and is the elder sister of actress Kareena Kapoor. Karisma used to be one of the highest-paid actresses of her time, she is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award. Her younger sister Kareena Kapoor Khan was recently seen in the theatrical movie 'The Buckingham Murders' . The film was directed by Hansal Mehta of 'Aligarh' and 'Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story' fame. The film tells the story of a cop who is assigned to investigate the murder of a child in the Buckingham neighbourhood as she battles personal conflict. Karisma Kapoor showcases her wild and free side Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! How Jackie Shroff walked into film industry because of Dev Anand A ctor Jackie Shroff, who was last seen in the streaming movie 'Mast Mein Rehne Ka', is celebrating the birth anniversary of the late actor Dev Anand. On Thursday, Jackie Shroff took to the Stories section of his Instagram, and shared a video remembering the cinema legend. He wrote on the video, "With the blessings of Dev sahab, I walked into film duniya". For the unversed, Jackie Shroff made his acting debut in Dev Anand's 1982 film 'Swami Dada'. In his first meeting with Dev Anand, he was offered the second lead role but after 15 days, Dev Anand changed his mind and gave the role to Mithun Chakraborty. Jackie was cast as one of the henchmen of Shakti Kapoor in an uncredited role. Prior to this, Jackie used to work as a travel agent, and also worked in an advertising company. His stint in advertising led to modelling assignment, and before he knew it, he was cast in 'Swami Dada'. However, it was the Subhash Ghai directorial 'Hero' in which Jackie Shroff garnered critical and commercial acclaim, and went on to become a huge star in the 1980s. He starred in films like 'Teri Meherbaniyan', 'Tridev', 'Parinda', 'Karma' and others. Earlier, on Thursday, actress and politician Hema Malini also remembered the late actor as she took to her Instagram, and dropped several throwback pictures from the sets of the movies that the two worked together in. She also penned a note in the caption, and spoke about the fond memories of hers with the late actor. She wrote, "I have such lovely memories of Dev sahab who was in fact the hero of my 2nd big release with a top actor. I was raw, and in awe but he quickly put me at ease and behaved as if he was a good friend. This attitude continued till the end, always exuding energy that would stimulate everyone". How Jackie Shroff walked into film industry because of Dev Anand Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Engineering goods' share in India's merchandise exports rise to 27.2 pc T he share of engineering goods in India's total merchandise exports increased to 27.20 per cent in August, from 26.60 per cent in July, a report showed on Thursday. The cumulative share stood at 25.97 per cent during the April-August period. According to the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), the growth was due to a decent rise in shipments of product groups such as 'aircraft and spacecraft parts', 'ships, boats and floating structures', 'automobile and auto components/parts', and 'medical and scientific instruments'. After a decline in April, engineering goods exports from India started showing an increasing trend and registered positive growth in subsequent months. In August, engineering exports rose to $9.44 billion from $9.05 billion in the same month last fiscal year, securing 4.36 per cent growth. As per EEPC, cumulative engineering exports during April-August 2024-25 were recorded at $46.41 billion as against $44.53 billion during the same period of the last fiscal, registering an increase of 4.21 per cent. Arun Kumar Garodia, Chairman of EEPC India, said that global trade data has been positive for Indian exports and as per the latest UN data, India, China, and the US are driving the global trade recovery. "Globally trade within the developing countries or South-South trade is also on the rise. However, the major trade institutions across the world caution that the outlook for 2024 is tempered by potential geopolitical issues and industrial policy impacts," he mentioned. As many as 20 out of 34 engineering panels witnessed positive year-on-year growth last month, while 14 remaining engineering panels experienced a decline. Notably, shipment of 'aircraft and spacecraft parts and products' jumped nearly four times to $436.9 million from $114.6 million in the corresponding month last year. Also, automobile and auto component segment exports registered 6 per cent (year-on-year) growth to $1.97 billion. The US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Singapore, the UK, and Mexico experienced positive growth in the April-August period. Engineering goods' share in India's merchandise exports rise to 27.2 pc Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Six years ago, the Syrian government began formally calling on refugees to return, claiming that the country is now safe. On several occasions, the government also announced a general amnesty. However, warned Robert Wood, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the U.N., The recently released report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, COI, contains horrifying accounts of arbitrary detention and torture, including rape and gender-based violence, committed by Syrian regime actors and regime-supported militias over the first half of the year. These acts led the Commission to report the regimes continuing patterns of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The COIs report provides yet more evidence that the Syrian regime is not being truthful when it claims the country is now safe whether for the millions still living in fear under regime control, or for the millions of Syrian refugees around the world. The report confirms the regime has not changed and is conducting business as usual, with horrific consequences for Syrian civilians, he said. The report ends with the ominous prediction that the human rights situation will only get worse unless the international community pays renewed attention to the Syria crisis. Indeed, said Ambassador Wood, it is a reminder of why accountability must remain at the heart of our approach to Syria. Unless there is accountability for regime officials responsible for atrocities and other abuses from the bottom of the chain of command all the way up the systematic brutality will not end. We urge all Council members to stand with us in demanding justice and dignity for the Syrian people. That said, We must also keep an international spotlight on efforts to ensure justice and accountability for victims of crimes against humanity committed by ISIS, including genocide against the Yezidis, said Ambassador Wood. The United States stands with the survivors and will continue to support efforts in the Security Council to ensure accountability for the perpetrators. There is no military solution to the chaos in Syria. We urge the Syrian regimes representatives and its backers, said Ambassador Wood, to stop making excuses and work in good faith to implement Resolution 2254, which calls for a political settlement in Syria. The United States will not fund regime-led reconstruction, and U.S. sanctions will remain in place until there is, at a minimum, authentic and sustained progress toward a political solution in line with Resolution 2254. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Researchers from the Brigham detail how the spray they created may offer broad-spectrum protection from respiratory infections by COVID-19, influenza, everyday cold viruses, and pneumonia-causing bacteria A new study details how a nasal spray formulated by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, may work to protect against viral and bacterial respiratory infections. Based on their preclinical studies, the researchers say the broad-spectrum nasal spray is long-lasting, safe, and, if validated in humans, could play a key role in reducing respiratory diseases and safeguarding public health against new threats. Their results are published in the journal Advanced Materials. The COVID pandemic showed us what respiratory pathogens can do to humanity in a very short time. That threat hasn't gone away. Not only do we have the flu to deal with seasonally, but we now have COVID, too." Jeffrey Karp, PhD, Distinguished Chair, Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital Influenza and COVID-19 infections cause thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of cases of severe disease every year. Milder infections cause significant discomfort, resulting in missed work or school. Vaccines against these viruses can be beneficial, but they're imperfect. Vaccinated people still get infected and spread the infection to others. Masks are also helpful but aren't perfect, either -; they can leak, and many people wear them improperly or choose not to wear them at all. "We need new, additional ways to protect ourselves and reduce the transmission of the disease," Karp said. Most viruses enter our system through the nose. When we catch an airborne infection like the flu and COVID, we breathe out tiny droplets of fluids that contain the pathogen. Healthy people around us breathe in these pathogen-containing droplets, which attach inside their nose and infect the cells that line the nasal passageways. The pathogen replicates and can be released back into the air when an individual who is sick, whether they know it or not, sneezes, coughs, laughs, sings, or even just breathes. The new study details the research team's efforts to create a nasal spray to defend against airborne respiratory illness. "The spray, called Pathogen Capture and Neutralizing Spray (PCANS) in the paper, was developed using ingredients from the FDA's Inactive Ingredient Database (IID), which have been previously used in approved nasal sprays, or from the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list of the FDA," said co-senior author Nitin Joshi, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "We developed a drug-free formulation using these compounds to block germs in three ways -; PCANS forms a gel-like matrix that traps respiratory droplets, immobilizes the germs, and effectively neutralizes them, preventing infection." The researchers did the experiments detailed in the study under laboratory settings. They have not studied PCANS directly in humans. The researchers developed the formulation and studied its ability to capture respiratory droplets in a 3D-printed replica of a human nose. They showed that when sprayed in the nasal cavity replica, PCANS captured twice as many droplets as mucus alone. "PCANS forms a gel, increasing its mechanical strength by a hundred times, forming a solid barrier," said primary author John Joseph, PhD, a former postdoctoral fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "It blocked and neutralized almost 100% of all viruses and bacteria we tested, including Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, adenovirus, K Pneumonia and more." Experiments in mice showed that a single dose of the PCANS nasal spray could effectively block infection from an influenza virus (PR8) at 25 times the lethal dose. Virus levels in the lungs were reduced by >99.99%, and the inflammatory cells and cytokines in the lungs of PCANS-treated animals were normal. "The formulation's ability to inactivate a broad spectrum of pathogens, including the deadly PR8 influenza virus, demonstrates its high effectiveness," said co-senior author Yohannes Tesfaigzi, PhD, AstraZeneca Professor of Medicine in the Field of Respiratory and Inflammatory Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "In a rigorous mouse model study, prophylactic treatment with PCANS demonstrated exceptional efficacy, with treated mice exhibiting complete protection, while the untreated group showed no such benefit." While the study's limitations include the lack of human studies of PCANS, it provides a strong foundation for future research to explore the full potential of PCANS in a broader context. The researchers are exploring whether PCANS can also block allergens, opening a potential new avenue for allergy relief. Scientists have uncovered alarming evidence of H5N1s rapid adaptation to mammals fueled by genetic mutations. With mammal-to-mammal transmission now confirmed, could this be the precursor to the next global pandemic? Review: The global H5N1 influenza panzootic in mammals. Image Credit: Rui Duarte / Shutterstock In a review article published in the journal Nature, the authors describe molecular and ecological factors associated with the sudden expansion of H5N1 high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in mammals. Background Influenza A viruses are associated with most of the documented global pandemics in human history. High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses belonging to the H5N1 subtype are a leading risk factor for future pandemics. The evolutionary barriers to mammalian adaptation of these viruses are lower than previously thought, as shown by rapid mutation accumulation in key viral proteins. H5N1 viruses were initially detected only in Asian poultries during the past two decades. However, in recent years, a rapid transmission of these viruses into new mammal species has been observed worldwide, endangering wildlife, agricultural production, and human health. Mammal-to-mammal transmission confirmed: Evidence from mink farms, marine mammals, and dairy cattle outbreaks show that H5N1 is now capable of spreading directly between mammals, a crucial evolutionary leap. Such rapid viral transmission started after the emergence of a new genotype of H5N1 viruses belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b, which infected wild birds from Europe to Africa, North America, South America, and the Antarctic. These viruses arose from genomic reassortment between the H5N8 and low-pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses, generating new hybrid strains. The genomic reassortment event between 2.3.4.4b H5N8 and low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses gave rise to the panzootic 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses, which are genetically different from prior strains. This reassortment involved the polymerase gene and surface proteins, facilitating rapid adaptation to new environments. The panzootic 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses can silently transmit to new countries or continents through migrating aquatic wild birds. This may result in mass die-offs among social sea birds congregating in large, dense colonies. Birds of prey or animals that eat dead H5N1-infected birds can also die due to neurological disorders. Viral spillover to mammals has been linked to several adaptive mutations that enhance viral replication in mammalian hosts, specifically within the polymerase (PB2) and hemagglutinin (HA) genes. In this review article, the authors discuss influenza A virus spillover and H5N1 pandemic potential by analyzing three H5N1 case studies demonstrating mammal-to-mammal transmission. The article provides information on the acquisition of key adaptive mutations that enabled 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses to sustain mammal-to-mammal transmission. The authors have collected this information from three real-world settings: the 2022-2023 H5N1 outbreaks on European fur farms, the 2023 South American marine mammal-adapted virus, and the 2024 US dairy cattle outbreak. H5N1 outbreaks on European fur farms The evidence collected from H5N1-infected European farmed animals (American mink, arctic foxes, and raccoon dogs) revealed the presence of known mammalian-adaptive mutations in the PB2 gene, particularly the PB2 E627K mutation, which enhances viral replication in mammals. Mammal-to-mammal transmission was suspected based on the close genetic relatedness of the viruses found on different farms. Experimental studies confirmed the effective transmission of the viruses between ferrets in direct contact. This genetic proximity is consistent with sustained transmission driven by adaptive changes in the polymerase complex. Farm-to-farm transmission most probably occurred due to the movement of contaminated equipment, clothing, or infected carcasses fed to other mink. The new reassortant H5N1 genotype, BB, which emerged in 2022, represents a hybrid virus combining genome segments from prior H5N1 and LPAI gull-adapted viruses. This genotype caused mass die-offs in black-headed gulls throughout Europe. Rapid virus spread: Migratory birds are playing a critical role in spreading the virus across continents, silently transmitting the disease to new regions and species. Genetic sequencing revealed that the H5N1 viruses belong to a new reassortant H5N1 genotype, BB, that emerged in 2022 and caused mass die-offs in black-headed gulls throughout Europe. An H5N1 outbreak also occurred in Poland in mid-2023, killing more than 30 domestic cats. Raw pet foods sourced from mink farms were assumed to be a potential source of the virus. Sequencing of cat-derived H5N1 viruses revealed identical mammalian adaptations absent in avian viruses circulating in Europe at the time. The cat-derived H5N1 viruses shared identical mammalian-adaptive mutations in PB2 (E627K, D701N), highlighting the viruss ability to adapt across different mammalian hosts. H5N1 outbreaks in South American marine mammals A new reassortant H5N1 genotype B3.2 arrived from North America to South America in late 2022, causing mass die-offs in coastal birds and marine mammals. Genetic sequencing of H5N1 viruses from South American marine mammals identified the same known mammalian adaptations (PB2 D701N and Q591K) and other distinctive mutations absent in birds, supporting mammal-to-mammal transmission. The B3.2 viruses in the marine mammal clade were also identified in South American sea lions, common dolphins, Chilean dolphins, porpoises, sea otters, fur seals, elephant seals, and one human. These mutations allowed the virus to exploit mammalian cellular machinery, facilitating sustained transmission in a mammalian host. The hospitalized man resided near a beach with H5N1-infected animals, and the virus derived from the infected man also contained the same two mammalian adaptations found in pinnipeds, indicating the environmental mode of transmission of the virus. A spillback of mammalian-adapted B3.2 viruses from marine mammals to wild birds was also observed in South America. However, no reversions were observed in the mammalian-adapted PB2 mutations, demonstrating the viruss strong adaptation to mammalian hosts. H5N1 outbreaks in US dairy cattle The H5N1 viruses belonging to the B3.13 genotype were identified as causative pathogens associated with Texas dairy cattle outbreaks in 2024. Phylogenetic analysis showed a single viral introduction from wild birds into cattle. Mammalian-adaptive mutations PB2 M631L and PA K497R were detected in the cattle clade, facilitating increased replication in mammalian cells. Only four B3.13 genotype viruses were identified in US wildlife apart from the cattle clade, suggesting that this genotype is rare in wild birds. The viruses' high genetic diversity points to rapid local evolution in dairy cattle, providing further evidence of sustained mammalian transmission. The high genetic diversity of the H5N1 virus in Texas cattle suggests that the bovine B3.13 outbreak originated in Texas and rapidly spread to additional states. Transport of infected cattle or equipment was considered the most likely cause of viral transmission. Cattle-origin H5N1 viruses were also identified in other species, including domestic cats, alpacas, wild birds, terrestrial mammals, and poultry. Transmission routes likely include milk contamination due to the viruss mammary tissue tropism, leading to widespread infection through contaminated milk. Thirteen human cases, including four dairy farm workers, were also identified in the US. Less than 20 human cases of 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses have been documented in Europe and the US since 2020, a low number compared to the H5N1 human cases recorded in Asia and Egypt in 2015. Significance The potency of H5N1 viruses in creating future pandemics remains unknown. Recent human cases with H5N1 2.3.4.4b viruses have significantly lower fatality rates than prior H5N1 outbreaks in Asia. If H5N1 continues spreading in humans, an existing H5 vaccine that is antigenically related to circulating 2.3.4.4b viruses can be scaled up using mRNA platforms. However, the viruss ability to reassort with other influenza viruses, particularly in high-risk settings such as farms, raises concerns about the potential for more transmissible variants. TO ACCESS THIS CONTENT YOU MUST OPEN A SESSION OR CREATE AN ACCOUNT MEMBER LOGIN CREATE YOUR USER ACCOUNT After moving with her family to the United States from Panama when she was just 10 years old, Amair Pralour knows the importance of embracing differen. . . A new study finds that microaggressions aimed at Black women online appear to harm the health of other Black women who see those microaggressions even though the microaggressions are not aimed at them personally. Specifically, researchers found that encountering vicarious microaggressions was associated with worse sleep quality for young Black women. A lot of people falsely treat microaggressions as a kind of joke, but they are serious and have serious consequences." Vanessa Volpe, first author and associate professor of psychology, North Carolina State University Microaggressions are often subtle instances of mistreatment or insulting behavior that usually revolve around negative stereotypes. But while microaggressions are often subtle, they also accrue over time. "And because people including Black women often face a consistent stream of these microaggressions, there's a tremendous amount of evidence showing that these microaggressions can have a serious impact on people's health and well-being," Volpe says. "We launched this study to learn more about the extent to which Black women encounter microaggressions online and offline, as well as how these microaggressions may relate to sleep quality. We focused on sleep quality because it is a health outcome in itself and is also well-established as a behavior that can be affected by stress." For this study, researchers recruited 478 Black women between the ages of 18 and 35 who live in the United States. Study participants completed a detailed survey designed to capture how often they experienced microaggressions related to their race and gender both via in-person interactions and online. For online microaggressions, the survey distinguished between microaggressions aimed at the study participant and vicarious microaggressions, in which the study participant observed microaggressions that weren't aimed specifically at them. The survey also included a range of questions focused on understanding each study participant's sleep quality. Online microaggressions directed at the study participant were the least commonly reported, which researchers believe may be related to the ability of social media users to curate their online experience choosing which accounts to follow, blocking accounts they don't want to see, and so on. "To be clear, the Black women in our study still experienced direct online microaggressions, they just experienced these microaggressions less frequently than other microaggressions," Volpe says. In-person microaggressions were the second-most common, with vicarious online microaggressions being by far the most commonly experienced. In-person microaggressions were associated with lower sleep quality scores, but only the vicarious online microaggressions were uniquely associated with greater likelihood of clinically-relevant poor sleep quality. "Study participants were asked how frequently they were exposed to vicarious online microaggressions, and they answered on a 0-5 scale," Volpe explains. "We found that for each unit you go up on that 0-5 scale, the likelihood of clinically-relevant poor sleep quality goes up by 33%. "The fact that vicarious online microaggressions can adversely impact Black women seems particularly relevant in this election year, with the first Black woman serving as the presidential nominee of a major political party." The findings have ramifications for both health practitioners and researchers. "One takeaway message is that health professionals who are working with people experiencing sleep problems need to ask about stress experiences that may be specific to sex and race including stress related to their online experiences," Volpe says. "They should work with their patients to find stress management plans and solutions that take these unique experiences and their patients' online engagement into consideration. "What's more, it's a little surprising that vicarious microaggressions seem to have a bigger impact on sleep quality than in-person microaggressions that are aimed directly at you. That suggests that the research community needs to take a closer look at vicarious microaggressions." The paper, "Online and Offline Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Sleep Quality for Black Women," is published the journal Health Psychology. The paper was co-authored by Abbey Collins, a Ph.D. student at NC State; Eric Zhou of Harvard Medical School; Donte Bernard, of the University of Missouri; and Naila Smith of the University of Virginia. This work was done with support from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. "Stool-based test offers a promising solution to reduce the burden of a colonoscopy," experts emphasized on September 21st, during the ICG 19 Metagenomics for Health (ICG19MH) & The 2nd MOHA Consortium. The conference was held in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province of China. The discussions centered on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, with experts sharing perspectives on the CRC burden and real-world case studies from their country and active research on exploring solutions to address the global CRC problem. One of the key points highlighted was the global challenge of limited access to colonoscopy, the gold standard for CRC screening. Dr. Yang Yun, Deputy General Manager at BGI Genomics, emphasized that "colonoscopy screening can significantly lower the incidence and mortality rates of CRC." However, she also pointed out the widespread issue of preparation for the surgery, which limits its effectiveness as a first-line screening method. "One of the most important requirements for colonoscopy is the pass rate of intestinal preparation. The minimum requirement is 85%" she added, "but most of them fail to meet this requirement, whether in my country or other countries around the world." Global perspectives on CRC screening obstacles The world faces the same obstacle to CRC screening: lack of colonoscopy medical resources. Dr. Songphol Malakorn from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, spoke about the shortage of medical resources and the complex preoperative preparations that hinder the widespread adoption of colonoscopy in Thailand. 28 million people versus 800 plus endoscopists. This is the main problem of the screening program of our country." Dr. Songphol Malakorn from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand From New Zealand, Dr. Amanda Dixon-McIver, Laboratory Director at IGENZ highlighted long waiting times for public-funded colonoscopies and the high costs of private procedures, are major deterrents for patients seeking timely diagnostic service. "Colonoscopy capacity is finite and waiting times often exceed targets," she stated. Similarly, in Europe, Professor Robert Benamouzig of Avicenne Hospital, France addressed how screening strategies are shaped by cultural and political contexts through the livestream. He noted that France's healthcare system is based on collective responsibility, aiming to provide equal access to resources. Yet, even within this system, barriers to widespread CRC screening persist, highlighting the need for accessible alternatives. COLOTECT: A promising solution for CRC screening As part of the discussions on overcoming these global challenges, experts advocated for the development of more accessible, accurate, and widely acceptable screening tools. COLOTECT, a stool DNA testing kit developed by BGI Genomics, emerged as a promising solution. Professor Wu Xiaojian from the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University shared successful screening programs were conducted in Xinyi and Huazhou, cities in Guangdong Province, using COLOTECT. "In these 10% of positive patients, 77% went on to complete colonoscopies," Professor Wu said. This high compliance rate, he noted, demonstrates the growing acceptance of stool DNA testing over traditional methods like the FIT test. Both Dr. Dixon-McIver and Dr. Malakorn supported the adoption of innovative screening tools like COLOTECT, highlighting their potential to address resource limitations and improve CRC prevention efforts, especially in underserved regions. Gut microbiome: New horizons for disease detection In addition to CRC, experts delved into the potential of gut microbiome signatures as a tool for disease detection. Professor Benamouzig shared his insights on how the gut microbiome could be instrumental in early CRC detection, while Professor Stanislav Dusko Ehrlich from University College London explored its potential in diagnosing Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, Dr. Hamsa T. Tayeb from Saudi Arabia discussed the application of metagenomics in diagnosing infectious diseases, underscoring the potential of these innovative tools in clinical practice. As these discussions from ICG19MH, innovations in CRC screening, such as COLOTECT, along with new applications of metagenomics, hold the potential to transform global health by making preventive healthcare more accessible and effective. These new tools and approaches offer a significant opportunity to reduce the global burden of diseases such as CRC. Since being deemed a public health emergency in 2017, opioids are responsible for 72% of drug overdose deaths in the United States, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. New research from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine identifies a potential new approach to address the opioid overdose epidemic-;which has devastated families and communities nationally. The study, published today in the journal JAMA Network Open, suggests semaglutide is linked to lower opioid overdoses in people with opioid-use disorder (OUD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1R) molecule that decreases hunger and helps regulate blood sugar in T2D, is also the active component in the diabetes and weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic. The research team-;led by biomedical informatics professor Rong Xu-;analyzed six years of electronic records of nearly 33,000 patients with OUD who also had T2D. The researchers used a statistical approach that mimics a randomized clinical trial. They found patients prescribed semaglutide had a significantly lower risk for opioid overdose, compared to those who had taken any of eight other anti-diabetic medications, including other types of GLP-1R-targeting medications. About 107,500 people died from drug overdoses nationally in 2023, mostly from opioids, according to the CDC. Despite effective medications to prevent overdoses from OUD, the CDC estimates only a quarter of those with OUD receive them and about half discontinue treatment within six months. Not everyone receives or responds to them. As a result, alternative medications to help people treat opioid use disorder and prevent overdosing are crucial. Therefore, our findings suggest that it is important to continue studying semaglutide as a possible new treatment for combating this terrible epidemic." Rong Xu, Director, Center for AI in Drug Discovery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute for Drug Abuse, co-led the study. Although their findings potentially support the idea that semaglutide could treat OUD and prevent overdoses, the study's limitations restrict the researchers from making firm causal conclusions, Xu said. Semaglutide's use will need to be further investigated through randomized clinical trials, the researchers said. People with Down's syndrome face a higher risk of developing Leukemia. Now researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Stanford University explain why, by identifying specific changes in blood cells of people with Down's syndrome. In the world, one out of 700 children are born with Down's syndrome. A syndrome, where the child has an extra copy of chromosome 21, resulting in 47 chromosomes instead of 46. This typically results in characteristic physical features and some level of learning disability. But newborns with Downs syndrome also tend to have an elevated number of red blood cells, and as they grow older, they face a 150-fold higher risk of developing leukemia compared to those without the condition. "Our study revealed that the additional chromosome 21 alters how DNA is packed inside the cells. This difference affects how certain genes are regulated and can contribute to the development of leukemia," explains Rebecca Moller, one of the researchers from University of Copenhagen behind the new study. To more precisely understand the impact of the extra chromosome 21, the researchers sequenced the genes of over 1.1 million cells from fetuses with and without Down's syndrome. Interestingly, the dysregulations are not uniform and vary depending on the cell type and its environment. We found for example that blood stem cells in individuals with Down's syndrome show dysregulations of genes involved in making red blood cells, explaining the symptoms in newborns." Professor Ana Cvejic, senior lead scientist, University of Copenhagen Too many cellular "powerhouses" The researchers also identified another crucial difference in the blood stem cells of people with Down's syndrome: an increased number of mitochondria, the "powerhouses" of the cells that generate energy. While energy production is vital, too many mitochondria can damage a cell and its DNA by producing harmful molecules. "These harmful molecules, called reactive oxygen species, are known to attack DNA creating mutations that can lead to pre-leukemia and, eventually, leukemia." explains Dr Andrew Marderstein, from Stanford University and the first author in the study. The findings from the study underscore the importance of understanding the intricate relationship between genetics and the cellular environment of blood cells in individuals with Down's Syndrome. "This study is the largest of its kind, and it shows that the environment and genetic makeup of cells are crucial in understanding how blood cells and leukemia develop. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for guiding future research in stem cell biology and cancer," says Professor Ana Cvejic, who emphasizes that these insights pave the way for a better comprehension of disease development in Down's Syndrome. One evening in May, nursing assistant Debra Ragoonanan's vision blurred during her shift at a state-run Massachusetts veterans home. As her head spun, she said, she called her husband. He picked her up and drove her to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. It was the latest in a drumbeat of health issues that she traces to the first months of 2020, when dozens of veterans died at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, in one of the country's deadliest covid-19 outbreaks at a long-term nursing facility. Ragoonanan has worked at the home for nearly 30 years. Now, she said, the sights, sounds, and smells there trigger her trauma. Among her ailments, she lists panic attacks, brain fog, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition linked to aneurysms and strokes. Scrutiny of the outbreak prompted the state to change the facility's name to the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke, replace its leadership, sponsor a $480 million renovation of the premises, and agree to a $56 million settlement for veterans and families. But the front-line caregivers have received little relief as they grapple with the outbreak's toll. "I am retraumatized all the time," Ragoonanan said, sitting on her back porch before her evening shift. "How am I supposed to move forward?" Covid killed more than 3,600 U.S. health care workers in the first year of the pandemic. It left many more with physical and mental illnesses and a gutting sense of abandonment. What workers experienced has been detailed in state investigations, surveys of nurses, and published studies. These found that many health care workers weren't given masks in 2020. Many got covid and worked while sick. More than a dozen lawsuits filed on behalf of residents or workers at nursing facilities detail such experiences. And others allege that accommodations weren't made for workers facing depression and PTSD triggered by their pandemic duties. Some of the lawsuits have been dismissed, and others are pending. Health care workers and unions reported risky conditions to state and federal agencies. But the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration had fewer inspectors in 2020 to investigate complaints than at any point in a half-century. It investigated only about 1 in 5 covid-related complaints that were filed officially, and just 4% of more than 16,000 informal reports made by phone or email. Nursing assistants, health aides, and other lower-wage health care workers were particularly vulnerable during outbreaks, and many remain burdened now. About 80% of lower-wage workers who provide long-term care are women, and these workers are more likely to be immigrants, to be people of color, and to live in poverty than doctors or nurses. Some of these factors increased a person's covid risk. They also help explain why these workers had limited power to avoid or protest hazardous conditions, said Eric Frumin, formerly the safety and health director for the Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of labor unions. He also cited decreasing membership in unions, which negotiate for higher wages and safer workplaces. One-third of the U.S. labor force was unionized in the 1950s, but the level has fallen to 10% in recent years. Like essential workers in meatpacking plants and warehouses, nursing assistants were at risk because of their status, Frumin said: "The powerlessness of workers in this country condemns them to be treated as disposable." In interviews, essential workers in various industries told KFF Health News they felt duped by a system that asked them to risk their lives in the nation's moment of need but that now offers little assistance for harm incurred in the line of duty. "The state doesn't care. The justice system doesn't care. Nobody cares," Ragoonanan said. "All of us have to go right back to work where this started, so that's a double whammy." 'A war zone' The plight of health care workers is a problem for the United States as the population ages and the threat of future pandemics looms. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called their burnout "an urgent public health issue" leading to diminished care for patients. That's on top of a predicted shortage of more than 3.2 million lower-wage health care workers by 2026, according to the Mercer consulting firm. The veterans home in Holyoke illustrates how labor conditions can jeopardize the health of employees. The facility is not unique, but its situation has been vividly described in a state investigative report and in a report from a joint oversight committee of the Massachusetts Legislature. The Soldiers' Home made headlines in March 2020 when The Boston Globe got a tip about refrigerator trucks packed with the bodies of dead veterans outside the facility. About 80 residents died within a few months. The state investigation placed blame on the home's leadership, starting with Superintendent Bennett Walsh. "Mr. Walsh and his team created close to an optimal environment for the spread of COVID-19," the report said. He resigned under pressure at the end of 2020. Investigators said that "at least 80 staff members" tested positive for covid, citing "at least in part" the management's "failure to provide and require the use of proper protective equipment," even restricting the use of masks. They included a disciplinary letter sent to one nursing assistant who had donned a mask as he cared for a sick veteran overnight in March. "Your actions are disruptive, extremely inappropriate," it said. To avoid hiring more caretakers, the home's leadership combined infected and uninfected veterans in the same unit, fueling the spread of the virus, the report found. It said veterans didn't receive sufficient hydration or pain-relief drugs as they approached death, and it included testimonies from employees who described the situation as "total pandemonium," "a nightmare," and "a war zone." Because his wife was immunocompromised, Walsh didn't enter the care units during this period, according to his lawyer's statement in a deposition obtained by KFF Health News. "He never observed the merged unit," it said. In contrast, nursing assistants told KFF Health News that they worked overtime, even with covid, because they were afraid of being fired if they stayed home. "I kept telling my supervisor, 'I am very, very sick,'" said Sophia Darkowaa, a nursing assistant who said she now suffers from PTSD and symptoms of long covid. "I had like four people die in my arms while I was sick." Nursing assistants recounted how overwhelmed and devasted they felt by the pace of death among veterans whom they had known for years years of helping them dress, shave, and shower, and of listening to their memories of war. "They were in pain. They were hollering. They were calling on God for help," Ragoonanan said. "They were vomiting, their teeth showing. They're pooping on themselves, pooping on your shoes." Nursing assistant Kwesi Ablordeppey said the veterans were like family to him. "One night I put five of them in body bags," he said. "That will never leave my mind." Four years have passed, but he said he still has trouble sleeping and sometimes cries in his bedroom after work. "I wipe the tears away so that my kids don't know." High demands, low autonomy A third of health care workers reported symptoms of PTSD related to the pandemic, according to surveys between January 2020 and May 2022 covering 24,000 workers worldwide. The disorder predisposes people to dementia and Alzheimer's. It can lead to substance use and self-harm. Since covid began, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, director of the Trauma Stewardship Institute, has been inundated by emails from health care workers considering suicide. "More than I have ever received in my career," she said. Their cries for help have not diminished, she said, because trauma often creeps up long after the acute emergency has quieted. Another factor contributing to these workers' trauma is "moral injury," a term first applied to soldiers who experienced intense guilt after carrying out orders that betrayed their values. It became common among health care workers in the pandemic who weren't given ample resources to provide care. "Folks who don't make as much money in health care deal with high job demands and low autonomy at work, both of which make their positions even more stressful," said Rachel Hoopsick, a public health researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "They also have fewer resources to cope with that stress," she added. People in lower income brackets have less access to mental health treatment. And health care workers with less education and financial security are less able to take extended time off, to relocate for jobs elsewhere, or to shift careers to avoid retriggering their traumas. Such memories can feel as intense as the original event. "If there's not a change in circumstances, it can be really, really, really hard for the brain and nervous system to recalibrate," van Dernoot Lipsky said. Rather than focusing on self-care alone, she pushes for policies to ensure adequate staffing at health facilities and accommodations for mental health issues. In 2021, Massachusetts legislators acknowledged the plight of the Soldiers' Home residents and staff in a joint committee report saying the events would "impact their well-being for many years." But only veterans have received compensation. "Their sacrifices for our freedom should never be forgotten or taken for granted," the state's veterans services director, Jon Santiago, said at an event announcing a memorial for veterans who died in the Soldiers' Home outbreak. The state's $56 million settlement followed a class-action lawsuit brought by about 80 veterans who were sickened by covid and a roughly equal number of families of veterans who died. The state's attorney general also brought criminal charges against Walsh and the home's former medical director, David Clinton, in connection with their handling of the crisis. The two averted a trial and possible jail time this March by changing their not-guilty pleas, instead acknowledging that the facts of the case were sufficient to warrant a guilty finding. An attorney representing Walsh and Clinton, Michael Jennings, declined to comment on queries from KFF Health News. He instead referred to legal proceedings in March, in which Jennings argued that "many nursing homes proved inadequate in the nascent days of the pandemic" and that "criminalizing blame will do nothing to prevent further tragedy." Nursing assistants sued the home's leadership, too. The lawsuit alleged that, in addition to their symptoms of long covid, what the aides witnessed "left them emotionally traumatized, and they continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder." The case was dismissed before trial, with courts ruling that the caretakers could have simply left their jobs. "Plaintiff could have resigned his employment at any time," Judge Mark Mastroianni wrote, referring to Ablordeppey, the nursing assistants' named representative in the case. But the choice was never that simple, said Erica Brody, a lawyer who represented the nursing assistants. "What makes this so heartbreaking is that they couldn't have quit, because they needed this job to provide for their families." 'Help us to retire' Brody didn't know of any cases in which staff at long-term nursing facilities successfully held their employers accountable for labor conditions in covid outbreaks that left them with mental and physical ailments. KFF Health News pored through lawsuits and called about a dozen lawyers but could not identify any such cases in which workers prevailed. A Massachusetts chapter of the Service Employees International Union, SEIU Local 888, is looking outside the justice system for help. It has pushed for a bill proposed last year by Judith Garcia, a Democratic state representative to allow workers at the state veterans home in Holyoke, along with its sister facility in Chelsea, to receive their retirement benefits five to 10 years earlier than usual. The bill's fate will be decided in December. Retirement benefits for Massachusetts state employees amount to 80% of a person's salary. Workers qualify at different times, depending on the job. Police officers get theirs at age 55. Nursing assistants qualify once the sum of their time working at a government facility and their age comes to around 100 years. The state stalls the clock if these workers take off more than their allotted days for sickness or vacation. Several nursing assistants at the Holyoke veterans home exceeded their allotments because of long-lasting covid symptoms, post-traumatic stress, and, in Ragoonanan's case, a brain aneurysm. Even five years would make a difference, Ragoonanan said, because, at age 56, she fears her life is being shortened. "Help us to retire," she said, staring at the slippers covering her swollen feet. "We have bad PTSD. We're crying, contemplating suicide." I got my funeral dress out because the way everybody was dying, I knew I was going to die." Debra Ragoonanan Certain careers are linked with shorter life spans. Similarly, economists have shown that, on average, people with lower incomes in the United States die earlier than those with more. Nearly 60% of long-term care workers are among the bottom earners in the country, paid less than $30,000 or about $15 per hour in 2018, according to analyses by the Department of Health and Human Services and KFF, a health policy research, polling, and news organization that includes KFF Health News. Fair pay was among the solutions listed in the surgeon general's report on burnout. Another was "hazard compensation during public health emergencies." If employers offer disability benefits, that generally entails a pay cut. Nursing assistants at the Holyoke veterans home said it would halve their wages, a loss they couldn't afford. "Low-wage workers are in an impossible position, because they're scraping by with their full salaries," said John Magner, SEIU Local 888's legal director. Despite some public displays of gratitude for health care workers early in the pandemic, essential workers haven't received the financial support given to veterans or to emergency personnel who risked their lives to save others in the aftermath of 9/11. Talk show host Jon Stewart, for example, has lobbied for this group for over a decade, successfully pushing Congress to compensate them for their sacrifices. "People need to understand how high the stakes are," van Dernoot Lipsky said. "It's so important that society doesn't put this on individual workers and then walk away." Healthbeat is a nonprofit newsroom covering public health published by Civic News Company and KFF Health News. This new article publication from Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, discusses a transferrin receptor-targeted immunostimulant for photodynamic immunotherapy against metastatic tumors through -catenin/CREB interruption. The immunosuppressive phenotype of tumor cells extensively attenuates the immune activation effects of traditional treatments. In this article, a transferrin receptor (TfR) targeted immunostimulant (PTI) is fabricated for photodynamic immunotherapy against metastatic tumors by interrupting -catenin signal pathway. To synthesize PTI, the photosensitizer conjugated TfR targeting peptide moiety (Palmitic-K(PpIX)-HAIYPRH) is unitized to encapsulate the transcription interrupter of ICG-001. On the one hand, the recognition of PTI and TfR can promote drug delivery into tumor cells to destruct primary tumors through photodynamic therapy and initiate an immunogenic cell death with the release of tumor-associated antigens. On the other hand, PTI will interrupt the binding between -catenin and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), regulating the gene transcription to downregulate programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) while upregulating C-C motif chemokine ligand 4 (CCL4). Furthermore, the elevated CCL4 can recruit the dendritic cells to present tumor-specific antigens and promote T cells activation and infiltration, and the downregulated PD-L1 can avoid the immune evasion of tumor cells and activate systemic anti-tumor immunity to eradicate lung metastasis. This research may inspire the development of antibody antibody-free strategy to activate systemic immune response in consideration of immunosuppressive conditions. Despite privacy concerns and risks of errors, a new survey shows that many UK doctors are embracing AI chatbots to streamline their work and assist with clinical tasks like documentation and diagnoses. Short Report: Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitioners. Image Credit: BOY ANTHONY / Shutterstock A recent study published in the journal BMJ Health and Care Informatics measured the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by general practitioners (GPs) in the United Kingdom (UK). Following the introduction of the Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT) in late 2022, Interest in chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) has substantially increased, with a growing focus on their clinical potential. These new-generation chatbots are trained on extensive data to generate responses and function like autocompletion devices. Documentation assistance was the most common use, with 29% of AI-using GPs leveraging these tools to generate patient notes after appointments, streamlining administrative work. Further, unlike internet search engines, these chatbots can rapidly summarize and generate text, remember previous prompts, and mimic conversational interactions. Preliminary evidence highlights the ability of these tools to help with writing empathic documentation, more detailed documentation than dictation or typing, and help in differential diagnoses. Nevertheless, these tools have limitations; they may provide erroneous information, and their outputs also risk worsening or perpetuating gender, disability, and racial inequities in healthcare. Additionally, there are concerns regarding patient privacy, as it remains unclear how generative AI companies use the collected data. However, there has been limited data on clinician experiences and practices; few studies have investigated doctors' adoption and opinion of these tools in clinical practice. The study and findings In the present study, researchers measured GPs use of AI chatbots in the UK. GPs registered with a clinician marketing service were surveyed. The survey was pretested and piloted with six GPs. This study was launched as an omnibus survey with predetermined sample sizes. Sampling was stratified by regional location. Participants were asked to answer all closed-ended items. The survey collected demographic information, showing that 45% of respondents were GP partners/principals, 34% were salaried GPs, and 18% were locum GPs. Participant data were fully anonymized and numerically stored. Shopping vouchers were offered after survey completion. The survey was conducted between February 2 and 22, 2024. The current study reported responses to the survey item, Q1, which asked participants whether they had ever used Bing AI, ChatGPT, Googles Bard, or other generative AI tools in any aspect of clinical practice. Lack of regulatory guidance: The study emphasizes that despite the increasing use of AI tools, there is still a lack of clear policies or guidelines on how these technologies should be integrated into healthcare safely. Overall, 1,006 participants completed the survey; 53% were males, and 54% were aged 46. The majority of respondents were GP partners or salaried GPs. Overall, 205 respondents reported using generative AI in clinical practice. On February 8, 2024, after 200 responses had been collected, a follow-up question was added in response to the high percentage of AI users; it asked those who responded affirmatively to specify what they were using AI tools for. About 29% reported using AI tools for documentation after appointments, and 28% used AI for suggesting a differential diagnosis. Further, 20% used AI tools for patient timelines or summarization from previous documentation, and 25% used them to explore treatment options. Around 8% used AI to write letters. Conclusions Overall, one in five surveyed doctors reported using AI chatbots to help with tasks in clinical practice in the UK. ChatGPT was the most used. Further, more than a quarter of generative AI users reported using them to help with differential diagnosis or documentation after appointments. These findings suggest that GPs may benefit from these tools, particularly in supporting clinical reasoning and administrative tasks. However, these tools have limitations as they can generate errors and biases. Moreover, they may undermine patient privacy because it is unclear how generative AI companies use the collected information. The medical community will also need to address regulatory uncertainties and create clear work policies to ensure the safe adoption of these tools in healthcare settings. Together, despite the lack of guidance about generative AI tools and unclear work policies, GPs in the UK report using them to assist with their job. Stocks To Watch On September 26: Markets experienced a volatile session on Wednesday but managed to extend their upward trend, with a sharp rally in the fag-end. In todays trade, shares of SpiceJet, SBI, HDFC Bank, Adani Green, and Vedanta among others will be in focus due to various news developments. State Bank of India: SBI aims to be the first Indian financial firm to reach a net profit of Rs 1 trillion within the next 3-5 years, said the banks chairman, C S Setty. With a standalone net profit of Rs 61,077 crore in FY24, a growth of 21.59 per cent year-over-year, the bank is focused on balancing profit growth with customer-centric operations. A robust credit pipeline of Rs 4 trillion from corporate clients is anticipated, particularly in infrastructure sectors. Vedanta: The companys board will meet on October 8 to discuss a potential fourth interim dividend for FY25. The company has already declared a total dividend of Rs 13,474 crore this financial year, showcasing strong shareholder returns. Vedanta Resources plans to reduce its debt by up to $3 billion over the next three years. Piramal Pharma: The pharmaceutical firm aims to double its revenue to $2 billion by FY30, while tripling its Ebitda, said company Chairperson Nandini Piramal. The company plans to maintain a net debt to Ebitda ratio of 1x by FY30. Their CDMO segment is expected to grow significantly, driven by increased demand, especially due to the potential impact of the US Biosecure Act. HDFC Bank: The banks loan growth may slip below 10 per cent YoY in Q2FY25 due to portfolio management strategies, according to a Macquarie research note. The bank is focusing on reducing its loan-deposit ratio and enhancing net interest margins. Separately, UBS Group bought over Rs 543 crore worth of HDFC Bank shares through an open market transaction, acquiring 30.72 lakh shares at Rs 1,768.05 each. Bharti Airtel: The telcom company is rolling out an AI-based solution to detect spam calls and messages, enhancing customer protection and potentially improving customer satisfaction and retention. Titan: The companys fragrance division SKINN Fragrances has launched a new affordable line, 24Seven, targeting younger consumers. The company aims to onboard 2.5 million customers by FY25. Adani Enterprises: Gautam Adanis discussion with Bombardiers CEO about enhancing Indias aviation capabilities, particularly in MRO services and defense, signals potential growth opportunities in the aviation sector. SpiceJet: The airline aims to expand its fleet to 100 aircraft by 2026, according to Chairman Ajay Singh. This announcement follows the airlines successful fundraising of Rs 3,000 crore through qualified institutional placement (QIP). Singh cited challenges like the Boeing 737 Max grounding and the COVID-19 pandemic as significant hurdles but expressed confidence in the airlines fundamentals. Coromandel International: The company announced it will increase its stake in Senegal-based BMCC to 53.8 per cent by acquiring an additional 8.82 per cent for $3.84 million, alongside a loan infusion of $6.5 million for expansion. The investment is crucial as India relies heavily on imported rock phosphate for fertiliser production. Coromandels CEO noted that this move will enhance supply security for its operations, supporting its production at the Kakinada Unit. Shriram Finance: The company has successfully raised $500 million via fixed-rate senior secured social USD notes with a 6.15 per cent coupon. This marks the companys first USD bond issuance in FY25 and reflects strong demand from investors, achieving a 2.4x subscription. Proceeds from the fundraise will be used towards sustainable income-generating segments, particularly in vehicle finance and MSME financing. Reliance Power: Rosa Power, a Reliance Power subsidiary, has prepaid Rs 850 crore to Varde Partners, moving closer to achieving zero-debt status. This initiative supports Reliance Powers broader strategy to strengthen its balance sheet while transitioning towards renewable energy. The company plans to eliminate its remaining obligations by the end of the financial year. Bank of India: The bank has raised Rs 2,500 crore through tier-II bonds at a 7.49 per cent coupon rate, amid a robust demand that saw bids exceeding Rs 6,000 crore. This issuance is part of the banks strategy to bolster its capital adequacy ratio, which is expected to rise to 16 per cent. The bank plans further capital raising through additional tier-I bonds and infrastructure bonds in the coming months. Infosys: The company has partnered with Polestar to create a technology hub in Bengaluru aimed at developing software for electric vehicles, including infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems. Biocon: Biocon Biologics, a part of Biocon, reported positive Phase-III clinical study outcomes for its biosimilars of adalimumab and ustekinumab at the EADV Congress 2024. The studies suggest that patients can switch between the biosimilar and reference drugs safely, indicating significant potential for interchangeability and improved patient access to treatments, which could lower healthcare costs. PM-KISAN 18th Installment Date 2024: As beneficiary farmers are awaiting the 18th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the amount on October 5. The 17th installment was released by PM Modi in June this year. The prime minister released the 17th installment of the PM-Kisan scheme worth over Rs 21,000 crore to more than 9.26 crore farmers on June 18, 2024, during his visit in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The 16th installment was released by Modi on in February this year. Under the PM-KISAN scheme, eligible farmers get Rs 2,000 every four months, which is Rs 6,000 annually. The money is provided each year in three instalments April-July, August-November and December-March. The fund is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The scheme was announced in the Interim Budget 2019 by then finance minister Piyush Goyal and was later launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has now become the worlds biggest Direct Benefit Transfer scheme To receive the instalments, the farmers need to complete their e-KYC. According to the schemes official website, eKYC is MANDATORY for PMKISAN Registered Farmers. OTP-based eKYC is available on the PMKISAN Portal, or the nearest CSC centres may be contacted for Biometric-based eKYC. How To Check Beneficiary Status? 1) Visit the official website pmkisan.gov.in 2) Now, click on the tab Know Your Status on the right side of the page 3) Enter your registration number and fill Captcha Code, and select Get Data option Your beneficiary status will come up on the screen. PM-KISAN: Check Your Name in Beneficiary List Step 1: Visit PM Kisan official website www.pmkisan.gov.in Step 2: Click on the Beneficiary list tab. Step 3: Select details from the drop-down such as select state, district, sub-district, block, and village Step 4: Click on the Get report tab. After this, the beneficiary list will be displayed. You can call on the helpline numbers 155261 and 011-24300606. Steps To Apply For PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Step 1: Visit pmkisan.gov.in Step 2: Click on New Farmer Registration and enter Aadhaar number and fill the captcha Step 3: Enter the required details and click on Yes Step 4: Fill in the information asked in the PM-Kisan application form 2024, save it and take a printout for future reference. Domestic carrier SpiceJet has cleared all pending salary dues of its employees after securing a fresh capital infusion of Rs 3,000 crore, a source has said. The salaries for July and August for all employees, as well as the remaining June salaries for those who were partially paid, were deposited into their accounts on Wednesday evening, according to the source. A SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed the disbursement of employees pending salaries. Pending salaries of employees were disbursed on Wednesday evening, the spokesperson said on Thursday without divulging further details. SpiceJet had been delaying salaries to its staff for the last couple of months due to a liquidity crunch. The airline hasnt paid the provident fund for two and a half years while TDS, which is deducted from employees salaries every month, has also not been deposited with the government. On September 23, the airline announced raising Rs 3,000 crore through QIP and an additional Rs 736 crore from the previous funding round, further boosting its financial stability and growth plans. An international passenger train from Kunming of China to Vientiane of Laos arrives at Mohan port in southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 9, 2024. (Xinhua) The China-Laos Railway, which launched its international passenger service on April 13, 2023, has transported passengers from over 100 countries and regions, according to the Mohan border checkpoint in southwest China's Yunnan Province. As of Wednesday, over 1,260 international passenger trains have facilitated the smooth clearance of more than 282,000 inbound and outbound travelers from 101 countries and regions. Boosted by the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, the China-Laos Railway international passenger trains have become the preferred choice for travelers from both countries due to their economical, convenient and comfortable travel options for tourism, study, business and cultural exchange. As a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the 1,035-km China-Laos Railway connects Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, with the Laotian capital Vientiane. The group of ministers (GoM) on GST rate rationalisation, led by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, has discussed tax rate tweaks on over 100 items, including lowering taxes on certain goods from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, to give relief to the common man, West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said on Thursday. The next meeting of the GoM is scheduled on October 20, Bhattacharya said, adding that rationalising taxes on bicycles and bottled water will be part of the discussion. The six-member Group of Ministers (GoM), which had met on Wednesday, also took up the issue of tax rate cut on medical and pharma-related items in the 12 per cent slab and decided to discuss it in its meeting next month. To make good the revenue loss that will be incurred on account of lowering the tax rate on such items, the GoM also discussed the possibility of raising tax rates on some items, including aerated water and beverages, from the current 28 per cent GST, plus cess. Currently, goods and services tax (GST) is a four-tier tax structure with slabs at 5, 12, 18, and 28 per cent. However, as per GST law, tax of up to 40 per cent can be imposed on goods and services. The average tax rate under GST has fallen to 11.56 per cent in 2024. West Bengal has suggested that the decision taken at the 23rd meeting of the GST Council in which tax rates were slashed on 178 items by pruning the 28 per cent slab should be revisited. This would help to garner more revenues while at the same time give relief to common man by bringing items down to 5 per cent, Bhattacharya told PTI. The GoM would further deliberate on the views of its members in the October 20 meeting and place its recommendations before the GST Council, which is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and comprises ministers from all states and UTs. She said items used by the common man should attract lower tax rates and moving food items from 12 per cent to 5 per cent slab would bring relief for them in terms of reduction in prices. However, some items in the 18 per cent slab like hair dryers, hair curlers, and beauty or make up preparations could be reverted back to the 28 per cent slab. There was no discussion on pruning the slabs. The GoM had consensus that common man should get relief and it also converged that if tax rates are reduced on items for common man, then it should also look at means to make up for the lost revenue, Bhattacharya said, adding that states cannot bear any reduction in GST revenue at this point of time. On taxing bicycles, the West Bengal finance minister said it is an item used by the common man, while there are high-end products, too. We will have to look at reducing the tax rate for those bicycles used by the masses. The GoM will further deliberate on it, she said. Currently, bicycles and its parts and accessories attract 12 per cent GST, while e-cycles attract 5 per cent tax. The six-member GoM also includes Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Rajasthan Health Services Minister Gajendra Singh, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, and Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal. Under GST, essential items are either exempted or taxed at the lowest slab, while luxury and demerit items attract the highest slab. Luxury and sin goods attract cess on top of the highest 28 per cent slab. The average GST rate has fallen below the revenue neutral rate of 15.3 per cent. This has prompted the need to start discussions on GST rate rationalisation. Niraj Bagri, partner at Dhruva Advisors, said, The GoM meeting is underway to discuss rate rationalisation of GST rates. Since its introduction, GST has had a four-tier structure 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% (excluding precious metals and compensation cess). The debate is whether it can be reduced to a three-tier structure and one of the possibilities could be collapsing 12% and 18% to a single rate. Whilst it is definitely advantageous for the 18% bracket, it could imply goods/ services in the 12% bracket move to a new higher rate or to 5% rate. The current effective rate of GST is at 12% as against the revenue neutral rate of 15.3%. It would be a tough balancing act to ensure simplicity without compromising on revenue collection. A few other possibilities could be altering the other rates of 5% and 28% and arriving at a three-tier rate which does not result in revenue shortfall. There are no easy solutions, and it would be interesting to see whether the anti-profiteering provision which was expected to be phased out would get a new lease of life if there were significant rate changes intended to be carried out, he added. In the 54th GST Council on September 9, 2024, the Council also formed a new GoM on GST rate reduction on medical health insurance set up, which will submit its report by October-end. FM Nirmala Sitharaman said the GST Council meeting to be held in November will take a call on reduction in rate on health insurance. (With Inputs from PTI) A row has broken out after several candidates who appeared in the Jharkhand Staff Service Commission Graduate Level Combined Competitive (JSSC CGL) examination on Sunday, September 22, complained about alleged tampering of question papers at some examination centres. Around 20 candidates who appeared in the examination at Saint Anthony School centre in Dhanbad protested against the question papers given to them during the examination. According to them, the papers were not fully sealed and the first page of the papers was torn. The candidates insisted that the question papers given to them should be videotaped, and they reportedly submitted blank answer sheets. When the concerned authorities came to know about the protest of the candidates, they rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the candidates. The centres head later submitted a report on the allegations made by the students, following which Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner Nancy Sahai clarified in a press conference that all the question papers provided to the candidates were completely sealed. The state government has already come under fire after the Jharkhand High Court pulled up the government for suspending all internet services in the state during the examination. According to information, the government has told the court that internet services will be suspended only for mobile phones and that too for a limited period. Reportedly, this is to prevent any attempt at paper leakage. The court in its order has reprimanded the state government for suspending all internet services. The further action of the state amounts to ignoring the September 21 order of this court, especially as the writ petition is still pending. This is a fraud on this court and a deceitful act, the court order said. More than 6 lakh candidates had applied for the Jharkhand CGL exam. The candidates are now waiting for the answer key and result. While there is no official information about the release of the answer key and result, it is expected that they will be released by the end of this month. VidyaGyan, established in 2009, is a residential institution that invests in youth, shaping them into catalysts of change for their communities and beyond. Recently, it launched a golden opportunity for the brilliant students in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. Applications have been invited for admission by VidyaGyan. Interested students can apply till 10 October. Under this latest initiative, children will be given education without any fees from class 6 to class 12. According to reports, the students who pass the examination in VidyaGyan School are given free residential education till 12th. However, the age limit has also been fixed for appearing in the exam. Details: Students selected in the entrance exam of VidyaGyan Residential School are provided bags, books, stationery, etc. for free. In this exam, bright students from rural areas are given a special opportunity. Students who have passed the fourth and fifth class exams will also get a chance to participate in this entrance exam. Age Limit: Minimum age for boys: 10 years Maximum age: 11 years Minimum age for girls: 10 years Maximum age: 12 years Application Process: Students willing to apply for admission to VidyaGyan can apply by visiting VidyaGyans website, www.vidyagyan.in. To solve any problem, Vidya Gyan has also issued a toll-free number, 18001021784, on which parents can call and solve their problems. The last date for applications is October 10. Documents Required: Recent Passport Size Aadhar Card Domicile Certificate Date of Birth Certificate School admission receipt Minority Caste Certificate Age Proof of Student Income Certificate Transfer Certificate VidyaGyan, an initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, one of Indias largest philanthropic organisations, is intent on championing change. VidyaGyans mission springs from the belief that quality education holds the power to elevate and revolutionize society. By offering world-class leadership training to rural students, the schools help to narrow the urban-rural divide, bringing rural achievers to the forefront. VidyaGyan is led by our distinguished Trustees, guiding and strategizing to ensure that the school continues its pathbreaking journey in education. VidyaGyan selects meritorious students from rural India through a thorough process to enable access to transformational quality education. Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Sambalpur recently became the first business school in India to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms in the capacity of a faculty member. The younger IIM is the first such institute to experiment with the technology which is a relatively new global phenomenon in its classrooms. The institute announced the new initiative at its 10th foundation day on September 23. The first such AI session at the institute is to kickstart from October this year. News18 spoke to IIM director Professor Mahadeo Jaiswal on what integrating AI in classrooms means, how faculty members and students are responding to the experiment, the role of AI in future, cost involved, and why, with all the leading work, younger IIMs are still missing from the list of top management institutes in the National Institutional Framework Rankings (NIRF). Edited excerpts: What does introducing AI as faculty in the classroom mean and is it aimed at improving quality of teaching-learning processes? So, the limitation of traditional classrooms is that students attend and the teacher just teaches. Now, with AI platforms, things are different. Articles or case studies, videos, and other formats are provided to students before class. For example, if you have a Harvard case or any other case study or article, it can be given to students in advance. This could be in video or text format, helping them understand the context better. Students will be given time, say two days or a week, to prepare. Then, in class, there are two types of interactions individual and group. This is a common practice in management schools: we assign group tasks alongside individual assignments. For the same topic or case, students form groups of six, making up 20 or 30 groups. These groups collaborate and are supposed to come prepared, which improves the level of learning. Before coming to the virtual class, they interact within their groups to prepare presentations or articles. In the class lasting about 90 minutes they wont be physically present. Instead, they log in individually, and theres no professor physically present. The professors role is to structure the class, specifying the learning outcomes and the topics for discussion, and they also prepare quizzes and other materials, which are loaded onto an AI-driven LMS. The AI, with machine learning, deep learning, and data analytics, essentially becomes the professor. All the information is fed into the system, and it begins the session. For instance, if the class starts at 9am, the first 15 minutes are for individual introductions and initial discussion. Afterward, a quiz is taken by the AI in the form of a poll, testing if the students have understood the material. Following that, the class proceeds with subtopics of the article or case, with structured group discussions. The AI assigns each group specific points to discuss, and the session progresses with another quiz or analysis every 15 to 20 minutes. By the end of the class, AI evaluates and grades the students, analysing who contributed well and who did not, ensuring theres no bias, as everything is based on facts. Often, there is a common complaint by faculty members that students dont come prepared. Now, with AI handling this part, they will have to come prepared after reading their concepts and ready for answers. So, are you saying this will replace the traditional classroom setting and replace teachers? No, this would supplement the physical classroom. In India, we use Blooms Taxonomy, which includes six layers of learning: information, understanding, analysis, evaluation, application, and creation. However, our focus is usually only on the first four information, understanding, analysis, and evaluation. The application of knowledge in real-life situations and the creation of new ideas is generally not addressed in our system. Thats why even after completing an MBA in finance, some graduates struggle to create a balance sheet, for example. AI will handle the first four layers and the remaining two will be for the faculty, thereby improving their quality of work. Currently, faculty is engaged in explaining concepts, which can be done better by AI. The facultys role will then shift to facilitating application and creation, allowing them to focus on higher-order thinking skills. Once the AI-led class ends, the faculty will conduct a physical session, diving into application-based and creative discussions. So, AI handles the basics, and the professor focuses on more advanced concepts in the physical class. This will elevate the learning experience because professors wont have to repeatedly teach basic concepts every year. The level of classroom discussions will automatically be higher, and evaluations will be more precise and objective. How has the faculty responded to this? Are they comfortable with the idea? Initially, the faculty was anxious. Some were afraid that they might lose relevance. However, after discussions, they became excited about the potential of this approach, especially the younger faculty members. They understood that their role would be elevated, focusing more on applications and innovative thinking. Young faculty are eager to adopt this method, whereas older faculty are more resistant because they are used to traditional methods, but we are holding sessions with them. Implementing this approach in older institutions like the established IIMs would be difficult. In newer institutes, where theres more direct involvement from the director, its easier to implement. Faculty members in older institutes might resist and block such changes. Is this happening in other IIMs or other institutions in India or abroad currently? No, from what we know, were the only Indian institute working with this AI platform. Globally, top institutions like Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, and MIT are also experimenting with similar concepts, but they are all at the pilot stage, just like us. It is a globally new phenomenon. The world is changing, especially with the rise of AI. Its a phenomenon that no one anticipated would develop this quickly or in this way. Its a huge shift in education. For this AI project, were partnering with an AI-based platform. Implementing AI-based teaching in a relatively younger institute like IIM Sambalpur is a major initiative. What does this mean for newer IIMs? Newer IIMs are innovators. We need to experiment and come up with new methods. Think of us as start-ups in the education space; we can try new things and, if successful, others will follow. Im confident that this AI system will be adopted by other institutes as well. Even the older IIMs will have to adopt it. If it enhances student-learning outcomes, why wouldnt they? While it sounds exciting and challenging, do you think AI-enabled teaching can be sustained and is it the future? I believe this will make the system easier. One of the main complaints from our faculty is that students dont come to class prepared. Only a few do and its difficult to evaluate everyone equally since professors cant interact with each student individually. With this system, every student will be engaged, which solves the issue of many students not being prepared. So, has an AI-enabled session taken place yet? Are you discussing the new initiative with students as well? Initially, we wont be using it for every session. For instance, if a course has 20 sessions, well start by integrating AI into five of them. So, AI will handle five sessions, and the faculty will manage the remaining 15. We have identified five faculty members for the session, with whom we are training. We will engage students as well in discussions after the training is completed. It is important that they understand and are prepared for this change. The AI system needs to structure all the questions and content, which will take about two to three weeks. We plan to start the first session in October. Is there a cost factor involved? Yes, theres a cost element, but its not as expensive as you might think. Currently, we purchase cases from Harvard at $5 per case per student. When we move the same case to this AI platform, it costs around $10 per student. However, if we factor in the reduction of faculty costs for those five AI sessions, the overall cost evens out. Once the system is rolled out on a larger scale, the cost per session will reduce as well due to economies of scale. Right now, the cost is higher because the system is still in its introductory phase. Has there been any discussion with the government regarding this initiative? No, this is purely our experiment. We have academic autonomy, so we can innovate and experiment on our own. While IIM Sambalpur is doing well, the NIRF rankings in the management category are dominated by IITs. Whats your take on that? Were more focused on international rankings and accreditations, like AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). The NIRF rankings have certain criteria, such as research publications, where IITs get a significant advantage because they consider the research output from the entire institute and not just the management department. This can skew the results. This is one lacuna in the Indian rankings. Have you raised this concern with NIRF or the ministry? Not directly. Were focused on our own goals. We participate in NIRF, but our priority is quality education, placements, and research. Were working towards international rankings and accreditations. What about placements? Last year, many institutes, including the younger IIMs, faced challenges. How did IIM-Sambalpur fare? Last year was difficult for everyone due to global economic factors like the recession in Europe and the US, the war, and advancements in AI. However, we expect things to improve going forward. A 90-year-old voting in Pulwama, a 75-year-old wheelchair-bound voter in Kishtwar declaring she has never missed an election in her life, long queues outside booths, and record-breaking numbers the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir have showcased some of the most heartening scenes. The voting percentage may have dipped in the Valley in phase 2, especially in capital Srinagar where it did not touch even 30 per cent, but across the Pir Panjal range, the voting figure stood at 74 per cent for Poonch, 71 per cent for Rajouri and a record-breaking 80.7 per cent in newly carved-out Reasi. These numbers could see an upward revision as the final data is still being collated. Shadow of terror While the Election Commission is already calling the voter turnout historic, for the security grid, the bigger achievement is keeping terror at bay. Rajouris Dhangri village is where the current cycle of violence began in 2023 when, on January 1, seven people were gunned down by terrorists. Two others died in an IED blast. Over-Ground Workers, who allegedly helped the terrorists, were arrested from Poonchs Ghursai village. In April that year, an army vehicle was attacked in Bimbhar Gali, Poonch. A month later, Reasi saw a pilgrim bus get attacked on June 9 as the new government was being sworn-in at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Doda-Kishtwar, which also turned up to vote in huge numbers in Phase 1, saw an encounter just four days before polls. Villagers in Dodas Dessa said nightmares of 2018 came back to haunt them as four army men were martyred in an operation in the hills just overlooking the village. In 2018, nine civilians, including village defence guards, were killed by terrorists in the same village. The cycle of violence in Pulwama, Anantnag, and Tral is well documented, though the last five years have seen relative peace. Given the background, the greatest concern of the security grid was to ensure that voting happened outside the shadow of the gun. For politicians, the challenge was to ensure that fear of bullet did not win over ballot. Terror was the biggest talking point in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, and Kishtwar. In Nowsheras border village of Kala, bunkers are a way of life. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is just 500 meters from the village, with the local Sarpanch telling News18 that if you run on this hill, you will reach PoK in 10 minutes. A Junior Commanding Officer (JCO) was shot by Pakistan just 24 hours before this conversation. However, the residents did not show any hesitation about voting. Vote toh hum denge. Hamein insaaf nahi mil raha hai. uski guhaar lagate rahenge, par vote denge [We will definitely vote. We are not getting justice and will keep asking for it but we will definitely vote], Gopal Das, a Dhangri massacre survivor, told News18. The terrorists responsible for the Dhangri attack remain unidentified in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge sheet and victims feel the local support to them has also not been investigated properly. Aspirational Voters The enthusiasm across large parts of the erstwhile state is being attributed to the last 10 years of bureaucratic autocracy. Not having a local representative for the past 10 years meant the real issues of people were not raised. Even for things as basic as police verification for passport or a government job, the silliest of pretext was given and verification denied. We had no one to hold accountable, an advocate in Doda lamented. In Bijbehera, an early voter raised the issue of unemployment. We have really suffered in the last 10 years. There is so much unemployment. There is no avenue to raise our concerns with anyone and hence, I have come to vote, he said. In conversations across the UT, unemployment, peace, communal harmony, and drug menace were the running themes. 370, statehood, Jamaat From these issues stemmed the larger questions of the abrogation of Article 370 and restoration of statehood. For many in the Valley, Article 370 is not history yet. The National Conference has promised to keep the issue alive. In the Jammu division, the abrogation of special status was welcomed by most but concerns about domicile and protection for locals in employment opportunities remained. The return to statehood is a hope that all J&K voters are looking forward to. Both the Valley and the Jammu division are also closely watching the Jamaat and Engineer Rashid. The Kashmiri Pandits in Nagrotas Jagti Camp cant forget the role the Jamaat played in their exodus but many feel that Jamaat returning to the democratic process will be good for Pandits who want to come back home. The security establishment too has welcomed the participation of Jamaat-backed Independents. This is heartening news that sections of Kashmiri society that indulged in stone-pelting, boycott call, and separatism are now part of the democratic process, an official told CNN-News18. Parties like National Conference see these actors as B-Team of BJP, with Omar Abdullahs shock defeat at the hands of Engineer Rashid in Lok Sabha elections still a talking point. However, increasingly, voters seem to be assessing candidates on the delivery parameter rather than their party affiliations. Ghulam Nabi Azad, whose DPAP is a fringe player in these polls, summed it up when he told CNN-News18: Young voters who do not carry any baggage from the past are the most enthusiastic in these polls. They dont know who did what before 2014. They want delivery and are judging each candidate on what he or she can bring to the table. Renowned Malayalam actor Siddique has been in the headlines after he was accused of sexually assaulting a female actor. The Kerala High Court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea and the actor was reported to be missing following this development. Amidst this, the Kerala Police has issued a lookout notice against the actor. As per a report published by India Today, the lookout notice against actor Siddique has been issued to all police chiefs of all districts in Kerala. The police are suspecting that the actor might have fled the state. The police have shared his information with all police stations in the state. The lookout notice has been signed by the Superintendent of Police. On September 24, the Kerala High Court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea filed by the 61-year-old actor. The actor moved to the Supreme Court to challenge this verdict. But the crime branch had ordered the Kochi Police to arrest the actor. Following this, Siddique has gone missing and has been untraceable. A recent report revealed that the actor had switched on his mobile phone for a short period before switching it off again. A female actor had accused Siddique of sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram on January 28, 2016. She had mentioned that the incident took place after the preview of a movie. He has been charged with rape (Section 376) and criminal intimidation (Section 506). The woman actor had complained after the Hema Committee report was released recently. The findings of the committee has shaken the Malayalam film industry. Following the release of the findings of the Hema Committee, Siddique resigned from his role as the General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted an ambitious agreement last week which aims to make the organization more relevant and effective on the global stage in the 21st century. This agreement has been made to prevent wars and hold those who violate its Charter accountable. It is true that the United Nations has failed to prevent wars and conflicts in the last few decades. Seven countries, including Russia and Iran, opposed the Pact for the Future. What is this agreement? This treaty is a 42-page document, which states that the countries of the world should stand united and the 56 goals of the treaty should be implemented rapidly. It talks about working together to deal with challenges like climate change, Artificial Intelligence, conflicts, inequality and poverty so that the lives of eight billion people inhabiting the world can be improved. Seven members of the 193-member General Assembly opposed it. Some of its proposals are quite promising, such as the request to the Secretary-General to review the status of the UN peacekeeping operations and the promise to work towards nuclear disarmament. However, as always, these are being seen as tall rhetoric. Does this agreement explain how it will contribute to improving the world? The agreement is full of big goals and commitments for the future but it lacks real, realistic steps on which the countries of the world are unlikely to move forward and implement them. The document claims that nations will end hunger and eliminate food insecurity, commit to a fair multilateral trading system, achieve gender equality, protect the environment and climate, and protect people affected by humanitarian emergencies. However this pact is silent on how the UN and its members implement this. Why did Russia oppose it? How many countries supported it? Russian representative Sergei Vershinin proposed an amendment to the treaty at the very beginning. He said, Nobody is happy with this treaty. But 54 African countries strongly opposed Russias amendment. The Republic of Congo proposed on behalf of the African countries not to vote for the amendment. This was also supported by Mexico. During voting, this proposal of the African countries got the support of 143 countries, while only six countries- Iran, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, Sudan and Syria, supported Russia. 15 countries abstained from voting. Why has the United Nations talked about strengthening itself in the agreement? The United Nations wants to have more powers in future so that its voice is heard and accepted, which will have an impact on the world. Therefore, the United Nations Security Council should be reformed. The treaty has expressed a commitment to make reforms in the 15-member Security Council of the United Nations so that it can better represent todays world and remove the historical injustice against Africa. Africa has no permanent member in the Security Council. It also talks about correcting the lack of representation of the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America. What are the other special aspects in this agreement, which were included in the Pact for the Future? Leaders should give priority to dialogue and negotiation, end the ongoing wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, bring rapid reforms in the international financial system, speed up the process of abandoning fossil fuels and listen to the younger generation by including them in the decision-making process. What is the general response of member countries to this treaty? The G77, the leading group of developing countries of the United Nations, which now has 134 members, supported the words of UN Secretary-General Guterres. Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabanza said in the General Assembly that this treaty should not become just a formality but it should have political will and commitment at all levels of global leadership. What are the challenges to this Pact? What can be expected? The Pact for the Future has come at a time when the world is going through huge changes. It warns that increasing destructive steps can push the world into a state of crisis and disintegration. This pact has sub-treaties like Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations. Through this pact, for the first time in more than a decade, there have been talks of eliminating nuclear weapons. It also speaks about stopping the arms race in space and commitment to control the use of lethal automatic weapons. The Global Digital Compact talks about making the first global agreement on Artificial Intelligence (AI). There has been debate for some time about making laws on AI. Why did it propose to strengthen the International Court of Justice so that its verdicts are obeyed? As people are losing their lives in Israels war in Gaza and South Lebanon, the Russia-Ukraine war and the civil war in Sudan, the United Nations has shown commitment to support the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, Israel has made it clear that it will not listen to the United Nations and the International Court of Justice on this matter. Why are 7 countries including Russia and Iran opposing this treaty? Russia, along with six other countries, has opposed the Pact for the Future of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Russia argues that the treaty favours Western interests and does not adequately represent the concerns of other countries. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin claimed that the drafting process was dominated by Western countries, which sidelined the input of Russia and its allies. Russia has proposed an amendment stating that many of the issues addressed in the treaty fall under domestic jurisdiction and so the United Nations should not interfere in these matters. This amendment was rejected. Russia objected to 25 elements within the treaty, including those related to gender rights and disarmament. The Russian delegation has expressed dissatisfaction with the language related to universal access to sexual and reproductive health rights, and has seen it as an imposition on national sovereignty. Should this be seen as a setback for Russia, as most countries in the world have supported the Pact? It could be a setback for Russia. Russia misread the diplomatic landscape by proposing amendments at a time when other nations were ready to move forward with the agreement. This miscalculation led to public setbacks for Russia as it failed to secure widespread support for its position. A 45-year-old woman drowned in an open drain in the MIDC area of Andheri following a heavy downpour in Mumbai on Wednesday that led to severe waterlogging at several locations, said officials. The incident occurred at around 9.20 pm near gate no. 8 of MIDC, Andheri East, they said. The local police and the fire brigade were alerted and rushed to the incident site to rescue the woman identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad. The Brihanmumbai Corporation (BMC) officials confirmed that the victim was rescued by the Mumbai fire brigade officials and sent to Cooper Hospital, where she was declared dead. The BMC issued a statement and said, A 45-year-old lady Vimal Gaikwad drowned in an open drain in the MIDC area of Andheri. She was rescued by the Mumbai fire brigade and sent to Cooper Hospital but was declared dead by doctors. BMC Forms 3-Member Panel BMC formed a three-member panel headed by the Deputy Municipal Commissioner to probe the incident that claimed the life of a woman. The probe panel also consist of a fire officer and a city infrastructure engineer, it said. The municipality also blamed the ongoing metro project (Aqua Line) for the incident that sparked concerns among the citizens about public safety. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Mumbai and its adjoining districts till 8:30 am on Thursday. Other districts on red alert are Thane, Palghar, and Raigad. Landslide At Mumbra Bypass A landslide incident was reported at the Mumbra bypass area which further disrupted the traffic flow in the city for more than three hours on Wednesday. Fire officer Swapnil Sarnobat said, The traffic jam persisted for about 3 hours. During this period, the traffic department also controlled the traffic from one side. Fortunately, there is no news of any loss of life. Given the torrential rain, the Mumbai Police and the BMC have issued advisories asking the citizens to remain indoors as much as possible. Following the continuous rain and red alert currently going on in Mumbai, citizens should come out of their homes only if necessary. Avoid going to coastal and low-lying areas, they said in a post on X. Maharashtra Schools Closed Today In the wake of the heavy rain lashing the city, schools and colleges will remain closed in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad on Thursday. Earlier, BMC officials issued a similar order for the closure of educational institutes in Mumbai. Pune District collector (DC) Dr Suhas Diwase issued the order after the Met department issued an orange alert for rains on Thursday coupled with lightning and thunderstorms in the region. Similarly, School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, the guardian minister for Mumbai city, declared a school holiday in a precautionary measure for a red alert predicting extremely heavy rainfall across the city on Thursday. Days after a massive controversy over prasad laddoos at the famous Tirupati Temple, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is set to visit Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala Hills on September 28 to offer prayers. However, spokesperson for Chandrababu Naidus Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Prem Kumar Jain, asserted Reddy will perform a forgiveness ritual. The party also said Reddy should sign a declaration, stating he has faith in Lord Balaji, as he is a believer in Christianity. According to the details, Reddy will offer prayers at the temple, as part of the statewide rituals called by his party, YSRCP, to atone for the sin allegedly committed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The sin was referred by his party to Naidus accusations against Reddy, alleging his government used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making prasad laddoos at the Tirupati Temple. Commenting on Reddys visit, spokesperson for Naidus Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Prem Kumar Jain, said, According to the information, Jagan Mohan Reddy will be coming to Tirumala Temple on September 28 where he will perform a forgiveness ritual. However, the crime of using fish oil and hurting the sentiments of devotees cannot be forgiven. Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram, another spokesperson for Naidus party, said Reddy would not be allowed to go inside the temple if does not sign a declaration of his faith in Lord Balaji. We all know that you are a believer in Christianity, which we dont have any problem with. However, a person belonging to another religion, whether it be Christianity or Islam, if they intend to have a darshan of Lord Balaji then they have to sign a declaration stating that they have faith in him, Ram said. We respect all religions, but it is a role, it is a custom. So, Jagan Mohan Reddy, you will have to sign the declaration, otherwise you will not be allowed to go inside the temple complex, he added. Further, Ram said, Jagan Mohan Reddy has committed an unforgivable sin so there will be no relief for him. Lord Balaji will not forgive him even if he climbs up the seven hills on his knees. We have released several documents which clearly state that they (Reddys party members) have done this deliberately, so there is going to be no forgiveness for him. All these years, you have been going to the temple without signing the declaration. In line with the TDP, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also called for Reddy to sign the declaration. We are given to understand that Jagan Mohan Reddy intends to visit Tirumala on the 28th of this month. The practice of declaring ones faith has been in vogue for decades in Tirumala. As per G.O. MS NO- 311 of AP Revenue Endowments1, Rule no 16, Non Hindus must give a declaration at Vaikuntam que (sic) complex before darshan in the faith form. This is also as per TTD general regulations Rule 136, Andhra Pradesh BJP chief D Purandeswari said in a post on X. BJP demands that even before Jagan Mohan Reddy begins mounting (sic) Tirumala, he should give the declaration of his faith at the Garuda statue itself at Alipiri, she demanded. News agency PTI quoted party sources and stated that Reddy is expected to arrive at Tirumala on September 27 and will stay there overnight. JAGAN MOHAN REDDYs CALL FOR PUJA The former Chief Minister has called for the people of the state to participate in temple rituals on September 28, to atone Chandrababu Naidus sin. In an X post, Reddy wrote, YSRCP is calling for statewide rituals in temples to sanitise (undo) this sin committed by Chandrababu on Saturday, September 28. TIRUPATI LADDOO CONTROVERSY Reddys appeal comes days after Naidu alleged during that the previous YSRCP government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddoos. Naidu alleged that animal fat was mixed with ghee used to make laddoo prasadam in Tirupati temple with a political motive. Though animal fat adulteration did not occur, he intentionally lied that it happened and falsely propagated that devotees ate them, he said. The allegations sparked a massive controversy across the country. The Indian Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday urged its nationals to leave Lebanon and warned them against travelling to the Arab state amid escalating violence in the region. It also advised Indians to exercise extreme caution while remaining in the country, which is on the brink of an all-out war with Israel. As a reiteration of the advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice, the embassy said in an advisory posted on social media platform X. Advisory dated 25.09.2024 pic.twitter.com/GFUVYaqgzG India in Lebanon (@IndiaInLebanon) September 25, 2024 Leave Lebanon All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128, the embassy said. Last week pagers and other handheld communications devices of Hezbollah exploded in an operation widely attributed to Israel. Hundreds have died and thousands have been displaced since Israel launched its strikes, with the Lebanese health ministry saying that another 72 people died on Wednesday. Robert Wood, the deputy US ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council he was concerned by deaths in Lebanon France and the United States on Wednesday (local time) unveiled a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon as the death toll mounted from Israeli strikes against Hezbollah. This emergency session came as Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi on Wednesday told his troops that the jets flying overhead towards Lebanon are there to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah, according to BBC. (With agency inputs) China's commitment to expanding high-standard opening-up and the rapid industry upgrading in ASEAN nations has fostered stronger economic ties between the two sides. Together, these efforts drive regional high-quality development while sharing China's development opportunities with ASEAN. Huang Aimin, chairman of the first council of the Guangxi Cross-border E-Commerce Association, said cross-border e-commerce has the potential to be a critical platform for promoting in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN. Leading Chinese renewable energy firms are working closely with ASEAN enterprises and investing in new facilities to produce innovative, locally adapted products, thus actively contributing to ASEAN's green transition. NANNING, China, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visitors arriving at this year's China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) will encounter an intriguing blend of fresh innovations and familiar attractions. A new section spotlights emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and lithium batteries, while longstanding crowd favorites, like durian, longan, and rice, continue to draw attention. This evolving landscape mirrors the deepening partnership between China and ASEAN. China's commitment to expanding high-standard opening-up and the rapid industry upgrading in ASEAN nations has fostered stronger economic ties between the two sides. Together, these efforts drive regional high-quality development while sharing China's development opportunities with ASEAN. EMPOWERING ASEAN SMES Stepping into the Thai Pavilion at CAEXPO, visitors are greeted by the distinct aroma of durian mingling with the herbal scent of Zam-buk, a popular Thai remedy for insect bites. A booth showcasing the collaboration between TOPTHAI and China's e-commerce leader, JD.com, drew significant interest. A visitor learns about a durian-flavored coffee at the booth of Malaysia during the 21st China-ASEAN Expo at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin) TOPTHAI store on leading e-commerce platforms is an initiative launched by the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion this year. It aims to help Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expose their products to more overseas markets, among which the Chinese market is a crucial destination, said Dr. Nisachol Thaithong, a Thai trader and researcher in China-Thailand cross-border e-commerce. For SMEs and small-scale farmers in ASEAN countries, participating in e-commerce with China has transformed their businesses. "It (CAEXPO) is moving forward dynamically in terms of the more areas of cooperation, in terms of engaging wider stakeholders," said Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of ASEAN, in an interview on the sideline of CAEXPO and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS). "Now they are involved in the Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), for example. MSMEs are really the backbone of the economy on both sides. We have to get them involved, in addition to the big cooperations. I think this is the right direction that we are taking." Frequent exchanges between China and Malaysia leadership have set a positive tone for SMEs, said Ravenna Chen, the CEO of TusStar Malaysia, an innovation and entrepreneurship platform. Huang Aimin, chairman of the first council of the Guangxi Cross-border E-Commerce Association, said cross-border e-commerce has the potential to be a critical platform for promoting in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN. Collaborating with China has sped up modernization in Laos. For instance, working with China to digitize businesses and develop e-commerce skills has been advantageous for both businesses and young individuals in Laos, according to Thanongsinh Kanlaya, Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. UPGRADING AGRIBUSINESS At a durian orchard in Thailand's Chanthaburi province, Kosai, the 32-year-old owner and a Chinese social media influencer, was promoting durians to Chinese netizens through the live streaming e-commerce platform Tmall. Kosai is proud that his orchard is a smart orchard jointly built by the Commercial Association for Sustainability of Agriculture in Thailand and the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The Internet of Things installed by the Chinese side in Kosai's orchard, which includes meteorological, water level, and soil moisture monitoring, could provide data support for the scientific cultivation of durian and the improvement of fruit quality. Klos Hirunburana (R), chairman of the Commercial Association for Sustainability of Agriculture (CASA) in Thailand, promotes durians to Chinese netizens through the livestreaming on e-commerce platform Tmall at a durian orchard in Thailand's Chanthaburi province, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong) Modern farming is a sector with a promising future for cooperation between Malaysia and China, said Low Kian Chuan, president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. Despite the difference in size and population between Brunei and China, CAEXPO and CABIS have offered a platform for Brunei enterprises to conduct win-win cooperation with Chinese peers, said National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam President Haji Abdul Saman bin Haji Ahmad. Platforms like CAEXPO and CABIS incentivize Brunei SMEs to grow "more resilient and more proactive" by exposing their products and services to the Chinese market, said Saman, adding that he sees particularly promising opportunities for Brunei's halal food. GREEN TRANSITION Leading Chinese renewable energy firms are working closely with ASEAN enterprises and investing in new facilities to produce innovative, locally adapted products, thus actively contributing to ASEAN's green transition. In July, BYD opened an electric vehicle plant in Thailand, the automaker's first Southeast Asian factory, a fast-growing regional EV market. The same month Eve Energy announced a plan to build a new factory in Kulim, Kedah state, Malaysia to meet the fast-growing demand for energy storage and consumer batteries in the South East Asia region. Guests inscribe signatures on the first battery product of NV Gotion jointly established by Gotion High-tech and Nuovo Plus at Siam Eastern Industrial Park in Rayong, Thailand, Dec. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng) In August, Gotion High-tech announced that a battery assembly plant project in Malaysia is under negotiation, in addition to its assembly plants in Indonesia and Thailand. The battery manufacturer's Vietnam factory is expected to begin production in October this year. Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link under the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to drive economic development in the east coast areas and promote more balanced development among regions within the countries, said Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the minister of transport of Malaysia. This photo shows the launching site of the East Coast Rail Link project, a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), in Kuantan, Malaysia on Dec. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung) As outlined in the National Automotive Policy 2020 and National Energy Transition Roadmap, Malaysia is developing its renewable energy battery sector and welcomes leading battery manufacturers to invest in it, said Loke. Malaysia encourages Chinese companies to form partnerships with local companies to further promote the use of electric and hybrid vehicles in Malaysia, not only in terms of car manufacturing but also in the entire ecosystem, from charging networks to battery manufacturing, said Zalina Zainol, deputy chief executive officer of investment development at Malaysian Investment Development Authority. Malaysia highly encourages such cooperation to further create high-skilled jobs in engineering, research and development, and advanced manufacturing, thereby boosting economic growth here, Zainol added. Editor: ZAD The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday launched a blistering attack on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over his Rat-like RSS invaded state remark by questioning his silence on the Bangladeshi infiltrators entering Santhal Pargana to encroach on land. BJP leader Shehzad Poonwalla said, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren calls nationalists and people elected by the public chooha (rat). But he doesnt say anything about the Bangladeshi infiltrators who enter Santhal Pargana and encroach on land, because this pertains to his vote bank. Soren while addressing a rally in Sahibganj said that RSS is invading Jharkhand like rats and destroying it, inviting sharp criticism from the BJP. Chase such forces away when you see them entering your villages with Handia and daru (locally brewed liquor), Soren said. #WATCH | Delhi: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren calls nationalists and people elected by the public chooha. But he doesnt say anything about the Bangladeshi infiltrators who enter Santhal Pargana and encroach on land, because this pic.twitter.com/w9ydiMPM0o ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 He further accused the BJP of creating communal disturbances and tension ahead of elections by sowing discord between Hindu and Muslim communities, specifically pointing to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Soren also dismissed BJPs allegations of demographic changes in Jharkhand, suggesting that critics should look into the demographic data of neighbouring West Bengal. They talk about spoiling the demography and Bangladeshi intruders. I would like to tell them to go and get the data from the Centre and see in which district and in which state it has changed. Soren Accepted Demographic Change In Bengal: BJP Poonwala flagged Sorens remark that no demographic change has occurred in Jharkhand, but it has happened in West Bengal and asked, Who has had governments in West Bengal? Not BJP. Left, followed by the TMC. So, he has accepted that there has been a demographic change in West Bengal which was ruled by the Left as well as Mamata Banerjee, the BJP leader said. He further narrowed down his attack on the INDIA bloc by saying that one party of the opposition alliance is targeting another which shows that the entire opposition front neither has any mission nor any vision. Did he (Hemant Soren) attack them (West Bengal government) inadvertently or deliberately, he knows it. But the truth has come out that a demographic change in West Bengal has indeed occurred. But the question is that this is happening in Jharkhand as well, the BJP leader said. The changing demographics in Jharkhands Santhal Pargana region have already reached the High Court for argument. Last month, the court observed that the state government remained silent on the reason for the reduction of the tribal population in the Santhal Pargana region. The remarks were made in the courts order passed while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea highlighting alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh in the region, leading to demographic change of the state. As India prepares to combat the likely more severe strain of the Mpox infection, the union health ministry has directed states and union territories to step up efforts. The union health ministry on Thursday informed states and union territories that the infection caused by clade 1b could be more complicated than what India has already seen with clade II. Clade 1b entry The move was triggered by the entry of the clade 1b strain via a 38-year-old Kerala-based man who came back to India after travelling from the United Arab Emirates and reported symptoms soon after he arrived at the dermatology outpatient department at Manjeri Medical College Hospital, Malappuram, Kerala. As per available information, clinical presentation of Mpox clade 1 in adults remains similar to clade II. However, the rate of complications may be higher in clade 1 than with clade II infections, health secretary Apurva Chandra wrote to chief secretaries of states and union territories. The previous Mpox outbreak which began in 2022 was caused by the clade II virus. However, the 2024 Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is related to Mpox virus clade 1 which is more virulent and more transmissible than Mpox clade II, as per the government letter dated September 26. The letter clarifies that clade 1 has been found outside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) only during the current outbreak. Outside Africa, one case each of Mpox clade 1b has been recently reported from Sweden and Thailand. India is thus the third non-African country to report a case of clade 1b Mpox infection recently, the letter confirmed. Chandra wrote that by implementing the preventive measures, states and UTs can safeguard the health and well-being of individuals and reduce the impact of Mpox outbreaks. He further said that the ministry shall continue to monitor the situation closely and we will extend all requisite support in this regard to States and UTs. Guidelines for states and union territories The central government has told states and UTs to take multiple actions across the nation to prevent and minimise the risk of further spread of Mpox in India. It has asked to undertake appropriate activities to make communities aware of the disease, its modes of spread, the need and importance of timely reporting, and preventive measures. It is crucial that any panic amongst the masses is prevented, the letter said. The ministry has asked states and UTs to conduct a review of public health preparedness, particularly at the health facility level in states and districts by senior officials. It has also asked to identify isolation facilities in hospitals for taking care of both suspect and confirmed cases along with making available the required logistics and trained human resources in such facilities and augmentation plans. All suspected Mpox cases should be isolated and strict infection prevention and control measures should be put in place. Treatment is symptomatic and available treatment guidelines should be followed, said the letter. Also, samples from skin lesions of any patient with suspected symptoms of Mpox will be sent to the designated labs immediately, and for those that test positive a sample will be sent to Pune-based ICMR-National Institute of Virology for genome sequencing to determine the clade. India already has robust diagnostic testing capability with 36 labs supported by ICMR across the country and three commercial kits validated by ICMR that are now approved by the health regulator as well. The Congress-led Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka withdrew its consent on Thursday for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct investigations in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case. The announcement was made by Karnataka Law Minister H.K. Patil, who expressed concerns about the potential misuse of the CBI. Addressing the media, Patil stated, We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigation in the state. We are expressing our concerns about the misuse of the CBI. In all the cases we have referred to the CBI, they have not filed charge sheets, leaving many cases pending. Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil says, We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigation in the state. We are expressing our concerns about the misuse of the CBI. In all the cases we have referred to the CBI, they have not filed charge sheets, leaving many cases pending. They pic.twitter.com/ZsQnnBcirb ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 He further accused the CBI of bias, explaining that the decision to withdraw consent was taken to prevent the central probe agency from taking the wrong path. They have also refused to investigate several cases we have sent. There are numerous such instances. They are biased. Thats why we are taking the decision. Its not because of the MUDA case. We have taken this decision to control them (CBI) from taking the wrong path, Patil added. Cabinet Order Directs Officials Not To Share Info With Governor The Karnataka cabinet has also passed an order directing the states Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajneesh, and other officials not to provide any information requested by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot without cabinet approval. According to Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, the CBI must obtain consent from the respective state governments to conduct investigations. This decision comes a day after a special court ordered a probe by the Lokayukta police in Mysuru against the Chief Minister, paving the way for an FIR to be registered against him. The Special Court, which specifically handles criminal cases involving former and current MPs and MLAs, directed the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to initiate an investigation based on a complaint filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna. Senior Congress Leader Urges Siddaramaiah To Resign For Partys Sake Siddaramaiah has repeatedly asserted that he is not afraid of an investigation, dismissing the BJPs pressure for him to resign as the sitting Chief Minister. He has also rejected the partys demand for a CBI probe into the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites by MUDA. However, in a setback for Siddaramaiah, senior leader and Karnataka Congress Disciplinary Committee President K.B. Koliwad on Thursday suggested that Siddaramaiah should resign to avoid embarrassing the party. Speaking to the media, former Assembly Speaker Koliwad said, I appeal to him personally. He has no allegations, has delivered pro-people programmes and has the support of 136 MLAs. Siddaramaiah should resign at this stage and help the party as the Congress would face embarrassment in the forthcoming elections. He added, CM Siddaramaiah will come out clean in this case and he will become the CM yet again. Hence, he should not cause embarrassment to the party and resign. CM Siddaramaiah will have to step down and face the investigation. Koliwad stated that the Opposition was misusing the situation and emphasised that Siddaramaiah would be supported by the 136 MLAs and the high command after he clears the investigation. (With inputs from agencies) Mukti Ranjan Ray, whose body was found hanging from a tree in an Odisha village, killed his lover, Mahalakshmi, in Bengaluru after frequent arguments over marriage. Thirty-one-year-old Ray was the main suspect in the murder case of 29-year-old Mahalakshmi, whose body, chopped into 59 pieces, was found inside a refrigerator at her one-bedroom apartment in Bengalurus Malleshwaram on September 21. In his suicide note, which is presently in the custody of the Bhadrak Police, Mukti Ranjan detailed his fight with Mahalakshmi moments before he killed her. A source told CNN-News18 that the letter began with I did it and mentioned that Mukti Ranjan had been fed up with Mahalakshmis violent behaviour and arguments. She attacked me and that angered me and I hit her and killed her. I cut her into multiple pieces, Mukti Ranjans suicide note allegedly read. The note was found inside a bag right next to where the body was found hanging, said a police source. Meanwhile, the Bhadrak Police were cross-referencing with Mukti Ranjans handwriting and other forensic evidence. WHY DID MUKTI RANJAN KILL MAHALAKSHMI Mahalakshmi and Mukti Ranjan worked together at a garment shop and became friends. They both had been in a relationship for a while, Bengaluru Police said. On September 2, Mahalakshmi, who had her weekly off, had Mukti Ranjan Roy visiting her like every other day. As they both met, they are believed to have entered a serious argument as Mahalakshmi had allegedly been forcing Mukti Ranjan to marry her. As their argument turned violent, Mahalakshmi allegedly attacked Mukti Ranjan. She also allegedly hit and bit him. This was when Mukti Ranjan hit her back, leading to her death. He later dismembered her body. In February this year, Mahalakshmis estranged husband, Hemanth, filed a case against her, alleging that she attacked him after he refused her money. In his complaint, Hemanth had alleged domestic assault and claimed that Mahalakshmi bit his hand. The Bengaluru Police had earlier revealed that Mahalakshmi had split with her husband and had been living alone in her flat for the past few months. Her estranged husband had claimed that she was in a relationship with one Ashraf, who was suspected to be involved in the case. However, as Ashraf was interrogated, it was revealed that he and Mahalakshmi had split a year back. BENGALURU MURDER CASE: MUKTI RANJANs SUICIDE With the recovery of Mukti Ranjans body and his suicide note, the police were waiting for details confirming the fingerprints on the note. Mukti Ranjan is said to have confessed to his younger brother, who lived in Bengalurus Hebbagodi, that he had killed Mahalakshmi. This was when Mukti Ranjans brother questioned him about his phone being switched off. Mukti Ranjan also told his brother that he wanted to run away to escape the cops. The police were recording the statement of Mukti Ranjans brother and were investigating if he was complicit. Mukti Ranjans other brother, living in Bhadrak, was also being questioned by the police, and investigations are underway to ascertain if Mukti Ranjans family helped him escape from Bengaluru to Odisha after the crime. On tracing down Mukti Ranjan, a senior police official told news agency PTI that his mobile location was initially traced to West Bengal but he later switched his phone off. With the help of technical analysis and call record details, the accused was identified and his mobile location was initially traced to West Bengal but later he switched it off. However, with the help of technical surveillance, his location was traced to a village in Odisha where we sent our teams to nab him, he said. Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal was on Thursday hospitalised after he fell ill. A statement issued from his office said Bhujbal was in Pune to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modis function, which was cancelled. The state minister for food and civil supplies complained of fever and throat infection and rushed back to Mumbai, after which he was admitted in Bombay Hospital, it said. His health is stable and people should not believe in rumours, the statement added. PM Modis visit to Pune on Thursday was cancelled due to heavy rains in the past 24 hours. Modi was to flag off metro rail services from District Court to Swargate in Pune and launch development projects costing Rs 22,600 crore. Heavy rain lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Wednesday, inundating low-lying areas and affecting local trains, traffic, and flights. One woman was killed after she fell into an open drain in Andheri. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was scheduled to visit Pune on Thursday, cancelled his visit to the city in the wake of heavy rain. However, water in many of the affected areas in Mumbai receded by Thursday morning as rain relented post-midnight. Several videos on social media showed heavy waterlogging on tracks between Kurla and Thane stations, leaving passengers stranded. Officials told news agency PTI that many flights were diverted or had to make a go-around at Mumbai airport due to inclement weather. As heavy rain lashed Mumbai, Mulund and its surroundings recorded the heaviest rainfall. HEAVY RAINFALL WITH STRONG FLOOD IN MUMBAI, INDIAHeavy Rainfall: Waterlogging reported in several areas Stay indoors and take necessary precautions Avoid travel unless essential Stay safe, stay informed!#MumbaiRains #PuneRains pic.twitter.com/7DbYprhWkQ Weather monitor (@Weathermonitors) September 25, 2024 According to a Mumbai civic body official, the citys eastern suburbs also received very heavy rain, of less than 30 mm before 6 pm on Wednesday. Significant waterlogging was reported from Kurla, Chembur, Mulund, Vikhroli, Breach Candy and some other areas in Mumbai, where people could be seen wading their way through waist-level water. A landslide hit the Mumbra by-pass road in Thane amid heavy rain in the region. #WATCH | Thane, Maharashtra | Torrential rains in Mumbai lead to landslide at the Mumbra by-pass road. pic.twitter.com/SZ1kVUHmz7 ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2024 Several locals also shared videos of lightning in Mumbai amid heavy rain. CRAZY Lightning & Heavy Rain at Mulund right now! Mumbais weather has flipped! An absolutely stunning yet dangerous display of nature. Be safe out there, Mumbaikars! #MumbaiRains #Thunderstorms #ThunderCity #Mumbai#RedAlert pic.twitter.com/Q53ZdaXdqe YogeshMeena (@Yogeshkherli) September 26, 2024 News18 could not confirm the authenticity of the video. 14 FLIGHTS TO MUMBAI DIVERTED, LOCAL TRAINS AFFECTED Heavy rain led to the diversion of as many as 14 flights to Mumbai on Wednesday. Of these, nine were IndiGo flights alone, which were not given clearance to land in the city due to the inclement weather, an official told PTI. Of the remaining flights which were instructed by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to divert to other airports were of Vistara, Air India, Akasa and Gulf Air. Seven of the diverted flights were instructed to land in Hyderabad, four at Ahmedabad, two at Mopa Airport in Goa and one at Udaipur. Local train services on the Harbour line were affected on Wednesday but resumed on Thursday morning after the water receded. Earlier, the Central Railways had said that local trains were delayed and were operating at a cautious speed. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Train services resume after the city was affected by torrential rains last evening, causing train and traffic disruptions due to severe waterlogging. Visuals from Kurla Railway Station. pic.twitter.com/Kbn21hDhcB ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 Railway commuters were seen walking on tracks at the Chunabhatti Railway station. In a post on X, Central Railways wrote, For your safety, please remain inside the train and avoid stepping onto the tracks. Due to heavy rains and waterlogging, local trains are delayed and operating at a cautious speed. We urge passengers to stay on board as you are safest inside the train. As the water recedes, the train will continue its journey to your destination. Your cooperation is essential for ensuring everyones safety. Later, in a statement, the Western Railway said that despite heavy rain in the city, local trains on Western Railways Mumbai Suburban network were running normally. MUMBAI WEATHER WARNING The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert in the city and its neighbouring districts until Thursday. The weather department also issued a red alert for Palghar and an orange one for Thane, Raigad, Mumbai and Pune for Thursday. An orange alert was issued for Nashik and Dhule districts in north Maharashtra. IMD scientist Sushma Nair said a trough runs from north Konkan to south Bangladesh across a cyclonic circulation over south Chhattisgarh and its neighbourhood extending to the middle tropospheric level tilting southwards with height. This will lead to fairly widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall is very likely over Konkan and Goa during the week, she said. Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over Konkan and Goa and central Maharashtra until September 27, the weather department said. SCHOOLS CLOSED Amid waterlogging and an alert, all schools and colleges in Mumbai and its suburbs were declared closed on September 26 (Thursday). The notification regarding the holiday was issued by School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar. All schools and colleges under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)s jurisdiction will remain closed on Thursday, considering the safety of the students, the BMC also issued a statement. The civic body also appealed to citizens to step out of their homes only if necessary. Commuters are advised to check weather updates and plan accordingly, it said. Schools in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad were also ordered closed for today, Pune District Collector Dr Suhas Diwase announced, as the weather department issued an orange alert in Pune for today. CIVIC AUTHORITIES ISSUE ORDERS City civic commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on Wednesday asked all assistant commissioners to ensure that respective executive engineers stayed put in ward control rooms. He also directed chief engineers of the Stormwater Drains (SWD) department to ensure SWD staff was on the field and de-watering pumps were operational. Deputy chief engineers were asked to be available in their respective zones at night, Gagrani added. All Deputy Municipal Commissioners were also directed to monitor the situation in their respective zones. WOMAN DROWNS IN NULLAH Amid heavy rain, a 45-year-old woman drowned in an overflowing nullah on Wednesday. The incident happened in suburban Andheri at nearly 9.20 pm, near gate number 8 of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Andheri East. The victim was identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad. Local police and the fire brigade were alerted and they took the woman to the Cooper Hospital where she was declared brought dead. Parliaments standing committees were constituted on Thursday with Lok Sabhas leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi remaining a member of the defence panel. As reported first on CNN-News18, the Congress, which is the leading opposition party, gets the chairmanship of four committees. This includes external affairs, a ministry once led by Congresss Dr Shashi Tharoor, who will now head the related panel. Congress MPs Charanjit Singh Channi and Saptagiri Ulaka have been made chairpersons of the committees on agriculture, animal husbandry and food processing, and rural development and panchayati raj, respectively. For the Trinamool Congress, which had been dragging its feet over the Centres offers, its Lok Sabha MP Kirti Azad will head the standing committee on chemicals and fertilisers while Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen will lead the commerce panel. As also reported by CNN-News18, the Bharatiya Janata Party has accommodated its allies too. From the Janata Dal (United), Dr Sanjay Jha is now the committee chairman for tourism, transport, and culture. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) gets the chairmanship of the committee on housing and urban affairs for Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy. Shrirang Barne from the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde is the chairman of the committee on energy. The BJP, which is leading the ruling National Democratic Alliance, has kept the chairmanships of the most important committees with itself. Dr Radha Mohan Das Agarwal is now the committee chairman for home affairs, replacing Brij Lal. Senior member of Parliament from Lok Sabha Nishikant Dubey will head the IT committee. Radha Mohan Singh, another senior member of Parliament and former union minister, will now lead the committee for defence. Former union minister Anurag Singh Thakur is the chairman of the committee for coal and mines. Another senior member of Parliament, Bhartruhari Mahtab, is the chairman of the crucial committee for finance. Former union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy has been made the committee head for water resources. Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has been given the chairmanship of the committee of labour and textiles. Controversial member of Parliament from Mandi Kangana Ranaut will be a member of the IT committee. Actress and politician Jaya Bachchan from the Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi are also part of this panel. Interestingly, TMCs Mahua Moitra, who had a huge face-off with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, continues to be on the IT committee led by him. Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who was earlier in the external office committee, will be a member of the committee of law and justice, being a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. Government sources said that it was declared several times, including by parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, that there would be no delay in forming the standing committees, and the process has been completed within the deadline before the end of September. A lawyer representing the underage accused in Punes Porsche car crash case on Thursday filed an application in the Juvenile Justice Board, saying he was unable to get admission in a Delhi management institute as it was insisting on a no objection certificate from the JJB. However, the defence lawyer later withdrew the plea. The defence, in its application, said the 17-year-old boy, who was allegedly driving the Porsche car when it crashed into two motorbike-borne IT engineers in May, had sought admission in BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) course in the Delhi-based institute. Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray said the defence moved an application before the JJB, stating the CCL (Child in Conflict with Law) was unable to secure admission in the Delhi institute as it was insisting on an NOC from the board in view of the case pending against him. I responded that education was everyones right guaranteed by the Constitution and he (minor accused) must get admission, he said. The institute had given admission to the teenager, whose father is a prominent Pune-based builder, but later cancelled it and sought an NOC from the JJB, which is hearing his case. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ganesh Ingale, the investigating officer in the case, said the defence sought necessary directions from the JJB over the admission issue, but later withdrew the application. The defence stated that they no longer want to pursue admission in the Delhi-based institute and (the teenager) now wants to take admission in a Pune college, he said. The teen driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when his high-end car knocked down the two motorbike-borne IT professionals, one of them a woman, in the upscale Kalyani Nagar locality in the wee hours of May 19, killing both of them. In June, the police had submitted their final report to the JJB detailing all evidence against the 17-year-old boy in the car crash case. In July, the police filed a chargesheet against seven accused in a case linked to the accident, including the parents of the minor boy, in a Pune court. The boys parents and two Sassoon General Hospital doctors and a staffer at the Maharashtra government-run medical facility were accused of swapping the blood samples of the minor with those of his mother after the crash. Two other accused acted as middlemen between the father and the doctors to facilitate financial transactions to swap the blood samples, according to the chargesheet. Days after claiming that 900 Kuki militants were planning to attack peripheral villages of Imphal valley districts around September 28, the Manipur government retracted its statement, asserting that the likelihood of any such misadventures by armed groups is minimal and unsubstantiated. In a joint statement, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and DGP Rajiv Singh on Wednesday said: In view of recent reactions from different communities regarding the input on the infiltration of 900 trained Kuki militants from Myanmar to carry out attacks on Meiteis on September 28, it is clarified that the input was verified from various sources but could not be substantiated on the ground. There is no current basis to believe in any such input. The statement assured that security forces are on high alert to protect the lives and property of citizens. All communities are assured of their safety, and advised the public to not believe in any rumours or unverified news. On September 20, the security advisor had said forces have taken a number of steps in the wake of reports that militants might carry out violence in peripheral villages. He had said reports of movement of these militants have been circulating for the past three to four days. The Manipur government seemed to be on the back foot after CNN-News18 reported a day earlier that the Intel alert was unverified and baseless. The state alert had mentioned that over 900 Kuki militants, newly trained in the use of drone-based bombs, projectiles, missiles, and jungle warfare, have entered Manipur from Myanmar. It had stated that these militants are reportedly grouped in units of 30 members each, scattered across the periphery, and are expected to launch multiple coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around September 28. On Thursday, top Intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that CRPF had reached deep inside Kuki areas Kangpokpi, Motbung, Dolaithabi, Geljang after replacing 22 Assam Rifles. According to the sources in CRPF, their focus will be the camps of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) situated at T Gamnon. Earlier, top CRPF officials reached Imphal to coordinate the forces movement inside the sensitive areas. Also, the Centre is upset with the state government for issuing an Intelligence alert without verifying and creating an atmosphere of panic. The sources in Intelligence and Indian Army said no infiltration had happened and nothing is available as per our knowledge. They added that the Centre wants peace in any case and the idea is to settle the dispute between both the communities, noting that the timing of the input is being seen as an attempt to derail the peace process as Home Minister Amit Shah has announced the beginning of the outreach and started the fencing of the India-Myanmar border. Since May 2023, Manipur has been embroiled in violence between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities, driven by disputes over economic benefits and quotas. Manipur remains divided into two ethnic enclaves a Meitei-controlled valley and Kuki-dominated hills separated by a no-mans land monitored by federal paramilitary forces. Despite efforts to quell the unrest, sporadic clashes persist, with the latest violence resulting in 11 deaths earlier this month. Since May of last year, the conflict has resulted in at least 237 deaths and displaced over 60,000 people in Manipur, which is home to 3.2 million people. H.E. Mr. Firat Sunel is the Turkish Ambassador to India, dedicated to promoting Turkiyes rich cultural heritage and sustainable tourism practices. With extensive experience in cultural affairs, he emphasizes the significance of UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Gobeklitepe and Ephesus, in shaping global narratives about early civilization. Ambassador Sunel advocates for the protection and promotion of Turkiyes lesser-known heritage sites, highlighting initiatives like the Golden Age of Turkish Archaeology project. His commitment to international cooperation underscores Turkiyes leadership in preserving cultural heritage while accommodating the growing demand for tourism. Turkiye boasts important UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Gobeklitepe and Ephesus. How do you think they shape global historical narratives about early human civilisation and ancient architecture? UNESCO Heritage sites, such as Gobeklitepe and Ephesus, reshape and enrich our view of early human civilization and history of ancient settlements. Gobeklitepe in Upper Mesopotamia, known as the cradle of human civilization, is the earliest known temple complex, dating almost 12.000 years back. It helps us unlock ancient Mesopotamian societies daily rituals in all their complexities. Gobeklitepe still preserves its mystery, as one of the most important discoveries in the history of archaeology and is considered as zero-point in time. The wider area is still an excavation site. The new inventories found, drastically expand our knowledge and understanding of humankind and civilization. The ancient city of Ephesus, on the other hand, is located in the western-most city of Izmir. Today an awe-inspiring historic site, Ephesus has been a city since the Neolithic times, with a history extending back to 7.000 BCE. However, it came to full prominence under the Roman Empire, renowned for its exceptional urban planning. Ephesus today showcases the engineering skills of that ancient era. The city has played a significant role in science, culture, and art, making it one of the most important metropolises of the ancient world. Highlights of Ephesus include the Temple of Artemis, as well as the Great Theatre and the Library of Celsus. Ephesus is significant for it is also home to early Christian archaeological remains. These two sites are a couple of many historical wonders of Turkiye. They provide crucial insights into the early history of humanity and enrich our historical narratives, offering important insights into ancient civilizations. How does Turkiye balance preserving Cappadocias landscapes and cave dwellings while promoting tourism? Cappadocia is an open-air museum that is truly one of its kind. It has been designed and carved by the hand of nature, and of skilled labourers, over the course of centuries. This volcanic landscape, boasting conic structures known as fairy chimneys, underground cities, cave dwellings and other historical monuments in a large geography spanning 5 different provinces. Turkiye takes measures to protect and preserve Cappadocia in the best possible way. To ensure the sustainable development and protection of the region in a holistic manner, while balancing the high tourism demand, a specific Law was enacted in 2019. As a result, a dedicated entity titled, The Cappadocia Area Presidency was established. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and collaborates with local and regional stakeholders for the successful management and supervision of the area. The Presidency develops and implements projects to provide eco-friendly infrastructure solutions and services to businesses and the local community, regulate the number of visitors, and encourages responsible tourism. These measures ensure that the regions natural and historic beauty is protected, while allowing tourists to experience its wonders. What are some other policies of Turkiye with respect to the protection of UNESCO heritage sites while maintaining her sustainable tourism practices? Turkiye is among the epicenters of world history and heritage. My country is a leading tourism destination, ranked the 5th among most-visited destinations globally in 2023. Our success comes from the institutional capacity, skilled experts and sustainable and effective collaboration among stakeholders. The legal and policy framework of Turkiye on cultural affairs also reflect the values of the international community, materialized in international conventions. A founding member of UNESCO and a party to primary Conventions, Turkiye endorses and supports national and international endeavors that underline our role and responsibility in preserving the cultural heritage that is so valuable to humanity as a whole. Turkiye considers culture and tourism as spheres that complement and strengthen each other and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism adopts a holistic perspective in this vein. Each UNESCO site has a Management Plan that outlines conservation measures, visitor management strategies and seeks to minimize environmental impacts of tourist flows. What efforts are being made to promote the lesser-known UNESCO sites in Turkiye? How do they enhance the countrys cultural diversity? Turkiye is home to 21 properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, 19 of which are cultural and 2 of which are mixed. There are a total of 79 sites, with 72 cultural, 4 mixed, and 3 natural in UNESCOs Tentative List. In addition to those listed, we have numerous ancient sites and monuments in our national inventory. I would like you to imagine the extent of our cultural wealth and the intensity of the work and effort involved in protecting and promoting heritage areas. Turkiye is focusing on promoting all her UNESCO sites through various marketing campaigns and local tourism projects. By spotlighting locations such as the archeological site of Catalhoyuk and the Mount Nemrut these campaign initiatives aim to showcase the countrys rich cultural landscape. The goal here is to encourage tourism to a diversity of areas and foster greater appreciation for Turkiyes distinct historic heritage. Another important step forward, Golden Age of Turkish Archaeology Heritage for the Future project has begun in 2023. All resources have been mobilized to ensure that in the next four years, our cultural heritage, particularly our ancient sites will be excavated, restored and preserved. The number of ongoing archeological excavations and projects in Turkiye increased from 670 to 720 in the last couple of years. They are set toreach 750 in 2024, with a goal of 800 excavations and projects by 2026. How does Turkiye manage the promotion and conversation of its UNESCO sites amidst growing tourism? Are there new strategies of technologies being used? Turkiye assumed responsibilities in both the UNESCO Executive Board and the World Heritage Committee. As a country dedicated to international cooperation, peace and dialogue, we contribute our share of experience, know-how and skills to UNESCO and play a part in leading sustainable practices and strategies in protecting and promoting heritage. I would like to note that combatting illicit trafficking of cultural property has always formed one of the backbones of the Turkish cultural policies. We are among the leading countries to persistently emphasize the necessity of returning these artifacts to their homeland on both bilateral and multilateral platforms. As stated, Turkiye manages its UNESCO heritage sites by implementing sustainable conservation practices and by regulating visitor access. By promoting our sites through targeted marketing and managing tourist flows, we ensure the preservation of its cultural heritage while accommodating for growing tourism. Moreover, we are implementing nighttime activities in certain museums and historic sites including Ephesus, Hierapolis and many others during peak seasons. I strongly recommend Indian visitors not to miss enjoying these spectacular ancient ruins. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya were spotted at Mumbai airport, heading to Abu Dhabi for IIFA 2024. The prestigious awards event will run from September 27 to September 29, with Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar set to host, and exciting performances lined up by Kriti Sanon, Shahid Kapoor, Rekha and Janhvi Kapoor. In a video that surfaced online, Aishwarya, dressed in a stylish black jacket adorned with playful motifs, paired it with a sleek black backpack. Aaradhya opted for a comfortable, pastel green sweatshirt, blending chic with casual for their travel ensemble. Both mother and daughter seemed relaxed as they made their way to the international terminal. Aishwarya has been nominated in the Performance in a Leading Role Female (Tamil) category for Ponniyin Selvan: II at the IIFA Utsavam 2024. Interestingly, her mother-in-law, Jaya Bachchan, is also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Female) for her role in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani at the IIFA Awards 2024. Though Aishwarya has been making solo public appearances, many are curious to see whether the rest of the Bachchan family will join her in Abu Dhabi. Over the past few months, she has not been spotted with her in-laws at public events, leading to speculation. Earlier this year, Aishwaryas fans were disappointed when Amitabh Bachchan made a post celebrating the iconic Kajra Re song but did not mention her, despite her central role in the track. The post, which celebrated the songs 19th anniversary, focused solely on Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchans performances, sidelining Aishwarya. Fans took to social media to express their discontent, calling out the megastar for the oversight. In July, the Bachchans grabbed attention once again when they attended a high-profile wedding separately. While Amitabh, Jaya and Abhishek arrived together, Aishwarya and Aaradhya made a separate appearance. With IIFA 2024 approaching, fans are eager to see if the event will bring a public reunion for the Bachchans or if Aishwarya will continue to maintain her solo streak at major events. Archana Puran Singh is all set for a jam-packed October. Not only has she resumed her duties on The Great Indian Kapil Show, but shes also making a return to films after four years. The actress will be seen in Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, alongside Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri. In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, Archana shared that her long hiatus from films was largely due to the demanding schedule of The Kapil Sharma Show when it was aired on television. She revealed that she had been receiving film offers consistently, one of them being from producer Vashu Bhagnani. However, with the grueling pace of the comedy show, she simply didnt have the time to take on a film project. Now that the show has shifted to Netflix and is broken into seasons, Archana finally has the flexibility to explore film opportunities again, which led her to sign Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video. When we were on television, we didnt get any breaks. We had fun doing episodes over and over, and we got a lot of riyaaz (practice). The entire team was always energised, but I had to turn down a lot of film offers. Now, Im thrilled that I have the time to accept films, Archana explained. Vashu ji and many other producers and directors had offered me projects. Nowadays, films are shot more overseas than in India, so there was always a balance to strike. Id often get calls asking me to come to Scotland for a 20-day schedule. But Id reply, I can only commit if youre shooting in Mumbai. Some shoots were in Mauritius, some in Australia. And we used to shoot Kapils show two or three times a week. Even if a film was being shot in Mumbai, sometimes I still had to decline. Now, Im happy theres a better balance, she added. She recalled one instance when she was in England, and Vashu Bhagnani reached out with a role for a film. He assured her it would be a short schedule, but it clashed with her commitments for Kapils show. I was in England when I got a call from Vashu ji. He said, You wont even need a visa, just come for 20 days. But I told him I had a flight back the next day, and I had to shoot for Kapils show right after, she shared. Despite turning down several film offers, the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actress has no regrets. No regrets at all. I thoroughly enjoyed that journey, and Im equally enjoying this new chapter, she said. The Great Indian Kapil Show drops new episodes every Saturday on Netflix, while Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video is slated for release on October 11. Namrata Shirodkar is widely known today as Telugu superstar Mahesh Babus wife, but she was said to be in love with restauranteur Deepak Shetty when she first became an actress. Namrata and Deepak dated for nearly nine years and were said to be living together. However, Deepak tragically passed away in 2008. In a Rediff AMA in the 90s, a fan had asked Namrata if she would marry Deepak. The former model and actress wrote, Surely, soon will I marry Deepak we are just waiting for the right time. However, the duo broke up after this. Deepak passed away a few years later. He drowned in Goa while trying to save another boys life. In the same year, Namratas mother Kunda also succumbed to cancer. Namrata had said in a chat with the Times of India, There was just one time when I let my personal life overwhelm my professional one, and that cost me dearly. The relationship began before the Miss India contest and lasted nine years. But, it wasnt meant to be. There was a void in my life after that, but I moved on. And we will always wish each other well. You know, Aishwarya and I started our careers together. But she stayed on track, while I was diverted by this personal relationship, and it made me less ambitious. But Im not bitter about anything. Perhaps, because Im practical by nature, I dont dwell on things. My sister Shilpa helped a lot too. She joined the industry at 14. She knew the importance of being professional and punctual. She told me to accept that dreams change, people change, but work is constantly fulfilling. And Im happy, particularly now that the industry is sitting up and noticing me once again, she said. Namrata Shirodkar tied the knot with Mahesh Babu in 2005 after dating for five years. She completely gave up acting after marriage as the actor did not want a working wife. They have two children, Gautam Ghattamaneni and Sitara Ghattamaneni. Namrata now resides in Hyderabad with her family. Austin Abrams will be seen sharing the screen with Brad Pitt and George Clooney in Wolfs. The Apple+ film is set to release this weekend in India. Ahead of the films release, the actor sat down for a candid chat with News18 Showsha and revealed that he had a ball shooting for the film with Brad and George. The actor, who shot to fame with the character Ethan Kats boyfriend and the lead of Lexis play also shared that Brad Pitt discussed the show with him while filming the action-comedy. I cant exactly remember hearing from George about it but I definitely heard from Brad about it. It seemed like he watched the show and really liked it, and was sweet about it, Austin Abrams told News18 Showsha exclusively, reiterating, I do remember that Brad had watched the show. Austin plays a pivotal role in Wolfs. His role in the catalyst that brings Brad and George together. While we wont spoil the film for you, there is one scene in which Austin will be seen running in his underwear in the film. By the looks of it, the scene has been shot in the cold temperatures of New York. Admitting that it was a challenging scene to do, Austin said he knew he was ready to do whatever it takes for the film. We shot that scene for a long time, a lot longer than I thought we were shooting. We shot it for a month or something. I think it is three pages in the script but I hadnt fully understood how long action takes to shoot. Thats because I have not done too much action. To be running in New York in my underwear, it was a little uncomfortable but a part of the deal. Mentally, by that point, I just knew that I was ready to do whatever I needed to do for this movie. So, having that purpose behind it, made it a lot easier. Even though it had its challenges, it had purpose and meaning to it. Its not like I was going and running in my underwear for no reason. With that purpose, it made it a lot easier, he shared. There is a slow-motion scene in which George accidentally hits him. The scene plays out in slow motion in the film. Speaking about it, Austin said that scene alone took a couple of days to shoot. There was an acrobatics for a little and it was [shot] over a period of two days, he added. Austin had previously revealed that he felt intimidated by Brad and George on the first day of the shoot. However, once the ball started rolling, the trio had a memorable time together so much so that they played pranks on each other as well. Talking about one such prank, Austin shared that on the first day, three chairs were placed for the trio in the green room: two tall chairs for Brad and George, and a short chair for Austin. While it initially seemed like an accident, as the shoot progressed, it became a running joke in the green room, with the heights of the chairs for Brad and George only increasing. On the first day, I remember, one of the production members had put chairs for us to sit on with the names of the cast. It just happened they put two big, tall chairs for Brad and George, and I happened to get, like, a tiny chair. We all laughed about it. A couple of weeks later, they found themselves in another hilarious moment when they shifted green rooms. The actor recalled the green room was massive, a ball room of sorts, which could accommodate big chairs. The production team found two really regal looking chairs. They must have been like 10 feet tall, they were ridiculous! They taped Brad and Georges names on it and placed it together. And in the middle, they put this little chair for me, that was really funny. Brad has a photo of it somewhere, he shared with a laugh. Wolfs is set to release on September 27 on Apple+. Archana Puran Singh is an important part of the comedy show, The Great Indian Kapil Show. It is back with its second season and is available on Netflix. The actress is known for her boisterous laughter and is the permanent guest on the show. From portraying the evil stepmother, Shalu in Raja Hindustani to her iconic role as Miss Braganza in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, the actress is a powerhouse of talent. On the occasion of her 62nd birthday, lets take a glimpse into her life and career. Archana Puran Singh marked her debut as an actress with Nari Hiras Abhishek, opposite Aditya Pancholi in 1987. The same year, she starred in Jalwa and shared the screen with Naseeruddin Shah. Later, she was roped in big banner films like Agneepath (1990), Saudagar, Shola Aur Shabnam, Aashiq Awara and Raja Hindustani. Later, she decided to just focus on supporting roles in Hindi films. A few of her notable works are Love Story 2050, Mohabbatein, Krrish, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Masti, De Dana Dan and Bol Bachchan. Apart from the big screen, she also earned fame in the TV industry. She started off as a TV anchor with Wah, Kya Scene Hai on Zee TV. She became a household name with the show, Shrimaan Shrimati. She has also worked in Junoon and hosted Archana Talkies. Archana Puran Singh did not shy away from reality shows and was first seen as a contestant in Nach Baliye 1 where she participated with her husband Parmeet Sethi. Later, she was seen as a judge on various comedy shows like Comedy Circus, and The Kapil Sharma Show and now she is back on The Great Indian Kapil Show. Did you know that after her first marriage ended in divorce, she found love again, in her now-husband, Parmeet Sethi? Archana Puran Singh was born into a Punjabi family in Dehradun. She was inclined towards acting and modelling and ran away to Mumbai to pursue her career. As she progressed, she got married, but it eventually did not last long and ended in divorce. Later, at an event, she met Parmeet Sethi, a struggling artist at that time, while the actress was already an established name. On a show, the actress had once revealed that she met the DDLJ actor at a party. She said that she was holding a magazine and he snatched it away from her, which made her feel bad. It was the way he apologised that she actually liked him. This incident, reportedly, marked the beginning of their friendship. As per reports, the duo began staying in a live-in relationship for some time. When she told her family about him, they were furious. Undeterred, the couple decided to tie the knot. They began looking for a priest at 11 pm in the night and finally, they found one and got married the next day. Today, the couple is happily married and has two children Aryaman and Ayushman. The immensely popular manga Jujutsu Kaisen, written by Gege Akutami, is set to conclude with its 271st chapter, scheduled for release on September 30, 2024. This marks the final stage of a captivating journey that has engaged fans since its debut in 2018. For those eager to read the finale, Chapter 271 will be available in Japan on the release date, and fans in India can access it between 8:30 and 9:30 PM IST. Readers can enjoy the chapter for free on platforms like MANGA Plus and Viz Medias official website, as well as through the subscription-based Shonen Jump App. The series has been building toward its conclusion through the current Shinjuku Showdown Arc, which began in May 2023. This arc features intense battles, particularly highlighting the conflict between Gojo and Sukuna, where Gojos death at the hands of Sukuna sets the stage for other sorcerers to rally against him. Central to the narrative are the two main protagonists, Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro, who confront Sukuna while grappling with their own personal losses and failures. Unresolved Mysteries As the series nears its end, several plot points remain unresolved: Sukunas True Intentions: Not much is known about the motives of Sukuna and the reasons he had for his actions, thus fans wait for answers in the last chapter. Character Fates: The futures of characters including Nobara and Megumi, have not yet been resolved. Each of their characters stories is believed to be resolved by the show before its ending. Kenjakus Plans: The primary framework of Kenjaku based on his plans to assimilate Master Tengen with the Japanese people still remains somewhat ambiguous. It appears highly unlikely that this merger will happen before the series is complete if there are only several chapters remaining. The speculation is also around how Akutami will be concluding different arcs, especially characters such as Gojo who has been out of action due to his defeat. Nevertheless, theres hope for his return in the final chapter of the book. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) informed the Bombay High Court on Thursday that Kangana Ranauts film Emergency will only be cleared for release if specific cuts, as recommended by the CBFCs revising committee, are made. This response came in relation to a plea by Zee Studios, co-producer of Emergency, requesting the release of the censor certificate. The film, initially set to release on September 6, was postponed following protests from Sikh groups, who allege the film misrepresents their community. Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, representing the CBFC, told Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla that the CBFCs revising committee suggested some cuts for Emergency. Advocate Sharan Jagtiani, speaking for Zee Studios, shared a document listing 11 changes, including cuts and insertions, that need to be made before the films release. Now, its up to the filmmakers to either accept these changes or challenge them. The High Court has a adjurned he matter to Monday, September 30. Kangana Ranaut is not only starring in Emergency but also directing the highly anticipated political drama. The film features an ensemble cast, including Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry, and Shreyas Talpade. Shreyas Talpade takes on the role of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while Anupam Kher portrays political leader Jayaprakash Narayan. The late Satish Kaushik will also make an appearance as former Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram. Kangana Ranaut spoke about the films delay during News18 Indias Chaupal event. She said, It is our history which has been intentionally hidden. We are not told about this. Bhale logo ka zamaana nahi hai, Kangana said and then added, My film is ready to be released. It has received certification from the censor board. 4 historians supervised our films. We have the proper documents. There is nothing wrong with my film. But some people call Bhindranwale a saint, revolutionary or a leader. They threatened via pleas (to ban her film). I have also received threats. Previous governments have declared Khalistanis as terrorists. He was not a saint who was sitting in a temple with an AK47. Love Sitara Movie Review: In this age of high-concept narratives and experimental storytelling, simplicity has become a rarity. Sobhita Dhulipalas next release, Love Sitara, reminds us of that in a rather neat and beautiful way. Its minimalistic, linear, safe and unapologetic. The film deals with a dysfunctional family, the warped mantra of happiness, complex human emotions, infidelity and so much more. Yes, this is old wine in a new bottle. While there was definitely room for director Vandana Kataria to dig deep and dirty her hands with the grimy and unforgivable messiness of relationships, she deserves credit for not shying from portraying the compassionate nature of feminism. Love Sitara revolves around the life of Sitara or Tara (some parts of the character seem to be an extension of the Tara from Made In Heaven), as shes fondly referred to. The film opens with a sequence where she finds out that shes pregnant. That night, she proposes to her boyfriend, a chef named Arjun, for marriage and soon, preparations begin for their D-Day. Taras best friend Anjali is however not particularly thrilled with the news as she reminds her that marriage or kids wasnt exactly part of her plan. Tara explains to her that she has undergone a shift in her mind-set and now she wants everything marriage, kids, a dog and a cat. She soon travels to her maternal grandmothers home in Kochi where the shotgun wedding (although Arjun and their families are unaware of her pregnancy) is supposed to take place. We also get a glimpse of Arjuns life who plans on shifting base to Singapore to further his career in the culinary world days after the wedding. His father, however, is staunchly against his decision, because how can a man belong in the kitchen and not do something more manly? Taras family also has Hema chechi, her unhinged, modern, progressive and unapologetic maternal aunt. Days before the wedding, Tara while going through a box of old photographs chances upon a picture of her dad and aunt, which leads her to get suspicious of an old extramarital affair between them. This takes a toll on her emotions, leading her to get cynical of marriages and relationships. She along with the help of Arjun and Anjali try hard to unravel Hemas past and finds out her air hostess aunt currently has an extramarital affair with a pilot. And later, a big secret about Sitara also unfolds that changes everything. At 1 hour 45 minutes, Love Sitara makes for a crisp narrative where the director wastes no time in setting its tone. Vandana sensitively portrays extramarital affairs and makes a subtle statement that its not as rare as one would imagine. In Sitaras family, all the three generations of women have experienced it sometimes, they have been the victims and sometimes, the home-breakers. But not even for once, does she look at them through the lens of judgment, reiterating how infidelity isnt a marker of character. It may not make one a bad person but it sure has negative consequences, often impacting the next generation as well. Writers Sonia Bahl, Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal deserve credit for penning all the characters Ammuma (B Jayashree), Sitaras mother (Virginia Rodrigues), Hema (Sonali Kulkarni) and Sitara with a lot of nuance and maturity. All of them are written with a rather interesting and cinematic arc that renders them the chance to give the audience a glimpse of the different shades that make a woman up. B Jayashree starts off a curmudgeon, ill-tempered woman who later explains that tough love is her language as she has realised that expressive love can do more harm than good. Virginia transitions from a quintessential homemaker cum mother selfness and unconditionally loving and giving into a woman who stands up for herself when comes to know that she has been cheated on. Vandana here recognises women as who theyre independent of who they become through relationships. But it wouldnt be wrong to say that its Sonalis Hema who stands out. She shares a bittersweet relationship with her sister, is aware of her beauty luring men and has no qualms in admitting that an extramarital affair is her way to be in love. Her heartbreak as the other woman who gets the shorter end of the stick in a relationship is palpable. Sitara, like already mentioned, has shades of Tara from Made In Heaven. Only here, shes put in a different and less glamorous setting. Shes the epitome of modern feminism who calls her own shots but can also go to any length to win back the man she loves. In short, all these women represent love in all its form they rise and fall and suffer and heal. Love Sitara is a classic example of what transpires when women get written by women. The men, on the other hand, are also not even a unilateral treatment. Rajeev Siddharthas Arjun ably supports Sitara and is extremely empathetic through all his emotional upheavals. In a key scene, he helplessly tells her, I might be nice but not dumb. And that sums his personality. Love Sitara is as close to life as it can be. It might not be a genre-defining and trailblazing film but it sure deserves a watch for capturing the essence of relationships. Unlike its heavyweight theme of love and happiness and the difficulty of finding, rediscovering and sustaining them, its frothy, breezy and easy on the eyes. Entrepreneur and Amitabh Bachchans granddaughter, Navya Naveli Nanda, addressed the disturbing Kolkata rape and murder case, shedding light on societal and systemic failures surrounding violence against women. At the India Today Mumbai Conclave 2024, on September 26, during a session titled Beyond the Legacy: Gen Z for a Just and Equal India, Navya emphasised the need for collective accountability and the urgent demand for safer environments for women. The incident in Kolkata is not a first. Its something that weve seen happen multiple times. It was outrageous and horrific. We, as a countrywomen, people, and societydemand law enforcement and stricter protocols, but it is very easy for us to just sit and make demands, Navya stated. She emphasised the necessity for a shared sense of responsibility, noting that societal change cannot happen in isolation. We have to be accountable and responsible as members of society. It is an equal responsibility to create a safe environment for women, not just at work, but even at home. As members of society, we should play our part in that. Strong women deserve better, and she deserved better. No one should have the power to override her rights, Navya continued. The Kolkata case refers to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, whose body was found on August 9. The accused was arrested shortly after, but the crime shook the nation and reignited discussions on the safety of women in public spaces. Apart from her impassioned plea for justice, Navya also reflected on her academic journey at IIM Ahmedabad, expressing gratitude for the education and opportunities she has received. India has some of the finest institutions in the world, and being a part of IIM Ahmedabad is incredible. I feel fortunate to be under the guidance of some of the best professors in the world. Navya also acknowledged the criticism she often faces due to her privileged background. I accept that I come from a very different lived reality. People will always have something to say about that, she remarked, though she remains focused on her personal and professional growth. Rukmini Vasanth has established herself as a prominent figure in the Kannada film industry. Her impressive performances in various films have garnered her significant acclaim and a dedicated fan base. Known for her versatility as an actress, Rukmini has appeared in several high-profile projects, showcasing her talent and on-screen charisma. Her most recent 2 part film, Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, released as Side A and Side B, earned her a lot of critical acclaim. Beyond her acting, Rukminis vibrant social media presence has played a crucial role in enhancing her popularity. She actively engages with her fans, sharing updates about her life, projects, and personal style, which resonates well with her audience. Her fashion choices often attract attention, reflecting her unique sense of style. Rukmini Vasanth recently attended the Yuva Sambhrama program in Mysore, making a stylish appearance alongside the team of her upcoming film Bagheera. Joined by actor Murali, Rukmini embraced the festive spirit, wearing a stunning orange cotton saree that caught everyones eye. She shone at the Yuva Sambhrama program, adorning her hair with jasmine flowers and accentuating her look with a dabu on her waist. Rukmini Vasanth said she is honoured to grace the event. I was here last time when Sapta Sagaradaache Ello was released. This is my second visit and I am thrilled to be here this evening. She further requested the crowd to continue supporting Kannada films. The Yuva Sambhrama event, ongoing until October 1, focuses on the themes of Constitution, Unity, Democracy, and Kannada Land and Language. This vibrant festival showcases cultural performances that celebrate Karnatakas rich heritage and promote unity among its people. As part of this initiative, the best-performing troupes at Yuva Sambhrama will earn the opportunity to showcase their talents at the upcoming Yuva Dasara, which is set to begin on October 6 on the outskirts of Mysore. In a recent appearance at the India Today Conclave, Saif Ali Khan opened up about the backlash surrounding his film Adipurush, which has faced criticism since its release on June 16, 2023. An advocate from Uttar Pradesh filed a case against Saif and director Om Raut, claiming they hurt religious sentiments with their portrayal of the epic narrative. This controversy intensified after Saif suggested that the character of Raavan would be depicted as more humane, a statement he later retracted amid the uproar. Reflecting on the situation, Saif admitted that the backlash was unsettling. There was a case and some kind of decision taken up by the court that said an actor is responsible for what he says on screen, he noted. Saif expressed uncertainty about the extent of this issue, commenting, I know a lot of people are not free to say or do whatever they want. We all have to police ourselves slightly and be a bit careful; otherwise, there could be trouble. He emphasised the need for sensitivity when dealing with topics like religion, stating, There are certain areas like religion that you need to stay away from. We are not here to make trouble. Saif recalled his experience playing a politician in the series Tandav, which also encountered significant controversy, further shaping his understanding of the delicate balance required in storytelling. I played a politician in a show (Tandav) which ran into a fair amount of trouble. So, you learn from the job. You need to be away from these areas, he added. Saifs primary mission as an actor, he asserted, is to unite people through his work. Our profession is to bring the whole country together, irrespective of caste and creed, he said. Despite the backlash, Adipurush was created with good intentions, according to writer Manoj Muntashir, who later admitted the film was wrong in its execution. His candid acknowledgment reflected the ongoing discourse about the responsibilities of filmmakers in crafting sensitive narratives that resonate positively with audiences. As K-pop, K-dramas and K-films continue to captivate global audiences, K-actors are increasingly expressing their fondness for India. Recently, South Korean heartthrob Park Seo-Joon, renowned for his roles in dramas like Whats Wrong With Secretary Kim and She Was Pretty, shared his admiration for Bollywood films and expressed a desire to visit India. During a roundtable interview with the PTI, when asked if he would ever come to India to meet his fans, Seo-Joon said, If you invite me, anytime. I love Bollywood Yeah, please invite me. If I get the chance, Id love to fly over. The same emotion was resonated by his Gyeongseong Creature co-star, Han So-Hee, and its director Chung Dong-yoon. They nodded in agreement and said, Same here. In the same conversation, the Itaewon Class actor was questioned if the two-part Netflix thriller series Gyeongseong Creature appealed to him due to its unique story arc than the rest of the K-dramas. Seo-Joon opined that even if the narrative of dramas is the same, the way in which the story is told to the audience is where the difference lies. There are a lot of Korean dramas We have this whole history Because we have so many (dramas), there could be similar narratives and processes to making a show. But even if we have the same theme or narrative, like the way it unravels, is what makes a show unique or fun, he said. Seo-Joon further said, As an actor, its my job to provide different content, stories to the viewers. In that sense, Gyeongseong Creature makes (for) really good content, and Ill be waiting for your invitation to India. Not everything that happened between the past and the present are in the script, so I had to fill in the void with my own imagination. Gyeongseong Creatures first season premiered on the streaming platform in December 2023. The story, set in the spring of 1945, follows Jang Tae-sang, a wealthy and skilled businessman with a dark past and Yoon Chae-ok, a skilled bounty hunter during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Together, they try to unravel the mystery behind the disappearances in Gyeongseong. The second season of Gyeongseong Creature will start streaming on Netflix on Friday, September 27. The latest seasons story is set in present-day Seoul. About Seo Joons work front, he made his Hollywood debut last year with MCUs The Marvel and impressed his fans with two Korean films, Dream and Concrete Utopia. Trisha Krishnan is getting brutally trolled for allegedly supporting Harry Potter author JK Rowling amid her transphobic comments controversy. The author has made several comments against the transgender community since 2020 and has been called out by stars like Daniel Radcliff and Emma Watson. As per a Reddit post, Trisha shared Rowlings X post on her Instagram Story to extend her support and call her a boss. After a netizen wrote on X that they burnt Rowlings books, the author replied, I get the same royalties whether you read them or burn them. Enjoy your marshmallows. As per the Reddit post, Trisha shared this interaction on her story and wrote, Like a boss. However, Trishas story cannot be seen on her account at the time of publishing this article. Several fans questioned if Trisha is a transphobe or if this is just a PR fail and the actress was unaware of Rowlings comments. One person wrote, I wish I could earn money by doing literally nothing just like Trishas PR team. Another added, Why are people discounting the possibility that Trisha could be a transphobe as well if not her SM manager maybe? One Reddit user wrote, I think this is more of a PR fail. Trisha may not be aware of recent developments but her team should have known better! Another added, What a disappointment. For the unversed, back in 2020, JK Rowling reshared an essay on people who menstruate, taking issue with the fact that the word women was not used instead. People who menstruate. Im sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? she wrote. After receiving a lot of backlash for her remark, Rowling posted on X, If sex isnt real, theres no same-sex attraction. If sex isnt real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isnt hate to speak the truth. She continued, I respect every trans persons right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. Id march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe its hateful to say so. More recently, Rowling attacked Olympic athlete and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif with transphobic remarks. However, Khelif isnt a trans woman and the incident only highlighted Rowlings transphobia. Khelif then filed a cyberbullying suit against Rowling, Elon Musk and others who spread misinformation about her. The creators of Citadel recently held a special screening of both Citadel: Honey Bunny (India) and Citadel: Diana (Italy) in London, attended by Matilda De Angelis, alongside Priyanka Chopra, who stars in the original US version. Although Varun Dhawan, the lead of the Indian adaptation, was not physically present, he found a way to join the event virtually. The actor posted a series of edited photos, featuring a cutout of himself at the event, on Instagram, claiming, I was there. Coming up with a cheeky response to Varuns post, Primes Video suggested that critics might call it photoshopped. However, it was Varuns friend and co-star, Janhvi Kapoor, who stole the spotlight with her hilarious reaction. In the original pictures from the screening, the series lead Samantha is seen posing with the series directors, Raj and DK. Varun edited his cropped images in the post. London premiere of Citadel honey bunny. I was there. Trailer out in October, the caption read. In one of his edited photos, Varun wore a stylish blue and red striped suit, in another, looked dashing in a black outfit, a vibrant red suit and a green suit paired with a red shirt. Meanwhile, Varun, who frequently posts shirtless pictures on social media, didnt include one in his latest post. Janhvi noticed this change and jokingly mentioned, How come no shirtless, very unlike you. In an earlier interview with OTT Play, Raj and DK talking about Citadel: Honey Bunny said, Its a completely original story. Of course, its a part of the universe, but a lot of people tend to think its an adaptation or a remake. Thats not what it is. Its actually an independent series with an original story of its own thats just part of the universe thats been created by the Russo brothers. So thats the connection; the universe is the connection. The stories are independent. Citadels original series features Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden in the lead. The Indian version of the series also stars Kay Kay Menon, Simran, Soham Majumdar, Shivankit Parihar, Kashvi Majmundar, Saqib Saleem and Sikandar Kher in supporting roles. The series is scheduled to release on Amazon Prime on November 7, 2024. Kriti Sanon has had a very busy schedule lately. Just days after she returned from London, she was again spotted at the Mumbai airport in the late hours of September 25. Once again, the Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya actress turned heads with her chic style. She also briefly chatted with the paparazzi stationed outside the airport before she headed inside to catch her flight. In several videos, Kriti can be seen getting off her car and entering the airport when she gets swarmed by paparazzi. The actress was dressed in an all-black outfit comprising a spaghetti top and high-waisted trousers paired with a Burberry cardigan. She opted for a sleek neckpiece, dainty earrings a classy watch and a bag to complete her airport look. In a video, as she was entering the airport, Kriti stopped to ask the paparazzi, Aap log kaise pohonch gaye baarish mein (how did you guys come in such heavy rains)? They replied to her question by saying that they had settled down at the airport, leaving the actress all smiles. Further, they requested that she briefly stop and pose for them before she ventured inside the airport. Kriti jetted off to Abu Dhabi for her upcoming performance at IIFA 2024. She is scheduled to perform live at the ceremony on September 28. Apart from her, Shahid Kapoor, Rekha, Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor will also perform. Previously, when Kriti landed in Mumbai after attending the London Fashion Week, she once again got all chatty with the paparazzi. As the actress exited the airport wearing a white T-shirt paired with greyish cargo pants and sneakers, she noticed that one of the photographers left his slipper mid-way and gestured to him to wear it. Kriti then asked, Aap log joota kyu nahi pehente ho (why dont you guys wear shoes)? To which one of the paps replied, Baarish chalu hai maam (rain is still pouring). On the other hand, Kriti was recently declared the Global Brand Ambassador for Pepe Jeans, making her the first Indian celebrity to achieve this feat. The brand took to its social media channels to make the announcement. They mentioned, A first look of @kritisanon as our Global Brand Ambassador in our #VeryPepe campaign. The campaign embodies eclectic style, edgy attitude and our London roots! Its Very London. #VeryPepe Stay tuned. Kriti Sanon was last seen in the female-led heist movie Crew, co-starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tabu. At present, the 34-year-old actress has Do Patti, alongside Kajol and Tanvi Azmi, in the pipeline. The Shashanka Chaturvedi-helmed movie is going to be a captivating murder mystery set in the hills of north India. Cyber crimes are already on the rise and things are only going to get tougher with the emergence of GenAI. Latest report claims hackers without technical skills are able to utilise GenAI tools to create sophisticated malware. Most people are aware that deepfakes and morphing videos have become a piece of cake since the evolution of freely available GenAI tools but using these to create malware surely raises concerns among security experts and businesses. The HP Threats Insight Report highlights these issues and even found a few real-life cases that will surely be of concern to millions across the globe. PDF Tools, Malicious Images: The Big GenAI Threat Any hacking threat is a concern but when you add GenAI to the dangerous cocktail, it is evident that security experts are forewarning people. The companys report claims French-speaking users have already been targeted with these malicious attacks developed using GenAI tools to write the code. The analysts have deciphered the sophistication of these codes and realised that GenAI tools have been used to create the malware. The biggest issue with GenAI making its presence felt for the wrong reasons is that the same technology is being integrated into daily functions by businesses and the last thing they want is for the AI tech to have the nous to attack the system that runs it. And if GenAI wasnt enough for a credible threat, the report says files like PDFs, .RAR, and even Docx have become the prime focus of hackers to infect systems. Most users rely on these file types for their work and downloading them is a usual affair. One can inadvertently click on these to let the malware infect the device and thereby handing over the control to the bad actor. We have seen many companies use AI to simplify and mature their systems but if the same AI models become a threat, then detecting such issues might be harder than it already is right now. Microsoft Edge browser has a security issue that has been highlighted with a medium severity rating by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In this week. The security agency in this September 24 bulletin, claims that the web browser from Microsoft has multiple security vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to bypass the security of your device and give them access to the data stored on it. The security agency has given it a medium severity rating which might sound casual but the overall impact could be damaging. CERT-In Warning For Edge Users Multiple vulnerabilities exist in Microsoft Edge (Chromium) due to inappropriate implementation in UI, Autofill & V8,insufficient data validation in Omnibox, Type confusion in V8, incorrect security UI in downloads, out of bounds write issue and improper neutralisation of input during web page generation. A remote attacker could exploit these issues by persuading the victim to visit a specially crafted website/HTML page. They will also be able to trigger remote code execution, perform UI spoofing, exploit stack, and heap corruption on the targeted system. Fair to say that even though the alert has a medium rating, the longish security details from Microsoft suggest a quick update is critical, if you want to protect your device from bad actors. Microsoft Edge Security Risk: Who Is Affected If youre using the Chromium-based Edge browser with version prior to 129.0.2792.52 then you need to update the browser for your system right away. Microsoft Edge Update: How To Get It You can head over to Microsoft Edge on your Windows PC and do the following: Click on the three-dot menu on the top-right Hover over Help and Feedback Click on About Microsoft Edge The browser start looking for a new version and update to the latest one and reboot to take effect Since its debut in 2008, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC) has become one of the most popular sitcoms in India. Throughout the years, the show has seen many new faces join its ensemble cast, while others have departed for various reasons. One such departure that left fans in shock was that of Shailesh Lodha, who portrayed the titular character. His unexpected exit from the show dismayed many loyal viewers. Once, during an interview with Lallantop, the 54-year-old actor shared why he left the show abruptly. He revealed that the shows producer, Asit Kumarr Modi, had verbally disrespected him, leading him to decide to exit the show all of a sudden. Lodha recalled that he was invited as a celebrity guest to a stand-up comedy show titled Good Night India on SAB TV. Just a day before the scheduled telecast of an episode, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC) producer Asit Modi called Shailesh Lodha to question his appearance on another show. Lodha clarified that he was invited as poet Shailesh Lodha and not as TMKOCs Taarak Mehta. He stated, I shot for it and even recited a poem there. A day before the telecast, Taarak Mehtas producer called me asking how I could be on that show. Sharing that Asit Modi used derogatory language, the poet-turned-actor said, Unhone (Asit Modi) asabhya bhasha mein baat ki, jo mujhse bardaasht nahi huyi (I could not tolerate the uncultured language he used for me) and further added, A show is made by many people coming together and not just one person. I thus mailed him on February 17, 2022, that I would not like to continue with the show. In the same interview, Lodha revealed that the producers had not cleared his payments, even when he understood they needed more time to conclude his part. He alleged that the producer withheld his payment as a means of manipulation. Lodha also mentioned that Modi had asked him to sign certain papers, which he declined as he was uninterested in further dealings with the producer. After a prolonged delay, he sent another email indicating that he would continue shooting as a gesture of goodwill but would cease thereafter. Lodha further noted that the producers insisted he sign an agreement, which he viewed as an attempt to silence him. He remarked, Why do I take his permission before going on social media or speaking to the media? These are my basic rights. And why do I do it after I leave the show? The matter was never about money or payment but about how he spoke in an insulting tone. I had to go to the court, and the settlement was done. Shailesh won the legal battle earlier in 2023, freeing himself from the shackles of TMKOC, which he had been part of since its inception. Now, Sachin Shroff currently plays his part. An American woman, who first visited India with her husband in 2017 and has been living in Delhi for the past two years, believes that India is better than the United States. Kristen Fischer describes America as a highly individualistic and socially isolated society, lacking the deep sense of community, culture, and life that she has found in India. She emphasised that there is more to life than money, expressing that her time in India has brought her a sense of joy and fulfilment that she didnt experience in the US. In a detailed video, Fischer explained why she chose to live in India over America. She captioned the video by saying, Its always the same question, Why would I ever leave America to move to India?, adding that people assume India is worse and America is better, a perception she believes is misguided. Read| Indian Company Terminates Employee, Demands 3-Month Salary in Exchange for Experience Letter If you are in India and thinking that life in America is so much better and you are just thinking to yourself I cant wait to leave India. I want to get out of here. I want to go somewhere better like America. Oftentimes, people ask me why on Earth I would have left America to come to India and I will tell you why, Fischer says in the video. She clarifies, Dont get me wrong. I love America, I was raised there. I have my family there. Its a great place but its by no means a perfect place. And even places like America have a lot of issues. America is a very individualistic society. Very socially isolated. Every man for themselves kind of mentality and people are hardly willing to go out of their way to help people that they dont know. India on the other hand, is full of life and colour and culture and community and an overall sense of togetherness. People are so hospitable and they go out of their way to help people no matter what, the mom of three further said, adding, I think my kids are being set up for a more successful life and future in India. In India, you are never alone. Anywhere you go, there are tons of people. I have met so many Indians living in America who have asked where everybody is. Where are the people? And they have felt very socially isolated and alone living in America, she remarks. Also Read| American Womans Hilarious Take On Indian English Goes Viral So, sure. You can make more money living in the US. And if thats your only goal in life then maybe youll be happy there. But I believe that there is so much more to life than just making money. There are a lot better reasons to want to live somewhere, to raise your family somewhere and I believe that joy, that fulfilment and that kind of life is what we can find living in India, Fischer concluded. After watching the video, many even took to the comments section to share their thoughts. While many agreed with her, others shared contrasting views. Making money in US is also not easy. Cost of living in US is too high. Purchasing power in India is far better than US and people in India with different socio economic background live cohesively, said an individual. Another added, Perfectly said. Im a Tibetan, born and raised in India but now Dutch Citizen. When I was in India my life was way better in terms of mind and Health. You never feel alone. Im thinking of moving back to India next year! Many people come to America thinking they will return to India after they make money, but by the time they do, their kids have integrated here and its just too hard to move back, wrote yet another Instagram user. A fourth said, There is no perfect place. You make your own perfect, India or America. A boarding school in China has found itself at the centre of controversies after incidents of students being punished by staff members for using the toilet at night came to light. A student, from Yundong Secondary School in Shanxi province, who went to the washroom at 11:00 pm, 15 minutes past curfew, was caught and reprimanded by the staff members. After the incident surfaced online, the boarding school had to face heat from people, who said the school resembled a prison environment with such strict regulations. A South China Morning Post (SCMP) report said, citing Beijing News, that the administrators forced the boy to write a deep self-reflection letter and distribute 1,000 photocopies of the essay to his schoolmates as punishment. In addition to that, the school also deducted five points from his classs monthly discipline score. Moreover, an anonymous teacher informed Beijing News that students were prohibited from walking around the dormitory after 10:45 pm, and there were restrictions on using the toilet as well. In case a student needs to use the toilet after curfew, they reportedly need to contact dorm administrators for permission, reported SCMP. As asked, the student wrote the self-reflection essay. It read, I have seriously breached the school rules, and going to the toilet in the evening not only disturbed other students sleep but also brought shame to my class. The boy also apologised to his classmates and teachers, promising not to repeat this behaviour in the future. The incident also gained traction on social media, sparking significant criticism against the school. Following the outrage, the Education Department of Huairen responded and asked the institute to reflect on their errors, reported the South China Morning Post. The education authority stated, We instructed the school to learn from this incident and reflect on its errors. We told them to revise their discipline policies. Furthermore, the department advised the school to engage with the boy in a caring manner and mandated compensation of 100 yuan (approximately Rs 1,100) to cover the costs of copying the self-reflection essay. In wake of this incident, the officials have also directed all schools in the city to implement appropriate and humane discipline policies to avoid a recurrence of the late-night bathroom incident. Meghan Markles former staff members have spoken out, and while some described her as ambitious and hardworking, others referred to her as a demon and psycho. This revelation comes after a recent article in US Weekly sought to portray Markle in a better light as a good boss who buys her staff bunches of fresh flowers and home-grown eggs, making them feel like seeds being watered. The Daily Beast reported that while some of her former staff members testified Markle was caring, there were others subjected to threatening behaviour by her. One anonymous source, who worked with Meghan when she was still a member of the royal family said, There definitely were bad, very bad, even psycho moments. According to this source, people have been more focused on Markle after she left her royal duties stating that other royals like Princess Margaret and Prince Andrew have been involved in some similar acts yet they continue to hold their royal duties. The major gripe stemmed from a memo sent by Markles ex-press secretary, Jason Knauf, complaining about her treatment of the palace staff. In the complaint, Knauf accused her of bullying two personal assistants to resign and was determined to destabilise another. In 2018, Knauf wrote to Prince Williams then-private secretary Simon Case, saying: I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable. This letter, which came to public domain before Markles interview with Oprah Winfrey, was also used as the confirmation of a toxic workplace. The Duchess of Sussex previously accused the London Times of seeking to smear her when it published the Knauf letter, pointing out that the revelations were published shortly before her highly anticipated interview with Winfrey. Josh Kettler, who was employed by Prince Harry and Markle for only a short time, told the Daily Beast that the two were committed and diligent workers but did not explain why he left after working for the couple for three months only. Similarly, few other former aides spoke only good things about the couple and their experience working with them. This report came after Us Weekly provided a much more pleasant narrative including positive remarks from Ben Browning, who worked on her and Prince Harrys documentary for Netflix in 2022 and Catherine St-Laurent, their former chief of staff, who said she had nice interactions with them and supported the couple. But the Hollywood Reporter provided a different view of events with insiders citing her as belittling her staff and becoming a dictator in high heels. A source said that he witnessed her causing grown men to cry. Over the years, both Markle and Prince Harry have had their problems with high staff turnover rates. Earlier this year, Buckingham Palace reportedly looked into allegations of bullying against the Duchess but the outcome was never disclosed to the public. NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson has safely landed back on Earth following her six-month mission in the International Space Station (ISS). Together with crew members, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, Dysons mission was successfully concluded by a parachute landing in Kazakhstan. The trio undocked from the ISS on September 23 aboard the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft. Dyson was launched earlier this year on March 23 and reached the ISS within two days of the lift-off. She arrived at the station with Belarusian spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya, together with Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy. Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya, together with NASA astronaut Loral OHara, left the station on April 6 and returned to Earth after spending 12 days on board. Her mission lasted 184 days and in that time she orbited the Earth 2,944 times and travelled more than 78 million miles. She also completed a 31-minute spacewalk. Her total spacewalk duration, spread across four spacewalks, was 23 hours and 20 minutes. After 184 days in space, 2,944 orbits of the Earth, 78 million miles traveled, and a safe landing, astronaut Tracy Dysons mission concludes. pic.twitter.com/csgJcgSTSZ NASA (@NASA) September 23, 2024 While on the space station, Dyson participated in the following major scientific experiments: Worked on the 3D bioprinter facility to build the cardiac tissues and facilitate the development of organ transplantation. Involved in the crystallisation of model proteins to assess pharma production equipment. Supervised the program that utilises student-created software to operate autonomous flying machines on the ISS, with the goal of fostering future inventors. Crewmates Achievements Oleg Kononenko has conducted his fifth space mission setting a new record of 1,111 days in space. On his first flight, Nikolai Chub had 374 days in space, covered 158.6 million miles and orbited the Earth 5,984 times. Notably, Kononenko and Chub, who spent 374 days on the ISS, shattered all previous records for the longest stays on the station. Before them, NASAs Frank Rubio and fellow cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin held the record with 371 days while they were stationed at the ISS from September 2022 to September 2023. This makes Kononenko the most experienced spaceman currently. On the other hand, following post-landing medical examinations, Dyson will board a NASA aircraft headed for the Johnson Space Centre in Houston. International travel can sometimes involve long layovers, which can be quite a hassle for passengers. Cramped seating and uncomfortable waiting areas often lead to body aches and headaches, especially when its an overnight stop. However, when the airport is as luxurious as the Abu Dhabi International Airport, one perhaps wont mind having a few hours to spare. An Indian travellers recent post on a layover in Abu Dhabi has caught the attention of social media users. The clip shows an expansive space, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle of passengers waiting in transit. We see an array of luxury brands such as Hermes, Balenciaga and Gucci, among others. Along with this, he also shared glimpses of the impeccable lounge available to passengers. Sharing the video, X user Katreek who was on his way to Madrid, humorously wrote, 13 hours overnight layover in Abu Dhabi before I fly to Madrid. This airport is basically a luxury mall where flights also land & take off. 13 hours overnight layover in Abu Dhabi before I fly to Madrid. this airport is basically a luxury mall where flights also land & take off pic.twitter.com/YV0XSmi55P Karteek (@hkarteek) September 24, 2024 The Abu Dhabi International Airport is famous for its passenger-friendly facilities including luxury shops, Etihad Airways lounges, duty-free shopping and multiple chains of restaurants. Proving this right, Katreek further shared his experience of the Abu Dhabi airport in a follow-up post where he displayed other grand amenities available to passengers. These included a world-class lounge with comfortable couches with attached restrooms where guests could even take hot showers. We also see a glimpse of his healthy and tasty meal. He quipped over how the Emiratis have decoded luxury and hospitality like no one else. Karteek said, Didnt even know one could take long hot showers in an airport. The very concept of lounges was alien but it is totally worth getting yourself a nice credit card that enables access especially if you travel international. also side notethe Emiratis have cracked luxury & hospitality like no one else. didnt even know one could take long hot showers in an airport. the very concept of lounges was alien. but it is totally worth getting yourself a nice credit card that enables access especially if you travel international.also side notethe Emiratis have cracked luxury & pic.twitter.com/hMkg9tz7d6 Karteek (@hkarteek) September 24, 2024 Reacting to the post, a social media user said, Thats some layover Thats some layover Amit Malik (@amitmalik99) September 24, 2024 Another curious user asked, Flying next month there. Any tips/recommendations on the things to do? Flying next month there. Any tips/recommendations on the things to do? Reyaz Ahmad (@reyaz_ahmad_) September 24, 2024 Which is the most luxurious airport that you have been to? Generally, at a school, there are stories of fights and beefs between students, that sometimes lead to rustications and even news headlines. But the situation is opposite at this school in Madhya Pradesh, where two teachers got into a physical altercation. According to Local18, the incident took place in Gwalior, at the Government Secondary School Adupura. The teachers Vidya Raturi and Shishupal Singh Jadaun, were at odds with each other over a grave matter. The tension between the two escalated so much, that it led to a physical fight, added the reports. The situation got so bad that the other teachers were too shocked to intervene with the two and it only got worse. The female teacher accused the male of recording her in the washroom, leading to a dispute, the reports further state. After the video of the fight went viral, one of the teachers decided to complain with the higher police officials. The students reportedly shared the video on Facebook, through which it gained even more attention. As per reports, the media attempted to get more information on the matter from the education department, but no one seemed ready to break their silence. This silence of the department has made the situation even more serious. The reports added that the incident took place on a Wednesday morning when Shishupal was accused by Vidya of following her to the washroom and making a video. According to Vidya, the students have informed them the male teachers make secret videos from outside. She added, In case a teacher gets late by a few minutes, they insult us in front of the students. The viral video seems to be a short Instagram live, which captured the argument as well as the fight between the teachers. It starts with the teachers in a heated argument with each other, the female teacher even confronts the person recording the video. It then reveals two educators ready to beat each other, on the stairs. Shishupal then shows his bleeding nose to the camera saying, Inhone pehle mujhe kyu mara? (Why did she hit me first?) To this, Vidya retorts, Jhoota (Liar). According to Alok Singh Bhadauria, Siroli station in-charge, complaints have been filed by both parties and action is expected to be taken. Social media is a hub for entertaining clips and a recent video shared by digital creator Arindam Sarkar on Instagram has left viewers amused. In the clip, Arindam approaches a schoolgirl and asks her for the full form of CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation). The girl smiles but is unable to answer. Just then, a boy passing by confidently responds with, Central Bank of India, before walking away. The boy later returns, and Arindam continues to quiz him. When asked about the full form of IAS (Indian Administrative Service), the boy gives a partially incorrect answer, Indian Administration Services. However, he correctly identifies the full form of DM as District Magistrate. He also gets the full forms of BSF (Border Security Force) and CID (Crime Investigation Department) right. Impressed by the boys knowledge, Arindam rewards him with chocolates. The video has gone viral, amassing over 13 million views and still counting. Social media users were impressed with the boys intelligence and how he replied to the incorrect answer to only two questions. Average Backbencher, commented one of the users. Another wrote, The power of topper. Others wrote the correct form of CBI in the comment section. Arindam has shared many other clips on her Instagram feed that show him asking questions to 2 girls. The creator assures them of a pizza if they manage to answer his questions correctly. The first question is the Indias national anthem to which she replies, Jana Gana Mana. She also manages to answer the second question correctly, i.e., Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Arindam, the creator, then questions both women about their language of completing their education. One of those girls replied in the Bengali medium, to which he asked her to narrate the Hindi Varnamala in Bengali. She says it fluently. On the completion of the video, as promised, the creator gifts them the pizzas for answering all the questions correctly. The video has garnered more than 1 million views. Users appreciated the girls intelligence. Delivering his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron voiced strong support for Indias inclusion in a reformed UN Security Council (UNSC) as a permanent member. Speaking at the General Assembly in New York, Macron also supported the candidacy of Brazil, Germany, Japan, and two countries from Africa. Lets make the UN more efficient. We need to make it more representative and thats why France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded, he said. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, along with two countries that Africa will decide to represent them, he added. Watch: At UNGA address, French President Emmanuel Macron backs Indias Inclusion in reformed UNSC; he also backed Brazil, Germany, Japan & 2 countries from Africa pic.twitter.com/IAQHZLMCAi Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) September 26, 2024 What Is The UNSC? As one of the six main organs of the UN, the Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It consists of 15 members: five permanent members with veto power (the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The Councils primary functions include the investigation of conflicts, the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the imposition of sanctions, and the authorisation of military action when necessary. It plays a crucial role in addressing global crises and conflicts, making it a key player in international diplomacy. Why Are Reforms The Need Of The Hour? The question of equitable representation has been on the Assemblys agenda since 1979. However, the calls for reform grew louder amid widening conflict worldwide. The UN General Assembly concluded its discussion on Security Council reform in November 2022, when member states had agreed on the need to modernise the 15-member body to maintain the relevance of the United Nations. With the UNSC failing to pass resolutions to stop the Russia-Ukraine war, questions were raised on the veto power of some permanent members. The veto is not a right, but rather a privilege unfairly granted to some member states in violation of the United Nations Charter, the representative of Iran had emphasised. He had also noted that the majority of the Councils members were Western nations. For years now, several member states have backed the idea of expanding both the permanent and non-permanent member categories. Indias Bid For Permanent Seat Several nations, including permanent UNSC members like the US, have expressed support for Indias inclusion in this powerful group. However, China has opposed such a move. Under successive governments, India has continued its efforts to move the process of UNSC reforms forward, including by engaging actively in the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the Security Council reform. As part of the G4, which includes Brazil, Germany, and Japan, New Delhi has advocated for expanding the UNSC to include more nations as permanent members to reflect current geopolitical realities. Macrons latest push for Indias bid came just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated for reformed multilateral forums at the UN stage. On Monday, PM Modi stressed that the future relevance of UN agencies hinges on how swiftly they can reform, implicitly referencing Indias bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council. The long pending UNSC reform continues to be a big talking point. On Sunday, Quad leaders called for urgent reforms to the UNSC to make it more representative and called for its expansion to include representation from more countries. After the leaders summit in President Joe Bidens hometown, Quad leaders called for expanded permanent membership to include representation from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We will reform the UN Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable through expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the UN Security Council, the joint statement read. Nobel laureate and chief adviser to the interim Bangladesh government Muhammad Yunus this week accepted that there was design and conspiracy involved in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the nations former Prime Minister. Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiatives annual meeting, where he was welcomed by former US President Bill Clinton and incumbent President Joe Biden, Yunus paid tribute to Bangladeshi student leaders. They are the ones creating the new version of Bangladeshlets wish them every success, he said. During his speech, Yunus said that no one could make out who was behind the protests but also named Mahfuj Abdullah, indicating that he played a role in Hasinas ouster from the country. He stressed that this was meticulously designed and did not happen by chance. The 84-year-old economist was appointed as the countrys chief advisor in August following the bloody, student-led movement that ousted Hasina, who has since fled the country. There are concerns that the student protests may have been hijacked by external forces. Meanwhile, amid the ongoing turmoil in the country, Biden has offered support as Bangladesh implements its new reform agenda. The US-Bangladesh relationship is rooted in shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties, the White House stated. An invisible hand This reaffirmation of strong ties between the US and Bangladesh comes in light of earlier reports from CNN-News18, which suggested that an invisible hand played a role in the removal of Sheikh Hasina, following deadly protests demanding reform to a jobs reservation system. Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 the event was an official introduction at the world stage for the Nobel laureate. Yunus and his association with the US is well-known, the official had said. During the Clinton Global Initiatives event, Clinton said, A few people on this planet have done as much (as Yunus) to change the lives of ordinary people who would never have had access to credit. Clinton and Yunus friendship dates back to the 1980s, when Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, invited Yunus to visit and share his approach to alleviating poverty through small loans, which had successfully empowered impoverished Bangladeshi women without access to traditional banking services. Yunus, in turn, thanked Clinton for believing in him in his early days, and for standing by him despite criticism at the time for promoting a Bangladeshi economists ideas in America. The sources also reminded that Hasina in an interview accepted that a certain nation wanted her removed because she did not want to deal with them on a port issue. In an earlier interview, Hasina had claimed that she was approached by a white man who offered to build an airbase in return for a smooth re-election in the 2024 general elections which was boycotted by the opposition parties. She had warned that conspiracies are still on to carve a new country out of Bangladesh, like East Timor. The Awami League supremo also added that the white man is also targeting several other nations with his offers. (With inputs from AFP) China notified France before test-firing a long-range ballistic missile into the Pacific on Wednesday, authorities in French Polynesia said, adding that the weapon had landed within its exclusive economic zone. The missile test, which Chinas defence ministry said was carrying a dummy warhead, was its first such exercise in decades. The Chinese authorities previously notified their French counterparts of this test, the French High Commission said in a statement, adding that France would make its position on the test known. French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson earlier told AFP that the missile fell not far from the Marquesas Islands, within the territorys exclusive economic zone. Beijing has stepped up its nuclear development and boosted defence spending in recent years, with the Pentagon warning last October that China was developing its arsenal more quickly than the United States had anticipated. China held more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and is likely to have more than 1,000 by 2030, the Pentagon said. Beijings defence ministry said the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) had carried a dummy warhead and the missile fell into expected sea areas on Wednesday. It also said that the firing was a routine arrangement in our annual training plan and not directed against any country or target. The United States said it received some advanced notification of this ICBM test, describing this as a step in the right direction that helps prevent misperception or miscalculation. But the launch sparked protests from countries in the region, with Chinas neighbour Japan saying it had not been given advance notice. Australia said it was seeking an explanation, while New Zealand calling the launch an unwelcome and concerning development. The Israeli military on Thursday killed Hezbollah drone commander Mohammed Srur, aka Abu Saleh, in an airstrike on a Beirut apartment building. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) released a video of the attack and said that the mission was carried out by the Israeli Air Force and the Intelligence Division. It said the strike was carried out in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh. In recent years, he was one of the project leaders for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles in Lebanon, established sites to create explosives and drones in Lebanon, some of which were located under civilian buildings in the capitals and other areas in Lebanon, the IDF said in a statement. , 26 2024, , , >> pic.twitter.com/9btewwdOwE (@idfonline) September 26, 2024 Precise strikes in Beirut The strike was close to the building where the head of Hezbollahs elite Radwan Force, Ibrahim Aqil, and other commanders were killed in a strike last Friday. The Lebanese health ministry said that the Beirut strikes killed two people and an official said that three missiles targeted a residential apartment in a 10-storey building. Hezbollah, in the aftermath of the strikes, had confirmed that its drone chief was targeted by Israeli forces. A source close to the group told news agency AFP that Israeli airstrikes targeted Mohammed Srur. The Israeli strike targeted the commander of Hezbollahs drone unit, Mohammed Srur, known as Abu Saleh, whose fate is still unclear, the Hezbollah official said at the time, after the Israeli military said it was carrying out precise strikes in Beirut. Hezbollah has now confirmed the death of the head of its air operations, Muhammad Hussein Sarour https://t.co/Ktir8MnmeG pic.twitter.com/ZbWdA5T3xK Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) September 26, 2024 Who Was Mohammed Srur? Srur studied mathematics and was among a number of top advisers sent by Hezbollah to Yemen to train the countrys Houthi rebels, who are also backed by Iran, AFP said. He joined Hezbollah in the 1980s, Israeli news media outlets reported. The IDF has already killed top Hezbollah commanders like Ibrahim Qubaisi, Ibrahim Aqil, Fuad Shukr, Mohammed Nasser and Taleb Abdallah and Srurs death marked at least the fourth time Israel has targeted the groups top commanders in recent days. Full force strikes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to carry out full force strikes against Hezbollah until it ceases firing rockets across the border, dimming hopes for a cease-fire proposal put forth by U.S. and European officials. Netanyahu spoke as he arrived in New York to attend the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, where U.S. and European officials were putting heavy pressure on both sides of the conflict to accept a proposed 21-day halt in the fighting to give time for diplomacy and avert all-out war. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Californias Sacramento city was vandalised with anti-Hindu messages on Wednesday night, less than 10 days after a similar act of desecration was reported at the BAPS temple in New York. Among the disturbing messages found on the walls of the temple in Sacramento were Hindus Go Back, triggering concerns among the local Hindu community. BAPS Public Affairs took to X and said, Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: Hindus go back! We stand united against hate with prayers for peace. Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: Hindus go back! We stand united against hate with prayers for peace. BAPS Public Affairs (@BAPS_PubAffairs) September 25, 2024 No place for religious bigotry According to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, sheriff deputies responded to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather, near Rancho Cordova, where the graffiti was discovered. Deputies also said that vandals had also cut water lines at the property. Responding to the vandalism, Ami Bera, representing Sacramento County in the US House of Representatives posted on X, There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected. Indian-American lawmaker Rohit Khanna said, This type of hate against Hindu Americans and vandalism is appalling and morally wrong. The Department of Justice must investigate these hate crimes, and those responsible should be held fully accountable under the law. Immediate action Another Indian-American lawmaker Shri Thanedar condemned the incident and said that immediate action is needed from the US federal government. BAPS Hindu temple in Sacramento, CA was vandalised overnight with anti Hindu slogans. Immediate action is need from the DOJ. The people responsible for such hate be identified and prosecuted, he said in a post on X. BAPS Hindu temple in Sacramento, CA was vandalised overnight with anti Hindu slogans. Immediate action is need from the DOJ. The people responsible for such hate be identified and procecuted. https://t.co/O5Jpn4dUtF Shri Thanedar (@ShriThanedar) September 25, 2024 Hindu American Foundation, promoting human dignity, mutual respect, and pluralism thanked Beri for raising the issue of hate crime targeting a Hindu temple. Thank you @RepBera. This vandalism is an anti-Hindu hate crime targeting a Hindu temple with messages conflating Hindus with the Govt of India and telling Hindus to go home, posted Hindu American Foundation on X. The earlier incident, at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New York, happened on September 17, drawing condemnation from the Consulate General of India in New York. Several US lawmakers had also condemned the incident and called for swift action against the vandals. In yet another gaffe, US President Joe Biden experienced a moment of confusion during a speech at a New York hotel on Wednesday, where he mistakenly welcomed world leaders to Washington. This blunder comes as the outgoing US president has faced scrutiny over his mental and physical fitness for office. In his Manhattan address, Biden expressed gratitude to the leaders gathered for the annual UN General Assembly, saying, Thank you, thank you, thank you. Welcome to Washington. Without acknowledging his error, he continued with his remarks and reaffirmed US support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict with Russia. He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has waged war on Ukraine for 944 days. Biden forgets hes in NYC, tells world leaders Welcome to Washington during speech in Manhattan https://t.co/vzWJds2ouK pic.twitter.com/LsH63eNiC1 New York Post (@nypost) September 25, 2024 Series of gaffes The event was scheduled to coincide with the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, which Biden addressed on Tuesday. During the Wednesday gathering, Biden spoke ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a notable blunder, Biden referred to Zelenskyy simply as Mr. President, neglecting to use his surname. This comes on the heels of a misstep at the NATO summit in July, where Biden mistakenly introduced Zelensky as President Putin. Just hours earlier, he had called Vice President Kamala Harris Vice President Trump. Following Bidens remarks, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the gathering in person, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke via video feed, the New York Post reported. At 81, Biden is the oldest president in US history. He suspended his campaign for a second term on July 21 after a challenging debate against former President Donald Trump, 78, on June 27. During that debate, Biden appeared confused and made several incoherent statements, including one about finally beating Medicare. US House Speaker Mike Johnson said in July, If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President. He must resign immediately. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez also expressed concerns about Bidens health and decision-making abilities, emphasizing that Americans deserve to feel their president is fit enough to do the job. Bidens current term ends on Jan. 20. A proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon was unveiled by France and the United States on Wednesday as the death toll mounted from Israeli strikes against Hezbollah and reports emerged about Tel Avivs plans for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon. Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi on Wednesday told his troops that the jets flying overhead towards Lebanon are there to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah. According to BBC, the IDF is calling up two reserve brigades for operational missions in the northern parts of the country and positioning them closer to the Lebanese border. Following are the top updates amid the IsraelHezbollah crisis: READ MORE: Prepare Yourselves: Israel Army Chief Tells Troops To Get Ready To Enter Lebanon Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope that a ceasefire can be reached soon to end fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah that has shaken his country. Mikati welcomed the call for a truce but said the key to its implementation was whether Israel, which has been moving troops closer to Lebanon, is committed to enforcing international resolutions. Asked if a ceasefire could be secured soon, Mikati told Reuters: Hopefully, yes. Mikatis caretaker administration includes ministers chosen by Hezbollah, widely seen as the countrys most powerful political force. Najib Mikati expressed hope that a ceasefire can be reached soon to end fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah that has shaken his country. Mikati welcomed the call for a truce but said the key to its implementation was whether Israel, which has been moving troops closer to Lebanon, is committed to enforcing international resolutions. Asked if a ceasefire could be secured soon, Mikati told Reuters: Hopefully, yes. Mikatis caretaker administration includes ministers chosen by Hezbollah, widely seen as the countrys most powerful political force. Temporary ceasefire: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the two Western powers were proposing a temporary ceasefire of 21 days to allow for negotiations. It is urgent that all actors engage resolutely on a path of de-escalation, Barrot told the UNSC during an emergency meeting it held on the Israeli-Hezbollah crisis. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the two Western powers were proposing a temporary ceasefire of 21 days to allow for negotiations. It is urgent that all actors engage resolutely on a path of de-escalation, Barrot told the UNSC during an emergency meeting it held on the Israeli-Hezbollah crisis. During the UNSC meeting , UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and warned, Hell is breaking loose. Guterres urged the Security Council to work in lock-step to end the escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants across the Blue Line in southern Lebanon. , UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and warned, Hell is breaking loose. Guterres urged the Security Council to work in lock-step to end the escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants across the Blue Line in southern Lebanon. Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon the UN chief warned, noting that the exchanges of fire along the UN-patrolled line of separation have expanded in scope, depth and intensity. Monday saw Lebanons bloodiest day in a generation, as Israel continues to bombard largely Hezbollah-controlled territory, doubling down on the devastating electronic device attacks which killed hundreds last week. the UN chief warned, noting that the exchanges of fire along the UN-patrolled line of separation have expanded in scope, depth and intensity. Monday saw Lebanons bloodiest day in a generation, as Israel continues to bombard largely Hezbollah-controlled territory, doubling down on the devastating electronic device attacks which killed hundreds last week. Israel said it welcomed diplomacy on Lebanon but vowed to pursue its goal of degrading Hezbollah. We are grateful for all those who are making a sincere effort with diplomacy to avoid escalation, to avoid a full war, Israels envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told reporters before entering the session. We will use all means at our disposal, in accordance with international law, to achieve our aims, Danon said. on Lebanon but vowed to pursue its goal of degrading Hezbollah. We are grateful for all those who are making a sincere effort with diplomacy to avoid escalation, to avoid a full war, Israels envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told reporters before entering the session. We will use all means at our disposal, in accordance with international law, to achieve our aims, Danon said. The violence comes after the failure to reach a ceasefire in Gaza where Israel for nearly a year has been seeking to wipe out Hamas. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran, which in recent weeks has held back on retaliatory strikes on Israel after attacks targeting Iranian interests, may no longer be restrained. where Israel for nearly a year has been seeking to wipe out Hamas. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran, which in recent weeks has held back on retaliatory strikes on Israel after attacks targeting Iranian interests, may no longer be restrained. The region is on the brink of a full-scale catastrophe . If unchecked, the world will face catastrophic consequences, he told reporters. Israel went ahead with the offensive in Lebanon despite repeated appeals by the United States to avoid a wider war. Risk of escalation in the region is acute, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has made 10 trips to the Middle East since Hamas carried out the deadliest attack ever on Israel on October 7, 2023. . If unchecked, the world will face catastrophic consequences, he told reporters. Israel went ahead with the offensive in Lebanon despite repeated appeals by the United States to avoid a wider war. Risk of escalation in the region is acute, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has made 10 trips to the Middle East since Hamas carried out the deadliest attack ever on Israel on October 7, 2023. Indian Embassy In Lebanon : Amid escalating violence in the region, the Indian Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday urged its nationals to leave Lebanon and warned them against travelling to the Arab state. It also advised Indians to exercise extreme caution while remaining in the country, which is on the brink of an all-out war with Israel. : Amid escalating violence in the region, the Indian Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday urged its nationals to leave Lebanon and warned them against travelling to the Arab state. It also advised Indians to exercise extreme caution while remaining in the country, which is on the brink of an all-out war with Israel. All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon . Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128, the embassy said in a social media post on X. . Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128, the embassy said in a social media post on X. Since mid-September , there has been a dizzying escalation in the nearly yearlong conflict between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah. First came two days of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah attacks pinned on Israel that killed at least 39 people and maimed thousands more. , there has been a dizzying escalation in the nearly yearlong conflict between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah. First came two days of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah attacks pinned on Israel that killed at least 39 people and maimed thousands more. Hezbollahs leader vowed to retaliate , and on Sept. 20 the militant group launched a wave of rockets into northern Israel. Since then, both sides have fired dozens of rockets on a daily basis, forcing hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the north to huddle in air raid shelters, and prompting tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in parts of southern Lebanon where Hezbollah has a strong presence. , and on Sept. 20 the militant group launched a wave of rockets into northern Israel. Since then, both sides have fired dozens of rockets on a daily basis, forcing hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the north to huddle in air raid shelters, and prompting tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in parts of southern Lebanon where Hezbollah has a strong presence. The United Nations said more than 90,000 Lebanese people have been displaced in recent days. Lebanon said Israeli strikes Monday killed more than 560 Lebanese and injured almost 2,000. Several Hezbollah leaders have been targeted in the attacks, including the commander of its most elite unit who was killed in a strike in Beirut. in recent days. Lebanon said Israeli strikes Monday killed more than 560 Lebanese and injured almost 2,000. Several Hezbollah leaders have been targeted in the attacks, including the commander of its most elite unit who was killed in a strike in Beirut. A new Israel-Hezbollah war could be even worse than the one in 2006, which was traumatic enough to serve as a deterrent for both sides ever since. That fighting killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters and an estimated 1,100 Lebanese civilians, and left large swaths of the south and parts of Beirut in ruins. More than 120 Israeli soldiers were killed and hundreds wounded. (With agency inputs) External affairs minister S Jaishankar and Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi met briefly on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Jaishankar shared a photo of him and the Iranian foreign minister from the UNGA in New York and said both met before a meeting of the BRICS nations. With FM @araghchi of Iran ahead of the BRICS meeting, Jaishankar said in the post. The meeting comes in the backdrop of the conflicts in West Asia, where Israel is engaged in conflicts with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as with Yemens Houthis. The meeting of both ministers also comes in the backdrop of the comments made by Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei regarding the Muslim community in India. Earlier this month, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke about the suffering of Muslims in Gaza and Myanmar in a message advocating global Muslim unity. On the occasion of Prophet Mohammeds birth anniversary, he also referenced India, though he did not elaborate on why he mentioned the countrys Muslim minority in his statement posted on X. The external affairs ministry strongly condemned comments made by him and urged countries to look at their own record before commenting on others. In a strongly worded statement, the MEA rejected his remarks about the suffering of Muslims in India, describing them as lacking an understanding of the situation in the country. We strongly deplore the comments made regarding minorities in India by the Supreme Leader of Iran. These are misinformed and unacceptable, the MEA said in a statement issued by the official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Indias External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Russian readout of the meeting said that both ministers discussed Ukraine issues and preparations for the upcoming BRICS Summit. The BRICS, an economic and political group of five emerging nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, heads of state will meet in Russias Kazan in October for a leadership summit. The readout also said that Lavrov discussed with Jaishankar the situation in Asia-Pacific and Western efforts to introduce NATO elements into the region. It also said that they also discussed issues related to Russia-India bilateral relationship and other matters of global importance. Lavrovs reference to NATO-like elements comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Joe Biden at his home in Wilmington for the Quad Summit along with Fumio Kishida of Japan and Anthony Albanese of Australia. Vowing to be a force for good with lasting, positive impact on the Indo-Pacific, Quad leaders stated in the Wilmington Declaration that their nations are more strategically aligned than ever and will strengthen the Indo-Pacific for decades ahead, referring to the region that Russia referred to as Asia-Pacific. Russia in the past has expressed its apprehensions towards the Quad grouping and in 2023 said it, along with AUKUS, is an attempt to contain China. Former Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, on the sidelines of SCO defence ministers meeting in 2023, stated that the US and its allies are actively resisting the creation of a multipolar world in the Asia-Pacific by using military and political alliances like Quad and AUKUS, which are merging with NATO, as counter-measures. Biden insisted that the group would survive whatever the political situation. While challenges will come, the world will change because the Quad is here to stay, Biden told the leaders in his public remarks before journalists were ushered out. Asked by reporters if the Quad would make it past the November 5 election, Biden replied: Way beyond November. Way beyond November. PM Modi made a similar pledge. Our message is, the Quad is here to stay, PM Modi, who is due to host next years Quad summit in India, said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday appeared to reject a temporary truce plan proposed by the United States, European Union, and several Arab states, which called for a 21-day halt in fighting. This came as Israels military conducted fresh airstrikes on Hezbollah hideouts in Beirut, killing drone commander Abu Saleh. This peace proposal followed Israeli airstrikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah that killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands in Lebanon earlier this week. Prime minister didnt even respond to White House officials said Thursday they had coordinated a ceasefire plan with Netanyahu that the US and France presented a day earlier. They believed Israel was fully on board with the proposal and expressed surprise and disappointment at its rejection. The Prime Ministers Office later stated that Netanyahu had never indicated he would support the plan. Netanyahus office that he had assented to the idea, calling it an American-French proposal that the prime minister didnt even respond to. The Prime Minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him. The fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved, his office added. The Prime Ministers Office:The report about a ceasefire is incorrect. This is an American-French proposal that the Prime Minister has not even responded to.The report about the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 26, 2024 Israeli Ministers Threaten PM The Israeli PM is in the government with a coalition. He relies on the support of far-right members who consistently opposed a truce in the Gaza war, which has not stopped. A minister, from the far-right, has threatened that he will quit the Netanyahu cabinet, if the Israeli PM agrees to the proposed truce plan. If a temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah is signed, the (Jewish Power) faction will not fulfil all coalition obligations this includes voting, attending government and cabinet meetings, and any coalition activities, Itamar Ben Gvir said in a party statement, while vowing to resign altogether if a ceasefire became permanent. Key ministers Itamar Ben-Gvit, who heads the national security portfolio, along with finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, both far-right politicians have expressed their disapproval of the peace plan. Netanyahu has relied on these two and their parties to stay in power. Smotrich insisted that continuing the war against Hezbollah was the only way forward. Foreign Minister Israel Katz also opposed any halt to fighting. There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes, Katz said. Residents Fear October 7 Repeat Residents living in northern Israel, who have been impacted by the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, have said ceasefire plans like the one proposed by US and France would only ensure that terror attacks like the one of October 7, happens again. This government of Benjamin Netanyahu must remove the threat of another October 7 next year. (The government) has all the support it needs (to fight Hezbollah and such a situation) must not happen (again), Metula Regional Council chairman David Azulai was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Post. They want to do exactly what Hamas did in the south on October 7, he further added. Another regional lawmaker told the outlet that this was not a time for negotiations. This is a time for war! We must not be misled by international pressure, Amir Sofer said. Israel earlier this month said it was shifting its focus from Gaza, where it has been fighting a war with Hamas since the October 7 attack, to securing its border with Lebanon. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on charges that he took illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city. Adams, a former police officer, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment that describes a decade-long trail of crimes. The US attorneys office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his mayoral campaign. A senior official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment facilitated many straw donations to Adams and arranged for Adams and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkeys national airline to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey, the indictment alleges. Adams compounded his gains from the illegal campaign contributions by gaming the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. His campaign received more than $10,000 in matching funds as a result of the false certifications, according to the indictment. Adams allegedly solicited and demanded bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official, the indictment alleges, noting that the official was seeking Adams help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails in order to falsely suggest he had paid for travel benefits that were actually free, prosecutors allege. He also deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, at one point assuring a co-conspirator that he always deleted her text messages, according to the indictment. The charges were made public hours after FBI agents entered the mayors official residence and seized his phone early Thursday. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again), Adams lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement hours before the indictment was made public. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. In a video speech released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to fights any charges against him, claiming he had been made a target in a case based on lies. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit, he said. The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have honed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that have thrust City Hall into crisis. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan has declined to comment on the investigation, though it said it would announce significant public corruption charges at an 11:30 a.m. news conference. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment. A spokesperson for the mayor did not immediately respond to questions Thursday morning. Adams spent 22 years in New York Citys police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as the citys second Black mayor in 2021. In a video speech released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to fight any charges against him, claiming he had been made a target in a case based on lies. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Her spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement. The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have homed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations. Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. In the last two weeks alone, the citys police commissioner and head of the schools system have announced their resignations. FBI agents had seized Adams electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters. In early September, federal investigators seized devices from his police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted confidants both in and out of City Hall. All have denied wrongdoing. Meteorologist/Multimedia Journalist Per grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from South Dakota Mines. He found his passion for weather reporting by the impact it has on the community, both in how people work and how it brings people together through severe weather preparation. He also has a passion for preventing health issues with Air Quality Index awareness. Per can be found enjoying outdoor activities in the Black Hills when the weather allows. UPDATE Sep 26, 2024 3:55 PM CDT A Pennsylvania woman charged with killing her two young children, who were found hanging in the basement of their home, has been convicted. Lisa Snyder, 41, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and evidence tampering, the AP reports. Berks County District Attorney John Adams praised the verdict. "This was a nightmare of a case from day one," he said. A psychiatrist testified for the defense that, given years of mental health issues, Snyder could have been in a psychotic state at the time of the killings. A prosecution expert said he didn't see any reason Snyder wouldn't have known right from wrong. Sentencing is scheduled for next month. Dec 2, 2019 12:34 PM CST The story, as Lisa Rachelle Snyder told it, was horrifying: The Pennsylvania mother called 911 on Sept. 23, saying that only minutes before she had discovered her two young children hanging from a support beam in the basement of their Albany Township home. She referenced her 8-year-old son, Conner, having been bullied and threatening suicide, and said he had told her he "didn't want to go alone." His 4-year-old sister, Brinley, was hanging with him, and the two died three days later. Now, a horrifying twist: Snyder was on Monday charged in their deaths, with the 36-year-old hit with counts of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and tampering with evidence, among other charges, reports the Morning Call. What's known: Ohio Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski has deleted a controversial Facebook post suggesting that addresses of Kamala Harris supporters should be noted so immigrants could be sent to live with them. The post from the Portage County sheriff, a supporter of former President Trump, likened illegal immigrants to "human locusts"; it appeared on his personal Facebook account and his campaign's account. The post provoked a backlash from Democrats who perceived it as a threat, while his supporters defended it as an exercise of free speech. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio demanded Zuchowski remove the post, calling it an "impermissible threat" against residents displaying political yard signs. Zuchowski did not comment on why he removed it. Responding to the uproar, the Portage County Board of Elections voted to remove the sheriff's office from election security roles, citing concerns about voter intimidation. The board's decision means Ravenna police will handle election security during early voting, starting October 8, and in future elections if the incumbent sheriff is running. The motion was prompted by community concerns, expressed during a packed NAACP meeting. Board member Randi Clites emphasized the need for a safe voting environment, while Republican Amanda Suffecool criticized the move as political, arguing that Zuchowski's remarks were not as threatening as perceived. In a later post, Zuchowski suggested his comments "may have been a little misinterpreted??" He noted voters can make their own choices, but "have to accept responsibility for their actions." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot . Source: the AP In what multiple news outlets are painting as an apparent threat to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced proposed changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine. He highlighted one in particular, NBC News reports: "It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation," he said. That condition would cover Ukraine, which is itself non-nuclear, but which is backed by a number of nuclear-armed nations, the BBC reports. Fox News calls it "a pointed warning to the West" over its support of Ukraine. "Regardless of whether you think this is a bluff or not, it's never good when a major nuclear power loosens the conditions for nuclear use in its declaratory policy," noted one political scientist on X. Putin made the remarks at the opening of a meeting of Russia's Security Council, a day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington to discuss the possibility of Ukraine using long-range weapons in order to hit targets deeper inside Russia (which Putin has already said would put the West at war with Russia). Also Wednesday, the White House announced $375 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.) President Biden will meet with Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House Thursday in what could be the Ukrainian president's "final chance to convince a receptive American president of his country's war aims," CNN reports. Laying out his plan for victory amid increasing war weariness from allies, Zelensky will make the case that Ukraine can avoid losing territory if it receives enough US assistance, sources tell the outlet. Ukraine will also request the ability to use US weapons as it wishes, Finnish President Alexander Stubb tells the Wall Street Journal . Publicly, Biden has refused to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided by the West to strike deep inside Russia, though he's "recently appeared more open" to that possibility, per CNN. On Thursday, Biden announced an estimated $8 billion in aid for Ukraine, to include new long-range weapons, without saying how they'd be used, per the Hill and CNN. He said he'd directed the Defense Department "to allocate all of its remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated for Ukraine by the end of my term in office." In addition to more US assistance, Zelensky will reportedly push for long-term security guarantees for Ukraine that would stretch beyond the US election. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee whom Zelensky will also meet Thursday, has vowed to continue supporting Ukraine. But former President Trump, the Republican nominee, has indicated he will end US military support for the country. "Ukraine is gone," he said Wednesday, per NBC News, faulting Zelensky for not accepting a peace deal. Zelensky is not expected to meet with Trump, whom he recently said "doesn't really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how." (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.) UPDATE Sep 26, 2024 8:38 AM CDT FBI agents entered the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and seized his phone early Thursday morninghours before an indictment detailing criminal charges against the Democrat is expected to be made public. Adams is already defiantly denying the charges, and his lawyer denounced the raid on his residence as an unnecessary "spectacle," per the AP. "They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in," said Alex Spiro. Sep 26, 2024 1:00 AM CDT New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to two people familiar with the matter, an extraordinary culmination to weeks of searches, subpoenas, and resignations of top officials that have thrust the city's government into crisis. The indictment detailing the charges against Adams, a Democrat, was expected to be unsealed Thursday, according to the people, who spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The US attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment. More: A Finnish zoo has decided to send back a pair of giant pandas to China years ahead of schedule. The Ahtari Zoo announced that the pandas, Lumi and Pyry, will return to China due to financial strains, exacerbated by a dwindling number of visitors. The decision comes as the zoo battles consequences related to the coronavirus pandemic, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and economic inflation. Lumi and Pyry were part of a 15-year loan agreement signed in 2017, meant to celebrate Finland's centennial of independence. The pandas arrived in January 2018. Despite investments like the $9 million Panda House, the zoo has struggled to lure enough tourists and has found maintaining the pandas too costly, with annual expenses reaching more than $1.6 million. Measures, including Chinese embassy efforts, have failed to mitigate the zoo's financial woes. The pandas will be shipped back after a month-long quarantine starting in late October. The zoo's struggle underscores the broader economic challenges faced globally. Finland, which established diplomatic ties with China in 1950, was the first Nordic country to receive giant pandas as a goodwill gesture. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) Hong Kong has welcomed a new pair of giant pandas, An An and Ke Ke, gifted by Beijing. Their arrival marks the third pair sent from mainland China since the city reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. These additions follow the birth of twins by Ying Ying last month, making Hong Kong home to six pandas. "Justice delayed is justice denied, and today, justice was unequivocally denied to those who deserve it most," Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said in a statement after a judge abruptly recused himself from the rape trial of a 93-year-old Catholic priest on what was supposed to be the first day of jury selection. The move further delays the trial of Lawrence Hecker, which Judge Ben Willard had overseen for more than a year, the Guardian reports. The DA's office had 11 witnesses set to testify, including the alleged victim, who said he was a high school student when Hecker choked him unconscious and raped him in a church in 1975. The witnesses, including several others who said Hecker molested them, "had to go through the sordid details of these abuses at the hand of this pedophile priest" as the DA's office prepared them for the trial, said Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a New Orleans criminal justice watchdog group. "Everyone walked into court expecting that this is the day of justice, only to find out that the judge, without any advance warning, decided to transfer the case." Hippos are seeing somewhat of a popularity boost lately thanks to internet star Moo Deng , but one British tourist will probably be fine if he doesn't see one for a while. The BBC reports on a trip to southern Africa that Warwickshire resident Roland Cherry took in June with his wife that included a guided canoe safari on Zambia's Kafue River. The couple were floating down the waterway when a hippo slammed into their vessel, "much like a car crash," Roland Cherry tells the broadcaster. That's when the canoe "reared up in the air," tossing both Cherry and his spouse into the water. Shirley Cherry somehow managed to get to shore, but her husband's shoulder had dislocated, making it hard for him to swim with just one functional arm. As the hippo snatched him and dragged him under the surface, Roland Cherry thought to himself, "Oh no, what a way to go ... I'm not ready to die." He managed to briefly escape, but the hippo wasn't done. "I was grabbed again and thrown through the air like a rag doll," he says, adding that that final hurl put him closer to people on a nearby boat, who ended up pulling him to safety. The BBC notes that Cherry found out later the hippo had been a mama protecting her calf. In addition to the dislocated shoulder, Cherry was also hurt on his thigh and suffered a 10-inch wound on his abdomena lucky break, considering nurses at the hospital he was taken to told him they'd never met a survivor of a hippo attack. The couple are now raising money for the hospital as thanks for tending to him. "They've given me ... a second chance at life and I need to give back to them," he says. He's hoping to raise more than $25,000 so that the hospital can buy new medical equipment, per the Guardian. As for his newfound nemesis, Cherry tells the BBC, "I don't hate hippos, despite one attacking me." (More hippopotamus stories.) With the possibility of an Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon to go after the militant group Hezbollah, the United States, France, and other allies proposed a 21-day ceasefire this week. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati seemed keen on the idea, but Israeli leadersnot so much. "There will be no ceasefire in the north," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote Thursday on X, per Reuters. "We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes." More: Not biting: The Times of Israel reports that reception of the proposal has been "lukewarm" from others in Israel as well, with even opposition leader Yair Lapid offering just "milquetoast support." Lapid suggested a shorter seven-day ceasefire "in order not to allow Hezbollah to restore its command and control systems." The Times of Israel reports that reception of the proposal has been "lukewarm" from others in Israel as well, with even opposition leader Yair Lapid offering just "milquetoast support." Lapid suggested a shorter seven-day ceasefire "in order not to allow Hezbollah to restore its command and control systems." Netanyahu: The office of the Israeli prime minister hasn't yet responded to the allies' proposal, but it did echo sentiments from his foreign minister. "The Prime Minister instructed the IDF to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to him," the office said, per NBC News. There's a documentary currently in production about the history of Sean "Diddy" Combs' alleged crimes, on the heels of his arrest earlier this month on sex trafficking, racketeering, and other charges and it's in the hands of a fellow rapper. A publicist for Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, confirms to the Washington Post that Fiddy is working on a Diddy-themed docuseries for Netflix. The project is being directed by Alexandria Stapleton; both Stapleton and 50 Cent are listed as executive producers. "This is a story with significant human impact," 50 Cent and Stapleton say in a statement to Variety. "It is a complex narrative spanning decades, not just the headlines or clips seen so far. We remain steadfast in our commitment to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives." The series was in the works before Combs' arrest; 50 Cent first announced it back in December, amid his longtime rivalry with Combs. TMZ reports that on Wednesday, the former trolled the latter by posting on social media an edited pic of a bottle of baby oil that he renamed "Diddy Oil," a reference to the reports that a massive number of oil bottles were found at Combs' residences by the feds who raided his homes (Combs' lawyer simply says his client likes to buy things in bulk at Costco). In another post, 50 Cent wrote: "I been telling y'all about all this weird s---, I don't do NO puffy party's. you didn't believe me but I bet you believe me now!" story continues below Ultimately, 50 Cent and Stapleton hope that the "disturbing" Diddy allegations don't mar their industry at large. "We urge all to remember that Sean Combs' story is not the full story of hip-hop and its culture," they say in their statement. "We aim to ensure that individual actions do not overshadow the culture's broader contributions." Combs, meanwhile, has denied the accusations against him. One rapper who's offering Combs (or at least Combs' family) some grace: James Todd Smith, aka LL Cool J. "I feel for his kids," LL recently told the AP. (More 50 Cent stories.) Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was disbarred in Washington, DC, on Thursday, months after he lost his law license in New York for pursuing false claims that then-President Donald Trump made about his 2020 presidential election loss. The brief ruling from Washington DC's appeals court said Giuliani didn't respond to an order to explain why he shouldn't be disbarred in Washington after he lost his law license in New York over the summer. Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, called the decision "an absolute travesty and a total miscarriage of justice," per the AP. North Korea has potentially amassed enough enriched uranium to construct a "double-digit" number of nuclear bombs and is advancing its missile technology, according to Seoul's National Intelligence Service. The intelligence was revealed in a closed parliamentary briefing. This disclosure follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent public visit to a facility producing weapons-grade uranium, demonstrating his intent to "exponentially" boost the nation's nuclear arsenal. The South Korean intelligence agency detailed that North Korea possesses approximately 154 pounds of plutonium and ample weapons-grade uranium and could build "at least a double-digit number" of weapons. Two key sites, Yongbyon and a suspected facility in Kangson near Pyongyang, are linked to these uranium enrichment activities. Analysts believe even more undisclosed enrichment locations exist within North Korea. Kim's facility visit was likely a show of defiance directed at the US. The South Korean agency suggests North Korea might delay its next nuclear test until after the US presidential election, opting to test other provocative measures first, such as a long-range missile or reconnaissance satellite launch. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) The Biden administration has put up $20 million in reward money for a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps charged in a plot to kill a former US national security adviser. The offer is good for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Shahram Poursafi, USA Today reports. US officials said the scheme to kill John Bolton, who served in Donald Trump's administration, is part of a larger plot against Americans in retaliation for the then-president's order to kill Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020. U.S. authorities say Shahram tried to hire criminals in the US between October 2021 to April 2022 to kill Bolton in Washington, DC, or Maryland. Bolton now is under 24-hour guard, per NBC News. "When they come after us, government officials, current and former, for doing their job, really, that's an attack on the United States government itself," he said. Intelligence officials briefed Trump this week about an Iranian assassination plot against him. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Wednesday that the administration is "tracking very intensely an ongoing threat by Iran against a number of senior officials." He said possible targets include Trump as well as current members of the Biden administration. Poursafi, who is at large abroad, was charged in August 2022. An analyst said the reward is unusually high for a terrorist suspect. "That is a statement," said Matthew Levitt. Iran has denied intending to kill US current or former officials. "We do not assassinate people," Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif told NBC, "but the fact of the matter isthey assassinated a revered Iranian general." (More Iran stories.) A strange moment in American politics emerged at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, courtesy of a top Haitian official. Edgard Leblanc Fils, the president of Haiti's transitional council, spoke to world leaders about gang violence in his country and bemoaned the large number of citizens fleeing the violence. Then he referenced false claims that Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, per the AP . "I would like to extend a brotherly greeting to all friends of Haiti that have shown solidarity towards the migrants from our countryand in particular those living in Springfield, Ohio," he said. The history of US-Haitian ties "enables us to say with confidence that the American people reject any incitement to hate against our community," he said. Both Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance have promoted the pet-eating claims. "The passions that naturally arise during an election campaign should never serve as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country such as the United States, a country forged by immigrants from all countries, and which has become a model of democracy for the world," said Fils. (More Haiti stories.) TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com Email: editor@newsofbahrain.com Six men have been charged after a chase at sea, during which authorities caught them using banned bottom trawl nets to haul in 40 kilograms of fresh shrimp. The Public Prosecution has now referred the four Indian fishermen and two Bahraini accomplices to the Minor Criminal Court, following an investigation into their illegal fishing activities. The case came to light when the Coast Guard spotted a boat carrying the Indian suspects, who were fishing with bottom trawl nets, locally known as Kofa, a method prohibited by law. The men attempted to flee when they saw the patrol, but officers pursued and apprehended them. Forty kilograms of freshly caught shrimp were found aboard the vessel, which lacked proper safety equipment, including life jackets, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit. Investigations revealed the involvement of two Bahraini nationals who had aided in the illegal operation. They have also been arrested and are being held in custody. The authorities have seized the boat involved as evidence. The Chief of the Ministries and Public Bodies Prosecution expressed concern over the damage such illegal fishing methods can cause to Bahrains marine life. Bottom trawl nets are extremely harmful to the marine environment. They are designed to catch large amounts of fish, often trapping species that are not targeted, leading to a decline in marine biodiversity, he said. The nets are also known to destroy vital marine habitats, such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, which has a detrimental effect on the wider ecosystem. Moreover, juvenile fish often become caught in these nets, jeopardising the long-term sustainability of fish stocks. In addition to the illegal fishing, the defendants have been charged with failing to display proper navigational lights, sailing without a valid licence, as well as obstructing law enforcement during the inspection. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com Ambassador Ali Hassan Al Ahmadi of the Republic of Yemen to the Kingdom of Bahrain confirmed that the five Bahraini nationals detained in Yemen are still under investigation by the relevant authorities in Marib province. Ambassador Al Ahmadi stated that the embassy does not have information regarding the nature of the investigations or the expected duration of the proceedings. He emphasised that the Bahraini Ministry of Interior is in direct contact with its Yemeni counterpart to monitor the situation. The five Bahraini citizens were detained last month by Yemeni security forces in Marib, located northeast of the capital, Sana'a, after crossing into Yemen from Oman with the intention of traveling to southern Saudi Arabia, as confirmed by their families. Meanwhile, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior is actively monitoring their health conditions to ensure their safety and well-being, as well as keeping track of the legal proceedings initiated by the Yemeni authorities. It's worth noting that the father of one of the detainees in Yemen had reported receiving reassuring calls from his son and the other detainees, indicating that investigations into their case have concluded and their release is imminent. Speaking to our sister newspaper "Alayam" the father stated that his son informed him of a verbal notification from the Yemeni authorities confirming the completion of the investigation and the absence of any legal complications. The detainees were assured of their release and expected return to Bahrain soon, the father stated. He also expressed his gratitude for the efforts of Bahraini authorities, particularly the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, in following up on the case and facilitating the release of the detainees. The Daily Tribune reported earlier this month that MP Jalal Kazim had briefed the families of Bahraini citizens detained in Yemen on the latest developments regarding their loved ones' situation, while the families appealed to His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to intervene and end the suffering of their detained relatives. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Educational Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), reaffirmed the Kingdom of Bahrains ongoing commitment to initiatives designed to provide quality opportunities for citizens. These initiatives aim to enhance career development and empower Bahrainis as active participants in the Kingdoms economic progress and national development led by His Majesty the King and under the close guidance of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. His Highness stated that the commendable achievements of Team Bahrain across various economic sectors encourage a stronger focus on expanding opportunities for Bahrainis. This includes employment, career development, and entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors for the advancement of our Kingdom and its people. These comments were made during the third quarter Board of Directors meeting of Tamkeen, chaired by His Highness, where key milestones since the launch of Tamkeens largest support bundle were reviewed. Updates were provided on Tamkeens three main initiatives: Employment Support, Career Development Support, and Enterprise Support. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), presented the progress made against the 2024 KPIs, highlighting significant progress in meeting this years targets. Among the achievements,12,017 Bahrainis entered the labour market through employment support, 20,032 Bahrainis received career development assistance, and 7,090 enterprises benefited from various programs, with 52% of supported enterprises being Small and Medium Enterprises. Since the launch of Tamkeens initiatives in November of last year, over 32,000 Bahrainis have benefitted from wage support and career development opportunities, marking Tamkeens highest performance to date. Currently, 47% of Bahraini employees in the private sector are recipients of Tamkeens employment and wage support programmes. The meeting also highlighted Tamkeens economic impact at both individual and enterprises levels, with a focus on job placement, career development, and enterprise support. A first of its kind in Canada an 'all-in-one' target age solution that simplifies retirement income TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Five million Canadians will turn 65 this decade and be one step closer to retirement. Today, Sun Life introduced Sun Life MyRetirement Income, an innovative first for Canadians that provides retirees with a reliable source of income, while maintaining flexibility and the potential for continued investment growth. This fully automated solution can help ease the transition from saving to drawing income in retirement. Industry first from Sun Life helps Canadian retirees transition their savings into income "With 40% of Canadians worried about outliving their savings, providing support and sustainable retirement income is essential," says Eric Monteiro, Senior Vice-President of Group Retirement Services at Sun Life. "Retirement should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment, not financial stress. We knew we had to find a solution to simplify the process to make Canadians' money last. Sun Life MyRetirement Income ushers in a new era of decumulation for Canadians." Designed to be simple because retirement is complex This fully automated solution, designed in collaboration with Sun Life Global Investments, is an easy and flexible way to help Clients' savings last to the age they want ('maturity age'). Currently, no solution in Canada combines all three of the below benefits in one offering. Reliable income that lasts. The solution turns savings into income all the way through to the selected maturity age. Clients will receive regular payments delivered directly to their bank account, similar to a paycheque. The solution turns savings into income all the way through to the selected maturity age. Clients will receive regular payments delivered directly to their bank account, similar to a paycheque. Flexibility. Individuals can change their maturity age and decide how often they receive payments. They also have full access to their account balance. Money can be withdrawn or added at any time, without fees or penalties. Individuals can change their maturity age and decide how often they receive payments. They also have full access to their account balance. Money can be withdrawn or added at any time, without fees or penalties. Opportunity for growth. Clients can continue to grow their savings throughout retirement. Their savings are invested in a well-diversified portfolio that is specifically designed for individuals in retirement, properly balancing risk and return to generate stable investment returns. "Sun Life Global Investments is proud to be leading the industry with this market-first solution that addresses a significant gap in retirement solutions for Canadians," says Oricia Smith, President, SLGI Asset Management Inc. and Senior Vice-President, Investment Solutions, Sun Life Canada. "The need for financial advice doesn't end in retirement. This unique category of target age solutions automates retirement income, and Canadians benefit from built in advice. It takes the guess work out of retirement and helps their money last so they can enjoy life with financial confidence." Clients have one important decision to make the maturity age, 85, 90, 95 or 100. Each year, payments will be recalculated based on a Client's account balance. These payments will also reflect investment performance and any changes a Client made throughout the previous year. In the accumulation phase, target date funds automate the savings journey for plan members, and the complex investment decisions are taken care of by the professionals. The solution allows for a fully automated experience, simplifying retirement income for Clients so they can focus on living their best retirement. Sun Life MyRetirement Income is exclusively available through our Client Solutions Centre to Sun Life Group Retirement Services plan members transitioning into retirement. Learn more about Sun Life MyRetirement Income now. About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2024, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.46 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. About Sun Life Global Investments Sun Life Global Investments was purpose built to combine the strength of Sun Life with some of the best asset managers in the world. Since then, we've become a trusted wealth management firm for so many Canadiansmanaging over $58 billion across a diverse selection of retail mutual funds, insured wealth products, pension funds and other institutional funds, including $12 billion in our flagship Sun Life Granite Target Date Funds (as of June 30, 2024). As part of the Sun Life group of companies we have access to a depth of resources, giving us (and ultimately our Clients) unique advantages. We are driven by our goal to help plan sponsors deliver the best possible retirement for their members. And our unique advantages help us continually enhance our funds and develop new and innovative solutions to achieve this goalto and through retirement. For more information visit www.slgiinstitutional.com. Sun Life Global Investments is a trade name of SLGI Asset Management Inc., Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and Sun Life Financial Trust Inc. all of which are members of the Sun Life group of companies. Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars Media Relations Contact: Alexandra Dalipi Manager Corporate Communications T. 416-526-6881 [email protected] SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc. - Financial News OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - Note: All times local National Capital Region, Canada The Prime Minister will welcome the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, to Parliament Hill. Notes for media: Open coverage Media wishing to cover the event must be accredited with the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery. The Prime Minister will meet with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Note for media: Pooled photo opportunity Greater Montreal Area, Quebec The Prime Minister will host a working luncheon on artificial intelligence with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Note for media: Pooled photo opportunity The Prime Minister will participate in a joint media availability with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Notes for media: Open coverage Media are asked to arrive no later than 2:30 p.m. Media interested in participating can contact [email protected] for details. The Prime Minister will host a reception in honour of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and deliver remarks. Notes for media: Open coverage for the remarks Media are asked to arrive no later than 7:30 p.m. Media interested in participating can contact [email protected] for details. This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca SOURCE Prime Minister's Office PMO Media Relations: [email protected] / pm.gc.ca/en/media TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Premium outdoor lifestyle brand, Roots Corporation ("Roots," or the "Company") (TSX: ROOT) announces a three-year partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), effective September 2024. The partnership was born out of a natural opportunity for two like-minded organizations to come together in an effort to protect and conserve Canada's habitats, consisting of forests, wetlands, and shorelines, with the long-term vision of achieving a more sustainable future for all. Roots Announces Multi-Year Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) Partnership (CNW Group/Roots) In the first year, Roots will be supporting the NCC's conservation efforts in the Frontenac Arch Natural Area located in eastern Ontario just north of Kingston and northeast of the St. Lawrence River. This is one of the most biodiverse regions in Canada and a place of great beauty that links the Canadian Shield from Algonquin Park with the Adirondacks Mountains in New York State. Home to thousands of species, the Frontenac Arch serves as a critical habitat linkage through to New York State. It was designated as a UNSECO World Biosphere Reserve in 2002 and is one of the most important forest corridors east of the Rocky Mountains. NCC works here protecting wilderness for species like black bear, moose and eastern wolf, bats, insects and dozens of bird species. Nature has been at the foundation of the Roots DNA since its inception in 1973 in Canada's Algonquin Park. Since then, the brand has developed a rich history of supporting a diverse range of communities and charitable partners. These partnerships align with, and support, the brand's core values of community and authenticity, whilst ensuring efforts contribute to creating positive change today and for future generations. The collaboration with NCC strengthens Roots mission to support and conserve Canada's natural spaces while identifying and addressing critical environmental needs. "At Roots, nature is not just an influence but a core element of our inspiration and product design," commented Meghan Roach, President and CEO of Roots Corporation. "Our deep connection with Algonquin Park has shaped our brand identity for over five decades and remains integral to our ethos. Partnering with the Nature Conservancy of Canada is a natural evolution for usan extension of our commitment to protecting the very source of our inspiration." Throughout the multi-year commitment, Roots will work collaboratively with NCC to identify initiatives requiring priority focus based on research and ongoing analyses. "Our partnership with Roots marks an exciting step forward in accelerating conservation, starting with the Frontenac Arch Natural Area in Ontario," says Catherine Grenier, president and CEO of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. "Multi-year partnerships like this are essential to successful conservation outcomes. Roots' investment in nature is building resilient ecosystems that will thrive for generations." By supporting conservation in the Frontenac Arch , the two organizations will also be contributing to Canada's conservation goals. Other benefits include connecting existing conservation lands and ensuring pathways for species to move throughout their life cycles, the care of existing conservation lands, expanding partnerships in the community to further conservation outcomes, and the prioritization of safe and accessible visitor experiences on lands. NCC currently owns and manages over 2,870 hectares and has assisted with an additional 2,985 hectares of protected habitat in the Frontenac Arch. In February 2020, Roots launched " Roots Cares ," a program designed to give back to and partner with communities in need. Since its launch, Roots has donated approximately $3.6 million, along with in-kind donations to various organizations within communities in which Roots operates. Roots is deeply committed to preserving the landscapes that inspire the brand. Supporting NCC's efforts to conserve Canada's habitats is a commitment both organizations proudly embrace. Together, the goal is to generate meaningful change and promote a brighter, more sustainable future for all. To learn more about Roots and its charitable initiatives, please visit roots.com/ca/en/roots-cares. ABOUT ROOTS CORPORATION Established in 1973, Roots is a global lifestyle brand. Starting from a small cabin in northern Canada, Roots has become a global brand with over 100 corporate retail stores in Canada, two stores in the United States, and an eCommerce platform, roots.com . We have more than 100 partner-operated stores in Asia, and we also operate a dedicated Roots-branded storefront on Tmall.com in China. We design, market, and sell a broad selection of products in different departments, including women's men's, children's, and gender-free apparel, leather goods, footwear, and accessories. Our products are built with uncompromising comfort, quality, and style that allows you to feel At Home With Nature. We offer products designed to meet life's everyday adventures and provide you with the versatility to live your life to the fullest. We also wholesale through business-to-business channels and license the brand to a select group of licensees selling products to major retailers. Roots Corporation is a Canadian corporation doing business as "Roots" and "Roots Canada". ABOUT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CANADA (NCC) The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country's unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our country's most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca. SOURCE Roots For Roots press inquiries, please contact: Nicole Legate, Director of PR & Social, [email protected], 647-828-5128; Andrew Holland, National Media Relations Director, Nature Conservancy of Canada, [email protected], 506-260-0469 HAMILTON, ON, Sept. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation is announcing a $550,000 donation over three years from BMO to fund the creation of two new positions designed to improve access to culturally safe care for Indigenous individuals at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. This gift will further enhance the Hospital's commitment to creating a five-person Indigenous care team in 2025. Representatives from BMO, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, and St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation gather to acknowledge a $550,000 donation designed to expand and enhance culturally safe care at St. Joe's for Indigenous patients and clients. (CNW Group/St. Joseph''s Healthcare Hamilton Foundation) BMO logo (CNW Group/St. Joseph''s Healthcare Hamilton Foundation) Over 5,000 St. Joe's leaders, staff and volunteers will benefit from the creation and roll-out of organizational Indigenous cultural safety training designed to strengthen knowledge and awareness among healthcare workers, learners and volunteers to support them in providing culturally safe care. Through its Prioritizing Indigenous Wellness Pathway, it's estimated that St. Joe's will be able to help 100 Indigenous clients per year to receive expedited access to mental health and substance use care. This partnership will ultimately advance the depth and breadth of culturally appropriate services accessible to Indigenous communities in the region. "We're grateful for this new $550,000 donation from BMO that will enable our hospital to invest in key roles focused on improving access to care for Indigenous patients and reinforcing our commitment to taking action on Truth and Reconciliation," says Sera Filice, President and CEO, St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation. "The operational funding hospitals receive is essential to ongoing care provision, but it isn't always enough to fund programs that are critical to reducing the disparities in health outcomes Indigenous people face. This is where philanthropy can play a key role." "We know that experiences of anti-Indigenous racism can lead to increased risk of physical and mental health difficulties. Anti-Indigenous racism is also a barrier to accessing care," explains Lisa Jeffs, Senior EDI Consultant at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. "To compound that, Western models of healthcare provision have not historically made space for cultural healing practices that are important to many of our Indigenous patients. But with this new gift from BMO, the roles it's enabling us to hire, and with the direction of Indigenous community members in Hamilton, we're working to change that." "BMO is committed to building an inclusive society by supporting greater accessibility to quality healthcare for Indigenous people," said Clio Straram, Head, Indigenous Banking Unit, BMO. "BMO's Zero Barriers to Inclusion strategy focuses on providing access to opportunities and enabling growth for the communities we serve and is part of our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. This donation will help enable Indigenous Peoples to receive effective, culturally sensitive treatment through understanding and connection during their time at St. Joe's." This gift is the latest in a series of investments by BMO to reduce disparity in health outcomes among Indigenous populations. Since 2017, BMO has made commitments exceeding $10 million towards Indigenous Health with a priority to continuously expand support, which has grown steadily year after year. About the roles: Full-time Indigenous Clinician Role A full-time clinical role dedicated to helping Indigenous individuals receive effective mental health care as quickly as possible. The role will help formalize the Prioritizing Indigenous Wellness Pathway and improve access to culturally safe, trauma-informed mental health care for Indigenous peoples. This role builds on a pandemic pilot program led by Dr. Caitlin Davey, a Clinical Psychologist who identifies as a mixed background Indigenous (Haudenosaunee - Cayuga Nation, Polish and Scottish) woman, in collaboration with the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre and the De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre to fast-track mental health referrals for those Indigenous to Turtle Island. The pilot program saw 50 referrals within months of its launch. St. Joe's estimates that once this clinician is hired, the program will help 100 clients annually. Part-time Indigenous Advisor Role St Joe's will recruit and hire a part-time Indigenous Advisor to help develop and implement an Indigenous Cultural Safety Training plan, review hospital policies and procedures from an anti-Indigenous racism lens, and work with colleagues to expand the hospital's relationships with local Indigenous leaders and communities with the goal of improved access to care, improved health outcomes, and greater health equity. Representatives from BMO were on site at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton today to announce the gift at an event marking the steps the Hospital is taking along its journey towards greater Truth and Reconciliation, and its commitment to continuous reflection, consultation and improvement. Job postings for the two new roles will be posted in November 2024 and can be found on www.joinstjoes.ca/. The Hospital's stated intention is to hire individuals who self-identify as Indigenous. BMO Gives. Good grows here. Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO's Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. In 2023, our social impact included more than $84 million donated to hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations across North America to help drive progress by enabling individuals to thrive and communities to prosper. Our colleagues spent almost 62,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $31.2 million of donations through our annual employee giving program. For more information, please visit BMO.com. About St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Foundation St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is an acute care, academic health sciences centre with three main campuses, a formalized research institute that ranks among the top 40 research hospitals in the country, and several community-based programs and services. Affiliated with McMaster University and Mohawk College, St. Joe's is the regional lead for respiratory health, kidney and urinary care and transplantation, eye medicine and surgery, and mental health and addictions care. Our Charlton Campus is home to the busiest emergency room and the only psychiatric emergency service in the city. For more information, visit: www.stjoes.ca. Since 1970, St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation has worked with our generous community of donors, grateful patients and friends to secure donations of all sizes and types that help our Hospital acquire new equipment, fund patient care programs, build and renovate new facilities, and conduct vital research. To learn more, visit: www.stjoesfoundation.ca SOURCE St. Joseph''s Healthcare Hamilton Foundation Media Contacts: Carrie Trembinski, Vice-President, Communications, St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation, Email: [email protected], Cell: 905-315-0125; Kate Simandl, Senior Manager, Media Relations, BMO, Email: [email protected], Cell: 416-867-3996 UPDATE: Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (concussion), wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (concussion) did not practice on Thursday. Defensive tackle Milton Williams was limited with a groin injury. Mekhi Becton (finger), cornerback Darius Slay (knee) and offensive guard Landon Dickerson (wrist) were full participants. ### PHILADELPHIA Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson watched Thursdays practice from the sidelines, but he didnt rest too much. He dropped down in his stance and copied the movements of Fred Johnson, who lined up at right tackle during individual drills. He also stretched with the team before practice began. Lane Johnson suffered a concussion during the second quarter of the Eagles 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday. After suffering the injury, he threw up on the sidelines. Johnson, who is still in concussion protocol, might not play against the Tampa Buccaneers on Sunday, but he wants to make sure his body is ready to go. He could have just taken mental reps but that wouldnt have prepared him as much. Fred Johnson would play at right tackle if he doesnt get cleared. Lane Johnson is one of three key offensive players who havent practiced this week. Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) both might not play against the Buccaneers. Brown, who suffered a hamstring injury before Week 2, has not played the last two weeks. He could return to play after the bye week (Sept. 30 - Oct. 5). No timetable has been given for Smiths return after he suffered a concussion against the Saints. Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson are the only two healthy wide receivers left on the 53-man roster. On Tuesday, wide receiver Britain Covey was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. The Eagles will likely elevate wide receiver Parris Campbell from the practice squad to play against the Buccaneers. John Ross, who was re-signed to the practice squad on Tuesday, might get called up to the roster, too. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Cayden Steele may be reached at CSteele@njadvancemedia.com Guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, a former member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is set to be arranged Wednesday in connection with a car accident that left one person dead. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist who is currently touring with Pearl Jam will be arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, according to Deadline. He will set his plea on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. PT at the Alhambra, California Courthouse. The charge stems from a car accident March 18, in which Klinghoffer struck 47-year-old pedestrian Israel Sanchez with his SUV in Alhambra, California. Sanchez was in a crosswalk and hit from behind. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Sanchezs family then filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Klinghoffer in July. The suit alleges that Klinghoffer was on his phone while driving an SUV and making a left turn while Sanchez was walking on the pedestrian walkway. Klinghoffers lawyer then said in a statement, This was a tragic accident. After which, Josh immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, called 911, and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. He is fully cooperating with the traffic investigation. Related coverage: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com and followed on Twitter at@MurjaniRawls. A food-delivery service worker arrested on a weapons charge in Westfield earlier this month fired a gun at a pickup truck driver double parked on a street in Jersey City the previous night, authorities said. The Jersey City incident unfolded at about 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 14 when Rianna Williams honked her car horn at the other driver, who was stopped near the intersection of Hague Street and Summit Avenue, a city spokeswoman said. When the 32-year-old man behind the wheel of the truck started to move to allow Williams to pass, she shot at him before driving away. He was not injured. Jersey City police then sent out an alert to other departments to be on the lookout for her vehicle. After Westfield police charged her, Jersey City police charged Williams, of Brooklyn, New York, with two weapons offenses, criminal attempt and two counts of illegal ammunition possession. Williams was in Westfield the following evening working for a food delivery service around 6 p.m. when police in the Union County town pulled her over after getting an alert from one of their license plate recognition cameras. She was found with a gun and officers noticed a spent shell casing on the floor as well as other shell casings when she was stopped, officials said. Minutes later, while being processed at the police station, Williams had a fit of rage, resisting officers efforts to secure her and damaging property, authorities said. She faces a charge of unlawful possession of a handgun in Westfield as well as charges of criminal mischief and obstruction. Jersey City police said Williams is 25, while Westfield police gave her age as 24. Attorney information wasnt available. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Multiple Christ Hospital doctors say the cash-strapped healthcare system that operates three hospitals in Hudson County needs an immediate change in leadership, starting with the ousting of CEO and President Dr. Achintya Moulick. Alleging multiple instances of payroll delays and disruptions, as well as supply shortages that have forced service cuts, three doctors at the Jersey City hospital told The Jersey Journal it is time for new leaders to take the helm at the nonprofit CarePoint Health, which includes Christ, Hoboken University Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center. CarePoint Health is currently determining how it will restructure its finances, which sources have said could include bankruptcy, a merger with other operators or both. CarePoint has said a decision will be made by the end of the September. Three Jersey City police officer whose termination over off-duty cannabis use had been overturned by the courts are finally back on the job, but the city will not allow them to carry their service weapons. Omar Polanco, Norhan Mansour and Mackenzie Reilly were called Tuesday and told to report to work Wednesday, and they were placed on pay status as of Sept. 20, a source told The Jersey Journal. Polanco was fired March 1, 2023; Mansour on March 23, 2023; and Reilly on Aug. 25, 2023. All three were placed on modified duty and are working in an office capacity, city officials said. Four New Jersey men have been charged in the gunpoint robbery of a FedEx Driver in Edison earlier this month in which $500,000 in perfume and cologne were stolen from a delivery truck, officials said. About 2,700 fragrances were seized when investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Paterson, Edison police said Thursday. Juan A. Juliao Castanos, 30, was taken into custody at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sept. 19, the same day Nengly Sanchez Espaillat, 32, and Jhonatan Gregorio Castillo, 34, were arrested in Paterson. All three are from Paterson. A fourth alleged robber Oscar Lizardo Lopez, 43, of Basking Ridge, was arrested Thursday. All are charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, theft over $75,000, criminal conspiracy and weapons offenses, Edison police said. The robbery took place Sept. 5 when a FedEx driver swapping out trailers on Greek Lane at about 8 p.m. was approached by three men wearing blue medical masks and dark clothing, police said the morning after the robbery. The trio forced the driver at gunpoint to drive to nearby Ethel Road, where a box truck was parked in a lot, authorities said. Two of the men rode in the cab of the FedEx truck with the driver while a third followed in a different vehicle. The robbers then forced the FedEx driver to remove items from his truck and load them into the box truck. After the pallets had been moved, the trio zip tied the driver, stole his phone and fled, according to police The 35-year-old FedEx driver from Elizabeth freed himself about 10 minutes later and alerted police using his Apple watch. He was not injured. All four men arrested are being held at the Middlesex County jail in North Brunswick. Attorney information wasnt immediately available. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A New Jersey man charged with multiple counts of sexual assault in Ocean City, Maryland last year has been found not guilty on all 11 charges, according to court documents. Adrian Castaneda Sanchez was cleared earlier this week by a jury sitting in Worcester County. Castaneda Sanchez was arrested as he tried to board a flight to Cancun, Mexico at Philadelphia International Airport in October 2023. Castaneda Sanchez, then 38, was not aware at the time that there was a warrant for his arrest, his attorney, Andy Jezic said. Castaneda Sanchez was taken into custody after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers checking passenger manifests of international flights matched Castaneda Sanchez to the outstanding warrant, the federal agency said. He is a Mexican citizen and a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who resides in Pennsville, Salem County, Customs and Border Protection said at the time. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Royal Caribbean canceled an upcoming voyage for Icon of the Seas, the worlds largest cruise ship. The ship, which was initially supposed to set sail Sept. 28, 2024, had to be docked due to unplanned maintenance, according to the cruise liner. We are currently conducting unplanned maintenance onboard Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean disclosed in an email to travel agents. We understand the disappointment this news may bring and were truly sorry for the impact to your vacation plans. The cruise liner is offering guests who were supposed to sail on that date a 100% refund, including food and beverage packages, according to WPLG. Guests who also booked flight packages through Royal Caribbean to go along with the sailing will receive a refund as well. Royal Caribbean will also provide $200 per guest for guests who planned to travel domestically and $400 per guest for guests with international travel plans for all customers who booked flights independently. The ship is expected to stay docked in Miami to undergo repairs. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. should donate his Congressional salary to charity after handing in his resignation. His refusal to answer questions of any kind even what he had for lunch has turned him into a national joke. If you havent seen the video of NJ Spotlights Ben Hulac chasing him into an elevator this week in a futile effort to get even one answer to a question, take a look at it. It is painful to watch, because Kean stands in silence for two minutes, stone-faced, as Hulac asks him a series of questions. Do you regret endorsing Donald Trump? Hulac asks. How are you going to vote on the CR (to keep the government open). Are you in favor of mass deportations in New Jersey in the 7th District? What about Ukraine? Do you think Trump will do enough to support Ukraine in the war effort? Taiwan? You pick the topic. Would love to talk to you about literally anything. And the clincher: What are you having for lunch? It is part of a Congressmans obligations to talk to the public, and to answer legitimate questions from the press. Everyone else seems to get that. Today, for example, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Curtis Bashaw, came to the Star-Ledgers office in Newark and answered questions for nearly two hours, a great discussion. Hulac notes that Keans silence is not a partisan thing, that he gets answers from other Republicans, as we do. But not Kean. Ive sent him dozens of questions in the last few years, and hes never answered one, even in writing. Hes not holding open town halls, either. Its a sad story, really. Kean never had the confidence to speak openly about controversial issues, even when he was a Republican leader in the state Legislature. Hed always begin by asking, Are we off the record? But eventually, he would usually tell you what he thought, even if couched with timid qualifiers. Not now. He just doesnt answer any questions, period. Former Rep. Tom Malinowski, a Democrat who lost a squeaker to Kean two years ago, offered this theory after watching the video: He doesnt have, to put it very kindly, a lot of mental or verbal acuity in those situations. And I think thats really what they are trying to hide from voters here, that this is somebody who isnt capable of doing one of the most basic things that an elected representative is supposed to do. Is it a lack of brain power? Maybe, but I never noticed that in his Trenton days. Is he going through some emotional crisis? Again, maybe. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: But I suspect its a strategy. Because this silence descended only when Kean Jr. endorsed Donald Trump. Thats tough to defend in the 7th District, a swing district that is rated as the only tossup in the state this year. My guess is that Kean knows that and would prefer to run on that name of his, hoping that voters in the 7th assume that junior is made of the same stuff as his dad. Folks, hes not. The former governor answered questions every time, built bipartisan coalitions, and carved out a national reputation as a thoughtful and unconventional Republican. Junior is an obedient soldier of the MAGA caucus in the House, voting with Trump every time. He refuses to discuss that, too. Even when hes trapped in an elevator. Keans strategy is a slap in the face to voters in his district. This is a democracy. Were supposed to have open discussion. Its part of the job. And Kean has proven himself derelict. So please, junior, either answer questions, or resign. This is pathetic, like nothing Ive ever seen in the 30 years Ive covered Jersey politics. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Wanna know what Tom Kean, Jr. has to say about some of Trump's recent ramblings? On Trump's racist lie that Haitian immigrants are eating cats and dogs in Ohio: no comment On Trump claiming he'll restore the SALT deduction when he's the one who got rid of it: no comment On Sue Altman (@suealtman) September 23, 2024 Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. When her fiances father became terminally ill in 2022, Jackie Schaffner called the The Art Factory in Paterson to postpone her wedding. She said the owner assured her there would be no problem rescheduling the date to summer. But once I started to ask for a new date, he became very difficult to work with, Schaffner told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. Schaffner said she was forced to hire a lawyer who wrote The Art Factory a demand letter. She also contacted a consumer affairs bureau, whose members she said convinced the owner to give Schaffner a new date, which he did. But Schaffner still isnt married. The Art Factory no longer returns her calls. She says shes out $10,000. Schaffner is one of dozens of worried brides-to-be who have taken to social media in recent days to say theyve left a deposit or paid for a wedding at The Art Studio and say their plans are now in limbo. The Art Factory fell behind in its $12.5 million mortgage in November 2023, court records show. When that happened, the mortgage company won a judgment for nearly $11 million against Great Falls Industrial Park, which owns The Art Factory. The Art Factory is a complex of industrial buildings on Spruce Street with some structures serving as studios for artists and others converted into banquet rooms. The judgment apparently prompted wedding venues owner, David Garsia, to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. Court records show the business has assets of $100,000 against liabilities in excess of $10 million. Garsia and his attorney did not return several calls seeking comment on Wednesday. After filing for bankruptcy, Garsia messaged couples who had booked upcoming weddings and told them the federal bankruptcy court had directed his company to stop hosting weddings. Accordingly, we regret to inform you that effective immediately, the company will host no further events, Garsia wrote in a social media message shared with NJ Advance Media. Until further notice, the company is unable to admit any customers or guests onto the premises, the message said. The Art Factory has not only been accused of mishandling upcoming weddings, but at least one vendor sued The Art Factory and obtained a $14,000 judgment for failure to pay for services rendered. The vendor, who asked not to be named, said the owners have not paid any of the money owed for his workers setting up events. One bride-to-be told NJ Advance Media in an email on Wednesday that she gave The Art Factory $24,000 to pay for her Oct. 25, 2025, wedding in full. She said the business within the past two weeks also tried to charge her in full for 19 hotel rooms that are still under construction on The Art Factorys property. I was shocked when David mentioned another couple might be booking these for our date, which then prompted him to send me a payment link to hold them for an additional $10,000 an insane price to pay for accommodations 13 months from now, the woman said in an email. The woman decided not to pay for the hotel rooms after hearing about the bankruptcy and event cancellations. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Two high-ranking officials with a pharmacy in New Jersey pleaded guilty to their roles in a $33 million kickback scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Wednesday. Jeffrey Andrews, 73, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and Adam Brosius, 55, of Langhorne, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to separate charges. The two ran a pharmacy in Clifton that was accused of providing prescription pads to marketers that included formulas for compound medications that would provide large reimbursements from health insurers. Andrews pleaded guilty in Newark federal court on Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to violate anti-kickback laws. Brosius pleaded guilty in a federal court in Newark on Monday to separate counts of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to violate anti-kickback laws. Andrews and Brosius were originally indicted in 2020 for playing a role in the scheme that included two other Pennsylvania residents. Charges against Chad Beene, 52, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania remain pending while the fourth person charged in the scheme, 81-year-old Robert Schneiderman of Langhorne, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to two counts of the indictment, officials said. Federal officials accused the men of using Main Avenue Pharmacy in Clifton to fill prescriptions in order to receive high reimbursements from federal and private insurers from 2014 to 2016, officials said. Andrews was the Chief Financial Officers of Main Avenue while Brosius was director of business development and later became president of the pharmacy, officials said. Main Avenue Pharmacy was a mail-order pharmacy that authorities said ran an illegal kickback scheme involving compounded drugs including scar creams, pain creams, migraine mediation and vitamins. The scheme involved identifying specific prescriptions that would yield exorbitant reimbursements from insurers and then filling out prescription pads with the identified formulas to be handed out to marketers around the country that the pharmacy had contracted with, officials said. The marketers then handed out the prescription pads to telemedicine companies and doctors who authorities alleged the marketers had financial arrangements with. Main Avenue would fill the prescriptions and then submit reimbursement claims to Medicare, Tricare and other commercial payers in New Jersey and other places. Once reimbursements were received, they would pay a portion of that money to the marketers, officials said. Authorities said the terms of the kickback scheme were laid out in contracts the pharmacy had with marketers and based payments on the volume of referrals and the amount of reimbursement the pharmacy received from the insurers. In total, officials said Main Avenue received approximately $33 million in reimbursements. Authorities said about $5.8 million of the total reimbursements came from Tricare alone, a federal payer. Sentencing for Brosius is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2025, while Andrews sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2025. Mr. Brosius is a good man, his attorneys David Eskew and Mark A. Berman wrote in an emailed statement to NJ Advance Media Wednesday. As reflected by his guilty plea in Court earlier this week, Mr. Brosius has accepted responsibility for his part in conduct that dates back nearly a decade. He looks forward to finally putting this long ordeal behind him for good. Andrews attorney Michael Engle declined to comment on the case Wednesday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X A Louisiana Republican faced heated backlash over a racist tweet attacking Haitian migrants, with some users accusing him of bigotry and being tied to the KKK. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) was responding to a report from The Associated Press detailing a lawsuit brought by Haitian migrants against former President Trump. Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), have spread false claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio are stealing neighbors pets and eating them. After MSNBC host and anchor Stephanie Ruhles feisty appearance on HBOs Real Time last weekend, former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump lashed out at her for insisting that any informed still-undecided voter with a brain should be voting for Kamala Harris. In a Truth Social post after the show, Trump called Ruhle a dumb as a rock bimbo. On Wednesday, while Ruhle appeared on colleague Nicolle Wallaces show, Deadline White House, to promote Ruhles interview with Harris, the Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee, Ruhle said that a refreshing aspect of the interview was that Harris stayed positive. What I didnt hear from her was divisive language, Ruhle said. What I barely even heard from her was ripping on Donald Trump. Imagine if I was sitting [with] Donald Trump. Imagine the language he would be using. Please. And just the fact that we were talking about collaborative inclusivity ... I dont know, Nicolle, vote for her or dont vote for her, but isnt it great to just have a positive conversation right now? Wallace, aware of Trumps insult, stuck up for Ruhle. I hope you would be divisive if you were sitting across from him, but well put a pin in that let me play some more from the interview, Wallace said. But Ruhle cut her off and leaned into the camera for effect, then delivered the knockout blow. Lets be clear, Ruhle said. Lets be clear: I thought he liked bimbos. Trump, of course, is a known philanderer who got caught making hush-money payments to a porn star while being convicted of 34 felonies. Ruhles interview with the vice president piggy-backed on Harris economic speech on Wednesday. She pledged to build an economy that is both pro-business and helps the middle class as she pushed back against Trumps claims that shes advancing communist ideas. Harris said in remarks at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh in battleground Pennsylvania that she would take good ideas from wherever they come as she promised to double the number of people being trained in registered apprenticeships and outlined her support for more home ownership. As president, I will be grounded in my fundamental values of fairness, dignity and opportunity, Harris said. And I promise you, I will be pragmatic in my approach. Harris, who called Trump the biggest loser on manufacturing jobs while pointing out that 200,000 were lost during his presidency, plans to provide $100 billion worth of tax breaks and other incentives to build up U.S. manufacturing and emerging technologies. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. New swing state polling shows trouble for one candidate as Vice President Harris and former President Trump barrel toward Novembers election. New Marist polls, released Thursday, show Harris narrowly trailing Trump in the battleground states of Arizona and Georgia two states President Biden carried in 2020. Biden won Arizona over Trump in 2020 by less than 11,000 votes and carried Georgia by roughly 12,000 votes in 2020. In Arizona, Trump has 50 percent of support compared to Harriss 49 percent of support, according to the new poll. According to Marist, Harris does not have as strong margins in key demographic groups as Biden did four years ago. She is not performing as well among Latinos as Biden did four years ago in the state. While Marist noted that Biden carried Latinos by 24 percentage points over Trump in 2020, the poll found Harris trailing Trump by 2 percentage points in this key voting group. The Arizona also found that while Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, is neck-and-neck with Trump, the Democratic candidate for the Senate seat has a lead over their Republican opponent. Democrat Ruben Gallego has a 10-point lead over Republican Kari Lake in the Arizona Senate race, according to the poll. Harris does have a slight edge over Trump among independents who are likely to vote with 51 percent of support compared to Trumps 47 percent of support. Arizonas 11 electoral votes are up for grabs, but the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate has a double-digit lead, Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said in the press release. Voters in the state, like elsewhere, are willing to split their ticket this time unlike the straight party voting that occurred in 2016 and 2020. In Georgia, Trump is also up by 1 percentage point with 50 percent of support compared to Harriss 49 percent. However, she does lead Trump by 5 percentage points among likely independent votersa group Biden carried by 9 points during the 2020 election, according to Marist. Georgia was thrust into the national spotlight in 2020 after Trump and his allies suggested without evidence that there was voter fraud in the state. The new poll found that despite this, 72 percent of Georgia residents are confident in the fairness of the elections. Georgia was ground zero for election controversies in 2020. Yet, the overwhelming majority of Georgians express confidence that elections will be fair and accurate, Mingroff said. Interestingly, most Democrats and Republicans share this view despite the results last time. The Arizona poll results were based on 1,264 likely voters surveyed Sept. 19-24 with a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points. The Georgia poll results were based on 1,220 likely voters surveyed Sept. 19-24 with a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points. Juan Soto is about six weeks away from becoming a free agent when all the rumors and speculation about his long-term home and huge payday will begin to get more real. Even though New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said earlier this season he wanted to keep Soto in pinstripes for the rest of his career, will he ultimately offer him the most money, and how much will that matter? One MLB insider has some doubts. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTER: RESTORING THE GLORY We dont know really whats in Sotos heart does he really want to stay with the Yankees, or like a lot of players, and by the way, this is totally their prerogative, some players equate money for respect, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney said Sept. 25 on Pinstripe Territory. Is Soto looking to get a record number of dollars from one of these teams? And I do think in the end, the Yankees are going to be outbid by somebody. I cant see Hal (Steinbrenner) going to nutty numbers and we dont know if (New York Mets owner) Steve Cohen is going to do like he does with some of his art and just blow the competition out of the water. Soto is days away from concluding a standout regular season with the Yankees, where the outfielder has hit .288/.419/.574 (178 OPS+) with 41 home runs and 108 RBIs. And then he will begin his quest for a second World Series; he won his first in 2019 with the Washington Nationals, the team that drafted Soto and then traded him away in 2022 after he declined a 15-year, $440 million extension. Thats when it became clear that Soto, a Scott Boras client, was interested in testing the open market during his first opportunity. Free agency is where the threat of the Mets and owner Steve Cohens deep pockets could loom. I was told in spring training: thats our (the Mets) guy, Olney said. Like Soto is the focus on what the Mets are going to try to do. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Guest column: The rule on legislative continuances is an invitation to abuse. Here's why. It's about to get cheesy in Michigan City this weekend. The Mac & Cheese Fest celebrating the classic comfort food will return to the street between Zorn Brew Works, 605 E. 9th St., and Barrelhouse the Venue, 113 York St. in Michigan City from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Dig the Dunes is staging the Mac and Cheese Fest, which will include samples from 10 to 15 different vendors. The annual celebration of the classic pairing of macaroni and cheese, a popular staple of American home cooking that an estimated 97% of Americans eat at least once a year, is now in its seventh year. This year's mac and cheese vendors include Battista's Artisan Pizzeria, the Brewery Lodge and Supper Club, Burn 'Em Brewery, Fish Camp, the Meals on Wheels Northwest Indiana Culinary Team, Moe's Food Truck, Panini Panini, Patrick's Grille, Trip's Treehouse, Waterford Inn and Zorn Brew Works. Tickets include a sample of each restaurant's mac and cheese dish. Other vendors includes Zombie Buzz Coffee, Firefly Glow Vintage, Futuristic Face Painting by Christopher Messer, Popcorn by the Lake Brothers and Renewal by Anderson. Johnny V, Tastee Treats and WYISIWG will perform live music. Sponsors include North Star Properties, Good News Vintage, MC Auto Supply, Harbour Trust, KPEM, LLC and Meals on Wheels NWI. Tickets cost $30 and include a reusable mac and cheese bowl. Children are free if they eat only parent's samples. Kids under 15 years old and vegetarians can get $20 tickets with four samples. VIP tickets cost $55 and include early entry and seats at Barrelhouse and the Venue to enjoy the live music. For more information or tickets, visit digthedunes.com. Peru I used to take pride in eating the hottest chiles I could. I went up the ranks of the Scoville scale, dosing myself with Thai bird chiles, Scotch bonnets, habaneros, Trinidad Moruga scorpions and bhut jolokias, also known as ghost peppers, whose intensity is so great, the Indian military has reportedly used them to develop a kind of tear-gas grenade. Habanero Ghost Thai bird Scotch bonnet Scorpion This is how most Americans view chiles. In the wildly popular YouTube series Hot Ones, celebrities attempt to eat soul-shatteringly spicy chicken wings. Over time, I came to see the error of chile-eating as competitive sport. A chile is an ingredient, not just a vehicle of sensation (and suffering). I began to wonder if I knew chiles at all. So I flew to Peru to find out. Chiles are beloved in South America. Members of the Capsicum genus, they are believed to have evolved into something close to their present form in the Andes millions of years ago. I wanted to taste a descendant of those ancient peppers, Perus native aji amarillo. If I was going to truly understand chiles, this one grown in the same region for ages, possessed of equal parts fire and flavor might hold the key. Two and a half hours outside Lima, I arrived at a farm planted with several varieties of aji amarillo: blunt-ended; curved at the tip; chubby and juicy; long and thin like a churro. Here, twice a year, pale starlike flowers open, from which the chiles emerge. Once harvested, some are trucked to market, while others end up at factories that turn them into a vital element in Peruvian cooking: salsa de aji amarillo. I visited one small factory to watch the process. The chiles are first blanched in hot water, then swirled in a chugging, bubbling bath. Workers in protective gear carry the chiles from one room to the next. A cook tumbles them in a wok over a roaring burner, flames racing up to the ceiling like freed souls. Then the chiles are run through a grinder, twice, until smooth as cream. Whats left is a sauce of mellowed brightness and a gentle but steady hum of heat. Now it was time to learn how this distillation of aji amarillo manifested in local dishes. I started my quest at Isolina, a restaurant in the bohemian barrio Barranco that serves classics of criollo (creole) cuisine, drawing from Perus multiple traditions: Indigenous, colonial Spanish and African, passed down by enslaved people during the Spanish conquest. Lomo saltado Papa con huancaina y ocopa Aji de gallina Jalea Causa The plates came all at once. The chile turned up in almost every dish, bringing a sly kick to stir-fried tenderloin and potatoes engulfed in two cheese sauces; a faint sweetness to counter the salty funk of sharp cheese in aji de gallina; a warm purr in a spill of leche de tigre over little fried silver fish; and a sunny leavening to tiers of mashed potatoes. I could see why a colleague of mine, the journalist Nicholas Gill, had told me: Aji amarillo is such a friendly chile. It uplifts everything. The next morning, I stopped by Chorrillos, a fishing village now absorbed into Lima. I wanted to find out how the chile gives character to another dish: tiradito, a cousin to ceviche, in which raw fish is cut long, into whisper-thin ribbons, like sashimi, and dressed in leche de tigre, a sauce golden with aji amarillo. In the narrow kitchen of Rocio & Papacho, a makeshift restaurant on the pier, I watched the chef, Rocio Cuba, prepare the dish. The tiradito was garlicky and punchy, the sultry halo of aji amarillo heightened by a brilliant sting of lime. I felt as if this might be the closest Id yet come to really tasting aji amarillo, its frank optimism, its essence as a fruit. But I needed more. I headed to La Picanteria, a rustic lunch-only spot in Surquillo that specializes in seafood and local dishes. We started off with Pisco Sours, of course, in honor of the South American brandy. A chorus of gaping fish, trapped as if midthrash, watched us from a mound of ice by the kitchen. We chose a hefty corvina, which appeared at our table with head, fins and tail intact but its middle transformed into jaladito, in which the fish is cut slightly thicker, cured with salt and then doused in leche de tigre, a pool of gold, with arcs of aji amarillo scattered on top. Here the chile was even more vivid, like sun touching down at the bottom of the sea. I couldnt leave Lima without stopping by Maido, one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world. Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura made a tiradito with a trout from the fresh highland waters of the Andes. It was the seventh of 15 courses on the tasting menu and was prepared by Tsumura himself tableside. The aji amarillo sauce was frozen into a shimmery yellow dust that turned to leche de tigre on the plate. The flavor was deep and heady, like a lost summer suddenly remembered. This is it, I thought, this is aji amarillo. But when I went back to the kitchen to thank Tsumura, he said I had to try one more dish to complete my quest, a humble soup, sudado, named after the process of sweating that is, steaming fish in hot broth. He lined a bowl with the daintiest of ingredients: clams the size of thumbprints and tiny orbs of cushuro, a bacterium that grows in Andean lakes. Then came the soup, made of aji amarillo gone long on the stove with fish stock and fermented corn. We waited a moment for it to cool. Then I tasted a spoonful: all these little treasures gathered from across Peru, these gifts of land and sea, gilded by an ancient, essential and at the same time totally ordinary, everyday chile. This was the warmth of connectedness, of things falling into place. It was like light entering a dark room. Here Are the Charges Eric Adams Faces, Annotated Federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Thursday unveiled a five-count indictment against Mayor Eric L. Adams of New York, charging him with bribery conspiracy, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. The 5 Charges in the Indictment 1 count Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, solicit foreign contributions and accept bribes Related to accusations that Adams illegally accepted travel and gifts through the Turkish government, solicited the illegal foreign contributions into his campaign from Turkish businessmen and improperly influenced the approval of the Turkish Consulate in New York City. 1 count Wire fraud Related to accusations that Adams fraudulently accepted public matching funds for his campaign by improperly certifying contributions that were made via straw donors, concealing the true sources of the donations. 2 counts Solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national Related to accusations that Adams solicited and received improper campaign contributions through foreign citizens. 1 count Bribery Related to accusations that Adams solicited free and heavily discounted foreign luxury travel in exchange for helping to obtain approval by Fire Department officials of a new Turkish Consulate. Mr. Adams, who is up for re-election in 2025, insisted he was innocent in the case, which is led by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York. At least three other federal investigations have reached people in the mayors orbit. The New York Times annotated this indictment. Download the original PDF. An Indian woman recently filed for divorce from her husband of only 40 days, claiming that he only bathed once or twice per month. The unnamed woman from Agra, in Indias Uttar Pradesh state, approached the local family counseling center to complain about her husbands poor personal hygiene, claiming that he rarely ever bathed, wore dirty clothes, and suffered from bad breath. She could barely stand close to the man, let alone be intimate with him. As a result, after only 40 days of marriage, the woman asked for a divorce. When questioned by the counseling center, the husband, Rajash, admitted to bathing only once or twice a month and cleansing by sprinkling his body with Gangajal (holy water from the river Ganges) once a week. Photo: Olichel/Pixabay One of the counselors at the family center in Agra told reporters that the young couple started getting into heated arguments about the husbands hygiene a few weeks after the wedding. Eventually, the wife left the conjugal home and went back to living with her family. Shortly after, her family lodged a dowry harassment complaint at a local police station and requested a divorce. The scorned wife said that Rajash had bathed 6 times in the last 40 days, a bit more than he usually did, but only because she insisted. Hearing about her decision to divorce him, the husband promised to improve his hygiene and even bathe on a daily basis, but the womans family said that she was unwilling to reconcile with him. As bizarre as this sounds, this is far from the first time that a spouses poor hygiene has led to a divorce. A Taiwanese man once divorced his wife because she only bathed once a year, and another Indian man filed for divorce from his wife because she only bathed once every ten days. Terry Szuplat, White House speechwriter for President Barack Obama from 2009 - 2017, believes that Obama connected so well with people all over the world because he was comfortable with himself and believed in himself. "He had his voice. He had his vision," Szuplat said. Speaking to a packed room during an engaging and timely talk Sept. 19 at The National Churchill Leadership Center at The George Washington University campus in Washington, D.C., Szuplat asserted, We have to believe in ourselves, we have to know what were about. Szuplat's lessons learned from his time with Obama are detailed in his just-released book, Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience (Harper Business, HarperCollins Publishers, Sept. 17, 2024). Moderator and Co-Host Anthony Shop of Social Driver (left) and author Terry Szuplat at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Sept. 19. During his tenure at the White House, Szuplat traveled with Obama to more than 40 countries on Air Force One and learned much from him about the power of thoughtful communications. "People worry so much about being judged, but if you are true to yourself that wont be a concern," he explained. But when youre confident of who you are, you know what you believe, you know what you stand for, maybe what other people think about you doesnt matter so much, he added. These same principles apply when creating a speech for the president, a CEO or any boss or colleague. He explained that ultimately the words must reflect their thoughts and beliefs. The words always must be authentic to the person. He asserted regarding his subjects, If they dont want to say it the way you have written ityou can encourage, you can cajole, you can point out the pros and cons, but in the end its their words literally. Explaining the speechwriting process for President Obama, he explained, Thats not how we saw itputting words in the presidents mouth. President Obama never had to read a single word that was on the page, he added. Every word was a choice. All it waswas a draft prepared by us in collaboration with him and a leader gets to decide what words come out of their mouth. And if they dont like the draft that the team has prepared, they dont have to give it. He continued, In the end, its their words, their voice. Ultimately its their choice. He reflected that speechwriters and communications professionals must be humble when crafting speeches and follow the three Vs of their subjecttheir voice, their vision and their values. Clear Messages & Personal Stories are Key Regarding speechwriting, Szuplat mentioned how someone once told him they were okay if 90 percent of the people they were speaking to understood what they were saying. He asserted, You should not be okay with that! He added, That means that 10 percent of your audience doesnt understand what youre saying. And maybe that 10 percent is your next partner, your next investor, your next donor, your next volunteer. He continued, And youre leaving them in the dark. Theyre not going to join you, theyre not going to partner with you. Szuplat emphasized the importance of personal stories in speeches. The best way to connect with your audience is to deliver authentic speeches, he said. He continued, The audience wants you. They dont want you to get up and give a policy paper. They want to connect with you. Think of all the speeches that impacted you the most, that resonated with you the most, is when a speaker gets up and speaks from their heartabout who they are, he added. He continued, Personalize your remarks. No one can tell your stories better than you can. You have your own stories. You have your own life. You have your own anecdotes you can share. Audience members received a copy of the new book, which Szuplat signed. In talking about the book, he asserted that its not a memoir, but a handbook, a guidebook and workbook that he wants people to refer to again and again for tips in their daily work life as communicators. Szuplat recounted one of the most moving and memorable parts of President Obamas 2014 State of the Union speech. It came towards the end when the president honored Army Ranger Cory Remsburg, who had been injured in Afghanistan. He (Cory) stood up and it was unbelievable, said Szuplat. Remsburg received a two-minute standing ovation and he touched people all over the world. Stories resonate so powerfully, added Szuplat. Szuplat remembered one of his favorite videos created by President Obama in which he greeted audiences from all over the world in their languages. Watching one of the great orators connect with people all over the world by literally speaking their language. How simple, and yet how profound that is. That one of the most powerful people in the world would take the time to learn somebody elses phrase and language and try to connect with them on a human level, he commented. Szuplat learned so much from President Obama as he gave the speechwriting team time and attention, which was critical. Szuplat asserted about the former president, I am very grateful to him and his office that theyre allowing me to share my conversations with him over the years. I hope that every chapter you feel like youre having a conversation with Barack Obama about writing and communications. 50-25-25 Rule Szuplat believes that fifty percent of your time should be dedicated to thinking about what you want to say before you even begin writing. Then 25 percent can be dedicated to writing and 25 percent to editing and practicing a speech. Szuplat stated, You dont have to start writing immediately. You dont have to start creating right away. Just set aside the first 50 percent of your time to do the most important job of all, which is to think about what you want to say, he continued. Write down your ideas, create a document, start collecting stories, start talking to people. Just do all that work and youll find all of a sudden you have so much more material than you know what to do with, he added. He explained that then you can spend 25 percent writing and 25 percent editing and practicing the speech. He remarked how too many times speeches are written too quickly with only hours to spare with no time to practice or edit the speech, leading to an unsatisfactory result. This advice about thinking carefully about what you want to say first can actually be used for any other type of writing, including articles, papers, and especially e-mails and texts and social media posts! Again, content is key. He asserted, Obsess about your ideas, obsess about your content, say something interesting, say something concrete, say something thats going to challenge people, move people, inspire people. Thoughts on ChatGPT At the end of the meeting, Szuplat did weigh in on ChatGPT and generative AI and how communicators have to be careful how they use these technologies. While he said AI can be helpful for research, etc., it must be used thoughtfully. For example, as a professor at American Universitys School of Public Affairs, he said that if he discovers any of his students submitting AI generated work as their own, its an automatic F! He asserted, If you are going to stand up or sit as a human being in front of other human beings and you expect to form a human connection with them, dont ever use a bot for that. He continued, Your audience wants humanity, they want whats in your heart, they do not want stuff regurgitated by a machine. He declared, We dont know whats true, we dont know whats being generated by a human versus a machine. Talk like a human, he said. Share whats in your heart. The machine will never know whats in your heart. From 2009 to 2017 Szuplat served as special assistant to the president and as a member of the National Security Council staff, and from 2013 to 2017 he was the deputy director of the White House Speechwriting Office. Today, Szuplat runs his own speechwriting firm, Global Voices Communications, and teaches speechwriting at American Universitys School of Public Affairs. He is a popular speaker and trainer and his essays have appeared in The New Yorker, New York Magazine, and The Washington Post, among many other publications. The event was co-hosted by The George Washington University College of Professional Studies and the digital marketing and communications agency Social Driver. PRSA-NCC and IABC DC Metro were promotional partners, and the discussion was also recorded for the Chief Influencer podcast, an initiative of Social Driver and The Communications Board. Timothy Cardinal Dolan Dissing Dolan... Vice President Kamala Harris plans to skip the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner in New York on Oct. 17 Smith. She needs to go. Every Democratic and Republican presidential candidate since 1984 has attended the $5K a-plate black-tie fundraiser for New York Catholic Charities. Harris excuse for ditching the dinner is that she plans to campaign in a battleground state on Oct. 17. She did manage to slip away from the battleground states on Sept. 22 to swing into NYC for a fundraiser at Cipriani Wall Street that netted $27M, which is her biggest haul for the election-run. The VP's decision to snub the fundraiser named for a four-time Democratic governor of New York and the first Catholic to run for president on a major party ticket presented a golden opportunity to Donald Trump. Trump, who attended the 2016 dinner and the 2020 virtual affair, posted on Truth Social: Its sad but not surprising that Kamala has decided not to attend. I dont know what she has against our Catholic friends, but it must be a lot, because she certainly hasnt been very nice to them, in fact, Catholics are literally being persecuted by this Administration. Any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined. Trumps post about persecution from an administration led by the second Catholic president is nonsense. Regardless, it will register with some Catholic voters. But Harris bigger worry is the slap from the PR savvy archbishop of New York. Cardinal Timothy Dolan said he was looking forward to hosting Harris at the dinner and is disappointed with her cold shoulder. And then he delivered a zinger at his Sept. 23 press conference: Were not used to this. We dont know how to handle it. This hasnt happened in 40 years, since Walter Mondale turned down the invitation. And remember, he lost 49 out of 50 states. I dont want to say theres a direct connection there. Ouch! Dinner organizers could deliver the PR hammer to Harris campaign. How about leaving the podium chairnext to Dolan that was intended for Harrisempty. That would be a very fitting response to her disrespectful brush off and a PR disaster for the VP as the media would focus their coverage on the empty chair and Trump smiling in his seat on the other side of the Cardinal. The VP has time to redeem herself from her very bad rookie mistake. She shouldnt take the Empire State for granted, and just view it as a campaign piggybank. Thin-skinned Bernie. Billionaire Bernard Arnault has ordered executives at his LVMH luxury goods company not to talk to reporters from seven media outlets. I formally condemn any behavior consistent with maintaining relationships with unscrupulous journalists and giving them information or comments about the life of the group, wrote the haughty Frenchman. One of Arnaults lieutenants, of course, leaked the January memo this month to La Lettre, one of the banned outlets on Arnaults hit list. That resulted in an open letter on Sept. 24 in Le Monde, Frances national newsletter, from journalists unions reminding Arnault that the medias role is not to roll over for corporations or billionaires. The mission of the press is not to relay the official communications of companies and institutions but to inform, they wrote. Perhaps Bernie is upset with his tumble from the top of the richest people in the world roster. Declining revenues from LVMH units, which include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora, hit Arnaults treasure chest. He now ranks No. 5 behind Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison and Mark Zuckerberg, according to Bloombergs Billionaires Index. That fall from grace must infuriate Arnault who famously said: As long as Im not the richest man in the world, I wont be happy. Cheer up, you have $177B reasons to be happy. Spinning a corporate flop Vertex Energy on Sept. 24 announced that it was initiating a formal pathway aimed at achieving a sustainable capital structure. In other words, Houston-based Vertex is going belly-up by declaring Chapter 11 and exploring a sale of its assets. Or in Vertexs parlance: the company is pursuing a more value maximizing sale transaction. The Chapter 11 move follows a rugged financial first-half as the refiner of speciality fuels, which says its dedicated to shaping the future of the energy industry, posted a $72M net loss on $1.2B revenues. Vertexs spinmeisters need a new corporate slogan. The Washington Posts latest step in creating a refined product vision for its publishing technology unit Arc XP includes shedding 54 employees. The axing of the staffers, who are not members of the Posts union, follows the layoffs of seven Arc XP employees earlier this year. Set up in 2015 by Post owner Jeff Bezos to provide a customizable set of tools for content and site management, Arc XP had been viewed as a potential profit center for the paper. However, a Wall Street Journal report from 2023 said that it was not profitable, falling behind in meeting its goal of $200 million a year in revenue annually by 2027. Arc XP provides its services, which include content creation, workflow orchestration, asset management and live streaming, tobrands including Reuters, South Koreas Chosun Ilbo and Frances Le Parisien. California Governor Gavin Newsom signs a bill mandating that state agencies develop plans to increase their advertising spending in media outlets serving California's diverse populations. AB 1511, authored by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and sponsored by the Latino Media Collaborative, requires agencies to annually report on their progress to ensure transparency and accountability. The bill's provisions will remain in effect until July 1, 2028, ensuring that these vital investments continue for the next several years. "California's ethnic and community media are essential to keeping our diverse populations informed through independent journalism," said Latino Media Collaborative president Arturo Carmona. "This law ensures that state advertising investments will go where they are needed most, creating an economic lifeline for these media outlets while also connecting more Californians to critical state programs. Minhee Cho Guardian Media Group appoints Minhee Cho as communications manager for the Guardian US. She reports to Matt Mittenthal, head of communications. Cho joins the Guardian from Fountain House, a national nonprofit supporting people living with serious mental illness, where she was director, media strategy. Before that, she served as media relations manager at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Ethel Kennedy's social justice organization, and director of public relations for ProPublica, the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. IRELAND was promoted to around 80 Austrian and Swiss tour operators and travel agents at Tourism Irelands B2B workshops which took place in the cities of Linz, Vienna, Zurich and Lausanne. Eight tourism companies from Ireland including Silverline Cruisers from Banagher took part in the workshops, meeting and doing business with Austrian and Swiss travel professionals who bring valuable tourists to our island. The workshops include a series of one-to-one meetings and networking sessions providing a valuable opportunity for the businesses from Ireland to showcase and sell their products and services, as the Austrian and Swiss travel trade begin planning for 2025 and beyond. Tourism Ireland and its partners from Ireland are reminding the Austrian and Swiss travel professionals all about the many great things for their clients to see and do here including our beautiful landscapes, rich heritage, great food and drink offering, as well as world-class attractions and outdoor experiences. Aubrey Irwin, Tourism Irelands Manager for Austria and Switzerland, said: Were delighted that so many key travel professionals from Austria and Switzerland have taken the time to come and meet with our partners from Ireland this week, to find out more about our superb tourism offering. Our aim is to connect our partners with the influential tour operators and travel agents who bring valuable tourists to Ireland and who are now planning for 2025 and beyond. A SUSPENDED sentence of three months was imposed on a man who was one of three individuals involved in the theft of a handbag and use of a bank card stolen from it. Nikolas Holub, Church Hill, Tullamore, appeared at Tullamore District Court having pleaded guilty to the theft of a woman's handbag at the Bridge Centre car park on April 29, 2022. Mr Holub also admitted stealing 400 at Ulster Bank, High Street, and 200 at Applegreen, Main Street. The accused's solicitor, Patrick Martin, told Judge Andrew Cody that two co-accused in the prosecution had already been dealt with by the court. Since then his client had to go to the UK because an uncle of his was ill and he had come back to deal with a bench warrant by appointment. Sergeant Richard Thornton said the offence had been committed when a handbag and its contents were stolen and a card in it was used to withdraw hundreds of euros. Sergeant Thornton said Mr Holub had 19 previous convictions, including convictions for theft, possession of drugs and road traffic offences. On one occasion he had been ordered to complete 60 hours of community service and on another he had received a three-month suspended sentence. The offences dated back to 2016. Judge Cody heard the injured party had been compensated. Mr Martin said his client was prepared to pay further money and he was starting work the following week. The solicitor described Mr Holub as a man who had an issue with cannabis and added that the suspended sentence was after the incident now before the court. Mr Martin said the accused had made admissions and pleaded guilty very early in relation to the offence on April 29, 2022 and he described it as an opportunistic act. The wallet had been left in a trolley in Dunnes Stores. A single man with one child, Mr Holub apologised for what he had done. Judge Cody ordered that a payment of 400 be made to the Acorn Project in Edenderry, in addition to 500 for the court poor box. He also imposed the three-month suspended sentence. The men previously convicted of the same offence were Andris Kuka, High Street, Tullamore and Frantisek Ziga, Jackson Hill, Tullamore. Earlier this year the District Court was told Mr Kuka was a father of three who had previous convictions for drugs and public order offences. The court heard he paid compensation to the injured party and he wished to have an opportunity to take up employment. He received a suspended sentence for the theft at the Bridge Centre and was also ordered to pay money to charity. Mr Ziga, a man who had done a course in a training centre, had previous convictions for driving without insurance and had been disqualified from driving in 2023. Like Mr Kuka, he paid compensation to the injured party, the woman who owned the stolen handbag. Mr Ziga, who was said to have been very embarrassed by the theft offence, also received a suspended sentence and was ordered to pay a fine. THE field in the race for the three Dail seats in Offaly at the next general election has expanded further with two anticipated candidates confirming they will run. Tullamore-based Sinn Fein representative, Cllr Aoife Masterson, will contest the election for her party while Cllr Fergus McDonnell, Edenderry, will be on the ballot paper for the new party, Independent Ireland. Cllr Masterson (pictured below), elected to the council for the first time this year, said her selection is pending ratification from the Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle but added: Since being elected to Offaly County Council, I have worked tirelessly to ensure your voice is heard and your needs represented. Now, with your support, I hope to continue that work as TD for Offaly in Dail Eireann. A lifelong activist, and former lecturer in law, I am not only committed to social justice and equality, but also have a proven track record of delivering results and effecting change for people and communities so often forgotten by Government. I am passionate about delivering on the things that matter to you and to our community and have the policies, ambition, and commitment to bring real change for people across Offaly. With your support, Offaly can have the strong voice it needs to ensure the highest level of services, facilities and economic regeneration and development. I am excited and ready to take on this important challenge and look forward to meeting and working with many of you over the coming weeks, months, and beyond. Cllr McDonnell is a very experienced representative on the local political scene and he made his comeback to the council after a very successful campaign this summer. The Edenderry man said he is bringing a wealth of experience and deep-rooted commitment to community service to the national stage. He said he hopes to expand his role in shaping the future of the region by becoming a strong advocate for his constituency at the national level. He was returned on the first count in the Edenderry Electoral Area in the 2024 Offaly County Council and he said he has earned a reputation as a tireless champion of community development. He referred to his long-standing dedication to grassroots initiatives, alongside his extensive experience in local governance, which he says make him a formidable candidate in the upcoming election. Speaking about his decision to stand for Dail Eireann, Cllr McDonnell (pictured below) said: I have always believed that politics is about people. Throughout my career, Ive worked to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to thrive. If elected to Dail Eireann, I will continue to fight for the people of Offaly, ensuring their voices are heard and their interests represented. I want to create real opportunities for our young people, protect services for the elderly, and ensure that every family in Offaly feels the benefits of a fairer, more prosperous Ireland. Ive spent my life serving this community, from working as a school transport driver to managing the North Offaly Community Development Network. These experiences have grounded me in the realities that families face every day, and I will carry that knowledge with me into Dail Eireann. Its about creating a future where our children and grandchildren can flourish. Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins TD expressed his strong support for McDonnells campaign, highlighting his extensive service to the community: Fergus McDonnell is a man of immense integrity and dedication. His work over the years has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I have no doubt that he will bring the same passion and commitment to Dail Eireann. He has a deep understanding of the needs of Offaly, and he will be a powerful voice for positive change. Adding to the endorsements, MEP Ciaran Mullooly (Independent Ireland, Midlands-North-West) praised McDonnells track record of public service and his commitment to Offalys future: Fergus is someone who has always put his community first. His experience, combined with his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, makes him an ideal candidate. I am confident that he will deliver for Offaly and be a strong advocate in Dail Eireann. Chairman Ken OFlynn shared his admiration for Mr. McDonnell, stating, 'Ive been remarkably impressed by Mr. McDonnell. He reminds me of the charismatic community organiser politician that this country has lacked for a number of years. His deep involvement in the community is evident; he not only knows many residents by first name but truly lives and breathes community. He embodies the essence of what a true community candidate should be.'" Cllr McDonnell was on Edenderry Town Council for nearly 30 years, chaired the Edenderry Joint Policing Committee, and worked as a home carer for nearly two decades. He said his campaign will focus on community development, improving services for older people, and creating sustainable opportunities for future generations in Offaly. On Monday night Fianna Fail selected Tullamore-based businessman, Cllr Tony McCormack (pictured below) as its candidate, with a possibility of a second being added, while earlier Fine Gael picked Kinnitty publican, Cllr John Clendennen. Independent TD Carol Nolan, Cadamstown, will defend her seat and the Green Party Senator from Geashill, Minister of State Pippa Hackett, also previously announced that she will run for the Dail again. There are three Dail seats in the Offaly constituency which has split from the former five-seat Laois-Offaly. The separate constituency of Laois will also have three seats. The general election will take place in November at the earliest or February of next year at the latest. PUPILS and parents at Gaelscoil na Laochra are this week calling on the community of Birr to increase driver awareness near their new school on the Tullamore Road. Parents are asking drivers who are turning in and out of Lidl carpark to take care and to slow down especially when school starts around 9.10am and again when pupils finish at 2pm and 3pm. There have been several near misses at the turn in to the carpark since the school relocated in January 2024. Parents and school management do not want to see anyone get hurt or injured due to a lack of awareness that there is vehicle traffic and pedestrians coming to and from the school. The schools Board of Management are in contact with Lidl Ireland and they have also consulted with Offaly County Council regarding new signage. However, getting signage through these official channels is a slow process. The school do have a large sign directly opposite the exit of Lidls carpark that clearly says the school is now open. In the interim, everyone at Gaelscoil na Laochra is asking drivers to take care when turning at Lidl carpark for everyones sake. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. New companies from the Persian Gulf countries will be welcomed in Azerbaijan, the executive director of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) Yusif Abdullayev said at the Azerbaijan-Gulf Cooperation Council economic forum, Trend reports. The Persian Gulf countries have invested more than $4 billion in Azerbaijan's economy. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Gulf countries amounted to $75 million," he said. Abdullayev recalled that during the first forum on economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Gulf countries in 2017, the start of projects in Azerbaijan was given to such giants as Masdar and ACWA Power, which have become strategic partners of Azerbaijan. I believe that after today's second forum, Azerbaijan's cooperation with Gulf companies will further intensify, Abdullayev noted. He added that within the framework of COP29 events in Baku in November there will be separate panels for businesses whose solutions should make an important contribution to the world's fight against climate change, and invited Gulf companies to participate in COP29 events. Abdullayev also mentioned that the investment climate in Azerbaijan is favorable for foreign investments and new companies from the Gulf countries will be welcomed in Azerbaijan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Energy, transportation, tourism, and agribusiness are among the promising areas of cooperation between Qatar and Azerbaijan, the Undersecretary of Ministry of Commerce and Industry Mohammed bin Hassan Al Malki said during the second Azerbaijan-Gulf Cooperation Council economic forum, Trend reports. He spoke in favor of expanding cooperation aimed at increasing the well-being of the people in Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf countries. Hassan Al Malki expressed confidence that this forum in Baku will open new opportunities for cooperation in the mentioned sectors. This negotiation platform will not only stabilize our partnership but also increase it many times. I am confident that the agreements to be reached during the negotiations in Baku will increase the level of our trade with Azerbaijan, the undersecretary said. The second Azerbaijan-Gulf Cooperation Council economic forum has started its work in Baku. In the course of the forum, panel discussions are held on Cooperation on renewable energy sources, clean energy, electricity, and water projects, Challenges and opportunities in the sectors of transportation and logistics between Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf countries, Strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf countries on agriculture, food security, and food industry. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Federation of Gulf Chambers of Commerce will support the expansion of ties with Azerbaijan, the Chairman of the Federation of Gulf Chambers of Commerce Sheikh Faisal bin Abdulla Al-Rawas said at the forum held in Baku today, Trend reports. According to him, it is very important that the Azerbaijan-Gulf Cooperation Council Economic Forum is under the patronage of the Azerbaijani leadership, which guarantees increased attention and progress on the implementation of projects. I am confident that the negotiations in Baku will open new opportunities for business development between companies of Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf countries, Al-Rawas emphasized. The second Azerbaijan-Gulf Cooperation Council Economic Forum has started its work in Baku. In the course of the forum, panel discussions are held on Cooperation on renewable energy sources (RES), clean energy, electricity, and water projects, Challenges and opportunities in the sectors of transportation and logistics between Azerbaijan and the Gulf countries, Strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the Gulf countries on agriculture, food security, and food industry. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Companies from the Gulf countries are showing interest in doing business in Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas told reporters, Trend reports. "Many companies are showing interest in sectors such as food security, logistics, and industry. Yesterday, we visited the free economic zone and familiarized ourselves with the business support measures. Business owners from the Gulf countries viewed these incentives very positively, and we hope that investments will follow soon," he said. Al-Rawas also noted that a memorandum of understanding was signed today, aimed at expanding cooperation between the Gulf countries and Azerbaijan. "We see that the development in Azerbaijan opens up a promising future for us, and we are striving to attract additional investments," he added. The second Azerbaijan-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) economic forum is being held in Baku. The event is featuring panel discussions themed "Cooperation on renewable energy, clean energy, electricity, and water projects", "Challenges and opportunities in the transport and logistics sectors between Azerbaijan and the Gulf Countries", and "Strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Gulf countries in agriculture, food security, and the food industry". Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel She also noted, that of course, "the actual death toll in Gaza is higher, with 'thousands more' children who are 'either dismembered, unrecognizable, or buried beneath the rubble.'" The U.N. Children's Fund calls Gaza "the world's most dangerous place to be a child." Israel is currently on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says that Israel's new massive bombing campaign in Lebanon raises "the possibility of transforming Lebanon into another Gaza." This can only happen with the support of billions in military aid to Israel from the U.S. government. Sen. Bernie Sanders just introduced a congressional resolution to stop $20 billion in weapons sales to Israel, saying, "Sending more weapons to Netanyahu's extremist government is immoral and illegal...US weapons are responsible for far too many civilian casualties in Gaza...We must end our complicity in this atrocity." Sanders' prepared remarks are below: NEWS: Sanders and Colleagues Move to Block Arms Sales to Israel WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today introduced Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block the sale of more than $20 billion in offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel. Sanders spoke last week on the Senate floor about why the sales must not move forward and today issued the following statement: Today, with colleagues, I introduced Joint Resolutions of Disapproval seeking to block certain arms sales to Israel. The Senate will vote on these resolutions when it reconvenes in November. Let me explain why these arms sales must not proceed. Israel clearly had the right to respond to Hamas' horrific terrorist attack on October 7th, which killed 1,200 innocent Israelis and took hundreds of hostages. But Prime Minister Netanyahu's extremist government has not simply waged war against Hamas. It has waged all-out war against the Palestinian people, killing more than 41,000 Palestinians and injuring more than 95,000 - 60 percent of whom are women, children, or elderly people. Netanyahu has bombed hospitals and schools, starved children, destroyed infrastructure and housing stock, and made life unlivable in Gaza. The United States must end its complicity in this atrocity. Sending more weapons is not only immoral, it is also illegal. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act lay out clear requirements for the use of American weaponry - Israel has egregiously violated those rules. American weapons have been used indiscriminately, and several of the systems included in these sales are responsible for a large number of civilian casualties. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Between Tuesday and Wednesday, 32 people were killed and about 4,000 injured by exploding handheld devices, including pagers, walkie-talkie radios, mobile phones, laptops, and even solar power cells across Lebanon, with two children among the dead. Many of the injured lost fingers, hands, and eyes, with some 300 in critical condition according to the Health Ministry's press briefing on Thursday morning. Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, gave a televised address on Thursday evening. Nasrallah explained how Israel had sent direct and indirect messages on Tuesday threatening the Lebanese resistance that more attacks would follow if the attacks on Israel continued. The Wednesday attack was a follow-up of the threat from the previous day. Nasrallah called the Israeli attacks a 'declaration of war' and a 'war crime'. Belgium's Foreign Ministry called it an act of 'terrorism', with other Western countries also condemning it. Nasrallah reiterated that to stop the attacks on Israel, a ceasefire in Gaza must be put into effect. Hezbollah discontinued the use of mobile phones among its operatives because Israel was capable of listening in. Instead, the Lebanese resistance group started using pagers and walkie-talkies. The pagers were sold under the name Apollo Gold, a well-known Taiwanese manufacturer. However, investigators confirmed that they were not made in Taiwan but by a Hungarian firm, BAC Consulting, which had a contract from Taiwan to use the Apollo Gold brand name. According to the New York Times, BAC was an Israeli shell company set up to mask the identity of the Israeli agents who inserted explosive material and a remote detonator capability into the pagers. According to leaked intelligence to Al-Monitor, the explosions were planned to go off at the start of a full-scale war against Lebanon. Still, a leak alerted two members of Hezbollah to the danger, and the Israelis detonated the devices on Tuesday. Hezbollah had attacked Israel on August 25 and among the targets was the elite spy center known as Unit 8200. 22 Israelis were killed and 74 wounded at the cyber-spy headquarters. When the pagers exploded on Tuesday, many analysts saw the attack as a response to the attack on Unit 8200. The Israeli spies who planted the explosives in the pagers were most likely from Unit 8200. Hezbollah has been calibrating its attacks and minimizing casualties to avoid justifying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start a full-scale war against Lebanon. The US administration of President Joe Biden has been asking Netanyahu to rein in the extremist elements in his cabinet who are pushing for a regional war. Israel has been waiting for Hezbollah to lose patience so that they can start a full-scale war. Media reports from Tel Aviv say Netanyahu will fire Yoav Gallant the Defense Minister. The two have a tense relationship, but Gallant seems to accept that his next mission will be a full-scale attack on Lebanon. According to the Times of Israel, Gallant said Israel's focus has moved to the northern front as a "new phase" of the war is beginning. Lebanon's Foreign Minister saw the attack on Lebanon as a signal to a wider war. Netanyahu knows that he could stop the Hezbollah attacks on Israel by agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza. Biden got Netanyahu's promise of a ceasefire in July, but later Netanyahu reneged on his agreement and used the excuse of demanding Israeli troops on the Philadelphi corridor. Once it was clear to Biden that Netanyahu would not agree to any ceasefire, under any terms, Biden stepped out of the race for a second term as President. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). In today's fast-paced academic environment, students are constantly juggling multiple responsibilities, from attending lectures to participating in extracurricular activities, all while managing their personal lives. As universities across Australia set high standards, students pursuing management degrees are particularly under pressure to perform. With increasing academic expectations and the competitive nature of the field, many students are in search of reliable and high-quality assignment help. Management Assignment Writer is stepping in Johannesburg, South Africa - KitchenHut (Pty) Ltd, a leading supplier of high-quality spices and herbs, is proud to announce a transformative approach to wholesale procurement, making it easier than ever for businesses across South Africa to source premium spices and herbs with unmatched convenience and reliability. With the rise of the culinary industry and increasing demand for authentic flavors, KitchenHut is stepping up to provide a seamless, efficient, and transparent Boeing is giving the union representing striking factory workers more time to consider a revised contract offer with bigger pay increases and more bonus money, but it was unclear Tuesday whether the union would schedule a ratification vote on the proposal. On picket lines in the Pacific Northwest, strikers said the companys latest offer wasnt good enough. Both the union and many of its members complained about the way Boeing bypassed the union in publicizing the offer, with some workers saying it was an unfair attempt to make them look greedy. Boeings new best and final offer includes pay raises of 30% over four years, up from 25% in a deal that 33,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers overwhelmingly rejected when they voted to strike. The union originally demanded 40% over three years. In the face of opposition from the union, Boeing backed down Tuesday from a demand that workers vote on the new offer by Friday night, but the company still wants a vote. This strike is affecting our team and our communities, and we believe our employees should have the opportunity to vote on our offer that makes significant improvements in wages and benefits, the company said in a statement. The new offer seemed to have little support among strikers. Daniel Dias, a test technician at Boeing for the last six years, wasnt bowled over. A 5% increase (from the previous offer)? Its not enough. My mortgage is $4,000. I went to Safeway yesterday to get breakfast, and it cost me $62 in groceries, Dias said. Som Dom, an electrician with 17 years at Boeings factory in Renton, Washington, said workers need better wages for the high cost of living in the Seattle area. We just want a fair deal. Were not greedy, Dom said. Its tough to live in this state. Youve got to make over $160,000, something like that, to buy a house. The new hires, they make $25, $26 an hour. So that (offer) isnt going to be enough. Boeing officials told union representatives about their new offer Monday morning, a couple hours before announcing it to workers through the media. Boeing does not get to decide when or if you vote, union officials told members late Monday. This proposal does not go far enough to address your concerns, and Boeing has missed the mark with this proposal. John Lentz, a Boeing electrician who joined co-workers in waving strike signs along a side road near the Renton factory, said the way Boeing bypassed union negotiators in announcing the offer seems to be kind of shady there. We do have people that are in place to negotiate for us. Boeing said its latest offer includes upfront pay raises of 12% plus three annual raises of 6% each and would take the average annual pay for machinists from $75,608 now to $111,155 at the end of the four-year contract. It also would keep annual bonuses based on productivity. In the rejected contract, Boeing sought to replace those payouts with new contributions to retirement accounts. John Reifel, who has spent nearly 25 years at Boeing, said the company was trying to make the strikers look unreasonable when they are only seeking to negotiate a contract for the first time in more than a decade. We build a product that peoples lives depend on, Reifel said. There will be plenty of bonus money to go around for upper-level and mid-level and first-level managers and all that, but if we dont build it, theres no product. And we work hard. The two sides have not held formal negotiations in nearly a week, since two days of sessions led by federal mediators broke off. Boeing, which has encountered serious financial, legal and mechanical challenges this year, is eager to end the 12-day-old walkout that has halted production of its best-selling airline planes. Cai von Rumohr, an aviation analyst at financial services firm TD Cowen, said Boeings decision to make its latest offer in the absence of additional bargaining sessions put a proposed second ratification vote in doubt. If it fails, it should prompt union leadership to reengage in serious negotiations, he said. However, union leaderships support for Boeings previous offer which lost in a 96% strike vote raises questions about the unions ability to win support for the new, improved offer, he said. The strike has shut down production of Boeing 737s, 767s and 777s and is causing the company to make cost-cutting moves, including rolling temporary furloughs for thousands of nonunion managers and employees. Boeing has lost more than $25 billion since the start of 2019 and fallen far behind rival Airbus in orders and deliveries of planes to airline customers. It needs to deliver more planes to bring in cash, but federal regulators are limiting production of 737s Boeings best-selling plane to 38 per month until the company improves its quality-control process. Boeing was producing fewer than 38 before the strike. The downturn started after two deadly crashes involving Boeing 737 Max jets, and worsened after a panel called a door plug blew off another Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Boeings critics, including some whistleblowers from inside the company, claim Boeing cut corners during production and put profits above safety. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeings regulator, said Tuesday that while it is not his job to assess Boeings finances, giving too little attention to safety has not turned out well for the company. Even if profits were your No. 1 goal, safety really needs to be your No. 1 goal because its hard to be profitable if youre not safe, and I think Boeing certainly has learned that, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said during a U.S. House subcommittee hearing. Whatever money might have been saved has certainly been lost in the fallout. Whitaker, who previously acknowledged his agencys oversight of Boeing wasnt strong enough, told lawmakers that since Boeing submitted a plan to improve its manufacturing in late May, They have been trending in the right direction. Still, he said, it will take years for Boeing to fully change its safety system and culture. -- David Koenig, Lindsey Wasson and Manuel Valdes, The Associated Press BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Orkhan Zeynalov visited the cities of Beijing and Yangzhang (China) on September 24-26, Trend reports via Energy Ministry. During the visit, the delegation participated in the 2nd meeting of the working group created between the Ministry of Energy and "China Energy Engineering Group Co.Ltd". Meetings were also held with representatives from Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd., TBEA Co. Ltd., and China Datang Corporation Ltd. The delegation included Elmir Musayev, Director of SOCAR Green. Discussions focused on energy corridors initiated by Azerbaijan, particularly the significance of the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe green energy corridor for large-scale renewable energy exports. The potential for collaboration in renewable energy, energy storage systems, grid enhancement, green energy exports, offshore wind energy, and HVDC supplies was explored, alongside an exchange of views on modern practices. Chinese companies expressed interest in participating in the significant renewable energy potential in Azerbaijan, and investment opportunities for building renewable energy stations in the country were evaluated. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A man sneaked into the secured entryway to the Clark County Jail campus, pulled out a pellet gun and put it to his own head Wednesday evening, the Clark County Sheriffs Office said. The man, later identified as Jaison Teragouchi, 53, entered the jails entryway at about 8 p.m. after the security doors rolled up to allow a police car to enter, officials said. A brief standoff followed as a deputy, believing the man to be suicidal, tried to talk to him. Teragouchi then bolted from the jail grounds and the security doors were closed. Teragouchi, still holding the gun to his head, hopped onto an ebike and raced through downtown Vancouver, with police in armored vehicles in pursuit. During the chase, officials sent out a shelter-in-place notice to people within a half-mile radius of the 4300 block of Northeast 26th Court. The Southwest Washington SWAT team, with help from police crisis negotiators, eventually took Teragouchi into custody after he had turned onto the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail. Thats when they learned that the weapon the man had was a pellet gun. Teragouchi who has a 2011 conviction for assault, court records show was evaluated at a local hospital before being booked into the jail on a charge of possession of contraband (dangerous weapon) inside a correctional institution. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive; dperry@oregonian.com A police officer in Umatilla County shot a trespass suspect who was resisting arrest on Tuesday, Oregon State Police said. Officers from the town of Milton-Freewater arrived at a house around 6:30 p.m. after receiving a call from a resident who said a stranger had entered their home, officials said. Officers were told the man had been hanging around the area for several days and was possibly homeless and had mental-health issues, the state police said. Milton-Freewater police identified the alleged trespasser as Daniel Soto Madrigal, 30, of College Place, Wash. Madrigal was convicted over the summer in Umatilla County of robbery in the third degree and recklessly endangering another person, according to court records. Madrigal allegedly resisted attempts to take him into custody, leading to the shooting, the state police said. Madrigal was taken to a local hospital and treated for a gunshot wound. His condition is listed as stable. The officer suffered minor injuries, officials said. He is on administrative leave, per standard procedure. The Oregon State Police is investigating the shooting. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive; dperry@oregonian.com UPDATE: Nominations are closed. You can vote for the best burger through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. Voting is open for the best Mexican restaurant in The Oregonians Readers Choice Awards, which means its time to start nominations for another category: the best burger in the Portland area. There are so many standouts to choose from. Were partial to the one at Tulip Shop Tavern. Or if youre willing to wait in line for something you cant get every day, Proletariat Butchery grinds local beef into patties and chars them on a wood fired grill outside 4-8 p.m. the last Friday of every month. If smash burgers are your thing, MidCity SmashBurger was called Portlands best smash burger on a national list last year, and Sure Shot (formerly known as Rough Draft) makes a great one, too. Tell us all about your favorite and nominate it for the best burger honors in the Readers Choice Awards below. The form will take submissions until 11:00 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. On Wednesday, Oct. 2, well reveal the finalists and you can vote at oregonlive.com/readers-choice. Nominations for best burger Mims Copeland is a social media producer and covers trending topics for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her atmcopeland@oregonian.com Subscribe to The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter Each week, restaurant critic Michael Russell takes Oregonian/OregonLive subscribers along on his culinary explorations. Not a subscriber? You can receive a few weeks of The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter as a free trial.Sign up here. Whether you consider it a fun sign of the Rose Citys quirkiness, or wish it would just go away already, apparently Portland still has a national reputation for being weird. In a recent example of the citys enduring Keep Portland Weird image, comedian Taylor Tomlinsons recent local appearance included an odd exchange with an audience member that prompted Tomlinson to make a comment about how purely Portland it was. Tomlinson may be best known for hosting After Midnight, the late-night CBS comedy series that features celebrity guests talking about pop culture and whats getting attention on the Internet. The series airs following The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and replaced The Late Late Show after host James Corden called it quits. Tomlinson was recently in Portland, performing at the Helium Comedy Club. Yesterday, on her Instagram page, Tomlinson posted a video under text that said, Celebrating this girl today on #NationalDaughtersDay. In the clip, in which Tomlinson is onstage at the Helium Comedy Club, shes talking with a member of the audience, who says, My dads a bong. Tomlinson asks, Your dads a what? and then says, Oh, your dads ashes are in a bong? They are made into a bong, the audience member says, clarifying the dad/bong connection. God, we are in Portland right now, Tomlinson says. If you had put me in this room right now, and were like, We wont tell you, if you had put a sack over my head, put me in a big suitcase, driven me around for three days, put me on this stage, and been like, Guess where you are, and I had heard, They turned my dads ashes into a bong, Id be like, Portland, Oregon. When Tomlinson asks the audience member if her dad was a big weed guy, the audience member says her dad died when she was 23, so she never got to smoke weed with him, which was why she turned his ashes into a bong, so i could smoke with him. Thats the most beautiful story Ive ever heard in my life, Tomlinson says. After Midnight airs weeknights at 12:37 a.m. on CBS, and can be streamed via Fubo, which offers a free trial. Six people were rescued after a fishing boat capsized on the Columbia River on Wednesday, but another person remains missing, the Hood River Sheriffs Office reported. Rescuers arrived at the 24-foot boat near the mouth of the White Salmon River within 15 minutes of a 911 call coming in. They quickly pulled the six fishers out of the water, officials said. Two were taken to a local hospital. Officials have not released any details about what happened or the names of those rescued. The search for the missing person, who also hasnt been publicly identified, will resume Thursday morning, the sheriffs office said. The search on the water by multiple law-enforcement and civilian vessels was aided by a Hood River County Sheriffs Office plane and a Coast Guard helicopter. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive This spring, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek promised to visit all nine federally recognized Native nations across the state. So far, she has visited eight and attended the annual Tribal-State Government-to-Government Summit in July. That time marked a span of months when Kotek heard from Native leadership across the state. In an interview on Aug. 14, Underscore Native News + ICT followed up on those conversations, asking Kotek to clarify her commitments to Native nations and Indigenous community members in Oregon. She expressed a commitment to strengthening sovereign-to-sovereign consultation, pointing to the new state task force on tribal consultation and acknowledged that the structure of the legislative session makes proper consultation difficult. Consultation is better when it happens before potential policies are even introduced in the legislature, she said. Kotek also talked about her trip to the Klamath Tribes, where the community is reeling from the recent murder of two teenage sisters. The tragedy comes as Indigenous community members across the state continue decades of advocacy, and continue to call on Oregon to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Underscore and ICTs recent reporting shows how limited transparency, persistent data gaps and secret law enforcement guidelines from the federal coordinator in Oregon hinders progress in addressing an MMIP crisis that impacts Native communities across the state. Kotek acknowledged Oregons lack of data collection as a critical issue and said she is open to the possibility of a statewide MMIP task force. Washington state has established an MMIP task force, administered by the state attorney generals office a move some MMIP activists have said Oregon should replicate. Kotek also signaled openness around another important issue: Land Back. When asked if she sees a possibility of transferring some state lands back to Native nations, or creating more co-management opportunities on state land, Governor Kotek answered favorably. I absolutely think thats a possibility on the horizon, Kotek said. Really understanding lands that are in state possession, whether theyre park lands or other things weve had conversations about hatcheries that are really important. Wherever we can be co-managing and working together, Im definitely open to that. Nika Bartoo-Smith (Underscore Native News + ICT): Youre currently wrapping up your tour of the nine federally recognized Native nations in Oregon, you just completed your eighth. How were your visits so far? What were some of the most interesting moments? Tina Kotek: I think the visits have been absolutely amazing. When I made this commitment to visit all nine tribes, to me, it was getting to different parts of our state, meeting with tribal citizens and speaking with them, speaking with their governments. I think the relationships that Im building is the highlight. For example, the chairs usually drive in my car, so we get to chat when we move from spot to spot. Those relationships and friendships I think are going to be so valuable over the course of my administration. I think its just hearing directly about the history, about whats going on, the excitement about projects. I mean, all of it has just been wonderful. And theyre all different, right? Because every tribal nation is different, and so theyre unique, but the warmth and generosity of every visit has been just really wonderful. Nika Bartoo-Smith: Tell us a little bit about how what you are learning on these visits might inform state policy moving forward. Governor Tina Kotek: I think in terms of state policy, it comes down to why Im doing this. I really believe in government-to-government conversations. I approach these visits kind of like a diplomatic mission. These are sovereign nations within the borders of Oregon. So as a sovereign, being the sovereign, thats why these are visits from the first family. The first lady comes with me. I feel like that is a sign of respect. So you build that foundation of friendship and relationship. I think where its going to affect state policy is really that commitment to consultation. Making sure that the state government has a consistent policy, that we understand how to work with our tribal governments, our tribal nations, in a way thats respectful to the degree that we can co create policy. I think thats always a goal. Weve been doing a lot at the state trying to increase the number of tribal set asides, but making sure that those are whats needed and what can work. So I think theres just, were doing a lot of good work together, but theres always room for improvement. And I want to find out what those areas of improvement can be so we can all be successful together. Missing and murdered Indigenous people Karina Brown (Underscore Native News): Most recently, you visited the Klamath Tribes. I understand there was a lot of discussion about Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, specifically the tragic murder of two young, teenage sisters that devastated the community. What did you hear from their family and from the larger community about what justice would look like and what they want the state of Oregon to do to address this issue? Governor Tina Kotek: It was a really powerful meeting with families. And they werent only families or friends of the two young women who were killed, but Klamath citizens who had, over the years, lost family members and have not had their questions answered by local law enforcement. What I took away from it was, theres a real opportunity here to get questions answered so there can be healing within the community. The broader issue of MMIP, which Ive been hearing from all the tribes, by the way, came home in a really personal way, in visiting the Klamath Tribes. We had a lunch meeting together, where there were posters outside the room where we were meeting, of the individual tribal members who had been lost. Just to see the number of them, the pain that the Klamath Tribes has experienced because of that, was real eye opening for me to say: What more can we do as a state to make sure families can find justice, that they can get answers? Because sometimes thats all youre going to get, is answers, but at least you should get them. So it was really powerful. Nika Bartoo-Smith: In a proclamation declaring May 5th as MMIP Awareness Day you said: Oregon is committed to addressing the root causes and systemic obstacles contributing to this persistent crisis, aiming to mitigate violence against Indigenous Peoples. Can you tell us about the specific actions you plan to take in order to follow through on this commitment? Governor Tina Kotek: I really appreciate the question. The proclamation was important because I think our first goal is to raise awareness for the broader population to understand the impact of whats been happening in our tribal communities, for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. We have a commitment here from my office of making sure that we build on what weve already been doing, right? So there was legislation to move forward on this. We have legislators that are interested in this, making sure that the state police is involved from a data collection standpoint. Were involved with the U.S. Attorneys Generals office, who also has a task force. But I think its more than just having conversations. Now, the question is, what more can we do? Raising awareness is important. Im looking to other states to see what theyre doing, to see what is that next step for Oregon? Unfortunately, a lot of the work that was started by the legislation got delayed because of the pandemic. The focus groups with tribal communities, we need to get back to that conversation. Because the more we understand, the better we can define solutions with the tribes. You know, we have intergenerational trauma that is a foundation of some of whats been happening in these families. But then its just perpetuated [without] answers and when things happen and law enforcement is not able to react in the way they need to be. So I look forward to working with the tribes and other states and internally here at the state to see what we can do differently. Its tragic, its uncomfortable, its unacceptable, and itll require a complex set of solutions, I think, to make progress. But we have to make progress. Karina Brown: In January, you were very honest with InvestigateWest reporter Melanie Henshaw about having not yet read the Oregon State Police report from 2020 that proposed ways to address MMIP issues in Oregon. I know youve been touring Native nations around the state and as you said, youre hearing a lot about this. There are so many different tactics that different places are taking. Im especially thinking about things happening in Washington state as far as their data collection system. And I know theres a lot that the federal task force in Alaska, for example, has been doing that the federal task force here in Oregon hasnt yet taken up. Since January, Im curious if there are other ways youve been educating yourself on different proactive steps that have been taken and what might be appropriate for Oregon to do? Governor Tina Kotek: I appreciate the question. I have reviewed the report, and I do think the starting point for me has been these conversations with the tribes. But its not just our tribes, right? Its our urban Native American population. These arent incidents that just happen on trust or reservation land. This is a statewide issue and we need to address it that way. I think, for me, trying to understand how the data collection is helpful. For example, what Im hearing and what Im learning is not even being able to identify the individual is being connected to a particular tribe is a real challenge. Just that being able to track, so you can have the connection and the communication with the different law enforcement, depending on the area or whether the tribe itself has a law enforcement agency. So I think its getting into that nitty gritty and being like, Okay, we got to do this piece. Its not just saying, Hey, here are some high level numbers. Weve got to get more into the details, because I dont think we can have the solutions unless we have that level of data. Nika Bartoo-Smith: One of the things that were seeing is a of accurate data, both at the state and the federal level. Washington state has a data tracking system. Oregon doesnt have one yet. And weve had a lot of conversations with activists in the region that have talked about different solutions. Some of them could be including listing tribal affiliation on state drivers licenses or establishing a state task force. Are these things youre open to, and what other plans do you have to address the problems identified in the report? Governor Tina Kotek: Well I do think tracking tribal affiliation this has come up in other contexts, not just MMIP. For example, in healthcare data. So I think thats something we have to explore and understand the pros and cons of that, because not everyones going to want to be sharing that information. That is always something we have to keep in mind, is peoples willingness to share that information. There are trust issues, understandably, about sharing any kind of level of data. One of the things I think thats inherent in the issue of MMIP is, where we arent actually state of the art on what local law enforcement tracks, how criminal or any kind of investigative information is actually tracked. I think were starting from a spot, unlike other systems, where we track all these things. A lot of this is very localized. So how do you make sure you can put an investment there that actually lifts up that local information to have a statewide impact? And this is where I think we really need the help from the federal agencies, because they have that ability, especially if these issues are crossing state lines, which is not unusual. I think the task force idea is an interesting one, and thats what Im trying to figure out. Were doing the training at our state academy, which I think is very helpful for current and future law enforcement to actually understand the issue. Awareness. Education. But then what is the next step? And I think a task force is a possibility, because I think it gives you that, like, Okay, we have to go to the next step. And sometimes thats what you do. You bring some people together and be like, Okay, now what? So that might be something we have to look at, because I feel like weve done some very fundamental things, but we have to do more. Karina Brown: Specifically at OSP, Oregon State Police, Glendon Smith is the tribal liaison there. He is tasked with really a huge issue of focusing on MMIP issues at the state level. Im curious how youre directing OSP to address MMIP issues specifically and particularly around this urgent need to gather more accurate data? And also how youre ensuring that Glendon is supported in his role as just one person with this huge job? Governor Tina Kotek: Well, I always believe in being upfront. I dont have that level of detail to respond to that, if Im being really honest about it. And I do believe we are transmitting to all the partners at the state level that are involved that this is an important issue, that its an urgent issue. But I do need to go back and check and see how the superintendent is feeling and understanding what else do you need to be successful here? So its a question I need to ask. Nika Bartoo-Smith: Your appointment of Tribal Affairs Director (for the governors office) Shana McConville Radford was a historic step, one that many leaders of Native nations have long called for. At the same time, this puts one person in the position of advocating for nine diverse nations, plus urban Indigenous communities on a wide variety of issues from MMIP issues to tribal consultation and so much more. How do you plan to ensure that this role has the support needed to accomplish all of those varied tasks? And also, are there talks or plans of expanding the office in the future? Governor Tina Kotek: I love that question. Well, I think the way Im approaching this, having a tribal affairs director, as youve noted, is a brand new thing. In the past, it was part of the portfolio of our legal counsel in the governors office, which, when I came in, I was like, thats not an appropriate spot to put this significant set of issues. So having a tribal affairs director is our first step. I also dont think of it as that position handling all the issues across state government or for the entire state. Thats why its really important for me, particularly with the consultation task force, to make sure the individual agencies particularly our very large agencies have tribal liaisons within the agencies, they have point people for consultation. I kind of see it as the tribal affairs director making sure theres continuity across all of state enterprise, so everybody can be doing their job within their agency directives, in addition to the kind of overarching work that the tribal affairs director is doing and will do. I see that person as kind of like that chief ambassador to each of the tribes. And theres certainly a lot to do. I mean, thats something thats become very clear from all the business with the tribes. We have government-to-government quarterly meetings on a set of issues. Those are very important opportunities. So how are we supporting those? How much is that support on my office? How much is that support of agencies? So really understanding the whole ecosystem to support our tribes in the government-to-government consultation work with state government. So Shana is doing a great job. I dont think she should do everything, because, one, thats not fair. And two, I dont think thats how we as a government should function. If we just leave it up to the governors office, I dont believe that agencies are doing their job if theyre leaving it up to us. So were really working on every agency having capacity to do the work that they need to do. Government-to-government consultation Karina Brown: Talking a little more about consultation, the state just launched its task force on overhauling the consultation process. Im curious, specifically in the legislative process, one of the problems with improving consultation is just simply the compressed time of the legislative session, and it doesnt necessarily allow for proper government-to-government consultation. We really saw this play out in the most recent session with House Bill 4002 where there was really no, at least high level formal consultation process with Native nations, despite the significant effect of the opioid epidemic on Indigenous communities. With that bill in particular, with one small exception in terms of some funding for services at the Warm Springs Jail, there really wasnt any specific direct funding to Native communities. I know theres other funding coming from the opioid settlement around this, but you know, just zeroing in on the legislative process and consultation, Im curious if you have ideas for improving that? Governor Tina Kotek: Well, I think its a good question for our legislative leaders. I mean, when I was in the legislature, we really looked to the Legislative Commission on Indian Services as that place that is the conduit and focal point for conversations with the tribes during the legislative process. For me, consultation is related directly government-to-government, which in this case is the executives of the state of Oregon to the executives of the nine tribal governments individually. You know, the legislative process is it is what it is. And frankly, I dont think consultation necessarily aligns with the legislative process. But I think where you get more success is taking the time, before policies are even put into a legislative process, to really understand whats the best way to craft them. And again, I go back to those quarterly meetings that we have for government-to-government, where issues are being raised that we can be informing legislators like, This came up, you might need to consider this. House Bill 4002 was on a very fast timeline. However, there have been tribal set asides as youve mentioned, in the opioid settlement, which I think is really important. Theres been a lot of conversation in the Measure 110 money, in the marijuana revenue. Also making sure that tribes are part of the resource networks that are connected to that funding. Weve been working on tribal set asides on housing. So I think one of my goals is to make sure we understand these different funding streams and coordinate them as much as possible. One thing, when state money is moving to our tribes which I think as a state we do much more than I think other states do, because federal resources, as we know, dont tend to cover things in certain communities but making sure that were clear that here are the legal obligations. Because once the money moves to a sovereign nation, we have different obligations than if that money were going to a local nonprofit. And so my commitment to the tribes is, are these processes clear? Do we understand the ramifications when money moves to the tribal governments? Do you understand the reporting or what reporting should happen? Because I want to make sure that were not overwhelming folks with a lot of additional administrative burden, because thats a respect issue. When money moves to a sovereign nation, its a lot different, and we want to make sure we handle it well. Nika Bartoo-Smith: You kind of touched on this, but I really want to clarify. So it sounds like theres either ideas or even plans already in place for expanding the consultation process across all state agencies, right? So whether thats having a tribal affairs director in each agency, I would be just curious for you to expand on what that looks like. Governor Tina Kotek: Well, I think were still assessing that, because under the law, there should be consultation. So that is a baseline expectation I have for our agencies. But in taking on this role, Ive noticed that some agencies theyre staffed, they have experienced people, and other agencies are still trying to decide who their person is. We had the Tribal-State Summit earlier this year here in law in Oregon, there is an annual Tribal Summit. I actually met some folks from agencies that were like, I just was assigned this. This is my first time. This is really helpful. So just even understanding who at each agency is in charge is where were starting. Because again, some of our large agencies are very well staffed, and the smaller ones are like, I know I need to be doing this, but I need some guidance. So that is what we want to be able to provide for them, and that is a big part of the consultation task force. Because I think its going to provide clear guidance of what that actually should look like, which is really important. And the task force will be driven by conversations with the tribes. What does it mean to you? What are you expecting from us? This is a government-to-government conversation. Housing challenges Karina Brown: Speaking of the Tribal Summit, housing was a big topic there, and obviously its a huge priority for your administration. You set an ambitious goal of building 36,000 new homes per year, and you mentioned at the Tribal Summit that the state has set aside $10 million from the biennial budget for the nine federally recognized Native nations for homeless services. Im wondering how else youre including consultation and collaboration with Native nations regarding your push for housing? Governor Tina Kotek: That $10 million is definitely a start, and that was related to my emergency order last year focusing on unsheltered homelessness. And we still are under an emergency order, because its affecting every part of our state. As Ive met with each of the tribes and literally seeing the land theyre using and what theyre trying to build, my first question was: what resources were you using? And what are the challenges? One of the things I learned from the summit is the challenges of being on trust land and reservation land, and what that means for regulation, and having to create regulations to build and whether or not you can get loans. I mean, lets add another level of complexity to do housing, that was really eye-opening for me. So what I would like us to do at the state is continue to have those dedicated funding streams where the tribes can have flexibility with some dollars to do whatever they need to do. For some of them its: We need to figure out how to do the regulations to actually build. Others are like, Were ready to go, but we need some help with people getting down payment assistance. It is all over the map, and thats not surprising, right? Each tribal community is very different in what they need and where theyre located, but every single one of them has a housing challenge. Water is life Nika Bartoo-Smith: At that same Tribal Summit, you talked a lot about your commitment to supporting tribal sovereignty and consultation. One of the largest statewide initiatives right now is the effort to address problems with state water policy. What have you learned about priorities from Native nations on water from your visits? Governor Tina Kotek: To hear directly from tribal leaders about the spiritual and just historic importance to water as we heard in the panel at the summit, water is life really understanding that perspective of, what the approach the tribes are taking to their natural resource policy is really helpful. Ive come into this job knowing, and watching over the years, that our water here is a finite resource and we all need to figure out how to work together to use it appropriately so everyone can be successful. And whats great about our tribal leaders here in Oregon is theyre bringing Indigenous knowledge and expertise to this conversation that is going to be really helpful. Were all in this together. Water has created conflict over the years. We need to set that aside and really work together, because with climate change and all these other things, if were going to continue to do what we need to do in terms of agriculture and just basic understanding and protection of our water systems, were going to have to figure this out together. Thats why that panel at the summit was really important to hear from our tribal leaders. They have a lot of expertise, and how do we integrate that with what were trying to do at the state? Nika Bartoo-Smith: Following up on that, Native nations across the country are wanting to be both co-managers and co-designers of our water and land policy. So Im curious how you think about Native nations leading this work in our state? Governor Tina Kotek: Even today, I know theres a tribal summit about water. I think the leadership that the tribes are bringing into this conversation is very important. Ill be honest, I dont think we know what that path to chart is. I think we all know what we have isnt completely working, and that there are a lot of concerns that we are allocating water that we dont even know we have for not only municipal uses or commercial uses. When I was out in Klamath, and obviously the Klamath Basin has had long standing issues, but we were out at the wetland there, and the restoration projects. How important those restoration projects are to better water quality, reducing the temperature of the water, if you do it right, so we can have the fish come back. Water is so important when it comes to other issues around endangered species like our salmon and our steelhead and our lamprey. So one of the things we can bring to this conversation is not just about water, its about the entire ecosystem thats affected if we dont figure this out. Treaty rights Karina Brown: Im curious about treaty rights. Treaties, obviously, are with the federal government and tribes. But as a state policy matter, does the state recognize off-reservation treaty-reserved rights, for example fishing at usual and accustomed places? Governor Tina Kotek: I think were seeing some great success between the state of Oregon and our individual tribes about these memorandum of understanding that have been coming forth around traditional hunting and fishing, not just for ceremonial purposes, but for the ability to actually go out on ancestral lands and be able to to manage that for tribal citizens. I think were, were showing a lot of success there, so were definitely open to that. I think that is something I inherited with the previous administration, something Im very interested in continuing. You know, all our tribes are a little different, right? We have one that doesnt have a treaty, But I want to be advocating with our tribes, particularly to our federal partners. So getting some of those lands back and being able to be there and do the hunting and the fishing and the gathering of first foods super important. So I just want to be a partner with that. I am certainly no expert on it, but I feel like we are trying to create those relationships, particularly around hunting and fishing on ancestral lands. I think those are going quite well, because it doesnt say this is mine. Its like it could be multiple tribes in certain areas, but at least people understand what tribal citizens can take advantage of to meet their traditional needs. Land back Nika Bartoo-Smith: During your recent visits, you saw and experienced the varying sizes of different nations land bases. I understand that you learned a lot about the history of how that came to be. Knowing all of that, do you see an opportunity to identify state lands that could be transferred back to Native nations, and additional opportunities for co-management and co-stewardship? Governor Tina Kotek: I absolutely think thats a possibility on the horizon. Really understanding lands that are in state possession, whether theyre park lands or other things weve had conversations about hatcheries that are really important. Wherever we can be co-managing and working together, Im definitely open to that. We do have some policies now where it allows us some flexibility to do some of those things, and I think itll be a situation-by-situation exploration with the individual tribes. But Im definitely open to it. Nika Bartoo-Smith: Is there anything else that we didnt ask that we should have asked? Karina Brown: Anything you would like to add? Governor Tina Kotek: I have one more tribal visit because we had to reschedule one. But of all the ones, what has been just inspiring and exciting First Lady and I talk about this when were on our way home is how the youth leaders are lifted up by their elders. If you walk into the tribal chamber at the Umatilla Reservation, they actually have these wonderful studio photographs and portraits of all the youth council members on the one side and on the other side are the tribal council members. It really says, You matter. You are our future. And I met some of those young people, and theyre just amazing. We sat down with young people. We made necklaces across the table with young leaders in Coquille and talked about our lives together. It was amazing. I think weve met youth leaders in all the tribes. And I think that commitment is amazing. And the other piece that came up in some of those conversations is the states commitment on higher education scholarships the tribal education scholarships that we have now. And how that is transforming lives when people know, I have a pathway to college if I want it because its going to get paid. Every single one of the tribes was like, This is so important for our young people. They can see a future because of this. Its really making a difference, were so excited about it. We have left every visit going, There is a bright future because of the young people coming up. And I know that the elders are very, very excited about all the young people. The Challenge 40 airs Episode 6 on Wednesday, September 25 at 8 p.m. on MTV. The reality series features individuals from across reality TV platforms throughout The Challenges 40 seasons all coming together to compete in epic challenges for a chance to win a whopping one million dollars. Tune in to watch this weeks episode called My Real Friends Era, with a free trial of Philo. Dont have cable? You can watch The Challenge for FREE on Philo (free trial) or Fubo (free trial). Who is hosting The Challenge 40? TJ Lavin is back to host the most iconic season of the longest running MTV challenge show. Who is competing on The Challenge 40? Brad Fiorenza from The Real World: San Diego (2004) Brandon Nelson from The Challenge: Fresh Meat II Cory Wharton from Real World: Ex-Plosion Chris CT Tamburello from The Real World: Paris Darrell Taylor from Road Rules: Campus Crawl Derek Chavez from The Real World: Cancun Leroy Garrett from The Real World: Las Vegas (2011) Nehemiah Clark from The Real World: Austin and many others What seasons and shows will re-appear during The Challenge 40? Viewers will see alumni from The Real World, Road Rules, The Challenge (U.S.), Are You the One? (U.S.), Big Brother (U.S.), Survivor (U.S.), Love Island (U.S. and UK), Survival of the Fittest, and Exatlon Estados Unidos. Who has been banned from MTVs The Challenge? Rumor has it that Dunbar Merrill, Duong Dee Nguyen, Tonya Cooley, Evan Starkman, Camila Nakagawa, and Kenny Santucci have all been banned from participating in The Challenge. What TV channel is The Challenge 40 on? What: The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras When: Wednesday, September 25 at 8 p.m. PT/ET (new episodes every Wednesday) TV channel: MTV Watch live stream online: You can watch The Challenge 40 for FREE on Philo (free trial) or Fubo (free trial). If youre out of free trials, you can sign up for Philo for only $28/month. Photo: Office of the President of Mali BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Special Assignments Elchin Amirbayov met with Mali's Interim President Assimi Goita on September 24, Trend reports, citing the office of the President of Mali. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new avenues for cooperation across a range of sectors. Following the discussions, Amirbayov reiterated Azerbaijan's commitment to deepening and diversifying its partnership with Mali. He also extended his congratulations on the 64th anniversary of Mali's national sovereignty, wishing the country continued prosperity. Amirbayov emphasized Baku's interest in expanding economic collaboration with Bamako, particularly in energy, mining, vocational education, and public service improvements. Azerbaijan proposed establishing a regular consultation mechanism to facilitate ongoing dialogue and bolster cooperation between the two nations. The high cost of child care in the United States is fast becoming a crisis, with many families struggling to find affordable options. Childcare is among the biggest expenses in American households. Typically, childcare services cost $700 a month, according to data from Bank of America. However, this can go up in some states. In New York, for instance, families spend more than $1,600 a month on childcare. That amounts to $20,000 a year. In all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, the cost of child care was even 25% more expensive than the average cost of renting. To resolve the surging cost of childcare, here are what presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump propose. Capping Cost of Childcare In February, Harris proposed capping the cost of child care to no more than 7% of the incomes of working families. The caps were part of the Biden administration's earlier objectives. It is unclear how Harris would pass legislation to cap childcare costs or how the initiative would be funded. In addition to capping the cost, Harris has pushed for a $6,000 child tax credit for newborn parents. She also proposed expanding child tax benefits to give $3,600 to families with children under age six and $3,000 to households with older kids. Trump has remained silent on his plans to address the surging costs of child care. However, his running mate JD Vance floated a $5,000 child tax credit. Other Proposals To Address Child Care Crisis Apart from his child tax credit proposal, Vance also suggested that parents should seek help from family members---specifically grandparents or uncles and aunts---to reduce the cost of child care. In that conversation, Vance later clarified his suggestion, adding that grandparents might want to help with child care. He also called for more accessible educational routes for people hoping to enter the field. Childcare professionals are currently earning $30,360 a year, per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The COVID-19 pandemic also led childcare workers to exit the field in favor of higher-paying jobs. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. On September 25, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with the Deputy Secretary-General, High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Moratinos as part of the participation in the high-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry says, Trend reports. During the talks, the main focus was on cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UN Alliance of Civilizations cooperation, Azerbaijan's role in inter-civilizational dialogue, as well as Baku process were in focus. Well, I always knew that it would happen someday. I knew that I was bound to make a mistake. And I did. It happened this morning, when John Donovan Wilson (who plays Brigham Young in Six Days in August) and I were being interviewed earlier today by Tim Hughes and Amanda Dickson during their Utahs Morning News program on KSL NewsRadio. (John and his wife, Twyla, who portrays Mary Ann Angell Young in the film) were on a KSL-TV interview show on Monday. I was asked about the sneak peeks early screening of Six Days in August that will take place tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 7 PM. In reply I mentioned that nine theaters along the Wasatch Front in American Fork, Draper, Farmington, Ogden, Orem, Provo, Ogden, Salt Lake City, and West Jordan. But I said that they were Carmike theaters, whereas theyre actually Cinemark theaters: Six Days in August Early Access And to make things yet worse, I think that Ive probably made this mistake before, as well. Now, Ill admit that inerrancy has been fun. Ive enjoyed it for many years, and probably for far longer than I really should have. And crashing down so abruptly into the world of ordinary mortals has been a real shock. Its not fun, and Ill frankly admit that Ive been reeling all day, ever since. Somebody corrected me during the show, and it was kindly done. Still, it hurts. So please be patient with me as I process my newfound fallibility. Try to imagine what it would be like for Superman if, one morning, he woke up and realized that he was now permanently, and inescapably, Clark Kent. Thats something of what Im feeling right now. You can help out, however, by thronging those nine Cinemark theaters tomorrow night. Incidentally, too: Im informed that signage for Six Days in August has now appeared on billboards along I-15 (of the kind that rotate their content) in the corridor between Provo and Bountiful, and at least one in the St. George area, and, possibly, one at University Mall in Utah Valley. But I havent seen any of them. Can anybody out there confirm that they exist? Incidentally, from tonights big Six Days in August fireside at the SCERA Center for the Arts here in Orem. We had a good turnout, and I hope that you were among those who were able to make it. I had thought that it would be good, but it was even better than I had expected it to be. Back in April 2015, the following figures drawn from the previous twenty general conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints indicating the frequency with which the name Joseph Smith was mentioned in those conferences drew the attention of certain critics of the Church. The numbers, they suggested, demonstrated that the Church was embarrassed by Joseph and that it was attempting to distance itself from the Prophet and, thereby, to go mainstream. Conference Frequency Oct 2005 84 Apr 2006 33 Oct 2006 21 Apr 2007 39 Oct 2007 21 Apr 2008 41 Oct 2008 36 Apr 2009 27 Oct 2009 40 Apr 2010 27 Oct 2010 35 Apr 2011 21 Oct 2011 25 Apr 2012 29 Oct 2012 24 Apr 2013 27 Oct 2013 21 Apr 2014 32 Oct 2014 34 Apr 2015 4 Average = 31.05 per conference (29.6 excluding the extremes). Median = 28. High = 84 in Oct 2005 Low = 4 in Apr 2015 I have no idea whether the figures given were accurate or not. But, even if they were, theres an obvious explanation for the very high spike shown October 2005: We were approaching the bicentennial of Josephs birth. And its probably not insignificant, that the April 2015 general conference of the Church fell on Easter weekend. Jesus tends to be mentioned quite a bit at Easter. Moreover, I wonder what the figures since April 2015 have been. Does anybody know? My guess is that that will typically have ranged from the low twenties to the high thirties, occasionally straying into the low forties in other words, just as they were from October 2005 through October 2014. In other words, April 2015 was very likely an outlier. Im unaware of even the slightest disposition among believing Latter-day Saints and their leaders to back away from the Prophet. Ive detected not a trace of such a retreat. In any event, so as to remove any possible doubt about my own position, I quote the words of John Taylor, who nearly died with Joseph and Hyrum at the hands of that anti-Mormon mob in Carthage, Illinois, and who eventually succeeded Joseph Smith and Brigham Young as the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ in this dispensation: Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. . . . He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lords anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. . . . Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world; and that if the fire can scathe a green tree for the glory of God, how easy it will burn up the dry trees to purify the vineyard of corruption. They lived for glory; they died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age shall their names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified. They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to Mormonism that cannot be rejected by any court on earth, and their innocent blood on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood, with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen. And here are more words from Elder Taylor, some of which, sung by Casey Elliott, of Gentri, to an arrangement by Rob Gardner, will close Six Days in August as the credits roll: O give me back my Prophet dear, And Patriarch, O give them back; The Saints of latter days to cheer, And lead them in the gospel track. But ah! theyre gone from my embrace, From earthly scenes their spirits fled; Those two, the best of Adams race, Now lie entombed among the dead. Ye men of wisdom tell me why, When guilt nor crime in them were found, Why now their blood doth loudly cry, From prison walls, and Carthage ground Your tongues are mute, but pray attend, The secret I will now relate, Why those whom God to earth did lend, Have met the suffering martyrs fate. It is because they strove to gain, Beyond the grave a heaven of bliss; Because they made the gospel plain, And led the Saints in righteousness. It is because God called them forth, And led them by his own right hand Christs coming to proclaim on earth, And gather Israel to their land. It is because the priests of Baal Were desperate their craft to save; And when they saw it doomed to fail, They sent the Prophets to the grave. Like scenes the ancient Prophets saw, Like these, the ancient Prophets fell; And till the resurrection dawn, Prophet and Patriarch-Fare thee well. I join my voice with that of John Taylor and millions of others; Im not backing away from Joseph Smith, the Prophet who opened this last dispensation. Not even close. Olam Agri, a global leader in food and agribusiness, has held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for its state-of-the-art pasta production facility at its wheat milling factory at Kpone near Tema, in the Greater Accra Region. The event was graced by the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi, and the Deputy Minister for Transport, Hon. Frederick Obeng Adom, and was attended by the traditional leadership of the Kpone municipality. Also present were Chief Executives and representatives from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, and some key stakeholders, including the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Water Company. The construction of Olam Agris facility marks a significant milestone in the companys commitment to providing high-quality, affordable, and nutritious pasta products for the Ghanaian consumer. When completed, the factory will be the first pasta production facility in Ghana, aiming to bring the product closer to the consumer, ensuring better quality control. In an address read on his behalf by his Deputy, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon K.T. Hammond observed that whereas pasta has become a staple in many Ghanaian households, there is heavy reliance on imports, particularly from countries like Turkey, Italy, China, and South Africa. I am therefore happy to note that, Olam Agri as a business is taking advantage of this opportunity to establish this state-of-the-art pasta plant reflecting the companys commitment to transforming Ghanas food industry. This facility is expected to meet the growing demand for pasta locally, supporting the governments import substitution and job creation agenda, Hon K. T. Hammond said. The Minister stressed that the private sector plays a key role in promoting the growth of industrialisation in Ghana, adding that Olam Agri has long set a benchmark in agribusiness, from flour production to supporting local rice farmers and the companys understanding and dedication to quality is exemplified by the success of popular brands like Mama Gold and Royal Feast. Mr. Baibhav Biswas, Country Head of Olam Agri in Ghana, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, Our 30 years presence in Ghana has been characterised by significant investments in infrastructure and human resources development. This facility is a testament to our dedication to the country and our effort to contribute positively towards its economic development and food security. This new facility aligns with Olam Agris broader strategy of strengthening its position in the African food market. Mr. Baibhav Biswas expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for supporting Olam Agris operations in Ghana and for creating a friendly environment for businesses to thrive. As our Grains business continues to grow and evolve, it remains dedicated to providing quality floor products to Ghanaians. Our commitment to community development and sustainability has solidified our position as a trusted partner in the regions food industry Baibhav, said. The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ms. Julia Esiam, congratulated Olam Agri on behalf of the commission and reiterated the institution's support through effective collaboration and partnerships. The Groundbreaking of this new facility will open doors to further opportunities for growth and development. This sets the stage for future achievement, innovation, and progress. Ms. Esiam added. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Baffour Owusu Bediako, the Paramount Chief of Domeabra Traditional Area in the Asante-Akim North District, has strongly advocated for the inclusion of traditional authorities in politics, as key stakeholders in national development. He argued that chiefs should be able to scrutinise policies of political parties without conflicting with Article 276 of the Constitution, because the policies of any party that would be elected to form the next government, would directly affect the people that chiefs lead. There is, therefore, the need that the right policies that will be of greater benefit for the people are supported, he said at a peace symposium organised by the Ashanti Regional Peace Council in Kumasi. The symposium, which brought together key stakeholders such as political parties, security agencies, students, religious leaders, media, and the Electoral Commission (EC), was in commemoration of World Peace Day on the theme, Cultivating a Culture of Peace. Baffour Bediako said chieftaincy had evolved into an institution with both traditional and modern dimensions, and that it was a key institution around which the government could build its development programmes. He said openly endorsing political parties or candidates may not be the best of ideas, but chiefs could advise politicians to be fair and true to their promises and have faith in the electoral processes and state agencies during the election period. On peaceful elections, the Paramount Chief said the gospel of peace, truth, justice, reconciliation, unity, respect, and the fear of the Lord were the bedrock of a genuinely true and patriotic election. He pointed out that, our actions and omissions today would largely determine the condition we would find ourselves in during and after the elections and stressed the need for demonstrations to be carried out lawfully and peacefully to prevent any act of violence. Let us express our opinions and differences through the use of dialogue instead of violence because our voice is more important, for we gain nothing from chaos, he advised. He also spoke against the use of foul, unwarranted, and divisive languages that could trigger violent conflicts and disrupt the peace and stability we have been enjoying as Ghanaians. He said advocacy for peaceful election could not have come at a better time than now and charged all stakeholders to join the National Peace Council in advocating for peace ahead of the general election and urged all to commit to sustain a peaceful national artmostphere. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Eastern Regional office of the National Peace Council has marked International Day of Peace 2024 by urging all stakeholders to empower youth to harness the power of music and arts for promotion of peaceful elections. Ghanas youth, once equipped with the creative skills and confidence gained through music and arts, according to the peace body, can become a powerful force for peace and positivity in the upcoming elections. Speaking during the International Day of Peace commemoration in Koforidua, Professor Mark Boadu, Chairman of the Eastern Regional Peace Council said, we can nurture a new generation of civically engaged citizens who view political participation as a creative and collaborative endeavours. He underscored the importance of arts and music in safeguarding the integrity of the countrys democratic process. Through creative expression of our shared hopes and dreams, we can cultivate the emotional intelligence needed to resolve conflicts peacefully and engage in productive civic discourse, he stated. This years International Day of Peace was themed: Cultivating a Culture of Peace Through Music and Arts in Promoting Peaceful Elections in 2024. The day is celebrated around the world each year on September 21, to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace within and among all nations and people. Professor Boadu noted that the International Day of Peace celebration was an opportunity to uplift theme and inspire all parties to resolve their differences through peaceful and democratic means. Crucially, this initiative is not just about the upcoming elections it is about inspiring a lasting transformation in the way Ghanaians engage with the democratic process, he added. The day was marked by cultural performances, drama, choreography and choir that improved understanding and cooperation between political parties. In his remarks, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Seth Kwame Acheampong, highlighted the power of music and arts to unite Ghanaians and foster meaningful conversations. He noted that these art forms have served as a powerful medium to bring people together and promote dialogue. Through these performances we have been inspired and empowered to engage in peaceful discourse rather than violent activities, he said. He stated that the foundation of democracy would be under jeopardy in the absence of peace, and that it was therefore imperative to ensure that all stakeholders, including civil society, media, and voting public, were dedicated to a non-violent process. We must know that peace does not occur in a vacuum. It has to be nurtured, honoured, and encouraged and here is where the arts and music play an active role as facilitators, he said. The event brought together representatives from various political parties, religions, youth choirs, and institutions. The National Peace Council aims to facilitate and develop mechanisms for preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts. Its goal is to build sustainable peace in the country. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghana has signed two communique establishing diplomatic relations with Madagascar and St. Lucia and reached a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement with Trinidad and Tobago. Ghanas foreign minister Shirley Botchwey signed the diplomatic relations communiques with Madagascar and St. Lucia at brief ceremonies on Tuesday's sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Her Malagasy and St. Lucian counterparts, Ms. Rasata Rafaravavitafika and Mr. Alva Baptiste signed for their respective countries. Ms. Rafaravavitafika and Ms. Botchwey discussed the prospects and advantages of intra-Africa trade. Ms. Rafaravavitafika said Madagascar would sign on to the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) pact next month. Ghana was on early signatory to the historic trade agreement, and hosts the AfCFTA secretariat in its capital, Accra. Ms. Botchwey and Dr Amery Browne, foreign minister of Trinidad and Tobago, signed an Agreement on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment (ARPPI) Im delighted we could do this today, said Dr. Browne. Indeed, its a great day, Ms. Botchwey responded as they shook hands and exchanged documents. The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade through reciprocal economic cooperation, respect for investors' rights and the prevention of unlawful appropriation. Although trade between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago is limited, the Caribbean nations Republic Bank is operational in Ghana with a growing footprint. The two also discussed the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due in four weeks in Samoa. Ms. Botchwey is considered the leading candidate among three contestants for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, to replace Baroness Patricia Scotland of Dominica. Ms Botchwey also held bilateral talks earlier with Lord Collins, British Under-Secretary of State of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the foreign minister of Grenada, Mr. Joseph Andall. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Development Economist and a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Policy Studies (CSPS) at the College of Humanities, University of Ghana, Dr. George Domfe, has indicated that the current growth rate of the Ghanaian economy is far better than Mahama left it. Ghanaians may still be going through tough times but the current state of the economy is far better than it was when John Mahama was leaving office he indicated. According to him, per capita income now is better than when Mahama was in office. The standard of living of Ghanaians at the moment is higher than when the NDC was in power. Per capita income under Mahama was $1900. As we speak, it is $2200. This simply means that, Ghanaians today, though there are still some challenges, are better off than they used to be under Mahama he observed. He also noted that Mahamas economic record is the worst the country has experienced since 1992. In 2013, the economy recorded a decline as it dropped from 11% to 7.3%. In 2014, it further dropped to 2.8% he said. He further pointed out that the worst economic record experienced by Ghanaians happened under the Mahama administration. Our worst economic record occurred under Mahama. In 2015, we experienced a further decline in growth as the economy grew at 2.1%. This precipitated the Senchi Economic Forum which resulted in Ghana going to the IMF for a bailout With the current growth rate of 6.9%, Dr. Domfe held that this is an indication of the fact that even under some challenges, the economy under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration, has performed better than Mahama. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Thailands king has signed a marriage equality bill into law, making the country the first in South East Asia to recognise same-sex unions. The bill cleared the Senate in June but required royal endorsement to become law. It was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday and will come into effect on 22 January next year. Activists hailed the move as historic it marks the culmination of years of campaigning for marriage equality. Thailand has long been seen as a relative haven for the LGBTQ+ community in a region where such attitudes are rare. The new law uses gender-neutral terms in place of husbands, wives, men and women. And it grants same-sex couples adoption and inheritance rights. Today were not only getting to write our names in marriage certificates, but we are also writing a page in history that tells us that love never set a condition of who we were born to be, Ann Chumaporn, a longtime LGBTQ+ activist and co-founder of the Bangkok Pride movement, told the BBC. Its a triumph of equality and human dignity. She said she plans to organise a mass wedding for more than 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples on 22 January. [The legal recognition] means we are fully accepted and can live our lives without conditions or compromises, said advertising strategist Kwankaow Koosakulnirund. Thailands LGBTQ+ community can now look toward a future beyond relationships, embracing the sense of pride that this law brings, he said. We are all delighted and excited. Weve been fighting for our rights for over 10 years, and now its finally happening, another activist, Siritata Ninlapruek, told AFP news agency. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on X: Congratulations on everyones love. #LoveWins. Former PM Srettha Thavisin, who has been vocal in his support for the bill, also applauded the development as a significant step for Thailand. Equity and equality have become concrete in the Thai society. Gender diversity will eventually be fully accepted. Congratulations, he wrote on X. When the law comes into effect, Thailand will become only the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, where same-sex couples can get married. In 2019, Taiwans parliament became the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. Nepal registered its first same-sex union in November last year, five months after its Supreme Court ruled in favour of it. This was just one month after Indias top court had ruled against it, leaving the decision to the government, which said it would set up a panel to decide on more legal rights for same-sex couples. Singapore scrapped a colonial-era law that banned gay sex in 2022, but also amended its constitution to prevent the courts from challenging the definition of marriage as one between a man and a woman. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the outdooring ceremony of Ayirebihene Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III on Wednesday morning 24th September 2024. Ayirebi a farming and business community in the Ofoase-Ayirebi District in the Eastern Region came alive as Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III adorned in his beautiful Nyame na oyi Ohene Kente cloth rode in palanquin through some principal streets amidst songs of praise. For Ayirebi folks, there was a reason to be happy as a protracted chieftaincy dispute had finally come to an end. Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III is blessed considering the jubilation of thousands of elderly men and women and the support of the teeming youth from the forested town and its adjoining villages. One townfolk Joseph Donkor a retired District Cocoa Purchasing officer remarked: This is but the beginning of better days ahead of Ayirebi. Addressing the Press and townfolks several of whom had travelled by foot to participate in the procession, Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III hinted: A new day has dawned for Ayirebi. The town is just on the brink of experiencing unprecedented strides. Ayirebihene outlined a five (5) point strategy to help push Ayirebi forward. 1. Scholarship fund. I will establish a scholarship fund to increase access to secondary and tertiary schools. 2 Mass Education on Sanitation I will pursue a sensitization program on sanitation to help improve the overall environmental Health and sanitation of Ayirebi and its inhabitants. 3. Roads I will cooperate with Government to increase the number of motorable roads in and around Ayirebi. 4. Modern Market Infrastructure I will raise funds and build a modern market to augment trade in Akyem Ayirebi. 5. Reconciliation Considering the division which existed before my installation, I will bridge gaps and foster unity amongst townfolks so we could all join hands and build Akyem Ayirebi for the future of our children. PRIVATE LIFE Born Kwadwo Gyimah in 1968 to Mr Samuel Oduro and Obaapanin Yaa Tenewaa , Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III was the sixth child of 8 children in the family. Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III started his education at the Ayirebi Methodist Primary School, continued through to the Middle School and completed in 1988. He then proceeded to study Mechanical Engineering at the famous Accra Technical Training Center (ATTC) from 1992-1995. Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III thereafter ventured into professional driving, farming and later became a Timber Merchant. Following the death of the Ayirebi chief Obrempong Gyapire Agyekum II, a long history of dispute ensued until Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III was installed on 21st March 2022 and subsequently gazetted on 14th March 2024. Many inhabitants of Akyem Ayirebi hold an unflinching belief that the forested town is set to march into glory with Nana Asare Duodu Gyimah III an Astute business man on the throne. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The world's longest-serving death row prisoner has been acquitted by a Japanese court, more than half a century after his 1968 mu%der conviction. The Shizuoka District Court ruled on Thursday, September 26, that 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada was not guilty in a retrial obtained by the former boxer and his supporters a decade ago. 'The court finds the defendant innocent,' judge Koshi Kunii said. Hakamada was sentenced to hang in 1968 after being found guilty of murdering his boss, his wife and their two teenage children, and setting fire to their home two years earlier. The former professional boxer spent 46 years on death row believed to be the longest time spent on death row of any prisoner worldwide, until he was freed in 2014 when new evidence emerged and a retrial was ordered. Hakamada has consistently protested his innocence and said investigators forced him to confess, while his lawyers alleged police had fabricated evidence. There was no immediate decision on whether prosecutors would appeal against the verdict, which was reported by Kyodo news agency and other Japanese media outlets. Hakamadas defence lawyers have urged prosecutors not to challenge the ruling, given his age. The presiding judge at Shizuoka district court, Koshi Kunii, acknowledged that three pieces of evidence had been fabricated, including Hakamadas confession and items of clothing that prosecutors claimed he had been wearing at the time of the murders. Investigators tampered with clothes by getting blood on them, the ruling said, and criticised the use of inhumane interrogations meant to force a statement by imposing mental and physical pain. It said: The prosecutions records were obtained by effectively infringing on the defendants right to remain silent, under circumstances extremely likely to elicit a false confession. Hakamadas 91-year-old sister, Hideko Hakamada, who has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of her brother, told reporters before Thursdays verdict: For so long we have fought a battle that has felt endless. But this time, I believe it will be settled. Hakamada initially denied robbing and fatally stabbing the victims but confessed after what he later described as a brutal police interrogation that included physical abuse. Campaigners said his ordeal had exposed flaws in Japans criminal justice system and the cruelty of capital punishment. We are overjoyed by the courts decision to exonerate Iwao Hakamada, said Boram Jang, an east Asia researcher at Amnesty International. After enduring almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial, this verdict is an important recognition of the profound injustice he endured for most of his life. It ends an inspiring fight to clear his name by his sister Hideko and all those who supported him. As we celebrate this long overdue day of justice for Hakamada, we are reminded of the irreversible harm caused by the death penalty. We strongly urge Japan to abolish the death penalty to prevent this from happening again. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis within the framework of participation in the high-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2024, the statement of the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. According to the information, the role and importance of mutual high-level visits and constant political dialog in expanding the scope and enriching the content of bilateral relations were noted. Information was presented on preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which Azerbaijan will host this year. The Swiss side was informed in detail about the current situation and realities in our region in the post-conflict period, mine threats, and progress in the normalization process of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Furthermore, it was emphasized that the ongoing territorial claims against Azerbaijan in the Armenian legislation, as well as the rapid arming of this country, are the main factors threatening the sustainable peacebuilding process in the region. In the course of the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest, the statement reads. The Electoral Commission (EC) has told the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the General Public that legal and administrative processes laid down to clean the Provisional Voters Register (PVR) have not been fully exhausted to justify the calls for a Forensic Audit. This was contained in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, in response to the petition submitted to the EC by the NDC at the end of the partys demonstration on Tuesday, 17th September 2024. In the letter that was copied to the Majority Leader of Parliament, the Minority Leader, the Civil Society Organisation, the Diplomatic Community and Foreign Missions in Ghana, the National Peace Council, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Chief Imam and the Ahmadiyya Mission, the EC said: the Commission is of the view that the legal and administrative processes laid down to clean the PVR have not been fully exhausted to justify the calls for a Forensic Audit. We entreat the public to trust us to carry out our mandate. At the end of the NDCs Enough Is Enough demonstration, the party made the following demand in its petition: Permit an Independent Forensic Audit of the Voters Register and its IT System: An independent forensic audit of the Provisional Voters Register and its IT System must be conducted to uncover the full extent of the irregularities, including unauthorised log-ins, transfers, discrepancies, and data corruption. This audit should also provide a comprehensive review of the IT infrastructure, human processes, and overall system integrity that led to these errors and discrepancies in the voter register. The audit should also examine both the technical and procedural vulnerabilities of ECs IT and registration system. However, explaining the basis of its position in the letter to the NDC, the EC said: The Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 91 recognizes that the PVR is a draft Register and recognizing that the PVR is bound to contain discrepancies, the framers of the C.I. 91, instituted the mechanism of the Exhibition Exercise to allow for the cleaning and revision of the PVR to ensure that it is credible and robust for an election. The Register is thus displayed in all Polling Stations (Exhibition Centres) and Online to allow for inspection and corrections where necessary. In essence, the Exhibition Exercise provides the legal basis to clean the PVR. You will agree with us that as with any human endeavour, such as the Registration of Voters, there are bound to be discrepancies. One cannot therefore expect the Provisional Register to be foolproof. It is for this reason that Regulation 23 of C.I. 91 provides clear and well-defined pathways to cure and deal with likely anomalies that are bound to arise from the Registration of Voters, including missing names, errors in biographical data, duplicates, the existence of deceased persons on the Register, incorrect designation of Polling Stations, among others. Thankfully, there exist legal and administrative remedies to resolve all post-registration issues. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Prophet Nigel Gaisie, the founder and leader of Prophetic Hill Chapel International, has slammed the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over alleged attacks on Rev. Owusu-Bempah the founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministry International. According to Prophet Nigel Gaisie, an attack on a prophet comes with consequences, so the party needs to stop such actions. He stated that the NPP under its current leadership focuses on attacking individuals who fail to conform to their needs, unlike the leadership of former President John Agyekum Kufuor. Nigel Gaisie mentioned that if not for Owusu-Bempah, who stood his ground during the 2016 elections, the party would have lost the elections. Speaking in an interview on Accra FM on September 18, 2024, he stated "They sent me a video where Rev. Owusu-Bempah was being attacked at Wontumis TV station. You see, the NPP had already lost, but the same day they arrested Owusu-Bempah, their case worsened, and they will lose. He continued, "They have insulted him massively and taken him to the gutters. The issue is that they said Owusu-Bempah had gone to meet Mahama and some pastors. This is the nature of the NPP; Kufuors NPP wasnt like that. It is the nature of this current NPP that if you dont go by what they want, their whims and caprices, they will come against you with all their arsenals available to them. And they have done it to almost everybody. They have attacked Bishop Agyinasare. I am not exceptional; they attack everybody. It may be recalled that Apostle Amoako Attah has also warned the NPP over what he referred to as an attack on his colleague pastor, Rev. Isaac Owusu-Bempah. Now I want to warn the NPP, I want to warn you people that Owusu-Bempah has become your target. It won't be a blessing for you. The man is a prophet no matter what. Someone who used his church to gamble for you in 2016, for you to give him the red carpet, why are you now insulting him? Why do you want to drag Owusu-Bempah into the gutters, why? he questioned angrily. Amoako Attah criticized the NPP for the treatment of Owusu-Bempah, stating that it was unfair. Speaking to his congregation on Sunday, September 15, 2024, he stated that if the NPP is now dealing with a different pastor for their affairs, Owusu-Bempah should be given a rest. In 2020, he stood up for you, so when things like this happen, it seems ungratefulness has set in. No matter what, Owusu-Bempah is a prophet, so give him every respect he deserves. Those who are going on the radio to insult him should stop because it won't help. I know Bawumia is not like that because Bawumia went to his church. This man has fought earnestly. In 2016, no prophet could come out, but this man stood up and said things that God didnt even say just to help you people, he lamented. He explained that targeting Owusu-Bempah, who is a prophet of God, would come at a cost to the party. He detailed how Owusu-Bempah had helped the NPP since 2016 and how the party is now ditching him. So, stop that and leave him alone. If you have a different pastor, go on because, in every dispensation, God raises a man. Owusu-Bempah cannot singlehandedly continue just like that. Give him respect. It is disheartening and I am pained so much it has been on my mind for a long time so let me say it for you to go and tell your leaders. You respect men of God so much, Dr. Bawumia, stop this. 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. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stressed that Africans do not need handouts from international communities, rather, all Africans on the globe deserve equal opportunities for growth and sustained development. President Akufo-Addo revealed that Africans deserve equal access to education, jobs, and healthcare, as opposed to the marginalization often meted out to Africans by members of the International communities. Speaking at the Annual United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 25, President Akufo- Addo expressed deep concerns about the global systems bias against Africans, viewing them as passive aid recipients rather than equal partners who also deserve the same treatment given to other European partners. In his speech, Nana Akufo-Addo said, Africa in particular, knows the cost of being left out. Yes, we are a continent rich in potential and resilient in the face of adversity. We have also been disadvantaged by the global system that has generally treated us as an afterthought. We have been viewed merely as passive recipients of aid rather than as equal partners in global progress. President Akufo-Addo further highlighted the many promises that have not been fulfilled to bring about the long-chain assistance that Africans passionately need. Such aid offered often comes with strings attached, limiting our ability to shape our future. Africa is not a continent of despair; shes focused on full of great possibilities. Shes required, however, to chart a new course of development, President Akufo-Addo further stated. The people of Africa are not asking for handouts, they are demanding opportunities in the new global architecture so that they can have access to education, health care, and jobs to be able to build better lives for themselves, families, and their descendants. In buttressing his position, Nana Akufo-Addo underscored the need for the poor, vulnerable, and displaced not to be left out in decision-making, adding that, such engagements should not be mere rhetorics but be backed with tangible actions. He reiterated, we cannot in good conscience leave them behind, they should be at the centre of our decision and decision making. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr James Kwabena Bomfeh alias Kabilla, an Nkrumaist and a Development Studies Ph.D holder, has fired shots at those calling for a state of emergency to be declared over galamsey. There is currently a major crusade against illegal mining in Ghana, known in local parlance as galamsey, with the crusaders vehemently imploring the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to declare a state of emergency and cease all small-scale mining operations. The porponents believe this is the way forward to stopping galamsey activities that have contaminated the water bodies and environment. But Kabilla, who is a former Ag General Secretary of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), shares dissenting views on the call for state of emergency. According to him, those making the calls are only doing so because they have a "regime change agenda". Kabilla argued that if indeed they seek an end to this menace, they should get to the "root of the matter" instead of their demands on the President. He noted that it's not the fault of the incumbent government under the leadership of President Nana Addo that galamsey persists but rather this canker dates back to the early 2000s with some organizations and individuals raising alarm over the dangers of the galamsey operators. The former CPP General Secretary made these points during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show. 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. Featured Video Joyce Bawah Mogtari, a key figure in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Deputy Transport Minister, has warned the government that its handling of the Democracy Hub protesters will not be forgotten by Ghanaians come December 7 general elections. In a sharp criticism of the ruling administration, Mrs. Mogtari condemned the arrest of protesters who were exercising their democratic right to voice their dissatisfaction with the current state of governance. She noted that such actions will have lasting political consequences when the nation heads to the polls. According to Mrs. Mogtari, the government's crackdown on peaceful demonstrators reflects a broader attempt to stifle dissent and intimidate citizens. She emphasized that rather than resorting to arrests, the government should listen to the concerns of the protesters, many of whom are highlighting issues such as economic mismanagement, unemployment and corruption. The former President John Mahamas Special Aide warned that the frustration of ordinary Ghanaians would play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the election. She further stated that the arrests of Democracy Hub protesters will serve as a reminder of the ruling partys authoritarian tendencies. She cautioned that such actions are a direct attack on the countrys democratic values and that the governments approach to suppressing protests will fuel voter anger. She predicted that on December 7, Ghanaians would hold the government accountable for its record of governance including its treatment of dissenters. Rather than stop us from exercising our democratic rights, these anti-freedom actions by Akufo-Addo and Bawumia should convince you to look harder at their failures and break through the carefully curated public relations visage they have created. They have failed miserably in almost every arena, and rather than listen to the voice of the people, they hide behind the police and the courts. They will be remembered on December 7th for this alone. We will vote against the NPP, Akufo-Addo and Bawumia. We will vote for John Mahama. Our nation cannot afford a government that is scared of its people, she said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has stated that there is a need to balance the maintenance of law and order with a deeper sense of responsibility in protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens. John Mahamas statement is in sequel to the treatment meted out to the Democracy Hub demonstrators who took to some streets in Accra to protest against the menace of galamsey on the environment and the living conditions of residents of the galamsey-prone areas. Posting on his official Facebook page on Thursday, September 26, John Mahama bemoaned how the Ghana Police Service and the Judicial Service treated the demonstrators. The demonstrators who belong to the Democracy Hub were arrested and detained by the police for alleged wrongdoings during the process of the demonstration. The police arrested 50 demonstrators in total and charged them with conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, and assault on a public officer. We must balance our need to maintain law and order with protecting the rights and freedoms of our citizens. Remanding Democracy Hub demonstrators for 2 weeks is high-handed and an abuse of their rights. The youth of Ghana have a right to engage in manifestations to protect their future, especially in respect of key issues like the destruction of the environment through illegal mining. "Draconian judicial decisions such as this wont stop them from speaking out. The authorities must request the judge to review the remand decision and grant them bail immediately, Mr. Mahama stated. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video When her fiances father became terminally ill in 2022, Jackie Schaffner called the The Art Factory in Paterson, New Jersey, to postpone her wedding. She said the owner assured her there would be no problem rescheduling the date to summer. But once I started to ask for a new date, he became very difficult to work with, Schaffner told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. Schaffner said she was forced to hire a lawyer who wrote The Art Factory a demand letter. She also contacted a consumer affairs bureau, whose members she said convinced the owner to give Schaffner a new date, which he did. But Schaffner still isnt married. The Art Factory no longer returns her calls. She says shes out $10,000. Schaffner is one of dozens of worried brides-to-be who have taken to social media in recent days to say theyve left a deposit or paid for a wedding at The Art Studio and say their plans are now in limbo. The Art Factory fell behind in its $12.5 million mortgage in November 2023, court records show. When that happened, the mortgage company won a judgment for nearly $11 million against Great Falls Industrial Park, which owns The Art Factory. The Art Factory is a complex of industrial buildings on Spruce Street with some structures serving as studios for artists and others converted into banquet rooms. The judgment apparently prompted wedding venues owner, David Garsia, to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. Court records show the business has assets of $100,000 against liabilities in excess of $10 million. Garsia and his attorney did not return several calls seeking comment on Wednesday. After filing for bankruptcy, Garsia messaged couples who had booked upcoming weddings and told them the federal bankruptcy court had directed his company to stop hosting weddings. Accordingly, we regret to inform you that effective immediately, the company will host no further events, Garsia wrote in a social media message shared with NJ Advance Media. Until further notice, the company is unable to admit any customers or guests onto the premises, the message said. The Art Factory has not only been accused of mishandling upcoming weddings, but at least one vendor sued The Art Factory and obtained a $14,000 judgment for failure to pay for services rendered. The vendor, who asked not to be named, said the owners have not paid any of the money owed for his workers setting up events. One bride-to-be told NJ Advance Media in an email on Wednesday that she gave The Art Factory $24,000 to pay for her Oct. 25, 2025, wedding in full. She said the business within the past two weeks also tried to charge her in full for 19 hotel rooms that are still under construction on The Art Factorys property. I was shocked when David mentioned another couple might be booking these for our date, which then prompted him to send me a payment link to hold them for an additional $10,000 an insane price to pay for accommodations 13 months from now, the woman said in an email. The woman decided not to pay for the hotel rooms after hearing about the bankruptcy and event cancellations. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Forty-six years ago Mechanicsburg resident Douglas Wentz stood on the state Capitol steps to issue a diatribe about government corruption. He spoke for 31 hours, trying to landing his name in the Guiness Book of Records. On Wednesday, Wentz, who traveled from his home in Winter Park, Fla., took to the Capitol steps again, this time to make a case for voting against two high-profile Republicans in November. Wentz thinks GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and incumbent Republican congressman Scott Perry are unfit to serve in public office. But the drizzle that fell during the two-and-a-half hours he spoke limited his audience mainly to a few friends who came out to support him and the few others watching the livestream on Facebook. Wentz aired his criticisms of Trump and his legal entanglements and his role in the Jan. 6, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump has denied any culpability for the events that transpired on Jan. 6 and trumpets how several court cases against him have been dismissed. Wentzs remarks also touched on Perrys involvement with the Jan. 6 riot, including the testimony that came out in the House J-6 committee, saying Perry sought a presidential pardon for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. At the time, Perrys spokesman Jay Ostrich called that testimony laughable, ludicrous and a thoroughly soulless lie. On Wednesday, Perrys campaign spokesman Matt Beynon said this about Wentzs criticisms: Congressman Perry would be happy to respond to the concerns of a constituent as always; but well refrain from commenting on the ravings of someone who drove 2,000 miles to rant on the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Wentz, a former Republican, said he is supporting Democrats Kamala Harris and Janelle Stelson, mainly because they are not Trump or Perry. Im coming at this from somebody who admired President [George H.W.] Bush and worked for the Republican Party, said Wentz, now an independent. Im interested in promoting moderation and politics. This frenzy of chaos that Trump and Perry and folks in their camp cause, its just so discouraging. Whats more, the retired corporate lawyer said he was tired of Floridians badmouthing his hometown of Mechanicsburg. When he tells people thats where he grew up, they recognize it as the area Perry represents and where Riley Williams, who was convicted of participating in theft of Nancy Pelosis laptop during the Capitol riot, once lived. Its incredibly frustrating to me, Wentz said. They get this impression that somehow everybody in Mechanicsburg, this is what theyre like. Wentz was 20 when he last spoke on the Capitol steps, talking for 31 straight hours about corruption in state government in a failed attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous political speech. After seeing that record now standing at over 90 hours, he dismissed any thought of trying to break it. First of all, Im 66. Physically, honestly, I just dont think I can do it, he said. I couldnt do 33 hours, let alone 92. A friend and fellow high school classmate David Redlawsk, who was with Wentz for the 1978 speech, was on hand to support his friend on Wednesday. Redlawsk, the political science and international relations department chair at University of Delaware, admires Wentzs passion and long-term goal of creating an environment for people looking for a way to combat extremism and promote moderation in U.S. politics. Thats not something that happens over night. Hard to know how effective it will be. Its hard to do, Redlawsk said. But the fact hes doing it is incredibly impressive. Wentz launched a website MakeModeratesMatter.com to explain what being a moderate is and to promote structural changes in the electoral system that could advance moderation in politics. Among them, he said are ranked choice voting that allows run-off elections if no candidate secures at least half the votes, open primaries and limiting gerrymandering. But on Wednesday, Wentz said his focus was on his concerns about the future of Americas democracy and candidates who he believes are trying to undermine it. My wife tells me you know in life, its giving it a try and trying your best. If it gets you some attention and sways some peoples thinking, great. But youll never know whether you had the chance to do it unless you try, he said. And its such a close election that I mean its not going to take a whole lot maybe to tip the scale so every little bit helps. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy. Fans of the popular ABC reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, have been hit by heartbreaking news this week. Eduardo Xol, a star on the show, has died. He was 58. According to multiple reports, Xol actually died last week, just days after police say they responded to a call and found him suffering from significant injuries. Per USA Today, police said Xol told them he had been stabbed. USA Today said police later arrested Richard Joseph Gonzalez, 34, after they say he called them claiming to have been assaulted the previous night. USA Today said Gonzalez was originally arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, but police have requested that he now be hit with a murder charge. Devastated to hear about Eduardos passing, HGTV star Ty Pennington wrote on Instagram. Truly the most genuine, kind soul. We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved Eduardo Xol, his family told USA Today in a statement. As his family, we know that his kindness has touched the lives of so many. We ask for kindness returned now allowing our privacy to be respected as we process our grief. Xol reportedly appeared on seasons 2 through 8 of the series. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Georgia hails the peace settlement process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Trend reports. He mentioned that Georgia, understanding the crucial role of peace, has taken the initiative to transform the post-conflict South Caucasus into a region of new opportunities. The prime minister expressed his support for the peace settlement process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, particularly highlighting efforts to normalize relations with neighboring countries. "We are ready to offer a regional cooperation format that will promote dialogue and strengthen trust between states to ensure that differences remain in the past," Kobakhidze emphasized. To note, today in New York, a meeting is scheduled to take place between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, with the participation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. On July 10 of this year, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia convened in Washington during the summit commemorating the 75th anniversary of NATO. The parties agreed to continue working on a peace agreement then. They highlighted the progress made by Azerbaijan and Armenia towards concluding a historic peace agreement and establishing interstate relations and agreed to continue working in this direction. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel It appears Sean Diddy Combs lawyer ought to try again. Soon after Marc Agnifilo suggested that the droves of baby oil seized during federal raids on the music moguls homes couldve been bought in bulk from Costco, the members-only retailer shot back and deflated the lawyers theory. A spokesperson for Costco told TMZ that none of its U.S. locations carry baby oil. The media outlet also went the extra mile and conducted a quick search of the stores website and confirmed that the store does not offer baby oil. The company, however, sells other baby products such as hair and cleansing gel, but it would be a stretch to confuse that with baby oil. In fact, nothing comes up on the site when you search for baby oil either. Additionally, Sams Club, another major retailer, showed no baby oil listed for sale on its website either. There is a Johnsons Moisturizing Pink Baby Lotion with Coconut Oil available to buy, the product isnt mentioned in the federal indictment. As previously reported, the federal indictment claims 1,000 bottles of baby oil were seized during the March raids of the rappers Miami and Los Angeles homes. A central Pa. couple is taking their bold and ethnic-inspired rice blends and seasonings to the next level. Obi and Nicole Linton, owners of Nicobi Foods, LLC, in Harrisburg, won two golden tickets Wednesday at Walmarts Open Call. The 11th annual event was held in Bentonville, Arkansas, and gives entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their products in hopes of landing a spot on the retailers shelves. The Walmart associates embraced us and our products with such genuine excitement. Their support has been amazing, and were incredibly grateful for how warmly theyve welcomed us, Obi Linton said. The Lintons products, including Jerk Rice, Seasoned Yellow Rice, Spanish Rice and mild and spicy Soul Dust All-Purpose Seasoning, will be sold at select Walmart stores. The Susquehanna Township couple also said Walmart is considering them for future expansion into Sams Club stores. More than 500 entrepreneurs participated in the 2024 Open Call, and each one was given 30 minutes to pitch their products to Walmart buyers. The Lintons encountered a surprise guest, Shark Tanks Daymond John, a fixture on the long-running television show. They said he supported their vision, offered advice, and called their pitch excellent. Pitching to Daymond John was an experience Ill never forget. Weve looked up to him for years as an entrepreneur, and to be put on the spot by Walmart because they believed in our passion was incredible. We stepped up and hit a home run, Nicole Linton said. The Lintons said they entered the contest to springboard their brand and open doors. We knew this could take our business to new heights and help us share our bold, ethnic-inspired flavors with more people than ever before, they said. The couple developed the line after noticing a lack of low-sodium products with flavor. The company operates under the motto, Flavored with Love. The jerk sauce and rice were developed in 2008 during a trip to Jamaica where the Lintons met and took a personal lesson from a chef at Scotchies Restaurant in Montego Bay. He showed them how to make jerk seasoning and rice, creating the basis for Nicobis recipes. The products do not contain additives or stabilizers and are vegan and gluten-free. Nicobis products are sold in more than 1,000 stores, including Giant, Karns, Food Lion and Stop & Shop. Before they became heads of a food brand, the Lintons operated Soul Burrito. They opened a food truck in 2008 and later restaurants but in 2021 they sold the business, including a restaurant in Susquehanna Township and two food trucks. The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.) (TNS) While Hurricane Helenes likely path will have it travel up Floridas West Coast, its still having an impact on operations at Port Canaveral which is on the states East Coast. The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) has set Port Condition Yahnkee for Port Canaveral. Its website explained what that means. Sustained gale-force winds are predicted within 24 hours. Port Canaveral is open and conducting limited Port operations and preparing for the closure of waterside and vessel shoreside Port operations. Vessel owners and operators should take immediate decisive action to comply with Port orders to ensure the safety of their vessels, crews and/or facilities, it posted on its website. The website also had a notification for cruisers both arriving and leaving on Friday, Sept. 27. Because of the effects of Hurricane Helene, we are anticipating cruise vessels scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral on Friday, Sept. 27 will be delayed. These delays will likely impact guest embarkation times for outbound sailings, it shared. All cruise guests planning to sail from Port Canaveral on Friday, Sept. 27, or Saturday, Sept. 28, are advised to contact their cruise lines to confirm their embarkation and ships departure time. Royal Caribbean sends a notification Royal Caribbean has already sent notice to passengers on the Sept. 27 sailing of Utopia of the Seas that their boarding time has been pushed back. Essentially, all guests have been asked to push their arrival time back 3 hours. The Port Canaveral website shows similar delayed arrivals for Disney Wish, MSC Seashore, Carnival Glory, and Royal Caribbeans Adventure of the Seas. It currently does not show any delays on arrivals on Sept. 28, but the situation remains fluid depending upon the weather. Not every cruise line has notified its passengers about the changes. It remains possible that the storm could change pass or have less of an impact on Port Canaveral than expected and that the arrival and departure times listed on the ports website could change. Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. This story was originally published September 25, 2024, 6:26 PM. (c)2024 The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.) Visit The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.) at www.heraldonline.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WILLIAMSPORT The states top prescriber of opioids in 2015 and 2016 wants a new judge to hear his latest appeal of his conviction and 15-year prison sentence. Former Dr. Raymond K. Kraynak, 67, Wednesday filed a motion in the U.S. Middle District Court to have Judge Matthew W. Brann replaced claiming he is not impartial. The Mount Carmel resident also accuses Branns court reporter Collen V. Wentz of criminally redacting and altering part of his testimony from the August 2022 sentencing hearing at which he attempted to withdraw his guilty plea. He contends based on the length of the hearing nearly 80 pages are missing from the transcript of his testimony on why he is innocent. Kraynak, who currently is representing himself, says once an attorney is appointed to represent him he plans to file what is known as a 2255 motion to challenge the validity of his conviction. He would ask the new attorney to seek an evidentiary hearing concerning the alleged missing transcript and if one was granted, he said he would call Brann and Wentz as witnesses. Kraynak says he discovered the alleged altered transcript in February 2023 after he was transferred to his current location at the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. His son was unable to contact Stephanie L. Cesare, the Carlisle lawyer appointed by Brann in 2002 after he allowed assistant public defenders Thomas Thornton and Gerald A. Lord to withdraw, he said. With the aid of a prison counselor, Kraynak said he finally made phone contact with the lawyer on March 16, 2023. When he described what he had found, he claims she was dismissive, stated she was hired only for his appeal and if he wanted to pursue the matter he would have to do it on his own. Kraynak claims he has made criminal referrals to Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Inspector General Michael Horowitz, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan but has not gotten any responses. He also filed a judicial misconduct complaint with the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, he said. His motion seeks to have Brann recuse himself from appointing a new attorney for him and for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to appoint a judge to oversee his case to avoid any appearance of bias or impropriety. Kraynak pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2021, after the government had rested its case in the third week of the trial. During the abbreviated trial, jurors were presented evidence the pill doctor as he was dubbed prescribed 1,452,767, 1,994,202, 1,880,223 and 1,433,306 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills in 2014 through 2017, respectively. In February 2022, less than a month before his scheduled sentencing, Kraynak moved to withdraw his plea proclaiming: I am absolutely innocent, which he maintains today. He was sentenced that August and has been appealing since contending ineffective counsel caused him to plead guilty to 12 counts of prescribing drugs outside the course of standard medical practice. Those drugs included hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl. A Third Circuit panel when it denied Kryanaks appeal in October 2023 found he did not demonstrate his innocence and his claim of ineffective counsel was unpersuasive. The record is clear he repeatedly failed to keep appropriate medical records, examine or diagnose his patients before prescribing opioids and failed to note signs of substance abuse all of which are compelled by the standard of medical practice, its opinion stated. The U.S. Supreme Court in February declined to hear his appeal. Kraynak practiced at Keystone Family Medicine Associates in Mount Carmel and Shamokin until his arrest in 2017 when the state Board of Osteopathic Medicine suspended his license. A 65-year-old prison inmate was sentenced to 18 to 30 years in prison on charges he retaliated against judges who wouldnt allow him to have explicit pornographic photos in his cell, Dauphin County prosecutors said. Gregory Dunbar was convicted on Tuesday of nine counts of retaliation against a judicial official and one count of barratry by a jury that deliberated for less than an hour, the Dauphin County District Attorneys office said in a news release. Dunba is serving 2040 years at SCI Mahanoy on convictions of attempted murder and rape in Bucks and Philadelphia counties. He refused to be transported to Dauphin County and therefore was not present for the trial, verdict or sentencing, the DAs office said. In July 2018, while serving his current sentence, Dunbar filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court claiming Department of Corrections policy that prohibited him from having pornography in his prison cell violated his rights. A year later, the court dismissed his lawsuit, ruling that the DOC regulations regarding sexually explicit material were reasonably related to legitimate penological interests, the DAs office said. The order did not list the judges who reviewed the suit. But in September 2019, Dunbar filed private criminal complaints with the Dauphin County DAs Office against nine Commonwealth Court judges, charging that, by their actions, they had tampered with public records, obstructed the administration of law and engaged in official oppression. The Commonwealth Court judges targeted were Mary Hannah Leavitt, Renee Cohn Jubelirer, Robert Simpson, Kevin Brobson, Patricia McCullough, Anne Covey, Michael Wojcik, Christine Cannon, and Ellen Ceisler. As part of his complaint, Dunbar sought to have each judge removed from office, the DAs office said. As part of the private criminal complaints, Dunbar sought to have each of the judges removed from office after conviction. The district attorneys office said it denied each of the complaints, then charged Dunbar with retaliating against the judges and barratry, defined as using the legal system to harass other persons with frivolous lawsuits. Chief Deputy District Attorney Jack Canavan said Dunbar was not charged for asserting his right to have pornography. But instead of appealing the decision, he instead sought to punish the nine judges for carrying out their judicial duties. Judge Deborah Curcillo sentenced Dunbar immediately after the jury returned its guilty verdicts. Without the new convictions, he would have been released in April 2025. By Jack Panyard, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS) A 15-year-old School District of Lancaster student posted threats to McCaskey High School on Instagram this week, according to police and the school district. Posts from an anonymous Instagram account with the tag @pigeonyes targeted McCaskey High School at the beginning of the week, according to a notification sent to parents Tuesday from district Superintendent Keith Miles Jr. The posts were a prank, Miles said, and police have identified and located the person responsible for them. Lancaster police said the student posted at least three threats over two days, Monday and Tuesday. Police have yet to file charges and continue to investigate. Miles said the Instagram posts included pictures of McCaskey High School with threatening messages, but he did not provide further details. He thanked students and police for their help with the investigation. This recent rash of vague and threatening social media messages has been deeply frustrating and disruptive to schools across the country, as students and families are understandably fearful, Miles said in the statement sent to parents. As we have said before, we take any threats concerning our schools very seriously. Making terroristic threats is not representative of our district, our students, or our community. It will be investigated and prosecuted vigorously, up to and including immediate expulsion and criminal charges. The posts are the latest in a string of social media-based threats that have created problems for multiple county school districts since the beginning of the academic year. Police evacuated Lancaster County Career & Technology Centers Willow Street campus last week after similar posts targeted the school. Shortly thereafter, more threats emerged against Lampeter-Strasburg and Manheim Central school districts. Police determined all of the threats were unsubstantiated. West Lampeter Township police charged a 14-year-old girl with making terroristic threats in connection with the Lampeter-Strasburg threats. By Kevin Freking, The Associated Press WASHINGTON Congress on Wednesday passed a temporary measure that keeps government agencies funded into December, avoiding a shutdown for now while punting final spending decisions until after the Nov. 5 election. The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 78-18 shortly after the House easily approved it. The bill generally funds agencies at current levels through Dec. 20. But an additional $231 million was included to bolster the Secret Service after the two assassination attempts against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Money was also added to aid with the presidential transition, among other things. The bill now goes to President Joe Bidens desk to be signed into law. This bipartisanship is a good outcome for America, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said moments before the vote. I hope it sets the tone for more constructive, bipartisan work when we return in the fall. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., billed the measure as doing only whats absolutely necessary, a statement directed at members of his own conference concerned about spending levels. Still, it was a no-go for some Republicans, which forced House GOP leadership to rely on Democratic votes to pass the bill through a process that requires at least two-thirds support from voting members. The final vote was 341-82, with Republicans supplying all the no votes in both chambers. Johnson said the only alternative to the continuing resolution at this stage would have been a government shutdown. It would be political malpractice to shut the government down, Johnson said. I think everyone understands that. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)AP The House floor was largely empty during debate on the measure. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, was the lone critic among the speakers, saying, We end up in a vicious circle every year, the same vicious circle. Lawmakers in both chambers are anxious to return to their home states and districts to campaign, smoothing the path for passage of the temporary funding fix. But more arduous fiscal negotiations await them at the end of the year. Under terms of a previous deal to avoid a federal default and allow the government to continue paying its bills, spending for defense and nondefense programs would rise 1% next year. The Senate has been charting a course to go above that level, while House Republicans have been voting for steep cuts to many nondefense programs, and they have attached policy mandates to the spending bills that Democrats overwhelmingly oppose. So a final agreement will be difficult to reach. In the meantime, the temporary bill will mostly fund the government at current levels, with a few exceptions like the funding infusion for the Secret Service. The $231 million for the Secret Service does come with strings attached. Its contingent upon the agency complying with congressional oversight. The bill also allows the Secret Service to spend its allocations faster if needed. Everybody understands thats critically important right now, Johnson said of the Secret Service money. Trump thanked lawmakers for the extra Secret Service funding at a campaign event Wednesday. He had earlier called on Republicans not to move forward on a spending bill without also including a requirement that people provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. That legislation failed in the House last week. In a recent letter, the Secret Service told lawmakers that a funding shortfall was not the reason for lapses in Trumps security when a gunman climbed onto an unsecured roof on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and opened fire. But acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr., also made clear the agency had immediate needs and that hes talking to Congress. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)AP The Secret Service has asked for this additional funding. Its absolutely essential as they deal with the increased threat environment, said Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee. The continuing resolution is needed because Congress is nowhere close to completing work on the dozen annual appropriations bills that fund much of the federal government. The House has passed five of the 12 bills, mostly along party lines. The Senate has passed zero. Republicans blame the impasse on Senate Democrats for not putting the dozen appropriations bills on the Senate floor for a vote, where they then could be reconciled with the House bills during negotiations. But Democrats counter that House Republicans are acting in bad faith, bogging the process down by undercutting the agreement that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated with the White House over spending caps for the 2024 and 2025 budget years. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democratic member of the House Appropriations Committee, said her party will accept nothing less than the 1% increase specified in that agreement. Also, if Republicans seek more than that for defense, there must be dollar for dollar parity for nondefense, she said. The White House called on both chambers to pass the stopgap bill, while cautioning that it did not provide adequate funding to help communities recover from natural disasters and failed to include enough funding for health care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Johnson warned that when the temporary extension expires in December, he will not support a massive, catchall bill to fund the government, referred to as an omnibus, so another stopgap may be needed that would allow the new president and Congress to have the final say on fiscal year 2025 spending levels. I have no intention of going back to that terrible tradition, Johnson said. Sen. Patty Murray, the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged House Republicans not to follow the loudest voices on the far right in the negotiations for the full-year bill. You cannot strike a deal to govern with people who do not really want to govern, Murray said. By KATE PAYNE and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, The Associated Press CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (AP) Hurricane Helene could cause a nightmare scenario of catastrophic storm surge in northwestern Florida, officials warned Thursday as they urged residents to heed evacuation orders ahead of the enormous storm, which is expected to cause significant damage hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.S. Helene was upgraded to a major Category 3 storm Thursday afternoon ahead of its expected evening landfall on Floridas northwestern coast. Hurricane and flash flood warnings extend far beyond the coast up into south-central Georgia. It was already starting to be felt Thursday afternoon, with tropical storm force winds hitting the state and water lapping over a road on the northern tip of Siesta Key near Sarasota. And rain has started battering places like Asheville, North Carolina, where a 7-inch deluge has raised flooding concerns. This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Helene advancing across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (NOAA via AP)AP With forecasters also warning of tornadoes, damaging winds and mudslides, the governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia have all declared emergencies, as did President Joe Biden for several of the states. He is sending the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Florida on Friday to view the damage. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday morning that models suggest Helene will make landfall further east, lessening the chances for a direct hit on the capital city of Tallahassee, whose metro area has a population of around 395,000. The shift has the storm aimed squarely at the sparsely populated Big Bend area, home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways where Floridas Panhandle and peninsula meet. Shuttered gas stations dotted the two-lane highway, their windows boarded with plywood. Philip Tooke, a commercial fisherman who took over the business his father founded near the regions Apalachee Bay, plans to ride out this storm like he did during Hurricane Michael and the others on his boat. This is what pays my bills, Tooke said of his boats. If I lose that, I dont have anything. Many, though, were heeding the mandatory evacuation orders that stretched from the Panhandle south along the Gulf Coast in low-lying areas around Tallahassee, Gainesville, Cedar Key, Lake City, Tampa and Sarasota. Louis Ward, 57, rides his bike along the the Gulfport waterfront as it takes on water as Hurricane Helene makes its way toward the Florida Panhandle, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 in Gulfport. (Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times via AP)AP While Helene will likely weaken as it moves inland, damaging winds were expected to extend to the southern Appalachian Mountains, where landslides were possible, forecasters said. The center posted lesser tropical storm warnings as far north as North Carolina, and warned that much of the region could experience prolonged power outages and flooding. Helene had swamped parts of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, flooding streets and toppling trees as it passed offshore and brushed the resort city of Cancun. The storm formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea. In western Cuba, Helene knocked out power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses as it brushed past the island. Helene is forecast to be one of the largest storms in breadth in years to hit the region, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. He said since 1988, only three Gulf hurricanes were bigger than Helenes predicted size: 2017s Irma, 2005s Wilma and 1995s Opal. Parker Berry, left, shares a moment with long-time employee Dan Foster at Berry & Smiths 70th anniversary celebration on Monday. Among the companys many achievements is getting our kids to and from school safely each day. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The final day of the 5th anniversary Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition ADEX, the largest event in the region dedicated to the defense industry, has started at Baku Expo Center, Trend reports. The 14th International Exhibition of Equipment for Internal Security, Safety, and Rescue "Securex Caspian" was organized in parallel. The first ADEX exhibition was organized in 2014. The list of exhibitors and the sectors it covers has been expanding from year to year. The exhibition has brought together many companies representing more than 50 countries and about 200 official delegations over 10 years of successful activity. Over these years, more than 30,000 guests have visited the exhibition. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel During an interview on MSNBC, Vice President Kamala Harris took apart Trumps claim that he is a protector of women. Stephanie Ruhle asked VP Harris, Because today were talking about the economy. And people dont think often about reproductive rights being an economic issue. But it is. A womans ability to plan her future, her education, her life. Today and in the last few days Donald Trump keeps talking about it and how in overturning roe V. Wade he helped women. He protected women. He says theyre miserable today. Theyre poorer today, theyre more vulnerable today. He said he will be the protector of women if elected. Can you respond to that? The Vice President answered: So Donald Trump is also the person who said women should be punished for exercising a decision that they rightly should be able to make about their own body and their future. So I think we would all agree that as a result of that prospective that he has about women, he also then chose three members of the United States supreme court who did as he intended, undid the protections of Roe v. Wade and now in state after state you see laws being passed that do punish women. Laws that, I mean, most recently a heart breaking story resulted in a young woman dying. A mother of a 6-year-old. Heart wrenching stories. And thats for the listener, much less their family. So, look, I think the thing about Donald Trump is that, you know, I dont think the women of America need him to say hes going to protect them. The women of America need him to trust them. Ruhle asked, Can we trust you? Harris answered, Yes. Yes. Im not perfect. But I will tell you, Im always going to put the needs of the people first. Video: .@SRuhle did a great job with this Kamala Harris interview. Harris responded to Trumps claim that he will protect women, I dont think the women of America need him to say hes going to protect them. The women of America need him to trust them. pic.twitter.com/H71KKkCDmt Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) September 25, 2024 The entire interview was very good. Stephanie Ruhle asked tough questions about the economy. Harris shattered the idea that the man who chose the Supreme Court justices who voted to take away the rights of women is also a protector of women. Women dont need protected from their right to choose. They need to make sure that Donald Trump is nowhere near power, because reproductive freedom is not a threat to their safety, but men like Donald Trump are. To comment on this story, join us on Reddit. President Biden will be signing an executive order with more steps to reduce gun violence and the administration is also moving to reduce the trauma for students of active shooter drills. What Does Bidens Latest Gun Violence Executive Order Do? There are two different policies in the executive order. One policy deals with guns, and the other relates to active shooter drills. According to a White House Fact Sheet: President Biden is signing an Executive Order to accelerate progress on two key priorities: combating emerging firearms threats and improving school-based active shooter drills. Combatting Emerging Firearms Threats: In April 2021, one of the Biden-Harris Administrations first executive actions to reduce gun violence was to address the emerging threat of firearms without serial numbers, often referred to as ghost guns. To expand these efforts, ATF established an Emerging Threats Center. This Center focuses ATFs resources on identifying developments in illicit firearm marketplaces, including the use of new technologies to make and unlawfully distribute undetectable firearms and devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into illegal machineguns. Now, President Biden and Vice President Harris are taking additional action on two emerging firearms threats: machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms. Machinegun conversion devices enable semi-automatic firearms, including easily concealable handguns, to match or exceed the rate of fire of many military machineguns with a single engagement of the triggerup to 20 bullets in one second. From 2017 through 2021, ATF recovered 5,454 of these devices, a 570 percent increase over the previous five-year period. Machinegun conversion devices are illegal to possess under federal law, but we continue to see these devices show up at crime scenes because they are small, cheap, and easy to install. Machinegun conversion devices are often illegally imported or illegally made on a 3D printer from computer code found online. The 3D-printing of a machinegun conversion device costs as little as 40 cents and takes fewer than 30 minutes. Unserialized, 3D-printed firearms can be used for illegal purposes such as gun trafficking, unlawful possession by people convicted of felonies or subject to domestic violence restraining orders, or unlawfully engaging in the business of manufacturing or selling firearms. These firearms can be 3D-printed from computer code downloaded from the Internet and produced without serial numbers that law enforcement use to trace firearms recovered in criminal investigations. Some 3D-printed firearms can be made to be undetectable by magnetometers used to secure airports, courthouses, and event spaces, even though these undetectable firearms are illegal to make, sell, or possess under federal law. As 3D-printing technology continues to develop rapidly, the safety threat posed by 3D-printed firearms may suddenly increase. What Is The White House Doing About Active Shooter Drills? Stef Feldman the Director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Protection told PoliticusUSA during a call with reporters about the White House action on active shooter drills: The majority of schools are currently using drills to prepare for an active shooter situation, but there is very limited research and how to design and deploy these drills to maximize their effectiveness and limit any collateral harms they might cause. Many parents, students and educators have expressed concerns about the trauma caused by some approaches to these drills in the executive order President Biden is directing the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security in condition with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the US Surgeon General, to develop and publish within 110 days information from schools regarding school based active shooter drills. This will include a summary of existing research and gaps in research. The aim is to help schools improve drills so they can more effectively prepare for an active shooter situation while also preventing or minimizing any trauma that may result from drills that are poorly implemented. Biden Continues To Act To Save Lives President Joe Biden isnt sitting around and running out the clock on his time in office. Biden is continuing to act to save lives. Biden is also potentially setting the table and getting the ball rolling for Vide President Harris if she wins the election. Harris will be able to build on what her former boss is accomplishing, because the goal isnt to score political points. The goal is to save lives and keep Americans families from losing loved ones. To comment on this story, join us on Reddit. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pointed out that there were no Republican calls for an investigation after Zelenskyy visited a weapons plant in Utah. The White House Press Secretary was asked, And then critics have said that Zelenskys trip to Pennsylvania was a political stunt. Did the administration communicate at all with Ukraine on who would be attending that trip, or make any effort to make it a bipartisan event? Pierre answered: So, let me just lay this down, because I know that theres been a lot of talk about this. So the Ukrainians asked to visit the facility, which employs American workers, as who are manufacturing critical supplies that the Ukrainian military is using every day on the front lines of freedom. Because of its centrality of the, of their, to their countrys continued existence, this came from Ukrainian, not us. This is something that they wanted to do. After they made that request, DOD did what it has done for years, figure out how to provide transportation for foreign leaders traveling on US soil, which is common, which happens when they come to the U. S., and the whole world knows this is someone Putin wants dead. Hes made very clear. When it comes to President Zelensky. Also, just two months ago, President Zelensky traveled to Utah and held an event with a Republican governor, a very similar event, and Republican officials were there at that event in Utah, and there wasnt a single demand, not one, not one single demand for an investigation when that occurred a couple months ago in Utah. So, this was business as usual. For a Ukrainian request during wartime, during wartime. And so I, I would encourage, we would encourage the House Republicans to drop this. These kind of, this is a political stunt, they need to drop this. And and anything else, any, I think I gave a lot here. A lot of lay a good layout of how this all occurred, but anything else specific, I would for I would certainly refer you to the DOD. The follow up question, Just clarifying, though, that the administration didnt or the campaign, didnt play a role in determining the guest list because theyre theyre claiming that having no Republicans there in a battleground state made it effectively a campaign. Pierre drove the point home, This is something that Ukrainians asked for. They did this a couple months ago in Utah, in Utah, with a Republican governor. And Republican elected officials were there as well. We didnt hear any type of investigation request when we went to a Republican state. We didnt. Video: KJP responds to GOP claims of Zelenskyy election interference, President Zelensky traveled to Utah and held an event with a Republican governor, a very similar event, and Republican officials were there at that event, and there wasnt not one single demand for an investigation. pic.twitter.com/3FPVK87g2n Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) September 26, 2024 Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Trump accuse Zelenskyy of election interference unless he goes to a red state with Republicans. The hypocrisy even for Trumps Republican Party is off the charts, and Karine Jean-Pierre humiliated the GOP with the facts. To comment on this story, join us on Reddit. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Azerbaijani Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov viewed the booth of the National Defense University and other universities within the 5th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition ADEX at the Baku Expo Center, Trend reports via the Defense Ministry's statement. "The minister was informed about successful pass of the team of the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev of NDU to the selection rounds of the TEKNOFEST 2024 technology competition held in Turkiye and its advancing to the final stage. Azerbaijani team participated in the competition with the project of TORATAN drone ZN-44. NDU booth exhibits KHILASKAR (Rescuer) drone developed by the cadets of the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev, taken the 3rd place in B category of the UAVs Competition of TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan Aerospace and Technology Festival held in Baku in 2022," the statement said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Tyrrell Hatton has won the Dunhill Links Championship for a record third time after making birdie at the 18th hole on the Old Course at St. Andrews to finish a stroke clear of playing partner Nicolas Colsaerts. Both players walked down the storied last hole at the home of golf tied for the lead and having hit their drives just short of the green. Colsaerts putted to 8 feet and missed his birdie attempt, leaving Hatton a chance for victory after the Englishman had chipped to 4 feet. Hattons putt went into the center of the cup. He shot 2-under 70 and was 24-under par overall. It tied the tournament record he held from 2017. Hatton also won the Dunhill Links in 2016 and 17. Read moreHatton wins Dunhill Links for record 3rd time after beating Colsaerts by 1 stroke at home of golf The Charleston Library Society is gearing up for a new initiative to foster childhood literacy. Book Drop is a Charleston Library Society effort that brings together community organizations to increase early childhood literacy, as studies show that a child's early exposure to books aids cognitive development, helps them develop a broader vocabulary and assists in forging a deeper bond with their caregivers. Laura Pelzer, the Library Society's executive director, said she began developing the new initiative three years ago, as part of a strategic planning process to commemorate their longevity in the local community. "We needed to think how can we, as the Library Society that has been in this community for 276 years, do something to foster the next generation of readers?" she said. The initiative has two elements. For the first one, the society is partnering with Books in Every Bag, a nonprofit based in Hollywood, SC, that provides free books for children from birth until they are 5 years old. Founded in 2022, Books in Every Bag operates with the support of MUSC Shawn Jenkin's Children's Hospital and Roper St. Francis Hospital. The nonprofit delivers a tote bag with age-appropriate books along with a newsletter and a form for parents to enroll their newborn in a program that provides them a book every month for five years. Barnie Howell, chief executive director and founder, said the organization's main mission is to increase early childhood literacy and kindergarten readiness. In South Carolina, 37 percent of kindergarteners are considered ready to start school, based on the 2023 kindergarten readiness assessment report conducted by the state's Child Early Reading Development and Education Program. COLUMBIA Gov. Henry McMaster is breaking away from top Republican lawmakers and asking South Carolina's top court to reconsider its ruling earlier this month that nixed vouchers. In an appeal that calls the court's Sept. 11 decision "fundamentally flawed," McMaster's legal team argues that the state's publicly funded vouchers program, which benefits K-12 private schools, is just as valid as the financial aid to private colleges that the court okayed in the 1971 Hartness v. Patterson ruling. The governor's move comes a day after top Republican Statehouse leaders decided not to appeal the state Supreme Court's ruling in Eidson v. S.C. Department of Education. Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, and House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, issued a joint statement Sept. 25 saying they saw no path forward to changing the opinion of the ruling justices. The high court's 3-2 ruling on Sept. 11 found that the vouchers portion of the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, signed into law in May 2023, was unconstitutional. The fundamental issue in the case is the constitutionality of public money being diverted directly to private education. McMaster's team is arguing that the public money going to private schools under the vouchers program is being diverted indirectly. "The Legislature worked very hard on determining a way to ensure that this would be deemed an indirect benefit," McMaster said in a press conference on Sept. 26. "Of course, it's limited only to lower income families and it's not unlimited in number either. So we think it's a good law." Michael Toscano of Le Farfalle and Porchetta Shop in Charleston has launched something new in Greenville, taking over culinary operations at the 3's Golf and Grill. Read moreCharleston chef bringing his culinary touch to Upstate with new Greenville venture On the heels of yesterday's dozens of delayed and canceled flights, airlines are still experiencing storm-related backups in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. Tornado warnings were scattered throughout the state in the overnight hours of Sept. 27 into the morning of Sept. 28. Travelers woke up to the number of affected flights in the double-digits per airport and growing by the hour. According to data kept by industry airline tracker Flight Aware, delays and cancellations are being reported in all South Carolina airports, with many planes originating from airports along the storm's previous path and upcoming track. As of 12:15 p.m., Charleston International Airport has 25 delays and eight cancellations, Greenville-Spartanburg Airport has 26 delays and 27 cancellations, Columbia Metropolitan Airport has 13 delays and 10 cancelations, Myrtle Beach International has 27 delays and 12 cancelations and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport over the border in Georgia has 22 delays and 15 cancellations. Airport officials at Charleston International said there is no damage reported at the airport and it is business as usual, urging travelers to continue checking on their flight status through their airline's website and app. Hurricane Helene was already impacting flight schedules across the region ahead of landfall as it swirled off the coast of Florida, gaining strength to become a Category 4 storm on Sept. 26. Major airline carriers have issued travel advisories, acknowledging anticipated impacts in airports across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee because of Helene. This story will be updated. To stay informed on Helene's impact in South Carolina, go to our Hurricane Wire homepage. COLUMBIA The rain and wind from Hurricane Helene are packing a much stronger punch than predicted for the Midlands, according to National Weather Service forecasters and Columbia officials. Forecasters had forecast a mild 2 to 3 inches of rain for the Columbia area on Sept. 26. North of 7 inches of rain has fallen in the area so far, with 2-4 more inches expected overnight, said Columbia city manager Teresa Wilson. "We are experiencing the rain a little bit earlier and at a lot more volume than what we had anticipated for today," Wilson said. The city has opened its overflow shelter. Officials asked residents to avoid getting on the roads this evening and early Friday morning. They said they expect the wind overnight to knock down trees and power lines. Wind speeds are also expected to be higher than initially thought. The Midlands should expect 40 to 55 mph sustained winds and wind gusts as high as 60 mph. The worst of the storm is expected to roll through overnight into Friday morning. "We can't rule out hurricane-force winds," said Richard Okulski, a meteorologist at the weather service's Columbia office. Impacts are greater because the storm's wind field will expand as it moves further inland, which wasn't factored into many of the hurricane models, Okulski said. Downtown Columbia, West Columbia and Cayce are under a flash flood warning. The Columbia Fire Department had to rescue a man on the morning of Sept. 26 after his vehicle stalled out in flood waters on Key Road near Williams Brice Stadium. The intersection of Main and Whaley streets is also flooded. Officials have closed the Blossom Street Bridge as well. Cars were turning around to avoid high waters at Kilbourne Road and Shady Lane near Lake Katherine. Midlands areas east of Interstate 20 are at greater risk of flooding. You can view a list of flood-prone roadways in Columbia here. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Asad Majeed Khan within the framework of the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed current issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and ECO, as well as prospects of cooperation within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). Jeyhun Bayramov informed the other side that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to cooperation with ECO and is always ready and interested in contributing to the expansion of regional cooperation within the framework of the organization. Moreover, it was noted that the expansion of cooperation in the spheres of economy, energy security, transport, and communications is one of the priority directions for both sides. The importance of enhancing cooperation among the Member States of the Organization and contributing to the joint economic development of the region was emphasized. In line with the organization's lines of action and objectives, the importance of enhancing intra- and inter-regional trade was reiterated. The other side was informed about the current regional situation, rehabilitation and reconstruction works carried out in the territories liberated from occupation, as well as the current status of the agenda of normalization of relations and peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Secretary General Asad Majeed Khan noted that Azerbaijan's active and productive participation in the activities of the organization is highly appreciated; our country is a reliable partner for the ECO member states. He noted that ECO attaches special importance to the idea of transitioning to a green and clean environment and expressed readiness to provide appropriate support to the implementation of steps and initiatives put forward by Azerbaijan in this direction. The importance of selecting the city of Shusha by the ECO as a tourist capital for 2026 was noted, and ideas about possible joint events this year were voiced. Furthermore, the sides exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest at the meeting, the statement reads. The outer rain bands of Hurricane Helene reached South Carolina early Sept. 26, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to deliver a taste of more to come. The powerful storm made landfall on the Florida panhandle late that night and push its way inland, further impacting other states including here. Helene became at least the seventh hurricane to impact South Carolina through the backdoor, that is moving from inland across the Savannah River rather than crashing ashore from the Atlantic Ocean. A few others that made landfall on the Gulf Coast and then crossed back into the Atlantic before impacting South Carolina are not included in this list. These include Donna in 1960, Gladys in 1968, Charley in 2004 and Ian in 2022. Of the six previous hurricanes or their remnants to come from the Gulf to South Carolina via land, four have happened in the last six years and Helene makes the third in a little more than a year, according to an analysis of historical data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Below is a brief look at those storms, dating back to when naming tropical systems became official in the U.S. in the 1950s (though the database tracks storms back to 1851.) Agnes, June 1972 One of the largest June hurricanes on record, Agnes made landfall near Panama City on Florida's panhandle late June 19. It weakened into a tropical storm as it crossed Georgia and South Carolina before moving back out to the Atlantic off the coast of Norfolk, Va. A second system developed into an extratropical cyclone to the west and moved in tandem with Agnes. Agnes strengthened to a strong tropical storm off the coast of New Jersey and again made landfall near Long Island, N.Y., and then moved into Pennsylvania, where it was absorbed into the other cyclone. I have probably mentioned John Gerard before, but I can do it again. Gerard (1545-1612) was what we would call an herbalist," in addition to working at least for part of the time as a surgeon." At this time, medicine was absolutely tied in with a knowledge of plants, for the obvious reason Read moreMystery Plant: The lettuce weed No public school teacher should be telling students or even implying that Donald Trump was a bad president, or that it would be dangerous to reelect him. No public school teacher should say politicians who want to build a border wall or deport people in this country illegally are evil. No public school teachers should tell students that politicians who want to outlaw abortion are killing women. Regardless of how we feel about immigration or abortion or Mr. Trump, we can all agree on that, right? Can we also agree that no teacher should be telling students that Joe Biden has been a bad president or that its dangerous to elect Kamala Harris? Can we agree that no teacher should tell students that income inequality is good? That immigration from the Middle East and North Africa are part of the suicide of Europe or that conservatives approach to the environment is better than liberals? As The Post and Courier's Nick Reynolds and Ian Grenier report, those last three are just a few of the clearly ideological assertions made in a series of videos that S.C. Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver is encouraging teachers to use in their classrooms, through her partnership with an organization that calls itself PragerU but that isnt a university and that looks an awful lot like a political propaganda organization. We hesitate to make any claims about what the most astoundingly political assertions are in the videos the superintendent says are linked to South Carolinas curriculum standards, because were not going to watch all of them. But lets just take a look at the one called The Inconvenient Truth About the Democratic Party. FLORENCE Electric vehicle battery production in South Carolina will drive BMW plans to produce six electric vehicle models at its Spartanburg facility, BMW Manufacturing President/CEO Robert Engelhorn said. BMW has partnered with AESC, which will produce round battery cells that will be sent BMW's facility in Woodruff and installed into modules that will provide the power for electric vehicles produced at the BMW manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, Englehorn said. BMW builds three electric vehicles in Spartanburg. All three are plug-in models that must be connected to an electrical source to recharge their battery packs. Engelhorn said BMW will be producing six electric vehicles at its Spartanburg plant by 2030. Englehorn was the the speaker at the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce's annual membership meeting Sept. 24 at the Florence Center. BMW's Plant Woodruff had a ceremonial beam signing celebration in October 2023. The plant is expected to be finished in 2026. AESC announced its initial plans for a Florence electric vehicle cell manufacturing plant in December 2022. In the past 18 months, AESC has announced two expansion projects at its more than 1,000-acre site at Florence Global Technology Park. AESC will be investing $3.12 billion in Florence while adding approximately 2,800 jobs in the community. The latest expansion allows AESC to extend its BMW partnership to include the BMW Group's Mexico Assembly Operations as well as BMW's plant in Spartanburg. AESC U.S. Managing Director Jeff Deaton said AESC is proud to partner with BMW. "Our Florence-made batteries will be used to power BMW's electric vehicles," Deaton said as he introduced Engelhorn at the chamber event. Today's Top Headlines Story continues below BMW opened its Spartanburg plant in 1994. It is marking its 30th anniversary, Engelhorn said. BMW employs approximately 11,000 automotive workers in upstate South Carolina, which equals approximately $3.2 million in wages annually, Engelhorn said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. In reference to the false and irresponsible claims made by French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations General Assembly on September 25th, addressing "territorial tensions" and Azerbaijan's purported "pressure" on Armenia, the Western Azerbaijan Community strongly disagrees," the community said in a statement, Trend reports The leader of France exhibits a notable inconsistency, given the nation's historical support for the prolonged occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, its disregard for the displacement of a million Azerbaijanis from Armenia and the occupied regions, and its prior resistance to initiatives aimed at peaceful conflict resolution, to now advocate for peace and adherence to international law. It is worth noting that the UN General Assembly, currently a stage for Macron's apparent duplicity, in 2008 observed France's efforts to obstruct the passage of a suitable resolution aimed at addressing the conflict. It is clear that France, pursuing its imperialist interests, is dissatisfied with Azerbaijan's resolution of the conflict and its restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity in alignment with international law. As it constrains its capacity to engage in the region. Macron is providing Armenia with substantial military support to rekindle the conflict in the area, attempting to foster the perception of underlying tensions in the region. Emmanuel Macron's disparagement of Azerbaijan similarly fulfills that objective. We urge France to reconsider its detrimental intentions, to cease the provision of arms to Armenia, to refrain from meddling in regional matters, and to facilitate the pursuit of peace. Concurrently, we urge Armenia to refrain from being utilized as an instrument in France's strategic maneuvers, to halt the extensive arms initiative, to prioritize the attainment of peace with Azerbaijan, and to foster an environment conducive to the repatriation of Azerbaijanis displaced from Armenia, the statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 04:00:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 967 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Co-created With Sierra Family Health Center and Western Sierra Medical Clinic, the Applied Science AdaptivMD Solution Integrates the Verily Retinal Service and eClinicalWorks EHR -- Raising The Bar For Early Detection of Diabetic RetinopathyGRASS VALLEY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 25, 2024 / Applied Science, Inc. (ASI), a leading provider of workflow automation and data integration platforms for whole blood collection and chronic care management, today announced the expansion of its AdaptivMD chronic care workflow technology to Sierra Family Health Center (SFHC) and Western Sierra Medical Clinic (WSMC). ASI has successfully integrated a retinal screening solution from Verily Life Sciences LLC (formerly Google Life Sciences) into its workflow automation platform to make easy, high-quality retinal health screenings conveniently accessible and efficient.Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness among working-age adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early detection is critical to preserving eyesight. However, annual screening compliance is only 60% nationwide1. Applied Science's simplified clinical workflow solution, coupled with Verily's screening solution, aims to significantly increase compliance through improved clinical workflow and patient convenience.As Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), SFHC and WSMC are committed to delivering best-in-class care to patients in Northeast California's Nevada, Placer, Sierra, and Yuba counties. Instead of requiring patients to travel to San Francisco or beyond to receive high-quality retinal screenings, they are now locally available at SFHC and WSMC in Grass Valley. The solution combines best-in-class technologies from Verily, which has developed its easy-to-use retinal screening technology, and Applied Science, which has integrated the screening technology into its advanced clinical workflow software platform to ensure that the screening process is convenient, efficient, and secure for the patient and the clinician.Applied Science is committed to delivering tools and technologies that enable better access to care and efficient, high-quality outcomes for underserved rural and urban communities. Cumbersome workflow for the clinical staff and inconvenience for consumers are major barriers to adoption and compliance. Applied Science's AdaptivMD clinical workflow and integration engine solves these challenges by delivering to the FQHC market a suite of tools that are tightly integrated with the facility's electronic health record (EHR) system, resulting in simplified workflows, ease of use, and full integration of clinical and decision-support data."Diabetic Retinopathy is a far too common cause of blindness, and it must be caught early to enable effective treatment," said Debra Plass, CEO of SFHC. "Unfortunately, too few people who need regular screenings get them. With this new technology in place in our clinics, our community members can now receive the essential, timely and convenient, five-minute screenings each year as medically recommended, without the hassle of leaving the community." Daniel Happs, WSMC's Chief Information Officer and Chief Quality Officer, continues, "We understand that managing diabetes can be challenging, so we have been working hard to improve compliance with what the science tells us. I have been impressed by the technology, safety and security of the Verily / Applied Science solution and look forward to deploying additional future innovations to simplify ways to help our community remain healthy." Jonathan Morgan, President and CEO of Applied Science, remarks, "There is a critical need to improve care among the rural and urban communities, especially those supported through the FQHC program. We are dedicated to delivering solutions that make advanced technologies accessible, easy to use, and directly impactful to quality of care for the 30 million Americans who are served by clinics facing the same challenges faced by SFHC and WSMC. No American should lose their eyesight due to missed screenings, nor suffer from the effects of hypertension through lack of monitoring, no matter where they live. Our AdaptivMD AI-powered clinical workflow solutions resolve many of the barriers to efficient, high-quality care for consumers living with chronic health conditions. Seamlessly integrating Verily's retinal screening solution is just one of ASI's answers to addressing these conditions." Rich Glenn, Head of Commercial and Care Delivery for Verily, adds, "Verily is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology, data science and healthcare. Born at Google with a goal to tackle health's biggest challenges, we are proud to see the work of our leading scientists in the hands of clinicians where it can have a positive impact on so many lives. We are pleased to have teamed up with Applied Science to seamlessly integrate data from our Retinal Service into the clinic's core technology platform, where it can be immediately actionable, and simplify workflows for busy clinicians so they can focus on helping patients." About Applied ScienceApplied Science provides workflow automation and data integration platforms for whole blood collection and chronic care management. Through its HemoFlow brand, Applied Science is the industry-leading provider of automated workflow solutions for customers all over the world, from the American Red Cross to the UK's National Health Service. By extending its automation and integration expertise to underserved healthcare communities, the Company is empowering health systems to manage outcomes remotely and efficiently for their patients with chronic conditions. Through advanced devices, services, informatics, and data tools that automate healthcare workflow processes, customers of Applied Science capture healthcare data that enable actionable intelligence. For more information, please visit applied-science.com About Sierra Family Health CenterSierra Family was founded in 1982 when Dr. Peter Van Houten opened a rural private medical practice in the geographically isolated area of Nevada County known as North San Juan. The full-service family practice had two physicians, two nurse practitioners, and 24/7 medical-call. In 2016, Sierra Family was awarded Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Sierra Family's mission is to provide quality healthcare and promote physical and mental wellness for the members of our rural communities PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 14:38:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 522 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces an investigation into Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Franklin Resources, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/franklin-resources-inc Why Did Franklin Resources's Stock Drop?Franklin Resources is a $1.7 trillion asset management company better known as Franklin Templeton. One of its key divisions is Western Asset Management ("WAM"), which is a fixed income manager.On July 26, 2024, Franklin Resources revealed that "following the launch of an internal investigation focusing on certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select" WAM accounts, "WAM received notification of parallel investigations by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice." Then, on August 21, 2024, Franklin Resources disclosed that WAM co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech had been placed on leave "effective immediately" after he "received a Wells Notice from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission." The company further stated that, "[i]n light of Mr. Leech's leave of absence, the Company has determined that closing its Macro Opportunities strategy (approximately $2.0 billion in AUM as of 7/31/2024) is in clients' best interests." On the same day, Bloomberg reported that federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York are investigating whether Leech allocated winning trades to favored accounts, as part of a criminal probe into a practice known as " cherry-picking." The news caused a precipitous decline in the price of Franklin Resources stock. On July 26, 2024, the price of the company's stock fell 2.4%, from a closing price of $23.64 per share on July 25, 2024, to $23.08 per share on July 26, 2024. Then, on August 21, 2024, the price of Franklin Resources stock fell 12.5%, from a closing price of $22.62 per share on August 20, 2024, to $19.78 per share on August 21, 2024.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/franklin-resources-inc What Can You Do?If you invested in Franklin Resources, Inc. you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitzross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Qatars Barzan Holdings aims to cooperate with Azerbaijan in the development of solutions to combat drones and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the defense sector, Chief Strategic Capabilities Officer at Barzan Holdings Anzan Al Naimi told Trend in an exclusive interview within the framework of the 5th anniversary of Azerbaijan's international defense exhibition ADEX 2024, which is being held at Baku Expo Center. First of all, Qatar and Azerbaijan have a long history of relations. One of our main areas of cooperation is the military and defense spheres. Our vision is almost limitless, but it will depend on the market requirements in the future. Development of solutions to combat drones and use of artificial intelligence in the defense sector will be our priority in the future, he said. Anzan Al Naimi emphasized that Barzan Holdings is currently developing a project with Azerbaijan to establish a factory for the production of textiles for both domestic and international markets, as well as for the needs of the military. Thus, the company produces textiles intended for defense purposes. He also noted the importance of the ADEX exhibition for the development of economic relations between Azerbaijan and Qatar. The ADEX exhibition is a very important event for Qatar to enter the Azerbaijani market. We have attended previous exhibitions, but this year we are participating for the first time, and I hope it will not be the last time. Relations between Qatar and Azerbaijan, as well as business opportunities, continue to grow, so our participation in the exhibition will definitely not be our last, the company's representative added. According to him, ADEX has a significant impact at the strategic level. It is, in fact, localization of opportunities in both Azerbaijan and Qatar, which will contribute to strengthening the economies of both countries. From an economic point of view, Barzan Holdings is tapping into the markets of both countries, creating opportunities and jobs in Azerbaijan to serve both domestic and international markets. In this way, the exhibition supports the economic and defense sectors and promotes cooperation. The 5th anniversary Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition ADEX, the largest event dedicated to the defense industry in the region, is taking place September 24-26 at the Baku Expo Center. The 14th International Exhibition of Equipment for Internal Security, Safety, and Rescue "Securex Caspian" is taking place in parallel. The first ADEX exhibition was organized in 2014. The list of exhibitors and the sectors it covers has been expanding from year to year. The exhibition has brought together many companies representing more than 50 countries and about 200 official delegations over 10 years of successful activity. The exhibition has been visited by more than 30,000 guests over the years. PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 16:00:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 533 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Including Best Plans for Families, U.S. Citizens Abroad, Foreigners in the USA, and Global NomadsBOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / International Citizens Insurance, a leading international insurance broker based in Boston, MA, is excited to announce its updated list of 2024's best global health insurance plans for expats, global citizens, remote workers, and immigrants. We aim to simplify the overwhelming array of international health insurance choices for the growing wave of expats moving to new countries.International Citizens Insurance - Global Health, Life, and Travel Plans International Citizens Insurance - LogoThese providers represent the pinnacle of international health insurance, ensuring clients receive top-tier medical care, regardless of location. Whether for expatriates, retirees, long-term travelers, or digital nomads, these plans are designed to meet the diverse needs of today's global citizens.As international moves become increasingly common, access to reliable and comprehensive health insurance is paramount. Today, we are excited to announce the unveiling of the Top 10 International Health Insurance Plans, recognizing the providers that have excelled in offering exceptional global healthcare and peace of mind to clients worldwide."Our top priority is helping international citizens find a suitable plan for their needs and budget. The companies in our list excel at the key criteria that are most important to people living abroad," said Joe Cronin, President of International Citizens Insurance. "These top insurers are trustworthy and reliable, providing great service to clients wherever they live. We're excited to congratulate this year's winners." International Citizens Insurance judged each insurer on key criteria: the size of its network, the breadth of benefits, the availability of features such as telemedicine, the user-friendliness of filing a claim, the ability to adjust a premium through copays or deductibles, and the insurer's financial stability (A.M. Best).The Top Global Health Insurance Providers for 2024:Cigna Global - A favorite among expatriates and families, Cigna Global offers customizable coverage across multiple regions, allowing policyholders to tailor their plans.GeoBlue Xplorer - Perfect for U.S. citizens abroad and foreign nationals moving to the U.S., GeoBlue Xplorer offers extensive benefits, including access to the U.S. Blue Cross Blue Shield network.IMG Global Medical Insurance - Known for its affordability and flexibility, IMG caters to those seeking comprehensive medical coverage on a budget.Additional options added this year include plans from WorldTrips and Trawick International, which offer short-term international medical plans for expats on shorter assignments.International Citizens Insurance has also identified the best plans for specific clients. These include the best premium health plans for U.S. citizens abroad, the best medical insurance plan for non-U.S. citizens, health insurance for foreigners residing in USA, and the most affordable plans for people on a budget.Learn more about the best international health insurers at: https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/best-companies.php About International Citizens Insurance International Citizens Insurance provides a unique platform that enable travelers and expatriates to research, quote, compare, and purchase international health, life, travel, and expatriate insurance from a variety of international carriers.Contact Information Joe CroninPresidentmedia@ internationalinsurance.com 617-500-6738Andrew BlombergVice President, Global Group Benefitsandrew@ internationalinsurance.com (339) 221-5190SOURCE: International Citizens InsuranceView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 15:01:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 545 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BioBond Starts Commercialization of Its Plant-Based Adhesives and CoatingLAFAYETTE, IN / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / BioBond Adhesives, Inc. ("BioBond"), a portfolio company of Big Idea Venture's Generation Food Rural Partners I, LP ("GFRP") Fund, today announces the opening of its headquarters and development laboratories in Lafayette, Indiana. This strategic location will enable BioBond to accelerate the commercialization of its plant-based, biodegradable adhesive and coating alternatives, targeting a wide range of industries including packaging, construction, electronics, furniture, apparel, marine, and aerospace.BioBond Logo BioBond's mission aligns with the GFRP Fund's focus on driving innovation and economic growth in rural areas. The fund collaborates with universities across the U.S. to commercialize intellectual property in food, protein, and agriculture."We have received tremendous support from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, AgriNovus, USDA Rural Development, Greater Lafayette Commerce, and Beck's in finding a suitable USDA-qualified site located just south of Lafayette," said Marc McConnaughey, CEO of BioBond. "Indiana is a welcoming environment for startups, and our proximity to Purdue University offers a rich ecosystem for collaboration and growth." BioBond is poised to launch four plant-based adhesive and coating products in Q4 2024, a remarkable achievement in less than a year since its inception. "Petro-based adhesives and coatings are a major source of VOCs and microplastics," stated Frank Klemens, Managing Director of the GFRP Fund. "BioBond's innovative solutions will reduce our daily exposure to these harmful substances and contribute to a healthier environment." Tom Mastrobuoni, Chief Investment Officer for GFRP, added, "Indiana has embraced our investment, and the support from AgriNovus and Beck's has been instrumental in accelerating BioBond's technology towards commercialization." About BioBondBioBond, Inc. is a material science company developing new adhesive materials, coatings, and applications that make our environment a healthier place to live and work. We specialize in the development of biopolymer compounds to displace traditional petroleum-based adhesives and coatings. As the second company formed within BIV's Generation Food Rural Partners (GFRP) Fund, BioBond licenses intellectual property from multiple universities, collaborating to develop novel materials to reduce the amount of plastic waste and VOCs such as formaldehydes entering the environment. For more information, visit https://biobondadhesives.com About Generation Food Rural PartnersGeneration Food Rural Partners ("GFRP" or the "Fund") is an RBIC-licensed investment fund designed to drive economic growth and development in rural communities in the U.S. The Fund invests in the areas of agriculture, food, and protein technologies to form new companies based on intellectual property, creating living-wage jobs at its portfolio companies. GFRP is backed by members of the Farm Credit System, including Farm Credit Services of America, CoBank, Compeer Financial and Mid-America Farm Credit. GFRP is a part of Big Idea Ventures ("BIV"), the world's most active investor in FoodTech, investing in the best food technology and AgriTech companies globally. BIV has teams in New York, Paris and Singapore and has invested in more than 100 companies across 30 countries and manages the Global Food Innovation family of funds and GFRP. For more information, visit www.bigideaventures.com/generation-food-rural-partners Contact InformationTom MastrobuoniChief Investment Officertom@ bigideaventures.com (201) 725-3800Marc McConnaugheyCEOmarc@ biobondadhesives.com (909) 631-9598SOURCE: BioBond Adhesives, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 15:02:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 520 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 A renowned leader in the payments industry, Feagan joins Cleverbridge with 20 years of experience in scaling innovative, globally recognized ecommerce companiesCOLOGNE, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Cleverbridge, the all-in-one e-commerce platform for global subscription businesses, today announced the appointment of Kevin Feagan as its Chief Revenue Officer. Feagan will report directly to Wendi Sturgis, Chief Executive Officer, and serve as a member of Cleverbridge's leadership team.Cleverbridge Chief Revenue Officer Kevin Feagan In his new role, Feagan will oversee the go-to-market organization and be responsible for driving strategic alignment between all revenue-related functions. His extensive sales leadership experience in the payments industry from Everyware, FIS, and BluePay make Kevin the perfect fit to guide the continued success of Cleverbridge as it accelerates enterprise adoption of the merchant of record (MoR) model, which simplifies end-to-end ecommerce by consolidating payments, subscription management, sales tax compliance, and more."I'm thrilled to be joining Cleverbridge at this point in the company's history. The product, people, and clients have all impressed me immensely, but I've been particularly drawn to the leadership team. It's clear that Cleverbridge is ready for a major growth event, and I'm here to help make that happen," said Feagan. "I'm ready to take on the challenge, leverage my experience, and partner with our talented team to deliver even greater value to our clients. Together, we're going to build something amazing - and have a lot of fun doing it." Prior to joining Cleverbridge, Kevin served as the CRO at Everyware, an Austin-based company focused on ecommerce payments and card-not-present (CNP) transactions. Before that, Feagan served as Senior Vice President at FIS, a Fortune 500 leading provider of technology solutions for merchants, banks, and capital markets firms. A reflection of his significant contributions to the industry, Kevin was recognized on the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA)'s 2020 Forty Under 40 list."Kevin has a proven track record of growing payments and ecommerce companies, and his addition will enable Cleverbridge to build on existing momentum as we continue to scale merchant of record selling globally," said Sturgis. "It's clear that the industry is rapidly changing, but Cleverbridge's position has never been stronger. Technology businesses are increasingly looking for alternatives to costly, drawn-out implementations and complex multi-vendor ecommerce solutions. Cleverbridge is poised to give these businesses exactly what they're looking for, helping them to drive maximum growth with minimal effort." For more information, visit grow.cleverbridge.com or follow Cleverbridge on LinkedIn.About CleverbridgeCleverbridge is the all-in-one ecommerce platform for global subscription businesses. As a merchant of record (MoR), we consolidate the essential components of an ecommerce solution - including payments, subscription management, tax/VAT handling, and regulatory compliance - to help businesses offload operational work and automate digital transactions throughout the customer lifecycle. Since 2005, leading B2B and B2C technology companies across industries have trusted Cleverbridge to deliver frictionless buying experiences and optimize acquisition, expansion, and retention in over 240 countries and territories. Learn more at grow.cleverbridge.com Contact InformationGordon KnappSenior Director, Marketinggordon.knapp@cleverbridge.com SOURCE: CleverbridgeView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 18:15:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 716 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PLAYSTUDIOS Impact Fund Fueled the Award-Winning Documentary Showcasing Positively Arts' Empowerment of YouthLAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / HOME: A Mother of 3000 , a feature-length documentary produced by the women-led creative collective Eccentric Artists and directed by three-time Emmy Award-winnerJemsen Yumico Bollozos, has been honored with the prestigious Best Nevada Film award at the 10th Annual Nevada Women's Film Festival. The documentary, which highlights the transformative work of Las Vegas nonprofit Positively Arts, was made possible through a $10,000 endowment from the PLAYSTUDIOS Impact Fund. A celebratory viewing party was held for the "cast & crew" at the HyperX arena on Aug. 18, sponsored by Allied Esports. The film is expected to make waves, with a festival run anticipated through 2025.Women Filmmakers Join Forces to Produce 'HOME: A Mother of 3000' Eccentric Artists produces captivating documentary showcasing Las Vegas nonprofit Positively Arts and its empowerment of children's self-expression.The PLAYSTUDIOS Impact Fund's support allowed Eccentric Artists to assemble an all-women production team, creating a platform for female filmmakers and providing a unique opportunity for emerging talent. The grant specifically supported a 95-minute documentary centered on the non-profit organization Positively Arts.HOME: A Mother of 3000 tells the inspiring story of Positively Arts, an organization dedicated to nurturing creativity, self-expression, and resilience in children through its inclusive performance programs. It delves into the personal journey of Positively Arts' CEO and founder Pilita Simpson, affectionately known as "A Mother of 3000" for her dedication to the thousands of children she mentors. The film also emphasizes Positively Arts' commitment to integrating mental health practices into arts education, ensuring that students are equipped with the social and emotional tools needed to excel in all areas of life.The documentary's impact was celebrated during a special premiere viewing party on Aug. 18 at the HyperX Arena in the Luxor Hotel. The event, sponsored by Allied Esports, featured performances by student-cast members from Positively Arts and also marked County Commissioner Michael Naft's official proclamation of Aug. 18 as "Positively Arts Day" in Clark County.In 2022, Bollozos received a $10,000 endowment from the PLAYSTUDIOS Impact Fund, designed to encourage diversity in filmmaking. True to the fund's mission, Eccentric Artists assembled an all-women production team, creating a powerful platform for female filmmakers and providing a unique opportunity for emerging talent. Eccentric Artists hosted an Empowering Women Workshop in May 2022 to further this mission, offering film students the tools and set experience necessary for success in documentary filmmaking. UNLV FILM supported the workshop by providing space and gear, which were essential to its success. The team's commitment to supporting women in the industry is reflected in the film's credits, where many of the names belong to workshop participants."I'm incredibly proud of the work we're doing at Eccentric Artists," said Tiffanie Rose Ignacio, producer of the documentary and Eccentric Artists co-founder and Director of Operations & Events. "We believe that the future of an inclusive society begins with the next generation. By promoting compassion and healthy self-expression in the arts - a field often known for its competitive nature - we aim to foster a supportive and inclusive world." "Our aspiration is for 'HOME: A Mother of 3000' to touch more lives and spread the warmth and kindness it has brought to our own hearts," added Jemsen Yumico Bollozos, director of the documentary and Eccentric Artists co-founder and Creative Media Strategist."We hope audiences leave with the knowledge that self-expression is powerful, especially when guided by compassion, much like how Positively Arts encourages and uplifts the next generation through its mission." ABOUT ECCENTRIC ARTISTSEccentric Artists, a women-led art collective and creative media production company based in Las Vegas, is dedicated to telling impactful stories that foster inclusivity and empower underrepresented voices. With a commitment to innovation and artistic integrity, Eccentric Artists produces diverse content, from documentaries to narrative films, to inspire positive change in society. The collective's projects are recognized for their emphasis on community, compassion, and the power of self-expression through the arts. For more information, visit www.eccentricartists.space Contact InformationAlana Kohlalana@ alanakohl.com 7023234561Jemsen Yumico BollozosEmmy Award Winning Directorjem@ eccentricartists.space 1.702.788.2074Related FilesPositively Arts_Home Mother of 3000_Movie PosterRelated VideoSOURCE: Positively ArtsView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 21:30:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 451 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 EAST LONGMEADOW, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 /Fast Company, the world's leading business media brand, with an editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, world-changing ideas, creativity and design, has selected Excel Dryer, Inc., for the 2024 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators (BWFI) list, ranking the manufacturer at number 40 among 100 companies that foster a culture of innovation and creativity in their workplaces worldwide. In addition to this distinguished honor, Excel Dryer was also selected as one of 10 finalists in the BWFI category of General Excellence.William Gagnon, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Excel Dryer, accepted the Fast Company "100 Best Workplaces for Innovators" award.BWFI honorees are selected from across industries, chosen for their investment in employees and a workplace that encourages experimentation and forward thinking. The General Excellence category, new in 2024, recognizes companies that have established strong innovation cultures that have yielded remarkable results."As the creators of the energy-efficient, high-speed hand dryer category, Excel Dryer is proud to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to fostering employee engagement, creativity and vision," said William Gagnon, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Excel Dryer. "We invest heavily in research and development, adopting state-of-the-art technologies that empower our employees across departments." Examples of recent initiatives at Excel Dryer include:Renovation of the company's global headquarters, guided by the WELL (IWBI) Standards with an emphasis on biophilic design, physical and mental well-being, and sustainabilityIntegration of collaborative Cobots' (robotics) into the manufacturing process, enhancing workplace efficiencyDepartment-wide adoption of Cascading Goals and Levels of Excellence principles, providing a structured approach to facilitating communication, encouraging engagement and aligning goals"We remain dedicated to advancing the industry while ensuring that everything we do reflects the company values of sustainability, efficiency, wellness and inclusivity," Gagnon said. "This holistic approach to innovation not only drives Excel forward but improves the quality of life for our employees and the communities we serve." About Excel Dryer, Inc.Excel Dryer is a family-owned and operated company that revolutionized the industry with the invention of the XLERATOR Hand Dryer, which set a new standard for performance, reliability and customer satisfaction. For more than 50 years, Excel has been manufacturing American-made hand-drying solutions that are dependable, cost-effective, safe and sustainable. Backed by the best customer service, Excel Dryer products can be purchased through an established network of sales representatives and distributors globally. Learn more about Excel Dryer at exceldryer.com ###Contact InformationSue SpiryMarket Mentorssspiry@ marketmentors.com 413-787-1133Related ImagesWilliam Gagnon, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Excel Dryer, accepted the Fast Company "100 Best Workplaces for Innovators" award.SOURCE: Excel Dryer, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 20:01:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 312 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 STRONGSVILLE, OH / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Foundation Software LLC., a leading provider of construction software and services, has received the NorthCoast 99 Top Workplace Award for the 19th year.NorthCoast 99, an annual awards program organized by ERC, honors the top 99 workplaces in Northeast Ohio every year. Winners are chosen based on a variety of factors, including company values, goal achievement, benefits and employee satisfaction.Foundation Software CEO Mike Ode credits the company's ongoing success to its team."It's awesome to be recognized for the 19th year," Ode said. "Our people are what make Foundation Software special - we're all about creating a healthy work environment where employees feel appreciated and are given the tools to grow." Foundation continues to stand out because of its commitment to a balanced work life. Employees are offered free office perks including exercise classes, event tickets and weekly catered meals.Plus, each month there are special benefits, like audiobook subscriptions and gas cards, that team members can opt for, further shaping a workplace that is built around their needs.The company also prioritizes professional development, with free educational opportunities available to help employees build new skills and advance their careers.Looking ahead, Ode says, "Our team is what drives us forward, and we're going to keep making sure Foundation is a place where people love to work." To see the full life of Northcoast 99 winners, click here.Foundation Software, LLCFoundation Software delivers job cost accounting, estimating and takeoff, project management, safety management, HR management, mobile field apps and payroll services to help contractors run the business side of construction. For information, call (800) 246-0800, visit www.foundationsoft.com or email info@ foundationsoft.com Contact InformationTracie KuczkowskiVP of Marketingtak@ foundationsoft.com (800) 246-0800Samantha Ann IlliusMarketing Relations Coordinator and Influence Specialistsillius@ foundationsoft.com (800) 811 5926 x 4823SOURCE: Foundation SoftwareView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 19:00:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 442 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Dutch Industry Encouraged to Register Online to Propose Technology Pitches for Nov. 19 Innovation and Funding ConferenceSAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has added Raymond Knops, Chairman of the Dutch Industry Foundation for Defence and Security (NIDV), and Thomas McSorley, General Counsel for NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic), to a growing list of speakers and panelists on the agenda for the first-ever Blue Magic Netherlands (BMN) event being held on November 19, 2024. Other companies participating in GA-ASI's BMN event include Brainport Development, Brabant Development Agency (BOM), SPACENED, and Lockheed Martin Ventures."We're excited to launch this event in the Netherlands, which will bring together the best of Dutch industry and innovation," said Brad Lunn, Managing Director of Strategic Finance at GA-ASI. "We are already engaged with companies who have contacted us to pitch their capabilities for possible inclusion in Blue Magic and open up funding opportunities." Dutch businesses that would like to pitch their technology and capabilities at BMN 2024 are encouraged to register on the event website by no later than Oct. 28, 2024.Blue Magic Netherlands will be held in Eindhoven, a city known as a global technology hub. BMN will bring together Dutch startups, universities, government officials, aerospace leaders, and representatives from other high-tech industries, who will see technology advancements within the Dutch technology ecosystem and connect qualified partners with funding opportunities to support next-generation dual-use solutions.GA-ASI has organized several successful Blue Magic events in the past and is bringing that same concept to the Netherlands. Areas of focus for BMN 2024 will be artificial intelligence/machine learning, autonomy, advanced materials, sensors, advanced manufacturing, and space. GA-ASI delivered its MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) in 2021 and recently announced an increase in the total order of MQ-9As in its service to eight.About GA-ASIGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable RPA systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator RPA series and the Lynx Multi-mode Radar. With more than 8 million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent situational awareness. The company also produces a variety of sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas.For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com Avenger, Lynx, Predator, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.Contact Information:GA-ASI Media Relationsasi-mediarelations@ ga-asi.com SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 14:31:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 669 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Local Firms Plan Full Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse of Historic Portland LandmarkPORTLAND, ME / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Local developers plan to transform the former Fidelity Trust Building at 465 Congress Street into a historic hotel that captures the beauty and detail of its 1910 architecture. Fathom Companies, in partnership with SwingPoint Development, will lead the historic Portland landmark's restoration, which will match the style and level of historic preservation of the award-winning Press Hotel, which it developed and operates.Fathom Companies "When we restore historic buildings, we revitalize neighborhoods and promote local businesses while protecting our environment," said Jim Brady, president of Fathom Companies. "Our adaptive re-use from office to hotel will transform this historic landmark in a manner that reflects the culture of Portland's downtown at the turn of the century. In addition to creating high-quality jobs, the Maine-owned and operated hotel will become a destination that attracts both locals and visitors, bringing revenue and energy to Portland's historic Main Street." The former office building will become an upscale boutique hotel with a full-service restaurant, a historic speakeasy bar and approximately 92 rooms and suites on nine floors. It sits across the street from the Time and Temperature building. While the Fidelity Trust Building is currently vacant, it recently housed offices and a retail bank, and the structure is in very good condition. This allows for the full restoration of many historic features, including:The original bank lobby.The basement vault with its original doors, which will be home to the speakeasy bar.A beautiful internal central staircase bathed in natural light from a restored skylight.Kevin Kraft, Portland's director of planning and urban development, commented on the proposal. "Fathom Companies is recognized for its successful historic adaptive reuse projects, particularly the transformation of the Portland Press Herald building into the Press Hotel. Fathom's plans for a new hotel at 465 Congress will breathe new life into a long-vacant historic building at one of Portland's most prominent intersections, offering visitors opportunities to explore our exceptional businesses, restaurants, and cultural landmarks. This development has the opportunity to strengthen the vibrancy of Monument Square and Congress Street, enhancing key cultural institutions such as the Portland Museum of Art, the Maine Historical Society, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, and the Maine College of Art and Design. Alongside the substantial residential development that is occurring in downtown and nearby areas, this hotel will bolster Portland's economy and significantly contribute to the street life and 24/7 energy of the city's downtown, reinforcing its role as a vital hub for the City, Region, and State." The building opened in 1910 as Maine's first skyscraper. The architect was G. Henri Desmond, who also designed the Portland Press Herald building (now the Press Hotel) and Portland High School, among other recognizable buildings in the area. In the late 1990s-early 2000s, the Libra Foundation brought the building back to life and created the adjacent Portland Public Market. As a Portland historic landmark and part of the Congress Street Historic District, federal and state historic tax credits will help support the building's preservation. Fathom Companies anticipates a mid-2026 reopening as a hotel.About Fathom Companies Fathom Companies is a Portland, Maine-owned real estate development and hospitality management firm recognized for award-winning historic preservation. Jim Brady founded the firm in 2017 after receiving the 2015 Maine Preservation Honor Award for the Press Hotel, a historic adaptive reuse of the former Portland Press Herald building that created Portland's first boutique hotel. Recognition ascended to the national level in 2020 with the American Institute of Architects Design Honor Award for Renovation & Adaptive for Reuse, also for the Press Hotel. Fathom employs approximately 250 associates across two divisions: hotel management and real estate, which includes investment, development, ground-up construction, historic renovations, and repositioning of hotel, office, residential, and mixed-use properties. To learn more about Fathom Companies, visit www.fathomcompanies.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Contact Information Carla TracyCommunications, Fathom Companiescarla@ carlatracypr.com 646-591-7126SOURCE: Fathom CompaniesView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 17:01:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 312 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin" or "the Company") (NYSE:BEN) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Franklin admitted on July 26, 2024, that "following the launch of an internal investigation focusing on certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select Western Asset Management (WAM') accounts, WAM received notification of parallel investigations by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice." The Company then disclosed on August 21, 2024, that WAM co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech had been played on leave "effective immediately" adding that "in light of Mr. Leech's leave of absence, the Company has determined that closing its Macro Opportunities strategy (approximately $2.0 billion in AUM as of 7/31/2024) is in clients' best interests." Finally, the Company also disclosed that Leech had received a Wells Notice from the SEC. Based on this news, shares of Franklin fell significantly.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss,click here to participate .We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website atwww.schallfirm.com , or by email atbschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 17:46:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 575 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Balekian Hayes, PLLC Partners Receive Recognition by Super Lawyers MagazineDALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Each year, Super Lawyers identifies the top lawyers in Texas through a patented multiphase selection process. Those with the highest scores are recognized in Texas Super Lawyers' Top Lists. Among the distinguished five percent of Texas attorneys on this coveted list are Dallas-based family law attorneys Kris Balekian Hayes and John Withers, Jr. Honorees are selected based on peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research, with each candidate assessed on 12 criteria related to peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made annually on a state-by-state basis, aiming to create a credible and diverse resource for those seeking legal counsel."It is a privilege to be recognized as one of the top attorneys in Texas," says Kris Balekian Hayes, managing partner of Balekian Hayes, PLLC. "Alongside my partner John Withers, Jr., we understand that divorce can be an incredibly stressful and challenging experience, which is why selecting a trustworthy attorney is so important. We are committed to being honest with our clients, while honesty may sometimes come at a cost, our clients deserve nothing less. This dedication has earned us recognition from industry leaders and referrals from our loyal clients." Hayes earned her law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, along with an MBA from St. Mary's University School of Business. With over 20 years of family law experience, she is distinguished by her dual certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in family law and child welfare-an honor held by only 47 family lawyers in Texas. Additionally, she is a credentialed mediator in civil, family, and CPS matters and is licensed by the Supreme Court of the United States, showcasing her exceptional qualifications.John Withers Jr., also a dual board-certified attorney, has earned accolades as a Super Lawyer and nominee for Best Lawyers due to his unwavering commitment to excellence and client advocacy. A Dallas native, he holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as part of the U.S. Army Reserve. Withers earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University and has extensive legal experience, having served as an assistant district attorney and co-founding a successful law firm. His dedication extends beyond the courtroom through his military service and involvement in the State Bar College and the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists.At Balekian Hayes, PLLC in Dallas, leadership and commitment to clients are at the core of the firm's reputation. The repeated recognition by Super Lawyers highlights the individual excellence of each partner and reflects the firm's high standards. For more information about Kris Balekian Hayes, John Withers, Jr., and the services offered at Balekian Hayes, PLLC, please visit their website.About Balekian Hayes:Led by Kris Balekian Hayes, the family law attorneys of Balekian Hayes PLLC are dedicated to fighting for their clients and their clients' children. From contested divorces, to child possession disputes, to out-of-court mediation and arbitration proceedings, the firm provides the knowledge and expertise needed to help people during what can be one of the most stressful times in their lives. To learn more about Balekian Hayes, visit https://www.bh-pllc.com/ Media Contact:Katie Mudd katie@ thevokolgroup.com 214-676-4254SOURCE: Balekian Hayes Family Law BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Western Azerbaijan Community has condemned a document presented by MP Kenneth Gibson in the Scottish Parliament on September 20, Trend reports. The statement of the Community in this regard reads that the use of the term Artsakh in the document, associated with ethnic cleansing and occupation, is disrespectful to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. The document attempts to interpret the Karabakh Armenians' rejection of Azerbaijan's reintegration proposal and their voluntary departure from the country as coercion and makes other unfounded claims. The author of the document completely ignores the fate of millions of Azerbaijanis subjected to ethnic cleansing in Armenia and the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Simultaneously, the document does not contain any information about the large-scale destructions committed by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, about the installation of 1.5 million mines here. The document also omits to mention that Armenia is preventing the return of hundreds of thousands of exiled Azerbaijanis and is trying to portray their right to return in a negative light. Information about Armenia's destruction of hundreds of mosques, countless cemeteries, and samples of Azerbaijani cultural heritage is not given. All this demonstrates that this document is a continuation of the international campaign conducted by certain forces that do not recognize the fact that the conflict was resolved following international law and are trying to reignite it. We strongly condemn such steps and demand from the members of the Scottish Parliament to stop this provocation, the statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 15:01:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 435 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TYNGSBORO, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Kristen Keegan, co-owner of Silver Key Homes at LAER Realty Partners, has been named Realtor of the Year for 2024 by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR). This prestigious award recognizes Keegan's exceptional contributions to the real estate industry and her relentless commitment to excellence in serving clients across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.Kristen Keegan Accepting Realtor of the Year Award Since beginning her real estate career in 2004, Keegan has built a reputation as one of the most respected professionals in the field. As a leader at Silver Key Homes, she has driven the growth of her team, now consisting of 18 agents, and has consistently delivered outstanding results, guiding hundreds of families to homeownership.Her leadership extends well beyond her own team. Keegan has held several prominent positions within the industry, including serving as President of the Northeast Association of Realtors (NEAR) in 2020. She is a two-time recipient of NEAR's Realtor of the Year award and was honored with its Distinguished Service Award in 2022. Keegan has also served in various leadership roles at the state and national levels, including as Northern Region Vice President for MAR in 2024 and on the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Sustainability Advisory Group.Keegan's accolades speak to her dedication to fostering professionalism, advocacy, and innovation in the real estate community. Her work on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as her involvement in legislative advocacy through the Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC), further highlight her influence and passion for advancing the industry."Being named Realtor of the Year is an incredible honor, and I am grateful to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors for this recognition. My journey in real estate has always been about empowering others - whether that's my clients, my team or my fellow realtors. I look forward to continuing to contribute to our vibrant industry," said Keegan.Kristen Keegan's vision for the future of real estate is clear: to continue raising standards and supporting the growth of professionals in the field, ensuring that clients receive the highest level of service.For more information, please contact:Kristen Keegan Silver Key Homes at LAER Realty PartnersPhone: (978) 866-2094Email: sellyourden@ gmail.com About LAER Realty Partners:LAER Realty Partners is one of the largest independent real estate brokerages in the U.S., offering expert services across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and beyond. Silver Key Homes, owned by Kristen Keegan and Christina Silva, is part of the LAER network, known for its exceptional service and client-focused approach.Contact InformationSergio EncisoMarketing Directorhappyagent@ laerrealty.com 9782518221SOURCE: LAER Realty PartnersView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 20:45:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 323 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LIMASSOL, CYPRUS / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Mohamed El Mahdy, the visionary CEO and Owner of El Homes Development, has been named one of TIME Iconic Magazine's Top 5 Influential and Visionary Business Leaders of 2024. This prestigious accolade acknowledges his groundbreaking leadership in real estate development, his dedication to sustainable innovation, and his significant impact on shaping the industry in Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean region.Under El Mahdy's leadership, El Homes Development has emerged as a major force in Cyprus's real estate market, pioneering state-of-the-art, eco-friendly residential and commercial projects. His forward-thinking approach, focused on sustainability, luxury, and smart-living technologies, has set new benchmarks in the industry. As a result, El Homes Development has become a leader in transforming urban landscapes and delivering exceptional living experiences."I am honored to be recognized by TIME Iconic Magazine as one of 2024's top visionary business leaders," said El Mahdy. "This recognition is a testament to the incredible work of our team at El Homes Development and our relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence." TIME Iconic Magazine's editorial board praised El Mahdy for his transformative leadership style and his role in fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation within the company. His strategies have not only propelled the company's growth in Cyprus but have also set a new standard for real estate development in the region.El Mahdy's inclusion in the Top 5 business leaders of 2024 places him among a select group of global business icons who are leading their industries into the future with vision, resilience, and groundbreaking ideas.For more information, please contact:Media RelationsEl Homes Development info@ elhomes.comelhomes.com InstagramFacebookLinkedInAbout El Homes Development:El Homes Development is a premier real estate development company based in Limassol, Cyprus, known for its innovative, sustainable, and luxury housing projects. With a focus on environmental responsibility and cutting-edge design, El Homes is redefining the real estate industry across the Mediterranean region.SOURCE: El Homes PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 14:50:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 861 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 /O&L Leisure, a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, is proud to announce its rebranding as part of a strategic move to position itself as a premium provider of authentic, luxury travel experiences. This transformation aligns with O&L Leisure's evolving vision and growth strategy, reflecting its commitment to offering world-class service while maintaining deep connections to its Namibian heritage.The new brand, featuring a sleek and refined logo, captures the spirit of O&L Leisure's dedication to authenticity, care, and passion. Designed to appeal to a premium, international market, the rebrand underscores O&L Leisure's ambition to elevate its offerings while remaining true to its Namibian roots.Sven Thieme - Executive Chairman, O&L Group and Managing Director, O&L Leisure.Sven Thieme, Managing Director of O&L Leisure and Executive Chairman of the O&L Group, elaborated on the rationale behind the rebranding: "As we expand our reach and transition into the premium and super-premium markets, we recognise the need to refine our brand to reflect our new audience. This rebrand positions us to speak directly to our new audience and convey the luxury, authenticity, and world-class standards we uphold across all our properties. Our guests will know that no matter which O&L Leisure property they visit, they will experience the same exceptional standard." The rebranding is also a pivotal part of O&L Leisure's broader strategy as it prepares to grow its portfolio. The new identity reflects a unified promise across all O&L Leisure properties, ensuring a consistent, premium guest experience while allowing each location to retain its unique charm.Thieme added: "With our expansion plans, we are committed to maintaining one consistent standard across all properties. While each destination - whether it's Chobe Water Villas or Mokuti Etosha - has its unique appeal, the golden thread throughout will now be more visible than ever. Our new brand is a promise to our guests that they will enjoy world-class service, comfort, and authenticity, wherever they choose to stay." The new logo reflects this refined approach, combining modern sophistication with a deep respect for the brand's Namibian heritage. Retaining the iconic "1919" symbol, the logo emphasises O&L's legacy while embracing a minimalist and elegant design. The new tagline, " Namibia Through Our Eyes ," encapsulates O&L Leisure's mission to provide genuine, unfiltered experiences that connect guests to the heart of Namibia.Thieme explained: "We are proud to showcase Namibia's true essence through this rebrand. The new tagline is not just a slogan; it represents our authentic, caring, and passionate approach to hospitality. Every interaction with our guests, every detail of their experience, is designed to reflect the beauty and soul of Namibia." As part of its enhanced visual identity, O&L Leisure has introduced new secondary colours such as Dune Beige and Golden Metallic, reflecting Namibia's stunning landscapes and the unforgettable moments shared in its properties. The golden thread in the branding represents the connection between all O&L Leisure destinations, offering a sense of place and a promise of luxury.(from left to right): Shepherd Chinhoi - Operations General Manager; Franziska Rueeck - Chief Experience Officer, O&L Group and Quality & Experience General Manager, O&L Leisure; Sven Thieme - Executive Chairman, O&L Group and Managing Director, O&L Leisure; Maryke van Lill - Marketing Manager, O&L Leisure; Victory Shimwandi - Sales Manager, O&L Leisure and Sonja Bartsch - Financial Director, O&L Leisure.The rebranding aligns with O&L's Vision for 2029, which includes global recognition for service excellence and a focus on being one of the top 10 Great Places to Work (GPTW). By enhancing its brand and service standards, O&L Leisure aims to set new benchmarks for luxury travel, both in Namibia and internationally.Sven Thieme concluded: "Our new brand is a crucial part of O&L's Vision for 2029. We are committed to providing exceptional guest experiences, while creating a work environment that empowers our team to grow and thrive. By elevating our brand and service, we are not only showcasing the best of Namibia to the world, but we are also contributing to our long-term financial goals and ensuring each property operates at the highest standards of efficiency and excellence." This bold rebrand reinforces O&L Leisure's dedication to offering handpicked, unique locations that tell Namibia's story and create memorable, world-class experiences for all guests.About O&L Leisure:O&L Leisure is a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, offering premium, authentic hospitality experiences in Namibia. Its portfolio includes Strand Hotel Swakopmund, Midgard, Mokuti Etosha, and Chobe Water Villas, with expansion plans underway. O&L Leisure is driven by its mission to provide luxury experiences rooted in Namibia's natural beauty and culture, ensuring a consistent world-class standard across all properties.Media Contact:Organization: The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) GroupContact Person Name: Roux-che LockeWebsite: https://www.ol.na Email: roux-che.locke@ol.na Contact Number: +264612075207Address: Alexander Forbes House, 7th Floor,Address 2: South Block, 22-33 Fidel Castro Street, Windhoek, NamibiaCity: WindhoekState: KhomasCountry: NamibiaSOURCE: The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 21:55:28 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1013 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Program designed to provide state-of-the-art training vessels to five state maritime academiesPHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Philly Shipyard, Inc. ("Philly Shipyard"), the sole operating subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA (Oslo:PHLY), today delivered the Patriot State, the second of five new purpose-built, state-of-the-art training vessels for America's state maritime academies. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) new vessel program - known as National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs) - was designed to provide world-class training for America's future mariners and to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in times of need. This second vessel, Patriot State, is being delivered to MARAD and will serve Massachusetts Maritime Academy."We stand tall and proud as we wave goodbye to the Patriot State," said Steinar Nerbovik, President & CEO of Philly Shipyard. "It is the second NSMV to be delivered in the program, and the journey to Massachusetts brings well-deserved recognition and excitement for the future of the vessel, the entire NSMV program, and our shipyard. Our workforce has dedicated much time and skill to ensuring a safe at-sea experience for the cadets and crew and a dependable learning environment for all future mariners." Philly Shipyard was awarded the contract to build the NSMVs by TOTE Services, LLC ("TOTE Services"), a U.S.-based company hired by MARAD as the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) to oversee the construction of the training vessels. The NSMV program is the first government sponsored ship building program to utilize the VCM model. This model places the responsibility for the selection and oversight of the shipyard on a government contractor that utilizes commercial best practices to manage the project.NSMV I, Empire State, was delivered in September 2023 to serve SUNY Maritime College. NSMV III (Maine Maritime Academy) and NSMV IV (Texas A&M Maritime Academy) are both under construction in Philly Shipyard's outfitting and building docks, respectively. NSMV III is scheduled for delivery in 2025. The steel cutting for NSMV V (California Maritime Academy) was completed earlier this year, placing all remaining vessels in various stages of production at Philly Shipyard."The Patriot State is the second of five NSMVs that TOTE Services is managing in partnership with Philly Shipyard. These vessels are a vital investment in the future of maritime in the U.S. and showcase the potential that arises when we utilize the right expertise and resources for the benefit of our country and future generations. TOTE Services' role as the vessel construction manager for these ships highlights its 49-year legacy as a leader in American maritime," commented Jeff Dixon, President of TOTE Services.The NSMV program is an important investment in America's shipbuilding industry, which supports nearly 400,000 U.S. jobs. Each NSMV will feature numerous instructional spaces, a full training bridge, and accommodations for up to 600 cadets to train in a first-rate maritime academic environment at sea. State maritime academies graduate more than half of all new officers each year - the merchant mariners who help keep cargoes and our economy moving. Many also support U.S. national security by crewing military sealift vessels.Today's delivery of the Patriot State marks an important milestone for the NSMV program as well as the VCM contract model. This innovative approach enables shipyards to apply commercial best practices for design and construction to government vessels. There is growing interest in the VCM contract model and its potential applicability to government shipbuilding programs to reduce costs, accelerate delivery times, and build more vessels.###About the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) ProgramThe U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration's (MARAD) NSMV program is designed to provide a purpose-built, state-of-the-art training platform for the state maritime academies in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Texas, and California, respectively.This next-generation training fleet will address a critical shortage of qualified officers necessary to crew government and commercial owned sealift ships. In addition to providing world-class training for America's future mariners, the NSMVs will be available to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in times of need.The NSMV will feature numerous instructional spaces, a full training bridge, and have space for up to 600 cadets to train in a first-rate maritime academic environment at sea. State maritime academies graduate more than half of all new officers each year-the merchant mariners who help keep cargoes and our economy moving. Many also support U.S. national security by crewing military sealift vessels.In addition to being a state-of-the-art training and educational platform, each ship will feature modern hospital facilities, a helicopter pad, and the ability to accommodate up to 1,000 people in times of humanitarian need. Adding to the NSMV's capability, it will provide needed roll-on/roll-off and container storage capacity for use during disaster relief missions.Ship specifications will be compatible with the pier length, draft restrictions, and mooring limitations at each of the maritime training academies.Vessel specifications:Length: 159.85 mBreadth: 27.00 mDraft, scantling: 7.50 mTotal berthing: 760 peopleSpeed: 18 ktsDeadweight: 8,487 MTAbout Philly ShipyardPhilly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI) is a leading U.S. shipbuilder that is presently pursuing a mix of commercial and government work. It possesses a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility and has earned a reputation as a preferred provider of oceangoing merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships, having delivered around 50% of all large ocean-going Jones Act commercial ships since 2000. PSI is the sole operating subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA. Philly Shipyard ASA is listed on the Euronext Expand Oslo (Oslo: PHLY) and is majority-owned by Aker Capital AS, which in turn is wholly-owned by Aker ASA (Aker). Aker is an industrial investment company that exercises active ownership to create value. Aker has ownership interests in oil and gas, renewable energy and green technologies, maritime assets, marine biotechnology and industrial software, and its portfolio includes companies like Aker BP, Aker Horizons, Aker BioMarine, Cognite, and Aker Solutions. For more information about Philly Shipyard, please visit www.phillyshipyard.com About TOTE ServicesTOTE Services, LLC ("TOTE Services") is a leading U.S.-based company that provides ship management, vessel c PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 17:16:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 660 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Cook brings a wealth of leadership experience in data and analytics to DAS42NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 /DAS42, a leading data consultancy and Snowflake partner, today announced it has welcomed industry veteran Susan Payne Cook as CEO. With a long and successful track record in leading some of the most well-known organizations in the data industry, Cook is uniquely qualified to drive innovation and growth, leveraging the company's deep expertise in modern data and analytics design and implementation strategies."As I learned more about the team and customer use cases at DAS42, I jumped at the chance to take the CEO role. Data is the key enabler for enterprise AI initiatives, and DAS42 is well-positioned to leverage its unique full-stack approach to support customers on this journey. I am also a big believer that Snowflake will be one of the most significant players in modern data architectures going forward so this partnership makes perfect sense," said Cook. "Innovation and technology in data and AI is changing so rapidly that businesses require partners they can trust to have deep knowledge and a strong opinion about the future. Our people are so incredibly skilled and they have the conviction to do what's right for our customers for the long-term. I am honored and beyond excited for the opportunity to lead this team and work with businesses and executives who understand data is foundational for better decisions and outcomes." Most recently, Cook was the CEO and Director of Zaloni, a venture capital-backed end-to-end data governance software start-up that had a successful exit in 2023. Cook has a proven track record of leading large, global go-to-market organizations in companies like Oracle, IBM, and MicroStrategy."We hand-picked Susan Cook for this role because of her exceptional career as a leader in some of the top data and analytics companies. She has a great balance of sales and operational leadership experience and has worked in big global enterprises and agile startups across both software and services," said Julia Senior, Board Director and Partner at M/C Partners. "We invested in DAS42 because we recognized that data was the essential fuel for businesses to make better and faster decisions and to leverage AI and machine learning to gain competitive advantage. Because of this very complex and fast-changing technology landscape in data, we are fortunate to bring in someone with Cook's deep expertise." Under Cook's leadership and with her extensive experience working across the enterprise technology industry, DAS42 will continue its focus on leveraging modern data technologies and expertise to solve the most vexing business problems for its customers. For more information on DAS42, visit www.DAS42.com About DAS42DAS42 is a premier data and analytics consultancy with deep technical and business expertise. We specialize in solving some of the most complex business challenges for the world's most successful companies. As a Snowflake Elite Partner, DAS42 crafts customized strategies that create a single source of truth and enable faster decision-making through sophisticated analytics and AI solutions. DAS42 has a presence across the U.S. with primary offices in New York City and Denver. Connect with us at das42.com and stay updated on LinkedIn. Join us today on our journey to help you realize the possibilities of transforming your business through data and analytics.About M/C PartnersM/C Partners is a private equity firm focused on small and mid-size businesses in the digital infrastructure and technology services sectors. For more than three decades M/C Partners has invested $2.4 billion of capital in over 140 companies, leveraging its deep industry expertise to understand long-term secular trends and identify growth opportunities. The firm is currently investing its ninth fund, partnering with promising companies and leadership teams to support, scale, and improve operations and maximize value. For more information, please visit https://mcpartners.com/ Contact InformationColleen Trinkausc.trinkaus@das42.com SOURCE: DAS42View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 17:02:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 302 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Globus Medical, Inc. ("Globus" or "the Company") (NYSE:GMED) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Globus disclosed in an August 13, 2024, SEC filing that, "on July 16, 2024, Globus Medical, Inc. received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the FDA') following an inspection of our facilities in Audubon, Pennsylvania. In the warning letter, the FDA cited deficiencies in the response letters sent by the Company to the FDA following the Form 483, List of Investigational Observations, which was delivered to the Company in connection with the inspection that occurred from February 15, 2024 until March 7, 2024. The letter describes observed non-conformities in establishing and maintaining product complaint procedures, including complaint investigations, trending, risk reconciliation, and Medical Device Report (MDR) procedures including timely reporting, pertaining to the ExcelsiusGPS robotic system." If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 17:31:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1043 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ST. JOHN'S, NL / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV:SIC)(OTCQB:SICNF) ("Sokoman" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following updates from the 100%-owned Moosehead Gold Project in central Newfoundland. The current focus at Moosehead is on plans to extract bulk samples. The first sample is a conventional bulk sample on the Western Trend using drill and blast methods (see Plan Map 1 for proposed locations). The second bulk sample is with Novamera Inc. at the Footwall Splay in the Eastern Trend, utilizing Novamera's proprietary surgical mining technique. Due to lengthy lab turnaround times, the Company is waiting for the gold assay results from 28 holes.Timothy Froude, P. Geo., President and CEO, states, "We are thrilled with the advances we've made on both bulk-sample projects and eagerly anticipate the completion of the Western Trend bulk sample this year. The exposed quartz veining is reminiscent of some of the best drill holes on the Moosehead property. This pivotal step will yield critical insights into the metallurgy and gold recoveries at Moosehead, marking a significant milestone in our project's development." Conventional Bulk Sample - Western TrendThree areas (labelled A, B and C on Plan Map 2) within the Western Trend were drill tested with a series of short holes to determine the best location to extract a conventional bulk sample of 1,000 cubic metres (approximately 2,700 tonnes). Area C (see Plan Map 2) was chosen, and the excavation is underway. A zone of quartz veining with associated altered and mineralized mafic dyke has been exposed in the center of the trench (see Image 1), which is believed to be linked to a 1.5 m wide quartz vein intersected in drill hole MH-24-618, which contained 25 specks of visible gold. MH-24-618 is located approximately 10 m south of the end of the exposed vein. The trench has yet to be fully excavated, with mapping and sampling to commence immediately upon completion. Preliminary examination of the exposed quartz veining has identified locally abundant boulangerite and arsenopyrite mineralization with random specks of visible gold noted in multiple locations. The final layout of the bulk sample dimensions will be completed in about two weeks once all sampling of the exposed mineralization has been done. All assays are pending.Novamera Partnered Bulk Sample - Footwall SplayTo date, two sets of historical and Novamera drilled holes, six in total, have been surveyed by Novamera in the Footwall Splay area, and final modelling is ongoing. The objective is to define a similar-sized area to the conventional bulk sample to be extracted utilizing Novamera's surgical mining technique. Meanwhile, the Company has been informed by Novamera that the rig that will be taking the potential sample is under contract until June 2025, at which time it will be available for Sokoman's program. It is the Company's intention to use leftover material from the conventional bulk sample as ballast for the Novamera rig, saving time and cost on that program. The Company will provide further updates from Novamera as they become available.Plan Map 1: Proposed bulk-sample areas Image 1: Western Trend trench with exposed quartz veining Plan Map 2: Recent drilling and test sites for Western Trend bulk sample (A, B, C) Diamond DrillingRecent diamond drilling has focused on outlining an area suitable for a conventional (drill and blast) bulk sample in the Western Trend. Three areas were tested with a series of short holes; to date, all assays are outstanding. The Company also anticipates results from recent drillings at the 552 Zone and several reconnaissance holes north of the Eastern Trend. Currently, gold assay turnaround times exceed six weeks, with full and partial (metallics) results pending for 28 holes shown on the drill hole plan (see Plan Map 2). Diamond-drilling operations are on hold, pending guidance from Novamera and insights from Dr. David Coller's structural report for the deep-drilling program. Dr. Coller is producing a project-scale and regional-scale structural model on which to base a deeper drilling program at Moosehead. He is integrating regional structural data from the Valentine Lake and Queensway mineralized trends and areas northeast of Moosehead, recognizing its position within a larger, complex structural domain that extends beyond our property borders. This comprehensive understanding of the regional structural history is crucial for interpreting Moosehead's structural context. We anticipate Dr. Coller's final report by late Q4 2024 or early Q1 2025.QPThis news release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Froude, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of Sokoman Minerals Corp.Analytical Techniques / QA/QCSamples, including duplicates, blanks, and standards, are submitted to Eastern Analytical Ltd. in Springdale, Newfoundland for gold analysis. All core samples submitted for assay are saw cut by Sokoman personnel with one-half submitted for assay and one-half retained for reference. Samples are delivered in sealed bags directly to the lab by Sokoman personnel. Eastern Analytical Ltd. is an accredited assay lab that conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. Samples with visible gold are submitted for total pulp metallics with a gravimetric finish. All other samples are analyzed by standard fire assay methods. Total pulp metallic analysis includes: the entire sample being crushed to -10 mesh; and then pulverized to 95% -150 mesh. The total sample is weighed and screened to 150 mesh; the +150-mesh fraction is fire-assayed for Au, and a 30 g subsample of the -150-mesh fraction is fire-assayed for Au; with a calculated weighted average of total Au in the sample reported as well. One blank and one industry-approved standard for every twenty samples submitted is included in the sample stream. Random duplicates of selected samples are analyzed in addition to the in-house standard and duplicate policies of Eastern Analytical Ltd. All reported assays are uncut.About Sokoman Minerals Corp.Sokoman Minerals Corp. is a discovery-oriented company and one of the largest landholders in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's emerging gold district. The Company's primary focus is its portfolio of gold projects; the 100%-owned flagship, advanced-stage Moosehead, Crippleback Lake, and the district-scale Fleur de Lys project near Baie Verte in northwestern Newfoundland, targeting Dalradian-type orogenic gold mineralization similar to the Curraghinalt and Cavanacaw deposits in Northern Ireland. The Company entered a strategic alliance with Benton Resources Inc. through three, large-scale, joint-venture properties including Grey River, Golden Hop PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 17:28:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1027 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Includes 21.9 m @ 4.0 g/t AuEq and 7.8 m @ 7.5 g/t AuEqVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Mawson Gold Limited("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSXV:MAW)(Frankfurt:MXR)(PINKSHEETS:MWSNF) announces Southern Cross Gold Ltd. ("Southern Cross Gold" or "SXG") has released results from three diamond drill holes (SDDSC124, SDDSC127 and SDDSC128 - Figures 1 and 2) from the Apollo prospect at the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project in Victoria, Australia (Figure 5).All holes successfully intersected mineralisation in targets generated through VRIFY's ("Artificial Intelligence") AI-assisted mineral discovery platform ("VRIFY AI"). Apollo East, a target identified by both the SXG exploration team and VRIFY AI, is a new zone of potential high-grade mineralisation located approximately 200 m east of the main Apollo drill area. With these new holes, the zone has become a priority for SXG due to AI generated targets that show the possible extension of this zone approximately 400 m to the east (Figure 3).Highlights:SDDSC128 drilled a large gap and confirmed eleven vein sets from Apollo East to Apollo Deeps. The hole extended two high-grade vein zones 20 m to 60 m down-dip and included 11 intercepts of Au > 20 g/t (up to 167 g/t Au) and 11 intercepts of Sb > 5% (up to 16.4% Sb) . Selected highlights include:21.9 m @ 4.0 g/t AuEq (2.6 g/t Au, 0.8% Sb) from 505.4 m, including:2.5 m @ 15.5 g/t AuEq (9.6 g/t Au, 3.1% Sb) from 512.4 m7.8 m @ 7.5 g/t AuEq (6.8 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 547.7 m, including:0.6 m @ 81.9 g/t AuEq (74.7 g/t Au, 3.8% Sb) from 547.7 mSDDSC124 is the deepest hole drilled east-west at Apollo . The hole intercepted eight vein sets across Apollo East and Apollo Deeps, extending vein domains 95 m to 105 m down-dip. Selected highlights include:6.3 m @ 6.6 g/t AuEq (2.9 g/t Au, 2.0% Sb) from 427.3 m, including:0.5 m @ 62.2 g/t AuEq (18.2 g/t Au, 23.4% Sb) from 427.5 m0.7 m @ 19.3 g/t AuEq (19.3 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 795.8 m, including:0.2 m @ 54.4 g/t AuEq (54.4 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 796.3 mSDDSC127 drilled four vein sets (with two new vein sets identified) at Apollo East. Selected highlights include:3.5 m @ 6.2 g/t AuEq (4.0 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 423.2 m, including:1.0 m @ 19.4 g/t AuEq (11.7 g/t Au, 4.1% Sb) from 425.8 mEighteen holes are currently being processed and analysed with an additional five holes in progress.Mawson owns 96,590,910 shares of SXG (48.7%), valuing its stake at A$299.4 million (C$275.4 million) based on SXG's closing price on September 25, 2024 AEST.Michael Hudson, Mawson Interim CEO and Executive Chairman, states: "We are back at Apollo with these three drill holes, that continue to show Apollo is improving with further drilling, especially at depth."Each hole delivers a unique outcome: SDDSC128 demonstrates continuity of high-grade zones with 20 m to 60 m extensions, while SDDSC124 expands mineralisation 100 m down dip in the deepest hole drilled east-west at Apollo. Not to be outdone, SDDSC127 drilled four vein sets (with two new vein sets identified ) at Apollo East."The common thread linking all drill holes at Apollo East is the confirmation of the geological target by VRIFY AI. Using an unbiased approach to mineral exploration, VRIFY AI identified mineralisation patterns within multiple layers of data from Sunday Creek to successfully delineate the potential for additional mineralisation at the Apollo East target. Working alongside the SXG exploration team, Apollo East has demonstrated the effectiveness of VRIFY AI in confirming new targets at Sunday Creek while enhancing the precision and execution of geological targeting by the team."Intersecting high grade mineralisation in our initial AI generated targets gets us very excited about testing the other AI targets that we have identified, both at Apollo East and beyond. It's fascinating to plug these early results into VRIFY's AI model and watch the targets evolve in real-time, further refining where we look next across our 12 km of mineralised strike extensions (Figure 4). No doubt we're witnessing a step-change in how mineral exploration is conducted, where AI-assisted mineral discovery platforms like VRIFY will become a standard additional tool for all geological teams."These exciting gold-antimony drill results that demonstrate high-grades and continued growth of the project, the Company has already drilled and is planning a significant number of further holes under and to the east of Apollo." Drill Hole DiscussionThe successful drill results announced today demonstrate how AI generated targets can complement SXG's geological targeting program at Sunday Creek through an innovative approach to mineral exploration. Additional drilling at Apollo East and at the Christina Target, both of which have been identified as high-priority targets by VRIFY AI and the Company's technical team, is either currently underway or expected to commence in the near term (Figure 3).SDDSC124 is the deepest east to west drill hole (parallel to the ladder "rails") drilled at the Apollo prospect. The hole intercepted eight high-grade vein sets across Apollo East and Apollo Deeps (Figures 1 to 3). This hole extended three vein set shapes by 95 m to 105 m down dip at Apollo Deeps and was drilled ~100 m below and parallel to SDDSC108A ( February 28, 2024 ). The hole included three intervals of > 20 g/t Au (up to 54.4 g/t Au) and two intervals > 5% Sb (up to 23.4% Sb) .SDDSC123 was abandoned at 127 m due to the hole deviating from its original plan and was successfully redrilled as SDDSC124.Extended highlights from SDDSC124 include:0.3 m @ 33.9 g/t AuEq (28.7 g/t Au, 2.8% Sb) from 364.4 m0.4 m @ 29.9 g/t AuEq (10.0 g/t Au, 10.6% Sb) from 375.8 m1.0 m @ 7.9 g/t AuEq (7.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 404.0 m6.3 m @ 6.6 g/t AuEq (2.9 g/t Au, 2.0% Sb) from 427.3 m, including:0.5 m @ 62.2 g/t AuEq (18.2 g/t Au, 23.4% Sb) from 427.5 m1.0 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq (7.4 g/t Au, 0.3% Sb) from 430.4 m2.0 m @ 1.4 g/t AuEq (0.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 438.0 m1.0 m @ 2.1 g/t AuEq (2.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 443.0 m0.3 m @ 31.0 g/t AuEq (25.1 g/t Au, 3.2% Sb) from 447.1 m0.7 m @ 19.3 g/t AuEq (19.3 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 795.8 m, including:0.2 m @ 54.4 g/t AuEq (54.4 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 796.3 m3.8 m @ 3.4 g/t AuEq (0.4 g/t Au, 1.6% Sb) from 833.2 m3.9 m @ 0.7 g/t AuEq (0.7 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 897.1 m2.2 m @ 1.2 g/t AuEq (1.2 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 904.5 m1.0 m @ 4.8 g%2 PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-26 01:15:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 307 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 25, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Winnebago Industries, Inc. ("Winnebago" or "the Company") (NYSE:WGO) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Winnebago is the subject of an article published by Hunterbrook Media on September 23, 2024. The article, titled: "Grand Deception - Winnebago Muzzles Outcry Over Major Problem That Owners Say Makes RVs Dangerous, Untowable, Worthless," claims that the Company's "best-selling Grand Design RVs" suffer from problems and defects that hinder their value and usefulness. The article claims that the RVs are "experiencing frame failure, potentially affecting thousands of units sold for more than a billion dollars. This defect has led to costly damage and potential safety hazards, and rendered some RVs unroadworthy." The article further claims that "Winnebago has used NDAs, buybacks, and online censorship to silence complaints about frame failure." If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $600,000 (about N900 million) to support flood victims in Borno State and for the resuscitation of health and agriculture initiatives in Nigeria. The Foundation announced the donation while meeting with Nigerias Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, a statement issued Thursday by Stanley Nkwocha, a Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu, noted. To hasten relief efforts for victims of the devastating floods, as well as for health and agricultural sectors reforms, the Nigerian government has secured a $600,000 relief fund and commitments from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the statement said. The statement disclosed that during the meeting led by the Foundations Head of Global Development Programme, Christopher Elias, an additional $5 million grant was also approved for Lagos Business School and partners to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava. Background In recent years, flood incidents across Nigeria have caused dire humanitarian crises. This year, several communities and cities in at least 13 of Nigerias 36 states have been affected by overflowing water, largely due to heavy rainfall, dam bursts, regulatory failures and ineffective dissemination of early warning systems across major communities in the country. Maiduguri, Borno State capital, is one of the worst hit by floods this year so far, after more than half of the city was submerged by overflowing water following the collapse of the Alau dam due to heavy rainfall. At least 37 people have died from the disaster, according to government figures. However, residents said that number is higher as some deaths were not documented. The devastating flood has also displaced more than 400,000 people and affected over one million people. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later PREMIUM TIMES observed that many residents in Maiduguri are seeking shelter in public schools and uncompleted buildings under dire human conditions. Also, while houses and major infrastructures ( roads, bridges, etc) were swept away to the very last brick in the Fori, Gwange and Gamboru areas of the state, expansive farmlands around river banks were destroyed. Although the water has receded, federal and state authorities are still scrambling to rescue people, and sometimes bodies, trapped in buildings. Additionally, the health sector in the state was one of the worst-hit as crucial medical equipment and infrastructures in both private and public hospitals were significantly destroyed by the flood. Facilities at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) sustained significant water damage and the hospital was forced to suspend its operations for two weeks. Major flooding incidents experienced in Nigeria over the past three years have been highly catastrophic. It has killed a significant number of people, crippled businesses, destroyed homes and cultivated farms, infrastructures, schools and hospitals among others. The aftermath of the flood incidents in the country has further strained the food supply chain across the nation amidst a shortfall in supply and skyrocketed food prices. Health, nutrition top priorities On Thursday, Mr Shettima informed the Gates Foundation delegates that health and nutrition are top priorities of the government development agenda. The Vice President reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of President Tinubu to placing health, nutrition, and agricultural development at the forefront of the nations national agenda. We are deeply committed to addressing the pressing developmental challenges facing our nation, particularly the significant malnutrition crisis, he said. Mr Shettima emphasised the Nigerian governments dedication to integrity and effective leadership in tackling these issues, pointing out that there is an urgency in securing locations for maize production under the Telemaze programme While promising swift action on import permits for certified seeds, the Vice President said, We recognise the critical importance of food security and industrial agricultural development. The Cassava Accelerator programme, in particular, holds immense potential for our economy. Mr Shettima said the government is pursuing a whole-of-government approach to digitisation and data exchange systems, which it believes will revolutionise the countrys public services. Additionally, he expressed firm belief that with the expertise of Nigerias ministers, and the continued support of partners like the Gates Foundation, the nation remains confident in its ability to drive meaningful change and improve the lives of all Nigerians. On his part, Mr Elias said the Foundation is deeply worried about the severe flooding in Borno, and is committed to supporting Nigeria in times of crisis. According to the statement, the Foundation also pledged support for Nigerias health sector reforms, particularly in the fight against polio. Were impressed by the national task forces efforts to eliminate variant polioviruses by year-end, Mr Elias was quoted as saying. Scaling up cassava, maize production Rodger Voorhies, the President of the Global Growth & Opportunity Division at the Gates Foundation, detailed plans for scaling up drought-tolerant maize production and advancing the Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator programme. He said a $5 million grant has been approved for Lagos Business School and partners to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava. Industrial cassava presents a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for Nigeria, Mr Voorhees explained. He requested import permits for 5,000 metric tons of certified maize seed to build a foundation seed system in the country. In his reaction, Uche Amaonwu, Director of the Nigeria Country Office at the Gates Foundation, expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership, particularly highlighting a $60 million investment in sector-wide programmes and collaborations on reproductive health issues. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. In recent years, the production of oil within the framework of projects being implemented by foreign oil companies has been declining year after year, which has naturally had a negative impact on our overall economic development rates, and we made up for this decline with the development of the non-oil sector, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the meeting on economic issues, Trend reports. However, as a result of negotiations with foreign oil companies, the drawbacks in oil production were brought to their attention, we demanded that they eliminate these drawbacks and ensure the stability of oil production. Very hard work has been done in this direction in the last few months. As a result of this work, reasonable hopes have arisen that there will be no further unfounded declines in oil production, the head of state added. The Nigerian government said it is not intervening in the controversy between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday. Mr Onanuga explained that since petrol has been deregulated, both companies are expected to work independently in a deregulated market. The Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) regime has been deregulated. Dangote is a private company. NNPC should not forget its a limited liability company. Whatever controversy both of them are having is their problem. They are operating, even if you go by the terms of the Petroleum Industry Act. NNPC is on its own, even though its owned by the federal government, the state government and local councils and everything, but its operating as a limited liability company. You can see what the private market has said that I think they find the NNPC or Dangote price too much for them. They will resolve to import fuel because they clear the market at the end of the day. Its the consumer who benefits if a price war starts, if NNPC fuel is too much, the public market can go to the market and bring in their fuel and sell at the price that they think is very reasonable and profitable for them. So my answer is that, as far as this is concerned, the government is not dabbling into this controversy, Mr Onanuga was quoted by Vanguard as saying. He said Dangote, as a private company, is working on its own, NNPC is a limited liability company, and it has the right to fix the price. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Speaking further, Mr Onanuga said the federal government is promoting alternative energy solutions like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by subsidising conversion costs for vehicles. He said the government wants to make sure that Nigerians have a choice. If you dont want to use PMS, you can use CNG, and you can see whats going on in some of our cities, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin and some other places where transporters are already embracing CNG. And the whole idea that CNG, the equivalent of gas to PMS, the gap is very wide. If you want to buy a litre of petrol, if they sell it, lets say N850, what they are going to get by the equivalent of CNG is about N230 and you can see the gap, he said. According to him, some of the transporters are already converting their vehicles to CNG, noting that the government has a plan to make sure that about a million of those vehicles run on CNG. The whole idea is that if they run on CNG, the cost of transportation will go down, he added. He noted that the government also has a plan to make sure that private car owners can convert to CNG at a reduced cost. For transporters, it is almost free for them, but for private vehicle owners, the government has a plan to subsidise, I mean, the cost of converting the vehicle from petrol to CNG, he said. Mr Onanuga added that the administration is encouraging states to develop urban transportation systems to reduce overall transportation costs. Dangote Refinery-NNPC Tango Earlier in the month, Devakumar Edwin, vice president at Dangote Industries Limited, said the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery has begun the processing of petrol. Mr Edwin explained that NNPC Limited would buy its product exclusively. On 13 September, the Nigerian government announced that petrol loading from the Dangote Refinery would begin on Sunday, 15 September. The government said petrol from the Dangote refinery would only be sold to NNPC Ltd, which would then be sold to various marketers in the short term. ALSO READ: NNPC insists it bought petrol from Dangote Refinery at N898 per litre On 15 September, Mr Soneye told this newspaper that the refinery bought petrol from Dangote refinery at N898 per litre. He said market forces now determine domestic pump prices. For instance, now Brent is $70. Lets say tomorrow, Brent goes to $80. You should note that the price will also rise because those are the market forces. But today, for this initial 16.8 million litre that was given to us, it was at the rate of N898, Mr Soneye said. In its reaction, the Dangote Refinery described the claim as misleading and mischievous, aimed at undermining the refinerys achievement in addressing Nigerias energy insufficiency. However, the refinery failed to disclose the price it sold the product to NNPC Ltd. In a counter-statement, the NNPC insisted it bought the product for N898 per litre and would be grateful for any discount from the Dangote refinery that could be passed 100 per cent to the general public. Let them tell you their price. I stand by my earlier comment. Will you allow customers to carry your product without a price agreement? Mr Soneye told PREMIUM TIMES at the time. NNPC Ltd said apart from landing costs from refineries, suppliers must pay statutory and regulatory charges for each litre of petrol. Those charges include the NMDPRA fee, N8.99; inspection fee, N0.97; distribution cost (Lagos), N15.00; and profit margin, N26.48. The state oil company said that once freight and other statutory costs are added; the product would cost more at the pumpN950.22 per litre in Lagos, N980.22 in Rivers, and N992.22 in Abuja. The selling price in Maiduguri was N1,019. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised concerns over the low testing rate for Mpox in Africa, as cases are steadily increasing across all affected countries. As of 22 September, a total of 32,407 confirmed cases and 840 deaths have been reported in 15 countries, according to the situation report released Thursday after the weekly press briefing on the multi-country mpox outbreak in Africa. Signed by the Director General of Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, the report shows that the Central Africa region accounts for 90 per cent of all cases reported with 28,822 cases and 836 deaths. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for the majority of cases, with over 26,267 cases, followed by Burundi, Central Africa Republic (CAR), Congo, Uganda, Cote DIvoire, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria and Gabon. The report noted that cumulatively, there is over a 194 per cent increase in cases recorded this year when compared to the same time in 2023. Key concerns The Africa CDC raised concerns about gaps and challenges in surveillance, contact tracing and follow-up; and data quality. It noted that contact tracing is less than 4 per cent with over 68 per cent of cases with an unknown epidemiological link. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Overall laboratory testing is 49.5 per cent with much variability across countries and low in highly affected countries against our target of 80 per cent, it noted. It also said the testing rate remains less than 80 per cent in DRC, Burundi, Congo, Liberia, and Kenya, emphasising the need for enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, lab testing and expansion. Situation in Nigeria According to the Africa CDC situation report, Nigeria ranks 9th out of the 15 countries affected by the current outbreak. As of 15 September, Nigeria has recorded a total of 1,100 detected cases with no fatalities across 51 local government areas (LGAs) in 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). While Africa CDC noted that there is ongoing distribution of vaccine doses to Rwanda, South Africa, CAR, Burundi and Cameroon, NIgeria also received a donation of 10,000 doses of Jynneos, a Mpox vaccine, from the United States government. Africa CDC added that there is ongoing planning for the research response for the planned roll of the MVA vaccines. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has constituted a special investigative panel to probe allegations of bribery within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS). The ministers spokesperson, Babatunde Alao, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. Mr Ajao said the panel is headed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Magdalene Ajani, while Uju Agomuoh of Prisoners Rehabilitation And Welfare Action (PRAWA) will serve as the secretary. Other members are the Director of Legal Ministry of Interior; Eva Omatese, Director of Joint Services, Usman Nasiru, and Ikechukwu Ezeugo (Consultant lyke) of The Brekete Family Show. The statement said Mr Tunji-Ojo reassured the public that the investigation would be rigorous, transparent, and impartial, and that appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against any personnel found guilty. The development comes amid allegations that the controversial Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, paid a bribe to some persons to have the money laundering charges against him dropped and to also transferred to a private apartment instead of staying in prison. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The allegations On 24 September, PREMIUM TIMES reported how a social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan leaked an audio recording of Bobrisky, insinuating that he paid a bribe of N15 million to have the charges against him dropped and also transferred to a private apartment instead of prison. Bobrisky was sentenced on 12 April to six months in jail without the option of a fine after he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for abusing the Naira on his last birthday. Just a month after his release, VeryDarkMan posted on social media an alleged audio recording of Bobrisky narrating how his jail term at Kirikiri was diverted to a private apartment with the help of an unknown individual whom he called his godfather and others. He listed the popular lawyer and activist Femi Falana and his son Folarin Falana, also a popular musician known as Falz, as some of those who helped Bobrisky in the matter. However, in a post by Falz on Instagram on Wednesday, Mr Falana threatened to press charges against the influencer, demanding withdrawal and retraction of his statement within 24 hours. Zero tolerance for corruption Mr Alao said Mr Tunji-Ojo unequivocally condemned the alleged reprehensible behaviour, emphasising that any form of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, and corruption will be met with zero tolerance and severe consequences within the paramilitary services under the ministrys purview. The ministry will not tolerate any compromise on its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law, the minister said without making particular reference to Bobriskys case. Read the statement by the ministers aide: MINISTRY OF INTERIOR 25TH SEPTEMBER 2024 PRESS STATEMENT MINISTER OF INTERIOR ORDERS IMMEDIATE AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED BRIBERY IN THE NIGERIAN CORRECTIONAL SERVICE The Minister of Interior, Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has directed an unconditional and comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS). Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo unequivocally condemned the alleged reprehensible behaviour, emphasizing that any form of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, and corruption will be met with zero tolerance and severe consequences within the paramilitary services under the Ministrys purview. The Ministry will not tolerate any compromise on its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said. The Minister has set up a special investigative panel headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, to probe these allegations and submit a comprehensive report. Other members of the committee include Dr Uju Agomuoh of Prisoners Rehabilitation And Welfare Action (PRAWA) who will serve as the Secretary; Mrs Eva Omatese, Director of Legal Ministry of Interior; Mr Usman Nasiru, Director of Joint Services Ministry of Interior; and Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeugo (Consultant lyke) of The Brekete Family Show. The Minister reassures the public that the investigation will be rigorous, transparent, and impartial, and that appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against any personnel found guilty. Signed: Babatunde Alao SA Media and Publicity to the Minister of Interior Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate on Thursday passed a bill to establish the South West Development Commission (SWDC). The upper chamber passed the bill after considering the report of its Committee on Special Duties, presented by Kaka Shehu, its chairman. It also considered the bill clause by clause at the Committee of the Whole. The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, then announced the bills passage after most lawmakers supported it through a voice vote. The bill was sponsored by Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East). The South-west zone comprises Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States. According to its synopsis, the bill will allow the zone to receive and manage funds allocated from the federation account, including donations and gifts, for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructural damages and the tackling of ecological, environmental, and developmental challenges. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The bill will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent after harmonisation by the House of Representatives. Report of the committee While presenting the report of his committee, Mr Shehu said the bill meets the requirements and that the purpose of establishing the commission is to enhance the socio-economic development of the South-west region. He also said the commission would bring the federal government closer to the people. Mr Shehu stated, That the contemplation, as well as the drafting of the bill, aligns with the required (and acceptable drafting standards. That the intent and purpose of the bill are well-structured and strategically streamlined for the socio-economic development of the southwest geopolitical zone of this country. That the establishment of the commission will bring the federal government closer to the south-west states as well as meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people. Mr Shehu, therefore, recommended considering and approving the bill for the regions development. Development After passing the bill, the deputy senate president said the commission would help to develop the South-west region. Its a bill that, when passed into law, will help to really deal with the challenges being faced by the south-western part of this country social challenges, ecological challenges, etc. And it will help to put that region in the best place to have an environment that will be conducive for those people in that region. And it will, once that region is well developed, also affect the entire nation. Because whatever is done positively to any part of Nigeria is something that is done to the entire country. We thank Mr President for his foresight by giving assent to similar bills, which is something that was in tandem with his disposition of making sure that the entire country is well developed. Kudos to him. Its something that should be commended. And I hope he will give his assent to this bill as soon as it gets to his table. If signed into law by the president, it will bring the number of such commissions in the country to five. The North East Development Commission (NEDC), North West Development Commission (NWDC), South East Development Commission (SEDC), and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), comprising states in the South-south, South-west and South-east, are already in existence. The bill seeking the establishment of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) is before the National Assembly. It has already scaled the second reading. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government on Thursday said ExxonMobil has proposed a $10 billion investment in Nigerias deep-water oil operation. The investment was announced during a high-level meeting between Nigerias Vice President Kashim Shettima and the ExxonMobil executives on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday, Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant to the president on media and communications, said in a statement on Thursday. This potential investment by ExxonMobil aligns perfectly with the President Bola Tinubu administrations vision for a more investment-friendly Nigeria. We are committed to creating an enabling environment for such transformative projects, Mr Shettima was quoted as saying in the statement. According to the statement, Mr Shettima elaborated on Mr Tinubu administrations efforts in ensuring ease of doing business in Nigeria. The Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises ease of doing business. We have launched comprehensive reforms to streamline bureaucratic processes, enhance transparency, and offer fiscal incentives that make Nigeria an attractive destination for global investors, he said. He highlighted recent policy changes by the administration, saying, Our administration has taken bold steps to unify the exchange rate, remove fuel subsidies, and implement tax reforms. These decisions, while challenging in the short term, are designed to create a more stable and predictable business environment in the long run, he added. Addressing the specific concerns of the oil and gas sector, according to the statement, Mr Shettima said: We are actively working on revising the fiscal framework for deep-water operations. Our goal is to strike a balance between attracting investments and ensuring fair returns for the Nigerian people. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The potential ExxonMobil investment is a clear indication that we are moving in the right direction. As we welcome ExxonMobils renewed commitment, we see this as just the beginning. Our doors are open to all investors across various sectors. The message is clear, Nigeria is open for business, and the President Tinubu administration is your partner in progress, he said. Earlier, Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Affiliates in Nigeria, Shane Harris, reaffirmed the companys commitment to investing in Nigeria. Our commitment to Nigeria remains unwavering. As we celebrate 70 years of oil production and 8 billion barrels produced, were not retreating but refocusing our investments on deep-water opportunities. The statement noted that the centrepiece of ExxonMobils new strategy is the Owo project, a substantial subsea tie-back that could represent a $10bn investment. Were working closely with the Presidents office and the Special Adviser to the President to secure favourable fiscal arrangements that will make this significant investment possible, Mr Harris said. The statement added that despite the planned divestment of its onshore assets to Seplat Energy, ExxonMobil aims to inject $1 billion annually into maintenance operations and an additional $1.5 billion to boost production by 50,000 barrels per day over the next few years. In February 2022, Seplat announced it had closed a deal with ExxonMobil to fully purchase its 40 per cent interest in a shallow-water joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) Worth $1.3 billion, the acquisition was originally planned to be consummated by mid-2022 but has been slowed by delays. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in last Saturdays local council elections in Kwara have accused the state government of manipulating the poll through the state Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC). The two, Musbau Esinrogunjo and Ismail Muhammed, were the opposition partys chairmanship candidates for the Ilorin West and Ilorin East local governments, respectively. Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Ilorin, Mr Esinrogunjo described the election as a charade with enough mockery to last the entire term of any successful candidate in office. He said it was a broad daylight robbery where the government of Kwara was in connivance with the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC). They fraudulently took away the mandate that was freely given to me by the good people of Ilorin West Local Government, Mr Esinrogunjo alleged. He said the polls were characterised by irregularities ranging from voter intimidation and harassment by security agencies, voter manipulation by officials, and vote-buying by government officials. Yet, the people of Ilorin West LGA, who are known for their integrity and gallantry, stood their ground and voted for us massively across all the polling units and electoral wards. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In the end, however, Mr Esinrogunjo said, The unpopular government of Kwara overturned the results of the election. The will of the people was subverted. Election results were announced at unknown places against all odds. To make matters worse, they hurriedly swore in the candidates of their party who lost woefully in the field. This is a democratic coup that is not acceptable and will not stand the test of time. Even in most of the places where there was no election, they also announced winners. In most cases, they did not even allow our agents to sign the result they announced. The results of the councillors election were supposed to be announced at the ward collations centre, while the result of the chairman was supposed to be announced at the local government secretariat, which is the collation centre. But very unfortunately, the result was announced at an unknown place, Mr Esinrogunjo said. However, he appealed for calm, vowing, We shall do everything legally possible to defend the mandate you gave to me and reclaim it in due course. Speaking also, Mr Mohammed said all PDP candidates would explore legal means to recover their mandate. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Clinical lecturers at the College of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, have embarked on an indefinite strike over the exclusion of co-lecturers from contesting for the position of vice-chancellor in the institution. A statement jointly signed by Victor Modekwe, the chairperson, and Sunday Oriji, the secretary of the NAU chapter of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, announced the commencement of the strike on Wednesday in Awka. The association said the industrial action entailed the withdrawal of services of all the medical and clinical lecturers from the faculties of medicine, basic clinical sciences and basic medical sciences, from all academic functions. It said that the strike was to protest the alleged deliberate exclusion of its members from contesting for the position of vice-chancellor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The vacancy advert indicated that an applicant for the position of vice-chancellor must possess a first degree, masters degree, and a PhD. The association said that the academic pathway of clinical lecturers in NAU and globally did not fit into the criteria laid down in the vacancy advert. Recall that we specifically asked for the withdrawal of the obnoxious vacancy advert for the position of the Vice-Chancellor of NAU to guarantee industrial harmony. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We observed that up till now, the vacancy advert still stands, and our members remained excluded from the contest of Vice-Chancellor for two weeks now. READ ALSO: Nigerian lecturers win scholarships for doctoral Studies in France The congress therefore, resolved to proceed on an indefinite withdrawal of services by all the clinical lecturers of NAU until this advert is withdrawn, the association said. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that many consultants, who lecture in teaching hospitals, obtain fellowships of different medical colleges after undergoing advanced and specialised training for not less than four years in their chosen fields. The fellowships are considered to be equivalent of postgraduate degrees of universities. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has set up a monitoring committee for petroleum products in the state after the dispute between the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Akwa Ibom State Council, and Joint Task Force on Security triggered a petrol price hike to N2500 per litre. In a statement on Wednesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Enobong Uwah, named Godwin Ekpo, a former lawmaker, as the chairperson of the committee. The 13-member committee has Peggy Edoho (a representative of the Ministry of Transport) as the secretary. Other members include the commissioners for Environment and Mineral Resources, Internal Security, and Waterways, the chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, and Victor Etefia, an aide to the governor on petroleum matters. The committee was announced hours after the governor met with members of the IPMAN, whose withdrawal of services pushed the price of petrol to N2500 a litre in the state. The petroleum marketers had directed their members to shut down their filling stations over the alleged confiscation of trucks belonging to their members by the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe. The directives, which commenced on Tuesday, triggered a rise in petrol and tripled the cost of transportation, prompting the NLC to issue a statement directing workers in the state to withdraw services beginning on Wednesday. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In a statement, Sunday James, chairperson of NLC in the state, said the actions of the petrol marketers have worsened the plights of the impoverished workers in the state. He had called on the state government to intervene, a plea the government honoured hours after the statement surfaced on social media. Security Trust Fund Board of Trustees Mr Eno has also constituted the Security Trust Fund Board of Trustees, with Pual Usoro, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, as its chairperson. The committees vice chairperson is Uwem Okoko, a civil engineer and managing director of Hensek Integrated Service. READ ALSO: Akwa Ibom journalists hold media stakeholders summit The committees other members are Kingsley Umoh, a retired colonel who serves as secretary, Raymond Abia, and Asuquo Ita. The two newly constituted committees would be inaugurated on Friday, the secretary to the state government said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police on Thursday arraigned Usman Abubakar, a cattle breeder, in an Iyaganku Magistrates Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, for allegedly damaging a maize farm worth N15 million. Mr Abubakar was charged with forcible entry and malicious damage, to which he pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Anthony Igori, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on 20 September, at about 8 p.m., at Sublime Agro Business Farm in Ido Local Government of Oyo State. Mr Igori, an assistant superintendent of police, said the defendant damaged 50 acres of the maize farm with his cattle, belonging to the Sublime Agro Business Farm. He said the offences contravened Sections 81 and 451 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000. The Magistrate, Olaolu Olanipekun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum. He adjourned the case until 28 November for a hearing. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate on Thursday at plenary confirmed the appointment of Olukemi Iyantan as a commissioner in the National Population Commission (NPC), representing Ondo State. Mrs Iyantans confirmation is sequel to adoption of recommendation of the report of Committee on National Identity Card and National Population. The Chairman of the Committee, Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) said that the recommendation for her appointment was based on her credentials made available to the committee. Mr Ningi said that the nominee deserved the appointment and should be confirmed by the Senate, given her pedigree and public service record. The Senate accordingly dissolved into Committee of the Whole for clause by clause consideration and confirmation of appointment of Mrs Iyantan as commissioner of the National Population Commission from Ondo State. The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), who presided over the plenary, urged her to join other commissioners and chairman of NPC to advance the commission. (NAN) Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan continues to grow, also in the field of defense industries, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Deek shared in a post on his X page, Trend reports. "AS Holdings and its subsidiary, Ari Armsan international company specializing in the manufacturing and development of NATO-standard light armssigned a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with Azersilah, a state-owned company under Azerbaijans Ministry of Defense Industry. This invaluable partnership brings the countries closer, fostering co-development and joint efforts to enhance independence and national security. The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from various ministries, agencies, and officials," the publication says. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has threatened to use 10 per cent Internally Generated Revenue due to the six Area Councils of the FCT to settle striking teachers entitlements. Mr Wike issued the threat in Abuja on Thursday, while responding to journalists on the FCT Administrations intervention on the impasse between the primary school teachers and the six area councils of the FCT. The FCT Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on 18 September resumed industrial action over unresolved welfare issues between it and the six area councils of the territory. The strike is a continuation of earlier ones suspended by the union in October 2023 and in January 2024. Reacting to the development, the minister said he had invited the chairmen of the area councils and the NUT leaders to find a way out. We have tried to do what we could to see the system was moving well. It is, however, unfortunate that the teachers are still on strike. It is very unfortunate. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later If the teachers are not paid, I will use the 10 per cent of IGR which we normally pay to the area councils to pay the teachers. I will not fold my hands and allow that to happen. No serious government will see their teachers stay at home and their children are suffering. I will not tolerate that; I wont, the minister said Some of the unresolved issues are non-payment of 60 per cent of the 25 months old minimum wage arrears, and non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase. Others are non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance, non-payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears and the non-implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022. The union said that the FCT Minister had earlier intervened and promised to pay 40 per cent of the outstanding 25 months minimum wage arrears. As part of the resolution for suspending the strike, the six area councils were expected to pay the remaining 60 per cent of the minimum wage arrears. The teachers acknowledged that Mr Wike had redeemed the 40 per cent pledge, while the area councils chairmen have not fulfilled their part of the agreement. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has saluted David Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide and presiding bishop of Faith Tabernacle, on his 70th birthday on 27 September.. In a tribute signed by him, President Tinubu rejoiced with the entire Body of Christ, members of the Winners Chapel, home and abroad, and the family of the charismatic and visionary leader on the milestone, which deserves all the recognition and honour. The president affirmed the septuagenarians worthy legacies in grooming leaders across all sectors of the economy who are inspired by the wisdom of the scriptures. He noted Mr Oyedepos and his churchs remarkable impact on millions through educational and health institutions. President Tinubu praised the influence of the highly resourceful and respected religious leader by teaching the Word of Faith, which has stimulated the entrepreneurial spirit and reawakened a new movement for growth in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. The president believes Bishop Oyedepo has consistently brought glory to the country with his teachings, publications, and World-Wide Missionary service and sought the betterment of the people by counselling leaders in the private and public sectors. President Tinubu shared the joy of celebrations with the presiding bishop, his wife, Faith Abiola, and all the biological and spiritual children. He prayed to God for greater heights in the ministry. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The president also prayed for the renowned preachers physical, mental, and spiritual well-being as he continues to serve the nation and humanity. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy) September 26, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh corruption charges against former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, who is still being wanted for an earlier money laundering case. EFCC accuses Mr Bello in the fresh case of dishonestly diverting more than N110 billion from the Kogi State Governments treasury while he was governor for eight years. The fresh case was filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Tuesday. It adds to the legal troubles of Mr Bello, who has been elusive, shunning summons regarding an earlier money laundering case involving alleged diversion of more than N80 billion pending against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The new case has 16 counts, with two other persons Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu charged as co-defendants. The charges include criminal breach of trust involving alleged diversion of more than N110 billion entrusted in Mr Bellos care as Kogi State governor. The anti-graft agency said Mr Bello and his co-defendants diverted this fund in 2016, his first year in office. It also alleged in various counts that Mr Bello dishonestly acquired for himself properties located in choice areas of Abuja and one in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with funds he allegedly diverted from the state governments treasury. For instance, the commission said the former Kogi State governor took N100 million from the governments treasury to buy himself a property at 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II, Abuja, in 2021. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later It alleged he bought another property at 35, Danubi Street, Maitama, Abuja, for himself with N950 million belonging to the state in 2023. He allegedly bought another one at 2, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja, with N920 million belonging to the state in 2020. In another count, the commission alleged that Mr took N100 million from the Kogi State Government to buy himself a property known as Block D, Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. The amounts alleged in the case are significant for a poor state like Kogi. The fresh case significantly raises the stakes in EFCCs efforts to bring Mr Bello to court, with the former governor continuing fighting hard to stave off trial. Trial enmeshed in dramas EFCCs move to prosecute Mr Bello has been marked by dramas both within and outside the courtroom. This includes a recent controversial surrender by Mr Bello, which the EFCC curiously rejected, followed by a shootout during a failed arrest attempt by the agencys operatives at the Kogi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. In April, a similar spectacle unfolded when EFCC operatives attempted to apprehend him at his residence in Abuja. At the time, police officers attached to the house obstructed the EFCC operatives bid to arrest him based on a court order. The standoff between the two sides had continued until Mr Bellos successor, Governor Usman Ododo, suddenly emerged in his official convoy, aiding his escape. Mr Bello snubbed the trial court the following day, prompting the EFCC to declare him wanted. He has skipped subsequent scheduled arraignment sittings at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Wednesday marked the seventh occasion he snubbed the court since the EFCCs initial attempt to arraign him on the N80 billion money laundering charges in April. To halt the trial, Mr Bello has pursued various legal avenues. He wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case from Abuja to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. He filed a series of applications, urging the trial judge, Emeka Nwite, to stop the trial. He filed a fundamental human rights case and a contempt case at the Kogi State High Court. He also filed appeals at the Court of Appeal in Abuja to stop the trial. All of these efforts failed, with the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirming the EFCCs authority to prosecute him and ordering him to surrender to the Federal High Court for arraignment in its judgements delivered in July and August. Despite these rulings, Mr Bello once again failed to appear in court for his re-scheduled arraignment on Wednesday, with his lawyer citing a new appeal filed at the Supreme Court challenging the Court of Appeals judgement. Properties he allegedly bought dishonestly with Kogi States funds and amount are as alleged in the new case are as follows: 1. Block 18 (337) flat B Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja Acquired in 2016: N60 million 2. No 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja Renovated in 2017: N310,443,450. 3. No 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 at No. 13 Citiscape Sharriff Plaza, Abuja Acquired in 2020: N66 million 4. No 2934A, Cadastral Zone A06, also known as No 1, Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja. Acquired in 2020: N550 million 5. No 2, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja Acquired in 2020: N100 million 6. Property known as No 1058, measuring about 1450.77sqm in Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2, also known as No 2, Durban Street, Abuja Acquired in 2021: N650 million 7. No 1160, Cadastral Zone CO3, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja Acquired in 2021: N100 million in 2021 8. Property located at Hotel Apartment Community, Burj Khalifa, located at Plot 160, Municipality No 345 7562, Sky View Building No. 401, Floor4, Dubai UAE Acquired in 2022: Dhs 5,698,888 (UAE dirham) 9. Block D, Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja Acquired in 2022: N170 million 10. No A02/176 Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abuja Acquired in 2020: N100 million 11. No. 1773, Guzape District, Abuja Acquired in 2018: N100 million 12. No: 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja Acquired in 2023: N950 million The fresh 16 counts that were filed against Mr Bello and his two co-defendants below. In 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum of N110, 446, 470, 089.00 (One Hundred and Ten Billion, Four Hundred and Forty six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty Nine Naira) entrusted to you. In 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N950,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as No: 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja. In 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as No: 1160 Cadastral Zone CO3,Gwarimpa II District, Abuja. In 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N920,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as No: 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja. In 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N170,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Seventy Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. In 2018 , in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as No: 1773 Guzape District, Abuja. In 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as No: A02/176 Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abuja. In 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N66,000,000.00 (Sixty Six Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as No: 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, wuse 2 at No. 13 Citiscape Sharriff Plaza, Abuja. In 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N550,000,000.00 (Five Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as No: 2934A Cadastral Zone A06 also known as No.1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja. In 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N650,000,000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as No: 1058, Measuring about 1450.77sqm in Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2 also Known as NO.2 Durban Street Abuja. In 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Eight Dirhams for the acquisition of a property located at Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, lying, being and situate at Plot 160, Municipality NO 345 7562, Sky View Building No.401, Floor4, Dubai U.A.E. In 2016, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N60,000,000.00 (Sixty Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property known as Block 18 (337) flat B Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. In 2017, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N310,443,450.00 (Three Hundred and Ten Million, Four Hundred and Forty Three Thousand, four Hundred and fifty Naira) to tastefully renovate a property known as No: 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. In 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly sent the total sum of $570,330.00 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty United State Dollars) to account No. 4266644272 Domiciled with TD Bank, United State of America. In 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the states treasury, dishonestly sent the total sum of $556,265.00 (Five Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty Five United State Dollars) to account No. 4266644272 Domiciled with TD Bank, United State of America. Between 2017 and 2018, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had under your control the total sum of N677, 848,000 (Six Hundred and Seventy Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand Naira) unlawfully obtained from BESPOQUE BUSINESS SOLUTION LIMITED. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has joined the clamour for the release of Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance, the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange. Mr Gambaryan has been in detention in Nigeria since February. Ms Thomas-Greenfield made the request during a conversation with Nigerias Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tugar, at the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The US envoy remarked that the issue is of utmost importance for US diplomatic efforts. While further details regarding Gambaryans detention were not provided in the official readout, this issue underscores the complexities of international relations and the role that diplomacy plays in protecting U.S. citizens abroad, the envoy added. Mr Gambaryan, his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla and Binance have been accused in Nigeria of laundering more than $35 million after authorities said the transactions conducted via their cryptocurrency platform contributed largely to the slump of the naira. Mr Anjarwalla, who was seized alongside the former US Federal agent, escaped detention earlier in the year. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later A couple of illustrious US diplomats, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, have sought Mr Gambaryans release in private chats with top Nigerian Government officials, according to the New York Times. They include President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi. Mr Gambaryan has been experiencing failing health in custody; his wife said in August, when she raised the alarm, that the deteriorating state of the herniated disc in his back could cause irreparable harm that could render her husband lame for life. As he is bed-bound, he is taking blood thinners to avoid blood clots, and the prison doctor has said that his muscles have atrophied, the family stated last month. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Chairperson of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Edozie Njoku, on Wednesday, threatened to suspend Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State over alleged anti-party activities. Mr Njoku made the remarks after attending a proceeding at the Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit filed by some persons allegedly sponsored by Mr Soludo against the party. He said that 80 per cent of the APGA hierarchy had agreed to suspend the governor and others for alleged anti-party activities. He said the party would announce others names to sanitise and instil discipline, decorum, and orderliness in the party. Remember what the Chairman of the APGA BoT said, that we, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, should take action so that we dont look like toothless bulldogs. One of those people to be suspended is the governor, and Im saying, are we going to suspend the only governor we have? But if the only governor we have is pretending or playing to the gallery, making these honest people go in and commit anti-party activities, we must nip this in the bud, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later According to Mr Njoku, the suit filed was aimed at securing an interim injunction for INEC to stop recognising him (Njoku) as the authentic national chairperson of APGA. Unfortunately for them, the court presided over by Justice James Omotosho had refused to grant the application, insisting that they must put the national chairman of APGA and others on notice, he said. He alleged that Mr Soludo had thwarted every move by the Supreme Court and INEC to recognise the NWC to restore peace in the party. If you remember, just about a week ago or two weeks ago, we just left the Court of Appeal, where a stay was applied at the Court of Appeal to stop me from being recognised by INEC. Despite the fact that the Supreme Court said in their own words that the removal of Chief Edozie Njoku as national chairman of APGA is not justiciable, they still came to court. They went to Awka and filed a suit. Suddenly, the judge in Awka was very smart, and he pulled out of it. They came to the Federal High Court again. They filed another one behind our back. They were applying for an interim injunction behind the back of the national chairman of the party, behind the back of APGA, behind the back of the orders of the Court of Appeal. They went forward behind the back of APGA and INEC, and INEC has written that everything they said is not true, he said. He said if a suit would be filed in court, it must be backed by the authority of the party. Background APGA has been facing a leadership crisis, which has split the party into two factionsone led by Mr Njoku and the other, which Governor Soludo backs, led by Sly Ezeokenwa. The Anambra State Government last month sealed the state office of the faction led by Mr Njoku. The building in Udoka Housing Estate, Awka, also houses the campaign office of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has accused the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) of deliberately sabotaging and neglecting the party in the state. The group, the Rebranded Abia PDP Forum, said the alleged sabotage and negligence was part of a grand plot with an unnamed opposition party in Abia and a member of the PDPs Board of Trustees to destroy the party. The group, on Monday, submitted a protest letter to the Acting National Chairperson of the PDP, Umaru Damagun, and other members of the NWC. This is contained in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES by a former Commissioner for Information in Abia State, John Kalu, on Wednesday. Our grouse The PDP group said they were shocked that the national leadership of the party had not done anything to address an existing leadership vacuum in the state chapter of the party. It specifically said the partys national leadership had not constituted a caretaker committee to supervise the partys affairs in the state more than two months after a court injunction was issued against the partys State Working Committee (SWC). The court injunction, according to the statement, was also against the conduct of PDPs state congress. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The group argued that the PDP national leadership ought to have constituted a caretaker committee for the party in the state pending the exhaustion of the court processes. Meanwhile, the PDP has announced the constitution of a caretaker committee for the party in Abia State. The announcement came on Monday, shortly after the Abia PDP Forum submitted the protest letter to the partys national leadership. PDP national leaders not supporting Abia chapter of the party Speaking to reporters after submitting the protest letter on Monday, Mr Kalu alleged that the PDP national leadership has not been supporting the state chapter of the party. The PDP chieftain said the PDP national leadership appears to be playing a script aimed at polarising and paralysing the party in the state. He gave an instance of the alleged negligence by saying the PDP national leadership did not intervene during an over 10-month battle to get party member Aaron Uzodike inaugurated as a lawmaker in Abia State. Despite this long battle, we did not receive any support from the NWC of our party even after repeatedly briefing them on the matter. Not even a single press statement came from the NWC to condemn the (state) governors action and join us to pressure him to do the right thing, Mr Kalu said. Continuing, he said: As If that was not enough, it is now more than two months since some fifth columnists were sponsored to obtain a court injunction against the partys congress in Abia. READ ALSO: PDP constitutes caretaker committee for Abia chapter No effort to vacate the court injunction Mr Kalu expressed worry that local elections in the state had been scheduled for November, but the PDP members had yet to buy nomination forms. At the moment, there is even no known effort by the NWC to vacate the obnoxious court injunction and also punish the infiltrators who took the party to court for not first utilising the internal conflict resolution mechanisms of the party, in line with our constitution, he said. Instead, all we hear from the rumour mill is that there are members of the NWC and Board of Trustees involved in the destabilisation agenda. PDP silent The national spokesperson of the PDP, Debo Oluganagba, did not respond to calls seeking his comments. Mr Ologunagba was yet to respond to a WhatsApp message seeking his comments as of the time of filing this report. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an initiative to curb drug abuse in schools nationwide. NAFDAC disclosed this on its X handle on Wednesday. The Catch Them Young initiative. aims to educate secondary school students about the dangers of drug abuse and substandard products, empowering them to make informed decisions. The programme aims to raise awareness and equip students to resist peer pressure, avoid illicit drugs, and focus on their education for a better future, NAFDAC said. According to the agency, the launch event was held at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada in Abuja, adding that it also inaugurated its Consumer Safety Club (NCSC). The NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, a pharmacist was represented by her Special Adviser, Gbenga Fajemirokun. Mrs Adeyeye stressed that educating students about the risks associated with drug abuse is crucial. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The principal of Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Joseph Akoh, and NAFDAC officials urged students to speak up if theyre pressured to use drugs. They also shed light on the devastating health and life consequences of drug abuse. Drug abuse in Nigeria Drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, refers to the harmful or excessive use of drugs, including illicit drugs, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, alcohol, and tobacco. This harmful use can lead to physical dependence, addiction, and severe health consequences. Drug abuse takes various forms, including experimental use, recreational use, medicinal misuse, and addiction. Experimental use involves trying drugs out of curiosity, while recreational use involves using drugs for pleasure or social purposes. Medicinal misuse occurs when individuals take prescription medications for non-medical reasons. In 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) reported that 14.4 per cent of Nigerians are involved in drug abuse. The report revealed that the age group involved in the practice are the people between the ages of 15 and 64. It further revealed that the percentage accounts for approximately 14.3 million individuals, grappling with drug abuse. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the countrys burgeoning substance abuse problem. Health implication of drug abuse The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) stated that drug abuse could have a number of health implications on its users. NIDA said drug addiction can have far-reaching and debilitating consequences on an individuals physical and mental health adding that long-term substance abuse can lead to a multitude of health issues, including chronic diseases, mental health conditions, and neurological damage. These health implications can significantly impact an individuals quality of life and, if left untreated, can be life-threatening. It further explained that specific substances can cause distinct health issues. For example, tobacco smoke is a well-established cause of various cancers, while methamphetamine use can lead to severe dental problems, commonly known as meth mouth. Inhalants can damage or destroy nerve cells in the brain and peripheral nervous system, causing long-term neurological damage. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Such conditions include if the enemy, using conventional weapons, poses a critical threat to Russias sovereignty, Mr Putin said at a Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence. At the meeting, Mr Putin called for updating the foundations of Russias state policy on nuclear deterrence, adding that it must be adapted to the current realities. Mr Putin noted that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is proposed to be considered as a joint attack on the country. He added that Russia would consider using nuclear weapons upon receiving reliable information about the massive launch of aerospace attack weapons. This would include strategic or tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other aircraft across Russias border, he said. Mr Putin noted that all clarifications on the current deterrence policy are carefully calibrated and proportionate to modern military threats and risks against Russia. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The country has also taken a highly responsible approach to the use of nuclear forces. (Xinhua/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 897 illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta region in the third quarter of the year. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, made this known on Thursday in Abuja while briefing reporters on the armed forces operations. Mr Buba, a major-general, said the troops also destroyed 370 wooden boats and recovered 48 assorted weapons and 672 assorted ammunitions during the period. He said the troops also apprehended 447 people involved in crude oil theft and rescued 48 kidnapped victims, as well as recovered 12.1 million litres of stolen crude oil, 2.6 million litres of AGO, 6,970 litres of DPK, and 31,450 litres of PMS. According to him, troops of Operation Delta Safe maintained momentum against crude oil theft during the third quarter of the year. The air component conducted air interdictions on several illegal crude oil refining sites during the period, destroying over 100 of such sites, boats, vehicles, among other equipment, he said. In the South-east, Mr Buba said troops of Operation UDO , killed 180 combatants, apprehended 354 IPOB/ESN fighters and rescued 148 kidnapped hostages. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said the troops recovered 28 AK-47 rifles, 44 pump action guns, 58 assorted arms, and 3,456 rounds of 7.62mm special, among others. According to him, troops apprehended high-profile members of IPOB/ESN at Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State and several others who he said were assisting in the ongoing investigation. Mr Buba said the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations across the country had prioritised the killing of terrorist leadership and the destruction of terror infrastructure. Accordingly, troops are effectively attacking terrorist leaders, commanders, combatants, as well as their rank and file operatives. All through the stretch of the third quarter of the year, synchronised bombardment by air and ground forces, significantly diminished terrorist military capabilities and network. On the whole, troops are keeping pressure on terrorists until they are totally defeated. We are focused on destroying both their military capability as well as their will to fight. Lastly, we are attacking any threat we identify, and removing it, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the alleged payment of a N15 million bribe to EFCC officials by controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky. The lower chamber mandated its committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions to probe the allegation. This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved on Thursday by Patrick Umoh. The Allegation PREMIUM TIMES reported that the EFCC arrested Bobrisky on six counts of money laundering and Naira mutilation in April. During his trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos, the judge, Abimbola Awogboro, dismissed the money laundering charges (counts five and six) but sentenced Bobrisky to six months in prison for Naira abuse. However, a little over a month after his release, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, posted on his Instagram page Tuesday a leaked audio of the crossdresser narrating what transpired during his six-month jail term. In the audio, Bobrisky can be heard discussing with a friend how some EFCC officials collected N15 million from him to drop the money laundering charges. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later VeryDarkMan said he released the audio after Bobrisky refused to repay N4 million to one of the persons he approached for the N15 million. On Tuesday night, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in a statement obtained by this newspaper, ordered an immediate investigation into the bribery allegations. Mr Olukoyede further asked Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan to make themselves available at its Lagos Directorate to assist investigators in unearthing the alleged bribery. PREMIUM TIMES also reported that the interior minister ordered a separate investigation into Bobriskys allegation that he bribed prison officials so he could stay out of prison during his incarceration. The Motion In the motion, Mr Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom) recounted the bribery saga to his colleagues, stating that if the allegation against the EFCC were true, it could tarnish the governments anti-corruption efforts. Mr Umoh said Bobrisky was also heard boasting in an audio clip about bribing prison officials. He said he was worried about the negative image and portrayal of Nigeria as a corrupt nation, and Nigerias struggle to redeem itself from such a perception. When the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, put the motion to a vote, the lawmakers voted in support of it. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola Tete Antonio within the framework of participation in the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2024, Trend reports. According to information, during the meeting, the prospects of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries, as well as preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), were discussed. Noting that cooperation with African countries is an integral part of our country's foreign policy, Jeyhun Bayramov mentioned that during Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, opportunities for cooperation with many African countries, including Angola, have emerged. The importance of using the mechanism of political consultations between Azerbaijan and Angola was emphasized in terms of discussing the prospects of the development of bilateral and multilateral ties in economic, trade, and humanitarian spheres. The meeting also featured an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest. A foundation focused on women empowerment, Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF), has called for urgent action to close the menstrual health gap, especially in the Borno flood crisis. The groups Executive Director, Mabel Ade, made this known in a statement on Wednesday. The group said the flood in Maiduguri, Bornos capital, has left countless families stranded, with many cut off from basic necessities. She said: Among the hardest hit are women and girls, whose menstrual health and hygiene needs are often overlooked in emergency situations, With food supplies dwindling, access to clean water limited, and sanitation facilities damaged, many of these women face unimaginable challenges. Pregnant women, trapped in waterlogged areas for days, have delivered in unsanitary conditions, and others have suffered miscarriages due to the harsh and dehumanising circumstances. Borno floods The severe flooding that occurred in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on 10 September has killed over 30 people and affected more than one million others, according to the authorities. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Multiple sources confirmed that the incident was caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam on the Ngadda River in the state. It has been described as the worst flood disaster the state has ever experienced since the dam collapsed three decades ago. Menstrual health gap Ms Ade noted that the flood exacerbated the plight of menstruating women and girls who have no access to sanitary pads, clean underwear, or water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. She said: For these women, the lack of menstrual hygiene products adds a layer of indignity and discomfort to an already dire situation. Periods do not stop in emergencies, and yet, in times of crisis, the specific needs of women and girls are often deprioritised. The absence of adequate menstrual health management in these affected areas increases the risk of infection, physical discomfort, and emotional distress, leaving many to manage their periods with improvised, unhygienic materials. Call to action According to the foundation, due to the magnitude of the flood, there is a need for broader support and coordinated action. It urged individuals, organisations, and the government to address the unique gender-specific challenges that menstruating women and girls face in the aftermath of this disaster. The group noted it is prepared to donate sanitary pads, detergents, sanitisers, and other hygiene products to the vulnerable persons, adding that such intervention can restore dignity to thousands of women and girls in Maiduguri. This is not just about meeting a basic need; it is about ensuring that womens health and rights are protected even in times of crisis. We cannot afford to let menstrual hygiene fall through the cracks of disaster response, she said. Rising cost of menstrual products Statistics show that about 37 million Nigerian women and girls cannot afford essential menstrual hygiene products. Though the Finance Bill signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020 exempted sanitary pads from Value Added Tax (VAT), it has hardly affected the products prices, increasing from an average of N450 in 2021 to N1,500 in 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Ten elite Nigerian Navy warships have been deployed to take part in a special sea exercise aimed at tackling oil theft and other maritime crimes in the nations territorial waters. Saheed Akinwande, the flag officer commanding Eastern Naval Command, disclosed this to reporters during the flag-off of the operation, tagged Exercise Sea Guard 2024, on Thursday in Onne, Rivers State. He explained that the federal government has been fighting oil theft, sea robbery, sea piracy, and illegal foreign fishing, among others, for years, with several successes recorded. The flag officer noted that despite concerted efforts to curb maritime threats, they had persisted and significantly undermined economic activities in the country. The consequences of this prevailing insecurity prompted the Central Naval Command (CNC) and Eastern Naval Command (ENC) to initiate a joint, coordinated, and decisive action. This operation, tagged: Exercise Sea Guard 2024, aimed to deny criminals and economic saboteurs the freedom of action, thereby securing our maritime environment. Although maritime insecurity persists on a low scale, the Nigerian Navy believes it could escalate if not deliberately addressed with a resolute stance, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Akinwande, a rear admiral, stated that 10 warships, two helicopters, Maritime Domain Awareness assets, and naval special forces drawn from the CNC and ENC would participate in the three-day exercise. This sea exercise, scheduled from 26 to 28 September, aims to secure the nations maritime environment through a sustained credible presence at sea for national prosperity. It will be used to assess the operational readiness of assigned ships in conducting evolutions such as anti-piracy and anti-crude oil theft operations, emergency drills, and fleet manoeuvres, he added. He explained that the Nigerian Navy would conduct the drill within Nigerias territorial waters under the CNC and ENC coverage areas. The officer expressed confidence that the naval expedition would directly or indirectly contribute to the much-needed economic recovery of the country. According to him, the nations maritime space, with its vast oil and gas reserves, aquatic resources, and the Blue Economy initiative, remained a critical avenue for national prosperity. As such, the Nigerian Navy is doing everything within its mandate to eliminate all forms of threats within Nigerias maritime space, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United Nations has pointed out the inadequacy of measures to end torture and ill-treatment and enhance the conditions of detention in Nigeria, especially in police stations and other facilities of security forces. Shujune Muhammad, the head of delegation of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), mave this call this when the team visited the country on 18 September. Facilities assessed included various detention facilities, including those for men, women, and children, police stations, criminal investigation departments, and facilities addressing drug and human trafficking. In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES, the delegation explained that the purpose of the visit is to determine the treatment of individuals in police custody and correctional facilities, including the nations progress in safeguarding human rights for those deprived of their liberty. The situation in most places of detention is abysmal. Legal safeguards must be immediately implemented, and the current impunity of perpetrators for acts of torture must end, he said. The delegation also regretted the lack of cooperation from Nigerian authorities, during and prior to the visit. We were confronted with a climate of hostility and faced access issues in several places of detention. But, the team argued that the visit and allowing it to exercise its mandate without obstruction is an international obligation under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), which the Nigerian authorities ratified in 2009. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The anti-torture committee also expressed displeasure about the inability of the Nigerian government to establish a functional national preventive mechanism on dentention issues in the countrys criminal justice system. This, unfortunately, shows that the prevention of torture and ill-treatment is not taken seriously by the State party, and the horrific situation we have documented speaks to this, it said. Paper-tiger laws on torture In 2018, the United States Department of State observed that the failure of the Nigerian government to investigate and punish both state and non-state actors accused of human rights violations in the country has led to the entrenchment of abuses such as torture, illegal detention, human trafficking and sexual exploitations. The observation which covered various instances of human rights violation excoriated the Nigerian government for the political will to identify and prosecute perpetrators of rights abuses despite passing laws and other legislation to check these violations. Meanwhile, the situation keeps deteriorating. For instance, Amnesty International recorded a widespread police brutality during the 2020 EndSars protest and the just-concluded #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria. This impunity festers not because of lack of appropriate laws to prosecute perpetrators but in most cases, the laws are rendered redundant due to lack of a political will to enforce them. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (NMRS) has passed the second reading at the Senate. The outfit will be empowered to secure mining sites, curb illegal mining activities and enforce environmental compliance. The bill was sponsored by Onawo Ogoshi (PDP, Nasarawa South). It was read the second time in the Senate and was referred to the Committee on Solid Minerals. The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary directed the committee to report back to the Senate in one week. The motion Mr Ogoshi, while leading a debate on the bill, stressed the need to establish a specialised security agency charged to secure the mining sector. He said the objectives of the bill include monitoring and enforcing compliance with mining regulations, and collaborating with other government agencies to combat illegal mining. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The senator noted that the bill would stimulate economic growth through job creation, boost revenue generation, and ensure sustainable mining practices. The proposed piece of legislation has been painstakingly developed and streamlined to curb illegal mining, thereby providing avenues for harnessing the vast mineral resources in Nigeria. The bill is a bold legislative step geared towards the diversification of our economy by de-emphasising monolithic focus on oil as the main source of the countrys revenue, he said. Majority of the senators supported the bill. Debate Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North) said Nigeria loses approximately $15.9 billion annually to illegal mining, stressing that the NMRS could help curb these losses. Mr Kalu also suggested that the agency be armed to ensure effective enforcement. Binos Yaroe (PDP, Adamawa South) noted that the bill would enable the security outfit to patrol in mining areas to curb insecurity and protect mining sites from exploitation. The Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, stressed the need to diversify the economy, noting that the mining sector has long been neglected and needs revitalisation. The mining sector has degenerated, the establishment of this agency will go a long way of nipping in the bud illegal mining, he said. Responding, Mr Jibrin, said there is a need to stop the mining sites from exploitation. READ ALSO: Senate approves 2024 FCT supplementary budget of N288bn He said it would also fight against banditry and other forms of terrorism. We need special security arrangements in the mining sector which this bill is proposing. It will also help to combat banditry because one of the recently killed notorious bandits, was just a security guard to miners, later turned to miner himself and added banditry to it. He had a lot of mining sites where he carried out illegal mining. The proposed law for a special security outfit for the mining sector is very apt because it will also help to identify criminals, the deputy senate president said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture, a civil society organisation, has called for the release of all detainees arrested in connection with the August #EndBadGovernance protests. In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, the coordinator of the group, Gerald Katchy, said the police are only struggling to find crimes to charge the protesters with. Mr Katchy noted that waving Russian flags for which some of the protesters were arrested was not a crime. The charges are even more flimsy for the hundred or so people who are still being held at the Inspector General of Polices IRT offices and Kuje prison. The police case is even weaker for the approximately 104 detainees still held at their Intelligence Response Team (IR) offices and Kuje prison in Abuja in connection with EndBadGovernance protests, he said. The detainees were accused of other serious crimes including terrorism and treason, a development many have condemned as an extreme step to criminalise exercise of constitutionally guaranteed right to protest. The group, therefore, asked the police to release all the protesters detained over the August protests. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later It said the detainees include at least 17 underage persons who have spent some days in police custody before securing a court order to detain them for an additional 60 days. Curiously, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an order remanding the underage persons along with the adults for 60 days. The rights group also called on other organisations to join the campaign to call on the police and other security agencies to respect the right of the people to freely express their rejection of the obnoxious policies of President Tinubu. Govt prosecuting EndBadGovernance protesters Nigerians across different cities took to the streets demanding an end to bad governance and high cost of living in the first 10 days of August. The nationwide protests turned violent in some cities where police tear-gassed protesters and hundreds of others in connection with the protest. Security operatives also clamped down on journalists who covered the demonstration. The Nigerian government is currently prosecuting 10 protesters arrested in connection with last months demonstrations on charges of war plotting and an attempt to topple President Bola Tinubu. The trial court granted them bail but not all of them have met the bail conditions to be released. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday, pledged to guarantee press freedom, saying that his administration would not gag or intimidate media practitioners in the state. The governor noted that the role of free media in the development of the nations democracy is unquantifiable, adding that journalists have been critical to his administration in the last twenty-three months in his shared prosperity agenda for the state. Mr Oyebanji spoke in Ado-Ekiti, during the annual public lecture organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ekiti State. The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said his administration, since inception in 2022, has invested in key sectors of the economy, including infrastructure, human capital development, agriculture and industrialization. He said an enabling environment has been provided for private investors to operate and contribute to the development of the state, saying this necessitated the coming to the agriculture and hospital sectors by Cavista Holdings. He said: We will continue to promote the principle of inclusiveness which has been the hallmark of our administration since 2022. We have been committed to our six-point agenda which has seen us meeting the needs and aspirations of the people. We are trying to make an Ekiti destination of investment and that is the reason we are calling on private individuals and organizations to partner with the state government towards achieving economic prosperity in the state. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We will continue to encourage free speech in Ekiti and let me say that since the inception of this administration, we have not recorded any case of gagging or intimidation of the media; we believe in the role of the media in our society and democracy. The Correspondent Chapel has been supporting our administration, and I can say this everywhere. We know the value they are adding to us and will continue to support the media to be able to discharge their duties in Ekiti. Senator speaks On his part, the chairman of the event and Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele, commended journalists for their support, noting that he would continue to support the media in the interest of society. Mr Bamidele, the Senate Leader for Nigerias 10th National Assembly, was represented at the event by his Senior Legislative Aide, Gbenga Banji. He urged the people to keep faith with the administration of President Bola Tinubu in his efforts to actualise his renewed hope agenda for the country. Delivering his keynote speech, the CEO of Cavista Holdings Limited, John Olajide, said his organisation has committed huge resources to the agriculture and hospitality sectors to achieve sustainable growth and development. According to him, the investments should have positive impacts on the communities where the company operates and the entire state as a whole. Thats why we have chosen Ekiti as a key location for our agribusiness and hospitality ventures. He said: Our investments in Agbeyewa Farm and Glocient Hospitality, owners of the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Conference Centre, are designed to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and showcase the beauty and potential of Ekiti. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had barely finished announcing the result of last Saturdays Edo governorship poll when I got a call to eat the humble pie. Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the man I called a product vendor in my last article, had pulled off another big one! Why? I had no dog in the fight. But I got the drift. I had warned that given Oshiomholes reputation for campaigning for candidates for whom he often ended up apologising, voters could hardly ignore the warning label on his candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and that, at any rate, if it wasnt that in politics, crime multiplies grace, Comrades factory should have been sealed or closed long ago. But he got this one, right? Okpebholo, who Oshiomhole carried on his back throughout the campaign, is now governor-elect. The Comrade is entitled to ask his critics to eat the humble pie. Fair enough. While I shop for the sugar-free variety, lets review the poll, starting with issues we might agree on. Powershift Rotation or zoning is still a crucial factor in politics. The two leading parties in the contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) put forward candidates from Edo Central, which had not produced a governor before, except for the brief spell of Oserheimen Osunbor. The governor-elect, Okpebholo (APC), and his rival, Asue Ighodalo (PDP), are from this senatorial district. But the Labour Party thought differently: the party put forward Olumide Akpata from Edo South, which, apart from being the home of Governor Godwin Obaseki, had also produced more governors than any other. Akpata invited the fight to his crowded backyard. The first thing Saturdays election taught was that Edo people wanted power to shift elsewhere. Ighodalo may not have reaped the full benefit, but the result showed that he defeated Okpebholo in Edo Central, even though he currently represents this zone in the Senate. That lesson that zoning matters was lost on Labour, and it paid dearly for it. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Godfather Never Sleeps Godfathers matter, too. In elite circles and on TV discussion programmes, we can criticise godfathers and call them names, like I called Oshiomhole, a decorated vendor of lousy products. It doesnt matter, as the results of the poll have shown. The election was a contest of godfathers: Oshiomhole vs. Obaseki, each with a hefty trail of other godfathers lurking in the shadows. If godfathers didnt matter, Obaseki wouldnt go, like a thief in the night, accompanied by Ighodalo, to the Abuja private residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, his interim godfather four years ago in a desperate attempt to curry favour. Complaining about the role of godfathers in our elections wont change anything. Party members or their sympathisers must be prepared to put their money and energy where their mouth is. Its a waste of time to disregard party funding and involvement in party organisation, only to complain at elections that Piper Godfathers are playing a disgusting tune. They will. Oshiomhole has redeemed himself as a preeminent product vendor and godfather of Edo politics. He has also retired Obaseki to Afrinvest or whatever may be left of his investment company. Theres a life lesson here, too: choose your fight. The question was not who Obaseki was fighting but who he was not fighting. He fought Oshiomhole, fought those who sheltered him from vagrancy four years ago, fought his deputy, fought relations of his deputy in the civil service, fought anyone remotely connected to Oshiomhole, fought the Palace, and fought anyone who advised him to stop fighting. Ultimately, hell have to deal with the echoes of what might have been alone. Over their Dead Body The poll tells us yet another thing something the PDP may learn over its dead body: that the division in the party that snatched its cap in 2023 may behead it sooner than later. The ruling APC has had problems, especially concerning the chairmans home troubles and the power tussle in the North Central. However, the gold for internal chaos must go to the PDP and the Labour Party. Even though PDP governors converged on Benin during the election to present a common front, the partys core the governors and its National Working Committee has been wracked by divisions. The same problem has split the Labour Party down the middle, with each partys faction claiming to be the authentic one. On Saturday, the candidates of both parties were, strictly speaking, political orphans struggling to get to shore from the parties sinking boats. Broken Saturday also cleared any doubts that voter apathy is an increasingly severe problem. In a state with a population of about 4.4 million and over half registered voters, voter turnout was 24.49 per cent. We have seen this trend in virtually every election. All that happens the day after is the parties and INEC trading blame. Until politicians restore trust and people begin to see elections as a viable means of making politicians accountable, the voter numbers will continue to drop. To make matters worse, elections have become warfare. For example, the ratio of voters to security personnel in the Edo election was 1:11. Ultimately, voters are either overwhelmed by indifference or lethargy or discouraged by fear. But who cares? Once the results are announced and the winner is declared, those who are displeased and have the money go to court. Voters go home until the next cycle. Adding Up Discrepancies between the figures on the election result viewer portal (iREV), the number of accredited voters, and what INEC finally announces remain a severe headache. The bimodal accreditation systems whole point was to reduce significant disputes over figures and make the process more transparent. Some progress has been made since Mike Tyson was on the voter roll, and palm kernel shells were improvised as thumbprints. Yet, its a considerable irony that the same system, which seemed to work well in 2020 and was praised by the PDP and independent monitors as a contributory factor for the polls success that year, was perhaps one of the most contentious in Saturdays vote. INEC must get its act together. Never Say, Never And finally, we saw again on Saturday that interests are the only thing permanent in politics. And Im not talking here about Philip Shaibu changing parties like underwear, although you would be right to cite that as a good example. Im talking about Ighodalo and what might have been. In case you missed it, Senator Babafemi Ojudu shared a viral message last week: Asue Ighodalo was a member of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu transition committee after he was elected Lagos State governor in 1999. In another life, Ighodalo, a dyed-in-the-wool Lagos Boy, might have been on Tinubus side, as Obaseki once was. What politics cannot divide does not exist. But who knows? Never say never. If lousy product vendors can get a second even a third life, you never know what the future holds. As they wrote on the tail of that famous mammy wagon to Eastern Nigeria many years ago: No condition is permanent! Azu Ishiekwene is the Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book, Writing for Media and Monetising It. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print He has been detained in the SSS facility for over two years now, and it cannot be predicted how long he will be kept there without trial. At this point, it is appropriate to call on the federal government and the new DG of SSS to either subject him to fair and accelerated trial or withdraw the charges against him and set him free. Mamu deserves no less. Since the arrest of the publisher of Desert Herald newspapers, Tukur Mamu, in September 2022, there was eerie silence in unexpected quarters. The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NUJ), International Press Centre (IPC), civil society organisation, among others, have all kept mum over his prolonged trial and detention, perhaps because of the weight of the allegations leveled against him. But why should we blink over advocacy for a fair trial as espoused in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNHR)? Even if Mamu was not a journalist, it is our responsibility as journalists to advocate for a fair trial. Mamu was arrested alongside his two wives and one other person while in transit in Cairo enroute to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj. Although nothing incriminating was found on him, the Interpol extradited him back to Nigeria. Apparently, the security agents had been working with their Nigerian counterparts because, in less than 24 hours after his arrest, Mamu was bundled back to Nigeria, straight into the waiting arms of State Security Service (SSS) operatives who had already taken positions at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. From Kano, he was taken straight to Abuja. For the then Director General of SSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, it was time to demand a pound of flesh from someone whose newspaper, Desert Herald, was critical of him. Mamus Desert Herald has been critical of Bichis repression of critical voices, the opposition politicians, as well as involvement of his family in the affairs of the service. Since his arrest, Mamus tribulations have taken a turn for the worse. He is being held in the SSS underground bunker in Abuja, from where he is moved to court at intervals to answer some strange charges of terrorism financing and other related crimes slapped on him by the federal government. Unfortunately, Nigerian Sanctions Committee, the national body responsible for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), had listed Mamu among 15 individuals and bureau de change operators funneling funds to terrorists operating in Nigeria. Of the lot, Mamu happens to be the only known name. In response to queries as to what could have prompted his arrest, the SSS said in a statement that Mamu was a person of interest who was picked up following a request by Nigerias military, law enforcement and intelligence community to their foreign partners to bring back Mamu to the country to answer critical questions on ongoing investigations relating to some security matters in parts of the country. The question is why was Mamu not arrested or invited at the point of leaving Nigeria for the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia? Meanwhile, at the time he was held in Cairo, the SSS stormed his residence and office in Kaduna to conduct searches. Nothing incriminating was found during the searches, except a set of military uniform belonging to his nephew (who is a serving military officer). In justifying the tag of terrorism financing hung on Mamus neck, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) said he received and delivered ransom payments to the tune of $200,000 to ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, which occurred in March 2022. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Determined to make sure that the unwholesome and unseemly label of terrorist financier sticks, the government accused Mamu of exchanging voice notes relating to the Abuja-Kaduna train hostages with one Baba Adamu, who is said to be a Boko Haram spokesperson. Mamu has vehemently denied all the allegations associating him with any allegiance to elements terrorising Nigeria. To bolster a point regarding Mamus patriotism, he was part of the Sheikh Ahmad Gumi-led team that traversed the forests and enclaves of kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements to persuade them to lay down their arms and stop terrorising the people. The top Islamic cleric, who Mamu served as media consultant, has also been compelled to defend a man he claims to know too well. Gumi rightly believes that the Kaduna-based publisher does not in any way support acts of terrorism, and that the problem the Nigerian government currently has with Mamu was the outcome of a misunderstanding between both parties. And the cleric is not far from being correct. Mamu is a genuine patriot who will do nothing to undermine the peace and security of his country. This is the reality that his tormentors in government are yet to come to terms with. The misunderstanding that has resulted in his current travails stems from his role as a negotiator for the release of the hostages of the train attack held by the terrorists. This does not in any way qualify him as an agent of terrorists. Mamu is a media professional with strong views on issues that he is passionate about. A couple of times in the past he may have had a run-in with governmental authorities with regard to his media work, which is normal, especially when the individual in question is driven by principles. True, Mamu was the main man in the bid to get the hostages released, but his intention should not be misunderstood. His involvement in the negotiation for the release of the hostages was propelled by nothing but an undiluted sense of humanity. And he did that with the consent of the Nigerian authorities. His was an act of selfless service rendered by a citizen deeply troubled by the intense anxiety that had enveloped the country at the time as a result of the palpable danger in which some fellow compatriots found themselves in the forest, surrounded by a contingent of well-armed, ruthless terrorists. Moreover, even Western countries that abhor every facet of terrorism had, on some occasions, paid ransom and engaged local negotiators to secure the release of their citizens abducted by terrorists. It is also a trite fact that the Nigerian government paid ransom to secure the release of hostages. Mamu was honest and forthright in his engagement with the families of the hostages, and he dealt with the terrorists with the same evenhanded temperament in his effort to secure freedom for the hostages. Money exchanged hands in the process, no doubt from the families to Mamu, and on to the abductors. But it would be incorrect to conclude that because of his role as the link between the families of the hostages and their captors, Mamu is a collaborator or promoter of terrorism in Nigeria or elsewhere. It only takes a man of profound influence to play the role Mamu played in the unfortunate hostage drama. What he did was to parlay his connections to mediate between the parties involved to end the abduction. And instead of being made to face prosecution for this, he should rather be commended. He has been detained in the SSS facility for over two years now, and it cannot be predicted how long he will be kept there without trial. At this point, it is appropriate to call on the federal government and the new DG of SSS to either subject him to fair and accelerated trial or withdraw the charges against him and set him free. Mamu deserves no less. Jaafar Jaafar is a UK-based Nigerian journalist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print If youre now trying your hands on a new market, a newbie on the investment scene, or just dont have the time to go through so many strategies, then copy trading may be just what you need. With this strategic move, you can just shove all the hassles and complexities of trading to the corner and be on your way to achieving your financial goals. But what is copy trading and how can you get the return on investment you need with it? Stay with us as we give you the answers and more. The Basics of Copy Trading Explained When you hear of copy trading, this should come to mind an investment strategy where you can replicate the same trades that more experienced and successful traders make. True to its name, its simply copy and paste, which means that whatever results they get, you will get too. You should also know that three parties make copy trading possible: The provider: this is the trader/investor whose trades you and others will copy. The copier: if youre replicating the exact trades of another investor, then youre the copier. The broker: this is simply the platform where the provider and copier will connect. You should also note that theres no limit to what you can copy trade, whether commodities, stocks, crypto, forex, indices, or contracts for difference (CFD). Understanding How You Can Meet Your Investment Goals With Copy Trading Since youll not be entering the investment scene blindly, youll likely be on course with your investment goals. But lets see how copy trading does this specifically. More Room for a Diverse Portfolio The trick to making your investment profitable is to have a little bit of everything in your portfolio in other words, you should put your money in various asset classes so that you can escape the risks unharmed or enjoy the returns of many successful investments. And what better way to do this than by following the same trail as an experienced trader or investor? With copy trading, you can invest in the same assets as many successful traders, which makes your portfolio diverse and increases your rewards. For instance, you can stay behind investors who understand cryptocurrencies, stocks, real estate, and commodities and put your money on all their decisions and trades. Moreover, you get to benefit from markets that you dont even know anything about. Youre Not Dealing With Your Emotions Want to know what doesnt go well together? Well, its emotions and investment. You really dont want to be making decisions on your hard-earned money just because of how you feel. But then, youre human and the feelings could creep in at any time, especially when many asset markets like crypto, and volatility are like the total package. But then, impulsive investment is hit-or-miss, and you cant be too sure what youll get. So why dont you just avoid the stress by copy-trading? After all, youll be using the same strategies and skills of someone successful, which means you get to keep your objectivity and rationality. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later You Get To Learn More About Investment Sure, youre copying someones trades, but who says you cant make the process a learning experience to improve your investment skills? You have all the time to look at how your providers go about their trades and why they are so good at what they do. The good thing is that you can find trading platforms where you can see your providers performance data (win/loss ratios, historical returns, and preferred markets). If you can make the time to study these well, youll soon understand why they are topping their niches, and youll soon be on your way to becoming a top investor or even a provider yourself. Investment Is More Accessible for You The nuances and complex aspects of investment can scare newbies, and its understandable. After all, it wouldnt be prudent to put your money into something you dont understand. But copy trading makes investment more accessible for those making their debut. Theres no need to worry about making rookie mistakes because youre copying the same trades as an investment guru. How To Use Copy Trading to Your Advantage Now that you understand how copy trading can help your investment goals, knowing how to use it becomes the next step on your investment journey. You can automate the process, where you can follow a provider on a trading platform, choose your risk level, and just wait for the results. Or you can do everything yourself, although this can take your time, and the market would have changed before you got the heads-up to invest. Regardless, you should understand how copy trading works before you start. Youll need a good trading platform that supports copy trading. Once thats done, try testing it with a demo account, and proceed to real trading on a real account. Hold on though you dont want to just follow any trader. Instead, check their track records to be sure they know what theyre doing before following them. Deposit your capital, choose your risk level (if possible), and then connect your account to your provider. If you are going fully automated, the platform will copy the traders moves into your account. The Conclusion If youre new to investment or a niche, copy trading can be a life-saver. Getting good returns by just following and copying a traders moves is a big win. No stress, rookie mistakes or time waste to stop you from hitting all your investment goals. Besides these, copy trading is as easy as getting a good trading platform and following your choice traders. But then, you still need to do your research, especially when choosing a platform or trader, so you dont end up losing your money. Always check for their profiles and success rates so that you can make an informed decision. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Jigawa State Government has announced its intention to enter a partnership with Safa and Fresh International Limited, an indigenous energy company, to establish Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres across all 27 local government areas in the state. This was revealed during the commissioning ceremony of a new petrol filling station owned by the company held on Wednesday in Dutse, the state capital. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Safa and Fresh International Limited, Ibrahim Yusuf Ibrahim, expressed the companys commitment to investing in Jigawa State through the establishment of CNG conversion stations. He also announced plans to train 100 youths as technicians in each local government area, thereby creating job opportunities and enhancing technical skills among the youth. The state governor, Umar Namadi, who was present at the ceremony, hailed the investment initiative, stating that it aligns with the state governments 12-point agenda, which pays more attention to job creation and economic development. He further highlighted the states progressive policies on public-private partnerships (PPP) and urged Safa and Fresh Limited to explore the JigawaInvest platform for more insights on these policies. Your intention to establish CNG stations in all 27 local government areas is a welcome development. You might be aware that the Jigawa State Executive Council has already resolved to set up CNG stations to alleviate the hardship caused by the rising cost of petroleum products. We are ready to partner with you in this initiative and offer you the majority shareholding for the company. Our goal is to ensure that the right things are done for our people, and we will support you in every way. Governor Namadi further expressed hope that the establishment of CNG stations would reduce fuel costs by 60%, adding that such would represent a significant relief for Jigawa State residents. He also lauded the companys chief executive officer for his commitment to the development and growth of the state and reiterated his administrations dedication to fostering private investment. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Jigawa State ranks second in ease of doing business in Nigeria, and we aim to become number one, inshaAllah. This partnership is another step towards achieving that goal. We believe that with the current price of petroleum products and our shared commitment, this initiative will reduce poverty and create more opportunities for our people, Governor Namadi said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. We honor the memory of all martyrs who gave their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and express our gratitude to our heroic veterans on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Second Karabakh War, initiated by the Azerbaijani Army to liberate the occupied lands, and September 27 Remembrance Day, the Ministry of National Defense of Turkiye said in its statement, Trend reports. We once again congratulate our Azerbaijani brothers, with whom we are united by the motto One nation, two states, on September 20 Sovereignty Day, the statement emphasized. The Second Karabakh War, which lasted 44 days and ended with a brilliant victory for Azerbaijan over Armenia, began on September 27, 2020. Azerbaijan annually marks Remembrance Day on September 27 as a sign of deep respect to Azerbaijani soldiers and officers who heroically fought in the Second Karabakh war and gave their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Infinix, a trendy tech brand crafted for young consumers, has launched its first flippable smartphone and latest flagship device, the ZERO Flip. This flip phone is the only device in its class to feature 4K ProStable video capabilities on both the front and rear cameras, along with seamless GoPro connectivity and impressive battery life. It offers interactive, customizable features and introduces a signature color from WGSNs 2025 Smartphone Color Trends Report. As Infinixs first entry into the flippable segment, the ZERO Flip delivers a refined experience by blending creativity, cutting-edge technology, and style. It meets the evolving needs of Gen Z with its durable display, long-lasting battery, and 4K ProStable cameras. The interactive, customizable Dynamic MultiView Display and the use of WGSNs 2025 smartphone trend color, Blossom Glow, further enhance its appeal, embodying Infinixs commitment to staying ahead of trends and resonating with young, dynamic lifestyles through the slogan Get In Now. As Weiqi Nie, Product Director at Infinix, explains: The ZERO Flip embodies our belief that its never too late to embrace change and discover your Blossom moment. We want to inspire users to tap into their inner potential, seize every opportunity, and express their individuality. In todays fast-paced world, the flip phone becomes more than a technological deviceits a symbol of self-expression and personal evolution. Unmatched Vlogging Capabilities: The Ultimate Creators Companion Small but mighty, the ZERO Flip is the ultimate tool for content creators and vloggers. As the only compact flip phone in its class with 4K ProStable video capabilities on both the front and rear cameras, it delivers professional-grade video quality that allows users to document their lives in vivid detail. In its flipped state, the ZERO Flip transforms into a mini DV (Digital Video), offering an easy grip to capture lifes best moments anytime. With a variety of video templates, users can pick up this DV anytime, anywhere and create their own vibe-filled retro vlog. The built-in AI Vlog Mode provides step-by-step guidance, making the process effortless. Users can turn raw footage into polished vlogs with just a few taps. As a flip phone, the ZERO Flip allows free-hovering (30-150) at multiple angles for users to enjoy hands-free vlogging. With just a simple fold, the phone can be stably positioned on any flat surface, removing the limitations of arm length and giving users the freedom to choose the ideal distance for shooting with either the front or rear camera. The front cameras PDAF (Phase Detection AutoFocus) ensures that the subject remains in perfect focus while self-recording. Additionally, the dual-screen preview function enables users to see themselves on the external display during rear camera shots or when a friend is assisting with photography, allowing for real-time adjustments to the shot. The 50MP Ultra-Wide lens captures expansive scenes effortlessly, while also providing flexibility for cropping in post-production. With ProStable video capabilities, the ZERO Flip ensures stable image capture for both photos and videos. Moreover, the phones integration with GoPro ensures simple operations and seamless connectivity with GoPro devices through the Works with GoPro program. The Infinix ZERO Flip offers a GoPro Mode that allows users to directly adjust GoPro device parameters. The phone can also serve as a monitor, enabling real-time observation and adjustment of GoPro footage. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Snap, Zoom, Fold: Professional-Grade Photos in the Palm of Your Hand Beyond video, the ZERO Flip delivers exceptional photography capabilities. Equipped with In-Sensor Zoom technology, users can achieve 2x lossless zoom, ensuring stunning portrait shots with professional clarity at classic focal lengths; Its gesture and voice control features make capturing group photos or selfies effortless, allowing users to control the camera with a simple wave or command. The AI Shutter further enhances the experience by automatically adjusting shutter speed in motion-heavy scenes, ensuring sharp, vibrant images. For those with an artistic flair, the ZERO Flip offers creative preset modes for long exposure shots, encouraging users to experiment with photography techniques. Its AI-powered RAW HDR solution ensures rich colors and detailed images, even in challenging backlit conditions. When shooting in low-light scenes, the Super Night mode guarantees vivid night shots by balancing highlights and shadows with stunning clarity. A Phone Built for Durability and Modern Sleekness A key concern for flip phone users is durability, and the ZERO Flip delivers with its 400,000-fold hinge designed for longevity. The devices exterior is made from scratch-resistant Corning glass, ensuring resilience against daily wear and tear, while the 4720mAh battery and MTK D8020 6nm chipset ensure long-lasting performance and smooth operation. Despite its robust build, the ZERO Flip remains stylish and lightweight, weighing only 195g and unfolding to a sleek 7.64mm thickness. At the core of the ZERO Flip is to open up a world in the foldable market with a trendsetting aesthetic. Inspired by WGSN, a global leader in trend forecasting, Infinix has chosen Blossom Glow as the signature color for this model. Drawing inspiration from the gentle yet vibrant hue of cherry blossoms, Blossom Glow symbolizes hope, growth, and boundless possibilities. This fresh hue featured in WGSNs 2025 Smartphone Color Trend Report reflects the dynamic and ever-changing world of youth culture. Meeting the Needs for Unlimited Creativity and Customization The 3.64-inch external screen on the ZERO Flip delivers an immersive visual experience while featuring the Dynamic MultiView Display, which offers customizable 3D animated pets and quick shortcuts to popular apps like TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp. Users can interact with a variety of dynamic pets, including an alpaca, dachshund, penguin, brown bear, and Siamese cat, with the option to engage in pet-themed mini-games and compete in rankings for added fun. In addition, the Dynamic MultiView Display provides extensive personalization options, such as custom images, external screen animations, and photo frames to match individual styles. It also allows users to present multi-functional cards for commonly used features like the camera, music, phone, weather, and alarm. These cards can be easily customized and added, giving users efficient access to key functions without needing to open the phone. AI-Powered Life: Smarter, Faster, and More Intuitive The ZERO Flip is powered by a comprehensive AI interaction system, designed to enhance every aspect of the user experience. Beyond its AI-assisted photography and video capabilities, the phone features AI noise reduction for superior audio quality and JBL Joint Tuning for optimized sound performance. Infinix has also integrated Google Gemini, offering an AI Assistant that handles tasks like translation, search, and content summarization, transforming the ZERO Flip into a compact personal assistant. With additional features like the AI-driven NFC wallet and AOD (Always On Display), it elevates convenience, making day-to-day routines smoother and more efficient. Pricing & Availability: Starting at $600, the Infinix ZERO Flip will be available in Blossom Glow and Rock Black. Pricing will vary by region, with details to be announced at regional launches. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Eleven persons have been confirmed killed, and more than 118,692 farmlands were washed away in this years flood that has affected 19 of the 25 local government areas of Niger State. The flood incidents also affected 246 schools and 529 communities, state officials said on Thursday in Minna, the state capital. In the latest incidents, about 82 farming communities were reported ravaged following hours of torrential downpours on Monday and Tuesday in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state Crops valued at millions of naira were reported washed away by the floods. In Muregi Ward, 51 communities were affected, while 31 others were affected in Gbara Ward. Also submerged were 47 primary schools and 43 primary healthcare centres in Muregi, Gbara and Jaagi wards, all of Mokwa LGA of the state. The affected communities in Muregi Ward include Egbagi-Majin Manna, Lugwa, Kpachita Wadata Edolusa, Esungi, Gbafu, Sanchiya, Kuchitagi, Badaifu, Tswasha, Jiffu, Nku kpata, and Muregi. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Others are Gbogifu, Edota-kuta, Lenfa-kuso, Giragi, Dako, Sunlati, Dakani, Twako, yabagi, Guga, Gunji-yekogi. Gbachi, Magi-bukun among others. In Gbara Ward, Kpata-kacha Epogi, Edogi, Suragi Gudungo Wunangi, Kipo Fofo, Tayi, Banzhi, Chewuya, Dutsun and several other communities were submerged. Confirming the incident to PREMIUM TIMES via telephone, the spokesperson of the state Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Habibu Wushishi, said no life was lost in this weeks incidents, adding that the affected farmers had moved to safer places. The commissioner and permanent secretary received reports of flooding which occurred in various communities of Mokwa Local Government Area due to the heavy rainfall. Communities, properties and farmlands were submerged and destroyed, Mr Wushishi said. He said the state government commiserated with the affected communities while urging them to relocate to safer grounds in compliance with NiMets prediction. He named the local government areas affected as Mokwa, Katcha, Lavun, Lapai, Agaie, Shiroro, Munya, Gbako, Kontagora, and Bosso. The others are the Edati, Agwara, Bida, Magama, Mashegu, Borgu, Gurara, Suleja, and Rijau local government areas, respectively. In a statement on Thursday, the Director General of the state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, said 34 communities and 41,192 persons have been affected by the devastating effects of the flood. It was also gathered that 6,865 households were affected, and 18 bridges and 80 culverts were cut as a result of the flood. It could be recalled that on 17 April, the federal government warned that 148 LGAs in 31 states, including Niger, were at risk of severe flooding from April to November. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate on Thursday at plenary passed the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N288 billion. This followed the adoption of the harmonised report of the Joint Committees on the FCTA and FCT Area Councils. The report was presented by the Joint Committee Chairman, Mohammed Bomai (APC-Yobe). The FCT Supplementary Budget proposal was presented during plenary on Tuesday. Mr Bomai, while presenting the report of the committee, said the committee critically examined the sources of the revenue of the proposed supplementary budget. According to him, the committee also critically examined the proposed expenditures, which includes overhead and capital and agreed with the proposed amendment. Mr Bomai said the capital component of the proposed supplementary revenue amounts to 89.21 per cent, while that of the overhead was only 10 per cent. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He urged the Senate to consider and pass the recommendations of the committee on the 2024 FCT supplementary appropriation bill. The Senate referred it to the committee of supply to do clause by clause consideration of the FCT supplementary appropriation bill, and thereafter approved the supplementary budget. READ ALSO: Senate passes bill to establish South West Development Commission The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), who presided over Thursdays plenary after the approval, commended the joint committee for expeditious processing of the bill. He also commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his frantic efforts at internal revenue generation and infrastructure development in the FCT. He urged other appointees of government to emulate the efforts of the FCT minister on revenue generation for development of the FCT and the nation in general. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Federal High Court in Kano has refused an application by the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking to stop the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from conducting the 26 October local government elections in the state. The applicants, Aminu Aliyu-Tiga and APC, through their counsel, Mustapha Idris, filed a motion exparte dated 18 September and filed 20 September. The applicants asked the court to restrain KANSIEC from conducting the elections and also grant an injunction order directing all parties to maintain the status quo. The respondents are KANSIEC, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney General of Kano State, INEC, DSS, Commissioner of Police Kano and NSCDC state commandant. Others are Anas Muhammad-Mustapha, Sani Lawal-Malumfashi, Mukhtar Garba-Dandago, Isyaku Kunya, Shehu Kura, Kabiru Zakirai and Aminu Inuwa-Fagge. Justice Simon Amobeda refused the applicants prayers stating that the respondents shall be put on notice to show cause why the prayers shall not be granted. The court also approved an accelerated hearing of this case. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The judge ordered parties to ensure that necessary processes were promptly filed to expedite the quick hearing and resolution of this matter. The judge also ordered that no party shall do any act that will prejudice the hearing and quick determination of this matter. Mr Amobeda adjourned the matter until 4 October for a hearing. A Kano State High Court on 24 September restrained 19 political parties from taking any action that could scuttle or frustrate the forthcoming local government elections in the state. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Edo Governor-elect Monday Okpebholo, on Thursday, said his election as governor signalled a new dawn for the state. Mr Okpebholo made the remarks while briefing State House correspondents after presenting his certificate of return to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. He promised to work with the opposition if they had good ideas. I think Edo people have spoken with their votes. For me, Im coming as a servant to serve the Edo people. That is what is required of me, and that is exactly what I am going to do. So, very soon we will see a lot of developments coming to Edo. We are going to employ teachers, we are going to integrate our schools, a lot will be happening over time, he said. Mr Okpebholo promised to run an open-door administration. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later If I had lost, I would have to bear it and I would have by now congratulated the winner. So, Im expecting them to congratulate me, he said. Oshiomhole speaks on APCs victory The senator representing Edo North District, Adams Oshiomhole, who accompanied the governor-elect, said God made Mr Okpebholos victory possible. God confers power. Man can make all the efforts, but if God chooses not to crown it, it will be in vain. I am excited that we have reclaimed a new state almost in the same manner that we reclaimed it from PDP in 2007 before Obaseki took it away. My joy is the fact that Edo people will now have a governor that they can hug, they can touch, they can feel. And a governor that will open the doors, he said. According to Mr Oshiomhole, the governor-elect is at home with the ordinary people and understands the challenges of the rural poor. So, they are all excited now that they are back again with a governor that they can say, this is my governor. Incidentally, his name translated in English means the rescuer. And so God has brought him to rescue the Edo people, to restore integrity, to rebuild our schools, to employ teachers so that parents dont need to contribute money to pay teachers. Edo people cannot wait to see a new approach to governance; government of the people, by the people, and for Edo people, said Mr Oshiomhole. He appealed to those who lost the election to accept it in good faith. That you have lost doesnt mean its all over for you. You cant win until the time that God has appointed. So my advice to them is to accept the result, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificates of Return to the Edo State governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the certificates were presented by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Edo State, Rhoda Gumus, at the commissions national headquarters on Thursday in Abuja. INEC, on Sunday, declared Mr Okpebholo of APC winner of the Edo governorship election having secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) with 22,763 votes. Speaking shortly to journalists after the event, Mr Okpebholo appreciated the people of Edo for giving him the mandate to serve. He pledged to work for the people of the state. Also speaking to journalists, the National Chairperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, said Mr Okpebholo had the experience and blueprint to develop the state. Edo State was an APC state. Later on, the governor as a nomadic politician, cross carpeted to PDP, but today, we fought for it and we have recovered our state for the APC. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later I am so happy because essentially, our governor-elect and experienced politician, a distinguished senator has a blueprint for the development of Edo State and we assure you, you will see great changes, Mr Ganduje said. Also speaking, a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, said that the people of Edo were happy to have a governor who would not fight people and institutions, but would respect them. The important thing that I am happy about is that Edo people now have a new governor who will not disrespect them. We now have a governor who will respect our traditional institutions, the heart of our culture. We now have a governor who will not be fighting about artefacts. We now have a governor who will not demolish a hospital and replace it with a museum. We now have a governor who understands the value of education and will not destroy a library and replace it with a market. For me, this is what excites Edo people, he said. Other dignitaries at the event were members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, among others. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least 10 people have died in a fresh cholera outbreak in Ebonyi State, South-east of Nigeria. The deaths were recorded in Ndibokote village in Ezza-Inyimagu, Agbaja Autonomous Community, Izzi Local Government Area of the state. Commissioner for Health in the state, Moses Ekuma confirmed the outbreak and the deaths in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday. Mr Ekuma, a medical doctor, also revealed that over 20 others from the area have been hospitalised for suspected cholera infection. He said the Ebonyi State Government, in collaboration with the local government and health partners, had rushed the infected people to three hospitals in the area. The patients are receiving treatment at Sudan United Mission Hospital, Onuenyim Agbaja; Sudan United Mission Hospital, Izziogo; and Izziogo Health Centre. The commissioner, Mr Ekuma, blamed the outbreak on poor hygienic practices by the people. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He urged Ebonyi residents to stop open defecation and adopt good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands regularly, covering their food, and drinking clean water. Mr Ekuma appealed to the people to report to the nearest hospital once they started having symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. He said the Ministry of Health received the information on Wednesday morning and quickly scrambled a team of medical professionals, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, to the area. We have enough drugs to treat infected persons, the commissioner said. We plan to open another health centre in the affected community for easy access to curtail the outbreak and we have made available cars and motorcycles for easy evacuation of suspected infected persons to the hospitals, he added. The Chairperson of Izzi Area Council, Stephen Nwankpa, thanked the state government for the swift response, which he said helped to save the lives of many infected persons. A member of the community, Stephen Nwankpuma, linked the death to the burial of a woman in the community last weekend. He said: There was a burial there last week and also there were others who went and ate dog killed in the area. People who went to the burial and those who ate the dog were the main people who first got sick. Those who went to the burial ate a cow that was killed and prepared in a very dirty environment. Their community is located in the remotest part of the state. It shares a boundary with Benue State. There is no good source of water in the area. The only borehole in the area is no longer functional. The only source of water there now is a pond or stream and it is very dirty. The situation is worsened by the heavy rain falling this period which flowed into the stream, carrying all the wastes with it and probably contaminating the pond, he said. Cholera, caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera, has been ravaging Ebonyi State for decades. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party (LP), has thrown its weight behind the partys withdrawal from Saturdays local elections in Anambra State. This is contained in a statement signed by Ms Usman and made available to reporters in Onitsha on Wednesday. According to her, the national body has endorsed the executives position on staying away from the forthcoming local elections in the state as the process violates the Electoral Act. The party (LP) never sponsored any candidates to contest the questioned Anambra State Local Government election, she said. Ms Usman also said the LP national leadership endorsed Ugochukwu Emeh and Okoli Akrika-led state executive in Anambra. The National Leadership of the Labour Party is aware and is in total support of the position of Labour Party Anambra State led by Mr Ugochukwu Emeh, Chairman, and Okoli Akirika as Secretary. She said the LP national leadership also knew the party was in court in Suit No A/265/2024 LP vs Anambra State House of Assembly. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We also aware of suit No FHC/CV/AWK/223/2024 Labour Party vs ANSIEC and 14 others, challenging the procedure for the proposed Local Government Area election. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, on Thursday, announced free education for students of senior secondary in public schools in the state. Mr Soludo made the announcement in Awka, while meeting with principals and head teachers in public primary and secondary schools. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on 21 September, 2023, the governor announced free and compulsory education from nursery to junior secondary in public schools in line with his administrations free education policy. He said that students of senior secondary in public schools would pay N5, 000 only as tuition fee. Against this backdrop, the governor, while meeting with principals and head teachers in public schools, stated that from next week, the free education policy would be available to students of senior secondary in public schools. He said this would further increase childrens access to education and ensure effective development of their personality, talents, mental and physical abilities. I want to assure you that even with the resource constraint, our administration will continue to work very hard to deliver on its mandate. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Im giving a directive that students in senior classes, who have already paid their N5,000 tuition fees for this term should be refunded, he said. He reiterated his administrations dedication to human capital development and promised to continue making strides in this area. Mr Soludo also said that the government would commence payment of the N70, 000 minimum wage in October. We remain committed to investing in our people and this new minimum wage and free education initiative are testaments to our resolve. This move is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of workers and students in Anambra, improving their standard of living and access to quality education, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A State High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday, sentenced five men charged with the Offa bank robbery incident to death by hanging. The court convicted Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham. Delivering judgment, Justice Haleema Saliman held that the five defendants were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of fire arms. Justice Saliman said that the defendants caused the death of people, including police officers and civilians during the April 2018 armed robbery in Offa, which is punishable by death. Earlier, the lead prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) said that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Jacob said that the six years spent on the case was worth it, as evidence clearly showed that the convicts were involved in the robbery and killings. He said that the trials had been concluded and the prosecutors had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt for the suspects to be convicted. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The lead defence counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, represented by Abdullahi Jimba, said that the judgment was not surprising, considering the evidence presented in court, it had been envisaged that it would end that way. He, however, said that they would appeal the judgment. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prime suspect, a police operative, Michael Adikwu died in police custody during the trial while the remaining five pleaded for mercy but were convicted. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Miguel Angel Moratinos within the framework of participation in the High-Level Week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2024, Trend reports. The meeting discussed issues on the agenda of the current cooperation between Azerbaijan and UNAOC, plans and joint projects, as well as the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period. It was brought to attention that Azerbaijan successfully and fruitfully cooperates with UNAOC, and the activity of the High Representative, who personally contributed to the development of the dynamics of our cooperation, was emphasized. The significance of cooperative projects carried out in this area was also emphasized, as was Azerbaijan's participation in the inter-civilizational discourse. The other side was informed in detail about the current situation and realities in the region, as well as the normalization and peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the post-conflict period. Furthermore, during the nearly 30-year occupation of its territories, Azerbaijan was observed to have suffered widespread and devastating consequences in both the humanitarian and cultural domains; its cultural heritage had been illegally altered, destroyed, and intentionally looted. Meanwhile, it was mentioned that despite the severe humanitarian consequences of the period of occupation, immediately after the end of the conflict, Azerbaijan initiated a peace agenda and was the most active party in promoting the process of normalization of relations with Armenia. The existence of a number of unresolved concerns that are impeding the signing of the peace deal was brought to light, most notably the ongoing territorial claims made by Armenia in a number of its legislative acts, including its Constitution. In the course of the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Luck ran out on suspected kidnappers in Ondo State on Wednesday, after the states security network (Amotekun) invaded their camp in the forest and rescued their victims. Two of the suspected kidnappers were also arrested in the process, which is the second arrest of suspects in connection with kidnapping by the agency in one week. The agency said the suspects had abducted four travellers along the Owo/Ose highway earlier in the week, prompting the action from the agency. The Commander of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye, while speaking on the arrest, said the rescue operation was done in collaboration with some local hunters in the affected area. Mr Adeleye stated that the suspects had been terrorising farmers and commuters plying the Elegbeka/Ifon road and had collected a ransom of N1.2 million from some victims in August. Arrest The commander revealed that the suspects engaged the operatives of Amotekun in a gun battle before they were captured alive. He said: A day before the rescue, there was a reported kidnapping along a well-known route. Our team swiftly mobilised and, in collaboration with local hunters, we combed the forest where the victims were believed to be held. By the end of the day, we successfully rescued four people. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later What made this operation particularly significant was the identification of two of the arrested suspects. These are no longer suspected kidnappersthey are confirmed kidnappers. He said the victims identified the suspects as the same individuals responsible for previous abductions in the area. These criminals had been arrested before but somehow managed to return to the same locality. Now, we have them again, he added. Suspects The suspects also gave insights into the mode of their operation used, saying they blocked a portion of the road with a vehicle, forcing commuters to slow down and making them vulnerable to an ambush. Another suspect was identified as the individual who extorted N1.2 million in ransom from a family in August. The same individual had demanded N20 million this time but was apprehended at the scene before the ransom could be paid, Mr Adeleye said. This arrest sends a strong message: there is no hiding place for kidnappers in Ondo State anymore. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that these criminals are brought to justice and that our communities remain safe. Cases of kidnapping in Ondo The increased activities of kidnappers in the northern senatorial district of the state had forced the state government to create a new arm of Amotekun Rangers designed to tackle kidnapping within the forest areas. READ ALSO: Nigerian Navy establishes new base to tackle oil theft in Ondo The successes recorded so far have been attributed to the agencys collaboration with local hunters and vigilantes within the communities. Despite a series of arrests and parade of suspects, the incidents of kidnapping have remained on the rise. According to Amotekun, the rescued victims are receiving medical attention and psychological support as they recover from their ordeal, while the arrested suspects are currently in custody and will face legal proceedings in the coming days. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In the lead-up to the Payments Summit in California, U.S., Joao Del Valle discusses the three trends to watch in digital commerce transactions CURITIBA, Brazil and NAPA VALLEY, Calif. , Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The growth of new payment methods has indicated significant changes in digital commerce worldwide. For Joao Del Valle, CEO and Co-founder of EBANX , a global technology company specializing in payment services, the popularity of real-time payments like Pix in Brazil, UPI in India, PSE in Colombia, and mobile money in Kenya signifies a cultural shift in the digital payments market. "Local payments are no longer exotic: they are mainstream for the global growth of global companies", Joao Del Valle Post this EBANX's CEO, Joao Del Valle, discusses the three payment trends to watch in digital commerce, leading up to the Payments Summit in California, U.S. "A2A [account to account] transactions growth is changing the way people consume online across the globe," says Del Valle in the lead-up at the EBANX Payments Summit 2024 in Napa Valley, California. The event started in Barcelona, in Spain, on the 18th and will continue in the U.S. from September 30th to October 2nd, with keynote presentations by Stripe, Nubank, Banorte, and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), besides EBANX. The Payments Summit 2024 will also include chapters in Bangkok, Thailand, and Sao Paulo, Brazil. The CEO of EBANX, who will discuss the future of the digital payments market at the event in Napa Valley, highlights three trends in the digital economy that global companies need to pay attention to. Aside from the cultural shift driven by the popularity of A2A transactions, he points out the transformation of payments into digital channels due to consumer behavior and the rise of innovative services that combine credit and debit cards with alternative payment methods (APMs). Still regarding A2A transactions, Del Valle shares that, in Brazil, the fintech's merchants saw a 16% increase in revenue after integrating Pix solution with EBANX, and a 25% increase in their client base. According to data from Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI) , by 2025, 44% of digital commerce volume in Brazil will be paid with Pix, surpassing credit cards' volume, which will account for a 41% share. "The popularity of Pix is a sign of the future of APMs across the globe," states the CEO of EBANX. In Colombia, PSE already dominates digital commerce, with a 31% share of all volume transacted online in the country, per PCMI. "And it's not only about offering more options. It is also about bringing people in," says Del Valle. He reveals PSE brought more than half of all new customers for two online retail companies that process payments with EBANX over a three-year period. Another success story is mobile money in Kenya, which accounts for 48% of all digital commerce in the country. "A mobile-native method, for a mobile-savvy population. At EBANX, this is the first choice of payment method for all merchants starting in Kenya," adds the CEO of the global fintech. The A2A transactions, the executive comments, are playing an important role in digital inclusion worldwide. Customer behavior changing digital commerce In India, the growth of UPI since it launched in 2016 has sparked a revolution, transforming the former cash-based economy into a digital payments powerhouse, with 55% share of digital commerce, per PCMI, and the potential for 80% penetration, according to India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. In another cash-based country, Egypt, consumer habits are transforming the payments market and the digital economy. There, 64% of the volume in digital commerce is paid with cash, cash-based vouchers or QR code, available for both banked and unbanked consumers. "They are literally digitizing cash, making the global digital economy available for everyone - including the majority of the population who does not have access to financial accounts or cards," explains the CEO of EBANX. Hybrid payment methods Del Valle also talks about the balance between cards and APMs across rising markets when it comes to digital commerce, and how they complement each other both where cards prevail, and where APMs are kings. Another change pointed out by Del Valle is the innovative combination of APMs and cards into hybrid payment methods in emerging markets. In Tanzania, he adds, mobile money is enabling card payments in digital commerce, with M-Pesa partnering with Visa for a virtual card. Meanwhile, in India, credit cards are seamlessly integrated with UPI, enabling credit card payments through the instant payments app, in a wellknown UX and flow. A report from PwC published last August indicated that the number of credit cards in the country is expected to double by 2029. According to the CEO of EBANX, the focus of the EBANX Payments Summit is to demonstrate how companies can achieve global growth in digital commerce by adding rising markets into their global expansion plans, and navigating the complexities and nuances of local payments. "Local payments are no longer exotic: they are mainstream for the global growth of global companies," says Del Valle. ABOUT EBANX EBANX is the leading payment platform connecting global companies with customers from one of the fastest-growing digital markets in the world. The company was founded in 2012 in Brazil with the mission of giving people access to buy in international digital commerce. With powerful proprietary technology and infrastructure, combined with in-depth knowledge of the markets where it operates, EBANX enables global businesses to connect with hundreds of payment methods in different countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. EBANX goes beyond payments, increasing sales, and fostering seamless purchase experiences for businesses and clients. For more information: Website: https://www.ebanx.com/en/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebanx Media Contact: Leonardo Stamillo [email protected] Content CO SOURCE EBANX SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Abzena, the leading end-to-end integrated CDMO for complex biologics and bioconjugates, has announced that its mammalian cell line development platform, AbZelectPRO, has significantly reduced its timelines by >30% and improved its overall protein production levels. The platform now offers biopharma customers the ability to bridge from DNA to research cell bank (RCB) in 10 weeks, producing up to 8g/L of high-performing titres before process development. As of today, AbZelectPRO will be Abzena's standard platform offering for all its customers. The AbZelectPRO platform combines ProteoNic's 2G UNic vector technology with Abzena's host CHO cell line to deliver a higher frequency of high-producing clones for therapeutic protein and recombinant vaccine production. The 2G UNic vector technology uses the combined effect of novel genetic elements to exert a positive effect on recombinant protein production levels and boosts the performance of other expression-enhancing technologies. This integration not only increases product development efficiency and capacity but also reduces the cost of goods for biopharma customers. Simon Keen, VP of Cell Line Development at Abzena, states: "Our goal with AbZelectPRO was to offer our customers a strong cell line development platform with shorter timelines, higher production levels and lower production costs. When we launched the platform in January 2024, we were utilizing data from initial research and development projects. Over the past 10 months we've been fine-tuning the platform, generating more data from real-world projects, which has allowed us to showcase its full potential and benefits to our customers. We are thrilled that AbZelectPRO has been able to consistently demonstrate improved cycle times and productivity, giving our customers more shots on goal in achieving success in the clinic." The AbZelectPRO platform utilizes an optimized expression cassette to generate highly stable clones that maintain productivity beyond 60 generations. The platform's integration with the 2G UNic vector technology has been proven to boost the expression levels for difficult-to-express proteins, including bispecifics, fusion proteins and other novel modalities. The 2G UNic vector technology enhances various facets of protein production, including increased transcription, improved mRNA stability and transport, and more efficient translation. These enhancements work synergistically to achieve significantly higher production levels with Abzena's high-performing cell line. "Integrating our 2G UNic technology into AbZelectPRO enhances the platform's ability to boost yields, especially for challenging modalities such as bispecifics and fusion proteins," said Frank Pieper, CEO of ProteoNic. "This collaboration provides biopharma customers with a more efficient path to higher productivity, addressing their toughest expression challenges" About Abzena Abzena is the leading end-to-end bioconjugate and complex biologics CDMO + CRO. From discovery through commercial launch, we support customers with fully integrated programs or individual services designed to de-risk and streamline the development of new treatments for patients in need. With the ability to tailor its strategy and customer experience to each project, Abzena develops and implements innovative solutions that enable biotech and biopharma companies to realize the full potential of their molecule and move medicines forward faster. The company has research, development, and cGMP facilities across locations in San Diego, CA, Bristol, PA, and Cambridge, UK. Abzena is owned by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, one of the world's leading private equity investors. Learn more at abzena.com. About ProteoNic ProteoNic is a privately held biotechnology company with offices in Leiden, The Netherlands. The company specializes in advanced cell line generation and viral vector production, with a focus on improving the yield and efficiency of protein production using its proprietary 2G UNic vector technology. ProteoNic collaborates with partners across the biopharmaceutical industry to bring innovative biologics as well as cell and gene therapies to market faster and more efficiently. For more information, visit proteonic.nl. SOURCE Abzena NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ACEN, the Ayala group's listed energy platform, joined this year's Climate Week NYC, the biggest annual climate event of its kind, with leaders from the world of business, tech, politics, academia and civil society. The company's participation reinforces its pioneering role in the coal-to-clean energy transition through the use of transition credits. ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia joined Climate Week NYC to highlight crucial role of transition credits in early coal retirement. Co-organized by the The Rockefeller Foundation and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the panel, moderated by Gillian Tan from MAS, also included Scott Morris of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Nat Keohane from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and Demetrios Papathanasiou from the World Bank Group. ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia joined key figures in a panel discussion entitled "Harnessing Transition Credits to Drive a Coal to Clean Transition in Emerging Markets" that explored how transition credits can catalyze the early retirement of coal plants, particularly in Southeast Asia, replacing them with renewable energy, while ensuring a just transition for affected communities. Co-organized by the The Rockefeller Foundation and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the panel, moderated by Gillian Tan from MAS, also included Scott Morris of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Nat Keohane from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and Demetrios Papathanasiou from the World Bank Group. Elizabeth Yee, executive vice president of programs, Rockefeller Foundation and Singapore's Ambassador for Climate Action, Ravi Menon delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the critical need for a swift transition from coal to clean energy. Elizabeth highlighted the role of transition credits in helping coal plant owners retire their facilities early, replacing them with renewable energy while supporting workers and communities. She discussed partnerships with the Coal to Clean Credits Initiative and the Energy Transition Accelerator to advance pilot projects, as well as The Rockefeller Foundation's commitment to high standards and community engagement. Ambassador Menon built on this by stressing that coal-fired power plants in Asia account for one-seventh of global greenhouse gas emissions and highlighted the challenges of shutting them down. He advocated for investment in the early phase-out of coal, ensuring a just transition that protects communities and maintains energy reliability. Overcoming challenges in the energy transition During the panel, Francia emphasized the significant role transition credits can play in overcoming the challenges of energy transitions in emerging markets, including resource constraints, land and infrastructure issues and the need for costly renewable energy replacements. The panelists not only emphasized the need for blended finance and a just transition but also covered the challenges and opportunities in implementing transition credits in Southeast Asia. "One of the challenges that we need to overcome is the global south mindset that we did not cause this global problem of climate change. It is a challenge to overcome that mindset because that leads to inaction or a passive mindset. But we think different. We rise to the challenge, thanks to transition credits. We believe that this is a huge opportunity to show the world that it can be done. That's why this pilot project is extremely important," Francia said. He also underscored the importance of a just transition that protects vulnerable communities during the shift from coal to clean energy. The panel discussion wrapped up with a strong call for action, urging global stakeholders to work collaboratively in developing and implementing transition credits as a catalyst for a cleaner and more sustainable future. A global call for action On the sidelines of Climate Week NYC, ACEN also joined over 100 international organizations in supporting the Global Renewables Alliance's open letter to world leaders, urging them to set ambitious, specific and actionable targets to meet the world's 1.5 C target. The letter was published at the opening of Climate Week NYC. "This letter sends a clear message to governments: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are not just a United Nations requirement but a commitment to our children and grandchildren. They signify the global community's roadmap to securing a sustainable future and fostering a prosperous economy for future generations," it said. ACEN's participation in Climate Week NYC highlights the company's leadership in advancing sustainable finance mechanisms and transitioning Southeast Asia towards a low-carbon future. About ACEN ACEN is the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group with a fast-growing presence in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR and the U.S.A. The company currently accounts for 4.8 GW of attributable renewables capacity in operation and under construction. ACEN aims to provide clean, reliable and affordable energy in the Asia Pacific and grow its renewables capacity to 20 GW by 2030. The company has been pioneering initiatives in early coal retirement and committed to becoming a Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions company by 2050. www.acenrenewables.com DISCLAIMER: This disclosure may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risk factors and opportunities that may affect ACEN's plans to complete the transaction/s subject of this disclosure. Each forward-looking statement is made only as of the date of this disclosure. Outcomes of the subject transaction may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this disclosure. SOURCE ACEN BANGALORE, India, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Adaptive Learning Software Market is Segmented by Type (Cloud Based, On-Premises), by Application (K-12, Higher Ed/College, Corporate): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2030. The Global Adaptive Learning Software market is projected to grow from USD 629.9 Million in 2024 to USD 1456.9 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.0% during the forecast period. Get Free Sample: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-0Y2692/Global_Adaptive_Learning_Software_Market Major Factors Driving the Growth of Adaptive Learning Software Market: The Adaptive Learning Software Market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing demand for personalized learning experiences across various educational sectors. Schools, universities, and corporate training environments are adopting adaptive learning tools to enhance individual learning outcomes by tailoring educational content to learners' specific needs. The rise of online learning platforms and e-learning initiatives further fuels market expansion, as adaptive software proves effective in providing real-time analytics, improving engagement, and promoting efficient knowledge retention. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-0Y2692/global-adaptive-learning-software TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE ADAPTIVE LEARNING SOFTWARE MARKET: Cloud-based solutions are significantly driving the growth of the adaptive learning software market by offering flexibility, scalability, and accessibility. These solutions allow educational institutions and organizations to deploy adaptive learning tools without the need for extensive infrastructure, making it cost-effective and easy to implement. With cloud-based platforms, users can access personalized learning experiences from any location, enhancing the global reach of adaptive learning software. This technology also supports seamless updates and integrations, ensuring that learners always have access to the latest learning resources. The widespread adoption of cloud-based learning solutions is a key factor pushing the market forward. The K-12 education sector is a significant driver of the adaptive learning software market, as schools increasingly adopt digital tools to enhance student learning outcomes. Adaptive learning software provides personalized learning experiences tailored to the individual needs of students, helping them to master subjects at their own pace. As educators seek to close learning gaps and address diverse student needs, adaptive technologies have become indispensable. The shift towards remote and blended learning models has also accelerated the adoption of these tools in the K-12 segment. This trend is expected to continue as more schools recognize the benefits of personalized education through adaptive learning platforms. The higher education sector is another key driver of the adaptive learning software market, particularly as colleges and universities embrace technology-driven learning environments. Adaptive learning platforms help students in higher education by providing personalized content that aligns with their academic goals and learning styles. These tools offer colleges the ability to enhance student engagement, improve retention rates, and support personalized feedback. In addition, the growing need for scalable solutions in large academic institutions has increased the demand for adaptive learning software, which can cater to diverse student populations. This trend is shaping the future of education and driving the growth of the market. The growing demand for personalized learning experiences is one of the primary factors driving the adaptive learning software market. Students and educators alike are seeking more tailored educational experiences that address individual learning needs and preferences. Adaptive learning software uses data-driven insights to adjust content delivery based on each learner's progress, strengths, and weaknesses. This personalized approach improves learning outcomes and engagement, making it a preferred choice in both academic and corporate training environments. As more institutions and organizations focus on student-centric learning models, the demand for adaptive learning platforms is expected to rise, fueling market growth. Adaptive learning software is gaining traction in the corporate training sector as businesses recognize the value of personalized employee development programs. These platforms enable companies to deliver customized training modules that address specific skill gaps and enhance overall performance. The ability of adaptive learning tools to track employee progress and provide real-time feedback makes them a valuable resource for organizations aiming to optimize workforce productivity. With the increasing focus on upskilling and reskilling employees to meet evolving industry demands, the adoption of adaptive learning software in corporate training is expected to accelerate, driving significant market growth. The rise of remote and hybrid learning models has been a major driver of the adaptive learning software market. As educational institutions and corporate organizations continue to adapt to new learning environments, the need for flexible and scalable solutions has increased. Adaptive learning platforms offer the ability to deliver personalized learning experiences remotely, making them ideal for students and employees who are unable to attend in-person sessions. The shift towards digital learning has been accelerated by global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and this trend is expected to persist, driving further adoption of adaptive learning tools. Buy Now: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-0Y2692&lic=single-user ADAPTIVE LEARNING SOFTWARE MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS: The adaptive learning software market exhibits regional variations, with North America leading due to its advanced educational infrastructure and high adoption of digital learning tools. The United States, in particular, is a major player in the market, driven by investments in educational technology and the increasing demand for personalized learning experiences. Europe follows closely, with a focus on integrating adaptive learning in both academic and corporate sectors. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth due to rising investments in educational technology and increasing demand for innovative learning solutions. Latin America and the Middle East are emerging regions, where adaptive learning tools are gaining traction due to growing awareness and improving digital infrastructure. The United States is the largest Adaptive Learning Software market with about 53% market share. Europe is a follower, accounting for about 19% market share. The key players are SAS, D2L, DreamBox Learning, Wiley (Knewton), Smart Sparrow, Cogbooks, Docebo, ScootPad, Imagine Learning, Fishtree, McGraw-Hill, Paradiso, IBM etc. Top 3 companies occupied about 27% market share. Key Companies: SAS D2L Dreambox Learning Wiley (Knewton) Smart Sparrow Cogbooks Docebo ScootPad Imagine Learning Fishtree McGraw-Hill Paradiso IBM World Health Organization Purchase Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-0Y2692/Global_Adaptive_Learning_Software_Market SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS! - Learning Management System Software Market - Smart Learning Software Market - Online Learning Software and Platform market was valued at USD 6801 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 19090 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 15.7% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - Corporate Learning Management System (LMS) Market - Active Learning Tools Software Market - Academic E-Learning Market - Learning Management System (LMS) market size is expected to reach USD 40360 Million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 17.1% from 2023 to 2029. - Online Language Learning Software Market - IELTS Learning Software Market DISCOVER OUR VISION: VISIT ABOUT US! Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. 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Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753 https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/ https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has grown to 110 approved Members after its Board of Governors voted in support of the application of the Republic of Nauru during the Bank's 2024 Annual Meeting. "The addition of Nauru as a regional Member strengthens the AIIB community and supports our collective mission to finance Infrastructure for Tomorrow," said Jin Liqun, AIIB President and Chair of the Board of Directors. "AIIB is committed to supporting our Members' sustainable development and together we will work on priority projects within our clearly defined thematic priorities to drive long-term sustainable growth." About AIIB The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank whose mission is Financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow in Asia and beyondinfrastructure with sustainability at its core. We began operations in Beijing in 2016 and have since grown to 110 approved Members worldwide. We are capitalized at USD100 billion and AAA-rated by the major international credit rating agencies. Collaborating with partners, AIIB meets clients' needs by unlocking new capital and investing in infrastructure that is green, technology-enabled and promotes regional connectivity. SOURCE AIIB BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Unmanned aerial vehicle ALPIN produced by Turkish company Titra is demonstrated for the first time at the 5th anniversary Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition ADEX-2024, the representative of the company told Trend. Meanwhile, it was noted that the ALPIN drone is a multifunctional platform based on modern technologies. This device has excellent technical characteristics that can be used in various missions. ALPIN drone has EO/IR cameras (electronic optical/infrared), it is also high visibility for night and day missions, SAR radara radar system for accurate imaging and target detection in all weather conditions; the drone can be equipped with various cargo transportation systems; there is a mechanical auxiliary system for lifting the cargo when transporting special equipment; and a cargo system for transporting enclosed cargo. These systems can carry a maximum payload of up to 200 kilograms, the representatives of the company note. Furthermore, it is noted that the UAV has a length of 6.27 meters and a height of 2.47 meters. The airborne time is nine hours or more, and the fuel type is gasoline. This UAV is an ideal choice for military, humanitarian, and commercial missions as it has high performance and wide transportation capabilities. On September 24-26, the Baku Expo Center is hosting the 5th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition ADEX, the largest event dedicated to the defense industry in the region. The 14th International Exhibition of Equipment for Internal Security, Safety, and Rescue "Securex Caspian" is organized in parallel. The first ADEX exhibition was organized in 2014. The list of exhibitors and the sectors it covers expands from year to year. The exhibition has brought together many companies representing more than 50 countries and about 200 official delegations over 10 years of successful activity. The exhibition has been visited by more than 30,000 guests over the years. Initial collaborators in the new program to focus on molecular diagnostic development and decentralized testing to identify and track diseases in developing countries ALAMEDA, Calif. and DURBAN, South Africa, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alveo Technologies, Inc. (Alveo), a leader in molecular sensing and diagnostics with its proprietary IntelliSense molecular detection technology platform, today announced the launch of an academic arm of its partner program in collaboration with the Global Virus Network (GVN), along with faculty at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Public Health. The program now includes two new partnering approaches: a research use only (RUO) program focused on enabling innovative research through universities and academic partners and a deeper collaboration with Alveo that has the shared aim of commercializing tests in countries where there is a significant unmet need. Global Virus Network (GVN) and faculty at John's Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health are initially focused on equipping their network with access to Alveo's highly sensitive and easy-to-use platform to support the research and development of "in region, for region" testing. The primary goal of this effort is to enable institutions and developing countries with a highly sensitive and easy-to-use platform to proactively detect and track illness at the local level and, ultimately, in the regional populations at large. Enabling testing at the point of need is paramount given the challenges of collecting and transporting samples to laboratories to provide results. GVN was instrumental in helping to conceive the academic partner program, and its participation was announced at the GVN's Annual Scientific Meeting in Durban, South Africa. "The world desperately needs accessible molecular tests for pathogens that afflict developing countries," said Dr. Sten Vermund, President of the GVN. "This partnership will enable accessible 'in-region, for-region' test development, manufacturing, and deployment for devastating, yet neglected infectious diseases. The ability to identify hotspots before they spread will help us as a global community to avoid future pandemics." The GVN and its 80+ scientific sites, which include Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, will help countries develop tests on Alveo's open platform, which is well suited for challenging environments thanks to the devices' ruggedness and portability. The platform provides precise results comparable to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in terms of accuracy and sensitivity without requiring shipment of samples to a lab for processing. Alveo provides on-location results within 30-45 minutes or less. Alveo's rugged device continues to complete tests and produce accurate results despite extreme temperatures, high humidity, shaken, or even dropped. The platform can upload geotagged results to the cloud, providing researchers and authorities with near real-time information on a pathogens' spread, regardless of where in the world the test is run. Researchers can proactively collect, detect and track outcomes in Alveo's cloud-based software solution, so test results can be accessed and aggregated from anywhere in the world. "Many molecular testing platforms fall short in meeting the needs of remote and under-resourced regions worldwide, relying on expensive equipment, skilled and highly trained technicians and cumbersome sample transportation," said Erik Tyrrell-Knott, Chief Business and Strategy Officer at Alveo Technologies. "Alveo is focused on helping the molecular testing world catch up with the modern world making testing fast, sensitive, easy to use, and affordable. This partner program, with GVN's member institutions, will enable scientists to take their cutting-edge research out of the lab and deliver it effectively to impacted populations." "I reached out to Alveo Technologies in our search for a diagnostics company that is open to rich, disruptive collaboration," observed Dr. Maggie Linn Bartlett, program director for the Global Virus Network and faculty at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "Together, Alveo and GVN have created a Partner Development Kit that enables GVN members to independently develop tests on Alveo's be.well platform. Initial collaboration units have been placed with Professor Deborah Williamson of the MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Dr. Al Ozonoff of Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and my lab at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. I'm excited to finally solve a problem that has been unaddressed for far too long." For more information on the program visit: https://www.alveotechnologies.com/partner . About Alveo Technologies Alveo Technologies is the first company to make molecular detection and diagnostics universally accessible on the farm, in the field, in the clinic, or in the manufacturing plant helping prevent or significantly limit the destructive impact of viruses, fungi, bacteria, and other pathogens by detecting earlier at the Point of Need. Alveo's rugged and portable, multiplex-capable diagnostic platform employs IntelliSense, it's patented method of direct electrical sensing of nucleic acid amplification to provide affordable, rapid, and accurate results. By enabling early pathogen detection, Alveo helps manage global health, food security, and supply chain resiliency by providing actionable insights at lightspeed. Know Sooner, Act Faster with Alveo. For more, visit: https://www.alveotechnologies.com/ About the Global Virus Network GVN works to raise awareness and mobilize resources to meet critical needs in medical virology. To this end, GVN works with governments, multilateral institutions, private-sector groups, and non-profit organizations to improve virology worldwide, call attention to critical research and training needs, and provide science-driven information and perspectives related to preparing forand responding toviral threats, outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. Contact: Jeff Miller [email protected] 541-207-6413 SOURCE Alveo Technologies Revolutionizing Haircare with Cutting-Edge Swiss Biotechnology for Unmatched Results NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ANATOMY Haircare is thrilled to announce its official brand debut alongside its first product launch the breakthrough Reconstructive Leave-In Conditioner. This introduction is set to bring forth a new era of hair bond reconstruction, by leveraging the unique power of NextGen Swiss Biotechnology. ANATOMY Launches Game-Changing Reconstructive Leave-In Conditioner Priced at $55, the Leave-In Formula is powered by novel biotechnology that was developed in state-of-the-art laboratory in Switzerland by leading chemists. This groundbreaking, ultra-lightweight formula leverages advanced thiol recombination chemistry to deliver exceptional hair repair and reconstruction results. ANATOMY's first product features the world's first organic hair bond-building molecules, Aminalyl-S and Pro-Amino-X. These patent-protected molecules work synergistically at molecular and atomic levels to repair and protect hair fibers from within, delivering unprecedented results without needing an acidic environment or heat for activation. "We're thrilled to introduce ANATOMY Haircare with a product that reflects our focus on innovation and quality," said Nawaf Arhamah, Founder of ANATOMY Haircare. "Our Reconstructive Leave-In Conditioner is powered by advanced molecular science and carefully selected ingredients to support hair health and resilience." "The lightweight formula provides immediate and lasting benefits, helping to make each strand thicker, smoother, and more resistant to breakage. Scientifically formulated to address hair damage, this leave-in conditioner acts primarily as a rebuilder, but also as a hydrator, offering protection while working to strengthen compromised hair fibers. The product is fast-absorbing, and silicone-free, making it suitable for various hair care needs." The brand is also excited to announce its partnership with celebrity hairstylist, Kylee Heath, a standout artist in the Hollywood scene best known for her work with Nicole Kidman, Maya Rudolph, Awkwafina and more. "I'm thrilled to partner with ANATOMY Haircare and introduce their innovative approach to hair bond repair," said celebrity hairstylist Kylee Heath. "Their commitment to cutting-edge technology and high-quality ingredients aligns perfectly with my passion for healthy, beautiful hair. I can't wait to share this incredible product with my clients and fans!" The Reconstructive Leave-In Conditioner is now available exclusively available on anatomyhaircare.com. For more information, please visit the brand's website and follow @anatomyhaircare on Instagram. About ANATOMY Haircare A pioneering hair care company that applies advanced biochemistry developed in Switzerland to molecular hair bond reconstruction. The company has developed 3 families comprising 18 molecules designed to reconstruct damaged hair fibers across all hair types. These innovative organic compounds "click" the loose ends of broken bonds at the molecular level, forming multiple new bonds to reverse damage and resist future damage. With this cutting-edge technology, ANATOMY Haircare offers consumers access to genuine hair repair, setting a new standard in the industry. MEDIA CONTACT 5WPR [email protected] SOURCE ANATOMY Haircare Fortify your following season with ANNKE's exclusive fall sale: up to 60% off on security cameras and 15% off on surveillance systems for a safer home and business. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ANNKE, a leading brand in the home & business security solution industry, has announced its exciting Autumn Prime Deals. Available solely through the official website , the Autumn Prime Deals present a prime chance for customers to upgrade their homes, properties, and businesses with the latest security technology at significantly discounted rates. ANNKE Unveils Autumn Prime Deals: Snag Up to 60% Off Top-Tier Security Tech! Kicking off today, customers can enjoy up to 60% off on selected security cameras and 15% off with the discount code AutumnPD on security systems, showcasing ANNKE's commitment to bringing cutting-edge technology to a wider audience. The sale features some of ANNKE's most popular security cameras are now available at ANNKE Official Store . They include: NightChroma Collection Newest NCBR800 4K Red Blue Light PoE Security Camera The NCBR800 features red & blue flashing lights and a siren, effectively deter intruders, preventing incidents before they occur. Boasting 4K Ultra HD resolution and Acme color & IR night vision, it delivers unparalleled clarity and coverage, day or night. NCT400 2-in-1 Dual Lens Security Camera The NCT400 features a dual lens system, 25X optical zoom, and a full 360 pan & 90 tilt range, providing comprehensive coverage with precision. Its Acme color night vision delivers stunningly clear images even at 0.001 lux, making it the ideal choice for those seeking sophisticated and wide-area surveillance. POE Series ACZ800 4K 4X Optical Zoom PoE Outdoor Security Camera The ACZ800 excels in outdoor surveillance, boasting a 4X optical zoom that captures a small target with stunning clarity or zoom out to monitor a broader area, ensuring maximum coverage and peace of mind. C1200 4K 12MP Outdoor Dual Light PoE Security Camera The C1200 offers a breathtaking 4K 12MP visual experience, ensuring that every detail is captured with remarkable clarity. Featuring smart dual-light and advanced human & vehicle detection, this camera is the perfect choice for environments where accurate detection and high-resolution evidence are crucial. Smart Home Security Solutions Whiffle Wireless Doorbell Camera The Whiffle is a smart doorbell camera, offering 1080P full HD video for clear visibility of your doorstep. With motion detection and two-way audio, you can see, hear, and speak to visitors right from your smartphone. Custos 2K/3MP WiFi Battery Camera Powered by battery and solar energy, the Custos is 100% wire-free. With its siren, strobe alarm and two-way audio, it provides enhanced smart home protection. Its compact size makes it easy to fit in any spots without taking up space. Outdoor Surveillance Systems AH500 3K 8 Channel 4 Cameras PoE Security System This system stands out with its dual night vision capabilities, offering both color and IR vision, ensuring vibrant details during the day and sharp visibility even in total darkness. EL200 1080p 8 Channel Outdoor Wired Security CCTV System The EL200 offers smart surveillance with human & vehicle detection, providing top-notch security at a high cost-performance ratio. Its 1080p clarity and 66 ft infrared night vision make it a suitable security option for automated threat awareness. About ANNKE Established in 2014, ANNKE has been at the forefront of the home and business security solution industry. With a diverse product range, including IP security cameras, all-in-one WiFi/PoE security camera systems, and versatile DVR surveillance systems, ANNKE is committed to exploring new frontiers in the security industry. Press Contact: Wency Zhan, https://www.annke.com/ SOURCE ANNKE CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Apnimed, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of first-in-class oral therapies that address the neuromuscular dysfunction of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep-related breathing diseases, today announced that the company will be participating in the 4th Annual Needham Private Biotech Company Virtual 1x1 Forum taking place on October 8-9, 2024. Apnimed will be virtually hosting investor meetings on Tuesday, October 8th. About AD109 AD109 could be the first pharmacological treatment to improve oxygenation during sleep by directly addressing the underlying neuromuscular cause of upper airway collapse in people with obstructive sleep apnea. It is a first-in-class combination of aroxybutynin, a novel antimuscarinic, and atomoxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NRI). Their combined pharmacological synergy targets the root neuromuscular cause of OSA. AD109 is a once-nightly oral pill that is designed to lower the complexity of intervention and may help more people benefit from effective, restorative sleep. In a disease characterized by complex and invasive treatment options, AD109 may be a simple solution to help improve oxygenation and health wellbeing for people living with OSA. About Obstructive Sleep Apnea Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious chronic sleep-related breathing disease where the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing intermittent oxygen deprivation. It is caused by two overlapping mechanisms: neuromuscular dysfunction during sleep and predisposing anatomic abnormalities. The impact of OSA spans age, sex, and body typethere is no single face of the disease. Every night, greater than 54 million people in the U.S. and 1 billion people worldwide with OSA stop breathing, exposing them to serious, long-term health risks. An individual with OSA can experience hundreds of sleep apnea events in a single night. Each sleep apnea event reduces blood oxygen levels and deprives cells of the energy they need to perform vital functions. Ultimately, failure to effectively treat OSA increases the risk of long-term health consequences and quality of life impacts, including daytime fatigue, impaired judgement, premature death, and severe and potentially life-threatening health complications, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Yet, even after being diagnosed, the majority of people with OSA either refuse, abandon, or underutilize treatment. In addition, no currently available treatments address the underlying neuromuscular dysfunction present in all OSA cases. About Apnimed Apnimed is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to breathing new life into the sleep-related breathing disease treatment landscape. The company envisions a new era where novel oral therapies simplify intervention, expand the reach of diagnosis and treatment, and elevate the health and expectations of everyone in the sleep-related breathing disease community. Based in Cambridge, Mass., Apnimed is advancing a focused pipeline of oral pharmaceutical product candidates designed to help improve oxygenation for people living with obstructive sleep apnea and beyond, to other sleep-related breathing diseases, including several that are part of our joint venture with Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Shionogi Apnimed Sleep Science (SASS). Learn more at apnimed.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn. Media Contact: [email protected] Investor Contact: Brian Ritchie [email protected] SOURCE Apnimed, Inc. CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The BCTCares Foundation, a nonprofit founded and operated by employees of BCT-Bank of Charles Town (OTC:PTBS), also known as The Community's Bank, announced Wednesday, September 25, 2024, that it raised a record $90,000 through its annual Pack The 'Pack program. Since its inception, the BCTCares Foundation has donated $405,000 targeting local food-insecurity. The program's mission is to support four in-market backpack food charities focused on providing nourishing food to food-insecure children, individuals, and families. The donation equaled $22,500 for each of the partner charities and will provide crucial funding for food purchases that will result in over 15,000 backpacks being filled with enough food for two days (weekend) per child. The fundraising effort was from July 1, 2024 through August 31, 2024. Contributions were solicited and received from the bank's clients, vendors, employees, and Board of Directors along with citizens from the communities surrounding BCT's branches and offices in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. BCTCares Foundation presents record $90,000 proceeds from its 2024 Pack the 'Pack campaign to four local backpack food charities fighting childhood food-insecurity. "I am bursting with pride for our team, clients, and communities," remarked Alice P. Frazier, President and CEO of BCT. "We far exceeded our goal this year, which demonstrates a special generosity on the part of our clients and communities, and a unified focus from our employees. Thank you to everyone who contributed financially or with your time and talent. Because of you, more children are less food-insecure." For the Pack The 'Pack campaign, BCTCares has partnered with local backpack program charities who will purchase and distribute food using the funds donated. The local backpack program partners are: Berkeley County Backpack Program ( Berkeley County, WV ) - http://feedbcwvkids.org/ ) - http://feedbcwvkids.org/ Community Combined Ministries Kidz Power Pacs (Berkeley & Jefferson Counties, WV) - https://communitycombined.org/ HARC/Micah's Backpack ( Washington County, MD ) - https://harccoalition.org/programs/micahs-backpack/ ) - https://harccoalition.org/programs/micahs-backpack/ Fueled (formerly known as Loudoun Backpack Coalition) ( Loudoun County, VA ) - https://www.loudouneducationfoundation.org/fueled To learn more about the BCTCares Foundation and the Pack The 'Pack program, visit BCT's website at www.mybct.bank/about/bctcares/. About the Foundation The BCTCares Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2021 with a mission to provide direct support to food-insecure children, families, and individuals in the four primary counties served by BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank. The Foundation is located at 111 E. Washington Street, Charles Town, WV, 25414. Visit its informational webpage at https://www.mybct.bank/about/bctcares/. BCTCares Foundation, Inc., EIN 87-1550562. Consult your tax adviser regarding possible tax benefits for donations. About BCT-Bank of Charles Town Founded in 1871, BCT - Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). With approximately $832 million in assets as of June 30, 2024, the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and two loan production offices. BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun and Stafford Counties (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network plus another approximately 675 free access ATMs through another partnership. The Bank provides convenient online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction loans, commercial real estate loans, agricultural loans, and government contractor loans. The Bank is also a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 70 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided trust services, growing into a premier financial management, investments, and estate services provider. BCT was voted the winner in the LoudounNow 2024 Loudoun's Favorites readers' poll in four categories: Bank, Mortgage Company, Banker, and Financial Planner. In 2023, American Banker selected BCT as a "Top 200 Community Bank," an annual listing of the best performing banks in the United States with assets under $2 billion. BCT was voted a "Best of the Best" winner in the 2023 Journal-News Readers' Choice Awards in four categories: Bank, Mortgage Company, Loan Services, and Financial Planning. In 2023, 2021, 2020, and 2019 the Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker. The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank. SOURCE BCT - Bank of Charles Town PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 23, 2024, a federal judge tapped a team of lawyers from Berger Montague PC, Susman Godfrey LLP, and Edelson PC to take the lead for the class action plaintiffs in consolidated multidistrict litigation ("MDL") accusing MultiPlan and many large insurers of colluding to systematically underpay out-of-network healthcare providers. The Berger Montague Shareholders leading this MDL on a day-to-day basis will be Eric Cramer, Zachary Caplan, and Patrick Madden. They are joined by Associate Hope Brinn, as well as Shareholders David Sorensen and Daniel Walker, who will also play important roles in this matter. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly chose Berger Montague, Susman Godfrey, and Edelson as co-lead counsel from among several competing bids stating that the team is well-qualified and their proposal "made the most sense." Berger Montague Chairman Eric Cramer remarked, "We look forward to litigating this important case alongside our co-lead counsel. This diverse team brings together three renowned law firms that will best represent the plaintiffs and the proposed class." The MDL stems from a flurry of federal cases filed after investigations and reporting by The New York Times and others on MultiPlan and potential collusion in health care pricing. All such actions were centralized by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation before Judge Kennelly in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Now that Judge Kennelly has ruled on plaintiffs' leadership, this case will shift into substantive pretrial matters. The case is In re: MultiPlan Health Insurance Provider Litigation, 1:24-cv-06795, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. If you are a healthcare provider that provided out-of-network medical services since July 2017 and would like to discuss your legal options, please contact Susan Leo at [email protected] or (215) 875-3081. Berger Montague is one of the nation's preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. The firm is active in the fields of antitrust, commercial litigation, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For more than 50 years, Berger Montague has played lead roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $60 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago, Minneapolis, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, DE. Edelson PC is a nationally recognized leader in high-stakes plaintiff's litigation, including class actions, mass torts, government enforcement and antitrust actions. As lead counsel, the firm has recovered over $5 billion in settlements and judgments, with its overall settlements and judgments surpassing $45 billion. Edelson PC has offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Boulder, Washington, D.C., and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Susman Godfrey is a nationwide law firm of 170 trial lawyers. The firm handles high-stakes litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of practice areas and industries. Susman Godfrey's attorneys are known for finding a fee arrangementcontingent, flat, hourly, or hybridthat best suits a client's case. With a relentless focus on winning at trial, Susman Godfrey is recognized as American Lawyer's National Boutique Litigation Firm of the Year and for thirteen consecutive years has been named by Vault as the nation's leading litigation boutique. Press Contact: Amy Wall-Monte 215.875.3021 [email protected] SOURCE Berger Montague NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Burford Capital, the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today releases its latest Burford Quarterly, a journal of legal finance that explores the top trends at the nexus of law and finance. Coinciding with Burford's 15th anniversary, this Burford Quarterly examines the evolution of the legal finance industry over the last decade-and-a-half and highlights the benefits of legal finance for businesses. Articles in the Burford Quarterly 4 2024 include: Burford at 15: Charting the next chapter Since its founding by Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bogart and Chief Investment Officer Jonathan Molot 15 years ago, Burford has invested in research to track awareness and understanding of legal finance. David Perla and Aviva Will delve into what past research on legal finance tells us about its ongoing evolution. Legal finance: A strategic solution for modern business challenges Businesses with varying financial needs and a range of experience with affirmative litigation use legal finance. Jorn Eschment and Alyx Pattison provide an overview of use scenarios for businesses across the spectrum. The IP monetization revolution: Current trends and future directions Increasingly, leading businesses with significant patent portfolios are monetizing assets to drive revenue and innovation. Patent experts Katharine Wolanyk and Christopher Freeman explore how businesses are rethinking IP monetization strategies to maximize value. Championing change: Equity Project leaders on diversity in law As Burford launches phase three of its award-winning Equity Project, a group of corporate and law firm leaders who serve as Equity Project Champions discuss with Liz Bigham the current state of diversity in the legal industry, particularly in the leadership of commercial litigation and arbitration, and share insights on driving meaningful change within the profession. In conversation with Jonathan Hamilton : Arbitration in Latin America In this Spanish-language video interview (with a corresponding English-language transcript), Florencia Villaggi speaks with Paul Hastings Partner Jonathan Hamilton about the latest arbitration trends in Latin America and the emerging challenges and opportunities in the region. Spanish experts discuss new proposed collective redress bill Legal experts discuss the implications of a newly proposed bill on collective redress in Spain with Philipp Leibfried and Charlie Rooke , examining its potential impact on litigation strategies, its influence on the future of consumer protection and the role of legal finance in relation to the bill. Aviva Will, President of Burford Capital, says: "Since our founding, Burford has been committed to publishing insightful thought leadership and research about commercial legal finance, and the latest edition of The Burford Quarterly honors that 15-year tradition. In 2009, when Chris Bogart and Jon Molot founded Burford, they knew that legal finance could transform the business of law and that educating business and legal leaders about our industry would be key. This Quarterly brings together a diverse range of expert viewpoints, including perspective on 15 years of legal finance research, the transformation in how large corporations monetize patents, trends in Spain and Latin America, and how to improve the lack of diversity in the business of law. At Burford, we remain just as committed today as we were 15 years ago in leading the charge on the industry's most pressing issues." About Burford Capital Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world from its offices in New York, London, Chicago, Washington, DC, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.burfordcapital.com. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any ordinary shares or other securities of Burford. SOURCE Burford Capital Development 104-Acre Meadowville Site Will Start Immediately to Deliver 300 MW of AI-ready Hyperscale Data Center Capacity RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a bold move to strengthen the digital infrastructure landscape in Virginia, PowerHouse Data Centers , a leading real estate developer for next-generation hyperscale data centers and division of American Real Estate Partners ( AREP ), and strategic joint venture partner, Chirisa Technology Parks ( CTP ), the wholesale and hyperscale data center development platform of Chirisa Investments, have announced the acquisition of 104 acres in Chesterfield County, directly adjacent to CTP's existing technology campus. Chirisa Technology Parks Development at the newly acquired Meadowville site, which will be introduced to market as Digital Drive, will include five turn-key AI-ready facilities totaling over 600,000 square feet of space. The campus is designed to provide AI-optimized infrastructure supported by 300 MW of secured power from the adjacent Meadowville substation. This substation, currently under construction in partnership with Dominion Energy, is part of a broader initiative to reinforce the grid at the Meadowville Technology Park with an eventual goal of adding over 1 GW of power capacity. Digital Drive's first facility is expected to be delivered by 2026, with full campus completion projected by 2028. This speed to market timeline defines the partners' dedication to delivering high-quality, scalable data center infrastructure on a rapid schedule. The phased approach ensures that hyperscale and AI customers will have access to flexible infrastructure that can adapt to evolving market needs. "Digital Drive is another incredible project for CTP and PowerHouse as we continue our expansion into Chesterfield County together," said Doug Fleit, Founder and CEO of PowerHouse. "When completed, the campus will provide scalable, flexible infrastructure that accelerates time-to-market for hyperscalers and enterprises alike. As the market continues to shift towards higher-density, AI-ready workloads, Richmond is becoming a central hub for these types of developments, and we are proud to play a key role in that growth." Richmond has emerged as a rapidly growing market for hyperscale data centers due to its strategic location and robust infrastructure. Situated along the I-95 corridor, with direct access to long-haul fiber routes, the region offers exceptional connectivity to major population centers on the East Coast, from New York and Washington, D.C. to Charlotte and Atlanta. Digital Drive will leverage this connectivity, strategically positioning Chesterfield County as a critical node for hyperscalers needing low-latency, high-capacity data infrastructure to serve cloud computing and AI workloads. Meg Davis, Head of Design, Development & Delivery for CTP, stated, "Speaking both personally and on behalf of my CTP and PowerHouse colleagues, I am thrilled we have closed on this exciting acquisition; this was a true team effort. Digital Drive is a game changer for Richmond and Chesterfield County. We're excited to start construction immediately and leverage our proprietary high-density AI-Ready design, to deliver a prime hyperscale campus that meets demand for turnkey hyperscale facilities". CTP and PowerHouse are committed to delivering high-performance infrastructure that also aligns with sustainability goals. The Digital Drive campus will integrate CTP's proprietary 'direct-on-chip' liquid cooling design, which is nearly twice as power-efficient as traditional air-cooled systems. This innovative cooling solution will reduce energy consumption and provide an environmentally responsible option for hyperscalers as they scale operations. In addition to advanced cooling technologies, the campus is collaborating with Chesterfield County to source water for the site from a local reclaimed water system. This will further reduce the environmental footprint of the development by minimizing the use of natural resources and leveraging local sustainability initiatives. These steps reflect both companies' commitment to responsible development, ensuring that hyperscale growth can be achieved in a way that benefits both customers and the surrounding community. The economic impact of Digital Drive will extend far beyond its technological innovations. The campus is expected to create 800 to 1,200 jobs over the next five to seven years. These roles will span design, construction, safety, operations, and administration, contributing significantly to the local economy. The influx of skilled jobs in the region will also position Chesterfield County as a focal point for technical expertise in hyperscale data center development. The partnership between PowerHouse and CTP ensures that the region will benefit from cutting-edge technology and investment, further solidifying Richmond's reputation as a destination for hyperscale infrastructure This latest campus project is the second joint venture collaboration between PowerHouse and CTP, following the recent announcement of the CTP-02 and CTP-03 developments for Coreweave. The Digital Drive Campus reinforces the strength of their partnership and combined expertise to create a new benchmark in data center delivery. About PowerHouse Data Centers PowerHouse Data Centers, a wholly owned division of American Real Estate Partners (AREP), is a developer and owner of next-generation data centers and provides technical real estate solutions for hyperscalers across the country. Starting in Northern Virginia's Data Center Alley, the world's largest data center market, before strategically expanding to key markets across the United States, PowerHouse owns its land sites, offering unparalleled fast-track approvals and zoning approvals in its full suite of development services. As an industry disruptor, PowerHouse provides flexible next-generation data center models with the quickest speed to market of any data center while meeting hyperscalers' growing market, data, utility, and space demands. The company has 57 buildings currently in planning, underway or completed, representing over 4.1 GW of power in six major US markets. Operating as the data center division of AREP, PowerHouse is uniquely positioned as a leader in world-class data center development. With some of the industry's deepest real estate relationships, PowerHouse leverages its strategic joint venture partnerships, proven leadership, and best-in-class technical expertise to deliver innovative real estate solutions nationwide. Visit our newsroom for more information, and follow us on LinkedIn , YouTube , and X . About CTP Chirisa Technology Parks (CTP) is focused on developing highly connected data center campuses with ample power availability in high-demand growth markets in the United States and Europe. CTP's existing data centers are located in Richmond, VA; Chicago, IL; Piscataway, NJ; Pittsburgh, PA and Seattle, WA. CTP currently has over 1,000,000 square feet of purpose-built data center capacity under development, with a pipeline in excess of 1GW under development in the USA and Europe. CTP's designs and rapid delivery process are focused on high-efficiency, leading-edge deployments. CTP has broad capability to partner and/or operate critical facilities, offering solutions for powered shell, build-to-suit, and turnkey delivery of assets for large and sophisticated customers. SOURCE American Real Estate Partners (AREP) Scientists investigated a drug namely IU1 for mitigating age-related problems in protein quality control systems SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aging is an inevitable phenomenon and is accompanied by several comorbidities. To this end, research into the effects of aging has become paramount, and scientists are looking for ways to slow down aging and its detrimental impact on the human body. While aging ultimately causes deterioration in all body systems, the disruption of protein homeostasis or 'proteostasis' is one of the major underlying reasons. Using fruit flies as an animal model, researchers shed light on the synergistic effects of two different mechanisms by which cells destroy faulty proteins that lead to aging. Moreover, by administering a modern drug, IU1, they could prevent age-related decline, leading to longer and healthier lifespans in fruit flies. These findings could be key to developing anti-aging medicine and treatments for challenging diseases that are more common in old age. Our cells have several mechanisms that help detect damaged or misfolded proteins and break them down. These 'protein quality control' systems prevent faulty proteins from aggregating and accumulating, causing cellular stress and long-lasting issues. As a person ages, these systems decline in function, which sets the stage for many age-related degenerative diseases and chronic conditions. Thus, preventing the disruption of proteostasis mechanisms could be the key to increasing longevity and improving the quality of life among older adults. In this vein, a research team from Korea set out to investigate the relationship between two essential protein quality control systems, namely proteasomes and autophagy. The researchers led by Professor Seogang Hyun from Chung-Ang University, Korea, identified a drug that could preserve the performance of these systems, demonstrating interesting anti-aging effects. This study made available online on August 15, 2024 in the journal Autophagy. Proteasomes are protein complexes that break down faulty proteins into smaller peptides. On the other hand, autophagy is a process by which cells degrade and recycle larger structures, including protein aggregates, through the formation of specialized vesicles. Both systems work in concert to maintain proteostasis, but the mechanism of their synergistic activation to mitigate the effects of aging is not well understood. Fortunately, an interesting compound ended up catching Prof. Hyun's attention. "A few years ago, I learned from an academic conference that a certain drug called IU1 can enhance proteasomal activity, which encouraged our group to test its anti-aging effects," he explains. The researchers employed an animal model for studying the aging process: fruit flies from the genus Drosophila. Since fruit flies have a short lifespan and their age-related muscle deterioration is quite similar to that in humans, Drosophila constitutes a valuable model for studying aging. They treated flies with the drug IU1 and measured various behavioral- and proteostasis-related parameters. The results were quite promising, as Prof. Hyun remarks: "Inhibiting the activity of ubiquitin specific peptidase 14 (USP14), a component of the proteasome complex, with IU1 enhanced not only proteasome activity but also autophagy activity simultaneously. We demonstrated that this synergistic mechanism could improve age-related muscle weakness in fruit flies and extend their lifespan." Worth noting that similar results were obtained in human cells. These findings have important ramifications, especially regarding advances in anti-aging therapy. "Reduced protein homeostasis is a major characteristic of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The results of our study might lay the groundwork for the development of treatments for various age-related diseases," highlights Prof. Hyun. We hope that these newfound insights pave the way for therapeutics that improve quality of life and extend lifespans. Reference Title of original paper: Pharmacological inhibition of USP14 delays proteostasis-associated aging in a proteasome-dependent but foxo-independent manner Journal: Autophagy DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2024.2389607 About Chung-Ang University Website: https://neweng.cau.ac.kr/index.do Contact: Sungki Shin 02-820-6614 [email protected] SOURCE Chung-Ang University NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlighting that Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) should be seen as an opportunity to deliver socioeconomic growth, COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber today called on Parties to issue a third round of NDCs that "meet the urgency of the moment" and represent a "comprehensive response plan" to the UAE Consensus. Parties should view their NDCs "not as a burden but as platforms for new streams of growth, green jobs and a clean future," the COP28 President said at a high-level COP Presidencies Troika event, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. "The UAE Consensus gave us a blueprint for transformation: we must now act on it," Dr. Al Jaber said at the COP Presidencies Troika's 'Roadmap to Mission 1.5: NDC 3.0' event. The COP Presidencies Troika, an unprecedented collaboration between the COP presidencies of the UAE, Azerbaijan and Brazil, is primarily focused on stimulating the "highest level of ambition" in the next round of NDCs, Dr. Al Jaber said. While Parties must submit their next round of NDCs by February 2025, submitting them earlier would help build momentum, Dr. Al Jaber said, announcing that the UAE will submit its third NDC ahead of COP29, due to be held in Azerbaijan from 11-22 November. "Let me take this opportunity to call on all Parties to be early movers and to provide concrete signals on their NDCs by or before COP29 to build momentum during this critical decade of action," the COP28 President said. "Let's deliver transformational NDCs backed by serious investment to deliver on the mandate of the UAE Consensus, and let's drive a new era of sustainable socioeconomic growth that keeps 1.5C within reach, advances prosperity and leaves no one behind." The UAE's NDC will "cover all greenhouse gases and every sector of the economy, including energy, industry, transportation and waste," he said. "It will leverage the latest technologies, including AI, to drive decarbonization and enhance adaptive resilience by transforming food, health and early warning systems. And it will back all efforts with a robust legal framework that holds every sector accountable to specific, timebound goals." In a call to all Parties, Dr. Al Jaber said that if the next round of NDCs is done right, they can "leverage" the three global megatrends of the energy transition, the rise of AI and the expansion of emerging markets and the Global South. Dr. Al Jaber said that the UAE has been a leader in diversifying its energy mix, having already more than doubled its renewable energy capacity since 2019 and being on track to more than triple it by 2030. Dr. Al Jaber also highlighted the progress made by the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC) since COP28, which now has 54 members, covering 43 percent of global oil production. For nations looking to incentivize industry sectors in their NDCs, the OGDC demonstrates how "inclusive engagement" can lead to "meaningful results," he said. The COP28 President emphasized the importance of finding consensus on a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on finance at COP29 to ensure that finance goes to where it is needed the most. As part of the Troika's mission to raise ambition for the next round of NDCs, the COP Presidencies Troika launched an Action and Ambition Majlis series, bringing countries together at events like the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Germany and the Ministerial on Climate Action in Wuhan, China. SOURCE COP28 Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. On the final day of the 5th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition "ADEX", Azerbaijani Defense Ministry officials visited the Baku Expo Center, Trend reports via the ministry. The Azerbaijani Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, met with the leadership of the China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC). The meeting featured an in-depth exchange of views on joint military-technical cooperation and various other matters of mutual interest. National Transportation Safety Board advises homeowners to install natural gas alarms as the US continues to lose too many lives and homes to catastrophic explosions that are preventable tragedies. LISLE, Ill., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DeNova Detect, created by New Cosmos USA Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturer of natural gas alarms, is using Fire Prevention Week October 6th-12th as an opportunity to educate Americans about natural gas safety. With natural gas explosions on the rise due to aging infrastructure, aging appliances and loose gas connections, there is a growing awareness that a trifecta of safety alarms, smoke, carbon monoxide and natural gas alarms is needed to keep homes, families and business safe. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now advising Americans with natural gas appliances to install natural gas alarms which detect gas leaks before they ignite and cause explosions. New York City began requiring natural gas alarms this year as does the state of Maine. Seven other states including Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Tennessee have legislation pending to require these important life-safety alarms. DeNova Detect produces the only residential battery-operated 10 year natural gas alarm tested to UL1484 Standard by ETL. Post this DeNova Detect produces the only residential fully battery-operated 10 year natural gas alarm in the world, tested to UL1484 Standard by ETL. In addition to detecting natural gas on average 11 minutes sooner than traditional gas sensors, it also operates for ten years without any need to change the battery and all DeNova Detect alarms have a virtually zero rate of false alarms. Voice alerts in English and Spanish announce the type of hazard and instructions to evacuate and then call 911. DeNova Detect also offers a 10 year 2-in-1 combination natural gas and carbon monoxide alarm. DeNova Detects cordless design means it can be placed closer to the ceiling where natural gas rises and accumulates first. This is one of several reasons it provides earlier detection than the traditional plug-in alarms. Voice alerts in English and Spanish announce the type of hazard and instructions to evacuate and then call 911. Natural gas alarms should be installed near every gas appliance. "We are very pleased that the NTSB, the nation's leading public safety agency is advising people to install natural gas alarms and that many lawmakers and fire safety professionals are taking this issue seriously. Although natural gas alarms are proven to prevent gas explosions with early detection, many consumers are still not aware this life-saving technology exists even though 60 percent of homes in the U.S. use natural gas," said Ron Lazarus, COO of DeNova Detect/New Cosmos USA. "During the month of October, DeNova Detect will participate in community education and media events across the United States. It is the perfect time to raise awareness about natural gas safety since there is an increased focus on fire prevention." A natural gas incident or explosion occurs approximately every 40 hours in the United States. Local fire departments respond to thousands of home fires each year that start with the ignition of natural gas. During the past several decades, natural gas leaks have led to explosions claiming many American lives, injuring many more and destroying apartment buildings and single and multi-family housing with millions of dollars in property damage. Oftentimes, it is difficult to recognize the presence of a gas leak or there is little warning before an explosion occurs. Kansas City, Kansas Fire Chief Dennis Rubin remembers the first fatality he ever responded to it was from a natural gas explosion. "It is etched in my mind and always will be. It happened in 1972, leveling two homes, seriously damaged a third and killing two small children and their mother. If there had been a natural gas alarm in the home to alert them, they could have gotten out and lived," said Kansas City Fire Chief Dennis Rubin. "Today more than half a century later, we continue to lose too many lives and homes and we are putting firefighters at risk from catastrophic natural gas explosions. Natural gas alarms are a simple and very effective step consumers can take now to protect their families and homes." New York City became the first major American city to require natural gas alarms earlier this year. In the past decade, New York City has experienced several devastating natural gas explosions where residents were killed and injured, buildings were destroyed, and families lost their homes. Consolidated Edison launched a pilot program in New York in 2018 featuring natural gas alarms aimed at preventing future gas explosions. Con Ed chose to use DeNova Detect natural gas alarms and has installed more than 250,000 of them in buildings and homes across Manhattan and Westchester County. "We are proud that New York City is leading the nation in this important public safety issue and we hope others will soon follow our lead. Natural gas alarms and the early detection and warnings they provide are essential for public safety," said Assemblywoman Alicia L. Hyndman from Queens, New York. "As the most densely populated major city in the U.S., gas related incidents that occur here often impact entire neighborhoods. That's why it is crucial to detect gas leaks before there is an explosions and lives are irretrievably broken." DeNova Detect produces the only residential fully battery-operated 10 year natural gas alarm in the world, tested to UL1484 Standard by ETL. In addition to detecting natural gas on average 11 minutes sooner than traditional gas sensors, it also operates for ten years without any need to change the battery and has a virtually zero rate of false alarms. DeNova Detect also offers a 2-in-1 combination natural gas and carbon monoxide alarm. DeNova Detect's cordless design means it can be placed closer to the ceiling where natural gas rises and accumulates first. This is one of several reasons it provides earlier detection than the traditional plug-in alarms. Voice alerts in English and Spanish announce the type of hazard and instructions to evacuate and then call 911. Natural gas alarms should be installed near every gas appliance, including cooking appliances, clothes dryers, water heaters, furnaces, and gas fireplaces. Look for alarms in Lowe's stores, on lowes.com and DeNovaDetect.com. About New Cosmos USA, Inc/DeNova Detect. New Cosmos Electric, a leading global supplier of natural gas alarms for more than 60 years, formed a wholly owned subsidiary, New Cosmos USA, Inc., in 2018. New Cosmos USA is headquartered in the Chicago area and has developed the DeNova Detect brand to provide gas alarms to some of the largest utility companies in the U.S. as well as commercial and residential customers. With more than 70 million residential gas alarms sold worldwide, and the developer of the first-ever residential natural gas alarm, New Cosmos remains committed to delivering cutting-edge safety solutions to customers globally to protect what matters most. SOURCE DeNova Detect ATLANTA, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of Israeli women, displaced from their homes due to ongoing rocket fire and drone attacks from Hezbollah, are in Atlanta this week thanks to Jewish National Fund-USA to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis in northern Israel. The delegation of Israeli women spoke to school students in Atlanta Jewish National Fund-USA volunteers help rebuild communities in Israel Over the past 11 months, over 70,000 Israelis have been forced to evacuate their homes, however, these women refuse to see themselves as victims. Instead, they are determined to return to their towns and villages and rebuild stronger, more resilient communities. With the help of Atlanta's philanthropic community and Jewish National Fund-USA, they aim to reimagine northern Israel's future. Among the women leading this effort are Efrat Eldan Schechter, Linoy Madar, and Eti Madar Itzhak, all of whom have been personally affected by the attacks but remain steadfast in their mission to create a brighter future for their children and their communities. These inspiring women are available for media interviews during their time in Atlanta to share their powerful stories and discuss their vision for the future of northern Israel. Jewish National Fund-USA's Atlanta Board President, Mark Kopkin, stressed the importance of raising awareness about the situation. "Our brothers and sisters in Israel's north have faced unimaginable challenges. It's critical that we drive visibility and understanding of their plight here in Atlanta and across the U.S. Now, more than ever, we must rally behind them to provide the resources needed to rebuild and reimagine their communities." The delegation of displaced women has been meeting with local philanthropists and community leaders throughout the week, sharing their stories of resilience and determination. They aim to forge new partnerships and gather support for Jewish National Fund-USA's "Reimagine" plan for Israel's north, a comprehensive plan to rebuild and rejuvenate the region. For interviews with Efrat, Linoy, and Eti, please contact: Stefan Oberman: [email protected] / 212.879.9305 x222 About Jewish National Fund-USA Jewish National Fund-USA builds a strong, vibrant future for the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives and Zionist education. As a leading philanthropic movement, the organization supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel's north and south as it develops new communities in the Negev and Galilee, connects the next generation to Israel, and creates infrastructure and programs that support ecology, people with disabilities, and heritage site preservation, all while running a fully accredited study abroad experience through its Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Learn more at jnf.org. SOURCE Jewish National Fund-USA Awards $50,000 to the American Red Cross as Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida later today ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida later today, Duke Energy Florida is reminding customers that the company has 8,000 workers, including nearly 4,000 in The Villages in Central Florida, ready to respond to widespread power outages as soon as conditions allow. The company is also encouraging customers to remain informed and vigilant while prioritizing safety above all else before, during and after the storm. "Hurricane Helene poses a significant threat to Florida's Big Bend and other communities along the state's west coast. The potential of a category four storm can cause widespread damage to our equipment resulting in extended outage durations for our customers," said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director. "We can't overstate how critical it is for our customers in these areas to keep safety top of mind in the hours and days ahead." In anticipation of the Hurricane Helene, the Duke Energy Foundation has awarded $50,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster response and relief efforts. This is in addition to the $3.5 million the Foundation has donated specifically to the American Red Cross' emergency response work in Florida over the last five years, as well as a previous $100,000 grant to upgrade the organization's Emergency app. "The American Red Cross offers life-saving services in the aftermath of hurricanes and other disasters," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "It's our privilege to contribute to this important mission and help ensure our fellow Floridians can get back on their feet as quickly as possible post-Helene." Customers are advised to practice the safety protocols below: Have a portable radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio on hand to monitor the storm's latest developments. In case of strong winds, stay away from windows and doors, even if they are covered. Seek shelter in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest floor. Disconnect or turn off any nonessential electrical equipment that may start automatically when power is restored to avoid overloading circuits. Do not open freezers or refrigerators more than necessary. Opening these appliances will allow food to thaw quicker. For more information, see the FDA's food safety guidelines. To report a power outage, text OUT to 57801, call 800.228.8485 or report online or through the mobile app. For more safety tips, please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips. Duke Energy Florida Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear. More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. Contact: Ana Gibbs 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 SOURCE Duke Energy Kay Properties & Investments, known for its top-tier educational events and publications, introduces a new webinar theme focused on tackling the debt replacement challenge for 1031 exchange investors. TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dwight Kay, Founder and CEO of Kay Properties & Investments, one of the nation's most active 1031 investment firms specializing in Delaware Statutory Trusts, announced the release of the latest installment in the firm's weekly webinar series, titled "How to Replace Debt in a 1031 Exchange." This new webinar presentation explores how Delaware Statutory Trusts can potentially offer a streamlined and convenient solution for investors facing the debt-replacement challenge in a 1031 exchange. Dwight Kay, founder and CEO of Kay Properties & Investments announced a new Webinar topic titled, "How to Replace Debt in a 1031 Exchange". Kay Properties hosts a weekly webinar series held every Wednesday at 11 a.m. PST and 2 p.m. EST. According to Kay, understanding the concept of debt replacement in a 1031 can be one of the most confusing topics for even experienced real estate investors. In many cases, investors may not be aware that Delaware Statutory Trusts can provide an efficient 1031 Exchange Strategy that can potentially simplify the exchange process as outlined in Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 while also potentially eliminating the burden of personal guarantees and extensive financial disclosures typically required with acquiring a loan on a property. "I am very excited to announce the latest Kay Properties webinar theme now being presented during our weekly webinar series held every Wednesday at 11 a.m. PST and 2 p.m. EST. We are also presenting this new presentation to thousands of investment property owners nationwide. This new presentation is designed to instruct 1031 investors how the Delaware Statutory Trust can be used as a strategic debt-replacement tool for investment property owners. We believe investors will be excited to view this presentation as we created it to be both easily understood and thoroughly detailed for a full picture of debt-replacement strategies including providing specific examples of various leverage scenarios with respective 1031 exchange case studies," said Kay. Kay explained the newest presentation begins by outlining the basic 1031 requirements required for a full tax deferral including the 1031 Value Replacement Rule which states that the value of the replacement property in a 1031 must be equal to or greater than the value of the relinquished property, and that any cash or debt not reinvested is known as a "boot", and is subject to capital gains taxes. "While these basic rules may seem very straightforward on paper, it is remarkable how complicated this concept can get when investors face real life, complicated debt replacement scenarios. That's why we believe this presentation will be both very popular and valuable because it carefully breaks down how Delaware Statutory Trusts can potentially make the debt-replacement challenge remarkably straightforward and efficient," said Kay. Kay points out that the latest debt-replacement presentation also highlights some often-missed advantages of using Delaware Statutory Trusts for 1031 investors such as: Pre-Arranged Debt With Delaware Statutory Trusts, the debt component is already structured and in place to satisfy value replacement requirements of the 1031 investor. Because DSTs allow investors to purchase a fractional interest in the DST and because DSTs have a variety of financing ratios in place, investors don't need to personally secure new financing, undergo personal credit checks, or provide extensive financial documentation to a lender. Non-Recourse Debt A non-recourse loan is a type of debt that is secured by collateral, but limits the lender's recourse to that collateral if the borrower defaults. In other words, the lender can't pursue other assets of the borrower to collect the debt. For example, if a borrower defaults on a non-recourse apartment loan, the lender can only foreclose on the apartment and can't take other legal action against the owners to collect the debt. Finally, the latest Kay Properties & Investments webinar covers three types of Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) properties that are available on the www.kpi1031.com online marketplace, featuring case studies that demonstrate how 1031 investors can utilize DSTs to address various debt leverage scenarios. "Since DST properties can support a range of debt replacement needs, this presentation also presents specific examples of three different scenarios," said Kay. "These include DST properties with a 30% - 55% loan-to-value (LTV), highly leveraged properties with 70% - 90% LTV, known as Zero Coupon DSTs, and DSTs that are completely debt-free these are all cash DSTs that have no risk of a lender foreclosure, cash flow sweep or balloon mortgage maturity." For investors interested in learning more about how Delaware Statutory Trust properties can help solve the debt-replacement challenge for 1031 s, please visit www.kpi1031.com . About Kay Properties and www.kpi1031.com : Kay Properties helps investors choose 1031 exchange investments that help them focus on what they truly love in life, whether that be their children, grandkids, travel, hobbies, or other endeavors (NO MORE 3 T's - Tenants, Toilets and Trash!). We have helped 1031 exchange investors for nearly two decades exchange into over 9,100 - 1031 exchange investments. Please visit www.kpi1031.com for access to our team's experience, educational library and our full 1031 exchange investment menu. This material is not tax or legal advice. Please consult your CPA/attorney for guidance. Past performance does not guarantee or indicate the likelihood of future results. Diversification does not guarantee returns and does not protect against loss. Potential cash flow, potential returns and potential appreciation are not guaranteed. There is a risk of loss of the entire investment principal. Please read the Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) for the offerings business plan and risk factors before investing. Securities offered through FNEX Capital LLC member FINRA, SIPC. SOURCE Kay Properties and Investments New Infographic Illustrates EVQ-218's Novel Approach to Combatting the World's Worst Superbugs Without Triggering Antimicrobial Resistance SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the United Nations (UN) prepares to address the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance, EVOQ Nano is helping raise awareness through an educational infographic depicting a common trigger of antimicrobial resistance and highlighting EVQ-218's novel mechanism of action. EVOQ Nano AMR Infographic Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) considered a top 10 global health threat1 occurs when bacteria mutate to outsmart antibacterial agents, including antibiotics, leading to more severe infections and higher mortality rates. The UN General Assembly high-level meeting on AMR presents a critical opportunity for global stakeholders to address the growing threat. Combatting Pulmonary Bacterial Infections Bacteria's ability to form biofilms is a key factor in their resistance to antibiotics. Biofilms are protective layers that shield bacteria from therapeutic interventions and the body's immune system, especially in conditions like cystic fibrosis where infections become entrenched deep within the lungs. Pulmonary therapeutics face hurdles in reaching the lower respiratory passages due to the lungs' complex structure, mucus production, and natural clearance mechanism, which expels foreign particles. Recent preclinical trials of EVQ-218 show promise in addressing these challenges. In rodent studies, EVQ-218's uniform, sub-10 nm nanoparticles effectively penetrated the distal regions of the lungs, overcoming typical delivery barriers. This deep lung penetration, combined with data showing efficacy against biofilm formation, positions EVQ-218 as a promising candidate for tackling difficult-to-treat infections. Serial passage assays, a critical test to assess the development of drug resistance over time, have also been conducted on EVQ-218. The results showed no development of resistance in 28-day and 35-day testing. Resistance to other antibiotics typically occurs in 4-5 days.2-6 "The rising challenge of antimicrobial resistance calls for innovative solutions," said EVOQ Nano CEO, Shaun Rothwell. "EVQ-218 represents a promising approach that could significantly impact this global health threat. We're all in this fight together, and the more information we can share, the better equipped we'll be to develop effective solutions." Advancing Toward Clinical Trials EVOQ Bio, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVOQ Nano, received two grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to develop an inhaled therapeutic using EVQ-218 to combat pulmonary bacterial infections associated with cystic fibrosis. The company recently completed a successful Pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is confidently advancing toward Phase I clinical trials. EVQ-218 has been characterized as a new form of silver by the Journal of the American Chemical Society, ACS Omega. Unlike conventional antibacterial agents that often trigger AMR by rupturing bacterial cell walls, EVQ-218 employs a novel mechanism of action that kills bacteria from the inside.7 EVQ-218 infiltrates the bacterial cell and begins sequestering sulfur. This neutralizes the cell's energy source, disabling metabolic pathways and destroying the cell from the inside. 7 With death of the bacteria and no cell wall damage, warning signals are not sent to sibling bacteria, preventing bacterial proliferation and AMR.7 In vitro studies found EVQ-218 demonstrated efficacy against a range of pathogens, including the top six antibiotic-resistant strains identified by The World Health Organization.8 Acinetobacter baumannii, CR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, CR Escherichia coli, 3GCR Klebsiella spp., 3GCR Klebsiella spp., CR Enterobacter spp., SGCR About EVOQ Bio EVOQ Bio is a preclinical-stage nanotherapeutics company pioneering a nanomedicine platform with demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy. The company's first therapeutic in development is for the treatment of pulmonary bacterial infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. The inhaled therapeutic utilizes EVQ-218, a groundbreaking nanoparticle that has demonstrated efficacy against a wide range of pathogens, including the top six antibiotic-resistant strains identified by the World Health Organization. Characterized as a new form of silver,7 EVQ-218 is the first and only non-ionic silver nanoparticle with effective antimicrobial action devoid of cytotoxicity. EVOQ Bio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVOQ Nano. To learn more, visit evoqbio.com. About EVOQ Nano EVOQ Nano is a nanoscience company that engineers novel nanoparticles for the life, materials, and textile science industries. The company's multi-patented, high-volume laser nanofabrication process creates uniform, sub-10 nm nanoparticles with distinct surface chemistry. These properties represent a significant advancement in nanoscience with the potential for a wide range of applications. To learn more, visit evoqnano.com. Media Contact Capwell Communications [email protected] References "Antimicrobial Resistance." World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance#:~:text=Key%20facts,of%20modern%20medicine%20at%20risk. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024 . Cakic M, Glisic S, Nikolic G. Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of dextran sulphate stabilized silver nanoparticles. J Mol Struct. 2016;1110:156161. doi: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2016.01.040 Yan X, He B, Liu L, Qu G, Shi J, Hu L, Jiang G. Antibacterial mechanism of silver nanoparticles in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Proteomics approach. Metallomics. 2018;10:557564. doi: 10.1039/C7MT00328E Gamboa SM, Rojas ER, Martinez VV, Vega-Baudrit J. Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles and their application as an antibacterial agent. Int J Biosen Bioelectron. 2019;5(5):166-173. doi: 10.15406/ijbsbe.2019.05.00172 Rajeshkumar S, Bharath LV. Mechanism of plant-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticlesA review on biomolecules involved, characterisation and antibacterial activity. Chem Biol Interact. 2017;273:219227. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2017.06.019 Mikhailova EO. Silver nanoparticles: mechanism of action and probable bio-Application. J Funct Biomater. 2020 Dec; 11(4): 84. Published online 2020 Nov 26. doi: 10.3390/jfb11040084 Kennon BS, Niedermeyer WH. EVQ-218: Characterization of high-energy nanoparticles that measure up to NIST standards. ACS Omega. 2024;9(7):7891-7903. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07745 World Health Organization. Prioritization of Pathogens to Guide Discovery, Research and Development of New Antibiotics for Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections, including Tuberculosis. 2017;77. (Survey of world health experts) SOURCE EVOQ Nano CALGARY, AB, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Exro Technologies Inc. (TSX: EXRO) (OTCQB: EXROF) (the "Company" or "Exro"), a leading clean-technology company that provides proprietary motor-control and complete electric propulsion system technology for e-mobility, is pleased to announce its automotive OEM partner, Stellantis N.V. ("Stellantis"), with whom it had previously signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement ("NDA"). The announcement follows approximately 14 months of work completing the first phase focused on integrating the Exro Coil Driver technology into Stellantis' next-generation electric powertrains. Additionally, Exro is pleased to announce its recognition as a finalist for Best Supplier in the Innovation Category in the prestigious Stellantis Supplier Awards 2024. Leading Global Automotive Innovation Program Partner: Stellantis N.V. For the past 14 months, Exro and Stellantis have collaborated in a confidential innovation program to demonstrate the capabilities of Exro's Coil Driver technology for potential applications within Stellantis' passenger vehicles. The lifting of the NDA marks a milestone for the innovation program as the partners successfully progressed the partnership through multiple technical, performance, and cost study milestones. "Stellantis pushed us to evolve the Exro Coil Driver technology and prove the need to disrupt the passenger EV propulsion systems as they exist today", said Exro Chief Technology Officer Eric Hustedt. "They challenged us to demonstrate how our coil-switching inverter technology holds the potential to enhance system efficiency and power, while also holding the potential to significantly reduce cost and accelerate the adoption of EVs globally." Finalist for Supplier of the Year in Innovation Exro is proud to announce its recognition as a finalist in the Stellantis Global Automotive Supplier Awards, held at the Lingotto Conference Hall in Turin, Italy, on September 24, 2024. Exro was nominated as one of three finalists for the Best Supplier Award in the Innovation category. Teresa Thiele, Stellantis' Senior Vice President of Global Purchasing Programs said, "The innovation award honors suppliers that have created a feature with the potential of being a brand identifier or a market changer an innovation that fulfills the needs of the customer and positively impacts the brand or market position of our Stellantis vehicles, and is safe, affordable and sustainable. Exro was nominated for its expertise in innovative motor control technology, which significantly enhanced our electrified motor design, improved performance, and reduced costs, demonstrating the commitment to accelerate electric vehicle adoption in the passenger car market." The ceremony, attended by over 200 global suppliers and Stellantis' top executives, honored 68 finalists across 21 categories, recognizing their role in propelling Stellantis to the forefront of the global automotive industry. The event celebrated the excellence and collaboration of Stellantis' top-performing suppliers from around the globe, and Exro's recognition by Stellantis highlights its dedication to setting industry standards for quality, performance, and customer satisfaction. Exro remains committed to supporting Stellantis' vision of a transformative future. ABOUT STELLANTIS Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA) (Euronext Milan: STLAM) (Euronext Paris: STLAP) is one of the world's leading automakers and a mobility provider. Its storied and iconic brands embody the passion of their visionary founders and today's customers in their innovative products and services, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. Powered by our diversity, we lead the way the world moves aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com. ABOUT EXRO TECHNOLOGIES INC. Exro Technologies Inc., now expanded through the strategic acquisition of SEA Electric, is a leading clean technology company that has developed new generation power control electronics. Its innovative suite of solutions, including the Exro Coil Driver, Exro Cell Driver, and SEA-Drive, expand the capabilities of electric motors and batteries and offer OEMs a comprehensive e-propulsion solution with unmatched performance and efficiency. Exro is reshaping global energy consumption, accelerating adoption towards a circular electrified economy by delivering more with less minimum energy for maximum results. For more information visit our website at www.exro.com. To view our Corporate Presentation visit us at www.exro.com/investors Visit us on social media @exrotech. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified using terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulators, including the Company's annual information form for the financial year ended December 31, 2023, and financial statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com . Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. SOURCE Exro Technologies Inc. Newest MDT product aims to meet growing demand for retirement products PITTSBURGH, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Federated Hermes, Inc. (NYSE: FHI), a global leader in active investment management, today announced the launch of the Federated Hermes MDT Mid Cap Growth Collective Investment Fund, a strategy for qualified retirement plan investors. The fund pursues capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of US mid-cap growth companies. The Federated Hermes MDT stock-selection process utilizes cutting-edge research, technology and daily data from multiple market cyclesconferring the advantages of discipline, testability and repeatability. Through a bottom-up, systematic approach, it seeks to remove subjective and emotional influences from the stock-selection process. The fund is trusteed by Great Gray Trust Company, LLC (Great Gray), a leading provider of collective investment trusts (CITs) to the retirement plan market. Through the new CIT, Great Gray will offer retirement plan investors Federated Hermes MDT's experience in seeking alpha from multiple sourcesdifferentiating the fund from many other growth strategies. "Our MDT strategies have seen continued interest in the retirement market, and we are pleased to offer another vehicle in which clients can access our investment team's capabilities," said Paul Uhlman, President of Federated Securities Corp. "The new mid-cap growth CIT builds upon our relationship with Great Gray and is another step in growing Federated Hermes' global investment platform capabilities and bringing our diverse range of investment solutions to institutional investors." The fund is managed by a veteran portfolio management team: Daniel Mahr, CFA, who serves as Head of the MDT Group and has 22 years of experience; Damien Zhang, CFA, who is Head of MDT Research and has 15 years of experience; Frederick Konopka, CFA, who is Portfolio and Trading Manager and has 27 years of experience; and John Paul Lewicke, who serves as Research Manager and has 17 years of experience. The investment team behind the collective investment fund also manages more than $10 billion in several Federated Hermes MDT mutual funds, ETFs, institutional separate accounts and separately managed accounts (SMAs). The new fund is Federated Hermes' first equity CIT, complementing four fixed-income CITs with Great Gray: Federated Hermes Total Return Bond Collective Investment Fund, Federated Hermes High Yield Bond Collective Investment Fund, Federated Hermes Prime Cash Collective Investment Fund and Federated Hermes Unconstrained Credit Collective Investment Fund. Since 1986, Federated Hermes also has offered a stable value CITthe Federated Hermes Capital Preservation Fundwhich is trusteed by Federated Investors Trust Company. Federated Hermes, Inc. is a global leader in active, responsible investment management, with $782.7 billion in assets under management, as of June 30, 2024. We deliver investment solutions that help investors target a broad range of outcomes and provide equity, fixed-income, alternative/private markets, multi-asset and liquidity management strategies to more than 10,000 institutions and intermediaries worldwide. Our clients include corporations, government entities, insurance companies, foundations and endowments, banks and broker/dealers. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Federated Hermes has more than 2,000 employees in London, New York, Boston and offices worldwide. For more information, visit FederatedHermes.com/us. ### Collective funds are subject to risks and fluctuate in value. The quantitative models and analysis used by MDT may perform differently than expected and may affect fund performance. Diversification does not assure a profit nor protect against loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Alpha is a measure of how much or how little return is generated, given the risk a portfolio takes. SOURCE Federated Hermes, Inc. Amendment Will Ensure All Shareholders Are Treated Equally Under the Offer Regardless of Numbers of Shares Held No Additional Changes to Offer Terms or Timing Only Shareholders Holding Less Than 100 Shares Will be Affected by Amendment CALGARY, AB, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) ("Frontera" or the "Company") announced today that it will amend its previously announced substantial issuer bid (the "Offer") to remove the preferential acceptance of "odd lot" tenders, which are tenders from holders ("Shareholders") of common shares of the Company (the "Shares") who beneficially own fewer than 100 Shares. There will be no additional changes to the terms or timing of the Offer. The Offer will remain subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the offer to purchase and issuer bid circular (the "Issuer Bid Circular") dated September 11, 2024, as amended by a notice of variation to be dated and mailed to shareholders on or about September 27, 2024 (the "Notice of Variation"). The Company continues to offer to purchase from Shareholders up to 3,375,000 Shares for cancellation at a purchase price of CAD$12.00 per Share. The Offer remains open for acceptance until 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on October 17, 2024, unless the Offer is extended, withdrawn or varied by the Company. The amendment will ensure that all Shareholders are treated equally under the Offer regardless of the number of Shares held. Prior to the amendment, if more than 3,375,000 Shares were tendered for purchase through the Offer, the tendered Shares would be purchased on a pro rata basis according to the number of Shares tendered by the tendering Shareholders, except that tenders by Shareholders who own "odd lots" would not be subject to proration. The Company intends to remove this preference and therefore all tenders will be subject to proration if more than 3,375,000 Shares are tendered. If a Shareholder has previously made an "odd lot" tender (an "Odd Lot Tendering Shareholder"), such tender is no longer valid, and the Odd Lot Tendering Shareholder will be required to properly retender their Shares to accept the Offer. Any and all "odd lot" tenders will be deemed to be withdrawn, and Odd Lot Tendering Shareholders must take additional steps if they wish to participate in the Offer. Registered Odd Lot Tendering Shareholders who had previously submitted a letter of transmittal (in its previous form) (the "Original Letter of Transmittal") with their share certificate who wish to tender their Shares will be required to submit an amended letter of transmittal that will accompany the Notice of Variation (the "Amended Letter of Transmittal") to the depositary, which for the purpose of the Offer, will be deemed to be submitted with the share certificate currently held by the depositary. Odd Lot Tendering Shareholders who previously submitted a notice of guaranteed delivery (in its previous form) (the "Original Notice of Guaranteed Delivery") will be required to submit an amended notice of guaranteed delivery that will accompany the Notice of Variation (the "Amended Notice of Guaranteed Delivery"). Shareholders who are not Odd Lot Tendering Shareholders may use either the current letter of transmittal or notice of guaranteed delivery or the amended forms that will accompany the Notice of Variation. For more information about the Offer, please see the Company's September 4, 2024 press release. The terms and conditions of the Offer, including instructions for tendering Shares, have been included in the Issuer Bid Circular, Original Letter of Transmittal and Original Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (which have been filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca), as amended by the Notice of Variation, Amended Letter of Transmittal and Amended Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (which will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca on or about September 27, 2024). The Company will mail the Notice of Variation to all Shareholders to whom the Offer materials were required to be sent on or about September 27, 2024. Any questions or requests for assistance in tendering Shares to the Offer may be directed to Computershare Investor Services Inc., the depositary for the Offer. About Frontera Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 22 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner. If you would like to receive News Releases via email as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe . Social Media Follow Frontera Energy social media channels at the following links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/fronteraenergy?lang=en Facebook: https://es-la.facebook.com/FronteraEnergy/ LinkedIn: https://co.linkedin.com/company/frontera-energy-corp . Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements as to the Company's current intentions regarding the Offer and the amendment thereto, the timing, terms and conditions of the Offer, the mailing and filing of the Notice of Variation, Amended Letter of Transmittal and Amended Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, and the number of Shares to be purchased. Any such forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends and current market and other conditions. Readers should also refer to the risk factors set forth in the Company's annual information form and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, each dated March 7, 2024, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which forward-looking statements are based will be realized. Actual results may differ, and the difference may be material and adverse to the Company and its Shareholders. SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation The integration drives more strategic AI-powered document review for legal teams. CHICAGO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HaystackID today announced the integration of Relativity aiR for Review into its Core Intelligence AI , further enhancing its cutting-edge generative AI (GenAI) eDiscovery solution. By incorporating aiR for Review's advanced analytical capabilities, HaystackID offers a more efficient and accurate approach to managing the growing complexity of document review. This collaboration provides legal professionals with a faster, more cost-effective, and defensible solution to tackle the challenges posed by increasing data volumes and stringent legal requirements. "Core Intelligence AI represents a critical leap for legal professionals in managing electronically stored information (ESI) with maximum precision and speed," said Hal Brooks, CEO of HaystackID. "By incorporating advanced GenAI workflows and working with partners like Relativity, we are empowering our clients to eliminate arduous, time-consuming processes and focus instead on strategic, high-impact decision-making." "HaystackID's Core Intelligence AI represents the industry's commitment to advancing how legal professionals respond to complex data management. The integration of aiR for Review into this solution brings with it a new chapter of speed-to-insights, natural language reasoning and consistency," said Phil Saunders, CEO of Relativity. "This partnership embodies the industry's commitment to harnessing next-generation AI to empower legal professionals with fit-for-purpose tools that achieve real results." HaystackID's integration of aiR for Review into Core Intelligence AI is the latest development in the company's ongoing efforts to create more sophisticated analysis and review workflows by applying the principles of cutting-edge data science. Core Intelligence is a key part of the HaystackID's Discovery Intelligence suite, which combines advanced AI, data science precision, and machine learning to deliver deep insights and intelligence throughout the discovery lifecycle, from early data assessment to final review. Through machine learning models, predictive analytics, and natural language processing (NLP), HaystackID helps organizations extract deeper insights from vast datasets, automate complex classification tasks, and significantly improve the accuracy of document identification and relevance determination. "One evaluation criterion in selecting a provider is to look not just at the technology but the services around that technology," said John Brewer, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Chief Data Scientist at HaystackID. "Because our Data Science Services team has extensive practical experience spanning cybersecurity, information governance, and, of course, eDiscovery, they excel in extracting relevant data from complex systems and integrating it effectively for our clients. With our experts and technology, HaystackID clients get a practical and efficient solution while leveraging GenAI in a responsible and practical manner." aiR for Review is a component of Relativity aiR, Relativity's suite of fit-for-purpose generative AI solutions built within the security of RelativityOne. Designed with privacy, security, and transparency at its core, aiR for Review leverages advanced AI capabilities to accelerate and enhance the quality of document review, providing legal professionals with more efficient, consistent, and accurate results. Learn More About Core Intelligence AI and Relativity aiR for Review at Relativity Fest HaystackID is participating in Relativity Fest, an annual conference designed to educate and connect the legal data community. This year, HaystackID will contribute through expert presentations, sponsorships, and participation in the Relativity Innovation Awards. At the event, HaystackID experts will present how its Mobile Elite Discovery and Analysis Lab (MEDAL) Suite and ReviewRight Success Analytics solutions help legal teams navigate and solve complex data challenges effectively. For more information on how HaystackID can enhance your discovery workflows with Core Intelligence AI and Relativity aiR for Review, visit HaystackID.com or connect with our experts at Relativity Fest in Chicago from September 25-27, 2024. About HaystackID HaystackID specializes in solving complex data challenges related to legal, compliance, regulatory, and cyber events. Core offerings include Global Advisory, Data Discovery Intelligence, the HaystackID Core Platform, and AI-enhanced Global Managed Review powered by ReviewRight. Recognized globally by industry leaders like Chambers, Gartner, IDC, and Legaltech News, HaystackID prioritizes security, privacy, and integrity in its innovative solutions for leading companies and legal practices worldwide. About Relativity Relativity makes software to help users organize data, discover the truth and act on it. Its SaaS product, RelativityOne, manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. Relativity has more than 300,000 users in approximately 40 countries serving thousands of organizations globally primarily in legal, financial services and government sectors, including the U.S. Department of Justice and 198 of the Am Law 200. Please contact Relativity at [email protected] or visit www.relativity.com for more information. Contact Details HaystackID Media Contacts: Carolyn Depko [email protected] 908-565-3709 Rob Robinson [email protected] 512-934-7531 Relativity Media Contact: [email protected] HaystackID on Social Media + X (@HaystackID) + LinkedIn SOURCE HaystackID JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Capital Group, Inc. (Heritage), an investment banking and financial advisory firm serving middle-market and emerging growth companies in the U.S. and worldwide, is pleased to announce that its client, AQUAfin Swim Schools (AQUAfin), has been acquired by Emler Swim School (Emler). Heritage Capital Group advised AQUAfin in its acquisition by Emler Swim School. AQUAfin is a swim school that provides individual and group swimming lessons for infants through adults. The Company uses a proprietary progress-based curriculum model that places students in classes based on their level of proficiency, not just their age. AQUAfin was founded by two-time Olympic swimmer and the Bolles School alumnus, Nim Shapira. It is the largest privately held swim school chain in Florida, with eight locations across the state. Emler, established in 1975, specializes in teaching children how to swim through a fun, safe, and effective approach. It offers a structured curriculum across 11 levels that focus on both swimming skills and water safety. With over 60 locations throughout 15 states, Emler provides state-of-the-art facilities, including UV-purified pools and advanced air filtration systems, to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for children and their families. "It was a pleasure working with the Heritage team, led by Bill Prescott, to guide AQUAfin Swim School through this transaction," commented Nim. "Their deep understanding of service-oriented businesses opened up several valuable opportunities for us. Their expertise and attention to detail throughout the entire process were invaluable in helping us navigate each step. We could not have successfully completed this transaction without the Heritage team's support." Heritage served as the exclusive financial advisor to AQUAfin. The deal team was led by Bill Prescott and included Joe Hawkins, Howard Serkin, Chuck West, Robert Cilek, and Bobby Ward. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Heritage Capital Group provides objective advice to private companies in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, business valuations, debt and equity capital raises, corporate restructurings, and financial and strategic advisory services focused on enhancing the value of business enterprises. Heritage Capital Group is a FINRA registered broker-dealer, and a member of Oaklins, the world's most experienced mid-market M&A advisor, with 850 professionals globally and dedicated industry teams in 45 countries worldwide. Media Contact: Katie Quackenbush 904-354-9600 [email protected] SOURCE Heritage Capital Group Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. On September 26, at about 16:10, Armenian armed forces units from the positions located in the direction of Aravus settlement of Garakilsa region using large caliber machine guns subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Lakatagh settlement of Julfa region of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Trend reports. Azerbaijan Army Units took retaliatory measures in the mentioned direction. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Infosys Topaz will deliver accelerated business value from AI and future-proof the business BENGALURU, India and DENTON, Texas, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY), (BSE: INFY), (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced its strategic collaboration with Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (SBH), an American international specialty beauty retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies. Driving enterprise-scale IT transformation, Infosys will implement best practices in IT operations to bring efficiencies through the optimization of IT service delivery. Scott Lindblom, CIO, Sally Beauty, said, "We are excited to be collaborating with Infosys as we take SBH into the future by modernizing our IT service delivery and meeting the goals set by our 'Fuel for Growth' initiative. Embracing AI-amplified IT is a significant step forward for us in enabling us to, in turn, deliver exceptional experiences for our customers." The collaboration will also help SBH standardize and simplify their IT systems and services by implementing AI-driven hyper-automation. The transformation will enable SBH to activate enhanced IT services with 24/7 predictive and proactive monitoring. Karmesh Vaswani, EVP and Global Head of Consumer, Retail and Logistics, Infosys, said, "We are delighted to partner with Sally Beauty Holdings in their journey to embrace industry leadership and excellence in customer experience. Our assembly of Infosys Topaz applied AI assets, shaped from years of our global experience in the retail and consumer goods world, will help SBH to leapfrog ahead with an AI-first enterprise stack. Our collaboration exemplifies the commitment Infosys has to empowering businesses to accelerate their AI-led transformation while amplifying customer delight and operational efficiency." The project will consolidate numerous support services, drive process improvements and optimize costs over a five-year window. About Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SBH), as the leader in professional hair color, sells and distributes professional beauty supplies globally through its Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group businesses. Sally Beauty Supply stores offer up to 7,000 products for hair color, hair care, nails, and skin care through proprietary brands such as Ion, Bondbar, Strawberry Leopard, Generic Value Products, Inspired by Nature and Silk Elements as well as professional lines such as Wella, Clairol, OPI, L'Oreal, Wahl and Babyliss Pro. Beauty Systems Group stores, branded as CosmoProf or Armstrong McCall stores, along with its outside sales consultants, sell up to 8,000 professionally branded products including Paul Mitchell, Wella, Matrix, Schwarzkopf, Kenra, Goldwell, Joico, Amika and Moroccannoil, intended for use in salons and for resale by salons to retail consumers. For more information about Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., please visit https://www.sallybeautyholdings.com/. About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/4364085/Infosys_Logo.jpg SOURCE Infosys Ishan Bhabha to succeed Katya Jestin as co-managing partner effective January 1, 2025, and serve alongside Randy Mehrberg CHICAGO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jenner & Block is pleased to announce that Washington, DC, partner Ishan Bhabha has been selected to serve as the firm's next co-managing partner, effective January 1, 2025. Ishan will succeed Katya Jestin, who has held the role since January 2020 alongside Chicago partner Randy Mehrberg. Katya, based in New York, will remain a senior member of firm leadership as she shifts her focus to leading and growing the firm's Investigations, Compliance, and Defense Practice. Randy will remain as co-managing partner, while continuing to co-chair Jenner's widely recognized Energy practice. This transition follows a strategic succession planning process designed to continue the firm's historic success and ensure leadership continuity. "It has been an incredible privilege to serve in this leadership role for the last five years and I am thrilled that Ishan has agreed to be our next co-managing partner," Katya said. "Ishan is an extraordinary practitioner and leader and will further the firm's continued, record-breaking success and unique culture. I'm not going anywhere and I look forward to supporting him in his new role." Ishan is a first-chair litigator with extensive experience in both trial and appellate courts. He joined the firm as an associate in 2012 and became a partner in 2017. He has been a dedicated leader within the firm for many years. In addition to co-chairing the firm's Education and Technology practices, as well as its DEI Protection Task Force, he serves on Jenner & Block's Management Committee. Regarded as one of the nation's preeminent lawyers for institutions of higher education, as well as for large corporations facing complex legal, ethical, and reputational issues, Ishan has argued cases in numerous state and federal courts, and has also appeared before the US Supreme Court. Ishan is known as a trusted advisor who is able to anticipate major economic, political, and technological trends and prepare clients for the legal and regulatory risks that may ensue. Before joining Jenner & Block, he served as an appellate lawyer at the US Department of Justice. He also clerked for then-Judge Merrick Garland on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and Justice Anthony Kennedy on the US Supreme Court. Prior to attending law school, Ishan worked as a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. Ishan graduated, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School. "Jenner & Block is my professional home. I am honored to have earned my colleagues' trust to serve in this leadership role and take very seriously the responsibility that comes with it," Ishan said. "This is an exciting time for our firm. The legal industry is rapidly evolving, and we are shaping our future by leveraging our collective strengths to benefit our clients." "Ishan has a proven track record of driving innovation and growth, and his leadership will ensure that we continue to evolve and thrive in this ever-changing and competitive market," said Randy. "Ishan represents the exciting future of Jenner & Block and I'm excited to serve alongside him." The leadership transition follows a period of transformational growth at Jenner & Block. Katya and Randy assumed their co-managing partner roles as the legal industry faced unprecedented challengesfrom navigating the pandemic, to shifting market dynamics and client demands, to a growing need for accountability on social issues. Despite these challenges, during Katya and Randy's joint tenure, the firm has significantly grown its revenueprojected to be up over 2020 by more than 48 percent by the end of the yearwhile also significantly expanding its values-driven initiatives. For example, in 2021 the firm launched a five-year $250 million pro bono service commitment. Since then, it has averaged more than 75,000 pro bono hours each year, surpassing its commitment 18 months early and earning recent recognitions as the leading pro bono law firm in the United States and internationally. The firm is also recognized as a destination firm for mentorship and diversity. This well-rounded approach to growth recently earned the firm a spot on The American Lawyer's prestigious A-List, which recognizes high performance across a combination of factors including revenue, pro bono, associate satisfaction, and diversity. "As Ishan steps into his new role, Jenner & Block is well-positioned to continue our legacy of growth, innovation, and values-driven leadership, building on the successes Katya and Randy have guided over the past five years," said firm chair Tom Perrelli. "The firm is firing on all cylinders today, and this transition positions us for continued success tomorrow." ABOUT JENNER & BLOCK Founded in 1914, Jenner & Block is now an internationally recognized powerhouse with more than 500 lawyers in offices in Chicago, Century City, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. We shape what's next through experience, vision, and judgment. In the most sensitive and consequential matters our clients face, we are known for finding a clear path forward. We are the litigators behind some of the most significant victories from the trial level to the US Supreme Court; the dealmakers behind landmark corporate transactions transforming industries and markets; the investigators and compliance monitors restoring public confidence following high-profile legal, economic, and reputational threats; and the advocates advancing clients' interests and shaping policy. We stand out through bold action, intent, and impact. ABOUT ISHAN BHABHA Ishan Bhabha is a partner in Jenner & Block's Washington, DC, office, where he serves as a co-chair of the firm's Education and Technology practices, as well as its DEI Protection Task Force, and as a member of its Management Committee. He specializes in commercial, constitutional, and regulatory law, and frequently represents clients in arbitrations, before administrative agencies, and in government investigations. Ishan also advises public company boards on critical issues of ethical and regulatory risk. He is a member of the Legal Advisory Council for the McArthur Justice Initiative and the Legal Council for the President's Alliance for Immigration and Education. Before joining Jenner & Block, Ishan served as a law clerk for Justice Anthony Kennedy on the US Supreme Court and then-Judge Merrick Garland on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, and as an appellate lawyer at the US Department of Justice. Prior to law school, he worked as a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. Ishan received his law degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard College. ABOUT RANDY MEHRBERG Randy Mehrberg serves as Jenner & Block's co-managing partner and co-chair of the firm's Energy Practice. He is based in the firm's Chicago office. Randy helps clients navigate the full range of challenges and pressures his clients face. He has more than 40 years of experience in private practice and as a chief legal officer and strategic business leader for multibillion-dollar public companies. His broad experience includes high-stakes litigation, mergers and acquisitions, financings, securities, corporate governance, compliance, regulatory affairs, risk management, government relations, restructuring, real estate, tax, environmental, and labor and employment matters. Because he has walked miles in their shoes, clients look to Randy for business-oriented solutions on a wide range of important issues. As a senior advisor to the Mayor of Chicago and the general counsel of a large city agency, Randy understands how government works and excels at achieving positive outcomes. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, he received his law degree from the University of Michigan. ABOUT KATYA JESTIN Based in Jenner & Block's New York office, Katya Jestin serves Jenner & Block's outgoing co-managing partner and as co-chair of the firm's Investigations, Compliance and Defense Practice. She counsels clients in high-stakes criminal, regulatory, and congressional investigations, including representing clients before the US Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York State Attorney General's Office, and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. She also helps companies, executives, and boards conduct sensitive internal investigations on matters ranging from global compliance to culture risk. Katya currently serves as the DOJ-appointed monitor of Glencore Ltd. Prior to joining Jenner & Block, Katya was an Assistant United States Attorney and a supervisor in the Criminal Division of the Eastern District of New York. While a federal prosecutor, she tried multiple high-profile cases involving fraud, money laundering and other violations, and she convicted the leadership of three La Cosa Nostra organized crime families. A graduate of the University of Texas, she received her law degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. SOURCE Jenner & Block BOSTON, MA, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - The nine John Hancock closed-end funds listed below announced today that each fund's Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Annual Meeting") will be held on February 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, at the offices of the funds, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116: John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO) John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (NYSE: HEQ) John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE: JHS) John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE: JHI) John Hancock Preferred Income Fund (NYSE: HPI) John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (NYSE: HPF) John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (NYSE: HPS) John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) Shareholders of record of each fund as of the close of business on November 25, 2024 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. The notice for the Annual Meeting will be mailed to shareholders on or about December 27, 2024. At the Annual Meeting, shareholders of the funds will be asked to elect Trustees of the funds. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. About John Hancock Investment Management A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship. About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com. SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management Premier pre-settlement funding firm is able to offer non-recourse lawsuit loans in 24-48 hours with new streamlined website focused on Texas residents. AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay, the leading pre settlement funding source, is happy to announce a newly-redesigned website for their Texas customers. For any existing plaintiffs looking for a way to access their anticipated settlement money without having to wait out the endless months until their case sees the inside of a court room, a lawsuit loan might be the answer. What is a lawsuit loan? In short, it's a risk-free cash advance of the damages one would normally be awarded at the conclusion of a trial. However, with the sluggish pace of the court system, it could be monthssometimes yearsbefore a particular case ever makes it to the docket. That's why a lawsuit loan is such a great option. It gets you your money now, without having to wait. It's as simple as: Fill out an application here: Texas Lawsuit Loans Have your lawyer forward documentation about your case Get approved, usually within 24-48 hours Obviously, you probably have questions about the process. That's why Legal Bay has compiled a comprehensive website and a stellar staff of helpful, knowledgeable people to help you get all the answers. Chris Janish, CEO of Legal-Bay, commented, "Legal Bay has always strived to offer low rates and quick turnaround. Not only that, but we always lend our money risk-free, meaning the lawsuit loan only gets paid back if you win your case. If you lose, you owe Legal Bay nothing. We've always done things big here at Legal Bay, and if anyone can appreciate that, we figure it's the fine people of Texas." If you're a lawyer or plaintiff involved in an active lawsuit of any kind and need an immediate cash advance lawsuit loan against an impending lawsuit settlement, please visit Legal-Bay here: Texas Lawsuit Loans Legal-Bay offers cash settlement funding and lawsuit loans for all types of cases including wrongful incarceration, police brutality, personal injury, dog bite, construction accident, medical malpractice, motor vehicle collision, and more in places like Dallas / Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Houston, Odessa, Lubbock, Corpus Christi, Amarillo, and everywhere in between. To apply right now for a loan settlement program, please visit the company's website at Texas Lawsuit Loans or call toll-free at: 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by to answer any questions. SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC BOSTON, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Mutual Insurance President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Sweeney today announced that Jeff Dailey, formerly Chairman, President and CEO of Farmers Group, Inc., and Linda Mantia, formerly Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Manulife Financial Corporation, have been elected to the company's board of directors. Liberty Mutual Insurance Elects (L-R) Jeff Dailey and Linda Mantia to the Companys Board of Directors "We've always been committed to having a strong board of directors that represents a diverse array of professional and leadership experiences, and deep industry and cross-sector knowledge all aligning to our company's identity and values," said Sweeney. "Both Jeff and Linda are welcome additions to our board, bringing tremendous value and understanding around the challenges and opportunities we face as a top global insurer." Jeff Dailey Elected to Board of Directors Dailey is a senior executive with over four decades of extensive insurance industry experience. He most recently served as Chairman, President and CEO of Farmers Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group, from 2011 to 2023. He led the company's transformation to a customer-centric, innovation-focused organization and notably oversaw Farmers' acquisition of MetLife's property and casualty business in 2021. Dailey was also Farmers' Executive Vice President and President of Personal Lines from 2008 to 2011 and prior to this held roles of increasing responsibility, including President and CEO, at Bristol West Holdings, Inc., which was acquired by Farmers in 2007. Previously, Dailey worked in leadership roles at The Progressive Corporation and began his career at Mutual Service Insurance. He also serves on the board of directors for Verisk Analytics, Inc. Dailey earned his master of business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and bachelor of science in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "I'm honored to join the Liberty Mutual Board of Directors. I look forward to working with the Board and Management team and hope my passion and experience will help to drive lasting stakeholder value and contribute to Liberty's continued success," said Dailey. Linda Mantia Elected to Board of Directors Mantia held various senior executive roles across the financial services sector, most recently serving as Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Manulife Financial Corporation (operating as John Hancock in the US) from 2016 to 2019. She played a critical role in defining Manulife's corporate strategy and oversaw its innovation portfolio and other corporate functions including Global Operations, Technology, Advanced Analytics, and HR. Prior to this, Mantia held leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Royal Bank of Canada from 2004 to 2016, including Executive Vice President of Digital Banking, Payments and Cards. Earlier in her career, she worked at the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company and practiced law at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, LLP. Mantia also serves on the board of directors for Maple Leaf Foods, Inc., Dayforce, Inc., and, until recently, McKesson Corporation. In the community, Linda serves on the board of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Queen's University. She earned her bachelor of laws from Queen's University and studied commerce at the University of Western Ontario. "Insurance plays a vital role in helping people feel secure. I am excited to join the board of Liberty Mutual and to support the management team as they pursue their purpose of helping people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow," said Mantia. Liberty Mutual's board of directors is comprised of highly skilled independent members with a breadth of backgrounds and experiences to help guide the company's overall strategy. About Liberty Mutual Insurance At Liberty Mutual, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, we help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, today we are the eighth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2023 gross written premium. We also rank 87 on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the US based on 2023 revenue. As of December 31, 2023, we had $49.4 billion in annual consolidated revenue. We employ over 45,000 people in 29 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property. For more information, visit www.libertymutualinsurance.com. Contact: Liberty Mutual Insurance Public & Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE Liberty Mutual Insurance Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=217979261 Browse in-depth TOC on "Medical Gas and Equipment Market" 394 - Tables 60 - Figures 380 - Pages By type, the medical gas and equipment market is segmented into medical gases and medical gas equipment. In 2023, the medical gas segment accounted for the largest share in the medical gas and equipment market due to the essential role of gases in various medical applications, including anesthesia, respiratory therapy, and medical imaging. The demand for medical gases like oxygen, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide has increased with the increasing prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, expansion of healthcare infrastructure, and the growing need for emergency care and surgical procedures. Additionally, the rising geriatric population and the growing demand for home healthcare services have further contributed to the segment's growth. By application, the medical gas and equipment market is segmented into therapeutic applications, pharmaceutical manufacturing & research, diagnostic applications, and other applications. Therapeutic applications segment dominates the medical gas and equipment market due to the increasing incidence rates of chronic diseases as COPD, asthma or other respiratory conditions that require constant oxygen therapy among other medical gaseous for patient treatment. An aging population that is more vulnerable to such diseases additionally contributes to an increased demand for therapeutic gases including oxygen, nitrous oxide and medical air. Additionally, the advancement of transportable gas delivery devices and home healthcare to facilitate patient treatment outside hospitals has further contributed its growth. By end user, the medical gas and equipment market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, home healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic & research institutions, and other end users. In 2023, the hospitals & clinics segment has emerged as the dominant force in the medical gas and equipment market owing to the rise in demand for their medical gases such as oxygen and nitrous oxide which play an important role in various therapies and diagnostic processes within these health care settings. This is because of the increasing number of surgical procedures being performed, the increasing prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases that require long term respiratory support as well as the rising number of hospitals and clinics around the world. Additionally, hospitals and clinics are the larger consumers of cutting-edge medical devices including gas dispensing systems due to the fact that they need dependable large-scale solutions for different patient care activities ranging from emergency cases to regular treatments. In 2023, North American region accounted for the largest share of the medical gas and equipment market due to several factors, such as the region's advanced healthcare infrastructure with high healthcare expenditure leads to significant demand for medical gases and related equipment. Moreover, the need for oxygen therapy, anesthesia and other medical gases has increased due to the aging population with a high prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases. Also, this region is aided by stringent regulatory standards, robust research and development programs, and presence of key market players in United States and Canada. All these factors combine to make North America a major player in the medicine gas and equipment market. Additionally, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the highest CAGR in the medical gas and equipment market due to an increase in the number of people who are getting old at a faster rate than ever before as well as chronic diseases like respiratory problems or heart problems becoming more common, medical gases and related devices are gaining acceptance hence driving their demand within this region. Furthermore, emerging economies such as China and India have been expanding their healthcare infrastructure thereby increasing their expenditure on healthcare services. Moreover, there has been rising awareness about advanced medical technologies which has made tourists traveling for medical reasons more frequent all of which combine to fuel the market growth in this region. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=217979261 The prominent players in the medical gas and equipment market are Air Liquide (France), Linde Plc (Germany), Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (Japan), Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (US), Atlas Copco AB (Sweden), GCE Group (Sweden), Messer SE & Co. KGaA (Germany), SOL Spa (Italy), Rotarex (Europe), Norco Inc. (US), Genstar Technologies (US), Southern Gas Limited (India), Calox Inc. (US), Ellenbarrie Industrial Gases (India), Steelman Gases Pvt. Ltd. (India), Butler Gas Products Company (US), SCI Analytical (US), Amico Group of Companies (US), Oxygen & Argon Works Ltd. (Israel), AOPL (India), Apex Medical Gas Inc. (US), Chengdu Taiyo Industrial Gases Co., Ltd. (China), Carbide and Chemicals (India), Holston Gases (US), and MEC Medical Ltd. (UK). These players have adopted various growth strategies such as product launches, acquisition, collaboration, agreements, and expansion to increase their presence and reach in the medical gas and equipment market. Air Liquide: Air Liquide is one of the leading supplier of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, technologies, and services. The company operates through three segments, namely, Gas & Services, Engineering & Construction, and Global Markets & Technologies. Air Liquide's Gas & Services business unit is further classified into different geographical areas of Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa and into business areas, namely, Large Industries, Industrial Merchant, Healthcare, Electronics, and Engineering. The company offers medical gas products under its healthcare business. It provides pure gases, specialty gases, and research gases, which include cryobiology and hyperbaric oxygen solutions. Moreover, the company is present in 73 countries and serves more than 3.9 million customers and patients. Linde Plc: Linde Group is a gas and engineering company that consists of two major product lines, namely, Industrial Gases and Engineering. Linde organizes its industrial gas operations based on geography, comprising three reportable segments, namely, Americas, EMEA (Europe/Middle East/Africa), and APAC (Asia/South Pacific). The company's Engineering business operates globally and manufactures equipment for air separation and other industrial gas applications tailored for end customers across all geographic segments. The company's medical gases business is operated through the Industrial Gases division. The company produces, sells, and distributes atmospheric, process, and specialty gases to a different group of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food, and beverage. The company's healthcare sector serves a variety of end users, including hospital care, home care, gas therapies, and care concepts. The Linde Group operates across the Americas, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation: Taiyo Nippon is one of the leading companies in the medical gas and equipment operating through its Matheson Tri-Gas Inc. subsidiary. The company has three business segments, namely, Industrial Gases, Electronics, and Thermos, which are operated & promoted by five reportable segments, namely, Japan, United States, Europe, Asia & Oceania, and Thermos. The company addresses the bulk requirements for gases, for a variety of end users across the aerospace, agriculture, aquaculture, automotive, biofuels, chemical processing, energy, food and beverage, manufacturing, medical and healthcare, metal processing, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, power generation and transmission, semiconductor, universities and research institutes, and welding and fabrication industries. Some of Taiyo Nippon's major subsidiaries include Matheson Tri-Gas Belgium (SPRL) (Belgium), Continental Carbonic Products, Inc. (US), Taiyo Nippon Sanso Clark, Inc. (Philippines), and Nippon Cutting & Welding Equipment Co., Ltd. (Thailand). For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: Home Healthcare Market Respiratory Care Devices Market Respiratory Diagnostics Market Molecular Diagnostics Market Top 10 Medical Device Technologies Market Get access to the latest updates on Medical Gases and Equipment Companies and Medical Gas and Equipment Market Share About MarketsandMarkets: 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. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets BALTIMORE, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys for Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman ("Milberg") have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all companies that either did business directly at the Port of Baltimore, are part of the shipping/trucking business that relies on the Port, or were economically impacted by the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Class Representatives named in the lawsuit are R.E. West, Inc., E. Marine Motor Yacht Sales Pty Ltd., Captain C Logistics, LLC, American Publishing LLC, B&R Construction Services, Inc., and International Trading Solutions, Inc. Each of these claimants allegedly suffered, and continues to suffer, extraordinary business losses and costs as a result of the container ship Dali destroying the Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. Milberg was the first firm to file a claim in this maritime action and has been actively engaged in the investigation of the catastrophic bridge collapse. The firm's class action accuses Grace Ocean Private, the owner of the Dali, and the ship's operator, Synergy Marine Group, of recklessly leaving the dock that day with a ship they knew could not safely navigate the narrow passage through the Patapsco River Channel. Milberg also alleges that Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine Group knowingly interfered with the contractual and business relationships of Milberg's clients in the Baltimore Harbor business community by sailing an unseaworthy ship into the Patapsco River Channel, aware that a blockage of the Channel would risk a major disruption to the many profitable Port-based business relationships. "Thousands of businesses have unfairly paid the financial price for the Dali's destruction of the Key Bridge," said Milberg Senior Partner Marc Grossman. "With this lawsuit we seek to shift those costs back to the entities that bear ultimate responsibility for them." The collapse of the Key Bridge stopped transportation on Interstate 695 and closed the Port of Baltimore for 78 days. This disruption affected businesses nationally to the tune of billions of dollars in damages. Nonetheless, the owners of the Dali seek to limit their liability to a paltry $44 million. This limitation will cover about 1% of the total damages caused by the bridge's destruction. The Milberg Baltimore Bridge Taskforce hosted a virtual town hall on April 25 to assist businesses affected financially by the Key Bridge collapse. A recording of the event is available on Facebook. The Taskforce will host a second virtual town hall next month. The moderator for the event will be Dan Ronan, a long-time broadcast anchor, reporter, and current SiriusXM radio host on the trucking business. Milberg has retained notable Maryland maritime counsel Todd Lochner of Lochner Law Firm, P.C. as class action co-counsel. Business representatives can call Roy Mason, Milberg's local counsel in Annapolis, at 410-269-6620 for further information. Media Contact: Karine Lim [email protected] SOURCE Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC New free online tool designed to help administrators, educators and advocates find evidence-based programs that strengthen family-school partnerships and improve student outcomes ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- National PTA and the Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) at Johns Hopkins University have teamed up to launch Family Engagement Solutions, a free online tool to help district and school leaders, educators and advocates find evidence-based programs that strengthen family-school partnerships and improve student outcomes. Family Engagement Solutions is spearheaded by National PTA's Center for Family Engagement, in collaboration with CRRE's Evidence for ESSA initiative. As part of the launch of Family Engagement Solutions, National PTA is co-hosting a webinar with AASA, The School Superintendents Association and Education Week Thursday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. EDT on the importance of using family engagement strategically for a strong school year. The webinar will feature leaders and practitioners from districts and schools that have used family engagement as a tool to achieve dramatic improvements in student outcomes. To register to participate in the webinar, visit Family Engagement: The Foundation for a Strong School Year (edweek.org). "Every strategy to accelerate learning should include families as decades of research shows family engagement is just as essential as a rigorous curriculum and effective leaders and teachers," said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA. "National PTA and the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University share a sense of urgency around supporting schools and districts in engaging families in ways that are proven to drive better outcomes for students, families and schools, and we are proud to launch Family Engagement Solutions." Through FamilyEngagementSolutions.org, district and school leaders, educators and advocates can find programs that will contribute to learning and improvement goals, what it takes to implement the programs, where they are being used across the country, and which student populations benefit from them. Programs featured in Family Engagement Solutions meet federal standards demonstrating that they are at least promising/Tier 3 in their impact and have been vetted and curated by: Family engagement experts who track innovations and best practices to uncover programs that are successfully being used by schools in a diversity of contexts. Parent and community leaders who identify whether a program has a sufficient focus on family engagement, and if so, assess how the program aligns to the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. Education researchers who conduct a thorough review of every evaluation that has been conducted for a program and determine the strength of its evidence in relationship to federal requirements in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). "We have heard from school and district leaders that they want ideas for more impactful ways to use their limited budgets on strategies to engage families," said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. "With Family Engagement Solutions, school and district leaders can find family engagement programs that are proven to work somewhere else to help them make informed decisions around what would be the best fit for their students, families and schools." Family Engagement Solutions is made possible by the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York as well as Overdeck Family Foundation. About National PTA National PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org. Evidence for ESSA The goal of Evidence for ESSA is to provide clear and authoritative information on programs that meet the ESSA evidence standards and enable educators and communities to select effective educational tools to improve student success. For more information, visit EvidenceforESSA.org. SOURCE National PTA LONDON, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 19th, the catalogue "War and Peace in Russian Porcelain. From the collection of Elena Baturina" was presented at the conference dedicated to the issues of cataloguing art collections. Art historians, critics, experts, museum directors and curators discussed their vision and experience of working with private and museum collections of porcelain and other art objects.. War and Peace in Russian Porcelain, the Catalogue cover (PRNewsfoto/Press Office for Elena Baturina) The scientific section of the event featured presentations by Khazar Zeynalov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Architecture and Art of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences; Igor Dukhan, Member of the European Society of Culture and the Academy of Architecture, Professor and Head of the Art Department at the Belarusian State University; Iraida Bott, Deputy Director for Scientific and Educational Work of the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve; and Pierre-Christian Brochet, curator of the Contemporary Art department at the School of Design HSE. All of the experts unanimously spoke of the grandeur of both the collection and the catalogue, as well as of their importance for art history in general, and the study of porcelain art in particular. John Bowlt, founder and Director of the Institute of Contemporary Russian Culture at the University of South Carolina and Nicoletta Misler, professor at the L'Orientale, art historian, head of the Center for the Study of Russian Art at L'Orientale prepared a joint address to the conference: "The care, patience, enthusiasm and determination with which Elena Baturina assembled the collection, whether its individual pieces or entire services, are truly admirable. As for the catalogue raisonne: what a magnificent example of scholarship and a monumental effort! Congratulations to all the editors and authors on completing such a pharaonic task - an example of persistent comparative research, a new intellectual perspective." Natalia Sipovskaya, Director of the Institute of Art Studies and the scientific editor of the publication spoke about the production of "War and Peace in Russian Porcelain" in greater detail. Developing the catalogue took seven years and involved more than 100 specialists. Its 1,500 pages contain unique photographs and texts: the analysis of exceptionally important works from the time of Catherine the Great to the last years of the reign of Nicholas II enabled the authors to truly create an encyclopedia of imperial porcelain. Their findings are illustrated and supported by more than 1,200 graphic sources, 800 archival documents, 300 names of commissioners and initial owners, and about 50 projects of forms and original sketches published for the first time. Three volumes, entitled in accordance with the items included "GLORY. Russian Imperial Porcelain: Presentation Pieces", "WAR. Items Painted with Military Figures" and "PEACE. Ceremonial Porcelain of Russian Dinnerware" contain detailed descriptions of 1,500 items out of the 2,000 in the collection overall, and cover all significant events in the history of Russian porcelain, also reflecting the historical and artistic context, dates of creation, names of commissioners and recipients of porcelain gifts, history of their existence reconstructed from hundreds of archival sources. Another achievement of the authors is the scientific apparatus, which contains the study of forms and decorative elements of imperial porcelain - for example, the first complete albums with samples of uniforms of Nicholas' I Russian Guard and Army, an Atlas of Porcelain Flora, an extensive study of Imperial porcelain factory marks are published for the first time. This became possible thanks to the painstaking collecting work of the owner, the experts concluded. Moreover, the analysis of the collection showed that it contains about 500 unique works that have no representation in any other collections. According to the experts, the cost of such a collection is very difficult to estimate with any proximity: "Elena Baturina's collection of Russian and European porcelain is not just large-scale and grandiose in its quantitative and qualitative composition, it is surprisingly cohesive. It is this integrity, consistency and structure of the collection that makes it extremely valuable. And I am not talking about the material value, although it is doubtless and impressive - only by rough estimates we are talking about a quarter of a billion dollars - but, first of all, about the historical, artistic, cultural and scientific value," said Natalia Sipovskaya. English-language copies of the catalogue "War and Peace in Russian Porcelain. From the collection of Elena Baturina" have been submitted to all the major art and art history museums, academies and libraries all over the world. The authors are confident that the publication can facilitate not only new art history discoveries, but overall development of porcelain art. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516779/Press_Office_for_Elena_Baturina.jpg SOURCE Press Office for Elena Baturina SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China's first digital-native bank, WeBank, and global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman have jointly launched a new report titled "Global Digital Banking: Development and Innovation Trends". The report offers an in-depth analysis of the development of global digital banks and insights into the future trajectory and competitive landscape of the industry. Exhibit 1: Number of licensed digital banks worldwide According to the report, the number of digital banks has significantly increased over the past decade, driven by technological advancements and the need for financial inclusion. By the end of 2023, the global count of licensed digital banks had reached 235, while the number of players offering broader digital banking services had already exceeded 300. Among them, many leading global players have achieved commercial success in terms of business scale and profitability, thereby driving innovation and fostering a more dynamic financial services industry. Exhibit 1: Number of licensed digital banks worldwide 2014 - 2023 Note: Only includes institutions that have obtained banking licenses from national regulatory authorities or have special "virtual bank" licenses Source: The respective financial regulators of various countries and regions THE DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBAL DIGITAL BANKS REVEALS COMMONALITIES Digital banks started to emerge worldwide between 2009 and 2014. With fintech advancements and regulatory support, digital banking initially developed in Europe and North America, but it has also developed rapidly in Asia and South America thanks to strong demand from unserved and underserved populations. The development of digital banks worldwide varies significantly due to the different circumstances of their home markets, resource endowments, and business choices. The report highlights that in recent years, global digital banks have been exploring sustainable business models, diversified business lines, unique ecosystem resources, multi-market operations, and innovation in technological and data infrastructure. According to the report, these five themes are key factors that will widen the gap between industry leaders and followers. Global digital banks strive to establish sustainable business models and diversify their revenue streams to meet the unique needs of their customers. Currently, there are two types of business models that have proven to be commercially effective. In markets with large populations, digital banks typically adopt a retail-driven model, focusing on serving a broad customer base. As digital banks acquire a significant user base, they can leverage technology to enhance operational efficiency and thus increase profitability. In markets with smaller populations, digital banks tend to concentrate on specific niche customer groups or sectors with high potential returns, such as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the auto financing sector. These models enable digital banks to navigate diverse market environments, enhance customer experience, and improve operational efficiency through innovation and technology. Furthermore, many digital banks have been exploring diversified revenue streams. They offer Banking-as-a-Service solutions, monetize their in-house technological capabilities, and provide non-financial services to SMEs. These initiatives have contributed to improved profitability and enhanced valuation for digital banks in the capital markets. Global digital banks have been capitalizing on the unique resources within their ecosystems and expanding their operations across multiple markets. By embedding their services within a specific ecosystem, digital banks can offer customers seamless user experience. Additionally, they can leverage alternative data within the ecosystem to enhance customer acquisition, product pricing, and risk management while ensuring compliance. Digital banks, with diverse backgrounds and available resources, employ different strategies when leveraging their respective ecosystems. Some digital banks develop their own super applications that integrate their financial services, creating an ecosystem that offers comprehensive solutions for customers. On the other hand, digital banks that have transformed from traditional banks aim to capitalize on the resources accumulated by the incumbents. They collaborate with external partners and share ecosystem resources to enhance their offerings. Global digital banks are dedicated to facilitating the development of data infrastructure and driving industry innovation. They not only play a crucial role in the circulation of data but also act as facilitators and promoters, driving the circulation and sharing of data elements to build a robust data ecosystem. By actively participating in the circulation and sharing of data, digital banks can fuel their own growth and have a broader positive impact on the development of financial infrastructure. DIGITAL BANKS WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE INNOVATION AND COMPETITION IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY When digital banks first emerged, they were often perceived as "challengers" or "disruptors" in the banking industry. However, as their business models prove to be effective and regulations mature, digital banks are now being seen as "catfish" for healthy competition instead. They are being introduced into the local banking system to motivate incumbents and improve the overall performance of the industry. Leading digital banks have already reached economies of scale and strong profitability, according to the report. In the coming years, gaps between leaders and followers are expected to widen in terms of profitability, market coverage, and influence over industry standards, which may be gradually established. The technical standards and risk management models of leading players could be adopted as common industry standards, promoting the consistency and overall development of the digital banking sector. As a result, there will be different challenges for digital banks worldwide. For Chinese digital banks, they will face increasing challenges as global peers accelerate their own growth. The next focus for Chinese digital banks will be addressing the challenges posed by new technologies, new standards, and new models from digital banks in other regions, as well as expanding their services to a broader market. Arthur Wang, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Board of Directors of WeBank, said: "As the first digital bank in China, WeBank has always been committed to serving the public and MSMEs. We offer differentiated digital financial services and continuously explore new models to promote financial inclusion and support the real economy. We have pioneered a path of digital financial inclusion that is 'controllable in risk, affordable in cost, and sustainable in business.'" Looking forward to the future of digital banking, Wang added, "WeBank will continue to leverage its innovative fintech capabilities, collaborate with various industries, and contribute to high-quality development." Hang Qian, Partner and the Head of Oliver Wyman's Financial Services Greater China added: "As technologies such as artificial intelligence, Web 3.0, the Internet of Things, and the metaverse continue to advance, the digital banking industry will witness ongoing innovation in applications, products, and services. The emergence of new technologies will further drive the evolution of digital banks' structure and operations, ultimately increasing the industry's overall value. The boundaries between traditional and digital banks will gradually blur as these innovations reshape the global banking industry, bringing new momentum to its development and transformation." About WeBank Launched in 2014, WeBank Co., Ltd. ("WeBank") is the first digital bank in China. WeBank provides convenient financial services to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and the public, and continuously improves the quality of services in response to customers' specific needs. WeBank now ranks 255 in the Top 1000 World Banks by The Banker. WeBank focuses on innovation and technology. WeBank has maintained its proportion of technical personnel above 50% since its establishment, while its research and development expenses of accounted for around 10% of its revenue. WeBank is now at the top of the industry in core technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud computing and big data. About Oliver Wyman Oliver Wyman, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a management consulting firm combining deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise to help clients optimize their business, improve operations and accelerate performance. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of $23 billion and more than 85,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit oliverwyman.com, or follow on LinkedIn and X. SOURCE WeBank Co. Ltd. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Western Azerbaijan Community strongly condemns and rejects the statement made by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at the Forum of Ancient Civilizations. At this event, Minister Mirzoyan, claiming that the "Armenian cultural heritage" in Azerbaijan is allegedly under threat, made a provocative statement, the community said in a statement, Trend reports. "This completely defamatory statement simultaneously highlights the ongoing territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan. The use of the term 'Nagorno-Karabakh' by the Armenian Foreign Minister indicates that his country only nominally recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Considering the systematic destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage by Armenia, both within its own borders and in previously occupied Azerbaijani territories, the country's current speculation around cultural heritage by Armenia is a manifestation of hypocrisy. As for the call of the head of the Armenian MFA to send a UNESCO mission, it should be emphasized that such a mission should be sent not to Azerbaijan, but to Armenia. Unfortunately, the mission has yet to take place due to Armenia's refusal. We demand that Armenia respect Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, agree to send a UNESCO mission to assess the state of Azerbaijani cultural heritage in that country, and take necessary measures to restore, protect, and preserve the damaged Azerbaijani monuments," the statement said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Nuspire Recognized for Employee Development, Inclusive Culture and Innovative Workplace Practices COMMERCE, Mich., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuspire, a leading managed security services provider (MSSP) and PDI Technologies company, announced today that the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) has named it one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation for 2024. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For award recognizes organizations that excel in human resource practices and employee enrichment. It marks the eighth time Nuspire has received this national recognition, highlighting its ongoing commitment to fostering a thriving and supportive culture. "As we celebrate Nuspire's 25th anniversary, being recognized nationally as a Best and Brightest company validates our commitment to creating an environment where our employees can flourish," said Lewie Dunsworth, CEO of Nuspire. "We've cultivated a workplace where well-being, career development and inclusivity are not just priorities but core values. This accolade underscores that our people are the heartbeat of our success, and together, we're driving Nuspire forward with passion, innovation and excellence." The winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm that reviewed various criteria, including Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Creative Wellness and Wellbeing Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment and Selection; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Work-Life Blend; Community Initiatives and Corporate Responsibility; and Leadership, Strategy and Company Performance. Nuspire's focus on professional growth, work-life balance and an inclusive environment sets it apart in the competitive cybersecurity industry. This recognition reaffirms the company's commitment to being an employer of choice, continuously investing in its team members' health and success. To explore career opportunities at Nuspire and join an award-winning workplace, visit https://www.nuspire.com/careers. About Nuspire With over 25 years of expertise, Nuspire, a PDI Technologies company, is redefining cybersecurity through intelligent unification and unparalleled protection. Our company delivers innovative managed security services (MSS), managed detection and response (MDR), endpoint detection and response (EDR) and consulting solutions tailored to clients' needs. Our technology-agnostic platform provides holistic visibility across entire security tech stacks, seamlessly integrating human expertise, advanced AI and cutting-edge technologies. This comprehensive approach offers unprecedented control and predictive intelligence across clients' cybersecurity infrastructure. With features like an AI-powered assistant for streamlined operations and a mobile application for on-the-go threat management, we empower organizations to confidently navigate the evolving threat landscape. Driven by uncompromising excellence, our experts and 24x7 SOCs enable clients to stay ahead of emerging threats while optimizing their security investments. For more information, visit https://www.nuspire.com/. For more information, visit https://www.nuspire.com/ and follow the company on LinkedIn @Nuspire. SOURCE Nuspire These tips from Blue Shield's chief medical officer can help you conquer the anxiety of shots and stay protected. OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Respiratory virus season is here time to think about protecting yourself, loved ones and your community. Getting this year's vaccines is still your best bet for staying safe. The flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses can have serious complications, especially for children under age 2, adults over age 65, and anyone with a compromised immune system. If the thought of needles makes you uneasy, you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, as many as 2 in 3 children and 1 in 4 adults have strong fears around getting vaccinated with needles. Whether you're an adult with a long-standing fear or a parent trying to ease your child's anxiety, it's important to address these fears and get your recommended vaccinations. Blue Shield of California Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ravi Kavasery shares five tips to help both children and adults overcome fear of needles and vaccinations. Education and understanding Dr. Kavasery emphasizes that understanding the process and benefits of vaccinations can help reduce concern. "Knowledge can be a powerful tool in combating fear," he said. "Discuss how vaccines work to protect against diseases, minimize symptoms and add to the collective benefits of herd immunity." For children, Dr. Kavasery suggests using age-appropriate books or videos, which can make vaccinations more relatable and less intimidating. For adults, reading reputable sources and discussing concerns with a healthcare provider can provide reassurance and clarity. Distraction Distraction is a tried-and-true method for managing fear of needles, particularly in children. Dr. Kavasery recommends bringing a favorite toy, book or electronic device to keep the mind occupied. "During the vaccination, engaging in conversation, watching a video or listening to music can help shift focus away from the needle," he said. "For adults, bringing a friend or family member for support, or listening to calming music or a podcast, can provide similar distraction." Pain management Managing the physical pain associated with needles can significantly reduce fear and panic. Dr. Kavasery suggests discussing pain management options with your healthcare provider. "Ask your doctor about using numbing creams or sprays to minimize the pain of the injection," he advised. "Some clinics also offer vibration and cooling devices that can distract from and reduce the sensation of pain. By managing the physical discomfort, you can help lessen the overall anxiety related to needles." Rewards and after-care Many pediatrician offices offer a "prize" like a sticker, special band-aid or toy after a vaccination to make it a positive event. Check with your healthcare provider before your visit. If they do not provide anything, bring a small reward. For an adult, "treat yourself" to a special coffee, book or lunch. Care for mild needle-site reactions with a cool, damp cloth or a fun, reusable ice pack. This will help ease the discomfort. Pay extra attention to your child for a few days, swaddle them or offer extra hugs and cuddles. Offer breast milk or formula more often to keep babies hydrated. Adults should listen to their body and rest if they feel tired. Staying well fed and hydrated is important for adults, too. Professional support For those with severe needle phobia, seeking professional support can be beneficial. Dr. Kavasery highlights the importance of not hesitating to ask for help if the fear is overwhelming. Working with a therapist can help individuals develop coping strategies and gradually overcome their fear. "Facing a fear of needles can be daunting, but with the right strategies, it's possible to overcome this anxiety and avoid passing it to your child," said Dr. Kavasery. "Remember, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the momentary discomfort of a needle, and taking these steps can help ensure that you and your loved ones remain healthy and protected." Additional vaccine resources Recommended vaccine schedule for birth to 6 years old Recommended vaccine schedule for 7 to 18 years old Vaccinations for adults Your helpful guide to COVID-19 vaccines for little kids Important information about COVID-19 My Turn: California's vaccine appointment site CDC: Vaccines and immunizations VaccineInformation.org About Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. The health plan is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with more than 4.8 million members, over 7,100 employees and more than $25 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $77 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook. CONTACT: Mark Seelig Blue Shield of California 510-607-2359 [email protected] SOURCE Blue Shield of California Strategic expansion to provide health and safety solutions to military, government, and police personnel Opens significant new addressable market for the Company Inturai's discrete technology and unique ability to capture information and events are core reasons for Spicy Works' engagement VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - P2P Group Limited ("P2P Group" or the "Company") (CSE: PPB) (FSE: 3QG) is pleased to announce that Inturai has entered into a strategic partnership with Spicy Corp., a boutique North American defence solutions provider, to advance its entry into the military segment. This collaboration reinforces Inturai's scalable intelligence strategy, and its capability of enhancing the health and safety of personnel in operational situations with next-generation spatial intelligence. As part of this agreement, Spicy Corp. will leverage its extensive network to introduce P2P Group's Inturai technology, with its cutting-edge spatial intelligence product 'StealthWave', to key defence organisations. This partnership aligns with Inturai's goal to enter the defence industry by providing innovative solutions that improve situational awareness and operational efficiency, ultimately safeguarding military personnel. Nathan Fry, President of Spicy Corp. and a strategic leader in defence solutions, commented on the decision to partner with P2P Group: "We enjoy solving difficult problems. Inturai's StealthWave technology has unmatched potential to deliver critical insights where conventional methods fall short. This partnership will equip defence organisations with the tools they need to operate safely and effectively." Ed Clarke, CEO of P2P Group, emphasised the importance of this partnership: "Our collaboration with Spicy Corp. represents a significant milestone in our mission to bring advanced spatial intelligence to the defence sector. We are excited about the potential this partnership holds as we work to deliver impactful solutions that prioritise the health and safety of officers in challenging tactical environments." Under the terms of the Partner Programme Agreement, Spicy Corp. will act as a non-exclusive partner, working alongside P2P Group to drive sales of StealthWave and related services to defence organisations. This shared revenue model will enable both parties to meet the growing demand for sophisticated spatial intelligence technologies designed to protect military personnel in the field and in tactical operations. The project operates on a profit-sharing model with revenue currently not material due to partnership being at initiation phase. About Spicy Corp. Spicy Corp. is a North American company accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge solutions by Five Eyes defence, government, and police organisations. They leverage state-of-the-art technology to ensure mission success for the Gov/Mil sector. With deep subject matter expertise, Spicy Corp. brings innovation to the forefront, empowering defence organisations to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Visit www.spicycorp.com for details. About P2P Group P2P Group is at the forefront of transforming health and safety with advanced technology solutions that create smarter, safer spaces. Serving industries such as healthcare, smart homes, and industrial facilities, P2P Group is dedicated to bringing peace of mind to everyone, everywhere. For more information, please visit www.P2P-Group.com . The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING "FORWARD-LOOKING" INFORMATION This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. All such forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. The reader is cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and the actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, the Company will derive therefrom. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. SOURCE P2P Group Limited The Six-Week Program Provides Networking and Mentorship for Veteran-Owned Companies TYSONS, Va., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, is proud to continue supporting veteran-owned businesses with the announcement of the Veteran Entrepreneur Program Fall 2024 cohort. Building on the success of the Spring 2024 cohort, the accelerator program for veteran-owned businesses begins with a three day in-person seminar in Bentonville, Arkansas, followed by a six-week virtual program. Members of the PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Programs Fall 2024 Cohort attend an in-person seminar in Bentonville, Arkansas The program brings veteran-owned companies from across the country together to participate in networking events, roundtables and mentorship opportunities. Seminars with prominent business leaders cover topics ranging from business development, marketing and branding, sales, communications, strategic planning, pitching investors, scaling and exiting. "The PenFed Foundation is proud to continue propelling veteran-led companies to new heights with the Fall 2024 cohort," said PenFed Foundation Director of Veteran Entrepreneur Program and retired U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Terry Williams. "Members of the military community are well-suited to entrepreneurship, and we will continue empowering them and building a network of military founders." The accelerator program is free of charge to military founders and the PenFed Foundation does not take equity in the businesses. Veteran and military-spouse owned and led companies who are interested in the Spring 2025 cohort, are encouraged to apply here. This cohort brings together military veteran entrepreneurs from a variety of industries. The Fall 2024 cohort includes: MyHome Co-founded by U.S. Army veterans Gabe and Lindsey Chrismon . The MyHome app is an all-in-one platform designed to simplify home maintenance and management. The app connects homeowners with a network of vetted service providers, allowing for easy booking, scheduling and communication. Co-founded by U.S. Army veterans . The MyHome app is an all-in-one platform designed to simplify home maintenance and management. The app connects homeowners with a network of vetted service providers, allowing for easy booking, scheduling and communication. Autoket Founded by U.S. Army veteran Charles Masters Rodriguez . Autoket is an AI-powered B2B marketplace that connects purchasing managers at auto repair shops with a vast network of reputable auto-parts suppliers. The platform is designed to streamline the purchasing process, making it more efficient and cost-effective for businesses. Founded by U.S. Army veteran . Autoket is an AI-powered B2B marketplace that connects purchasing managers at auto repair shops with a vast network of reputable auto-parts suppliers. The platform is designed to streamline the purchasing process, making it more efficient and cost-effective for businesses. Silent Crown U.S. Air Force veteran Ted Slusher is the founder and CEO. Silent Crown is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that provides immersive training solutions, including mixed reality flight simulators. The company focuses on enhancing the operational capabilities of military and commercial aviation clients by integrating state-of-the-art technology with real-world experience. U.S. Air Force veteran is the founder and CEO. Silent Crown is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that provides immersive training solutions, including mixed reality flight simulators. The company focuses on enhancing the operational capabilities of military and commercial aviation clients by integrating state-of-the-art technology with real-world experience. Torch Warrior Wear Founded by U.S. Air Force veteran Haley McClain Hill in June 2021 , Torch Warrior Wear is a direct-to-consumer military apparel brand that empowers and celebrates modern-day women warriors. The company offers a range of bodysuits that are known for their durability, comfort and style. Founded by U.S. Air Force veteran in , Torch Warrior Wear is a direct-to-consumer military apparel brand that empowers and celebrates modern-day women warriors. The company offers a range of bodysuits that are known for their durability, comfort and style. StarCube U.S. Navy veteran Chris Ricks is the founder and CEO. StarCube is a technology-driven company based in New York dedicated to developing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) that provide robust energy solutions for critical infrastructure. StarCube leverages innovative nuclear technology to create portable, factory-built microreactors. U.S. Navy veteran is the founder and CEO. StarCube is a technology-driven company based in dedicated to developing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) that provide robust energy solutions for critical infrastructure. StarCube leverages innovative nuclear technology to create portable, factory-built microreactors. Miles for Military Founded by the mother of a U.S. Marine, Miles for Military is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Boston that helps active-duty military personnel return home for important family events. The organization offers flights in exchange for volunteer work, embodying the values of duty, honor, and community. Since 2018, the Veteran Entrepreneur Program has accelerated over 100 military founders. Through The PenFed Foundation and its investor partnerships, alumni founders have accessed several million dollars in startup capital. About PenFed Foundation Founded in 2001, The PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has provided more than $55 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members and military families. The credit union funds the Foundation's personnel and most operational costs, allowing 99% of incoming donations to go directly to our programs. To learn more, please visit www.penfedfoundation.org. SOURCE PenFed Foundation PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Pep Boys, a leading U.S. automotive service provider, today announced that Joe Auriemma, the company's Chief Marketing Officer, has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer. Joe brings over 30 years of experience, having held senior marketing and sales roles at companies like Procter & Gamble, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Rentokil-Terminix. He has a proven track record of building profit, expanding business footprints and driving continued sales growth. Under Joe's leadership, the company is well-positioned to focus on operational excellence, enhancing the customer experience and building a strong future for Pep Boys. Joe and his Team will prioritize executing the company's strategic growth goals and continuing to focus on talent development and fostering a strong workplace culture. With a network of over 850 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico, Pep Boys specializes in automotive service. Each Pep Boys location offers individual customers and fleet businesses preventative maintenance, tire installations, and both routine and major repairs. Pep Boys is equipped with the technology needed to service today's complex vehicles, which helps ensure efficient and reliable care for every customer. About Pep Boys Founded in 1921 by military veterans, generations of drivers have counted on Pep Boys ASE-certified Pros to care for their cars. With a national network of Service and Tire Centers, millions of consumer and fleet vehicles pass through Pep Boys bays each year. Our commitment to being the one our communities count on is demonstrated through our exceptional customer experience and technical expertise. For more information, visit www.pepboys.com/corporate. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2164254/The_Pep_Boys___Manny_Moe_and_Jack_LLC_Logo.jpg SOURCE The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe and Jack LLC INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Remodel Health , the #1 Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) provider for brokers, is proud to announce the launch of ICHRA+ Enterprise , a cutting-edge solution designed to give employers unparalleled control and flexibility in managing their health benefits while delivering a superior employee experience for groups with over 500 employees this open enrollment. ICHRA+ Enterprise empowers employers to allocate untaxed dollars to employees, allowing them to choose individual health plans that best suit their personal needs. This model grants employees greater autonomy and provides employers with a flexible, cost-effective solution to manage health benefits. "As businesses face increasing pressure to offer flexible, cost-effective health benefits, ICHRA+ Enterprise stands out by combining advanced technology with personalized service," said Remodel Health CEO Austin Lehman. "We've designed ICHRA+ Enterprise to address the real-world challenges employers face today, offering them a comprehensive, scalable solution that adapts to their unique needs." ICHRA+ Enterprise Key Differentiators: Unmatched Service Excellence: ICHRA+ Enterprise is supported by a robust service team, including dedicated Account Managers who provide white-glove service and tailored guidance to ensure employers and employees receive expert support throughout the benefits process. ICHRA+ Enterprise is supported by a robust service team, including dedicated Account Managers who provide white-glove service and tailored guidance to ensure employers and employees receive expert support throughout the benefits process. Seamless Integration Capabilities: ICHRA+ Enterprise is compatible with over-200 payroll and HRIS systems, simplifying the integration process and enabling HR teams to manage benefits efficiently while enhancing data accuracy and reducing administrative workload. ICHRA+ Enterprise is compatible with over-200 payroll and HRIS systems, simplifying the integration process and enabling HR teams to manage benefits efficiently while enhancing data accuracy and reducing administrative workload. Integrated Shopping and Payment Solutions: Employees can easily shop for and select health plans through an intuitive, in-app experience with personalized plan selection support. The integrated payment solutions, featuring AutoPay, streamline the process, allowing HR teams to focus on strategic tasks rather than manual processing. Employees can easily shop for and select health plans through an intuitive, in-app experience with personalized plan selection support. The integrated payment solutions, featuring AutoPay, streamline the process, allowing HR teams to focus on strategic tasks rather than manual processing. Enhanced Administrative Features: ICHRA+ Enterprise provides advanced tools for employers, including customizable budget strategies by employee class, in-app advisement scheduling, and more. With this product, we can effectively utilize a company's current HR system to seamlessly input data and generate the necessary reports for creating 1095-Cs. These features give HR teams the insights and control needed to manage benefits with precision and ease. ICHRA+ Enterprise provides advanced tools for employers, including customizable budget strategies by employee class, in-app advisement scheduling, and more. With this product, we can effectively utilize a company's current HR system to seamlessly input data and generate the necessary reports for creating 1095-Cs. These features give HR teams the insights and control needed to manage benefits with precision and ease. Superior Compliance and Reporting: The platform's sophisticated compliance and reporting features offer immediate access to critical information, helping CFOs and finance teams control costs and forecast future expenses. "ICHRA+ Enterprise is not just a productit's a comprehensive solution designed to meet the evolving demands of today's workforce," added Lehman. "By integrating advanced technology with our white-glove service, we're able to provide a truly superior option for employers that want to enhance their health benefits offerings and improve employee satisfaction." As employers navigate the complexities of the modern health benefits landscape, ICHRA+ Enterprise from Remodel Health offers a powerful, adaptable solution that sets a new standard in the industry. About Remodel Health: Remodel Health is the expert guide for employers and brokers navigating the complexities of transitioning to ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement). With nearly a decade of experience in the individual health benefits space, our proprietary software and licensed health benefits experts deliver tailored solutions for businesses with 100 to 10,000 employees. Committed to best-in-class customer service, we provide hands-on support throughout the process, ensuring successful implementation and long-term success. Learn more about how we transform health benefits at remodelhealth.com . SOURCE Remodel Health MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Renewable Land is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 435-acre property in Putnam County, Ohio leased to the Blue Harvest Solar Park. The property hosts a 50-megawatt solar power plant operated by EDP Renewables, which supplies clean energy to Amazon as part of the company's initiative to power AWS data centers, corporate offices, and fulfillment centers with renewable energy. "We are excited to play a vital role in another premier renewable energy project, reinforcing our position as of one of the country's most active investors in land for solar, wind and battery storage facilities," said Alex Stone, President of Renewable Land. "This acquisition aligns with our mission to support the long-term growth of renewable infrastructure across the United States." About Renewable Land Renewable Land Advisers, LLC is a real estate investment firm based in Manhattan Beach, California specializing in acquiring land leased to renewable energy projects. It was founded by Alex Stone, J.C. Frey and P.J. Fielding, who have managed over $15 billion of energy and infrastructure investments. The firm transacts with renewable energy developers and private landowners throughout the United States. For additional information please contact us at [email protected] or visit www.renewableland.com. SOURCE Renewable Land Advisers, LLC Study marks the first time these side effects were reported in children PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) revealed for the first time that children, adolescents and young adults may experience very rare neurological issues of paraparesis and quadriparesis following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, a type of immunotherapy used to treat B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL). Additionally, these complications occurred without the type of inflammation typically seen in adults. The findings were published today in the journal Blood. Dr. Caroline Diorio Researchers previously reported that CAR-T may lead to complications known as immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), which can present with a range of neurological symptoms from mild confusion to severe issues such as brain swelling, seizures and coma. However, as CAR-T therapy becomes a more prevalent cancer treatment, new patterns are emerging, revealing complex side effects in younger patients. "Our findings suggest CAR-T induced neurological side effects, while rare, can impact a spectrum of age ranges, from children to young adults. The causes of these complications in young people could be more complex than the exclusive T-cell activation and excessive cytokine production that typically leads to inflammation in adults," said Caroline Diorio, MD, FRCPC, FAAP, an attending physician with CHOP's Cancer Center. "The lack of inflammation points to a host of other underlying culprits, such as metabolic profiles, that require extensive additional research to understand." In this study, Diorio and her team analyzed two children, two teenagers and one young adult who developed severe muscle weakness, either in all four limbs (quadriparesis) or the lower half of their body (paraparesis) after receiving an infusion of either CD19- or CD22-directed CAR-T therapy to treat B-ALL. All but one of the five patients died during the study due to their cancer. The researchers performed detailed examinations on all five patients, such as tests on spinal fluid, and protein analysis to understand the response. They also later performed full autopsies on two of the deceased patients. Overall, they found chronic damage to white matter in the brain, but without the usual inflammatory responses. The children also had lower levels of certain inflammatory chemicals compared to those who did not have severe symptoms. "I can't emphasize enough that for most patients, immunotherapy, such as CAR-T, is a lifesaver," said Diorio, who is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. "However, these study findings empower us to understand the rare instances when it's not effective and take prompt action to address that." The study was supported by the ACC K12 Award, a CIHR Fellowship Award and a CHOP Cell and Gene Therapy Award. The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Translational and Correlative Studies Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. Diorio et al. "Quadriparesis and paraparesis following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in children and adolescents." Online September 26, 2024. Blood. DOI: 10.1182/blood.2024023933. About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network , which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit https://www.chop.edu . Contact: Jennifer Lee Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (267) 426-6084 [email protected] SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Beloved physician and researcher also continues limited patient care in Lansing DETROIT, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute welcomes Craig Cole, M.D., a well-known malignant hematologist in the Lansing community. Dr. Cole is now seeing patients at the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. He also sees patients at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing. Dr. Cole is a member of the Hematology Oncology and the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Multidisciplinary Teams at Karmanos, actively participating while in Lansing. Craig Cole, M.D., joins the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, as well as still treating patients at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing. "Empowering patients is very important to me, and I am excited to contribute to Detroit communities and help patients and community members understand blood cancers, especially multiple myeloma," said Dr. Cole. "There have been so many advancements in treatment that allow us to treat these diseases, and we're investigating more options for patients. Here in Detroit, I can work on these advancements in care with my colleagues and bring these treatments to the bedside for my patients to benefit." Dr. Cole is also a member of the Molecular Therapeutics Research Program at Karmanos and actively leads clinical trials. His research interests include the clinical application of novel biologic therapeutics in multiple myeloma, pathobiology of myelomagenesis and smoldering myeloma, measurements of psychosocial distress in malignant and non-malignant hematology disorders, and ethnic and racial disparities in multiple myeloma education, diagnosis and treatments. He specializes in treating multiple myeloma, a disease that is more than two times more common in African Americans than White Americans. He's been very active in the Lansing and Detroit areas in educating the community, including participating in countless community webinars, community event panels with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Karmanos' Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement educational events. He also has actively participated with many Karmanos hematologists in physician educational panels and continuing medical education events, providing insight, clinical trials, and research findings and presentations. Dr. Cole has authored hundreds of published articles, abstracts and presentations. "Dr. Cole has a wealth of knowledge in the field of multiple myeloma and reflects the type of care our MDT teams provide to our patients," said George Yoo, chief medical officer at Karmanos Cancer Hospital. "He has a gift of being able to speak with patients, the community and physicians about multiple myeloma and has dedicated himself to this type of advocacy work, on top of treating his patients and conducting clinical research. We are excited to have him join us in Detroit, and we're fortunate to give him the platform through the Karmanos Cancer Network to continue to provide quality care to his patients in Lansing." Dr. Cole is also an associate professor in the Department of Oncology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and clinical associate professor at the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine. He practiced at McLaren Greater Lansing for three years. During that time, he served as the director of Clinical Cancer Research at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing and MSU's College of Human Medicine, an assistant professor at the College of Human Medicine, and associate director of the MSU Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders. Dr. Cole is a Michiganander at heart. He began as a Spartan, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Physiology from MSU and the Lyman Briggs College. He obtained his doctorate in medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio, but returned to the state as a Wolverine to complete his internal medicine internship, residency and fellowship at the University of Michigan. He has done post-fellowship laboratory research at the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center of Medicine at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He became an attending hematologist at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, located on the western campus of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Later, he returned to the University of Michigan as a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, where he focused on clinical research in multiple myeloma. He is an active member of the American Society of Hematology, Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium, International Myeloma Working Group, and International Myeloma Society. Dr. Cole has been recognized for his care, research and mentorship, including receiving the MSU-Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing's Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program's 2023 Educator of the Year award, ABPAFS of the University of Michigan Award for Outstanding Performance and Leadership award, Cancer Support Community Signature Program Support Award from the Gilda's Club, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Collaborator Award, and the Top Blacks in Healthcare Award by the BlackDoctor.org and The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. He also serves as the diversity officer for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Horizon Trial. He is on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Steering Committee and he is the organization's co-founder of the Committee on Diversity. Dr. Cole also serves on the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortia through the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. View Dr. Cole's physician profile here. To request an appointment, visit karmanos.org or call 1-800-KARMANOS. About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Karmanos Cancer Institute is a leader in transformative cancer care, research and education through courage, commitment and compassion. The Karmanos vision is a world free of cancer. As part of McLaren Health Care, Karmanos is the largest provider of cancer care and research in Michigan. For more than 75 years, the administrative and research headquarters, along with the premier specialty cancer hospital, have been located in downtown Detroit. With 16 network sites, Karmanos delivers world-renowned care and access to clinical trials throughout Michigan and northern Ohio. The National Cancer Institute recognizes Karmanos as one of the best cancer centers in the nation with a comprehensive cancer center designation. Its academic partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine provides the framework for cancer research and education defining new standards of care and improving survivorship. For more information, call 1-800-KARMANOS (800-527-6266) or visit www.karmanos.org. Follow Karmanos on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute ROUND ROCK, Texas, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RB Residential, Inc. ("Restoration Builders," "RB Residential" or "the Company"), a leader in residential and commercial roofing services, announces that its subsidiary, Massey Construction Group, Inc., ("Massey," "Massey Construction" or "The Company") has been voted "Best Roofing Contractor Fort Myers 2024" in the acclaimed Community Choice Awards. This accolade celebrates the unparalleled commitment, craftsmanship, and customer service that Massey Construction Group has consistently demonstrated in the roofing industry. The Community Choice Awards, which honor top local businesses for outstanding service and quality, conducted a detailed selection process. This included nominations from the community, customer reviews, and a careful examination of each candidate's qualifications. Massey Construction stood out, showcasing its exceptional dedication to high-quality service in the competitive roofing industry. "We are truly honored to receive this prestigious award from the Community Choice Awards," stated John Lorenz, CEO of Restoration Builders. "Mark Massey and his team deliver top-quality roofing services, and we are achieving the highest standard of customer satisfaction. Congratulations on earning this well-deserved recognition from our Florida community." This recognition marks a milestone in Massey Construction Group, Inc.'s journey and adds to a growing list of accolades that the company and its parent, Restoration Builders, have received over the years. It is a testament to the company's unwavering dedication to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction in the dynamic roofing industry. About Restoration Builders Restoration Builders was founded in 2017 to build a nationwide network of licensed contractors and service providers for the residential and commercial restoration industry. The company's mission is to protect and restore properties while delivering the highest level of service and standard of quality. For more information about Restoration Builders and its family of companies, please visit https://restorbuilders.com/. About Massey Construction Group Massey Construction Group, operated by industry leader Mark Massey, has made a significant mark in the construction and roofing sector. Massey is known for its commitment to outstanding customer service and quality craftsmanship, as well as its loyal customer base and reputation for excellence. For further details on Massey's legacy and service offerings, please visit https://masseyroofingservices.com/. Contact: Media Contact: Janet Carnell Lorenz (425) 620-1800 SOURCE Restoration Builders BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 27. On September 27, 2020, in response to a large-scale provocation by Armenian armed forces along the front line, the Azerbaijani Army launched a counteroffensive operation later named "Iron Fist" .The 44-day Patriotic War resulted in the end of nearly 30 years of occupation and the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Trend presents the Chronicles of Victory for September 27, 2020: - Armenian armed forces shelled the Azerbaijani human settlements located in the frontline zone - Azerbaijani armys troops launched counter-offensive operation along entire front line - President Ilham Aliyev appealed to Azerbaijani people - Defense Ministry reports about Units of the Azerbaijan Army fighting for important heights - Ombudsman makes statement on Armenia's gross violation of ceasefire with Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan's MFA makes statement - President Ilham Aliyev chairs meeting of Security Council - Defense ministry discloses villages liberated by Azerbaijani army - Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry reports about liberation of 7 villages - Azerbaijani Defense Ministry shared video footage from battlefield - Azerbaijani defense minister reports about Armenian armed forces' suffering big losses - Azerbaijani military command proposes Armenian garrison in Agdere to surrender - Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reports about liberation of Murovdag peak of Murov mountain system - President Ilham Aliyev signs Decree declaring martial law -Azerbaijani Defense Ministry shares footage of destroyed ammunition depot of Armenian armed forces NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ms. Juliet Guo, founder of the Chinese art cashmere brand sandriver, was invited to attend the 2024 Fashion4Development (F4D) 4th Annual Sustainable Development Goals Banquet and the 12th Annual First Ladies Luncheon held in New York on September 24. She also showcased sandriver's new products at the opening day of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Following their stunning debut in Shigatse, Golok, and Paris' Maison & Objet (M&O), sandriver's new pieces made from Gangtse pulu fabric and Qinghai yak wool once again went global, representing Chinese fashion trends. Alongside Ralph & Russo and Elie Saab, sandriver walked the international runway. As the 2024 "Fashion Industry Change Maker," Ms. Guo received on-site recognition from F4D, with other awardees including entrepreneur and philanthropist Yue-Sai Kan and Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmaker and director Eva Orner. "As a woman, I am gratified to be able to care for the women in the Himalayan snow regions and help them achieve economic independence and live dignified lives," said Ms. Guo. "I am very willing to teach them based on my more than 30 years of craftsmanship experience and feel proud of the innovative inheritance of the ethnic intangible cultural heritage craft of pulu." In 2022, under Guo's leadership, sandriver launched the "10-Year Pulu Revival Plan." She visited family workshops in the high-altitude areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, established the Shanghai Pulu Research and Development Center, and partnered with Tibet aid teams to build local industrial chains. This included guiding herders in scientific breeding practices, improving the survival and quality rates of local livestock, with survival rates increasing from 60% to 100% and livestock numbers growing from over 1,000 to more than 30,000. Over a 3,000 km range, seven village handcraft workshops were gradually established in the Tibetan region. This effort has trained nearly 100 local female artisans, including disabled and unemployed housewives, empowering them to earn respectable incomes "at their doorstep" and realize their social value. The innovative pulu creations, made by Tibetan women, have been showcased at Paris Fashion Week and sold worldwide, bringing these women onto the global stage. "sandriver's influence extends beyond fashion. It presents a model of community development. By empowering women and people with disabilities, Ms. Guo is quietly changing the lives of marginalized groups. The transformation of Gesang, an ordinary woman into a mentor of others in craftsmanship, and the life changes of disabled artisan Pianduo through her learned skills, exemplify the fruits of empowerment. She teaches others, nourishing local communities," summarized F4D founder Evie Evangelou, outlining the vision of sustainable fashion development. "Fashion has the power to transcend borders, connecting us all. By showcasing these exquisite works at the UN General Assembly, we not only amplify their voices to the world but also ignite global discussions on sustainability and empowerment." Since 2022, sandriver has been the first Chinese cashmere brand to join the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). In alignment with UN sustainable development goals such as Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), sandriver continues to contribute to rural revitalization, empower women, revive traditional craftsmanship, and fulfill its social responsibilities. The fashion show at the UN and the 2024 "Fashion Industry Change Maker" award not only affirm sandriver's role in representing Chinese fashion on the international stage, showcasing Chinese cultural soft power and new production capabilities, but also highlight Ms. Guo as a representative of Chinese women, ensuring the world hears their voices. Moreover, it serves as recognition and encouragement for China's commitment to advancing a sustainable global fashion ecosystem. "Next, we will expand into the western border markets of China, with the flagship store in Nyingchi, Tibet, about to open. Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Yunnan will be our primary show venues in the future. This show is an introduction to the U.S. market, and with the support of various sectors of society, we will further explore the U.S. market. In December, we will be preparing for the Maison & Objet Paris and the VIP artisan workshop at Le Bon Marche, part of LVMH Group. I look forward to more people witnessing the new story of traditional Chinese craftsmanship," Ms. Guo shared after receiving the award. CONTACT: Jane Wu, jane_wuqian@163.com SOURCE SAND RIVER FASHION CO.,LTD. Scott's inauguration marks a new era for the College in today's changing educational landscape MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunwoody College of Technology , a leader in hands-on technical education, officially welcomed Scott Stallman, Ph.D., as the College's eleventh President with an inauguration ceremony today. Stallman was first announced as the incoming President in January and has replaced former President Rich Wagner, who retired at the end of June. Dunwoody College of Technology is a leader in hands-on technical education. Scott Stallman, Ph.D. is the College's eleventh President. "Since joining the leadership here almost four years ago as Provost, Scott has been an impactful change agent at Dunwoody because of his belief in the school's mission and how it can meet the needs of students and the future during these dynamic times. He believes in what Dunwoody can do for the community, industry, and most importantly, the students," said Dunwoody Board Chair Nancy M. Dahl. "That belief is what will make Scott a great President, because it will guide his decisions in the years ahead. It will allow him to lead with the past in mind, the present in focus, and the future always on the horizon." During the ceremony, several representatives of Dunwoody College of Technology testified to the strength of Stallman's leadership. Bridget Reynolds, an Academic Dean, shared, "As someone who cares deeply about equity, Scott will continue to advance Dunwoody's mission, continue to tear down the stereotypes of who should be a construction worker, an engineer, a technician; and continue to help Minnesota and this nation build a talented workforce that is representative of its people." Stallman, who earned his Bachelor's degree at the University of MissouriColumbia, his Master's degree in Adult and Higher Education Administration at the University of MissouriSt. Louis, and his Doctorate in Higher Education Administration at Illinois State University, previously served as the College's Provost for three years. He began his role as President of the College in July. "I appreciate the responsibility this role entails," shared Stallman as he rounded out his inauguration address. "I look forward to working with all of you to connect on new ideas, build partnerships and work together to deliver for a future that will expect more of us than our past. I look forward to continuing to strive toward our mission to change lives by building a community of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who were 'Born to Do'." A New Era in Education Dunwoody College of Technology was founded in 1914 with a vision of providing hands-on, technical education to students from all backgrounds during a period of exponential industrial growth across the nation. Now, 110 years later, technical fields are experiencing a similar trajectory of change as industry looks to adapt to today's rapidly evolving world. Within this environment, Dunwoody remains committed to preparing the next generation of skilled professionals by embracing agility and disruption to drive innovation. Stallman is stepping into his new role during an exciting time for technical education, as the demand for qualified graduates in the dynamic fields of engineering, design, and high-skilled trades continues to evolve and expand. Enrollment at Dunwoody College of Technology grew by nearly 8 percent this fall, reflecting a rising interest in technical and skilled trades fields amongst today's students. As President, Stallman will focus on delivering on the college's mission in new and innovative ways, furthering the institution's commitment to ensuring relevant academic programs, creating a culture of equity, and providing opportunities for engagement with industry and the community. Media assets HERE . About Dunwoody College of Technology Founded in 1914, Dunwoody College of Technology is the only private, non-profit technical college in the Upper Midwest. Having provided hands-on, applied technical education to more than 250,000 individuals, Dunwoody is the college for experimenters and makers, a place where the curious and the confident learn by doing. Located in Minneapolis, Dunwoody offers a unique campus experience in dedicated labs, studios, and shops that treats students like future professionals from day one. With certificates, associate's, and bachelor's degrees in more than 40 majors including engineering, robotics, design, and other STEM-related fields Dunwoody challenges students to come determined and graduate destined. SOURCE Dunwoody College of Technology Raising the Alarm on Foster Youth Crisis: National Blue Out Day on September 26th WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- See Us Now, a student-led advocacy group, is proud to join forces with Safe House Project to launch "Team Protectors," a National Awareness Campaign that unites youth, foster care, and anti-trafficking organizations to spotlight the critical shortage of safe housing for foster children in the U.S. The lack of stable housing forces thousands of foster children into precarious living situationssleeping in cars, hotels, and even officespreventing them from accessing education, mental health care, or medical services. Worse, this instability puts them at significant risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. See Us Now, a student-led advocacy group, advocate on Capitol Hill to address foster care housing shortage; help pass the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act See Us Now and Safe House Project Unite to Launch "Team Protectors" National Awareness Campaign Addressing Critical Foster Care Housing Shortage An alarming 60% of all children trafficked in the U.S. have had some involvement with the foster care system. More than 20,000 foster children go missing each year, and shockingly, over 33,000 foster children have disappeared without ever being reported missing. The staggering figures highlight an urgent need for systemic reform and better oversight to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable foster children. The students of See Us Now (SUN) have been tirelessly advocating on Capitol Hill to address this issue. They recently helped pass the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act through the House and Senate, ensuring that states are held accountable for the health and welfare of children in their care. The students congratulate Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Congressman Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) for their leadership in sponsoring this vital legislation. To further raise awareness, SUN has declared September 22-28th as National Missing and Trafficked Foster Children Awareness Week. As part of this initiative, cities, organizations, and individuals can participate in National Blue Out Day on September 26th by wearing blue and sharing their support on social media using the hashtags #SeeUsNow, #SafeHouseProject, #BlueOut, and #TeamProtectors. These efforts will unite the country in shining a light on the foster care crisis and the dangers posed to vulnerable youth. The campaign has garnered widespread attention and support, with notable partners including Tiffany Haddish's She Ready Foundation, Jewel's Inspiring Children Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, and the National Boys and Girls Clubs of America. These organizations are collaborating with SUN and Safe House Project on upcoming initiatives to provide safer housing solutions, advocacy, and resources for foster youth. In honor of Blue Out Day, iconic landmarks, businesses, and communities across the nation will be lighting up blue, including various city landmarks in Tampa, FL; Niagara Falls in NY; Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA; Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware; JL Tower in Anchorage, Alaska; James S. McDonnell Planetarium in St. Louis, MO; Union Street Railroad Bridge in Salem, Oregon; Kia Spire Convention Center in Orlando, FL; State Capitol buildings across the country; and many other locations. Each will turn blue to symbolize solidarity with foster children who have gone missing or fallen victim to trafficking. Together, these efforts aim to drive change and compel states to take immediate action to protect these children. Join Us and Blue Out America Communities, schools, businesses, and public figures are encouraged to join the fight by participating in National Blue Out Day on September 26th. Simply wear blue, share your message of support online, and help amplify the conversation about the urgent need for safe housing for foster youth. For more information about the campaign or to get involved, visit www.teamprotectors.org . Media Contacts: SOURCE See Us Now NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky announces that it has commenced an investigation of Zeta Global Holdings Corp (NYSE: ZETA) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty. If you have been a shareholder of ZETA since at least February 23, 2022, and currently hold shares, you can obtain additional information here: https://zlk.com/compensation2/zeta-global-holdings-corp-lawsuit-submission-form or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500. There is no cost or obligation to you. Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized firm with offices in New York, Connecticut, California, and Washington, D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact the firm. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph E. Levi, Esq. 33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor New York, NY 10004 [email protected] Tel: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP The company plans to supply the highest-performing, highest-capacity 12-layer HBM3E to customers by the end of the year DRAM chips made 40% thinner to increase capacity by 50% at the same thickness as the previous 8-layer product The company to continue HBM's success with outstanding product performance and competitiveness SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SK hynix Inc. (or 'the company', www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has begun mass production of the world's first 12-layer HBM3E product with 36GB[1], the largest capacity of existing HBM[2] to date. HBM3E HBM3E [1] Previously, the maximum capacity of HBM3E was 24GB from eight vertically stacked 3GB DRAM chips. [2] HBM (High Bandwidth Memory): This high-value, high-performance memory vertically interconnects multiple DRAM chips and dramatically increases data processing speed in comparison to traditional DRAM products. HBM3E is the extended version of HBM3, the fourth generation product that succeeds the previous generations of HBM, HBM2 and HBM2E. The company plans to supply mass-produced products to customers within the year, proving its overwhelming technology once again six months after delivering the HBM3E 8-layer product to customers for the first time in the industry in March this year. SK hynix is the only company in the world that has developed and supplied the entire HBM lineup from the first generation (HBM1) to the fifth generation (HBM3E), since releasing the world's first HBM in 2013. The company plans to continue its leadership in the AI memory market, addressing the growing needs of AI companies by being the first in the industry to mass-produce the 12-layer HBM3E. According to the company, the 12-layer HBM3E product meets the world's highest standards in all areas that are essential for AI memory including speed, capacity and stability. SK hynix has increased the speed of memory operations to 9.6 Gbps, the highest memory speed available today. If 'Llama 3 70B'[3], a Large Language Model (LLM), is driven by a single GPU equipped with four HBM3E products, it can read 70 billion total parameters 35 times within a second. [3] Llama 3: Open-source LLM released by Meta in April 2024, with 3 sizes in total: 8B (Billion), 70B, and 400B. SK hynix has increased the capacity by 50% by stacking 12 layers of 3GB DRAM chips at the same thickness as the previous eight-layer product. To achieve this, the company made each DRAM chip 40% thinner than before and stacked vertically using TSV[4] technology. The company also solved structural issues that arise from stacking thinner chips higher by applying its core technology, the Advanced MR-MUF[5] process. This allows to provide 10% higher heat dissipation performance compared to the previous generation, and secure the stability and reliability of the product through enhanced warpage controlling. [4] TSV (Through Silicon Via): This advanced packaging technology links upper and lower chips with an electrode that vertically passes through thousands of fine holes on DRAM chips. [5] MR-MUF (Mass Reflow Molded Underfill): The process of stacking semiconductor chips, injecting liquid protective materials between them to protect the circuit between chips, and hardening them. The process has proved to be more efficient and effective for heat dissipation, compared with the method of laying film-type materials for each chip stack. SK hynix's advanced MR-MUF technology is critical to securing a stable HBM mass production as it provides good warpage control and reduces the pressure on the chips being stacked. "SK hynix has once again broken through technological limits demonstrating our industry leadership in AI memory," said Justin Kim, President (Head of AI Infra) at SK hynix. "We will continue our position as the No.1 global AI memory provider as we steadily prepare next-generation memory products to overcome the challenges of the AI era." About SK hynix Inc. SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top-tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM"), flash memory chips ("NAND flash"), and CMOS Image Sensors ("CIS") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxemburg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com. SOURCE SK hynix Inc. DALLAS, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") has appointed Robert "Bob" Fornaro as a member of the Board, effective immediately. Fornaro is an accomplished airline executive with four decades of experience in the industry. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Spirit Airlines beginning in May 2014 until September 2019 and as President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2016 until December 2018, during which time he led the low-cost carrier through a period of substantial growth and transformation. Previously, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of AirTran Holdings Inc. from November 2007 until May 2011. Fornaro served as a consultant to Southwest Airlines from 2011 to 2014 following its acquisition of AirTran in 2011, and again from 2020 to 2024 following his resignation as President and CEO of Spirit Airlines. Prior to his role as CEO of AirTran, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer from March 2001 until November 2007 and President and Chief Financial Officer from March 1999 until August 2000. He also previously served as Chairman of both AirTran Airways Inc. and AirTran Holdings Inc. Before joining AirTran, Fornaro operated a successful aviation consulting practice and served in senior marketing and planning positions at US Airways and Northwest Airlines. "Bob is an exceptional leader and brings a wealth of industry experience to our Board," said Gary Kelly, Executive Chairman of the Board. "As a former consultant to Southwest, Bob has provided an objective review and important perspective on Southwest's transformation plan, and he has a strong appreciation for Southwest's unique business model and strategic advantages. His deep experience leading multiple airlines will be instrumental as we continue with our Board refreshment plan to add best-in-class Directors who will bring complementary skills and hold our Leadership Team accountable for delivering results." "Southwest Airlines has both a storied history and tremendous potential," said Fornaro. "I look forward to further collaborating with members of the Board as we guide the Company's Leadership Team in implementing its strategy. I am confident in Bob Jordan and the Leadership Team's ability to execute its transformation plan and deliver improved performance and Shareholder returns." With Fornaro's appointment, the Company has added ten new highly qualified Directors over the past three years, including the recent appointments of Rakesh Gangwal, co-founder of India's largest airline, InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) and previous executive at US Airways Group and United Airlines, and Lisa Atherton, president and CEO of Bell. Fornaro's appointment follows Southwest Airlines' recent announcement of its next phase of comprehensive Board refreshment, which includes six retirements in November and Executive Chairman Gary Kelly's retirement at the 2025 Annual Meeting, the anticipated appointment of three new independent Directors, and the naming of new Committee Chairs and a new Lead Independent Director. Fornaro currently serves on the boards of Avianca, Colombia's largest airline, and WestJet, Canada's second-largest carrier. Fornaro earned a master's degree in city and regional planning from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree in economics from Rutgers College. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to the Company's focus areas, goals, strategies, and initiatives, including with respect to transforming the business, improving performance, and Shareholder returns. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current estimates, intentions, beliefs, expectations, goals, strategies, and projections for the future and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the impact of fears or actual outbreaks of diseases, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, actions of competitors, consumer perception, economic conditions, fuel prices, banking conditions, fears or actual acts of terrorism or war, sociodemographic trends, and other factors beyond the Company's control, on consumer behavior and the Company's results of operations and business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (ii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, operate, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives, including with respect to revenue management; (iii) the cost and effects of the actions of activist shareholders; (iv) the Company's ability to obtain and maintain adequate infrastructure and equipment to support its operations and initiatives; (v) the Company's dependence on The Boeing Company ("Boeing") and Boeing suppliers with respect to the Company's aircraft deliveries, fleet and capacity plans, operations, maintenance, strategies, and goals; (vi) the Company's dependence on the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to safety approvals for the Company's new cabin layout and the certification of the Boeing MAX 7 aircraft; (vii) the Company's dependence on other third parties, in particular with respect to its technology plans, its plans and expectations related to revenue management, operational reliability, fuel supply, maintenance, Global Distribution Systems, and the impact on the Company's operations and results of operations of any third party delays or non-performance; (viii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively prioritize its initiatives and focus areas and related expenditures; (ix) the impact of governmental regulations and other governmental actions on the Company's business plans, results, and operations; and (x) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024. About Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 117 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its more than 74,0002 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 137 million Customers carried in 2023. That formula for success has brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years3 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. As the airline with Heart, Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 20504. Southwest has also set near-term targets and a three-pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/planet. 1 Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021 2 Fulltime-equivalent active Employees 3 1973-2019 annual profitability 4 Southwest's net zero by 2050 goal includes Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 Category 3 emissions only and excludes any emissions associated with non-fuel products and services, such as inflight service items. Important Additional Information The Company intends to file a proxy statement and a WHITE proxy card with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company's next meeting of Shareholders (whether an Annual or Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Shareholder Meeting")). SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ SUCH PROXY STATEMENT, ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH, OR FURNISHED TO, THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING. Shareholders will be able to obtain the Company's proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC at no charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge at the Company's website at https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com/financials/sec-filings. Participant Information For participant information, see the Company's soliciting material filed as "DEFA14A" with the SEC on September 10, 2024 and available here. SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. "We're now ushering in a new era at Southwest, moving swiftly and deliberately to transform the Company by elevating the Customer Experience, improving financial performance, and driving sustainable Shareholder value," said Bob Jordan, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman of the Board. Key themes and new initiatives to be detailed at Investor Day include: Transforming Our Product to Meet Customer Preferences Southwest's transformation is guided by data-driven research of travelers' changing needs and expectations. Southwest's evolution will provide even more choices for its Customers and preserve aspects of the business that make the airline unique among its competitors: Assigned Seating: Southwest will broaden its consumer appeal and boost demand through an assigned seating model. Airline passengers now have a clear preference for seat assignments: 80 percent of Southwest Customers and 86 percent of passengers who choose other airlines want assigned seats. Southwest flies farther than ever, and seat assignments are a higher priority on long-haul flights. The Company expects to begin selling assigned seats in the second half of 2025, with its first flights operating with the new model in the first half of 2026. Southwest will broaden its consumer appeal and boost demand through an assigned seating model. Airline passengers now have a clear preference for seat assignments: 80 percent of Southwest Customers and 86 percent of passengers who choose other airlines want assigned seats. Southwest flies farther than ever, and seat assignments are a higher priority on long-haul flights. The Company expects to begin selling assigned seats in the second half of 2025, with its first flights operating with the new model in the first half of 2026. Premium Seating: Market research shows that the preference for an assigned seat with extra legroom offers broad appeal for both business and leisure travelers. Southwest will offer extra legroom options with up to five additional inches of pitch for approximately a third of its seats while maintaining a standard economy seat pitch among the best in the industry. New seating product options will drive demand and are expected to generate more revenue per passenger. Market research shows that the preference for an assigned seat with extra legroom offers broad appeal for both business and leisure travelers. Southwest will offer extra legroom options with up to five additional inches of pitch for approximately a third of its seats while maintaining a standard economy seat pitch among the best in the industry. New seating product options will drive demand and are expected to generate more revenue per passenger. Southwest Boarding with Upgrades: Southwest will evolve its boarding process with seat assignments while focusing on operational efficiency and improving the Customer Experience. The updated boarding process will maintain Southwest's unique and popular approach in boarding through position numbers and signage displayed on stanchions within the gate area. The carrier's most loyal Customers and those who purchase premium seating will continue to be among the first to board. Southwest will evolve its boarding process with seat assignments while focusing on operational efficiency and improving the Customer Experience. The updated boarding process will maintain Southwest's unique and popular approach in boarding through position numbers and signage displayed on stanchions within the gate area. The carrier's most loyal Customers and those who purchase premium seating will continue to be among the first to board. Bags Continue to Fly Free: Extensive research reinforces Southwest's bags fly free policy1 remains the most important feature by far in setting Southwest apart from other airlines. Based on Southwest's research, the Company believes that any change in the current policy that provides every Customer two free checked bags1 would drive down demand and far outweigh any revenue gains created by imposing and collecting bag fees. "We've spent the past few years laying a foundation that serves as the base of our transformation," said Ryan Green, Executive Vice President Commercial Transformation. "We've already started rolling out modernized cabins with improved WiFi, in-seat power, larger overhead bins, enhanced operational efficiencies, and optimized flight schedules. We will continue to build upon our unique competitive advantages, while adapting to consumer priorities in today's dynamic environment." New Offerings to Broaden Appeal and Strengthen Revenue In addition to offering more Customer choice, Southwest will launch new capabilities and products designed to add value and revenue potential: Global Airline Partnerships: Southwest is formalizing partnerships with international carriers to expand its network and connect Customers with more global destinations to generate additional demand for travel across the Southwest network. Icelandair will become Southwest's initial partner with an expected launch in 2025 through Baltimore-Washington International Airport, which will serve as its first U.S. gateway for the carriers. The Icelandair partnership will expand gateways throughout 2025, and Southwest intends to add at least one additional partner carrier next year. Southwest is formalizing partnerships with international carriers to expand its network and connect Customers with more global destinations to generate additional demand for travel across the Southwest network. Icelandair will become Southwest's initial partner with an expected launch in 2025 through Baltimore-Washington International Airport, which will serve as its first U.S. gateway for the carriers. The Icelandair partnership will expand gateways throughout 2025, and Southwest intends to add at least one additional partner carrier next year. Getaways by Southwest: In 2025, the Company intends to launch a new product, Getaways by Southwest, offering vacation packages that are unique to the industry and come with friendly policies that Customers expect from a Southwest-operated venture. These customizable vacation bundles will feature Southwest's generous cancellation policy and flexibility with its no change fees for flights extending to hotels and other elements of packaged vacations. In 2025, the Company intends to launch a new product, Getaways by Southwest, offering vacation packages that are unique to the industry and come with friendly policies that Customers expect from a Southwest-operated venture. These customizable vacation bundles will feature Southwest's generous cancellation policy and flexibility with its no change fees for flights extending to hotels and other elements of packaged vacations. Rapid Rewards3 Enhancements: Throughout the transformation, all Members will earn and redeem points at the same rate that they do today, and Southwest will continue to offer no blackout dates, uncapped reward seat availability, and points that don't expire. The airline will update its Tier Benefits with the transformation giving A-List and A-List Preferred Members even better benefits. The airline also soon will share updates to its credit card program, including how assigned seats and premium seating will offer Cardmembers even more value. Until then, Cardmembers will continue to take advantage of their current card benefits. Eventually, Rapid Rewards Members also will have more opportunities to earn and redeem points for longer-haul international destinations with development of its airline partnerships and the evolution of its Getaways by Southwest product. Optimizing Operational Efficiencies Southwest is focusing on operational efficiencies to mitigate cost pressures and modernize processes. These efforts are designed to fund nearly all new capacity growth over the next three years without incremental aircraft capital deployment: 24-Hour Operations: In February 2025 , Southwest expects to begin offering redeye flying in key markets to maximize aircraft utilization. In , Southwest expects to begin offering redeye flying in key markets to maximize aircraft utilization. Turn Times Between Flights: The airline is aiming to further reduce the time it takes to turn an aircraft, which is intended to increase its aircraft productivity, while making day-to-day processes easier for Employees. Delivering a Financial Plan to Drive Sustainable Profitability and Shareholder Returns "The strategic vision announced today is designed to return us to financial prosperity and drive value creation," said Tammy Romo, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "We have a clear and measurable path that we expect will enable us to cover our WACC in 2026 and achieve after-tax ROIC of at least 15 percent in 2027." Key elements of Southwest's financial plan include: Cost Discipline: The Company's multi-year plan is expected to deliver an estimated $500 million run rate of cost savings in 2027, by minimizing hiring, optimizing scheduling efficiency, capitalizing on supply chain opportunities, and improving corporate efficiency. The Company's multi-year plan is expected to deliver an estimated run rate of cost savings in 2027, by minimizing hiring, optimizing scheduling efficiency, capitalizing on supply chain opportunities, and improving corporate efficiency. Strategic Fleet Management: Southwest is pursuing opportunities to monetize the value of its fleet order book and drive a significant fleet modernization, with the goal of achieving an average fleet age of just five years in 2031. The Company's fleet strategy is expected to reduce average aircraft capital expenditures to approximately $500 million through 2027. Southwest is pursuing opportunities to monetize the value of its fleet order book and drive a significant fleet modernization, with the goal of achieving an average fleet age of just five years in 2031. The Company's fleet strategy is expected to reduce average aircraft capital expenditures to approximately through 2027. Prudent Capital Deployment: Southwest is balancing its capital allocation priorities to minimize capital expenditures on aircraft, continue investing in infrastructure that optimizes operations, and manage debt to preserve the airline's investment-grade balance sheet, all while returning capital to Shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. The Board of Directors today approved a $2.5 billion share repurchase program, reflecting the Board's confidence in the strategic plan and new revenue-generating initiatives, and in management's ability to execute. Financial Targets The Company's three-year financial plan is expected to support its long-term targets for sustainable profitability: Approximately $4 billion 2 in cumulative incremental run rate EBIT contribution in 2027 in cumulative incremental run rate EBIT contribution in 2027 ROIC of 15 percent or greater, well above WACC in 2027 Investor Day Webcast Details Southwest Airlines' Investor Day begins at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 9:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time, and will be webcast live through a link available on the Investor Relations page at Southwest.com. 1 First and second checked bags. Weight and size limits apply. 2 Estimated cumulative run rate EBIT contribution to the Company's 2027 base business financial performance from its portfolio of initiatives included in its comprehensive three-year financial plan. 3 All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to (i) the Company's initiatives, strategic priorities and focus areas, plans, goals, and opportunities, including with respect to (a) increasing revenue opportunities, (b) enhancing the Customer experience, (c) building value drivers, (d) driving revenue growth, (e) improving financial performance and returning to industry-leading profitability, (f) driving sustainable profitability and Shareholder value, (g) Shareholder returns, (h) financial prosperity, (i) value creation, (j) operational efficiency, (k) managing and mitigating cost pressures and removing costs, (l) capital deployment and allocation, and (m) extracting value from the fleet and the fleet order book; (ii) the Company's financial and operational outlook, expectations, goals, plans, strategies, and projected results of operations, including with respect to its initiatives, and including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's expectations and projections; (iv) the Company's expectations with respect to the U.S. airline industry, Passenger demand, and backdrop trends; (iii) the Company's plans and expectations with respect to assigned and premium seating, including expected benefits, Customer demand, timing of implementation and bookings, retrofits, cabin layout, and FAA certification; (iv) the Company's plans and expectations with respect to the boarding model; (v) the Company's plans and expectations with respect to airline partnerships and enhanced vacation products, including Getaways by Southwest; (vi) the Company's plans and expectations with respect to its Rapid Rewards Program, including planned enhancements, and loyalty revenue performance; (vii) the Company's fleet plans and expectations, including with respect to fleet utilization, fleet modernization, fleet management, flexibility, expected fleet deliveries and retirements, refreshed cabin design, in-seat power, larger overhead bins, increased WiFi, and new seats, and including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's plans and expectations; and (viii) the Company's plans, estimates, and assumptions related to repayment of debt obligations, leverage, credit ratings, interest expense, effective tax rate, capital spending, infrastructure spending, capital allocation, and shareholder returns, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's expectations and projections. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current estimates, intentions, beliefs, expectations, goals, strategies, and projections for the future and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the impact of fears or actual outbreaks of diseases, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, actions of competitors (including, without limitation, pricing, scheduling, capacity, and network decisions, and consolidation and alliance activities), consumer perception, economic conditions, fuel prices, banking conditions, fears or actual acts of terrorism or war, sociodemographic trends, and other factors beyond the Company's control, on consumer behavior and the Company's results of operations and business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (ii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, operate, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives, including with respect to revenue management and assigned and premium seating; (iii) the cost and effects of the actions of activist shareholders; (iv) the Company's ability to obtain and maintain adequate infrastructure and equipment to support its operations and initiatives; (v) the Company's dependence on The Boeing Company ("Boeing") and Boeing suppliers with respect to the Company's aircraft deliveries, Boeing MAX 7 aircraft certifications, fleet and capacity plans, operations, maintenance, strategies, and goals; (vi) the Company's dependence on the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to safety approvals for the new cabin layout and the certification of the Boeing MAX 7 aircraft; (vii) the Company's dependence on other third parties, in particular with respect to its technology plans, its plans and expectations related to revenue management, operational reliability, fuel supply, maintenance, and Global Distribution Systems, and the impact on the Company's operations and results of operations of any third party delays or nonperformance; (viii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively prioritize its initiatives and focus areas and related expenditures; (ix) the impact of labor matters on the Company's business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (x) the impact of governmental regulations and other governmental actions on the Company's business plans, results, and operations; (xi) the Company's dependence on its workforce, including its ability to employ and retain sufficient numbers of qualified Employees with appropriate skills and expertise to effectively and efficiently maintain its operations and execute the Company's plans, strategies, and initiatives; (xii) the emergence of additional costs or effects associated with the cancelled flights in December 2022, including litigation, government investigation and actions, and internal actions; and (xiii) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024. ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 117 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline4. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its more than 74,0005 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 137 million Customers carried in 2023. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years6 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. As the airline with Heart, Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 20507. Southwest has also set near-term targets and a three-pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/planet. 4 Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021 5 Fulltime-equivalent active Employees 6 1973-2019 annual profitability 7 Our net zero by 2050 goal includes Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 Category 3 emissions only and excludes any emissions associated with non-fuel products and services, such as inflight service items. Important Additional Information The Company intends to file a proxy statement and a WHITE proxy card with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company's next meeting of Shareholders (whether an Annual or Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Shareholder Meeting")). SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ SUCH PROXY STATEMENT, ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH, OR FURNISHED TO, THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING. Shareholders will be able to obtain the Company's proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC at no charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge at the Company's website at https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com/financials/sec-filings. Participant Information For participant information, see the Company's soliciting material filed as "DEFA14A" with the SEC on Sept. 10, 2024, and available here. SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. VICTORIA, Seychelles, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Industry-leading fintech firm SquaredFinancial hires renowned market analyst Renato Campos to further broaden its expertise and confirm its commitment to offering quality education. This significant hire is a key milestone in the company's plans to expand and root its presence in Latin America. SquaredFinancials new addition to the team of analysts (PRNewsfoto/SquaredFinancial) Campos brings over 11 years of experience in the equities, currencies, and commodities markets. With a specialization in financial derivatives and extensive knowledge in market analysis, he delivers fact-based information on market movements. He has built a solid reputation for translating complex market dynamics into effective strategies and is recognized as a leading expert in the industry, namely in Latin America. Campos is regularly hosted on major financial media outlets such as CNN Chile, Diario Financiero, and Bloomberg, to share his views and opinions on global financial advancements. Campos will offer SquaredFinancial's clients daily market analyses, webinars, and podcasts in the local language, enabling them to stay up to date on market movements and events and empowering them with the right facts to trade the markets with confidence. His appointment aligns with the company's commitment to delivering high-quality education by onboarding top talent. Investors eager to benefit from his extensive market knowledge are invited to explore SquaredFinancial's website or social media platforms for details on upcoming webinars and interviews. Founder and CEO Philippe Ghanem said: "We are committed more than ever to extend our expertise to investors around the world and provide them with quality service and high-end trading solutions. I am thrilled to welcome Renato Campos to our team of experts. His extensive experience will be an invaluable addition to SquaredFinancial's team of analysts and will further catalyze our growth in Latin America." Renato Campos commented: "I'm excited to join SquaredFinancial's team of market analysts at such an exciting in the company's growth journey. Its commitment to delivering top-tier education and empowering investors aligns with my passion for financial markets and dedication to extending and sharing my knowledge and expertise. I look forward to providing insightful analysis and helping traders across Latin America make informed decisions with confidence." About SquaredFinancial SquaredFinancial is a well-capitalized FinTech firm founded in 2005. It aims at becoming a one-stop shop that meets investors' financial needs. With around two decades of experience in financial technology and trading, it offers global solutions to traders of different generations and backgrounds, who are looking for an intuitive and sophisticated investment gateway. It is led by market experts and leadership veterans who share a passion for trading and a vision to reshape the industry landscape. As a regulated firm, it provides investors with an online platform backed by cutting-edge technology that offers the opportunity to trade a wide range of instruments from different asset classes. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516479/SquaredFinancial_Renato_Campos.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2466085/SquaredFinancial_Logo.jpg SOURCE SquaredFinancial Award Winning Shorts including Grand-Prix, Specially invited works of Rinko Kikuchi, Neo Sora and Takumi Kitamura and Swiss & Korean Features: more than 60 works will be showcased "Craft Stories Around Japan" will be streamed globally from today TOKYO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Awards accredited and one of Asia's largest international short film festivals, Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF & ASIA) starts annual "Screening in Autumn" today from Online Grand Theater. This year, in addition to the screening of 2024 award winning shorts, specially invited short films "Haunted by the Sound of the Wind" starring globally recognized actress who became the ambassador of Tokyo International Film Festival, Rinko Kikuchi and "The Chicken" by Neo Sora whose feature film was nominated Venice Film Festival will be showcased. including 2024 Grand-Prix, more than 60 short films will be showcased at the Screening in Autumn event. CRAFT STORIES AROUND JAPAN program will be streamed globally online : 6 short films which depicts tradition, crafts, and artisan culture of Japan. Furthermore, "Women in Focus program", commemorating the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Switzerland "Swiss Eyes on Japan" program, and "Korean Shorts" program are also screened. As the Online Grand Theater limited program, "Craft Stories Around Japan" starts global streaming today. 6 short films which depict drama of craftsman and their surroundings in Japan. URL: https://www.shortshorts.org/2024autumn/en/ Screening in Autumn's topics are: "Women in Focus" program and Special short "Haunted by the Sound of the Wind" starring Rinko Kikuchi, directed by Xavier Tera, and "The Chicken" by up and coming filmmaker Neo Sora, whose documentary on his father's final performance "Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus" attracted attention from film festivals around the world. Starting today! Online Grand Theater will screen original programs including "CRAFT STORIES AROUND JAPAN", Comedy, Animation, and Award Winning shorts. Swiss Shorts: Swiss Eyes on Japan will screen 3 shorts. "Johan, l'epreuve du feu" a documentary set in Hiroshima following Johan, a Swiss man who fell in love with Japanese swords and became a swordsmith. "THIRD WHEEL" offers a comedic take on a love triangle, unveiled through psychic powers in the Edo period and "TOKYO RAIN" presents a mysterious story of Tokyo in the near future, where rain continues to fall. This year, which marks the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, we invite you to rediscover the fascinating Japan depicted in these three short films by Swiss directors. After the screening, Johan LeutwilerJapan's first foreign swordsmith and director Romain Guelat will make appearance. In Korean Shorts Program, Global Spotlight Award winner "Stray Kids -STAR(ROCK-STAR) and Korean up and coming directors' shorts which were nominated at the 2024 Competition will be specially featured. Contact: Fuyumi Tanaka 81-354748201 [email protected] SOURCE Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia Sultan bin Ahmed listened to a detailed explanation from Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Kamali, a pediatric heart surgery specialist, about the cases that have undergone surgery, as well as those that will be examined and diagnosed to determine the appropriate type of treatment, whether through catheterization or heart surgery for the sick children. The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, learned about the procedures followed in diagnosing medical cases and determining the treatment plans for patients. He observed the preparation methods for patients undergoing catheterization and various surgical operations, such as heart hole and atrial septal defect surgeries at the hospital. The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah also met with a number of children benefiting from the medical support donated by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, reassuring himself about their health and the progress of their treatment plans. The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah wished them continued health and well-being, praising the significant cooperation from Dr. Ahmed Al Kamali and the local medical team at the National Hospital in Kyrgyzstan for performing surgeries on the patients. The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council moved to the Eye Diseases Building at the National Hospital, listening to the medical staff about the process of receiving patients for eye surgeries, diagnosing medical conditions, and the surgical operations supported by the campaign, such as those for vision impairment and cataract removal. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed talked with eye patients who had undergone surgeries, expressing their immense joy and extending their gratitude and appreciation for the charitable efforts of the United Arab Emirates and Sharjah in covering the treatment costs. This support has helped them regain their sight after a long period of loss and allowed them to resume their normal lives. They prayed that God would reward Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed and all generous individuals for the humanitarian services provided by the institutions of the Emirate of Sharjah in treating patients around the world. The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, directed the specialists to expedite the provision of the latest medical devices and equipment necessary for diagnosing medical conditions and offering full support to patients at the hospital. This directive followed Sultan bin Ahmed's visit to the examination rooms and medical laboratories, which contained outdated traditional equipment. This effort is part of the patient support campaign funded by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority through its charitable television and radio programs. The campaign to treat heart and eye patients, launched by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority through its charitable program "Pain and Hope," aims to collect donations from generous individuals and provide the necessary care and treatment to approximately 1,000 underprivileged children suffering from heart conditions and eye diseases. The Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed was accompanied with Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Charity International (SCI) ; Muhammad Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Tariq Saeed Allay, the Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau; Hassan Yaqoub Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Media Council; Rashid Abdullah Al Obeid, Director of Sharjah Media City "Shams"; Salem Ali Al Ghaithi, Director of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Abdullah Sultan bin Khadim, Executive Director of the Sharjah Charity International ; and several directors and officials from the October Village in the Kyrgyz Republic. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516531/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_1.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516533/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_2.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516534/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_3.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516530/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_4.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2516532/Small_Hearts_and_Eyes_Campaign_5.jpg SOURCE Sharjah Government Media Bureau WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to put additional efforts towards the conclusion of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations in the shortest possible period, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. "On 26 September 2024 under the initiative and with participation of the U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met in New York, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The parties agreed to put additional efforts towards the conclusion of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations in the shortest possible period. The Azerbaijani and Armenian sides expressed their gratitude to the Secretary of State for organizing the meeting," the statement said. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer marked an exciting travel season filled with unique international events , a rise in solo travel and updated DOT travel regulations . From changing traveler habits to popular destinations, leading travel insurance marketplace, Squaremouth.com, recaps the top trends that came to light this past summer travel season. International Travel is Down Rising trip costs , frequent travel disruptions and inclement weather this summer led to a decrease in international travel interest for the first summer since the pandemic. International travel is down 10% over last summer. Americans opted to stick closer to home this summer, with stateside travel up 7% compared to last summer. United Kingdom Becomes Top International Destination The United Kingdom overtook Italy as the top international vacation spot for the first time ever this summer. 7% of travelers opted to travel to the UK this summer, making it the number one international destination status for Americans. Interest in UK travel is up an average of 12% compared to previous summers. The next most popular summer destinations are Italy , Mexico , Canada , Spain , and France . Travelers are Planning Ahead With travelers reporting increased anxiety around taking trips in 2024, Squaremouth is seeing more travelers planning and insuring trips far in advance. This summer, Squaremouth reports travelers purchasing travel insurance an average of 72 days prior to departure, 25% earlier than last year. Purchases for International trips this summer occurred 32% earlier than last year, while domestics trip purchases were made an average of 17% earlier. Animal Tourism is Gaining Popularity While hiking remains the most popular activity for travelers insuring their trips, animal tourism activities gained in popularity this summer. Interest in Safaris this summer was up over 30%, and horseback riding excursions were up 21%. Water activities saw a surprising decrease in interest this summer, with snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing down an average of 15% overall. Methodology: Squaremouth identified trends amongst travel insurance policy sales purchased with travel dates between 6/01/24 9/01/24. About Squaremouth: Squaremouth.com has insured over 3 million travelers. Using Squaremouth's intuitive quoting and comparison engine, award-winning support team, and veried customer reviews, travelers can save time and money to nd the best travel insurance policy for their trip. Available Topic Expert: Jenna Hummer is available for comment and interview. [email protected] SOURCE Squaremouth ATLANTA, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TaxClosure, a pioneering tax debt resolution platform, is shaking up the tax debt industry with its patent-pending, same-day tax resolution service. This revolutionary low-cost process offers taxpayers relief from IRS debt without the need for exorbitant fees. TaxClosure.org Everything You Need to Know if You Tax Debt to the IRS. The tax debt industry has long been dominated by companies charging thousands of dollars for results many taxpayers have found less than satisfactory. TaxClosure seeks to level the playing field by offering an affordable, effective solution backed by the expertise of Charles T. Almond III, a leading IRS tax debt attorney with over 40 years of experience. TaxClosure's approach stands out by guiding users through a simple series of questions that help determine eligibility for the IRS's Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status. CNC status allows qualifying taxpayers to be placed in a government-authorized zero-payment plan while still remaining in good standing with the IRS. Approximately 90% of users who go through the TaxClosure process secure a no-pay resolution in as little as one day, with the remaining approximately 10% receiving affordable payment plans should they not qualify for CNC. "Many people who owe the IRS back taxes feel like they're stuck in a hole with no way out. Now, there's a simple solution," said Charles T. Almond III, founder and CEO of TaxClosure. "With TaxClosure, we've built a moving sidewalk that handholds taxpayers to achieve good standing without the stress of IRS' ongoing collection efforts or the fear of losing their income and assets. It's a win-win for both the IRS and the taxpayer." TaxClosure's innovative approach has earned it an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and numerous five-star reviews. Its simplified process, which "translates IRS speak into layperson speak," makes tax resolution now accessible to all Americans. With its refit and relaunch, TaxClosure continues its mission to provide taxpayers with relief from IRS debt, all while keeping the cost and complexity of tax resolution to a minimum. For more information, visit TaxClosure.org. Media Contact: Benjamin Cooke Email: [email protected] Phone: 310-720-1214 SOURCE TaxClosure MEXICO CITY, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Solving together the major global and regional challenges, such as the use of water, new technologies, artificial intelligence, and even the relocation of manufacturing, are part of the mission of the next global cluster conference, TCI Network President Merete Daniel Nielsen said Wednesday. In an interview with EFE, the co-founder and CEO of Cluster Excellence Denmark said collaboration is the only way to face the current challenges in the world, for this reason, the 2024 TCI Network Global Conference, to be held from October 8 to 10 in Chihuahua, Mexico, has as its central themes collaboration and artificial intelligence. "The theme of collaboration is very important and spreading in many societies. This concept forms the basic idea behind (the global conference), the focus on driving the mission that we need to collaborate to solve bigger challenges," she said. Nielsen considered that clusters also open opportunities to promote the relocation of companies in a region, as has happened in North America and Latin America, due to the 'nearshoring' phenomenon and the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement. She also explained that clusters enable the development of various specific sectors, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that struggle for exposure and are considered for value chains. The TCI Network president pointed out that, although the global cluster network conference travels to a different country each year, Mexico was chosen for 2024 because of its extensive experience in this type of initiative. Nielsen considered that it is difficult to define which country in the region leads in these matters, but admitted that there are good practices in Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica, among other members of the cluster network. Between the different sectors, she pointed out the opportunity for semiconductors and recognized the value for the organization of agricultural and food clusters, as well as some traditional ones such as aerospace, finance, and information technologies, including artificial intelligence. She emphasized the importance of the annual meeting in Mexico, with more than 30 guest speakers, 20 registered countries, and almost 300 participants from clusters around the world. Finally, Nielsen mentioned that the next host country for the next global conference will be announced as a surprise during the Chihuahua meeting. https://tciglobalconference.com/2024/ https://desec.mx/ SOURCE TCI Network CINCINNATI, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Directions Group (formerly Aimpoint Research) has released a comprehensive report on the upcoming U.S. election, detailing multiple policy scenarios and associated impacts for agriculture. The 2024 U.S. Election Analysis for Agriculture Report is an impartial and balanced evaluation intended to help businesses and producers identify where positive returns can be earned no matter who controls the White House and Congress. Along with the report, The Directions Group will host a public webinar on October 1 to share results of the analysis. "It is always important to monitor ag policy as a producer or business owner, but especially in an election year and the year following. In 2025, we are facing three hallmark pieces of legislation that will have a very real impact on our industry. The new Congress with the incoming administration will need to pass a new tax bill, approve a federal budget, and address the expiring Farm Bill," said Mark Purdy, The Directions Group Executive Vice President of Agri-Food. "Our goal with this analysis is to provide a deep line of sight into multiple scenarios and outcomes that could unfold after this election cycle. Armed with this information, businesses can put strategies in place that will allow them to maintain success no matter what unfolds." The report outlines the likely policy positions for each party and subsequent scenarios for priority areas of agriculture, including regulatory agendas, budget and fiscal policies, tax reform, trade and tariffs, sustainability, energy, anti-trust, labor, as well as Farm Bill and food policy. A new tax bill is a must do piece of legislation in 2025, as the current bill expires at the end of the year. Regardless of party control, a new tax code will require budgetary offsets to pay for new or different tax provisions. Analysts identified how a new tax bill could impact agriculture in key areas, including tariffs and estate tax. Tariffs . Increasing tariffs as a budgetary offset will increase input costs, hurting gross margins. This will also position ag exports for retaliatory tariffs, hurting U.S. export competitiveness and softening domestic commodity prices. . Increasing tariffs as a budgetary offset will increase input costs, hurting gross margins. This will also position ag exports for retaliatory tariffs, hurting U.S. export competitiveness and softening domestic commodity prices. Estate Tax. The current rate is 40 percent with an exemption of $13.6 million ; after expiration, the rate would stay at 40 percent, but the exemption would drop to $5 million . For context, the $5 million exemption is equivalent in value to an inherited 422 acres in Iowa . Any more would be subject to the 40 percent tax rate. "Regardless of election outcomes, we expect to see tariffs continue to play a role in trade policy. Paired with likely retaliatory tariffs, the trade outlook for agriculture will continue to feel pressure," said Dave Juday, executive advisor to The Directions Group and lead economist for the report. "We do see party positions differing on tax reform details, including estate tax and capital gains. Individually, each of these issues has the potential to impact ag businesses and producers significantly, and it's critical for producers and ag organizations to be prepared. 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for ag policy." The Directions Group will host a public webinar on October 1 at 1 p.m. EST/12 p.m. CST to dive deeper into the results of the 2024 U.S. Election Analysis for Agriculture Report. Purdy will moderate a discussion with veteran ag economist, Juday and retired multi-national executive, Mark Schweitzer on the factors shaping the ag policy agenda for 2025, including potential impacts from midnight regulations and Presidential Executive Orders, as well as the recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned the so-called "Chevron deference". Juday is an executive advisor for The Directions Groups in economics and trade, having served as an agriculture and trade policy advisor in the U.S. Senate and White House. Schweitzer is the retired vice president, Global Economic Research, and previous vice president of Investor Relations, at ADM. Visit AimpointResearch.com to register for the October 1 webinar and for more information on purchasing the full report. About Aimpoint Research Now known as The Directions Group, Aimpoint Research has worked extensively with agri-food clients for decades to provide a competitive advantage through a unique blend of military intelligence techniques and innovative research methodologies. Led by former military intelligence officers, agricultural experts, and research professionals, The Directions Group agri- food team is driven by the core belief that food security is essential to national security. About The Directions Group The Directions Group is a strategic insights firm helping businesses grow, innovate, and differentiate themselves in the marketplace through integrated intelligence. Their team of expert advisors partner with clients to design custom solutions that uncover the dynamic, human-centric insights that drive business outcomes and offers expertise across a range of industries, including restaurant, agriculture, health and wellness, technology, financial services, and consumer-packaged goods. The Directions Group is a privately held firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio conducting work globally. Media Contact: Laura Hahn 414-331-3503 [email protected] SOURCE The Directions Group Long-term results show Altius delivers significant and lasting pain reduction, decreases in opioid use, and improvements in quality of life for amputees suffering from debilitating chronic post-amputation pain ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuros Medical, Inc. announced today publication of the 12-month results from the landmark QUEST study. These long-term results demonstrated treatment with the FDA approved Altius Direct Electrical Nerve Stimulation System results in clinically significant and lasting pain reduction, decreased opioid use, and improved quality of life in amputees suffering with chronic post-amputation pain.1 The study enrolled 180 patients with a unilateral lower limb amputation across 35 sites in the U.S. and is the largest prospective, double-blinded, randomized study ever conducted for treatment of chronic post-amputation pain. Highlights from the 12-Month Results1 Patients receiving treatment with the Altius System reported the following results: 30% and 50% reduction in pain 30 minutes and 120 minutes after initiating therapy, respectively (both clinically meaningful and significant per expert consensus (IMMPACT)) Continued reduction in daily pain levels through 12 months 50% reduction in days with pain 81% of patients taking opioids decreased or eliminated opioid use 45% improvement in quality of life The study authors concluded the Altius System delivered sustained, on-demand pain relief, reduced opioid utilization, and improved quality of life for lower limb amputees suffering with chronic post-amputation pain. Click the link to read the full results: https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S1094-7159(24)00675-5 "Chronic post-amputation pain is a debilitating condition affecting a large majority of lower limb amputees and persists over long periods of their lifetime," said Dr. John Eidt, MD, Chief of Vascular Surgery at Baylor Scott and White Heart and Vascular Hospital in Dallas, Texas, and QUEST investigator. "An ideal treatment needs to be on-demand, patient-controlled and provide lasting reduction in pain without the risk of addiction associated with opioids. QUEST demonstrated a clinically significant reduction in pain sustained through 12 months, allowing patients to reduce or eliminate the use of opioids. The Altius System has the potential to be the gold standard for treatment of chronic post-amputation pain." "The 12-month results of the QUEST study demonstrate the Altius System delivers long-term, lasting results and significant quality of life improvements for patients suffering from chronic post-amputation pain," said David Veino, President & CEO, Neuros Medical. "We look forward to working with health care providers to make the Altius System available to their patients." Neuros plans to begin commercialization of the Altius System later this year. Please visit www.neurosmedical.com for more information. Click here for important safety information. About the QUEST Study The QUEST Study is a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, active-sham controlled pivotal study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the Altius Direct Electrical Nerve Stimulation System in patients with chronic post-amputation lower limb pain. The Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study enrolled 180 patients with a unilateral lower limb amputation across 35 sites in the U.S. Patients were randomized 1:1 to active treatment or active sham groups with a single arm cross-over to active treatment at 3 months and follow-up to 12 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was at least a 50% pain reduction in at least 50% of treatment sessions 30 minutes after initiating treatment. Secondary efficacy endpoints included at least a 50% pain reduction in at least 50% of treatment sessions after 120 minutes, change in opioid medication use, and improvement in quality of life. The primary safety endpoint was incidence of all serious adverse events. About the Altius Direct Electrical Nerve Stimulation System The Altius System is a patient-controlled, on-demand system that uses Neuros' patented technology to address the underlying cause of post-amputation pain by inhibiting pain signal transmission from the damaged peripheral nerves near the site of amputation to the central nervous system. The system consists of a nerve cuff electrode placed around an affected nerve and an implantable pulse generator (IPG). Patients initiate an on-demand 30-minute treatment session as needed for targeted pain relief. The Altius System is indicated as an aid in the management of chronic intractable phantom and residual lower limb post-amputation pain in adult amputees. About Neuros Medical, Inc. There are nearly two million amputees in the U.S., with 185,000 new amputations occurring every year.2,3 Post-amputation pain includes both phantom limb pain and residual limb pain and impacts nearly one million Americans, representing a significant unmet medical need, as existing treatment options are limited and consist primarily of opioids and gabapentinoids. Neuros Medical is a privately held company and the maker of the Altius Direct Electrical Nerve Stimulation System designed for the treatment of chronic post-amputation pain. Our mission is to reduce pain and restore life for people suffering with post-amputation pain. We are a passionate team guided by our core values and committed to our patients and the healthcare professionals who care for them. Our Core Values: Patients First, Deliver Excellence, Responsible Ambition, Inspire and Empower. References 1 Kapural L., Kim B., Eidt J., Petersen E.A., Schwalb J.M., Slavin K.V., Mekhail N. 2024. Long-Term Treatment of Chronic Postamputation Pain With Bioelectric Nerve Block: Twelve-Month Results of the Randomized, Double Blinded, Cross-Over QUEST Study. Neuromodulation 2024;-: 110. 2 ZieglerGraham K, MacKenzie EJ, Ephraim PL, et al., Estimating the prevalence of limb loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89:42242. 3 Owings MF, Kozak LJ. Ambulatory and inpatient procedures in the United States, 1996. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 13(139). 1998. For additional information regarding Neuros Medical, please contact: Steve Bosrock, Vice President, Marketing sbosrock@neurosmedical.com www.neurosmedical.com Tel: 440-951-2565 SOURCE Neuros Medical BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC), the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wake Stone Corporation, a leading pure-play aggregates supplier in the Carolinas. This value-enhancing acquisition is expected to provide more than 60 years of quality hard rock reserves to serve attractive high-growth geographies, most notably Raleigh, North Carolina. Tom Hill, Vulcan's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We look forward to welcoming Wake Stone to the Vulcan family. Established in 1970, Wake Stone has successfully built a leading aggregates franchise that shares many of the same values as Vulcan. Our people are at the heart of our business, and we are excited to work with the talented Wake Stone team. "This acquisition is consistent with our aggregates-led growth strategy of continuing to expand our reach to better serve more high-growth regions in the United States. Our Vulcan Way of Selling and Vulcan Way of Operating disciplines remain fundamental to consistently compounding profitability across our franchise and successfully integrating new operations. With the financial strength and flexibility to continue to grow, we are well-positioned to continue to deliver value for our shareholders and our customers." The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. About Vulcan Materials Company Vulcan Materials Company, a member of the S&P 500 Index with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is the nation's largest supplier of construction aggregates primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials, including asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. For additional information about Vulcan, go to www.vulcanmaterials.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER This communication contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other securities laws, regarding Vulcan, including, but not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed transaction between Vulcan and Wake Stone Corporation, including Vulcan's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and the expected timing of completion of the proposed transaction. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "explore," "evaluate," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," or "will," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based on Vulcan's current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Vulcan's control. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: Vulcan's ability to complete the transaction on the proposed terms or on the anticipated timeline, or at all, including risks and uncertainties related to securing the necessary approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions to consummate the proposed transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the definitive merger agreement relating to the proposed transaction; failure to realize the expected benefits of the proposed transaction; significant transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities; the risk that Wake Stone Corporation's business will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; risks related to future opportunities and plans for the combined company; disruption from the proposed transaction, making it more difficult to conduct business as usual or maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; effects relating to the announcement of the proposed transaction on the market price of Vulcan's common stock; the possibility that, if Vulcan does not achieve the perceived benefits of the proposed transaction as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial analysts or investors, the market price of Vulcan's common stock could decline; regulatory initiatives and changes in tax laws; general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described from time to time under the caption "Risk Factors" in reports and filings made by Vulcan with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Vulcan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Vulcan's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and future filings and reports made by Vulcan. Moreover, other risks and uncertainties of which Vulcan is not currently aware may also affect Vulcan's forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated. Vulcan cautions investors that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this communication are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements and reflect the views stated therein with respect to future events as at such dates, even if they are subsequently made available by Vulcan on its website or otherwise. Vulcan does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made, except as required by law. Investor Contact: Mark Warren (205) 298-3220 Media Contact: Jack Bonnikson (205) 298-3220 SOURCE Vulcan Materials Company Bipartisan Teamsters-Backed Legislation Gains Momentum in Congress WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters commend Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Bob Casey (D-PA) for reintroducing the Warehouse Worker Protection Act in the U.S. Senate. This crucial legislation aims to hold corporations like Amazon accountable for unsafe working conditions and abusive production quotas. First introduced in the Senate in May, this reintroduction includes Senator Hawley as a new cosponsor, highlighting growing bipartisan support for the bill. "Warehouse workers, particularly those at Amazon, have been subjected to grueling production quotas, resulting in some of the highest injury rates in the industry, all while struggling with low pay," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Thankfully, putting a stop to these exploitative practices has begun to gain bipartisan momentum in both chambers of Congress. We are grateful to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle for their leadership in supporting this critical piece of legislation. It's time to pass the Warehouse Worker Protection Act and ensure workers' safety comes before corporate greed." The bill has also garnered bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, where it was introduced in June by Representatives Haley Stevens (D-MI), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Mike Lawler (R-NY). This federal legislation follows years of action by the Teamsters to advance the Warehouse Worker Protection Act in state legislatures. It is now law in California, New York, Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota, and has been introduced in more than a dozen states. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WebMD today announced the recipients of the 2024 WebMD Health Hero Awards, recognizing individuals who are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform healthcare. This year's theme, "AI in Medicine" highlights how AI is being used to address critical health challenges, offering innovative solutions for diagnosing, treating, and preventing serious conditions. The 2024 WebMD Health Hero Award recipients exemplify how AI is reshaping the future of medicine, offering hope and saving lives in ways previously unimaginable. They are: WebMD Health Hero Award logo David Fajgenbaum , MD, MBA, MSc Finding Existing Drugs to Treat Rare Diseases With AI A physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania and co-founder of EveryCure.org, Fajgenbaum used AI to identify an existing kidney transplant drug that treated his own rare condition, saving his life. His groundbreaking AI-driven research has also identified 16 other treatments for diseases that these drugs weren't originally intended for. His personal journey, research, and discoveries have been widely published in scientific journals, as well as in his best-selling book. A physician-scientist at the and co-founder of EveryCure.org, Fajgenbaum used AI to identify an existing kidney transplant drug that treated his own rare condition, saving his life. His groundbreaking AI-driven research has also identified 16 other treatments for diseases that these drugs weren't originally intended for. His personal journey, research, and discoveries have been widely published in scientific journals, as well as in his best-selling book. Suchi Saria , PhD New AI Tool to Help Prevent Sepsis Deaths in Hospitals Saria, the founding research director at the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare at Johns Hopkins , developed an AI tool that has reduced the risk of sepsis-related deaths in hospitals by 20 percent. After losing her nephew to sepsis, Saria committed to creating this life-saving technology, which can detect sepsis nearly 6 hours earlier than traditional methods. Her work is already saving lives in hospitals across the country. Saria, the founding research director at the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare at , developed an AI tool that has reduced the risk of sepsis-related deaths in hospitals by 20 percent. After losing her nephew to sepsis, Saria committed to creating this life-saving technology, which can detect sepsis nearly 6 hours earlier than traditional methods. Her work is already saving lives in hospitals across the country. Regina Barzilay, PhD MIRAI: Predicting Breast Cancer Risk Years in Advance Barzilay, a Distinguished Professor at MIT , developed MIRAI, an AI tool that predicts breast cancer risk years before the disease appears on mammograms. MIRAI analyzes mammograms to assess future risk, especially in aggressive cancers that affect younger women. Validated on data from over 200,000 exams, MIRAI has proven more accurate than previous methods in predicting cancer risk across diverse groups. Prospective trials are underway to showcase its potential benefits in tailored screenings. "Artificial Intelligence is reshaping healthcare in profound ways, saving lives and improving patient outcomes," said Dr. John Whyte, Chief Medical Officer of WebMD. "This year's Health Heroes are leading the way in AI innovation, and we are honored to recognize their achievements." To learn more about the inspiring work of this year's honorees, visit: https://www.webmd.com/healthheroes/default.htm About the WebMD Health Hero Awards Now in its 17th year, the WebMD Health Hero Awards honor individuals and organizations making a lasting impact on health and wellness. WebMD celebrates those advancing healthcare through innovation, leadership, and courage. The recipients are chosen by WebMD's editorial team, which includes board-certified healthcare professionals and award-winning journalists. Join Tonight's Medscape Masters Event: Revolutionizing Healthcare with AI As part of the WebMD Health Hero Awards celebration, healthcare professionals are invited to attend tonight's Medscape Masters event: Revolutionizing Healthcare: AI-Driven Solutions. This session will feature WebMD Health Hero honoree, Dr. Fajgenbaum, who will discuss his pioneering work in using AI to repurpose existing drugs for rare diseases, as well as his broader insights into the evolving role of AI in clinical practice. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on how AI is transforming treatment approaches. To register, click here . Medscape is a subsidiary of WebMD Health Corp. About WebMD Health Corp. WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands company, is at the heart of the digital health revolution that is transforming the healthcare experience for consumers, patients, healthcare professionals, employers, health plans and health systems. Through public and private online portals, mobile platforms, and health-focused publications, WebMD delivers leading-edge content and digital services that enable and improve decision-making, support and motivate health actions, streamline and simplify the healthcare journey, and improve patient care. The WebMD Health Network includes WebMD Health, Medscape, WebMD Ignite (encompassing Krames, The Wellness Network and Mercury Healthcare), Jobson Healthcare Information, MediQuality, Frontline, Vitals Consumer Services, Aptus Health, PulsePoint, The Wellness Network, SanovaWorks, MNG Health, MedicineNet, eMedicineHealth, RxList, OnHealth, Medscape Education, and other owned WebMD sites. WebMD, Medscape, CME Circle, Medpulse, eMedicine, MedicineNet, theheart.org and RxList are among the trademarks of WebMD Health Corp. or its subsidiaries. About Internet Brands Internet Brands, headquartered in El Segundo, Calif, is a fully integrated online media and software services company focused on four high-value vertical categories: Health, Automotive, Legal, and Home/Travel. The company's properties and platforms include the WebMD, Medscape, and Henry Schein ONE networks, which are the global leaders in their markets; Nolo, Avvo, and Martindale, which form the largest consumer information provider in the legal market; and CarsDirect, Fodor's Travel, and many others which are leaders in their key verticals such as auto, travel, and home. For more information, please visit www.internetbrands.com. SOURCE WebMD Health Corp. Representatives from WEPACK attended the VPA dinner banquet Representatives from WEPACK attended the VPA dinner banquet Representatives from WEPACK attended the VPA dinner banquet Following the opening remarks, Will Sandman, Business Development Director of MPG GLOBAL, MGIH Vietnam, shared Global Paper Packaging Trends and Opportunities in the Vietnamese Market. Sandman stated that Vietnam's strategic location, low labor costs, and robust manufacturing base position the country as an emerging global hub in the packaging sector, with a packaging market scale expected to reach 6.5 billion US dollars by 2024. Furthermore, the Vietnamese government and enterprises are committed to obtaining green certifications by actively investing in environment-friendly technologies and equipment, adopting renewable energy and sustainable raw materials, and enhancing automation and digitized production, to ensure that international environment-friendly standards are met. Will Sandman recommended that the Vietnamese packaging industry continue investing in R&D, quality control, and automation, while strengthening sustainable development initiatives to maintain a leading position in the global market. Wang Jianjun, Chairman of Lap Thinh Packaging Company Limited, Vietnam, shared Trends and Experiences in China's Paper Packaging Development. He pointed out that Vietnam's packaging industry is experiencing rapid growth, similar to China's situation a decade ago but with more advantages. Investments from Chinese enterprises in Vietnam, particularly the introduction of high-end equipment and technologies, are driving the industry to grow towards efficiency and environmental friendliness. He emphasized that Vietnam's packaging industry will develop towards digital technologies and intelligent manufacturing, while facing a profound impact from environment-friendly policies and green economy. He urged Vietnamese packaging enterprises to learn from China's experiences, strengthen international cooperation, and jointly address industry challenges to achieve win-win development. Huang Jianhui, Sales Manager of Guangdong SUNYl Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., shared Intelligence Leading, Efficient Production; Liu Zhongliang, Export Manager of Dongteng Machinery Co., Ltd., presented Professional Partners for Paper Mills and Packaging Manufacturers; the sales manager of Nantong Jiabao Machinery Co., Ltd. shared Efficient Waste Management Solution Suitable for the Paper Packaging Industry; the sales manager of JCCORRUGATED MACHINERY CO. LTD. shared New Perspectives on Printing: Corrugated Printing Equipment Overview, etc. They offered in-depth insights and unique analyses on the Vietnamese market and international development trends, and shared experiences and insights on how to improve production efficiency via intelligent technologies in both the Chinese and Vietnamese markets. It is believed that intelligent manufacturing will bring infinite possibilities to the future of the paper packaging industry. Subsequently, Mr. Adward Lu, Project Manager of RX, during an interview with local Vietnamese television media, shared the current development updates and trends of Vietnam's paper packaging industry. He noted that Vietnam's paper packaging industry is experiencing a boom in green and sustainable development, with an average annual growth rate of 15%, drawing over 300 enterprises to participate, such as Tetra Pak Binh Duong factory, which has an annual production capacity of 12 billion cartons and plans to expand to 20 billion. The growth of industries such as e-commerce, food and beverage further propel the demand for paper packaging. Adopting a circular economy model, enterprises use recyclable materials, conserve energy and water, reduce carbon emissions, and actively participate in international exhibitions like WEPACK to showcase innovative packaging solutions. It is expected that the demand for Vietnam's paper packaging market will grow at a rate of 14-18% in the upcoming five to ten years. Following the paper packaging forum, the organizer arranged a factory tour for the participants to Lap Thinh Packaging Company Limited, Vietnam. An appreciation banquet was held at the end of the event, where representatives from WEPACK, SANSIN, VINPAS and VPA delivered speeches to express gratitude to all industry peers for their support and participation. WEPACK representatives cordially invited all industry peers to join WEPACK ASEAN 2024 (November 14-16, 2024, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre) and WEPACK 2025 (April 8-10, 2025, Shanghai New International Expo Center) to facilitate technical exchange and cooperation, as well as drive innovation and development in the packaging industry. Contact us Booth reservation Mr. Adward Lu 021-2231 7103 [email protected] Visit consulting Mr. Alan Lee +86-21-2231 7155 [email protected] SOURCE RX (China) Investment Co., Ltd. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED Webcast and conference call on October 25 at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET) SEATTLE, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) will release third quarter 2024 results on Thursday, October 24, after the market closes. The company will then hold a live webcast and conference call the following day, on Friday, October 25, at 7 a.m. Pacific (10 a.m. Eastern), to discuss the results. To access the news release, live webcast and presentation online, visit the Investor Relations section on www.weyerhaeuser.com. To join the conference call from within North America, dial 877-407-0792 (access code: 13742029) at least 15 minutes prior to the call. Those calling from outside North America should dial 201-689-8263 (access code: 13742029). Replays will be available for two weeks at 844-512-2921 (access code: 13742029) from within North America, and at 412-317-6671 (access code: 13742029) from outside North America. ABOUT WEYERHAEUSER Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900 and today owns or controls approximately 10.5 million acres of timberlands in the U.S., as well as 14 million acres of timberlands managed under long-term licenses in Canada. Weyerhaeuser has been a global leader in sustainability for more than a century and manages 100 percent of its timberlands on a fully sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized sustainable forestry standards. Weyerhaeuser is also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products in North America and operates additional business lines around real estate, climate solutions, energy and natural resources, among others. In 2023, the company generated $7.7 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,300 people who serve customers worldwide. Operated as a real estate investment trust, Weyerhaeuser's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at www.weyerhaeuser.com. For more information contact: Analysts - Andy Taylor, 206-539-3907 Media Nancy Thompson, 919-861-0342 SOURCE Weyerhaeuser Company BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan took part in an official reception hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, Trend reports. "In the margins of the high-level week of UNGA79, I had a pleasure to join an official reception organized by U.S. President Joe Biden for the heads of delegations attending the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York," Jeyhun Bayramov wrote on his page on X. BEIJING, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Dehua International Ceramic Culture Week kicked off on September 19 in Dehua County, Quanzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province. This year's Ceramic Culture Week attracted numerous domestic and foreign merchants, with an exhibition area of 10,000 square meters, featuring several renowned ceramic brands from Russia, the UK, Germany, and other countries. Photo shows the Halloween-themed craft ceramics displayed in the exhibition hall of Quanzhou Kaideli Ceramics Co., Ltd. (Provided by Li Hao) Fang Junqin, head of Dehua County, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the event, encouraging merchants to leverage the event to expand cooperation and seek common development. Dehua has a ceramic-making history of over 3,700 years, making it one of the earliest export ceramic regions and currently the largest producer and exporter of ceramic crafts in China, with products sold to over 190 countries and regions. The international recognition of Dehua ceramics is steadily increasing, drawing more and more visitors to experience the charm of this "porcelain capital". In recent years, Dehua ceramics have frequently appeared on the international stage. The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour which started from August 2023, has brought Dehua ceramics to Southeast Asia, Europe and America. Since 2023, Dehua has signed 26 projects related to porcelain and cultural tourism through overseas associations and chambers of commerce, with a total investment of 19.192 billion yuan. Dehua has promoted innovation and brand building through policy support and investment in research and development, enhancing product value. From January to July of this year, Dehua's export reached 2.035 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 18.42 percent, demonstrating strong development momentum. Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/342301.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yvette Cabrera, senior reporter at the Center for Public Integrity and a dedicated environmental justice journalist, will receive the National Press Club Journalism Institute's 2024 Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism. Cabrera covers inequality in economic and social well-being with a focus on climate justice issues. Throughout her career, Cabrera has reported at the intersection of justice and equity, examining the impact of systemic disparities, such as environmental pollution and contamination, on marginalized communities throughout the United States. "Yvette's work exemplifies the commitment of the Sheehan family to promote the practice of investigative journalism exemplifying compassion, courage, and integrity," said Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute. "Her thoughtful approach shines light on the long-term impacts that systemic environmental practices have on vulnerable communities. She balances care with accountability - a terrific combination of values to model for investigative journalists everywhere." Cabrera's recent notable work includes highlighting a decades-long fight in a community treated as a dumping ground for hazardous environmental waste, how communities of color bear the brunt of U.S. pollution, and a story on the devastating effects of uranium mining on the Navajo Nation. Her Ghosts of Polluters Past series, published by Grist, was honored with a 2023 international Sigma Award for Data Journalism, and a 2023 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communications from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. "I'm deeply touched by this recognition and would like to thank the National Press Club Journalism Institute board for this wonderful acknowledgment of my work," said Yvette Cabrera. "It's humbling to receive this recognition given in honor of two trailblazing journalists, and particularly meaningful that it's bestowed by my peers at an organization that I greatly respect for its commitment to upholding and defending the values of a free press." Cabrera's commitment to journalism extends to building community and opportunity among her peers. She is the immediate past president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists; a founding member of The Uproot Project, a network for environmental journalists of color; and for two decades served as a board member of CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California, the oldest regional organization of journalists of color in the country. In 2022, Cabrera was selected as a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center practitioner to create a journalist's guide for reporting on soil lead contamination, and in 2024 she presented a Ted Talk on solutions to this problem. Cabrera was a 2021 recipient of a Kozik Grant for Climate Justice Reporting, administered jointly by the Institute and the National Press Foundation. Each year, the Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism recognizes work that best reflects the Sheehans' extraordinary commitment to the principle that a vibrant democracy depends on an informed citizenry and a free press. The award promotes the practice of investigative journalism exemplifying compassion, courage, and integrity. The Sheehan Award was given in 2023 to Kat Stafford, equity and global race and justice editor with Reuters, and in 2022 to PBS FRONTLINE's Local Journalism Initiative. The National Press Club will confer the 2024 Sheehan award, along with the John Aubuchon Press Freedom Awards, during its annual Fourth Estate Award Gala honoring Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen on Nov. 21 in Washington, D.C. The gala dinner is a fundraiser for the Club's nonprofit affiliate, the National Press Club Journalism Institute, which produces training to equip journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement. Tickets and more information for the event can be found here. The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest. Press contact: Beth Francesco, National Press Club Journalism Institute executive director, [email protected] SOURCE National Press Club Journalism Institute BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. US State Secretary Antony Blinken commended the progress Armenia and Azerbaijan have made toward a durable and dignified peace, said the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller taking the stock of Blinken's New York meeting with Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Trend reports. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a trilateral meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov today in New York during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week. Secretary Blinken commended both ministers on the progress Armenia and Azerbaijan have made toward a durable and dignified peace and encouraged continued progress by both countries to finalize an agreement as soon as possible. The Secretary underscored that a peace agreement would bring increased stability and prosperity to the region," reads the statement. Following today's meeting, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to put additional efforts towards the conclusion of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations in the shortest possible period. Both sides expressed their gratitude to the Secretary of State for organizing the meeting. 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 Baghdad, Sep 26 : Iraqi Shia militia Kata'ib Hezbollah has threatened to attack the presence of US forces if Israel assaults Iraq. Abu Ali al-Askar, security leader of the Iranian-backed Shia militia, said on Wednesday in a statement that the Iraqi airspace is witnessing intense activity by the US and Israel, indicating "the possibility of a Zionist (Israeli) aggression against Iraq". "Accordingly, the Kata'ib Hezbollah renews its warning that its response will not be limited to Israel only, but will include the entire US presence," the statement added as reported by Xinhua news agency. Al-Askar also called on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Shia militia group, to increase the number and scale of their operations and the level of threat to Israel. Earlier on Wednesday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for multiple drone and missile attacks on Israeli targets "in solidarity with our people in Palestine and Lebanon," without specifying the affected sites or reporting any casualties. Since the onset of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has conducted multiple attacks on Israeli and US targets in the region in support of Palestinians in Gaza. New York, Sep 26 : Amid a flurry of diplomacy to end the Ukraine war, India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. EAM Jaishankar wrote on X after their meeting at the Russian Mission, "Discussed our bilateral cooperation and regional issues." On Tuesday evening, EAM Jaishankar had indicated that India is trying to see if it could involve the two countries in a peace effort. He said at the Asia Society, "We have been engaging both the Russian government and the Ukrainian government -- in Moscow and in Kyiv and in other places -- to see whether there is something we can do which would hasten the end of the conflict and initiate some kind of serious negotiation." He added that India was "sharing" with both countries the conversations it had with them and his sense was that "both sides appreciate it". New Delhi, which has historically had close diplomatic and strategic ties with Moscow, is forging an independent path open to the West giving it room to be a conduit between the two countries for peace diplomacy. In his Wednesday morning address to the General Assembly, Zelensky mentioned his meeting with PM Modi, and on Tuesday at the Security Council he said that he had invited India to a "second peace summit to end the war". At Monday's PM Modi's meeting with Zelensky, their second within a month, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that "the way forward on pursuing a path to peace" came up "prominently in their discussions". PM Modi reiterated "India's clear, consistent, and constructive approach" to resolving the conflict with Russia through diplomacy and dialogue," the Ministry said. When he visited Ukraine last month, PM Modi said, "Personally, as a friend, if there is any role that I can play, I would very much like to play that role toward peace." After his return home, PM Modi spoke via phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and he wrote on X that they "exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and my insights from the recent visit to Ukraine". India followed that up with a trip earlier this month by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to meet Putin and, according to reports, brief him on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Kyiv. In the month before his Ukraine trip, PM Modi had visited Moscow to meet Putin. While India, which is heavily dependent on Moscow for defence materials, continues to buy oil and petroleum products from Russia, an investigation by the news agency Reuters said that munitions made by Indian companies were finding their way to Ukraine through third countries in Europe. United Nations, Sep 26 : The latest surge of attacks in Lebanon extends into regions not previously hit, inflicting civilian casualties and causing widespread destruction, including to essential infrastructure, UN humanitarians said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday that on the third consecutive day of the large-scale military escalation, the Bekaa and Southern Governorate's water supply was severely damaged, leaving 30,000 people without access to clean water, fresh on the heels of severe damage to 16 water stations previously. "The strikes also have driven tens of thousands of people from their homes in southern Lebanon," OCHA added. "Since September 23 (Monday), the International Organisation for Migration reports more than 90,000 people as being newly displaced, including 40,000 people in more than 200 collective shelters." The UN relief agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA, announced opening two of its Designated Emergency Shelters (DESs) for displaced individuals. The agency has pre-positioned food and non-food supplies to support the displaced, Xinhua news agency reported. While UNRWA said it prioritises Palestinian refugees in these shelters, it remains committed to assisting individuals of other nationalities in need during escalation, depending on resource availability. The agency added that it has activated its emergency response plan, which includes providing hospitalisation for wounded registered Palestine refugee civilians at contracted hospitals, per its policy for each hospital. The World Health Organisation said it is providing health supplies to overstretched Lebanese health facilities following last week's explosions of communications devices. The levels of health supplies remain insufficient as the crisis worsens, and the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) expects 25 tons of lifesaving medication and medical commodities to arrive in the country in the coming days. The humanitarians are mobilising food, water and essential supplies, including mattresses and hygiene kits. "Our partners are calling for more sites for displaced people," OCHA said. "Nearly 300 schools across the country are being repurposed to shelter people who have fled their homes. Up to 100,000 students could be affected as a result." The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said it is preparing for the growing number of displaced Lebanese and Syrians fleeing Lebanon for Syria in desperation as Israeli airstrikes continue. "Hundreds of vehicles are backed up in queues at the Syrian border. Many people are also arriving on foot, carrying what they can," UNHCR reported. "Large crowds, including women, young children and babies are waiting in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. Some bear fresh injuries from the recent bombardments." The agency and partners provide food, water, blankets and mattresses to those crossing the border, guiding them to support available in Syria. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said the Middle East cannot afford a new displacement crisis. UNHCR said it responds to the needs of forcibly displaced people across Lebanon, coordinating closely with the authorities and other humanitarian organisations. As for Syria, where some of the displaced in Lebanon flee, humanitarians said needs remain dire; the 2023 earthquake and the drawn-out conflict there have left critical infrastructure in tatters and millions in need of assistance. Lebanon hosts an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees and more than 11,000 refugees from other countries. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 27. Today marks the fourth anniversary of the start of the 44-day Patriotic War. September 27 is remembered as the beginning of Azerbaijans road to victory. It is also a Remembrance Day, when millions of Azerbaijanis, both at home and abroad, honor the martyrs whose sacrifices paved the way for this victory. On that fateful day, Armenian forces once again launched attacks on residential areas and military positions of Azerbaijan, using heavy artillery and other weapons. This provocation led to casualties and injuries among civilians and military personnel of Azerbaijan. For Azerbaijan, this marked the breaking point after 30 years of striving for peace. In response, the Azerbaijani Army launched a decisive counteroffensive to neutralize immediate and potential threats to the nation's security. Azerbaijani youth, long awaiting this moment, eagerly joined the fight to liberate Karabakh. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and thanks to the valor of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and the unity of its people, Armenian forces were decisively defeated in just 44 days, and Azerbaijans territorial integrity was restored. This victory not only reclaimed lands that had been under occupation for nearly 30 years but also reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the region. The restoration of Azerbaijans territorial integrity shifted the balance of power and ushered in significant political and economic changes. The war showcased the strength of Azerbaijans military to the world and solidified the nations position as a regional power. Following the war, President Ilham Aliyev proposed Armenia a peace agreement based on the mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity. He urged Yerevan to seize this historic opportunity, emphasizing that a peace agreement was the only path to lasting stability in the region. However, Armenia rejected the offer and continued its provocations. On September 9, 2023, it held so-called "presidential elections" in territories under the temporary control of Russian peacekeeping forces. During this time, Armenia refused to withdraw its illegal armed formations from Azerbaijani lands, instead continuing to send military reinforcements and supplies. Armenian forces also fortified their positions and laid mines across the region. On September 19, 2023, Armenian armed forces and separatist groups escalated their provocations, committing terrorist acts in Azerbaijan. In response, Azerbaijan was compelled to take firm action to defend its sovereignty. In less than 24 hours, the Azerbaijani Armys local anti-terrorist measures brought Armenian separatists to surrender. Armenian military units and illegal armed formations laid down their weapons, vacated their positions, and were fully disarmed. The unlawful separatist regime in Karabakh was dismantled, its leaders arrested, and Azerbaijan restored its full sovereignty over the entire region. The 44-day Patriotic War and subsequent anti-terrorist measures have redefined the political dynamics of the South Caucasus. Armenias influence waned, leading to a profound economic and political crisis, while Azerbaijan emerged stronger, enhancing its political influence and economic power to become the dominant force in the region. Today, millions of Azerbaijanis, both in the country and abroad, come together to honor the memory of the martyrs of the 44-day Patriotic War. This pivotal event holds a sacred place in the nations history. Prayers for the martyrs souls resonate in mosques, churches, and synagogues alike, a testament to the unity of the Azerbaijani people and their unwavering resolve to stand together against any future threats. Beirut, Sep 26 : The Indian Embassy in Beirut has issued an advisory strongly urging Indian citizens against travelling to Lebanon till further notice following the recent incident of airstrikes and blasts in communication devices. They have also advised the Indian nationals residing in Lebanon to leave the country as soon as possible and further advised the people to exercise "extreme cautions" and remain in contact with the Embassy, who have to remain here amid the escalating situation. "As a reiteration of the advisory issued on August 1, 2024, and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice," the Embassy said on Wednesday in their notice. "All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128," the Embassy said. Earlier on September 24, the Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that Israel's recent military strikes on Lebanon have resulted in at least 558 fatalities, according to a report by Al Jazeera. Of 558 people who have died from IDF strikes, 50 are children, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, adding that 1,835 people have been injured. Notably, Israel continued striking Hezbollah positions in Lebanon while the Iran-backed terror group fired volleys of rockets at Haifa, Nahariya, the Galilee, and the Jezreel Valley overnight and Tuesday morning. The Israel Defense Forces said the Air Force struck more than 1,600 targets in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, including missile launchers, command posts, and other terror infrastructure, including those located inside civilian homes. Israeli artillery and tanks hit other Hezbollah targets in the areas of Ayta ash Shab and Ramyeh near the border. The IDF said 210 rockets were fired into Israel on Monday. Several Israelis were treated for shrapnel, hurting themselves while making their way to shelter, or panic attacks. Tokyo, Sep 26 : Japan has for the first time ever sent a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel through the Taiwan Strait, local media reported on Thursday, in an apparent challenge to China's growing military assertiveness in the region. The destroyer Sazanami, along with Australian and New Zealand vessels, conducted the transit on Wednesday in the narrow waterway between China and Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China claims as its own territory, according to sources as quoted by Japanese media outlet Kyodo News. The ships were believed to be heading to the South China Sea for exercises. The transit, which came only a few days before Fumio Kishida steps down as Prime Minister, comes as China has ramped up military pressure in the waters and airspace around Japan. China has been increasing its military activities around Japan, with a spy plane violating Japanese airspace near islands in Nagasaki Prefecture in late August. Earlier this month, a Chinese aircraft carrier entered the contiguous zone just outside Japan's territorial waters for the first time when it sailed between remote islands in southern Japan from the East China Sea. The US regularly sends warships through the Taiwan Strait to assert freedom of navigation, while allies including Britain and Australia have also made such transits in recent years, drawing China's ire. This move came just days after a Chinese military spy plane entered Japanese airspace for the first time. Japan called the Chinese move "utterly unacceptable" and said it considered the flight a threat to the country's safety. In July, the MSDF destroyer Suzutsuki sailed into Chinese territorial waters, media reports said, angering Beijing. The Defence Ministry in Tokyo has not formally acknowledged that incident, but Defence Chief Minoru Kihara said on Tuesday that the shipas captain had been removed the same month it occurred. Taiwan is viewed as a potential military flashpoint in US-China relations, with Beijing regarding the island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 as the result of a civil war. United Nations, Sep 26 : India has signed an international agreement to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the pact formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement on Wednesday here. He said on X, "India is proud to join the BBNJ Agreement, an important step towards ensuring that our oceans remain healthy and resilient." The agreement under the Law of the Seas Treaty seeks to ensure that marine life is conserved and used in a sustainable manner on the high seas, which is beyond nations' territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone that could extend up to 200 nautical miles or 370 km from the shores. The area the agreement covers is about two-thirds of all the oceans. The agreement was about 20 years in the making before it was adopted internationally last year and it bans destructive fishing and pollution. Under the agreement, countries cannot claim sovereign rights over marine resources on the high seas and it ensures equitable sharing of benefits from those resources. The Cabinet approved India's participation in the agreement in July. Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State for Earth Sciences, said at that time, "India remains committed and proactive to the global cause of environmental conservation and sustainable development." Earth Sciences Secretary M. Ravichandran said, "The BBNJ Agreement allows us to enhance our strategic presence in areas beyond our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), which is very promising" and further strengthens our marine conservation efforts. Chennai, Sep 26 : In a tragic incident, a man was trampled to death by a wild elephant during the early hours of Thursday in Cherambady village of the Nilgiri district in Tamil Nadu. The deceased was identified as Kunhimoideen of the same village. Forest department officials told IANS that the incident occurred at 2 a.m Officials said that Kunhimoideen had come out of his house on hearing the sound of a tree branch falling only to find a wild tusker standing in front of him. Even before he could react, the elephant attacked him, Agitated local people blocked the Ooty-Batheri state highway. Abdul Gafoor, a local farmer told IANS that they were regularly facing attacks from wild animals, including elephants and wild bores, destroying the agricultural farms. He said that they had complained to the forest department officials about the regular attacks but the officials did not take any action. It may be noted that this area is a border of Wayanad in Kerala and the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. There have been several instances of wild elephants entering human habitats leading to human and animal conflicts. A farmer Raju was trampled to death by a wild elephant in July 2024 in Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad. The tusker attacked him from behind while he was walking back home from his farm. He was rushed to a private hospital in Kozhikode where he succumbed to death. Tamil Nadu has also witnessed several human-elephant conflicts and the Coimbatore forest division, which includes the Nilgiri region, accounted for a maximum number of human deaths in wild elephant attacks. The Coimbatore forest division recorded, as per the data available, 147 deaths between 2011-2022. The forest department officials attribute these deaths to the rise in the elephant population, disturbances in migration paths, changes in land use patterns and agricultural practices and linear infrastructure developments. As per a study, on average, 12 human deaths and 13 elephant deaths occur in the division in a year. According to the department, over 85 villages and small towns are severely affected due to the conflicts, and incidents of elephants straying out of forests are constantly increasing. New Delhi, Sep 26 : Less than 10 days after the desecration of a temple in New York, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California in the US was desecrated with a "Hindus go back" message. The BAPS Public Affairs said in a post on X that their temple in California's Sacramento was desecrated with anti-Hindu messages. "Our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: "Hindus go back!" We stand united against hate with prayers for peace." The Sacramento Police said that they were investigating the case and termed it a hate crime The police in a post on X said, "...investigating a vandalism being classified as a hate crime at the BAPS Hindu Temple in Mather. Detectives and CSI are on scene." There were reports that the accused had also cut water lines at the property. On September 16, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was vandalised with hate messages inscribed on the driveway and the sign of the temple outside the gate. The Indian Consulate in New York condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple, saying it has raised the matter with the US law enforcement authorities for prompt action against perpetrators of the "heinous act". "The vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, is unacceptable," the Indian Consulate had said in a post on X then. It added that the Consulate was in touch with the community and has raised the matter with the US law enforcement authorities for prompt action against the perpetrators of this heinous act. The Hindu American Foundation had said that the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security "must investigate" the attack on the temple. The Foundation had raised concerns saying that it was hard to comprehend the absolute cowardice of those who would attack a Hindu temple to air hatred for an elected leader. In July, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir was vandalised in Canada's Edmonton. Canadian MP Chandra Arya had then voiced deep concern over the escalating incidents of hate-fuelled violence directed at Hindu-Canadian communities. Raipur, Sep 26 : Veteran Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, T. S. Singh Deo, has hit out at Kangana Ranaut, the BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh, over her remarks on the three farm laws. In an exclusive interview with IANS, T.S. Singh Deo said on Wednesday that Kangana's statement proves that "she is in such a situation that her words no longer hold any weight as well as lack seriousness". The Congress leader further added: "People say that she is a good actress, on that basis she got a platform to move forward. But, now her statement proved that she lacks seriousness and depth. Her personality is not yet moulded enough to work as a good public representative." Kangana Ranaut, a BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha seat, had given a statement a few days ago regarding the farmer laws, but later expressed regret over it. Regarding a huge controversy over adulterated ghee and animal fat mixed with the prasadam served to people in the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, T.S. Singh Deo said, "As far as I know, the tender for the ghee that was purchased was floated after every six months despite whichever tanker of ghee used to come in the temple. Earlier its sample was sent for testing and only after it was found pure then only it was used." He further added: "The big question is whether the adulteration found during the sample testing of laddus was made from adulterated ghee? From the Tirupati temple, 10 lakh laddus were also sent to Ayodhya during the Ram temple consecration ceremony in January 22 this year." Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment regarding Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's name embroiled in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam, TS Singh Deo said that there is no problem with the investigation, adding that "this is just an allegation". Can BJP's membership drive harm Congress' political prospects in the upcoming by-elections and municipal elections in Chhattisgarh, the Congress leader said: "I do not think that the BJP's membership drive will cause any harm to the Congress' prospects. Because they have received money from Mahtari Vandhan Yojana, they (BJP leaders) are inducting women into their party. Congress councillors also visit door-to-door for its party membership drive and will also attract women voters towards them." Asked about Congress's launching a scathing attack on the BJP regarding law and order in Chhattisgarh, the former Deputy Chief Minister said that the current administration needs to work with more activeness and awareness. Seoul, Sep 26 : South Korea plans to launch an antidumping investigation into stainless steel plates imported from China after a local company claimed that cheap imports have damaged the domestic market, the industry ministry said on Thursday. The move came after DK Corp filed a complaint with the Korea Trade Commission in June, claiming that stainless steel plates from four Chinese companies were imported at below reasonable market prices, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The plates are widely used in various industries, including the petrochemical, shipbuilding, and semiconductor sectors, reports Yonhap news agency. The commission said it plans to carry out investigations on products imported in 2023. Last month, the government said that Children's bicycles, skates and sunglasses sold in South Korea by Chinese online platform AliExpress have been found to contain a hazardous substance exceeding the countryas standard by about 260 times. The government conducted a safety examination on 16 kinds of children's products sold on AliExpress, such as inline skates, kickboards, bicycles, glasses, and sunglasses, and half of them were found to contain hazardous substances exceeding domestic standards or were not durable enough. The number of complaints by South Korean users about the products and services on the Chinese platforms has soared recently. Given this, the South Korean antitrust regulator Fair Trade Commission (FTC) in May signed agreements with the Chinese retail platforms AliExpress and Temu meant to prevent them from selling harmful products and to better protect consumers. The move came as the customs agency found that some of the products sold on AliExpress, owned by Alibaba, and Temu contained high levels of carcinogens and other harmful substances, the FTC said. New York, Sep 26 : Mayor Eric Adams, 64, has been indicted on federal criminal charges, marking the first time in modern New York City history that a sitting mayor has faced such charges, local media reported. While the indictment remains sealed, details of the charges are expected to be announced by federal prosecutors on Thursday. It is unclear what specific charges Adams, a Democrat, will face or when he will surrender to authorities, according to The New York Times report. In a videotaped statement, Adams expressed his belief that the federal government intended to bring charges against him, stating, "These charges will be entirely false, based on lies." "It is no surprise, as I always knew standing my ground for the people would make me a target," he added. This indictment follows a federal investigation that came to light nearly a year ago when agents searched the home of Adams's chief fundraiser and seized electronic devices belonging to the mayor after a public event in Manhattan. Despite the ongoing investigation, Adams and his team have maintained that he is cooperating fully with authorities and continues to assert his innocence. Adams, a retired NYPD captain, was elected as New York City's 110th mayor in 2021, with his campaign focused on reducing crime, improving city governance, and showcasing his unique personal style, or "swagger." He is the second Black mayor in the city's history. The indictment comes as Adams faces a competitive primary in his bid for re-election next year, likely prompting more challengers to join the race. Despite the charges, Adams indicated he has no plans to resign. Should he decide to step down, the city's public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would assume the role of acting mayor. New Delhi, Sep 26 : Leading professional networking platform LinkedIn on Thursday announced it has added 10 new language options, including four Indian regional languages. The new language options are Vietnamese, Greek, Persian, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, along with four Indian regional languages Bengali, Marathi, Telugu and Punjabi. The new additions bring LinkedIn's support to five Indian languages, including Hindi, it said in a statement. "We're excited to announce that LinkedIn is now more inclusive and accessible than ever. We've expanded our language support to include 10 new languages, each representing a vibrant part of our global community," said Chief Product Officer Tomer Cohen. LinkedIn's member base in India has surpassed 135 million, with engagement rates growing at 20 per cent year-over-year. India stands as LinkedIn's second-largest and fastest-growing market. By adding these languages, LinkedIn aims to bridge language barriers on the platform, allowing more people to establish deeper professional identities and engage more meaningfully with their networks. "With these additions, our platform now supports a total of 36 languages, helping professionals around the world connect, communicate, and collaborate more effectively," said Cohen. Last month, the Microsoft-owned platform appointed Kumaresh Pattabiraman as new Country Manager and Product Head in India. According to Pattabiraman, LinkedIn has evolved from being just a jobs platform to becoming a dynamic global community where professionals connect for jobs, learning, networking, and knowledge sharing. India is among the top five countries with the fastest-growing AI talent and has the highest AI skill penetration globally, and LinkedIn members are using AI skills three times more frequently than the global average. LinkedIn recently launched a new video experience in India, in a bid to tap into one of the fastest-growing markets with uploads growing 60 per cent year-on-year in the country. New Delhi, Sep 26 : The share of out-of-pocket expenditure out of total health expenditure has come down from 64.2 per cent in 2013-14 to 39.4 per cent in 2021-22, said Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog. This decline in out-of-pocket expenditure "reflects a very positive indicator," said Paul, while releasing the Union Health Ministry's National Health Account (NHA) estimates for India 2020-21 and 2021-22. "More than Rs 1 lakh crore savings have accrued from the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and this has had a positive impact on the recent NHA estimates," he added. He also stated that other schemes "like the free dialysis scheme, launched in 2015-16 have benefited 25 lakh people". While calling the decline in out-of-pocket cost of health, "a good sign", Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra said that "a substantial increase has been noticed in the health expenditure of the government". This, he said, "reflects the emphasis of the government towards health". Further, the NHA estimates for 2021-22 highlight the efforts of the government to increase public investments in the health sector. The share of Government Health Expenditure (GHE) in the overall GDP of the country has increased from 1.13 per cent in 2014-15 to 1.84 per cent in 2021-22. In terms of share in the General Government Expenditure (GGE), it has increased from 3.94 per cent in 2014-15 to 6.12 per cent in 2021-22, the estimates showed. "In per capita terms, GHE has tripled, from Rs. 1,108 to Rs. 3,169 between 2014-15 to 2021-22. The government spending on health between 2019-20 and 2020-21 increased by 16.6 per cent, while between 2020-21 and 2021-22, it grew by an unprecedented rate of 37 per cent," the estimates showed. The increase in Government spending on health has an important implication for the reduction of financial hardship endured by households. In the Total Health Expenditure (THE) of the country between 2014-15 and 2021-22, the share of GHE has increased from 29 per cent to 48 per cent. During the same period, the share of Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in THE declined from 62.6 per cent to 39.4 per cent, the estimates showed. Further, the Social Security Expenditure (SSE) on healthcare also increased during this period. This has a direct impact on reducing out-of-pocket payments, the health ministry said. "The share of SSE on health, which includes Government-funded health insurance, medical reimbursement to Government employees, and social health insurance programs, in THE, has increased from 5.7 per cent in 2014-15 to 8.7 per cent in 2021-22," as per the estimates. The current NHA estimate is the eighth and ninth in the series of reports released annually by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. On September 26, the first group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) are returning back to Jabrayil from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports. At this stage, 36 families, comprising 117 people, made the move to Jabrayil. The residents of Jabrayil expressed deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their ongoing support. They also thanked the brave Azerbaijani Army for liberating their lands from occupation, allowing them to return home after years of displacement. Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 : K.P. Kunhikannan, a former Congress legislator, who was injured in an accident on September 4, died in a hospital in Kerala's Kasargod on Thursday Kunhikannan's car had met with an accident while returning to his home in the district and had been in hospital since. On Thursday morning he breathed his last, said his family members. The 75-year-old Congress leader represented the Udma Assembly constituency in Kasargod district in 1987. The veteran leader was the popular Congress face in Kasargod and was the first district party president when Kasargod district was formed in 1984. He was known for his soft demeanour and was known for his closeness to Late four-time Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran. Kunhikannan was Karunakaranas aide in the northern district of the state. Kunhikannan was one of Karunakaranas most loyal followers and stood with the veteran when he took cudgels with the Congress Party High Command, starting in the late nineties. When Karunakaran in early 2000 decided to float his own party -- Democratic Indira Congress -- he stood with Karunakaran. Kunhikannan rose in the party through the ranks of student politics and made a mark for himself while in the Youth Congress. After becoming a full-fledged party member, he held important posts in state-run Corporations, including the Kerala State Electricity Board. He also became the general secretary of the party. Incidentally, in the 2021 Assembly polls, his daughter-in-law, Veena S. Nair contested the Vattiyoorkavu Assembly constituency in the state capital city but lost the polls. Veena today is a popular leader in the party in the state capital while her husband Thilakan works in the office of the Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, V.D. Satheesan. Satheesan while condoling the death of his senior party colleague said the party has lost one of its tallest leaders in the erstwhile Malabar region of the state and was known for his soft demeanour. Chennai, Sep 26 : Heavy rains that lashed Chennai city on Wednesday night have led to waterlogging in many areas. The downpour commenced after 6 P.M. on Wednesday and many areas of the city experienced rain on Thursday also. Many areas including Anna Nagar (East), Anna Nagar (West), Purushuwalkam, T-Nagar, Mount Road, Virugambakkam, Vadapalani, Nungambakkam, Tambaram, Pammal received more than 100 mm of rain that led to flooding of the streets. Greater Chennai Corporation cleared garbage from the drains and used pumps to remove water from low-lying areas. Perambur railway underpass was closed as it was filled with water. Chennai Corporation Mayor Priya told IANS that water from most of the underpass has been cleared and now it has been opened for traffic. It may be recalled that the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) had on Tuesday predicted heavy rains in many districts of Tamil Nadu for the next two days. The weather department in a statement on Tuesday said that low pressure has formed over West Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining Bay of North Andhra-South Odisha coast and due to this many districts of the state are expected to receive heavy rains. Weather department officials told IANS that the heavy rains in Chennai since Wednesday night were mainly due to the low pressure. The RMC has also indicated that strong surface winds with speeds reaching 30 to 40 kmph will blow in the state for two days. Fishermen are advised not to venture out into the sea as squally winds with wind speed of 45 kmph to 55 kmph are likely to hit the Gulf of Mannar, south Tamil Nadu coast and also the adjoining Cameron area. The heavy rains have affected Tiruvallur, Vellore and Cuddalore districts as well as some areas in Puducherry. Weather stations in Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 7.42 cm rainfall and 7.12 cm rainfall respectively from 8.30 A.M. on Wednesday till 5.30 A.M. on Thursday. Bhopal, Sep 26 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will be campaigning for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in poll-bound Haryana on Thursday. In his day-long campaign schedule, CM Yadav will address public rallies in three Assembly seats -- Charkhi Dadri, Bhivani and Bawani Khera. First, two of these three Assembly seats -- Charkhi Dadri and Bhivani -- fall under the Mahendragarh-Bhivani Lok Sabha constituency where there is a sizable population of the Yadav community. This particular area of Haryana, which also falls under the (expanded) National Capital Region (NCR), is known for its strong bonding and mutual support within the Yadav community. Bawani Khera -- the Assembly seat reserved for the Schedule Case (SC) candidate -- falls under the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency. Hisar district has a sizable OBC and Dalit voters and therefore, both BJP and Congress have deployed multiple leaders to seek their support in the election. Besides addressing public rallies, CM Yadav will also meet the BJP workers to review the party's preparations for the Assembly elections, according to details shared by the Madhya Pradesh unit of the BJP. The election in Haraya will be held on October 5 for the 90-member Assembly. The results will be declared on October 8. High voltage campaign has been going in poll-bound states -- Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a public rally in Gohana of Haryana launched a blistering attack on the Congress saying if it comes to power in Haryana even by mistake, stability and development will be at stake because of its "infighting" and this will ruin the state. The current Haryana Legislative Assembly will end its tenure on November 3, 2024. In the 2019 elections, BJP won 40 seats and formed a coalition with JJP, which had won 10 seats, while Congress won 31 seats. BJP and JJP broke their alliance, but the BJP remained safe in government. This year, BJP, Congress, JJP, and AAP parties will contest against each other. New York, Sep 26 : The US, France and other allies have jointly called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to facilitate negotiations in the intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has claimed over 600 lives in Lebanon in recent days. The appeal was made on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday by the US, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and Qatar. "The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8, 2023, is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of broader regional escalation. This is in no one's interest, neither the people of Israel nor Lebanon," according to a joint statement of the countries. The allies emphasised that diplomacy cannot succeed amid continued conflict. "It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that allows civilians on both sides of the border to return to safety," the statement added. The joint call urged for the 21-day ceasefire to provide space for diplomatic negotiations, in line with UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza. "We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to immediately endorse the ceasefire and give diplomacy a real chance to resolve the crisis," the statement urged. The countries also expressed readiness to support diplomatic efforts to secure a final agreement between Lebanon and Israel within the ceasefire period. While there has been no immediate response from Israel, Lebanon, or Hezbollah, senior US officials confirmed that all parties were aware of the ceasefire call. Representatives from Israel and Lebanon had earlier reaffirmed their commitment to the UN resolution that ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's top strategic adviser in New York on Thursday ahead of the prime minister's arrival. Netanyahu has signalled openness to pursuing a deal, provided it includes the return of Israeli civilians to their homes, according to some media reports. This conflict follows the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in hostages being taken. Israel's military response has since led to over 41,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials. Moscow, Sep 26 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia will achieve victory in the conflict with Ukraine, which he claims has been provoked by the West. In an interview with TASS news agency, Lavrov stressed that the West only responds to force, and Russia is unified in the face of this proxy war. "The victory is necessary. They do not understand any other language. This victory will be ours, there is no doubt. We have truly united against the war the West has unleashed through Ukraine," Lavrov stated. Lavrov also criticised the United States, accusing it of worsening global conflicts, including in Ukraine and Gaza. "The US, as a so-called 'problem solver,' has only exacerbated crises worldwide. Wherever the West gets involved as the main 'fix-it man,' pardon my slang, the situation deteriorates -- hundreds of thousands of victims, devastation, and socio-economic issues. This is what we see in Ukraine and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," he said. He further lambasted the United Nations for its silence on attacks against Russian civilians in the Kursk Region, where Ukrainian forces have reportedly targeted residential areas using Western-supplied weapons. "Terrorist groups are attacking the Kursk Region daily with modern Western weapons. Yet, I've heard nothing from the UN's human rights representatives, including the secretary-general," Lavrov remarked. In addition, Lavrov took aim at Eastern European countries aligned with NATO and the European Union, asserting that they are not fully trusted by their Western allies. "Eastern European countries must understand that their 'masters' in NATO and the EU do not trust them. They will never be allowed significant international roles," Lavrov concluded. Mumbai, Sep 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Pune in Maharashtra on Thursday to inaugurate a new corridor of the metro and launch several development projects valued at over Rs 22,600 crore has been cancelled due to heavy rain in the city. Mumbai, Sep 26 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra ModiasA scheduled visit toA Pune in Maharashtra on Thursday to inaugurate a new corridor of the metro and launch several development projects valued at over Rs 22,600 crore has been cancelled due to heavy rain in the city. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a rain alert for Mumbai and Pune. Heavy rain on Wednesday evening flooded several roads in Pune city. Vehicles moved slowly, leading to traffic jams in many parts. The Pune district administration has also issued orders to keep schools and colleges shut on Thursday not only in Pune but also in the neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad area. In Mumbai, the torrential downpour claimed at least four lives. More rain has been predicted on Thursday with the authorities declaring schools and colleges shut as a precautionary measure. Wednesday's sudden downpour, which caught lakhs of Mumbaikars hurrying home totally by surprise, saw three casualties, including a 45-year-old woman, Vimal A. Gaikwad, who drowned in an open drain in Andheri east MIDC area. Another woman drowned near the Zenith Waterfalls in the Khopoli area of Raigad and two persons were killed in a lightning strike at Varap village in Kalyan town of Thane. Some parts of eastern Mumbai were pounded with heavy rain -- Mankhurd 275 mm, Powai 260 mm, Vikhroli 230 mm, and many other areas notching over 150 mm and more than 200 mm till this morning. The Prime Minister was to inaugurate the Pune Metro section from District Court to Swargate. The cost of the underground section is estimated at around Rs 1,810 crore. Further, the Prime Minister was also to lay the foundation stone for the Swargate-Katraj Extension of Pune Metro Phase-1 to be developed at the cost of around Rs 2,950 crore. This southern extension of around 5.46 km is completely underground with three stations namely Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj. Apart from this, PM Modi was to lay the foundation stone for the Memorial of the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phuleas First Girlsa School at Bhidewada. He was later scheduled to address a rally at the SP College ground in Pune. Mumbai, Sep 26 : In a fascinating throwback video, acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal, a pioneer of parallel cinema in India, revealed that actress Shabana Azmi was not initially his first choice for the lead role in 'Ankur', instead, the legendary Waheeda Rehman was considered for the part. A throwback video shared by Prasar Bharati Archives features clips from 'Ankur,' directed by Shyam Benegal. In the footage, Benegal reflects on the casting process, stating, "As far as the main part is concerned, Shabana's part was very interesting because the first person I asked was Waheeda Rehman. I could see Waheeda in my mind for that particular part. She said yes in the beginning, but later on, she wasn't sure she could do it. So she said no." This candid insight highlights the complexities of casting and the pivotal moments that shape cinematic history. 'Ankur' also marked the debut of actor Anant Nag. Like many of Shyam Benegal's films, 'Ankur' falls within the genre of Indian art films, specifically known as Indian parallel cinema, a genre known for its realistic portrayal of social issues and human emotions. The storyline is inspired by a true event that took place in Hyderabad, reportedly in the 1950s, and was predominantly filmed on location. It showcased the struggles of its characters against the backdrop of a rural setting, reflecting the complexities of caste, gender, and personal relationships. Its narrative, inspired by true events, deviates from mainstream Bollywood norms, focusing instead on character-driven storytelling and nuanced performances. It revolved around social issues like -- alcoholism, casteism, rich vs poor, sexual drive, religious differences and dowry. Benegal is the pioneer of parallel cinema, and he is considered as one of the greatest filmmakers post 1970s. His work includes movies like - aManthana, aBhumikaa, aKalyuga, aHari Bharia, and most recently aMujiba. Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 : Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court at Raj Bhawan here on Thursday. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath of office to Justice Jamdar in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his cabinet colleagues, Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan and high-ranking officials. Justice Jamdar was appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court on January 23, 2012. Passionate about photography, Jamdar is known for computerising the Bombay High Court and is considered an expert in the Constitution. In July, the Supreme Court Collegium cleared his name for the post, and on September 21, the Union government gave the nod for his appointment. The Kerala High Court has a sanctioned strength of 35 permanent judges including the Chief Justice and 12 judges, but at the moment, there are 29 permanent and 10 additional judges. Justice Jamdar's immediate concern will be the calls made by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi early this month at the National Conference of the District Judiciary about the huge pendency of cases. President Murmu at the meeting had pointed out that around 62,000 cases were pending in the various High Courts in the country, some of which are more than 30 years old. In May, Kerala High Court's Justice Devan Ramachandran, who heads the Arrears Committee, asked the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA) for suggestions to tackle the pendency of cases. The Judge has written to the KHCAA to come up with their recommendations and suggestions on how best the pendency of cases in the High Court can be reduced and has also asked them to list out the details of infructuous cases so these can be disposed of on a particular day. So, Justice Jamdar will have a task to see how best he can intervene to bring down the pendency. Hyderabad, Sep 26 : Authorities on Thursday launched a survey of illegal houses and other structures that came up all along the Musi River in Hyderabad and adjoining districts in preparation for the Musi Riverfront Development Project. Several teams of officials along with the police were visiting residential areas that had encroached upon the river bed and the buffer zone in Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts. The team members were seen marking the structures which will be removed to clear the river bed and buffer zone of all encroachments. The officials were seen surveying Langar Houz, Chaderghat, Musa Nagar, Shankar Nagar and other areas. The officials were collecting details of the residents and checking their documents. Police personnel were seen accompanying the officials to prevent any untoward incident. A total of 16 teams were conducting a survey in Hyderabad district, four teams in Rangareddy district and five teams in Medchal Malkajgiri district. At a few places, residents raised objection to the survey and raised slogans against the government. They showed their property registration documents and said they have been living in the area for decades and paying property tax, electricity and water bills. A woman criticised the Telangana government for removing the encroachments and planning to shift them to other places. "Will the two-bedroom house be sufficient for us," she asked regarding the government's decision to allot double-bedroom houses to those being removed from the river bed and buffer zone. One of the residents questioned the government for calling their houses illegal. He appealed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene and direct Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to stop this action against poor families. The survey began a day after the state government issued orders allotting approximately 15,000 double bedroom housing units for rehabilitation of the eligible economically poor families that will be moved for the Musi Riverfront Development project. According to the Government Order, these families may be allotted 2BHK housing in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area, subject to eligibility. The officials said they would soon begin the removal of 10,000-odd illegal dwellings and commercial structures. A preliminary survey conducted by the revenue department revealed that there are 2,116 structures on the river bed and another 7,850 in the buffer zone. The Municipal administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary Dana Kishore, who is also the Managing Director of the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation, said that the government has prepared an action plan to clear the constructions that came up along the river course. "We will ensure rehabilitation of the evacuees of the Musi riverfront in double-bedroom houses. The government has allotted nearly 16,000 double-bedroom houses in different parts of the city to provide accommodation for the people who will be evacuated from the dwellings along the river," Kishore said. Those living in the buffer zone will receive compensation for their structures in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013. Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset protection Agency (HYDRAA) is gearing up to demolish the illegal structures. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on September 24 discussed with officials the modalities for carrying out demolition of structures along the Musi river and rehabilitating the people from there. He announced the allocation of 16,000 double-bedroom homes for such families. A brainchild of CM Reddy, the Musi Riverfront Development Project is aimed to conserve the river, promote tourism and prevent flooding. The world-class project is proposed to be taken up on a public private partnership basis. The government claimed many private players are evincing keen interest in the project. The Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has questioned the need for the project. It questioned the 'dramatic' increase in the cost of the project. According to BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao, it was initially estimated at Rs 50,000 crore. The project's cost was later revised to Rs 70,000 crore, and now it is a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh crore, he said. The former minister claimed that the erstwhile BRS government had already completed 100 per cent sewerage treatment at a cost of Rs. 3,866 crore and planned the rejuvenation, beautification, and development of the Musi River at an estimated cost of Rs 16,634 crore. This includes an expressway from ORR West (Manchirevula) to ORR East (Pratapa Singaram). He questioned the significant increase in project costs, raising doubts about the current government's calculations and intentions. Chennai, Sep 26 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday in Delhi to press for the release of funds due to the state to implement various Central government schemes. The Chief Minister will reach Delhi on Thursday evening. In a statement on Thursday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's office said that the DMK government has been consistently fighting for the rights of the people of the state. The statement said that "the struggle was the strength of the DMK" and the party continued to fight for the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu even while holding power. The Chief Minister will be submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister on various demands of the state in many sectors. The delay in the allocation of Central funds will be a main point of discussion taken up by the Chief Minister during the meeting with the Prime Minister. The funding for the phase 2 development of the Chennai Metro rail network will be one of the main agendas during the Chief Ministeras meeting. Another contentious issue that the Chief Minister will take up is the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) relating to the school education department. It may be recalled that the state government has opposed linking the PM SHRI schools to the release of SSA funds. The Tamil Nadu government has not signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU )with the Central government to establish PM SHRI schools leading to the Centre's delay in releasing the funds. The Union Education Ministry has withheld the first instalment of Rs 573 crore for Tamil Nadu due to noncompliance with the National Education Policy. The Tamil Nadu CM had earlier written to the Prime Minister seeking the release of SSA funds and the State School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has also come out against the Centre for penalising the state for not implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). CM Stalin during his visit to Delhi will also call on the leaders of the Congress and other INDIA bloc members. It may be recalled that the DMK is holding a major public meeting on September 28 at Kancheepuram in which INDIA bloc leaders will participate. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Ecology Institute of the National Aerospace Agency under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense Industry is researching environmental problems in territories liberated from occupation, director of the Institute Bahram Aliyev told Trend. He noted that maps were drawn up based on data received from satellites. The analysis of the maps shows that in 1989 the area of vegetation cover on the territory of Fuzuli district was 12,454 hectares, and by 2021 this figure has decreased to 8,644 hectares. That is, 3,800 hectares of vegetation were lost during the occupation period. A similar situation was encountered during the assessment of vegetation cover on the territory of Aghdam district. Thus, on the territory of Aghdam district in 1989, the area of vegetation cover on the territory of 115,000 hectares decreased to 12,110 hectares by 2021, he added. Kolkata, Sep 26 : West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF), the umbrella body of doctors spearheading the movement against the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, sent a fresh email to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday, highlighting their unfulfilled demands. Kolkata, Sep 26 (IANS) West Bengal Junior Doctorsa Forum (WBJDF), the umbrella body of doctors spearheading the movement against the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, sent a fresh email to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday, highlighting their unfulfilled demands. In the communique, a hard copy of which is available with IANS, the WBJDF has highlighted seven demands which they raised in the previous communique on September 19, which are yet to be fulfilled. In the fresh note to the Chief Secretary on Thursday morning, the forum has accused the state government of taking no action as regards to the formation of the Central Enquiry Committee for disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrators of the athreat culturea in medical colleges. Second, the forum has claimed that the no directive has been given by the state government to individual colleges to form college-level enquiry committees consisting of undergraduate students and resident doctors for disciplinary proceedings against perpetrators of the "threat culture" in medical colleges. The third unfulfilled demand is regarding a directive to authorities of various colleges to conduct college council meetings with immediate effect for holding elections to form resident doctors' associations and students' unions with polls to be held within two months. The fourth demand, according to WBJDF, is the formation of an enquiry committee by the state against West Bengal Medical Council and West Bengal Health Recruitment Board members who are under scrutiny for promoting threat culture and running health syndicates. The fifth point is regarding a directive for the formation of college-level task force or monitoring committee in every medical college and hospital constituting representatives of junior doctors, senior doctors, students, nursing and healthcare staff in accordance with the Supreme Court order on September 9. The sixth point is formation of decision-making bodies such as college council, internal complaints committee, patients' welfare committee, anti-ragging squads and committee, hospital committee, house staff selection committee and senior resident counselling committee, besides allocating funds for the same. The seventh and final point is the directive for implementation of proper and transparent transfer policy for all recruited medical personnel as per West Bengal Service Rules. Kolkata, Sep 26 : Former SHO of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal, who was remanded to judicial custody till September 30 by a special court in Kolkata in connection with the investigation of the R.G. Kar rape-murder case, was admitted to the prison hospital, said sources on Thursday. Sources said Mondal complained of uneasiness as he was being taken from the special court at Sealdah in central Kolkata to Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata on Wednesday. He also tripped while getting into the prison van and started complaining of acute uneasiness since then. Later in the night, he was shifted to the prison hospital where he is under treatment now. On Wednesday, the counsel of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a court-directed and court-monitored investigation into the rape and murder case, informed the special court that the exhibits and evidence in connection with the case were changed and tampered with at the Tala Police Station. R G Kar Medical College and Hospital falls under the jurisdiction of the police station and Mondal was in charge of the police station then. The CBI also made a mention of the explosive claim in the remand letter for Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R.G. Kar. Mondal and Ghosh were presented at the special court on Wednesday. aDuring the custodial interrogation of both the accused persons, new additional facts have emerged to the effect that some false records pertaining to the case were created/altered in Tala Police Station," the remand letter read. The CBI counsel also informed the court that the investigating team members have already procured the DVR and hard disc containing the CCTV footage of Tala Police Station and the same has been forwarded to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for examination. The CBI counsel claimed that after the report from CSFL comes, it might reveal fresh clues about the rape and murder case. He also said that after the CFSL report comes, the investigation officials might seek fresh remand of Ghosh and Mondal for further questioning in the matter. Bengaluru, Sep 26 : The Karnataka BJP staged a massive protest opposite the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the premises of the Vidhana Soudha on Thursday demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against whom the court has ordered a probe. The BJP leaders vehemently demanded that the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case allegedly involving CM Siddaramaiah be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The BJP MPs, MLAs and MLCs gathered in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue holding placards urging the CM to resign. They raised slogans against CM Siddaramaiah and chided him for sticking to the chair even as the court had ordered an investigation against him. The protest was led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, R. Ashoka and Leader of Opposition in the Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy. As the BJP leaders attempted to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha they were forcibly removed by the police and put into waiting police vehicles and whisked away. Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra did not participate in the protest due to health reasons. Protesters at the Vidhana Soudha chanted slogans like "Down with the corrupt Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who looted the MUDA sites, resign immediately," and "Down with the corrupt government led by CM Siddaramaiah, who raises prices and taxes." Legislative Council member N. Ravikumar led the slogans and the protest. BJP has intensified its protest in the backdrop of the Special Court for MLAs/MPs ordering an investigation against CM Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case. The Lokayukta is most likely to lodge an FIR against CM Siddaramaiah on Thursday or Friday. The saffron party is likely to intensify its protests against CM Siddaramaiah once the FIR is lodged. Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the petitioners in the case are all set to approach the High Court demanding a CBI probe in the case as the Lokayukta comes under the state government. Shimla, Sep 26 : Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Minister Anirudh Singh has defended the state government's new regulation requiring eatery owners to prominently display their names outside their establishments. Echoing the sentiments of Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Anirudh Singh emphasised that Himachal Pradesh is fully capable of making its own laws, independent of any other state. Anirudh Singh told IANS, "Himachal Pradesh is capable of making its own laws. We do not need to follow any state. There is nothing wrong in shops having nameplates. Even prominent businesses display their boards." He further stressed on the importance of proper food vending zones across the state, ensuring that all vendors, local or from outside, have to undergo full verification. He said, "Also we want that there should be proper food vending zones in entire Himachal Pradesh, where any person, whether he is from Himachal or from outside, works after full verification." Anirudh Singh's statement came after an order on Wednesday by the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government, which directed street vendors and food establishments to display the names of their owners, managers, and staff members in a visible manner. This decision closely follows a similar move in Uttar Pradesh, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also mandated name displays at eateries, along with the installation of CCTVs in hotels and restaurants. Anirudh Singh, however, reiterated that the new rule is in line with Himachal Pradesh's vision for creating organised and regulated food vending zones, ensuring safety and hygiene for all. The Congress party has consistently criticised the BJP for its Hindutva ideology, accusing it of excluding minorities. However, recent statements from Congress leaders in Himachal Pradesh have raised questions about whether the party itself is shifting towards a softer version of Hindutva in the state. Mumbai, Sep 26 : Actress Preeti Amin, who recently joined the cast of 'Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye,' has shared her thoughts on her character Vandana, describing her as a distinctly hoity-toity lady. Preeti made her debut in Hindi television with Zee TVas popular show 'Kasamh Se' in 2006 and is excited to be back on the channel. Talking about the same, Preeti said: "My debut was with the show 'Kasamh Se' in 2006, and the last show I did with the channel was 'Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein' in 2013. So, coming back on the channel after 11 years, with a show like 'Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye', really feels like a homecoming." Further delving details about her role, Preeti added: "My character, Vandana aka Vandy, is a very hoity-toity lady, who has returned from Dubai. I genuinely feel this role is for me because I think she has her own quirks. I have just started shooting for the show, and the whole team has been really welcoming, I already feel like Iam a part of their family." "Vandana is going to create a lot of issues in Viratas life because he married her niece, Amruta forcefully. I'm sure the upcoming track will keep the audience hooked to the storyline," concluded Preeti. Preeti plays the role of Vandana, Bhavanias (Hemangi Kavi) sister, who has just returned from Dubai. She does not like Virat (Arjit Taneja) because he forcefully married her niece Amruta (Sriti Jha), hence she will create havoc in their lives by being a typical mother-in-law to Virat. 'Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye' airs on Zee TV. Meanwhile, Preeti has been a part of shows like-- 'Jhoome Jiiya Re', 'Dill Mill Gayye', 'Lapataganj', 'Dil Ki Nazar Se Khoobsurat', and 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai'. New York, Sep 26 : French President Emmanuel Macron has voiced strong support for India's inclusion as a permanent member of a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), along with Germany, Japan, Brazil, and two African nations. "Germany, Japan, India and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa would designate to represent it. New elected members should also be admitted," Macron said while addressing the general debate at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York early Thursday, India time. The French President stressed the need for reforms within the UN to make it more effective and representative, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the current structure of the Security Council. "The United Nations should not be discarded, but rather reformed to reflect today's realities," he said. He said that the current Security Council, often blocked by conflicting interests, needs to evolve. "Is there a better system? I don't think so. So let's just make these United Nations more effective, first by perhaps making them more representative. That is why France and I repeat here, is in favour of the Security Council being expanded," Macron said. The French President said that he hopes that "this reform will also make it possible to change working methods, to limit the right of veto in the event of mass crime and to focus on operational decisions that are necessary to maintain international peace and security. This is what we must have the courage and audacity to do and that we must carry forward with the current permanent members." Earlier, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font also advocated for India's inclusion, proposing a deadline for the reform to align the UNSC with modern geopolitical realities by the UN's 80th anniversary. The call for India's permanent membership has also been echoed by other global leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who reiterated Washington's full support for India's bid during his recent bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russia, too, continues to back India's aspiration for a permanent seat, with the country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasising the need for greater representation of developing countries in the council during the ongoing annual UN event. The growing consensus among world leaders highlights the urgency of reforming the UNSC to reflect the contemporary global order and ensure more inclusive and effective international governance. Mumbai, Sep 26 : Actress Karisma Kapoor, who was last seen in the streaming movie 'Murder Mubarak', soaking in the London sun. On Thursday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a series of pictures and videos in which she can be seen roaming around the streets of London.The actress also shared pictures of flowers and apparel in her photo dump. In one of the pictures, the actress can be seen strutting around Oxford street in the British capital. She wrote in the caption, "In a world full of roses, be a wildflower". Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, running from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch via Oxford Circus. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, and registers half a million daily visitors. It is designated as part of the A40, a major road between London and Fishguard, though it is not signed as such, and traffic is regularly restricted to buses and taxis. Karisma Kapoor belongs to the first film dynasty of Hindi cinema, the Kapoor family. She is the daughter of actors Babita and Randhir Kapoor, and is the elder sister of actress Kareena Kapoor. Karisma used to be one of the highest-paid actresses of her time, she is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award. Her younger sister Kareena Kapoor Khan was recently seen in the theatrical movie 'The Buckingham Murders' . The film was directed by Hansal Mehta of 'Aligarh' and 'Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story' fame. The film tells the story of a cop who is assigned to investigate the murder of a child in the Buckingham neighbourhood as she battles personal conflict. Chandigarh, Sep 26 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been admitted to a private hospital in Mohali, sources said. Mann was admitted to the hospital late Wednesday night after he fainted thrice, the sources said. "The Chief Minister has been hospitalized as he's undergoing a thorough examination," a senior AAP leader said. He refused to reveal Mann's ailment, adding the Chief Minister's health is "fine", and that, he will be discharged from the hospital "after a few more necessary tests". The Fortis Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment, refused to comment. Further details are awaited. Chief Minister Mann was admitted to Delhi's Apollo Hospital last week for observation, according to hospital sources. Hospital sources told IANS that CM Mann came for a routine checkup and was doing fine. There was no official statement either by the AAP or the Punjab government about CM Mann's condition. Opposition parties, like the Akali Dal and the Congress, had fired salvos at CM Mann and the AAP over the incident, demanding that they reveal his whereabouts and ailments/ They also took a jibe over the tall claims of the AAP governments in Punjab and Delhi for the best state-run hospitals and clinics. "Yet when it comes to their own health, CM Mann opts for a private hospital in Delhi! The hypocrisy is staggering. It's clear now that these so-called 'champions of the common man' have been misleading the public with their tall claims," Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa wrote on X. Chennai, Sep 26 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has welcomed his former Cabinet colleague and senior DMK leader, Senthil Balaji after he was granted bail by the Supreme Court of India on Thursday. It may be noted that Senthil Balaji who was a transport and excise minister in the Tamil Nadu government was arrested on June 14, 2023 from his residence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for graft that he committed in his tenure with the previous AIADMK government. He was lodged in Puzhal central prison for 471 days. Stalin in a post on social media platform, X said, "Dear brother Senthil Balaji has secured bail after 471 days owing to the Supreme Court. I welcome brother Senthil Balaji who is coming out of prison with a renewed vigour. Your sacrifice is great, your resolve is even greater." The Chief Minister also indirectly took a dig at the Union government and alleged that they were using the ED as a weapon against Opposition leaders and described the 15-month incarceration of Balaji as a move to break his (Senthil Balaji's) resolve. Stalin in the post said, "In a situation where the Enforcement Directorate has been converted into a department suppressing political enemies, the apex court is the only solace." The Chief Minister also drew a parallel with the incarceration of political opponents during the Emergency days. He said, "Jail life was not so long during the Emergency days", but these political conspiracies today went up to 15 months. The Supreme Court had on Thursday granted bail to Senthil Balaji. Justice Abhay Oka of the Supreme Court while pronouncing the judgment observed that stringent bail provisions and delay in trial cannot go together. It may be noted that Balaji, a sitting MLA from Karur Assembly constituency was accused in a money laundering case linked to allegations of his involvement in a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the state transport minister between 2011 and 2016 in the previous AIADMK government. Senthil Balaji was then with the AIADMK and has since left that party and joined the DMK. The former minister was accused of carrying out a scheme with his close aides to collect money from job aspirants in exchange for employment in the Tamil Nadu Transport Department. Many job aspirants who were allegedly duped filed complaints against Senthil Balaji who they accused of accepting cash but not offering the promised jobs. The ED had filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and arrested Balaji in June 2023. IANS aal/rad Rania : , Sep 26 (IANS) Infighting within the family of one of the country's famous Jat leaders, Chaudhary Devi Lal, known by the surname of Chautalas -- has spilled out into the battlefield of Haryana with members contesting against each other. It's an uncle versus his nephew primarily with the uncle's other estranged nephew backing him this time to make his first cousin bite the dust. The Jat-dominated Rania Assembly seat falls in Sirsa district from where former cabinet minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, who held Cabinet portfolios in the outgoing BJP government, is on the ballot for the second time to retain his seat, one of the state's hot seats. He has been contesting as an Independent candidate as the state ruling denied re-nomination. Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Sheeshpal Kamboj, Congress' Sarv Mitter and INLD's Arjun Chautala are the main candidates, besides sitting legislator Ranjit Chautala. INLD's breakaway faction the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), led by Dushyant Chautala, who in 2014 was the county's youngest MP at the age of 26 and was the Deputy Chief Minister in the state government led by Manohar Lal Khattar, is in an alliance with the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), while the INLD has tied up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The JJP has not fielded its candidate. It has extended support to Independent candidate Ranjit Chautala, the estranged brother of Om Prakash Chautala. Ranjit, a Congress and BJP turncoat, and Om Prakash are sons of patriarch the Late Chaudhary Devi Lal, who was the Deputy Prime Minister. Om Prakash has two sons Ajay and Abhay Chautala, both estranged grandsons of Chaudhary Devi Lal, who parted ways ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The JJP's move not to field the candidate is being seen as a bid to cut to size Abhay Chautala's candidate son Arjun Chautala, who is making his debut in the Assembly polls. The Chaudhary Devi Lal clan has ruled the state seven times, with Devi Lal being the Chief Minister twice and his son Om Prakash Chautala, who is now heading the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), five times beginning December 1989. The INLD had won the Rania seat for two consecutive terms -- 2009 and 2014. Political observers believe the ballot battle is largely between the Chautalas -- Devi Lal's second generation versus the fourth generation. Veteran Ranjit Chautala, while facing jibes for not retiring from public life even at the age of 79, is banking on the development and personal rapport up to the grassroots in the constituency that is largely rural with predominantly Jat voters. The Jats constitute nearly 35 per cent of electorates, with a sizeable presence of Dalits. He won the seat with a margin of 19,431 votes. His nephew Arjun, 32, is banking on the performance of the INLD from March 2000 to March 2005, the longest term of his grandfather Om Prakash Chautala. After that, the party emerged as the principal opposition party in the 2014 polls with 19 legislators. In the outgoing Assembly, the party has a lone legislator, Abhay Chautala. "Our government had set up a sugar mill in Sirsa with the sole objective of benefiting the sugarcane growers as the region that lies along the catchment of the Ghaggar River is fertile. When the Congress government came in 2005, it closed the sugar mill. Locals know that it is the INLD that worked for the development of the entire Sirsa district and they will vote for the party," Arjun, an alumnus of the prestigious Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, told IANS. Establishing a link in the local dialect, he never misses an opportunity to touch the feet of the elderly and greet them with folded hands. Slamming the BJP government for not providing adequate job opportunities to the youth, Arjun, national president of the Indian Students Organisation (ISO) youth wing of INLD, claims that the problem of drug abuse in youth of Sirsa is a matter of serious concern as every third person is hooked to drugs other than alcohol and tobacco. Why have the rural people fallen into the grip of drug abuse? He explains, "Unemployment is the biggest issue confronting voters. Of course, corruption in the government is also an issue, but a drug epidemic is sweeping the state." The family says the six-feet-three-inches-tall Arjun gets his height from his great-grandfather. His supporter, Ashok Chojjar, says, "Our elders see the 'chhavi' (image) of Chaudhary Devi Lal in Arjun." A confidant Arjun sees no challenge from his uncle Ranjit Chautala and the Congress nominee. The INLD has fielded 51 candidates for elections to the 90-member Assembly with its ally Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) contesting 38 seats. Addressing a public meeting, Arjun's father Abhay, who is in the fray to retain his Ellenabad seat in Sirsa district, said, "Jananayak Chaudhary Devi Lal-ji started old-age pension to honour the elderly, which was increased by Om Prakash Chautala as per the demand of the time. Now, after the formation of the INLD-BSP government, we pledge to increase this pension to Rs 7,500 so that the elderly can get better help." He questioned the Congress and the BJP why they did not implement these promises in their 10-year tenure. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), now headed by O.P. Chautala, has fielded Devi Lal's grandson Abhay Singh Chautala from Ellenabad in Sirsa and Sunaina Chautala from Fatehabad. The Assembly elections for 90 seats in Haryana will take place on October 5. The counting of ballots will be held on October 8. (Vishal Gulati can be reached at vishal.g@ians.in) BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Day of Azerbaijani Culture was held in Estonia within the framework of the Days of National Cultures-2024, Trend reports via Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Diaspora. According to the information, the event was held on the initiative of the head of Buta Art Studio Creative Center, artist Rovshan Guliyev (Rovshan Nur). The event was attended by compatriots and representatives of the local community, as well as guests from Germany and Finland. Guest of honor, chairwoman of the parliamentary group Riina Solman expressed gratitude for friendly relations and support of cultural dialog. The performances of musicologist Mubariz Aliyev, invited from Baku, on saz, as well as harmonist Elnur Imanov, Grace and Leesikad groups were welcomed with enthusiasm. The participants were presented with a variety of dishes of national cuisine, sweets, as well as food products of Azerbaijani production. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Mumbai, Sep 26 : Maharashtra BJP on Thursday said that the party will work hard for the victory of MahaYuti (grand alliance) in the upcoming Assembly election. "The party functionaries are charged up after the interactive meetings held by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his two-day Maharashtra visit. The party organisation will work vigorously for the victory of the MahaYuti in the upcoming election," said Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule. He added that the BJP workers will go door to door to further step up outreach with the voters and make all efforts to remove confusion created by the Maha Vikas Aghadi due to its "false propaganda". "The party workers will provide the information with regard to the performance of the Centre and the state government while flagging off a slew of development and welfare schemes launched by both governments,' he said. Bawankule said that the Home Minister held organisational meetings in Vidarbha, Marathwada, West and North Maharashtra and asked the party workers to further strengthen the organisational network up to booth level and work hard to increase the voters' turnout on the polling day. "The Home Minister asked the party workers to be active at the booth level and contact the general public. They were also told to honour the beneficiaries of various schemes implemented by the Centre and the state government," he said. Bawankule said that the Union Home minister exhorted the party workers to work hard so that the MahaYuti government would come back to power based on its strength and performance. "We will follow the basic mantra given by the Union Home Minister to strengthen the organisational power and project the performance of the double engine government to the common people. Our effort will be to retain the MahaYuti government in the state," he said. The Home Minister has set an ambitious target of winning 45 of the 62 seats in Vidarbha and 30 out of 46 seats in Marathwada. He also warned that the rebellion and intra-party bickering will not be tolerated during the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election and asked the party functionaries to work with unity not only for the victory of BJP nominees but also of the allies Shiv Sena and NCP. "BJP will come back to power by winning maximum seats from the Vidarbha region," the Home Minister said. New Delhi, Sep 26 : As India's defence production surged to Rs 1.27 lakh crore in FY23-24, the exports have also soared from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 21,000 crore, spanning across over 90 nations, further giving a push to the country's 'Make in India' programme towards achieving 'Atmanirbharta' in the defence sector. According to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's astute leadership introduced 'Make in India' programme with a vision to make India self-reliant in every domain. "Ten years since then, many reforms have been made in every sector including the defence sector. India is rising on the defence industrial landscape of the world," said Defence Minister. Indian Armed Forces are using weapons and platforms, which are manufactured on our own soil and we also exporting defence items to more than 90 friendly foreign countries, he informed in a post on X social media platform. Last month, Rajnath Singh invited US defence companies to work with India, asserting that together, they will co-develop and co-produce for the world. India is continuously moving towards self-reliance in the manufacturing of weapons, cannons, tanks, fighter ships, helicopters, missile systems, and more for the armed forces. The Union Budget for 2024-25 has allocated Rs 6.22 lakh crore for the Ministry of Defence, the highest among all ministries. According to Defence Minister, our forces are becoming more capable and self-reliant, with defence procurement receiving a larger share. In the past decade, around Rs 6 lakh crore worth of defence equipment has been procured from Indian companies, doubling the country's defence production. As per reports, India's defence export is estimated to grow at 18 per cent CAGR (compound annual growth rate) from FY24-FY30, driven by the 'Make in India' initiative and thrust on local manufacturing. Global investment firm Jefferies said this month that the government is also building bilateral relations to promote exports in the global market. Between FY24 to FY30 (estimated), the potential market opportunity for Indian defence companies is expected to rise at 14 per cent CAGR, the report said. Defence companies will get opportunities worth $90 billion to $100 billion in the Indian market in the next 5 to 6 years. In 2022, India's defence expenditure was 10 per cent of the US expenditure and 27 percent of China's expenditure. Bhiwani : , Sep 26 (IANS) BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kiran Choudhry on Thursday revealed that she has been working to convince reportedly disgruntled Congress leader Kumari Selja to switch over to the BJP. "Discussions are ongoing. I have a very good relationship with Selja. We worked together in Congress, but (two-time Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh) Hooda has taken over the entire system. In Haryana, Hooda has destroyed the Congress. Leaders like Randeep Singh Surjewala and Selja were sidelined," Choudhry told reporters in Bhiwani. She expressed her dismay over remarks made against Selja. "As a woman, I am ashamed of the comments made about her. The Hooda father-son duo is systematically eliminating every senior leader in Congress. They did the same with me, but I always gave them a fitting reply. They are not only anti-Dalit but also anti-women. Everyone should boycott them." Asked whether she is still trying to convince Selja, Choudhry remained tight-lipped, stating, "Not everything can be made public." She reiterated the demand for boycotting the Hooda family. Reports suggest that when Choudhry was still in the Congress, she worked closely with Selja and tried to persuade her to switch sides. During this time, Choudhry was reportedly in touch with senior BJP leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah, party President J.P. Nadda, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. She even paused her daughteras election campaign to spend three to four days in Delhi and Chandigarh working on this effort. Even Union Minister and former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar had invited Selja to join the BJP. Though Choudhry has not divulged all details, she hinted at her continued efforts to bring Selja into the BJP fold. Factionalism within the Congress unit in Haryana is not a new thing. Seljaas discontent over ticket distribution for the Assembly elections has been well-known and she had been conspicuous by her absence from campaigning. However, Selja had told IANS that there were some "issues" and she had held discussions with party chief Mallikarujna Kharge. On the election atmosphere in Haryana, Choudhry accused the Hooda father-son duo of breaking promises, leading their own party members to contest as independents. She also alleged that their Assembly candidates are openly discussing unethical practices, including bribery and corruption. She also accused them of grabbing farmers' land at low prices and selling it to builders for huge profits. Seoul, Sep 26 : South Korea and Japan will hold working-level talks in Tokyo later this week to discuss the joint development of an underwater continental shelf believed to hold mass deposits of oil and other natural resources, officials said Thursday. The talks, scheduled for Friday, mark the resumption of long-suspended negotiations on the joint exploitation of the 'Block 7' continental shelf in the East China Sea, under a 1978 bilateral agreement, nearly four decades after the last meeting in 1985. The sixth round of negotiations on the Agreement on the Joint Development Zone (JDZ) will be led by Hwang Jun-shik, director general for international legal affairs of the South Korean foreign ministry, and Akihiro Okochi, deputy director general for Asian and Oceanian affairs at Japan's foreign ministry. Officials from the two countries' industry ministries will also join the talks, Yonhap news agency reported. South Korea and Japan signed the JDZ agreement in 1974 to pursue the joint exploration and development of the block and adjacent waters south of Jeju Island, covering an area of 82,557 square kilometers, based on geological analyses suggesting the continental shelf may hold significant reserves of oil, gas and other minerals. The agreement came into effect four years later. The two countries held five rounds of talks, but Japan became lukewarm about moving forward with the agreement after a new international treaty on maritime activities, which came into force in 1994, adopted criteria for determining continental shelf boundaries in Japan's favor. The precedents since then suggest Japan could claim all of the joint development area as part of its exclusive economic zone. The issue drew fresh attention earlier this year after Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa hinted during a parliamentary session in February at the possibility of Tokyo initiating a renegotiation with Seoul when the agreement expires. The JDZ agreement is valid until June 2028, but either side can notify the other of an intent to terminate it three years before the expiration date. Friday's talks will focus on exchanging positions on the issue and discussing efforts to implement the agreement at the working level, a foreign ministry official in Seoul said, adding that the termination or extension of the agreement will not be on the agenda. "We believe that the two countries will continue to be able to address the issue amicably, and we have been preparing for every possible scenario to best serve our national interests," the official said. Jammu, Sep 26 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday that Congress, National Conference (NC) & Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are 'private limited companies' that thrived by disempowering the people of J&K. "Congress, NC and PDP are private limited companies that thrived in J&K by disempowering the people. When the country became free in 1947, Congress ruled for a long time. They did not find any solution to the Ayodhya problem. PM Modi came to power and the BJP solved this 500-year-old problem. Ram Lalla is back in Ayodhya," said Yogi Adityanath while addressing a BJP campaign rally in Chhamb Assembly constituency of Jammu district. He added that the Congress means problem and the BJP means solution, alleging that Congress always looks for excuses. "They are the reason for terrorism, naxalism, casteism and regionalism. All seeds of division are nurtured by Congress in free India. Hindus were disempowered. The result is terrorism," the Chief Minister said. He said that Congress in the Centre and its allies in J&K "created" stone pelters and other "incidents of terrorism" which all of you know, adding that after Narendra Modi became the PM and Amit Shah the Home Minister, terrorism started breathing its last. He said that in 1953, Dr Sayama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life for one PM, one flag and one constitution. "Each Indian fought for this, but that dream was realised by Modiji when 370 was finished and the nursery of terrorism was uprooted. "Congress, NC and PDP made J&K a warehouse of terrorism and youth were killed to keep this warehouse working. These three families destroyed Kashmir and its history and heritage. PM Modi converted Kashmir of terrorism into Kashmir of tourism within 5 years," he said. He claimed that these parties disrespected Maharaja Hari Singh while the BJP restored his honour. "You bring BJP to power in J&K and we promise you the J&K of Maharaja Hari Singh's dream. Remember, Brigadier, Rajinder Singh who fought the invaders in 1947 said that he would fight the invaders till the last man and till the last bullet. Time has come to teach the enemies of India a lesson," he said. He said that PM Modi opened the Kartarpur corridor and started Baal Diwas in memory of Guru Gobind Singhji. "Historic G-20 meetings were held in Kashmir that attracted the world. In the past, the Yatris of Amarnathji Yatra were threatened. Now entire country comes to perform this Yatra with pride and enthusiasm. Devotees come from all over the world to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine," he said. He said that Congress has exposed its anti-reservation face by supporting NC which wants to review reservations to Gujjar, Paharis and the OBCs. "They never stood by the Kashmiri Pandits who suffered heavily because of terrorism. During the worst suffering of Kashmiri Pandits, these people (Farooq Abdullah) would spend 8 months holidaying in Europe. Today people of PoK want to be part of J&K and I assure you they will soon be part of J&K. Pakistan is unable to save its democracy. It is difficult to get a wheat flour. Balochistan is telling today they cannot be part of Pakistan," he said. "Does Congress support dialogue with Pakistan so that our youth continue to get killed? Does Congress like NC want cross-LoC trade resumed so that terrorism gets support and strength from across the LoC," the Chief Minister said. He also appealed to voters to cast their vote in favour of BJP candidates in the third and final phase of J&K elections on October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8. --IANS sq/dan Jerusalem, Sep 26 : Israel denied on Thursday that it has agreed to a ceasefire with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Lebanese political parties. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that "the report on a ceasefire is untrue." The office said that Netanyahu "didn't even respond to" the ceasefire proposal, which was brokered by the United States and France. Also on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel would not consider a truce, Xinhua news agency reported. "There won't be a ceasefire," he wrote on social media platform X. He said the country would continue its fight against Hezbollah "until victory and until residents could return to their homes in the north." Khartoum, Sep 26 : The Karari locality of Omdurman city, north of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, has regained some vibrancy after a fierce battle in March that expelled the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the old neighbourhoods, expanding the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to the south. Overcrowded markets and therapeutic activities such as masquerade parties and puppet theaters - the routines of life - have started to reemerge in the locality, which hosts more than 160 shelter centres packed with displaced Sudanese. However, the returnees have never felt rest assured amid the hustle-bustle, as they are still subjected to random artillery shelling from time to time. On Monday, at least 15 people were killed and 61 others injured in an artillery attack by the RSF on the crowded Sabreen civilian market in Karari. The death toll could be higher as the local rescue team was unable to reach some victims. "This is the reality now. We are trying to live with the situation, but we are afraid to give up and flee again," said Mahmoud Satti, a teacher who returned to Omdurman after a year-long displacement journey in central Sudan. "What happened in Sabreen market was very tragic. People here are dying because of random shelling," Satti told Xinhua news agency. He urged government authorities to protect the returnees, address the security gap, and provide necessary services to Omdurman's residents. "There are no food shops amid a great shortage of goods, while prices for what is available are very high," said Saadan Omer, a citizen from Omdurman. Most people live on aid from their relatives abroad, and Takias -- sanctuaries for the impoverished and needy set up by Sudanese activists and volunteers -- remain as the primary source of food supply for Omdurman's residents, he said. "There is a significant spread of diseases amid a great shortage in medicines, while there are no nearby hospitals, and even those operational have been bombed and looted," said Saeed Al-Zubair, a 49-year-old man from Omdurman. Since the fighting between the SAF and RSF began in April last year, epidemic diseases have plagued the country, including Omdurman, leading to hundreds of deaths. The conflict has resulted in at least 20,000 deaths and displaced millions of people, according to a press release published Tuesday on the website of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said last week that an estimated 3.4 million children under five are at high risk of the deadly epidemic diseases in the country. According to UNICEF, more than 70 percent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are non-operational. On Wednesday, the OCHA warned that Sudan is now facing the world's most severe hunger crisis, with over half of its population, nearly 26 million people, suffering high levels of acute hunger. Famine has been confirmed in North Darfur State's Zamzam camp, with many other areas at risk, it said, adding that nearly 5 million children and pregnant and breastfeeding women have been acutely malnourished. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders, an aid group, said Tuesday that 30,000 children under two were screened for malnutrition in South Darfur State in August, and 32.5 per cent of them were acutely malnourished. In response to the dire humanitarian situation, Omdurman's government authorities pledged to provide food for local residents and support community initiatives. "Both official and popular efforts are ongoing to restore electricity and water services, remove war remnants, reopen roads, clean neighborhoods, and launch initiatives to bring life back to markets and shops," Acting Minister of Social Development of Khartoum State Siddiq Hassan Freini told Xinhua. Amaravati, Sep 26 : The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a show cause notice to the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Employees Association (APSEA) for alleged violations of the election code during the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls held in May. The General Administration Department (GAD) issued the notice, asking why APSEAas recognition should not be cancelled. It has sought clarification on APSEA President K. Venkatarami Reddy's participation in the election campaign while serving as a government employee. It said the APSEA should have taken action against him for violating the model code of conduct. Responding to the governmentas notice, APSA Secretary Krishna and other office bearers clarified that Venkatarami Reddyas involvement in the election campaign was purely in a personal capacity. They made it clear that this does not reflect the associationas official stance or action. Krishna and other office bearers also urged the government not to cancel the recognition of an organisation for the mistake of an individual. They responded to the notice as Venkatarami Reddy was not available. The GAD has stated that it was not consulted about activities taking place outside the Secretariat. The government may cancel the recognition of APSEA if it does not find satisfactory the explanation given by the Association. The state government had suspended Venkatarami Reddy in April following a directive from the Election Commission of India. Reddy, serving as Assistant Secretary in the Panchayat Raj department, had participated in the campaigning by then ruling party YSR Congress at Badvel bus depot in Kadapa district. Then opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India. It had also submitted to the poll panel videos purportedly showing Reddy seeking support for the ruling party. Acting on the TDP complaint, the Election Commission had sought a report from Kadapa district Collector and subsequently recommended disciplinary action against him. Bengaluru, Sep 26 : In a major development, the Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided not to provide information to the Governor's office directly and also decided to withdraw the provision allowing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate freely in the state. "The decisions were made to strengthen the federal structure in the country," Karnataka Minister for Law H. K. Patil told reporters at Vidhana Soudha after the Cabinet meeting. He added that the Governor is writing letters to the government in an "intolerant manner" and is asking to provide information immediately or in a day's time. "Therefore, the Cabinet has decided to instruct the Chief Secretary of the government of Karnataka not to provide information directly to the Governor," the Law Minister said. He added that the Chief Secretary will be directed to proceed in the matter of providing information to the queries of the Governor only after bringing them to the knowledge of the state cabinet. "The Chief Secretary can't provide any direct information to the Governor," the Law Minister said. He said that the investigation and inquiry have been conducted regarding the matter of information leak between the government and the Governor's office. "The Cabinet had discussed leaking of the letter dated September 6. The letters are leaked by the Raj Bhavan. People need to be informed about the existing situation and truth. The Raj Bhavan is unnecessarily blaming the Congress government," he said. The Law Minister further said that the Cabinet has decided to withdraw the act which empowered the CBI to conduct investigation in the state freely. "The provision was enabled by the government under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. The Cabinet has decided to take back the bill," the minister informed. He said that there are serious allegations against the Central government for following the procedure and law. "In this background, the decision was taken to withdraw the free hand given to the CBI in the state," the Law Minister said. He added that there is an allegation that the CBI is being misused and that is why the decision was taken to withdraw freehand to the CBI operations in the state. "We have seen the CBI working in a biased manner. Few are investigated during the election time while the Governor keeps on blaming the state government unnecessarily. The Supreme Court has also mentioned the developments," Minister Patil stated. Jaipur, Sep 26 : With the aim to bring in investments from different parts of the world, the Rajasthan government announced the 'Rising Rajasthan Investment Summit' in its first year of government formation and has been going across nations to invite investors to the state. Jaipur, Sep 26 (IANS) With the aim to bring in investments from different parts of the world, the Rajasthan government announced the aRising Rajasthan Investment Summita in its first year of government formation and has been going across nations to invite investors to the state. Ensuring that things donat die down and get implemented on the ground, the Rajasthan government is inviting investors to this landlocked state, which is well-connected by rail, road and air. IANS spoke exclusively to Rajasthan Industries Minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to learn how the government plans to turn things around via this summit when the state ranks second in unemployment on the CMIEas index and is battling with problems like power crisis, water crisis and so on. Some excerpts from the interview: IANS: You have announced aRising Rajasthana in the first year after coming to power when the state government is facing teething challenges. How do you plan to take it forward? Rathore: The Rajasthan government seriously wants a turnaround in the state and hence we have decided to organise aRising Rajasthana in our first year. The idea is to ensure that we deliver on all the promises we made to the public during the elections. Also, we need time to settle things. Once we organise this event in our first year, we can continue pitching Rajasthan as an ideal state for investment in coming years too. Further, we decided to hold the investment summit in our first year while learning from mistakes made by the previous government. They announced the summit in their last year. MoUs were signed and investors were brought in but things did not materialise. So it was imperative for us to do it in our first year. IANS: After announcing the summit, how do you plan to take it forward? Rathore: We have set our vision and mission to take Rajasthan global. We see that the state is in competition with many Asian countries. This is because it is as big as many Asian countries and we are aiming to bring in businesses here which were going to Bangladesh or Vietnam. We are a much better state for investments. We are going global in this investment summit. Earlier during the Congressa rule, one or two nations were touched by the previous governments, however touring nine nations and making a global pitch was never done before. Further, we are holding pre-summit events to ensure serious work happens before the Rising Rajasthan summit. Also, we are holding the Pravasi Rajasthani Conclave on December 10 to cash in on their strength as they have built big businesses outside Rajasthan. IANS: You, too, toured different countries like Switzerland, UAE and Qatar? What has been the response? Rathore: The response is superb. The UAE and Qatar with sovereign funds, Switzerland with its rail, and Japan with its automobile and technology companies, have expressed interest in Rising Rajasthan. Also a senior person from the UAE will be coming soon and we might be able to resolve the ongoing power crisis soon. This is the kind of discussion we are undergoing. IANS: Rajasthan stands second in unemployment on the CMIE index. Do you think this summit will be able to bring unemployment down like Haryana? Rathore: Yes, definitely, there will be employment generation via this summit. We are working and creating an economically-viable Rajasthan. We are inviting companies from different sectors like hospitality, engineering, manufacturing, IT, renewable energy and so on, which will be creating multiple employment opportunities. In fact, both direct and indirect jobs will be produced which will create new opportunities in supply chain, hospitality and tourism and other segments bringing in economic vibrancy. This is for the private segment. Also, we have already committed to giving four lakh jobs in the next four years in the government sector. So this position on the unemployment index is sure to come down. We will focus on education and skill as well. Each business wants trained youth, so we are simultaneously arranging skill training. IANS: How do you plan to ease business for investors? Rathore: We understand the needs of investors. Their first question is what next after we reach Rajasthan. Therefore, for ease of doing business with each country, we have earmarked an IAS officer. In fact, we have identified 25 IAS officers who will be responsible for 25 countries. We took them on international tours along with us so there is immediate confidence among investors. We have also identified senior RAS officers who will be responsible for the state so that they have a single point of contact for their queries. IANS: Did you do any special planning before announcing this summit? Rathore: We have done a lot of homework to ensure the success of the summit. To improve governance and clearances in the state was our first task and hence we ensured 21 new policies were made, these include textile and apparel park policies, fintech park policies, logistics park policies and others. Also seven old policies were modified and simplified. The core message was that there should be clarity in each of these policies. We are focussing on textile, tourism, agro products, logistics, infrastructure, renewable energy, chemicals, green hydrogen, IT and renewable energy and hence we chalked out different policies. Also, we have identified officers for single window clearance aiming at ease of doing business and lowering the cost of businesses. IANS: How will aRising Rajasthana be different from the Investors Summit organised under the Congressa rule? Rathore: The previous government did it in the last year of its tenure, so implementation failed on the ground. It simply earned money by auctioning land. That was not a very good idea. The cost of land went up, so it was not viable for entrepreneurs to set up business, and hence they held up businesses and waited for land prices to escalate and moved out of business. No environment was created for economic vibrancy and there was no employment generated. That penny was a dead penny. Looking at this scenario, we preferred doing our homework so that things take shape on the ground. IANS: We have seen neighbouring Haryana branding Gurugram as an IT hub and Bengaluru is also on top of the investorsa list. How do you plan to lure investors to Rajasthan which is known as a landlocked state? Rathore: Rajasthan is aptly located and is best for businesses. We have two expressways passing through Rajasthan which are Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and Jamnagar-Amritsar Expressway. We have huge swathes of land available here. Also we have a strong rail, road and air network. Further, we offer energy which is green, we have huge human resources and there is ease of supply chain. Further, we offer country-specific zones. A lot of countries have got excited on hearing of this. Our Japanese industrial corridor is a rare example in this context. So we offered it to them with an idea that they would be comfortable. We have dry ports, all work related to customs is done here; further ports are just five to six hoursa drive. A well-defined market is around us which is North India. And look at prices. Our location next to Delhi makes us quite viable for greenfield projects and we are not saturated like Gurugram and Bengaluru. The land prices in Hyderabad, Gurugram and Bengaluru are high; the price of skilled manpower is high and the cost of living has gone up. Rajasthan, especially Jaipur is peaceful and beautiful, with the least labour problems and the quality of life is high. We are two hoursa drive from Delhi and international airports here and we will push for more airports. We are looking forward to Jaipur being an IT city. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The ministries of agriculture of Azerbaijan and Turkiye have signed a Declaration of Intentions to enhance collaboration in the field of animal husbandry and animal health, Trend reports citing the ministrys press service. The agreement follows a meeting between Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov and Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli, who is on a working visit to Azerbaijan. Minister Mamedov emphasized that the friendly and brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye continue to flourish in various sectors, including agriculture, agrarian research, education, cotton cultivation, seed production, veterinary medicine, and agricultural insurance. Minister Yumakli expressed Turkiyes keen interest in collaborating with Azerbaijan in the agricultural field, expressing confidence in the ongoing expansion of cooperation between the two countries. The discussions covered future collaboration in agriculture, agricultural research, livestock management, enhancing animal health cooperation, and training specialists in veterinary medicine. Within the framework of the meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkiye, a Declaration of Intentions to strengthen cooperation in the field of animal husbandry and animal health was signed. The signed agreement outlines plans for experience exchange in animal disease control, joint training sessions, research initiatives, health assessments, investment attraction in livestock, and strengthening connections between businesspeople in this sector, as noted in the ministry's statement. New York/Mumbai, Sep 26 : High-level dialogues exploring India's growing role as a leader in the Global South marked discussions during 'India Day @ UNGA week' in New York. Organised by Reliance Foundation in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the United Nations in India office, the events provided insights and learnings along with pathways for sustainable development beyond 2030. Delivering the opening address at the high-level event, Isha Ambani, Director, of Reliance Foundation, focused on what she coined as the 'Pancha Tantra' or five key pathways for sustainable development. These included unleashing the power of women, unlocking the power of youth, partnerships as multipliers of innovation, the transformational power of technology and crafting a bold vision for the future. "This week, as leaders from around the world gather in New York to discuss equitable development, it is clear that our world is changing rapidly. India in particular, is stepping into its rightful place, shaping the new global order. But this moment is more than just about change - it's about creating a better future together, especially for our youth. The challenges we face are many, but by working together, we can make real progress," said Isha Ambani. The dialogue, Tiger's Tale: Crafting a New Development Paradigm, was a high-level dialogue exploring India's growing role as a leader in the Global South and its potential to set new benchmarks in global development. S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, spoke of how leadership from the Global South is now a reality. He added that at the UN there is acknowledgement of India's role as a nation with a heart and a country that has brought the Global South back into the conversation. He also added that it was crucial to look at how we democratize technologies, democratise the global workplace and do it in an orderly, acceptable way. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, of DP World, stressed the resilience inherent in international trade, though, the current linkages are weak, and we need to build connectivity that benefits all. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guyana, said the Summit of the Future reflects on the SDGs we only achieved 17 per cent success. Something is definitely wrong. While problems have been identified, we need to have the political will to leave no one behind and depend on the leadership of countries like India. P Harish, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, spoke of how India with the largest cohort of youth has a huge role to play. Those who turned 18 are an important part of the political process and youth will emerge as a key issue. "When the tale of the tiger is told, it will be told by the cubs and the young tigers," he said. Earlier in the day, the India Day @ UNGA panel discussions explored Pathways to the Rising South, Technology as an enabler, the Power of Women-Led Development and the LiFE Economy. These sessions featured experts on the themes of discussion, proposed solutions and opportunities for the world ahead. The audience included key sector stakeholders, including government, multilateral, philanthropic foundations, academia, think tanks, private sector and other organisations. A special publication, jointly developed by Reliance Foundation, Observer Research Foundation and the United Nations in India office, "The Next Frontier: Charting the Contours of the Post-2030 Development Agenda", was released during the events. A curation of 27 essays from global experts, the publication explores the strategies, innovations, and leadership required for a new global development agenda beyond 2030. The essays are by a range of authors from the development, philanthropy, think tank, as well policy and thought leaders with voices from both the Global North and the Global South. Kohima, Sep 26 : The Centre has invited the leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) to Delhi to resume talks on the Naga political issue during the first week of October, group sources said on Thursday. An NSCN-IM leader said that the Union government requested the Naga outfit leaders to visit New Delhi to resume talks which stalled for quite some time. "The ball is currently in the court of the Centre. The NSCN-I-M leadership is waiting for the Centre's decision about our demands," the leading Naga outfit's leader said. On September 12, an all-important consultative meeting, convened by the state Home Department, in Kohima, discussed the long pending Naga political issue and demanded the appointment of a new ministerial-level interlocutor to take forward the talks with all the Naga groups. Regarding the demand for a new ministerial-level interlocutor, the NSCN-IM leader declined to comment and said that the matter remained under discussion. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio chaired the September 12 meeting, where both Deputy Chief Ministers T.R Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton, Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, all the Ministers, the state's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, all MLAs, all the state Advisors, the Chief Secretary, along with other senior officials of the state government attended. A Home Department official said that more than 45 NGOs, civil society organisations, including the influential Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation, Konyak Union, Lotha Hoho, Naga Mothers's Association, Eastern Nagaland women organisations, various Gazetted Officers' Association, Naga Students' Federation, Gaon Bura (village head) Federation, and the All Nagaland College Students Union participated in the crucial meeting. Participants in the meeting urged the Naga groups having parallel talks with the Centre to unite and approach it with a "single document" for an early solution. During the consultative meeting, the stakeholders held the view that the two groups holding dialogue with the Centre the NSCN-IM and the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPGs) should try to have a single document so that there is no confusion over the solution. According to the official, the state's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) earlier this month decided to hold consultative meetings with apex and influential tribal bodies and civil society organisations on taking forward the Naga political issue. The Union government signed the vital Framework Agreement with the NSCN-IM, in 2015 and also signed the Agreed Position with the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups in 2017. More than 90 rounds of meetings were held between the government and the Naga groups over the decades-old unresolved Naga political issue. The NSCN-IM has remained unyielding on its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas as well as integration of Naga-inhabited areas spread over four northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, besides Myanmar. Chennai, Sep 26 : Tamil Nadu Congress President K. Selvaperunthagai and Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) President K. Veeramani welcomed the bail granted by the Supreme Court to former Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji on Thursday. "This is a victory for truth and the downfall of autocracy. The bail order brings happiness to those who have faith in democracy and to everyone who was watching the authoritarian and vindictive approach of those in power at the Centre," said Selvaperunthagai. Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani said that though the judgment was delayed, but it 'is a special one'. "The order is important from the human rights perspective, and our Constitution is safeguarded through this," said Veeramani. Congress leader and MP from Karur Lok Sabha seat S. Jothimani said the Supreme Court's order was a testament to the strong fight put up by Senthil Balaji with his unwavering determination. "Not everyone will submit to authority. The INDIA bloc leaders have proved that they can stand against it and win," said Jothimani. Meanwhile, celebrations erupted at Senthil Balaji's hometown in Karur after the Supreme Court granted bail to the former Minister. Supporters of the minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) workers burst crackers at vantage points in Karur, including the roads leading up to the bus stand and Jawahar Bazaar. The former minister's supporters, who had stocked up on crackers in anticipation of a favourable judicial decision, also distributed sweets to passersby and passengers in buses. Celebrations that began after television channels flashed the SC's bail order are continuing in various parts of Karur, with his supporters gathering in the streets, as per the latest reports. The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to Senthil Balaji, who was arrested last year in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. Allowing the appeal, a bench presided over by Justice Abhay S. Oka said that onerous bail conditions had been put on the former TN minister in the order granting bail. It is highly anticipated that Balaji will be reinstated to the state cabinet led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the soon happening shuffle. It may be recalled that the top court had earlier declined to pass any interim order staying the February 28 order of the Madras High Court, which had dismissed Balaji's bail petition. However, it issued a notice to the ED and sought the response of the Central agency within four weeks. In its order, a bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court observed that even if Balaji had resigned from his position as a Minister, he continues as an MLA belonging to the ruling party in Tamil Nadu and continues to wield a lot of influence on the state government. The high court had asked the trial court to complete the trial within three months by conducting the proceedings on a day-to-day basis. Balaji was arrested by the ED in June last year and has remained in judicial custody since then. In November last year, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain Balaji's plea seeking bail on medical condition remarking that it was not satisfied with his plea and that his medical condition could be cured with medicines. Mysuru, Sep 26 : RTI activist Snehamayi Krisha, one of the petitioners in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said on Thursday that he does not think Lokayukta can ensure a transparent probe and hence will seek a CBI inquiry. Addressing media persons in Mysuru, Snehamayi Krishna said that the Lokayukta institution comes under the state government, therefore, he was not confident of a transparent and unbiased investigation into the case. "Once the FIR is filed, I will approach the High Court seeking a CBI probe. After getting the orders for the Lokayukta investigation on Wednesday, I came to the Lokayukta SP office in Mysuru to hand over the judgement. However, there was no response," he alleged. Krishna said after waiting from morning till 3 p.m., he submitted a complaint to Devraja Police station that the Lokayukta SP Udesh was missing. "However, after the police refused to receive the complaint, I have decided to approach the ACP," Krishna said. "The Lokayukta officers did not have the courtesy to look into the matter and get information from me regarding the case," he charged. "CM Siddaramaiah has developed a love for money and property. Let him resign and face the investigation. No one is trying to cast aspersion on him anymore, he is causing damage to himself," he claimed. Meanwhile, sources confirmed that a meeting of officers was being held at the Karnataka Lokayukta Headquarters in Bengaluru in connection with the lodging of an FIR and taking up legal procedures against CM Siddaramaiah. Lokayukta IGP A. Subramanyeswara Rao, ADGP Manish Kharbikar, Mysuru Lokayukta SP Udesh and other senior officers are discussing the future course of action, the sources said. On Wednesday, a special court in Karnataka directed Lokayukta to conduct an investigation against CM Siddaramaiah over alleged irregularities in the MUDA. The court asked the Lokayukta to submit a report in three months and directed the competent authorities to file an FIR. Kolkata, Sep 26 : The Indian Army Headquarters' Recruiting Zone, Kolkata, said that recruitment of Agniveers from West Bengal in 2024 is highly unlikely as the state government has failed to provide support for organising physical and medical tests for candidates who cleared the online Common Entrance Examination (CEE). "The first rounds of physical and medical screenings for the successful candidates were to be conducted in July and August at Barrackpore and Siliguri. Despite requests to the Department of Home Affairs, Government of West Bengal, no administrative support was forthcoming for these screenings which are loosely referred to as 'recruitment rallies'," said a senior official of Headquarters Recruiting Zone, Kolkata. He added that the administrative support includes maintenance of law and order at the venues and traffic control. "As a result, the screenings could not be conducted," he said. The official added that the screenings scheduled for September and November in Kolkata and Murshidabad have also been put on hold as the first two could not be conducted. "This effectively means that there will be no recruitment to the Army from West Bengal in 2024," he said. The state Home Department has yet to respond to these allegations. However, sources at the Recruitment Zone, Kolkata, said that immediate steps need to be taken to prevent West Bengal's quota from moving to other states. "The most structured and formal policy toward equitable representation in the Armed Forces across states took shape after 1999 with the introduction of the Zonal Recruitment Policy. This policy was designed to ensure a balanced recruitment process and adequate representation from all states in the Indian Armed Forces. Such incidents will affect the whole process," the official added. In 2023, nearly 3,900 youngsters from West Bengal had joined the Army as Agniveers. Of them, about 1,000 have the chance of being permanently absorbed by the Army, while the remaining will be returning after four years and can then apply for recruitment in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The CAPFs, including the BSF, SSB, CRPF, and CISF, have announced relaxations in the recruitment process for Agniveers who return after serving in the Indian armed forces for four years. According to the, nearly 37,500 candidates from West Bengal registered themselves for the recruitment process in 2024. About 16,000 of them cleared the CEE that was conducted between April 22 and May 3, 2024. Adequate support was provided by the state home department during the online CEE. Mumbai, Sep 26 : Actor Jackie Shroff, who was last seen in the streaming movie 'Mast Mein Rehne Ka', is celebrating the birth anniversary of the late actor Dev Anand. On Thursday, Jackie Shroff took to the Stories section of his Instagram, and shared a video remembering the cinema legend. He wrote on the video, "With the blessings of Dev sahab, I walked into film duniya". For the unversed, Jackie Shroff made his acting debut in Dev Anand's 1982 film 'Swami Dada'. In his first meeting with Dev Anand, he was offered the second lead role but after 15 days, Dev Anand changed his mind and gave the role to Mithun Chakraborty. Jackie was cast as one of the henchmen of Shakti Kapoor in an uncredited role. Prior to this, Jackie used to work as a travel agent, and also worked in an advertising company. His stint in advertising led to modelling assignment, and before he knew it, he was cast in 'Swami Dada'. However, it was the Subhash Ghai directorial 'Hero' in which Jackie Shroff garnered critical and commercial acclaim, and went on to become a huge star in the 1980s. He starred in films like 'Teri Meherbaniyan', 'Tridev', 'Parinda', 'Karma' and others. Earlier, on Thursday, actress and politician Hema Malini also remembered the late actor as she took to her Instagram, and dropped several throwback pictures from the sets of the movies that the two worked together in. She also penned a note in the caption, and spoke about the fond memories of hers with the late actor. She wrote, "I have such lovely memories of Dev sahab who was in fact the hero of my 2nd big release with a top actor. I was raw, and in awe but he quickly put me at ease and behaved as if he was a good friend. This attitude continued till the end, always exuding energy that would stimulate everyone". New Delhi, Sep 26 : The share of engineering goods in India's total merchandise exports increased to 27.20 per cent in August, from 26.60 per cent in July, a report showed on Thursday. The cumulative share stood at 25.97 per cent during the April-August period. According to the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), the growth was due to a decent rise in shipments of product groups such as 'aircraft and spacecraft parts', 'ships, boats and floating structures', 'automobile and auto components/parts', and 'medical and scientific instrumentsa. After a decline in April, engineering goods exports from India started showing an increasing trend and registered positive growth in subsequent months. In August, engineering exports rose to $9.44 billion from $9.05 billion in the same month last fiscal year, securing 4.36 per cent growth. As per EEPC, cumulative engineering exports during April-August 2024-25 were recorded at $46.41 billion as against $44.53 billion during the same period of the last fiscal, registering an increase of 4.21 per cent. Arun Kumar Garodia, Chairman of EEPC India, said that global trade data has been positive for Indian exports and as per the latest UN data, India, China, and the US are driving the global trade recovery. "Globally trade within the developing countries or South-South trade is also on the rise. However, the major trade institutions across the world caution that the outlook for 2024 is tempered by potential geopolitical issues and industrial policy impacts," he mentioned. As many as 20 out of 34 engineering panels witnessed positive year-on-year growth last month, while 14 remaining engineering panels experienced a decline. Notably, shipment of 'aircraft and spacecraft parts and productsa jumped nearly four times to $436.9 million from $114.6 million in the corresponding month last year. Also, automobile and auto component segment exports registered 6 per cent (year-on-year) growth to $1.97 billion. The US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Singapore, the UK, and Mexico experienced positive growth in the April-August period. New Delhi, Sep 26 : AAP national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing them of deliberately halting development work in the national capital during his absence. Speaking in the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal, who recently secured bail from the Supreme Court, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using his power to derail Delhi's progress. "With the blessings of God and the support of the people of Delhi, I stand here today after being released from jail. The opposition may be disheartened to see both me and (former Deputy Chief Minister) Manish Sisodia here today," he said. Acknowledging the Prime Minister's political influence, Kejriwal remarked: "PM Modi is very powerful, with vast resources. But he is not God. There is a higher power that stood with us, which is why the Supreme Court granted me bail today." He claimed that the BJP had intentionally sabotaged Delhi's infrastructure during his absence, citing the deterioration of roads around Delhi University as an example. "When I got out of jail, people told me the roads in Delhi University had worsened. I inspected them with the Chief Minister (Atishi) and requested her to order repairs, which she promptly did," he said. Kejriwal further revealed that during a conversation with a senior BJP leader, he was told that his arrest was intended to halt Delhi's development. "I was shocked. How can anyone take pleasure in ruining the lives of 2 crore people in the capital? How can politics stoop so low?" he questioned. Kejriwal accused the BJP of focusing on tarnishing AAP's image instead of working for the people. He pointed out that the BJP had failed to win Delhi's elections for 27 years and was now resorting to obstruction tactics. "You are the Union government with immense resources. If I built 500 Mohalla clinics, what's stopping you from building 5,000? If Manish Sisodia built 700 schools, why canat you build 7,000? The public will notice that," he added. Kejriwal also criticised the BJP for suspending key public services in his absence, including bus marshals, pensions for the elderly, and pilgrimage trips for senior citizens. He argued that these actions would only hurt the BJP's standing with the public. "The public isn't foolish. They watch everything silently, and on election day, they will express their discontent through their votes. Stopping work won't get you votes; delivering better work will," he stressed. Kejriwal also defended his integrity, asserting that the people of Delhi believe he is "absolutely honest" and committed to their welfare. He challenged the BJP, stating, "They jailed five of our top leaders, but our party remains strong. I challenge them to jail just two of their own leaders, and their party will collapse." Reflecting on his jail experience, Kejriwal mentioned that despite being charged under a law that typically denies bail, the Supreme Court granted him bail. He reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Delhi, promising to resume all halted development work. He sarcastically urged the BJP to restart pilgrimage trips for senior citizens, even suggesting that they embark on a pilgrimage themselves. Mumbai, Sep 26 : A Mumbai court has found Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut, guilty in a 2022 defamation case filed by Medha K. Somaiya wife of ex-BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, and awarded him 15 days' jail plus a fine of Rs 25,000, here on Thursday. Shortly afterwards, Raut moved an application before the court which suspended his jail sentence for 30 days to enable him to file an appeal and also granted him bail. "Raut has been convicted by the Metropolitan Magistrate, 25th Court, Mazgaon, in a defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya to 15 days in jail under IPC Section 500, and a fine of Rs 25,000 as compensation," said her lawyer Vivekanand Gupta in a statement. The order came in the two-year-old libel suit filed by Medha Somaiya against Raut, who had alleged a Rs 100-crore toilet construction scam in Mira Road (Thane), linked to a NGO run by the Somaiyas. Reacting, Raut said that he had merely raised pertinent questions based on certain official records which had raised doubts on the toilet construction issue, which was also endorsed by the ruling Mahayuti alliance leaders, plus it came up in the Assembly. "So, where have I committed any defamation This is merely a ploy to throw me in jail," said a grim Raut after the court ruling, as the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies backed him. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Working President Supriya Sule and SS (UBT) Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare slammed the case as politically-motivated. Among other things, Raut had claimed that Medha Somaiya was involved in the scam after which she had lodged the libel case. An elated Medha Somaiya and her husband Kirit Somaiya expressed their happiness over the verdict and said that their faith in the judiciary had been vindicated. "I am an ordinary housewife, engaged in social service and educational activities, but will fight anyone who tries to harm my family members. I am satisfied by the court's verdict. It will prevent others from making such absurd allegation," Medha Somaiya told mediapersons. In 2022, Raut had accused Medha Somaiya and her family members of the alleged scam and claimed he had documentary evidence to back it up, but failed to produce the same. The Somaiyas first lodged a complaint with the Mulund Police Station and then filed a defamation suit in the Mazagaon Metropolitan Magistrate Court, challenging Raut's allegations and emphatically declared that "not even a single rupee scam has been committed". The Mahayuti allies Shiv Sena-BJP-Nationalist Congress Party have welcomed the court verdict, while the Opposition MVA partners Congress-NCP (SP)-SS (UBT) have flayed the developments, terming it as politically-motivated ahead of the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Azerconnect Group supported the region's first International Conference on Cyber Diplomacy held in Azerbaijan. This landmark event brought together state institutions, private companies and business representatives, as well as diplomats and experts to discuss the role of diplomacy in enhancing information security in Azerbaijan. The conference was organized by the Special Communication and Information Security State Service of The Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Center of Analysis of International Relations, and ADA University, with Azerconnect Group and other private organizations playing a pivotal role in its support. At the event, discussions focused on the crucial role of the private sector in global cyber diplomacy and the significance of international cooperation in advancing cybersecurity. Additionally, the conference also highlighted the significance of the Digital Silk Way project aimed at connecting Europe and Asia. This strategically vital digital corridor is expected to drive economic growth and enhance communication across the region. The International Conference on Cyber Diplomacy saw the participation of around 120 representatives from over 30 countries, including diplomats, experts, and officials. About Azerconnect Group As a company operating in the dynamically developing ICT and high technologies fields of our country, Azerconnect Group delivers advanced solutions, including Mobile, Internet, and International leased lines provisioning, alongside cutting-edge digital services in FinTech, AdTech, and Media/TV. Azerconnect Group is part of NEQSOL Holding, an international group of companies operating in various countries across the energy, telecommunications, hi-tech, and construction industries. New Delhi, Sep 26 : Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal on Thursday sharply criticised Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal for calling his aide Bibhav Kumar a prominent party leader. Maliwal took to social media to express her outrage accusing former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal of defending and promoting individuals involved in questionable activities Without mincing words, Maliwal accused Kejriwal of crossing all boundaries of "shamelessness." "The goon who attacked me in your presence at your residence was sent to jail. While he was in jail, you hired the country's most expensive army of lawyers to save him," she wrote on X on Thursday. Maliwal further criticised Kejriwal for allegedly using his position to protect people who follow him without question. She suggested that the former Chief Minister surrounds himself with sycophants. "If these statements of yours do not boost the spirits of goons like Bibhav, then what else will? Not every person who is a partner in all your wrongdoings is a great leader. You have a hobby of keeping people who say "Wah Sir, Wah Sir" around you, that is why the world has started looking blurry to you," she said. In a pointed remark, Maliwal also questioned Kejriwal's constant comparisons to Lord Ram, often referred to as "Maryada Purushottam Ram," symbolising righteousness and virtue. "So much arrogance is not good. If someone cannot take a stand for his party's woman MP, how will he take a stand for the women of Delhi?" she asked. With her post, Maliwal also attached a video clip of Kejriwal in which he is criticising the BJP for putting prominent AAP leaders in jail in fake cases. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court granted bail to Bibhav Kumar in the Swati Maliwal assault case. Swati Maliwal had claimed that Bibhav Kumar assaulted her when she visited Arvind Kejriwal's residence on May 13 to meet him. On her complaint, the police filed a case and arrested Bibhav Kumar. Bhubaneswar, Sep 26 : Union Minister and BJP President J. P. Nadda on Thursday said that Congress has become the "spokesperson" of Urban Naxalism and is "encouraging" the disintegrating forces in the country today. Bhubaneswar, Sep 26 (IANS) Union Minister and BJP President J. P. Nadda on Thursday said that Congress has become the "spokesperson" of Urban Naxalism and is "encouraging" the disintegrating forces in the country today. "The Congress has become the spokesperson of Urban Naxalism (Maoist). Congress is encouraging the disintegrative forces in the country," alleged Nadda during his speech at a 'Sadasyata Abhiyan' (Membership drive) meeting programme here. He alleged that Marxist parties and Congress have no ideology. Nadda further stated that the Marxists and Congress are fighting in Kerala while forming friendships and conducting photo sessions in New Delhi. He noted that the Congress is "shaking hands" with those who are saying to repeal the decision regarding the revoking of Article 370 in Kashmir. He added that the Bharatiya Jana Sangha said in 1952 that in one nation, there couldn't be two Constitutions, two PMs and two symbols, adding that this is a long journey which started in 1952-53. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life for it. "In 2019, under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi and the able skills of Amit Shah, we could see in Parliament on August 5th of 2019 that Article 370 was abrogated from the constitution. As a result, Jammu and Kashmir now became a part of India constitutionally." He further added that earlier around 200 laws of India couldn't be implemented in J&K. "Congress leader Manmohan Singh and veteran BJP leader LK Advani who came from West Pakistan during the partition became the Prime Minister and deputy PM of India but the refugees from Pakistan in Kashmir couldn't cast their vote in the Assembly election. However, this is the first time they are giving their vote in the Assembly elections after the abrogation of Article 370," added Nadda. The BJP national president asserted that the Triple Talaq system does not exist in Islamic countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Indonesia. But, the triple talaq system was in force in India in the name of secularism. He said that PM Modi by enacting the law against the triple talaq system gave Muslim women their rights. Nadda urged the people to join the BJP to strengthen the party for making India 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 under the leadership of PM Modi. He also claimed that the membership of the BJP had reached 18 crores during the last membership drive conducted six years back. Every six years, the membership expires and it has to be renewed by all. Srinagar, Sep 26 : A delegation of 15 members from the Kargil district of Ladakh region on Thursday started their journey to Chandigarh where they will meet another delegation from Leh district to begin the 'Caravan for restoration of democracy in Ladakh' march to New Delhi. Members of the delegation said that they would try to persuade the Union government to accept their four demands including statehood for Ladakh, inclusion in the 6th schedule of the constitution, setting up a public service commission and separate representation for Kargil and Leh in the country's Parliament. Members of the delegation said it includes political, social, and religious leaders committed to preserving the region's cultural and linguistic identity and ensuring fair opportunities for employment. "From Chandigarh, we will march to Delhi. On October 2, we will hold a protest at Raj Ghat and on the next day another protest will be held at Jantar Mantar New Delhi," the members said. They added that they won't meet any politician or government official during the protest. "We appeal to the government to resume talks and address our demands without further delay," they said. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, a rebel from the National Conference, Haji Mohmad Haneefa Jan won the lone Lok Sabha seat from Ladakh defeating both BJP and Congress candidates. --IANS sq/dan Kolkata, Sep 26 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit to the court on the alleged "threat culture" in different medical colleges & hospitals in the state. A division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Bivas Pattanayak also observed that if the allegations of such a "threat culture" going on in medical colleges, where the junior doctors are becoming the victims, is true, then, the matter is quite serious. The direction came on a public interest litigation where the petitioner requested the court for a direction for investigation in the matter by a committee headed by any retired judge of the Calcutta High Court. The next hearing in the matter will be in November and the state government will have to file its affidavit in the matter before that. Incidentally, the Calcutta High Court direction comes on a day when the West Bengal Junior Doctorsa Forum (WBJDF), which is spearheading the movement against the ghastly rape and murder of a lady junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, had sent a fresh message to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant highlighting their unfulfilled demands in the matter. A major part of the missive dealt with the grievances of the junior doctors relating to the state governmentas inaction as regards the formation of the Central Enquiry Committee for disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrators of the athreat culturea in medical colleges. The forum also pointed out that no directive has been given by the state government to individual colleges to form college-level enquiry committees consisting of undergraduate students and resident doctors for disciplinary proceedings against perpetrators of the "threat culture". New Delhi, Sep 26 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday deferred hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking direction to the Union Home Ministry to cancel the Indian citizenship of Rahul Gandhi when the Congress leader has "declared himself a British citizen". New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Thursday deferred hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking direction to the Union Home Ministry to cancel the Indian citizenship of Rahul Gandhi when the Congress leader has "declared himself a British citizen". Noting that a similar petition is pending before the Allahabad High Court, a Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan remarked that the same issue should not be agitated simultaneously before two different forums in the interest of justice. The Bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, asked the Union government's standing counsel to obtain a copy of the petition, along with the case status, pending before the Allahabad HC. Posting the matter for further hearing on October 9, the Delhi HC said that it intended to doubly make sure that it does not usurp the other High Court's jurisdiction. The plea filed by Swamy before the Delhi High Court sought direction to the Union Home Ministry to furnish a status report on the complaint/representation filed by him against Gandhi and decide it at the earliest. The BJP leader, in 2019, wrote a letter to the Union Home Ministry on violations made by Rahul Gandhi in voluntarily disclosing to the UK government that he is a citizen of British nationality, holding a British passport. Swamy said that with this declaration, the Congress leader ceases to be an Indian Citizen in terms of Article 9 of the Constitution read with the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955. "A Company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in the year 2003, with address 51 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9EH, where Gandhi was one of the Directors and Secretary of the said company. In the Company's Annual Returns filed on 10/10/2005 and 31/10/2006, your (Gandhi) date of birth has been given as 19/06/1970 and you had declared your nationality as British. Further, in the Dissolution application dated 17/02/2009 of the above referred company, your nationality has been mentioned as British," said the Union Home Ministry in correspondence to Rahul Gandhi on Swamy's complaint. In his petition, Swamy said that he sent many representations to the Home Ministry asking for an update and the status of his complaint, but no action has been taken or intimated to him about the same. "Hence, this petition for direction to Respondent No. 1 (Home Ministry) to furnish a status report on the complaint/representation filed by the petitioner against Respondent No.2 (Rahul Gandhi) and to decide the complaint/representation filed by the petitioner at the earliest and to furnish the conclusion / final order of the complaint/representation filed," the plea said. Galle, Sep 26 : Dinesh Chandimal's century coupled with half-centuries from Angelo Mathews (78*) and Kamindu Mendis (51 not out) stamped Sri Lanka's dominance on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand at Galle International Stadium on Thursday. Opting to bat first, the hosts had a poor start as they lost opener Pathum Nissanka (1) cheaply to Tim Southee in the first over of the match. However, a 122-run partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne and Chadimal set the tone for a strong show as Sri Lanka ended the first day on 306/3 in 90 overs. The Kiwi bowlers didn't have much success on the day as they only managed to snap one wicket each in the remaining sessions. They also had a sloppy day in the field as well as they dropped three catches off William O'Rourke's bowling while Tom Blundell missed a stumping of Karunaratne in the first session. Karunaratne missed out on a half-century after a horrible mix-up before Tom Latham's under-arm throw gave them their second wicket of the day. Angelo Mathews joined Chadimal in the middle and stitched another big partnership for the third wicket. Chandimal continued playing his shots with ease and scored his 16th Test century in the second session. The duo accumulated a 97-run stand to take the hosts over the 200-run mark after the Tea break. Off-spinner Glenn Phillips finally cleaned up the centurion to take the final wicket of the day. The in-form Kamindu Mendis came in to bat at No.5 and welcomed Southee with two boundaries to get his innings going. New Zealand took the second new ball, but Sri Lanka remained aggressive, finding the boundaries at regular intervals. Daryl Mitchell dropped his second catch of the day, letting Mendis off the hook at slip. Things worsened for the visitors when Latham dropped Matthews just two overs later. Meanwhile, left-hander Kamindu attacked Ajaz Patel, hitting two boundaries and a six across two overs before reverse-sweeping Mitchell Santner for four to reach his half-century. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 306/3 in 90 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 116, Angelo Matthews 78; Glenn Phillips 1-33) vs New Zealand. New Delhi, Sep 26 : The Congress, which is in power in Himachal Pradesh, seems to be grappling with internal rift and discord mainly due to Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Singh's controversial order to food stall/ eatery owners to prominently display their names -- an instruction that has ruffled many feathers in the Congress high command, as the decision bears an uncanny resemblance to the one taken by Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh. Also, even as the Congress has been firmly opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, with its members during the JPC meetings vociferously placing their views, Himachal Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Singh seems to be having a different viewpoint. Vikramaditya Singh, in a social media post, stressing the need to introduce necessary improvements in the Waqf Boards, said: "With changing times, there is a need to bring improvements to the Waqf Boards too. Changes should be made to every law with the passage of time." According to political observers, what caught the attention of many is Vikramaditya Singh -- son of late former Himachal Chief Minister and Congress veteran Virbhadra Singh -- following the path of Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh in the matter of displaying names of owners/ staff members of the food stalls, eateries and establishments. And these fresh developments have prompted many to ponder if an attempt is being made to gradually adopt a 'Soft Hindutva' stance by the Congress in the hill. The decision took the Congress by an unexpected wave of storm, with the party facing a backlash and one senior leader -- former Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo -- criticising Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh government, while warning that its right to be in power could be questioned over its stance against minorities. Most importantly, the Congress High Command has expressed dissatisfaction over the name-plate display order which was issued by Vikramaditya Singh -- the Urban Development Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Vikramaditya Singh, briefing the media on Wednesday, said that the state government has made a decision similar to that of Uttar Pradesh to ensure that people have access to clean and hygienic food. The instructions, however, have made the top brass of the Congress, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, upset. According to sources, Vikramaditya Singh had been summoned to Delhi where the Congress high command gave him an earful. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh unit Congress president Pratibha Singh -- mother of Vikramaditya Singh -- during an interaction with IANS, said: "The government has taken the decision for proper identification of food stall/ eatery owners... so that they can be identified, and their origins can be learnt. The decision has been taken to ensure the purity of the food products that are being sold." "It's the responsibility of the government to take care of what people are eating. We don't want tourists or others to come to our state and fall ill by consuming food in our state," she told IANS. Responding to a question if the decision was taken on the lines of the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, Pratibha Singh said: "Why should we follow Uttar Pradesh? We (can) have our own rules and regulations." Earlier, a day after Vikramaditya Singh courted a controversy by saying the government had decided to make it mandatory for all street vendors in Shimla to display their name, photograph and identification as per their ID cards, the government on Thursday clarified no decision to mandatorily display nameplates by the vendors has been taken. A spokesperson for the government said numerous suggestions have been received from different sections of society regarding the street vendor's policy. So far, the government has not taken any decision to mandatorily display nameplates or other identification by the vendors on their stalls. He said the government was committed to address the concerns of street vendors of the state and would consider all suggestions carefully before taking any decision. The spokesperson said a committee, comprising both Congress and BJP MLAs, has already been constituted to address the matter. The committee was chaired by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan and includes Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh and MLAs Anil Sharma, Satpal Satti, Randhir Sharma and Harish Janartha. The committee would review suggestions of various stakeholders, before submitting its recommendations to the state government. He said that once their detailed recommendations are submitted, the Cabinet would carefully evaluate them before making any final decisions on the matter. "A lot of eatables like momos and noodles are being sold by foodstallsa so the Food and Civil Supplies Department will ensure that the food being sold is hygienic," Vikramaditya Singh said on Wednesday. Kolkata, Sep 26 : The authorities of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata announced on Thursday evening that they have decided to conduct a probe against 13 faculty members on the basis of complaints from medical students and junior doctors. R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital has been in the eye of a storm ever since a junior doctor became a victim of a ghastly rape and murder last month. Sources aware of the development said that there were complaints against all these faculty members about fostering a 'threat culture' within the hospital premises. "It is for your kind information, that the undersigned have received complaints from both students and junior doctors regarding the following faculty members (Medical) of RG Kar Medical College," read the letter signed jointly by the current Principal Dr Manas Kumar Bandyopadhyay and Medical Superintendent and Vice-Principal Dr Saptarshi Chatterjee. The letter was addressed to the chairperson of the enquiry committee of the same hospital, a copy of which is available with IANS. Of these 13 faculty members, three are women. "The enquiry committee is requested to provide their expert assessment of the aforementioned doctors based on the complaints received during the enquiry process. Kindly submit your findings to the undersigned at the earliest," the letter read. In the letter, the probe committee has also been asked to present any pertinent documents and individuals they have identified as significant to the investigation. On Thursday afternoon only, a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government, to file an affidavit in court on the alleged 'threat culture' in different medical colleges and hospitals in the state. Earlier in the day, West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF), which is spearheading the movement against the rape and murder had sent a fresh communique to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant highlighting their unfulfilled demands in the matter. A major part of the demands dealt with the grievances of the junior doctors relating to the state government's inaction with regard to the formation of the Central Enquiry Committee for disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrators of the 'threat culture' in medical colleges. London, Sep 26 : Network Rail in the United Kingdom (UK) said Thursday it is investigating a "cybersecurity incident" that disrupted public Wi-Fi networks at some of the country's largest railway stations. Passengers attempting to connect to Wi-Fi at stations including Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, and 11 London terminuses on Wednesday evening were met with a page reading "We love you, Europe," followed by an anti-Islam message listing a series of terror attacks in Europe, according to reports from local media. Network Rail, which operates these stations, said in a statement that the Wi-Fi, provided by a third-party company, has been suspended. The Wi-Fi service is "self-contained and is a simple 'click & connect' service that doesn't collect any personal data," the statement added. The company said a full investigation is underway, Xinhua news agency reported. The incident follows a similar cyberattack in early September that targeted Transport for London, comprising personal details of some 5,000 customers. Jaipur, Sep 26 : Former Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyavas on Thursday said that the ex-OSD to former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Lokesh Sharma, is a coward and will land up in jail soon for changing his statement in the phone tapping case. "Cowards like Lokesh Sharma were enjoying the benefits till yesterday and today he is talking nonsense. He is no celebrity and no one knows him. He is only known after he takes the name of Ashok Gehlot four times a day," said Khachariyavas. He said that the former OSD keeps on changing his statements due to which he can land up in jail soon. "The police will definitely catch him as he keeps on changing the statement," he said. On Wednesday, Sharma told Delhi Police officials that Ashok Gehlot was indulging in phone tapping along with his MLAs and they all should be investigated. Lokesh Sharma that during the political crisis, Ashok Gehlot had put phones of MLAs of his party, including those who went to Manesar with Sachin Pilot, under surveillance. "The then DGP, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and his Principal Secretary Kuldeep Ranka were also included in it," Sharma alleged. He said that the Crime Branch should question Ashok Gehlot and take up for further investigation into the case. In the phone tapping case, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat lodged an FIR against Lokesh Sharma in the Delhi Crime Branch in March 2021, against which Sharma has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan held a meeting dedicated to anti-tuberculosis measures, Trend reports. The session, chaired by Health Minister Teymur Musayev, included notable participants such as Portfolio Manager at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Olga Avdeyeva, chairman of the board of the State Agency for Compulsory Health Insurance Zaur Aliyev, the executive director of the Association for the Management of Medical Territorial Units (TBIB) Vugar Gurbanov, the deputy head of the Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice Iftikhar Gurbanov, and other heads of subordinate institutions of the Ministry of Health and TBIB. Minister Musayev emphasized that targeted healthcare reforms under President of the Republic of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev have ushered in a new phase in the health sector. "Successful healthcare reform is based on three key principles: human capital development, the digitalization of healthcare as a fundamental driver of change, and the new economy of the healthcare system. Strengthening the healthcare system also includes strengthening measures to combat tuberculosis," he stated. According to the minister, since 2012, the Azerbaijani government has begun procuring drugs for non-resistant tuberculosis and fully covering relevant costs through state programs. Additionally, a new mandatory health insurance financing mechanism has been introduced since 2021. "Despite the successes achieved in this area, there is a need to develop a long-term strategy and roadmap for the Tuberculosis Action Plan. Combating tuberculosis is a global challenge. Only by collaborating and sharing knowledge can we achieve positive results," the minister noted. Olga Avdeeva and mission members acknowledged that since 2005, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has been actively involved in financing tuberculosis control activities in Azerbaijan. Stressing the shared goal of eradicating tuberculosis by 2030, the mission representatives positively assessed Azerbaijan's efforts to achieve this goal and combat tuberculosis. Chairman of the State Agency for Mandatory Health Insurance Zaur Aliyev and Executive Director of TBIB Vugar Gurbanov highlighted the construction of specialized medical facilities for tuberculosis treatment, employing modern approaches in patient care. Irada Akhundova, Director of the Research Institute of Lung Diseases of the Ministry of Health, made an extensive report at the meeting. Akhundova reported that within the framework of the National Tuberculosis Control Program of the Ministry of Health, positive changes have been observed in the dynamics of morbidity, as well as in the reduction of mortality from tuberculosis over the past 10 years. The meeting concluded with productive discussions on further strategies for tackling tuberculosis in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Bhopal, Sep 26 : The locals in Madhya Pradesh's Shajapur on Thursday claimed that the violence which claimed one life and injured ten others could have been averted had the local area police acted swiftly. "Sameer Khan and Mahendra Patel along with several others outside my home started abusing Aneesh Khan (brother-in-law of Tabassum). They fired several shots and left the place threatening to teach a lesson to Aneesh," said Tabassum Arif Khan, a local in her complaint which was filed in the Maxi police station on September 23. She said that the locals had alerted local area police at least three days before the violence occurred on Wednesday night. Tabassum had filed two complaints at Maxi police station between September 22 and 24. A complaint copy available with IANS revealed that in her repeated complaints, Tabassum had informed police that Sameer Khan and Mahendra Patel along with several others were hurling abusive language outside her home. Having found no action from Maxi police station, Tabassum filed a complaint to Shajapur SP Yashpal Rajput on September 24. She also informed that she had gone to file her complaint at Maxi police station but the police did not file the case, which made her meet SP. Locals told IANS that Aneesh Khan (Tabassum's brother-in-law) Mahendra Patel had an old enmity. Mahendra along with Sameer Khan and others arrived again outside Tabassum's home and fired gunshots. However, the opposite group objected to Patel and Sameer Khan's repeated abusive words, which led to a clash between the two groups. The clash escalated and they pelted stones at each other. Amjad Khan, brother of Aneesh Khan received a bullet injury and fell down. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and was declared dead on arrival. One minor boy - Junaid Khan (Tabassum's son) also received a bullet injury and he was referred to a private hospital in Indore. "Tension had been simmering between the two sides in Maxi town of the district for the last two days. On Wednesday evening, they had a face-off resulting in the violence," Inspector General (IG) Ujjain Range, Santosh Singh told the press on Thursday. One of the family members told IANS that the police had arrested Aneesh Khan, however, Shajapur Police was yet to make any confirmation about his arrest on Thursday. He also said that some people were trying to make it a conflict between Hindu-Muslim, which is not the truth. New Delhi, Sep 26 : Amid the heated controversy over display of nameplates outside food outlets and restaurants in Himachal Pradesh, state Congress-in charge Rajeev Shukla on Thursday sought to set records straight and dispel the 'needless' row, emanating from the statement of Urban development minister Vikramaditya Singh. New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Amid the heated controversy over display of nameplates outside food outlets and restaurants in Himachal Pradesh, state Congress-in charge Rajeev Shukla on Thursday sought to set records straight and dispel the aneedlessa row, emanating from the statement of Urban development minister Vikramaditya Singh. Rajeev Shukla, while speaking to the press, rubbished reports that Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government has ordered all the eateries and street vendors to display the names of their owners and staff. "No street vendor or eatery owner is mandated to display the names of owners or proprietors," he said. The controversy broke out over Himachal Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh's statement to the media wherein he said that street vendors will have to keep their nameplates and ID cards on display to ensure that cleanliness and hygiene is maintained and consumers have also 'enough flexibility' to make their preferred choices. Himachal Congress in-charge though justified move to collect ID and Aadhaar cards of street vendors. He said that the verification details of the vendors will help regulate their businesses and also facilitate easy disbursal of licences. Rejecting reports of an umbrella order to all street vendors, he said that the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister has not passed any order to this effect. "A committee was formed to give recommendations for regulating the street vendors and for allocating a common place to them," he pointed out. Earlier in the day, a spokesperson of Himachal Pradesh government also informed that the committee, comprising both Congress and BJP MLAs, received suggestions from various stakeholders and after reviewing them, it will submit the recommendations to the state administration. On Wednesday, Vikramaditya Singh said that all the street vendors particularly those selling eatables will have to display their identity. "This has been done in Uttar Pradesh. We shall also implement it in Shimla," he said. Gaza, Sep 26 : The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defence in Gaza said Thursday. Palestinian security sources told Xinhua news agency earlier on Thursday that Israeli aircraft bombed the al-Faluja school west of the Jabalia refugee camp with at least one missile. Medical sources said 10 people were injured in the attack, all of whom have been taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Thursday that the Israeli Air Force conducted a precise strike on militants operating in a command and control center inside a compound that previously served as the al-Faluja school in northern Gaza. Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 41,534, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. Kolkata, Sep 26 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Thursday evening, announced the new structure of the patients' welfare committees in all medical colleges & hospitals in the state which are created after dismantling of the previous committee amid the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata last month. She made this announcement at the state secretariat Nabanna after a meeting to review the functioning of all medical colleges and hospitals in the state which was attended by senior administrative and police officials as well as the principals and MSVPs. "The new patients' welfare committee in each medical college will be headed by the principal there. The other members of the committee will be the MSVP, one senior doctor, one junior doctor, one from the nursing section and one public representative," she said. The Chief Minister also said that biometric attendance systems will be introduced at medical colleges and hospitals. "The hospital medical college and authorities have been advised to maintain detailed records of the people coming there for doing contractual works," the Chief Minister said. The decision to reconstruct the patients' welfare committee is very crucial since in the past there had been several complaints of such committees being influenced by local political leaders from the ruling dispensation. The Chief Minister announced the reconstruction of the patient's welfare committees on September 14 after arriving at the protest venue of the junior doctors in front of Swastha Bhavan, the state health department headquarters at Salt Lake in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. Meanwhile, West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum, the umbrella body of junior doctors in the state spearheading the movement against the ghastly rape and murder will announce its next course of movement in the matter at a mass convention to be organised on Friday. Kolkata, Sep 26 : The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum, the umbrella body of junior doctors in the state spearheading the movement against the ghastly rape and murder of a woman junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, will announce its next course of action in the matter at a mass convention to be organised here on Friday afternoon. The forum has decided to invite selected senior doctors, like-minded people from the silver screen and theatre world, and select representatives from civil society to the convention to be organised at the auditorium of state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata at 4 p.m. on Friday. "At the convention, we will also be discussing how far the commitments given by the state government to strengthen the security arrangements at the medical colleges and hospitals have been fulfilled so far," a WBJDF representative said. It is learnt that the auditorium at S.S.K.M. was chosen as the venue after the state government refused to provide them the space at a state-owned auditorium in Kolkata. The junior doctors have also alleged that the auditorium also did not give them permission to organise a mass interaction programme on the matter at a shopping mall in Kolkata. Currently, the junior doctors are attending only the "emergency services" duties and participating in the medical camps opened in the district against the backdrop of the flood situation in the state. They called off their cease-work movement on the issue earlier this month after the state government assured them of fulfilling their demands after the ghastly rape and murder. On Thursday only the forum forwarded a fresh email missive to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant highlighting seven of their demands which are yet to be fulfilled by the state government. Istanbul, Sep 26 : When Murat Uludag was a teenager about 40 years ago, there was so much water in central Turkey's Lake Kulu that it was dangerous to swim in it. "This region used to be a sanctuary for 186 species of birds. Compared to the past, we only have a handful of birds left," lamented Uludag, a man in his mid-50s who now heads a local wildlife conservation group. "If there's no water, there's no life," the ex-farmer told Xinhua news agency, pointing at a small flock of flamingos and ducks stubbornly packed together in the middle of a tight shoal in the lake. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some five km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. In the past, farmers in Kulu used to grow traditional crops like wheat and barley, but they later shifted to water-intensive crops like maize or beetroot, leading to aggressive use of groundwater which gradually dried up the creeks feeding the lake, Uludag said. Lake Kulu is not alone in facing an uncertain future. According to figures released by the Turkey Nature Conservation Association on September 18, 186 out of 240 lakes in Turkey have entirely dried up over the past 60 years, while the remaining ones are at risk of drought and pollution. Besides, authorities have reported hundreds of sinkholes in Konya Province, which are weakening the bedrock and threatening agriculture and human safety. "One of the main issues in central Anatolia and the vast Konya plain is the proliferation of illegal wells drilled by farmers to irrigate water-intensive crops," Melih Ozbek, an Ankara-based scholar and a wildlife activist, told Xinhua. Another reason is the change in agriculture in recent years, exacerbated by climate change that has resulted in erratic weather conditions and drought, Ozbek said. There is an urgent need to create a plan involving all relevant parties and implement it with a shift in mindset, he said. "People are unwilling to make sacrifices for something they cannot see. They will suffer more in the coming decades," he added. Echoing Ozbek, Erol Kesici, a leading Turkish expert on water issues, warned that "there is not a single lake left in Turkey that we can point to as being in good condition." "The problems are dire, with water levels, surface areas, pollution and oxygen depletion worsened; unfortunately, many of our natural lakes, formed millions of years ago, have suffered from severe drying in the past few decades," Kesici said. United Nations, Sep 26 : As some nations are increasingly choosing unilateralism and militarization over dialogue and diplomacy, the "them versus us" mentality has escalated tensions and eroded trust in the global multilateral system, said Kenya President William Ruto on Thursday at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). "These challenges are complex, interconnected, and escalating at an alarming pace," said the president. From Gaza to Darfur, Ukraine to Yemen, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to Sudan, the Sahel region, and Haiti, conflicts are leaving a devastating trail of destruction, according to Ruto. "Climate change is increasingly fueling instability and conflict around the world," he added, Xinhua news agency reported. Additionally, the President said cybersecurity breaches and sophisticated cyberattacks on critical infrastructure threaten national security and global stability. "We must rise to the occasion, summon the political will, and strengthen our diplomatic efforts to address security threats through comprehensive, coordinated and context-specific solutions," he said. Ruto made these remarks at the General Debate of the 79th UNGA, which began on Wednesday. New Delhi, Sep 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met the leadership team of Tata Sons and Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC), which are building a Rs 91,000 crore mega semiconductor fabrication facility in Gujarat's Dholera. In a post on X, PM Modi said he had "a great meeting with the leadership team of Tata Sons and PSMC". "They shared updates on their semiconductor manufacturing projects. PSMC expressed enthusiasm to further expand its footprint in India," said the Prime Minister. Railways and Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a detailed technology agreement has been inked between Tata Electronics and PSMC for the semiconductor fab in Dholera. "Holistic semiconductor ecosystem is taking shape," said the minister after meeting the leadership team, including N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons. In March, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the Tata-PSMC chip plant in Gujarat. The fab construction will generate over 20,000 direct and indirect skilled jobs in the region. This fab will have a manufacturing capacity of up to 50,000 wafers per month and will include next-generation factory automation capabilities deploying data analytics and machine learning to achieve industry-best factory efficiency. According to the companies, the new semiconductor fab will manufacture chips for applications such as power management IC, display drivers, microcontrollers (MCU) and high-performance computing logic, addressing the growing demand in markets such as automotive, computing and data storage, wireless communication and artificial intelligence. According to Chandrasekaran, Tata Group has a tradition of pioneering many sectors in the country, and "we are confident that our entry in semiconductor fabrication will add to this legacy". PM Modi said recently that this is the right time and place to be in India when it comes to semiconductor manufacturing, as the country provides an integrated ecosystem for the global players, along with ease of doing business and a large talent pool. New Delhi: Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) inspired organisation recently organised its triennial workers' conference at Samalkha, Haryana. This three-day event witnessed the participation of around 2,000 VKA functionaries and workers from all over the country. New Delhi: Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) inspired organisation recently organised its triennial workersa conference at Samalkha, Haryana. This three-day event witnessed the participation of around 2,000 VKA functionaries and workers from all over the country. The RSSa Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat also attended the event and guided the organisation encouraging them to spread the work of VKA rapidly. The gathering aimed to bring together volunteers working across India in remote tribal areas as well as urban centres, emphasising cultural preservation, national unity, and the empowerment of the tribal population. Bharat has over 120 million tribal population, often referred to as Adivasis, Janjatis, or Scheduled Tribes. These communities have contributed significantly to India's cultural and historical legacy. The connection between Indian culture and the natural landscapes of forests and mountains is profound, as sages and saints have traditionally drawn spiritual and social inspiration from these environments. The Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (ABVKA) was founded on December 26, 1952, by Shri Ramakant Keshav (Balasaheb) Deshpande, inspired by the renowned social worker Pujya Thakkar Bappa. Since its inception, ABVKA has been committed to the holistic development of Vanvasis, addressing their socio-economic and cultural needs while preserving their faith and traditions. ABVKAas primary aim is to reaffirm the inseparable bond between Vanvasi society and Indiaas broader cultural traditions. Over time, Vanvasi communities have experienced neglect, and the organisation seeks to counter this by promoting their comprehensive development. It strives to meet their essential needs, such as education and healthcare while emphasising the preservation of their rich cultural heritage. A crucial aspect of the Ashram's mission is to bring the lesser-known history of Vanvasi's contributions to the forefront. Many Vanvasis played pivotal roles in India's freedom movement, yet their contributions remain largely unrecognized. By illuminating this forgotten history, ABVKA instils a sense of pride and unity within these communities. The organisation believes that Vanvasi society's strength lies in its cultural and spiritual identity, which, when nurtured, empowers them to overcome adversities and thrive. ABVKA's concept of development encompasses more than economic upliftmenta"it focuses on holistic progress. This includes fostering national unity, promoting good leadership, and encouraging organic development led by the Vanvasi communities themselves. The organisation acknowledges that the challenges faced by these communities are deep-rooted, and as such, it works patiently and diligently to bring about sustainable progress. While ABVKA primarily operates in remote tribal areas, its influence extends to urban centres as well. The Ashram has units in over 400 cities and towns across Bharat, where volunteers gather resources and raise funds for Vanvasi welfare. This urban outreach has been essential to the organizationas success, as volunteers from all walks of life contribute to various causes, ranging from education and healthcare to protecting the constitutional and legal rights of Vanvasis. ABVKA adopts an integrated approach that addresses the unique needs of tribal communities, focusing on their overall well-being through: Education: Providing access to quality education while preserving tribal languages, traditions, and knowledge. Healthcare: Ensuring access to medical care, including traditional healing practices alongside modern medicine. Economic Empowerment: Promoting sustainable livelihoods through skill development, agriculture, and small-scale industries that respect the environment and tribal ways of life. Cultural Preservation: Protecting and promoting Vanvasi cultural heritage, arts, and rituals, ensuring they remain vibrant and respected within the broader national identity. Social and Spiritual Development: Building community solidarity, leadership, and spiritual practices rooted in tribal traditions while promoting harmonious integration into mainstream society. Celebrating forest culture A defining feature of the triennial conference was the ritual performances by 70 tribes. On the second day of the event, September 21, they demonstrate their diverse worship traditions. Some tribes worship the Saakar (the visible form), while others revere the Nirakar (the formless). This wide variety of worship traditions, which include nature, fire, water, and deities like Shiva and Ganesh, are integral to both Hindu Dharma and tribal and forest culture. These rituals, which often include bhajans, kirtans, and dances, highlight the collective spirit of worshipa"an essential characteristic of Vanvasi communities. Through this cultural display, the tribals showcased the unity in diversity of Bharat's rich heritage. At a time when the nation is engaged in debates on faith, identity, and culture, this event sent a powerful message: the loss of faith leads to the erosion of culture, and with that, the loss of identity. (The writer is an author and columnist. Her latest book is Blood in the Sea: The Dark History of Hindu Oppression in Goa) --IANS Mumbai, Sep 26 : Actress Bipasha Basu, best known for praiseworthy performances in 'Raaz' and 'Aakrosh' once revealed that she once became a pure vegetarian for her boyfriend. In a throwback video, Bipasha said, "So I came back from school and I told my mom, I have fallen in love and my mom was standing there, sitting on the bed and fainting and I told my mom, you won't say anything, I want two salwar kurtas." The 'Dhoom 2' actress continued, "Because I wore shorts before that I said, give me two salwar kurtas because he is a Marwari and his family wants me to wear a salwar kurta and from today I am a vegetarian and before that, I was a hardcore non-vegetarian girl." Suddenly I said, from now on I will become a vegetarian and wear a salwar kurta and I will only marry him. So my poor mother had no choice. But she gave me a salwar kurta. So see, I am a very loving girl. So when I fall in love, I fall in love fully. But that didn't last long because I came to Bombay after that." She concluded. On the personal front, Bipasha Basu was in a relationship with actor Dino Morea from 1996 to 2002. During the filming of 'Jism' in 2002, Bipasha came back into a dating phase with her co-star John Abraham, and they maintained it from 2002 to 2011. Later, the 'No-Entry' fame actress dated actor Harman Baweja, but they broke up in 2014. After a while, Bipasha Basu met her 'Alon' co-star actor Karan Singh Grover on the set and they fell in love. The couple tied the sacred knot on April 30, 2016 and on November 12, 2022 the duo became the parents of their adorable daughter, Devi Basu Singh Grover. In 2015, Bipasha, actress Malaika Arora, and Hrithik Roshan's ex-wife Sussanne Khan launched their shopping portal 'The Label Life'. In 2020, she made her OTT debut with the crime thriller series 'Dangerous' opposite her husband Karan Singh Grover. IANS ays/ SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) may welcome another member, said Jin Liqun, AIIB President, Chairman of the Board of Directors, at a press conference, Trend reports. "Since its inception, the AIIB has grown from 57 founding members to 109 approved members across six continents. On September 26, the Board of Governors will evaluate a recommendation from the Board of Directors to consider a new prospective member, which could increase our membership to 110. Our members currently represent 81 percent of the world's population and 65 percent of global GDP," he said. AIIB president pointed out that the bank has become an integral part of the global financial landscape during almost nine years into operations. "Through nearly 300 of approved projects, our bank has committed over $50 billion to infrastructure development across Asia and beyond, focusing on sustainability, innovation, connectivity, and private capital mobilization". "With more than 30 partnerships across international and regional entities, we have made significant strides in promoting economic growth and addressing pressing socio-economic challenges. Together, we strive to finance the infrastructure of tomorrow to achieve a better future through sustainable development," added Jin Liqun. AIIB is hosting its first annual meeting of the Board of Governors in Central Asia on themed "Building Resilient Infrastructure for All" on September 25-26, 2024, in Samarkand. Over two days, more than 25 panel discussions will take place, focusing on innovations in infrastructure financing, climate resilience, sustainable development, and the digital transformation of infrastructure projects. Itanagar, Sep 26 : A special Pocso court in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday handed down a death sentence to death former hostel warden Yumken Bagra for sexually assaulting 21 minor students at a state-run residential school in Shi-Yomi district between 2019 and 2022. A senior police official said that the special judge, Pocso cases, of west sessions court, Yupia also sentenced two others -- former headmaster Singtung Yorpen, and Hindi reached Marbom Ngomdir -- to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in the case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC). Prime accused Bagra, 33, sexually assaulted 21 children, including 15 girls and six boys, aged between 6 and 15 years, between 2019 and 2022. The police official said that Bagra was convicted under various sections of the IPC as well as the POCSO Act, and sentenced to death due to the severity of his crimes. The ruling of the court not only addresses the immediate serious issue but also serves as a significant turning point for the broader social awareness in the protection of children, underlining the collective responsibility to safeguard the rights and welfare of minors. According to the official, sexual abuse at the government-run residential school came to light after two students, both sisters, informed their parents about the crime in November 2022. On November 4, 2022, an FIR was lodged at Monigong police station in the Shi-Yomi district. Then hostel warden Bagra, a native of Tadin village near Aalo in West Siang district, was on the run and police arrested him on December 13, 2022, in Itanagar. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) at the Crime Branch Police Station after investigating the case found that Bagra sexually assaulted 21 children during his tenure as hostel warden at the Karo Government Residential school. An official statement said that the initial investigation of this pivotal case received momentum under the leadership of Irak Bagra, Superintendent of Police of Shi-Yomi district, along with his dedicated team, and Abhimanyu Poswal, SP of West Siang, and his staff, before it was entrusted to the SIT. The Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court on July 21 took suo-motu action and cancelled a bail granted to Bagra by a lower court. Chennai, Sep 26 : BJP leader and former Lt Governor of Puducherry and Telangana, Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday slammed the INDIA bloc for celebrating the bail granted by the Supreme Court to Senthil Balaji, former minister and DMK leader. She said that the apex court had granted bail only in the job for a cash scam case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Senthil Balaji. Soundarajan said that Balaji was not acquitted by the court and instead, he was only granted bail in the case. She said that it was surprising that the INDIA bloc leaders were celebrating the bail of Senthil Balaji and charged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for openly supporting Balaji. The senior BJP leader said that the former minister was behind bars for 471 days as he was not granted bail by the courts and not because of any actions by the Union government. Soundarrajan said that when Senthil Balaji was with the AIADMK, Stalin had addressed him as a 'traitor' and now after joining DMK the same Balaji has become a 'martyr'. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has welcomed the decision of SC to grant bail to Senthil Balaji. Senthil Balaji who was a transport and excise minister in the Tamil Nadu government was arrested on June 14, 2023, from his residence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He was lodged in Puzhal Central Prison for 471 days. "Dear brother Senthil Balaji has secured bail after 471 days owing to the Supreme Court. I welcome brother Senthil Balaji who is coming out of prison with a renewed vigour. Your sacrifice is great, your resolve is even greater," the Chief Minister wrote on X. The Chief Minister also indirectly took a dig at the Union government and alleged that they were using the ED as a weapon against opposition leaders and described the 15-month incarceration of Balaji as a move to break his (Senthil Balaji's) resolve. Stalin in the post said, "In a situation where the Enforcement Directorate has been converted into a department suppressing political enemies, the apex court is the only solace." The Chief Minister also drew a parallel with the incarceration of political opponents during the Emergency. He said, "Jail life was not so long during the Emergency days while now political conspiracies went for 15 months." Earlier, SC granted bail to Senthil Balaji as Justice Abhay Oka while pronouncing the judgment observed that stringent bail provisions and delay in trial cannot go together. Mumbai, Sep 26 : Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced the launch of the 'Mahavijay Samvad Abhiyan', a statewide campaign aimed at taking the achievements of the MahaYuti government directly to the people. Starting on September 27, the campaign will be conducted across the state by three wings of the party comprising Yuva Sena, Mahila Aghadi, and Shiv Sena Social Media. An announcement in this regard was made by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde -- son of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde -- at a press conference. The Shiv Sena MP said that through the programme, the party aims to communicate the work done by the MahaYuti government under CM Eknath Shinde's leadership over the last two and a half years. Shrikant Shinde said that 'Mahavijay Samvad' is designed to further this outreach. "One leader or deputy leader will visit an Assembly constituency every day, covering five areas and holding meetings to directly engage with the public," he added. The campaign's first phase will last five days, beginning on Friday. Led by Yuva Sena Working President Purvesh Sarnaik, the youth wing will commence its campaign from Bhiwandi on September 27, covering six Vidhan Sabha segments every day. Branch visits and public gatherings will be held to galvanise support. The Yuva Sena's statewide tour, which includes Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, and Konkan, will start on October 13. Shiv Sena leader Meenatai Kambli outlined the role of Mahila Aghadi in the campaign, focusing on reviewing key government welfare schemes such as the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Lek Ladki Yojana, and free education for girls. "We will ensure that these schemes reach the last beneficiary. The Shiv Sena Ladki Bahin Sampark Abhiyan will launch across 18 Vidhan Sabhas, from Konkan to Vidarbha, on the same day," said Kambli. Shiv Sena Yuva Sena General Secretary and Shiv Sena Social Media State Head Rahul Kanal will lead a team of 'Social Soldiers' on a tour of Nashik, Nandurbar, Dhule, Shirdi, and Nagar starting Friday. Their mission is to further amplify the government's achievements across social media platforms and engage with the electorate online. Shrikant Shinde further said that 50 Vidhan Sabhas across North Maharashtra, West Maharashtra, and Mumbai have already been covered under the 'Jan Samvad Yatra', and the next phase will commence soon. He challenged the opposition to outline their accomplishments over the past two and a half years, accusing them of inaction. "They sat idle for two and a half years, while we worked for the people," he said. Shinde took a dig at the opposition for targeting the MahaYuti government despite their alleged involvement in corruption during the Covid phase. He further stressed the government's focus on development, noting the revival of crucial infrastructure projects. "They (Maha Vikas Aghadi) halted the Metro car shed project, but we have brought it back. Metro Line 3 will start soon, the coastal road project has gained momentum, and MTHL is already launched. Our government is working to make Mumbai pothole-free," he added. --IANS sj/pgha Hyderabad, Sep 26 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao on Thursday alleged that there is a big land scam involving thousands of crores behind the proposed cancellation of the Hyderabad Pharma City project. He told media persons in Sircilla that the Congress government deceived both the public and the High Court. He questioned the governmentas stance, claiming that it is misleading both the public and the judiciary by stating different positions on the Pharma City project. "There is thousands of crores land scam behind the Pharma City cancellation. We will soon reveal all the details," KTR stated, adding that the move is "a conspiracy to benefit the Chief Minister's brothers with billions of rupees." The BRS leader pointed out the contradictory stances of the government, saying, "On one hand, they claim Pharma City is cancelled, but in the High Court, they state it hasn't been cancelled. How can they mislead the judiciary like this?" KTR questioned the feasibility of the government's alternative proposals. "They talk about Future City, AI City, and Fourth City. Have they acquired even an acre of land for these? How can they repurpose Pharma City lands without acquiring any new land?" Highlighting the scale of the original project, KTR said, "We proposed Pharma City with 14,000 acres and an investment of a64,000 crores. The land was acquired under conditional acquisition and cannot be repurposed for other projects." KTR warned of severe consequences if the government continues its alleged deception. "This attempt to mislead the High Court will face consequences both in court and in the people's court," he cautioned. The former minister demanded clarity from the government. "Is Pharma City still operational or not? The government must clarify this tomorrow in the High Court," he insisted. Expressing concern over the project's potential cancellation, KTR stated, "Cancelling Pharma City will not only harm industrial progress but also result in the loss of thousands of job opportunities in Telangana." He urged the government to abandon what he termed as "corrupt schemes" and continue with the original Pharma City project. "The land given by farmers for industrial development should not be used for corrupt land deals," KTR emphasised. Amaravati, Sep 26 : Former Andhra Pradesh minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy and former MLAs Samineni Udaya Bhanu and K. Rosaiah, who quit the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) recently, joined the ruling Jana Sena Party on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena President Pawan Kalyan welcomed them into the party at a programme held at the party headquarters at Mangalagiri. Several supporters of the three leaders also joined the Jana Sena. Pawan Kalyan urged the leaders to work to strengthen the party and take its policies to villages. Srinivas Reddy, who resigned from the YSRCP on September 18, had earlier said that decided to join the JSP at the invitation of Pawan Kalyan without any expectations. A key leader from the Prakasam district, he said he was never after power but only keen to have self-dignity and respect from others. The former minister said he quit the YSRCP after suffering insults and allegations. He claimed that he never asked former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for any favour for his personal gain. He said despite being close to the YSR family, he opposed the wrong decisions of Jagan Mohan Reddy. Following his defeat in Ongole in recent Assembly elections, Srinivasa Reddy had demanded a thorough examination of EVMs and cross-checking of VVPAT slips. He was unhappy after Jagan Mohan Reddy dropped him from the Cabinet in 2022 and was reported to be even planning to quit as an MLA. Srinivasa Reddy, who had served as a minister in the cabinet of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, was miffed over Jagan Mohan Reddy dropping him while retaining many others who were junior to him. He was particularly sore over the CM retaining Adimulapu Suresh, who also hails from the same district, in the Cabinet. Jagan Mohan Reddy, however, had pacified him and appointed him the regional coordinator of the party. Uday Bhanu said they left the YSRCP to join the Jana Sena as they wanted to work in the ruling coalition. He vowed to work to strengthen the party. He said they would work to serve people and for the development of the state. Rosaiah said he joined the Jana Sena as he wanted to be a partner in the stateas development. He said he would strive to strengthen Jana Sena at the grassroots level. He claimed that several leaders from the YSRCP were ready to join the Jana Sena. Ballary, : Sep 26 (IANS) Jailed Kannada superstar Darshan was grilled by Income Tax sleuths in connection with money transactions between the accused linked to the brutal murder of his fan Renukaswamy. The IT sleuths grilled Darshan in the visitorsa room for more than three hours in the presence of Jail Superintendent R. Latha. The entire session was video recorded. The sleuths questioned him about the seizure of Rs 70.4 lakh from his house and his aides and other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. According to police, the investigators had seized Rs 37.4 lakh from Darshanas residence and Rs 3 lakh from his wife Vijayalaxmias house in Bengaluru. Darshan had allegedly given the money to his wife after the murder of Renukaswamy. Further, the actor has allegedly given Rs 5 lakh each to four accused persons to surrender before the police claiming responsibility for Renukaswamy's murder through his aides. He had also given Rs 30 lakh for his aides to manage the disposal of the body and for other expenses to hush up the case. The IT sleuths had grilled him over the transactions and recorded his statement. The Karnataka High Court will take up the hearing of bail plea on Darshan on Friday. On June 9, Renukaswamy was abducted from Chitradurga and brought to Bengaluru, where he was confined in a shed at Pattanagere and brutally assaulted. Renukaswamy was murdered, and his body was dumped in a drain at Sumanahalli. In connection with this case, 17 people, including Darshan and his partner Pavithra Gowda, were arrested on the morning of June 11. All the accused are currently in jail and are under judicial custody. After 102 days of arrest, Darshan had, on last Saturday, submitted a bail petition through his counsel at the sessions court. His counsel had also pleaded for an emergency hearing on the matter. New Delhi, Sep 26 : Amid the escalating Tirupati "laddu controversy," the call to free temples from government control is growing stronger. Following the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), numerous religious leaders are joining the push for temple liberation. Is this the onset of a movement aimed at removing state regulation of temples across the country? The discourse surrounding this issue has intensified due to allegations of animal fat adulteration in the ghee used for prasadam (holy offerings) at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The momentum for freeing temples from government control has been building, with various organisations, civil society, and political figures rallying behind this cause. Debates are emerging in public forums, especially in light of the laddu scandal, and the call for reform is becoming increasingly vocal. Proponents argue that removing state oversight could reduce corruption within temple management boards. Many assert that the "Free Hindu Temples" movement is essential for reforming the temple management system. Observers note that while the state has liberalised its control over assets, businesses, and various economic sectors, temples remain under stringent state regulation. Analysts point out that Hindu temples flourished for centuries under local governance, long before Indiaas democratic and secular state was established in 1947. The push to liberate temples from government oversight has even reached the Supreme Court, where concerns have been raised about state involvement in temple management. Those supporting temple freedom argue that government control contradicts the principle of secularism and intrudes into religious affairs. They also accuse state officials of misappropriating temple resources, noting that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department collects substantial funds, despite court disapproval of such practices. In Tamil Nadu, temples are reportedly unable to perform rituals due to depleted incomes, with no external audits being conducted since 1986, resulting in 1.5 million unresolved audit objections. The VHP has recently asserted that government control over temples reflects a mindset rooted in the legacy of "Muslim invaders" and colonial rule. According to a VHP spokesperson, "Governments are using temples to plunder their wealth and to provide positions for politicians who cannot find a place in the government." Colombo, Sep 26 : Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced late Thursday that his government has reinstated the previous visa issuance system, effective midnight. "The government has officially reinstated the previous visa issuance system, effective from 12.00 midnight today," Dissanayake posted on X. Last month, Sri Lanka's Immigration Department reverted to issuing on-arrival visas at the points of entry, and airports after the Supreme Court suspended a controversial deal outsourcing online visa issuing to a tripartite joint venture. The government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe was accused by the opposition parties of amassing $10 million from the controversial deal. The petitioners had charged that the procedural violations and abuse of public trust had been caused by officials in the procurement of private entities to handle the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for issuing visas to tourists visiting Sri Lanka. They claimed the deal had affected the tourism industry, national economy and national security. While suspending the operation of foreign companies from issuing online visas, the Lankan Supreme Court had ordered the Immigration Department to return to the ETA system that was there before April 2024 and run by a local company which provided the service at a cost of one dollar while VFS Global was charging different prices from $10 to much more depending on the category of visa. However, the Public Security Minister in Wickremesinghe's Cabinet, Tiran Alles asserted that the ETA system run by Mobitel cannot be restored as many changes have been introduced and there were changes in laws which were passed in Parliament. Minutes after Dissanayake announced the decision late Thursday evening, Vijitha Herath, the new Minister of Public Security, said that all foreigners will now be able to apply for visas under the previous system. "The visa facility provided by VFS Global has caused significant difficulties for many. Foreigners arriving in Sri Lanka experienced considerable challenges in obtaining their visas. In response, and following a court decision, the Ministry of Public Security has intervened to resume the issuing of visas under the previous system," Herath was quoted as saying by Daily Mirror. "From 12.00 midnight today, foreigners can easily apply for visas online, which will be processed within 24 hours. This marks a significant improvement. Furthermore, we have initiated an immediate forensic audit to investigate the irregularities associated with the VFS Global. Any discrepancies found will be subject to legal action in the future. As a result, those in business and investment sectors will now have access to the same visa facilities," he added. Agartala, Sep 26 : The Assam Rifles in a major drug haul, have seized large quantities of drugs worth over Rs 52 crore and seized a mini-truck in West Tripura on Thursday, officials said. Assam Rifles sources said that the para-military troops acting on secret information intercepted a mini truck at Khayerpur in west Tripura district and recovered 2,60,000 Yaba (Methamphetamine) tablets valued at Rs 52 crores. Though the Assam Rifles seized the vehicle, the driver of the mini truck managed to escape. The seized drugs have been handed over to the Customs Department, Agartala for further legal proceedings. An Assam Rifles statement said that the anti-drug operation would go a long way in contributing towards the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the anti-drug campaign being spearheaded by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha. "Series of consecutive successful operations by Assam Rifles leading to recovery of drugs worth crores of rupees highlighting the force's unwavering commitment in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal smuggling activities in the northeastern region," the statement said. A police official said that the truck, which was carrying the drugs, was coming from neighbouring Mizoram, which has 510 km of unfenced border with Myanmar. The drugs have been smuggled from Myanmar and then ferried to southern Assam to supply them in other parts of the country or abroad, the official said, adding that Tripura has become an easy corridor of drug smuggling as the state has an 856 km international border with Bangladesh. Popular among the drug addicts, the highly addictive Methamphetamine tablets, also known as party tablets, were often smuggled from Myanmar and were being ferried to other parts of India and abroad. Jaipur, Sep 26 : BJP National General Secretary Organisation B.L. Santosh on Thursday held a review meeting of the party's membership campaign in the state. Addressing the meeting, he said that the party workers should get together with pre-planned and complete planning to attain set goals and called upon the district presidents to make Pravas Plans at the Mandal and booth level and give impetus to the membership campaign by joining hands with the local workers there. He asked the party workers to develop leadership qualities in their fellow workers. "Your stature will automatically increase when they become leaders," he said. Santosh further said that BJP is an ideology-based party, where workers play a significant role. "Membership campaign is the first step towards increasing the workers' strength, so there is a need to work seriously on it." Giving a three-point mantra for the success of the campaign, he said that members should be made every day, activity should be increased at every booth of the Mandal and the number of personal referrals should be increased in the membership campaign. BJP State President Madan Rathod, while addressing the review meeting, said that the opposition in the country is creating an atmosphere of anarchy by spreading confusion. "Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is tarnishing the country's reputation in foreign countries, in Parliament and the audacity is being shown to call Hindus violent. Not only this, an atmosphere is being created to break mutual goodwill in the country. On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who considers 140 crore countrymen of the country as his family, is working for the unity, integrity and culture of the country. In such a situation, enthusiasm is being seen across the country to join the membership campaign of BJP." BJP State President Madan Rathore said that BJP is committed to the protection of the reserved class. "Steps have always been taken for the welfare of these classes when the party gets a majority in the centre and state. However, Congress and other parties consider them only vote banks. Congress, which was negligent in implementing reservation earlier, today goes to foreign soil and talks about ending reservation. PM Modi has said that as long as BJP is there, he will not let any harm come to the reservation. On the other hand, the opposition is announcing to create of Bangladesh-like conditions in the country. Their thinking can be gauged by looking at the manifesto of Congress in J&K Assembly elections. The leaders of the political party which announces to restore the old system in Kashmir again can never do good to the country. In such a situation, we need to increase membership to reach the idea of BJP to the public." BJP State Incharge Radha Mohan Das Aggarwal called upon the workers to engage in the work of the organisation with a strong mind and not with a weak mind, because the strength of BJP is its workers. State in-charge of BJP membership campaign Rituraj Sinha said that in the next 18 days, three Maha Abhiyans will be run to speed up the membership. He said that a positive trend has emerged regarding membership across the country. People are coming forward to strengthen the national idea in the political field by joining the BJP. State convener of the membership campaign Arun Chaturvedi, while presenting the introduction of the review meeting, said that the first phase of the membership campaign ended on Wednesday. SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. Uzbekistan plays pivotal role in the establishment and success of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), said Jin Liqun, AIIB President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, at a press conference, Trend reports. "As one of the founding members of the AIIB, Uzbekistan has been instrumental in shaping the banks growth, a contribution recognized on the global stage. Our collaboration with the government and people of Uzbekistan has been critical in driving positive change and unlocking the countrys immense potential," Jin Liqun stated. He underscored that the long-standing partnership between AIIB and Uzbekistan exemplifies the transformative impact of close cooperation in fostering sustainable development and boosting regional stability. AIIB president emphasized that the relationship with Uzbekistan is more than just financial; it is a powerful testament to how multilateral institutions and national governments can work together to achieve shared goals. "The partnership between the AIIB and Uzbekistan is a shining example of how close cooperation can yield tangible and lasting benefits," he remarked, noting that the countrys development trajectory has been significantly bolstered by joint initiatives in infrastructure, energy, and transportation. Jin Liqun also highlighted the active participation of neighboring Central Asian countries in the banks efforts to promote regional connectivity and cooperation. "It has been humbling to see the active participation of neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, underscoring their commitment to regional stability and collective efforts towards a more interconnected and collaborative future for all," he added. The AIIBs ongoing projects in Uzbekistan and the wider region have focused on modernizing infrastructure, boosting renewable energy, and creating more inclusive economies. Jin Liqun expressed optimism about the future of these partnerships and the broader regional efforts to create a more sustainable and interconnected Central Asia. AIIB is hosting its first annual meeting of the Board of Governors in Central Asia on themed "Building Resilient Infrastructure for All" on September 25-26, 2024, in Samarkand. Over two days, more than 25 panel discussions will take place, focusing on innovations in infrastructure financing, climate resilience, sustainable development, and the digital transformation of infrastructure projects. United Nations, Sep 26 : Two groups advocating UN Security Council reforms on Thursday held, for the first time, a joint meeting to press for time-bound action to increase permanent and elected seats on the world body's highest decision-making platform. United Nations, Sep 26 (IANS) Two groups advocating UN Security Council reforms on Thursday held, for the first time, a joint meeting to press for time-bound action to increase permanent and elected seats on the world bodyas highest decision-making platform. Ministers from the L.69, a group of over 30 countries from across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, and C10, an influential group of African nations, were of the view that delaying Security Council reform "directly impacts the credibility and legitimacy" of the UN, according to a press release from Indiaas Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar posted on X: "Encouraged by the first-ever Joint Ministerial Meeting of L-69 and C-10 groupings of nations", which "called for text-based negotiations" in order to "achieve concrete outcomes in a fixed timeframe". The joint meeting highlights the urgent push mounted at the UN with Africa as the focus for reforms because of the historical injustice done to it by excluding it from a permanent member of the Council as a vestige of colonialism. "The ministers reiterated the urgent need to make the Security Council more representative, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable," the MEA said. They recognised that the Summit of the Future meeting of world leaders this week "provided an opportunity for renewed commitment to Security Council reform", it said. The Pact for the Future adopted at the Summit reiterated the global demand for reforms, especially to give the African continent its due representation on the Council. The ministers reaffirmed their support for the Common African Position, calling it "a manifestation of the principle of African Solutions for African Challenges". The common position demands two permanent seats and two additional elected seats for Africa "as the only way to sufficiently redress the historical injustices" done to the continent. The MEA release said: "They underscored that, for reform to be transformative, there must be greater representation of the Global South, especially for underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, such as Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership". The meeting was chaired by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who heads the L.69. Kohima, Sep 26 : All 45 Naga youth, who had been arrested in Chandigarh on May 15, as they were reportedly accused of duping American citizens by posing as agents of major companies, were granted interim bail on Thursday by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, officials here said. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in a post on the X said: "The 45 Naga youths who were in custody in Punjab have been granted bail. The Govt is making arrangements and facilitating their smooth return home. I congratulate the Advocate General Nagaland, Shri K N Balgopal and his team, and appreciate his efforts in ensuring their release." A Nagaland government official said that these 45 youths, including 10 women, were arrested on May 15 in Chandigarh under various sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Indian Penal Code. He said that Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Rajesh Bharadwaj after three separate hearings granted the interim bail on Thursday. During the proceedings, it was argued that none of the accused youth were beneficiaries of the alleged fraudulent schemes. According to the official, the individuals had been employed at call centres operated by individuals from Gujarat and Maharashtra and were accused of sending fraudulent messages to foreigners and extracting money under various schemes. The youths had been imprisoned for the last four months, with both the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) and the District Judge rejecting their bail pleas. With their prolonged detention, the Nagaland Chief Minister intervened taking into account the hardship faced by the Naga youths. The official said that the Chief Minister earlier instructed the state's Advocate General to take swift legal action to secure their release. Instead, the actual beneficiaries were businessmen from Gujarat and Maharashtra, none of whom had been arrested yet, the official said. The prosecution, which claimed there were over one lakh victims, failed to produce any witnesses or conduct a thorough investigation, despite the availability of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between India and the US. Representing the Naga youths, the legal team led by state's Advocate General Balgopal, along with Advocates Paramjeet Singh Brar and Nitya Nambiar, argued for their interim bail. The High Court acknowledged the lack of evidence against the accused and granted relief to all 45 individuals. Throughout the case, the Chief Minister closely monitored developments to ensure the swift release of the Naga youths, highlighting the government's commitment to justice for its citizens. The parents and relatives of the Naga youths have been requested to contact the Nagaland government to provide all information and cooperation for getting the Naga youth released, the official said. According to media reports, these arrests occurred after the Punjab Police busted two fake call centres in Chandigarh. --IANS sc/dan United Nations, Sept 26 : Ministers of the IBSA group made up of India, Brazil, and South Africa met here on Thursday and consulted on Security Council reforms as it acquire greater urgency. After the meeting attended by him and Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, and South Africa's International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on X, "We share convergent views on reforms of UN system and of its Security Council. Our consultations should intensify as these debates acquire greater urgency." Lamola said in his X post, "It was great pleasure meeting my counterpart from India Dr SJaishankar at the IBSA Ministerial Meeting." FM Jaishankar noted in his post that "IBSA nations participate in and shape ongoing global discourses on development, SDGs [UN's Sustainable Development Goals], poverty eradication, multilateralism, and South-South cooperation." IBSA, which brings together three major multi-ethnic democracies on three continents was established in 2024, to cooperate on climate change, terrorism, international governance, and development issues. It has also established an IBSA Fund to provide development aid to other Global South countries. The fund has supported 42 projects in 35 countries with allocations of $46.7 million. Ahmedabad, Sep 25 : A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) formed to assess the necessity of the Waqf Amendment Bill will visit Gujarat. During their visit, the Gujarat State Waqf Board and the Gujarat government will present detailed findings and proposals to the committee in Ahmedabad. The Waqf Amendment Bill, proposing changes to existing Waqf regulations, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2024. The opposition parties opposed the bill, raising concerns that it was introduced without sufficient discussion. In response, the government established a JPC to examine the bill's necessity and gather input from various stakeholders. The JPC, comprising 31 members - 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha - will conduct a series of reviews, starting with Gujarat. The Gujarat government and the Waqf Board will deliver a presentation outlining their perspectives on the bill, its potential impact, and any necessary modifications. The Waqf Act 1995, which aims to ensure better administration of waqfs (religious endowments) and related matters, became applicable to Gujarat on January 1, 1996. Following the enactment, the Gujarat State Wakf Board was constituted by the Government's Legal Department through a notification dated November 30, 1996. The Board was later reconstituted on May 19, 2000. Before applying the Waqf Act, Muslim waqfs in Gujarat were governed under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, of 1950. However, with the introduction of the Waqf Act, these properties now fall under its jurisdiction. The Board handles various proposals under sections 42, 51, 53, and 56 of the Act, following the legal procedures outlined within it. To date, 12,663 waqfs have been registered under the Act in Gujarat. The Boardas administrative functions are funded by Waqf Contributions collected from registered Wakfs, as mandated under section 72 of the Act. In addition, via a notification on September 25, 1998, the government established Tribunals across Gujarat, appointing a Civil Judge (Senior Division) in each district to resolve disputes and questions related to wakfs and wakf properties. Bhopal, Sep 26 : A five-year-old girl whose body was found in a water tank at a multi-story residential colony in Bhopal on Thursday, was allegedly raped and killed, an official said. He said that the preliminary investigation indicated that the victim was raped and murdered. He added that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) would be formed to investigate the case, adding that further investigation was still underway. He also said that some more suspect persons will be arrested soon. Police have also arrested two persons, including a woman known to the victim's family. The girl was missing since Tuesday and her body was recovered by police on Thursday. Several police teams carried search operation in the building and adjoining areas for over 40 hours after a missing complaint was registered at Shahjahanabad police station on Tuesday. As her parents were out at work, she was with her grandmother on the second floor of the building in a different block. She had told her grandmother that she would go to a bookshop located on the premises, but she hadn't returned home since then. The girl's family members along with locals staged a protest, claiming they had asked police to get the locked flat opened after filing the missing complaint but the police did not pay heed to their demand. After the body was found, angry locals blocked the road and gheraoed Shahjahanabad police station while demanding the death penalty for the killers. Kochi, Sep 26 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday inaugurated the state's flagship event 'Kerala Travel Mart' (KTM), saying that steps are being taken to the state a hub of wellness tourism. "We envisage a care economy, which will cater to the comforts of the young and the aged alike. That will bring us more investment as well," said the Chief Minister in his inaugural address to the 12th edition of KTM, Asia's biggest tourism sector event that attracts stakeholders from around the world. He added that Kerala is committed to reviving tourism in the aftermath of the Wayanad tragedy during this monsoon by going ahead with its special marketing campaigns that seek to instil confidence among travellers in the state. "Tourism in other parts of the district and the state remain unaffected. We should put out responsible dissemination of correct and updated information," said the Chief Minister. State Tourism Minister Mohammed Riyas said Kerala Tourism has witnessed a remarkable and resilient journey after the travel and hospitality industry suffered a terrible downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Bouncing back from the crisis, tourism has not only reached pre-pandemic level buoyancy but even surpassed it with a record 2.18 crore domestic tourist arrivals in 2023, registering an increase of 15.92 per cent over 2022. There was also a surge in foreign tourist arrivals with their number touching 6.49 lakh, representing an impressive growth of 87.83 per cent as compared to 2022," said Riyas. The buyers at this edition of KTM clocked the highest-ever total of 2,839 (vis-a-vis the standing record of 1,305 in 2018), while the domestic category adds up to 2,035. Of the 808 foreign buyers from 76 countries at KTM 2024, 67 are from the UK, 60 from the Gulf and 55 from the US. While the buyers from Russia total 34, those from the rest of Europe total 245. There are 41 buyers from Africa; others are from East Asia. Maharashtra (578) tops the domestic buyers, followed by Delhi (340) and Gujarat (263). Riyas further pointed out that Kerala has drawn up ambitious plans to promote the state as a "leading choice" for MICE Tourism and Destination Weddings. "The state's connectivity is set to leap forward with the completion of the national highway by next year along with greenfield, coastal and hilly highways. No major destination of the state is more than a few hours away for the visitors - be it serene beaches, backwaters or stunning hill stations," said Riyas. Emphasising that investment and innovations are the two pillars of Kerala Tourism, he said the state has set an ambitious target of netting 30 per cent of the State's GDP from the sector. For the next three days, there will be numerous business sessions and then from September 30, there will also be a five-day post-mart tour across Kerala for select buyers who attended the event. The 12th KTM accords special focus to Kerala as a wedding destination. Tirupati, Sep 26 : Amid the ongoing row over adulteration of Tirupati laddu, police have enforced Section 30 of the Police Act in Tirupati district for a month. District Superintendent of Police Subbarayudu on Thursday issued orders which will remain in force till October 24. Under Section 30 of the Police Act 1861, meetings, rallies and processions canat be organised without permission from the police. The SP has warned that stringent action will be taken against those violating the orders. The police action came in the wake of protests held at Tirupati and Tirumala during the last few days over the alleged presence of animal fat in the ghee used for making laddu of Tirumala temple. The orders to regulate public meetings and rallies were also enforced a day ahead of the arrival of former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in Tirumala to offer prayers. The YSR Congress Party chief will reach Tirumala on the night of September 27. The next morning, he will worship at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple. The BJP and Jana Sena, partners in the TDP-led coalition government, have demanded that Jagan Mohan Reddy sign a declaration of faith before entering the temple. The YSRCP has also called for puja in temples across the state on September 28 to restore the sanctity of Tirumala temple, which it says was tarnished by the false allegations of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Chief Minister Naidu last week alleged that adulterated ghee was used for making laddu prasadam when the YSR Congress Party was in power. The YSRCP has denied the allegations and accused Naidu of hurting the sentiments of millions of devotees. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is also scheduled to visit Tirumala temple after the end of his 11-day aPraschit Deekshaa (penance) over the desecration. The state government has also announced a probe into the allegations of adulteration of ghee by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Sarvashrestha Tripathi, Inspector General of Police (IG), Guntur range, is heading the SIT. Gopinath Jetty, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Visakhapatnam range, and Harshavardhana Raju, Superintendent of Police, Kadapa, are the members of the SIT. Agartala, Sep 26 : Rallies and demonstrations against the atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh continued in the northeastern states with Tipra Motha Party (TMP), an ally of ruling BJP, on Thursday organised a massive rally in southern Tripura's Sabroom sub-division. Sabroom sub-division, 135 km south of Agartala, adjoining Khagrachari district, one of the three districts of Chittagong Hill tracts of southeast Bangladesh. The TMP protest rally was led by party supremo and former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma. Debbarma in a post on the X said, "Think about it, if we can speak about Israel, Palestine, Russia and Ukraine then why are we silent when we have to speak about our minority plight in Bangladesh? After all, it was a part of our history." Addressing the gathering in Sabroom, he urged the Centre to expose the ongoing assaults in Bangladesh at the United Nations. "Since the Sheikh Hasina-led (Awami League) government fell in neighbouring Bangladesh (on August 5), there have been regular attacks on our temples, churches, prayer houses and properties. This is a rally to show solidarity to our Hindu Bengali, Buddhist, Christian, tribals and other brethren suffering in Bangladesh," he said. Debbarma also stated that the TMP and all stakeholders stand with the minorities of Bangladesh saying: "We want to tell the minorities in Bangladesh that they are not alone. We are with them. We also urge the government of India to take this issue to the international forum including the UN and expose Bangladesh before the world." Thousands of tribals, mostly Buddhist Chakmas, during the past two weeks, organised a series of massive demonstrations and rallies in Mizoram, Tripura and Assam to protest the continuous attack on minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh. Chakma community leader Amitav Chakma said in Agartala: "More than 79 people, mostly from the Chakma community, were killed by Muslims and their goons during the past few weeks. The Bangladesh government is yet to take any effective step to stop these acts of violence against innocent people." A group of Chakma leaders last week urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a memorandum demanding the downgrading of diplomatic relations with Bangladesh until the lives and properties of the hill tribes and religious minorities are protected. The Chakma leaders in their memorandum claimed that since September 19, more than nine innocent tribals were shot dead while dozens were injured at Khagrachari in "organised attacks" by the Bangladesh Army and the illegal settlers. Besides, over 100 houses and shops have been burnt at Dighinala Sadar. The Buddhist Chakmas mainly live in the CHT of southeast Bangladesh, the Chin and Arakan provinces of Myanmar and several states of India's northeastern region. Bhopal, Sep 26 : A scuffle broke out between the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal members and police personnel when the right-wing activists were protesting against a mosque in Jabalpur on Thursday. Bhopal, Sep 26 (IANS) A scuffle broke out between the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal members and police personnel when the right-wing activists were protesting against a mosque in Jabalpur on Thursday. A large number of right-wing members assembled at the Madhai area of Jabalpur's Ranjhi locality alleging the mosque was built "illegally" on land allotted for a temple. Reports suggested that the protesters allegedly marched to demolish the mosque, however, police swung into action and put up barricades to stop them. The road connecting the mosque was closed and the area surrounding was cornered off by the police. The protesters, however, resisted police barricades and tried to enter prohibited areas, which resulted in heated arguments and even thrashing between police and activists. A video surfaced on social media also suggested the same. However, prompt action from the Jabalpur district administration and police managed to control the situation without any untoward incident. Heavy security has been deployed to maintain the peaceful situation in the city. "Forces from several police stations were deployed, and access to the mosque was sealed off. The situation was brought under control after prompt police action. Anyone trying to disrupt peace in the city will be punished," a senior police official said. Initially, the district administration and police were on alert as the protest was announced two days back by VHP leaders. Earlier, the activists had presented documents to the district administration, raising questions about the mosque's construction. A discussion on the issue has been going on for the past few months and the administration has assured of a fresh investigation into the mosque's construction and a review of the documents. The Hindu groups were upset as they alleged that the mosque was built on land belonging to the Gayatri Bal Mandir. The VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders warned that if the administration does not take action to demolish the mosque soon, they will take matters into their own hands. Gurugram, Sep 26 : A wanted criminal was arrested by a joint team of crime branch and police team after an exchange of fire on Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) in Gurugram, officials said on Thursday. The criminal identified as Subhash alias Bhasha, was stopped by the police during a checking on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. He was arrested after a gunfire exchange in which he was injured, they said. The police have recovered illicit arms, pistol, live cartridges, a motorcycle and three fake arms licenses from Subhash. He was wanted in a dozen cases of attempt to murder, extortion and Arms Acts lodged in Haryana and Delhi. The accused is undergoing treatment in a hospital where his condition is said to be stable, the officials said. According to the police, the police team received information through reliable sources that a notorious criminal with arms on a bike was coming from Naurangpur-Shikohpur road to commit a crime in Gurugram. Following the information, the police teams of Crime Branch Sector-31, Crime Branch Manesar, Gurugram, took joint action and formed special teams and were deployed at different places to nab the accused from SPR. During this, an accused came on a bike, and the police teams deployed at the spot signalled the bike rider to stop the bike; when he refused to stop and hit the police team's vehicle, he fell and ran away from the spot. "When the police team chased him and warned him to surrender, the accused kept firing on the police. The police team retaliated and fired a bullet, which hit his leg, and he fell on the ground and was captured by the police team. During retaliation, one bullet hit Sub-Inspector Neeraj's bulletproof as well," Sandeep Kumar, Gurugram Police Spokesperson, said. The accused was then admitted to a general hospital for treatment. A total of 11 rounds of bullets were fired, of which seven were by the accused and four by the police. "One bike, one pistol, one revolver, two magazines, seven live cartridges, one bag and 11 empty shell cartridges used by the accused in the crime were recovered from him," Kumar added. The initial police investigation also revealed that the accused was staying in different areas of Gurugram for the last several days and was stalking a person to kill him. however, before committing the crime he was caught and his intention was foiled. "After observing the criminal record of the accused, it was found that a total of 12 criminal cases of serious nature was registered against the accused in Delhi and Haryana," Kumar said. SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. Uzbekistan has handed over its Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) chairmanship to China, Trend reports. As such, Beijing will be hosting 10th AIIB annual meeting in 2025. Addressing the participants of the ceremony, AIIB President Jin Liqun has expressed his gratitude to Uzbekistan for the countrys hospitality. "As governors, directors, management, and staff, we are deeply moved by the spirit of openness, generosity, and friendship demonstrated by your government and people during our time as guests in your beautiful country. The success of this event would not have been possible without your exceptional leadership," he said. Uzbekistan's Investment Minister Laziz Kudratov highlighted the fruitful collaboration the country and the bank have experienced during this annual meeting. "This is yet another testament to the growing strength of our partnership. The discussions over the past few days have reaffirmed our shared commitment to developing resilient and sustainable infrastructure, capable of addressing todays challenges and paving the way for a brighter future. As we conclude this chapter, it is with great pleasure that I announce the handover of the next AIIB Annual Meeting to China. We are confident it will be a must-attend event, marking the 10th anniversary in Beijing. With its rich cultural heritage, global leadership in finance and trade, and welcoming spirit, Beijing will undoubtedly serve as an excellent host for this milestone occasion," the minister said. China's Finance Minister and incoming AIIB annual meeting host Lan Fo'an added that 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of AIIB. "We look forward to summarizing our achievements and experiences over the past decade with all parties and crafting a blueprint for the next 10 years. The year 2025 also concludes Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan. We will seize this opportunity to share the experience of Chinese modernization and explore opportunities for global common development," he noted. Damascus, Sep 27 : An Israeli airstrike targeted a bridge near the Matrabah crossing on the Syria-Lebanon border, injuring eight people and an unknown number of civilians, media reported. Four of the injured were border-control policemen, while the other four were customs officers, the report said on Thursday, adding that the airstrike also damaged the bridge. It is the first Israeli raid on the Syrian border region since Israel escalated its military operations in Lebanon on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. The Matrabah crossing, linking the al-Qusayr region in the central Syrian province of Homs to Lebanon, has recently been used by displaced Lebanese seeking refuge in Syria. Lebanese military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that "Israeli warplanes fired eight air-to-ground missiles at four border crossings in the Bekaa region, destroying a bridge and several ferries linking the Lebanese side to the Syrian side," without specifying the casualties. The targeted crossings are mainly used by Lebanese and Syrian residents in the overlapping border villages, the sources said. This marks the first Israeli raid on the Syrian border region since Israel escalated its military operations in Lebanon on Monday. Washington, Sep 27 : An inmate of a prison in the Alabama state of the US who is scheduled to be sentenced to death later on Thursday will become the fifth execution in the country this week and the 18th this year. Alan Eugene Miller, 59, will be executed with nitrogen gas, which is only the second time this method will have been used in the US ever. Miller is on death row for killing three men in a workplace shooting in 1999. Earlier on Thursday, an inmate of a prison in Oklahoma State was put to death with a lethal injection. Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, was executed for the murder of a man during a convenience store robbery in 1992. He had maintained his innocence to the last claiming he was present during the robbery but did not shoot the victim. Miller will enter an execution chamber for the second time on Thursday evening. The first time was in September 2022. A lethal injection was to be used then but the staff called it off after failing to find a vein for more than an hour. In January, Alabama became the first state in the country, and the first anywhere in the world, to use nitrogen gas to execute an inmate sentenced to death. The prisoner, Kenneth Smith, shook violently as the nitrogen gas was administered and then writhed before his body eventually stopped moving, the New York Times reported citing witnesses. Advocates of the nitrogen hypoxia method, which replaces oxygen inhaled by an inmate with pure nitrogen through a mask, have argued that a person would likely lose consciousness shortly into the procedure, making it more humane than other execution methods. "Clearly it was not the instant, painless death that they promised," Jonathan Groner, a professor of surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, told CNN last about Smith's execution. "There's a lot of suggestions that it wasn't good, or that it wasn't pleasant." Publishers for Palestine, an international coalition of more than 500 publishers, issued an open letter on Tuesday demanding that organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair cut ties with Israel. In the letter, the coalition, which formed last November, called for Frankfurt to publicly denounce Israels regime of genocide and setter-colonial apartheid against the Palestinian people, among other demands. The members presses in Publishers for Palestine hail from 50 countries, including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Nigeria, the Philippines, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, Wales, and others. The U.S.based member presses, which include several regular exhibitors at Frankfurt, are Haymarket Books, Interlink Publishing, Microcosm Publishing, OR Books, Other Press, Seven Stories Press, Sublunary Editions, and Verso Books. The open letter comes shortly before this years Frankfurt Book Fair, which is slated for October 1620. Ahead of last years fair, held just weeks after the October 7 attack on Israel, Frankfurt director Juergen Boos expressed support for Israel with a statement saying that the fair "stands with complete solidarity on the side of Israel" and intended to highlight Israeli voices at that years show. Additional programming featuring Israeli speakers crashed into last years Frankfurt program including an event called "Out of Concern for Israel," organized by PEN Berlin, which took place on the first day of the fair. (The majority of Israeli publishers canceled their appearances at the 2023 fair following the attack.) Last year, fair organizers also canceled a ceremony for Palestinian author Adania Shibli, who was to be awarded the LiBeraturpreis for her novel Minor Detail, about the 1948 ArabIsraeli War. The cancelation prompted a number of major Arab publishing organizations to pull out of last years fair, although some are expected to return this year. This years programming highlights, sent to press earlier this week, include Occupied, Destroyed, Fought over, in Turmoil: Quo Vadis Palestine?, an Oct. 19 conversation with Palestinian novelist and former culture minister Atef Abu Saif moderated by German journalist Kristin Helberg, and a talk from Palestinian author Abdalrahman Alqalaq on writing in exile scheduled for the new Center for Words on Oct. 17. Every year, people from more than 100 countries attend Frankfurter Buchmesse, a Frankfurt Book Fair representative said in a statement to PW. The book fair is a platform for democratic discourse and peaceful encounters between publishers, authors, translators, illustrators, and readers from all over the world. Our program reflects this, featuring voices from every corner of the globe. This article has been updated with further information. The International Publishers Association (IPA) confirmed new leadership and expanded its membership today following its annual virtual general assembly. Gvantsa Jobava of Intelekti Publishing in Georgia has been elected as the next president, with Giovanni Hoepli of Hoepli Publishing House in Italy taking on the role of vice president. The elections were conducted online in September, with participation from all IPA full members. Outgoing president Karine Pansa expressed confidence in her successor. "Gvantsa Jobava is going to be a great president for IPA, and I can't wait to see how she will drive the IPA forward," she said. Reflecting on her own tenure, Pansa added: "Publishing is so important for our societies, for our economies, and for our cultures. What an honor it has been to represent this wonderful industry." At the assembly, Jobava outlined her vision for the IPA, expressing eagerness to collaborate with IPA members while emphasizing the challenges facing the industry and acknowledging the significant responsibility the publishing business has to society. "As IPA's new president, I will be asking our members: what more can we do to safeguard our courageous colleagues and authors, whose freedom is limited in many parts of the world and whose lives are in danger?" Jobava said. "What more can we do to see that copyright is respected by the technology giants and enforced by our legislators?" In his own comments, Hoepli emphasized the importance of unity within the organization. "Looking ahead, our future challenges will also require us to work together," he said. "Collaboration is key, and I invite everyone to be ready to continue this journey as a team." The general assembly also voted in new members. As of January 1, 2025, the IPA will welcome one new full member, three new provisional members, and one new associate member, bringing its total membership to 105 organizations across 84 countries. The new additions include the Asociacion Gremial de Editores de Guatemala as a full member, and three new provisional members: the Association of Publishers and Booksellers of the Croatian Chamber of the Economy, the Asociacion de Industrias Editoriales de la Republica Dominicana, and the Polish Chamber of Books. The Asociacion de Editoriales Universitarias de America Latina y el Caribe was named an associate member. The assembly also announced appointments for various IPA committees. The executive committee will welcome Fernando Benzo of Spain, Simon De Jocas of Canada, Christie Henry of the United States, Renaud Lefebvre of France, and Manami Tamaoki of Japan. The IPA expressed gratitude to outgoing executive committee members YS Chi of the U.S., Yumiko Hoshiba of Japan, and Patrici Tixis of Spain for their service. Elections for the Freedom to Publish committee resulted in the reelection of Zeynep Atiker of Turkey, Sherif Bakr of Egypt, Sarah Crozier of the U.S., Simon De Jocas, and Jaeho Kang of South Korea. The membership committee will see Halldor Birgisson of Iceland and Christie Henry join its ranks. The IPA acknowledged the contributions of Maria Pallante, president of the Association of American Publishers, and Anna Baijars of Finland, who are stepping down from the membership committee after years of service. SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. Uzbekistan aims to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030, said Uzbek Investment Minister Laziz Kudratov as he addressed a public seminar "New Uzbekistan - Big Country with Big Opportunities" within AIIB annual meeting, Trend reports. "As part of the governments 2030 strategy, Uzbekistan aims to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030, with 85 percent of the economy driven by the private sector and 40 percent of energy sourced from renewables. We are laying the foundation for a sustainable and prosperous future," Kudratov stated. "Our aim is equally ambitious in productivity. By 2030, we plan to double our labor productivity and exports". Minister Kudratov emphasized that Uzbekistans financial fundamentals remain robust, providing a solid foundation for future growth. In 2023, Uzbekistans GDP grew by 6 percent, and in the first half of 2024, growth accelerated to 6.4 percent. These figures were driven by major economic reforms and strategic investments in key industries. "Our greatest asset lies in our people," Kudratov added, noting that 60 percent of Uzbekistans population is under the age of 30, creating a young, dynamic, and educated workforce ready to lead the industries of the future. In addition to its human capital, Uzbekistan is rich in natural resources, including natural gas, copper, and essential metals crucial to the global transition towards sustainable economies. Uzbekistans geographic location, bridging the vibrant markets of Asia, the established economies of Europe, and the capital-rich Gulf, further enhances its role as a vital hub for international trade. This strategic positioning, coupled with targeted economic reforms, has led to unprecedented growth in foreign direct investment (FDI). "FDI has soared from $3.3 billion in 2018 to $22.4 billion in 2023, largely concentrated in the energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors," Kudratov said. "This influx of investment has had a transformative impact on our industrial production, which has nearly doubled to reach $56 billion". Uzbekistans reform agenda has also seen a notable reduction in policy rates, which have fallen from 17 percent in 2021 to 11 percent in 2023. These targeted measures have created an environment conducive to sustained economic growth and increased productivity across sectors. "Uzbekistan stands at the threshold of a new era of growth," Kudratov concluded. "We invite the global community to partner with us in this transformative journey, leveraging our human capital, resources, and strategic location to unlock immense opportunities for all". SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. There is tremendous potential in infrastructure development and investment in Uzbekistan, said Konstantin Limitovskiy, AIIB Vice President for Investment Clients Region, at a public seminar "New Uzbekistan - Big Country with Big Opportunities" held at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's (AIIB) annual meeting, Trend reports. In his address, Limitovskiy highlighted AIIBs active involvement in Uzbekistans infrastructure projects, with particular emphasis on smaller wind power initiatives, smart green transmission projects, and other renewable energy ventures. The AIIB has partnered with leading international firms, including ACWA Power, China Power, and Masdar, to drive these projects forward. "Earlier this year, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Investment and Trade and other key infrastructure stakeholders, we developed a three-year program worth $2.6 billion covering 12 projects," Limitovskiy announced. "I met with the president, and just a few days ago, we renewed the program, reviewed it, and agreed to expand the total investment to exceed $4 billion for the coming year." The expanded program aims to finance a wide range of sectors, including education, roads and highways, health services, renewable energy, urban infrastructure, and industrial water supply. The programs scope reflects Uzbekistans ambitions to address its infrastructure gap and foster long-term sustainable growth. Limitovskiy lauded Uzbekistan as a "success story" for investors, emphasizing the country's progress in attracting private sector interest. "So far, AIIB has raised over $11 billion from private sector investors for green infrastructure projects globally," he noted, adding that for every dollar invested by AIIB, an additional 20 cents of private capital is mobilized. Looking ahead, Limitovskiy expressed confidence that AIIB, in partnership with private investors and development organizations, can further increase its contributions to tackling infrastructure challenges in Uzbekistan and the broader region. "If we are serious about addressing climate change and the infrastructure gap in this beautiful region, we can ensure that our investments continue to grow," he said. The University of Georgia main campus will be closed Thursday, Sept. 26, and Friday, Sept. 27, due to Hurricane Helene. UGA announced the closure in an email release at 5:42 p.m. on Wednesday. All in-person classes, campus events and activities are canceled. However, the university encourages faculty to consider alternative ways to maintain continuity of instruction at their discretion. The Athens-Clarke County Fire Department saw a historic milestone come to fruition this past summer after more than half a century. They successfully lobbied for ACCGov to pass an ordinance enacting Georgia state Title 25-5, which created the local Firefighters Mediation Act. The ordinance gives firefighters the right to collectively bargain with their employer and therefore unionize. Georgia Power reported 98 power outages as of 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, in Athens-Clarke County in the aftermath of Hurricane Helenes sweep through Georgia. This impacted more than 10,000 customers. Helene was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm as of 5:28 a.m., according to a National Weather Service alert, but the tropical storm warning and flood watch are still in effect. Facing sluggish deposit growth, banks turned to issuing certificates of deposit (CDs) in September to mobilise funds. Banks have issued Rs 1.35 trillion worth of CDs so far this month, marking a 65 per cent increase compared to the amount raised in August, despite a rise in rates, according to data from the Clearing Corporation of India. The amount raised through CDs in September was the second-highest monthly figure in the current financial year (2024-25), following Rs 1.45 trillion raised in June, according to data from PRIME Database. Banks have issued Rs 7.78 trillion worth of CDs in the current calendar year until August 2024, compared to Rs 4.9 trillion in the same period of 2023, registering a 59 per cent growth. Market participants noted that banks are likely to remain under pressure to raise deposits in the October-December quarter (Q3). Additionally, upcoming Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines on the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) could increase demand for high-quality liquid assets (HQLA), specifically statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) investments. The funding for these is expected to come from a combination of borrowings and deposits. There is a deposit crunch as all banks are competing for deposits, driving up costs. Banks can also use borrowings as a funding source, but the RBI is pressuring banks to reduce the credit-deposit ratio (CDR), said a treasury head at a private bank. In Q3, pressure on deposits will persist, whether through CDs, higher rates for bulk deposits, or retail deposits. While liquidity doesn t appear to be very negative in Q3, we also have to consider the RBI s LCR circular. If it takes effect from April 1, 2025, we will need to buy more HQLA, which essentially means SLR. Funding for SLR will come from a mix of borrowings and deposits, he added. So far this financial year, banks have raised Rs 5.4 trillion through CDs, compared to Rs 3.2 trillion during the same period last year a 67 per cent increase. Canara Bank raised the highest amount, Rs 68,250 crore, followed by Bank of Baroda at Rs 63,325 crore, and HDFC Bank at Rs 60,230 crore. The top five banks, including four state-owned banks and HDFC Bank, contributed 61 per cent of total issuances. State-owned banks accounted for 68 per cent of the total amount raised. Issuances in the three-month segment comprised 72 per cent of total issuances, amounting to Rs 3.8 trillion. Banks aim to maintain a prudent CDR, as advised by the RBI, and fund assets through retail and sustainable resources. While higher rates on term deposits are attracting retail deposits, CDs allow banks to quickly raise larger amounts within a day or two. To maintain the LCR, banks are issuing CDs with three-month tenors, anticipating an easing rate cycle, said V R C Reddy, head of treasury at Karur Vysya Bank. Credit is growing faster than reserve money creation, so we can expect higher rates to persist for some time, until credit growth moderates. This is evident from the latest RBI data, which shows that year-to-date deposit growth outpaced credit growth as of September 6, Reddy added. A treasury head at a state-owned bank also said that pressure will continue into the next quarter, as funds are still flowing into equities and mutual funds. He noted that the crunch will persist until retail investors shift away from these asset classes. Rates on three-month and six-month CDs have risen by 2 basis points so far in September. Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urges state government 'to intervene for an early and amicable resolution for maintaining a positive manufacturing sector ecosystem'. IMAGE: Samsung workers strike in Sriperumbudur. Photograph: ANI Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday and urged swift resolution of the ongoing workers' strike at Samsung Electronics' Sriperumbudur plant, sources said. In the letter, Mandaviya has urged the state government 'to intervene for an early and amicable resolution for maintaining a positive manufacturing sector ecosystem', while assuring full support from the Centre in resolving the matter efficiently. Nearly 1,500 workers went on a strike at the South Korean group's plant on the outskirts of Chennai on September 9, demanding higher wages, recognition for their union and better amenities, among other demands. On the 17th day of the strike, Samsung urged its workers to return to work, expressing its willingness to talk with the employees and not to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the union leading the protests. According to sources, one of the major bottlenecks is the fact that Samsung India Workers' Union (SIWU) president E Muthukumar is a veteran CITU leader and not an employee of the company. 'We are committed to resolving all issues, including wages, benefits and working conditions by negotiating with our workers directly, and urge them to return back to work at the earliest,' a company statement said. 'At Samsung India, the welfare of our employees is our top priority. The average monthly salary of our full-time manufacturing workers at the Chennai plant is 1.8 times the average salary of similar workers employed at other companies in the region,' Samsung stated. 'Our workers are also eligible for overtime pay and other allowances and we provide a workplace environment that assures the highest standards of health, safety and welfare, including free shuttle bus and meals,' it added. In addition, it added that the majority of workers in its Chennai unit are full-time employees, which is probably the highest level compared with other manufacturers in the region. 'Moreover, the average tenure of our manufacturing workforce is more than 10 years, which underscores the satisfaction our workers have in working for the company,' Samsung added. Meanwhile, CITU said that workers faced long working hours, torturous intensity of work pressure to finish each product like refrigerator, washing machine or TV within 10 to 15 seconds, non-stop work for 4 to 5 hours at stretch and unsafe working conditions. Delhi-based think-tank Global Trade Research Initiative on Monday said: "India risks losing significant ground in its quest to become a global manufacturing powerhouse if the labour strike at the Sriperumbudur plant is not resolved soon." Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. Uzbekistan has made significant strides in recent years through ambitious policy reforms aimed at enhancing the private sector's role in economic growth, said Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Jin Liqun as he addressed a public seminar "New Uzbekistan - Big Country with Big Opportunities" within AIIB annual meeting, Trend reports. He emphasized that these reforms have not only unlocked new business opportunities but have also fostered increased competition, positioning Uzbekistan as a crucial component of AIIBs investment portfolio. Since the AIIB began its engagement with Uzbekistan in 2016, the bank has successfully supported 15 projects totaling $3.1 billion, placing Uzbekistan among its top eight member countries by performance size. President Jin Liqun expressed optimism about ongoing expansion, predicting even greater growth over the next five to ten years. The president further noted that the recent introduction of a three-year investment program is designed to guide development efforts in three pivotal sectors: energy, water, and transport. In the energy sector, the AIIB is backing Uzbekistan's ambitious diversification goals, which include the expansion of renewable energy sources and the enhancement of efficiency in power generation. In water management, the bank is focused on addressing access challenges, aiming to improve water services and reduce losses through innovative infrastructure initiatives. Transport infrastructure development is another priority, with the AIIB committed to leveraging Uzbekistan's strategic geographical position to enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of its transport network. As an active member of the global community, Uzbekistan continues to seek collaboration with international institutions to mobilize resources and provide tailored technical assistance. President Jin noted that the AIIBs co-financing of policy-based programs with other multilateral development banks (MDBs) has fostered a favorable policy environment for resource mobilization. "This progress is just a glimpse of what we have achieved in Uzbekistan over the past few years," President Jin Liqun stated. "We are deeply involved in various projects and are dedicated to advancing our investment program further. We take pride in having Uzbekistan as our partner and are confident in the sustained progress this nation will continue to make." The Group of Ministers (GoM) on goods and services tax (GST) rate rationalisation, which convened in Goa on Wednesday, reviewed the GST rates for over 100 items, including textiles, handloom goods, agricultural products, fertilisers, and educational materials. However, no consensus was reached on any of the items, with further discussions scheduled for next month in Delhi. There are certain goods that require further study, which will be carried out by the officers. "For ready-made garments, the current proposal is to maintain a 5 per cent GST for items priced at Rs 1,000 and below, while increasing the rate for those above Rs 1,000 from 12 per cent to 18 per cent. "However, we argued against this increase, stressing that our thriving market for ready-made garments should not be disrupted, said West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya in a telephonic interview after the GoM meeting. In addition to Bhattacharya, the GoM, chaired by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, includes Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Rajasthan Health Services Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, and Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal. We should not tax or raise taxes on items that affect common people. "This is one side of the issue. We have proposed reductions on many essential items, such as educational materials, which are important for the general public. "So, while rationalising rates, we must also ensure revenue is enhanced, Bhattacharya added, noting that this point had general agreement. The discussion on GST rates for health insurance premiums was deferred to the next meeting, which will take place in Delhi in October. On October 19 and 20, there will be two days of meetings for various GoMs in Delhi to address pending issues like health insurance and other topics, Bhattacharya said. The outcome of the rate rationalisation discussions will be crucial in shaping the agenda for the upcoming 55th GST Council meeting, expected in November. During the 54th GST Council meeting, held in New Delhi on September 9, the GoM was tasked with returning after more thorough deliberations. A key item on the agenda was the potential exemption or reduction of GST rates on health and life insurance premiums. Currently, the GST operates under a four-tier structure with slabs of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent. Essential items are either exempt or taxed at the lowest slab, while luxury and demerit goods are subject to the highest slab. Luxury and sin goods also incur an additional cess on top of the 28 per cent rate. At present, the average GST rate is around 12.2 per cent, which is below the revenue-neutral rate of 15.3 per cent, spurring the need for discussions on rate rationalisation. A GoM meeting on real estate, also held in Goa on Tuesday, could not reach a consensus on most proposals. The real estate GoM, convened by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, deferred the proposal to exempt GST on long-term leases granted to the tourism sector, instead suggesting that states declaring tourism as an infrastructure sector would be better positioned to receive such exemptions. After Sheikh Hasina was toppled from power, a finger of suspicion was pointed at the Biden administration, which was known to be very unhappy with the then Bangladesh prime minister. The subsequent elevation of Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus -- who is perceived to be close to the Americans -- as leader of the interim government in Dhaka was interpreted in some quarters as confirmation of the fact that the United States was the puppeteer behind Hasina's ouster. Professor Yunus is in New York, accompanied by young Bangladeshis who led the student uprising against Hasina, and the bon homie he shared with two US presidents, current and past, will add masala to the conspiracy theorists. IMAGE: US President Joe Biden hugs Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the margin of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, September 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: Biden expressed his administration's support to the Bangladesh government. Photograph: ANI Photo 'Both leaders affirmed the close partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, which is rooted in shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties. IMAGE: 'President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh to congratulate him on his recent appointment as the head of the interim government,' read the White House statement.'Both leaders affirmed the close partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, which is rooted in shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties. 'President Biden welcomed further engagement between the two governments and offered continued US= support as Bangladesh implements its new reform agenda.' Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: Professor Yunus speaks at the 2024 Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York, September 24, 2024. 'You're the only old guy I know who was ever drafted for his eminent position by the young people of his country," Mr Clinton quipped about Mr Yunus's elevation to interim leader,' AFP reported. Photograph: Kind courtesy Muhammad Yunus/X IMAGE: Former US president Bill Clinton, AFP reported, 'hailed their 40 year-long friendship and the global impact of the Bangladeshi's pioneering microfinance loans.' Photograph: Kind courtesy Muhammad Yunus/X IMAGE: 'Their friendship dates back to the 1980s,' AFP reported, 'when Mr Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, invited Mr Yunus to visit and share his approach to alleviating poverty through small loans, which had successfully empowered impoverished Bangladeshi women without access to traditional banking services.' Photograph: Kind courtesy Muhammad Yunus/X Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com and Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to give up arms and come forward for talks with the government, while reiterating that there will be no dialogue or cross-border trade with Pakistan. IMAGE: Amit Shah waves to supporters during an election rally for the Jammu and Kashmir elections, at Chenani, Udhampur, September 26, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Ahead of the third and final phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly election next week, Shah addressed five rallies in poll-bound assembly segments on Thursday and launched a scathing attack on the Congress, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, accusing these parties of providing protection to terrorism over the last three decades. Promising a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir under the Bharatiya Janata Party's regime, Shah, who is spearheading the saffron party's poll campaign, alleged that the National Conference-Congress alliance would implement Pakistan's agenda if it comes to power in the Union territory. At his back-to-back rallies in the Chenani and Udhampur assembly segments in Udhampur district, Bani and Jasrotia in Kathua district and Marh in Jammu district, the home minister said terrorism has been buried by the BJP under the ground after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and it will not be allowed to stage a comeback. The first phase of polling was held on September 18, followed by the second phase on September 25. The third phase, covering 40 seats in Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua and the north Kashmir districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora, is scheduled to be held on October 1. Extending an olive branch to the terrorists active in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah asked them to give up arms and come forward for talks with the government or be prepared to get neutralised at the hands of security forces. "For vote-bank politics, they (opposition parties) are asking for talks with terrorists. If they (terrorists) want to talk, let them come forward after giving up arms. In the northeast, 10,000 people have surrendered," Shah told the gathering at Jasrotia. "Give up arms and come for talks or our forces will hunt you down," the home minister said. At Marh, he said the NC, Congress and PDP are advocating talks with Pakistan and resumption of cross-border trade. "They want to do 'ILU ILU' (I love you) with Pakistan.... We will not talk to Pakistan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has closed the trade that will not be resumed," Shah said. He said Jammu and Kashmir bled for 35 years due to terrorism but when Modi took oath as the prime minister in 2014, Pakistan was given a fitting reply for terror acts. "We finished terrorism by carrying out surgical strikes inside Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri and Pulwama attacks," the home minister said. At Bani, he said the BJP-led Centre will not even allow the "shadow of terrorism" over the hills of the Jammu region as it has taken concrete measures and strengthened the village defence guards to counter the threat. Shah's remarks came as several hill areas of the Jammu region, including Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts, have recorded a spurt in terror-related incidents since April. "Let Pakistan do whatever it wants, we will not allow the shadow of terrorism in the hills of the Jammu region. We have strengthened the VDGs and youngsters in villages and given them INSAS rifles to fight terrorism," the home minister said. Slamming the Congress, NC and PDP over their poll promises, he said these parties are talking about releasing stone-pelters and terrorists from imprisonment, but "I want to tell them that the right place for terrorists is in jails and we cannot allow anyone to set them free." Seeking votes for the BJP candidates in the Jammu and Kashmir polls, Shah said if the saffron party registers an electoral victory in the Union Territory, it will be celebrated across the country. "If the NC-Congress alliance wins, there will be fireworks in Pakistan. Do you want Pakistan to celebrate?" he asked the gathering. The home minister said the opposition parties are talking about restoration of Article 370 of the Constitution and revival of terrorism, but "we will not allow this to happen, let their five generations come to fulfil this promise." He said the BJP has strengthened grassroot-level democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, which is now moving forward on the path of development after suffering immensely due to terrorism for more than three decades. "The NC and the Congress provided protection to terrorism for 40 years.... We have finished terrorism and opened new avenues of development for Jammu and Kashmir, which is marching ahead with the other parts of the country. We will not rest till terrorism is buried in 'pataal' (under the ground)," Shah said. At Chenani and Udhampur, he said the world has its eyes on the Jammu and Kashmir election, which is taking place for the first time after the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution were abrogated. The home minister said whoever spreads terror in Jammu and Kashmir will get his answer at the gallows. "I want to ask you, whether (Parliament attack convict) Afzal Guru should have been hanged or not? The NC and the Congress are now saying he should not have been hanged...," he said. "They want to release stone-pelters and terrorists. Omar Abdullah gave up these dreams because you cannot do it. It is the duty of courts and we have enforced such laws that nobody will dare to hurl a stone anymore," Shah said at the first rally at Chenani. "This election is very important as Jammu and Kashmir was under the shadow of terrorism for nearly 40 years. If they (NC-Congress alliance) win this election, it means the success of the Pakistan agenda," he said. The home minister asserted that statehood will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir and it will be done by the Modi government. Targeting the Gandhis, Abdullahs and Muftis, Shah said the three families ruled Jammu and Kashmir for 75 years but failed to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level in the region. At the Udhampur rally, Shah said Article 370 was the biggest cause behind terrorism not only in Kashmir but in the Jammu region as well. He said Modi has provided justice to the Jammu region, which faced discrimination for 70 years, and ensured the inclusion of the Dogri language in the list of official languages. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated on Thursday he will not resign as he again denied any wrongdoing in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Photograph: Siddaramaiah on Facebook Terming the charges against him a "BJP conspiracy", Siddaramaiah said he would wage a legal fight. A special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday ordered a probe by the Lokayukta police in Mysuru against the Chief Minister in the MUDA site allotment 'scam', setting the stage for registering an FIR against him. Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar also ruled out the possibility of Siddaramaiah stepping down. Opposition BJP in Karnataka on Thursday staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat here, demanding his resignation. "There is no question of resigning, because I have done no wrong. This (charges against him) is a BJP (conspiracy)," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru. "....did the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi as the then Gujarat CM) resign in the Godhra incident as FIR was done (then)? (H D) Kumaraswamy (JDS leader) is in Narendra Modi's government, he is on bail, has he given resignation?" the Chief Minister asked. "Have they given resignation? Are they not embarrassed? I will not resign. I will fight legally." "I won't resign, let them get Kumaraswamy's resignation, he is on bail. He is in whose Cabinet, in which government? He should give (resignation first). Did Narendra Modi resign? Despite hundreds of people dying, he did not resign. I have done no wrong, there is no need for me to resign," he added. Shivakumar said: "I'm saying that the proposal for the Chief Minister to resign won't come. This is a political conspiracy by BJP and JD(S). They are unable to digest the benefits of our five guarantee schemes reaching people." The order of the Special Court Judge, Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, came a day after the High Court upheld the sanction granted by the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah on the allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife B M Parvathi by MUDA. The Special Court exclusively to deal with criminal cases related to former and elected MPs/MLAs issued the order directing the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to initiate an investigation on the complaint filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna of Mysuru. In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA. The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout. Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts. It is alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk. Unknown miscreants have vandalised the BAPS Hindu temple in California's Sacramento, desecrating it with expletive-laden graffiti saying "Hindus go back!", the BAPS Public Affairs said. IMAGE: The temple community gathered for a prayer ceremony in response to the vandalism at the BAPS Hindu temple in California's Sacramento. Photograph: Courtesy BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha "Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: "Hindus go back!" We stand united against hate with prayers for peace," the BAPS Public Affairs said in a post on X. Wednesday night's incident comes after the desecration of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, on September 17. "Our condemnation of hate remains resolute; our sadness has only deepened; and our prayers for all, including those with hate in their heart, have grown stronger," the organisation said in a statement. "BAPS is working with law enforcement authorities on this hate crime," the statement said. "The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento is home to a vibrant Hindu community engaged in numerous activities and projects to support the larger community. We are and shall remain an integral part of this community's fabric," the statement added. The temple community in response to the incident gathered for a prayer ceremony and called for peace and unity, remembering His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj's ideal of harmony and respect. This was the second incident of desecration at a BAPS temple in less than a month in the US amidst the growing trend of temple vandalism as part of a systematic hate crime against the Hindu community in the country. Amerish Babulal or "Ami" Bera, an American physician and politician serving as a member of the US House of Representatives from California, said on X: "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in Sacramento County. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community." "All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected," Bera said in a post on X. "This type of hate against Hindu Americans and vandalism is appalling and morally wrong. The Department of Justice must investigate these hate crimes, and those responsible should be held fully accountable under the law," Congressman Ro Khanna said on X. Indian-American entrepreneur Ajay Jain Bhutoria, urging the FBI to investigate and hold accountable those spreading hate and fear, said: "No place for hate in our communities or country." "All Temples must also enhance security and utilise available grants. We stand united against hate and will continue to pray for peace," he said on X. Headquartered in Gujarat, BAPS has more than 100 temples and centres in North America. Last year, it opened the Akshardham temple in New Jersey, the largest Hindu temple outside India. BAPS is a non-political organisation and has its support base across the political and ideological spectrum. The Indian Embassy in Beirut has urged its nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon due to escalating violence and "strongly advised" those present there to exercise extreme caution and leave the country as soon as possible. IMAGE: A man stands on the rubble of a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Akbiyeh amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Photograph: Reuters The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Wednesday said that 200,00 people have been displaced in Lebanon since Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel nearly a year ago, drawing Israeli retaliation. According to Lebanon's health minister, 51 people were killed and 223 wounded Wednesday in Israeli strikes. In an advisory posted on social media platform X on Wednesday, the Indian embassy said, "As a reiteration of the advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice. All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128, it said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pune in Maharashtra on Thursday was cancelled following heavy rains in the city, sources said. IMAGE: Overnight rains battered Pune, Mumbai and Thane on September 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Modi was to flag off a Metro train in Pune and launch various development projects, ahead of the state assembly elections. BJP sources confirmed that the PM's visit to Pune was cancelled. The new date for his visit will be announced later. After heavy rains on Wednesday evening, the SP College ground, the venue of PM Modi's programme, had muddy pools. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday visited the college ground and said arrangements were being made to ensure nobody is inconvenienced. The meteorological department has also issued a warning of heavy showers in Pune and Mumbai for Thursday. After the third judge's decision, the Bombay high court on Thursday formally struck down the amended Information Technology Rules aimed at identifying and regulating fake and false content on social media against the government, and termed them as "unconstitutional". On September 20, a single bench of Justice A S Chandurkar held that the amended rules being vague and broad had the potential of causing a chilling effect not only on an individual, but also on the social media intermediary. Justice Chandurkar had served as the tie-breaker judge after a division bench issued a split verdict on the matter earlier this year. Following the third judge's decision, a division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Neela Gokhale on Thursday formally pronounced the verdict on a bunch of petitions filed by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, Editors Guild of India, News Broadcast and Digital Association and Association of Indian Magazines challenging the new regulations. "In view of the majority opinion, the Rule 3 (1) (V) is declared unconstitutional and is struck down. The petitions are accordingly allowed," the court said. The case had initially been reviewed by a division bench of Justices Gautam Patel (now retired) and Neela Gokhale, who delivered a split verdict in January. Justice Patel had argued that the rules constituted censorship, while Justice Gokhale maintained that they did not significantly impact free speech. Justice Chandurkar aligned his opinion with Justice Patel's, emphasising the need to protect citizens' rights to free expression. Central to the controversy was the establishment of a Fact Checking Unit (FCU), which was designed to flag online content deemed misleading or false concerning the government. The court agreed with the petitioners' claim that the Rules had a chilling effect on fundamental rights. The contentious amendments to the IT Rules were introduced by the Union government on April 6, 2023, as part of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The regulations mandated the FCU to monitor and flag any content perceived as fake or misleading related to government activities. If flagged, social media intermediaries could either remove the content or post a disclaimer, risking legal repercussions if they opted for the latter. On Thursday, September 26, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu visited the Siachen base camp and paid tributes at the Siachen War Memorial. The memorial is a symbol of the sacrifice of soldiers and officers who have been martyred since the Indian Army began Operation Meghdoot on the Siachen Glacier on April 13, 1984. President Murmu addressed the soldiers posted there. IMAGE: The supreme commander of India's defence services pays tribute at the Siachen War Memorial, here and below. All Photographs: Kind courtesy Rashtrapati Bhavan IMAGE: President Murmu interacts with the soldiers at the base camp. IMAGE: President Murmu feeds sweets to a lady soldier. IMAGE: President Murmu speaks at the base camp. IMAGE: President Murmu in the group photograph. IMAGE: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Brigadier B D Mishra (retd) receives President Murmu on her arrival at the Thoise airfield. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the contract for Dharavi redevelopment will be "taken back" from the Adani group if it fails to follow instructions of the state government. IMAGE: A view of Dharavi in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo Speaking at the India Today conclave, he refuted allegations of the opposition parties on the project and asserted the tender was given to the Adani group as it was the highest bidder. On Wednesday, Mumbai Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad had claimed 80 percent of shares of Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited, which is helming the ambitious makeover, were held by Adani group, while the state government had the remaining 20 percent. Gaikwad, who was Dharavi MLA before being elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2024 general polls, also alleged the redevelopment project was real estate's biggest scam. Queried on Gaikwad's claims, Fadnavis said, "The Dharavi redevelopment plan is under the state government's control. A principal secretary rank officer will be the chief of DRP. It will draft development control rules. Based on these rules, the actual development will occur. Unless these rules are approved by the state Urban Development Department, the company cannot start work." "Adani (group) will have to do whatever the government wants. If they do not do it, we will take back the contract from them," said Fadnavis, who was state housing minister when billionaire Gautam Adani's group won the bid for redeveloping Dharavi, one of the world's densest urban sprawls. The opposition parties are either not studying the issue properly or are more interested in politicising it, the senior BJP leader said. He said the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government failed to cap Transferable Development Rights. This omission would have granted the redeveloping entity in Dharavi unrestricted authority to stockpile these rights and realise excessive profits through their sale to other real estate developers in the city, Fadnavis alleged. "It was our government which put a cap on TDR pricing. It cannot exceed 90 percent of the ready reckoner rates. We also provided a facility called digital platform where details of the available TDR will be displayed. We have made the process transparent," Fadnavis asserted. Photo: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov held several meetings in Serbia, Trend reports. During a meeting with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environmental Protection Irena Vujovic, the current state of energy cooperation between the two countries was positively evaluated. The discussions included a recently signed agreement on environmental cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia. It was stated that collaboration in green energy would support the energy transition and help achieve climate goals. The meeting addressed carbon emission reductions, the adoption of new technologies in this area, and cooperation within the framework of COP29, including global initiatives for its presidency. In a separate meeting with Serbian Minister of Economy Adriana Mesarovic, the development of bilateral cooperation was discussed. It was noted that over January-August of this year, Azerbaijan supplied 32.3 million cubic meters of gas to Serbia, with a new agreement expanding cooperation in the gas sector. Serbia's opportunities to join the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe "green" energy corridor, cooperation in the construction of a gas power plant, crude oil supplies, and gas transit were also discussed. An exchange of views took place regarding the business forum planned to be held in December in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 'My son was not killed because he was a Hindu.' Photographs: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/ Rediff.com IMAGE: Ramesh Kumar Mehra behind the cash counter at the Krishna Vaishno Bhojanalaya. On February 17, 2021, terrorists murdered Akash Mehra, 22, when he was seated at the cash counter at his Srinagar restaurant Krishna Vaishno Bhojanalaya. It was the day when a 24-member European delegation was in the Kashmir Valley on a visit. Three days later, the Jammu and Kashmir police arrested the terrorists -- Vilayat Aziz Mir from Pulwama; Owais Manzoor Sofi and Suhail Ahmad Mir from Anantnag. The police also recovered the bike and ammunition used to kill Akash. The motive, according to the terrorists, was to send a message against the abrogation of Article 370 so that no outsider would settle down in Kashmir. If you are a vegetarian and a tourist in Srinagar, then you must eat at the Krishna Vaishno Bhojanalaya because it serves delicious vegetarian food. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to Akash's father Ramesh Kumar Mehra, 65, who continues to run his restaurant. For me, my life has stopped after my son's death. I cannot sleep at night as I see his face all the time. I close my eyes to get sleep, but then my son's face appears and I lose my sleep. I was once a believer in God, but now I have stopped believing in God. I have not visited a temple after my son's death. Bhagwan hai kahan? (Where's God?) I don't know. Why did this happen to me? I did no wrong to anybody and yet I am suffering. On that fateful day militants had warned shopkeepers and restaurant owners to shut their business to protest the abrogation of Article 370. These militants wanted to send a message to the visiting European delegation that Kashmiris are against the abrogation of Article 370, but then we got message from the authorities that we should not shut our establishment as it will send a wrong message to the foreign dignitaries. I was perplexed, 'Government ki suney ya militant ki suney? (Who should I listen to? The government or the militants?) The situation was like dono taraf se musibat (I was caught in a bind). IMAGE: Krishna Vaishno Bhojanalaya is located close to the iconic Dal Lake. I decided to go by the government's diktat without realising that my life would forever change for the worse, by keeping my restaurant open that day. I stepped out of the restaurant in the evening for some work, and my son sat at this very counter from where I am speaking to you. I had hardly reached some distance from my restaurant when I heard the sound of firing. Everybody started running helter-skelter. I saw from a distance that the firing was at my restaurant. When I reached my restaurant I saw my son lying in a pool of blood. We rushed him to the hospital and hoped he would survive. He battled for his life for 12 days, but then he passed away, leaving me all alone at this age. When I look back at the failure of the security forces to protect my son's life, I think of a dialogue from the film Singham. 'If the police has the will, then not a single slipper can be stolen from the temple, but then the police needs to have that kind of will' -- the dialogue is very apt in my situation. If the police had been alert that day my son would have been alive. Today, you see they have surrounded my restaurant with police. They are here 24 hours, but what is the point? My son is dead and he is never going to come back. Every day, I get up and cook food only to kill time. I have lost interest in life. Kiskey liye kamaana, kiskey liye jeena? (For whom do I earn and for whom do I live?). I only hope that someday some militant will come and shoot me. I just want to die. I cannot commit suicide so I am hoping for this kind of death. My son was not killed because he was a Hindu. Article 370 killed my son, zindagi barbad kar di (Article 370 ruined my life). I have been running this restaurant in Srinagar from 1985. I have seen the worst of the times of militancy in the 1990s, but at that time no one harmed me or my family. Muslims of Kashmir are like my brothers. 90 percent of weddings in Srinagar and other areas order vegetarian food from my restaurant for their wedding. I supply vegetarian wedding food till Baramulla, which is 50 km away from Srinagar. IMAGE: 'No politician has come to meet me and ask how I am and what I am going through after my son's death,' says Ramesh Kumar Mehra. I have been to court for hearings and saw those three militants who killed my son, but then I feel they should be set free. I don't want to go there and see their faces. Every time I see those militants the memory of my son causes me more pain. Sarkar sirf paal rahi hai unko jail mein (the government is only feeding them in jail). Till date no politician has come to meet me and ask how I am and what I am going through after my son's death. I realised our system is like, Aam aadmi ki koi aukaat nahi hai, kaun saath dega uska? (There is no value for the life of a common man and nobody comes to support him). After my son's death I can only say that Kashmir politics and militancy is very uncertain. Nobody knows who is doing what and what is going to happen next. All I can say is, meri kismet kharab hai (my fate is bad). You and your family should consider yourself lucky if they go scratch free in Kashmir. In underlining the role of border villages as custodians of India's frontiers, New Delhi is following China's example in Tibet. IMAGE: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi presents a memento to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the 'Border Area Development Conclave' in New Delhi, September 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Echoing Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's stated commitment to holistic development of villages located close to the India-China border, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has described these villages as not just remote habitations but also the country's first line of defence. Addressing a Border Area Development Conclave in New Delhi, Singh said the best way of dealing with the multiple challenges posed by India's geo-strategic location was to ensure border area development. In underlining the role of border villages as custodians of India's frontiers, New Delhi is following the example of China in Tibet, where President Xi Jinping has personally directed a new border village policy since 2017. China in Tibet China's new border village policy, which is aimed at setting up Tibetan villages in disputed border areas, was announced with great fanfare at the 19th congress of the Chinese Communist party in 2017. In May 2021, noted Tibetologist Robert Barnett described the working of Xi Jinping's resettlement policy in an article in Foreign Policy magazine. Barnett's article details the experience of four Tibetan nomads from the remote Beyul Khenpajong region, which remains disputed between Bhutan and China. Until 1995, like other yak graziers living along the border, the four spent their summer grazing their herds in the Beyul, before returning to their village in Tibet ahead of the winter snows. In 1995, however, the local Communist officials told them Beyul was Chinese territory and it was their duty to guard it for China by physically remaining there through winter. For the decades that followed, the four graziers spent the bitter winters alone in the Beyul, in harsh and primitive conditions, with no contact with the outside world. Once the Chinese completed a road to their tiny settlement, over the Himalayan crest line, a larger village was rapidly built up. In April 2020, the Communist party secretary of Tibet, Wu Yingjie, trekked all the way to the new grazier village, now named Gyalphug, to hail the graziers as heroes of China. Each summer, Communist officials organise the herders to carry out small tasks to reassert China's claims. Barnett writes: 'These included driving yak herds over land grazed by Bhutanese herders in the Beyul, demanding tax payments from the Bhutanese herders, planting Chinese flags on peaks and painting the word 'China' on rocks throughout the area.' An estimated 250,000 Tibetans have been resettled thus along the border. In effect, this has transformed local Tibetan histories of border grazing and monastic claims into state-level territorial claims by China. In July 2021, Xi Jinping visited Tibet for three days, with his focus squarely on the Tibetan town of Nyingtri (Nyingchi in Chinese). Beijing regards Arunachal Pradesh as a southward extension of Nyingtri prefecture. IMAGE: A view of the Atal Tunnel during snowfall in Manali. Photograph: ANI Photo Development work India's defence minister, speaking at the Border Area Development Conclave, pointed to the development work carried out in India's border areas during the last decade. Singh cited the construction of 8,500 kms of roads, 400 permanent bridges, and three major tunnels: Atal Tunnel, Sela Tunnel, and Shikun-La Tunnel, with the third currently the world's highest road tunnel. The defence minister also cited the connection of border areas in Ladakh with the National Electricity Grid, and the provision of high-speed internet to over 1,500 villages, mainly in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, through the Bharat-Net broadband project. Singh said the government's special emphasis on border area tourism was catalysing the development of the region. 'Tourism has immense potential in border areas, but it could not reach the desired heights due to lack of infrastructure. Things have changed since this government came to power... From 2020 to 2023, the footfall of tourists in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh increased by 30 per cent... We are taking consistent steps to make J&K a tourist hotspot,' he said. Economic development of the border areas, he said, was triggering 'reverse migration', such as in Huri village in Arunachal Pradesh, where villagers who had migrated to the hinterland were returning to their original homes. Speaking at the same conclave, army chief General Upendra Dwivedi described border area development as 'a core component of national security'. IMAGE: The Colonel Chewang Rinchen Bridge built between Durbuk and Daulat Beg Oldie. Photograph: ANI Photo New flashpoint Like New Delhi, Beijing supports its graziers with incentives, including financial ones, to equip them for spending long periods in high-altitude pastures along the McMahon Line border. Unlike New Delhi, however, Beijing has not shrunk from using armed force in the form of border guards and frontline soldiers to intimidate and bully Indian graziers. Indian military commanders believe Beijing covets Beyul Khenpajong as a bargaining chip to offer Bhutan in exchange for Doklam, a disputed pocket of land at the tri-junction of Bhutan, China and India. India regards Doklam as militarily vital, being located less than 100 kilometres from the strategic Siliguri corridor, a narrow, 25 kilometre-wide strip of land that connects India's seven north-eastern states to the Indo-Gangetic heartland. Bhutan has always been careful of India's concerns vis-a-vis Doklam. 'China doesn't need the land it is settling in Bhutan: Its aim is to force the Bhutanese government to cede territory that China wants elsewhere in Bhutan to give Beijing a military advantage in its struggle with New Delhi,' wrote Barnett in Foreign Policy. Since 1990, Beijing has been offering to give up its claim to 495 square kilometres in the north of Bhutan, provided Thimphu yields 269 square kilometres in the west. The territory in north Bhutan that China is offering to give up includes the Beyul Khenpajong. The creation of border infrastructure is the new flashpoint between China and India. Among the causes cited for intrusions by the People's Liberation Army into Eastern Ladakh in the summer of 2020, the construction of the 255 kilometre-long Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DSDBO) road by India's Border Roads Organisation is possibly the most convincing. Following clashes between the PLA and Indian troops in the Galwan river valley in June 2020, China's foreign ministry identified the creation of the DSDBO road as a trigger for the clash. Clearly, New Delhi will have to walk a fine line between developing India's border infrastructure on the one hand and assuaging Beijing's border sensibilities on the other. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com BRATTLEBORO In connection with the exhibition The In Between, which features artwork by Susan Brearey and Duane Slick, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) presents Pumpkintown: Songs, Stories, and Magic Lantern Projections from an Imaginary New England Village, at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at Next Stage Arts Project in Putney. A unique and multi-faceted show that has been performed around the world, "Pumpkintown" is a long-running collaboration by acclaimed American folk musicians Tim Eriksen and Peter Irvine, with paintings and magic lantern projections by Brearey. Eriksen, a vocalist and instrumentalist, is a Grammy-nominated musical pioneer known for his distinctive interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel, and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia. A musicologist and a professor, Eriksen was a consultant for the award-winning soundtrack of the film Cold Mountain. He and Irvine, a percussionist and vocalist, formed Cordelias Dad, a folk punk band from Northampton, Mass. "Pumpkintown" originated about a dozen years ago after Eriksen visited Breareys classes at the Putney School, where she taught art for 32 years before recently retiring. "Pumpkintown" evolved from their shared interest in blending visual elements with folk music and storytelling. The result is a collaborative show that has been performed from the West Coast to Boston, and worldwide, including Great Britain, France, Sweden, and the Czech Republic. Brearey said, In 'Pumpkintown,' we target the real, imaginary, humorous, and often unexpected in the backwoods of everyday life through songs, stories, and magic lantern projections. Every "Pumpkintown" performance is a little bit different, Eriksen said. After all these years, its still a work in progress because it has a large element of improvisation. Its a formal experimentation in shadows and light and plays with the balance between abstraction and legibility. In "Pumpkintown," Breareys use of a magic lantern, a 19th century version of a projector, on her artwork creates a unique multimedia performance. The theatrical backdrop for "Pumpkintown" is one of Breareys paintings, which, she says, shows the intersection of nature and culture in rural New England. Breareys artwork in "Pumpkintown" is part of the BMAC exhibit The In Between, which is on view until Oct. 19. The In Between is the first collaborative exhibit of Brearey and her longtime friend, artist Duane Slick, who has taught printmaking and painting at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) since 1995. Both Brearey and Slick have exhibited their artwork in galleries throughout the United States and internationally. "Pumpkintown" offers a fresh take on history and American music, from a region rarely associated with a regional sound: New England. Audiences will experience both a funny and strange experience in "Pumpkintown," Eriksen said, adding that its particularly special to see the show in New England in October. 'Pumpkintown' is an imaginary New England village, but its also a narrative about a shared connection to a place, Eriksen said. Pumpkintown is a story, but it is presented sideways, through imagery and sounds. Admission is $25, $20 for BMAC members. Next Stage Arts Project is at 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, courtesy of M&T Bank. The museum, in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro at the intersection of Main Street and routes 119 and 142, is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org. The museum is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, and Sams Outdoor Outfitters. A screenshot from the video for the Rusty Belle song "Change My Heart" shows Kate Lorenz, foreground, and Matt Lorenz. MANCHESTER Now on display at Helmholz Fine Art are works of Techspressionism by North Bennington artist Colin Goldberg. Goldberg invented the term Techspressionism in 2011 to describe his technology-fueled paintings. Since then, Techspressionism has developed into an international movement of artists from over 45 countries. It has also become a widely used hashtag on social media, with over 75K Instagram posts by artists around the globe using the hashtag #techspressionism. Its good for people to be able to see something that is very cutting edge here in Manchester, Vt., said Lisa Helmholz-Adams, owner and curator of the gallery at 442 Depot St., Manchester Center. Its been so well received. Its really, really exciting for people to be able to see this. Gallery hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday by appointment only. Dened as an artistic approach in which technology is utilized as a means to express emotional experience, Techspressionism has been described as Expressionism for the 21st Century. The artist groups adviser, art historian Helen Harrison, was the longtime director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, the former home and studio of the Abstract Expressionist artists Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner in East Hampton, New York. This August, the rst museum exhibition of Techspressionist artworks opened at the Kingsborough Art Museum in Brooklyn. The show featured paintings, sculptures, and digital art by artists from more than 20 countries who use technology in their practices. Circuit, Goldbergs submission to the exhibition, is a dynamic 6x8-foot augmented reality (AR) artwork that animates on the wall when viewed through a mobile app. An earlier AR work from this series, Kneeling Icon, was purchased by the Hearst Corporation in New York City last year. It is now permanently installed in the companys corporate headquarters in Manhattans Hearst Tower. Goldberg, who is represented by Helmholz Fine Art (HFA) in Manchester Center, will bring Circuit from Brooklyn to HFA in Vermont for an exhibition of his works this fall. Circuit is also one of a series of 23 works featured in Metagraphs: Augmented Reality Art, a book in which the artists works animate directly on the books pages. Born in the Bronx, Goldberg moved to Southern Vermont three years ago. He lives and works in North Bennington and is the father of a 10-year-old daughter, Aya. Goldbergs works have been featured on PBS and NPR, and published in WIRED and the New York Times. You are the owner of this article. PUTNEY School Board members are grappling with what steps to take after a controversy involving banners for presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris at Dummerston School. "My concern has always been for the safety of everyone in that building, students and adults," Windham Southeast School District Board Chairwoman Deborah Stanford said at the board meeting held Tuesday at Putney Central School. "This has never been about curriculum, never about the banners as a teaching tool, never about the removal of said banners. Those issues are out of my lane as an elected board director." Stanford said she had followed protocol by communicating directly with the superintendent about moving the flags out of sight from the window after it had come to her attention. Acting "in any other way would have been a dereliction of my duty," she said. At a meeting last week, the Dummerston Leadership Council determined there was evidence of policy and procedure violations that caused harm to the school community. The council had discussed concerns with the meeting agenda not informing the public about specific topics to be discussed, appropriate reporting relationships, the complaint process for instructional materials and how public participation is conducted at board meetings. The council requested the board undertake "a similar examination internally, and create a plan of accountability and to restore trust." "This will allow us to move forward together to continue the important work on behalf of our students," the council said in a letter to the board. Describing the letter as vague, Stanford said she was "speechless" and not sure how to respond. Following the meeting, the council sent a document with an overview of specific policies it had discussed at its meeting. Stanford said she spoke with the school district's attorney and realized her statement at the Sept. 10 meeting hadn't been consistent with the spirit of Open Meeting Law but had not violated the law. Her intent, she said, "was to establish context and timeframes. No action was planned." A motion Stanford made for the superintendent to look into the matter, report back to the board and take any action necessary to resolve the issue was tabled Tuesday. Board member Kim Price worried the motion was too vague. Board member Ruby McAdoo said she doesn't believe the superintendent should be responsible for the task. She suggested the issue be taken up by the district's Policy and Amendments Committee; however, an amendment to the motion was not seconded after board members said the project fell outside the committee's purview. McAdoo said she thinks the board can acknowledge harm done to those who could see the flags while driving past the school and teachers who were shocked by the response to the flags at the last board meeting. "I feel like we're getting a little bit stuck," she said. "I believe we have work we can do around ... how are we doing? This is true all of the time." The flags were moved to a wall away from the window on Sept. 11, a day after the topic was discussed at the School Board meeting. The issue had come up under public comment, starting with a statement from Stanford speaking about her request to move the flags out of sight from the windows due to the optics and perceived safety risk. Before public comment began Tuesday, Stanford called it "a time for the board to listen and to take notes." "It is not a time for the board to respond to comments or to engage in dialogue with the public. If appropriate, the board and administration will work on next steps," Stanford said. "This message became muddied on the occasion of the Sept. 10 board meeting. That inconsistency will not occur again." Tom Ehrenberg of Putney said political flags should be hung in schools only if racist and sexist viewpoints espoused by candidates are discussed. Ellen Rago, library media specialist at Dummerston School, previously told the Reformer she has called out such things but felt she needed to be fair and inclusive when holding a mock election in her classroom. Teacher opens up about Trump, Harris flag controversy at Dummerston School DUMMERSTON Donald Trump and Kamala Harris banners were seen by Ellen Rago, library media s Spoon Agave of Brattleboro, who chairs the Windham County Progressive Party, described politics as "an incendiary topic." "Because by definition, politics are pretty inflammatory and ever more so in this particular day and age," he said. Wichie Artu, president of the Windham County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, thanked the board for its "swift response to our concerns over the public display of political campaign flags." "Your efficacy involving this issue will not go unnoticed to us or to those families in solidarity with families of color in Windham County," he said in a statement read at the meeting. Mary Gannon, who has hosted local trainings on diversity and equity, called for the district to use its ongoing commitment to social justice and anti-racism as guideposts to addressing the issue. Superintendent Mark Speno noted that students are exposed to current events outside of the classroom. They also are "very curious and have questions about why things are happening and why somebody said something so outlandish," he said. "I believe it is our goal to help our children and students become critical thinkers, to teach them what is currently happening so that they can learn to make decisions for themselves and for what they believe in," he said. "I also believe we need to give the educators, our educators, the grace to do this work on a day in and day out basis. It's not easy, and it's not easy when there's misunderstandings, when there's conflict or disagreements." Speno called for developing communities where children and adults feel safe to ask questions and have discussions with each other. Mikaela Simms, diversity coordinator at Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, said she believes educators should "show the world as it exists" but also provide tools to change it for the better. "As this conversation continues," she said, "I just want to highlight that in addition to our small corner of the world that it is very easy for us to attract national attention. And with that national attention comes more danger, especially for people who are marginalized." Rago is hoping for a restorative process "because we're going to have to work together going forward," she said at the Leadership Council meeting. Principal Julianne Eagan said she promoted the idea of having a dialogue since she knows "how much we embrace that here at Dummerston School. Knowing Ellen so well I would encourage anyone to reach out to Ellen, including any board member." "I feel there's good intentions all around," Artu said at the council meeting. "I'm appreciating grace and a restorative process in addressing those concerns." At the board meeting, board member Shaun Murphy agreed with Speno that it was time to move on. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is ready to integrate biomethane into pipeline, Luca Schieppati, TAP's Managing Director, said at the Italian Energy Summit, Trend reports. We are testing the materials of the pipes to verify their resistance to the transport of hydrogen. Furthermore, we are evaluating the compatibility of equipment and systems for the transport of hydrogen in a mixture. As for biomethane, we are ready to welcome it into our pipeline and we aim to accompany and promote the development of its regulation, he said. Schieppati noted that as part of the Carbon Management Plan (2022-2025), TAP has already reduced its CO emissions by 30 percent, methane by 53 percent and fugitive emissions by 70 percent. TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 877 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy. TAP facilitates gas supplies to Southeastern European countries through existing and prospective interconnectors. TAP is connected to Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB) which started its commercial operations in October 2022, providing Caspian gas to Bulgaria. TAPs shareholding is comprised of bp (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (20%), Enagas (20%). Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Anne N. Sosin is a public health practitioner and researcher at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. Vermonts black bear population is estimated at roughly 6,300 to 7,600 based on 2023 data, the most recent available, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Photo: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Azerbaijan and Serbia have signed an agreement on additional gas supply, Azerbaijans Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov wrote on X, Trend reports. We had a fruitful meeting in Belgrade with Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic on expanding our energy cooperation. SOCAR and Srbijagas signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement on additional daily gas supply of 1 million cubic meters, which will cover the period from 1 November 2024 to 1 April 2025, the minister wrote. Moreover, Shahbazov noted that the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on green energy cooperation. On November 15, 2023, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Serbia's Srbijagas signed an agreement for the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Serbia. Under the agreement, up to 400 million cubic meters of gas will be delivered annually from Azerbaijan to Serbia between 2024 and 2026, with the option to increase volumes starting in 2027. The delivery of Azerbaijani gas to Serbia began in February 2024. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn I was open to whatever happened, but my gut feeling was it was probably a 60 per cent chance wed go in that direction. Infor, however, impressed the Sealord team with its product, people and industry focus. Its been their story for a while, but we really felt that coming through, that when it got into the nitty gritty pieces of our business around that supply chain piece, around quality control, around exporting, theres a whole lot of layers of sophistication and maturity and understanding that was relevant for food and beverage and food exporting. The people Infor brought in knew the language and the challenges and brought industry-specific expertise. Could evergreen really be forever? That was important because cloud potentially offered an evergreen platform. With a regular cadence of improvement, this could be the last time Sealord had to make such a change to its systems. Artificial intelligence may be the hot-button topic of 2024, but was not a key feature of the procurement. Indirectly, I guess, what we were looking to do was to try and be able to leverage somebody elses investment, Dodd said. We could see that they put a bunch of money into their products over a number of years. In that evergreen environment where youre looking at a regular cadence of updates to the product, it doesnt have to be us thinking of whats needed. For Sealord, sustainability was also a huge issue, especially when its capital investment in plant and fleet were very long-term. ERP is long, but fishing boats are even longer, Dodd said. We are deeply committed to the fact that weve got to plan for the future. Weve got to treat the planet and environment in a way that works for our shareholders, works for our staff, but it also actually feeds into a business that still runs successfully in 40 years time. In the past, the industry wasnt doing a good job of explaining its thinking and its actions leading to a misunderstanding of fishing and its impact, Dodd said. The reality is that fishing is a good news story in New Zealand, more than people sometimes recognise. Whatever we eat as humans has an impact on the environment theres no getting around that. The measure shouldnt be, does this way of feeding the population have zero impact because thats not achievable. The test should be whether this method of feeding the population has less impact than the alternatives. On that measure, wild caught fish was hugely carbon positive in comparison to most other proteins, Dodd said. Trawlers have impact, but they use the same allotted areas and continue to catch fish in them every year. ERP: it aint ever easy The rollout of Infor was not without its challenges, but was achieved just one month later than originally planned in late 2023. Infor itself was the main implementation partner with a specialist testing company also contributing. Sealord also built its own internal project team, taking on a role akin to that of a systems integrator with the help of a very good programme manager. I guess we felt that we were the ones that cared the most and knew the most and about our industry and needs, Dodd said. One factor was totally out of Sealords control, however: while investment was close to budget, a change in international accounting standards for the treatment of cloud-based software meant most of that cost could not be capitalised and had to be expensed, dragging down the companys bottom line. As a result, Sealord reported a $4.1 million loss for the year to 30 September, 2023, down from a $6.7 million profit in 2022. Sealord was far from alone in seeing its profitability dented. In 2022, Kiwifruit coop Zespri opted to pay its New Zealand growers five cents more per tray for three years to compensate for the impact of the a change. So, is Sealords rollout finished? My answer to that is well never be finished, Dodd said. In a way, part of the journey of cloud ERP is that we can now continue that journey of growth and change and improvement. Smoothing and work on data continues While the project was delivered last November, there was still some smoothing going on. Work on data, with the help of Capgemini, continues to enable automation and reporting as does change management, mostly around people understanding and embracing Sealords new systems. Theres more accuracy and controls within this new ERP than we had, Dodd said. Probably our old environment was a little bit more forgiving. Infor also provided continuity of people, understanding and expertise throughout the roll-out and that had contributed to the success. ERP replacements were a challenging thing, but there was no point in fighting with your vendor, Dodd said. Weve chosen them to be our partner for multiple years. Were going to succeed or fail together, and we might as well get on and be friends and help each other out. On other fronts, Sealord is also working on a new Azure-based data lake and Microsoft Synapse business intelligence. Israel on October 7 marked the somber anniversary of the Hamas attack on the Jewish state that killed more than 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages as the Israeli military continued its massive air strikes on Beirut and its incursion in southern Lebanon that aims to destroy the Iran-allied Hezbollah militant group. Israeli President Isaac Herzog led a national moment of silence at 6:29 a.m., the time the attack started, at Kibbutz Reim, the site of the Nova music festival where hundreds of mostly young revelers were killed by gunmen from Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union. In Washington, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned Hamas on the anniversary, while also stating again the U.S. administration's commitment to reaching cease-fire agreements to end fighting in both Gaza and Lebanon. "On this solemn anniversary, let us bear witness to the unspeakable brutality of the October 7 attacks but also to the beauty of the lives that were stolen that day," Biden said in a statement. The Israeli military said that during the ceremony led by Herzog, four projectiles were launched from Gaza toward the same Israeli communities targeted at the start of last year's attack. The military said the ceremony was not disrupted. In Jerusalem, relatives of the some 100 hostages still in Hamas captivity, many of whom are believed dead, gathered outside the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and stood in silence as a siren wailed in a gesture of protest against what relatives say is the failure of the government to secure their loved ones' release. Following the October 7 attack, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza that has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas. The Israeli military said on October 7 that over the past year, it has bombed more than 40,000 targets in Gaza, found 4,700 tunnel shafts and destroyed 1,000 rocket launcher sites. The conflict in Gaza is still raging while Israel is now fighting on a second front in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah. Early on October 7, Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by the United States, fired rockets into the north Israeli cities of Haifa and Tiberias, causing damage and some minor injuries, Israeli police said. The European Union has blacklisted Hezbollah's armed wing but not its political unit, which holds seats in the Lebanese parliament. Amid the military activity at the individual level, the private lives of civilians throughout the region have been disrupted. In the ancient city of Beersheba in southern Israel, Irena Stein, who left Albania in 1991 to resettle in the country, told RFE/RL's Kosovo Service that life in recent times had been filled with "sadness and pain." "We had several months of rockets. Then, the number of rockets decreased, and we continued with daily life, like someone who goes on with their life after the seven days of mourning with a great pain in the heart," said Stein, who is in her late 60s. "There's this feeling like something might happen, that we should be cautious. But I believe you can't live with fear, so we've continued our lives, always praying to God that nothing happens to us." She said that in Beersheba -- where human activity can be traced to the fourth millennium BC -- things have been calm since rockets were last heard on September 29. But she lamented that throughout Israel, "We suffer from this situation, and the Palestinian people suffer from it, too." "The Lebanese people also suffer...everyone suffers. But as they say, peace must be decided at the highest level." Meanwhile, in a Lebanese mountain village southeast of Beirut, local resident Hadi Zahwe told reporters an Israeli strike on October 6 was "terrifying." "There were children killed, there were children's body parts. This enemy is targeting civilian women and children," he said. Netanyahu has insisted that Israeli forces are targeting terrorist strongholds and that civilian fatalities have been extremely low in the recent military actions. Israel in recent weeks has been bombing Beirut's southern suburbs and has staged a ground incursion into south Lebanon in its drive to wipe out Hezbollah's capabilities and leadership. The Israeli campaign on Hezbollah prompted the group's patron, Iran, to respond by attacking the Jewish state with a large wave of rockets that were largely shot down by Israeli air defenses without causing substantial damage, but the attack renewed fears of a a larger regional conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on October 6 threatened Iran that it might eventually find itself looking like Beirut or Gaza -- which has also been battered over the past year -- if Tehran attempts to further harm Israel. "The Iranians did not touch the air force's capabilities. No aircraft were damaged, no squadron was taken out of order," Gallant said in reference to the Iranian missile strike, which caused few injuries and slight damage to two air force bases. "Whoever thinks that a mere attempt to harm us will deter us from taking action should take a look at [Israels operations] in Gaza and Beirut." Israel earlier said it conducted a series of "targeted strikes" on "weapons storage facilities" and infrastructure sites that belong to Iran-backed Hezbollah. Lebanon's official National News Agency said Hezbollah's stronghold in the area was hit by more than 30 strikes. A petrol station and a medical supplies warehouse were hit by the air raids. Video footage showed huge flames and plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky as residents fled their homes in panic with explosions echoing in the background. Many observers said the attacks were the strongest yet of Israel's recent air strikes. Beiruts Skyline Lit Up Amid New Israeli Airstrikes No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:59 0:00 Israel has bombed Beirut's suburbs for days, killing Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and possibly his potential successor, Hashem Safieddine. Security sources have said Safieddine had been out of contact since October 4 after an Israeli air strike near Beirut's international airport that was reported to have targeted him. Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine. Israel says Nasrallah was killed in a strike on the group's central command headquarters in Beirut on September 27. Two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters on October 6 that Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force -- the overseas arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) -- also had not been heard from in recent days since traveling to Lebanon. Statements on October 6 out of the United States -- Tel Aviv's most important ally -- indicated some frustrations with the scope of Israel's military action. "Military pressure can at times enable diplomacy. Of course, military pressure can also lead to miscalculation. It can lead to unintended consequences," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson said Washington supported Israeli actions in going after extremist elements but added that U.S. leaders but did not approve of the targeting of civilian infrastructure. Israel says the attacks on Hezbollah are aimed at enabling the safe return of tens of thousands of citizens to homes in northern Israel, bombarded by the group since last October. With reporting by RFE/RL's Kosovo Service and AP U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the White House on September 26 after announcing billions in military aid for Kyiv, insisting again that Russia "will not prevail" in its invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskiy presented Biden with what he has referred to as his "victory plan" and again requested that the United States lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons it has provided to strike deep inside Russia at military targets. "Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and we'll continue to stand by you every step of the way," Biden said as he hosted Zelenskiy in the Oval Office after thanking him for presenting his plan. "We deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side," said Zelenskiy, dressed in a dark green military-style outfit. Biden, Zelenskiy Meet, Discuss New Aid Package For Ukraine No media source currently available 0:00 0:02:06 0:00 Zelenskiy also met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's nominee for president, later at the White House and shared his "victory plan" with her. Harris told Zelenskiy that her support for the people of Ukraine was unwavering. "The Ukrainian people are bravely defending their homes and their homeland, their freedom and their democracy against a brutal dictator," Harris told Zelenskiy at the White House. She also said that calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia were "dangerous and unacceptable." She added that suggestions from Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance (Republican-Ohio), that Ukraine should cut a deal to end the war were not proposals for peace but "proposals for surrender." Trump has said Ukraine should have made concessions to Putin in the months before Russia's invasion. At a campaign rally in North Carolina on September 25 he said, "Any deal -- the worst deal -- wouldve been better than what we have now." Biden earlier on September 26 announced more than $8 billion in military aid for Kyiv and repeated in a statement that the United States will "provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war." 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. The package includes for the first time a system called Joint Standoff Weapon -- a precision-guided glide bomb with a range of up to 130 kilometers launched from fighter aircraft -- as well as an additional Patriot air-defense battery and hundreds more Patriot missiles and AMRAAMs (advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles). Biden, who is leaving office in January, said the training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots in the United States will also be expanded, including the training of an additional 18 pilots next year. He said Washington and its partners were taking steps to disrupt a global cryptocurrency network used by Russia to evade sanctions and launder money, without elaborating. Biden added he has called a top-level meeting of the 50 or so members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany next month to better coordinate efforts to back Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression. Zelenskiy thanked Biden in a message on X. "I am grateful to [U.S. President] Joe Biden, U.S. Congress and its both parties, Republicans and Democrats, as well as the entire American people for today's announcement," he wrote. Zelenskiy is looking to shore up support for his war effort ahead of the U.S. presidential election pitting Harris against Trump, who announced he would meet Zelenskiy on September 27 in New York after a separate meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The United States, Ukraine's main supporter, and Western allies have given Kyiv billions of dollars in military aid and other assistance while also slapping several rounds of sanctions on Moscow. Few details are known about the "so-called victory plan" put together by Zelenskiy, who has been on an intensive diplomatic mission since he arrived for the annual UN General Assembly earlier this week. Zelenskiy has said the plan will be a "bridge" toward ending the conflict, while media reports said it would ask for stepped-up U.S. military and financial backing and security guarantees, as well as further sanctions on Russia. People close to Zelenskiy have said the main security guarantee that Kyiv is pursuing is NATO membership, a longtime demand that has been met with skepticism by the United States and its allies. Zelenskiy has also indicated he will again seek permission to use long-range missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russia to prevent attacks on its cities and infrastructure, a move Ukraine's allies are divided upon. The White House played down Ukraine's hopes that Zelensky's visit would achieve that goal. "I'm not expecting there to be any new announcements on this particular action or a decision coming out of this meeting," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina) said earlier that failing to allow the change in strategy would be a mistake. After meeting with Zelenskiy at the U.S. Capitol on September 26, Graham said the Ukrainian president asked for only one thing: permission to use U.S. weapons to strike "legitimate military targets" inside Russia. Graham said he believes that actions taken this week likely will determine the outcome of the war and that outcome will be "dire" for Ukraine if there is no change in the military strategy. "If you continue the policy of holding Ukraine back because you are worried about escalation, you will doom them to lose," Graham told reporters after meeting Zelenskiy. The Ukrainians "don't need just nice statements anymore. They need the capability to get [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to the table. And that will only come when you can hurt Putin militarily." If Biden really wants Ukraine to prevail, he must allow Zelenskiy to execute his plan, he added. Zelenskiy told senators the plan is to hit specific targets, including air bases, that the Russian military uses in its attacks on Ukraine. Zelenskiy believes that attacking those targets would give him leverage to get Putin to negotiate, and Graham said he believes that too. As the diplomatic efforts took place, Ukraine felt the brunt of Russian attacks on September 25 and 26. At least eight people were killed and 44 wounded, regional officials reported. A child was wounded in Kyiv as the Ukrainian capital and more than 10 other regions came under a wave of Russian strikes early on September 26. Vadym Filashkin, the governor of Donetsk, said four people were killed and 19 were wounded across the region whose civilian areas were shelled 28 times. In Kherson, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said, two people were killed and 14 were wounded. A 62-year-old woman was killed in a rocket attack in the Odesa region, according to Governor Oleh Kiper, while one person died in Russian shelling of the Sumy region. Overnight shelling of the southern Zaporizhzhya region wounded eight people, one seriously, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had captured Ukrayinsk, a town in Donetsk some 30 kilometers south of Pokrovsk, a key hub that has been in Moscow's crosshairs for the past few months. Israel stepped up its massive air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs in its drive to wipe out Hezbollah's capabilities and leadership, even as the world awaits with trepidation the October 7 anniversary of the bloody attack on Israel by Hamas -- which, like Hezbollah, is a U.S.-designated terror group with ties to Iran. Meanwhile, Tehran said it had lifted all flight restrictions after earlier announcing it was closing Iranian airports as of 9 p.m. on October 6 until 6 a.m. on October 7, citing "operational restrictions," at a time when Israel is weighing options for its response to Iran's recent massive missile strike on its territory. State media said the restrictions were lifted after ensuring favorable and safe conditions. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on October 6 threatened Iran that it might eventually find itself looking like Beirut or Gaza -- which has also been battered over the past year -- if Tehran attempts to further harm Israel. "The Iranians did not touch the air force's capabilities. No aircraft were damaged, no squadron was taken out of order," Gallant said in reference to the Iranian missile strike, which caused few injuries and slight damage to two air force bases. "Whoever thinks that a mere attempt to harm us will deter us from taking action should take a look at [Israels operations] in Gaza and Beirut, where Israel is battling fighters of Hamas, which has been deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and EU. Israel earlier said conducted a series of targeted strikes on weapons storage facilities and infrastructure sites that belong to Iran-backed Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been designated by the United States as a terror group, while the European Union has blacklisted its armed wing but not its political unit, which holds seats in the Lebanese parliament. Lebanon's official National News Agency said Hezbollah's stronghold in the area was hit by more than 30 strikes. A petrol station and a medical supplies warehouse were hit by the air raids. Video footage showed huge flames and plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky, as residents fled their homes in panic with explosions echoing in the background. Many observers said the attacks were the strongest yet of Israel's recent air strikes. "Last night was the most violence of all the previous nights," Hanan Abdullah, a resident of the Burj al-Barajneh area in Beirut's southern suburbs, told Reuters. "Buildings were shaking around us and at first I thought it was an earthquake. There were dozens of strikes -- we couldn't count them all -- and the sounds were deafening," Israel has bombed Beirut suburbs for days, killing Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and possibly his potential successor, Hashem Safieddine. Security sources have said Safieddine had been out of contact since October 4, after an Israeli air strike near Beiruts international airport that was reported to have targeted him. Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine. Israel says Nasrallah was killed in a strike on the group's central command headquarters in Beirut on September 27. Two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters on October 6 that Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force -- the overseas arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) -- also had not been heard from in recent days since traveling to Lebanon. Senior Hezbollah member Mahmoud Qmati, when asked about Qaani's whereabouts, told Reuters: "I have no information. We are also searching for the truth of this matter. Statements on October 6 out of the United States -- Tel Aviv's most important ally -- indicated some frustrations with the scope of Israel's military action. "Military pressure can at times enable diplomacy. Of course, military pressure can also lead to miscalculation. It can lead to unintended consequences," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in statement. The spokesperson said Washington supported Israeli actions in going after extremist elements but added that U.S. leaders but did not approve of the targeting of civilian infrastructure. "Every civilian casualty is one too many," the spokesperson said. Israel said on October 5 that its forces had killed 440 Hezbollah fighters in ground operations in southern Lebanon and destroyed 2,000 Hezbollah targets. Nine Israeli soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon so far, the authorities said. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon in the latest conflict, most of them since September 23. Israel says the attacks on Hezbollah are aimed at enabling the safe return of tens of thousands of citizens to homes in northern Israel, bombarded by the group since last October. The Israeli forces were on high alert ahead of the first anniversary of an attack on October 7 last year, which sparked the war and was carried out by Hamas. According to Israel tallies, some 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage in the unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel. Israeli police on October 6 said several people had been injured in a suspected shooting attack in Beersheba, a city in southern Israel. One attacker was killed, the ambulance service said. Separately, health officials in Hamas-run Gaza reported on October 6 that at least 41,870 Palestinians have been killed in the territory in the yearlong war between Israel and Palestinian militants. Palestinian officials said that an Israeli strike on a mosque in Gaza early on October 6 killed at least 19 people who were sheltering after being displaced from their homes near the town of Deir al-Bala. The Israeli military said the strike was targeting militants. The reports could not immediately be confirmed, but the Associated Press said one of its journalists counted the bodies at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital morgue. AP also reported that hospital records showed that the fatalities from the mosque strike were all men. Israel said its forces on October 6 surrounded the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza in response to indications that Hamas was rebuilding its operational capabilities in the area. Israel is also considering a retaliatory strike on Iran, which fired at least 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad visited Kharg island on October 6, amid concerns that Israel could target Iran's largest oil terminal there. "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] Navy plays an important role in the security of oil and gas facilities," Paknejad was quoted as saying at the facility, from which around 90 percent of Iranian oil exports are shipped. In Syria, state media and local rights monitors said an Israeli air strike targeted three cars in the city of Homs, although details remained sketchy. Israeli forces have for years been striking Iran-linked targets in Syria and have intensified such actions since the October 7 attacks. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP "For the first time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat to the use of nuclear weapons. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis," U.S. President Joe Biden said in 2022. The stark warning came after Russia's Vladimir Putin, suffering major setbacks in his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and forced to draft hundreds of thousands of civilians to bolster the military, said his government would "use all the means at our disposal" if Russia's territorial integrity was threatened. It was not the first time he had invoked the possibility of using nuclear weapons in connection with the war in Ukraine. "This is not a bluff," he said in a September 21, 2022, speech announcing a partial military mobilization. Despite Putin's rhetoric, Western officials have indicated they have seen no material preparations for a nuclear strike by Russia, and some experts have pointed out that the weapons "are not that useful to achieve military objectives." While a Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine seems unlikely, the risk of a new nuclear arms race continues to grow. Russia and the United States have withdrawn from several key arms control treaties over the past years, with only one -- the New START treaty -- still in force and due to expire in 2026. Russia says its participation in the treaty, which limits the numbers of nuclear warheads, launchers, and bombers the two signatories can deploy, is suspended, although it has promised to abide by the limits for now. If New START expires without a replacement, the two major nuclear powers -- for the first time since the START I treaty entered force 30 years ago, in 1994 -- will have no restrictions on how many nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles they can deploy. The erosion of nuclear arms control treaties began in the early 2000s, when the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Signed in 1972, this was one of the first treaties -- along with the interim agreement that resulted from the first Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, or SALT I, limiting deployed warheads, from the same year -- that aimed to avoid an arms race by maintaining parity between the Soviet Union and the United States. The ABM Treaty was designed to eliminate one of the reasons that the United States or Soviet Union would require a large arsenal: With only a limited capability to shoot down incoming missiles, there would be less need for overwhelming numbers of warheads. With the U.S. withdrawal, Russia immediately declared it would no longer abide by the limits agreed to in the START II treaty, which both powers had decided to adhere to even though the treaty had not formally entered into force. The next major bilateral treaty to fall was the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which banned ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The United States had long accused Russia of noncompliance with the treaty, with the Obama administration finding that a cruise missile tested by Russia in 2014 violated the treaty's range limits. The Trump administration announced that it would withdraw from the treaty in October 2018, with Russia responding in kind. These bilateral arms control treaties brought down the number of warheads from a peak of over 60,000 when the INF treaty was signed in 1987 to less than 10,000 when New START was signed in 2011. New Adversaries In addition to Russia's alleged violations of the INF treaty, the Trump administration cited China's nonparticipation and the need to prepare for a potential conflict in the Southern Pacific. China's expansion of its nuclear arsenal poses an obstacle to nuclear negotiations that did not exist during the Cold War, when non-American and Soviet arsenals -- and ambitions -- were small enough to ignore. Under U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States linked the prospects of a new nuclear agreement with Russia to the idea that China should join New START or another trilateral nuclear treaty. Last year, the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States found that the United States "will no longer be able to treat the Chinese nuclear threat as a 'lesser included case' of the Russian nuclear threat." According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China is significantly expanding its nuclear forces and may have deployed "a small number of its warheads" in 2023. It is expected to continue growing its forces over the next decade and could match American or Russian numbers of deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles in that time, although its overall number of warheads would remain lower. Whether the world sees a massive expansion of the number of warheads stockpiled and deployed if New START is allowed to expire without a replacement remains unclear. According to Daryl Kimball, head of the Arms Control Association, the United States and Russia have more efficient ways to increase the size of their deployed arsenals. After the treaty expires, "they will both have the capacity to double the number of deployed warheads by 'uploading'," meaning increasing the number of nuclear warheads present on delivery systems that are already deployed. Pranay Vaddi, the U.S. National Security Council's senior director for arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation, says that while the United States must be prepared for the constraints set out in New START to "disappear without replacement," the United States does not "need to increase [its] nuclear forces to match or outnumber the combined total of [its] competitors." Considering the United States' existing second-strike capability, it makes sense that more is not necessarily better. Just one submarine out of between eight and 10 at sea at any time carries some 100 warheads, enough to "obliterate a large country and kill many tens of millions of people," according to Kimball. Despite the impossibility of even Russia's and China's combined nuclear forces launching a successful first strike -- one that would knock out the United States' ability to cause catastrophic damage in response -- the United States might be headed for increases in its nuclear forces. The Strategic Posture Commission's report on preparing for threats from 2027 through 2035 states that the U.S. nuclear force must be "either larger in size, different in composition, or both" if it is to address both a revisionist Russia and a China that the report claims are "pursuing a nuclear force buildup on a scale and pace unseen since the U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms race that ended in the late 1980s." More, More, More The commission's report goes on to recommend that the United States urgently upload more warheads to its deployed carriers, deploy, or base nuclear forces to the Asia-Pacific theater, increase planned numbers of nuclear-capable bombers, look into fielding road-mobile nuclear missile carriers, which are not currently in the U.S. arsenal, and prepare to deploy the future Sentinel ICBM in a configuration that carries multiple independent re-entry vehicles (currently, each Minuteman III ICBM only carries one warhead, as a result of limits imposed by New START). At the same time, Russia is also pouring resources into upgrading its arsenal, with a recent test of a new type of heavy ICBM, the RS-28 Sarmat, apparently having failed. The Sarmat is one of six weapons that Putin unveiled at his 2018 annual address, where a video animation showed Russian missiles flying toward a target resembling Florida. Two U.S. analysts recently claimed to have found a likely deployment site for another one of Russia's nuclear-capable "invincible weapons" heralded by Putin in 2018, the Burevestnik. Russia has also raised the specter of resuming nuclear testing, preparing facilities on the island of Novaya Zemlya, where the Soviet Union tested the largest nuclear bomb ever detonated. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. On September 24, 2024, the Green Finance Conference, organized by AmCham Azerbaijan in partnership with Yelo Bank, successfully concluded. Held on the eve of COP29 and within the framework of the Year of Solidarity for the Green World, the conference brought together local and international experts to discuss key topics on the financial sector's sustainability agenda. The primary goal of the conference was to connect local perspectives with global expertise, fostering the exchange of ideas on sustainable finance and green investments. In their opening remarks, Dayanat Sadullayev, President of AmCham Azerbaijan, Shahin Mahmudzadeh, Director General of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, Gunay Jalilova, Head of AmCham's Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee, and the Deputy Chairman of Yelo Bank, emphasized the importance of integrating sustainable financial principles into Azerbaijan's economic and financial sectors. They also highlighted the pivotal role of the conference in advancing this mission. The event featured three panels covering the topics: Sustainable Market Opportunities, Sustainable Financial Products, and Green Finance Investments and Infrastructure. The first panel, moderated by Stephanie Stallmeister, Country Manager of the World Bank in Azerbaijan, featured speakers such as Murad Sadigov, Director of Masdar in Azerbaijan, Khayala Naghiyeva, CFO and Board Member of Azerbaijan Green Energy Company, Taciano Custodio, Head of Sustainability at Rabobank Brazil, and Irem Barzilay, Head of Sustainability at Garanti BBVA. In her presentation, Stephanie Stallmeister introduced Azerbaijan's Climate and Development Report, emphasizing the country's progress toward its climate goals. The second panel, moderated by Leyla Huseynli, Sustainable Finance Specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), included discussions from Kirilo Mukhomedzyanov, Operations Specialist at IFC, Nurlan Hajiyev, General Director and Regional Manager at Visa Azerbaijan, Ana Osadze, Head of ESG & Sustainability at the Bank of Georgia, and Farid Abushov, Chairman of the Executive Board at Unibank. The panelists shared insights on green portfolio development, green and blue bonds, and innovative green computing methods. The third panel, moderated by Vugar Namazov, CEO of Unicapital, focused on Green Finance Investments and Infrastructure. Panelists addressed important issues, from the effective use of technology to preventing greenwashing. Speakers included Manas Gizhduaniyev, Chairman of the Astana Green Finance Center (AIFC), Samra Talishinskaya-Abbasova, Sustainability Manager at Unibank, Boris Janjalia, Team Lead of IFCs ESG Advisory Group, and Ruslan Khalilov, Chairman of the Board of the Baku Stock Exchange. Through its active participation in such initiatives, Yelo Bank continues to support Azerbaijans transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy. As part of the Bank's ongoing Green Savings campaign, a tree will be planted in the name of every customer who opens a savings account with Yelo by October 31. Join us in making Baku greener while earning income by placing your deposit with Yelo Bank: https://bit.ly/3AZlic7. Need more information about our banking services? Then call 981 or visit our Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, or yelo.az accounts. Yelo Bank Brighter Banking! BUCHAREST -- The pain was unbearable, says Ion Andrei when describing the 13 days he spent in the intensive care unit (ICU). It was so excruciating, he says, that he couldn't even move. The 72-year-old had gone for a routine checkup at the hospital after complaining of abdominal pain. The news wasn't good: Andrei was diagnosed with cancer and the recommended course of action was palliative care -- the branch of medicine that focuses on symptom relief rather than the treatment of the underlying disease. After recovering from surgery, Andrei was admitted to a different facility, Casa Sperantei, a private palliative-care unit in Romania's capital. It was a night-and-day difference between the care at Casa Sperantei and in the state ICU, Andrei says from the lakeside facility, which is surrounded by weeping willow trees. At the state hospital, there simply weren't enough staff, he explained: "It wasn't that they didn't want to [help], they just couldn't." At Casa Sperantei, he added, "there is almost a nurse for every patient." Dying well is not easy in Romania, and facilities like Casa Sperantei --which also offers subsidized and pro bono care -- are rare. With insufficient state funding and a lack of trained staff, most Romanians spend their final days in the ICU or on regular hospital wards. And with an aging population and increasing rates of chronic diseases, the need for high-quality palliative care in Romania has never been more urgent. Hospital Scandal The state of critical and palliative care has recently been thrust into the public spotlight following a scandal at the St. Pantelimon Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, where two doctors have been accused by prosecutors of causing the death of a critically ill 54-year-old patient by deliberately reducing their medication. "Palliative care in Romania is like a preschool child," said Aurelia Feraru, the head of the Oncology Department at Bucharest's St. Luke's Hospital for Chronic Disease. While working as a doctor in Ireland for several years, Feraru got firsthand experience of how other countries approach palliative care. "There is a lot of emphasis on [patients'] independence. In Romania, when we talk about a terminally ill patient, we think of a patient in bed, who is in a lot of pain and is permanently dependent on someone. The end for Romanian patients is not exactly dignified," she said, carefully choosing her words. Romania is not alone in having inadequate palliative care. According to the World Health Organization, 56.8 million people -- including 25.7 million in their last year of life -- need palliative care. But only about 14 percent of people get it. In a recent study in the Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management, Romania ranked 41st out of 81 countries in palliative-care provision. According to a 2019 government report, Romania could provide hospital beds for only 36 percent of the 5,530 patients in need of end-of-life care. Of the 176,156 people who needed palliative care annually, only 19 percent of patients received it. Twelve out of Romania's 41 counties don't have any palliative facilities at all. The Health Ministry disputes these numbers and says that the situation is not so dire. In a September 4 statement, Health Minister Alexandru Rafila, who declined an interview with RFE/RL, said that the situation had since improved and that Romania needs approximately 4,000 palliative-care beds. "We currently have 3,300," Rafila said. Not Enough Drugs But speaking to Romanian doctors, the extent of the problem is clear: palliative care is severely underfunded and understaffed. Daiana Jianu, the medical director at St. Luke's Hospital in the capital, says her hospital with 311 beds has a total of 14 nurses, working in shifts on both regular and palliative-care wards. That's totally insufficient, she adds. It isn't just the number of staff but their training, says a senior manager at a hospital in Barlad in northeastern Romania "The problem is that there is a lack of specialized doctors," said the manager, who did not want to be identified. According to the government's 2019 report, there were only 610 doctors in Romania with an additional qualification in palliative care, just over half the required amount. Drugs commonly used in end-of-life care are also in short supply. Oncology head Feraru notes that while Romania only has two types of opioids available -- fentanyl patches and morphine -- Ireland has nine varieties of morphine alone. This has all meant that an increasing number of patients and relatives are choosing to pay for private care. But facilities such as Casa Sperantei -- which can cost up to 2,000 lei ($420) a day -- are unaffordable for the vast majority of Romanians. On September 4, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced a plan to make improvements in the field, covering inpatient, home, and outpatient services, but the details remain scarce. Conversations No One Wants To Have As medical staff are keen to point out, there is more to good palliative care than drugs, equipment, and staff. It is also about providing emotional support to patients and their families. Cristina Ion, a clinical psychologist, has been working at Casa Sperantei for almost two years now. "Patients want to feel close to someone. They need acceptance, because sometimes it is difficult for them to come to terms with the past and especially the future," Ion said. "We take the time to talk to patients," said Dan Malciolu, a doctor at Casa Sperantei, and "ask them what is troubling them both in body and soul. And then we try to draw up an intervention plan to [help them]." For medical staff, sometimes the hardest part is having to explain to concerned relatives that their loved ones are nearing the end. "Family members come and ask us what we are going to do to cure the patient," Malciolu said. "The answer is usually a few seconds of silence, and [then we say] that we will do everything possible to alleviate the patient's suffering." There is a peaceful silence down near the lake at Casa Sperantei, and the air seems cleaner and fresher than in the rest of the capital. Patient Andrei is in a good mood. Apart from numerous doctors and nurses, he has seen a physiotherapist and a psychologist, he says. He's even been doing some gymnastics. When asked why he is so happy, he smiles and says he was remembering his younger days, when he was working at the Interior Ministry, liaising with the rescue and emergency services. "That's just how I've always been," he said. "My colleagues...called me 'The Joker.' Because if I'm glum, do I gain anything?" Five days before President Vladimir Putin announced that he would loosen the conditions under which Russia might use a nuclear weapon against an adversary, one of those very same nuclear weapons had a spectacularly explosive mishap. The Sarmat, Russia's newest intercontinental ballistic missile, a next-generation projectile that Putin has bragged about, erupted in an unexplained blast on September 20, leveling trees, buildings, and scorching the earth around the test silo at the Plesetsk launch facility, according to commercial satellite imagery. In his September 25 remarks to his Security Council, televised to maximize attention beyond the Kremlin's walls, Putin made no mention of the accident. But he made sure that the world -- NATO and the United States, above all -- heard what he wanted them to hear: He was updating Russia's nuclear doctrine. "The updated version of the document proposes that aggression against Russia by any nonnuclear-weapon state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear-weapon state, should be considered as a joint attack on the Russian Federation," he said. Since February 2022, when he sent tens of thousands of troops across the border to invade Ukraine, Putin has repeatedly hinted, signaled, blustered, and threatened that Russia was ready to tap into its nuclear arsenal -- the world's largest -- to defend itself. He hasn't done it yet. But he and other officials have kept up a drumbeat of threats, some veiled and some direct. And that keeps arms-control experts, military analysts, and policymakers awake at night. Until Moscow actually releases the specifies that show the doctrine -- last updated in 2020 -- has changed, it's hard to figure out what, if anything, has, says Nikolai Sokov, a former Russian diplomat and arms-control negotiator now with the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Nonproliferation. But it is certainly a signal, he said. "I did not see anything fundamentally new, everything Putin said was there for a long time," Sokov told RFE/RL. "He went much more specific on the existing policy, but he added new details, tailored to the current situation." "It represents a signal, a warning to NATO, as NATO continues to contemplate whether Western weapons should be used for long-range strikes," he said, referring to an ongoing push by Ukraine to get permission to hit more targets inside Russia. In comments to reporters the following day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that was exactly what it was intended to be. "It must be considered a specific signal; a signal that warns these countries of the consequences if they participate in an attack on our country by various means, not necessarily nuclear," Peskov said. 'This Doctrine Is A Living Instrument' For generations, Soviet and now Russian policymakers have relied on the tool of strategic deterrence in their policy toolbox -- trying to make another country do what Moscow wants by signaling, or threatening, the possible use of atomic weapons. Over the past decade, Putin has markedly increased funding for Russia's armed forces, including its nuclear arsenal. That includes new models like the Sarmat ICBM, which has been put into use despite suffering at least three previous mishaps, as well as hypersonic weapons and nuclear-powered cruise missiles. Russia's arsenal -- both strategic weapons, like long-range missiles, and less-powerful tactical weapons, like nuclear-tipped artillery shells -- is now the largest in the world; the United States is a close second. Western planners -- particularly those who stay awake at night wondering when Moscow might decide to launch its missiles -- look closely at public statements not only by the Kremlin, but also the Defense Ministry and top foreign policy officials. The Basic Principles Of State Policy On Nuclear Deterrence is the formal doctrine that spells out when the weapons will be used, and under what conditions. In 2020, officials released an updated version of the doctrine, though there were no major shifts. Moscow could use its nuclear arsenal "in response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy," it says. Many experts have focused on what might constitute an existential threat; one interpretation speculated that a popular uprising against Putin and his government might be considered to merit a nuclear response. During a business forum in St. Petersburg in June, one prominent Russian commentator called on Putin to lower the threshold for nuclear use. Putin demurred, but said he was open to revising the policy. "This doctrine is a living instrument, we are carefully watching what's going on in the world around us, and we don't exclude making changes in the doctrine," he said. Russian threats of the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine were serious enough in the months after the February 2022 invasion, according to CIA Director William Burns, who said he warned his Russian counterpart against it. But several events during the conflict have seemed to blur or even erase some of those red lines, adding more ambiguity into Western perceptions about Moscow's planning. Ukraine's use of drones to attack early-distant-warning radars, used to detect far-off missile launches, spooked Western policymakers, since that might be considered a threat to Russia's strategic defenses as spelled out in the doctrine. Putin has suggested that Ukrainian territories that the Kremlin has claimed to have annexed -- though no other country has recognized them as Russian -- would fall under the nuclear doctrine. Ukraine has continued to hit Russian forces, including with Western-supplied weapons, in many of those occupied territories, and Kyiv's stated goal is to take back all the land Russia has occupied. In August, Ukrainian forces pulled of an audacious cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region. It was the largest invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II, and may have arguably met the conditions laid out in the doctrine. NATO and the United States are now considering Ukraine's pleas to be allowed to hit targets deep inside Russia using long-range Western missiles -- something that Moscow has warned against. The Kremlin's decision to televise Putin's comments before his national Security Council was indicative that they wanted to send a message. And it came one day before Zelenskiy was to travel to the White House, where he was expected to request long-range strike permission, among other things. But Putin didn't in fact specify whether the doctrine had been formally updated, nor whether the proposal -- that a conventional attack on Russia by one country that is supported by another, nuclear-armed country -- would in fact merit a nuclear response. Putin's remarks do not mean the doctrine has changed substantially, says Pavel Podvig, senior research fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva. "In fact, if you look closely and look at the history of the issue, there really aren't that many changes," Podvig said in an interview with Current Time. "For now, everything remains just at the level of statements, and we also haven't seen any real steps toward escalation," he said. "For now, I think, we need to be on guard, but on the other hand, we shouldn't react too strongly." "There is definitely more specificity," said Xiaodon Liang, senior policy analyst for the Arms Control Association. "We should be thinking of this kind of separate from the more casual nuclear threats that Russia has been making." Luke Coffey, a former British Defense Ministry adviser and now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, says Putin's comments were aimed in part at Americans, with the U.S. presidential election just weeks away. He "is a very astute politician, and he understands how the issue of nuclear weapons plays out in the domestic debate in the United States," Coffey said. "He's a master at this propaganda and information warfare." "What was announced by Putin today wasn't really a huge departure from what Russian doctrine has been, maybe he put a finer point on the issue of a nuclear state supporting a nonnuclear state attacking Russia," he said. Todd Prince reported from Washington A resident of Zaporizhzhya told RFE/RL it was a "miracle" that he survived a Russian strike on his home in the southern Ukrainian city. At least nine people were wounded on September 26 after the city was targeted for a fourth day in a row with glide bombs. The attack came before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was due to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. COP29 Presidency's active support is needed to fulfill commitments to protect labor rights, Deputy General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Eric Mwezi Manzi said at an international conference on Climate Change and Just Transition: The Role and Actions of Trade Unions in Baku today, Trend reports. "At last years COP28 Climate Conference, countries adopted the Just Transition Program. This is an important step forward, placing labor at the center of climate policy. For us, this program is not just a document for climate negotiators from the countries that signed the Paris Agreement. It's the result of social dialogues that involved social partners, including trade unions, in discussing climate measures. Social protection has become a key element of the just transition, including measures such as unemployment benefits and health insurance for all those affected by climate change or climate measures themselves," he explained. According to him, the issue of recognizing labor rights is equally important. "They guarantee workers' freedom of association in trade unions, the right to collective bargaining, and other fundamental labor rights established by the International Labour Organization (ILO). For the first time, fundamental labor rights were mentioned in UN climate negotiations - this is a milestone for everyone interested in protecting workers' rights. We must build on this achievement, implement it in practice, and remind countries of their obligations to protect labor rights. We need new social partners, and I hope to contribute to this process. It was encouraging that the COP29 President mentioned labor rights in his video message at the opening of the conference. We need active support from the COP29 Presidency to fulfill these commitments. We aim for all countries to integrate the principles and measures of a just transition into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Next year, when countries are expected to update their NDCs, governments must consult with trade unions to assess the social impact of climate policies, address job losses, skill development, and other important aspects," he added. This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, with its secretariat in Bonn. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel When talking about Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President and the Democratic Party candidate in the November elections, Donald Trump Jr didnt hold back, calling her a radical leftist, pointing out her upbringing and her political career. According to Trump Jr., the media and big tech are painting her as a moderate, but her far-left ideology is clear to those paying attention. Niels Schnecker: Your name is Trump, there is no way that i will not talk about some issues of elections, so i m trying to understand, it s been a very hard fought campaign, your father has worked very hard the last two years to fight against Joe biden, now all of a sudden we have Kamala Harris. Now with the appearance of Kamala Harris for me at least its been a question of how much is she an experiment of neomarxism, how much is she that hard left Trump Jr : She is the daughter of a Marxist professor, just to be clear The apple doesnt fall far from the tree. If youre the daughter of a Marxist professor, if youre rated the most leftist person in the United States Senate, which she was, if youre a career politician from San Francisco, there is a solid chance that youre a radical leftist. She is a leftist, this is what she is. The media and the US, big tech, the Democrats are trying to paint her as a moderate. Donald Trump Jr, about his fathers shooter: Very active Democrat donor When asked about the fact that about 50% of the American public, according to polls, seems to support Harris, Trump Jr. that taking a conservative stance in America often has consequences, making it harder for people to openly align with the right. He also touches on the medias influence in shaping narratives. Niels Schnecker: Agree. Yet, you have about 50% of the American public that is, according to the polls, leaning to Kamala Harris. How did the home of the brave get to the point where 50% of the people are supporting, actually, a communist. Trump Jr : Propaganda. The reality is that its hard to take a conservative stance in America, there are consequences to that. My father understands it better, theyre actually just shooting at him, that didnt just happen by accident, it happened because for the last 9 years they said he is worse than Hitler, they say this everyday and far worse. Some radicals within the movement, do that, that story was a week ago and its like it never happened, its just gone. If that was done to a Democrat by a red hat MAGA republican that would be the only thing we hear about. The shooter the other day, very active Democrat donor, sometime featured multiple times in NY Times and other left wing propaganda. Its an amazing thing, its almost like a setup and unless youre stupid, of course it was. Trump Jr. recounts the moment of his fathers shooting addressing the normalization of violence against political figures, particularly those on the conservative side. Niels Schnecker: The shooting, which was a tragic moment not only for democracy, but i imagine what it was for the family. How did you go through that moment, having your father shot through his face in public. Trump Jr : We got used to some of this stuff. If it didnt work taking my father out politically they try to impeach him twice, if that doesnt work theyll try to take his businesses, if that doesnt work theyll try to jail him and now theyre shooting at him. Unfortunately, that seems to have become the norm, created by the left wing apparatus. I was on a boat to my daughter and i get a call your father has been shot. And what happened? No one knew. So we got back home, trying to get in as quickly as possible, but they shut down all communication and got my father in a safe location, in a hospital so i didnt know anything for 90 minutes, only that he has been shot. After we knew everything is good i said By the way, that was the most badass thing i have ever seen someone do. They have a trillion dollars of free publicity from the mainstream media, which is the marketing arm of the Democrat Party On the role of influential figures like George Soros having great influence in politics, especially in eastern Europe, Donald Trump Jr points to the powerful fundraising capabilities of the Democrat machine, which receives enormous support not only from billionaires like Soros but also from the mainstream media, which he describes as the marketing arm of the Democratic Party. Niels Schnecker: Lets talk about the strength of your father opponent, we have Kamala Harris that is supported by the Soros family, that has a lot of influence in Romania, Moldova, Ukraine. We havent seen a conservative family actually creating the same type of influence as the Neomarxists have done. Trump Jr : The democrat machine are very good at fundraising, theres a long history of failure in this administration. This is an election where both parties have been in power, so people can see what they vote. Its a simple question : when were you better off? There are not people in the world that feel that they are in a prosperous place. The media will tell you whatever they need to tell you in order for them to win. They dont just have the billions come in from Soros but they have a trillion dollars of free publicity from the mainstream media, which is the marketing arm of the Democrat Party. The real people, the people of America, they get it, they see it. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Azerbaijan actively participates in international agreements aimed at combating climate change, the country's Deputy Minister of Economy Sahib Alakbarov said at an international conference on Climate Change and Just Transition: The Role and Actions of Trade Unions in Baku today, Trend reports. "In the last decade, climate change has become one of the major challenges facing the world, and to address it, global leaders, experts, and specialists gather at international conferences to find solutions. Azerbaijan is actively involved in these processes, as evidenced by a number of international events such as the International Forum on Carbon Pricing, which is currently being held in Baku. The forum is attended by representatives from the tax administrations of 40 countries, as well as officials from the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, and leading universities, including Harvard. The agenda includes discussions on important aspects of carbon policy aimed at reducing industrial sector emissions and supporting the use of environmentally friendly technologies," he said. According to him, Azerbaijan is actively participating in international agreements aimed at combating climate change. "In 1991, the country joined the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and in 2016, it ratified the Paris Agreement. According to Azerbaijans National Contribution, by 2030, the country is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent compared to 1990 levels, and by 2050, it aims to create zero-emission zones in the liberated territories. One of the key directions of Azerbaijan's policy is the support of the 'green' economy, which includes the introduction of hybrid vehicles, the disposal of old vehicles, and the development of alternative energy sources. Several large projects for the construction of solar and wind power plants are already underway in the country, such as the solar power plant project, financed by private investments, in Jabrayil," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Only one candidate will be ratified at the Fianna Fail selection convention for Roscommon-Galway to be held next week, a party spokesperson confirmed this evening, Thursday. P. Burke, a member of the party's National Executive, confirmed to the Herald that instructions issued this evening, Thursday, from Fianna Fail Headquarters and the National Constituencies Committee is that only one candidate will be selected at the convention. Mr Burke said that Roscommon-Galway delegates would now be informed of that decision. However, it's not known at this stage if the party will add another candidate to the ticket. Senator Eugene Murphy and Dr. Martin Daly are two of the five nominees who have officially confirmed their intention to contest the convention for a place on the partys General Election ticket. Earlier today, Castlerea councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice, who was also nominated, withdrew his name from the race. Another nominee, Malachy Hand, told the Roscommon Herald this evening that he would be discussing whether to contest the convention with party members, family members and indeed supporters over the coming days. Mr Hand, a 2019 Local Election candidate, said he wished to thank all those party members in the constituency for nominating him to contest the convention. Its not clear yet if the other nominee, Cllr John Keogh, has made a decision to put his name forward for the convention, which takes place on Thursday, October 3rd, in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon Town. Its expected that a ballot of members to select the candidate will take place first at the convention between 6 and 8 p.m., before the rest of the proceedings gets underway at 8 p.m.. Over 3,750 schools across Ireland are celebrating the inaugural SNA Appreciation Day today (Thursday), with the community invited to share their gratitude using the hashtag #ThankOurSNAs. This is the first year that Forsa trade union, which represents 14,000 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) has run the initiative, highlighting the vital role SNAs play in supporting students with additional needs and the school communities in which they work. We have worked closely with SNAs, schools and the Department of Education to build and develop the SNA role to where it is today, and we see further opportunities ahead to professionalise this crucial school role, explained Forsas Head of Education, Andy Pike. The enthusiastic participation of schools today underscores the strong community spirit among educators, with teachers, principals, and school secretaries coming together to recognise the invaluable contributions of SNAs, he added. Mr Pike added that negotiations with the Department of Education, on a new national contract for SNAs, are ongoing. The unions membership accounts for around two thirds of all SNAs currently working in Irish schools. Noreen O'Mahony, Chair of Forsa's Munster SNA branch, expressed her excitement about the initiative. The response to SNA Appreciation Day has been overwhelmingly positive. Schools have shown incredible support, and our colleagues in the school secretaries' branch have been instrumental in distributing materials to facilitate this celebration, she said. With four active SNA branches nationally, Forsa is committed to advocating for the recognition of SNAs as essential members of the school community. Ms OMahony emphasises the importance of valuing every staff member. The best-run schools are those where everyone, from the principal to the caretaker, feels appreciated and involved. A key objective of SNA Appreciation Day is to enhance awareness among parents regarding the essential work that SNAs do, especially in larger schools. We want parents to understand the incredible support these dedicated professionals provide in our schools. Awareness is key, and we believe parents truly appreciate the role of SNAs, concluded Ms OMahony. Punjab '95 Movie Real Story: Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra? What Happened in Punjab in 1995? The movie, centered on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has faced numerous obstacles since it was announced. Punjab '95 Movie Real Story: Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra? What Happened in Punjab in 1995? There have been a lot of questions ever since the film Punjab'95 was announced. However, the much-anticipated film Punjab 95, starring Diljit Dosanjh, has been facing a lot of issues ahead of its release as the film remains under scrutiny by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The movie, centered on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has faced numerous obstacles since it was announced. Earlier, TIFF initially described the film as uncovering murderous corruption during Punjabs period of insurgency. Advertisement Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra? The Man Behind the Story Jaswant Singh Khalra was a brave human rights activist who exposed the alleged extrajudicial killings of thousands of Sikh youth during the insurgency in Punjab. Khalra, hailing from a family of activists, led investigations that revealed the Punjab police had abducted, killed, and cremated over 25,000 Sikhs without maintaining any records. He also claimed that around 2,000 police officers were killed for refusing to cooperate with the states actions. Khalra mysteriously disappeared in 1995 and was last seen in Amritsar. Almost a decade later, after a prolonged CBI investigation, six police officers were convicted for his murder. Challenges for Punjab 95 Directed by Honey Trehan, Punjab 95 initially faced opposition from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film, originally titled Ghallughara, underwent multiple cuts and modifications, with the CBFC citing concerns about the potential to incite violence and damage India's foreign relations. Advertisement The filmmakers petitioned the Bombay High Court, but the verdict remains pending. Despite the controversy, the film was issued an A-certificate with 21 cuts. The story, which shines a light on Khalras efforts to expose injustices, continues to face delays in its release. However, the CBFC has once again asked the makers to make 120 cuts to get a green flag. (For more news apart from Punjab '95 Movie Real Story, Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra, What Happened in Punjab in 1995, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Canada PM Justin Trudeau Successfully Survives No-Confidence Vote in Parliament Other opposition parties have resisted Poilievre's right-wing policies, preventing the governments downfall. Canada PM Justin Trudeau no-confidence vote in Parliament Latest News: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau successfully navigated a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, surviving the first significant challenge to his minority Liberal government, which has seen its popularity wane after nearly a decade in power. Despite this victory, Trudeau's government is set to face more hurdles in the coming weeks. The main opposition party, the Conservatives, has pledged to try again to oust the Liberals, potentially as early as Tuesday. Advertisement The vote followed an intense debate in Parliament, during which members exchanged sharp insults and thumped their desks. In the end, the Liberals secured a 211 to 120 victory over the Conservative motion to unseat the government. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, buoyed by favorable public opinion polls, has been pushing for a snap election. His calls have grown louder since the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) ended its coalition with the Liberals earlier this month, leaving Trudeaus government more vulnerable. Advertisement Poilievre criticized Trudeau for failing to address pressing issues like the rising cost of living, a housing shortage, and increased crime, while also doubling the national debt. "After nine years of Liberal government, the promise of Canada is broken," he stated during the Commons debate. However, other opposition parties have resisted Poilievre's right-wing policies, preventing the governments downfall. After the vote, Liberal House Leader Karina Gould accused the Conservatives of "playing games" with parliamentary procedure. Advertisement (For more news apart from Canada PM Justin Trudeau no-confidence vote in Parliament Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Speleological tourism in Romanias Anina Mountains Romania's breathtakingly beautiful caves Speleological tourism in Romanias Anina Mountains Eugen Nasta, 26.09.2024, 14:00 Romania is home to roughly 12,000 caves, actually being one of Europes top countries in terms of the number and the diversity of the caves. Being of a very special beauty, the caves stand out thanks to the uniqueness of their karstic formations and the great length of the galleries, with some of them even being longer than ten kilometres. Actually, in the early 20th century, Romanian explorer Emil Racovita laid the foundation of the worlds first biospeleology institute. At that, Racovita began the mapping of the subterranean universe. If we look again at the most beautiful caves, one of Europes most beautiful such caves can be found in western Romania, in Anina Mountains. It is called the Comarnic Cave. The Comarnic Cave is one of Romanias most beautiful and wildest caves. It is 6,203 meters long, lying at an altitude of 100 meters, with a three-level development. Of them, tourists can only see the upper level, stretching along 1,750 meters. The lower level is crossed by Ponicova rivulets subterranean segment. Bogdan Badescu is the president of the Resita-based Explorers Speleological Association. At national level, Bogdan is a well-known speleologist and a former president of the Romanian Speleology Federation. Bogdan Badescu is our guide today and it is from him we found out that, in order for a cave to be formed, a soluble rock is needed. Were speaking about limestone. As for the Caras-Severin County, there are many calcareous areas there. The limestones are formed at the bottom of the seas or at the bottom of lagoons, there where there are many sea creatures, which, after they die, they remain at the bottom of the seas, while all those shells of snails and bones make a bed which gets thicker in millions of years. And thats how we get to have the present-day situation, where we have the Anina Mountains, which are more than 1,000 high, all of them being formed of limestone. Three elements are required for a cave to be formed. We need a soluble rock. We also need water, I mean water that can flow through the soluble rock, thereby dissolving it so the space can thus be formed. Then we also need the course the water can flow through. Having the rock is not enough, unless a couple of seeps exists, for the water to flow through. In a very long period of time, the water, as it flows, dissolves the limestone, more and more. If, initially, a gallery had a one-centimetre-wide seep, now it is 10 to 20 meters wide and high. Interesting to note is the fact that there are no stalactites in the Comarnic Cave, yet there are deposits of calcium carbonate, the caves earliest such deposits. With details on that, here is the president of the Resita-based Explorers Speleological Association, Bogdan Badescu: As we advance into the cave, we notice many more such calcium carbonate formations in various stages and shapes, all of them very beautiful. And, towards the middle of the cave, there where it is around 200 meters deep, as against the surface of the ground there are some huge basins which right now are even full of water. In popular terms, they are known as the Chinese walls. Their charm is very special. Another strong point of the cave is made of its silex formations. On the walls, we can see some stripes of a darker, black-brownish colour. Those are the silex interlayers. Of them, in the past, tools were manufactured, by the primitive men. It is the staple rock used for the manufacturing of the first tools. Unfriendly as it may seem, and with life circumstances being very difficult, the environment of the cave is home to adapted forms of life. A true subterranean universe. With details on that, here is the president of the Resita-based Explorers Speleological Association, Bogdan Badescu: There is a series of invertebrates which, as a rule, are one, two millimetre-long, or even less than one millimetre. Those invertebrates permanently live in the deep environment of the cave and they feed on one another, or on the trophic resources sometimes brought by the water from the surface. Apart from those invertebrate species in the cave, around one hundred, there are also the species that reach the cave accidentally. The Ponicova rivulet, especially when the river flow is high, can mostly bring crabs or frogs in the cave. Those species, for a while they live as long as they can find food and the time comes for them to die, yet they manage to survive for quite a long period of time. There also are the butterflies and the spiders who youre most likely to come across in the first dozens of meters, at the entrance of the Comarnic Cave. The symbol-species everybody knows are the bat species. They are mammals entering the cave permanently, there they have both the birth habitat but also the hibernation and sheltering habitat. Especially in winter they form quite large colonies in the Comarnic Cave . Practical info on how to visit, providing it is the director of the Semenic-Caras Gorges National Park, Nicolae Ifca, who is also the administrator of the Comarnic Cave. I recommend tourists to access the official site of the park, at www.pnscc.ro, where they can get all the info on the visiting hours for absolutely any objective that can be found in the park. In the cave we come across several halls, bigger or smaller, a great many stalactite-type formations, stalagmites, columns, but for each and every one of them we have a name given by the administration, thats for sure. Our daily timetable begins at 10:30 am with the first admission, while the last admission is at 15:30. From Monday to Friday we provide a guide to the visit, with a request to be made in advance, yet on Saturdays and Sundays we provide a guide on a permanent basis. In the Semenic-Caras Gorges National Park we find eleven nature reserves, but also 65,000 hectares of virgin and old-growth beech forests, included, in 2016, in the UNESCO world heritage list. And it is also here that we can find a rare specimen of Sequoia, whose circumference is 5.7 meters and whose estimate age is 200 years. The giant tree has been included in a route starting off right from the Comarnic Cave. Actually, the Semenic-Caras Gorges National Park Administration provides guiding services for seven tourist programs, in the protected area. The guides are the park rangers who know the area, they can offer numerous pieces of info on the local history and culture, flora a and fauna species, or ecosystems. The fee per persons for a guided programs is 70 Lei (14 Euros). The Romanian president speaks at the United Nations Organisation At the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the head of the Romanian state spoke about the security challenges nowadays Photo: presidency.ro Daniela Budu, 26.09.2024, 14:00 In the speech he delivered before the UN General Assembly in New York, president Klaus Iohannis pleaded for maintaining dialogue as an essential element for regional and global security. Iohannis also highlighted Romanias contribution to solving the present global issues from security crises, such as the war in Ukraine or the Middle East conflict, to major challenges for mankind like climate change, the erosion of human rights or cyber threats. Speaking before the world leaders in New York, Klaus Iohannis said that Romania would always support the international world order with the UNO at its core. According to Iohannis, the main challenge of the world organization is to find the much needed solutions for reestablishing and protecting peace. Otherwise, the international order and law are wasted. Romania is fully backing the peace initiative of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as being the only alternative for obtaining a just and durable peace perfectly in accordance with the UN charter and international law, Iohannis said in New York. He underlined that security isnt regional but global and the war Russia is waging on Ukraine has affected nations and people the world over. This war has caused the biggest security crisis in Europes recent history, violating the international law and having implications far beyond Europe. In this context, Romania has provided a staunch multidimensional support to Ukraine and its people and pledged to keep it as long as needed Iohannis went on to say mentioning the essential role played by Romania in easing the export of Ukrainian grain through its Danube and Black Sea ports. If we want to find solutions, we must have a more responsible outlook over the world and understand its challenges. We regrettably notice that insecurity, violence, conflicts and even war have conquered our world, Iohannis also said. The Romanian official also pleaded for more cooperation and solidarity, which would always represent a response to the world issues. Klaus Iohannis also referred to the conflict in Gaza calling for the cessation of violence and standing for the two-state solution. We are backing all the efforts of resuming the political process based on the two-state solution, coexisting in peace and security within recognized and safe borders, the Romanian president underlined. And protecting all the civilians must remain our common objective, Iohannis said in front of the UN General Assembly. (bill) BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Global action and cooperation will be discussed at COP29, the director of the International Labor Organization's Office for Workers Maria Helena Andre said at an international conference on Climate Change and Just Transition: The Role and Actions of Trade Unions in Baku today, Trend reports. It is critical to address the region's environmental challenges, from nuclear testing in Kazakhstan and the aftermath of the Chornobyl disaster to the environmental challenges in the Caspian Sea from years of oil extraction. In addition, geopolitical instability driven by interests in the region's natural resources exacerbates its fragility and jeopardizes environmental sustainability. In the upcoming discussions, we will discuss the trade unions' contribution to the preparations for COP29, as well as their involvement in the implementation of the nationally defined contributions under the Paris Agreement due next year, she said. Andre emphasized that the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, has already expressed his position in his welcome letter, and his remarks underline the importance of the common cause. The COP29 conference will discuss global action and cooperation. As the Minister noted, referring to the final tests, he emphasized the urgency with which issues of just transition and combating climate change need to be addressed. Ensuring that a just transition becomes an integral part of all Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) becomes a major challenge. At the same time, it is important that trade union organizations are not just involved in the discussions but also make commitments at the national level. One of the key aspects is the sharing of ideas, knowledge, and experiences so that all participants can benefit from such interactions, she noted. She mentioned that it has been previously mentioned that trade unions are uniquely positioned to advocate for climate justice and influence both national and global climate policies. Trade unions are at the forefront of many of today's challenges, and above all, they have a key role to play in ensuring that the impacts of climate change on workers - their lives, incomes, labor rights, and skills development - are taken into account. It is important that unions take an active role in creating the new sectors of activity that need to be developed to adapt to climate change and diversify the economy, she added. Loan for modernizing the Army Romania signed a loan agreement with the United States of almost 1 billion dollars for the modernization of the Army. Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the British Royal Forces at the Mihail Kogalniceanu base / (Photo: fb.com / Fortele Aeriene Romane) Roxana Vasile, 26.09.2024, 13:50 Romania signed a loan agreement with the United States for the modernization of the Army. The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Government headquarters, in the presence of the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the US ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, as well as the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Michael Miller. 920 million dollars will allow both the strengthening of the defense capacity, by equipping the army with modern technology, and the development of the relevant national industry, said Prime Minister Ciolacu, underlining that this significant loan shows, at the same time, the trust and the status that Romania enjoys in the relationship with its strategic partner, the United States. Marcel Ciolacu: Today Romania joins a very small group of key partner states of the United States that have so far benefited from this program developed through the US Fund for financing and I am glad that we will use this money both to strengthen Romanias defense capacity by equipping it with modern technology, and to develop the local defense industry. We will develop new production capacities in Romania, we will create jobs for Romanians and we will become relevant again in terms of the production of military equipment at the regional level. At the same time, we will have access to state-of-the-art military equipment, which will help us work together with the United States and our NATO allies to strengthen collective defense and deter threats to Romania and the countries on the Eastern flank of the Alliance. In turn, Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec believes that the signed agreement is more than a financial one, it represents the strength and resilience of the bilateral partnership, as well as the joint commitment of the United States and Romania to ensuring peace, stability and security in the region. According to Mrs. Kavalec, in the 20 years of NATO membership, Romania has demonstrated countless times that it is a reliable ally and a pillar of stability along the eastern flank of the Alliance and in the Black Sea region. By offering American funds, Washingtons goal is to ensure that Romania remains at the forefront of innovation and military equipment for many years to come, which will equally strengthen bilateral economic relations, Kathleen Kavalec added. She also mentioned, in the context of Russias aggression against Ukraine, Romanias exemplary response, from hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees to facilitating grain transit and training the Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. (LS) The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has reported that 34 dairy farms in the Central Valley have confirmed cases of the highly pathogenic H5-N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, among their herds. A CDFA representative has indicated that ongoing testing suggests that more infections are likely to be reported soon. All affected farms have been placed under quarantine, while those not impacted are actively investigating and implementing biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the virus across the state. Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies, has stated that farmers are deeply concerned about the situation and feel that it is not yet fully under control. The dairy industry is hopeful for the development of a vaccine specifically for cows that would also meet trade regulations. Although the risk to humans remains low, experts have expressed concerns that the prolonged presence of the virus on dairy farms could potentially allow it to combine with human viruses, increasing the potential threat to public . The impact of the disease on milk production is currently unknown, but Raudabaugh has reassured that it will not lead to price increases, noting that dairy products often serve as loss leaders in grocery stores. California leads the nation in milk production, with 1.7 million dairy cows generating 3.37 billion pounds of milk in August, accounting for nearly 19% of the national output for that month, as reported by the USDA. The bird flu was first detected in dairy cattle in late March, causing symptoms such as fever, reduced appetite, and significant drops in milk production, though most cows recover in about two weeks. While there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, experts caution that inadequate testing may be hiding further spread. As the virus infects different mammalian species, it may adapt to humans, heightening concerns about its potential for a pandemic. California ranks second among states affected, following Colorado, which has 64 infected herds. Idaho and Michigan follow with 32 and 29 herds, respectively. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The British Journal of Ophthalmology recently published a study highlighting a concerning rise in myopia among children, with one in three now being affected by this condition. Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is becoming a growing global issue, and predictions suggest that millions more children will be impacted by 2050. This new research, conducted by Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China, offers updated projections across six continents to assess the severity of the issue. The study encompassed 311 research studies involving over 5.4 million participants from 50 countries. The data revealed the highest rates of myopia in Asia, with 85% of children in Japan and 73% in South Korea affected. Furthermore, more than 40% of children in China and Russia are short-sighted. In contrast, Paraguay and Uganda report some of the lowest rates at around 1%, while the UK, Ireland, and the United States average about 15%. The researchers highlighted the correlation between rapid economic growth in East and South Asia and the significant increase in myopia cases. This trend was particularly pronounced among young children in the region. The study also found a link between the duration of education and myopia, suggesting that early formal education in some East Asian countries might contribute to this issue. Conversely, African populations tend to have lower myopia rates, which may be related to lower literacy levels and a later initiation of formal education, typically starting between ages 6 and 8. Looking ahead, the study forecasts a 9% increase in global myopia prevalence from 2023 to 2050, with a higher incidence expected in adolescents aged 13 to 19 compared to children aged 6 to 12. By 2050, it is anticipated that over half of adolescents and more than a quarter of younger children in these age groups will be myopic. The researchers also acknowledged limitations in their findings, including variations in study quality and differences in research design and methodology among the studies analyzed. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News OpenAI has released a new advanced voice mode feature exclusively for premium members of its popular chatbot ChatGPT. "Advanced Voice is rolling out to all Plus and Team users in the ChatGPT app over the course of the week," according to the company's post on X/Twitter. OpenAI further clarified that the rollout is not happening in the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein yet, possibly due to their regulations. The feature was launched in July for select Plus subscribers. Since then, the AI company has added features such as "Custom Instructions, Memory, five new voices, and improved accents", and also made some changes in conversational speed. The new feature was initially introduced in May with a voice called Sky which was similar to that of Scarlett Johansson in the 2013 movie "Her." The incident landed the company in legal dispute with the actress for using her voice without permission. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Within Kei segment, Honda N-Box Joy rivals Suzuki Spacia Gear and Hustler Tough Wild, Daihatsu Tanto FunCross, and Mitsubishi Delica Mini Appeal for adventure-oriented Kei cars seems to be growing in Japan. More OEMs are exploring this segment and coming up with unique designs and Honda has just unveiled their N-Box Joy with a few distinct design elements and can be turned into a small camper on wheels that you can take to most places as it gets 4WD as well. Honda N-Box Joy MPV N-Box Joy is a quirky MPV with a tiny footprint. Currently in its 3rd Generation, Honda N-Box measures 3,395 mm in length, 1,475 mm in width, up to 1,815 mm in height and has a large 2,520 mm long wheelbase. This makes it about the same size as Maruti WagonR on sale in India. As the name suggests, it looks like a box on wheels and gets vast space on the inside. Honda N-Box Joy MPV was just launched for JPY 1,844,700, which roughly translates to around Rs 10.7 lakh. The main rivals are Suzuki Spacia Gear, Suzuki Hustler Tough Wild, Daihatsu Tanto FunCross, and Mitsubishi Delica Mini. Joy-specific elements After launching the 3rd Gen N-Box last year, Honda has just introduced Joy version of N-Box with unique design trims. For starters, N-Box Joy gets a dedicated bumper with a black grill. There are more body claddings on Joy version and it gets retro-style wheels too, for that rugged appeal. Prospective buyers can explore accessories to personalise their N-Box Joy like auxiliary LEDs on bumper, decals, roof rack, spoiler and wheels options. On the inside, N-Box Joy gets dedicated water-repellant upholstery and flat-folding rear seats to liberate enough space for a small bed area as well. N-Box Joy is camper-friendly too, allowing buyers to incorporate elements like hooks, nets, awnings, foldable tables and chairs for a proper camping setup. Sliding doors allow for easy ingress and egress. Apart from these, rest of the cabin remains identical to that of regular N-Box, including the same 9-inch infotainment screen. What does it get? Under the bonnet, Honda N-Box Joy comes with either a naturally-aspirated or turbocharged 658cc 3-cylinder engine. Former has 58 bhp and the latter has 64 bhp, both mated to a CVT gearbox. Honda offers both 2WD and 4WD options with N-Box Joy, unlocking more versatility of this Kei car. While 90% of vehicles marketed as an SUV in India get FWD layout, things are different in Japan. Here, tiny Kei cars with tiny engines also get 4WD capability, making them more capable when going off the road. Many of these vehicles are lifestyle-oriented too. From Honda, N-Box is such vehicle, especially in the new Joy version. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Gulf Cooperation Council's Support and Monitoring Manager Talal Al Shaikh believes that the upcoming COP29 in Baku will give the world's countries a chance to discuss and make fundamental decisions on decarbonization, Trend reports. He made this statement in Baku during a panel discussion on Cooperation on Renewable Energy Sources (RES), Clean Energy, Electricity, and Water Projects within the framework of the second Azerbaijan-Persian Gulf Economic Forum. The Gulf countries have a great experience on the issues of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, construction of renewable energy sources (RES), integration of electricity from RES into the general power grid of a country, and green hydrogen. All of the above issues are on the COP29 agenda, and this climate summit will be a chance to achieve important world results in this, Al-Shaikh said. He added that most of the Gulf countries are oil and gas-producing countries. However, our mission is to develop technologies to minimize harm to the environment and share our accumulated experience, including with Azerbaijan, he said. Baku is hosting the second Azerbaijan-Persian Gulf Economic Forum (the first one was held in 2017). To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,000-80,000 foreign guests. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 26. The Chairman of the Cabinet of the Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov and Sachiko Imoto, Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), have discussed key projects in Kyrgyzstan requiring substantial financial investment, Trend reports. According to the cabinet, during the meeting, Japarov highlighted several significant initiatives, including the construction of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant, which has a capacity of 1,860 megawatts and an annual energy output of 5.6 billion kilowatt hours. The project is estimated to require around $5 billion. The chairman also emphasized the importance of developing water supply and sewage systems in Kyrgyzstan, which includes building irrigation channels and providing social housing through the state mortgage company. Japarov reiterated the government's commitment to accelerating the country's socio-economic development, aiming to transition from an export-based model to an industrial and innovative economy. He noted that over the past three years, the economy has grown by an average of 7 percent, and the consolidated state budget has more than doubled. "We are open to new ideas and solutions that will help us achieve sustainable development and prosperity for our country," Japarov concluded. JICA is the biggest bilateral development aid organization in the world, with an annual operating budget of over $15 billion. JICA plays a significant role as official development assistance for Japan. JICA serves as Japan's ODA's "one-stop shop," offering a variety of services such as grants, financing and investment, volunteers, technical cooperation, and private sector partnerships. As one of the world's largest bilateral aid agencies, JICA operates in more than 150 countries and regions and has approximately 90 overseas offices. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 26. Turkmenistan's Demiryollary (Turkmen Railways) OJSC is rolling up its sleeves and striking while the iron is hot, chatting with foreign companies to give the country's railway infrastructure a much-needed facelift at the international transport and mobility exhibition InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin, Trend reports via the OJSC's statement. The event brought together the cream of the crop, with company representatives rubbing elbows with top-notch railway equipment manufacturers like Spains Talgo, Frances Alstom, Switzerlands Stadler Rail, the Czech Republics Skoda Transportation, and Croatias TZV Gredelj. According to the statement, the meetings aim to cast a wide net on delving into cutting-edge technologies and sharing know-how, paving the way for innovative solutions in Turkmenistan's transport infrastructure. The InnoTrans 2024 exhibition features 2,940 companies from 59 countries offering cutting-edge solutions in the fields of railway technology, infrastructure, and public transport. Demiryollary OJSC is part of the Ministry of Industry and Communications of Turkmenistan and plays a key role in developing the country's transport infrastructure, providing passenger and freight railway services. The company serves approximately six million passengers annually and actively participates in international transport, offering competitive rates for export, import, and transit cargo through Turkmenistan and to the CIS countries, the Baltic, Europe, and Asia. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 25. On the margins of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, the necessary documents were submitted to the UN Secretariat for the registration and publication of the Treaty between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the demarcation of the Uzbek-Kazakh state border in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the Organization, Trend reports. The Treaty was signed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on December 22, 2022, during the state visit of the Head of Kazakhstan to Tashkent and entered into force on July 4, 2023. This document is the result of many years of joint collaboration on the international legal registration of the Uzbek-Kazakh state border. During the meeting, which took place on September 25, 2024 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, the heads of the Foreign Ministries of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan noted that the registration of the Treaty on the Demarcation of the State Border in the UN Secretariat is an unprecedented experience for the countries of the Central Asian region. The historical significance of the document was emphasized and it was noted that this event is another confirmation of the commitment of the two countries to the principles of good-neighborliness and eternal friendship, the spirit of allied relations, their readiness for mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of common prosperity, and also contributes to the further strengthening of security and stability in Central Asia. SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have held discussions regarding the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Zarafshan River, Trend reports. The meeting took place between Uzbekistan's Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov, and Tajikistans Chairman of the State Committee for Investment and State Property Management Sulton Rahimzoda during the ninth annual AIIB (Asian Development Bank) governors' meeting in Samarkand. During the talks, the parties reviewed the progress of agreements made during the state visit of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Tajikistan in April this year. They also addressed ways to enhance the activities of the joint Uzbek-Tajik investment company and agreed on several priority areas for collaborative project implementation with the involvement of the funds resources. As a result of the negotiations, a framework for close cooperation was established to accelerate the implementation of the discussed projects and initiatives. To note, the AIIB is holding its first-ever Central Asia Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors under the theme "Building Resilient Infrastructure for All" on September 25-26, 2024, in the city of Samarkand. The two-day event will feature more than 25 panel discussions on innovations in infrastructure financing, climate resilience and sustainable development, and digital transformation of infrastructure projects. SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Iran has increased by 18 percent to $503 million over the past five years, Trend reports. This became known during the meeting between Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov and Minister of Economy and Finance of Iran Abdolnaser Hemmati on the margins of the 9th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) taking place in Samarkand. The sides noted that the number of joint ventures has tripled in the last five years and now stands at 254 units. The meeting also reviewed the current state and prospective areas of further development of Uzbek-Iranian trade, economic, and investment cooperation. The parties agreed on several measures to intensify mutual trade, concerning the creation of a favorable trade regime and the development of cooperation in the field of e-commerce. The dates of the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission between Uzbekistan and Iran and a joint business forum, which will attract major Iranian companies to strengthen cooperation between representatives of business circles of the two countries, have also been set. Following the meeting, the sides also reached agreements to speed up the development of bilateral documents in the field of insurance and the creation of mechanisms for joint financing of major projects. To note, the volume of trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Iran reached $255.8 million from January through July. This indicator decreased by 17.2 percent compared to the same period last year ($299.9 million). SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 26. On September 26, the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov held a meeting in Samarkand with the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister of Finance and National Development of Singapore Indranee Rajah, Trend reports. During the conversation, the role of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which is an important platform for promoting regional cooperation and economic growth, was emphasized. The interest of the Uzbek side in deepening cooperation with the AIIB and with Singapore, as one of the founding members of the Bank and a country demonstrating a commitment to strengthening international economic ties and developing sustainable infrastructure in Asia, was expressed. Prospects for expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation with Singapore were discussed. Over the past seven years, trade turnover has doubled, and the volume of Singaporean investments has reached almost $ 1 billion. Systematic work has been established to timely implement investment agreements worth $ 3.9 billion, reached during high-level visits in 2023. These are major projects in the chemical industry, strategic asset management, construction of logistics centers, agriculture and education. MIPT provides targeted support for each project. Following the meeting, the parties agreed on the dates for the next Uzbek-Singapore business forum and identified promising areas for cooperation: infrastructure development, smart agriculture, information technology, production of electrical products, and healthcare. SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, September 27. The 9th meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has ended in Samarkand, Trend reports. It was attended by heads of the ministries of investment and finance of more than 100 countries - members of the AIIB, about 2 thousand representatives of governments, multilateral banks, experts, heads of large companies and investment funds, and the media. One of the final meetings on the sidelines of the event between the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov was the talks with the Secretary of Economic Relations of the Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Shahriyar Kader Siddiqui. Since the beginning of the year, mutual trade between the two countries has grown by 43%. 45 new enterprises have been opened. In this context, the parties outlined a number of comprehensive measures to increase the volume of cooperation. Among the main ones: signing a roadmap to increase agricultural exports to $ 100 million in the coming years, developing a draft agreement on the prevention of double taxation and opening exhibitions of national products of the two countries on a reciprocal basis. Following the meeting, the parties agreed on the organizational aspects of holding the next 4th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission for the timely implementation of all discussed issues and a business forum with the participation of business circles of the two countries. Al Jones Von Washington Jr. makes comments during the Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 launch of Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. Al Jones Eric Cunningham has a moment with his baby daughter during the Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 launch of Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. Al Jones An audience of about 120 people gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 for the launch of Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. Al Jones An audience of about 120 people gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 for the launch of Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. Al Jones An audience of about 120 people gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 for the launch of Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. Al Jones From left, former Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell introduces partners in the new Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. They include Jamauri Bogan, Eric Wimbley, Von Washington Jr., and Dwayne Powell Jr. This story is part of Southwest Michigan's Second Wave's On the Ground Kalamazoo series KALAMAZOO, MI Enterprising entrepreneurs, innovative creators, and overlooked small business operators have a new source of venture capital, Southwest Michigans first Black-owned investment fund.The new $50 million Kalamazoo Forward Ventures was launched Tuesday by a group of professionals who have established themselves in real estate development, finance, business management, area government, and technology.Kalamazoo Forward Ventures is a fund that will be investing in under-represented business founders, driven innovators, and unique start-ups, says Jamauri Bogan, a general partner in KZFV and chief executive officer of Bogan Developments.Its mission is to provide early-stage investments to growth-oriented but often under-represented businesses. Partner Dwayne Powell Jr. says those include businesses owned by minorities, women, the handicapped, the LGBTQ community, and anyone who is not at the table.We understand that traditional businesses are oftentimes being funded and started by traditional white males, says Powell, who is CEO and Co-founder of UAE Workforce Solutions. He said the new fund is an answer to the question: So how do we support people outside of that group?The fund, which was officially launched with a reception on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, at the Kalamazoo Country Club, is not a philanthropic venture. Former KalamazooMayor Bobby Hopewell, who is a general partner in Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, says it is a for-profit organization. So were going to work and invest and look at how we grow. And were going to try to build profits for this organization as well so that we can do this again and again and again.He says the fund will make some mistakes as it gets started but it will strive to empower individuals who refuse to be defined by traditional limits. Thats the space that we want to see in our community grow, build, and gain opportunities to change this place; to create a generation of entrepreneurs that look different than what we see today.The fund plans to invest in three focus areas: Venture Capital making investments in technology and high-growth start-up companies; Real Estate providing funding to lead residential and mixed-use property development projects; and Mainstreet Projects providing capital and connections to support the economic vitality and growth of mainstreet businesses.This is a day of opportunity for visionary entrepreneurs struggling to find start-up capital and assistance, says Eric Wimbley, CEO and Founder of First Line Risk Management and a managing partner of KZFV.Bogan says, Our real estate side will focus on affordable housing here in Kalamazoo, And our Mainstreet fund will work on improving our ecosystem and investing in the growth of our businesses here.Mainstreet includes such things as barber shops, restaurants, retailers, and manufacturers.I think its a great idea because were investing in people who have been disenfranchised for a long time, says Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema, one of about 120 people to gather on Tuesday evening. If we can invest in their businesses and their ideas and have it revolving and give them the tools they need to succeed right along the way, its a great day.Twala Lockett-Jones and Kenneth Jones, owners of Lockett-Jones Realty in Kalamazoo, say theyre excited about the possibilities.I think it is amazing, especially for under-represented people of color and women, says Lockett-Jones. I think this is going to be a game-changer for us.Along with Bogan, Hopewell, Powell, and Wimbley, the Kalamazoo Forward Ventures partners include: Eric Cunningham, former member of the Kalamazoo City Commission; Daniel Jefferies, founder of Newmind Group; and Von Washington Jr., executive director of community relations for The Kalamazoo Promise.We all have done similar types of work investing and taking a look at it, says Washington, who is also a former associate vice president at Southwest Michigan First. And every time you look at it, you realize there are gaps for individuals who just havent had the access and the opportunity. So we just got talking about it and said hey its time to do something. What can we do to try to help our community? And it looked like the best way to do it is to invest in people and their ideas.Powell says, All of us have been working in the community for 10-plus years and weve seen that there is a gap in our funding where we know that we needed something for us, by us that created opportunities for the under-represented.He says the $50 million was acquired from several limited partners.Our goal is for this to be the first round and then we come out with a second round, Powell says. Our goal is to have this ongoing and make this extremely profitable so we can have more investors in the future. Its our goal to grow this and to create more impact and to have it ongoing.Speaking of the citys role in supporting economic growth, Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson says, Our whole intent is addressing intergenerational poverty. And youre not going to do that with an expanded social welfare system. You have to give people an opportunity to build a life of their dreams. And this is another piece of the puzzle to do that.Pamela Roland, director of Kalamazoo Junior Girls Organization, says she is excited about the initiative and the people behind it. But she wants to know more.Im just waiting to see in which ways we, as a community, can come together to help out the businesses and the various partners, Roland says.Washington says KZFV really wants to invest in human capital to change the human condition. People with plans will be invited to pitch them for funding. But their plans have to be vetted and the idea has to have some merit and be ready to go.We hope that it provides access for individuals who have great ideas but just havent been able to put those ideas together with the process and with the funds that they need to be able to dream big, says Washington, who is and will continue to serve as executive director of community relations for The Kalamazoo Promise.So we hope that someone will see us tonight and go Wow, I can dream. We want to be a part of that process and that journey for many individuals who are at home stuck on 1 (the first step) because they cant think about what it might cost. John Grap Sylas and Joy Leger attended the Village Networks Rice and Flavor event at Kellogg Arena. John Grap Attendees sample rice during the Village Networks Rice and Flavor event at Kellogg Arena. John Grap Samples of some of the rice at the Village Networks Rice and Flavor event at Kellogg Arena John Grap Samples of some of the rice at the Village Networks Rice and Flavor event at Kellogg Arena John Grap Franklin Ballard, left, and Mildred Mallard attended the Village Networks Rice and Flavor event at Kellogg Arena. John Grap Attending the Village Networks Rice and Flavor event at Kellogg Arena, are from left, Ahixa Diaz, Celia Diaz, and Elvia Diaz. London stocks were set to rise at the open on Thursday following strong gains in Asia. The FTSE 100 was called to open around 45 points higher. Naeem Aslam, chief investment officer at Zaye Capital Markets, said: "US and European futures are trading higher as traders and investors pick up the momentum from Asia, where the sentiment has been positive. "The recent economic measures taken by the central bank in China have given much confidence to traders over in Asia, and this has resulted in strong gains for stock indices such as the CSI - the index has recorded its seventh consecutive day in a row of being in positive territory." On home shores, a survey showed that consumer confidence fell in September as people waited anxiously for next months Budget. According to the British Retail Consortiums latest consumer sentiment monitor - which asks about expectations for the coming three months - concerns about both the economy and personal finances have worsened. The personal financial situation fell to -6 from 1 in August, while the state of the economy slumped to -21 in September from -8. Personal spending on retail edged up one point to -8. But personal spending overall was a point lower at 10. The BRC attributed the shaken consumer confidence to the upcoming Budget, with new chancellor Rachel Reeves due to address Parliament on 30 October. The government has repeatedly warned of a 22bn "black hole" in the public finances. In August, shortly after taking office, prime minister Kier Starmer said the Budget was going to be "painful". Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: "Retailers could face a turbulent few months. Negative publicity surrounding the state of the UKs finances appears to have damaged confidence in the economic outlook, particularly among older generations. "The Budget is a key opportunity to inject some confidence back into the economy, boosting spending and helping to foster much needed investment in businesses." In corporate news, drinks maker Diageo maintained guidance amid a "challenging" global environment for the industry. In a brief trading statement ahead of its annual general meeting, chief executive Debra Crew said consumers continued to be "cautious". Diageo in July reported a drop in full-year organic operating profit as it pointed to a weaker performance in Latin America and the Caribbean Elsewhere, Halma backed its guidance for the full year as it said further progress was made in the first half in trading conditions "which remain varied across our end markets". Consumer confidence fell in September, a well-regarded survey showed on Thursday, as people waited anxiously for next months Budget. According to the British Retail Consortiums latest consumer sentiment monitor - which asks about expectations for the coming three months - concerns about both the economy and personal finances have worsened. The personal financial situation fell to -6 from 1 in August, while the state of the economy slumped to -21 in September from -8. Personal spending on retail edged up one point to -8. But personal spending overall was a point lower at 10. The BRC attributed the shaken consumer confidence to the upcoming Budget, with new chancellor Rachel Reeves due to address Parliament on 30 October. The government has repeatedly warned of a 22bn "black hole" in the public finances. In August, shortly after taking office, prime minister Kier Starmer said the Budget was going to be "painful". Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: "Retailers could face a turbulent few months. Negative publicity surrounding the state of the UKs finances appears to have damaged confidence in the economic outlook, particularly among older generations. "The Budget is a key opportunity to inject some confidence back into the economy, boosting spending and helping to foster much needed investment in businesses." The Opinium survey of 2,000 UK adults was carried between 10 and 13 September. Both Reeves and Starmer looked to adopt a more positive tone at conference this week, after the survey was carried out. Videndum , an international provider of premium branded hardware products and software solutions to the content creation market, reported a 7% decline in revenue from continuing operations to 153.3m for its first half on Thursday, down from 165m a year earlier, as it warned that the full year would be below its previous expectations. The London-listed firm said adjusted operating profit fell to 11m, compared to 16.2m in the first six months of 2023, reflecting ongoing challenges in the consumer and independent content creator (ICC) segments, as well as a slower-than-expected recovery in the cine and scripted television markets. Despite the decrease in revenue and profit, Videndum said it achieved significant improvements in free cash flow, which reached 15.1m, up from a negative 3.5m in the first half of last year. Net debt was also substantially reduced to 117.3m, down from 216.1m a year earlier, and 128.5m at the end of 2023. That reduction was achieved through disciplined cost control and strategic management of capital expenditure and working capital. The company reported an operating loss of 9.2m for the period, compared to a loss of 44.3m in the first half of 2023, with losses before tax narrowing to 13.4m from 50m. Basic losses per share totalled 13.6p, compared to 100p a year earlier. Videndum renegotiated its committed revolving credit facility (RCF), which was extended with improved lending covenants, reflecting its efforts to strengthen its financial position amid depressed EBITDA levels and ongoing macroeconomic challenges. The groups leverage ratio stood at 3.3x at the end of June. Looking ahead, the company said it saw continued signs of improvement in the cine and scripted television markets, although the recovery was progressing more slowly than anticipated. The broadcast television segment is expected to benefit from major events such as the summer 2024 Olympic Games and the upcoming US presidential election. However, Videndum said it had lowered its expectations for the full 2024 financial year, due to slower-than-expected recovery in those key markets. To address ongoing challenges, the company was implementing a strategic cost-saving programme aimed at delivering at least 10m in additional permanent savings in the 2025 period. The board said it remained cautiously optimistic that the cine and scripted television markets would return to higher demand levels in 2025, and that the ICC segment would benefit from increasing sales of premium compact system cameras. Although market conditions in the first half remained challenging for Videndum, we saw signs of improvement with some post-strike recovery in the cine and scripted television market, said group chief executive officer Stephen Bird. There was continued strong demand for new premium compact system cameras; however, the macroeconomic environment affecting the consumer and ICC segments remained challenging. Given this backdrop, the group maintained its relentless focus on managing costs tightly as well as controlling capex and working capital. Bird said the company had returned to being cash-generative, with a continued reduction in net debt. Despite signs of a pickup in cine and scripted television productions, and growth in the premium camera market, the group, along with other companies in our sectors, has yet to see the anticipated improvement in orders. As a result, we now expect 2024 to be below our previous expectations. The firm was implementing a strategic cost-saving programme, Stephen Bird said, which was projected to deliver at least 10m in additional permanent savings in the 2025 financial year. The board expects the group to benefit from increased revenue as the cine and scripted television market returns to a more normalised level during 2025, and our ICC segment starts to see the pickup from the attachment of our products to recently sold cameras. Videndum remains well positioned in attractive markets with good medium-term prospects. At 0847 BST, shares in Videndum were down 18.39% at 228.5p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Rachel Reeves is pushing for the UKs tax and spending watchdog to upgrade its national growth forecasts to reflect the economic boost Labour says can be achieved from its blitz of planning reforms. In a development that could open up additional spending headroom for the chancellor before next months budget, the Treasury has held talks with the Office for Budget Responsibility to try to persuade its officials that unblocking the planning system could drive up growth. Guardian Jaguar Land Rover has said it will spend half a billion pounds to upgrade a Merseyside factory to build hybrid cars and prepare for electric vehicle production. Britains largest automotive employer officially known as JLR said it has already spent 250m on new car production lines, machinery, people and digital technology at the Halewood plant, with plans for 250m more over the coming years. Guardian Labour ministers have sought legal advice about a 1.6bn Royal Navy shipbuilding contract as the struggling British company hired for the work faces a Spanish takeover. Belfast-based Harland & Wolff, which built the Titanic, was hired alongside Navantia, a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding giant, to build three Navy vessels but Harlands decision to call in administrators last week has plunged the project into crisis. Telegraph The production of electric cars including hybrids fell by 25.9 per cent last month as demand waned, new figures show. This led to a decline in their share of overall car output to 29.6 per cent, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the car industry body. The Times The chairman of Royal Mails parent company has criticised the slow timetable of Ofcoms consultation on reform of the struggling postal operators universal service obligation. Keith Williams, 68, told International Distribution Services shareholders at Wednesdays annual meeting, that while the loss-making Royal Mail welcomed Ofcoms plans to consult, the process is frustratingly slow, with no decision due until next summer. The Times BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The commencement of trade in crude oil and oil products between Tajikistan and Iran may double the trade turnover between the two countries, Tajikistan's Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma said at a meeting with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad in Tehran on September 25, Trend reports. According to him, the trade turnover between Tajikistan and Iran amounted to $300 million last year (2023). That number is expected to increase by 60 percent this year. Juma noted that within the framework of the Iranian president's visit to Tajikistan, necessary preliminary preparations will be made to develop trade with Iran in the oil and gas sector. At present, most of Tajikistan's daily demand for crude oil and oil products is met by imports. Tajikistan has two oil refineries with a refining capacity of 500,000 tons per year to ensure its energy security, he said. Tajikistan's minister expressed interest in the active participation of Iranian companies in the Tajik market. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad also stated at the meeting that the development of economic relations between Iran and Tajikistan, especially in the energy sector, is of special importance to Iran. Effective steps have been taken in recent years to develop relations between the two countries in the economic sphere and this process will be further strengthened. The Iranian minister stated that Iranian companies can operate internationally in the field of oil and gas. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel photo: Ulj Anderson Richard Flanagan was born in 1961 in Tasmania, where he lives still. His journalism has appeared in the New York Times, the New Yorker, Le Monde and The Daily Telegraph, and he is the author of six novels, including The Sound of One Hand Clapping (1997), Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish (2001) and Wanting (2008). His newest novel, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (see our review below) is the story of Dorrigo Evans, an Australian Army colonel and surgeon captured by the Japanese during World War II and forced to work on the Burma-Thailand "Death Railway." The book was published last year in Australia, the U.K. and the Commonwealth to great critical acclaim. It was shortlisted for the 2014 Miles Franklin Literary Award--Australia's most prestigious literary prize--and has been longlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize. This book is dedicated to your father, who was a prisoner of war during World War II. Is Dorrigo Evans based on your father? Built in 1943 by 250,000 POW and Asian slaves of the Japanese through the then wilderness of Thailand and Burma, the Death Railway claimed 150,000 lives. More people died building that railway than there are words in my book. My father was a very different man than Dorrigo Evans, but it was my father's experience as a POW on the Death Railway that shaped my life growing up. I am a child of the Death Railway; The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a soul history; and Dorrigo Evans is me. You've written elsewhere that this book took you more than a decade to write and that it went through many forms. What made this process so difficult for you? After he famously walked the tightrope between the Twin Towers in 1973, Philippe Petit was arrested. As he was about to be driven away in a police car, a journalist thrust his microphone in through the police car rear window and asked Petit why. "There is no why," Petit replied. There is no why as to why I wrote this book, nor why it took it so long, nor why it is the way it is. It just is. What were some of the novel's earlier incarnations like? What made you decide on the novel's final form? A novel of linked haiku. A haibun, a Japanese travel journal form combining poetry and prose. A family epic spanning a century and a vertiginous cast. A counterfactual history in which Japan occupies Australia. An Odyssean journey narrated in the first person plural by the POWs. All were burnt. To be a writer is to be defeated by ever-greater things, but it is in the defeats that you discover all that matters. And I discovered my novel had to be a love story, and it had to be about hope. For a great love story demonstrates the great truth about love: that we discover eternity in a moment that dies immediately after. And a war story because war is the great story of death. Death illuminates love; love and hope grant the futility of life meaning. What was your research process like for The Narrow Road to the Deep North? I lived. The rest is irrelevant detail. Mostly I got up, sat down, and made it up. For the pleasure of writing is writing. If I wanted to work in research, I'd join the NSA. Having said that, I did go to Japan and tracked down some men who had been guards on the Death Railway, including one--the Ivan the Terrible of my father's camp--who had been sentenced to death for war crimes, but whose sentence was later commuted. I met him in an office at a Tokyo taxi company. I asked him to slap me as the prison guards had the POWs, and as he did, the room began to shake and toss. A 7.3 Richter scale earthquake had hit Tokyo. Realising realism never adequately conveys reality, I went back home, sat down, and started making it up again. What works of art, fiction or otherwise, influenced the novel's construction? Too many to mention, yet without them I am a compass with no north. Why did you choose The Narrow Road to the Deep North as the novel's title? Did you decide to do this early on? The haiku poet Basho's great book, the travel journal The Narrow Road to the Deep North (1689), is one of the high points of Japanese culture. The Death Railway is one of its low points. I wanted to use the forms and influences of Japanese literature, so beautiful, so profound, in the hope of divining, if only a little, a story so terrible, so inexplicable. I wanted to come to understand love and death, evil and goodness. And when I finished the novel, I realised I understood nothing. You've called this "the book I had to write if I was to keep on writing." Now that you've completed it, what will you work on next? Perhaps a novelist really only ever writes one book. Each new novel is just another chapter of that book, in search of one word that will finally divine and define their soul. And not knowing what that word is, they keep writing. And so too me. --Alex Mutter Bewilderment by Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Powers (The Echo Maker; Orfeo; The Overstory) is a novel of great pain and empathy. Focusing on a nuclear family but also concerned with ecological collapse and the possibilities of distant space, this is a heart-wrenching story with an important message to convey. Theo Byrne is an astrobiologist: he writes programs to explore, hypothetically, distant planets that may host life. His work is at the nexus of science, coding and imagination. But readers meet him first in a still more important role: that of single parent to Robin, who is just turning nine. Robin is a special child: artistic, caring, intelligent. "So far the votes are two Asperger's, one probable OCD, and one possible ADHD," but Theo resolutely resists the push to medicate him. Bewilderment begins with father and son in the Smoky Mountains on a camping trip, intended as alternative therapy following yet another outburst at school. It helps Robin immensely, but the larger world awaits. "The cars, the asphalt, the sign listing all the regulations: after a night in the woods, the trailhead parking lot felt like death. I did my best not to show Robin. He was probably protecting me, too." Robin will not tolerate lies. But how can Theo tell the truth about just how vicious our world really is? Theo's wife, Robin's mother, is absent. Aly was a tireless animal rights lawyer-activist, fierce and indomitable and loving; both man and boy are daily devastated by her loss, which readers slowly piece together: a car accident, swerving to avoid an opossum. "I didn't know how to be a parent. Most of what I did, I remembered from what she used to do." The novel is told in Theo's first-person voice, in constant interaction with Robin; but Aly is ever present, too, as a voice in Theo's head and to whom he turns for advice. On leaving the Smokies, he appeals to her: "We're fine together, in the woods. But I'm afraid to take him home." Indeed, back in Madison, Wisc., Robin struggles at school and Theo, trying to care for him, falls behind at work. Planetary exploration and the sciences in general are underfunded and under attack by a government administration that blusters and crows on social media. Theo's research partner refers to Robin as "the boy." The school pushes harder to medicate him. Many evenings, Theo and Robin travel together in imagination to distant, dreamed-up planets that just might support life. These interludes are gorgeously rendered demonstrations of love and inventiveness. But the real world continues to rattle. Another colleague makes an unusual offer. Decoded Neurofeedback, or DecNef, allows patients, or "trainees," to mimic the moods of "target" subjects using real-time, AI-mediated feedback: emotional training via carefully monitored neural states. At nine, Robin is an unusually young subject, but he also has a unique opportunity. Before her death, his mother Aly allowed her own neural activity to be recorded. Now the precocious, troubled, earnest Robin has access to her mental state. Theo and Robin share an appreciation for the Daniel Keyes story "Flowers for Algernon," and its implications are not lost in Robin's own unprecedented experience. Theo continues to agonize over his parenting, life on Earth and life in the beyond: "Decoded Neurofeedback was changing [Robin], as surely as Ritalin would have. But then, everything on Earth was changing him." Robin sees enormous improvement in his ability to handle his rages and his blues, enjoying learning widely about the natural world, with a switch to home-schooling. He shows an uncanny harmony with and knowledge of his mother's mind, enough to unnerve his father. But there will come a reckoning. Theo and Robin live in a recognizable version of the contemporary United States, beset by climate disasters, political upheaval and hate, wildfires, ignorance. Even as Robin makes his way as an increasingly well-adjusted young activist, bad news bombards their family from all sides, until disaster strikes. Bewilderment circles back to the Smoky Mountains for a gut-wrenching finish in the same place where it began. "From behind us, upstream, the future flowed over our backs into the sun-spattered past." Powers deserves his reputation as a consummately talented writer. His careful, lyrical prose conveys precisely the intended emotion and tone at the right time, and weaves meanings and significances in complex layers. This superlative novel invites readers to meditate on the natural world, human and animal rights, the potentialities of deep space, the role of science and technology in human societies, the challenges of modern childhood and more. "Maybe humanity was a nine-year-old, not yet grown up, not a little kid anymore. Seemingly in control, but always on the verge of rage." Robin is a delightful character, a bright, sincere, intense child, lovable and challenging. Theo is deeply sympathetic in his dual tendencies toward far-thinking astrobiology and the care of his child ("They share a lot, astronomy and childhood"), and in his fear that he will fail his son. Powers pulls no punches: he portrays a brutal world that will damage Robin, Theo and all humanity in profound and irreparable ways. Bewilderment is a beautifully told story, but one that hurts, too. --Julia Kastner Lauren Appelbaum (photo: Kiersten Marie) In Rachel Weiss's Group Chat (Forever, $17.99; reviewed in this issue), Lauren Appelbaum explores the delights and travails of being an American millennial. When Rachel Weiss's circle of friends find significant others and meaningful careers, she is forced to consider her own lifestyle and what she truly wants. Appelbaum lives in Seattle with her family. The Pride and Prejudice/Bridget Jones's Diary connections in your book are done so well. Did you begin planning Rachel's story knowing that you wanted to give a nod to those classic novels? The first spark of an idea I had for this book was, "What if it was an homage to Bridget Jones's Diary, but with a group chat instead of a diary?" Then the characters and plot points came to me from there. So it was definitely intentional, and I had a blast with it, because I've always been a big fan of both. Pride and Prejudice was the original enemies-to-lovers story, right? I just love how Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's relationship forces them to reckon with parts of themselves that might need some work. I tried to capture that dynamic with Rachel and Christopher. And I always loved the character of Bridget Jones, because it was such fun to watch her try her best and yet make so many mistakes. The other thing I've always loved about that story is the friend group, the way they are always there to rehash everything that is going on in each other's lives. My mom once told me that friends can come and go, but your spouse is with you forever--but when you're young and single it's very much the opposite. Your friends are there through every relationship and breakup. With Rachel Weiss, I wanted to explore the awkwardness that happens within a friend group when that starts to shift. The Seattle insider references are great fun. Do you think the story could have been set elsewhere, New York or Los Angeles, for example, without impacting the story? I love this question! Rachel's worldview, sense of self, and social circle are all shaped by the culture she lives in, which is Seattle. Anyone who lives around here can tell you we're a bit weird and quirky. I've heard other cities have started doing naked bike rides, but one of my favorite scenes in the book is set on the river in the Bavarian town of Leavenworth, which I don't think you could quite replicate anywhere else in the country. The river float scene was inspired by true events that happened during my bachelorette party. The absurd hilarity of a group of possibly drunken women trying to rescue one another from the river's current is burned into my memory. Regarding the naked bike ride, I have never participated, being more inclined to watch from the sidelines, but one of my sisters has! I would love to be that bold. The main reason it had to be Seattle is that it's the place I know best, having lived in the area since I was a tween, so I might not have done another city justice in the same way. Rachel's evolvement from carefree single person to a more thoughtful, emotionally mature woman who contemplates her place in the wider world seems on point for contemporary 20-somethings. Did you base her journey on observation of friends or your own experiences? It's human nature to be entirely focused on yourself when you're younger, and everyone has to evolve past that in their own way, which is harder for some people than others. Rachel is sort of my exact opposite (I'm a classic introvert), but her flaws might (might!) be amplifications of my own flaws. It feels to me like it's not unusual for millennials and younger generations to be more self-centered, because we are often told to tune into our feelings (not to mention that we often have to self-advocate in so many ways), and that's not always a bad thing. But Rachel learns, like we all have to at some point, that the world doesn't revolve around her, and that her actions and words impact other people. Learning these lessons at the ripe age of 30, Rachel is in a kind of arrested development, but that's pretty typical in my experience. A lot of us don't even think about settling down in the traditional sense until our 30s. There's an interesting divide between those who have settled down and those who are still dating or single. It may cause rifts or changes in friendships, but it's always fun to hear the stories from the other side. So I wanted to write about that time in a person's life, when things start changing around Rachel but she's not sure if she's ready to change yet. Rachel's relationships with her chat group friends, her sister Jane, her mother, and younger sisters are an important part of her life, and the theme of "sisterhood" and what that means in a woman's life runs through the plot. Did you intentionally create that theme or did it evolve as the plot unfolded for you? The theme of sisterhood unfolded naturally and inevitably. Rachel's friends are incredibly important to her, and she grew up in a family full of women. Having other women around is so important at every life stage--people to make sense of the world with. At various points, Rachel looks up to her older sister, wants to differentiate herself from her mother, learns from her friends, and gains a new sense of who she is based on how they all see her. I've always felt that we have a kind of primal need for Girl Talk, so it makes sense that Rachel's group chat is like a lifeline to her. Your bio says you're a tech editor. Did being an editor, although in a field separate from fiction writing, help while writing a novel? Definitely! My editing background helps me ask, why is this here? What is the reader gaining from this part? Actually, when I first submitted the book to my editor, it was about 10,000 words too short. So I had to put my writer's hat back on and fill it out a bit more. I got to add more scenes with certain friends and with the love interest, Christopher, so that was really fun, getting to dive back in and write new stuff. Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? I have one superstition that I think a lot of writers probably share, which is that I won't talk about a book idea until it's pretty solidified. It feels like Ideas with a capital I are flighty creatures that get scared away easily, so I try to keep my mouth shut. Other than that, I follow a pretty basic trajectory that involves outlining on index cards, then drafting linearly in Scrivener, preferably while sitting in a cafe and listening to moody music. --Lois Faye Dyer, writer and reviewer External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy held discussions on enhancing the strategic partnership between their countries. This meeting was part of India's top diplomat's ongoing engagements with leaders during the General Assembly's high-level session. EAM Jaishankar wrote on X after their meeting, "Carried forward our conversations on strengthening the India-Britain Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)" and "also discussed the conflict in Ukraine". The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) spans various sectors, such as trade and investment, defence and security, technology, science, innovation, and people-to-people connections. It is further supported by a 2030 roadmap aimed at achieving key objectives, including enhanced security in the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific. EAM Jaishankar held formal sit-down meetings with some leaders and brief interactions with others in the busy halls of the UN building, filled with leaders from different levels. He shared on X that he and Belgium's Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, discussed collaboration in manufacturing and technology, as well as exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. He also met with Foreign Ministers Giorgos Gerapetritis of Greece and Ahmed Fiqi of Somalia, both from nations set to join the Security Council as elected members. The Indian External Affairs Minister posted on X that with Giorgos, "our conversation was focused on shipping, energy, mobility, connectivity, and defence". His talks with Fiqi focused on enhancing our cooperation in health, education, training and capacity building, EAM Jaishankar said on X. He also had a brief interaction with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, which had faced criticism during his remarks at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting. Cuba's Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, described his meeting with EAM Jaishankar as 'fruitful' on X, stating that they reviewed "the excellent state of bilateral relations". "I reiterated Cuba's interest in continuing to expand economic-commercial and cooperation ties", he added. EAM Jaishankar was more specific, writing on X, "Discussed our cooperation in health and food security, as well as in training and capacity development". He described his meeting with Switzerland Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis as a "good to follow-up" to their recent meeting in Geneva. French President Emmanuel Macron has voiced strong support for India's inclusion as a permanent member of a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), along with Germany, Japan, Brazil, and two African nations. 'Germany, Japan, India and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa would designate to represent it. New elected members should also be admitted', Macron said while addressing the general debate at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The French President stressed the need for reforms within the UN to make it more effective and representative, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the current structure of the Security Council. "The United Nations should not be discarded, but rather reformed to reflect today's realities," he said. He said that the current Security Council, often blocked by conflicting interests, needs to evolve. 'Is there a better system? I don't think so. So let's just make these United Nations more effective, first by perhaps making them more representative. That is why France and I repeat here, is in favour of the Security Council being expanded', Macron said. The French President said that he hopes that 'this reform will also make it possible to change working methods, to limit the right of veto in the event of mass crime and to focus on operational decisions that are necessary to maintain international peace and security. This is what we must have the courage and audacity to do and that we must carry forward with the current permanent members.' Earlier, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font also advocated for India's inclusion, proposing a deadline for the reform to align the UNSC with modern geopolitical realities by the UN's 80th anniversary. The call for India's permanent membership has also been echoed by other global leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who reiterated Washington's full support for India's bid during his recent bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russia, too, continues to back India's aspiration for a permanent seat, with the country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasising the need for greater representation of developing countries in the council during the ongoing annual UN event. The growing consensus among world leaders highlights the urgency of reforming the UNSC to reflect the contemporary global order and ensure more inclusive and effective international governance. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 27. If the Constitutional Court of Armenia decides that the peace treaty with Azerbaijan contradicts the country's basic law, then constitutional changes will be necessary for the sake of peace, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in the United States, Trend reports "The peace treaty with Azerbaijan, if signed, will be sent to the country's Constitutional Court to check its compliance with the basic law. If the Constitutional Court decides that the treaty contradicts the Constitution of Armenia, then we will find ourselves in a situation where constitutional changes will be necessary for the sake of achieving peace," Pashinyan said. Hoping to elevate your accounting career? Imagine having a certification that takes your career to an entirely new level. That is exactly what the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) program accomplishes! It is an effective instrument that opens doors to countless chances in the financial industry. A CPA course builds you a prosperous career in the Indian and global markets by serving as a badge of expertise in the accounting services industry. A CPA certificate gives you recognition in the most number of countries 180, to be exact when compared to other finance credentials. The CPA course could redefine your career and amplify your professional value. So, if you're someone hoping to walk this path of financial mastery, here's all you need to know! 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Practical experience shows that a candidate can translate their academic learning into real-world application, proving their readiness for the prestigious CPA title. Financial Investment in Your CPA Journey How much will it cost to appear for the CPA exam? Investing in the CPA credential involves a commitment of both time and money. So, let us help you get familiar with these costs. Expenditure Amount Application Fee INR 4,100 to INR 16,500 Exam Fee INR 15,900 to INR 63,000 Ethics Fee INR 12,300 to INR 16,500 Fortunately, the CPA exam is now available in major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. It is more accessible for Indian students with reduced travel expenses. Decoding the Four-part CPA Exam The CPA exam is a comprehensive test segmented into four distinct sections. Each part evaluates different aspects of accounting expertise. These four sections include: Auditing and Attestation (AUD): This section explores compliance, ethical practices and audit procedures. You must become an expert in assessing internal controls and financial statements if you want to become a CPA. Business Environment and Concepts (BEC): This section addresses corporate governance, business structures and IT systems. This part also delves deeper into the intersections between accounting principles and business operations. Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR): The FAR segment of CPA course focuses on financial accounting standards, including the preparation and analysis of financial statements. It assesses how well you can comprehend and apply complex accounting concepts to real-world use cases. Regulation (REG): This section addresses ethical concerns, corporate rules, and tax laws. You need to be well-versed in corporate law and tax laws to excel in this. Each section is a four-hour test, and appearing candidates get 18 months to complete all four parts. The CPA exam includes multiple-choice questions, task-based simulations and written communication tasks. Therefore, a tailored preparation across all sections is needed to pass this examination successfully. Exploring CPA Career Opportunities Holding a CPA title opens a wide array of career opportunities for you. Here are some of the roles you can explore after completing your CPA. Public Accountant: The role of a public accountant requires them to extend services such as auditing, tax preparation and consulting to a diverse client base. These services can be offered to businesses and individuals alike. Corporate Accountant: In a business organisation, internal financial activities are managed by a corporate accountant. They also make sure that the financial operations they are in charge of adhere to rules and standards for accounting. Tax Specialist: A tax specialist places emphasis on tax planning and compliance. They also assist clients with navigating complex tax laws and optimising strategies. Financial Analyst: In order to offer data-supported insights and suggestions for strategic company decisions, financial analysts are in charge of analysing financial data. Internal Auditor: The job role of an internal auditor requires them to assess and enhance an organisation's internal controls. They must also ensure accuracy and compliance with financial regulations. With a CPA credential, your expertise is recognised in over 180 countries, providing opportunities for international career advancement. CPA Salary in India Since becoming a Certified Public Accountant is a complex and demanding credential, they are rewarded with high-paying positions. Here's what you can expect from a CPA salary in India: Experience Average Annual Salary Entry-Level INR 6 Lakhs Mid-Level INR 11 Lakhs Senior Level INR 24 Lakhs The CPA credential boosts your earning potential and enhances job security and career growth prospects, making it an exceptional career choice. Embark on Your CPA Journey Today The road to becoming a CPA comprises many challenges. But the rewards? They're extraordinary. By earning your CPA degree, you're investing in a future full of potential. Your marketability skyrockets, job security strengthens and earning potential soars, bringing you to the centre of industry recognition and professional growth. At Imarticus Learning, we understand what it takes to achieve this challenging certification, and therefore, we recommend applying for the US CPA Certification! Our CPA preparation program, tailored under the guidance of industry experts, equips you with the tools and knowledge to achieve success. Plus, we also offer strategic career support to help you navigate the path ahead. Dive into your CPA journey with Imarticus Learning and unfold an epic career transformation that awaits you! STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is once again asking the publics help to locate an individual who is sought for questioning in connection with an incident of antisemitic graffiti in August in St. George. This incident is being investigated by the NYPDs Hate Crimes Task Force, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The NYPD is repeating its request for the publics help to solve the incident that occurred on Aug. 23 at about 8:15 a.m., according to the police statement. An unidentified individual allegedly drew a swastika on a wall at 15B Richmond Terrace, according to the police statement. Empire Outlets is located at the address supplied by police. The individual most recently was seen boarding the Staten Island Ferry at the St. George Terminal, according to the police statement. No injuries were reported to police in the incident of aggravated harassment. The NYPD supplied photos of an individual sought for questioning to the media. Police described the individual as a male with light complexion who stands about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips. The Muscogee Creek Nation on Wednesday argued for its right to repatriate the remains of ancestors and protect a sacred site in Alabama that is now home to the Wind Creek Casino. Hickory Ground is sacred as the final resting place for some of the nations most significant military leaders, tribal leaders and spiritual leaders, attorney for the Muscogee Creek Nation, Mary Kathryn Nagle, said in her opening argument in federal appeals court in Atlanta. She said the Muscogee tribe occupied the land in Alabama before being forcibly removed to Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears. But the Poarch Creek attorney, Mark Reeves, argued that Poarch Band of Creek Indians have tribal sovereignty over the Alabama site and can make decisions about its development. He defended the tribes historical claim to the site. We absolutely do have a longstanding attachment, he told the court. We have a shared history of that property with the Muscogee Nation. The lawsuit demands that the casino on the site be torn down and that remains be returned to the Muscogee Creek Nation. It also alleges Auburn University, which was involved in excavating the remains, violated the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act by failing to return ancestors remains to their descendants. Judges in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asked questions about sovereign immunity, ownership of the land, preservation requirements and each tribes historic claim to the site. Chief Judge William Pryor stated that he was sympathetic to many of the Muscogee Creek concerns and that the lower court erred in not parsing out sovereign immunity claims on a claim-by-claim basis. RaeLynn Butler, Secretary of Culture and Humanities at the Muscogee Nation, said loopholes in federal laws allowed the remains to be mishandled. We want to seek justice, we want healing, we want to see those remains be returned, that everything be reburied, The lawsuit is an attack on tribal sovereignty, said Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair and CEO for the Poarch Creek Band of Indians. She compared it to Georgia telling Alabama what to do with its land. She said her tribe has followed every regulation and the Muscogee Creeks repatriation guidelines in handling remains that she said were relocated and reburied on the site. We are Creek people from that area, and we have respected our ancestors, she said, adding that the Poarch tribe has tried to work with the Muscogee Creek for a resolution. The demand to tear the building down and put the ancestors back in place is unreasonable. She said back in the 80s when her tribe bought the land, they asked the Muscogee Creeks in Oklahoma to join them in the purchase and the tribe said no. The appeals judges will rule on whether to send the case back to the district court. The case also alleges workers moved 57 peoples remains and other artifacts and left them in storage without adequate temperature control, according to the original lawsuit filed in 2019. Although the Trail of Tears separated Mekko Thompson and the members of Hickory Ground Tribal Town from the final resting place of their relatives, the protection and preservation of the original Hickory Ground site remains of paramount importance to their spirituality, religion, and general mental health and well-being, the appeal said. Muscogee Creek Nation Mekko, or Chief, George Thompson is the plaintiff in the suit. Both tribes claim to have a historical connection to the Hickory Ground site. The Muscogee Creek claim that the Poarch Creek, distant relatives, are instead from an area farther South in Atmore, Alabama. Butler said repatriation is a human rights issue. She said their ancestors did not get the respect they deserved. They have been disrupted on their journey and they have also been held hostage. Much of the argument on Wednesday centered around whether the Poarch Creeks tribal sovereignty gave them authority to make decisions to develop or further build on the land or whether the constraints of the federal protections restrict their ability to make changes to the site without the approval of the Muscogee Creek and other preservation officials. The Muscogee Creek allege that the Poarch Creek failed to meet their obligation to preserve the site when they built the casino. The Muscogee tribe appealed its lawsuit against the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Auburn University and federal officials after a lower court ruled against its claims in 2021. Auburn University declined to comment due to ongoing litigation. Hickory Ground in Wetumpka was the sacred site and capital of the Muscogee Creek before federal troops forced the tribe to walk 800 miles to Oklahoma as part of the Trail of Tears. The conflict between the two tribes over the site has been ongoing for many years. In 1980, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians purchased the land. The National Park Service delegated preservation responsibilities to the Poarch Creek in 1999 and the tribe began constructing a bingo hall. Since then, it has expanded the building to be the Wind Creek Casino. Muscogee Nation originally filed a lawsuit in 2012 which was not successful. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As calls grow for Mayor Eric Adams resignation, the embattled city executive appears to have found friends in the forgotten borough. Most of the Islands elected officials didnt respond to requests for comment about Adams federal indictment, and only Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), called for him to be removed from office. CITY HALL Federal prosecutors unsealed a 57-page grand jury indictment against Mayor Eric Adams Thursday making him the first New York City executive charged with crimes in the modern era. United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams announced five charges against Adams in relation to his Turkish connections before and after he became mayor. Year after year after year he kept the public in the dark, Williams said. This was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a New York City politician who was on the rise. Williams alleged that starting in 2015 the Turkish entities engaged Adams, who was then Brooklyn Borough President, during a trip to the nation. In the following years, federal prosecutors allege that Adams took a series of bribes from Turkish nationals in the form of lavish travel accommodations to nations including Turkey, Hungary, India and Ghana. The gifts included flight upgrades valued at tens of thousands of dollars, and luxurious hotel stays in suites across the globe, which Adams was often undercharged for in an attempt to hide the improprieties, Williams alleged. Turkish nationals also allegedly filled Adams campaign coffers ahead of the 2021 collection, so much so that it resulted in the mayors campaign receiving more than $10 million in public matching funds. In exchange, Adams leaned on the FDNY starting in Sept. 2021 to permit a Manhattan building, known as Turkish House, to open. Williams said the approving FDNY officials made their decision with their jobs threatened, but would not have approved the building otherwise. The pressure from Adams came when it was clear he would be the next mayor, and was brought at the behest of a wealthy Turkish national, who told him it was time to help Turkey, according to the indictment. Some of the people at FDNY thought the building had so many issues and defects that the building was not safe to occupy, Williams said. Adams delivered and pressured the fire department to let the building open. The FDNY professionals were convinced that they would lose their job in they didnt back down. Williams alleged the schemes continued in the leadup to the 2025 mayoral election. The investigation was a joint effort among the prosecutors office, FBI, and city Department of Investigation, which operates independent of the mayors office. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Dennehy said he hoped the mayors indictment served as a warning to other public servants who intend to use their office for personal gain. The indictment of a sitting mayor is not just another headline, it is a stinging reminder that no one is above the law or beyond reproach, he said. Its up to us to demand more from our leaders, to hold them to the highest standards, and to remind them that the power of public office should never be abused. The federal probe into Adams and members of his administration has been ongoing for over a year, and investigators seized the mayors electronic devices in November following a raid on a top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, earlier that month . Adams held a press conference outside Gracie Mansion about a half hour before Williams announcement decrying the prosecution as a witch hunt. This is not surprising to us at all. The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months, the leaks, the commentary, the demonizing, Adams said. This did not a surprise us that we reached this day, and I asked New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. While Adams has made no indication that he plans to resign, there are some mechanisms in the City Charter by which he could be removed. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the easiest path to remove the mayor, but she has not said what her plans are regarding Thursdays indictment. The City Charter also contains a mechanism by which a host of city officials, including the council speaker, public advocate, and comptroller, can form a commission to declare the mayor unable to fulfill his duties. None of those three city officials have offered any indication they plan to take that step. If a jury finds Adams guilty, he could face decades in prison. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury in the wake of a federal corruption investigation, according to a published report. While the indictment remains sealed, it is still unknown what charges Hizzoner will be facing, the report in the New York Times said Wednesday night, quoting unnamed sources. The indictment is expected to be unsealed on Thursday by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York, according to multiple media reports. The mayor is expected to surrender next week, those reports indicate. Adams would be the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal charges while in office. Adams and members of his administration have been the subject of a federal investigation regarding donations related to his 2021 campaign. The phones of multiple members of Adams inner circle were seized by federal investigators during raids. Several individuals in top positions have already resigned their posts. My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, Adams said in a statement Wednesday night. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target. A target I became. For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty, Adams added. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. Adams, a former NYPD police captain, was elected to office in 2021. This is a developing story and more information will be posted when it becomes available. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on federal charges alleging that he took bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams compounded his gains from the illegal contributions by gaming the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. FBI agents entered the mayors official residence and seized his phone early Thursday, hours before the indictment was made public. The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have homed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that have thrust City Hall into crisis. The White House pushed back against claims by the New York City mayor that he was targeted because of his objections to the administrations efforts to address immigration and border crossings, saying the actions by the Justice Department were independent of politics. The president was clear, even when he was running in 2020, that he was going to make sure that DOJ is independent and the DOJ is handling this case independently, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at Thursdays briefing. Adams administration has been bogged down with attempts to house tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the citys homeless shelters, with Adams at odds with President Joe Biden over funding and a strategy to handle the influx of new residents. NEW YORK -- Mayor Eric Adams may have thought deleting text messages surrounding alleged wrongdoing -- for which he faces federal charges of solicitation, bribery and fraud -- would keep him out of trouble. Or at least thats what the 57-page grand jury inditement, unsealed on Thursday by United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, seems to indicate. Adams has been accused of taking bribes from foreign nationals, which resulted in lavish trips, including swank hotel stays, to Turkey, Hungary, India and Ghana. On page 19, section 27 of the inditement, it says Adams continued to conceal the benefits he received from foreign nationals seeking to gain influence over him. Adams did not report any of the 2019 gifts he received from the airline manager or the promoter on his annual disclosure form. The inditement also cites an alleged Adams text message exchange with one of his staffers. In addition, in March 2019 while exchanging text messages to plan another possible trip to Turkey in which the airline manager would arrange travel for Adams, the Adams staffer texted Adams to be on the safe side. Please delete all messages you send me, Adams responded, always do, says the inditement. Page 19, Section 27 of the federal grand jury inditement against Mayor Eric Adams.screenshot Adams is the first NYC mayor charged with crimes in the modern era. Year after year after year he kept the public in the dark, Williams said once the inditement was unsealed. This was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a New York City politician who was on the rise. The grand jury document also details Adams alleged leaning on the FDNY starting in Sept. 2021, when it became clear he would become mayor, to permit a building to open that would not have been approved without the pressure. Williams said the approving FDNY officials made their decision with their jobs threatened. Adams delivered and pressured the Fire Department to let the building open, Williams said. The federal probe into Adams and members of his administration has been ongoing for over a year, and investigators seized the mayors electronic devices in November following a raid on a top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, earlier that month . Adams held a press conference outside Gracie Mansion about a half hour before Williams announcement decrying the prosecution as a witch hunt. This is not surprising to us at all. The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months, the leaks, the commentary, the demonizing. This did not surprise us that we reached this day, and I asked New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments, said Adams at the press conference. UPDATE: The charges against Mayor Eric Adams have been unsealed. They are: conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud, bribery; and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Federal Department of Justice is expected to announce the charges against Mayor Eric Adams, after he was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday amid a flurry of searches, resignations of top city officials and subpoenas. The indictment is expected to be unsealed on Thursday morning by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York, according to multiple media reports. Adams and members of his administration have been the subject of a federal investigation regarding donations related to his 2021 campaign. The phones of multiple members of Adams inner circle were seized by federal investigators during raids. Several individuals in top positions have already resigned their posts. My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, Adams said in a statement Wednesday night. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target. A target I became. According to published reports, the focus of Adams indictment is: Alleged inappropriate dealings with the Turkish government Alleged illegal donations to the Adams campaign Alleged favors exchanged for political support and/or donations Devices seized from key Adams aides and top city officials A larger probe into misconduct in the Adams administration Associated Press Information was used in this report. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Shortly after Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on federal charges, calls for his resignation began pouring in, leaving many to wonder who would take his place leading New York City if he were to step down. Adams was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday amid a flurry of searches, resignations of top city officials and subpoenas, with the indictment unsealed on Thursday morning by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York. The mayor, along with several members of his administration, have been the subject of a federal investigation regarding donations related to his 2021 campaign, with the phones of multiple members of Adams inner circle seized by federal investigators and several individuals in top positions having already resigned their posts. Adams unsealed indictment revealed that he is facing five federal charges related to campaign corruption, according to NBC News: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals: One count Wire fraud: One count Solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national: Two counts Bribery: One count Adams said Thursday that he has no intention of stepping down and asked New Yorkers to withhold judgement until theyve heard his side of the story. This is not surprising to us at all. The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months, the leaks, the commentary, the demonizing. This did not a surprise us that we reached this day, and I asked New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments, said Adams. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, my day to day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do and the 300,000 plus employees of our city government will continue to do their jobs, because this is what we do as New Yorkers, he added. But if Adams were to resign, or be removed from office by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who would replace him? In the short term, it would be Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a Democrat who has served in his role since 2019. Williams, a former member of the New York City Council who has advocated for better policing and safer streets, affordable housing, and transparency and accountability in city government, would take over as acting mayor and be tasked with setting the date for a special election. That special election, which would be nonpartisan and utilize New Yorks ranked choice system, would be held on the first Tuesday at least 80 days from when Williams assumed mayoral control. However, if Adams were to resign within 90 days of the June 2025 primaries, there would be no special election and Williams would remain mayor until a new one is elected in November of next year. Famous Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci appeared at the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival accompanied by her partner, American film director Tim Burton. The stars went out in public in stylish pair looks. ADVERTISIMENT The celebrities posed for the cameras dressed in monochromatic suits. The 59-year-old model preferred a trendy oversized outfit, while her 66-year-old gentleman chose a more classic style. Monica Bellucci attended the gala event in a glamorous look that combined classic and modern. The actress wore loose-fitting pants, which she successfully combined with an oversized jacket. An interesting detail of the outfit was a bold corset with an open neckline, which was visible from under the neckline of the jacket. High leather platform heels added a special extravagance to the star's look. The actress's makeup was done in nude shades. ADVERTISIMENT For his part, Tim Burton preferred a classic look. At the Spanish Film Festival, he appeared in a black suit and matching shirt. The accent detail of the director's look was a stylish hat. In addition to matching suits, the star partners went out in public wearing similar jewelry. Monica Bellucci chose black sunglasses in the style of the 90s, while her beau preferred an accessory with blue lenses. Recall that the star couple first officially confirmed their relationship in the summer of 2023. During one of her interviews, the Italian actress admitted that after meeting the director, a new adventure began in her life. Monica Bellucci has publicly declared that she loves Tim Burton. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Some strong recent polls have caused former GOP President Donald Trump to surge against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race for the White House, according to one widely respected predictor website. The closely watched 538 forecasting site said that Trump has seen a bump in support over the last week or so, giving him a boost when it comes to the sites latest prediction of who will win the Electoral College. Harris is still in the lead, the website said, with a 55% chance of winning the election. But Trump now has a 45% chance of taking the presidency, up from 39% on Sept. 17, eight days ago. 538 predicts that Harris will win 278 electoral votes to Trumps 260. A total of 270 votes in the Electoral College is needed to win the presidency. 538s G. Elliott Morris said Trumps surge in their forecast is due to a recent tightening in national and state polls. A national Quinnipiac University poll this week showed Trump one point ahead of Harris, while a New York Times/Siena College Poll showed the former president leading in the crucial states of Arizona, North Carolina and Georgia. Thats barely better than a coin flip! Morris said of the poll numbers. He said that slim margins in critical swing states make this cycles presidential race the closest in decades the outcome could be closer than in any election in nearly 150 years. 538 uses polling, economic and demographic data to predict likely election outcomes. The website shows that the closest races are in these seven states: Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan. The eclipse season is always a challenging period, bringing profound transformations and difficult trials. The eclipse of the Moon in Libra on October 3 will open a new page in the lives of some zodiac signs, so October will be a rather dramatic month. ADVERTISIMENT You will have to make fateful choices, giving up all the negativity that has been holding back growth and development. Astrologers say that four dates will be key: October 3 - an eclipse in Libra, October 9 - Jupiter retrograde in Gemini, October 17 - the full moon in Aries, and October 23, when the Sun moves into Scorpio. Aries The eclipse in Libra will be a defining reset that will have a long-term impact. The decisions you make during this period will determine your life for the next six months. New acquaintances can play a significant role in your career. The Full Moon in Aries will be a time of emotional fulfillment and inner strength. Taurus With all the personal changes you made last month, you'll finally be able to realize where you want to go next. Jupiter retrograde descends into your house of resources and values, helping you focus on making money in creative and imaginative ways. On October 17, Venus in Scorpio opposes Uranus in Taurus, potentially adding courage to your decision-making. ADVERTISIMENT Gemini The eclipse in Libra will add fresh energy. October will be a time of inspiration, meetings, and romance. You may even find the courage to start a conversation. As Jupiter is now in your sign, a retrograde journey could lead you on a trajectory of development, healing, and new horizons. Cancer Your quest could lead to a new and very promising project as the eclipse of the New Moon in Libra occurs in your house of unconscious emotions and connections. New friends can instantly become family, and cooperation will be very successful. You've been working hard to achieve success in your career. This is a time of achievement and change. Pay attention to the Full Moon in Aries as it may shed some light on where to go next. Leo It's time to live more slowly and purposefully. Cleansing and healing is the best option for a reboot. As the Scorpio season presides over your zone of home and belonging, it's a great time to invest your precious love in a select few. Heal your wounds without giving up the support of your loved ones. ADVERTISIMENT Virgo Last month you may have been in an endless loop of existential questions, but now you can see the light through the illusions and return to reality. With Jupiter retrograde in Gemini in your house of social standing and vocation, you may receive a lot of outside feedback on how the world is receiving your talents. Libra As the last eclipse of the year occurs in your zodiac sign, it's worth analyzing past events to see where you need to go from here. The eclipse will help you regain some perspective and get back to finding your purpose. You should channel this renewed energy into your deepest desires and wildest dreams. Scorpio You will soon see how quickly the world responds to your requests. The eclipse in Libra can help you close old chapters of the past so you can truly enjoy the moment. This is a time for healing, development, and finding answers to important questions. ADVERTISIMENT Sagittarius You could get a number of new clients and contracts. Just make sure you don't play a role, but rather be yourself when Jupiter in Gemini goes retrograde. Venus moves into your sign on the 18th, blessing you with potential new chances for travel, creativity, romance, and new financial opportunities. Capricorn The eclipse in Libra is a great time to reset your career aspirations. All old dreams may seem irrelevant now, so give yourself and your imagination permission to experiment. Eclipses don't require realism - the only contribution this astrological transit needs is that you don't betray your values. Aquarius The days are getting shorter and the crisp air signals a time for reflection. Since last month, Pluto in Capricorn has been showing you that you need emotional healing to build a stable and fruitful foundation for a new life. The Scorpio season helps you to be even deeper and more honest. You'll be able to overcome any obstacles or challenges that are slowing you down. ADVERTISIMENT Pisces October is an invitation for you to get off the grid, take a break from your responsibilities, and just get lost in your hobbies. It's time for creativity and self-expression. The eclipse in Libra is your golden ticket to get answers to important questions. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. On the night of September 26, during a massive attack on Ukraine, some Russian kamikaze drones flew into the airspace of Belarus. It is worth noting that one of the "Shaheds" flew into Belarus not from Ukraine, but from the Russian Federation. ADVERTISIMENT In total, at least 4 UAVs were spotted in Belarusian airspace. This was reported by the Telegram channel "Belarusian Gayun". The first kamikaze drone crossed the border with Belarus at around 00:13 near the village of Lyubech. The same UAV returned to Ukraine 30 minutes later. The next Shaheds flew into Belarus at 02:29, 03:05, and 03:52. According to monitoring channels, one kamikaze drone entered Belarusian airspace directly from Russia. The attack drone was heading toward Gomel, after which it disappeared from the radar. Once again, Belarusian troops sent up fighter jets. Two sides were on duty over the southeast of the country the first took off from Baranovichi airfield at around 00:30, and the second at 02:50. ADVERTISIMENT On the night of September 26, the Russian terrorist army attacked Mykolaiv region. The invaders targeted an energy infrastructure facility. Earlier it was reported that Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with Shahed-type kamikaze drones all night and morning, and a child was injured as a result of the enemy's actions. As a result of the falling wreckage of the downed targets, a gas pipe was depressurized and a fire broke out in a high-rise building, damaging dozens of cars. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Former journalist Peter Greste spent 400 days in an Egyptian jail on terrorism charges while working for news outlet Al Jazeera. Now, he has co-founded Journalism Australia, a body he hopes can define professional journalism, journalistic standards and press freedom in Australia. The move goes hand in hand with a proposed bill by the Alliance for Journalists Freedom, where he is the executive director, alongside chair Peter Wilkinson, a lobbyist and former journalist. The media reform bill proposes enshrining press freedoms in Australias constitution. Journalism Australia co-founder Peter Greste says the member-based group would recognise quality reporting. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Journalism Australia aims to become a professional association that recognises ethics, standards and processes to address public trust and confidence in media, Greste says. Under his plan, member journalists would pay to register and become part of Journalism Australia if they met certain standards. In return, they would gain the protections offered under the bill. Defining member journalists would help law enforcement agencies and courts identify who is producing trusted journalism to a particular standard, according to documentation seen by this masthead. Hardly a day goes by without Donald Trump and Kamala Harris announcing new proposals that would increase spending or reduce US government revenues in what appears to be, particularly on the Trump side, one of the most profligate election campaigns in US history. At almost every campaign stop Trump has thrown out a new tax proposal, most of which seem to have caught his advisers by surprise. Whether its the abolition of taxes on tips, overtime and social welfare payments, the cap on deductions for state taxes (which would cost about $US1.2 trillion ($1.8 trillion) over a decade), a $US2 trillion sovereign wealth fund or incentives for US manufacturers, Trump is adding almost daily to his core pledge of extending and increasing the tax cuts he gave companies and, mainly, wealthy households during his last term. All would be paid for or at least partly paid for by his planned 10 to 20 per cent baseline tariff on all imports, and his 60 per cent tariff on imports from China. This week, he threatened yet another tranche of tariffs a 200 per cent duty on imports from companies that move their plants from the US to Mexico. Harris provided her most detailed economic plan yet in a speech in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Simple mistakes include failing to install a software update in a timely manner, putting a computer in sleep mode instead of shutting it down, and sharing passwords with team members. Locking your digital doors A big part of the issue stems from a limited understanding of the frequency and impact of cyber attacks, which is ultimately holding small businesses back from protecting themselves. Artificial intelligence, for example, is enabling scammers to mimic the language, tone and cadence of authorities, including the Australian Taxation Office, making it even more difficult to spot a scam. Ive never met a small business owner who isnt competent and capable of protecting their physical assets, such as their premises, their cars and other physical securities. But cyber security is often the last thing on the list and after a long day at work, its forgotten about, Achterstraat says. In todays challenging economic environment, it can be even harder for a small business to allocate resources to areas such as cyber security. Cyber safety culture The need for a cultural shift and national thinking has led to the development of Cyber Wardens, which is a behavioural change program designed to embed a culture of cyber safety in every small business in Australia. Launched in 2023, the national initiative from COSBOA is supported by the Federal Government and an industry alliance led by Telstra, CommBank and the Australian Cyber Security Centre to help protect SMBs from online threats. Its critical that small business owners acknowledge the acute threat cyber crime poses, and lock their digital doors in the same way they would lock up their homes and businesses. The Cyber Wardens program gives small business owners and their staff the skills and understanding to protect themselves from cyber crime. Cyber Wardens is working to ensure Australias 2.5 million small businesses operate in a cyber-safe environment, as online scams and fraud continues to rise. Just like workplace safety officers help to keep their small business safe from physical hazards, Cyber Wardens will use the same skills to prevent and protect against digital threats, Achterstraat says. The fast, free online Cyber Wardens training course helps protect small businesses and their staff from cyber threats, and provides them with tips like upgrading passwords, implementing multi-factor authentication, backing up data and regularly updating software. Stop scams, dont get hacked. Help protect your small business from cyber threats with the quick and easy Cyber Wardens program, so you can get back to the business of doing business. Visit cyberwardens.com.au for free small business cyber security online training. 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 It wasnt until I found myself with a restless newborn who needed endless hours being pushed in a pram that I overcame my fear of commercial art galleries. Intimidated by the white walls, clean lines and hushed silence, I hadnt previously understood the rules of engagement and certainly didnt think I could afford to purchase the art that lined their elegant walls. Why enter a retail gallery if I couldnt buy? Turns out there are countless reasons. Art gallerists know it is a rare occurrence for somebody to walk in off the street and leave with a freshly purchased artwork. Theirs is the craft of the long sell, a lifetimes education and a vast network of connections. If you know nothing, art gallerists can tell you everything; if you know a little, they tend to be energised by the opportunity to go deeper. It goes both ways. When the renowned Australian surrealist sculptor Patricia Piccinini was starting out, she worked the door on a Melbourne art co-op, an experience she says gave her an invaluable education in how people interact with art. My breakthrough came while pushing my firstborn through Surry Hills, where, behind the big glass windows of Ray Hughes Gallery, a series of brightly painted chooks forged from corrugated iron caught my eye. Above them hung paintings of country show prize-winning handicrafts and cakes. Jeff Thomsons Rooster, 2005 caught the writers eye. I wasnt pressed for time; the baby was finally settled, and the exhibitions promise of unpretentious fun powerfully beckoned me through the dark industrial entry. I hoicked the pram up a few stairs and into the converted warehouse showroom. Advertisement There were the mandatory white walls, but the soaring unfinished ceilings and uneven timber flooring placed the gallery in a middle ground between shabby and chic; unpredictable baby sounds were lost amid the drafts. If I hadnt found Hughes exhibition of paintings by Lucy Culliton and chooks by Jeff Thomson so joyful, I would have fled in fear when I spotted the eponymous owner at a desk just inside the entry. Hughes was a gruff giant who I came to learn could be found each morning in that spot drinking coffee and reading the papers. It was from Hughes and later his son, Evan, that I came to understand that art galleries and their owners love tyre kickers like me. Legendary art dealer Ray Hughes. Credit: Damian Bennett Conveniently for us, commercial galleries tend to cluster in geographical locations; among the densest is around Trumper Park, Paddington, where, at any time, it is possible to see more than half a dozen bespoke exhibitions. Unlike Australias public institutions, the exhibitions are refreshed every few weeks, theyre free, and generally, theyre not crowded. Go at the right time, and you might even receive a free glass of wine. Plus, youre bound to encounter fresh and inventive work from mostly local artists. While our government-funded galleries have often been slow to discover the charms of art by women, contemporary commercial galleries no longer have this problem. Martin Browne Contemporary, opened in 1991, is a case in point with both of its current exhibitions by women. Advertisement Sally Ross big tropical blue-green pointillist landscapes in scale, tone and price ($8,000 to $19,000) each seem destined for a wall in a large modern Australian home. Sally Ross oil on board Tropical Berry Plants (2024) is on sale for $14,000. Brownes back gallery features a series by Linde Ivimey, one of the countrys most captivating sculptors, known for her humanlike figures rendered from fabrics, resin and other materials, including trademark tiny bird bones. Ivimey has inhabited the upper echelons of Australian art for three decades. Her pieces are in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Gallery of Australia (although, shockingly, she has not been acquired by her hometowns Art Gallery of NSW), and if you do not see them now, you may never have another chance because once acquired it could be years before they are again shown publicly, if ever. Having said that, the exhibitions sales success is indicative of the sluggish art market of the past 18 months as few items (priced $15,000 to $30,000) have found buyers. Vicki Varvaressos Woman with Just Joey, 2018. A minutes walk away, the long-established Australian Galleries is also platforming a female artist, with the veteran Sydney expressionist Vicki Varvaressos showing glazed ceramic sculptures, acrylic portraits and still lifes distinguished by heavy black lines evocative of Charles Blackmans art. Varvaressos has been one of our most prolific painters, exhibiting nearly every year since 1975, however at 75, this is her first exhibition of new work since 2017. Advertisement Upstairs, Angus Fisher is, as with Varvaressos, a graduate of the National Art School, albeit 37 years later, and his exhibition is a collection of large landscape sketches in charcoal and a series of small zoological studies ink pen and watercolour. Unfortunately for me, a little toadfish, beautiful in its ugliness and priced at $1,250, is marked with a tiny red sticker indicating it has been sold. Both exhibitions close on Saturday, so best see them while you have the chance. Angus Fishers Toadfish was priced at $1,250 at Australian Galleries. Assuming approximately half that price will go back to the artist, where it will cover his materials and other costs, and the other half to the gallery, which has three people working there when I visit, its a modest sum flowing back into our citys creative economy. Back on Hampden St, Wagner Contemporary upstairs is showing a collection by Christopher Orchard, the former head of drawing at Adelaide Central School of Art. If you like William Kentridges art, you will enjoy Orchards meditations, which are dominated by suited bald men and occasionally a Pulcinello. Christopher Orchards Proxy at Wagner Contemporary. Advertisement In addition to some large oil paintings, there are many simple charcoal renderings on paper, and seeing the collection together reveals how the artist uses drawing to express the gamut of human emotions. Annette Larkin Fine Art also has a single-artist exhibition of new works, except her artist, Australian modernist painter Carl Plate (pronounced Plaa-ter), died in 1977. Moving into Abstraction is Larkins fourth exhibition since 2017 of items from the Plate estate, which has a healthy following in Sydneys legal circles. Carl Plates Ladys Fingers (1954) at Annette Larkin Fine Art. Next door, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery is exhibiting a showstopping collection of luxe Hollywood golden-era style staged photography by Sir Isaac Julien, a British filmmaker and installation artist who interrogates racism and the legacy of American slavery (and will also show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in an exhibition opening this weekend). Isaac Juliens Dream Deferred (Once Again... Statues Never Die), 2022, Credit: Courtesy of the artist Oxley is one of just a few Australian galleries that can make a commercial success of exhibiting international artists but with the top price tag in this collection, 66,000 (why bother with AUD?), it remains to be seen if the works will sell in this market. Advertisement Advertisement Eating outJust open Prawn toast goes fancy as lobster, truffle and foie gras spins hit Sydney menus Luxury spins on the popular toasty treat have become the plats du jour at restaurants across town. Scott Bolles September 27, 2024 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 The humble prawn toast may not be humble for much longer if the latest menus around Sydney are any guide. On plates across town, the popular toasty treat made with Cantonese prawn mousse is receiving an upgrade, courtesy of the fresh seafood tank and luxury ingredients. In Darlinghurst, fresh arrival Wans Cantonese restaurant has upped the stakes with an opening volley of lobster toast. Song Birds prawn toast uses Spencer Gulf king prawns and Baker Bleu sourdough. Supplied Other opulent spins on the crunchy snack have become the plat du jour at Sydney restaurants. At Mr. Wong in the CBD, prawn toast is accessorised with foie gras, while at Dan Dan restaurant in Pyrmont, the kitchen marries prawn and black truffle. Promenade Bondi Beach went off script, substituting prawn for bug meat. But fresh lobster? Thats quite the step up for the suburban Chinese restaurant staple that used to taste like it had journeyed straight from the freezer to the deep fryer. Advertisement Classic dishes retold with premium fresh Australian produce is the menu blueprint, Wans Cantonese co-founder Steve Wan says. With its ultra-slick dining room of timber and marble on Victoria Street, the 120-seat Wans Cantonese isnt the only new arrival in Sydney championing Cantonese food in luxe surroundings. Neil Perrys new $10 million Song Bird restaurant in Double Bay also fixed its gaze on Cantonese after the celebrity chef initially toyed with a wider cuisine brief. Perry, who explored other regions of Chinese cuisine at his previous CBD venue Spice Temple, argues Cantonese suits our climate and Sydneysiders love of lighter cooking. Lobster toast (right, rear) is on the opening menu at Wans Cantonese in Darlinghurst. Supplied Theres a lot of steaming and roasting with Cantonese, Perry says. He points to Cantonese techniques and staples such as ginger and shallot as the perfect companions to let great fish shine. Theres a lightness, the moisture content is great, its a celebration of great produce, Perry says. The president of the Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce, Wayne Tseng, says the immigration wave that populated Australia with Cantonese restaurants has played a part in its popularity. The revival is due to nostalgia, familiar palate and the variety, Tseng says. Advertisement While some dishes can hide less premium produce, Perry points to Song Birds version of prawn toast as a platform to show off the quality of Spencer Gulf king prawns used in the dish. Built on a base of Baker Bleu sourdough, Song Birds version includes chunks of prawn meat to highlight the ingredients. The lobster toast at Wans Cantonese has become an early hit since the venue opened earlier this month. It doesnt matter what nationality, female or male, its popular with everyone, Wan says. We use rock lobsters from Tasmania and South Australia. Its a little taster of fresh local seafood rather than imported, and thats what were all about. Wans Cantonese is open for dinner Thu-Sat (hours to be extended from mid-October). 298 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst Good Food hat 15.5 / 20 Review Does Neil Perrys new Chinese restaurant Song Bird hit all the right notes? Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Warning: Graphic content The murder of 16-year-old Mahmoud Hrouk, whereby household implements were fashioned into weapons, involved a level of violence that a judge has categorised as too brutal to describe. But after the shock of death and the evidence of cruelty to which he had been subjected, the trial of his murderer, the finding of guilt and the vindication of a lengthy sentence, for Mahmoud's family the most inexplicable element of his death remains unresolved: a motive. The house where Mahmoud Hrouk was killed in May, 2015. Credit: Daniel Munoz Aymen Terkmani, 24, was sentenced to a maximum 45 years in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, with a non-parole period of 33 years, for the aggravated sexual assault and murder of his one-time friend in a dilapidated house in Fairfield East in 2015. The NSW upper house will hold a wide-ranging inquiry into the risks of cancer-linked forever chemicals in the states drinking water. The inquiry will examine testing and monitoring practices for per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, also known as PFAS, as well as public disclosure of contamination levels and which communities are affected by tainted water. A sediment sample containing PFAS chemicals from a waterway near Medlow Dam in the Blue Mountains. Credit: Wolter Peeters It follows a series of reports in the Herald that established that there was no widespread testing for PFAS in drinking water, and revelations the chemicals were present in a creek flowing into a Blue Mountains dam at over 50 times the level considered safe for drinking water. Medlow Dam and neighbouring Greaves Creek Dam in the Blue Mountains have now been disconnected from the drinking water supply network while an investigation into the pollution is under way, and the NSW government is helping all water utilities across the state screen for PFAS. The large Honda Accord sedan is a well-known rival to the equally well-known Toyota Camry. The inexpensive car was shown in a photo in Ukraine. This is the new generation of the Accord. ADVERTISIMENT Officially, the Honda Accord model has not been sold in Ukraine for many years large sedans of non-premium brands have almost completely lost their popularity in our market. But someone brought one of these cars to the country. This is reported by Focus. Recently, the Honda Accord sedan was shown for the 2025 model year the Japanese car has undergone a neat modernization. The update is small the model has received revised equipment and equipment. The base price of the Honda Accord is $29,390. Earlier, Car and Driver decided to hold a competition between inexpensive sedans of the mass segment. Premium expensive cars did not participate. They chose between the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata. ADVERTISIMENT Through thorough testing and head-to-head comparisons, the winner was determined the Honda Accord. The authors liked its smooth ride and low fuel consumption. Among the disadvantages, they noted a limited list of equipment and cheap finishing materials. A NSW school teacher has been accused of sexually touching a number of students over a nine-month period. Thomas McKeown has been charged with 30 counts of sexually touching several school students between February and September at a Catholic school in the states west. Thomas McKeown is accused of sexually touching several school students. Credit: Facebook Court documents show all charges relate to students at the school and are dated between February and September. The 36-year-old was arrested on Tuesday, September 10 and refused police bail, before he was granted bail at a local court. Passengers arriving at Sydney International Airport have flocked to Ubers new kerbside pickup zone since its opening on Tuesday, as the states peak taxi body projects the scheme will wipe $5 million from cab fares over the next year. Up to 70 per cent of passengers at Sydneys T1 international terminal kerbside pickup have opted for an Uber over nearby taxis since its rank and hail zone was rolled out on Tuesday morning, airport staff said, despite several passengers having trouble navigating the new system. The queue for Ubers at Sydney airports international terminal. Credit: Nick Moir The pickup zone, which is operating under a 12-month trial commissioned by the state government, allows travellers to book a vacant kerbside Uber using a PIN code on their phones rather than requesting a ride as they leave the airport. Staff from Uber and the airport were busy instructing passengers arriving in Sydney on Thursday morning as many grappled with the new technology and the procedures. The man who allegedly stabbed a gifted rugby league player to death in Sydneys inner west has been identified as a 31-year-old rapper who created music from jail. Jacob Tammer-Spence has been charged with one count of murder over the stabbing of Sitaleki Filihiahekava in front his family and diners on a bustling Marrickville Road on Monday night. Rapper Snoee Badman, also known as Jacob Tammer-Spence, has been charged with murder. Credit: Youtube Tammer-Spence was previously jailed for 10 years, from the age of 18, for different offences. While in prison he began rapping under the name Snoee Badman and uploading music videos to TikTok after being encouraged by his cellmate. I have not had any personal contact with my mother in over a week and a half, her lawyer is the only one that has been in contact with her. My family is deeply concerned about her current mental health and overall welfare. Loading I urge the Australian government to take immediate action to facilitate the safe return of my mother. Her plea came as NSW Greens senator David Shoebridge wrote to ASIO director-general Mike Burgess asking him to investigate allegations of foreign interference, including Turkish media reports that Aslan was tracked by the countrys intelligence in the months leading up to her arrest. A trained nurse who also goes by Lenna Aslan, she was detained on suspicion of conducting activities for the Kurdistan Workers Party known as the PKK which is listed as a terrorist organisation in Turkey and Australia. Shoebridge said her arrest had sparked deep fears in the wider Kurdish community in Australia, amid concerns she may have been arrested for her role as a co-chair of a local community centre in Melbourne. Loading Given the continued reports of direct interference, I ask that you take urgent steps to investigate this and provide the Kurdish Australian diaspora around Australia with reassurance that you will be working to keep them safe, Shoebridge wrote in a letter seen by The Age. Moore-Gilbert, a political scientist specialising in the Middle East, criticised the federal governments lack of strategy in dealing with the wrongful detention of its citizens abroad, describing the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as ill-equipped to oversee such cases. There is a crucial window of time, it could be a few days or weeks before the persons formally charged and thrown into the judicial system of that country, and then it becomes so much more difficult to negotiate their release, Moore-Gilbert said. A Senate inquiry probing the way DFAT manages cases of citizens wrongfully held in government prisons or as hostages began on Thursday. Aslan has not been in contact with her family since her arrest in Istanbul. Moore-Gilbert, a founding member of Australians Wrongfully Detained Abroad alongside fellow released detainees, journalist Cheng Lei and economist Sean Turnell said she would raise Aslans case when giving evidence at the inquiry in the coming weeks. In her case theres a real risk of physical torture in Turkish prisons, she said. Many people, especially associated with the PKK, rightfully or wrongfully, have been arrested and tortured in Turkish prisons so we also need to be very high level in our diplomacy to ensure that she is protected and not being tortured right now as we speak. Moore-Gilbert said once a person is charged in a foreign country, DFAT is unable to do much more than provide visits and check on prison conditions. Loading We have no definition of a wrongful detention or an unjust detention in Australia, she said. When a case like this happens, we dont have a way of saying, That smells bad, lets immediately escalate that up to a decision-maker who has the power to actually influence things. There are too many examples of people who have been arrested abroad, and their cases should have been escalated immediately, but theyve been left languishing in prison, and then they are charged, and its too late. Turkish pro-government newspaper The Daily Sabah also reported claims that Aslan had Australian-based links to the PKK. The newspaper alleged she had been tracked by Turkish intelligence for a long time and had been in contact with high-level members of the terror group. Turkish media said Aslan co-chaired a Kurdish organisation linked to the PKK and alleged she had participated in Australian protests against Turkish raids on Kurdish forces in Iraq. Aslans friends said her arrest was politically motivated, previously telling The Age: She is a human rights activist. She is not a terrorist. Her daughter said her mother, a bilingual health educator at a womens health centre, migrated to Australia on a refugee visa in 1996. As a single mother, she has made countless sacrifices [she] is not only an advocate for Kurdish rights, but for all human and womens rights. The PKK has fought a long-running insurgency against Turkey in which about 40,000 people have been killed. The federal government said it was closely monitoring the case and had conveyed to Turkish authorities its strong interest in the matter. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said the government continued to provide consular assistance to Aslan. The Australian Government works tirelessly to support and advocate for Australians detained overseas, he said. We acknowledge this situation remains distressing for her family. Thats all from our blog today, folks. Thank you for joining us. Looking back on some of the bigger headlines from today, opposition leader Peter Dutton has used a visit to Perths Royal Show to savage the Albanese government for the impending live sheep export ban and potential changes to negative gearing. A fresh review by consumer advocacy group Choice has found West Aussies are paying more for their groceries than our east coast counterparts, and German multinational Aldi remains the cheapest place to shop. A District Court jury has just found a Perth father-of-two guilty of 97 charges relating to drugging and raping 12 women and girls. Two men have been taken into custody and a 43-year-old man remains in hospital as police continue to investigate an incident in Geraldton overnight. And WA Greens candidate Sophie McNeill has voiced her support for medical imaging technologists striking for better pay and conditions. Thank you again for joining us, tune in again tomorrow as we bring you the days news. Gosford is entering an exciting new chapter as a $375 million residential development begins the final phase of its construction. Once known as a sleepy coastal town on Sydneys Central Coast, Gosford is undergoing a radical transformation as it emerges as one of the most affordable and liveable cities in New South Wales. Capital expenditure projects have proved a powerful magnet for savvy developers in search of a project that will make a substantial difference to the local community. Credit: ALAND In recent years, Gosfords city centre has been undergoing an extensive revitalisation program as the Central Coast region maps out a long-term vision for the continued development of the area. Located between Sydney and Newcastle, this vibrant coastal city is cementing itself as a residential hotspot thanks to new infrastructure planned for the area. With endless stretches of beach, pristine waterways ideal for kayaking or swimming and stylish coastal townships on its doorstep, Gosford is giving other coastal cities a run for their money. As a result, the MRC agreed to their demands to defer the hearing until October 16, allowing all three to attend Thursday nights annual general meeting. In their campaign statements, both Mills and Fisher supported the Save Sandown movement, and opposed a plan to replace the glass-fronted Rupert Clarke grandstand at Caulfield. Mills owns Sheamus Mills Bloodstock and is a member of Australian Federation of Bloodstock Agents, while Fisher has had a career in real estate and is president of the Thoroughbred Club of Australia. It now means a majority of the MRC board members are in favour of retaining racing at Sandown. By postponing the disciplinary hearing and avoiding any threat of suspension, Kanga, Saville and Kelly are free to vote for new office bearers at next Tuesdays meeting. Kanga, who joined the MRC executive committee less than two years ago, will nominate for the chairmans role. Two sources with knowledge of the process, but not qualified to speak publicly, said other possible candidates to nominate for the chairmans role would be current vice chairman Nick Hassett and board member Scott Davidson. Kanga filed a motion last month to spill six members of the board at a special general meeting, including removing Hassett, Davidson, Monk and Brooke Dawson. Kanga also called for action on three key issues: moving Caulfields new mounting yard back to its original position, scrapping plans to build a $250 million grandstand at Caulfield and retaining racing at Sandown Racecourse. But the MRC ruled out holding an SGM, saying Kangas motion was not legally valid. It means Hassett, Monk, Dawson and Davidson will all be part of voting in a new chairman. In a statement released on Thursday morning Kanga accused the MRC board of being tone-deaf and in denial about the reality that the MRC members want them gone. They have wasted hundreds of thousands of the clubs money trying to prevent members voting on removing them at the special general meeting we requisitioned and have been seen to be using desperate tactics to keep their positions, Kanga said. Going forward, if the new board members vote with us and support me as chairman, we can then stop the delay of the special general meeting and move to remove the remaining board members that the MRC members want gone. If there are any shenanigans, I will have no hesitation in taking Supreme Court action and am confident we will again prevail. The MRC also released a statement on Thursday saying the clubs committee has made every effort to resolve the issues raised amicably between the parties having regard to the best interests of members. It is unfortunate that some parties are more interested in scoring points through the media than ensuring the success of the MRC and the upcoming racing carnival, the club statement said. The parties agreed at the Supreme Court yesterday [Wednesday] for the disciplinary process to be delayed until October 16 to allow the three members under investigation more time to respond to the concerns raised. The committee remains concerned that a series of actions from the three executive committee members may have breached the code of conduct. The code of conduct has been accepted by all committee members and was established to ensure the highest standards and proper conduct at the committee level are followed. No determination has been made at this stage and the relevant individuals have been invited to respond to those concerns, as is appropriate. No further comment can be made at this stage while the proper process is ongoing. We look forward to a successful annual general meeting and the resolution of all the outstanding issues. Cain, who will chair the AGM before stepping down, claimed Kangas push for an SGM was an attempt to take control of the club. In a letter to members earlier this month, Cain said Kanga was using three controversial issues as a way of pushing MRC members to vote for a rule change that will put all power in his hands and those who back him. Loading Racing launches jumps review In an ominous warning for the future of jumps racing, the head of Racing Victoria has declared that no outcome is off the table as part of a widespread review into the viability of the sport. Racing Victoria announced on Thursday that it was launching a detailed examination of jumps racing that would be presented to the board by the end of the year. Racing Victoria chairman Tim Eddy said the sports safety record across the past season was unacceptable, following a bleak season in which nine horses died in races and trials. Three horses were euthanised during the final jumps meeting of the year at Ballarat last month, which Eddy described as heartbreaking for the Victorian jumps racing community. The review will be headed by Racing Victorias head of integrity, Jamie Stier, and former Supreme Court judge, Justice Jack Forrest, who is also a former chair of the Victorian racing integrity board. Horses clear the jumps at Warrnambool. Credit: Getty Images A copy of the report, and its recommendations, will be handed to the RV executive by the end of November and then presented to the RV board by the end of December. Racing integrity commissioner Sean Carroll will also review the report. Loading Many people have worked incredibly hard to make the sport as safe as it can be and had achieved marked improvement across the 14 years prior to this season when we took a backwards step, Eddy said. The jumps review group has been asked to consider, among other things, participation rates, industry support, community attitudes, financial returns, the safety record of the sport and the measures in place to promote safe racing. This thorough review has commenced this week, and its outcomes will be informed by the process with no outcome off the table at this time. While jumps racing has been an integral part of the popular three-day Warrnambool carnival, the sport has long been on the demise, with South Australia holding its last jumps race in 2022 and Tasmania abandoning it in 2007. An average of 74 jumps races have been staged across the past three years (2021-2023), with an average of 8.10 starters. Eight of these races are held at Warrnambool. Before this year, fatalities in jumps races had fallen to 2.33 deaths a season, while wagering turnover has averaged $60 million across the past two years - about half of what equivalent flat races would turn over. Kahs Caulfield bonus Star jockey Jamie Kah has been given the chance to become the first woman to ride a Caulfield Cup winner this year after the Victorian racing tribunal agreed to change the start date of her three-week suspension. Kah was suspended by the tribunal for failing to give her horse, Letsfacethemusic, every chance to win or run a place in the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 31. The suspension was to start at midnight this Saturday and continue on until Sunday, October 20, ruling her out of the running of this years Caulfield Cup. But Kah successfully applied to the tribunal to bring the start date of her suspension forward by a day. Star jockey Jamie Kah. Credit: Getty Images The 777-9 does, however, have some snazzy design features. To improve fuel efficiency and help to combat turbulence, which many analysts say is getting more frequent and more severe, the wings are the longest on any commercial jet, with a span of 235 feet (72 metres). The 777-9 has the widest wingspan of any commercial airliner. Credit: Getty Images They are so long that in order to park at the gates in most airports, the tips will fold up after the plane has landed, like on a fighter jet, which will allow First Officer Hayward to indulge his Top Gun fantasies. The fuselage is the longest of any commercial jet, more than 250 feet (76 metres), allowing airlines to carry up to 426 passengers, depending on how many classes they offer. New lean-burn engines mean it can fly for more than 13,500 kilometres in one hop, making non-stop flights from London to Hawaii possible. This is a shorter range than the 777-8 variant, with capacity for 395 passengers, which was considered by Qantas for its long-awaited Project Sunrise, aimed at launching non-stop from Australias east coast to destinations such as New York and London. The airline opted to go with Airbus A350-1000 instead. Boeing already has 481 orders for the new jet, which has a list price of $651 million. Qatar Airways and Emirates, which will be among the first carriers to fly it, will use the 777-9 to install brand new first-class cabins, just as they used the A380 to introduce halo products, such as suites, bars and showers. British Airways and Singapore Airlines will follow suit. The jet is so large that most airlines will go for a four-class configuration: economy, premium economy, business and first. The width of the fuselage means that there will be 10 seats across in economy, arranged three-four-three across the cabin. Boeing already has 481 orders for the new 777-9 jet, including from BA, Qatar Airways and Emirates. Credit: Boeing Most passengers would prefer nine but Boeing insists the seats will still be roomier than most economy seats. Passengers in every cabin will have something of a view because the windows will be the largest on a jet of this size. Boeing says the 777-9 will boast the most advanced air filtration systems to keep the air cleaner and less dry than on rival jets. The cabin will be pressurised at an altitude of 6000 feet (1800 metres), the lowest pressure possible, which will prevent passengers legs and ankles swelling. LED lighting systems will enable airlines to change the brightness and tone from sunrise to sunset, and even show a starry night sky, to try to nudge travellers on to the time zone of their destination and reduce jet lag. The 777-9s long wing span and GE9X engines mean it will be more efficient than competing aircraft, such as the Airbus A350-1000, and will have 10 per cent lower operating costs, Boeing claims. Boeing hopes its 777-9s will be approved to go into service next year. Credit: Getty Images Brad Till, the firms managing director of commercial aeroplanes product marketing and analysis, says: This aircraft will have the lowest CO2 emissions per seat of any wide-body flying. The new engine technology also delivers lower NOx [nitrogen oxides] emissions and less noise, both in the cabin for the passengers and for our airport communities, compared to the aeroplanes that this will replace. Its not only the width and efficiency of the 777-9 that surpass its competitors: it has been more delayed than any new aircraft. Loading It was announced in 2014 but its development has been set back by the pandemic, supply chain snarl-ups, troublesome testing programmes and the distraction posed by the FAAs investigation into the corner-cutting which was responsible for the botched development of the short-haul 737 Max 8 model. Some 346 people died in two separate crashes in 2018 and 2019 when first an Indonesian Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 short-haul jet and then an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 plummeted to the ground shortly after take-off. Boeing ended production of its 747 jumbo jet in 2023, more than half a century after its first flight in 1969. Boeings woes deepened earlier this year when a door panel on a 737 Max blew out at 16,000 feet (4800 metres) and reports emerged that some of the companys long-haul 787 Dreamliner jets had not been assembled and maintained correctly. Loading Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to criminal fraud in the development of the Max and to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in fines in a proposed settlement with the FAA. Boeing built a handful of 777-9s for Emirates but they were never delivered because the aircraft had not been certified as safe to fly in time. The interiors had to be scrapped since they would have been out of date by the time the jets finally came into service. Now that the 777-9 is undergoing certification flights, Boeing hopes it will be approved to go into service next year. But in yet another setback, last month the company was forced to ground its test fleet temporarily due to the discovery of cracks in an engine component. Washington: Chinas newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, a senior US defence official has revealed, a potential embarrassment for Beijing as it seeks to expand its military capabilities. China already has the largest navy in the world, with more than 370 ships, and it has embarked on production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines. China has been pushing to expand its navy to compete with the US, including its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Credit: File/Bloomberg A senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Beijings new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank at a pier sometime between May and June. A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said: We are not familiar with the situation you mentioned and currently have no information to provide. The Russian army will not be able to liberate the Kursk region of the Russian Federation in the "near future" - by the end of October, as ordered by its command. Over the past 24 hours, there have been no tangible changes in the advance of either Russian or Ukrainian forces. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for September 25. According to the report, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued offensive operations in the Hlushkiv area, while the Russians allegedly repelled their attacks south and southwest of Hlushkiv near Novyi Shlyakh and Vesele. "Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations on the edges of the Ukrainian advance in the Kursk region, but made no confirmed advances," the analysts wrote. Russian sources claimed that fighting continued in the area of Chervonozhovtneve (southwest of Koreneve); near Lyubymivka, Daryino and Mykolaivo-Daryino (southeast of Koreneve); near Olgivka (east of Koreneve) and near Plekhove (southeast of Sudzha). ADVERTISIMENT "Russian troops continued counterattacks along the Ukrainian line in the Kursk region on September 25, but also made no confirmed advances," the ISW report said. It noted that the day before, the Russian dictator's aide Alexei Dyumin had publicly expressed doubts that the Russian Armed Forces would "completely liberate" the entire Kursk region in the "near future" in accordance with the Russian General Staff's plan. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported that today, along with other Russian units, units of the 6th Army of the Russian Air Force and Air Defense, including its 105th Mixed Aviation Division, 899th Assault Aviation Regiment, 15th Army Aviation Brigade, 332nd and 440th separate helicopter regiments, are operating in the Kursk region. Elements of the 2nd and 32nd Air Defense Divisions were also spotted there. And propagandists admitted that Russian border guards are also operating in the area. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, military expert Ihor Levchenko said that the information disseminated by the Western media about the number of Russian troops in the Kursk region may reflect a certain reality, but it is difficult to confirm the accuracy of these data. He emphasized that Ukrainian actions in the Kursk region are also aimed at forcing the Russian command to redeploy troops from other fronts, and this is dispersing their resources. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Beijing: Chinas top leaders have pledged to spend more to steady its free-falling property sector as alarm grows at the countrys flagging economy, as Treasurer Jim Chalmers arrives in Beijing for talks on how it will impact Australia. Chalmerss arrival in Beijing on Thursday for two days of meetings, the first visit by an Australian treasurer in seven years, coincided with a flurry of economic activity in China. Residents walk by a luxury housing construction site in Beijing. Credit: AP Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a meeting of the Politburo on Thursday, the countrys highest decision-making body, which vowed to complete the countrys annual economic goals, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. China will also push for the real estate market to stop declining, in what appeared to be the most forceful vow yet to try and stabilise the property market, raising expectations of further stimulus measures which have so far been piecemeal. Gisele is at the centre of the most significant rape trial France has seen in decades. Her husband of 50 years, Dominique Pelicot, has pleaded guilty to putting drugs in her food and drinks for almost a decade and inviting men into their bedroom to join him in raping her while she was drugged. Dominique Pelicot and most of the other men on trial are charged with the aggravated rape of Gisele. More than a dozen of the men have pleaded guilty. Most of the rest do not dispute that they had sex with her, but they say they did not think it was rape. Instead, they say they were tricked into it, lured by her husband for playful three-way encounters, and told that she was pretending to be asleep or some variation of that. Gisele Pelicot, left, and her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, right, during his rape trial, at the Avignon courthouse, in Avignon, southern France. Credit: AP Before her husbands arrest, Gisele, 71, led a quiet life: a retired manager at a big company, a mother of three and a grandmother of seven who had moved with her husband of 50 years to a small town in Provence to enjoy hiking in the hills and swimming in the backyard pool. Now, she arrives at court each day, dressed impeccably for battle, embodying the phrase her lawyers coined at the beginning of the trial that has become a mantra among her supporters that shame must change sides, from the victim to the accused. This photograph shows a mural created by Maca_dessine depicting Gisele Pelicot and a sentence reading So that shame changes sides in Gentilly, south of Paris. Credit: AFP Her head held high, she sweeps past the defendants who fill the rooms many benches. They range in age from 26 to 74. They are thin, fat, bearded, smooth-faced. Many are married and have children. They work as truck drivers, construction workers, tradesmen, salesmen. There is a journalist, a nurse, a prison guard and a tech specialist among them. By opening the doors to the public, Gisele has opened up the view not only onto her own collapsing life and the legal process around rape but also onto the regular, mundane, normal profiles of the accused men. And many women credit her with skewering the myth of the monster rapist. Friend of the family, stranger at a bar or the street, brother or cousin, friend, colleague, professor, neighbour: all women can sadly find a face that brings them back to a traumatic memory among the multitudes of accused, said an open letter published in the French daily Liberation that was signed by more than 260 artists, writers, politicians, activists and historians mostly women. More than 40 defence lawyers fill the room in their black capes. Last week, many began to cross-examine Gisele and to reveal their strategies. Some tried to raise doubt about her position that she had been completely unconscious and oblivious. They questioned her credibility and her self-portrayal as someone who enjoyed sex with her husband but was never interested in experimenting with other partners. Loading At their request, two series of pictures 27 in total, selected from among the 20,000 photographs and videos that police found on her husbands electronic devices were displayed on screens in court while the audience uncomfortably held its breath. Most showed a womans intimate body parts, at times with a protruding sex toy. Some showed Giseles face, her eyes open. She remained defiant. If this is an attempt to trap me, its difficult to bear, she said. What is it that youre looking for here in this room, to make me look guilty? One lawyer asked her causing an uproar in the courtroom Would you not have a secret inclination for exhibitionism? Another suggested: These photos are very explicit. Not all women would accept this type of photo, even with a loving husband. Loading Men receiving pictures of this kind could have easily been fooled into thinking she wanted to have sex with them, they implied. Whether she looked welcoming in these photos, she replied, if a man came to have intercourse with me, he still should have asked for my consent. For the first time in the trial, Giseles calm composure cracked. She raised her voice. I find it insulting, she said. And I understand why rape victims dont press charges. The defence strategies are typical for rape trials, experts say. But now they are being aired before journalists posting updates on social media to an increasingly shocked public. People gather in Paris in support of Gisele Pelicot who was allegedly drugged by her ex-husband and raped by dozens of men while unconscious. Credit: AP Many women say Gisele has provided a public and brave - demonstration about the treatment of rape victims. Its a victims obstacle course, said Audrey Darsonville, a professor of criminal law at the University of Nanterre. Their whole life is scrutinised, starting with police officers asking how they were dressed, what is their sexuality, et cetera. All these questions that have nothing to do with the violence that is rape. With everything she represents a family woman, a grandmother even she ends up being extremely mistreated by defence lawyers, Darsonville added. Can you imagine if she were a young woman who had consumed alcohol? The same lawyers who showed the photographs later argued against showing the footage Dominique Pelicot took of the mens sexual interactions with his drugged wife. That, one said, would impugn the dignity of the men involved. The prosecutors argued that the edited clips were essential evidence preciously rare in sexual assault cases. The head judge ruled that the clips would not be viewed publicly given their indecent and shocking nature. Christelle Taraud, a feminist historian in Paris who edited the book Femicides: A World History, said that revealed a double standard. Its only the reputation of men that counts, Taraud said. The reversal of responsibility, transforming the victims into guilty and the guilty into victims is a constant in rape trials. The trial has inspired soul-searching in France about the relationship between men and women. Some men have begun to speak about rape culture and toxic masculinity. New York: Dimming hopes for a ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will continue striking Hezbollah with full force and will not stop until all of its goals are achieved. Netanyahu spoke as he landed in New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly meeting. At the gathering earlier, Australia joined US and European officials to put heavy pressure on both sides to accept a proposed 21-day halt in the fighting to give time for diplomacy to avert a potential all-out war. Palestinian supporters march with a cutout depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near the United Nations headquarters during the annual General assembly which Netanyahu also will address. Credit: AP Just before his comments, the Israeli military said it killed a Hezbollah drone commander, Mohammed Hussein Surour, in an airstrike in the suburbs of Beirut. The Lebanese Health Ministry said two people were killed and 15 wounded in the strike. Israels policy is clear, Netanyahu said. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes. PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on September 26, 2024. The Public meeting which was adjourned on September 6, 2024 will be reconvened on Thursday at 10.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be present. The agenda points are: 2. Approval of the Outline Agreement ENNIA, including Annexes A, B, and C (IS/621/2023-2024 dated April 19, 2024) 3. Ratification of the decision list of the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) held from June 7-10, 2024, in the Hague, the Netherlands (IS/798/2023-2024 dated June 11, 2024) The meeting will resume with the Minister providing answers to the clarification questions posed by Members of Parliament in the first round. Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament New York, NY:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina of Sint Maarten is making a strong case for the islands future during his active participation in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Summit of the Future. Representing Sint Maarten as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands delegation, Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina has been a vocal advocate for addressing critical global issues that directly impact Sint Maarten, including climate change, economic resilience, and sustainable development. During high-level meetings and discussions, Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina consistently emphasized the urgent needs of small island states like Sint Maarten. His message to world leaders focused on the island's vulnerability to climate change, the need for equitable access to global resources, and building a resilient economy. "These meetings are essential for Sint Maarten. They give us the platform to ensure our specific challenges are recognized and addressed on the world stage," said Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina. "Global action is needed, and Sint Maarten is committed to being part of the solution." In collaboration with regional leaders, Dr. Mercelina, on behalf of the Kingdom, co-hosted The Declaration on Future Generations: From Words to Action, alongside Prime Ministers Andrew Holness of Jamaica and Evelyn Wever-Croes of Aruba. This event focused on ensuring that today's decisions will secure a brighter, sustainable future for future generations to come. Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina also hosted the Good Ancestors: Art and Culture for Future Generations exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters, together with Jamaica, highlighting the importance of cultural practices and traditions in promoting global solidarity and sustainable development. A local Sint Maarten artist, Lisandro Suriel, was also showcased during the exhibition with his project Ghost Island, further strengthening the voice Sint Maarten. "Art allows us to express our shared responsibility for the future. This exhibition calls on us to take action now to protect what matters mostour planet and our people," said Dr. Mercelina. The Prime Minister also held key bilateral discussions with regional counterparts, including the Prime Minister of Aruba, the President of Suriname and the Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, focusing on the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by Small Island Developing States as well as on regional cooperation in areas such as food security, economic diversification, and climate resilience. "For Sint Maarten, collaboration with our Caribbean neighbors is critical. Together, we can create a stronger, more sustainable future," noted Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina. As Prime Minister Dr. Mercelinas presence at the UNGA continues, his advocacy ensures that Sint Maarten remains at the forefront of international discussions that shape the future. His leadership and commitment to global solutions reinforce the islands role in tackling some of the worlds most pressing issues. Sint Maartens delegation also consisted of Patrice Gumbs, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of VROMI, Mr. Stuart Johnson, Chief of Staff at the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Cameron Wathey, Director of the Directorate of Foreign Relations, and Rogelio Voges, Senior Policy Officer at the Directorate of Foreign Relations, currently seconded to the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations. "Sint Maarten must be a part of these conversations. Our future depends on it," concluded Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina. Fellow St. Martiners, Distinguished visitors, Ladies and Gentlemen, Today is more than just another World Tourism Day. Since its inception in 1980, this daycelebrated on September 27serves as a global call to action. For over half a century, tourism has been the lifeblood of St. Martins economy, contributing to 70% of our financial stability. It is, in fact, our bread and butter. Tourism is not only crucial to our island but also the largest industry in the world. As we celebrate World Tourism Day, we join the rest of the world in focusing on this vital industry. This years theme, Tourism and Peace, highlights the significant role that tourism can and should play in fostering global peace. It challenges all stakeholders to make peace a core part of their mission. Peace is not a given in todays world of uncertainty and turmoil. Yet, it is essentialnot just for the survival of humanity but also for tourism to thrive. Tourists naturally avoid areas of conflict for their own safety and security. The very essence of tourism calls for peace, as it brings together people of different nationalities, languages, cultures, and economic backgrounds. Theres a Moorish proverb that says, He who does not travel does not know the value of men. Travel indeed offers a unique opportunity to understand and appreciate others. St. Martin earned the title of the "Friendly Island" because we place immense value on our visitors. This aspect of our collective character has been a key factor in developing our island into a leading tourism destination in the Caribbean. The future of tourism rests in the hands of our youth. What steps are we taking to ensure they understand the significance of tourism and how it fosters mutual understanding and respect? This years celebration focuses on engaging the younger generation. Randomly selected public elementary school students, particularly those in grades 5 and 6, will have the chance to participate in an aerial tour with WINAIR, our national carrier. They will also visit a cruise ship, a hotel, an airport, and a harbor, giving them a firsthand experience of what tourism means for our island. The long-term goal is to make Tourism studies an integral part of the school curriculum, ensuring the sustainability of this industry, which requires continuous innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spiritqualities that we, as a people, are blessed with on St. Martin. Tourism on our island is not just a means of earning a livelihood; it is a way of life. But we must continuously reinvent ourselves, upgrade our facilities and infrastructure, and, most importantly, adopt a mindset that positions us as part of a global community seeking lasting peace. This journey begins with our children. Happy World Tourism Day! Swiss prosecutor asks one person be held over suicide pod use Geneva, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 A Swiss prosecutor said Thursday he had requested one person be remanded in custody after a 64-year-old US woman took her life inside a controversial suicide capsule in Switzerland this week. The space-age looking Sarco capsule, which fills with nitrogen and causes death by hypoxia, was used on Monday outside a village near the German border. The portable human-sized pod, self-operated by a button inside, has raised a host of legal and ethical questions in Switzerland. Active euthanasia is banned in the country but assisted dying has been legal for decades. Police in the northern Schaffhausen canton said Tuesday that several people had been taken into custody and were facing criminal proceedings. Peter Sticher, Schaffhausen's public prosecutor, confirmed to AFP on Thursday that he had requested the preventative detention of one of those arrested. A court will need to rule on the issue within 48 hours, Switzerland's Keystone-ATS news agency reported. Without divulging the identities or total number of people arrested Monday, the prosecutor confirmed that the others had been released from custody. The Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant said one of its photographers had been arrested on site. The others arrested were reportedly two lawyers and Florian Willet, the co-president of The Last Resort assisted dying organisation. The public prosecutor's office had been informed by a law firm on Monday that an assisted suicide had taken place at a forest hut in Merishausen. Along with police and emergency workers, prosecutors had gone "to the crime scene" and had discovered the "capsule with the lifeless person inside", Sticher said Tuesday. He told the Blick newspaper that the operators had been warned in writing ahead of time that "if they came to Schaffhausen and used Sarco, they would face criminal consequences". The Last Resort presented the Sarco pod in Zurich in July, saying they expected it to be used for the first time within months, and saw no legal obstacle to its use in Switzerland. Willet at the time said Switzerland was "by far the best place" to use the Sarco due to its "wonderful liberal system". Swiss law generally allows assisted suicide if the person commits the lethal act themselves. But on the same day the Sarco was used, Switzerland's Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told lawmakers that the capsule was "not legal". "Firstly, it does not meet the requirements of product safety law and therefore cannot be placed on the market," she said, adding that the use of nitrogen was also "not compatible with the purpose article of the Chemicals Act". September 26 is an important date not only for Ukraine but for the whole world. This day is full of both religious and secular holidays that reflect various aspects of our lives. ADVERTISIMENT September 26 is also a memorable date in world history due to the important events that took place on this day. OBOZ.UA tells about it in more detail. Day of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian On September 26, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, the youngest and one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ. He is known as the author of one of the four Gospels and several epistles that are an integral part of the New Testament. Before his death, the Lord entrusted John to take care of the Mother of God, whom the apostle served until the Assumption. After that, the saint went to preach. John the Theologian died at the age of over 100. Thus, he became one of the few apostles who died of natural causes in old age, living to a ripe old age. ADVERTISIMENT World Maritime Day World Maritime Day is an international holiday celebrated under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization. This day is dedicated to drawing attention to the importance of protecting the world's oceans and their resources, as well as to maritime safety and environmental responsibility. European Day of Languages The European Day of Languages is celebrated to support the cultural and linguistic diversity of Europe. This holiday reminds us of the importance of learning languages and supporting the multicultural identity of European countries. On this day, educational activities are held to help understand how languages contribute to the development of national cultures and mutual respect between peoples. Stanislav Petrov Day September 26 also marks the Day of Stanislav Petrov, a Soviet officer who averted nuclear war during the Cold War in 1983. He was in charge of the Soviet nuclear early warning system and decided not to inform his command of a false alarm that could have led to catastrophic consequences. ADVERTISIMENT Significant events on September 26 2021 - Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeats Anthony Joshua. 2012 - murder at the Karavan shopping center in Kyiv: a man killed four security guards over a stolen flash drive. 1995 - Ukraine is admitted to the Council of Europe. 1977 - the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant starts operating. 1969 - The Beatles' last studio album Abbey Road is released. 1960 - Kennedy and Nixon held the first televised debate during the US presidential election. 1951 - The German Bundestag voted to pay postwar reparations to Jews. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. Zelensky alleges Russian plot on nuclear plants in defiant UN address United Nations, United States, Sept 25 (AFP) Sep 25, 2024 President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Wednesday of plotting potentially catastrophic attacks on Ukrainian nuclear plants, in a defiant UN address ahead of US elections that could sharply shift the stance of Kyiv's main backer. Zelensky addressed the annual gathering of world leaders to rally support before a high-profile visit Thursday to the White House, where President Joe Biden's administration promised new military aid. Speaking from the UN rostrum in a black polo jacket, Zelensky said that Russian President Vladimir Putin "does seem to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and the infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid." "Any critical incident in the energy system could lead to a nuclear disaster. A day like that must never come," Zelensky said. "Moscow needs to understand this, and this depends in part on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor," he told the General Assembly. Shortly after his remarks, Putin made his most explicit threat yet to use nuclear weapons, saying Russia would consider such a response to a "massive" air attack on its soil. Ukraine has been pushing the United States and its allies to ease restrictions on weapons that can strike deeper into Russia. Russia captured the giant Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant soon after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In recent weeks it has been pounding Ukraine's electricity grid, in what Western and Ukrainian officials describe as an attempt to leave the country shivering during the winter. - 'Never accept' deal from outside - In his UN address, Zelensky singled out China and Brazil as he questioned the "true interest" of countries that have been pressing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia. Employing the language of the Global South, Zelensky said: "The world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are small." "Ukrainians will never accept -- will never accept -- why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on Ukraine now," Zelensky said. In response, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that a peace deal is the only way for Ukraine to "survive" the war. "Only peace will guarantee that Ukraine survives as a sovereign country and Russia survives," he said at a press conference in New York. Zelensky last year flew to the General Assembly in a dramatic first wartime appearance. But while he still maintains star power, the political landscape has changed. Donald Trump, running again for president in a close race against Kamala Harris, called Zelensky "probably the greatest salesman on Earth." "We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Zelensky," the Republican candidate told a campaign rally in North Carolina. Republicans were livid after Zelensky told The New Yorker magazine that Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance did not understand the war's complexity. The United States has provided around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine during the war. The Biden administration has ruled out sending troops. The Biden administration announced another $375 million on Wednesday including munitions for HIMARS precision rocket launchers, cluster munitions and light tactical vehicles. Trump in the past has voiced admiration for Putin and, during his 2017-2021 presidency, was impeached over delaying aid to Ukraine to press Zelensky to dig up dirt on Biden. In Germany, the second-largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also facing pressure from parties opposed to support for Kyiv. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of Kyiv ally Britain, told the Security Council on Wednesday that Putin has been sending its citizens into a meat grinder and asked how Russia "can show its face" at the UN headquarters. - Lebanon crisis - The annual UN General Assembly extravaganza marks a swansong for Biden, 81, who has passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris to face Trump in the November 5 election. The summit comes against a backdrop of chaos in the Middle East as Israel ramps up attacks on the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, killing hundreds and prompting a mass exodus of people. Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron met to discuss a push for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Wednesday also saw talks at the UN on two other hotspots -- Sudan and Haiti. The United States announced millions in new assistance both for war-ravaged Sudan's humanitarian crisis and for stabilization efforts in violence-wracked Haiti. Japan warship asserts right to sail through Taiwan Strait: media Tokyo, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 A Japanese warship cruised through the Taiwan Strait for the first time to assert its freedom of navigation, local media said Thursday, just a week after a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed between two Japanese islands near Taiwan. Washington and its allies are increasingly crossing the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing. The Sazanami destroyer made the passage on Wednesday at the same time as navy vessels from Australia and New Zealand, several Japanese media outlets said. The three nations planned to conduct military drills in the South China Sea, the reports said. There was no immediate confirmation from the defence ministry. Last week, China's Liaoning aircraft carrier sailed between two Japanese islands near Taiwan for the first time, accompanied by two destroyers. Tokyo said the ships entered its contiguous zone -- an area up to 24 nautical miles from the Japanese coast -- and called the incident "totally unacceptable", while China said it had complied with international law. It followed the first confirmed incursion into Japanese airspace by a Chinese surveillance aircraft in August. On Thursday, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily cited unnamed government sources as saying Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had instructed the Taiwan Strait journey over concern that doing nothing following China's intrusion into Japanese territory could encourage Beijing to take more assertive actions. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province and claims jurisdiction over the body of water that separates the island from China. But the United States and many other countries argue their voyages are usual, citing freedom of navigation. China this month accused Berlin of heightening security risks in the Taiwan Strait, a day after two German military vessels sailed through the waters. The reported sailing comes as Kishida's ruling party holds a leadership election on Friday that will be a de facto vote to decide Japan's next prime minister, with candidates debating issues including regional security. On Wednesday, China test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean in its first such exercise in decades. Japan said it had not been given advance notice of the missile test, expressing "serious concern" about China's military build-up. Beijing has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in recent years upping the rhetoric of "unification" being "inevitable". In response, Taiwan has strengthened economic and political ties with its allies -- most notably the United States, its biggest weapons provider -- while increasing its defence budget. Taiwan detects 43 Chinese military aircraft, 8 navy ships around island Taipei, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 Taiwan said Thursday that 43 Chinese aircraft and eight naval vessels were detected around the democratic island within a 24-hour period, movements that came as a Japanese warship cruised through the sensitive Taiwan Strait. China, which claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, sends warplanes, drones and naval vessels around the island nearly every day. The latest incursions came as Japanese media reported that a Japanese warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait for the first time to assert its freedom of navigation. There was no immediate confirmation from Tokyo of the passage, which media reports said took place on Wednesday following similar journeys by US and European navies in recent years. On Thursday, Taiwan's defence ministry said the 43 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels were detected in a 24-hour period ending at 6:00 am (2200 GMT Wednesday). In a statement, it said: "34 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ (air defence identification zone)." "We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." An illustration released by the ministry showed the aircraft surrounding the island except for the northeastern coast. The record this year came on July 11 when Taipei said it detected 66 Chinese military aircraft in a 24-hour window. China has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and has ramped up military pressures on the island in recent years. On the night of September 26, air defense forces were operatingin Ivano-Frankivsk region. As a result of the enemy attack, a critical infrastructure facility was damaged, leaving part of the city without electricity. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration, Svitlana Onyshchuk. "Power engineers are already working to restore power supply. All the necessary services arrived at the scene promptly to eliminate the consequences. The fire that broke out at the impact site was successfully extinguished. Fortunately, there were no casualties. "Once again, I urge all residents of the region not to ignore air raid alerts, as the enemy continues to try to destroy our infrastructure. Take care of yourself and your families! ADVERTISIMENT We thank the air defense forces, employees of the State Emergency Service, all the defenders who are standing up for Ukraine, words of gratitude to those who are working for our Victory!" Onyshchuk writes. The mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ruslan Martsinkiv, also reported on the work of air defense. "Our air defense was working at night, thanks to the defenders! The most important thing is that people were not injured. We see that the enemy is striking across Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure. ADVERTISIMENT I am grateful to the emergency responders and everyone who worked. We thank God and our defenders and continue to help the military," the mayor said. Prykarpattyaoblenergo reported that a nighttime attack by Russian drones damaged power grids in Ivano-Frankivsk community . As a result, the central part of Ivano-Frankivsk, including Nezalezhnosti, Konovalets, Sichovykh Striltsiv, Stepan Bandera streets and the surrounding areas, was left without electricity. "The power company ' s teams have already started repairing the damage, but it will take time to restore power supply. Therefore, consumers are asked to take this into account," the company said. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier it was reported that on the night of September 26, the Russian terrorist army attacked Mykolaiv region. The invaders targeted an energy infrastructure facility. As a result of the shelling, there were problems with electricity supply in the region. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with Shahed-type kamikaze drones all night and into the morning, and a child was injured as a result of the enemy's actions. As a result of the fall of the wreckage of the downed targets, a gas pipe was depressurized and a fire broke out in a high-rise building, damaging dozens of cars. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! China notified France about missile launch in Pacific: French authorities Papeete, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 China notified France before test-firing a long-range ballistic missile into the Pacific on Wednesday, authorities in French Polynesia said, adding that the weapon had landed within its exclusive economic zone. The missile test, which China's defence ministry said was carrying a dummy warhead, was its first such exercise in decades. "The Chinese authorities previously notified their French counterparts of this test," the French High Commission said in a statement, adding that France would make its position on the test known. French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson earlier told AFP that "the missile fell not far from... the Marquesas Islands", within the territory's exclusive economic zone. Beijing has stepped up its nuclear development and boosted defence spending in recent years, with the Pentagon warning last October that China was developing its arsenal more quickly than the United States had anticipated. China held more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and is likely to have more than 1,000 by 2030, the Pentagon said. Beijing's defence ministry said the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) had carried "a dummy warhead... and the missile fell into expected sea areas" on Wednesday. It also said that the firing was a "routine arrangement in our annual training plan" and "not directed against any country or target". The United States said it received "some advanced notification of this ICBM test," describing this as "a step in the right direction" that helps prevent "misperception or miscalculation." But the launch sparked protests from countries in the region, with China's neighbour Japan saying it had not been given advance notice. Australia said it was seeking "an explanation", while New Zealand calling the launch "an unwelcome and concerning development". New Zealand navy sailed Taiwan Strait for first time in years Wellington, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 New Zealand's navy said on Thursday that it had sailed a military vessel through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in seven years, a rare challenge to China's claim on the fiercely contested waterway. A defence official told AFP that the HMNZS Aotearoa a relief ship sailed through the strait on Wednesday with an Australian guided missile destroyer, the HMAS Sydney. "This was a routine activity, consistent with international law, including the right of freedom of navigation," a defence spokesperson said. The United States and allied militaries regularly sail through the Taiwan Strait to assert their freedom of navigation. Beijing views self-governing Taiwan as a renegade province and claims jurisdiction over the body of water that separates the island from China. New Zealand -- which has deep trade ties with China -- has carried out military operations in the South China Sea but generally shies away from exercises in the Taiwan Strait. The last time a New Zealand navy vessel passed through the strait was while sailing to the Chinese port of Qingdao in 2017, the defence official said. Wednesday's mission was not conducted with Japan, which reportedly also sailed a warship through the strait for the first time. "It was not done with a Japanese ship," the defence official said. Since coming to office last year, New Zealand's centre-right government has pivoted hard toward "traditional allies" like the United States, Britain and Australia, and become much more vocal in its criticism of Beijing. On Wednesday New Zealand issued an unusually strong condemnation of China's decision to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile that terminated in the South Pacific. Wellington said that test, the first of its kind in decades, was "unwelcome and concerning". In March, Wellington said a Chinese "state-sponsored group" was behind a 2021 malicious cyber attack that infiltrated sensitive government computer systems. New Zealand is currently carrying out plans to shake up its defence forces and "reset" its foreign policy. New Zealand is also mulling participation in AUKUS efforts to develop advanced military technology such as artificial intelligence, undersea drones, and hypersonic missiles. AUKUS currently groups Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. High-profile New Zealanders such as former prime minister Helen Clark have warned against irking China and an increasing dependence on the United States. Japan warship asserts right to sail through Taiwan Strait: media Tokyo, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 A Japanese warship cruised through the Taiwan Strait for the first time to assert its freedom of navigation, local media said Thursday, a week after a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed between two Japanese islands near Taiwan. Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the reports at a regular briefing because they concern military operations. The United States and its allies are increasingly crossing the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering China. The Sazanami destroyer made the unprecedented passage on Wednesday, several Japanese media outlets said. Military vessels from New Zealand and Australia also sailed through the fiercely contested waterway on the same day, Wellington's defence ministry said on Thursday. A defence official told AFP that one of its ships made its first passage through the Taiwan Strait in seven years, alongside an Australian guided missile destroyer to assert the "right of freedom of navigation". The official added the mission was not conducted with Japan. Japanese media said the three nations planned to conduct military drills in the contested South China Sea. Last week, China's Liaoning aircraft carrier sailed between two Japanese islands near Taiwan for the first time, accompanied by two destroyers. The ships entered Japan's contiguous zone -- an area up to 24 nautical miles from the country's coast -- Tokyo said, calling the incident "totally unacceptable". China said it had complied with international law. It followed the first confirmed incursion into Japanese airspace by a Chinese surveillance aircraft in August. The Yomiuri Shimbun daily cited unnamed government sources as saying Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had instructed Wednesday's Taiwan Strait journey over concern that doing nothing following China's intrusions could encourage Beijing to take more assertive actions. - 'Serious concern' - Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province and claims jurisdiction over the body of water that separates the island from China. But the United States and many other countries argue their voyages are usual, citing freedom of navigation. China this month accused Berlin of heightening security risks in the Taiwan Strait, a day after two German navy ships sailed through the waters. On Wednesday, China test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean in its first such exercise in decades. Japan said it had not been given advance notice of the test, with Hayashi expressing "serious concern" about China's military build-up in comments he reiterated on Thursday. "China's military intrusion into our territorial airspace and other incidents have been happening one after another in a short period of time," Hayashi said. Japan will do its "utmost in patrolling and monitoring" the situation, he added. Taiwan's defence ministry said Thursday that 43 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels were detected around the democratic island within a 24-hour period. Beijing has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in recent years upping the rhetoric of "unification" being "inevitable". In response, Taiwan has strengthened economic and political ties -- most notably with the United States, its biggest weapons provider -- while increasing its defence budget. Bec Strating, professor of international relations at La Trobe University, said Japan's reported Taiwan Strait transit "is part of a broader pattern of greater naval presence by countries in and beyond Asia that are concerned about China's maritime assertions". "Japan in particular has been dealing with China's 'grey zone' tactics in the East China Sea," including an increasing number of coastguard vessels sailing close to disputed islands, she told AFP. Grey-zone tactics are actions that serve to exhaust a country's armed forces, military experts say. Kishida's ruling party will hold a leadership election on Friday that will be a de facto vote to decide Japan's next prime minister, with candidates debating issues including regional security. France Polynesia says Chinese missile landed 'not far' from its EEZ in Pacific Papeete, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 French Polynesia said a Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile launched into the Pacific landed near its exclusive economic zone, as Beijing's first such tests in four decades drew a chorus of protests. China had announced the rare trial on Wednesday, saying that the missile was carrying a dummy warhead. The launch sparked protests from countries in the region, with China's neighbour Japan saying it had not been given advance notice and Taiwan expressing "solemn condemnation". Australia said it was seeking "an explanation", while New Zealand called the launch "an unwelcome and concerning development". French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson earlier told AFP that "the missile fell not far from... the Marquesas Islands", an archipelago that is part of its exclusive economic zone. "The Chinese authorities previously notified their French counterparts of this test," the French High Commission said in a statement, adding that France would make its position on the test known. The Pentagon also said the United States received "some advanced notification of this ICBM test," describing this as "a step in the right direction" that would help prevent "misperception or miscalculation." China's military on Thursday released imagery of the missile, showing the projectile soaring into the air in a plum of smoke from an undisclosed location. Analysts said the imagery suggested the launch could be of a Dongfeng-31 AG intercontinental ballistic missile, unveiled during a military parade in 2017. Beijing has stepped up its nuclear development and boosted defence spending in recent years, with the Pentagon warning last October that China was developing its arsenal more quickly than the United States had anticipated. China held more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and is likely to have more than 1,000 by 2030, the Pentagon said. Beijing's defence ministry said the firing was a "routine arrangement in our annual training plan" and "not directed against any country or target". But one analyst told AFP Beijing was "clearly trying to... signal that 'we are strong'." "It sends a signal to the US and its allies... that China has the military ability to react in the event of any escalation of tensions between the United States and China," said Benjamin Ho, assistant professor at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' China Programme. burs-oho/hmn CORRECTED: French Polynesia says Chinese missile landed 'not far' from its EEZ in Pacific Papeete, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 French Polynesia said a Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile launched into the Pacific landed near its exclusive economic zone, as Beijing's first such tests in four decades drew a chorus of protests. China had announced the rare trial on Wednesday, saying that the missile was carrying a dummy warhead. The launch sparked protests from countries in the region, with China's neighbour Japan saying it had not been given advance notice and Taiwan expressing "solemn condemnation". Australia said it was seeking "an explanation", while New Zealand called the launch "an unwelcome and concerning development". French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson earlier told AFP that "the missile fell not far from... the Marquesas Islands", an archipelago that is part of its exclusive economic zone. "The Chinese authorities previously notified their French counterparts of this test," the French High Commission said in a statement, adding that France would make its position on the test known. The Pentagon also said the United States received "some advanced notification of this ICBM test," describing this as "a step in the right direction" that would help prevent "misperception or miscalculation." China's military on Thursday released imagery of the missile, showing the projectile soaring into the air in a plume of smoke from an undisclosed location. Analysts said the imagery suggested the launch could be of a Dongfeng-31 AG intercontinental ballistic missile, unveiled during a military parade in 2017. Beijing has stepped up its nuclear development and boosted defence spending in recent years, with the Pentagon warning last October that China was developing its arsenal more quickly than the United States had anticipated. China held more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and is likely to have more than 1,000 by 2030, the Pentagon said. Beijing's defence ministry said the firing was a "routine arrangement in our annual training plan" and "not directed against any country or target". But one analyst told AFP Beijing was "clearly trying to... signal that 'we are strong'." "It sends a signal to the US and its allies... that China has the military ability to react in the event of any escalation of tensions between the United States and China," said Benjamin Ho, assistant professor at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' China Programme. burs-oho/hmn/ssy China says ICBM launch 'routine', no change in nuclear policy Beijing, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 China said on Thursday its test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was "legitimate and routine", and that it had not changed its nuclear policy, after the launch prompted an outcry from regional powers. "The ICBM launch is to test our weapon and training performance. It is a legitimate and routine arrangement for military training," defence ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang told a news conference in Beijing. "China's nuclear policy is very stable, consistent and predictable. We strictly follow a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and pursue a nuclear strategy of self-defence," Zhang said. He said China does not seek an "arms race" and had "promised not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states or weapon-free zones". "China will continue to keep its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security," Zhang said. China announced the rare trial on Wednesday -- its first in four decades -- saying that the missile was carrying a dummy warhead. French Polynesia said the missile landed near its exclusive economic zone and the French High Commission said Beijing had notified Paris of the launch. However, Japan said it had not been given advance warning. Australia said it was seeking "an explanation", while New Zealand called the launch "an unwelcome and concerning development". China 'highly vigilant' after Japan warship sails through Taiwan Strait Beijing, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 China said Thursday it was "highly vigilant" and had lodged a complaint with Tokyo after a Japanese warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time. Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the reports at a regular briefing because they concerned military operations. But Beijing confirmed its military had responded to "the activities of a Japanese Self-Defence Force ship entering the Taiwan Strait". "China is highly vigilant about the political intentions of Japan's actions and has lodged stern representations with Japan," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. The United States and its allies are increasingly crossing through the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering China. The Sazanami destroyer made the unprecedented passage on Wednesday, several Japanese media outlets said. Military vessels from New Zealand and Australia also sailed through the fiercely contested waterway on the same day, Wellington's defence ministry said on Thursday. A defence official told AFP that one of its ships made its first passage through the Taiwan Strait in seven years, alongside an Australian guided missile destroyer to assert the "right of freedom of navigation". The official added the mission was not conducted with Japan. Japanese media said the three nations planned to conduct military drills in the contested South China Sea. - 'Threaten' China - In response to "foreign warships transiting the Taiwan Strait", Beijing on Thursday said it "consistently handles such matters in accordance with laws and regulations". The foreign ministry said it remained: "highly vigilant against any actions that may threaten China's sovereignty and security". Last week, China's Liaoning aircraft carrier sailed between two Japanese islands near Taiwan for the first time, accompanied by two destroyers. The ships entered Japan's contiguous zone -- an area up to 24 nautical miles from the country's coast -- Tokyo said, calling the incident "totally unacceptable". China said it had complied with international law. It followed the first confirmed incursion into Japanese airspace by a Chinese surveillance aircraft in August. The Yomiuri Shimbun daily cited unnamed government sources as saying Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had ordered Wednesday's Taiwan Strait journey out of concern that doing nothing following China's intrusions could encourage Beijing to take more assertive actions. - 'Serious concern' - Beijing, which says democratic Taiwan is part of its territory, claims jurisdiction over the body of water that separates the island from China. But the United States and many other countries argue their voyages through the strait are routine, citing freedom of navigation. China this month accused Berlin of heightening security risks in the Taiwan Strait, a day after two German navy ships sailed through the waters. On Wednesday, China test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean in its first such exercise in decades. Japan said it had not been given advance notice of the test, with Hayashi expressing "serious concern" about China's military build-up in comments he reiterated on Thursday. "China's military intrusion into our territorial airspace and other incidents have been happening one after another in a short period of time," Hayashi said. Japan will do its "utmost in patrolling and monitoring" the situation, he added. Taiwan's defence ministry also said Thursday that 43 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels were detected around the island within a 24-hour period. Beijing has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in recent years upping the rhetoric of "unification" being "inevitable". Bec Strating, professor of international relations at La Trobe University, said Japan's reported Taiwan Strait transit "is part of a broader pattern of greater naval presence by countries in and beyond Asia that are concerned about China's maritime assertions". "Japan in particular has been dealing with China's 'grey zone' tactics in the East China Sea," including an increasing number of coast guard vessels sailing close to disputed islands, she told AFP. Grey-zone tactics are actions that serve to exhaust a country's armed forces, military experts say. burs-oho/je/smw Kremlin says new nuclear doctrine is 'warning' to West Moscow, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 The Kremlin said Thursday that an updated nuclear doctrine that will allow Moscow to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states should be seen as a warning to the West. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced plans to broaden Russia's rules on the use of its nuclear weaponry, allowing it to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a "massive" air attack. The proposals would also permit Moscow to respond with nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states, where they were being supported by nuclear powers -- a clear reference to Ukraine and its Western backers. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the planned changes "must be considered a specific signal". "A signal that warns these countries of the consequences if they participate in an attack on our country by various means, not necessarily nuclear," Peskov told reporters. Without mentioning Ukraine by name, Peskov said Russia's "nuclear deterrence is being adjusted on account of elements of tension that are developing along the perimeter of our borders". He also said there was "no question" of Russia boosting its nuclear arsenal. The proposed changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, which Putin himself has the power to approve, come as Ukraine is seeking permission from Western allies to use long-range precision weaponry to strike targets deep inside Russia -- so far to no avail. Kyiv says it is necessary to target Russia's airfields and military infrastructure that it uses to launch attacks on Ukraine, though the White House is cautious about enabling further escalation. The West has accused Putin of irresponsible nuclear sabre-rattling throughout the Ukraine conflict, with the Kremlin leader having issued multiple apparent threats about Moscow's willingness to deploy its nuclear weapons. Air strikes in Khartoum as Sudan army attacks paramilitary positions Port Sudan, Sudan, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 Air strikes and shelling rocked Khartoum on Thursday as the army attacked paramilitary positions throughout the Sudanese capital, eyewitnesses and a military source told AFP. The clashes began at dawn, several residents reported, in what appeared to be the army's first major offensive in months to regain parts of the capital controlled by its rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. It comes with Sudan high on the agenda of the United Nations centrepiece meetings in New York this week. On the sidelines of the talks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern to army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan "about the escalation of the conflict in the Sudan", the UN said Wednesday. Sudanese army forces were "waging fierce fighting against the rebel militia inside Khartoum", a source in the military told AFP, referring to the RSF. The source, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said army forces had crossed three key bridges over the Nile River -- which had separated parts of the capital held by the army from those under RSF control. Since April 2023, when war broke out between Burhan's Sudanese Armed Forces and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the paramilitaries had pushed the army nearly all the way out of Khartoum. Following its last major offensive in February, the army regained much of Omdurman, the capital's twin city just across the river, and part of greater Khartoum. - 'Intense' shelling - Several residents of Omdurman reported "intense artillery shelling" which started early on Thursday, with shells falling on residential buildings while military warplanes flew overhead. Since the war began, much of its worst fighting has been in densely populated areas, and both sides have been accused of indiscriminately bombing residential areas. The war has already killed tens of thousands of people, with estimates ranging widely from 20,000 to 150,000, according to medics. It has also created the world's largest displacement crisis, the UN says. More than 10 million people -- around a fifth of Sudan's population -- have been forced from their homes inside the country and another two million have fled to neighbouring states, according to the United Nations. Famine has been declared in Zamzam refugee camp in Darfur near the city of El-Fasher, where the RSF last weekend launched a large-scale offensive after months of siege. El-Fasher is the only one of five state capitals in the vast Darfur region not yet in RSF hands. In his meeting with Burhan, Guterres said the war "risks a regional spillover," the UN said. "People in Sudan have endured 17 months of hell, and the suffering continues to grow," the UN's top relief official Joyce Msuya said separately. Two jailed in Poland for spying for Russia Warsaw, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 A Polish court on Thursday jailed a Ukrainian and a Belarusian convicted of spying for Russia and gathering information on military equipment deliveries to Kyiv. Since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Warsaw has frequently accused Russia of carrying out acts of espionage inside its territory. A NATO member and key Kyiv ally, much Western aid to Ukraine passes through its neighbour Poland. The two men in the dock were part of a ring of 16 Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian nationals arrested by Warsaw in March 2023, accused of preparing acts of sabotage and information-gathering for Moscow. Ukrainian citizen Maksym L., 23, was jailed for six years by the court in the eastern Lublin region, while 30-year-old Belarusian Uladyslau P. was handed 34 months. Polish law prohibits the publication of their full names. Both were convicted of espionage and participation in an organised criminal group seeking to undermine Poland's interests. "This was an organised criminal group... whose objective was to collect intelligence to determine the type and volume of aid transferred to Ukraine," said Judge Miroslaw Brzozowski, Polish news agency PAP reported. The court ruled that the two men had worked for the spy ring between January and March 2023, motivated by financial gain. They installed surveillance devices along vital cross-border rail routes used for the transportation of military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv, it added. The group was also responsible for monitoring major points of passage of Western military aid to Ukraine. These included the northern seaports of Gdynia and Gdansk, and the Jasionka airport and the Rzeszow train station near the Ukrainian border. They communicated with their backers via the social media network Telegram, said the court. Senior Pentagon officials have recommended providing Ukraine with white phosphorus ammunition for use on the battlefield. However, the White House has repeatedly rejected this idea. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by NBC News. The US military believes that white phosphorus shells can be useful for camouflaging military units due to the smoke and light they create when used. If approved, the ammunition would not be listed as military aid, as was the case with previous arms shipments to Ukraine, which were not publicly reported. Two officials indicated that concerns about possible civilian casualties prevented President Joe Biden's administration from supporting the proposal. White phosphorus is a substance that ignites instantly in the presence of oxygen, burns at very high temperatures, and is difficult to extinguish. It can stick to surfaces, including skin and clothing, causing serious burns. The smoke produced during its use can be harmful to the respiratory system and eyes. In the past, during major conflicts such as World War II and the Vietnam War, the United States used white phosphorus against enemy forces, but its role has changed in today's environment. ADVERTISIMENT It is worth noting that white phosphorus munitions are not banned and are not classified as chemical weapons under international standards. However, the military using them is obliged to adhere to the principle of distinction between military targets and civilian areas. As a reminder, Ukraine will soon receive Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range cruise missiles from the United States. These munitions can strike at a distance of up to 150 km and weigh up to 500 kg. It is worth noting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the United States has decided to provide Ukraine with significant defense assistance totaling $7.9 billion. Additional sanctions will also be imposed against the aggressor country of Russia. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT Kremlin says new nuclear doctrine is 'warning' to West Moscow, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 The Kremlin said Thursday that an updated nuclear doctrine that will allow Moscow to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states should be seen as a warning to the West. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced plans to broaden Russia's rules on the use of its nuclear weaponry, allowing it to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a "massive" air attack. The proposals would also permit Moscow to respond with nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states if they are supported by nuclear powers -- a clear reference to Ukraine and its Western backers. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the planned changes "must be considered a specific signal". "A signal that warns these countries of the consequences if they participate in an attack on our country by various means, not necessarily nuclear," Peskov told reporters. Without mentioning Ukraine by name, Peskov said Russia's "nuclear deterrence is being adjusted on account of elements of tension that are developing along the perimeter of our borders". He also said there was "no question" of Russia boosting its nuclear arsenal. Moscow residents on Thursday told AFP they were worried by the announcement. "Using the threat of nuclear weapons is always bad. We don't need another Cuban missile crisis," said Dimitri, a 21-year-old student who declined to give his surname. Vadim, a 43-year-old artist who also only gave his first name, said: "An escalation is underway, of course, it is alarming." For others, like 60-year-old pensioner Vladimir, the new doctrine could be beneficial and "bring pretentious Europeans to reason". The move "can reinforce security and force people in Ukraine and the United States to think", said Igor Diakov, also a retiree in Moscow. "Europe will tremble because all the red lines have been crossed and they think they cannot be punished for it. But we won't let them get away with it." Tatiana Nikiforova, a 49-year-old Russian teacher, deferred to her country's leadership. "We must have faith in our leaders, there is no other way," she said. The proposed changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, which Putin himself has the power to approve, come as Ukraine is seeking permission from Western allies to use long-range precision weaponry to strike targets deep inside Russia -- so far to no avail. Kyiv says it is necessary to target Russia's airfields and military infrastructure that it uses to launch attacks on Ukraine, though the White House is cautious about enabling further escalation. The West has accused Putin of irresponsible nuclear sabre-rattling throughout the Ukraine conflict, with the Kremlin leader having issued multiple apparent threats about Moscow's willingness to deploy its nuclear weapons. Israel vows to keep fighting Hezbollah 'until victory' Beirut, Lebanon, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 Israel flatly rejected on Thursday a push led by key backer the United States for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, vowing to keep fighting Hezbollah militants "until victory". Israeli bombing of Iran-backed Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon has killed hundreds of people this week, while the militant group has retaliated with rocket barrages. "There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had "not even responded" to the truce proposal, and that he had ordered the military "to continue the fighting with full force". The United States, France and other allies called for a 21-day halt, after President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The situation in Lebanon has become "intolerable" and "is in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon", their joint statement said. Despite the comments from Israeli officials, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that "the statement was indeed coordinated with the Israeli side." The violence showed little signs of abating, with the Israeli military announcing more strikes on southern Lebanon and Hezbollah saying its fighters had launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel late Thursday. The Israeli defence ministry announced that it had secured a new $8.7-billion aid package from the United States to support the country's ongoing military efforts, underlining Washington's unwillingness to use its military aid as leverage for a ceasefire. - Drones and rockets - The Israeli military said it struck about 75 targets in the eastern Bekaa valley and southern Lebanon, Hezbollah bastions that have seen a huge exodus of civilians fleeing their homes in recent days. According to the International Organization for Migration, about 118,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in Lebanon over the past week alone. A strike on the town of Yunin near Baalbek killed at least 20 people, Lebanon's health ministry said. "It was one of the worst nights we've lived through," said Fadia Rafic Yaghi, 70, who owns a shop in Baalbek. For the fourth time this week, Israel carried out a strike on Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold, which it said killed the head of the group's drone unit. The Lebanese health ministry said two people were killed in the strike. It said 60 people had been killed nationwide over the previous 24 hours, among 1,540 killed since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began last October. A source close to Hezbollah told AFP a drone strike targeted a group member in a car east of Beirut, and the official National News Agency reported two more "enemy drone" strikes that killed at least four people. The Israeli military said two barrages of 40 to 45 rockets each had been fired from Lebanon into Israel earlier on Thursday, with many of them intercepted. One man was taken to hospital in moderate condition with shrapnel injuries. Hezbollah said the first barrage targeted defence industry complexes near the port city of Haifa, while the second targeted the northern town of Safed. - 'Have to flee' - Israel said earlier this month it was shifting its focus from the Gaza Strip, where it has been fighting a war with Hamas since the October 7 attack, to its border with Lebanon. Hamas ally Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israeli troops since October, forcing tens of thousands of people on both sides to flee their homes. Netanyahu, who is due to address the UN General Assembly on Friday, has said that ensuring the safe return of Israelis to their homes was a priority. Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, has told soldiers to prepare for a possible ground offensive, according to an army statement. Israeli air force chief Major General Tomer Bar said strikes were aiming to cut off Hezbollah from its arms supplier Iran. Israeli strikes killed at least 558 people on Monday -- the deadliest day of violence in Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war. For many on both sides of the border, the violence has sparked bitter memories of the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. Hassan Slim, who left his southern Lebanon home seeking safety in war-battered Syria, said: "We didn't think the situation would degenerate so quickly. "Now war is at our doorstep and we have to flee." In Israel, some like 67-year-old David Lander, believe war is the only way to restore calm. "I'm against a temporary ceasefire," said the retired resident of the northern city of Haifa. "I want the citizens of the north to be able to go back to their homes." - Gaza school strike - Diplomats have said efforts to end the war in Gaza were key to halting the fighting in Lebanon. But despite months of mediation efforts involving the United States, a ceasefire is as elusive as ever. Civil defence workers in Gaza said an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter killed at least 15 people, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted Hamas. The war in Gaza began with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity. Of the 251 hostages seized by militants, 97 are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,534 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN has described the figures as reliable. burs/ser/kir/ami Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has complained about the operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region. According to him, the Ukrainian military is allegedly committing "outrages" and the UN is "closing their eyes." ADVERTISIMENT Lavrov also lied about the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly carrying out non-electoral acts in Kursk, he told Kremlin propagandists on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Reuters reports. The Russian foreign minister called Ukrainian soldiers "terrorist groups" and complained about the use of Western weapons by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to carry out the attack in the Kursk region. Lavrov cynically lied that Ukrainian troops were allegedly shelling civilian infrastructure and not allowing civilians to evacuate. "It is there that they are bombing houses every day, bombing social institutions, civilians who are moving in their cars to safer places," Lavrov said. In addition, he complained that he had not heard any voices from UN representatives responsible for human rights, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. According to Lavrov, the UN has prepared a standard response to questions about the situation in the Kursk region, and said that the organization is ready to speak out "for everything good and against everything bad." ADVERTISIMENT Earlier it was reported that the Russian army will not be able to liberate the Kursk region of the Russian Federation in the "near future" - by the end of October, as ordered by its command. Recently, there have been no tangible changes in the progress of either Russian or Ukrainian forces there. As reported by OBOZ.UA, military expert Ihor Levchenko said that the information disseminated by the Western media about the number of Russian troops in Kursk region may reflect a certain reality, but it is difficult to confirm the accuracy of these data. He emphasized that Ukrainian actions in the Kursk region are also aimed at forcing the Russian command to redeploy troops from other fronts, and this is dispersing their resources. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! * FIRST NAME * LAST NAME * EMAIL Your email address * PASSWORD Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Show * YEAR OF BIRTH You must be at least 18 years old to create an account 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 * Required fields I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice CREATE ACCOUNT I'LL TRY LATER Already have an account? SIGN IN By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Urging the court to take into account the fact the boy had been groomed and exploited by older youths and young men in the wider community, Ms Brand added: We say the evidence shows that his involvement was with his fists and feet and the co-defendant wielded the machete. Czech President Petr Pavel is a great friend of Ukraine, but he made a mistake by assuming a "peace in the middle" at the expense of "dividing" the Ukrainian state. In any case, such peace is impossible, because the Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin will not go for it. ADVERTISIMENT This opinion was expressed in an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA by Russian opposition politician and journalist Igor Yakovenko. According to him, one should not "immediately try to classify" Pavel as an enemy of Ukraine and enroll him in the camp of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. "This is a man who fully supports Ukraine. Remember his recent initiative to collect a million shells for Ukraine around the world. Undoubtedly, he is a great friend of Ukraine. But in this case, I think it's about him trying to be realistic, to proceed from what is available today because there are big problems associated with American support for Ukraine, associated with European unity. And all this affects the frontline. Indeed, the situation at ground zero is difficult," Yakovenko said. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, he pointed out that a politician of such a level as Piotr Pawel should have thought carefully before making such statements. "It seems to me that the mistake of Petr Pavel is not that he makes such a forecast based on some objective analysis, but that any word of a politician, especially a well-known one with such a biography as Czech President Petr Pavel, affects the situation. He is not some scientist who studies the life of spiders or butterflies. The statements of an entomologist do not affect the lives of spiders or butterflies. But a politician's statements about the real situation do affect the course of events," the Russian oppositionist said. He added that, perhaps, the analysis of the situation "really prompts" Pavel to make such a conclusion, "but it is wrong to say such things publicly", as in this way he changes the situation towards such a forecast. ADVERTISIMENT "There is a concept of 'self-fulfilling predictions'. If you publicly express the belief that a bank will go bankrupt, it will happen, even though it had a chance to be saved. Because depositors will run to withdraw their money, the massive outflow of funds from this bank will indeed make this prediction come true. It seems to me that such statements by the politician make it possible that the forecast may come true," Yakovenko said. According to him, the spread of such opinions could lead to a decrease in support for Ukraine. "If most Western politicians believe that Ukraine cannot win, what is the point of giving it money? What is the point of giving it weapons? You need to negotiate with Putin, but it is impossible to negotiate with Putin that is the main problem. And the main mistake of this forecast is that there will be no such "peace in the middle. " Even if Ukraine suddenly decides to go for such a peace in the middle, when neither yours nor ours is acceptable, Putin will not do it. This is not a situation that can be predicted from the point of view of common sense. The Russian dictator is not guided by common sense," the politician said. ADVERTISIMENT He added that Pavel probably has good intentions, but he is making a mistake not as a military expert, not as an analyst, but as a politician, because, in politics, such statements change the situation. "And this statement by the Czech president changes the circumstances for the worse," Yakovenko stated. But I think the strongest message that came across for me was that this is an investment, when you invest in the arts you invest in people, you invest in society, you invest in the economy and thats the message that I have been taking to Executive colleagues and will continue to take to Executive colleagues in the time ahead because I believe it can make a real difference. US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The American politician accused him of "dirty attacks" against him. ADVERTISIMENT Trump said this during a campaign event in North Carolina. He devoted a significant part of his speech to Ukraine. "The president of Ukraine is in our country. He's making dirty little attacks on your favorite president, me," the Republican said. In addition, Trump made accusations against President Joe Biden and his opponent in the election, Kamala Harris. According to him, they allocate billions of dollars to Zelensky, who "refuses" to make a "deal." "And we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal - Zelensky," the presidential candidate said. Earlier, the media reported that Donald Trump said he might meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This could have happened during the Ukrainian president's visit to New York to address the UN Security Council. ADVERTISIMENT However, Trump's campaign later said that he had no plans to meet with Zelensky this week. No such meetings were scheduled, they said. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - US presidential candidate Donald Trump is convinced that the United States should "get out" of the war in Ukraine. And in case of his victory, he plans to provide such a "way out" because he does not rule out the possibility of a Russian victory. - And President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who promised to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, does not really know how to do it. The Head of State emphasized that a repetition of Minsk cannot be a way out of the situation and that peace at the expense of losing territories, as Trump's team is saying, is unacceptable for Ukraine. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT Colistin is one of very few antibiotics that can still treat certain drug-resistant infections. Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed At the United Nation General Assembly in New York, all countries approved a major new political declaration to radically scale-up efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a major threat to modern medicine. AMR threatens to unwind a century of medical progress, and could return us to the pre-antibiotic era, where infections that are treatable today could become much harder to treat and potentially deadly tomorrow. AMR is caused largely by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics making microbes resistant to them, and diseases more dangerous and deadly. Its an issue with implications for health-at-large. Health facilities are often where the most stubbornly treatment-resistant infections emerge and spread. AMR makes all manner of routine medical procedures riskier; in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), approximately 11% of people who undergo surgery are infected in the process. Naveed Khan is a 25-year-old civil servant in Peshawar, Pakistan. His life was changed forever when he contracted tetanus from a cut and needed a section of his windpipe removed. But while he was in hospital, he caught infections caused by different types of bacteria. TBIJ/BSAC/Saiyna Bashir The burden of treatment-resistant infections falls heaviest on LMICs, where AMR is worsened by a lack of access to clean water, stretched health systems, limited budgets, poor access to diagnosis and appropriate treatment, and a lack of enforcement of legislation. Sepsis in newborns that spreads in hospitals is a particularly dramatic illustration of how tough the situation is in LMICs. The crisis in equitable access to new and existing antimicrobial medicines is also felt most acutely in LMICs, where a lack of availability is a much bigger problem than misuse and overuse the tools arent there in the first place. A lack of access to vaccines increases the risk of drug-resistant infections and a lack of access to diagnostics means it harder to detect drug-resistant infections and prescribe the right treatments. AMR also compounds challenges in some of the worlds most difficult circumstances. From Gaza to Sudan to Ukraine, AMR makes wartime injuries harder to treat. Even before the current conflict, AMR was found to be significantly increasing in Gaza, with a 300% rise in resistance to specific antibiotics in injured patients after the 2018-19 demonstrations. The drug-resistant infections that start in conflict zones rarely stay within them, as people flee, medical evacuations are arranged, and soldiers are cared for alongside civilians in hospitals, leading AMR to spread. Yet another reason why the best medicine is peace. AMR is associated with over a million deaths a year, with an escalating death toll projected over the coming decades. Across the road from a refugee settlement, six-year-old Ariba, who is Afghan, visits a charity clinic in Peshawar (Pakistan) for a rash on the back of her head caused by sandworm disease. The rash developed into a wound, which became infected. The doctors tried a number of antibiotics but none of them seemed to work. TBIJ/BSAC/Abdul Majeed Addressing AMR is not easy. What we do know is that plans that span health, environmental, animal and agrifood systems lead to progress, but so far, they have only been pursued in high income countries. This needs to change. But while alarms on AMR have been blaring ever louder, solutions have not been developed fast enough, especially in the research and development of antibiotics. Since mid-2017, only 13 new antibiotics have been authorized, with only two representing a new chemical class and considered innovative. The political declaration just approved in New York includes commitments and targets across human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment. Headline commitments include reducing the global deaths associated with drug-resistant bacteria by 10% by 2030 and ensuring that at least 70% of antibiotics used for human health globally should belong to the safer WHO Access group, which have the lowest potential to cause AMR. Projections show that many of these deaths are avoidable, including by ensuring access to life-saving antimicrobial medicines in LMICs. This meetings biggest opportunity is for it to become a springboard to bring in more funding, to turn the targets and commitments in its declaration into reality. The investment case for AMR is clear, in light of the huge cost of inaction. Quadripartite and OECD estimates show that globally AMR could lead to additional health care expenditures reaching as high as $412 billion annually in the next decade if a stronger AMR response isnt mounted. It would also impose workforce participation and productivity losses of $443 billion. But this study also shows that implementing critical AMR interventions is a best buy, with $7 to $13 expected in return on every $1 invested. To help ground these important, albeit technical, discussions of mortality projections and catalytic funding, the meetings opening and closing segments will feature statements from AMR survivors, Ella and John. Ella lives with cystic fibrosis and has had to rely on an experimental treatment to get better after no viable antibiotic options were left after she contracted the most severe drug-resistant infection shed ever had. For John, surgery for a simple hip fracture turned into a year of hospital stays after the incision site became infected, spread to his bloodstream and became resistant to multiple drugs. His kidneys nearly stopped working. A successful response to AMR relies on political commitment, sustainable financing, measuring progress with accountability and most importantly, placing Ella, John and all those affected at the center of the response. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the director-general of the World Health Organization. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 28 migrants from Syria, Iraq and Guinea were caught by border police on Thursday while trying to leave the country hidden in two trucks, informs Agerpres. The two trucks were checked at the Nadlac II and Varsand Border Crossing Points, informs the Arad Border Police. The truck stopped at Nadlac II was driven by a Turkish citizen and was loaded with car parts that were to be transported to Germany. "Following the detailed control of the means of transport, 27 foreign citizens were discovered, hidden in the semi-trailer, among the transported goods. The persons were picked up and transported to the headquarters of the research sector where, following the checks, the border police established that they are citizens from Syria and Iraq who intended to fraudulently cross the state border," the press release reads. In Varsand, inside a truck registered in Bulgaria, driven by a Bulgarian who was transporting toilet lids and porcelain to Germany, a man from Guinea was also discovered. The two drivers are being investigated for migrant trafficking, while the foreigners hidden in the truck are being investigated for attempting to fraudulently cross the state border. Banca Transilvania (BT) sold bonds of 700 million euros on Wednesday, through a new issue in which the demand from investors was over 2.5 billion euros, informs a press release from the bank. It is the second time in a row that BT launches a bond issue under the umbrella of the Sustainable Financing Framework. According to the quoted source, the orders placed came from almost 170 institutional investors, mainly international ones, i.e. 95%. "The offer was subscribed by 131 investment funds, pension funds, commercial banks, insurance companies and commercial companies from 28 countries from Europe, the USA, Asia, the Middle East, etc. More than 64% of the investors who subscribed to the sustainable bonds of BT, in turn, have ESG objectives in their investment policy", states the press release sent to AGERPRES. BT specifies that the attracted funds will contribute to the financing of sustainable projects, according to the eligibility criteria of the Sustainable Financing Framework: supporting SMEs from less developed regions of Romania; the population's access to medical assistance and education; initiatives supporting the green transition - green buildings, renewable energy projects, transport, ecological agriculture. "We are delighted by the investors' interest in this issue, which once again shows both the attractiveness of Banca Transilvania and the potential of our country. The yield mix, the number of investors, the volume of the transaction and the total volume of demand set new benchmarks for BT", said Omer Tetik, general manager of Banca Transilvania, in the quoted press release. In the first hour after the launch of the transaction, the orders placed by investors reached the level of over 1 billion euros, BT also benefiting from the vote of confidence of two international financial institutions. The favorable context of the financial markets and the dynamics of orders placed by investors led to a final coupon of 5,125/year, the yield being reduced by about 40 basis points compared to initial expectations. The whole sale process was completed in a few hours, and due to the high interest in the market, which persisted even after the price reduction, Banca Transilvania decided to increase the amount raised up to 700 million euros. The bonds mature in 2030, are listed on the Dublin Stock Exchange and are eligible for the minimum requirement of own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), contributing to the permanent assurance of an optimal level of funds, distinct from customer deposits that are guaranteed by the Guarantee Fund of Bank Deposits, according to European standards regarding banks. The sale of bonds was coordinated by J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Nomura and ING Bank, (this also having the role of ESG consultant). BT Capital Partners, the brokerage company of the Banca Transilvania Group, was Co-manager for this issue. The legal consultants were Filip&Company, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Clifford Chance Badea and Clifford Chance LLP. Deloitte Audit SRL was the financial auditor, and KPMG Tax SRL was the tax consultant. The first issue of ESG bonds, also oversubscribed in a few hours, was announced by Banca Transilvania in November 2023, on which occasion it attracted 500 million euros. Banca Transilvania is the largest bank in Romania and in Southeast Europe. As a universal bank, it covers all customer segments and business lines in the financial sector. It has over 20% market share, 4.3 million customers, over 10,000 employees, online banking solutions and 500 offices in 180 locations. Hundreds of people are protesting on Thursday, in front of the Ministry of Labour, in a demonstration initiated by the Federation of Railway Transporters' Unions of Romania, against the background of dissatisfaction with the new pension law, informs Agerpres. Protesters shout "Resign", "Shame on you" and "Thieves!" and display messages such as "Oltenii and Valea have lost their patience", "PSD and PNL the same mess", "We put an end to national betrayal, the destruction of the economy, corruption", "PNL and PSD, where is our work?", "Pension is not a privilege, it is a right", "We saved the economy, you trampled on us", "Our hard-earned right, you destroyed it with a pen". The rally scheduled between 9:45 and 12:00 is to be attended by other organizations from the structure of the Meridian Trade Union Confederation, as well as civil society organizations representing current and future retirees, affected by the current form of Law no. 360/2023 on the public pension system, which also had an impact on the "Forestry Staff Statute", but also on Law no. 223/2015 on state military pensions. According to a press release of the confederation, the current law has come with some obvious benefits for certain categories of pensioners, especially for those who have carried out their activity under normal working conditions, for as long periods as possible until retirement and with contributions that have been withheld and transferred to the social security budget. On the other hand, the same law disadvantaged persons who worked in hard working conditions' groups, persons with disabilities and with various degrees of disability, but also pensioners with low pensions who, after recalculation, received a lower pension, which will be indexed to the recalculated value, which will have the effect of reducing or even stagnating the indexation of the pension in payment for a period of several years, depending on the value of the difference between the pension in payment and the pension resulting from the recalculation. Basically, the new Law on Pensions abolishes the hard working conditions' groups regarding hard and special working conditions because pensioners who worked under these conditions do not benefit from stability points although they have contributed additionally and, thus, in a discriminatory manner, stability points are offered only to those who have worked under normal working conditions and who have not paid additional contributions, Meridian says. The applicant's guide for the National Program for Investments in the Infrastructure of Hospital Units, approved by Emergency Ordinance 29/2024, will be in public debate until October 10, 2024, the Minister of Investments and European Projects Adrian Caciu wrote on Facebook on Thursday evening. "Investments of 2.7 billion euros in hospital infrastructure through the National Program of Investments in the Infrastructure of Hospital Units. The Applicant's Guide for the National Program of Investments in the Infrastructure of Hospital Units, approved by Emergency Ordinance 29/2024, was put into public debate. Proposals and observations can be sent to the email address consultare.pniius@mfe.gov.ro until 10.10.2024, the date of the end of the public consultation process", emphasized Caciu. He mentioned that the value of the program carried out by the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE) in the period 2024-2031 is 13.25 billion RON. Also, an amount of 3.25 billion RON will be allocated for investments in public health units that have been approved for financing from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan by the Ministry of Health. The maximum amount related to a project financed from the Program is two billion RON for county/county emergency hospitals, specialized hospitals and clinical hospitals and emergency clinics, 350.5 million RON for municipal/municipal emergency hospitals and 250 million of RON for city hospitals AGERPRES special correspondent Florin Stefan, reports: Romanian president Klaus Iohannis had a meeting in New York on Wednesday with Armenian prime minister Nikol Vovayi Pashinyan, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with whom he discussed, among other things, regional stability and security, as well as the development of bilateral relations and cooperation. Klaus Iohannis posted about his discussion with Armenian PM on his X account. On Wednesday, Klaus Iohannis delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly in which he pleaded for the support of Ukraine as long as needed in its war with Russia and for the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, by concluding a peace agreement that would allow the release of the Hamas hostages and the transportation of humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. At the same time, he pleaded for more cooperation and solidarity, which he said will always be the answer to the world's problems. "Our main challenge is to find the much-needed solutions to restore and protect peace. Otherwise, international order and international law are wasted. When diplomacy is the most difficult tool to use, that is exactly when we must use it the most," the Romanian president said in his speech at the UN. The number of children in Romania left in the care of relatives or in the special protection system, due to parents going to work abroad, decreased significantly in the last year, by 17%, according to public data analyzed by ParentED in a statement sent to AGERPRES on Thursday. This decrease of almost 17% indicates a gratifying trend, but although more and more parents return or assume the role of financial support without leaving the country, thousands of children continue to live far from those who provide them with the most important emotional base - the family, reveals ParentED. According to the official data of the National Authority for the Protection of Children's Rights and Adoption (ANPDCA), in March 2024, 61,007 children from over 50,000 families were in this situation, a decrease compared to the same period last year, when 72,902 cases were registered from almost 57,000 families. An alarming aspect is the fact that some of these children end up in the special protection system such as foster care or placement centers, facing additional challenges related to adapting to new environments and the lack of constant contact with their parents. "The emotional and psychological impact that these children feel can be profound and long-lasting, especially in the context where their emotional and social development depends directly on the presence of a stable parental figure," Diana Balan, representative of ParentED, quoted in the said release, said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, participated, on Wednesday, in the high-level segment of the 79th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), as a member of the delegation led by president Klaus Iohannis. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, in this context, Odobescu participated in the event hosted by the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, on the topic of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. On this occasion, Romania joined Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and other international partners in launching an initiative aimed at holding accountable those responsible for violating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Afghanistan. Minister Odobescu also participated in the second meeting of the Compact for Ukraine, hosted by US President Joe Biden, with the participation of President Volodimir Zelenski and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. On this occasion, the representatives of the participating states adopted a declaration reconfirming the support of the international community for Ukraine, primarily from the perspective of support for the process of economic recovery and reconstruction. Also on Wednesday, the Romanian official participated in the meeting of the General Assembly at a high level on the topic of sea level rise and associated existential threats. During the address, he called for cooperation and solidarity for the management of this phenomenon, with direct implications on the humanitarian dimension, security and well-being, according to MAE. Luminita Odobescu highlighted Romania's commitment, including from the perspective of the Coalition's champion quality for addressing sea level rise and its existential threats. The minister's program also included a series of bilateral meetings. During the discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Odobescu reconfirmed Romania's support for a stronger commitment of the EU in relation to the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. She also had a bilateral meeting with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The two officials evoked the traditional Romanian-Palestinian relations, the Romanian official assuring that support for the consolidation of Palestinian institutions will continue in the future, including as part of international efforts in support of the Palestinian Authority. At the same time, Minister Odobescu highlighted the humanitarian support given to Palestinian civilians in the context of the crisis in the Gaza Strip, Mohammad Mustafa expressing his appreciation for the efforts of the Romanian side. Minister Odobescu also had a meeting with Qatar's Minister of State for International Cooperation, Lolwah Al-Khater. The two dignitaries assessed the state of bilateral relations, underlining the need to boost the economic and sectoral dialogue in established cooperation formats. Luminita Odobescu also had a short discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the State of Kuwait, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, on topics of common interest, from the perspective of strengthening bilateral relations. Security issues in the vicinity of the two states were also discussed. Israel has one of the most powerful and sophisticated armies in the world, and an arsenal including nuclear weapons. It also has one of the largest militaries relative to its population, which is slightly less than 10 million inhabitants: almost 170,000 active-duty soldiers. By contrast Spain, with a population of almost 49 million, had fewer than 117,000 regular troops in 2022, according to official data. Added to Israels standing army are 465,000 reservists who can be called up in the event of war, of whom 360,000 have already been mobilized in the almost 12 months of the Gaza conflict. The military capacity of the Lebanese Shia party-militia Hezbollah cannot even remotely compare with that of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It is not an insignificant enemy, however. The data on its arsenal are partial and, in many cases, come from calculations based on information from Israel and its main ally, the United States, so they may not be precise. They do though provide an idea of why many experts consider Hezbollah to be the best-armed non-state actor in the world, with the backing of Iran, but also of Syria. It even stocks medium- and long-range missiles in its warehouses, capable of hitting the entirety of Israels territory and its vital infrastructure, if they manage to get past Israels Iron Dome anti-aircraft defences. On Wednesday, Hezbollah targeted the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence services in the Tel Aviv region with a ballistic missile, which was intercepted. Fighters Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah recently reportedly increased his number of fighters to 100,000, a figure that Western foreign ministries reduced to less than half. According to a report by the bipartisan U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Hezbollah has about 30,000 active fighters and up to 20,000 reserves, and its forces consist primarily of light infantry, which have historically been trained and built for stealth, mobility and autonomy. The CSIS cites an example, referring to the last major Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006. Then, [the militias] rocket units were designed to establish a launch point, fire, and disperse in less than 28 seconds, using pre-positioned equipment, underground shelters, and mountain bikes. The militia has extensive experience in guerrilla warfare and urban combat. In addition, CSIS stresses, the groups experience fighting in support of Bashar al-Assad in Syria over the past decade has given it access to capabilities and skills used by conventional armies. Haizam Amirah Fernandez, an analyst specializing in international relations in the Middle East, recently highlighted another advantage to this newspaper: motivation. In the case of a hypothetical Israeli invasion, Hezbollah members would be fighting to defend their land from an attack by another state. Despite its not inconsiderable military capacity, since October 2023, when it began its low-intensity war with Israel, Hezbollah has lost commanders and hundreds of combatants. Last week, some 1,500 militiamen were wounded, according to a militia source cited by Reuters, by the detonations of more than 5,000 pagers and walkie-talkies. Even so, in the event of a total war, this militia would be a formidable enemy, the American think tank stresses. Rockets, missiles and tanks Hezbollah has, according to estimates from various sources, between 120,000 and 200,000 rockets and missiles, most of them small, unguided, easily transported surface-to-surface artillery rockets, most notably the Katyusha rocket launchers, used extensively in the 2006 war and supplied mainly by Iran. Since then, Hezbollah has dramatically increased its access to long-range missiles with ranges of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles), that is, capable of hitting targets from the north to the south of Israel CSIS notes, meaning that much of Israel will feel the threat of Hezbollah attacks if the conflict escalates. Only a few hundred at most of these missiles are guided, but the precision of these weapons provides Hezbollah with the ability to strike high-value targets, vital economic centers, and critical infrastructure. Hezbollah has also had access to Russian-made tanks, such as T-72s, through its involvement in the Syrian war. However, it is not clear whether the militants are trained to use or repair them. The tanks would also be easy targets for sophisticated Israeli fighter jets and drones. Drones Iran, Hezbollahs main arms supplier, has provided the bulk of the unmanned aircraft it uses, including the Ayoub (Shahed-129), Mirsad 1 and 2, and Karrar models. It stocks commercial quadcopters and surveillance and attack drones, CSIS notes. The operators of these drones have been trained by the elite Quds Force, the regional arm of Irans parallel army, the Revolutionary Guard. Anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft defense Hezbollah uses anti-tank missiles, dubbed Thar Allah, specifically designed to overcome the protection system of Israeli Merkava tanks, the Lebanese satellite television channel Al Mayadeen confirmed last October, although it is not known whether they are effective. The militia also installs Kornet anti-tank missiles on all-terrain vehicles, the CSIS report said. Since 2006, Hezbollah has received anti-aircraft guns, portable air defense systems and short- and medium-range surface-to-air missile systems manufactured in Iran and Russia. None of these weapons are capable of countering Israels overwhelming air superiority, which includes around 30 state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets. But this hegemony is no longer absolute, as it was in the past. Geography and tunnels Hezbollah militants are familiar with the rocky hills of southern Lebanon. In that terrain, any heavy Israeli ground military force attempting to move through the region would likely be restricted to the main, compact roads due to the mountainous terrain and therefore vulnerable to harassment with anti-tank weapons, explosive devices, and ambushes, CSIS warns. Like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah has built a network of tunnels and bunkers in those hills, which it is believed are used to launch rocket attacks and hide ballistic missiles. Iran and North Korea helped build the tunnel network after Israels 2006 invasion, according to a report by Alma, an Israeli think tank specializing in the Lebanese Shia militia, as cited by Reuters. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition JEFFERSON CITY A long-running conflict between a Hindu religious group and its Jefferson County neighbor made its way to the Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday. The dispute involves a Hindu temple constructed in the House Springs area of Jefferson County. Faithful consider it a sacred site due to a religious ceremony Swamiji, a Hindu religious figure, performed there years ago, according to a brief filed by the group Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam of St. Louis, which says it provides Hindu teachings. Since 2008 it has owned three of lots in the area which had been originally platted as a residential subdivision in 2004 including the lot where the temple is located. But Fogarty Farms, the current owner of adjacent properties, has sought to enforce restrictions dating back to when the area was originally platted. The residential restrictions were duly recorded and applied (to) these lots, attorney Benjamin Wesselschmidt, representing Fogarty Farms, told the Supreme Court on Wednesday. He said the restrictions required single-family residential use for all of the lots. Bill and Lauren Fogarty are the members of Fogarty Farms, according to court records. But Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam of St. Louis says they owned property first and that Fogarty Farms was well aware of the intended purpose and use of the property when it purchased the land. Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam also says both parties have planned to use the land in a way that is inconsistent with the original vision for a subdivision. Their attorney says Fogarty has hosted huge corporate events on the land including stages, fireworks, bands, monster trucks, and drones. It adds Fogarty has never intended to develop the land for single-family dwellings. Fogartys position that the practice of religion cannot be consistent with single family dwellings, while a monster truck event is, shows the incredible audacity of his position, attorneys for the Hindu group told the Supreme Court in a trial brief. Ananda, the original buyer of the land from the developer, purchased the entire subdivision in 2007 and moved to build a Hindu worship center there. But the county eventually rejected the plans after a citizens group voiced opposition. The Hindu group said Fogarty helped organize the citizens group. Ananda then sold three lots to Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam in 2008; Fogarty Farms acquired the remaining 21 subdivision lots in 2015. Fogarty formed the Millstone Property Owners Association. The association, led by Bill Fogarty, then fined Nithyananda for violating subdivision restrictions. The group has not paid. Nithyananda argues Fogarty never had the authority to form the association because it was never granted developer rights to the land. The Hindu group argues Ananda and Fogarty both took actions to abandon/waive the restrictive covenants to the point they were unenforceable. In 2007, Ananda built a warehouse for religious statues called deities. The warehouse was considered a temple and individuals arranged for Swamiji to come to the Temple and perform prana pratishtha, described as a rare and sacred event that energized the deities. Though referred to as Swamiji, the brief says the religious leaders actual name is Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism Jagatguru Mahasanndhanam His Divine Holiness Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam. He also goes by Nithyananda, and has been wanted on charges in India including sexual assault. Nithyananda is also the leader of fictional country Kailasa, described as the revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation which is being revived by displaced Hindus from around the world. And he has been accused of being a cult leader, featured in the 2022 documentary series My Daughter Joined a Cult. The brief says that after becoming energized by Swamiji, the deities must be appropriately cared for through daily religious ritual. The deities have been placed on sacred hallowed ground and cannot be relocated, the brief says, going on to say it is necessary for the faithful to have proper access to the deities so that the daily ritual can properly be performed. At the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Allison Sweeney, attorney for Nithyananda, also made a religious freedom case on behalf of her clients. Religious freedom should be broadly granted, she told the Supreme Court. And so when youve got a close call, like is this a restrictive covenant case or is this a religious freedom case? The religious freedom has to win out over these restrictive covenants, she said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW YORK The U.S., France and other allies jointly called Wednesday for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon in recent days. The joint statement, negotiated on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, says the recent fighting is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. We call for an immediate 21-day cease-fire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy, the statement said. We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary cease-fire immediately." There was no immediate reaction from the Israeli or Lebanese governments or Hezbollah but senior U.S. officials said all parties were aware of the call for a cease-fire. Earlier, representatives for Israel and Lebanon reiterated their support for a U.N. resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group. The U.S. hopes the new deal could lead to longer-term stability along the border between Israel and Lebanon. Months of Israeli and Hezbollah exchanges of fire have driven tens of thousands of people from their homes, and escalated attacks over the past week have rekindled fears of a broader war in the Middle East. The U.S. officials said Hezbollah would not be a signatory to the cease-fire but believed the Lebanese government would coordinate its acceptance with the group. They said they expected Israel to welcome the proposal and perhaps formally accept it when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the General Assembly on Friday. While the deal applies only to the Israel-Lebanon border, the U.S. officials said they were looking to use a three-week pause in fighting to restart stalled negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, another Iranian-backed militant group, after nearly a year of war in Gaza. Netanyahus Office said that the ceasefire put forward from the United States and France was only a proposal and the Prime Minister, who is currently on a flight en route to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly, has not responded to the proposal. The U.S., France and other allies jointly called Wednesday for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon in recent days. Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who is the acting prime minister during Netanyahus trip abroad, said that there will be no ceasefire in the north, vowing to continue the fighting in the north with full force until victory and returning the tens of thousands of Israeli citizens evacuated from their homes in the north. The Prime Ministers Office added that the Israeli military was continuing to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and the war in Gaza. The allies calling for a halt to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict are the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, the U.K., Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Work on the proposal came together quickly this week with President Joe Bidens national security team, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, meeting with world leaders in New York and lobbying other countries to support the plan, according to U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic conversations. Blinken first raised the proposal with the French foreign minister Monday and then broadened his outreach that evening at a dinner with the foreign ministers of all the Group of Seven industrialized democracies. During a meeting Wednesday morning with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, Blinken approached Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to ask their approval and got it. Blinken and senior White House adviser Amos Hochstein then met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who signed off on the deal. Sullivan, Hochstein and senior adviser Brett McGurk were also in touch with Israeli officials about the proposal, one of the U.S. officials said. McGurk and Hochstein have been the White Houses chief interlocutors with Israel and Lebanon since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas launched the war in Gaza. The officials said the deal crystallized by late Wednesday afternoon during a conversation on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly between Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron. Blinken expects to meet Netanyahus top strategic adviser in New York on Thursday ahead of the prime ministers arrival. An Israeli official said Netanyahu has given the green light to pursue a possible deal, but only if it includes the return of Israeli civilians to their homes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing behind-the-scenes diplomacy. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the U.N. Security Council during a special meeting that we are counting on both parties to accept it without delay and added that war is not unavoidable. At the meeting, Mikati, the Lebanese prime minister, publicly threw his support behind the French-U.S. plan that enjoys international support and which would put an end to this dirty war. He called on the Security Council to guarantee the withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied Lebanese territories and the violations that are repeated on a daily basis. Israels U.N. Ambassador, Danny Danon, told journalists that Israel would like to see a cease-fire and the return of people to their homes near the border: It will happen, either after a war or before a war. We hope it will be before. Addressing the Security Council later, he made no mention of a temporary cease-fire but said Israel does not seek a full-scale war. Both Danon and Mikati reaffirmed their governments commitment to a Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war. Never fully implemented, it called for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon to be replaced by Lebanese forces and U.N. peacekeepers, and the disarmament of all armed groups including Hezbollah. Earlier Wednesday, Biden warned in an appearance on ABCs The View that an all-out war is possible but said he thinks the opportunity also exists to have a settlement that can fundamentally change the whole region. Biden suggested that getting Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a cease-fire could help achieve a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. That war is approaching the one-year mark after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking hostages. Israel responded with an offensive that has since killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, who do not provide a breakdown of civilians and fighters in their count. It's possible and I'm using every bit of energy I have with my team to get this done, Biden said. There's a desire to see change in the region. The U.S. government also raised the pressure with additional sanctions targeting more than a dozen ships and other entities it says were involved in illicit shipments of Iranian petroleum for the financial benefit of Irans Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah. AP reporters Zeke Miller and Darlene Superville in Washington, Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed. Updated at 4:45 a.m. Israel is pushing back against calls for a truce with Hezbollah after pressure in recent hours following its threat to launch a ground invasion of Lebanon, which led a coalition of countries to propose at least a temporary cessation of hostilities between the Jewish state and the Shia party-militia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Thursday traveled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, has not offered any cause for optimism regarding this negotiation, an initiative led by Washington and Paris. Furthermore, Netanyahu has issued orders for his army to continue the fighting with full force. The increase in border tension and the risk of an all-out war with Lebanon is one of the issues that world leaders are addressing at the U.N. headquarters a few days before the first anniversary of the Gaza conflict on October 7. Even before Netanyahu had discarded the diplomatic route, members of his government had taken it upon themselves to describe a ceasefire as unviable. Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded categorically to the proposal: There will be no ceasefire in the north. Opening the door to a truce would, according to these political representatives, not only embolden the Lebanese militia backed by Iran and allow it to regroup, but would amount to surrender. Meanwhile, in recent hours, both the bombing of Lebanese territory by Israeli warplanes and the launching of missiles by Hezbollah toward Israel have continued. The prime minister has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to him, said a statement from Netanyahus office, which insisted that a possible agreement to silence the guns was not on the table, at least not on his part. The report about a ceasefire is incorrect. This is an American-French proposal that the prime minister has not even responded to, it added. The report about the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth, it added. Netanyahus office also issued a reminder, in case anyone had forgotten, about the situation on the southern front, in the Gaza Strip. The fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved, the statement concluded. In addition to rejecting any possible ceasefire, the Israeli foreign minister insisted that the IDF will continue to attack the Shia militia with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes, referring to the 60,000 people displaced from the immediate vicinity of the border. Katz is acting in the name of the prime minister, who is due to return to Israel on Saturday, although, according to local media, the foreign minister will not make any essential decisions for the outcome of the war on his own initiative in this time frame. The Paris-Washington initiative provides for a three-week ceasefire. U.S. President Joe Biden said his proposal is capable of attracting support from European and Arab countries. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati says there is still time to stop the escalation and expressed optimism in statements to Reuters. But the main barrier faced by the American and French proposal is the refusal of the Israeli authorities to withdraw. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid appears to be adopting the middle ground, calling for his country to accept a seven-day truce so as not to give Hezbollah the opportunity to regain strength and restore its command and control systems, he said on X. We will not accept any proposal that does not include removing Hezbollah from our northern border, he clarified. The idea is to allow Israeli evacuees from that area to return to their homes, something that Netanyahu has been insisting on for days as an essential objective. The ultra-nationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, on the other hand, is firmly opposed to this. He sees only one scenario for the current military pressure in the north: crushing Hezbollah. The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows it has suffered and reorganize itself to continue the war after 21 days, Smotrich said. Minister Orit Strock, a party colleague of Smotrich in charge of illegal Jewish settlements in occupied Palestine, called on Israel not to repeat the mistakes of the past and to close the door on a ceasefire in the north. While the political negotiations go on, Israeli attacks continue. At least 23 Syrians, almost all women and children, were killed in the bombing of a building in the town of Younine, eastern Lebanon, on Wednesday night, according to Reuters, citing information from the mayor. Meanwhile, in northern Israel, air raid sirens continue to sound, warning residents of the possibility of attacks from Lebanon. Some 30 rockets have been intercepted in the vicinity of the city of Acre, less than 10 miles from the border between the two countries. Dozens of other projectiles have been launched towards Haifa Bay, further south, without causing any fatalities. The authorities continue to warn residents in the northernmost areas of Israel not to leave their shelters. Meanwhile, the 100,000 residents who had already fled the area around the southern Lebanese border in recent months have been joined by more than half a million people who have been forcibly displaced in recent days, driven from their homes by strikes by the Israeli air force. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition While driving recently, I saw a lawn sign that grabbed my attention. It simply said: Harris obviously. To millions of Americans concerned about former President Donald Trumps potential return to the White House, their decision on Nov. 5 has never been more apparent. For others, though, its not so simple. In 2020, 74 million people voted for Trump. Within that number were quite a few Jewish and Muslim Americans. The upcoming one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 significant to so many Jewish and Muslim Americans and coming less than a month before the presidential election presents an excellent opportunity to revisit the candidates positions on this subject. Think back to that day. Without warning, Hamas launched a series of coordinated attacks on Israel, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,100 Israelis. In addition, they abducted another 251, including children, women, and older adults. This assault, which encompassed the slaughter of babies and the rape of women, was the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. For some Jewish Americans, the violence of that day legitimized any Israeli response, regardless of its severity. Consequently, while the Biden Administration has exerted diplomatic pressure on the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire in its ongoing conflict in Gaza, Trump has repeatedly claimed that he fought for Israel like no president ever before. This may lead many Jewish Americans to vote for Trump without hesitation. Israels subsequent invasion has resulted in more than 40,000 Palestinian deaths, as reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry. Additionally, 1.9 million of Gazas 2.1 million residents have been displaced. Most of them are currently living in unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, facing severe shortages of food, water, medical care, and other necessities. Israels response, along with the Biden Administrations ongoing support, has sparked pro-Palestinian protests throughout the United States. Many Muslim Americans have also grown weary of the Biden Administrations reluctance to strongarm Israel into an immediate ceasefire. This could have significant political implications, particularly in swing states like Michigan. In light of recent developments, which candidate is best suited to handle the situation in the Middle East? For starters, Jewish Americans should not rush to condemn Vice President Kamala Harris. At the Democratic National Convention, she said, Let me be clear: I will always stand up for Israels right to defend itself, and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself. Addressing the other side, Vice President Harris added, What has happened in Gaza in the past ten months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking. She promised to work for a cease-fire so Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination. In her own words, Harris aims to be fair to both sides. Donald Trump, on the other hand, recently spoke to Jewish audiences like they were petulant children, saying that any Jewish person who votes for Kamala Harris is a fool who should have their head examined. He added: If I dont win this election ... Jewish people would have a lot to do with that. Its ironic that when Trump spoke these words, he was putatively addressing the rise in antisemitism in America. When he proclaimed that I wasnt treated properly by the voters who happen to be Jewish, his implied threat should remind us that as president, Trump also responded to the violence by neo-Nazi protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, by saying there were very fine people on both sides. Time and again, Trump has said whatever would gain him the most votes. So perhaps it is Jewish Americans who still believe the former president is their friend who, to paraphrase Trump, should have their heads examined. Muslim Americans should also carefully consider their some factors before supporting Trump. In addition to pledging unwavering support for Israel, he has vowed to reinstate his travel ban on residents of several Muslim-majority nations. The situation in the Middle East is highly intricate, and the recent hostility between Israel and Hezbollah has only exacerbated the issue. Ultimately, all Americans must consider who is best equipped to handle this diplomatic Gordian Knot: the 78-year-old self-proclaimed stable genius who would say anything to regain the White House, or the 59-year-old vice president who simply wants to heal a divided nation. After several years of controversy over her management of St. Louis downtown jail, city Corrections Commissioner Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah is now on leave and has been, it turns out, since late last week. Is this part of the reform that we and others have clamored for in the jails operation? Who knows? In what has become the most predictable aspect of the citys otherwise chaotically unpredictable detention system, Mayor Tishaura Jones administration is refusing to reveal even the most basic information about Clemons-Abdullahs absence. This familiar, knee-jerk secrecy surrounding such an important city function is insulting to the taxpayers and anathema to reform. Jones made jail reform a centerpiece of her 2021 mayoral campaign, but that system has instead become arguably her heaviest albatross in office. Her early decision to close the controversial medium-security jail known as the workhouse a decision driven by politics with apparently little regard for its practical impact set the stage for problems that followed in the downtown jail: Overcrowding, inmate deaths, medical issues, rioting, security malfunctions, a hostage situation involving a guard, and more have created a sense of continuing crisis at the facility. The administrations consistent aversion to transparency has consistently made things worse. Even members of the civilian oversight board that Jones created and appointed a key element of her reform promises have resigned in protest to the secrecy surrounding various incidents at the jail. An especially egregious example of the jails intersection of mismanagement and secrecy arose in January. A defense attorney documented his jailed clients untreated medical condition with a cellphone photo that was published in the Post-Dispatch and elsewhere. Instead of addressing the issue of medical neglect, the administration cracked down on lawyers cellphones in the jail while claiming, improbably, that it wasnt in reaction to the media exposure. Though those and other decisions to keep secret from (or even mislead) the public about jail issues have come from Clemons-Abdullahs office, she serves at the pleasure of the mayor. Yet, as we wrote back in January, the mayors reaction when these controversies arise has been to act as if it has nothing to do with her. In fact, it does. Transparency (or the lack of it) starts at the top. Critics on the Board of Aldermen and elsewhere have previously called for Clemons-Abdullahs ouster over both the jail incidents and the lack of transparency around them. Which makes the lack of information regarding her current status all the more unacceptable. As the Post-Dispatchs Austin Huguelet reports, Clemons-Abdullah has been on leave since late last week, though city officials didnt confirm her absence until Wednesday. And thats about all theyve confirmed. The mayors office, vaguely citing personnel privacy rules, has refused to answer virtually any fundamental questions about the issue. Among the unanswered ones: Was Clemons-Abdullah placed on leave involuntarily, or did she take it upon herself? Is this a medical or personal issue, or has there been some new incident involving management at the jail that the public doesnt yet know about? Is she being paid while on leave? Will she be back? If so, when? There is no question this obstinate official silence violates the spirit of Missouris Sunshine Law; whether it violates the letter of that law is less clear. That would likely depend on whether Clemons-Abdullahs leave is related to personal or professional issues. And the mayors office wont even divulge that much. Unfortunately, thats not surprising. We have pointed out, multiple times before, this administrations distressing instinct toward secrecy regarding public issues. Whether its hiding the purpose of city grants handed out to politically connected businesses, or stonewalling on details of police cruisers destroying private property, or the destruction of city records that have been demanded in litigation, the current city leadership appears to think the public isnt entitled to any public information that might prove politically embarrassing. That in itself should be politically embarrassing. But given recent history, were not expecting this mayor to have an unprompted epiphany about the importance of government transparency. Only if and when St. Louis residents begin demanding such transparency will it happen. Regarding Rabbi Jeffrey Abrahams op-ed St. Louis Jews, allies must stand together as Oct. 7 approaches (Sept. 19): Im stunned that anyone could write such a tone-deaf, insensitive article almost a year into the Gaza genocide, but here we are. Abraham makes so many inflammatory and untrue statements its hard to even know where to begin. He disparages and insults non- and anti-Zionist Jews. He invokes social justice and community activism while centering American Jewish Zionist discomfort over tens of thousands of Palestinian lives being actively exterminated by Israel. He accuses Rep. Cori Bush of hateful rhetoric for accurately stating that what is happening in Gaza is genocide. He brags about helping achieve the election of Wesley Bell, an opportunist who failed Michael Browns family and whose campaign was funded by Republican mega-donors. But the most egregious part of all is how Abraham openly denies the Gaza genocide, even going so far as to put genocide in quotes. By any measure of the definition, what is happening in Gaza is genocide. St. Louis is home to a large population of Bosnians who were displaced after the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in which roughly 8,000 Bosnian men and boys were murdered in what is internationally recognized as genocide. The American government and media acknowledge that at least 41,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed by Israel. In 2024, there is absolutely no excuse for genocide denial. I call upon Rabbi Abraham to publicly apologize immediately. Nicole Fields St. Louis Smith Barracks climbs the hill above Baumholder, Germany. The U.S. military presence in the town is set to grow, as ground was broken Sept. 19, 2024, for new annexes at the installation, part of an ongoing $500 million construction program. (Stars and Stripes) Work is underway on new annex facilities at the U.S. Armys garrison in Baumholder, Germany, where $500 million worth of construction is taking place in anticipation of the transfer of special operations troops from Stuttgart. Last week, Army officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the annexes at the installation. The development program entails creation of new buildings and restoration of operational ones, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe said in a statement Sept. 19. Four annexes are slated to be built as part of Baumholders expansion, but the statement didnt say how many are under construction in the wake of the groundbreaking. Two of the annexes are scheduled to be completed by 2027, and the two others will come online the following year. About 1,000 special operations troops, family members and support staff are expected to make the move from Stuttgart to Baumholder by 2026. The projects will improve the quality of life in Baumholder and also put the incoming personnel closer to Ramstein Air Base, the premier power projection platform in Germany, according to the statement. Col. Stephen Murphy, command engineer for U.S. Special Operations Command, speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony in Baumholder, Germany, on Sept. 19, 2024. Construction is underway on a set of annexes, which are part of a $500 million building program as Baumholder gets set for the transfer of special operations forces. (Xzavier Marte/U.S. Army National Guard) Part of U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, the Baumholder base is about a 40-minute drive from Ramstein. By contrast, the garrison in Stuttgart is over two hours away from the Kaiserslautern-area air base. The facilities are part of more than 60 projects intended to redevelop the Baumholder garrison, which at one time was scheduled for closure as part of the Armys post-Cold War drawdown in Europe. But the service reversed course on that decision years ago and has since been pouring in resources to improve living conditions at the base. Hundreds of new family housing units are being built. More than one-third of the projects have already been completed, military officials said in the statement. For special operations forces, the shift to Baumholder will offer access to larger ranges for shooting and maneuvers than what is available in Stuttgart, a major metro area that hosts U.S. European and Africa Command headquarters. While the Baumholder move will affect special operators, the commands headquarters will remain in Stuttgart. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, commanding general of 3rd Infantry Division, listens to a presentation before a multinational live-fire exercise at Bemowo Piskie Training Area in Poland on April 17, 2024. (Sgt. Cecil Elliott II/U.S. Army) Fake command posts, electromagnetic decoys and fast-moving mission control hubs are some of the ways the war in Ukraine has transformed U.S. Army training in Europe, according to a top American general in the wake of a rotation on NATOs eastern flank. The new focus is on getting troops to adapt faster to a more complex battlefield, the 3rd Infantry Divisions Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie said in an Army statement Wednesday. His team wrapped up a nine-month deployment this spring overseeing Army units across Poland and the Baltics. The Armys approach to training has evolved over the past couple of years with an emphasis on so-called transforming in contact, which involves drawing lessons learned by troops in the field that are rapidly tested by the larger Army. Were observing the world, and then were transforming in contact, Norrie said. U.S. Army Cpl. Austin Douglas, front, and Pvt. Thomas Bryd, both with 2nd Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, maintain a defensive position during a NATO drill at Bemowo Piskie Training Area in Poland on March 11, 2024. (Anthony Ford/U.S. Army) In the past, ensuring the mobility of a brigade command post wasnt a major priority for the Army, which during two decades of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan didnt face adversaries with long-range strike capabilities. However, the war in Ukraine and the widespread use of drones and precision strikes have revealed how exposed command posts can become. During the 3rd Infantry Divisions deployment, which concluded in May, soldiers coordinated with the U.S. European Commands Security Assistance Group Ukraine team and learned about how Ukrainian forces carried out combat operations against Russian counterparts. That information was delivered to other units preparing in the United States for their own deployments to Europe. The arrangement resulted in combat scenarios that incorporated technology such as tethered drones and electromagnetic decoys to assist in protecting U.S. forces from becoming targets, the Army said. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division run toward a defensive position during an exercise at Bemowo Piskie Training Area in Poland on March 11, 2024. (Anthony Ford/U.S. Army) The deception tactics included creating fake command posts to lure in the simulated enemy. This allowed them to destroy the adversaries assets while preserving the real command post, the Army statement said. Before his time in command of the 3rd Infantry Division, Norrie did multiple stints in Europe that included leading the 7th Army Training Command in Grafenwoehr. That has given him an up-close look at how the Armys mission on the Continent has changed. In just a few short years, we have command posts that move in minutes, Norrie said, adding that the Army also has gotten faster at issuing mission-style battlefield orders. In 2017, he convoyed a full armored brigade of soldiers from a port in Germany to locations in Poland, marking the beginning of the Armys effort to establish a continuous rotation of tank power in central and Eastern Europe. Since then, Army operations along NATOs eastern flank have steadily evolved. Sailors launch an F-35C Lightning II from Strike Fighter Squadron 125 on Nimitz-class carrier USS George Washington on Jan. 17, 2024. The first F-35C of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, based in Cherry Point, N.C., arrived Sept. 17, and the squadron will be reactivated after more are delivered. (August Clawson/U.S. Navy) A Marine Corps aviation units return to action is waiting in the wings, pending delivery of enough additional F-35C Lighting II jets to allow it to get going. The first of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251s planes arrived on Sept. 17 in Cherry Point, N.C., the new home of the squadron nicknamed the Thunderbolts. It was formerly based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina. A fully staffed Marine Corps F-35 squadron consists of 10 aircraft, according to the service. Marine Corps officials did not provide a timeline for the arrival of the remaining jets. The Thunderbolts could still restart without their full inventory of F-35s, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman 2nd Lt. John Graham said Wednesday. The squadrons official reactivation is dependent on the arrival of more aircraft, he said. However, achieving full operational capability is not a prerequisite. The fifth-generation fighter jet is the first model of its kind to reach the Corps East Coast air wing. The squadron is set to support the Navys Carrier Air Wing 8. For 34 years, the unit was an F/A-18 Hornet squadron, but the Marine Corps is replacing its aging fleet of Hornets with the state-of-the-art F-35C. F-35C Lightning IIs and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets fly over Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 is preparing to reactivate as an F-35 squadron based in Cherry Point, N.C. (Darin Russell/U.S. Navy) The squadron was deactivated in 2020 after returning from a deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. In addition, the services transition to the F-35 will eventually spell the end for the AV-8B Harrier jets in its fleet. They will give way to the F-35B, a short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aircraft. According to the services 2022 aviation plan, the Harrier will remain in operations until 2027 but is slowly being phased out. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542, which is the Thunderbolts sister squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, will fly the B variant of the F-35. Their activation in April marked the completion of their transition from the Harrier, Graham said. The F-35 is more stealthy, maneuverable and has better sensor network and fuel capacity, according to the service. The one-two punch provided by the F-35Cs increased range and the F-35Bs (short takeoff and vertical-landing) capability will give ... a significant advantage in the future fight, Col. Benjamin Grant, commander of Marine Aircraft Group 14, the squadrons parent command, said in the Sept. 17 statement. Zushi, a popular beach near Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, is pictured on March 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Strip) YOKOSUKA, Japan The U.S. sailor accused of running into and injuring several people near a popular Japanese beach in 2022 was found guilty on all counts Friday but avoids jail time with a suspended sentence. Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Krieger, 31, a logistics specialist aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius, was sentenced to two years and four months of prison with hard labor, suspended for four years by the Yokohama District Court Yokosuka Branch. Krieger hasnt decided whether he will appeal the sentence, lead defense attorney Takashi Takano told Stars and Stripes after the sentencing. I think the decision was wrong, Takano told reporters after the hearing. At a prior hearing, Krieger admitted to charging into five people and knocking them down near Zushi Beach on July 9, 2022. However, he pleaded not guilty on March 8 to four counts of bodily injury. His attorneys argued that he suffers from a pre-existing brain injury and was severely intoxicated at the time of the incident. All five people were injured, the most severely a man, 33 at the time, with multiple sprained vertebrae and a woman, 58, with a broken upper jaw, broken nasal bone and other facial injuries. The woman, now 60, said she was happy with the verdict, but disappointed by the suspended sentence. I hope he recognizes his crime after this decision, because he hasnt apologized or shown any remorse, she told reporters after the sentencing. She declined to provide her name. In a summary, the three-judge panel led by Judge Yasushi Katada said they noted the two most injured parties required two months of medical treatment or recovery, and the remaining two required between one and two weeks. Prosecutors ultimately indicted Krieger on four counts of causing bodily injury. Kriegers wife, Rina Krieger, testified April 25 that the sailor had consumed at least 11 alcoholic beverages over the course of several hours that day. She said her husband struggles with memory lapses and has problems with balance, the result of a 2015 brain injury he suffered while breaking up a fight. The judges said Kriegers health and intoxication played a part in the case, but they didnt believe it excused his actions or absolved him of responsibility. The incident, during which Krieger kicked one of the injured parties, constituted dangerous brutality, according to the summary. They also described it as indiscriminate violence committed in public against people who were not at fault. Katada in the summary said the judges felt Krieger was unable to control himself because he was drunk and his actions were a way to relieve his stress about the overall situation and his ongoing health issues. The judges found Krieger intentionally injured the 33-year-old man and a second man, and by negligence injured the other two people, Katada told the court. Japanese police interviewed Krieger after the incident; afterward he was restricted to the naval base throughout the trial. Krieger testified that he consumed between 10 and 20 drinks that day and remembers very little of the incident. It was like a dream, when a monster chases you, but you dont know why, he said. Krieger also faces a civil lawsuit, with the injured parties asking for about $153,000. A Navy contractor inspects a water pipe that connects to a granular activated carbon system at the Red Hill well near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in April 2022. (MarQueon A. D. Tramble/U.S. Navy) The University of Hawaii is poised to renew a controversial contract to conduct research for the U.S. military worth up to $285 million over 10 years, in what administrators call a major source of federal funding for the university. While supporters say the Applied Research Laboratory creates well-paying jobs conducting research with important civilian applications, critics say the university shouldnt be engaged in a partnership that includes work for the military, some of which is classified. Of particular concern is the laboratorys sponsor, the U.S. Navy, which has been embroiled in controversy after back-to-back spills of jet fuel into the Pearl Harbor drinking water system, which serves some 93,000 people, in 2021. Highlighting the fault line between university administrators and their critics, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Friday unanimously passed a motion effectively allowing administrators to finalize the contract, despite a resolution by the UH student senate demanding the university sever its ties to the military. Vassilis Syrmos, UHs vice president for research and innovation, said the outcry reprises one that started when the university began its partnership with the Navy in the early 2000s. The catastrophic event at Red Hill brought all those feelings up again, he said. There is no way to sugar coat this thing. Native Hawaiian students and residents are leading the push against the Department of Defense, he said. Its a movement, Syrmos said. Its a Native Hawaiian renaissance against the DOD presence. Its real, and I dont think its going away. Momi Bachiller, a fourth-year student of molecular cell biology and Hawaiian language, said its disheartening to students that the administration is moving ahead with the contract renewal despite vocal opposition. We are stakeholders, but they dont respect us, said Bachiller, who also serves as a senator for the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii. When the center was founded in 2008, the University of Hawaii became the nations fifth U.S. Navy University-Affiliated Research Center. The other so-called UARCs are located at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Washington, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Texas at Austin. A U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye launches from the USS Carl Vinson during RIMPAC exercises in Hawaii on July 15, 2024. (Jerreht Harris/U.S. Air Force) Navy and defense technology research The UARCs are meant to serve as centers for research into critical Navy and national defense technology, focusing on core competencies of university researchers. In the case of UH, they include ocean science, astronomy, optics and renewable energy. The official name of Hawaiis UARC is the Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaii. In a presentation to the Board of Regents earlier this month, Syrmos alluded to early criticisms of the center, noting that Denise Konan, then UH Manoas Interim Chancellor, initially recommended against going forward based on campus consultations. But the Board of Regents later approved the center after learning that dozens of UHs most productive researchers supported it, Syrmos presentation said. The presentation also quoted UHs then-president, David McClain, who recognized the controversy but said researchers should be able to pursue their interests, even if some people didnt like it. Because of the inherent diversity and need for freedom of inquiry which in my view does and should characterize the academy, I tend to be biased in favor of measures to support the individual scholar no matter how popular or even more importantly, how unpopular his or her research interests, McClain is quoted as saying. Nearly two decades later, the center and its Applied Research Laboratory, is a major source of funding for UH. In the past fiscal year, the Department of Defense provided about $65 million of some $615 million in so-called extramural funding the university brought in for research, Syrmos said. The research lab alone accounted for $15 million to $20 million he said. Supporters include high-profile academics like Chip Fletcher, interim dean of UHs School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. He cited ARLs support of diversity, equity and inclusion in written testimony to the Board of Regents supporting the contract. By engaging with underrepresented groups and providing opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to participate in high-impact research, the ARL is helping to build a more inclusive and equitable academic environment, Fletcher wrote. Among the Applied Research Laboratorys projects related to ocean science is the Rapid Resilient Reefs for Coastal Defense, a $27 million, five-year project conducted in partnership with the University of California San Diego/Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Florida Atlantic University and the Ohio State University. The purpose is to create artificial reefs of fast-growing coral that mimic the biodiversity of natural reefs, said Joshua Levy, the projects technical program manager. The hope is that such reefs can protect coastal communities in a time of rising sea levels, defending not against warships but the effects of climate change, Levy said. These are things that affect coastal communities around the world, he said. Other projects focus on information technology. On Maui, a 52-member team at the Vanguard Center of High Performance Computing is doing research into creating computers capable of complex tasks like engineering, weather forecasting and cybersecurity, says Tiare Martin, the centers director. The vision is to have labs across the state, Martin said. A Navy contractor collects water samples Jan. 31, 2024, as part of the Navys long-term monitoring program at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. (Krystal Diaz/U.S. Navy) Mistrust in the military Despite its economic benefits, the military has fostered animosity and mistrust in Hawaii for generations. The use of Koohalawe as a bombing target starting in World War II prompted protests in the 1970s. The herbicide Agent Orange was tested under a U.S. Army contract at the University of Hawaiis Kauai Agricultural Research Station in the 1960s. Verdant Makua Valley in West Oahu was taken over by the military for live-fire military exercises for generations, from around 1930 to early 2004; the Armys lease of Makua continues until 2029. Against this backdrop, critics point to an overarching concern about Hawaii being a center for military research. You have to put it in the context of a genocidal settler colonialism, Bachiller, the student government senator, said in an interview. She was one of six students senators who testified against the research contract at Fridays Board of Regents meeting. Punia Pale, the student government treasurer, testified that UH deepens the wounds of colonialization and exploitation by using Native Hawaiian land without consent. These lands should be returned to the Hawaiian people, and they should not be used for research that serves the U.S. military interests especially when such interests have historically oppressed Indigenous people around the world, currently now Palestine, he said. Kawai Kupuni, another student government senator, noted that academic research should advance human knowledge, not be locked up as top secret. Free inquiry will never be compatible with classified research, she said. Among those on the other side of the debate is former Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercombie, a current university regent who also served nine terms a U.S. representative from Hawaii. Its not uncommon for military information to be classified, Abercrombie said in an interview. That includes parts of the Pentagon budget, which he was responsible for passing as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. But, Abercrombie said, simply because some UH research is classified doesnt mean professors are developing weapons there. Syrmos and others insist thats not happening at the laboratory. They kind of set positions, Abercrombie said of the protesters. And no one talks to each other about what it is and is not because that might interfere with their ideological perceptions. And I understand that. But to suggest university professors are surreptitiously developing weapons under a cloak of military secrecy is offensive to the integrity of the researchers, Abercrombie said. Joining Abercombie and the other regents who unanimously supported the military contract were long-time members of the UH community. Dr. Bill Haning is an emeritus professor of psychiatry at UHs John A. Burns School of Medicine, where hes been a clinician, educator and researcher with UH since 1989. Lori Tochiki served more than a decade as associate dean for student services at UHs William S. Richardson School of Law. Joshua Faumuina, a law student who serves as the Board of Regents interim student regent, said he shared the concerns of critics. But, he said, I would rather have that money with us than with a weapons developer. This story was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. The only known privately-held, official, signed ratification copy of the U.S. Constitution will be auctioned on Sept. 28, 2024. (Brunk Auctions) To some people, the contents of a decades-old folder found in a North Carolina mansions filing cabinet might just look like a stack of old papers, appraiser Ken Farmer said. But when Farmer opened the folder last year, he believed he mightve found the rarest artifact of his career. Inside the folder he found a copy of the U.S. Constitution that was dated 1787. On the final page, Farmer inspected the signature of Charles Thomson, the secretary of the Continental Congress at the time, with a magnifying glass and said it looked authentic. The document, Farmer said, was one of the first copies of the Constitution that Congress sent to the original 13 colonies for ratification. Farmer suggested the owners send the document to Brunk Auctions in Asheville, N.C., where the document will be auctioned Saturday. The opening bid is $1 million, but auctioneers said they expect it to sell for millions more. Every time I have it in my hands, I still get goose bumps, Andrew Brunk, president of Brunk Auctions, told The Washington Post. This is far and away the most exciting thing that weve ever come upon. A rare signed ratification copy of the U.S. Constitution dated 1787. (Brunk Auctions) Farmer discovered the document on the property of the Hayes Farm in Edenton, N.C., which Samuel Johnston, a North Carolina governor and state senator in the late 1700s, was believed to have owned. The property included a plantation where enslaved people worked, according to the Society of Architectural Historians, a nonprofit that studies and conserves architecture. The Johnston family gave the property to a friend, Edward Wood, in the 1800s, according to the Society of Architectural Historians. The Wood family owned the property until December 2022, when they sold it to the state of North Carolina for $6.1 million, the Chowan Herald reported. While cleaning out the house, Farmer said, the Wood family hired him to appraise 18th- and 19th-century furniture, books, maps and weapons in the house. On a visit to the mansion in February 2023, Farmer said he inspected a folder that had been sitting in a dusty file cabinet. Inside, there was a 1776 draft of the Articles of Confederation, a 1785 ordinance defining Thomsons duties as secretary of Congress and a 1787 foreign affairs letter. Farmer also found the Constitution copy on four sheets of 11-by-16-inch paper. Farmer wondered which copy of the Constitution it was. He saw Thomsons signature was written with ink that bled into the fibers of the paper and then confirmed Thomson was the secretary of the Continental Congress in 1787. A few days later at his Charlottesville home, Farmer said he compared the document to photos of the 1787 Constitution from archival websites. Oh my God, this is a dead ringer, Farmer, who has appraised items for more than four decades, recalled thinking. The draft of the Constitution was finalized after the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in September 1787. Later that month, Congress sent copies of the Constitution to the colonies for ratification along with a letter from the eventual first president, George Washington, encouraging delegates to agree to the terms. At least nine colonies needed to accept the Constitution to make it binding. About 100 copies were printed, but only nine have been accounted for, according to Brunk Auctions. The copy being auctioned is lightly stained and folded horizontally but is in good condition, Brunk Auctions said. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution in June 1788. The following year, Americas founders proposed amendments in the Bill of Rights, and 10 were ratified in 1791. Chris Edelson, an assistant government professor at American University, said old copies of the Constitution are novelties and reminders of the long process required to create and ratify Americas laws in the 18th century. We think this just kind of magically happened, Edelson said. It wasnt a miracle. It was people; White men, some of them were slave owners, who were faced with a problem, and they confronted it creatively and courageously, and they worked out a solution. Another rare copy of the Constitution that was printed for Constitutional Convention delegates sold for $43.2 million in November 2021. Seth Kaller, a historical documents expert Brunk Auctions hired to authenticate its copy of the Constitution, said the document on auction Saturday is rarer than the one sold three years ago. The chance of another one of these being discovered is very close to zero, Kaller said. But Jack Rakove, an emeritus political science professor at Stanford University, questioned if the document offered anything new to our knowledge of the Constitution and its history. Its just another copy, Rakove said. It may or may not add something new to the historical record. Brunk, 56, said a few elements make the copy stand out. There are dashes next to many of the paragraphs, which he said Thomson or a North Carolina delegate mightve marked. A column on the third page appears to read: Adopted it must be & shall be in faded ink, a message Brunk said mightve been related to North Carolina refusing to ratify the Constitution until amendments were proposed. On Saturday, the 237th anniversary of Congresss decision to send the Constitution to the colonies, Brunk said he expects the document to sell for at least $10 million. A piece of paper that is so light and ephemeral can at the same time embody so much weight metaphorically, Brunk said. I mean, this is a cornerstone of modern democracy. China firmly opposes U.S. proposed ban on Chinese connected vehicles Xinhua) 08:07, September 26, 2024 BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China strongly objects to the U.S. proposal to restrict the use of Chinese connected vehicles, as well as their software and hardware, in the United States, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday. A ministry spokesperson made the remarks in response to a media inquiry, emphasizing that the U.S. proposal smears Chinese connected vehicles under the pretext of national security. The proposal is one of the U.S. actions that targeted Chinese automobiles in recent years, also including tariff hikes, procurement restrictions and discriminatory subsidy policies, said the spokesperson. The proposal has no factual basis, violates the principles of the market economy and fair competition, and is a typical act of protectionism, the spokesperson said, adding that it will severely impact China-U.S. cooperation on connected vehicles, disrupt and distort global automotive industrial and supply chains, and harm the interests of U.S. consumers. It is also a non-market practice that uses government power to interfere with economic and commercial cooperation between enterprises, constituting economic coercion, said the spokesperson. "China urges the United States to cease its wrong practice of generalizing national security, immediately lift the relevant restrictions, and end its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies," said the spokesperson. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its companies, the spokesperson added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Openly defending ones decision not to have children will be prosecuted in Russia. The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, is preparing a bill under which authorities will impose fines of up to 50,000 ($55,580) for supporting the refusal to have children. The measure affects all areas of life from casual conversation to films and books and is a serious threat to the Russian feminist movement. The crackdown on what the Kremlin calls the childfree movement will result in fines of up to 400,000 rubles for individuals (around $4,300), 800,000 rubles for civil servants ($8,600), and up to five million rubles ($55,580) for companies or other legal entities. Foreigners will also be deported. There are thousands of reasons why a person may decide not to have children, but the Cabinet of ministers has asked the State Duma to make only three exceptions to the law: religious reasons, medical reasons or in the case of rape. It also alleges that there is a mass-organized childfree movement, even though the websites on this subject are little more than a curiosity; Russian newspapers cite the existence of groups on VKontakte, the Russian Facebook, which barely have 5,000 members. We have started considering a bill banning propaganda of a conscious refusal to have children, parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel. Groups and communities on social networks often show disrespect for motherhood and fatherhood and aggression towards pregnant women and children and members of large families, added the politician, a staunch defender of a war in Ukraine, which has left tens of thousands of Russian households without fathers and sons. Everything that needs to be done to increase the birth rate must be done. And everything that hinders this should disappear from our lives, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The politician, however, does not envisage Moscow joining the peace talks promoted by Ukraine. For us, there is absolutely no alternative to achieving our set goals. As soon as these goals have been achieved in one way or another, the special military operation will be completed. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in early September that his government must create the conditions so that having many children becomes fashionable again, as it used to be seven or 10 people in a family. Even though Putin is about to celebrate 25 years in power, Russia with 146 million inhabitants has been suffering from demographic decline since the 20th century. This has been aggravated by the war in Ukraine, the inverted age pyramid and internal policies. Last year, 1.3 million people died and 1.26 million children were born, the lowest figure since the fall of the USSR, with the exception of 1999 due to the Russian financial crisis. Whats more, the tightening of immigration policies has prompted many foreigners to leave: the number of registered immigrants has fallen from 8.5 million to 6.1 million in the last year. In 2007, Putin approved a maternity support program that pays mothers 466,617 rubles (around $5,000) for their first child, and 150,000 rubles ($1,600) for their second. However, this project has not boosted pregnancies in Russia, where only a tenth of the population earns more than $1,000 and a man can earn 10 times more a year at the front. Meanwhile, the State Duma is also considering a bill which was introduced at the end of last year to ban abortions in private clinics. At least 11 regions have taken this step individually, but the government has called for a significant review of the reform because it believes that it will increase public spending and may increase maternal mortality by encouraging clandestine abortions. In addition, lawmakers are also discussing banning abortion after nine weeks, instead of 12. First it was the LGBTQ+ community, then feminism, then Volodin said that Russian authorities will ban childfree propaganda on the internet and in the media, films and advertising. However, the precedent set by other Kremlin laws against freedom of expression such as the law against the discrediting of the armed forces or the law against LGBTQ+ propaganda leaves open the possibility that private conversations could be recorded and subsequently reported. These [measures] have been taken before against LGBTQ+ propaganda and gender reassignment, Volodin said. Last year, Russia banned sex reassignment surgery for trans people, against World Health Organization guidelines, and also banned changing the gender markers on passports. The proposed law to ban the choice no to have children is one more step in the Kremlins campaign to defend traditional values. Russian authorities accuse the West of being behind any liberal thought, even when it comes to universal human rights, and on these grounds, they repress any internal dissent that advocates for a different vision of Russia. I once said that we should ban the childless movement by law because this is a foreign project, it is a hostile project, Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of the Federation Council, Russias upper house, said last week. They are instilling in womens brains, using the most modern technologies, that they should give up motherhood, she added. In the debate on the law, no lawmaker is likely to argue that the decision not to have children is a personal choice. Deputy Justice Minister Vsevolod Vukolov said in June that the government would promote initiatives to protect the values of the Russian people, while the Chairman of the Human Rights Council, Valery Fadeyev, said last year that LGBTQ people, radical feminism, radical environmentalism and the child-free movement dominate in the West. Those who do not accept this ideology are declared enemies of freedom and supporters of tyranny, said Fadeyev, who accused the West of distorting universal rights in order to interfere in the internal affairs of states. He added: I call this ideology the ideology of death, the destruction of the family. Indeed, the space for debate in Russia is shrinking. Any citizen or foreigner who does not follow the dictates of the state are sent to prison or blacklisted. On Tuesday, the State Duma announced another legal reform to crackdown on comments online and in the media that disrespect the honor or dignity of a government employee in terms of his personal or professional qualities. Defendants who are found guilty of this crime face up to two years in prison. These latest moves are unlikely to be the last of the Kremlins campaign to protect traditional values. The government fiercely defends these ideals, despite being hit by constant scandals. In September alone, two scandals have come to light: a lawmaker was recorded with a prostitute inside the Duma last weekend and at the start of the month, Russian childrens rights ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova married Konstantin Malofeyev, the owner of the ultra-Orthodox television channel Tsargrad. Until just a few months ago, the couple both ardent defenders of traditional values were married to other people. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Adrian Paige-Mitchell, a worker at the Center for Computing History in Cambridge, England, shows as part of a tour on Aug. 31, 2024, what an office in the 1990s looked like. The museum seeks to present different periods of computer technology history using innovative means such as virtual reality. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) Not many places that preserve the past can boast of a giant video game collection to draw interest, but a museum in the world-renowned English city of Cambridge has that and much more. The Center for Computing History, a 30-minute drive from RAF Mildenhall, contains more than 40,000 items, according to its website. It offers an assortment of hands-on exhibits, vintage computers and nearly 15,000 video games. And thats just scratching the surface. The fast-paced nature of the computing industry, along with its tendency to discard irrelevant technology as soon as it becomes outdated, means that the heritage around its origins and subsequent developments is at risk of being lost, the museum website states. Technology and its history fascinate me; the various presentations at the museum do a lot to facilitate learning for those who are new to it . The museum is situated in an industrial area, so there is plenty of parking. My visit lasted about two hours, which was enough time for me to take a guided tour and interact with the computers and game systems. For visitors with military interests, there are early drafts of naval missile detection systems, language decoders and other wartime relics. The Center for Computing History in Cambridge, England, is home to the MegaProcessor, which is touted as the world's largest microprocessor. The museum's interactive exhibits make learning about the history of technology a hands-on experience. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) Another highlight is the MegaProcessor, which is billed as the worlds largest working model of a microprocessor. The contraption is about 33 feet long and 6.5 feet tall and weighs approximately half a ton. Roughly 10,000 LEDs show how the microprocessor works, helping to teach computing basics. The guided tour option is included in the admission price, so I gladly decided to avail myself of the added knowledge. My guide, Adrian Paige-Mitchell, covered topics ranging from the earliest calculators to sophisticated mobile phones and home computers. I saw how a computer dating from 1949 read physical code and translated it into a singular command called the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator. A patron at the Center for Computing History on Aug. 31, 2024, plays "Bomb Jack" on a Sinclair ZX Spectrum built in 1982. The museum in Cambridge, England, has a collection of nearly 15,000 video games to go along with its range of vintage and modern equipment. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) To wind down this part of the tour, my guide and the calculator played a neck-and-neck game of tic-tac-toe, or noughts and crosses as the British call it. This led us to the next room, which showed the path computers took to becoming an integral part of daily society. A key driver of that process was J. Lyons & Co., a conglomerate that created a chain of popular teashops in the early 1900s. The company was seeking ways to innovate production and distribution, a quest that resulted in the creation of the Lyons Electronic Office, commonly referred to as the first office computer. Adrian Paige-Mitchell of the Center for Computing History in Cambridge, England, talks about the museum display showing the first model of at-home computer. The exhibits there highlight the lineage and progression of the everyday electronic technology we use today. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) The museum has an interactive virtual tour filled to the brim with facts and animations that show what these facilities looked like. If youre more of a hands-on learner, the 70s room is a physical set designed to mimic offices of that time. It has a computer with a coding challenge for those who would like to try their hand at programming the way people did back in the day. Another exhibit shows the sea change in storage, from entire rooms that hold only eight Harry Potter movies, according to Paige-Mitchell, to media that fits in a pocket and has the capacity for over 16 million copies of the whole franchise. It provides an excellent understanding of how the devices we see and use every day without a second thought came into being. The museum also contains a section dedicated to the history of video gaming, from arcade booths to home consoles. Everything is in working condition, so visitors can experience the whole gamut of electronic gameplay. The Center for Computing History, a museum in the English city of Cambridge, hosts rows of computers of various ages that patrons can use to play games or learn how to code. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) Adrian Paige-Mitchell talks about the history of the gaming console race from the 1990s to the current day as part of a presentation to a visitor at the Center for Computing History on Aug. 31, 2024. The museum in Cambridge, England, has an array of vintage and modern video game consoles, which patrons can use during their visit. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) Vintage systems from such old-school names as Atari, Commodore and Sega combine with a vast array of Nintendo products as well as a lineup of PlayStations and XBoxes. Visitors who want to take a bit of computing history back home with them will find a plethora of quirky items for sale in the gift shop. Its not as if anyone needs an excuse to visit Cambridge. The Center for Computing History just gives the city one more standout attraction to consider. On the QT Address: Rene Court, Coldhams Road, Cambridge, England Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday Cost: 12 pounds for admission Information: Phone: 01223214446, Online: www.computinghistory.org.uk Models hanging from the ceiling of the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenburg, Germany, show several variations of the famous airships. The LZ 10 Schwaben, which debuted in 1911, was used as a commercial airship by DELAG, the world's first airline. Behind it is the L59, a military airship used in World War I. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Radio broadcaster Herbert Morrisons oh, the humanity! exclamation amid the 1937 Hindenburg disaster sounded in my mind recently as I gazed at an exhibit near the German ground where the airships ill-fated voyage had begun. One of my earliest introductions to the news medias impact came when a TV program I saw as a kid showed newsreel footage of that zeppelin inferno in Lakehurst, N.J. Despite the enduring recollection, I had never really delved into the prelude that saw German airships help usher in the age of global aviation. Hence my visit to the Zeppelin Museum in what is today Neu-Isenberg but before a 1977 merger was Zeppelinheim. The Zeppelin Museum building in Neu-Isenburg, Germany, was designed to correspond to one-fourth of a cross section of the first commercial Zeppelin model, the LZ 10 Schwaben. Its construction calls to mind the building of the airship's skeleton. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) A rendering from 1938 on display at the Zeppelin Museum shows the company town of Zeppelinheim. It was built to house employees of of the new Rhein-Main airship base. The houses were occupied by 90 families toward the end of 1937. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Meaning zeppelin home, it was originally a company town built to house employees of the Rhein-Main airship base, now part of the Frankfurt Airport territory. Less than 25 minutes from Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden and about an hour and 15 minutes from Kaiserslautern, the museum is tucked into a leafy, bucolic neighborhood and has a bike path running next to it. The sunny tranquility on the day of my visit was unexpected, given that Zeppelenheim is on the doorstep of one of the worlds busiest air hubs. Just past the museum entrance is a bust of the namesake airships creator, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. On either side of the sculpture and the information counter behind it are exhibit spaces, with models of the Hindenburg, the Graf Zeppelin and others hanging overhead. The explosion of the Hindenburg in Lakehurst, N.J., on May 6, 1937, is shown in an exhibit at the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenberg, Germany. The disaster left 36 people dead and marked the end of the airship era. A piece of the mooring tower and a bow lamp from the Hindenburg are displayed at the museum. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) An engine from the Graf Zeppelin is among the items in the collection of the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenberg, Germany. The 12-cylinder engine was one of five that powered the airship. During flights, the engines were operated around the clock by a trio of machine operators alternating in two-hour shifts. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Among them is the LZ 126, a passenger dirigible that was delivered to the United States in 1924 as part of Germanys World War I reparations. After arriving to great fanfare, the craft became the naval airship USS Los Angeles, which was in service until 1932. The upstairs and downstairs floor space is covered with cool memorabilia from the days when the zeppelins of Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft, or DELAG, the worlds first airline, plied the skies and created the commercial aviation industry. Following the transfer of the LZ 126 to the U.S., the boss of DELAG, Hugo Eckener, charted a new course of becoming an overseas air carrier of passengers. That task fell to the LZ 127, or Graf Zeppelin. A set of miniature rotating pictures at the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenburg, Germany, shows assorted elements of the legendary airships. The image in the lower left depicts the wall covering of the smoking salon in the short-lived Graf Zeppelin II. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) A postcard from Rhein-Main Airport, the predecessor of today's Frankfurt Airport, is part of the collection at the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenberg, Germany. The Zeppelins transported mail as well as passengers. In the peak delivery year of 1936, the Graf Zeppelin and the Hindenburg combined took 20,400 pounds of mail to South America and 18,300 pounds to North America. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Between 1928 and 1937, this airship made 590 journeys, including one around the world in 21 days, and carried more than 13,000 passengers without ever having an accident. The circumnavigation spawned a board game introduced in 1929 called Banzai Zeppelin. Players tried to figuratively complete the journey faster than Eckener did. It came with a route map and broke up the trip into four destinations: New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo and the departure point of Friedrichshafen, Germany. Memorabilia at the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenberg, Germany, includes this image painted on wood and the board game Banzai Zeppelin, which was inspired by the Graf Zeppelin's round-the-world journey in 1929. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) The Zeppelin Musuem in Neu-Isenberg has this world map tracing the route of the Graf Zeppelin on its 1929 trip around the world. The map was part of the materials in the boxed set for the game Banzai Zeppelin. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) In 1936, the Hindenburg entered service. Its trans-Atlantic flights from Frankfurt served North and South America. The museum has a mockup of the passenger deck with two seats and a view out the windows of Rio de Janeiro. Only 3,059 passengers were transported aboard the airship during its 63 total trips, the last of which ended in tragedy on May 6, 1937. The Nazis had used both aircraft for propaganda purposes, but the explosion of the Hindenburg brought about the demise of the airship age. The exhibit on the Hindenburg disaster features pictures of the burning dirigible, a fragment of the mooring tower and a bow lamp. A Goodyear promotional poster on display Sept. 1, 2024, at the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenberg, Germany. In 1924, the American tire manufacturer paired with Luftschiffbau Zeppelin to produce dirigibles for the U.S. military. The partnership lasted until World War II. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) A metal re-creation of a Goodyear-Zeppelin airship is exhibited along with USS Akron memorabilia on Sept. 1, 2024, at the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenberg, Germany. The Akron, which operated between 1931 and 1933, shares the world record with its sister aircraft, the USS Macon, as the largest helium-filled airship in history. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) All the text in the museum is in German, but an explanatory booklet in English is available at the counter. Theres no charge to use it during a tour. Keeping it costs 5 euros, which I thought was a fair price. Another revelation awaited in the basement, where a collection of Americana introduced me to the partnership that resulted in the Goodyear Zeppelin Corp. This venture, which lasted from 1924 to 1941, led to the creation of rigid airships like the zeppelins and non-rigid airships, or blimps, for the U.S. military. I read in the museum booklet that Goodyear also had a hand in the revival of zeppelins in the 1990s by a Friedrichshafen maker of semi-rigid airships known as the Zeppelin NT. Of the five such aircraft in service worldwide in 2019, three belonged to Goodyear and operated in America. The exhibit evoked memories of another airship that I had seen on TV many times as a kid watching sporting events: the Goodyear blimp. I was amazed to learn of both the military forebears and German lineage of this American branding icon. An exhibit at the Zeppelin Museum in Neu-Isenburg, Germany, shows a scaled-down version of the Hindenburg's passenger deck. Looking through the windows gives museum visitors a simulated view of what airship passengers over Rio de Janeiro saw. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) On the QT Address: Kapitan-Lehmannstrasse 2, Neu-Isenburg, Germany Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 2-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Monday Costs: No fixed admission price. Free-will offerings accepted. Informational booklets are free to rent, 5 euros to keep. Information: Phone: +49 69 69595978 Online: zeppelin-museum-zeppelinheim.de/html/en_museum.html The Bookshelf Theatre at Kadokawa Culture Museum in Tokorozawa, Japan. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) The Kadokawa Cultural Museum, in Tokorozawa city north of Tokyo, fuses museums of art, anime and oddities with a huge, reader-friendly library. The five-story building itself resembles a huge boulder and the inside is full of wood and other natural elements. Kadokawa Corp., one of Japans largest publishers of books, magazines and anime, owns the museum and library. The foyer boasts some interesting items, including a model made for the 70th anniversary of the landmark 1950 film Rashomon, directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune. A model made for the 70th anniversary of Rashomon, directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune, at Kadokawa Culture Museum in Tokorozawa, Japan. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) An excerpt from Ryunosuke Akutagawas novel is projected in the models background, along with the works symbolic rain. Elsewhere youll find a statue of the bald, one-eyed boy, or Hitotsume-kozo, a supernatural apparition of Japan. On the fourth floor, visitors will find Edit Town and 25,000 books from around the world. Various zones in the library hold selections of poetry, music, theater, fashion, photography, film, design, science fiction, horror and magic book sections. There are books in multiple languages, including English. The books are for in-museum reading only, but visitors can take them inside Edit Town to read, on any of the seats, including beanbags. The Aramata Wunderkammer Museum is a bizarre space filled with oddities like skeletal specimens, mammoth hair and pieces of UFOs. The shelves dont really have a rhythm or rhyme to them. Also on this floor is the stunning Bookshelf Theatre, complete with 26-foot-tall bookshelves that contain 50,000 books. A projection mapping work called Books Want to Communicate creates a light show on the bookshelf throughout the day, displaying words from Japanese novels. A print of "Woman With a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son" by Claude Monet at the Kadokawa Culture Museum in Tokorozawa, Japan. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) Bookshelf Theater is home until Jan. 19 to Monet: I Can See the Lights, An Immersive Journey, for 3,100 yen, or $22, for a day ticket. The ticket includes the exhibit and the libraries on the fourth and fifth floors. The exhibit is a digital journey through Monets life, including Impressionistic re-creations of the people and places that defined his life. This exhibition is displayed in Japanese and English and explains Monets painting techniques and his influence from Japonisme, due to its vivid sense of color, bold composition and use of contour lines. Examples of Japanese prints are displayed with which Monet, an admirer of Japanese art, decorated his home in Giverny, France. The fifth-floor Musashino Corridor holds books, including manga, related to the city in which the museum is located, again with a large space where guests can sit on beanbags and read. There is also a spot a real bridge with a large print of Bridge Over a Pond of Waterlilies where guests may photograph themselves. Props, including a parasol and a fan, are available. Kadokawa Culture Museum in Tokorozawa, Japan. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) On the QT Directions: Address: 3-31-3 Higashi-Tokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama, Japan 359-0023. An 11-minute walk from Higashi-Tokorozawa Station. Times: Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Costs: Admission from 1,800 yen, or $12.81, for children to 3,100 yen for adult one-day ticket that includes the Bookshelf Theater and Monet: I Can See the Lights. Food: There are cafes on the second and fifth floors. Information: Online: kadcul.com Using a whole cucumber as bait, a child tries his luck at catching a kappa at Kappabuchi Pool in Tono, Japan. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) North America has the Sasquatch. Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster. Japan has the kappa. Youll be able to spot this elusive, water-dwelling creature by its turtle-like shell and webbed hands and feet, according to Japanese folklore. A distinctive indentation atop its head comes in handy for carrying water, which kappas apparently need for energy. Kappas are usually green, about the height of a small child and consider cucumbers a special treat. This is what youll use for bait when fishing for these mythical critters at the aptly named Kappabuchi Pool in Tono, a city in Iwate prefecture. Youll find the pool also known as Kappa Pond behind Joken-ji, a Buddhist temple of the Soto sect, founded in 1490. Japanese signs point the way to a tranquil, tree-shaded grove where mischievous kappas are said to relax, munch on cucumbers and play tricks on visitors. A statue of a kappa, Japans most elusive mythical creature, sits near Kappabuchi Pool in Tono, a city in Iwate prefecture. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) Kappas, according to Japanese folklore, are usually green, about the height of a small child and consider cucumbers a special treat. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) A kind man in a wide-brimmed hat sells kappa fishing permits for 220 yen about $1.55 and will hook you up with a bamboo pole outfitted with the appropriate bait. The permits, which list seven rules for catching a kappa, can also be purchased a Densheon, a small folk museum a short walk away that offers free parking to pool visitors. If you catch a kappa and deliver it to the folks at the Tono Tourism Association, they say theyll reward you with 10 million yen more than $70,000. Bamboo poles baited with cucumber are what you'll use to catch the mythical kappa at Kappabuchi Pool in Tono, Japan. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) Bamboo poles baited with cucumber are what you'll use to catch the mythical kappa at Kappabuchi Pool in Tono, Japan. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) No one managed to hook one during Stars and Stripes recent visit, though a small child somehow managed to smack his mother in the face with a cucumber. Youll also find statues of kappa and a small shrine thats said to help pregnant women produce plenty of milk for their newborns. After working up an appetite from fishing, stroll over to Kappa no Chaya or Kappas Teahouse for soft serve ice cream, coffee, sodas and other beverages. Youll find Kappabuchi Pool behind Joken-ji, a Buddhist temple in Tono, Japan. Japanese signs point the way to a tranquil, tree-shaded grove where mischievous kappas are said to relax, munch on cucumbers and play tricks on visitors. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) On the QT Directions: About a 10-minute drive from downtown Tono, Iwate prefecture. Tsuchibuchi, Tsuchibuchi-cho, Tono city, Iwate, 028-0555 Times: The temple grounds are typically open daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Costs: A kappa fishing permit is 220 yen. Pick one up at Densheon, a nearby folklore museum that also offers free parking to Kappa Pond visitors. We got ours directly at the fishing site. Food: Kappas Teahouse, adjacent to the temple, offers a variety of items, including a popular soft-serve ice cream with a cone that looks like a kimono. Information: Phone: 0198-62-1333; Online: www.tonojikan.jp/ml This screen grab from video shows smoke rising over Khartoum, Sudan, on Thursday Sept. 26, 2024, after Sudans military started an operation to take areas of the capital from its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. (Rashed Ahmed/AP) CAIRO New fighting rocked Sudans capital on Thursday with airstrikes and drone attacks in and around Khartoum amid a worsening cholera outbreak, officials said. Sudans military launched an operation in the early hours of Thursday aimed at taking control of areas in the capital that had been in the hands of its enemy, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. Sudanese media reported increased military movements and airstrikes in the districts of Khartoum and Omdurman, the heaviest in the capital area in months. Mohamed Ibrahim, the health ministrys spokesperson in Khartoum, said in a statement that four civilians were killed and 14 others wounded in the latest fighting in the Karrari district of Omdurman, a city next to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. A military spokesman confirmed the operation was underway, but declined to comment further. A military spokesman confirmed the operation was underway, but declined to comment further. The head of Sudans military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York, saying that weve done everything we could to put an end to this war and to steer our country from the destruction being waged by the militia. He maintained that position when he spoke to reporters at the Sudanese Mission to the United Nations on Thursday evening. The operation going on in Khartoum is meant to preserve the integrity of our country, the safety of our people and our armed forces, he said. The military solution is the last one, Burhan continued. We crave a peaceful solution that spares out people more suffering, more hunger, more displacement. Burhan, who led a military takeover of Sudan in 2021, is a close ally of neighboring Egypt and its president, former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. His country plunged into chaos in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military led by Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo broke out into street battles in Khartoum. Fighting has spread to other parts of the country, especially urban areas and the western Darfur region. At a General Assembly whose doomsday feeling was fueled by three major wars along with inaction on global warming, the fighting and humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan took third place after the killing in the Middle East and Ukraine. The lack of focus on Sudan was bemoaned by many. The brutal power struggle between Sudans warring generals has unleashed horrific violence, including widespread rape, and a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the annual high-level gathering of the 193 member nations on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations met without measurable results Wednesday to urge Sudans warring parties in Sudan to hold breaks in the fighting and allow aid to reach civilians. More than 25 million Sudanese face acute hunger, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement Wednesday. Some 11 million have fled their homes in what has become the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet ... We must compel the warring parties to accept humanitarian pauses. Jeremy Laurence, a spokesman for the U.N. human rights office in Geneva, said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday that at least 78 civilians were killed because of artillery shelling and airstrikes since the beginning of September in the Khartoum area. Our immediate concern is for the welfare of civilians, and the likelihood of further displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure, he said. For months, some of the worst fighting has been in the city of El Fasher, the capital of the North Darfur state. RSF forces have laid siege to the city since May. On Thursday, U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said that artillery shelling on a market there had killed at least 20 civilians on Sep. 20 and 21. Meanwhile, the death toll from Sudans cholera outbreak jumped by nearly 100 or nearly 20% in only two days, Sudans health ministry said Wednesday, in a worrying sign that the disease is spreading more rapidly. A total of 473 people have died from cholera since the countrys rainy season began two months ago, health officials said. Sudans Federal Ministry of Health in a Wednesday update reported on Facebook 14,944 cholera cases across 10 states, with 386 new cases. It said that six people died on Tuesday alone in six states. The majority of cases were reported in Kassala, where UNICEF is collaborating with the ministry and the World Health Organization to carry out a second round of the oral cholera vaccination campaign that kicked off last week. UNICEF delivered 404,000 doses of the vaccine to Sudan on Sep. 9. More vaccination campaigns are expected to be rolled out in other affected states. Cholera was officially declared an outbreak on August 12 by the health ministry after a new wave of cases was reported starting July 22. The disease is spreading in areas devastated by recent heavy rainfalls and floods, especially in eastern Sudan which sheltered millions of people displaced by the conflict between the Sudanese military and the RSF. Cholera is a highly contagious disease that causes diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration and could be fatal if not immediately treated, according to WHO. Its transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. UNICEF said in a statement last week that an estimated 3.4 million children under the age of 5 are at high risk of epidemic diseases. The war in Sudan created environments prone to disease outbreaks, impacting millions of people already experiencing food insecurity and displacement. The country plunged into war in April 2023 after tensions increased between the military and the RSF. Michael Weissenstein contributed to this report from New York and Jamey Keaten contributed from Geneva. The Lowy Institutes Asia Power Index still rates the U.S. as the regions most powerful nation, leading China on six out of eight measures. However, Americas military advantage is eroding, according to the Sydney-based think tank. (Pixabay) For the first time, China enjoys a slight edge over the United States should war break out in Asia, according to an Australian think tanks annual report on regional military power. The Lowy Institutes Asia Power Index still rates the U.S. as the regions most powerful nation, leading China on six out of eight measures. However, Americas military advantage is eroding, according to the report released Tuesday by the Sydney-based think tank. For the first time, experts surveyed for the Asia Power Index judged that China is better able to deploy rapidly and for a sustained period in the event of an interstate conflict in Asia, researchers wrote in the report. The index rates 27 countries in the region on military alliances and capability, economic resources, diplomatic and cultural influence, trade, resilience and future trends. China has continually improved its Military Capability and has closed more than a quarter of the lead that the United States held in this measure in 2018, the report states. It falls short in terms of long-range power projection and lacks Americas network of regional alliances, according to the report. China will not exceed the U.S. in terms of overall military capability for the foreseeable future, the report states, adding: That may not be needed to achieve its strategic objectives in East Asia, including with respect to Taiwan and the South China Sea. Chinese President Xi Jinping has said he wants his military ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. However, New Zealand-based security expert Paul Buchanan said Beijing has a limited advantage in regional force projection. The [Peoples Republic of China] would have difficulty projecting and maintaining a dominant military presence in places like Indonesia, or the [southwest] Pacific Rim should the US and its allies decide to seriously contest it, he told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday. Plus, the sea lanes to and from the PRC mainland would become obvious choke points for adversaries to focus on, assorted intelligence capabilities would be deployed against them. Beijing would struggle to extend forces beyond Taiwan and other small island chains close to the Chinese mainland, Buchanan wrote. This is especially true if the US is joined by allies like those in the Quad [U.S., Australia, India, Japan] and smaller states such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore and Indonesia, should any of these allies perceive the PRC power projection as inimical to their national interests, he said. China has built extensive bases on its territory and offshore in the South China sea, said Brad Glosserman, deputy director and visiting professor at the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University in Tokyo. However, the U.S. has more modern, sophisticated and battle-tested forces, as well as allies, and has been deploying new assets to the region, such as Typhoon missiles, that could have a significant impact, he said by email Wednesday. Camp Blaz, activated in 2020 as the first new Marine Corps installation since 1952, is scheduled to reach full operational capacity by 2028. (Joseph Ditzler/Stars and Stripes) A joint venture between a California construction company and a Japanese developer acquired another contract for more facilities at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz as the Guam installation inches closer to full operation. For $113 million, Granite Construction Inc., of Watsonville, Calif., and Obayashi Corp., of Tokyo, will build an auto organization shop, an organic storage facility, an electrical and communications maintenance shop, a vehicle wash rack and a vehicle laydown area, according to a news release Tuesday from Granite. This contract with Naval Facilities Systems Command Pacific falls under a multiple award contract that, so far, has yielded at least $404 million in work at Blaz for the joint venture since 2017, according to a Sept. 9 news release from NAVFAC Pacific. The project supports III Marine Expeditionary Forces 9th Engineer Support Battalion. Construction is expected to begin in October and finish in January 2027. We are honored to continue our partnership with NAVFAC Pacific on this critical mission, Curt Haldeman, Granites vice president of regional operations, said in the release. This contract not only strengthens our relationship with NAVFAC Pacific but also reinforces our role as a key contributor to the successful realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. The project was one of several announced Sept. 9 by NAVFAC Pacific. The command awarded a second, $14.5 million contract to the Guam-based company Pacific Federal Management to build a training complex, also for the 9th Engineer Support Battalion. It is expected to be completed in March 2026. A spokesperson for NAVFAC Pacific did not respond to phone and email requests for additional details as of Thursday afternoon. Granite could not be reached by phone after business hours in California on Thursday. Blaz, activated in 2020 as the first new Marine Corps installation since 1952, is an approximately 4,000-acre facility on the northwest edge of Guam. Its expected to house 1,300 members of III MEF and another 3,700 Marines as a rotational force. Blaz is scheduled to reach full operational capacity by 2028, base spokeswoman Maj. Diann Rosenfeld told Stars and Stripes in December. As of July 2024, there are 23 completed projects and more than 50 projects under construction, she told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday. The construction is part of the Defense Policy Review Initiative, an agreement by the United States and Japan to relocate some Marine assets from Okinawa to Guam. The deal includes Japan paying $3 billion of the estimated $8.6 billion cost to build Blaz and its surrounding infrastructure. The latest project is at least the third at Blaz for the joint venture. In 2017, NAVFAC Pacific awarded Granite and Obayashi $165 million to prepare 400 acres of the bases main cantonment for future construction. In March 2023, Granite and Obayashi secured $126 million to build an auto shop, electrical and communications building, a vehicle wash facility, a vehicle laydown area and infrastructure work. That project is expected to wrap next year. The Japanese destroyer JS Sazanami arrives in Diego Garcia for a scheduled port visit, July 17, 2024. (Jordan Steis/U.S. Navy) A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time on Wednesday, according to a local media report. The destroyer JS Sazanami, along with Australian and New Zealand vessels, sailed south from the East China Sea and through the 110-mile-wide channel separating the island from mainland China, Kyodo News reported, citing an unnamed source who was familiar with the matter. The ships were believed to be headed to the South China Sea to participate in exercises, the report said. Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the transit during a news conference Thursday. In recent years, Chinas military activities around our country have been expanding and becoming more active, he said. We will continue closely monitoring with strong interest and exert all efforts to ensure surveillance and monitoring activities can be carried out properly. A Ministry of Defense spokesman acknowledged but did not immediately respond to questions emailed by Stars and Stripes on Thursday afternoon. Beijing views trips through the strait as provocative and regularly condemns them as support for Taiwan. China does not consider the strait an international waterway and holds that Taiwan itself is a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland. China has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the waterway, former Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in June 2022. He is now Chinas ambassador to Cambodia. Referring to the strait as international waters is an attempt to manipulate Chinas claim over Taiwan, he said at the time. The U.S. Navy routinely sends warships through the strait and describes those transits as a routine means of traveling between the South China and East China seas. Last week, a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through international airspace over the strait, the U.S. 7th Fleet said. On Sept. 13, the German navy said its frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg and support ship Frankfurt am Main transited the strait north to south. It was the first such trip by German ships in more than two decades, The Associated Press reported. Chinese vessels frequently intrude into Japanese waters near the Senkakus, islets about 105 miles east of Taiwan that are administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing and Taipei. Earlier this month, a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed between Japans westernmost island of Yonaguni and nearby Iriomote, entering the countrys contiguous zone, according to the Defense Ministry. In July, the Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Suzutsuki reportedly sailed into Chinese territorial waters within 12 nautical miles of the coast of Zhejiang province. The ships captain was replaced that month, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said at a news conference Tuesday. The city hall building in Nago, Okinawa, is pictured on Sept. 26, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes) CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa The third indictment of a U.S. service member on sexual assault charges this year prompted fresh complaints from an Okinawa city this week. Nago City Assembly approved a protest letter and petition Wednesday in response to Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Hofmasters recent indictment on charges of sexually assaulting and injuring a woman in the city in June. Charges leveled against two other service members this year had already elevated popular discontent before Hofmasters indictment. Senior Airman Brennon R.E. Washington pleaded not guilty July 12 in Naha District Court to charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor in December. Marine Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton was charged in May with attempting to sexually assault a woman in Yomitan. Although U.S. military authorities suggested changes to the liberty policy across Japan in July, so far only a crackdown on off-base alcohol consumption, courtesy patrols in nightlife districts and universal sobriety checks at military gates have materialized. There may be little else the U.S. military can do to restrict troops in Japan, said Marc Gallicchio, the Mary M. Birle Chair in American history at Villanova University in Pennsylvania and a former Fulbright lecturer at the University of the Ryukyus in 2004 and 2005. The armed forces, from everything I can tell as far as reading and talking to people, makes a pretty concerted effort to educate people on the proper conduct thats expected of them this sort of cultural awareness training, Gallicchio said in a video call Aug. 20. I dont know that anything else can be done other than restricting the movement of people off base. The Nago letter and petition is the latest in a series of formal complaints, petitions, letters and personal visits by Okinawa government members to the U.S. Embassy, military commanders and Japanese government officials since July. The Nago documents, copies of which were provided to Stars and Stripes on Thursday, ask the U.S. military to provide a sincere response to the women in each case, educate troops on the island about human rights, enforce discipline and take effective preventative measures. It also asks for drastic changes to the status of forces agreement governing the U.S. military community in Japan. We are feeling strong indignation because the situation does not improve despite the Japanese government and U.S. military stating they will prevent reoccurrences, the letter and petition state. The city plans to present the petition next week to Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, a spokeswoman for the city assembly said Thursday. The protest letter will be sent to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Forces Japan commander Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, among other U.S. officials, she added. Some Japanese government officials are required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. Rupp, who is set to relinquish his command Oct. 8 to Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, announced in July a new forum of cooperation with the Japanese and Okinawan governments and community members. He has also called for consistent liberty policies for all U.S. troops in Japan. USFJ in an unsigned email Thursday acknowledged questions emailed by Stars and Stripes on Wednesday about liberty rules and the forum but has not provided responses. Kihara in a news conference Tuesday also said he had no update on the proposed measures. The III Marine Expeditionary Force on Okinawa reminded its Marines of the penalty for drunken driving on the island, along with reiterating its ongoing measures to reduce the risk of sexual assault and other bad behavior, according to a statement Wednesday from spokesman 1st Lt. Owen Hitchcock. A worker walks through a burned-out control room at a power plant of energy provider DTEK, destroyed after an attack, in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on April 19, 2024. (Genya Savilov, AFP via Getty Images/TNS) KYIV, Ukraine As Ukraine scrambles to repair the damage that Russian missiles are inflicting on the countrys power stations, the weary population is facing what is shaping up to be one of the worst winters of the war so far. Power outages are a given because Ukraines energy system is already working at a deficit after receiving heavy blows from Russian strikes this year but the estimates vary on just how bad it will be. The best-case scenario is just four hours of power cuts a day, but it could also end up being 20 hours of darkness or more a day in the depths of Ukraines frigid winter. In his speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was trying to break Ukrainians spirit by attacking the power infrastructure. This is how Putin is preparing for winter: hoping to torment millions of Ukrainians, ordinary families, women, children, ordinary towns, ordinary villages. Putin wants to leave them in the dark and cold this winter, forcing Ukraine to suffer and surrender, he said. The knock-on effects from extended power outages would be many from cutoffs of water and heating, to delivering further blows to the countrys already limping economy. But the biggest victim of all could be Ukrainians already battered psyches. After some 2 years of war, with little prospect of a complete victory on the horizon and a string of battlefield setbacks in recent months, people are reaching their limit. The exhaustion of the population has direct military implications because many fighting units are heavily supported by civilian donations to purchase needed equipment backing that is likely to fall off as people run out of resources. This winter we could be in deep, deep trouble, a senior Ukrainian official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. As the winter progresses, people may grow worn down, depressed and angry. Ultimately, this could affect public morale. My biggest fear is that people go through this kind of winter, there will be zero way to find consensus among the population, he said. Public opinion surveys bear him out, said Anton Grushetsky, executive director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. He described a growing tiredness, and this causes more conflict, because people are more psychologically unstable. For the moment, with temperatures in the 70s, the public is giving little thought to what may lay ahead, Grushetsky said. He gave an example of his apartment building in Kyiv, where residents are struggling to collect money for an extra generator. At the moment, only a tiny share of apartments has given money, because a lot of people are thinking, Its quite nice weather right now, there are no electricity cutoffs perhaps we will manage, he said. But the frigid days and darkness will eventually come, and with this could come a shift in Ukrainians attitude toward the war. Grushetsky said the population is overwhelmingly against a peace with Russia at any cost and most likely will remain so. But opinion polls indicate an increase in the number of people willing to make difficult compromises to bring the war to an end. His surveys show readiness for territorial concessions among the population rising from just 10 percent in May 2023 to 32 percent one year later. That number rose to 57 percent if a potential deal included membership in NATO as well as leaving just the east and Crimea under Russian control. Dissatisfaction with Ukraines Western partners could also grow if they do not provide the country with extra air defenses and continue to deny Kyiv forces permission to carry out deep strikes on Russian territory, said Victoria Voytsitska, a civil society leader and former parliament deputy. If we see that were not left alone and were given the tools to fight back on the battlefield, then here it will be painful but survivable, she said, and people will keep up their spirits. But if Western allies dont provide Ukraine with needed weapons, then its going to be a different story. She pointed to a situation earlier in the year, when a $61 billion military aid package was blocked in the U.S. Congress, allowing Russian forces to advance in the east and pummel Ukrainian cities with missiles. We were promised, promised, promised and there were delays, delays, delays, she said. And because of the Russian missile attacks in the spring, we lost nine gigawatts of power around half of Ukraines energy capacity. Some of this loss is being restored. This year, Ukraines largest private energy company, DTEK, said some 90 percent of its coal-fired power plants had been damaged or destroyed. Today, the company is on track to repair 70 percent of these plants before the winter begins, CEO Maxim Timchenko said. Ukraines allies are also mobilizing massive amounts of equipment to repair the electrical grid after Russian air attacks, with the European Union pledging nearly $300 million to bolster the energy sector. As Ukraines friends and partners, we must do all we can to keep the lights on, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week, announcing a winter plan for Ukraine that will contribute more than a quarter of its winter energy requirements, This includes a full thermal power plant that is being dismantled in Lithuania and shipped, piece by piece, to Ukraine, she said. The E.U. is also planning to increase electricity exports to Ukraine. Some of Ukraines electricity production will become less centralized with smaller equipment like gas turbines and renewables rather than the enormous plants currently used. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this month that more than 80 percent of Ukrainian schools and all hospitals had their own generators. But the bulk of Ukraines energy production this winter will still be concentrated in large power plants, allowing Russia to inflict maximum damage with targeted missile strikes as was demonstrated clearly last month when Moscows forces carried out one of the biggest bombardments since the war began. Two days after Ukraines Aug. 24 Independence Day, Russia launched 127 missiles and 109 one-way drones, pummeling 15 regions and causing power outages throughout the country. Two nuclear power plants were also disconnected from the electrical grid because of safety concerns, Ukrainian officials said in a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency last month. Ukrainian officials are warning that the countrys nuclear power plants, which supply over half of the nations power needs, are being targeted or at least the substations that connect them to the grid are being hit. Russia is preparing strikes on critical facilities of Ukraines nuclear energy system on the eve of winter, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in statement Saturday, citing Ukrainian intelligence reports. The attacks will target open distribution devices of nuclear power plants and transmission substations, which created a high risk of a nuclear incident that will have global consequences, he said. Last week, the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said there were reasonable grounds to believe Russias missile campaign against Ukraines energy system violated foundational principles of international humanitarian law. This winter will be bad enough with people likely having to cope with scheduled blackouts across the country, Danielle Bell, head of the mission, said in a press release. Any additional attacks leading to prolonged electricity blackouts could have catastrophic consequences. Ellen Francis in Brussels contributed to this report. Cristina Bautista Salvador Mother of Benjamin Asencio Bautista Cristina Bautista arrives at the Angel of Independence roundabout and lays a blanket on the ground. She displays her handmade earrings, made from palm leaves. They cost 50 Mexican pesos, or a little more than $2.00. She tries to sell what she can, until shes told that its time to stand in front of the marchers and begin the protest. Cristina has been demanding the same thing since September 26, 2014: to be told what exactly happened to her son. Perhaps the image that best reflects what has happened to the parents of the 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College is that of Cristina Bautista setting up her improvised stand, before taking her place in the first line of the march. She was born and lived her entire life in Alpuyecancingo, a small community in the municipality of Ahuacoutzingo. Its located in the highlands of Guerrero, one of the most impoverished areas in Mexico. Thats where she gave birth to her three children. On the morning of September 29, 2014, her youngest daughter told her that a teacher at school had asked about her brother. The teacher knew that Benjamin had enrolled in the Raul Isidro Burgos Rural Normal School commonly known as the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College because he had encouraged his former student to become a teacher. Cristina thought that the polite inquiry was simply a kind gesture. But later that morning, Cruz Bautista Benjamins uncle told her that a newspaper had reported that there were students missing after a confrontation with the police. The newspaper published a list that included the name of Benjamin Asencio Bautista. Cristina immediately left for the college. The three-and-a-half hour drive from Alpuyecancingo to Ayotzinapa seemed eternal to her. She was not used to leaving her community, and this was the second time in a month that she had visited Ayotzinapa. The first time had been 10 days earlier, for an event organized for the parents of new students. Her arrival at the Teachers College coincided with the arrival of a bus filled with students, who had returned to campus after searching for their classmates. She looked around, trying to recognize her son's face, but she couldn't find him. She felt ashamed to ask about Benjamins whereabouts: she decided to stay standing in the street. I was hoping that, if I stayed still, Benjamin would see me from inside [the bus or the school] and come out to be with me, she recalls, as if the events happened 10 hours ago, not 10 years ago. When night fell, she had no choice but to approach the college to ask about her son. A young man asked Cristian for her sons name: he looked for it in a notebook. Unable to find it, he confirmed that her son was missing. But don't worry, tia. Little by little, the kids are appearing. Yesterday, a large group arrived. And today, they went looking for more. Theyll show up soon, he explained, trying to reassure her. Then, he invited her to join the other parents who were waiting in the main courtyard of the school. Cristina didnt return home that night, or the following nights. The school gave the parents a space where they could put mats on the floor and stay there. She ended up spending 19 months living in a room at the Teachers College. She didnt want to leave the school. Today, shes still certain that she did the right thing by not leaving. I knew that, if Benjamin returned, he would turn up there, she sighs. After more than a year-and-a-half, one morning, she woke up and couldnt see: her eyes were very swollen. A physician from Doctors Without Borders diagnosed her with high blood pressure and explained that she couldnt continue sleeping on the floor. The residents in the area took pity on her and let her live for a while in a house very close to the Teachers College. Since then, she has been offered similar generosity on several occasions. She has lived in five different houses in recent years all borrowed and all less than 1,000 feet from the school. We have to be here on the lookout for any information that may arise, she says, with conviction in her voice. Cristina doesnt fully understand the legal terms that surround the case, nor has anyone sat down to explain them to her. Her mother tongue is Nahuatl, which is why she has a hard time reading all the Spanish-language information thats published about the Ayotzinapa case. When asked what has worn her down the most in these 10 years, she answers without any hesitation: Not being able to sleep. Because you come home tired from a meeting or a march, you go to bed to rest and think about your son and then, its another sleepless night. Bernabe Abraham Gaspar Father of Adan Abraham de la Cruz Don Berna which is what everybody calls him remembers the day he began to walk through the town of Filo de Caballos, asking about the boys from the Teachers College. He knew that he was walking through one of the most violent areas in the state of Guerrero. Deep in the mountains, its famous for being the main region that produces the poppy plant, from which opium gum is scraped. Hours earlier, he had decided to start looking for his son alone. He couldnt resign himself to being stuck at home, missing him. Don Berna went to the most dangerous area of the mountain region with a backpack, carrying food and some flowers that he grew with the help of Adan, his son. I spent three days there, until a man approached me and said: Dont ask any more [questions] out here. It was already getting late, and it was very risky, he says, reflecting on those days after the night in Iguala. Ten years later, hes sitting in the living room of his house in Tixtla, in front of a photo of Adan that rests on an altar honoring Saint Martin Caballero. Don Berna is now 60-years-old. He says hes tired, but he isnt going to stop searching. He just shared this sentiment with President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, in a meeting the parents had with her on July 29. Over the past decade, Don Berna has fallen ill: his legs hurt and he cannot sit for very long. He was recently diagnosed with hemorrhagic dengue and spent 15 days in the hospital because his platelet count dropped. The after-effects include back pain, arm pain and headaches. Before Iguala, he planted crops corn or beans on his six or seven acres of farmland. He tilled the soil with Adan. What he misses most is talking with him, out in the field, while they worked side-by-side. After his sons disappearance, Don Berna stopped farming. I missed him a lot when I was there all by myself, so I stopped going. The searches, meetings and marches also take up a lot of time. I left the countryside. He tells EL PAIS this story in a slow, soft voice. From 2014 onwards, he remembers conducting searches with the Federal Police. Parents were asked to join, but women werent allowed: only men. Mothers who didnt have a partner sent a brother, a brother-in-law, or another close male relative. Don Berna recalls the night of September 26, but particularly the morning, when he took Adan to the Teachers College. His son had the flu and had spent the night at home, but in the morning, he asked his father to take him to campus: there was an activity scheduled the famous march in Iguala that he couldnt miss. Don Berna took Adan to the school in a truck and never saw him again. Thats why its harder for him to forget the morning rather than the night of September 26. During a meeting in 2015, the lawyers from the Tlachinollan Mountain Human Rights Center explained to the parents that they had an invitation to go to Geneva, Switzerland, so that they could present their case to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances. But they the parents had to go. Nobody raised their hand: they didnt understand how attending would benefit them. In the end, Don Berna volunteered. I thought about going because, maybe there, they would tell me where my son is, or where the boys are. But everything turned out differently than he imagined. What he remembers most about that trip is that the people who approached him had a warped understanding about what was happening in Mexico. I told them that the bad guys or the police had disappeared [the boys] which was the same thing and they responded by saying that they couldnt imagine how that could happen. He says that hearing this made him sad: he realized that the reality of what was happening to the parents wasnt being comprehended. Today, in a cruel irony, Don Berna grows cempasuchil the flowers of the dead. He only does this during the season closest to the holidays, because its easy to grow crops and it helps him earn a living. He wont go back to planting corn until Adan returns, or until hes told what happened to him. And he wont take down the photograph that he always stares at before leaving his house. An altar inside Cristiana Bautistas house. A photograph of Adan Abraham, displayed on an altar in his house in Tixtla, in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Hilda Legideno Vargas Mother of Jorge Antonio Tizapa Legideno In 2020, Hilda Legideno saw a photo on Facebook of a young man lying on a street in Mexicali, in the state of Baja California. A homeless shelter would share photos of homeless people on social media, in case a family member recognized them. In the post, the young man was sleeping on the floor and part of his face could be seen; the rest was covered by his jacket. Hilda looked at the image and saw the resemblance to Jorge Antonio. She couldn't be sure, as the photo only showed half of his face. But his mouth looked like Jorge's. Hilda started making calls, until Alejandro Encinas then the undersecretary of Human Rights in Mexico answered the phone. She still doesn't know exactly how, but she managed to get herself on a plane to Baja California. The lawyers and people closest to her were upset. You must understand that your son is dead, not in Tijuana, someone told Hilda. She doesnt want to mention the person by name, because the comment hurt her greatly. When she arrived at the shelter, the staff told her that they didnt have much information about the young man in the photo. Hes a homeless man who cleans cars and lives between Tijuana and Mexicali, was the only thing they could tell her. She began to walk along the border wall with the photo of the young man lying on the ground, asking people about him, telling them that he was her son. I would tell them: hes my son, hes a student in Guerrero, hes one of those who are missing. She begins to cry very slowly as she recounts this, without making a sound. She has to remain silent for a moment and swallow heavily before continuing her story. Finally, in Tijuana, in another shelter, someone showed her a video of the young man washing cars and she was able to confirm that it wasnt her son after all. She returned to Mexico City for a meeting, where she received more criticism. How could you go all the way there? people asked her. Hilda is no longer affected by such criticism. In the last decade, shes been accused of all kinds of things. I always think that they dont understand, because they dont have a missing person [in their lives], she reflects. Theyve told us everything, but as a mother, youre not going to fail your son. If theyre so sure that [our kids] are dead, let them prove it to us. Imagine if wed been satisfied with that version, when they told us that our children were in the river. Its 4 p.m. in Ayotzinapa. Hilda closes her small shop, which is located a few feet from the entrance to the Teachers College. Before the night of September 26, she had her house and a grocery store in Tixtla. Then, everything changed. Today, she sells t-shirts and bracelets at the doors of the school: all of her items refer to the 43. Hilda finds it difficult for her to speak and give interviews she doesnt like it. She remembers when her son enrolled at school. He came home and told her: Youre going to have to accompany me to the march: they ask us to march and for our parents to accompany us. She didnt like any of those things: the parties, the protests, speaking in public in front of so many people. Thats why she doesnt watch the documentaries or newscasts that shes appeared in. Shes tired of everything of people telling her that her son is dead, of people asking her if she gets emotional when she meets with the president. But what tires me the most are the lies. It cannot be that they lie to us so much, right to our faces. Israeli reservists on their tanks at a IDF staging area near the border of Gaza in southern Israel on May 21, 2024. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post) TEL AVIV, Israel Shelly Lotans food-tech startup in northern Israel was just a year old when Hezbollah started firing missiles across the border last October and the government advised everyone in the area to evacuate. Two of her five employees were called up to serve in the military. Those that remained moved the companys office to one of her employees parents basement. Investments slowed to a trickle. As Israel nears the anniversary of the Hamas-led assault, with no Gaza cease-fire in sight and a possible invasion of Lebanon looming, Lotans business is barely hanging on. And her frustration with the government for its handling of the war, and the downstream effects on the economy is mounting. The human cost of Oct. 7 on this small country has been immense. Nearly everyone knew someone who was killed, injured or kidnapped that day, or deployed to the front lines in the months that followed. Often lost in the turmoil and tragedy of the past year is the toll of the conflict on the Israeli economy. The country has seen its credit score downgraded and its gross domestic product shrink sharply. Tens of thousands of businesses have closed, and a growing number of jobs are being moved offshore. Israeli reservists have put careers on hold or struggled to juggle them with military service. While Israels massive high-tech industry has remained resilient, construction and agriculture which relied heavily on Palestinians whose work permits were canceled by Israel after Oct. 7 have been hit hard. Tourism has plunged by more than 75%, the Central Bureau of Statistics said in June, leaving many shop fronts shuttered in the usually bustling thoroughfares of Jerusalems Old City. Defense spending, meanwhile, has at least doubled, with the Central Bank warning that the war could cost $67 billion through 2025 a prediction made before Israels recent escalation in Lebanon and the mobilization of two reserve brigades to the northern front on Wednesday. The economy is in serious danger unless the government wakes up, said Dan Ben-David, who heads the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research. Right now they are completely disconnected from anything that is not war and there is no end in sight. The mother of all wars Lotan, who balanced running her business with raising three kids while her husband served for five months in the military, said she has struggled to raise money from venture capital firms wary of investing in Israel because of the risk. She is still dealing with expenses related to the transfer of equipment from her old headquarters in Kiryat Shmona, just a few miles from the border with Lebanon. And the cost of living keeps increasing. When she and a friend, a fellow startup founder, got coffee the other day in Tel Aviv, Lotan said, they agreed that the most responsible thing to do is to start planning a way out. It feels like if a significant change doesnt happen soon, the economy will crash, she said. International customers began voicing concerns about Israel in the months before Oct. 7, business owners said, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to weaken the Supreme Court, leading to mass protests and concerns about the strength of Israels democracy. Sagi Eliyahu, the chief executive of software company KMS lighthouse, said that on Oct. 7, customers expressed sympathy. The day after, he said, they started asking about procedures and backup plans. And those were fair questions. Part of his 200-person companys response has been to accelerate hiring outside the country, Eliyahu said, adding 30 employees over the past year in Portugal and Serbia. Among his 80 Israel-based employees, one was so upset by the governments handling of the war that they emigrated to Canada, and two others are thinking about leaving. Israels economy is generally resilient in the face of conflict, said Dany Bahar, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development. He said Israels outsize contributions to innovation and technology have created a massive startup culture, making the country a destination for international research and development. But this war seems like the mother of all wars, he added. That means it is expensive and the money has to come from somewhere. Part of the challenge, he said, is that the government has been unwilling to make cuts to coalition funds, used to fund social programs, including religious studies for Israels ultra-Orthodox community. The subsidies are widely unpopular among secular Israelis, but ultra-Orthodox parties are a key pillar of Netanyahus ruling coalition. Ben-David, the economist, said professionals in the finance ministry, now led by far-right settler activist Bezalel Smotrich, are frustrated with a government they feel is more focused on appeasing its supporters than shoring up the economy. He said he has pleaded with them to stay in their roles. They are the last public dam we have, he said. The politicians are in la la land. We cant go backwards About 287,000 Israelis were called up to serve after Oct. 7, a massive number in a country of less than 10 million. Many were integral to their companies, and have struggled to balance career goals with front line duties. Idan Ben-David, a 28 year-old who reported at 8 a.m. on Oct. 7, still spends four nights a week serving with Israels Air Force; during the day, he runs Tauga AI, a startup focused on using artificial intelligence to personalize learning. The 10-person company has been able to stay afloat, said Ben-David, who has become accustomed to skipping nights of sleep. But it has not grown in the way he had planned. The economy should be one of the things that leads Israel to want the war to finish sooner rather than later, he said. Fay Goldstein, an American-Israeli who served as a spokeswoman for the Israel Defense Forces after Oct. 7, recalled driving to the kibbutzim that were attacked by Hamas while messaging her team on Slack about their startup, which uses AI to boost manufacturing sales. She would try to make it back to Tel Aviv by 10 p.m., she said, so she could take business calls before the end of the U.S. work day. She took a meeting in November with the person who turned out to be her first angel investor in her IDF uniform, in an army car as she waited for news about a potential hostage release deal in Gaza. All around her, she said, fellow reservists were doing the same taking Zoom meetings with colleagues or studying for degrees. When she was released from service after four months, she doubled down on building her company. We cant go backwards, she said. A lot of Israels future relies on its economic prowess. The tourists are gone In calmer times, Ayman Shawars family bakery in Jerusalems Old City was full of tourists. On Saturdays, there would be lines out the door and shelves filled with pastries. But since Oct. 7, there has been only a trickle of customers, said Shawar, a Palestinian citizen of Israel who said his family has run the bakery for centuries. It feels like nighttime, and we dont know when morning will come, he said, sitting in an empty shop with empty shelves. The only person whod come by was Abdul Qader Alami, 70, who runs an ice cream and juice stand across the street. Alami said it had been months since he sold anything. He spends his days chatting with fellow Palestinian business owners many of whom have shuttered their stalls entirely and trying not to think too much about the future. Without a retirement check from decades of work as a wastewater operator in the United States, he said, Id starve. The economy was tourists and the tourists are gone, he said. There is no economy. Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes in the southern village of Kfar Rouman, seen from Marjayoun, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (Hussein Malla/AP) Israel and Hezbollah each have strong incentives to heed international calls for a cease-fire that could avert all-out war but that doesnt mean they will. Hezbollah is reeling after a sophisticated attack on personal devices killed and wounded hundreds of its members. Israeli airstrikes have killed two top commanders in Beirut in less than a week, and warplanes have pounded what Israel says are Hezbollah sites across large parts of Lebanon, killing over 600 people. So far, Israel clearly has the upper hand militarily, which could make it less willing to compromise. But its unlikely to achieve its goal of halting Hezbollah rocket fire with air power alone, and a threatened ground invasion of Lebanon poses major risks. After nearly a year of war, Israeli troops are still fighting Hamas in Gaza. And Hezbollah is a much more formidable force. Hezbollah has yet to employ 10% of its capabilities, military affairs correspondent Yossi Yehoshua wrote in Yediot Ahronot, Israels largest daily newspaper. The euphoria that is evident among the decision-makers and some of the public should be placed back in the attic: the situation is still complex and flammable. The United States and its allies, including Gulf Arab countries, have tried to offer a way out, proposing an immediate 21-day cease-fire to provide space for diplomacy. But any deal would require both sides to back away from their core demands, and they may decide the price is too high. Hezbollah wants a truce in Gaza, too Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones and missiles into northern Israel after Hamas Oct. 7 attack in the south triggered the war in Gaza. Hezbollah and Hamas are both allies of Iran, and the Lebanese militant group says it is acting in solidarity with Palestinians. Israel has responded with waves of airstrikes. Overall, the fighting has killed dozens of people in Israel, more than 1,000 in Lebanon and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from communities on both sides of the border. Hezbollah has said it will halt the attacks if there is a cease-fire in Gaza. But months of negotiations over Gaza led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have repeatedly stalled, and Hamas might be less motivated to reach a deal if it thinks Hezbollah and Iran will join a wider war against Israel. For Hezbollah, halting its rocket fire without securing any tangible gains for the Palestinians would be seen as a capitulation to Israeli pressure, with all of its recent casualties suffered in vain. Any deal involving a cease-fire in Gaza would be a hard sell for Israel, which would view it as a reward for Hezbollah rocket attacks that have displaced tens of thousands of its citizens for nearly a year. For Israel, a cease-fire might not be enough Israels goals in Lebanon are far narrower than in Gaza, where Prime Minister Benjmain Netanyahu has vowed total victory over Hamas and the return of scores of hostages. Israel wants the tens of thousands of people who were evacuated from northern communities nearly a year ago to return safely to their homes. And it wants to ensure that Hezbollah never carries out an Oct. 7-style attack. A weekslong cease-fire which would give Hezbollah a chance to reset after major attacks on its chain of command and communications might not be enough. Few Israelis are likely to return if they know its only temporary, and even an agreement for a lasting cease-fire would face skepticism. The U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah called for the militants to withdraw north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border, and for the area between to be patrolled by Lebanese forces and U.N. peacekeepers. Israel says that provision was never implemented and is likely to demand additional guarantees in any new cease-fire. But Hezbollah is far stronger than Lebanons regular armed forces and the U.N. detachment, neither of which would be able to impose any agreement by force. Netanyahus partners want him to fight on Netanyahu leads the most religious and nationalist government in Israels history. His far-right coalition partners have threatened to bring down his government if he makes too many concessions to Hamas, and they are also likely to oppose any deal with Hezbollah. Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahus hardline finance minister, said Thursday that Israels campaign in the north should only end in one scenario crushing Hezbollah and denying its ability to harm residents of the north. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right National Security Minister, said he would not support a temporary cease-fire and would leave the government if it becomes permanent. Although opposition parties would likely support the cease-fire, the defection of his partners would eventually bring down Netanyahus government and force early elections, potentially leaving him even more exposed to investigations into the security failures of Oct. 7 and corruption charges that predate the war. It could even mean the end of his long political career. Iran has sent mixed signals In Lebanon, Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed the cease-fire proposal, but he has little power to impose an agreement on Hezbollah. Iran, which helped establish Hezbollah in the 1980s and is the source of its advanced weapons, has more sway over the group, but it has yet to express a position on any cease-fire. It likely fears a wider war that could bring it into direct conflict with the United States, but cant stand by indefinitely while its most powerful proxy force is dismantled. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, a relative moderate elected over the summer, struck a more conciliatory tone toward the West than his predecessors when he addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. But he had sharp words for Israel and said its heavy bombardment of Lebanon in recent days cannot go unanswered. A man reacts surveys a damaged apartment in Saksakieh, Lebanon, after an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 26, 2024. (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) NEW YORK Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to carry out full force strikes against Hezbollah until it ceases firing rockets across the border, dimming hopes for a cease-fire proposal put forth by U.S. and European officials. Israel carried out a new strike in the Lebanese capital, which killed a senior Hezbollah commander, and the militant group launched dozens of rockets into Israel. Tens of thousands of Israeli and Lebanese people living near their countries border have been displaced by the fighting. Netanyahu spoke as he arrived in New York to attend the annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, where U.S. and European officials were putting heavy pressure on both sides of the conflict to accept a proposed 21-day halt in the fighting to give time for diplomacy and avert all-out war. Nearly 700 people have been killed in Lebanon this week as Israel dramatically escalated strikes, saying it is targeting the military capacity of Hezbollah the Iranian-backed Shiite group that is the strongest armed force in Lebanon. Israeli leaders say they are determined to stop the groups cross-border attacks, which began after the Hamas militant groups Oct. 7 attack that ignited the war in Gaza. Israels policy is clear, Netanyahu said. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes. Later, the prime ministers office said in a statement that Israel and U.S. officials met Thursday to discuss the cease-fire proposal and would continue talks in coming days. One of Israels latest airstrikes killed a Hezbollah drone commander, Mohammed Hussein Surour, in the suburbs of Beirut. Israels military announced the death, which Hezbollah later confirmed. The Health Ministry said two people were killed and 15 wounded in the strike. Associated Press photos of the scene showed a gutted apartment in a residential building in Dahiyeh, the mainly Shiite suburb where Hezbollah has a strong presence. Until recently, Israel had rarely targeted sites in Beirut during the low-level conflict with Hezbollah that began in October. But it has struck Beiruts southern suburbs several times this week. Several strikes in Beirut targeted senior Hezbollah commanders. One strike in eastern Lebanon on Thursday killed 20 people, most of them Syrian migrants, according to Lebanese health officials. Israel hit 75 sites early Thursday across southern and eastern Lebanon and launched a new wave of strikes in the evening, the military said. Throughout the day, Hezbollah fired some 175 projectiles into Israel, the Israeli military said. Most were intercepted or fell in open areas, sparking some wildfires, though one rocket hit a street in a town near the northern city of Safed. Israel has talked of a possible ground invasion into Lebanon to drive Hezbollah away from the border. It has moved thousands of troops to the north in preparation. Some 100,000 Lebanese have fled their homes in the past week, streaming into Beirut and points further north. Israeli military vehicles transported tanks and armored vehicles toward the countrys northern border with Lebanon a day after commanders issued a call-up of reservists. Several tanks arrived in Kiryat Shmona, a hard-hit town just several miles from the border. Lebanons foreign minister called for an immediate cease-fire on all fronts, warning that continued violence at his nations border will transform into a black hole that will engulf international and regional peace and security. Abdallah Bouhabib, speaking before the U.N. General Assembly, decried Israels systematic destruction of Lebanese border villages. The crisis in Lebanon threatens the entire Middle East, Bouhabib said. We wish today to reiterate our call for a cease-fire on all fronts. He said Lebanon welcomes efforts by the United States and France to move urgently toward a cease-fire before things spin out of control. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal. Israels military on Friday also said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen that set off air raid sirens across the countrys center. Sirens rang out across Israels populous central area, including the seaside metropolis of Tel Aviv. Another missile from Yemen landed in central Israel about two weeks ago. The escalation has raised fears of a repeat or worse of the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah that wreaked destruction across southern Lebanon and other parts of the country and saw heavy Hezbollah rocket fire on Israeli cities. Another full-scale war could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after talks with his British and Australian counterparts in London. One of Netanyahus far-right governing partners threatened to suspend cooperation with his government if it signs onto a temporary cease-fire with Hezbollah and to quit completely if a permanent deal is reached. It was the latest sign of displeasure from Netanyahus allies toward international cease-fire efforts. If a temporary cease-fire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government, said National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party. If Ben-Gvir leaves the coalition, Netanyahu would lose his parliamentary majority. That could topple his government, though opposition leaders have said they would offer support for a cease-fire deal. Hezbollah has insisted it would halt its strikes only if there is a cease-fire in Gaza, where Israel has battled Hamas for nearly a year. That appears out of reach. One day after Hamas Oct 7 attack, Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel, bringing Israeli counterfire and a cycle of reprisals since. Hezbollah says its barrages are a show of support for Palestinians and that it is targeting Israeli military facilities, though rockets have also hit civilian areas. Before this week, the cross-border exchanges had killed about 600 people in Lebanon, mostly militants but including more than 100 civilians, and about four dozen people in Israel, roughly half of them soldiers and the rest civilians. The fighting also forced tens of thousands to flee homes on both sides of the border. Israel says its escalated strikes across Lebanon the past week are targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. Since Monday, strikes have killed more than 690 people in Lebanon, around a quarter of them women and children, according to local health authorities. The campaign opened with what is widely believed to be an Israeli attack on Sept. 18 and 19 detonating thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, killing at least 39 people and maiming thousands more, including civilians. Hezbollah in turn has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel. Several people in Israel have been wounded. On Wednesday, the group fired on Tel Aviv for the first time with a longer-range missile that was intercepted. Early Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a building housing Syrian workers and their families near the ancient city of Baalbek in Lebanons eastern Bekaa Valley. The Lebanese Health Ministry said 19 Syrians and a Lebanese were killed, one of the deadliest single strikes in Israels intensified air campaign. Hussein Salloum, a local official in Younine, said most of the dead were women and children. The state news agency had initially reported that 23 people were dead. Lebanon, with a population of around 6 million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. Mroue reported from Beirut, and Lidman reported from Tel Aviv. Associated Press journalist Sam McNeil in Kiryat Shmona, Israel, contributed to this report. A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier pleaded not guilty Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, to charges that he deserted to avoid a court-martial and killed a taxi driver while trying to flee from the Seattle area. (Gary Warner/Stars and Stripes) A soldier convicted of child rape pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he deserted to avoid the rape trial and killed a taxi driver while trying to flee from the Seattle area. Pvt. Jonathan Kang Lee, 25, was arraigned at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on charges of premeditated murder, murder while perpetrating a robbery, desertion, resisting arrest, wrongful use of a controlled substance, and failure to obey a lawful order, according to the online case docket. Lee pleaded not guilty to all the charges and asked for a court-martial panel of enlisted personnel. Under reforms approved by Congress in late 2023, the newly created Army Office of Special Trial Counsel handles murder, kidnapping, rape and most sex crime prosecutions. Previously, the cases were handled by senior commanders. The Army is not seeking the death penalty for Lee, according to Michelle McCaskill, spokeswoman for the special trial counsel. The maximum penalty that Lee faces is life in prison without the chance of parole. Though the death penalty for the charge of premeditated murder remains a possible sentence under the Uniformation Code of Military Justice, no soldier has been executed since 1961. The Army said pre-trial motions will be heard Nov. 5 and Jan. 3. Lees court-martial is scheduled for March 3-14. Pvt. Jonathan Kang Lee was an Army specialist in an intelligence unit when he was charged with child rape. He was due to go to trial in January. When Lee did not report on Jan. 14, 2024, the Army Criminal Investigation Division issued a Be On The Lookout alert with photos of Lee and a vehicle that investigators believed the soldier was driving. (Army Criminal Investigative Division) Lee is already serving a 64-year sentence for rape and sexual assault against two family members one younger than 16 and the other younger 11 between 2020 and 2022. He is confined at the Northwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility, a medium-security military jail at Lewis-McChord. Lee was an Army specialist in an intelligence unit when he was charged with child rape. He was due to go to trial in January. As with most defendants without prior criminal records, Lee was not in pre-trial detention at the jail. He was confined to the base and required to check in daily with an officer. When Lee did not report on Jan. 14, the Army Criminal Investigation Division issued a Be On The Lookout alert with photos of Lee and a vehicle that CID believed the soldier was driving. Lee either flagged down or contacted a RediCab taxi, according to authorities. The company is based in Olympia but serves the Lewis-McChord area. Prosecutors said the taxi went to the sprawling parking lot of Westfield Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, just east of Sea-Tac International Airport. The body of the driver, Nicholas Hokema, 34, was found the next morning of Jan. 15 amid the mostly empty 6,700-space lot. He had been stabbed several times. The red Toyota taxi was gone. On Jan. 19, a court-martial at Lewis McChord found Lee guilty in absentia of the child sex charges. He was sentenced to 64 years confinement, reduction to lowest rank - private, and a dishonorable discharge. Authorities found Hokemas RediCab on Jan. 26 parked near a residential area in Redmond, Wash., about 50 miles north of Lewis-McChord. Tukwila police and Army investigators located Lee at a nearby apartment complex, where he was apprehended the new court-martial charges Lee with resisting arrest. Hundreds gather for a rally in support of Lebanon in light of recent Israeli strikes that killed hundreds, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 in front of the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn. (Katy Kildee/The Detroit News) Dearborn (Tribune News Service) Hundreds of Lebanese flags waved and voices shouted support for Lebanon and Palestine during a rally Wednesday in Dearborn amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. Speakers at the Veterans Park War Memorial outside the Henry Ford Centennial Library on Michigan Avenue criticized the Israeli army for what they said were attacks against not just military targets but civilians, including children. Speakers were sharply critical of the Biden administration, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris as well as the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, for their support for Israel. Biden, Harris and Trump no difference, said Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab American News who led the event. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud took specific aim at what he perceived to be the hypocrisy of Democrats. You want to expand access to health care, he said. Then why is it that you uplift and condone the bombing of every health care facility from Gaza to Beirut? The rally took place as thousands of people in southern Lebanon sought refuge following a two-day aerial barrage that left more than 600 people dead, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. As part of the shelling, the Israeli military said it killed Tuesday a top commander of Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran. Israel has said it has mounted the attacks to undercut Hezbollah. Families that fled southern Lebanon flocked to Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon, sleeping in schools turned into shelters, as well as in cars and parks, and along the beach, the AP reported. Some sought to leave the country, causing a traffic jam at the border with Syria. At the rally, Wayne County Commissioner Sam Baydoun said he spoke with his family, including his 88-year-old father, in Beirut by phone earlier in the day, and he fears for their safety. During my childhood, I lived through the Israeli invasion of 1978, he said. I witnessed the F-15s terrorize the civilian population. I know all too well what the people of south Lebanon and Beirut are going through right now and it puts me at a loss for words. In 1978, Israel invaded and occupied southern Lebanon after Palestine Liberation Organization militants entered Israel Israel from Lebanon by sea, the Israeli military said, and attacked a bus, killing 35 people. The United Nations coordinated an Israeli withdrawal. The militant group Hezbollah was founded in 1982 after Israels occupation of southern Lebanon. Israel has said its objective is to secure its northern border so that tens of thousands of people who fled under Hezbollah fire nearly a year ago can return to their homes, the AP said. Israel said it hit only military targets, but some fleeing the area say Israel was targeting and attacking citizens. But many in Lebanon fear Israels military operations there would follow the same Gaza playbook: Evacuation orders, mass displacement and overwhelming, deadly airstrikes it says target weapons, according to the AP. Israel has so far largely targeted the militant group. But in Lebanon, fear and anxiety prevail. Israel Defense Force military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Israel aims to keep its operations as short as possible, thats why were attacking with great force. At the same time, we must be prepared for it to take longer. David Kurzmann, senior director of community affairs for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, declined to comment before and after the rally, saying it would be inappropriate with local residents showing support for their community. Wednesdays rally drew many residents from in and around Dearborn, including Lebanese Americans like Tyser Charara. Many Dearborn and Dearborn-area residents hail from Lebanese immigrant families. Dearborn is Lebanon, he said. When they hurt in Lebanon, we feel it in Dearborn. 2024 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Sept. 26, 2024. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) WASHINGTON With American support for Ukraine at a partisan crossroads, Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday slammed suggestions that Kyiv should cede territory for the sake of peace with Moscow as dangerous and unacceptable. The Democratic presidential nominee spoke alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as she unleashed the veiled criticism of Republican candidate Donald Trumps push for Ukraine to quickly cut a deal to end the war. They are not proposals for peace, Harris said. Instead they are proposals for surrender. Her comments were a reminder of the high stakes for the war effort in this years election. Trump, for his part, has criticized U.S. assistance for Ukraine, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and faulted Zelenskyy for the ongoing bloodshed. Trump said he will meet with Zelenskyy in New York on Friday after days of questions over whether the two leaders will sit down together. He rejected Harris criticisms and insisted that he only wants to stop the horror show thats gone on. Asked if Ukraine should give up territory, Trump said well see what happens and we need peace. Before announcing the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump posted on social media a purported message from the Ukrainian leader asking to see him. The message, which was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials, said we have to strive to understand each other. The decision to publicly disclose what appeared to be private communications, however benign their contents, was a reminder of the tension thats been brewing between Trump and Zelenskyy. It was a far different impression than Harris delivered on Thursday as she embraced Ukraines defense and outlined a broader foreign policy vision rooted in international order, rules and norms. Harris rejected calls for the U.S. to walk away from its global role and warned that potential aggressors could be emboldened if Putin emerges victorious. The United States supports Ukraine not out of charity, but because its in our strategic interest, Harris said. Zelenskyy was in Washington to present the White House and Congress with his plans for reaching an endgame in the war by improving Ukraines chances on the battlefield and its eventual leverage at the negotiating table. Hes pushing to lift restrictions on using long-range Western weapons to strike targets deeper in Russian territory. No movement on this issue was evident during Zelenskyys visit. However, Biden announced billions of dollars more in missiles, drones, ammunition and other supplies. The weapons include an additional Patriot missile defense battery and a new shipment of glide bombs that can be deployed from Western fighter jets, increasing their strike range. Biden pledged to ensure that all approved funding is disbursed before he leaves office, and he said he plans to convene a meeting with other world leaders focused on Ukraines defense during a visit to Germany next month. We stand with Ukraine, now and in the future, Biden said alongside Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail. Ukrainian officials are anxious to maintain good relations with whomever becomes the next president of the United States, which is its biggest and most important provider of arms, money and other support. But the effort risks slipping into the political blender of the presidential campaign, polarizing the discussion around a war that used to be a bipartisan cause celebre in Washington. About two thirds of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said the U.S. has a responsibility to help Ukraine, compared with one third of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted in July. Americans are also split on which presidential candidate would do a better job handling the war. An AP-NORC poll from August found that about one-third of Americans said they trusted Harris more, while a similar share said the same about Trump. On Thursday, Zelenskyy found some bipartisan support as he visited Capitol Hill, where he was greeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Sen. Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Zelenskyy asked to use long-range weapons, such as British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles or U.S.-made ATACMS, for maximum benefit to bring Putin to the table and increase Ukraines negotiating position. If we dont make that fundamental choice this week, I think the outcome for Ukraine is dire, Graham said. Administration officials have been skeptical of Zelenskyys request, believing the weapons could have limited benefits but increase the risk of escalating the conflict. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said senators gave Zelenskyy advice on how to persuade Biden to loosen restrictions. Rep. Jim Himes, another Connecticut Democrat and the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Zelenskyy wanted more, faster. He was politely frustrated, Himes said, and specifically requested more Patriot missile defenses as Russia escalates strikes on Ukraines cities and energy grid before the winter. Zelenskyy faces a much more tense situation with Trump. The latest round of sniping started on Sunday, when The New Yorker published an interview with Zelenskyy in which he criticized JD Vance, Trumps running mate, as too radical for suggesting that Ukraine needs to give up some territory to end the war. Zelenskyy also dismissed Trumps boasts that he could quickly negotiate a solution, saying my feeling is that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how. On the same day, Zelenskyy toured a Pennsylvania factory producing munitions for the war. He was joined by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, a top surrogate for Harris, and Republicans criticized the visit as a political stunt in a political battleground state. House Speaker Mike Johnson demanded that Zelenskyy fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., alleging that the tour was designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference. The Louisiana Republican didnt attend any of lawmakers meetings with Zelenskyy on Thursday. Trump complained this week that Zelenskyy is making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me. He also described the Ukrainian leader as the greatest salesman on Earth for securing U.S. support, and he complained that we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal to end the war. Trumps message dovetails with Russian propaganda that claims intransigence by Kyiv not aggression from Moscow has prolonged the bloodshed. Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Zelenskyy is in a no-win situation where he cant even visit a U.S. weapons manufacturer to say thank you without being attacked. Trump was impeached during his first term over asking Zelenskyy for help investigating Biden, then a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, at a time when the Ukrainian leader was seeking support from Washington. Now there are fears that Trump would cut off or add strings to U.S. military assistance if he returned to the White House. Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump is not wrong to want a negotiated end to the war. However, he said, Trump risks undermining Ukraine by enabling Putin to make more gains on the battlefield. Neither Ukraine nor Russia is going to win this war, and the sooner that the parties try to end this, the better, Kupchan said. Where Trump goes off course, and where Biden and Harris have a much stronger argument, is that we get to that point not by throwing Ukraine under the bus but by giving them sufficient support so they can block further Russian aggression. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Michelle Price in New York and Ellen Knickmeyer, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Steven Groves and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux in Washington contributed to this report. Melvin Juarbe, right, attempts to assist an unidentified driver whose car stalled in floodwaters from Hurricane Helene on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. The men tried to pull the car to dry land with their pickup truck but have opted to call AAA after several failed attempts. (Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times via AP) WASHINGTON The Department of Veterans Affairs has closed dozens of clinics in Florida through Friday and is taking steps to ensure hospital patients are safe ahead of Hurricane Helene, which is forecasted to make landfall Thursday night along the states Gulf Coast. The agency is preparing for Hurricane Helene in the Tampa Bay region and across the Florida Panhandle, which is in the northwest corner of the state, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Thursday morning at a news conference. Veterans who are in the path of the storm should take it seriously and heed the advice of local authorities, he said. The Category 2 hurricane was about 320 miles southwest of Tampa, Fla., Thursday morning with maximum wind strength of about 100 mph. Coastal communities already were reporting strong winds and heavy rain. The hurricane is forecast to strengthen to a Category 4 storm with winds of 120 to 156 mph before making landfall. Our teams have been reaching out to veterans with high-risk needs and to our employees, McDonough said. Direct communication with veterans in affected areas will continue. In-person appointments are canceled Thursday and Friday at the following VA health care centers Bay Pines VA Health Care System in the St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay region, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and Clinics in Tampa and the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. McDonough said the VA has sent information on disaster resources to 810,000 Florida veterans who might be affected and will reach out to veterans in other states in the path of the storm. VA hospitals and clinics are reporting they are well-supplied to handle the storm, he said. An estimated 1.3 million veterans live in Florida, which has the third-highest veteran population in the United States. Florida veterans can call 1-800-698-2411 if they did not receive information on disaster resources or go to www.va.gov/vetresources. The VA also is alerting staff at facilities in other states to take precautions because they might be in the hurricanes path. VA hospitals and clinics in the following states were notified: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, McDonough said. Lawmakers questioned why the Department of Veterans Affairs is dropping some non-VA regional medical centers in New York, Connecticut and Michigan from its scheduling system for community care. The VA said it was not getting the level of participation from doctors that it anticipated from the medical centers in those areas. (Statrs and Stripes) WASHINGTON A recent decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs to reduce non-VA medical appointments at regional medical centers in three states came under harsh questioning Thursday from House lawmakers. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., asked VA leaders why an online scheduling platform for making non-VA appointments is being turned off at some regional medical centers in Michigan, New York and Connecticut. This seems like a shortsighted decision that will have lasting damage, he said during a House hearing to look at VAs efforts to modernize its online appointment system. The VA plans to drop its scheduling platform at medical centers in Ann Arbor and Iron Mountain in Michigan, Hudson Valley in New York and West Haven in Connecticut. Rosendale, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committees subpanel on technology modernization, questioned whether the decision to drop the scheduling platform is related to opposition by some VA leaders to expanding non-VA medical care for veterans. Some VA leaders have raised concerns that medical services provided by non-VA doctors are shifting resources from VA health care. I have serious concerns that VA leaders intentionally are undermining this project to make veterans health care slower and more difficult out of political hostility toward community care. I hope that is not the case, Rosendale said. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., added: Appointment scheduling is at the foundation of veteran access to care. The VA chose to drop certain regional medical centers as community providers because they lacked a high participation of doctors, said Mark Hausman, executive director for integrated access at the Veterans Health Administration. The decision was around not having adequate numbers of providers participating, Hausman said. We would prefer to focus efforts on adding medical centers with markets of higher potential. He said the VA will continue with community referrals for veterans at 12 other non-VA regional medical centers. There are plans to add at least five more high-volume non-VA medical practices in fiscal 2025, Hausman said. He did not identify the locations of those medical centers. The strategy we are working on next year will allow us to focus on key areas of markets that we think offer the highest potential for provider participation, Hausman said. But Rosendale said he did not hear that participation was a problem. For example, he said there are 300 doctors in Hudson Valley, N.Y., that have joined the VA network, which requires VA access to a physicians online schedule. Veterans can use non-VA health care for military service-connected illnesses and injuries when appointments are not readily available at a VA clinic or hospital in their community. Based on the veterans preferences and the health care providers schedule, a VA staff member makes the appointment for the veteran. Doctors and medical facilities also must be integrated into the VAs scheduling system to participate. Cherri Waters, executive director for health portfolio in the VA Office of Information and Technology, said the VAs goal is to develop an integrated appointment platform that allows schedulers to move with ease between the VA and the community network of non-VA doctors. Waters said the VA is hoping to have an updated scheduling system fully operational by February 2025. Under the new system, schedulers will more easily see appointment availability across multiple VA sites for telehealth and in-person visits. Plans also are to layer the scheduling system across veterans electronic health records. Cherfilus-McCormick said it is important for the VA to implement an updated scheduling system that lets veterans access the care that they need in a timely manner. VA has a long history of IT modernization efforts that suffer from a lack of effective VA management, she said. Cherfilus-McCormick asked how upgrades will be different as the scheduling system is modernized. Waters said the VA is taking an incremental approach that allows the agency to more easily identify and fix bugs than when applying several changes at once. This is how we can assure success at every step along the way, she said. The injunction is being sought by Professor Brian Lenehan, chief clinical director for the University of Limerick Hospital Group The High Court will next month consider an application from a hospital consultant for an injunction restraining the HSE from suspending him pending a disciplinary process relating to the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston. The injunction is being sought by Professor Brian Lenehan, chief clinical director for the University of Limerick Hospital Group, the court heard today. The sixth-year student from Shannon, Co Clare, died on December 19, 2022, after contracting meningitis and later developing sepsis. She was left waiting for 13 hours in University Hospital Limericks severely overcrowded emergency department and was not treated for sepsis until it was too late. An independent report on the circumstances surrounding her death by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke found it was almost certainly avoidable. Aoife Johnston Prof Lenehan is thought to be one of six people facing disciplinary proceedings arising from the tragedy, four of whom have been placed on administrative leave. His counsel Lorna Lynch SC told Mr Justice Liam Kennedy her client was seeking injunctive relief against the HSE in connection with its decision to suspend him. The judge agreed to issue directions, which had already been agreed between Prof Lenehans lawyers and those representing the HSE, for the progression of the case. There will be an exchange of affidavits in the coming weeks, with the matter due back before the court for mention on October 17. Ms Lynch said no orders were in place and none were required in the intervening period. Mairead McKenna SC, for the HSE, said some GDPR issues had arisen in Prof Lenehans pleadings. She said there would be discussions between both sides to resolve these issues, but flagged that it may be necessary for an application to be made to the court for directions on that issue. Following Ms Johnstons death, Prof Lenehan commissioned a review by a HSE team external to the hospital group under the HSE incident management framework. Prof Brian Lenehan, chief clinical director of University of Limerick Hospitals Group At the time he commissioned the review, he said: Im the chief clinical director. I'm ultimately responsible for patient safety, quality and patient safety. Prof Lenehan is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in spinal surgery. He took up a position with University Hospital Limerick in 2009 and became chief clinical director in 2020, combining the managerial role with his clinical practice. Following the review he commissioned, the HSE apologised to Ms Johnstons family for "serious failings her care. But the family said a lot of unanswered questions remained. Mr Justice Clarke was commissioned by the HSE to further investigate the matter. His report, published last week, found that doctors and nurses at the emergency department were unaware of Ms Johnstons sepsis risk. Due to overcrowding she was sent to the wrong section of the emergency department, where sepsis forms were not kept or filled out. Mr Justice Clarke said there were serious conflicts of evidence among staff about patient flow protocols to alleviate overcrowding. These protocols did not operate on the night of Ms Johnstons admission, resulting in overcrowding being more severe than it should have been. In the war in the Middle East, which will have been ongoing for a year on October 7, up to 71% of the troops that make up the Israeli army among the 20 most powerful in the world are reservists. This means that, faced with the enormous military deployment that the invasion of Gaza has entailed, the regular army could not cope with the operation with full-time personnel only and was forced to call up some 360,000 reservists who before the offensive in the Strip were engaged in other tasks and were mobilized in haste. Despite these difficulties, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are attempting to close ranks, without displaying outward signs of fatigue or ebbing morale. Israel has seven open fronts: Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, according to the assessment of Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. In recent weeks, the main theater of war has shifted from the Strip where the IDF is fighting Hamas and where Israeli operations have killed more than 41,000 people, according to local health sources to the northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah militias are better prepared and armed than many regular armies and considerably stronger than than the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. Thousands of Israeli soldiers, many transferred from the Strip, are awaiting the order for a ground invasion of Lebanon. There is no expectation that a ceasefire agreement will be reached in the near future. Nor does anyone know how long a conflict that few imagined would last so long a year ago can continue. Can the IDF withstand the pressure? Does Israel possess enough soldiers, weapons, and a budget to fight for an indeterminate time? Will they limit their pressure on Hezbollah to air strikes and artillery bombardments, or will they end up launching a ground invasion? Israeli military sources insist that they are prepared morally, materially and in terms of personnel. The IDF does not want to give an impression of weakness or fatigue. If we have to be in this situation for 10 years, we will be in this situation for 10 years, says Roni Kaplan, a military spokesman and reservist, without offering details or figures beyond stating that there are hundreds of thousands of people currently engaged in the Armed Forces. Israel, he explains, has invested heavily in defense and its secret services. We are ready for whatever is necessary, and for as long as necessary, he stresses. There is, in any case, a key to maintaining the army and defending the country: the direct support of the United States, Israels main ally, which is measured not only in political and diplomatic support, but in billions of dollars in aid every year. The Americans are helping them with money, as well as with ammunition and materiel, says retired Lebanese army general Elias Hanna, who does not believe that the problem facing the Israeli army is financial. However, with seven open fronts, Israel has no choice but to fight, he points out in a telephone conversation. The retired general adds that fighting Hamas or Hezbollah on their doorstep is not the same as fighting the Houthi rebels in Yemen, over 1,200 miles away. Washingtons refusal this year to send 1,800 1,000-kilogram bombs and 1,700 500-kilogram bombs for fear that they might be used against civilians in Gaza was, in fact, a gesture to the gallery. Despite the differences that have arisen during the conflict, the close cooperation between the two partners has not been damaged, even under the shadow of the upcoming U.S. elections in November. Hanna, a professor at several institutions and an expert in security and defense, is in no doubt that the Israeli army is now weaker than when the war in Gaza began a year ago. He alludes to the number of dead soldiers, over 700, the wounded, some permanently out of combat, and the psychological damage. He estimates that Israel may eventually have six to seven divisions deployed on the border with Lebanon, comprising between 15,000 and 30,000 troops each, awaiting a possible invasion. In any case, it would be an operation that the former general considers extremely risky, and he doubts if Israel will take the step given the high price it will pay. Israeli soldiers training in the Golan Heights on September 19. ATEF SAFADI (EFE) Technological dependence If Israel wants to achieve its goals, it must wage a ground war in Lebanon, something that is dividing the military establishment of the Jewish state, says Wasef Erekat, an analyst and former Palestinian soldier, referring to the inability of the army to fight on several fronts at the same time. His opinion is that Israel is overly dependent on its weapons and technology, which does not translate into effective soldiers on the ground. This has been demonstrated, Erekat believes, by the fact that the IDF has been unable to end the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, where Hamas is fighting with much more modest weapons. Meanwhile, the Israeli parliament is currently debating whether to increase the state budget by 3.4 billion shekels (about $915 million), with the burden of maintaining hundreds of thousands of reservists who have left their jobs, and the cost of supporting tens of thousands of displaced people from towns attacked by Hamas near Gaza and approximately 60,000 people evacuated from the border with Lebanon. The vast majority of reservists who have joined the Armed Forces were called up after the massacre led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, when around 1,200 people were killed in Israeli territory and 250 taken hostage, according to the Israeli authorities. In just a few hours, Israel spent between four and five billion shekels (between $1.07 billion and $1.34 billion) when in the early hours of April 13 Iran launched some 300 missiles and drone against its territory, according to an estimate by a military officer interviewed by the Yediot Ahronot newspaper. Although Israel had the help of allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Jordan, a large part of the arsenal was intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-aircraft system, a sophisticated apparatus made up of a triple shield at different heights above Israeli airspace. The same system on Tuesday prevented Hezbollah from hitting the Mossad headquarters in the Tel Aviv area. Is the Israeli army strong enough to do almost anything it wants in Lebanon and Gaza and wherever else? Yes, argues Dan Schueftan, director of the Center for National Security Studies at the University of Haifa. He bases his argument on the power of deterrence, instilling fear in the enemy so that it refrains from attacking Israel, which claims to have used only a small part of its available weaponry. Surrounded by the damage still visible after a missile strike from Lebanon on Sunday in Kiryat Bialik, on the outskirts of Haifa, one of the most populated and protected areas of the country, Kaplan acknowledges that Hezbollah is expanding the radius of its launches, but insists that this will not alter the Israeli armys plans. We are witnessing an attempt by Hezbollah to reach longer-range targets and a huge effort by Israel to prevent it, he said, referring to the more than 1,300 Hezbollah strikes over the previous few hours. The site of a missile strike allegedly launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon in Kiryat Bialik, on the outskirts of Haifa in northwestern Israel. Luis de Vega Under the pressure of the current conflict, Israel will try to mobilize the whole of society, says retired Lebanese general Hanna. In this regard, some within Israel have been warning for months about the need to swell the ranks of the IDF in an unprecedented way as the conflict has spread. To this end, touching on a highly sensitive issue, a law has been passed requiring ultra-Orthodox Jews, who until now had been exempt, to join the army. It is a measure that has been imposed in a low-profile manner so as not to incite a community that represents almost 15% of the population of 10 million inhabitants. Nor are Israeli Arabs, who make up around 20%, obliged to do so, although that can of worms has not yet been opened. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition McLoughlin is a serious criminal who was jailed for 14 years and four months earlier this year Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh (right) admitted the firearms charges but Daniel McLoughlin (right) had his charges dropped A criminal cleared of supplying guns to senior members of the Kinahan cartel ran a 'Deliveroo for drugs' service using the Encrochat phone system. Daniel McLoughlin, 37, was in court this week where charges linking him to a firearms conspiracy involving Thomas Bomber Kavanagh were dropped. McLoughlin was accused of providing firearms to Bomber and his brother-in-law Dublin gang boss Liam Byrne. McLoughlin denied two counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon between 29 April 2020 and 28 May 2020. On Wednesday, prosecutor Tom Forster, KC, offered no evidence against McLoughlin and Judge Philip Katz, KC, cleared him of the two offences. Daniel McLoughlin However, McLoughlin is a serious criminal who was jailed for 14 years and four months earlier this year after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and exporting Class B drugs to Australia. Evidence showed that McLoughlin along with associate Elliot Garrity, 44, ran a Deliveroo for drugs service across Liverpool making 15,000 a week during the COVID-19 lockdown. Their phone line was spread through word of mouth as well as through Instagram stories. Customers placed their orders which were delivered by Garrity in his black cab and could even pay using the cabbie's card machine. Using the EncroChat handles 'Tabooky' and 'Wearyspear' McLoughlin sent messages on the encrypted platform boasting he was earning 15,000 a week. After the national lockdown was announced by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson in March 2020 McLoughlin exported a quarter of a kilo of ketamine to Australia, disguised in vacuum sealed Starbucks coffee bags. He and licenced taxi driver Garrity planned to expand the supply to Australia where they could sell the drugs for more money. They also planned to run their local criminal enterprise around-the-clock, employing two drivers for 12-hour shifts. When the Encro server was taken down in June 2020, McLoughlin and Garrity recruited other dealers to keep their operation running. McLoughlin was jailed for 14 years and four months in March this year at Liverpool Crown Court while Garrity, who used the handle 'Keptcreek', was jailed for eight years. Detective Inspector Mike Robinson from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said: This criminal enterprise has been described as a 'Deliveroo service for drugs' where they would make thousands of pounds a week, profiting from the country being in the middle of a pandemic. We uncovered messages from McLoughlin to other Encro users, bragging about making 15,000 during one week alone in lockdown. Liam Byrne (left) and Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh (right) When the encro server was brought down in June 2020, the group didn't stop. They continued their business using burner phones. It was during this time they recruited Luke Bolan, a friend of McLoughlins partner Charlotte Smith, and provided him with a burner phone to assist with deliveries. When we arrested McLoughlin, we discovered an office at his address set up with a map of Merseyside and overlay postcodes, which we believe he used to direct Garrity and his cab to transport his drugs more efficiently. We know the destruction that drug supply causes and the NWROCU remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and to bring down serious and organised criminal groups. The Encrochat handle Tabooky was mentioned in court this week in relation to the guns plot when it was heard McLoughlin admitted he sometimes used the handle which arranged to pass firearms onto Byrne but claimed he did not have sole use of that account. Mr Forster said there was no evidence McLoughlin was not telling the truth and the crown could not rule out that someone else had arranged the firearms sale. Kavanagh and Byrne, along with Shaun Kent, 38, admitted their role in the plot last week, which aimed to get Kavanagh a reduced sentence for drug smuggling by revealing the location of the guns to the National Crime Agency. Kavanagh is currently serving a 21-year sentence for masterminding a different 36m drug smuggling operation. While in custody awaiting sentence at Ipswich Crown Court he masterminded a plot together with Kent, Byrne and others to amass firearms from the UK, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. They then intended to tell the NCA where the firearms were in order for Kavanagh to receive a reduced sentence. Kavanagh spoke to the NCA and told them weapons had been brought to the UK from Holland. He produced a map which led police to a farm in Northern Ireland and after digging they found two holdalls containing eleven submachine guns. The NCA had been passed information on the gang after French authorities hacked the encrypted chat EncroChat in April 2020. The NCA used this information to determine that Kavanagh was lying. Kavanagh, Kent and Byrne have admitted two counts of conspiracy to possesses a prohibited weapon and two counts of conspiracy to possess ammunition for a firearm without a certificate between 9 January 2020 and 3 June 2021. Kavanagh and Kent admitted perverting the course of justice. Crumlin native Byrne was charged after being extradited from Spain after being arrested as he holidayed in Majorca. The three men are due to be sentenced on 21 and 22 October. Liju John (37) kissed the young nurses neck and tried to get her to remove her face mask while they were in a room with a non-verbal elderly patient at the height of the Covid pandemic. A male nurse at a care home falsely imprisoned and sexually assaulted a co-worker by cornering her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her against her will. Liju John (37) kissed the young nurses neck and tried to get her to remove her face mask while they were in a room with a non-verbal elderly patient at the height of the Covid pandemic. The victim wept in court as she said her life had been destroyed and told John: No man should ever touch a woman without consent, you should be ashamed of yourself. John, who had denied the charges at Dublin District Court, was found guilty and given a six-month suspended sentence. Judge John Hughes said it was a breach of trust by the accused. The married father of two from Woodside, Riverforest, Leixlip, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and sexual assault at a nursing home in the east of the country in 2021. The court heard that in the lead-up to the assault, John asked the victim why do you not look me in the eye?, and she felt uncomfortable. When they brought the resident to her room, he locked the door, which the victim thought was strange. He said he was sorry for making her feel uncomfortable and went to give her a hug, but put his hands around her waist. She said please let me go, but he tried to kiss her and she felt his lips on the left side of her neck. He was asking me to take my mask down so he could kiss me on the lips, she said. I was telling him to stop and he wouldnt. She put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. I had to push him off me, he was refusing to let go of me, she said. The accused had then warned her: Be careful who you tell stories to because your words can get twisted. The victim finished her work in the room, then opened the door, ran to the toilets and locked herself in. John followed her and she could hear him banging on the door when she phoned her mother, who contacted staff at the facility. In cross-examination, defence barrister Simon Crowley put it to the victim his client rejected her account. He said she had thrown a dirty pillow at John, he shouted at her and she got upset. He said there was no way the accused could have kissed the victim if he was wearing a mask and the victim had not mentioned John pulling down his mask before. If he was able to kiss me, he wouldnt be able to do it with a mask on, she said. He must have had it down already. John did not give evidence, but the court heard that in a garda interview, he contradicted much of what the victim said and maintained she was making up stories. In victim-impact evidence, the woman said the assault destroyed my mental health completely and had affected her career and her relationship . I hope you realise the damage youve done. To lay a hand on a woman without consent is just horrendous, its horrible, she said. John, from India and resident in Ireland on a visa, had since been dismissed from his job and the convictions would be a big stumbling block for his future employment prospects, Mr Crowley said. Judge Hughes said it was not simply a case of a co-worker trying to steal a kiss. John was in a position of trust and respect and the victim found herself in a weird situation with a male who was acting odd before he suddenly wrapped his arms around her. The victim was a diligent and caring worker who was entirely blameless and just doing her job, and she was shattered by what happened, he said. Suspending the six months for two years, the judge said John must undergo a course to educate him on the concept of consent. He is to stay away from the victim and pay her 5,000 in compensation, or donate it to charity if she does not accept it. He was also fined 1,000. As Max Hollingsbee stood in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court today, defence Eugene Grant KC asked for 28 of the 32 charges to be put to the defendant again A Co Armagh man has confessed to a catalogue of sex offences committed against eight young girls during a so-called catfishing crime spree. As Max Hollingsbee stood in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court today, defence Eugene Grant KC asked for 28 of the 32 charges to be put to the defendant again. The 20-year-old admitted the raft of offences, which included blackmail and inciting the victim to send sexually explicit images of themselves. On an indictment with offending covering an overall time span between June 10, 2021, and April 7, 2023, Hollingsbee, with an address at Orient Circle in Lurgan, entered guilty pleas to 18 charges of having indecent images of children, including category A, B and C images of each victim. He also pleaded guilty to four charges of inciting or causing children to engage in sexual activity with children aged 13-16, four counts of unauthorised computer access and single offences of blackmail, sexual communication with a child and inciting a child to distribute an indecent image. Following Hollingsbees confessions, prosecuting counsel Joseph Murphy asked for four other charges, including two of inciting child sexual activity, inciting a child to take an indecent image and unauthorised computer access, to be marked as left on the books. None of the facts surrounding the charges were opened today but during an earlier bail application, a police officer recounted how Hollingsbee, who was previously a student at Belfast Met, had been coercing children into sending him explicit images and then blackmailing them. She told the court the PSNI were first contacted about the defendant due to an investigation by Surrey Police on October 13, 2022 when they were investigating a child protection complaint regarding a 15-year-old girl. She told police she had an online conversation with someone called Matt, claiming to be 16 and from Scotland via Whiz, Snapchat and eventually iMessage. The officer said the defendant created a connection with the girl and asked her to send indecent photos of herself adding that according to the police case, Hollingsbee had also created fake social media accounts pretending to be both male and female asking children to send them indecent photos of themselves. The PSNI officer said they were first notified of an investigation by Police Scotland in March last year following similar allegations and there had been a UK-wide investigation into at least 30 potential victims with between 100 and 200 photographs being analysed for even more potential victims. The detective revealed: The defendant has been operating a sophisticated scheme which is aided by the use of social media. He connects with young female children between the ages of 14-16 years old by Whizz, Snapchat and Instagram and begins the conversation. He uses a number of aliases varying between trying to be a male and a female. Throughout the conversation, he flatters and compliments the victims and asks them to send indecent images which the defendant then saves. She said that some victims were unaware he had their images but reported unusual activity on their accounts which suggests he hacked into them. Once he has the images he adds them to his collection and these are then advertised online via social media accounts that the defendant operates pretending to be a young female child. Messages linked to these accounts show that the defendant is communicating with other users negotiating payment for content and boasting about the large collection of indecent images and videos he has to offer, said the officer. Once payment is received the defendant provides the user for Dropbox or Megabox. Following this, the defendant has then tried to blackmail some of the users. The defendant then informs them they have access to child pornography and threatens if they do not send more money the defendant will report them to police. In court today, Mr Grant asked for sentencing to be adjourned to allow time for the probation board to compile a pre-sentence report while Mr Murphy suggested the victims may also wish to make victim impact statements. Remanding Hollingsbee back into custody and ordering that he must now sign the police sex offenders register, Judge Donna McColgan KC said she would deal with the case on November 21. Shane Cannon, The Greenlands, Rosses Point, Co Sligo is charged with assaulting Emma Garvey causing her harm at The Greenlands on December 19 2022 A 32-year-old man is before the district court in Sligo charged with assault causing harm and also a threat to kill. Shane Cannon, The Greenlands, Rosses Point, Co Sligo is charged with assaulting Emma Garvey causing her harm at The Greenlands on December 19 2022. He is also charged on the same date and at the same location that he made to Emma Garvey a threat intending her to believe it would be carried out, to kill or cause her serious harm. Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had indicated summary disposal on two counts, assault causing harm and a threat to kill. Judge Michael Connellan had previously accepted jurisdiction, the court heard. Mr Tom MacSharry (solicitor) told Judge Sandra Murphy his client was pleading guilty to both. He said a Probation Report would be beneficial and there will be certain medical evidence. Judge Murphy adjourned to December 12. Philip Grendon (49) was served with the book of evidence when he appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court. A Dublin man accused of burglary at a motor parts distributor and possessing stolen motor oil worth over 12,000 has been sent forward for trial. Philip Grendon (49) was served with the book of evidence when he appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court. The accused, with an address at Spiddal Park in Ballyfermot, is charged with two counts of burglary at a business premises at Knockmitten Business Park in Clondalkin on January 20, 2024, and again on January 21. Mr Grendon is further accused of damaging the lock on a gate to the car parts business premises on January 20 this year. It is also alleged that Mr Grendon was found by gardai in possession of stolen motor oil, valued at 12,039, at his home in Ballyfermot on January 24. He is facing trial in the Circuit Court, after the allegations were ruled to be too serious for the District Court. A state solicitor said that the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge David McHugh gave Mr Grendon the formal alibi caution. The judge also assigned defence solicitor Wayne Kenny and one junior counsel on free legal aid. Mr Grendon has not yet indicated how he intends to plead to the charges. The accused was remanded on the same bail terms to appear before a court in the Criminal Courts of Justice in November. Bobi Covaci (31) was caught as part of Operation Cartwheel, which was set up to look into the activities of five individuals who were sitting theory tests for others. A motorist looking to obtain an Irish drivers licence paid 2,000 for another individual to sit the theory test for him, a court has heard. Bobi Covaci (31) was caught as part of Operation Cartwheel, which was set up to look into the activities of five individuals who were sitting theory tests for others. Judge David McHugh imposed a three-month sentence, which he suspended for a period of one year. The defendant, with an address at Archerswood, Clonee, Dublin 15, admitted making a false online application to the National Driver Licence Service on June 23, 2021. Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court that this incident was part of a garda investigation called Operation Cartwheel, which is a long-running probe into the activities of five individuals. It is alleged that these individuals were attending driver theory test centres under other names on numerous dates between 2018 and 2021, sitting the theory test and obtaining test certificates. These certificates were then used by those people to obtain learner driving permits. Sgt Callaghan said it is alleged that Covaci paid a third party to sit the theory test, and he obtained a fraudulent theory test certificate. Sgt Callaghan said Covaci then used this test certificate to obtain a drivers licence. The sergeant said that gardai later searched Covacis house and found the driving licence. Covaci was interviewed by gardai, and he co-operated fully with them, Sgt Callaghan said. The court heard that Covaci had seven previous convictions, though none for this kind of offence. Defence solicitor Stephen OMahony said a garda national unit was looking into organised crime in relation to many matters similar to this one. Mr OMahony said Covaci was not involved in organising or in any way involved in obtaining test certificates for other individuals. Mr OMahony said the defendant was approached by other individuals and was offered a shortcut to getting a driver theory test. Mr OMahony said that Covaci, who was originally from Romania, paid someone 2,000, which was a lot of money for him. The solicitor said he had dealt with a number of these cases, and vulnerable individuals looking to get a driving licence had paid these people between 1,500 and 2,000 for others to sit the test for them. Chinese nationals Kwok Kai Chen, 30, and his female co-accused Li Qiao, 23, were arrested during an operation at Virginia Way on Tuesday A man and woman charged over the seizure of 225,000 worth of cannabis in south Belfast are to be referred to a police team which deals with victims of human trafficking, a court has heard. Chinese nationals Kwok Kai Chen, 30, and his female co-accused Li Qiao, 23, were arrested during an operation at Virginia Way on Tuesday. Officers from the PSNIs Organised Crime Unit recovered up to 13 kilos of cannabis from a property on the street. The drugs haul has an estimated street value of 225,000. It is understood that around 10,000 in cash was also recovered at the scene. Chen, of Virginia Way, and Qiao, from Elm Street in the city, appeared together at Belfast Magistrates Court on Thursday. They are jointly charged with possessing cannabis with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs, and having criminal property. Chen faces a further count of illegal entry to the United Kingdom in breach of a deportation order. Both accused confirmed they understood the charges against them during the brief hearing. Questioned by defence solicitor Ciaran Steele, an investigating officer confirmed that both of the Chinese nationals have been referred to the PSNIs human trafficking branch. No further details were disclosed and neither of the accused applied for bail at this stage. District Judge Francis Rafferty remanded them in custody until next month. Neil Clarke Beckett who is currently suspended from his position has been accused by nine pupils of sexual offences The principal of Lagan College was called to give evidence at a trial concerning the alleged conduct of the south Belfast school's health and welfare officer. Neil Clarke Beckett who is currently suspended from his position has been accused by nine pupils of sexual offences. All nine complainants have now given evidence at the trial, which is being held at Belfast Crown Court. Today, the jury of six men and six women heard evidence from the school principal regarding what steps were taken in the aftermath of the allegations made against Beckett. The 43-year-old defendant, from Kilmore Village in Downpatrick, has been charged with, and denies, 29 sexual offences spanning a period from 2013 to 2023. These allegations concern nine pupils at the school as well as two Army Cadets who claim they were abused by Beckett whilst he occupied a role as their leader. Lagan College Principal Amanda McNamee confirmed Beckett commenced his position as the school's health and welfare officer in August 2021. Questioned about the first time she became aware of allegations concerning Beckett, Mrs McNamee said that in October 2022 two pupils spoke to members of staff. She said one girl reported that Beckett had given her a hug and kissed her on the cheek whilst another girl told a teacher Beckett had given her a hug under her blazer. Mrs McNamee said she advised that the parents of the girls should be informed and that she wanted to await their reactions before deciding the best course of action to take as per the Child Protection Policy. The principal said that after the parents of both pupils were spoken to, she was told that whilst the parents were concerned that Beckett's "behaviour was perceived as being inappropriate... both parties understood at that time the context possibly was a response to children becoming upset." She added: "It was not presented as an allegation of being sexually inappropriate at that time." An immediate meeting was then held with Beckett and when asked about this by the Crown barrister, Mrs McNamee said she made the health and welfare officer aware that "parents had raised concerns about their children". Mrs McNamee said she told Beckett the nature of the concerns regarding the hugs which he denied doing. She confirmed that she reminded Beckett of the need to ensure "a platinum standard of boundaries", the school's safeguarding policy regarding children and his role within the school. The role, she said, included First Aid but did not amount to counselling and that Beckett told her he felt "overwhelmed... he said he sometimes felt a little bit uncertain as to what his role was". Mrs McNamee told Mr MacCreanor that she went over Beckett's role and job description at the meeting, which was also attended by an HR manager. When asked if she discussed "the appropriateness of hugs" with him, Mrs McNamee said: "I did. I said to him that in a school setting it wasn't appropriate and that, as per our training, if something does happen we are trained to report it to the designated teacher of child protection." She was then questioned about what happened in January 2023 and Mrs McNamee confirmed a pupil attended a meeting at the school with her mother. The pupil's mother alleged Beckett had touched her daughter inappropriately in the school's hygiene room and that she wanted the matter referred to the PSNI. When asked at that point if Beckett was "withdrawn from any role in the College that would give him direct access to students", the principal said "yes, that was the action I took immediately". She also confirmed she told Beckett the nature of the allegation and that he denied it and said the only time he touched her was to hand her a plaster. The jury heard that following this, the matter was referred to the Chairman of the Board of Governors and the Education Authority and that Beckett was placed on precautionary suspension. When asked if Beckett was upset, Mrs McNamee said "yes, he was very upset". A strategy meeting was then held and the matter was referred to the PSNI. The Crown barrister then asked what happened at the start of February 2023 and she said she was informed of further allegations made by other pupils regarding Beckett which were also forwarded to the PSNI "as soon as they were received". Mrs McNamee was also questioned by defence barrister Laura Ievers KC, who suggested that after concerns were raised in October 2022 Beckett wasn't told who the two pupils were but he requested they were not sent to him in the future. The principal replied, "I don't recall that". She also said she couldn't recall requests made by Beckett to have the medical bed removed from his office and to have his office door kept open at all times. Samuel Walker (41) used his mobile phone to stream the Dublin District Court hearing A PROLIFIC UK criminal and self-described charity worker arrested for driving offences in Dublin has been spared jail after he was caught live-streaming his court case to his 400,000 TikTok followers. Samuel Walker (41) used his mobile phone to stream the Dublin District Court hearing where he was banned from driving for two years and fined 500 for driving uninsured and with a fake licence. Judge Gerard Jones gave him a one-month suspended sentence for contempt of court by breaching the ban on recording or broadcasting Irish court proceedings without permission. "This is not a public bar, its a court of law and we can't have this carry on," Judge Jones said. Walker, from Liverpool but with an address at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght, Dublin had pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and in possession of false UK and Irish licences. The offences happened at Aston Quay in central Dublin on September 21. Walker first came before the court on Monday when he entered his plea and was granted bail. The case had been put back to today for gardai to enquire if he had previous convictions from the UK. Detective Garda Paul Cummins said he had still not received this information from the UK authorities. Defence solicitor Brian Keenan asked Judge Jones to finalise the case today as it was unlikely that he would receive a sentence. On the false document charges, it was not a case where he sought to rely on them and he immediately gave the gardai his correct details, Mr Keenan said. Walker had no prior convictions in this jurisdiction, the court heard. The accused was due to travel back to Sierra Leone, where he was living, Mr Keenan said. His business is there, hes engaged in charity work which is something hes very proud of, Mr Keenan said. Judge Jones imposed fines of 400 and 100 on the insurance and licence charges, with the other charge taken into consideration. However, at the end of his case, a garda sergeant seized Walker's phone. The sergeant said while Gda Cummins had been giving evidence, it transpired that Walker's phone had been "broadcasting events" to his TikTok account, which had 400,000 followers. The live stream was being viewed by 2,500 people at the time. A garda unconnected to the case said she had been outside in the foyer at the Criminal Courts of Justice when she saw a man viewing TikTok on his phone. This was shown to her and she could see it was live and comments were coming through, though the picture was not visible. The stream was from Sam Walker's account Walker said in evidence he had been streaming outside the courtroom and when his case was called, he put his phone in his pocket and went in. "I thought the live stream had ended, it was a genuine mistake," he said."If the officer says it was (still) streaming, then I apologise, it wasn't my intention. I'm not going to dispute it." Mr Keenan said the accused had a following on social media from documenting his charity work. The sergeant said the state "wouldn't accept that is the reason for his following." Walker said he had been in Sierra Leone for six months and installed water in villages for 25,000 people where charities had failed and he had documented that online. "I could see with my own two eyes what was going on in this court and it wasn't accidental in my view," Judge Jones said. "It was deliberate." He held Walker in contempt and sentenced him to a month in prison, suspended for two years. Alex Bridgeman (24) was caught with cannabis twice in a week, at a time when he was in a cannabis-induced psychosis, his lawyer said. A business student turned to cannabis to help him cope after he failed his final exams, a court has heard. Alex Bridgeman (24) was caught with cannabis twice in a week, at a time when he was in a cannabis-induced psychosis, his lawyer said. Judge Gerard Jones fined Bridgeman 400. The defendant, of Seabury Orchard in Malahide, admitted possession of cannabis. Sergeant Shane Griffin told Swords District Court that gardai stopped and searched Bridgeman at Estuary Road in Malahide on March 14, 2021, and again at Seabury estate in Malahide on March 20, 2021. The value of the cannabis was 45. Defence lawyer Kelly Richardson said Bridgeman was a young man with a bright future. He completed his Leaving Certificate and then studied for a year in DCU, before studying business at the National College of Ireland. Ms Richardson said Bridgeman failed his last exam, and in 2021 he developed problems with cannabis and cocaine. At the time of these incidents, Bridgeman was in a cannabis-induced psychosis, the lawyer said. Bridgeman was now doing much better, had the support of his family and was hoping to get back to work, the court was told. The ingredients are chopped, the oven is heating up, everything is simple, every surface is clean. The result: a meal that you can almost smell and taste. Cooking is Instagrammable content par excellence. A reel (a video designed to engage the viewer and make them want to share it) is quick and enjoyable, a little capsule of escapism. Ana Sofia Fehn, 25, has managed to stand out from the hundreds of thousands of Instagram chefs from a small kitchen in Los Angeles, California. Among the crop of cooking influencers who now dominate Instagram, the speed of Fehns success has been remarkable. She reached a million followers in a year and a half by cooking a little bit of everything, she says via video call from the apartment where she has lived for just under a decade. She moved to California to pursue an acting career she hasnt given up on that dream yet but now balances it with her work as a content creator. Ana Sofia Fehn in the kitchen that a million people see every day. Dan Balilty The influencers offering doesnt follow a specific gastronomic line, but is rather a kind of catch-all. From a traditional American cheeseburger to Brazilian coxinhas, Galician octopus or different varieties of Italian pasta (her favorites, along with Italian agnolotti and Costa Rican casado). Fehn speaks fluent Spanish, but with a distinct Anglo-Saxon flavor. She says that in her Ohio home there was a Latin family kitchen. My mom is a great cook. When I was little and I went to play at my friends houses, I didnt like the food they ate. I always wanted to eat my moms food. Her family did not usually go to restaurants as there were seven children and eating at home was always the easiest thing to do. Growing up in Cleveland, she explains, it was uncommon to see Asian or European restaurants, so moving to Los Angeles was a revelation. It was the first time I had eaten in restaurants of any kind. Chinese or Thai food. Things like duck. I liked understanding more about how different cultures prepared their food and learning what ingredients they used, she says. Fehn preparing basil leaves. Dan Balilty Fehn studied Dramatic Arts at the University of Southern California and landed some small roles, such as on Modern Family in 2017. After completing her studies, everything came to a standstill when the coronavirus pandemic struck. During the lockdown, Fehn decided to upload recipe videos to social media: both the recipes she had known since she was a child and those she had been learning in recent years. It started as a hobby. I had a camera that I used to record myself for auditions and I started making cooking content. Four years later, that hobby has become a profession to which she devotes, on average, 12 hours a day, time that requires her to do the research, buy the ingredients, prepare the kitchen, record, and edit. Everything is always very planned, with my shot list to know exactly what Im going to do. Its almost like making a film, she says. On TikTok, where she has 442,000 followers, she uses practically the same formula as in her reels, but on YouTube (184,000 followers at the time of writing) she makes longer videos, not just about cooking, but also about her lifestyle, showing viewers her maternal grandmothers house in Costa Rica, for example, or her summer vacations in the Italian Mediterranean. Ana Sofia Fehn at her home in Los Angeles. Dan Balilty There is, however, a lot of work that is not reflected in the videos. Often, I dont have time to record videos or cook. Sometimes they call me at 9 a.m. for an audition that I have to be at in two hours, and I have to drop everything else, she explains. Any kind of rush to get everything done could never be intuited from watching her work. Fehn maintains the pace of production required to keep a million people hooked. I do everything myself. Its a lot of work, but here I have everything I need: my lights, my camera, my tripod, and my kitchen. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition CRIME WORLD | Episode 697: Parental Abduction - Mandy Kellys fight to get her sons back from Egypt Irish mum Mandy Kelly hasnt seen her young children in nearly three years since they were abducted by their Egyptian father during a family holiday. Mandy Kelly with photos of her children Zayn (5) and Kareem (3) Nicola Tallant Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 11:37 Lynch was once a key player in the Kinahan cartels drug distribution network in Dublins south inner city. A gang linked to Greg Lynch was one of those targeted by gardai this week in the global 'Ghost' phone hack A gang linked to convicted heroin dealer Greg Lynch has emerged as a target for gardai investigating the hacked encrypted phone network, Ghost. Lynch was once a key player in the Kinahan cartels drug distribution network in Dublins south inner city. However, he cut ties with the cartel after narrowly surviving being shot in the face outside a pub in Cabra. Niall Donald is joined by Eamon Dillon to discuss how Lynchs gang has been left exposed by the phone hack. MORE EPISODES Suspect is key figure in Irish cell of international fraud organisation A 50-year-old woman suspected of playing a major role in the activities of the Black Axe crime gang has been arrested under organised crime legislation. The woman, who is based in Tallaght, Dublin, is associated with a cell of the gang that has laundered over 10m in fraud funds. She was taken into custody on Monday and is being questioned about directing the activities of a criminal organisation. The investigation into this particular cell of Black Axe is a joint operation involving officers from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) and detectives in Tallaght. Investigations have established that she is the owner of a top-of-the range Range Rover believed to have been bought for 100,000. Gardai seized the vehicle during a raid of her home in August of last year. It has emerged that the womans passport was among many items seized in last years search operation It is suspected that the vehicle was bought with the proceeds of crime. Detectives established that so much cash from organised fraud scams was being handled at the Tallaght property that steel doors were installed for protection. It has emerged that the womans passport was among many items seized in last years search operation, but she later reported it lost and obtained a new passport. This led to her being arrested at Dublin Airport earlier this year as she had made a false statement to obtain new travel documents. Black Axe is a major international fraud gang. Photo: Stock image While the Black Axe cell that the woman is suspected of being a key member of has laundered over 10m in complex financial transactions, the wider criminal organisation in Ireland has laundered well over 80m. A close male associate of the 50-year-old is considered one of the main Black Axe operatives in Ireland. However, he left the country after last years raid, which he was the primary garda focus of. It is alleged that she has been directing people on how to transfer six-figure funds which have been obtained by numerous different types of organised frauds, a source said. These include invoice redirection scams in Ireland and Scandinavian countries, as well as romance frauds in the United States. It is suspected the woman has played an active role in trade-based money laundering for Black Axe. This involves the manipulation of international trade transactions, such as invoicing, to disguise the true source of funds and make them appear legitimate. Individuals from several international police forces have visited Ireland to study An Garda Siochanas proactive approach to following the money trail A number of male associates of the woman have been arrested in the past year as part of the GNECBs investigation into the Black Axe cell. This weeks arrest is the 10th to be made in this strand of the garda operation. A number of those arrested are suspected of being involved in the recruitment of money mules under her direction. The Black Axe mafia syndicate first emerged in Nigeria in the 1970s when it was involved in ritual murders. It has evolved into one of the biggest fraud gangs operating across the world, often recruiting members with high-level computer skills. Individuals from several international police forces have visited Ireland to study An Garda Siochanas proactive approach to following the money trail, called Operation Skein. The operation has led to over 100 arrests under organised crime legislation, while over 400 people have been arrested for money-laundering offences. Brady (44) was fatally shot during a confrontation with a group at the back of the Irish restaurant he co-owned in Kansas Citys Brookside neighbourhood The father of one of the Kansas City teens charged with the murder of Irish chef Shaun Brady has said the juvenile system overlooked his son. A US court judge has set hearing dates to determine if both teenage boys charged in the killing will be tried as adults. Both teens have been detained in Jackson County juvenile detention since the night of the fatal shooting at the Brady & Fox restaurant on Thursday, August 29, in Kansas City. Brady (44) was fatally shot during a confrontation with a group at the back of the Irish restaurant he co-owned in Kansas Citys Brookside neighbourhood. Yesterday, a Jackson County Family Court judge ordered both boys to stay in lock-up until they face December hearings on whether they will face trials as adults. However, the 15-year-old boy K.H who is believed to be the driver of the car stolen during the Brady shooting, suffers from mental problems brought on by chemotherapy and was failed by the juvenile justice system, his father said. According to KCUR Radio, the boys father said his son was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare cancer-like disorder that causes lesions in the body, when he was five years old. Irish chef Shaun Brady He underwent three years of chemo, the father said, which severely affected his mental and cognitive functions. His father, who had custody from the age of one to seven, said he had the boy in a developmental educational system, kept him on medications and made sure he attended doctors appointments. KHs father also blamed the juvenile criminal justice system, which he said failed to give the boy the right discipline after his run-ins with the law and failed to treat his mental illness. They overlook the youth, he said. They dont think mental health is significant The second teen, identified in court documents as L.M has been charged with second-degree murder and attempted stealing, both felonies. Attorneys for L.M who was enrolled in 10th grade before the shooting have said that while he was a passenger in the allegedly stolen vehicle connected to Bradys death, he is not the one alleged to have actually shot Brady. The death of Brady, who is survived by his wife Kate, a Wichita native, and their two young children, sparked widespread grief and outrage, particularly within the Kansas City Irish community, the Kansas City News reports. A memorial fund set up after Bradys death has raised just over $184,000 toward a trust supporting his family. Earlier this month a celebration of life was held for the murdered chef who was due to turn 45 this month. Such was his popularity that a large amount of flowers and cards have been dropped off to Bradys KC, the restaurant that Shaun co owned. Bradys KC, at the request of the Brady family, delivered all of the flowers to the Shawnee Missionary Unitarian Church in the city. Cards and other gifts have been handed over to Mr Bradys mother in law to hold on to until the right time comes to pass them on to her daughter Kate and the couples young children Seamus and Mary. A remembrance ceremony for the talented chef who was born in Limerick, but grew up in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was held at Drexel Hall in Kansas City. The family of Mr Brady later thanked the people of Ireland and the US for all their support and messages during this harrowing time. In a notice on RIP.ie the loved ones of Shaun of Lenexa, Kansas City and formerly of Summerhill in Nenagh say that he was taken tragically from them on August 28th. The doting father is survived by his wife and children. He is also mourned by his mother Mary and his siblings Vivian, Sandra and Damien. The notice reads that Shaun is sadly missed by his heartbroken family, mother, sisters and brother, nieces and nephews, extended family relatives and friends. Bradys KC restaurant said in a recent statement that their hearts are broken following his death. There are no words to express our sadness, anger and frustration. Our community is with Shaun's family - forever. We cannot express how much we appreciate the outpouring of support, offers to help, and your love. Together we are united. Together we will grieve. Together we will heal. We ask that you show compassion and aid in our healing by respecting the privacy of Shaun's family. Shaun was well known and respected in Kansas City both for his culinary skills and his generosity of spirit. He frequently appeared on local television doing cookery demonstrations and played a huge part in the Kansas City Irish Fest. Mary Kate Gliedt, Executive Director of the Kansas City Irish Centre, previously said that they were heartbroken at the news of the death of their stalwart supporter and true friend Shaun. His restaurant Bradys was an extension of himself warm, open and welcoming to everyone. His excellent creations in the kitchen were no match for his innate hospitality and generosity. Angelo Pandeli had forged ties with Daniel Kinahan in Dubai where they have been working together to smuggle cocaine from South America Australian drugs kingpin Angelo Pandeli has been living it up in a five-star hotel in the heart of Sydney since his deportation from Dubai, reports have claimed. Pandeli, a key ally of Daniel Kinahan, checked into the luxury accommodation two weeks ago after he was booted out of the Emirates. The Hells Angel biker boss has been living openly in the plush hotel despite being previously described as one of Australias most wanted men Located just walking distance from Federal Police headquarters, he is free to come and go as he pleases from his new pad, the Daily Telegraph reports. Photographs of the alleged drug trafficker have emerged showing Pandeli looking relaxed as he strolls through the hotel in Sydneys business district. Even though he is wanted in Australia over his alleged links to large scale drug supply, the police were caught off guard when he was deported, according to the Telegraph and had no warrant ready for his arrest on arrival at Sydney Airport. Pandeli has been declared an Australian Prioritised Organisation Target (APOT) by the Crime Intelligence Commission (ACIC) which officially makes him one of the countrys most wanted men. Despite being named an APOT reserved for serious and organised crime targets that pose the greatest threat to Australias interests, according to the ACIC, Pandeli is in Sydney and currently a free man. Raffaele Imperiale Considered to be one of Australias biggest cocaine and methamphetamine importers Pandeli was recently identified as an ally of the Kinahan cartel. According to a recent investigation in Australian media, Pandeli has forged ties with Daniel Kinahan in Dubai where they have been working together to smuggle cocaine from South America. It alleged that Pandeli and the Kinahans are under investigation for attempting to smuggle tens of millions of euros worth of cocaine from Colombia to Europe via Ireland. Like Pandeli, Kinahan also previously had an address on the Palm Jumeirah island, regarded as one of the most expensive real-estate locations in the world. Pandelis deportation came after he was detained by UAE authorities a week ago. The Hells Angel biker boss had been living in Dubai since 2018 where he owned a 10 million home in the Gulf state's exclusive Palm Jumeirah island. A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police confirmed Pandeli was back after arriving on a flight to Sydney. A spokesman said: An Australian man, 53, has been deported by Dubai authorities. No further comment will be made at this time. Pandeli is just the latest Kinahan ally to be booted out of Dubai. Previously, Italian gangster Raffaele Imperiale, Dutch mobster Ridouan Taghi and Belgian trafficker Nordin El Hajjioui have all been extradited to face justice in their home countries. Pandeli left Australia in 2018 but he has remained a key target for Australian law officials. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) announcing in 2021 that he was a member of a syndicate responsible for bringing $1.5 billion worth of drugs into Australia every year. Pandelis arrest came days before Pandeli was due to travel to Cancun, Mexico for a major Hells Angels meeting. He was due to meet with senior members of the biker group based internationally, which is expected to attract leaders from other motorcycle gangs interested in working with Hells Angels. Pandeli, who joined the Hells Angels biker group in the 2000s, was first linked to the Kinahan Organised Crime Group in June this year following a joint investigation by True Crime Australia, The Times, and The Sunday Times on the Cocaine Inc podcast. The podcast, which is based on investigative reporting across six countries, alleges that Pandeli has formed an alliance with the Irish cartel in Dubai. It claims Pandeli has graduated from simply supplying cocaine to Australia and has now become a global player in the drugs trade, collaborating with the Kinahans to saturate the market both in Australia and beyond According to the ACIC, the supply of cocaine is at its highest level in three decades despite soaring prices. ACIC Deputy CEO of Intelligence, Matt Rippon, said: "The profits are immense and organised crime gangs are here and they are focused. In almost 30 years of being in law enforcement and intelligence, I haven't seen the scale of cocaine that we've seen consistently hitting our shores in the last 12 to 24 months." Cocaine sells for more than $350 a gram in Australia and the countrys profit margins give Pandeli major influence in the global supply chain. Reports from 2012 note that Pandeli had an "extensive criminal history" while president of the Sydney Hells Angels chapter. His movements were on the radar of the AFP and local police units in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and South Australia. The Australian Tax Office previously took the 52-year-old to court for failing to file a tax return in 2014/15, although this charge was thrown out at Sydneys Downing Centre Local Court in 2017 after Pandelis accountant took the blame for paperwork error. Pandeli relocated to Dubai and is believed to have met the Kinahans shortly afterwards, selling his Sydney harbour apartment for $8.6 million. The actor said that an immediate resignation is required from Donohue (with) no explanations, no excuses, no ifs ands or buts. Goodbye. The Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham has demanded the immediate resignation of Minister Paschal Donohoe over an alleged secret phone call to the Israeli government. Taking to X the TV and film actor posted that an immediate resignation is required from Donohue (with) no explanations, no excuses, no ifs ands or buts. Goodbye. He added a link to an article by the online website, The Ditch, claiming that while he was Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe had a phone call with his Israeli counterpart to discuss 'blocking' the bill in 2019. Donohoe didnt record the call, which the Israeli side called confidential, in his ministerial diary, The Ditch claims. The publication quotes documents leaked from the Israeli Ministry of Justice. The Occupied Territories Bill would ban the import and sale of goods produced in settlements that are illegal under international law - including Gaza and the West Bank. However, the Dail has been told this afternoon that Minister for Public Expenditure Pascal Donohoe had no phone call with his Israeli counterpart in 2019 regarding the government's intention to block the Occupied Territories Bill. According to RTE, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he had spoken to Minister Donohoe this morning, who informed him that he did not make such a call and his diary records no such engagement. The Department of Public Expenditure also told Newstalk "a call of this nature never took place". It follows a call by Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy on all Ministers to clarify if they had any such engagements with their Israeli counterparts. Deputy Carthy said that Israel was flagrantly breaching international law in both Gaza and Lebanon and said they will continue to do so because they have never faced consequences for their actions, including genocide against the Palestinian people. The Tanaiste replied that Israel's slaughter of innocent children, women and men should be condemned, as well as the Hamas attack of October 7.. He accused the Israeli government of deploying disproportionate force against Hamas, that resulted in the levelling of Gaza and a high civilian death toll. Referring to the Occupied Territories Bill, he said that advice from previous attorneys general suggested that it would be contrary to EU law. Speaking earlier in New York, the Tanaiste said the Bill is currently being reviewed. "In any event my understanding with the Occupied Territories Bill is that the Attorney-General's advice was that EU competency governs trade and that's why this Government anyway couldn't approve of it, he explained. "That is being reviewed and we've asked the Attorney-General to look at that." On Tuesday afternoon a demonstration calling on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill was staged outside Leinster House. It marked the arrival of South Kerry Friends of Palestine at the Dail who had completed an 11-day relay walk from Co Kerry, during which they collected 40,000 signatures in support of enacting the bill. The demonstration was addressed by a number of speakers including independent Senator Frances Black, who authored the bill. The future of Eastern Bay economic development agency Toi-EDA appears to be in jeopardy as the sub-region's three district councils reconsider their contributions. Whakatane, Kawerau and Opotiki district councils have weighed up their contributions as a means of cutting costs this year. Toi-EDA was formed in 2005 by Whakatane, Kawerau and Opotiki district councils, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Mataatua iwi leaders to promote a co-ordinated approach to regional economic development throughout the Eastern Bay. Its most recent annual report, from 2022-2023, shows it receives around $211,000 a year from Whakatane District Council, $78,000 a year from Opotiki District Council, $25,000 a year from Kawerau District Council and $20,000 a year from Bay of Plenty Regional Council. It receives even greater amounts from fundraising and donations from several central government ministries and industry for such projects as cyclone relief, housing, workforce development, driver training and licensing. Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui said a formal resolution to withdraw funding, representation and participation for the organisation would be made at an upcoming meeting due to tough times. "We need to manage the rates collected from ratepayers wisely, and ensure were getting maximum benefit from every investment we make on their behalf, she said. Councils elected members and the Toi-EDA board met recently and we look forward to finding alternative ways to work together in the future. Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui says Kawerau would look at finding alternative ways to work together with ToiEDA. As part of cost cutting measures put forward in its long-term plan consultation, Opotiki council asked for feedback on plans to reduce its involvement with the agency, meaning the council would no longer be involved in the economic development planning and activities led or supported by Toi EDA. Opotiki Districts capacity for economic growth may be affected by the lack of involvement in this strategic planning, the consultation document said. At a submission hearing to Opotiki councils long-term plan, Toi-EDA trustee Justin Ford-Robinson said the agency had helped bring a lot of investment into the district in the past few years. If nothing else, Covid showed us the importance of strong relationships as part of community resilience, to provide cohesion and support to enable recovery to happen more quickly. To my mind, Toi-EDA is one of those organisations that has very strong relationships through business, through government, through social organisations and it has proved that it has enabled a lot of investment in the region in the last few years, both in business and in social areas. "It has enabled business growth as well as drawn in investment. "Toi-EDA may cost you $60,000 a year but if its bringing in, maybe a million dollars a year, well, the benefits perhaps outweigh the costs. Sometimes we have to think about not just can we afford to do things, but can we afford not to do them. With climate change, a warming world, a number of other pressures that are happening, we are going to see massive change. With Toi-EDA, it is a matter of put in some money and gain some collective outcomes. Whakatane Mayor Vicor Luca, picture below, and Opotiki Mayor David Moore, picured above, are still considering their councils' involvement with Toi-EDA. Whakatane Mayor Victor Luca said Whakatane District Council had not decided yet about its contribution to Toi-EDA. Were in the process of reviewing where we stand on the matter, he said. Mr Ford-Robertson told Local Democracy Reporting that if two of the three councils were not interested, Toi-EDA would have to question whether it had a role. While much of its funding came from sources other than local councils, that funding was conditional on it being a council-led agency. Our kaupapa has been designed on that subregional development so if we didnt have that core funding from councils, where does our mandate come from, really," Mr Ford-Robertson said. "Otherwise, the ministries arent going to put money into us because were not connected to the community. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. New Zealands Kakapo population has declined to 244 after three birds, Ranger, Madeline and Otepoti, died this month. The Kakapo Recovery team said the deaths were unrelated. Five-year-old male Otepoti was a former Waikato resident and trailblazer as he was one of the first kakapo to live on the mainland in almost four decades when he was transferred to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. He did well at the sanctuary and took part in a climbing trial that revealed how the clever birds escape the sanctuary. However, in June, the team made the decision to return Otepoti to one of the offshore islands on the South Island after he breached the sanctuarys fence twice. At his scheduled health check earlier last week, Otepoti was found underweight and unwell. He was immediately transferred to Dunedin Wildlife Hospital for care. He had initially appeared stable but was found dead on Friday morning. His cause of death is unknown. We hope to know more once we have results back from samples that have been sent for testing, the Kakapo Recovery team said on social media. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari general manager Helen Hughes said the team at the maunga was very sad to hear about Otepotis passing. Its just devastating, Hughes said. You see, hes the little man thats on all our videos and photos... He was very adventurous... and - as all kakapo - highly treasured. The team is really invested [in the kakapo] and even though he has gone back to the island down south in June, there is a deep connection and relationship with the team here at the maunga. Hughes said the team was currently working through details on how they would pay tribute to Otepoti and give him a little send-off. Meanwhile, 2-year-old female Madeline had been in care at Dunedin Wildlife Hospital since she was found with a severe beak injury in July. Over 10 weeks, Madeline underwent scans and tests while being monitored closely. With support from international avian vets, it was determined that the damage to her beak was permanent and beyond repair. This, coupled with overall health decline, meant euthanasia was the only option, the Kakapo Recovery team said on social media. Madeline was the result of artificial insemination with Sinbad and Margaret-Maree in the 2022 breeding season. Her grandfather was Richard Henry, the last surviving Fiordland kakapo, so she was a bird of high genetic value. At the start of this month, the Kakapo Recovery team received a mortality signal for a male bird named Ranger on Pukenui Anchor Island. He was found amongst a fallen tree, seemingly killed in a large windfall. Ranger was 5 years old and known for his distinctive narrow face with endearing, deep-set eyes. Ngai Tahu Representative on the Kakapo Recovery Group Tane Davis said it was tremendously sad to lose three kakapo in such a short space of time. Unfortunately, injuries and illnesses are some of the forces of nature that we are up against when working with these manu, he said. As per tikanga, we had a Ngai Tahu representative attend the [Dunedin Wildlife] hospital to perform karakia following the passing of Madeline and Otepoti. I would like to acknowledge the ... hospital staff who tried their best to repair Madelines beak and cared for Otepoti when he was discovered to be unwell. Department of Conservation kakapo operations manager Deidre Vercoe said with less than 250 birds, the kakapo population was critically endangered. While a level of mortality is to be expected in any population, the recent loss of three birds... over the last month is a reminder of their vulnerability, Vercoe said. The next kakapo breeding season is predicted to be in 2026 and we look forward to this opportunity to support the growth of the population. Until then we will continue to monitor the population with remote technologies and via annual health checks. Danielle Zollickhofer is a multimedia journalist and assistant news director at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton. With the granting of long-awaited resource consents for a marina and industrial park, developer Chris Peterson is excited to start work on what he describes as the final piece of the puzzle for Opotikis aquaculture and marine industry. The Environment Court ordered the granting of resource consent for the development last week after a mediation process saw Opotiki Marina and Industrial Park (OMAI) come to an agreement with Whakatohea hapu groups that had contested the consents. This is really exciting news for the Opotiki community. For Whakatohea as well, Mr Peterson said. The agreement between OMAI and hapu groups included the formation of a tangata whenua liason group, Nga Hapu o te Whakatohea Engagement Group, to provide ongoing feedback on the development. Theres a lot of goodwill there and theres going to be some good co-operation within the hapu engagement group, so were pretty positive about that going forward," he said. All six hapu of Whakatohea will be involved with the group. It was great that we achieved this through a mediation with all parties and everybody agreed and signed off on it. So it hasnt come through as a court order. He feels confident work will begin next year. The focus will be on getting the harbour basin open and functional for the aquaculture industry so we will have a place for the boats to berth safely out of the river. All going well, we are looking at a build time for the first stage of nearly 12 months. The project initially received $7 million equity funding through the Provincial Growth Fund and a loan of $1.8 million, but because of the resource consent delays, costs had increased. He said he was in the process of securing more funding to cover that. We are the last piece in the jigsaw. Youve got the sea farm. Youve got the mussel factory. Youve got the boats. Youve got the harbour entrance. What we will supply is the interface between the deep water and the land, so that the connection right through from the sea to the mussel factory is now one continuous Opotiki operation. At the seawall opening last week, former chairman of the Whakatohea pre-settlement board Robert Edwards named the project as one of the next challenges for the district. Opotiki Marina and Industrial Park director Chris Peterson is hoping to begin work on the development in early 2025. Photo supplied. Mr Peterson said while the main focus for the development was to support the aquaculture industry, there would be other benefits. Other spinoffs that are going to come from this are a marina for pleasure craft, but also opportunities for fishing and dive charters and other entrepreneurial endeavors that can make use of having out port facility. We will have the hard stand and the travel lift and a whole industry based around boat maintenance and boat building. There is a lack of facilities throughout New Zealand, so there are some good opportunities for some good industry to develop in Opotiki. Theyll be high paying jobs. They are going to bring a whole lot of economic prosperity to the town. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. A contract for a new Police boat, Deodar IV, has been inked, and construction is due to begin in January 2025. The new boat will feature improvements to make it more fit for purpose, including an extended wheelhouse which provides more space and better visibility, Office in Charge of Auckland Maritime Unit, Senior Sergeant Garry Larsen, said. Once the new boat undergoes sea trials in December 2026, it will replace Deodar III in assisting in several tasks, including attending crime scenes, apprehending offenders, and medical emergencies to search and rescue. The medical bay and prisoner transport area have also been modified to suit the needs of those spaces, and we are pleased there will be carbon emission reduction features, Larsen said. Deodar III saw action during the 2019 Whakaari eruption, assisting with inter-agency operations and acting as a platform for the Police National Dive Squad. Deodar IV will be a like-for-like replacement the same overall size at 18.7m long and with the same sleek marine-grade aluminium catamaran design as Deodar III. Its vital that we get the design of the boat right and ensure that its fit for the diverse and demanding job it will be doing. Deodar III has patrolled the Hauraki Gulf and coastline since 2007, and at nearly 17 years old, it requires increasing maintenance and repairs to keep it seaworthy. Like Deodar III, the new vessel will be designed for stability, reliability and flexibility in various tasks. Funding for the new Deodar IV was approved in December 2022, and was confirmed in the 2024 Budget. The successful tenderer, announced last year, was Whanganui-based Q-West which built Deodar III, the Wellington Police launch Lady Liz IV, and Customs boat Hawk V. Teknicraft Design Ltd, of Beachlands, Auckland, is designing the boat. This fall will mark six months since the death of Paul Auster, who had a fixation on games of chance. In fact, he said that a wrong telephone number inspired his famous novel City of Glass. Apparently, he received a call at night in which he was urgently asked about the Pinkerton detective agency. After clarifying that they had made a mistake, there was another call the following night. The American writer and screenwriter gave the same answer, but began to entertain an idea: if the same mistake occurred on the third night, he would say that he was a detective and begin the investigation. That call did not happen, but in the field of fiction it did, giving rise to the first novel of The New York Trilogy. The lottery of destiny would continue to feature in his books, with novels such as The Music of Chance. In fact, Austers fascination with coincidences led him to write about all the ones he had experienced in The Red Notebook. Among the many he compiles, he tells of a friend who spent months trying to locate a certain book that was as exceptional as it was difficult to find. Anxious to read it, he went to dozens of bookstores and searched through catalogs, all without success. After finally giving up, one afternoon he took a shortcut through the Grand Central train station and went up the stairs that lead to New Yorks Vanderbilt Avenue. And it was there, suddenly, that he saw a girl leaning on the railing with a book in her hand: the same one he had spent months desperately looking for. Austers friend did not usually talk to strangers, but he was so amazed that he confessed to the young woman that he had been looking for that book for a long time. Its great, she said. I just finished reading it. Another coincidence. If it was already unlikely for the book which was impossible to find in bookstores containing thousands of novels to appear in the hands of a stranger, the fact that she had just finished reading it at the moment he had discovered her was even more unusual. The protagonist of this story asked the girl where he could buy the book, emphasizing that it meant a lot to him. She gave it to him, but Austers friend initially resisted accepting it, telling the girl that it was hers. It was mine, she replied, but Ive already finished it, and Ive come here today to give it to you. In the resolution of this tale, perhaps the reader recreated the situation to give it an enigmatic ending, but that does not take away the magic of this coincidence. Among the millions of books that exist, what was the probability that the girl on the stairs had finished reading the exact novel that the other was looking for? We tend to think in terms of cause and effect, but in cases like this, theres no rational cause to explain what happened. Is it chance? Coincidence? A causality of hidden origin? The Swiss psychiatrist, psychologist and essayist Carl Gustav Jung called it synchronicity, which he defined as the simultaneity of two events linked by meaning, but in a non-causal way. Everyone experiences these meaningful coincidences on a daily basis. You think of an old friend for the first time in a long time, and just then they get in touch with you. Or an even more common synchronicity: you think of a song and the person in front of you starts humming it. For Jung who published the book Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle at the end of his life, there is an undiscovered causality beneath many of these coincidences. Perhaps they fascinate us precisely because they point to a hidden order within our chaotic world. Although a large part of the population has stopped believing in a higher power, we like to think that everything happens for a reason, that in the end what we experience has meaning. It is mans search for meaning, like the work of the Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. From this point of view, synchronicities are clues that reveal the secret course of our lives. And the more alert we are to them, the more we will find. Returning to Paul Auster, in his book I Thought My Father Was God, he selected true stories that listeners sent to a public radio program he hosted. Many of them deal with this kind of occurrence. One man in Oregon claimed that every time he saw a tire rolling down the road, which happened several times, he had a job opportunity. We may think its just chance, but Carl Gustav Jung suggested that, like dreams, synchronicities guide us on decisions we need to make or prepare us for a change that is about to happen. Jung's Birds In his book on synchronicity, the Swiss psychiatrist describes it as the simultaneous occurrence of a certain psychic state with one or more external events which appear as meaningful parallels to the momentary subjective state. As an example, he writes that the wife of a patient told him that when her mother and died grandmother, she had observed the same phenomenon: a flock of birds had gathered at the windows of the mortuary chamber, as if they were there to say goodbye to the deceased. Some time later, Jungs patient, who was in his fifties, went to have some heart tests done after noticing some discomfort. The specialist found no cause for alarm. However, the patient collapsed as soon as he left the office and was brought home in a critical state. His wife was anxiously waiting for him because shortly after he left for the doctor, a flock of birds had alighted on their house. Francesc Miralles is a writer and journalist specializing in psychology. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Pumpkin beer, whether you love it or hate it, is a fall essential for many, and one Upstate NY beer maker brews one of the best pumpkin-spiced ales in the country. Southern Tier Brewing Companys Pumking Imperial Ale was ranked number six on USA Todays list of best fall beers to enjoy before theyre gone. The autumnal brew moved up the list this year after being ranked ninth in 2023. Pumking Imperial Ale from the Southern Tier Brewing Company has been named one of the top 10 fall beers in the United States by USA Today's 10Best.SYR USA Today describes the Munich malt as basically pumpkin pie in a glass with its notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and allspice. Southern Tier Brewing Co., based in Chautauqua Countys village of Lakewood, has a whole family of Pumking beers to choose from, including their Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout and Caramel Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Southern Tier Brewery tap house in Lakewood, NY on June 29, 2024. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.comSunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com If pumpkin beer is not your thing, the Western NY brewery also offers a seasonal Harvest Autumn IPA, which they describe on their website as having a spicy pine flavor with overtones of grapefruit and fresh hops. You can find Southern Tiers Pumking available from August to October. Southern Tier Brewery tap house in Lakewood, NY on June 29, 2024. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.comSunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Southern Tier runs tap houses in Lakewood and Buffalo in New York as well as out-of-state locations in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Charlotte, North Carolina. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist is facing a manslaughter charge over a fatal crash. Josh Klinghoffer, whos played guitar for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Janes Addiction, is scheduled to be arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence Thursday. Klinghoffer, 44, is accused of hitting and killing a man in an auto-pedestrian crash on March 18. According to KTLA, 47-year-old Israel Sanchez was walking in a crosswalk in in Alhambra, California, when he was struck by a GMC Yukon driven by Klinghoffer. Video from a nearby security camera reportedly showed Klinghoffer immediately got out of his car and called 911. Sanchez was pronounced dead later that day at a nearby hospital. Deadline reports Sanchezs family claims Klinghoffer was likely driving while distracted and made no efforts to brake or slow down until after he fatally struck Mr. Sanchez. In a civil lawsuit, attorneys for Sanchezs family say video taken seconds before the crash shows Klinghoffer appeared to be on his phone. A lawyer for Klinghoffer denied that he was on his phone. This was a tragic accident. There was no criminal intent, nor is any alleged, Klinghoffers attorney Andrew B. Brettler told KTLA. Klinghoffer played guitar for the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, recording two albums with RHCP (Im With You in 2011 and The Getaway in 2016). Klinghoffer became the youngest member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he was inducted with the band at age 32 in 2012. According to Blabbermouth, Klinghoffer was fired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2019, before guitarist John Frusciante returned to the group. Klinghoffer toured with Pearl Jam this year and has also performed with Janes Addiction, Gnarls Barkley, Iggy Pop, Morrissey and as the solo act Pluralone. To the Editor: As People of Faith, we believe that everyone is created in Gods image and we are commanded to love one another. As Americans, we value our system of government and the good that can be accomplished in our constitutional democracy. Today, we are concerned about a persistent threat to both our religious communities and our democracy Christian nationalism. Christian nationalism seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and Americas constitutional democracy. Christian nationalism demands Christianity be privileged by the State and implies that to be a good American, one must be Christian. It often overlaps with and provides cover for white supremacy and racial subjugation. We reject this damaging political ideology and invite our brothers and sisters to join us in opposing this threat to our faith communities and to our nation. As People of Faith & Conscience, we are bound to our faith traditions which respect the dignity of all persons as equals in the eyes of the divine. We believe that: People of all faiths or none have the right and responsibility to engage constructively in the public square. Patriotism does not require us to minimize our religious convictions. Ones religious affiliation, or lack thereof, should be irrelevant to ones standing in the civic community. Government should not prefer one religion over another or religion over nonreligion. Religious instruction is best left to our houses of worship, other religious institutions and families. Americas historic commitment to religious pluralism enables faith communities to live in civic harmony with one another without sacrificing our theological convictions. Conflating religious authority with political authority is idolatrous and often leads to oppression of minority and other marginalized groups as well as the spiritual impoverishment of religion. We must stand up to and speak out against Christian nationalism, especially when it inspires acts of violence and intimidationincluding vandalism, bomb threats, arson, hate crimes, and attacks on houses of worshipagainst religious communities at home and abroad. Whether we worship at a church, mosque, synagogue or temple, America has no second-class faiths. People of faith and those of non-religious conscience are equal under the U.S. Constitution. As People of Faith & Conscience, we must speak in one voice condemning the ideology of Christian nationalism as a threat to American democracy. Signed by: Interfaith Racial Equity Network of CNY Affiliations are noted for personal identification only, not as endorsements by those entities. Rev. Craig French | Plymouth Congregational Church [UCC], Syracuse Peter Sarver | St. Lucys Catholic Church, Syracuse Thomas Boll | University United Methodist Church, Syracuse Peter Lotto | Trinity Episcopal Church, Fayetteville David Babcock St. Augustines Catholic Church, Baldwinsville Rev. Julie Calhoun-Bryant | St. Albans Episcopal Church, Syracuse Rev. Fred Daley | All Saints Catholic Church, Syracuse JoAnn Ottman | Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church, DeWitt Judy Holmes | St. James Episcopal Church, Skaneateles Rev. Gary Smith | Center for Racial Justice [UCC], Homer Arnold Hook | Plymouth Congregational Church, Syracuse Rev. Andrea Abbott | Plymouth Church, Syracuse Howard Arden Blair | Syracuse University, Syracuse Nelson Price | University United Methodist Church, Syracuse This statement also is endorsed by 78 individuals and organizations available for viewing at this link: ENDORSERS IREN is sponsoring the free viewing of God & Country, the Rob Reiner-produced documentary on Christian nationalism, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at University United Methodist Church, 1085 E. Genesee St., Syracuse. New York Mayor Eric Adams was officially indicted on Thursday with five charges related to bribery, wire fraud and soliciting contributions from foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official to fund his mayoral campaign in 2021. That same year, the FBI opened an investigation into these campaign contributions. In exchange for these funds, the Democrat allegedly expedited the permits for the new headquarters of the Turkish consulate in New York, and granted other requests. For a decade, Adams sought and accepted valuable improper benefits, including luxury international travel, from foreign businesspeople and a senior Turkish official who sought to gain influence over him, states the indictment, which was unsealed Thursday morning. Indeed, Adams pressure on the citys Fire Department expedited the occupancy permit for the consulate, a brand-new skyscraper that was suspected of several security breaches, the indictment says. The indictment alleges that Adams accepted illegal contributions to his campaign in 2018, when he announced his plans to run for mayor. These contributions were made by straw donors including an unknown Turkish university with a campus in Washington and foreign agents, according to the investigation led by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office, and carried out by the FBI. The indictment is similar to the case against veteran Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, who was convicted in July of 16 crimes, including receiving bribes from Egypt in exchange for preferential treatment. The indictment was unsealed by the Southern District Court of New York, in Manhattan, just a few steps from City Hall and the mayors official residence, which FBI agents searched Thursday morning, seizing his cell phone. Adams who before becoming mayor was a New York State senator and police captain is now the first mayor of New York to be charged while in office. Adams has denied the charges, and asked New Yorkers to wait to hear his version of events before judging him. The indictment comes just a few months before the municipal elections on November 4, when Adams is hoping to win a second term. The Democrat who took office in January 2022 on a platform of law and order said he has no intention of resigning, and his lawyer confirmed that he is cooperating with the justice system. After The New York Times reported Wednesday night that Adams was set to face federal charges, without providing more details, the mayor released a video in which he maintained his innocence and said that defending New Yorkers would always make him a target. Adams called the charges entirely false and based on lies. The charges were filed shortly after federal prosecutors demanded that the city reveal all communications maintained by the Adams administration with Turkey and five other countries. The indictment caps a tumultuous few weeks in the city government, after several senior officials all of them close to Adams, including members of the police department resigned after being investigated for corruption. At a press conference after the charges were filed, prosecutor Damian Williams described Adams conduct as a grave breach of the publics trust. The scandal also threatens to hurt the Democratic Party, and if only to distance herself from the affair fellow Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came forward to call for his immediate resignation on Wednesday. Ocasio-Cortez who is from the progressive wing of the party and Adams a centrist Democrat with a strong personal profile have never hidden their differences, but the indictment has forced New York Democrats to try to erect a firewall in the final stretch of the campaign for the November elections. Adams has been a kind of loose cannon in the Democratic Party, prone to bombastic initiatives that never got off the ground, such as his security plans for the citys subway or hiring friendly robots as urban patrols. When he was elected mayor, he faced the challenge of revitalizing the citys economy, which had been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. But his ambitious plans have been slowed by issues such as public insecurity, which he once claimed to be able to defeat, and the immigration crisis, with tens of thousands of migrants arriving in the city. His administration has been criticized for militarizing the subway, locking up homeless people with mental problems in psychiatric hospitals against their will and increasing the citys budget deficit. But none of these setbacks compare with being the first mayor of New York to be indicted. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is hosting its 25th annual Salmon River Fish Hatchery Open House and Family Day on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. The Salmon River Fish Hatchery is located at 2133 County Route 22 in Altmar. Hatchery staff will take guests on a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the facility, which each year stocks more than 100 public waters, including Lake Ontario, with 3.5 million trout and salmon. Even regular visitors to the hatchery will appreciate the redesigned fish observation decks, which are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, and offer better-than-ever views of migrating salmon. Visitors can also check out the indoor aquaria and learn about rare and threatened fish species in New York State. Kids can learn how to cast a fishing rod on the grounds outside. The rectangular fish tanks will be replaced with circular tanks that allow for a more efficient use of water. Several conservation organizations, fishing and hunting clubs, and outdoor recreation groups will also be there sharing information about their roles in the Salmon River corridor and the Lake Ontario ecosystem. Thanks to the hatchery, the Salmon River is a world-class fishery for migrating Lake Ontario trout and salmon, and the fish are running strong right now. The Salmon River has nearly 12 miles of public access anchored in the village of Pulaski. After you tour the hatchery, go to the Route 11 bridge in Pulaski to watch anglers jostle on the riverbank for a chance to land a big king salmon, coho, or brown trout. Or head to nearby Salmon River Falls Unique Area, located about six miles from the hatchery. The area offers hiking trails, including a short quarter-mile accessible crushed stone trail leading to two observation points for a 110-foot waterfall that offer views of spectacular scenery. Visit DECs website for more information about the Salmon River Fish Hatchery, Salmon River Falls Unique Area. For specific questions about the open house, please contact Betsy Ukeritis, DEC Environmental Educator, at (315) 314-0768. The hatchery is open to the public for self-guided tours 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., every day, April through November. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: READ MORE Carpenters Brook hosts annual Sportsmens Days event this weekend - newyorkupstate.com Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors. Washington Two Republican members of Congress from Central New York split on a House vote Wednesday for a short-term spending bill that would avert a federal government shutdown next week. Rep. Brandon Williams, R-Sennett, voted with the majority of both parties for a bill that would extend funding for federal programs through Dec. 20. Albany, N.Y. Three county officials from upstate New York accused of conspiring to commit ballot fraud in 2021 local elections were found not guilty of all charges by a federal jury Wednesday. The three Rensselaer County officials were charged by federal prosecutors last year of conspiring to use their positions to obtain absentee ballots in voters names through fraud and intimidation. The trio, who were involved in strategy for Republican candidates, then allegedly conspired to cast false and illegal votes in those voters names. The conspirators were trying to prevent Democratic candidates from appearing on the Working Families Party line in the general election, according to prosecutors. A jury began deliberating Monday after a two-week trial in federal court in Albany. The jury on Wednesday acquitted Richard W. Crist, James R. Gordon and Leslie A. Wallace of conspiring to violate the rights of county voters in connection with the 2021 elections. The jury additionally found Gordon not guilty of witness tampering and found Wallace not guilty of making false statements. We thank the jury for their careful and fair consideration, Crist said outside the courthouse, according to the Times Union of Albany. We want to thank all our supporters, our friends and family, for tremendous support when many walked away. There were lonely days, but you stood by us, and this is your victory, too. Last year Jason Schofield, a former Republican Rensselaer County elections commissioner, pleaded guilty to applying for absentee ballots in the names of other registered voters. What just happened? It's hard to find a company these days that isn't going all in on generative AI. Despite the pushback and job losses, we're seeing more video game giants embracing the technology with gusto. Nintendo, however, isn't one of them, with Shigeru Miyamoto revealing that when it comes to AI, his company would "rather go in a different direction." Miyamoto, the creator of some of Nintendo's most successful franchises (Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, etc.), still serves as one of the company's representative directors and an executive. In an interview with The New York Times that was part of the celebrations of the just-opened Nintendo Museum, Miyamoto talked about what makes the Japanese gaming giant different. He cited AI as an example of how the company is taking a different approach to its competitors. "It might seem like we are just going the opposite direction for the sake of going in the opposite direction, but it really is trying to find what makes Nintendo special," Miyamoto said. "There is a lot of talk about AI, for example," he continued. "When that happens, everyone starts to go in the same direction, but that is where Nintendo would rather go in a different direction." Going in a different direction doesn't necessarily mean Nintendo isn't going to touch artificial intelligence at all. Company president Shuntaro Furukawa said in July that generative AI can be used "in creative ways," though he added the caveat that it "also raises issues with intellectual property rights." "We have decades of know-how in creating the best gaming experiences for our players," Furukawa added. "While we are open to utilizing technological developments, we will work to continue delivering value that is unique to Nintendo and cannot be created by technology alone." It appears that one area of AI that Nintendo might be using is a detection tool that can identify copyrighted images and serve takedown notices. A company called Tracer issued DMCA complaints to X users who had posted non-family friendly images of Mario, many of which were created by xAI's Grok, which doesn't have guardrails as strict as those found in ChatGPT and similar chatbots. Generative AI continues to propagate within the gaming industry. Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson praised the technology this year, claiming it is set to make EA 30% more efficient while boosting monetization by 20% over the next five years. He also thinks it will convince players to spend 10-20% more money on its games. There's also Embracer a company that has laid off 1,500 people over the last year which unveiled its "human-centric" AI-powered game development ambitions in June. Nvidia is pushing generative AI into games harder than anyone, which isn't a surprise, given that it makes most of the advanced chips powering the tech. Its Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) for Games is said to allow players to have natural language conversations with NPCs like they were talking to a real person. It will debut in mech fighting game Mecha BREAK next year. More recently, CEO Jensen Huang said "We can't do computer graphics anymore without artificial intelligence," referring to upscaling tech like DLSS. The big picture: Intel has finally identified all the underlying culprits behind the instability issues plaguing its 13th- and 14th-gen processors. While the company previously recognized the root cause, it did not provide a comprehensive analysis. Now, alongside the results of its lengthy investigation, Intel is also rolling out a second microcode update to hopefully put these issues to bed once and for all. The root of the problem, as Intel explains, lies in a clock tree circuit within the IA core itself that becomes prone to failure when subjected to high voltage and temperature conditions. This failure causes a shift in the clock duty cycle, which then manifests as system instability. Intel zeroed in on four key operating scenarios that were triggering this. First is the motherboard power delivery exceeding Intel's guidance, providing the chips with too much voltage. The solution for this is applying Intel's Default Settings, which the company recommended back in June. There's also an issue with the eTVB microcode algorithm that allows the CPUs to boost into high-performance states even at high temperatures. The SVID microcode algorithm requesting higher voltages at certain frequencies/durations than the silicon could handle was also singled out as a trigger. The final culprit is the microcode and BIOS requesting elevated voltages during idle/light workloads. The mitigations are being rolled into a new 0x12B microcode update that encompasses previous 0x125 and 0x129 patches. 0x125 addressed the eTVB algorithm issue, while 0x129 tackled the high voltage requests. 0x12B builds on those by enforcing stricter voltage control during idle and/or light activity periods. Motherboard makers are now working to integrate 0x12B via upcoming BIOS updates, according to Intel. The rollout could take weeks. It's important to note that this microcode can only prevent the Vmin shift instability from occurring and cannot fix CPUs that are already affected by the issue. Those will need to be replaced by Intel under the warranty extension program (let us know if they refuse). Once swapped for a fresh chip, installing the latest microcode update becomes crucial to avoid a repeat situation. Intel assures that there will be no significant performance impact from the 0x12B patch. The company also reiterated that its mobile CPUs and upcoming Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake desktop parts are unaffected by this flaw. Facepalm: Mozilla recently introduced a controversial technology designed to help advertisers while preserving users' privacy. However, a European privacy watchdog says that while it's "less invasive" than tracking cookies, it is still tracking without consent. It has asked regulators to open a GDRP investigation. Mozilla introduced the Privacy-Preserving Attribution API with Firefox 128, stating that it would measure ad "performance" without employing third-party servers to track what Firefox users were doing online. The European Center for Digital Rights, also known as Noyb (none of your business), has now filed a complaint against the US company, lamenting that the new API is just switching control of the tracking process to the browser instead of eliminating it. Nyob claims that Firefox is tracking users now instead of individual websites. Privacy-conscious users could consider this an improvement over traditional behavioral profiling with invasive cookies. However, Mozilla doesn't ask users for permission and enables the feature by default. The opt-out feature is similar to Google's Privacy Sandbox initiative, which promised to kill third-party cookies using browser-based tracking but failed. While PPA is considered a less invasive tracking alternative in the US, Nyob stated, it still violates Europe's General Data Protection Regulation. "Mozilla has just bought into the narrative that the advertising industry has a right to track users by turning Firefox into an ad measurement tool," said Nyob data protection lawyer Felix Mikolasch. Users have not been informed or asked for consent about the new tracking API, and Mozilla doesn't even mention the feature in its policies. Users should always have the right to choose, and Firefox should turn off PPA tracking by default. "It's a shame that an organization like Mozilla believes that users are too dumb to say yes or no," Mikolasch said. Nyob is now asking the Austrian data protection authority (DSB) to investigate Mozilla and request that the company delete all "unlawfully" processed data. Mozilla recently explained that Privacy-Preserving Attribution was an attempt to usher in a "new era" for privacy and digital advertising a prototype it would have proposed become a new standard approved by the World Wide Web Consortium. As the DSB considers Nyob's complaint, Mozilla is in the earliest phase of PPA implementation. The organization confirmed that Firefox 128 included the feature's initial code. However, it remains unactivated and hasn't begun collecting, recording, or sending end-user data. Mozilla has already started limited testing of the PPA API on its Developer Network website, and the company still thinks this is the right approach to improve advertising and privacy online. In brief: Makers of AI PCs and processors will be happy with the news that people are buying these products, which feature NPUs designed to accelerate AI tasks. The less welcome caveat is that according to a new report, many people are purchasing them simply because they want or need a new PC not because of the AI features. The latest IDC Research report shows that shipments of personal computing devices are expected to grow 2.6% year over year in 2024 to 398.9 million units. The report notes how pretty much every PC company these days pushes the benefits of their machines' NPUs and AI smarts, but most people buy them because they want a new or upgraded PC, as opposed to specifically requiring an AI PC. "While AI has been a buzzword of late, it has yet to be a purchase driver among PC buyers," said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager, Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. "Businesses certainly recognize the importance of AI though many struggle to see the immediate use case and instead are opting for AI PCs as a means to futureproofing." Ubrani adds that manufacturers should explain better to consumers what an NPU is, why it's important, and why they might need one. The fact that all new processors have built-in NPUs means AI PC sales will continue to grow, even if people don't care about their headline capabilities. Ubrani also points out that the inclusion of an NPU and the early hardware requirements for AI tasks mean premium laptops are coming with more storage and memory, which is increasing the average selling price. In July, a survey of 22,000 people found that 84% were not willing to pay extra for a PC or hardware just because it offered enhanced AI capabilities. Looking at PCs overall (excluding tablets), IDC writes that the traditional PC market will remain flat in 2024 with 261 million units shipped as growth stagnates at just 0.3%. That figure would be 2.8% when excluding China, which is experiencing several economic challenges that are impacting the PC market. Next year should be better, though, as the end of Windows 10 support is expected to spur commercial buyers to upgrade, pushing growth to 4.3%. The tablet industry is a bright spot in the report. Slate sales are up 7.2% compared to last year as shipments reach 137.9 million, as manufacturers release more powerful models with larger screens. We're used to seeing Apple dominate this area, but growth has been driven by Android tablets in emerging regions. Unfortunately for OEMs, tablet growth is expected to hit 0% by 2028 as smartphones become larger and more powerful (and more foldables arrive) and tablets struggle in the face of touch-capable laptops. KYODO NEWS - Sep 26, 2024 - 17:39 | World North Korea may conduct a nuclear test after the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, a South Korean lawmaker said Thursday, citing South Korea's spy agency. Though the possibility of a nuclear test to be held ahead of the election cannot be ruled out, it is more likely to be afterward, Lee Sung Kwon, a member of the National Assembly's intelligence committee, told reporters following a briefing by the National Intelligence Service. If North Korea carries out a nuclear test, it would be its first since September 2017 and the seventh such test. The NIS told the intelligence committee that a nuclear test could be accompanied by an array of other provocative acts such as a satellite launch and the test-firing of missiles, according to Lee. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a uranium enrichment base earlier this month where he stressed the need for Pyongyang to bolster its self-defense as well as its ability to launch a preemptive attack. The official Korean Central News Agency published images of Kim inspecting the base on Sept. 13, the first time state media had detailed the leader's in-person inspection of such a facility. While the location of the base was not revealed, South Korea's NIS assumes it was likely the one in Kangson, rather than Yongbyon, according to Park Sun Won, another member of the intelligence committee. Related coverage: North Korea's Kim tours uranium enrichment site, KCNA reports North Korea fires missiles toward Sea of Japan, no damage reported Japanese firm referred to prosecutors for importing North Korean clams The Samsung Galaxy S25 has created much buzz. Now, it is the turn of the Galaxy S25 Plus since its processor has been seen on benchmark platforms. Though North American and European variants of the Galaxy S25 Ultra had already wooed everybody, the S25 Plus, running on Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, sets higher performance benchmarks. Galaxy S25 Plus Vs S25 Ultra The US variant of Galaxy S25 Plus has also appeared on Geekbench, showing support for Qualcomm's advanced Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip. In the European model of S25 Ultra, a non-customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset keeps clocking at 4.47 GHz, while the former hosts two performance cores clocked at a different speed of 4.19 GHz. That makes up for a small performance gap between the two variants regarding multicore scores. But compare the US models, and the Galaxy S25 Plus beats the S25 Ultra in multicore benchmarks, considering that both devices are capped at 4.19 GHz. Such a slight lead hints at Samsung having optimized the S25 Plus for better performance, maybe because its slightly smaller display and lower pixel count relieve it of stressful GPU loads. Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leak: New Camera Lens, Upgrades Coming Soon? Custom Snapdragon for Galaxy: The Unique Association from Samsung and Qualcomm The custom-tailored version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor by Qualcomm, led by Samsung, will power the S25 series. Branding it "Snapdragon for Galaxy" will ensure performance makes giant leaps forward while sipping on minimum power. Work on the final iteration of the chipset may still be in progress with Qualcomm fine-tuning the final engineering prototypes to balance out the power draw with performance. Typically, Samsung's custom Snapdragon processors are graded a bit higher than the standard versions, which is how the European version of the Galaxy S25 Ultra can be expected to function with two performance cores at 4.47 GHz and six midrange efficiency cores at 3.53 GHz. All these new improvements promise the power of the Galaxy S25 Ultra; still, the S25 Plus holds all the benchmarking cards for now. Display Contrasts: Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus of Advantage One reason the Galaxy S25 Plus is better at benchmarking than the Ultra is its display, Phone Arena reports. The former has a smaller screen size and less number of pixels. This means the GPU has to do relatively less work regarding refreshing the display, which is rendered graphically. That tiny graphical load increase is why, sometimes, depending on the question test, the S25 Plus can outrun the Ultra, as both sport the same processor architecture. The War Against the iPhone 16 Pro With the internal battle raging for Samsung's Galaxy S25 Plus and S25 Ultra, preliminary benchmarks already suggest that the new flagship series by Samsung will beat Apple's line for the iPhone 16 Pro. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and what it combines with Samsung's custom optimizations bring a level of power in a package well ahead of even Apple's services in AI-driven work and overall performance. Related Article: New Samsung Galaxy S25 Lineup Will Boast Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Processors Worldwide, Kuo Says The Walt Disney Company on Wednesday officially launched a new paid sharing program for its subscribers. The aim is to crack down on password and account sharing on its Disney+ streaming service and increase profitability. This means subscribers sharing their Disney+ account with family members or friends outside their household will no longer be able to share it with them. They will be required to pay extra to add that person to their Disney+ account subscription. Disney+ paid sharing features and capabilities are now available in the United States (U.S.), Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region after being launched in select markets over the summer. Your Disney+ subscription is meant to be used within your Household, which is a collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside there, the company wrote in a blog post on Wednesday. But what about people outside of your Household? They will need to sign up and pay for their own subscription or be added as an Extra Member to your account for an additional monthly fee to continue enjoying Disney+. Account holders who want to add someone outside their Household to their Disney+ subscription can do so by paying extra for that Extra Member. For instance, an Extra Member profile will cost an additional $6.99 monthly for Disney+ Basic subscriptions and $9.99 for Disney+ Premium subscriptions in the U.S. It is important to note that only one Extra Member can be added per primary account. Currently, the Extra Member option is unavailable for Disney Bundle subscribers (which can include Hulu or Hulu and ESPN+) or subscribers billed through third-party partners. As an alternative to Extra Member, anyone outside the Household can sign up for their own subscription to watch Disney+. As the account holder, they can transfer an eligible profile to a new subscription or Extra Member to keep that profiles Disney+ watch history and settings. However, certain profiles, such as primary profiles (account holders), minors profiles, and those set to Junior Mode, cannot be transferred. Additionally, the company said that Disney+ users who are away from home or traveling can still watch Disney+ on their supported devices as the account holder or members of their Household. According to Disney, If youre on the go and you see the message This TV doesnt seem to be part of the Household for this account, you can mark yourself as IM AWAY FROM HOME, or select UPDATE HOUSEHOLD if youve recently moved and need to reset the Household location for your Disney+ subscription. These selections will require a one-time passcode thats sent to the email address associated with the account. Disney is increasing prices on most of its plans effective October 17th. For instance, the Disney+ Basic (with ads) plan will cost $9.99/month from its previous $7.99, while the Disney+ Premium (no ads) plan will go up from $13.99 to $15.99/month. Similarly, Hulu (with ads) will cost $9.99/month, up by $2, and Hulu (no ads) will be raised to $18.99/month from its previous $17.99/month. This move from Disney follows Netflixs successful move to curb password sharing, which has seen the popular video-streaming giant add millions of new subscribers since the crackdown began last year. For instance, Netflix added 13.1 new million subscribers in the three months ending in December 2023 and over 9 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2024. Storms, heavy rains kill four in Mumbai region Mumbai, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 Storms and heavy rains have killed at least four people in India's financial capital Mumbai and the surrounding region, forcing schools to close and disrupting train services, officials and local reports said Thursday. Some parts of the city had received over 230 millimetres (nine inches) of rain during a five-hour period on Wednesday evening, according to the Times of India newspaper, which cited data from local weather stations. Local television broadcast images of harried commuters making their way through knee-deep water that partially submerged vehicles in different parts of Mumbai on Wednesday night. One 45-year-old woman drowned in the suburb of Andheri, a municipal official told AFP. Two labourers were also killed after being struck by lightning in the city of Kalyan, around 40 kilometres outside Mumbai, while another woman drowned near a waterfall in Khopoli, according to local media reports. Schools were ordered shut on Thursday and municipal authorities called on residents to avoid leaving their homes if possible. Water on local railway tracks caused trains to be delayed and run at "cautious speeds" on Wednesday night. "As the water recedes, the train will continue its journey to your destination," India's central railway said in a post on X. Australia to offer debt relief for climate-hit nations Sydney, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 From next year Australia will start offering natural-disaster-hit countries the chance to pause debt repayments in a bid to help stabilise climate-vulnerable Pacific neighbours. Australia's Foreign Affairs Department told AFP that "climate resilient debt clauses" would be offered on sovereign loan deals "by the end of 2025". "These clauses will help small and vulnerable countries build economic resilience, allowing them to pause debt repayments in the event of disasters," a spokesperson said. "Australia is committed to addressing climate change by taking action to support climate-vulnerable countries in our region." These types of clauses have become popular in recent years, with bilateral and multilateral lenders seeking to reduce the stress on smaller countries that are often already struggling to repay their debt. Last year, several bilateral and multilateral lenders -- including the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank -- announced they would roll out the clause in their loans. There are 44 countries eligible for the World Bank's clause in the case of natural disasters, and many are Australia's neighbours, including Vanuatu, Nauru, Kiribati and Fiji. Australia is one of the largest donors and lenders to the climate-vulnerable South Pacific, where many nations also face dire fiscal pressures. In recent years China has been offering more loans and investment into the region. Last year, Britain announced its first climate-related debt clause with Senegal and Guyana, and is working to extend the offer to a further 10 countries. Floods threaten Niger's historic 'gateway to the desert' Agadez, Niger, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 Its winding allies, ancient mosque and ochre earthen houses helped bestow on Agadez its UNESCO World Heritage status, but the town in Niger is now under threat from flooding. Overflowing rivers are no longer a rarity in the vast arid nation on the edge of the Sahara Desert. But the rainy season this year has been particularly devastating, killing at least 270 people and affecting hundreds of thousands. In Agadez -- known as the gateway to the desert -- forecasters say it's "regularly" raining, even in areas where normally "rain never falls". Former mayor Abdourahamane Tourawa called the downpours "particularly aggressive". "The old town in Agadez is suffering a lot of damage. Ponds are overflowing, many houses collapsed. Even the Grand Mosque wasn't spared," he told AFP. - Collapsing - The town, nearly 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) northeast of the capital, Niamey, was an important crossroads on the trans-Saharan caravan trade. Atop the 16th-century mosque stands an imposing mud-brick minaret 27 metres (89 feet) tall. The Sultan's Palace from a century earlier is testament to the past glory of the Tuaregs, known as the Blue Men due to the indigo dye of their robes and turbans. Agadez means "to visit" in the Tuareg language, Tamashek. Once a tourist magnet and legendary staging post on the Paris-Dakar rally when the race crossed the Sahara, jihadist attacks plaguing the region have scared visitors away. Other gems include the house where influential German explorer Heinrich Barth stayed in 1850. The baker's house, richly decorated with shells and arabesques, provided the backdrop for the 1990 film "The Sheltering Sky" by Bernardo Bertolucci. "Climate change causing heavy rains represents a danger for the old town... Around a hundred houses and walls have already collapsed," town curator Ali Salifou warned. Scientists have long warned that climate change driven by manmade fossil fuel emissions is increasing the likelihood, intensity and length of extreme weather events such as torrential rains. - 'Under attack' - Symbolic monuments are still "in an acceptable state" but "homes and other monuments of historic and religious value are under threat", Salifou said. Agadez governor General Ibra Boulama Issa saw flooding for himself early this month in the grounds of the mosque, which he said would require the "reinforcement" of the building. Recent photographs received by AFP showed its pillars eaten away by the water and houses gutted or reduced to piles of rubble. The military-led Sahelian nation is one of several Central and West African countries hit by heavy flooding during the unusually intense rainy season. The European Union this week released 5.4 million euros ($6 million) to help six countries affected by this year's heavy rains, of which 1.35 million euros was for Niger. Mahamat Souleymane, the muezzin at the mosque, said the old town was at risk from the lack, or poor maintenance of, "runoff water drainage systems". "All the jewels of our heritage are under attack from the onslaught of more violent and abundant rainy seasons," another former mayor, Rhissa Feltou, told AFP. - Loss of authenticity - Agadez has 20,000 residents and many hoped the 2013 UNESCO World Heritage designation would bring tourists back. But regular upkeep and conservation requires money and the town's coffers depend on tourism revenue. "With the little money you get here and there, you can't maintain the buildings and leave your family with empty stomachs," said Alhassane Manou, who used to sell souvenirs. Former mayor Tourawa said Agadez's UNESCO recognition had not had "the desired effect". "The population must benefit from projects allowing them to safeguard and maintain this architectural jewel," he said. Beyond the climate, Agadez also faces overcrowding as a key transit hub for migrants trying to reach Europe. Architect Abdel Rachid Idrissa Massi said overpopulation caused "exponential waste production". He was involved in rehabilitating scores of houses and the mosque with European Union funding. But some owners demolish the old houses to build concrete ones instead, which "distorts" the town's originality, Massi said. The United Nations' cultural agency has also noted the trend. Residents complain, however, that they need practical solutions. "Those who don't want us to use modern materials in the old town must commit to come and save the town," implored Akanfaya district leader Abou Said Ahmed. "The sealing on the houses is no longer good enough." KYODO NEWS - Sep 26, 2024 - 20:06 | All, Japan A Japanese court sentenced a member of the U.S. Navy to 28 months in prison on Thursday, suspended for four years, for randomly attacking and injuring four people near Tokyo in July 2022. The Yokosuka branch of the Yokohama District Court said Daniel Krieger, 31, charged into four passersby, aged in their 20s to 60s, on the night of July 9, 2022 in Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture. Krieger, who is stationed at the U.S. naval base in the prefecture's Yokosuka, kicked two of the four, resulting in injuries including a facial fracture and cervical sprain, the ruling said. His lawyers pleaded not guilty on his behalf, saying Krieger was under acute alcohol intoxication and in a state of delirium at the time of the incident. Prosecutors had demanded 30 months in prison. Related coverage: U.S. Marine in Okinawa referred to prosecutors over sexual assault U.S. airman pleads not guilty to sexual assault of minor in Okinawa Quito fires coming under control after choking capital Quito, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 Firefighters in Ecuador's capital were battling the remnants of major forest fires on Thursday that had sent massive plumes of smoke above Quito earlier this week, amid a record drought. Helicopters dumped water to extinguish the flames at two burning sites that remained from about 30 fires, which had devastated 140 hectares of forest on the outskirts of the Andean capital since Tuesday. "Normality is beginning to be restored in the capital city," Mayor Pabel Munoz told local media, adding that he was confident the remaining fires would be extinguished by Friday morning. However, he warned there was always the risk of the flames rekindling as hot summer winds in the capital can reach up to 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour. The blazes injured six people, including a baby and two firefighters. They also destroyed at least seven homes in the humble neighborhood Bolanos, whose residents scrambled to save their pigs, chickens and sheep. Authorities said they believed the fires were started by arsonists, and on Wednesday a 19-year-old man was arrested for starting one of the fires after being found with a gallon of fuel. After declaring a state of emergency in Quito, the mayor is seeking to negotiate loans of $500,000 for the reconstruction of affected properties and the recovery of flora. "We have lost many trees, a lot of vegetation," said Munoz. From Ecuador to Brazil, many Latin American nations are gripped by their worst drought in decades, fueling a blistering fire season that has set residents and governments on edge. The Ecuadoran government is considering a nationwide state of emergency due to its worst drought in six decades which has also devastated crop production. Due to the dry spell, the country, which depends on hydroelectric power, is facing severe energy shortages and has implemented rolling blackouts. "The phenomena of climate change are more aggressive and this is what we are experiencing at the moment," Environment Minister Inez Manzano told a local broadcaster. KYODO NEWS - Sep 26, 2024 - 18:35 | All, Japan An H2A liquid-fuel rocket sent an information-gathering satellite into orbit Thursday following its launch from a southwestern Japan island, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said. Rocket No. 49's successful mission from the space center on Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, followed two postponements due to unfavorable weather. The government reconnaissance satellite will monitor ground conditions from space. It will be used for national security and to assess damage following large-scale disasters. Japan plans to launch one more H2A before the series is replaced by the next-generation H3 rocket, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy. Related coverage: Japan successfully launches new H3 rocket with observation satellite Japan startup reveals "world's first" close-up space debris image KYODO NEWS - Sep 26, 2024 - 18:12 | World, All The Chinese military released images of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday that it test-fired the previous day, with observers saying it was likely a Dongfeng-31 AG capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. China's second publicized ICBM launch into the Pacific Ocean Wednesday morning since a successful test-firing in May 1980 has sparked speculation that it may be sending a signal to the United States and its allies amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Taiwan on Thursday condemned the launch, with Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo saying it was intended to "destroy regional peace and stability." Kuo urged Beijing to exercise self-restraint and respect the rules-based international order. "Taiwan will continue to stand together with the global democratic camp to jointly maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region," she added. The Dongfeng-31 AG ICBM was unveiled to the public during a military parade in July 2017 in Inner Mongolia to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the People's Liberation Army. It is a road-mobile missile, and its launch vehicle can traverse unpaved terrain, making it harder to destroy. Related coverage: Japan defense force ship sails through Taiwan Strait for 1st time Japan destroyer inadvertently entered China waters, captain sacked KYODO NEWS - Sep 27, 2024 - 07:04 | All, Japan A Japanese court acquitted Thursday an 88-year-old former professional boxer in a high-profile retrial decades after he was sentenced to death over a 1966 quadruple murder, saying investigators had fabricated evidence. Iwao Hakamata spent nearly half a century on death row before new evidence led to his release from incarceration in 2014, leading to his being recognized that year as the world's longest-serving death row prisoner. Hakamata's case marks the fifth time in postwar Japan that retrials have resulted in acquittals after the death penalty was given, with the four previous rulings finalized without an appeal by prosecutors. The focus now shifts to whether prosecutors, who again demanded the death penalty in the retrial, will appeal Thursday's ruling. The defense team has urged prosecutors not to challenge an acquittal. In the ruling, the Shizuoka District Court said "there were three instances of fabrication of evidence," including five pieces of clothing that Hakamata was alleged to have worn during the incident and his confession, which the court said was forced. The clothing evidence played a key role in his conviction. On the clothing items, which were found in a miso tank near the site of the murders 14 months later, the court backed the defense's claim that the reddish color could not have been bloodstains from the time of the incident as bloodstains on clothing would not remain red when immersed in miso for more than year. While prosecutors argued the clothing were worn by Hakamata during the incident, Presiding Judge Koshi Kunii said investigators put the bloodstains and hid them at a time close to their discovery. The ruling pointed out that it is presumable that investigators resorted to fabrication of the key evidence "to ensure his conviction," as Hakamata pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial although he had confessed to the killings during his questioning. Regarding his statements of confession, the judge said they were "effectively fabricated," as they were "forced by inflicting physical and mental pain," calling his interrogation "inhumane." "Over the years, different conclusions and opinions have been presented by each court," Kunii said in concluding the ruling. "He cannot be identified as the culprit," based on the cardinal rule in criminal trials that giving a defendant the benefit of the doubt, he said. Hakamata's mental state deteriorated due to his long incarceration, with signs of psychological strain manifesting from around 1980, when his death sentence was finalized. His 91-year-old sister had appeared in court hearings on behalf of her brother since the retrial began last October. "We've won an acquittal," Hideko told their supporters in front of the district court. "Thank you for all your support over the years." After handing down the ruling, Kunii apologized to Hideko on behalf of the court, saying "we really feel sorry that the trial took so much time." The ruling came after the Tokyo High Court ordered a retrial in March last year, saying there was a strong possibility that the five pieces of clothing had been planted by investigators. The high court in 2018 had initially decided not to reopen the case but reversed course after the Supreme Court in 2020 ordered it to reexamine its ruling. "The ruling was enough for prosecutors to give up appealing," Hakamata's lead lawyer Hideyo Ogawa said. Meanwhile, Kenshi Konagamitsu, deputy chief prosecutor at the Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office, said, "We will closely examine the ruling and deal with it appropriately." It took more than nine years to reopen the case after the Shizuoka District Court granted him a retrial in 2014, as prosecutors filed an objection against the decision. Hakamata first appealed for a retrial in 1981, and the decades that elapsed before his retrial finally started last year have led legal experts to call for revising the retrial system, which sets a high hurdle for the convicted to reopen a case. Some are also hoping that the debate over abolishing the death penalty will gain momentum in Japan, given that Hakamata still suffers from post-incarceration syndrome, worsened by decades of not knowing when he might be executed and severely limited restricted contact with anyone outside his cell. On Thursday, Hakamata, who was exempted from attending court proceedings, spent his time as usual in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he lives. He went out for a routine walk, visiting a temple and eating at a noodle restaurant. The former boxer was a live-in employee at a miso maker when he was arrested in 1966 for allegedly killing the firm's senior managing director, his wife and two of their children. They were found dead from stab wounds at their house in Shizuoka Prefecture, which had been burned down. Indicted for murder, robbery and arson, his death sentence was finalized based on a ruling that blood marks on the five clothing items found in the miso tank matched the blood types of the victims and Hakamata. The following is a chronology of major events related to the 1966 murder of four people in Shizuoka Prefecture. June 30, 1966 -- Four members of family, including two children, found murdered in ruins of miso processing company executive's burned-down house in Shizuoka Prefecture. August -- Former professional boxer Iwao Hakamata arrested on suspicion of murder-robbery. August 1967 -- Bloodstained clothing discovered in factory's miso tank. September 1968 -- Hakamata sentenced to death. December 1980 -- Supreme Court finalizes capital punishment. April 1981 -- Hakamata files first appeal for retrial. August 1994 -- Shizuoka District Court turns down appeal, prompting defense team to appeal to Tokyo High Court. August 2004 -- Tokyo High Court turns down appeal, prompting defense team to file special appeal the next month. March 2008 -- Supreme Court turns down special appeal. April -- Hakamata's sister Hideko files second appeal. March 27, 2014 -- Shizuoka District Court decides to reopen Hakamata case, Hakamata freed. March 31 -- Prosecutors appeal decision to reopen case. June 11, 2018 -- Tokyo High Court rules against reopening case. June 18 -- Defense team files special appeal to Supreme Court. Dec. 22, 2020 -- Supreme Court sends case back to Tokyo High Court. March 13, 2023 -- Tokyo High Court rules in favor of reopening case. March 20 -- Prosecutors give up filing special appeal, ruling for retrial finalized. October 27 -- Shizuoka District Court holds first hearing in retrial of Hakamata. May 22, 2024 -- Prosecutors demand death penalty in final hearing. Sept. 26 -- Hakamata acquitted by Shizuoka District Court. Related coverage: FOCUS: 1966 murder case spurs calls for revising Japan's retrial system Verdict due in retrial of 88-yr-old man over 1966 quadruple murder Sister of man on 1966 murder retrial raps "ridiculously long" process 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 cannot feel sorry for Chirayu Shah and his poor, hard-done-by sons (Property investors fear forced sales under negative gearing changes, September 26). He and others like him who are rich enough to put their spare cash into investment properties have been enjoying massive tax concessions for years. Other taxpayers have to pay higher taxes or public services have to be cut to help out. Perhaps the Herald could interview those young home buyers who are excited about the price falls from the resulting sales or the patients at public hospitals who will see better public services as a result of a fairer tax system. Peter Hull, Katoomba Chirayu Shah and his two boys, Vivaan, 13, and Aarin, 9 at their Baulkham Hills home. Credit: Wolter Peeters Whilst increasing numbers of children live in families experiencing homelessness, Chirayu Shah worries that his sons wont be able to experience the benefits of the familys second property. It is precisely this sort of intergenerational inequity that the Albanese government needs to tackle by ending negative gearing. Louise Sorbello, West Ryde I have no argument with people who want to help their children get a leg-up in life. But I dont believe for a moment that a professional person with children a couple of decades away from needing independent housing is unable to imagine ways it might be achieved other than by owning a negatively geared investment property. Being in a position to help ones children into the housing market is a privilege. Its not the place of government policy to provide ways it can be done. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point My understanding was that negative gearing meant lower rents as landlords were not expecting to recoup all their costs from the rental income. If this tax break is lost, what will that mean for renters already struggling with high prices? Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls While I welcome the intensifying discourse about Australias housing policy settings, I am frustrated by political, journalistic and commentator assessments of whether individual reform proposals will fix the problem. One or two reforms alone whether its reducing housing-related tax privileges, build-to-rent, planning reform, residential tenancy reform, managing immigration volatility or helping first home buyers will not be a magic bullet. We need a nationally co-ordinated package of housing policy initiatives designed to improve the fundamentals of our housing system. What is our nations comprehensive and integrated housing plan? Vivienne Milligan, Glebe Steven Hamiltons support for negatively geared properties just explains the law and not the social impact of the unfair tax advantage enjoyed by investors (Misunderstood tax rule is no rort, September 26). The difference that abolishing negative gearing will make is this: it gets investors and the banks, the main beneficiaries, out of the market, and instead of a sellers market, we may get a buyers market. John Macintosh, Merewether Advertisement I think Stephen Hamilton is wrong. All investments shouldnt be treated equally because we live in a society. It is right to encourage investments that help society as a whole and discourage those that dont. Policies that encourage people to accumulate property help them and their families thats it. This is distinct from, say, investments in new technology that reduce climate change, or countless other examples of prosocial investing. Jim Filshie, Kingsgrove For each residential property investor who exits the market, space is made for an owner-occupier. This has to be a good outcome for our young people desperate to own their own home. Property prices wont crash, despite the cries of the sky is falling potential owner-occupiers are there but have been consistently outbid by investors many times in recent years. Penny Ransby Smith, Lane Cove There are frequent reports about the high cost of rent, particularly in Sydney, but so many landlords are managing to lose money on their investment properties. This seems to be either incompetent financial management or deliberate manipulation at the expense of the ATO. I cannot believe that people buy houses to rent out as some kind of altruistic contribution to the housing shortage. The responsibility to generate housing supply rests with government, not with the market. Eric Scott, Bondi Junction The main problem with housing supply is economic interest. A builder can make significantly more profit from a high-specification house than from an ordinary house. Instead of subsidising first home buyers or allowing people to raid their super, the government would do better to subsidise builders to build low-specification houses as the housing commission used to do. Such houses could be sold at lower prices, increasing the stock available to lower income buyers. Alan Stanley, Upper Corindi Your correspondent suggests the government is finally growing a backbone in relation to negative gearing. Not really this is a classic fly it up the flagpole distraction with no real intent on taking it to the election. The scars from the 2019 defeat are still raw and as the governments inept campaign for the Yes vote on the Voice referendum demonstrated, it lacks the ability, especially with Albanese as chief advocate, to counter what will most certainly be a concerted scare campaign from the opposition. It will be consigned to the dust bin before Cup day, unfortunately. Mike Kenneally, Manly Labor loves coal Every Labor voter I know has installed solar panels, is purchasing green energy and changing over to electric vehicles. So what does Labor do as a reward? It gives a dirty green light to coal miners to produce possibly 1.3 billion tonnes of destructive greenhouse gases (Plibersek approves 1.3b tonnes of coal mine emissions, September 26). The otherwise gutless Labor party is not timid when it comes to protecting a few votes in mining electorates. But the opposition is also to blame. Only because Dutton is in cloudcuckooland fantasising about nuclear can Labor create the illusion of being a responsible government. Philip Bell, Bronte Advertisement The Mt Pleasant mine, far left, and New Hopes Bengalla mine, right, in the NSW Hunter region. Credit: Janie Barrett In August 2022, barely three months after the last federal election, the Albanese government approved hugely expanded offshore areas for oil and gas exploration, angering the teals and many in the electorate who had believed Labors claims to bring an end to the climate wars. Since then, Australia-wide subsidies given to the fossil fuel industries have increased ($14.5 billion in 2023- 2024). This weeks three massive approvals of expanded coal mining constitute a further betrayal of intentions to behave responsibly, keep our global commitments, respect our Pacific neighbours and work towards re-establishing a potentially benign climate. The government may have forgotten that the seats lost by the Coalition in the 2022 election were mostly won by the teals and the Greens, who had a clearer commitment to honouring our international obligations regarding global warming. They may also have forgotten the importance of trust in politics. Penny Rosier, North Epping School history link Two letters in defence of public education printed in succession in todays Herald share an interesting link (Letters, September 26). The first was by a former Randwick Boys High School history teacher, and the second by the father of an old boy and former Olympian, from the same school. This says much about values and public schooling. Nick Benson, Newtown Dollars and disrespect According to Peter Vlandys, the Australian jumper is sacrosanct, you cant disrespect it (Roo Blue: Vlandys wont let players disrespect jersey, September 26). Unless, of course, you want to plaster a sponsors name and logo, in this case Gallagher (whoever Gallagher is), over the front of it. What is now sacrosanct in professional sport is making a buck. John Campbell, South Golden Beach Advertisement Hold bullies, parents to account Congratulations Jenna Price for your excellent opinion piece (Bullying must be called out for what it is - violence, September 26). Having spent almost 60 years in the school education system, I wholeheartedly agree that its time to call out bullying as violent behaviour perpetrated by an aggressor. Only then might we move past yesterdays excuse-ridden cliches that its just kids being kids or you need to toughen up. The incidence and sophistication of bullying have obviously expanded exponentially with the normalisation of social media. Those previous lame excuses for bullying are no longer relevant or acceptable. The perpetrators of bullying and their families need to be held accountable for violent and aggressive behaviour. Society has to stop minimising this issue by using outmoded and outdated excuses. This applies to adult as well as child interactions. Warren Marks, Hill Top After 25 years of teaching in public schools, I can assert that bullying is alive and well in the right conditions and that children can be isolated socially if nothing is done about it. As for the values of inclusion, most schools try hard to meet the needs of students, but it takes years of strong leadership and parental support for these problems to be sorted. I have taught in underprivileged and middle-class schools and havent found any noticeable difference between them regarding the values of respect and cooperation, which are often put on classroom walls but dont always translate to behaviour and attitudes in the playground. These values must be taught at home. Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh Endearing diplomat I loved having Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador to Australia, what a lovely warm and endearing diplomat (Kennedy to leave US ambassadors post, September 26). We watched her grow through the media linked to JFK, her father, and we also shared her tragedies. I will miss her warm and endearing smiles. Susan Chan, St Ives US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, addresses the media at a doorstop interview after attending a sausage sizzle to raise funds for the Cancer Council, ahead of her participation in the Shitbox Rally. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Advertisement Naked ambition Clearly this theatre company is portraying raw emotion and perhaps it should relocate its whole kit and caboodle and flesh out the audience in a new locality, maybe Buff Point (Griffin seeks naked truth in teasing new season, September 26)? Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook Respect real Kokoda I respect, feel for and sincerely commemorate the largely untrained and badly equipped militia troops that an unprepared Australia sent to oppose the Japanese on the Kokoda Track (Weve stuffed it: Kokoda Track shut indefinitely, leaving tourists high and dry, smh.com.au, September 26). They certainly fought with the determination that came from their belief that they were fighting to keep Australia from being invaded. However, this is 2024 and we have long since known better. Can we please stop with statements like played a crucial role? The Kokoda operation was strategically irrelevant, confirmed when Imperial General Headquarters in Tokyo ordered their forces to retreat from the heights overlooking Port Moresby because of the situation at Guadalcanal. The Pacific War was decided not by small groups of foot soldiers but by enormous aircraft carrier forces. Please, let us respect and commemorate our troops without continuously imposing some present-day triumphalist view. Michael McMullan, Avoca Beach Supermarket sweep-up Andrew Caro, competition is one thing, co-operation in one market niche is quite another (Letters, September 25). Ill see your Coles, Woolworths, IGA and Aldi and raise you Carrefour, Casino, Aldi, U Express, Intermarche, Lidl, Franprix and Monoprix. Tom McGinness, Randwick Advertisement Independent MPs are pressing for tax changes to help young Australians who feel shut out of the housing market, naming negative gearing as a key issue even though voters in their electorates take advantage of the tax breaks. The teal independents and other crossbench MPs have called for negative gearing to be on the agenda in a total rethink of tax and housing policy, as federal officials consider ways to change the rules on investment properties. Independent MPs Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan all back tax reform, including changes to negative gearing. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The calls come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was not considering taking changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax to the next election, although some Labor MPs have gone public with their support for reform. While the crossbench MPs have not adopted a unified position on negative gearing, several declared that they wanted everything on the table in stronger policy action on tax and housing. Faraday Future Leadership Change LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (FF, Faraday Future, or Company), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, today announced personnel changes to help further the Companys short- and long-term business goals. On September 17, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Koti Meka as the Companys Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer, effective September 23, 2024. In his new position, Mr. Meka will oversee FFs Accounting and Finance business units and report directly to Matthias Aydt, FFs Global CEO. In addition, the Company recently announced that Aaron Ma has been appointed as the Acting Head of EV R&D, effective August 20, 2024. In this new role, Mr. Ma will oversee the FF Global EV R&D business and will also report directly to Mr. Aydt. On September 19, the Company officially kicked off its dual-brand strategy by announcing its second brand, Faraday X (FX), and its launch plan for the first batch of planned products, including innovative ways in creating AIEV (Artificial Intelligence Electric Vehicle) products with twice the performance at half the price for our future users. Both Meka and Ma in their new roles will drive forward the strategic goals for the FF and FX brands including the R&D and maintaining cost efficiencies throughout the development and launch of FX. Meka, age 55, served as the Companys Acting Head of Finance Operations since November 2023, managing finance operations, heading financial planning and analysis, and supporting process improvement, target setting and cost-reduction efforts. Meka replaces Jonathan Maroko, Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company, who resigned effective September 20, 2024. Maroko will continue to work with the Company as a consultant. Previously, Meka served as the Companys Director of Finance (FP&A) from July 2017 to November 2023, Operations Controller from August 2016 to July 2017, and Senior Manager, Cost Estimating from February 2016 to August 2016. Prior to joining the Company in February 2016, Meka worked at Ford Motor Company from July 2002 to February 2016 in cost optimization, product development finance and corporate finance, including leading financial analysis at Ford Business Services Center in Chennai, India from December 2009 to July 2013. Meka holds an MBA from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University and a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India. Mas current position as the Global Vice President of the IAI software R&D will remain unchanged, reporting to Rao Hong. In this role, he has demonstrated exceptional strategic vision and leadership. He has successfully led the IAI product, UI, and core application development teams, significantly enhancing product performance and user experience through innovative solutions and strategic initiatives. Before joining FF, Ma spent five years at LeEco, driving product innovation and market expansion through strategic leadership, and seven years serving as vice president of R&D at Meizu where he significantly contributed to research and development management by spearheading the launch of groundbreaking products crucial to the company's growth and competitive success in the tech industry. Mas over 20 years extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make him exceptionally well-suited to lead FFs EV R&D business as it enters the next phase of growth and innovation. The Company believes that with Mas leadership and Aydts direction, the FF R&D platform will accelerate innovation, drive transformative advancements, and solidify FFs position at the forefront of the electric vehicle industry. "We are excited to welcome Koti and Aaron to their new roles within FF. Both bring many years of experience gained at both FF as well as at their previous roles outside of FF. They have made significant contributions to our organization and have been reliable partners in all my various roles here," said Aydt. "I look forward to Koti leveraging his experience to drive necessary changes in our finance operations. And with Aaron, we are confident that under his guidance, the EV R&D team will continue to achieve new milestones and advance our strategic objectives. Aydt also expressed gratitude to Maroko for his ongoing contributions to FF, stating, "I am thankful that Jonathan will continue to support us in a consulting capacity. His insights have been instrumental in developing our cost optimization and reduction strategies, ensuring our continued success." ABOUT FARADAY FUTURE Faraday Future is the pioneer of the Ultimate AI TechLuxury ultra spire market in the intelligent EV era, and the disruptor of the traditional ultra-luxury car civilization epitomized by Ferrari and Maybach. FF is not just an EV Company, but also a software-driven intelligent internet Company. Ultimately FF aims to become a User Company by offering a shared intelligent mobility ecosystem. FF remains dedicated to advancing electric vehicle technology to meet the evolving needs and preferences of users worldwide, driven by a pursuit of intelligent and AI-driven mobility. KYODO NEWS - Sep 26, 2024 - 08:00 | All, Japan, World United States Steel Corp. said Wednesday that an arbitration board has ruled in favor of Nippon Steel Corp.'s plan to acquire the Pittsburgh company, a deal opposed by its union. The nonbinding decision was made by the Board of Arbitration whose members were selected by U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers, a powerful union that called in January for scrutiny of the acquisition deal, citing financial and other concerns. David Burritt, CEO of the company, said, "With the arbitration process now behind us, we look forward to moving ahead with our pending transaction with Nippon Steel." The labor union, however, said in a statement it did not agree with the board's decision. The planned acquisition of the world's 24th-largest producer by Nippon Steel, the fourth largest, has sparked controversy in the run-up to the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, with both the company and the union headquartered in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, have said U.S. Steel should remain in domestic hands. Former President Donald Trump, Harris' Republican rival for the White House, has also said he will block the deal if elected. Related coverage: Nippon Steel reapplies for U.S. Steel review amid Biden opposition U.S. panel allows Nippon Steel to resubmit buyout review request Biden decision on U.S. Steel buyout unlikely before election: report KYODO NEWS - Sep 26, 2024 - 07:03 | All, Japan, World A Japanese academic team has newly discovered more than 300 geoglyphs in a desert in Peru's Nazca utilizing artificial intelligence in analyses of aerial photos. The average length of the etchings is some 9 meters, smaller than the well-known figures of the Nazca Lines, the team from Yamagata University said, noting it assumes ancient people in less populated groups drew them to share information about rites and livestock. The finding was introduced in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America earlier this week. In the Nazca Pampa, a total of 430 geoglyphs had been discovered in explorations that began in the 1940s. The university's team, in collaboration with the Japanese arm of International Business Machines Corp., had AI-aided systems learn geoglyph patterns to speed up the search for previously undiscovered ones. The team led by professor Masato Sakai examined 1,309 locations in Nazca for potential geoglyphs, believed to have been created some two thousand years ago by removing stones and gravel to be piled up along the edges of the patterns. Lines were newly discovered in 303 places through the research, which included fieldwork in the desert from September 2022 to February 2023. The relatively small geoglyphs feature humans and animals, including an orca holding a knife, and were found near winding paths, according to the team. Sakai, an anthropologist, said the team hopes the latest discovery will help conserve the area by leading to measures such as designating the area a park. By Keita Nakamura, KYODO NEWS - Sep 26, 2024 - 08:28 | All, Japan, World Some candidates in Japan's upcoming ruling party leadership election have suggested they would visit the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo if they win and become prime minister, stirring concerns it may reignite diplomatic friction with China and South Korea. Among three leading candidates in polls by major Japanese media outlets, economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, known as a security hawk, has voiced her intention to continue visiting Yasukuni on Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has also visited Yasukuni every year on Aug. 15, though he did not clarifying his stance on future visits during the campaign for Friday's Liberal Democratic Party election, which has a record nine candidates. Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba has remained silent on whether he would visit the shrine if he becomes premier. As past visits by Japanese prime ministers have drawn a harsh backlash from Asian neighbors, which see the shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, a repeat by the next leader could further strain Japan's ties with China and reverse its recently improving relationship with South Korea, experts say. Madoka Fukuda, a Hosei University professor with expertise in diplomacy, said it is "impossible that China would not protest an incumbent Japanese prime minister's visit to Yasukuni," adding the extent of the negative effects depends on when and how it occurs. Even now, tensions remain over several issues, such as the recent stabbing death of a 10-year-old Japanese boy in China and their conflicting claims over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, which are controlled by Japan. Regarding ties with South Korea, Kohtaro Ito, a senior research fellow at the Tokyo-based think tank Canon Institute for Global Studies, said a Japanese premier's visit to Yasukuni could "make a great impact," citing the case by Koizumi's father Junichiro in August 2001. While Tokyo and Seoul had maintained a "trust relationship" to promote cooperation until then, bilateral ties "began to deteriorate" after Junichiro Koizumi made first of the six visits during his 2001-2006 tenure as Japan's leader, said Ito, an expert in diplomacy. If the next prime minister visits Yasukuni, the move could rekindle strong opposition from South Korea, in turn worsening relations between Tokyo and Seoul even under President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has made efforts to repair ties with Japan, he added. Political pundits say, however, it is uncertain whether whoever wins the LDP election would actually visit Yasukuni as prime minister, since some candidates might be raising the idea as part of a campaign strategy to gain support from conservative voters. Takaichi, a conservative lawmaker, has expressed her belief in "showing respect for those who sacrificed their lives for national policies." Koizumi said only that he would "make a proper decision" although he believes it is "natural to express gratitude" toward the war dead. He has not traveled to mainland China since becoming a lawmaker in 2009, he added. Ishiba has argued that it is "our duty" to facilitate the Japanese emperor's visit to the shrine, saying he personally does not intend to go to a place where the emperor has shied away from. The last visit by an incumbent Japanese premier was in December 2013 by the late Shinzo Abe. He angered China and South Korea, and the United States, Tokyo's key security ally, criticized Abe, saying his actions "exacerbate tensions with Japan's neighbors." The controversial shrine is a source of diplomatic friction as Japan's wartime leaders, some of whom were convicted as war criminals by an international tribunal after World War II, are among the more than 2.4 million war dead honored there. Yasukuni added 14 Class-A war criminals, including wartime Prime Minister Gen. Hideki Tojo, to the enshrined deities in 1978, stirring controversy at home and abroad. Tojo was executed by hanging for crimes against peace. In China and South Korea, memories of Japan's wartime actions run deep. Japan invaded a vast swath of China before the end of World War II and ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Various wartime issues between Japan and the two nations remain unresolved. Yoon, who took office in May 2022 with a pledge to take a future-oriented approach toward Japan, has been improving Tokyo-Seoul relations that had sunk to their lowest point in decades under the left-leaning government of his predecessor, Moon Jae In. The LDP presidential election comes after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided not to seek reelection to take responsibility for a slush fund scandal that was revealed late last year. Related coverage: FOCUS: Japan's fiscal health put on backburner in race to choose next PM FOCUS: Japan's main opposition bets on "experience" for possible election FOCUS: Next Japan PM's possible no-show at ASEAN summits may favor China KYODO NEWS - Sep 26, 2024 - 18:56 | All, Japan, World A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel has sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's direction, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday, triggering an immediate backlash from China. On Wednesday, the destroyer Sazanami, along with Australian and New Zealand vessels, headed southward from the East China Sea and through the narrow waterway between China and Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China claims as its own territory, the sources said. The ships were believed to be heading to the South China Sea for an exercise apparently aimed at challenging Beijing's growing military assertiveness in the region. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the issue, saying it is "a matter related to the Self-Defense Forces' operations." A government source said Tokyo does not intend to unnecessarily provoke Beijing by referring to the passage. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Thursday that Beijing has protested to Tokyo over the passage of the Japanese ship, adding China is "highly vigilant about the political intentions" of the neighboring country's move. "We urge Japan to honor its promises on the Taiwan issue, be cautious in words and deeds, and not disrupt Sino-Japanese relations as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," Lin said. The Chinese military dealt with the passage "in accordance with laws," he added. Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of the Defense Ministry's Joint Staff, told a press conference that increased Chinese military activities in the Indo-Pacific region is a "deep concern" not only for Japan but also for the international community. "We will continue to monitor (China's) activities, gather information and analyze it for the enhancement of surveillance," Yoshida said without directly referring to the MSDF ship's passage through the Taiwan Strait. The United States regularly sends warships through the Taiwan Strait to assert freedom of navigation in international waters. Allies including Britain have also made such transits, with the German navy recently sending its first warship through the Taiwan Strait in 22 years, drawing China's ire. Based in Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture, the Sazanami is about 150 meters long and 17 meters wide, and can reportedly accommodate a crew of 170. China has been increasing its military activities around Japan, with a spy plane violating Japanese airspace near islands in Nagasaki Prefecture in late August. On Sept. 18, the Liaoning became the first Chinese aircraft carrier to enter the contiguous zone just outside Japanese territorial waters, sailing between remote islands in southern Japan from the East China Sea. Taiwan is viewed as a potential military flashpoint in U.S.-China relations, with Beijing regarding the island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 as the result of a civil war. Tensions have been rising in recent years, with Chinese military planes frequently crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait, a boundary Beijing and Taipei had tacitly respected for decades. Related coverage: Japan says strongly alarmed by airspace breaches by Russia, China Japan destroyer inadvertently entered China waters, captain sacked Act together, jointhe peace process UNITED NATIONS : UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the UN Security Council that we have to prepare the second peace summit to end the Russia-Ukraine war altogether and he has invited India and other countries to join the peace process. We all know what needs to be done if we honestly look at the situation and truly want to stop Russias war. Most importantly, act together, of course in unity, without creating new and unnecessary divisions of the world into blocks or regional groups, Zelenskyy here on Tuesday told a Security Council meeting on Ukraine conflict. Zelenskyy said that unity always works for peace andwe have to prepare the second peace summit to end the war altogether. And I invite all of you, all principle nations to join us in this process, all who truly respect the UN Charter. We invite China. We invite Brazil. I have already invited India. We are working with African nations, all of Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, the Pacific region, and North America.All. Zelenskyy said all areequally important for peace, all without exceptions. Just as the UN Charter must work without exceptions. The Ukrainian President said this process will lead us to peace, to a just peace, a real peace, a peace that will last. All of us already know how to achieve it. We have the peace formula, we have the UNCharter and we have all thestrength needed to make it happen. Whats needed is determination. Zelenskyy on Monday metPrime Minister Narendra Modi in New York before the Indianleader wrapped up his threeday visit to the US. Modis meeting withZelenskyy, requested by theUkrainian side, came at sidelines of his other engagements. UNPRECEDENTED feedback on Waqf Bill Panel member suspects role ofChina, ISI; demands MHA probe NEW DELHI : RAISING concern over the staggering number of feedback -- nearly 1.25 crore submissions -- received by parliamentary committee scrutinising Waqf (Amendment) Bill, BJP member Nishikant Dubey has called for a Home Ministry probe, including into possible role of Pakistans ISI and China. In a letter to the committees Chairperson Jagdambika Pal, he said, the investigation must also cover the possible roles of fundamentalist organisations, individuals like radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, and foreign powers such as the ISI and China besides their proxies. Dubey, a committee member and a fourth-term Lok Sabha MP, said, the geographical origins of these submissions need immediate attention, claiming that it is statistically improbable that such an overwhelming volume response could emerge organically from within India alone. He described the volume of feedback as unprecedented which, he said, has set a global record for legislative submissions and deserves scrutiny over the motivations and sources behind these communications. He said it signals a disturbing trend that cannot be ignored. I believe it is vital that the committee addresses these concerns head-on to ensure the integrity and independence of our legislative process, he added. The committee examining the contentious bill, which has been opposed stridently by Opposition parties and several Muslim groups for its alleged attempt to interfere in their religious affairs, had come out with an advertisement, seeking peoples feedback on its provisions. As his letter sparked a debate, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, the consultation process undertaken by the committee is the most extensive in the history of the countrys parliamentary democracy. He, however, declined to comment on Dubeys suspicions. I cant comment on the functioning of the joint parliamentary committee. It has been empowered, how mails have come in and in what circumstances, that is for the JPC to look into, he said. Dubey told Pal that it is essential to ask whether foreign entities, organisations, and individuals may be deliberately orchestrating this flood of responses to manipulate the democratic process. Urging him to ask the Ministry of Home Affairs to conduct a thorough investigation, he said the probe finding should be circulated to all members of the committee to ensure complete transparency. India has a robust parliamentary system, and any attempt to influence it through coordinated foreign intervention represent a direct threat to national sovereignty, he asserted. Citing media reports, he said the content of a large portion of these submissions is identical or contains minor variations, signalling that many of these communications may be part of an organised campaign. Use AI-based mitigation options to reduce man-animal conflict in Ramtek, Parseoni Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar addressing senior officials of various departments at the Collectorate. Shomita Biswas, HoFF; Adv Ashish Jaiswal and Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector, look on. Staff Reporter : Seek expertise of Indian Army and Police to install early alert system, ensure chain-link fencing around villages near forest areas, said Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar Forest Minister of Maharashtra Sudhir Mungantiwar, on Tuesday, asked Forest Department to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) based mitigation options to reduce man-animal conflict in Ramtek and Parseoni talukas. In last one year, both the talukas witnessed many incidents of man-animal conflict due to which many human lives were lost. In a recent incident, a tigress killed a tribal woman working in an agriculture field in Jhinjeria village of Deolapar range of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR). In a separate incident, another tiger attacked a man in Parseoni taluka. The victim was lucky to have survived with some injuries. Due to frequent attacks on humans, villagers were in panic in both talukas. Following the death of a tribal woman, angry villagers resorted to attack forest teams. Also, the irked agitators vandalised many forest vehicles. Since the incident, Deolapar village remains tense with a large number of villagers agitating for last three days. Taking cognisance of the sentiment of villagers and seriousness of the incident, Forest Minister Mungantiwar, during his visit to Nagpur on Tuesday, directed the forest officials to use technology to reduce man-animal conflict in the State. Mungantiwar also asked the forest officials to ensure chain-link fencing around the villages situated very close to the forest area to reduce incidents of wild animals venturing near human habitat and agriculture farms. Initially, the Forest Minister advised concerning department including Forest, Revenue, Tribal, and Police to implement the fencing on a one village. He also advised to translocate excess tigers from Pench to other places if the department find any big cat causing problem for the villagers. He also give permission to capture tigers those are repeatedly killing villagers in Ramtek and Parsheoni talukas. He also directed to send such tigers to Gorewada Rescue Centre. The forest minister also asked forest department to form first response team at village level with the help of young villagers who can help the villagers at such man-animal conflict situations. Forest department will provide shock sticks, torch, and other essential equipment to such youth to avoid man-animal conflict in the region. While talking about adoption of AI, Mungantiwar said, Forest department should think about utilisation of AI as early alert system to villagers at the situation of venturing of wild animals near forest. Department should take help of expertise of Indian Army and Police Department for adoption of such technology. The meeting was attended by Adv Ashish Jaiswal, MLA; Shomita Biswas, PCCF (HoFF); Dr Vipin Itankar, district collector; Vinayak Mahamuni, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nagpur Zilla Parishad; Harsh Poddar, Superintendent of Police; Vivek Khandekar; Dr Prabhunath Shukla, Deputy Director, PTR; and D Mallikarjun Reddy, ex MLA. Badlapur sexual assault case: HC raps Mah Govt for not forming child safety panel MUMBAI : THE Bombay High Court on Wednesday expressed its displeasure with the Maharashtra Government for not constituting a Child Safety Committee despite directions in the wake of the Badlapur school sexual assault incident. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan said the Governments assurances do not match its actions. This reflects on your (Governments) bonafide. Your actions contradict your words, the court said. The bench said the Child Safety Committee (CSC) was supposed to meet, discuss, and submit a report in eight weeks with recommendations on the safety and security of children in schools. The High Court had last month taken suo motu cognisance of the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls inside the toilet of a school in Badlapur by a male attendant. The accused, Akshay Shinde, was killed in retaliatory firing in police custody on September 23. The bench had directed the formation of a committee comprising Justices Sadhana Jadhav and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi (retired), retired IPS officer Meeran Borwankar, education professionals Sucheta Bhawalkar and Jaywanti Baban Sawant, psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty, and Brian Seymour, President of ICSE and ISC preschools in Maharashtra and Goa and submission of a report by October 29. None of the committee members was contacted by the Government to date, the court told public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar on Wednesday. None of the committee members has heard from the State Government. You (Government) say one thing but your actions speak otherwise, the court said. The bench questioned how the Government expects the committee to prepare and submit its report. How do you expect the committee to function? The committee is not supposed to be only on paper. You agreed to everything we had said that day, the court said. Venegaonkar informed the bench that he would take instructions from Advocate General Birendra Saraf and get back to the court. The bench is likely to take up the matter for a hearing on October 1. China tests ICBM that can strike US By K J M Varma : BEIJING, CHINA on Wednesday successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could hit the US cities, in a rare publicised launch to display its strategic deterrence capability. The launch tested weaponry performance and military training effectiveness and achieved desired goals, the Chinese Defence Ministry said in a statement. China had notified relevant nations about the test in advance, according to the PLA Rocket Force. This is the first time in decades that China has made its flight test of an intercontinental ballistic missile public in an apparent show of strategic deterrence, state-run China Daily reported. According to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, the new missile could reach the US mainland, though the Defence Ministry has not specified its range. As per the information published previously by the Chinese military, the PLA Rocket Force now has multiple types of ballistic missiles with intercontinental ranges, including the DF-31AG, DF-5B and DF-41. Also, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has the JL-2 submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile, according to the China Daily report. The missile, launched into the Pacific Ocean, fell into expected sea areas, the defence ministry statement said, adding that this test launch is a routine arrangement in our annual training plan. In May 1980, a DF-5 -- Chinas first ICBM -- flew more than 9,000 kilometres, according to the Post report. In Haryana, bulldozers are symbol of State power, politics NUH : ONCE just an innocuous piece of construction equipment and today a symbol of State power and politics, bulldozers are visible everywhere as campaigning hots up in Nuh. Not as a demolition tool but festooned, prettied up and embraced by all parties. Young people sitting on dozer blades, dancing and showering petals on crowds gathered on the narrow streets below are a common sight. Bulldozers may have earned a bad name but clearly not in this Haryana constituency, counted among the most backward in the country, where they are being used to further the festive election mood. The scene was very different just over a year ago when five people were killed in communal violence in the Muslim dominated constituency. The violence later spread to adjoining Gurugram where a cleric was killed in an attack on a mosque. Following the violence, the BJP-led Haryana Government went on a demolition drive in Nuh, drawing allegations of ethnic cleansing. Then Chief Minister M L Khattar stoutly denied the charges. As terms like bulldozer justice, bulldozer politics or simply bulldozing your way through find their way into the discourse, both the Congress and the BJP are using the machine on wheels extensively this election. The use of bulldozers in the poll campaign is to signify that any unscrupulous elements that try to disturb communal harmony in the district will face action. We believe outsiders were behind the violence which took place last year and then local residents are painted in bad light, a Congress worker told PTI on condition of anonymity. His party colleague added that the use of bulldozers does not mean the party, fighting to wrest power from the BJP, stands for the action that destroyed houses or livelihoods of many during the demolition drive last year but just for a message of harmony. Plus bulldozers are crowd pullers, he said. A BJP worker agreed. Also requesting anonymity, he said the BJP is deploying the large, lumbering machines in its campaign. The bulldozer action happened last year only on illegal buildings and their usage in poll campaigns should not be seen in negative light. Just like other means of transport are used in poll campaigns, bulldozers are also being used. They attract more crowds, he said. Its an all male show though with women watching the bulldozer acts from the confines of their homes, their faces often veiled as they watch the campaigning through half shuttered windows. Sultana, who was watching a poll rally in Kanwarsika village here from behind the grills of a window, said, It is still not very common for women to attend poll rallies. The only way we would know about the campaign is through the loudspeakers. So if there is something interesting happening like this (bulldozers), we watch from the window. Nuh, which was established as a separate district in 2005, from parts of Gurgaon and Faridabad has three Assembly constituencies---Nuh, Fereozepur Jhirka and Punhana. Congress Aftab Ahmed is seeking re-election as MLA from Nuh constituency. He is also Deputy Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Haryana Assembly. He is pitted against BJPs Sanjay Singh and INLDs Tahir Hussain. President Murmu visits Siachen base camp, tells soldiers all citizens salute their bravery New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday visited the Siachen base camp and told soldiers posted at the world's highest battlefield that all citizens salute their bravery. Addressing the troops, she said in difficult situations like heavy snowfall and minus 50 degrees temperature, they present extraordinary examples of sacrifice and tolerance in protecting the motherland. The President said that as the supreme commander of the armed forces, she felt very proud of them and that "all citizens salute their bravery". "They face severe weather conditions. In difficult situations like heavy snowfall and minus 50 degrees temperature, they remain deployed at their front with full devotion and vigilance. They present extraordinary examples of sacrifice and tolerance in protecting the motherland," Murmu said. She told soldiers that all Indians are aware of their sacrifice and bravery and "we respect them", according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Dressed in Indian military uniform, Murmu also paid tributes at the Siachen War Memorial. The Memorial, she said, is a symbol of the sacrifice of soldiers and officers who have been martyred since the Indian Army began Operation Meghdoot on the Siachen Glacier on April 13, 1984. Under Operation Meghdoot, the Indian Army established its full control over the glacier. The President said since the commencement of Operation Meghdoot, "the brave soldiers and officers of the Indian armed forces have ensured the security of this region". Lt Governor of Ladakh Brigadier B D Mishra had received President Murmu on her arrival at Thoise airfield. Murmu is the country's third president to have visited Siachen base camp, located in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the others being A P J Abdul Kalam and Ram Nath Kovind. While Kalam visited in April 2004, Kovind went to the base camp in May 2018. The Siachen glacier is at a height of around 20,000 feet in the Karakoram mountain range. It is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where soldiers have to battle extreme cold, high winds and frostbite among other severe weather conditions. No part of India can be called Pakistan: SC Cautions courts against misogynistic comments NEW DELHI : THE Supreme Court on Wednesday cautioned courts against making comments that may be construed asmisogynistic or directed towards a particular gender or community and said no part of Indian territory can be called Pakistan. The apex courts strong observations came as it closed the suo motu proceedings over Karnataka High Court judge Justice V Srishanandas alleged objectionable comments during court proceedings. The Supreme Court also noted that he had apologised for his observations during open court proceedings on September 21. A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud observed that since Justice Srishananda was not a party to proceedings before it, we desist from making any further observations save and except to express our serious concern about both the reference to gender and to a segment of the community. The top court on September 20 took suo motu cognisance of the judges comments against a woman lawyer during court proceedings in a case and his reference to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru as Pakistan in another. Casual observations may well reflect a certain degree of individual bias particularly when they are likely to be perceived as being directed to a particular gender or community, the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, Surya Kant and Hrishikesh Roy, said on Wednesday. Courts, therefore, have to be careful not to make comments in the course of judicial proceedings which may be construed as being misogynistic or for that matter prejudicial to any segment of our society, it said. Referring to the text of a report submitted before it by the Registrar General of the Karnataka High Court, the bench said it amply indicated that observations made in the course of proceedings there were unrelated to the course of proceedings and should have best been eschewed. The perception of justice to every segment of society is as important as the rendition of justice as an objective fact, it said. Such observations are liable to be construed in a negative light, thereby impacting not only the court of the judge who express them but the wider judicial system, it said. After the bench dictated the order in the court room, Attorney General R Venkataramani referred to some messages on X about the observations and termed them absolutely vitriolic. Now you have seen the nature of the observations. We cant call any part of the territory of India as Pakistan. Because that fundamentally is contrary to the territorial integrity of the nation, the CJI observed. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said social media cant be controlled and the anonymity attached with it makes it very dangerous. But should I tell you, the answer to sunlight is more sunlight. Not to suppress what happens in the courts, Justice Chandrachud observed, adding that the answer was not to close doors and shut everything down. The bench said the prevalence and reach of social media has included wide reporting of court proceedings and most High Courts in the country have now adopted rules for live streaming or for conduct of video-conferencing. Emerging as a necessity in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, video-conferencing and live streaming of proceedings has emerged as an important outreach facility of courts to promote access to justice, it said. Pact of future ! THE response Good beginning by India to the passage of a consensus document titled Pact of future agreeing to bring about reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in near future has the background of strenuous and tenuous diplomacy stretching over years. That this Pact of future has come following Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modis reforms-is-key-to-relevance speech at the United Nations also suggests a paradigm shift. There is a reason to believe that some of the world leaders and their countries now have come around to agreeing that UNSC reforms are not just necessary platonically but also unavoidable. This should be treated as a vindication of the Indian stand of years. The Pact of future, thus, is a positive step promising change in not just the operational manner of the United Nations but also a transformation in the global thought-process on how the global apex body should conduct itself and how it should restructure its processes to make it future-ready. India must pat its own back for this step intended to make the United Nations a better, more relevant body. True, a few other countries, too, joined hands in the endeavour, but Indian emphasis on this issue was of an altogether different level. Patiently and persistently, India pursued its UN goal through years of serious diplomacy that started changing the approach of various world leaders in favour of UN reforms at the earliest. There was no doubt that India was pushing for its own inclusion in the top body -- basing the claim on the enhancement of its own multi-dimensional prowess. Yet, it built the case on a very broad-based agenda whose integrity could not be questioned by anybody (including China). We are truly a power to reckon with and need the legitimacy to be among the UNSCs permanent members, India said in effect. Though it took several years for the world to start understanding the importance of Indian claim, antagonism to the idea waned reasonably. The Pact of future is the outcome of that long-drawn process which India followed most zealously and religiously for years. Of course, this one consensus document does not guarantee a direct restructuring of the United Nations Security Council at the snap of fingers. Finer diplomacy will have to follow on Indias part, and much more convincing may be needed to win over more friends. This mopping up of support would, of course, not go waste -- in the sense India will endorse its global leadership position when it promotes the idea expressed in Pact of future. This broader support-base will take India into an altogether different league. The Pact of future also has in the background of a possibility -- though truly rare -- that came up in hush-hush discussions in diplomatic circles about a partnership between India, Russia and China to dare the existing UN top-level arrangement. In that alliance, India and Russia were natural and traditional partners and China was expected to be on their side only to dare the Western (led by the United States of America) dominance. Innumerable nuances, thus, played their role in the intervening time building appropriate pressure on prominent world leaders to agree upon the Pact of future. Knowing the possible complexities blocking the process, India has welcomed the development in a cautious but positive manner. Much distance will still have to be traversed by UN member-nations for the UNSC reforms to take place finally. But the fact that a concrete step has come about in the right direction should make developing nations feel more integrally aligned to the changing world order. Ram Jhula hit-and-run case Sessions Court allows State CID to arrest Ritika Maloo Special Correspondent : PARTLY allowing the application filed by the prosecution to cancel the bail of Ram Jhula hit-and-run case accused Ritika alias Ritu Maloo, Additional Sessions Judge R S Patil-Bhosale, on Wednesday, permitted the State CID to arrest her. The prosecution had urged the court to amend the plea of Tehsil Police to cancel the bail of Maloo and arrest her as the probe was now entrusted to the State CID by the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court. Considering the application, the court stated that the collective interest of the near and dear of the two victims -- Mohd Hussain Gulam Mustafa and Mohd Ateef Mohd Zia -- and the community at large was also required to be seen. The Sessions Court quashed the bail order of the JMFC Court No 4 and set it aside. As far as the prayer of the prosecution for granting police custody remand to accused Maloo for 10 days was concerned, the court stated that it will arise only after her arrest. It may be recalled that the State CID, too, had filed its reply on the application filed by Adv Chandrashekhar Jaltare, the counsel of prime accused Maloo, seeking disposal of the plea filed by Tehsil police seeking cancellation of her bail under cognisable and non-bailable sections. The defence counsels contention was that the Tehsil Polices plea had become infructuous after the investigation was taken over by the State CID. The court, however, considered the prosecutions plea for cancellation of Maloos bail and allowed the State CID to arrest her. Earlier, the High Courts division bench of Justice Vinay Joshi and Justice Vrushali V Joshi had categorically stated in its order while entrusting the investigation to the State CID that the case be probed thoroughly, properly, and expeditiously and take it to its logical end. The High Court had also directed the State CID to ensure the progress of the case was reviewed on a weekly basis by an officer not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police. The Division Bench had also stated in its order that one of the reasons for transferring the probe to the State CID was to do justice between the parties and to instill confidence in the society. In conclusion, we are not satisfied about the mode and manner in which the investigating agency (Tehsil Police) had worked, and therefore, as an exceptional situation we are inclined to transfer the investigation to State agency with a hope and trust for an impartial, fair and truthful investigation, the Division Bench added. Earlier, the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class had thrice rejected the pleas of the prosecution for allowing Tehsil Police to re-arrest Maloo who, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, drove her Mercedes car in a rash and negligent manner and collided with an Activa scooter killing two young men -- Mohd Hussain Gulam Mustafa and Mohd Ateef Mohd Zia -- at Ram Jhula on February 25. Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, attends a reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China held a reception in Beijing on Wednesday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of its diplomatic ties with Russia. Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, attended and addressed the reception. Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that over the 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia, bilateral relations have withstood the test of time and remained steadfast. China-Russia relations have been moving forward at a high level in the new era, which is attributed to the leadership and guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, he said. China is willing to work with Russia, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to consolidate strategic mutual trust, actively build a new pattern of mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance mutual understanding and connectivity between the two peoples, and safeguard global prosperity and stability, Li added. Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov said that Russia is willing to work with China to effectively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the continuous development of bilateral ties. The reception was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-Russia Friendship Association. About 300 representatives from all walks of life in both China and Russia attended the reception. What happened to wayside amenities onSamruddhi Expressway? HC asks MSRDC Staff Reporter : The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court questioned the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) over the absence of adequate wayside amenities on the Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Expressway. The courts scrutiny came after the MSRDC submitted an affidavit claiming that tenders were being invited for the development of such amenities. A Division Bench comprising Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Abhay Mantri heard the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Anil Wadpalliwar. The PIL raised the issue of the lack of basic facilities for motorists on the expressway, which has seen surge in traffic since its launch. The judges expressed dissatisfaction over the MSRDCs slow pace in addressing these critical infrastructure issues and ordered the petitioner to personally inspect the expressway and review the current status of passenger amenities. 25,000 vehicles commute daily; 86 police personnel deployed for 24x7 surveillance In a related affidavit, the Highway Police informed the court about the efforts being made to ensure safety along the expressway. On average, around 25,000 vehicles commute daily on the expressway. A dedicated team of 12 police officers, along with 74 personnel, is deployed to maintain order. These officers work in two shifts to ensure round-the-clock surveillance. The Highway Police also revealed that cars are randomly checked to assess quality of the tyres using machines designed to measure thickness of tyres. The checks are part of broader efforts to curb accidents. The Police also reported that quick medical interventions have saved 597 lives following accidents on the expressway. A foreign merchant consults about a small intelligent translation device at the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) HANGZHOU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The third Global Digital Trade Expo opened in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, on Wednesday, showcasing the latest technological innovations and business development of the digital economy sector. Themed "Digital Trade, Global Access," this year's edition has attracted more than 1,500 enterprises from home and abroad, among which over 300 are international companies. Over 30,000 purchasers have signed up for the event, with more than 6,000 of them from foreign countries and regions. A total of 446 new products and technologies are scheduled to be showcased at the five-day expo. Notably, this year's expo has set up special exhibition areas for robots equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) innovations and the smart traffic solutions of the low-altitude economy. The size of China's low-altitude economy is estimated to have exceeded 500 billion yuan (about 70.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, with its scale expected to rise to 2 trillion yuan by 2030, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Co-hosted by the Zhejiang provincial government and China's Ministry of Commerce, the event is currently China's only digital trade themed expo at the national level. China's digital industry has seen robust growth in recent years, reporting a total revenue of 32.5 trillion yuan in 2023. Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at Bank of America from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have a $82.00 target price on the real estate investment trusts stock, up from their prior target price of $78.00. Bank of Americas target price would indicate a potential upside of 9.04% from the companys current price. Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Equity Residential in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set a neutral rating and a $81.00 target price for the company. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Equity Residential from $75.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $68.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Equity Residential from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $75.97. Get Equity Residential alerts: View Our Latest Report on EQR Equity Residential Price Performance Shares of Equity Residential stock opened at $75.20 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.21. Equity Residential has a one year low of $52.57 and a one year high of $78.83. The stock has a market cap of $28.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.60 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $73.03 and a 200-day moving average price of $67.87. Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.96 by ($0.49). Equity Residential had a net margin of 32.83% and a return on equity of 8.53%. The company had revenue of $734.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $735.26 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.94 earnings per share. Equity Residentials quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Equity Residential will post 3.89 EPS for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Equity Residential A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Equity Residential in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $796,000. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd. lifted its holdings in Equity Residential by 12.3% during the 2nd quarter. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd. now owns 146,775 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $10,177,000 after buying an additional 16,063 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in Equity Residential by 3.0% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 46,353 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,214,000 after acquiring an additional 1,344 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in shares of Equity Residential by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 12,768 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $885,000 after buying an additional 289 shares during the period. Finally, Chase Investment Counsel Corp bought a new stake in Equity Residential in the second quarter valued at about $341,000. 92.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Equity Residential Company Profile (Get 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 305 properties consisting of 80,683 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Equity Residential Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equity Residential and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the thirteen ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $17.38. FHN has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a market perform rating and issued a $18.00 price objective on shares of First Horizon in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Robert W. Baird restated a neutral rating and issued a $16.00 price objective on shares of First Horizon in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on First Horizon from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 18th. Barclays increased their price objective on First Horizon from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, June 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their price target on First Horizon from $19.50 to $18.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 17th. Get First Horizon alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on FHN Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Horizon First Horizon Stock Down 0.2 % A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Access Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of First Horizon by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Access Investment Management LLC now owns 87,655 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,382,000 after purchasing an additional 715 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. lifted its position in First Horizon by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 12,623 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $194,000 after acquiring an additional 765 shares in the last quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC lifted its position in First Horizon by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC now owns 29,282 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $462,000 after acquiring an additional 786 shares in the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in First Horizon by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,520 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $177,000 after acquiring an additional 804 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its position in First Horizon by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 15,771 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $249,000 after acquiring an additional 1,094 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.28% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE:FHN opened at $15.25 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $15.88 and a 200-day moving average of $15.46. The company has a market capitalization of $8.34 billion, a PE ratio of 10.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.95. First Horizon has a 52-week low of $10.08 and a 52-week high of $17.46. First Horizon (NYSE:FHN Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.37 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $819.82 million. First Horizon had a return on equity of 8.84% and a net margin of 14.03%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.39 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that First Horizon will post 1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year. First Horizon Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.93%. First Horizons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.96%. About First Horizon (Get Free Report First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through Regional Banking and Specialty Banking segments. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lennar (NYSE:LEN Free Report) had its price target hoisted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $154.00 to $173.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the construction companys stock. Several other brokerages have also commented on LEN. Zelman & Associates upgraded Lennar from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Lennar from $195.00 to $205.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, September 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Lennar from $183.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Lennar from $177.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $170.00 price target on shares of Lennar in a research note on Thursday, June 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $181.94. Get Lennar alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Lennar Lennar Trading Down 1.3 % LEN opened at $181.86 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 4.90, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The firm has a market cap of $49.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.36, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.61. Lennar has a 12 month low of $102.90 and a 12 month high of $193.80. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $177.36 and a 200-day moving average price of $164.30. Lennar (NYSE:LEN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 19th. The construction company reported $3.90 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.62 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $9.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.14 billion. Lennar had a net margin of 11.51% and a return on equity of 15.47%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.91 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Lennar will post 14.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LEN. Rise Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Lennar by 484.0% during the 1st quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 146 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the period. J.Safra Asset Management Corp purchased a new position in Lennar during the first quarter worth approximately $30,000. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. acquired a new stake in Lennar in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lennar in the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted its position in shares of Lennar by 223.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 233 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.10% of the companys stock. About Lennar (Get 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lennar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Five Point Holdings, LLC (NYSE:FPH Get Free Report) major shareholder Luxor Capital Group, Lp sold 8,990,369 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.13, for a total transaction of $28,139,854.97. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 4,248 shares in the company, valued at $13,296.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Major shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Luxor Capital Group, Lp also recently made the following trade(s): Get Five Point alerts: On Thursday, September 19th, Luxor Capital Group, Lp sold 67,189 shares of Five Point stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.41, for a total transaction of $229,114.49. On Tuesday, September 17th, Luxor Capital Group, Lp sold 47,011 shares of Five Point stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.42, for a total transaction of $160,777.62. On Wednesday, July 24th, Luxor Capital Group, Lp sold 2,600 shares of Five Point stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.23, for a total value of $8,398.00. On Friday, July 19th, Luxor Capital Group, Lp sold 106,984 shares of Five Point stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.12, for a total value of $333,790.08. Five Point Trading Up 8.0 % Shares of Five Point stock opened at $3.51 on Thursday. Five Point Holdings, LLC has a 12-month low of $2.13 and a 12-month high of $3.60. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $3.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $3.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $520.50 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.13 and a beta of 1.45. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Five Point Five Point ( NYSE:FPH Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $51.19 million during the quarter. Five Point had a return on equity of 2.70% and a net margin of 21.73%. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FPH. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Five Point by 12.6% in the 1st quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 44,700 shares of the companys stock worth $140,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the period. TCW Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Five Point by 0.4% in the second quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 1,133,537 shares of the companys stock worth $3,321,000 after acquiring an additional 5,000 shares during the period. Choreo LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Five Point in the second quarter worth $293,000. ACR Alpine Capital Research LLC raised its holdings in shares of Five Point by 19.3% during the first quarter. ACR Alpine Capital Research LLC now owns 828,123 shares of the companys stock worth $2,592,000 after purchasing an additional 133,898 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Management Group Inc. lifted its position in Five Point by 2.5% during the second quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 5,023,874 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,720,000 after purchasing an additional 124,806 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.09% of the companys stock. About Five Point (Get Free Report) Five Point Holdings, LLC, through its subsidiary, Five Point Operating Company, LP, owns and develops mixed-use and planned communities in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Francisco County. The company operates in four segments: Valencia, San Francisco, Great Park, and Commercial. It sells residential and commercial land sites to homebuilders, commercial developers, and commercial buyers; operates and owns a commercial office, research and development, medical campus, and other properties; and provides development and property management services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Five Point Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Five Point and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Natuzzi (NYSE:NTZ Free Report) in a research report report published on Monday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. Natuzzi Stock Down 0.9 % NYSE NTZ opened at $4.37 on Monday. Natuzzi has a one year low of $3.90 and a one year high of $7.60. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $4.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $5.12. Get Natuzzi alerts: Institutional Trading of Natuzzi An institutional investor recently raised its position in Natuzzi stock. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. raised its stake in Natuzzi S.p.A. (NYSE:NTZ Free Report) by 2.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 121,262 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,450 shares during the quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. owned approximately 1.10% of Natuzzi worth $594,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.07% of the companys stock. Natuzzi Company Profile Natuzzi S.p.A. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of leather and fabric upholstered furniture through its own and franchised stores in the United States, Italy, China, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Israel, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Natuzzi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Natuzzi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China will keep working to bring home more of its cultural artifacts lost overseas, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA). Deputy director Guan Qiang has said that experts will further research the origins of these cultural relics to gather more evidence to support their return. Deeper, more flexible international cooperation is needed and the use of various platforms and mechanisms will be encouraged to facilitate this process, said the official at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. Guan also highlighted China's commitment to its international obligations in this field. The country will encourage dialogue between countries of origin and those currently holding displaced artifacts, said the official. Since the Opium War in the 1840s, more than 10 million Chinese cultural relics have been displaced due to war and illicit trade, according to the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, a domestic non-profit organization. The Chinese government set out to recover these artifacts since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The country now has government-to-government agreements with 27 countries, including Peru, Italy, Greece, Turkiye, the United States and Australia, to combat the theft, looting, and illegal export of cultural relics. Thanks to these frameworks, China has successfully recovered more than 1,900 cultural relics in 43 batches, Guan noted. This year alone, the country has reclaimed the stolen "Feng Xingshu Gui," a bronze ritual vessel from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC), along with 38 ancient artworks from the United States and 14 artifacts from Argentina. As China and ASEAN countries enhanced connectivity in recent years, vocational education cooperation has been strengthened to meet the surging demand for technical talents. Irabot remembered | IMPHAL, Sep 26 : Recounting historical accounts which led Kangleipak to undergo a period of chaos due to disunity among royal families, Protection and Preservation Committee Manipur (PPCM) convenor Ph Nando Luwang has asked the leaders of the State to learn from the mistake of the past events and work unitedly to safeguard Manipur and her people. He made the statement during the 73rd death anniversary of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot which was organised by Lamyanba Hijam Irabot Ningshing Thouram Observation Committee (LINTOC) under the aegis of PPCM at Kiyamba Shanglen in Bishnupur, today. The observation began by offering floral tributes to the photo of the Lamyanba and observing silence for two minutes in memory of those who lost their lives in the unrest engulfing Manipur. Speaking at the function, Nando Luwang who is also the president of All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) continued that it was the disunity among the royal families and vying for power which led Kangleipak to suffer defeat in the hand of the British in Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 and Burmese annexation of the erstwhile kingdom for seven years from 1819-1826 (Chahi Taret Khuntakpa). Saying that Manipur existed today because of the contribution of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot, Nando Luwang added that Irabot was a bold leader who opposed formation of Purvanchal Pradesh despite being an MLA. The underlying motive behind observing the death anniversary of Irabot is to instil a sense of patriotism which the Lamyanba possessed to the current generation of Manipuris, he added. Continuing that there is a constant threat to the unity and integrity of Manipur, he maintained that Manipur needs a leader like Irabot who will work selflessly for the cause of the State and her people. Manipur has been going through a period of unprecedented crisis because the State doesn't have a leader like the Lamyanba, Nando Luwang added. Both the Centre and the State Government are still unable to resolve the crisis in Manipur which has been going on for nearly 17 months after Kuki militants and their associates started attacking innocent Meetei people, he said. Claiming that Security Advisor and chairman of the Unified Command Kuldiep Singh has been working with vested interest instead of exercising his authority to resolve the crisis, Nando Luwang urged the Centre to appoint another capable person as the Security Advisor and Chairman of the Unified Command. LINTOC convenor K Thoiba Meitei, on the other hand, said that Irabot went underground in 1948 to protect the identity and integrity of Manipur. Saying that the Lamyanba breathed his last at Tangbo in Burma on September 26, 1951, he appealed to all Manipuris to trace the footprints of Irabot and carry on his legacy. LINTOC co-convenors L Shyam Khuman, Kh Gopen Luwang, Y Tiken, PPCM advisors L Nganbi, Y Leirik Leima, S Memcha and M Purnimashi also attended the programme among others. Scripting a farce of a story Pressing false alarm ! | It is scary. Is this the Government which the people should trust with their lives and properties ? Forget about the Manipur from May 3, 2023 to September 26, 2024, but take a look at the place from September 17, 2024 to September 20, 2024 and from there to September 25, 2024 and things should be clear. A little jog down the last 8 days is necessitated by the unfolding reality, a situation which is not just comical but also dangerous. On September 17 an official communication from the Secretary of the Chief Minister to the Security Advisor and the DGP went viral on the social media with the message that intelligence inputs have been received of well trained and armed Kuki militants set to enter Manipur from across the border. Back then many dismissed it as fake news, for no one was inclined to believe that a classified information such as an intimation from the Chief Ministers Office to the Security Advisor and the DGP would come out in the public forum. A few enterprising folks went to the extent to comparing the signature of the CMs Secretary and the language used in the communication. The matter was left as it was and The Sangai Express had expected a sort of a clarification from the CMs office on the fake circular doing the round on the social media. No such clarification came and after three full days of the said official intimation doing the round on the social media, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh convened a media conference on September 20 wherein he sort of dropped a bombshell in announcing that intelligence reports have been received of at least 900 well trained and armed Kuki militants having entered Manipur from Myanmar side. The Security Advisor topped this off with the announcement that attacks on Meitei settlements could be expected around September 28. Fast forward to the late evening of September 25 and another circular from the office of the Secretary of the Chief Minister did the round, which negated the report of 900 Kuki armed militants entering Manipur. The quixotic development is what has taken Manipur by surprise and hours before the circular from the Secretary of the Chief Minister did the round, news channel News18 had come out with a report which stated, The Central Government is upset with the State for issuing an intelligence alert on 900 Kuki militants without verifying and creating an atmosphere of panic. A case of the Government not able to tell what its left hand is doing from its right or a case of putting the cart before the horse ? Either way this is hard to digest and to think that it is this Government on which the people have reposed their trust and faith to protect their lives and properties is simply astounding. If the past is any indication, Imphal will not bat an eyelid much less hang its head in shame over this mother of a blunder, but it should acknowledge that it is this ham handed manner of tackling the issue at hand which can be said to be a major reason for the crisis to continue for over 16 months. It is this approach which has emboldened Delhi to remain indifferent to the crisis here. One also wonders how the circular from the Secretary to the Security Advisor and the DGP on the intelligence report of Kuki militants having sneaked into Manipur went viral on the social media ? A question which only those in the position of influence and power can answer, but the blunder that has followed has necessitated this poser. And on what basis did Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh deem it fit to address the media that 900 Kuki militants have sneaked into Manipur ? As the Good Governance Party asked in a social media post, to whom does the Intelligence Department report-the Chief Ministers Office or the DGP ? Again a question which only those in position of power and influence can answer, but this should more than say how the administrative apparatus of the State Government has been turned upside down. Top to bottom governance with too many at the top that those coming down the pecking order do not know who to report to ? A mechanism worked out deliberately by Delhi to keep the people confused ? The way the 900 Kuki militants story has been reduced to a joke is not at all funny but has that ring of tragedy. BEIJING -- Tian'anmen Square and Chang'an Avenue in Beijing have been decorated with flower displays ahead of the upcoming National Day holiday. A festive 18-meter-high flower basket has been installed in Tian'anmen Square and 10 flower beds of various styles have been set up along Chang'an Avenue, according to Liu Mingxing with the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau. Other floral decorations, including over 20,000 flower boxes, have been installed across the city to celebrate the holiday that starts on Oct 1. Adorning Tian'anmen Square and Chang'an Avenue is a prominent highlight of the annual National Day celebrations and a tradition that has been carried on for 40 years. DAMASCUS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli airstrike targeted a bridge near the Matrabah crossing on the Syria-Lebanon border early Thursday, injuring eight people and an unknown number of civilians, Syria's state TV reported. Four of the injured were border-control policemen, while the other four were customs officers, the report said, adding that the airstrike also damaged the bridge. It is the first Israeli raid on the Syrian border region since Israel escalated its military operations in Lebanon on Monday. The Matrabah crossing, linking the al-Qusayr region in the central Syrian province of Homs to Lebanon, has recently been used by displaced Lebanese seeking refuge in Syria. The interim government in Bangladesh on Wednesday approved 49 agencies in the country to export 2420 tonnes (2,420,000 Kg) hilsa to India. The first consignment of the freshwater fish of the Padma is expected to hit markets in Kolkata and districts in West Bengal from Thursday. The commerce ministry of Bangladesh issued a notification today, hardly four days after it announced on 21 August to export 3000 tonnes hilsa to neighbouring India ahead of the Durga Puja festival withdrawing its earlier decision to stop export of the most coveted fish of Bengalis in West Bengal. Advertisement Today, the commerce ministry decided to bring down the quantity to 2,420 tonnes from 3,000 tonnes. With gradual increase supply of Padmar ilish to West Bengal its prices will also come down before the Puja in the city and districts, felt hilsa importers. Trinamul Congress MP from Basirhat Haji Sheikh Nurul Islam passed away this morning. He is survived by his wife and children. He was 61 and suffering from an incurable disease for quite some time. He was sick when he was given the Lok Sabha ticket and assured the party chairperson that he was fine and would contest in the poll. Condoling his death Trinamul Congress chairperson Miss Mamata Banerjee wrote in her X-handle: Sad to know of the demise of my valued colleague, our MP from Basirhat, Haji Sk Nurul Islam. He was a dedicated social worker in a remote Sundarbans area, and he worked hard for the upliftment of poor people in a backward region. People of Basirhat will miss his leadership. I convey my condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Advertisement Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjeee in his X-handle wrote: It deeply saddens me to hear about the passing of our Lok Sabha MP from Basirhat, Haji Sk Nurul Islam. He was a true champion of the Ma, Mati, Manush philosophy, dedicating his life to serving the people and safeguarding their well being, even in his final days. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and I pray for his soul to rest in peace. The Basirhat Lok Sabha seat became a hotbed of politics during the election after the BJP fielded Rekha Patra, a resident of Sandeshkhali, who had alleged that Trinamul Congress was involved in land grabbing and abuse of local women. Nurul Islam won the seat by over 3.33 lakh votes. The Sandeshkhali issue of BJP died a natural death after the election. When the Border Security Force (BSF) implemented a strict zero firing policy during patrolling along the Indo-Bangladesh border, a troubling incident occurred yesterday, where a group of Bangladeshi miscreants allegedly abducted an Indian jawan. The BSF lodged a strong protest with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), denouncing the illegal crossing by Bangladeshi miscreants and the abduction of one of its personnel. According to a senior BSF official, the incident took place near the Biral border in Dinajpur, India, where a BSF jawan was abducted during a routine patrol. The miscreants, a group of 15 to 20 individuals, crossed into the Indian territory, forcibly took the BSF personnel into Bangladesh, and handed him over to the BGB. In response to this alarming breach of border security, inspector general Sooryakant Sharma of BSF North Bengal immediately contacted the region commander of BGBs North West Region, demanding the safe and swift return of the abducted jawan. Advertisement Following high-level talks between the sector commanders of both forces, the BSF jawan was returned to Indian custody by the BGB. The BSF strongly condemned the incident, characterising it as an act of aggression, and formally protested against the actions of the Bangladeshi miscreants. Emphasising its adherence to the Zero Firing policy, the BSF called for closer cooperation with the BGB to ensure the safety and security of both sides along the international border. Meanwhile, the BSF has uncovered a new cross-border smuggling operation involving Indian nationals working in collaboration with Bangladeshis. The operation involves Indian touts collecting blood samples from Bangladeshi nationals, conducting medical tests in Indian pathology centers, and then sending the reports back to Bangladesh. Acting on a tip-off, the BSF apprehended five Indian nationals yesterday from the Teenbigha Corridor area in Cooch Behar district. During interrogation, it was revealed that the group was involved in the illegal transport of blood samples across the border for testing. The individuals have been identified as Ali Hossain, Depen Debnath, Shahajahan Hossain, Partha Debnath, and Swapan Basak, all residents of Kuchlibari in Cooch Behar. The Centre on Wednesday said the total number of new contributing subscribers under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) stood at 62,880 in the month of July. In June, 64,799 new contributing subscribers joined the NPS in June. The newly registered employees and paying contribution under the Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme in July stood at 16,61,836 which was 16,33,848 during the month of June, informed Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Advertisement The Cabinet last month approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees, which will provide an assured minimum pension and a family pension. Around 23 lakh Central government employees will benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme. These employees will now have the option to choose between the NPS and the UPS. In UPS, the government has offered several advantages of the previous Old Pension Scheme (OPS) like assured pension, family pension and indexation benefits. This pension scheme is only for government employees unlike NPS which is offered to both government and private employees. In a key move to secure the financial future of young children in India, the government has also launched the NPS Vatsalya pension scheme, which offers flexible contributions and investment options for parents or guardians. The Vatsalya scheme is a saving-cum-pension scheme, which will be regulated and administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory Authority of India (PFRDA). Under the NPS Vatsalya scheme, parents can invest a minimum of Rs 1,000 per month with no upper limit. The scheme will be operated by parents until the child reaches 18. At the age of 18, the account will transition into the childs name. Meanwhile, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has added 19.94 lakh net members in the month of July, marking the highest recorded increase since payroll data tracking began in April 2018. EPFO added 10.52 lakh new members in July, a 2.66 per cent increase over June and a 2.43 per cent rise compared to the same month last year. FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Units of counter-narcotics police have discovered and destroyed a heroin-producing factory in northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, provincial police spokesman Ehsanullah Kamgar said on Thursday. After spotting the heroin lab in the Qawat Ali village of Darayim district, police raided the area late Wednesday night, smashed the plant, and arrested five persons on the spot, the official asserted. Without providing more details, the official warned of dire consequences if anyone violates the law to produce or smuggle illicit drugs. In a similar drive against illegal drugs, personnel of counter-narcotics police destroyed 137 acres of hashish farm in Baghlan province a couple of days ago. The Afghan caretaker government banned the cultivation of illegal crops, including poppy and hashish, drug processing and drug trafficking in April 2022. Since then, the administration has been fighting to get the once-poppy growing Afghanistan rid of the drug menace. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) conducted its 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday at its headquarters in New Delhi. It was informed that the countrys largest steel producer achieved the best sales turnover of Rs 1,04,545 crore during FY 24. SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash addressed the shareholders in the meeting, held through a virtual platform. He summarised the performance of the Maharatna during FY 23-24. He said that SAIL created new benchmarks by producing 20.5 Million Tonnes (MT), 19.24 MT and 18.44 MT of Hot Metal, Crude Steel and Saleable Steel respectively during FY24, registering growth of 5.6 per cent, 5.2 per cent and 6.9 per cent respectively over the previous year. Advertisement He mentioned that the Company achieved the best Sales Turnover of Rs 1,04,545 Crore during FY24. Addressing the Companys shareholders, he said, Reflecting on the performance of the previous year and looking forward to the future reinforces my belief that as an organisation, we can aspire to be Number One, i.e the best in our industry. He added that the Indian Governments continuous push to transform the social, digital and physical infrastructure of the country with a vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 has fueled steel demand in the Country across all sectors. SAIL is on track to excel in two focus areas which are to maximise capacity utilisation and provide best value to customers, he added. He said, SAIL would continue to engage with stakeholders, improve the asset utilisation and proactively be ahead of the curve. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has made headlines by rejecting an award from New York Citys Noguchi Museum. Lahiris decision follows the museums controversial dismissal of three employees who wore keffiyeh headscarves, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, in protest against the ongoing conflict in Gaza. These employees were let go after the museum updated its dress code, prohibiting such symbols. In a statement, the Noguchi Museum acknowledged Lahiris withdrawal: Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy. We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyones views. The keffiyeh has long been associated with Palestinian identity and resistance, and more recently, it has been worn globally by protesters advocating for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Advertisement Jhumpa Lahiri, known for her profound explorations of identity, immigration, and cultural displacement, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for her debut short story collection, Interpreter of Maladies. Over the years, she has become a significant literary figure, with her works often delving into the complexities of the immigrant experience, particularly from an Indian-American perspective. Her first novel, The Namesake (2003), was also met with critical acclaim and adapted into a popular film. Unaccustomed Earth (2008) won the Frank OConnor International Short Story Award, and her novel The Lowland (2013) was a finalist for prestigious awards like the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award for Fiction. Promising a terror-free region under the BJP regime, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the National Conference-Congress alliance would impose Pakistans agenda if it comes to power. Shah was addressing a series of poll rallies in the Jammu region, including Udhampur and Chenani, where elections will be held in the third phase on 1 October. Launching a scathing attack on the NC-Congress alliance, Shah said, Since independence, it is for the first time that an election is being held here without a separate flag or Article 370 in force. NC and Rahul Baba claim that we will restore Article 370, but I want to tell them that neither they nor their three generations will be able to bring it back. Advertisement The Narendra Modi-led government has fulfilled the dream of the partys patriarch, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, by abrogating Article 370, he said. Shah was referring to the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir that are being conducted after 10 years and for the first after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The Union Home Minister said that terrorism has been buried and will not be allowed to stage a comeback. He said the world is closely watching the J&K elections, where two vastly different ideologies are at play. On one hand, the NC, Congress, and PDP, which perpetuated terrorism, are vying for power, on the other hand, the BJP, committed to rooting out terrorism, offers a contrasting picture. Whoever spreads terror in Jammu and Kashmir will face the gallows. I want to ask you whether the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru should have been hanged or not. The NC and Congress are now saying he should not have been hanged, Shah said. They want to release stone pelters and terrorists. Omar Abdullah has given up these dreams because they cannot be fulfilled. It is the duty of courts, and we have enforced such laws that no one will dare to hurl a stone again, he said. He added, Since 2014, we have been working tirelessly to empower the SCs, STs, Dalits, poor, and women, while the Congress and Abdullahs never cared for them. Shah said the Abdullahs and Nehrus are accountable for the killing of 40,000 people in J&K. He added that while innocent people were being killed in J&K, Farooq Abdullah was holidaying in London. It is the BJP, he asserted, that has eradicated terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the BJP will bring out a white paper on terrorism and place it on the table of the Assembly. Referring to Rahul Gandhis statement about the Lt Governor and outsiders ruling J&K, the Union Home Minister said that Rahul Baba should know that the longest period of Presidents rule in J&K occurred during the tenures of his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, and father, Rajiv Gandhi. The Supreme Court, on Thursday, dismissed the Gujarat governments review petition seeking to expunge adverse remarks made against it on the January 8, 2024 judgment on its conduct in the premature release of 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano gangrape and murder of nine members of her family including her three-year-old daughter during 2002 Gujarat. Dismissing the review petition, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, in an order, said, We are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the review petitions, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The review petitions are, accordingly, dismissed. The review petition was considered by the judges by circulation in their chambers. Advertisement The Gujarat government, in its review petition, had said the adverse remarks made against it in the January 8, 2024 judgment quashing the premature release of 11 convicts has caused great prejudice to the state government. It had further contended that the state government only acted in pursuance to the mandamus issued by the Supreme Court by its May 2022 judgment directing it to consider the remission application of one of the convicts. Holding that the May 13, 2022 judgment by the top court to be a nullity and non-est in the eye of the law, the Supreme Court by its January 8, 2024 judgment had indicted the Gujarat government stating Consequently, the exercise of discretion by the State of Gujarat is nothing but an instance of usurpation of jurisdiction and an instance of abuse of discretion. If really State of Gujarat had in mind the provisions of law and the judgments of this Court and had adhered to the rule of law, it would have filed a review petition before this Court by contending that it was not the appropriate Government for the grant of remission of sentence to convicts involved in the heinous and brutal crime. The judgment had further said, By failing to do so (the Gujarat government filing a petition seeking the review of the May 13, 2022 judgment and order of the top court) not only are the earlier orders of this Court (May 13, 2022) in the matter have been vindicated but more importantly, rule of law has been breached in usurping power not vested in it and thereby aiding respondent Nos. 3 to 13. The January 8 judgment had said that the May 13, 2022 judgment of the top court that formed the basis for the grant of remission to 11 convicts by the Gujarat government was obtained by one of the convicts Radhedshyam Bhegwandas Shah @ Lala Vakil by scrumptiously approaching the top court in a writ jurisdiction and committed fraud on this Court by misrepresenting August 5, 2013, Bombay High Court judgment/order. ,we also hold that the judgment dated 13.05.2022 passed by this Court is a nullity and is non-est in law since the said order was sought by suppression of material facts as well as by misrepresentation of facts (suppressio veri, suggestio falsi) and therefore, fraudulently obtained at the hands of this Court, the judgment said. A bench of Justice Ajay Rastogi (since retired) and Justice Vikram Nath by the May 13, 2022 judgment had directed the Gujarat government to consider the application of Radhedshyam Bhegwandas Shah for pre-mature release in terms of July 9, 1992 remission policy which was applicable on the date of conviction and may be decided within two months. The Gujarat government in its review petition seeking to delete adverse observations against it had said that it cannot be held to have usurped the jurisdiction of the State of Maharashtra when it was acting as per a direction of the Supreme Court. By its January 8, 2024 judgment, the Supreme Court had struck down the Gujarat governments order granting remission of sentence to 11 convicts who had gang-raped Bilkis Bano and murdered members of her family including her three-year-old daughter. The Gujarat government in its review petition had said, The Supreme Courts observation holding Gujarat guilty of usurpation of power and abuse of discretion for complying with the order of apex court, whereby another co-ordinate bench of this Court held the State of Gujarat to be the appropriate government under section 432(7) of CrPC, and issued a mandamus to the State of Gujarat to decide the remission Application of a convict in accordance with the Remission Policy of 1992 which was in existence at the time of conviction in the State of Gujarat, is an error apparent on the face of the record primarily. The state government released the 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, on August 15, 2022. All 11 convicts were released in pursuance of the remission policy prevailing in Gujarat at the time of their conviction in 2008. In March 2002 during the post-Godhra riots, Bilkis Bano was gangraped and nine members of her family including her three-year-old daughter were killed. She was five months pregnant when rioters attacked her and her family in Vadodara. The Central government on Thursday issued a fresh advisory to the states and Union Territories (UTs) over the Mpox (monkeypox), calling upon them to undertake appropriate activities to make people aware about the viral disease. In an advisory issued to Chief Secretary of all the states and UTs, a copy of which was shared by the Health Ministry, Health Secretary Apurva Chandra wrote, The World Health Organization on 14th August announced that the current outbreak of Mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) disease is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the second time such Mpox disease associated PHEIC that has been declared by WHO under the International Health Regulations, 2005, to which India is a signatory. Informing that the previous Mpox outbreak that started in 2022 was caused by Mpox virus clade II, he said, The 2024 PHEIC is related to Mpox virus clade I which is more virulent and more transmissible than Mpox clade II. Advertisement This clade has been found outside Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) only during the current outbreak. Outside Africa, one case each of Mpox clade Ib has been recently reported from Sweden and Thailand. India is thus the third non-African country to report a case of clade Ib Mpox infection recently, the Health Secretary said. Highlighting actions that are required to be undertaken to prevent/minimise the risk of further spread of Mpox in India, he advised all states/UTs to undertake appropriate activities to make communities aware about the disease, its modes of spread, need/importance of timely reporting and preventive measures besides review of public health preparedness particularly at health facility level at the state and districts by senior officials. Chandra emphasised on identification of isolation facilities in hospitals for taking care of both suspect and confirmed cases, availability of required logistics and trained human resources in such facilities and augmentation plan. He said all suspected Mpox cases should be isolated and strict infection prevention and control measures should be put in place. Samples from skin lesions of any patient with suspected symptoms of Mpox should be sent to the designated labs immediately, and for those that test positive a sample should be sent to ICMR-NIV for genome sequencing to determine the clade. Robust diagnostic testing capability is already available; 36 labs supported by ICMR across the country and three commercial PCR kits validated by ICMR that are now approved by CDSCO, Chandra said. He further said the Health Ministry shall continue to monitor the situation closely and will extend all requisite support in this regard to states and UTs. On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) emphasized its significant role in promoting tourism across India. The ECoR zone, headquartered in Bhubaneswar, has been a crucial contributor to Indias tourism landscape by offering seamless connectivity to a range of cultural, historical, and natural attractions. Covering key regions of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, the East Coast Railway facilitates travel to some of the most iconic tourist spots in eastern India. Advertisement These include Odishas renowned beaches, temples, wildlife sanctuaries, and vibrant cultural festivals. The Jagannath Temple in Puri, the annual Rath Yatra, and Chilika Lake are just a few of the major destinations serviced by the ECoR zone, drawing millions of tourists every year. Ashoka Kumar Mishra, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Coast Railway, highlighted the railways contributions to tourism at a press conference. He noted that ECoR operates several special trains to pilgrimage centers, particularly during festivals like Rath Yatra, to accommodate the large number of devotees and tourists. ECoRs efforts to modernize travel were also spotlighted with the introduction of six Vande Bharat Express trains in the region. These high-speed, semi-luxury trains offer reduced travel times, world-class facilities, and comfort, making them popular among tourists seeking both convenience and style. The Vande Bharat trains connect major cities and tourist destinations, giving a boost to the regions tourism industry by making travel more accessible. The railway zone has also made strides in promoting eco-tourism and sustainable travel. ECoR has implemented a range of green initiatives, including electrification of rail routes, plastic-free stations, and bio-toilets, aligning with Indian Railways broader goal of eco-friendly travel. In addition to providing connectivity, the East Coast Railway has embraced its role in preserving railway heritage. The Waltair Division, for example, holds historical significance in Indian Railways development, and the Rail Museum in Bhubaneswar showcases the regions railway history. Through its extensive network and eco-friendly initiatives, the East Coast Railway continues to play a pivotal role in supporting tourism in eastern India while promoting sustainable travel practices. Chhattisgarh Forest Department officials faced a vicious assault by alleged sand mafia members in Kawardha district, leaving four injured and underscoring concerns over the growing influence of illegal mining syndicates. The assault, carried out by suspected members of the sand mafia, occurred late Tuesday night as the officers attempted to prevent illegal sand mining in the Kudoor Jhori nala near Dalmauha village. The officials, led by Circle In-Charge Ganesh Chandravanshi, had received intelligence regarding illegal sand extraction in the Kudoor Jhori nala near Dalmauha village. Upon arrival, they discovered a tractor-trolley laden with sand stuck in the mud, with two more tractors nearby. As the officers moved in, a mob of local residents descended on them, hurling abuses and issuing death threats. Advertisement The attackers, armed with sticks and rods, pursued the officers, assaulting them viciously and tearing their uniforms. Despite efforts by some team members to escape to the nearby village, the violence escalated further when a group of 20 assailants caught up with them around midnight. The sand mafias brutality didnt stop there. The two officers, covered in blood, were tossed into a JCB machines bucket and transported 6 km away to Kamthi, where they were dumped. In Kamthi, the injured officers pleaded for water, but the mafia callously threatened to kill them, even recording a video of the horrific incident. Before unleashing a second wave of vicious assaults, the attackers ominously warned, You seize our sand carts, now we will kill you. Officers Ganesh Chandravanshi and Anil Kurre suffered severe injuries in the assault, but managed to escape. Other officials targeted in the operation were Vinayak Manav Maravi, Dinesh Kumar Verma, and watchman Laman Baiga. The injured officers have lodged an official complaint, prompting the police to register a case against 20 individuals under charges of attempted murder and assault on public servants. The accused remain at large, but law enforcement officials have assured that they will be apprehended soon. Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Pankaj Patel confirmed that the Forest Development Corporation team was targeted while trying to stop illegal sand mining activities. This is an attack on government servants performing their duty. We have registered a case, and strict action will be taken against those involved, he stated. As authorities intensify their crackdown on illegal sand mining operations, the attack has sparked outrage among local government bodies, with demands for heightened security and swift legal action against those responsible for the violence. The sand mafia has long been a menace in Chhattisgarh, where illegal mining operations have flourished in many districts, often under the protection of local criminal networks. The administration is now under pressure to ensure that such incidents do not continue unchecked, threatening not just the environment but also the safety of law enforcement and forest officials. The government has advised Indian nationals against travelling to Lebanon till further notice in the wake of an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. As a reiteration of the advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice, an advisory issued by the Embassy of India in Lebanon said. All Indian nationals already in Lebanon have also been advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason, are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut. Advertisement The advisory came after the recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon which killed more than 500 people, including children, and left more than 1000 people injured. Hezbollah retaliated with rocket attacks on Israel. Attacking YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over his decision to visit Tirumala on 28 September, the TDP and BJP have demanded that he must sign the mandatory declaration for people belonging to other faiths before they visit the temple, otherwise he would not be allowed inside. They accused Reddy of skipping the protocol during his tenure as chief minister. The former chief minister has given a call to hold pujas on Saturday in temples across the state to atone the alleged sins of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for insinuating adulterated ghee was used to prepare the laddus. Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh in an oblique reference to Reddy, who is a practicing Christian, questioned his visit to Tirumala. He said, Why are you going to Hindu temples when you dont believe? Why do people who have defiled prasadam say they are going to Tirumala is this okay? He also urged Chief Minister Naidu to constitute a task force committee to identify those from other communities working in Hindu temples to remove them immediately. Advertisement AP BJP chief Daggubati Purandeswari also iterated that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy must declare his faith before visiting the Venkateswara Swamy temple according to the norms of visiting the temple. Reddy had previously not declared his faith in Lord Balaji before visiting Tirumala during his tenure as chief minister, his detractors alleged. BJP strongly demands that even before Jagan Mohan Reddy begins mounting Tirumala he should give the declaration of his faith at the Garuda statue itself at Alipiri, said Daggubati Purandeswari. TDP also slammed Reddy saying he was shamelessly doing politics over Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). We would like to ask Jagan Mohan Reddy, would you be signing the declaration at least this time which you did not do anytime during your tenure. You never had belief in Lord Balaji, you never respected the customs and traditions of TTD, said Jyothsna Tirunagari, TDP spokesperson. According to existing regulations, non Hindu visitors inform the administration about their religion and declare faith in Lord Venkateswara and seek special permission to enter the temple. However, Reddy took part in various rituals in the temple but desisted from signing the declaration when he was the chief minister. Other organisations joined in such as Sanatana Dharma Parirakshana JAC, which demanded that Reddy sign the declaration and tonsure his hair before mounting the steps on foot. In a blistering attack on Congress ahead of the Haryana assembly elections on October 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that most of the time of the grand old party is spent on factionalism, infighting, and settling scores with each other. Modi exuded confidence that the people of Haryana would give the BJP an opportunity to serve them for a third consecutive term. National interest is paramount for every BJP worker, and the people of Haryana have decided to give BJP a chance to serve once again, he said in an interaction with BJP booth workers of the state through the NaMo App. Advertisement Slamming the Opposition party, he said, The entire focus of those contesting against us is based on lies. Spreading lies and canards, talking nonsense, and vitiating the atmosphere has been their strategy. The party that has remained indifferent to public issues for 10 years, which lives for its own family or its own group, can never win the trust of the people of Haryana, the prime minister contended. Stating that Congress has failed as an Opposition in the past ten years, Modi added that the party, despite its big boasts, is not making an impact on the people. Highlighting the achievements of the BJP government in Haryana in the past decade, he said the corruption-free dispensation ensured that employment was given without any slip or expenditure for the first time in the state. Therefore, the people of Haryana are with us, their blessings are with us, hence our victory is certain, he asserted. Congress people live only for their own families. Congress is not concerned about anyone elses children, PM Modi said. The prime minister also took potshots at Congress over its aversion to any person from a backward caste taking up the highest offices of the country. They (Congress) are worried about how the countrys PM came from a backward community, how the Haryana chief minister came from a backward community. That is why these people spread lies because they think if the power of the backward communities increases, what will happen to them? I would also like to tell my brothers to ask Congress for an account of how many lies it dished out regarding MSP, Modi said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, in New York, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday that China is willing to work together with Ukraine to maintain the momentum of stable development in bilateral relations. During his meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized that China has always advocated for peaceful resolution of conflicts, and this remains true for the Ukraine issue. China has been closely monitoring the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and has provided four batches of humanitarian aid so far, and is ready to offer additional assistance based on Ukraine's needs, Wang said. China is also willing to maintain communication with all parties including Ukraine, in an effort to achieve peace at an early date, he added. Sybiha reiterated Ukraine's adherence to the one-China policy and expressed the willingness to build a strong partnership with China, adding that Ukraine highly values China's stance on the crisis and its efforts for peace. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday concluded his productive 3-day visit to Australia. The engagement imparted further momentum to the enhanced economic and commercial engagement between the two countries. During his visit, the Minister co-chaired the 19th Joint Ministerial Commission meeting with Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism of Australia at Government House in Adelaide on September 25. Discussions focussed on areas of cooperation and economic priorities for India and Australia; implementation of Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) initiatives; progress on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations etc, the Commerce Ministry said. Advertisement The Ministers reiterated the target of achieving AUD 100 billion bilateral trade by 2030, and also discussed enhancement of cooperation at multilateral and other regional forums- G20, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and WTO, including the Domestic Services Regulation issue. At the Joint Press Conference after the meeting, Minister Farrell announced a new grant of AUD 10 million for Australian businesses, organisations and universities to boost cooperation with India. Under the new grant, AUD 5 million will be extended to Australian organisations working on projects that boost trade and innovation, cultural ties and community leaders, and a further AUD 5 million for scholars and fellowships to support Australian universities to host Indian students in their research, on shared challenges. Both sides also agreed that the Make in India and Future Made in Australia initiatives are complementary and present opportunities to both sides to work together. The Governor of South Australia, Frances Adamson AC, hosted a lunch for the visiting Minister and the accompanying delegation at the Government House. Later in the day, Piyush Goyal accompanied by Minister Farrell visited the Australian Space Agency at Lot Fourteen Innovation precinct where they interacted with Australian space companies, including, Space Machine Company, which is working with New Space India Limited (NSIL) to launch the largest satellite built in Australia onboard an Indian Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. This Mission, named MAITRI exemplifies the close friendship between the two countries and marks a significant milestone in the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The measures announced included the opening of an Investment, Trade, Technology and Tourism (ITTT) office in Sydney which will have representatives of Invest India, National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), Export Credit Guarantee Corporation and DGFT, including industry bodies like CII and FICCI. The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu Minister and a lawmaker in State assembly V Senthil Balaji in an alleged money laundering case relating to cash for job case noting that with more than 2,000 accused and over 600 prosecution witnesses, the trial in the case is unlikely to conclude in next three to four years or take even more time and the incarceration of accused for an unreasonable period would infringe on fundamental right to speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Granting bail to Senthil Balaji, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih noted that he has already been in custody for 15 months and under Section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, under which he has been charged, the minimum sentence is three years and maximum being seven years. Ordering enlarging Senthil Balaji on bail, Justice Abhay S Oka speaking for the bench also comprising Justice Masih, said, the appellant (Senthil Balagi) has been incarcerated for 15 months or more for the offences punishable under the PMLA. In the fact of the case, the trial of the scheduled offences, and consequently the PMLA offences is not likely to be completed in three to four years or even more. If the appellants detention is continued, it will amount to an infringement of his fundamental right under Article 21 oof the Constitution of India of speedy trial. Advertisement While granting bail to Senthil Balaji, the court said that he would furnish a bail bond of Rs 25,00,000 with two sureties of like amount, shall not directly or indirectly contact or communicate with prosecution witnesses and the victims of the offences alleged against him, will mark his attendance at the office of the Deputy Director, ED, Chennai, every Monday and Friday between 11 am and 12 noon, appear before the investigating officer on the first Saturday of a Calendar month, surrender his passport to the special PMLA court, regularly and punctually be present before the court dealing with scheduled offences as well as the PMLA court and cooperate with the court in the early competition of the trial. The court further said that if Senthil Balaji seeks adjournment on non-existing or frivolous grounds or creates hurdles in the early disposal of cases, the bail granted to him shall be liable to be cancelled. Senthil Balaji had approached the top court challenging the February 28, 2024, Madras High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the PMLA case. Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023 in an alleged cash for job case. He was transport minister between 2011-2016 in the AIADMK government headed by the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. It is alleged that as transport minister, money was collected from the aspirants who were promised jobs in the transport department as drivers, conductors, junior tradesmen, junior engineers and assistant engineers. Entire racket, allegations say, was channelised through his private secretary. Three FIRs have been registered against Senthil Balaji and others and now the cases are before the trial court. SJVN Limited has signed two historic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government of Maharashtra for development of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) and Floating Solar Projects (FSPs) in Maharashtra. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The first one was inked between SJVN and the Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra for development of five pumped storage projects with a total capacity of 8100 MW. It was signed by SJVN, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Sushil Sharma and Maharashtra Water Resources Department, Additional Chief Secretary, Deepak Kapoor. Advertisement The second MoU was signed between SJVN and Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) for development of the 505 MW Floating Solar Project at Lower Wardha Dam in Maharashtra. It was signed by SJVN CMD Sushil Sharma and MAHAGENCO, CMD Dr. P. Anbalagan. Maharashtra Deputy CM congratulated SJVN , MAHAGENCO and Water Resources Department on achieving this major milestone and assured full support from the Government of Maharashtra for timely execution and completion of these projects. He stated that these MoUs mark a new chapter in the energy infrastructure of Maharashtra. The 505 MW floating solar project will be developed in two phases. The first phase will be of 100 MW and the second phase will be of 405 MW. The phased development will ensure optimal utilisation of the existing power evacuation infrastructure and will provide a sustainable and reliable energy source to the region. The 8100 MW Pumped Storage Projects include 800 MW Kolmondapada , 1500 MW Sidgad , 2000 MW Chornai , 1800 MW Baitarni and 2000 MW Jalwara Pumped Storage Projects. This MoU enables SJVN to complete the Pumped Storage Projects in a time bound manner in accordance with the extant rules/policies/schemes of Central/State Government. The PSPs will facilitate the survey and exploration , DPR preparation and subsequent installation of the above projects in Maharashtra in a systematic manner .These PSPs will play a vital role in energy storage, grid stabilization and meeting peak demand of electricity, thereby providing reliable and clean energy to the state of Maharashtra. Total estimated investment on these projects is Rs 48,000 crore and will generate around 8400 direct and indirect employment opportunities. These projects will support eco-tourism and skill development initiatives, benefiting the local community. The Tamil Nadu Police and State Forest Department have now directed the villagers of the Jawadhu hills to surrender all unlicensed and country-made guns till set September 30. The move comes after three persons were electrocuted to death due to illegal fencing and the recovery of a country-made gun in Yelagiri hills near Jolarpet in Tamil Nadus Tirupattur district. The recovery of the firearm indicated that the trio was poaching at the time of the incident. Advertisement The Forest Department said that if the firearms and country-made guns are surrendered before Sep 30, no cases would be filed for possessing unlicensed arms and there wont be any penalty. If unlicensed arms are found in possession of anyone after the deadline ends, police will register a case and heavy fines will be levied. Forest Department officials have already met the village elders and asked them to coordinate with the farmers as well as those involved in poaching to surrender their firearms -mostly illegal and locally made. On the Tirupattur side of the Jawadhu hills, Pudur Nadu, Nellivasal Nadu, Pungampattu Nadu, and 32 remote hamlets are present. The message was conveyed to a group of heads of three panchayaths. A senior official of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department told IANS that the Tirupattur Police officials along with the village and taluk officers were telling village elders to communicate to those holding these firearms to surrender these country-made guns at public places like temples so that they need not appear before the police and that their identities wont be revealed. Forest Department Officials said at present, there was no data on the number of illegal arms in the Jawadhu hill area. However, the district has 177 licensed guns which were surrendered before the LokSabha elections. Police officers said that the tribals of this region have been possessing these country-made guns since Independence. They use these guns for hunting purposes. and to guard themselves from wild animals and theft. However, due to better roads and transport systems in the areas, there is no need to possess illegal arms today, the police added. Chinas test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean is a significant move that signals its growing military assertiveness in an already tense geopolitical landscape. This marks the first time since 1980 that Beijing has launched an ICBM into international waters, a development that has drawn global attention. Though Chinas defence ministry described the test as part of routine annual training, experts and geopolitical analysts suggest the timing and nature of the launch are anything but routine. For decades, Chinas ICBM tests have typically been confined to domestic ranges, such as the Taklamakan Desert. The decision to fire a missile into the Pacific, reminiscent of its 1980 test, suggests that Beijing is attempting to send a broader message of deterrence and strategic reach. While China claims the launch was not aimed at any specific country, tensions in East Asia provide ample context for interpreting the missile test as a calculated signal to its neighbours and to the United States. Japans response to the test has been particularly telling. Despite Chinas assertion that it notified relevant countries, Japan stated it had received no advance notice, fuelling apprehension about Chinas increasing military unpredictability. Relations between China and Japan have been strained in recent months, exacerbated by Chinese spy planes breaching Japanese airspace and continuing disputes in the East China Sea. Japans defence ministry made it clear that it would continue to monitor Chinese military movements closely, highlighting the growing concerns within the region. Beyond Japan, Chinas relations with Taiwan and the Philippines have also become flashpoints. Chinas aggressive tactics in the South China Sea and its repeated incursions into Taiwanese airspace are seen as attempts to assert dominance in disputed areas. The ICBM test comes amid reports of intensified missile drills by China around Taiwan, adding another layer to the grey zone tactics Beijing has been using to wear down the islands defences. With each manoeuvre, China appears to be inching closer to normalising its presence in areas that are contested by its neighbours. From a broader perspective, the missile test could also be viewed as a signal to the United States. Relations between Washington and Beijing have been rocky, particularly after China suspended nuclear arms control talks in response to US arms sales to Taiwan. With the Pentagons latest reports indicating that China could double its nuclear warhead stockpile by 2030, Beijing seems intent on showcasing its growing capabilities. However, Chinas nuclear arsenal, estimated at over 500 warheads, remains a fraction of the more than 5,000 possessed by both the US and Russia, leaving Beijing still trailing behind the worlds foremost nuclear powers. While Beijing may insist that the launch was a routine part of its annual exercises, the geopolitical undercurrents suggest a much more strategic motive ~ one aimed at asserting dominance in its immediate sphere of influence and signalling its rising global military ambitions. Advertisement The heinous crime in the rape and murder of a doctor of the R.G.Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, in the late hours of 8 August, has led to widespread protests not only all over West Bengal, but throughout the country, as well as in various other countries. An unprecedented mass response occurred in the form of an an appeal to women citizens to reclaim the night by capturing the streets throughout West Bengal at midnight on 14 August, 2024, in protest against the administrations announcement that women should stay at home at night and should not be given night duties at workplaces. People from all walks of life, particularly women, came out of their homes to the streets at midnight and demonstrated through the night by lighting candles, blowing conch shells and demanding, through slogans, impartial investigation of that horrible crime. The movement continues, to demand proper justice. As the movement gained momentum, it was discovered that R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital is actually a den of corrupt and anti-social activities. The one-and-a-half-month old movement reveals three unique features. Firstly, such overwhelming participation of women of all ages is unprecedented in the history of popular resistance in India. Secondly, the movement has been launched and is being carried on predominantly by non-party civil society organizations by using the national flag instead of any party flag. This shows that citizens, in general, are alienated from established political parties. And, finally, political parties have realized that their fellow beings are alienated from them and, therefore, when they request people to join processions organized by them, they announce that they will not carry any party flag. These non-party civil society organizations which have sprung up in different places can be called demand groups or pressure groups. In that sense, they are non-political in structure. But, functionally they are political since any movement against a government department (in this case, the health department) and/or against a government institution (in this case, a state-run hospital) is nothing but a political activity. Advertisement While political parties are also launching campaigns against the government on the same issues, there is a fundamental difference between them and the pressure groups. In fact, the basic difference between a political party and a pressure group is that while the ultimate aim of the former is to oust an existing government from power and to seize power for itself through election or otherwise, the goal of a pressure group is simply to force the government to react to an injustice and to redress a particular grievance. What, then, will happen when the government withdraws or steps back from a proposed policy or action which a pressure group regards as wrongful? Will the group then wither away, its demands having been fulfilled? This is a vital question today for all the non-party groups which are fighting for justice. The direction in which the CBI investigation is moving in the RG Kar case, people are becoming hopeful that ultimately justice shall prevail and all wrong-doers shall be identified and punished. What will happen then? Will the innumerable protest groups, not affiliated to any political party, meet their natural death? Or, will a new political party emerge from these pressure groups? Both these possibilities are there and in both cases, if they occur, people will remain under the domination of party politics. The time has come, therefore, to think of a third alternative. These pressure groups, in different places of Bengal, may unite to form a Statewide non-party civil society organization with local branches. The objective of this broad organisation would be to keep a vigil on governmental activities, cooperate and help the government in implementing good policies and fighting against the government whenever it commits or supports wrongful actions. It may fight against, for example, corruption in the higher echelons of the administration, against mismanagement of the rationing system, against the syndicate raj in various sectors (particularly real estate), against soaring prices of essential items, against exorbitantly high power tariffs, against extortion for services rendered by government departments and municipalities, against extortion by the police from poor rickshaw pullers, vegetable vendors, and others. But such movements must be conducted in non-violent ways as otherwise the Government will be justified in using coercive apparatus to deal with them. Moreover, movements on popular issues are likely to gain mass support and, thereby, social legitimacy, if they are nonviolent. There is enough historical evidence to show that for any government, anywhere in the world, it is easier to suppress a violent movement than a mass non-violent movement. The fact, however, is that the multi-party parliamentary system has come to stay and, admittedly, it is superior to totalitarianism or a oneparty system. Given this situation, the task of non-party civil society organizations is not only to fight against wrongs done by the government, but to do, at the same time, constructive work at the grassroots level in order to help people to solve their local problems through popular initiatives. Such constructive work will awaken the people from their deep slumber and will make them realize that power springs neither from any political party nor from the State machinery, but from the people. Finally, such a civil society organization should regard itself not as a commander but as a Servant of the People. It should not regard the government as an eternal foe but should cooperate with the government when it makes policies aimed at the wellbeing of people in general and, particularly, at the amelioration of the poor. (The writer is a retired Professor of Political Science, Calcutta University.) From the historical, archaeological, lithographic and literary evidences and the Odissi dance and music traditions, it is fairly established that Jayadeva belonged to Odisha and was born in a Brahmin family in village Kenduli Sasan (formerly Kendu Bilva) in Prachi valley near the famous temple city of Puri. The poets parents were Bhojadeva and Vamadevi initiated in Vaishnavism. After childhood education at Kenduli Sasan, Jayadeva moved to Kurmapataka near Konark for further studies in Sanskrit literature and the Shastras. Soon he became a member of the teaching faculty in the school at Kurmapataka where he composed Gita Govinda around the age of 20, which is supported by the fact that the earliest commentary on Gita-Govinda appeared in 1190 CE by Udayanacharya. Later, he became an integral part of the Jagannath temple at Puri. He introduced a new dance and music form based on his Gita Govinda (which evolved into classical Odissi dance and music) and himself performed in the temple on a regular basis along with his Devadasi wife, Padmavati who herself was an accomplished dancer. Jayadeva also institutionalized the system of Devadasi, a system of being offered to the Deity. This system was abolished during the British Raj. While recent research throws considerable light on Jayadevas early life and his umbilical association with the Jagannath temple, nothing is known about this great poets post-temple life ~ his inheritors if any, date and place of his death and his final resting place. Some people believe that after he finished his duties in Puri, he must have returned to his village, Kenduli Sasan where he finally settled down. Advertisement There are others who believe that he migrated to Vrindavan, the mecca of all the Vaishnava sects and died there. According to folklore, at the invitation of the Raja and Queen of Kashi (Varanasi), Jayadeva along with his wife, Padmavati went to Kashi where they spent the last few years of their lives. In the absence of any contemporary memorial, any plaque or written document, this still remains a mystery. The world knows Jayadeva as a solitary-literary-work celebrity for his Gita-Govinda epic poem. But for a genius like Jayadeva, to rest with only one creation is simply unthinkable; he must have composed many more poems and songs, which might have been lost in an age when there was no paper, pen or printing technology and everything was generally written with great dexterity on materials like the palm leaves, bird-feather pens and charcoal ink, preservation of which for generations had been a herculean task. That Jayadeva created many more things is proved by the fact that a few poems written by him in archaic Odissi language have been published by the Odisha government. Moreover, Jayadeva was instrumental in popularising the Hindu concept of Dasavatara, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu in another composition, Dasakritikrike. In his version of Dasavatara, Jayadeva has made Buddha an avatar of Vishnu (ninth avatar) while Krishna is not incorporated because Krishna (Keshava) is the source of all incarnations and he incarnated himself as Buddha. Jayadeva also wrote Piyusha Larari, a Sanskrit Goshti Rupaka based on the romantic love of Radha and Krishna, very similar to Gita Govinda. While many Western scholars and a number Indias Sanskrit Pundits including Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Bankim Chandra Chatto padhyay criticized Gita Govinda for its profanities, others are enchanted with the beauty of the poems and interpreted the love songs as expressions of divine love. Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore was also influenced by Jayadevas poems as much as he admired Kalidasa, Bhavabhuti Vidyapati and Chandidas. Irrespective of conflicting appreciations, it is universally accepted that Gita Govinda is one of the great masterpieces in world literature. Gita Govinda became an instant success at the Jagannath temple where Jayadeva himself performed creating his own music with different ragas and new talas and a dance form which later evolved into the famous Odissi classical dance. The Maharis or Devadasis were meticulously trained to perform along with him and one of the accomplished Devadasi danseuses became his wife. Both of them devoted their lives to the service of Lord Jagannath. The musical poetry of Gita Govinda and the cult of Vaishnavism practiced by him swept Odisha and soon spread to Ben gal, South In dia, Maharashtra and all over the sub-continent. The structure of Gita Govinda is unique ~ it is divided into 12 Cantos (chapters) depicting twelve moods of Krishna. Each chapter is further sub-divided into 24 divisions called Prabandhas. The Prabandhas contain couplets grouped into sets of eight known as Ashtapadis depicting eight moods of the heroine Radha, the Ashta Nayika. The lyrics (still in manus cripts of palm leaves) became so popular that they were translated in many Indian and Western languages. It is not known when the original Sanskrit version saw the light in a printed book form although the first printing press in India was installed in 1556 in Saint Pauls College, Old Goa. In 1806-07 one Babu Ram started a printing press in Kolkata for publication of Sanskrit books in Devnagari script and only thereafter, Gita Govinda could be published in Sanskrit in a book form. Till then, Jayadevas Gita Govinda was confined to manuscripts written on palm leaves, paintings (patachitras) and later in handmade paper. Interestingly, Odisha has a long tradition of writing manuscripts of Gita Govinda in different forms and shapes and illustrated using palm leaves, bamboo leaves, ivory and handmade paper. In the archives of Odissa State Museum exists an astonishing number of various versions of Gita Govinda manuscripts numbering two hundred and ten ~ twenty-one illustrated, one hundred and eighty non-illustrated and nine manuscripts of different shapes like garland, fish and dagger. Eighteen different commentaries authored by medieval writers have also been preserved in the museum. Jayadevas Gita Govinda is considered to be one the finest examples of Sanskrit poetry and contains some of the sweetest lyrics ever written in any language. Within two-three centuries of the Jayadeva era, this masterpiece became highly popular throughout the sub-continent. It has been translated in all the major Indian and many European languages. It was Sir Williams Jones, the great connoisseur of Indian culture and literature, who translated Kalidasas Abhijnana Sakuntalam, who also translated Gita Govinda into English in 1792 followed by a German version by F. H. van Dalberg (which Goethe read) based on Jones translation. German poet, Friedrich Ruckart completed a verse version during 1829-1837 based on the edited Sanskrit and Latin translations of C. Lassen. Guimet museum in Paris houses a manuscript in Devanagari script, in superbly decorated folios, telling the love story of Krishna and Radha. In addition to a large number of commentaries on it, Gita Govinda has been translated into English by a number of eminent people. Notable among the translators are Edwin Arnold, George Keyl, Harold Peiris, S. Lakshminarasimha Sastri, Barbara Stoler Miller, and Lee Siegel. The genius of Jayadeva should not be judged only by his beautiful epic of Gita Govinda. He had a lasting contribution to Indian culture and society. He is the creator and originator of what is known as the classical Odissi dance and music. He was an integral part of the Jagannath temple and his efforts made it the fountain head of Odissi culture. His cult of Vaishnavism based on the divine love of RadhaKrishna swept Orissa, Bengal, Andhra, Maharashtra and the whole of the subcontinent. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was himself greatly influenced by him. In away, he is the precursor of the great Bhakti movement spearheaded by Guru Nanak, Sant Kabir and Sri Chaitanya three hundred years later ~ a kind of renaissance of love. (The writer is a former Dy. Comptroller & Auditor General of India and a former Ombudsman of Reserve Bank of India. He is also a writer of several books and can be reached at brahmas@gmail.com) The Muslim League ministry in Bengal should be able to control the outbreak of disorders in East Bengal, said Mahatma Gandhi on 21 October 1946 in an interview to Preston Grover of Associated Press of America. The Mahatma expressed his sadness on the turn of events in which thousands had been driven from their homes and an undetermined number killed or kidnapped. He said, if the Muslim League wanted to control it, I should think that it could. The Muslim League has the overwhelming percentage of Muslim voters on their side. Mahatma Gandhi described the Bengal outbreak as heartbreaking. His comments on the outbreak of robbing, burning and looting in East Bengal (from Volume 86 of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi) were made in his small room in the Harijan colony in New Delhi where he had lived since the arrival of the British Cabinet Mission in March that year. The Mahatma announced his intention of visiting troubled areas in Bengal after his meeting on October 23 with Pandit Nehru and the Working Committee where they would discuss problems created by the entry of the Muslim Group into the Central Ministry, stating: The fact that I go there will satisfy the soul and may be of some use. Preston questioned him, Will the Muslims listen to you? Replied Gandhiji, I dont know. I dont go with any expectation, but I have the right to expect it. A man who goes to do his duty only expects to be given strength by God to do his duty. You may be certain these disturbances will end. If the British influence were withdrawn, they would end much quicker. While the British influence is here, both parties, I am sorry to confess, look to the British power for assistance. Turning to the affairs of the Interim Government, Mahatma Gandhi regretted the statement of Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan of the Muslim League that the League was going into the Interim Government to fight for Pakistan. Gandhiji said, That is an extraordinary and inconsistent attitude. The Interim Government is for the interim period only and may not last long. While it is in office, it is there to deal with the problems that face the country ~ starvation, nakedness, disease, bad communications, corruption, illiteracy. Any one of these problems would be enough to tax the best minds of India. On these there is no question of Hindu or Muslim. Both are naked. Advertisement Both are starving. Both wish to drive out the demon of illiteracy and unIndian education. There is not much time to elapse between this Government and that to be set up by the Constituent Assembly. The time will be shortened if both apply their will to the completion of the work of the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly is based on the State Paper. That Paper has put in cold storage the idea of Pakistan. Despite his despondency, Gandhijis political and legal insights were as sharp as ever. Asked for his reaction to the decision of the Madras Ministry which had decided against any expansion of the cotton mills industry in the Province in order to promote the Gandhian plan for home spinning and weaving, the Mahatma said, I think it is the finest thing going. If you want to follow this logically, then you must follow it through. Would that mean that mills in the Province would be stop ped? He replied if in time, through the progressive programme, the mills came to have no customers, then they would quit ~ unless they chose to sell outside India. He assailed the Natal Sugar Mills industry as responsible for bringing indentured Indians there to work and thus creating the segregation problem. When asked if he had any message for America, the Mahatma said, Dislodge the money God called Mammon from the throne and find a corner for poor God. I think America has a very big future but in spite of what is said to the contrary, it has a dismal future if it swears by Mammon. Mammon has never been known to be a friend of any of us to the last. He is always a false friend. At the prayer meeting the same evening, Gandhiji pointed out that the coming Diwali could not be an occasion for feasting. How could there be feasting in a house where there were any number of the starving and the naked? On top of that they were quarrelling amongst themselves. To burn oil or ghee today when there was not enough to eat was unthinkable. Real India did not reside in cities like Delhi. It resided in the seven lakhs of villages. For the hungry and naked villagers there could be no Diwali illuminations or any other kind of festivity. It was their duty to abstain and save all the ghee, oil and money they could. On 23 October, Andrew Freeman of The New York Post asked the Mahatma whether the spinning-wheel had a message for America. Can it serve as a counter weapon to the atom bomb?, he questioned. Gandhiji replied, I do feel that it has a message for the USA and the whole world. But it cannot be until India has demonstrated to the world that it has made the spinning-wheel its own, which it has not done today. The fault is not of the wheel. I have not the slightest doubt that the saving of India and of the world lies in the wheel. If India becomes the slave of the machine, then, I say, heaven save the world. India has a far nobler mission, viz., to establish friendship and peace in the world. Freeman said, it seems so tragic. India must lead the way and India is in turmoil. If any country can really take up the wheel, it is India. Do you think it will?, he asked. Gandhiji replied, It is doing so, but I confess the process is very slow. Pandit Nehru called khadi the livery of our freedom. Freemans questions veered towards spirituality and religion. He asked Gandhiji, Something has to be found that would save civilization from destruction. Life must be simplified. Gandhiji re plied, Human personality cannot be sustained in any other way. I stand by what is implied in the phrase Unto This Last (referring to the work of John Ruskin). That book marked the turning point in my life. We must do even unto this last as we would have the world do by us. All must have equal opportunity. Given the opportunity every human being has the same possibility for spiritual growth. That is what the spinning-wheel symbolizes. Gandhiji posed a counterquestion: Has America with all its Mammon-worship abolished unemployment, poverty, corruption, Tammany Hall (a political organisation)? Has England? Has it not still to grapple with the problems that baffle her? It is a very curious commentary on the West that although it professes Christianity, there is no Christianity or Christ in the West or there should have been no war. That is how I understand the message of Jesus. There is much ignorance and superstition in India. But deep down in us is that faith in God ~ the instinct for religion. Gandhiji said, I have said so openly. Where is Mohammed and his message which is peace? I said recently at a public gathering that if Mohammed came to India today, he would disown many of his so-called followers and own me as a true Muslim, as Jesus would own me as a true Christian I might give the answer that Jesus gave to one of his followers: Do the will of my Father who is in Heaven, not merely say Lord, Lord. That holds true of you, me and everybody. If we have faith in the living God, all will be well with us. I hope not to lose that faith even to my dying day. For Mahatma Gandhi, as he concluded the interview with Freeman, the charkha was playing the role of a therapeutic agent. He said, I have read some literature on the subject sent to me by a Glasgow professor. A retired superintendent of a jail in Bengal wrote to me describing the use of the spinning-wheel for curing lunatics, particularly by virtue of the soothing effect of its rhythmic motion. Seventy-seven years after Independence, issues which were agonizing Mahatma Gandhi continue to fester, deepen and worsen while nation-building exercises are underway. (The writer is an author-researcher on history and heritage issues and a former deputy curator of Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya) Few topics in mental health create as much attention and misunderstanding as the rise of vaping. The mainstream media has painted a grim picture of these devices as a looming crisis, particularly for young folks, often referring to vaping products as gateway devices. While undoubtedly born of genuine concern, this narrative fails to acknowledge the reality of the role of vaping in tobacco harm reduction. This can unintentionally risk pushing smokers away from what can be a lifesaving alternative. When one directly examines the scientific literature on vaping, a completely different story emerges from the ones most public commentators speak of. Several studies conducted by authoritative sources such as Public Health England suggest that e-cigarettes are about 95 per cent less harmful than ordinary cigarettes. The effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool is another area where public perception often trails behind scientific evidence. For instance, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that e-cigarettes were twice as effective at aiding smokers to quit compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapies. This finding, backed up by real-world data from countries like the United Kingdom, emphasizes the strong potential of vaping as a formidable weapon in the battle against smoking and smokingrelated diseases. As such, policy approaches that incorrectly treat vaping as equivalent to smoking or, worse, seek to ban it entirely do more harm than good. Once celebrated as visionary, Bhutans attempted comprehensive tobacco ban ultimately led to a sharp growth in smoking rates and fostered a thriving black market, forcing a repeal of the policy. Similarly, South Africas temporary ban during the Covid-19 pandemic barely made a dent in smoking, with analyses after the fact showing that 93 per cent of South African smokers continued to practice the habit despite the ban. Moreover, rates returned to their prior values once the policy was repealed, leaving no hint of any lingering benefit. At the same time, the ban significantly increased prices of cigarettes by 240 per cent, a burden that fell disproportionately on lower-income individuals. Advertisement The unintended consequences of overly rigid policies are, thus, not mere speculation. Flavour bans, often proposed to supposedly reduce youth appeal, represent another well-intentioned but counterproductive policy. Evidence suggests that curiosity, not flavours, is the primary driver of experimentation. Furthermore, vaping flavours are key players in assisting smokers to move away from cigarettes. Hence, eliminating this option could push former smokers back to more harmful tobacco products. But by far the most pernicious myth surrounding vaping, one that has captured the minds of many policymakers (here in India included), is the gateway effect, which fears that young people who take up vaping will eventually end up smoking cigarettes instead. In reality, multiple studies, like a comprehensive review of fifteen articles, fail to demonstrate any causal link between vaping and subsequent smoking initiation. Indeed, the evidence is in population numbers. Until 2016, India was the second largest tobacco consumer in the world, second only to China. However, since the advent of vaping, youth smoking rates have been at an all-time low, with a substantial 6 per cent decline in smoking rates among teens in India when vaping rates have been going up. Far from a gateway effect, these figures indicate that vapes are used as a safer alternative for cigarettes. As we navigate the intricate landscape of tobacco control in the 21st century, its imperative to embrace a comprehensive harm reduction approach, one that recognizes the potential of e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative to smoking. Such an approach calls for nuanced policies that balance youth protection with the needs of adult smokers seeking to quit. The stakes measured in lives saved and improved are simply too high to let misinformation guide our approach to what could be one of the most significant public health innovations of our time. (The writer is an Indian Policy Associate at the Consumer Choice Center.) The recent remarks by Frances new interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, signal a profound shift in the countrys immigration policy, reflecting not only his partys agenda but also the broader socio-political landscape. With the ascendance of Ms Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally (RN) following the recent legislative elections, the French government appears poised to adopt increasingly stringent immigration measures, catering to a public that has clearly expressed its desire for tougher policies. Mr Retailleaus intentions to bolster asylum restrictions, enhance deportations, and modify outdated EU immigration laws are more than just political posturing; they represent a response to a public sentiment that has grown weary of perceived immigration challenges. The fact that the RN has gained such influence and power in shaping government policy is indicative of a significant shift in the French electorates views. This aligns with a broader trend across Europe, where populist and far-right parties have gained traction by capitalising on fears surrounding immigration, national identity, and security. The new interior ministers assertion that France must stop illegal entries and increase exits resonates with a populace that is increasingly supportive of harsher immigration controls. Mr Retailleaus focus on regional prefects to expedite deportations and reduce regularisation efforts reveals prioritisation of punitive measures over compassionate solutions. Advertisement This approach risks exacerbating societal divisions and fostering an environment of mistrust among communities, particularly against migrants who are often scapegoated for broader socioeconomic challenges. Moreover, the ministers call for collaboration with other European nations to enforce stricter immigration laws highlights a troubling willingness to sacrifice the principles of humanitarianism for political expediency. By aligning with countries that have already tightened their immigration policies, France risks undermining its historical commitment to being a sanctuary for those seeking refuge. The conversation around migration needs to shift from one of fear and exclusion to one that recognises the complexities of global displacement and the importance of shared responsibility among nations. Mr Retailleaus declaration that the French too have given us their roadmap implies a government willing to bend to the whims of populist sentiment, even if it contradicts Frances foundational values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The acknowledgment of the RNs pivotal role in the new coalition raises concerns about the normalisation of far-right ideologies within mainstream politics. This situation calls for vigilance, as it may further embolden extremist rhetoric and actions. As France embarks on this new chapter in its immigration policy, it is crucial for its leaders to remember the lessons of history. The path of exclusion and division has only led to greater societal turmoil and strife. Instead, a commitment to inclusive dialogue, mutual understanding, and comprehensive immigration reform must take precedence over mere populist appeasement. Only by doing so can France assert its legacy as a beacon of hope and tolerance in an increasingly polarised world. An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) by Burak Akinci KONYA, Turkiye, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- When Murat Uludag was a teenager about 40 years ago, there was so much water in central Turkiye's Lake Kulu that it was dangerous to swim in it. "This region used to be a sanctuary for 186 species of birds. Compared to the past, we only have a handful of birds left," lamented Uludag, a man in his mid-50s who now heads a local wildlife conservation group. "If there's no water, there's no life," the ex-farmer told Xinhua, pointing at a small flock of flamingos and ducks stubbornly packed together in the middle of a tight shoal in the lake. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. In the past, farmers in Kulu used to grow traditional crops like wheat and barley, but they later shifted to water-intensive crops like maize or beetroot, leading to aggressive use of groundwater which gradually dried up the creeks feeding the lake, Uludag said. Lake Kulu is not alone in facing an uncertain future. According to figures released by the Turkiye Nature Conservation Association on September 18, 186 out of 240 lakes in Turkiye have entirely dried up over the past 60 years, while the remaining ones are at risk of drought and pollution. Besides, authorities have reported hundreds of sinkholes in Konya Province, which are weakening the bedrock and threatening agriculture and human safety. "One of the main issues in central Anatolia and the vast Konya plain is the proliferation of illegal wells drilled by farmers to irrigate water-intensive crops," Melih Ozbek, an Ankara-based scholar and a wildlife activist, told Xinhua. Another reason is the change in agriculture in recent years, exacerbated by climate change that has resulted in erratic weather conditions and drought, Ozbek said. There is an urgent need to create a plan involving all relevant parties and implement it with a shift in mindset, he said. "People are unwilling to make sacrifices for something they cannot see. They will suffer more in the coming decades," he added. Echoing Ozbek, Erol Kesici, a leading Turkish expert on water issues, warned that "there is not a single lake left in Turkiye that we can point to as being in good condition." "The problems are dire, with water levels, surface areas, pollution and oxygen depletion worsened; unfortunately, many of our natural lakes, formed millions of years ago, have suffered from severe drying in the past few decades," Kesici said. An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a part of Lake Kulu in Konya, Turkiye. Lake Kulu, by which Uludag grew up, is located some 5 km east of Konya Province's Kulu district. Once a haven for rose flamingos and other migratory birds on their way to Africa, it has already dried up due to groundwater overuse and climate change. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) Assam, a state rich in history and culture, is no stranger to civil unrest and protests rooted in deep-seated issues of identity, governance, and development. The recent protests in Sivasagar, one of Assams historically significant districts, have once again highlighted the states simmering socio-political tensions. These protests have been sparked by demands for better governance, protection of indigenous rights, and frustration over the slow pace of development. The protests in Siva sagar revolve around long-standing grievances of the Assamese people concerning issues such as land ownership, illegal immigration, and the perceived neglect by the Central and state governments in addressing the regions unique needs. This unrest has brought back memories of past movements, like the agitation from 1979-85, which sought to protect the cultural and demographic integrity of Assam. Decades later, the fact that similar concerns still ignite protests suggests that these issues have not been adequately resolved. At the heart of the Sivasagar protests is the fear of demographic change, exacerbated by the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). For many, these policies seem to threaten the ethnic composition of the region, stoking fears that the Assamese identity could be overwhelmed by an influx of migrants, particularly from neighbouring Bangladesh. The protesters in Sivasagar, much like elsewhere in Assam, demand assurances that their identity, culture, and land rights will be protected. While these concerns are valid, it is crucial to approach the situation with sensitivity and a commitment to inclusivity. The government must strike a balance between national policies and local realities. One way to address the issue is by ensuring that policies like the NRC and CAA are implemented in a way that respects the historical and cultural context of Assam. Meaningful dialogue with local stakeholders and transparent governance are essential in preventing the alienation of indigenous communities. Another important aspect of the protests in Sivasagar is the call for economic development and infrastructure improvements. Advertisement Sivasagar, despite its rich cultural and his t o rical heritage ~ being the ancient capital of the Ahom Kingdom ~ has not seen the level of economic growth it deserves. This lack of development has left many people feeling marginalised and left behind. Investment in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, as well as job creation, could help alleviate some of the socio-economic pressures contributing to the unrest. Moreover, the states natural wealth, particularly its oil and tea industries, has not been fully utilised to benefit local communities. Protesters are rightfully demanding that resources extracted from their land contribute more directly to their prosperity. The government must prioritise revenue-sharing models that ensure local populations see tangible benefits from these industries. For example, greater investment in local educational institutions and skill development centres could empower the youth of Assam and provide them with opportunities to participate in the modern economy. For peace to prevail, the government must listen to the voices of the protesters and work towards an inclusive development model ~ one that respects Assams unique cultural identity and addresses economic disparities. Representatives from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met here to discuss finalizing the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Post-2025 Strategic Plan. They gathered in Lao capital Vientiane from Monday to Tuesday for the seventh meeting of the Ad-Hoc Working Group to develop the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan, Lao News Agency reported on Wednesday. The meeting aimed to advance the development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan, with a focus on completing outstanding tasks such as promoting and protecting human rights and formulating ASEANs perspectives on the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement The meeting concluded with a consensus on the strategic plans progress, Xinhua news agency reported. The draft ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan is expected to be submitted to the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 in November 2024. Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian families fled Lebanon for Syria as Israeli airstrikes continued, said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday. According to a statement issued by the UN Refugee Agency, hundreds of vehicles were backed up in queues at the Syrian border, with many people arriving on foot, carrying whatever belongings they can. Large crowds, including women, children and babies, reportedly waited in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments, the statement added. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence, stating that the bloodshed was taking a heavy toll, displacing tens of thousands of people from their homes, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement He highlighted the plight of families who had previously fled the war in Syria, only to now face bombings in the country where they had sought refuge. Grandi urged the international community to prevent further scenes of despair and devastation, warning that the Middle East could not endure another displacement crisis. He emphasized that protecting civilian lives must be the top priority. Israel has carried out its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, starting on Monday, resulting in over 550 deaths and more than 1,800 injuries nationwide. The attacks have also forced thousands of residents in Lebanon to flee their homes. The UNHCR, along with its partners, has been present at border crossings, offering essential supplies such as food, water, blankets, and mattresses to incoming refugees, said the statement. An Israeli tank is transported by a truck near Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, on Sept. 26, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Thursday afternoon that it launched three missiles in a "targeted attack" on the commander of Hezbollah's drone unit in Beirut. The IDF did not provide further details on the strikes in Beirut. However, Lebanese TV channel al-Jadeed reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh, Beirut's southern suburbs, injuring at least three civilians. Also on Thursday, the IDF said its 7th Armored Brigade has concluded a military drill a few km away from the Lebanese border, simulating a ground operation in Lebanon. The drill trained the troops in "maneuvering and combat in thicketed, mountainous terrain," the IDF said in a statement, adding that the troops "enhanced their operational and logistical readiness for various combat scenarios in enemy territory on the northern front." The drill came a day after France proposed at a United Nations Security Council emergency meeting a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States "to allow for negotiations." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed the proposal. However, Israel denied earlier on Thursday that it had agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah or Lebanese political parties. On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. It resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon. Figures released by the Israeli military showed that it has attacked more than 2,000 locations in Lebanon since Monday, whereas Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Wednesday that Israel's bombardment had displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in. An Israeli tank is transported by a truck near Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, on Sept. 26, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) An Israeli tank is transported by a truck near Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, on Sept. 26, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Job Title: Chief of Party Organisation: ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About Organisation: ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU) is a Ugandan national development organization, affiliated with ActionAid International- a global federation of independent members and national programs working in 47 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas for a just and sustainable world. We have worked in Uganda since 1982. In Uganda, we have a physical presence in 15 districts, in addition to collaborative work with our partners, reaching out to 39 districts, with a deliberate focus on districts where the poor and vulnerable persons are concentrated. About the Citizens Action Against Corruption Activity: The high levels of corruption, permeating all sectors of Ugandan society is driven by growing impunity, citizen apathy and permissive social norms that promote, facilitate, and even justify corruption. While Uganda has the basic policies and institutional framework necessary to address corruption in place, the efforts have neither stopped, nor reduced the leakage of public resources, or enjoyed the confidence of majority of citizens. A multipronged approach of strengthening accountability systems, as well as strengthening citizens action against corruption, as well as promoting positive norms is needed to make sustainable impact in the fight against corruption. Citizens Action Against Corruption is conceived to empower citizens to lead the anticorruption efforts and promote accountability. To this end, AAIU would like announce vacancies for the following four (4) Key personnel positions on a USAID funded activity. Job Summary: Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Chief of Party will provide leadership and operational direction for the implementation of the Citizens Action Against Corruption activity; lead a dynamic team of experts, oversee activity coordination and management of sub-awardee, including planning, implementation, budget monitoring, facilitate learning and stakeholder engagement, risk assessment and mitigation. The Chief of Party will serve as the Activitys primary representative to USAID/Uganda, Government of Uganda (GOU), other donors, and key stakeholders and will be responsible for timely and accurate delivery of all reports and other program products under the activity. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: A Masters degree (or equivalent) in any of the following fields: Political Science, Public Administration, Political Economy, Law, Development Studies, Public Policy, Governance, Philosophy, or any other related field. At least eight (8) years experience in the management of a governance, accountability, or civic engagement program. Demonstrated experience of leading a programme working with diverse stakeholders including state agencies, NGOs, formal and informal groups, networks and associations. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Superior understanding of human rights-based approach (HRBA), power analysis, or any other participatory programming approaches and methodologies Ability to work in a demanding environment, managing competing priorities, tight deadlines and fragile operating environment. Excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal, time and people management skills. Must be a self-starter and fast learner with demonstrable abilities of a team player. Experience implementing a USAID funded project is an added advantage Ability to monitor and provide oversight over financial controls Familiarity with the Development aid system and understanding of donor and governmental requirements. Demonstrate success in managing and leading technical and administrative teams. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team-oriented setting. Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to coordinate activities with officials from host country government, US Government, NGOs, and other agencies. Strong computer skills: Microsoft Office Applications, Willingness to travel to the field offices when required How to Apply: Applications (Cover letter, CV, and certified academic documents as one document) addressed to the Finance and Operations Manager should be sent by email to Vacancies.Uganda@actionaid.org NB: We will respond to ONLY shortlisted candidates. Whilst all applications will be assessed strictly on their individual merits, qualified WOMEN are especially encouraged to apply. ActionAid International Uganda is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Deadline: 8th October 2024 by 5:00pm For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Date Posted 2024-09-26T15:56 Valid Through 2024-10-08T17:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization ActionAid Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda Related Jobs Job Title: HR Intern Internship Paid (No Experience Jobs) Organisation: Uganda Christian University (UCU) Duty Station: Mukono, Uganda About the Company: Uganda Christian University (UCU) is an authentic Christian institution established by the Church of Uganda in 1997 in response to a call for quality university education with a Christian perspective. Uganda Christian University replaced the historic Bishop Tucker Theological College which trained clergy and educators during its 84-year history from 1913-1997. The local chief, Hamu Mukasa, granted land for the college to operate in Mukono. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Assist in keeping safe custody and filing of staff personnel files and documents. Assist in updating staff files and data and opening new staff files. Receiving job applications, processing and filing them accordingly. Assist in updating the Human Resource Database. Assist the Staff Welfare Officer in organizing and planning for staff events, functions, and activities. Receiving and reconciling payment projections and actuals for Casual workers across the University. Assist in organizing meetings within the Directorate of Human Resource & Administration. Attending to immediate inquiries and queries made by staff, visitors, and students. Receiving mail/documents in the Directorate of Human Resource Administration. Issuing various HR related forms to Support & Group staff. Any other official duties as may be assigned by the supervisor. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Must have a Bachelors degree in Human Resource Management from Uganda Christian University. Must have graduated with a First Class or Second Class Upper not later than 2022. Applicants graduating in October 2024 must attach provisional results to the application. Must be conversant with Uganda Labour Laws Must have excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Internet) Must have strong verbal and written communication skills Must have good interpersonal skills especially when dealing with students, staff, and visitors Must be a person of high integrity with excellent working ethic Must be a committed and practicing Christian How to Apply: All candidates should apply online at the link below Click Here Deadline: 30th September 2024 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Date Posted 2024-09-26T06:02 Valid Through 2024-10-01T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization Uganda Christian University Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda Related Jobs Job Title: Technical Lead USAID BHA Uganda Resilience and Food Security Organization: Action Against Hunger (ACF) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About US: Action Against Hunger-ACF, worldwide is recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, with a purpose to save the lives of undernourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. ACF implements innovative and life-saving programs in the sectors of Nutrition, Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL), and Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene (WASH) through capacity building projects in collaboration with government structures. Over the past 30 years of ACF has been delivering robust operations in Uganda and has gained significant knowledge and expertise using a multi-sectoral approach to design and implement program intervention based on the context, geared towards long-term solutions to hunger both in refugee and Host communities. Since 2013, the organization has been worked in the refugee settlements of Northern and Western Uganda providing emergency response as well as long-term development interventions. About USAID BHA Project: Action Against Hunger is preparing a prime application submission for the USAID BHA Uganda Resilience and Food Security Activity (RFSA). The project aims to enhance and sustain food and nutrition security among vulnerable populations through resilience-building activities. The Technical Lead will be responsible for guiding the overall project design and ensuring alignment with USAIDs objectives and donor requirements. Job Summary: The Technical Lead will guide the proposal development process, ensuring that the project design, strategic approach, and interventions are aligned with the RFSAs objectives. The Technical Lead will coordinate with the proposal team lead, cost lead, global technical lead, country teams, other ACF network member teams, partners, and other stakeholders to create a cohesive and compliant technical narrative. The Technical Lead may also contribute as appropriate and feasible to the cost application development by reviewing budgeted activities and costs. The Technical Lead will work closely with the Action Against Hungers Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Lead to ensure project design is cohesively and coherently represented in the MEAL Plan. The Technical Lead will contribute to the design of the Management and Staffing Plan to ensure proper implementation of the project design. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Project Design Leadership: Lead the development of the technical approach to ensure it aligns with USAID RFSAs priorities and donor requirements. Conduct background research and identify necessary information to strengthen the project design, integrating lessons learned from past RFSA projects. Facilitate design workshops, theory of change discussions, and stakeholder consultations, engaging country, regional, and global technical teams, partners, local NGOs, and government actors as needed. Lead the design process, ensuring all stakeholders contribute to a cohesive and strategic approach that reflects the opportunity details. Collaboration and Coordination: Work closely with the Proposal Team Lead to define partner roles, budget allocations, and project timelines. Contribute to negotiations of partner roles and ensure feedback on missing partners is provided, fostering a collaborative teamwork approach. Ensure strategic alignment with resilience, food security, and livelihoods interventions, while coordinating with the MEAL Lead to ensure that the project design is fully captured in the MEAL Plan and budget. Provide feedback on the proposal development calendar and validate budget marks for different sections. Participate in preparatory calls, workshops, meetings, and technical discussions as needed. Technical Narrative Development: Lead the development of the technical narrative in collaboration with technical team members and the Technical Writer, ensuring clarity, cohesion, and alignment with project/program objectives. Coordinate inputs from team members, partners, and other stakeholders, delegating writing assignments where appropriate. Ensure the technical design is fully captured in the logical framework and MEAL plan, and work closely with the Cost Lead to align the detailed budget with the technical narrative. Complete writing assignments as needed. Delegate writing assignments to Technical Team members, including partners. Support drafts to the Proposal Team Lead to coordinate the review and support the Proposal Team Lead in assigning technical team members for draft reviews. Review and incorporate inputs and subsequent revisions with the Technical Writer and Technical Team members. Final Review and Submission: Together with the Proposal Team Lead, review the full draft proposal and make final revisions to ensure alignment across all sections and with donor requirements. Make final approvals on technical content in coordination with country and global technical leads, ensuring compliance with donor requirements before submission. Assist with post-submission revisions, BAFO responses, and any additional revisions requested by USAID, as needed. Location of Assignment: Remote, with potential travel to Uganda for design workshops with Action Against Hunger staff and partners. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Extensive experience designing programs for USAID, preferably in RFSA or Economic Growth (Feed the Future). Strong understanding of food security, livelihoods, cash and voucher assistance, and resilience approaches, including the Graduation Model. Familiarity with United States government rules, regulations, and policies. Experience working cross-culturally, with demonstrated effectiveness as a team leader. Excellent leadership, verbal, and written communication skills. Familiarity with the operational context of Uganda or similar regions is preferred. How to Apply: All candidates should apply online at the link below. Click Here For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Date Posted 2024-09-26T05:59 Valid Through 2024-10-18T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization Action Against Hunger Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda Related Jobs When CP Kukreja stepped into the world of architecture, little did he realise he would leave a lasting impact and his humane vision in architecture would pave the way for modern India. At 32, he won the first National Architectural Competition to be held in post-Independent India selected as the best from 68 entries submitted by the nations top architects at the time and went on to design Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Decades later, his son is carrying forward his vision of defining India through its architecture, having added sustainability and inclusivity in his core values. Dikshu Kukreja, managing principal at CP Kukreja Architects, and the Honorary Consul General for Albania in New Delhi, calls India a transformative space on the verge of being a developed nation. Their projects are futuristic, modern, sustainable yet borrow from Indias rich architectural history. From the new Yashobhoomi Complex in Delhi to Gurugrams Pathways School, their designs are inclusive of nature. Their 2012 project Greater Noidas Gautam Buddha University won the award for Innovation in Institutional Architecture India & Best Eco-friendly Indian Institutional project by BUILD 2016 Architecture Awards. At the upcoming Re-imagining Architectural Transformations in Post-Independent India exhibition, CP Kukreja Architects will be outlining India's post-independence architectural journey, tracing the evolution of the nations-built environment over the past 50 yearsfrom the modernist designs of the 1970s to todays sustainable innovations. The exhibition is supported by the ICCR and the Indian High Commission, running from September 30 to October 4 at the Nehru Centre in London. Through sketches, concept notes, and photographs, the exhibition challenges western perceptions of Indian architecture, highlighting a dynamic landscape that reflects the aspirations of a post-independent India. THE WEEK caught up with the architect to discuss the exhibition, his fathers legacy and his own vision for India. Excerpts: Q/ How does the exhibition plan to present Indian architecture to the world? A/ India is in a transformative stage where we are moving towards being a developed nation. With such enormous changes taking place, theres advancement in every sphere, including that of architecture. While people around the world appreciate Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, they also need to realise that post-independence India is making iconic architectural buildings that are unique from the point of view of scale, technology and how they imbibe and interpret our history and culture in a contemporary manner. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) that falls under the ministry of external affairs and the Indian High Commission in London have chosen to showcase this aspect of contemporary Indian architecture through the works of CP Kukreja Architects. Our firm has a legacy of over half a century, and we have been able to represent and participate in the transformation in India in the last five decades. The exhibition will also be an eye-opener for the western world. We are celebrating our own identity, yet are modern, future ready and fast paced, no longer tied down to the shackles of history. Q/ How do you view contemporary Indian architecture? A/ In any part of the country, one would see that even an uneducated man has a practical and environmental approach towards architecture, whether it is own hutments or small buildings in rural areas, vernacular architecture has always been very sustainable and used local materials like the brick works in Bengal. The world is talking about sustainability only today but we have had our own ethos of sustainable design. With the British coming in and with the sway of modernism and modernist architecture, we started looking at the west while imbibing glass buildings. We want to showcase that contemporary Indian architecture is inspired by our own approach traditionally towards the publicness of spaces, be it the stepwells where women would discuss marriage proposals or the streets of old Delhi, Jaisalmer or Jodhpur where the elders gather to chat. The jaali (net) design found in many ancient architectures helps control heat, the chhatri (umbrella shade), tall ceilings in palaces, homes, has been contemporised and given new meaning. Q/ In India, we see most urban cities aping the west when it comes to office building designs the glass-walled buildings are not conducive to the Indian summer. What is your solution to this? A/ The Ambadeep Tower in Janpath, Delhi is the best example of a high rise that has been Indianised with its design. Completed in 1993, it was the first built structure in the city to use glass elevators and was the tallest in Delhi at one point. But, rather than designing a skyscraper, we got inspiration from our traditional Indian art motifs composed entirely of 1 inch by 1 inch glass mosaic which creates artistic patterns on buildings. The mosaic tiles which we have used were found in Isfahan and Mughal architecture. We have designed a high rise building but given it an Indian context rather than importing a skyscraper design from New York. Q/ How are your design sensibilities different from that of your fathers? A/ There are similarities and differences but our real core and values are very similar thats creating very humane architecture. Architectural buildings last beyond our lifetime and we have to therefore demonstrate that amount of responsibility when designing a building. It has a huge impact on the environment. We believe that buildings must get absorbed into the natural environment and not vice versa. This is my core philosophy derived from humane architecture that my father spoke about. While he talked about humane architecture, I talk on the lines of sustainability and contextualism which means the architecture should refer to the climatic, cultural and historic context of the place. Q/ A number of brands in the hospitality sector and real estate are designing sustainable properties whats your take on this? A/ In the coming time, we will start looking down at buildings not responsibly designed people are proud they are designing sustainable buildings now. Designing should also be universally inclusive we cannot exclude ramps or toilets meant for the disabled, which many architects and engineers forget about. Pathways World School in Gurugram (designed by them in 2003) is Indias first Platinum rated institutional project for its environment friendly design (It is the worlds first school serving all grades K-12 in the world to achieve LEED-EB Platinum certification from US Green Building Council). Delhis Yashobhoomi Complex designed by us in 2023 has also received the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) platinum rating. Q/ The urban cities today look like concrete jungles often unplanned and chaotic. Will bringing back traditional Indian designs also make our cities more aesthetic? A/ Theres concretisation, disharmony and sporadic, unplanned development in every Indian city, deeper than we can accept. It is a cultural issue wherein we are selfish and dont think about our neighbours and future. Encroachment, covering of drains, parking illegally, points to lack of citizen awareness and corruption. If we have a zero tolerance policy, there will be effective consequences. In February, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) signed an agreement with German giant Volkswagen for supply of components for M&M's INGLO electric vehicle platform. Now, reportedly the two sides are exploring plans to expand the agreement whereby the home-grown maker of the XUV700 and Scorpio SUVs may acquire a stake in Skoda Auto Volkswagen India. Skoda is the Czeck arm of Volkswagen and leads the car maker's push in the Indian market through Skoda Auto Volkswagen India. If the talks between the two sides go through, as per a report by Autocar India, Mahindra could get a stake in Skoda Auto Volkswagen India. With that, it will also get access to the European company's technology ecosystem, including vehicle architectures. The agreement in February 2024 covered the supply of certain electric components as well as unified cells. Both Skoda and Volkswagen have struggled to gain a large share in India's automotive market. A key reason has been the limited product portfolio. Skoda currently makes the Kushaq mid-size SUV and the Slavia sedan here, under the India2.0 strategy. It will also launch a compact SUV Kylaq early next year. That apart, the Kodiaq and Superb are also sold here, but are fully imported. Volkswagen also only has three products in IndiaTaigun, Tiguan and Virtus. With a limited portfolio, their market share too is limited, despite decent sales for the likes of Kushaq and Taigun. In August, the Skoda Auto Volkswagen Group had 1.91 per cent share of the passenger vehicle market, as per Federation of Auto Dealers Association. M&M's share stood at 12.46 per cent. India is a highly price-competitive market. High costs of localisation of global platforms for the Indian market has been a pain point for many global automakers, especially with limited volumes and share. Should the deal with Mahindra happen, a key advantage for Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is that it will get access to M&M's lower-cost vehicle architecture for future product launches as well as sourcing benefits. Skoda Auto Volkswagen India's sales and marketing organisation could remain a separate entity, outside of the venture with M&M. Mahindra and VW Group continue to explore multiple opportunities to expand the collaboration potential, and in case there is any concrete outcome to the discussions, appropriate disclosures will be made, said M&M. Skoda Auto Volkswagen hasn't commented on these latest reports so far. But, in the past, Skoda Auto's global CEO Klaus Zellmer said India is the most important market for the brand outside Europe and they were in discussions with various prospective partners. Should an agreement be reached, this will not be the first such joint venture by Mahindra with a global company. In 2019, Mahindra and US automaker Ford announced plans for a JV in India. But, in the wake of Covid-19, those discussions were called off in December 2020. Back in 2010, French car maker Renault had ended its JV with Mahindra for the Logan sedan. In 2012, Mahindra's JV with Navistar ended when it bought out the US-based partner's stake in their commercial vehicle venture. Separately in 2017, Tata Motors and Skoda had called off talks for a potential alliance. NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday the political manipulation of human rights issues by a few countries, such as the United States, is becoming increasingly unpopular across the world. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and multiple countries' foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Over 100 countries have voiced their support for China's position and opposed the politicization of human rights at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held in Geneva on Tuesday, said Wang. During the session, nearly 80 countries, including many Muslim nations, delivered a joint statement supporting China, and more than 20 other countries expressed their support in various ways, backing China's just position when a few countries, including the United States, used Xinjiang-related issues to attack and smear China's human rights situation. The vast majority of Muslim countries have long seen through the tricks of the United States and understand that it is merely using human rights as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of China and other developing countries, he added. Wang said that the clear support from over 100 developing countries at the UNHRC is not only to defend China's legitimate rights but also to uphold international fairness and justice, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and protect the fundamental principle of non-interference in internal affairs in international relations, said Wang. Wang pointed out that such action of the United States and its followers once again exposed their double standards on human rights issues to the world. People cannot help but ask: if the United States is so concerned about the human rights of Muslims, why does it continuously provoke or support wars in regions like the Middle East, causing numerous innocent Muslim casualties? Why does it turn a blind eye to the historical injustices faced by the Arab people and not support Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations? Why does it fail to play its due role in achieving a permanent ceasefire and full military withdrawal from Gaza? The top Chinese diplomat emphasized that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and China's achievements in protecting and promoting human rights are widely recognized, and the development and progress in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are evident to all. Wang said China is willing to engage in dialogue with all countries on human rights issues on the basis of equality. China's doors are open to the world, and it welcomes friends from all nations to visit China and see for themselves, he added. In what is being hailed as a "major leap for Indias defence sector", Small Arms Factory (SAF) in Kanpur, a unit of the Ordnance Factory Organisation under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, will export advanced modified medium machine guns (MMGs) to European countries. This is the first time such an order will be delivered by SAF. According to a News18 report, SAF received a major order for 2,000 MMGs, which will be delivered in the next three years. The order was reportedly received a few months ago. ALSO READ: Understanding 'Project 33', the US Navy's ambitious plan to outpace China by 2027 "The gun is being customised in accordance with the requirement of the buyer and the agreement, which was signed in December last year," the report quoted a SAF official as saying. Designed for sustained fire in military operations, MMGs can fire upto 1,000 rounds per minute. The guns typically fire 7.62mm or .50 caliber ammunition and could be used in various platforms like vehicles, tanks, and aircraft. The guns deliver sustained high rate of fire in bursts and fires from an open breech, preventing the risk of cook-off after prolonged use, and can also be used on a bipod or handheld for shoulder and hip firing in emergency situations, said an official, according to News18. READ MORE: All you need to know about ABHED, the lightweight bulletproof jackets developed by DRDO and IIT Delhi Their ability to offer continuous fire over long periods makes them effective in both offensive and defensive operations. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks to discuss ways of strengthening the US-India defence ties through industrial and operational cooperation, and technology innovation. Today I met with Indian Foreign Secretary Misri to discuss the significant momentum in the U.S.-India defense relationship and our increased cooperation to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/lXJ7HuxGCe Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks (@DepSecDef) September 25, 2024 Hicks said both countries continue to break new ground in defence cooperation which will boost the security of the two countries, and the Indo-Pacific region in general. ALSO READ: Understanding 'Project 33', the US Navy's ambitious plan to outpace China by 2027 Misri and Hicks discussed issues regarding regional security and the various operational cooperation initiatives that are aimed at enhancing stability and security in the region. The two also talked about the ongoing efforts to co-produce jet engines, land mobility systems, and munitions, as well as the continued progress through the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to foster joint innovation among defense industry stakeholders in both countries, a DoD readout stated. During the meeting, Hicks pointed out how the recent INDUS-X Summit resulted in a new joint innovation challenge for space domain technologies and highlighted the MoU signed between the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Indian defense ministry's Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) office. READ MORE: US falling behind in defence systems? Commission calls for major military revamp to counter China, Russia "Deputy Secretary Hicks expressed the importance of continuing to advance progress across all areas of the Major Defense Partnership, and pledged to deepen cooperation to promote a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific," Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said in the readout. In what is being seen as a show of strength by the US and its allies amid increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble has departed for Yokosuka naval base in Japan. ... NAS North Island (CA)USS Preble (DDG 88)(2024) FDNF-J NAVBASE San Diego (CA)DESRON 21DDG 889FDNF-JCFAYDESRON 15 pic.twitter.com/hTCCKDJm2T akaumigame (@acaumigame) September 25, 2024 While the deployment of the Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer is part of a scheduled rotation as it will replace USS Benfold (DDG 65), the US Navy said the forward presence of Preble directly supports the commitment of the US to aid Japan while improving its ability to protect strategic interests. US Navy destroyer USS Preble (DDG-88), equipped with latest laser weapon, departed San Diego in California for Yokosuka in Japan on Sept. 22.https://t.co/c7a6wZfFhh https://t.co/gBuZO96vph pic.twitter.com/heYKeSa6B5 Ryan Chan (@ryankakiuchan) September 24, 2024 USS Preble is equipped with a high-energy laser weapon that can be used to shoot down drones and missiles. A few months ago, the US Navy, in an official statement, had said, The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) will move to Yokosuka, Japan, as part of a scheduled rotation of forces in the Pacific. ALSO READ: Decoding China's rare missile test: A show of force to intimidate US and its allies or a routine drill? On Wednesday, the US Navy said, Preble will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region. The US Navy said it values the contributions of Japan to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific and its long-term commitment and hospitality in hosting the US forces forward deployed there. Although the development may be routine, it is indeed a major development in the Indo-Pacific region, as it could be seen as part of the attempts by the US to outpace and outwit an increasingly assertive China in the region. The US Navy said this move allows it to have the greatest amount of striking power and operational capability in the region. The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires that the U.S. Navy positions the most capable ships forward. This posture allows the most rapid response times for maritime and joint forces and brings our most capable ships with the greatest amount of striking power and operational capability to bear in the timeliest manner, the Navy said. READ MORE: Understanding 'Project 33', the US Navy's ambitious plan to outpace China by 2027 The deployment coincides with the release of 'Project 33', a strategic initiative by the US to boost the readiness and capabilities of its Navy to counter potential threats, especially those emanating from China. The project intends to end maintenance delays, scale up robotic and autonomous systems, create command centres, recruit and retain talent, and invest in watertight competency among others. It is obvious that the US is placing strong priority on the Indo-Pacific region and making sure that it has the best assets in the right areas for the contingencies it might face. Put simply, the US wants its best weapons systems right on the front line, defence security expert Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi has been quoted as saying. With Laapataa Ladies being chosen as Indias official entry for the Oscars and Cannes Grand Prix winner All we Imagine as Light shortlisted by France, it seems that Hindi films are on top of their game right now. ALSO READ: Interview with Kani Kusruti of 'All we Imagine As Light' fame Recently, the United Kingdom announced that the country was going to send Hindi film Santosh as their official submission for the Academy Awards 2025. They will be competing for a spot in the Best International Feature Film category. Why was it selected by the UK? Santosh is directed by British-Indian director and documentarian Sandhya Suri, who bagged a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nomination for her short film The Field in 2018. Santosh is an international co-production, with British producers -- Alan McAlex, Mike Goodridge, James Bowsher -- playing the larger role. French producer Balthazar de Ganay, who has previously worked with Suri for The Field, too, is associated with it. As are India and Germany. The film has not yet been released in India, which is a criterion to be fulfilled for Oscar submission. The film had its world premiere at Cannes 2024, at the Un Certain Regard section, which translates to a certain look, primarily aimed at viewing films that offer a different perspective to the audience. The thriller drama film details the story of a Hindu widow who inherits her husbands job as a police constable in a rural town in north India. She is tasked with the duty to investigate the rape and murder of a low-caste girl while being caught up in institutional corruption. The film stars Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Kushal Dubey and Sanjay Bishnoi. The final nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on January 17, 2025. ALSO READ: Explained: How 'Laapataa Ladies' was picked as India's official entry to Oscars The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former DMK minister Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate. The former minister was arrested by the central agency in June last year in connection with a cash-for-job scam while he was transport minister in erstwhile Jayalalithaa regime. Hearing Balajis bail plea, a bench comprising of Justices Abhay Oka and Augustine George Masih granted relief to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, after imposing onerous bail conditions. The bench observed stringent bail conditions and delay in trial cannot go together, Live Law reported. #WATCH | Karur: Supporters of former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji celebrate and burst crackers after the Supreme Court granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji. He was granted bail in connection with a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs pic.twitter.com/0UivTgX4Fk ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 Senthil Balaji, DMKs strongman from Karur, was arrested by ED on June 14 last year on charges of money laundering, allegedly for accepting bribe for providing jobs for aspirants in the transport department while he was handling the portfolio in the erstwhile AIADMK regime. The ED had raided his residence and office premises before the arrest. Balaji, who was the minister for electricity, prohibition and excise in the Tamil Nadu government was retained in the cabinet even after arrest, as minister without portfolio, by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin hoping he might get released from prison on bail soon. Balaji had to tender resignation in February this year after Courts dismissed his multiple bail pleas. Balajis continuance as minister was one of the flashpoints between Chief Minister Stalin and Governor R.N. Ravi. The Governor had on June 29 last year unilaterally dismissed Senthil Balaji with immediate effect from the cabinet. However, he had to reverse the action later. The ED filed 3,000-page charge-sheet against Balaji in August last year. A local court has dismissed his bail petitions thrice. On October 19, the high court had dismissed Balaji's earlier bail plea, PTI reported. Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was shocked when a senior BJP leader told him the motive behind arresting him in connection with liquor policy cases. Kejriwal said works stalled due to his absence will be resumed immediately. The AAP leader on Tuesday accompanied Chief Minister Atishi while inspecting road repair works in the Delhi University area on Tuesday. Former deputy CM Manish Sisodia and local MLA Dilip Pandey were present. Kejriwal said problems of Delhites will be addressed and damaged roads will be repaired. #WATCH | Delhi CM Atishi, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia arrive at Delhi University's north campus to inspect the conditions of the road. pic.twitter.com/ZpmQI2aFkY ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 Addressing presspersons, Kejriwal charged the BJP wanted to defame the AAP by derailing development works in the national capital, hence he was jailed. A few days ago I met their (BJP) big leader. I asked what did you get with my arrest? I was shocked and felt sad to hear him say that at least the Delhi government got derailed and the city was stalled," Kejriwal alleged. Their aim was to defame the AAP government by stalling work in Delhi, the former CM charged, PTI reported. The former CM asserted that the AAP government in the national capital would not let people's work get stalled. Kejriwal said he was in action mode even while he was jailed in Tihar prison and added, "I want to assure the people of Delhi that I have come back and the stalled works will be resumed. All their problems will be solved." The AAP chief was recently released from Tihar jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail in cases registered in connection with alleged scam in scrapped Delhi liquor policy. However, the bail conditions restricted him from visiting CMO or signing official files. Kejriwal resigned from the CM post on September 17 and proposed Atishi as his successor. Kejriwal said he would return to the post only after getting a "certificate of honesty" from Delhi people in the upcoming assembly polls. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea filed by the Gujarat government seeking a review of the court's verdict related to the release of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan rejected the plea and stated that there was no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the petition. "Having carefully gone through the Review Petition, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the Review Petition, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The Review Petition is, accordingly, dismissed," the bench said. The bench also rejected the application for a listing review petition in open court. The Gujarat government in its review petition plea said the apex court's observation in the January 8 judgment, holding the state guilty of "usurpation of power" and "abuse of discretion", was an "error apparent on the face of the record". The SC in its January 8 verdict, quashed the remission granted to the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case and ordered they be sent back to jail within two weeks. Criticising the Gujarat government, the SC pointed out that the state usurped the power of the Maharashtra government to grant remission to the convicts. "No adverse inference of 'usurpation of power' can be drawn against the state of Gujarat for not filing a review petition against the judgment dated May 13, 2022 (of the coordinate bench)," the review plea said. In 2002, Bilkis Bano was raped by men while fleeing during the communal riots that broke out in Gujarat after the Godhra train-burning incident. Bilkis Bano was five-month pregnant when she was raped. In the riots, along with her three-year-old daughter, seven other family members were killed. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15, 2022. "This is a classic case where the order of this court dated May 13, 2022, has been used for violating the rule of law while passing orders of remission in favour of respondent nos. 3 to 13 (convicts) in the absence of any jurisdiction by the state of Gujarat," a bench of justices B. V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan had said. "Therefore, without going into the manner in which the power of remission has been exercised, we strike down the orders of remission on the ground of usurpation of powers by the state of Gujarat not vested in it. The orders of remission are hence quashed," it had said. Kolkata, a city known for sticking to its glorious past and currently in an emotionally fragile state, is not ready to bid adieu to her beloved trams. Trams, which have been a timeless symbol of the City of Joy, began the journey in Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, on February 24, 1873, with their quaint horse-drawn carriages. Over time, the eco-friendly trams emerged as the most convenient and widely accessible mode of transportation in Kolkata. By the 1940s, the total length of the tram network crisscrossing Kolkata and Howrah had extended to more than 65 kilometres. However, between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s, tram routes in cities like Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai were gradually shut down. Globally, trams were starting to be viewed as an outdated technology. In Kolkata as well, as the citys population grew and the number of faster vehicles like buses and cars increased, trams started becoming irrelevant. By 1990, the closure of the tram service gathered pace as the Left Front government decided to replace the tram network with buses run by CTC. Tram lovers believe that was the first nail in the coffin of Kolkatas tram network. This trend persisted under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government post-2011, although they did initiate some heritage tram services. Additionally, the construction of metro lines and flyovers and the introduction of faster and more convenient transportation have led to the shutdown of multiple tram networks. Passionate tram enthusiasts protesting to 'safe trams' in Kolkata | Salil Bera Passionate tram enthusiasts, organised under the banner of the Calcutta Tram Users Association (CTUA), have long urged the government to safeguard Kolkatas cherished mode of transport. From staging protests at various tram depots around the city to seeking intervention from the Calcutta High Court, CTUA has been persistently striving to ensure the continuation of the citys tram services. We cannot lose our very own asset of public transport like this in a time when the rest of the world is aspiring even for a single stretch of tramway, Debasish Bhattacharya of CTUA told THE WEEK. The gradual decline of trams in Kolkata has drawn attention from around the world. Roberto D'Andrea, a tram conductor from Melbourne, has been visiting the city since 1994, often bringing along friends and colleagues as part of an initiative called Kolkata-Melbourne Tramjatra. A tram in Kolkata | Salil Bera This project fosters a cultural exchange where trams play a central role. Participants share their experiences of maintaining Melbourne's tram system, hoping Kolkata can take inspiration. However, while Melbourne has made significant progress in modernising its trams, Kolkata seems to be falling behind. At present, trams operate on just three routes in Kolkata: Ballygunj-Tollygunj; Gariahat-Esplanade; and Shyambazar-Esplanade. However, recent comments by West Bengal Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty about potentially halting the iconic tram services have sparked significant public outcry. The city is not willing to sing the swan song of trams. Currently, the matter is pending in the Calcutta High Court where the West Bengal government is likely to inform about its decision in the next hearing. In June last year, the high court had asked the West Bengal government to form a committee to examine how trams can be restored, maintained and preserved. In another hearing in December, the court had also suggested a PPP model to revive Kolkatas tram services. During a press interaction on Monday, Chakraborty mentioned that slow-moving trams contribute to traffic jams and congestion during peak hours in Kolkata, where roads make up only six per cent of the surface area. Kolkata has the highest vehicular density with 2,448 vehicles per kilometre and the lowest road space among Indian metropolitan cities. The allegations against tramways fabricated by the Kolkata Traffic Police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Kolkata Police are baseless and fake. The authorities could not support a single complaint against the tramway with valid scientific data, said Bhattacharya. The government's failure to take action to preserve Kolkata's iconic tram services has been highlighted repeatedly. After Cyclone Amphan in 2020, part of the picturesque route between Esplanade and Kidderpore, passing through Victoria Memorial and the Maidan, was damaged, causing its suspension. Rather than restoring the entire route, the government has decided to convert a portion of it into a heritage service. Today, Kolkata is looking forward to the next Calcutta High Court hearing with the hope that her beloved trams would receive a fresh lease of life. The people of Jammu and Kashmir must ensure BJPs victory in assembly elections to bring back Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) into the Indian Union, said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday at an election rally in Jammus Ramnagar, Vijaypur. You have to make sure BJP wins the ongoing assembly polls with a huge majority, he said. If we win, POK will soon become part of India." ALSO READ | Jammu and Kashmir polls: Over 56% voter turnout in second phase #WATCH | Ramgarh, J&K: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, "...After BJPs return (to power) here, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is also going to be a part of Jammu and Kashmir. And this is the commotion in Pakistan, they are struggling to save their democracy...On one side there pic.twitter.com/LdVBMHdeC3 ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 Yogi also said the election results would rebuke the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress. In the 90s, these parties supported Pakistan and terrorism, he added. ALSO READ | INDIA bloc will hit the road if J-K statehood not restored after polls: Rahul Gandhi Now, after Prime Minister Modi has eliminated terrorism in J&K, they are again advocating for its revival," he said. Taking a dig at Pakistan, Yogi said, Pakistan is falling apart. A kilogram of flour there costs Rs 500, he said. ALSO READ | J&K phase-II polls: How BJP and NC-Congress front are engaged in high-stake battle for Pir Panjal He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi provides free rations to 80 crore people in India and free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, increased to Rs 7 lakh, for 60 crore people. Pakistan is a sinking ship, he said. While addressing the rally, Yogi highlighted Modi's achievements, mentioning the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor. J&K is now recognised as the "tourism capital" rather than the "terrorism capital," he said. He said Amarnath Yatra once faced threats, but now devotees are coming from all over India with the slogan 'Bam Bam Bhole,' spreading the spirit of Lord Shiva across the country. Lakhs of people are also visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, he said. He also accused the Congress, NC and PDP of ruining J&K for 70 years. He credited the Modi government for granting voting rights to West Pakistan Refugees and Valmikis, which they had been denied under previous governments. "These parties supported terrorism in 1990 and vacationed in Europe and England while Kashmir was burning," he said, referring to NCs Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah. A Mumbai court on Thursday sentenced Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut to 15 days simple imprisonment in a defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's wife Medha Somaiya. The metropolitan magistrate (Sewree court) convicted the Rajya Sabha member under Indian Penal Code Section 500 (punishment for defamation) and also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him. Medha Somaiya, in her complaint filed through advocate Vivekanand Gupta, had alleged that Raut made baseless and completely defamatory allegations against her and her husband. She said Raut had accused them of being involved in a Rs 100 crore scam over the construction and maintenance of some public toilets under the jurisdiction of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation. "The statements made by the accused to the media are per se defamatory. The statements have been made to malign my character in the eyes of the general public," the complaint had stated. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday that artificial intelligence (AI) should not be used as a tool to maintain hegemony. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the High-Level Meeting on International Cooperation on Capacity-building on Artificial Intelligence at UN headquarters in New York. He said that China adheres to the development of AI for the good of the people and avoids the ill-use and abuse of AI technology. Wang stressed that China commits to the development of safe and controllable AI, building AI technology that can be supervised, traceable, and trusted, and ensuring that AI is always under human control. China also adheres to the development of green and low-carbon AI, and promotes the green transformation of AI to enable economic and social development, he added. Noting that AI is both a major opportunity and a global challenge for the world, Wang put forward several principles to promote AI global governance: Firstly, it is necessary to adhere to a comprehensive and balanced approach and build a framework for AI global governance. Second, it is necessary to foster an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory development environment that is fair and beneficial to all, Wang said. Third, it is necessary to uphold multilateralism and ensure equal participation and benefits for all countries, he added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday warned that promoters of terrorism will meet the fate of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Guru was hanged in Tihar Jail in 2019, a decade after the Supreme Court convicted him in Parliament attack case. Addressing an election rally in Udhampur, Shah lashed out at the National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah for saying that Afzal Guru should not have been hanged. Phir kya, usko biryani khilani thi? (Was I supposed to serve him biryani instead?)" Shah asked. He attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his claim to restore Article 370. ALSO READ: Can NC-Congress alliance reshape the future of Jammu and Kashmir? "I want to make it clear that even Rahuls future generations wont be able to bring it back," he said. He credited the end of holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir under a separate flag before the abrogation of Article 370, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He blamed Congress, PDP and NC for terrorism in the last four decades. He said it led to the killing of 40,000 people and also 3,000 days of curfew. Shah said after Modi took over, stone pelting and bullets have ended. The three parties want to revive terrorism in J&K, he said. But I want to tell Omar Abdullah that whatever be your wish, terrorism will be eradicated from the soil of Kashmir forever. He said nobody has the power to revive terrorism in J&K as there is Modis government at the Centre. He said he heard Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah claiming they would restore statehood. Let me make it clear that after the abrogation of Article 370, I had promised the restoration of statehood soon after the elections in J&K, he said. PM Modi too has made it clear that it will be restored. He said for the past 75 years, the three families created a situation that led to the closure of cinemas. He said he wanted to ask Farooq Abdullah where he was when 40,000 people were killed. You were enjoying your holidays in London, he said. You can do anything, but the terrorism will never get revived. Referring to the development in Udhampur, he said that the good roads there is the outcome of Modis rule. He said that in Lal Chowk in Srinagar, which is now accessible to all, the tri-colour is hoisted and Muharram is observed, along with Ganpati and Janmashtami festivals. In the latest development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case told a local court in Kolkata that "false records were created at the Tala Police Station, relating to the case". In its remand note the agency stated that the "custodial interrogation of both the accused persons, new/additional facts have emerged to the effect that some false records pertaining to the instant case were created/altered in PS Tala." The Kolkata court on Wednesday extended the CBI custody of former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and suspended police officer Abhijit Mondal till September 30. ALSO READ | Kolkata rape-murder: Agitating junior doctors march to CBI office before ending strike, to wait a week for govt to fulfill promises The two had been arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital last month. Both accused were arrested on September 14 in connection with the case. The officer-in-charge of the Tala Police Station then Abhijit Mondal is accused of tampering with evidence and delaying FIR registration. The CBI is probing in detail the nexus between Ghosh and Mondal. The remand note also pointed out that the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and hard disk containing CCTV footage inside the police station and mobile phones of Ghosh and Mondal have been sent to the forensics lab in Kolkata for data extraction. ALSO READ | Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Why RG Kar medics decided to 'partially' resume work There was evidence of both accused exchanging a number of calls, the remand note said. "Both the accused facilitated cremation (of the victim's body) hurriedly while family members specifically demanded a second autopsy," it stated. Also, on Sunday the CBI questioned another doctor, Birupaksha Biswas, allegedly close to Ghosh, in connection with the rape and murder. The rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital on August 9 sparked a nationwide protest. Junior doctors remind Bengal chief secretary of unfulfilled promises After partially resuming duties at government-run hospitals in West Bengal, junior doctors sent an email to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday reminding him of their unmet demands discussed during the September 18 meeting. The junior doctors protested with a 42-day cease work demanding justice for the victim. "We would like to mention that no action has been taken/no order has been passed in regard to some of the important demands placed and agreed upon by both the parties," representatives of the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF) wrote in the letter. The doctors emphasised the formation of a central inquiry committee to address the alleged "threat culture" in all medical colleges across the state. The WBJDF reminded Pant of their demand for the state government to form an inquiry committee against the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) and West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) members accused of promoting the threat culture and running health syndicates. They had given a time frame of seven working days to complete their demand. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M.K. Stalin welcomed the Supreme Courts decision to grant bail to party leader V. Senthil Balaji and noted he languished in prison for 471 days in connection with a money laundering case. In a post on X, Stalin said the former minister has been granted bail after 471 days and in the current situation, the Supreme Court seems to be the last resort for relief. In the current situation where the Enforcement Directorate has been turned into an agency to oppress political opponents, the Supreme Court alone has been the dawn, he said. #WATCH | Karur: Supporters of former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji celebrate and burst crackers after the Supreme Court granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji. He was granted bail in connection with a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs pic.twitter.com/0UivTgX4Fk ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 "The prison life did not extend for so many days even during the Emergency. The political conspiracies continued for 15 months (against Balaji). (They) tried to break Senthil Balaji's resolve by keeping him inside the prison," Stalin charged. "I welcome brother Senthil Balaji, who is walking out of the prison with more vigour. Your sacrifice is big. Your resolve is bigger," he added. The apex court granted bail to former minister and DMK leader V. Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case registered in connection with alleged cash-for-job scam on Thursday. The former minister was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in June last year in connection with a cash-for-job scam while he was transport minister in erstwhile Jayalalithaa regime. Balaji, who was the minister for electricity, prohibition and excise in the Stalin cabinet was retained even after arrest, as minister without portfolio, by the CM hoping he might get released from prison on bail soon. Balaji had to tender resignation in February this year after Courts dismissed his multiple bail pleas. Balajis continuance as minister was one of the flashpoints between Stalin and Governor R.N. Ravi. Following Balajis arrest, the governor expressed displeasure and unilaterally dismissed him from the cabinet in June last year. However, he had to reverse the action later. In a significant move ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Shiv Sena has announced the launch of the Mahavijay Samvad Abhiyan, a statewide campaign aimed at taking the achievements of the Mahayuti government directly to the people. Starting from Friday, September 27, 2024, the campaign will be conducted across the state by three wings of the party: Yuva Sena, Mahila Aghadi, and Shiv Sena Social Media. The announcement was made by Shiv Sena MP Dr Shrikant Shinde during a press conference at Balasaheb Bhavan. Taking government work to every household Dr Shinde emphasised the partys commitment over the past two and a half years to communicate the work done by the government under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He explained that Mahavijay Samvad is designed to further this outreach. One leader or deputy leader will visit an assembly constituency every day, covering five areas and holding meetings to directly engage with the public, said Dr Shinde. The campaign's first phase will last five days, beginning tomorrow. Yuva Sena's role in the campaign Led by Yuva Sena Working President Purvesh Sarnaik, the youth wing will kick off its campaign from Bhiwandi on 27th September, covering six Vidhan Sabhas each day. Branch visits and public gatherings will be held to galvanize support. The Yuva Sena's statewide tour, which includes Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, and Konkan, will start on October 13. Focus on women's empowerment and welfare schemes Shiv Sena leader Meenatai Kambli outlined the role of Mahila Aghadi in the campaign, focusing on reviewing key government welfare schemes such as the Chief Minister's Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Lek Ladki Yojana, and free education for girls. We will ensure that these schemes reach the last beneficiary. The Shiv Sena Ladki Bahin Sampark Abhiyan will launch across 18 Vidhan Sabhas, from Konkan to Vidarbha, on the same day, said Kambli. Social soldiers to amplify the campaign online Shiv Sena Yuva Sena general secretary and Shiv Sena Social Media state head Rahul Kanal will lead a team of Social Soldiers on a tour of Nashik, Nandurbar, Dhule, Shirdi, and Nagar starting tomorrow. Their mission is to further amplify the governments achievements across social media platforms and engage with the electorate online. Continuing Jan Samswad Yatra Dr Shrikant Shinde further informed that 50 Vidhan Sabhas across North Maharashtra, West Maharashtra, and Mumbai have already been covered under the Jan Samswad Yatra, and the next phase will commence soon. He challenged the opposition to outline their accomplishments over the past two and a half years, accusing them of inaction. They sat idle for two and a half years, while we worked for the people, said Dr. Shinde. Highlighting development over scandals Taking a dig at the opposition, Dr Shinde criticized those who allegedly indulged in corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, Those responsible for scams like the Bodybag, Kovid Centers, and Khichdi have no right to accuse the current government. He further stressed the governments focus on development, noting the revival of crucial infrastructure projects. They halted the Metro car shed project, but weve brought it back. Metro Line 3 will start soon, the coastal road project has gained momentum, and MTHL is underway. Our government is working to make Mumbai pothole-free, he added. Addressing recent Mumbai rains Touching on the unfortunate incident during heavy rains on Wednesday evening, where a woman tragically lost her life, Dr Shinde confirmed that the Municipal Corporation has ordered an inquiry. We are taking this matter seriously, he said, expressing the government's commitment to the safety and well-being of citizens. Art is still an effective means to deliver a political message. With this aim in mind, a BJP inclined organisation is holding a theatre festival to fight misconceptions among the Dalits about the work done by the Modi government for them and in upholding the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar. The theatre festival competition will held in Delhi, ahead of the state elections, to woo the Dalits in the national capital as they comprise over 14 per cent of the population and hold sway in at least 12 assembly constituencies. Entries are being invited for this festival on the theme - 'Ambedkar ke Vichar ko Poorn Karti Modi Sarkar' (Ambedkars ideals being fulfilled by Modi government). The selected entries will then be screened in Delhi around November 26, Constitution Day. The choice of theme is important as the Modi government had been accused of wanting to change the Constitution and end the reservation policy. These accusations by the Opposition parties had gained traction during the Lok Sabha polls which then led to the ruling party suffering losses in Uttar Pradesh and other states. So, BJP-inclined organisations are trying to counter these allegations as the next round of polls ensues. The festival will be organised by Gyan an organisation which was set up to connect youth with the saffron partys ideology. Initially, a group, Youth for BJP, was set up in 2009 to engage with the younger population, which then transformed into Gyan. Dr. Sumeet Bhasin, founding member of the GYAN Foundation, said after the initial presentation of selected plays in Delhi, some of the best ones could be taken to other parts of the country. What is significant about the event is that the organisations with political intent are getting back to the traditional methods to engage with the younger population in the age of social media. Street theatre has been used by cadre-based parties particularly the Left to take their message to the people. Bhasin who also helms, Public Policy Research Centre, a think tank formally started by the BJP in 2013, said it was the first time such a festival was being organised by any party in the country. There are many misconceptions spread against the Modi government. Our aim is to provide a correct picture to the people. What is a better way than a theatre festival, Bhasin said. Bhasin said the theatre festival titled, Antyodaya Theatre Festival 2024, aims to highlight the various initiatives and policies of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government that resonate with Dr. B.R. Ambedkars core ideals of social justice, equality, and upliftment of the marginalized. Through this theatre festival, the foundation is showcasing how these efforts have positively impacted societys most vulnerable communities, emphasizing B.R Ambedkars dream of an inclusive India. The selected themes for the theatre festival include empowerment of marginalized communities, educational reforms, infrastructural development, digital India, social welfare schemes of the Centre. A start is being made in Delhi to address the concerns of the Dalit community, if successful the experiment will be replicated in other states. Amid the ongoing Israel-Lebanon border strikes, Tel Aviv on Thursday ruled out the ceasefire proposal put forward by France and the United States. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office ruled out the proposal by saying, "The news about a ceasefire- not true. This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister did not even respond." Hezbollah doesnt want you to watch this video. And they really dont want you to share it. pic.twitter.com/aN9kE42a2L Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 26, 2024 ALSO READ | Truce? Amid IDF's ground invasion threat, a ceasefire proposal in the making Netanyahu had directed the Israel Defence Forces to "continue the fighting with full force." IAF fighter jets struck infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon, which the terrorist army used against Israeli civilians. The IDF will continue to strike and act against the Hezbollah terrorist pic.twitter.com/rZ9JaueH4I Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 26, 2024 Earlier in the day, the US and France had said they had proposed a 21-day ceasefire across the border. Reportedly, the ceasefire would apply to the Israel-Lebanon 'Blue Line' - the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel. Joining Netanyahu's statement, Israel's foreign minister Israel Katz said there will be no ceasefire in the north. "We will continue to fight against the terrorist organisation Hezbollah with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes," said Katz. Over 600 people have been killed so far since Israel began its intense airstrikes targeting Hezbollah groups on Monday. Aiming for a ceasefire, the joint statement issued by US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron said, "It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes." Israel launched its heaviest strikes against Lebanon since 2006 Last week, Israel launched its heaviest air strikes against Lebanon since a 2006 war. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of missiles at targets in Israel including, Tel Aviv. Thousands of civilians fled from southern Lebanon in the wake of the intensified attacks. Israel's army chief had hinted at the possibility of a ground assault on Lebanon. According to Lebanon's transport minister Ali Hamieh, at least 23 Syrians were killed in an Israeli strike along its border. Israel's military had claimed that it has targeted "infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon, which the terrorist organisation used against Israeli civilians." As Israel Defence Forces (IDF) threatens to launch a ground invasion in Lebanon after two days of airstrikes, France and the US have said that they have mooted a 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border. Though no significant progress has been made so far, a senior US official has said that both Israel and Lebanon will "decide within hours" whether to accept the proposal. The official told Reuters that the ceasefire would apply to the Israel-Lebanon "Blue Line," the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel. He added that US President Joe Biden had been discussing ceasefire "in almost every conversation he had with world leaders" at the United Nations General Assembly this week. "Based on discussions with Israelis and Lebanese, the U.S. and its allies felt this was the right time for a call for a ceasefire," the official added. Secondary Explosions = Stored Munitions It's basic. Secondary explosions occur because we are precisely targeting the munitions of Hezbollah that are aimed at killing our civilians. pic.twitter.com/HvgbEkps2L Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 25, 2024 Though the specifics of the proposal were not complete, Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior advisers Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein are engaged in discussions with Middle East allies in this regard. France's foreign minister Jean-Nol Barrot told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that the proposal would be released shortly. "We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay," he said. The US official added that both countries will decide within hours whether to join the proposal but reports quoting an Israeli official said Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already given the green light to pursue the deal. While Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the call for a ceasefire, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters that his country supported Hezbollah and would not remain indifferent if the conflict in Lebanon spiralled. A Lebanese official too claimed that a deal was not wishful thinking and hinted that the deal, if reached, would start with a four-week ceasefire. The ceasefire call comes amid the statement by IDF chief Lt Gen Herzi Halevi that a ground invasion in Lebanon is in the offing. "You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day. This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah," Halevi said. Though there is no other confirmation in this regard, the IDF has called up two reserve brigades to the Northern border. "We keep striking and hitting them everywhere," Halevi told soldiers - in a statement quoted by the IDF. "The goal is very clear - to safely return the residents of the north. To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots... will enter enemy territory." After a woman died by suicide using the Sarco pod, a euthanasia capsule, in a Swiss forest, the local authorities have arrested several people in connection with the death. The deceased was identified as a 64-year-old American woman who had been suffering from a compromised immune system. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland. However, Swiss minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider said the suicide pod failed to meet the requirements of product safety law and the using nitrogen for euthanasia is not legally compliant. Who invented Sarco pod? The Sarco pod, which is short for sarcophagus, is commonly referred to as suicide pod. It was invented by Australian euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke in 2017. He designed it with the help of Dutch industrial designer Alexander Bannink. How Sarco pod works? The self-operated machine delivers 'a peaceful, quick and dignified death'. Once a person enters the pod, they have to answer a few questions. Following this, the person has to push a button. This reduces the oxygen level and releases nitrogen gas into the sealed chamber. This causes the person to fall asleep and die by suffocation within minutes. Sarco had earlier consulted legal expert Daniel Huerlimann, who is an assistant professor at the University of St Gallen, over legality of the suicide pod in Switzerland. According to him, the Sarco was not a medical device and hence it does not come under the purview of the Swiss Therapeutic Products Act. Nitschke had earlier hinted that use of nitrogen may not be acceptable in Europe due to negative connotations of the Holocaust, adding that some have called it a "glorified gas chamber". When the militant group Hezbollah shot a ballistic missile at the Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv on Wednesday for the first time since the war began, it was aiming to send a message. According to a statement from the group, the missile was sent to retaliate for the pager explosions that shook Lebanon last week. Though Israel's air defence system intercepted the missile, it did send panic waves across Tel Aviv and Central Israel. "Its only one missile, so its more than likely to be a message from Hezbollah that they still have ballistic missile capability," according to Al Jazeera. The residents of Netanya, a city in Central Israel, were startled by sirens echoing through the city, which sent them fleeing to shelters. "I woke up in a panic and ran with the kids to the shelter," Michal Nechmani, a resident, told Ynet. "Since the war started, we havent had a siren, so we were calm, thinking it wouldnt reach us. People always joked that Hamas and Hezbollah are afraid of people in Netanya. This morning we realised thats not the case. There were moments of fear, but we quickly understood there were no casualties, and they were holding school so we returned to our routine," he added. Why Qader-1? Qader-1 had a range of 190 kilometres and a warhead weighing 500 kilograms, the militant group claimed. In a short video boasting about its capabilities, Hezbollah said the group employed a "new hypersonic ballistic missile" in a "specific military operation" targeting the Tel Aviv area, in a statement from the group's military spokesperson. Though the group claims that the missile struck Tel Aviv, Israel claims it was intercepted by Israels medium-range Arrow air defence system, and no damage or injuries were caused. Hezbollah shows its Qader-1 ballistic missile fired on Tel Aviv. Range: 190 km. Diameter: 620 mm Length: 7,665 mm Total weight: 2,870 kg Total weight of the warhead: 500 kg Simply, downgraded variant of Iran's Fateh-110 ballistic missile. pic.twitter.com/T2NU1rhXIW Clash Report (@clashreport) September 25, 2024 The ballistic missile reportedly carried a 500-kilogram warhead, according to the terror group. "It crossed a distance of 2,040 km in 11 and a half minutes and caused a state of fear and panic among the Zionists, as more than two million Zionists headed to shelters for the first time in the history of the Israeli enemy," the military spokesperson added. Qader-1 is a tactical short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile equipped with a manoeuvrable reentry vehicle (MaRV), weighing 2,870 kg. These weapons are equipped with guidance systems and other electronics, which sets them apart from unguided rocket artillery like Katyusha and Fadi. It is also difficult to intercept considering on Wednesday, Israel's Arrow system failed to bring the missile down before entering Israeli airspace. It however intercepted it later. The Iron Dome's Tamir interceptors would be futile in a possible face-off. LJUBLJANA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China holds the "most reasonable and promising views" on the international situation, global relations and the state of international community, Slovenia's former President Danilo Turk said. "China is one of the most important states in all aspects, not only politically, but also in terms of economy, technology, science and more," Turk said in a recent telephone interview with Xinhua. Turk, a professor of international law, served as Slovenia's president from 2007 to 2012. He mentioned his upcoming participation in the China International Friendship Conference next month, where he looks forward to engaging in interesting discussions and exploring new ideas. China has launched three significant global initiatives focused on development, security, and global civilization, Turk noted. However, he emphasized that some of China's ideas are not fully understood in all parts of the world, underscoring the need for further discussion and dialogue to enhance understanding of these initiatives. China is at the center of global developments in many ways, as it introduces "constructive, interesting, and potentially successful" ideas, he said. China's initiative to build a community with a shared future for mankind is one of the cornerstone principles of Chinese foreign policy and a key pillar for the future organization of the international community, he added. He described the initiative as offering an alternative to the numerous conflicts currently affecting the world, presenting instead "a world of shared future" and reflecting the idea that "the future is something that is being built together." The 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China demonstrates that the Chinese population has an unbelievable power, which has enabled it to grasp the circumstances and the need for development over the past decades, allowing reforms to yield rapid results, he said. Following a phase of widespread industrialization that established China as "the main factory of the world," the country is now entering another stage of development where quality takes precedence over quantity, he added. "Quality demands technological advancement and innovation in all areas, including environmental protection, where China is now leading the way," Turk said, adding that the results demonstrate the success of Chinese leadership. He said China is capable of establishing clear and well-considered priorities. "The Communist Party of China has demonstrated an ability to recognize new realities, understand the New Era, and guide development from intensive production towards a more technological, innovative, and environmentally sustainable path," Turk said. Based on observations from abroad, "China's orientation is clear and promises further results," he added. According to Turk, China's initiative of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation to the world demonstrates its openness. Supporting China's idea of opening up to international tourism, he said people need to see and have contacts with China,by visiting the country, participating in its education programs, setting up business connections and attending professional conferences -- essentially anything that encourages communication. American and Filipino security officials have agreed to keep a U.S. mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines indefinitely to boost deterrence despite Chinas expressions of alarm, two Philippine officials said Wednesday. The U.S. Army transported the Typhon missile system, a land-based weapon that can fire the Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, to the northern Philippines as part of combat exercises in April with Philippine troops and to test its deployability aboard an Air Force aircraft. Tomahawk missiles can travel over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), which places China within their target range. Officials are considering keeping the missile system in the northern Philippines up to April next year, when U.S. and Philippine forces are scheduled to hold their annual Balikatan Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder large-scale combat exercises, he said. The two officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive U.S. missile deployment publicly. There was no immediate immediate comment from U.S. officials. Chinese diplomats have repeatedly conveyed their alarm to the Philippine government, warning that the deployment of the missile system could destabilize the region. A Philippine army spokesperson said earlier that the system was scheduled to be removed from the country by the end of this month. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. refused to confirm or deny the extension. But Teodoro rejected Chinas demands as interference in the Philippines internal affairs, speaking to reporters Tuesday on the sidelines of an Asian defense industry exhibition in Manila. China is saying that they are alarmed but that is interference into our internal affairs. They are using reverse psychology in order to deter us from building up our defensive capabilities, Teodoro said. Before they start talking, why dont they lead by example? Destroy their nuclear arsenal, remove all their ballistic missile capabilities, get out of the West Philippines Sea and get out of Mischief Reef, Teodoro said. I mean, dont throw stones when you live in a glass house. Teodoro used the Philippine name for the disputed South China Sea and for a contested reef off the western Philippines that Chinese forces seized in 1995 and is now one of seven missile-protected island bases China maintains in the disputed waters. Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said he has asked U.S. military officials to keep the missile system in the Philippines, but declined to say what was their response. If I were given the choice, I would like to have the Typhon here in the Philippines forever because we need it for our defense, Brawner told reporters. Last month, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi expressed Chinas very dramatic concern over the U.S. mid-range missile deployment to the Philippines during their recent talks in Laos on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings with Asian and Western countries. Manalo said Wang warned the presence of the U.S. missile system could be destabilizing, but he said that he disagreed. Theyre not destabilizing and the missile system was only in the Philippines temporarily, Manalo said he told Wang. Although the missile system was transported to the Philippines for joint combat exercises in April, it was not fired during the joint drills by the longtime treaty allies, according to Philippine and U.S. military officials. China has strongly opposed increased U.S. military deployments to the region, including to the Philippines, saying they could endanger regional stability and peace. The U.S. and the Philippines have repeatedly condemned Chinas increasingly assertive actions to fortify its territorial claims in the South China Sea, where hostilities have flared since last year with repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine coast guard forces and accompanying vessels. Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the busy waterway, a key global and security route which is also believed to be sitting atop vast undersea deposits of gas and oil. (AP) Coca-Cola Co. is discontinuing its newest permanent flavor a little more than seven months after putting it on the market. The beverage giant said Wednesday that Coca-Cola Spiced and Coca-Cola Spiced Zero Sugar will be phased out and replaced with a new flavor that will be introduced next year. Were always looking at what our consumers like and adjusting our range of products, the Atlanta-based company said in a statement. Coca-Cola Spiced went on sale in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 19. At the time, the company said it would be the first new permanent addition to its North American portfolio in three years. Coca-Cola didnt elaborate Wednesday on what went wrong, but it might have been the name. Coca-Cola Spiced doesnt have much heat; it mostly tastes like raspberry. Or it may have gone to market too quickly. Coca-Colas North American marketing chief Shakir Moin told The Associated Press in February that Coca-Cola Spiced was developed in just seven weeks. It usually takes a year for Coke to come up with a new beverage. Consumers are moving faster. The market is moving forward faster. Weve got to be faster than the speed of the market, Moin said. Coke has been exploring ways to get younger drinkers excited about its signature cola. In 2022, it launched Coca-Cola Creations, a series of eight limited-edition Coke flavors in colorful cans and bottles. Hints of coconut, strawberry, watermelon and other flavors were added to the drinks. Last month, it launched a limited-edition Oreo-flavored Coke with special black-and-white packaging. Atlanta-based Coke is also leaning more heavily into alcoholic drinks. The companys first U.S. alcoholic beverage, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, came out in 2021. Earlier this month, Coke and Bacardi Limited announced an agreement to bring a premixed rum-and-Coke cocktail to Europe and Mexico next year. (AP) House Speaker Mike Johnson is calling on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to fire his countrys ambassador to the U.S. as Republicans criticize the war-torn leaders visit to a swing-state Pennsylvania site producing munitions for the Russia-Ukraine war as a political stunt. The Republican Johnsons demand Wednesday came as Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations in New York on the eve of his visit to Washington, D.C., where he has plans Thursday to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill about the war effort before meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House. The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference, Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelenskyy. Johnson, who is close to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, said no Republicans were invited to the plant tour arranged by Ambassador Oksana Markarova to Scranton, Pennsylvania, which is Bidens hometown. Johnson called the visit an intentionally political move and said it has caused Republicans to lose trust in Ambassador Markarovas ability to fairly and effectively serve as a diplomat in this country. She should be removed from her post immediately. The speakers stern demand for the swift removal of Markarova, a well-received diplomat in Washington who has been a fixture on Capitol Hill since the outset of the war even sitting as a guest in the House visitors gallery during pivotal speeches comes at a daunting time for Ukraine as Zelenskyy works to ensure U.S. support for the war effort in an election year. While Biden and Democrats in Congress have largely stood with Ukraine since the outset of the Russian invasion in 2022, sending billions in U.S. aid to buy weaponry and support services, Republicans have split deeply. Trump has turned the GOP toward a new America First movement that generally prefers to limit U.S. involvement overseas, and he often speaks admirably of Russia and its president, Vladmir Putin. Johnson said that support for ending Russias war against Ukraine continues to be bipartisan, but our relationship is unnecessarily tested, noting comments from the Ukraine government about the top of the Trump-Vance presidential ticket. Trump in his own speech Wednesday lashed out at Zelenskyy and said the people of Ukraine are dead and the country itself demolished, raising fresh questions about the level of U.S. support the former president would provide to help Ukraine fight Russia if he returns to the White House. Later Johnson, who said he wont be meeting Thursday with Zelenskyy at the Capitol, said the ambassador crossed the line and the situation requires immediate attention and action. Zelenskyy on Sunday visited the Pennsylvania ammunition factory to thank the workers who are producing one of the most critically needed munitions for his countrys fight to fend off Russian ground forces. The Scranton plant is one of the few facilities in the country to manufacture 155 mm artillery shells and has increased production over the past year. Ukraine has already received more than 3 million of them from the U.S. Joining for the visit were the states leading Democrats, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey and the areas Rep. Matt Cartwright, but it is not clear if any Republicans were invited. It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail, Zelenskyy wrote on X. Thanks to people like these in Ukraine, in America, and in all partner countries who work tirelessly to ensure that life is protected. The visit sparked swift reprisals from the Republicans. Rep. James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, announced Wednesday he was opening an investigation into whether the Biden-Harris administration used taxpayer-funded resources to fly Zelenskyy to Pennsylvania as a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic nominee for president. The Committee seeks to determine whether the Biden-Harris Administration attempted to use a foreign leader to benefit Vice President Harriss presidential campaign and, if so, necessarily committed an abuse of power, he wrote in letters to Biden, the White House counsel and others in the administration. Senate Republicans, even those who had supported aid for Ukraine, roundly criticized Zelenskyy on Wednesday. He really messed up, said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican. However, Sen. Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a firm backer of Ukraine, suggested that Zelenskyys visit was not as partisan as it appeared. Wicker was also planning to meet with the Ukrainian president at the Capitol Thursday. If President Zelenskyy came to Mississippi, he would be accompanied by Republican officials because thats who the people in their wisdom elected, he said. (AP) A man set off an explosive device in the lobby of a California courthouse on Wednesday, injuring five people and prompting the shutdown of the court complex and other city buildings, officials said. A suspect was detained following the explosion that was reported shortly after 8:45 a.m. at the Santa Maria Courthouse in Santa Maria, sheriffs officials said. The small city of about 110,000 people is in Santa Barbara County, in Californias central coast region. Scene remains active. Please continue to avoid the area, county sheriffs spokesperson Raquel Zick posted on the social platform X. Zick later said the person detained was a man and that the blast came from an intentionally set explosive device. She said investigators dont believe there are any other suspects. The bomb team is processing the scene and the suspect is still being interviewed, Zick later said on X. The sheriffs department initially said two people sustained non-life-threatening injuries, but Sandy Doucette, a spokesperson for Marian Regional Medical Center, said the hospital was treating five patients in connection with the explosion. Two were in good condition and three in fair condition on Wednesday morning, Doucette said, without providing details of their injuries. Darrel Parker, court executive officer in Santa Barbara County, said the explosion occurred in the first-floor lobby of the criminal court building, which serves as the entryway and weapons screening point for the broader court campus. Anyone who wants to go to criminal, civil or other courts must pass through there to do so, Parker said. I am not certain that the suspect made it past weapons screening, Parker said. Shane Mellon told KSBY-TV that he was at the courthouse when he heard what sounded like chairs falling over. It was a loud bang, he said, adding the bailiff escorted him and others out. Mellon said he saw what looked like a sweater smoldering and a man screaming while four or five people got on top of him, trying to keep him restrained. I think this could have been way worse than it was if not for the deputies just jumping on top of that guy, Mellon said. The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom said it was monitoring the situation and coordinating with local law enforcement. The courts were closed on Wednesday and filing extensions will be offered for those affected by the shutdown. Parker said he expects the court to resume operations on Thursday. Patrols were stepped up at courthouses in neighboring Los Angeles County, the sheriffs department there said. Santa Maria City Hall, which is near the courthouse, was also closed Wednesday due to the ongoing investigation, said Mark van de Kamp, a spokesperson for the city. So were other nearby city offices in addition to branch libraries that depend on the citys main library for support, he said. The courthouse holds state and county courts in the city of Santa Maria, which is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. (AP) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to two people familiar with the matter. The indictment detailing the charges against Adams, a Democrat, was still sealed late Wednesday, according to the people, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan declined to comment. The indictment was first reported by The New York Times. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said in a statement that implied he hadnt been informed of the indictment. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers would question his ability to manage the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office. I have been facing these lies for months yet the city has continued to improve, Adams said. Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. It was not immediately clear when the charges would be made public or when Adams might have to appear in court. If Eric Adams were to leave office or unilaterally ousted by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who holds that power he would be succeeded by the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, with a special election to follow for a new mayor. Williams, known for his activism, has been arrested numerous times during protests. The indictment marks a stunning turn for Adams, a former police captain who won election nearly three years ago to become the second Black mayor of the nations largest city on a platform that promised a law-and-order approach to reducing crime. For much of the last year, Adams has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations into top advisers producing a drumbeat of subpoenas, searches and high-level departures that has thrust City Hall into crisis. He had repeatedly said he wasnt aware of any wrongdoing and vowed as recently as Wednesday afternoon to stay in office. Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochuls office did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday night. Hours before the charges were announced, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Adams to resign, the first nationally prominent Democrat to do so. She cited the federal criminal investigations into the mayors administration and a string of unexpected departures of top city officials. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the social platform X. Adams reacted with scorn, dismissing Ocasio-Cortez as self-righteous. The federal investigations into Adams administration first emerged publicly on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Adams chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be shocked if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team weve got to follow the law, he told reporters at the time. Days later, FBI agents seized the mayors phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. The interaction was disclosed several days later by the mayors attorney. Then on Sept. 4, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the citys police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall. Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. A week after the searches, Police Commissioner Edward Caban announced his resignation, telling officers that he didnt want the investigations to create a distraction. About two weeks later, Schools Chancellor David Banks announced that he would retire at the end of the year. Adams himself insisted he would keep doing the citys business and allow the investigations to run their course. Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign arm and City Hall, requesting information about the mayors schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government. Adams spent 22 years in New York Citys police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president, a largely ceremonial position. He was elected mayor in 2021, defeating a diverse field of Democrats in the primary and then easily beating Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, a Republican, in the general election. After more than two years in office, Adams popularity has declined. While the city has seen an increase in jobs and a drop in certain categories of crime, the administration has been preoccupied with efforts to find housing for tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the citys homeless shelters. There has also been a steady drip of accusations and a swirl of suspicion around people close to the mayor. The Manhattan District Attorney brought charges against six people including a former police captain long close with Adams over an alleged scheme to funnel tens of thousands of dollars to the mayors campaign by manipulating the public matching funds programs in the hopes of receiving preferential treatment from the city. Adams was not accused of wrongdoing in that case. Adams former top building-safety official, Eric Ulrich, was charged last year with accepting $150,000 in bribes and improper gifts in exchange for political favors, including providing access to the mayor. Ulrich pleaded not guilty and is fighting the charges. In February, federal investigators searched two properties owned by one of Adams close aides, Winnie Greco, who had raised thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the citys Chinese American communities and later became his director of Asian affairs. Greco hasnt commented publicly on the FBI searches of her properties and continues to work for the city. When agents seized electronic devices from Caban, the former police commissioner, in early September, they also visited his twin brother, James Caban, a former police officer who runs a nightlife consulting business. Agents also took devices from the schools chancellor; his brother Philip Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief who is now deputy mayor for public safety; their brother Terence Banks, who ran a consulting firm that promised to connect businesses to government stakeholders; and from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is David Banks domestic partner. All denied any wrongdoing. While those investigations swirled, federal authorities also searched the homes of newly named interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, and seized materials unrelated to his police work. Donlon confirmed the search and said it involved materials that had been in his possession for 20 years. He did not address what the investigation was about, but a person familiar with the investigation said it had to do with classified documents dating from the years when Donlon worked for the FBI. The person spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak publicly about that investigation. by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Sefas Tamim Foundation To subscribe to a weekly newsletter on Emes please email the author at [email protected] with the word subscribe in the subject line. The height of the golden era of the healing baths of Marienbad was in the late 1800s until the Second World War. Many famous people used to visit this resort town including King Edward VII of England, Emperor Franz Josef I of the Astro-Hungarian empire, Russias last Czar Nicholas II, Alfred Nobel, Rudyard Kipling, and lehavdil, the great Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva, Rav Yeruchem Levovitz ztl among other Gedolim. Rav Levovitz ztl, who in all probability suffered from an undiagnosed brain tumor, used to visit Marienbad to provide relief from his intense pain and headaches, would visit during the off-season. At the same time, there was an observant British headmaster of a school who attended the baths probably to relieve the extraordinary stress and tension involved in his position. Aside from the baths, Marienbad was noted for its remarkable and picturesque parks, and the two quickly developed a close relationship. The British headmaster decided to open up to the great Mashgiach and told him of all of his intense pressures. He left nothing unexplored, likely explaining how he must answer to an unrelenting board of trustees and a tough parent body, the emphasis not only on imbuing his students with knowledge but also following the new trend of understanding the meaning of knowledge, the difficulties of creating an intellectual environment in a changing era and numerous personal issues. Throughout the headmasters entire discussion, Rav Yeruchem listened attentively. He paid careful attention to every word and nuance that the headmaster expressed. Finally, Rab Yeruchem gave him his advice. His words of guidance were succinctly compacted into two Yiddish words, Zarget nisht Dont worry. As if by some magical force, the headmaster, who also suffered from intense headaches, was suddenly cured. Elated, the headmaster returned to England and made his mark in his stressful but highly important position. But how did Rav Yeruchem accomplish this remarkable change which even the famous baths and parks of Marienbad could not accomplish? Rav Shlomo Freifeld zatzal, the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Shor Yoshiv in Far Rockaway, explained, This was no magic or charmed luck. Rather, it was something else entirely. It demonstrates the power of an ish emes a person so imbued with the qualities of integrity and truth. The headmaster detected this remarkable characteristic of Klal Yisroels most famous Mashgiach and knew that he spoke truth. The carefully formed loving words of Zarget nisht penetrated into the inner recesses of the headmasters psyche and he knew that he had to entirely reformulate his approach to his problems. With the knew direction, the headmaster had finally received the guidance and direction that he needed. We see from here the incredible power of emes, of taking a hard look in the mirror and realizing that we ourselves are the only ones that can change our circumstances by changing our approaches. Sometimes this can only be accomplished by hearing it from an ish emes a person of absolute integrity that we need to stop worrying about things or blaming others, but just taking responsibility for what needs to be done. To subscribe to a weekly newsletter on Emes please email the author at [email protected] with the word subscribe in the subject line. On Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion unveiled the Swords of Iron memorial on Ruppin Street in Jerusalem, opposite the National Library. This is the first monument in the city dedicated to both the victims of Hamass October 7 massacre and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers who have fallen in the war that followed. These are difficult, painful, and bloody days, in which our enemies are doing everything they can to prevent Israeli citizens from living normal lives, Herzog said, opening the ceremony. He emphasized Israels determination to protect its people, stating, We will not rest and we will not stop until all Israeli citizens return to their homes and are safe and secure. The event was attended by senior government officials, Jerusalem City Council members, ambassadors, and bereaved families. Mayor Moshe Lion highlighted the significance of the monument, saying, This monument highlights the magnitude of the loss Jerusalem has experienced, while also conveying hope for better days This shared commemoration sends a message of hope and unity. A kapittel Tehillim was recited by Rabbi Shmuel Slotki, who lost his sons Noam and Yishai in the war against Hamas, and a prayer for the return of the hostages was led by Jon Polin, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among six hostages executed by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. The iron monument stands 14 meters in diameter and 5.5 meters tall. It bears the names of soldiers, security forces, rescue personnel, and civilians from Jerusalem who lost their lives since October 7. Inside the structure is a verse from the Nachem prayer, recited on Tisha BAv: Therefore Zion will weep bitterly, and Jerusalem will give forth its voice. My heart, my heart grieves for their fallen; my bowels, my bowels grieve for their fallen. A private space within the monument allows families to reflect in quiet remembrance of their loved ones. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) All hospitals south of Haifa in central Israel received a request from security forces on Wednesday afternoon to raise their alert level in preparation for developments that may require emergency admissions, Kikar HShabbat reported. It should be noted that the Health Ministry clarified that there has been no change in the alert level at the hospitals, saying that the alert level is in the same state since the outbreak of the war on October 8. The report comes as Operation Northern Arrow continues. Earlier in the day, Hezbollah fired on Tel Aviv for the first time, and later in the morning fired on Zichron Yaakov and Chof HaCarmel for the first time. A nursing home in Tzfas was hit by a rocket and two people were seriously injured from rocket shrapnel on a kibbutz near Nahariya. On Wednesday afternoon, the IDF deployed two additional reserve units to the north. Rambam Hospital in Haifa moved all its operations underground on Sunday and all hospitals in the north are operating only in protected spaces. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Xinhua, China's state news agency, holds a news photo exhibition to commemorate the country's decades-long transformation. Let's approach these outstanding photojournalists and explore the stories behind their masterpieces on display. The IDF is concerned about 40,000 mercenaries and militia volunteers from Yemen, Iraq, and other countries who have gathered in Syria near Ramat HaGolan, Haaretz reported on Tuesday evening. The militants are awaiting the call of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to join the fighting in Lebanon. Theyre not elite fighters but Hamass Nukhba terrorists werent professional and we saw what thousands of armed men can do when they raid a yishuv, a senior security official told Haaretz. Its a risk we cant tolerate and if necessary, well act in Syria to make it clearer to Assad that we wont accept their presence there. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Senior Biden administration officials claimed early Thursday morning that Israel and Hezbollah are on the verge of a three-week truce negotiated by the US and France, Sky News reported on Thursday morning The officials told Sky News that a 21-day truce, negotiated mainly by the US and France, is expected to begin in the coming hours. The ceasefire will be for 21 days along the blue line, the officials said. During that time, the parties will negotiate towards a potential resolution of the conflict that has been ongoing since Hezbollah launched an attack on October 8, to reach a comprehensive agreement along the blue line that will allow residents to return to their homes in both Lebanon and Israel. According to the report, Hezbollah would not even be a signatory to the agreement. Instead, the Lebanese government would coordinate the signing with the terror group. The report was met with fury by members of the coalition and even the opposition, along with the heads of northern cities and communities. Even opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed his opposition to a 21-day ceasefire, saying: Israel needs to announce this morning that it accepts the Biden-Macron proposal for a ceasefire but only for 7 days to prevent Hezbollah from restoring its command and control systems. We wont accept any proposal that doesnt include pushing Hezbollah away from our northern border. The head of the Metula Regional Council, Dovid Azulai, said a ceasefire would ensure the next October 7 and that the government must do its job to remove the threat of Hezbollah and allow northern residents to return to their homes. Hezbollah wants to do exactly what Hamas did in the south on October 7, Azulai emphasized. Members of the Likud party, headed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who is currently on the way to New York to speak at the UN, expressed their opposition as well. MK Chanoch Milwidsky said: Im convinced that reports of a ceasefire within hours are just empty spins. Its doubtful there will be another opportunity to decisively deal with Hezbollah like the current one. I cant imagine the Israeli government agreeing to that. Theres no deal with terrorism. Its a matter of victory or defeat. The Otzma Yehudit party stated: In light of reports about negotiations for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, the Otzma Yehudit party will convene for an urgent meeting in the coming hours. Settlement Minister Orit Struck said: Theres no moral mandate for a ceasefire. Not for 21 days. And not for 21 hours. Hezbollah has turned Lebanon into a powder keg. [UN Resolution] 1701 has turned the residents of the north into hostages and exiles in their own land. Were not repeating past mistakes. We wont stop until we fix this. MK Gideon Saar wrote: The decrease in air force strikes in Lebanon in recent days and the avoidance of strikes to diminish Hezbollahs capabilities in the Beirut area, similar to what was done in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley are mistakes. The continuity and systematic nature of the operations are essential to destroy Hezbollahs primary capabilities to threaten the Israeli home front. Avoiding this allows Hezbollah to take actions that will hinder the mission moving forward. MK Almog Cohen said: A 21-day surrender agreement that ends amid the elections in the U.S. is a national disaster and is a transfer of the containment equation from Gaza to Lebanon. There is no mandate other than bringing Hezbollah to its knees and pushing it back to the Litani line. Residents of the north will not return to their homes waiting for Radwan Force terrorists to come and slaughter their children. Hezbollah made a mistake, Hezbollah needs to pay. Hours later, the Prime Ministers Office denied the validity of the report, saying that this is a US-French proposal that the Prime Minister has not even responded to yet. The statement also denied a recent Channel 12 report that Netanyahu has instructed the IDF to moderate strikes in Lebanon. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Dozens of US troops were deployed to Cyprus amid the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, four US officials told CNN on Wednesday. The troops are preparing for a range of possible scenarios including a possible evacuation of US citizens from Lebanon in the case of an all-out war breaking out. Cyprus was heavily involved in aiding the evacuation of foreign nationals from Lebanon during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Last month, Cypruss deputy government spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou told Reuters that the island nation is ready to assist again if needed. The UK announced on Tuesday that it is sending 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for the possibility of an emergency evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon. The most important message from me this evening is to British nationals in Lebanon, to leave immediately and I just want to reinforce that, said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The number of global terrorist attacks planned by Iran against Jews and Israelis since October 7 has more than doubled compared to the previous year, according to sources from the Mossad, Israels intelligence agency. The Jerusalem Post reports that Mossad has prevented more than 50 attempted attacks worldwide in recent months, significantly up from the 27 incidents thwarted in 2023. Many of these foiled attacks have not been made public, demonstrating Irans heightened efforts to target Jews and Israelis across the globe. Tehran has been increasingly motivated, pouring extensive resources into planning such attacks. Mossad has often worked in collaboration with foreign intelligence agencies, sometimes even in countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. In other instances, the Mossad has acted independently. Some of the countries where these efforts have taken place include Cyprus, Germany, Denmark, and Turkey. In May, Mossad also revealed it had helped prevent attacks in Sweden and Belgium. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Most business eyes this autumn are focused on October 30 and Labours first Budget. At Anglo Americans headquarters on the fringes of the City and in Pretoria, South Africa, the month of November is sharply in view. By then half-a-year will have elapsed since May when Sydney-quoted mining behemoth BHP tried to win control of Anglo and in particular its copper assets, with a 34billion opportunistic bid. Under City takeover rules BHP will be free to have another go. Anglo showed nerves of steel and fought off BHP with a self-help plan. Diamond cutting: Anglo American has pledged to demerge its most high profile asset - the diamond miner De Beers That involved easing the financing burden of the Woodsmith polyhalite fertiliser scheme in north Yorkshire, demerging De Beers, selling down its stakes in South African-quoted mining interests and disposing of coking coal assets for steel. Chinese co-investors have been found for the fertiliser scheme and the group has been selling down its stake in Anglo American platinum. It has been a tense ride for shareholders but worthwhile in that the stock is up 23.8 per cent year to date, although there was a nervy moment in August when the shares briefly dropped below 2000p (20) before zipping up again. Speculation about a return bid by BHP boss Mike Henry is wide of the mark. Various ideas for pressing home BHPs advantage have been looked at by advisers, such as removing preconditions regarding the sale of the quoted South African assets. There should be relief at Anglo that the BHP threat is receding for the time being. That should be no excuse for Anglo failing to execute the plan which chief executive Duncan Wanblad pledged to investors. A big part is disposing of high-profile asset De Beers with a potential split and listing to existing shareholders. Mined diamonds have come under threat from almost indistinguishable lab copies. That shouldnt be a problem. After all, cultured pearls have proved no substitute for the real thing. Nuclear winter Government is all about process and when it comes to nuclear power, given the industrys history, it is understandable that there is a degree of caution. Nevertheless, the time it is taking to launch a fleet of British-engineered small modular reactors (SMRs), using technology pioneered by Rolls-Royce in nuclear powered submarines, is shameful. The word nuclear has barely emitted from Energy Secretary Ed Milibands lips even though it gets a desultory mention in the launch document for Great British Energy. It is terrific that, finally, the Government has picked four companies to advance to the next stage of negotiations, including Rolls. The difficulty is that with every passing day the first mover advantage which Rolls has in terms of regulation and design is eroded an advantage to competitors. When Rolls first unveiled the designs there was nobody else in the race. Now a joint venture between GE and Hitachi is snapping at its heels. Westinghouse, one of the other candidates, previously enjoyed UK ownership, but was sold to Toshiba for 3.4billion by Gordon Brown in 2006. That looks to have been another bit of industrial sabotage. Rolls has ploughed 280million into the enterprise alongside partners including Qatar. It also received 210million of Government support from the Tories. Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves should bulldoze through the auction process and license it for the job. SMRs represent the best opportunity for creating those new, greener UK jobs Labour talks about. Going low As the West recovered from Covid and confronted Russia after Ukraine, Saudi Arabia sought to maximise its oil revenues by limiting supply in the belief it would keep prices high. It hasnt quite worked. Diminishing Chinese demand and Americas fracking energy surpluses have turned the market upside down. Even major conflagration in the Middle East failed to stem the tide of sliding prices, currently at $70 a barrel. The Kingdom needs income to fund its transformational mega projects. It now plans to pump more oil, to encourage overseas demand and bolster revenues. Thats encouraging for motorists and industrial users if not terribly green. Ed Miliband is under pressure to accelerate the roll out of mini-nukes in the UK after the Government whittled down a shortlist of firms in contention to press ahead with the project. The Energy Secretary was urged to move faster to approve small modular reactors (SMRs), which are cheaper and faster to build than full-sized nuclear power stations, amid fears Britain is being left behind. The calls come after Rolls-Royce was named alongside three rivals for the next stage of the competition to develop mini-nukes in the UK. American firm NuScale was knocked out of the running this week while French giant EDF has withdrawn. Energy security: Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (pictured) has been urged to move faster to approve small modular nuclear reactors Companies were initially told the shortlist would be reduced to four by late August, but the election delayed this. The hold-up has fuelled fears Britain is dragging its heels. Rolls-Royce last week was chosen by the Czech Republic as a preferred supplier of SMRs to state-owned power group CEZ. The Mail on Sunday then revealed Rolls was also in talks with Sweden and the Netherlands. Shadow energy minister Claire Coutinho said: Its clear that Labour are not putting the same emphasis on nuclear energy as the Conservatives. You cant build an energy policy based on wind and solar alone as Ed Miliband seems to want to do, so he must move faster to make sure other countries dont steal a march on Britain when it comes to the next generation of nuclear. Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: Other countries are getting on with choosing their technologies and we need to be moving at pace too, and that includes selecting the sites and the number of units so we can provide certainty to the supply chain and to host communities. We look forward to seeing swift progress being made over the next few months on SMRs as well as large-scale projects. Rolls-Royce communications spokesman Dan Gould last week urged Labour to move faster. Wed like to see the Government make a decision by the end of the year, he said. The company has been shortlisted by Vattenfall, the Swedish multinational power company, to meet rising demand for electricity. In the Netherlands, Rolls-Royce has signed an exclusive agreement with Dutch development firm ULC-Energy to work together to deploy SMRs. Rolls is awaiting government approval from both countries. US-Japanese alliance GE-Hitachi and American firms Westinghouse and Holtec are still in the running in the UKs design competition, which was first announced in 2015 by then chancellor George Osborne. It was not until 2023 that Government agency Great British Nuclear launched the official design competition. Six contenders were announced in October 2023, with bids submitted in July. It is hoped a winner will be selected later this year or early 2025. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: We are reversing a legacy of no new nuclear power being delivered, ensuring the long-term security of the nuclear sector. SMRs will play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs. Four companies, confirmed by Great British Nuclear, will move to the next stage of the small modular reactor competition and will be invited to enter negotiations. A visitor looks at the exhibits during the preview of "West Meets East: Retrospective Exhibition of Marc Riboud's Photography" at the Hunan Museum in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Lin Jianjie) CHANGSHA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- From a wedding held in a textile factory in the 1950s to a man in a suit speaking on a brick phone in the 1990s, a new exhibition featuring the works of French photographer Marc Riboud offers precious glimpses of a fast-changing China over a period of half a century. The exhibition named, "West Meets East: Retrospective Exhibition of Marc Riboud's Photography," opened on Thursday at the Hunan Museum in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, and features 148 photos taken by Riboud -- 67 of which he shot in China between 1957 and 2010. About 10 works are being exhibited in China for the first time, including a color photo showing a couple carrying a television on a street in Beijing in 1980, shortly after the country launched its reform and opening-up drive. The late photographer was best known for his extensive reports on China and Asia. "Marc Riboud had a keen eye for Chinese society. His works, which have a unique visual rhythm and are deeply humanistic, show different sides of the changing life in China," said Huang Lei, curator of the exhibition, noting that Riboud held a special place in cultural exchanges between China and France. Co-organized by the Hunan Museum and France's Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts, the exhibition is part of this year's Croisements Festival, which marks 60 years of diplomatic ties between China and France. The exhibition will last until Dec. 10. A visitor looks at the exhibits during the preview of "West Meets East: Retrospective Exhibition of Marc Riboud's Photography" at the Hunan Museum in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Lin Jianjie) Boyd Gaming Co. (NYSE:BYD Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fourteen brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $89.31. Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Boyd Gaming from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Macquarie decreased their price objective on shares of Boyd Gaming from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Boyd Gaming from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $66.00 to $74.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Boyd Gaming from $68.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 17th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Boyd Gaming from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Get Boyd Gaming alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Boyd Gaming Boyd Gaming Trading Down 0.2 % BYD stock opened at $63.96 on Monday. Boyd Gaming has a 1-year low of $49.34 and a 1-year high of $68.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70. The businesss 50 day moving average is $59.47 and its 200-day moving average is $58.44. The firm has a market cap of $5.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.48 and a beta of 1.57. Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.09. Boyd Gaming had a return on equity of 34.29% and a net margin of 13.32%. The business had revenue of $967.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $909.49 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.58 EPS. Boyd Gamings quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Boyd Gaming will post 6.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Boyd Gaming Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.06%. Boyd Gamings payout ratio is presently 12.21%. Insider Activity In other Boyd Gaming news, Chairman Marianne Boyd Johnson sold 73,130 shares of Boyd Gaming stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.23, for a total transaction of $4,404,619.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 1,423,498 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $85,737,284.54. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Christine J. Spadafor sold 1,242 shares of Boyd Gaming stock in a transaction on Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.36, for a total transaction of $74,967.12. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,096 shares of the companys stock, valued at $66,154.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Chairman Marianne Boyd Johnson sold 73,130 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.23, for a total value of $4,404,619.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 1,423,498 shares of the companys stock, valued at $85,737,284.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 27.94% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Boyd Gaming by 57.4% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 518 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 189 shares in the last quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in Boyd Gaming in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in Boyd Gaming by 58.2% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 783 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC acquired a new position in Boyd Gaming during the 1st quarter worth approximately $90,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Boyd Gaming by 132.6% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,742 shares of the companys stock valued at $117,000 after purchasing an additional 993 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.81% of the companys stock. About Boyd Gaming (Get Free Report Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The company operates through Las Vegas Locals, Downtown Las Vegas, Midwest & South, and Online segments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Boyd Gaming Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boyd Gaming and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China has established the world's largest, most comprehensive, and technologically advanced environmental monitoring network, according to Dong Baotong, vice-minister of ecology and environment. The number of monitoring stations directly overseen by the ministry has reached over 33,000, the official said in a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday. While about two-thirds of these stations are for soil monitoring, 1,734 are for air quality and 3,646 for ground water, he added. "The system has covered all cities at and above the prefecture-level, key river basins and sea areas under China's jurisdiction," he noted. In addition to the traditionally prioritized areas such as water, air and soil, China in recent years has also built monitoring stations for ecological quality, biodiversity, greenhouse gases and new pollutants, meaning that the country has essentially achieved full coverage in terms of monitoring elements, Dong said. Previously, the monitoring system was dominated by manual facilities. "Now, however, automatic monitoring has become the primary method, with drones, mobile monitoring vehicles, and laser radar being standard fixtures at monitoring stations across the country," he said. Dong said his ministry is now the primary user of seven monitoring satellites, which provide robust scientific support for its monitoring work. Guests visit a Dunhuang culture exhibition during a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, held in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) WELLINGTON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand on Thursday evening held a reception in Wellington, the country's capital, to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The event, held at the National Museum of New Zealand, was attended by over 300 guests, including New Zealand Minister for Ethnic Communities Melissa Lee, members of the New Zealand Parliament, diplomats, and representatives of the Chinese community. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and New Zealand. In his opening remarks, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong said this partnership has experienced historic growth over the past decade and achieved unprecedented breadth and depth across various sectors, creating many "firsts" in China's engagement with developed Western countries, and delivering tangible benefits to both nations and peoples. "China has consistently been New Zealand's largest export market and import source. In 2023, bilateral trade reached nearly 38 billion NZ dollars. Our two countries are actively seeking new heights of collaboration in areas like technological innovation, infrastructure, green development, digital economy, and climate change, while continuing to build on the foundation of traditional cooperation," he said. On people-to-people exchanges, more than 250,000 people of Chinese heritage in New Zealand are actively integrating into the local community, contributing significantly to the nation's economic and social development. They serve as vital links in cultural exchanges, fostering personal connections between the two countries and deepening the much-needed mutual understanding between the two peoples, the Chinese ambassador said. The ambassador believed that China's unilateral visa waiver policy for New Zealanders will further facilitate the movement of people and enhance the warmth of interactions, while China has been the largest source of international students and a key contributor of tourists to New Zealand for years. "Despite changes in the global landscape, the complementary nature of our interests remains steadfast, and our commonalities far outweigh our differences. As the world becomes increasingly complex, it is all the more important for our two countries to enhance understanding and trust and build on our shared interests," he added. For her part, Deborah Geels, deputy secretary of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, extended congratulations to China, expressing wishes for peace, happiness and prosperity for its people. "As our largest trading partner, China continues to play a vital part in New Zealand's trade prosperity story," she stressed. A Dunhuang culture exhibition and a Lingnan-style "Tea For Harmony-Yaji Cultural Salon" were also held during the reception, which attracted people to visit. (1 NZ dollar equals 0.62 U.S. dollar) Guests visit a Dunhuang culture exhibition during a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, held in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) Guests visit a Dunhuang culture exhibition during a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, held in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) Guests visit a Dunhuang culture exhibition during a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, held in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) Guests visit a Dunhuang culture exhibition during a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, held in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) StockNews.com lowered shares of Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Wednesday. A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen cut shares of Mueller Water Products from a buy rating to a hold rating and increased their target price for the company from $19.00 to $20.00 in a report on Friday, August 9th. Oppenheimer upped their target price on Mueller Water Products from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Mueller Water Products from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $21.60. Get Mueller Water Products alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MWA Mueller Water Products Stock Down 0.1 % MWA opened at $21.07 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 3.70 and a quick ratio of 2.31. Mueller Water Products has a 12 month low of $12.13 and a 12 month high of $21.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.92, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.34. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $20.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $18.31. Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 5th. The industrial products company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.22 by $0.10. Mueller Water Products had a net margin of 9.71% and a return on equity of 19.46%. The company had revenue of $356.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $329.67 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.18 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Mueller Water Products will post 0.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Mueller Water Products Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 20th. Investors of record on Friday, August 9th were paid a dividend of $0.064 per share. This represents a $0.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 9th. Mueller Water Productss payout ratio is currently 39.06%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Mueller Water Products news, insider J Scott Hall sold 135,253 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.34, for a total transaction of $2,751,046.02. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 544,029 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,065,549.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Thomas J. Hansen sold 10,791 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.55, for a total transaction of $221,755.05. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 102,792 shares in the company, valued at $2,112,375.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider J Scott Hall sold 135,253 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.34, for a total value of $2,751,046.02. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 544,029 shares in the company, valued at $11,065,549.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 256,869 shares of company stock worth $5,141,842. 1.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new position in Mueller Water Products during the second quarter worth approximately $1,649,000. Aristides Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Mueller Water Products during the 2nd quarter worth $1,217,000. Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Mueller Water Products by 341.0% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 5,632 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $101,000 after buying an additional 4,355 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC purchased a new stake in Mueller Water Products during the second quarter valued at about $1,999,000. Finally, Susquehanna International Group LLP increased its stake in Mueller Water Products by 48.4% during the second quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 199,172 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,569,000 after acquiring an additional 64,975 shares during the last quarter. 91.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Mueller Water Products (Get Free Report) Mueller Water Products, Inc manufactures and markets products and services for the transmission, distribution, and measurement of water used by municipalities, and the residential and non-residential construction industries in the United States, Israel, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Water Flow Solutions and Water Management Solutions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Mueller Water Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mueller Water Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII Free Report) by 48.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 406 shares of the aerospace companys stock after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the quarter. Federated Hermes Inc.s holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries were worth $100,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in HII. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale boosted its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 4.7% in the second quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 2,308 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $552,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 664.4% during the 2nd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 18,322 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $4,513,000 after purchasing an additional 15,925 shares in the last quarter. BOKF NA increased its holdings in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 0.8% in the second quarter. BOKF NA now owns 15,415 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $3,797,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 42.1% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 473,778 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $116,706,000 after buying an additional 140,338 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 12.3% during the second quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 4,393 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,082,000 after buying an additional 482 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.46% of the companys stock. Get Huntington Ingalls Industries alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Huntington Ingalls Industries from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the stock from $280.00 to $285.00 in a research note on Monday, September 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Huntington Ingalls Industries has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $275.50. Huntington Ingalls Industries Stock Performance Huntington Ingalls Industries stock opened at $257.02 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $10.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.82. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $199.11 and a fifty-two week high of $299.50. The firms fifty day moving average price is $268.43 and its 200-day moving average price is $265.11. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The aerospace company reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.61 by $0.77. The firm had revenue of $2.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.84 billion. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a return on equity of 18.55% and a net margin of 6.35%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.27 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. will post 16.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Huntington Ingalls Industries Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.02%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. Huntington Ingalls Industriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.31%. About Huntington Ingalls Industries (Free Report) Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc designs, builds, overhauls, and repairs military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls, Newport News, and Mission Technologies. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HII? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 10.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 17,663,295 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,100,379 shares during the quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $733,552,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BMY. Global Assets Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the first quarter valued at about $5,161,000. Lincoln National Corp grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 42,894 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,326,000 after buying an additional 3,052 shares in the last quarter. Chapin Davis Inc. increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Chapin Davis Inc. now owns 22,544 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,223,000 after acquiring an additional 4,159 shares during the last quarter. Sierra Summit Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth approximately $755,000. Finally, Scotia Capital Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 48.6% during the 4th quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 236,724 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,146,000 after acquiring an additional 77,471 shares during the last quarter. 76.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 1.9 % Shares of BMY opened at $49.95 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $48.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $46.36. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $101.25 billion, a P/E ratio of -16.11, a P/E/G ratio of 12.96 and a beta of 0.46. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $39.35 and a 12-month high of $59.25. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.64 by $0.43. The company had revenue of $12.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.54 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a negative net margin of 14.06% and a positive return on equity of 12.51%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.75 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 0.77 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 4th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.80%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently -77.42%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently issued reports on BMY. StockNews.com raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $45.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $53.00 to $45.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $50.00 price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $55.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (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 for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report) by 21.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,808,994 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 863,219 shares during the quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $821,412,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 28,038,014 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,787,771,000 after acquiring an additional 999,735 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 141.3% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 1,677,664 shares of the companys stock worth $275,724,000 after buying an additional 982,323 shares during the last quarter. Scarborough Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 1,460.0% during the 4th quarter. Scarborough Advisors LLC now owns 973,510 shares of the companys stock valued at $143,242,000 after buying an additional 911,104 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 5.6% during the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 13,774,967 shares of the companys stock worth $2,352,213,000 after acquiring an additional 727,760 shares during the period. Finally, Liberty Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 738.8% in the second quarter. Liberty Wealth Management LLC now owns 779,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $133,047,000 after acquiring an additional 686,255 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of BATS QUAL opened at $178.25 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $47.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.03 and a beta of 1.03. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $173.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $168.18. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a 12-month low of $71.96 and a 12-month high of $88.63. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QUAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new position in Terreno Realty Co. (NYSE:TRNO Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 7,000 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $414,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of TRNO. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Terreno Realty in the first quarter worth $31,000. Whittier Trust Co. boosted its holdings in Terreno Realty by 123.4% in the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 610 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 337 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Terreno Realty in the 2nd quarter worth $48,000. EntryPoint Capital LLC raised its holdings in Terreno Realty by 80.3% during the first quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 941 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 419 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of Terreno Realty by 58.2% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,191 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 438 shares in the last quarter. Get Terreno Realty alerts: Terreno Realty Stock Down 1.7 % Shares of NYSE:TRNO opened at $67.56 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $6.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.18, a PEG ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 0.90. Terreno Realty Co. has a 12 month low of $50.42 and a 12 month high of $71.63. The company has a current ratio of 2.34, a quick ratio of 2.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $68.31 and a 200 day moving average price of $62.45. Terreno Realty Increases Dividend Terreno Realty ( NYSE:TRNO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.54 by ($0.17). Terreno Realty had a net margin of 45.69% and a return on equity of 5.08%. The company had revenue of $94.25 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $89.07 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Terreno Realty Co. will post 2.42 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be paid a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 30th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.90%. This is an increase from Terreno Realtys previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Terreno Realtys dividend payout ratio is currently 93.75%. Insider Transactions at Terreno Realty In related news, CFO Jaime Jackson Cannon sold 4,998 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.39, for a total value of $341,813.22. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 101,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,970,787.53. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP John Tull Meyer sold 6,145 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.64, for a total value of $421,792.80. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 110,988 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,618,216.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Jaime Jackson Cannon sold 4,998 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.39, for a total transaction of $341,813.22. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 101,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,970,787.53. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 18,643 shares of company stock worth $1,277,581. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wolfe Research upgraded Terreno Realty to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of Terreno Realty in a research report on Tuesday, June 4th. They set an outperform rating and a $68.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Terreno Realty from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Terreno Realty from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Finally, Mizuho reissued an underperform rating and set a $62.00 price objective on shares of Terreno Realty in a report on Thursday, September 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.56. Get Our Latest Stock Report on TRNO Terreno Realty Profile (Free Report) Terreno Realty Corporation (Terreno, and together with its subsidiaries, the Company) acquires, owns and operates industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets: Los Angeles, Northern New Jersey/New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Miami, and Washington, DC All square feet, acres, occupancy and number of properties disclosed in these notes to the consolidated financial statements are unaudited. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRNO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Terreno Realty Co. (NYSE:TRNO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Terreno Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Terreno Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EVV Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, September 25th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 25th will be paid a dividend of 0.1323 per share on Wednesday, October 2nd. This represents a $1.59 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 15.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 25th. This is a boost from Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Funds previous monthly dividend of $0.08. Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund Price Performance Shares of EVV stock opened at $10.36 on Thursday. Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund has a fifty-two week low of $8.52 and a fifty-two week high of $10.50. Get Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund alerts: About Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund (Get Free Report) Recommended Stories Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in senior, secured floating-rate loans, government agency mortgage-backed securities, and corporate bonds that are rated below investment grade. Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tritax Big Box REIT plc (OTCMKTS:TTBXF Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 39,500 shares, a decrease of 97.9% from the August 31st total of 1,864,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 395.0 days. Tritax Big Box REIT Price Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:TTBXF traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $2.13. The company had a trading volume of 1,483 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,188. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $2.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.93. Tritax Big Box REIT has a twelve month low of $1.49 and a twelve month high of $2.20. Get Tritax Big Box REIT alerts: About Tritax Big Box REIT (Get Free Report) Read More Tritax Big Box REIT plc (ticker: BBOX) is the largest listed investor in high-quality logistics warehouse assets and controls the largest logistics-focused land platform in the UK. BBOX is committed to delivering attractive and sustainable returns for Shareholders by investing in and actively managing existing built investments and land suitable for logistics development. Receive News & Ratings for Tritax Big Box REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tritax Big Box REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. lowered its position in Chemed Co. (NYSE:CHE Free Report) by 10.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 37,179 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,157 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. owned 0.25% of Chemed worth $20,175,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CHE. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Chemed by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 3,407 shares of the companys stock worth $1,849,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Bridges Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Chemed by 110.7% during the second quarter. Bridges Investment Management Inc. now owns 70,080 shares of the companys stock worth $38,024,000 after buying an additional 36,813 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new position in Chemed during the second quarter worth $2,116,000. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Chemed by 62.7% in the second quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 610 shares of the companys stock worth $331,000 after buying an additional 235 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chemed by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 5,121 shares of the companys stock worth $2,778,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.85% of the companys stock. Get Chemed alerts: Chemed Stock Performance Shares of CHE stock opened at $595.51 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $572.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $576.61. Chemed Co. has a twelve month low of $497.36 and a twelve month high of $654.62. The company has a market capitalization of $9.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.05, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.44. Chemed Increases Dividend Chemed ( NYSE:CHE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported $5.47 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $5.59 by ($0.12). Chemed had a return on equity of 29.21% and a net margin of 12.88%. The firm had revenue of $595.88 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $599.20 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.71 earnings per share. Chemeds quarterly revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Chemed Co. will post 21.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 12th were given a $0.50 dividend. This is an increase from Chemeds previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.34%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 12th. Chemeds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.76%. Insider Transactions at Chemed In related news, EVP Nicholas Michael Westfall sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $561.58, for a total transaction of $1,123,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,990 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,363,864.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Andrea R. Lindell sold 831 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.51, for a total transaction of $474,924.81. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,271,894.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Nicholas Michael Westfall sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $561.58, for a total transaction of $1,123,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,990 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,363,864.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 6,744 shares of company stock worth $3,828,231. Company insiders own 3.32% of the companys stock. Chemed Profile (Free Report) Chemed Corporation provides hospice and palliative care services to patients through a network of physicians, registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy, and volunteers primarily in the United States. The company operates in VITAS and Roto-Rooter segments. It offers plumbing, drain cleaning, excavation, water restoration, and other related services to residential and commercial customers through company-owned branches, independent contractors, and franchisees. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Chemed Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chemed and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Profund Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report) by 2.9% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 2,202 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $456,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,759,095 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $883,098,000 after purchasing an additional 109,585 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 0.7% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,074,269 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $429,145,000 after buying an additional 13,631 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 14.4% in the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,980,675 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $367,534,000 after acquiring an additional 249,400 shares during the period. Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 0.5% in the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,847,511 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $342,824,000 after acquiring an additional 8,809 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in AvalonBay Communities by 11.9% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,183,121 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $244,776,000 after acquiring an additional 126,055 shares during the period. 92.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get AvalonBay Communities alerts: AvalonBay Communities Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of AvalonBay Communities stock opened at $229.65 on Thursday. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a 12-month low of $160.45 and a 12-month high of $236.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $218.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $201.94. The company has a quick ratio of 2.03, a current ratio of 2.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. AvalonBay Communities Announces Dividend AvalonBay Communities ( NYSE:AVB Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $1.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by ($0.93). The firm had revenue of $726.04 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $718.49 million. AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 29.61% and a return on equity of 7.16%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.66 EPS. Research analysts expect that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 11.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.70 per share. This represents a $6.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 30th. AvalonBay Communitiess payout ratio is presently 101.19%. Analysts Set New Price Targets AVB has been the subject of a number of research reports. BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. They issued an outperform rating and a $250.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $207.00 to $214.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Zelman & Associates upgraded AvalonBay Communities to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, September 5th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on AvalonBay Communities from $230.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on AvalonBay Communities from $222.00 to $244.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, August 26th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $223.12. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on AVB Insider Activity In related news, CIO Matthew H. Birenbaum sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.90, for a total transaction of $1,044,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive now owns 65,967 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,780,506.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, SVP Keri A. Shea sold 2,000 shares of AvalonBay Communities stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.17, for a total value of $414,340.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,383 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $908,026.11. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CIO Matthew H. Birenbaum sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $208.90, for a total value of $1,044,500.00. Following the sale, the executive now owns 65,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,780,506.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.42% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. AvalonBay Communities Company Profile (Free Report) As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 299 apartment communities containing 90,669 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 18 communities were under development. 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AvalonBay Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AvalonBay Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Profund Advisors LLC grew its position in Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Free Report) by 3.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 115,950 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,349 shares during the quarter. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in Nokia Oyj were worth $438,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of NOK. Pzena Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Nokia Oyj by 22.3% during the 2nd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 82,524,553 shares of the technology companys stock worth $311,943,000 after buying an additional 15,035,360 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in Nokia Oyj by 1.5% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 2,674,435 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $9,467,000 after purchasing an additional 40,264 shares during the last quarter. TSP Capital Management Group LLC raised its holdings in Nokia Oyj by 89.2% during the first quarter. TSP Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,179,467 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,715,000 after purchasing an additional 1,027,600 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Nokia Oyj by 98.3% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,749,327 shares of the technology companys stock worth $6,193,000 after buying an additional 867,297 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Susquehanna International Securities Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Nokia Oyj by 13.9% in the 1st quarter. Susquehanna International Securities Ltd. now owns 1,636,996 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $5,795,000 after buying an additional 199,590 shares in the last quarter. 5.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Nokia Oyj alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have issued reports on NOK. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Nokia Oyj from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Northland Securities restated an outperform rating and set a $6.50 price target (up previously from $6.00) on shares of Nokia Oyj in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Two investment analysts have 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, Nokia Oyj presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $4.54. Nokia Oyj Stock Performance Shares of NOK stock opened at $4.36 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.97 billion, a PE ratio of 27.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.27 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $4.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.83. Nokia Oyj has a 52-week low of $2.94 and a 52-week high of $4.52. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 18th. The technology company reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.05 by $0.01. Nokia Oyj had a net margin of 1.95% and a return on equity of 7.98%. The company had revenue of $4.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.12 billion. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Nokia Oyj will post 0.36 EPS for the current year. About Nokia Oyj (Free Report) Nokia Oyj provides mobile, fixed, and cloud network solutions worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. The company provides fixed networking solutions, such as fiber and copper-based access infrastructure, in-home Wi-Fi solutions, and cloud and virtualization services; IP networking solutions, including IP access, aggregation, and edge and core routing for residential, mobile, enterprise and cloud applications; optical networks solutions that provides optical transport networks for metro, regional, and long-haul applications, and subsea applications; and submarine networks for undersea cable transmission. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Nokia Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nokia Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MEXICO CITY, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday defended the recent designation of a nature reserve in the southeast Quintana Roo state, despite the presence of a U.S.-owned company on the land. "This is not an expropriation, it is a declaration of a protected natural area," the president told reporters at the National Palace in Mexico City. The declaration of a 53,227-hectare nature reserve in the municipalities of Solidaridad, Tulum and Cozumel was officially declared in Monday's Government Gazette. The company Calica, a subsidiary of the U.S. construction firm Vulcan Materials, was called out by the president for causing environmental destruction in the Mexican Caribbean under permits granted by prior administrations. According to the president, the decree aims to conserve the region by protecting its flora and fauna. "Imagine, they are taking gravel from paradise because it is one of the most beautiful areas in Mexico and the world, the Caribbean Sea, to build roads in the United States," he said. Lopez Obrador said the company could take its case to court, and Mexico is right in protecting its territory and natural resources. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Free Report) by 3,754.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,467 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,403 shares during the period. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLCs holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $248,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. purchased a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the first quarter worth about $26,000. Quest Partners LLC increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 2,750.0% in the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 285 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares during the period. Bank & Trust Co bought a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Family Firm Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. bought a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the first quarter worth approximately $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.42% of the companys stock. Get The Hartford Financial Services Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently commented on HIG shares. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Argus upgraded shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Barclays started coverage on The Hartford Financial Services Group in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set an equal weight rating and a $130.00 price target on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $120.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $105.00 to $111.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, June 13th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $113.22. The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of NYSE HIG opened at $116.64 on Thursday. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $68.82 and a 1 year high of $117.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $111.18 and a 200 day moving average of $104.21. The stock has a market cap of $34.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 0.93. The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The insurance provider reported $2.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.24 by $0.26. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 11.44% and a return on equity of 21.20%. The firm had revenue of $6.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.02 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.88 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 10.09 EPS for the current fiscal year. The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be paid a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.61%. The Hartford Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 21.36%. The Hartford Financial Services Group announced that its board has approved a share buyback plan on Thursday, July 25th that permits the company to buyback $3.30 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the insurance provider to reacquire up to 10.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Insider Activity In related news, EVP Michael R. Fisher sold 4,088 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.47, for a total value of $414,809.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 14,818 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,503,582.46. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. The Hartford Financial Services Group Profile (Free Report) The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Azul S.A. (NYSE:AZUL Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $2.76, but opened at $3.03. Azul shares last traded at $3.15, with a volume of 612,730 shares. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Azul from $10.00 to $4.50 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Azul from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Azul from $8.00 to $6.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Azul from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $6.70 to $4.00 in a research report on Monday. Finally, HSBC downgraded shares of Azul from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $2.70 target price on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $6.59. Get Azul alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Azul Azul Stock Performance The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $3.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.16. The firm has a market cap of $1.32 billion, a P/E ratio of -1.27 and a beta of 1.97. Azul (NYSE:AZUL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 12th. The company reported ($1.23) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.60) by ($0.63). The company had revenue of $800.65 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $791.43 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.81) EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Azul S.A. will post -1.39 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Azul A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AZUL. Quantbot Technologies LP increased its holdings in Azul by 310.0% in the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 31,813 shares of the companys stock worth $247,000 after acquiring an additional 24,054 shares during the last quarter. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Azul by 16.0% in the first quarter. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd. now owns 24,961 shares of the companys stock worth $194,000 after purchasing an additional 3,450 shares in the last quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Azul by 20.1% in the second quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 22,463 shares of the companys stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 3,764 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Azul during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $51,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in Azul by 2,466.5% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 598,670 shares of the companys stock worth $2,395,000 after buying an additional 575,344 shares during the period. 0.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Azul Company Profile (Get Free Report) Azul SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in Brazil and internationally. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated approximately 1,000 daily departures to 160 destinations through a network of 300 non-stop routes with an operating fleet of 183 aircraft and a passenger contractual fleet of 189 aircraft. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Azul Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Azul and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Decade Renewable Partners LP decreased its holdings in shares of PPL Co. (NYSE:PPL Free Report) by 27.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 194,115 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 74,084 shares during the quarter. PPL comprises 2.6% of Decade Renewable Partners LPs holdings, making the stock its 19th largest holding. Decade Renewable Partners LPs holdings in PPL were worth $5,367,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. purchased a new position in shares of PPL during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC purchased a new position in PPL during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Lynx Investment Advisory acquired a new stake in shares of PPL during the second quarter valued at about $38,000. Family Firm Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of PPL in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of PPL by 46.7% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,507 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.99% of the companys stock. Get PPL alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on PPL shares. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of PPL in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. They set a buy rating and a $38.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on PPL from $35.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on PPL from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on PPL from $31.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $33.75. PPL Stock Performance Shares of PPL opened at $32.74 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.11. PPL Co. has a 1 year low of $22.20 and a 1 year high of $33.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.15 billion, a PE ratio of 31.79, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.82. PPL (NYSE:PPL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 2nd. The utilities provider reported $0.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.33 by $0.05. PPL had a net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 9.26%. The company had revenue of $1.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.92 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.29 EPS. The firms revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that PPL Co. will post 1.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. PPL Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 10th will be paid a $0.2575 dividend. This represents a $1.03 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.15%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 10th. PPLs dividend payout ratio is presently 100.00%. PPL Company Profile (Free Report) PPL Corporation, an energy company, focuses on providing electricity and natural gas to approximately 3.6 million customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Kentucky Regulated, Pennsylvania Regulated, and Rhode Island Regulated. The company delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Rhode Island; delivers natural gas to customers in Kentucky and Rhode Island; and generates electricity from power plants in Kentucky. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PPL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for PPL Co. (NYSE:PPL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for PPL Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPL and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 8.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,150,213 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 85,619 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.50% of Travelers Companies worth $233,769,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of TRV. Y.D. More Investments Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies during the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Travelers Companies during the first quarter worth about $35,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Travelers Companies by 74.2% during the first quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 155 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Travelers Companies in the 1st quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Tributary Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.45% of the companys stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $225.00 price objective on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Bank of America upped their price objective on Travelers Companies from $202.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Citigroup lifted their target price on Travelers Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on Travelers Companies from $221.00 to $234.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $220.00 to $210.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Travelers Companies currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $227.05. Insider Activity In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $211.44, for a total transaction of $2,114,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 22,798 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,820,409.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.33% of the companys stock. Travelers Companies Stock Performance Shares of TRV stock opened at $236.31 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $157.33 and a one year high of $243.48. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $222.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $217.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.86 billion, a PE ratio of 17.56, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.62. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 19th. The insurance provider reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.23 by ($0.72). The firm had revenue of $11.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.35 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 15.90% and a net margin of 8.37%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.06 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.19 earnings per share for the current year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 10th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 10th. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.78%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.20%. About Travelers Companies (Free Report) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. APG Asset Management US Inc. cut its holdings in Terreno Realty Co. (NYSE:TRNO Free Report) by 23.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 495,205 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 150,000 shares during the quarter. APG Asset Management US Inc.s holdings in Terreno Realty were worth $29,430,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Terreno Realty in the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Whittier Trust Co. grew its holdings in shares of Terreno Realty by 123.4% during the first quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 610 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Terreno Realty during the second quarter worth about $48,000. EntryPoint Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Terreno Realty by 80.3% in the 1st quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 941 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 419 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC lifted its holdings in Terreno Realty by 58.2% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,191 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 438 shares during the period. Get Terreno Realty alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Terreno Realty In other news, EVP John Tull Meyer sold 6,145 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.64, for a total value of $421,792.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 110,988 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,618,216.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, President Michael A. Coke sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.53, for a total transaction of $513,975.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 402,164 shares in the company, valued at $27,560,298.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP John Tull Meyer sold 6,145 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.64, for a total value of $421,792.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 110,988 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,618,216.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 18,643 shares of company stock valued at $1,277,581 in the last quarter. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Terreno Realty Stock Performance Shares of TRNO stock opened at $67.56 on Thursday. The firms 50 day moving average is $68.31 and its 200 day moving average is $62.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.18, a PEG ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 0.90. Terreno Realty Co. has a 12 month low of $50.42 and a 12 month high of $71.63. The company has a current ratio of 2.34, a quick ratio of 2.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Terreno Realty (NYSE:TRNO Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.54 by ($0.17). Terreno Realty had a return on equity of 5.08% and a net margin of 45.69%. The company had revenue of $94.25 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $89.07 million. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Terreno Realty Co. will post 2.42 earnings per share for the current year. Terreno Realty Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be paid a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 30th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.90%. This is an increase from Terreno Realtys previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Terreno Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 93.75%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have recently issued reports on TRNO. Mizuho reaffirmed an underperform rating and set a $62.00 target price on shares of Terreno Realty in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of Terreno Realty in a report on Tuesday, June 4th. They set an outperform rating and a $68.00 price objective for the company. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Terreno Realty to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Terreno Realty from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $71.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 28th. Finally, JMP Securities lifted their price target on shares of Terreno Realty from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Terreno Realty currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $69.56. Read Our Latest Stock Report on TRNO Terreno Realty Profile (Free Report) Terreno Realty Corporation (Terreno, and together with its subsidiaries, the Company) acquires, owns and operates industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets: Los Angeles, Northern New Jersey/New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Miami, and Washington, DC All square feet, acres, occupancy and number of properties disclosed in these notes to the consolidated financial statements are unaudited. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRNO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Terreno Realty Co. (NYSE:TRNO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Terreno Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Terreno Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. APG Asset Management US Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report) by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,554,515 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 83,000 shares during the period. Extra Space Storage makes up about 2.2% of APG Asset Management US Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest holding. APG Asset Management US Inc. owned 1.21% of Extra Space Storage worth $388,082,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its stake in Extra Space Storage by 382.2% during the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 27,630 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,294,000 after purchasing an additional 21,900 shares during the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp boosted its stake in Extra Space Storage by 60.6% during the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 40,520 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,297,000 after purchasing an additional 15,295 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,602,000. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in Extra Space Storage by 15.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 232,018 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $37,072,000 after purchasing an additional 31,331 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 17.5% during the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 29,372 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,565,000 after buying an additional 4,378 shares during the period. 99.11% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Extra Space Storage Stock Performance Extra Space Storage stock opened at $181.34 on Thursday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $171.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $155.51. The company has a market cap of $38.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.20 and a quick ratio of 0.20. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $101.19 and a fifty-two week high of $184.87. Extra Space Storage Announces Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 16th will be issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio is currently 144.32%. A number of equities analysts recently commented on EXR shares. Citigroup decreased their target price on Extra Space Storage from $168.00 to $160.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, June 7th. Bank of America lowered Extra Space Storage from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and cut their price objective for the company from $172.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Raymond James lifted their price target on Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada started coverage on Extra Space Storage in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. They set a sector perform rating and a $180.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on Extra Space Storage from $152.00 to $167.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $170.93. Get Our Latest Stock Report on EXR Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP William N. Springer sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.33, for a total transaction of $350,660.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 11,919 shares in the company, valued at $2,089,758.27. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP William N. Springer sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.33, for a total transaction of $350,660.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 11,919 shares in the company, valued at $2,089,758.27. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Joseph D. Margolis sold 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.58, for a total transaction of $1,144,350.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 31,690 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,835,260.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 18,970 shares of company stock worth $3,172,757. 1.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Extra Space Storage (Free Report) Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,714 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.6 million units and approximately 283.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EXR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A staff member arranges granite samples at a lab of a construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine in Anding County, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. An intelligent mine management system has been built for the construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine, enabling full-process digital production. Operators can monitor various real-time indicator data of the mine and remotely operate automated equipment in the central control room. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) Staff members operate equipment remotely at the central control room of a construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine in Anding County, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. An intelligent mine management system has been built for the construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine, enabling full-process digital production. Operators can monitor various real-time indicator data of the mine and remotely operate automated equipment in the central control room. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine in Anding County, south China's Hainan Province. An intelligent mine management system has been built for the construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine, enabling full-process digital production. Operators can monitor various real-time indicator data of the mine and remotely operate automated equipment in the central control room. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine in Anding County, south China's Hainan Province. An intelligent mine management system has been built for the construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine, enabling full-process digital production. Operators can monitor various real-time indicator data of the mine and remotely operate automated equipment in the central control room. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) Staff members operate equipment remotely at the central control room of a construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine in Anding County, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. An intelligent mine management system has been built for the construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine, enabling full-process digital production. Operators can monitor various real-time indicator data of the mine and remotely operate automated equipment in the central control room. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) A fully-loaded truck leaves a construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine in Anding County, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. An intelligent mine management system has been built for the construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine, enabling full-process digital production. Operators can monitor various real-time indicator data of the mine and remotely operate automated equipment in the central control room. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) A driver checks truck loading progress on a smart phone at a construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine in Anding County, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. An intelligent mine management system has been built for the construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine, enabling full-process digital production. Operators can monitor various real-time indicator data of the mine and remotely operate automated equipment in the central control room. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) A staff member makes a pressure test of a granite sample at a construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine in Anding County, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 25, 2024. An intelligent mine management system has been built for the construction-purpose granite aggregate project in Jiudingling Mine, enabling full-process digital production. Operators can monitor various real-time indicator data of the mine and remotely operate automated equipment in the central control room. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's commerce ministry on Thursday announced an anti-discrimination investigation into Canada's restrictive measures targeting certain imports from China. Former Irish premier Leo Varadkar has proposed a two-stage referendum process for a potential future vote on the reunification of Ireland. Mr Varadkar suggested an initial vote where people on both sides of the border would decide whether they agree in principle with constitutional change, and then a final confirmatory ballot once the structures and constitution of the new political entity were designed and presented to the public. Under the terms of Good Friday peace agreement of 1998, the UK Government is obliged to call a referendum in Northern Ireland if there is evidence of a shift in public opinion in favour of unity. In that event, there would be a simultaneous vote in the Republic of Ireland. The peace accord does not currently envisage a two-stage process as suggested by former Fine Gael leader Mr Varadkar. The ex-taoiseach, who stepped down earlier this year, outlined that idea and a series of other proposals as he addressed schoolchildren at an event in Londonderry hosted as part of the SDLPs New Ireland Commission initiative. Mr Varadkar also urged all parties contesting the forthcoming general election in the Republic of Ireland to make unification an objective rather than just an aspiration. The TD, who is not seeking re-election, said he would like to see all parties dedicate a section of their manifestos to the issue. He said the next Irish government should boost funding in the states existing Shared Island initiative and also set up its own commission to examine reunification. He also insisted that a new Ireland would have to be co-designed along with those of a British identity. Mr Varadkar suggested the Irish parliament could sit at Stormont in Belfast for parts of the year in the event of unification. He also proposed that the unified state could have a president and vice-president, one of whom would be from the unionist/British tradition. The former premier said a unified Ireland would also need to strike international defence agreements and partnerships in order to protect its seas and airspace. In regard to his proposed two-stage referendum, Mr Varadkar acknowledged that it could prove controversial. One idea that Ive suggested, and it might be a terrible idea, but I think its worth thinking about is a two-stage process, one where people vote on the idea in principle, then we have a convention that works out the details and the new constitution, and people get to do a confirmatory vote, he said. A lot of people think thats a bad idea, because they want the clear question first, but its not one that I think should be thrown out. Its something I think should be thought about. And Im conscious that the new prime minister, Keir Starmer, actually advocated this approach in relation to Brexit, called for a second vote on the deal. So its not an entirely crazy idea, and one thats been suggested before. While schools from across Derry were invited to Thursdays event at the citys Playhouse, only schools from the Catholic education sector attended. Mr Varadkar acknowledged that many unionists and loyalists do not wish to engage in discussions about Irish unification. He said he would take a similar stance if asked to consider the Republic of Ireland re-joining the UK. But he said a yes vote in the initial in principle ballot might persuade sceptics to get involved in the process of designing the new state. There are people who are very strong and avowed unionists who will never want to have this conversation, just as I wouldnt want to engage in a conversation about the Republic of Ireland joining the United Kingdom, I wouldnt be interested in that, so that is a real difficulty for us, he said. But I do think there are people who come from a Protestant background, or come from a Protestant/unionist/loyalist background who dont necessarily vote for the unionist parties anymore, who might be interested in engaging. They might vote Alliance, they might vote SDLP or Green, or they might not vote at all. So I do think there are people, and Ive met them, who are interested in having this conversation, and theyre coming from a background that traditionally would be Protestant or unionist, but it is one of the ideas why I think there is some merit in considering a two-stage referendum, because if we had the first stage and people north and south voted for unification in principle, I think you might then get a larger number who would accept the democratic outcome, and then might be willing to engage in the co-design of what that new Ireland looks like. Mr Varadkar said the concept of accommodating people from a British identity in a new Ireland did not go far enough. Its really important that we dont just try to accommodate them in a new Ireland, but that we try and design the new Ireland with them, so thats their home too, he said. Somebody said to me once that they really dont like the word accommodation, because accommodation, its like a hotel, or its a B&B, its somewhere where you get to stay, but its not really your home. And what we have to do to make sure a united Ireland works is to make sure that we co-design this, at least with those who are willing to talk to us about it, and we make accommodations or make changes and concessions that I think would work. Mr Varadkar said while he felt that unity would be achieved in the coming decades, he cautioned it was by no means certain. He said that was why preparation was vital, as he warned that a no vote in any referenda would knock the issue off the agenda for a long time. The ex-Fine Gael leader said unification was becoming a more attractive prospect for a variety of factors. He said the opportunity of Northern Ireland re-joining the EU through unification was one pull factor. Mr Varadkar also said the economy, health service, childcare support and welfare system were all in a better state in the Republic of Ireland than in Northern Ireland. So I think were in a very different place than we were 100 years ago, or 50 years ago, or even 20 years ago, he said. The case for unification and the arguments for unification are a lot stronger than they were then, because of the things that have changed. MOSCOW, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia will continue cooperation with the United Nations (UN) to ensure access to Russian food products on global markets, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Wednesday. Speaking to RIA Novosti, a Russian news agency, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2024 in New York, Vershinin reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to global food security, particularly for developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. As a key player in ensuring global food security, Russia will continue its dialogue with the UN on this issue, said Vershinin. However, he noted that the collaboration between Russia and the UN over the past two years has not yielded significant results. "Regrettably, we have to acknowledge that despite two years of joint efforts, no meaningful progress has been achieved," he said. The high-level week gathers hundreds of heads of state and foreign ministers. Throughout the five-day session, delegates from around the world discuss a range of global issues, including international security, conflict prevention, climate change, and socio-economic challenges. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- As some nations are increasingly choosing unilateralism and militarization over dialogue and diplomacy, the "them versus us" mentality has escalated tensions and eroded trust in the global multilateral system, said Kenya President William Ruto on Thursday at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). "These challenges are complex, interconnected, and escalating at an alarming pace," said the president. From Gaza to Darfur, Ukraine to Yemen, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to Sudan, the Sahel region, and Haiti, conflicts are leaving a devastating trail of destruction, according to Ruto. "Climate change is increasingly fueling instability and conflict around the world," he added. Additionally, the president said cybersecurity breaches and sophisticated cyberattacks on critical infrastructure threaten national security and global stability. "We must rise to the occasion, summon the political will, and strengthen our diplomatic efforts to address security threats through comprehensive, coordinated and context-specific solutions," he said. Ruto made these remarks at the General Debate of the 79th UNGA, which began on Wednesday. BEIRUT, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed a temporary ceasefire proposal in Lebanon unveiled during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) emergency meeting, and has urged compelling Israel to restore regional security, said a statement released Thursday by the Lebanese Council of Ministers. "The key to its (the proposal's) implementation is through Israel's commitment to enforcing international resolutions," Mikati said at the UNSC emergency meeting on Lebanon Wednesday, the second UNSC meeting on the country's deteriorating situation in less than a week. "My presence here aims to come out of this session with a serious solution based on the combined efforts of all members of the Security Council to pressure Israel to immediately cease fire on all fronts and restore security and stability to our region," Mikati said. Mikati reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to UN Resolution 1701 issued in 2006, calling on the UNSC to work seriously and immediately to ensure Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories and to stop its daily violations. He also called for an immediate halt to "Israeli aggression on Gaza," stating that its repercussions directly affect Lebanon and the region, warning that the situation could escalate throughout the Middle East if not addressed quickly. "Lebanon is witnessing today an unprecedented escalation, with the enemy resorting to new means, especially electronic ones, to harm people," he said, refuting Israel's claim that its attacks targeted only Hezbollah members and militants. During the UNSC emergency meeting on Wednesday, France proposed a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States "to allow for negotiations." On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied in a statement that the country has agreed to a ceasefire with Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Lebanese political parties. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on social media platform X that Israel would not consider a truce. On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. It resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Wednesday that Israel's bombardment had displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in. NAIROBI, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is reintroducing abandoned broad bean farming in a bid to boost food and nutritional security for communities and their livestock, senior officials said Thursday. Benson Muturi, a fodder crops researcher and livestock nutritionist at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), said the government has partnered with private researchers to sell the seedlings to farmers for propagation. The composite seeds are sold at KALRO centers, according to Muturi, adding that researchers have been disseminating information on broad bean growing to farmers while offering guidance on its proper husbandry for maximum yield. "We sensitize farmers on the bean's benefits during Agricultural Society of Kenya shows alongside farmers' field days and through visits to farmers during their Self Help Groups and cooperative society meetings all over Kenya," Muturi told Xinhua in an interview. Social media platforms are among other platforms being used to reach out to growers, especially the young farmers, Muturi said. The exotic leguminous plant, whose botanical name is Vicia faba, had been introduced by European settlers before the 1960s but was later abandoned by Kenyan farmers despite its high nutritional value. According to Muturi, the broad beans have undergone field trials and have been confirmed to do well across different altitudes in the country, with researchers saying they have performed well in almost all regions in the country. The leguminous plant, a good source of fiber and plant proteins, is planted with one seed per hole and gets to the flowering stage in three months, the best stage for fodder harvesting. It can give a herbage yield of six metric tons per hectare. The protein-rich herbage is mixed with energy crops like maize silage and Napier grass and fed to dairy cows or dairy goats to boost milk production. While the herbage has a crude protein of between 24 percent to 26 percent, the seeds' is even higher, standing at 32 percent to 36 percent, making it ideal for making animal feeds. Due to its richness in protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc, the plant also improves milk quality and enhances animals' fertility and heart signs as well as conception, according to the nutritionist. Magnesium and zinc boost immunity and memory in humans. Broad beans regenerate after harvesting and so can be harvested for fodder severally per year. The plant is for dual purpose and can also be consumed by human beings, Muturi said, noting that pods can be harvested while green in early stages and eaten raw as salads. While dry, the beans can be milled and mixed with wheat flour at a ratio of 1:3 to make wheat products like cakes and buns. It can also be mixed in the same ration with maize flour to increase protein levels in the food. On environmental matters, the broad bean plant is essential in nitrogen-fixing in the soil, just like other leguminous plants. The plant, however, has its downsides as it is prone to attacks by aphids, which can easily be controlled by insecticide spraying. BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Li Xiangang, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress, has been arrested on suspicion of bribery and embezzlement, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said in a statement on Thursday. The case was handed over to prosecutors for examination and prosecution following the conclusion of an investigation by the National Commission of Supervision, the SPP said. Li is also a former member of the leading Party members group of the Standing Committee of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress. The investigation continues. GUANGZHOU, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A low-altitude air route connecting Guangzhou, the capital city of south China's Guangdong Province, to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), was launched on Thursday. On Thursday morning, a helicopter departed from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and arrived at Hong Kong International Airport in just 40 minutes, marking a significant advance in the low-altitude economy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Operated by China Southern Airlines General Aviation Co., Ltd., the route's inaugural flight utilized a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, which can accommodate 19 passengers and two crew members. Li Erbao, chairman of China Southern Airlines General Aviation, said the route will offer charter flights during its trial phase, allowing customers to book custom travel. Li added that the company plans to introduce regular short-haul flights with two departure and arrival points in Hong Kong, enhancing travel options further for passengers. People are seen in a building after an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. In an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs earlier Thursday, at least two people were killed and 15 others injured when a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh was hit, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed, and 15 others injured on Thursday in an Israeli airstrike that hit a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh, Beirut's southern suburbs, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. Footage from Lebanese TV channel al-Jadeed showed rescue teams and ambulances rushing to the densely populated area to transport casualties to the hospital and remove victims from beneath the rubble. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Thursday it launched three missiles in "an intelligence-guided attack" on Mohammed Hussein Sarour, commander of Hezbollah's air unit, in Beirut, and claimed that he was killed in the attack. According to the military, Sarour was in charge of multiple drone and missile attacks against Israel. So far Hezbollah has not commented on the attack, nor confirmed Sarour's death. Also on Thursday, the IDF said its 7th Armored Brigade has concluded a military drill a few km away from the Lebanese border, simulating a ground operation in Lebanon. The drill trained the troops in "maneuvering and combat in thicketed, mountainous terrain," the IDF said in a statement, adding that the troops "enhanced their operational and logistical readiness for various combat scenarios in enemy territory on the northern front." The drill came a day after France proposed at a United Nations Security Council emergency meeting a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States "to allow for negotiations." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed the proposal. However, Israel denied earlier on Thursday that it had agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah or Lebanese political parties. On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. It resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon. Figures released by the Israeli military showed that it has attacked more than 2,000 locations in Lebanon since Monday, whereas Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Wednesday that Israel's bombardment had displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in. Lebanese soldiers are seen at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. In an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs earlier Thursday, at least two people were killed and 15 others injured when a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh was hit, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. In an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs earlier Thursday, at least two people were killed and 15 others injured when a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh was hit, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) A man is seen in a building after an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. In an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs earlier Thursday, at least two people were killed and 15 others injured when a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh was hit, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. In an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs earlier Thursday, at least two people were killed and 15 others injured when a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh was hit, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) TOKYO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan launched an H2A rocket carrying an information-gathering satellite on Thursday after two postponements due to bad weather. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said the rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima at 02:24 p.m. local time, and the satellite was placed into its planned orbit. The satellite is tasked to gather information concerning national security and assess damage during disasters. The rocket carrying the Japanese government's eighth information-gathering radar satellite was initially planned to depart earlier this month but was postponed two times due to bad weather. The operation of the H2A is expected to end in fiscal 2024 through next March with the launch of rocket No. 50. The next-generation H3 rocket is then set to replace it. GAZA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least seven Palestinians were killed and 10 others wounded on Thursday in an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said. Israeli aircraft bombed the al-Faluja school west of the Jabalia refugee camp with at least one missile, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua. Medical sources said all the injured people have been taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Thursday that the Israeli Air Force conducted a precise strike on militants operating in a command and control center inside a compound that previously served as the al-Faluja school in northern Gaza. Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 41,534, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. Lawsuits targeting politicos are always an uphill battle . . . However, this one is important because it might allow a bit more message board "freedom" and misinformation amid politically charged debate. Here's the word . . . A federal judge in the district of Kansas accepted a motion to dismiss filed by attorneys representing Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett. The motion claimed the court lacked personal jurisdiction to hear the case. Loudermill also filed a lawsuit against three Missouri senators who also wrongly identified him. The lawsuit named Missouri Sens. Rick Brattin, Denny Hoskins and Nick Schroer, all Republicans. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey since announced his office would represent the three senators. At the same time, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson condemned the behavior of the Brattin, Hoskins and Schroer. He also defended Loudermill. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Our tradition and a hope that we'll have more for the next update . . . For late night and early morning readers we share even more of our reading by way of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Three Now Magic Number Suburban Signs Of Life New fertility clinic opens in Merriam as infertility providers expect increase in demand for services Dr. Dan Gehlbach at Advent Health in Shawnee Mission says infertility services are expected to be more utilized and in demand. Return Trip To Solider Veteran in Virginia reunites with hat lost in Kansas City area You may remember last month, FOX4 reported about a hat that was found in an Independence parking lot by a young man getting off work. Epic Designation In The Dotte Kansas City, Kansas Mexican restaurant ranked one of best in the US Kansas City, Kansas, restaurant called GG's Birria Barbacoa Cafe made Yelp's 'Top 25 Mexican Food Spots in the US' list. Advert But Still Plenty Amazing The California Closets Experience - IN Kansas City Magazine Sponsored Content Before Drew Le Lieu was a customer liaison and designer-in-training at California Closets Kansas City, he just wanted a dream closet of his own. "My husband and I were building a home, and, of course, I always wanted a dream closet for my dream home," says Le Lieu. Diva Shares Hotness Despite Hard Luck Past Jessica Simpson flashes her thigh in racy dress for 'rockabilly' collection as she touches on poor childhood where she 'didn't have much of anything' Jessica Simpson has a hot new look for the cool months of fall. The 44-year-old siren was seen in an all denim outfit with red platform heels. And she also had on spiky gold boots. Prez Contemplates Timeline Biden insists he would have beaten "loser" Trump The president said he didn't "fully" believe "there was this overwhelming reluctance of my running again." MAGA Shares La Migra Plan Trump warns he'll expel migrants under key Biden immigration programs Former President Donald Trump is warning that he would kick out hundreds of thousands of people who entered the country under two key Biden administration programs if he's reelected. Veep Disputed Amid Campaign Fact check: Harris makes false claim about Trump's record on manufacturing jobs | CNN Politics Vice President Kamala Harris made a false claim about the jobs record of her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, in an interview on MSNBC on Wednesday evening. Big Trouble In Big Apple Eric Adams, New York City mayor, indicted in federal probe Adams, 64, is the first mayor in city history to be criminally charged while in office. World Against Holy Land War France and US push for 21-day Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire in Lebanon as UN chief warns 'hell is breaking loose' Fresh initiative comes amid tensions between US and Europe on how to press Israel to end offensive on Hezbollah Vlad Talks Nuke Reaction Putin issues nuclear warning to the West over strikes on Russia from Ukraine Putin said that proposals had been made to change Russia's nuclear doctrine. Signs Of Intelligent Life Or Not New photo shows UFO hovering over Canada before it was shot down by US fighter jet A newly released image showing the UFO that was shot down by a US fighter jet over Canada in 2023 has added more questions and uncertainty to the object floating over the Yukon. Dead-Tree Doggie Style Who is the cutest dog in the Kansas City area? Help us decide in Round 2 of voting See adorable dog photos and help choose Kansas City's best pet among golden doodles, Corgis, mutts and more. Poll runs until September 29. Round World Weather Report FIRST WARN FORECAST: Stunning fall weather before Hurricane Helene impacts the metro Stunning fall weather, and updates on how Hurricane Helene could impact us locally. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Right now we pay tribute to diva hottie Dua as her body of work inspires our glimpse at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Comeback Kick-Off?!? Kareem Hunt speaks days ahead of Chiefs' re-debut Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt is expected to suit up on Sunday, six years after his last appearance. The Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in the late game. Golden Ghetto Hack Exposed An Overland Park pharmacist quit the drug insurance game. He says it could save you money The prescription insurance industry - and particularly PBMs, the powerful middlemen at its heart - get blamed for pharmacies closing down and patients often paying too much for medicine. Regulators are looking at what to do about it. Local Good Deeds Go National Veterans Community Project expands locally and nationally, offers more permanent housing for vets The Veterans Community Project is expanding its programs locally and nationally in an effort to offer more permanent housing for veterans. End Game For Fancy Enclave Brookside's Flying horse is calling it quits East Brookside's Flying Horse Taproom, specializing in craft beer, is closing after more than six years. The last day is Oct. 6. Home Team Merch Celebrated Olathe Royals fan has close to 1,000 bobbleheads; man has no plans to stop collecting Dave Felshaw got his first Kansas City Royals bobblehead in 2004 when he took his family to a game. It was Mr. Royal that started it all for Felshaw. Diva Offers Sneak Peek Amid Concert Tour Dua Lipa In Skimpy Bikini Shows A 'Good Time' At Pool Party Dua Lipa is flaunting her impossibly toned bikini body as she shows off her "good time" at a pool party in the sun. Prez Slams MAGA Biden says Trump has no 'redeeming value,' pretends to squash him like a bug amid Iranian assassination threat President Biden had some fun at the expense of former President Trump by pretending to squash him like a bug during Wednesday's appearance on "The View." More High Praise For Veep MSNBC panel reacts to Kamala Harris exclusive interview: 'Keeps getting better' Chris Hayes, Michelle Goldberg, Tim O'Brien, and Michael Steele discuss Stephanie Ruhle's MSNBC interview with Kamala Harris. ECONOMY STUPID!!! In dueling speeches, Harris is to make her capitalist pitch while Trump pushes deeper into populism Vice President Kamala Harris is playing up her street cred as a capitalist. Republican Donald Trump is leaning into his raw populism. Today's Social Media Outrage CBC calls for GOP lawmaker to be censured for post attacking Haitians as 'thugs' The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on Wednesday called for Rep. Clay Higgins to be censured for a since-deleted social media post in which the Louisiana Republican criticized Haitian migrants. CBC Chair Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and other Democrats took to the House floor to call for a censure in an extensive and at times heated back-and-forth... Holy Land Ready For War Redux Israel "fully prepared for maneuvers" against Hezbollah in Lebanon as deaths from airstrikes top 600 The Israeli commander in charge of operations against Hezbollah says his troops "must be fully prepared for maneuvers and action." MAGA Against European Leader Trump lashes out at Zelenskyy after Ukraine's leader questioned his claim he could end war Trump painted a picture of an "obliterated" Ukraine as its leader is in the U.S. to present what he calls his "victory plan" to Biden, Trump and Harris. Vlad Nuke Threat Warning Zelensky warns U.N. that Russia is preparing to attack nuclear plants The Ukrainian president addressed world leaders ahead of a pivotal White House meeting, where is he expected to outline a "victory plan" for President Joe Biden. Slick Excuse Offered?!? Diddy's Lawyer Explains Baby Oil Volume Connected to 'Freak Offs' People are buzzing about the massive quantity of baby oil found when the feds raided Diddy's homes in Beverly Hills and Miami, and his lawyer is offering up an explanation. Old-School Well-Remembered Philomene Bennett, a founding mother of Kansas City's contemporary art scene, dies at 89 The Kansas City artist co-founded the Kansas City Artists Coalition in the mid-1970s and was known for her known for her large-scale colorful, abstract paintings and prints. She died on Wednesday. Rock Chalk Swamp Comeback Forty Alligator Snapping Turtles Reintroduced to Kansas After about three decades without one being captured in the state, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks released alligator snapping turtles to Kansas. Spirit Of Aloha In Kansas City Lei Away staycation: Festival celebrates shared language of Aloha, tiki culture and creativity in KC What began as a celebration of tiki vibes and tropical aesthetics has danced into an all-out luau that showcases authentic Polynesian traditions, culture and makers alongside local businesses and island enthusiasts, said Johnny Dawbarn. Hip-Hop Blaze Of Glory Rap stars host pot-friendly comedy show in KC, as attitudes toward marijuana shift | Opinion Grammy-award winning rap group behind Smokes and Jokes, which aims to bring cannabis users together with live comedy. The show made its first appearance in Kansas City. From Toriano Porter: Going Deutsch In Cowtown Grunauer: Austrian-German Cooking in an Upscale Setting My mother recently celebrated her 90th birthday, so my siblings and I decided to treat her to a birthday dinner at the Grunauer, a German-Austrian restaurant in the Freight House building. The Grunauer has been on my "to try" restaurant list for some time. Local Wildlife Sneak Peek GloWild Legends & Lore Festival transforms the Kansas City Zoo Third annual GloWild Lantern Festival at the Kansas City Zoo, featuring handcrafted lanterns and interactive displays. Autumn Weather Ahead Pleasant fall conditions before rain returns Friday Kansas City has mostly clear skies that will prevail for the next few days Rod Wave - Passport Junkie is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Context . . . Today's move is actually a state level response to a national non-endorsement . . . And overall, Labor leadership moving away from a strict alliance with the Democratic Party . . . "The most notable shift in union support for Republicans came last week when the International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse a candidate in the presidential election, marking the first non-endorsement by the union since 1996. The last time the Teamsters supported a Republican candidate for president was 1988, but like other unions, the Teamsters had widely been seen as a shoo-in endorsement for Democrats in recent decades. Accordingly . . . The response has been state level groups offering their support . . . Here's our 2nd favorite prog blog dutifully carrying the message . . . The Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska Conference of Teamsters endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz days after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse a presidential candidate in the November election. The conference cited Harris Senate voting record, Walz commitment to working families and the middle class and the pairs strong support of the labor movement as reasons to join hundreds of thousands of other union members in endorsing their campaign. The conference is made up of more than 15 locals and two joint councils one based in St. Louis and another in Kansas City, Missouri that voted along with the conferences executive board in favor of endorsing the Democratic ticket. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Today we notice more advocacy from progressive local media despite public outcry in the aftermath of a tragic shooting that left a beloved local chef dead following a confrontation with suspected teen crooks. The basics of the case . . . Two minors were arrested not long after the incident in Midtown Kansas City, Missouri. A 15-year-old boy is charged with second-degree murder, attempted stealing of a motor vehicle, and armed criminal action. A second teen is also charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Both teens have certification hearings in December. And now, tragically, MSM defense is already starting to emerge with help from KCUR . . . SUSPECT'S Father also blamed the juvenile criminal justice system, which he said failed to give the boy the right discipline after his run-ins with the law and failed to treat his mental illness. They overlook the youth, he said. They dont think mental health is significant. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Father of Kansas City teen charged with killing chef says the juvenile system 'overlooked' his son Two teens charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Shaun Brady will face December hearings on whether they will face trials as adults. A Jackson County Family Court judge Wednesday ordered both boys to stay in lock-up. Related and much better coverage . . . Kansas City teenagers may be tried as adults for Shaun Brady's homicide Two Kansas City teenagers charged in connection with the shooting death of chef Shaun Brady may be tried as adults. Judge to decide if 2 minors charged in Shaun Brady's death will be tried as adults in December A judge will decide whether two minors charged in the shooting death of Shaun Brady will be charged as adults in December. Minors remain in custody in Shaun Brady murder case Two teens charged with murder in killing of popular restaurant owner, Irish chef Shaun Brady will remain in custody as courts decide whether to charge them as adults. Developing . . . A working theory amongst Democratic Party leaders and newspaper scribes is that more "people of color" will bring about a progressive renaissance in the Sunflower State. In reality . . . Most of the recent wins have come by way of the voting power and timely donations of upwardly mobile white ladies. Nevertheless . . . Here's more prog blog insight . . . "Continued population growth in Lawrence and emergence of young immigrant-family voters in portions of southwest Kansas could within eight years or so make the 1st District competitive for a Democrat." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Kansas gerrymandering may eventually imperil Republicans' firm grip on 1st District * Kansas Reflector A Kansas political scientist and a D.C. reporter examine the state's four congressional districts, and factors at play in the November 2024 campaigns. Related . . . Several items have been recalled by Health Canada over the past week due to a number of health and safety concerns. A number of the products were sold through Amazon. "We closely monitor public recall alert websites and receive notifications from vendors and sellers," Amazon says on its product recall page. "Upon discovering a product recall, we immediately halt the affected product offerings and promptly inform both the customers and sellers involved about the recall." Anker batteries This recall involves Anker 334 MagGo Battery (PowerCore 10K), Model: A1642 powerbanks, which have been sold through Best Buy, as well as Amazon. "Certain units of the recalled powerbank may overheat due to a manufacturing defect of the lithium-ion battery, posing a potential fire hazard," the recall notice states. There have been no reports of incidents in Canada as of Sept. 17, Health Canada says. For more information, consumers can contact Anker Innovations Limited by email at support@anker.com or visit the company website. Alltrade Kilimanjaro e-bike racks Alltrade Kilimanjaro e-bike rack hitch mounted platform carriers have been recalled due to concerns of the racks failing at the hitch post, vertical support, or carrying platforms. These products were sold through Costco. "Additionally, the E-Bike Rack failure can allow a bicycle to detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Stress at critical connection points within the E-Bike Rack may cause cracks to form," says the recall notice. "These cracks may worsen due to cyclic fatigue, where repeated loading and unloading progressively weaken the material. Over time, this weakening may lead to structural failures, compromising the integrity of the rack and increasing the risk of detachment during transport." There have been 16 reports of incidents, but no injuries reported as of Sept. 19. The products can be returned to a Costco warehouse for a full refund. The company can also be contacted for support. Lucid beds Lucid upholstered square tufted platform beds have been recalled due to injury concerns. The beds were sold through Amazon. The recalled beds can break, sag or collapse during use, posing fall and injury hazards to consumers," states the recall notice. "As of Sept. 17, 2024, the company has received 11 reports of bed failures in Canada, and no reports of injury. In the United States, the company has received 246 reports of the beds breaking, sagging or collapsing during use, with 18 reports of injury including contusions and bruises." Consumers can contact Lucid for a free replacement product. Consumers must send a photo of the bed, as well as a photo of the support rails on the underside of the bed or a photo of the law label to recall@lucidmattress.com to receive their replacement product. Caframo cabinet heaters Caframo cabinet heaters have been recalled due to a possible detached wire. These products were sold through Amazon. "The recalled heaters may have a loose wire connecting to the heater which poses an electrical shock hazard to consumers," Health Canada says. There have been no reports of incidents or injuries in Canada as of Sept. 10. Consumers can visit the company's website for more information on the recall. Bocetex two-piece girls' toddler shorts Bocetex shorts sold through Giant Tiger have been recalled due to the buttons failing lead testing and posing a potential hazard. The products can be returned to a Giant Tiger location for a full refund. The notice says the recall will be displayed in Giant Tiger stores until Oct. 20. Tummy Time Galleries Wee Gallery's Tummy Time Galleries have been recalled due to an abundance of phthalates. "The recalled product contains phthalates (DEHP) above the allowable limits," Health Canada says. "Studies suggest that certain phthalates, including DEHP, may cause reproductive and developmental abnormalities in young children when soft vinyl products containing phthalates are sucked or chewed for extended periods." There have been no reports of injuries or incidents in Canada or the United States as of Sept. 11. Consumers can contact the company by telephone at 1-800-282-5149 or by email at tummytimerecall@weegallery.com for more information on the recall. They are asked to provide the company with photographic evidence of the product destroyed by cutting it in half to register for a refund. Health Canada says consumers of these or any other products, can report any health or safety incidents related to the use of products by filling out the consumer product incident report form. "This is the reality now. We are trying to live with the situation, but we are afraid to give up and flee again," Mahmoud Satti, a teacher who returned to Omdurman after a year-long displacement journey in central Sudan, told Xinhua. KHARTOUM, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Karari locality of Omdurman city, north of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, has regained some vibrancy after a fierce battle in March that expelled the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the old neighborhoods, expanding the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to the south. Overcrowded markets and therapeutic activities such as masquerade parties and puppet theaters -- the routines of life -- have started to reemerge in the locality, which hosts more than 160 shelter centers packed with displaced Sudanese. However, the returnees have never felt rest assured amid the hustle-bustle, as they are still subjected to random artillery shelling from time to time. On Monday, at least 15 people were killed and 61 others injured in an artillery attack by the RSF on the crowded Sabreen civilian market in Karari. The death toll could be higher as the local rescue team was unable to reach some victims. "This is the reality now. We are trying to live with the situation, but we are afraid to give up and flee again," said Mahmoud Satti, a teacher who returned to Omdurman after a year-long displacement journey in central Sudan. "What happened in Sabreen market was very tragic. People here are dying because of random shelling," Satti told Xinhua. He urged government authorities to protect the returnees, address the security gap, and provide necessary services to Omdurman's residents. "There are no food shops amid a great shortage of goods, while prices for what is available are very high," said Saadan Omer, a citizen from Omdurman. Most people live on aid from their relatives abroad, and Takias -- sanctuaries for the impoverished and needy set up by Sudanese activists and volunteers -- remain as the primary source of food supply for Omdurman's residents, he said. "There is a significant spread of diseases amid a great shortage in medicines, while there are no nearby hospitals, and even those operational have been bombed and looted," said Saeed Al-Zubair, a 49-year-old man from Omdurman. Electricity workers change a transformer at a residential area in Omdurman city, Sudan, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) Since the fighting between the SAF and RSF began in April last year, epidemic diseases have plagued the country, including Omdurman, leading to hundreds of deaths. The conflict has resulted in at least 20,000 deaths and displaced millions of people, according to a press release published Tuesday on the website of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said last week that an estimated 3.4 million children under five are at high risk of the deadly epidemic diseases in the country. According to UNICEF, more than 70 percent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are non-operational. On Wednesday, the OCHA warned that Sudan is now facing the world's most severe hunger crisis, with over half of its population, nearly 26 million people, suffering high levels of acute hunger. Famine has been confirmed in North Darfur State's Zamzam camp, with many other areas at risk, it said, adding that nearly 5 million children and pregnant and breastfeeding women have been acutely malnourished. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders, an aid group, said Tuesday that 30,000 children under two were screened for malnutrition in South Darfur State in August, and 32.5 percent of them were acutely malnourished. In response to the dire humanitarian situation, Omdurman's government authorities pledged to provide food for local residents and support community initiatives. Displaced people gather to receive free breakfast meals at a neighborhood in Omdurman city, Sudan, on Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) "Both official and popular efforts are ongoing to restore electricity and water services, remove war remnants, reopen roads, clean neighborhoods, and launch initiatives to bring life back to markets and shops," Acting Minister of Social Development of Khartoum State Siddiq Hassan Freini told Xinhua. (Video reporters: Lv Yingxu; Video editors: Wang Houyuan, Roger Lott, Luo Hui.) The latest Google Doodle may turn out to be quite pop-ular. Through Wednesday, Sept. 25 and Thursday, Sept. 26, the interactive animated graphic on Googles home page is titled Celebrating Popcorn, and will lead visitors who click on it to a game where theyll be able to move around as a kernel with the goal of not getting popped. You butter believe that todays interactive Doodle is celebrating your go-to movie companion and classic late-night snack: popcorn, Google says on the Google Doodle website. This game is making Doodles history by allowing the highest number of players to compete in a match at the same time ever! Play solo or invite friends to play with you in squad mode. According to Google, popcorns origins date back to the early 16th century, when many cultures used it to decorate their ceremonial garb. It evolved into a popular snack in the United States in the 1800s and the first-ever popcorn maker was invented in the 1890s. According to Google, it was on this day in 2020 that the largest popcorn machine ever created was awarded a world record in Thailand. Click the play button the Google Doodle where you can play solo as a kernel or as a squad and compete with other kernels around the world. NANJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- This year's harvest season for China's highly sought-after freshwater crabs began on Wednesday in the Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. The tasty and pricey mitten crabs are expected to hit the market around China's National Day holiday in early October, according to the Suzhou municipal agriculture and rural affairs bureau. A total of 9,900 tonnes of crabs are expected to be harvested this year from a breeding area spanning around 5,426 hectares, the bureau said. Due to the impact of prolonged high temperatures and influenced by typhoons, crabs have grown slightly slower than in previous years. However, their quality remains excellent, the bureau said. Chinese people have a custom of eating crabs in autumn when the meat is at its best. The tradition can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. to 220 A.D.). The crab is considered to be auspicious as the Chinese word for crab is "xie," which has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word for "thanks." TASHKENT, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan imported natural gas totaling 1.15 billion U.S. dollars from January to August this year, local media reported on Thursday, citing data from the state statistics agency. The report said that during the first eight months of this year, Uzbekistan's gas imports represented a nearly six-fold increase compared to last year when the gas import volume was 201.8 million dollars. Uzbek media noted that Uzbekistan purchased natural gas valued at 168.3 million dollars in August alone. According to the data, Uzbekistan has also increased its gas exports compared to last year. Its gas exports reached 404.8 million dollars, which is 7.1 percent more than the same period last year. Falling fragments of enemy strike drones have caused a fire in a residential building in Kyiv's Pecherskyi district. The Kyiv City Military Administration announced this on the Telegram messaging app, Ukrinform reports. "Due to the aerial attack of strike drones on Kyiv, a fire broke out on the first floor of a five-story residential building in the Pecherskyi district," the post said. Emergency services are on their way to the scene, Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, in turn, said: "Emergency services were called to the Pecherskyi district. According to preliminary information, a fire broke out on the first floor of a residential building due to falling debris." The military administration clarified several minutes later: "According to preliminary information, a gas pipe was depressurized due to a Russian drone attack. Kyivgas [workers] urgently arrived at the scene." The military administration later added that about 20 cars had been damaged. Debris fell on the territory of a kindergarten. Reports of casualties are being clarified. The enemy attacked Odesa region, launching missiles and kamikaze drones. A woman, 62, was killed in the attack. Thats according to Oleh Kiper, chief of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Ukrinform reports. "This night, the enemy attacked Odesa with missiles and drones. The air defense units worked extremely hard, destroying most of the enemy targets. A 62-year-old woman died as a result of the missile attack in Odesa region," the report says. Buildings and cars sustained damage. Dry grass caught fire but rescuers promptly put out the fire. "Regarding the drone attack, which the terrorists carried out later this morning: there were no casualties and no significant damage to infrastructure," Kiper said. Law enforcement are documenting the consequences of yet another crime committed by the Russians against the civilian population of Odesa. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the death toll of an overnight airstrike targeting Zaporizhzhia has increased to eight. Photo: Getty Images The U.S. government has added to the sanctions list Russias online financial platforms PM2BTC, Cryptex, and a number of Russian nationals for cybercrimes and money laundering. Thats according to a statement by the U.S. Treasury, reports Ukrinform. "Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is undertaking actions as part of a coordinated international effort to disrupt Russian cybercrime services," the press release reads. In particular, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is imposing restrictions against Russian virtual currency exchange PM2BTC involved in money laundering in Russia. In addition, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning Russian citizen Sergey Ivanov, who plays a significant role in money laundering, and the virtual currency exchange Cryptex, registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. At the same time, it is noted that FinCEN and OFAC sanctions are coordinated with the actions of other US government agencies and international law enforcement partners. It is also reported that the U.S. State Department has offered a reward offer of up to $10 million for information leading to Ivanov's arrest and/or conviction. In addition, the U.S. Secret Service and Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced formal charges against Ivanov and another Russian national, Timur Shakhmametov, in connection with the same case. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a large-scale defense aid package for Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia. The leaders of the Group of Seven and partner countries have adopted a Joint Declaration of Support for the Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine, which provides for further military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to the country both in the short term and in the post-war period. U.S. President Joe Biden announced this in New York during a meeting of the signatory countries, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "Today, we are launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine's Recovery and Reconstruction to make it clear that we stand with Ukraine now and in the future," he said. Biden stressed that more than 30 countries, as well as the European Union, had joined the historic declaration. The document, in particular, reaffirms unwavering international support for Ukraine today and in the future, "in war and in peace." At the same time, the G7+ countries are strongly committed to helping Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs and to assisting with Ukraine's long-term recovery and reconstruction "We dispel any false notion that time is on Russia's side or that Russia can prevail by causing Ukraine to fail economically," the document reads. At the same time, the document notes that Russia's responsibility under international law to pay for the damage it is causing is clear. To this end, Russia's sovereign assets in Western jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. In addition, international partners committed to use their economic assistance to ensure Ukraine maintains macro-financial stability, to repair and build critical infrastructure including in the energy sector, to boost economic growth, to support social resilience as well as the implementation of priority reforms. These include improving the business climate, strengthening anti-corruption efforts, implementing the justice system reform and promoting of the rule of law within the context of the EU accession process. Ukraine's partners are also continuing their joint work to implement the decision made at the G7 Summit in Apulia to launch Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine by the end of the year, in order to make available approximately $50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine. The loans will be serviced and repaid by the future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions. International partners will continue to pursue their vision also by strategizing, coordinating and steering their support for Ukraine's economic recovery and reconstruction through the Ukraine Donor Platform. "In order to implement the above-mentioned commitments, we will each work to provide Ukraine with specific, bilateral support aligned with this joint declaration and with the bilateral security agreements and arrangements that have been negotiated and signed with Ukraine," the document reads. For its part, Ukraine is committed to implementing its economic, judiciary, anti-corruption, corporate governance, defense, public administration, public investment management and law enforcement reforms. "These reforms are necessary and will be vital to enabling long-term support for Ukrainian reconstruction and recovery," the declaration reads. Earlier reports said that the Group of Seven had decided to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan by the end of 2024, using frozen Russian assets. | By Lorri Angelloz In their first visit to Baltimore since the city was named one of the nations 31 Tech Hubs, representatives from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) toured innovation labs and tech sites across the area, including the University of Maryland BioPark. The EDAs late-August visit came after the Baltimore consortium, led by the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) with support from University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and 37 additional partners missed out on federal grants capped at $51 million during the second phase of the Tech Hub initiative. Though the Baltimore regions application wasnt selected, the site visit was seen as an important step forward in securing tech grants during the programs next round of funding. Jane Shaab (left) discusses the history of the BioPark and the construction of 4MLK with members of the EDA delegation, including Amanda Kostry (center) and Eric Smith (right). Eric Smith, director of the EDA Tech Hubs Program, praised Baltimores wealth of assets in a video shared by GBC after the event, saying, There is a culture here and a desire to make the community better. This is asset-rich territory, and that has been on abundant display. During the daylong visit, Smith and other members of the EDA delegation met with consortium members representing tech firms, government entities, economic development corporations, and academic institutions. In addition to their stop at the BioPark, the agenda included industry roundtables focused on biomanufacturing and the biotech workforce and a tour of labs at Morgan State University. The meeting at the BioPark centered on a discussion about economic development initiatives and the growing integration of academic research with private industry. Jane M. Shaab, MBA, BioPark executive director and associate vice president of economic development at UMB, opened the conversation by introducing two of the research parks tenants Marco A. Chacon, PhD, founder and president of IRAZU BIO, and Paul Boyce, senior director at Illumina who shared their experiences in the citys tech ecosystem. Chacon outlined his journey as an entrepreneur, starting his first company after graduate school in Maryland, and spoke to the importance of support from government entities to universities such as UMB as keys to success. Boyce emphasized Illuminas decision to build an East Coast facility at the BioPark, saying its lab facilities along with the regions commercial and transportation infrastructure made it an ideal location. Greg Herlong, vice president of development at Wexford Science & Technology, also was on hand to discuss 4MLK, the companys latest commercial project at the BioPark. In his remarks about the 250,000-square-foot building at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Baltimore Street, Herlong stressed the facilitys ability to fill a growing need for wet lab space required by regional researchers and entrepreneurs launching biotech and life sciences companies. He also highlighted a floor in the new building, called Connect Labs, which will provide early-stage companies with shared equipment and infrastructure valued at around $2 million, easing the financial burden for startups that often lack the capital to build their own labs. Including 24 labs, private offices, co-working areas, and more, the spaces goal is to give such companies the opportunity to fail faster. As Herlong explained, Instead of a zombie company sticking around and just scraping by for 10 years, we want to give them the opportunity to accelerate their science in a manner that within 12 to 24 months, they can either go on to raise that next funding round, or say, Hey, this isnt going anywhere, and move on to the next thing. During the conversation, the EDA delegation, representatives from the BioPark and UMB, and members of the GBC-led consortium delved into a number of related subjects, including the need to attract and retain top scientific and entrepreneurial talent to the area. Participants from the Baltimore region noted that continued efforts to recruit faculty and students and provide pathways to start and grow companies is a key focus of their work. They also stressed that the collaboration among higher education institutions such as UMB, Johns Hopkins University, and Morgan State University is crucial to the regions growth in life sciences. James L. Hughes, MBA, chief enterprise and economic development officer and senior vice president at UMB, pointed to another key partnership between academic institutions that will benefit from space in 4MLK. Our sister university within the University System of Maryland is the University of Maryland, College Park. They have a top-20 engineering program, he said. And our medical school and their engineering are teaming up to take biomedical research space focusing on translational research on the fourth floor. Both universities are currently recruiting entrepreneurial faculty from around the country, and a big part of the pitch is that you can bring your startup company here, grow it here, and we have all these other resources. Hughes also stressed the collaborative nature of the BioPark ecosystem beyond university partnerships. "Were very, very open, he said. If you look at the companies here, youll see that our view is you don't need a connection with the University to move into the BioPark invariably we find a connection. The Tech Hubs Program, authorized for $10 billion in the bipartisan federal CHIPS and Science Act, is designed to increase the capacity and pace with which Americans make, deliver, and deploy innovative technologies, creating new, growing companies such as those seen during the Baltimore site visit. Its next round of funding, which has yet to be announced, is expected in 2025. People are seen at the al-Faluja school after it was attacked by Israeli aircraft in west of the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defense in Gaza said Thursday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) GAZA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defense in Gaza said Thursday. Palestinian security sources told Xinhua earlier on Thursday that Israeli aircraft bombed the al-Faluja school west of the Jabalia refugee camp with at least one missile. Medical sources said 10 people were injured in the attack, all of whom have been taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Thursday that the Israeli Air Force conducted a precise strike on militants operating in a command and control center inside a compound that previously served as the al-Faluja school in northern Gaza. Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 41,534, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. People are seen at the al-Faluja school after it was attacked by Israeli aircraft in west of the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defense in Gaza said Thursday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) People are seen at the al-Faluja school after it was attacked by Israeli aircraft in west of the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defense in Gaza said Thursday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) People mourn victims at the al-Faluja school after it was attacked by Israeli aircraft in west of the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defense in Gaza said Thursday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) People are seen at the al-Faluja school after it was attacked by Israeli aircraft in west of the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defense in Gaza said Thursday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) People are seen at the al-Faluja school after it was attacked by Israeli aircraft in west of the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defense in Gaza said Thursday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) People work at the al-Faluja school after it was attacked by Israeli aircraft in west of the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the northern Gaza Strip has risen to 15, including children and women, the Civil Defense in Gaza said Thursday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning met with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, on Thursday in Beijing. Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said that under the guidance of the two heads of state, the development of China-Uzbekistan relations has entered a new stage with fruitful cooperation in various fields. Following the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to push for steady and long-term growth of the bilateral ties, Wang said. Wang noted that the CPPCC National Committee is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Uzbekistan to better serve the construction of their respective countries and the development of bilateral relations. Narbayeva congratulated China on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the CPPCC and hailed China's remarkable achievements in development. Noting that Uzbekistan adheres to the one-China principle, Narbayeva said the country is willing to strengthen mutual support and synergize its development strategies with China, as well as jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality. Uzbekistan stands ready to learn from China's successful experience in poverty alleviation, and push for greater development of bilateral relations for the benefit of the two peoples, Narbayeva added. Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) GAZA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least seven Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded on Thursday in an Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said. Undocumented students in California will remain ineligible to work on public university campuses after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have changed that scenario. The legislation, the first of its kind in the U.S., sought to provide campus job opportunities to students who were brought to the country as children and lack work authorization. Newsom's decision, announced on Sunday, is a significant blow to immigrant rights advocates who had rallied behind the measure. In his veto message, the governor pointed to potential legal risks, including civil and criminal liabilities for state employees. "Given the gravity of the potential consequences of this bill... it is critical that the courts address the legality of such a policy before proceeding," he wrote. Progressive legal scholars identified an alleged loophole in a federal ban on employing undocumented people, saying such does not apply to state-run institutions, like public universities. However, university leaders and state officials pushed back, warning of the legal uncertainties and potential risks involved. The Biden administration also reportedly pressured university leaders to refrain from advancing the policy in private, especially during an election year where immigration is a contentious issue. According to POLITICO, federal officials expressed concerns that the proposal could fuel criticism of the president's handling of immigration and hurt his reelection campaign. This quiet pressure contributed to the University of California system's decision to delay any formal discussion on hiring undocumented students until 2025. Jeffry Umana Munoz, a Cal State L.A. graduate interviewed by Los Angeles Times, released a statement on behalf of all California undocumented students saying, "we are ashamed and appalled that the Governor Newsom has decided to cave to the anti-immigrant vitriol of Trump and the Republicans and deny us the equitable opportunities we deserve." Munoz said students would continue to fight for the opportunity to work. Students without DACA protections now outnumber those with it. Out of the estimated 86,800 undocumented students in California, only 37% are recipients of DACA or are eligible for it, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. Every year, approximately 14,000 more undocumented students graduate from California high schools, further straining the system. A recent UCLA study found that the number of newly enrolled low-income undocumented students at UC and CSU campuses dropped by half between the 2015-16 and 2022-23 academic years. The report attributes this decline to the increasing difficulty of obtaining DACA status. The veto means tens of thousands of undocumented students at California's public universities will continue to face limited employment options. Though many receive financial aid, the closure of new DACA applications in 2021 has further restricted their ability to work on campus. Originally published on Latin Times. Wake Forest University has canceled a lecture set to be delivered by Palestinian-American activist Rabab Abdulhadi, scheduled for the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, in which 1,139 people were killed, and an additional 251 were taken hostage. In an email addressed to the Wake Forest community, University President Susan R. Wente and Provost Michele Gillespie indicated that Abdulhadi's lecture, scheduled for Oct. 7, "cannot take place." "We have also made the conscious decision not to host events on this day that are inherently contentious and stand to stoke division in our campus community," they wrote. "We are living in complex times, and yet we remain hopeful about the future because of this caring community and our shared mission to serve humanity." On Sunday, an online petition was started by the executive boards of Jewish student organizations Hillel and Chabad in order to protest the event featuring Abdulhadi. As of Thursday, the petition has received over 8,000 signatures. The university's undergraduate student enrollment stands at 5,471. Wake Forest's student-run newspaper, The Old Gold & Black, could not confirm what percentage of Wake Forest University students made up the signatories. "We support free speech, we encourage the university to host people with a variety of different viewpoints, to share different perspectives, encourage and foster dialogue on our campus. However, about a week ago, they put up posters for this event with antisemitic and pro-terrorist language," Isabelle Laxer, president of the WFU Chabad student organization, told Fox 8. "It's incredibly disheartening to see this happening on a day that saw the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust." The petition refers to Abdulhadi as a "self-proclaimed Hamas sympathizer." Abdulhadi, director of San Francisco State University's Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Initiative, has aimed to strengthen ties between SFSU and Palestinian universities An-Najah and Bir Zeit, which have been described by Campus Watch as "Hamas-dominated." "Over the last 12 months we've heard the claim repeatedly that this was the worst of violence that Jews have suffered since the Holocaust, and I get that I'm a scholar of the Holocaust; I am Jewish. Oct. 7 was an incredibly horrible day," Rubin Presidential Chair of Jewish History Barry Trachtenberg told the Old Gold & Black. "We also must recognize that, since then, at least 42,000 Palestinians have been murdered, the vast majority of them being noncombatants. It is the largest loss of life in Palestinian history ever, and I believe that makes it worthwhile for us to be able to talk about it." Five on-campus academic departments were sponsoring the event, which had been titled "One Year Since al-Aqsa Flood: Reflections on a Year of Genocide and Resistance," --- Wake Forest University's Humanities Institute, the department of history, the department of politics and international affairs, the Middle East South Asian studies program and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza strip in the onslaught following the events of Oct. 7. September 26 2024 Partick Housing Association have taken possession of 46 affordable homes at Bearsden Road in Anniesland, following their handover by contractor CCG. A range of one and two-bedroom flats for social and mid-market rent have been designed by Mast Architects to evoke the memory of a sawmill that once occupied the site, the last surviving element of which was demolished to make way for the build. In a statement, Mast Architects wrote: "Were delighted to see the Bearsden Road project complete in a time when providing warm and healthy homes is more important than ever. The main architectural moves, from the serrated roof forms to the material palette, draw on an understanding of the sites former industrial uses, with the completed scheme offering a robust response to a very public setting." Overlooking the Forth & Clyde Canal, the properties are arranged over two five-storey blocks, establishing an urban frontage to Bearsden Road and Crow Road on approach to Anniesland. The 10m development includes associated amenity space and public art. PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Sep, 2024) To counter the terror incidents and crimes, police have installed 52 state-of-the-art HD CCTV cameras on Warsak Road that have been linked with the Command-and-Control System of the Sharqi Police. SSP Operations, Kashif Zulfiqar told media persons on Thursday that due to the sensitivity of the area, 52 modern HD cameras have been installed at different points of the Warsak Road that would constantly be monitored through the Command-and-Control System. Giving more details, SSP Operations said these cameras have been installed from Kababyan to Mithra and Shagai areas. These modern monitoring gadgets, he said, have also been installed at other sensitive areas including Babu Garhi, the main road, crossings and populated localities of Warsak Road. The CCTV cameras have been connected with the Command-and-Control system, working at Sharqi police station for round the clock monitoring through a modern technology to counter crimes. He said on Warsak Road, incidents of terrorism have been reported in the recent past as last month a police van was also targeted with a roadside explosive device there. These cameras will help identify criminals involved in subversive and anti-state activities. APP/vak ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Sep, 2024) Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi has praised the security forces for their successful operation in North Waziristan's Razmak area, resulting in the elimination of 8 Fitna-al-Khawarij terrorists. The Interior Minister appreciated the security forces for their timely action, which led to the killing of 8 terrorists. He saluted the brave soldiers of the security forces, stating that they are our pride and their professional expertise are commendable. Minister reiterated the nation's resolve to eradicate terrorism, saying that terrorists are a burden and will be eliminated with the support of the nation. He emphasized that the entire nation stands with the security forces in their efforts to crush Fitna-al-Khawarij terrorists. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Sep, 2024) Pakistan Navy celebrated World Maritime Day (WMD) 2024, with this year's theme 'Navigating the Future: Safety First'. The year 2024 marks 50 years since the adoption of the 1974 International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, the key IMO treaty regulating maritime safety, a Pakistan Navy news release said. This day is observed annually to highlight the maritime sector's contribution to economic development and to raise awareness about the importance of shipping safety, maritime security, and marine environmental protection. The theme is closely linked with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-7, which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by facilitating access to clean energy research. Safety has always been a core value for the Pakistan Navy. PN has instituted measures to uphold the "safety first" principle onboard all seagoing platforms as well as ashore. In his message on World Maritime Day, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf emphasized the need to align national objectives with the ongoing global shift towards sustainable and green maritime practices, demonstrating determination, commitment, and resolve. He underscored PNs efforts toward maritime safety, which remain a testament to its unwavering dedication, and reiterated Pakistan Navys commitment to ensuring maritime safety and upholding environmental mandates. On this occasion, Pakistan Navy organized a series of activities to emphasize the significance of maritime sector. Major events included seminars at Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore, under the auspices of the Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCE) and the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA). Other activities across PN units included Maritime Gala at Pakistan Maritime Museum, awareness walks, showcasing banners/ panaflexes, maritime awareness lectures at Bahria Colleges/Universities, and essay competitions at Field Commands. These events play an important role in enhancing maritime awareness among the public. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Sep, 2024) United States Consul General, Scott Urbom, on Thursday called on the Mayor of Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, at the head office of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. The US Consul General congratulated Barrister Murtaza Wahab on becoming the Mayor of Karachi and expressed his best wishes regarding the city's development and progress. During the meeting, they had detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest. Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab stated that Houston has been designated as a twin city of Karachi. He emphasized that Karachi is Pakistans economic hub and the largest city, home to several industrial zones, an international airport, and two major ports, the continuous increase in Karachi's population and the attractive opportunities for business and investment have significantly enhanced the citys industrial and commercial activities. However, he acknowledged that, like all major metropolitan cities, Karachi faces political and administrative challenges. He pointed out the lack of a master plan for the city and the immense pressure from its growing population. Key issues include water supply and drainage, health and sanitation, transportation, education, and infrastructure development, all of which the current government is focusing on, with various development projects underway across different districts of Karachi, he said. He highlighted that Karachis water pipeline system is over 50 years old, yet the city's expansion and population growth have been enormous. Work is ongoing on the Hub Canal project to address water shortages, and a desalination process has also been initiated to meet the needs of industrial zones, he said. The Mayor Karachi mentioned that 80 to 90 percent of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's budget is spent on salaries and allowances. He emphasized that the payment of municipal taxes by the public helps facilitate developmental work. He is making efforts to stabilize the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to provide better and quality municipal services to citizens. He noted that due to a strong working relationship with the Sindh government, provincial assistance is being provided for several development projects in Karachi. The Pakistan People's Party holds a majority in the elected council of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, which consists of 365 members, and for the first time, transgender individuals have been granted representation in the city council. The Mayor reiterated that the Pakistan People's Party aims for economic improvement and is a liberal-minded political party that enjoys strong public support. He stated that minorities in Karachi are granted complete rights and treated equally. The US Consul General Scott Urbom, mentioned that this is his first assignment in Pakistan and that he is pleased to be in Karachi. He highlighted the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and the US, noting that the US provides substantial support to Pakistan across various sectors. He expressed optimism that the relations between the two countries will strengthen in the coming days, paving the way for new avenues of mutual cooperation. The Mayor Karachi thanked the US Consul General for his visit to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and expressed hope for continued contact and collaboration with the US consulate in the future. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers held on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Wednesday that the Group of 20 (G20) members should take on the responsibilities of major powers and, with a spirit of partnership, advance and improve global governance. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting of G20 foreign ministers held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York. Wang pointed out that the G20 should act as a supporter of UN reform, uphold genuine multilateralism and avoid selective multilateralism. The G20 should act as a promoter of global economic and financial governance reform. It should strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, and advance global financial architecture reform to give developing countries greater representation and voice, said Wang. Meanwhile, the G20 should act as a promoter of global trade governance reform, work to create a just, fair, and non-discriminatory trade and investment environment, and oppose all forms of protectionism, he said. The G20 should also act as a practitioner of reforms in global development, accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, added Wang. Patna, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Sep, 2024) At least 46 people, including 37 children, have drowned while celebrating a Hindu festival in eastern India, a local government official told AFP on Thursday. The victims drowned in separate incidents in Bihar state while ritually bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding, an official from the Bihar Disaster Management Department told AFP. "People ignored danger water levels in rivers as well as ponds while bathing to celebrate this festival," said the official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. The drownings occurred from Tuesday across 15 districts of Bihar state as devotees marked the Jitiya Parv Hindu festival, observed by mothers for the wellbeing of their children. Authorities were working to recover three other bodies, the official said. The state government has announced compensation to each of the victim's families, he said. Deadly incidents are common at places of worship during major religious festivals in India, the biggest of which prompt millions of devotees to make pilgrimages to holy sites. At least 116 people were crushed to death in July at an overcrowded Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh state, the worst such tragedy in more than a decade. India is hit by torrential rains and flash floods each year during the monsoon season. The monsoon is vital for agriculture and therefore for the livelihoods of millions of farmers. But it is also responsible for widespread destruction each year in the form of landslides and floods that kill hundreds of people across South Asia. More than 200 people were killed in the southern Indian state of Kerala in July when torrential monsoon downpours caused landslides that buried tea plantations under tonnes of rock and soil. Experts say climate change is increasing the number of extreme weather events around the world, with damming, deforestation and development projects in India exacerbating the human toll. A 2021 study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research tracking monsoon shifts from the mid-20th century suggested that it was becoming stronger and more erratic. (@FahadShabbir) UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) A new humanitarian crisis is unfolding at Lebanons border with Syria as thousands of people flee Israeli shelling linked to the war in Gaza, United Nations officials saids Thursday, just as Israel Premier Benyamin Netanyahu arrived in New York for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. Only hours earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council that hell is breaking loose in Lebanon along the UN-patrolled line of separation, with exchanges of fire greater in scope, depth and intensity than previously. That warning came as US President Joe Biden told the worlds leaders gathered at UN headquarters on Wednesday that an all-out war was possible between Hezbollah and Israel, while the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported people fleeing from Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in the early hours of Thursday morning, in response to attacks on Israel which included a first attempted missile strike on Tel Aviv. In a video message issued on Thursday in New York, the head of UN Peacekeeping Jean-Pierre Lacroix said: I am deeply concerned by the sharp escalation along the blue line. As the Secretary General said last night in the Security Council, 'Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon' and we should all be alarmed by the escalation. He stressed that both the Lebanese and Israeli populations "are in extreme danger, with hundreds dead and thousands injured in recent days alone. Regional security and stability is at risk. Literally thousands of families of Syrian and also Lebanese are crossing into Syriathey are women, children, men, said UNHCR Representative in Syria, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, as the Israeli military announced strikes on more than 70 targets overnight in eastern Lebanons Bekaa Valley and in southern Lebanon. Both areas are believed to be Hezbollah strongholds. Standing amid vehicles laden with belongings strapped to the roof and countless people queuing in long lines on the Syrian side of the border, Vargas Lllosa said that UNHCR was working with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to provide water, food, blankets and mattresses - because many of them will be spending the night here at the border while they are processed. According to media reports, a 21-day ceasefire proposal by the US, European allies including France and several Arab nations has been rejected by members of Netanyahus government. Latest data from Lebanons interior ministry indicates that 70,100 internally displaced people are now registered inside 533 government-run centres. Some 500,000 people have been displaced following months of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, the Lebanese authorities said. UNHCR said that it was continuing to coordinate closely with the authorities and other humanitarian organizations to provide relief to people uprooted from their homes inside Lebanon. Our teams are on standby to help more civilians who have fled the air-strikes, providing shelter, health care and psychosocial support, the UN agency said Thursday. Echoing solidarity with those impacted by the strikes, the UN Childrens Fund, UNICEF, appealed for more shelters and more funds to provide critical support to those in need. We are on the ground distributing emergency hygiene kits, blankets, sleeping bags, and dignity kits in displacement shelters. Our team is working tirelessly to support displaced families. Citing the Lebanese authorities, UNHCR said that more than 90,000 people have been displaced since 23 September and more are abandoning their homes by the minute. The latest hostilities have killed more than 600 people and injured 1,835. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Nairobi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Sep, 2024) As Kenya mourns 21 children killed in a boarding school fire this month, anxious parents are left wondering why the country suffers so many similar tragedies. A mass is planned Thursday for the boys, aged nine to 13, killed in an overnight fire in their dormitory at Hillside Endarasha academy in central Kenya on September 6. It was a particularly horrific incident -- the victims burnt beyond recognition, requiring DNA to be identified. But school fires are far from rare in Kenya -- there have been more than a dozen this year alone. There were 63 arson cases at schools recorded in 2018, and no less than 117 in just a three-month period in 2016. Most seem to target boarding schools, of which Kenya has thousands as a colonial legacy of missionaries and the British. Many parents still see boarding schools as prestigious and practical. Silvana Wachira, a 47-year-old receptionist, put her three children in a boarding school near Nairobi to spare them from the city's infernal traffic. "But it is not worth the lives of my babies," she said, adding that the accounts from Hillside "broke my heart into pieces". Phineas Ojwang', whose 11-year-old attends a Primary school 400 kilometres (250 miles) away from his home in western Kenya, told AFP he will likewise pull his daughter out at the end of the year. "I sleep a worried man. I have the matron on speed dial to check on my daughter," he told AFP. Investigators have yet to say what caused the Hillside fire, but the power company has ruled out an electrical fault. In many cases, the children are to blame. In 2017, 10 children died in a fire at a prestigious Nairobi school. A 14-year-old with a history of clashes with the school was eventually found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. Pupils were also accused after a 2001 dormitory fire in the southern county of Machakos killed 67. A 2017 report by Kenya's National Crime Research Centre blamed exam stress and long terms, and said students in different schools were communicating via smuggled phones, leading to copycat acts. In the two days after the Hillside tragedy, there were at least two more fires at boarding schools in other counties. "Fires are contagious," said Pius Masai Mwachi, a former acting director of Kenya's national disaster management unit. He said students often shared their frustrations with each other, encouraging what he called "young criminals" to vent them through arson. But "school staff and outsiders" were also sometimes responsible, Mwachi added. The government has promised a safety audit of all schools and to prosecute violators. But critics say they hear the same promises after every tragedy. Most schools lack access to experts who could help prevent such incidents, said Mwachi. "Institutions must periodically conduct emergency training and drills," he told AFP, calling for "100 percent enforcement" of safety guidelines. There have also been repeated calls to ban boarding schools, especially at primary level, with suggestions that abandonment issues could be partly to blame. Whatever the causes, Ojwang' said he will no longer take the risk with his daughter. "I am counting the days to the end of term. It will be her last day in boarding school," he said. Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Sep, 2024) Russia's army said Thursday it had captured the Ukrainian town of Ukrainsk in the eastern Donetsk region, the latest in a series of territorial gains for Moscow's advancing forces. In a daily briefing posted on Telegram, the defence ministry said its troops had "liberated" Ukrainsk, home to more than 10,000 before Russia launched its full-scale military offensive in February 2022. The town is one of the more significant conquests in recent weeks for Russia, whose troops have claimed control of a string of small villages and settlements as they push forward. Ukrainsk lies around 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of the city of Donetsk, the capital of the region Moscow claims to have annexed. Moscow's forces are seeking to gain control of the entire Donetsk region and have demanded Kyiv withdraw its troops from there, as well as from the Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as a precondition to opening peace talks. Since graduating, he has also traveled to Paraguay to complete an internship with Fundacion Para La Tierra, a nonprofit organization studying, conserving and teaching about the biodiversity of the region. Kane Sandoval will serve as a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Cambodia. Additionally, Sandoval has continued to stay connected to UTSA, working as a laboratory assistant in The Smith Wildlife lab at UTSA, which was previouly led by Jennifer Smith, a former assistant professor in the UTSA Department of Integrative Biology. He also served as a counselor for entomology and hydrology-themed summer camps at UTSA this summer. Sandoval submitted his Fulbright application through the UTSA Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. The office supported him through the application process by interviewing him, helping him select a country that matched his interests, brainstorming with him on how to tell his story, and reviewing essay drafts. Fulbright winners receive a monthly stipend along with travel benefits, health benefits and free training. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on their academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. In Cambodia, Sandoval will work with local instructors to help teach the English language, while also serving as a grassroots cultural ambassador of the United States. I want to help Cambodia because I believe it is a country mostly ignored by the Western world, and I could help show that the U.S. does care about the people there, Kane said. I cherish helping people born without the opportunities I had and encountering new cultures to expand ideas and compassion. After completing the 10-month position, Sandoval plans to apply for an international master's program in environmental science or related fields. Two other UTSA graduates, Jaci Finch 23 and Danny Vidaurri 23, received Fulbright awards this year. Finch is a current graduate student at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and will be traveling to Viljandi, Estonia, to work at the Viljandi Library American Center. She originally applied to the program as an undergraduate through UTSA and was a semi-finalist; this year she applied again through UTRGV. Vidaurri, who applied as an at-large candidate, will travel to Spain under the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program. In fall 2023, the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs named UTSA a Fulbright HSI Leader, recognizing the universitys noteworthy participation across Fulbright programs for students, faculty and administrators for the second year in a row. Since 2020, 17 UTSA students have received Fulbright scholarships. The UTSA Office of Nationally Competitive Awardsactively promotes Fulbright program opportunities for students and works with them to enhance their eligibility. In April, UTSA welcomed a Fulbright delegation to campus, which included Director of U.S. student programs Dan Kramer, as well as Fulbright alumni. The visit was part of an initiative to grow Fulbrights presence at UTSA. Last year, a record 18 Roadrunners applied for the student program. Artists from China's Yunnan Province perform during the inauguration ceremony in Los Angeles, the United States, Sept. 24, 2024. A series of cultural exchange events designed to promote the lifestyle of China's Yunnan Province -- by fusing traditional and modern arts, local cuisines, and nature narratives -- kicked off here on Tuesday. The 10-day events, titled "Yunnan: A Many-Splendored Life -- Shangri-La in Focus 2024," include a song and dance show, an art exhibition on Shangri-La, an exhibition of Zeng Xiaolian's nature history drawings, a wine tasting and promotion party, and a seminar on Flying Tigers culture. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A woman visits an exhibition of Zeng Xiaolian's nature history drawings in Los Angeles, the United States, Sept. 24, 2024. A series of cultural exchange events designed to promote the lifestyle of China's Yunnan Province -- by fusing traditional and modern arts, local cuisines, and nature narratives -- kicked off here on Tuesday. The 10-day events, titled "Yunnan: A Many-Splendored Life -- Shangri-La in Focus 2024," include a song and dance show, an art exhibition on Shangri-La, an exhibition of Zeng Xiaolian's nature history drawings, a wine tasting and promotion party, and a seminar on Flying Tigers culture. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. Transcript: The Inside Story: USA Votes 2024 Episode 163 September 26, 2024 Show Open: Unidentified Narrator: This week on The Inside Story Bidens final address to world leaders at the 79th session of The United Nations General Assembly Plus, foreign policy, and what it might look like after novembers presidential election Now on The Inside Story: USA VOTES 2024 The Inside Story: ELIZABETH LEE, VOA Correspondent: Hello and welcome to The Inside Story, Im Elizabeth Lee. The first sentence of the United Nations Charter lays out a simple goal: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. The extent to which that vision is attainable is on display this week as the UN General Assembly meets... and as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ramps up to levels United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls alarming. Linda Gradstein has more from Jerusalem LINDA GRADSTEIN, VOA Correspondent: Tens of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon have fled their homes since Israel began its airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in the past week. Israel has accused Hezbollah of storing rockets and missiles in civilian areas and has been warning residents to flee. Fatma Ibrahim Shehab, Displaced From Lebanese Village: They struck right next to our house and our building was shaking. We got very stressed, this is why we had to leave, and we came here. We were told it is safe here. The situation is very tragic. LINDA GRADSTEIN: Israel also struck Beirut for the fourth time since the fighting began almost a year ago. The Israel Defense Forces claimed the target was the head of Hezbollahs missile unit. News reports said he was killed. Lebanese officials said among the dead in the past two days were at least 94 women and 50 children. Israeli officials say Hezbollah has suffered a serious blow in the past week, since thousands of pagers belonging to Hezbollah members exploded simultaneously. Yaakov Amidror, Jewish Institute for National Security of America: All in all its a huge success eliminating the commanders and the leadership of Hezbollah, hitting very important targets inside Lebanon. But still, we have to be modest. It is only the beginning; it will take a long time to eliminate the capabilities of Hezbollah. LINDA GRADSTEIN: Hezbollah also continued to fire rockets at northern Israel. More than 100 missiles injured a number of Israelis and sent residents running to bomb shelters. Despite the heavy fighting, both sides seem to stop short of a full-scale war. Israel has not sent ground forces into Lebanon, and Hezbollah has not fired on central Israel. But Amidror notes that Israel wants a buffer zone from the Lebanese border to the Litani River. Yakov Amidror, Jewish Institute for National Security of America: If someone from the outside Americans, the French, whoever -- would not have the ability to bring an agreement within which Hezbollah will remain north of the Litani, probably we have to send the ground forces to clear the area of the launching pads of Hezbollah, to build kind of a security zone in which we will not let Hezbollah members to go in. LINDA GRADSTEIN: International concern is growing that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah may deteriorate into a full-scale regional war that could force other nations to intervene. Josep Borrell, EU Foreign Affairs Chief: We need to continue asking for this immediate cease-fire across the line, as well as the situation in Gaza. They are not different. They are interlinked. They are strongly interlinked. What's happening in Gaza is triggering other war scenarios. LINDA GRADSTEIN: Speaking at the United Nations today, President Joe Biden said he is determined to prevent regional war and called for a diplomatic solution between Israel and Hezbollah as well as between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Linda Gradstein, VOA News, Jerusalem. ELIZABETH LEE: The 79th United Nations General Assembly marks the last time U.S. President Joe Biden will address his counterparts. Biden spoke of the worlds collective accomplishments, short comings, and the future of the body as a whole. From New York, VOAs Anita Powell has the story. ANITA POWELL, VOA White House Correspondent: Hope, unity and service: President Joe Bidens parting message to world leaders in his final speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. The U.S. leader covered a lot of ground in his valedictory address before world leaders. As expected, he urged the world to work together to end conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. And he touted his administrations work in health and climate mitigation. But it was this line about his decision not to seek reelection that garnered the most applause from the audience, which included leaders from the bodys 193 member states. President Joe Biden: My fellow leaders, let us never forget some things are more important than staying in power. It's your people. ANITA POWELL: But his call for a peace deal to end spreading conflict in the Middle East shows how deeply divided this international body is. President Joe Biden: Even as the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes in the border safely. And that's what we're working tirelessly to achieve. ANITA POWELL: But the conflict in Gaza, like the one in Ukraine, will likely not end with Biden's presidency, analysts say. John Fortier, American Enterprise Institute: I think the president is trying to toe the line that he's always toed, support for Israel, but really indicating also some sympathy and understanding of the plight in Gaza, and some hope that it will be resolved, but not really being able to control the situation very directly. ANITA POWELL: Washingtons strong support of Israel has tested its standing at the U.N., where many members are critical of Israels actions, both in Gaza and now in Lebanon. On Tuesday, the head of the international body warned of what he called politically indefensible and morally intolerable impunity. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General: Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7th, or the taking of hostages both of which I have repeatedly condemned. And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. ANITA POWELL: This annual event is a chance for the worlds governments to discuss shared challenges and shared visions. The big question now, from Gaza to Ukraine to Sudan: What are they going to do about it? Anita Powell, VOA News, New York. ELIZABETH LEE: Iran has long been a thorn in the side of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and beyond. Now, the Islamic Republic threatens the United States through its ally Israel. Iran backs the Lebanese Hezbollah militias to Israels north and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. With both groups attacking Israel for what they describe as payback for its invasion of Gaza and the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in the conflict. Michael Lipin examines how both candidates Harris and Trump differ and overlap on their approaches to Iran and its proxies. MICHAEL LIPIN, VOA Correspondent: Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris has focused her relatively brief remarks about Iran on one concept: defense. Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee: And know this: I will never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend our forces and our interests against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists. MICHAEL LIPIN: In her debate with her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, she pledged to extend that defensive approach to Israel, saying: Voice of Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee: I will always give Israel the ability to defend itself, in particular as it relates to Iran and any threat that Iran and its proxies pose to Israel. MICHAEL LIPIN: The Biden-Harris administration helped Israel defend itself against an unprecedented aerial assault by Iran in April. It also sent warships to the region last month to deter Iran from doing so again. Emphasizing that approach could endear Harris to some Americans. Michael OHanlon, Brookings Institution: I think that she knows Americans are tired of war and certainly doesnt want to sound like shes looking for another. And so, who can be against defense, right? But Americans are wary about offense. So, perhaps that can be part of it, especially given the history of the last quarter century. MICHAEL LIPIN: But the Biden-Harris administration also saw Irans proxies escalate their aggression in August, striking U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria and executing a U.S. hostage in Gaza. Victoria Coates, Heritage Foundation: There has been zero retaliation from the United States. They've retained that defensive posture. My worry is that Iran is getting the message that that they can continue to provoke and to escalate on their terms, and all the United States will do is respond, not take the initiative. MICHAEL LIPIN: Trump is emphasizing his record of sanctioning Iran for its malign behavior when he was president. Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee: I told China and other countries, If you buy from Iran, we will not let you do any business in this country, and we will put tariffs on every product you do send in of 100 percent or more. MICHAEL LIPIN: In the debate, he accused the Biden-Harris administration of enriching Iran and its proxies by easing that pressure. He also promised to resolve the Iran threat but did not elaborate, saying: Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee: Look at whats going on in the Middle East ... I will get that settled and fast. MICHAEL LIPIN: During his term, Trump engaged in a two-year-long maximum pressure campaign against Iran. MICHAEL LIPIN: Trumps avoidance of recommitting to that strategy gives him the option of pursuing a new policy that pressures Iran more quickly. One similarity between Harris and Trump is that neither of them says what they will do if Iran makes a nuclear bomb, a prospect that Iranian officials have hinted at. Michael Lipin, VOA News, Washington. ELIZABETH LEE: Ask Ukrainians what they think about the upcoming U.S. presidential election, and youre likely to hear the same thing: hope for a quick end to Russias invasion. But both candidates Harris and Trump give Ukrainians cause for concern. For more on this story, we go to Kyiv where Anna Chernikova has this report. ANNA CHERNIKOVA, Reporting for VOA: In the capital, Kyiv, and elsewhere in Ukraine, people wonder and worry about the outcome of U.S. elections and how it will affect their war-battered homeland. Some residents, like Anhelina, express hope. Anhelina, Kyiv Resident: I have expectations that the future president will support us. Our politics, our military actions. ANNA CHERNIKOVA: Other residents, like Dmytro, are worried. Dmytro, Kyiv citizen: I wonder who will win and in general what will be the policy towards our country. This is what Im interested in. And God grant that both of them will support us. ANNA CHERNIKOVA: The biggest fear is that the new U.S. administration will end its support and abandon Ukraine in its fight against Russia, says political analyst Mykola Davydiuk. Mykola Davydiuk, Think Tank Politics: Turning a once democratic country into an autocracy costs millions of deaths. And this is what the country is afraid of. ANNA CHERNIKOVA: After two and a-half years of war, a key factor affecting morale in Ukraine is the uncertainty of what is to come under a new White House administration. Trump promises to end the war quickly, and many fear that means Ukraine would be forced to make too many concessions if he returns to office. At the same time, Ukrainians remember that Trump as president approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank systems that helped Ukraine fight Russia at the start of the full-scale invasion. The Obama-Biden administration had rejected Ukraines request for those weapons in 2014, when Russia invaded Crimea and took over much of eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region. But feelings among Ukrainians are mixed with some, like Svitlana, fearing a Trump victory. Svitlana, Kyiv Resident: Trump is such a strange man, and he has quite strange thoughts. ANNA CHERNIKOVA: And others, like Ivan, find reassurance based on past experience. Ivan, Kyiv Resident: Trump was already the president, his methods are known and there is nothing to be afraid of, I think. ANNA CHERNIKOVA: The U.S. under the Biden administration has been generous with Ukraine, spending $175 billion dollars to support it since the start of the full-scale invasion. But there's frustration among Ukraine's leaders who say the aid has been slow to arrive. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President: The Russian army is now trying to take advantage of a situation when we are waiting for supplies from our partners, especially from the United States of America. And that is exactly why the speed of deliveries means stabilizing the front. ANNA CHERNIKOVA: Analysts say if elected, Kamala Harris' policies would likely be like Biden's, and the prospect of continuity is reassuring to some. But it makes others nervous that the war could drag on. A poll by the Razumkov Centre in Kyiv finds 44% of Ukrainians surveyed think Ukraine and Russia should start peace negotiations soon, but most respondents see Putins conditions as unacceptable. With fatigue building among Ukraine's top supporters in Europe, many here see the U.S. elections as more of a lifeline than ever, albeit one that is not entirely certain. Anna Chernikova, Voa News, Kyiv. ELIZABETH LEE: Ukraine faces wildly different prospects under a President Harris or a President Trump. But as both campaigns sprint toward the finish line, neither candidate has yet explicitly outlined a plan to deal with Russias war on Ukraine. Experts say that in the months ahead until the election, Ukraines battlefield victories put it in the drivers seat of its own destiny. Again, VOAs Anita Powell has more. ANITA POWELL: Ukraines ancient capital knows well what its like to be tossed about by the waves and whims of powerful forces and so analysts there seem ambivalent on a possible second term for former President Donald Trump. Oleksiy Melnyk, Razumkov Centre Analyst: There is a prevailing opinion that the return of Trump to the White House is not the best scenario for Ukraine, although there are also cautious opinions that everything may not be that bad. ANITA POWELL: Trump has said he will swiftly end the war though his running mate, JD Vance, once said he doesnt really care about Ukraine leaving Ukrainians unsure what to think. This makes a potential Kamala Harris presidency more of a wild card to this nation that knows Trump and President Joe Biden so well. Harris has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and represented Biden at major transatlantic security summits. But on the trail, Harris has only briefly spotlighted Ukraine and how she differs from Trump: Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee: He encouraged ((Russian President Vladimir)) Putin to invade our allies, said Russia could, quote, do whatever the hell they want. Five days before Russia attacked Ukraine, I met with President Zelenskyy to warn him about Russia's plan to invade. I helped mobilize a global response [of] over 50 countries to defend against Putin's aggression. And as president, I will stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies. ANITA POWELL: Analysts say Harris is likely to follow Bidens Support-Ukraine playbook, and Trumps broad foreign-policy pronouncements remain as vague as ever. Take Trumps promise that he will end the war in one day: Andrew Payne, City St George's, University of London: It's not entirely clear how he'll do that. The fear, of course, is that he'll do it by simply abandoning Ukraine, cutting off funds, and pressuring Zelenskyy into negotiations at a time when Putin would enjoy all of the bargaining leverage. ANITA POWELL: But, he says, the battlefield has shifted with Ukrainian forces recent decision to strike across the border and take a bite of Russian territory. While analysts widely predict that Ukraine will neither seek nor succeed in holding this land, its a bargaining chip that will help Kyiv whoever wins. And, he said, Biden could also put his hand on the scale at a pivotal stage. Andrew Payne, City St George's, University of London: I wouldn't be expecting any shift in the US position vis-a-vis Ukraine's military operations before November, but I would be watching between November and January whatever the outcome, to see if there is a little bit more of a leash given to Kyiv. ANITA POWELL: And he notes, Ukraines leader has bolstered his relationships with European leaders and broadened his support. And so, as these two race to the end of this story, what could end up happening in Ukraine ultimately may not be up to the American president whoever she or he is. Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington. ELIZABETH LEE: The Biden and Trump administrations both accuse China of unfair trade practices and flooding international markets with artificially cheap goods. Analysts say both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump could use tariffs to counter China and boost U.S. manufacturing jobs. Heres my report on how this trade war may impact consumers. This $6, made in China bicycle bell could cost $9.60if additional tariffs proposed by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump becomes reality. Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee: Were doing tariffs on other countries. Other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that weve done for the world. And the tariff will be substantial in some cases. ELIZABETH LEE: meaning Chinese made products will be hit with as much as a 60% tariff under Trumps plan. He also says he will implement blanket tariffs of up to 20% on all other countries. Both Trump and the Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris say they want to bring jobs back to the U.S. Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee: A policy about China should be in making sure the United States of America wins the competition for the 21st century. ELIZABETH LEE: The Biden administration kept most of the import taxes put in place during Trumps presidency. In May, Biden announced further tariff increases on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports, including a 100% import tax on Chinese electric vehicles. The Biden administration says its tariffs are more strategic aimed at specific industries and that Trumps import tax takes on a broader approach that will cost a middle-class American household $4,000 more a year. Other estimates are in the range of around $2,000. Trump says consumers wont be impacted. Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee: Whos going to have higher prices is China and all of the countries who have been ripping us off for years. ELIZABETH LEE: But Chinese businesses are not the ones paying the import taxes, explains supply chain expert Christopher Tang. Christopher Tang, UCLA Anderson School of Management: During the election years, everyone is promising the moon. But the truth of the matter is that the import tariffs are paid by the U.S. firms. ELIZABETH LEE: So, for an imported Chinese-made TV purchased at Costco, its Costco that pays the import tax. Christopher Tang, UCLA Anderson School of Management: When companies is (are) facing high import tariffs, there are two buttons to push. One is pass the high import cost to the consumers, the other one is squeeze the Chinese factories to lower the price. ELIZABETH LEE: Tang says the risk of pushing Chinese companies to lower the price is poor product quality. Import taxes may mean fewer made in China labels printed, but that doesnt mean there are fewer imports coming from Chinatheyll just have a label from a different country says Tang. Christopher Tang, UCLA Anderson School of Management: China actually shipped a lot of components and parts to Vietnam, to India for final assembly. And those end products actually is (are) importing into the U.S. as well. So therefore the total effect on China, they still actually export more, but they're not exporting to U.S. directly. ELIZABETH LEE: The World Trade Organization finds tariffs disproportionately effect low-income households, which means a $9.60 bike bell and other everyday products may be out of reach for some consumersif a 60% import tax is slapped on to Chinese-made products. Elizabeth Lee, VOA News Washington. ELIZABETH LEE: In our press freedom segment this week we go back to a story weve been following with you.. Pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai remains jailed in Hong Kong facing widely condemned charges. His son and an international team of attorneys are pushing the United States and other countries to call for Lais immediate release. Liam Scott has this story. LIAM SCOTT, VOA Correspondent: The son of imprisoned Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai was in Washington this month. Sebastien Lai made his fathers case to U.S. lawmakers. Sebastien Lai, Son of Jailed Publisher: The first time I realized I was taller than my dad, I was 13. But I always knew that I wasnt stronger than him. LIAM SCOTT: Years of unjust imprisonment have taken their toll on his father, Sebastien Lai says. Sebastien Lai, Son of Jailed Publisher: Given his age, given the fact that he is in the conditions that hes in, theres a danger to his life, and he could, you know, it breaks my heart say this, but he could pass away at any moment. LIAM SCOTT: Held in solitary confinement since late 2020, the 76-year-old Lai is on trial under Hong Kongs national security law. The founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper denies the charges of collusion with foreign forces and sedition. The United States, Britain and international observers have condemned the trial. Sebastien Lai and his fathers international legal team say Washingtons words matter. Sebastien Lai, Son of Jailed Publisher: I think there is a period before the end of this trial where we could put a lot more pressure on the Hong Kong government and eventually see my father released before he passes away in prison. LIAM SCOTT: International pressure is the only way to secure Lais release, says Caoilfhionn Gallagher. The head of Lais legal team says theres no more rule of law in Hong Kong. Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Doughty Street Chambers Barrister: Hes someone who could have left Hong Kong at any time, could be having a lovely life living in Washington or living in London or living in Paris, and he chose to stay and stand up for what was right in Hong Kong, and now its time we stand up for him. LIAM SCOTT: Analysts point to Lais case as emblematic of the rapid decline of media freedoms in Hong Kong since it enacted the national security law in 2020. The country has fallen from 73 to 135 out of 180 countries and territories in the World Press Freedom Index. Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Doughty Street Chambers Barrister: Its horrifying to see that happen so quickly, and weve just seen freedoms and liberties which Hong Kongers have taken for granted for a very long time just be decimated. LIAM SCOTT: Despite international criticism, Hong Kong officials say Lai will receive a fair trial. In a statement to VOA, Chinas Washington embassy claimed the publisher tried to destabilize Hong Kong. Lais international legal team rejects that claim. Members of Congress, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have joined calls for Lais release. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Former House of Representatives Speaker: Not only do we remember, we exalt, we lift up the sacrifice of Jimmy Lai. LIAM SCOTT: Sebastien says he welcomes the support and tries to stay optimistic. Sebastien Lai, Son of Jailed Publisher: Im sure Ill see my father again, and I wont stop until he is free. LIAM SCOTT: Lais trial is set to resume in November. Liam Scott, VOA News. ELIZABETH LEE: Thats all for now. Thanks for watching. For the latest news you can log on to VOA news dot com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at VOA News. To get more content from VOA, follow me on X at XXX. Catch up on past episodes at our free streaming service, VOA Plus. Im Elizabeth Lee. We will see you next week, for The Inside Story. ### Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China has decided to grant visa-free entry to the people of Slovenia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Slovenian counterpart as they met Wednesday in New York. "I now notify the Slovenian side with great excitement that the Chinese government has decided to grant visa-free entry to Slovenian citizens," said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, adding that the measure is "good news" for both the Slovenian and the Chinese people as it will forcefully promote friendly exchanges between the two countries and deepen their friendship and mutual trust. Wang was meeting Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon. Noting that Slovenia is an important member of the European Union, Wang said China supports Slovenia assuming the rotating chair of the United Nations Security Council this month, is willing to work with the Slovenian side to implement true multilateralism, uphold the authority of the United Nations and the Security Council, and promote international peace and security. For her part, Fajon expressed the Slovenian side's gratitude for the visa-free entry treatment by China, hailing the policy as a "big positive" that will make exchanges between the two peoples easier and facilitate economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Fajon said that as the rotating chair of the UN Security Council, Slovenian looks forward to maintaining close coordination with China and making effort to resolve the Ukraine crisis, the conflict in Gaza, as well as other hotspot issues. The two also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and the conflict in Gaza, agreeing that in pursuing political resolution of related issues, the Security Council should shoulder its due responsibility and play its due role. U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM, is working with southern African countries to combat gender-based violence in the military. This week, AFRICOM and regional military officials are holding a series of workshops in Zambia to strengthen regional collaboration in the fight against workplace harassment. AFRICOM and its component, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, or USAFE-AFAFRICA, have united with the Zambia Defense Force to foster strategies to tackle gender-based violence in the region. Botswana and Zambia are participating in efforts to strengthen regional initiatives against sexual assault. Lieutenant Colonel Linda Jones, USAFE-AFAFRICA chief for African health engagements, said it is imperative to come up with strategies to fight gender-based violence in the armed forces. "It is the responsibility of leaders that all of us set the tone, including an environment where everyone is valued and empowered to speak up against misconduct, she said. This involves not only enforcing policies but also modeling respect for behavior and actively supporting those who report incidents." In 2021, U.S. Defense Department officials reported sexual violence had reached the highest level ever reported, with 8.4% of women assaulted on duty. U.S. Air Force Tech Sergeant Samara Brown said if left unchecked, gender-based violence can affect execution of military tasks. "Gender-based violence undermines the core values of any military organization, Brown said. It erodes trust, disrupts unity, cohesion and ultimately compromises mission readiness. We must take a firm stand against it, not just as a matter of policy but a commitment to uphold the principles of honor, integrity and respect that define our service." Retired U.S. Air Force official and workplace development consultant Keith Castille facilitated the Lusaka workshop. He said such collaborations with the Zambia Defense Force can ensure gender-based violence is addressed within regional militaries. "No military can tackle this issue alone, he said. By sharing knowledge and collaborating across branches and communities, we can develop more effective strategies to combat gender-based violence. Engaging in open dialogue, facilitating workshops and creating joint initiatives will enable us to learn from one another and strengthen our collective efforts." Attending the workshop in Lusaka, Zambian Defense Force Major Stephen Muleya said the military workplace must be free of gender-based harassment. "When individuals know that they can perform their duties without the threat of harassment or violence, they are more likely to focus fully on their missions, he said. We must actively cultivate an atmosphere where everyone can thrive free from fear and intimidation." Zambian officials said theyre planning to open a regional office for innovative gender-based violence solutions. Zambian air force legal adviser Major Glory Musonda said collaboration with U.S. partners should result in solutions to gender-based violence within the force. "We all have a responsibility to build military environments where respect and dignity are upheld, Musonda said. Its not enough to simply acknowledge the issue, we must actively work toward solutions that ensure the safety and well-being of every service member." Meanwhile, officials representing the U.S. Army War College are in Lusaka for discussions on women, peace and security, which aligns with efforts to address gender-based violence in the region. President Joe Biden is turning to Africa in the sunset of his presidency. In the space of one day, in front of world leaders, he elevated Sudan's conflict to a priority, announced he would travel to Angola and endorsed adding two seats for African countries to the U.N. Security Council. In his valedictory speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Biden made several brief overtures to the African continent reminding world leaders of the evils of South Africas apartheid regime, calling for an end to Sudans grueling conflict and citing urgency in combating an mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But these two short lines may have the most weight: The U.N. needs to adapt to bring in new voices and new perspectives, he said. Thats why we support reforming and expanding the membership of the U.N. Security Council. For years, African leaders have called for a seat at this table. But critics point out that Washington does not support a critical privilege enjoyed by the current permanent members of the Security Council: veto power. Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says African nations are puzzled by Bidens position. This is really, I think, an unfinished project of his, probably more words than reality, he told VOA. The fact that Biden supported council membership for them but not veto power "has left Africans scratching their heads." John Fortier, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said it mattered that Biden used this platform to call for an end to Sudans raging 17-month conflict, but he doubted whether that call would provoke action. Trying to elevate issue This is one of the conflicts that is serious but has not been getting world attention, and I think his pointing to it is really to elevate it in world consciousness but not yet to really know how we're going to see an end to this, Fortier said. This conflict has displaced millions of people and sparked a near-famine. And so, analysts say, it matters that the American president is putting pressure on the warring parties. I think Biden genuinely wants to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and resolve the conflict in Sudan, said Daniel Volman, director of the African Security Research Project, in an email to VOA. But I think he is reluctant to press countries like Egypt and the [United Arab] Emirates that are arming the generals, because they are key allies during the Gaza war. Also, Biden is being driven by pressure from some members of Congress to take stronger and more effective action. I think he will take some limited action, like the new funds for humanitarian aid just announced, but I don't think this will yield significant results. And finally, Bidens off-camera announcement that he will visit Angola next month allows him to keep his promise to visit the continent. But again, Hudson wondered how this long-delayed visit would land. Coming, as it does, at the very tail end of his administration, without much to, I think, really celebrate in terms of his involvement in Africa, I think the visit will ring rather hollow, Hudson said. Biden has four months left in his presidency. The severe and prolonged flooding that has deluged Thailand is devastating hundreds of thousands of residents and prompting calls for long-term solutions, including measures to mitigate the long-term impact of climate change. Thailand suffers from an annual monsoon season from July to October. Although floods are common nationwide, authorities say this year has been the worst in decades. Thanapon Piman, senior research fellow, SEI Asia Center, says climate change has contributed to the flooding. Climate change and La Nina ... cause heavy rainfall over the region more than normal condition. For example, the monthly rainfall in Chiang Rai in August is higher [than] normal [by] 40% to 50%. Mae Sai has faced flooding six times in a month, which never happened before, he told VOA. The La Nina phenomenon is the natural cooling of the water in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It occurs every few years and affects weather worldwide. Thanapon said authorities knew La Nina would make this season wetter than normal, but not that it would be so extreme. This is certainly caused by climate changes. The floods were exacerbated by Typhoon Yagi, which rampaged through Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries in mid-September. Upwards of 150,000 families have been affected by the floods in Thailand, with 46 killed, according to Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department. It triggered severe flash floods and mudslides over the north region. As the result of heavy rainfall since August, land turned into saturated soil. Thus, when the heavy rainfall from the Yagi Typhoon hit the region, it caused the extreme flooding, Thanapon said. "Flooding and extreme events happen [not] only [in] Thailand but also happen in Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar. In Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand, floods have intensified in recent days. Direct daily train service between Bangkok and Chiang Mai was temporarily affected by a landslide, while roads were flooded. In Chiang Rai itself, the flooding has been a problem for weeks, with at least 1,268 families affected. Residents told VOA that the floods were waist-deep and even though they have subsided, foot-deep water remains in the streets while buildings are clogged with sludgy mud. Chalermpon Por Thungkham owns a congee restaurant in Chiang Rai with his mother and father. He says the floods have ruined his home and business. The stuff for the food to prepare got damaged, the electricity got cut, everything is ruined inside. It was like this for three days until it got back to normal, but then there was the mud. We wanted to clean the mud, but we didnt have the water supply, he told VOA. He said his breakfast shop usually brings in around $30 per day, but the damage to his facilities is equal to a years worth of income. His family has been relying on aid trucks to bring everyday supplies. The flooding has caused more than maybe 300,000 THB ($9,168) of damage. The car, the furniture we need to fix. It will take one month to clean and re-open the restaurant, he added. Fifty miles north in Mae Sai, on the border with Myanmar, relatives of the citys residents have come from around the country to help repair and clean up ruined homes. One of those is Sky, a hairdresser who works in Bangkok. I came back to Chiang Rai because I was worried about my mother and child who were trapped in our house for three days during the flooding, she told VOA. We still have mud on both sides of the house, and there is still mud in the kitchen and bathroom that needs to be cleaned. We have to wait for clean water. The Wat Tham Pha Chom Buddhist Temple has become a makeshift shelter for hundreds of residents in Mae Sai. Situated on a hill, the religious sanctuary has been largely unaffected by the floods. After the big flooding, the people came to stay here, said Phra Manatcha Pothisam, a monk and acting director of Wat Tham Pha Chom, who spoke to VOA amid stacked water containers and piles of second-hand clothes for those in need. There was around 300 people, men and women are separated, but we provide food for meals, drinking water, and some clothes. This is from donations and government subsidies. Right now there are 150 people live here, he said. Many of the villagers were very scared. This temple is the place for meditation [and] has been supported by the people, so we need to give back. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who became Thailands 31st prime minister in August, has said the governments top priority is addressing the flooding, and called for the mud to be cleared in Chiang Rai promptly. Economically, the floods could cause Thailand up to $176 million in damages, Thailands Chamber of Commerce has estimated. But Arisara Lekkham, a lecturer at the School of Law at the Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai insists Thailand needs a long-term plan to combat the flooding. Flood management should become a regular, year-round effort rather than a reactive, seasonal approach, she told VOA. Many houses are damaged, and it will take months before people can return to their homes. It is proposed that the government implement additional relief measures for the affected people. The lessons learned from the Chiang Rai floods should be applied to other areas currently facing flood problems, especially regarding early warning systems," she added. Lebanon's Hezbollah militia has largely refrained from firing rockets at central Israel after a week of suffering the worst blows in its 11-month conflict with the nation, some observers say, as the group grapples with external pressures and its desire to keep the fighting at a low level. In the eight days since Hezbollah began seeing thousands of its communications devices explode in attacks it blamed on Israel, followed by Israeli airstrikes that eliminated more of its senior commanders, the group has fired only one of its most powerful weapons at Israel's heavily populated center. Hezbollah fired what it said was a ballistic missile toward Tel Aviv early Wednesday, in what the Israeli military described as the first such attack by the U.S.-designated terror group. Israel said that it had successfully intercepted the missile and that no damage had been done. Since its last war with Israel in 2006, the Iran-backed militia has built an arsenal of about 150,000 rockets and other projectiles, some capable of hitting anywhere in Israel, said Matthew Levitt, counterterrorism program director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, citing Israeli estimates. In an interview for the Wednesday edition of VOA's "Flashpoint" program, Levitt said one factor mitigating Hezbollah's use of its longest-range and most powerful missiles was the impact of the recent unprecedented Israeli strikes and suspected Israeli attacks on the group's communications devices, commanders and rocket stockpiles. "Israel has prepared the battlefield with a series of stunning tactical masterstrokes that have diminished Hezbollah's capacity to fight a prolonged, coordinated, full-fledged war," Levitt said. Brian Carter, Middle East portfolio manager at the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project, told VOA that Hezbollah has had to spontaneously reshuffle its command structures. "There has been significant disruption to those command systems, but the disruptions are temporary, and Hezbollah will try to fix them speedily with a potential Israeli ground offensive looming," Carter said. In a video posted online by the Israeli military, chief of staff Herzi Halevi told a group of soldiers on Wednesday near the border with Lebanon to prepare to enter enemy territory to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure. It was not clear when such a ground offensive may begin. Speaking to VOA, Middle East Forum Research Director Jonathan Spyer said Israel has largely deterred Hezbollah from using precision weapons against central Israel. "Israel has contained Hezbollah within a certain level of behavior. If Hezbollah goes beyond that, they know they will get the all-out war with Israel that they don't want," Spyer said. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah repeatedly has said he would stop his 11 months of near-daily strikes on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas if Israel accepts the Palestinian terror group's terms for a cease-fire in Gaza. Iran-backed Hamas started a war with Israel by invading from Gaza last October. Levitt said Hezbollah does not want an all-out war with Israel because Lebanon, where the Iranian proxy is the dominant political and military force, is in a dire economic situation. "The Lebanese people are going to be very angry at Hezbollah for dragging the country into a war when that is not what they want or need right now," Levitt said. Hezbollah's patron Iran also does not want it to fight an all-out war with Israel now, Levitt said, as that would involve expending a significant number of rockets. "Iran wants Hezbollah to keep the powder dry on its precision-guided and long-range missiles, which Tehran sees as the best deterrent against Israel or anyone else attacking the Iranian nuclear program that has ratcheted up for the past year," he added. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, said Israel's "massive aggression" in Lebanon "cannot go unanswered," but he did not elaborate on how Tehran will respond. "The responsibility for all consequences will be borne by those who have thwarted all global efforts to end this horrific catastrophe," Pezeshkian said. Hezbollah and Iran also want to preserve the group's rocket arsenal because they see the conflict as a war of attrition that they want to last a long time, according to retired Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Sarit Zehavi, president of Alma Research and Education Center, which specializes in security challenges on Israel's northern border. "They don't want to use up all of Hezbollah's cards early in this conflict," Zehavi told VOA. "They want Israel to get drawn into the Lebanese mud." Spyer said Hezbollah also wants to maintain a low-level conflict with Israel because the alternative, besides all-out war, would be a cease-fire that enables Israel to keep fighting Hamas in Gaza while returning Israelis to northern communities that they fled last year due to Hezbollah's attacks. "If Iran and Hezbollah concede to such a cease-fire, it would be a strategic setback, because it would undermine the credibility of Iran's 'Axis of Resistance,'" Spyer said. "Israel would demonstrate that this axis is a bunch of components that try to work together until sufficient pressure is applied, and then they stop working together, so there would be no more axis." Besides Hezbollah, other Iranian proxies also have attacked Israel in support of Hamas since last year. Yemen's Houthis and militias based in Iraq and Syria have sporadically fired missiles, rockets and drones at the Jewish state. Voter turnout of just over 56% was reported Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir, the disputed, Indian-controlled territory holding its first legislative elections in ten years. Two hundred thirty-nine candidates ran for 26 assembly constituencies in Wednesdays voting, part two of the three-phase elections. More than 2.5 million adults were eligible to cast ballots. The elections took place under tight security arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the polls. The polls ended peacefully in all the six districts. However, some stray incidents like arguments et cetera occurred at a few places but there is no need for re-poll anywhere, Pandurang Kondbarao Pole, J&K Chief Electoral Officer, told reporters in a press conference. Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing its first elections since the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party revoked its limited autonomy in 2019, downgrading its status to that of a union territory. Some locals see the elections as a battle between the BJP and the people of Kashmir, saying the government has systematically snatched away their rights over the last decade. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I have boycotted elections ever since I became eligible to vote. Today I feel its necessary to cast a vote and send a message to New Delhi, Ikhlaq Shah, a resident of Qamarwari, told VOA. If we fail to act now, I believe the BJP government will impose its hazardous agenda against us. India, he said, is more interested in exploiting Jammu and Kashmirs resources than caring for its people. Shah expressed disappointment that regional political parties, particularly the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, are competing against each other in the elections despite sharing the common goal of throwing BJP out of J&K. Muzamil Maqbool, a political analyst, told VOA that the parties have fragmented because their leaders are prioritizing personal interests. Most of these mainstream parties were once colleagues of each other in the past. Now they have sprouted and formed their own separated parties to fight under different names and banners, Maqbool said. The result, he predicted, is that none of them will win a majority in the J&K legislature. Its too early to say, but J&K may see a large coalition formed to govern after the October 2024 elections, he said. Shameem Ahmad Baba, a resident of old Srinagar, said voters are confused about the parties, who are accusing each other of being hidden allies of the BJP. There is a mass confusion among the people about who supports us and who stands with the government, as so many candidates are running this time, Baba told VOA. I wish the regional political parties had agreed on seat-sharing, as this would have helped keep New Delhis influence at bay. Muzaffar Shah, vice president of the Awami National Conference, or ANC, said that if all regional parties worked together under the banner of the now-dissolved Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, PAGD, it would have strengthened the movement of the local population. PAGD was a coalition of major parties created to press the demand that India revive J&Ks special status. PAGD was recognized almost throughout diaspora of Kashmir and throughout the world, Shah said. Unfortunately, political parties in the alliance, they gave much more weightage to their organizational matters and power politics than the interests of people of region. That fact unfortunately led to the breakup. Meanwhile, a 16-member delegation of foreign diplomats from countries like the U.S., Mexico, Singapore and Norway visited Kashmir at the invitation of the Indian government. Former Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah, lashed out at the central government for inviting foreign diplomats to observe the elections. If these diplomats comment on J&K the Government of India immediately says its an internal matter and they dont want outside interference. If thats the case, why are they inviting them now? Abdullah said. The third phase of the J&K elections takes place October 1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel is planning to continue striking Hezbollah in Lebanon with full force until residents in northern Israel can go back to their homes safely. We will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes, Netanyahu told reporters after landing in the United States ahead of his speech before the United Nations General Assembly Friday. Shortly before his statement, the Israeli military said it killed a Hezbollah drone commander in an airstrike on an apartment building in the suburbs of Lebanons capital, Beirut. Two people were killed, and 15 others were injured in the attack, Lebanons health ministry said. Netanyahus confirmation that Israel will continue conducting strikes in Lebanon come as U.S. and European officials push for a 21-day pause in fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah for negotiations to take place. But earlier on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz rejected a proposed cease-fire along the Israel-Lebanon border, hours after the European Union, the United States, France and eight other nations called for the three-week halt in fighting. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes," Katz said on social media platform X. The cease-fire proposal came late Wednesday in a statement saying the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. The multination statement said a cease-fire would allow for negotiations toward a diplomatic settlement consistent with U.N. Security Council resolutions that call for a halt to the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cautioned Thursday that all-out war" would be devastating for Israel and Lebanon. A full-scale war between Hezbollah and Israel could be devastating for both parties, Austin said in London. He added that a cease-fire can also be used to conclude and implement a deal to secure a cease-fire in Gaza. Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also joined the cease-fire call, which said a broader regional conflict is in nobodys interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal for a halt in fighting. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati supports it, but his government has no influence over Hezbollah. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the Security Council earlier Wednesday he would head to Beirut later this week to work with local stakeholders on a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The developments come after some of the deadliest days in Lebanon since its civil war ended in the early 1990s. Israels military said Thursday it had already carried out airstrikes on 75 Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon and was continuing to conduct new attacks. Israel also detected about 45 projectiles crossing into its territory from Lebanon, the military said. Lebanons state-run news agency said an Israeli attack near the city of Baalbek hit a building housing Syrian workers, killing 23 people and wounding eight others. Lebanese health officials said Israeli strikes killed 50 people on Wednesday, bringing the death toll since Monday to more than 630 people, with more than 2,000 wounded. To all sides, let us say in one clear voice: Stop the killing and destruction. Tone down the rhetoric and threats. Step back from the brink, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Wednesday. An all-out war must be avoided at all costs. It would surely be an all-out catastrophe. Ground invasion? Israels army chief said Wednesday his troops should be prepared for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon, as Israeli fighter jets bombarded Hezbollah militant targets for a third straight day and the militants launched a ballistic missile targeting the headquarters of Israels Mossad intelligence agency near Tel Aviv. Israel shot down the missile. Hezbollah broke a relative calm along the border after Hamas October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. Israel says Hezbollah has fired nearly 9,000 rockets at communities in northern Israel since then. The militant group says it is acting in solidarity with Palestinians and its fellow Iran-backed ally Hamas. The fighting has killed 49 people in Israel, along with hundreds in Lebanon, and displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border. Israel also said it has activated reserve troops in response to the fight against the Hezbollah militants. The war in Gaza began with Hamas' October 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. They are still holding around 100 captives, one-third of whom are believed to be dead. Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks have killed more than 41,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry, with the Israeli military saying the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters. Hamas has been designated a terror group by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and others. Hezbollah also is a U.S.-designated terror group. VOA U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer and National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Paris-based press watchdog Reporters Without Borders has teamed up with more than 500 community radio stations across the Sahel in calling for the protection and support of local radio broadcasters, which in some places are under increasing attack. The organization wants governments to protect radio stations' right to inform freely across the region and is also calling for shedding light on the fate of journalists who have been attacked in recent months. Our fear is if we dont organize ourselves, if we dont appeal and call on local political authorities, there will be no ... community radio stations in the Sahel, said Sadibou Marong, RSFs sub-Saharan Africa bureau director. He spoke from Bamako, Mali, where this appeal was launched. Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad are countries where community radios are especially vulnerable. The stations "have always played ... a crucial role to inform and sensitize populations. They have also been using local languages, and local languages are extremely important," Marong said. Many of the Sahels local radio stations were launched in the 1990s. They cover issues like farming, health and the environment that are key for local populations. But in several Sahel countries where terrorists and other armed groups are active, RSF says the stations and their journalists are increasingly under attack. Over the past year, for example, two journalists were killed in Chad and Mali. Two others were kidnapped. Assailants also have destroyed radio stations or pressured them to broadcast their propaganda. Anne Bocambe, RSFs editorial head in Paris, says the Sahels community radio stations are critical for other reasons. Many international media have been forced to leave the Sahel. Disinformation is spreading, including by foreign groups like Russian mercenaries. Theres a danger that parts of the Sahel may become a black hole in terms of information. Israel rejects proposals for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, defying allies including the United States which called for an immediate end to the fighting. President Biden and Vice President Harris will meet with Ukraines president as the White House announces billions more in military aid for Kyivs fight against Russias continued invasion. And Florida braces for a potentially catastrophic hurricane. Pope Francis is traveling to once-strong bastions of Christianity in the heart of Europe to try to reinvigorate a Catholic flock that is dwindling in the face of secular trends and abuse scandals that have largely emptied the continent's magnificent cathedrals and village churches. Francis stops first Thursday in Luxembourg, the European Union's second-smallest country, with a population of some 650,000 people, and its richest per capita. Torrential downpours are expected, days after the 87-year-old pope canceled his audiences because of a slight flu. He seemed in fine form at the Vatican on Wednesday, during his general audience on the eve of the trip, but his respiratory health is a constant concern and his medical team will be on hand. After meeting with Luxembourg's political leaders, Francis will speak to the country's Catholic priests and nuns. The venue is the late-Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, which was built in the early 1600s by Francis' own Jesuit order and stands as a monument to Christianity's long and central place in European history. Francis is likely to dwell on Europe's role past, present and future particularly as war rages on European soil during his visits to Luxembourg and Belgium, where he arrives later Thursday and stays through the weekend. The trip is a much-truncated version of the 10-day, 1985 tour St. John Paul II made through Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, during which the Polish pope delivered 59 speeches or homilies and was greeted by hundreds of thousands of adoring faithful. In Luxembourg alone, John Paul drew a crowd of some 45,000 people to his Mass, or some 10% of the then-population, and officials had predicted a million people would welcome him in Belgium, according to news reports at the time. But then as now, the head of the Catholic Church faced indifference and even hostility to core Vatican teachings on contraception and sexual morals, opposition that has only increased in the ensuing generation. Those secular trends and the crisis over clergy abuse have helped lead to the decline of the church in the region, with monthly Mass attendance in the single digits and plummeting ordinations of new priests. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that by traveling to the two countries, Francis will likely want to offer "a word to the heart of Europe, of its history, the role it wants to play in the world in the future." Immigration, climate change and peace are likely to be themes during the four-day visit, which was organized primarily to mark the 600th anniversary of the founding of Belgium's two main Catholic universities. In Luxembourg, Francis has a top ally and friend in the lone cardinal from the country, Jean-Claude Hollerich, a Jesuit like the Argentine pope. Hollerich, whom Francis made a cardinal in 2019, has taken on a leading role in the pope's multi-year church reform effort as the "general rapporteur" of his big synod, or meeting, on the future of the Catholic Church. In that capacity, Hollerich has helped oversee local, national and continental-wide consultations of rank-and-file Catholics and synthesized their views into working papers for bishops and other delegates to discuss at their Vatican meetings, the second session of which opens next week. Last year, in another sign of his esteem for the progressive cardinal, Francis appointed Hollerich to serve on his kitchen cabinet, known as the Council of Cardinals. The group of nine prelates from around the globe meet several times a year at the Vatican to help Francis govern. Sudan's former autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled for 30 years before he was toppled in a popular uprising and then jailed by the country's military rulers, has been transferred to a medical facility in northern Sudan, his lawyer said Wednesday. Since war broke out in April last year between the Sudanese military and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the 80-year-old al-Bashir has been held at a military facility on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. His lawyer, Mohamed al-Hassan al-Amin, told The Associated Press that al-Bashir was transferred on Tuesday and would get proper care at a better-equipped hospital in the town of Merowe, about 330 kilometers north of Khartoum. Al-Bashir's health had deteriorated recently, the lawyer said, adding that the former strongman suffers from age-related complications and high blood pressure. "He needs regular checks and follow-ups," al-Amin said over the phone, "but his condition is not critical." Al-Amin said that Sudan's former Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein who was also arrested soon after al-Bashir also was transferred to the same facility. He suffers from heart-related problems, the lawyer said. The office of Sudan's military spokesman declined to comment when contacted by the AP. Al-Bashir ruled Sudan for three decades, despite wars and sanctions, before he was overthrown during a popular uprising in 2019. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide and other crimes committed during the conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region in the 2000s. The ICC has indicted both al-Bashir and Hussein on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur, where the government's campaign was marked by mass killings, rape, torture and persecution. Some 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. Sudan's military rulers now themselves fighting to stay in power in a bitter conflict with the rival RSF declined ICC requests that al-Bashir and others wanted by the world court be handed over for trial. Al-Bashir, Hussein and others were held in a Khartoum prison before being taken to a fortified military base after the prison was attacked by the RSF in April last year. Another former official, Ahmed Harun, who is also wanted by the ICC, walked away after the prison was attacked. His whereabouts are unknown. The latest war in Sudan has devastated Khartoum and many other urban areas and also has been marked by atrocities, such as mass rape and ethnically motivated killings. The United Nations and international rights groups say these acts also amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in Darfur, which has been facing a bitter onslaught by the RSF. The war has killed at least 20,000 people and left tens of thousands wounded, according to the United Nations. Rights groups and activists say the toll is much higher. The conflict has also forced some 10 million people to flee their homes in Sudan about a quarter of the country's population, according to the International Organization for Migration. Of them, more than 2 million have been driven abroad, mostly to neighboring Chad, South Sudan and Egypt, the IOM said. BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Military communication between China and the United States could help enhance mutual understanding, avoid miscalculations and manage risks, said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday. Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a query concerning the current China-U.S. military relations and the future interaction between the two sides. The overall defense relations between China and the United States show a more stable momentum at present, Zhang said, noting that the two militaries maintain high-level strategic communication, policy communication, institutionalized dialogue, and exchanges in specialized fields. Zhang emphasized that the United States should recalibrate its strategic perception of China, return to a sensible and practical China policy, and respect China's major concerns. The two sides should make concerted efforts on the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to stabilize and improve bilateral military relations through candid, effective and constructive dialogue and cooperation, said Zhang. Sudan's army on Thursday launched an early morning offensive in the capital, Khartoum, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in what appeared to be the army's biggest operation since the conflict began, sources within the Sudanese military and witnesses at the scene said. The army hit RSF positions in the capital with artillery and airstrikes, according to the reports. The rebel group has controlled much of the capital since fighting erupted in April 2023 between Sudan's army chief, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The two generals were once allies in Sudan's transitional government after a 2021 coup but became rivals for power. Thursday's military offensive was launched before Burhan's address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he said any peace efforts would have to include RSF giving up its arms. He also accused unnamed countries of backing RSF's efforts by supplying the rebel group with men, money and weapons. The general said, however, that the army is "proceeding to defeat and dislodge these aggressors, no matter how much assistance and support they find." A recorded speech by RSF commander Dagalo was heard by the General Assembly after Burhan's speech. Dagalo said, as he has many times before, that RSF is open to a nationwide cease-fire that would permit aid distribution. Reports from Khartoum said army troops crossed two key bridges over the River Nile that separate government-controlled areas in Omdurman from Khartoum proper, which is controlled by the RSF. Agence France-Presse reposted Sudanese army footage of troops celebrating the recapture of territory within the capital. The army's offensive coincided with a ministerial meeting on the conflict at the General Assembly, where U.N. agencies and member states called for immediate action to protect civilians, scale up humanitarian assistance, and end fighting. Millions face acute hunger U.N. reports state that an estimated 20,000 people have been killed and thousands injured since the conflict erupted in April 2023. The fighting has also created the world's worst hunger crisis, with nearly 26 million people more than half the country's population facing acute hunger. The civil conflict also has created a regional refugee crisis, with an estimated 8.1 million internally displaced persons and another 2.2 million driven across the border. Guterres shares concerns U.S. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with General Abdel-Fattah Burhan head of Sudan's transitional government on the sidelines of the General Assembly Wednesday. A readout from that meeting said Guterres expressed deep concern about the escalation of the conflict and the risks of regional spillover. The statement said they also discussed the need for an immediate, lasting cease-fire and the importance of genuine dialogue leading to an inclusive negotiated peace settlement. The conflict has spread to Sudan's Darfur region where, the U.N. human rights office reports, fighting has intensified for control of the northern city of El Fasher. The office said the RSF, with the support of local tribal militia, besieged the city in May. The heaviest recent fighting took place September 20 and 21, when artillery claimed at least 20 civilians and destroyed shops in the city's main market. In a video statement Thursday, U.N. Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said his office has documented incidents of civilians being killed as a result of shelling and airstrikes by both RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces. They also have documented cases of summary executions, sexual and gender-based violence, and reported abductions by the RSF and allied militias. Laurence said the office is calling on the international community, including the U.N. Security Council, to take action to protect civilians in Sudan and ensure respect for international law by all parties. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Thousands of Syrian refugees are among those fleeing the escalating violence in Lebanon between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. With most of the violence taking place in southern Lebanon, thousands of civilians are seeking safety elsewhere in the tiny Middle Eastern country. Mustafa Rashid, a Syrian refugee living in southern Lebanon, said his family and three other Syrian families were stranded at a house as they anxiously waited for a way out. Everyone is trying to leave. We are trying to reach Beirut, he told VOA via a messaging app. In the capital, Beirut, many churches and schools were quickly turned into temporary shelters to receive thousands of people from southern Lebanon, including hundreds of Syrian families. Nihad, a pastor at an evangelical Christian church near Beirut who gave only his first name for security reasons, said his church alone has received about 150 fleeing Syrian families. Some of them were sheltered in the church itself, while others were taken to some Syrian families who live around here, he told VOA on Thursday in a phone interview. The pastor said the church was overwhelmed with the influx of displaced people, having received limited financial donations from a local relief group and a private American citizen. According to the United Nations, Lebanon hosts an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees who have been there since the beginning of Syrias conflict in 2011. The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said it was increasing its support for the growing number of displaced Lebanese and Syrian nationals. The U.N. said Wednesday that upwards of 90,000 people in Lebanon had been displaced during the previous five days. Lebanese officials said more than 600 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes that are targeting Hezbollah fighters and weapons. The Lebanese militant group is considered a terrorist organization by the United States. This bloodshed is extracting a terrible toll, driving tens of thousands from their homes, Filippo Grandi, U.N. high commissioner for refugees, said in a statement on Wednesday. It is yet another ordeal for families who previously fled war in Syria, only now to be bombed in the country where they sought shelter. The UNHCR said thousands of Lebanese and Syrian people were fleeing to Syria. According to the Saudi-funded Al Arabiya news channel, more than 20,000 Syrian and Lebanese citizens so far have crossed the border into Syria, with hundreds of vehicles lining up at a border crossing between the two countries. Bassam Alahmad, executive director of the Paris-based advocacy group Syrians for Truth and Justice, however, said returning to Syria isnt an option for all the Lebanon-based Syrian refugees. While some Syrian refugees have already returned to Syria, it is a big risk for the majority of those living in Lebanon, he told VOA. There are many refugees who are wanted by the Syrian regime. They fear to go back and face potential arrest or forced disappearance. Alahmad said one of his groups researchers who lives in Lebanon is among those who cannot go back. He fled Syria a few years ago because he opposed the regime, so it is not possible for him to return safely, Alahmad said. Horan Hem, a Syrian Kurdish refugee in Lebanon, said he would rather live in an uncertain situation in Lebanon than return to face persecution in Syria. With everything going on here, it is still safer for me to stay in Lebanon than going back to Syria, he told VOA. Syrian President Bashar Assad on Wednesday directed his government to provide assistance for fleeing Lebanese citizens, without any mention of Syrian refugees. Lebanons health ministry announced Thursday that 23 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a village in the Bekaa Valley region, including 19 Syrian nationals. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday that at least 103 Syrians have been killed in Lebanon since the beginning of the latest escalation. This story originated in VOAs Kurdish Service. A Tunisian court sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to six months in prison on Wednesday on charges of falsifying documents, his lawyer told Reuters, the second prison sentence against him in a week, days before the presidential election. The verdict highlights rising tensions ahead of the election, amid opposition and civil society groups' fears of a rigged election aimed at keeping President Kais Saied in power. Zammel was sentenced to 20 months in prison last week on charges of falsifying popular endorsements. "It is another unjust ruling and a farce that clearly aims to weaken him in the election race, but we will defend his right to the last minute," Zammel attorney Abdessattar Massoudi told Reuters. Zammel was among only three admitted candidates competing for the position of president alongside incumbent Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui. Political tensions in the North African country have risen ahead of the October 6 election since an electoral commission named by Saied disqualified three prominent candidates this month amid protests by opposition and civil society groups. Among the issues on the agenda for world leaders who gathered this week for the United Nations General Assembly is Russias war against Ukraine. In an interview in New York with VOAs Ukrainian Service, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said his nation stands "shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ukrainians" and will provide Ukraine with military aid for "as long as it takes" to help it "stand off this aggression." He also cited intelligence findings that Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing mounting problems, with a deteriorating economy and mounting battlefield losses. The following has been edited for length and clarity. VOA: Have you had the chance to discuss with your counterparts in other countries, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the issue of lifting restrictions on Ukraine using long-range Western missiles against targets inside Russia? U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy: It was very important for me to be with Secretary Blinken in Ukraine just two weeks ago to see for ourselves, to discuss with [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy ... also to discuss Ukraines needs as they head out of the autumn into the winter, and that we continue as allies to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to stand off this aggression that we're seeing from Vladimir Putin. That was why I also went to the White House with [U.K.] Prime Minister [Keir] Starmer. We remain in the U.K. absolutely clear that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainians. It's important that Ukraine has the finances and the money, the military aid, as well as the political, diplomatic and humanitarian aid, to get through 2025. And of course, here at the U.N. General Assembly, I will meet with Zelenskyy once again today. But, also, it's hugely important that we rally the Global South to ensure that they're not falling into the trap of Russian propaganda and efforts to destabilize [and distract] the international community when in fact what they are doing is taking ballistic missiles from Iran to use against [Ukrainian] men, women and children. VOA: Youve already mentioned this meeting between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington. Can you share the details of the conversation? Lammy: I do think it is very important for us in the U.K. and Europe, and of course in the United States, to understand more the details of President Zelenskyys "victory plan." And over the coming days, he will present that in detail to close allies. And of course, Im not going to speculate whats in the papers because I dont want to give any advantage to Vladimir Putin. But I am really clear that this is a time for Western allies to show nerve and guts, because Vladimir Putin thinks that well get distracted. He thinks that we havent got the attention span to stand with our Ukrainian friends. Thats why we in the U.K. have found 3 billion pounds for Ukraine to buy and have the military equipment it needs, not just this year, [but] for every year as long as it takes. And thats what I said to my G7 allies last night when I met with them. Thats the position weve got to ensure Ukraine is in. VOA: When do you think this crucial decision could be made? Lammy: We meet here in the U.N. General Assembly. I know that President Zelenskyy is meeting with President Biden a little bit later in the week also in Washington. We will head on to the G20 [summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 18-19, 2024] as well. So, over the coming days and weeks, I expect us to be in a very strong position to ensure that Ukraine is in the best position it can be as we head into that tough winter in 2025. And let's just be clear about what I mean by that. All of our intelligence actually suggests things are going to get a lot tougher for Vladimir Putin as he comes out of next year. His economy is in trouble. He's going to find it very problematic with the amount of losses and casualties that he's taking. And actually, when you look at what Ukraine is doing their ability to take back half the ground that's been lost, their ability to repel him from the Black Sea, their ability to advance in Kursk and hopefully keep the ground this is a time for Western countries to show their nerve and to be absolutely committed as we head out of the autumn into the winter period. VOA: What do you say to people, including leaders, who warn that allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike inside Russia could lead to a third world war? Lammy: Well, were really clear that under the U.N. Charter and under Article 51, Ukraine has the right to defend itself, to defend itself against the horrendous attacks that are coming from Russia, and we will do all we can within international law and the rules of engagement to support Ukraine to defend itself. VOA: You said that the war between Russia and Ukraine is likely to continue for at least another two years. Will Ukraine and the West will have enough to stand so long? Lammy: Lets be clear: The war could end tomorrow if Putin left. Thats how it ends: Leave Ukraine. But in the absence of Putin showing any desire to negotiate, we have to continue to stand with Ukraine, because the cost of not standing with Ukraine would actually be financially far greater. You know, defense spending would rise substantially across all Western allies, and indeed, there will be a very vulnerable Baltic frontier in relation to Putin's threats. So, that is why we stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. And I'm quite sure that ... this war will only be settled in the end politically, of course. That also gets into the security guarantees that Ukraine needs. And we've always believed in the U.K. that that path to Ukraine joining NATO is a very important dimension of that security guarantee. Ukraines military said Thursday it shot down 66 of 78 Russian drones launched in overnight attacks, along with all four guided missiles fired by Russian forces. The intercepts took place over the Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy and Vinnytsia regions, the military said. Officials in Kyiv said Thursday that Ukrainian air defenses shot down about a dozen Russian drones overnight, with falling debris causing a fire at a residential building and damaging a gas pipeline. Russias Defense Ministry said Thursday it shot down four Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region, two drones over the Kursk region and another drone over Bryansk. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor of Belgorod, said one person was killed in a drone attack that struck a car. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Partisan politics ahead of Americas November presidential election intruded Thursday on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss U.S. support for the war in Ukraine. From the White House, Biden insisted that Russia would not succeed in its war that began when it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine will prevail, and we'll continue to stand by you every step of the way, Biden said. Meeting separately with Zelenskyy, Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, reiterated the administrations support for Kyivs war efforts and underscored that its up to Ukraine to decide how the war will end. Without mentioning his name, Harris criticized Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, whose proposal to end the war would leave Ukraine with less territory and no NATO membership. These proposals are the same of those of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. And let us be clear: They are not proposals for peace, Harris said. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable. Vance suggested in a recent interview that Ukraine and Russia halt fighting and create a demilitarized zone at the current battle lines. Kyiv would need to adhere to a neutral status and stop its bid to join NATO. On Wednesday, congressional Republicans loyal to former President Donald Trump demanded that the Ukrainian leader fire his ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, over Zelenskyy's Monday visit to an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania, a hotly contested battleground state in the November U.S. presidential election. Zelenskyy met with the Democratic governor of the state, Josh Shapiro. In a letter to Zelenskyy, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said the visit to the factory that made munitions for Ukraine was a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats that amounted to election interference. Support for ending Russias war against Ukraine continues to be bipartisan, but our relationship is unnecessarily tested and needlessly tarnished when the candidates at the top of the Republican presidential ticket are targeted in the media by officials in your government, Johnson said. The White House called Johnsons letter a political stunt and pointed out that Zelenskyy recently met the Republican governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, in a similar event. Johnsons reaction reflects Republican anxiety over the prospect of a Harris victory in Pennsylvania, home to many Ukrainian Americans, said Sergiy Kudelia, an associate professor of political science at Baylor University. "It's a key blue-wall state. Without it, Trump would have a hard time winning the election, he told VOA. Given the number of Ukrainians living in Pennsylvania, close to 150,000, Ukrainian Americans could become a key voting bloc capable of swinging the race to one or the other side." Meeting with Trump Later on Thursday, Trump said he would meet with Zelenskyy on Friday at Trump Tower in New York. The Republican presidential nominee has in recent days increased his criticism that the U.S. continues to "give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal" to end the war. On Wednesday, Trump suggested that Biden and Harris were at fault for prolonging the war that followed Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Biden and Kamala allowed this to happen by feeding Zelenskyy money and munitions like no country has ever seen before, Trump said. He argued that Kyiv should have made concessions to Moscow before Russian troops attacked, asserting that Ukraine was now in rubble and in no position to negotiate the wars end. Any deal the worst deal wouldve been better than what we have now, Trump said. Trumps comments created anxiety not only in Ukraine but also in some European capitals that have been supporting Kyivs war efforts, said Ian Lesser, distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. To turn that around and suddenly give Moscow a great deal more leverage by calling into question the flow of arms to Ukraine, political support for Ukraine, et cetera, is handing a victory to Moscow, he told VOA. Deeper strikes The topics that leaders discussed Thursday included Ukraines request for weapons donors to allow Ukrainian forces to use the weapons to strike targets deeper inside Russia. I raised with President Biden [our] plan of victory today. We are preparing to discuss the details to strengthen the plan [and] coordinate our positions, use and approach, Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian leaders say such strikes are needed to degrade Russias ability to carry out its daily missile and drone attacks. But the Biden administration has been reluctant to agree because of concerns about escalation. Russia, a nuclear power, has warned that arming Kyiv with long-range weapons would escalate the conflict beyond Ukraine. It will mean that NATO countries, the United States, European countries, are at war with Russia, Putin said earlier this month. Kyivs request has bipartisan support, including from Republican Senator Lindsay Graham. If you allow Ukraine to start hitting legitimate military targets to put pressure on Putin, you're doing the next president a great service, whether it's Trump or Harris. They'll have some leverage to end this war, he told reporters Thursday. He has specific military targets, Graham said of Zelenskyys plan for victory. If he could start executing that plan, that gives us the best hope of ending this war in 2025. Ahead of Zelenskyys visit, the U.S. administration announced $8 billion in new aid for Ukraine. In a statement, Biden said the aid included a Patriot missile battery and missiles, as well as air-to-ground munitions and a precision-guided glide bomb with a range of up to 130 kilometers. The administration is also expanding training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots to include an additional 18 pilots next year. Zelenskyy thanked the U.S., saying the new aid included the items that are most critical to protecting our people. We will use this assistance in the most efficient and transparent manner to achieve our major common goal: victory for Ukraine, just and lasting peace, and transatlantic security, Zelenskyy said on social media platform X. VOA's Tatiana Vorozhko, Katherine Gypson and Chris Hannas contributed to this report. The United States announced more than $8 billion worth of military assistance for Ukraine on Thursday during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday. Former US president Donald Trump on Wednesday accused Ukraine's leader of refusing to "make a deal" to end his country's war with Russia. The Israeli army chief says the military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon. And meet the Bicycle Mayor of Cape Town. The U.S. decision to pull the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt out of the Middle East, amid Israels escalating wars in Gaza and Lebanon, is seen by analysts as a reflection of Americas competing security interests there and in Asia. Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder announced on September 12 that the Roosevelt had left the region en route to the Indo-Pacific, after three weeks of simultaneous coverage in the region by the Roosevelt and a second carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln. The dual coverage was widely seen, at least in part, as a response to the threat of a massive Iranian aerial assault on Israel in response to the July assassination of Hamas political leader in Tehran. The fear has receded as Iran has failed to respond, saying it does not want to upset the prospects for a cease-fire in Gaza. But Yasmin Omar, director of the Democracy Matters Initiative at the Middle East Democracy Center in Washington, noted that the United States also has pressing security concerns elsewhere. The deployment of the USS Theodore Roosevelt was initially a show of force aimed at deterring U.S. adversaries in the region. Its withdrawal signals a noteworthy shift in U.S. military posture, she told VOA. Omar said the move suggests a reallocation of priorities, particularly as Washington addresses security threats in the Indo-Pacific, where China and Russia have been expanding their influence through major naval exercises. It is important to interpret this as part of a broader recalibration of military resources, rather than a reduction in U.S. engagement, Omar said. An Iran specialist based in Washington, Sina Toossi, agreed that Tehran and Washington are signaling a desire to avoid war. But, he said, some U.S. allies in the region may interpret the U.S. restraint as indicating a lack of resolve. He noted that the United States chose not to go to war with Iran over provocations such as its September 2019 drone and missile attacks on Saudi Aramco or the January 2020 missile strike on a U.S. base in Iraq. This restraint is likely a key reason why countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have pivoted away from supporting the U.S.'s 'maximum pressure' campaign and instead have normalized relations with Tehran in recent years, he said. They fear a costly conflict with Iran in which they would be left to face the consequences alone. Omar, similarly, cited recent military collaboration between Egypt and Turkey as an example of how Middle Eastern nations are adjusting their defense strategies in response to shifting geopolitical dynamics and uncertainties surrounding U.S. commitments. However, Brian Katulis, senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told VOA that it is important not to overinterpret every movement of U.S. military assets in and out of the Middle East. The United States remains the strongest and most capable military actor from outside the region, and this movement is just part of the normal rotations of personnel and hardware that occur regularly, Katulis said. While Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are close security partners, Katulis cautioned against calling them allies in the same sense as NATO partners in Europe. America does not have formal treaty allies in the Middle East. This move signals that the United States remains committed to maintaining its overall military readiness globally while continuing to work in close partnership with key countries in the region, Katulis said. When asked whether the departure of the Roosevelt might embolden adversaries such as Iran, Katulis responded, No, because the United States still maintains significant military firepower in the region, and more importantly, it is working closely with partners to help them defend themselves against threats. Katulis said, Iran remains significantly weaker in conventional military power than the United States and its regional security partners. Iran will likely continue to use asymmetric attacks, terrorist strikes and cyberattacks as key parts of its tools to undermine regional security. Nancy Okail, president and CEO of the Washington-based Center for International Policy, told VOA that the departure of the Roosevelt from the Middle East had already been scheduled with the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln three weeks ago to replace it. The Roosevelt's presence was only briefly extended after Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel. The decision to end the dual-carrier presence is more of a Navy fleet management issue than an indication of diminished concern over strikes from the Houthis or Iran, Okail said. Employers negotiating a labor contract at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports on Thursday filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the longshoremen's union, saying its leaders refuse to resume talks ahead of a threatened Tuesday strike. The United States Maritime Alliance said it filed the complaint with the National Labor Relations Board because of the repeated refusal of the International Longshoremen's Association to return to the bargaining table. The six-year master contract between USMX and the ILA expires Monday, and the two sides appear to be deadlocked on wage issues. The employer group said it requested immediate injunctive relief requiring the union to resume bargaining so a deal could be finalized. It is uncommon, but not unheard of, for employers to make such complaints to the NLRB, an independent agency of the federal government that enforces U.S. labor law, particularly with regard to collective bargaining and unfair labor practices. In rare cases, the NLRB will go to court and ask for an injunction pending the outcome of a board case, but that can take weeks to play out. The ILA on Thursday responded, calling the USMX a poor negotiating partner. Earlier this week, ILA leader and chief negotiator Harold Daggett said he had rebuffed USMX approaches. "They call me several times each week trying to get the ILA to accept a lowball wage package," Daggett said. Sources close to the talks said the ILA asked for a wage increase of 77%, a percentage the union called exaggerated. Industry experts predict that the increase will be higher than the 32% raise won by the West Coast longshoremen's union last year. Companies that rely on ocean shipping are increasingly worried that the ILA's 45,000 members will strike and close 36 ports that handle more than half of U.S. ocean trade of products such as bananas, meat, prescription drugs, auto parts, construction materials and apparel. If that happens, delays and costs could quickly cascade, threatening the U.S. economy in the weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election, burdening already taxed global ocean shipping networks and over time foisting higher prices on consumers. Economists at Oxford Economics estimated that the impending strike would reduce U.S. gross domestic product by $4.5 billion to $7.5 billion, or 0.1% annualized, for every week it continues. A strike has the potential to weigh on the October employment report at a time when the Federal Reserve is highly attuned to signs of weakness in the labor market, they said. The timing is politically sensitive because Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is facing former Republican President Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election on November 5. A White House official on Thursday reiterated that President Joe Biden does not intend to invoke a federal law known as the Taft-Hartley Act to prevent a strike. "We encourage all parties to come to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith," the official said. "Senior officials from the White House, Labor Department and Department of Transportation are in touch with the parties and delivering the message to them directly." U.S. President Joe Biden says Washington is committed to a strong, prosperous, resilient, and independent Vietnam and discussed a broad range of ways the two countries can cooperate during a meeting with this Vietnamese counterpart, To Lam. Since coming to office in May, Vietnams new president has been actively reaching out, meeting with the leaders of China and Russia. Washington is seeking to counter those advances and strengthen ties with Hanoi as well. Lam, who is also head of the ruling Communist Party, met with Biden on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York Wednesday. According to a White House statement, the two talked about building secure and resilient semiconductor supply chains and strengthening their tech relationship as well as progress in cybersecurity cooperation and Vietnams efforts to increase its digital connectivity. Vietnam is looking to the United States and China to triple its number of subsea cables by 2030. Biden and Lam also focused on ways the two could deepen a comprehensive strategic partnership they entered last year. Biden said Washington wants to cooperate with Vietnam to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific and discussed the importance of maintaining peace and stability especially in the South China Sea, according to the White House statement. During the meeting, which lasted a little more than an hour, Lam assured Biden that the United States is a partner of strategic importance, while Biden told Lam that Vietnam is a top partner of the U.S. in the region, Vietnam News Agency reported. Analysts say that while the meeting did not take place in the White House, it did highlight the high level of trust between Hanoi and Washington and the growing importance of bilateral ties. Nguyen Hong Hai, a lecturer of international relations at Hanoi-based VinUni, told VOA in an email that the way Washington and Hanoi are talking about one another and the high importance they attach to bilateral relations is significant. It is also a sign of deepening trust, Hai added. Vietnam falls short of a U.S. ally. But as a partner, it is a top of its kind, Hai said. Hai said that Hanoi fits perfectly into Washingtons Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy since it supports the rules-based order and is playing an increasingly bigger role in the U.S.-led global supply chain. On the other hand, Hanoi needs Washington as a regional security guarantor while its goal of becoming a developed economy with high income by 2045 is contingent on access to the U.S. market as well as its capital and technology. Ha Hoang Hop, chair of the Hanoi-based Think Tank Viet Know, said it was significant that both leaders reaffirmed the importance of their comprehensive strategic partnership. So, too, was Bidens commitment to support Vietnams tech-driven growth and encouragement for Hanoi to play an active role in regional security. The momentum of U.S.-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership will be maintained far beyond Bidens and To Lams presidencies no matter who will succeed Biden next year or who will take the helm of the Vietnamese Communist Party in 2026, Hop told VOA in an email. The two countries recently marked the first anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership Biden signed with Nguyen Phu Trong, Lams predecessor, during a visit to Hanoi last year. At that time, Lam was the countrys security czar. He became president following the forced resignation of President Vo Van Thuong in March and replaced Nguyen Phu Trong as party chief after Trong unexpectedly died in late July. Lams first foreign trip after becoming Vietnams top leader took him to Beijing in August, when he and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral ties. He also hosted Russias Vladimir Putin in Hanoi in late June. Although readouts of Wednesdays meeting gave no indication that China was discussed, Beijing was watching the meeting closely, Hai said. China became Vietnams first comprehensive strategic partner in 2008, and the two countries agreed late last year to build what they call a community of shared future following the upgrade in U.S.-Vietnam ties. Any progress in U.S.-Vietnam ties is unwelcome in Beijing. However, Bejing should understand that Hanois deepening ties with the U.S. is not targeted at any country but just serves its own security, Hai said. Think Tank Viet Knows Ha Hoang Hop said that Beijing is fully aware of Hanois strategic position in the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy and is trying to capitalize on this to serve its interests. For its part, Hanoi is proactively navigating between the two superpowers, he said. JERUSALEM, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel denied on Thursday that it has agreed to a ceasefire with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Lebanese political parties. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that "the report on a ceasefire is untrue." The office said that Netanyahu "didn't even respond to" the ceasefire proposal, which was brokered by the United States and France. Also on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel would not consider a truce. "There won't be a ceasefire," he wrote on social media platform X. He said the country would continue its fight against Hezbollah "until victory and until residents could return to their homes in the north." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to discuss his plans for winning the war against Russia as he meets Thursday with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House. Among the expected topics is Ukraines request for weapons donors to allow Ukrainian forces to use the weapons to strike targets deeper inside Russia. Ukrainian leaders say such strikes are needed to degrade Russias ability to carry out its daily missile and drone attacks. Zelenskyy said he and Biden talked Wednesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, during which Zelenskyy thanked Biden for U.S. support for Ukraine and gave an update on the situation on the front lines. Meanwhile, former U.S. president Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that the situation in Ukraine is the fault of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for pledging military assistance to Ukraine instead of pushing Ukrainian leaders to cede territory to Russia. Biden and Kamala allowed this to happen by feeding Zelenskyy money and munitions like no country has ever seen before, Trump said. Trump argued that Ukraine should have made concessions to Moscow before Russian forces launched their full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. Any deal the worst deal wouldve been better than what we have now, Trump said. The former U.S. leader questioned what position Ukraine has now to negotiate an end to the war. What deal can we make? Its demolished, Trump said. The people are dead. The country is in rubble. Ukraines military said Thursday it shot down 66 of 78 Russian drones launched in overnight attacks, along with all four guided missiles fired by Russian forces. The intercepts took place over the Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy and Vinnytsia regions, the military said. Officials in Kyiv said Thursday that Ukrainian air defenses shot down about a dozen Russian drones overnight, with falling debris causing a fire at a residential building and damaging a gas pipeline. Russias Defense Ministry said Thursday it shot down four Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region, two drones over the Kursk region and another drone over Bryansk. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor of Belgorod, said one person was killed in a drone attack that struck a car. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. I knew that Fall Out Boy was here to stay when I woke up in Athens, thousands of miles from home, with the same line repeating in my head. The night before, my boyfriend had proposed to me in the hot tub of our rental apartment with a lovely opal ring. It was one of the happiest moments of my life, and we celebrated with breakfast on the terrace and an afternoon drive to the Temple of Poseidon. And yet, amid that joyousness, there it was, rolling between my ears like a loose marble: Ive got the red carpet blues, baby. Fellow emo babies may recognize that line from Its Hard to Say I Do When I Dont, a forgettable Japanese bonus cut from 2007s Infinity on High. It wasnt close to my favorite Fall Out Boy song, much less one that I wanted following me everywhere I went. For nearly 14 years, it barely factored into my day-to-day life. Then, without warning, it became central to my day-to-day life. I spent years being driven to near derangement by a track I never really liked in the first place. It was not unusual that I would have a song stuck in my head. My mind has always been prone to fixation: I was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder at 17, which left me with obsessions that prompted me to perform time-consuming rituals and tasks. Earworms were not uncommon for me, though theyd eventually get forced out by something else. Its Hard to Say was different. It wouldnt leave. By the time of my engagement, it had been wedged in my mind for months, a chorus joining me the second I got out of bed and popping back up as I went about my morning errands. After our trip to Greece, Id hoped an unrelated move from London to Brighton would shake it free. But when I awoke on an air mattress 150 miles away, there it was, different lyrics but always the same track: Everyone shakes to the beat with a barrel down their throat. It followed me for the next two years, on trips around the world and during my normal daily routine, in a way that seemed like a taunt: My brain was taking the mechanical now press repeat directive at the end of the song a little too literally. In the mornings, when the song would start looping, I thought about the Seinfeld episode where George has Master of the House stuck in his head and Jerry tells him about the composer Robert Schumann, who went insane due to a persistent A-note ringing in his ears. George naturally assumes Master could finally be the thing that does him in. Not wanting to end up like either Schumann or Costanza, I set out to find an explanation and hopefully a cure. Even after I managed to gain control over my clinical OCD in my early 20s, I assumed it was normal to have a song stuck in your head for months at a time. But the more I read about people complaining of having one rattling around for just a single day, the more I realized I was in the minority. Early in my research, I came across the term stuck song syndrome, which refers to when a track is persistent enough to be debilitating or disruptive. According to a paper in the National Library of Medicine, up to 98 percent of people have experienced an earworm, but only 30 percent of people like myself described it as disturbing. In other words, while recurring tunes that refuse to leave are common (its what pop music is supposed to do!), stuck song syndrome happens far less frequently. When a song does get stuck, it forms a cognitive itch, which basically means you arent satisfied unless you repeat it. The brain itches back, resulting in a loop. The more you try to suppress it, the worse it gets. This tracked to my experience. The closest nonscientific description I could find to what was happening to me came from the writer John Laughton, who once described having songs stuck in his head as musical hallucinations. In the end, Laughton went on SSRIs to control the associated anxiety. Every morning, when I wake up with Patrick Stump wailing in my head, I get on with my day, hoping that therell be a pocket of quiet. I was determined to find relief, ideally without having to resort to medication and in the process, I wanted to learn how the song got embedded in the first place. My first call was to Kelly Jakubowski, an associate professor in music psychology at Durham University who specializes in earworms. She told me that while having the same song in your head for years is extreme, it is common during times of extreme stress. External stimuli can set it off but so can internal states like our mood and biological rhythms. Waking is a common time to experience earworms, because it is a time of day when weve got a bit of spare cognitive resources for daydreaming and mind wandering, which earworms are a subcategory of, she explained. That made sense to me, but it didnt give me an idea of how to shake it. I wasnt feeling extreme stress, so I could rule that out. And while Ive mostly recovered from OCD, I cant change the reality of my brains wiring any more than I can avoid waking up every day. When I asked Jakubowski how to get out of this mess, she pointed me to a paper she had published that outlined three strategies: ignoring the song and letting it go away, listening to other music to see if it takes its place, or intentionally listening to the song in full rather than trying to avoid it. I tried, and failed, at all of the above, before attempting Dr. Jakubowskis other suggestion: chewing gum vigorously, in order to tie up the articulatory muscles needed to mentally rehearse sounds. It didnt work and, fearing TMJ, I abandoned it. Wondering if my predicament might relate to the song itself, I reached out to musicology professor and Vultures own Switched on Pop co-host Nate Sloan, hoping his insight could lead to a miracle. He first told me that while any song can outstay its welcome, there are some qualities that make one more earworm-ready. For one, tempo. Faster songs tend to be more sticky than slower songs, said Sloan. Its Hard to Say I Do When I Dont fit the bill: Its repetitive with a looping melody that never reaches closure. The BPM is fast, too: 164, along the lines of High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco. Sloan also invoked phonological loops, which can force a song to linger longer than expected. In a phonological loop, you repeat something over and over again, which creates short-term memories. However, when you get music stuck in your head, the phonological loop breaks. Rather than being used temporarily and discarded, the loop calcifies. Its a neurological failure, said Sloan. As a solution, he suggested I learn to perform Its Hard to Say I Do When I Dont, which can make a song lose its power. An absence of musical talent rendered that sort of performance by me a nonstarter, but it got me wondering whether musicians contend with earworms. If just listening to music can lead to these kinds of broken phonological loops, what is it like for people who spend every day writing and performing it? I asked my friend Will, frontman of glam-goth band Creeper, whether he ever gets his own songs stuck in his head when hes working on them. The answer was no: If anything, I could do with learning them more. But he was not immune to others music. Its a different song every four months, he said. I once had the piano ending of Layla by Derek and the Dominos stuck in my head for a full year. Will was able to get rid of it eventually through hypnotherapy, which hed once used to break a different cognitive pattern. I was worried a hypnotherapist might glom onto the songs theme of relationship dissatisfaction and the way it melded into my subconscious around the time I got engaged. But I was also out of options, so I reached out to hypnotherapist Sara Loiperdinger. On our first call, we tried to get to the bottom of whether there might be a more emotional reason for this particular loop, though that was a dead end. In a session a few days later, Sara guided me through relaxation techniques to drag my busy brain toward hypnagogia, a state of consciousness between wakefulness and sleep the same space I occupy when the song appears in the morning. I told Loiperdinger that, despite the use of noise-canceling headphones and her soothing voice, I was still affected by outside noises: buses, people chatting as they walked past, my neighbor playing the recorder for the fourth hour in a row. That I couldnt tune out these noises ended up guiding my session. We identified times when I was a toddler and first aware that I found the world overstimulating, like in a restaurant. I remembered that I would hide under the table or walk away, self-regulating my own sensory input, but that I would then be punished. So we created a scenario wherein someone steps in and allows me to find that same quiet. As a person whose brain is always full of thoughts and neuroses, and images, and bits of songs, and plans, and fears the morning is the only time its empty. Sara thought I might fill that space with the first thing that entered my head in a way of not being alone with that emptiness. For me, the only way to break that cycle is by finding a way to go easy on myself to lead that small child, overwhelmed by a noisy world, away from the table. Maybe then I could wake up to silence. My session with Loiperdinger didnt completely shake the song out of my head, but she helped me feel I might be able to eventually find some quiet. Understanding that I have always been overwhelmed by the sounds both inside and outside of my head doesnt help me to escape them, but it did help me have some empathy for myself. Every morning when I wake up with Patrick Stump wailing Youre appealing to emotions that I simply do not have, I get on with my day, hoping that therell be a pocket of quiet. Loiperdinger also tapped into something that felt integral to the way I respond to aural stimuli. Like most teenagers in the mid-2000s, when new CDs came out, I would sit on the floor of my room listening to them over and over again. In 2007, Infinity on Highs release date was circled in my diary. I had big plans to be alone in my room, but I was 14 years old and had been kicked out of the house following an argument with my mom. I ended up staying with a friend for a few weeks, and following my return home, I never again found my childhood bedroom a safe place to simply be, let alone to listen to records on repeat. Maybe, despite my insistence to the contrary, unresolved trauma was to blame. Then a couple of months after my sessions with Loiperdinger, something strange happened: I woke up and the song was gone. At the time, I was on vacation in Tokyo, where I was more stimulated than Id ever been: animated billboards, Gachapon machines, Hello Kitty at every turn. I was having the time of my life, but I was constantly overwhelmed. Jakubowski had told me that waking was a time when we might be more susceptible to stuck songs because we were free of other stimuli. In Tokyo, that wasnt true. I could see a giant figure of Godzilla from my window. Every day I walked ten miles, seeking every sensation I could, soaking up the sensory overload. There was no room in my brain for anything other than the jingle of a camera store I had walked into on the first day. It turns out that one way to clear songs from my mind is by bombarding myself with sensory inputs. Does that mean Ill need to visit Tokyo every time this happens? That depends on the songs that get stuck. One Great Story: A Nightly Newsletter for the Best of New York The one story you shouldnt miss today, selected by New Yorks editors. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Weve all been there: the Shame Spiral. One minor thing happens, or one person says something just a little bit cutting, and you go in hard on yourself and spiral into a place full of anxiety and self-loathing and full sleeves of cookies until you arrive at one conclusion: Im the absolute worst. Being human is fun, isnt it? In Either Aura, both members of our main couple have their individual shame spirals following a historically great TV kiss. But only one includes a shitty booty call with Ryan Hansen! Find out which, below! Its not Noah. No, Noah spends the rest of the evening post-kiss in a hospital waiting room full to the brim with awful vending-machine snacks and devastating levels of Jewish guilt. That call from Rebecca at the end of the previous episode was actually Rebeccas mother trying to get hold of him to tell him Rebecca was in a car accident. Well, actually, she says Rebecca is almost in a coma, which not even Sasha can begin to decipher the meaning of, but once Noah gets to the hospital, he learns Rebecca drove into the back of a parked bus and needs surgery on her wrist. Shes fine. Or its in Gods hands now, depending on whom you ask. The majority of the waiting room, including Bina, Esther, and Rebeccas parents, blames Noah. Rebecca has been heartbroken, and it led to her being distracted and caused her accident. Its a shame she had to have an accident to get you to pay attention to her! Rebeccas mom yells at Noah upon his arrival. And once Rebeccas parents find out about the little blonde hes been hanging out with, chaos erupts. Even after he leaves the room, he doesnt fully escape the wrath of Team Rebecca: Esther follows him to make sure that he knows hes being an idiot, that her best friend Rebecca is too good for him, and that shes still in love with him. Hes breaking up the entire family, she heaps on top of all this. Listen, Im into Esthers brand of mean (shes played by Jackie Tohn, so good in GLOW), but this is such a low blow. The guilt trip works, though: Later, Ilan finds his son sitting alone wondering if hes a terrible person, wondering if trying something different with Joanne is selfish. Ilans kind of the best. He tells his son its not selfish and hes not a terrible person; he is the only person who will have to live with either the regret or the joy of his decision, so he doesnt need to listen to anyone else. But dont tell Bina that she would honestly flip. Remember when Esther said shed run Sasha over with her car? Yeah, Bina would do that. Elsewhere, Joanne is having her own meltdown. Still floating after that kiss, she texts Noah, That was a great kiss. I think I might be pregnant, and begins to spiral when he doesnt respond. It certainly doesnt help that at that moment shes walking into a recording session with Morgan (and their mom), and their guest, a doctor who believes auras can reveal your personality, cannot find Joannes. Even that guy has judgments about Joanne dating a rabbi. Morgan is very intrigued by the good rabbi telling Joanne to put down her ice cream before smashing faces, but mostly she has doubts that this budding relationship has legs. Its not that Joanne is a bad person per se, yet she is a bad person relative to a man of God. But hey, she could totally see Joanne with a cult leader. That pairing makes sense. She says it like a compliment, but its definitely an insult. When Joanne shows Morgan and Lynn the I think Im pregnant text, the ghosting from Noah begins to make sense to them. Hes a rabbi, he has a different brain than you, Morgan tells her sister. It sends Joanne deeper down her spiral. Why is she an idiot? Why does she always have to make jokes out of everything? Morgan tries to fluff her up by reminding her that, hey, at least she isnt boring, even though men actually do seem to like boring. Okay, so she doesnt fluff her up; she just makes things worse. Joanne heads home in a real mood, which is probably why when her usual booty call, Kyle, texts her, she calls him back. Dont worry, its not to hook up with him; its actually so that he, a trash bag of a human, can make her feel better about herself because surely he a grown man playing video games in a beanbag chair and getting hard over someone considering him the worst person they know must think shes a good person. Like, relatively speaking. But even Kyle catches on to what Joannes trying to do. Hes not going to make her feel better. But he does make us feel better because, hey, we get a little Veronica Mars pseudo-reunion, and thats fun! Also not going to make her feel better at least not in the long run Joanne almost hits a stray dog and decides to rescue him off the street and keep him for the night until she can take him to her friends shelter the next morning. Puppy snuggles are nice, but is she not at all concerned about fleas? This is the state Joannes in when she finally makes it home, covered in dirt and leaves from her rescue, snuggling that puppy, and so unbelievably sad about Noah. Except she has no reason to be sad about Noah because she finds him sitting on her stoop. He tells her he had a rough night and suddenly found himself driving to her house because he wanted to see her. He congratulates her on her pregnancy he had no idea he was such a good kisser and Joanne feels immediate relief. She knew hed get it. And the reason he didnt text her back right away is because he left his phone in his car; he only just got the message. Joanne needs to trust herself more, she needs to trust that shes worthy of being loved as she is right now, and she needs to trust that if a dude doesnt get a pretty standard joke, that means he sucks and it has nothing to do with her. Joanne has a lot of work to do when it comes to remembering she is an equal in this relationship, but that work is for another day. For now, Joanne and Noah say how glad they are to see each other after some very emotionally taxing, introspective evenings, and if being the one person someone wants to see after theyve been at their lowest isnt a sign of something real happening between them, I dont know what is. The rom-com gods have heard my pleas and bestowed upon us an episode of Nobody Wants This with a Sasha subplot. Its a fun little thing, but it definitely confirms my suspicions that Timothy Simons is stealing the show at every turn. An A+ doofus brother performance if there ever was one. In Obliterated, Sasha is thrilled to discover that with Esther heading out to wing woman for Rebecca and their daughter, Miriam, at a sleepover, hell have the house to himself. We havent known Sasha that long, but I think this might be the greatest night of his life. He has lost count of how many edibles hes taken, hes cued up a little Mission: Impossible for his viewing pleasure (on Tom Cruise: You are a problematic weirdo, but goddamn it, youre a movie star!), and he even has a little song to celebrate the evening: I got chicken parm / And my familys gone / And Im gonna eat some weed / Everything is better when my familys gone / And Im gonna watch TV. An absolute banger. His perfect night is interrupted, though, when Miriam comes busting through the door with a boy problem. Now, neither Miriam nor Sasha want him to be the one to help her through this, but hes all shes got. Hes honestly not that bad. Sure, hes high off his gourd and he definitely catfishes a 12-year-old boy in the process, but in the end, he helps Miriam find out that the boy shes crushing on likes her back and saves his daughter from deep embarrassment. Hes a national hero in his house. The story line ends on a nice little button, too. When Esther comes home, quite buzzed, and hears what her husband did for Miriam, she cant wait to take him to bed. Its very cute, and its nice to see a different side to their relationship. With all the insults and digs they throw at each other (in this episode: Have you met Esther? Shes not fun, thats why I married her), we get a reminder that they do actually love each other, you know? This Sasha story line, of course, is not the headliner of the episode. The headliner is that we get another reunion between Kristen Bell and a former co-star when The Good Places DArcy Carden pops in as one of Joannes friends. Okay, fine, thats very cool and fun, but the actual headliner of this episode is that Joanne and Noah finally go on an official first date. The conflict is brewing even before Noah picks her up at her house because we know that these two are coming into this date with very different goals. In a conversation with Sasha and Noahs condom guy, Noah realizes that to everyone else, this Joanne thing seems like a clear-cut rebound situation. Okay, first, I have so many questions about this Condom Guy: Does Noah just not want to be seen buying condoms because hes a rabbi? Did Noah just text his friend the eggplant emoji like some sort of safe-sex bat signal? Does this grown man have any other job other than friendly condom supplier? Please tell me more! Regardless, Noah tries to explain that, yes, Joanne is fun, and shes definitely the opposite of Rebecca, but its actually more than just a rebound. This could be a serious relationship theres something bigger going on here. Sasha and Condom Guy remain unconvinced. Noah is headed into this date to prove to them, and to himself, really, that he and Joanne have a deeper connection. Joanne is headed into this date with the exact opposite desire. Is Morgan actively sabotaging her sisters relationship or subconsciously doing it? Because when it comes to advice, wow, Morgans couldnt be worse or, perhaps, shes just never met a decent guy and therefore has no idea how to read Noah? As Joanne gets ready for her date and talks about things like how this could be the last time I have sex with somebody for the first time, Morgan is alarmed. Joanne is already talking about Noah as if hes the one, but she barely knows him. She gives her sister some tough love: Shes acting like a psychopath. They both know that their mom can be overly emotional and obsessive and it drives men away Morgan tells Joanne that she is just like their mom. If she wants to keep Noah around, she needs to be chill, casual, fun. You see where the problem may lie once Joanne and Noah meet up? This date goes off the rails immediately. Joanne might be trying to have some real chill here, but Noah can see the stress all over her face when Morgan calls her (again, this has to be conscious subterfuge, right?) and tells her that she tried but she cannot find the vibrator they need to test out before their big sex therapist guest comes (not that way) on their show the next day, and now she has something to do so its up to Joanne. Listen, Im rooting for Morgan, who clearly feels left behind, but also she is a real dick. Anyway, Noah insists that they go run whatever errand Joanne needs to before dinner they have the time and its important to her. Hes the best. He does not know, however, that the errand is to head into a sex shop and peruse the vibrators for the Obliterator. A perfect vibrator name, to be honest. The sales clerk warns Joanne and Noah to be careful with it because his friend dialed it all the way up to the highest setting on the first go and she cant fly now because the shaking is so triggering. This is not an in-and-out (not that way) sex shop visit, though. While trying to locate the Obliterator, Joannes trying to keep things flirty and fun and pretend what is happening right now isnt awkward. Noahs trying to forge a deeper connection. This means that right around the time Joanne is fastening a studded dog collar around Noahs neck, hes asking Joanne what her biggest fear is. She says a bad face-lift because shes trying to be cool and low-key, but the whole thing is chaos. And thats before Mr. Goldberg, a board member at Noahs temple, bumps into him while he and his wife are buying a bondage set. Its awkward for all parties involved, and Noah heads out to have himself a little panic attack on the street. This is not a good look for the rabbi, especially if his boss finds out. Never fear! Joanne and her stalking skills are here to save the day. Shes initially looking for some contact info for the guy so Noah can talk to him and try to explain, but she winds up stumbling on some much more interesting information: That woman he was buying the bondage set with? That was not Mrs. Goldberg. Mr. Goldberg will want to keep this little meeting just as much a secret as Noah does. Its a bummer for the real Mrs. Goldberg, but our guy is very relieved. He has every reason to be: Later, Noahs boss, Rabbi Cohen, informs him that Mr. Goldberg just made the biggest donation hes ever made to the temple, and he said he was inspired by Noah. Keep up the good work, Rabbi Cohen tells him. With dinner plans ruined, Noah takes Joanne back to his place and whips something up for them. She is very impressed. Again: Are our bars too low? Even more impressive: Noah isnt scared to be upfront about his feelings. He noticed that Joanne got a little weird when he asked about her fears. I felt that, she responds. I mean, when you asked me my biggest fear in the sex shop, that felt weird. But what Noah means, of course, is that she didnt seem interested in connecting. Hes very clear: He wants this to be something real, but if shes just looking for fun, its totally fine he just wants to know. Now its Joanne whos relieved. Shes relieved not to feel like a psycho for taking this new relationship so seriously. And then shes ready to open up about her biggest fear. Well, sort of ready. She does need to turn around so she isnt looking Noah in the face when she says it. What shes really afraid of besides a bad face-lift, which is a legitimate concern is that shell push him away. Shes impulsive and obsessive and, yes, does some really weird shit. Shes afraid that she will become emotionally dependent on a guy who will one day realize that Im too much and break my heart. When he turns her around, shes wiping a tear away and wonders if this is the most unattractive thing [hes] ever seen. His response? No. The most attractive. I want this. All of this. Friends, I gasped. What a fucking line!! I mean, I think hes quite sincere, but holy shit, I had to stand up. When Joanne asks him if hes going to break her heart, he tells her, It would truly kill me to break your heart. I dont know; Im sweating. Im also so grateful these two finally take this show to the bedroom. It was about time they got laid. They needed it. We all needed it! And even better, Joanne gets to call up her sister and tell her she showed Noah all of her crazy and then had incredible sex with him. It didnt scare him off. Im actually really into it, he adds. And isnt that what everyone wants? Someone who is down with your brand of crazy? After last weeks premiere laid the groundwork for renewed drama and new alliances (Angie K. and Marys beautiful braindead union), our ladies are hoping for some form of unity. Lisa is still irate at Whitney for the podcast comments and mad at Angie for taking Whitneys side. Meredith is still a bit upset at Whitney because of the bath bombs, which nobody but Meredith cares about. We see more newcomers Bronwyn and Britani, who do not like each other but are both still establishing their roles in this group of friends. We begin with Lisa asking Bronwyn how she felt about the previous nights disastrous Valentines Day party. Bronwyn, being reasonable, agrees that Lisa has a right to be upset, and as they are discussing this in Lisas car, Angie calls and says to Lisa, Lets talk! I do think Lisa might have overreacted to Angies role in all of this, but that is par for the course. We get a pan of everyones current state. Mary is talking to her son Robert, who is living at home and has no job and isnt in school, about how upset she was with Britani. Dont ever call me poor because thats like being ungrateful to God, she tells him. He is the only person who can tell Mary that it is actually a bit crazy! But go off, Mary. Meanwhile, Bronwyn and Lisa, once again, are in a car. This time, theyre picking up Heather for no other reason than to go through a Wendys drive-thru. Lisa has a partnership with Wendys, and so far, we are two for two, seeing Lisa getting Wendys. (In the premiere, we get a glimpse of Lisa and her family eating Wendys). I am already sick of this Wendys shit it does not make me want Wendys. Anyway, in the car, Bronwyn does not have great things to say about Whitneys outburst, calling it fake and trite. This raises major alarms for Heather, who is still burned by Monicas betrayal, which is understandable. She finds it odd for her to have such strong opinions on women she just met. Heather keeps her mouth shut while eating her Wendys in the back seat. Clearly, she is banking this information for later. Then we get a Meredith and Seth scene. My God, I forgot how much I hate Seth. He, quite frankly, disgusts me. Everything he says is overly sexual and just so slimy. Theyre going to a cooking class because Seth is returning to Ohio again for work, and Meredith needs him to learn how to cook. Their chef teaches them how to make shakshuka, which isnt so practical for someone who does not know anything about cooking. Of course, this has nothing to do with cooking. Meredith uses this opportunity to talk about how Shakshuka reminds her that with all the hate and antisemitism in the world right now, she wants to connect to her Jewish roots. How better to do that than have a bat mitzvah! They are both very emotional about this but this very forced scene is obviously so that we know there will be a party that is VERY personal to Meredith and will clearly cause some rift in how seriously her group of friends take it. I fear Meredith just does not have a lot going on this season because even by Housewives standards, the entire scene is stretched out for no reason other than for us to see their marriage is stronger than ever. Finally, Angie and Lisa have lunch and its clear Lisa expects to wear Angie down in hopes of a heartfelt apology, but Angie is NOT giving that. She is firm on her stance she only told Whitney that Lisa was upset because she wanted Whitney to know that Lisa was owed an apology. Again, that is pretty normal-friend behavior. Lisa is so interesting to me when it comes to conflict. She latches onto being upset about one thing (Angies betrayal) when it is so clear her fear is losing Angies loyalty and friendship for Whitneys. Angie stands her ground and expresses that sometimes Lisa is scary to be honest with because of her outbursts, and Lisa predictably disagrees. They dont come to a resolution but hope to continue the conversation later. Honestly, good on Angie for not taking the easy way out and bowing to Lisas anger. Now, we get a real glimpse into Brownwyns life and home. Bronwyns home my God. I can only describe it as the home youd expect from someone who got rich quickly off NFTs. Its full of kooky, clearly expensive, and very impractical furniture. As we know, Bronwyn, like Whitney, is married to an older rich man. Her husband, Todd, is a fascinating character; he looks like any 60-something-year-old dad but he is wearing a very trendy Gucci snake knit sweater, like something a young guy would wear. He is not really trying to look young in any other way, so to quote Britani, it looks like a costume. We learn Todd got rich from being the PalmPilot CEO. They met at a bar ten years ago when she was working in finance in San Francisco. He emailed her, and the rest was history. Honestly, Bronwyn seems pretty normal and happy with her life. She is proving why she belongs on this show (being rich) but also not trying to come out swinging. She can talk shit but clearly hopes to be a voice of reason. We later see her at Angies salon talking to her about the Angie/Lisa situation and how she hopes they can patch it up, but she is NOT a fan of Britanis yet. Whitney and Heather meet at a crystal store to heal. These two have gone through a lot of shit and have had explosive disagreements, but their friendship is deeper than anyone else on this show because theyre vaguely related and share religious trauma. As they patch things up from the previous weeks drama, Whitney mentions she wants all the girls to go to Milwaukee to Trixie Mattels new bar and that, so far, the only people she doesnt have beef with would be Angie, Heather, and Bronwyn. Whitney is immediately struck by the Bronwyn addition because of her words during their Wendys run. Whitney tells Heather they met up the previous day and got along great Whitney once again says nothing, but this only builds her case against Bronwyn. Heather, thank you for saving your confrontations for a better moment, but just say something now, or it will look shady! She has an idea for some unity, a team-building exercise with all the girls to try and have some fun. We then see the girls get together on an outdoor excursion, where they have to go up very high on a giant jungle-gym-like thing while harnessed and balance on some ropes to get to the other side. This is great only because I love any time we get to see Mary be physically active, something that is not natural to her. She is someone who is born to sit and be catered to, but I like it when she steps out of her comfort zone this way. More proof she is actually giving it her all this season. Once this outdoor excursion is done, the ladies sit around eating tacos when Britani decides to make a toast. While Bronwyn is more or less seamlessly fitting into this group, Britani is struggling. She doesnt know these women significantly, so naturally, youd expect her to toast to new friendships or something. Instead, she makes a toast to herself because she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Jared (nephew to Donny and Marie Osmond), have made it official kind of? She starts by saying how Jared took her out to buy matching jewelry at Louis Vuitton last night and asked her to be his girlfriend. This grown-ass woman announcing this to a group of women who are barely her friends gave me secondhand embarrassment. But it gets worse. She then says that he also made Instagram official by posting her in his story. Bronwyn brings up that in the post, where there is a photo of them in Costco with her in the shopping cart, he actually calls her his best friend. The girls are then gently telling her this is not official. Mary, who has been silent this entire time says what I know in my heart everyone was thinking, Im just trying to figure out: Why do we care? Britani calls Mary rude, to which Mary says, Like you were the other night? referring to their first meeting when Britani said all the wrong things to Mary and Bronwyn. Mary is adamant that she does not care about Britani, does not want to know shit about Britanis life, and has no friendship with her. Britani tells her to shut up at one point, and Mary yells, Shut me up! Returning to the Britani/Jared situation, the women gently try to tell Britani that she is being played by Jared, who is still hesitant to claim her as a girlfriend. This is when we learn that Britani has some deep abandonment and family issues; her children do not talk to her, and its too personal to elaborate on that. The women do not press further, but Mary is relentless in telling Britani that she is difficult, needs soul searching, and is not a kind person because she cant make amends with her children. During a confessional, we get much more personal information from Mary than we are used to. Britani triggers her because her mother was neglectful, and she and her five siblings felt no love and had no guidance from their mother. This explains so much about why Mary is not pressed that her son just lives at home doing seemingly nothing. Shes clearly happy just caring for him. This devolves further into Bronwyn telling Britani she wants to know one not unhinged thing about her and that her way of speaking is not thoughtful. Girl, get your words tight, she tells Britani. She says that like it is a common saying, but it isnt, nor will it be something quotable in the future, but good try. Of course, this gives Heather the opening to bring up how Bronwyn should get her own words tight because was she not talking shit about Whitney only to suck up to her later? Heather was waiting for the right moment to strike, and it fell flat because Bronwyn expressed the same thing to Whitney in private as she did with Heather and Lisa. Though I would argue it was tonally different, Bronwyn wins this round when she brings up a counterpoint: If it was so bad, why were you silent? This activates a lot of cross talk and arguing, and finally, Whitney apologizes to Lisa. This is followed by inviting everyone to Milwaukee to Trixies bar, where Whitney will host a drag competition. This satisfies the ladies but not Meredith, who says she might not be able to go nobody really cares. Poor Meredith, so far, she has been somewhat on the sidelines and in her own world of pain over a nonissue. The women leave more or less satisfied with their bonding activity, excited to get together in Milwaukee. Great! In the next episode, we get them on a trip, and in the previews, Meredith does end up joining, likely to stoke hatred against Whitney. Im actually pretty into these new dynamics, these women are putting in the work to prove they do not need a huge central controversy to make this franchise worth watching. QUITO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A state of emergency was declared on Wednesday in Ecuador's capital Quito as wildfires continue to devastate parts of the city, said Mayor Pabel Munoz. The decision was made by Quito's Emergency Operations Committee after assessing damage from a massive fire in the Guapulo area in the eastern part of the city. The fire, which began on Tuesday, has been the most destructive one the city has faced in recent years, scorching large swathes of vegetation, destroying six homes in central-northern Quito, and engulfing the city in thick smoke. "This declaration may help us secure at least half a million dollars from international cooperation agencies, which will be critical for the reconstruction and recovery of damaged ecosystems," Munoz said. Emergency response efforts are underway as authorities work to contain the remaining fire hotspots. BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The sunlight streaming in the exhibition hall on the 39th floor of a high-rise building in Beijing illuminates an array of around 500 photographs captured by generations of Chinese journalists. Towering over the cityscape, the exhibition hall embodies a blend of historical tradition and modern achievements, reflecting the nation's transformation over decades and the profound stories of its people. China's national news agency, Xinhua, on Thursday opened a photo exhibition at the National Financial Information Center just days before the People's Republic of China celebrates its 75th founding anniversary on Oct. 1. Stepping into the first section of the tour, audiences were enveloped by an array of black and white photographs. A standout photograph showcasing Dr. Henry Norman Bethune (1890-1939) performing surgery on a Chinese patient in a little temple attracted visitors to stop by and take pictures. "The use of lighting in this picture is perfect, and it is a textbook in the Chinese photography industry," said Lan Hongguang, who recently retired from a four-decade career as a photojournalist at Xinhua, pointing to the photograph hung on a long wall displaying dozens of pictures showing the arduous struggle of the Chinese people led by the Communist Party of China. "It was not easy for Chinese reporters to take pictures with cameras back in the day, because Western journalists were armed with automatic rifles, while we were holding spears with red tassels," he said. "But today we have the photography equipment leading the world," Lan, who is also a China Journalism Award winner smiled. As the audiences walked deeper into the gallery, the color contrast of the photos became more vivid. A notable contrast is a photo that focuses on a celebrating crowd, with young women in colorful dresses and men in plain white shirts. On the picture, the crowd is celebrating the first batch of "Jiefang" trucks produced by FAW Group rolling off the assembly line in Changchun, Jilin on July 14, 1956. Starting from this photo, this section, "having ample supplies of food and clothing," shows changes in social life. Through enormous efforts, China is capable of feeding one fifth of the global population with nine percent of the world's arable land and six percent of the freshwater resources. In 2020, China realized its goal of eradicating absolute poverty nationwide, contributing significantly to the global poverty reduction cause. In building a moderately prosperous society, China takes it as the primary goal to secure adequate food and clothing and protect the right to subsistence, and takes further steps to meet the growing material and cultural needs of the people. From 1949 to 2023, China's residents have seen their income grow by an average of 6 percent annually, resulting in a staggering 75.8-fold increase in real terms, according to official data. As the tour went on and audiences moved along the corridor, more pictures bathed in the sunlight filtering through the sleek glass facade of the skyscraper, were unfolded in front of them. These include pictures featuring FAW Group's seventh-generation Jiefang truck product J7 coming off production line on April 18, 2018, and new energy vehicles developed by Hongqi, an FAW Group car brand at the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition on April 18, 2023. "China's automotive industry is evolving rapidly, and Chinese brands are developing vigorously," Zhang Qiang, a visitor and branding manager of a local Chinese car company said. "Local automobile market players have shifted from followers to leaders over the past decades, and I'm very excited to be part of the fast development of an unprecedented era," he added. Starting from scratch, China has completed in a few decades the industrialization process that took developed countries hundreds of years to achieve. China has remained the world's top manufacturing hub for 14 consecutive years, and boasts all the industrial sectors included in the United Nations' International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities. G7 agriculture ministers meet in Sicily from 26-27 September. Italy's agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida will host the Group of Seven (G7) Agriculture Summit in the Sicilian city of Syracuse on Thursday and Friday. The ministerial talks will be held at the 13th-century Castello Maniace on the island of Ortigia, the oldest part of Siracusa, which is linked to the mainland by three bridges. The high-level summit, organised as part of Italy's G7 presidency, will bring together agriculture ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the US, along with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture. On 26-27-28 September Siracusa will host the #G7 Meeting on Agriculture. The city embodies a journey through Mediterranean history and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site alongside the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica. #G7Italy pic.twitter.com/cJTcxsy9nm G7 Italy (@G7) September 25, 2024 Also participating in the talks will be the heads of the three Rome-based United Nations agencies (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the OECD and CGIAR. The discussions will focus on themes including food security, investments in agriculture in Africa, sustainable farming and fishing, and climate change. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Gardai will purchase two water cannons for policing riots and other public disorder incidents. It comes amid a dramatic rise in protests across the country, some of which have resulted in violence and arson. On Thursday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he had signed off on the procurement of two anti-riot vehicles, each with the capacity to carry 5,200 litres of water. Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said that 3.7 million had been spent on public-order equipment over the last 2.5 years. Two Somati Water Cannon at Santry Garda Station, Dublin, which were on loan from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Haydn West/PA) She said the public order unit was expanding its fleet of 27 vehicles, adding: Weve just spent 1.4 million and are at the minute delivering another 15 vehicles across the country. Commissioner Harris said gardai buy the best equipment, adding that he hoped hard hats would be approved for members within weeks following complaints from representative bodies. Asst Commissioner Hilman said there had been a 56 per cent increase in protest activity this year. There have been 862 protests in the first eight months of the year, up from 553 in the same period last year and 285 in 2022. She said the vast majority conclude peacefully. An example of the PSNI using a water cannon in west Belfast (Paul Faith/PA) The senior gardai were speaking during a meeting of the Policing Authority in Dublin on Thursday. The Authority was meeting to discuss the as-of-yet unpublished report into public order policing during the November 2023 riots in Dublin, which was submitted to Justice Minister Helen McEntee in August. Mr Harris said gardais response to public order has evolved very considerably since the last report in 2019, adding that command structures are more slick since the November riots. He said gardai have additional tactics and equipment available to them, including increased strength pepper spray. He said: Well never have the exact thing happen again, so well always need to make sure that our response is sufficiently agile to deal with the problem of any particular day. Authority chairwoman Dr Elaine Byrne said it was her understanding that Ms McEntee would publish the public order policing report. The community of Ballybricken in Waterford city came together recently to celebrate the area's thriving community through the Playful Streets initiative. Seed sowing class with Coleman Power from Organic Fitness. Children, parents, local gardai and politicians all came out for a day of fun and community on Ballybricken Hill on Thursday, September 19. Playful Streets is a nationwide initiative that shuts down traffic in a particular neighbourhood for a couple of hours so that everybody can come out of their houses and play together. Sgt. Maureen Neary, Ollie Doyle, Jenny Loughrane, Waterford Libraries, May Doyle, Noreen McGrath, Cliona Doyle, Eoin Morrissey, Waterford Healthy City & County Coordinator and Emer Quigley, Waterford Childcare Committee. During Playful Streets, members of the community spanning all ages came outside together to play and socialise safely. This project was piloted last year in Waterford by the Healthy Waterford team and a plethora of other partners, and theyre going again in 2024. Cllr Frank Quinlan at Playful Streets. Neighbourhoods across the county have embraced the initaitive, transforming their areas into community spaces for people to come together and chat or play. The Playful Streets initiative ran from May to September 2024 and included 29 events in different locations around County Waterford. Over 2,000 adults and children participated in the 29 events. Tug of War on Ballybricken Green during the Playful Streets event. The initiative was run in partnership with the Community Department of Waterford City and County Council, as well as a number of other organisations. Sgt. Maureen Neary giving her all during the Tug of War at Playful Streets on Ballybricken Green. Two penultimate events ran to finish up the 2024 project, in Walton Park, Dungarvan and Ballybricken Green. Limbo dancing on Ballybricken Green. A spokesperson said, "Playful Streets are a great way to get out, get active and meet your neighbours, and we really enjoyed meeting everyone along the way." A Waterford family has been left devastated over the news that their cherished baby girl was buried without her brain. Bonnie Fox was less than a year old when she tragically passed away in her sleep on New Year's Day, January 1, 2021. At 11 months, Bonnie was already walking, talking, singing and dancing. She had beautiful blue eyes and was adored by everyone she met. At the time of her death, Covid-19 restrictions were still in place, meaning that her family had to grieve by themselves at her funeral. Three years later, her family were informed that a HSE audit had revealed that Bonnie's brain was retained at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) Crumlin. CHI Crumlin Bonnie's mother Jenny told the Waterford News and Star: "We were horrified to find out after three years that our baby wasn't buried whole. To have the trauma of a second funeral, no parents should ever have to go through that." The revelation, and subsequent letter of apology, has shattered the family. Now, Jenny is calling for answers in the terrible aftermath of the news. Through social media, she described her shock and horror upon learning that CHI Crumlin had kept her daughter's organ. She has directly called on Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly for action. She wrote: "They did all of this without our permission as parents and without the coroner's permission." The hashtag #justiceforbonnie is being shared to raise awareness. Devastation Bonnie's death left her parents Jenny and Mark, and her siblings, family, extended family and community in complete devastation. The Fox and Halley families buried their daughter and granddaughter, following a Mass of The Angels at The Sacred Heart Church, the Folly, in Waterford city on January 6, 2021, in St. Marys Cemetery, Ballygunner. Bonnie Fox passed away on New Years' Day, 2021. Since Bonnie's passing, the family have raised money for charity through fundraisers in her memory, supporting Feilacain, the organisation which offers support to those who experience still-birth and neonatal death. CHI audit In September this year, Bonnie's mother Jenny revealed through social media that her child's remains were held inside Crumlin Hospital without her knowledge. She stated that An Garda Siochana contacted her a few days before Christmas last year to inform her that an audit showed that her child's brain was retained by the hospital. She also said that she received a letter of apology from CHI Crumlin, but the apology has done little to temper the family's turmoil. Jenny wrote on the post: "You're sorry you kept part of my baby in a jar? For three years? Or you're sorry there was an audit and you got caught?" The ordeal has raised questions for the family over why and how the information was held for so long after Bonnie's death. Jenny wrote: "In the year of 2024 they are doing this? You know why they are doing this? Because they get away with it!" Crumlin response CHI Crumlin were contacted for a statement. A spokesperson replied: "Children's Health Ireland cannot comment on individual cases. Even if a family decides to make their story public, we are still bound by patient confidentiality." The matter of organ retention at CHI Crumlin was discussed at a HSE board meeting in September 2023. Attending the meeting were Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman and Minister Anne Rabbitte. The minutes stated that an audit was carried out in December 2021, which identified that organs had been retained at post mortem in CHI at Crumlin and remained, securely stored, in the department. It read: "These organs were from post mortems performed pre-2020. The retention of organs from the children was the result of a breakdown (or non-commencement) of communication with families or an inadequate capture of information about the familys wishes regarding organ retention." Huge crowds congregated recently to remember Trina Ryan of Springmount, Tramore, formerly of Kennedy Park, Tramore, Co. Waterford. Trina passed away peacefully at University Hospital Waterford surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, September 12, 2024. The Ryan and Devitt family would like to thank with great appreciation all the members of staff in The Oak Ward at University Hospital Waterford for the exceptional and loving care Trina received throughout her illness. Trina was born on August 22, 1979. She spent her youth in Kennedy Park, Tramore, a place she cherished. She worked in various jobs throughout her life, however, her defining role was in Boots pharmacy, Tramore. Funeral mass At Trinas funeral mass, friends and relatives recalled her as a kind, caring person, who remained positive even throughout her battle with cancer. Fr. Richard OHalloran said: Was there a more popular and admired woman in Tramore? Im not too sure. I think everyone in some way knew Trina and everyone in some way benefitted from being in her company or simply coming across her. She kept a tremendous spirit, an upbeat attitude, and always humorous. She always remained true to herself, and nothing, not even illness could take that from her." Trina will be remembered as a loving mother, who always put her kids first and who loved to spend time with family. She was a wonderful mother, very proud of all of her children and the fine people that they are. Despite illness, there is only beauty and gratitude for the memories, the laughs and the good times that they all had together, Fr. OHalloran said. Trina had been battling stage four cancer for five years, during which time she fundraised for countless other cancer patients in the community. The late Trina Ryan. Fr. OHalloran said: Her fundraising was not for herself, but for others coping like her with cancer in our own community. I know that many have been the recipients of Trinas fundraising, and the only expectation was that those who received it would do something for themselves with the money, that they would treat themselves just to make themselves feel normal, if even for a short time. During the funeral mass, Trinas husband Michael provided a touching eulogy, which remembered her as a family driven, respectful person, who was cherished by the community. It was the simple things in life, Michael said, family holidays abroad, dinner time, where we all sat together, chatted and laughed. Chronicling her years in Boots pharmacy, he said: If ever a job was a perfect fit for Trina that was it, as she loved people and interaction with the public. She had a gift where you would go in looking for one item and come out with numerous items and happier for seeing Trina as a result. Fr. OHalloran added: Trina will probably be best remembered for her many years working in Boots pharmacy here in Tramore. She was a popular member of staff and I think a favourite of the customers. She had the right personality and disposition for the job. She was able to cheer up any persons day regardless of how they were feeling. Trina remained strong throughout her illness and approached every day with resilience. Trina fought an incredible battle, Michael said, and while there was a lot of tough moments, she never complained and still worried about everyone else bar herself. Her respect and love to all the doctors and nurses is hard to explain as she was more of a friend rather than a patient to all of these wonderful people. On July 8, 2024, Trina and Michael got married at Waterford Hospice. Michael said during his eulogy, We now know shes at peace and looking down on all of us. Thanks for all the memories, kindness, laughter and love youve given me, the kids and the people of Tramore. You will never be forgotten. We will fight on for you like you did for us. Trina will be sadly missed by her loving husband Michael Devitt, her adoring children Amy, Harry and Maisie, her heartbroken parents Billy and Margaret, her sisters Carly and Mary; her brothers Thomas and William; her sister-in-law and her brothers-in-law, all her aunts and uncles and all her nieces and nephews. She will be forever missed by all her relatives, extended family, wonderful neighbours and many, many friends. Condolences Condolences have been extended from far and wide, with heartfelt messages of sympathy coming in from members of the community, friends and loved ones. A Tramore GAA spokesperson said: Tramore lost one of her favourite daughters when news of the death of Trina Ryan, who died peacefully in UHW, filtered through. Trina was such a loving, kind and caring person, together with her lovely smile, and these are some of the attributes that made her so loved by so many. It is an immeasurable loss to her grieving family, but Trina sure lived life to the full and enjoyed every single day of it. What an inspiration for us all. Simply amazing. You were a very special person who enhanced all our lives. We were very lucky. A message of condolence from RIP reads: Trina was such a fun person and always a delight to meet. Another said: Sleep easy Trina, you were a neighbour in the Oak Ward for only a few days but you showed such kindness to me and my children in our darkest days." Trina's Boots colleagues and regulars of the store have also expressed their heartfelt condolences. One person said: Sincere sympathies to you all. Trina will be very deeply missed by all her colleagues in Boots Pharmacy. Trina was the face of Boots Pharmacy in Tramore. She stood behind the pharmacy counter with great pride and love of her community. Trina was deeply loved by the whole of Tramore and Waterford and she absolutely loved her county, especially Tramore, another said. Poem for their beloved mum The following poem was read by Trina's daughter Amy at her mother's funeral, on behalf of Trina's children Amy, Harry and Maisie: It's been the hardest thing to lose you You meant so much to me But you are in my heart Mum And thats where youll always be I know that heaven called you But I wish you could have stayed At least the memories I have of you They will never fade I did not want to lose you But you did not go alone Because a part of me went with you When heaven called you home So just remember one thing We are not apart Youre with me in my memories And in my broken heart. The talented, artistic youth of Waterford gathered at Central Library to 'Make Racism History' on Tuesday, September 24. Mayor of Waterford City & County Cllr Jason Murphy presented Sophia of St Saviour's NS with her award. All Photos: Joe Evans Students from local primary and secondary schools were honoured for the art and poetry they made with the commitment to ending discrimination and hatred. Mayor of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr Jason Murphy was on hand to present awards to the kids. Mayor Cllr Jason Murphy presented Dominic of St Saviour's NS with his award. Mayor Cllr Murphy said: "As Mayor of Waterford, I am delighted to welcome you all to Central Library this morning to celebrate the wonderful art of the students here before us today. "We're here for the award ceremony of the 'Make Racism History' schools competition, run as part of Anti-Racism Month 2024, and to launch the exhibition of work created by you young people here today." Mayor Cllr Jason Murphy presented Kristian of De La Salle College with his award, also included are Sinead Cummins, Librarian, John McCarren (father) and Ann Nolan, Waterford Integration Services. To mark the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21, Waterford Anti-Racism Month invited primary and secondary school students from across the world to engage artistically with the theme of making racism history. The event was supported by Waterford Integration Services, Waterford City and County Council, Waterford Libraries and Europe Direct, and The Book Centre, who sponsored the prizes. Mayor of Waterford City & County Cllr Jason Murphy presented Emma of St Angela's Secondary with her award, with Sinead Cummins, Librarian and Ann Nolan, Waterford Integration Services. Mayor Murphy said: "I hope this exhibition is an inspiration for others to imagine a Waterford free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination, a Waterford that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, a Waterford where difference is valued and indeed celebrated." Mayor of Waterford City & County Cllr Jason Murphy presented Paula of St Saviour's NS with her award. Ann Nolan of Waterford Integration Services said: "I'd like to thank the Library Services, as well as Waterford City and County Council, without which this work would not happen." Mayor Cllr Jason Murphy presented Emily of St Saviour's NS with her award, at the Awards Ceremony for the Making Racism History schools competition. Photo: Joe Evans Students from St Saviour's NS and De La Salle College in Waterford city happily accepted their awards from Mayor Murphy, captured by photographer Joe Evans. After 30 years of teaching at Waterpark College, the school is saying goodbye to beloved art teacher Ms. Brid Kenneally. The school estimated that Ms. Kenneally had taught thousands of students during her career! Teacher Brid Kenneally pictured at the surprise farewell party for her at Waterpark College. To celebrate Ms. Kenneallys retirement, the school organised a surprise party to thank her for her tireless care of the students. She was presented with a card, signed by all the staff and students at Waterpark College, by three students, Hanh, Zoe, and Lucy. Sudents, Hanh, Zoe and Lucy presented Ms Kenneally with a card signed by all the staff and students at Waterpark College. The students also made a touching piece of art for their art teacher to remember them by, each student painting their fingerprint onto a canvas, which was given to Ms. Kenneally by first-year students Smithbert and Mila. Anna, Ms Kenneally and Aoife, at Waterpark College for the surprise farewell. As well as a celebratory cake, Ms. Kenneally was presented with flowers from two former students, Kristine and Rebecca. On the day, speakers gave tributes to the teacher. Sixth year students with Ms Kenneally at Waterpark College for the surprise farewell. Mr. Hagan, Principal of Waterpark College, praised the retiring Ms. Kenneallys tireless care of her students, and amusingly recalled tales of her endless creativity in accounting, finding ways to convince the school to enhance the art supplies by showing up with the receipts of her purchases. Fellow teacher Mr Wheatley said she had three main principles, "work hard, show respect and have fun", while her pupils spoke of their teachers motivational spirit and the impact she had on students. Past students Kristine and Rebecca presented flowers to Ms Kenneally. The results of her work could be found not just in the fondness her students have for her, by also the inundation of local, national, and international art competitions that her students work appeared in and won. Pictured at Waterpark College for the surprise farewell for longest serving art teacher, Ms. Brid Kenneally, who retired after 30 years service. The school said they had celebrated many prestigious wins in art competitions, including the Texaco Art Competition, Waterford Credit Union, Iverk Show, Waterford City - 40 years from now, European Union Environmental competitions, and the Purple Flag Mascot. Ms. Kenneally will be succeeded by Ms. Lannigan who will take over the art classes in the school. The announcement last week of a new veterinary school for SETU at Kildalton, Piltown, coupled with the construction start on a new UHW surgical hub in Maypark Lane, made people sit up. Its as if we had been at some great dinner party over the past five years with this government, where the main courses were continually served up to guests all around us while we waited, hungry, at the bottom table. Suddenly, with an election looming, two announcements burst on the scene, like dessert after the main meal, tasty but really not nutritious. Context is everything of course. The veterinary medicine course is very prestigious and sends a clear signal to the middle classes that SETU means business. With an enrolment of 40 students annually on a five-year course it makes a tiny dent in the brain drain from the South East to other regions of the country. Remember, 13,000 students leave this region every year for university and rarely return when qualified. The economic cost to the region is enormous. It is unclear what physical infrastructure will be needed or built to support the new vet course or indeed when anything might be built. Practical work will probably be in Kildalton, with academic work in Waterford. However, huge congratulations are due to Prof Veronica Campbell and her team at SETU for obtaining this course. It clearly sets out SETUs ambition. Remember these announcements are in the closing months/ weeks of this government. SETU has a strategic development ask of 350 million. The vet course at approximately 20 million is a small dent in that sum. Course development has to include teaching and pharmacy. A medical school with UHW simply has to be on the cards. In the past five years, SETU has missed the main courses, the heavyweight investment in physical infrastructure, new buildings and new student accommodation that have gone to colleges in other cities. We know that in 2008 a PPP to provide new WIT engineering and business schools was ready, that this was cancelled by Enda Kennys government in 2011, that Enda Kenny promised a full university to Waterford before the 2011 election, following the disastrous closure of Waterford Glass and Talk Talk, knowing the competitive difficulties this city faced. He used the word pledge if remembered correctly. Two Fine Gael TDs were elected on that pledge in 2011, but nothing happened. We know the engineering building project was revived in 2017, that planning was granted in 2019, that the work has been tendered. We know it could have gone to construction in 2020, as college buildings in Cork, Dublin and elsewhere did, but was stalled. We know that new courses were arriving every few years in WIT up to 2006. We know that stopped and course numbers were capped. We know that planning permission for the new engineering building will lapse this December and must be reapplied for because no work has been carried out on site to justify an extension to the existing planning. We know that the last thing built on the WIT Cork Road site was the Humanities Building, which started in 1998, was suspended in 2001, and finished in 2006; that nothing has been built there since. We know that this did not happen in any other city in the country, that 645,924,766.23 was spent on building 100 higher education projects from 2016 to 2023, that Carlow IT has built five new buildings in that time with the assistance of the HEA, that the tooth fairy arrived and that Carlow did all this from their own resources. Even now, a new corporate services building has just been completed in SETU Carlow. We know that Fine Gael has not laid a brick on the Cork Road WIT site in almost 14 years, that this has hurt WIT/ SETU. We know that the Department of Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has the engineering building file on his desk for 12 months. We know that a disgraceful amount of time was spent dithering over the Waterford Glass site purchase for approximately 4 million. We know that WIT was prevented from buying it much earlier, much cheaper. Talk about due diligence and procurement policies was blather. We know that GMIT in Galway bought 10 acres for 9 million from Galwegians RFC in case they might need it in a city with an existing huge university. We know they leased it back immediately to the rugby club. The new elective surgical hub at UHW is a very welcome, heavyweight piece of new infrastructure, which cheered up UHW staff no end, albeit in the closing weeks/ months of this government. We know that UHW as a Model 4 hospital, with the lowest staff, lowest budget and lowest capital expenditure of the nine such Model 4s, that it has not had a fair share of capital spending, that in 2023 its acute capital allocation was zero. We know that projects, which were being priced with existing contractors on site and ready to go in February 2022, did not proceed. We know that the pathology lab extension was shovel ready at the time but was delayed until last month. We know that a proper new OPD on top of the main hospital was pulled in 2022. We also know that UHW has some of the best outcomes, some of the best clinicians and staff and that their performance has not been rewarded with capital investment. We know that UHW has modular pre-fabs as temporary OPD units. We know that UHW had a tent outside its ED for nine months of 2023 without complaint from the Health minister. We know that there has been an uptick in staff and budget at UHW, comparable to that in every hospital in the land. We know that the Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Minister Mary Butler of Fianna Fail stood outside UHW in 2020 and promised 24/7 cardiology there and that it has not been delivered. The list is long. We know our airport has been almost done to death by the Green Party over a matter of pennies. Most of all we know that these things are about the future of Waterford city rather than the ambitions of any single politician. More next week. BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least three civilians were injured on Thursday in an Israeli airstrike that hit a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanese TV channel al-Jadeed reported. The Israeli army confirmed that it launched three missiles to attack the commander of Hezbollah's drone unit. TV footage showed rescue teams and ambulances rushing to the densely populated area to transport casualties to the hospital and remove victims from beneath the rubble. The tech sector was up by 0.4 per cent, while consumer staples rose 0.9 per cent. A2 Milk shares rose 8.7 per cent before being put in a trading halt so the Kiwi milk company could announce an acquisition. The laggards The Star (down 44.4 per cent) plunged almost in half in the companys first trading day since last month. The ailing casino operator finally delivered its full-year results on Thursday, after snagging a last-ditch $200 million loan from its banks. Star chief executive Steve McCann flagged hundreds of job cuts and the sale of assets such as hotels in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast as part of a complicated cost-saving plan following a $1.69 billion loss. Supermarkets were mixed, with Woolworths up slightly (0.2 per cent) and Coles shed 0.5 per cent after a week of intense scrutiny. Loading In an ASX announcement, Woolworths Group chief executive Amanda Bardwell said the company believed the grocery sector was competitive and customers had more choice than ever, after a competition watchdog probe found the two biggest retailers, Coles and Woolworths acted as an oligopoly with limited incentive to compete on price. A Coles spokesperson said the company would examine the report, and it supported a diverse supermarket industry that offers choice and competitive prices. Australias biggest alcohol retailer, Endeavour Group, was down 2.5 per cent on news its chief executive Steve Donohue was leaving. Donohue said it was the right time to leave the underperforming Dan Murphys and parent company BWS. Endeavour Group faces a dwindling stock value and its 2023/24 financial year results showed that although sales increased, profits had been slashed to service its $1.9 billion debt. The heavyweight financial sector meanwhile finished 0.6 per cent lower, with all big four banks losing ground. NAB fell 1.8 per cent, Westpac retreated 1.7 per cent, ANZ dropped 1 per cent, and CBA slid 0.1 per cent. Oil prices sank after The Financial Times reported through sources that Saudi Arabia was preparing to abandon its unofficial price target of $US100 a barrel for crude. The price of a barrel of benchmark US crude fell 2.9 per cent to settle at $US67.67, while the international standard of Brent Crude fell 2.5 per cent to $US71.60. Woodside Energy was 1.4 per cent lower while Santos slid by 1.2 per cent. The lowdown AMP Capital chief economist and head of investment strategy Shane Oliver said that despite this weeks performance on the markets, he thought the risk of a correction in shares remained high. He pointed to a range of risks including stretched valuations, investor optimism, the coming US election and conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, he said the trend towards stimulus globally including interest rate cuts overseas was positive for shares. The risk of a near-term pullback remains high for shares, but increasing policy stimulus globally as we move into a more positive seasonal period for shares is very supportive, Oliver said. Global markets rallied overnight. Credit: AP Overnight, the S&P 500 added 0.4 per cent to set an all-time high for the third time this week and the 42nd time this year. The Dow Jones gained 260 points, or 0.6 per cent, to finish just shy of its record, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.6 per cent. But drops for Exxon Mobil and other oil-and-gas companies kept the markets gains in check. The fall in oil prices overnight dragged Exxon Mobils stock down 1.7 per cent, and it was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500. ConocoPhillips sank 3.2 per cent. In other sharemarkets overseas, indexes were more buoyant on hopes for more moves by China to prop up the worlds second-largest economy. The countrys powerful Politburo on Thursday called for intensified efforts as China tries to meet its goals for economic growth, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. That follows a raft of announcements earlier in the week by the countrys central bank that had also sent global markets jumping. Chinas economic growth has been flagging, and officials appear to be making a more coordinated effort following earlier piecemeal attempts to boost it. Loading In the United States, meanwhile, more encouraging news came after a round of reports on Thursday suggested the worlds largest economy may be doing better than expected. Fewer US workers applied for unemployment benefits last week in the latest signal that layoffs remain relatively low across the economy. A separate report said the overall US economy grew at a 3 per cent annual rate during the spring, as previously estimated. Thats a solid rate. The hope on Wall Street is for a form of financial nirvana where the US economys growth can hold steady and keep profits for companies humming while the Federal Reserve continues to lower interest rates. Quote of the day Australia is already at about $1 trillion [in trade] and that will grow to about $1.5 trillion ... Im talking of around 2030. So collectively we will be at about $5.5 trillion, and we should aim for 10 per cent of that to come from Australia and India. Lets aim big given the huge trust between the two countries, I would think we should go for it, says Indias Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal. You may have missed Australians are paying 20 per cent more for groceries than they were five years ago, with fresh fruit and vegie suppliers squeezed the most by the major supermarket chains, the competition watchdog said in a new report that described the supermarket sector as an oligopoly. With AP Advertisement Review Eating outMargaret River East meets South West: This kitchens singular, thrilling style of Japanese cooking could only exist in Margaret River Hiding in plain sight on bustling Bussell Highway, this bijou specialist tempura restaurant is one of regional WAs most essential dining experiences. Max Veenhuyzen September 27, 2024 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 1 / 4 Soy-glazed lamb sholder, miso corn puree, vanilla-cured shallot; soy-braised pork croquette, Japanese barbecue sauce and pork skin cracker; masago arare cracker pink snapper, blueberry powder and tofu aioli. Supplied 2 / 4 Yuzu ice cream with mandarin puree. Yuzu ricotta cream, peach soup, and gyoza crisp. Supplied 3 / 4 Blow-torched shimeji mushroom and ocean trout, tofu surinagashi and local seaweed. Supplied 4 / 4 Cold plate entree (from left): Baby turnip with sakekasu powder; Hiramasa kingfish zuke, wasabi oil, spring onion; Murasaki daikon pickled in white miso; Shark Bay blue swimmer crab Puree with French breakfast radish, avocado and local seaweed. Supplied Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15 / 20 How we score Japanese$$$$ 15/20 If theres one chef that should be cooking in full view of the dining public, its Mikihito Nagai. The owner, kitchen talisman and namesake behind specialist Margaret River tempura restaurant Mikis Open Kitchen, Nagai is someone who seems to have a firm grasp of this whole work-life balance thing. Advertisement He jokes with guests and his fellow chefs. He talks to staff in measured tones. He beams a megawatt smile that lights up the room like the bat-signal. He is cool, calm, collected and seemingly very content: understandable, I think, for a surf-obsessed Japanese chef that came to the South West 20 years ago in search of waves. Mikis is a specialist tempura restaurant in Margaret River that serves tasting menus that celebrate southwest ingredients through a Japanese lens (and vice-versa). Supplied He is the antithesis of the played-out angry chef character that was once so common in restaurants. Or at least in 2013, anyway: the year that Nagai and wife Mai took over a former beauty salon and made magic happen. (Encouragingly, the last decade has seen hospitality begin changing its ways and address some of the industrys less admirable aspects.) When Mikis opened, one could order a la carte. Today, the food is set-menu only with guests opting for either the Mikis Trust option ($88) or the longer Mikis Complete ($107): a procession of 20-ish bites served over eight courses and two hours. If finances allow, the extended directors cut is the way to go and best illustrates Nagais mission to unify east and South West. Advertisement If I didnt go the Complete, I would have missed out on local water chestnut coated in a delicate batter and precision-fried to retain its juicy crunch. (Why is Mikis tempura so good, you ask? Frying in cold-pressed canola oil doctored with some sesame oil for flavour and heat control helps, as does changing the oil in each of the restaurants two pots between each evenings sittings.) The nut is grown by a small Rosa Brook farmer in microscopic quantities and is only available fresh for a month, so Nagai cant serve it to everyone. (You get half a nut as part of the opening, five-snack salvo). Its teamed with a dab of hatcho miso, a long-fermented red miso synonymous with Okazaki: a city close to Nagais hometown of Nagoya in Japans Aichi prefecture. The vivid Manjimup-grown crimson pearl potato enlivened with a sharp mayo spiked with yuzukosho is another Complete menu exclusive. (The yuzukosho a popular Japanese condiment made by fermenting chilli and fragrant peel from the Japanese citrus, yuzu is made using fruit grown by the same water chestnut farmer.) Small sake cups filled with a comforting potato, white miso and truffle soup ran across both menus and showcased local Margaret River black truffle. But enough about tubers. Its impossible to talk about tempura and Japanese food generally without talking about seafood. Which makes the otsukuri add-on ($19; an additional plate that imitates traditional Japanese sashimi) an attractive prospect. Intimate 25-seat restaurant from the Astral Weeks crew opens in Perths Chinatown Advertisement Two bricks of Fremantle bigeye tuna thrilled with their firm chew and savour, but ceviche-style farmed Tassie salmon and sweet Japanese scallops felt ho-hum after such interesting local ingredients, especially considering that many fish taste their best and fattiest during the cooler months. As it turns out, ocean swells at this time of year stop small local fishing boats from heading out, so Nagai and long-serving head chef Solomon Yates dont have access to the winter fish that theyd like. All the more reason to return in summer. For now, better to enjoy WA goodies like fried Shark Bay scallop accompanied by a verdant matcha salt (Nagai says the drier, denser local scallop is better for cooking while juicier, Japanese scallops are best raw). Or sweet cooked crab meat immortalised via the pressed sushi, oshizushi. And who knew that the bubbly, tapioca-like rice pearls masago were the spring-summer accessory that pink snapper didnt know it needed? Despite Nagais jovial demeanour, hes clearly someone that sweats the details and appreciates the handmade. Mikis jet-black charcoal ramen noodles are custom-made in Sydney. The restaurants wavy blue plates are supplied by renowned Aichi potter Tetsuo Nagae using clay offcuts. The amazake (fermented rice) that sous chef Habib Pinter mixes with mandarin to dress a lush chocolate and hazelnut cream is made in-house. 14.5 / 20 Review Bet on black: Mount Hawthorn wine bar a precious addition to Perths Italian food and drink scene Nagais eponymous open kitchen and charisma are undoubtedly part of Mikis appeal. But as I reflect on the restaurants 11-year journey, it strikes me that theres another openness at play: an openness to reimagining South West ingredients and Japanese food culture through the lens of the other. The result is an imaginative cuisine that was born in Asia, grew up in Australia, but has come of age on Bussell Highway. Advertisement Mikis remains one of WAs more unexpected, yet deeply gratifying dining prospects. It is also along with the hatted desendent one of Margaret Rivers few whole-package restaurants youd celebrate a special occasion at. I couldnt imagine the 6285 without it. The low-down Vibe: a charming counter restaurant that celebrates Japan, Margaret River and the life story of its cheery owner. Go-to dish: Mikis Complete menu. Drinks: a thoughtful, personal edit of southwest wines and Japanese sakes rounded off by cocktails, Japanese spirits and non-alcoholic options. Matching options also available. Cost: about $214 for two, excluding drinks. Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire across the Lebanese border on Friday, killing dozens. An Israeli strike killed nine members of a family, including four children, in the Lebanese border town of Shebaa, mayor Mohammad Saab told Reuters. Israeli attacks have killed more than 600 people in Lebanon since Monday, the Health Ministry says. The dead include at least 150 women and children. The Israeli military said four drones crossed the border on Friday, all of which were intercepted. The Israeli military said another 10 projectiles came into Israel from Lebanon, with some intercepted and others falling into open fields. Hezbollah claimed it had targeted the Israeli city of Tiberias with missiles. Loading Speaking on ABC News on Friday evening, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner insisted it was effectively evacuating parts of Lebanon. Tens of thousands of Lebanese and Syrians have fled across the border from Lebanon into Syria since the beginning of the week amid intense Israeli bombardment that Israel says is targeting Hezbollah militants and weapons. Lerner claimed the IDF was taking extensive steps to limit civilian casualties. The activity of calling people to evacuate, broadcasting it, distributing it on media and social media, is effective. Weve seen the traffic jams coming out of southern Lebanon, Lerner said. Of course, it is a huge challenge. Were committed to limiting civilian casualties on one hand, but on the other hand, taking out where Hezbollah have positioned those capabilities. Dont take it up with Israel why we are conducting the strikes against their weapons and tools of terror Hezbollah has accumulated as the most significant terrorist army in the world. Take it up with Hezbollah. Loading They need to evacuate. They shouldnt have even been in these areas in southern Lebanon. A 21-day hiatus could give Hezbollah the chance to regroup, Lerner said. It was up to the government to dictate their terms for a ceasefire, and it needed to result in Israelis being able to return home along the border of Lebanon after a year, he suggested. With Reuters, AP Australian National University international law professor Donald Rothwell said Victoria Police would still be required to present its case to Italian authorities, but Kouroumblis consent had paved the way for an expedited return to Australia. It will mean that the processes before the Italian courts and with the Italian authorities have become quite simplified and theres some prospect that he could possibly be returned to Australia in six to eight weeks, Rothwell said. Serena Tucci, the public defender representing Perry Kouroumblis. Credit: Josephine McKenna The Australian government has 45 days from Kouroumblis arrest to make its case, which will likely require Victorian homicide detectives to travel to Rome to present their evidence. That process could be fast-tracked or delayed depending on how long it takes to arrange the necessary paperwork. Italian courts and the Italian authorities will still want to ensure that all of the appropriate requirements are met for the extradition, so that requirement is not obviated as a result of consenting to extradition, Rothwell said. Any case put forward by Victoria Police will need to meet the requirements of the extradition agreement between Italy and Australia, and present enough evidence for the Italian courts to be confident of Kouroumblis prosecution. Loading The 65-year-old dual Australian-Greek citizen this week appeared before a magistrate via video link from a jail cell in Romes Regina Coeli prison, indicating he would not fight a Victoria Police request for him to be flown back to Australia for questioning. Kouroumblis court-appointed public defender in Italy, Serena Tucci, said he had otherwise exercised his right to refuse to answer questions from authorities. Tucci expressed surprise at Kouroumblis decision not to fight Australias extradition request and said she did not know the reason behind the decision. I said: Are you sure that you want to go back to Australia? and he said: Yes, I want to come back, Tucci told ABC Radio Melbourne on Thursday. I saw him this morning hes fine, hes in good health, hes proclaimed himself innocent, she said. Meanwhile, riots erupted at Regina Coeli prison on Wednesday night. Penitentiary police called for reinforcements as firefighters fought to control flames that could be seen from the street. Gennarino De Fazio, secretary general of the UILPA Penitentiary Police, said prisoners had used camping cooking canisters to set fire to mattresses in their cells. We trust that the penitentiary police department, whose professionalism and dedication is widely acknowledged, will be able to control these umpteenth disturbances without irreparable consequences, he told Italian media. All this is unacceptable for a country that wants to call itself civilised. We need urgent measures capable to establishing minimum living conditions and security in prisons. About 100 inmates were reportedly involved in the riots, but no injuries were reported. Its the second uprising in the past three months at the notoriously overcrowded and understaffed prison in Romes Trastevere residential district. Tucci said she believed Kouroumblis had not been not affected by the prison riots. On Thursday morning, she brushed off any concerns about the state of the penal facility but suggested Kouroumblis might be able to arrange a transfer. Its a normal prison. In Rome, we have two very big prisons, Tucci told the ABC. I dont know if [Kouroumblis will be there] all the time or a few days. He can probably change prisons. It depends. Kouroumblis is wanted over the deaths of Suzanne Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, in a house in Collingwood in 1977. No charges have been laid and, if they are, they will need to be proven in an Australian court. Tucci previously told The Age that Kouroumblis was distressed, surprised and worried about his arrest, and had not understood why he had not been previously arrested in Athens, where he had been living since leaving Australia in 2017 shortly after being asked by cold-case homicide detectives to provide a DNA sample. The 65-year-old had been working as a welder and living with his brother, Andreas, in a family home in Athens until his arrest under an Interpol red notice at Romes Fiumicino Airport last week. Reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions could help persuade voters the Albanese government is serious about tackling Australias housing crisis, according to senior Labor MPs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese repeatedly insisted on Thursday the government had no plans to alter the pair of tax concessions and warned doing so could slow the supply of new houses into the market, but he repeatedly refused to rule out a change in the future. At war: Peter Dutton says Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers are at odds over Labors thoughts on negative gearing. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claimed Albanese and his treasurer, Jim Chalmers, were at war after Albanese distanced himself from revelations in this masthead that Treasury had been asked to model the impact of the tax changes. Dutton vowed to oppose any changes. Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather MP said Labor had opened the door to changes after years of pressure and that his party was willing to negotiate in good faith, realising we wont get everything we want. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Requested by France, the UN Security Council on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting on Lebanon, the second meeting on the country's deteriorating situation in less than a week, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon." In his remarks, Guterres urged the Security Council "to work in lock-step" to end the escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants across the Blue Line, a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah and Israel must pull back from the brink of a potentially catastrophic regional war, he insisted, adding that there was now massive civilian displacement from southern and eastern Lebanon towards the Lebanese capital of Beirut, while the Israelis have endured repeated attacks from Hezbollah with more than 8,300 rockets, drones and increasingly high caliber missile attacks on military targets and residential areas. With an appeal for both sides to respect Lebanese sovereignty, Guterres said that Lebanon "must have full control of its weapons" throughout the country. "We support all efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces," he added. "We say it very clearly and honestly: what we have been witnessing over the past year in Gaza and what we are witnessing now in Lebanon is likely to expand to other areas in the region if the international community does not shoulder its responsibility to put an end to the machine of death and destruction," Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of Egypt, told the meeting. "They are spreading terror and fear among Lebanese citizens ... We cannot bear to lose another generation because of the war," said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. "The ongoing aggression against Lebanon is fueled by the failure of the international community, and in particular by the UN Security Council, to hold Israel accountable for war crimes and genocide in Gaza," said Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister. France on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States as the death toll mounted in deadly strikes by Israel. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the two Western powers were proposing a "temporary ceasefire" of 21 days "to allow for negotiations." The Arab League Council has at the level of foreign ministers warned of the repercussions of escalating "the Israeli aggression" against Lebanon in light of recent developments, which could lead to the outbreak of a large-scale regional war and threaten the security and stability of the entire region. Israel said on Wednesday it was readying troops for a potential ground incursion into Lebanon, telling soldiers to prepare to "enter enemy territory" as it called up more reservists and sent world leaders scrambling to prevent a full-scale war with Hezbollah militants. "We are preparing the process of a maneuver," Israeli Military Chief Herzi Halevi told troops at an exercise along the northern border. Israeli warplanes resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon. On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Israel's bombardment has displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in. On Wednesday, 11 September 2024, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) achieved a significant milestone in its journey to professionalize its staff when it launched an innovative approach to leverage the WCO CLIKC! tenant solution, with a dedicated learning space on the platform exclusively accessible to officers from the Administration. To commemorate the milestone event, the WCO Secretary General, Mr. Ian Saunders, conveyed a recorded video message to congratulate the Commissioner General and staff of ZIMRA. He emphasized that by creating this learning management system, ZIMRA was creating a path to success for aspiring and current public servants through a shared vision with the WCO to transform modern online training. The CLiKC! tenant solution is not just a new feature but a game-changer that represents a vital stepping-stone to support Members efforts to pursue online capacity building and increased access to the WCO distance learning offer. This ZIMRA initiative is the first time the WCO has set up a tenant solution on CLiKC! for a Member Administration. With this solution, ZIMRA is able to offer customized online training to its Officers on CLiKC! without the need to host and maintain its own learning management system. The tenant solution is designed to enhance learning experiences, making them more engaging, accessible, and effective. It represents a significant step forward in the journey to support continuous learning and professional growth in WCO Member Administrations. This achievement will also boost Zimbabwes role as host of a WCO Regional Training Centre. This new tool for online training is the pilot product of a collaborative effort between ZIMRA, the WCO E-Learning Team, and the Sida-WCO TFCM Programme with funding from the government of Sweden. It is a testament to the relevance of engaging traditional and new partners with purpose. For more information on the WCO E-Learning, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org. Yao Tandong (L) and Lonnie Thompson pose for photos inside a tent at No. 10 glacier of the Purog Kangri Glacier in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) LHASA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Describing his relationship with Chinese scientists as "like brothers", Lonnie Thompson, a member of the American Academy of Sciences and a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has returned to the highest county in China 24 years after his last visit. In the Shuanghu County of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, where the average altitude exceeds 5,000 meters, he is working with Chinese scientists to uncover the secrets of Earth. Located roughly 90 km northeast of the county seat, the Purog Kangri Glacier stands as the largest accumulation of ice outside the polar regions. In September, Thompson and academician Yao Tandong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences arrived there to conduct the second scientific expedition on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Their research primarily focused on crucial ice core drilling. "It's really striking to go back and see these places that we drilled early in my career. I want to continue documenting the changes we observe in these glaciers." At 76 and having undergone heart transplant surgery, Thompson expressed his excitement despite facing harsh environmental conditions and physical discomfort. This visit is part of a scientific expedition to investigate the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, known as Asia's "water tower". The target region encompasses "one glacier, two lakes and three rivers" and is part of the second scientific expedition and research of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, which was initiated by China in August 2017. The goal is to understand the mechanism of environmental change and provide scientific support for the ecological security of the plateau. The region is home to Purog Kangri Glacier, as well as Siling Lake and Namtso Lake, the largest and second-largest lakes in Xizang. It is also the birthplace of three big rivers in China, namely the Yangtze River, Nujiang River and Yarlung Zangbo River. Noting that this expedition is significantly in larger scale and more comprehensive, Thompson reflected on his first visit to Purog Kangri in September 2000. "Getting here was not easy back then. The road was muddy. Because the trucks were heavily laden with gear, and then we actually had to bring a road that we could lay down in front of the truck, so they wouldn't sink in the mud," he recalled. "We worked hard to push and pull trying to just get to the site. But this year's experience is totally different. Paved road all the way here, brand-new hotel and the research base is fully equipped." In October that year, the research team successfully drilled their first ice core, reaching a depth of 118.55 meters, followed by two additional cores at the depths of 213 meters and 154 meters. "Ice cores are crucial for understanding climate and environmental changes. Glaciers worldwide are retreating, and once they melt, the historical records they hold will disappear. Therefore, preserving these ice cores is vital. They serve as archives, allowing us to extract historical information even as new technologies emerge," Thompson emphasized, hoping this drilling will yield the longest and oldest ice cores from mid-latitude regions. The Purog Kangri Glacier occupies a unique position in glaciology. "The conditions of these glaciers are much different than we find in the polar regions or deeper in the tropics, and they are so important for the water resources, for the people who live downstream," he said. "Understanding what the climate history was in this region and then how it fits into the global picture is extremely important. I think the international collaboration is the only way we can do this." Thompson first visited China in 1984, where he began a scientific collaboration with Yao Tandong and other Chinese scholars. Over the past four decades, they have drilled ice cores in various glaciers across China and published their findings in prestigious journals like Science, while also advancing the Third Pole Environment (TPE) program. "We have built a solid scientific foundation over our 40 years of collaboration, establishing trust and viewing each other as brothers. This relationship is our most valuable asset in scientific research and cooperation," Thompson said. He also expressed optimism about the future of glaciology in China. He recalled that 40 years ago when he first arrived in China, there was only one glacial station, and the quality, the level of scientific research were very low. "But over the last 40 years, the investments that the Chinese governments made into glaciology have been tremendous." "The achievements of the past 40 years in China are remarkable," he continued. "For me, the best scenario is when the world achieves a win-win situation, where we all benefit from cooperation, explore new fields, and deepen our understanding of climate science. This is how we make progress." "China plays a very important role in the future. And I really appreciate the amount of investment the governments made in science here in China over the last 40 years. I wish I saw that in every country around the world," he concluded. "In the future, I want to continue documenting the changes we observe in these glaciers." Lonnie Thompson (R) and Yao Tandong (L) discuss on the drilling of ice core in Purog Kangri Glacier at a camp site in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Shiping) Yao Tandong (L, back) and Lonnie Thompson (2nd R) check ice cores drilled at a work site in Purog Kangri Glacier in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Team members of the second scientific expedition on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau pose for a group photo at the base camp in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Shiping) BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has entered a moderate aging society, with the permanent elderly population in the city reaching 4.95 million by the end of 2023, a civil affairs official said Thursday. Guo Hanqiao, deputy chief of the municipal civil affairs bureau, told a press conference that the elderly accounted for 22.6 percent of the city's total permanent population. Guo, also a bureau spokesman, said the city has developed a community-based nursing service model and plans to establish 100 elderly care service centers at subdistrict and township levels. As of Sept. 20, 60 of them had been completed. In addition, the city has stepped up professional home care to serve the bedridden elderly at home. He Jingtao, deputy director of the city's commission of housing and urban-rural development, said other measures included elderly-oriented housing modifications, such as installing elevators at outdated residential communities. By the end of August, more than 4,200 elevators had been installed for such communities in the city, benefiting approximately 50,000 households, He said. ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 28 people were killed and 19 others injured in a traffic accident in southern Ethiopia, local media reported on Wednesday. The deadly accident happened when a bus traveling from Wolaita Sodo to Dawro Zone overturned on Wednesday afternoon, local media reported, citing officials. The injured are currently receiving intensive medical treatment in nearby healthcare institutions, said the police, warning that the death toll may increase. Despite a low per capita car ownership rate, deadly traffic accidents are relatively common in Ethiopia due to poor road conditions, reckless driving, a flawed driving license issuance system, and lax enforcement of safety regulations. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit By Jonathan McCambridge, PA Former US senator George Mitchell, who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement, has challenged Northern Irelands current leaders to fulfil the potential of the historic peace deal. Mr Mitchell, who returned to Belfast as plans were unveiled to build a new home for a peace institute in his name at Queens University, said while Northern Ireland had enjoyed 26 years of peace, there has not been 26 years of full reconciliation and progress. The veteran diplomat, 91, also had an emotional meeting with Erin McArdle, one of the first babies born after the 1998 agreement which largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Mr Mitchell, who chaired the Good Friday Agreement negotiations to a successful conclusion, was making his first visit to Belfast since he attended events at Queens last year to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace deal. George Mitchell met with Erin McArdle, one of the first babies born after the Good Friday Agreement was signed (Kelvin Boyes/PA) The event on Wednesday night was held to mark a dedication of the new home for the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at the university. Among those in attendance at the recently opened Seamus Heaney Centre, beside which the new institute will be developed, were former taioseach Bertie Ahern, secretary of state Hilary Benn and the First and deputy First Ministers Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly as well as a host of political leaders, past and present. Television presenter Donna Traynor then facilitated a conversation between Mr Mitchell and Ms McArdle and her mother Caroline in the Whitla Hall. Reflecting on the challenges of negotiating the agreement, Mr Mitchell said he believed Northern Ireland can be and will be a lesson to the world. He added: The challenge you have is to take advantage of this opportunity. There have been 26 years of peace; there has not been 26 years of full reconciliation and progress. The restoration of the Assembly, the election of two credible, responsible women Michelle (ONeill) and Emma (Little-Pengelly), the fact that you dont have an election coming up right away, means that there is an enormous opportunity now for Northern Ireland to experience a period of growth, increased prosperity, opportunity, education, healthcare for children. A place where people not only want to live but people want to come to. I believe that with all my heart and soul. I hope that is going to happen, that springing from this moment, out of crisis comes opportunity that Northern Ireland can move forward together. Left to right, Sir Ian Greer with Mr Mitchell and Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly (Kelvin Boyes/PA) Declan Kelly, a former US Envoy, is leading the fundraising campaign to rebuild the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. Originally established in 2016, it is an interdisciplinary research institute providing a response to the global challenge of building a peaceful, inclusive and secure world. Mr Kelly said: I was honoured to be approached to lead the capital committee for the Mitchell Centre. We owe it to future generations to pass on all we can of George Mitchells towering accomplishment here through the long years that led to the Good Friday Agreement. Queens president and vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, added: It is an honour to welcome our former chancellor and close friend of the University, Senator George Mitchell, back to Queens for this special event. Senator Mitchell was a key architect of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, chairing the talks in 1998 that brought peace to this island. The continuing work that takes place at the Queens Institute that bears his name solidifies the Senators and Queens unwavering commitment to lasting peace for this island and its people. This event was a celebration of how far we have come in terms of peace, and we look forward to continuing the work on global peace, security and justice when the new institute building opens in the next few years. Ms ONeill said the institute showcases the positive change that has taken place in the north since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. She added: This building and the research institute that bears his name, pay tribute to the commitment and dedication of Senator George Mitchell to bringing peace here and I want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Senator Mitchell throughout the peace process. Ms Little-Pengelly said it was an honour to be part of the event. She added: The progress that has been made over the course of the last 26 years has been remarkable and Senator Mitchells commitment to Northern Ireland and his deep understanding of here has been an important part of that journey. This initiative will reflect the importance of peace but it will also remind us of the frailty and how we all must continue to work at maintaining it. An appeal has been made to An Bord Pleanala over Mayo County Councils refusal to grant planning permission for the installation of a shipping container underground to store fireworks. The Council refused planning permission to Rocket Pyrotechnics last month for the installation of a shipping container underground for the storage of pyrotechnics and all associated site works at Rathoma, Killala. The applicant wished to install a 40f foot metal shipping container with 3.2m high earth mounding for the safe and secure storage of pyrotechnics along with a timber shed for the packing and unpacking of the pyrotechnics. Rocket Pyrotechnics wanted to construct the storage facility as they import their pyrotechnics from Britain and Brexit is significantly impacting their supply chain. This facility will provide them with a safe and secure storage facility to store and retrieve their pyrotechnics without interruption to the companys supply. The owner is a native of the area. Council planners considered the proposed development would not be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and refused planning permission. An appeal has been made to An Bord Pleanala regarding this decision. The case is due to be decided by January 23, 2025. A Ballina councillor has said the consultants behind the towns Local Transport Plan (LTP) had a lot to answer for with regards to the delivery of its proposals. Cllr Mark Duffy expressed his frustration at the delivery of projects proposed in the Ballina LTP following a response to a motion raised by Cllr Annie May Reape. Cllr Reape called on the Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to revert traffic on the towns Lower Bridge to a two-way system. In response, area engineer Orla Bourke said this had been proposed in the Ballina LTP. Proposal 3 of the Ballina Local Transport Plan (LTP) recommends two-way traffic on the lower bridge. The LTP will be finalised once the Local Area Plan has been adopted. Mayo County Council will seek funding in Quarter 4 of 2024 for proposals resultant from the Ballina LTP under the Active Travel Investment Programme 2025, she said. Cllr Reape welcomed this but said it was disappointing that this process could take some time. Cllr Duffy said that traffic was quickly reversed on the bridge during last years visit of US President Joe Biden and questioned the process behind the LTP. I thought the whole idea of the LTP was to have all the analysis and studies and not just be lines on maps. Consultants were paid hundreds of thousands of euro to do all of this, set it up. We were told this would be the Bible and we could tick projects off when funding became available, he said. How are we allowing consultants to do a sub-standard plan that means we have to go off and do more studies to understand what will be the outcome? These consultants have a lot to answer for, he added. Ms Bourke explained that the LTP was a high-level plan but it was just a plan and that funding and detailed design works such as surveys and analysis were still required. She said it was up to the National Transport Authority (NTA) to deliver on funding for these projects. She added that all of the projects were ultimately tied into planning for Active Travel. The Western Development Commission (WDC) has announced the highly anticipated return of the popular series Moving West for its third season on TG4, coinciding with the WDCs 25th anniversary celebration. The new season, airing from October 15th at 7:30 pm on TG4, will feature six weekly episodes, each focusing on a different county, beginning with County Mayo. Produced by Dundara Television & Media in collaboration with the WDC, and hosted by beloved Irish television presenter Mary Kennedy, Moving West continues to capture the heart and soul of life in the West and Northwest of Ireland. Through heartfelt, real-life stories, the series highlights individuals and families who have relocated to this beautiful region to embrace a new way of life. The first series of Moving West was produced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, capturing the surge in remote working and showcasing how the West of Ireland became an ideal destination for those seeking a new way of living. Initially focused on the rise of flexible working, the series highlighted the region as a perfect escape from the fast-paced urban lifestyle. Now, with its third season, Moving West has developed into a deeper exploration of the many reasons people move to or return to the West. This season not only features stunning shots of the breathtaking landscapes but also introduces viewers to people from all walks of life and from many parts of the world who have made the West their home. The series delves into the rich variety of storiesfrom families seeking a better quality of life, to entrepreneurs, artists, and professionals drawn by the regions opportunities in technology, tourism, and the creative industries. Its a celebration of the community, culture, and natural beauty that make the West of Ireland so unique. Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, welcomed the new season, saying: "The return of Moving West showcases the unique stories and experiences of the people who call this region home. This year's series will focus on the individuals who make the West so special, highlighting their journeys and the vibrant communities they've built. It's a testament to the enduring appeal and potential of rural Ireland." Allan Mulrooney, CEO of WDC, commented: "Our communities are defined by a rich mosaic of people and experiences that give the West of Ireland its unique character. Season Three of Moving West has been an incredible opportunity to showcase individuals working across some of the region's largest employers, from indigenous businesses to foreign direct investments, as well as the remarkable stories of cheese farmers, emergency consultants, and even those in the space industry. The people we've met arent just drawn to the beauty of the landscape, but to the welcoming communities and the careers that push them to thrive. The support weve received from both local communities and our partners over the years has made all of this possible, and we look forward to continuing our journey of promoting this vibrant region." Mary Kennedy, presenter of Moving West, added: I am delighted to see the way Moving West has developed over three seasons, appealing to growing audiences, different age groups: those contemplating a change of lifestyle and those who are simply interested in hearing about other peoples lives of innovation, possibility and a can do attitude. Its always a joy for me to spend time in our beloved west of Ireland and to showcase this part of the country, rich in community, landscape and progression. Im very proud to be part of the Moving West team and to be working with TG4 on this important and timely programme. Producer and director Enda Grace of Dundara Television and Media commented: "Im thrilled to see how this season captures the beauty and essence of the West of Ireland in a way that is both authentic and inspiring. This series continues to explore not just the landscapes, but the stories of those who have embraced life in this unique region. This season is all about stories but its also about the warm and authentic welcome each mover received upon arrival to the west. We meet wonderful people over the six weeks including a flying doctor, a goat farmer, a lighthouse guide and a professional rock climber! With each episode, we've delved deeper into the rich cultural fabric and diverse experiences that make the West such a vibrant place to live. The response to the first two seasons has been incredible, and I believe this series will resonate even more with viewers. Its a true celebration of community, resilience, and the unmatched natural beauty of the west." Have you noticed that, despite continuing to plummet in the polls, Sinn Feiners are smiling again. Probably, I suspect, for two reasons. One is all that delicious money that fell from the Apple tree and arrived unexpectedly on our shores as if from Santa Claus. Some years ago, we thought that the sumptuous sum of 13 billion was going to swell even more the bulging coffers of the state. Then the Irish government said, 'No thank you very much, its not our money'. Then the EU authorities insisted on us taking it, whether we wanted it or not. And not just 13 billion, an impossibly unimaginable figure, which meant we had even more coming in interest, an accumulative wind-fall of more than 14.1 billion in all which were told will arrive in the public purse in a matter of months. (Has Apple not heard of bank transfers?) The other reason for the Sinn Fein smiles is that the housing crisis seems now to be accepted if the opinion polls are accurate as the number one priority of the electorate as a general election looms. The extra Apple money solves a difficulty Sinn Fein has had for years when they promised everything to everyone but often seemed to have no idea how much all their populist generosity would cost or where the money was going to come from. Now with 14.1 billion extra available, the populist conundrum has been solved: how much will thousands of new homes actually cost? 14 billion, stupid! Where will Sinn Fein (if in government) get all that money? Under the Apple tree, stupid! Heres a question. If you won the Lotto what would you do with, say, a 4 million euro prize? Its a question with multiple possible answers falling somewhere between twin possible extremes spend the lot on a party or put some away for the rainy day. In other words, the short view or the long view. The answer depends on where youre coming from between the extremes of someone who needs a house for their family and an investment banker in thrall to one particular form of economic wisdom. Two realities impinge on deciding what to do with the Apple money. One is that there are now polls of every description almost every few days depicting the latest popular preference of the every-increasing demands of a fussy electorate. There is now a constant wealth of information on voters intentions with clear indications about what they want, expect or demand the new government to do. At least for today or this week! Its the price we pay for our modern communications and media networks, internet, social media, radio and television and, of course, the mass opinion-polling we take for granted today. Now everyones opinion regardless of common sense (or other mitigating factors) receives attention (sometimes, maybe often) beyond its due. When Abraham Lincoln memorably proposed government of the people, by the people, for the people, communications and media networks were basic and ineffective with no facility for the mass opinion-polling we take for granted today. The difficult truth now is that while of the people and for the people seem to make democratic sense, the notion of direct government by the people makes no sense at all because the obvious truth is that the public is notoriously fickle, changing their minds and, with respect, many are incapable of even understanding some of the choices that government financial experts are faced with. What do the people want from the upcoming budget announcement on October 1? Some want lower taxes. Others want better services. And some want lower taxes and better services, even when its clear that you cant have both. Some want a stringent response to climate change but believe that farmers, for example, shouldnt have to change their practices. Others want more housing but would be unhappy if they were pressurised into selling land or even if a new housing estate was proposed near them. And there are some who want everything and some who clearly dont know what they want. There is a point at which governments have to make decisions, not based on the often contradictory demands of a volatile electorate because, as Matthew Parris wrote recently in the London Times, public demand is evanescent, often unrealistic, even contradictory, and frequently plain daft. An example of this daft madness is the often vacuous outpourings of self-styled leaders of the anti-immigrant movement who spout the greatest nonsense and imagine that the louder they shout and the more obnoxious they are in confronting politicians the more people will cheer them. What they dont seem to understand is that spouting political simplicities and presuming they can speak for the people Ballydehob says NO to immigrants (even though the people of Ballydehob said no such thing) simply convinces those they are trying to impress that such self-appointed leaders need to be given as wide a possible berth as possible. Politicians who try to bring such extremists with them are effectively giving a public platform and an undue status to malcontents who will never be satisfied no matter how politicians twist and turn to appease them. And while politicians will instinctively always try to run with the hare and hunt with the hound in the interests of maximising their vote, appeasing discontents is, what a Northern politician once controversially described as, the dangerous practice of feeding the crocodile. What is needed is an adult response to the present windfall of the Apple tax with a responsible allocation based on need, not least the long-term implications that the mixed benefit the windfall brings with it including the inevitable damage to the countrys reputation (deserved or undeserved) for dodgy forms of tax relief. Strident populist voices encouraging the equivalent of a booze-up need to be stoutly resisted. With the Apple 14 billion dangling before political parties now framing their election manifestos, we need sensible and responsible leadership in our prosperous times. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel in Beijing on Thursday. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and Nepal -- two nations linked by mountains and rivers -- have enjoyed lasting friendship, setting a fine example of equality and mutual benefits between countries of different sizes. He said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China is ready to work with Nepal to deepen exchange and cooperation in various fields, build a high-quality Belt and Road, consolidate popular support for the bilateral friendship, and push China-Nepal relations to a higher level. Paudel said that Nepal abides firmly by the one-China principle, supports China steadfastly in safeguarding its core interests, and hopes to strengthen its exchange of governance experience with China and deepen practical cooperation in various fields. This image taken from video released by New York City Office of the Mayor, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, shows mayor Eric Adams speaking during a videotaped statement. (New York City Office of the Mayor via AP) This photo shows ice cream products at the Ice Cream China 2024 in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Sept. 26, 2024. Ice Cream China 2024 opened Thursday in Tianjin, attracting more than 450 companies from home and abroad. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) TIANJIN, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Ice Cream China 2024 exhibition kicked off in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Thursday, showcasing new products and technologies in the ice cream industry. The three-day exhibition has attracted more than 450 domestic and international companies and over 1,000 business people from over 50 countries, with activities including new product releases, professional seminars and business matchmaking. With an exhibition area of over 45,000 square meters, the event displays ice cream and its ingredients, as well as refrigeration facilities and other machinery. Zhang Xiaohong, head of the organizing committee of Ice Cream China, said the fair shows the vitality of China's ice cream industry and the new trends in the huge market, such as rising health and environmental protection consciousness. Albert Vega Duran with IBK Tropic, a Spanish ice cream ingredients supplier who has exhibited in the fair for over 10 years, said that China is a big producer and consumer of ice cream and still has growth potential. "We visit this exhibition to meet clients and see more orders. We try to improve our product," said Duran. Held since 1998, the exhibition facilitates international exchanges within the ice cream industry. People visit the Ice Cream China 2024 in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Sept. 26, 2024. Ice Cream China 2024 opened Thursday in Tianjin, attracting more than 450 companies from home and abroad. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) People visit the Ice Cream China 2024 in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Sept. 26, 2024. Ice Cream China 2024 opened Thursday in Tianjin, attracting more than 450 companies from home and abroad. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) Foreign customers seek cooperation opportunities at the Ice Cream China 2024 in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Sept. 26, 2024. Ice Cream China 2024 opened Thursday in Tianjin, attracting more than 450 companies from home and abroad. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) An exhibitor shows ice cream products at the Ice Cream China 2024 in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Sept. 26, 2024. Ice Cream China 2024 opened Thursday in Tianjin, attracting more than 450 companies from home and abroad. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) People visit the Ice Cream China 2024 in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Sept. 26, 2024. Ice Cream China 2024 opened Thursday in Tianjin, attracting more than 450 companies from home and abroad. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This photo shows ice cream products at the Ice Cream China 2024 in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Sept. 26, 2024. Ice Cream China 2024 opened Thursday in Tianjin, attracting more than 450 companies from home and abroad. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) KABUL, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan caretaker government's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has inked four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with leading aid agencies to assist thousands of displaced and returnees in Afghanistan, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The total budget for the signed MoUs reaches 8.97 million U.S. dollars, benefiting over 2,760 families and 13,500 people, the statement added. About 1.8 million Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from Pakistan, Iran, and other countries over the past year, official data showed in August. Wits chemists win prestigious chemistry awards Two Wits chemists have been rewarded for their research by the South African Chemical Institute (SACI). Professors Kenneth Ozoemena and Maya Makatini have respectively been awarded with the Gold Medal and the Raikes Medal for their dedication and research. The Gold Medal for Chemistry is awarded each year to the SACI member in the field of chemistry or chemical technology whose contributions to the field are judged as outstanding. The Raikes Medal is awarded to members under the age of 40, and whose original research shows outstanding promise. This research must also have been done in South Africa. Both Wits researchers have been nominated for their respective prizes by their Head of School, Professor Charles de Koning. Ozoemenas research is geared towards weaving electrochemistry research into real-world solutions, such as advanced battery technologies (notably lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable zinc-air batteries) for stationary (home and industry) and mobile (electric vehicles and portable electronics) applications, and electrochemical sensors for the detection of diseases, such as (HPV) or cervical cancers and tuberculosis (TB). Makatinis research is focussed on designing peptides (short strings of amino acids) to target bacteria such as TB and to aid in wound healing. Her work research is also aimed at diagnostic purposes, where she works closely with the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, using Mass Spectrometry to design diagnostic kits to diagnose arsenic poisoning in miners, and to create early warning diagnosis kits for kidney disease in diabetic patients. This award is a validation of the work we have been doing over the years, strongly competing with the rest of the world despite our limited access to some of the most critical research facilities, says Ozoemena. Wits is one of the three universities in the country (and in Africa) engaged in this type of research. At Wits, we have focused on creating a strong foundation for research in materials electrochemistry and electrochemical energy technologies. Ozoemena says he is motivated by what Africa offers to the world. Africa represents the most important environment to develop affordable and clean energy (SDG #7). It is richly endowed with the necessary natural resources: huge raw minerals waiting to be beneficiated and deployed for energy; inexhaustible sunshine that is the envy of the world; huge population of human beings (approximately 1.5 billion, recognised as the continent with the world's youngest population, most of whom are under the age of 25) who are hungry to participate in the energy and economic development of the continent. Makatini has always been motivated, and influenced by her grandparents especially her grandfather, who as a herbalist, always collected herbs, searching for their natural healing powers. This also influenced, and inspired her Masters research was also aimed at finding the healing properties of natural substances. Growing up, I was always grinding leaves. My grandfather and grandmother have all this time been influencing and motivating me, without even realising it. Makatini, who won the Wits Female Academic Leaders Followship Fund (FALF) award for academic excellence last year, says the Raikes Award tells her that she is heading in the right direction, and that long hours of hard work is paying off. It means other people are seeing, and recognising that you are doing useful work, and it gives you a bit more energy to push further with your work, she says. It also means that her dream of one day opening up a full Mass Spectrometry laboratory is not as far-fetched as she always thought. I am dreaming of opening a facility where we can employ students, and deliver a service to the country in designing and creating peptides, as, during Covid, we learnt that we cant keep on relying on other countries to supply us, she says. Ozoemena is optimistic for the future of his research field in electrochemical technologies in South Africa, and Africa in general. It is heartwarming to see that the electrochemical community has continued to grow in the last two decades. Several global events show promise for an exciting future for electrochemistry as a subject. Some of these include the global thirst for clean and affordable energy for everyone on earth; the continued rise in the adoption of electric vehicles; the emergence of the energy-thirsty AI technologies and portable electronics; and portable diagnostic devices for drugs and diseases. With the support of the government and industry, I strong believe that the future of electrochemistry as a research field can only get better in South Africa. Shares of Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of Reduce by the eight brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $26.90. EQNR has been the topic of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Equinor ASA from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $30.50 to $25.80 in a research note on Thursday, August 29th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Equinor ASA from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. StockNews.com downgraded Equinor ASA from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their target price on Equinor ASA from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Get Equinor ASA alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on EQNR Institutional Inflows and Outflows Equinor ASA Price Performance Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Clearbridge Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Equinor ASA in the second quarter valued at $205,000. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its holdings in Equinor ASA by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 862,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,635,000 after buying an additional 11,500 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in shares of Equinor ASA by 52.7% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 69,718 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,991,000 after acquiring an additional 24,052 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Equinor ASA by 9.2% during the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 13,900 shares of the companys stock worth $397,000 after acquiring an additional 1,167 shares during the period. Finally, Chase Investment Counsel Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Equinor ASA in the second quarter worth approximately $1,085,000. 5.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. EQNR stock opened at $24.80 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $26.25 and a 200-day moving average of $27.17. The company has a market cap of $69.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.68, a PEG ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. Equinor ASA has a 12-month low of $24.08 and a 12-month high of $34.73. Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported $0.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.81 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $25.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.93 billion. Equinor ASA had a return on equity of 20.65% and a net margin of 9.11%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.74 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Equinor ASA will post 3.3 EPS for the current fiscal year. Equinor ASA Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 28th. Investors of record on Monday, August 19th were paid a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 19th. Equinor ASAs payout ratio is 36.84%. 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Equinor ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equinor ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE:FBIN Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, September 24th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd will be paid a dividend of 0.24 per share on Wednesday, December 11th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 22nd. Fortune Brands Innovations has decreased its dividend by an average of 1.4% annually over the last three years. Fortune Brands Innovations has a dividend payout ratio of 20.2% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Fortune Brands Innovations to earn $4.72 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.96 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 20.3%. Get Fortune Brands Innovations alerts: Fortune Brands Innovations Price Performance NYSE:FBIN opened at $86.47 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $78.32 and its 200 day simple moving average is $74.80. Fortune Brands Innovations has a 52-week low of $54.10 and a 52-week high of $88.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 1.34. The company has a market cap of $10.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.51. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Fortune Brands Innovations ( NYSE:FBIN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.04. Fortune Brands Innovations had a return on equity of 22.93% and a net margin of 9.39%. The firm had revenue of $1.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.28 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.07 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Fortune Brands Innovations will post 4.29 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of equities analysts have commented on FBIN shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Fortune Brands Innovations from $82.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations from $79.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations from $75.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Fortune Brands Innovations from $75.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations from $84.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $83.20. Get Our Latest Analysis on Fortune Brands Innovations Fortune Brands Innovations Company Profile (Get Free Report) Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc provides home and security products for residential home repair, remodeling, new construction, and security applications in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Water, Outdoors, and Security. The Water segment manufactures or assembles, and sells faucets, accessories, kitchen sinks, and waste disposals under the Moen, ROHL, Riobel, Victoria+Albert, Perrin & Rowe, Aqualisa, Shaws, Emtek, and Schaub brands. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Fortune Brands Innovations Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortune Brands Innovations and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Visitors view a photo exhibition on China's historic transformation held by Xinhua News Agency in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) by Xinhua writers Wu Qiong, Wang Hongjiang BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The sunlight streaming in the exhibition hall on the 39th floor of a high-rise building in Beijing illuminates an array of around 500 photographs captured by generations of Chinese journalists. Towering over the cityscape, the exhibition hall embodies a blend of historical tradition and modern achievements, reflecting the nation's transformation over decades and the profound stories of its people. China's national news agency, Xinhua, on Thursday opened a photo exhibition at the National Financial Information Center just days before the People's Republic of China celebrates its 75th founding anniversary on Oct. 1. Stepping into the first section of the tour, audiences were enveloped by an array of black and white photographs. A standout photograph showcasing Dr. Henry Norman Bethune (1890-1939) performing surgery on a Chinese patient in a little temple attracted visitors to stop by and take pictures. "The use of lighting in this picture is perfect, and it is a textbook in the Chinese photography industry," said Lan Hongguang, who recently retired from a four-decade career as a photojournalist at Xinhua, pointing to the photograph hung on a long wall displaying dozens of pictures showing the arduous struggle of the Chinese people led by the Communist Party of China. "It was not easy for Chinese reporters to take pictures with cameras back in the day, because Western journalists were armed with automatic rifles, while we were holding spears with red tassels," he said. "But today we have the photography equipment leading the world," Lan, who is also a China Journalism Award winner smiled. As the audiences walked deeper into the gallery, the color contrast of the photos became more vivid. A notable contrast is a photo that focuses on a celebrating crowd, with young women in colorful dresses and men in plain white shirts. On the picture, the crowd is celebrating the first batch of "Jiefang" trucks produced by FAW Group rolling off the assembly line in Changchun, Jilin on July 14, 1956. Starting from this photo, this section, "having ample supplies of food and clothing," shows changes in social life. Through enormous efforts, China is capable of feeding one fifth of the global population with nine percent of the world's arable land and six percent of the freshwater resources. In 2020, China realized its goal of eradicating absolute poverty nationwide, contributing significantly to the global poverty reduction cause. In building a moderately prosperous society, China takes it as the primary goal to secure adequate food and clothing and protect the right to subsistence, and takes further steps to meet the growing material and cultural needs of the people. From 1949 to 2023, China's residents have seen their income grow by an average of 6 percent annually, resulting in a staggering 75.8-fold increase in real terms, according to official data. As the tour went on and audiences moved along the corridor, more pictures bathed in the sunlight filtering through the sleek glass facade of the skyscraper, were unfolded in front of them. These include pictures featuring FAW Group's seventh-generation Jiefang truck product J7 coming off production line on April 18, 2018, and new energy vehicles developed by Hongqi, an FAW Group car brand at the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition on April 18, 2023. "China's automotive industry is evolving rapidly, and Chinese brands are developing vigorously," Zhang Qiang, a visitor and branding manager of a local Chinese car company said. "Local automobile market players have shifted from followers to leaders over the past decades, and I'm very excited to be part of the fast development of an unprecedented era," he added. Starting from scratch, China has completed in a few decades the industrialization process that took developed countries hundreds of years to achieve. China has remained the world's top manufacturing hub for 14 consecutive years, and boasts all the industrial sectors included in the United Nations' International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin (C) and Cambodian Health Minister Chheang Ra (1st R) attend the handover ceremony of ambulances in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sept. 25, 2024. Chinese charitable organization Future Smile Charitable Foundation on Wednesday donated four ambulances to Cambodia and provided free surgical operations to Cambodian children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. [Photo by Phearum/Xinhua] PHNOM PENH, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) Chinese charitable organization Future Smile Charitable Foundation on Wednesday donated four ambulances to Cambodia and provided free surgical operations to Cambodian children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. The event was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin and Cambodian Health Minister Chheang Ra at a ceremony held at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in the capital Phnom Penh. Ra expressed his heartfelt thanks to the charitable organization for the generosity and kindness towards Cambodia, saying that the donation would help Cambodia's Ministry of Health to provide high-quality first aid to patients. China is a major contributor to the development of Cambodia's health sector, the minister said, adding that China has provided a great deal of assistance to Cambodia for the construction of the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh and the Cambodia-China Friendship Tboung Khmum Hospital in Tboung Khmum province. In addition, China has so far donated more than 200 ambulances and 40 mobile clinics as well as a lot of medical equipment to Cambodia, and currently, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) experts have also been assisting Cambodia in developing the TCM sector, he said. Ambassador Wang was confident that the donated ambulances would contribute to providing better healthcare services to Cambodian patients, while the Cambodia-China friendship surgical mission would bring beautiful smiles and hope to cleft lip and cleft palate children in the Southeast Asian country. "China and Cambodia are unbreakable iron-clad friends," he said. "We hope in the future, more Chinese charitable people and organizations will come to Cambodia to help the country develop society and economy, and improve the people's health and livelihoods." Chan Kok Choy, executive director of Smile Cambodia, said the surgical mission has conducted 35 operations in the last two days, and is expected to do another 15 operations on Wednesday. Mok Theavy, undersecretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Health, said the donated ambulances will be very beneficial to Cambodian patients, adding that this donation reflects the longstanding friendship between the peoples of Cambodia and China. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin (1st R) holds a child with facial deformity in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sept. 25, 2024. Chinese charitable organization Future Smile Charitable Foundation on Wednesday donated four ambulances to Cambodia and provided free surgical operations to Cambodian children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. [Photo by Phearum/Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. US and allies call for an immediate 21-day cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah The U.S., France and other allies are jointly calling for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon Zimbabwean welder Ngwarayi Mushaurwa works at home using a diesel generator in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Sept. 25, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua) HARARE, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Each time power cuts disrupt his work, Ngwarayi Mushaurwa resorts to cranking up a diesel generator to keep his welding business running. Making ends meet in Ruwa, a town southeast of Zimbabwe's capital Harare, Mushaurwa is not alone in facing rising operational costs due to frequent electricity outages. A prolonged drought has lowered water levels at Lake Kariba, home to the Kariba South Power Station, significantly impacting electricity generation at the country's main hydropower facility. Meanwhile, aging equipment at the Hwange Power Station, the country's primary thermal plant, has worsened the rolling blackouts that can last up to 15 hours in some regions. On average, Zimbabwe produces less than 1,300 MW of electricity, falling short of its peak national demand of about 1,950 MW. For Mushaurwa, this shortage translates into higher costs of using alternative power sources, a burden also felt by consumers. "We use generators, but it becomes difficult to convince the clients to accept increased charges to cover fuel costs. It then becomes difficult for small businesses to be sustainable, so we are appealing to authorities to address the power deficiency so that we can sustain our families," Mushaurwa told Xinhua on Wednesday. While generators help the 60-year-old Zimbabwean keep his business afloat, they are insufficient to drive growth. "There are some heavy-duty machines that cannot be operated with generators, so power cuts are a huge challenge," Mushaurwa said. Unlike major corporations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and informal businesses lack the financial means to invest in generators or other alternative energy sources during the blackouts. "Right now a lot of businesses are grappling with power issues because of the power outages," said Delight Makotose, director of the SMEs International Expo, an annual exhibition that seeks to create synergies and a networking platform for small and medium businesses. "SMEs need reliable power. Procuring generators is not cost-effective, so we urge the government and energy providers to step up and ensure enough power supply," he said. Makotose expressed his concern that frequent power cuts are hampering the competitiveness of local businesses. According to a 2023 World Bank report, Zimbabwe's power shortages are estimated to cost the country a total of 6.1 percent of its gross domestic product annually. Medium-term World Bank projections indicated that electricity demand will grow from 1,950 MW in 2022 to 5,177 MW by 2030, driven primarily by increasing demand from the mining sector. In response, Centragrid, a local independent power producer, is tapping into solar energy to help bridge the gap. Chief Executive Officer of Centragrid Victor Utedzi said solar is expected to play a major role in Zimbabwe's power generation to feed the increasing energy demand. "As Centragrid ourselves right now we have got a portfolio of the large commercial and industrial clients in the mining sector -- ferrochrome, iron and steel -- we are developing large-scale solar power projects to the tune of 100-200 MW to be able to give them power during the day," Utedzi said. Over the past few years, Zimbabwe has made strides to increase power generation capacity. In 2018, China's Sinohydro completed the expansion project of the Kariba South Power Station, increasing its capacity from 750 MW to 1,050 MW. Last year, the same contractor completed the expansion of the Hwange Thermal Power station, adding 600 MW to the coal-fired power station. Looking ahead, Mushaurwa remains hopeful that the power shortages will be resolved, allowing his business to thrive once more. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is seen in on March 1, in New York City. Drakeford optimistic ahead of Welsh budget improving NHS efficiency via new equipment & buildings will be priority Wales new finance secretary Mark Drakeford expressed optimism about the Welsh Governments draft budget but warned public spending will not suddenly start flowing. Prof Drakeford said he is planning for 1% growth in day-to-day revenue spending and a flat settlement for longer-term capital expenditure. Appearing before the finance commission for scrutiny, the former first minister said: I have some optimism that things will be a little bit better. He cautioned: I dont think its going to be a sudden turning on of public expenditure but I think that things wont be quite as tight. Pressed by Labours Rhianon Passmore about areas that could be deprioritised in Wales, he said it is too early to say ahead of the UK Governments budget on October 30. And pressed to reassure people that the in-year budget is secure, in light of 500m cuts in Scotland, he said: It looks to me more like what I would have thought of as a normal year. Jumbo jet Prof Drakeford stressed that stresses and strains persist but the previous budget was extraordinarily more difficult, leading to very, very painful cuts this time last year. He said the first ministers statement on her governments priorities will shape the Welsh Governments draft 2025/26 spending plans that will be published on December 10. The former first minister compared his overriding responsibility as finance secretary with landing a jumbo jet of a budget on a postage stamp. He stressed the importance of getting maximum value from expenditure and not overspending which takes you into very difficult territory. Prof Drakeford suggested negotiating relationships with the UK Government on matters such as freeports and investment zones will be near the top of his agenda. He said his focus will also be on legacy issues like the shared prosperity fund, replacement EU funding one of the sorrier examples of spending by the previous UK Government. Micromanagement He said: I will wish to have conversations with my UK colleagues about the longer-term transfer of post-EU funding back to where it belongs: here in the hands of the Senedd. Prof Drakeford suggested the Welsh Government will seek powers that have already been devolved to Scotland and Northern Ireland. He said talks would focus on freeing up the micromanagement of our affairs by the UK Treasury, giving more scope to deploy money in an efficient and effective way. At the moment, our hands are tied and we dont get the best value, he warned. Prof Drakeford told the committee the Welsh Government has identified 65m to make coaltips in Wales safe as he urged the Labour UK Government to contribute. The finance secretary said talks with UK ministers about rail funding are also ongoing. Big if He said if Wales receives additional capital expenditure next year and its a big if improving NHS efficiency through new equipment and buildings will be a priority. Prof Drakeford agreed the current fiscal framework which determines how Welsh public services are funded while he was finance secretary between 2016 and 2018. He said: The problem from our point of view has been that the numbers that were struck the amount you can borrow, the amount you can put in the Welsh reserve, the amount you can draw down are still the figures that we agreed as the right figures for 2016. Prof Drakeford told the committee meeting on September 25 that he expects the cabinet to debate Welsh rates of income tax but he would need quite a lot of persuasion. The only way you can raise significant amounts of money from income tax in Wales is by increasing the basic rate, he cautioned. The finance secretary said hiking additional and higher rates, which raises untested issues around tax migration, would not bring in a substantial sum. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Flintshire Council rejects controversial inappropriate relationships with pupils teacher oath proposal A proposal which would have seen Flintshire teachers required to swear an oath against inappropriate relationships with pupils has been rejected following a strong backlash. The controversial motion calling for anyone employed in education in the county to make a specific commitment not to form intimate relationships with students was discussed at a meeting of Flintshire County Council this week. It was put forward following the court case of Gwynedd headteacher Neil Foden, who was jailed for 17 years in July after being found guilty of sexually abusing four girls. Education union NASUWT said before the meeting that introducing the oath, which would need to have been made in front of a manager, would show a shocking contempt for teachers. Meanwhile, Laura Doel, national secretary at NAHT Cymru, described it as an insult to the thousands of dedicated teachers and leaders who go above and beyond for their learners. However, Hope councillor Gladys Healey, who proposed the motion, said she felt stronger measures were needed to protect children from abuse by education workers. The Labour politician told the full council meeting held in Mold that she stood by her belief despite the opposition. She said: There has been a lot said on social media and by the unions, but I still stand by what I say. We have to protect our children. When parents take children to school, they hand them over. They cant protect those children. They are there in school, and they need to be protected. Other professions like doctors, nurses and the fire service all take an oath so what is different when you say a teacher cant take an oath? The motion was seconded by Cllr Healeys husband, David, who worked as a teacher for more than four decades. The councils cabinet member for climate change and economy said he would have had no objection to swearing the oath. He said: I was a teacher for some 40 years across two authorities, and Ive certainly seen things that make me feel that taking an oath is appropriate. I know theres been a backlash against this notice of motion by some teaching unions, but as a former teacher for that length of time, I would not have been the least bit offended if Id been required to do that. However, the councils chief education officer condemned the motion and warned it could see teachers in Flintshire quitting their jobs or taking strike action. Claire Homard said the authority already had strong safeguarding procedures in place and an oath would not deter would-be offenders. She said: I am very concerned that this notice of motion is calling into question the professionalism of the education workforce here in Flintshire because of the behaviour of an individual outside of this authority. I am concerned that staff in our schools may be feeling insulted by the insinuation from this notice of motion that they cannot be trusted because of the actions of one individual, and the impact this will have on their morale. I am concerned that this notice of motion could drive staff out of our schools in Flintshire, and that will have devastating impacts on our learners and make recruitment and retention of staff even more challenging than it is already. Im even more concerned that if this notice of motion is supported today, the council will be subject to large scale industrial action by the education workforce unions, who are already publicly expressing their concern in relation to this motion. Ms Homard said pupils in Flintshire had already faced significant disruption to their education because of the Covid pandemic. She said any further interruptions caused by strikes would be catastrophic for learners. She added: We have all been appalled by the actions of the individual referred to in this notice of motion, and indeed by any case of abuse of a learner by staff members who they should be able to trust. But rather than cast a shadow over the professionalism of our entire workforce, I would urge you to celebrate the dedication and the commitment of all of our workforce here in Flintshire. Liberal Democrat councillor David Coggins Cogan said while he could not support the motion, he felt the chief officers rebuke was slightly too firm. He said: I think Cllr Healeys heart is very obviously in the right place, and shes very passionate about this position. Meanwhile, Sean Bibby, cabinet member for housing, said: There may be the odd individual that causes problems and does incredibly evil things. But we have to remember that nearly every single person that walks out the door in the morning and goes into our schools and our education facilities is dedicated to our children. The majority of councillors voted not to adopt the oath at the end of the debate. They instead put on record that the council abhors any abuse of children and young people, including the formation of inappropriate relationships between teachers and those they are responsible for. By Liam Randall Local Democracy Reporter I cannot vote with the Labour Group. I have to vote with my constituents who have collectively been appalled by this decision A Labour councillor has spoken out against the Winter Fuel cut by the UK Labour Government, stating ..having a more professional bunch of people implementing austerity is not what was elected in the UK Labour government. It was elected for change. The comments came in a sometimes frosty debate in the Guildhall chamber where a motion put forward by Plaid Cymru called on the council to condemn the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance and to halt the proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment. Plaid Cymrus Cllr Carrie Harper presented the motion, Over 9 million pensioners across the UK are going to be impacted by these cuts. Over 16,000 of those will be right here in Wrexham in our borough, and with energy price rises on the way as well. There are people that are pensioners in our communities this winter who are going to be forced to turn the heating down. We know that cold homes are directly linked to higher rates of strokes, heart attacks and respiratory diseases. So this cut is literally going to be a matter of life and death for some people in our area. I know in my ward, Ive got people who are missing out by one or two pounds a month. Its absolutely appalling. Means testing in the way that its being done means that many people living below the poverty line are being hit by this. Even worse, there are 1600 pensioners in Wrexham who are eligible but dont claim so whatever you think about the principle of universality, it means that nobody is left behind. I think how we treat the most vulnerable in our society is a real test of our values. There are many, many people locally who are going to feel really let down by this cut. Cllr Harper rounded off her long speech by reiterating the motion, These cuts are cruel and they are completely avoidable. Im very happy to move this motion that the council condemns the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the winter fuel allowance, and calls on the UK Labour Government to halt proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment. Labour Group Leader Cllr Dana Davies spoke next, I understand the general sentiment behind the motion and why its important for it to be debated today. Where we as a Labour Group disagree is where all pensioners receive the winter fuel allowance, as not all are financially vulnerable, and in that context, many pensioners in this room this evening are telling me they dont need it so. As we are acutely aware as local government, the pressure on public finances, because we are working through a budget process where weve got a shortfall of 28 million over the next two years. So there is that question of where we should be focusing and distributing and supporting people who were in need. Cllr Davies tabled an amendment to the motion, copied to councillors and officers, We note the decision made by central government to only give winter fuel payments to those in receipt of pension credit. We ask that: 1. this council resolves to write to the Chancellor to seek reassurance that A. those pensioners who income falls close to the threshold for pension credit, but are not eligible, will receive support as needed through the coming winter period. B. the current threshold for low income households is reviewed and operated to enable those wider groups currently not eligible to access the financial support they desperately need. 2. This council welcomes the retention of the triple lock on pensions, which will see the basic state pension rise by 900 pounds this year and 460 pound next year 3. this council recognises that the pension credit is an underclaimed benefit, and that we commit to a local effort to encourage Wrexham residents to apply for this benefit and increase uptake. Claims can be made by the UK Government website, http://www.gov.uk or by telephone in the direct number or 0800 991234 Cllr Davies explained why that was being put forward as an alternative, There are those that are only a few pounds out with the threshold to be able to claim pension credit and pointed to a recent councillor workshop that linked household income to child poverty, and noted, the current thresholds around low income are too low, and thats because over the past 14 years that threshold for what is deemed to be the financial level of low income thats recognised, that threshold over the last 14 years has only been inflated four times, so for 10 years, its been frozen, and thats why weve got a number of disabled groups in Wrexham, our families, our single parents and our pensioners who are struggling with the cost of living crisis and more kids as a result, moving into poverty. Council Leader Mark Pritchard then spoke rejecting the Labour amendment, I wont support the alternative motion, because I think everybody in this room and across Wrexham and across the country must be unhappy with whats happened. It is all about decision making, I understand that, and can agree with Cllr Davies on that subject. But, its all about making the right decision at the right time, and in my humble opinion, this is not the right decision to make. I think that when you get things wrong you have to hold your hands up and move away from it, and you cant defend the undefendable. Cllr David A Bithell echoed the view, asking that Labour raised the points in their alternative motion at the next Cost of Living Working Group. Cllr Robert Ian Williams voiced support for the amendment, criticising Cllr Harpers speech, I was very unhappy how Carrie spoke and used expressions such as filthy rich. I dont think thats helpful, and its just politicking in this chamber. Cllr Ronnie Prince cited some research he had found noting seven out of ten disabled pensioners will lose their winter fuel payments under cuts planned by Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. People in my area have made me aware that they did vote Labour, a large number of them, and they feel let down by Labour because they believe Keir Starmer urged the opposition to rule out scrapping winter fuel payments before the election, and theyve also seen him state on other occasions he was against cutting that. Alot of people feel let down by Labour. Several councillors mentioned or queried around declaring an interest due to the topic of debate, with Cllr Stella Matthews adding, People are worrying about declaring an interest on this? I dont think wed find anyone in this council chamber with income at a level that youd have to declare an interest on this particular debate. 12 voted in favour for the amendment, and 29 against. The debate then reverted back to the original motion. Cllr Mark Pritchard requested that the word condemned was reworked, so councillors would disagree with the UK Government decision instead. That was adopted. Cllr Paul Roberts I think we need to concentrate on a local level, not a national level. This decision was made at national government level, and whether people agree with it or not, I personally dont agree with it because Ive got constituents in my ward that are bitterly upset that they might not be able to keep warm during the winter months. But, like I say, everybodys got their own perspective on this, and I think we need to construct our Wrexham Council and keep national decisions unless they directly affect the council out of the council chamber. At this point news of the non-binding vote at the Labour conference filtered through to the chamber, where unions called on the UK Government to reverse its cuts to winter fuel payments. Coedpoeths Councillor Anthony Wedlake broke ranks and said he had to vote with my constituents who have collectively been appalled by this decision, adding I didnt want to have to speak today, but I do so with the confidence that my own constituency Labour Party is opposed to the implementation of this cut, and that the highest policy making body of the Labour Party opposed it this morning. I also make the point that I might end up voting with people who have no right to condemn any decision that affect poor people because their parties implemented the bedroom tax, have taxed the poor more than they tax the rich, have taken 40% in real terms from public sector workers wages over the last 14 years. And, of course, I could go on with their friends who sold dodgy PPE during the pandemic. I also make the point to Cllr Harper, that I am assuming from the point that she made that Plaid Cymru MPs wont be taking their heating allowance on their second homes either? I also have to say that we were told as a party that it was country first and party second, and its not in the interest of this country to take away the winter fuel allowance from pensioners. We collectively as a country, or as a consensus within this country, that over the last 10, if not 14 years austerity was a political choice, and having a more professional bunch of people implementing austerity too, is not what was elected in the UK Labour Government. It was elected for change. Universality means exactly that. If we champion free meals in primary schools because we want everybody to have the same opportunity, then it has to be the same with pensioners. If were going to make difficult decisions, we need to make those difficult decisions by looking at the 450 billion pound profit utility companies have made in the last five years, and take a small portion of that to pay for the approximate one and a half billion pounds that this allowance costs. We can look at the ten people in this country who own 500 billion, more than a quarter of the population of this country, and a simple wealth tax will pay for that and many more. On this basis, I cannot vote with the Labour Group. I have to vote with my constituents who have collectively been appalled by this decision. His speech got a round of applause in the chamber. A vote was held on the motion, which passed, with the Mayor announcing We have 33 for, and 12 abstentions, and nobody against so the motion is passed. MS formally censured over use of blanket term for 20MPH policy A Conservative refused to back down despite being given a ticking off by the Senedd in a row over depicting 20mph as a blanket policy. Natasha Asghar was formally censured which amounts to a slap on the wrist with the Senedd endorsing the findings of a standards commissioner investigation. The Tory shadow transport secretary said: I cant quite believe that were standing here today debating the use of the word blanket when there are much bigger issues at hand. Ms Asghar, who represents South Wales East, disputed the finding that she breached three rules in the Senedds code of conduct. To say that I brought the Senedd into disrepute by using the word blanket is purely absurd, she said. I make no apology whatsoever for standing up for my constituents and residents across Wales when it comes to the Welsh Governments 20mph scheme. I am the Llywydd Ms Asghar pointed out that 97% of former 30mph roads dropped to 20mph, saying it remains her opinion that this is a blanket approach. Elin Jones, the Senedds speaker or Llywydd, intervened to stress that the standards committee found the use of the term was imprecise and inaccurate. She said she changed her mind on the use of the word due to the ruling after allowing the term to be used for months. She said: It is not correct to use it in that context, in this chamber any more that is my view and I am the Llywydd I ask you all to respect my view. Ms Asghar acknowledged the report but vowed to continue campaigning tirelessly against the policy despite desperate attempts to stop me. Moral turpitude Douglas Bain, the standards commissioner, found that Ms Asghar broke rules on acting untruthfully and bringing the Senedd into disrepute. The complaint was submitted by Lee Waters, the former minister who introduced 20mph. Ms Asghar was part of the committee which considered a complaint about her group leader Andrew RT Davies, who similarly described 20mph as a blanket policy. Mr Davies was cleared of breaching the rules in January. Mr Bain was satisfied the blanket depiction was inaccurate but said it is not synonymous with untruthfulness, which requires an element of deceit, fraud or moral turpitude. In the 21-page report, he argued there was a degree of moral turpitude in Ms Asghars case because she knew similar statements had been found to be false. No objection He accused Ms Asghar of saying one thing and doing the opposite, concluding: I have no doubt that such conduct is unacceptable and that it brings the Senedd into disrepute. Peredur Owen Griffiths, a member of the standards committee, urged fellow politicians to pay close attention to the committees recommendations on the standards expected. He said: I would also like to remind members of their personal responsibility regarding consideration of any potential interests before participating in committee business. The Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales East told the Senedd it is incumbent on members to declare interests and recuse themselves from relevant proceedings. The motion agreeing to censure Ms Asghar was agreed, with no objection from Tory benches which would have forced a vote following the September 25 debate. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, in New York, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York. Estonia is an important cooperation partner for China in the Baltic region. Friendly cooperation is the main theme of bilateral relations, which aligns with the shared expectations of both peoples and represents the direction that both sides should continue to pursue, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. While China and Estonia have different histories, cultures, environments, and face different challenges, this does not hinder the two countries from strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation to serve the well-being of their people, Wang said, adding it also does not affect their joint efforts to safeguard international peace and security based on respect for the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China is willing to continuously enhance mutual trust with Estonia, continue to respect each other's legitimate concerns on core interests, and lay a solid political foundation and inject vitality in improving bilateral relations, said Wang. Estonia, as an important member of the European Union, is expected to promote the EU institutions' adherence to free trade, resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations, he said. Tsahkna said Estonia has a long history of exchanges with China and has maintained pragmatic cooperation, clearly upholding the One-China policy. Estonia appreciates China's emphasis on respecting the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. For a small country like Estonia, international law and international order are as important as nuclear weapons. Estonia pays close attention to the Ukraine crisis, values China's position, and hopes that China will play a constructive role, said Tsahkna. Wang pointed out that China is not a party to the Ukraine crisis, but has always been committed to peace, actively mediating and promoting negotiations to facilitate a political resolution. China's diplomacy is guided by the principles of upholding justice, maintaining fairness, and pursuing peace. For all hotspot issues, China advocates seeking political solutions through dialogue and consultation. The immediate priority in the Ukraine crisis is to de-escalate the situation and prevent the conflict from further expanding, which aligns with the interests of European countries. China will faithfully fulfill its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and continue to contribute to peace, said Wang. According to opinion polls, the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) could emerge as the strongest party in this Sundays elections to the National Council, Austrias parliament. The entire election campaign has made clear that the countrys main parties have strengthened the FPO with their right-wing policies and are intent on continuing and intensifying these policieswith or without the FPO in government. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer (OVP) [AP Photo/Jordan Pettitt] According to the latest polls, the FPO is expected to receive between 27 and 29 percent of the vote, an increase of 10 to 12 percent compared to the last election. The ruling conservative OVP (Austrian Peoples Party) of Chancellor Karl Nehammer is losing just as many percentage points but is still expected to receive between 22 and 24 percent. The coalition partner in the government, the Greens, are losing about half their votes and are now expected to receive about 7 percent. The opposition Social Democratic Party (SPO) would repeat its result of the last parliamentary elections, with around 20 percent, as would the right-wing liberal NEOS, with around 10 percent. Mathematically, an alliance of the FPO with both the OVP and the Social Democrats would be possible. Without the inclusion of the FPO, a coalition of the OVP and SPO would remain, together in each case with either with the inclusion of the Greens or the NEOS. Despite occasional protestations to the contrary by the OVP and SPO, all these options are politically possible. Apart from the fact that both parties have already made pacts with the far right at a federal and state level, it is particularly evident in the refugee issue that there are no fundamental differences between the parties. The FPO and its top candidate Herbert Kickl set the tone with fascist tirades against refugees. We need remigration, Kickl declared publicly at the presentation of his partys election programme, titled Fortress Austria, Fortress of Freedom. At meetings he reiterated the demand to immediately reject every asylum application in Austria, regardless of legal regulations, and seal the countrys borders against refugees. During the election campaign, Kickl referred to himself as the Peoples Chancellor, a deliberate allusion to Hitler, who also used this title. The ruling OVP-Green government has also made the baiting of refugees the centrepiece of its election campaign. After the government in Germany announced that it would set up border controls and rigorously turn away refugees, the government in Vienna declared that it would not take back people who had been turned away at the German border. There is no leeway here, said Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (OVP). He had instructed the head of the Austrian Federal Police not to carry out any handovers. Nehammer reiterated that Austria would do the same in the event that Germany invoked the emergency clause to seal its borders. We will quite clearly protect our borders against rejections from the neighbouring country, said the chancellor. Minister of Constitutional Affairs Karoline Edtstadler (OVP) wants to convene a constitutional convention in the next legislative period and make access to Austrian citizenship virtually impossible for refugees. According to Edtstadler, the Geneva Refugee Convention dates from pre-globalised times and needs to be further developeda euphemism for the FPOs demand to abolish the convention. The SPO is no different. In terms of asylum policy, the two notoriously right-wing state politicians Hans Peter Doskozil and Peter Kaiser set the tone. Their document on the issue differs only in nuances from the demands of the FPO. In a summer interview with the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), leading candidate and SPO leader Andreas Babler declared that he wanted to sue Hungary for sending tens of thousands of people to Austria. He attacked the OVP and FPO from the right, accusing them of maintaining relations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, although he is responsible for the increasing number of refugees in Austria. In this climate, it is not surprising that the number of far-right crimes in Austria rose sharply in the first half of 2024, from 386 in the first half of 2023 to 556. Additional grist to the FPOs mill is the unreserved support for the war policy by the OVP, SPO, Greens and NEOS. All parties fully support the NATO war against Russia and the escalation of war and genocide in the Middle East by Israel. Although Austria is formally constitutionally obliged to maintain military neutrality, it authorises the transit of arms shipments and supports Kiev with military infrastructure. Among other assistance, Austria has supplied Ukraine with 10,000 protective helmets and 9,000 flak jackets. It also contributes to the costs of the European Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM), which trains Ukrainian soldiers. At a political level, representatives of all parties in the EU Parliament support resolutions for rearmament and warfare. In the UN General Assembly, Austria repeatedly voted against an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the condemnation of the actions of the Israeli military. Military rearmament has increased massively in the Alpine Republic in recent years. Since 2022, around 17 billion have been earmarked for the rearmament of the Austrian Armed Forces. Austria also joined the Sky Shield initiative, a German-European missile defence shield in which 21 other states are participating alongside Austria. With the exception of the NEOS, which openly call for an end to the countrys military neutrality and the establishment of an EU army, all parties declare that they do not want to touch neutrality. In fact, such demands are repeatedly made behind closed doors by all parties. This is in stark contrast to the mood among the population. Despite the media drumbeat for war and rearmament, according to a survey conducted at the beginning of 2024, 80 percent of Austrians want to maintain neutrality; 50 percent would definitely not defend their country with weapons. The potential electoral success of the FPO is the result of the shift to the right of the entire bourgeoisie. Refugees are being made the scapegoat for the social crisis that the parties themselves have caused. The ruling class is consciously strengthening the most right-wing forces in order to suppress the growing opposition among the population. The war drive requires ever more severe social attacks to finance rearmament. Added to this is an economic downturn, involving an increase in plant closures and job cuts. For the first time since the end of World War II, Austrias economy has been shrinking for two consecutive years. As in Germany and other European countries, companies are closing and/or preparing mass layoffs. These are just a few current examples: The Austrian subsidiary of the US electric automaker Fisker has recently filed for bankruptcy. Four hundred fifty employees have already had to leave the company, and now another 500 jobs are on the verge of being cut. Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI), based in Ranshofen, plans to cut 250 of 2,100 jobs across the group in the course of the year, including 100 of the 750 jobs in the Innviertel region of Upper Austria. The group operates eight sites in Austria, Germany, Romania and Poland. Demand has collapsed since the second half of 2023. The Upper Austrian technology group Fronius is also cutting jobs. In June, 350 employees in the solar division were laid off, and now the group is cutting a further 450 jobs in Austria and 200 in subsidiaries in Germany and the Czech Republic. A report leaked to the Guardian has been widely understood as the first public indication that former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is amenable to the formation of a new left party. Just over two months ago Corbyn told the Guardian that he would focus his own efforts as an Independent MP on building community-based initiatives in his Islington constituency and insisted that to create a new, centralised party, based around the personality of one person, is to put the cart before the horse. But on September 15, the Observer Sunday sister paper of the Guardian reported his attendance at a secretive meeting aimed at starting a party named Collective. The newspaper reported that Key figures in the group said they hoped the party would act as an incubator for future leaders who could replace Corbyn as a figurehead of the left, and aim to contest seats at the next general election. It wrote that Corbyn gave the opening speech and that founders said they would begin drawing up democratic structures for a new party to launch. But this was followed by a source close to Corbyn stating that his attendance was not an official endorsement and that he had attended the meeting to listen to and share a variety of views about the way forward for the left. It also noted that others in attendance such as the former North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll, Lutfur Rahman, the mayor of Tower Hamlets, and Andrew Feinstein, the anti-apartheid activist who stood against Keir Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras constituency and who is a leading light in the group Collective leading the initiative, as well as the four independent candidates who won seats at the last general election on a pro-Palestinian platform and who have subsequently formed a parliamentary alliance with Corbyn are all opposed to such a move. Jeremy Corbyn and other general election independent candidates are paraded on the stage during the rally. From left: Michael Lavalette; Leanne Mohamed; Corbyn; Andrew Feinstein, and Iqbal Mohamed, July 6, 2024 Subsequent comment from some of those invited, above all the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), the electoral front dominated by the Socialist Party, made clear that such sentiments are widespread. This partially accounts for the secrecy surrounding the event, Corbyn still maintaining his distance/deniability and the extraordinary absence of political discussion on just what the new party will stand for. The only political comment cited publicly was from Pamela Fitzpatrick, the relatively unknown director of Corbyns Peace and Justice project and spokesperson for Collective, who insisted that now is the time to become an established party We have seen the rise of the far right and already people are feeling politically homeless because they were so desperate for change but support for Labour is dropping so quickly. We need a real movement that can fill that gap. Even she said the movement would take time to launch as a political party because We dont want to make the same mistakes as the past. What Collective is and what it proposes Feinstein was the second most prominent general election candidate after Corbyn to be backed by Collective. The group was set up late 2023 by supporters urging Corbyn to come to the head of a new party. It was publicly launched in May 2024 after he declared he would be standing against Labour in Islington North. But Feinstein has since urged Corbyn to concentrate on local grassroots organising of his Peoples Forum in Islington North, which held its first meeting last weekend, and is himself involved in a similar venture in Holborn and St Pancras. The day before the secret Collective meeting, the Peace and Justice Project, launched in December 2020 by Corbyn, had held a one-day conference in London at which no mention of a new party had been made. Those invited to take part in the Collective discussion, including Fiona Lali of the Revolutionary Communist Party, had all agreed not to talk publicly about the strategy document issued August 12, Beyond GE24: Rebuilding A Mass Socialist Movement As A Foundation For A New Left Political Party, because, according to TUSC, it could become the subject of a public debate over details at this early stage. A report by the TUSC steering committee is therefore the most comprehensive presentation publicly available of this document, which TUSC representatives Dave Nellist and Clive Heemskirk of the Socialist Party had access to. The summary drawn up September 4 and published in The Socialist September 11 reads like an Initial Public Offering designed to reassure potential political partners that investing in the new venture will pay dividends. The objective of a new party states only that there is a need for a new class based and mass membership political party of the left in the UK, requiring a new organised mass movement capable of mobilising the disaffected and disenfranchised millions The required components of such a party are: a strong grassroot community organising model; unity within the left; an inspirational leadership team; a national democratic structure; and a solid relationship with organised labourfor which read the trade unions. The partys ultimate object is to gain representation at national parliamentary, regional and local government levels that will properly serve the aims and demands of the labour movement and the millions left disaffected and disenfranchised by Oligarch Britain. For the new party to be the credible, sustainable and pre-eminent party of the left, the go-to choice for members and affiliates, left candidates and voters requires a growing base of party elected representatives across the UK, beginning with the 2025 local elections. The plan proposed is to register 100,000 members by 2025, to establish a policy programme clearly differentiated from Labour, Greens and [George Galloways] the Workers Party, to identify and stand candidates in all UK elections and to have a minimum of 150 elected councillors in 2025 and a dozen MPs from the 2029 general election. This wish-list-cum-promissory note is followed by a section, Founding Principles, centred on a repetition of Labours old claim to have a broad church philosophy, democratic structures and a governance constitution with an emphasis on tolerance, inclusivity and solidarity. The principles also include a commitment to support electoral alliances with other alternative left parties or groupings that share our core values so as to not compete or split the vote. The timeframe for establishment was laid down as registering a party with the Electoral Commission in early 2025, a public launch early in 2025 with the ability of individuals to join the party and its principles and/or brief policy commitments both to be in place and visible on the day of the launch, preparing a local elections strategy for candidates to be announced by mid-March and a founding and annual conference in late 2025, by the end of which the party should have its policies, party structure, constitution, internal democracy and disciplinary and governance all democratically decided upon. The Socialist Party for one was not convinced, insisting that a new party must have the support of trade unions, which Collective does not, and complaining that Corbyn, who must play the catalyst role in the formation of a new party, had not attended Collective meetings, nor given any other indication of his commitment to the strategy and timeframe proposed. The SP then lists other failed projects for a new party in the UK before concluding that TUSCs proposal was that Beyond GE24 should be presented as a discussion document to be taken into the movement to see what the response is, rather than as definitive proposalsparticularly the timeframe action-pointsto set up a new party in the next few months. Placating such concerns indicates why Corbyn chose to attend his first Collective meeting on September 15, but also why he has still not nailed his colours to a new party project. Yvonne Ridley, a member of Galloways populist and anti-migration Workers Party, who was also in attendance, wrote in the Middle East Monitor that Describing the private gathering of The Collective and calling it the launch of a new political party was probably a little premature of the uninvited Guardian newspaper. Corbyn and his supporters were testing the water and had invited probably no more than 60 people, comrades from around the UK who are appalled by Labours current trajectory. Significantly, Corbyn himself sat in the front row of the audience and not on the platform, making it clear that this was not his conference, but a gathering of like-minded people who are desperate for the emergence of a new political movement If the Collective meeting is seen in future as the initial launchpad for a new party, which is entirely possible, then this only confirms the politically rotten character of such a formation. It will be an unprincipled amalgam of various bankrupt Labourite and pseudo-left groups, which only weeks ago were all campaigning for a Labour victory and based on a minimal programme of reforms that has yet to be agreed. And it will be led by someone so wedded to the Labour Party that he still hesitates to completely break from it after being witch-hunted for years as an antisemite, then expelled from its ranks. Corbynism and the crisis of working-class leadership What are Corbyns qualifications for leading a new party for working people? He was handed leadership of the Labour Party with a massive mandate to drive out the Blairite right and fight for socialist and anti-war policies. His victory was proclaimed by Britains pseudo-left as the basis for Labour to become a new workers party (Socialist Party) and the rebirth of social democracy (Socialist Workers Party). Corbyn himself declared that his mission was to oppose the Pasokification of Labour, the collapse in support suffered by the Greek and other European Social Democrats, pledging himself to maintaining a broad church with the right wing. His constant capitulations handed them a victory in less than five years, while his own supporters were slandered and driven out, or left in disgust. From being in charge of the party with the largest membership in Europe, he presided over the biggest rout in British political history and is now one of just five Independent MPs who agree on nothing outside of opposing the ethnic cleansing and mass murder of the Palestinians. The working class has, moreover, already had bitter experiences with the type of supposedly alternative broad left party Corbyns pseudo-left supporters advocate: not the failed projects they cite in the UK such as Respect and Left Unity, but formations that succeeded in forming governmentsSyriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain. Championed by the same social forces and built by Stalinist and pseudo-left tendencies, their betrayals in imposing austerity on the working class and waging war on behalf of NATO imperialism ended in disaster and collapse. The timid manoeuvres of the Corbynites take place under conditions where Labour under Keir Starmer has formed a right-wing government proud to be the most business friendly in British history, which is intent on imposing austerity on the working class and whipping up anti-migrant sentiment, is openly Zionist and supports the genocide of the Palestinians, and which is in the front rank of those urging that the proxy NATO war in Ukraine is escalated to the direct use of cruise missiles against Russia. This makes the formation of a new workers party the most urgent question. But the right-wing evolution of Labour into a such a naked party of big business and imperialist war was not reversed by Corbyns leadership and cannot be answered by the formation of what would essentially be a Labour Party Mark II. The essential motivation of those involved in the new party discussions is to police the inevitable confrontation developing between the Starmer government and the working class, to prevent a social explosion and confine workers to a parliamentary struggle for the election of a few candidates of protestpositioned, as they declare, between the Greens and the Workers Party and drawn when possible from the Labour and trade union bureaucracy. During the general election, in a June 28 polemic against Feinstein and Collective, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) explained that the fundamental reason for the failure of the Corbyn project was not ultimately the milquetoast character of his leadership, but fundamental shifts in the very organisation of world capitalism. The development of transnational production and the global integration of finance and manufacturing has dramatically undermined the viability of the old trade unions and Stalinist and social democratic parties that were embedded in the nation-state system, to which they all responded by junking their former reformist programmes. The Labour left shares the right-wings nationalist and pro-capitalist programme, differing only in their advocacy of a few of the reforms the Blairites have abandoned. Today, only a socialist and internationalist programme offers a way forward for the working class. This appraisal holds equally true for the trade unions which the pseudo-left groups hail as the essential organisations of the working class and the bedrock of any new party venture. They are dominated by a bureaucracy whose nationalist programme of support for British capitalism and collusion with the corporations and the state in policing and betraying the struggles of their members finds finished expression in their corporatist alliance with Starmers Labour Party. The building of a socialist and internationalist party is what now confronts the working class in Britain and all over the world. Only in an alliance with their class brothers and sisters in a globally organised struggle can workers combat the drive of transnational corporations and banks and their parties and governments for austerity, the rise of the far right that feeds off the despair produced by capitalism and the vile nationalism of the official parties, including Labour, and the escalation of war and all its horrors in Europe, the Middle East and throughout the world. The SEP urges the formation of rank-and-file committees in every workplace to lead a fight against the employers and in a rebellion against the union bureaucracy. We call on young people and workers to join the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and to become members of our party to take forward the necessary fight for the socialist political reorientation of the working class. The SEP is the British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world party of socialist revolution founded by Leon Trotsky in 1938. Its entire existence is one of political struggle against Stalinism, reformism and imperialism and all those tendencies that tried to confine the working class to the leadership of bureaucracies that betrayed again and again to devastating effect, and which have now suffered political collapse. The most advanced workers and youth assimilating the lessons these decades of struggle is the necessary political foundation for resolving the crisis of working-class leadership. On September 27, the General Confederation of Workers (CGT) union has called a national one-day strike in Spain against the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Student strikes across Spain are also planned, with protests in multiple cities. Podemos and allied parties like Sumar have endorsed this action, though their affiliated unions, the social-democratic Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) and the Podemos-linked Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), refused to join. People march during a protest in support of Palestinians and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in Barcelona, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. [AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti] These demonstrations, coming amid calls for an October 1 nationwide protest in France and an October 3 anti-war demonstration in Berlin, point to explosive opposition among workers and youth to genocide and imperialist war. However, these protests raise urgent questions of perspective and class orientation. Since the Zionist genocide began a year ago, there have been many mass demonstrations in Spain against it. But they have not kept Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Sumar government, like the previous PSOE-Podemos government, from arming and supporting the Israeli state as it massacres Palestinians and now assaults Lebanon. Spain remains on the front line of Israels genocidal aggression in the Middle East and NATOs war with Russia in Ukraine. Protests against the genocide have up to now appealed to the capitalist state to stop collaborating with Israel. Workers joined individually in protests controlled by parties of the capitalist government, like Podemos and Sumar in Spain, not in collective strike action. This did not challenge the deadening grip of the CCOO and UGT bureaucracies over the class struggle, or link workers to their class brothers and sisters opposing the genocide internationally. For workers and youth to stop the genocide, they must take events like tomorrows protest as the point of departure for building an independent movement of rank-and-file workers against genocide and war. Continuing meetings and protests of workers and youth must be organized, and rank-and-file organizations built to prepare actions independently of the pro-government bureaucracies. This is the only way for workers to bring forward the opposition to genocide and war of the vast majority of the people against parties that are hardened defenders of imperialism. The CGT bureaucracy, a split-off from the anarcho-syndicalist National Confederation of Labour, is not calling the protest to oppose CCOO and UGT inaction on the genocide. It aims to corral growing working class anger and opposition behind the larger union federations and the PSOE-Podemos or PSOE-Sumar governments. The CGT bureaucracy and the pseudo-left satellites of Podemos promote illusions that moral appeals to the PSOE-Sumar government will change its policy. The CGT states: We at CGT demand that the Spanish government immediately break diplomatic, commercial and military relations with Israel, recognise and protect the right of return for all Palestinian refugees and implement all necessary measures to end the occupation by the Zionist State of Israel. Revolutionary Left, the former Spanish affiliate of the International Marxist Tendency (IMT), has called for a student strike through its youth organisation, the Students Union. After stating that it has no confidence in governments or in rotten diplomacy, its call ends by appealing to these governments and this diplomacy, demanding the immediate breaking of all relations with the genocidal State of Israel. The Morenoite Revolutionary Workers Current (CRT) claims it is necessary to demand that the leadership of CCOO and UGT mobilize and break with their passivity and support for the progressive [social-democratic and Sumar] government. After a year of genocide, fundamental political conclusions must be drawn on the bankruptcy of this perspective. The UGT and CCOO bureaucracies will not lead a struggle to halt the genocide. No matter how many moral appeals the PSOE-Sumar government receives, it presses ahead, like Spains other NATO allies. This is because Podemos and Sumar advance not a struggle against capitalism, but the interests of Spanish imperialism. Podemos, Sumar and their pseudo-left defenders crossed every red line as the NATO powers normalized genocide and war crimes. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is prosecuting Israel on genocide charges, and arrest warrants were issued for top Israeli officials. But the PSOE-Sumar and PSOE-Podemos governments continued Spains arms trade with Israel, as well as other commercial and diplomatic relations with the Zionist regime. Although Madrid claimed it would not join NATO naval missions in the Middle East, in August Iran reported that the Spanish Navys flagship, the aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I, was in the Strait of Hormuz along with several US ships. In August, it was announced that a Spanish frigate would join a NATO naval group in the Mediterranean supporting Israel. Moreover, the PSOE, with its allies Podemos and Sumar, have kept arming Ukraine, even as Washington now announces plans for long-distance bombing across Russia. In May, Madrid pledged to supply Ukraine with Spains largest-ever, 1.129 billion package of military aid. Thousands of Ukrainians received military training in Spain before being sent to die at the front as cannon fodder for NATO. The Spanish supporters of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the leadership of the Trotskyist movement and publisher of the World Socialist Web Site, explain that stopping the genocide means breaking the pseudo-lefts political grip over the class struggle. It advances the following necessary demands, whose implementation requires a revolutionary break by workers and youth with parties of the affluent middle class like Podemos. Stop the Gaza genocide, mobilize workers internationally to block arms shipments to Israel! Workers in Spain and internationally must struggle to block the production and delivery of arms to the Israeli regime. Israeli officials charged with genocide by international tribunals, as well as NATO officials implicated in the genocide, must be prosecuted. Workers must oppose political parties, whether overtly fascistic, supposedly democratic or left populist, complicit in genocide or planning aggressive warthe crime for which Nazi leaders were executed after the Nuremburg Trials. Stop war with Russia, dismantle the NATO alliance, no to NATO bases in Spain! NATOs war escalation against Russia, which threatens to provoke a bloodbath and a nuclear conflagration across all of Europe, must be stopped. NATO bases in Spain in Rota and Moron, agreed between Washington and Spains fascist Francoite regime after World War II, must be dismantled. Spain must leave the NATO alliance, in the course of a struggle by workers internationally to dissolve NATO and halt Europes plunge into a Third World War. Rescind military spending increases and pension cuts, impound EU bank bailout funds! The PSOE-Podemos government approved Spains largest-ever increase in military spending, which now reaches 2.17 percent of GDP. It paid for this by cuts to pensions and wages and other austerity measures targeting workers, even as Podemos handed tens of billions of euros of EU bailout funds to Spanish corporations. These military spending increases and social cuts must be rescinded, and EU public funds impounded to serve the social needs of the population. The struggle for such demands is inseparable from the building of a political movement in the European and international working class to take power out of the hands of the capitalist aristocracy and build workers governments pursuing socialist policies. This struggle cannot be pursued under the control of Podemos and its middle-class political satellites. It requires the building of sections of the ICFI as the revolutionary political leadership of the working class in Spain and internationally. After six years in office, Quebecs national-autonomist Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government faces mounting popular anger and disaffection. Under Premier Francois Legault, the CAQ has slashed social spending, aggressively cut taxes for the rich and plied big business with massive subsidies, while attacking workers rights and pushing through chauvinist laws targeting minorities. To date, the fall in CAQ support has almost exclusively benefited the big business, pro-independence Parti Quebecois (PQ). For the past 10 months, the PQ has led the opinion polls, and with 30 percent support, currently leads the CAQ by six percentage-points. This commanding lead is all the more notable given that the PQ nearly fell off the political map in the 2022 election, winning just 3 of the 125 seats in the National Assembly. This debacle marked a new low point for the PQ in a protracted political decline that began with the 2003 election, when it was ousted from power after carrying out a zero deficit campaign under Premiers Lucien Bouchard and Bernard Landry that ravaged education, health care and social services. The PQ responded to the shattering of its base of electoral support within the working class by lurching still further to the right. Over the course of the past two decades it has shredded all progressive pretensions about its independence programabove all the fraudulent claim that a capitalist Republique du Quebec would bring social reformsand has based its separatist appeals ever more openly on Quebec chauvinism and national exclusivism. This PQ poster promoting its independence program shows a photo of its leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, superimposed on a map of Quebec. [Photo: St. Pierre Plamondon/Facebook] Since Paul St.-Pierre Plamondons election as party leader in October 2020, the PQ no longer feels the slightest embarrassment about advocating ultra-nationalist politics, historically associated with the far right. Benefiting from the support of large sections of the ruling class and favorable coverage in the mass media, particularly the tabloids of the Quebecor Group owned by billionaire and former PQ leader Pierre-Karl Peladeau, the PQ sets the tone for bourgeois politics in Quebec with a constant and virulent agitation against immigrants and immigration. Attacking the CAQ from the right, the PQ blames immigrants for myriad social ills, from the housing crisis to the collapse of public services, and has promised to soon announce a plan to drastically reduce immigration. Adapting to a Quebec context the fascist theory of the Great Replacement promoted by the likes of Donald Trump in the US and Eric Zemmour and Marine Le Pen in France, St.-Pierre Plamondon accuses Justin Trudeaus federal Liberal government of plotting to wipe out the Quebec nation by drowning French-speaking Quebec in a sea of English-speaking or would-be English-speaking immigrants. In keeping with this far-right orientation, the PQ is promising to restore law and order in Quebec by hiring a huge number of new police officers. It also advocates adopting McCarthyist-style measures to promote Quebec pride and values, such as requiring every teacher to display a Quebec flag in the classroom under threat of being reported to inspectors. Despite its incessant denunciations of the Canadian federal state as the oppressor of the Quebec people, the PQ is a diehard defender of Canadian and American imperialism. In an interview with Radio-Canada in October 2023, St.-Pierre Plamondon reiterated that an independent Quebec would be a member of NATO and NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command), and would always remain loyal to the geopolitical interests of North America in terms of resources and defense. Of course, the PQ leaderlike the entire Quebec ruling elite, both its sovereignist and federalist wingsunreservedly supports Ottawa and Washington in their funding and arming of the genocidal Israeli state against the Palestinians, in their dangerous escalation of NATOs war against Russia in Ukraine and in their economic and military-strategic offensive against China. The fact that an ultra-nationalist and increasingly far-right party like the PQ is benefiting from growing opposition to the CAQ government is not a unique Quebec phenomenon. It parallels the strengthening of far-right forces across Canada and internationally. At the federal level, where Justin Trudeaus trade union and NDP-supported minority Liberal government is discredited by its capitalist austerity measures, its numerous interventions to illegalize strikes (most recently against railway workers) and its bellicose foreign policy (notably its open support for the genocide of the Palestinians), it is the official opposition Conservative Party that has seized the political initiative and is currently dominating in voting intentions. The Conservatives are led by the far-right demagogue Pierre Poilievre, who wholeheartedly supported the Freedom Convoy, a fascist-led, extra-parliamentary movement backed by key sections of the ruling class that menacingly occupied downtown Ottawa in January and February 2022 to press for an immediate end to the limited health measures that had been put in place to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Poilievre and his Conservatives have the support of large sections of the ruling class who consider them better positioned than the Trudeau Liberals to impose intensified austerity and war policies and, if necessary, brutally repress any working class opposition. In the United States, the Republican Party, which has increasingly morphed into a fascist party under Trump, is exploiting the fact that the Democrats have nothing to offer working people but austerity, war and mass poverty to falsely cast itself as the voice of the forgotten. In Germany, the neo-Nazi Alternative for Germany (AfD), which recently emerged as the largest and second-largest party in elections in two German federal states, an unprecedented feat since the collapse of Hitlers Third Reich, is benefiting from the rightward march of all the traditional bourgeois parties, which have largely adopted its anti-refugee program. Both the current national coalition government led by the Social Democrats and its traditional conservative rival, the Christian Democrats, are entirely focused on diverting hundreds of billions of dollars from social spending to funding the war in Ukraine and a vast rearmament program. Similarly, the rise in the PQs support is not due to the popularity of its chauvinist and xenophobic policies, but to the rightward turn of the entire ruling class. In Quebec, as elsewhere, it is the inability of the ruling elites traditional parties to respond to the needs and aspirations of working people that makes a section of the population vulnerable to the clarion call of far-right populism. Union leaders paraded Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and prominent Quebec Liberal legislator Marwa Rizqyrepresentatives of big business parties that have imposed drastic cuts on the public sector, notably through emergency anti-strike legislationbefore a Nov. 23 rally of striking public sector workers outside the National Assembly. In this picture, St-Pierre Plamondon is second from the left in the back row, and Rizqy is in the front on the extreme right. [Photo: Conseil Central de Quebec Chaudiere-Appalaches (CSN)/Facebook] But first and foremost, the PQ owes its revival to the trade union bureaucracy which, with the political support of Quebec Solidaire, (QS) the ostensible left party of the upper-middle classes, has systematically stifled the class struggle while assiduously promoting Quebec nationalism. The provinces major labour organizations advocate social dialogue with the Legault government and big business. Under the banner of national unity, they rallied to the support of the Legault government at the start of the COVID-19 and fully supported its profits before lives policy under which workers were prematurely forced back to work so as to churn out profits for big business. They then prevented the outrage aroused by the CAQ and Trudeau governments anti-worker policies from taking a progressive course by sabotaging all workers strugglesin particular the vast strike movement by public sector workers at the end of 2023. This has created a social climate in which the ultra-nationalist demagogues of the PQ can exploit mounting popular anger for their own ends. If the PQ, a big business party responsible for implementing the biggest social cuts in Quebecs history, can still claim to make a pretense of speaking for ordinary Quebecers, it is because it can count on the unions and QS continuing to provide it with political cover. Sharing the PQs reactionary pro-independence program and allied it with it in Oui Quebec and other non-partisan pro-sovereignty forums, Quebec Solidaire goes so far as to defend the PQs turn towards openly xenophobic Quebec nationalism. It has repeatedly insisted that the PQs discourse on immigration is not intolerant or racist, and rooted in legitimate concerns. The danger posed by the PQ and its virulent Quebec chauvinism cannot be fought without a conscious rejection by the working class and youth of the entire program of Quebec nationalismand its equally reactionary counterpart, Canadian nationalism. Only a unified struggle by all workersFrench-speaking, English-speaking and immigrantin close solidarity with the international working class for workers power and socialism can defeat the far-right threat. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Europe Greek rail workers hold nationwide strike for safety measures Rail workers in Greece held a 24-hour strike Thursday. They called for increased staffing levels, the replacement of old rolling stock, and for safety to be improved across the network. Workers at Hellenic Rail, privatised under the pseudo-left SYRIZA government in 2017, called attention to the disaster at Tempe in February 2023, where 57 people were killed in a train crash. ef.syn reported that a similar disaster was narrowly averted two weeks ago. The driver of a commuter train noticed another train on the same line, heading for a head-on collision, but promptly contacted the other driver and stopped both trains. The deputy minister of transport of the right-wing New Democracy government reportedly denied the incident happened and attacked drivers for citing the danger of another deadly crash. French government sends riot police against cost-of-living protests in Martinique Workers in Martinique, a French overseas department in the Caribbean, have been holding protests against the high cost of living since the start of September. This week, lorry drivers stopped work on Tuesday and drove slowly in a snail operation in protest, Le Figaro reported. Health workers begin a strike tomorrow. According to Reuters, workers at state-owned energy company EDF in neighbouring Guadeloupe stopped work last week in linked protests. Also last week, the Martinique authorities imposed curfews and a ban on protests, citing violence, including gunfire injuring several police officers. This week, the French government dispatched CRS riot police to Martinique, after protestors defied the ban on demonstrations. According to Euronews, the Martinican government requested the deployment of the CRS, banned in Martinique since 1959 when its agents killed three young Martinicans in a brutal intervention. Strikes at schools in Navarre and Madrid, Spain over pay and class sizes Teachers in Navarre, Spain, held a stoppage Thursday, demanding reduction of class sizes and real terms pay increases. The unions representing teachers walked out of a negotiation meeting with the PSOE Minister of Education Carlos Gimeno on Tuesday. They accused the Navarrese government of calling the meeting to take a photo and put out a press release saying it had negotiated. Gimeno refused to meet teachers demands, claiming the quantification of their cost makes their realisation impossible and that reducing class sizes would cost 131 million euros. This is around 0.6 percent of Navarres GDP. On Wednesday, teachers in Madrid schools joined a pair of two-hour partial strikes, calling for a reduction in teaching hours. The right-wing Peoples Party government imposed a high minimum service requirement, requiring one teacher for every 50 pupils in primary schools and one teacher for every 90 secondary school pupils, according to Europa Press. Vehicle inspectors strike in Andalusia, Spain Workers at the ITV vehicle inspection service in the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia have been holding strikes since September 19 for a new collective agreement. The Workers Commissions and General Workers Union said 98 percent of workers who could join the strike did so on its first day. The strikes last a total of eight days in September. The Andalusian government imposed a minimum service requirement that 15 percent of inspectors and 45 percent of administrative staff work during the strike, Europa Press reported. Private fire safety workers in Italy strike for new collective agreement On September 16, workers at Gruppo Servizi Associati (GSA), a company providing fire safety services to hospitals, motorways, ports and many other areas, began a four-hour strike to call for a new collective agreement. A press release by the CGIL union said workers at GSA find themselves bound to a collective labour agreement that offers an hourly wage of 6 euros, and can work 20 consecutive days with no day off. CGIL accused GSA of signing the current contract with a trade union of convenience, i.e., one chosen by the company rather than the workers. According to Firenze Today, the unions are calling for GSA to apply the same contract governing conditions for firefighters in ports, in which the monthly pay is 500 euros higher. GSA claimed the strike is illegitimate in law, as it is for demands totally dissociated from the logic and functioning of the public and private procurement market in the sector and would even put at risk the existence of the business, ADN reported. GSA threatened that any workers who joined the strike could face possible consequences on a disciplinary level and beyond. Disability assistants in Norway strike for equal pay Around 10 in-home care workers in Norway, who provide care and assistance to disabled people, have been on strike since September 12. They will be joined by 19 more colleagues from Friday. According to FriFagbevegelse, personal care assistants employed by the NHO Geneo association do not have a collective agreement with the unions, while the Virke association does. The Fagforbundet union, which has 271 members in NHO Geneo companies, said we could do nothing but go on strike when NHO Geneo refused to give our members equal pay for equal work. Tine, a user of the service, and her mother joined a rally to support the care workers, telling Fagbladet, They ensure that users get a quality of life that others do not come close to We want the assistants who work for Tine to be paid as well as those who work for companies organised in Virke. Further strikes by UKs Royal Fleet Auxiliary workers over pay and conditions UK seafarers on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) took further strike action from Monday over low pay and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members already held five days of stoppages. The RMT divided the current action on a sectional basis. On Monday, all deck department seafarers walked out, on Tuesday it was catering and supply staff, while Wednesday involved engine room and communication information workers. On Sunday, the RMT staged a protest outside the UK Labour Party conference in Liverpool, calling for pay justice for RFA seafarers. The rally was addressed by RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch. The union refuses to link attacks on living standards with the Gaza genocide and escalating wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, financed by NATO, including the UK Labour government. The RFA, owned by the Ministry of Defence, provides operational and logistical aid to the Royal Marines and Royal Navy, including in the Middle East supporting Israel. The RMT, with other unions, ignored an appeal for solidarity action in October 2023. The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions Gaza and 31 other unions and professional associations had issued their global counterparts An Urgent Call from Palestinian Trade Unions: End All Complicity, Stop Arming Israel. Rail workers on UK Heathrow Express service hold 48-hour stoppage over pay On Monday, rail workers on the UK Heathrow Express between central London and Heathrow airport began a 48-hour stoppage. The RMT union members overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer and voted to strike for improved pay and conditions. More stoppages by job centre security guards in England over pay Around 600 security guards at job centres in England began a week-long strike Monday. The 600 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members are employed by outsourced company G4S on the minimum wage of 11.44 an hour. They turned down an offer of an extra 23p an hour. Picket lines were mounted at Birkenhead, Bradford, Grimsby, Middleton, Oldham, St Helens, Sheffield and Walsall. Around 1,500 GMB union members working as security guards have also taken action over pay and held a joint strike with PCS members at the end of August. GMB began stoppages in May, while PCS members began in June. The GMB union suspended action by its members while they vote on an improved offer from G4S. PCS members are also balloting on the offer and on holding any further pay stoppages. The walkouts by security guards have led to the closure of some job centres over safety concerns. School support staff in Birmingham, UK strike over equal pay Around 1,500 school support staff in the UK city of Birmingham went on strike Monday. Those taking part included administrative, catering, ground maintenance staff and teaching assistants at 35 schools across the city. The GMB union members are pursuing an outstanding claim for equal pay. The mainly women workers argue they should be paid the same rates as workers in male-dominated roles. They last walked out over the issue in May. Around 800 of the strikers held a rally in Birminghams Victoria Square. GMB states further action could take place, and another 15 schools are balloting over the issue. BirminghamLive quoted a Birmingham council spokesperson saying, The council has been engaging with GMB and UNISON for many years on equal pay. A new approach to job evaluation to settle Birminghams equal pay issues once and for all was agreed with the Trades Unions in October 2023. The council is keen to work together with our recognised unions to explore solutions, as it remains committed to resolving historic equal pay issues and settling all legitimate claims from our employees. Birmingham city council, Europes largest local authority, serving 1.1 million people, is one of several councils declared effectively bankrupt since 2017. In March, the Labour-run council approved a further 300 million cuts to key servicesthe largest cut ever imposed in the history of local government. Teachers at two UK Thames Learning Trust schools strike over medical appointments policy Teachers and support staff at Reading Girls School and Baylis Court in Slough, part of Thames Learning Trust in England, walked out Tuesday and Wednesday. The National Education Union (NEU) members oppose to the trusts policy on attending medical appointments in school hours. The trust, which runs six schools in the area, says teachers must take this as unpaid leave. The NEU members held a stoppage on September 19 over the issue, and a further walkout is planned October 1-3. Hospital nursing staff at London hospital trust strike over pay grading Health care assistants (HCAs) working for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust in the UK capital began a three-day stoppage Tuesday. The Unison union members are pushing for HCAs, on Agenda for Change band 2 but performing clinical tasks, to be paid the higher band 3 level. They are also calling for the upgraded pay to be backdated. The striking HCAs set up picket lines at University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich. The HCAs previously held a 48-hour stoppage, begun September 4. Refuse workers on strike in Sheffield, UK hold protests as dispute continues UK refuse collection workers in Sheffield, who are continuing their all-out strike begun August 20, have mounted protests against employer Veolia, which contracts with the city. The stoppage by around 100 Unite union members at the Lumley Street depot follows a week-long strike begun July 29. They are protesting the companys refusal to recognise Unite for collective bargaining, despite the union representing 80 percent of the workforce. Veolia, under contract to Sheffield City Council for refuse collection, recognises the GMB union. It disputes Unites 80 percent figure, saying it is only 47 percent. Veolia reaches this figure by including depots outside Sheffield in its count. On Thursday, some of the striking workers supported by other Unite members lobbied a meeting of the Leeds and York NHS Foundation in Leeds. The trust has a financial relationship with Veolia through a funding collaboration scheme. On September 20, some strikers and Unite officials protested outside Veolias headquarters in Paris. Veolia, a French transnational, is involved in energy services, waste management and water management, services normally managed by public authorities. Unite has a national bargaining agreement with Veolia across numerous depots throughout the UK. Veolia is attempting to break the strike by using workers normally based in Barnsley. The GMB union is not opposing this. Food production workers in Spalding, UK set to walk out over pay Around 700 UK food production workers employed by Bakkavor at their plant in Spalding in Lincolnshire, are due to begin a continuous stoppage on Friday. The walkout comes after the Unite union members overwhelmingly rejected a 6 percent pay rise offer made in May, with over 92 percent voting to strike. Unite represents about half the workforce at the site and the action is expected to impact supplies of food products and cause nationwide shortages. Bakkavor produces food products such as bread, desserts, pizzas and salads for UK supermarket chains including Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Waitrose. Ten-day strike set for Nottingham trams Around 300 workers on the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram system in England are due to begin a 10-day stoppage on Friday. The GMB union members including drivers, maintenance and ticketing staff overwhelmingly rejected a 3.5 percent pay offer and want a 10 percent rise. The 10-day stoppage will coincide with the prestigious Nottingham Goose Fair taking place over the same period. Middle East Ongoing protests in Iran over deteriorating living conditions Protests took place Sunday across Iran, including by retired coal miners in Kerman protesting the dwindling value of pensions failing to keep up with the cost of living. In Zahedan, heavy goods vehicle drivers demonstrated outside the governors office against not being able to obtain fuel cards needed to carry on working. People with disabilities held rallies in Kermanshah, Mashhad, Qom and the capital Tehran. They were protesting the failure of the state to implement Article 27 of the Disability Law, guaranteeing disabled people the right to employment. Other protests included one in Kahnuj. Around 70 students protested the poor state of the infrastructure of their village school in Sharikabad by boycotting lessons. Monday saw the fifth day of protests by around 350 workers at the Mahshahr Petrochemical Terminals and Oil Reservoirs Company who unload chemicals from ships tanks. They were demanding parity of conditions with workers in neighbouring companies and arrears of wages. Oil workers on permanent contracts at various centres, including the South Pars Complex, the Fajr Jam Gas Refining Company and the Pars Kangan Oil and Gas Company (site 2) held protests. Their demands included removal of salary caps, removal of the limitation of retirement years and payment of wage arrears. Protests and strikes are ongoing against Irans authoritarian regime and collapsing living standards, exacerbated by US sanctions. The Israeli bombing and imminent invasion of Lebanon on the pretext of targeting Iranian-backed Hezbollah are a prelude to NATO military action against Iran, which it accuses of arming Russia. Africa Teachers in Nigerian capital territory walk out over pay arrears Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) around Abuja, Nigeria went on indefinite strike September 22, demanding payment of arrears of their N35,000 wage award and other entitlements. Previously, the unions collaborated with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to obtain 40 percent of the total sum of 25 months minimum wage arrears repaid to get teachers back to work. Strikers are determined that public primary schools in FCT will remain closed until they are paid what they are owed. Residents in Oyo State, Nigeria protest to stop mass evictions Thousands of residents of Oyo State, Nigeria held a protest in Ibadan, the state capita,l on September 23, against the requisition and demolition of their homes to make way for a corridor road. Victims of the evictions and African Action Congress members held up the demolition, which will displace up to 300,000 people and has already cost dozens of lives, according to local news reports. Protesters pushed through the main entrance of the Oyo state government secretariat in Agodi, shouting, No more corridor to prevent government plans. Residents also blocked some of Ibadans major roads last week and stormed the state secretariat to prevent the demolition proceeding. Kenya university staff on pay strike in defiance of union-backed court order Kenya university staff began strike action on September 18. They are demanding a pay rise of 7-10 percent in line with the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, after years of the government refusing to abide by its own agreement. Acting in the interests of the government, Justice Jacob Gakeri ordered the suspension of the strike by the University Academic Staff Union and the Kenya Universities Staff Union members. The unions responded by instructing the university staff to return to work. The workers, however, held a strike and peaceful protest September 24 in the Nairobi Central Business District. Police responded by throwing teargas canisters to disperse them. On Tuesday evening, the newly elected president of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, issued a special gazette notification dissolving the parliament, effective from midnight, and calling snap general elections on November 14. Dissanayake, the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and its electoral front, the National Peoples Power (NPP), was elected as executive president in elections held Saturday and sworn in on Monday. Sri Lankan President Dissanayake meets with military chiefs in Colombo, September 24, 2024 [Photo: Sri Lankan Presidents' Media Division] Dissanayake had repeatedly insisted his intention to call new elections which were due by mid-next year. He wants to establish a stable government with a clear parliamentary majority for the JVP/NPP, in order to implement the harsh austerity measures dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Dissanayake and his JVP/NPP are well aware that the IMF agenda, which involves sweeping privatisation, the destruction of hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs, and deep cuts into essential services, will provoke widespread hostility and opposition. Just two years ago in 2022, President Gotabhaya Rajapakse was forced to flee the country and resign in the face of a mass uprising after the country defaulted on its debts. Millions of workers, youth and rural poor came onto the streets in strikes and protests over the acute scarcity and skyrocketing prices of food, fuel and medicine and lengthy daily power outages. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was undemocratically installed via parliament as president, provoked further mass strikes and protests after he signed a deal with the IMF for a $3 billion bailout loan and began to implement its harsh measures. The trade unions, particularly those led by the JVP, played a critical role in limiting and selling out industrial action that repeatedly erupted. The JVP finally shut down all strikes and protests prior to the election, claiming a win by Dissanayake would resolve the problems facing working people. At the same time, during the election campaign, Dissanayake reassured big business and foreign investors that the JVP/NPP, while seeking to renegotiate terms with the IMF, would implement its harsh measures. Currently the JVP/NPP has only three members in a 225-member parliament. The JVP, which is falsely presented in the media as leftist and Marxist, has never held power before. It was established in 1966 on the basis of Maoism/Castroism and divisive Sinhala populism and led two disastrous armed uprisings of Sinhala youth, before integrating itself into the Colombo political establishment from the 1990s. In last Saturdays poll, Dissanayake received 42 percent of first-preference votes by trading on the JVPs anti-establishment posturing, as compared to just 3.8 percent in the 2019 presidential election. Dissanayake has called the snap election in a desperate bid to cash in on the groundswell of support, before the realization sets in that the JVP is another political instrument of big business and international finance capital. He has declared that the JVP/NPP wants to achieve a two-thirds parliamentary majority and thus the ability to change the countrys constitution. Before dissolving parliament, Dissanayake appointed Harini Amarasuriya, a national list MP from the NPP, as prime minister. She is already being hailed in the local and international media as the countrys third female prime minister. President Dissanayake with Dr Harini Amarasuriya (left), who was sworn in as new prime minister of Sri Lanka, at the Presidential Secretariat on September 25, 2024 [Photo: Sri Lankan President's Media Division] Amarasuriya, a former academic, does not have a long history with the JVP and is not known to be a member. She is a member of its NPP front organisation, through which it has gathered groups of academics and business layers as well as former police and military officers, and participated in Dissanayakes 2019 presidential campaign. Amarasuriya was elected to parliament in the 2020 general elections from the NPP national list, which allocates seats for each party proportional to its total national vote. Her class background is symptomatic of layers of the upper-middle class that the JVP has drawn around it via the NPP. She is the daughter of a tea plantation owner and through her family background has intimate ties to the countrys ruling elites. Through her appointment as prime minister, Dissanayake is sending a very clear message to the ruling class and big business, as well as to the US and India, that his government is committed to serving their interests. Amarasuriya has also been appointed as minister for Justice, Education, Health and Trade, as well as to several other portfolios. With the dissolution of parliament, the Sri Lankan government now consists of three membersDissanayake, Amarasuriya and Vijitha Herathuntil the results of the November 14 election are known and the new parliament is sworn in. Dissananyake has appointed himself to the powerful ministerial posts of Defence and Finance, as well as Energy and Agriculture and Fisheries. The third member of the ruling troika, Herath, is a longstanding JVP member who, like Dissanayake, served as a minister in 20045 in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party coalition government of Prime Minister Chandrika Kumaratunga, in which the JVP was a junior partner. Herath was the Minister for Cultural Affairs and National Heritage. As such, both Dissanayake and Herath bear political responsibility for imposing the governments harsh economic measures. In the current three-person government, Herath holds the important portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Public Security as well as Buddhist Affairs, Religious and Cultural Affairs, National Integration, Social Security, Media, Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation. In line with the sweeping powers of the executive presidency, Dissanayake has also made new appointments to key government bodies, including the government-owned media. These include top administrative posts in the state apparatusthe secretaries to a number of ministries. His re-appointment of Mahinda Siriwardana as Treasury Secretary is significant. A former deputy governor of the Central Bank, Siriwardana has previously been an alternative executive director of the IMF for Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan. As Treasury Secretary, he played a key role in negotiations with the IMF on terms of the bailout loan agreed by former president Wickremesinghe, who even granted Siriwardana a one-year extension in the post. By reappointing Siriwardana, Dissanayake is giving a clear signal to the IMF, foreign creditors and big business that his government will toe the line and implement the IMFs austerity agenda. A day earlier, the IMF declared that it was looking forward to working with Dissanayake and his team towards building on the hard-won gains that have helped put Sri Lanka on the path to economic recovery since entering on one of its worst economic crises in 2022. The IMF also said it was seeking talks with the government on the timing of the third review of its program in Sri Lanka as soon as practicable. The steps carried out by Wickremesinghe that have already provoked opposition are just the beginning of what the IMF is demanding. The IMF will insist that Dissanayake get on with the job of selling off or restructuring more than 400 state enterprises, further increase taxes and make massive cuts to public spending. A statement by global ratings agency Moodys expressed its confidence that the Dissanayake government would adhere to the IMF reform agenda. While Dissanayakes election constitutes a major shift in Sri Lankas political landscape, we believe the broad appetite for reforms will remain intact. We do not expect significant disruption to the countrys reform agenda or macroeconomic policies, which include the ongoing debt restructuring and structural adjustments. The working class is going to come into conflict with the new JVP/NPP government as it tears up its promises of improved living conditions, implements the IMFs demands and resorts to police state measures against any opposition or criticism. In opposition to all the parties of the Colombo political establishment, including the JVP, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and its candidate Pani Wijesiriwardena campaigned for a socialist and international program as the only means for halting the drive to world war, the relentless austerity measures and moves towards dictatorial forms of rule. In opposition to the chorus of congratulations for Dissanayake, running from the US State Department and India to political leaders and the media in Colombo and the various fake lefts, the SEP has warned that this government will only deepen the assault on the working class. As the WSWS perspective published on September 23 stated, The SEP will now develop the struggle to unite and mobilise the working class as an independent political power, rallying the rural masses and other oppressed behind it, to meet the blows of the incoming JVP government and advance the fight against war, IMF austerity and for social equalitythat is, revolutionary socialism. Amid ongoing high-level meetings between NATO leaders and Ukrainian officials at the United Nations over plans to allow Kiev to strike Russian cities with NATO weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined Wednesday a proposed update to Russias nuclear policy document that would expand the conditions under which Moscow would use nuclear weapons. A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk, northwestern Russia on Oct. 26, 2022. [AP Photo/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service] Speaking before a meeting of the Russian Security Council, Putin said, The updated version of the document proposes that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear-weapon state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear-weapon state, should be considered as a joint attack on the Russian Federation. Putin said that the conditions for launching a nuclear strike would include reliable information about a massive launch of aerospace attack means their crossing of our state border. He added, We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia and Belarus. The proposal is the most blunt and concrete threat to date by Putin to use Russias nuclear arsenal, one of the two largest in the world, to respond to far-advanced plans by the NATO powers to allow Ukraine to use NATO weapons to strike deep inside Russia. Putins proposal follows a series of demands from high-ranking figures within the Russian political establishment that the president respond to increasingly regular incursions over the Russian border using NATO missiles, bombs, tanks and armored vehicles. In September, former Kremlin adviser Sergey Karaganov declared, We have allowed the situation to deteriorate to a point when our adversaries believe we will not use nuclear weapons under any circumstances. ... Its high time we stated that any massive strikes against our territory give us a right to respond with a nuclear strike. Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kiev, together with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, where he opened the door to allowing Ukraine to use NATO weapons to strike deep inside Russia. From day one, as you heard me say, we have adjusted and adapted as needs have changed, as the battlefield has changed, and I have no doubt that we will continue to do so as this evolves, Blinken said. Reporting on the discussions, the Guardian reported, British government sources indicated that a decision had already been made to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow cruise missiles on targets inside Russia. Ultimately, no public announcement was made that week, and US officials decided to wait until a series of meetings around the UN General Assembly, which is now ongoing. On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to announce a victory plan for Ukraine, which, according to US and European news reports, will include a public call for allowing Ukraine to attack Russia with long-range NATO weapons, as well as a call for Ukraine to join NATO. Central to the plan is likely to be the demand that the Biden administration remove limits on Ukraines use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike deep into Russia, reported the Financial Times. The expected proposal by Zelensky has been accompanied by a full-court press in the US and European media and political establishment in support of the proposal. Biden should okay long-range missiles for Ukraine, declared the Washington Post. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared in the Spectator, Its time to let Ukraine join NATO. Johnson declared, We could invite Ukraine to join before the war is even over, asserting an Article 5 security guarantee and the absolute right of the Ukrainians to the whole of their 1991 nation. Such an action would, in fact, be a declaration of war by NATO against Russia in the first full-scale conflict between two nuclear powers in history. The chorus was joined by Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen, the House ranking member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, who declared, I think they need to go forward with offensive weapons and strike into Russia and bring the war home to the Russian people. ... This war would have been much closer to endingon Ukraines terms, but endingif wed have given them those weapons earlier. In remarks Wednesday, US President Joe Biden declared, We stand with Ukraine now and in the future and that starts on the battlefield. Im determined to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to prevail in its fight for survival. Tomorrow, I will announce a series of actions to accelerate support for Ukraines military. These will include an additional $8 billion in weapons shipments to Ukraine, including munitions, weapons ... combat drones, and material to support munitions production in Ukraine, Reuters reported. To date, the United States has provided more than $175 billion for the war in Ukraine since early 2022. At the ongoing UN General Assembly, leaders of the major NATO powers have delivered a series of unhinged and warmongering speeches, rivalling only that given by US President Joe Biden on Tuesday. Vladimir Putin, when you fire missiles into Ukraine hospitals, we know who you are, screamed British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Tuesday. Imperialism, I know it when I see it. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Putin of hiding, declaring, The strongest man in your country can hide behind teenage girls who he kidnapped. But you cannot fool the world. Despite the warmongering speeches at the United Nations, the New York Times struck a note of concern in describing the response among developing nations: Yet a yawning gap between Western capitals and the rest of the world over the wars in Ukraine and elsewhere has been starkly evident throughout the annual United Nations gathering. Leaders from the Global South nations have taken little note of Ukraine, while devoting far more attention to the humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip and Sudan. Many of them noted that the death toll of Palestinians in the nearly year-old war in Gaza has soared past 41,000, according to the health ministry there. In that light, the United States and other Western powers have been accused of hypocrisy by seeking broad condemnation of Russia for killing civilians in Ukraine while continuing to supply Israel with weapons. Regardless, the Biden administration is absolutely committed to escalating war throughout the world. In his remarks Wednesday, Biden declared that military action is the only way to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, and he fully backed Israels genocide in Gaza. HAIKOU, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A catalog listing 105 tropical crop germplasm banks in China was released on Thursday, underscoring the country's efforts to preserve and utilize its tropical crop resources. The banks are spread across eight provinces and autonomous regions, including Hainan, Guangdong and Xizang, according to the catalog issued by the economic development center of China State Farms during an exchange event in Haikou, the capital of the southern island province of Hainan. To date, the germplasm banks contain more than 90,000 resources, with 73 dedicated to single crops such as rubber trees, lychees and mangoes, said Huang Hui, deputy director of the center. Tropical crop germplasm resources play an important role in China's biodiversity and serve as the foundation for the sustainable development of the country's tropical crop industry. In 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs launched a project to protect these resources. Huang noted that the release of the catalog aims to improve the germplasm banks and facilitate the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements in the seed industry, providing significant guidance for the future of China's tropical crop seed sector. A man is seen in a building after an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes continued their deadly airstrikes across Lebanon for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a clear rejection of a ceasefire proposal advanced by the United States and France. The Israeli military stated that its drones targeted rocket launchers in southern Lebanon responsible for attacks on Israeli targets. Fighter jets struck "dozens" of Hezbollah targets, including militant cells, launchers, and weapons storage facilities in various areas of southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least 60 people were killed and 81 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on Thursday across various regions in Lebanon. Lebanese soldiers are seen at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Israel conducted 115 attacks on Thursday, the ministry noted, adding that the large-scale airstrikes, which began on Monday and have previously focused on the south and east of Lebanon, have now spread to include regions in the Mount Lebanon Governorate. According to the Israeli military, Hezbollah forces launched approximately 150 rockets toward northern Israel. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service stated that no casualties resulted from the rocket attacks. Some rockets were intercepted, but others struck communities in northern Israel, where most residents have been displaced due to ongoing cross-border fire. In Rosh Pina, located in the Upper Galilee, a rocket hit a residential home, causing extensive damage. Fires broke out in Rosh Pina, Safed, and Birya as a result of the strikes. An Israeli anti-missile system intercepts rockets fired from Lebanon, as seen from Safed, northern Israel, on Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Hezbollah confirmed the rocket attacks, stating that the bombings and raids were "in defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the barbaric Israeli invasion of cities, villages, and civilians." During a situational assessment, Israel's military chief, Hertzi Halevi, rejected the U.S.-led ceasefire call at a UN Security Council emergency meeting. "We must continue to attack Hezbollah," Halevi said. "We have waited for this opportunity for years." Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, stating that Israel "will continue to strike Hezbollah with full force" until all objectives are achieved, including the safe return of northern residents to their homes. Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024.(Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Also on Thursday, Israel's Defense Ministry announced an 8.7-billion-U.S.-dollar aid package from the United States to support Israel's military efforts. The package includes 3.5 billion dollars for "urgent wartime procurement," which has already been transferred to Israel, and an additional 5.2 billion dollars earmarked for air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and an advanced laser defense system. "This substantial investment will significantly strengthen critical systems like Iron Dome and David's Sling while supporting the continued development of an advanced high-powered laser defense system, currently in its later stages of development," the ministry stated. The United States has been supporting Israel since the beginning of the conflict with Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, sending at least 700 cargo planes with weapons, bombs, and ammunition, according to official Israeli sources. Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group and political party, have been trading fire across the border since Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets in solidarity with Hamas' deadly attack on communities in southern Israel the previous day. A displaced baby sleeps in a temporary shelter at a school in Beirut, Lebanon on Sept. 26, 2024. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Wednesday that Israel's bombardment had displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) As of Thursday, the total death toll from the Israel-Hezbollah clashes since last October has reached 1,540, with injuries totaling 5,410, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Since Monday, Israel has conducted extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, resulting in over 650 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries. The Israeli military reported that it has targeted over 2,000 locations during this period. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin noted on Wednesday that the bombardment has displaced more than 150,000 residents this week. This sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also become involved. Elon Musk made it clear theres nothing romantic about his fondness for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after praising her beauty during a posh political gala in New York on Monday night. Musk gave Meloni a very warm introduction as she was honored by the Atlantic Council think tank with its Global Citizens Award earlier this week. In his remarks, he called the head of the right-wing populist party, Fratelli dItalia, someone who is even more beautiful on the inside than she is on the outside and authentic. That cant always be said about politicians, the tech billionaire said of the prime minister, who campaigned as a staunch defender of God, fatherland, and family. Meloni was equally affable at the event, praising Musks precious genius when she took the stage. When people on X, Musks social media site, started speculating about starry-eyed photos of the pair, Musk stepped in with a firm denial. Elon Musk presents Giorgia Meloni with an award during the Global Citizen Awards dinner in New York on Monday. The duo had very nice things to say about one another during the event. via Associated Press I was there with my Mom, he posted to X, formerly Twitter. There is no romantic relationship whatsoever with PM Meloni. Nevertheless, Meloni and Musk do appear to have forged a friendship. Last year, she invited him to her home in Rome to discuss declining birth rates in the West and the upsides of artificial intelligence. Musk was a guest speaker at a political festival organized by Fratelli dItalia last December. While Musk swiftly shut down the romance rumors, he has openly flirted with at least the politics of European far-right leaders. In one example earlier this week, the Tesla CEO posted approvingly about an interview of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vilifying immigrants. Do we give Brussels the right to decide who can stay in Hungary or do we reject it and defend our sovereignty? Orban asked in Hungarian, referring to the home of the European Parliament. The Hungarian people have made it clear: no way! In a reply, Musk simply wrote back, Yes. Related... General Hospital spoilers: could this one person return to Port Charles to make this whole John Cates chaos go away? When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Disney/Christine Bartolucci We couldnt have predicted that when John Cates (Adam J. Harrington) rejoined the General Hospital canvas he would have ushered in so much drama. It turned out he was the reason Jason (Steve Burton) was away for two plus years, he almost sent Carly (Laura Wright) to prison for racketeering charges, he managed to get under Annas (Finola Hughes) skin, he weaponized Ava (Maura West) against Sonny (Maurice Benard) and he disgustingly arrested Kristina (Kate Mansi) for a crime she didnt commit, even as she was grieving the death of her baby. Lets just say that in his last few weeks alive in Port Charles, he racked up a lot of enemies. Then came the fateful night when Sonny shot John on the Quatermaine estate. Viewers saw Sonny kill him and Michael (Chad Duell) leap into action to cover his fathers tracks. However, as in life, John is causing a number of problems in death. For starters, Carly now has to run around town pretending that shes rekindling things with Sonny, and for now, that cant be further from the truth. However, since she provided him with an alibi the night of the murder, alluding to them having a night of passion, the exes have to play up a fake romance for appearance's sake. Maurice Benard and Laura Wright as Sonny and Carly in a cozy position in General Hospital Poor Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) has found herself to be the prime suspect in Johns murder. While a number of people in town believe Sonny is the guilty party, the evidence points to the lawyer, and Sonny and Michael are trying to figure out a way to free Alexis from police custody without shifting the murder investigation in Sonnys direction, or that of Kristinas. With Alexis in deep trouble, Kristina, Molly (Kristen Vaganos) and Sam (Kelly Monaco) are worried sick. The sisters are desperately trying to prove their mother is innocent. Sam even recently vowed to dive into the choppy waters where Alexis threw Sonnys unused gun, hoping the gun would prove Alexis didnt kill anyone. Now given the danger thats been played up about Sam going into the water, we tend to believe that may bring about Sams death with Monacos tenure with the show coming to an end. However, this last bit is more of a theory at the moment. Having said all of this, it just seems like the John Cates problem is spiraling out of control. Although we previously proposed that a fall guy be used to pin the murder on to keep the main players of Port Charles out of prison, were beginning to believe that theres a better solution here. John Cates needs to return. Adam J. Harrington as John Cates in the rain in General Hospital Yes, viewers saw Sonny kill him in cold blood. However, what if John didnt actually die? What if the FBI agent met with Sonny that night with the intention of provoking Sonny to shoot him so authorities would have a solid case against the kingpin that could land him in prison? In this hypothetical, John knew Sonny would shoot him, but was prepared to fake his death in an effort to see Sonny get charged with murder. You should remember that John was desperate to take down Sonny, so the idea isnt out of the realm of possibility. But with Alexis taking the fall, John could return to town and work in the shadows to get the police to redirect their attention back to Sonny. Is it possible that John could slip an audio clip to authorities of Sonny shooting him? We rewatched the scene of the murder, and we noticed John loudly proclaiming obvious things like hes a "federal agent" and hes on the "Quatermaine estate." It was as if he wanted someone or something (a phone or another recording device perhaps) to capture what was happening. We also couldnt help but notice how John was baiting Sonny. Take a look at the clip for yourself. Lets say our theory proves right here. If authorities anonymously receive an audio clip of events, they could shift their attention back to Sonny. However, Sonny, Jason and his team would likely go searching for who recorded the file. That could lead to Sonnys team tracking down a rogue John. If Jason finds John, we could picture the two men struggling until Jason kills John in self-defense. Jason could have his name cleared of wrongdoing in an investigation led by Anna. Additionally, the FBI, so distraught by the number of problems John caused them (including going rogue after Kristina and Sonny), the organization chooses to drop any charges against Sonny, fearful the audio wont be admissible in court anyway. If this were to happen, Alexis and Sonny go free, Carly and Brennan (Charles Mesure) could kick off a romance without her having to keep up appearances with Sonny and the residents of Port Charles could start to put the John Cates chaos behind them. New episodes of General Hospital air on weekdays on ABC. If you miss an episode, you can catch up on Hulu . Maryland Woman Accused of Urging 13-Year-Old Daughter to Lie After Shooting Her in Neck A 32-year-old woman accused of shooting her own daughter, then allegedly instructing her to lie about the circumstances of that shooting, remains in custody in Maryland . In an initial statement on Tuesday, the Seat Pleasant Police Department announced that the woman in question, Talecka Brown, had been charged with first-degree attempted murder in connection with a shooting that took place one day prior. Per police, officers arrived at the womans residence at around 4:50 p.m. local time, at which point they found an injured 13-year-old. The individual, Browns daughter, was suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. A report from NBC4 Washington gets more specific , stating that the teen had a gunshot wound to the neck. The teen is reported to be in critical but stable condition at a local hospital. Online court records from Prince Georges County District Court show that Brown has been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, first-degree murder, and firearm use in a felony. Shes listed as currently being held without bond, with a preliminary scheduled for Oct. 25. It is always tragic when we have acts of violence within our community, but it is heart-wrenching when the perpetrator is supposed to be your protector, Cedric Heyward, Acting Chief of the Seat Pleasant Police Department, said in a news release. I am glad to hear that the victim is recovering at a local hospital, but the emotional trauma will remain for some time. Per a regional NBC report, the alleged victim in the shooting said she and her mother started fighting when she returned home after school that day. The argument is alleged to have eventually taken a physical direction, with the teen telling law enforcement that she heard gunfire while she was walking down the stairs, at which point she fell. Allegedly, Brown then instructed her 13-year-old daughter to lie by blaming the shooting on an intruder at the residence. Later, Brown is said to have placed the blame on an unidentified unhoused person. In the hours since Browns arrest, prosecutors have pointed to a call they say she made from jail, adding that there is concern about the mother having an influence on the alleged teen victim as the case continues. Complex has reached out to the Seat Pleasant Police Department and the Prince Georges County Police Department for further comment. This story may be updated. Related Georgia High School Shooting: 4 Confirmed Dead, Several Injured Gun Jams as Man Tries to Shoot Pastor During Livestream, Deceased Relative Found at Shooter's Home 10-Year-Old Texas Boy Confesses to Shooting and Killing Man in His RV KHARTOUM, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Karari locality of Omdurman city, north of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, has regained some vibrancy after a fierce battle in March that expelled the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the old neighborhoods, expanding the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to the south. Overcrowded markets and therapeutic activities such as masquerade parties and puppet theaters -- the routines of life -- have started to reemerge in the locality, which hosts more than 160 shelter centers packed with displaced Sudanese. However, the returnees have never felt rest assured amid the hustle-bustle, as they are still subjected to random artillery shelling from time to time. On Monday, at least 15 people were killed and 61 others injured in an artillery attack by the RSF on the crowded Sabreen civilian market in Karari. The death toll could be higher as the local rescue team was unable to reach some victims. "This is the reality now. We are trying to live with the situation, but we are afraid to give up and flee again," said Mahmoud Satti, a teacher who returned to Omdurman after a year-long displacement journey in central Sudan. "What happened in Sabreen market was very tragic. People here are dying because of random shelling," Satti told Xinhua. He urged government authorities to protect the returnees, address the security gap, and provide necessary services to Omdurman's residents. "There are no food shops amid a great shortage of goods, while prices for what is available are very high," said Saadan Omer, a citizen from Omdurman. Most people live on aid from their relatives abroad, and Takias -- sanctuaries for the impoverished and needy set up by Sudanese activists and volunteers -- remain as the primary source of food supply for Omdurman's residents, he said. "There is a significant spread of diseases amid a great shortage in medicines, while there are no nearby hospitals, and even those operational have been bombed and looted," said Saeed Al-Zubair, a 49-year-old man from Omdurman. Since the fighting between the SAF and RSF began in April last year, epidemic diseases have plagued the country, including Omdurman, leading to hundreds of deaths. The conflict has resulted in at least 20,000 deaths and displaced millions of people, according to a press release published Tuesday on the website of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said last week that an estimated 3.4 million children under five are at high risk of the deadly epidemic diseases in the country. According to UNICEF, more than 70 percent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are non-operational. On Wednesday, the OCHA warned that Sudan is now facing the world's most severe hunger crisis, with over half of its population, nearly 26 million people, suffering high levels of acute hunger. Famine has been confirmed in North Darfur State's Zamzam camp, with many other areas at risk, it said, adding that nearly 5 million children and pregnant and breastfeeding women have been acutely malnourished. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders, an aid group, said Tuesday that 30,000 children under two were screened for malnutrition in South Darfur State in August, and 32.5 percent of them were acutely malnourished. In response to the dire humanitarian situation, Omdurman's government authorities pledged to provide food for local residents and support community initiatives. "Both official and popular efforts are ongoing to restore electricity and water services, remove war remnants, reopen roads, clean neighborhoods, and launch initiatives to bring life back to markets and shops," Acting Minister of Social Development of Khartoum State Siddiq Hassan Freini told Xinhua. Person Realizes Miami to Bahamas Jet Ski Trip Only Takes 3 Hours, Miles Of Jokes and Hypotheticals Roll In People ride on a jet-ski ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend in Miami Beach, Miami, on July 3, 2020. - Florida and other so-called "Sun Belt" states have been forced to re-shut restaurants, bars and beaches as the nation braces for the July 4 weekend. People ride on a jet-ski ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend in Miami Beach, Miami, on July 3, 2020. - Florida and other so-called "Sun Belt" states have been forced to re-shut restaurants, bars and beaches as the nation braces for the July 4 weekend. You should always follow your dreams. For one X user, that means riding a jetski from Miami to the Bahamas for some reason. On Tuesday, X user Symone B. Beez tweeted that she learned that such a trip was even possible and made her feel disinterested in other readily available travel options. Once I found out you can ride a jet ski from Miami to Bimini, Bahamas in 3 hours I've been even more unimpressed with cruises lol, Beez wrote in a tweet that has since garnered 9.5 million views. As outrageous as it might sound for some people none the wiser, the 65 mile voyage to the small island has actually been done before, as documented by other YouTubers. Who is gonna come with me to vlog our jet ski trip from Miami to Bimini, Bahamas? We can recreate this I don't think 3 hours is that bad lol pic.twitter.com/vxMimEHjbX Symone B. Beez (@SymoneBeez) September 24, 2024 Who is gonna come with me to vlog our jet ski trip from Miami to Bimini, Bahamas? We can recreate this I don't think 3 hours is that bad lol, wrote Beez in a separate tweet. Needless to say, X users couldnt help but weigh in with their thoughts on the matter with everything raging from hilarious memes to genuine concern. GPS telling you to make a sharp left at the coral reef. Sharks tailgating ya bumper like a BMW. God bless. https://t.co/6NB5Av9ioa Hercules (@kNo_Mercy) September 24, 2024 yall half way into your 3 hour jet ski ride to the Bahamas from Miami: pic.twitter.com/wrBozzYKdP Kitty Parker (@heyjoydoe) September 24, 2024 how shorty look on that Jetski for 3 hours trynna get from Miami to the Bahamas pic.twitter.com/9JcpBndR0O Ky (@NotKweenKy) September 24, 2024 Who wants to be ona jet ski for three hours https://t.co/1sbi9txyDT Ms.Criminister (@Curryfidat) September 24, 2024 girl not even considering the massive amount of sharks ready to tear that ass up at the slightest feeling of hunger, and then also all of the potential storms that you might run into. the gas you gotta bring to keep that tank full, the massive waves and current Thats_Wilddd (@Thats_wildddd) September 24, 2024 That tweet about riding a jet ski from Miami to the Bahamas still cracking me up. No consideration of bad weather, or freak accidents, or not knowing how to navigate. The ocean dont scare yall enough for me nope (@PrinceHAK33M) September 24, 2024 Related Bodycam Footage Shows Instagram Model Allegedly on 'Pink Cocaine' Claiming She's 'From the Future' After Miami Crash Logan Paul Once Again Denies Pushing Dog Off Boat in Resurfaced Video: 'I Would Never' Woman Dead After Double-Decker Ferry Sinks in Bahamas Shailene Woodley Describes Herself as a 'Very Sexual Person,' Says Former Partner 'Helped Me Discover Myself' "I always call it a dance it's a dance, we're exchanging energy," Shailene Woodley said of sex Stefanie Keenan/Getty Shailene Woodley on June 9, 2024 Shailene Woodley often likens sex to dancing! While promoting her new Starz series, Three Women, and her charity, All It Takes, on the Tuesday, Sept. 24th episode of the SHE MD podcast, Woodley, 32, described herself as "a very sexual person" during a larger conversation revolving around women's health matters and societal expectations around sex with co-hosts Dr. Thais Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney. "I always have been. I was very lucky in my life as a young person, discovering myself and my body, to have a partner at the time who loved to dance," she said. "I always call it a dance it's a dance, we're exchanging energy. Sometimes the dance is like a really fast tango, and sometimes the dance is a really slow groove, and sometimes it's loud and sometimes really soft." Related: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Is 'So Happy' His 'Good Friend' Shailene Woodley Agreed to Go to Greece for New Movie (Exclusive) Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images Shailene Woodley on Sept. 9, 2024 The actress recalled that she "had somebody that helped me discover myself because there was a sense of comfortability together" during a relationship in her adolescence, though she took care not to name the former partner in question. "I think that I probably did the same for him," she added. Woodley has largely kept her own love life private since she split from ex-fiance Aaron Rodgers in February 2022. Prior to that relationship, she was romantically linked to rugby player Ben Volavola, whom she reportedly met in Fiji while she was filming the movie Adrift. Woodley later revealed that she and Volavola had split in an April 2020 interview with the The New York Times. While speaking further about people's relationships with sex on the podcast, Woodley likened porn to "junk food." Related: Shailene Woodley Was 'All Smiles' While Out on a Date with a Mystery Man in N.Y.C. (Exclusive Source) Stefanie Keenan/Getty Shailene Woodley on March 5, 2024 "This is what we're being sold when all of these other things are possible with my body because I'm like a magic machine?" she said. "Pleasure is so important and we just rip each other off of it because I think we don't necessarily even know what's possible, and that's my big beef with porn. You're selling everybody McDonald's when you could have, like, woah much better quality!" 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. New episodes of Three Women debut Friday on Starz. Woodley also has a new movie, Killer Heat, now streaming on Prime Video. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Jeff Clark once said, It's a culmination of your life of surfing when you turn and paddle in at Mavericks. Thats also true of maxing Dungeons, South Africas premiere big wave. Those two venues are where Grant Twiggy Baker, Jojo Roper and Alo Slebir paddled into the tallest waves of the year. Its a daunting task to turn and go when waves like this come through the lineup, but thats just how these guys roll. Their efforts secured them into the 2024 SURFER Big Wave Challenge for the Mens Biggest Paddle award. Find out who the winner is at the BWC award ceremony in Nazare on October 19. For now, lets review the three nominees. This is a very Twiggy wave. By that, I mean that he looks so in control making a ludicrous drop at Dungeons, one of the heaviest, nastiest rights on the planet. Dont believe me? Take it from Twig himself: "It was big. About 25-foot plus, with 50 to 60-foot faces, so when I paddled out there, I knew there was an opportunity to catch a winning/world record wave out there in the 60-foot realm. And that's what I went out there to do," Twiggy said SURFER's correspondent in South Africa, Craig Jarvis. "As for heaviness, Dungeons at that size is as heavy as it gets. For me, Dungeons at that size is the scariest big wave in the world," continued Twig. "There's the shark factor, and Seal Island is something that you can smell offshore. The wave runs into deep water, and there's that deep water channel between the island and those inside waves that you get washed into. There's a lot going on when you're out there." Related: Navigating South Africas Scariest Big Wave, with Grant Twiggy Baker Jojo Roper dropped into this Mavericks bowl on about three hours of sleep. Heading from Fiji to Los Angeles to San Diego to San Francisco in less than 48 hours, Roper got out to the lineup at first light with his sparring partner Luca Padua. With the morning rays washing over the peak, the right looks a shade of green as Roper stroked in. The wave earned him a check for the biggest paddle wave at the 2024 Mavericks Awards. And with this BWC entry, there could be more cash on the way. Related: Watch Jojo Ropers Biggest Paddle Wave at Mavericks in 2024 While were on the subject of Mavericks, lest we forget Alo Slebir, the 23-year-old Santa Cruz surfer who has been not so silently killing it up north for the last few seasons. Hes one of the few capable of towing the place at its ugliest and getting the chip shot into a sucking cylinder. The latter is underscored here. Often described as the worlds biggest slab, Mavs throws Slebir a curveball midway through the drop. Check out how hard the wave spits as Slebir commits. A lump of whitewater lurches into his path, but he plows right through it. And that was just the start of his season. Related: This 23-Year-Old Is A 2X Performer of the Year at Mavericks A piece created by Mary Rose Nichols. She will be one of the featured artists at Mary Rose Collective in Perry during the Art Harvest Tour on Sept. 28-29. Art Harvest Tour 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sept. 28-29 along Des Moines River Valley. The Art Harvest Tour is a free studio tour of central Iowa artists held annually the last full weekend in September. Enjoy the beautiful fall weather and scenery as you visit the studios and galleries of the area's best artists. In addition to enjoying the studios, you'll see a much wider selection of the artists work, and great prices and specials too. A number of artists will be demoing their work as well. There will be around a dozen stops on the approximately 90-mile loop around the beautiful Des Moines River Valley. Several locations will be hosting multiple artists. Visit artontheprairie.org/art-harvest-tour for more information and a tour map. Cruise Into Bouton Car Show 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at Bouton Park. Cruise Into Bouton Car Show is a free family-friendly fundraiser event to enjoy beautiful cars, trucks, motorcycles, semitrucks and tractors! Car show registration is $15 and motorcycles are welcome. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the live music by Jake Schrodt. The local bar Drifters will be offering drinks and Crisis Intervention Advocacy Center will have food available. A live auction will be held to raise funds for local survivors of crime. Van Meter Visitor Festival 12-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at 910 Main St., Van Meter. Come discover the legend of the Van Meter Visitor! This paranormal festival celebrates an unexplained event in Van Meter's history and brings many professionals from the paranormal field together for a fun and informative day. Join us for food, guest speakers, to stock up on paranormal merchandise and meet investigators and authors in this unique field. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $20, which includes front row seating for speaker area, early entrance to vendor area at 11 a.m. and 1 walking tour ticket. General admission to the festival is $10 per person over 13 years, 12 and under free. Admission paid at the door on festival day. Vendors and guest speakers will be at the Veterans Reception Center from 12-6 p.m. Walking tours will be at 3 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. in downtown Van Meter. Please meet in front of the Van Meter Public Library, 505 Grant St., 15 minutes prior to tour time. Tours cost $3 per person over 13 years, 12 and under free. Find more information, including a list of speakers, on the Van Meter Visitor Festival Facebook page. Free-Will Dinner 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1502 Walnut St., Dallas Center. Come join the Dallas Center Fire Department for a free-will donation dinner on Saturday, Sept. 28. Hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, chips and baked beans will be served. The 12th annual Dallas Center Homebrewers Fest will also be held from 5-9 p.m. at Memorial Hall, which helps support other local charities. DC Homebrewers Fest 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at Dallas Center Memorial Hall. The 12th Annual DCHOMEBREWERS FEST will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28. You are invited to join them for an evening of fun for a great cause. DC Homebrewers & Smokers are hosting a benefit for Shop with a Cop, SAILDC and the DC Food Pantry. Once again, the DC Smokers will have tasty treats, and the DC Fire & Rescue will be grilling burgers, brats, and hotdogs. There will be a silent auction and drawings for great prizes. Admission is free but they ask that you consider a monetary donation to help families in need during the holidays. Donations can be in the form of cash, personal checks or Venmo. Hot Beef Sandwich Lunch 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 at Dexter Methodist Church. Join Dexter Methodist Church for a hot beef sandwich lunch on Sunday, Sept. 29. The menu will include beef sandwiches, potatoes, gravy along with green beans and a variety of crisps for dessert. All for a free-will offering. Eat in, carry out and curbside pickup options are available. Call 515-250-9012 for curbside pickup. The church service starts at 9 a.m. and all are welcome. Wall of Witnesses Induction Ceremony 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Soumas Court. Hometown Heritage invites the community to honor the new 2024 inductee to the Wall of Witnesses during a ceremony on Oct. 2. Through an open nomination process, this person was nominated and met the following criteria: had a tie with Perry, has had an impact on the area and has an interesting story. Hometown Heritage will unveil this addition to the Perry Wall of Witnesses during a ceremony at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2 in the Hotel Pattee ballroom and Soumas Court. Light refreshments will be served after the program. For more information, call Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum: 515-465-7713. Paint-a-Pumpkin and Movie in the Park 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 at Centennial Park, Waukee. Mark your calendars for Waukee Parks and Rec's annual Paint-a-Pumpkin event and one last Movie in the Park on Friday, Oct. 4. Follow these steps to have the perfect spooky fall evening: pre-order a pumpkin at Waukee.org/Registration by Sept. 30, join the parks and rec department from 5-6:30 p.m. at Centennial Park to pick out your pumpkin, paint it and enjoy some snacks. Stick around for a free showing of "Hocus Pocus" starting at dusk. Pork Loin Supper 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at Washington Township School, corner of P58 and F31 south of Perry. The Washington Township School Annual Pork Loin Supper will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5. The menu includes pork loin, cheesy potatoes, fancy green beans, rolls, bars and drink. Carryout available. A free-will donation will be taken with all proceeds going toward maintenance and utilities. This former school turned community/history center is located at the corner of P58 and F31 south of Perry. Please join us! Bouton's Haunted Church 7-10 p.m. Oct. 4-5 at 109 South St., Bouton. Join the members of the Bouton Fire & Rescue on Friday and Saturday nights in October for its annual Haunted Church. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. All of the proceeds will go to the department to help with the purchase of gear and the addition of a third bay. PerryDice Cruizers Car Show 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 on Second Street and Willis Avenue, Perry. Bring the entire family to downtown Perry on Saturday, Oct. 5 for the PerryDice Cruizers Car Show. All cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome and there is no entry fee. Dash plaques will be available for the first 100 participants. A free-will donation will be taken with proceeds going to benefit Raccoon River Pet Rescue. For more information, contact Dean Berkland at 515-491-7228. Wauktoberfest 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at Waukee Downtown Triangle. The Waukee Area Historical Society will host the 3rd Annual Wauktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 5. Get ready to immerse yourself in an afternoon filled with the lively sounds of German music, the joy of traditional dancing and the thrill of festival competitions. Wauktoberfest is the society's annual nonprofit fundraiser, with all proceeds supporting its mission to educate, share experiences and provide free workshops to the community to better understand the roots of the Waukee area. Find more information on the Waukee Wauktoberfest Facebook page. Wreath Class 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11 at Woodward Public Library. A wreath class with Bouquets by Beth will be held on Friday, Oct. 11 at the Woodward Public Library. There will be a fee for supplies. Register at the Woodward Public Library, 515-438-2636. Seats are limited. Dallas County Coat Giveaway 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 at Adel First Christian Church, corner of Highway 169 and Rapids Street. The Dallas County Coat Giveaway will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Adel First Christian Church. Over 300 new coats, and 100 gently used coats, in sizes infant through adult, will be available. In addition, the Clothes Closet will be open. The Coat Giveaway focuses on coats for residents of Dallas County and rural surrounding communities, though everyone is welcome. It is sponsored by the Adel Rotary, the Adel Women's Club, the Knights of Columbus from St. John's Church, and the Adel Christian Church. Everything is free! Fall Market 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 at McCreary Community Building, 1800 Pattee St., Perry. Join the Perry Farmers Market for the 2024 Fall Market pop-up at the Rec Center. Reconnect with summer vendors and new local vendors offering seasonal goodies and more. Contact the Perry Chamber for more information and to participate as a vendor: info@PerryIAChamber.org or (515)465-4601. To submit events to be included in the Around the County round-up, email news@adelnews.com or news@theperrychief.com. This article originally appeared on Dallas County News: Check out Art Harvest Tour, a car show in Dallas County this weekend Mary Wilds examines Storm Clouds over the Arbuckle, one of many quilts and textiles the Chickasaw artists plans to show at the Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) scheduled Oct 4-5 in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. (Photo/Chickasaw Nation Media) SULPHUR, Okla. Mary Wilds temporarily moved a 35-inch portable weaving loom to her living room after a tornado hit the ARTesian Art Gallery. Theres a much larger one tucked away in her garage. This is normal for an award-winning quilter, weaver and traditionalist who is preparing to welcome thousands of art lovers to the 2024 Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) Oct. 4-5 in Tishomingo. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. SEASAM is one of the best art shows for me and the art I produce, she said. Thousands of Chickasaws will be attending the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival. I have discovered the Chickasaw people are interested in purchasing art with meaning and a link to our Mississippi ancestors, said the Chickasaw citizen and artist. Wilds quilts, woven textiles, baskets and other sundries have been a mainstay at SEASAM since 2019 when she retired after more than 30 years of teaching and made her dream of returning to the Chickasaw Nation a reality. She worked mostly in Virginia and around the Washington, D.C., area instructing graduate school students how to assist students with disabilities. She is recognized for her unique quilts, a highly valued item with a centuries-old tradition with the Chickasaw people. I love making them. I usually decide on a theme, and it will speak to me. Im not sure I would call it spiritual, but a story develops that I attempt to follow throughout the manufacturing process, Wilds said. The amusing thing about it is I have won more awards for my woven fabrics than quilts, she said. Her grandmother taught her to quilt at an early age. Her mother and aunt were expert seamstresses and also passed on their expertise and knowledge. Her creations are a mixture of those lessons and exploration of Chickasaw heritage and culture. During removal from Mississippi, if an ancestor (died) before arriving in Oklahoma the family would lay a cherished family quilt on the grave. You see it today, too, as quilts that have been passed down for generations will be draped over the coffin. The emotions of possessing such an artifact and honoring the deceased is very much Chickasaw. Wilds believes her quilts are more contemporary than traditional. I dont use typical designs. My quilts are more contemporary because I dont use the old patterns you would normally see. I use designs based upon the stories the quilt tells me as I start a project. I do incorporate Chickasaw stories and history. For SEASAM competition, Wilds is preparing a quilt and a woven shawl. The quilt I am preparing is an amazing image of an eagle that is staring intently. It is basically his eyes and his front. It mesmerizes me. I choose different designs and fabrics to go with it, like mountains and trees along with various aspects of how they live in the wilderness. I have put those designs in the quilt. The shawl will be unique and colorful using a variety of yarns. I am attempting to decide what it will be, Wilds said. It might be a shawl or a tunic. While those two will be Wilds SEASAM competition items each artist can submit two items to be judged Wilds will bring a host of items available for purchase. Basketry, traditional Chickasaw ribbon skirts, quilted childrens books, tote bags and a little bit of everything will be available at her booth. SEASAM gets underway 9 a.m., Oct. 4, west of the Chickasaw Nation Historic Capitol Building. It resumes 11 a.m., Oct. 5. I have items that cost as little as $10 upward to $1,000. I want to make as much of my art available as possible and within a price range that can accommodate anyone, Wilds said. She spends approximately six hours per day working on her crafts. On Saturdays, she stomp dances at the Chickasaw Cultural Center and demonstrates basket weaving for those who venture to the world-class facility in Sulphur. As a member of the Chickasaw Nation Dance Troupe, Wilds is constantly introduced to quilting ideas inspired by Chickasaw history and culture. We do a four corners stomp dance, so that was the first quilt, Wilds said. And then I did the Chickasaw shakers, and they were six women with actual braids on the quilt, and they had the yolk and the ruffle and all the regalia. Created using what is called the applique technique, Wilds noted this quilt won several ribbons and spectators favor at quilt shows. Both were sold several years ago. I remember my grandfather taking me to visit my cousin Ken Lance at his rodeo in Stonewall, Oklahoma, when I was a child. I remember him also taking me to my first stomp dance, Wilds said. I told him, Someday I will dance, grandpa. Memories such as these are the reason Wilds returned to Oklahoma after a successful career in the eastern United States. The Chickasaw Nation continues to call to my heart, she said. So many Chickasaws have imparted their wisdom and techniques to me, particularly Margaret Wheeler, she said. Wheeler is a world-renowned textile expert and Chickasaw citizen. Margaret taught me how to weave. I also make use of modern technology not available to our ancestors who made quilts from old scraps of clothing, tea towels, suits and fabrics passed down through generations. I own 11 sewing machines. Each one does a specific job. One cant do all the jobs you want it to do so you must have many, she said. My mother made my clothes. My ancestors could not have believed you could go to Hobby Lobby or jump on the internet to choose thousands of bolts of colorful fabrics or that you could see all the amazing colors just bursting out at you. That is the beauty now. You are given so many options, and your creative flare is infinite. For more information concerning SEASAM, visit SEASAM.net. A complete list of events, locations and schedules for the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival is available online at AnnualMeeting. Chickasaw.net. The event schedule is subject to change. What is a liquid BBL and why is the procedure dangerous? The perceived benefits of a liquid BBL may seem tempting, but experts are warning against the procedure. (Getty Images) Plastic and cosmetic surgeons are calling on the government to urgently ban dangerous non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) and breast augmentation procedures, after a woman died following complications from the procedure. Alice Webb, 33, died on Tuesday 24 September at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital after becoming unwell. It is believed that she underwent a non-surgical BBL, also known as a liquid BBL. According to Save Face, a national register of accredited non-surgical cosmetic practitioners, this was the "first case of a death caused by BBL in the UK". Gloucestershire Polices Major Crime Investigation Team is leading an ongoing investigation into Alices death. Save Face said it has supported 500 women who have suffered complications from the procedure, with director Ashton Collins telling the BBC that liquid BBLs are "a crisis waiting to happen". But what is a liquid BBL, and why is it so dangerous? What is a liquid BBL? A liquid BBL involves injecting a type of filler to enhance the shape and volume of the buttocks. (Getty Images) A liquid BBL is a non-surgical procedure that enhances the volume and shape of the buttock by injecting a cosmetic dermal filler called Sculptra or Lanluma (Poly-L-lactic acid). According to the London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic, the procedure aims to "give a natural lift and leaves no scarring". The filler used in liquid BBLs works by increasing the volume of depressed areas of skin. It is also used to reduce signs of cellulite and wrinkles. What are risks of liquid BBLs? Clinics that offer liquid BBL procedures claim that the benefits range from patients getting a fuller, shapelier buttock without the need for surgery or hospitalisation, to virtually no recovery time. It is also claimed that patients can achieve up to 60% size and definition increase in their buttocks, and that results can be seen immediately. These claims make the non-surgical procedure highly popular among people seeking to enhance their buttocks without having to undergo surgery. However, Save Face pointed to a study that revealed 99% of medical professionals do not perform non-surgical BBLs as they are deemed to be too dangerous. The organisation says laypeople, hairdressers and beauticians with no healthcare experience are offering the treatment, despite not being able to manage potential complications. (Statista) The organisation says that the treatments are being advertised on social media as "risk-free, cheaper alternatives to their surgical counterparts", but warned this "could not be further from the truth". Last year, a company was banned from carrying out the procedure by Wolverhampton City Council after it found risks associated with the treatment, including blood clots and sepsis. According to Save Face, 153 patient-reported complaints were submitted between December 2023 to March 2024. The complication with the highest number of reports was infection (68%), followed by sepsis (53%), filler migration (39%), and the development of abscesses (32%). Other complications that were reported include necrosis (the death of body tissue, reported by 1% of patients), cellulitis (4%), and nodules (11%). Save Face added that it has received complaints from patients suffering from life-threatening complications that have left them "permanently disfigured and in excruciating pain". Collins said in a statement: "We need an urgent ban on these treatments to prevent people from being able to inflict the types of life-threatening complications that these treatments can cause. "Without it, these practitioners will continue to take risks with peoples lives. No practitioner should be offering a treatment that they have to rely on the NHS to manage potential complications." Watch: Women speak out about adverse reactions to liquid BBLs Read more about cosmetic procedures: An Oklahoman woman began to confront and process grief stemming from the experiences of her past and now she's looking forward to using newfound coping skills once she's released from prison. The inmate's story is one of many that made its way back to Calm Waters, a nonprofit that offers grief support for children and adults who have experienced loss through death, divorce and other significant loss and trauma. In April, the Oklahoma City-based organization expanded to Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud, where the grief support program is so popular that there is a waiting list for the 10-week sessions. Bailey Maxey, Calm Water's program director, and Abby Dimond, the nonprofit's director of development and communication, said the program for inmates initially began in the Oklahoma County jail. Maxey said the idea to extend programming to Mabel Bassett was the result of the success of the program at the jail. Dimond said the program has been offered at the jail since December 2022 and it was initially funded by a United Way Wayfinder Innovation Grant. She said the Arnall Family Foundation has provided funding for the program at the detention center this year. Dimond said Calm Waters is grateful to the Kimmell Foundation, led by Amy Mason, for providing monies for the program's expansion into Mabel Bassett. More: His life was transformed through faith and education. Now he aims to give back to others Maxey said an important part of the expanded services is Calm Waters' partnership with the nonprofit TEEM. The two organizations work together for the programs at the jail and Mabel Bassett. Through TEEM, the programs for the incarcerated are led by people who have previously been incarcerated. Maxey said Calm Waters collects pre- and post-survey data from women enrolled in the Mabel Bassett program and that's how they are learning how the sessions are working for the inmates. She said Calm Waters' program curriculum is created in house so the feedback from the inmates is important, plus it provides important information for donors. "There is no like standard on collecting data in this population, which is wild, but I just think that speaks to how underserved it is," Maxey said. Coping with a 'great deal of loss' Like Calm Waters' leaders, Kay Thompson, public relations chief for the Department of Corrections, said the grief support program at the women's correctional facility has been popular. "The incarcerated population, and especially female offenders, have often experienced a great deal of loss in their lives," Thompson said. "Programs like Calm Waters that help them process that loss and support them through the grief process can have a tremendous, positive impact. Dealing with these issues can also open the door to rehabilitation and positive life change in other areas, ultimately reducing recidivism." Start your day smart: Sign up for The Oklahoman's Daily Briefing newsletter Thompson said the corrections department is grateful for all volunteers, like those who lead the Calm Waters program, because the prison system couldn't such programs without them. "The class feedback is very positive, with many women indicating that completing the course helped them tremendously," Thompson said. To learn more For more information about Calm Waters, go to https://www.calmwaters.org/. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma women's prison inmates connect through grief support Getty Images; iStock; Natalie Ammari/BI Sherry Howard was eating at an Italian restaurant in Ohio last year when her 28-year-old daughter called asking for some food from the restaurant. Howard was stunned not at the request but at the fact that her daughter knew where she was. It turned out she was being tracked and had been for two years. Ever since Howard went on a solo trip to the Caribbean and her children activated Find My People on her phone, without her knowledge, they had been able to keep tabs on her location. "It was laughable, but I was shocked," Howard, 53, told me. "To be honest, I didn't know how I felt about it." It's a reversal from when Howard's children were young before the age of smartphones and she was the one keeping close tabs on them. "If 15 minutes went by and they weren't at home, then that's when the panic mode set in," she said. "Then I'm peeking out the window looking for them or I'm calling their friends." She added: "They knew, 'Mom's going to freak out if I come home a little late.'" Her kids were rarely late. Still, she was taken aback by being tracked unknowingly, so she took to TikTok to jokingly express her grievances. "This message is for all the grown kids out there," she said in the video. "Stop stalking your parents!" Her post racked up millions of views and comments claiming to be from adult children who keep tabs on their parents' whereabouts poured in. While parents have used location-tracking apps to keep an eye on their kids since the tech was invented, millennials and Gen Zers are now turning the all-seeing eye onto their parents. Among some families, tracking one another with apps like Apple's Find My and Life360 has become the norm. They see it as a fun way to stay connected and keep aging relatives safe. But when relationships turn awry or people start tracking others in secret, location sharing can easily turn into an invasion of privacy that family members come to resent. These days, monitoring goes both ways. The kids who grew up with extra watchful parents are now carefully eyeing their parents' every move. The trackers have become the tracked. Most of the people I spoke with felt that tracking their family members afforded some relief about their safety. A 2022 poll by The Harris Poll and The New York Times found that one in six respondents reported always having location sharing turned on, and 37% of those who said they used location-sharing apps (like Find My) said doing so made them feel safer. Just last year, Life360, one of the most prominent tracking apps, reported 50 million monthly active users, with downloads in the US doubling since 2021 as it gained popularity among Gen Zers. And increasingly, safety concerns are extending up a generation kids are now concerned about their parents rather than just the other way around. Growing up in West Virginia, Kacy Shafer had "pretty protective" parents, she said. She was an only child and her dad served in the military, so it was mostly her mother who laid down the rules. "I wasn't allowed to just go have playdates wherever I wanted she had to call the parents, make sure they would be there," Shafer, who is 29, said. While phones lacked tracking technology when Shafer was younger, her parents set hard limits on which hours she could use her first cellphone and whom she could contact. The roles are kind of reversed now in a way that I am kind of the parent. Now as an adult, Shafer tracks her mom's phone. "It's kind of funny how the tables have turned," she said. As her 61-year-old mom has gotten older, checking where she is at least once a day offers some "peace of mind," Shafer says. Her mother doesn't mind the tracking. In fact, they check in on each other and joke about it a lot. "Sometimes, I just check to see where she's at, and I'm like: 'Hey, are you at the store? Can you grab me this?'" Shafer said. Stephiney Foley, 37, also had strict parents. Her family immigrated to New York from Shanghai when she was 8. She described her mom and dad's parenting style as "very typical of overbearing parents, especially immigrant parents." Tracking technology wasn't around when Foley was a teen, but her parents still kept a close eye. "My mom is constantly on my back looking over my shoulders doing things, even when I was in high school," Foley told me. Like Shafer, Foley now tracks her parents, who are in their 60s and 70s. It's typically a safety precaution when they travel. One time her mother got lost driving her RV in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Foley was able to help her navigate out of the park. "The roles are kind of reversed now in a way that I am kind of the parent," she said. Tracking allows Foley, who lives in Seattle, to feel more connected to her Florida-based parents and feel empowered to help in emergencies. Kelley Roebuck, a 46-year-old living in Illinois, installed a tracking app on her son's phone when he was in junior high school to know his whereabouts after he lost his phone twice. At first, it was just a way to keep track of his phone, but it's since morphed into a more central part of their lives. Her son, now 20, tracks her back. "One day, I didn't come straight home and he called me, 'Mom, what are you doing at Cousin Erica's house?'" Roebuck told me. She described her son, who is also her only child, as "very protective of his friends and family." When she used to go out of town often, he would check in when he didn't see her at the hotel or her friend's house. Roebuck and her son now track each other "evenly." When he is out late, she wants to make sure he's in a safe place. Even her son's best friend, whom Roebuck considers her "bonus son," wanted to share locations with her, so he was added to their Life360 plan in high school. Years later, her son's friend called Roebuck when she was out late to check in on her. When she asked how he knew where she was, he reminded her he had the tracker. "I was like, 'Oh, I forget y'all still had it," Roebuck said. Not all adult children had neutral views on being tracked by their parents when they were younger. Gabrielle Lask, a 25-year-old only child, has been tracked by her mother since she got an iPhone at age 13. Though she said her mom was acting out of love and concern, she also described being tracked as "incredibly annoying and, at times, a total invasion of privacy." "I was a very good kid, very trustworthy," Lask told me. "She just has really bad anxiety." Lask described her mom as very overprotective; she would often text her about her whereabouts and what she was doing even though she was also tracking her location. Now that she is older and living independently, Lask has started to push back. "You're not using this as a safety mechanism anymore," she recalled telling her mom a few years ago when she was really upset. "You're using it as an invasion of privacy." Lask temporarily blocked her mom from seeing her location, which she said made her mom "freak out." "I basically said, 'I will put you back, but this cannot continue,'" Lask said. "'You have to use it as what it's meant to be used for.'" The excessive concern didn't get passed down to Lask. She doesn't track her mom's location and she doesn't have much interest in knowing it. "She doesn't go out much, and if she does, trust and believe, she is texting and calling me nonstop," she said. "I don't worry about her because she worries about me." Dr. Kanchi Wijesekera, a clinical psychologist in California, said helicopter parenting through methods like intensive tracking makes kids feel "suffocating and that parents do not trust them." She said it could ultimately add strain to the relationship as kids grow older and start setting boundaries. If kids and parents don't feel listened to, it can drive a wedge between them. If they have a really close bond, it's easier to see those behaviors from a well-intentioned place. Sometimes, though, those conversations can be transformative in a positive way. When Julianne Goldfinger was 15, her mom ordered paper copies of her texts from their cell provider. Her mom had been worried about how little she knew about Goldfinger's life now that she silently texted her friends but it still felt like an invasion of privacy. "I was old enough when she did that to kind of push back at her and say, 'You really broke my trust here,'" Goldfinger, now 35, told me. "That was a turning point my mom realizing that I was growing up and needed some space." Goldfinger and her parents now track each other's locations when they respectively travel, which doesn't bother her since she's been able to have open conversations with her mom. "I've really come to find my mom to be more of my friend," Goldfinger said. Increasingly, parents and their adult kids are staying in closer contact than generations past. One Pew Research study published in January found that over 70% of respondents with children ages 18 to 34 reported speaking with their kids at least a few times a week on the phone. And more parents are tracking their kids in college to help quell their anxiety about the separation. It's a big shift from the weekly or monthly check-in phone calls that ruled parent-child relationships in the past. But many families like the extra interaction. For more people, location sharing is simply a way to stay connected. After Howard got over the initial shock of being tracked without her consent, she started to understand the appeal of the tech and began following her children's locations, too. "My one daughter, she went out of town just a couple of weeks ago, and I'm watching her come down I-75, and I'm thinking in my mind, 'She's driving awfully fast,'" Howard said. She added that the mutual tracking gives her peace of mind that her kids aren't in danger. Wijesekera said that attitudes around tracking are shaped by trust and communication. "If they have a really close bond, it's easier to see those behaviors from a well-intentioned place versus a sign of their lack of trust and wanting to hover and force their decisions on us." Kids who grew up being accountable for their whereabouts don't necessarily look back on the memory negatively, so long as they feel their parents trusted them. That's certainly true for Joy Loverde. The 72-year-old shares and tracks locations with both her 49-year-old daughter and her two adult grandchildren. "We jumped on it early on," Loverde, who lives in Illinois, told me. "It was just a matter of wanting to remain even closer." Loverde raised her only daughter on her own, and they've stayed very close now Loverde, her daughter, and her daughter's daughter all track one another. They do it partly to check in, and partly just to know more about one another's lives. "We laugh we think it's really funny," Loverde said. "We're poking in and out all the time." For families like theirs, it's simply a new kind of love language. Julia Pugachevsky is a senior health reporter at Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider The Duke of Sussex spoke from the heart about the new way of thinking during his New York City trip Riccardo Savi/Getty Prince Harry speaks onstage at the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City on Sept. 23, 2024. Prince Harry is using a new phrase to usher in a fresh perspective on mental health. The Duke of Sussex, 40, underscored the importance of mental health while speaking at the United Nations during his solo visit to New York City. Prince Harry joined Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho on Sept. 24 for an event organized during the U.N. General Assembly High-level Week, where he advocated for "mental fitness" in his remarks during the intimate presentation. "Much of the work I undertake comes under the umbrella of mental health and our collective well-being. And the rising rate of suicide among young people in Lesotho, and around the world, weighs heavily on my heart, as I'm sure it does on yours too," Prince Harry said in part. "Good mental health, mental fitness, is not a luxury it is a necessity for every single one of us. More so, perhaps, for our decision makers and those sitting in positions of power and influence," he said. "Addressing this issue requires not only global action, but also the courage to break the stigma, to talk openly about our mental health without fear of judgment." Prince Harry said the beautiful mountain kingdom of Lesotho feels like a home away from home, recalling how he and Prince Seeiso founded their charity, Sentebale, in honor of our mothers, and symbolizes our pledge to always advocate for the most vulnerable among us. pic.twitter.com/m7UYRW2YzE Janine Henni (@JP_Henni) September 24, 2024 Related: Prince Harry Celebrates Relationship with Beloved African Country That Began 20 Years Ago: 'Home Away from Home' Prince Harry's sussex.com bio describes him as a "mental health advocate," and he brings that focus to his charity Sentebale, which he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho (who is Queen Masenate's brother-in-law) in 2006 to help children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana. The organization works to support youth living with HIV/AIDS who are navigating mental health challenges, connecting back to what Harry said at the U.N. The phrase "mental fitness" was first attributed to King Charles' son during the first event of his New York City trip on Sept. 23. On Monday, Harry appeared on the panel "The Global Mental Health Crisis Among Young People: A Conversation with Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, CEO of the Diana Award" at the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit, where Ojo said that Prince Harry suggested that society should reframe "mental health" as "mental fitness." "He actually said to me, as we came in, that actually, 'We should no longer talk about mental health, we should talk about mental fitness,' " Ojo said in her opening remarks. "His dedication to this cause strengthens our mission." Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Prince Harry and Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE on stage at the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City on Sept. 23, 2024. Related: Princess Diana Went Where the Pain Was, Says The Diana Award CEO and Now Her Sons Are Doing the Same (Exclusive) Prince Harry and his brother Prince William both support The Diana Award, the only charity established in memory of their late mother, Princess Diana, and firmly rooted in her belief that young people have the power to change the world. The late Princess of Wales' sons each appeared (Harry virtually, and William in person) at a London event celebrating the Diana Award's 25th anniversary in March, where they connected with the 20 Legacy Award winners from around the world. Jamaica's Christina Williams, 27, and Indonesia's Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang, 18, were among that cohort, and spoke alongside Prince Harry and Ojo on stage at the Concordia Summit. Speaking to PEOPLE after the panel discussion concluded, Williams said that it was a pleasure to meet Prince Harry, and further referenced the idea of "mental fitness." I know that my mum would be incredibly proud of you guys. Not just you, but all of the award winnersYour activism, your compassion, those two things are so true to how my mum led her live, and what she believed in, and the way you do it is incredible. So thank you, Duke says pic.twitter.com/90OFkSEc75 Janine Henni (@JP_Henni) September 23, 2024 Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! "I think he was very encouraging of us, saying that we're going to go out there, we're going to do a great job. He also spoke about the things that he was very passionate about, like the climate, trying to destigmatize mental health, bringing it down to a level of everybody's business," Williams told PEOPLE about what it was like to spend time with Prince Harry. "It's about mental health, but also about mental fitness and mental wellbeing. So I think that was really good to warm us up for the stage and just put us in a place where we just spoke from the heart," she said. Sipa via AP Images (From left) Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang, Christina Williams, Prince Harry and Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE at the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City on Sept. 23, 2024. The Duke of Sussex packed a busy schedule into his working trip to New York City, which was previously announced in August. His spokesperson said that he would visit New York "to advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic initiatives," as well as his work with the Archewell Foundation, which runs with his wife Meghan Markle, during High-level Week and Climate Week in September. Prince Harry did just that, with outings around The Diana Award, The HALO Trust, African Parks and more. If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Rock art in southern Africa might depict long-extinct animals that walked the Earth 260 million years ago. A new paper argues that we should consider these images a form of Indigenous paleontology. The horned serpent The paintings of La Belle France in the Free State Province of South Africa show a long, thin, tusked animal. Called the horned serpent, researcher Julien Benoit argues that it is not an image of a fictional creature. Instead, he thinks the 200-year-old drawing illustrates a long-extinct animal that existed 260 million years ago. Benoit also thinks that the horned serpent is a misleading name. The painting features four stubby legs on the tusked animal. Benoit suggests it might be a painting of a dicynodont (an extinct branch of herbivores that typically bore tusks). Speaking to the New York Times, Benoit says he first thought the picture might depict a dicynodont when he saw the similarities between rock art and drawings in a book from the 1930s. He then went to South Africa to see the paintings. Seeing the artwork in person, combined with multiple dicynodont fossils nearby, convinced him his theory was correct. We know that dicynodonts roamed the area millions of years ago, and there are countless fossils of these mammal ancestors across the Karoo Basin. Image: Julien Benoit A geomyth But dicynodonts went extinct long before the indigenous San created the rock paintings, and they depict an animal that Western archaeologists had not yet discovered. Benoit says they are an example of a geomyth. A geomyth involves stories or descriptions of fossils passed from generation to generation, eventually resulting in paintings on the walls of La Belle France. This work supports that the first inhabitants of southern Africadiscovered fossils, interpreted them, and integrated them in their rock art and belief system, Benoit says. For years, Benoit and other researchers have argued that the Indigenous people were well aware of fossils and geological events. There is evidence that they transported fossils over long distances. The San in southern Africa collected fossils, [for example] the Bolahla rock shelter, in which they carried a dinosaur phalanx. This may bethe first time a dinosaur bone was ever discovered, Benoit told IFL Science. His paper adds more weight to the theory that they were well aware of prehistoric animals. Hard to prove San indigenous tales tell of creatures that are bigger than hippos and elephants. This may be what they were talking about. There is not a single animal in Africa that has downturned tusks, but the paintings and dicynodonts do. The rock art also shows dots on the skin of the horned serpent, something that is consistent with the warty mummified skin preserved in some dicynodont fossils in the area. Benoit knows that people will question his study. They will argue that there is no evidence that the San interpreted fossils to create the painting and that it shows a mythical creature. Even if that is the case, Benoit thinks the two could be linked, believing that most myths stem from actual animals. Even if one considers that the horned serpent panel has a purely spiritual meaning, it does not invalidate the hypothesis that the San may have imagined the tusked animal based on a dicynodont fossil, he commented. The post Rock Art Shows 260-Million-Year-Old Extinct Animal appeared first on Explorersweb. WELLINGTON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's concentrations of air pollutants decreased at many air quality monitoring sites between 2016 and 2023, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Thursday. PM10 trends decreased at 30 out of 41 local government monitoring sites, while trends for PM2.5 decreased at 12 out of 16 sites, Stats NZ said, adding PM10 and PM2.5 are particles that can be suspended in the air and are less than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers in diameter, respectively. PM10 and PM2.5 are primarily formed by residential wood burning, dust from unsealed roads, and industrial and construction activities. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) trends decreased at 99 out of 114 New Zealand Transport Agency monitoring sites between 2014 and 2023, it said, adding NO2 is a gas primarily formed through burning fossil fuels. "PM10 can be breathed into lungs and PM2.5 is small enough to enter the bloodstream," Stats NZ environment and agricultural statistics senior manager Stuart Jones said. Concentrations of particles, gas, and liquid in air can be harmful to human health and contribute to health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory health problems and increased mortality, Jones said. The fever for records and competition between commercial expeditions on 8,000ers are often criticized, but high-difficulty challenges on virgin faces are also subject to fierce (though often more subtle) competition. U.S. climbers Sam Hennessey and Michael Gardner are currently attempting a route on the north face of the formidable Jannu East. Its their third attempt. Before departure, they confirmed the goal but did not share details of the route they had in mind. A few days after the Americans left for the Kangchenjunga region, French star Benjamin Vedrines revealed he was climbing the same face of the same mountain, together with regular mates Leo Billon and Nicolas Jean. Yesterday, Nepals Department of Tourism updated its Royalty Report. The report lists the number of teams on each peak. There was at least one major surprise: there is a third team with a permit for Jannu. However, it is not specified if this team will aim for the Eastern or the Main (7,710m) summit point, or from which side they will climb. List of climbing permits issued by the Department of Tourism of Nepal on September 24, 2024 Quiet Holecek Marek Holecek of the Czech Republic is back in Nepal, with another virgin face in mind. On Sept. 24, Im flying to Nepal to a beautiful mountain with an intact wall, he told ExplorersWeb. I saw her for the first time in 2004 and since then she has been coming back to me in my dreams. So this fall Im ending my courtship and going for it. That is all the Czech climber, also busy writing his fifth book, was ready to share. His target peak and the number of members in his team may appear on the next list from Nepals Department of Tourism. Bitter controversy The Jannu issue brings back memories of a bitter controversy that followed the first ascent of Tengkampoches northeastern pillar by British climbers Tom Livingstone and Matt Glenn. In the fall of 2021, the Brits climbed the same route attempted by Quentin Roberts and Jesse Huey of the U.S. in the spring. They did not mind that Roberts and Huey had publicly announced that they would return for another try the following year. Livingstone even admitted he ate power bars left by the American team among some gear cached on the wall. After a bitter exchange of messages and a heated debate in the climbing community spinning around freedom and ethics, Roberts chose to drop the subject. But climbers around the world took note. These days, climbers rarely share much information about their climbing plans before an expedition finishes, and only if they succeed. We only know of some of the most interesting climbs this year because the climbers were supported by projects like cutting-edge grants (this is the case for Hennessey on Jannu East). Even then, we only get the names of the climbers and their targetted peak. Guessing game The weekly climbing permits update from Nepals Department of Tourism provides some interesting tidbits. The latest update shows the large number of Manaslu teams, the Russian expeditions on Dhaulagiri and the south side of Cho Oyu, and, interestingly, one permit granted to two lonely climbers aiming for Makalu. Dhaulagiri this week has only one team on the mountain. Photo: Russian Dhaulagiri Expedition On lower, but often highly difficult peaks, there are several listed that are often offered for guided expeditions. These include Putha Hiunchuli (Dhaulagiri VII) and Thorong Peak in the Annapurna circuit. There is a three-member team going to Ama Dablam which could be the first of many expeditions that will line up on the normal route in the next few weeks. But who knows? Perhaps it is something more exciting. Another potentially interesting permit refers to a three-person team, two of them women, who will try Araniko Chuli. This is a 6,039m peak whose value is not so much the technical difficulty as its location near Dolpo, on the border with Tibet. It was first climbed in 2001 by Tamotsu Ohnishi from Japan and Nepalese Sherpas Ang Purba and his wife Pasang Diki. A six-member team will attempt Mount Api, the highest peak in the northwestern corner of Nepal. The rarely visited peak is 7,132m but has a remarkable prominence of 2,040m. Its south face is 3,300m long! After two failed attempts, with one ending in tragedy when two members died, the peak was first summited in 1960 by a Japanese team from the Doshisha Alpine Society. The southwest face was climbed by an all-star Slovenian team in 1996. The Himalayan Index lists two more ascents of the peak, in 1978 and 2001. Pungi. Photo: Kisuke Goto/Japanese Alpine Club Rarely visited peaks Pungi (6,524m) is also on the list. It was attempted by Kisuke Goto and a team from Japans Himalayan Camp in 2022. Their summit push was aborted some 400m below the summit when some team members fell ill. Upon retreating, the Japanese said they would return to try again. Nepal has granted a permit to a five-member team for the unclimbed mountain. Also interesting is Nilgiri North, the highest peak of the Nilgiri Himal, in the Annapurna region. It is an impressive peak. Its first ascent was completed in 1962 by legendary climber Lionel Terray of France. Terray was one of the first climbers of Annapurna. Terray summited Nilgiri North guiding a Dutch team. Nilgiri North. Photo: Wikipedia Finally, there is a permit for Chandi Himal, in the far west of Nepal. The USs Matt Powell described his climb on this mountain last year, highlighting the isolation, and the feeling of adventure. You can read that story here. The post Secret Alpine Style Teams in Nepal; Holecek Returns appeared first on Explorersweb. Why is Utah so obsessed with dirty sodas? It may be traced back to LDS health guidelines SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) If youre new to Utah (or visiting), you might notice shops like Swig, Thirst, Fiiz, Quench It, and Sodalicious. Why does it feel like these shops outnumber shops like Starbucks or Beans and Brews? What are these shops anyway? Swig, Fiiz, Quench It, and Sodalicious all sell whats known as dirty soda, a craze that started around 2010, according to Utah Tourism. Utah is home to dirty soda but the original shop is still up for debate. The beverage is made by starting with a base of a regular soda (think of all your favorite brands) and adding flavored syrups, juices, or fruit purees. Another way to think of it is homemade soda flavors. Why are there so many soda shops? Due to the stance of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church) on hot drinks and strong drinks, members are called to abstain from these beverages. These types of drinks include coffee, tea, and alcohol, and members are discouraged from drinking them under the Churchs doctrine called the Word of Wisdom. Utah has one of the largest LDS populations in the U.S., with members making up roughly 42% of the states population according to a 2023 study. Utah, California, Idaho, and Arizona are the top four states in LDS Church population according to the Churchs website, which is where many of these soda shops are located. Contrary to the popular belief that members of the LDS church were not allowed to have caffeine, the Word of Wisdom never mentions caffeine. The Church offered additional clarification on the Word of Wisdom in a 2012 article from the Church Newsroom. What is the leadership structure of the LDS Church? The Church revelation spelling out health practices (D&C 89) does not mention the use of caffeine. The Churchs health guidelines prohibit alcoholic drinks, smoking or chewing of tobacco, and hot drinks taught by Church leaders to refer specifically to tea and coffee, the article said. Now, the teaching was clear, members of the LDS Church can have caffeine. The craze of dirty soda has even seeped outside of the I-15 corridor, with dirty soda shops popping up in Oklahoma, Texas, and several other states. What is the Word of Wisdom? According to one of the Churchs books of scripture (called the Doctrine and Covenants) the founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, Joseph Smith, was in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1833 when he received what members say to be a revelation from God. In Section 89 of D&C, the use of wine, strong drinks (also known as alcoholic beverages), tobacco, and hot drinks (tea and coffee) became restricted by God. Also within section 89, the use of herbs, meats, fruits, and grains is ordained of use for all of Gods children. This health code for members of the Church became known as the Word of Wisdom. The name was drawn from the first words of the first verse. Pop culture picks up dirty soda While the popularity of dirty soda soared in Utah, the dirty soda craze stayed relatively quiet nationwide until December 2021 when Olivia Rodrigo posted an Instagram photo holding a dirty soda from a local Utah shop, Swig. Rodrigo was one of the leads of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a redux of the High School Musical movie series. The #dirtysoda hashtag got millions of views on TikTok and other social media platforms and Utahs secret was out. A short time later, Swig expanded to several states. Now, Swig has several hundred stores nationwide, including stores to be built in Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and Indiana. Fiiz has also enjoyed a nice rise to dirty soda stardom as they have gone nationwide with stores in Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Ohio, and North Carolina. In recent years, Coffee Mate joined the dirty soda craze by releasing a dirty soda coconut lime flavored creamer. More recently, Allrecipes called dirty soda the it drink of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Woman Doesn't Know How to Pronounce Her Rare Last Name Shared by Only 20 Known Relatives (Exclusive) Katie Garapic made a TikTok looking for advice about how to accurately say her Croatian surname Katie Garapic Katie Garapic; family photo of Katie Garapic's great-grandfather and grandfather Katie Garapic realized she may be mispronouncing her Croatian last name while watching the Olympics. Athletes from the neighboring Serbia spelled their names "-ic," which implies a "-ch" sound at the end Since few people share the name, Garapic took to TikTok to see if anyone could offer some expertise about the Croatian language, though the pronunciation of her surname largely remains a mystery She tells PEOPLE she has no plans to change her name, despite the confusion. Garapic and her new wife plan to continue her European family legacy by hyphenating their last names when they're married Katie Garapic is having an identity crisis that spans generations and continents: she isn't sure how to actually pronounce her last name. Garapic, 27, took to TikTok to share how the dilemma occurred to her while she was watching the Olympics, though she tells PEOPLE her family has discussed the pronunciation since she was a child. She saw that many of the athletes from Serbia which neighbors her family's country of origin, Croatia had last names that also end in "-ic," but their names were spelled with an accent over the last letter. As Garapic explained in her TikTok post, her relatives pronounce their name "GAIR-uh-pick," but the letter "c" is pronounced as "-ch." And she noted that she actually prefers the accented sound: "I want that back," Garapic quipped in her video. Katie Garapic Katie Garapic with her sister, Elizabeth, and parents Rebecca and Peter Garapic Related: Woman Shows Up to Hinge Date Only to Find Her Match on a Date with Someone Else (Exclusive) She tells PEOPLE that her great-grandfather emigrated from Croatia to the U.S. around 1896, and she's been told their family name was likely "Americanized" then, hence the evolved pronunciation. "We'll never know if he chose to change the spelling himself or if someone simply left the 'accent' off the 'c' on his arrival paperwork," she shares. Thanks to TikTok, she actually learned that the letter "c" isn't just an accented character. Garapic clarifies, "It's actually its own separate letter in the Croatian alphabet." The confusion is further complicated by the fact that there aren't many living Garapics with whom to compare pronunciations. According to the Tennessee-based TikToker, her aunt and uncle have done AncestryDNA kits and discovered only 20 known relatives with the name and some possible Garapic cousins clustered in the Midwest. Her video did help make connections and some new discoveries about the name. One person reached out simply to say she played cards with Garapic's aunt in the 1980s. Someone else said they knew someone in Ohio with the name, though that person pronounces it the same way the creator does. Another TikTok user helped Garapic understand how she might hear it said in Croatia. "The last syllable would be pronounced 'itch,' and the 'r' would be rolled to make a soft 't' sound, kind of like 'Gotta-pitch!'" she recalls of the advice she received from viewers. "I have determined how each of the letters in my name are supposed to sound, but there's still some discourse over which syllable gets the emphasis." Katie Garapic Katie Garapic with her parents Rebecca and Peter Garapic Related: Woman Posts TikTok Looking for Stranger's Wife After Sitting Next to Husband on Flight (Exclusive) She notes that strangers rarely pronounce it the way she does. "The conversation in my TikTok comments made it clear that it's more intuitive for a majority of people to stress the middle syllable, 'Guh-RAP-ick,' so I've been much more open to people pronouncing it that way," she says. (Strangers usually don't spell it right either, says Garapic: "My personal favorite was an email addressed to Ms. Katie Garlic!") Largely, Garapic tells PEOPLE she's still looking for answers in solving the mystery of her surname. She's hoping a native speaker will duet the video so she can hear it said properly out loud. On the recommendation of another commenter, Garapic did phone the Croatian Embassy, but her nerves got the best of her. "I got phone-shy and hung up, so I may never know," she jokes. Ultimately, Garapic says her name is such a significant part of her identity that she doesn't foresee changing the pronunciation anytime soon. In fact, she recently got married, and she and her wife plan to hyphenate their names. Katie Garapic Katie Garapic's family at her sister's musical Related: Man, 83, in Tears After He Surprises 22-Month-Old Neighbor for First Day of Preschool Sendoff (Exclusive) "We've always thought the Garapic name would end with us, so my sister committed at a very young age to keep our last name when she gets married," she says, adding, "My [wife's] last name is York, so she's in for a treat as someone who has never had her name mispronounced in her life." Garapic and her sister are considering using the letter "c" in writing for posterity's sake, but not in any official way. "I'd never pursue a legal name change over one letter," adds Garapic. "But the c does look great in my email signature!" For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. New York Times snubs Iowa on 2024 best restaurants list. See its Midwest picks. Every year, The New York Times releases its picks for the best 50 restaurants across the United States. In 2023, Iowa City restaurant Webster made the list. However, the 2024 list featured no Iowa restaurants, but five other spots in the Midwest were showcased for their innovative menus and dining experiences, elevating the food scene for the region. More: The 27 essential restaurants in the Des Moines metro: 2024 edition Here are the five best restaurants in the Midwest, according to the New York Times: Asador Bastian, Chicago Located in the River North neighborhood in Chicago, Asador Bastian is a chophouse with Basque influences from acclaimed Chef Doug Psaltis. The New York Times says the restaurant's steak is "the best in Chicago." Asador Bastian was previously listed in the New York Times' The 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago. While best known for its cuts of beef, The Times also highlights that the restaurant's seafood selection is worth trying. Location : 214 W. Erie St., Chicago Distance from Des Moines: 335 miles or about 5 hours Noori Pocha, Clawson, Michigan Noori Pocha is located in Clawson, Michigan, about 14 miles north of downtown Detroit, serving authentic Korean dishes. Noori Pocha is attached to Noori Chicken, a fast-growing Korean fried chicken chain with several Michigan locations and others in the U.S. While both places are connected, each has a different menu. "Walk through the door of Noori Pocha, and you'll wonder if you've found a portal to South Korea without the jet lag," the Times' Sara Bonisteel wrote. Location : 1 S. Main St, Clawson, Michigan Distance from Des Moines: 606 miles or about 9 hours Oro by Nixta, Minneapolis Oro by Nixta originated from a takeout spot, which itself was an extension of a tortilleria. The restaurant has elevated the taco game in the Twin Cities. It uses the traditional technique of nixtamalization to make tortillas and tamales, which serve as the vessels for various braised and roasted meats. "Imagine a taqueria with a tasting-menu restaurant's ambitions and none of its pretensions," said Brett Anderson from the Times. Location : 1222 NE Second St., Minneapolis Distance from Des Moines: 248 miles or about 3 hours and 45 minutes Vinai, Minneapolis Also located in the Twin Cities, Vinai serves Hmong cuisine, which is similar to Thai and Vietnamese food. However, head chef and owner Yia Vang takes a different approach to the fare, emphasizing chile and citrus flavors. Location: 1300 NE Second St., Minneapolis Distance from Des Moines: 248 miles or about 3 hours and 45 minutes The Aperture, Cincinnati The Aperture's eggplant and black garlic hummus with tomatoes and mint. The Aperture opened in the winter of 2024 and is a Mediterranean restaurant in the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati. The rising favorite was lauded for "the kitchen's firm grasp of Mediterranean cuisine, particularly its eastern rim," according to Times writer Brett Anderson. Location : 900 E. McMillan St., Cincinnati Distance from Des Moines: 588 miles or about 8 hours and 30 minutes What Iowa restaurants have made the New York Times' Restaurant List in past years? In 2023, The Webster, a fine dining establishment in Iowa City, made the New York Times' Best Restaurant list. The Webster, located at 202 N. Linn St., is owned and operated by Iowa City native Sam Gelman and his wife, Riene Gelman. The Iowa City restaurant opened in 2021 and has since become a fan favorite for its rotating seasonal menu that boasts American dishes. USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year: He goes to Asia every year for inspiration. Now his Iowa restaurant was named among tops in the US "Mr. Gelman's food channels his experiences working as a top lieutenant in the chef David Chang's restaurant group, which took him from New York to Toronto to Los Angeles," said New York Times reporter Brett Anderson. "With its window-lined dining room and vibrant, Asian-accented, often locally sourced dishes, the Webster treats Mr. Gelman's hometown as an asset and serves as a compelling enticement to visit this cosmopolitan corner of the Midwest." Recently, the restaurateur couple announced a new restaurant in Iowa City, Paper Crane Ramen Shop & Cocktail Lounge, which is anticipated to open in October. According to a news release, Paper Crane aims to provide an innovative and fresh dining experience and satiate "Iowa City's growing demand for casual, approachable, yet expertly crafted dining options." How does The New York Times determine its best restaurants list? According to the Times, its writers and editors spent 12 months traveling to nearly every state in the nation to create this year's list. USA TODAY Network reporters Susan Selasky and Keith Pandolfi contributed to this article. Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_ This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: No Iowa restaurants make the New York Times' best restaurants list Homeless advocates and some state leaders are calling on Gov. Phil Scott to declare a state of emergency as it unwinds the states motel housing program. About 1,600 people are set to be removed from the emergency voucher program in the coming weeks, and its forcing some local officials to find alternatives on their own. I The biggest exodus about 230 households is expected Thursday when they reach a new 80-day limit stay in the motel rooms that the Legislature imposed starting in July. Those affected include families, people with disabilities, older individuals, those who are pregnant, and people who have experienced domestic violence or a natural disaster such as a fire or a flood. On Wednesday, Brenda Siegel, the executive director of End Homelessness, gathered with other advocates at the State House to call on the governor to reverse course and keep remove the latest restrictions to the motel program while the state searches for another solution. Vermont caps motel housing for homeless, forcing out hundreds We cannot allow this to stand, Seigel said. We are better than this. We are your partners, Governor Scott. Please work with us to resolve this and ensure that Vermonters do not lose their lives, because some definitely will. Burlington will likely see the greatest increase in people being put out on the streets. Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak said city officials are trying to find temporary places for them to stay, like North Beach, where a dozen campsites have been set aside for the unhoused. But, with Burlingtons homeless shelters already at capacity, she is urging the state to keep the motel program going. Camping is not a solution, she said. Scrambling to provide tents and firewood is not a solution. This is a policy failure that requires immediate action. Leaders in other Vermont cities and towns said they are overwhelmed by the growing rate of homelessness in their communities and are calling on state government to do more to address the issue and problems associated with it. Our first responders cant keep up with the calls, our residents are reluctant to use public spaces, our limited staff are cleaning up unsanitary messes, volunteers are exhausted, and our nonprofit partners are at a break point, said Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott. Scott has said he sympathizes with Lott, Mulvaney-Stanak and other local leaders. But, he maintains the state cant keep the program going. Its a difficult situation, he said last week. I understand the point of view of the municipalities as well, but we dont have the resources either. Meanwhile, those with no place to go say they are vulnerable. Jessica and Chris Roupe are staying at the Northn Beach campground. The couple and their service dog, Coco, were forced out of their motel earlier this year. Vermont housing advocates present policy recommendations to lawmakers On Monday, they were on Church Street when they said another homeless man approached them, punched Chris in the face and pulled out a knife. I had to use the pepper spray against him, and that scared him away, especially the taser, Jessica said. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth said Wednesday that hes talked with his fellow lawmakers about reopening four emergency shelters the state put online in March. He said that would be a better solution than calling a special legislative session, especially with the elections coming up in just about five weeks. But, echoing the concerns of many others, Jessica and Chris Roupe say downsizing the program will only lead to more problems. I think with all the crime, with disabled people getting assaulted by random people, they should keep the hotel program going, Jessica said. Because what happens if it was a child, or a mother and a newborn baby? The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (FOX 56) A man was arrested and is awaiting extradition after a trooper-involved shooting in Bowling Green on Wednesday. UK basketball will be first college program to use this high-tech court It happened around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Kentucky State Police (KSP). Troopers said in a news release that the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was requested by Post 3 in Bowling Green to help investigate the shooting. A man subject sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Tennessee where he was treated and released, KSP said. Ky. tow truck driver killed by New York semi driver reportedly watching YouTube The man was arrested upon his release from the hospital and is reportedly waiting to be extradited to Kentucky. Law enforcement said no other injuries were reported. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A La Vergne man was killed in a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon in Antioch, officials said. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the two-vehicle collision took place on Murfreesboro Pike near Mt. View Road at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Authorities said the preliminary investigation indicates an outbound Honda Civic crossed the center turning lane and hit a Ford Transit van head-on. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The driver of the Ford identified by officials as Walter Guillermo Hidalgo-Gonzalez, 41, of La Vergne was brought to TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center, where he died. Meanwhile, the driver of the Honda 18-year-old Fredy Hernandez Escalante was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said he will be charged for driving without a license or insurance following his release from the hospital. According to authorities, neither driver showed signs of impairment. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Drivers in the area were asked to expect road closures and use alternate routes following Wednesdays collision, but the scene has been cleared. No additional details have been released about this incident. This was one of two crashes reported in the mid-afternoon hours in Nashville. Another crash shut down portions of Interstate 65 North near Briley Parkway, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The House on Wednesday voted in favor of legislation to condemn multiple Biden administration officials over the Afghanistan withdrawal of 2021 and 10 of those who voted in favor were Democrats. Among those censured in the bill were President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The vote on the legislation was mostly split along party lines, but 10 Democrats voted with Republicans for the bills passage in a 219-194 vote. Eight Democrats reported not voting. The 10 Democrats who bucked their party, per a roll call from the House clerk are: Rep. Yadira Caraveo (Colo.), Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Rep. Don Davis (N.C.), Rep. Jared Golden (Maine), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Rep. Jeff Jackson (N.C.), Rep. Greg Landsman (Ohio), Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.), Rep. Mary Peltola (Alaska) and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.). The Hill has reached out to the State Department, the Department of Defense, Vice President Harris office and the White House for comment. The chaotic withdrawal from the country saw Kabul fall back into the hands of Taliban as many Afghans, including top officials, fleeing the country for safety. Last month, a GOP report analyzing the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan painted a picture of Biden determined to leave the country but fumbling preparations. Biden and the White House have repeatedly said they have no regrets for the exit plan, in which 13 service members were killed at an airport trying to help people leave the country. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) There are 10 candidates for seats in the South Dakota Legislature this fall who are running as independents or Libertarians. They face a very steep hill. Its been 100 years since South Dakota voters elected a lawmaker who wasnt truly a Republican or a Democrat. Judge dismisses lawsuit over Hideaway Hills sinkholes Back then, the Legislature was in an uproar over a growing crisis in South Dakotas relatively new rural-credit system, where state government took on debt so that loans could be provided to farmers. The male-only Legislature in 1915 put the measure on the statewide ballot, and male-only voters amended the South Dakota Constitution in 1916 to allow the practice. A decade later, as farmers increasingly defaulted on the loans, and with a handful of women now serving as state lawmakers after the 1918 vote that gave them suffrage, the Legislature and then-Governor Carl Gunderson held formal hearings looking into the rural-credit systems lending and borrowing practices. The systems manager eventually was sent to prison. State government needed many decades to repay the bonds and get out from under the debt. This year, theres another rural uproar affecting the Legislature. This time, the argument is over state regulation of proposed carbon-dioxide pipelines that would connect to ethanol production facilities throughout the eastern half of South Dakota. Many rural landowners along the planned route dont want CO2 pipelines forced through their properties. Be informed on the seven 2024 ballot measures The legislation, SB201, was labeled as a landowner bill of rights when majorities in the House and Senate passed it and Governor Kristi Noem signed it into law. But an opposition coalition that says the legislation stripped local control from counties, municipalities and townships, and smoothed the path for a single private company to benefit at taxpayers and property owners expense has referred SB201 to a statewide vote in the November 5 general election. The backlash led to more than a dozen incumbent Republican lawmakers who voted for SB201 losing their seats in the June primary elections. Amid the controversy, neither of South Dakotas Republican or Democratic central organizations have chosen to take a formal stand on the SB201 referral this fall. The Legislatures membership continues to be split over the question of landowner rights. Some of that smoldering turmoil is on display in the legislative campaigns this fall. Of the 10 legislative candidates running who arent listed as Republicans or Democrats, seven filed as independents. Most however have some past or current affiliation with either the Republicans or Democrats. Despite those partisan differences, opposition to SB201 appears to be a common theme in at least several of the campaigns heading into the Nov. 5 general election. There are three independent Senate candidates. Karen McNeal of Rapid City faces Republican incumbent Helene Duhamel of Rapid City, who twice voted in the Senate for SB201. McNeal refers on her campaign website to the unlawful passage of SB201 and says, The government has no business telling South Dakotans what to do with their personal property by a for-profit, out of state, private company. Michael Miller of Freeman is challenging Republican incumbent Kyle Schoenfish of Scotland, who twice voted in the Senate for SB201. Miller previously served on the South Dakota Farmers Union board of directors. Farmers Union is part of a coalition that opposes carbon-dioxide pipelines being classified as common carriers, which under South Dakota law have the right of eminent domain to cross land. Shane Farlee of Dupree is up against two former lawmakers, Republican Sam Marty of Prairie City and Democrat Dean Schrempp of Lantry. Farlee ran as a Democrat two years ago when he was elected to the Ziebach County Commission. Four candidates for House of Representatives seats are running as independents. Victoria Greenlee of Spearfish and Shana McVickers of Spearfish are challengers to Republican incumbents Mary Fitzgerald of St. Onge and Scott Odenbach of Spearfish for that districts two House seats. Fitzgerald twice voted for House passage of SB201, while Odenbach twice voted against it. McVickers on her campaign website strongly opposes SB201. McVickers, a political conservative who supports hand counting of ballots, writes, Lawmakers passed a bait and switch bill. They decided to give big corporations access to your land, but they told you is was about you and your land rights. That was a LIE! This is your chance to tell them NO thanks! Greenlee has been endorsed by the Lawrence County Democrats. She doesnt express an opinion about SB201 on her campaign website. William Craig Lafferty of Mission is taking on Republican Ron Frederick of Mission and Democratic incumbent Eric Emery of Rosebud for a single House seat. Emery twice voted against SB201 in the House. David Reis of Oacoma is challenging Republican incumbent Rebecca Reimer of Chamberlain for the same districts other House seat. Reis currently serves on the Farmers Union board of directors. Reimer twice voted for House passage of SB201. Three candidates are running as Libertarians for seats in the House, and two are from the same district. Tamara Lesnar of Grenville, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022, and Josh Dennert of Aberdeen are in a six-way contest for two seats. Lesnar and Dennert face Republicans Logan Manhart of Aberdeen and Christopher Reder of Warner and Democrats Mark Sumption of Frederick and former legislator Steve McCleerey of Sisseton. Manhart and Reder finished first and second in the Republican primary to advance, leaving behind Republican incumbent Tamara St. John, who voted twice in the House for SB201. The third Libertarian candidate for a House seat is Greg Zimmerman of Wentworth, whos running against Republicans Tim Walburg of Madison and Tim Reisch of Howard, an incumbent. Zimmermans campaign Facebook page currently features a link to South Dakota Property Rights and Control Alliance, the coalition that referred SB201. The full list of candidates running in the general election for the Legislature can be seen here. Eighteen of the 35 Senate seats will go uncontested on November 5, as will 27 of the 70 House seats. Nearly all of the uncontested seats will be held by Republicans when the Legislature opens the 2025 session on January 14. The South Dakota Republican Partys top leadership appears linked to SB201. The partys current chair, Senator John Wiik of Big Stone City, twice voted for SB201; he isnt seeking re-election. Dan Lederman, the partys past chair, appeared at the Legislature on behalf of SB201 and has repeatedly reposted tweets from Summit Carbon Solutions, the company that wants to build the pipeline. Ledermans most recent statement on Summits behalf, posted September 6 on X above a Summit re-post, said: As corn prices hover around the 52 week low, the market for low-carbon fuel is growing. @summit_carbons pipeline is the best way to keep our nations corn growers and ethanol producers competitive to meet the rising demand. Clearly, the political times have changed from a century ago. While the Legislature has traditionally been a stronghold for Republicans in South Dakota, the mix of lawmakers was a bit more fluid in the early decades of statehood. The 1922 and 1924 campaigns for the Senate saw a victory by a member of the old Farmer-Labor Party, Stephen Henderson of White Rock, a once-bustling town in Roberts County. In several subsequent elections in the 1930s, he ran as a Democrat and won. As for the House races in 1924, a half-dozen men who were neither Democrats nor Republicans won seats. Thats according to the 1925 Blue Book, which is published every two years by the South Dakota Secretary of State office. Four won as Farmer-Labor candidates J.J. Wipf of Freeman, O.J. Holm of Victor, G.D. Ladd of Wilmot and C.M. Fonder of Peever while independents Rennie Buikema of Ipswich and David Crouch of Leola also won. The peak of other-party representation in South Dakotas Legislature was two years earlier. Ten men who werent officially Republicans or Democrats won seats in the 1922 elections, according to the 1923 Blue Book. In the Senate, in addition to Henderson, there was William Bartling, of Clayton in Hutchinson County, who ran on the Nonpartisan League line. Eight other-party candidates meanwhile won House seats in 1922. Holm, Fonder and Ladd all ran as Nonpartisan League candidates So did five others who won: H.F. Harnisch, of Menno in Hutchinson County; William Isaak, of Parkston in Hutchinson County; H. Van Dan Acker, of Emery in Hanson County; Andrew Sieverson, of Milbank in Grant County; and John Maxwell, of Ortley in Grant County. Since then, only two candidates have won election as state lawmakers running independent campaigns and neither stayed independent for long. Alfred Burke of Lead won a Senate seat in 1964 as an independent, but in the next four subsequent elections he ran as a Republican. Likewise for Jenna Haggar Netherton of Sioux Falls, who won a House seat in 2010 as an independent but ran and won in subsequent elections as a Republican. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) We are less than 12 hours ahead of landfall, for what could potentially be the most devastating hurricane of the 2024 season. Hurricane Helenes last reported sustained winds were of 100 mph at 7 a.m. this morning. Now, wind speeds have jumped up to 105 mph. Helene is still a Cat. 2. Once winds of 111 mph are recorded, Helene will become a Cat. 3. Saildrones are essentially unmanned ships placed in the gulf to collect data in storms such as Helene. They measure atmospheric and oceanographic conditions in real time. NOAA has captured one photo already from SD-1083, which already shows 4 meter waves. Copyright 2024 SAILDRONE Landfall is expected to be between Apalachicola and the big bend region of Florida. This is where the strongest winds and highest surge will be seen. HOWEVER, this storm is massive. Impacts will spread WELL BEYOND the forecast cone. Rainfall has already began in Florida this morning. Flooding is already starting in portions of the Carolinas and Georgia. Rainfall amounts of 12-16 are expected in the western part of the Carolinas and Eastern Tennessee through the weekend. Through the southern Appalachian mountains, landslides are a major concern. The terrain is higher than surrounding areas. Excessive rain will runoff downslope taking mud, land, debris, loose brush along with it. Georgia will experience hurricane force winds even after Helene has made landfall and crossed over Florida. Helene will keep hurricane strength overnight, posing additional wind and flooding threats to Georgia. Surge in the Big Bend region of Florida will be up to 15-20 ft. Officials are describing this as unsurvivable. Latest Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a view of the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) DUISBURG, Germany, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The China-Europe Railway Express (CRE) is playing an increasingly important role in stabilizing global industrial and supply chains in a complex geopolitical environment, a German executive at the port of Duisburg, Europe's largest inland port, has said. "In today's increasingly complex geopolitical climate, the China-Europe Railway Express minimizes the impact of external factors, playing a crucial role in ensuring the stability of global supply chains," said Markus Bangen, chief executive officer of Duisburger Hafen AG (Duisport). The Duisburg port now serves as a key European terminus of the CRE. When the CRE went into operation in 2011, many saw the idea of a rail connection between Europe and China as "crazy," Bangen said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua. Thirteen years later, the service has dispatched more than 90,000 trains, linking 224 cities across 25 European countries. The CRE now complements shipping and maritime transport, strengthening connections between China's inland and major European hubs. Bangen labeled the railway as a new international transportation model between Asia and Europe, replacing traditional modes of transport and unlocking trade opportunities that were previously inaccessible. He noted that the service has gained the trust of businesses and the public, proving rail transport a reliable option for fostering cross-Eurasian trade. The reliability and stability of the CRE have been proven at critical moments. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when maritime and air transport were disrupted, the CRE emerged as the only reliable transportation option, keeping trade routes open. Today, amidst international crises, the CRE continues to serve as a stabilizing force. In light of the situation in the Red Sea and shipping delays due to capacity shortages, many companies are turning to this rail link to ensure the safety and stability of their supply chains, Bangen said. The CRE has been advancing rapidly in recent years. In July this year, a new direct route from Chongqing to Duisburg, traversing the Caspian Sea, was put into operation, covering over 11,000 km and further enhancing sea-rail intermodal transportation. The new route provides a new option for transportation along the so-called Middle Corridor, a trade link between China and Europe that passes through several central Asian and southern Caucasian countries. The development of the Middle Corridor for the CRE addresses customer needs by reducing the impact of geopolitical issues on logistics amid global supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical conflicts, Bangen said, adding that Turkey presents strong market demand and growth potential as a key hub along this route. "The expansion of the Middle Corridor has enriched the route choices of the China-Europe Railway Express, and we are likely to see even more growth opportunities in the near future," Bangen said. Cargo volumes between China and Europe via the railway have remained stable since the beginning of this year, supported by a strong customer base, he added. Bangen expressed his confidence in the future of the railway, saying, "We see more possibilities for the China-Europe Railway Express, as well as enormous demand and opportunities for further growth." Bangen added that Duisburg has gained increasing recognition as a key stop along the railway, attracting more Chinese companies to invest in the city. The logistics industry has become one of Duisburg's most vital sectors, creating job opportunities and benefiting local businesses and residents. Duisport has established a strong partnership with China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway Container Transport Corp., Ltd. (CRCT), marked by continuous improvement through effective communication, Bangen said. This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a view of the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) Markus Bangen, chief executive officer of Duisburger Hafen AG (Duisport), receives an interview with Xinhua in Duisburg, Germany, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows containers of the China-Europe Railway Express (CRE) at the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a view of the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) The restaurant with the failing score is located in Sevier County. A lot of critical violations were marked down by the inspector. The grade is a 67 at El Ranchero Loco Mexican Grill and Restaurant on Veterans Blvd in Pigeon Forge. This is a failing score as any grade of 69 and below is considered failing. El Ranchero Loco, 2902 Veterans Blvd, Pigeon Forge Grade: 67 To begin, food temperatures were off. In the refrigerator, the inspector reported that 10 pounds of pulled chicken and five pounds of cooked rice were between 48 and 51 degrees. However, 41 degrees and below is the proper holding temperature for food in the fridge. The chicken and rice were thrown away due to the potential for foodborne illness. Closures in East Tennessee due to severe weather When the inspector checked a can opener, it had food debris stuck to it. The opener was quickly washed, cleaned and sanitized. An employee was observed washing vegetables in the employees hand sink, which is in the wrong place. The vegetables and other foods are supposed to be washed in the food preparation sink. A cook, working at the grill, put on clean gloves without first removing his dirty gloves. Health rules dont allow that. The dirty gloves should have been removed and hands washed before putting on clean gloves. Finally, the person in charge did not demonstrate managerial control due to so many critical violations. El Rancho Loco will be re-inspected soon. Deputy shoots bear seen guarding body after fatal crash on the Dragon Food-For-Thought-9-26Download Top Scores of the Week Mcdonalds, 1720 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville 100 The Black Dog Brewhouse, 2419 N. Central St, Knoxville 100 Wendys, 331 Cedar Bluff Rd, Knoxville 100 Petros Chili & Chips, 7005 Kinston Pk, Knoxville 100 Pins And Pints, 1336 E. Emory Rd, Powell 100 Nama Downtown Sushi Bar, 506 S. Gay Street, Knoxville 99 Mr. Gattis, 6903 Maynardville Hwy, Knoxville 99 Cook Out Restaurant, 321 N. Cedar Bluff Rd, Knoxville 99 Bojangles, 7505 Oak Ridge Hwy, Knoxville 99 Mcdonalds, 841 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge 99 Mcdonalds, 100 W. Broadway Blvd, Jefferson City 99 Big Eds Pizza, 101 Broadway, Oak Ridge 98 SECOND HELPING: Miss a Food for Thought segment? See them all here. If you notice something is amiss while dining, let the manager know or you call the health department in the county where you live. An inspector will be sent out for a special surprise visit. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) The death toll for a nationwide Listeria outbreak linked to Boars Head deli meat is officially in the double digits, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC confirmed the additional death, as well as two additional cases of illness, in a Sept. 25 investigation update. The latest person to die was reported to be a resident of New York. As of Sept. 25, at least 59 people across 19 states were reported to have been sickened in the outbreak. Deaths were recorded in Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Former Boars Head sanitation manager recounts where Virginia plant went wrong The Sarasota, Florida-based company announced on Sept. 13 that it was closing its plant in Jarratt, Virginia, linked to the outbreak. The moves came after inspection reports revealed problems including mold, insects, dripping water and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment dating back at least two years. It pains us to impact the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working employees. We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the areas largest employers, Boars Head wrote in a statement shared to its website. But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course. Boars Head is also facing multiple lawsuits related to the deaths and illnesses. An aerial view of the Boars Head processing plant Thursday Aug. 29, 2024, in Jarratt, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Popular grocery outlets such as Target, Kroger, Safeway and Jewel were among the retailers that carried the contaminated deli meat liverwurst at the center of the recall. Boars Head permanently discontinued liverwurst earlier this month. Boars Head is also facing multiple lawsuits related to the deaths and illnesses, including one from the family of an 88-year-old Virginia man and Holocaust survivor who died. The company has vowed to implement better quality control and safety standards moving forward. This is a dark moment in our companys history, but we intend to use this as an opportunity to enhance food safety programs not just for our company, but for the entire industry, Boars Head said. Deli meat contamination becomes largest listeria outbreak since 2011, CDC says Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) also on Thursday called for Boars Head to be held accountable for the outbreak. The lawmakers, in a letter sent to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick Garland, Blumenthal and Delauro urged the agencies to consider possible criminal charges. We cannot let large corporations get away with endangering public health, it is imperative that we hold food companies to the highest standards so that Americans can feel safe shopping for groceries and feeding their families, Blumenthal and DeLauro wrote in a joint letter. Boars Head must be held accountable, those impacted by this crisis deserve more than an apology, they deserve justice. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Federal prosecutors unsealed the charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday, alleging he committed wire fraud and bribery and accepted foreign campaign money, among other offenses. Adams is the first mayor of New York City to be indicted while in office. At a press conference held shortly before prosecutors made their statements, Adams was defiant, saying he has no intention of stepping down, and suggested the prosecution is politically motivated. Its an unfortunate day. And its a painful day, Adams said in front of a group of supporters. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, Ive gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself. A day earlier, before the indictment had been unsealed, he called the forthcoming charges entirely false. The full federal indictment lays out prosecutors case that, beginning in 2015, Adams solicited and received so-called straw donations from Turkish nationals, which were then used as the basis to apply for matching public funds. It also alleges that, in exchange, Adams used his influence to allow a Turkish consular building to open with a rubber stamp from the New York Fire Department. You can read the full indictment here, but for readers following along at home who are interested in only the more eye-popping details, consider the following excerpts, which are taken verbatim from the indictment (with the minor change of taking Adams name out of all-caps): 1. 'First stop is always instanbul [sic]' Because the Turkish Airline provided free travel benefits worth tens of thousands of dollars to Eric Adams, the defendant, he flew the Turkish Airline even when doing so was otherwise inconvenient. For example, during the July and August 2017 trip, Adamss Partner was surprised to learn that Adams was in Turkey when she had understood him to be flying from New York to France. Adams responded, in a text message, Transferring here. You know first stop is always instanbul [sic]. When Adamss Partner later inquired about planning a trip to Easter Island, Chile, Adams repeatedly asked her whether the Turkish Airline could be used for their flights, requiring her to call the Turkish Airline to confirm that they did not have routes between New York and Chile. 2. 'The tickets were complimentary' For example, on November 25, 2017, Adams sent an email to the Adams Scheduler saying that with respect to the July trip, meaning the July and August 2017 trip on the Turkish Airline, I left you the money for the international airline in an envelope in your top desk draw. [sic] Please send it to them. Given the cost of the international business class tickets for Adams alone, Adamss email suggested that he left, at a minimum, well over $10,000 in cash in the Adams Schedulers desk drawer to send to the Turkish Airline as payment for flights taken months earlier. He did not do that, as records from the Turkish Airline confirm that Adams did not pay the airline, in cash or otherwise, because the tickets were complimentary. 3. 'They might cause a big stink later on' On June 22, 2018 ... the Adams Staffer and the Promoter discussed by text message a possible trip by Adams to Turkey. The Promoter stated, in part, Fund Raising in Turkey is not legal, but I think I can raise money for your campaign off the record. The Adams Staffer inquired, How will [Adams] declare that money here? The Promoter responded, He wont declare it . . . Or ... Well make the donation through an American citizen in the U.S. A Turk... I'll give cash to him in Turkey ... Or I'll send it to an American ...He will make a donation to you. The Adams Staffer replied, I think he wouldnt get involved in such games. They might cause a big stink later on, but Ill ask anyways. The Adams Staffer then asked, how much do you think would come from you? $? The Promoter responded, Max $100K. The Adams Staffer wrote, 100K? Do you have a chance to transfer that here? . . . We cant do it while Eric is in Turkey, to which the Promoter replied, Lets think. After this conversation, the Adams Staffer asked Adams whether the Adams Staffer should pursue the unlawful foreign contributions offered by the Promoter, and contrary to the Adams Staffers expectations, Adams directed that the Adams Staffer pursue the Promoters illegal scheme. 4. Adams 'might one day be the President' [Adams] also solicited unlawful foreign campaign contributions while in Istanbul in January 2019. During Adamss trip, the Promoter arranged for Adams to meet a wealthy Turkish businessman (Businessman-3). The Turkish Official, through the Adams Staffer, discouraged Adams from meeting Businessman-3, who was then under suspicion of wrongdoing. Adams did so nonethless [sic]. During their meeting, Adams and the Promoter solicited campaign contributions from Businessman-3, who as a Turkish national could not lawfully contribute to any U.S. campaign. During the meeting, Businessman-3 agreed 18 to contribute $50,000 or more to the 2021 Campaign, believing that Adams might one day be the President of the United States and hoping to gain influence with Adams. [...] Before any of the discussed straw donations could occur, however, Businessman-3s legal troubles in Turkey and the United States became more public. Adams declined to meet with Businessman-3 when Businessman-3 later visited New York, and Businessman- 3 did not ultimately contribute to the 2021 Campaign. 5. 'Please Delete all messages' [I]n March 2019, while exchanging text messages to plan another possible to trip to Turkey in which the Airline Manager would arrange travel for Adams, the Adams Staffer texted Adams, To be o[n the]safe side Please Delete all messages you send me. Adams responded, Always do. 6. Turkey official 'personally paying attention' [After Adams was elected mayor] The Promoter also celebrated Adamss prospects with additional people, telling others including Adams himself that Adams would soon be President of the United States. Similarly, the Turkish Official wrote to the Adams Staffer that given Adamss increasing prominence, at this point, the Foreign Minister ofTurkey is personally paying attention to him and Adams should not bother with his other Turkish benefactors. 7. 'Why does he care? He's not going to pay[.]' At Adamss direction, the Adams Staffer also coordinated luxury lodging for Adams and Adamss Partner, which would be secretly provided at no cost to Adams, as the Adams Staffer and the Airline Manager discussed: Adams Staffer: He is also asking where else they can go in Turkey[.] Do you have a recommendation? AirlineManager: Four Seasons Adams Staffer: Its too expensive Airline Manager: Why does he care? He is not going to pay[.] His name will not be on anything either Adams Staffer: Super 8. 'His turn' to support Turkey On or about September 5, 2021, the Turkish Official began asking Adams, both directly and through the Adams Staffer, to intervene with the Commissioner of the FDNY [...] to secure a [temporary certificate of occupancy] for the [Turkish governments] Turkish House. Adams, the Turkish Official, and the Adams Staffer discussed these requests through phone calls and electronic messages. In a phone call to the Adams Staffer, the Turkish Official stated that because Turkey had supported Adams, it was now his turn to support Turkey. The Adams Staffer relayed this message to Adams, and Adams responded, I know. 9. 'Seat number 52 is empty' On December 8, 2021, the Adams Staffer sent the Airline Manager a link to a list Adamss transition committees and asked the Airline Manager, Have you looked at the list? The Airline Manager responded, It would suit me well to be lead Or Senior Advisor. Two days later, the Airline Manager sent a message reiterating, Lead Plz :) Otherwise seat number 52 is empty . . . On the way back, meaning that if the Airline Manager was not given a position on a transition committee, it would affect Adamss travel benefits from the Turkish Airline. On December 17, 2021, the Adams Staffer sent Adams a list of members of the Turkish community to add to Adamss transition committees, with the Airline Manager as the top name. Adams informed the Adams Staffer that he had sent the list to the persons responsible for organizing his transition committees. Adams sent the list to a staff member with the direction Add to transition. The Airline Manager was subsequently added to Adamss Infrastructure, Climate and Sustainability Committee transition committee. 10. Adams staffer's alleged bathroom break After learning that FBI agents had arrived at her residence, but before answering their repeated knocks at her door, the Adams Fundraiser called Adams five times, even though the agents had not yet given the Adams Fundraiser any indication of the purpose for their visit. When the Adams Fundraiser then spoke with the FBI agents, she agreed to discuss many subjects, but refused to say who had paid for her 2021 travel to Turkey. As the FBI agents departed the Adams Fundraisers residence, Adams attempted to call the Adams Fundraisers phone. On the morning that the FBI agents executed this search, Adams had flown to Washington, D.C. for a publicized official meeting, but upon learning about the search, Adams canceled the meeting and immediately returned to New York City [...] The Adams Staffer also agreed to speak with FBI agents and falsely denied the criminal conduct of herself and Adams, among others. At one point during her voluntary interview, the Adams Staffer excused herself to a bathroom and, while there, deleted the encrypted messaging applications she had used to communicate with Adams, the Promoter, the Turkish Official, the Airline Manager, and others. 11. 'The complexity of his password' FBI agents executed a search warrant for the electronic devices used by [Adams]. Although Adams was carrying several electronic devices, including two cellphones, he was not carrying his personal cellphone, which is the device he used to communicate about the conduct described in this indictment. When Adams produced his personal cellphone the next day in response to a subpoena, it was locked, such that the device required a password to open. Adams claimed that after he learned about the investigation into his conduct, he changed the password on November 5, 2024, and increased the complexity of his password from four digits to six. Adams had done this, he claimed, to prevent members of his staff from inadvertently or intentionally deleting the contents of his phone because, according to Adams, he wished to preserve the contents of his phone due to the investigation. But, Adams further claimed, he had forgotten the password he had just set, and thus was unable to provide the FBI with a password that would unlock the phone. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A 12-year-old girl was booked into a Juvenile Detention Center after allegedly threatening a school on social media, the Porterville Police Department said. Officers say they, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), investigated a shooting threat against a Porterville middle school on the social media platform TikTok. According to police, after further investigation into the threats of violence, they were able to identify the social media account along with the juvenile responsible for the threats. The 12-year-old girl was then contacted at her residence and taken into custody. She was later transported to a Juvenile Detention Facility. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Porterville Police Department at 559-782-7400 or through their departments social media pages. Information can be reported anonymously. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | CBS47 and KSEE24. NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) A 13-year-old accused of making a social media threat to Pulaski Middle School this week has been arrested, New Britain police say. Police said staff reported a group of middle school students on Sept. 24, after receiving screenshots of threatening messages made on a social media platform. 2 Meriden juveniles arrested after school threat investigation A 13-year-old male was found responsible and issued a juvenile summons, according to police. He was charged with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace. We recognize the impact cases like this have on our community. Parents, students, and school staff should not worry about being safe in their learning environments, said New Britain Police Chief Matt Marino said in a statement. We are always committed to seeing cases like this through, knowing it provides closure and comfort for those involved 13-year-old charged with threatening Waterbury schools Mayor Erin Stewart said there is no joking around when it comes to the safety of students, staff and families. Rest assured, the City, Police Department and School District remain fiercely united against anyone or anything that threatens the well-being of those in our schools, she said in a statement. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. 14-year-old girl arrested after shes accused of threatening a middle school in Prosser A 14-year-old girl is accused of making an online bomb threat to Prossers middle school. The teens vague threats involving Housel Middle School were reported to police on Sunday, according to Prosser police news release on Wednesday. Investigators didnt believe the threats were credible, but police informed school officials. Police also conducted emphasis patrols around the school on Monday and Tuesday. Then Wednesday morning, police believed they had enough evidence to link the Housel Middle School student to the threats and she was arrested. She was later booked into the Benton Franklin Juvenile Detention Center in Kennewick on suspicion of making bomb threats. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Officer Thomas Forsyth at tforsyth@ci.prosser.wa.us or by phone at 509-786-1500. "If he had been hit by a car, I'd have somebody to be angry with, a little frustrated with I have no one at all," said Cameron Day's cousin Gofundme Cameron Day. A 16-year-old Florida boy died last week after he went into cardiac arrest after possibly being stuck by lightning while riding his bike. Cameron Day was pedaling home from band practice on Wednesday, Sept. 18 in Pembroke Pines when he decided to take cover under a tree, loved ones told CBS affiliate WFOR. That's when he was apparently struck by lightning. Responding authorities found Day lying in a grassy swale when they arrived, Fox affiliate WSVN and NBC affiliate WTVJ reported. He was taken to Memorial Hospital Regional, where he was later pronounced dead, according to WFOR. Related: 911 Call Details Lightning Strike That Killed 19-Year-Old Dad: 'Looked Like the Lightning Was Like Right on Him' 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. The Pembroke Pines Fire Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Day's parents told the outlets in a statement that the teen who had autism "BEAT THE ODDS!" "Cameron was a tuba player at McArthur High School, a member of SGA, and an Ambassador of the Florida Atlantic University Upward Bound Math and Science TRIO Program," they added. His cousin told WFOR that she was devastated by the circumstances that led to the boy's death. Related: Family Sues After Mom Was Killed by Lightning Strike While Picking Up Her Kids from School "Our hearts are ripped. I'm going to be honest with you: If he had been hit by a car, I'd have somebody to be angry with, a little frustrated with I have no one at all," Gwendolyn Broussard said. Authorities said the teen suffered a cardiac arrest and had injuries that indicated he was struck by lightning, per the Miami Herald and WFOR. We dont have confirmation yet, but it does appear as though the patient was struck by lightning with burn wounds noted to the patients chest and inner thighs, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue Division Chief Scott Gunn told the Herald. Related: Boy Who Survived Lightning Strike That Killed Dad Now Breathing on His Own: 'Proved Everyone Wrong' A GoFundMe campaign launched on behalf of the school's band for Day's family said that the 11th grader "was a bright light and sweet soul who touched the lives of so many." "His passion for music, leadership, and unwavering love for his bandmates and band, McArthur's Herd of Sound made him an integral part of our family. He was a beloved son, brother, and friend someone who brought joy and inspiration to everyone around him." As of Thursday, Sept. 26, the fundraiser has raised over $30,000. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. This page has been archived and will no longer be updated. Click here for the latest updates on Helene. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Helene made landfall in Floridas Big Bend region on Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. At 11 p.m., the NHC reported that Helene had maximum sustained winds of 140 and was located 65 miles west of Cedar Key while moving north-northeast at 24 mph. It made landfall at the mouth of the Aucilla River at 11:20 p.m. LIVE: Hurricane Helene real-time wobble tracker Video above: Watch live News Channel 8 coverage of Hurricane Helene The storm is expected to bring unsurvivable storm surge of up to 20 feet to the Big Bend area, according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, which called it a nightmare surge scenario. Max Defender 8 Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli said residents in the Nature Coast and Big Bend should not take any chances and need to evacuate. You cannot survive 20 feet or even 15 feet of storm surge, Berardelli said. If youre near the water and you know youre going to flood, especially if youre in a mobile home, too. Youve got to go. You cannot take your chances. This is not survivable. Weakening is expected after Hurricane Helene makes landfall, but fast forward speed allows strong, damaging winds in gusts. The next track update is at 11 p.m. Watches and warnings A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo Tampa Bay Charlotte Harbor A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Anclote River to Mexico Beach A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet Lake Okeechobee Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth Tropical Storm Isaac The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Isaac formed in the open subtropical Atlantic on Wednesday night. The system is well east-northeast of Bermuda and will not impact North America. Watch Tracking the Tropics on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT. Be prepared with the 2024 Hurricane Guide and stay ahead of tropical development with the Tracking the Tropics newsletter. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) 2 car collision at the intersection of Adams and Pecos St. around 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 25. According to the San Angelo Police Department office on the scene, the two vehicles involved were a blue Ford F150 and a blue Dodge Dakota. The F150 was headed westbound on Pecos St. and the Dakota was headed south on N. Adams. The Dodge Dakota failed to yield the right away to the Ford pickup from the stop sign and was the reason for the collision. Said the SAPD Officer. He also mentioned that there were three people total in the vehicles, one on the F150 and two in the Dakota. Everyone was treated on scene and there were no major injuries. The driver of the Dakota was cited for failing to yield to the right away. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A 20-year-old man was arrested Wednesday and charged with shooting two juveniles during a shooting spree than spanned six miles in Nashville last month. The shooting began at Cedar Hill Park on Old Hickory Boulevard in Madison on Saturday, Aug. 3 around 8 p.m. Man charged with exposing himself to Nashville women for months According to court documents, investigators determined Edixon Murillo-Antunez injured two juveniles and four occupied vehicles were hit by gunfire during the shooting spree from the park to the 300 block of North Main Street in Goodlettsville. Murillo-Antunez was taken into custody without incident and charged with four counts of attempted criminal homicide, 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony weapon possession, felony reckless endangerment and driving without a license. His bond was set at $880,500. 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. XI'AN, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- An airplane carrying 208 passengers took off from Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, bound for Milan, Italy, on Thursday afternoon, marking the inauguration of the first regular direct passenger flight between northwest China and the Italian city. China Eastern Airlines operates the new route with an Airbus A330 aircraft. The route offers three round-trip flights per week, with a flight duration of about 12 hours. The departure flight takes off from Xi'an at 2:40 p.m. and arrives in Milan at 7:30 p.m. local time, while the return flight takes off from Milan at 9:30 p.m. local time and arrives in Xi'an at 2 p.m. the next day. What is the 2006 UN resolution that some hope could help to end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict? A woman reacts at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in the town of Maisara, north of Beirut, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) BEIRUT (AP) In 2006, after a bruising monthlong war between Israel and Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah militant group, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted for a resolution to end the conflict and pave the way for lasting security along the border. But while there was relative calm for nearly two decades, Resolution 1701's terms were never fully enforced. And now, after nearly a year of low-level clashes, Israel and Hezbollah appear on the verge of another all-out war. As Israeli jets pound deep inside Lebanon and Hezbollah fires rockets deeper into northern Israel, U.N. and diplomatic officials have again turned to the 2006 resolution in a bid to end the conflict. Years of deeply divided politics and regionwide geopolitical hostilities have halted substantial progress on its implementation, yet Resolution 1701 is still considered the brightest prospect for long-term stability between Israel and Lebanon. What is UNSC Resolution 1701? In 2000, Israel withdrew its forces from most of southern Lebanon along a U.N.-demarcated Blue Line that separated the two countries and the annexed Golan Heights. U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, increased their presence along the line of withdrawal. Resolution 1701 was supposed to finish the incomplete work from 2000 and end the 2006 war; Israeli forces would fully withdraw while the Lebanese army and UNIFIL Hezbollah excluded would be the exclusive armed presence south of Lebanon's Litani River. The Lebanese state was to have full sovereignty over its south. Meanwhile, up to 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers would help to maintain calm, return displaced Lebanese and secure the area alongside the Lebanese military. The goal was long-term security, with land borders eventually demarcated to resolve territorial disputes. It was made for a certain situation and context, Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese army general, told The Associated Press. But as time goes on, the essence of the resolution begins to hollow. Has it been implemented? For years, Lebanon and Israel blamed each other for countless violations along the tense frontier. Israel says Hezbollahs elite Radwan Force and growing arsenal remain, and accuses the group of using a local environmental organization to spy on troops. Lebanon complains about military jets and naval ships entering Lebanese territory even when there is no active conflict. You had a role of the UNIFIL that slowly eroded like any other peacekeeping with time that has no clear mandate, said Joseph Bahout, the director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy at the American University of Beirut. They dont have permission to inspect the area without coordinating with the Lebanese army. UNIFIL for years has urged Israel to withdraw from some territory north of the frontier, but to no avail. Hezbollahs power has meanwhile grown, both in its arsenal and as a political influence in parliament. The Iran-backed group was essential in keeping Syrian President Bashar Assad in power when armed opposition groups tried to topple him, and it supports Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Yemen. It has an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles pointed at Israel, and has introduced drones into its arsenal. Hanna says Hezbollah is something never seen before as a non-state actor" with political and military influence. How relevant is 1701 to ending the current hostilities? Efforts led by the U.S. and France for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah have underscored that they still view the resolution as key. For almost a year, Washington has promoted various versions of a deal that would gradually lead to its full implementation. But the circumstances now are far more complicated than in 2006. Israel says its aerial bombardments aim to push Hezbollah back and allow its northern residents to return home safely. Hezbollah says it will stop firing rockets only once there is a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where Israel continues to battle Hezbollah's key ally Hamas. Negotiations for a ceasefire there are gridlocked. Youre tying 1701 with a hundred things, Bahout said. A resolution is the reflection of a balance of power and political context. So while the Security Council resolutions goals are still relevant, new issues have emerged that have sidelined its implementation. Between the warring parties, you have to make each party feel that they achieved something, Hanna said. Otherwise, you wont come to the table unless you are defeated or annihilated. Welcome to the Belleville News-Democrats Voter Guide for the state legislative and judicial races in the Nov. 5 election in Illinois. The News-Democrat has contacted the candidates running for the state House in contested races and asked them to complete a candidate questionnaire. We also have listed the state Senate and House candidates in uncontested races and judicial candidates seeking to retain their job by getting 60% of voters to cast a yes ballot for them. While this article has information about state legislative and judicial candidates, you can go to this page at bnd.com to get links to read about candidates running for Congress and county positions. Responses from state legislative candidates are listed below. (The candidates are listed alphabetically.) Use the index menu below to immediately navigate to the races you want to see first. See the races: 2024 Voter Guide: These are the Madison County races on the ballot for this election Welcome to the Belleville News-Democrats Voter Guide for Madison County races in the Nov. 5 election in Illinois. The News-Democrat has contacted the candidates running for county board seats in contested races and asked them to complete a candidate questionnaire. While this article has information about Madison County candidates, you can go to this page at bnd.com to get links to read about candidates running for Congress and seats in other counties. Responses from Madison County candidates in contested races and the names of candidates in uncontested races are listed below. (The candidates are listed alphabetically.) Use the index menu below to immediately navigate to the races you want to see first. See the races: 25-year-old man killed in Culpeper shooting, police looking for video footage CULPEPER, Va. (DC News Now) The Culpeper Police Department (CPD) is investigating a shooting that left a 25-year-old man dead on Wednesday. Police said just after 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 25, the Culpeper County 911 Center received a report regarding a shooting in the 1000 block of Virginia Avenue. Police officers along with deputies from the Culpeper County Sheriffs Office responded to the area where they found a man who had been shot. Frederick County crews battle fire at winery in Mt. Airy EMS was called to scene and he was a taken to the hospital where he died. Police identified the victim as Noah C. Campbell, 25, of Boston, Virginia. During the investigation, Culpeper police collected evidence. However, police are searching for video footage from the area. CPD said videos that might show activity around the time of the shooting can be entered here. Anyone with information can call Sgt. McGuckin at 540-829-5523 or email tips.@culpeperva.gov. The Culpeper Police Department extends its condolences to his family, said the CPD in a release. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Attorney Shomari Figures (left) won the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District in a runoff on Tuesday. Attorney Caroleene Dobson (right) won the Republican nomination for the seat. The candidates will face each other in November. (Left: Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector: Right: Caroleene Dobson Campaign) Democratic candidate Shomari Figures and Republican candidate Caroleene Dobson have different ideas on improving health in Alabamas 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses a region marked by some of the worst health outcomes in the nation. Nearly every county in the district, mainly in the Black Belt region, has fewer physicians than the state average. According to County Health Rankings, Alabama averaged one primary care physician for every 1,570 residents in 2021. In Washington, its one for every 15,150 residents. In Russell, its one for every 5,870 residents. Life expectancy is also lower in the region than across Alabama overall (73.7 years). Conecuh County residents have a life expectancy of 69.5 years, over four fewer years than the state average. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Figures said in an interview that the states poor health outcomes, especially in the district, could be addressed if the state expanded Medicaid, calling the solution a low-hanging fruit. Alabama is one of the last remaining states that has not opted into the program, which provides Medicaid coverage to those making up to 138% of the poverty level, about $20,783 a year for an individual and $35,632 for a household of three. A U.S. House representative wouldnt have the power to expand Medicaid in Alabama, but Figures said hed sponsor legislation to encourage Alabama and the nine remaining nonexpansion states to have 100% of the expansion cost covered, with grants to address specific needs. The people in those [non-expansion] states, they are suffering, Figures said. They are suffering with continued, bad health care access options, or no access options at all. If the state of Alabama expanded Medicaid, and I would certainly be looking to sponsor and or co-sponsor legislation that would funnel resources directly to county health systems. Figures said there need to be incentives for health care professionals to serve in rural areas, and he proposed policies like accelerated retirement benefits for doctors who spend time in underserved communities, adding that we have to do everything that we can to incentivize those types of providers to come in and set up shop in this district. Republican candidate Caroleene Dobson was not available for an interview. Saylor Cuzzort, a spokesperson for the campaign, asked for questions instead but did not return the request. On her website, Dobson focuses on reducing health care costs through economic growth and fighting against what she views as excessive government control, arguing that good health care starts with a strong economy, where good jobs provide good health benefits. Her platform includes ending surprise medical billing; reducing the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums and protecting patients with pre-existing conditions. Alabama families dont need more government control of health care they need leaders who fight for economic freedom, Dobsons campaign website states. Although the campaign website does not address Medicaid expansion, Dobson in February signaled support for a private-public partnership in a Republican candidate forum. She also stated that she will honor our commitments to hardworking families and retirees who have contributed to Social Security and Medicare on her website. Both candidates express support for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) services, despite their different approaches on how to safeguard the fertility treatment and opposing stances on broader reproductive health issues. Dobson, who is anti-abortion, has described IVF as consistent with her pro-life values, stating, helping women and couples to create, nurture, and bring new life into the world is the textbook definition of being pro-life. Figures, meanwhile, skirted around the topic of abortion and IVF and tied the availability of reproductive health services to the broader need for Medicaid expansion, pointing out that many women in the district have to travel long distances for basic reproductive care due to a lack of facilities. His campaign website also does not state what specific policies he supports, other than he would protect reproductive rights and ensure every patient can make their own healthcare decisions on their own, for their own futures. In April, he said that he supported codifying Roe into law, and Anitra Henderson, a spokesperson for the campaign, said Wednesday that is still his position. He also said that the health care environment in Alabama of attacking womens ability to make their own healthcare decisions, keeps doctors away. In doing so youre pushing out and creating an environment where reproductive healthcare service providers do not want to work here, Figures said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE An overnight Russian drone and missile strike targeted three Ukrainian energy transmission facilities, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Sept. 26. "But the Russian terrorists did not achieve their goals Ukraine's energy system is operating in a balanced mode, no power cuts are planned," he added in a post on Telegram. Shmyhal said one of the facilities targeted was in Mykolaiv Oblast in southern Ukraine, but did not specify the location of the other two. Ukrainian forces downed 66 out of 78 Shahed-type drones and four Kh-59/69 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight from, the Air Force reported. Eight more drones were "lost" in a few regions and another one "went back to Russia," it added. On the morning of Sept. 26, Russian forces also launched three Kinzhal ballistic missiles. Russia launched nine coordinated attacks against Ukraine's electricity infrastructure between March and August, striking facilities in 20 oblasts, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 25 during his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "This is how Putin is preparing for winter hoping to torment millions, millions of Ukrainians Ordinary families women, children Ordinary towns, ordinary villages," Zelensky said. According to an International Energy Agency (IEA) report, Ukraine's electricity shortage could reach 6 gigawatts this winter as a result of the attacks, which is about one-third of the expected peak demand. This summer, the power shortage was 2.5 GW when Kyiv was already experiencing long blackouts. Zelensky told the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 24 that Russia was preparing to target three Ukrainian nuclear power plants. There are three operating nuclear power plants on the Ukrainian-held territory the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi plants in the country's west, and the Pivdennoukrainsk plant in the south. Russia's regular attacks put their safety in jeopardy by cutting off power to the units. According to the Energy Ministry, nuclear generation currently accounts for up to 60% of the country's electricity consumption. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Read also: Explosions reported in Kyiv, but authorities deny Russian attack on capital Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Russian attack on the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, on Sept. 25 injured three representatives of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society while on a humanitarian mission, the organization said. Russia targeted the city center with two guided aerial bombs, damaging two high-rise buildings, shops, and cars. At least two people were killed and 19 injured, including children, local authorities reported. One Red Cross volunteer was injured and hospitalized. The head of the Kramatorsk city organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross and the driver who were in the car also suffered injuries, the organization said. "The Ukrainian Red Cross continues its mission to provide assistance to the civilian population despite the danger posed by the ongoing war in the country," the statement read. In mid-September, Russian forces attacked the village of Viroliubivka near Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, killing three employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross mission and injuring two others. Kramatorsk comes under regular Russian attacks. The strike on the Safir (Sapphire) Hotel in on Aug. 24 killed British national Ryan Evans, a security adviser for Reuters, and seriously injured Reuters camera operator Ivan Lubysh-Kirdey. Read also: Around 10 Russian drones downed over Kyiv, debris causes fire Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Question 4 could legalize use of psychedelic substances in Mass. BOSTON (WPRI) Should certain psychedelic drugs be decriminalized? Question 4 on the November ballot could legalize and regulate the use of psychedelic substances like psilocybin for adults 21 and up in Massachusetts. The measure is facing strong opposition from doctors who are warning that there are dangerous impacts from the drugs. Meanwhile, supporters of the legalization argue it could help veterans battling depression and PTSD when paired with therapy. When I got out of the Navy, I went to the VA. I was using cognitive behavioral therapy and art therapy, Im a yoga teacher. I had a lot of tools, but I still was waking up every day and just didnt want to be awake, Emily Oneschuk said. No matter how much people tell you they love you, you cant receive any of it and this cracked through this armor I had on and let me feel that. The Massachusetts Psychiatric Society (MPS) said there is not enough medical research and they are worried about the risk of addiction if legalized. These drugs are hallucinogens. That means they cause hallucinations and delusions. These agents should be treated like any medications, that is, they should be given by prescription with medical supervision, said Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, president of MPS. Voters can head to the polls and decide on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Nesi's Notes Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. The Michigan House of Representatives held its final day of voting Wednesday before the Nov. 5 election that will decide whether Democrats keep their governing trifecta with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's party enjoying full legislative control. Democrats hold a narrow 56-54 majority in the state House. Every seat is on the line in this fall's election. While Democrats stuck together to deliver a big win for one of the state's largest labor unions and supplemental school funding bill, they broke apart on a proposed corporate tax break. Here's a look at what the Democratic-led state House prioritized ahead of the final stretch of the campaign. Caregivers unionization bill On a party-line vote, House Democrats approved a pair of bills that would restore the right of home health care workers to unionize. Democrats in the state Senate also gave final approval to the legislation Wednesday and sent the bills Whitmer who said she plans to sign them into law. "Thanks to my partners in the Michigan Legislature, we will finally restore the right of more than 30,000 independent provider home health care workers to collectively bargain for better pay and benefits and start to build out the caregiving infrastructure we need to help Michigan families and care for our neighbors who need day-to-day support," Whitmer said in a statement Wednesday. In 2012, Michigan voters rejected a ballot proposal to allow in-home care workers to collectively bargain, a major blow to the Service Employees International Union that had previously represented those workers. SEIU President April Varrett celebrated the passage of the legislation Wednesday. GOP state Rep. Bill Schuette, R-Midland, blasted the measure. "This is all just a scheme to give more money into pockets of the SEIU and to the labor unions," he said. Michigan Energy: Over environmental concerns, Michigan House passes tax break for data centers A tax break for data centers Democrats relied on Republican votes to pass a Democratic bill proposing a tax break for data centers. The artificial intelligence boom is expected to fuel a surge in demand for warehouses where computer servers store and process data. Such facilities consume massive amounts of energy and water, and the proposed tax break has Michigan environmentalists worried data centers lured to the state with a tax break will undermine the state's clean energy transition. Democratic lawmakers who previously supported data center tax breaks last year raised new concerns Wednesday that utility customers would end up footing the bill for data centers, paying higher electricity and water bills. While the Michigan House passed a use tax exemption for data centers, a bill to create a sales tax exemption stalled, leaving the tax breaks in limbo. Michigan Budget: Dems mend fences with school leaders with $126M sweetener to controversial budget School pensions and a school aid supplemental The Legislature on Wednesday finalized changes to school pension legislation that will save local school districts hundreds of millions of dollars a year by reducing their required contributions to the Michigan Public School Employees' Retirement System. The changes also put more money in the pockets of many teachers by removing a requirement that those eligible for post-retirement health benefits contribute 3% of their pay toward the pension fund. Republicans mostly opposed the change, arguing the Legislature should continue to increase funding to the school employees' pension system until the entire system is fully funded, not just retiree health care. The Legislature also approved a $126 million supplemental school aid bill that restored about half of the money for school safety and mental health measures that was cut when the original budget was passed in June. Republicans argued all the funds should have been restored. Democrats argue the school safety and mental health money cuts were to one-time money. GOP senators did not grant the supplemental school aid bill immediate effect, partly over concerns about $1 million set aside for an anonymous tip line to report incidents of firearms that are not properly secured and accessible to minors. Michigan Schools: Students would be screened for dyslexia under bills House passed Wednesday Dyslexia screening bills The Michigan House voted overwhelmingly to pass a pair of bills requiring public K-12 schools to screen students for dyslexia by the start of the 2027-28 school year. Along with requiring schools to screen students for dyslexia and other traits associated with having difficulty reading, the legislation also requires teacher preparation programs to include instruction on dyslexia and its characteristics. The legislation's passage comes less than a month after statewide standardized testing showed decreases in reading proficiency among third graders from 2023 to 2024. Advocates for the bills say they will give educators more tools to identify and respond to potential obstacles for students and their reading development. "Every child learns differently, and early readers of all ages deserve to access an education that matches their learning needs," Rep. Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, said in a statement. "These bills will not only ensure every child's literacy goals are prioritized, but adequately support teachers by providing evidence-based decoding and word-recognition materials for our educators to use." The bills now return to the Senate for consideration, after House lawmakers amended them Wednesday. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen. Looking for more on Michigans elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 4 issues Michigan House Democrats voted on ahead of November election Mass shooting in South L.A. leaves five women and a man wounded; three suspects at large Police investigate the scene of a shooting Wednesday at 74th and Figueroa streets that left one woman critically injured. (KTLA) Six people were shot in South Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, all of whom appear to have been unintended targets, authorities say. Police are searching for three suspects who fled the scene after the gunfire. Around 3:15 p.m., three male suspects drove up to the intersection of 74th and Figueroa streets and opened fire, striking the six victims, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Five of the victims were women, four of whom are between the ages of 39 and 63, and one was a 36-year-old man, LAPD reported. The age of one of the female victims was not known. All were on foot when they were shot. The victims were transported to a local hospital, and while the Los Angeles Fire Department initially said one was in critical condition, by late Wednesday LAPD officials said all were listed as stable. "We don't believe they were the intended targets" in the shooting, LAPD Detective Dean Vinluan told KTLA. "They probably just got caught up in the crossfire." He said detectives were looking into the shooting's possible connection to gang violence, but that link has not been confirmed. The shooting occurred near a homeless encampment, but LAPD officials said it doesn't appear the shooting was related to homelessness in any way. Read more: Drive-by shooting leaves 14-year-old boy, 3 others hospitalized in South L.A. The suspects' vehicle was a four-door Chevy with black rims that was last seen heading south on Flower Street at 74th Street, LAPD Public Information Officer Tony Im said. One suspect was wearing a black hoodie, the second was wearing a blue hoodie, and the third was wearing a gray hoodie, Im said. LAPD is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call its 77th Street Division at (323) 786-5420 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. City News Service contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. BRUSSELS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese diplomats expressed hope on Wednesday that China, Belgium, and the European Union (EU) will continue their cooperation in promoting global peace and development. Fei Shengchao, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium, and Zhu Jing, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Mission to the EU, made these remarks during a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The reception was attended by senior officials and representatives from various sectors of Belgium, the EU, and China, drawing over 1,000 attendees. China's National Day falls on Oct. 1. Addressing the event, Fei reviewed China's remarkable achievements over the past 75 years and briefed on the major reform measures introduced at the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. He emphasized that China's development will create more opportunities for Belgium and the world, contributing to greater stability in global peace and development, and he envisioned a promising future for China-Belgium relations. Zhu stated in his speech that the strong leadership of the CPC over the past 75 years has enabled the Chinese people to achieve a historic transformation. The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee laid out a comprehensive plan to further deepen reforms and advance Chinese modernization, he noted. As the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU approaches, Zhu expressed hope that both sides will work together to contribute to greater peace and prosperity in a world facing turmoil and transformation. Niclas Kvarnstrom, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service, extended warm congratulations to China on its 75th anniversary on behalf of the EU. Jan Hoogmartens, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke highly of the positive momentum in China-Belgium relations, and expressed hopes for further deepening exchanges and cooperation across various fields between the two countries. 42-year-old woman arrested for fatal shooting of Tacoma man on Monday, police say An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of a Tacoma man that took place earlier this week. Tacoma officers were dispatched just before 5 a.m. Monday to the 1200 block of East 25th Street in Tacoma for reports of a deceased man. Officers found an unresponsive man and began live-saving measures. Tacoma Fire Department personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene, according to a Tacoma Police Department news release. The man was identified as 50-year-old James Wilkinson of Tacoma. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest and his manner of death was listed as a homicide, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiners Office. Probable cause was established to arrest a 42-year-old woman, the release said. She was located on Wednesday at about 12:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of East 26th Street. The woman was arrested without incident and booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder. The woman has yet to be formally charged. The News Tribune typically does not name suspects of crimes until a charging decision has been made. Police say the case remains an active investigation. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A Sioux Falls man who has been wanted for over a month is now behind bars in the Minnehaha County jail. Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown denied accreditation According to online jail records, 47-year old Orangie Johnson was arrested Wednesday morning. He is accused of rape, sexual contact with a child and child abuse. Court documents say the victim was 12-years old when the crimes occurred. KELOLAND News is going through the court documents and talking with police. Stay with KELOLAND News for more information on this case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Five out-of-state climate activists face trespassing charges in Phoenix after they were arrested during a sit-in demonstration at a campaign office for former President Donald Trump. The five people were all in their 20s and from Idaho, Missouri and North Carolina. They were in Phoenix for a training with the Sunrise Movement, an environmental activist group that supports the Green New Deal. The activists were joined in the office Monday by three others who recorded the event but weren't arrested. Phoenix police arrived at the office near 32nd Street and Bell Road at about 11 a.m. and warned the activists that the property manager had told them to leave. Officers also asked the activists to leave but they refused. They were arrested after given ample time to leave the property, police said in a statement. Online court records show Phoenix is prosecuting each of them on a misdemeanor charge of 3rd-degree trespassing. In video shared online, an unidentified campaign worker is visibly frustrated with their sit-in protest, telling them to get your a-- out of here! When one of the young activists exclaimed she doesnt know if she can have a kid in this world, the campaign worker yelled back, I hope you dont have a kid in this world! The Trump campaign didnt return a message seeking comment on the incident. Playing off news from earlier this year that former President Trump offered to free oil-and-gas moguls from regulations if they gave his campaign effort a billion dollars, the group brought a fake check for $1 billion and $1 to try to "buy him back." Ashton Dolce, 17, a BASIS Scottsdale student and coordinator for Sunrise Movement, organized the event Monday as well as an outdoor protest at the Trump office Sept. 22. The out-of-state activists chosen to go inside were older than most Phoenix hub members, many of whom are under 18, he said. "These individuals were willing to get arrested and kind of put their bodies on the line for the climate crisis," Dolce said. The Sunrise Movement is nonpartisan and is geared more toward Gen-Z activists. Protesters from the same group also camped out in front of Vice President Kamala Harris' home in Brentwood, California, on Monday. They demanded she focus on climate change as wildfires in California surge. They also demanded she present a climate plan and two were arrested after group members placed a couch burned in an Orange County fire outside of Harris' property. Trump and Harris present divergent views on climate change, with Trump unlikely to "pass a single climate policy," Dolce said. But with Harris supporting fracking and other oil-and-gas projects, "we are very clearly aware that Kamala Harris still needs to do a lot of work" on climate change, he added. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Protest at Arizona Trump campaign office ends with trespassing charges As Hurricane Helene bore down on Florida Thursday, in the North Carolina mountains, swift water rescue crews were already busy. Channel 9s Dave Faherty was along the Linville River where crews rescued five people. The family is now safe after rain trapped them at their home. TRACKING: Flooding risk ramps up with steady rain ahead of Helene Every river in Burke County had risen after heavy rain overnight in the mountains. Just to the west, McDowell County is reporting 6 to 10 inches of rain had already fallen there by Thursday morning. The rain has forced people to scramble to higher ground. The Burke County rescue squad, along with Lake James Fire, responded Thursday morning to an area north of Lake James along the Linville River. Swift water rescue teams got five people to safety after the water came up 5 to 7 feet over their driveway. Donald Peach is one of the five family members and friends who had to be rescued. He told Faherty hes keeping a close eye on the Linville River. My mother was there, and Im taking care of her, and I needed to get her out knowing what else was coming, Peach said. It was a little bit scary, said his girlfriend, Kari Taylor. Weve never had to do that before. Just down the road, Michael Vance woke to the water rushing past his home. Hell be watching the levels over the next 24 hours and is prepared to leave. Not something to mess with. Theres a lot of water coming, Vance said. I would not have expected it to be this high this soon. Wes Taylor is part of the swift water rescue team in Burke County. He expects to be busy Thursday night. Fast-moving water. It doesnt take a whole lot of water to sweep you off of your feet, Taylor said. As little as 2 feet of water can sweep you off of your feet, so when youve got water thats 6 feet deep, and youve got trees flowing down and all sorts of other debris, it can be extremely dangerous. Hurricane Helene is now a Category 3. Heres how itll impact the Carolinas. Along Interstate 40, Faherty could see tropical storm warnings on the message boards. At a campground north of Lake James, Faherty spotted folks scrambling to get their campers and RVs out Thursday afternoon. Weve seen what its done in the past and were trying to avoid the loss this time, Greg Bryant said. Duke Energy said that by Friday afternoon, we could see the highest lake levels ever on Lake James. McDowell County said it responded to 60 weather-related calls overnight and has set up a shelter in Marion. The state is moving more assets to western North Carolina on Thursday. In Caldwell County Thursday morning, a swift water rescue team arrived from Cary near Raleigh and is staging south of Lenoir. In the Banner Elk area, Grandfather Mountain State Park announced it was closed Thursday and Friday. At 10 a.m. on Thursday, Grandfathers Top Shop measured 5.38 inches of rain over the last 24 hours. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. (WATCH BELOW: Thursday mornings forecast update with Meteorologist Keith Monday) A 52-year-old man was killed in a Myakka City crash Wednesday afternoon, troopers said. The man from Lithia was driving a pickup truck south on South Duette Road, approaching Bradenton Arcadia Road at 4:32 p.m. A second truck was traveling north on South Duette Road, approaching the first pickup truck. The pickup truck entered the northbound lane and collided with the left front of the opposing truck, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Follow storm coverage: Hurricane Helene expected to be Cat 4; Sarasota-Manatee forecast remains the same The driver of the pickup truck was pronounced dead at the scene, and the 43-year-old second driver from Lake Alfred was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. As of Sept. 26, there have been 4,507 crashes in Manatee County in 2024. Of those, there have been 37 deaths and 3,237 injuries, according to the Florida Crash Dashboard. There have been 4,867 crashes in Sarasota County in 2024. Of those, there have been 41 deaths and 2,979 injuries, according to the Florida Crash Dashboard. FHP will continue to investigate the crash. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Myakka City crash: man killed after colliding into oncoming truck With Question 6, Nevadans have opportunity to double down on abortion rights Demonstrators in Reno following the Dobbs ruling in June 2022. (Photo: Kingkini Sengupta/Nevada Current) Because of the way state-level abortion protections were established in Nevada, abortion law is largely shielded from meddling by state lawmakers. But one ballot measure up for consideration by voters this year promises to make those protections even stronger. Abortions in Nevada are currently legal up to 24 weeks after the start of the pregnancy and after 24 weeks if a physician believes the pregnant persons life or health is at risk. Those protections were put in place via a citizen-driven referendum passed by voters in 1990 and would require a direct vote of the people to change. Question 6 would establish abortion as a fundamental right in the state constitution, which also requires a vote of the people to amend. It would protect abortion until fetal viability, which by definition would be something determined by the patients health care practitioner. Abortions beyond that point would also be legal if needed to protect the pregnant persons life or health. Nevadas existing statutes and the constitutional amendment proposed by Question 6 align with the federal protections that existed for nearly five decades before being overturned in 2022 by the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Question 6 amends the constitution, not state law meaning it will not change the language of the voter-approved statute passed in 1990. Both protections, which are not in conflict with one another, would exist simultaneously, says Lindsey Harmon, president of Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom and executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada. This doubles down on the protections on statute, she adds. It makes it twice as hard to repeal or amend the referendum. Ballot measures proposing constitutional amendments must be voted on twice. If Question 6 passes this year, it must pass again in 2026. Since the fall of Roe, voters in both red and blue states have chosen to protect abortion rights and reject bans. Harmon says that despite that, they are taking nothing for granted in a post-Dobbs world. Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, which is associated with Planned Parenthood, is the well-funded coalition that qualified Question 6 and is advocating for its passage. The political action committee has raised $2.8 million this calendar year. Harmon hopes a decisive victory on Question 6 can put to bed any lingering doubts about where Nevadans fall on the issue. In 1990, 63% voted in support. Six Ohio congressmen signed letters asking U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for emergency funding for Springfield law enforcement after muliple bomb threats. Six Ohio congressmen signed letters asking federal officials for emergency funding for Springfield law enforcement, healthcare services and local schools as the city deals with an influx of legal immigrants from Haiti.. U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, who represents Ohio's 10th Congressional District which includes Springfield, said in the letter that the central Ohio city of nearly 60,000 includes an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants who moved to Springfield in the last four years. Turner was joined by Ohio Republican Reps. Mike Carey, Michael Rulli, Brad Wenstrup, Warren Davidson and Robert Latta. Turner said that recent national attention on Springfield resulted in bomb threats to government buildings inclding city hall and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "These threats have caused lockdowns in local schools, and universities have canceled in person classes. Increased security measures to combat, prevent and respond to these threats strain aiready scarce police resources," Turner wrote. The national attention crested after Ohio Sen. JD Vance posted claims without evidence about Haitian immigrants abducting and eating dogs and cats on social media. Former president Donald Trump repeated the claims during the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, despite local and state officials saying the claims are false. Turner blamed the Biden-Harris Administration and policies such as temporary protected status for the strain on city resources. The Biden administration extended temporary protected status for Haitians in June 2024 out of concern for the violence and insecurity facing several regions in the country as well as damage from flooding and earthquakes. Erin Glynn is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio congressmen ask for emergency funding after Springfield threats A man who was facing a firearms charge walked into a California courthouse on the day of his arraignment Wednesday morning and threw a bag containing an explosive that went off, injuring several people, officials said. The incident at a courthouse in Santa Maria appears to be isolated and the suspect has no known ties to terrorism, but the FBI, along with the US Attorneys Office, are investigating the incident. Shortly after the explosion, the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire, was apprehended by a security guard, a Santa Barbara County sheriffs deputy and California Highway Patrol officers, Undersheriff Craig Bonner said during a news conference hours after the incident. He was arrested on suspicion of several felonies, including attempted murder, using an explosive device in attempting to kill someone and possession of explosive devices, Bonner said. McGuire is being held without bail and may end up facing federal charges. CNN is working to determine whether he has obtained legal representation. Six people were being treated at Marian Regional Medical Center, according to hospital spokesperson Sandy Doucette. Several have burns. Three were reported in fair condition, while the other three are in good condition, she told CNN. We are providing them with the highest level of care and support, Doucette told CNN earlier in the day. The suspect, who was wearing body armor under his jacket, was not injured in the incident, Bonner said. Officials did not elaborate on the contents of the bag. The undersheriff said McGuire was arrested in July on suspicion of a firearms violation, during which deputies seized a loaded and concealed revolver that was in his pocket and was not registered. He was set to be arraigned for that case Wednesday, Bonner added. We do believe this could be a local incident, committed by a local individual, with a local grievance stemming from his arrest, Bonner said. We are not ruling out that there is not something larger at play, but at this time, we do believe that this is a local matter that has been safely resolved and that there are no outstanding community safety concerns. FBI special agent in charge Ted Docks said that his agency has opened up a federal investigation into the incident and that an evidence response team, crisis response team, bomb technicians and investigators responded to the scene. What we know at this point is that this incident is not tied to transnational terrorism and the suspect has no known ties to terrorist groups, Docks said. After the explosion, the authorities evacuated the courthouse, surrounding homes and a school until the area is cleared for any other possible unexploded devices. The suspects vehicle and home were also being searched, Bonner said. Roads surrounding the courthouse were closed and the public was urged to avoid the area, Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Raquel Zick said. Located in Californias Central Coast, Santa Maria is about 160 miles north of Los Angeles. In addition to the Santa Barbara County Superior Courthouse in Santa Maria, Santa Maria City Hall, the public library and other city offices in the area closed for the rest of the day, as police investigate a bomb explosion, city spokesperson Mark van de Kamp said. The courthouse will remain closed Thursday, Court Executive Officer Darrel Parker said. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, which provides courthouse security throughout Los Angeles County, said in a social media post that they are on heightened alert and providing extra patrols in and around our courts but are not aware of any credible threats. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In her first one-on-one with a major network since announcing her candidacy for president, Harris laid out her economic vision for the country. Vice President Kamala Harris sat for a one-on-one interview with MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday, hours after delivering a speech in Pittsburgh that laid out her economic priorities. In both the speech and the interview, Harris stressed that her policies were designed to strengthen the middle class and claimed that Trumps favored the wealthy. Here are the key takeaways from the roughly 30-minute interview. Addressing voter concerns about the economy Ruhle, who has long covered economic issues, started by asking Harris why she thought polls have shown that more voters trust Trump to handle the economy better than she would. Heres what I know in terms of the facts. Donald Trump left us with the worst economy since the Great Depression when you look at, for instance, the employment numbers, Harris said. Ruhle then interjected context. It was during COVID and [un]employment was so high because we shut down the government, we shut down the country, she said. Even before the pandemic he lost manufacturing jobs by, most peoples estimates, at least 200,000, Harris countered. He lost manufacturing plants, ask the autoworkers. He lost auto plants. We have grown over 20 new auto plants. While polls show Harris gaining ground on the economy, the vice president also made sure to highlight the views of outside experts to further strengthen those numbers. Trumps agenda, she said, would include tariffs to the point where the average working person will spend 20% more on everyday necessities, and an estimated $4,000 a year on those everyday necessities to the point that top economists in our country from Nobel laureates to people at Moodys and Goldman Sachs have compared my plan with his and said my plan would grow the economy, his would shrink the economy. Raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy Trump has proposed lowering the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15% and pledged to permanently extend tax cuts passed during his presidency. Harris, meanwhile, has proposed raising them to 28%, framing that decision in terms of fairness, and laying out a limit for those who should not worry about higher taxes. First of all, when it relates to anybody making less than $400,000-a-year, your taxes will not go up, Harris said. Your taxes will not go up. And, in fact, under my plan taxes for 100 million Americans will actually be cut, including $6,000 a year for young couples for the first year of their childs life. Ruhle pressed Harris on whether she would borrow money to honor a pledge to reinstate the child tax credit if Democrats are unable to secure control of both houses of Congress and raise the corporate tax rate. Were going to have to raise corporate taxes, she responded, adding, Were going to have to make sure that the biggest corporations and billionaires pay their fair share, thats just it. Its about paying their fair share. Ruhle then asked how she would find the proper balance of taxing corporations without driving them to leave the country. I work with a lot of CEOs and Ive spent a lot of time with CEOs, and Im going to tell you that the business leaders that are actually part of the engine of Americas economy agree that people should pay their fair share. On Trumps protector' of women claim Ruhle asked Harris to respond to comments made by Trump in which he described himself as a protector of women. During a rally on Monday, Trump also told women, You will no longer have anxiety from all of the problems our country has today. You will be protected, and I will be your protector. Women will be happy, healthy, confident and free. You will no longer be thinking about abortion. So Donald Trump is also the person that said women should be punished for exercising a decision that they rightly should be able to make about their own body and their future, Harris responded. So I think that we would all agree that as a result of that perspective that he has about women, he also then chose three members of the United States Supreme Court who did as he intended, undid the protections of Roe v. Wade and now, in state after state, you see laws being passed that do punish women. Look, she added, I think the thing about Donald Trump is that, you know, I dont think the women of America need him to say hes going to protect them. The women of America need him to trust them. Refutes Trump claim that she lied about working at McDonalds In recent days on the campaign trail, Trump has accused Harris of making up her story about having worked at a McDonalds restaurant when she was young. At any point in your life, have you served two all-beef patties, special sauce lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun? Ruhle asked, echoing the fast food chains famous jingle. I have, Harris responded, laughing and adding, Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonalds is because there are people who work at McDonalds in our country who are trying to raise a family I worked there as a student, I was a kid who work there trying to raise a family and pay rent on that. I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people. Calls across the board tariffs a sales tax on the American people Ruhle asked Harris about whether Trumps proposal to impose across the board tariffs on foreign imports was a good economic strategy, noting that President Biden had imposed them on some Chinese goods. Part of it is you dont just throw around the idea of just tariffs across the board, and thats part of the problem with Donald Trump, Harris responded. Frankly, and I say this with all sincerity, hes just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues. And one must be serious. Most economists regard across the board tariffs as tax increases on American consumers because they raise prices indiscriminately. Harris echoed that view on Wednesday. It would be a sales tax on the American people, she said. Was Ruhle the right choice to interview Harris? Though Trump often sits for interviews with Fox News hosts who have made no secret of their support of his candidacy, picking Ruhle to question Harris struck many conservatives as inappropriate. Last week, Ruhle, who has spent much of her career focussing on economic issues, was a guest on HBOs Real Talk with Bill Maher, where she openly advocated voting for Harris. Shes running against Trump, we have two choices, Ruhle told New York Times columnist Bret Stephens, who voiced skepticism about supporting either Trump or Harris. There are some things you might not know the answer to and in 2024, unlike 2016 for a lot of the American people, we know exactly what Trump will do, who he is and the kind of threat he is to democracy. In a post over the weekend on Truth Social, Trump criticized Maher, Ruhle and Stephens. This week he had dumb as a rock bimbo Stephanie Ruhle, from MSDNC, on the show, along with a Trump hating loser, Bret Stephens, who seemed totally confused and unsure of himself, very much like Maher himself, Trump wrote. I-85N closed in Cleveland County near SC state line due to crash: NCDOT I-85N closed in Cleveland County near SC state line due to crash: NCDOT CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Interstate 85 northbound is closed in Cleveland County near the South Carolina state line due to a crash, according to NCDOT. The accident happened at 2:22 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, on I-85 North near Dixon School Road. NCDOT reports the road is closed at Exit 5. The expected impact on traffic is high. The area is projected to remain closed until 4:22 p.m. Thursday. Track issues along your commute with the QCN Traffic Interactive Map Detour: Drivers on I-85 North use Exit 5, left on Kings Mountain Blvd, right on US 74 Business to I-85, NCDOT says. No word on how many vehicles were involved or injuries at this time. Queen City News has reached out to Cleveland County authorities for more information. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday reiterated opposition to the U.S. abuse of Section 301 to hike tariffs on some Chinese goods. China has repeatedly lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side concerning the Section 301 tariffs, said MOC spokesperson He Yongqian. She made the remarks at a press conference while answering a question regarding the recent proposal made by the Office of the United States Trade Representative to raise the Section 301 tariff rates of five sub-items such as certain tungsten, wafers and polysilicon. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that the Section 301 tariffs violate WTO rules, but the U.S. side is going further down the wrong path with its recent actions, she said. China urges the U.S. side to remove all additional tariffs on Chinese products as soon as possible to safeguard the global industrial and supply chains and protect the fundamental interests of consumers and producers of both countries, she noted. An 88-year-old man was cleared of murder after spending 46 years on death row mostly in solitary confinement An 88-year-old man was cleared of murder after spending 46 years on death row mostly in solitary confinement Iwao Hakamada was acquitted after 46 years on death row for a 1968 quadruple murder. Hakamada was the longest-serving inmate on death row of any prisoner worldwide. Japan and the US are the only G7 countries that use capital punishment. An 88-year-old man has been acquitted of multiple murders in Japan after spending 46 years on death row most of them in solitary confinement. Iwao Hakamada, the world's longest-serving death row inmate, was found guilty in 1968 of murdering his boss, his boss's wife, and their two children and setting fire to their home. He initially denied the charges but later gave a confession that he would go on to describe as coerced. In 2014, a judge released Hakamada from jail and granted a retrial after his lawyers argued that evidence against him was fabricated. It took 10 years for the retrial to declare Hakamada innocent, by which time his mental state had deteriorated too much for him to be present for the proceedings, according to the BBC. Koshi Kunii, the presiding judge, said there were multiple fabrications of evidence, per Associated Press. The BBC reported that around 500 people gathered in the court to hear the ruling, with the "Hakamada Incident" being one of Japan's most well known legal cases. Hakamada's lawyer told CNN that he was subjected to restraints and interrogations for more than 12 hours a day for 23 days straight, without his lawyer present. "The criminal justice system in Japan has been described as a 'hostage justice system' due to the abusive treatment of suspects in pre-trial detention," said Saul Lehrfreund, Executive Director at the Death Penalty Project. Lehrfreund told BI that Japanese prisoners on death row are held in solitary confinement, subject to 24/7 surveillance, and informed about their execution mere hours before it happens. "The average period of time spent on death row is 15 years, and executions are carried out in secret, so relatives are not told until after the execution has taken place," said Lehrfreund. "I've been told that in Japan, every day that an individual wakes up on death row, they fear that it could be their last day." Japan and the US are the only G7 countries that still enforce the death penalty. Read the original article on Business Insider ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) The AAA East Central announced it is hosting an event to replace peeling license plates for free. In Pennsylvania, vehicle owners can be pulled over and fined up to $100 for having a license plate that is deemed illegible. According to PennDOT, a registration plate is deemed illegible when one or more characters cannot be recognized from 50 feet, or if the plate shows any blistering, peeling, discoloration, or loss of reflectivity. Replacement event details: Friday, Sept. 27 11 a.m. 2 p.m. AAA Altoona Branch Office (1634 Valley View Blvd.) Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Pennsylvania State Police will be on sight as well to examine license plates and help attendees order new ones. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Destini Spaeths organization needs money, but recently shes been having ethical qualms about asking the same people for $20 to fund their neighbors abortions. As the care and advocacy coordinator of Prairie Abortion Fund, or PAFwhich primarily serves abortion seekers from North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesotashe knows that many of the people who feel habitually compelled to donate to PAF are in a similar financial position to the people who need their help. While theres really something beautiful about an entire community paying for one persons abortion, Spaeth said, there are millionaires and billionaires who could write us a check and not blink. Spaeth knows the money is out there. She can see where its going with her own eyes. Theres the $600 million going to a pro-choice presidential candidate, $100 million for a 10-year federal campaign to overturn bans, another $40 million that went to an abortion ballot measure in a single state. The organizations that raised the capital to fund these efforts are familiar; some of them have likely asked readers of this story for money via email, phone, or text. But abortion fundsthe groups that help people afford their appointments and pay for any necessary travel, and did so long before the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization made these matters much more complicated and expensivedont have that kind of infrastructure. Most are volunteer-ledor if they have staff, its not enoughand most days are spent putting out fires. Spaeth, who has a full-time day job, said the fund can barely stay active on social media. I dont have the time to come up with some cute Canva design thats going to entice somebody to donate, she said. Im busy talking to callers and clinics and other abortion funds, navigating this hell that were in right now. The hell Spaeth is referring to is the struggle that abortion funds like her organization face since Dobbs was handed down. As the post-Dobbs rage donations have petered out, its gotten much harder to raise enough money to help every abortion seeker in need. These hardships were made exponentially worse in July after the National Abortion Federation and Planned Parenthood made cuts to patient grants, a decision that has sent funds scrambling. These groups need more money, or more people will be forced to give birth, but at the moment, huge amounts of both money and attention are being diverted toward abortion ballot measures and pro-choice political campaigns promising abortion access later, when people need care now. Its in this environment that a small group of funds is trying a different way to expand their capacity, and hopefully their budgets. PAF is one of three abortion fundsalongside Arkansas Abortion Support Network and the Wild West Access Fundgetting strategic support and financial assistance from the Frontline Repro Freedom Lab, or FRFL, a new incubator backed by women with decades of experience in state-level advocacy. The founders met while working on gun violence prevention laws with frontline organizations. FRFL is assisting the inaugural cohort with organization buildingthings like running digital ads to build their supporter base, creating templates for emails and social media posts, donor database management, and recruiting and training volunteers. Its basic infrastructure support that the funds say their umbrella organization, the National Network of Abortion Funds, or NNAF, doesnt currently provide. The lab is supported by a grant from the JM Kaplan Fund, which is known for investing in early-stage projects, and has provided a sub grant for each fund to spend how it sees fit. Its slated to run through early 2025. Valerie Jean-Charles, a lab co-founder and its communications and media adviser, said the pilot is a direct response to a resource crisis about which her reproductive rights colleagues have been sounding the alarm. Lab co-founder Sarah Jane Higginbotham said what theyre doing isnt exactly rocket science: Were just listening, and theyre telling us they have no money. Higginbotham says that helping funds run ads, build their email lists, and get more small-dollar recurring donors is about creating just a bit of damn breathing room in the short to medium term. A dose of much-needed relief could help funds close gaps following the cuts at the national level, but they have a longer-term goal as well: to drive attention to the work of abortion funds so that larger philanthropic institutions expand how they think about their giving, and hopefully resource them more directly. According to the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, foundation funding only accounts for 37 percent of abortion funds budgets, while 63 percent comes from individual donors. We really dont believe in a scarcity mindset, Higginbotham said. We think theres plenty of resources to support abortion access. She envisions hosting a readout once the lab is over, where fund leaders share what theyre learning with larger-scale funders. Macy Haverda, executive director of the Wild West Access Fund of Nevada, said WWAF was assisting 75 to 85 people a month before the July funding cuts disrupted the already precarious ecosystem. Now theyre funding at least 150 abortion seekers every month. Karen Musick, acting director of the Arkansas Abortion Support Network, said that as of early September, the fund had already spent more on patient assistance than it did in all of 2023. The paid staff and volunteers for AASN are extremely passionate about their work, which includes procedure and travel funding and running a pregnancy resource center that counsels people on all their options and provides free emergency contraception, condoms, and pregnancy tests. But Musick said, Were not natural fundraisers. So when the lab reached out, she was interested immediately. It filled a gap that we didnt have, which is trying to be more effective at raising money, she said. Musick said NNAF has been hugely supportive from a legal standpoint, but the money is pretty much our responsibility. Haverda said she has worked for nonprofits before, but this is the first thing Ive ever done in my life where, when we get money, we just give it right back out. Low overhead isnt itself a bad thing, but Haverda said funds dont have the resources to really prioritize building out comms structures and building out media campaigns. (Alternatively, when people donate to local funds, they know exactly where their money is going; the same cant be said for national organizations.) Haverda hopes the lab will help shine a light on individual funds and help them build a broader base of support. Abortion funds were born out of Roes failure to guarantee access. Spaeth and Musick both said their long-term vision is that organizations like theirs no longer exist because abortion is legal in every state, no matter at what stage of pregnancy people need the procedure, and is covered by public and private insurance. But funds are increasingly skeptical that the current reproductive rights movement is best equipped to advocate for changes in abortion access given that they are working to rebuild a legal framework that left so many people behind. Two of the three funds in the lab cohort signed an open letter in The Nation calling out Planned Parenthood and others who they said fundraise endlessly, siphon support from institutional funders and grassroots donors, in what they call a gross abuse of funding and publicity that deprioritizes actual access to abortion care right now. Haverda also noted that the strategies of these national organizations dont always work for abortion seekers. One example that she was quick to point to was the ongoing effort to repeal the Hyde Amendment, an annual budget rider dating back to 1976 that bans federal funds from paying for abortions via programs like Medicaid and the Indian Health Service. President Joe Biden became the first president to support ending Hyde, but he didnt didnt have full control of Congress to do it. Haverda argued that if a fraction of the money spent on long-running anti-Hyde campaigns had gone toward abortion funds, most if not all of the care that low-income abortion seekers require could have been paid for. The amount of money thats gone into trying to repeal the Hyde Amendment could have really just done the work of repealing the Hyde Amendment, she said. Instead weve been funding all of these huge salaries over these last 20 years of people at these big organizations. Dont get her wrong; Haverda wants Hyde repealed, but she added, Youre not really helping people by continuing to pump money into the same beast over and over and over again. Speaking of money-guzzling beasts: Nevada has an abortion amendment on the ballot this November that would codify Roe, and it and other political fights are sucking up all the oxygen. Especially in an election year, Haverda said, the only thing anybody really wants to fund right now is what they call movement building and coalition buildingas opposed to direct service work like abortion funds. And in Nevada, amendments have to pass twice, so it will be on the ballot again in 2026. No matter who wins in November, building funds capacity will be crucial, and its a key goal of the lab. A potential President Kamala Harris cant snap her fingers and overturn abortion bans; shell need majorities in the House and Senate to pull that offan unlikely scenario given that Democrats are forecast to lose the Senate. But a Harris win could result in donors both big and small coming to believe that the battle is won and that abortion organizers no longer need their money. Jean-Charles has lived through this scenario after previous elections: Folks who used to care about your issues go away because they assume that, well, this person is going to take care of it. Pro-choice people might falsely think things are fixed when they see positive news developments under a Democratic president, like when a North Dakota lower court judge recently struck down the states abortion ban. But the state is appealing the ruling, and, crucially, there are no abortion clinics left in North Dakota. PAF updated its Instagram followers to remind them that just because something is legal does not mean its accessible. Even more pointedly, Spaeth said Democrats remaining in the White House merely prevents new federal restrictions. A Harris presidency does fuck all for red states she said. It would be years and years and years to be able to undo the damage thats been done. Meanwhile, conservative-led states will continue trying to crack down on abortion travel and assistance, via what she called aiding and abetting bullshit. Despite the looming threats, Musick is excited at the prospect of growing AASN during and after the lab. Its a good time, as Arkansans are pissed that they wont have the chance to vote on abortion this fall. (Organizers collected more than 100,000 signatures, but the state rejected the ballot over paperwork for paid canvassers, and the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the decision.) But in advocates minds, even getting that many signatures was something of a moral victory. Theres a power that all of us felt. That all of a sudden, things have changed, she said. I believe that people have become awakened in Arkansas. Musick said AASN has a postelection fundraiser planned that theyre calling a smash-a-thon, where people who donate can use a bat to take out their rage on an old car. We might get 2,000 bucks from it, she said, an amount that pales in comparison to the $35,000 they spent each month in 2023. I dont care what it is, because weve got to keep working. We have to keep trying and just doing all we can. (NewsNation) A record number of abortion rights measures will appear on ballots this November, as voters are asked to decide whether reproductive rights should be guaranteed. Ten states will give voters a choice to include the right to abortion in state constitutions with Nebraska voters facing a contrasting question, as well. All but two of the measures are citizen-led, meaning they were written by citizen groups and placed on ballots after getting enough signatures. This shows overwhelmingly that voters believe in abortion access, and it disputes all the misinformation and disinformation that weve been hearing about abortion access and belief that people do not care about it, Christian F. Nunes, the president of the National Organization for Women, which advocates for womens rights, told NewsNation. More of the latest headlines around abortion in America People do care about abortion access, she said. Lawmakers writing these oppressive laws were not taking into consideration what the voters really wanted, and were writing for their own sense of power and control, not thinking or even hearing out their constituents so many of them took matters into their own hands. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, launching a national push to have voters decide. Since then, a number of states have tackled the issue, with the last big wave of ballot measures taking place in 2022 when six states put it to a vote. Here are all the states with ballot measures on abortion rights: Nebraska Nebraska will be the only state that will give voters two competing measures on abortion rights. One of the measures asks voters to enshrine the right to an abortion until fetal viability or later to protect the health of the pregnant woman in the state constitution. The other seeks to amend the state constitution to keep the current 12-week ban, with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the pregnant woman. How to register to vote ahead of Election Day Several lawsuits were filed in an effort to block one or both of the initiatives, but the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that both measures can appear on the ballot in November because each side had enough signatures. Because there are two competing measures, the winning initiative must pass three bars to come out on top, according to health nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. More than 50% of voters must vote in favor of that initiative; at least 35% of the total voters in the election must vote in favor of that initiative; and the initiative must receive a greater number of votes than the competing initiative, the organization stated. Arizona Under citizen-led Proposition 139, Arizona voters will have the ability to amend the state constitution to include the right to an abortion up to about 24 weeks into pregnancy. The measure proposes that the state cant interfere with an abortion before the point of fetal viability unless a health-care professional determines an abortion would harm the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual. Under the current state law, abortions are legal until 15 weeks of pregnancy. This would stand if voters reject Proposition 139. Arizonas election is going to be intesnively studied because abortion is on the ballot, Samara Klar, a professor at the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy, told NewsNation. Abortion is an issue that typically and I think very clearly in Arizona helped Democratic candidates, she said. Not many Arizonans support a ban. An abortion ban is really unpopular in Arizona, she said, adding she expects the ballot measure to win quite easily. Colorado Colorado will have Amendment 79 on its November ballot; the measure would enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution along with requirements that Medicaid and private health insurers cover abortion. Abortion is already legal at all stages of pregnancy in Colorado, but abortion rights advocates believe this measure will ensure future lawmakers do not repeal that right. A competing measure banning abortion did not collect enough signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. The measure requires the support of 55% of voters to pass. Montana Voters will get to decide whether they want the right to an abortion in Montanas constitution. The measure would bar the government from denying the right to abortion before viability, generally considered to be about 23 or 24 weeks gestational age, or when it is necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person. Montanas measure seeks to enshrine a 1999 Montana Supreme Court ruling that said the constitutional right to privacy protects the right to a pre-viability abortion by a provider of the patients choice. 13 US Senate races that will determine the balance of power in 2024 Abortion is already legal until viability in the state under that ruling. Since Roe was overturned, extreme anti-abortion politicians have used every trick in the book to take away our freedoms and ban abortion completely, Martha Fuller, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said in a statement. During that time, we have been working together to put this issue before voters. Maryland Maryland voters will also have a choice on whether to include the right to abortion in the states constitution. Abortion is already allowed in Maryland until viability. If passed, the state constitution would have language adding the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end the individuals pregnancy. Marylands measure is legislatively referred, meaning it was introduced and approved by lawmakers before appearing on the ballot. Nevada Under a citizen-led initiative, Nevada will also include a measure that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. This amendment would ensure abortion access for the first 24 weeks of pregnancy with the exception of allowing it later only to protect the health of the pregnant person. Nevada would need more than 50% of votes to change the constitution. But if its approved, voters would need to approve it again in 2026. What Trump and Harris say they will do about affordable housing Abortion until viability is already allowed in Nevada under a law passed in 1990. We cant take anything for granted in a post-Dobbs world and thats why we are really doubling down on the protections we have in statute currently, Lindsey Harmon, president of Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, has said. Missouri Missouri voters will decide whether to guarantee a right to abortion with a constitutional amendment that would reverse the states near-total ban. The secretary of states office certified that a citizen-led initiative petition received more than enough signatures from registered voters to qualify. The Missouri ballot measure would create a right to abortion only until fetal viability, with the exception when a health care professional determines its necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. The measure also states that the government shall not deny or infringe upon a persons fundamental right to reproductive freedom. The state has one of the most strict laws on abortion. That could change if more than 50% of voters approve of the measure. Florida Florida voters will have the opportunity to amend the state constitution to protect the right to abortion until fetal viability or when necessary to protect the pregnant persons health. To pass, the measure needs support from at least 60% of voters, a high threshold that supporters hope to reach after collecting nearly a million signatures on the petition to get it on the ballot. The state sought to challenge the measure, arguing that there are differing views on the meaning of viability and that some key terms in the proposed measure are not properly defined. The arguments eventually did not hold up in the states Supreme Court, which decided to allow the measure on the ballot. Abortion is banned in Florida after the first six weeks of pregnancy under a law that took effect May 1. South Dakota South Dakota voters will decide on a citizen-led ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to establish the right to abortion in the first trimester. The measure would allow the state to regulate abortion in the second trimester only in ways that are reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman. Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here. Abortion would be prohibited in the third trimester, provided there are exceptions for the life and health of the woman. The measure requires more than 50% of the vote to pass. The state currently has a near-total ban on abortion. New York A measure on the ballot in New York doesnt explicitly preserve a right to abortion, but includes it under broader equal rights protections. New Yorks Proposal 1 would bar unequal treatment based on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, along with sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and disability. Proponents say it would protect abortion access. Abortion is currently legal in New York up to fetal viability. The measure, which is legislatively referred, has faced several challenges on its road to the ballot. It was on the ballot, then removed in May by a judge who found lawmakers missed a procedural step when they put it there. An appeals court reinstated it in June. The measure needs more than 50% of votes to pass. NewsNations Jeff Arnold contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022 ended federal abortion rights. (Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom) Editors note: This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. Dr. Kristin Lyerlys placenta detached from her uterus when she was 17 weeks pregnant with her fourth son in 2007. Her doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, gave the devastated recent medical school graduate one option: to deliver and bury her dead child. But she requested a dilation and evacuation abortion procedure, knowing it would be less invasive and risky than being induced. And she couldnt fathom the agony of holding her tiny dead baby. But Lyerlys doctor declined, giving her a direct window into the many ways Americans lack real choice when it comes to their reproductive health decisions. At the time of this miscarriage, Lyerly was getting a masters degree in public health before beginning her residency. She was able to get a D&E at the same hospital by a different doctor. As an OB-GYN, she soon would learn how much abortion is stigmatized and limited throughout the country, but also regularly sought after and sometimes medically necessary, including among her many conservative Catholic patients in northeastern Wisconsin. And then, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights, prompting states such as Wisconsin to resurrect dormant abortion bans from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lyerlys job changed overnight. She stopped working as an OB-GYN in Sheboygan and moved her practice to Minnesota. She became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law being interpreted as an abortion ban, which has since been blocked. When a congressional seat opened up in a competitive Wisconsin district this year, the 54-year-old mother of four joined the post-Dobbs wave of women running for office to restore reproductive rights, which this election cycle includes another OB-GYN and a patient denied abortion care. Lyerlys decision to run is emblematic of the nationwide backlash against the Dobbs decision, which altered the reproductive health care landscape, with providers, patients and advocates turning to the ballot box to change the laws to restore and broaden access. Wisconsin is among seven swing states expected to determine the countrys next president and federal leaders. And in many ways theyre being viewed as referendums on how much the right to have an abortion can move the needle in a tight presidential election. What weve seen in every election since the Dobbs decision is that abortion is at top of mind for voters and its not just helping voters decide who or what to vote for. Its actually a turnout driver, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at national lobbying group Reproductive Freedom for All. The group is investing in down-ballot races in conservative districts such as Lyerlys, buoyed by cash and momentum from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris reproductive-rights-focused campaign. Anti-abortion money is also flowing through the swing states, led by lobbying groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC. Some of their messaging, adopted by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and many GOP candidates, often paints Democrats as champions of infanticide, focusing on the rarest and most controversial type of abortions, those performed in the third trimester. But aside from that rhetoric, many Republican candidates have been quiet on an issue that for years motivated their staunchest supporters. SBA Pro-Life America declined an interview for this story but shared a press release outlining the organizations strategy trying to reach 10 million voters in Montana, Ohio and all of the battleground states except for Nevada. The group endorsed 28 House candidates total this cycle, and six of them are in North Carolina. One of North Carolinas endorsed candidates in a toss-up race is Republican GOP challenger Laurie Buckhout, who does not mention her abortion stance on her campaign website and did not return a request for comment. Our field team is talking to persuadable and low propensity pro-life voters to urge them to cast their votes against the party that endorses abortion in the seventh, eighth and ninth months, said SBA national field team director Patricia Miles in the press statement. But throughout this election cycle, polls in the swing states have shown bipartisan support for abortion rights, especially when voters are educated about what abortion bans do. Voters in more than half of the states expected to determine the presidential winner have, to varying degrees, lost access to abortion. And abortion-rights activists across these states told States Newsroom they are determined to protect that access, or to get it back. Arizona sees backlash after GOP upholds Civil War-era abortion ban In Arizona, the Dobbs decision resurrected a Civil War-era ban that allowed abortions only to save a pregnant patients life. Legislators repealed the law, but abortion-rights supporters fought for more certainty. This fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed ballot measure that would protect access until fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. abortion-rights protesters in Arizona. Now, two of the judges who upheld the abortion ban Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are up for reelection, in races infused with national cash by groups such as RFA and Planned Parenthood. Also on the ballot is Proposition 137, which would give lifetime appointments to state judges. The Republican-initiated measure has garnered controversy in part because it is retroactive to this years election, so if approved, any retention bids would be nullified even if the majority votes to unseat the judge. Ballot organizers turned in more than 800,000 signatures, double the required number, and overcame opponents legal challenges to qualify the abortion-rights ballot measure, Proposition 139. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but there are many state restrictions that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would eliminate, such as a ban on any abortions sought for fetal genetic abnormalities and a blocked law from 2021 granting personhood status to fertilized eggs. Recent deaths reignite controversy over Georgias abortion ban This month, ProPublica reported on the deaths in 2022 of two Georgia women who suffered rare complications after they obtained mifepristone and misoprostol for early-term medication abortions. Both were trying to navigate a new state law that banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy and threatened medical providers with up to a decade in prison. In one case, doctors at an Atlanta-area hospital refused for 20 hours to perform a routine dilation and curettage, a D&C, to clear the patients uterus when her body hadnt expelled all the fetal tissue. In the other, a woman who had ordered the pills online suffered days of pain at home, fearful of seeking medical care. Both women left children behind. Georgias law permits abortion if the patients life is at risk, but medical providers have said the laws language is unclear, tying their hands and threatening the health of patients who have high-risk pregnancies. Their cases, which a state medical review committee found to be preventable, have galvanized activists in the state. Harris spoke at length about the women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, at a recent campaign event in Atlanta. She blamed their deaths on Georgias law, calling it the Trump abortion ban, because the former president appointed three justices hed promised would overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of this crisis, Harris said. Understand what a law like this means: Doctors have to wait until the patient is at deaths door before they take action. Youre saying that good policy, logical policy, moral policy, humane policy is about saying that a health care provider will only start providing that care when youre about to die? Trump has not commented on the deaths. He has repeatedly said this year that abortion access should be left to the states. He has dismissed the idea of a federal abortion ban, but during the presidential debate, he refused to say whether he would veto such legislation. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump addressed our great women (a demographic hes trailing among), saying, you will no longer be thinking about abortion, because it is now where it always had to be, with the states, and with the vote of the people. Abortion was a driving concern in this springs qualifying process for Georgias 2024 legislative elections the first opportunity for aspiring state lawmakers to jump on the ballot in response to their states severe abortion restrictions. Melita Easters, the executive director and founding chair of Georgia WIN List, which endorses Democratic women who support abortion rights, was already calling this years general election Roevember back when President Joe Biden was still the partys presumptive nominee. But Easters told States Newsroom that having Harris on the ticket instead has elevated the issue of reproductive freedom even more and has breathed new life into down-ballot campaigns. Easters said she is especially encouraged after a Democratic state House candidate in Alabama who ran on abortion rights flipped a Huntsville seat during a special election in March. Michigan Democrats continue betting on abortion after 2022 successes Michigan was one of the earliest states post-Dobbs to show that abortion rights could be a strong election-winning issue. Months after the Supreme Courts ruling, Michiganders overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution; reelected Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to prioritize reproductive freedom; and voted for Democratic majorities in both chambers, giving the party a legislative trifecta for the first time in 40 years. In 2023, the legislature repealed a 1931 abortion ban that was still on the books and passed the Reproductive Health Act, expanding abortion access in the state. This year, state and national abortion-rights groups have campaigned in toss-up congressional districts across Michigan, warning that a federal ban would supersede the states protections. State judicial races, meanwhile, have attracted millions of dollars, as they could determine partisan control of the Michigan Supreme Court. Democrats secured a slim 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court in 2020 after Republican-nominated justices controlled the court for most of the last few decades. Nevada reproductive rights activists hope ballot initiative improves turnout In Nevada, abortion remains legal through 24 weeks and beyond for specific health reasons. In 2023, the states Democratic-led legislature passed a law shielding patients and providers from out-of-state investigations related to abortion care; it was signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Seeking to cement these rights in the state constitution, reproductive health advocates mobilized a ballot initiative campaign, which they hope will drive voter turnout that would affect the presidential and down-ballot races. Constitutional amendments proposed through an initiative petition must be passed by voters twice, so if voters approve Question 6 in November, they will have to approve it again in 2026. In the states closely watched U.S. Senate race, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen currently edges Republican Sam Brown, who has had inconsistent positions on abortion and reproductive rights but opposes the abortion-rights measure. National anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America have notably not focused on Nevada in their campaign strategies. Growing Latinx voting bloc in North Carolina In North Carolina many Democrats are campaigning in opposition to a 12-week abortion ban that the Republican-majority legislature passed last year after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. In a high-profile race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein faces Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has previously said he believes there is no compromise on abortion, according to NC Newsline. The lieutenant governor is now facing calls to withdraw from the race over comments made on a pornography website years ago, and Stein has started racking up endorsements from prominent state Republicans. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Iliana Santillan, a political organizer who supports abortion rights, has focused on mobilizing Latinos, a growing voting bloc in the state. The executive director of progressive nonprofit El Pueblo and its political sister group La Fuerza NC told States Newsroom shes talked to many young women motivated to secure their own reproductive rights, including her college-age daughter. She said the Latinx community faces additional reproductive care barriers such as language and transportation, with immigrants in the country without legal authorization scared to cross state lines without a drivers license. Santillan also said theres a misconception that all Latinos are against abortion because theyre Catholic, when in reality opposition to abortion skews among older voters. With older folks, the messaging that weve tested that has worked is: We dont want politicians to have a say in what we do with our bodies, Santillan said. Motivated voters in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the largest swing state and considered essential to win the White House. In a poll conducted this month by Spotlight PA and MassINC Polling Group, abortion ranked as the fifth most-important concern in the presidential race for likely voters, with 49% naming it as among their top issues. The issue is far more important to Democrats, however, with 85% calling it a top issue compared with 17% of Republicans. Among those who arent registered with either major party, 49% called it a top issue. abortion-rights protesters at the Pennsylvania Capitol In 2022, voters surprised pundits by sending enough Democrats to the state House to flip it blue. Voters were responding to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told Pennsylvania Capital-Star at a recent Harris campaign event. Shapiro also won in 2022, and so far his administration has supported over-the-counter birth control pills and ended the states contract with a network of anti-abortion counseling centers. He said his administration would not defend a current state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used for abortions. Abortion isnt protected under Pennsylvanias state constitution, but it remains legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and clinics there have seen an influx of out-of-state patients. Wisconsin abortion services resume After more than a year without abortion access, reproductive health clinics in Wisconsin resumed abortion services in September 2023, shortly after a judge ruled that the 1849 state law that had widely been interpreted as an abortion ban applied to feticide and not abortion. A state Supreme Court race a few months earlier saw Justice Janet Protasiewicz win in a landslide after campaigning on reproductive freedom. Seven months later when Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation, Lyerly threw her hat in the ring, running as the only Democrat in the 8th District. She now faces businessman Tony Wied. Although in the past it was considered a swing district, it has leaned conservative in recent election cycles. With the redrawn maps and national support, Lyerly said its a competitive race. We have the potential to really fix, not just reproductive health care, but health care, Lyerly told States Newsroom. Bring the stories of our patients forward and help our colleagues understand, build those coalitions and help to gain consensus thats going to drive forward health care reform in this country. Wieds campaign website does not mention abortion or his policy proposals related to health care, though the words Trump-endorsed appear prominently and abundantly throughout the site. Wied hasnt said much about the issue beyond it should be a state issue, but the two are scheduled to debate this Friday night. His campaign declined an interview. Currently the only OB-GYNs who serve in Congress oppose abortion. If Lyerly wins in November, she would not only change that (potentially alongside Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison) but also could help flip party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most Wisconsin voters oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a poll this year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation. Patricia McFarland, 76, knows what its like to live without abortion access. For more than 50 years, the retired college teacher kept her pre-Roe abortion a secret, having grown up in a conservative Irish Catholic family like many of her suburban Milwaukee neighbors. McFarland told States Newsroom she has been politically active most of her life, but the Dobbs ruling dredged up the physical and emotional trauma from the illegal procedure she had alone in Mexico City. Now, McFarland rarely leaves home without her Roe Roe Roe Your Vote button, engaging anyone who will talk to her about the dangers of criminalizing pregnancy. The mother and grandmother said shes been canvassing and doing informational sessions with her activist group the PERSISTers, as well as the League of Women Voters. As she has warned fellow Wisconsities about the federal power over their reproductive freedom, she said the enthusiasm for abortion rights in her state is palpable. For women my age, McFarland said, we dont want our grandchildren to lose their ability to decide when to become a mother. Georgia Recorders Jill Nolin contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Democratic lawmakers and abortion rights advocates rally on the Pennsylvania Capitol steps on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. (Capital-Star photo) Editors note: This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. Dr. Kristin Lyerlys placenta detached from her uterus when she was 17 weeks pregnant with her fourth son in 2007. Her doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, gave the devastated recent medical school graduate one option: to deliver and bury her dead child. But she requested a dilation and evacuation abortion procedure, knowing it would be less invasive and risky than being induced. And she couldnt fathom the agony of holding her tiny dead baby. But Lyerlys doctor declined, giving her a direct window into the many ways Americans lack real choice when it comes to their reproductive health decisions. At the time of this miscarriage, Lyerly was getting a masters degree in public health before beginning her residency. She was able to get a D&E at the same hospital by a different doctor. As an OB-GYN, she soon would learn how much abortion is stigmatized and limited throughout the country, but also regularly sought after and sometimes medically necessary, including among her many conservative Catholic patients in northeastern Wisconsin. And then, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights, prompting states such as Wisconsin to resurrect dormant abortion bans from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lyerlys job changed overnight. She stopped working as an OB-GYN in Sheboygan and moved her practice to Minnesota. She became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law being interpreted as an abortion ban, which has since been blocked. When a congressional seat opened up in a competitive Wisconsin district this year, the 54-year-old mother of four joined the post-Dobbs wave of women running for office to restore reproductive rights, which this election cycle includes another OB-GYN and a patient denied abortion care. Lyerlys decision to run is emblematic of the nationwide backlash against the Dobbs decision, which altered the reproductive health care landscape, with providers, patients and advocates turning to the ballot box to change the laws to restore and broaden access. Wisconsin is among seven swing states expected to determine the countrys next president and federal leaders. And in many ways theyre being viewed as referendums on how much the right to have an abortion can move the needle in a tight presidential election. What weve seen in every election since the Dobbs decision is that abortion is at top of mind for voters and its not just helping voters decide who or what to vote for. Its actually a turnout driver, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at national lobbying group Reproductive Freedom for All. The group is investing in down-ballot races in conservative districts such as Lyerlys, buoyed by cash and momentum from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris reproductive-rights-focused campaign. Anti-abortion money is also flowing through the swing states, led by lobbying groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC. Some of their messaging, adopted by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many GOP candidates, often paints Democrats as champions of infanticide, focusing on the rarest and most controversial type of abortions, those performed in the third trimester. But aside from that rhetoric, many Republican candidates have been quiet on an issue that for years motivated their staunchest supporters. SBA Pro-Life America declined an interview for this story but shared a press release outlining the organizations strategy trying to reach 10 million voters in Montana, Ohio and all of the battleground states except for Nevada. The group endorsed 28 House candidates total this cycle, and a fifth of them are in North Carolina. One of North Carolinas endorsed candidates in a toss-up race is Republican GOP challenger Laurie Buckhout, who does not mention her abortion stance on her campaign website, and did not return a request for comment. Our field team is talking to persuadable and low propensity pro-life voters to urge them to cast their votes against the party that endorses abortion in the seventh, eighth and ninth months, said SBAs national field team director Patricia Miles in the press statement. But throughout this election cycle, polls in the swing states have shown bipartisan support for abortion rights, especially when voters are educated about what abortion bans do. Voters in more than half of the states expected to determine the presidential winner have, to varying degrees, lost access to abortion. And abortion-rights activists across these states told States Newsroom they are determined to protect that access, or to get it back. Arizona sees backlash after GOP upholds Civil War-era abortion ban In Arizona, the Dobbs decision resurrected a Civil War-era ban that allowed abortions only to save a pregnant patients life. Legislators repealed the law, but abortion-rights supporters fought for more certainty. This fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed ballot measure that would protect access until fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Now, two of the judges who upheld the abortion ban Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are up for reelection, in races infused with national cash by groups such as RFA and Planned Parenthood. Also on the ballot is Proposition 137, which would give lifetime appointments to state judges. The Republican-initiated measure has garnered controversy in part because it is retroactive to this years election, so if approved, any retention bids would be nullified even if the majority votes to unseat the judge. Ballot organizers turned in more than 800,000 signatures, double the required number, and overcame opponents legal challenges to qualify the abortion-rights ballot measure, Proposition 139. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but there are many state restrictions that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would eliminate, such as a ban on any abortions sought for fetal genetic abnormalities and a blocked law from 2021 granting personhood status to fertilized eggs. Recent deaths reignite controversy over Georgias abortion ban This month, ProPublica reported on the deaths in 2022 of two Georgia women who suffered rare complications after they obtained mifepristone and misoprostol for early-term medication abortions. Both were trying to navigate a new state law that banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy and threatened medical providers with up to a decade in prison. In one case, doctors at an Atlanta-area hospital refused for 20 hours to perform a routine dilation and curettage, a D&C, to clear the patients uterus when her body hadnt expelled all the fetal tissue. In the other, a woman who had ordered the pills online suffered days of pain at home, fearful of seeking medical care. Both women left children behind. Georgias law permits abortion if the patients life is at risk, but medical providers have said the laws language is unclear, tying their hands and threatening the health of patients who have high-risk pregnancies. Their cases, which a state medical review committee found to be preventable, have galvanized activists in the state. Harris spoke at length about the women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, at a recent campaign event in Atlanta. She blamed their deaths on Georgias law, calling it the Trump abortion ban, because the former president appointed three justices hed promised would overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of this crisis, Harris said. Understand what a law like this means: Doctors have to wait until the patient is at deaths door before they take action. Youre saying that good policy, logical policy, moral policy, humane policy is about saying that a health care provider will only start providing that care when youre about to die? Trump has not commented on the deaths. He has repeatedly said this year that abortion access should be left to the states. He has dismissed the idea of a federal abortion ban, but during the presidential debate, he refused to say whether he would veto such legislation. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump addressed our great women (a demographic hes trailing among), saying, you will no longer be thinking about abortion, because it is now where it always had to be, with the states, and with the vote of the people. Abortion was a driving concern in this springs qualifying process for Georgias 2024 legislative elections the first opportunity for aspiring state lawmakers to jump on the ballot in response to their states severe abortion restrictions. Melita Easters, the executive director and founding chair of Georgia WIN List, which endorses Democratic women who support abortion rights, was already calling this years general election Roevember back when President Joe Biden was still the partys nominee. But Easters told States Newsroom that having Harris on the ticket instead has elevated the issue of reproductive freedom even more and has breathed new life into down-ballot campaigns. Easters said she is especially encouraged after a Democratic state House candidate in Alabama who ran on abortion rights flipped a Huntsville seat during a special election in March. Michigan Democrats continue betting on abortion after 2022 successes Michigan was one of the earliest states post-Dobbs to show that abortion rights could be a strong election-winning issue. Months after the Supreme Courts ruling, Michiganders overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution; reelected Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to prioritize reproductive freedom; and voted for Democratic majorities in both chambers, giving the party a legislative trifecta for the first time in 40 years. In 2023, the legislature repealed a 1931 abortion ban that was still on the books and passed the Reproductive Health Act, expanding abortion access in the state. This year, state and national abortion-rights groups have campaigned in toss-up congressional districts across Michigan, warning that a federal ban would supersede the states protections. State judicial races, meanwhile, have attracted millions of dollars, as they could determine partisan control of the Michigan Supreme Court. Democrats secured a slim 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court in 2020 after Republican-nominated justices controlled the court for most of the last few decades. Nevada reproductive rights activists hope ballot initiative improves turnout In Nevada, abortion remains legal through 24 weeks and beyond for specific health reasons. In 2023, the states Democratic-led legislature passed a law shielding patients and providers from out-of-state investigations related to abortion care; it was signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Seeking to cement these rights in the state constitution, reproductive health advocates mobilized a ballot initiative campaign, which they hope will drive voter turnout that would affect the presidential and down-ballot races. Constitutional amendments proposed through an initiative petition must be passed by voters twice, so if voters approve Question 6 in November, they will have to approve it again in 2026. In the states closely watched U.S. Senate, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen currently edges Republican Sam Brown, who has had inconsistent positions on abortion and reproductive rights but opposes the abortion-rights measure. National anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America have notably not focused on Nevada in their campaign strategies. Growing Latinx voting bloc in North Carolina In North Carolina many Democrats are campaigning in opposition to a 12-week abortion ban that the Republican-majority legislature passed last year after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. In a high-profile race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein faces Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has previously said he believes there is no compromise on abortion, according to NC Newsline. The lieutenant governor is now facing calls to withdraw from the race over comments made on a pornography website years ago, and Stein has started racking up endorsements from prominent state Republicans. Iliana Santillan, a political organizer who supports abortion rights, has focused on mobilizing Latinos, a growing voting bloc in the state. The executive director of progressive nonprofit El Pueblo and its political sister group La Fuerza NC told States Newsroom shes talked to many young women motivated to secure their own reproductive rights, including her college-age daughter. She said the Latinx community faces additional reproductive care barriers such as language and transportation, with undocumented immigrants scared to cross state lines without a drivers license. Santillan also said theres a misconception that all Latinos are against abortion because theyre Catholic, when in reality opposition to abortion skews among older voters. With older folks, the messaging that weve tested that has worked is: We dont want politicians to have a say in what we do with our bodies, Santillan said. Motivated voters in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the largest swing state and considered essential to win the White House. In a poll conducted this month by Spotlight PA and MassINC Polling Group, abortion ranked as the fifth most-important concern in the presidential race for likely voters, with 49% naming it as among their top issues. The issue is far more important to Democrats, however, with 85% calling it a top issue compared with 17% of Republicans. Among those who arent registered with either major party, 49% called it a top issue. In 2022, voters surprised pundits by sending enough Democrats to the state House to flip it blue. Voters were responding to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told Pennsylvania Capital-Star at a recent Harris campaign event. Shapiro also won in 2022, and so far his administration has supported over-the-counter birth control pills and ended the states contract with a network of anti-abortion counseling centers. He said his administration would not defend a current state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used for abortions. Abortion isnt protected under Pennsylvanias state constitution, but it remains legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and clinics there have seen an influx of out-of-state patients. Wisconsin abortion services resume After more than a year without abortion access, reproductive health clinics in Wisconsin resumed abortion services in September 2023, shortly after a judge ruled that the 1849 state law that had widely been interpreted as an abortion ban, applied to feticide and not abortion. A state Supreme Court race a few months earlier saw Justice Janet Protasiewicz win in a landslide after campaigning on reproductive freedom. Seven months later when Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation, Lyerly threw her hat in the ring, running as the only Democrat in the 8th District. She now faces businessman Tony Wied. Although in the past it was considered a swing district, it has leaned conservative in recent election cycles. With the redrawn maps and national support, Lyerly said its a competitive race. We have the potential to really fix, not just reproductive health care, but health care, Lyerly told States Newsroom. Bring the stories of our patients forward and help our colleagues understand, build those coalitions and help to gain consensus thats going to drive forward health care reform in this country. Wieds campaign website does not mention abortion or his policy proposals related to health care, though the words Trump-endorsed appear prominently and abundantly throughout the site. Wied hasnt said much about the issue beyond it should be a state issue, but the two are scheduled to debate this Friday night. His campaign declined an interview. Currently the only OB-GYNs who serve in Congress oppose abortion. If Lyerly wins in November, she would not only change that (potentially alongside Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison) but also could help flip party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most Wisconsin voters oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a poll this year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation. Patricia McFarland, 76, knows what its like to live without abortion access. For more than 50 years, the retired college teacher kept her pre-Roe abortion a secret, having grown up in a conservative Irish Catholic family like many of her suburban Milwaukee neighbors. McFarland told States Newsroom she has been politically active most of her life, but the Dobbs ruling dredged up the physical and emotional trauma from the illegal procedure she had alone in Mexico City. Now, McFarland rarely leaves home without her Roe Roe Roe Your Vote button, engaging anyone who will talk to her about the dangers of criminalizing pregnancy. The mother and grandmother said shes been canvassing and doing informational sessions with her activist group the PERSISTers, as well as the League of Women Voters. As she has warned fellow Wisconsities about the federal power over their reproductive freedom, she said the enthusiasm for abortion rights in her state is palpable. For women my age, McFarland said, we dont want our grandchildren to lose their ability to decide when to become a mother. Georgia Recorders Jill Nolin contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom Editors note: This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. 7 States + 5 Issues That Will Swing the 2024 Election Dr. Kristin Lyerlys placenta detached from her uterus when she was 17 weeks pregnant with her fourth son in 2007. Her doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, gave the devastated recent medical school graduate one option: to deliver and bury her dead child. But she requested a dilation and evacuation abortion procedure, knowing it would be less invasive and risky than being induced. And she couldnt fathom the agony of holding her tiny dead baby. But Lyerlys doctor declined, giving her a direct window into the many ways Americans lack real choice when it comes to their reproductive health decisions. At the time of this miscarriage, Lyerly was getting a masters degree in public health before beginning her residency. She was able to get a D&E at the same hospital by a different doctor. As an OB-GYN, she soon would learn how much abortion is stigmatized and limited throughout the country, but also regularly sought after and sometimes medically necessary, including among her many conservative Catholic patients in northeastern Wisconsin. And then, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights, prompting states such as Wisconsin to resurrect dormant abortion bans from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lyerlys job changed overnight. She stopped working as an OB-GYN in Sheboygan and moved her practice to Minnesota. She became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law being interpreted as an abortion ban, which has since been blocked. When a congressional seat opened up in a competitive Wisconsin district this year, the 54-year-old mother of four joined the post-Dobbs wave of women running for office to restore reproductive rights, which this election cycle includes another OB-GYN and a patient denied abortion care. Lyerlys decision to run is emblematic of the nationwide backlash against the Dobbs decision, which altered the reproductive health care landscape, with providers, patients and advocates turning to the ballot box to change the laws to restore and broaden access. Wisconsin is among seven swing states expected to determine the countrys next president and federal leaders. And in many ways theyre being viewed as referendums on how much the right to have an abortion can move the needle in a tight presidential election. What weve seen in every election since the Dobbs decision is that abortion is at top of mind for voters and its not just helping voters decide who or what to vote for. Its actually a turnout driver, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at national lobbying group Reproductive Freedom for All. The group is investing in down-ballot races in conservative districts such as Lyerlys, buoyed by cash and momentum from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris reproductive-rights-focused campaign. Anti-abortion money is also flowing through the swing states, led by lobbying groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC. Some of their messaging, adopted by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many GOP candidates, often paints Democrats as champions of infanticide, focusing on the rarest and most controversial type of abortions, those performed in the third trimester. But aside from that rhetoric, many Republican candidates have been quiet on an issue that for years motivated their staunchest supporters. SBA Pro-Life America declined an interview for this story but shared a press release outlining the organizations strategy trying to reach 10 million voters in Montana, Ohio and all of the battleground states except for Nevada. The group endorsed 28 House candidates total this cycle, and a fifth of them are in North Carolina. One of North Carolinas endorsed candidates in a toss-up race is Republican GOP challenger Laurie Buckhout, who does not mention her abortion stance on her campaign website, and did not return a request for comment. Our field team is talking to persuadable and low propensity pro-life voters to urge them to cast their votes against the party that endorses abortion in the seventh, eighth and ninth months, said SBAs national field team director Patricia Miles in the press statement. But throughout this election cycle, polls in the swing states have shown bipartisan support for abortion rights, especially when voters are educated about what abortion bans do. Voters in more than half of the states expected to determine the presidential winner have, to varying degrees, lost access to abortion. And abortion-rights activists across these states told States Newsroom they are determined to protect that access, or to get it back. Fallout from a resurrected Civil War-era abortion ban and a citizen-led abortion-rights ballot measure have put the issue at the center of many critical races in Arizona. (Gloria Rebecca Gomez/Arizona Mirror) Arizona backlash In Arizona, the Dobbs decision resurrected a Civil War-era ban that allowed abortions only to save a pregnant patients life. Legislators repealed the law, but abortion-rights supporters fought for more certainty. This fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed ballot measure that would protect access until fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Now, two of the judges who upheld the abortion ban Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are up for reelection, in races infused with national cash by groups such as RFA and Planned Parenthood. Also on the ballot is Proposition 137, which would give lifetime appointments to state judges. The Republican-initiated measure has garnered controversy in part because it is retroactive to this years election, so if approved, any retention bids would be nullified even if the majority votes to unseat the judge. Ballot organizers turned in more than 800,000 signatures, double the required number, and overcame opponents legal challenges to qualify the abortion-rights ballot measure, Proposition 139. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but there are many state restrictions that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would eliminate, such as a ban on any abortions sought for fetal genetic abnormalities and a blocked law from 2021 granting personhood status to fertilized eggs. Controversy over Georgias abortion ban This month, ProPublica reported on the deaths in 2022 of two Georgia women who suffered rare complications after they obtained mifepristone and misoprostol for early-term medication abortions. Both were trying to navigate a new state law that banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy and threatened medical providers with up to a decade in prison. In one case, doctors at an Atlanta-area hospital refused for 20 hours to perform a routine dilation and curettage, a D&C, to clear the patients uterus when her body hadnt expelled all the fetal tissue. In the other, a woman who had ordered the pills online suffered days of pain at home, fearful of seeking medical care. Both women left children behind. Georgias law permits abortion if the patients life is at risk, but medical providers have said the laws language is unclear, tying their hands and threatening the health of patients who have high-risk pregnancies. Their cases, which a state medical review committee found to be preventable, have galvanized activists in the state. Harris spoke at length about the women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, at a recent campaign event in Atlanta. She blamed their deaths on Georgias law, calling it the Trump abortion ban, because the former president appointed three justices hed promised would overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of this crisis, Harris said. Understand what a law like this means: Doctors have to wait until the patient is at deaths door before they take action. Youre saying that good policy, logical policy, moral policy, humane policy is about saying that a health care provider will only start providing that care when youre about to die? Trump has not commented on the deaths. He has repeatedly said this year that abortion access should be left to the states. He has dismissed the idea of a federal abortion ban, but during the presidential debate, he refused to say whether he would veto such legislation. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump addressed our great women (a demographic hes trailing among), saying, you will no longer be thinking about abortion, because it is now where it always had to be, with the states, and with the vote of the people. Abortion was a driving concern in this springs qualifying process for Georgias 2024 legislative elections the first opportunity for aspiring state lawmakers to jump on the ballot in response to their states severe abortion restrictions. Melita Easters, the executive director and founding chair of Georgia WIN List, which endorses Democratic women who support abortion rights, was already calling this years general election Roevember back when President Joe Biden was still the partys nominee. But Easters told States Newsroom that having Harris on the ticket instead has elevated the issue of reproductive freedom even more and has breathed new life into down-ballot campaigns. Easters said she is especially encouraged after a Democratic state House candidate in Alabama who ran on abortion rights flipped a Huntsville seat during a special election in March. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Michigan Democrats bet on 2022 successes Michigan was one of the earliest states post-Dobbs to show that abortion rights could be a strong election-winning issue. Months after the Supreme Courts ruling, Michiganders overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution; reelected Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to prioritize reproductive freedom; and voted for Democratic majorities in both chambers, giving the party a legislative trifecta for the first time in 40 years. In 2023, the legislature repealed a 1931 abortion ban that was still on the books and passed the Reproductive Health Act, expanding abortion access in the state. This year, state and national abortion-rights groups have campaigned in toss-up congressional districts across Michigan, warning that a federal ban would supersede the states protections. State judicial races, meanwhile, have attracted millions of dollars, as they could determine partisan control of the Michigan Supreme Court. Democrats secured a slim 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court in 2020 after Republican-nominated justices controlled the court for most of the last few decades. Nevada ballot initiative In Nevada, abortion remains legal through 24 weeks and beyond for specific health reasons. In 2023, the states Democratic-led legislature passed a law shielding patients and providers from out-of-state investigations related to abortion care; it was signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Seeking to cement these rights in the state constitution, reproductive health advocates mobilized a ballot initiative campaign, which they hope will drive voter turnout that would affect the presidential and down-ballot races. Constitutional amendments proposed through an initiative petition must be passed by voters twice, so if voters approve Question 6 in November, they will have to approve it again in 2026. In the states closely watched U.S. Senate, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen currently edges Republican Sam Brown, who has had inconsistent positions on abortion and reproductive rights but opposes the abortion-rights measure. National anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America have notably not focused on Nevada in their campaign strategies. Growing Latinx voting bloc in North Carolina In North Carolina many Democrats are campaigning in opposition to a 12-week abortion ban that the Republican-majority legislature passed last year after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. In a high-profile race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein faces Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has previously said he believes there is no compromise on abortion, according to NC Newsline. The lieutenant governor is now facing calls to withdraw from the race over comments made on a pornography website years ago, and Stein has started racking up endorsements from prominent state Republicans. Iliana Santillan, a political organizer who supports abortion rights, has focused on mobilizing Latinos, a growing voting bloc in the state. The executive director of progressive nonprofit El Pueblo and its political sister group La Fuerza NC told States Newsroom shes talked to many young women motivated to secure their own reproductive rights, including her college-age daughter. She said the Latinx community faces additional reproductive care barriers such as language and transportation, with undocumented immigrants scared to cross state lines without a drivers license. Santillan also said theres a misconception that all Latinos are against abortion because theyre Catholic, when in reality opposition to abortion skews among older voters. With older folks, the messaging that weve tested that has worked is: We dont want politicians to have a say in what we do with our bodies, Santillan said. The Dobbs decision ended federal abortion rights and spurred voters to the polls in 2022, sending enough Democrats to the Pennsylvania House to flip it blue, says Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. (Capital-Star photo) Motivated voters in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the largest swing state and considered essential to win the White House. In a poll conducted this month by Spotlight PA and MassINC Polling Group, abortion ranked as the fifth most-important concern in the presidential race for likely voters, with 49% naming it as among their top issues. The issue is far more important to Democrats, however, with 85% calling it a top issue compared with 17% of Republicans. Among those who arent registered with either major party, 49% called it a top issue. In 2022, voters surprised pundits by sending enough Democrats to the state House to flip it blue. Voters were responding to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told Pennsylvania Capital-Star at a recent Harris campaign event. Shapiro also won in 2022, and so far his administration has supported over-the-counter birth control pills and ended the states contract with a network of anti-abortion counseling centers. He said his administration would not defend a current state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used for abortions. Abortion isnt protected under Pennsylvanias state constitution, but it remains legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and clinics there have seen an influx of out-of-state patients. Wisconsin abortion services resume After more than a year without abortion access, reproductive health clinics in Wisconsin resumed abortion services in September 2023, shortly after a judge ruled that the 1849 state law that had widely been interpreted as an abortion ban, applied to feticide and not abortion. A state Supreme Court race a few months earlier saw Justice Janet Protasiewicz win in a landslide after campaigning on reproductive freedom. Seven months later when Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation, Lyerly threw her hat in the ring, running as the only Democrat in the 8th District. She now faces businessman Tony Wied. Although in the past it was considered a swing district, it has leaned conservative in recent election cycles. With the redrawn maps and national support, Lyerly said its a competitive race. We have the potential to really fix, not just reproductive health care, but health care, Lyerly told States Newsroom. Bring the stories of our patients forward and help our colleagues understand, build those coalitions and help to gain consensus thats going to drive forward health care reform in this country. Wieds campaign website does not mention abortion or his policy proposals related to health care, though the words Trump-endorsed appear prominently and abundantly throughout the site. Wied hasnt said much about the issue beyond it should be a state issue, but the two are scheduled to debate this Friday night. His campaign declined an interview. Currently the only OB-GYNs who serve in Congress oppose abortion. If Lyerly wins in November, she would not only change that (potentially alongside Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison) but also could help flip party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most Wisconsin voters oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a poll this year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation. Patricia McFarland, 76, knows what its like to live without abortion access. For more than 50 years, the retired college teacher kept her pre-Roe abortion a secret, having grown up in a conservative Irish Catholic family like many of her suburban Milwaukee neighbors. McFarland told States Newsroom she has been politically active most of her life, but the Dobbs ruling dredged up the physical and emotional trauma from the illegal procedure she had alone in Mexico City. Now, McFarland rarely leaves home without her Roe Roe Roe Your Vote button, engaging anyone who will talk to her about the dangers of criminalizing pregnancy. The mother and grandmother said shes been canvassing and doing informational sessions with her activist group the PERSISTers, as well as the League of Women Voters. As she has warned fellow Wisconsities about the federal power over their reproductive freedom, she said the enthusiasm for abortion rights in her state is palpable. For women my age, McFarland said, we dont want our grandchildren to lose their ability to decide when to become a mother. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Georgia Recorders Jill Nolin contributed to this report. Fallout from a resurrected Civil War-era abortion ban and a citizen-led abortion-rights ballot measure have put the issue at the center of many critical races in Arizona. (Gloria Rebecca Gomez/Arizona Mirror) Editors note: This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. 7 States + 5 Issues That Will Swing the 2024 Election Dr. Kristin Lyerlys placenta detached from her uterus when she was 17 weeks pregnant with her fourth son in 2007. Her doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, gave the devastated recent medical school graduate one option: to deliver and bury her dead child. But she requested a dilation and evacuation abortion procedure, knowing it would be less invasive and risky than being induced. And she couldnt fathom the agony of holding her tiny dead baby. But Lyerlys doctor declined, giving her a direct window into the many ways Americans lack real choice when it comes to their reproductive health decisions. At the time of this miscarriage, Lyerly was getting a masters degree in public health before beginning her residency. She was able to get a D&E at the same hospital by a different doctor. As an OB-GYN, she soon would learn how much abortion is stigmatized and limited throughout the country, but also regularly sought after and sometimes medically necessary, including among her many conservative Catholic patients in northeastern Wisconsin. And then, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights, prompting states such as Wisconsin to resurrect dormant abortion bans from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lyerlys job changed overnight. She stopped working as an OB-GYN in Sheboygan and moved her practice to Minnesota. She became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law being interpreted as an abortion ban, which has since been blocked. When a congressional seat opened up in a competitive Wisconsin district this year, the 54-year-old mother of four joined the post-Dobbs wave of women running for office to restore reproductive rights, which this election cycle includes another OB-GYN and a patient denied abortion care. Lyerlys decision to run is emblematic of the nationwide backlash against the Dobbs decision, which altered the reproductive health care landscape, with providers, patients and advocates turning to the ballot box to change the laws to restore and broaden access. Wisconsin is among seven swing states expected to determine the countrys next president and federal leaders. And in many ways theyre being viewed as referendums on how much the right to have an abortion can move the needle in a tight presidential election. What weve seen in every election since the Dobbs decision is that abortion is at top of mind for voters and its not just helping voters decide who or what to vote for. Its actually a turnout driver, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at national lobbying group Reproductive Freedom for All. The group is investing in down-ballot races in conservative districts such as Lyerlys, buoyed by cash and momentum from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris reproductive-rights-focused campaign. Anti-abortion money is also flowing through the swing states, led by lobbying groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC. Some of their messaging, adopted by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many GOP candidates, often paints Democrats as champions of infanticide, focusing on the rarest and most controversial type of abortions, those performed in the third trimester. But aside from that rhetoric, many Republican candidates have been quiet on an issue that for years motivated their staunchest supporters. SBA Pro-Life America declined an interview for this story but shared a press release outlining the organizations strategy trying to reach 10 million voters in Montana, Ohio and all of the battleground states except for Nevada. The group endorsed 28 House candidates total this cycle, and a fifth of them are in North Carolina. One of North Carolinas endorsed candidates in a toss-up race is Republican GOP challenger Laurie Buckhout, who does not mention her abortion stance on her campaign website, and did not return a request for comment. Our field team is talking to persuadable and low propensity pro-life voters to urge them to cast their votes against the party that endorses abortion in the seventh, eighth and ninth months, said SBAs national field team director Patricia Miles in the press statement. But throughout this election cycle, polls in the swing states have shown bipartisan support for abortion rights, especially when voters are educated about what abortion bans do. Voters in more than half of the states expected to determine the presidential winner have, to varying degrees, lost access to abortion. And abortion-rights activists across these states told States Newsroom they are determined to protect that access, or to get it back. Fallout from a resurrected Civil War-era abortion ban and a citizen-led abortion-rights ballot measure have put the issue at the center of many critical races in Arizona. (Gloria Rebecca Gomez/Arizona Mirror) Arizona sees backlash after GOP upholds Civil War-era abortion ban In Arizona, the Dobbs decision resurrected a Civil War-era ban that allowed abortions only to save a pregnant patients life. Legislators repealed the law, but abortion-rights supporters fought for more certainty. This fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed ballot measure that would protect access until fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Now, two of the judges who upheld the abortion ban Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are up for reelection, in races infused with national cash by groups such as RFA and Planned Parenthood. Also on the ballot is Proposition 137, which would give lifetime appointments to state judges. The Republican-initiated measure has garnered controversy in part because it is retroactive to this years election, so if approved, any retention bids would be nullified even if the majority votes to unseat the judge. Ballot organizers turned in more than 800,000 signatures, double the required number, and overcame opponents legal challenges to qualify the abortion-rights ballot measure, Proposition 139. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but there are many state restrictions that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would eliminate, such as a ban on any abortions sought for fetal genetic abnormalities and a blocked law from 2021 granting personhood status to fertilized eggs. Recent deaths reignite controversy over Georgias abortion ban This month, ProPublica reported on the deaths in 2022 of two Georgia women who suffered rare complications after they obtained mifepristone and misoprostol for early-term medication abortions. Both were trying to navigate a new state law that banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy and threatened medical providers with up to a decade in prison. In one case, doctors at an Atlanta-area hospital refused for 20 hours to perform a routine dilation and curettage, a D&C, to clear the patients uterus when her body hadnt expelled all the fetal tissue. In the other, a woman who had ordered the pills online suffered days of pain at home, fearful of seeking medical care. Both women left children behind. Georgias law permits abortion if the patients life is at risk, but medical providers have said the laws language is unclear, tying their hands and threatening the health of patients who have high-risk pregnancies. Their cases, which a state medical review committee found to be preventable, have galvanized activists in the state. Harris spoke at length about the women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, at a recent campaign event in Atlanta. She blamed their deaths on Georgias law, calling it the Trump abortion ban, because the former president appointed three justices hed promised would overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of this crisis, Harris said. Understand what a law like this means: Doctors have to wait until the patient is at deaths door before they take action. Youre saying that good policy, logical policy, moral policy, humane policy is about saying that a health care provider will only start providing that care when youre about to die? Trump has not commented on the deaths. He has repeatedly said this year that abortion access should be left to the states. He has dismissed the idea of a federal abortion ban, but during the presidential debate, he refused to say whether he would veto such legislation. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump addressed our great women (a demographic hes trailing among), saying, you will no longer be thinking about abortion, because it is now where it always had to be, with the states, and with the vote of the people. Abortion was a driving concern in this springs qualifying process for Georgias 2024 legislative elections the first opportunity for aspiring state lawmakers to jump on the ballot in response to their states severe abortion restrictions. Melita Easters, the executive director and founding chair of Georgia WIN List, which endorses Democratic women who support abortion rights, was already calling this years general election Roevember back when President Joe Biden was still the partys nominee. But Easters told States Newsroom that having Harris on the ticket instead has elevated the issue of reproductive freedom even more and has breathed new life into down-ballot campaigns. Easters said she is especially encouraged after a Democratic state House candidate in Alabama who ran on abortion rights flipped a Huntsville seat during a special election in March. Michigan Democrats continue betting on abortion after 2022 successes Michigan was one of the earliest states post-Dobbs to show that abortion rights could be a strong election-winning issue. Months after the Supreme Courts ruling, Michiganders overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution; reelected Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to prioritize reproductive freedom; and voted for Democratic majorities in both chambers, giving the party a legislative trifecta for the first time in 40 years. In 2023, the legislature repealed a 1931 abortion ban that was still on the books and passed the Reproductive Health Act, expanding abortion access in the state. This year, state and national abortion-rights groups have campaigned in toss-up congressional districts across Michigan, warning that a federal ban would supersede the states protections. State judicial races, meanwhile, have attracted millions of dollars, as they could determine partisan control of the Michigan Supreme Court. Democrats secured a slim 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court in 2020 after Republican-nominated justices controlled the court for most of the last few decades. Nevada reproductive rights activists hope ballot initiative improves turnout In Nevada, abortion remains legal through 24 weeks and beyond for specific health reasons. In 2023, the states Democratic-led legislature passed a law shielding patients and providers from out-of-state investigations related to abortion care; it was signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Seeking to cement these rights in the state constitution, reproductive health advocates mobilized a ballot initiative campaign, which they hope will drive voter turnout that would affect the presidential and down-ballot races. Constitutional amendments proposed through an initiative petition must be passed by voters twice, so if voters approve Question 6 in November, they will have to approve it again in 2026. In the states closely watched U.S. Senate, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen currently edges Republican Sam Brown, who has had inconsistent positions on abortion and reproductive rights but opposes the abortion-rights measure. National anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America have notably not focused on Nevada in their campaign strategies. Growing Latinx voting bloc in North Carolina In North Carolina many Democrats are campaigning in opposition to a 12-week abortion ban that the Republican-majority legislature passed last year after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. In a high-profile race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein faces Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has previously said he believes there is no compromise on abortion, according to NC Newsline. The lieutenant governor is now facing calls to withdraw from the race over comments made on a pornography website years ago, and Stein has started racking up endorsements from prominent state Republicans. Iliana Santillan, a political organizer who supports abortion rights, has focused on mobilizing Latinos, a growing voting bloc in the state. The executive director of progressive nonprofit El Pueblo and its political sister group La Fuerza NC told States Newsroom shes talked to many young women motivated to secure their own reproductive rights, including her college-age daughter. She said the Latinx community faces additional reproductive care barriers such as language and transportation, with undocumented immigrants scared to cross state lines without a drivers license. Santillan also said theres a misconception that all Latinos are against abortion because theyre Catholic, when in reality opposition to abortion skews among older voters. With older folks, the messaging that weve tested that has worked is: We dont want politicians to have a say in what we do with our bodies, Santillan said. The Dobbs decision ended federal abortion rights and spurred voters to the polls in 2022, sending enough Democrats to the Pennsylvania House to flip it blue, says Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star photo) Motivated voters in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the largest swing state and considered essential to win the White House. In a poll conducted this month by Spotlight PA and MassINC Polling Group, abortion ranked as the fifth most-important concern in the presidential race for likely voters, with 49% naming it as among their top issues. The issue is far more important to Democrats, however, with 85% calling it a top issue compared with 17% of Republicans. Among those who arent registered with either major party, 49% called it a top issue. In 2022, voters surprised pundits by sending enough Democrats to the state House to flip it blue. Voters were responding to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told Pennsylvania Capital-Star at a recent Harris campaign event. Shapiro also won in 2022, and so far his administration has supported over-the-counter birth control pills and ended the states contract with a network of anti-abortion counseling centers. He said his administration would not defend a current state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used for abortions. Abortion isnt protected under Pennsylvanias state constitution, but it remains legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and clinics there have seen an influx of out-of-state patients. Wisconsin abortion services resume After more than a year without abortion access, reproductive health clinics in Wisconsin resumed abortion services in September 2023, shortly after a judge ruled that the 1849 state law that had widely been interpreted as an abortion ban, applied to feticide and not abortion. A state Supreme Court race a few months earlier saw Justice Janet Protasiewicz win in a landslide after campaigning on reproductive freedom. Seven months later when Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation, Lyerly threw her hat in the ring, running as the only Democrat in the 8th District. She now faces businessman Tony Wied. Although in the past it was considered a swing district, it has leaned conservative in recent election cycles. With the redrawn maps and national support, Lyerly said its a competitive race. We have the potential to really fix, not just reproductive health care, but health care, Lyerly told States Newsroom. Bring the stories of our patients forward and help our colleagues understand, build those coalitions and help to gain consensus thats going to drive forward health care reform in this country. Wieds campaign website does not mention abortion or his policy proposals related to health care, though the words Trump-endorsed appear prominently and abundantly throughout the site. Wied hasnt said much about the issue beyond it should be a state issue, but the two are scheduled to debate this Friday night. His campaign declined an interview. Currently the only OB-GYNs who serve in Congress oppose abortion. If Lyerly wins in November, she would not only change that (potentially alongside Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison) but also could help flip party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most Wisconsin voters oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a poll this year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation. Patricia McFarland, 76, knows what its like to live without abortion access. For more than 50 years, the retired college teacher kept her pre-Roe abortion a secret, having grown up in a conservative Irish Catholic family like many of her suburban Milwaukee neighbors. McFarland told States Newsroom she has been politically active most of her life, but the Dobbs ruling dredged up the physical and emotional trauma from the illegal procedure she had alone in Mexico City. Now, McFarland rarely leaves home without her Roe Roe Roe Your Vote button, engaging anyone who will talk to her about the dangers of criminalizing pregnancy. The mother and grandmother said shes been canvassing and doing informational sessions with her activist group the PERSISTers, as well as the League of Women Voters. As she has warned fellow Wisconsities about the federal power over their reproductive freedom, she said the enthusiasm for abortion rights in her state is palpable. For women my age, McFarland said, we dont want our grandchildren to lose their ability to decide when to become a mother. Georgia Recorders Jill Nolin contributed to this report. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022 ended federal abortion rights. (Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom) Dr. Kristin Lyerlys placenta detached from her uterus when she was 17 weeks pregnant with her fourth son in 2007. Her doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, gave the devastated recent medical school graduate one option: to deliver and bury her dead child. But she requested a dilation and evacuation abortion procedure, knowing it would be less invasive and risky than being induced. And she couldnt fathom the agony of holding her tiny dead baby. But Lyerlys doctor declined, giving her a direct window into the many ways Americans lack real choice when it comes to their reproductive health decisions. At the time of this miscarriage, Lyerly was getting a masters degree in public health before beginning her residency. She was able to get a D&E at the same hospital by a different doctor. As an OB-GYN, she soon would learn how much abortion is stigmatized and limited throughout the country, but also regularly sought after and sometimes medically necessary, including among her many conservative Catholic patients in northeastern Wisconsin. 7 States + 5 Issues That Will Swing the 2024 Election This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. And then, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights, prompting states such as Wisconsin to resurrect dormant abortion bans from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lyerlys job changed overnight. She stopped working as an OB-GYN in Sheboygan and moved her practice to Minnesota. She became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law being interpreted as an abortion ban, which has since been blocked. When a congressional seat opened up in a competitive Wisconsin district this year, the 54-year-old mother of four joined the post-Dobbs wave of women running for office to restore reproductive rights, which this election cycle includes another OB-GYN and a patient denied abortion care. Lyerlys decision to run is emblematic of the nationwide backlash against the Dobbs decision, which altered the reproductive health care landscape, with providers, patients and advocates turning to the ballot box to change the laws to restore and broaden access. Wisconsin is among seven swing states expected to determine the countrys next president and federal leaders. And in many ways theyre being viewed as referendums on how much the right to have an abortion can move the needle in a tight presidential election. What weve seen in every election since the Dobbs decision is that abortion is at top of mind for voters and its not just helping voters decide who or what to vote for. Its actually a turnout driver, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at national lobbying group Reproductive Freedom for All. The group is investing in down-ballot races in conservative districts such as Lyerlys, buoyed by cash and momentum from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris reproductive-rights-focused campaign. Anti-abortion money is also flowing through the swing states, led by lobbying groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC. Some of their messaging, adopted by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many GOP candidates, often paints Democrats as champions of infanticide, focusing on the rarest and most controversial type of abortions, those performed in the third trimester. But aside from that rhetoric, many Republican candidates have been quiet on an issue that for years motivated their staunchest supporters. SBA Pro-Life America declined an interview for this story but shared a press release outlining the organizations strategy trying to reach 10 million voters in Montana, Ohio and all of the battleground states except for Nevada. The group endorsed 28 House candidates total this cycle, and a fifth of them are in North Carolina. One of North Carolinas endorsed candidates in a toss-up race is Republican GOP challenger Laurie Buckhout, who does not mention her abortion stance on her campaign website, and did not return a request for comment. Our field team is talking to persuadable and low propensity pro-life voters to urge them to cast their votes against the party that endorses abortion in the seventh, eighth and ninth months, said SBAs national field team director Patricia Miles in the press statement. But throughout this election cycle, polls in the swing states have shown bipartisan support for abortion rights, especially when voters are educated about what abortion bans do. Voters in more than half of the states expected to determine the presidential winner have, to varying degrees, lost access to abortion. And abortion-rights activists across these states told States Newsroom they are determined to protect that access, or to get it back. Arizona sees backlash after GOP upholds Civil War-era abortion ban In Arizona, the Dobbs decision resurrected a Civil War-era ban that allowed abortions only to save a pregnant patients life. Legislators repealed the law, but abortion-rights supporters fought for more certainty. This fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed ballot measure that would protect access until fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Now, two of the judges who upheld the abortion ban Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are up for reelection, in races infused with national cash by groups such as RFA and Planned Parenthood. Also on the ballot is Proposition 137, which would give lifetime appointments to state judges. The Republican-initiated measure has garnered controversy in part because it is retroactive to this years election, so if approved, any retention bids would be nullified even if the majority votes to unseat the judge. Ballot organizers turned in more than 800,000 signatures, double the required number, and overcame opponents legal challenges to qualify the abortion-rights ballot measure, Proposition 139. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but there are many state restrictions that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would eliminate, such as a ban on any abortions sought for fetal genetic abnormalities and a blocked law from 2021 granting personhood status to fertilized eggs. Recent deaths reignite controversy over Georgias abortion ban This month, ProPublica reported on the deaths in 2022 of two Georgia women who suffered rare complications after they obtained mifepristone and misoprostol for early-term medication abortions. Both were trying to navigate a new state law that banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy and threatened medical providers with up to a decade in prison. In one case, doctors at an Atlanta-area hospital refused for 20 hours to perform a routine dilation and curettage, a D&C, to clear the patients uterus when her body hadnt expelled all the fetal tissue. In the other, a woman who had ordered the pills online suffered days of pain at home, fearful of seeking medical care. Both women left children behind. Georgias law permits abortion if the patients life is at risk, but medical providers have said the laws language is unclear, tying their hands and threatening the health of patients who have high-risk pregnancies. Their cases, which a state medical review committee found to be preventable, have galvanized activists in the state. Harris spoke at length about the women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, at a recent campaign event in Atlanta. She blamed their deaths on Georgias law, calling it the Trump abortion ban, because the former president appointed three justices hed promised would overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of this crisis, Harris said. Understand what a law like this means: Doctors have to wait until the patient is at deaths door before they take action. Youre saying that good policy, logical policy, moral policy, humane policy is about saying that a health care provider will only start providing that care when youre about to die? Trump has not commented on the deaths. He has repeatedly said this year that abortion access should be left to the states. He has dismissed the idea of a federal abortion ban, but during the presidential debate, he refused to say whether he would veto such legislation. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump addressed our great women (a demographic hes trailing among), saying, you will no longer be thinking about abortion, because it is now where it always had to be, with the states, and with the vote of the people. Abortion was a driving concern in this springs qualifying process for Georgias 2024 legislative elections the first opportunity for aspiring state lawmakers to jump on the ballot in response to their states severe abortion restrictions. Melita Easters, the executive director and founding chair of Georgia WIN List, which endorses Democratic women who support abortion rights, was already calling this years general election Roevember back when President Joe Biden was still the partys nominee. But Easters told States Newsroom that having Harris on the ticket instead has elevated the issue of reproductive freedom even more and has breathed new life into down-ballot campaigns. Easters said she is especially encouraged after a Democratic state House candidate in Alabama who ran on abortion rights flipped a Huntsville seat during a special election in March. Michigan Democrats continue betting on abortion after 2022 successes Michigan was one of the earliest states post-Dobbs to show that abortion rights could be a strong election-winning issue. Months after the Supreme Courts ruling, Michiganders overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution; reelected Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to prioritize reproductive freedom; and voted for Democratic majorities in both chambers, giving the party a legislative trifecta for the first time in 40 years. In 2023, the legislature repealed a 1931 abortion ban that was still on the books and passed the Reproductive Health Act, expanding abortion access in the state. This year, state and national abortion-rights groups have campaigned in toss-up congressional districts across Michigan, warning that a federal ban would supersede the states protections. State judicial races, meanwhile, have attracted millions of dollars, as they could determine partisan control of the Michigan Supreme Court. Democrats secured a slim 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court in 2020 after Republican-nominated justices controlled the court for most of the last few decades. Nevada reproductive rights activists hope ballot initiative improves turnout In Nevada, abortion remains legal through 24 weeks and beyond for specific health reasons. In 2023, the states Democratic-led legislature passed a law shielding patients and providers from out-of-state investigations related to abortion care; it was signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Seeking to cement these rights in the state constitution, reproductive health advocates mobilized a ballot initiative campaign, which they hope will drive voter turnout that would affect the presidential and down-ballot races. Constitutional amendments proposed through an initiative petition must be passed by voters twice, so if voters approve Question 6 in November, they will have to approve it again in 2026. In the states closely watched U.S. Senate race, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen currently edges Republican Sam Brown, who has had inconsistent positions on abortion and reproductive rights but opposes the abortion-rights measure. National anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America have notably not focused on Nevada in their campaign strategies. Growing Latinx voting bloc in North Carolina In North Carolina many Democrats are campaigning in opposition to a 12-week abortion ban that the Republican-majority legislature passed last year after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. In a high-profile race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein faces Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has previously said he believes there is no compromise on abortion, according to NC Newsline. The lieutenant governor is now facing calls to withdraw from the race over comments made on a pornography website years ago, and Stein has started racking up endorsements from prominent state Republicans. [2024 Voter Guide: The candidates, the ballot measures, and the tools you need to cast your vote.] Iliana Santillan, a political organizer who supports abortion rights, has focused on mobilizing Latinos, a growing voting bloc in the state. The executive director of progressive nonprofit El Pueblo and its political sister group La Fuerza NC told States Newsroom shes talked to many young women motivated to secure their own reproductive rights, including her college-age daughter. She said the Latinx community faces additional reproductive care barriers such as language and transportation, with undocumented immigrants scared to cross state lines without a drivers license. Santillan also said theres a misconception that all Latinos are against abortion because theyre Catholic, when in reality opposition to abortion skews among older voters. With older folks, the messaging that weve tested that has worked is: We dont want politicians to have a say in what we do with our bodies, Santillan said. Motivated voters in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the largest swing state and considered essential to win the White House. In a poll conducted this month by Spotlight PA and MassINC Polling Group, abortion ranked as the fifth most-important concern in the presidential race for likely voters, with 49% naming it as among their top issues. The issue is far more important to Democrats, however, with 85% calling it a top issue compared with 17% of Republicans. Among those who arent registered with either major party, 49% called it a top issue. In 2022, voters surprised pundits by sending enough Democrats to the state House to flip it blue. Voters were responding to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told Pennsylvania Capital-Star at a recent Harris campaign event. Shapiro also won in 2022, and so far his administration has supported over-the-counter birth control pills and ended the states contract with a network of anti-abortion counseling centers. He said his administration would not defend a current state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used for abortions. Abortion isnt protected under Pennsylvanias state constitution, but it remains legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and clinics there have seen an influx of out-of-state patients. Wisconsin abortion services resume After more than a year without abortion access, reproductive health clinics in Wisconsin resumed abortion services in September 2023, shortly after a judge ruled that the 1849 state law that had widely been interpreted as an abortion ban, applied to feticide and not abortion. A state Supreme Court race a few months earlier saw Justice Janet Protasiewicz win in a landslide after campaigning on reproductive freedom. Seven months later when Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation, Lyerly threw her hat in the ring, running as the only Democrat in the 8th District. She now faces businessman Tony Wied. Although in the past it was considered a swing district, it has leaned conservative in recent election cycles. With the redrawn maps and national support, Lyerly said its a competitive race. We have the potential to really fix, not just reproductive health care, but health care, Lyerly told States Newsroom. Bring the stories of our patients forward and help our colleagues understand, build those coalitions and help to gain consensus thats going to drive forward health care reform in this country. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Wieds campaign website does not mention abortion or his policy proposals related to health care, though the words Trump-endorsed appear prominently and abundantly throughout the site. Wied hasnt said much about the issue beyond it should be a state issue, but the two are scheduled to debate this Friday night. His campaign declined an interview. Currently the only OB-GYNs who serve in Congress oppose abortion. If Lyerly wins in November, she would not only change that (potentially alongside Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison) but also could help flip party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most Wisconsin voters oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a poll this year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation. Patricia McFarland, 76, knows what its like to live without abortion access. For more than 50 years, the retired college teacher kept her pre-Roe abortion a secret, having grown up in a conservative Irish Catholic family like many of her suburban Milwaukee neighbors. McFarland told States Newsroom she has been politically active most of her life, but the Dobbs ruling dredged up the physical and emotional trauma from the illegal procedure she had alone in Mexico City. Now, McFarland rarely leaves home without her Roe Roe Roe Your Vote button, engaging anyone who will talk to her about the dangers of criminalizing pregnancy. The mother and grandmother said shes been canvassing and doing informational sessions with her activist group the PERSISTers, as well as the League of Women Voters. As she has warned fellow Wisconsities about the federal power over their reproductive freedom, she said the enthusiasm for abortion rights in her state is palpable. For women my age, McFarland said, we dont want our grandchildren to lose their ability to decide when to become a mother. Georgia Recorders Jill Nolin contributed to this report. WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Congress on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a short-term funding bill to avert a looming government shutdown. The Senate voted 78-18 on Wednesday evening to clear the measure, following the House's approval with a 341-82 vote. All opposition in both chambers came from Republicans. The package, negotiated by House Speaker Mike Johnson and leading Democrats, would maintain government funding at current levels through Dec. 20, setting the stage for another budget battle three months later. It also includes an additional 231 million U.S. dollars for the Secret Service to boost the agency's resources related to the security of the presidential campaign, following two apparent assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate. Trump has publicly demanded that congressional Republicans force a government shutdown unless they pass the so-called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would have required all Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote, even though it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. Regardless of Trump's demand, Johnson and other prominent Republicans have argued that a GOP-driven government shutdown just a little over a month before Election Day would be "political malpractice," worrying that their party would be blamed for a government shutdown. The bill has now been sent to President Joe Biden, who is expected to quickly sign it into law, before the current government funding expires on Sept. 30, when the fiscal year ends. Both chambers are scheduled to adjourn this week for an extended recess and won't reconvene in Washington until after the Nov. 5 election, allowing some lawmakers to get back to their home states to campaign for re-elections. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022 ended federal abortion rights. (Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom) Editors note: This is the fifth installment in a five-day series that explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. Dr. Kristin Lyerlys placenta detached from her uterus when she was 17 weeks pregnant with her fourth son in 2007. Her doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, gave the devastated recent medical school graduate one option: to deliver and bury her dead child. But she requested a dilation and evacuation abortion procedure, knowing it would be less invasive and risky than being induced. And she couldnt fathom the agony of holding her tiny dead baby. But Lyerlys doctor declined, giving her a direct window into the many ways Americans lack real choice when it comes to their reproductive health decisions. At the time of this miscarriage, Lyerly was getting a masters degree in public health before beginning her residency. She was able to get a D&E at the same hospital by a different doctor. As an OB-GYN, she soon would learn how much abortion is stigmatized and limited throughout the country, but also regularly sought after and sometimes medically necessary, including among her many conservative Catholic patients in northeastern Wisconsin. And then, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights, prompting states such as Wisconsin to resurrect dormant abortion bans from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lyerlys job changed overnight. She stopped working as an OB-GYN in Sheboygan and moved her practice to Minnesota. She became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law being interpreted as an abortion ban, which has since been blocked. When a congressional seat opened up in a competitive Wisconsin district this year, the 54-year-old mother of four joined the post-Dobbs wave of women running for office to restore reproductive rights, which this election cycle includes another OB-GYN and a patient denied abortion care. Lyerlys decision to run is emblematic of the nationwide backlash against the Dobbs decision, which altered the reproductive health care landscape, with providers, patients and advocates turning to the ballot box to change the laws to restore and broaden access. Wisconsin is among seven swing states expected to determine the countrys next president and federal leaders. And in many ways theyre being viewed as referendums on how much the right to have an abortion can move the needle in a tight presidential election. What weve seen in every election since the Dobbs decision is that abortion is at top of mind for voters and its not just helping voters decide who or what to vote for. Its actually a turnout driver, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at national lobbying group Reproductive Freedom for All. The group is investing in down-ballot races in conservative districts such as Lyerlys, buoyed by cash and momentum from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris reproductive-rights-focused campaign. Anti-abortion money is also flowing through the swing states, led by lobbying groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC. Some of their messaging, adopted by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many GOP candidates, often paints Democrats as champions of infanticide, focusing on the rarest and most controversial type of abortions, those performed in the third trimester. But aside from that rhetoric, many Republican candidates have been quiet on an issue that for years motivated their staunchest supporters. SBA Pro-Life America declined an interview for this story but shared a press release outlining the organizations strategy trying to reach 10 million voters in Montana, Ohio and all of the battleground states except for Nevada. The group endorsed 28 House candidates total this cycle, and a fifth of them are in North Carolina. One of North Carolinas endorsed candidates in a toss-up race is Republican GOP challenger Laurie Buckhout, who does not mention her abortion stance on her campaign website, and did not return a request for comment. Our field team is talking to persuadable and low propensity pro-life voters to urge them to cast their votes against the party that endorses abortion in the seventh, eighth and ninth months, said SBAs national field team director Patricia Miles in the press statement. But throughout this election cycle, polls in the swing states have shown bipartisan support for abortion rights, especially when voters are educated about what abortion bans do. Voters in more than half of the states expected to determine the presidential winner have, to varying degrees, lost access to abortion. And abortion-rights activists across these states told States Newsroom they are determined to protect that access, or to get it back. Arizona sees backlash after GOP upholds Civil War-era abortion ban In Arizona, the Dobbs decision resurrected a Civil War-era ban that allowed abortions only to save a pregnant patients life. Legislators repealed the law, but abortion-rights supporters fought for more certainty. This fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed ballot measure that would protect access until fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Now, two of the judges who upheld the abortion ban Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are up for reelection, in races infused with national cash by groups such as RFA and Planned Parenthood. Also on the ballot is Proposition 137, which would give lifetime appointments to state judges. The Republican-initiated measure has garnered controversy in part because it is retroactive to this years election, so if approved, any retention bids would be nullified even if the majority votes to unseat the judge. abortion rights demonstrators Ballot organizers turned in more than 800,000 signatures, double the required number, and overcame opponents legal challenges to qualify the abortion-rights ballot measure, Proposition 139. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but there are many state restrictions that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would eliminate, such as a ban on any abortions sought for fetal genetic abnormalities and a blocked law from 2021 granting personhood status to fertilized eggs. Recent deaths reignite controversy over Georgias abortion ban This month, ProPublica reported on the deaths in 2022 of two Georgia women who suffered rare complications after they obtained mifepristone and misoprostol for early-term medication abortions. Both were trying to navigate a new state law that banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy and threatened medical providers with up to a decade in prison. In one case, doctors at an Atlanta-area hospital refused for 20 hours to perform a routine dilation and curettage, a D&C, to clear the patients uterus when her body hadnt expelled all the fetal tissue. In the other, a woman who had ordered the pills online suffered days of pain at home, fearful of seeking medical care. Both women left children behind. Georgias law permits abortion if the patients life is at risk, but medical providers have said the laws language is unclear, tying their hands and threatening the health of patients who have high-risk pregnancies. Their cases, which a state medical review committee found to be preventable, have galvanized activists in the state. Vice President Harris addresses a rally Harris spoke at length about the women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, at a recent campaign event in Atlanta. She blamed their deaths on Georgias law, calling it the Trump abortion ban, because the former president appointed three justices hed promised would overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of this crisis, Harris said. Understand what a law like this means: Doctors have to wait until the patient is at deaths door before they take action. Youre saying that good policy, logical policy, moral policy, humane policy is about saying that a health care provider will only start providing that care when youre about to die? Trump has not commented on the deaths. He has repeatedly said this year that abortion access should be left to the states. He has dismissed the idea of a federal abortion ban, but during the presidential debate, he refused to say whether he would veto such legislation. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump addressed our great women (a demographic hes trailing among), saying, you will no longer be thinking about abortion, because it is now where it always had to be, with the states, and with the vote of the people. Abortion was a driving concern in this springs qualifying process for Georgias 2024 legislative elections the first opportunity for aspiring state lawmakers to jump on the ballot in response to their states severe abortion restrictions. Melita Easters, the executive director and founding chair of Georgia WIN List, which endorses Democratic women who support abortion rights, was already calling this years general election Roevember back when President Joe Biden was still the partys nominee. But Easters told States Newsroom that having Harris on the ticket instead has elevated the issue of reproductive freedom even more and has breathed new life into down-ballot campaigns. Easters said she is especially encouraged after a Democratic state House candidate in Alabama who ran on abortion rights flipped a Huntsville seat during a special election in March. Michigan Democrats continue betting on abortion after 2022 successes Michigan was one of the earliest states post-Dobbs to show that abortion rights could be a strong election-winning issue. Months after the Supreme Courts ruling, Michiganders overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution; reelected Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to prioritize reproductive freedom; and voted for Democratic majorities in both chambers, giving the party a legislative trifecta for the first time in 40 years. In 2023, the legislature repealed a 1931 abortion ban that was still on the books and passed the Reproductive Health Act, expanding abortion access in the state. This year, state and national abortion-rights groups have campaigned in toss-up congressional districts across Michigan, warning that a federal ban would supersede the states protections. State judicial races, meanwhile, have attracted millions of dollars, as they could determine partisan control of the Michigan Supreme Court. Democrats secured a slim 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court in 2020 after Republican-nominated justices controlled the court for most of the last few decades. Nevada reproductive rights activists hope ballot initiative improves turnout In Nevada, abortion remains legal through 24 weeks and beyond for specific health reasons. In 2023, the states Democratic-led legislature passed a law shielding patients and providers from out-of-state investigations related to abortion care; it was signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Seeking to cement these rights in the state constitution, reproductive health advocates mobilized a ballot initiative campaign, which they hope will drive voter turnout that would affect the presidential and down-ballot races. Constitutional amendments proposed through an initiative petition must be passed by voters twice, so if voters approve Question 6 in November, they will have to approve it again in 2026. In the states closely watched U.S. Senate contest, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen currently edges Republican Sam Brown, who has had inconsistent positions on abortion and reproductive rights but opposes the abortion-rights measure. National anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America have notably not focused on Nevada in their campaign strategies. Growing Latinx voting bloc in North Carolina In North Carolina many Democrats are campaigning in opposition to a 12-week abortion ban that the Republican-majority legislature passed last year after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. Illiana Santillan In a high-profile race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein faces Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has previously said he believes there is no compromise on abortion, according to NC Newsline. The lieutenant governor is now facing calls to withdraw from the race over comments made on a pornography website years ago, and Stein has started racking up endorsements from prominent state Republicans. Iliana Santillan, a political organizer who supports abortion rights, has focused on mobilizing Latinos, a growing voting bloc in the state. The executive director of progressive nonprofit El Pueblo and its political sister group La Fuerza NC told States Newsroom shes talked to many young women motivated to secure their own reproductive rights, including her college-age daughter. She said the Latinx community faces additional reproductive care barriers such as language and transportation, with undocumented immigrants scared to cross state lines without a drivers license. Santillan also said theres a misconception that all Latinos are against abortion because theyre Catholic, when in reality opposition to abortion skews among older voters. With older folks, the messaging that weve tested that has worked is: We dont want politicians to have a say in what we do with our bodies, Santillan said. Motivated voters in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the largest swing state and considered essential to win the White House. In a poll conducted this month by Spotlight PA and MassINC Polling Group, abortion ranked as the fifth most-important concern in the presidential race for likely voters, with 49% naming it as among their top issues. The issue is far more important to Democrats, however, with 85% calling it a top issue compared with 17% of Republicans. Among those who arent registered with either major party, 49% called it a top issue. In 2022, voters surprised pundits by sending enough Democrats to the state House to flip it blue. Voters were responding to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told Pennsylvania Capital-Star at a recent Harris campaign event. Shapiro also won in 2022, and so far his administration has supported over-the-counter birth control pills and ended the states contract with a network of anti-abortion counseling centers. He said his administration would not defend a current state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used for abortions. Abortion isnt protected under Pennsylvanias state constitution, but it remains legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and clinics there have seen an influx of out-of-state patients. Wisconsin abortion services resume After more than a year without abortion access, reproductive health clinics in Wisconsin resumed abortion services in September 2023, shortly after a judge ruled that the 1849 state law that had widely been interpreted as an abortion ban, applied to feticide and not abortion. A state Supreme Court race a few months earlier saw Justice Janet Protasiewicz win in a landslide after campaigning on reproductive freedom. Seven months later when Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation, Lyerly threw her hat in the ring, running as the only Democrat in the 8th District. She now faces businessman Tony Wied. Although in the past it was considered a swing district, it has leaned conservative in recent election cycles. With the redrawn maps and national support, Lyerly said its a competitive race. We have the potential to really fix, not just reproductive health care, but health care, Lyerly told States Newsroom. Bring the stories of our patients forward and help our colleagues understand, build those coalitions and help to gain consensus thats going to drive forward health care reform in this country. Wieds campaign website does not mention abortion or his policy proposals related to health care, though the words Trump-endorsed appear prominently and abundantly throughout the site. Wied hasnt said much about the issue beyond it should be a state issue, but the two are scheduled to debate this Friday night. His campaign declined an interview. Currently the only OB-GYNs who serve in Congress oppose abortion. If Lyerly wins in November, she would not only change that (potentially alongside Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison) but also could help flip party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most Wisconsin voters oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a poll this year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation. Patricia McFarland, 76, knows what its like to live without abortion access. For more than 50 years, the retired college teacher kept her pre-Roe abortion a secret, having grown up in a conservative Irish Catholic family like many of her suburban Milwaukee neighbors. McFarland told States Newsroom she has been politically active most of her life, but the Dobbs ruling dredged up the physical and emotional trauma from the illegal procedure she had alone in Mexico City. Now, McFarland rarely leaves home without her Roe Roe Roe Your Vote button, engaging anyone who will talk to her about the dangers of criminalizing pregnancy. The mother and grandmother said shes been canvassing and doing informational sessions with her activist group the PERSISTers, as well as the League of Women Voters. As she has warned fellow Wisconsities about the federal power over their reproductive freedom, she said the enthusiasm for abortion rights in her state is palpable. For women my age, McFarland said, we dont want our grandchildren to lose their ability to decide when to become a mother. Georgia Recorders Jill Nolin contributed to this report. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022 ended federal abortion rights. (Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom) Editors note: This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. Dr. Kristin Lyerlys placenta detached from her uterus when she was 17 weeks pregnant with her fourth son in 2007. Her doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, gave the devastated recent medical school graduate one option: to deliver and bury her dead child. But she requested a dilation and evacuation abortion procedure, knowing it would be less invasive and risky than being induced. And she couldnt fathom the agony of holding her tiny dead baby. But Lyerlys doctor declined, giving her a direct window into the many ways Americans lack real choice when it comes to their reproductive health decisions. At the time of this miscarriage, Lyerly was getting a masters degree in public health before beginning her residency. She was able to get a D&E at the same hospital by a different doctor. As an OB-GYN, she soon would learn how much abortion is stigmatized and limited throughout the country, but also regularly sought after and sometimes medically necessary, including among her many conservative Catholic patients in northeastern Wisconsin. And then, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights, prompting states such as Wisconsin to resurrect dormant abortion bans from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lyerlys job changed overnight. She stopped working as an OB-GYN in Sheboygan and moved her practice to Minnesota. She became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law being interpreted as an abortion ban, which has since been blocked. When a congressional seat opened up in a competitive Wisconsin district this year, the 54-year-old mother of four joined the post-Dobbs wave of women running for office to restore reproductive rights, which this election cycle includes another OB-GYN and a patient denied abortion care. Lyerlys decision to run is emblematic of the nationwide backlash against the Dobbs decision, which altered the reproductive health care landscape, with providers, patients and advocates turning to the ballot box to change the laws to restore and broaden access. Wisconsin is among seven swing states expected to determine the countrys next president and federal leaders. And in many ways theyre being viewed as referendums on how much the right to have an abortion can move the needle in a tight presidential election. What weve seen in every election since the Dobbs decision is that abortion is at top of mind for voters and its not just helping voters decide who or what to vote for. Its actually a turnout driver, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at national lobbying group Reproductive Freedom for All. The group is investing in down-ballot races in conservative districts such as Lyerlys, buoyed by cash and momentum from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris reproductive-rights-focused campaign. Anti-abortion money is also flowing through the swing states, led by lobbying groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC. Some of their messaging, adopted by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many GOP candidates, often paints Democrats as champions of infanticide, focusing on the rarest and most controversial type of abortions, those performed in the third trimester. But aside from that rhetoric, many Republican candidates have been quiet on an issue that for years motivated their staunchest supporters. SBA Pro-Life America declined an interview for this story but shared a press release outlining the organizations strategy trying to reach 10 million voters in Montana, Ohio and all of the battleground states except for Nevada. The group endorsed 28 House candidates total this cycle, and a fifth of them are in North Carolina. One of North Carolinas endorsed candidates in a toss-up race is Republican GOP challenger Laurie Buckhout, who does not mention her abortion stance on her campaign website, and did not return a request for comment. Our field team is talking to persuadable and low propensity pro-life voters to urge them to cast their votes against the party that endorses abortion in the seventh, eighth and ninth months, said SBAs national field team director Patricia Miles in the press statement. Throughout this election cycle, polls in the swing states have shown bipartisan support for abortion rights, especially when voters are educated about what abortion bans do. Voters in more than half of the states expected to determine the presidential winner have, to varying degrees, lost access to abortion. And abortion-rights activists across these states told States Newsroom they are determined to protect that access, or to get it back. Arizona sees backlash after GOP upholds Civil War-era abortion ban In Arizona, the Dobbs decision resurrected a Civil War-era ban that allowed abortions only to save a pregnant patients life. Legislators repealed the law, but abortion-rights supporters fought for more certainty. This fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed ballot measure that would protect access until fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Now, two of the judges who upheld the abortion ban Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are up for reelection, in races infused with national cash by groups such as RFA and Planned Parenthood. Also on the ballot is Proposition 137, which would give lifetime appointments to state judges. The Republican-initiated measure has garnered controversy in part because it is retroactive to this years election, so if approved, any retention bids would be nullified even if the majority votes to unseat the judge. Ballot organizers turned in more than 800,000 signatures, double the required number, and overcame opponents legal challenges to qualify the abortion-rights ballot measure, Proposition 139. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but there are many state restrictions that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would eliminate, such as a ban on any abortions sought for fetal genetic abnormalities and a blocked law from 2021 granting personhood status to fertilized eggs. Recent deaths reignite controversy in Georgia This month, ProPublica reported on the deaths in 2022 of two Georgia women who suffered rare complications after they obtained mifepristone and misoprostol for early-term medication abortions. Both were trying to navigate a new state law that banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy and threatened medical providers with up to a decade in prison. In one case, doctors at an Atlanta-area hospital refused for 20 hours to perform a routine dilation and curettage, a D&C, to clear the patients uterus when her body hadnt expelled all the fetal tissue. In the other, a woman who had ordered the pills online suffered days of pain at home, fearful of seeking medical care. Both women left children behind. Georgias law permits abortion if the patients life is at risk, but medical providers have said the laws language is unclear, tying their hands and threatening the health of patients who have high-risk pregnancies. Their cases, which a state medical review committee found to be preventable, have galvanized activists in the state. Harris spoke at length about the women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, at a recent campaign event in Atlanta. She blamed their deaths on Georgias law, calling it the Trump abortion ban, because the former president appointed three justices he had promised would overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of this crisis, Harris said. Understand what a law like this means: Doctors have to wait until the patient is at deaths door before they take action. Youre saying that good policy, logical policy, moral policy, humane policy is about saying that a health care provider will only start providing that care when youre about to die? Trump has not commented on the deaths. He has repeatedly said this year that abortion access should be left to the states. He has dismissed the idea of a federal abortion ban, but during the presidential debate, he refused to say whether he would veto such legislation. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump addressed our great women (a demographic hes trailing among), saying, you will no longer be thinking about abortion, because it is now where it always had to be, with the states, and with the vote of the people. Abortion was a driving concern in this springs qualifying process for Georgias 2024 legislative elections the first opportunity for aspiring state lawmakers to jump on the ballot in response to their states severe abortion restrictions. Melita Easters, the executive director and founding chair of Georgia WIN List, which endorses Democratic women who support abortion rights, was already calling this years general election Roevember back when President Joe Biden was still the partys nominee. But Easters told States Newsroom that having Harris on the ticket instead has elevated the issue of reproductive freedom even more and has breathed new life into down-ballot campaigns. Easters said she is especially encouraged after a Democratic state House candidate in Alabama who ran on abortion rights flipped a Huntsville seat during a special election in March. Michigan Democrats continue betting on abortion Michigan was one of the earliest states post-Dobbs to show that abortion rights could be a strong election-winning issue. Months after the Supreme Courts ruling, Michiganders overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution; reelected Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to prioritize reproductive freedom; and voted for Democratic majorities in both chambers, giving the party a legislative trifecta for the first time in 40 years. In 2023, the legislature repealed a 1931 abortion ban that was still on the books and passed the Reproductive Health Act, expanding abortion access in the state. This year, state and national abortion-rights groups have campaigned in toss-up congressional districts across Michigan, warning that a federal ban would supersede the states protections. State judicial races, meanwhile, have attracted millions of dollars, as they could determine partisan control of the Michigan Supreme Court. Democrats secured a slim 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court in 2020 after Republican-nominated justices controlled the court for most of the last few decades. Nevada reproductive rights activists look to ballot initiative In Nevada, abortion remains legal through 24 weeks and beyond for specific health reasons. In 2023, the states Democratic-led legislature passed a law shielding patients and providers from out-of-state investigations related to abortion care; it was signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Seeking to cement these rights in the state constitution, reproductive health advocates mobilized a ballot initiative campaign, which they hope will drive voter turnout that would affect the presidential and down-ballot races. Constitutional amendments proposed through an initiative petition must be passed by voters twice, so if voters approve Question 6 in November, they will have to approve it again in 2026. In the states closely watched U.S. Senate race, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen currently edges Republican Sam Brown, who has had inconsistent positions on abortion and reproductive rights but opposes the abortion-rights measure. National anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America have notably not focused on Nevada in their campaign strategies. Growing Latinx voting bloc in North Carolina In North Carolina, many Democrats are campaigning in opposition to a 12-week abortion ban that the Republican-majority legislature passed last year after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. In a high-profile race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein faces Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has previously said he believes there is no compromise on abortion, according to NC Newsline. The lieutenant governor is now facing calls to withdraw from the race over comments made on a pornography website years ago, and Stein has started racking up endorsements from prominent state Republicans. Iliana Santillan, a political organizer who supports abortion rights, has focused on mobilizing Latinos, a growing voting bloc in the state. The executive director of progressive nonprofit El Pueblo and its political sister group La Fuerza NC told States Newsroom shes talked to many young women motivated to secure their own reproductive rights, including her college-age daughter. She said the Latinx community faces additional reproductive care barriers such as language and transportation, with undocumented immigrants scared to cross state lines without a drivers license. Santillan also said theres a misconception that all Latinos are against abortion because theyre Catholic, when in reality opposition to abortion skews among older voters. With older folks, the messaging that weve tested that has worked is: We dont want politicians to have a say in what we do with our bodies, Santillan said. Motivated voters in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the largest swing state and considered essential to win the White House. In a poll conducted this month by Spotlight PA and MassINC Polling Group, abortion ranked as the fifth most-important concern in the presidential race for likely voters, with 49% naming it as among their top issues. The issue is far more important to Democrats, however, with 85% calling it a top issue compared with 17% of Republicans. Among those who arent registered with either major party, 49% called it a top issue. In 2022, voters surprised pundits by sending enough Democrats to the state House to flip it blue. Voters were responding to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told Pennsylvania Capital-Star at a recent Harris campaign event. Shapiro also won in 2022, and so far his administration has supported over-the-counter birth control pills and ended the states contract with a network of anti-abortion counseling centers. He said his administration would not defend a current state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used for abortions. Abortion isnt protected under Pennsylvanias state constitution, but it remains legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and clinics there have seen an influx of out-of-state patients. Wisconsin abortion services resume After more than a year without abortion access, reproductive health clinics in Wisconsin resumed abortion services in September 2023, shortly after a judge ruled that a 1849 state law, which had widely been interpreted as an abortion ban, applied to feticide and not abortion. A state Supreme Court race a few months earlier saw Justice Janet Protasiewicz win in a landslide after campaigning on reproductive freedom. Seven months later when Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation, Lyerly threw her hat in the ring, running as the only Democrat in the 8th District. She now faces businessman Tony Wied. Although in the past it was considered a swing district, it has leaned conservative in recent election cycles. With the redrawn maps and national support, Lyerly said its a competitive race. We have the potential to really fix not just reproductive health care, but health care, Lyerly told States Newsroom. Bring the stories of our patients forward and help our colleagues understand, build those coalitions and help to gain consensus thats going to drive forward health care reform in this country. Wieds campaign website does not mention abortion or his policy proposals related to health care, though the words Trump-endorsed appear prominently and abundantly throughout the site. Wied hasnt said much about the issue beyond it should be a state issue, but the two are scheduled to debate this Friday night. His campaign declined an interview. Currently the only OB-GYNs who serve in Congress oppose abortion. If Lyerly wins in November, she would not only change that (potentially alongside Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison) but also could help flip party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most Wisconsin voters oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a poll this year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation. Patricia McFarland, 76, knows what its like to live without abortion access. For more than 50 years, the retired college instructor kept her pre-Roe abortion a secret, having grown up in a conservative Irish Catholic family like many of her suburban Milwaukee neighbors. McFarland told States Newsroom she has been politically active most of her life, but the Dobbs ruling dredged up the physical and emotional trauma from the illegal procedure she had alone in Mexico City. Now, McFarland rarely leaves home without her Roe Roe Roe Your Vote button, engaging anyone who will talk to her about the dangers of criminalizing pregnancy. The mother and grandmother said shes been canvassing and doing informational sessions with her activist group the PERSISTers, as well as the League of Women Voters. As she has warned fellow Wisconsin residents about the federal power over their reproductive freedom, she said the enthusiasm for abortion rights in her state is palpable. For women my age, McFarland said, we dont want our grandchildren to lose their ability to decide when to become a mother. Georgia Recorders Jill Nolin contributed to this report. Accused fentanyl dealer indicted for manslaughter for overdose at Tigard motel PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A police investigation of a fentanyl overdose death at a Tigard motel has resulted in the accused dealers manslaughter indictment, authorities said. On Sept. 12, officers responded to reports of an overdose at the motel in the 11400 block of Southwest Pacific Highway (99W), police said. Officials seek bad smell source in SW Wash, Portland Witnesses, paramedics and officers tried life-saving measures, including deploying Narcan and initiating CPR, but the man was not responsive, the Tigard Police Department said in a release. He was taken to the hospital and sadly, he later died. The man who died was identified as 42-year-old Ryan Hackett. Detectives identified a suspect, 31-year-old Timothy Donovan, who was safely arrested, officials said. On Tuesday, a Washington County grand jury indicted Donovan for second-degree manslaughter and unlawful delivery of a Schedule II substance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The former medical director of the state-run Glenwood Resource Center has been given a warning after being charged with professional incompetence. (Photo via Google Earth; seal courtesy the State of Iowa) State licensing officials who accused a former state-employed physician of gross malpractice or negligence have settled the case with a warning and requiring the doctor to surrender his already-expired license. State records indicate that in 2021, the Iowa Board of Medicine initiated an investigation of Dr. Mohammad E. Rehman, the former medical director of the state-run Glenwood Resource Center for individuals with disabilities. That was three years after the medical staff at Glenwood publicly issued a vote of no confidence in Rehmans abilities, and one year after Rehman resigned in lieu of being fired. In 2022, Rehmans license expired. More than two years later, in June of this year, the Board of Medicine filed formal charges against Rehman accusing him of professional incompetence an offense that is defined by the board as including willful or repeated gross malpractice, willful or gross negligence, a lack of knowledge or ability to discharge ones professional duties, or a failure to exercise a degree of care ordinarily exercised by physicians. With a hearing on the matter scheduled for September 2025, the board opted last week to settle the case against Rehman by issuing him a warning and requiring him to turn in his expired medical license. No fines or civil penalties were imposed. Although the case is now resolved, the board is not publicly disclosing the basis for the charges against Rehman or stating how, where or when the offending conduct took place. The board has also given no indication as to whether any patients were harmed by Rehmans conduct. Unlike other states, Iowas licensing boards typically dont disclose the specific allegations that lead to disciplinary charges against licensees. In cases that are settled without a hearing, the boards also dont disclose the reasoning behind their decisions. Rehmans resignation at Glenwood followed staff complaints of poor medical care, reports that the death rate at Glenwood had doubled, and a federal investigation into sexual arousal studies the home was planning to conduct on residents. Rehman and Glenwoods former superintendent were also among the defendants named in a civil lawsuit filed by six former Glenwood employees, including two physicians and a nurse practitioner. The lawsuit alleged Rehman had criticized doctors for providing residents with too much diagnostic care and treatment, and for sending too many patients to area hospitals for treatment rather than providing treatment using Glenwood staff. The plaintiffs also alleged Rehman directed others to falsify or erase entries in medical records to hide damaging information that Rehman did not want to appear in the regularly audited patient records. A Polk County judge dismissed the case earlier this year after ruling the plaintiffs had failed to show a clearly defined and well-recognized public policy that protected their activities at Glenwood, and that they had failed to show they acted as whistleblowers by reporting their concerns to law enforcement or other public officials. The plaintiffs have appealed that ruling. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Tillamook County Sheriffs Office announced a sex abuse suspect has been arrested and said there may be more victims out there. Tillamook resident David Robert Sinohuiz, 29, was arrested Tuesday morning on seven charges, including rape and sex abuse, the Tillamook County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post. New Balance to release Benson-High-inspired shoe The sheriffs office also released photos of Sinohuiz, who had been indicted by a Tillamook County Grand Jury on the various crimes, which officials said all fall under Oregon Measure 11. Tillamook resident David Robert Sinohuiz, 29, was arrested on seven charges, including rape and sex abuse. September 25, 2024 (courtesy Tillamook County Sheriffs Office). Tillamook resident David Robert Sinohuiz, 29, was arrested on seven charges, including rape and sex abuse. September 25, 2024 (courtesy Tillamook County Sheriffs Office). Sinohuiz faces charges that include first-degree rape, two counts of unlawful sexual penetration, two counts of second-degree sex abuse and two counts of first-degree sodomy. Hes being held in the Tillamook County Jail with a cash bail set at $250,000. TCSO Deputy Chris Barnett, the lead investigator in the case, said he believes Sinohuiz is a violent sexual predator who may have more victims out there. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Morning Digest [W]e hope they will reach out to us, Barnett said. Anyone with more information about the case is encouraged to contact the Tillamook County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Achieving gender equality for women in workplace could take nearly 50 years: study (KRON) McKinsey & Companys tenth annual Women in the Workplace report has been released. A common theme of the report was finding the path to parity. According to the study, more than 1,000 companies were surveyed including more than 15,000 employees and more than 280 HR leaders. McKinsey & Company said the study takes into consideration intersectional biases and barriers that are commonly faced by Asian, Black, Latina, and LGBTQ+ women and differently-abled people. Here are a few of the studys findings: In 2024, for every 100 men promoted to managerial roles, only 81 women did the same. In 2015, women occupied only 17% of C-suite positions, which is the organizations top senior executives. Now, women are 29% of the senior executive positions, however, the increase has been slower for entry and managerial levels. The study shows women are less likely to be hired in entry-level positions. There has been a 3% decline in women in entry-level positions since 2015. The study calls the phenomenon the broken rung in the corporate ladder. 2 Bay Area cities ranked best for women: study Black and Latina women have seen the greatest disparity in the broken rung in 2024. In the last two years, only 54 Black women were promoted to be a manager, in comparison to 100 men. This is a deep regression from 2022, where the ratio of 99 Black women to 100 men being promoted. According to the study, 11 fewer Latina women have been promoted per 100 men in the last year. Per the study, Asian women have experienced the most improvements. McKinsey & Companys senior partner Alexis Krivkovich and one of the founders of the study told KRON4 the most staggering revelation of the study, which was the ageism for female workers. The most surprising thing for me was our findings on ageismhalf of women under 30 think their age is getting in the way of opportunity for themWhen you look at the data on their progression, and that first step up to manager, the data would suggest, sadly, that thats absolutely right, Krivkovich told KRON4.com. It will take almost 50 years to achieve gender equality for all women, per the study. For white women, the gap could potentially be closed in 22 years. For women of color, it will take another 26 years to bridge the gap, according to the study. Krivkovich moderated a panel discussing the report with the CEO of Xero Sukhinder Singh Cassidy and the Founder of artificial intelligence app Fable Padmasree Warrior. Both Warrior and Cassidy believe a way to bridge the gap is male allyship. In many instances, women have to express wanting a leadership role as opposed to the roles being presented. Removing unconscious bias, Warriors says, can aid in womens growth. Its not our responsibility as women to always say, Yeah, Im ready for that job, said Warrior. She suggests people in managerial roles inquire about next-step positions to all the employees who have the potential and skills to perform the duties. Cassidy said the path to parity is not men versus women, but a group of people who grow together. Here is a link to the full review on McKinsey & Companys website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. People inspect damages caused by an overnight Israeli air raid attack in the area of Jiyeh along the coastal highway between the southern port city of Sidon and Beirut. Marwan Naamani/dpa More than 100 Syrian refugees have been killed since the beginning of the massive Israeli bombings in Lebanon, including 23 women and 32 children, human rights activists said on Thursday. Syrian refugees fleeing the horrors of war in their own country are now facing death at the hands of the violent Israeli attacks, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. They are caught between hard choices: staying in Lebanon under Israeli fire or returning to areas controlled by the Syrian government, where they face arrest and abduction. An estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in Lebanon. Due to the rising cost of living, many of them are homeless. As a result of the new attacks, even more of them are now sleeping in parks or on the streets. Some people living in eastern Lebanon also entered Syria in recent days, where, almost 15 years after the start of the civil war, there are still no opportunities for a safe return. According to UN figures, the Israeli attacks have displaced around 200,000 people in Lebanon since October 2023. Actress Jennifer Lawrence spoke to People Magazine about how abortion access is the key issue driving her support for Vice President Kamala Harris. Lawrence, an Oscar-winning actress, rose to fame as the protagonist in the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games" franchise, has frequently spoken out about her feminist views. This election, she told People Magazine, is one where "abortion is literally on the ballot." "I'm voting for Kamala Harris because I think she's an amazing candidate and I know that she will do whatever she can to protect reproductive rights," she told the celebrity news outlet. "That's the most important thing, is to not let somebody into the White House who is going to ban abortion." Lawrence has continued her career of storytelling by both producing and promoting films through her production company, Excellent Cadaver. She spoke about two upcoming documentary films her company will release in 2024, one of which is Zurawski v Texas. This documentary will shed light on abortion providers who sued the state of Texas in 2023, and is reportedly co-produced with Hillary and Chelsea Clinton. Jennifer Lawrence speaks onstage during the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards New York on May 11, 2024, in New York City. Jennifer Lawrence Flamed For Claiming She Was First-ever Female Action Movie Lead: 'Oh Honey, No' "Women are dying," Lawrence said, suggesting the film project could "enlighten people's idea of what abortion is and why certain people need abortions and why it's so important to keep lawmakers out of families and out of people's doctors' offices These laws are made by random [W]hite men, and they're not made by healthcare providers." Read On The Fox News App The other documentary film, Bread and Roses, is from Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani, and shows the plight of Afghan women under Taliban rule. Jennifer Lawrence attends the Christian Dior Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 26, 2023, in Paris, France. Jennifer Lawrence Bashes 'Radical Wing' Of Republicans Pushing Voter Restrictions In New Psa People Magazine reported on how Lawrence hopes these film projects can have a political impact, "Lawrence hopes both films inspire audiences to contact their leaders, donate, volunteer and most of all, she says, exercise their civic duty. Take action by voting, she says. The most important thing that we can do right now is just vote." Original article source: Actress Jennifer Lawrence explains why she is endorsing Harris, slams laws written by random White men Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, works on the House floor at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The star of a new ad from a national Republican group that hits Democratic congressional candidate Janelle Bynum over her record on criminal justice issues is a top GOP legislative aide and campaign operative. Thats not disclosed in the 30-second ad from the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC that began airing the ads on TV in Oregons 5th Congressional District on Tuesday. The ad consists of a woman identified only as Renee P. saying that politicians like Bynum are responsible for open drug use and hardened criminals being released from prison early, over footage of trash, people smoking fentanyl, a homeless tent and a jewelry store theft. Renee P. is Renee Perry, who has worked since 2019 as chief of staff to state Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany and a former deputy caucus leader. As of June, she made a base salary of $8,500 monthly, or more than $102,000 annually, the highest salary available for legislative assistants, according to public records. She also works for Boshart Davis campaign, which has paid her more than $12,000 since June for management services, state campaign finance data shows. Perry previously lived in the 5th District and posted a photo to her public Facebook page in 2022 showing her ballot filled out for Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who won the election. Perry moved to Eugene over the summer, per Lane County property tax records and her public Facebook posts, and she is now registered to vote in the 4th Congressional District, represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle. Perry and the Congressional Leadership Fund, which is dedicated to electing Republicans to Congress, did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. The Congressional Leadership Fund reserved $5.5 million in ads in the Portland market, which includes three competitive races Oregons 5th and 6th, now represented by Democrat Andrea Salinas, and Washingtons 3rd, represented by Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez. Key race for the House The 5th District is one of only a handful of true tossups in the country, and it could determine which party controls the U.S. House. Democratic President Joe Biden won it by 9 percentage points in 2020, Chavez-DeRemer won by 2 points in 2022 and a poll released this week by Bynums campaign showed the race as a statistical tie. Republicans have focused on Bynums record on police and criminal justice issues and her 2020 endorsement of Measure 110, a voter-approved law that decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs. Bynum joined a bipartisan group of legislators who voted to create a new misdemeanor classification for drug possession, which went into effect Sept. 1, and she was one of a handful of Democrats who voted with Republicans to force a vote on a stricter Republican-led measure. As chair of the House Judiciary Committee in 2021, she played a key role in passing a suite of nine new laws most supported by Republicans including Boshart Davis that responded to police and protests. Among other things, the new laws limited officers abilities to arrest protesters or journalists covering protests for failing to follow orders and required officers in larger cities to wear their name, badge number or other identifying information on their uniforms. A male voiceover in the new ad also says Bynum wrote the plan to release thousands of criminals from prison early. She was one of five Democratic legislators who sent then-Gov. Kate Brown a letter in June 2020 urging Brown to release early people incarcerated for non-violent crimes who had less than 120 days left on their sentence or had less than 180 days and had housing waiting for them. The Democratic lawmakers described their pitch as a way to reduce government spending and reduce the risk of COVID spreading through the prison system. The Congressional Leadership Fund ad comes less than a month after the National Republican Congressional Committee criticized Bynum for an ad featuring stock images and video of actors playing police officers. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Is Adams the first mayor to be indicted in NYC? Is Adams the first mayor to be indicted in NYC? NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams is the first mayor in the history of New York City to be indicted while in office. The mayor was indicted on federal criminal charges, sources told PIX11 News Wednesday night. The charges against Adams are still sealed. Complete coverage of Mayor Adams indictment The indictment follows a tumultuous month at City Hall marked by federal investigations and a slew of resignations from top city officials, including Adams chief legal counsel, the NYPD commissioner, the health commissioner, and the chancellor of New York Citys public schools. Adams has been under federal investigation related to fundraising during his 2021 mayoral campaign. Adams responded to the indictment, calling the charges entirely false and based on lies and claims he would request an immediate trial if charged. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. Several local and city officials have called on Adams to resign, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. More Local News If Adams resigns or is removed from office, Public Advocate Jumanne Williams would serve as the acting mayor until a special election or general election is held. The next mayoral election in New York City is set for Nov. 4, 2025. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. We recently compiled a list of the 8 Dividend Giants with Lowest Short Interest in 2024. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) stands against the other dividend giants with lowest short interest. Short sellers have faced significant challenges over the past few years, as the market's ongoing rally has not been favorable to them, with 2023 being no exception. According to S3 Partners Research, investors betting against US and Canadian stocks incurred paper losses totaling $194.9 billion last year due to a sharp market rally. The report highlighted that 2023 was a particularly tough year for short sellers, with tech stocks soaring 43.4% and the broader market rising 24.2%. Despite the difficulties, some investors managed to profit from short positions, particularly during the banking crisis in March last year. Short selling is a common and regulated investment strategy that investors use when they believe a stock is overpriced based on their research. It enhances market liquidity, contributes to market stability, and helps both investors and companies manage risk in their portfolios. Short selling isn't just used for excitement; it plays a key role in improving price accuracy, ensuring more efficient capital allocation, preventing financial bubbles, and revealing fraud. According to a report by the Washington-based Managed Funds Association, short selling signaled that the US housing market was overvalued in 2008, helping to limit the broader impact of the financial crisis. The report also mentioned that over the past two decades, short selling has exposed numerous corporate frauds, including cases like Enron, Tyco, Worldcom, MBIA, Insys Therapeutics, Valeant, and Wirecard, among others. In August, short sellers focused their attention on airlines due to increasing concerns about the sector, which has been experiencing declines in earnings and rising costs, according to a report from data and technology firm Hazeltree. Some investors and analysts believe that the airline industry, which is cyclical and closely linked to macroeconomic conditions, may be heading for another downturn as travel demand normalizes after COVID-19 and consumers become more sensitive to pricing. The Hazeltree report also noted that traders made bets against banks during the same month. Short sellers have clearly identified opportunities in neglected or struggling segments of the market. Last year, the instability among regional banks drew the attention of short sellers, who examined these lenders' balance sheets for weaknesses related to rising interest rates and took positions against their stocks. In 2023, while the overall market was on an upward trend, this sector proved to be particularly lucrative for these traders. The volatility experienced by regional bank stocks earlier this year once again led to significant paper profits for short sellers, mirroring the gains achieved during last years disruptions in the sector. As a result, analysts are reassessing their view of short sellers. Carson Block, founder of Muddy Waters Research, believes that markets are increasingly reliant on short sellers. However, he pointed out that ongoing stock rallies and emerging regulatory hurdles are posing challenges for bearish investors, making it harder for them to secure capital. With this, we will take a look at some dividend giants with the lowest short interest. Our Methodology: To create this list, we used the Finviz stock screener to find dividend stocks with a market capitalization of at least $10 billion and dividend yields exceeding 3% as of September 22. We then narrowed down the selection to stocks with less than 3% of their float sold short, using data from Yahoo Finance recorded on September 22. The stocks are arranged in descending order based on their short interest rates. We also measured hedge fund sentiment around each stock according to Insider Monkeys database of 912 funds as of Q2 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here). An automated assembly line producing a variety of packaging products. Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) Short % of Float as of September 22: 1.61% Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) is a global multinational packaging company that offers a wide range of related products for different industries. The company has demonstrated global resilience throughout its history. Founded in the 1860s as Australian Paper Manufacturers, it has evolved significantly over the years. In 2000, the company shifted its focus by selling off its paper goods business. Since then, Amcor has grown through a series of strategic acquisitions, including the $7 billion acquisition of Bemis in 2019, which helped establish its leadership in the global packaging industry. Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) ended fiscal 2024 on a strong note, with its core business showing continued sequential improvement in both volume and earnings growth. Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS rose by 9%, surpassing the company's April expectations. Volumes saw year-over-year growth as customer demand strengthened, while the team remained focused on cost management, leading to significant margin expansion. In addition, annual adjusted free cash flow was at the high end of the projected range, increasing by 12% compared to the previous year. In fiscal Q4 2024, the company reported revenue of $3.54 billion, which fell slightly by 3.7% from the same period last year. Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) is a strong dividend payer as the company has remained committed to its shareholder obligation over the years. In FY24, it returned $750 million to investors through dividends and share repurchases. The company's ability to make dividend payments was supported by its robust free cash flow, which amounted to $952 million, up 12% from last year. It currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.51%, as of September 22. It is one of the best dividend giants as the company maintains a 40-year streak of consistent dividend growth. The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey holding stakes in Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) grew to 21 in Q2 2024, from 17 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $115 million. Overall AMCR ranks 5th on our list of dividend giants with lowest short interest in 2024. While we acknowledge the potential AMCR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AMCR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams was planning to spend Thursday touting the citys progress getting housing built amid a shortage. Instead, he was playing defense against a criminal indictment. City Halls top technocrats attempted to get on with business as usual under the most unusual circumstances: a 57-page federal indictment following an early-morning raid of the mayors official residence, all of which upended his scheduled events. And while staffers said agency work is continuing apace, some said the turmoil surrounding Adams could mar administration priorities, like a high-profile zoning plan slated for a City Council vote this fall. Kathy Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, emphasized the importance of that kind of focus right now. Clearly the indictment has the potential to really damage morale and I think our job as New Yorkers is to try and express our support and appreciation for people who are working hard and doing their jobs and are not involved in this case, Wylde said in an interview. Its necessary to prove that even under the cloud of the indictment, the administration and the city as a whole can get things done. She said shes concerned about how the pattern of city employees exiting high-powered positions will impact the functioning of government. Since federal agents raided the homes and seized the phones of five top Adams officials earlier this month, the head of the NYPD was forced out, the schools chancellor left and City Halls top attorney abruptly quit. Those departures came after Adams lost a political battle with the City Council to install his preferred lawyer to head the department that handles litigation against the city and its employees. That agency remains without a leader. I think theres definitely the concern, at what point do people truly just lose faith in this administration, and as a result, our work, said one city official who was granted anonymity to speak freely about a sensitive matter. If youre a very public figure within this administration, you do have to think about your future and your reputation, and how long you can stay aligned even if you arent named in these indictments, or named in these raids. The struggle for a mayor whose motto is get stuff done to focus on the stuff of city governance was on display Thursday. Adams was expected to join Gov. Kathy Hochul at an event to celebrate housing getting built under an extended tax break they pushed for in Albany this year, according to four people familiar with the plans. The announcement was canceled Wednesday night as news of the indictment broke. Deputy Mayors Meera Joshi and Maria Torres-Springer, meanwhile, went ahead with a planned press conference in Brooklyn announcing a new city fund to help building owners comply with legally required energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions limits. And Torres-Spring hinted at the burgeoning concerns in a social media caption that read, As life-long public servants, we remain committed to serving New Yorkers to the best of our abilities. In an email Thursday to city employees addressing the indictment, Adams urged focus. While my legal team thoroughly reviews the allegations that were just released publicly, let me be very clear, I know Ive done nothing wrong. I am committed to continuing to fight on behalf of New Yorkers as your mayor, he wrote in the email, which POLITICO obtained. And it is critical, now more than ever, that you all remain focused on delivering for New Yorkers as well. Nonetheless, some agencies will have a harder time distancing themselves from the fallout. The FDNY and Department of Buildings should do an immediate inspection of the Turkish consular building, which was never properly inspected based on the Federal indictment papers. It is 36 stories tall and people's lives may be at risk, state Sen. Liz Krueger wrote on X Thursday. The indictment accuses Adams, then mayor in waiting, of influencing the opening of the Turkish building despite safety concerns and after receiving illegal campaign contributions from Turkish donors. On the other side of City Hall, where the City Council proceeded with a planned vote Thursday to approve a package of maternal mental health legislation, Speaker Adrienne Adams said she has not spoken with the mayor with whom she already had an icy relationship. The speaker will play a critical role in shaping the mayors City of Yes housing blueprint, which is slated for a council vote later this fall. Thus far, the proposal the centerpiece of Adams housing agenda has been largely under the purview of the Department of City Planning. The mayors office typically gets more involved in land use matters toward the end of the public review process, but in this case, the chaos surrounding the mayor stands to weaken City Halls negotiating position. The mayors reputation is in tatters right now, hes lacking credibility, hes losing his top talent, but at the same time, were a council that wants to build housing, said one lawmaker who was granted anonymity to speak freely. The council will have a lot of leverage in order to get to what the mayor would consider a win. The indictment which came down hours after Adams appointed a schools chancellor following the mid-school-year resignation of David Banks, whose home was raided could also paralyze the nations largest school system. The Department of Education which oversees 1,600 schools that serve 900,000 students is in the throes of implementing reading and math curricula and a costly class size-reduction mandate. He [Adams] will need every ounce of his strength and spirit to fight these charges. Hard for any human being to do that and at the same time, focus on running the largest school system in the nation, said state Sen. John Liu, who heads the Senates New York City Education Committee, who called on Adams to resign. The news will also have ripple effects on the mayors succession strategy: Melissa Aviles-Ramos succeeding Banks when he steps down at the end of the year. Her tenure could be short-lived if Adams resigns. Two staffers at Tweed Courthouse, the DOEs headquarters in Lower Manhattan, said the indictment is casting a cloud over the agency, and employees were caught off guard by news of Banks resignation. They too were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. Now everything is crumbling, one employee said. There is a lot of uncertainty and concerns about what kind of ability we will have to produce our work in terms of clarity and goals as well as how people will perceive us. The indictment could complicate Adams ability to negotiate his priorities in Albany when the legislative session begins in January and he has to beg for municipal aid from often hostile lawmakers. Liu said Adams legal troubles underscore what he sees as the shortcomings of mayoral control, whereby New York City mayors unilaterally run the public school system an arrangement renewed every few years by Albany. [It] is a system that is subject to fast-changing developments, fits and starts if you will, that do not promote the long-term stability of public schools, Liu said. Key to mayoral control is the Panel for Educational Policy, which votes on the citys education policies and contracts. It is effectively a rubber stamp for the mayors policies given that he appoints the majority of its 24 members. Jessamyn Lee, a representative for Brooklyn parent leaders, expressed reservations about approving any contracts that come before the panel because hes accused of bribery. Adams is maintaining his innocence and vowing to fight the charges. Banks skipped the panels first meeting Wednesday evening, hours before news of Adams indictment broke and after he and the mayor announced his successor. Aviles-Ramos was in attendance. A DOE spokesperson told POLITICO Wednesday that he changed his schedule. Panel chair Gregory Faulkner whom Adams recently appointed as part of a new selection process led by Albany officials promised continuity despite the legal chaos. I had been chair for over a year, he said. Im gonna continue the work. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges, sources told PIX11 News Wednesday. Adams has been under federal investigation related to fundraising during his 2021 mayoral campaign. The charges against Adams are still sealed. The indictment follows a tumultuous month at City Hall marked by federal investigations and a slew of resignations from top city officials, including Adams chief legal counsel, the NYPD commissioner, the health commissioner, and the chancellor of New York Citys public schools. More Local News Adams released a statement following the indictment: I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. Adams released a video, claiming the charges are entirely false and based on lies. It is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes. If so, these charges would be entirely false based on lies. For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty. Adams continued, saying if he is charged, he will request an immediate trial. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life. That fight has continued as your mayor. Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics, he said. Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case. I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations. But I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation startedyet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this cityand lead it I will. Calls for Adams to resign are mounting following the indictment. Among officials calling for Adams to step down are New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (PIX11) Despite being indicted on federal criminal charges Wednesday, Eric Adams remains New York Citys mayor. Many questions loom in the wake of the historic indictment, including whether Adams should stay in office through the end of his term. Under the New York City constitution, Adams is still mayor even if arrested. Complete coverage of Mayor Adams indictment There are only two scenarios where Adams is not acting mayor. Adams could resign, something many elected officials have already pushed him to do. However, Adams has repeatedly maintained his ability to run the mayors office even if he is under federal investigation. Immediately after the indictment, Adams said he is innocent and intends to continue leading the city. If I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case. I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations, Adams said in a statement. Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this cityand lead it I will. The only person who could remove Adams from his post is Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochuls intervention is the only other way Adams would no longer be mayor. The mayor may be removed from office by the governor upon charges and after service upon him of a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in his defense, reads the New York City constitution. Pending the preparation and disposition of charges, the governor may suspend the mayor for a period not exceeding thirty days. If suspended by Hochul, the next person in line to succeed Adams is Public Advocate Jumaane Williams or New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, according to the citys constitution. The New York governors ability to remove a New York City mayor from office has never been used, and only two other former mayors have resigned. This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. DES MOINES, Iowa After a review of an investigation into the fatal shooting of a Nebraska man by two Des Moines police officers, the Iowa Attorney Generals Office has concluded the shooting was legally justified. The incident happened back on July 30th when police were contacted about 45-year-old Weston Derby violating a no-contact order with his ex-girlfriend. Senior Police Officer Jesse Schneider and Police Officer Anthony Lampman of the Des Moines Police Department responded to the incident in the 5800 block of SE 35th Circle shortly after 3:30 a.m. The AGs review, based on an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, reveals Derby had been to his ex-girlfriends home six times in the week leading up to his death. He left the woman a letter threatening to drown a small animal in a nearby lake if she refused to meet him and also another letter blaming her for destroying his life. She obtained a no-contact order against Derby the day before his death. Audit: Federal funds for flood recovery in Hamburg misused The officers spotted the vehicle Derby was driving, which later was determined to be stolen, in the area and there was a short chase. A PIT maneuver was used and the SUV went off the road in the 4300 block of E. Army Post Road. Derby left the vehicle and ran into the thick vegetation. Officials said Derby turned toward officers and produced what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun, first pointing it at his own head. The review said Officer Schneider pointed his gun at Derby and ordered him to drop to the ground. Officer Lampman also gave similar commands, but Derby refused. The AGs review describes what happened next: Instead, Derby told the officers he was going to point the gun at himself and then the officers, so they would shoot him. Derby told the officer not to f*** with him and to leave him alone. Derby then pointed the weapon at his head. The two officers demanded multiple times for Derby to drop the gun. He did not. Using both hands with arms extended, he pointed the weapon at the officers as if he were going to shoot them. Both Officers Schneider and Lampman opened fire, striking Derby multiple times. Derby fell to the ground. Derby died at the scene. The gun found next to him was determined to be a WP4: Black Gamo brand P-27 Dual 0.177 caliber pellet gun. The review said it is nearly indistinguishable from a semi-automatic handgun. Officer Schneider was injured in the incident and it was determined later he had been injured by a shot fired by Officer Lampman. The AGs review also revealed information about Derbys previous criminal history, including terroristic threats, violation of a protective order, assault, possession of a controlled substance, and violence with law enforcement. The Attorney Generals Office concluded that criminal charges in this case are not warranted against the officers and the investigation is closed. On Wednesday, the Polk County Attorneys Office released its findings in the case, also determining the use of deadly force was justified. The Des Moines Police Department released some of the bodycam and dashcam video from the incident on Thursday. The officers involved remain on paid administrative assignment as per policy, while the official administrative review process of the shooting takes place. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Damaged shops in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, on May 30, 2024 (-) (-/AFP/AFP) Air strikes and shelling rocked Khartoum on Thursday as the army attacked paramilitary positions across the Sudanese capital, witnesses and a military source told AFP. The clashes began at dawn, several residents reported, in what appeared to be the army's first major offensive in months to regain parts of the capital controlled by the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. It comes the same day Sudan's de facto leader, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, addressed the UN General Assembly in New York. On the eve of his address, UN chief Antonio Guterres voiced concern to Burhan "about the escalation of the conflict in the Sudan", the United Nations said. Burhan called in his address for the "rebel militia to be designated as a terrorist group" and accused the RSF of obstructing peace efforts. On the ground, Sudanese army forces were "waging fierce fighting against the rebel militia inside Khartoum", a source in the military told AFP, referring to the RSF. The source, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said army forces had crossed three key bridges over the Nile -- which had separated parts of the capital held by the army from those under RSF control. - 'Political cover' - Since April 2023, when war broke out between Burhan's Sudanese Armed Forces and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the paramilitaries had largely pushed the army out of Khartoum. In its last major offensive in February, the army regained much of Omdurman, the capital's twin city across the Nile and part of greater Khartoum. The government loyal to the army is based in Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast, where the army has retained control. The RSF meanwhile has taken control of nearly all of the vast western region of Darfur, rampaged through the agricultural heartland of central Sudan and pushed into the army-controlled southeast. In his address at the UN, Burhan accused "countries in the region" of providing the RSF with "financial support, mercenaries and political cover". The army chief did not name the countries, but his government has repeatedly accused the United Arab Emirates of funnelling arms to the paramilitaries from neighbouring Chad in violation of the arms embargo on Darfur. United Nations experts last year found the accusations "credible", and diplomats say the United States has in private pressed the UAE over its support to the RSF. - 'Intense' shelling - In Omdurman, a witness said the sound of bombs, which had "jolted them from sleep" at dawn, continued through the day. Several residents of Omdurman reported "intense artillery shelling" falling on residential buildings while military warplanes flew overhead. "In our neighbourhood alone, three people have been killed today," one Omdurman resident told AFP, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal. Amid an effective communications blackout and a crippled healthcare system, it was not possible to verify any casualty toll. Since the war began, much of its worst fighting has been in densely populated areas and both sides have been accused of war crimes, including indiscriminately bombing residential areas. The war has already killed tens of thousands of people, with the World Health Organization saying at least 20,000 people have been killed, but some estimates of up to 150,000. It has also created the world's largest displacement crisis, the UN says. More than 10 million people -- around a fifth of Sudan's population -- have been forced from their homes, according to UN figures. Famine has been declared in Zamzam refugee camp in Darfur near the city of El-Fasher, where the RSF last weekend launched a large-scale offensive after months of siege. El-Fasher is the only one of five state capitals in Darfur not yet in RSF hands. In his meeting with Burhan, Guterres said the war "risks a regional spillover," the UN said. "People in Sudan have endured 17 months of hell, and the suffering continues to grow," top UN relief official Joyce Msuya said separately. bur-bha/kir Airdropping vaccines to eliminate canine rabies in Texas two scientists explain the decades of research behind its success Rabies is a deadly disease. Without vaccination, a rabies infection is nearly 100% fatal once someone develops symptoms. Texas has experienced two rabies epidemics in animals since 1988: one involving coyotes and dogs in south Texas, and the other involving gray foxes in west central Texas. Affecting 74 counties, these outbreaks led to thousands of people who could have been exposed, two human deaths and countless animal lives lost. In 1994, Gov. Ann Richards declared rabies a state health emergency. The Texas Department of State Health Services responded by launching the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program to control the spread of these wildlife rabies outbreaks. Since 1995, the program has distributed over 53 million doses of rabies vaccine over 758,100 square miles (nearly 2 million square kilometers) in Texas by hand or aircraft. Rabies cases in dogs and coyotes went from 141 to 0 by 2005, and rabies cases in foxes went from 101 to 0 by 2014. By 2004, one canine rabies variant was effectively eliminated from Texas, and another variant was substantially controlled. We are researchers who began studying wildlife rabies and oral vaccination in the 1980s. From providing a proof of concept in using oral vaccines in raccoons to being among the first to use new rabies vaccines in the 1990s, we were on the ground floor of efforts to contain this deadly virus. Decades of vaccine research led to one of the most successful public health projects in Texas. And were hopeful it could provide a road map for the use of mass wildlife vaccination to prevent future outbreaks. Developing the oral rabies vaccine The Texas Oral Rabies Vaccination Program benefited greatly from the work of multiple researchers over prior decades. The mid-20th century saw several major developments in rabies control. With the failure of efforts to poison or trap infected animals, virologist and veterinarian George Baer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized the need for a different strategy to prevent and control wildlife rabies. His and his colleagues work in the 1960s led to the concept of oral rabies vaccination. While orally vaccinating wildlife would help combat infection at its source, it was previously thought to be logistically unfeasible given the large range of target animals. By the late 1970s, European researchers began the first field trials to orally vaccinate foxes against rabies. Small plastic containers were filled with vaccines and placed into baits, such as chicken heads. Over 50,000 of these vaccine-laden baits were distributed over four years in fox habitats in forests and fields. Early vaccine baits were coated with fishmeal crumbles and cod liver oil. Maki et al/Veterinary Research, CC BY-ND Researchers in Canada also began similar field trials in Ontario. During the 1980s, an average of 235 rabid foxes per year were reported in the area. Baits containing oral rabies vaccine were dropped annually from 1989 to 1995 and successfully eliminated the fox variant of rabies from the whole area. Recombinant oral rabies vaccine The first generation of these vaccines used live viruses modified in an attempt to not cause severe disease. Although effective and generally safe, the original rabies vaccines had to be kept in cool temperatures and had the rare risk of causing rabies in animals. In the early 1980s, scientists developed recombinant rabies vaccines, which use a separate virus to express the genes of the rabies virus. A collaboration between a nonprofit institute, the U.S. government, and the pharmaceutical industry led to the development of a recombinant viral vaccine that produced a rapid immune response against rabies without the possibility of causing rabies. In 1984, preliminary work in laboratory animals showed the promise of using an oral form of the recombinant vaccine to vaccinate animals. However, the concept of using genetically modified organisms was in its infancy among both scientists and the general public. While the vaccine was safe and effective in captive raccoons and foxes, major questions loomed over how it might affect other species once released into the environment. After years of work improving the vaccines design and testing its safety in several nonhuman species, the first European trial was held on a military base in Belgium. With data supporting it could safely and effectively control wildlife in Luxembourg and France, the vaccine was licensed to control fox rabies in 1995. In the U.S., similar studies of the oral recombinant rabies vaccine were conducted. The first trial began in 1990 at Parramore Island off the Virginia coast, and a year of intensive monitoring found no significant adverse effects on the environment or any wildlife species. A second yearlong study on the mainland near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, had similarly positive results. After the vaccine was successfully used to control raccoon rabies in tests in several other East Coast states, it was approved for use on raccoons in 1997. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received funding to expand existing oral wildlife vaccination projects to states of strategic importance, to prevent the spread of specific rabies viruses, and to coordinate interstate projects. Results in Texas In Texas, the oral recombinant vaccine is now primarily distributed by hand and by approximately 75 separate helicopter flights annually. The Texas Department of State Health Services rabies laboratory worked alongside the CDC to create the Regional Rabies Virus Reference Typing Laboratory. One of us was recruited to both distribute the vaccine in the field and to develop molecular typing tools to discriminate between different types of rabies virus variants in the lab. These techniques allowed us to identify where different rabies virus variants were emerging at any given moment. Our lab was also the first in the nation outside of the CDC to assist other U.S. states and countries in testing their specimens for rabies virus variants. These techniques helped researchers monitor where the rabies epizootic was ongoing or retreating due to wildlife vaccination and new forms of spread. With the constant threat of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases like COVID-19 and influenza, the prospect of mass vaccination of wild animals may be one way to address future pandemics. Though there is much work ahead of us, we have hope that we may one day have the option of using mass wildlife vaccination to reduce or eliminate infectious diseases like rabies. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Rodney E. Rohde, Texas State University and Charles Rupprecht, Auburn University Read more: Rodney E. Rohde has received funding from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA), and other public and private entities/foundations. Rohde is affiliated with ASCP, ASCLS, ASM, and serves on several scientific advisory boards. Charles E. Rupprecht consults for global academic, governmental, industrial and NGO organizations. He receives funding from academic, governmental, industrial, and NGO sources. This Is the Airline Most Likely to Bump You, According to a Study The airline with the worst record is far ahead of the others. Erlon Silva/Getty Images Passengers waiting in line at their gate to board their flight Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines is the most likely to bump passengers, far surpassing other major airlines in the United States. Frontier involuntarily bumped 3.21 people per 10,000 passengers from the beginning of 2023 to 2024, according to a study from Upgraded Points that was shared with Travel + Leisure. That was 400 percent more than any other U.S. airline. American Airlines involuntarily bumped the second-most passengers in the country with a rate of 0.60 per 10,000 travelers, followed by Spirit Airlines with a rate of 0.43 per 10,000 travelers. "Few travel experiences are more frustrating than being bumped from a flight after purchasing a ticket. Yet it happens frequently since airlines routinely sell more tickets than available seats in anticipation of no-shows," Keri Stooksbury, the editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points, said in a statement shared with T+L. "We studied this industry practice to give travelers a heads-up on which carriers are most likely to have this issue." On the other end of the spectrum was Delta Air Lines and Allegiant Air, which each boasted zero involuntary denied boardings. However, Delta did have the highest number of voluntary bumps with a rate of 7.49 per 10,000 passengers. Airlines often offer compensation for volunteers willing to be bumped when the airline overbooks flights. That compensation can include anything from cash to an upgraded seat on a later flight or lounge access. However, the Upgraded Points study found the amount of compensation travelers are willing to accept to miss their scheduled flights varies by state. In Arkansas, for example, travelers will agree to be bumped for an average minimum of $382, according to the study. But in California, passengers demand a higher rate with an average minimum of $832. The layover wait time and time of year (like if its the holidays) also play into whether or not travelers are willing to give up their seats. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Al Jazeera Media Network is launching a streaming platform called Al Jazeera 360 that the Qatar-based news network is hailing as a digital milestone and a gateway for the public to watch its news content without restrictions at a time of mounting tensions over its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Following the Al Jazeera 360 kickoff on Sept. 15, the streamer which is free-of-charge and currently only in Arabic language has drawn more than a million views in its first week of service and hit more than 300,000 app downloads, according to Jamal Elshayyal, the networks digital content manager. More from Variety In an interview with Variety Elshayyal called AJ360 the fastest growing streamer in the Arab World, even though, he added, its early days. The Al Jazeera 360 streaming and video-on-demand platform comprises the networks news channels, plus a smattering of content produced exclusively for the platform, and, significantly, up to 50,000 hours of news programs and documentaries that have been in Al Jazeera Media Networks archives since its inception in 1996. The Al Jazeera 360 launch is taking place just as Israeli troops on Sunday stormed into its offices in the Israeli-occupied West Bank ordering the satellite networks bureau to shut down after, in May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet shut down Al Jazeeras operations within Israel. The network called the latest shutdown an affront to press freedom and the very principles of journalism. In terms of what is happening in Gaza, information is being restricted, said Elshayyal, noting that Al Jazeera news content related to the war in Gaza is being censored on different platforms, including YouTube, where Al Jazeeras Arabic page has close to 20 million subscribers, he said, and where its Gaza-related news has been taken off or shadow-banned. Elshayyal described the launch of Al Jazeera 360 as essentially a declaration of independence for Al Jazeera and a way to counter being held hostage by a third-party platform such as YouTube. Elshayyal also claimed that Al Jazeera 360 represents the first-of-its-kind streaming platform, not just in the Arab world, but actually in the world [at large] he said, noting that the CNN+ subscription-based streaming hub that launched in 2022 was subsequently shut down within a month from its launch. The Al Jazeera exec said the news network plans to launch an Al Jazeera 360 platform with curated content for an English speaking audience by the end of 2025 and called the platform the next phase in our evolution. I think what we have here albeit Arabic at first could drive enough interest among people [globally] to watch the news network that came out of the Arab world 28 years ago and managed to establish itself as a global brand, said Elshayyal. Now we are doing the same thing within a new frontier. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Immigrant farm workers harvest broccoli on March 16, 2006, near the border town of near San Luis, south of Yuma, Arizona. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a lawsuit to block new federal protections for H-2A farmworkers, claiming that it burdens farmers. (David McNew/Getty Images) Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a lawsuit to block new federal protections for foreign farm workers on H2-A temporary visas. Marshall, along with Republican attorneys general from Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, argued in the motion to intervene that the rule places undue burdens on farmers and would allow migrant workers employed under the H-2A visa program to organize and engage in collective bargaining. That, they argued, can only be done through legislative action. Attempting to establish collective bargaining rights for H-2A workers is beyond the scope of what Congress has intended for the department (of Labor) to consider, the lawsuit stated. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A message seeking comment was left with Marshalls office on Tuesday. The rule, issued by the Biden administration in April, provides more protections for temporary farm workers by addressing issues like employer retaliation, unsafe working conditions and illegal recruitment. The motion to intervene was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, where Kentucky farmers, along with agricultural associations, have challenged the Department of Labors new regulation. The suit argues that the rule would create additional bureaucratic hurdles for agricultural employers to hire temporary foreign workers when local labor is scarce. In fiscal year 2023, 1,684 H-2A visa applicants were approved in Alabama, out of just over 419,000 approved applicants nationwide about .004% according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. There were 378,513 positions certified nationwide by the Department of Labor. Jeff Helms, communication director at Alabama Farmers Federation, said in a statement they support Marshalls defense of the H-2A program for both farmers and the guest workers whose families benefit from seasonal employment. The H-2A program is already highly regulated and includes extensive protections for guest workers. The Department of Labors misnamed rule is redundant and a clear example of regulatory overreach. If left unchecked, the rule would create burdensome obstacles for employers, ultimately making the H-2A program unworkable, the statement said. The Biden administrations rule, aimed at improving protections for farm workers, introduces several new requirements, including improved safety standards such as seatbelts in farm transport vehicles and allowing workers to meet with legal service providers without fear of retaliation. Allison Hamilton, executive director for the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, said these protections are long overdue. She said that migrant farm workers are often isolated in employer-provided housing, where visitors are often not allowed. Workers often feel vulnerable and are afraid to speak up against working conditions, fearing their employment would be terminated. In general, theres a huge problem with retaliation. If farm workers do anything that the employer doesnt like, then they just threaten to pull their visas and get them deported or fire them so that theyre no longer eligible to work, Hamilton said. The rule also states that employers must disclose recruitment agreements to combat human trafficking. Hamilton said some of the practices is borderline, and sometimes is, human trafficking. Weve seen issues where the employers do collect [workers] passports or their travel documents, and theyre held without much ability to leave while theyre paying back their debt to the employer for the privilege of coming and working for an inhumane condition, she said. A federal judge in Georgia earlier this year blocked the rule in 17 other states. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Scheduled execution by asphyxiation using pure nitrogen of Kenneth Smith in Atmore By Jonathan Allen (Reuters) -Alabama executed convicted murderer Alan Miller on Thursday in the second-ever nitrogen-asphyxiation execution since the state pioneered the method which it says is less painful than lethal injections but human rights experts say may amount to torture. The 65-year-old shook, pulled against restraints and gasped for breath for several minutes before dying, journalists who witnessed the execution said. Miller was convicted for the 1999 murders of three men, including two co-workers, in a shooting spree at two offices in Pelham, Alabama. His victims were Lee Michael Holdbrooks, Terry Lee Jarvis and Christopher Scott Yancy. The state botched an attempt to execute Miller by lethal injection in 2022. He was taken into the execution chamber for the second and final time on Thursday evening at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Pure nitrogen flowed through an industrial-safety respirator mask strapped to his face, suffocating him as it displaced oxygen. He was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. (1138 GMT), Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement. Miller's final words were: "I didn't do anything to be in here," according to an Associated Press reporter who was allowed to witness the execution. Once the gassing began, Miller trembled on the gurney for about two minutes, at times pulling against the restraints. That was followed by about six minutes of "periodic gasping breaths," the AP reporter said. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm told reporters afterwards that these were "involuntary body movements" and that the execution had gone as planned. NITROGEN GAS METHOD QUESTIONED In January, Alabama executed Kenneth Smith, also convicted of murder, by nitrogen asphyxiation, the first use of a new execution method since lethal injections began in the U.S. four decades ago. The state predicted that Smith would lose consciousness and suffocate within a few seconds of the nitrogen flowing through the mask. That did not happen. Multiple witnesses, including five journalists and members of Smith's family, saw Smith heaving against his restraints and convulsing, and it appeared to take him several minutes to lose consciousness. The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, said it was "deeply troubled" by the new method. It has been condemned by senior U.N. human rights officials, who say it may amount to torture or cruel and inhuman treatment. Alabama has defended the method, with Attorney General Steve Marshall calling Smith's death a "textbook" execution. After Smith's execution, Miller sued Alabama over fears that its asphyxiation method could violate a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishments, seeking assurances that the mask would be properly fitted to ensure no oxygen seeps in, prolonging his death. His litigation ended in a confidential settlement. The Alabama Department of Corrections declined to say if it made any changes to its protocol. Alabama has offered to help others adopt nitrogen-asphyxiation executions, saying they are a simpler alternative for states struggling to find or use lethal-injection drugs. Advocacy groups against capital punishment have long pressured pharmaceutical companies to forbid their drugs be used in executions, and have turned their attention to nitrogen suppliers and mask makers, including the maker of the Allegro Safety mask Alabama acquired for its executions. Stephanie Boucher, a spokesperson for Allegro parent company Walter Surface Technologies in Connecticut, said the company will not comment on the use of its masks in executions. A spokesperson for Canadian private equity firm Onex Corp, which has a majority stake in Walter Surface, did not respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot, Leslie Adler and Sonali Paul) SYDNEY (Reuters) - Job vacancies in Australia fell for a ninth straight quarter in the three months to end-August with declines spread across most industries as demand for labour cooled. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) out on Thursday showed vacancies fell a sharp 5.2% from the previous three-month period, when they dropped 3.5%. Job openings were down 17.1% from a year earlier at a seasonally adjusted 329,900, the lowest level since August 2021, but still 45% higher than just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Vacancies in the private sector slipped 4.9%, while those in the public sector dropped 7.5%. Vacancies fell in 11 of 18 industries, with the largest percentage falls in accommodation and food services, and manufacturing. The drop left vacancies 30% below their peak, with workers per opening rising to 1.9 from 1.7, though that remains below pre-pandemic levels of 3:1. Some of this is due to vacancies being filled at a rapid rate as official figures showed employment rising 143,000 in the three months to August. The supply of labour has also been greatly boosted by a rush of skilled migrants and foreign students, helping ease what had been a very tight labour market. (Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Sonali Paul) Toward the end of June 2018, condemned inmates at Holman Correctional Facility in southern Alabama received slips of paper that gave them the choice to decide how they would prefer to die. There were two options: lethal injection, the default method, which Alabama had been accused of botching in the prison's execution chamber; and nitrogen hypoxia, an experimental alternative that the state, facing political pressure to carry out death sentences despite a tally of mistakes, had recently authorized. "Pursuant to Act No. 2018-353, if I am to be executed, I elect that it be by nitrogen hypoxia rather than by lethal injection," read the first line of a printed form delivered to the men incarcerated in Holman's death row unit, which at the time housed around 140 inmates in stacked cell blocks. Prompts at the bottom of the page left space for recipients to add their names, signatures and the date. Legally, all inmates sentenced to death in Alabama were allowed until June 30 that year, 30 days from the date its nitrogen hypoxia law took effect, to select the new method for their own executions. The inmates would then submit those elections in writing to the former prison warden, Cynthia Stewart-Riley. Those condemned at Holman likely had less than a week to meet the deadline, said Stewart-Riley and other prison officials in depositions several years later. Nothing was known back then about nitrogen hypoxia where an inmate is fed nitrogen gas through a face mask until they suffocate and Alabama officials would not release an execution protocol for five more years. When they did, so much was redacted from the public version that it was almost impossible to understand how such an execution worked. Alabama's execution protocol for nitrogen hypoxia is heavily redacted. / Credit: Alabama Department of Corrections Opting into the state's elusive nitrogen program, untold as it was on June 30, 2018, meant hopefully opting out of the possibility of a botched lethal injection for at least eight inmates at Holman who chose nitrogen hypoxia from the outset. That list had grown to at least 21 by December of last year, according to a court filing for Alan Eugene Miller, who became the second person in the U.S. and the known world executed by nitrogen hypoxia Thursday. CBS News contacted the Alabama Department of Corrections multiple times with questions and requests for comment but has not received a response. Miller's was one of five executions scheduled to take place within the span of a week in five different states, which is uncommon at a time in history when death sentences and executions are generally on the decline. The first was in South Carolina, ending an execution hiatus for the state that lasted more than a decade. There were two on Tuesday, one in Texas and another in Missouri, where Marcellus Williams died despite recent revelations about his case that cast doubt on whether he received a fair criminal trial. Another execution was carried out in Oklahoma on Thursday. Miller, 59, was convicted in a bloody triple murder that shook the community of Pelham, a suburb near Birmingham, in 1999. The district attorney in Miller's case characterized Miller's actions as cold, calculated and especially heinous as the prosecution pursued the death penalty. An undated photograph of Alan Eugene Miller provided by Alabama Department of Corrections. / Credit: Alabama Department of Corrections via AP Miller was among the vast majority of inmates on Alabama's death row whose jurors did not unanimously recommend a death sentence roughly 80%, according to the Equal Justice Initiative, a Montgomery-based nonprofit. Only Florida and Alabama allow divided juries to impose death sentences. Most of the remaining 20% were condemned by judicial override, a practice now banned in every U.S. state that once allowed judges presiding over capital cases to sentence defendants to death when their juries recommended against it. CBS News identified at least 30 inmates on death row whose jurors voted to sentence them to life imprisonment without parole. Alabama was last in the country to outlaw judicial override in 2017, a decision its critics viewed as an overdue and potentially vital departure from an aged practice rooted in racism and tyranny, which, research suggests, had an outsize impact on the number of death sentences served in the state. Alabama has the highest rate of death sentences per capita in America, in addition to one of the highest execution rates. Outlawing judicial override did not alter sentences retroactively, including for Kenny Smith, who was the first person to die by nitrogen hypoxia earlier this year, drawing international outcry. Kenneth Eugene Smith was the first person in the United States, and like the world, to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia. / Credit: Alabama Department of Corrections The term "nitrogen hypoxia" started to emerge in state legislation in 2015, when Oklahoma authorized it as an execution method after a botched lethal injection prompted its public safety department to conduct an extensive probe of the incident and the state corrections office. At the time, states that still practiced the death penalty struggled as their lethal drug suppliers, not wanting to be associated with executions, cut ties and corrections offices experimented with untried methods. Mississippi was next to authorize executions by nitrogen hypoxia in 2017. After Smith's execution, Louisiana authorized it in March and legislatures in Ohio and Nebraska positioned themselves to do the same. "Insistence on secrecy" Alabama is the only state that has developed a protocol for nitrogen gas. Lawmakers had introduced it as a more "humane" substitute for lethal injections that would not require officers to insert an IV line and was sure to cause unconsciousness almost immediately followed by death shortly thereafter. But Smith's January execution was described as prolonged, horrific and torturous by some witnesses, including journalists, who said he writhed and thrashed for several minutes on the gurney once the nitrogen system switched on. At a media briefing once he was pronounced dead, Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm called the execution "textbook," even though it had never been done. His comments echoed those of commissioners past after executions that appeared brutal and disorganized. In Alabama, anything that may happen in the death chamber is hard to prove. After a series of botched lethal injections in 2022, Gov. Kay Ivey paused executions and ordered the corrections department to conduct an internal review of its procedures, which lasted three months. Any changes made to the lethal injection protocol were not documented publicly. "This insistence on secrecy and the refusal to answer serious questions and concerns about the use of the protocol, is a major problem. It's inconsistent with a democracy which values this kind of transparency and accountability from its elected officials," Robin Maher, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, told CBS News. The center is a nonprofit organization that does not take a position on capital punishment. It focuses on how executions are carried out. CBS News has reviewed court documents related to nitrogen hypoxia in Alabama and its application in capital punishment cases. Prosecutors have fought in litigation to conceal many details about Alabama's execution protocols. Death row inmates can petition the courts to rule against the type of execution they will face, but they cannot see the documentation that governs how it will be carried out. Sometimes, even their attorneys are not granted access to those documents without entering into a protective order with the state that requires confidentiality for the duration of the case and after it closes. CBS News contacted nine attorneys representing Alabama inmates involved in nitrogen hypoxia litigation for this story and did not receive replies. Alabama defends method of execution Attorneys for the state of Alabama have repeatedly defended its protocol by citing reports on assisted suicides in Europe and records from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration detailing industrial workplace accidents. They have also cited at least one study conducted by a retired military commander in the United Kingdom in 1961 that observed the effects of pure nitrogen inhalation on a group of volunteers. "Even when there's public accounting through witnesses of things going wrong with these executions, and troubling facts that emerge about how things were administered, like with the Kenny Smith execution, the state is asserting that things are perfect," said Randy Susskind, the deputy director of the Equal Justice Initiative. "And so, I think one of the issues is an unwillingness to even acknowledge that there's something potentially problematic about the way things have gone." Abraham Bonowitz, executive director of Death Penalty Action, and other death penalty opponents hold a demonstration outside the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery, Ala., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. / Credit: Kim Chandler / AP Alabama has not produced any records of Smith's execution. Hamm said the inmate did not lose consciousness right away because he was holding his breath, but skeptics questioned whether something else had gone wrong. If Smith's face mask was fitted improperly or dislodged for another reason, small amounts of oxygen may have entered the chamber and drawn out the process of suffocation. "Some people might say, why does that matter? This is a person who's been condemned to die," Maher said. "But it does matter because the Constitution is there to protect against the overreach and abuses of government, and in particular, the ways in which it punishes people. So they do have a constitutional right not to be tortured to death. We don't believe in that in this country." Alabama's most substantive response to constitutional challenges this year were affidavits recounting Smith's execution as well as the "simulated" nitrogen hypoxia procedures performed in training before he was put to death. The execution captain said Smith's blood oxygen levels remained high at the start of the execution before dropping off dramatically several minutes in. The assistant attorney general swore she felt no discomfort during a simulation where officers strapped her to the gurney and fitted her for a mask, while oxygen flowed. "Smith said nothing about any pain to his spiritual advisor, to whom he was speaking moments prior," the state said in one court filing that referenced some of those affidavits. "It would be quite odd for a person to remain completely silent during agonizing pain for several minutes, but it is not odd for a person who is holding his breath to refrain from speaking or yelling." Whether it would have been possible for Smith to scream, yell, grunt or address his spiritual adviser while inhaling the nitrogen gas designed to suffocate him is unknown. That quote from the state's court filing came from a document sent to CBS News by Amanda Priest, a spokesperson for Attorney General Steve Marshall, in response to questions about the nitrogen protocol, how it was tested and the secrecy surrounding the process. "We will let the briefs and public documents speak for themselves," Priest said when she emailed the document. In Miller's earlier suit, which ended in a confidential settlement, his attorneys argued that executing him with the same protocol used for Smith would violate Miller's rights as it was likely to cause unconstitutional suffering. Prosecutors for the state said his concerns were "speculative" and Miller had no evidence to prove his claims. They also denied his team's discovery requests for copies of the unredacted nitrogen gas protocol and a record from Smith's execution. Sneak peek: The Hunt for Sarah Yarboroughs Killer Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier on WNBA's success in watershed season | 60 Minutes Mezcal producers preserve traditional methods as demand for liquor grows | 60 Minutes Alabama plumber allegedly tried to hire hitman to kill wife, 6 adult kids: 'Take your time' An Alabama man who owns a plumbing company is accused of trying to hire someone to murder his estranged wife and six adult children amid a contentious divorce, federal prosecutors said. Mohammad A.H. Mohammad, 63, who owns American Plumbing Service LLC in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood, is charged with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, according to court documents. The Justice Department said Mohammad offered an undercover FBI employee posing as a hitman $20,000 to kill his wife and $5,000 for each one of his six children. "Six kids, and the mom. You pick and choose who you gunna take out, and get paid," he allegedly told the FBI employee, per court documents. White House Condemns Alabama Shooting That Police Say Killed 4, Wounded 17 In Alleged Paid Hit Mohammad A.H. Mohammad is accused of trying to have his wife and six adult children murdered. During a conversation with a witness who was asked to find someone to "take care" of his family, Mohammad allegedly said he was willing to "die for self-dignity" and "die for pride." The witness connected Mohammad with the undercover FBI employee, prosecutors said. Read On The Fox News App Mohammad and his wife were married in March 2021, but the union was filled with violent attacks, according to the criminal complaint. During a Sept. 20 meeting between him and the supposed hitman, Mohammad said that his family had turned against him. He then allegedly gave instructions on how to commit the slayings. "Start with one," Mohammad said. "Take your time." The discord in the marriage was nothing new to local law enforcement. In 2021, Mohammad was arrested for allegedly assaulting one of his daughters. The charges were eventually dismissed. Mass Shooting Leaves 4 Dead In Birmingham, Alabama That same year, his wife obtained three protection from abuse orders from him, saying she feared for her life. "Mohammad has hurt me and my kids and used weapons against us, she wrote. "Mohammad said he wanted to shoot my daughter between the eyes." She also said her husband threatened to lock his family in a basement and kill them, court documents state. "He always threatens me and my children with violence," she said. "He has put his hands on my kids and sent them to the emergency room. He has put a gun and knife against my kids heads and throats. He has shot guns at us." In April 2022, Mohammad was charged with felony first-degree stalking. Prosecutors accused him of placing GPS tracking devices on cars belonging to his wife and other family members, a violation of their protection orders against him. On Jan. 3, 2023, authorities responded to the home of the wifes close friend amid reports of vehicle arson. Surveillance video captured the suspects vehicle used in the arson, which was registered in Mohammads name. The next day, his son's Ram pickup truck was set on fire in his wife's driveway. In the months that followed, GPS tracking devices were discovered on the vehicles belonging to Mohammad's wife and daughters, and several more vehicles belonging to his family members were found burned in a suspicious fire. In December 2023, Mohammad's wife received a call from a man on his behalf who tried to convince her to reconcile the marriage. She refused, and 12 hours later, their daughter's Toyota Avalon was burned in a suspicious fire, prosecutors said. Mohammad was arrested three days later on a stalking charge. During a hearing, an audio recording taken by a witness was played in court in which he said, "No, God will reward me" if he hurt his family. He was released on bond in February. Original article source: Alabama plumber allegedly tried to hire hitman to kill wife, 6 adult kids: 'Take your time' Alabama has executed Alan Eugene Miller, the second inmate known to die by nitrogen gas Alan Eugene Miller was executed Thursday evening in Alabama, state officials said, making him the second inmate known to die by nitrogen hypoxia, a controversial method critics say is tantamount to torture. Miller, 59, who was sentenced to death in 2000 for the 1999 killings of three men, was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. at a prison in Atmore, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said at a news conference. Miller shook and trembled on a gurney for about two minutes, with his body at times pulling against restraints, according to The Associated Press, which had a reporter witness the procedure. The shaking and trembling was followed by about six minutes of periodic gulping breaths before he became still, the AP reported. I didnt do anything to be in here, Miller said in his final words, which at times were muffled by a mask that covered his face from forehead to chin, according to the AP. Miller was fitted with the mask during the procedure, during which nitrogen gas flowed for about 15 minutes, Hamm said. In response to a reporters question, Hamm confirmed the two minutes of shaking, which he said was to be expected. Theres going to be involuntary body movements as the body is depleted of oxygen. That is nothing we did not expect, Hamm said at the news conference. Everything went according to plan and according to our protocol, so it went just as we had planned, Hamm said. At one point, a corrections officer had to adjust Millers mask, Hamm confirmed in response to a reporters question. Thats just making sure the mask is fitted, Hamm said. Tonight, justice was finally served for these three victims through the execution method elected by the inmate, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a release. His acts were not that of insanity, but pure evil. Three families were forever changed by his heinous crimes, and I pray that they can find comfort all these years later. Millers execution came after a yearslong chain of events surrounding how he would be put to death: He first requested death by nitrogen hypoxia, but the state said it wasnt prepared to use the method, and it then attempted to execute him by lethal injection in September 2022. That attempt, however, was called off, with state officials saying they couldnt access Millers veins before the execution warrant expired. The state subsequently agreed not to execute Miller using any method other than nitrogen hypoxia. But then Alabama executed Kenneth Smith early this year by nitrogen hypoxia in what is believed to be the first execution by that method. Witnesses said Smith was shaking and writhing on the gurney for minutes before dying. Miller then challenged the states nitrogen hypoxia protocol in a federal lawsuit, claiming it could cause him undue suffering, thus violating his Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The suit, however, was settled last month. The terms of the settlement were confidential, though state Attorney General Steve Marshall touted it as proof Alabamas nitrogen gas execution method is constitutional. The resolution of this case confirms that Alabamas nitrogen hypoxia system is reliable and humane, Marshall said in August. Proponents of the nitrogen hypoxia execution method, which replaces oxygen breathed by an inmate with 100% nitrogen, say a person would likely lose consciousness shortly into the procedure, making it more humane than other execution methods. However, doctors have said that they could not pinpoint if or when a person will lose consciousness when exposed to high concentrations of nitrogen gas. CNN has repeatedly reached out to lawyers for Miller for comment on his settled lawsuit and execution. On Thursday in the hours before the execution, Miller had nine visitors and had a final meal of hamburger steak, baked potato and French fries, the Alabama Department of Corrections said. The 1999 crime Miller has been staring down the end of his life for more than two decades. He was sentenced to death in 2000 for the 1999 murders of Lee Holdbrooks, Scott Yancy, and Terry Lee Jarvis. Miller had worked with each of the victims and became upset when he believed the three spread rumors about him, according to a release from the Alabama attorney generals office. On the morning of August 5, 1999, Miller shot two of the three men at Ferguson Enterprises in Pelham, Alabama, according to court documents. Im tired of people starting rumors on me, Miller said, armed with a pistol while walking out of his employers office, court documents say. Yancy was shot three times, according to court documents, and was unable to move after the first shot, traveled through his groin and into his spine, paralyzing him. Holdbrooks was shot six times and tried to crawl down a hallway to escape before Miller shot him in the head, causing him to die in a pool of blood, the documents say. After killing Holdbrooks and Yancy, Miller headed to his previous employer, Post Airgas, where Jarvis worked. Miller walked in and said, Hey, I hear youve been spreading rumors about me. Jarvis replied that he had not been spreading rumors about Miller but moments later, Miller shot Jarvis a number of times. Miller was later captured on the highway, court documents say, with a Glock pistol with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the ammunition magazine. A forensic psychiatrist who testified for Millers defense determined he was mentally ill and suffering a delusional disorder, leading him to believe the victims were spreading rumors about him. The psychiatrist concluded, however, that Millers mental illness didnt meet the standards for an insanity defense in Alabama. I feel that it has taken way too long to get here, Tara Barnes, Holdbrooks widow told CNN Tuesday. CNN has attempted to reach family members of Yancy and Jarvis. Alan Eugene Miller is seen in an undated photo. - Alabama Department of Corrections What is nitrogen hypoxia? In September 2022, Alabama officials tried to execute Miller by lethal injection, but failed because they could not access his veins within the required time limit. Miller was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection after a US Supreme Court ruling vacated a lower court injunction in a long-running dispute over whether he would die by that method or nitrogen hypoxia. Prior to that initial attempt, Miller and his attorneys had fought to ensure he would be executed by nitrogen gas, a method he had previously chosen but the state was not ready to use. After the failed attempt, Miller was sent back to death row. Miller and his attorneys filed their lawsuit challenging the states nitrogen hypoxia protocol after it was used for the first time in Smiths execution. Smith was sentenced to death for his role in a 1988 murder for hire and, like Miller, had previously survived a failed attempt to execute him by lethal injection in 2022. The process of death by nitrogen gas involves forcing an inmate to inhale 100% nitrogen gas, depriving them of the oxygen needed to survive. But death by nitrogen gas has been criticized as experts have said it could lead to excessive pain or even torture. During Smiths execution earlier this year, he appeared conscious for several minutes, and for two minutes after that, he shook and writhed on a gurney, according to the media witness report. That was followed by several minutes of deep breathing before his breath began slowing until it was no longer perceptible for media witnesses, the media witness report said. Clearly it was not the instant, painless death that they promised, Dr. Jonathan Groner, a professor of surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine told CNN last week. Theres a lot of suggestion that it wasnt good, wasnt pleasant. United Nations experts unequivocally condemned Smiths execution and the use of nitrogen gas inhalation, saying in a statement it was nothing short of State-sanctioned torture. The use, for the first time in humans and on an experimental basis, of a method of execution that has been shown to cause suffering in animals is simply outrageous, the UN experts said. The theory is that if you just get rid of all the oxygen, just breathing pure nitrogen, you wont feel that intense pressure, like youre holding your breath, right? It doesnt really work out that way, Groner, whos studied capital punishment for more than two decades, said. While Alabama is the only state thats put this execution method to the test, its not the only state thats adopted the use of the procedure. Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi have also authorized death by nitrogen hypoxia, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. CNNs Dakin Andone and Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The U.S. Capitol is seen on a cloudy day in an undated photo. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) The U.S. Capitol is seen on a cloudy day in an undated photo. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) Alaskas three members of Congress joined a majority of the House and Senate in voting to approve a budgetary resolution that averts a government shutdown until at least December. Congress poised to race out of D.C. after dodging shutdown Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, joined the House in voting 341-82 to pass the measure, and the Senate voted 78-18, with Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan also voting in favor. The measure goes to the desk of President Joe Biden, who has said he will sign it. If Congress had failed to act, the federal government would have partially shut down starting Sept. 30. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had asked Congress to vote against the budget-funding measure because it does not include a separate bill that would require voters to show citizenship documents to elections officials. House Republicans attempted last week to pass a resolution that would have included Trumps preferred bill and funded the government through March, but 14 House Republicans voted against the proposal. Republicans nominally hold a majority of seats in the House, but opposition from those Republicans most of whom opposed any extension killed the idea because House Democrats opposed Trumps preferred bill and wanted a December extension. Democratic opposition to the citizenship issue is partially based on voters experience in Arizona, which passed a state-level measure in 2004. An analysis by Votebeat, a nonpartisan nonprofit, found the bill impacted college students and the homeless. Opponents of the idea, including Biden, who vowed to veto it, said that elections officials wouldnt have time to implement it before the November election, and that trying to do so would cause confusion among voters. Extending federal funding through December buys Congress time to pass ordinary funding bills and would allow the winner of Novembers presidential election to start with a fresh legislative slate. Ahead of last weeks House vote, Peltola said she supported the idea of a December extension. Peltolas principal opponent in this years U.S. House race, Republican Nick Begich, didnt initially state a position on the issue but after Wednesdays vote, he criticized Peltola and implied that he would have supported Trumps position. As we head toward the holidays Congress should take steps to ensure core government services are adequately funded, but Peltolas vote against commonsense provisions in the SAVE Act is just one more vote in lockstep with national Democrats, he said in a statement posted on social media. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Its an area of Albuquerque attracting tourists from all over the world and soon it could be seeing new enhancements to help tourists find their way around the historic sites. Its a lovely area, its definitely worth coming here, said Nancy Johnson, visitor from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Story continues below Old Town is one of Albuquerques most iconic spots full of history, culture, and character. Its a tourist hot spot seeing new improvements in the coming year. One of those improvements is designed to help visitors navigate their way through the historic area. The wayfinding signs to help people, tourists and locals alike understand the highest concentration of small businesses probably in the state of New Mexico, said JJ Mancini, President of the Historic Old Town Association. Roughly five stands will be added throughout Old Town providing visitors with up-to-date locations on restaurants, shops, activities, and sights. The association plans to have its designs stay within the theme of the surrounding architecture. And you can see that similar style of the engraving. Here is a mockup of what we want one of our signs to look like. Similarly, you can see the wood elements and the carving and then obviously made of wood instead of metal or other materials, said Mancini. The citys tourism department, Visit Albuquerque, recently granted the Historic Old Town Association $25,000. That money was atched by supporters like Bernalillo County, Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union, and New Mexico Mainstreet for a total of $50,000. Mancini gave credit to the volunteers within the Historic Old Town Association for the success of the new enhancements. The group of 130 members is made up of merchants, residents, and property owners, the first of its kind. What this wayfinding map will allow people to do is to really understand the size and scope of Old Town. Yes, theres the proper old town but theres also the historic districts beyond it, said Mancini. Its not just the plaza. We have so many plazas, patios, portals that are off of the main plaza we want people to experience and explore, said Mancini. Mancini said locals miss out when they only think of the main attractions they grew up on and pointed out the variety of restaurants in the area. So, a lot of people may think ah theres only three. No thats completely wrong. And one way to change that opinion is just to show it right in front of them, look at all these wonderful places to eat throughout all of Old Town, said Mancini. Mancini said much of this new initiative focuses on those native to Albuquerque. What I would like locals to do is to rediscover Old Town. Cause theres a heck of a lot more going on here than maybe they remember, said Mancini. I love Old Town, so it was nice actually seeing some places I had never been before, said Tim Nguyen, Albuquerque resident. Part of the funding will also go to events like the Dia de Los Muertos festivities coming in October. There are plans to have billboards promoting Old Town along I-40 for the first time in years. The Historic Old Town Association is working to rebrand the area as a Mainstreet. Some of those changes could come in the next year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Alec Baldwins involuntary manslaughter trial abruptly ended in July with the dismissal of the case after a last-minute hearing over how police and prosecutors treated a handful of bullets. It related to a retired law enforcement officer turning over a collection of live ammunition to the Santa Fe Sheriffs Office, some of which matched the bullets found on the Rust set. While the rounds were taken in, they werent inventoried under the proper case, effectively hiding the evidence from Baldwin. The unexpected discovery of that ammunition also inserted doubt into whether armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, whos serving an 18-month sentence for the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, got a fair trial. And on Thursday, she moved to dismiss the case against her or alternatively receive a new trial for what her lawyer Jason Bowles called one of the biggest debacles of ethical misconduct in the history of New Mexico. More from The Hollywood Reporter Santa Fe Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer is expected to issue a ruling next week. She could find that Gutierrez-Reed should be released from prison while she awaits another jury trial if the case against her isnt tossed. The armorers legal maneuvering revolves around dismissal of Baldwins case by the court, which denounced the prosecution for misconduct after finding that it intentionally and deliberately withheld evidence from the defense. Lead special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, it concluded, not only repeatedly failed to fulfill discovery obligations but also gave inconsistent testimony related to the ammunition handed over by retired Arizona police officer Troy Teske. It was revealed that the rounds he provided had Starline brass casings with silver primers that matched the live bullet that killed Hutchins. During Thursdays hearing, Bowles argued that Gutierrez-Reed is entitled to a new trial because the prosecution buried the evidence. If he was aware of the rounds, he said he wouldve advanced the theory that Seth Kenney, owner of a props and arms supplier that furnished the Rust production with ammunition and weapons, introduced the live rounds onto the set. Thats a real possibility, he added. Thats something the jury shouldve been able to consider, but [prosecutors] never wanted to entertain any possible defense theory, which is why they suppressed everything. The source of the live ammunition was a key focus of the investigation into the shooting. The prosecution, for years, has maintained that they likely came from Gutierrez-Reed. But when the new rounds were uncovered in Baldwins trial, his lawyers suggested that Kenney couldve been responsible. Kenney came into possession of some of that ammunition from when he and longtime Hollywood armorer Thell Reed, Gutierrez-Reeds father, were involved in a so-called cowboy training camp on the Paramount+ Western 1883 in which live ammunition was used for shooting practice. Teske held that ammunition for Reed, who stored some of his arms at the former law enforcement officers home. Kenney also brought some of those rounds back to PDQ Arm and Prop in New Mexico. Morrissey said that the first time she learned that the Teske-supplied ammunition looked similar to the rounds uncovered on the Rust set was in open court the day Baldwins case was dismissed. She questioned the integrity of the evidence Teske, a longtime friend of Reed, provided, explaining that the rounds in his possession were ruled out as the source of those found on the production after the ex-police officer sent Kenney a picture of the rounds he was holding for Reed. That photograph, she said, showed that the ammunition wasnt a match. Teske said he reviewed the rounds and said he couldnt find any silver primers, Morrissey added. The state understands at that point that the ammunition hes in possession of doesnt look remotely similar to those found on the set of Rust. A month before Gutierrez-Reeds trial, Bowles came to the same conclusion that the rounds Teske had werent a match and chose not to test them, the prosecutor continued. He doesnt get to come to court now and say Hey we shouldve collected these,' she said. The information he gave us caused us to believe they were completely immaterial. In response, Bowles said he didnt want to be in the chain of custody for the evidence nor did I want there to be any allegation that I had anything to do with something nefarious with regard to those rounds. He added, I thought naively that state would do the right thing and test them. Never in a million years did I think that state would try to hide those in separate file under a separate case number. Additionally, Bowles argued that Morrissey should be disqualified as lead prosecutor if a new trial is granted. The egregious nature of prosecutorial misconduct, specifically by Ms. Morrissey and her false tesimtony, is a blow to the whole system of justice, he said. Sommer will issue separate rulings on whether Gutierrez-Reed is entitled to a new trial or have the charges against her dismissed entirely and whether she should immediately be released from custody. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. People are pictured in the rainy day on the edge of the Ketani beach at Bab El Oued in Algiers TUNIS (Reuters) - Algerian authorities resumed visa requirements for Moroccan nationals entering the country on Thursday, state news agency APS reported, accusing its neighbour of abusing visa-free entries to allow criminal activities over the border in a fresh measure against Rabat. The two countries had lifted visa entry requirements about 20 years ago. Morocco has not yet commented on the move. A dispute over the status of the Western Sahara has been at the heart of worsening ties between the two countries. Morocco views the Western Sahara as its territory, while Algeria hosts and backs the Polisario Front, which seeks an independent state there. Algeria said on Thursday Morocco had abused the visa-free entry to "organize at a large scale networks of organised crime and drug and human trafficking as well as illegal immigration and acts of espionage", according to a Foreign Ministry statement quoted by APS. It also accused Morocco of sending "Zionist" spies holding Moroccan passports to Algerian territory. The statement did not provide any evidence supporting these accusations. Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, accusing its neighbour of "hostile acts" including backing a separatist group in the Kabylia region. Algeria later halted the flow of a gas pipeline to Spain via Morocco, banned all Moroccan aircrafts from crossing its airspace and boycotted Moroccan ports. Morocco has said several times that Algeria was unjustified in cutting ties and has described the accusations as absurd. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said in 2023 that relations with Morocco had reached "the point of no return". (Reporting by Tarek Amara) Alleged armed robber arrested after holding up Belmont pharmacy, police say An alleged armed robber was arrested and charged after he held up the College Park Pharmacy on Park Street in Belmont at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, Gaston County Police announced. 57 shell casings found on street in Belmont neighborhood after shots heard overnight Cody Alexander Gardner, 29, went into the pharmacy, showed a firearm, and demanded money from the clerk. He ran off and police tracked him down on Dunn Street, which is in Gaston Countys jurisdiction. Gardner was apprehended and charged with armed robbery and remains in custody at the Gaston County Jail. The campaign to pass a tough-on-crime ballot initiative in California heads into its final stretch in an enviable position. Proposition 36 is polling above 70 percent, boasts an impressive bipartisan list of prominent endorsers and maintains a major financial advantage over its opponents. Only one thing is missing: the once-formidable alliance that helped launch Prop 36 and push its law-and-order concerns to the top of Californias political agenda. The initiative, which would undo a decade-old criminal-justice reform measure by strengthening drug and theft penalties, was developed by a coalition that brought county district attorneys together with big-box chains like Target, Home Depot and Walmart. It seemed like a perfect partnership in a sphere where it typically takes tens of millions of dollars to reach voters: the stores would provide the money and the prosecutors the policy heft and political pitch. But intense negotiations earlier this summer about whether to accept a legislative compromise have left some of the business interests that paid to put Prop 36 on the ballot considering whether to divorce the prosecutors running the campaign to pass it. The resulting divisions have the potential to detract from the otherwise strong position of one of the countrys most closely watched ballot measures, in an election cycle where crime and public safety have reemerged as a subject of top voter concern nationwide. While the national chains and other business groups welcomed offers by Gov. Gavin Newsom to address the companies theft concerns through compromise legislation, the prosecutors took a hard line against any possible deal. At a crucial moment in the negotiations, private correspondence between the Democratic governors chief of staff and the head of the California District Attorneys Association leaked to the media, an apparent attempt to embarrass the governor widely believed to have originated with the prosecutors (a claim they have denied). Those unresolved divisions over policy focus, political strategy and clashing personalities have weakened the alliance. And some groups that were crucial to qualifying Prop 36 for the ballot are now questioning how involved they want to be in the measures future, or whether they want to be involved at all. Some of the tactics that were used were unfortunate, said Rachel Michelin, president of the California Retailers Association, which played a crucial role in hatching Prop 36 but is considering whether to yank its support. I think it was a huge missed opportunity a lot of egos were involved, and to me, it was sad to see. Democrats led by Newsom failed to convince the tough-on-crime coalition to withdraw its initiative, but his recent enactment of bills cracking down on retail theft, which were designed to address many of the same issues as the initiative and marginalize the prosecutors proposal, have continued to open up a wedge between the erstwhile allies behind Prop 36. I know some probably have characterized us as maybe a little stubborn, Yes on 36 co-chair Greg Totten, who also heads the California District Attorneys Association, told POLITICO. But I take pretty strong issue with that. At the end of the day we were prepared to negotiate, but we wanted a package that actually fixed the problem. Some members of the coalition that initially helped fund the costly effort to sell the measure, including Target and Home Depot, have not provided any further funding since it qualified for the ballot. Others are being pursued by a new, rival pro-Prop 36 committee aimed at cultivating support from moderate Democrats. Its presence could pose a fundraising and messaging challenge for the main Yes on 36 committee. The initiatives detractors see opportunity in dividing some of the countrys most visible and beloved consumer brands from local politicians whose records and motives they find easier to attack. Once you strip away the retailers, their money and their messaging, what's left? said Anthony York, spokesman for the No on 36 campaign. Its the same people who pushed three strikes legislation, who opposed Prop 47, its the same prison industrial complex thats been behind this for decades. The unlikely alliance In 2014, Proposition 47 passed by an overwhelming margin, relaxing penalties as part of a broader movement to rethink the states approach to criminal justice. District attorneys who saw the new laws as catastrophic for the states approach to crime and drug enforcement immediately began angling to unwind them. Then in 2020, the California District Attorneys Association which links elected prosecutors across the states 58 countries presented voters with an opportunity to address those concerns through Proposition 20. The initiative would have strengthened penalties for certain theft and fraud crimes from misdemeanors to felonies, required DNA collection for some misdemeanor crimes and tightened rules for inmates to request early parole. The measure was largely bankrolled by law-enforcement groups, who found themselves outspent by the opposition amid a national reckoning around criminal justice policy and its racial impact. That November, voters rejected Prop 20 by a margin of more than twenty points. In the wake of that defeat, the district attorneys association changed leadership. Its new president, Greg Totten, was a square-jawed former Ventura County DA who had used his post to campaign against Prop 47, saying it would dramatically weaken criminal laws and significantly undermine public safety. In the middle of his fifth term, Totten quit his office to helm the district attorneys association, where he had served a stint in the mid-1990s as executive director just as the groups members found themselves in the midst of the debate over three-strikes-and-youre-out Proposition 184. Totten returned to Sacramento just as the political environment was swinging back toward a harder line on sentencing and incarceration. Crime rates jumped during the pandemic as incarceration rates plunged. Law enforcement caught and prosecuted fewer suspects in property-crime cases. Stores began locking up basic household goods, feeding a public perception that shoplifting was out of control in California. With Totten at the helm, the prosecutors decided to hit again at Prop 47, this time aiming to build a broader coalition. For years, interest groups representing the states retail sector had been lobbying the Legislature to take meaningful action against theft and had come away disappointed by what they saw as unwillingness to pass serious legislation on the issue. Totten told POLITICO the prosecutors came to see a constellation of issues homelessness, drug addiction, retail theft and fentanyl as inextricably connected and wanted to craft a measure that addressed all four. The measures focus on retail theft came in part due to conversations he and a group of other prosecutors, including Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig, had with small and large businesses during the drafting process in 2023. We were all hearing from the business community about their frustration with theft and the lack of consequences, Totten said. Many businesses were privately telling us, We dont even call the police anymore, because nothing happens. The prosecutors concluded they could court big-box retailers and other business interests who were grappling with the pandemic-era rise in theft by refocusing the initiative push around property crimes. The new partners would come with deeper pockets than the California Grocers Association, which had supplied about one-tenth of the Prop 20 campaigns $6 million budget. The prosecutors approached chains from 7-Eleven to Ulta Beauty, largely through contacts from the California Retailers Association, which represents a range of both national chains and individual stores. They also spoke with the California Grocers Association, which counts thousands of supermarkets and other food sellers across the state as members. Retail and business groups were less interested in the portions of the measure tightening penalties for repeat drug offenders, but saw the ballot initiative as the best way to push for tougher policy on theft. When the opportunity once again presented itself to make changes to Prop 47, it was a conversation we wanted to be a part of, said Daniel Conway, executive director of the Grocers Association. CGA has basically been looking to reform Prop 47 since its passage. The newly formed Californians for Safer Communities coalition headed by Totten and former Sacramento County DA Anne Marie Schubert successfully convinced individual companies to follow their trade associations by pouring money into qualifying the initiative. Walmart gave $2.5 million, and both Target and Home Depot gave $1 million each toward the effort, which turned in 900,000 signatures in April and formally won a spot on the ballot two months later. A handful of others, including Macys and regional supermarket chain Stater Bros., chipped in six-figure sums along the way. But an alliance that agreed on one shared goal to tighten penalties for retail theft fractured when Sacramentos top Democrats showed interest in a deal that would placate the initiatives backers in exchange for their killing the initiative. Late last year, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas created a select committee on retail theft, to be chaired by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, a Los Angeles Democrat eager to dive into crime and public safety policy. While amending Prop 47 itself would require voter sign-off, Zbur set out to find ways lawmakers could address the matter without it. The Retailers Association welcomed Zburs interest. After meeting with him, the groups lead lobbyist came away convinced the new organ presented a real chance to attain the groups objectives without the cost and uncertainty of a ballot initiative. I went back to my members and said look, I think we have an opportunity here to work with the Legislature, with the speaker, to see if we can get something done through the legislative process, said Michelin, whose group removed its name from the official ballot-measure committee at the end of 2023. Democratic lawmakers spent the spring working on a package of retail theft bills which, among their provisions, created a new felony category for organized retail theft. While many of the retail and business interests were receptive to the possibility of a legislative compromise, the prosecutors insisted there was no option but a return to the ballot. While some legislative changes could be made, they could not be made to the core intent of Prop 47, San Diego County DA Summer Stephan said this spring, as she worried that any approach that did not include a ballot initiative might struggle to pass constitutional muster. After the Legislature released its package of bills in April, Michelin testified in support and began to pull the retailers farther away from the prosecutors. Other business-side groups remained at the negotiating table, fuming privately about the lack of concrete progress toward a deal. Many of the business lobbyists suspected that Totten was just looking to run out the clock before the late June deadline to pull measures from the ballot. Part of our rationale for supporting the proponents during the early phases was based on assurances that we were given that, should the opportunity come to work with the governor and the Legislature on a compromise, the proponents told us they were prepared to do that, Conway told POLITICO. Ten days before the deadline, participants were jolted by a news story that included a complete chain of email messages exchanged by Totten and Dana Williamson, who as Newsoms chief of staff played a key role in negotiations with ballot-measure proponents. The message revealed that Democrats were willing to consider a 2026 ballot measure on retail theft, but that Totten had rejected that possibility. The leaked emails, viewed by many involved in the negotiations as a gambit to sabotage the talks for good, antagonized the governors team and effectively killed any remaining hope for a deal. The sticking point remained: Totten and the law enforcement backers of the initiative wanted the issue to go before voters this fall, and werent interested in a compromise that didnt involve a 2024 ballot initiative. Pushing back by two years was a nonstarter for us, Totten told POLITICO. When youve got a crisis and I dont think any reasonable person that looks at the issue of retail theft, homelessness, addiction and fentanyl, would not conclude that we have a serious crisis to say that were going to delay it for two years is not, in the opinion of the coalition, a responsible response. After officially securing its place on the ballot, Yes on 36 has dramatically expanded its reach. The committee secured endorsements from the League of California Cities and the California Contract Cities Association, then a group of legislative Democrats joined some of the states leading mayors in support, and most recently, the California Chamber of Commerce formally backed the measure. But among some of those who first launched Prop 36, the sense of distrust and frustration toward Totten would never fully go away. Its not uncommon during the debate to see people join the coalition and other people maybe walk away from it, Totten said in a separate interview after a late June press conference celebrating the initiatives confirmed place on the November ballot. We think this is so broad-based, thats not going to happen very much but I wouldnt be surprised if we dont see a few people do that. Thats just the nature of these kinds of issues. Yes versus Yes On a hot afternoon in mid-August, Newsom traveled to a Home Depot in East San Jose and took his position before cameras in front of dauntingly tall shelves stacked full of palleted construction materials. In front of him sat a stack of bills that would create a new category for offenses by organized-crime rings and allow law enforcement to add up the value of goods stolen in different locations to more easily meet the threshold for felony grand theft. With a ballpoint pen, Newsom signed each into law. The issue of organized retail theft, the issue of serial theft [that is] the issue that is front and center in the consciousness of so many Californians, Newsom said. This goes to the heart of the issue, and it does it in a thoughtful and judicious way. That moment marked the culmination of Assembly Speaker Rivass nearly year-long quest to drive a wedge between the initiatives business backers and the prosecutors. As a matter of policy, what Democrats had come to describe as their retail-theft package delivered much of what they could without returning to the ballot and in some respects went farther than Prop 36 would. Democrats were not subtle about their political objective in doing so. It may have been too late to get the initiative yanked from the ballot, but they believed they could still convince the groups expected to fund the campaign that the need for such an initiative had passed. That, too, was the message Newsom worked to send with the meticulous staging in East San Jose, where he signed the bills into law from a table assembled from orange buckets plastered with Home Depots logo. Behind him was Michelin, who, in addition to Democratic legislative leaders, stood alongside both a representative from Target and the Grocers Association lobbyist Conway and its president Ronald Fong. Earlier this month, under more prosaic conditions, Newsom who has emerged as the most vocal critic of Prop 36 signed the last item in Democrats anti-theft package. The Rivas-sponsored bill that would strengthen penalties for people who damage costly property while committing a felony is the final piece of legislation that retail lobbyists have hoped to see this year. As the Prop 36 campaign enters its most active phase, many of the retail groups that were involved in its early stages and at the negotiating table in June have assumed diminished roles in the Californians for Safer Communities committee or disappeared from it entirely. The only big donation to come from a major retail or food organization was a $500,000 contribution from In-N-Out this summer. Last week, Walmart donated an additional $1 million to the Yes on 36 campaign; it was the first time one of the big-box retailers who helped set in motion the initiative have provided financial backing for it since the signature-collection phase concluded in April. Instead, the measure has largely relied on donations from several of Californias native tribes, the conservative California Business Roundtable, and smaller donations from individuals. Totten said he is still in regular touch with Target and Home Depot and that both companies remain active members of our coalition. (Lobbyists registered for both corporations in California did not respond to requests for comment.) Some corporate interests are waiting to weigh in on the initiative further until the end of September, after the window in which Newsom can sign or veto bills from the August legislative session. They hope to avoid angering the governor before he has signed other pieces of legislation important to them. Many of those businesses are being courted by a new pro-Prop 36 committee, Common Sense for Safety, launched by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho and Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen. The new committee aims to bring moderate Democrats on board with its focus on Prop 36 as a compassionate way to tackle Californias homelessness and drug issues. It may also provide an outlet for those who do not want to choose between aligning with Newsom and standing with the prosecutors whose leadership they distrust, or going silent altogether on the question dominating Californias political debate. CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misidentified the organization whose emails with Gov. Gavin Newsom's office were leaked to the media. The organization is the California District Attorneys Association. Democratic candidate Angela Alsobrooks is leading former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, her Republican opponent, by double digits in a new poll in the states hotly contested Senate race. The poll, from The Washington Post and the University of Maryland, found 51 percent of likely voters in the Old Line State backing Alsobrooks, the Prince Georges County executive, and 40 percent backing Hogan. Vice President Harris garnered 63 percent support from likely voters in Maryland in the same poll, compared to 31 percent for former President Trump. Harris is a huge favorite in Maryland, which should help Alsobrookss chances. But Repubicans have been hoping for an upset given Hogans popularity in the state as a two-term governor. The latest poll is similar to another recent poll from The Hill/DC News Now/Emerson College released last week. It found Alsobrooks garnering 49 percent support from likely voters compared to Hogans 42 percent support. According to an average of Maryland polls from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, Alsobrooks leads with 49.9 percent compared to Hogans 40.5 percent. The Post-UMD poll took place Sep. 19-23 and featured 1,012 registered voters. Its margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Reuters) - Australia's Qantas Airways said rolling aircraft maintenance engineer strikes that began on Thursday in Melbourne and are set to continue for two weeks across the country are not expected to disrupt flights. "We're putting contingencies in place and don't currently expect this industrial action to have an impact on customers," a Qantas spokesperson said. The Qantas Engineers' Alliance, made up of several unions, said on Thursday it wants a 5% annual pay rise and a 15% first-year payment "to make up for 3.5 years of wage freezes". The alliance said the industrial action was likely to affect Qantas flights in all major locations. It did not respond immediately to a request for further comment. Australia's flag carrier has been trying to fix its reputation following a series of controversies regarding travel bookings and employee treatment that alienated travellers, employees and shareholders in the COVID-19 era and beyond. About 1,100 employees out of 2,500 engineers across Qantas are covered by the enterprise agreements under discussion that expired at the end of June 2024, Qantas said. The airline said it had made progress on a number of items with unions. "We want to reach an agreement that includes pay rises and ensures we have a sustainable business," the spokesperson said. Qantas in August reported an annual underlying pre-tax profit of A$2.08 billion ($1.41 billion), down 16% from the prior year. On the day of its results it announced an in-principle agreement on pay increases for around 2,500 international cabin crew and agreed to three applications by the flight attendants' union to raise pay for up to 800 short-haul staff. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Seoul; Editing by Jamie Freed) Allegations of inmate abuse prompted Sheriff Gator DeLoach to order an audit of the Putnam County Jail. That was in April. The findings of that audit were released on Thursday. The audit has taken time to complete, and after reading over the audit I am embarrassed by the faith I placed in former Major Surrency, Sheriff Gator DeLoach said in a news release. What has come to light is the toxic culture of distrust he created amongst corrections staff and his overall poor leadership and supervision to ensure employees received training and support to be successful in their jobs. I want to assure the community that we have taken immediate steps to remedy lack of training and supervision issues within in the jail. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: NYC Mayor Eric Adams indictment unsealed Action News Jax told you when Major Scott Surrency was placed on administrative leave following an internal complaint. According to the news release, the findings of the audit included undocumented use of force, insufficient documentation, and failure to document the use of force in a timely manner. This is simply unacceptable. I believe one of the highest honors we have at the sheriffs office is the trust our community has in us. I will not let the faults of a bad decision harm the reputation of the 370 people who serve our community through the sheriffs office and in the last few months have made strides to correct issues in training and reporting. Myself along with the men and women who work here will continue to serve with honor, integrity and transparency, Sheriff DeLoach said. Surrency resigned on August 9 after he was shown the findings of the audit. Sheriff DeLoach said, His stepping aside is the only time Surrency has demonstrated leadership in his capacity as Major. Findings of the audit: Delayed processing of reports 26 use of force reports were turned in March 2024 3 found in Major Surrencys vehicle Some reports initially dated as far back as June 2023 Some reports indicated injury and should have gone to use of force review board Undocumented horseplaying among inmates Failings of Leadership at Jail Surrency and Captain Dunn relayed incidents of not knowing how to handle reporting Lieutenants and Sergeants not receiving proper training on promoted positions Toxic atmosphere Misdirection of leadership to employees on job opportunities and expectations Unclear of leadership roles and responsibilities Favoritism to specific employees regarding discipline and/or promotion Employee termination/resignations 2024 Dustin Douglas, termination 2/6/24 - Incomplete reports, excessive use of force requiring medical treatment, conduct unbecoming an officer Isaiah Conyers-Decent, termination 2/27/24 - Excessive use of force requiring medical treatment, untruthfulness, conduct unbecoming an officer Bosley, termination 2/27/24 - Excessive use of force requiring medical treatment, untruthfulness, conduct unbecoming an officer Captain Ryan Dunn, resignation, not in good standing 7/1/24 - Untruthful statements, authored various incidents with misleading or untruthful statements, falsified documents Major Scott Surrency, resignation 8/9/24 - Resignation in lieu of termination Lieutenant Steven Breckenridge, termination 8/19/24 - Communicated criminal information (distributed videos of cases still under investigation), sexual harassment of an employee, conduct unbecoming an officer Corrections Lieutenant Stacey Dowling returned to the Putnam County Sheriffs Office during the audit. Captain Dowlings training, expertise on jail management and instructor skills is quickly remedying our deficiencies in training and ensuring all of our corrections deputies have the support they need to be successful, DeLoach said. During the audit, Captain Clayton Silva served as interim director of corrections and immediately began addressing concerns. We are on the right path and I appreciate the understanding and support from our community. I also want to let the professional men and women who work in the Putnam County Jail know that they have my full support and promise that the issues that we have had to deal with under the previous Majors tenure will not occur again, Sheriff DeLoach said. Read: Holiday hiring: What companies are hiring for the 2024 shopping season? [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The family of a metro Atlanta woman who died after taking an abortion pill and not receiving timely care is speaking out. Shanette Williams remembers the last time she saw her 28-year-old daughter, Amber Thurmond, alive in 2022. Amber had taken an abortion pill but did not completely expel all the fetal tissue. She went to Piedmont Henry Hospital, but it took 20 hours before she received the surgery she needed. She began to cry. My baby was extremely strong, Williams said. Amber did not survive the surgery, leaving behind a young son. She went from talking about the pain to Mom, youre going to have to take care of my son, Williams said. For two years after Ambers death, Williams struggled with grief. RELATED STORIES: I shut down, 24 months in a dark room because the only thing I felt was what more could I have done. What did I miss? What did I miss? Im her mom. I was supposed to know, she said. A recent report from Georgias maternal mortality review committee ruled that Ambers death was preventable. A reporter linked the report to Ambers death records and notified her family, who learned with the rest of the world that Amber was one of two Georgia women who died due to lack of access to abortions or delays in care. To find out with the world, to find out with the world, its like the wound that wasnt healed opened wider, Williams said. Channel 2 Action News reached out to lawmakers behind Georgias Heartbeat law, which bans abortion after a heartbeat is detected. Senator Ed Setzler commented on Ambers death, saying: This young mother was killed by a 9-week chemical abortion that Georgia banned in 2019 because it is dangerous for women and deadly for their children. Georgias law gave these shamefully unprepared doctors every legal tool they needed to save this mothers life. RELATED NEWS: LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The American Red Cross of Arkansas and Missouri Region is gearing up to lend a helping hand to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Officials with the American Red Cross said there were 18 disaster responders deployed from Missouri and Arkansas for support during the storm. Five volunteers are from Arkansas and 13 are from Missouri. Hurricane Helene bringing even more wind, rain to already recovering Stuttgart Red Cross officials said two Emergency Response Vehicles will be available. One team left earlier this week, and another team is scheduled to leave from Little Rock Thursday. Time and time again, we have seen our volunteers step up to provide help and hope to those in need during their darkest hour, Lori Arnold-Ellis, executive director for the Greater Arkansas Chapter said. And we will continue to do so for as long as there is a need, whether at home or across the country. LIVE | Hurricane Helene 2 p.m. update: Breaking down new track, models Hurricane Helene has developed into a category 3 Hurricane, moving in the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida. Officials with the National Hurricane Center said the hurricane is expected to make landfall Thursday night. Weather officials in Florida described the storm as unsurvivable. Hurricane Helene is expected to weaken once it makes landfall, but damaging winds are still possible. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Amtraks new Floridian will link Savannah to major midwestern cities by train. The new line is a temporary hybrid between the Capitol Limited and Silver Meteor at Washington D.C. amid Amtraks East River Tunnel Rehabilitation project in New York. The Floridian will travel from Miami northbound to Washington, D.C., and then east to Chicago. Those departing Savannah northbound will be connected to multiple rust-belt cities like Pittsburgh, Pa., Cleveland, Oh., and South Bend, In. The debut of the new train is currently set for November 10. Onboard services will include Viewliner roomette, bedroom and bedroom suites for overnight riding, cafe and dining cars, bicycle carryons and even the opportunity to bring pets along for the ride. For more information, visit Amtraks website by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. By Matt Spetalnick, John Irish and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire remain stalled after nearly a year of fighting. Iran-backed Houthi rebels continue to attack Red Sea shipping. And now, despite intense U.S.-led diplomacy, the Israel-Hezbollah conflict threatens to flare into an all-out regional war. With the clock ticking on his administration, U.S. President Joe Biden faces an arc of Middle East crises likely to defy solution before he leaves office in January and which look all but certain to tarnish his foreign policy legacy, analysts and foreign diplomats say. Biden has struggled over the past year to thread the needle of embracing Israels right to self-defense against Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon while trying to contain civilian casualties and prevent a spiral into a broader Middle East conflict. Time and again he has confronted the shortcomings of that strategy, the latest being Israels rejection on Thursday of a U.S.-backed proposal for a 21-day truce across the Lebanon border as it pressed ahead with strikes that have killed hundreds of Lebanese. What were seeing are the limits of U.S. power and influence in the Middle East, said Jonathan Panikoff, the U.S. government's former deputy national intelligence officer for the region. Perhaps the clearest example of that trend has been Bidens reluctance to exercise much U.S. leverage as Israels top arms supplier and diplomatic shield at the United Nations - to bend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washingtons will. For nearly a year the United States has sought unsuccessfully to help broker a deal between Israel and Hamas to halt the fighting and free hostages taken by the militants in their Oct. 7 cross-border rampage that triggered the Gaza war. No breakthrough is imminent, say people familiar with the matter. U.S. officials are quick to pin blame for failed negotiations on Hamas but some also cite Netanyahus shifting demands. During U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens nine trips to the region since Oct. 7, the top U.S. diplomat several times found himself at odds with senior Israeli leaders. In one instance last November, Blinken at a news conference urged Israel to pause its military offensive in Gaza to allow aid to enter the Palestinian enclave. Moments later, Netanyahu rejected the idea in a televised statement, saying he had made clear to Blinken that Israel was continuing with its operation "full force." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story. U.S. CREDIBILITY AT STAKE Biden has been credited by fellow Western leaders with reinvigorating key U.S. alliances, including with NATO and top Asian partners, after his White House predecessor, Donald Trump, questioned the value of such relationships. That was demonstrated in April when the Biden administration marshalled support from regional and European partners to help defend Israel from an Iranian drone and missile attack. But some foreign diplomats say Bidens handling of the volatile Middle East, especially his response to the Gaza war, has frayed U.S. credibility abroad. President Biden's original blunder was to say the U.S. will, no matter what, stand for Israel, one Western official said. We have never recovered from that. A Middle East diplomat said U.S. diplomacy had failed to impress adversaries" and noted that Biden sent military assets to the region after Oct. 7 as a warning to Iran and its proxy groups but that it did not seem to deter them completely. Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have kept up a steady barrage of missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea despite Biden and other Western leaders providing warships for beefed-up protection. "He could have been quicker to respond and more severe to these attacks by proxy forces," said Michael 'Mick' Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East under the Trump administration. U.S. officials have repeatedly pushed back on such criticism, saying their diplomacy has made a difference for the better and that the U.S. military deployment to the region had helped so far to avert a spillover from Gaza into a regional war. "Diplomacy is not a matter of snapping our fingers and voila," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council earlier this month. "It takes hard work. It takes effort and, unfortunately, it takes time. It has not failed." Even so, since Oct. 7, Biden has seen his hopes dashed for what was once touted as a potential signature foreign policy achievement normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia coupled with U.S. security guarantees for Riyadh. At the United Nations, where the Security Council in June backed Bidens plan for a Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal, there are signs that patience with U.S. Middle East diplomacy has waned. Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Thursday that efforts to stop the violence in the Middle East constituted "a year of failure" and that if the Israeli government was not held to account it was not going to listen to international law, "and it's not even listening to its friends, including the U.S." Panikoff, the former intelligence official now at the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington, described the crux of the Biden administrations Gaza dilemma as: Plan A hasnt worked for months. So wheres Plan B? With Israel threatening a ground offensive in Lebanon and vowing to keep pressure on Iran-backed Hezbollah until thousands of Israeli evacuees can return to their homes in the north, the crisis there could also deepen. The trajectory of the Lebanon conflict could have further implications not only for Bidens legacy but by extension the presidential campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris. Some Democratic progressive voters are already angry over unflinching U.S. support for Israel. It remains to be seen whether Netanyahu will heed Bidens entreaties to avoid further escalation in Lebanon. As a lame duck president in his final four months in office, analysts say Biden cannot be faulted for keeping up his efforts to ease Middle East turmoil - but they expect his successor to inherit the current crises. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick John Irish and Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols, Phil Stewart and Simon Lewis; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis) United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres puts his hand over his heart after speaking to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Seth Wenig/Associated Press - image credit) "We are edging towards the unimaginable," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told assembled world leaders on Monday. "A powder keg that risks engulfing the world." "We can't go on like this," he added, describing "a world of impunity where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and [the] UN Charter" the core UN principle that it is illegal for nations to acquire territory through force, and that other nations must act to prevent them. If one phrase encapsulates the fissures that opened up earlier this week as the world's nations met for their annual UN General Assembly, it was "double standards." "We rebel against the double standards on human rights," said Chile's President Gabriel Boric. "Human rights cannot be judged according to which dictator or president happens to be violating them, whether it happens to be [Benjamin] Netanyahu in Israel or [Nicolas] Maduro in Venezuela, whether it's [Daniel] Ortega in Nicaragua or [Vladimir] Putin in Russia." Displaced Palestinian children inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza City's Zaytoun neighbourhood on September 21, 2024. Gaza's civil defence agency said an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in the Palestinian territory's largest city killed 19 people, while Israel's military said it targeted Hamas militants. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP) (Photo by OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images) Displaced Palestinian children inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza City's Zaytoun neighbourhood on September 21, 2024. (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images) The world owes the same debt to "the teenage girl murdered in Gaza," he said, as to "the Ukrainian child kidnapped into Russia, the dissident silenced in Nicaragua, or the woman expelled from school in Afghanistan just for being a woman." The eruption of war in Lebanon in the wake of Israel's pager-bomb attacks and the escalation of cross-border hostilities by Hezbollah and Israel raised tensions in what was already certain to be a fraught UN session. "The speed and scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza are unlike anything in my years as secretary general," said Guterres. "More than two hundred of our own staff have been killed, many with their families. "The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the people of the world cannot afford for Lebanon to become another Gaza." Trust in UN Charter 'crumbling': King Abdullah Moments after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, King Abdullah of Jordan called out countries that remained mute as Israeli forces killed UN staff and ignored UN court rulings. "This Israeli government has killed more children, more journalists, more aid workers and more medical personnel than any other war in recent memory," he said. "Humanitarian workers who proudly wear the emblem of this institution are disparaged and targeted, and the rulings of the UN's International Court of Justice are defied, its opinions disregarded. "So it's no surprise that both inside and outside this hall, trust in the UN's cornerstone principles and ideals is crumbling." People run to take cover as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets fired from Lebanon, in Safed, northern Israel, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. People run to take cover as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets fired from Lebanon, in Safed, northern Israel, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Ariel Schalit/Associated Press) The new conflict in the Middle East only intensifies the pressure felt by western governments, and particularly the United States, which has often used its Security Council veto over the past year to shield Israel and block ceasefire resolutions. That pressure is not only about the current fighting, but also about the way the UN Charter applies or (critics say) doesn't seem to apply to Israel. "The harsh reality many see," said Abdullah, "is that some nations are above international law, that global justice does bend to the will of power, that human rights are selective, a privilege to be granted or denied at will." Abdullah said that Israel's unconditional backers have created a climate in which the country, "emboldened by years of impunity," has turned its back on peace. "We cannot stand for that," he added, "and we must recognize that undermining our international institutions and global frameworks is one of the gravest threats to our global security today." 'A get-out-of-jail-free card' That climate of impunity, said Guterres, is sending a destabilizing signal throughout the world. "A growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a get-out-of-jail free card," he said. "They can trample international law. They can violate the United Nations Charter. They can turn a blind eye to the decisions of international courts. They can thumb their nose at international humanitarian law. "They can invade another country, lay waste to whole societies, or utterly disregard the welfare of their own people, and nothing will happen." People block a road as they protest, calling for a deal for the immediate release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. People block a road for a protest calling for a deal for the immediate release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Ohad Zwigenberg/The Associated Press) "We expected that to happen," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon later told Israel's I24 TV. Israel has not yet spoken at this session of the General Assembly and Prime Minister Netanyahu is not expected to attend in person. "As with the secretary-general, the entire focus [of criticism of Israel at the UN] was about Gaza, and you saw the applause that he received. But when he spoke about our hostages, silence. And then listening to [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan from Turkey comparing our prime minister to Hitler, to the Nazi regime, it's outrageous. "We will stand strong and proud against those lies, against the libel, and I'm telling my colleagues in Israel, keep going." U.S. seeks common ground with Gulf Arab states Perhaps feeling the sting of criticism, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden responded to the escalation in Lebanon by seeking allies in the Arab world to join with it and G7 partners in calling for a three-week ceasefire. But the arguments aired at the UN this week were not only about the current violence in Lebanon. Many were aimed at the fact that Israel has been able to maintain its occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territories for 57 years without significant pressure to withdraw. The critics charge Israel's western backers with hypocrisy for claiming to support a "rules-based" international order while allowing Israel to ignore multiple binding Security Council resolutions most notably UNSC242 and UNSC338, which demand "withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied" in the 1967 and 1973 wars. Critics point out that countries such as Iran, Serbia and Iraq have been sanctioned, bombed or invaded for non-compliance with Security Council resolutions. They also accuse western governments of citing the UN Charter against Russia while ignoring the fact that the same charter that applies to the occupation of Crimea and the Donbas also applies to Gaza and the West Bank. U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at United Nations headquarters. U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at United Nations headquarters. (Mary Altaffer/AP) In President Biden's speech to the General Assembly on Tuesday, he referred to the UN Charter five times in reference to Ukraine. "We defended the UN Charter and assured the survival of Ukraine as a free nation," he told delegates. He did not mention the charter at all in his comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trudeau also cited the charter in reference to Ukraine. "Russia's illegal invasion of a neighbouring country cannot be allowed to stand," he said. "It's in direct violation of the charter of these United Nations, and it risks destabilizing principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty everywhere around the world. That's why Canada and so many others are so unequivocal about ensuring that Ukraine has the tools to defend itself against this illegal invasion." Canada abstains And yet Canada did equivocate, quite literally, by abstaining when the matter of the occupation of the Palestinian Territories came to a vote at the General Assembly last week. That vote followed an opinion by the International Court of Justice that Israel was violating international laws against apartheid and racial segregation, and that its occupation, settlements and annexations were all illegal. "Canada always stands up for international law," Trudeau said, when asked if that abstention did not undermine his professed support for the UN Charter. "That's why we are unequivocal about needing a two-state solution. "And the fact that, unfortunately, both sides in that particular conflict have withdrawn and are distancing themselves from a two-state solution is something that deeply preoccupies me and many, many other countries around the world. And we're all continuing to work together to try and get there." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a bilateral meeting with Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, at United Nations headquarters on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at United Nations headquarters on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) The abstention reflects a more pro-Palestinian posture in 2024 than might have been expected in the first years of the Trudeau government, when it followed the pro-Israel voting pattern of the Harper government. Splits grow within the West For decades, different views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have complicated relations between western developed nations and the developing world much of which sees the conflict through the lens of its own experience of western colonialism. The recent General Assembly vote on the occupation of the Palestinian Territories showed that those divisions have now entered the G7 itself. The U.S. voted against the motion. France voted for it. Germany, Britain, Italy and Japan abstained, along with Canada. The Russian government fully aware of what much of the world sees as rank Western hypocrisy has been eager to stir the pot. It has succeeded in undermining the West's credibility, particularly through social media aimed at public opinion in Latin America and Africa, but has had less success convincing governments to support its annexation of eastern and southern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while addressing a crowd at a concert marking his victory in a presidential election and the 10-year anniversary of Crimea's annexation by Russia on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 18, 2024. President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea from Ukraine a decade ago, a move that sent his popularity soaring but was widely denounced as illegal. Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while addressing a crowd at a concert marking his victory in a presidential election and the 10-year anniversary of Crimea's annexation by Russia on Red Square in Moscow on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Associated Press) Asian, African and Latin American diplomats are generally sophisticated enough to see both the double standard and the Kremlin's cynical motives for calling it out. The U.S. has tried to defuse the anger by showing openness to another long-standing complaint of the developing world about the unrepresentative structure of the Security Council, where France and Britain have veto power but India with twenty times the population of either does not. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the launching of a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction, hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden and attended by world leaders, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in New York. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the launching of a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction, hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden and attended by world leaders, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in New York. (Leon Neal/Associated Press) The allegation of double standards has been a problem for Ukraine, to the extent that Russia has tried to paint both Ukraine and Israel as rogue proteges of Washington. (The Kremlin's framing ignores the fact that Ukraine is one of the 146 countries that recognize the State of Palestine.) When invited to address the Security Council on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke against double standards. "We do not have different versions of the UN Charter for different parts of the world," he said. "We do not have regional quasi charters. There is no separate UN Charter for BRICS or for the G7. "There is one, one UN Charter which unites everyone, and must unite everyone." Blaze Pizzas 96 California pizzerias are known for build-your-own pies rapidly fired in 800-degree ovens, along with Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James corporate investments. Last week, its Roseville location made headlines for an uglier reason. A delivery driver walked into the Highland Reserve Marketplace restaurant about 10:15 p.m. Sept. 19, saw a Pride flag hung by employees inside and tore it down to the ground, according to the Roseville Police Department. When a manager and employees confronted the man, he reportedly uttered a homophobic slur and left. He then returned with two other men, at least one of them wearing mixed martial arts gloves, and kicked off a brawl with two employees that multiple passersby caught on video. The attack is being investigated as a hate crime and the suspects are still at large, police spokesman Lt. Chris Ciampa said in the release. He did not respond to requests for further comment. Blazes Roseville employees werent given permission to comment to the media. A corporate statement decried the violence without delving into details of the altercation. The safety and security of our staff and guests is of the utmost importance. While we cannot comment on specifics given this is an ongoing investigation, we absolutely condemn this type of violence and will work with authorities to bring resolution to this isolated incident, Blazes statement read. Blaze Pizza operates more than 300 restaurants across 38 states including two Sacramento-area locations: Roseville and Gold River. The Blaze altercation was startling but not too surprising to Ruby Shields, who owns Anchored Eats snack shack and food boat in Granite Bay. Shields grew up in El Dorado Hills and lives there today with her wife, Rebecca, in a political environment she described as similar to Roseville. It wasnt an easy place for a lesbian to grow up, Shields said, though it has gotten better over time. People stopped giving her and Rebecca strange looks at grocery store a couple of years ago, she said. While she and Rebecca have never had issues with customers many know theyre married theyve also never felt comfortable flying a Pride flag at their establishment. Anchored Eats opened in 2021, but Shields only added the LGBTQ-owned badge to its Yelp profile two months ago, and doesnt bother correcting guests who assume business partner Ben Shirley is her husband. Weve been looked at with respect, but its always on the back of your mind, you know, should I be saying this? Shields said. Its not even something that I really even want to put out there because you never know. I mean, its horrible that its so close to home. Roseville is right down the street from where were at. Anchored Eats will open a second Folsom Lake snack shack at Beals Point in summer 2025 or 2026, perhaps with a pizza oven. Meanwhile, Shields said shed look for ways to support Blazes employees, including being more vocal about her own identity. Rapid population growth, especially from Bay Area transplants, has reshaped Roseville over the past 15 years. Different ideologies regarding LGBTQ+ issues have particularly clashed at times in conservative-leaning Placer County and its largest city. The city council voted down a proposal to fly Pride flags from government buildings in 2021, and a planned Roseville High School drag show was canceled last year after parents sent more than 2,000 emails expressing their concerns. Placer County has no physical LGBTQ+ center, which advocates say leaves vulnerable people at risk. Yet last Thursdays violence was condemned even by figures such as Matthew Oliver, the outspoken House of Oliver restaurateur, Roseville pastor and Rocklin City Council candidate who has opposed past Placer County LGBTQ+ initiatives. There is no room for hate in our community, Oliver wrote in a Facebook post, along with the hashtags #blazepizza and #WeStandUnited. What Im Eating Forgotten Bakery at 4650 Stockton Blvd. on the border of the Fruitridge Pocket and Colonial Heights neighborhoods. Stockton Boulevards northern end has the UC Davis Medical Center. Further south, you get into Little Saigons crackly banh mi spots and soul-warming pho joints. Forgotten Bakery aims to revitalize the thoroughfares oft-overlooked middle section. Opened in March by business and life partners Robby Naim and Paul Dollar, Forgotten Bakery makes bagels and empanadas, two baked goods that are hard to find done well in the Sacramento area. Naims parents ran Bagel Mania Bakery in the Bay Area, while Dollars Chilean heritage inspired the hefty hand pies now made in Forgotten Bakerys small kitchen (all seating is outdoors) on the border of the Fruitridge Pocket and Colonial Heights neighborhoods. The bagels are fermented in Pabst Blue Ribbon overnight, rolled by hand and boiled in honey water. You can take home sesame, poppy seed, plain or everything bagels ($3 for a single, $16.50 for six or $34 for a bakers dozen) with eight ounces of plain or scallion cream cheese ($7.50 and $8.50), or indulge in a bagel sandwich. Theres the classic Loxann ($15) with smoked salmon, dill fronds, pickled onions and tomatoes, or the summertime sando ($13.50) bearing sliced avocado, English cucumber, red pepper flakes and housemade tahini-lime sauce in lieu of cream cheese. Though the bagels had the requisite chewiness and crackly crust missing from many area imitators, the ingredients distribution could be a little screwy, resulting in some bites full of flavor and others that were lacking. Empanadas de pino are Chiles classic beef-raisin-hard boiled egg-black olive turnovers, salty and savory with thick dough and a lingering kick. Theyre certainly worth trying at Forgotten Bakery, along with ethereally creamy spinach-and-cheese with smoked Gouda and gently tangy guava cream cheese empanadas (each $6.50) born in Cuba. Fresh empanadas get their finishing touches at Forgotten Bakery in Sacramento. Forgotten Bakery Address: 4650 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday Phone: 916-476-6224 Website: forgottenbakery.com Drinks: Coffee, tea and a few carbonated soft drinks Vegetarian options: Two empanadas and most bagel sandwiches Noise level: Not much from customers or business operations, but some from Stockton Boulevard traffic Outdoor seating: Six tables on wood chips and a small patio. No indoor seating, and no bathroom Openings & Closings Tacos El Rey opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant last Saturday at 10535 Folsom Blvd. in Rancho Cordova. It previously served tortas, quesadillas and more out of two taco trucks, one of which will continue operating at 2225 McGregor Drive. Elsewhere on Folsom Boulevard, Bollywood Pizza will open Tuesday near Sacramento States campus. The fusion pizzeria gives pies Indian-inspired toppings such as shahi paneer, butter chicken and achari gobi at 6601 Folsom Blvd., Suite 100. Le Bon Vin Boutique opened Sept. 13 at 6099 Horseshoe Bar Road, Suite A in Loomis. The wine bar with charcuterie and a retail section debuted just nine days after owner Natalie Simonoff, formerly Fourk Kitchens operations manager, gave birth to a baby boy. A 64-year-old civilian was taken to hospital after being injured by a Lepestok anti-personnel landmine in a park in the Dniprovskyi district of the city of Kherson. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration; Roman Mrochko, Head of Kherson City Military Administration, on Telegram Quote from Mrochko: "A 64-year-old man was hospitalised after stepping on a Lepestok explosive device in the city park in the Dniprovskyi district at around 11:30. He has suffered a blast trauma and shrapnel wounds." Details: The local authorities reported that Russian forces attacked the settlement of Kindiika with a drone at around 11:30. A 53-year-old man sustained a blast trauma and shrapnel wounds to his hands as a result of explosives being dropped. Russian troops also dropped explosives from a drone near a trolleybus in Dniprovskyi district. The glass in the trolley bus was smashed. Background: On the morning of 25 September, Russian forces attacked Kherson. Three residents of the village of Antonivka were injured in a drone attack. Another civilian was injured in a Russian strike on the city's Tsentralnyi district. Russian troops launched an airstrike on a school in Mylove hromada in the Beryslav district of Kherson Oblast on the night of 24-25 September. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories ed.]. Russian forces launched a drone attack on Beryslav in Kherson Oblast on 24 September, killing a 60-year-old man and injuring a 70-year-old woman. Support UP or become our patron! An anti-Trump Republican swims against the tide Republican US Senate hopeful Larry Hogan, a former Maryland governor and open critic of Donald Trump, is testing whether such a position can bear fruit within a party seen as fiercely loyal to the onetime president (Bastien INZAURRALDE) (Bastien INZAURRALDE/AFP/AFP) Larry Hogan may be a vanishing breed of Republican in US politics: a centrist, a supporter of abortion access, and a vocal critic of Donald Trump. Now, despite being in conflict with much of his party, he hopes to win a seat in the Senate that could tip the upper chamber into Republican control. Hogan, a popular former two-term governor of Maryland, is campaigning as an underdog in the Senate race in the state, a Democratic Party bastion bordering the capital Washington. He is seeking out pockets of political resistance that might just propel him to a shock victory on November 5, when Trump hopes to retake the White House. While the presidency is the biggest prize in the election, down-ballot races are crucial, especially for the 100-seat Senate where Democrats hold a narrow 51-49 majority. And Maryland's race has broader implications too. It is a test of whether "never-Trumpers" can draw voters' support and offer an alternative way forward for the Republican Party. Hogan's earnest -- some would say quixotic -- bid for Republican relevance in the age of Trump took him recently to Leisure World, a suburban seniors community where he pledged to "figure out a way to bring people together." His Democratic opponent Angela Alsobrooks "wants to make this race about red versus blue. I'm more concerned about the red, white and blue," said Hogan, referencing the American flag. - 'Voice of reason'? - The 68-year-old Hogan presents himself as a no-drama politician advocating "independent leadership." He has moderated his position on abortion and now supports restoring nationwide rights to the procedure. Maryland's race is uncommonly competitive for a state that has not elected a Republican senator since 1980. Hogan did not mention Trump at Leisure World. In an interview afterward, he insisted there was room for moderates in the Republican fold. "You could either give up on the party and wave the white flag, or you can continue to try to make a difference," Hogan told AFP, calling himself a "voice of reason in the middle." While Trump's party has shifted rightward, it "could learn a lot from the way we governed," offered Hogan, who balanced Maryland's budget and led an economic revitalization. "I'd like to set an example... that we showed a better path forward." Hogan faces voters like Anne Bunai, a lifelong Democrat who backed him for governor but fears the Senate being controlled by Trump's party. "That is the thing that is giving me pause," Bunai, 78, told AFP after hearing Hogan's stump speech. She remains undecided about the state race, but hopes a Trump defeat that "will break the fever" among Republicans. Dennis Melby chairs the Republican Party in Maryland's Montgomery County, a wealthy pocket of liberalism where Democrats dominate. Trump and Hogan have "a different way of appealing to people," Melby said diplomatically. - 'Soul searching' - A recent poll by AARP shows a tight race, while other surveys have Alsobrooks significantly ahead. Melby described the contest as "a nail-biter." Hogan's track record in drawing women, minorities and independents should be a useful guide for Republicans, according to Mileah Kromer, director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Institute of Politics. "What has made Hogan a uniquely formidable candidate... is his ability to make inroads with swing voters," she told AFP. "If Trump is soundly defeated but Hogan defies political gravity in Maryland, certainly there will be more attention to how this guy pulled it off," Kromer said. Should Hogan lose, Republican moderates will continue "soul searching," she added. Alsobrooks, the 53-year-old Prince George's County executive, rallied supporters recently in a wood-paneled Baltimore bar, where she stressed that "democracy is on the line" in November. Asked by AFP where the Republican Party goes if Hogan loses, Alsobrooks said the election is about the country's future, "not about Larry Hogan." Her Republican opponent meanwhile expressed confidence that the party can take "a different direction" than Trumpism. "We are going to get back to a more traditional Republican Party that's a bigger tent," Hogan said, "or the party's not going to exist because they'll stop winning elections." mlm/bgs Can you do anything about squatters who take over your home? Florida is taking action Some states are taking long-overdue legislative steps to deal with squatters: people who take over others properties without their consent, sometimes dumping the owners stuff and trashing their homes. While squatting is trespassing, most jurisdictions treat the problem as a landlord-tenant dispute. This turns the ousting of the illegal occupants into a long, drawn-out legal process. Wary of becoming embroiled in legal complications, or of the situation escalating into violence, law enforcement agencies frequently advise property owners to file for eviction. But waiting for civil eviction procedures to run their course can leave rightful owners unable to occupy their homes for months or even years and can cost thousands in legal fees and repairs. Meanwhile, squatters can severely damage the houses they occupy. Per a new report from the Pacific Legal Foundation, In one egregious example, a Dallas woman sustained more than $150,000 in property damage from squatters. And a New York City homeowner saw his utility bill increase by more than $1,000 per month when squatters took over his home. But some states have taken notice by passing legislation to recognize squatting as a criminal offense. According to the PLF report, As of May 2024, Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia have passed laws that criminalize squatting, while 11 other states have introduced bills to do so. In Florida, the law now allows the property owner to ask law enforcement to immediately remove a squatter if the occupant has entered unlawfully, has refused to leave after being told to do so and is not a current or former tenant. We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida, said Gov. Ron DeSantis in signing the legislation. While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system. ... You are not going to be able to commandeer somebodys private property and expect to get away with it. Tennessees new law also expedites the removal process. Before the measure, property owners had to begin a judicial eviction when they encountered squatters in their home a process that often took months. They enter your property, change the locks, said state Rep. Tim Rudd, who sponsored the legislation. You try to get them out, they then claim you leased it, the sheriff cant make that decision at the house, so it becomes a civil matter. In addition to speeding up the eviction process, Georgia law now allows property owners to go after squatters for damages. It also makes squatting a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. And in Louisiana, squatters can now be charged with burglary, which incurs a fine of up to $2,500 or 12 years in jail or both. The White House has taken notice of the squatting problem, too. We are certainly tracking that issue. The rights of property owners and renters must be protected, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said when asked about it in April. But, she added, ultimately this is a local issue, and it is critical that local governments take action to address it. Toward that end, New York is one of the states with pending legislation on the issue. Squatters are defined as tenants under current state law, where a bipartisan package of bills would redefine them as trespassers and expedite their removal. But PLF says many states have yet to adequately address the situation. Removing squatters is extremely difficult in most states, says Kyle Sweetland, PLF strategic research manager. But as states like Georgia have shown, once the laws are updated to recognize squatting as criminal activity, property rights are better protected. Other states should follow Georgias lead. Little data exists on the number of squatting incidents. According to a survey by the National Rental Home Council (a landlord trade group), about 1,200 houses in Atlanta that are operated by NRHC members have been occupied by squatters, as have some 475 in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. However, these numbers were not broken down by year. Attempting to dig deeper, the PFL report reads, Case counts tabulated from centralized civil court records in Georgia and New York ... generally reveal an upward trend beginning in 2019. In the Peach State, civil cases involving squatting grew from 30 in 2019 to 198 in 2023. And in the Empire State, cases rose from nine in 2020 to 37 in 2023. Until the authorities decide to get tougher on squatters, theres little you can do if you find yourself in this situation except follow the law. A preventive measure, however, would be to purchase squatters insurance. One insurer that offers this unusual coverage is Montanas Proper Insurance Services. Its policy covers landlords for up to $10,000 in legal expenses and $20,000 in lost revenue. And if you really need help, consider calling in the Squatter Hunter, aka California handyman Flash Shelton. He turns squatters rights against them by occupying the property with a legal lease from the homeowner when the squatters are away. Shelton came up with his plan after squatters took over his mothers house while she was living with him. He did what most people do: called the authorities to report a break-in, only to be told it was a civil matter. Now, he vows to get his customers unwanted guests out within 24 hours. His motto: If they can take a house, I can take a house. Lew Sichelman has been covering real estate for more than 50 years. He is a regular contributor to numerous shelter magazines and housing and housing-finance industry publications. Readers can contact him at lsichelman@aol.com. BALTIMORE (AP) A group of Baltimore longshoremen have sued the owner and manager of the ship that caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, arguing the companies should compensate them for wages lost while the port was closed in the aftermath of the deadly disaster. The class action lawsuit adds to a slew of other legal claims alleging the ships Singapore-based owner and manager, Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Group, knowingly sent an unseaworthy ship into U.S. waters. Six construction workers were killed in the collapse, which halted most maritime traffic through Baltimores busy port for months as crews worked around the clock to clear thousands of tons of mangled steel and concrete from the main shipping channel. During the initial cleanup, many longshoremen found themselves out of work. This was equivalent for longshoremen what the world experienced during COVID, when everything stopped, said plaintiff Ryan Hale, whos worked at the port for over a decade. Ill never forget, I wake up in the morning, getting ready for work, turn on the news I had to flip the channels twice to make sure it wasnt a horror movie. The port fully reopened once the channel was cleared in June, but traffic didnt immediately bounce back because some ships had been rerouted as the global supply chain made adjustments in the immediate aftermath of the collapse. Nearly six months later, shipping traffic in the Port of Baltimore has still not returned to pre-disaster levels, attorneys for the longshoremen wrote in their claim. Claimants incomes were and continue to be entirely dependent on the flow of cargo vessels in and out of the Port of Baltimore. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of roughly 2,200 members of the International Longshoremens Association union. Baltimore attorney Billy Murphy, representing the plaintiffs, said theyre seeking to recover lost wages in addition to punitive damages. Murphy held a news conference Thursday at which three of the plaintiffs spoke about how the port closure affected them. They said their access to jobs and benefits is based on seniority, so working fewer hours has serious implications because it could mean sliding back down the totem pole. Everything we obtain is acquired through hours, Hale said. A suit filed last week by the U.S. Department of Justice provided the most detailed account yet of the cascading series of failures on the Dali that left its pilots and crew helpless in the face of looming disaster. That complaint alleges mechanical and electrical systems on the massive ship had been jury-rigged and improperly maintained, culminating in a power outage as it approached the bridge. The crews efforts to restore power in time were also hindered by other problems on the ship. Story continues Darrell Wilson, a Grace Ocean spokesperson, has said the ships owner and manager look forward to our day in court to set the record straight. FBI agents boarded the Dali in April amid a criminal investigation into the circumstances leading up to the collapse. Agents boarded another container ship managed by Synergy while it was docked in Baltimore on Saturday. The Dali was leaving Baltimore for Sri Lanka when its steering failed because of the power blackouts. Six men on a road crew, who were filling potholes during an overnight shift, fell to their deaths as the bridge crumbled beneath them. While the ship experienced a series of electrical issues before and after it departed Baltimore, the blackout that occurred as it approached the bridge likely resulted from a loose electrical connection, which had been damaged by the vibrations on the Dali, according to recent court filings. Engineers on the ship manually restored power by reconnecting the tripped breakers, but it again switched off because of a problem with the fuel pumps. Attorneys allege the fuel supply to the ships generators was improperly reconfigured as a cost-cutting measure after Grace Ocean purchased it in 2017. Grace Ocean and Synergy filed a court petition days after the collapse seeking to limit their legal liability in what could become the most expensive marine casualty case in history. Since then, a number of entities have filed opposing claims, including Baltimores mayor and city council, families of the victims, local businesses and insurance companies. Theyve all been consolidated into one sprawling liability case and the deadline for most claims to be filed was Tuesday. NEW YORK Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Wednesday on Mayor Adams to resign, the highest-profile critic to do so as multiple federal investigations engulf City Hall. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a statement on X Wednesday, before reports that Adams had been indicted. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening (government) function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. The Adams administration has been rocked in recent weeks by multiple sprawling federal probes ensnaring many of the top officials. Since the latest round of FBI raids earlier this month, several top members of the administration have resigned, including now-former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg, Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Earlier this week, it was also revealed that the feds have subpoenaed information about interactions between Adams, his campaign and City Hall and six foreign counties as part of a probe that is scrutinizing, at least in part, possible illegal campaign contributions to Adams 2021 campaign from Turkey. The mayor, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing. struck back. For anyone who self-righteously claims people charged with serious crimes should not be in jail to now say that the second Black mayor of New York should resign because of rumors and innuendo without even a single charge being filed is the height of hypocrisy, Adams said in a statement. I am leading this city to protect it from exactly that kind of phony politics. The people of this city elected me to fight for them, and I will stay and fight no matter what. There is longstanding friction between Ocasio-Cortez, who has risen as a progressive star for the Democratic Party, and Adams, whos built his base in more centrist policy positions. Her progressive policies often collide with Adams tough-on-crime approach, especially on matters of public safety. Ocasio-Cortez chose not to endorse Adams in the 2021 mayoral election, and the two frequently butted heads online. AOC joins a lineup of others, largely progressives, calling on Adams to step down. They include councilmembers Tiffany Caban and Alexa Aviles, State Senators Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport and Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher. AOC doing it nationalizes it and brings it to another level within the city, said Democratic strategist Chris Coffey. Another assemblywoman, Brooklyn rep Phara Souffrant Forrest, chimed in on social media just minutes after Ocasio-Cortez put out a statement, slamming Adams leadership and urging him to step down. The mayor brushed off the idea that he would resign at a press briefing on Tuesday and has maintained that, despite everything, its still business as usual at City Hall. Im stepping up, not stepping down, he said. I have a city to run that I will continue to run. Coffey said that while theres certainly smoke around many in his administration, it seems unlikely that a resignation is imminent. Normally, you wait for the process to play out before you call on someone to resign, or before they should resign, Coffey said. "Its hard for me to see Eric Adams resigning unless hes forced out of office. _____ NEW YORK U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Wednesday on Mayor Eric Adams to resign, the highest-profile critic to do so as multiple federal investigations engulf City Hall. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a statement on X Wednesday. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening (government) function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. The Adams administration has been rocked in recent weeks by multiple sprawling federal probes ensnaring many of the top officials. Since the latest round of FBI raids earlier this month, several top members of the administration have resigned, including now-former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg, Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Earlier this week, it was also revealed that the feds have subpoenaed information about interactions between Adams, his campaign and City Hall and six foreign counties as part of a probe that is scrutinizing, at least in part, possible illegal campaign contributions to Adams 2021 campaign from Turkey. The mayor, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, struck back. For anyone who self-righteously claims people charged with serious crimes should not be in jail to now say that the second Black mayor of New York should resign because of rumors and innuendo without even a single charge being filed is the height of hypocrisy, Adams said in a statement. I am leading this city to protect it from exactly that kind of phony politics. The people of this city elected me to fight for them, and I will stay and fight no matter what. There is longstanding friction between Ocasio-Cortez, who has risen as a progressive star for the Democratic Party, and Adams, whos built his base in more centrist policy positions. Her progressive policies often collide with Adams tough-on-crime approach, especially on matters of public safety. Ocasio-Cortez chose not to endorse Adams in the 2021 mayoral election, and the two frequently butted heads online. AOC joins a lineup of other, largely progressives, calling on Adams to step down. They include councilmembers Tiffany Caban and Alexa Aviles, State Senators Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport and Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher. AOC doing it nationalizes it and brings it to another level within the city, said Democratic strategist Chris Coffey. Another assemblywoman, Brooklyn rep Phara Souffrant Forrest, chimed in on social media just minutes after Ocasio-Cortez put out a statement, slamming Adams leadership and urging him to step down. The mayor brushed off the idea that he would resign at a press briefing on Tuesday and has maintained that, despite everything, its still business as usual at City Hall. Im stepping up, not stepping down, he said. I have a city to run that I will continue to run. Coffey said that while theres certainly smoke around many in his administration, it seems unlikely that a resignation is imminent. Normally, you wait for the process to play out before you call on someone to resign, or before they should resign, Coffey said. Its hard for me to see Eric Adams resigning unless hes forced out of office. _____ AUSTIN (KXAN) Austin police raided an east Austin game room Wednesday after receiving complaints about the business. Luck 4 Ever, located on East Seventh Street, has seen a high number of arrests, according to an APD statement Wednesday. APD said it got numerous complaints about the business, which led to a joint investigation between APDs patrol division and its organized crime unit. Police executed a search warrant at the business Wednesday. A KXAN viewer sent photos of police outside the business, which shows officers pulling things out of the business. Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) Austin police raid east Austin game room Luck 4 Ever (KXAN Viewer Photo) APD detectives are very early in the investigation, and no further details are available for release at this time. As detectives progress in their investigation, more information will be released at a later time, APD said in its statement. Neighbors frustrated by lack of response from city All thats left outside the Luck 4 Ever game room is a couple of magazines, empty cups and a stool on the front porch. [The crime] really became pronounced during COVID and the shutdown, said neighbor Patrick Jones. Things changed and really snowballed. Earlier in September, federal court documents show an officer patrolling an area behind the game room stopping a man on his bike for not having a light. When he frisked him for weapons, the officer found a plastic baggie that tested positive for cocaine. Court documents show the officer also found meth and fentanyl on the man. How to look up crime statistics in Austin, new dashboards in APD data portal The man told the officer he worked at the game room. The officer later found a backpack full of money and more drugs inside the mans car parked behind the business. When were walking, well see people that have overdosed, neighbor Ricky Hennessy said. People get violent [in the nearby] park. Pretty much everyone that lives near the park has had some story of getting something stolen off their porch or people trying to break in. Stats on the citys official crime map show there have been 41 reported crimes on the block around the business in the last 30 days. The crimes range from burglary to assaults. [We want to] draw some attention to these problems and hope that we can get the citys help in resolving them, Hennessy added. Is crime going up in America? Some types are, new FBI data shows Council member Jose Velasquez, whose district oversees the area, told KXAN in a statement his office is continuing to monitor the situation. Austin police said the investigation remains open and active, and more information about Wednesdays raid will be released later. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. British Transport Police hope to locate the woman pictured as she may have information [British Transport Police] British Transport Police, investigating an assault on a teenager, have released a CCTV image of a woman they want to speak to. Officers said the incident took place on board a train between Skegness and Boston at about 15:30 BST on 19 August. The force hope to locate the pictured woman "who may have information which could help" with their investigation. Anyone who recognises the woman is asked to contact British Transport Police or Crimestoppers. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Related internet links ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) With a rise in school threats and students bringing guns to campus, Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers and Albuquerque Public Schools are now teaming up with a new plan urging students to send detectives anonymous crime tips. Story continues below Im hoping it encourages kids to open up anonymously, report, make some money, and help us get some of these guns off our juvenile offenders, said Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina. Medina said this will renew their effort to get students to report crimes anonymously. A similar program first popped up in 2009 called Campus Crime Stoppers but Chief Medina said over the years it ceased to exist. He said the partnership comes at a time when a handful of students statewide have been arrested and accused of gun crimes. We do have issues. Recently, it seems we had issues of shootings all the way down to middle school. We have incidents where we have very young kids committing crimes in elementary schools. This will be available at all APS schools. Just last week, a Volcano Vista High student was arrested for having two guns in his possession on campus. And last month off campus, APD arrested 16-year-old Jeremy Jones accusing him of shooting and killing a man during an attempted car burglary. Its those types of situations where an individual in high school can report one of these youthful individuals who has a firearm, said Chief Medina. APD said it hopes to iron out the details of what the partnership will look like in schools over the next few weeks. We are going to be giving kids a text option. Therell be a QR code that they could access crime stoppers through and they will also have a link on the APS website that kids can link into to report this anonymous information to law enforcement. APS Superintendent Gabriella Blakey revealed the partnership in a newsletter Wednesday morning but the district wouldnt interview about the plans. Crime Stoppers said students are eligible for more than $2,000 for any credible, anonymous tips. APD said students can already make tips by texting. To make a tip through text, students can text ABQCS to 738477. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. The ancient Ayanis Castle in modern-day Turkey continues to yield artifacts for exploring archaeologists, including the recent discovery of 2,700-year-old bronze shields and a helmet. The castle served as a fortress and royal residence until it was likely destroyed by an earthquake. The experts that made the new discovery believe that the artifacts were ceremonial in nature, made to honor a god the ancient Urartu Kingdoms people believed protected them during war. A team of archaeologists uncovered three bronze shields and a bronze helmet that were buried under more than 20 feet of castle rubble at the site of Ayanis Castle in eastern Turkey. The artifacts are roughly 2,700 years old, and decorations on the helmet point towards the discoveries likely being ceremonial gifts offered to a god or royalty. According to social media posts from Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, archaeologists found the artifacts during excavations of the city of Ayanis, the last and largest city of the Urartu Kingdom, an ancient civilization of Anatolian history. Three bronze shields and a bronze helmet dedicated to Haldi, the chief god of the Urartians, were new artifacts unearthed during the excavations, Ersoy wrote. The artifacts found in the monumental temple complex dedicated to Haldi reflect the richness and level reached of Urartian metal craftsmanship. The Ayanis Castle sits in Turkeys Eastern Anatolian region of Van. It was the last major castle built during the Urartu Kingdom, likely during the reign of King Rusa II in the mid-seventh century BC. Located on a rocky hill with views of Lake Van and the surrounding area, it was both fortress and royal residence. The castle and temple within stood for merely 20 to 25 years before an earthquake destroyed it. We found the shields and helmet about six to seven meters deep [more than 20 feet], said Mehmet Isikli, project lead from the Archaeology Department at Ataturk University, according to the Hurriyet Daily News, and they are in remarkably good condition. Although there are some minor fractures, we are hopeful that restoration efforts will fully preserve them. The team said they located the bronze shields in what was once a ceremonial room and that intricate decorations on the helmet add to the belief that the pieces were used during ceremonies. These shields likely belonged to the royal family or an elite warrior group, as Urartians were known to gift such items to nobility, Isikli said. These arent the first bronze items to surface at the ancient castle. In all, about 30 bronze shields have been discovered at the site during the 36-year excavation project, many in the temple area. The shields in the temple were likely dedicated to the deity Haldi, credited for protecting the military during battle. Believed destroyed during an earthquakea 2023 find of a skeleton at the site showed the person had been wearing jewelry and carrying seals and a double-sided cuneiform tablet at the time of the death, likely due to a fall that could have been a result of the earthquakethe castle and temple rubble destroyed much of what was at the site. Many of the artifacts are deformed due to this damageIsikli said in a statement, according to Arkeo News, but the shields and helmet are still in great condition. As the bronze finds add up over the three-plus-decade effort at the ancient castle, every discovery gives experts new insight into Urartian culture. This area was a hub of metalwork, particularly bronze weapons, Isikli said. Our ongoing work here reveals the Urartians exceptional skills in metallurgy. This castle is proving to be the richest Urartian site in Turkey for many reasons, not the least of which is the quantity of bronzes associated with the temple, Paul Zimanksy, a Stony Brook University professor who worked at the site 15 years ago, but was not involved in the recent effort, told Live Science, adding that locating multiple bronze pieces of this caliber would be big news at any other site, but for Ayanis they are nothing out of the ordinary. You Might Also Like Ark. Couple Tried to Sell Their Baby for 6-Pack of Beer and $1,000 at Ozarks Campground, Police Say Shalene Ehlers, 20, allegedly said, It was not working having three dogs and a baby, according to an affidavit of probable cause Benton County Sheriff's Office (2) Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers mugshots A young couple is facing criminal charges after trying to sell their 2-month-old for a six-pack of beer and $1,000 at an Arkansas campground, authorities say. Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, of Rogers, are charged with one count each of endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to accept consideration for relinquishment of a minor, according to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by PEOPLE. On Sat. Sept. 21, the Benton County Sheriff's Office received a call from the managers office at the Hide Away Campground and RV Park in Rogers, near Beaver Lake in the Ozarks. The caller said that the parents of a 2-month-old baby tried to give up their baby in exchange for a six-pack of beer and then the money, the affidavit alleged. Police arrived and the baby was taken to a local hospital. Shortly after, a deputy who arrived on the scene obtained a letter that said, I, Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to (name of a man) of our baby boy (name redacted) for $1,000 on 09/21/2024," the affidavit alleged. The letter, which the couple are alleged to have signed, further said: Disclaimer: After signing this there will be no changing yall twos minds and to never contact again, the affidavit stated. Detectives spoke to others, including a woman who said earlier that night, Ehlers came to her camper asking for beer and left when she and her husband said no, the affidavit alleged. Saying he was concerned about the couple's baby, another man told the woman he was going to give the couple some beer so he could "have the baby overnight." The couple agreed and gave the baby to the second man along with a diaper bag, the document alleged. The second man brought the baby to the first man who was in another camper, and said he gave the couple several cans of beer in exchange for the baby, the affidavit claimed. The woman said the baby smelled like ammonia and fecal matter and his diaper was full. When she changed his diaper, she saw that he had a heavy rash, blisters and swelling on his buttocks and genitals, the affidavit alleged. She also claimed she saw dog hair inside the babys diaper. Soon after Urban and Ehlers came to the camper where the second man had taken the baby. Urban and Ehlers spoke to the two men and signed the letter, which the first man told a deputy he drew up, per the affidavit. The first man said he gave no money to the couple but told them he would get them a cashiers check for $1,000 on Monday, the affidavit alleged. A detective then spoke to the second man who appeared to be heavily intoxicated." When the detective asked the couple where the baby was, Urban said he was with the first man and that the baby was undergoing an adoption, the affidavit alleged. The two parents were detained and taken to the sheriffs office for further questioning. When interviewed by authorities, the couple allegedly gave similar accounts of the event, saying that the first man created the agreement they videotaped to ensure it was legal and that they planned to legalize it on Monday. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The first man claimed he spoke to Ehlers who told him it was not working having three dogs and a baby, and would surrender the baby to him for the $1,000, according to the affidavit. Urban and Ehlers were arrested on Sat. Sept. 21. The two created a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury by abandoning their minor child initially with an obviously intoxicated male and ultimately someone they did not know, the affidavit alleges. Urban was released from jail on Monday, Sept. 23, on $50,000 bond, according to online jail records. Ehlers remains held on $50,000 bond. The Arkansas Department of Human Services is caring for the baby. It is unclear whether they have retained attorneys who can speak on their behalf. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Attendees to a rally calling for Little Rock officials to declare a "housing crisis" because of a lack of affordable options sign a letter indicating their position. Photographed at City Hall on Sept. 26, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) Little Rock residents who have struggled to find affordable housing rallied on the steps of City Hall on Thursday and asked officials to declare a housing crisis. Their request came in a letter signed and delivered by about 30 people who attended the rally. In addition to the declaration, the letter expressed disappointment in officials absence at housing meetings and their code enforcement efforts. It also asked city officials to explore sustainable and affordable rental units. Were frustrated. Were fed up, said Redonia Harshaw, chair of Arkansas Renters United, a nonprofit that advocates for balanced landlord-tenant laws. More and more people are becoming homeless. Were tired of paying all our money to live in substandard housing and be treated less than humans. Arkansans who attended Thursdays rally were part of a larger day of action organized by The Center for Popular Democracy, a national nonprofit that focuses on building an equitable society. Similar rallies or press conferences were held in six other states and Washington D.C. Five members from Arkansas Renters United in Fayetteville traveled to the nations capital to participate in a demonstration at U.S. Rep. Steve Womacks office, R-Arkansas, according to a press release from the advocacy group. Womack, as the chair of the Houses Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, proposed a $7 billion decrease in annual funding that includes cuts to several HUD programs. Womacks communication director was unavailable Thursday for comment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Harshaw led Thursdays rally in Little Rock, which included a number of group chants and testimony from tenants who described living in rental units with mold, rats, roaches and leaks. Arkansas law largely favors landlords. Renters typically accept their unit as is and landlords arent required to provide additional maintenance before the tenant moves in, according to the attorney generals website. If landlords promise repairs, but do not complete them, the tenant should continue to pay rent. Landlords also have the authority to terminate any lease at any time, even for model tenants. Al Allen, a leader with the grassroots group Arkansas Community Organizations, spoke about her experience living at what she said should have been a luxury apartment in West Little Rock, where housing units are typically known to be newly built or remodeled. After spending several thousand dollars to move to the city, Allen said she discovered six square feet of mold. Even as a housing organizer, it took me months to get it not even fully remedied, and I eventually had to break my lease and spend thousands more because Little Rock is not standard, Allen said. Harshaw said people were leaving Little Rock in droves for other nearby areas that have better and more affordable options. But not everyone can afford to make the move, so they remain in conditions that are not ideal, she said. I live in a neighborhood thats falling apart, she said. What happens when a neighborhood falls apart? Schools move away, businesses move away then you have boarded up abandoned buildings and no community life. City response Arkansas Community Organizations has frequently led a fight for affordable housing and safer living conditions in the state. The group played a critical role in the shutdown of a troubled Little Rock apartment complex, Big Country Chateau, and they worked with city officials to implement a policy that provided more support for renters. The city ordinance outlines what living conditions renters in the city are entitled to, including hot and cold water, electricity, plumbing and a functioning roof and building envelope. Units must also have a working heating and air conditioning system if one was available at the time the lease was signed, according to the ordinance. The ordinance falls short in actual instrumentation and holding [landlords] accountable, Harshaw said. Antwan Phillips, a Little Rock director who sponsored the tenants rights ordinance, attended Thursdays rally. Though he hadnt planned to speak prior to his arrival, he shared the megaphone with activists and assured them their concerns were heard. During his youth, Phillips said, he lived in an apartment complex that eventually was condemned, and he understands what it is like to live in substandard conditions. He also vowed to continue the conversation with tenants living in unsafe housing. Regarding residents concerns that the city ordinance doesnt have teeth, Phillips said the state Legislature has limited what can be passed for a warranty of habitability. He disagreed, though, that the ordinance falls short of holding landlords accountable. Now the city has the opportunity to take those properties away from the landlord, Phillips said. To me, that is some teeth. Hopefully we will have landlords who take this seriously now and do what they should be doing anyway. This ordinance shouldnt even be necessary. Phillips also touted the citys proposed sales tax initiative, which goes before voters this November and has a $10 million allocation for affordable housing and $5 million for code enforcement staff. The proposal would increase the sales tax by one percent and generate an estimated $650 million for improvements over the next 10 years. The initiative would implement a permanent three-eighths cent tax. Mayor Frank Scott Jr.s chief of staff, Kendra Pruitt, met with rally-goers when they entered City Hall to deliver their letter. Scott was not available Thursday because he had a pre-scheduled conflict, Pruitt said. Crammed inside the pre-security section of the rotunda, questions arose about when discussions with leadership could be expected, and what exact powers city officials have. We are committed to making sure that we can find every opportunity to make sure that we hold folks accountable within our power. Obviously, there are some things that are outside of our control our hands are tied, Pruitt said from the opposite side of the security check-in. Pruitt told rally attendees that she would visit with the mayor and go line by line through their letter. She also assured them a further discussion would be scheduled as soon as possible. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Ukraines air defence forces have recorded that over 15 drones were heading toward the city of Kyiv. Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, has reported that combat efforts to down them had lasted for five hours, resulting in the destruction of about 10 drones. One child has been injured in the attack. Source: Kyiv City Military Administration; State Emergency Service of Ukraine Quote from Popko: "Air defence assets and personnel downed around 10 Russian attack drones (The exact number and type of UAVs will be published in the Ukrainian Air Forces reports). Details: At first, Popko reported that one child had been injured. However, later Kyiv City Military Administration clarified that the information about the injured child was not confirmed. Damaged car. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine The State Emergency Service reported that a gas pipe had ruptured on the ground floor of a four-storey residential building in the Pecherskyi district as a result of the Russian attack, causing a fire. The fire has been extinguished. Firefighter putting out the fire. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine About 20 cars were damaged and windows shattered in four residential buildings. A firefighter. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Wreckage also fell on a kindergarten. Background: Explosions were heard and air defence systems were responding all night long in Kyiv. Fallen wreckage from a Russian Shahed drone caused a fire on the ground floor of a residential building in the Pecherskskyi district of Kyiv on the morning of 26 September. Approximately 20 cars were damaged and wreckage fell on a kindergarten. Support UP or become our patron! GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) After chronicling the demolition of Grand Rapids old Kensington School building in a series of photographs entered in ArtPrize, the artist hopes his work will inspire viewers to consider what the future of these buildings should look like. Though he is now based in Grand Rapids, artist Zachary Trebellas grew up in Illinois and had no direct link to the Kensington School, also known as Adelante High School. The now-demolished building, which was at 1031 Kensington Ave. near Curve Street in the Black Hills neighborhood, was built in 1925, closed in 2004 and sat vacant for years. In 2023, Grand Rapids Public Schools decided to demolish the building and convert it to a green space. Alumni reunite at GR school set to be demolished I think we all have stories in our hometowns of things that we really like that were destroyed or got torn down. I know in my hometown, we have buildings from the 1910s which were destroyed when I was in high school. And thats still just a gap in our downtown, Trebellas told News 8. I think I really connect with the idea of loss and of losing history that we will not get back. Trebellas discovered the Kensington School building on a bike ride. For ArtPrize 2023, he and collaborator Amber Bledsoe created a large-scale installation to honor the building, titled A Swan Song to the Kensington School Building. Swan song: ArtPrize piece bids farewell to Kensington School For his ArtPrize 2024 entry, Trebellas again focused on the Kensington School building, but this time he tried a different medium. He began visiting the building week after week over the course of its demolition, taking photos with a point-and-shoot film camera along the way. I would always ride my bike there really nervously that it would be gone or that too much of it would be gone. I never knew what it was going to look like before I got there, he said. It was really heartbreaking. I could see them like trying to knock a wall down from the other side, and I would watch the wall, like, shake and things just fall off of it. And it was really hard to watch at one point. Sculpture entered in ArtPrize marks 25 years since Columbine school shooting His goal, he said, was to revere the building in its final days. Im trying to show it, even when its being demolished, in the best angle or in the best light, Trebellas explained. Now, Grand Rapids Ruins a series of five shots arranged in chronological order is being displayed at ArtRat Gallery for the duration of the art competition. The first photo is an establishing shot of the Kensington School building in the early stages of the demolition. If you didnt look closely, you couldnt tell, but it already is being torn down, Trebellas said. The first photo of Grand Rapids Ruins, a five-photo series by Zachary Trebellas. (Courtesy Zachary Trebellas) The second photo shows the building from the back about halfway through the demolition. So you can see demolition equipment in the foreground and then the school in the background, the artist explained. They always keep the facade till the end with demos (thats) what I learned. So the facade is there, but were looking at it from the back and its just rubble on the ground. The second photo of Grand Rapids Ruins, a five-photo series by Zachary Trebellas. (Courtesy Zachary Trebellas) The third photo, taken on the same day as the second, is a close-up shot of a piece of the schools cornice in the rubble. When I saw the photograph, I was taken aback at how striking it looks, Trebellas said. It looks so forgotten and dejected there in the rubble, but also beautiful and old. The third photo of Grand Rapids Ruins, a five-photo series by Zachary Trebellas. (Courtesy Zachary Trebellas) Demolition of old school brings up mixed emotions, safety concerns Trebellas took the fourth photo at the dump. Its pieces of the school for sale, he said. The fourth photo of Grand Rapids Ruins, a five-photo series by Zachary Trebellas. (Courtesy Zachary Trebellas) The fifth and final photo is the twin of No. 2, according to the artist. Its standing behind the school from the same exact angle, he explained. But now instead of the school being demolished, its just a field of, like, green plants. The fifth photo of Grand Rapids Ruins, a five-photo series by Zachary Trebellas. (Courtesy Zachary Trebellas) Trebellas hopes viewers approach his piece slowly. I think thats the No. 1 thing that the public often does wrong is they move too fast. I watch people looking at art and I see how much they kind of zoom, he said. So I think really to take it slowly, to notice the small details. Theres things that Ive caught looking at these photographs again and again I didnt notice the first time. And to really think about, I guess, what is lost in a process like this. With several GRPS schools slated to close in the coming years many of which have uncertain futures Trebellas says these are important questions to consider. I want people to just take the situation seriously and think about, you know, is it OK to tear down a school? Maybe do they want a school to become housing? Do they want a school to become an office? I dont know, he said. This is the time to think about it, because these things are going to start happening very quickly. Digital collage about Black experience offers opportunities for empathy Where the Kensington School building once sat, there is now a field. You would never know a school was there the way it looks now. Its very erased, Trebellas said. And I would love to create more of a feeling of history. He told News 8 that he purchased several fragments of the building and worked with the demolition company to set aside additional pieces. I have a small collection in my garage of pieces of that school, he said. And Im hoping to see if I can work with GRPS to put those back into the green space that theyve made, maybe work with a landscape architect to think about how those could be integrated into the landscape. Armenian-born painter immortalizes children killed in war The artist, who is Greek American, said his visits to Greece have informed the way he thinks about ruins. In Greece, he said, many ruins are carefully preserved and designated. Theres just a lot of attention to their history and to their ruins. And sometimes I think that theres an irony that as Americans we would go, you know, to Europe or to Asia or wherever and were amazed by all these old things, Trebellas said. But I think I want us to turn that lens toward our own culture and say, What do we value here and what do we allow to be destroyed? And if we have to destroy something, how do we then still connect whats left to our history?' Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. We recently compiled a list of the 7 Undervalued Canadian Stocks To Buy According To Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) stands against the other undervalued Canadian stocks. Canadas Economic Outlook According to the report Economic Outlook Canada Q4 2024, released by S&P Global on September 24, Canada's economy shows signs of improvement, with growth expected to gain momentum in the coming years. S&P Global forecasts a 1.2% GDP growth in 2024 and a 2.0% growth in 2025, which still falls short of the country's potential growth rate of 1.8%. However, a recovery in 2025 is expected to be driven by fixed investment, particularly residential and non-residential, rather than consumer spending. Consumer spending will remain subdued due to the cumulative effect of higher interest rates. Changes to immigration policies and their effectiveness are key uncertainties in the forecast. The labor market in Canada is softening, with weaker hiring and rising unemployment. Wage growth is outpacing productivity growth, which is inconsistent with 2% inflation. The unemployment rate is expected to rise to 7% by the end of 2024 before falling in 2025. Despite this, the Bank of Canada (BoC) is shifting its focus to downside risks to the economic growth outlook. The BoC has already cut interest rates for the third consecutive time and is expected to continue making 25 basis point cuts in the fourth quarter and January. Canada: A Prime Destination for Foreign Direct Investment Canada is one of the world's top destinations for foreign direct investment. Warren Buffett expressed a positive view of investing in Canada, stating that Berkshire Hathaway has a significant presence in the country with many operations and investments across various entities. He feels comfortable investing in Canada, just like in the US, as he understands the business environment and economy. Buffett noted that Canada's economy moves closely with the US, and the results from his company's businesses with Canadian operations are consistent with those in the US. He is open to investing in Canada, citing a past example where his company invested in a Canadian financial institution. Buffett stated that his company has no "mental blocks" about investing in Canada and views the country as a "terrific" place to operate. He also mentioned that Canada is a major economy that his company feels confident about operating in and that they are currently looking at a potential investment opportunity in the country. Story continues Investing in Canada, particularly in the Atlantic region, presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for green hydrogen and its applications. Green hydrogen production can be leveraged to create new industries, such as ammonia and fertilizer production, as well as green steel, which can be produced using the region's abundant natural resources and innovative technologies. Canada's economy is showing signs of improvement, with growth expected to gain momentum in the coming years. The Bank of Canada's monetary policy adjustments and the recovery in fixed investment are expected to drive growth in 2025. With that in context, lets take a look at the 7 undervalued Canadian stocks to buy according to hedge funds. Our Methodology To compile our list of 7 undervalued Canadian stocks to buy according to hedge funds, we used the Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find the largest Canadian companies. From that list, we screened for companies that are trading at a forward P/E ratio of under 15, as of September 25. We then narrowed our choices to 7 stocks according to their hedge fund sentiment, which was taken from our database of 912 elite hedge funds as of Q2 of 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment, as of the second quarter. Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). A businessman's hand pointing to a graph on a projector screen illustrating economic trends. Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 14 Forward P/E Ratio as of September 25: 11.27 Bank Of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS), also known as Scotiabank, is a Canadian multinational bank with a strong presence in Latin America, particularly in Mexico, Chile, and Peru. Bank of Nova Scotias (NYSE:BNS) focus on international growth and solid domestic banking business position it for long-term expansion. In Q3, Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) demonstrated significant progress in its customer growth, with 143,000 net new clients added to its Canadian Retail and Tangerine businesses. The company's growth prospects are also encouraging, with adjusted EPS expected to rise by 7.6% in FY 2025 and another 15.7% in FY 2026. On August 30, Bank Of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) announced the initial purchase of KeyCorps (NYSE:KEY) stock with an investment of approximately $800 million. Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) now owns approximately 4.9% stake in KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY), which is one of the largest bank-based financial services companies in the United States, with assets of approximately $187 billion as of June 30, 2024. The acquisition of KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY) is expected to gradually grow Nova Scotias (NYSE:BNS) return on equity (ROE) by approximately 45 basis points. Bank Of Nova Scotia's (NYSE:BNS) strong financial health, growth prospects, and attractive dividend yield make it a compelling investment opportunity for investors seeking income and growth. Bank Of Nova Scotias (NYSE:BNS) stock is trading at a forward PE of 11.27, a 5.97% discount to its sector median of 11.27. As of the second quarter, Bank Of Nova Scotia's (NYSE:BNS) stock is held by 14 hedge funds with stakes worth $62.26 million. Marshall Wace LLP is the largest shareholder in the company and owns stocks worth $19.29 million as of June 30. Overall BNS ranks 7th on our list of the undervalued Canadian stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of BNS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BNS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Fort Smith man has been arrested for allegedly trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics. Arkansas State Police arrested Dylan Anderson, 28, after a pursuit in Fort Smith on Sept. 23, according to a news release. Anderson fled from a traffic stop and was apprehended after troopers used a PIT maneuver. Man accused of helping kidnap, kill pregnant Arkansas woman expected to change plea During the chase, Anderson discarded a bag containing drugs, including over 100 fentanyl pills and 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine. He was treated for minor injuries and is now in custody in the Sebastian County Detention Center on a bond of $11,850. Anderson is facing multiple charges including three counts of trafficking. His court date is set for Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. in Fort Smith. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Assemblyman Gray announces a number of NNY libraries to get state funding WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) A number of north country libraries will be getting state funding for constructions and upgrades. North country assemblyman Scott Gray announced that several public libraries within the 116th Assembly District have been awarded funding through the New York State Education Departments State Aid for Library Construction program. Keep up with the latest info on north country schools with NNY School Zone This initiative will support essential renovations and upgrades to improve library services in Northern New York communities. The funds are part of a $34 million capital allocation for public library construction and broadband infrastructure projects provided in the 2023-24 NYS budget. With these funds, our libraries will be able to better serve the needs of residents by providing modern, accessible spaces and resources, said Gray. Investing in our libraries is critical for supporting literacy and education, as well as strengthening our communities as vital resource centers. Assemblyman Scott Gray (R), 116th Assembly District Heres a list of north country libraries that will receive funding: Canton Free Library: $51,128 for adding a nursing room and reconstructing bathrooms to comply with ADA standards. Canton Free Library (Rensselaer Falls Branch): $55,500 for installing solar panels as part of an expansion and conversion to a net-zero building. Lyme Free Library: $36,767 for reconstructing the parking lot and sidewalk, installing an ADA-accessible door, and replacing the furnace. Macsherry Library: $28,493 for installing a generator to provide backup power and enhance its role as a community resource center. North Country Library System: $102,779 to provide broadband and upgraded equipment for 65 member libraries, including routers and public access computers. Norwood Public Library: $14,625 for installing an emergency generator to ensure uninterrupted services during power outages. Ogdensburg Public Library: $39,421 for replacing the security system and two boilers to improve safety and efficiency. In a post on Grays official Facebook page, the projects reflect a commitment to improving library facilities, making them more accessible, and ensuring they can meet the evolving needs of our community. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. Assemis are out of money, judge says. Receiver appointed to manage farm operation A federal judge in Fresno approved a $32 million lifeline for the harvest of the financially troubled Assemi brothers pistachios and almond farms. One of the largest pistachio growers in the San Joaquin Valley in California, the Assemis have fallen into deep debt, owing hundreds of millions of dollars to several lenders who have filed legal action to try and get their money back. A week ago, Prudential Insurance Company of America and PGIM Real Estate Finance filed a breach of contract lawsuit to recoup $700 million from the Fresno County pistachio farmers. A day later, U.S. Bank National Association also sought the courts help to get back $72 million in unpaid loans. The lenders urged the court to appoint a receiver to take over the failing farm and protect its assets. On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Kirk E. Sherriff approved the appointment of a receiver to oversee the harvest of a multi-million dollar crop. The Assemi brothers, Farid, Farshid and Darius, control more than 50,000 acres of pistachios and almonds, but a failed expansion project along with other factors have drained the companys finances. I think everyone is in agreement that the defendants are out of money, Sherriff said. Harvest funding for Assemis from Prudential The judge appointed a receiver to handle the harvest and approved $32 million in funding from Prudential Insurance to cover the costs. Lawyers for U.S. National Bank initially opposed Prudentials offer, saying it had already negotiated a $20 million deal with Maricopa Orchards, an Assemi brothers company. But Michael Nadel, the attorney for the Assemis, argued $20 million was not enough to complete the harvest. In a motion to the court, Nadel was also successful in limiting the role of the receiver. Rather than giving the receiver broad authority, including to sell property, they will be tasked to inspect, monitor, audit, and observe the Farming Defendants operations, according to the court order. The Prudential funds will be administered by the receiver, who is identified in court records as Lance Miller of Pivot Management Group. The judge ordered the receiver to file a report to the court on Oct. 18. (Reuters) - AstraZeneca will pay $18 million to biotechnology firm Immunai Inc to use the New York-based firm's AI model of the immune system to make certain cancer drug trials more efficient, the latter said on Thursday. This is the latest in a string of tie-ups by Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca to use artificial intelligence for drug discovery and development, including a $247 million deal with U.S.-based Absci late last year to design an antibody to fight cancer. Founded in 2018, Immunai uses single-cell genomics, a technique to understand the genetic makeup of single cells, and machine learning to discover and improve the development of novel therapeutics by decoding the immune system. The collaboration will focus on clinical decision-making, including dose selection and biomarker identification, by using Immunai's platform, and AstraZeneca has the option to expand the length and scope of the collaboration afterward, the U.S.-based company said. The initial phase will give AstraZeneca access to Immunai's AI platform and help gain potential insights into mechanisms of action of immunotherapies, said AstraZeneca chief data scientist of oncology R&D Iker Huerga. (Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) Nearly 200 refugees are being sheltered at a Tacoma hotel after they were asked to leave an encampment on King County property. Many asylum-seeking families had been living in tents there for months with nowhere to go. On Sept. 24, vans and trucks brought troves of suitcases, strollers and garbage bags full of possessions into the parking lot of Quality Inn on Tacomas South Hosmer Street. The items piled across the lot were some of the last possessions of families that had come from as far away as Venezuela and Angola to escape economic instability, political unrest, and for some, violence. The day before, they were living in tents in a grassy field near a motel in Kent. Many had been there for months, left without a place to go after being asked to leave a shelter at the Riverton Park United Methodist Church, according to reports from The Seattle Times. According to a King County spokesperson, the county partnered with the City of Kent and a refugee-assistance organization called Thrive International to help move the asylum seekers from the encampment and into temporary and long-term housing solutions. Many asylum seekers have been asking for improved living conditions and the chance to move into shelter or housing, King County said in a statement to The News Tribune. Todays transition directly responds to these requests, providing safer, more stable environments through shelter and housing solutions with the resources available through the countys previously awarded contract with Thrive. Mark Finney is the executive director of Thrive International. He founded the organization three years ago during the onset of the invasion of Ukraine. He and his partners worked to get Ukrainian refugees in Spokane into temporary shelter at a hotel that Thrive leased. Now, they are following a similar model in Pierce County. The encampment in Kent where a few hundrend refugees have been living unsheltered for months. Finney told The News Tribune he and his team showed up around 7 a.m. to tell families and pregnant women at the encampment they could travel to a hotel in Pierce County where they would be given shelter, resources and assistance. Everybody woke up in tents and sleeping bags this morning, Finney said of the transition they would experience that day With capacity at the hotel limited, Finney said, they had to be secretive and spontaneous about their announcement to prevent additional asylum seekers in need of help in the area from showing up at the encampment. Amid a refugee crisis, the demand for resources is high, said Finney. This is an issue across the state and across the country, he told The News Tribune. Thrive International helped transport roughly 191 people from the encampment to the Quality Inn in Tacoma, which it leased to assist the refugees. When they arrived, staff members collected identification and information such as immigration status, whether they had a work permit, the languages they spoke and other details that helped their resource coordinators know what kind of assistance they would need. According to Thrive International, the refugees would be referred to a new Migrant and Asylum Seeker Support program that is expected to be announced by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) sometime this fall. According to Norah West, assistant director of media relations at DSHS, the departments Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance expects to launch the Washington Migrant and Asylum-Seeker Support Pilot Project in early October. West told The News Tribune the project will create a central, coordinated system for people who have recently arrived in Washington from outside of the country to connect to services. We are contracting with organizations to provide migrant housing services, immigration-related legal services and culturally responsive case management, she said in an email. All referrals and services will be prioritized by each households risks for vulnerability; for example, households with pregnant persons or children under age 18. Finney said the Quality Inn is set up to offer them a stable place to temporarily live while their resource coordinators help them navigate immigration, obtain work permits and find long-term housing. Its difficult for folks to find accessible housing when they have no credit history, no rental history, much less if they dont speak English, Finney told The News Tribune about the assistance Thrive International would offer. As the families poured into the lobby of the Quality Inn and gave their information to intake staff, they were offered snacks and water. Children played and laughed. Finney said Thrive International had been planning with local school districts to enroll the children in class. He said they would be bused to school from the hotel. Finney told The News Tribune many families had endured traumatic journeys on their way to the United States. The thing that is most shocking for me to think about is the kids, and what they have experienced, he said. Tania Babisala left Angola with her husband and 10-year-old daughter. She told The News Tribune in a translated interview, her husband had defected from the government there, and she and her family were threatened by violence from the government. She said she was victimized by sexual violence. They traveled to Brazil before making their way to the states after their safety there was threatened. They were in Arizona before hearing about resources in Washington. They had been staying at the encampment in Kent after being told there was no where to go nearby. They have been there since the beginning of August. After arriving in Tacoma, she told The News Tribune she is hopeful her husband can find work and daughter can now focus on her schooling. Babisala said she hopes to pursue a career in nursing so she can be a caretaker for the elderly. We are glad we can play an important part in partnering with the city of Kent and King County to answer the call for dignified affordable housing, Finney wrote in a statement on Sept. 25. It was beautiful to hear the cheering and clapping when these families realized today was their last day in the camp. Atlantic Beach man pleads guilty to death by distribution for 2022 overdose BEAUFORT, N.C. (WNCT) An Atlantic Beach man pled guilty to death by distribution in Carteret County Superior Court Thursday. Hayden James Hunter, 28, pled guilty to death by distribution of fentanyl concerning the death of 19-year-old Olivia Taylor. Law enforcement said Taylor was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of her apartment in Morehead City on Oct. 16, 2022. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Just one day before her death, Taylor was released from a Wilmington treatment center where she completed a program for substance abuse. The investigation revealed that fentanyl toxicity is what led to her death. Law enforcement found through a search of Taylors phone that she contacted Hunter to buy $60 worth of fentanyl hours before her death. Hunter was sentenced to more than four years to more than six years in prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. When a public figure like Sean Diddy Combs is arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering, people have a lot of questions about how and why a rich, famous superstar would risk everything by allegedly committing such despicable acts. As previously reported by The Root, on Monday, Sept. 16, the 54-year-old rap mogul was arrested in Manhattan by federal authorities. His indictment was unsealed the following morning, revealing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution. The allegations against Combs include sexual abuse, physical abuse, bribery and various drug offenses. The Bad Boy founders arrest was roughly six months after federal authorities raided his two homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March 2024, and four months after damning video footage leaked of him brutally assaulting ex-girlfriend and Bad Boy Records signee Cassandra Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. In November 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of sex trafficking, human trafficking, sexual battery and sexual assault. The suit was settled the next day, but it was followed by several other sexual harrassment and sexual assault lawsuits from other alleged victims. He has denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence. Now, it appears he will use his trial to explain himself. While speaking with TMZ for the documentary, The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment, Combs lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, revealed that the Last Night artist wants to testify at his federal trial. I dont know that I could keep him off the stand, Agnifilo said. I think he is very eager to tell his story. And what exactly is his story? What could he possibly say to explain or defend these alleged crimes? What story is there to tell about the freak offs that allegedly saw men and women drugged and forced to participate in various sex acts? Were not legal experts, but we also have to wonder how his possible testimony could impact the multiple lawsuits that have been filed against him. And with rumors circulating about the famous names that could be involved in these sex parties, the world is wondering whether Diddy will bring down half of Hollywood with him. Its too early to know what shape the trial will take, but Agnifilo did address the possibility that the footage of Combs physically assaulting Cassie could become part of the proceedings. He explained that Diddy wants to tell every part of his story, including what you see in the video. I expect its going to be explained by the both of us, Agnifilo said. No trial date has been set yet, but as we wait for more developments check out our previous coverage on Combs case: For continued updates please subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook and X. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Attorney General Tim Griffin said two Arkansas men were arrested this week in a separate investigation tied to pornography involving children. The first arrest of 25-year-old Sherwood resident Giovanni Ibarra came after an investigation that started with a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Jonesboro man gets 30 years in federal prison for child porn and encouraging girls to self-harm Investigators noted that the pornographic material Ibarra is accused of producing involved a toddler. He is facing federal felony charges of production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Griffin said in a statement Ibarra was booked into the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility on Tuesday and released to U.S. Marshals Service custody Wednesday. Arkansas man facing more than 100 counts of child pornography In a second incident, officials said agents from Griffins office arrested 39-year-old Darien Trigleth of Conway on Wednesday. Trigleth is facing charges for 150 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. He is currently held in the Faulkner County Detention Center. Warren man facing child pornography charges after arrest by Arkansas State Police The attorney general pledged to continue to use his office to track down and arrest people possessing or creating this kind of obscene material. Such unfathomable and despicable acts have no place in our society, and I will continue to bring the perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice, Griffin said in the release. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. ATWOOD, Ill. (WCIA) The Atwood Police Department is looking for help from the public in finding a person wanted for a burglary spree at a local storage facility. Joe Duncan, Atwoods Chief of Police, said the Atwood Mini Storage on Route 36 was burglarized in the early morning hours of Sept. 18. Multiple units were broken into and thousands of dollars worth of property was stolen. Even the facilitys security cameras were stolen. Sangamon Co. Crime Stoppers seeking pizza customer who used counterfeit money The burglaries were reported to Atwood Police the following day. As police investigated, Duncan said they identified a vehicle involved in the burglary and identified a suspect Cody Leach of Decatur. The vehicle was found at an address in Decatur on Sept. 20. Duncan said that with assistance from the Decatur Police Department, Atwood officers served a search warrant at the home. Much of the stolen property was found there, along with crystal meth and a loaded gun. Leach was not there when the warrant was served. A warrant for Leachs arrest has been issued, charging him with multiple counts of burglary and theft. Duncan said his department is seeking help from anyone who knows where Leach is. Atwood Police was assisted in the investigation by the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, the Piatt County Sheriffs, the Decatur Police Department and the Dewitt County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. The audacity of Kamala Harris laughter and the racist roots of Trumps derision Just when the summer uproar over Donald Trump calling his potential rival Laffin Kamala and Cackling Copilot Kamala Harris was beginning to subside, an apparent new round of attacks by Trump and other Republicans has emerged after their initial U.S. presidential debate. The target again was Kamala Harris laugh. Three days after the debate, for instance, Bruce Zuchowski, an Ohio sheriff, posted on his Facebook account that Harris was a laughing hyena. Zuchowski was subsequently barred from providing election security during in-person voting. Conservative media commentators also have voiced their displeasure, calling Harris laugh contemptuous, exaggerated and inappropriate. This is not surprising, given that Harris laughter was on full display during much of the nationally televised debate and, worse, Trump was clearly the object of her unrelenting derision. Much has been written already about the sexism and racism behind Trumps contempt for Harris laugh. But in a little-known, 1985 essay called An Extravagance of Laughter, celebrated American writer Ralph Ellison provided a sharp analysis of the subversive power of Black laughter in 1930s America. Ellisons essay, published in a 1986 collection Going to the Territory, still offers useful historical racial context for explaining Trumps animus toward Harris. Among the stories Ellison tells: Black people once had to put their heads in a barrel to laugh because their laughter unnerved white Southerners. The dangers of Black laughter Best known for his 1952 novel Invisible Man, Ellison was one of Americas foremost social critics who confronted racism and white supremacy by telling the stories of alienation among everyday Black people searching for identity in a nation that deemed them inferior. In An Extravagance of Laughter, Ellison began with an anecdote about attending a theater adaptation of Erskine Caldwells novel Tobacco Road in New York City in 1936. The popular play detailed the lives of destitute white sharecroppers during the Great Depression. The sharecroppers feared, among other things, losing their social status by dropping below the lower rung reserved for Black people in America. While laughing uncontrollably at a comical scene in the play involving the antics of poor white Georgia farmers, Ellison became aware of the stir he was causing among the predominantly white audience. American novelist Ralph Ellison in 1963. Ben Martin/Getty Images For many white Americans, Black laughter was a peculiar form of insanity suffered exclusively by Negroes, who in light of their social status and past condition of servitude were regarded as having absolutely nothing in their daily experience which could possibly inspire rational laughter, Ellison explained. As Ellison saw it, his laugh during the play was being construed as an affirmation of the Black buffoon stereotype. As he described it, the white spectators were catching fire and beginning to howl and cheer the disgraceful loss of control being exhibited by a Black man. Later in the essay, Ellison lampoons the use of laughing barrels in Southern towns, which he described as huge whitewashed barrels labeled FOR COLORED, and into which any Negro who felt a laugh coming on was forced to thrust his boisterous head. The intent of suppressing Black laughter, Ellison explained, was pro bono publico, or for the public good. Stories of the use of barrels to block offensive Black laughter from public view have been well studied by scholars and are believed to be the origin of the expression barrel of laughs. While the idea of the barrels may seem utterly ridiculous, Ellison understood them as an absurd strategy of containment for a not-so-absurd fear in post-Reconstruction and Jim Crow white America, when racial segregation was legal. Black folks who laugh turned the world upside down and inside out, he explained. And in so doing, Ellison wrote, Black laughter in-verted (and thus sub-verted) tradition and thus the preordained and cherished scheme of Southern racial relationships was blasted asunder. In a 1983 letter celebrating Caldwells birthday, Ellison thanked the writer by giving artistic sanction to a source of comedy which in the interest of self-protection I had been forced to deny myself you had released me from three turbulent years of self-restraint. Flipping the script on who gets to laugh The first time Trump found himself the object of Black laughter was during the 2011 White House correspondents dinner, where he was publicly and mercilessly roasted by a gleeful Barack Obama. The experience appeared to humiliate and infuriate Trump and is widely seen by political pundits as the catalyst for Trumps entrance into the 2016 presidential race. It is not surprising, then, to see his campaign resurrect the rhetoric that many deem to be racist to erode public confidence in Harris fitness for the office. During the debate, Trump repeatedly accused Harris of destroying the fabric of our country with insane policies. Trump had previously called Harris dumb as a rock and a radical left lunatic. In this Harpers Weekly cartoon published in 1874, two Black legislators are arguing in front of their white colleagues. Fotosearch/Getty Images These hearken to the long and shameful history of racist characterizations of Black Americans as menaces to society. They include depictions of unruly, newly emancipated Black men holding public office in D.W. Griffiths 1915 The Birth of a Nation to Trumps public call for the death penalty for the Black and Hispanic teens known as the Central Park Five in a full-page New York Times ad in 1989. In that case, the teen boys were falsely accused of the brutal assault of a white New York jogger. They served years in prison before being exonerated by DNA and the confession of a convicted rapist and murderer. Americas new racial and gender norms Trumps mockery of Harris laughter has not been successful in neutralizing her popularity. Harris is widely regarded by political commentators as the winner of the debate, and the lasting impression is that of a glowering Trump repeatedly failing to put a stop to Harris mirthful expressions of incredulity. Almost a century has passed since Ellisons disruptive laugh occurred in a New York theater in 1936. In that time, both Obama and Harris have reordered traditional gender and racial norms by using Black laughter in the very public theater of U.S. presidential politics. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Betsy Huang, Clark University Read more: Betsy Huang 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. Bipartisan Effort To Eliminate Social Security Cuts For Teachers, Police And More Grows In Congress Public employees like teachers, police officers and firefighters have long faced the challenge of receiving cuts in Social Security benefits when they retire. This is due to some rules the Government Pensions Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) which cut into Social Security benefits for more than two million workers who receive pension plans. For many, however, the pension plan isn't enough to live on and the cuts in Social Security make retirement life more challenging. A growing bipartisan effort in Congress aims to eliminate these two rules. Don't Miss: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement How do you compare ? Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? How does it compare to the average? The Push to Repeal Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Garret Graves (R-La.) have pushed the Social Security Fairness Act to a vote. This bill is meant to completely repeal the GPO and WEP. As of last week, the petition to force the vote for this bill reached 218 signatures, meaning it will go to vote after sitting on the U.S. House Calendar for seven legislative days. See Also: IRS Finalizes 10-Year Rule For Retirement Withdrawals, Making Things Even More Insanely Complicated Support for the repeal doesn't stop there. The bill has 327 co-sponsors in the House, so when the vote takes place, it's likely to pass. Over in the Senate, 62 co-sponsors are backing the companion bill. National groups representing police officers, teachers, firefighters and other public employees are also throwing their weight behind the effort, saying it's long overdue. When the petition to force the vote on this bill reached enough signatures, Graves and Spanberger stated in a news release, "Today is a major milestone made possible by tireless advocates who've made clear that Congress must act. From Louisiana to Virginia to everywhere else in America, millions of retired public servants have waited more than 40 years for their elected officials to tackle this fundamental issue of fairness." Trending: Founder of Personal Capital and ex-CEO of PayPal re-engineers traditional banking with this new high-yield account start saving better today. How These Rules Affect Public Employees The WEP lowers Social Security benefits for people who receive pensions from non-Social Security-covered jobs. The GPO cuts benefits for spouses, widows and widowers in a similar situation. These reductions can leave some retirees scrambling to make ends meet. At a Senate hearing, one union leader shared the story of a 75-year-old teacher still working. If she retires and starts collecting her pension, she'll lose her Social Security income from her late husband's benefits. Her pension alone wouldn't be enough to live on. Story continues Trending: A billion-dollar investment strategy with minimums as low as $10 you can become part of the next big real estate boom today. What Are the Arguments For and Against Repeal? Supporters of the Social Security Fairness Act argue that the GPO and WEP rules are unfair and disproportionately hurt public servants. Workers have planned to receive their pensions and Social Security for decades, only to be blindsided by cuts. Repealing the GPO and WEP would restore benefits to these retirees and fix what many see as an unjust system. But not everyone agrees. Critics say repealing these rules could lead to overly generous benefits for some workers particularly those who only paid into Social Security for part of their careers. Since Social Security is designed to be more generous to lower-income workers, eliminating these rules could unintentionally give some workers higher benefits than they'd normally qualify for. There's also the issue of cost. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that repealing the GPO and WEP would cost around $196 billion over ten years. With Social Security's long-term funding already in question, some experts suggest reforming the rules rather than scrapping them altogether would be better. Trending: These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends What Happens Next? Even with these challenges, this bill has real momentum and lawmakers are determined to make progress. Public workers impacted by the GPO and WEP are encouraged to contact their representatives to push for change. In the meantime, financial advisors recommend that those affected seek professional advice to understand their options and retirement plans. The fight isn't over, but the growing bipartisan effort to address this issue could signal a turning point for the many public employees waiting for relief. Whether through repeal or reform, the hope is to finally create a more fair and predictable Social Security system for public workers. Read Next: Are you richer than most people you know? Heres the net worth you need at every age to be above average. If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it? UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Bipartisan Effort To Eliminate Social Security Cuts For Teachers, Police And More Grows In Congress originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) An Augusta man has been sentenced to Federal Prison for threatening to blow up the Social Security office. 39-year-old Keyon Tishaye Dickens has been sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading Guilty to Using a Telephone to Make a Threat to Injure a Person or Damage a Building by Explosives. Hell also serve three years of supervised release once his term in prison is complete. As described in court documents, Dickens received a notice in September 2023 that the Social Security Administration intended to recoup over-payments to his Supplemental Security Income from future SSI checks. He called the Social Security Administration office in Augusta to complain and stated, Im going to shoot the office up and Im going to blow it up. I havent decided yet what Im going to do. Dickens later visited the office carrying a backpack and showed a note that read I have a bomb to a security officer. The officer notified the Richmond County Sheriffs Office, and the building was locked down and evacuated. No bomb was found, and Richmond County deputies took Dickens into custody. Americans should not have to fear for their lives simply for doing their jobs or going about their daily errands, said Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Matthew Ploskunak of FBI Atlantas Augusta Resident Agency. Thanks to the quick response by our local law enforcement partners, this case was investigated thoroughly and quickly brought to a successful conclusion. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. DENVER (KDVR) Aurora police are continuing to investigate the people seen in a viral video taken on Aug. 18 inside The Edge at Lowry apartments and said Wednesday that the agency has identified three additional suspects from the video, with one suspect currently in police custody. The video, first published by FOX31, shows six men armed with guns entering an apartment. Police said the people seen on video were involved in a shooting that left one person dead weeks after the shooting occurred. Police have identified all six of the men seen in the video. Auroras new police chief talks in-depth about migrant gangs, crime and transparency On Friday, the Aurora Police Department said it has no evidence that the people seen in that video are involved with any gang and specifically noted that the agency cannot link the individuals to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. At this time, we do not have any information that leads us to believe or points to these individuals being involved in any specific gang. As we continue our investigation, if that information comes out, we will explore those leads as we do, Aurora Police Lt. DJ Tisdale from the Special Operations Division said during the Friday press conference. At that press conference, police identified three suspects involved in possible violence at The Edge at Lowry: 21-year-old Naudi Lopez-Fernandez, who is in custody, and 25-year-old Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco and 20-year-old Niefred Jose Zerpa-Acosta, who are both wanted by police. Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, is wanted by the Aurora Police Department on a warrant of first-degree burglary and felony menacing in connection to an Aug. 18 shooting at an apartment complex near 12th Avenue and Dallas Street. (Photo: Aurora Police Department) Naudi Lopez-Fernandez, 21, is in police custody in connection to a deadly shooting that occurred at an apartment complex near 12th Avenue and Dallas Street on Aug. 18, 2024. (Photo: Aurora Police Department) Niefred Jose Zerpa-Acosta, 20, is wanted by the Aurora Police Department on a warrant of first-degree burglary and felony menacing in connection to an Aug. 18 shooting at an apartment complex near 12th Avenue and Dallas Street. (Photo: Aurora Police Department) FOX31 reached out to Immigrations and Customs Enforcements Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations and was told by a spokesperson that Lopez-Fernandez and Zerpa-Acosta are both Venezuelan citizens. Lopez-Fernandez was arrested by ERO Denver after he was released from the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office on Aug. 21 and remains in ERO custody; Zerpa-Acosta was released from the Douglas County Jail on May 16 and arrested by ERO on May 17. He was ordered to be removed from the U.S. on May 29, and ERO placed Zerpa-Acosta on an order of supervision on July 17 and released him from custody. On Wednesday, the agency said it had identified the three remaining suspects from the security camera video but was not releasing the information because the agency was seeking warrants for their arrest. Once the warrants are active, the agency plans to update the information provided on Wednesday. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox This investigation is and has been of great interest to the community and the media, said Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain in the agencys Wednesday release. Although the investigation is ongoing, we want to share what we can with the community to ensure the steady release of factual information as part of our dedication to transparency, public safety and, most importantly, community service. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 if information helps lead to a conviction. Reports may have caused bystanders, residents danger On Sept. 11, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Council Member Danielle Jurinsky released a joint statement with the full endorsement of the city manager and the Aurora Police Department. The pair said that Tren de Aragua has not taken over the city, and the gangs presence is limited to specific properties that the city says it has been addressing. To date, the Aurora police have not connected any people in the Dallas Street video to the gang. FOX31s partner, NewsNation, was told by Department of Homeland Security sources that the people seen in the video have ties to the Venezuelan gang. Douglas County to enforce camping ban on public property Todd Chamberlain, the new Aurora chief of police, told FOX31 on Tuesday that he does not believe the apartment buildings were taken over by the gangs. Im going to be very blunt; I think thats a false narrative. There was a lot of issues with the property management company on this. There was a lot of outreach at a city level, not at a police level but at a city level through the city managers office and the mayors office to try to get some systems in place where these people would actually become property managers, Chamberlain said. Dozens of residents have spoken up about the allegations of gang members in the apartment complexes, even holding a press conference on Sept. 4 to try and set the record straight, and alleging that the media attention on the violent activity has led to danger against migrant families. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. The city offers free pet microchipping at the Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop in East Austin, seven days a week. The Austin City Council passed an ordinance Thursday to require residents to microchip their pets. This story has been updated with new information. The Austin City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that will soon require residents to microchip their pets. The action comes at a time when the Austin Animal Center, the city's centralized animal shelter, has struggled with overcapacity issues over most of the past decade. This year, the shelter has averaged more than 500 animals at any given point, about 50 more than its capacity, according to Austin Animal Services Director Don Bland. "Houston, Dallas, San Antonio everyone except for Austin has done this," Bland told the American-Statesman in an interview prior to Thursday's vote. "We are behind the curve." Previously: Austin Animal Center temporarily pauses intake as it remains at critical capacity The Austin Animal Center has struggled with being overcapacity during most of the past decade. These dogs were in makeshift housing at the center during a time of "critical capacity" in 2019. District 4 City Council Member Jose Chito Vela, who led the charge on the dais to promote microchipping pets last year, told the Statesman prior to the vote on the ordinance would serve as a "firm suggestion." The hope is that veterinarians can now tell people the city requires microchipping, and thus more individuals will opt to get their new pets chipped at the vet, Vela said. Having more animals microchipped is meant to reduce the capacity burden on the animal shelter and make it easier for a lost pet to get home. "Hopefully, that change in and of itself will boost the number of pets in the Austin area that are microchipped," Vela told the Statesman. Using a syringe, the microchips which are about the size of a large grain of rice are placed under an animals skin, usually at the back of the neck, between the shoulder blades. Each chip contains unique information a bit like a cars vehicle identification number and can be accessed with an electronic scanner. If the chip is registered, the owner can be contacted that their pet has been found. The ordinance will go into effect in 10 days, according to a spokesperson from Vela's office. Would the Austin ordinance apply to my pet? The ordinance will apply to all pets older than four months excluding wildlife or livestock. It will not have an enforcement measure. Those found not in compliance will be provided "with educational materials on microchipping," according to the draft proposal. Where can I microchip my pet in Austin? The city offers free microchipping at the Austin Animal Center seven days a week. The center, at 7201 Levander Loop in East Austin, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bland said it costs the city less than $3 to microchip an animal. In contrast, it costs the city about $54 a day to provide basic services to a shelter animal. Bland said the city distributed microchip scanners to parks and recreation facilities, fire departments, libraries and some police substations in 2019. "If you have a microchip, then we can contact that person and let them know: 'Hey, we've got your pet'," Vela said. "It improves the return rate for the animals." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Will Austin require pet microchipping? City Council votes Thursday Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike as seen from Tyre SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia has urged an estimated 15,000 of its citizens living in Lebanon to leave, flagging a risk Beirut airport may close and the difficulty of evacuating large numbers if the situation worsens. Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and at least 72 people were killed, and Israel's military chief said a ground assault was possible. Britain is moving troops to Cyprus, joining two Royal Navy ships already there, to be in a position to help evacuate nationals trapped in Lebanon. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had made contingency plans that could include evacuations by water, but declined to give details. "We're looking at every option, but there's obviously national security issues," he said in a Sky News interview. Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly there is a risk Beirut airport may close for an extended period, and Australians should leave now. Wong said she had met with her British counterpart and discussed the need for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Around 15,000 Australians live in Lebanon, according to Australia's foreign ministry. "Given the large numbers we are talking about, this situation will be difficult to resolve," Albanese said in comments broadcast on ABC Television. "We've been meeting on this through appropriate bodies over a period of time, including engaging with our friends and allies," he added. In 2006, Australia evacuated over 5000 of its citizens and another 1200 foreigners from Lebanese ports, with the cooperation of Syria, Jordan, Cyprus and Turkey, during a war between Hezbollah and Israel. The 2006 consular operation was Australia's largest ever evacuation, involving 17 ships, 22 Australian aircraft and over 470 buses. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham and Renju Jose; Editing by Stephen Coates) Australian city experiences its hottest August day in over two decades: 'Winter has been warmer than usual across the country' Sydney, Australia, experienced its hottest August day since 1995, according to a recent article published in the Guardian. As global temperatures rise, major cities are facing record-breaking heat waves. What's happening? Sydney experienced an unusually warm end to its winter, as the city's official weather station at Observatory Hill recorded a temperature of 88.86 degrees Fahrenheit (31.6 degrees Celsius) this past August at the Sydney Airport. According to reports by the Guardian, the city's overall record for August was 88.34 degrees Fahrenheit (31.3 degrees Celsius) in 1995. Other cities in Australia also endured the heat, with Brisbane reaching temperatures of 85.64 degrees Fahrenheit (29.8 degrees Celsius), which is significantly higher than the city's average August temperature of 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius). "Despite some typically cool winter temperatures at times on the east coast, winter has been warmer than usual across the country, with August on track to be Australia's warmest August on record," the Bureau of Meteorology told the Guardian. On top of the rising temperatures, parts of Australia also experienced high winds, causing the bureau to issue a severe weather warning for the southeastern part of the country. South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales were all under watch for high wind forecasts. In some areas, such as Sydney and the Illawarra, the high heat and windy weather meant high fire danger, according to the BoM meteorologist Jonathan How. Why are rising temperatures important? While extreme weather events have always been a part of Earth's climate history, rising global temperatures are a new pattern with more devastating effects on the environment and human safety. Scientists have established that human-driven factors, such as dirty energy, emit harmful pollutants into the atmosphere that cause extreme weather events, including more powerful hurricanes, heat waves, and earthquakes. More powerful storms and hotter temperatures are especially dangerous for vulnerable populations. To better protect local communities from extreme weather events, it's necessary to transition away from dirty energy sources and toward clean power. What's being done about rising temperatures? Scientists and policymakers are speaking out against individuals who denounce the impact of rising global temperatures. As articles highlight the trajectory of hotter temperatures, climate awareness is becoming more common. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Back in 2018, Gov. Chris Sununu signed a broadly bipartisan bill with a simple aim: to reduce the number of people who were charged with crimes and held in New Hampshire county jails simply because they could not pay their cash bail. (Getty Images) This story was updated on Sept. 26 at 10:13 a.m. to include new statements from the Joyce Craig campaign to clarify her position. After Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill making broad changes to New Hampshires bail laws last summer, many thought he was closing a long and hard-fought chapter of politics. House Bill 318 was a compromise bill designed to address concerns with the states 2018 bail reform bill among law enforcement and others, while also creating faster bail procedures and better oversight of repeat offenders. But not all Republicans are satisfied with the bill. Gubernatorial candidate Kelly Ayotte has said New Hampshire should scrap HB 318 and return the state to the pre-2018 bail environment. Why did we try to fix a problem that in my view is not a problem? Ayotte said in an interview Sept. 18, shortly after speaking to Manchester business owners at the Bonfire Restaurant and Country Bar in Manchester. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Joyce Craig is supporting the 2024 bill and is not seeking immediate changes. The former Manchester mayor was critical of the 2018 bail reform and had campaigned for it to be amended while mayor. The Craig campaign did not respond to specific questions about her position on the bill before this story published, but has since clarified it. On Thursday, after publication of this story, Craig campaign manager Craig Brown said: Joyce will monitor the implementation of the bail reform law and ensure that it is making our communities safer and make further changes if necessary. In a Tuesday statement, Brown had said: Joyce worked closely with the Manchester Police Department to increase the number of officers on the street and reduce violent crime in the city by nearly 40 percent and was a leading voice for the bipartisan bail reform bill that will make our communities safer. Ayottes critical comments were echoed by current Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, a Republican who accompanied Ayotte on her stop to the Bonfire. And they highlight the lasting disagreements within the Republican Party over the ideal approach to bail and criminal punishment. Law enforcement representatives say the laws need to be changed to allow a crackdown against repeat offenders. Libertarian-minded Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have spoken against what they see as an overly punitive correction to the existing laws that could infringe on the presumption of innocence. Compromise concerns HB 318 was meant to be a compromise with something for everyone. To speed up the bail system, the bill creates a system of magistrates trained lawyers who are authorized to set bail in place of judges. To address concerns around the release of violent offenders, the bill sets a strict condition where people who are arrested for a series of violent offenses are automatically held in jail until they receive an arraignment by a judge or magistrate. That arraignment must be held within 24 hours of the persons arrest. To better ensure that people who are arrested are not prematurely released on bail, the bill directs the state judicial branch to establish a bail-tracking system to allow police and prosecutors to see if the person is already out on bail for an arrest in another jurisdiction. To attract more people into the part-time job of bail commissioner, the bill increases the fee bail commissioners receive per arrest they adjudicate from $40 to $60. Under state law, the bail commissioners determine whether a person must be held in jail in the days immediately after their arrest and before their arraignment. And to provide more leniency to defendants about court appearances, the bill shortens the look back period in which defendants failure to appear in court can be held against them. Now, a defendant must have had three failures to appear in the last three years to have a presumption that they wont appear next time; previously that was three appearances in the last five years. To Democratic Rep. Alissandra Murray, a member of the House Criminal Justice Committee who helped cobble together the final version of the bill, the new law has plenty of tools to reduce the numbers of repeat offenses. It just needs to be implemented. I think thats whats hard about this. You know, people are already critiquing this legislation, but basically none of it has actually gone into effect, so we havent been able to see the impact, said Murray. Most of the bill will not take effect until Jan 1, 2025. But Ruais and Ayotte already say the provisions will not be enough to address the existing problems. I certainly agree: The first step that was taken this year? Great, fantastic, Ruais said in Manchester last week. What does the next iteration of bail reform look like? Thats going to be hugely important to our Manchester Police Department, which is overwhelmed as it is. Before and after 2018 Back in 2018, Sununu signed a broadly bipartisan bill with a simple aim: to reduce the number of people who were charged with crimes and held in New Hampshire county jails simply because they could not pay their cash bail. Before that bill, bail was set at the full discretion of bail commissioners and judges, without the explicit requirement that they consider defendants ability to pay. The 2018 law required that courts take a defendants financial circumstances into account when deciding whether to set a cash bail. And it allowed them to hold someone behind bars only if they are a danger to themselves or the community, and created a balancing test to determine that. In the years since, even as overall violent crime rates in the state fell, police departments and others say the new law allowed too many people to be released on bail who should not have been. Supporters of the law say it is working well, and argue that in cases where people have reoffended while on bail, the police, prosecutors, and courts had the means to keep those people behind bars but failed to do so. Ayotte said that as governor she would prefer to see the law repealed entirely. Instead, she has advocated for the courts making their own determinations around the needs of defendants. Asked to expand on her opposition to the new law, Ayotte said it did not do enough to prevent people accused of violent crimes from being released. She said she would like to broaden the number of serious crimes that would be exempted from bail, but did not have specific ones in mind. Id have to go back to my notes on that, she said. And she specifically criticized the creation of the magistrate system. Its really unclear yet how its going to be implemented, she said. Ayotte acknowledged HB 318 was a compromise. But ultimately, she said, she would not have approved the 2018 bill Sununu signed. Well see how its implemented, but I personally would not have made the changes to start with, she said. While one contingent of Republicans, including House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Chairman Terry Roy, of Deerfield, has been skeptical of efforts to roll back the 2018 bail reforms, another faction wants to do more. Former Rep. Ross Berry, who resigned his Manchester seat in 2024 to move to Weare but who is running for election again, says he will continue to push for more changes. Berry said he would advocate for allowing people charged with nonviolent Class B misdemeanors such as shoplifting and simple assault to be released on personal recognizance bail, as long as they are not already out on bail. But all others would be subject to a judges bail decision, he said. The Craig campaign did not initially give clear answers to questions about her preferred bail policies, and it is not clear whether Craig shares Ayottes concerns over the implementation of the magistrate system. On Thursday, Brown clarified that Craig would not support further reforms unless they are deemed necessary. But campaign spokesman Will Karcz pointed to instances between 2019 and early 2024 when Craig critiqued the 2018 law and lobbied at the State House for lawmakers to change the laws. As governor, Joyce will work with law enforcement to reduce crime, strengthen our cities and towns, and create a safer and more prosperous New Hampshire, Brown, her campaign manager, said in a statement. Murray says the drive to undo the 2018 law is premature. I think people in Manchester are concerned about theoretical repeat offenders and feeling like this bill didnt adequately address that, but in my opinion, the bail tracking system that were building out and resourcing is a huge part of that (response), Murray said. And Murray said they oppose any moves to categorically remove the bail options. Instead, judges should decide using the means available, they said. I just think that judicial discretion is important, and that we already have mechanisms in place for making sure that people can be held when they need to be, they said. We just need to ensure that everybodys working off updated information everybodys on the same page. Amid election season, Bad Bunny is making sure that the more than three million residents living in Puerto Rico know his political stance. In a Sept. 24 tweet, the Puerto Rican artist shared a set of photos of billboards across San Juan that read: To vote for PNP is to vote for corruption, Who votes for PNP doesnt love Puerto Rico and Voting for PNP is voting for LUMA. The latter of the three is a private energy company responsible for power distribution and transmission on the island. More from Billboard Announcements paid by Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, he captioned the post. A Puerto Rican who does love Puerto Rico. Billboard has reached out to Bad Bunnys rep for comment. The billboards are in protest of the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party), one of the major political parties in Puerto Rico that traces back to 1967 and currently holds both the seat of the governor and of the resident commissioner. The powerful PSAs also come on the heels of Bad Bunnys latest song, Una Velita, in which he reflects on the devastating aftermath of the Category 5 Hurricane Maria that occurred in 2017. There were five thousand that they let die, and we will never forget that, he chants in the track. Obviously the light will go out, God knows if itll come back, he continues over an intense folkloric beat. The bridge they took so long to build, the growing river will break. A few songs on the phone for when the reception goes out. The sign was sent and they dont want to see it, its up to the Boricua to want to wake up Remember that were all from here, the people will have to save its pueblo. Always passionate and vocal about the social issues that affect the Puerto Rican community, in 2022, Benito also released a 23-minute-long documentary for El Apagon in which he addresses blackouts and gentrification, among other topics, taking aim at the local government for its inaction. Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Rohingya refugees have languished in camps in Bangladesh for years, but some hope their situation will improve under the new government (Munir UZ ZAMAN) (Munir UZ ZAMAN/AFP/AFP) Rohingya refugee Shonjida has endured years of boredom, misery and violence in Bangladesh -- but last month's overthrow of autocratic ex-premier Sheikh Hasina has given her fresh hope for the future. Around a million members of the stateless and persecuted Muslim minority live in a sprawling patchwork of Bangladeshi relief camps after fleeing violence in their homeland next door in Myanmar. Hasina was lauded by the international community in 2017 for opening the borders to around 750,000 Rohingya who fled a Myanmar military crackdown that is now the subject of a UN genocide investigation. But the years since have seen rampant malnutrition and regular gun battles in the camps, whose inhabitants hope that Hasina's ouster will bring renewed attention to their plight. "We and our children live in fear at night because of the shootings," 42-year-old Shonjida, who goes by one name, told AFP. Shonjida teaches at one of a few informal learning centres established for school-aged children in her camp, giving her an unsettling insight into the manifold problems facing her community. The centres are able to cater to only a fraction of the camp's families, whose status as refugees shuts them out of Bangladeshi schools, universities and the local job market. Many of her students are undernourished because declining international aid has forced successive ration cuts. And they are terrified by the sound of rival militant groups battling for control of the camps, with more than 60 refugees killed in clashes so far this year, according to local media reports. "We want peace and no more gunfire. We want our children to not be scared anymore," Shonjida said. "Now that the new government is in power, we hope it will give us peace, support, food and safety." - 'Island jail in the sea' - Hasina was toppled last month in a student-led uprising that forced her to flee into exile in neighbouring India, moments before thousands of people stormed her palace in the capital Dhaka. The revolution brought down the curtain on a 15-year rule marred by extrajudicial killings of her opponents, press restrictions and crackdowns on civil society. Her decision to welcome Rohingya fleeing Myanmar won her some diplomatic reprieve from Washington and other Western capitals, who otherwise issued regular rebukes on abuses committed during her tenure. But her government's struggles to accommodate the refugees in the following years were also the subject of regular criticism by rights groups. It relocated at least 36,000 Rohingya to the previously uninhabited and cyclone-prone island of Bhashan Char to ease overcrowding in the camps. Many of those sent there said they were forced to go against their will, with one refugee describing their new home to Human Rights Watch as "an island jail in the middle of the sea". The desperate situation in the camps also prompted thousands to embark upon dangerous sea trips to find new refuge in Southeast Asian countries, with many drowning at sea. - 'How can we go back?' - Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who is leading an interim government ahead of fresh elections, began his tenure last month by promising to continue supporting the Rohingya. Many refugees said they had been encouraged by the initial weeks of the 84-year-old's administration. "We saw on Facebook and YouTube that many of our community leaders had spoken with them and met with them," community leader Hamid Hossain, 48, told AFP. "I am more hopeful now." But Yunus also said that Bangladesh needed "the sustained efforts of the international community" to look after the Rohingya. This week he travelled to the United States and lobbied for more foreign aid for the group, with the State Department announcing nearly $200 million in additional funding after Yunus sat for a private meeting with President Joe Biden. Yunus has also called for accelerated resettlement of Rohingya in third countries, with the prospect of refugees being safely returned to their original homes looking slimmer than ever. The Rohingya endured decades of discrimination in Myanmar, where successive governments classified them as illegal immigrants despite their long history in the country. Hasina's government and Myanmar made several abortive plans to establish a repatriation scheme, opposed by refugees who did not want to return home without guarantees of their safety and civic rights. The security situation has worsened dramatically since last year. Rohingya-majority communities in Myanmar have been the site of intense clashes between the military and a rebel army battling the country's junta. "There are killings there," refugee Mohammad Johar, 42, told AFP. "How can we go back?" str-mma/gle/smw Hurricane Francine left about 400,000 Louisianians without power. Extended outages can be particularly dangerous for people with certain disabilities. ( John Gray/Verite News) NEW ORLEANS When forecasters projected Hurricane Ida was going to hit New Orleans in August of 2021, Ashley Volion was not sure what she would do. Volion, who works as a policy analyst at Disability Rights Louisiana, has cerebral palsy and cant walk. She uses a battery-powered wheelchair to get around and requires the care of personal attendants to help her with her daily needs. As Ida barreled toward Louisiana, Volion had limited options: she was tight on money since payday had not yet hit, and she knew evacuation could be costly and require coordinating accessible transportation and accommodations. But she also knew the risks she would face if she stayed, especially if her home lost power. So when the power goes out during a hurricane, one of my biggest struggles is having power for my wheelchair, Volion told Verite News. Especially now since my chair is getting older, the batteries are going bad, so it needs to be charged every day. But there were other risks as well: Without power, Volion would lose air conditioning, a scary prospect since shes especially vulnerable to heat-related illness. It quickly became apparent that Volion couldnt stay in her home, where she lived alone. But since she couldnt afford to travel far, she decided to stay at a friends house in Metairie, where she knew she would at least have the support of another person. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Volions experience is a testament to the fact that marginalized communities, including people with disabilities, are at greater risk during city emergencies like hurricanes. One in three adults in Louisiana report having a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disability can be a broad category but generally includes people who have functional impairments in mobility, cognition, hearing, vision, independent living and self-care. According to a recent report by the National Council on Disability, people with disabilities are 2 to 4 times more likely to be injured or killed in a natural disaster compared to those without a disability. In an emergency, accessing resources can be more difficult, and the lack of them can be higher stakes for people with disabilities. Lack of electricity after a storm might mean someone cant power their wheelchair or critical medical equipment or refrigerate their medication. Without air conditioning, heat can be particularly dangerous for people with chronic medical conditions and the elderly. But citywide emergencies pose other risks. Supply chain issues can limit the availability of medication refills or oxygen tanks. Without reliable transportation, someone with mobility issues may not be able to access city shelters or resource centers. In spite of these known risks, Volion and other disability advocates say that the city of New Orleans is failing to adequately prepare to support people with disabilities in its emergency preparedness plans. They point to a trove of city records recently uncovered by Disability Law United, a national nonprofit legal organization focused on disability justice. Tony M., who identified himself as a friend of the owner, vacuums water from the Steak Knife Restaurant on Harrison Avenue in New Orleans, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, the morning after Hurricane Francine dumped heavy rains on the city. (Photo by Matthew Perschall) Last year, in an attempt to understand and document the resources the city of New Orleans makes available for all residents and for disabled residents in particular during and after an emergency, the group began filing public records requests seeking years of post-disaster reports, emergency plans and training protocols for assisting disabled residents. After months of requests to the city failed to yield all the documents it sought, in July, the group successfully sued the city for access to the full and complete documentation of its emergency operation plans. The records contain information of vital importance to the city of New Orleans, and particularly the disabled community, as they reflect the Parishs progress, or lack thereof, in climate and hazard mitigation, as well as plans to address evacuation, resource support and other services that should be part of advance planning for disasters, reads an August filing in the suit, shortly after the city released the records in full. The documents include emergency operation plans, including plans for city shelters and city-assisted evacuation, as well as after-action reports for recent city emergencies, including Hurricane Ida. The planning documents do mention the importance of assisting people with disabilities, especially those who fall into the gap between having high medical needs and being part of the general population. But outside of nods towards organizing paratransit and potentially providing certain medical resources like oxygen tanks, there are few logistical details as to how the city plans to communicate and engage with the disability community in the city. The plans are bare-bones with regard to whether and how theyre going to assist disabled folks or not, Kate Thorstad, a staff attorney at Disability Law United, told Verite News. And there are seemingly no agreements or contracts to back anything up or make anything happen. In an email, Isis Casanova, a New Orleans Health Department spokesperson, noted that the city employs a disaster accessibility coordinator who facilitates two-way communication with local community groups serving individuals with [access and functional needs], with the goal of identifying resource gaps and communicating pertinent emergency information in a variety of accessible formats. Casanova also said that the coordinator works to ensure the accessibility of resource centers and potential evacuation facilities. But conversations with people within the disability community paint a different picture: one where people with disabilities rely on a web of health care, nonprofit, mutual aid and community groups to support them during city-wide emergencies, struggling to access public resources for transportation and electricity. A portable toilet sits on its side on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, the morning after Hurricane Francine came through the city. (Photo by Matthew Perschall) Several people interviewed by Verite were particularly concerned about the citys move away from a special needs registry, which residents used to be able to sign up for, then speak with a Health Department employee to document their needs, develop an evacuation plan and guarantee city contact during any emergency. Without the registry, people in the disability community say it is not clear to them whether the city will even be actively aware of people with disabilities during an emergency. They fear that the city wont intervene to make sure that people with disabilities have access to critical resources during an emergency. A lot of the onus gets put on the people themselves and on community groups to help support those around us, said Volion, who also serves on the Mayors Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities. As New Orleans residents know, it is common knowledge that we cant depend on the government, so we do depend on the community. I cant get to one of those safety spots on my own A review by Verite News of the records uncovered by Disability Law United found that most plans do mention accommodation for people with mobility-related disabilities, noting that the Regional Transit Authority or a contractor (unnamed in the documents) will be delegated to provide paratransit or residential evacuation assistance in the event of an emergency. An after-action report on Hurricane Ida identified that persons requiring assistance in the days and weeks following Hurricane Ida were found to be much more likely than the general public to have significant mobility-related needs. That report also includes analysis that notes that a substantial portion of those who needed shelter in New Orleans fell into a grey area between the general population, who didnt need extra assistance, and those who would be directed to a medical special needs shelter. The report further notes that many people didnt meet the criteria for the medical special needs shelter, but did have significant medical or mobility needs that they were unable to manage independently and were beyond the abilities of general population shelter staff. Asked for more detail on how the city accommodates people with additional needs, Casanova said it first sends emergency alerts in multiple forms through written alerts, social media and across print, radio and television media in order to reach people who may have visual or hearing loss. Both 311 and 911 dispatchers are equipped to direct callers to specific resources. Most shelters or resource centers are run through Recreation Department facilities and will be ADA-accessible, she said. The city also equips its shelters and emergency resource centers with communication boards and tools for remote American Sign Language interpreting. For Thorstad, getting those plans into writing is not just important for emergency preparedness, but for officially involving the local community groups who often end up assisting people with disabilities anyway. Lets get agreements in writing so that responsibilities and resources are clear, delegated and available, Thorstad said. Thorstad was particularly concerned about a lack of existing contracts and agreements to support the disabled community during a hurricane, especially if there is a citywide shelter-in-place directive, as there was during Hurricane Francine earlier this month. In an email, city officials confirmed those claims, saying that they do not have any formal contracts with any disability organizations and recommend that people first try to organize their own care and transport in the event of an emergency. Casanova said that even if there are no listed contracts or partner organizations, the city is communicating regularly with disability advocacy groups. [The citys emergency management department] also maintains strong relationships with disability advocacy groups in blue skies to ensure that partnerships are built prior to an emergency, Casanova wrote in an email. At present, we do not have any formal emergency contracts with any disability organizations. Messaging from the city during emergencies often emphasizes that residents should be prepared to take care of themselves during the 72 hours following a hurricane, but members of the disability community say that it is particularly concerning for those with pre-existing vulnerabilities that might put them at greater risk during an emergency. Nicole Marquez, who has chronic medical needs and struggles with mobility, said that she would have a hard time reaching a city cooling center or distribution site after a disaster if her husband wasnt with her. I cant get to one of those safety spots on my own, Marquez said. I cant drive, and I can barely walk. Representatives of local organizations that serve people with disabilities, such as Team Gleason and Lighthouse Louisiana, said that they often encourage people to prepare their own emergency plans for care and transport separate from what the city might provide. Advocates note that given the diversity of needs among disabled residents, there may not be a one-size-fits-all solution to their needs in an emergency. However, multiple people who spoke to Verite said that it would be helpful if the city maintained a registry of people with disabilities and actively checked in on them in an emergency. The city used to maintain a special needs registry but transitioned away from it at the end of 2021 as part of a grant program that prioritized universal design for emergency alerts and access to disaster resources. Instead, emergency managers adopted a system called Smart911, a digital application that any resident can sign up for. The application, intended to be accessible in its design, provides medical, mobility and household information to 911 dispatchers and emergency planners. In the event of a large-scale emergency, the city plans to use this information to communicate with individuals with identified high-risk medical needs, Casanova said. But she also noted that the city chose not to use Smart911 to reach that population during the most recent hurricane. During Hurricane Francine, the city broadcast public health and medical resources widely to all NOLA Ready communications [and] media channels rather than targeted messaging solely to Smart911 registrants. However, Casanova said that the city will prioritize communication in the event of an emergency. Open communication is maintained with individuals that may need additional support, such as those with medical needs or those who are energy-dependent, to ensure that they are able to access information and resources throughout the duration of the emergency, she said. But advocates for people with disabilities worry that without a registry, the city may not be able to account for those who may need extra help during an emergency. Marquez and Volion and other community members say that despite signing up for Smart911, the city has not proactively reached out to them about providing specialized support. You have to account for the community or else youre not going to be able to meet their needs because you dont know what they are, and you dont know who they are or where they are, Thorstad said. Volion echoed her concerns, saying that if Smart911 worked better, shed feel more comfortable with it. She found the sign-up process difficult and inaccessible. It is very complex, the amount of questions asked, so I dont know how accessible it would be to all people with disabilities to be able to fill it out, Volion said. She would rather the city actively keep a registry and use that registry to check in on people during an emergency than require people with disabilities to have to sign themselves up. What it comes down to is that residents dont even see city officials trying, Volion said. Like, if they would at least try, that would be one thing, but theyre not even trying at this point. This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Former Conservative Party chairwoman Baroness Warsi has resigned from the party in the House of Lords, claiming it has moved to the far right. The peer, who was Britain's first Muslim cabinet minister during David Cameron's premiership, accused the party of hypocrisy and double standards in its treatment of different communities. But the Conservatives say she was about to be investigated for allegedly using "divisive language". Baroness Warsi was informed an investigation was about to begin earlier this week, a party spokesperson said. We have a responsibility to ensure that all complaints are investigated without prejudice. The BBC has been told the complaints were in relation to a post about Marieha Hussain. Ms Hussain was found not guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence after holding a placard at a pro-Palestine protest depicting Conservative leader Rishi Sunak and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman as coconuts. In one post on X, Baroness Warsi congratulated Ms Hussain on her acquittal. On Thursday, after announcing her resignation, Baroness Warsi wrote: "It was the right decision and I rightly congratulated Marieha on her acquittal. "I was subsequently asked to delete my public support for Marieha - I refused to do so. "That is the basis of the complaint. No other comments or language is the basis of the complaint." She said the case was "due to be conducted in private behind closed doors" and so she "felt it appropriate in the circumstances to resign my whip and look forward to dealing with these issues openly and transparently". Her resignation comes on the eve of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. Baroness Warsi has previously criticised Tory leadership contenders Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch. She has also been a vocal critic of the partys approach to allegations of Islamphobia and language used by Conservative politicians, including Ms Braverman. She wrote on X: It is with a heavy heart that I have today informed my whip and decided for now to no longer take the Conservative whip. This is a sad day for me. I am a Conservative and remain so but sadly the current party are far removed from the party I joined and served in cabinet. She added: My decision is a reflection of how far right my party has moved and the hypocrisy and double standards in its treatment of different communities. Baroness Warsi suggested she would raise some of these issues in her new book, Muslims Dont Matter. After the 2010 general election, Baroness Warsi made history by becoming the first Muslim woman in the cabinet as co-chair of the Conservative Party. A former solicitor with the Crown Prosecution Service, she then served as a minister in David Camerons government. But she quit as the minister for faith and communities in 2014 over the governments policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict. She has since criticised the party's inquiry into Islamophobia inquiry and called it institutionally xenophobic and racist. Resigning the Conservative whip means she will no longer be affiliated with the party in the House of Lords, where she has sat as a peer since 2007. The party is still choosing its next leader, with the final four candidates set to make speeches at the conference in Birmingham. An intensive round of hustings and multiple votes will follow the conference from 8 October, lasting three days, until only two candidates are left. Conservative Party members will then choose which of the final two candidates they want as the new leader, with the result announced on 2 November. Blackstone Sells Motel 6 To Oyo In $525M Deal, Adding 1,450 Hotels To Indian Giant's Portfolio Blackstone, the private equity powerhouse, has agreed to sell Motel 6, the iconic American budget hotel chain, to Oyo, an Indian hotel operator, for $525 million in cash. The deal, reported by The Wall Street Journal, marks Oyos expansion in the U.S. market and the end of Blackstones decadelong ownership of the budget lodging brand. The transaction includes G6 Hospitality, the parent company of Motel 6 and its extended-stay offshoot, Studio 6. With the acquisition, Oyo will add roughly 1,450 hotels across 49 states and five Canadian provinces, boosting its presence in North America. Don't Miss: A billion-dollar investment strategy with minimums as low as $10 you can become part of the next big real estate boom today. If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it? Motel 6, founded in 1962 in Santa Barbara, California, has been a fixture of American road trips for decades. The chains name originated from its affordable original $6-per-night rate. Under Blackstones ownership since 2012, the brand has seen much growth and profitability. Rob Harper, head of Blackstone Real Estate Asset Management Americas, highlighted the success of their investment, saying in a statement that it had generated over $1 billion in profit during their ownership period. Blackstone had initially acquired G6 Hospitality for $1.9 billion. Trending: Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, and this platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000 offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today! For Oyo, which entered the U.S. market in 2019, the acquisition represents a major milestone in its expansion strategy. The company operates over 320 hotels across 35 states and aims to add about 250 more this year. In a statement, Gautam Swaroop, CEO of Oyo International, cited Motel 6s strong brand recognition, financial profile and network in the U.S. "This acquisition is a significant milestone for a startup company like us to strengthen our international presence," Swaroop said in the statement. "Motel 6's strong brand recognition, financial profile and network in the U.S. combined with OYO's entrepreneurial spirit will be instrumental in charting a sustainable path forward for the company which will continue to operate as a separate entity." See Also: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100. The India-based hotel operator, describing itself as a startup, has received backing from Masayoshi Son's SoftBank Group. However, its rapid growth has not been without controversy, with some incidents in India raising questions about its business practices. Story continues According to the WSJ report, the deal is expected to close by the end of the year subject to customary closing conditions. Oyo plans to operate Motel 6 as a separate entity, maintaining the brands identity while leveraging its extensive network. The transaction points to the ongoing consolidation in the hotel industry. As budget-conscious travelers continue to seek affordable accommodations, combining Oyos technology-driven approach and Motel 6s established brand could reshape the landscape of economy lodging in North America. Read Next: Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Blackstone Sells Motel 6 To Oyo In $525M Deal, Adding 1,450 Hotels To Indian Giant's Portfolio originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Plans have been submitted to build a battery energy storage facility in South Yorkshire. Applicant YLEM Energy Group hopes to build on land located off Brinsworth Road in Rotherham, which is currently used for equestrian purposes. The development would include battery clusters, a site office and a substation within a fenced compound, with the scheme yet to be considered by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council planners. The authority said local residents could comment on the application up until 17 October on the council's website. The facility would store electricity for the National Grid at times of low demand and release it when demand is high. YLEM Energy Group said the storage system would help to improve the efficiency of energy production from renewable sources such as wind. Between 2015 and 2021, the UK discarded more than 13% of wind energy generated, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Should planning permission be granted, the site would be decommissioned and restored to open green space after 30 years, the applicant added. Hundreds of energy storage facilities have already been built across the UK, although concerns about them have been raised. These include fears about potential fire risks and the environmental impact. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Related internet links NEW YORK Three New York House candidates on Thursday called for fellow Democrat and New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign immediately, and a fourth strongly implied he should step aside. Their statements came a day after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez demanded Adams resign from his post "for the good of the city." Adams responded by calling her a "no-show congresswoman." The statements, from Josh Riley, Mondaire Jones, John Avlon and Laura Gillen, came as prosecutors with the Southern District of New York released a 5-count criminal indictment against the mayor. Some made the call hours before the indictment was unsealed. Jones did so in an X post after prosecutors detailed how they believe Adams abused his office for kickbacks from foreign interests including upgraded plane tickets and other travel perks. All four are looking to unseat Republicans in some of the countrys most competitive House races, seeking seats in New York crucial to determining which party controls Congress come January. Upstate New York is facing serious issues, and the last thing we need is more corrupt downstate politicians compounding the problems, exporting their chaos, and abusing the publics trust, Riley said in a statement to POLITICO. Eric Adams should resign immediately. As he awaits his day in court, he is incapable of leading the city, Jones posted on X. Whether it is a sitting mayor or a criminally convicted former president, any public servant who abuses his or her power must be held accountable. And Gillen said in a prepared statement, "It doesn't matter if you're a Republican putting his mistress on the taxpayer-funded payroll or a Democrat selling influence, if you abuse your power you've got to go." She was also referring to her challenger, Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, who is accused of putting his lover on congressional payroll. None of the candidates have a close personal relationship with Adams, and all are subject to attacks from their Republican rivals linking them to the mayor. At a news conference Thursday at the mayoral residence in Manhattan, Adams said he was determined to fight the charges and stay in office. Also on Thursday, other New York officials, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Tom Suozzi, declined to call for Adams' ouster even as they stressed the severity of the allegations. Molinaro, meanwhile, posted on X, New Yorkers want safety and affordability. Instead Mayor Eric Adams gave us migrant bussing, more crime, and corruption. Emily Ngo contributed to this report. (Reuters) -Bavarian Nordic said on Thursday it has signed an agreement with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for one million doses of its mpox vaccine, Jynneos, for countries in Africa impacted by the disease outbreak. The agreement includes 500,000 doses of the vaccine previously committed by Gavi, a public-private alliance that co-funds vaccine purchases for low-income countries. The Danish biotech said it would make all doses available for supply before the end of this year and work with partners to secure the availability of vaccines beyond 2024. This is the first award of vaccines under an emergency tender issued by UNICEF to secure mpox vaccines for crisis-hit countries in collaboration with the Gavi alliance, Africa CDC and the World Health Organization, the company said. (Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar) A council manager responsible for beaches in Bournemouth was unaware of previous mass rescues there until two young people drowned, an inquest heard. Joe Abbess, 17, from Southampton, and 12-year-old Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, died after getting into trouble in the water off the beach in May 2023. Another eight people were also rescued and treated by paramedics. Anthony Rogers, the head of seafront for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, said he was previously unaware of serious incidents in August 2021, July 2022 and August 2022. A group of 17 people were rescued after they were swept out to sea in a rip current on 30 August 2021. Another eight people were rescued on 17 July 2022 and 16 were rescued on 13 August 2022. Dorset Coroners Court heard the BBC News website published a story about the August 2021 rescue. Mr Rogers said he had been surprised that he was not informed about the incident, given it had been publicised to an external audience. After 31 May [2023], this came to my attention and I was shocked that I was not aware [of the incident] given the profile that it had in the local media, he said. Responsibility for safety on the beach is a complex legal area but the council had a general responsibility for beachgoers, Mr Rogers said. He said the authority had a duty to consider what measures would be reasonable to mitigate risk. There were no fixed signs warning beachgoers of rip currents or strong currents on the beach at the time of the incident, he said. An advisory RNLI-led review for signs started in 2020 but had yet to finish by May 2023. While Mr Rogers said the authority was conscious that some signs needed to be updated, he said it felt it had a satisfactory level of safety elements in situ [on the beach]. The youngsters families have questioned the lifeguard response to the incident and warnings of the risk of rip currents by Bournemouths pier. The court heard six RNLI lifeguards were present on 31 May 2023, with one acting as a senior lifeguard. One of the lifeguards who responded on that day, Rafael Packham, told the court he did not believe he had been given training on major incidents or mass rescues. The inquest, in Bournemouth, is scheduled to resume on Monday. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. More on this story Related internet linnks BOSTON (WWLP) September 15 marked the beginning of National Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month, and Governor Healey hosted a celebration on the Grand Staircase of the State House on Wednesday. The event brought together members of the Governors Latino Empowerment Council and state lawmakers to celebrate food, music, and culture with members of the Hispanic and Latino communities. The Latino Empowerment Council was created almost a year and a half ago to identify legislative priorities of the Latino and Hispanic communities, and they were given recognition for the work they have done so far at todays event. Springfield Senator Adam Gomez is the first Afro-Latino Puerto Rican to be elected to the state senate. Were a part of and embedded into the community in Western Massachusetts. We just kicked off our Puerto-Rican parade, kicking off Hispanic Heritage month in Springfield, Gomez told 22News. Im just proud to be here. Representative Shirley Arriaga of Chicopee says events like todays celebrations encourage her community to celebrate their differences. Events such as this just remind everyone, especially those little ones at home that its okay to be different, said Arriaga. We welcome and cherish and celebrate you. One highlight of the event was a capoeira performance, where children and adults alike showed off the traditional Brazilian martial arts to the enthusiastic crowd. Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month runs through October 1 and is marked by celebrations across the state, including a series of events at Holyoke Community College. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. New Bedford area gets $2.5M to save nature, from bogs to brooks. Where will it be spent? With more than $2.5 million in financial assistance, Greater New Bedford communities are laying the groundwork for the future by cleaning up Buzzards Bay and preparing for the climate of the future. State officials from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced several conservation and recreation grants that will help SouthCoast communities. Statewide, the office announced over $27.8 million in grants were awarded to improve parks and acquire open space, conserving 2,375 acres. It's part of the Resilient Lands Initiative, aimed at conserving land in Massachusetts with a focus on climate resilience and environmental justice. Its ultimate goal is to protect 30% of the state's land by 2030 and 40% by 2050. Here's where the money is going locally: Dan Goulart and Virgina Parker test the waters of Buttonwood Brook as part of the Buzzards Bay Coalition project to improve water quality and restore natural habitat in the brook and Apponagansett Bay. PETER PEREIRA/The Standard-Times/FILE April 29, 2022 Buttonwood Park Zoo stormwater treatment: $250,000 New Bedford will receive $250,000 to design and permit environmentally friendly infrastructure stormwater treatment solutions at three sites within the Buttonwood Park Zoo. Runoff from animal enclosures is discharging high levels of bacteria, sediment and nutrients into Buttonwood Brook. The new stormwater treatment systems will help reduce pollutant loads and improve water quality and habitat in the brook and downstream in Apponagansett Bay in Dartmouth. Buttonwood Brook walkway: $500,000 New Bedford was awarded $500,000 for the first phase of construction of a paved walkway compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations along Buttonwood Brook on the Buttonwood North Trail. It will incorporate bioretention basins for stormwater management. Invasive plant species will be removed and the native plantings installed. Tyler Lizotte, Travis Ortega and Cody Jardin bring ten thousand oysters to be dumped onto a one-acre oyster restoration site in Nasketucket Bay in Fairhaven. The oysters are from two oyster farms in Fairhaven - both of which are participating in the second round of The Nature Conservancy and Pew Charitable Trust. PETER PEREIRA/The Standard-Times/FILE Jan. 5, 2024 Acushnet River Estuary protection: $300,000 The Buzzards Bay Coalition has received $300,000 for the protection of the Acushnet River Estuary, an ecologically important area that connects freshwater and saltwater habitats. The grant's primary goals are to protect the uniqueness of the land, including the wetlands, upland buffer and coastal adaptation areas that help the salt marsh and estuary ecosystem stay resilient to changes in the climate, and to provide public access for outdoor recreation and expand a growing green corridor along the Acushnet River. More access to Sconticut Neck land: $300,000 Improvements are also planned for the Buzzards Bay Coalitions Nasketucket Bay - Trott Conservation Project with $300,000 in funding. The primary goals are to protect important areas upland from the existing coastal habitats and salt marsh, providing space for them to adapt and migrate as sea level rises, and to protect the water quality and existing biodiversity and habitats of Nasketucket Bay and Buzzards Bay. The project is also intended to provide public access and expand the large area of existing protected land along the Sconticut Neck peninsula in Fairhaven and Nasketucket Bay. Sippican cranberry bog in Rochester: over $1 million The Buzzards Bay Coalition was awarded $1,057,000 to buy and restore the Sippican cranberry bog in Rochester. The project will protect 352 acres of cranberry bogs and associated land in Rochester, transforming it into natural habitat and public open space. A man enjoys lunch at the Westport Land Conservation Trust Adamsville Road location in 2022. Westport's Sodom Road trail: $150,000 The Westport Land Conservation Trust was awarded $150,000 for the Sodom Road conservation project to preserve 149 acres and provide an expansive trail experience, protect a key habitat in a large, undisturbed corridor of land totaling several hundred acres. It will also help protect the West Branch of the Westport River and Buzzards Bay. Where does the funding comes from? The funds come from several grant programs, including Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC), Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND), Conservation Partnership, the Cranberry Bog Acquisition for Restoration program, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Funding for the Buttonwood Park Zoo project came from the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program through the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on X: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford area gets $2.5M in conservation grants: Where it's spent Cities across the country are experiencing an imbalanced power dynamic between renters and landlords, and pet owners are paying an extraordinary price. Locally, a strong coalition, led by Bellingham Councilmember Jace Cotton, is seeking to restore some balance. Through their leadership, an ordinance will be considered by the Bellingham City Council this month that could help increase housing stability for the citys renters and ensure that renters with pets arent forced to make a difficult choice of surrendering a beloved pet. More than 97 percent of pet owners consider their pets to be part of the family, yet 90 percent of landlords either do not allow pets or place significant restrictions on pets in housing, such as breed and weight restrictions and exorbitant pet rent, fees or deposits. Theres little data to justify these additional and often substantial costs, that, far too often, force pet owners to choose between keeping their family together or keeping a roof over their head. The proposed ordinance would alleviate some of the most significant barriers that renters face when finding and maintaining housing by reining in pet deposits, pet rent and other ongoing pet-related fees, and allow tenants to prorate upfront pet deposits over a three-month period. Removing these costly barriers to housing is essential to preserving the human animal bond and keeping families together and increasing housing stability altogether. While some landlords mistakenly believe that all pets create significant damage, recent studies have found that there is little, if any, difference in damage between tenants who have pets and those that dont. Only nine percent of pets are reported to cause any damage whatsoever, and when there is unrepaired damage, the average cost is only $210 significantly lower than any pet deposit or pet rent that people are being forced to pay. The additional costs being racked up just for owning a pet is not analyzed or justified, but its accepted due to the power imbalance between landlords and tenants. Given the tumultuous housing market the past few years for both renters and landlords, the phenomenon of these added costs are only increasing. Anyone who is willing and able to care for a pet should be able to benefit from the companionship, support and unconditional love pets provide. By alleviating these barriers, we can not only help keep pets in loving homes and out of overcrowded shelters, but make pet ownership more accessible for all. This ordinance, included on page 225 of Mondays agenda, is part of a broader rental reform proposal by the city to address the ongoing housing imbalance that much of the state is feeling. The ASPCA is grateful to the Bellingham City Council for seeking to address these issues for renters and pet owners, and with a vote expected to happen at the end of the month, we urge the City Council to pass this ordinance to protect Bellingham residents and their pets. If passed, this ordinance will be a big win for Bellingham pet owners, and a step in the right direction for the state of Washington. Susan Riggs is senior director of housing policy, ASPCA. Laura Clark is executive director of Whatcom Humane Society. Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the Libyan militia leader convicted for his role in the deadly 2012 terrorist attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, was resentenced Thursday to 28 years in prison, despite federal prosecutors seeking at least 60 years to life. The new sentence comes more than two years after a federal appeals court in Washington, DC, ruled that his original sentence of 22 years was unreasonably low and ordered the judge who imposed it to resentence him. US District Judge Christopher Cooper tacked on six more years to Khatallahs sentence, saying he did not think the crimes for which he was convicted warranted a substantially higher prison term. No matter what I think, the government did not prove the most serious charges in this case, the judge said as he explained his decision to once again not consider a slew of other charges, including four murder charges, of which Khatallah was acquitted. At the end of the nearly two-hour-long hearing, Cooper acknowledged the toll the long-running case has had on the families of the victims of the 2012 terror attack that killed the US ambassador to Libya and three others and said that he hoped the sentence does not detract from their legacy. I sure hope that this is the end of the road in this case, he said. Khatallah was present at the hearing, sitting silently at the defense table in a white prison jumpsuit and a long white beard. He listened to the proceedings through a pair of interpreters, but did not address the court at any point. Also seated in the courtroom during Thursdays hearing were several family members of the four slain Americans, including the brother of CIA contractor Glen Doherty, who spoke briefly about his familys desire to see the judge impose a harsher sentence. We continue to feel that the sentence was too light, Greg Doherty said. Khatallah was convicted in 2018 on four federal charges stemming from his involvement in the attack: Conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists; providing material support and resources to terrorists; destroying a federal building; and carrying a semiautomatic assault weapon during a crime of violence. Cooper sentenced him six years ago to 12 years apiece for the first three crimes, which he had been serving concurrently. The judge also sentenced Khatallah to 10 years for the fourth crime and ordered him to serve that time after completing the 12-year sentence. The new sentence consists of 15 years for the first two crimes and 18 years for the third crime, which he will serve concurrently. The judge maintained the 10-year sentence for the fourth crime, which Khatallah will serve following the first 18 years. After the 2018 sentencing, Khatallah appealed his conviction, but prosecutors from the Justice Department also appealed the sentence, arguing it was much lower than it should be. In a unanimous ruling in July 2022, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction and threw out the original sentence. Khatallahs sentence is substantively unreasonably low in light of the gravity of his crimes of terrorism and leadership role in a violent attack on the Mission, the court said in its unsigned opinion, noting Coopers own recognition of the vital need to deter such crimes. The circuit judges said the lower courts decision to disregard the charges Khatallah was not convicted of cannot account for its dramatic downward departure from the Sentencing Guidelines recommendation. Ahead of Thursdays hearing, prosecutors described Khatallah in court papers as an unrepentant terrorist who committed his crimes because of his deep-seated animus toward America. They asked the judge to resentence him to life in prison. Its difficult to overstate the defendants conduct, prosecutor John Crabb said on Thursday. Its important to impose a stiff sentence here. Attorneys for Khatallah urged Cooper to maintain the original 22-year sentence, arguing in court papers that the appeals court ruling only requires the judge to more fully explain its reasons for the sentence it chose. Jeffrey Robinson, one of Khatallahs lawyers, on Thursday sought to downplay the extent to which his client was involved in the attack, telling the judge that the 22-year sentence was more than adequate for his four convictions. During a seven-week trial in 2018, federal prosecutors portrayed Khatallah as the ringleader of the Benghazi attacks and a stone-cold terrorist. A jury in DC ultimately found him not guilty of the murders of US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, as well as US government employees Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Doherty. The attack ignited a political firestorm that hounded then-President Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Republican critics faulted Clinton and her team for failing to act more decisively in response to the attack and criticized the White House for initially blaming the violence at the consulate on spontaneous protests against an anti-Muslim video made in America. This story has been updated with additional details. CNNs Laura Koran contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Patrice Talon has announced he would step down in 2026 elections [AFP] Three men in Benin, including a former minister and the man in charge of President Patrice Talon's security, have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, the state prosecutor has said. Ex-sports minister Oswald Homeky was caught on Tuesday while handing over six bags of money to the head of the Republican Guard, Elonm Mario Metonou, the prosecutor told a press conference. Investigators said Col Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre was being bribed not to resist a coup d'etat planned for Friday in the small West African nation. Also detained was a businessman, Olivier Boko - a friend of President Talon - who had recently indicated he had political ambitions. Mr Boko's lawyers and supporters condemned what they called his "abduction" and have demanded his immediate release. Investigations are ongoing to identify further suspects, the prosecutor said. Benin, once praised as a multi-party democracy, has taken a more autocratic turn under the presidency of Patrice Talon, rights groups say. President Talon announced he would not seek a third term in office in the 2026 elections. There have been eight military takeovers and several other coup attempts in West and Central Africa since 2020. You may also be interested in: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts The best of the best will battle it out this Sunday HONOLULU (KHON2) Forty-eight crews will battle it out as they cross the Kaiwi Channel this Sunday in Na Wahine O Ke Kai. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The race was on hiatus for four years so this is a triumphant return for women paddlers around the world. The top crews will be there. Not all of them have raced against each other yet this year, Walter Guild told KHON2. KHON2 will broadcast the race on KHII, starting at 7:30 a.m. and will stream on KHON2.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. By Luciana Magalhaes and Gabriel Araujo SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Total Linhas Aereas, a small cargo and charter airline, aims to become the first firm outside Asia to buy aircraft from China's state-owned planemaker, which is trying to break into a global passenger jet market dominated by Western manufacturers. Total and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) have been in talks for months, said the airline's controlling partner Paulo Almada, who will visit COMAC in October to discuss a potential order of up to four C919 planes. Brazilian Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho said Total sought out the government to share its intentions, but has not presented any formal plan so far. A deal could foster closer Brazil-China ties in the aviation sector ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit in November. Yet some industry observers have voiced skepticism about Total's business plan for the Chinese jets. "Even if Total is getting a great deal on the aircraft, its unproven reliability record and lack of support network in Brazil make it a very risky choice," PA Consulting Aviation Partner Carlos Ozores said. Total's Almada said the airline was forced to look beyond traditional Western manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing because they were unable to meet demand for new planes as they grapple with supply chain constraints. Brazil's Embraer has production slots available from 2026 but only offers passenger jets with under 150 seats. "The industry is dealing with supply shortages, but COMAC told us they could deliver the aircraft by next March," said Almada, who declined to share documents from the negotiation, citing a non-disclosure agreement. A deal could be a "milestone" for Brazil, said Senator Rogerio Carvalho of the ruling Workers Party, who took part in meetings with Total. Brazil would expect reciprocity, he added, with an increase in Chinese demand for Embraer jets. Embraer considers China a key market, but has struggled to find new business there since the 2016 closure of a joint venture in Harbin. After Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited Beijing last year, Embraer inked a deal to convert 20 of its aircraft into cargo planes with a partner in Lanzhou, frustrating hopes for passenger jet sales to a Chinese airline. FINANCING, CERTIFICATION Talks between Total and COMAC have included the possibility of financing from the China Development Bank for 80% of the total value in up to 10 or 12 years, Almada said, adding that each C919 had a list price of about $90 million. Story continues COMAC and the China Development Bank did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The existing Total fleet consists of ATR 42-500 turboprops and Boeing 737-400 freighters. The C919 seats up to 192 people and competes in a similar category to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Only nine C919s are currently in service since they started commercial operation in May 2023, all with Chinese airlines. Outside China, the only carrier to operate a COMAC plane is Indonesian low-cost carrier TransNusa, which flies the smaller ARJ21 regional jet, which was certified a decade ago. A Brunei-based startup airline, GallopAir, has ordered ARJ21s and C919s. COMAC this year has increased sales and production plans and has been marketing the C919 outside China. Almada said Total would fly the C919s on charter-style flights booked by other airlines on an Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) basis, which the industry uses to meet urgent or seasonal demand. Pilots and mechanics would be trained in China by COMAC, he said. A major hurdle for the C919 is that it lacks certification outside of China, particularly benchmark certifications from the U.S. and European Union. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is currently evaluating the plane. Total would also push to get the Chinese planes certified in Brazil, Almada said. Brazil's civil aviation agency ANAC said a formal request for certification has not yet been filed. (Reporting by Luciana Magalhaes and Gabriel Araujo in Sao Paulo; additional reporting by Lisa Barrington in Seoul; Editing by David Gregorio) An 1892 cartoon in Judge magazine condemns Southern efforts to suppress the Black vote. Mississippis 1890 constitution was the first to impose voting restrictions that mostly affected Black voters in the South. Southern states quickly followed, with Congress and the federal judiciary unable or unwilling to enforce constitutional voting protections. (From the New York Public Library: Public domain) This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org. The end of American democracy wont be a man declaring himself dictator for life or crowning himself king. It will come incrementally. Through a rapid narrowing of the electorate that can vote without facing state intimidation. The forms and rituals of the republic will remain in place. But the spirit will be entirely gone. And we dont have to speculate about this outcome. Or look to a foreign country for an example. We have American history. For nearly a century, millions of Americans lived under authoritarian Jim Crow regimes. Congress tolerated them. The federal judiciary blessed them. After a brief period of democracy during Reconstruction, and a few decades of sharply diminished voting with many stolen elections, Alabama enacted the 1901 Constitution. Nearly every Black person in the state of Alabama lost the right to vote. And after a few years, the constitution allowed the Legislature to impose poll taxes, locking many poor whites out of the voting process, too. Alabama wasnt alone in this. From 1890 to 1908, southern states violently shook off the thin cloak of democracy and handed power to a small oligarchy that manipulated the system and ensured its members remained on top while populist revolt remained contained. They held elections. They campaigned. They confronted public issues every now and then. But they did it on their own narrow terms, free of fear from censure by the broader electorate. It was racism. But the official reason was that the mere act of voting by opponents amounted to fraud. The result will be that the ballot will be left in the hands of those of our present voting population who have demonstrated their capacity to exercise the (voting) privilege in the interest of social order and progress, the Montgomery Advertiser wrote on Sept. 27, 1901 in support of the states racist constitution. And the right to a place and such permanent registration will be denied only to that mass of vicious or unworthy voters which has so long threatened our welfare. Over six decades later, after the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the Mobile Register raged: When illiterates ignorant of the responsibilities of the ballot are herded together in great numbers to vote en bloc for political masters whose allegiance is to candidates and causes in conflict with the public interest, responsible citizens are drive to apathy and dejection about elections. Those are strong arguments for a well-funded public education system, which the oligarchs who ran Alabama didnt want to pay for. But here, they lost. The Voting Rights Act held, and the first free elections in Alabama in well over a century took place in 1966. That should be the end of the story. Democracy restored; all disputes now political. Yet the old, cracked voice of the Jim Crow authoritarian hasnt gone away. And it keeps whispering in the ears of our leaders that the wrong people are voting. Republican politicians at the state and federal level are ginning up a wholly nonexistent issue of people who arent citizens voting in federal elections. Thats already a crime. It almost never happens, and certainly not to the extent that it can sway an election. But its being used as an excuse to scour voting records and even block a federal budget bill. And in the last few years, in the name of fighting alleged fraud, Alabama lawmakers have tried to make voting an intimidating ordeal for those with the least power. The state has criminalized some forms of absentee ballot assistance. Lawmakers outlawed curbside voting. Officials quickly dropped a brief pandemic experiment with no-excuse absentee voting, even though more than 300,000 people participated in it. American authoritarianism starts here. It comes from the men in suits, the calm and blank-faced ciphers who sigh that the masses dont know whats best for them and decide that they need to ensure that the right people are voting, and to stop fraud which, in their minds, is always part of an adverse election outcome. They gather in conventions and meeting halls and conferences, and rewrite their bills until theyre satisfied that they can direct the states police power toward the ballot box. And for most of our history, Alabama and other states used this power to stop people from voting. Theyve blatantly and cheerfully thrown constitutional protections aside and dared the federal judiciary to intervene. (For most of its history, the U.S. Supreme Court has meekly deferred to these tyrants or actively connived with them.) If American democracy ends if the republic falls it will die as it did before: with entrenched lawmakers calling political results contrary to their world views fraud and throwing up as many obstacles to voting as they can. It has happened before. And it could happen again. The forms and rituals of democracy will go on. But most people will be observers, not participants, watching our purported leaders insist that governance is too important to be entrusted to the governed. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network 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 X. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Cryptocurrency has been growing in popularity since Bitcoin was made public in 2009. Now the digital money is also being used to scam people. Cryptocurrency is a legitimate form of investment, however, scammers are now using it as another avenue for crime. Arica Kulm is the Director of Digital Forensics Services at DSU and says the scams take various forms, but a popular one is the romance scam. Theyll get to know them, theyll become friends and it turns into romance and then pretty soon its, hey, I have an opportunity for you,' Kulm said. Theyll get them to invest in their cryptocurrency, except the site they send them is not a legitimate site. Pretty soon theyve invested more and more money and then when they go to withdraw that money, they have to pay a tax or its not really there or something has happened to their money. Well, its gone and they cant get it back. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley wants consumers to be aware of these scams. Obviously, crypto is being used more and more, Jackley said. Theres not a national protection on crypto; the government doesnt back crypto and we dont have a central bank addressing that. So there are a few more opportunities for scam artists to utilize crypto or just the concept of crypto on the investment side. Tucker Kraft displays flag of SD tribe on helmet Like any scam, be careful with who you send your money to. If you want to invest in crypto, go to a reputable site and make sure youre doing it on your own, Kulm said. No one should be asking for payment in cryptocurrency unless you are asking to do that yourself. There are sites out there where you can pay for things in cryptocurrency but you should be seeking that out on your own. No one should ask you for that. Kulm says other crypto scams theyve seen is people getting a call asking them to pay a warrant in cryptocurrency. That would be something you would never have to do, Kulm said. That would be something you would never have to do, Kulm said. So if you get those calls, theyre always a scam. Another scam takes the form of tech support with a fake online pop-up promising to help with an issue or virus. It takes different forms, sometimes theyll ask for payment from your checking account and then theyll claim that theres an overpayment, Kulm said. They end up getting you to give them money either in gift cards or cryptocurrency. If you are a victim of a scam, its important to report it. Youre not alone, youre not the only one, Kulm said. And the only way to help is to report it because you might be helping the next person not fall for that. For questions about scams or to report a scam you can call the State Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Biden admin offers $20 million reward for info on Iranian charged with plot to kill ex-Trump official John Bolton The Biden administration is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information on a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who is charged with plotting to kill Donald Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton. U.S. authorities say Shahram Poursafi allegedly worked to arrange a murder-for-hire scheme targeting Bolton between 2021 and 2022, seeking to hire criminals in the U.S. to kill Bolton in Washington, D.C., or Maryland in exchange for $300,000. Poursafi told the potential assassin who actually became a confidential source for U.S. investigators that once he completed the Bolton murder he would have a second assassination job for him, the State Department said in a statement announcing the reward. The reward offer came after U.S. intelligence officials briefed Trump about an Iranian assassination plot against him. Iran has often turned to criminal elements and other third parties to carry out operations against dissidents and critics abroad, according to U.S. and Western officials. U.S. authorities in January charged an Iranian national and two Canadians, including a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, for allegedly plotting to assassinate an Iranian defector living in Maryland. The State Departments Rewards for Justice program said it is ready to pay up to $20 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Poursafi. Poursafi was charged in August 2022 for his role in the alleged plot against Bolton. He remains at large abroad. Iran has denied it is plotting to assassinate Trump, current or former officials, or others abroad. But Iranian leaders have vowed to avenge the U.S. drone strike in 2020 that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. Qassem Soleimani in Tehran, Iran, in 2016. Soleimani headed the IRGC's Quds Force, which supports the activities of Iranian proxy forces like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Then-President Trump authorized the January 2020 strike that killed Soleimani and four others near Baghdads airport. Bolton served as Trump's national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019. When asked about alleged threats of assassination against American officials, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif told NBC News Andrea Mitchell in an interview this week, We do not assassinate people, but the fact of the matter is they assassinated a revered Iranian general. Bolton told Mitchell on Thursday that he thinks the U.S. should be "more proactive" about Iranian threats. When they come after us, government officials, current and former, for doing their job, really, thats an attack on the United States government itself, said Bolton, who is under 24-hour protection because of Irans death threats. I dont think staying in a passive mode about it is the best way to go. We know that this is more than idle speculation in Tehran. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Gram Slattery and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump said he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday, having criticized him on the U.S. campaign trail and expressed doubts about Ukraine's ability to win its war with Russia. Trump, the Republican candidate in the Nov. 5 presidential election, made the announcement on Thursday, just hours after Democratic President Joe Biden announced more than $8 billion in new military aid for the U.S. ally. Zelenskiy has long sought a meeting with Trump. The two men spoke by phone in July but have not met in person since Trump's term as president ended in 2021. During a press conference on Thursday, Trump repeated his claims that he could rapidly negotiate a deal between Russia and Ukraine if he defeats Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate in the race for the White House. "President Zelenskiy has asked to meet with me, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning at around 9:45 in Trump Tower" in New York, Trump said. Asked by a reporter if Ukraine might have to give up any of its territory to reach a peace deal with Moscow - a non-starter for Kyiv - Trump did not rule it out. "We'll see what happens," he said. Shortly before Trump's comments, Harris pledged support for Ukraine and - in a veiled reference to Trump - said those who would have Ukraine swap land for peace with Russia were supporting "proposals of surrender." Harris was speaking alongside Zelenskiy at the White House, a day after Trump assailed him for not making a deal with Russia that Trump said could have ended the war and shortly after the White House announcement of the new aid package. It was Harris' seventh meeting with Zelenskiy and the third this year. ZELENSKIY SOUGHT MEETING WITH TRUMP Earlier in the week, Trump looked poised to reject Zelenskiy's meeting request. The Ukrainian leader had said before departing for New York for the annual U.N. General Assembly that he hoped to present his "victory plan" to win the war with Russia to Harris, Trump and Biden. But he upset Trump's campaign after visiting a munitions factory over the weekend in the battleground state of Pennsylvania with that state's governor, Josh Shapiro, a Democrat and a Harris ally. Trump has stood by his criticisms of Zelenskiy on the campaign trail. He said on Monday that Zelenskiy wanted Harris to win the election, and on Wednesday he called the Eastern European nation "dead" and "demolished." The U.S aid announced by Biden includes the first shipment of a precision-guided glide bomb called the Joint Standoff Weapon, with a range of up to 81 miles (130 km). The medium-range missile gives Ukraine a major upgrade to the weapons it is using to strike Russian forces, allowing the Ukrainians to do it at safer distances. The bulk of the new aid, $5.5 billion, is to be allocated before Monday's end of the U.S. fiscal year, when the funding authority is set to expire. Another $2.4 billion is under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the administration to buy weapons for Ukraine from companies rather than pull them from U.S. stocks. Biden also said he would order the Pentagon to expand training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including by supporting the training of an additional 18 pilots next year. Zelenskiy thanked Biden and the U.S. Congress for the new military aid package, saying Ukraine would use it "in the most efficient and transparent manner". "I am grateful to the United States for providing the items that are most critical to protecting our people," Zelenskiy said on X, mentioning a Patriot battery, drones and long-range missiles. (Reporting by Gram Slattery and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Howard Goller) US President Joe Biden has announced that the United States uncovered another network that helped Russia circumvent sanctions and engaged in money laundering. Source: a statement by Joe Biden on support for Ukraine as of 26 September Quote: "To counter Russian sanctions evasion and money laundering, the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury, and the US Secret Service have taken action today to disrupt a global cryptocurrency network, in coordination with international partners." Details: Biden added that the US would continue to raise the price for Russia for its war against Ukraine and deprive its defence industry of access to resources. Background: Biden announced a package of almost US$8 billion in weapons for Ukraine, including Patriot air defence systems and JSOW bombs, and announced the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as Ramstein-format meetings) at the level of state leaders in October. In addition, the US president said that the US would support the training of 18 more Ukrainian F-16 pilots next year. Support UP or become our patron! Biden announces nearly US$8 billion aid in weapons for Ukraine, including JSOW and Patriot munitions US President Joe Biden has proposed a significant increase in security aid to Ukraine, promising roughly US$8 billion in weapons in the coming months. Source: US President Biden in a statement, as reported by European Pravda Details: Biden made the statement ahead of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's planned visit to the White House on Thursday. He praised Ukraine's wartime successes, but emphasised that much more work remains to be done. Quote: "That is why, today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war," Biden stated. Biden specifically asked the US Department of Defense to allocate the remaining security assistance funds to Ukraine before the conclusion of his term. "As part of this effort, the Department of Defense will allocate the remaining Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds by the end of this year. I also have authorised US$5.5 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority to ensure this authority does not expire, so that my Administration can fully utilise the funding appropriated by Congress to support the drawdown of US equipment for Ukraine and then replenish US stockpiles," Biden said. The US Department of Defense also announced US$2.4 billion in security assistance through the Security Assistance to Ukraine Initiative, which will provide Ukraine with additional air defence, unmanned aircraft systems, and air-to-ground ammunition, as well as strengthening Ukraine's military-industrial base and supporting its maintenance and support requirements. "To enhance Ukraines long-range strike capabilities, I have decided to provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition," Biden said. "To further strengthen Ukraines air defences, I have directed the Department of Defense to refurbish and provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defence battery and to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles," the US president also said. According to Biden, this is a continuation of his decision earlier this year to redirect American deliveries of air defence weapons to Ukraine, which will provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the coming year, allowing it to protect its cities and people. Furthermore, the US said on Wednesday that it would provide Ukraine with a new package of military support totalling US$375 million. Support UP or become our patron! The News US President Joe Biden announced a surge" in military assistance to Ukraine on Thursday ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The package includes nearly $2.4 billion in air defenses, but stops short of allowing Kyiv to use US-made missiles to strike deeper into Russia, a key part of Zelenskyys victory plan details of which have been kept secret but which he is expected to outline during his meeting with Biden. Biden also said he would convene a high-level meeting involving 50 of Ukraines allies in Germany next month. Through these actions, my message is clear: The United States will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war, Biden said in a statement. SIGNALS Ukraine has window of opportunity for a parting gift from Biden Source: Semafor Zelenskyys victory plan is expected to include loosening restrictions on long-range strikes into Russia, bolstering Kyivs arsenal of weapons, and an invitation to NATO. I think there is a window of opportunity for more ambitious requests from Ukraine in Bidens last months in office, Kurt Volker, former US ambassador to NATO, told Semafor, although he noted that the administration has been very stubborn on some of these issues so far. A European official told Semafor that Zelenskyy is seeking to gain real security guarantees before Donald Trump potentially returns to power. But despite Ukraines hope for a NATO invitation before Biden leaves office, the official said I do not think Biden will move on this. Trump ramps up criticism of Ukraine Sources: CNN, Politico, The Hill Zelenskyys visit comes as the growing spat between him and Trump threatens to complicate efforts to convince the former president to support Ukraine should he return to the White House. We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Trump said at a campaign rally on Wednesday in what CNN described as the Republican candidates most explicit criticism of Zelenskyys war-time decisions so far. The Ukrainian president also faces a Republican firestorm after visiting a munitions plant in Scranton alongside Democrats, a move that has already sparked congressional calls for Ukraines ambassador to be fired. Although Ukrainian officials previously said the two politicians were planning to meet this week, the Trump campaign said that no meeting has been planned. Dwindling Western stockpiles limit Ukraine aid Sources: CNN, Reuters US officials are increasingly concerned that dwindling stockpiles will limit military aid to Ukraine, CNN reported, portioning out smaller tranches of funding to avoid impacting the Pentagons military readiness. While the US has ramped up defense production, it will take years for new facilities to come fully online to refill US inventories. In the UK, military stockpiles have become so depleted that military aid to Ukraine was sharply reduced last year to prevent unacceptable risks to the UKs military readiness, a recent report said. While NATO countries have been scrambling to boost their production of key artillery shells, Western officials have struggled to source the parts and supplies needed to supply Ukraine with enough ammunition, a Reuters investigation found. Biden blunders at New York City speech, telling the audience 'Welcome to Washington' President Biden forgot he was in New York City on Wednesday as he addressed world leaders about the war in Ukraine. The president was in Manhattan to discuss the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction at the Continental New York Barclay hotel. Biden has been in New York since Monday and he delivered remarks at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday morning. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he told the audience after he walked onto the stage to applause, "Welcome to Washington." He continued, apparently not noticing the error, and launched into his speech. Biden Addresses Un General Assembly For Last Time As Dictators, Despots Come To New York U.S. President Joe Biden speaks as he hosts an event with world leaders launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations on September 25, 2024 in New York, New York. Biden isn't the first traveling politician to say the wrong city, but social media quickly seized on the gaffe-prone presidents latest embarrassing moment. Read On The Fox News App "Remember, Joe Scarborough said Biden was sharper today than he was 20 years ago which explains why our country is in the shape its in," New Yorker and commentator Ryan James Girdusky quipped. OutKick writer Ian Miller appeared to mock Biden's defenders as well, "Hes sharp as a tack behind closed doors. Staff cant keep up with him because hes too quick and works too hard." Un's 'Pact For The Future' Full Of Empty Promises, Will Be 'Cudgel' To Attack The United States, Expert Warns Biden's latest gaffe comes just a few days after he became confused and lost track of events during a press conference alongside India's prime minister on Saturday. Original article source: Biden blunders at New York City speech, telling the audience 'Welcome to Washington' US President Joe Biden has announced that he will convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format, in Germany in October. Source: a statement from Biden on the occasion of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the White House, as reported by European Pravda Details: Biden's announcement was part of a statement about a surge in security assistance to Ukraine. "I will convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Germany next month to coordinate the efforts of the more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression," the US president stated. Biden also announced the allocation of nearly US$8 billion in weapons for Ukraine over the coming months. He has also authorised the provision of long-range Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) and an additional battery of Patriot air defence missile systems, along with ammunition for Ukraine. In addition, he ordered the expansion of the training programme for Ukrainian F-16 pilots. "Through these actions, my message is clear: The United States will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war," Biden said. Background: On Thursday, Zelenskyy will visit the US Capitol as part of his visit to the United States. Support UP or become our patron! U.S. President Joe Biden will convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany in October "to coordinate the efforts of the more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression," he announced on Sept. 26. The announcement comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues his visit to the U.S., where he hopes to get support for his recently-announced "victory plan." The Ukraine Defense Contact Group is the U.S.-led group consisting of over 50 countries, including all 32 NATO members, that convenes at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The last Ramstein meeting on Sept. 6 was the group's 24th gathering since its establishment in April 2022. During the meeting, which Zelensky attended in person, Ukraine received pledges of new military aid from allies, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada. Kyiv has been promised at least one air defense system, along with missiles, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and other munitions. The much-coveted long-range weapons like additional ATACMS or Storm Shadow were not on the list, nor were changes to restrictions on their use. Ukraine is hoping for permission to use two Western-supplied long-range missiles that it already possesses to strike military targets such as airfields located deep inside Russian territory. According to reports, the U.K. has already decided to grant Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadows to strike targets deep inside Russia but wants the backing of the U.S. and other countries. Read also: What we know about the victory plan Zelensky is presenting to Biden today Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BYD has said it will showcase a range of models at next months Paris Auto Show, including its luxury technological demonstrator, the Yangwang U8. The Yangweng U8 is described by BYD as a hardcore new energy off-road SUV which combines all the technologies of the BYD group and can overcome any obstacle in its path. It is the first production model of the Yangwang brand and sells in China with a RMB 1 million price tag. It is over 5 meters long and 2 meters wide and adopts the design language of Time Gate, a hallmark of the Yangwang brand. BYD says its design combines futuristic elements with hardcore styling. This will be BYD's second appearance at the Paris Motor Show. The brand successfully met the Parisian public in 2022, when it began its roll-out across Europe. "BYD to show Yangwang U8 SUV at Paris Show" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. (Bloomberg) -- Vice President Kamala Harris lambasted Donald Trump for seeking to pressure Ukraine to negotiate an end to Russias war, defending continued assistance to Kyiv ahead of an election in which the conflict has become a political flashpoint. Most Read from Bloomberg Harris, while she did not mention Trump by name, said those proposals are the same as those of Russian President Vladimir Putin as she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday. There are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations, Harris said. Let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender. Harris comments come as Trump the Republican presidential nominee has stepped up his criticism of Zelenskiy in recent days and claimed that if he returned to the White House he would force the Ukrainian leader to the table with Putin. We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal: Zelenskiy. There was no deal that he could have made that wouldnt have been better than the situation you have right now, Trump said on Wednesday. Zelenskiy met with Harris after sitting with President Joe Biden, who announced $8 billion in new assistance for Kyiv and sought to assure his counterpart of continued allied support. The Ukrainian president is in Washington to detail a victory plan a blueprint Zelenskiy says is aimed at winning the war. Zelenskiys simmering dispute with Trump, however, has cast a pall over long-term prospects for continued US aid. Harris on Thursday pushed back on Republican criticism over the administrations support for Kyiv in its bid to repel Russias invasion, saying the United States supports Ukraine not out of charity, but because it is in our strategic interest. Fresh Aid Biden earlier Thursday announced new military assistance for Ukraine and plans to convene a leader-level meeting of key allies to coordinate additional support when he visits Germany next month. The package includes $2.4 billion for the US to buy weapons and equipment directly from US companies and an additional $5.5 billion to be shipped from existing US weapons stocks. The shipments will include additional air defense systems, drones, and munitions. Biden is also providing Ukraine with a new long-range munition known as the Joint Standoff Weapon, and has asked the Pentagon to refurbish an additional Patriot air defense battery and expand the F-16 training program for Ukrainian pilots. The Pentagon will push to allocate the full remainder of Ukraine assistance authorized by Congress before the end of Bidens term, in an effort to accelerate delivery. We have to strengthen Ukraines position on the battlefield, Biden said Thursday as he welcomed Zelenskiy to the White House. We stand with Ukraine now and in the future. The US is also moving to disrupt a cryptocurrency network it says has been helping Russia evade sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. And Biden said he was working to ensure that restrictions on the drawdown of US equipment didnt prevent Ukraine from receiving assistance. The new steps are in addition to a $375 million weapons package that included rocket systems and artillery announced Wednesday as leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Still, the effort is likely to fall short of some of the security and economic assurances Zelenskiy is expected to seek as part of his proposal, including NATO membership and promises of guaranteed access to certain advanced weapons systems. Zelenskiy-Trump Clash Zelenskiy on Thursday said he had met congressional lawmakers and found support from both Democrats and Republicans for Ukraine. Together, we have to win. We will win, he said. While Zelenskiy met with Harris, Trump declined his offer for a meeting and mockingly posted a screenshot of the invitation on social media. The snub came after the New Yorker published an interview in which Zelenskiy called Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance too radical. Trumps campaign was dismayed that Zelenskiy visited the battleground state of Pennsylvania on his US taxpayer-funded trip, according to a person who requested anonymity to detail internal discussions. --With assistance from Iain Rogers, Roxana Tiron and Michelle Jamrisko. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. President Joe Biden on Thursday said the billions of dollars of defense aid he has authorized for Ukraine will strengthen Kyivs hand in future negotiations as he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office for what could be the final time during his presidency. Sitting alongside Zelensky, Biden thanked the Ukrainian leader for sharing his own plan for victory in his countrys nearly three-year-old war against Russian invading forces. He added that it was important to strengthen Ukraines position on the battlefield by releasing all of the aid approved by Congress in the supplemental defense aid package he signed into law earlier this year. The billions of dollars worth of defense assistance will be delivered to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in January. He also told Zelensky of the importance of supporting Ukraines long-term success, including through eventual paths to European Union and NATO membership as well as through ensuring Kyiv retains sufficient capabilities to against future Russian aggression. I'm proud of the steps we've taken [and] of our partnership on these fronts, Biden said. Earlier this summer, we launched the Ukraine compact with more than 20 nations committed to Ukraine's long-term security, and yesterday, with over 30 nations and the EU, we launched the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine's recovery and assets as well... These two elements are critical to how this war ends. Russia will not prevail in war. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and [we] will continue to stand by you every step of the way, the president added. President Joe Biden and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak in the White House Thursday. (Getty Images) For his part, Zelensky thanked Biden once again for his strong support over the course of the war and told the American leader that Ukrainians deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side-by-side from the very first moment of this terrible Russian invasion. Your determination is incredibly important for us to prevail, he said. We must restore normal life, and we greatly value your leadership, Mr President. Zelensky said the $7.9 billion in aid announced by the White House will be a great help and revealed that he and the American president were preparing to discuss the details and strengthen his plan for victory over Russia. The Ukrainian leader also met with Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday in her ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, during which Harris the Democratic presidential nominee told Zelensky that her support for Kyivs defense is unwavering. I have been proud to stand with Ukraine. I will continue to stand with Ukraine, and I will work to ensure Ukraine prevails in this war, to be safe, secure and prosperous. The United States must continue to fulfill our longstanding role of global leadership, she said. We must stand with our allies and our partners. We must defend our democratic values and stand up to aggressors, and we must stand for international order, rules and norms. Each one of these principles is at stake in Ukraine, and that is why Ukraines fight matters, Harris added. She warned that allowing Putin and Russia to prevail would embolden the Russian leader to further threaten NATO members such as Poland and the Baltic states. We also know that other would-be aggressors around the world are watching to see what happens in Ukraine. If Putin is allowed to win, they will become emboldened, and ... history is so clear in reminding us: the United States cannot and should not isolate ourselves from the rest of the world. Isolation is not insulation, she said. In what appeared to be a veiled swipe at former president Donald Trump and his Republican allies, Harris admitted to Zelensky that there are some in the US who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality, and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations. Biden told Zelensky of the importance of supporting Ukraines long-term success, including through eventual paths to European Union and NATO membership as well as through ensuring Kyiv retains sufficient capabilities to against future Russian aggression. (AP) These proposals are the same of those of Putin, and let us be clear: they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable, she said. Zelensky has been in the United States for the UN General Assembly, where on Wednesday he warned world leaders that Russian president Vladimir Putin is attempting to break the Ukrainian spirit by targeting his countrys energy infrastructure. He also cautioned against accepting purported peace deals that would be negotiated without Ukraine having a say. Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve an out instead of an end to the war, he said, adding later that he was skeptical of the true interest behind a recent push by China and Brazil to foster an end to the conflict. When some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles, it not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians ... it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war, he said. Zelensky also toured a Pennsylvania plant where munitions destined for his armed forces are being made. That visit drew anger from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called for Zelensky to fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the US in response. Johnsons outrage was supposedly due to no Republicans being invited along to the tour of the plant, though White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed it as a political stunt by the GOP at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. The sit-downs between Zelensky and the two American leaders come after Biden announced another large tranche of US security assistance for Kyiv. That assistance includes nearly $8 billion in aid from Defense Department and State Department programs, as well as access to Joint Standoff Weapon long-range munitions and additional Patriot anti-aircraft missiles and another Patriot battery. Through these actions, my message is clear: The United States will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war, Biden said in a statement. The president noted that Ukraine has won the battle of Kyiv, reclaimed more than half the territory that Russia seized at the start of the war, and safeguarded its sovereignty and independence during the time that his administration has worked to surge defense aid to the country. For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail ... but there is more work to do, Biden added. Bidens announcement of more security aid to Kyiv comes just weeks before a US presidential election that could determine whether Ukraine remains a sovereign country or becomes a Russian vassal state. Trump was impeached in late 2019 for using US security aid to attempt to blackmail Zelensky into announcing sham investigations into Biden and his son. Nearly five years later, he has threatened to cut off American assistance to Kyiv if he gets a second term, all while promising to end the war by forcing Zelensky to accept terms that would be favorable to Putin. Zelensky was set to meet with Trump in New York, but it was initially canceled. Now, Trump said on Thursday that he plans to meet with the Ukrainian leader on Friday. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris announced new executive actions on Thursday to address gun violence, an election-year move that builds the presidents legacy on the issue and provides Harris with a fresh opportunity to highlight her leadership as vice president. During a White House event Thursday, Biden is expected to sign an executive order designed to address the trauma inflicted on children by active shooter drills in schools as well as tackle the threat of machine gun conversion devices, which are small devices that can be made with a 3D printer and turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon. The actions are timed to this weeks one-year anniversary of Bidens creation of the first-ever office of gun violence prevention which he launched, in part, to identify additional ways to tackle gun violence from the executive branch without Congress. The joint Biden-Harris appearance, one of a handful since the president turned his reelection campaign over to her in July, will highlight Harris role overseeing the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. It also provides an opportunity for her to lean into her leadership on an issue in her official capacity as vice president while giving her fresh policies to tout on the campaign trail. Its also a legacy-building exercise for Biden, likely some of his last moves on what has been a top policy priority for his White House, from passing the first gun legislation in 30 years to issuing more executive actions on the issue than any prior administration. The event is the culmination of a week of efforts from the White House to highlight the offices work. The White House rolled out a report earlier this week on the offices official anniversary, highlighting the administrations actions including that under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, enhanced background checks have blocked thousands of gun sales to people under the age of 21 and those convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. The White House also touted the drop in violent crime which Biden is also expected to highlight on Thursday after the FBI reported that homicides fell by 11.6 percent nationwide in 2023, and that violent crime overall fell by 3 percent after a surge during the pandemic. Federal departments and agencies will also announce a range of additional executive actions, including some related to the implementation of the bipartisan gun legislation Congress passed in June 2022 after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting. Other actions will focus on the safe storage of firearms, implementation of red-flag laws, funding for community violence intervention programs, and improvements to the background-check system, among other moves. The presidents executive order will establish a task force assigned to deliver a report in 90 days to assess the threat posed by unserialized, 3D printed firearms and machine gun conversion devices. These devices are already illegal under federal law, but law enforcement have reported increasingly finding these devices on crime scenes and police believe the shooters in the recent Birmingham, Alabama, shooting used conversion devices. On school shooting drills, the presidents move directs the surgeon general and the secretaries of the Education and Health and Human Services departments to develop and publish guidance for schools on how to effectively conduct these drills, while also minimizing unnecessary trauma. Schools are currently using drills to prepare for their shooter's situation, but there is very limited research on how to design and deploy these drills to maximize their effectiveness and limit any collateral harms they might cause, said Stefanie Feldman, director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, in a call with reporters previewing the announcement. Many parents, students and educators have expressed concerns about the trauma caused by some approaches to these drills. Both Biden and Harris will deliver remarks on Thursday. Attendees will include survivors, advocates, community violence intervention leaders, law enforcement, mayors and other state and local elected officials. People who worked with Biden and Harris for decades will also be in attendance, as the White House wanted the event to serve as a tribute of sorts to Bidens efforts on gun violence over the last 30 years. As for Harris, attendees will also include people who she worked with as a prosecutor in California. (Bloomberg) -- Vice President Kamala Harris joined President Joe Biden on Thursday to roll out measures aimed at exploring ways to crack down on illegal firearm technologies, using the event to push back on Republican messaging that she will confiscate guns from legal owners if elected. Most Read from Bloomberg We know how to stop these tragedies, and it is a false choice to suggest you are either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyones guns away, Harris said at the White House about mass shootings in the US. I am in favor of the Second Amendment and I believe we need to reinstate the assault weapons ban. Her opponent, former President Donald Trump, said during their debate earlier this month that Harris wants to confiscate your guns. Tim Walz and I are both gun owners. Were not taking anybodys guns away, Harris responded at their televised showdown, referring to the Minnesota governor, her running mate. Biden also jabbed at Trump, referring to the Republican presidential nominees comments earlier this year after a school shooting in Iowa, where he called the incident horrible but added we have to get over it, we have to move forward. Who the hell do these people think they are? Biden added. Biden announced that the administration is forming a task force to assess the threat posed by machine-gun conversion devices and 3D-printed firearms that dont have serial numbers. Conversion devices, prohibited under US law, can give ordinary firearms the power of fully automatic weapons. Moreover, 3D-printed guns are often difficult to trace, and some can go undetected by magnetometers. Not all homemade firearms are unlawful, however. Members of the task force will scour federal laws and regulations to see if they can find new methods of detecting or seizing so-called ghost guns or illegal conversion devices. Their report will be due in 90 days. The order also directs departments to publish new guidance for schools to conduct active shooter drills effectively while avoiding trauma to students. The latest actions could help Democrats enhance turnout among young voters and people of color who are disproportionately affected by gun violence in Harris race against Trump. Concerns about gun safety have escalated in the wake of two assassination attempts against Trump by gunmen. In both scenarios, the gunmen wielded semi-automatic rifles, which are considered assault weapons. Harris has taken up the mantle of calling for an assault-weapons ban and universal background checks since she replaced Biden atop the Democratic ticket. The vice president leads the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which marked its one-year anniversary this week. Gun Safety Biden has undertaken steps to advance gun safety, including signing the first major gun-safety law in three decades and through executive orders. In a memo, communications director Ben LaBolt referred to the latest actions as Biden continuing to get as much done as possible before the end of his term, a period the White House hopes will shape his legacy. In 2023, murder and non-negligent manslaughter declined nationally by 11.6%, while the violent crime rate decreased by 3% from the year before, FBI data show. Biden, in a Monday statement, took credit for the drops, saying none of this happened by accident. President Trump believes that every American has a God-given right to protect themselves and their family and has proven through his actions that he will defend law-abiding gun owners, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement ahead of Thursdays White House event. Trump has expressed conflicting views on gun rights and safety. As president, he supported tougher rules for firearms purchasers before distancing himself from that stance. He also proposed raising the minimum age to buy a gun to 21, but later dropped that suggestion. His administration also imposed a ban on bump stocks, which rattled gun-rights supporters. But gun-rights groups have praised him for nominating conservative judges to the Supreme Court more inclined to defend the constitutional right to bear arms. Lindsay Nichols, a policy director at the advocacy group Giffords who attended Thursdays event, said gun violence skyrocketed under the Trump administration, when gun homicides increased nearly 35% between 2019 to 2020, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. (Michael Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP, helped found and is a current supporter of Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates for gun-safety measures.) --With assistance from Stephanie Lai. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. US President Joe Biden speaks at an event concerning the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly. Leon Neal/PA Wire/dpa US President Joe Biden is inviting leaders to a high-level meeting on Ukraine in Germany in October at which the efforts of more than 50 supporting countries will be coordinated, the White House announced on Thursday. "I will convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany next month to coordinate the efforts of the more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression," Biden said in a statement as he announced a fresh package worth some $8 billion for Ukraine ahead of a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington. The package includes another Patriot air-defence system, long-range glide bombs and drones. Zelensky promptly thanked the US for the aid, posting on Telegram that his country would use the support in the most efficient and transparent manner possible, while acknowledging the support from both Republicans and Democrats. He also praised a training programme for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. He said that newly introduced sanctions, which impair Russia's ability to finance the war against Ukraine, were also important. (L-R) President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pose for a group photo at an event with world leaders launching Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction at the InterContinental New York Barclay, an IHG Hotel. Ron Adar, M10s/TheNEWS2 via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa US President Joe Biden is inviting leaders to a high-level meeting on Ukraine in Germany in October to coordinate the efforts of more than 50 supporting countries, the White House announced on Thursday. "I will convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany next month to coordinate the efforts of the more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression," Biden said in a statement as he announced a fresh package worth some $8 billion for Ukraine ahead of a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington. The package includes another Patriot air-defence system, long-range glide bombs and drones. Biden will travel to Germany for a three-day visit beginning October 10, the White House announced on Tuesday. Biden will meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. He will then travel to the US air base in Ramstein. Although the White House did not provide details on the location of the high-ranking Ukraine meeting, it is assumed it will be held in Ramstein. The US-led so-called Ramstein Group has held many meetings there to coordinate aid to Ukraine. The US and Germany are Ukraine's largest arms suppliers. Zelensky promptly thanked the US for the aid, posting on Telegram that his country would use the support in the most efficient and transparent manner possible, while acknowledging the support from both Republicans and Democrats. He also praised a training programme for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. He said that newly introduced sanctions, which impair Russia's ability to finance the war against Ukraine, were also important. US and France lead push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon The leaders of the US and France have jointly called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon a move that comes amid a rising death toll from Israeli strikes on Hezbollah. Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York late Wednesday as they voiced fears that the conflict, after a year of bloodshed in Gaza, would escalate into a full-blown regional war. The situation in Lebanon has become "intolerable" and "is in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon", a joint statement released by the White House said. "We call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement." The statement was issued jointly with Western powers, Japan and key Gulf Arab powers Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot earlier unveiled the proposal at an emergency Security Council session. "There has been important progress in the past few hours," Barrot said. "We've been working since the start of the week in New York on a diplomatic solution with our American friends in particular." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and warned that "hell is breaking loose". Israel said it welcomed diplomacy on Lebanon but did not commit to a ceasefire, vowing to pursue its goal of degrading Hezbollah. (with newswires) Read more on RFI English Read also: France calls for emergency UN meeting amid Middle East crisis as Israeli strikes continue France warns of escalation after more Hezbollah pagers explode in Lebanon Beirut gripped by fear as Hezbollah vows revenge for deadly pager attack President Biden on Thursday announced an estimated $8 billion in aid for Ukraine, drawing down billions of dollars in military stockpiles from the Pentagon that were at risk of expiring Sept. 30, providing an additional Patriot air defense battery and expanding training for F-16 pilots. The announcement comes ahead of a Thursday meeting between Biden and Vice President Harris and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington. The Ukrainian president, following participation at the United Nations General Assembly, is expected to present his victory plan to Biden and Harris on how his nation can overcome Russias nearly three-year, full-scale military assault. I am proud to welcome President Zelenskyy back to the White House today. For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my Administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail, Biden said in a statement. The president was forced to announce a multi-billion dollar aid package after Congress failed to include a request from the administration to extend the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Ukraine in the stopgap funding bill that passed on Wednesday night, putting the White House in a position of having to allocate $5.5 billion in military assistance that was set to expire at the end of the fiscal year. The failure of Congress to extend the PDA is one symptom of Washingtons dysfunction and increased Republican opposition over allocating aid for Ukraine. Biden also announced that the Pentagon is providing $2.4 billion in security assistance through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, with the funds going toward additional air defense and unmanned aerial systems as well as air-to-ground munitions. They will also be used to strengthen Ukraines defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements. But the increased partisan attitudes around U.S. support for Ukraine has put the issue on the agenda for the November elections, with Zelensky becoming increasingly outspoken against former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), over concerns that a Republican administration would force Kyiv to concede to Russian aggression. Zelensky, in an interview with The New Yorker magazine, called Vance too radical and expressed doubt that Trump knew how to end the war in Ukraine. Trump lashed out at Zelensky during a campaign event earlier this week in North Carolina, saying the wartime leader was making nasty little aspersions toward him. And Trumps backers in the House are coming to the GOP presidential nominees defense. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La), who bucked opponents in his party to pass aid for Ukraine in April, on Wednesday called for the firing of Ukraines ambassador to the U.S. and lashed out at Zelensky for what he described as election interference following the Ukrainian presidents trip to a factory in Pennsylvania making arms for Kyiv alongside the states Democratic governor. Zelensky made a similar trip to Utah alongside the Republican governor in July. And House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) on Wednesday morning launched an inquiry into Zelenskys trip to Pennsylvania, suggesting it amounted to a campaign stop for Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. US President Joe Biden stated shortly before his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House that Russia will not win the war with Ukraine. Source: Biden on CBS News, as reported by European Pravda Details: Biden mentioned that yesterday he met with Zelenskyy, who had previously shared with him his plan to win the war. This plan will be discussed at the meeting today, Biden said. The US president had not assessed the plan but said he saw two elements in this regard. "Right now, we have to strengthen Ukraine's position on the battlefield. And thats why today I am proud to announce a new US$2.4 billion package of security assistance Second, we look ahead to help Ukraine succeed in the long term," Biden said. He noted that Ukraine should be supported on its path to EU and NATO membership and continue reforms to counter corruption and strengthen democracy. "We have to ensure that Ukraine has sufficient capabilities to defend itself against future Russian aggression, so Im proud of the steps weve taken in our partnership on these fronts," Biden said, referring to the signing of security agreements with more than 20 countries. "So with both these actions, we're making it clear we stand with Ukraine now and in the future, and weve got a lot to discuss. These two elements are critical to how this war ends. Let me be clear: Russia will not prevail in the war. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and well continue to stand by you every step of the way," Biden said at the meeting with Zelenskyy. Earlier, Zelenskyy met with a bipartisan delegation of the US Senate and briefed them on the key points of the Victory Plan. Support UP or become our patron! Biden says Trump has no 'redeeming value,' pretends to squash him like a bug amid Iranian assassination threat President Biden avoided mentioning the emerging Iranian threat of an assassination plot against former President Trump while pretending to squash him like a bug during his appearance on "The View." On Tuesday, Trump was briefed about "real and specific threats" from Iran to assassinate him, according to his campaign. This comes after the former president has already faced two separate assassination attempts against him. Biden was asked by co-host Joy Behar about how Trump has been blaming him and Vice President Kamala Harris for their rhetoric Trump says inspired the would-be assassins. Instead of acknowledging Iran's apparent efforts to have Trump killed, Biden took a swipe at the "most unusual president." Biden Tells The View He Was Confident He Could Have Beaten Trump: Hes A Loser' President Biden has some fun pretending to smash former President Trump like a bug during his appearance on "The View." "I ran for three reasons," Biden said on Wednesday. "I said I wanted to restore the soul of the country-meaning in a sense of decency and honor. Secondly, I wanted to make the middle class grow because when it grows, everybody does well. And thirdly, I wanted to bring the country back together, and I was told we couldn't do any of those things. And we've got a lot of them done." Read On The Fox News App "And look, Trump is a, um," Biden said before pausing. "Careful," Behar jokingly chimed in. "There's not a lot of social redeeming value there," Biden then said, sparking applause from the liberal audience. "He really does not, does not believe in democracy and the guard rails that our system has set up for abuse of power." What Would Barbara Walters Think Of The View Today? Her Biographer Answers The Question President Biden tells "The View" co-host Joy Behar that former President Trump doesn't have "a lot of social redeeming values." In another moment during his TV appearance, Biden appeared to have some fun with Whoopi Goldberg's analogy comparing Trump to an annoying "bug." "I always felt you were going to probably do four years and then try to figure out where to go with Kamala," Goldberg said. "Then [Trump] just wouldn't- he was like a bug. He just kept being there. He was a like a bug right there," before pointing to the table and making a buzzing sound. Biden then slammed his hand on the table, pretending to have killed the bug, prompting laughs and claps from his fans as the president offered a giant grin in return. Abc's 'The View' Was 100% Negative About Trump Following Second Assassination Attempt: Study In a press release from Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung, Irans aim to assassinate Trump is part of the Islamic Republics efforts to "destabilize and sow chaos in the United States ." "Intelligence officials have identified that these continued and coordinated attacks have heightened in the past few months, and law enforcement officials across all agencies are working to ensure President Trump is protected and the election is free from interference," Cheung said. "Make no mistake, the terror regime in Iran loves the weakness of Kamala Harris, and is terrified of the strength and resolve of President Trump. He will let nothing stop him or get in his way to fight for the American people and to Make America Great Again." Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report. Original article source: Biden says Trump has no 'redeeming value,' pretends to squash him like a bug amid Iranian assassination threat We recently compiled a list of the 7 Undervalued Canadian Stocks To Buy According To Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) stands against the other undervalued Canadian stocks. Canadas Economic Outlook According to the report Economic Outlook Canada Q4 2024, released by S&P Global on September 24, Canada's economy shows signs of improvement, with growth expected to gain momentum in the coming years. S&P Global forecasts a 1.2% GDP growth in 2024 and a 2.0% growth in 2025, which still falls short of the country's potential growth rate of 1.8%. However, a recovery in 2025 is expected to be driven by fixed investment, particularly residential and non-residential, rather than consumer spending. Consumer spending will remain subdued due to the cumulative effect of higher interest rates. Changes to immigration policies and their effectiveness are key uncertainties in the forecast. The labor market in Canada is softening, with weaker hiring and rising unemployment. Wage growth is outpacing productivity growth, which is inconsistent with 2% inflation. The unemployment rate is expected to rise to 7% by the end of 2024 before falling in 2025. Despite this, the Bank of Canada (BoC) is shifting its focus to downside risks to the economic growth outlook. The BoC has already cut interest rates for the third consecutive time and is expected to continue making 25 basis point cuts in the fourth quarter and January. Canada: A Prime Destination for Foreign Direct Investment Canada is one of the world's top destinations for foreign direct investment. Warren Buffett expressed a positive view of investing in Canada, stating that Berkshire Hathaway has a significant presence in the country with many operations and investments across various entities. He feels comfortable investing in Canada, just like in the US, as he understands the business environment and economy. Buffett noted that Canada's economy moves closely with the US, and the results from his company's businesses with Canadian operations are consistent with those in the US. He is open to investing in Canada, citing a past example where his company invested in a Canadian financial institution. Buffett stated that his company has no "mental blocks" about investing in Canada and views the country as a "terrific" place to operate. He also mentioned that Canada is a major economy that his company feels confident about operating in and that they are currently looking at a potential investment opportunity in the country. Story continues Investing in Canada, particularly in the Atlantic region, presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for green hydrogen and its applications. Green hydrogen production can be leveraged to create new industries, such as ammonia and fertilizer production, as well as green steel, which can be produced using the region's abundant natural resources and innovative technologies. Canada's economy is showing signs of improvement, with growth expected to gain momentum in the coming years. The Bank of Canada's monetary policy adjustments and the recovery in fixed investment are expected to drive growth in 2025. With that in context, lets take a look at the 7 undervalued Canadian stocks to buy according to hedge funds. Our Methodology To compile our list of 7 undervalued Canadian stocks to buy according to hedge funds, we used the Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find the largest Canadian companies. From that list, we screened for companies that are trading at a forward P/E ratio of under 15, as of September 25. We then narrowed our choices to 7 stocks according to their hedge fund sentiment, which was taken from our database of 912 elite hedge funds as of Q2 of 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment, as of the second quarter. Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). A vast oil rig pumping crude oil during a sunset, emphasizing the company's focus on oil & gas exploration and production. Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 46 Forward P/E Ratio as of September 25: 12.77 Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) is one of Canada's largest independent oil and gas producers. The company explores, develops, and produces crude oil and natural gas in Western Canada, the United Kingdom, the North Sea, offshore Africa, and other international locations. Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) total production has been steady at around 1.3 million barrels per day for the past few years. Management is waiting for more favorable market conditions as natural gas prices improve. Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) is expected to increase production, which will drive up revenue and gross profit. The company's unit economics, as measured by netback analysis, have already shown a steady recovery, increasing from $20.64/bbl to $28.68/bbl in Q2 compared to the same quarter in the previous year. This trend is expected to continue, with netbacks potentially reaching $30-35/bbl levels, driven by operational improvements and higher natural gas prices. The US Energy Information Administration's (EIA) short-term energy outlook forecast suggests that natural gas prices are expected to increase over the next year, driven by increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. This positive trend is expected to benefit Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ), which has intentionally held back on natural gas production, with approximately 20% of its remaining 2024 planned natural gas wells drilled but production curtailed, Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) is well-positioned to capitalize on the expected price increase. Canadian Natural Resources' (NYSE:CNQ) stock is trading at a forward PE of 12.77. Industry analysts have a consensus on the stocks Buy rating, setting an average share price target at $40.64, which represents a 16% upside potential from its current levels. As of the second quarter, the companys stock is held by 46 hedge funds with a stakes worth $3.77 billion. Fisher Asset Management is the largest shareholder in the company and owns stocks worth $1.49 billion as of June 30. Overall CNQ ranks 1st on our list of the undervalued Canadian stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of CNQ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CNQ but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. AUSTIN (Nexstar) On Thursday, President Biden and Vice President Harris will announce a new executive order meant to address gun violence and, in part, the potentially traumatic impact of school shooter drills on young students. The order will direct the Departments of Education and Homeland Security to provide guidance for schools aimed at reducing trauma during shooting drills, The Hill reported early Thursday. Biden to sign executive order focused on 3D printed guns, school shooter drills This executive order is huge, because it is focused on preparedness while weve already made investments in prevention, investments in youth mental health, investments in violence reduction strategies, Deputy Director of the White Houses Office of Gun Violence Prevention Greg Jackson told Nexstar. This effort will make a strong stride toward ensuring our schools are more prepared for tragedy if, unfortunately, it strikes. Its an issue Texas has already legislated. In 2021, the legislature passed into law a requirement that school shooter drills be trauma-informed, using best practices to minimize the psychological impact. Senate Bill 168 by State Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, required the Texas Education Agency to develop drill guidelines in consultation with the Texas School Safety Center meant to be sensitive to student mental health. The law requires districts to give adequate notice of shooter drills to students and parents, and to ensure the exercises are appropriate for the students age and development as determined in coordination with school mental health professionals. The bills analysis cites data showing active shooter drills are associated with a 39% increase in depression, a 42% increase in stress and anxiety, and a 23% increase in physiological health problems in children as young as 5 years old up to high schoolers, their parents, and teachers. We know nearly every youth in our country now has experienced these active shooter drills, but theres very little research about what are the best practices, how effective are they?, Jackson said. What harm are we applying to our youth, and what trauma are they experiencing at the hands of these drills? This historic step will look into developing more research, compiling best practices, and helping develop better standards for how we implement this to make sure schools are safer and more prepared while we minimize the trauma and harm to our youth. Biden and Harris will announce and sign the executive order at 3:45 p.m. Central. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. President Joe Biden meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a temporary government spending bill that keeps agencies operating into December, after Congress punted key spending decisions until after the November election. The bill generally funds agencies at current levels through Dec. 20, setting up the prospect of a government shutdown fight just before the holiday season. Lawmakers did agree to add $231 million to bolster the Secret Service after the two assassination attempts against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Money was also added to aid with the presidential transition. The measure easily passed Congress on Wednesday on a bipartisan basis, 341-82 in the House and 78-18 in the Senate, with Republicans supplying all the no votes in both chambers. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., billed the measure as doing only whats absolutely necessary, a statement directed at members of his own conference concerned about spending levels. Johnson said the only alternative to the continuing resolution at this stage would have been a government shutdown. The temporary measure was needed because Congress is nowhere close to completing work on the dozen annual appropriations bills that fund much of the federal government. The House has passed five of the 12 bills, mostly along party lines. The Senate has passed zero. Hours before he was scheduled to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Joe Biden announced nearly $8 billion in additional military aid for Kyiv. The move will provide Ukraine with long-range strike weapons, air defenses, and additional F-16 training for pilots, among other items. For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail, Biden said in a statement early Thursday morning. In that time, Ukraine has won the battle of Kyiv, reclaimed more than half the territory that Russia seized at the start of the war, and safeguarded its sovereignty and independence. But there is more work to do. That is why, today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war. The new aid comes from two pools of funding. Most of it $5.5 billion is from Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) funding. That program sends military equipment to Ukraine from existing U.S. stocks and pays for its replenishment. By issuing his directive to the Pentagon, Biden assures that the Congressionally authorized PDA funds to not expire on Sept. 30 with the end of the current fiscal year. The second pool of funds $2.4 billion is from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and provides money to Ukraine to procure listed items directly from manufacturers. The USAI funds will provide Ukraine with additional air defense, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraines defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements, Biden stated. To enhance Ukraines long-range strike capabilities, I have decided to provide Ukraine with AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) glide munitions, Biden announced. The unpowered air-to-ground weapon will be used by Ukraines donated F-16s. They have a range of over 70 miles, depending on flight profile, so it can be launched from outside the range of many enemys air defense systems. You can read what this weapon will bring in terms of capabilities to Ukraine in our previous report here. U.S. President Joe Biden has decided to provide Ukraine with AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) (Ioannis Lekkas ) Back in a June of 2023, we published a large feature about the potential weapons that would equip Ukraines F-16s. In that piece we posited JSOW would be the most likely standoff strike option to be transferred for a number of reasons. Biden also directed the Pentagon to refurbish and provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense battery and to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles. The U.S. has so far provided Ukraine with two such systems. President Joe Biden has ordered the Pentagon to provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense system battery. (DoD) In addition, Biden ordered the Pentagon to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including by supporting the training of an additional 18 pilots next year. Ukraine had only around half a dozen pilots trained to fly the F-16 when the first jets were delivered this summer, and one has been killed. The lack of pilots and robust training to support a fleet that could end up being nearly 100 jets has been a major concern of Kyivs. Beyond military aid, Biden announced that the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Secret Service have taken action today to disrupt a global cryptocurrency network, in coordination with international partners. That move is designed to counter Russian sanctions evasion and money laundering, The United States will continue to raise the costs on Russia for its war in Ukraine and to deprive the Russian defense industrial base of resources. Biden did not specify what systems will be provided to Ukraine under the additional PDA funding. However, on Wednesday, the Pentagon announced a new $375 million package the 66th PDA that included the first donation of JSOWs. That PDA package also included: Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition; Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; M1117 Armored Security Vehicles; Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles; Light tactical vehicles; Armored bridging systems; Small arms; Patrol boats; Demolitions equipment and munitions; Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation. Rows of incomplete shells wait for the next step in production at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant. (Photo by Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) The new aid funding announcement comes as Zelensky visited the U.S. to drum up support for his as-yet-undisclosed victory plan. It is said to include long-term guarantees for security assistance as well as requests for more long-range weapons and the ability to use them deep inside Russia, something Biden so far has refused to do, fearing a backlash from Russian President Vladimir Putin and concerns about maintaining U.S. supplies. While Zelensky has yet to publicly disclose his victory plan, it is being met with skepticism by the Biden administration, The Wall Street Journal reported. The plan lacks a comprehensive strategy and is little more than a repackaged request for more weapons and the lifting of restrictions on long-range missiles, the publication reported, citing U.S. officials. The Biden administration is concerned that the Ukrainian leaders plan for winning the war against Russia lacks a comprehensive strategy, U.S. officials said https://t.co/h0LBibDCF8 https://t.co/h0LBibDCF8 The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 25, 2024 During his trip to Washington, Zelensky will also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, to discuss his plan. A meeting with Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump seems to be off the table at the moment. Trump and fellow Republicans have taken to chastizing Zelensky, with many calling for him to fire Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova over his visit last week to an ammunition plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania because no Republicans were involved. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is unhappy with Zelenskiy's weekend visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant and the fact he says that no Republicans were involved. He wants Zelenskiy to fire the Ukrainian ambassador pic.twitter.com/rNXmRLFF30 Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) September 25, 2024 Though still pushing for more, Zelensky expressed gratitude to Biden and Congress for delivering the new aid. I am grateful to @POTUS Joe Biden, U.S. Congress and its both parties, Republicans and Democrats, as well as the entire American people for todays announcement of major U.S. defense assistance for Ukraine totalling $7.9 billion and sanctions against Russia. On behalf of the Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) September 26, 2024 Even if the plan is rejected, Zelensky will go home with a win. Before he arrived, most of the money for the new aid was still caught up in the uncertainties of the U.S. political process. Biden was forced to announce the new package after Congress failed to include a request from the administration to extend the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Ukraine in the stopgap funding bill that passed on Wednesday night, The Hill reported. The failure of Congress to extend the PDA is one symptom of Washingtons dysfunction and increased Republican opposition over allocating aid for Ukraine, the publication explained. Even with the new aid, Ukraine faces an increasingly difficult fight from Russia, especially in the east, where several towns are in danger of falling. It continues to advance incrementally in Russias Kursk region, but how much longer Zelensky can staff and equip both fronts remains to be seen. Ukraine should get new equipment and weapons from existing U.S. stocks soon but it will be years before they can procure weapons from manufacturers. The dynamics on the battlefield could be radically different the next time Zelensky visits the U.S. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Bidens new Ukraine weapons package is not the one Zelensky wants Volodymyr Zelensky met Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, but the American president is yet to give ground on the use of long-range missiles - Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images An $8 billion weapons package for Ukraine wont make up for Joe Bidens indecision over granting permission for British Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia. The assistance package was announced on Wednesday shortly before the president met Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines leader, for talks on how to end the war with Russia in the White House. Mr Zelensky has used his visit to the United States this week, including an address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to present his victory plan to world leaders. The strategy envisages Ukraine receiving increased military support from its Western allies, including permission to use their long-range missiles in cross-border attacks into Russia. Mr Biden has resisted calls to give the green light for the Atacms missile system amid concerns it would trigger an escalation from Moscow. He also holds a de facto veto over Britains approval for cross-border Storm Shadow strikes because the missile relies on American targeting systems. The aftermath of a Russian air strike on Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine says the Kremlin can operate in the way it does because its logisitcal centres are out of range of its weapons in Russia - nadolu via Getty Images In the absence of looser restrictions to let Kyiv use Western missiles, the White House has shipped the Joint Standoff Weapon (Jsow), a precision-guided glide bomb with a range of about 80 miles, for the first time. A statement by Mr Biden said the F-16-launched weapon would enhance Ukraines long-range strike capabilities. But for Ukrainian observers of the war, there is no comparison between Jsow and the prospect of being granted permission to use Storm Shadow to strike military targets in Russia. Mr Zelenskys victory plan leans heavily on the possibility that Ukrainian forces could destroy Russias logistical hubs responsible for delivering the weapons, fuel, water and food for its occupation of almost a fifth of Ukraine. Homegrown attack drones While Kyiv has carried out a number of successful operations with its homegrown fleet of one-way attack drones on Russian oil refineries and ammunition dumps, it does not yet have the capacity to scale up those strikes to the levels required to make Russias front-line presence untenable. Even if Jsow is allowed to be dropped on Russia Mr Bidens statement does not make reference to the possibility it does not have the range to cause significant harm. Because of the density of Moscows air defences near the front line, Ukrainian F-16s would need to drop the bombs from a safe distance, effectively meaning Jsow would be able to hit targets just 25 miles inside Russia. Storm Shadow missiles have a stated range of about 190 miles, but it is understood they can operate at greater distances if required, meaning Ukrainian fighter pilots can launch them from safety while maintaining a deep strike capability. We cant compare because the bomb that we received can only strike on the range of 100-130 kilometres, Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, said. As part of his presentation to Mr Biden, Mr Zelensky is expected to present the president with a list of targets that Ukraine could hit on Russian soil if the approval is given for cross-border strikes with Western missiles. If US intelligence is correct that most of those targets have been moved out of range of Storm Shadow and Atacms, Jsow definitely will not be able to hit them. From our side, its really important to target these logistics points and those logistics chains of operation inside the Russian Federation, Mr Kuzan said. This army needs more equipment, more oil for their weapons and vehicles, they need more and more capabilities to hold this high intensity. It would be impossible for the Russian army to move inside Ukraine if we could destroy this logistics operation. A comparable success was achieved when Ukraine drove Russian forces out of Kherson, the only regional capital occupied by Moscow, in November 2022. Using American-provided Himars rocket launchers, Kyivs men systematically destroyed supply routes to the town across the Dnipro River. Facing a Ukrainian counter-offensive without supplies of reinforcements, ammunition, fuel, and even food and water, the Russians decided to withdraw. The problem facing Ukraine currently is that many logistical hubs sit inside Russia out-of-range of the weapons it is allowed to use in cross-border raids. With Russia gaining more territory in eastern Ukraine every day, it will be a bitter blow to Mr Zelenskys plan to end the war if he leaves Washington DC without permission to use Western missiles to carry out his strategy. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Biden urged to crack down on oil companies doing business with Venezuela after Maduro's refusal to cede power Biden urged to crack down on oil companies doing business with Venezuela after Maduro's refusal to cede power Earlier this year, the Biden administration eased sanctions on Venezuela in efforts to persuade dictator Nicolas Maduro to hold free and fair elections. It didnt work. Now, Latin America watchers say, its time to bring back those sanctions in full force - by canceling the licenses for U.S.-based oil and gas companies to do business there. The U.S. reinstated sanctions on the gold mining industry that were lifted earlier this year under the Barbados Agreement in April, as Maduro continued to crack down on the opposition, including by barring opposition primary winner Maria Corina Machado from running. It allowed the expiration of some sanctions relief and export licenses, but critics say the administration left major carve-outs for U.S.-based companies doing business there. Venezuela Says Fourth Us Citizen Arrested In Plot To Kill President Maduro In July, Venezuelas National Electoral Commission claimed that Maduro won 51.2% of the vote, defeating the Unity Platform candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, backed by Machado. But precinct-level vote counts published by the opposition show Gonzalez winning by a large margin. The U.S. government recognized Gonzalez as the winner on August 1, yet Maduro still clings to power. Read On The Fox News App In September, U.S. officials unveiled new personal sanctions against Maduro and his acolytes over human rights abuses. "The individual sanctions are meaningless and obviously havent changed [Maduros] behavior one bit," Victoria Coates, former deputy national security advisor and senior advisor at the Department of Energy under Trump, told Fox News Digital. The U.S. government recognized Gonzalez as the winner on August 1, yet Nicolas Maduro, above, still clings to power. Maduro officials have enforced the election results they claim through harsh post-election repression of protesters, including charging Gonzalez with terrorism before he sought refuge in the Spanish embassy. Gonzalez said last week he was "forced" to accept the Maduro win before being allowed to seek asylum in Spain. "Theyve done nothing serious to try to challenge the results of the fraudulent election, to support the folks who are trying to get the information out, and then to offer an off-ramp to Maduro." Biden Administration Imposes Sanctions Against Venezuelan President Maduro's 'Cronies' "Get him out of the country, figure out what his terms are," Coates went on. "By the way, there are a bunch of the senior military brass in Venezuela who like to spend a lot of time in Miami. Is that something you want to hold at risk?" "They could see if they could have some conversations with them about what a transition would look like. But rather than doing any of that, theyre just letting the oil flow." "The administration is, on the one hand, doing some actions that would make it appear that it is heightening enforcement against the Maduro regime," Andres Martinez-Fernandez, lead Latin America policy adviser at Heritage's Allison Center for National Security, told Fox News Digital. "But it's clearly holding off on really restating and fully pressuring the Venezuelan government with sanctions and economic restrictions, particularly when it comes to the oil sector." One option would be to cancel the remaining licenses for big oil companies like Chevron to make deals with PDVSA, the countrys state-owned oil company. Chevron scored a license to do business with the oil-rich state in 2022 after Maduro had expressed an openness to conducting fair elections. The White House left open the possibility for other companies to apply for such licenses to take advantage of the nations oil-rich reserves. "The oil licenses, which only benefit Maduro and his cronies, should have been canceled as soon as they refused to recognize the real results of the election showing his loss by two million votes," Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., chair of the House Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, told Fox News Digital. "The failure to make these decisions is sending a clear signal around the world that United States leadership is weak, and you can get away with whatever you want." "We want them canceled this is a lifeline to the regime ," opposition adviser Rafael de la Cruz said in reference to the licenses during a panel discussion hosted by the New York-based Council of the Americas business organization earlier this month. He said the presence of U.S. oil companies serves to "normalize de facto dictatorship that he is trying to set up in Venezuela." The National Security Council has said its sanctions are designed to "hold Nicolas Maduro and his representatives accountable for its electoral fraud and violent repression, without harming the everyday Venezuelan people." But critics say that oil money rarely flows down to everyday Venezuelans, nearly 80 percent of whom fall below the poverty line. "The primary sanction facing the Venezuelan people is the regime itself," Andres Martinez-Fernandez said. "The Venezuelan regime uses its revenue primarily not to support the Venezuelan people, but to ensure its own grasp on power, whether that's through buying loyalty in the military or sowing discord abroad" he went on. A supporter shouts slogans during a protest against the result of the presidential election "[The sanctions] never should have been lifted, they got scammed," Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital. Why, exactly, the Biden administration hasnt taken enforcement action is up for debate. Coates believes it is "to keep domestic energy prices low before the election." Martinez-Fernandez said there could be heavy lobbying involved behind the scenes, and the administration could be worried that removing U.S. companies from the scene would create a space for China to swoop in and set up operations. "The administration is still hoping beyond reason that there is a path to a sort of negotiated settlement with the regime," he said. "This is what the administration did earlier in the year and late last year with the removal of sanctions, and then dangling the threats of reinstating them. And clearly, that had none of the desired effects." Chevron spokesman Bill Turenne said in a statement: "We remain committed to conducting our business in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, both in the U.S. and the countries where we operate." Original article source: Biden urged to crack down on oil companies doing business with Venezuela after Maduro's refusal to cede power Is this the end of Miguel Cardonas tenure or the next chapter? The Biden administrations public face for reopening schools during the pandemic wants to be remembered for more than the bureaucratic, legal and political mess now confronting his agency. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona's department has lurched from crisis to crisis since President Joe Biden vaulted the Connecticut educator to the highest perch many in his profession could hope to hold. But hes run out of time to build a post-pandemic vision that draws absent students back to classrooms, boosts lagging test scores, and reshapes American education. Despite a recent flurry of travel and fiery speeches championing Democratic issues, Cardona's uneven tenure has clouded his prospects to influence the education industry or a potential Harris administration. As an educator, if you ever feel like the job is done and you could punch out, you should have been gone a long time ago, Cardona said in an interview this month inside a Pittsburgh elementary school cafeteria. I'm never going to be satisfied. The sense of urgency that I have will never be quenched, because there's so much at stake. Betsy DeVos, Donald Trumps education secretary, won attention for blasting teachers unions, rewriting campus sexual misconduct rules and loosening restrictions on for-profit colleges. Arne Duncan exercised a tough-love approach to public school improvement and helped oversee a major rewrite of federal education law under Barack Obama. Cardonas track record is more complicated. After pushing to reopen schools with $122 billion in expiring federal aid, the department is scrambling to recover from a botched debut of college financial aid forms that threatens to upend enrollment. Courts have scrapped affirmative action, stymied Bidens efforts to cancel student loan debt, and blocked rules that extend campus discrimination protections to transgender students. Congressional Republicans have even called for Cardonas resignation after he declined to condemn pro-Palestinian protest chants on college campuses. Theyve been basically in crisis management mode for the majority of the past three and a half years, Duncan said. And so having a forward-looking agenda, and a strategy, has been a challenge. At the center is Cardona, an educator who hasnt taken to being a politician. He deflected questions about his role in a future Democratic administration, saying his current focus is finishing what the Biden-Harris team set out to do. But hes spent the last few weeks traveling to swing states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan to highlight the departments work and his support for Harris. Soon after Biden nominated him for the secretary job in 2020, Cardona described American public education as a wilted rose. He presented a broad agenda to address racial disparities in test scores and graduation rates, fill neglected trade jobs and expand access to free college and early childhood education. The secretary insists the country has made lasting progress. A lot of times, administrations come in with a fancy thing and focus only on that and neglect the core of education, which is what I know well, Cardona said. So when you talk about improving teacher salaries, that's a gift that keeps giving. When you talk about establishing teacher apprenticeships, that's a gift that keeps giving. That's not going to go away. Yet former administration officials who spoke with POLITICO said an overly expansive agenda strained department resources. Bidens signature ambitions for free preschool and community college failed to launch. Department officials estimate the vast majority of American Rescue Plan money aid that helped schools pay for safety measures during the pandemic plus tutoring and other needs afterwards will run out by January. Its not clear what happens next. Hes had to work through the pandemic, which was a huge setback, said Peter Cunningham, a top aide to Duncan. But now the moneys drying up. Everyone knows theyre in trouble. School districts are struggling financially. So how do you continue to drive progress in a system and by that I mean the whole country? After graduating from a high school automotive studies program and spending nearly a quarter-century climbing the ladder of Connecticuts public school system, Cardona can easily strike a charismatic rapport with educators and kids less so at podiums and congressional hearings. But the Raise The Bar education blueprint he unveiled last year is sometimes criticized for lacking ambition. And he faces pressure from people who want the department to play a bigger role in developing workforce programs. The Education Department has to set out a vision where Americans say, Yes, I want that, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, who did not say whether she supports a second Cardona term. One former department official, granted anonymity to discuss the secretarys tenure, compared Cardonas situation to a builder hired to fix roofs during a hurricane while getting blamed for the storm. People want more from an agency many Republicans including former President Donald Trump threaten to shut down. I would love to see Secretary Cardona take a much more proactive and bold approach to rebuilding our education system post pandemic, said Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, a nonprofit group whose political branch has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. We are in a critical moment for children in the United States, and that calls for a bold vision and bold leadership. Cardona, on the other hand, leans into his professional experience. He spent his career working his way from elementary school teacher to assistant superintendent before a brief stint as the states education commissioner. Community schools, mental health access, enough reading teachers, enough professional staff, a competitive salary. Those are the things that keep schools going, Cardona said. It's about time we have an educator in this office who understands what it's like to be a classroom teacher. But as education-related crises accumulated in the Biden administration, critics began to question whether Cardona was ready for the role. It was a giant jump, clearly, from where he was in Connecticut to Washington, said Mark Schneider, a Trump appointee who recently left as head of the departments independent Institute of Education Sciences statistics and research branch. The department faced especially embarrassing setbacks with an overhaul of its college financial aid form. The Biden administration spent years implementing a bipartisan law to create a new, simpler application, known as the FAFSA. But a series of glitches, delays and problems with a major contractor plunged the college admissions cycle into chaos. It was just a catastrophe. And it was known that it was going to be a catastrophe, Schneider said. When it came out, and it crashed and burned repeatedly, that was the single largest point of failure that I can remember in the Department of Education ever. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), head of the House education committee, subpoenaed Cardona this summer to investigate the fiasco after criticizing the departments abysmal track record. Cardona argues FAFSA has always been difficult and the ultimate fix will upgrade decades-old systems for a faster process that sends more scholarship money to students. Cardona said his administration will focus on higher education in the coming months, challenging lawsuits and legal blockades that halted many of the administrations plans for student debt relief. The department will also promote Raise The Bar initiatives such as expanding teacher apprenticeships and boosting educator salaries. As the election approaches, the secretary remains defiant and a bit wistful. I'm smart enough to know now that I don't know what tomorrow brings," he said. "What I do know is I feel humbled and blessed to be able to be a part of a team that was bold, that was consequential and that really cared for kids and for our schools and for our educators. The edge of the Salton Sea, a heavily polluted lake with large geothermal and lithium resources beneath it. Manuel Pastor Imperial County consistently ranks among the most economically distressed places in California. Its Salton Sea, the states biggest and most toxic lake, is an environmental disaster. And the regions politics have been dominated by a conservative white elite, despite its supermajority Latino population. The county also happens to be sitting on enough lithium to produce nearly 400 million batteries, sufficient to completely revamp the American auto fleet to electric propulsion. Even better, that lithium could be extracted in a way consistent with broader goals to reduce pollution. The traditional ways to extract lithium involve either hard rock mining, which generates lots of waste, or large evaporation ponds, which waste a lot of water. In Imperial Valley, companies are pioneering a third method. They are extracting the mineral from the underground briny water brought up during geothermal energy production and then injecting that briny water back into the ground in a closed loop. It promises to yield the cleanest, greenest lithium on the planet. The hope of a clean energy future has excited investors and public officials so much that the area is being rechristened as Lithium Valley. In a region desperate for jobs and income, the prospect of a white gold rush is appealing. Public officials have been working to roll out the red carpet for big investors, including trying to create a clear plan for infrastructure and a quicker permitting process. To get community groups support, they are playing up the potential for jobs, including company commitments to hire local workers. But Imperial Valley residents who have been on the butt end of get-rich schemes around water and real estate in the past are worried that their political leaders may be giving away the store. As we explore in our new book, Charging Forward: Lithium Valley, Electric Vehicles and a Just Future, the U.S. has an opportunity to ensure that these residents directly benefit from the lithium extraction boom, which is an important part of the global shift to clean energy. Possibilities and perils in Lithium Valley Imperial Valley is emblematic of the potential and the risks that have long faced impoverished communities in resource-rich regions. To understand the possibilities and perils in Imperial Valley, its useful to remember that the world is not just moving away from fossil fuel extraction but toward more mineral extraction. Todays battery technology necessary for electric vehicles and energy storage relies on minerals including cobalt, magnesium, nickel and graphite. And mineral extraction is often accompanied by obscured environmental risks. A prototype for CTRs lithium-producing geothermal facility, in the Hells Kitchen area of Imperial Valley. Manuel Pastor In Imperial Valley, environmental and community organizations are worried about lithium extractions water use, waste and air pollution as production steps up and truck traffic increases. When your regions childhood asthma rate is already more than twice the national average, and dust from the drying lake is toxic, kicking up a little extra dust is a big deal. Comite Civico del Valle, a long-established environmental justice organization in Imperial Valley, has sued to slow down a streamlined permitting process for Controlled Thermal Resources, a company planning lithium extraction there. The groups concern is that inadequate environmental reviews could result in harm to residents health. Both the company and public officials are warning that the lawsuit could stop the lithium boom before it begins. Local communities are also concerned about how much benefit they will see while the industry profits. They note that the electric vehicle boom driving lithium demand occurred precisely because of public policy. Tesla, for example, has benefited from multiple rounds of state and federal zero-emissions vehicle incentives, including the sale of emissions credits that accounted for 85% of Teslas gross margin in 2009 and rose to US$1.8 billion a year by 2023. Behind these policies and financial incentives have been public will and taxpayer money. Young advocates with the Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition have been spreading their concerns through the community. Chris Benner We believe that local residents, not just companies, deserve a return. Rather than promising to just pay for community benefits, such as environmental mitigation, contributions to municipal coffers or jobs, the companies could pay dividends directly to local residents and communities. There are models of this dividend approach. For example, the Alaska Permanent Fund gives an annual amount to all residents of that state from revenues obtained from the oil beneath the ground. In Imperial Valley, the actual ownership of the lithium is complex, involving a mix of privately owned subsurface rights, public lease rights obtained by companies and public rights held by the regional water district to whom companies will pay royalties. Given the ownership complexities and the desire to benefit as development takes place, local authorities and community organizations persuaded the state in 2022 to pass a per-metric-ton lithium tax to address local needs. Controlled Thermal Resources CEO Rod Colwell, right, walks near the Salton Sea with a colleague. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez That flat tax was bitterly resisted by some in the emerging industry on the grounds that it could make Imperial Valleys less-polluting extraction method too costly to compete with environmentally damaging imports; after the vote, CTRs CEO called the legislators clowns. Meanwhile, CTR has also agreed to hire union workers in the construction phase. Everyone companies, communities and government officials is struggling to balance economic viability with accountability. Lessons for a just transition The hesitance of low-income Imperial Valley residents to immediately buy into the lithium vision is deeply rooted in history. Decades of racial exclusion, patronizing practices and broken promises have led to deep distrust of outsiders who assert that things will be better this time. Irrigation at the turn of the last century was supposed to bring an agriculture boom, but the early result was a broken canal that released enough water over nearly two years of disrepair to create what is now the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea was then supposed to fuel recreational tourism, but the failure to replenish it with anything but agricultural runoff helped to kill fish, birds and recreation. A more recent scheme to attract solar farms in recent decades delivered little employment and more worries about agricultural displacement. You can still find old billboards promising a resort life on the Salton Sea, which today is one of the states most polluted lakes. Wind kicks up toxic dust when the water is low. Manuel Pastor Building the supply chain here, too In recent years, some people have pinned their hopes on lithium. The main site so far in Imperial Valley has been CTRs Hells Kitchen. Its a fitting moniker on summer days when temperatures regularly exceed 110 degrees. Ensuring that the surrounding communities benefit from this new lithium boom will require thinking about how to attract not just companies extracting the lithium but also those that will use it. So far, Imperial County has had limited success in attracting related industries. In 2023, a company named Statevolt said it would build a gigafactory there to assemble batteries. However, the companys previous efforts Britishvolt in the United Kingdom and Italvot in Italy have stalled without any volts being produced. Imperial County will need serious suitors to make a go of it. A potentially promising future for modern transportation and energy storage may be brewing in Imperial Valley. But getting to a brighter future for everyone will require remembering a lesson from the past: that community investments tend to be hard-won. We believe that ensuring everyone benefits long term is essential for achieving a more inclusive and sustainable future. Research for the book from which this article draws was supported by the James Irvine Foundation, New Energy Nexus, the California Wellness Foundation, and Open Society Foundations. Manuel Pastor was also supported by a Residency at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center. Research for the book from which this article draws was supported by the James Irvine Foundation, New Energy Nexus, the California Wellness Foundation, and Open Society Foundations. Chris Benner was also supported by a Residency at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center. (Bloomberg) -- Top House Republicans are stalling landmark US legislation that would protect children from online exploitation and bullying, bowing to criticisms from Big Tech and exposing a rift within the party over regulating social media. Most Read from Bloomberg The legislation, the Kids Online Safety Act, passed the Senate on a 91-3 vote in July and President Joe Biden has vowed to sign it into law. But House GOP leaders, as well as several other Republican lawmakers, have raised concerns that its too heavy handed and could sideline some conservative content online. The emotionally charged debate over the legislation has laid bare the resilience of tech companies political power in the face of growing public concerns about social medias harmful effects on young people. And it illustrates the value of well-connected allies in Washington at a moment of public outcry. Amazon.com Inc, Alphabet Inc.s Google, and Meta Platforms Inc. have sought to leverage their connections to influential lawmakers like House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a lobbying push that tars the legislation as an attack on free speech rights, suggesting it would silence voices on both ends of the political spectrum. Top Democrats like Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey also have been a focus of the lobbying effort. Those tech companies, which did not respond to requests for comment, are up against a coalition of parents whose children died or were seriously hurt in incidents related to online activity. The parents have waged their own passionate lobbying campaign, sharing wrenching personal stories with lawmakers and congressional staff. The legislation threatens to bring down tech companies ad revenue by weakening design features that hook young users and keep them active on online platforms, said Matthew Schettenhelm, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst who follows the sector. Perhaps more alarming to Big Tech, it could break the long-standing political logjam that has kept Congress from acting on internet legislation, opening the way to more disruptive actions such as a comprehensive data privacy law or changes in tech companies liability protection for online content, Schettenhelm said. The debate over online safety pits a House committee chairwoman and former member of GOP leadership against her partys own leaders, essentially leaving Republicans with no united path forward and decreasing the odds of a bipartisan deal. GOP Divide Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers kicked off a recent committee debate on the legislation in tears as she held up images of children who died in incidents related to social media. Wiping her nose, she recited their names, then passed around a folder with dozens more stories about children who died under similar circumstances. But then many of McMorris Rodgers Republican colleagues dismantled the Senate-passed legislation. They swapped in language that was shared only the evening before, leaving the bills supporters little time to review. Democrats described the revamped legislation as a watered down eleventh-hour push that would gut the duty of care, a key provision that would force tech companies to take responsibility for the harmful posts they recommend to children. Even with the scaled back language, Scalise and other conservative Republicans who had opposed the original version havent endorsed the revised legislation. The House left Washington Wednesday to go on break until after the November election, and theres no plan to bring the bill to the floor in the year-end lameduck session. Behind the Scenes Scalise, a Louisiana congressman with close ties to tech companies, signaled before the committee meeting he wouldnt allow a House vote on the legislation unless key provisions were changed, according to Republican congressional aides familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the record. Scalise is the second-ranking Republican leader and has broad sway over what legislation gets a House vote. The majority leader won concessions from the bills lead Republican sponsor narrowing the harms tech companies had to mitigate so that the duty only would apply to material promoting inherently dangerous acts that are likely to cause serious bodily harm, serious emotional disturbance or death. Scalise and House Speaker Mike Johnson still arent satisfied. Even with the changes made to the legislation, the Republican leaders want more concessions before they will allow a House vote, a GOP leadership aide said. The No. 2 Republican leader continues to object to creating a duty of care for material online platforms recommend to children, and also opposes giving the Federal Trade Commission power to enforce the law, according the leadership aide. Advocates say both are crucial to the bills effectiveness. Laura Marquez-Garrett, a lawyer for some of the parent advocates, casts Scalises opposition to the tougher restrictions that passed the Senate as him choosing Big Tech money over children. Lauren Fine, a Scalise spokesperson, said the House majority leader is merely trying to address legitimate concerns shared by some other Republican lawmakers, including the possibility the law could lead tech companies to curtail distribution of some conservative material. We must protect kids and create a safer environment online, so it is critical that we get this right, Fine said. We should empower parents - not the government - to protect their kids online. Fine referred questions about political donations to the lawmakers campaign. A representative for the campaign didnt respond to multiple requests for a statement. Johnson spokeswoman Athina Lawson said the speaker has been and continues to be open to working through member concerns related to the bill. The hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus has raised similar concerns, including worries of censorship of anti-abortion and other conservative material. Some left-leaning groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, and LGBTQ+ groups also have expressed concerns the legislation could lead social media companies to censor content. Pallone, the Commerce Committees top-ranking Democrat, has opposed the bill, arguing that LGBTQ+ children could lose access to helpful and even life-saving content. The New Jersey Democrat has received over $88,500 from the Google, Amazon, Meta and TechNet PACs since he joined the committee in 2015. A spokesman for Pallone said the contributions played no role in the congressmans consideration of the matter, adding Pallone has consistently fought to hold Big Tech accountable. Close Ties Scalise, a prolific fundraiser and reliable ally of business, has accumulated more political donations from the bills Big Tech opponents during his congressional career than anyone else in the current Republican House leadership, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Since 2011, Scalise has raised $198,000 from the political action committees of Amazon, Google and Meta. The money benefited his campaign, leadership PAC, and, through his joint fundraising vehicle, the National Republican Congressional Committee and other GOP House campaigns. An ambitious politician who tried and failed to win the speakership last year, Scalise has spent the past year and a half raising money for a new fundraising apparatus that could help him build support if he mounts another bid. Googles political action committee was one of the top corporate donors to his Scalise Leadership Fund, doling out $36,000 to the fund in 2024 alone, according to FEC records. Greg Maurer, a public policy director at Meta, gave the Scalise Leadership Fund $10,000 in March, while Meta public policy director Christopher Herndon gave $1,000, according to FEC records. Several of Scalises former top aides have moved directly from his staff to lucrative tech industry lobbying jobs. Matt Bravo, Scalises former director of floor operations, is now a partner at lobbying firm S-3 and one of the most active lobbyists opposing the legislation. Bravos clients include Google and tech trade group NetChoice, which have both lobbied aggressively against the online safety bill. Bravo circulated a memo to conservative lawmakers arguing online safety legislation would lead social media platforms to censor anti-abortion material, a sensitive issue on the right, said two congressional aides who viewed the correspondence. He has spent months lobbying against the legislation. Bravo did not respond to requests for comment sent by email and left on his phone voicemail. Fight Continues Time is against the bills supporters, with only three months left in the current Congress. Republican leaders have now referred the bill to the House Education Committee for more review. Before the vote in McMorris Rodgers Commerce Committee, lobbyists sent memos to lawmakers seeking to ensnare the bill in bitter social-issue fights. One memo, circulated by the Republican tech lobbyists, portrayed the bill as a wolf in sheeps clothing for the pro-life movement, claiming it would allow the FTC to crack down on anti-abortion speech online. Another letter shared by Democratic tech lobbyists said the bill could result in the government forcing social media companies to remove pro-LGBTQ+ content online. The tech companies are doing everything they can to play both sides, as they have been from the beginning, said Jon Schweppe, policy director of the American Principles Project, a conservative group that supports the measure. Issue One, an advocacy group that favors the online safety legislation, last week began running tens of thousands of dollars worth of ads in Louisiana, Scalise and Johnsons home state, urging them to pass the bill. The ad features a clip of testimony from the mother of Carson Bride, who died by suicide after being cyberbullied online. We are done with the hearings, we are done with the stories we are looking for action, she says. --With assistance from Bill Allison. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The biggest stories WCBD has covered over the last 70 years MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) There have been many firsts here in the Lowcountry; the first shots of the Civil War, the first tea plantation, the first successful submarine attack, and even the first golf club in America. WCBD News 2 may not have been around for those stories, but in the past 70 years, we have brought you the biggest stories from around the state, specifically, right here in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry. They havent all been good, and not all have been bad, but all these stories have affected our community in one way or another. After signing on in 1954, then-WUSN dealt with civil unrest. High school students filled up the lunch counter at the S.H. Kress store on King Street during the Charleston sit-ins in 1960 as part of a civil rights protest. A historical marker can be found in front of the store today. Pee Wee Gaskins was at the top of the newscast in the 1970s. He was a serial killer and rapist who killed more than a dozen people in South Carolina. We watched in 1992 as Lowcountry rapist Duncan Proctor crashed his car during a high-speed chase that left him paralyzed and with brain damage. Our station wasnt around for its opening in 1901, but WCBD was there as the Charleston Navy Base closed. Many feared at the time Charleston would not survive. In 1993, budget cuts led to the decision to close the base, and on April 1st, 1996, it officially closed. We covered royalty in Charleston. Prince Charles visited the Holy City for the second time in 1990. TV 2 was at the Charleston Airport when he arrived just months after Hurricane Hugo devastated the area. Eyes of the world watched through our lens as Shannon Faulker became the first female to attend The Citadel in 1994. She lasted only days, but since then many women have graduated from the military college. And there was pure excitement in 2000 when the location of the H.L. Hunley confederate submarine, underwater for over a hundred years, was announced. It was all hands on deck at WCBD as people from around the world watched as the Hunley, carefully suspended from a crane, was recovered and brought back through Charleston Harbor on August 8, 2000. As Charleston grew in the new millennium, we welcomed the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Construction of the bridge began in 2001, and we were live as the bridge officially opened on July 16, 2005. It was quite the spectacle. We have covered our share of tragedy over the past two decades, like the Sofa Super Store fire in June 2007 and the unfortunate task of telling viewers that nine of Charlestons bravest had died fighting the fire. Almost eight years later to the day, News 2 was in wall-to-wall coverage after nine parishioners were shot and killed inside Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston. The following days were filled with anxiety, grief, and forgiveness. Names we will never forget in our coverage at News 2. People like Walter Scott, Alex Murdaugh, George Floyd, and live coverage from the riots that broke out in downtown Charleston in May of 2020. Good or bad, the stories we bring you every day are our responsibility to educate and inform. We take it seriously and look forward to another 70 years of responsible journalism and storytelling. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Billionaire Sips Margaritas While Bragging About How AI Is Going to Kill Jobs Let Them Eat Tacos The person running the popular language learning app Duolingo isn't afraid of job automation in the age of AI. In fact, CEO and founder Luis von Ahn is willing to discuss the gloomy prospect of mass layoffs caused by the advent of AI tools while enjoying "bites of al pastor tacos and sips of a margarita," as Forbes reports. The company has already been through several waves of layoffs in 2023 and has cut off contractors tasked with coming up with alternative ways to phrase translations in January. Unsurprisingly, the changes were in large part thanks to the advent of AI. "Generative AI is accelerating our work by helping us create new content dramatically faster," von Ahn wrote in a November shareholder letter. And while a "full time employees job is very hard to automate," he told Forbes over a meal at Duolingo's Mexican restaurant, designed to have diners practice their Spanish, "we had some hourly contractors who were doing pretty rote stuff." Sorry Poor People The billionaire tech founder also had some thoughts about how AI could affect the rest of the world. "Its a tough situation that'll affect the poor, the less educated," he told Forbes. "And not just in the US, but in poor countries." Von Ahn has been staunchly pro-AI from the get-go, going as far as to say that AI could eventually make computers better teachers than people. Most recently, his company released an AI-powered video chat feature that allows users to converse with a mascot called Lily to practice their language skills. The CEO even told Forbes that he's "prepared" for eventually having to "stick our foot in our mouth" if Lily were to ever go "haywire" or "getting into, say, I dont know, some Nazi stuff," like some AI chatbots before it. Von Ahn's blind trust in the tech is symptomatic of a much greater and worrying trend, with tech leaders frothing at the mouth to replace human workers with AI. The heated debate surrounding the topic has persisted since the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022, with Goldman Sachs estimating last year that 300 million jobs could be on the chopping block. And as Von Ahn's willing to admit, those layoffs won't be coming for other billionaire founders like him any time soon. Instead, it'll be the far less privileged who are likely the first to be let go. Whether DuoLingo's all-in on AI will result in tangible benefits to its users remains to be seen. Experts doubt that AI could ever replace human tutors, with the University of Michigans Marsal Family School of Education dean Elizabeth Birr Moje telling Forbes that AI "cannot see if a student is experiencing frustration. It cannot see body language. It cannot see joy." More on AI automation: Ordinary People Are Absolutely Repulsed by AI-Powered Customer Service We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Performing Stocks in 2024. In this article, we are going to take a look at where CAVA Group Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) stands against the other great-performing stocks. Dow Breaks Record The Dow Jones Industrial Average has recently made headlines by closing above the 42,000 mark for the first time, a significant milestone that reflects a surge in investor confidence following a substantial interest rate cut by the Fed. This momentous achievement occurred on September 19, when the Dow jumped over 500 points, closing at 42,063.36. This rise was part of a broader trend in the stock market, with major indices experiencing overall gains throughout the week, largely fueled by optimism surrounding the Fed's decision to lower interest rates by 0.5%. On September 21, Edward Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, while acknowledging that the market tends to keep rising, also discussed the warning signs of a melt-up, in the context of the markets' response to the September rate cut on CNBC's Closing Bell. He doubted the necessity of such a large rate cut, suggesting that the economy is currently growing at about 3% year-over-year and could potentially grow even faster. Yardeni noted that while productivity gains are expected to be more pronounced shortly, he would have preferred to see the market stabilize for a while instead of continuing its upward trajectory. Yardeni provided his forecast for the market's potential growth. In his base case scenario, he predicted that the Dow could reach 5,800 possibly by next week. However, he also entertained an alternative scenario where the market might exceed 6,000 before experiencing a correction. Still, he does not foresee a bear market as a recession is unlikely. While discussing investment strategies, Yardeni highlighted that with small-cap and mid-cap stocks showing signs of improvement in valuations, there is an indication that investors should consider diversifying their portfolios beyond large-cap stocks. However, concerns remain regarding mid-cap earnings, which have not shown significant growth recently. Lower interest rates might eventually provide some uplift to these earnings. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee has indicated that many more rate cuts may be necessary over the next year due to signs of weakness in the manufacturing sector. CNBC's Rick Santelli, who was reporting on September 23, noted that while manufacturing has faced challenges, there are indications it might be recovering slightly, as evidenced by a recent production increase of 0.8%. He referenced comments from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who stated that the economy is experiencing strong growth and robust consumer spending, which he believed contradicted the concerns raised by Goolsbee. Santelli pointed out that the Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently at all-time highs, suggesting that market sentiment remains positive despite underlying economic weaknesses. Further discussing the economic landscape, he remarked on the currency markets, noting that the US dollar has fallen to its lowest level since March 2022. In contrast, the euro has reached its strongest level since April 2022. This shift in currency dynamics reflects broader economic trends, with Santelli suggesting that Germany's economic situation appears significantly weakened compared to its previous state. On the topic of interest rates, Santelli reported that since Tuesday's market close and following the Fed's easing on Wednesday, two-year note yields have decreased by 3 basis points, while ten-year note yields have increased by ~9 basis points. He emphasized the importance of monitoring these changes closely as they could indicate shifting investor sentiment regarding future economic conditions. While Santelli's discussion underscores a complex economic environment where mixed signals from various sectors create uncertainty, the Dow continues to hover around its record highs and investor sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. Market participants are closely monitoring economic indicators and Fed policies to capture future trends. In this context, we're here with a list of the 10 best-performing stocks in 2024. Methodology We used stock screeners to look for companies trading over $10 billion. We then selected the top 10 stocks with the best year-to-date performance and that were also the most popular among elite hedge funds. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their year-to-date performance. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). A close-up image of a colorful salad platter with toppings and dressings. CAVA Group Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) Year-to-Date Performance as of September 23: 203.23% Market Cap as of September 23: $14.85 billion Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33 CAVA Group Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) operates a category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand that operates approximately 309 fast-casual CAVA restaurants across the US, excluding two locations operating under a licensing arrangement and digital kitchens. It's known for its fresh, flavorful dishes, including customizable bowls, pita sandwiches, and salads. The company expanded its US presence with 18 new locations in the second quarter (ending Q2 with 341 restaurants), driving a 14.40% increase in overall same-store sales, and plans to open 54-57 more by the end of the year. Despite the challenges faced by many restaurant stocks, it has demonstrated strong profitability, with a 27% profit margin in the second quarter. Overall, Q2 2024 recorded $233.50 million in revenue, up 35.05% from the year-ago period. Its recent expansion into Chicago has been particularly successful, with three locations now open, contributing significantly to its overall growth. The recent launch of grilled steak has exceeded expectations and is driving sales growth. The social media campaign for this launch generated 8.6 million+ social impressions and 300 million+ PR impressions. The company offers high-quality Mediterranean cuisine at affordable prices and has differentiated itself from traditional restaurants. Analysts anticipate that the company will achieve an 18.6% increase in earnings next year, highlighting the company's strong market position and appeal to health-conscious consumers. CAVA Group Inc.'s (NYSE:CAVA) strategic focus on customer loyalty, operational efficiency, and team development positions it for continued growth and success. Next Century Growth Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter: CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) is a fast casual restaurant chain serving authentic Mediterranean cuisine, featuring customizable bowls and pitas. CAVA currently owns and operates >300 stores, and the company targets a 15% plus new store growth rate. The intermediate goal is to have 1,000 stores by 2032 with plenty of opportunity to grow beyond that level. The company already delivers solid restaurant level margins >20% and they believe 3-5% same store sales growth is achievable over time. As the business matures, they should be able to leverage G&A expense which should lead to strong earnings growth over many years. Overall CAVA ranks 4th on our list of the best performing stocks in 2024. While we acknowledge the potential of CAVA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CAVA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin took part in an address with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on gun violence. On Thursday, Woodfin was on hand at a press conference in Washington, where Biden and Harris addressed gun violence across America. Specifically, they announced a new executive order to improve active shooter drills in schools, as well as deal with the danger of machinegun conversion devices and 3D-printed guns without serial numbers for tracking. I believe the right to be safe is a civil right and that the people of America have a right, then, to live, work, worship and learn without fear of violence, including gun violence, and yet, our nation is experiencing an epidemic of gun violence, Harris said. The Biden administrations remarks come days after a mass shooting in downtown Birmingham that left four dead and 18 injured over the weekend. The shooting happened Saturday night outside the club Hush in Five Points South. Police believe the shooters, whom are believed to have used automatic-converted handguns in the shooting, had targeted several people in a possible murder-for-hire plot. As of Thursday morning, no arrest have been made in the case. If you want to talk about reducing crime and violence in America, you have to talk about guns in America, Biden said. During his speech, Woodfin spoke of his own experience with gun violence, namely the death of his brother, Ralph, in 2012 in a shooting. His nephew, also named Ralph, died in 2017 in a shooting in Tarrant. Saving lives should not be partisan. Saving lives should not be Democrat or a Republican thing. Saving lives shouldnt even be political. Saving lives is the most American thing we can do together, Woodfin said. In closing out his speech, Woodfin said he was appreciative of efforts to help curb gun violence. Today, we work to loosen the grip that gun violence has on our communities, he said. There have been over 120 homicides in Birmingham so far in 2024, set to eclipse the 135 homicides that were reported in 2023. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Birth control access fell in states with abortion bans. Its different in South Carolina, one group says. A South Carolina group says more than 88,000 women in the state accessed birth control over the past year. South Carolinas most vulnerable women are asking for and getting birth control in record numbers even in parts of the state without any doctors who specialize in womens reproductive health, according to a new report. The findings from New Morning, a nonprofit organization based in Columbia, South Carolina, that works to provide free or low-cost contraception access in the state stand in contrast to whats been happening in other states that enacted abortion restrictions after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. A study in June found a decrease in prescriptions for birth control pills and emergency contraceptives in states with the most restrictions on abortion. South Carolina has one of the countrys strictest, prohibiting abortions at six weeks of pregnancy. Many womens health centers, including abortion clinics where women had often gotten their birth control, closed after the Dobbs decision. According to New Mornings report, from July 2023 through this June, 88,281 women in South Carolina a record high accessed contraception through doctors offices and hospitals associated with the organizations training program, up from 76,561 in 2022. Most of those clinics serve uninsured and underserved populations. NBC News is the first to report the groups findings, which will be released Thursday. New Morning attributes its success, in part, to tapping the power of primary care providers who arent usually trained in providing birth control. Historically, when people think of contraceptive care, they have thought of OB/GYN providers as the primary source of that care, said Angie Olawsky, New Mornings vice president of sustainability. Much of South Carolina is rural, and because 30% of the states counties dont have a single OB/GYN, Olawsky said, we focus on primary care providers. The group is training those doctors to meet growing demands for access to birth control, which includes intrauterine devices, or IUDs. We work with a network of clinics that are based in communities across the state, said Sarah Kelley, New Mornings chief operating officer. Having clinics all over the state means that someone doesnt have to travel to a metropolitan area to get high quality, patient-centered care. Before New Morning launched in 2017, 95% of clinics in the groups network didnt offer any kind of family planning counseling or contraceptive services, Kelley said. Since then, 9,000 primary care providers have been trained to provide those services, she said. Following the Dobbs decision, women across the country have had to scramble to access birth control or search for longer-term solutions. A report in August from KFF, a nonprofit group that researches health policy issues, found that 17% of women in their childbearing years said they made changes to their family planning practices, such as starting on birth control or getting emergency contraception medications to have on hand, following states abortion bans. Nationally, people are changing the methods that they are using in the aftermath of Dobbs, said Megan Kavanaugh, head of contraceptive access research at the Guttmacher Institute, a group that supports abortion access. People seem to be shifting towards more permanent methods of contraception, such as sterilization and vasectomies. Beverly Miller, a nurse practitioner and founder of Inclusive Healthcare Center in Horry County, South Carolina, said she, too, has noticed the increase in women asking for longer-term birth control solutions, such as IUDs. Patients want to have more options, Miller said. Her clinic, which is in the New Morning network, provides primary care. More than half of Millers patients are uninsured. With the Supreme Courts restrictions on abortion, she said, patients need an alternative. They dont have that choice anymore. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com NEW CASTLE, Pa. (WKBN) While some details cant be released just yet into a fraud investigation in New Castle, the circumstances that prompted a call Wednesday to the Allegheny County Bomb Squad were laid out by police in a social media post. Earlier Wednesday, detectives with New Castle police were investigating a fraud case involving the transfer of money from a victim to an unknown actor under the guise of receiving a greater amount of money for the victim. Investigators believed the scheme had been going on for several months, with money being sent to the actor several different times. While detectives were at the victims residence, they were informed that a safe had been sent to the victim from the actor, and the victim was led to believe that there was a lot of money in the safe, but if anyone tampered with it without the correct combination, the safe would explode. An explosive-detecting K-9 was called in and gave a positive indication of the safe. At that time, the Allegheny Bomb Squad was called to help. The bomb squad technicians had police make sure that no one was in the residence or near any exterior walls, and students at the nearby Croton Administration Building/School on Fern Street were evacuated as an extra precaution, police said. The bomb squad removed the safe and took it to an open field where they used explosives to open it. No explosives were found inside. No further information about the incident was released. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. The Black Sea has a deadly naval mine problem that will long outlast the Ukraine war The Black Sea faces a long-term danger from naval mines in the Russia-Ukraine war. Ships have struck drifting mines in the last two years as Ukraine struggled to clear shipping routes. But even after the war, it's not clear how long it'll take to clear the waters. Against all odds, Ukraine has gained the initiative in the Black Sea. But a silent threat under the waves is poised to long outlast Russia's aggression: an unknown number of naval mines likely laid by both sides. Even their locations classified information to each of the warring parties have become an open question as multiple incidents indicate that some have been drifting. The issue is underscored by recent joint exercises between the US and NATO partners off the coast of Bulgaria, where it was announced that US and allied reconnaissance aircraft had spotted more than 100 mines in the Black Sea since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. At least five ships have been affected, US 6th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee said. Keeping sea lanes clear of mines is critical to Ukraine's ability to export grain in December last year, Ukraine said that a Panama-flagged bulk carrier had struck a mine, injuring two. They've also washed up on Black Sea shores well beyond Ukraine's territorial waters most recently on August 13, when Romanian authorities conducted a controlled explosion of a mine in a Danube conservation area. Today, ships are passing through Ukraine's grain corridor with relative confidence, although they remain on alert. "The threat of mines in the Black Sea still exists," Arlo Abrahamson, head of public affairs at NATO Maritime Command, told Business Insider. They pose a threat to the Black Sea's coastal dwellers and seafarers and, in enough numbers, could threaten the region's economies and grain shipments. It's unclear how many remain out there and nobody knows how long it will take to clear up. Combing the sea Landmine clearance work is slow and naval mine clearance is slower, said Steven Horrell, a former naval intelligence officer and a senior defense fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis. "It's inaccurate to say 'demining' about naval mines," he said. The relevant term at sea "mine countermeasures" is a testament to how much harder it is to ensure there's not an explosive still lurking somewhere. A warning sign about landmines outside Kyiv, Ukraine. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images On land, demining efforts focus on a single level, not particularly deep in the soil. But underwater, the search goes deep as well as wide. Also, landmines tend to stay put. Once exploded, "at some point you can have some degree of certainty you've combed over this piece of earth," as Horrell put it. But at sea, a new mine could drift into the same spot the next day, he said. Modern naval mines are generally triggered in two ways a magnetic trigger, or a pressure-sensitive one, he said. Either way, you can't move fast to remove them. Older mines can be triggered by contact with a ship's hull. "What you've got is, generally speaking, smaller ships moving slowly so that they don't trigger the mines that they're trying to find and disable, and just searching very painstakingly in repetitive patterns," he said. Mine-hunting is methodical, technical, and dangerous. Ships can also look for naval mines using sonar or magnetic detection, and helicopters and remote vehicles can also seek them out. "But it's always going to be that slow kind of an effort," Horrell said. A desperate move When Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's navy was badly outmatched. Russia's Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Moskva, prowled the waters, famously capturing Snake Island. The Moskva and Russian control of the island are now distant memories. But at the time, Ukraine's only available move was defensive. It scuttled its own flagship to prevent it falling into Russian hands. A naval mine explodes during the military exercise Sea Breeze in July 2022 in Burgas, Bulgaria. Hristo Rusev/Getty Images But while it was short on ships, it had a large stock of Soviet-era naval mines, which it drew on for defenses. Russia, too, had plenty of spare mines, and as incidents racked up all along the Black Sea's western coasts in 2022, it was soon accused of laying them. It's a cheap and very easy thing to do. "Any platform ship, boat, submarine, aircraft could be a mining platform," said Horrell. "And with varying degrees of sophistication, you could basically have a general-purpose fishing boat or work boat and just push these things off the back." It's unclear exactly how many have been laid; Estimates initially ranged in the hundreds, with Ukraine regularly accusing Russia of air-dropping more. Mines where you really don't want them In the simplest possible terms, the Black Sea's main currents run counter-clockwise and, according to Horrell, take "about three to six months for a full rotation." It means that "any naval mining, in pretty short order, becomes a risk and a threat in the entire Black Sea," he said. A map of the Black Sea with numerous arrows indicating the direction of water circulation. European Environment Agency A mine on the loose near Ukraine's major port of Odesa in the northwestern Black Sea could within weeks pass through the territorial waters of Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Which is exactly what happened. Several had been found drifting far from where a mine should be one was so close to the Bosphorus, the Turkish channel that connects the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, that the strait had to be closed. In May 2022, the International Maritime Organization sent out a warning about "a serious and immediate threat to the safety" of ships operating in the Black Sea due to free-floating mines. How they started drifting is unclear. Later, in 2023, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and a fierce winter storm both gave rise to worries that fixed mines could have become dislodged by flooding. "It's also quite plausible that Russia was adding more mines to the water in that situation," said Horrell. It's also not known for sure which types were in use, but several were reported to be contact mines anchored just below the water's surface. One such contact mine, found off the coast of Bulgaria in July 2022, was a YaM mine a Soviet-era anchor-type river mine that floats a few feet below the surface. "So was it actually floating mines that came loose due to weather conditions, or were they placed intentionally to create a threat perception?" asked Johannes Peters, head of the Center for Maritime Strategy and Security at Kiel University in Germany. "We're still not quite sure." "Most of the mines were quite old," he added. "It doesn't make them less dangerous, but we don't know the maintenance situation." Anchored mines are required in international law to have a failsafe that neutralizes the explosive if they come loose, he said but, he added, there's no way of knowing if that mechanism still works. The matter raised major fears for ships transiting Ukraine's grain corridor, which Russia openly threatened after withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in the summer of 2023. Soon after, Ukraine's armed forces accused Russia of dropping several mines onto the corridor, and in December 2023 a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship hit a mine, injuring two. This was the last major incident between a commercial ship and a stray mine, and, Peters said, the volume of naval mines in these waters is likely much smaller than initially feared. Today, the situation has stabilized; even as mines continue to wash up on beaches, exports have begun approaching pre-war levels. Sounding the alarm Nonetheless, campaigners at Greenpeace have concerns in connection to a major gas extraction project in the Black Sea. Neptun Deep is a joint project of Romanian energy companies OMV Petrom and Romgaz to build an offshore gas field in Romanian territorial waters. Analysts say that the deepwater project, due to start pumping gas in 2027, is set to turn the country into a net exporter of gas, further freeing the continent from dependence on Russian energy. An aerial view of an offshore platform operated by Romanian energy company OMV Petrom in the Black Sea. OMV Petrom But as part of broader objections to fossil fuel extraction Greenpeace said in a June 2024 report that OMV Petrom and Romgaz' impact assessment "fails to consider the risk caused by naval mines." The Greenpeace report's co-author Marc Dengler, a climate and energy expert at the campaign group, told BI last week that this is a serious omission. The main risk would be the danger to ships and workers during the construction phase, he said. "But it can also hit the platform itself and especially the pipeline," he added. The consequences to the environment would be "really, really dramatic," he said. Romgaz and OMV Petrom did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. Considering Greenpeace's concerns, Peters acknowledged that the extraction area is close to a mined war zone. But Romania's navy is well equipped at detecting and dealing with mine encounters, he said. For Horrell, the security relief brought about by reducing Europe's dependence on Russian energy outweighs concerns about mines impacting the project. "Certainly there's ecological risks to any offshore drilling, but to suggest that the risk of a floating mine vastly increasing that, is to me a stretch," he said. Tomorrow's problem Earlier this year, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania the three countries other than Ukraine most affected by the drifting mine threat banded together in a naval alliance to clear their waters. Three ships will go mine hunting at least twice every six months, Defense News reported. The Turkish, Romanian and Bulgarian defense ministers shook on the deal in January. Yasin Akgul/AFP via Getty Images The move is to be applauded, Horrell said but the "limited capacity of those three navies to do that is going to mean it would be a long time before you can have that sort of assurance." Clearing the rest of the Black Sea, including Ukraine's own waters, may have to wait until long after the war. A pair of minesweepers sold to Ukraine by the UK remain at anchor in Portsmouth. They're blocked from entering the Black Sea by Turkey's reading of the Montreux Convention, which bars warships passing through the Bosphorous in wartime. In the absence of ships like that, Horrell suggested other means, such as uncrewed mine-seeking vessels, that can pass through smaller waterways to the Black Sea. Even after hostilities end, Ukraine has learned that any peace with Russia comes with few guarantees and Ukraine may say: "'Okay, we are not in a war anymore, but we are far away from peace as well,'" said Peters. In that instance, Kyiv may decide to keep its coastal defenses in place. For Peters, no one can say exactly how long it would take to clear the waters. "It has a political dimension, it has a technical dimension, it has a capability dimension," he said. He added: "It's hard to declare that 'it is cleared.' You just can define the degree of uncertainty you want to live with." Read the original article on Business Insider Government supporters celebrate the results of last month's presidential election, in Caracas By Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Thursday for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to engage in dialogue with the opposition following Venezuela's contested election, adding that the U.S. was ready to support such a process. The U.S. and Argentina co-chaired a meeting of 31 countries on Venezuela on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, although key regional countries did not attend or sign on to a joint statement backing Blinken's call for dialogue. "We come here united in the commitment to defend the human rights of the Venezuelan people and committed to bring about an inclusive Venezuelan-led effort to restore the nation's democratic future," Blinken said. "That means insisting that Maduro engage in a direct dialogue with Venezuela's united democratic opposition that leads to a peaceful return to democracy. The United States and its partners stand fully ready to support this process." Electoral officials and the country's top court declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 election with 52% of the vote. But the opposition says voting tallies show a landslide victory for their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, who has requested asylum in Spain. Some Western governments, including the United States, have alleged electoral fraud. The Venezuelan government said later on Thursday that a statement signed by the countries at the meeting was "ridiculous" and accused the United States and its "satellite governments" of attacking the Venezuelan people. A U.N. report last week alleged escalating government repression since the election, including the arrest of minors. The government rejects the accusation. Washington has looked to Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, whose current presidents have traditionally been friendlier with Maduro, to lead diplomatic efforts since the election, but none of those countries were represented at Thursday's meeting. Brazil was invited but declined to attend, according to two Brazilian officials. Brazil wants to retain a diplomatic relationship with Maduro's government, which is in a feud with the meeting's co-chair Argentina, the officials said by way of explanation. Argentina and Venezuela have been locked in a diplomatic spat since the seizure of a Venezuelan airplane in Buenos Aires in June 2022. This week both countries launched attempts to order the arrest of the other's leader. Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino said the election in Venezuela had consequences for many countries. "There are winds, authoritarian winds, blowing in our continent, and let's hope it does not become a hurricane," she said. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis; Additional reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu, Doina Chiacu and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alistair Bell, Howard Goller and Jonathan Oatis) Ben Horan, the headmaster of Prior Park, admitted the imposition of VAT on fees had heightened the pressure for the school to remain attractive - Prior Park College A boarding school has severed its long-standing relationship with the Catholic Church to attract more families and better reflect its diverse student body. Prior Park College in Bath has changed its faith designation from Catholic to Christian, ending an almost 200-year relationship with the Catholic Church. The school, founded by Bishop Baines in 1830 as a Catholic seminary and school for boys, said the move followed a lengthy re-evaluation about how well our college reflects the students we have today. Ben Horan, the headmaster, added that many parents had expressed frustrations over the restrictive nature of being a Catholic school and the limited educational choices and outcomes that come with that. And the schools website said gay former pupils had voiced concerns over how difficult they found their education at the college both historically and relatively recently. Prior Park College, described as one of the most beautiful schools in England, was founded as a Catholic seminary Prior Park claimed it had been told it should censor student-led publications if they expressed a view contrary to Catholic teaching, and that the schools support for Pride celebrations have been criticised by some for being contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. In March, Mr Horan sent a letter to parents warning them that a new inspection framework for Catholic schools was attempting to exercise a far greater degree of control over their teaching. The Catholic Schools Inspectorate (CSI) was established in 2022 to combine the diocesan school inspectors of England and Wales into one body. It launched a rigorous new inspection framework that year to scrutinise Catholic schools teaching, writing on its website: Inspection is one of the ways the bishop acts as a good shepherd to his schools. An inspection report following the CSIs visit to Prior Park earlier this year claimed that the school must strengthen the centrality of Christ in the daily experience of students and staff. It said this would help pupils better understand the Catholic life and mission of the college. Faith on pupils own terms Mr Horan criticised the reports findings, telling parents in March that his teachers pride ourselves on not proselytising to our young people, but instead in encouraging them to engage with faith and spirituality on their own terms. The school already accepts pupils from all faith backgrounds, and fewer than one in five currently enrolled describe themselves as Catholic. Its decision to axe ties with the Catholic Church means that it will no longer face mandatory inspections by the CSI, nor will students be required to study theology at GCSE. The school said it will continue to offer Sunday Mass in its Grade I-listed chapel during term time, pray together as a school, and employ a lay chaplain. Announcing the move, Mr Horan said Prior Park had become increasingly diverse in recent years, with people from different backgrounds and sexual orientation now represented across both the student and teaching body. The relationship with the Catholic Diocese remains important to us, but as society has changed, so have the pressures put upon schools to better reflect the needs and ambitions of those they serve, he added. A statement on the schools website denied that the decision was directly linked to the CSI inspection, but added: In a world of falling church attendances, it is perhaps unsurprising that there appears to be a greater level of expectation by the Catholic Churchs hierarchy for its Catholic schools to do the job of bringing young people to the faith. Fees to rise by 10 per cent Mr Horan said a switch to a broader Christian underpinning would also help the school remain attractive as the sector is crying out for help amid increased financial pressures, including the Governments imposition of VAT, that will come into force from Jan 1 2025. The co-educational boarding school, which charges more than 40,000 annually for full boarders, will raise fees by an initial 10 per cent from January. The school said that while the decision to ditch its Catholic roots has been under consideration for many years the pressure that a tax on education brings to schools like Prior Park has undoubtedly sharpened the Colleges focus to complete the process. Mr Horan said he had already been in contact with several other Catholic schools that were asking for advice on how they might follow Prior Parks lead. It marks the latest evolution among historic private schools as they scramble to remain competitive, with many single-sex schools reportedly considering going co-educational. Sir William Perkinss School, a girls private school in Surrey, announced in June that it will be fully co-ed by 2030, starting with the phased admission of boys in Years 7 and 12 from September 2026. Melanie Duke, the schools chairwoman, said the decision followed increased demand from families to send siblings to the same school. The Catholic Schools Inspectorate was contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. TROY, Texas (FOX 44) UPDATE: The boil water notice for the City of Troy has been rescinded. The City said early Friday afternoon that water may now be consumed without the need for precautionary boiling. City water crews originally responded to a report of a major water leak on Trojan Road, near Troy High School, around 10:20 p.m. Wednesday. A six-inch water main ruptured under the roadway. The leak required crews to close isolation valves in the vicinity to maintain pressure outside the affected area. The leak and subsequent isolation of the area has caused a loss of pressure in the vicinity of the leak. The main break appears to be an isolated incident, and was not caused by construction work on West Main Street. The city said this led to a boil notice is in effect for the area generally north of Goates Road, and to the west of Interstate 35. This area included Troy ISDs Mays Elementary, Mays Middle School and Troy High School, the Turtle Creek Subdivision, Aikman Drive, Wendler Lane, N. Waco Road, Ramirez Drive, Royal Oaks Subdivision and all businesses and homes along the Interstate 35 Service Road. Any customer who experienced a loss of water pressure during this event was affected. The portion of Trojan Road between West Main Street and the entrance to the east parking lot of Troy High School was closed due to damage, which made the road unsafe. Travelers were urged to seek alternative routes to access this area of Troy High School and the Troy Independent School District Administration building. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Israel's attacks on Hezbollah targets have had terrifying effects on local civilians, who have been forced to flee place after place in search of safety. The last 10 days in Lebanon have seen 600 people killed, thousands of injured and another 90,000 displaced - essentially homeless, as they were forced from their homes. Some of those abandoning their houses told the BBC of their experiences, leaving their possessions behind and having to rely on strangers to survive. Among them is Valentine Nasser, a journalist who fled southern Lebanon with her mother and brother on Monday, when an intense bombardment made it Lebanon's deadliest day in decades. "We went to Mount Lebanon, about 30 minutes from Beirut, which is currently considered a safe zone," she said. The journey took them 15 hours because of severe traffic jams as thousands tried to get away. "We came here without anything, because the bombs were everywhere and we want to be safe as soon as possible," she added. "We are staying in a hotel that's been converted into a displaced centre and there are more than 300 people here now, with the number increasing. "We have, like, 50 people in the same room. Many people still haven't found a place to stay and some have been forced to sleep in their cars." She said local authorities were providing food and water, adding that although she had lived through periods of conflict before, this time was different. "This time is more tension, more sadness, more anger." Amani Deni is looking after relatives in the Bekaa Valley [BBC] Those in eastern Lebanon, which has seen fewer air strikes than the south, are hoping to avoid the worst of the conflict, with some volunteers providing support. Amani Deni lives in Beirut and came back to her mother's house in the Bekaa Valley a few days ago. She normally works at a charity called the International Catholic Migration Commission. She says: I have 13 relatives staying with me and my mum, they were displaced from the Baalbek area. They are all staying together in our house, which has only one bedroom and one living room. "I had to sit with the kids and say, 'We do have air strikes in this area, the Bekaa Valley too, but its safer than Baalbek where you come from.' I am also volunteering in the schools which are housing helping get them food. The situation is really hard. "Several schools in my town have refugees in them many, many people from all over Lebanon - but mainly coming from the south. "Local people, volunteers, are taking food from our houses and trying to support these people. We have been trying to talk to children, to do psychological first aid. They are panicking and we try to play with them to calm them down. "They were crying as they were hungry. Theyd had only biscuits to eat all day. Another resident of Bekaa, Omar Hayek, works with several NGOs including Medecins Sans Frontieres. He told the BBC there was no sense of safety in the region and people were unsure of what was going to happen next. "In the Bekaa area, we don't have many exits," he said. "If you want to flee, you can flee to Syria, and the question is, is Syria a safe place for us? These questions come up in people's minds, and you feel like you're lost." Spanish authorities recently announced the arrests of five people accused of scamming two women out of $350K by pretending to be Brad Pitt online. In a recently released statement, authorities revealed the suspects had contacted the two women through Pitts fan page to take money from them. Meanwhile, the women thought they were communicating with the actor. Brad Pitt scam: Imposters arrested after duping women online The Spanish authorities announced that three arrests were made last November and two in July. According to The New York Times, Spains Ministry of the Interiors statement on September 23 revealed more details about the accuseds method of scamming the women. They posed as Brad Pitt and contacted the two women via a fan page dedicated to the actor. The authorities revealed how the scammers exchanged emails and messages with the victims, who believed them to be Brad Pitt. The statement read the five people made these women believe they had become so close to the well-known American actor. Furthermore, the two fans were misled into believing they had developed a romantic relationship with Pitt. The scammers had also asked the women for money. The victims continued to believe the scammers, while the imposters successfully managed to swindle huge amounts. According to The New York Times, one woman from northern Spain sent around $168,000 in a slew of money transfers. Meanwhile, another woman, who lives in Granada, sent about $175,500. Variety reported that $94,000 has been recovered from the investigation currently. Addressing the situation, Pitts publicist Matthew Hiltzik, sent a message to The New York Times. Hiltzik said, Its awful that scammers take advantage of fans strong connection with celebrities. But this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence. Meanwhile, the five suspects face multiple charges related to fraud and money laundering. Their names havent been announced yet. Brad Pit doesnt have any official social media accounts. The actor has been busy promoting his upcoming crime comedy Wolfs, which will start streaming on Apple TV+ on Friday. The movie, which also stars George Clooney, premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 1. The post How Brad Pitt Imposters Scammed 3 Women Out of $350K via Fan Page appeared first on Mandatory. Republican Mike Braun weighed in on some of the most contentious statehouse battles in his wide-ranging health care proposal. (Nathan Gotsch/Fort Wayne Politics) Republican candidate for governor Mike Braun released a six-prong health care plan on Thursday, providing an advance copy to the Indiana Capital Chronicle that outlined the sitting U.S. senators priorities for the Hoosier State many of which expand upon previous General Assembly proposals. In contrast to Gov. Eric Holcomb, who largely stayed out of ongoing legislative negotiations, Braun firmly put his thumb on the scale in favor of one perspective over another across several contentious, ongoing discussions from the regulation of pharmacy benefit managers to prohibiting noncompete clauses for health care workers. The politician has relied heavily on his health care expertise throughout the race to succeed the term-limited Holcomb, repeatedly highlighting his own experience as the owner of southern Indianas Meyer Distributing and his work on the federal level. As a Main Street Entrepreneur who took on rising healthcare costs in my own business, I know firsthand that the high cost of healthcare is a glaring weakness when it comes to attracting new companies and new residents, along with the burden on hardworking Hoosiers and business owners, Braun said in the release. Solutions such as transparency, innovation, competition, and empowering consumers are not hard to figure out, and I will provide the leadership required to deliver solutions to lower the cost of healthcare for Hoosiers. The six pillars of the plan quality, cost, transparency, access, wellness and competition explicitly build upon the work of the General Assembly, which has set a firm foundation for more ambitious work, according to an accompanying white paper. As with prior proposals, Brauns plan is supported by research from the conservative Hoosiers for Opportunity, Prosperity & Enterprise (HOPE), Inc., a nonprofit arm of the campaign based in Terre Haute. The plan didnt include any fiscal analysis and will need to get buy-in from the same lawmakers who failed to pass similar proposals. Braun will face Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater in the general election and the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. Wading into ongoing Statehouse discussions The HOPE document starts by characterizing the states health care prices as robbing Hoosiers paychecks through rising insurance premiums, lofty prescription drug costs (and) staggering hospital bills. Earlier this year, the National Healthcare Price Transparency Conference unveiled a study that ranked Indianas hospital prices eighth-highest in the nation just before honoring Braun for his health care legislation at the federal level. One of the groups behind the conference, the Employers Forum of Indiana, has been a vocal critic of hospitals at the state level and pushed for several pieces of legislation to curb high prices by adding hospital regulations. Notably, at least one major hospital CEO supported Brauns opponent in the Republican primary and encouraged his peers to do the same. The HOPE white paper takes this employer perspective further, adding that the high cost of health care not only puts a strain on families, but also on employers who are looking to relocate to the state or expand their footprint. For every advantage Indianas business-friendly tax environment gives it over its peers, the state suffers an equal or greater disadvantage from high health care costs, the paper said. Braun would push for more data sharing during insurance negotiations as well as allowing employers and other group health plan sponsors to access, audit and review their claims encounter data. Insurers have resisted sharing this information, saying its a trade secret. The plan goes into heated debates from previous legislative sessions, including the prohibition of noncompete clauses at non-profit hospitals though the Federal Trade Commission already attempted to ban such agreements at the for-profit level and now faces a legal challenge. A previous proposal that would have banned noncompete agreements in the health care sector was ultimately limited to just primary care doctors following pushback. The document suggested increasing regulations for pharmacy benefit managers, who negotiate drug prices between manufacturers, insurers and distributors like pharmacies. In practice, these middlemen between pharmacies and drug manufacturers have only driven up the cost of prescription drugs, the paper said a position similar to one struck by the Federal Trade Commission, which recently announced it would be pursuing legal action against the nations three biggest PBMs. But lawmakers have struggled to take action on PBMs and restrict rebate spending, instead requiring the entities to register with the state and instructing the Department of Insurance to collect claims data. Additionally, efforts to reform prior authorization at the state level have hit repeated roadblocks, but Braun advocated for prohibiting insurers from rescinding prior authorization and would require denials be made by medical professionals with similar credentialing as the requesting physician. Other long-standing issues such as expedited credentialing for doctors, medical licensing reciprocity, site neutral pricing and credits for health reimbursement arrangements are also frequent priorities for lawmakers that have encountered lobbying opposition at the statehouse. Under the plan, the Indiana Graduate Medical Education fund would be required to prioritize rural training placements for obstetricians to address coverage gaps, among other provisions to reduce ongoing physician shortages. Repeated public testimony has concluded that monopolization and consolidation have driven up Indianas health care prices, which Braun proposes combatting by incentivizing new primary care facilities through a revolving fund under the Indiana Finance Authority. The fund would be established by leveraging Indiana Economic Development Corporation dollars, though that process wasnt immediately clear. Other pro-competition tenets include strengthening the states anti-trust laws by requiring all private equity mergers and acquisitions in the health care industry to have the Attorney Generals seal of approval. The office would also be able to block certain merger actions. Currently, the office can only review and request information about such consolidation in deals valued at $10 million or more. Medicaid provisions Part of Brauns plan would require Medicaid enrollees consult with a primary care physician before accessing an emergency room in non-emergency cases while incentivizing commercial health plans to do the same. Emergency rooms are one of the most expensive forms of health care. This would also require Medicaid enrollees to have better access to primary care doctors. Fewer doctors participate in Medicaid because of low reimbursement rates. To reverse this, the State should allow Medicaid patients to access program dollars to support a direct primary care practice relationship, the paper concluded. Such work would be accompanied by health literacy materials emphasizing the importance of primary care for Medicaid beneficiaries as well as the general public. Reducing Medicaid costs which are paid for by the state and federal government will be a key discussion in the 2025 budget-writing session in which lawmakers will have to draft a long-term funding plan for the entitlement program, which is the fastest-growing portion of the states budget. Other Medicaid provisions, scattered across several of the plans pillars, include: Allowing Medicaid to reimburse providers for continuum of care services across separate facilities Setting clear metrics to assess quality of care and patient outcomes under PathWays for Aging, a managed care program that launched in July, alongside better transparency and accountability safeguards Independent audits for Medicaid claims (as well as audits for claims under the State Employee Health Plan) Expanding telehealth for Medicaid enrollees Lastly, Braun aims to empower the Attorney Generals Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to partner with the Family and Social Services Administration to investigate alleged overpayments, duplicative claims or other suspicious billing under Medicaid. This comes on the heels of a whistleblower suit alleging that the agency overlooked $700 million in misspent funds. MBFI-Braun-Healthcare-OnePager SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In this piece, Im evaluating two electric utility stocks: Constellation Energy (CEG) and Vistra Energy (VST). A closer look supports a neutral view for Constellation Energy and a bearish view for Vistra Energy. Constellation Energy is the largest U.S. producer of carbon-free energy and provides sustainable solutions to homes, businesses, and public-sector customers in the continental U.S. On the other hand, Vistra Energy produces electricity via natural gas and coal in addition to its nuclear and solar facilities. Vistra serves commercial, residential, municipal, and industrial customers in the U.S. Shares of Constellation Energy have soared 119% year to date, including an 18% gain over the last three months. Meanwhile, Vistra Energy stock has skyrocketed 182% year to date. Both these stocks have delivered excellent performance for shareholders lately. After Vistras much-larger one-year rally, it has opened up a sizable valuation gap versus Constellation Energy. Ill compare these two companies in examining their valuations and their risk profiles. The valuation of the energy industry as a whole is much lower than the P/Es were seeing for CEG and VST. An industry comparison is less helpful in this case. A Closer Look At Constellation Energy (CEG) Constellation Energy shares soared 25% to a record high on September 20 after it announced plans to reopen its Unit 1 nuclear plant on Three Mile Island. The nuclear plant will provide electricity for Microsofts data centers, and this should translate into big bucks for Constellation. The reopening is part of a 20-year deal that should help the software giant slash its carbon footprint. In a presentation, Constellation told investors it expects the Microsoft contract to boost its annual base earnings per share growth rate from 10% to 13% from 2024 to 2030. That seems like small compensation for the 25% higher share price, suggesting to me that CEG stock looks too pricey for new investors right now. A potential risk is that Constellation hasnt yet applied for any of the permits to reopen the facility, which was closed back in 2019 due to economic reasons. Furthermore, Constellation doesnt even expect the permitting process to be finished until 2027 if it receives the necessary reopening permits at all. According to Reuters, no U.S. nuclear power plant has ever been reopened after being shut down, so the whole venture seems unprecedented. While the Microsoft deal was a shot in the arm, Constellation Energy stock is now in overbought territory with a Relative Strength Indicator of about 80. Thus, a downside correction could be right around the corner, which might then present opportunistic investors with a buy-the-dip opportunity, mitigate some of the risk of the project. Story continues At a P/E of 34x, Constellation Energy is trading at a sizable discount to Vistra Energy, however. I still believe that a neutral view is appropriate at this time given the run-up in shares, along with the implementation risks for rebooting the old nuclear plant. Constellation Energy already operates the largest fleet of nuclear plants in the United States. What is the Price Target for CEG stock? Constellation Energy has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 10 Buys, two Holds, and zero Sell ratings assigned over the last three months. At $261.75, the average Constellation Energy stock price target approximates the most recent trading value for CEG stock. A Closer Look At Vistra Energy (VST) At a P/E of 87x, Vistra Energy is trading at a sizable premium to Constellation Energy despite its involvement in natural gas and coal. The companys transition from coal to cleaner energy sources is a huge positive, and the stock has soared thus far in 2024. In my view, however, its simply overvalued at current levels, opening the prospect for a bearish view. Just like Constellation, Vistra stock jumped to a new record high this past week and is now in overbought territory with a Relative Strength Index of 81. Here too a correction certainly seems quite possible, especially considering how expensive the stock is. Vistra Energys valuation has been quite volatile over the past five years. The company wasnt even profitable in 2022 or 2021 and has now generated net income of $648 million in the last 12 months on ~$14 billion in revenue. Thats a fairly slim net income margin of 4.6%. Vistas uneven quarterly results may be excusable due to the companys ongoing transition from coal to clean energy sources. According to its 2023 sustainability report, Vistra is making progress on that transition, having achieved a 9% reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions year over year. The company also states that it has a clear path to hitting its reduction target for 2030. However, this transition also means Vistra Energy faces more broad-based risks than Constellation Energy, which doesnt burn any coal, although it does burn oil according to its 2024 ESG factsheet. Nuclear energy is far more reliable than solar power, and Vistra seems focused on adding nuclear capacity through acquisitions of nuclear plants. In 2023, Vistra acquired three nuclear facilities. Of course, such acquisitions require a significant amount of capital investment. What is the Price Target for VST stock? Vistra Energy has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on six Buys, zero Holds, and zero Sell ratings assigned over the last three months. However, the recent jump in the share price has vaulted the stock above the average VST stock price target of $108.17. Investors may wish to monitor any price target changes from analysts who cover VST. Conclusion: Neutral on CEG, Bearish on VST A quick glance at TipRanks News page for Constellation Energy reveals multiple price target increases, verses a smaller number for Vistra. Both companies face their share of risks, although Vistras risks are arguably more broad-based due to its transition away from coal and expansion of solar energy. On the other hand, Constellation faces a unique risk in attempting to recommission the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. Constellation looks like the better stock holding at this point, although I have a neutral rating. CEG stock looks like the better buy than VST on any pullback. Disclosure NEW YORK (PIX11) Attorney J.C. Polanco joins PIX11 to discuss the possibility of more members of the Adams administration being indicted and how quickly legal proceedings could move against Mayor Adams as hes in office. Watch the video player for the full interview. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. UK steelmaking is among the industries most affected by high electricity costs - Monty Rakusen/Getty British companies are paying the highest electricity prices of anywhere in the developed world, official data has shown. The cost of power for industrial businesses has jumped 124pc in just five years, according to the Governments figures, catapulting the UK to the top of international league tables. It is now about 50pc more expensive than in Germany and France, and four times as expensive as in the US. The figures will fuel concerns about the future of UK industry amid warnings that high energy prices are crippling domestic manufacturers. They underline the challenge facing Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, who wants industrial businesses to switch away from gas to electricity-powered processes. Frank Aaskov, the director of energy at lobby group UK Steel, said: High industrial electricity prices have for too long damaged the competitiveness of UK steelmaking, and many in the wider manufacturing sector will be feeling the same pressure our steel companies do. The Government should tackle steep electricity costs and make the UK a fruitful place to invest, while enabling growth and improving competitiveness. The electricity price paid by UK industrial users per kilowatt hour rose to 25.85p in 2023, the data show. That compares to 10.43p as recently as five years earlier and 8.89p a decade ago. It also far outstripped European rivals and allies such as the US and Canada. The equivalent price was 17.84p in France, 17.71p in Germany and 6.48p in the US. Across all the 31 member countries of the International Energy Agency, which collates the data, the median price was 17.70p per kilowatt hour, with Britains price higher than any other country. It comes after paper and packaging giant DS Smith told The Telegraph that high power prices risked becoming a barrier to investment, while steel producers including Tata, the owner of Port Talbot have warned ministers they must deliver more competitive prices. Yet many manufacturers are being encouraged to ditch industrial processes that use fossil fuels such as natural gas and switch over to electricity, as part of efforts to reach net zero carbon emissions. For example, Tata is in the process of closing its last blast furnace and transitioning to an electric arc furnace. Meanwhile, heavily polluting businesses must pay for any carbon emissions that exceed a legally allowed threshold. Despite this, a report by UK Steel this month described the electricity price as a barrier to growth, competitiveness and profitability. Successive governments have attempted to bring down Britains power costs, with the Conservatives most recently introducing the supercharger discount for energy-intensive businesses such as steel producers and glass makers. The supercharger strips out the majority of network costs and green levies. However, even after this huge discount UK Steel said power remained roughly twice as expensive as in Germany. It blamed the disparity on the UKs electricity generation mix being more dependent on gas, with high natural gas prices pushing up UK power prices. The UK generated 33.7pc of its power using gas in 2023, compared to 17.1pc in Germany and just 5.9pc in nuclear-dominated France. In the UK, wind was in second, generating 28.7pc. But the wholesale price of electricity is set by the most expensive method needed to meet demand. Because renewables such as wind and solar currently do not meet this demand on their own, it almost always tracks the price of gas. For example, on late Thursday afternoon, gas was still being burned to generate 20pc of Britains power, while 35.6pc and 10.7pc were generated by wind and solar respectively. Against this backdrop, the Government has previously considered trying to decouple gas from the electricity price so that companies could instead pay a lower rate linked to renewables. But in a consultation published in March on reforms to the electricity market, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said it had dropped the proposal. It said this was on the basis that they would not deliver benefits for consumers and fail in our assessment against our criteria of deliverability and investor confidence. A Government spokesman said: We are already bringing energy costs for UK industries closer in line with other major economies through the British Industry Supercharger. This fully exempts eligible firms from certain costs linked to renewable energy policies, particularly those exposed to the high cost of electricity. Our mission is for clean power by 2030 because clean, homegrown energy is the best way to protect billpayers and boost Britains energy independence, with improving infrastructure at the heart of this mission. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. FILE PHOTO: A woman attends an event in Windrush Square to show solidarity with the Windrush generation in the Brixton district of London By Catarina Demony LONDON (Reuters) - Britains wrongful detention and deportation of Caribbean migrants was the result of decades of racist immigration laws designed to reduce the countrys non-white population, a long-withheld official report showed on Thursday. Known as the Windrush scandal, the revelations of the mistreatment of thousands of Caribbean people damaged the authority of former British prime minister Theresa May, who had led efforts to tackle illegal immigration when she led the interior ministry, or Home Office. Hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Caribbean came to Britain between 1948 and 1971 on ships such as the Empire Windrush to fill labour shortages in post-war Britain. In 2018, Britain had to apologise for its treatment of the "Windrush generation", after a tightening of immigration policy meant thousands were denied basic rights despite having lived in Britain for decades and dozens were wrongly deported. Britain's previous Conservative government in 2022 refused to publish the "The Historical Roots of the Windrush Scandal" report, rejecting requests under the Freedom of Information Act. The report, now released by the newly elected Labour government, found that between 1950 and 1981 "every single piece" of immigration or citizenship legislation was designed at least in part to reduce the number of Black people allowed to live and work in Britain. "Major immigration legislation in 1962, 1968 and 1971 was designed to reduce the proportion of people living in the UK who did not have white skin," the report said, describing the Windrush scandal as "deep-rooted racism". The research, commissioned by the Home Office in response to a government review of the scandal published in 2020, draws on hundreds of files at the country's National Archives, oral history interviews and hundreds of conversations with Home Office staff. The report, which doesn't make any recommendations, also concluded the lives of Black people and other ethnic minorities in Britain were "profoundly shaped" by the British empire. Britain said in 2018 it would compensate some Caribbean immigrants affected by the scandal. "Gradually, the politics of race and immigration became intertwined," the report said. "Even when slavery was finally abolished in 1833, the belief that Black people were either not entitled to or else incapable of equal status with white people within the British Empire remained intact." (Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Sharon Singleton) The memorial in Westminster Abbey was installed in 1939 [PA] A memorial to the Bronte sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne has had diaereses added above the letter "e" of the authors' surname, 85 years after it was unveiled. The rectangular stone tablet is in Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey, where writers including Shakespeare, Dickens and Austen are commemorated. The inscriptions were installed in 1939 as a tribute to the novelists, who were born in Bradford and raised in the village of Haworth. The omission of the diaereses - two dots which indicate the pronunciation of the name - was spotted by historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Bronte Society Gazette, who raised the issue with the Dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle. Dr Hoyle asked the abbey's stonemason to add the dots and its conservator to paint them. Ms Wright, who went to Poets' Corner for a research trip, said the missing diaereses "really troubled" her as the names of the Bronte sisters were spelled incorrectly. "They didn't have the correct punctuation on the "e" so it sounded more like "Bront" not "Bronte"," she said. The Bronte name evolved from their father Patricks Irish surname of Prunty or Brunty when he entered St John's College, Cambridge, in 1802. A letter in the abbey archive from Donald Hopewell, president of the Bronte Society, to the Dean of Westminster, dated 1 May 1939, gave clear instructions for the wording of the memorial, which included the diaereses - but they were never incorporated. Conservator Lucy Ackland painted the dots above the "e" [PA] Ms Wright said: "I am immensely proud that the correct, unique and immortal name of Charlotte, Emily and Anne is finally complete in Poets Corner. "It is a Bronte story with a happy and timely ending." Dr Hoyle added: "I am grateful to have this omission pointed out and now put right. "Memory is not a locked cupboard, but an active thing and the Bronte Society have given us a glimpse of their commitment to a lively remembering." Rebecca Yorke, director of the Bronte Society, said she was "absolutely thrilled". "As the Brontes and their work are loved and respected all over the world, its entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial," she said. "Im sure that everyone at the Bronte Society and the Bronte Parsonage Museum, as well as Bronte enthusiasts across the world, will be very excited to learn about this new episode in the enduring story of Charlotte, Emily and Anne." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. More stories like this Related internet links NEW YORK (PIX11) A Latina from the Bronx is advocating for thousands of small businesses in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Marlene Cintron never imagined she would be responsible for about $7 billion in small business capital each year. She said her focus is empowering the historically underserved, especially Latinas. More Local News Cintron said poverty was a big part of her story growing up in the South Bronx to Puerto Rican parents. Through hard work and determination, Cintron gives money to more than 20,000 small businesses as a regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. From humble beginnings, Cintron was the first in her family to go to college and went to law school at Georgetown. She rose through the ranks of business, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2020. Cintrons agency has helped create 60,000 new jobs this year alone. Most days Cintron is out in the community. Her passion is fighting for female minority-owned businesses and celebrating the greatness of other trailblazing Latinas such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez. One of her proudest achievements is her work in the Bronx where she has helped businesses, attracting more than $9 billion in private equity to the borough. Cintron still lives in the South Bronx and says the best is yet to come. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A public works director for the City of Brooklyn Park was arrested earlier this month in Atlanta, Georgia, on suspicion of sexual assault. Daniel Ruiz, of St. Paul, is facing potential charges of rape, aggravated sodomy, battery, and false imprisonment for an incident that allegedly occurred on Sept. 8. A warrant alleges he held a woman in a room at the Club Wyndham Atlanta Hotel against her will. When she attempted to escape, he pulled her back into the room and assaulted her, only allowing her to leave once he was finished. The warrant claims that the victim had visible injuries to her wrists after the assault due to being pinned down. Unsplash Ruiz was arrested the same day and released on Sept. 17 after posting $80,000 in bail. A city spokesperson confirmed to Bring Me The News that Ruiz remains a city employee, and is currently on family and medical leave. "The City of Brooklyn Park is aware of the incident involving Operations and Maintenance Director Dan Ruiz," the spokesperson said. "Mr. Ruiz is currently on FMLA leave. City leadership is reviewing whether any city policies apply relative to this incident." Ruiz has been an employee with the city since 2002, and was made permanent public works director in 2014. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. BRYAN, Texas (FOX 44) A verbal threat from a Bryan student to another student has resulted in an arrest. Bryan Independent School District administration, along with Bryan Police Department School Resource Officers, responded at approximately 11:23 a.m. Thursday regarding to a verbal threat made by a student regarding shooting another student. This incident took place at the District Alternative Education Program High School (DAEP). Police say the verbal threat was overheard by a school administrator, and was immediately reported and addressed. During the investigation, it was determined no firearm was displayed or found. It was also determined there was no threat to the school, students or staff. Man accused of driving drunk with bus full of students The juvenile student was placed under arrest and transported to the Brazos County Juvenile Detention Center and booked in for Texas Education Code 37.125 Exhibition, Use or Threat of Exhibition or Use of Firearms. Due to the arrest involving a juvenile, no further information was released. The Bryan Police Department and Bryan Independent School District are asking for parents to speak to their children and remind them of the seriousness of making threats towards the schools, students or staff. The Bryan Police Department will continue to thoroughly investigate all of these cases to protect students and staff. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Updated at 9 a.m. ET on Sept. 26, 2024 We are just in phase 1 of a historic hurricane event. Hurricane Helene is intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico as it heads toward landfall on the northeastern Florida coast tonight. The storm is in the top 5 of the largest modern Category 3 or stronger hurricanes on record in the vicinity of Florida. Large-diameter hurricanes produce higher storm surges. The entire Gulf Coast of Florida will be affected. Some coastal flooding is already underway. The Gulf water level along Florida's west coast will continue to increase during the day. Follow local instructions so you aren't trapped. The science that predicts storm-surge heights so people have time to get out is very exact. Don't take a chance. Helene is starting out as a very large storm. The strong winds extend over 300 miles from the center, which more than covers the state of Florida. Tropical Storm Warnings for winds over 40 mph with gusts in many locations over 75 mph are in effect for all of the Florida Peninsula and north into the Carolinas, Georgia, eastern Tennessee, and part of Alabama. Through the day today, Helene will pass over a super high-energy pool of water that is expected to help the system intensify rapidly. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Helene to reach high-end Category 3 or Category 4 strength this afternoon as it heads for the coast south or southeast of Tallahassee. If Helene comes ashore as a Category 3 or 4 as forecast, it will be the strongest hurricane to make landfall on that part of the Florida coast in more than 150 years. There was a devastating hurricane that impacted the Big Bend of Florida and Tallahassee in 1842. Nothing since then has come ashore as a Category 3 or higher in that area. Hurricane Idalia hit farther south last year, of course, and mostly missed Florida's capital city. The Gulf water will be pushed up to 20 feet above normal high tide on the coast south of Tallahassee around to Cedar Key. A little farther south in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, up to 8 feet of storm surge is possible if the peak of the push from Helene's winds occurs at high tide. It is critical that everyone near any waterway that opens to the Gulf from Panama City around the coast and south to Southwest Florida knows what the storm surge forecast is for their area and reacts according to emergency management instructions. People died unnecessarily in Hurricane Ian because they weren't aware of the storm surge threat for where they lived. Let's not let that happen again. Seek out information and instructions from your local officials. They will have analyzed the threat and have a plan to keep everybody safe. There's no way to know exactly where Helene's outer bands will set up, but over the entire Florida Peninsula, winds will be gusty enough today to knock out power. In addition, in the areas under repeated tropical downpours, local flooding is possible. Keep everything charged and be aware of where you park your car. Find high ground and don't park under a tree. Phase 2 of the storm will be this evening when Helene makes landfall. Based on everything we know, damage will be widespread around Tallahassee east and west and far north into Georgia. These are heavily treed communities that will not handle extreme winds. Power could be out for weeks. In the Panhandle, action can still be taken this morning to be ready for what's coming tonight. Have a stockpile of food and water in case you get trapped at home. Know where you'll ride out the storm. An interior closet, hallway, or bathroom is usually the safest space. Get a mattress off the bed and have it ready for protection if the worst happens and your home starts coming apart. Stay away from windows. Along the coast south and southwest of Tallahassee, the storm surge will be unsurvivable. No one should stay anywhere near any waterway that feeds into the Gulf, even well away from the coast. In the Tampa Bay area, including St. Pete Beach and the barrier islands, the storm surge is forecast to reach up to 8 feet above normal in some part of that zone. It's imperative that everybody follow the instructions of emergency management immediately, so they are in place when the storm surge is likely to peak later today. See the map with the storm-surge forecasts below. Phase 3 of this catastrophic event will occur on Friday as the storm races into Georgia and stalls over the mid-South or the Midwest. A tremendous amount of tropical moisture will stream north. Life-threatening flash flooding is forecast for a large area from northeast Georgia across the upstate of South Carolina, western North Carolina and surrounding states. This is an extremely dangerous situation. In metropolitan Atlanta, the winds could be strong enough to knock out power to millions of people. The exact track of the center of the storm on Friday is somewhat uncertain, of course. But if it tracks just west of Atlanta, as is currently forecast, hurricane-strength wind gusts could impact most of North Georgia. Now is the time to prepare for an extended period without power. Charge your devices. Store water in case the city's system fails. If this storm tracks as forecast, it will have a bigger impact on metropolitan Atlanta than Hurricane Opal in 1995, which was devastating. The potential impacts from Helene are so widespread that it's impossible to cover them in one post. Be sure you know what the National Weather Service is forecasting for your particular area. Life-threatening hazards are likely across the Florida Peninsula through large parts of the Southeast and into the mid-South and Midwest. The weather pattern that's driving Helene north is very unusual. A large upper-level low-pressure system is centered over western Tennessee and Arkansas with a strong counterclockwise flow around it. A high-pressure system is over the Atlantic off the Southeast Coast. In between, there is a well-defined corridor to the north, which is where Helene will track. Once Helene tracks through Georgia, it will be captured and eventually absorbed by the upper low. The combination of the energy and the moisture coming north with Helene and the energy in the upper low will create extreme weather conditions across a large area. The result is expected to be life-threatening floods, extreme winds, and tornadoes, especially east of the track of Helene's center. The threat extends across the Southeast all the way to the coast. Today is impact day in Florida. Tomorrow is impact day farther north. Everybody in the affected areas should stay aware and stay informed. This is a highly unusual and, in some areas, an unprecedented event. Be ready and stay safe. Original article source: Bryan Norcross: Major impacts in Florida from Hurricane Helene ahead of catastrophic landfall tonight Bryant students joining others across US finding themselves in handcuffs after making school threats BRYANT, Ark. When they are 10 and 11 years old, most children in school are learning the basics of fractions, decimals and place values. For five students in Bryant, though, fifth grade isnt another year of adolescence but rather a time when they are facing adult problems with real consequences. The five students were arrested Friday for making a threat against Parkway Elementary. Ever since those arrests, social media pages have been flooded with comments about their ages and the crimes they are accused of committing. All five students are between the ages of 10 and 11 years old and are now facing charges of communicating a false alarm, terroristic threatening, harassing communications, and threatening to commit acts of mass violence on school property. Police: 5 Bryant elementary students arrested over threats Those charges may sound serious, but John DiPippa, dean emeritus at Bowen School of Law, said the response by local school officials and police is a sign of the times. I think everybody agrees that given the current climate, even if (its) an elementary school kid who makes a threat about shooting up a school, a school ought to be taken seriously and there ought to be some consequences, DiPippa said. Some people may be shocked about elementary students facing charges, but these arrests arent as uncommon as most may think. Teen arrested in connection with threat against Greenbrier Junior High School According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, in the 2023-2024 school year there were 55 similar charges filed against minors in central Arkansas. The year before there were 44, and in 2021 there were 29 charges filed. I think its a sign of the times that schools and police departments want to take these things seriously and want to get ahead, DiPippa said. These arrests seem to be a part of a push being made across the country. Just this week, a 10-year-old was arrested in Kerrville, Texas, for making a threat to their school. There have been charges filed in St. Louis, Virginia, and Houston. In Florida, the Volusia County Sheriff is posting perp walks and photos of minors online. One student shown was just 11 years old. Police arrest juvenile accused in social media threat made against Russellville Junior High School Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin released a statement to FOX 16 Investigates in regards to the elementary students arrested in Bryant. It is uncommon for children to be arrested and charged at such a young age, but I think the gravity of these students actions require law enforcement officials to take this seriously, Griffin wrote. Posting threats against schools online isnt a joke. That sentiment echoes the one shared by officials with the Bryant Police Department at the time of the arrests when authorities warned that there are significant consequences for making threats, even if students claim they are joking. Its essential for everyone to understand that making threats is not just disruptive but also illegal and can lead to serious legal consequences, the department stated in a social media post. Once again we are strongly encouraging parents to talk to their children about the seriousness of making threats. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a safe educational environment. Little Rock police arrest 13-year-old student in connection with threat against eStem Middle School If convicted as a juvenile, the five Bryant students could face electronic monitoring, house arrest or a sentence in juvenile detention. According to the Bryant School District Elementary handbook, students who make threats of mass violence such as bomb threats or shootings could face a possible 10-day suspension with a recommendation for expulsion for the remainder of the school year and/or following semester or permanently. As of Wednesday, there has been no new information on the investigation or case against the students released by the school district. Due to the age of the students and the fact that they are being tried as juveniles, court records for the case are not publicly available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo man is facing a murder charge, accused of murdering his wife with an axe last month, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said Thursday. Antonio Prieto, 46, is accused of murdering his wife, 29-year-old Elibeth Salazar, at their apartment on the 300 block of Rhode Island Street in the early morning hours of Aug. 26. She was found on the floor of a bedroom. Prosecutors said police found Prieto in the bathroom with self-inflicted knife wounds. He was transported to ECMC, where he was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison. He remains held without bail and will return to court on Oct. 28. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. By Nell Mackenzie LONDON (Reuters) - Hedge funds trading China stocks saw gains this week after China's central bank unveiled its biggest stimulus since the 2020 COVID pandemic, a note from Goldman Sachs prime brokerage showed. China stock picking hedge funds have posted a 1.7% return so far this week to Wednesday, bringing the funds' September performance to 3.2% and year-to-date returns up to an estimated 7.5%, Goldman Sachs said in a note sent to clients on Wednesday and seen by Reuters on Thursday. After the policy easing measures announced on Tuesday, Goldman Sachs' prime brokerage saw its largest single day buying spree since March 2021, and the second highest on record, said the bank. Hedge funds mostly bought single stocks across several sectors including consumer products, industrials, tech and materials, the bank note said. Though hedge fund stock exposure to China this week jumped sharply, it's still below historical records and hovering near five-year lows compared with higher levels at the start of 2023 and 2020, bank data showed. China-focused hedge funds have struggled in recent years, as growth prospects in the world's No.2 economy dimmed. August economic data broadly missed expectations, adding urgency for policymakers to roll out more support. Investment banks including Goldman Sachs, UBS and Bank of America recently cut their 2024 China growth forecasts. Hedge fund investors in a recent Bank of America survey said their allocations to China-focused hedge funds were down, including in the United States where allocators surveyed said their China focused hedge fund investments fell as much as 15% this year. On Tuesday, hedge funds trading stocks in the wider Asia region also posted a 1.1% uptick, bringing their monthly performance to 2.4% and their year to date returns to 9.3%, said the Goldman Sachs note from Wednesday. In August, hedge funds trading stocks in the wider Asia region returned a negative 0.4% but were still up 9.2% for the year, said another note by Goldman Sachs, released earlier this month. (Reporting by Nell Mackenzie; Editing by Sharon Singleton) The German parliament has agreed to allocate an additional 400 million for military support to Ukraine. Source: German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit, as reported by European Pravda Details: He said that on Wednesday, the Bundestag agreed to increase funding for military support for Ukraine by about 400 million euros. Quote: "This will allow the purchase of additional air defence equipment, tanks, drones, ammunition and spare parts, which will effectively strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the defence of their country," Hebestreit said. In mid-September, it was reported that despite the difficult budget situation, the German government wants to provide an additional 400 million in military aid to Ukraine this year. Background: Earlier, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius expressed hope that the federal government would allocate additional money for the supply of weapons to Ukraine. These funds are in addition to the 7.5 billion already allocated in the German budget for Ukraine this year. In the summer, German media reported that the current budget planning of the German federal government did not provide additional funds for the support of Ukraine, and additional applications of the Ministry of Defence of Germany regarding military aid for Ukraine would no longer be approved on the chancellors demand. At the same time, the German government denied its intention to shorten the military assistance for Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! First Alert Neighborhood Weather Network. Scan below &/or click * here *: Talking the Tropics With Mike - click * here * - updated everyday during the hurricane season - through Nov. 30th... multiple times per day when the tropics are especially active. Helene is making headlines as the hurricane moves across the Southern then Eastern Gulf of Mexico up to a landfall on the Eastern Panhandle not far from the Big Bend in Fl. If a Cat. 3 or stronger, Helene would be the 5th major hurricane landfall on the coast of Florida during the last 10 years - all since 2017 (Irma, Michael, Ian & Idalia). The USGS deployed wave sensors along the Florida coastline prior to Helenes hit: Tampa, FL Ahead of Hurricane Helene, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey are deploying 13 wave sensors today in Florida between Venice and Panama City. Potential impacts from Helene include danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend, as well as devastating hurricane-force winds across portions of northern Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. The sensors will measure water levels and give insight on factors such as wave height and frequency, storm tide and storm surge. The sensors will be in place from before Helene arrives until the storm departs, and at that time, scientists will retrieve the instruments and analyze collected data. The resulting information can be used to fine-tune future storm surge and coastal change forecasts. The sensor data can help identify areas hit the hardest by storm surge and guide emergency responders and local officials with recovery efforts. Insight can also help inform flood insurance maps and building codes to improve structural designs for public safety. Studying Helene and other storms gives real-world insight thats valuable in helping with community preparedness, said Kevin Grimsley, who is part of this deployment effort and the associate center director for data with the USGS Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center. Wave sensors capture data at a very high frequency, so we are able to receive extremely detailed and comprehensive records. The wave sensors are housed in vented aluminum pipes a few inches wide and about a foot long. They are being installed on bridges, piers, and other structures that have a good chance of surviving the storm. Post storm data - primarily west coast of Florida - will be able to be found * here * once available. Below - Laura Lapolice, USGS Hydrologic Technician, attaches a storm tide sensor to the Carolina Beach Fishing Pier in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, September 3. This is one of hundreds of sensors that were deployed along the coast from Florida to southern Virginia to monitor coastal impacts from Hurricane Dorian. Photo by Jon Willis, USGS. Sad news in the local Jacksonville media world as long time radio announcer & DJ Arthur Crofton passed away at 72. I worked with Arthur in a professional way at times... at local benefits... & I worked quite extensively with Arthur in the nonprofit sector. Rest in Peace & may Arthurs precious family find comfort & serenity. (Reuters) -The head of Sudan's army said on Thursday that he supported efforts to bring an end to a devastating war in his country as long as they brought an end to the "occupation" of territory by the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In an address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan also said countries in the region were providing funding, weapons and mercenaries to the RSF, though he did not name any country. "We in Sudan's government are ready to engage in any initiative that ends this war whenever this initiative supports national ownership of the solution and ends the occupation by the rebel militia of various regions," Burhan said, in reference to the RSF. He said the army-backed government would not accept participation of any country that supported the RSF in a peace process, and that any such process must include the RSF laying down its arms and a comprehensive political settlement. "We are proceeding to defeat and dislodge these aggressors, no matter how much assistance and support they find," he said. Burhan's comments came after the army launched a push on Thursday to regain ground in Sudan's capital Khartoum with heavy artillery fire and air strikes. The army spurned U.S.-led talks in Switzerland last month aimed at improving humanitarian access and charting a course towards a ceasefire in Sudan. The army objected to the involvement in the talks of the United Arab Emirates, which has provided material support to the RSF, according to reports that U.N. experts say are credible. The UAE has denied sending weapons to the RSF. In his address on Thursday, Burhan also said the army-backed government was doing what it could to make sure those in need received relief. Aid workers have said that the government and the army have often held up humanitarian aid, while the RSF has looted aid supplies. (Reporting by Aidan Lewis and Khalid Abdelaziz; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Jonathan Oatis) Matt Cardy/Getty Images Child influencers in California have gained legal protections after Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 764, making California the third state in the country to protect the monetary gains of child influencers. Gov. Newsom was joined by Teen Vogue cover star Demi Lovato, who just released a documentary called Child Star on the pressures of being a child actor, at the signing. SB 764, which was introduced in December of 2023, dictates that content creators who feature minor children in at least 30% of their content must set aside a proportionate percentage of the earnings from that content to be held in a trust account until the child is 18. In order to build a better future for the next generation of child stars, we need to put protections in place for minors working in the digital space," Lovato said in a press release about the bill, noting the law "will ensure children featured on social media are granted agency when they come of age and are properly compensated for the use of their name and likeness. The bills sponsor, Sen. Steve Padilla, tells Teen Vogue that the bill is modeled after the states landmark Coogan Law, which was put into effect in 1939 to protect the earnings of child actors. Protecting children from all forms of exploitation and abuse is one of our highest callings in government, but our laws have not always kept up with emerging technology, Sen. Padilla says. In the early 20th century, California took action to protect child actors from financial abuse, with SB 764 now made into law, we expand Californias landmark labor protections to 21st century performers as well. With the signing of this bill, California joins Illinois and Minnesota as the only states in the country to have protections for influencer children. To read more about Lovatos experience with child stardom, check out our profile here. Before the bill was passed, Padilla told Teen Vogue that it was long past time that we put some framework in place to look out for [child influencers] finances and prevent them from being exploited." Jackie Coogan, who inspired Coogan's Law, worked through his childhood and upon reaching adulthood, realized he didnt have access to any of the money he had worked for as a child star because those earnings solely belonged to the parents of minor children. Coogan went on to sue his mother and former manager and the Coogan Law was put into effect. Though child influencers may find themselves doing similar work as child actors do, they had previously been left largely unprotected legally. This story was first published in December 2023 when the bill was first introduced, and has since been updated. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges, sources confirmed Wednesday night, sparking new demands for his resignation. Adams released a statement Wednesday night, calling himself a target and insisting he is innocent. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said. The mayor has been under federal investigation related to fundraising during his 2021 mayoral campaign. The charges against Adams are still sealed. More Local News Following the announcement, city officials urged the mayor to resign. Mayor Adams, like all New Yorkers, deserves due process, the presumption of innocence, and his day in court. However, it is clear that defending himself against serious federal charges will require a significant amount of the time and attention needed to govern this great city, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said. The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can get the full focus its leadership demands. Who takes over as NYC mayor if Adams steps down? Former Comptroller Scott Stringer, who has explored the possibility of running, also released a statement calling on Adams to resign. There is simply zero chance that the wheels of government will move forward from this full steam head. Instead, we are left with a broken-down trainwreck of a municipal government, he said. Its a sad day for New York City when a sitting mayor is indicted on federal charges. While he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, there is no way he can effectively lead with this cloud hanging over him. With the challenges our city faces, he must step down for the good of New Yorkers, Council Member Robert Holden wrote in a statement. Mayor Adams has already proven himself unfit and unable to lead from City Hall. He will absolutely be unable to lead from inside a courtroom. He must resign, wrote Council Member Shekar Krishnan. State Senator John Liu: The people of New York City, however, need a mayor who is able to devote full time and full energy to putting the city on the right track, including recruitment and retention of top leadership for the City. Mayor Adams is simply unable to do that for the foreseeable future and therefore, for the good of all New Yorkers, must resign immediately. State Senator Gustavo Rivera voiced his support for Jumaane Williams to take over if Adams resigned. We have crossed a threshold the mayor cannot continue to govern. Eric Adams must resign. Im confident that Jumaane Williams is ready to fulfill his duties and address a gap in trustworthy leadership. I wish him good health as he must undoubtedly be preparing for a necessary transition. Earlier Wednesday, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams resignation for the good of the city. Ocasio-Cortez explained her stance saying, Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. When California announced the states popular PPO health insurance plans would be changing administrators from Anthem Blue Cross to Blue Shield of California and Included Health in 2025, Cassandra Riera was hopeful. She had positive experiences with Blue Shield previously. Before open enrollment, Riera tried to obtain a document that would confirm whether Blue Shield would honor an existing agreement that helps pay for specialized therapy for her daughter. Earlier this month, she was told that the document outlining coverage for the PPO plans wasnt yet complete. The missing document made Riera nervous about the change and what it could mean for her family. I havent even picked (my plan) yet, Riera said. Whats it going to be like once Im actually having to have a health plan administered? The California Public Employees Retirement System said the document Riera was trying to track down would be published on its website on Friday, a little over two weeks before the open enrollment period ends. Earlier this summer, CalPERS announced Blue Shield and Included Health would administer the state workers and retirees basic and Medicare PPO plans. The change, CalPERS said, will lower healthcare costs and improve members quality of insurance. The switch will take place on Jan. 1. The State Worker Bee newsletter is back! Sign up here to get our weekly newsletter for California employees. With the addition of Included Health and their personalized care services, detailing the coordination of services with Blue Shield of California for the (Evidence of Coverage) and other publications/materials took extra time, said James Scullary, assistant division chief of CalPERS Office of Public affairs. We regret the inconvenience. The change comes as the PPO plans reserves have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years due to the increased medical cost and higher utilization rates. The change also means that some members could be forced to switch doctors. Paul Markovich, CEO of Blue Shield of California, told the CalPERS board members earlier this month that they hoped to minimize issues during the transition. Of the roughly 400,000 members that could be impacted by the change in administrators, he said Blue Shield was hoping only 3,000 would have to change primary care physicians in January. Weighing the options For the last 14 years, Rieras daughter has received a special form of therapy that helps people with autism, like her daughter, communicate and become more independent, such as helping make sure that she can navigate from school to the after school program. In southern California, where Riera lives, the demand for providers of Applied Behavior Analysis outnumbers the available providers, so Riera could only find an out-of-network therapist for her daughters ongoing sessions. Under her current Platinum PPO health insurance plan Riera has through CalPERS, she worked out an agreement in which her insurer Anthem pays 90% of the allowable amount that they would pay to an in-network provider for the therapy. Riera picks up the rest of the bill. The specialized form of therapy is immensely helpful for her daughter, Riera said, but also costly. She estimated those out-of-pocket costs have ranged from $1,000 to $3,000 a month. Before open enrollment began this month, Riera wanted to read through the Evidence of Coverage document for the Platinum PPO plan, which she hopes to continue in 2025. When Riera contacted Included Health, a company contracted by the state to assist with navigating the complexities of the health insurance world, earlier in September to get a copy of the Evidence of Coverage, a representative told her the crucial document was not available. On Tuesday, CalPERS said the documents are in the final stages of review and are expected to be available online by the end of the week. The Evidence of Coverage would be public on CalPERS website by this Friday, the agency said, along with other documents relevant to the PPO plans. Theres a reason open enrollment is as long as it is, Riera said. I have to evaluate a lot of pros and cons, and look at the language and determine what plan can best meet my daughters needs. A shrinking checking account The states PPO plans are different from the HMO plans offered in that they are self-funded, which means the state is responsible for most of the medical costs incurred by members subscribed to those plans that exceed the premiums paid by California and its employees. In recent years, the state has paid hundreds of millions of dollars for the medical services used by PPO members, which has left the plans fund balance significantly below the level of reserves CalPERS aims to maintain. Between 2021 and 2023, the health care fund balance of the states basic PPO plans shrank from $520 million to $67 million. The actuarial prudent level for these plans is $732 million, CalPERS said. In 2021, CalPERS consolidated its three PPO plans into two plans but the agency said that had no impact on the shrinking fund balance. Susan Pantely, a principal and consulting actuary with the consulting firm Milliman, likened fund balances to a checking account, with medical claims acting as expenses and premiums serving as revenue. If I dont have enough in the fund balance to have those reserves, if its negative my checking account is overdrawn, Pantely said. The more negative I get, the more I keep digging myself into that hole. The fund balance isnt negative, as of December 2023 when CalPERS reported the most recent numbers. Pantely noted that the fund balances rate of decline has slowed in the last year. The numbers are concerning, said Garen Corbett, director of the California Health Benefits Review Program, which provides the Legislature with independent analysis of health insurance-related legislation. Corbett said the decrease in the fund balance wasnt surprising, given theres a lot of pressures in healthcare right now. CalPERS said some of those pressures included increased costs for medical supplies and labor. The agency also noted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on deferred care. Members put off seeing the doctor during the initial years of the pandemic, but in the following years utilization rates spiked due to the pent-up demand for health care. Corbett also pointed to the increased use of high-cost specialty drugs, such as the diabetes and weight-loss medication Ozempic, as a contributor to high medical claims. The PPO plans remain strong, with sufficient assets to provide care for members, CalPERS said. The fund balance is reserved for emergency situations, such as a global pandemic. To replenish the fund balance, CalPERS approved a premium surcharge of 4-5% to the PPO plans beginning in 2023. The agency expected the surcharge would continue for the next few years. Additionally, in an April report on the fund balance, CalPERS noted that it was looking to save money in the next pharmacy benefit manager contract. CalPERS also noted that new contracts with Blue Shield and Included Health contain financial incentives to help lower costs. The contracts set a medical trend cost target of 5.5%, with the goal of decreasing the target to 3% by 2029. Blue Shield and Included Health will put $464 million at-risk as part of the five-year contract to ensure the goals are met, CalPERS announced earlier this year. If they werent successful in four or five years from now, I would be more alarmed, Corbett said. (Bloomberg) -- Canadas industry minister says ongoing challenges to adopt an artificial intelligence framework do not look good for the country. The law may never even see the light of day if Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus minority government falls sooner than expected. Most Read from Bloomberg The government tabled an act that aims to regulate AI about two years ago. The legislation known as Bill C-27 is in limbo after opposition parties started a filibuster to delay its adoption, according to the minister. Its a bit embarrassing, said Francois-Philippe Champagne, as Canada has world-class leaders in AI research and yet is unable to adopt a regulatory framework because of political wrangling. Champagne was speaking alongside European Unions antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager at an event in Montreal on Wednesday. In March, the European Parliament passed the worlds first AI Act, which will come into full force in 2027. If we want to move from fear to opportunity, you need to build trust, said Champagne over concerns regarding AIs potential to cause harm to society. The way to build trust is through regulation. The core of the proposed Canadian framework is focused on the use of high-impact AI systems, such as screening systems dedicated to employment or systems that can influence human behavior at scale, which could produce discriminatory outcomes or impact peoples safety. Businesses would be required to implement measures to mitigate such risks and non-compliance could result in monetary penalties, prosecution of regulatory offenses and criminal offenses. The bill has been stuck since April 2023 in a parliamentary committee, where lawmakers have held extensive hearings. The problem is that the AI framework is only one part of Bill C-27, which also includes changes to consumer privacy protection and the creation of a new personal information and data protection tribunal. Over a hundred amendments have been submitted, slowing down the whole process. The opposition Conservatives have accused the Liberal government of seeking to censor the internet with the law. In an emailed statement, Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman said the Liberals have no one to blame for the delay but themselves. The Liberals are playing games, delaying their own broken draconian bill and blaming others for taking the needed time to fix it, she said. Common Sense Conservatives will continue to stand up for Canadians privacy rights. Some had already speculated the legislation may not pass before a scheduled October 2025 election, but a recent decision by the New Democratic Party to pull out of a power-sharing deal with Trudeaus Liberals means a national vote will likely happen sooner adding more urgency. AI pioneer and scientific director of Mila-Quebec AI Institute Yoshua Bengio said in an emailed statement that Canadian politicians must grasp the urgent need for an adaptive national regulatory framework as soon as possible. Giant technology firms such as Amazon has engaged in intense back-door lobbying against the bill, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named to discuss private conversations. The company pointed out by email that it has testified publicly on the bill and its meetings with officials are recorded on the lobbyist registry. Amazon Web Services director of global artificial intelligence and Canada public policy, Nicole Foster, told a parliamentary committee meeting earlier this year the definition of high-impact was still too ambiguous. Trying to regulate all applications with the same approach is very impractical and can inadvertently stifle innovation, she said. Champagnes comments come as Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a working lunch on artificial intelligence in Montreal on Thursday, potentially casting a brighter international spotlight on the sluggish pace of Canadas legislation. Despite political adversity and protest from big technology companies, EUs representative Vestager said in an interview that she hopes Canada will pass a bill soon to start building a worldwide network that will make us all so much stronger. Vestager added that these AI frameworks should not aim to have big tech on board, because when big tech ask for regulation, its never the regulation that we come up with. (Adds comments from Conservatives, Amazon starting in paragraph nine.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. To help inform voters about the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible. Name: Martin Moore District/seat: NC Court of Appeals seat 15 Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 36 Campaign website: www.MartinForJudge.com Current occupation: Buncombe County Commissioner and Appellate Attorney Professional experience: Assistant Public Defender - Buncombe County Office of the Public Defender; Associate Attorney - Van Winkle, Buck, Wall, Starnes, & Davis | Current: Attorney - The Law Office of Martin E. Moore, PLLC; County Commissioner (District 2) - Buncombe County Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; UNC School of Law Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Buncombe County - Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (former Chair); Early Childhood Education Committee (Chair), A-B Tech Joint Capital Committee (Chair) What areas of the law do you have experience in, as a judge or attorney? Criminal, civil litigation, appellate, government/public interest, insurance, labor/employment, intellectual property. What would be your top priority if elected? My top priority would be working toward a Court of Appeals that will assure equal justice for all. What is your judicial philosophy? My judicial philosophy will be to focus on rule of law and to commit to keeping an open mind, focusing on integrity and transparency in my decision-making. Appellate courts often have to consider weighty constitutional issues with widespread public interest. How do you approach legal issues that have strong partisan divides? The people of NC deserve judges who are willing to recognize what the Constitution requires, remain objective, and fairly reflect the values of the people. Inevitably, when a case puts the Constitution in conflict with unconstitutional extremism, there will be partisan division. In those cases, being transparent in our decision-making and demonstrating a strong record of serving with integrity become key in maintaining public trust. The NC Code of Judicial Conduct has not been updated since 2020. Do you think any changes to the code or its enforcement are necessary? As an appellate attorney and elected official, I believe that we have seen unprecedented changes in the role the courts play in our daily lives. While the North Carolina Supreme Court is responsible for the Code of Judicial Conduct, I see value in routinely refining the code and its processes to require the highest level of integrity, fairness and nonpartisan enforcement. The code should be a clear, apolitical set of rules that apply to judges regardless of political party or affiliation. Public opinion polls show that Americans trust in the U.S. Supreme Court is near an all-time low. What should be done in NC to increase/maintain confidence in our states appellate courts? Trust is earned through well-reasoned, transparent, and fair rulings. I believe it is critical that our courts demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and focus on assuring that extremism and partisanship do not make their way into their opinions. Under the Dome Get the latest news about North Carolina politics from The News & Observer's award-winning team. Get the free digest sent to your inbox by signing up here. Canfield hosts Day of Champions for students with special needs CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) It was an exciting day for everyone at Canfields Bob Dove Field on Thursday as students hosted the Day of Champions. Other students with special abilities from around the region were there. There were a wide variety of activities to enjoy, including running through the tunnel and onto the field. People were invited to sit in the stands to cheer everyone on. The event is designed to bring people together. Its not only to give our students with special abilities an opportunity to experience something new, but also the typical peers that are here from the high school, said Canfield Superintendent Joe Knoll. Its an opportunity for our students to participate in different school activities that they wouldnt maybe not have an opportunity to participate in, and it gives them a chance to be like every other high school student, said Gina Simsek, principal at Leonard Kirtz School. Over 150 students and teachers took part in the event. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Post-harvest employees at BeLeaf Medicals Sinse facility await union election results on Feb. 6 at the St. Louis Public Library Barr branch (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent). Its been more than seven months since employees of St. Louis-based Beleaf Medical cannabis company held an election to unionize. The majority of the ballots 11 of the 16 have remained closed. Its been quite a while, said Will Braddum, a post-harvest technician at the companys Sinse facility in St. Louis. Were just like, what is happening? Why is this happening? Were just kind of in the dark waiting. The reason behind the delay is likely that Braddum and his fellow post-harvest team members exist in a gray area in national labor law which could change if their union drive is successful. Not long after Braddum and other employees filed their union petition last September, the company argued before the National Labor Relations Board that the employees arent manufacturer workers theyre agricultural workers. And agricultural workers dont have the right to unionize under the countrys labor laws. But Braddum and his fellow employees along with the regional director of the NLRB believe theyre more like workers at tobacco processing plants, who courts repeatedly have found arent agricultural workers. Ive never touched a living plant at work, Braddum said, who is organizing with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 655. The company has taken this fight all the way up to the national five-member board, asking them to set a national precedent on whether employees who process the dried marijuana plants have the right to unionize. And thats likely why its taken so long for the regional director of the NLRB who twice sided with the employees to open the ballots, said St. Louis labor attorney George Suggs. If this is a unique situation, theres no reason for [the regional director] to get out front by opening those ballots, Suggs said. Ultimately, the board will resolve it. But that doesnt mean the fight would be over, Suggs said. If the national board sides with the employees, then the company will likely refuse to bargain in order to land the decision in a federal court. Employers have this ability to string out the results of a campaign, especially among businesses where theres lots of employee turnover, Suggs said. By the time theres a resolution a couple years down the road, he said, union support has eroded. Thats the tactic, Suggs said. Thats what employers have been doing over the 40-plus years that Ive been practicing labor law. A long fight ahead Over the seven months of waiting, employees have noticed changes in their job descriptions that likely improve the companys position in the case. It just seems like theyre trying to push our jobs more and more in the direction of quote unquote farmers, said Ahmad Jxggy Haynes, a post-harvest technician at BeLeaf Medicals Sinse facility. He said the company has hired temp workers to do the manufacturing work, including packaging, that he and other the union members were doing before. The company began hiring temps right after the employees filed a petition to form a union in September 2023, according to a recording of a recent staff meeting led by a company human resources representative and obtained by The Independent . At the meeting, the HR representative said Beleaf has burned through 150 temporary employees since October. He told the temps they shouldnt expect to be hired on full time anytime soon, but they should still feel part of the team. Twice so far this year, NLRB Regional Director Andrea Wilkes who oversees a swath of six states in the Midwest has ruled that post-harvest employees work is similar to that of employees in a tobacco processing plant. Removing the veins from tobacco leaves and fermenting the leaves has been held to be outside the definition of agriculture, under federal labor law, Wilkes wrote in her Jan. 25 ruling. The companys response to her decision indicates that union employees likely have a long fight ahead of them. According to a Feb. 13 letter from Beleafs attorney to Wilkes, the company plans on fighting their employees unionization efforts all the way to federal court. Although we understand and respect the Boards recent decision on this issue, we are preserving this issue for presentation to the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, the letter states. The company can get into court by refusing to bargain with the union, creating a technical violation, Suggs said. That will lead to filing a petition for review in a federal court, Suggs said, so they can challenge the underlying issue in this case whether these are agricultural workers in front of a bunch of federal judges. Thats become a bigger problem, particularly in the Eighth Circuit, Suggs said, because youve got a number of very conservative judges who are kind of hostile to the labor movement generally. Sean Shannon, lead organizer with UFCW Local 655, said its obvious this has been the companys plan all along. They clearly stated their intention to bring this as far as the 8th Circuit Court which is several steps into the fight in their original statement, Shannon said of the companys February letter. I feel nothing but clear intent to obstruct this union at all costs, which ironically proves just how much these folks need a union. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Rae Wee Asian markets rallied on Thursday, defying weakness overnight on Wall Street as optimism over China's latest stimulus measures got a fresh boost from news of a possible capital injection into its top banks. Authorities are considering a $142 billion infusion to help big lenders, Bloomberg News reported, just two days after policymakers announced a series of measures intended to pull the country out of its deflationary funk. While the latest moves point to a sense of urgency among the authorities as Beijing's 5% economic growth target for the year starts to slip out of sight, investors saw reason to cheer. After months of seemingly futile waiting by the markets, Chinese authorities finally appear to be waking up to the idea that a lot more needs to be done to get the world's second-largest economy back on track. China's blue-chip index reversed early losses to trade higher after the latest news report, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose about 2%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan scaled a more than two-year peak. That set the tone for a strong opening in Europe, with futures posting solid gains during the Asian session. China aside, the day was already shaping up to be a busy one for global markets with a rate decision by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) due alongside a series of speeches by Federal Reserve and European Central Bank officials. The SNB is expected to ease rates by 25 basis points, marking its third straight meeting of cuts. Needless to say, the focus will be on policymakers' guidance on their respective rate outlooks, with those at the ECB likely to maintain a less hawkish posture on rate cuts compared with their U.S. counterparts. Key developments that could influence markets on Thursday: - Swiss National Bank rate decision - Speeches by Fed, ECB policymakers - U.S. weekly jobless claims (By Rae Wee; Editing by Edmund Klamann) Only days after arriving at university for the first time, Jordan Andrews had an interview for a part-time job, knowing that he would have to work in order to enjoy the social side of student life. The 18-year-old from Carmarthenshire worked out that his maintenance loan would not cover more than the bare minimum while studying at the University of Sussex. Students from Wales have access to more support with living costs than counterparts from elsewhere in the UK, but website Save the Student said in general students are surviving not thriving. Young people starting their courses are being urged to seek out discounts and bursaries and ask for advice if they are struggling financially. There will be times where other flatmates and people I know can go out, but I simply cannot afford it until I find work," said Jordan, from Burry Port. He is looking for bar work, and has already had one interview, with another lined up. Jordan is worried he will not be able to make the most of his first few weeks of student life, and has calculated rent for his accommodation just outside Brighton will take up 50% to 60% of his loan. Text books for his law and politics course will also take a big chunk of his budget, and he has stopped buying coffees while out-and-about. It's a very little thing, but it seems to stack up, he added. Students' unions and universities publicise money advice services to freshers during the week of term [BBC] For all Welsh students, there is a minimum maintenance grant of 1,000, and depending on household income, it rises to a maximum of 8,100 if you are living away from home outside London. It can be topped up with a loan so that the overall level of support for students outside London reaches 12,150 and up to 15,170 in London. Though this is more than English students can claim, the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) said it falls short of the costs which it estimates to be 18,632 a year outside London to have a minimum acceptable standard of living. Support for Welsh students covered 65% of this - which was more than students from other parts of the UK - but it still left a gap, the think-tank said. Universities Wales said the pressure of living costs was being felt in university communities everywhere and institutions were "working proactively to help students who are struggling with financial hardship". Results of an annual student money survey suggested that 67% of students across the UK skipped meals sometimes to save money. Save the Students communications director Tom Allingham said they were also cutting back on going out. At the same time families are struggling so students are requiring more support than ever before, at the exact time that for many families, they're less able than ever before to give that financial support to their children". What university help is available? Details on contacting universities student money advisers are on their websites. Most have hardship funds and many offer freebies. Swansea University said it had seen a 2.5% increase in applications for its hardship fund this year compared to the same time in 2023. Last year it was up 10% on the previous year. It has introduced a one-off accommodation payment of 750 in response to rising rental costs. At Cardiff Metropolitan University, the maximum hardship fund award has gone up to 2,000 to recognise increased costs. There is a "Come dine with Met" campaign to help build knowledge and skills around eating cheaply and healthily, and awareness-raising sessions to respond to increased exposure to the risks of gambling and cryptocurrency. Cardiff University Students Union officer Catrin Edith Parry urged new students to contact the union money adviser or the university if they find they are struggling with money. "We do our scheme called Feed your Flat - that gives people the opportunity to come here and get five free items of food and essentials for their home", she adds. Freshers Amelie and Ellis, 18, intend looking for part-time jobs while studying at Cardiff University [BBC] How can students find part-time work? Many universities now provide information on finding part-time work on their websites or even hold part-time jobs fairs. Universities sometimes hire students to help with events and open days. A survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that just under half of Welsh students who responded undertook paid employment which was below the UK average. But those who did work, did so on average for 16 hours a week - higher than the UK figure, and at a level which could start having an impact on their studies. Jordan Andrews plans to work 12 to 16 hours a week behind a bar - Its something easy, I can do on the side, he said. How else can students save money? There are several big, well-known student discount providers, but Tom Allingham from Save the Student said it is worth asking in smaller shops or restaurants, particularly in student-heavy areas. By asking, the absolute worst thing that can happen is they say 'no, sorry, we don't do a student discount', and the best thing that can happen is that you get 10, 20, 30, whatever percent, off your bill," he said. Another tip from Save the Student is to explore the hundreds of bursaries, grants and scholarships offered by businesses, charities and local authorities. Tens of millions of pounds go unclaimed every year, says Tom Allingham. He also said that choosing the right bank account, with a good-sized 0% overdraft facility, is crucial. Is university worth it? The proportion of Welsh 18-year-olds applying to university in 2023-24 fell further below the UK average [BBC] Recent graduate Famke Veenstra-Ashmore has been researching why fewer Welsh 18-year-olds applied to university this year for the Higher Education Policy Institute. There could be a number of factors at play, said the 22-year old from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, but costs could be putting some people off. Lots of students are having to socialise less, going out less, having to spend less time doing what would be viewed as traditional university experiences," she said. Having studied for an undergraduate and postgraduate degree, Famke has a student debt of over 50,000 and can understand why some young people look at other options. But the negatives are outweighed for her by the opportunity to meet people from across the world and engage with the subject that they love". I think university is definitely worth it in terms of the experience that you get out of it," she added. More on this story Caravan travels through UMass in recognition of disability as an identity AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) UMass Amherst celebrated disability as an identity at their Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice event Wednesday morning. Police investigating reports of Peeping Tom at UMass Amherst The caravan traveled through key locations on campus featuring a variety of activities including speeches from disability advocates, info booths, and interactive sessions. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about ongoing initiatives and how they can contribute to creating more inclusive environments. 22News spoke with the Executive Director for Disability Action Center Northwest about the non-profits goal when reaching out to the community. Most significantly right now, of course, were wanting to get out the disability vote, said Mark Leeper. Encouraging people, whoever you vote for, get out, and vote. Thats part of the power we have as Americans. Students, faculty, staff, and community members joined in solidarity as they advocated for meaningful change and celebrated the achievements of individuals with disabilities. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The 14 million Americans who care for a chronically ill or injured veteran face challenges such as financial insecurity, stress and a lack of support that warrant attention by advocacy groups and the federal government, a new report has found. Roughly 5.5% of the U.S. adult population provides daily care and medical support for a veteran, services worth an estimated $199 billion to $485 billion annually, according to the report "America's Military and Veteran Caregivers: Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows," which was released Tuesday. The research, conducted by Rand Corp.'s Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute, found that about three-fourths of veteran caregivers supported a loved one age 60 or older, with the remainder caring for younger veterans below age 60. Read Next: Army Delays Bonus Pay for Deployed Soldiers But the caregivers of the younger veterans appear to be shouldering a particularly heavy burden, sacrificing careers to take care of their veterans, taking on the lion's share of parenting children, or supporting aging parents while also caregiving. According to the report, about half those caring for a younger veteran had not seen a doctor in the past year, and 42% met the criteria for depression. Roughly 20% said they had considered suicide in the past year. When asked why they hadn't sought mental health treatment or care for themselves, "they simply didn't have the time," said Rajeev Ramchand, a behavioral scientist and co-director of the Rand Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute. "This was very surprising for us because we were expecting to see what we heard ... among those over age 60 where they reported cost concerns as the primary barrier to care," Ramchand said during a presentation on the report Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Military and veterans caregivers reported spending $8,583 out of pocket each year on delivering care and forgoing $4,500 in annual income. Roughly one-third reported incomes below 130% of the federal poverty level. Approximately 50% to 70% of military and veteran caregivers said they face difficulty paying bills, and 22% to 40% reported food insecurity. "Approximately one-quarter of caregivers have experienced work disruptions, which may cause economic strain for these caregivers as they forgo employment opportunities," the authors wrote. Rand based its findings on two primary sources: a 2023 survey of 2,946, including 513 military and veteran caregivers, 1,205 civilian caregivers and 1,228 non-caregivers, as well as the 2022 Rand veterans survey of 1,100 former service members. Just a fraction of the nation's veteran caregivers receive assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the report, presenting opportunities for the VA and for advocacy groups to help those bearing much of the burden alone. According to VA data, 62,570 family caregivers are enrolled in the VA's Program for Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregiving, an initiative that provides health care and financial compensation to veterans with combat injuries or related illnesses, while 25,000 receive support through the VA's Program of General Caregiver Support Services. Given the small number of those served by the VA, the Rand researchers made recommendations designed to address the needs of all the the nation's military and veterans caregivers, to include increasing family access to mental health care, expanding work opportunities for caregivers or providing compensation for caregiving, expanding home health care and promoting work environments supportive of caregivers. During a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing Wednesday on the VA's programs for caregivers, advocates and lawmakers discussed the possibilities of additional assistance, in the form of tax breaks for caregiver families, credits for Social Security for caregiving, and broader education on respite care services provided by the VA. "A tax credit ... is a really good idea. I think it should be a tax credit that we did in the Rescue Plan, which gives folks the money up front and not having to wait or be required to do their taxes," said Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif. Earlier this month, a dozen veterans organizations wrote to President Joe Biden asking him to accelerate the process for determining new eligibility criteria for the VA's Program for Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregiving, a process that is now into its second year. According to advocates, roughly 14,000 families face dismissal from the program by October 2025 depending on the final eligibility rules. During the hearing, Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., questioned why the process has taken so long. "The administration has dragged its feet on these changes, leaving thousands of caregivers in limbo," Bost said. Colleen Richardson, executive director for the VA caregiver support program, said the proposed rule is with the Office of Management and Budget and should be released sometime this fall. "When we opened this program up the first time in Oct. 1, 2020, we didn't get it quite right, and I don't want that to happen again," Richardson said. "Now that I'm leading the caregiver support program, I feel that it is my duty and obligation ... to get it right." Lawmakers pledged to consider the recommendations, and advocates said that many of the suggestions could help the more than 91 million Americans who are caregivers, in addition to the 14 million supporting a military member or veteran. "The reality is, without family caregivers, more Americans would have to rely on government programs for their care. We estimate that value of care being provided is about $600 billion a year," said AARP Kentucky State Director Troy Broussard, who testified at the hearing. "I did not need to see a study to know how bad this problem is, but America needs to see it," Wounded Warrior Project CEO and retired Army Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt said during the conference announcing the Rand report. Related: Caregivers of Veterans Spend $11,500 on Average Each Year on Expenses, New Data Shows What can a Category 3 hurricane do to Florida? Take a look as we brace for Helene As Florida prepares for a major hurricane storm to strike the Big Bend area, what kind of damage could a storm of this magnitude cause? Meteorologists monitoring Hurricane Helene expect it to become a major hurricane Thursday morning before making a Florida Panhandle landfall in the evening. Helene could bring strong winds, intense storm surge and heavy rain to a wide swath of Floridas Gulf Coast, including the Tampa Bay area. The possible Category 3 storm could bring devastating damage, according to a guide by the National Hurricane Center. A guide to hurricane categories Hurricanes are ranked on a scale from Category 1 to Category 5, with five being the strongest possible storm. Hurricanes earn their ratings based on wind speeds. A Category 3 storm, with sustained wind speeds between 111 and 129 mph, is considered a major hurricane. A Category 3, 4 or 5 is deemed a major hurricane due to the potential for significant loss of life or damage, according to the NHC. There are no Category 6 hurricanes. Any hurricane with wind speeds greater than 157 mph is still classified as a Category 5 storm. Hurricanes of all categories can produce deadly storm surge, flooding and tornadoes. What can a Category 3 hurricane do? Lori Calderone, manager of the Anna Maria Resort Motel, cleans one of the rooms with water damage after Hurricane Idalia passed, on August 31, 2023. A hurricane center guide describes the damage from a Category 3 storm as devastating, with extensive wind and flying debris capable of destroying nearly all mobile homes. Experts say mobile homes built before 1994 are especially susceptible. But the winds from a Category 3 hurricane are also powerful enough to inflict major damage on traditional homes, with winds capable of removing roof decking. Meteorologist Mark Elliot explained in a Weather Channel video that Category 3 hurricane winds can be strong enough to blow in the door of a building or rip the siding from a house. Tree damage can also be an issue during a Category 3 storm. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads, the Miami-based hurricane center says. Falling trees can take down power lines, often leading to extended power outages while utility workers are forced to wait for improved weather conditions before sending crews out for repairs. The center says Category 3 hurricanes are capable of causing electricity and water to be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes. While the winds from these storms can cause severe damage, its often the water that experts say is more worrisome. These storms often bring heavy rain, which can make roads difficult to navigate due to flooding. But life-threatening storm surge is a bigger concern, experts say. Please take our evacuation orders seriously, Manatee Countys Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske said at a Helene news conference this week. Were talking about five to eight feet of storm surge. Storm surge happens when a hurricane pushes water from the ocean up onto the shore, which can suddenly bring several feet of water above ground. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that storm surge is the most deadly part of a hurricane, with about half of the deaths attributed to hurricanes being caused by storm surge. Though hurricanes are well known for strong and destructive winds, hurricane storm surge is the greatest threat, NOAA writes in its hurricane guide. With much of the United States densely populated Atlantic and Gulf Coast coastlines less than 10 feet above mean sea level, the danger from storm surges is tremendous. Floridas other Category 3 hurricanes Hailey and Thomas McCoy with baby Riley, 2 mos., take a walk along flooded Riverview Blvd. as Hurricane Idalia approaches on August 29, 2023. An example of a Category 3 hurricane is Hurricane Wilma, which made landfall in South Florida in 2005. The storm, which the hurricane center described as massive and powerful, caused an estimated $16.9 billion in widespread damages. It also caused 10 tornadoes and killed 5 people in Florida. The year before, Hurricane Jeanne made landfall near Palma Beach and was one of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, causing over 3,000 deaths in Haiti, eight in Puerto Rico and five in the continental United States. Total property damage in the U.S. was $7.5 billion. More recently, the last Category 3 storm to make landfall in Florida was Hurricane Idalia, which also tore through the Big Bend area in 2023, flattening homes and leaving entire neighborhoods underwater. According to NOAA, the estimated damage from Idalia was $3.6 billion, with the majority of the damage impacting Floridas agriculture industry in the Big Bend region and the northern portions of the state. Experts say it was the strongest storm to hit the region in 125 years. Forecast: Helene to become major hurricane If Helene stays on its current track, it would become the third storm to hit Big Bend in a year, with Category 1 Hurricane Debby making landfall in the region in August. But no two storms are the same and there can be a variety of factors beyond a hurricanes category that determine its severity, such as the size, speed and direction of the storm. Each tropical system can bring a variety of unique, life-threatening hazards to a given location, NOAA writes in its guide. Experts also say its important not to become complacent. Even if youve previously survived a storm in your area, future hurricanes may bring different hazards, NOAA writes. Thats why NOAA urges people to know their risk level, especially if they live in a storm surge evacuation zone or an area prone to flooding. One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a storm is to follow local updates and begin preparing a hurricane plan as soon as possible. With Hurricane Helene expected to rapidly intensify before landfall, the time to gather supplies and get ready is now. Cause of fire at Athens Township vacant building under investigation ATHENS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Authorities say investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire at a vacant building in Athens Township. The Athens Township Fire Department said it happened shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday at the former Athens Auto Body near the intersection of N. Capital Avenue and Veterans Drive. The fire caused the roof to cave in, causing the building to be considered a total loss, according to the fire department. The cause of the fire is unknown. There were no reports of injuries. The fire department said the fire remains under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. CBC calls for GOP lawmaker to be censured for post attacking Haitians as thugs CBC calls for GOP lawmaker to be censured for post attacking Haitians as thugs The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on Wednesday called for Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) to be censured for a since-deleted social media post criticizing Haitian migrants as thugs. CBC Chair Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and other Democrats took to the House floor to call for a censure in an extensive and at times heated back-and-forth with Republicans. Horsford moved to force a vote on the matter within two legislative days. I hope that every member of this body understands that no person, particularly those who contribute to communities who are entrepreneurial, who give to our communities by being nurses and first responders and teachers that those individuals, those children, no longer have to live in fear or intimidation because of any words or quotes to come from members of this body, Horsford said on the House floor. Higgins got significant backlash for the social media post pushing the false narrative that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating their neighbors pets. Lol. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters but damned if they dont feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP, Higgins posted. All these thugs better get their mind right and their a out of our country before January 20th. Horsford and other members of the CBC confronted Higgins over the post on the House floor. Horsford on Wednesday moved to force a vote on his censure resolution, arguing that Higgins used official equipment of the House of Representatives to incite fear and hate, disobeying the Houses code of conduct. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) objected, noting Higgins had already deleted the post. If I need to go through all the tweets from the other side I am happy to, Scalise said over the sound of Democrats booing. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters that Higgins said he regretted the post. He was approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive, Johnson said. He said he went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down, Johnson continued. Im sure he probably regrets some of the language he used. But you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around him. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), meanwhile, characterized Higginss remarks as disgusting and dangerous and suggested that House GOP leaders should strip the Louisiana Republican of his seat on the bipartisan taskforce investigating the attempted assassination of former President Trump. Its questionable as to why someone so irresponsible like Clay Higgins could be put on a serious taskforce that is investigating the work of the Secret Service in terms of protecting candidates for the presidency, and current office-holders, Jeffries told reporters just off the House floor. Perhaps thats something that House Republican leadership should reevaluate. Jeffries also left open the possibility that the Ethics Committee might investigate the episode, though he stopped short of calling for such a probe immediately. That remains to be seen, he said. Higgins did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment. The narrative around Haitian migrants was first pushed by former President Trumps running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio). Trump repeated the false claim during the presidential debate. City officials have dismissed the allegations, but schools as well as city hall have faced more than 30 bomb threats since Springfield has been thrust into the national spotlight. Mychael Schnell and Mike Lillis contributed to this article. Updated at 6:10 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CDC: West Virginia life expectancy dropped nearly 2 years in 2021, the second worst in the nation Doctor explaining results of lung check up from x-ray scan chest on digital tablet screen to patient. Per capita, West Virginia in 2021 led the nation in deaths caused by cancer in 2021. (Getty Images) Life expectancy for West Virginians fell by nearly two years in 2021 compared to 2020, according to data released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the data which shows the average life expectancy for someone born in a state in a specific year people born in West Virginia in 2021 will live for an average of 71 years, compared to 72.8 years for those born in 2020. Thats a nearly 2.5% decline between the two years, which is the second highest percentage decrease of any state over that time. Alaska with a 2.7% decrease, from 76.6 years in 2020 down to 74.5 in 2021 was the only state to outpace West Virginia in the decline of life expectancy between the two years. Overall, West Virginia holds the second lowest life expectancy of any state. The Mountain State trails slightly behind Mississippi, which showed a 70.9 year life expectancy for those born in 2021. Nationwide, only 11 states saw an increase in life expectancy between 2020 and 2021. No state has experienced an overall increase in life expectancy between 2018 and 2021, according to the data. The national average for life expectancy in 2021 was 76.4 years compared to 77 years in 2020, which is about a .78% decline. In 2021, that represented a more than 7% difference, or 5.4 year difference, between the national average and the West Virginia state average. West Virginias life expectancy along with life expectancy on the national level has dropped every year since 2019, when it was 74.5 years. That was the first year the states life expectancy increased, however, raising 0.1 from the 74.4 years reported in 2018. Thats the first year the CDC reported the data in this format. Life expectancy by gender Women in West Virginia have the worst life expectancy of those in any other state, while men have the second lowest, again trailing behind Mississippi, according to the data. The average life expectancy for a female born in West Virginia in 2021 is 74.2 years, compared to 76.1 years in 2020 a 2.5% decline. That was the highest drop in life expectancy for women in any state. Since 2018, the life expectancy for women in West Virginia has dropped more than 4%, or 3.1 years, the third highest decline in the nation behind Mississippi (4.1% drop) and New Mexico (4.2% drop). Males saw a 2.4% decrease in average life expectancy between 2020 and 2021 from 69.8 years to 68.1 which is the third highest in the nation behind New Mexico (2.66% decrease) and Alaska (2.8% decrease). Between 2018 and 2021, men in West Virginia saw the fifth highest decline in average life expectancy in the nation, from 71.7 years down to 68.1. At the county level The counties with the lowest life expectancies in West Virginia are all centered in the southern part of the state, according to an analysis from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, which pulled information from the CDC as well as the Census to create county-level data for life expectancy. Per that analysis and using data from 2019 to 2021, residents born in McDowell County had the lowest life expectancy in the state, at 66.3 years. McDowell County was followed by Logan County (66.7 years), Mingo County (67.2 years), Lincoln County (69.8 years) and Boone County (69.8 years). The states southern coalfields have long been in decline both by health and economic metrics. The region regularly reports higher rates of fatal drug overdoses, poverty and negative health outcomes from various factors compared to other regions of the state. Comparatively, the counties with the highest life expectancies are mostly in the northern part of the state. Monongalia County leads the state with the highest life expectancy at 78.6 years. Thats a 10% difference from the states average and a nearly 17% difference in life expectancy or more than 12 years for someone born in Monongalia County compared to McDowell County. Monongalia County is followed by Doddridge County (78.3 years), Jefferson County (77 years), Gilmer County (76.7 years) and Grant County (75.9 years). Causes of death in 2021 Per capita, West Virginia in 2021 led the nation in deaths caused by cancer (184.7 deaths per 100,000), accidents (134.7), drug overdoses (90.9), diabetes (47.6) and kidney disease (25.8), according to mortality data from the CDC. The CDC releases mortality data annually for 18 different causes of death. Of those 18 causes, in 2021 West Virginia was in the top 10 nationwide for number of deaths per capita in 10 of the categories (COVID-19, flu and pneumonia, heart disease, chronic lower respiratory disease and infant mortality in addition to the five listed above). The leading causes of death in the state in 2021 were heart disease (with 223 deaths per capita), cancer, COVID-19 (156.8 deaths per capita), accidents and fatal drug overdoses. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (GUNNISON COUNTY, Colo.) The Gunnison Valley recently buzzed with excitement as the iconic W on Tenderfoot Mountain celebrated its 100th anniversary. As we celebrate the past century, the W symbolizes community spirit and pride at Western Colorado University (Western). This past week, students and alumni celebrated homecoming and the annual tradition of lighting the W on fire. Westerns Mountain Rescue Team spends hours soaking cotton rags in jet fuel, spacing them around the W and making torches that are placed along the perimeter of the 25,560 square-foot letter. Those who work to bring the lighting to life gain a unique perspective that few experience. Even better, they get to participate in a cherished tradition that spans generations. Known as the largest collegiate symbol in the world, this giant letter has become a cherished emblem of Western and the Gunnison Valley community. Courtesy: Western Colorado University Courtesy: Western Colorado University Looking up and see that W you feel a sense of pride and excitement knowing that were in Western Colorado, this is Western Colorado University, said Alex Finkelstein, U.S. Historian Lecturer at Western. Its a point of pride not only for our students in the community, but you can see that its taken care of, its an active part of our community. The story of the W begins with a spirited group of students and faculty led by one of Westerns founding figures, John C. Johnson. Armed with nothing but determination, large rocks, and a whole lot of whitewash, they set out to create something special that would stand the test of time. They werent starting from scratch though, they had a bit of practice under their belts. The W was not actually the first collegiate letter that represented this university and was built on a hillside, Finkelstein said. The history of the university has a long and interesting story, it really starts in 1901 when the legislature funded the Colorado Normal School. The Normal School is a two-year institution to train teachers, its the first college institution on the Western Slope, really targeted at teaching teachers how to teach in this region. John C. Johnson started at the Normal School in 1911 as a science professor. He went off to do graduate work in Berkley, California and as the story goes, he was inspired after looking up on the hill and seeing a C for the University of California. He came back to the Normal School and he said, we should have an N here to represent the Normal School, it should be big, it should inspire students, Finkelstein explained. On Smelter Hill, the N no longer exists, but around 1915 he went up and built an N. As high school students are one to do, the students from Gunnison High School went up there and changed that N into a G, and that G still stands there today. While the G on Smelter Hill is impressive, its got nothing on the nearly two-acre W on Tenderfoot Mountain. Each side of that W is about 400-425 feet each, Finkelstein said. It looks small from down in the valley, but its massive. As the W gazes over the community of Gunnison Valley, students at Western are busy exploring and discovering their passions, or preparing for their next adventure, like senior Shelbi Powell. Its nerve-wracking, but exciting at the same time, said Powell, a Communication Arts major with an emphasis in film studies. I have a lot of projects that I have in mind that I want to see through to the end of the school year, but afterward Im thinking about moving out to Northern California and working on a television set. People are drawn to Western for many reasons, but nothing quite matches the breathtaking views. Not a lot of people have access to Crested Butte Mountain 30 minutes away, especially where I come from, Powell said. Im from Oklahoma, one of the flattest states that you can be from. For others, its an outdoor enthusiasts haven. Ive had some folks that have been here, said Isaac Almaswari, a junior studying business management with a minor in entrepreneurship. They told me it was a blast back when it was known as wasted state (Western State University), but it doesnt matter if youre a ski bum or athlete, its a good time no matter what. A single letter, sending a meaningful message to all below. Lets Go Mountaineers, Powell said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Celebrity Lawyer Who Got Alec Baldwin and Elon Musk Off the Hook Called in for Eric Adams Defense High-powered, high-priced celebrity attorney Alex Spirofresh off getting manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin dropped in Julyhas been called in to join the team of lawyers that will defend New York City mayor Eric Adams against a fresh federal indictment. Citing sources, the New York Post reported that Spirowho is already repping Adams in a separate case dealing with decades-old sexual assault allegationshas joined Adams defense team in the federal case. The mayor, somewhat controversially, used city funds to hire Spiro in his sexual assault case, claiming that because he was a New York City cop at the time he has the right to representation by the city (although the city typically doesnt hire the most expensive, high-profile defense attorneys to defend rank-and-file cops). New York City Mayor Eric Adams Just Got Indicted on Federal Charges Charges against Adamsfollowing a corruption investigation that has seen weeks of law enforcement searches, subpoenas, and resignations by top city officialsare expected to be unveiled later Thursday. In a profile last year, The New Yorker dubbed Spiro, 41, the man who keeps the rich and famous above the law. In an interview with the magazine, he likened making legal arguments to painting: Theres a flow to it. Im trying to tell a compelling, interwoven story. And there are hints Im dropping throughout cases, for the jury. Among others, he has repped Jay-Z, Mick Jagger, 21 Savage, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Naomi Osaka, and Bobby Shmurda. YouTube star Jimmy MrBeast Donaldson hired Spiro last month to write a cease-and-desist letter to a former employeewho accused him of staging content, hosting illegal lotteries and knowingly hiring a registered sex offenderthe Daily Mail reported. In July, manslaughter charges against Baldwinwho accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop revolver that, unbeknownst to him, was loaded with a live roundwere dropped just hours after Spiro argued prosecutors hid critical evidence in the case. Alec Baldwin hugs his attorney Alex Spiro at the conclusion of his trial for involuntary manslaughter in First Judicial District Court on July 12, 2024 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ramsay De Give/Getty Images Part of Spiros legal playbook is arguing, sometimes implicitly, sometimes brazenly, that famous and powerful people should be treated differently from ordinary citizens, wrote The New Yorker, citing a case where he insisted that Jay-Z was too busy to testify to the U.S. the Securities and Exchange Commission for more than two hours, after losing an initial fight against required in-person testimony. (The case centered on the financial practices of Iconix, a company that bought Jay-Zs apparel line Rocawear.) Eric Adams Hires Celeb Attorney to Defend Him in Bombshell Lawsuit The Tufts and Harvard graduate has also been something of a go-to counsel for the worlds richest man, Elon Musk. In 2019, Spiro won a defamation case for Musk, who a jury found did not defame British cave explorer Vernon Unsworth by calling him a pedo guy. Last year, Spiro also won in a securities fraud trial when it was alleged that Musk was liable to investors for a 2018 tweet in which he claimed that he had funding secured to take Tesla private. My faith in humanity is restored, said Musk, after Spiro won him the Unsworth case. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Central Michigan University has chosen its next president. The Board of Trustees on Thursday voted unanimously to appoint Neil MacKinnon to the position, according to an announcement from CMU. The university says MacKinnon holds a doctorate in pharmacy health care administration and has more than 25 years of experience in higher education, with roles ranging from faculty member to dean to provost. He joins CMU from Augusta University in Georgia, where he served as provost for 3.5 years. MacKinnon helped create and implement a strategic plan for the Augusta University, and under his leadership, Augusta saw enrollment gains and higher research funding, according to CMU. In a statement, CMU Board of Trustees Chair Todd J. Regis described MacKinnon as an engaged candidate who spent numerous hours researching CMUs past and present and whose vision aligns with (CMUs) vision statement. CMUs mission statement is very different from those at most universities, MacKinnon told University Communications. CMU said it will define its success by the success of its students and graduates, and by its impact on the communities it serves thats a powerful commitment. MacKinnons term starts Nov. 1. He will be the universitys 16th president. CMU started searching for its next president after President Robert Davies, who was appointed to the position in September 2018, announced at the beginning of the year that he planned to step down. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday that technical teams from China and the European Commission are actively negotiating a flexible price commitment solution over the electric vehicle tariff dispute. Both sides are working towards reaching a consensus before arbitration, the ministry's spokesperson said during a regular news conference. Spokesperson He Yongqian reiterated China's "strong commitment" to dialogue and negotiations to effectively resolve differences, as well as its determination to protect the legitimate interests of Chinese enterprises. (Reporting by Ella Cao and Ryan Woo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) down the street (Photo: Hugh Jackson/Nevada Current) The responsibilities of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents include overseeing the systems sizable budget, setting tuition prices, and hiring a chancellor and school presidents. Currently, the board consists of 13 elected nonpartisan regents serving six-year terms. However, state lawmakers passed a bill last year that will reduce the number of regents to nine and shorten the length of their terms to four years, effective after the 2028 general election. That means any regents elected this year will only serve four years before theyll need to run again in 2028. Regents oversee four community colleges, two universities, one research institute, and one state college that all operate on an annual total budget of more than $2 billion. This year, Clark County voters will have the chance to vote for a new regent in the Board of Regents District 1. However, only one of the two candidates vying for the position has a visible campaign: Executive Director of The American Institute of Architects and former lobbyist for the Vegas Chamber Carlos Fernandez. Despite the lack of campaigning or fundraising by Fernandezs opponent, Matthew Bowen, Fernandez said hes adhering to a long-held maxim among political candidates and running his race as if Im losing. From January through June his campaign has raised nearly $30,000 in contributions and spent about $26,000. Fernandez has earned the endorsement from a number of local unions, including the Culinary Union 226 & Bartenders Local 165, International Brotherhood of Teamsters 631 & 14, Ironworkers Local 416, UA Local 525, and SMART88. He also received endorsements from the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Hispanics in Politics, and the Nevada Faculty Alliance. Fernandez said while campaigning hes often asked what the Board of Regents does. Regents have no shortage of issues to address, including finding a permanent chancellor. In recent years, the board has come under fire for its handling of chancellor searches. NSHE has had three chancellors in five years. The most recent chancellor, Melody Rose, left with a $610,000 buyout after just 19 months in the role. In November, NSHE reached a $110,000 settlement to oust a chief of staff whod only been on the job three months. A lot of times we have these search failures because its hard for us to be able to recruit solid chancellors into roles, because current requirements need us to publicly announce who these people are before they even have a job, Fernandez said. So were putting peoples professions at stake when were trying to transfer from a different system. Fernandez said he believes one of the best ways to successfully recruit a candidate is to promote from within the Nevada higher education system. Another concern for the regents is trying to restore higher education budgets devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In December, the Board of Regents voted to raise tuition and fees by 5% to help pay for 11% raises for NSHE professional employees. Fernandez said he supported the raise, adding that competitive salaries are necessary to recruit qualified faculty and staff that will elevate Nevada schools. Its important because our higher education institution employees have not been given a raise in a while, and it makes it hard for us to be able to compete for the best, Fernandez said. And also looming is an ongoing effort to remove the Board of Regents from the state constitution, which would give the state Legislature the ability to review and change the governing organization of public universities. Voters in 2020 narrowly defeated a statewide ballot measure to remove the Board of Regents from the Constitution, but will get another chance this November. During his work with the Vegas Chamber, Fernandez said he supported the prior attempt to remove the Board of Regents from the Nevada Constitution. His position hasnt changed, he said, adding the amendment would ensure that the governance of higher education in Nevada remains fully accountable to the public and the state legislature. If elected, Fernandez said his top priorities would be to increase accessibility to higher education, improving student success through advising and career services, and emphasizing workforce preparedness in academic programs. We need to look at higher education as the largest workforce development program in the United States, Fernandez said. We want to be able to recruit bigger businesses, different types of businesses, into the state, and that only helps provide more opportunity to those that are already here. Matthew Bowen, the other candidate for the Board of Regents District 1, did not reply to requests for an interview with the Nevada Current. His campaign reported zero campaign contributions over the course of his campaign. According to Bowens LinkedIn, he attended the University of Central Arkansas, currently works as a managing associate at Pacific Advisors, and his previous jobs includes heating and air conditioning technician and as a sales specialist at an Arkansas Toyota dealership. Fort Worth Independent School District teachers and parents are eager to look forward and push the district in a positive direction after a month of extensive scrutiny on the state of the local schools ended with the superintendents resignation. Angelica Ramsey is leaving her post as Fort Worth ISDs leader shortly after Mayor Mattie Parker and other community leaders publicly called out the district last month on its stagnant academic performance and demanded a turnaround through local collaborative efforts. On Tuesday, the school board accepted Ramseys resignation and must now appoint both an interim and permanent leader. As district teachers and parents have watched the chain of events unfold, theyre hopeful the next superintendent can hit the ground running on a fresh start and utilize their knowledge of Fort Worth to uplift the areas largest school district. Steven Poole, executive director of the United Educators Association, said Ramseys resignation was a step in the right direction for the district, as a change was needed. Fort Worth ISD has been playing catch-up for a long time, and there is a sense of urgency in this district. The mayor shined a spotlight on it, and Im glad she did. The way things were going, the writing was on the wall, Poole said. We needed a fresh start. The page is turned, so we can start a new chapter. And I know theres a lot of us in the community ready to get to work. Its important that the school board promote someone from within for the interim position who understands Fort Worths landscape, he added. He wants the next superintendent to mend the districts community relations, noting they have been very strained for awhile now. We need nonprofits. We need the religious groups. We need the city and the county involved in our school district because the school district cant do it themselves. Ive been around long enough, and I saw there wasnt a lot of involvement in our school district the last couple of years, and we suffered the consequences because of it, Poole said. Ramsey laid out in her resignation statement the accomplishments of the school district that occurred under her leadership such as opening on-campus food markets to address food insecurity, launching advisory councils to gather input from stakeholders, and an anticipated improvement on the districts state rating from a D to a C. The district calculated its own rating after a judge barred the Texas Education Agency from releasing the state scores amid a pending lawsuit. Fort Worth ISD, unlike other districts, did not verify their in-house calculations with TEA before releasing them. A week later, the district submitted them to the state for review, and TEA flagged some of the districts calculations that differed from theirs but the overall C score remained the same. Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, executive director of Parent Shield Fort Worth, said she took issue with the content of Ramseys statement, including highlighting letter grade improvements that TEA had found inconsistencies with. Dorsey-Hollins was also surprised by Ramseys mention of the strategic plan, which had gone unapproved by the school board in late July after some board members said they wanted more public input on the plan before adopting it. Her biggest concern was Ramseys comment on serving emergent bilingual students and the large gains seen from focusing on the student group. To see them growing at that rate when you could have been putting that same intentionality behind your African-American students is kind of a slap in the face to Black parents, Dorsey-Hollins said. Dorsey-Hollins and other members of Parent Shield held a press conference on Sept. 17 before the school board discussed Ramseys performance in a closed session a week before her resignation to issue demands such as literacy reform, data transparency and academic improvement specifically for Black students whove seen declining test scores. Dorsey-Hollins says their requests remain unchanged, and the education advocacy group is still holding the school board accountable to them. I dont think that thats taking the pressure that any of this (with) her resigning is taking any pressure off the board. We still expect to hold them accountable, because we know that our kids, they still dont have the luxury of waiting, she said. In the meantime, we just want to make sure that every students performance still moves forward and not backwards. We definitely cannot afford for this to distract away from kids academic progress. Jill Jorgensen, president of the Fort Worth ISD Special Education PTA, said she felt Ramsey made an effort to work with the PTA and had placed district staff in the Specialized Learning department that was responsive to the groups inquiries. In terms of getting students the accommodations they need, its a broader issue that goes beyond Fort Worth, she added. A fully staffed special education department is the exception, not the norm. Bottom line: staffing is crucial to special ed. With any new superintendent, wed like to see an increase in stipends for special education and inclusion teachers. Wed like to see an increase in pay for (teacher assistant) positions, who have some of the hardest jobs in education, and perhaps an overhaul of the hiring system Weve heard from those on the district side and from applicants that its quite lengthy and burdensome, and were losing good talent. For Bradley OBannon, a special education teacher at M.H. Moore Elementary, its time to focus on rebuilding the district with a leader who understands what its like to be a teacher and has a business sense. OBannon described the district as a hub and valuable resource that serves thousands and thousands of students with some of the best teachers in the state. Both teachers and students need to be retained, he added. My biggest focus is not whats happened in the past, whats happening today, but what is it going to look like in the future? We need to focus and we need to move on, and we need to build a bigger, better, broader Fort Worth ISD, OBannon said. As of now, its unclear how much Ramsey will be receiving in her contract buyout and in what capacity she will be serving the district after she formally steps down on Oct. 1 but remains employed by the district until August 2025. The Star-Telegram has filed a records request for her exit agreement. Her annual salary is $335,000. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Charlotte Fires Swift Water Rescue Team has been activated in response to the potential threat from Hurricane Helene. The team consists of 17 highly trained firefighters who will be deployed to the western part of North Carolina to provide critical support in anticipated flood-prone areas. PREVIOUS: Swiftwater rescue teams, fire departments deployed to assist with Tropical Storm Debby Captain Jeff Bright, the team leader, stated, We received our activation orders at approximately 4:00 PM this afternoon. Our rendezvous time here is set for 7:00 PM, and we will depart shortly thereafter to stage at an equestrian facility in Tryon, North Carolina. Our expected arrival time is 10:00 PM tonight. The deployment consists of a Type 1 swift water team, whose primary mission was to rescue or evacuate individuals stranded by floodwaters. This activation is part of the Charlotte Fire Departments ongoing commitment to provide specialized emergency response assistance throughout North Carolina and beyond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. UPDATE: Chase suspect caught in Taylor County stabbed himself in eye, other areas of body ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A chase suspect caught in Taylor County Tuesday night stabbed himself in the eye and other areas of his body before he was taken into custody. Garry Don Anderson II, 41, of Millsap, Texas, is now recovering from his injuries at Hendrick Medical Center North following the chase that ended on I-20 in Taylor County around 9:30 p.m. A press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety states Anderson was armed with a knife while fleeing the scene of an assault in Parker County when the pursuit began. He fled down I-20 while being pursued by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Cisco Police Department, according to the press release. Anderson was eventually caught after a DPS trooper deployed spike strips in Taylor County. It was discovered that Anderson had stabbed himself in the eye and had several self-inflicted stab wounds on his body, the press release explains. Anderson will be officially booked into jail and charged once he is released from the hospital. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Check here for latest school changes as Grand Strand, Pee Dee prepare for Helene MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Here is a list of cancellations and postponements as the Grand Strand and Pee Dee prepare for impacts from Hurricane Helene. Chesterfield County School District will have an e-learning day on Friday. Darlington County School District will have an e-learning day on Friday. Dillon School District 3 (Latta) will have an e-learning day on Friday. Dillon School District Four will be closed on Friday for students and staff members due to weather conditions. This day will be made up on Oct. 25. Florence School District 1 will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday. Elementary schools will start at 9:45 a.m., while middle and high schools will start at 10:30 a.m. Florence School District 2 will have e-learning on Friday. Students are encouraged to contact their teachers via email or Google Classroom for instructional assistance. Florence School District 3 will have e-learning for students on Friday. Staff members should report at 11 a.m. if it is safe to travel. Florence School District 5 will have e-learning on Friday. Students may contact their teachers via email or Schoology for instructional assistance. Francis Marion University will delay opening on Friday until 10:30 a.m. Georgetown County School District will an e-learning day on Friday. Horry County Schools will have an e-learning day on Friday. Students who are unable to participate due to power outages, lack of a computer device or internet service, or other barriers will have the opportunity to complete assignments at a later date. All extracurricular competitions scheduled for Friday will be rescheduled. All employees will work remotely, with the exception of school-based nutrition services staff, paraprofessionals, and bus drivers. Horry-Georgetown Technical College will operate virtually on Friday. Public Schools of Robeson County will have e-learning on Friday. Teachers will work with students in Canvas or other acceptable means to ensure assignments are completed. Friday will be a work-from-home day for staff members. Marion County School District will have an e-learning day on Friday. Marlboro County School District will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday. Robeson Community College will be closed on Friday. All learning will shift to online. Scotland County Schools will have an e-learning day for students and staff members on Friday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) Come January, there likely wont be any new legislative requests from the South Dakota Supreme Court regarding people who lack sufficient financial resources to hire their own lawyers when accused of crimes. Thats according to Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen. On Wednesday, he and several others held a news teleconference to discuss and answer questions about a new report on the varying approaches that counties take to provide indigent defense in South Dakota and recommendations for changes. Mountain lion population could be decreased in SD The report from the nonpartisan Sixth Amendment Center recommends that South Dakota switch to a state-run system of indigent defense with consistent standards and state funding. The state court administrator funded the work. Joining Chief Justice Jensen were Neil Fulton, who chairs the states new Commission on Indigent Defense and is dean of the Knudson School of Law at the University of South Dakota, and Aditi Goel, deputy director at the Sixth Amendment Center. Currently, counties pay the costs of providing lawyers to people accused of crimes who cant pay for their own, but those clients in turn are obligated to repay those costs in many cases. Three counties Minnehaha, Pennington and Lawrence have public defender offices. But most counties either annually contract for indigent defense or hire attorneys on a per-case basis. Mountain lion population could be decreased in SD The chief justice said Wednesday that shifting the costs off the counties and onto to state government will require policy decisions that need to be worked out between the executive branch in other words, the governors office and the Legislature. I dont anticipate were going to bring any significant legislation this next session on indigent defense, Jensen told reporters. I think were at least a year out talking about funding and what that looks like. The past two legislative sessions, the chief justice in his annual State of the Judiciary messages has spoken about indigent defense and asked the Legislature to fund the first steps in what looks like a long period of reforms. Lawmakers established a task force in 2023 and created the standing commission in 2024. The commission recently chose Chris Miles as the states first chief defender for the new Office of Indigent Legal Services. The office will handle appeals of criminal cases involving adults and juveniles as well as habeas corpus appeals. Fulton said the commission now needs to help Miles choose the rest of the staff. Prior to being chosen as law school dean, Fulton was the federal public defender for South Dakota and North Dakota. He said establishing a state-run indigent defense system at the trial-court level will take many years and asked for the public to be patient. We will not be able to do all of them at once, Fulton said about the responsibilities laid out in the 2024 state law establishing the commission and the reports recommendations, including that South Dakota should prohibit prosecutors from conferring with suspects early in the judicial process. He said some members of the task force see that practice as judicially efficient. Fulton also urged that the task force maintain persistence. Important work to me is planting trees, not flowers, he said. A reporter asked the chief justice where IM28 fits into the funding picture. Voters will decide in the November general election whether they want to prohibit charging state sales and use tax on anything humans consume. Jensen said that the ballot measure was concerning because it would reduce funding to all of state government. But he described himself as an optimist and said he thinks the Legislature will provide the funding needed for indigent defense because its a priority. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Cover art from "Kinship Across Kentucky: Recommendations from Caregiver Voices in 2024." Around 55,000 Kentucky children are being raised by a relative or fictive kin, according to the report. (Kentucky Youth Advocates) Kentuckians who are raising a minor relative need better access to mental health care, housing and other basic support services, according to a new report released Tuesday. The report, from Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky, is based on two online surveys and nine in-person listening sessions aimed at learning more about the challenges facing kinship caregivers. Most of the caregivers surveyed were white women. They reported needing assistance with food, clothing and school supplies. Participants also said they needed help with finances, housing, information technology, peer support, respite care, mental health care and legal assistance, according to the report. They also reported child care as one of the most difficult supports to access. Norma Hatfield, president of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky, said during a Wednesday forum discussing the report that sometimes kinship caregivers like herself focus on caring for the youth in their charge and dont always take care of themselves. Its pretty darn stressful, she said. You may need somebody, from a therapeutic perspective, to have some of those conversations, especially if the abuse is really bad and theres a criminal case going on. Kinship caregivers may be caring for a grandchild, for example, whod been abused by the grandparents child. I look at it as: to kind of help me deal with my emotion, process that, and then step back and (see) how can I best help the child at the same time? And thats hard. Thats why its challenging and confusing, because you also have yourself and how you feel, and you also have the child and the system. Sometimes that mental health support may include medication or more intensive services, Hatfield said, but most of the time talk therapy addresses the need. Lesa Dennis, the commissioner for the Department of Community Based Services, spoke alongside Hatfield during the KYA forum and said kinship care in Kentucky is a priority for her department. We still have a lot of work to do in this space, and were very committed to it, Dennis said. During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly passed a law that allows relatives who take temporary custody of a child, when abuse or neglect is suspected, to later become eligible for foster care payments. However, a funding dispute that arose after the fact has left that help hanging, more than two months after the law went into effect. Policy recommendations The report makes numerous recommendations, including: Expand community-based mentorship opportunities for youth in kinship care and their caregivers. Provide or facilitate comprehensive reunification services for kinship families to create opportunities for children to return safely to their birth families, when appropriate. Provide judges a bench card related to kinship care utilization and needed supports Increase the frequency and accessibility of trainings on the unique experiences and needs of kinship families to DCBS staff, private foster care agency staff and community mental health providers. Provide comprehensive informational packets and educational materials for new kinship caregivers. Utilize best practices to actively seek the most appropriate placement for the child when identifying kinship and fictive kin caregivers, including addressing disproportionality in the placement of children of color into foster care instead of kinship care. Its not clear yet which of these policies, if any, would require legislation during the next session. I think a lot of those things can be accomplished through working together with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Department for community based services, said Shannon Moody, chief policy and strategy officer for the nonpartisan KYA. We would definitely want to have some additional conversations to figure out what would need or require statutory change, but I dont know if we anticipate any of those recommendations being moved forward for pursuit in the 2025 legislative session. Around 55,000 Kentucky children are being raised by a relative or fictive kin, according to the Tuesday report. That includes both formal (the state is involved) and informal (the state is not involved) situations. In 2023, about 1,500 Kentucky children were placed in a relative or fictive kin home by the state. Kentuckys known prevalence of kinship care is 6%, according to the report, making it twice as high as the national average. SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) Here are this mornings top stories with KELOLAND On the Go. A Madison man was sentenced last week for receipt and distribution of child pornography. According to the U.S. Attorneys office, between January 18, 2021, and August 19, 2022, Smith knowingly received child porn including victims as young as one and two-years old. Madison man gets 6 years for child porn The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office is seeing an uptick in complaints of drivers not obeying stop signs on school buses. One of the problems that bus drivers are noticing is that when they put out their stop signs and red lights, there are drivers right in front of them that blow right through it. Careless driving near school buses rising in Lincoln Co. Captain Terrance Matia with the Sioux Falls Police Department says the last few recent months of 2024 have yielded more applicants to the force when compared to the same period in 2023. SFPD: Recruiting campaign has gone well For the latest stories in local news, download our news app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Sub Drop Amid ongoing competition with the United States, China experienced a major setback earlier this year when its secret nuclear submarine sank right after being launched. As the Wall Street Journal reports based on intelligence from American officials, the incident that occurred in late May or early June near Wuhan was quickly and quietly covered up by government officials. Though most of the country's nuclear attack subs are manufactured in the northeastern Chinese city of Huludao, this new one seems to have been built in the Wuchang Shipyard near Wuhan. It was, WSJ's sources indicate, the first of a new class of submarines known as Zhou and featured a distinctive X-shaped stern. Because of the secretive nature of the entire operation and the refusal by the Chinese government and its People's Liberation Army (PLA) to even admit that anything happened the sinking remains murky. Experts outside the American government believe, however, that it was likely carrying nuclear fuel. "Its not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside," a senior American defense official told the newspaper on condition of anonymity. "In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLAs internal accountability and oversight of Chinas defense industry, which has long been plagued by corruption." Informed Observer Though satellite imagery acquired by the WSJ has since confirmed the existence of the new Zhou-class nuclear sub, a defense expert's posts on social media may well have been the first inklings the public got about it. Over the summer, former US submarine officer Thomas Shugart posted on X that he'd spotted floating cranes near the shipyard that, to him, seemed to signal there "may be a new class of Chinese submarine out there." He was, as it turns out, correct but he wasn't aware at the time that it was nuclear. "Can you imagine a US nuclear submarine sinking in San Diego and the government hushes it up and doesnt tell anybody about it?" Shugart said in an interview with the WSJ. "I mean, Holy Cow!" Though satellite images suggest the wreckage has been salvaged, American officials told the newspaper that there's been no indication that Chinese officials have sampled the part of the Yangtze River where it sank for radiation. This isn't the end of the world, Shugart suggests, because the risk of a nuclear leak that soon into the sub's voyage is low. Though there's a possibility people were killed or injured during the sinking, there hasn't been any intelligence that confirms or denies this which is yet another illustration of just how hazy this entire debacle really is. More on China: Chinese Researchers Say They Can Detect Stealth Aircraft Using Starlink Satellites Beijing's state media said Wednesday's test was the first of its kind in over four decades and that the missile was carrying a dummy warhead (HANDOUT) (HANDOUT/Chinese People's Liberation Army News and Communication Center/AFP) China said on Thursday that its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean was "legitimate and routine", insisting that its nuclear stance remained defensive after the rare test prompted an outcry from countries in the region. Beijing announced the trial on Wednesday -- its first such test in four decades -- saying that the missile was carrying a dummy warhead. The launch sparked protests from countries in the region, with China's neighbour Japan saying it had not been given advance notice and Taiwan expressing "solemn condemnation". Beijing's defence ministry said on Thursday the test was "a legitimate and routine arrangement" that aimed to "test our weapon and training performance". "China's nuclear policy is very stable, consistent and predictable," ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang told a news conference in Beijing. "We strictly follow a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and pursue a nuclear strategy of self-defence," he said. He said China does not seek an "arms race" and had "promised not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states or weapon-free zones". "China will continue to keep its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security," Zhang said. - International outcry - Japan said it had not been given advance warning of the launch. Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its territory, expressed "solemn condemnation". Australia said it was seeking "an explanation", while New Zealand called the launch "an unwelcome and concerning development". French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson said "the missile fell not far from... the Marquesas Islands", an archipelago that is part of its exclusive economic zone. "The Chinese authorities previously notified their French counterparts of this test," the French High Commission said in a statement, adding that France would make its position on the test known. The Pentagon also said the United States received "some advanced notification of this ICBM test", describing the notification as "a step in the right direction" that would help prevent "misperception or miscalculation". China's military released imagery of the missile on Thursday that showed the projectile soaring into the air in a plume of smoke from an undisclosed location. Analysts said the imagery suggested the launch could be of a Dongfeng-31 AG intercontinental ballistic missile, unveiled during a military parade in 2017. - Growing arsenal - Beijing has stepped up its nuclear development and boosted defence spending in recent years. The Pentagon warned last October that China was developing its arsenal more quickly than the United States had anticipated. China held more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and is likely to have more than 1,000 by 2030, the Pentagon said. One analyst told AFP Beijing was "clearly trying to... signal that 'we are strong'". "It sends a signal to the US and its allies... that China has the military ability to react in the event of any escalation of tensions between the United States and China," said Benjamin Ho, assistant professor at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' China Programme. burs-mjw/oho/pbt HONG KONG (Reuters) - China is considering injecting up to 1 trillion yuan ($142.39 billion) of capital into its biggest state banks to increase their capacity to support the struggling economy, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. The move is part of broad stimulus measures Beijing introduced this week to boost China's ailing economy and sluggish markets. The funding will mainly come from the issuance of new special sovereign bonds, Bloomberg reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), the country's banking sector regulator, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Top lenders in the world's second-largest economy have been struggling with shrinking margins, faltering profits and rising bad loans amid slowing growth and an unprecedented property sector crisis. Four of China's five largest lenders reported lower second-quarter profit after responding to a government nudge to lower lending rates in order to stimulate weak loan demand. The massive capital injection, subjected to changes, would be the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis that the Chinese government has stepped in to replenish its big lenders, the Bloomberg report said. China's CSI300 blue-chip index reversed early losses to last trade 0.35% higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 1.5%. The yuan extended its gains and was last up 0.12% at 7.0241 in the onshore market. ($1 = 7.0232 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru and Selena Li in Hong Kong, Rae Wee in Singapore; Editing by Kim Coghill and Shri Navaratnam) The ICBM test, which China's defence ministry said was carrying a dummy warhead, was its first such exercise in decades (HANDOUT) (HANDOUT/Chinese People's Liberation Army News and Communication Center/AFP) China notified France before test-firing a long-range ballistic missile into the Pacific on Wednesday, authorities in French Polynesia said, adding that the weapon had landed not far from its exclusive economic zone. The missile test, which China's defence ministry said was carrying a dummy warhead, was its first such exercise in decades. "The Chinese authorities previously notified their French counterparts of this test," the French High Commission said in a statement, adding that France would make its position on the test known. French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson earlier told AFP that "the missile fell not far from... the Marquesas Islands", an archipelago that is part of its exclusive economic zone. Beijing has stepped up its nuclear development and boosted defence spending in recent years, with the Pentagon warning last October that China was developing its arsenal more quickly than the United States had anticipated. China held more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and is likely to have more than 1,000 by 2030, the Pentagon said. Beijing's defence ministry said the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) had carried "a dummy warhead... and the missile fell into expected sea areas" on Wednesday. It also said that the firing was a "routine arrangement in our annual training plan" and "not directed against any country or target". The United States said it received "some advanced notification of this ICBM test," describing this as "a step in the right direction" that helps prevent "misperception or miscalculation." But the launch sparked protests from countries in the region, with China's neighbour Japan saying it had not been given advance notice. Australia said it was seeking "an explanation", while New Zealand calling the launch "an unwelcome and concerning development". ml/lpa/jnd/dhw/lb The News A new Chinese nuclear-powered submarine sank at a shipyard near Wuhan earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reported, in an apparent setback to the countrys expanding naval ambitions as it seeks to exert authority over the South China Sea. Beijing had not disclosed the incident, which seemingly took place in late May or early June, according to the Journal. China has been striving to catch up to the US in undersea technology: A Pentagon report last year said that China was rushing to develop new attack submarines and naval craft in anticipation of US efforts to help Taiwan should a conflict arise. The US Navy released a new navigation plan last week that called for faster ship and submarine fixes and the adoption of robotic systems to prepare for a potential war with China by 2027. The US Navy is focusing on dealing with a China that is building serious capabilities, the US naval chief said earlier this month. Meanwhile, India which recently launched its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is also aiming to counter Chinas influence in the Indo-Pacific, but it significantly lags behind Chinas far superior submarine capabilities, a former Indian naval officer told the South China Morning Post. CHP of Mojave welcomes new officer BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The California Highway Patrol of Mojave welcomed a new officer, who graduated from the academy this month. Officials with the highway patrol say Officer Ted Thorson graduated from the CHP Academy in West Sacramento on Sept. 13. Photo courtesy: CHP of Mojave. Thorson will be training in Eastern Kern County for the next few months. CHP of Mojave is looking forward to Thorsons influence in Kern. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. AUSTIN (KXAN) The City of Austin has publicly released its tentative five-year agreement with the Austin Police Association (APA). The contract includes a 28% pay raise for officers over the course of the contract, additional field training officer pay and a stipend for officers working the night shift, according to the city of Austin. Previous: City, Austin Police Association reach tentative labor agreement The agreement also appears to allow the public to submit anonymous complaints and extends the statute of limitations on the discipline of officers to a year. G-file questions still remain Austin City Council members are asking the city to clarify or confirm other elements of the agreement, specifically whether or not the departments controversial g-file will be eliminated. The g-file contains records of primarily unsubstantiated misconduct complaints against officers that did not result in discipline. The Austin Police Oversight Act (APOA), which voters passed in May 2023, called for those records to no longer remain sealed, and for the public to have access to them by means of filing an official public information request. This issue made its way through the courts for months, until a judge issued a temporary injunction late August saying the city was unlawfully keeping the records confidential. Community advocates say the public has a right to this information and the decision-making process that goes into not disciplining an officer. The Austin Police Association said this complaints are typically outlandish and have the potential to create an untrue negative picture of a police officer. Earlier this month, the City Managers Office informed the mayor and council during a private special-called meeting that the City would begin to release the records to people who requested them under the Texas Public Information Act. Since questions remained on the nature of this, Some council members are calling for further clarification on the matter, and want to get those answers before voting the contract through. The language governing the anonymous complaint process and the 365-day rule appears to meet the requirements of the APOA; the language regarding the public availability of police personnel records appears to be satisfactory, but I want clarification from the City Attorney about the availability of information previously maintained in the G-file, Council Member Jose Chito Vela said. Vela wants confirmation that both new and old g-file information will be released and would like more information about how that information will be made available to the public. Its a sentiment that Council Member Zohaib Zo Qadri echoed. I read the G-file section the same way and would also like clarification before we move forward. We need access to all G-file info, past and present, and a transparent system moving forward that allows for public availability of personnel records, he wrote on social media. The city released a statement from City Manager T.C. Broadnax and said in part The City of Austin no longer maintains G-files. Prop A and the current court ruling confirm and further provide assurance that there are no G-files. The statement goes on to say Further, based on the recent court decision as it relates to G-files, the City is and will release any information requested through a public information request in the same way all other such requests are processed. These measures comply with Prop A. If passed, it would be the first multi-year contract passed since 2018. Since March of 2023, Austin police have been without a long-term contract. The city council is set to vote for approval on Oct. 10. APA members will also be asked to vote. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. OCEANSIDE, Calif.(FOX 5/KUSI) Exactly five months after a fire tore through the end of the Oceanside Pier, the city is moving forward with plans for demolition. City council unanimously approved roughly $1.3 million dollars to go toward permits and everything that comes with demolition so they can get one step closer to rebuilding. Its a process that has taken time, given needed approval from the Coastal Commission and other state and federal agencies. Carlsbad leaders reluctantly approve multi-use development, calling Sacramento bullies We are along the coast and we are out over the water and one of the things that we have to worry about is marine life and making sure were not disturbing them, said Brian Thomas, city engineer for Oceanside. Demolition will include the restaurant building that housed the old Rubys Diner and the Brine Box kiosk. Thomas says these next steps are also expected to help the fire investigation itself. Theres still some things that we just couldnt get to because of the damage we cant even access the buildings right now theres no floor in there, Thomas said. Work is expected to start in the next few weeks, so people can expect to see scaffolding and safeguards to prevent any debris from falling into the ocean. The demolition process is projected to wrap up by December. The city says most of the work will be done in the fall and winter seasons, so they can keep the pier open to the public as much as possible. Rebuilding is expected to cost at least $17 million and take about three years. The investigation into the fire is ongoing, but officials hope to have a final report soon after demolition begins. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Bath is home to many examples of well-preserved Georgian architecture [Getty Images] City leaders have appointed their first architect-in-residence for a pilot scheme which aims to preserve the area's unique heritage. Architect Bob Allies will provide a "design excellence" framework for Bath, which will guide councillors, developers and planners. He will work with the University of Bath, UNESCO and Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) during the 18-month trial. Leader of BANES council Kevin Guy said the role will help to balance the needs of Bath as a UNESCO World Heritage city with the "needs of residents and businesses". The trial is being funded by a 60,000 donation from the Medlock Charitable Trust. The role also involves outreach activities related to the city, such as helping to develop national and international partnerships for the university and BANES council. Bob Allies is interested in how settlements can evolve by building on their "historic form and identity" [Allies and Morrison] Mr Allies, co-founder of the Allies and Morrison architectural firm, said he hopes the pilot scheme might become a template for other towns and cities. This is such a far-sighted initiative, putting architecture and urbanism at the top of the agenda," said Mr Allies. "The councils commitment to achieve the highest quality of design, not just in the world heritage site and its setting, but in the wider region of north to east Somerset is really significant. "I hope together we can make a difference," he said. The city was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as a cultural site with 'outstanding universal value' and 'cultural significance' [University of Bath ] The University of Baths department of architecture and civil engineering professor Marion Harney said she hoped Mr Allies will have a "major contribution to Bath for years to come, and protect the outstanding universal values of the unique city". "We should aspire for excellence in design, which is so much more than functional, low maintenance and inoffensive, which is what could happen in the absence of good design guidance," she added. The architect-in-residence will not be involved in the local authoritys planning process to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. If the initial pilot scheme is successful, then it could be extended. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Related Internet Links (Reuters) - Egyptian and international civil society groups on Thursday called for the release of the country's most prominent activist, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, after his lawyer indicated that he would remain in detention until 2027. Egyptian-British software developer and blogger Abd el-Fattah had hoped to be freed on Sunday, when he will have been imprisoned for five years since his latest detention in 2019. In 2021 he was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of spreading false news after sharing a social media post, but Abd el-Fattah's lawyer said this month that authorities were not planning to include his period of pretrial detention as counting towards his release. A coalition of 59 Egyptian and international civil society groups said in a joint statement that failing to release Abd el-Fattah on Sept. 29 would violate Egypt's code of criminal procedure. Authorities have not commented on the release date and did not respond to a request for comment. Abd el-Fattah's mother Laila Soueif told Reuters she was planning to visit her son on Sunday in a monthly visit, and that on the previous visit "he was acting like he will be released". "He has been telling me for a month to stop bringing books in order to empty the prison cell," she said in an interview in Cairo. "As per our tradition, we act as if the right things will happen, and when they don't happen, we protest." Abd el-Fattah rose to prominence during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising in which former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak was overthrown. He has been imprisoned almost continuously since 2014, becoming a symbol of tens of thousands of people who rights groups say have been jailed in a crackdown that has targeted dissidents from across the political spectrum. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has overseen the crackdown, says security and stability are paramount and that the state is taking steps to guarantee the rights of its citizens. In 2022, shortly after obtaining British citizenship, Abd el-Fattah drew global attention by staging a hunger strike that coincided with Egypt's hosting of the COP27 climate summit. His family said he was close to death when he broke the strike. (Reporting by Aidan Lewis; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Clark Howard says if your home is damaged by a storm do your research getting it fixed Heavy rain and strong winds from storms are expected to cause damage to houses across metro Atlanta. Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray breaks down what you need to know before starting any repairs. Allison Gentry, who lives in Tyrone, shared her experience dealing with storm damage last spring. Every day. You could count on several people coming a day. They just go door to door, and I would always, you know, just say, Im not interested, Gentry said. Gentry agreed to let one of those contractors inspect her roof after a storm caused damage. She signed what looked like a simple, one-page document. Well, lo and behold, theres a ton of fine print on the back of the paper, and they never show you the backside of the paper. Its on a clipboard. I had no idea there was all this fine print on the backside, and it said that I owe $3,500, Gentry said. Shady contractors often flood storm-damaged neighborhoods after severe weather. Channel 2 consumer advisor Clark Howard warns homeowners to be cautious. Those storm chasers are chasing your wallet, Howard said. RELATED STORIES: Howard advises doing thorough research before making any significant repairs. After we have damage from a storm, we want everything back like it was in a second, and people take advantage of us on that, Howard said. Georgias Insurance Commissioner recommends documenting and photographing all property damage caused by severe weather. Do not attempt significant or permanent repairs without proper assessment. Be aware of scammers who prey on storm victims. If a neighbors tree falls on your home, under Georgias Fallen Tree Responsibility laws, the responsibility typically falls on the property owner where the tree landed. Each party is responsible for the property damage that occurs on their property, with the only exception if the tree was clearly not healthy, Howard said. Howard also suggests filing claims with your insurance company only if there is significant damage. The key thing is to slow down, do your research before making these big decisions, Howard said. RELATED NEWS: U.S. Route near the intersection of 50 and 264 in Cleves, Ohio, on Wednesday. Drivers were rerouted after a rail car began leaking styrene, a toxic and flammable chemical. (This story and its headlines were updated to clarify the status of the lawsuit) A day after a railcar expelled a hazardous chemical into the air in western Hamilton County, resulting in evacuation and shelter-in-place orders, a resident has filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status against the railroad and a company tied to the styrene leak. Rhonda Offill, a Cleves resident, filed the suit Wednesday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court against the Central Railroad Company of Indiana, Genesee and Wyoming Railroad and Ineos ABS (USA) LLC, which operates a facility in Addyston and owns the styrene involved in the leak. Offill's attorneys said she's suffered medical issues because of chemical exposure, including constant headaches, itchy and watery eyes, as well as "scratchy throat." The lawsuit accuses the companies in part of negligence, trespass and being a nuisance. Emergency responders first noticed the styrene venting from a tanker Tuesday afternoon at a railyard next to U.S. Route 50 and State Route 128 in Whitewater Township near Cleves. The railroad was notified around 1 p.m. Tuesday, a spokesperson said, adding that firefighters had to apply water to the railcar to keep its temperature down. The leak stopped by Wednesday morning and the evacuation order was lifted around 6:30 p.m., with officials saying it was safe for residents to return home. In addition to worries about chemical exposure, officials had expressed concerns that the railcar was at risk of explosion. More: What is styrene? What to know about the toxic chemical spurring Cleves evacuation A Hamilton County spokesperson said roughly 210 homes within half a mile of the railyard were affected by the evacuation order. Several residents spent the day Wednesday awaiting information outside the Whitewater Township Community Center, which served as a resource center for those impacted by the leak. "Defendants actions constitute heedless disregard and reckless indifference to the safety of the general public as to constitute willful misconduct and gross negligence, and a conscious disregard for the safety and health of others," the lawsuit states. A spokesperson for Genesee and Wyoming, the parent company of Central Railroad Company of Indiana, said the railroad cannot comment on legal matters. An Ineos spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "We deeply regret the disruption and stress this situation has caused to the local community. We are working closely with emergency services as we carry out a full investigation into the cause of the release of the styrene being transported," an Ineos spokesperson said in a statement. The suit asks the companies to fund an investigation into possible medical problems, a study of the long-term effects of styrene exposure and the diagnoses and "preventable medical treatment" of such chemical exposure. It's also seeking a jury trial, compensatory damages greater than $25,000, punitive damages, attorney's fees and an order stating the companies are liable and must pay all appropriate damages. A judge has yet to rule on whether the suit can proceed as a class action. This story may be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Resident files lawsuit seeking class action status after styrene leak (Bloomberg) -- Climate protesters interrupted Occidental Petroleum Corp. Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub at a conference hosted by the New York Times. Most Read from Bloomberg Hollub was about to begin a discussion with the newspapers David Gelles at the Climate Forward 2024 conference on Wednesday when protesters walked onstage chanting, We charge you with ecocide. She briefly exited the stage before returning to conduct the interview. Climate change is the greatest crisis our world has ever faced and we have to come together to work on solutions for that, Hollub said. To have those that are seeking headlines, rather than solutions, interrupt discussions that need to be had its a sad day for them and I feel bad that they have nothing better to do with their time. Occidental, one of the biggest US oil producers, is building the worlds biggest plant to pull carbon dioxide out of the air, helping to create a new carbon removal industry that could help the push toward net zero. But the plant has attracted the ire of some environmentalists because some of the carbon dioxide will be used to harvest more crude from wells in a process called enhanced oil recovery. Im glad that we are continuing with this discussion because here at Occidental we are working for solutions to the climate change situation that our world faces, she said. I care about our planet, I care about the people that are impacted by climate change. (Updates with Hollubs comments from third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. We recently compiled a list of the 7 Cheap Beginner Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we will look at where Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) ranks among the cheap beginner stocks to invest in. Does Fed Rate Cut Translate to a Higher Consumer Borrowing Trend? The Federal Reserve has approved the interest rate cut of 50 basis points, which at least for the time being is turning out to be good for the stock market. The interest rate cut also means that businesses and consumers have received immediate relief, but is the public ready yet to jump out of their high inflation rate mindset? According to a recent report by Reuters, even before the Fed announced a rate cut the financial markets had already begun making credit cheaper for consumers and businesses. Mortgage rates were slightly down, corporate bond yields were also cut, and day-to-day personal and auto loans were also eased. For instance, the average rate a person had to pay for a 30-year fixed home mortgage is 6% after decreasing 2 percentage points from a year ago. Moreover, as per Redfin, a real estate firm, the average median price of houses sold in the middle of September was $3,000 less than the all-time high prices in April and represented a 3% decrease year-over-year. A recent survey shows that while inflation has come down significantly during recent times, the public mood is still distracted due to the past two years of high inflation. In one of our recent articles, we talked about how the interest rate cut helps both growth and value stocks. However, the market trends show that the recent announcement is favoring growth stocks more than value stocks. Heres an excerpt from the 10 Worst Affordable Stocks Under $10: It is true that interest rate cuts help both growth and value stocks, but which ones are doing better? The current market trend shows the interest rate cut expectation and the announcement supported growth stocks more than the value stocks and also resulted in small caps becoming new favorites. Talking about value stocks and how the market could be entering into a slower growth period, Vahan Janjigian, Chief Investment Officer at Greenwich Wealth Management, and Margaret Patel, Senior Portfolio Manager for multi-asset solutions at Allspring Global Investments discussed this in a recent CNBC interview. Janjigian expressed his cautiousness regarding the market even after the Fed cut rates. He believes that interest rates will go up in the long term. It is because the market is eventually going to get a more normalized yield curve, which he believes is good for the economy. If the yield curve continues to follow the upward trajectory, it will favor value stocks more than growth stocks. Stated that the market moves in the direction Janjigian expects, we can see a sell-off for the stocks that are currently moving higher, including the tech and growth stocks. Moreover, he also pointed towards some of the biggest investment risks. He mentioned that the rising deficit, debt, and cost of servicing the debt are some of the biggest threats. Debt is also one of the reasons interest rates could potentially go up in the future, as the debt grows it can potentially push the market-determined interest rate higher. Story continues Banks are considered value stocks, Gerard Cassidy, RBC Capital Markets managing director, thinks banks margins will open up as the Fed begins rate cuts. On September 20, Cassidy appeared in a CNBC interview to talk about how banks are likely to perform in the current scenario. Gerard Cassidy has done some research on the 25-year banking history of the United States and has concluded that when the Fed cuts rates in a period of no recession, bank stocks tend to go up. He mentioned that in 1995 when the Federal Reserve cut the interest rates and the economy was not going into a recession, bank stocks went up 55%. Cassidy believes deposits of the banks set them apart from any other company. When the Fed starts to cut rates, the funding cost of the banks comes down due to their deposits. Moreover, most banks have loans and bonds from 2021 and 2022 at extremely low yields, so these assets mature in a higher rate environment even as rates come down. Regardless of this, the funding rates come down faster resulting in higher margins for the banks. The concept explained above hasnt changed since the comparison period of 1995, thereby indicating that bank stocks could potentially benefit from rate cuts. Gerard Cassidy thinks the current market condition should result in higher net interest margins and net interest income for at least the top 20 banks. Lastly, while talking about consumer borrowing behavior, Cassidy believes, we need a greater amount of cuts and the magnitude of easing has to come in. He thinks perhaps at least a 100 basis point will trigger some borrowing trend among the general public. Our Methodology To compile the list of 7 cheap beginner stocks to invest in, we selected the stocks of established companies that were the most widely held by hedge funds and are trading below a forward P/E of 15. The list has been ranked in ascending order of the number of institutional holders, as of Q2 2024. Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) Forward P/E Ratio: 10.66 Earnings Growth This Year: 3.30% Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 85 Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is a major international financial services company, which has operations in more than 500 countries and handles more than $5 trillion payments a day. The bank operates through two main business segments namely the Consumer Segment and the International Client group. The strategic moat of the company lies in its ability to do business internationally. The company has global licensing making it one of the preferred banking partners for major Fortune 500 companies. Citigroup Inc.s (NYSE:C) treasury and trade solutions business is designed to cater to the needs of large multinational corporations. Moreover, the bank is undergoing a major transformation in its risk management and data governance systems. Management has assured that it is in the process of modernizing its infrastructure, unifying its tech platforms, and adding more automation and control to its overall banking system. With its transformation underway, the company is expected to yield more international customers and subsequently more profits. The second quarter of 2024 already reported a significant increase in banks financials. The revenue of the bank grew 4% year-over-year to reach $20.1 billion and the net income grew 10% during the same time to reach $3.2 billion. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is also trading at a discount to its sector and emerges as one of the cheap beginner stocks to invest in. It is trading at 10.6 times its forward earnings, a 12% discount to its sector. Moreover, its earnings are also expected to grow by 3.3% during the year to reach $5.7. Diamond Hill Capital Long-Short Fund stated the following regarding Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter: Other top Q1 contributors included Meta Platforms, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) and Walt Disney. Banking and financial services company Citigroups restructuring efforts are ongoing, and it continues remediating regulatory issues and building capital in anticipation of increased requirements. The company expects to see expenses fall meaningfully in the second half of 2024, bolstering the outlook from here. Overall C ranks 7th on our list of the cheap beginner stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of C as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a promising AI stock that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure. None. This article was originally published on Insider Monkey. Pastor Shawn Moses Anglim poses for a photo in front of the First Grace United Methodist Church with solar panels that is part of the Community Lighthouse initiative that uses microgrids, a small-scale power system that can operate and provide electricity amid hurricanes, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton) NEW ORLEANS (AP) As Hurricane Helene approaches the U.S. Gulf Coast, coming on the heels of another major storm two weeks ago, blackouts are all but certain in some areas. That carries extra risk for some people. In New Orleans, Verna Lee and her husband Ronald Bailey, both 71, worry each time the lights go out, how long the batteries will last on the breathing machine Bailey relies on to keep his airways open at night. There is always that stressful decision to stay or to leave, with all the upheaval evacuation entails. Ron's always a little more willing to stay but it's like, he can't," Lee said. Two weeks ago when the lights went out during Hurricane Francine, "He was thinking he would just try to sleep sitting up, she said. When he lays down, he has to have that machine on to sleep because his breathing stops otherwise. Francine's wind and rain lashed the dark neighborhoods, flooding them as Lee and Bailey almost decided to slog through hours of traffic to evacuate and stay with relatives in Texas. Then they remembered their neighborhood church still had its lights on. Inside First Grace United Methodist Church they found an air-conditioned refuge, a place to plug in their devices. They were able to charge the breathing machine and go back to sleep in their own home. First Grace is part of the Community Lighthouse Project, an initiative born of hurricanes, to provide essentials like functioning electrical outlets and air conditioning to people facing blackouts, by building out solar panels on church roofs. The nonprofit Together New Orleans founded the project to turn the buildings into microgrids, meaning they generate and store their own electricity when the grid is down. There are now nine operating in New Orleans with a plan to expand to 86 across the city and 500 across the state. The buildings keep operating through blackouts because they've installed batteries that charge up from the sun. Even if the batteries get drawn down, they recharge when the sun comes out. Such self-sustaining microgrids have great potential for many places in the world that are slammed by increasingly intense hurricanes and typhoons. One of the Community Lighthouse Project's founding members, Broderick Bagert, was motivated by his own searing experience. His baby Isaiah was born with jaundice Aug. 21, 2012, just a few days before Hurricane Isaac hit. Doctors said the baby needed to be admitted to the hospital, but the storm was brewing in the Gulf. So they sent Bagert home with a light bed a tiny container that exposes babies to blue light. Then the power went out. I remember scurrying through the neighborhood, with a light bed under one arm and an eight-day-old child on the other, Bagert said. He knew his sister had a generator and he made it to her house. Isaiah made it through his jaundice. But Bagert was left with frustration and outrage that communities like his on the frontlines of climate change have no safe spaces to go during a storm. Hurricane Ida came in 2021, 10 years after Isaac. Isaac had come seven years after Katrina. It was like it just sunk in theyre never going to do it, he said about government officials building enough emergency shelters. In the network of Community Lighthouses, First Grace has symbolic significance. It was formed after Hurricane Katrina wrecked two churches in 2005 one historically white and one historically Black. They merged because members felt they could do more for the community together. These days, the congregation includes immaculately dressed elders and tattooed hipsters in shorts, all rising to sway to the gospel choir on Sundays. There are reminders of what came before: Images of the old Black church's stained-glass windows are painted on the inner halls of First Grace, and across the street lies the stump of an old Confederate monument that the congregation advocated to remove. Pastor Shawn Moses Anglim also helped found the network and remembers his heart sinking when he saw how the terracotta roof on First Graces sanctuary had been ripped off by Hurricane Ida. It made him passionate about providing a safe shelter during and after storms. We had no power for two weeks and it was hot, said Anglim. Its like having an extra ten pounds of wet clothing and walking around in 90 degree weather. Weve got to rethink this, he remembers deciding. Fast forward and two weeks ago, when Francine knocked out power, the churchs Tesla batteries kicked in, charged up by the solar panels on the roof. Text alerts notified the surrounding neighborhood and more than 100 people to show up. Kids ran around with toy trucks and hula hoops. Parents caught a break and ate plates of jambalaya. Diego James, 14, plugged in his phone, played the church piano and helped distribute snacks. People could plug in dialysis machines. Others who didn't know each other chatted around the outlets. It gave that real sense of community that is so vital in life, especially in a crisis, Anglim said. People care about each other. The state's largest solar-plus-battery microgrid, New Wine Christian Fellowship, is in LaPlace, about a half hour drive west of New Orleans. New Wine is in St. John the Baptist Parish the U.S. county ranked most vulnerable to climate change by the 2023 Climate Vulnerability Index. Pastor Neil Bernard has seen the impacts of climate change in his community, including homes destroyed by floods and health problems exacerbated by extreme heat. Bernard estimated during Francine, around 20 people came to stay overnight. He has room for 900 cots. The Community Lighthouse Project has received $8.6 million from several cities in Louisiana, Sandia National Laboratory, and a congressional allocation secured by Congressman Troy Carter. Additional funding is in the pipeline and will bring the total to $13 million. Arthur Lee is president of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, another microgrid. He said people in New Orleans are having to deal with power outages all the time, and they're profoundly chaotic, even unsafe. When your power goes out, your world is shaken up, your loved ones are upset, youre upset everything is dark. But then they come to a safe beacon," Lee said. ___ O'Malley reported from Philadelphia, Brook from New Orleans. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday successfully airlifted an 8-year-old boy who was experiencing a medical emergency on the high seas off the coast of Northern California, and the heart-pounding cruise ship rescue was caught on camera. After medically evacuating the boy from the cruise ship Royal Princess, the Coast Guard crew was able to transfer the boy and his family to a hospital in Eureka, California. Nicole Jiang said she and her two sons were on a two-week cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii when 8-year-old Daniel started to feel sick on day two of the trip. The family learned Daniel had appendicitis and needed to get to a hospital immediately. "The doctor in the cruise said the situation is very [much an] emergency ... Daniel got [a] very high fever and the situation [grew] worse and worse," Jiang recalled to "Good Morning America." Foggy conditions made getting Daniel off the ship a difficult task, and the Coast Guard was called in to assist. PHOTO: The U.S. Coast Guard was called to medically evacuate an 8-year-old boy from a cruise ship off the coast of northern California. (U.S. Coast Guard) Exclusive: Married divers stranded for nearly 40 hours detail harrowing rescue The Coast Guard said it dispatched a medevac helicopter "around 8 a.m." local time. The crew included aviation survival technician Philip Morie and helicopter pilot Lt. Katherine McDonnell. Both Morie and McDonnell said the foggy weather that day presented risks. "We didn't have it in sight, which from 10 miles out, flying at like 300 or 400 feet [it] was a giant cruise ship, we should be able to see it, and we couldn't see it," McDonnell recalled. "We were like, 'That's unusual.' As we got closer and closer, we were out about 5 miles and we're like, 'Well, we still can't see it.'" McDonnell, who was on her first rescue mission, said she was eventually able to locate the ship. Once there, Morie rappelled down from the helicopter to retrieve 8-year-old Daniel in a basket before returning for his mother and brother. During the rescue, Daniel told "GMA," "I closed my eyes." "On the way up, you know, I'm just still talking to the kid and, you know, giving him high fives and trying to keep him calm," Morie added. Exclusive: Mom speaks out after Air Force rescued son from cruise ship The Coast Guard team rushed the family to a hospital where Daniel was immediately taken into surgery and had his appendix removed. Daniel's surgery was successful and he remains in the hospital in recovery. He is expected to be OK. PHOTO: Daniel, 8, was on the Royal Princess cruise ship when he fell ill. He had to be airlifted by the Coast Guard to a hospital in Washington. (ABC News) The following day, the family and the Coast Guard crew reunited, and Morie and McDonnell gifted Daniel Coast Guard posters. Jiang said she feels grateful for her son's rescuers. "I don't know how to describe [it]," she said, calling the experience "unbelievable" and like a "dream." McDonnell and Morie also said they were thankful for a successful mission. "It's a pretty incredible feeling," McDonnell said. Added Morie, "It's a big win for everybody involved." Coast Guard airlifts boy from cruise ship in heart-pounding rescue on high seas originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A Coast Guard helicopter crew medically evacuated a 74-year-old man off a fishing vessel Wednesday morning, according to a release from USCG. According to USCG, the man was onboard the fishing vessel Poseidon about 35 miles west of San Diego when Coast Guard watchstanders from the Joint Harbor Operations Center reported he started having consistent chest pains. SWAT standoff ends in Sherman Heights; man arrested The man was medically evacuated via an Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter around 6:10 a.m., USCG said. The man arrived at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla around 10 a.m., according to USCG. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A bicyclist travels on a protected bike lane on 13th Street in Boulder on Aug. 14, 2021. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) The Colorado Legislature could consider a bill next year that would enable local governments to impose additional vehicle registration fees to pay for infrastructure proven to make streets safer for non-drivers. That bill advanced through the Transportation Legislation Review Committee on a 12-5 vote Wednesday as one of its interim bills to be introduced during the regular session. It would let cities and counties charge registration fees on light trucks and passenger vehicles beginning in 2026 to fund so-called vulnerable road user protection strategies, which are road features to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. That includes bike lanes, street medians, crosswalk visibility enhancements, rumble strips and traffic circles designed to manage speed, which are all features that the Federal Highway Administration recommends. We want to convince folks to hop on the bus, get on their bike or to walk to the market. But we recognize that our members need to feel safe doing so, said Anita Seitz, the advocacy director for Colorado Communities for Climate Action. In 2023, Colorado saw cyclist deaths increase and pedestrian deaths reach an all-time high. Bike and pedestrian friendly infrastructure investments help to protect our residents and save lives, but theres simply limited dollars dedicated to this purpose. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The fees could be higher on heavier and less fuel efficient vehicles. According to draft bill text, a car between 3,500 and 4,499 pounds could have a maximum fee of $3.60. That is about the weight of a Subaru Outback. The highest fee would be $52 for a truck over 9,500 pounds. A similar bill came before the Legislature this year to create an enterprise fund for these projects, but it died in committee. This version gives the fee collection power to local governments instead. Ridgway Mayor John Clark told the committee that while mass public transit is not totally feasible in his rural community, pedestrian and bike transportation is an opportunity to meet climate goals and reduce car use. We cant expect our residents to get out of their cars until biking and walking becomes reliably safe, he said. The bill will be sponsored by Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Fort Collins Democrat, Rep. Stephanie Vigil, a Colorado Springs Democrat, Sen. Faith Winter, a Westminster Democrat, and Sen. Lisa Cutter, a Littleton Democrat. Republicans on the committee said they were concerned that a local government would be able to charge a new fee without voter approval. I cant be supportive of the bill today, but the concept of trying to get the consent of the voters would certainly move me to be supportive, and we can work on that if the bill moves forward, said Sen. Cleave Simpson, an Alamosa Republican. Republican Rep. Matt Soper of Delta said the bill seemed to be in contrast to the Colorado tradition of taking similar fiscal matters to a vote. The committee advanced a handful of other bills for the full Legislature to consider when it reconvenes in January. That includes a bill to bolster public transit options for people with disabilities, a bill criminalizing vehicular document piracy and a bill to repeal the confidentiality requirement for railroad investigative reports. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Colorado middle school dean of students allegedly fired for saying he identifies as a proud American: Lawsuit EXCLUSIVE A school district in Colorado was sued after it revoked the position of a dean of students allegedly for pushing back against critical race theory in its professional development programming, despite originally promising there would be no consequences for open dialogue. America First Legal (AFL) filed the lawsuit against the Cherry Creek School District on Wednesday, accusing the district of violating the First Amendment by having "terminated his employment under false pretenses" after plaintiff Patrick Hogarty expressed his views against CRT during a mandatory diversity training session. "Disguised as a budget cut, Mr. Hogartys position as dean was eliminated because the district found Mr. Hogartys pride in the United States of America incompatible with the districts political ideology that America is a systemically racist nation," the lawsuit, obtained by Fox News Digital, alleged. Hogarty, who served as dean of students at Campus Middle School from 2021 to 2024, voiced his belief in American identity and the greatness of the United States during the session, which focused on race and equity through the "Courageous Conversations" program, according to the suit. White Teacher Declares Victory After Union Allegedly Tried To Block Him From Board Position Over His Race The dean of students was asked, "What does it mean to be White?;" "What experiences define Whiteness?; "How do you identify?" His response, that he was a proud American, ruffled feathers. For example, Hogarty was asked, "What does it mean to be White?;" "What experiences define Whiteness?;" "How do you identify?" Read On The Fox News App Hogarty responded "that he identifies as an American, that he loves his country, and that he believes it is the greatest country ever founded." Despite assurances from the district that his comments would remain confidential, the districts equity director reported his statements, which the director deemed to have "racist undertones." Shortly after, the district eliminated his position, citing budgetary reasons, despite records showing increased staffing allocations, the suit said. Biden-harris Admin Requires 'Corrupt' Dei 'Ideological Litmus Test' On Nasa Innovation Funding, Scientists Say AFL contended that the real reason for the employees dismissal was his refusal to embrace race-based ideologies promoted during the training. The legal action names several senior school officials, including the superintendent and the principal, for their roles in the alleged retaliation. "Like other school districts across the country, Cherry Creek has replaced the Bill of Rights with the DEI Manifesto, and teachers, students, and parents are being silenced for standing up for the values that make America great," Ian Prior, America First Legal Senior Advisor, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "We are proud to stand up for all teachers across America who are being unfairly persecuted for daring to challenge a government-sponsored orthodoxy that teaches hatred of America and seeks to marginalize people based on their viewpoints and the color of their skin," he added. The Cherry Creek School District did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Original article source: Colorado middle school dean of students allegedly fired for saying he identifies as a proud American: Lawsuit DENVER (KDVR) After an eventful month for Colorados voter-mandated gray wolf reintroduction program, Colorado Parks and Wildlife released a map showing watershed locations of the six collared gray wolves that have not been recaptured or killed. According to the new map, which shows the six wolves movement provided by GPS collars on the reintroduced mammals, wolves were not tracked in a large swath of Routt County surrounding Steamboat Springs. However, theres been a great deal of change to the wolf population in Colorado during the past few weeks. Colorado announces plan to release up to 15 more wolves this winter Since the previous wolf movement map was released on Aug. 28, showing that at least one wolf had spent some time in the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park, the state announced: It had captured all six members of the Copper Creek wolf pack (two adults and four pups) The male adult wolf in the pack had died from injuries he had sustained before capture A third reintroduced wolf died in the wild, confirmed on Sept. 10 An agreement with the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship to introduce up to 15 wolves from Canada to Colorado from December 2024 through March 2025 Because of this, the new map looks very different from the map released in August. One disconnected area spans a watershed north and west of Walden in Jackson County. CPW noted that the highlighted watershed locations can be disconnected because of how the GPS collars transmit data: GPS points are taken every four hours, and then a package of four data points is sent back to biologists in one group per collar. If wolves are moving quickly enough, a GPS point may not be taken in every watershed they travel through, CPW explained. Because the Copper Creek pack was captured, data from the reintroduced wolves in that pack was not included in the monthly movement map released on Wednesday. Overall, the agency is monitoring eight wolves in the wild, including two that migrated into the state naturally. One item that CPW has noted in every release is that the wolves have remained north of Interstate 70, even though watershed boundaries are highlighted slightly south of the highway line. This is because the wolves locations are shared based on watersheds and watersheds are not confined by the interstate. Falcon in Colorado released at same place it was found injured This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from Aug. 28 through Sept. 24. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from July 24 through Aug. 27. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from May 21 through June 25, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from June 25 through July 23, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from April 23 through May 21. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from March 26 through April 23, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from Feb. 28 to March 25, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) Colorado Parks and Wildlife is tracking two wolves that have made their way into Moffatt County. A map shows where 12 collared wolves have been over the last month. (Map: Colorado Parks and Wildlife) This map shows collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from Dec. 18, 2023 to Jan. 22, 2024. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) However, there is some information that can still be gathered from the new map. The map shows that the wolves moved further west into Rio Blanco County, as well as west along the state line in Routt County. The reintroduced animals also appeared to move closer to Eagle along I-70 in Eagle County, and away from Lake County near I-70, east of Vail and northwest of Breckenridge. Its not yet clear when the Copper Creek pack might be released, as operations surrounding the pack have remained under wraps to protect the federally endangered species. Disputes with livestock producers, who are concerned that wolves will depredate their animals (killing the ranchers product, and therefore affecting their businesss bottom line). The most recent depredation was reported on Sept. 9 in Grand County, where one cow and one calf were killed. No claim has been submitted for the depredation, but livestock producers can request that the state pay fair market value for the animal killed by wolves. How CPW plans to avoid livestock conflict while reintroducing wolves Most of the wolf depredations have been reported in Grand, Routt and Jackson counties. The Copper Creek pack was blamed for a slew of livestock depredations in Grand County. CPW biologists said the depredations were by the adults, who were feeding the four pups, and that the pups were still dependent on their parents for food and still had baby teeth, which meant they were not effective hunters for animals larger than rabbits or squirrels. There is no evidence that the four pups were involved in any of the livestock depredation incidents in Grand County, CPW said in its announcement of the packs capture. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. COLUMBIANA, Ohio (WKBN) Girl Scouts is about more than just selling cookies. A Columbiana County teen joined the group during kindergarten and just achieved the top award. Elizabeth Seimbida can show you what shes done in Girl Scouts and where its taken her: fun patches, service patches, and trips to Switzerland and Italy. She also has Bronze and Silver awards. Next year, the 18-year-old will get to add a Gold version. It means making a huge accomplishment and being an inspiration for other girls, Seimbida said. Siembida is a 2024 graduate of Columbiana High School. She is the first Girl Scout in 20 years from Columbiana County to earn her Gold Award. It means shes completed a trifecta of top awards, which only 5% of girls achieve. It was difficult but if you put the work into it, its very rewarding, and its worth all the work you put in, Siembida said. Her projects included research for a trail sign that was put in at the Fairfield Township Government Building. Her Silver award was a reading library bench at Firestone Park. Reaching the Gold award was aided by putting together a project that installed a gaga ball pit at Columbiana Middle School to help the students physical and mental health. As soon as I finished it, within an hour, there were kids already wanting to play and they were having so much fun, and I loved seeing that, Siembida said. Siembida is a Girl Scouts ambassador and national delegate. Shes aged out of Girl Scouts but being a leader could be the next possibility. Im just going to let life take me where it wants me to go, she said. Siembida has also raised money so Gold Star mothers would get bronze markers at their headstones in Firestone Cemetery. That completed the trifecta of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Airport is cancelling flights as our area prepares for Hurricane Helene. As of late Thursday morning, Delta Airline flights were cancelled for 5:13 p.m. and 9:37 p.m. Columbus Airport asks that any questions be directed to Delta. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. The following businesses and offices in the Columbus, Ga., area are closing due to the severe weather forecast in advance of Hurricane Helene. As of 6:53 p.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center predicted Helene will be a Category 4 storm when it makes landfall Thursday in Florida, with a 20-foot storm surge and 130-mph wind. The National Weather Service forecast warned Columbus had the potential for wind 74 to 110 mph and flooding from 4 to 8 inches of rain. Here are the announced business and office closings or schedule changes, as well as event cancellations, as of Thursday afternoon. If you have a news item to add to this list, please email newsroom@ledger-enquirer.com. Chattahoochee Valley Libraries All branches of the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries will close Thursday at 6 p.m. They will reopen Friday at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, all of CVLs digital materials are available 24/7 on its website. Walmart The customer service operator answering the phone at the Walmart on Manchester Expressway said the store is closing early, at 6 p.m. Thursday, and opening late, at 8 a.m. Friday. Normal hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. MercyMed MercyMed announced on its Facebook page it will be closed Friday. It plans to open for regular business hours Monday at 8:30 a.m. Columbus Airport The Columbus Airport announced on its Facebook page that Delta Air Line flights to Atlanta at 5:13 pm. and 9:37 p.m. are canceled. Delta Flight DL5403 scheduled for Friday at 6:35 a.m. also has been canceled. Springer Opera House Thursdays 7:30 p.m. performance of Jersey Boys at the Springer Opera House has been canceled. Ticket holders are advised to check the website for more information or call the box office at 706-327-3688. West Central Health District All West Central Health District locations will close at 2 p.m. Thursday and will remain closed Friday. They plan to reopen Monday at 8 a.m. This includes Columbus and the following counties: Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor and Webster. Easterseals West Georgia Easterseals West Georgia will be open Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for its childrens and adult programs. Friday, those programs will have delayed openings. They will start at 9 a.m. Columbus Consolidated Government The Columbus Consolidated Government said all offices and city operations will remain open Thursday and Friday this week, but city department heads and elected officials have the authority to use discretion and flexibility regarding office hours and operations to include the option for employees working virtually. Georgia Department of Labor The Columbus office for the Georgia Department of Labor will be closed Thursday and Friday. School closings For a roundup of school closings in the Columbus area, click here. As Haitian immigration to Springfield and subsequent challenges have been thrust into the national headlines due largely to misinformation amplified by Republican politicians, Columbus is poised to embrace newcomers from Haiti and elsewhere with a new commission. The city has been building toward establishing a commission on immigration and refugee affairs for years, but the timing now is not lost on Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla. "The strength lies in us being together as a unified community. Because today it's Haiti, and tomorrow it's another country," she said Tuesday. "It is a narrative that ... isn't fair and it creates chaos and it creates uncertainty and it creates an unsafe environment for entire communities, cities and countries. And certainly, here in the city of Columbus, we will not stand for it." Barroso de Padilla was referring to Springfield, a city less than 50 miles from Columbus which has pushed into the national spotlight in recent weeks after former President Donald Trump, his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and other Republicans figures began spreading unfounded rumors that Haitian immigrants there were eating pets and wildlife. Columbus City Councilmembers Nancy Day-Achauer and Lourdes Barroso de Padilla listen to a speaker during a public hearing Tuesday in council chambers on the proposed commission on immigrants and refugee affairs. Barroso de Padilla made her remarks during a public hearing Tuesday evening on the creation of a Commission on Immigrants and Refugee Affairs. She and CouncilmMember Nancy Day-Achauer heard from a packed room of city residents supportive of the proposed commission and representing dozens of nonprofits that aid immigrants. The new 15-member commission would be appointed by city council and advise the city on the challenges facing immigrants, refugees and their families. All members of the new commission would be immigrants or refugees or the children of immigrants or refugees. The announcement of this commission came earlier this summer after the city and Ohio State University released the results of a yearlong study into the integration and well-being of immigrants in the Columbus metro area. That report also called for certain steps, including greater collaboration among a patchwork of existing programs that help immigrants. Many of the speakers on Tuesday said immigrants come here wanting to contribute to and integrate into their new community but face obstacles that they believe the city should help address, including language barriers and transferring foreign job qualifications. International immigrants account for about half of the Columbus area's population growth in recent years, so welcoming them benefits all residents, Barroso de Padilla said. Marc FeQuiere, executive director of the Haitian Community Network based on Columbus' Far East Side, said immigrants have a large and positive impact on the state's economy. Community members attend the public hearing on the city of Columbus' proposed creation of a commission on immigrants and refugee affairs on Tuesday at City Hall. "All the jobs that nobody else wants to do, immigrants do them. All the small businesses that nobody else is thinking about, immigrants create them," FeQuiere said. The ordinance to establish the commission has not been finalized and requires a vote by Columbus City Council. Barroso de Padilla said Council intends to seat a commission by early next year. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus poised to create new commission on immigrants, refugees FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Commerzbank's designated CEO, Bettina Orlopp, said on Thursday that the bank will hold a first round of talks with UniCredit on Friday as the Italian lender presses for a possible tie-up. The remarks are her first since she was named earlier this week the German bank's next chief executive officer at a critical juncture in its 154-year history. UniCredit earlier this month disclosed that it had bought a 9% stake in Germany's bank, plans to buy more and has pressed for discussions to explore a tie-up. She said the bank was open-minded and that any synergies must be jointly analysed. (Reporting by Tom Sims, Editing by Friederike Heine, Madeline Chambers) UPDATE 9/27/24 4:11 p.m. Columbus police say Johnnie Wilson has been found in good and healthy condition. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding a missing man. Police say Johnnie Wilson, 68, was last seen in the 6000 block of Jane Lane at around 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19. He was driving a black 2013 Nissan Altima with a Georgia tag reading CBB8007. Wilson was reported missing on Sept. 24. According to police, Wilson has gray and white hair with brown eyes. He stands at 5-foot-10 and weighs 100lbs. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, the CPD Special Victims Unit at (706) 225-3449, or lead investigator Cpl. Adil Zaman at (706) 225-3488. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A recent analysis has named the rudest cities in America, finding Columbus is among the top five locations where residents experience the least amount of inconsiderate behavior. Preply.com, a language learning resource, released its 2024 ranking of the most and least rude cities in the country last month. In July 2024, a total of 2,533 survey participants in 46 of Americas largest cities were asked to recall how often they had experienced fellow residents demonstrating behaviors such as listening to music or watching videos in shared spaces; ignoring strangers; being disrespectful of personal space; and careless driving. Authentic Italian restaurant to open first central Ohio location at Easton Town Center While not specifically surveying participants about friendliness, Preply.com determined which of the cities were the least rude and gave them a score on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the rudest. Columbus was ranked at No. 4 and given a score of 6.7. The least rude city was Omaha, Nebraska (No. 1); followed by Minneapolis (No. 2); San Diego (No. 3); and Kansas City, Missouri (No. 5). Miami was named the rudest city in the country, earning a 9.88 out of 10 on Preply.coms rudeness scale. Miami was followed by Philadelphia; Tampa, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; and Oakland, California. Lack of awareness in public, loudness in shared places, and rudeness to service staff members are just some of the behaviors that branded Miami, FL, as having the rudest residents, the website wrote. The website's analysts found the most common rude behaviors cited among all participants were lack of care for others, being loud in shared spaces, and a lack of self awareness. The site also concluded the older a participant was, the more likely they were to think those who moved to their city are ruder than those born in the area. Half of Americans also believe their citys residents have gotten more rude in the lead-up to the election, the company found. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. The command chief of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi was removed from his leadership role this week following an internal investigation into the senior noncommissioned officer, according to the Air Force. Chief Master Sgt. Michael Venning was removed from his position on Monday by Col. Billy Pope, the 81st Training Wing commander. The senior noncommissioned officer had been reassigned earlier this summer as officials investigated him, a wing spokesperson told Military.com. "Col. Pope temporarily reassigned Chief Master Sgt. Venning on July 30 to allow for a command-directed investigation to take place," Capt. Paige Skinner, a spokesperson for the 81st Training Wing, told Military.com in an emailed statement. "Col. Pope determined the findings of the investigation warranted the removal of Chief Master Sgt. Venning from his position." Read Next: Army Surpasses its Goal for Recruiting Active-Duty Soldiers, But Just Barely Skinner, in response to questions from Military.com, said, "There are no charges filed in this case" and added that a service member's administrative disciplinary history can't be released and is protected under the Privacy Act of 1974. "In accordance with Air Force regulations, removal from a position for cause may be used as a basis to support subsequent collateral adverse administrative action in some situations," Skinner added. "We would be unable [to] provide information on nonjudicial punishment actions." Venning entered the Air Force in 2000, according to his biography posted online. He had been in his role at Keesler since July 2023. In his role, Venning advised "commanders and staff on mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training, utilization, health, morale and welfare of the wing's 12,000 military and civilian airmen," according to his biography. Prior to that assignment, he was the command chief of the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom and also served as the superintendent of the 422nd Air Base Group at RAF Croughton. Venning could not be reached and did not respond to phone calls and text messages left at numbers associated with him in public records. A command-directed investigation is an administrative probe and is described as "an extension of the commander's authority to investigate and to correct problems within the command," according to the Department of the Air Force manual. Eric Carpenter, an associate professor of law at Florida International University who specializes in military justice, told Military.com in an interview Thursday that command-directed investigations often lead to administrative actions and, in some cases, can lead to separate criminal investigations, depending on the nature of the alleged actions. But in any circumstance, depending on the findings, such investigations are often capable of harming careers. Carpenter also added that it's not easy to find many senior enlisted leaders with the experience to fill those leadership roles in the Air Force. "Even though it's just an administrative action for that service member, that's crushing," Carpenter said. "Being taken out of a leadership role like that, when you're a senior leader, is pretty shameful." Venning's firing comes after several major leadership changes across the Air Force in recent months. Earlier this month, the commander of the 28th Force Support Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota was fired from his leadership role. In August, the 28th Operations Group commander at Ellsworth was also removed from his command. Related: Ellsworth Air Force Base Fires Second Commander in Just 2 Months MANHATTAN (KSNT) Manhattan city leaders are considering common consumption in areas of the Little Apple. The Manhattan Commission hosted a work session meeting Tuesday, Sept. 25 where the discussion of common consumption areas (CCA) took place. CCAs would differ from special events, which are what Manhattan currently allows, where streets get closed off and its limited to specific days and times, as well as specific areas, like Aggieville and City Park. In April 2023, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill allowing cities to create their own common consumption areas. Manhattan will soon break ground on nearly 80-acre park A common consumption area is a defined indoor or outdoor area not otherwise licensed where the possession and consumption of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverage (CMB) is allowed pursuant to a common consumption area permit. The boundaries of any common consumption area must be clearly marked using a physical barrier or other apparent line of demarcation. Kansas Department of Revenues website excerpt According to Manhattan city staff, CCAs would be better for the community than special events because streets would be able to stay open and bars are not responsible for any liquor liabilities. Weve been trying to create a regional center out of Manhattan, have a regional draw, I think this [CCA] is just another enhancement of that, Gina Snyder, Downtown Manhattan Executive Director said in the city commission meeting. We could have a great event [with] a lot of people and at the end of the night we didnt make any money because their insurance was so high, Dennis Cook, Aggieville Business Association said. So this will help streamline all of that for us. We have been actively asking for the city to get caught up to other cities in the state. K-State QB surpasses first fundraising goal for high school principal Some commissioners voiced concerns about underage drinking, public nuisance and liability issues, while others say it would boost tourism and bring in more tax dollars. City staff suggests the commission work to collaborate with the Riley County Police Department, establish work groups with local businesses to present detailed recommendations and get initial input from the commission to further the CCA discussion. The commission did not make a decision, but plans work closely with Riley County police and local businesses to determine next steps. Earlier this year, Topeka created two areas where CCAs are allowed. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. WINTERS, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Winters ISD juniors and seniors have been attending the World of Work (W.O.W) conference in Abilene for several years, and the mock interviews are an exciting part of the conference for their school. However, the conference did not hold mock interviews this year. Nevertheless, the community gathered to hold some later that afternoon. Every year, Winters ISD helps students prepare for the event by creating resumes and business cards for their portfolios, practicing job interview questions, improving communication skills, and learning about appropriate business attire. Teacher Deb Pritchard mentioned that they discovered these activities would not be taking place this year when they arrived at the conference. So, much to our dismay, when we arrived at the conference today, ready to impress, we experienced a HUGE letdown when we learned there would be NO Mock Interviews. None of us were aware they had done away with that portion of the conference, so I was particularly disappointed since our students had prepared so diligently for the past six weeks, Pritchard shared on Winters ISDs Facebook Page. She explained that after hearing the news, Mandie England and Danna Hoppe suggested gathering people at the school to hold mock interviews after the students returned from the event. I personally didnt think the idea would work, nor did I believe the students would want to stay in their business attire and participate, so I shunned the idea, Pritchard typed. However, they persisted, and within an hour, they lined up 12 community members, businessmen and women from Winters, who were willing to help and give our students the opportunity to experience the interview process. England, Hoppe, and Melissa Gerhart developed a list of interview questions, printed an interview rubric, secured rooms, and created an interview schedule. They then greeted a panel of interviewers, guided them to rooms, and escorted the students to their interviews. Prospective employers showed up at 2:00 p.m., and by 3:15 p.m., had interviewed 30 seniors and provided valuable feedback and constructive criticism! To top it off, the students were willing and eager to follow through with the process, Pritchard shared. Courtesy of Kathy Horner Winters ISD would like to thank those who helped make this happen, including Lisa Blake, Sue Prewit, Sherri Langston, Dinell Jacob, Paula Geyer, Jill Davis, Will Duggan, Doug Wheat, Heather Brown, Bill Bredemeyer, April Sweet, and Susan Conner. THIS is the reason we LOVE Winters! No one said no to our request. Some could not help today but would have loved to. Many helped today and loved giving back to our community, Pritchard expressed. Lots of places talk about giving back to your community. Winters DOES IT. Selflessly, willingly, generously, and at the spur of the moment. Lots of places give lip service to paying it forward, but the people who answered the call today would all tell you that others before them had helped them along the way. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. The area around the city of Newport, Ore. is seen from the Pacific Ocean near the PacWave South wave energy test site, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The coastal waters of Oregon are shaping up to be key for advances in two forms of renewable energy: wave power and wind turbines that float. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The number of companies planning to bid on a chance to develop a floating offshore wind project off the Oregon coast has been dwindling as opposition to the plan remains strong. The federal government finalized two areas for floating offshore wind farms along the Oregon coast in February. The move brought the state closer to commercially developing and producing a renewable energy source as part of the fight against climate change. But opposition from tribes, fishermen and coastal residents highlights some of the challenges the plan faces. Some are concerned that the construction will harm sea life, marine habitat, culturally important areas and views of the ocean. Mainstream Renewable Power Inc., one of the companies that had planned to bid on the project, told Oregon Public Broadcasting that it will not longer participate in the sale scheduled for Oct. 15. Two others told the Oregonian/OregonLive that they, too, are backing out. In addition to the opposition from tribes and fishermen, community groups have also voiced opposition to developing floating offshore wind farms. Coos and Curry counties will be voting on whether to oppose wind development. The U.S. Department of Interiors Bureau of Ocean Energy Management would not confirm the number of companies participating in the upcoming auction. It also would not say whether the auction would be delayed if only one bidder submitted a plan. Oregon Public Broadcasting has reached out to all five eligible bidders to confirm their participation. So far, only Mainstream Renewable Power has replied. The Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians have sued the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, claiming it failed to consider the environmental, cultural and economic impacts of offshore wind farms. The group hopes to delay the Oct. 15 auction. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has been working to ease tensions over wind development. She acknowledged that the federal governments process for developing it hasnt started off on the right foot, but said the state must explore renewable energy options including floating offshore wind farms to meet its climate goals. ARUSHA, Tanzania (AP) A regional court in East Africa opened proceedings on Thursday in a case filed by Congo against neighboring Rwanda, accusing it of violating Congo's sovereignty and territorial integrity by sending troops to help rebels in the country's east. Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources, while others try to defend their communities. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings. Congo alleges that Rwandan forces have been involved in aggression and war crimes in the east. In July, U.N. experts estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwanda government forces are deployed in eastern Congo alongside the M23 rebel group, which has been making major advances. The East African Court of Justice, based in Arusha, Tanzania, was established as a regional court under a 1999 treaty among a group of east African nations and is meant to hear cases from Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. The court has been ratified by the United Nations. The proceedings came a day after Congos President Felix Tshisekedi called for sanctions against Rwanda at the U.N General Assembly, alleging it supports the M23 rebels in the restive eastern region. In the lawsuit, Congo seeks to hold Rwanda accountable for violations including atrocities against civilians and breaches of international law, and also secure reparations for the victims of these alleged crimes. The lawsuit underscores the long-running tensions between the two countries, particularly over the mineral-rich eastern Congo. We are happy the case has taken off, the lawyer representing Congo, Elisha Ongoya, told The Associated Press. Rwanda raised objections, questioning the court's jurisdiction in the case. Its lawyer, Emile Ntwali, urged for the case to be dismissed since the regional court does not handle criminal matters. Ntwali also pointed out procedural mistakes, such as Congo's failure to translate court documents into English, the official language of the court. Congos legal team asked the court to be allowed to submit new evidence and translated documents. Presiding Judge Yohanne Masara said the court would review each side's arguments and deliver a ruling on the objections at a later date. Republicans and Democrats are expressing openness to overtures by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to improve relations with the U.S., in an effort to turn Ankara away from military ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Relations with Turkey cleaved during former President Trumps administration after Ankaras purchase of the Russian air defense system S-400, prompting Congress to kick Turkey out of the F-35 joint strike fighter-jet program, one part of Congresss sweeping sanctions against Russia following its meddling in the 2016 election. U.S. officials at the time said the presence of the S-400 in Turkey posed a security risk, exposing the maintenance and production of F-35s to Russian intelligence gathering. As a result, Turkey lost out on acquiring about 100 of the advanced fighter jets and military production contracts. But the Biden administration is reportedly pursuing a solution in which Turkey would agree to transfer the S-400s to U.S. control, or allow American access to the systems, in exchange for reentry into the F-35 program. Admitting Turkey back into the F-35 program would require approval from the four top lawmakers on the House and Senate Foreign Affairs committees an action lawmakers expressed openness to and optimism about when approached by The Hill. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, smiled when asked if the Biden administration is pursuing talks with Turkey over a potential solution that would allow the U.S. and Ukraine access to the S-400 to study its build. Well Turkey has access to one [S-400], youre getting warm, McCaul said in response to a question from The Hill. McCaul said he has heard the Biden administration is potentially trying to make a deal with Turkey to bring them back into the F-35 program, but said it depends on what Turkey does in exchange for that. And I cant get into what that is. He noted how Erdogan has demonstrated an ability to follow through on hard negotiations moving forward on ratifying Swedens accession to NATO in exchange for the U.S. delivery of F-16 fighter jets, on top of other concessions the Turkish president secured from Stockholm and the European Union. It just depends on how well they cooperate with NATO depends what else they do, its a good way to motivate and we dont want to see them buy it from other countries like Russia, McCaul said of the modern fighter jets. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Affairs panel, was less optimistic. This is not new talk, weve been talking about that literally, years, he told The Hill. But he said he would move forward on approving F-35 transfers if Turkey gives up the S-400. I have always said Turkey should give up the S-400, period. How they do it, Im agnostic on it. If the idea that theyre kicking around gets it done, Im all for it. I suggested to them a long, long time ago, in fact the suggestion was made during the Trump administration. Turkey did not bite on it then, I dont know if theyll bite on it now, he said. Turkey is among the most frustrating allies for the U.S. and NATO. On the one hand, Erdogan is an anti-democratic, Hamas-supporting, allegedly corrupt leader who uses violence to silence dissent (including against protesters in the U.S.) and has engaged in provocative military actions toward fellow NATO allies like Greece. But on the other hand, Erdogan has demonstrated Ankaras ability to serve as a key go-between for NATO and its adversaries; has contributed significantly in humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees; and its geography as a country straddling Europe, Asia and the Middle East makes it a major player in strategic security. This is a moment where you can feel some momentum behind the relationship, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who met with Erdogan in Ankara in February alongside Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). Obviously were always going to have friction points as any complicated alliance structure does, but my hope is that we can find a way to get more integrated when it comes to defense. We need them to solve this S-400 issue, and hopefully well be able to make some progress. Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, said their meeting with Erdogan in February was positive. We talked about the potential, I dont want to say reset, but to look at a better relationship with the United States and Turkey going forward, and obviously thats one of the issues that would have to be addressed, she said of the S-400s. I think the administration has been working to see if there was something that might work, and so it depends on how its structured, obviously. Shaheen also raised Greece as an important element of improving U.S. relations with Turkey. The U.S. is often in the middle of Greek-Turkish tensions that have ebbed and flowed over long-standing grievances and unresolved conflicts. One key element of getting F-16s to Turkey in exchange for their approving Sweden into NATO was, separately, approving Greeces participation in the F-35 program securing Athens an edge over Ankara in air superiority. But Athens and Ankara have made moves to improve ties over the past few years, and Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a meeting Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, expressing openness to talks on maritime issues that contribute to tensions. Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow in the Transatlantic Security Program with the Center for a New American Security, said Athens and Ankara regularly go through cycles of tensions and improved relations, but that this weeks meeting was still a hopeful sign. If theyre starting to have earnest talks, politically acceptable talks chipping away at their issues, thats wonderful, he said. I know its going to take a long time, its difficult. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and among those who would have to sign off on F-35s for Turkey, talked of improved relations with Greece as also opening the pathway to improving relations with Turkey. I think from my conversations with our allies and friends in Greece, that that relationship is better than what it was, so I think were in a better place than we may have been some time ago when none of those things were true. Asl Aydntasbas, a visiting fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, said that Russias war in Ukraine, Chinas global ambitions and the wars in the Middle East have reinforced to both Washington and Ankara the need for rapprochement. There is little appetite for embracing Erdogan personally due to his image and Turkeys democratic backsliding. But there seems to be a desire to rebuild institutional ties and resuscitate this relationship, she wrote in an email to The Hill. So I see greater willingness on the part of Turkey to find a solution to the S-400 issue short of shipping it back to Russia and more receptivity in Washington to find creative and politically acceptable formulas. And if Congress is on board, this will likely happen. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Republicans in the US Congress have initiated an investigation into President Zelenskyy's visit to Pennsylvania to visit a munitions factory. Source: European Pravda with reference to letters by James Comer, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Edward Siskel, White House Counsel in the Biden administration Details: Comer pointed out how in 2019, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeached then-President Donald Trump on the grounds that he had tried to use a foreign leader, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to benefit his presidential campaign. Quote: "The Biden-Harris Administration recently flew the same foreign leader Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on an American-taxpayer-funded flight to Pennsylvania, a battleground state in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, which has been described as the trickiest battleground for Vice President Kamala Harris to win." Details: Comer stressed that the Committee on Oversight and Accountability is seeking to determine whether the Biden-Harris administration attempted to use Zelenskyy to help Vice President Harris's presidential campaign, and if so, whether there was an abuse of office. "The Committee seeks to understand the circumstances that led and any facts that could justify the Biden-Harris Administration to transport President Zelensky on a Department of the Air Force aircraft to Pennsylvania," he added. Comer also noted that Zelenskyy's agenda included a stop in Pennsylvania to meet with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was "until recently considered a promising candidate to further Democrats hopes to maintain control of the White House". It is worth noting that Zelenskyys meeting with Shapiro had an official purpose to sign an agreement on assistance to Zaporizhzhia Oblast from Pennsylvania. Comer also expressed dissatisfaction with Zelenskyy's critical remarks about Trump and his vice-presidential candidate in an interview with The New Yorker. Quote: "The Committee is investigating any coordination or communication among the Biden-Harris Administration, Pennsylvanias Office of the Governor, and President Zelenskyy for use or solicitation of use of government property to politically benefit Vice President Harriss presidential campaign." "The Committee believes no foreign actor whether or not deemed "malign" by DOJ should be permitted to interfere in American elections." Background: Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, published a letter on Wednesday, 25 September, addressed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and containing ultimatum demands directed at Ukraine. "Dear President Zelenskyy: I demand that you immediately fire Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova," the document begins. Johnson cited an event during the Ukrainian president's visit to the US a visit to an ammunition manufacturing site in Pennsylvania as the motive for his ultimatum. It is worth noting that immediately after Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the United States began, relations with the Republican Party leadership cooled sharply. Trump refused to meet with Zelenskyy, and Speaker Johnson hinted at a possible disruption of meetings in Congress. Read also: Trump claims "Ukraine is gone" and manipulates facts about war. Support UP or become our patron! Congressman Turner, others want federal aid sent to Springfield SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) Lawmakers from Ohio are calling on the Biden Administration to send federal assistance to Clark County. Five Congressmen joined Congressman Mike Turner (R-Dayton) called for aid in letters to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland. Turner blamed the immigration situation on the Biden-Harris Administration, which he claims should be who the issue should go to. The Biden-Harris Administration has created an immigration crisis in Springfield, Ohio. In April of this year, Congressman Mike Turner, who represents Springfield, brought the City of Springfield Mayor, City Manager, and Public Safety Manager to deliver a clear message to federal agencies: it is the Biden-Harris Administrations responsibility to provide assistance to the City of Springfield, its schools, healthcare centers, law enforcement, and social services agencies as they navigate this immigration crisis, said a portion of the letter. For more information, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Strengths: Dominant market presence and comprehensive distribution network. Weaknesses: Vulnerability to economic downturns and competitive pressures. Opportunities: Expansion through digital transformation and market consolidation. Threats: Intensifying competition and potential supply chain disruptions. On September 25, 2024, Ferguson Enterprises Inc (NYSE:FERG) filed its annual 10-K report, revealing a financial landscape that underscores the company's robust market position. As a leading distributor in the North American construction market, Ferguson Enterprises Inc reported nearly $30 billion in sales for fiscal 2023, with a significant 95% of sales generated in the United States. The company's financial health is further evidenced by a substantial market capitalization of over $38 billion as of January 31, 2024. This financial overview sets the stage for a comprehensive SWOT analysis, providing investors with a deeper understanding of Ferguson's strategic positioning and potential for future growth. Decoding Ferguson Enterprises Inc (FERG): A Strategic SWOT Insight The main body of the article starts here... Strengths Market Leadership and Distribution Network: Ferguson Enterprises Inc's dominant position in the North American construction market is a testament to its strength. The company's extensive distribution network, with 1,549 branches and 10 regional distribution centers across the United States, ensures same-day and next-day product availability, a competitive edge in the industry. This network is supported by a robust e-commerce platform and specialized sales associates, which contribute to Ferguson's ability to meet diverse customer needs efficiently. Financial Robustness: The company's financial health is solid, with a market capitalization of $38.09 billion, reflecting investor confidence. Ferguson's ability to maintain a strong balance sheet, even after divesting its UK business in 2021, demonstrates its financial resilience and strategic focus on the lucrative North American market. Weaknesses Sensitivity to Economic Cycles: Ferguson's performance is closely tied to the health of the construction industry, which is cyclical and sensitive to economic fluctuations. The company acknowledges that a downturn in residential and non-residential markets could significantly impact its sales and operations, indicating a vulnerability to macroeconomic trends. Competitive Pressure: The company operates in highly competitive industries where market consolidation and technological advancements, such as generative AI, could disrupt its business model. Ferguson's reliance on a value-added distribution model might be challenged by competitors with lower-cost transactional business models or more advanced technological capabilities. Story continues Opportunities Digital Transformation: Ferguson has the opportunity to further leverage its digital platforms to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. The company's ongoing investments in omni-channel capabilities could lead to increased market share and customer loyalty. Market Consolidation: As the largest industrial and construction distributor in North America, Ferguson is well-positioned to capitalize on market consolidation opportunities. Strategic acquisitions could allow the company to expand its product offerings and customer base, driving further growth. Threats Intensifying Competition: The competitive landscape is rapidly evolving, with new entrants and existing competitors expanding their capabilities. Ferguson must continuously innovate and adapt to maintain its market position against competitors who may have greater resources or brand recognition. Supply Chain Risks: The company's supply chain is subject to potential disruptions from various external factors, including geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and public health crises. Such disruptions could lead to inventory shortages, increased costs, and ultimately impact Ferguson's ability to serve its customers effectively. In conclusion, Ferguson Enterprises Inc (NYSE:FERG) exhibits a strong market presence and financial stability, which are crucial assets in navigating the competitive and cyclical construction industry. However, the company must remain vigilant in addressing its vulnerabilities to economic downturns and competitive pressures. By capitalizing on opportunities for digital transformation and market consolidation, Ferguson can enhance its value proposition and secure its position as a market leader. Conversely, threats from intensifying competition and supply chain risks must be managed proactively to ensure sustained growth and profitability. Overall, Ferguson's strategic focus and robust operational framework position it well to leverage its strengths and opportunities while mitigating its weaknesses and threats. 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. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) The state of Connecticut is expanding a program to make early childhood care more affordable for more families. The changes were announced in Enfield Thursday morning for the states Care 4 Kids program, which helps low-to-moderate income families in Connecticut pay for child care costs. SNAP increases and changes to who qualifies take effect Oct. 1 Starting Jan. 1, 2025, family fees for Care 4 Kids will be capped at 7% of annual household incomethe current rate is 10%. Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) said that will save families in the program about $200 a year. Starting Oct. 1, 2024, Care 4 Kids will be opened up to more families, raising income eligibility to add another 1500 children to the program. Its a big priority for me to continue to expand access, make it more affordable, and pay the people who are doing the job because I know what a difference it makes for parents and their kids, Lamont said. Some federal money will pay for the program, and the state will kick in about $17 million a year. The governor said the state will make back much more than that in revenue because more parents will be able to work. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. State Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), left, discusses her proposed bill calling on more transparency for youth treatment facilities as hotel heiress and media personality Paris Hilton, center, listens during a news conference in Sacramento in April. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) One of California's most conservative Republican lawmakers has scored an unusual win for the second year in a row by getting Democrats to embrace a tougher approach to protecting children from sex trafficking and institutional abuse. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom this week signed two high-profile bills by state Sen. Shannon Grove, a Bakersfield Republican who has opposed mandatory vaccinations for children and once suggested that God caused a drought. The bills Senate Bill 1414 and Senate Bill 1043 make it a felony to solicit a minor 15 or younger for prostitution and create a public database to disclose any uses of seclusion or behavioral constraints on minors held at residential therapeutic facilities. Human trafficking is a disgusting and reprehensible crime that leaves lasting pain on victims and survivors. These new laws will help us further hold predators accountable and provide victims with the support and care they need, Newsom wrote in a statement about signing Grove's sex trafficking bill on Thursday along with three others that support victims of sex crimes. On Friday, Newsom signed the second bill from Grove, which will establish greater transparency about abuses against teens. Grove in a statement called the passing of her trafficking bill an "incredible victory." She called the bill signed Friday a "commitment to transparency and safeguarding the well-being of our at-risk children." While the bills Newsom signed make relatively narrow changes in the law, the bills' successes are unusual because Democrats enjoy a supermajority in Sacramento and have traditionally resisted GOP pressure on criminal justice matters. Even more surprising: the win for Grove came during a high-stakes election year. Read more: California lawmakers got tougher on crime this year. What will Newsom decide? "I think she has exposed a soft underbelly of Democrats being weak on crime issues and basically embarrassed them into passing legislation," said Steven Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant. "She touched all the right buttons ... she learned she can get some things done that she's passionate about." Grove's conservative record speaks for itself: She is a self-described gun-carrying, tongue-talking, spirit-filled believer," an Army veteran, and has tweeted posts alleging that former President Trump won the 2020 election. She has opposed expanding Medi-Cal health insurance to undocumented immigrants and opposed mandating that schoolchildren be vaccinated. Environmental groups and abortion rights advocates have given her failing grades on her voting record in the Legislature, while the National Rifle Assn. gives her an A. Grove's bills are not the only ones that Republicans have advanced to the governor this year. But Democrats will typically not move forward with Republican-authored public safety legislation, and rarely anything as attention-grabbing as the ones she introduced. Assembly Republicans moved forward 16 public safety bills to the governor, with a majority having attracted little attention. Senate Republicans have sent just three public safety bills, including Grove's sex trafficking bills. Another was similarly punitive and, if signed, would make it a felony to rape an unconscious person, adding to the list of violent felonies, but did not stir much of a public uproar. The author of that bill recently left the Democratic Party to become a Republican this year, more than halfway through the Legislative session. Read more: With support from Paris Hilton, California lawmakers pass bill to protect teens in treatment programs "We have to understand what success means, the bar is very, very low in terms of getting bills signed," said Mike Madrid, a Republican political strategist. "This isn't a member who is viewed as a modern legislator or very influential in the legislative process. I think it's great she passed this common-sense legislation. Do I think it's a signal of her ability to legislate? Not at all." Grove proved that in two pieces of legislation, one in 2023 and another this year, tightening penalties for those involved in child sex trafficking. Last year, Assembly Democrats, under different leadership, rejected Senate Bill 14, which added human trafficking of a minor which targets the sellers for sex to the list of serious felonies under Californias penal code, triggering bipartisan outrage. After Newsom publicly scrutinized that decision, lawmakers reversed course. In his signing message, Newsom called child trafficking a "sick" crime. Grove got crafty by looping in celebrity hotel heiress Paris Hilton as the face of Senate Bill 1043. The bill will require the state to publish online data citing any incidences of abuse and uses of isolation in teenage treatment facilities against teenagers. Hilton, who as a teenager endured abuse while in the custody of a youth education treatment facility, came to Sacramento in April to testify in support. "It's effective," Maviglio said about the celebrity endorsement for Grove's bill. "You do what it takes to make the right move." 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. We would all be better off with more competition, more choices and lower prices at our local grocery stores. Unfortunately, the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons would make already higher prices even worse. Thank goodness the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the attorneys general of many states, including Washington and Colorado, have filed lawsuits to block the merger. The FTCs preliminary case recently wrapped up in Portland on Sept. 17, the day after the Washington state attorney generals case began in Seattle. Whats at stake in these lawsuits? One of the most important freedoms in our American economy being able to choose where we buy what we need. We are all different. For one person their choice of a store may be driven by lower prices, someone else a better selection of products or the fact that the store is nearby or provides better service. In many cases, we might go to several different stores for different products. Regardless, at the end of the day, the key point is that there is a choice. And thats what drives competition between different businesses. If one store does not give you what you need, you can simply take your business somewhere else. But what happens when your choices get taken away? Competition is reduced, prices go up, stores shut down and workers are laid off. Thats not good for anyone. That is why this merger should be rejected. As union members of United Food and Commercial Workers 3000, we are both proud that our local union has been a leader nationally in the opposition to this proposed merger since the day it was announced nearly two years ago. The scale of the proposed mega merger is hard to overstate. Cincinnati-based Kroger is already the nations top traditional one-stop grocery chain with about 2,800 stores. Boise-based Albertsons is one of Krogers biggest competitors with about 2,200 stores. In Idaho and neighboring Washington, the Kroger brands are Fred Meyer and QFC. Albertsons goes either by Albertsons or Safeway banners since the massive 2015 merger when Albertsons bought Safeway. All combined, in Idaho and Washington there are over 350 Kroger and Albertsons stores. If they were allowed to go through with the proposed merger, Kroger and Albertsons have said they would sell off 134 stores (124 in WA and 10 in ID), to another new company to create the appearance of avoiding a monopoly. That plan has so many holes in it we cant go into all the details, so well just highlight a few big ones. This company, called C&S Wholesale from the other side of the country in New Hampshire, is as you could correctly assume from their name, a wholesaler. They dont have any experience running stores in Idaho or Washington. While they do have vast experience supplying products to retail stores, they have very little experience actually running them if allowed to proceed they would go from under 30 nation-wide to over 550. And by the way, they have only run one retail pharmacy as opposed to the hundreds that theyd have to run after a merger. Over the years we have seen a greater and greater concentration in the health care industry and the grocery industry. At every step, a merger here and a merger there, we were told we would have more choices and lower prices. But that usually doesnt work out as promoted. As residents of Idaho, and as essential workers who served our communities during the COVID pandemic, we saw first-hand how vulnerable our local areas are in our consolidated economy. Fewer places to get the things we need like food and medications would only put us all more at risk. The last thing our communities need is to become more dependent on just one company. This proposed merger should be rejected. If you would like to tell Albertsons and Kroger CEOs to stop wasting time and money on a failed merger idea and get back to the business of running grocery stores, go to NoGroceryMerger.com and join thousands of others who have already signed our petition. Carla Romagnano is a long-time union grocery store worker employed currently at a Safeway store in Coeur dAlene and lives in the same town. Kaye Balk is a longtime union health care worker, working at Providence Sacred Heart in Spokane and is a resident of Post Falls. Both Carla and Kaye are leaders in their union, UFCW 3000, which has over 50,000 members in Washington, northeastern Oregon and northern Idaho. From its first days on the flight line, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter had to overcome a reputation that it was too expensive and too delicate. Detractors complained that the fifth-generation jet couldnt dogfight as well as legacy aircraft, was years delayed and billions over budget and was hindered by finicky software and a complicated maintenance system. But when the F-35 showed up to support friendly forces in Afghanistan, the response was far different. In his book The Last Commander, released this summer, Afghan Lt. Gen. Sami Sadat gives a first-of-its-kind account of an early F-35 mission, shortly after the jet began deploying to Afghanistan for the first time. Sadat, who was the last person to command Afghan National Army forces in Afghanistan prior to the fall of the countrys government amid the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal describes a platform so new and secretive it needed a codename. It also displayed a capability that made his troops marvel. Lt. Gen. Sami Sadat scans a formation of Afghan troops in 2021. (Courtesy of Sami Sadat) While Marine Corps F-35Bs flew the platforms first combat mission in Afghanistan in 2018, coming off the amphibious assault ship Essex to hit a target in support of ground clearance operations, the planes would remain a rare sight over the country, with U.S. troops routinely calling on familiar platforms like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt. But when Sadat and his ground commanders were working to clear out Taliban strongholds in mountainous southwestern Afghanistan in the winter of 2019-20, they found themselves in need of a capability the A-10 couldnt supply. During an operation to protect the Salma Dam, located in Herat province, from Taliban destruction, one detachment of Afghan troops became stuck as they pushed north, Sadat writes in his book. Cloud cover in temperatures plunging below zero made it impossible to conduct air strikes against the Taliban using U.S.-supplied A-10s. Thats when we made the first use in Afghanistan of a weapon which would give us a significant advantage in winter fighting, Sadat recalls. He described a conversation with U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Martin, then deputy commanding general of Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan. Martin said he had access to a plane that could solve Sadats problems. Meet the Afghan general who wants to take on the Taliban Sami, I cant tell you the type of aircraft we are employing, but it can bomb accurately through clouds, Sadat remembers Martin telling him. In response, Sadat suggested a code name: Cool Birds. The name stuck, and a nighttime strike mission was authorized. An Afghan major general confirmed grid references and gave the mission verbal assent. But he was confused, Sadat writes. He could hear no planes. He had no idea of the capability of the F-35s. Minutes later, he got a call from the general, shocked that the strike had taken place as evidenced by loud booms and the disappearance of the Taliban threat all without even hearing the stealthy F-35s approaching, Sadat writes. And so, through confident patrolling village after village through the snow, allied with the most sophisticated technology available on any battlefield, we turned the winter to our advantage, Sadats account reads. The Americans, he added, were glad of the opportunity to test their capability in real conditions. In an interview with Military Times, Sadat, who now lives in northern Virginia, expanded on his story, saying the event left a lasting impression on the Afghan troops. The impact [the F-35] left on my soldiers was amazing. Like, whoa, you know, we have this technology, Sadat said. But also the impact on the Taliban was quite crippling, because they have never seen Afghan forces move in the winter, and they have never seen planes that could bomb through the clouds. Sadat with his memoir in northern Virginia. (Hope Hodge Seck) Sadat said he was so concerned about the risks Afghan ground forces were taking during the winter operation that it left him with physical pains in his stomach during missions. But everything worked out, he said, in an extraordinary way. One of the most heralded features of the F-35 was its distributed aperture system, comprising six sensors around the perimeter of the plane. Paired with a $400,000 helmet, the system allowed pilots to see through the plane and essentially have a 360-degree view of their surroundings. These tools, according to the Air Force, enable positive target identification and precision strike in all weather conditions. As for the Afghan military forces, despite what Sadat describes as a series of victories against the Taliban in 2019 and 2020, he writes that forward momentum was hindered by the 2020 Doha Agreements peace negotiations with the Taliban. That agreement, he said, weakened the Afghans offensive capability and limited the U.S. militarys capacity to support their missions. Then, when Kabul fell in 2021, Afghanistans military scattered and fled. Sadat is planning a tour for his book in part to raise awareness and support for the Afghanistan United Front, an organization he founded that is currently working on a strategy to overcome the Taliban and return the country to a democratic government. Credit: Courtesy of Momodou Taal For the past year, Cornell University PhD student Momodou Taal, 30, has taken part in various pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus, with many calling for the school to divest from weapons manufacturers selling products to Israel during its bombardment of Gaza (and now Lebanon). But unlike thousands who have supported such grassroots actions in public spaces across the U.S., Taal now faces the prospect of being expelled from the country for it. They want to make an example out of me, to then crush any other students thinking about being advocate for Palestine, or advocating for divestment from genocide, Taal, a Gambian-born U.K. citizen who currently faces a potential academic suspension over his presence at a Sept. 18 protest, tells Rolling Stone. Such a disciplinary action would also cost him his F-1 student visa, effectively forcing him to immediately self-deport if he is unable to obtain a tourist visa. This is a grim prospect that Taal and other international student activists in the U.S. have faced since campus protests erupted in the spring to denounce Israels war in Gaza, advocate for a ceasefire, and push institutions to cut ties with military contractors. And while none, it appears, have been expelled from the country like this, certain politicians have endorsed such an approach, none more so than former president Donald Trump, who has vowed to deport foreign students he characterizes as pro-Hamas radicals. (The vast majority of campus protesters are U.S. citizens.) More from Rolling Stone Taal is in the third year of his PhD program in Africana Studies, where he works on issues around sovereignty in West Africa. He also teaches an undergraduate freshman writing seminar called What Is Blackness? and hosts the independent podcast The Malcolm Effect, where he has interviewed prominent academics including Cornel West, Charisse Burden-Stelly, and Vijay Prashad on questions of politics and race that originate with the revolutionary thought of Malcolm X. On both the podcast and X (formerly Twitter), Taal has criticized Israels military actions in no uncertain terms. And, while he does not occupy a leadership position in any of the campus groups mobilizing in support of Palestine, he has often spoken at their events which he believes created an impression among Cornell administrators and the Cornell University Police Department that he is a primary organizer in the movement. CUPD did not respond to a request for comment on this claim, while a university administrator said that federal law prohibits them from sharing this type of student-specific information. On Sept. 18, Taal attended a campus demonstration of roughly 150 protesters, at which he spoke for maybe a minute or two, he says. Held by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation, a group advocating for Cornell to divest from genocide and apartheid in Palestine, it was staged outside the universitys Statler Hotel while a job fair was being held inside. CML was protesting the event because it featured recruiters from weapons manufacturers Boeing and L3Harris, two suppliers to the Israeli military. Eventually, demonstrators moved past CUPD officers to enter the building and went into a second-floor ballroom where the job fair was being held. They were reportedly noisy and disruptive enough that after 20 minutes, the fair was prematurely shut down. Taal says he made it into the ballroom but left the premises after spending just five minutes inside the hotel, returning to the outdoor rally spot. He says that as he departed, however, he encountered CUPD chief Anthony Bellamy, who stopped in his tracks upon evidently recognizing Taal. [He] stares me down, then continues to walk past me, Taal recalls. Next morning, I receive an email from him directly, telling me he has reported me. (Chief Bellamys office did not immediately return a request for comment.) That formal complaint from CUPD, which has been reviewed by Rolling Stone, went to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS). It alleged that Taal had violated the universitys Student Code of Conduct at the protest because he repeatedly failed to comply with university officials orders to back away from both the Statler Hotel and the entrance to the ballroom; that he made unauthorized use of university property by entering the hotel behind individuals who had used force to gain entry; and that he intentionally led or repeated chants that were unreasonably loud, disrupting the fair. Taal tells Rolling Stone that he did participate in chants but brought no item for creating additional noise, as some activists did. Joel M. Malina, Vice President of University Relations, issued a statement the evening of Sept. 18, alleging that officers were pushed and shoved during the incident. He noted that CUPD was working to identify students who violated university policies, and that any of them would be subject to immediate action including suspension. In response to the police complaint, OSCCS served Taal with paperwork, also reviewed by Rolling Stone, that explained he would be temporarily suspended from Cornell and receive a persona non grata notification prohibiting him from entering any part of Cornell University Campuses. The OSCCS letter, like Malina, described the Sept. 18 protest participants using physical force to push past police officers and enter the hotel, and again to enter the ballroom where the job fair was underway. Of the confrontation at the entrance of the hotel, Taal says he did not see any shoving. From my perspective, it seems the police moved out of the way, he says. I did not push any police officers. Reporters on the scene for student newspaper the Cornell Sun likewise did not observe physical violence toward any officers. Taal says he is not aware of any other students among the dozens at the CML action currently up for suspension. The university did not respond to the question of whether anyone else was facing disciplinary action, while CUPD did not respond to indicate whether it had brought any complaint about the Sept. 18 protesters besides the one against Taal. What we have seen from the campus is that they weaponize and instrumentalize suspensions in a very critically charged way, Taal claims. I think due to my visibility and due to my precarity, Im being targeted. He believes so in part because back in April, he was one of just four students threatened with suspension over involvement in a pro-Palestine encampment organized by CML with hundreds of participants. One of the other three, he adds, was also an international student. In that case, university ultimately offered a compromise: stop facilitating the encampment and temporarily stay off campus to retain active student status. Taal had already planned travel to the U.K. at the time, and CML removed the encampment voluntarily in May, so the deal worked out. The two other suspended students whose names are public remained enrolled as well. Now, with two years left in a PhD program he began in the fall of 2022, Taal is in a potentially far worse situation: at a Monday meeting, he says that Christina Liang, Senior Associate Dean of Students and Director of the OSCCS, informed him his suspension, or withdrawal, would become official on Tuesday or Wednesday. He has yet to receive such an update, though an email from Cornells Senior Immigration Advisor to Taal, reviewed by Rolling Stone, explained that he would lose F-1 visa status once this happened, with no grace period for departure from the U.S. Liang did not return a request for comment on the pending disciplinary action against Taal, and did not immediately respond to a follow-up request. A request for comment from CUPD, meanwhile, was answered by a Cornell University media relations representative, who relayed a statement from Malina: Universities are required by federal regulation to terminate the F-1 status for any student who is not permitted to be enrolled due to a disciplinary action, the vice president said. Any international student administratively withdrawn by Cornell pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct is urged to immediately review immigration guidelines and consult with experts. Universities can disallow enrollment and bar a student from campus, but do not have deportation powers. The media rep also referred to a Monday statement from Michael I. Kotlikoff, Cornells Interim President, who said that the job fair protesters had displayed intentionally menacing behavior and forcibly entered the hotel. Their entry into the ballroom, he claimed, knocked off an officers body-worn camera, while the groups use of bullhorns, cymbals, pots, and pans resulted in medical complaints of potential hearing loss. He clarified that individuals would face immediate suspension or employment sanctions up to and including dismissal. As seemingly the lone individual selected for such consequences, Taal has become a cause in himself by spreading word of his possible de facto deportation on social media. The process requires due process and investigation for any discipline issue, but theyre circumventing and subverting their own processes, he says. As of Wednesday, he says, more than 4,000 people have signed an open letter hosted on Google Docs titled We Demand the Reinstatement of Momodou Taal. The text accuses Cornell of procedural problems in the application and enforcement of suspensions. Unless we stand up to the university, it is entirely plausible that at any moment, Momodou will have less than 48 hours notice to book a flight, pack up all of his belongings, and get out of the country, it reads. Temporarily suspended students, according to Cornells policy, may file a written request to lift the suspension, to be reviewed by a panel of one student, one faculty, and one nonfaculty member of the University Hearing and Review Board within five business days. This panel has the authority to reverse the disciplinary action. Academics, including Taals past podcast guest Burden-Stelly and human rights lawyer Noura Erakat, have rallied behind him, and a number of signatories on the letter include his undergraduate students, who have written about his talents as an educator and argued that he is being unfairly singled out among other pro-Palestine demonstrators. Cornell students on Wednesday held a rally demanding his reinstatement, and on Thursday, the Cornell Chapter of the American Association of University Professors published a column in the Cornell Sun demanding Taals reinstatement, calling his suspension unjustified in light of the lack of evidence of violence, threat of violence or threat to health or safety. Taal tweeted in an update on Wednesday of the university administrations change in tone in its latest communication. I have been informed by the university that no change will be made to my visa status and my F-1 visa remains open until the appeal process has been exhausted. Of course, this could amount to a mere delay of the inevitable, as a failed appeal of the suspension would force him out of the U.S. just the same. Please keep up the pressure, he told his supporters. Then, on Thursday, Taal announced that his initial appeal of the suspension had been rejected by Ryan Lombardi, Vice President of Student and Campus Life, within a day though he still had not received official confirmation of the disciplinary action against him, nor had his case referred to a full review panel. I have until 5 p.m. [Friday] to appeal to the provost, Taal explained in a tweet. If the provost rejects this appeal, then I believe my withdrawal will be processed and I will promptly have to leave the country. He again decried the administrations failure to investigate the case or allow him a chance to respond to the allegations. I maintain that all my actions have been peaceful and in accordance with my First Amendment rights, he wrote. This is a deliberate targeting of a Black Muslim student at an institution where those two identities are increasingly unwelcome. Taal tells Rolling Stone he is considering his options in a worst-case scenario, and he has retained the services of an immigration lawyer. His attorney, Eric Lee, released a statement Thursday noting that the Cornell administration had been incorrect when it told Taal he should be prepared to leave the country as soon as the weekend, since universities do not have to inform the Department of Homeland Security of a suspension until several weeks later. Lee also said the university had made the choice to persecute Mr. Taal for free speech activity knowing full well that doing so will subject him to serious immigration consequences. Should Taal ultimately have to flee the U.S., he has no settled idea of what hed do. Its definitely a possibility, he says. So Im thinking about that. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A Cornell University student is on the verge of losing his student visa and being deported over taking part in a pro-Palestine protest. Mamadou Taal, a Ph.D. student in Africana Studies, was suspended Monday by the university after he took part in a protest against a career fair attended by defense contractors L3Harris and Boeing last week. Taal is studying at Cornell on an F-1 student visa, which can be terminated by a suspension. On Thursday, Taal posted on X that his appeal to the university was rejected by the vice president of student and campus life, Ryan Lombardi, and that there was no investigation or due process. I maintain that all my actions have been peaceful and in accordance with my First Amendment rights, Taals post reads. This is a deliberate targeting of a Black Muslim student at an institution where those two identities are increasingly unwelcome. When it comes to Palestine the university will abandon all commitments to academic freedom and free speech to protect its corporate interests. Twitter screenshot Momodou @MomodouTaal: Update: The VP of student and campus life, Ryan Lombardi, rejected my appeal after one business day. This demonstrates once again that my ability to stay in this country is being hastily handled without due process in a continued attempt to silence me. I have until 5pm tomorrow to appeal to the provost. If the provost rejects this appeal, then I believe my withdrawal will be processed and I will promptly have to leave the country. Once again, there has been no investigation, nor have I had a chance to even respond to the allegations against me. I maintain that all my actions have been peaceful and in accordance with my First Amendment rights. This is a deliberate targeting of a Black Muslim student at an institution where those two identities are increasingly unwelcome. When it comes to Palestine the university will abandon all commitments to academic freedom and free speech to protect its corporate interests. Taal is still able to appeal to the universitys provost, but believes hell be deported if that appeal is rejected. The university accuses Taal and other protesters of entering the career fair by pushing and shoving campus police officers, but Taal told The Nation he had no part in this. According to student journalists at the Cornell Daily Sun, there wasnt any physical violence toward police, although recruiters, students, and administrators appeared to be distressed. I can say categorically that I shoved no police officer, nor did I not listen to a lawful directive, like theyre claiming, Taal said. He told the Sun that he only gave a speech outside before taking part in the career fair protest, and only attended that protest for five minutes before leaving. If Taal is deported, it would be a drastic new step in university attempts across the country to tamp down on pro-Palestinian protests. Taals case has already drawn backlash, with a petition calling on the university to reverse its suspension drawing 2,700 signatures from Cornell students and faculty. It seems that many campuses will go to any lengths to make these protests go away, even if it means deporting students and ignoring the First Amendment. CATON, N.Y. (WETM) A Corning man has been arrested after he allegedly menaced a police officer with a machete in the Town of Caton. As reported by New York State Police, Dana L. McCarrick, 49, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 25, following an incident that occurred after state police in Painted Post were called to Gridley Road for the report of a disturbance. DEC: Man faces charges after shooting at crow from vehicle in Cayuta Upon arrival to the scene, police say that they interviewed McCarrick who then allegedly grabbed a machete from a box and displayed it toward the trooper. After police say that they gave McCarrick several verbal commands to put the weapon down, McCarrick allegedly threw the machete toward the trooper and then attempted to run and resist arrest. Addison man arrested after assault in the Steuben County Jail McCarrick was then arrested and taken to the state police barracks in Painted Post for processing on the following charges: Menacing a police officer (class C felony) Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (class D felony) Menacing in the second degree (class A misdemeanor) Resisting arrest (class A misdemeanor) Obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree (class A misdemeanor) Criminal contempt in the second degree (class A misdemeanor) McCarrick was then taken to the Steuben County Jail for CAP court. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Coroner: Two men died during Lost Lands Music Festival; cause of deaths remain unknown Two men died in unrelated incidents while attending the Lost Lands Music Festival, according to the Licking County Coroner's Office. Coroner's Investigator Renee Rogers told The Advocate that James Phromphanh, 34, of Texas, died Sunday at Licking Memorial Hospital. Juan Fantauzzi Lebron, 27, of Florida, died Monday in the ER at the same hospital. Rogers did not share the men's cause of death, citing their unavailability until Licking County Coroner Michael Campolo completes his reports in around four to six weeks. In a statement, festival organizers confirmed the deaths and said they are working closely with local authorities to aid in their investigations. "We can confirm that two fatalities occurred at the event in separate incidents. Each individual received treatment on-site before being transported to the nearest hospital. Causes of death for both incidents are currently unknown, according to the statement. The sheriffs office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. It's unclear if drugs or alcohol played a role in the deaths or if the men experienced medical emergencies unrelated to substance use. In a separate statement posted to Lost Lands social media, organizers stated the deaths are unrelated to an incident in which deputies accuse a Columbus man of driving through tents, injuring two during the festival. We are deeply saddened to share that two individuals who attended the event passed away over the weekend in separate incidents. We extend our sincere condolences to their family, friends and loved ones, organizers said. The health, safety and welfare of our fans and community are our top priority. The exact causes of these tragedies are unrelated to any vehicle incident and are unknown. We will not provide further details out of respect for the families privacy. We hope our community can come together to support each other and keep all those affected in their thoughts during this difficult time. Deputies said around 46,000 people attended the three-day festival. Advocate reporter Josue Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County coroner: Cause of death for 2 men at Lost Lands unknown For $25 a pop or $35 for a family, those recreating outdoors get some peace of mind that, should they find themselves needing to be rescued, they wont be liable for the costs. A 38-year-old hiker who injured her leg and could not continue on. A 56-year-old man who had a medical emergency on a remote trail. A 70-year-old who slipped and injured her ankle while hiking. These are just a handful of the hikers who needed the help of New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers and other rescuers this summer. How to better support the dozens of costly, laborious missions is one of many questions under consideration by a four-lawmaker committee studying the departments financial woes. Part of Fish and Games problem, some said, is advertising. The lawmakers and various stakeholders testifying before them are searching for ways to better promote Fish and Games voluntary Hike Safe cards, which help offset the cost of the search-and-rescue efforts. This step, though, would be only one piece of addressing the departments funding strains. I think largely New Hampshire has a branding problem. Who are we, right? said Tyler Ray, founder and director of Granite Outdoor Alliance, a nonprofit representing 120 outdoor businesses, to the committee Thursday. New Hampshire has this ruggedness, this sense of individualism that I think we could celebrate, and this Hike Safe card is a differentiator. For $25 a pop or $35 for a family, including spouses and children and stepchildren under 18 those recreating outdoors get some peace of mind that, should they find themselves needing to be rescued, they wont be liable for the costs. (Unless, Fish and Game warns on its website, they are deemed to be reckless or to have intentionally created a situation requiring an emergency response.) Hunting and fishing licenses and current registration for off-highway recreational vehicles, snowmobiles, and boats also offer some liability protections. The cards expire Dec. 31 each year and are valid only in New Hampshire. Their full cost, minus a small transaction fee, goes to the search-and-rescue fund, according to the department. In 2015, when the cards were first launched, Fish and Game sold 2,846, raking in roughly $74,800, according to Jessica Whelehan, a licensing supervisor with the department. Last year, the department sold 14,539, totaling over $371,000. Fish and Game performs about 180 search-and-rescue missions a year, said Col. Kevin Jordan, the departments law enforcement chief, at an August study committee meeting. They come at a steep price, he said: an annual total of about $300,000 to $400,000, plus the physical toll the missions exact on officers. Despite the fact that his team covers the entire state, Jordan said, there are only 50 of them smaller than the size of Concords police department. The cost of the missions is significant in a department under financial strain from what officials say has been years of increased responsibilities without the funds to match them. In the late 1800s, Fish and Game staffed a few fishing commissioners and detectives who enforced fish and wildlife rules, according to the department. Over the decades, those tasks grew to include hatcheries, search and rescues, snowmobile and OHRV enforcement, and more, compounded with a growing population. The department gets only a tiny sliver of its funds from the general fund, but Ray Green, chair of the Fish and Game Commission, told lawmakers in August that needs to change for the department to survive. Safety is part of the departments drive. Fish and Game worked with the White Mountain National Forest to develop a joint program called hikeSafe focused on hiker and mountain safety education. They have a hiker safety code that urges hikers to have proper equipment and knowledge, stick together, prepare for emergencies, and more. Ray, the alliance head, pointed out to the committee that the White Mountain National Forest is one of the most visited national forests in the country. To me, that said we have a marketing problem, he said. He proposed that the cards should appear on his groups website, all government agency websites, and have marketing dollars put behind them. It has incredible potential, he said of the cards. Doing a better job of promoting the cards is an issue that has been discussed for years. In 2018, a commission to study the efficiency and effectiveness of the departments operations made a long list of recommendations. Among them: Increase the promotion/marketing of the Hike Safe card. The commission encouraged Fish and Game to consider rebranding the card so that more people would purchase it. While the card has been successful in bringing in additional revenue for the Department, the commission wrote, there seems to be many hikers and others who participate in some kind of outdoor recreation activity who do not buy them. Rick Van de Poll, who sat on the commission as an outdoor recreation representative, told lawmakers the commission thought it was important for Fish and Game to further promote the projects it already has, such as the cards. Everybody was in support of getting the word out to greater numbers of people for a Hike Safe card, Van de Poll said. The lawmakers on the committee, created by House Bill 542, have until November to submit their findings and recommendations on the departments funding and partnerships to top state officials. They planned their next public meeting for Sept. 26 at the State House. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH Fish and Game urged to promote Hike Safe cards to raise revenue Yesterday was a momentous day in the politics of New York City. That afternoon, the City Planning Commission voted 10-3 to approve a suite of zoning reforms championed by Mayor Eric Adams to eliminate parking requirements, allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in residential areas, and permit larger residential projects on commercial lots and near transit stops. The Mayor's City of Yes for Housing Opportunity package, as it's called, now goes to the New York City Council, which now has 50 days to review, amend, and vote on the reforms. That's some tricky timing given yesterday's other big news coming out of New York City. A few hours after the planning commission's vote, Adams was indicted on federal corruption charges for allegedly accepting free travel, luxury accommodations, and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish business people and government officials. So, in short, the city council will be considering Adams' signature land use reform at the same time that the mayor will be facing federal corruption charges and mounting calls for him to resign. Even before the mayor's indictment, City of Yes faced an uncertain future at the city council, says Alex Armlovich, a senior housing policy analyst at the Niskanen Center. "This is the first time that [city councilmembers] are going to be engaging with a citywide upzoning with different characteristics than any other small area upzoning," says Armlovich. That offers the opportunity to change some minds of councilmembers who are typically hostile to individual development proposals, says Armlovich. It also opens up the risk that council members will try to water down the City of Yes reforms, especially around parking and ADUs. The mayor has a significant role to play in the process, both politically and procedurally. On the political side of things, Armlovich notes that Adams' base of supporters is concentrated in the areas of the city that have been most opposed to his own housing reforms. Compare the two maps below. This top one, from The New York Times, shows how the city's mayoral candidates performed at the district level in the 2021 Democratic primary that Adams won. (Screenshot/New York Times) The bottom one, from City Limits, shows how local community boards voted on Adams' City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. (Screenshot/City Limits) The mayor's personal popularity in those areas is an asset in winning over city council members who might otherwise be tempted to vote against the City of Yes. But if Adams' indictment makes him politically toxic, his ability to whip reluctant votes is much diminished. Procedurally, the mayor has the power to veto land use changes approved by the city council. (The city council can override that veto with a two-thirds vote). Since City of Yes is Adams' baby, he obviously wasn't going to veto it. Should he resign, he'll be replaced by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who'll then have 90 days to schedule a special election. Willams has been equivocal in his support for City of Yes. When asked about the plan by reporter Ben Max during a May podcast interview, Willams said that "in theory, I've been leaning yes from the beginning" adding that "we can't stop the progress of building in the housing crisis that we're in." In the same interview, Willams also said that community fears about development should be taken seriously, and that "black, brown, [and] poor neighborhoods" shouldn't have to bear the brunt of new development. He signaled that he'd be willing to accept preserving some areas in exchange for density elsewhere and that new density allowances should be paired with housing affordability mandates. None of Williams's comments imply that he would veto City of Yes. But it does sound like he'd be willing to tolerate (or even push for) the city council watering down the proposal. Already, City of Yes for Housing Opportunity is an exceedingly modest response to the scale of New York's housing problems. Adams has described it as a "little more housing in every neighborhood" and everyone seems to think that's an accurate description. The plan "should push NYC's permits for new housing units meaningfully higher than would have been the case, had the legislature not acted," wrote the Manhattan Institute's Eric Kober in a recent brief. "However, housing will remain in critically short supply in the city." If the city council waters down the existing plan even more, say by preserving parking mandates, ditching ADUs, or upping affordability requirements, then City of Yes will produce even less housing still. There's an irony in the fact that Adams' own corruption charges threaten his signature zoning reforms. Underlying the entire City of Yes is the idea that more types of development should be "by-right"meaning the builders of that housing shouldn't need to ask for discretionary government approval to move forward with their projects. Giving government officials the ability to approve or deny individual development applications, where millions of dollars are at stake, is itself a major source of corruption. The federal indictment of Adams accuses him of speeding up the issuance of an occupancy permit for a Turkish government building. A New York Times story from last month about the startling number of corruption cases coming out of California places a lot of city councilmembers' power over individual projects. A more by-right system, where the rules are written down and projects that meet those rules are automatically approved gives politicians a lot less power to sell. Adams alleged corruption could end sinking a zoning reform plan that would reduce future opportunities for corruption in New York City. The post Could Eric Adams' Corruption Charges Sink His Signature Zoning Reform? appeared first on Reason.com. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: ServeTheHome Nvidia has allegedly stopped taking orders for its China-specific HGX H20 GPUs used in AI and HPC applications, reports Cailian News Agency (CNA) citing a distributor source. This may signal that the processor has been discontinued due to slow demand, or the U.S. government's new export rules that ban its sales to Chinese entities, or Nvidia is about to roll-out another China-specific GPU for AI workloads. As the news comes from two unofficial sources, we must be skeptical until more official news surfaces. "We need to go through dealers to place orders with Nvidia," a spokesperson for a terminal manufacturer told Cailian News Agency. "Recently, many dealers have said that they will no longer accept H20 orders, and some have said that they can take orders in stock. [] Some dealers who don't take orders now may be betting on whether the H20 will be discontinued in the near future. If so, they will sell it at a higher price." The information about possible discontinuation of Nvidia's HGX H20 does not come from one source. Wang Yu, a China-based hardware dealer, told CNA that Nvidia had ceased to accept DGX H20 orders already last month, but there was no clear notice about the move. Also, a few distributors claim to have remaining stock and are fulfilling orders, the report says. Nvidia's HGX H20 processor was specifically designed for the Chinese market in order to comply with U.S. export restrictions. While the unit seems to use Nvidia's H100 silicon, its performance is massively reduced when compared to the original GPU. A choice that was made so that Nvidia could ship it to Chinese entities. While the HGX H20 offers just 296 INT8/FP8 TOPS/TFLOPS and 148 BF16/FP16 TFLOPS for AI tasks, the full-fat H100 delivers 3,958 INT8/FP8 TOPS/TFLOPS and 1,979 BF16/FP16 TFLOPS. The product has 96 GB of HBM3 memory, 4.0 TB/s memory bandwidth, and 8-way GPU capability, allowing to build AI servers based on HGX H20. Despite its lowered performance, the HGX H20 still carries a steep price tag of around $10,000 - $13,000. Despite this major performance degradation and high price, the H20 was in high demand among Chinese companies as even with cut-down specifications, Nvidia's H20 reportedly outperforms competitors like Huawei's Ascend processors in real-world applications. For example, ByteDance alone was rumored to get some $200,000 HGX H200 processors, according to a report. In total, sales of Nvidia's DGX H20 were supposed to hit one million units in 2024 and generate revenue of around $12 billion assuming that the U.S. government does not ban sales of these processors to Chinese companies. Story continues If this is the case, then some distributors may indeed be stockpiling Nvidia's HGX H20 processors to sell them when they get more expensive amid the U.S. sales ban to China. However, if the U.S. government notified Nvidia of plans to restrict sales of the HGX H20 processor, then the green company would need to notify its investors of this material information. Since Nvidia has not done this, it does not look like the U.S. government has formally restricted sales of this GPU. Meanwhile, Nvidia has not provided a formal statement on the rumored discontinuation. It should be noted that Nvidia might shift its production away from HGX H20 to the more powerful and expensive H100 and H200 that it can now sell not only to clients in the U.S. and Europe, but also to select customers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. East Sussex County Council is seeking views on plans to cut 4m from its adult social care budget [Getty Images] A cash-strapped council is seeking views on plans to cut almost 4m from its adult social care budget. East Sussex County Councils cabinet agreed on Thursday to go out on consultation on potential cuts to day centres for elderly and disabled people, drugs and alcohol recovery and housing support for vulnerable people. The potential cuts, which total 3.994m, come as the council prepares to face a projected budget gap of 83.6m over the coming three years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Council leader Keith Glazier said the report was one of the most difficult hed had to deal with. The financial situation we are now facing, due mainly to increases on social care, be that adults or children, are totally out of the control of this organisation, he said. Weve got cost increases in childrens placements of 96% over the last 20 years and in adults 40%. The amount of increase weve had in council tax and government grant gets nowhere near that. 'Least worst options' The council report said "significant savings" needed to be made in adult social care, which is 48% of the budget. The proposed cuts include the closure of the Phoenix Centre in Lewes and Milton Grange in Eastbourne. Cuts to services for people with learning disabilities and proposals to stop on-site support in supported accommodation for vulnerable adults and adults with mental health needs were also recommended. Labours group leader Chris Collier argued for alternative measures to avoid the cuts. Council chief executive Becky Shaw said the authority was acutely aware of the impact the consultations and potential changes would have. She said: The proposals in front of you are what we consider the least worst options. "They are absolutely no reflection of the value and quality of the services we have provided." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Related stories Related internet links Alison and Frank Littleford have been supporting the charity since 2022 [Alex Wallace] A couple living with Alzheimers have been made ambassadors of a research charity. Frank and Alison Littleford, from Wolverhampton, were named ambassadors of Alzheimers Research UK following their efforts to raise awareness of the disease. Mr Littleford was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2020 and the pair have been working to support the charity since 2022. They have done a number of media interviews and recently starred in a film created by the organisation, which explored how the disease had impacted their lives. Mrs Littleford said they were both delighted and incredibly humbled to have been made ambassadors. We have experienced so many different losses as a result of Alzheimers and they continue as Franks health deteriorates, she said. But among this sadness, a huge highlight has been our involvement with Alzheimers Research UK. She added that they had been proud to share their story and play their part in raising awareness of what living with Alzheimers was like. This has been so important in giving us a sense of purpose and a focus, Mrs Littleford added. 'Extraordinary contribution' Alzheimers Research UK said the couple were among a small group of supporters, scientists and celebrities to be given the honorary role. Others include Dame Barbara Windsors widower Scott Mitchell, Iceland executive chairman Richard Walker and actors Will Poulter and Ruth Wilson. Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of the charity, said Mr and Mrs Littleford had made an extraordinary contribution. Through sharing their story, they have also shone a spotlight on the hope that research brings, she said. It is through the efforts of our brilliant supporters, like Alison and Frank, that we will find a cure. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Related internet links A Scottish couple have launched a legal bid to try to overturn the scrapping of the universal winter fuel benefit for all pensioners. Peter and Florence Fanning, from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, are suing the UK and Scottish governments through the Govan Law Centre. Chancellor Rachel Reeves had announced the benefit would be means tested from this winter due to a 22m "black hole" she said Labour had inherited from the Conservatives. The benefit is devolved but the Scottish government said it had to follow suit as 160m had been taken out its budget. The UK government has been under increasing pressure to reverse the decision, with LibDem leader Ed Davey calling for a Commons vote on the matter and trade unions winning a non-binding vote at the Labour conference to scrap the cuts. Mr Fanning, 73, said: "We intend to sue both the London and Scottish governments, since both are guilty through action and inaction, of damaging the welfare of pensioners. "We are hoping to be successful, given the manifest injustice involved, however, my work as a trade unionist and shop steward has taught me that some battles are worth fighting regardless of the outcome - I believe this is one such battle." The judicial review - which has been raised at the Court of Session - now requires a judge's approval to move to a hearing on the merits. The Govan Law Centre is seeking to expedite both the case and its application for legal aid to ensure a decision can be handed down before the winter. Mr and Mrs Fanning are being supported by former first minister Alex Salmond, now leader of the Alba party, who put them in touch with the centre. The Alba party has been campaigning for reinstatement of the winter fuel benefit. At a press conference with the couple, Salmond said: It is unacceptable in energy rich Scotland that our older citizens are afraid to turn on the heating in their own homes. "This should not be happening. Something should be done about it and Peter and Flo Fanning are doing something about it." The case asks the Court of Session to rule on whether the decision to scrap the universal benefit was unlawful. This would allow the petitioners to ask the court to, in effect, set aside the policy and restore the winter fuel payment to all. The case's argument rests on the accusation both governments failed to adequately consult with those of pension age on the change and did not release an equality impact assessment on the changes. A freedom of information request revealed an abridged version of such an assessment had been carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with the UK government arguing a full study was not required. Rachel Moon, the instructing solicitor and a partner at Govan Law Centre, said: "Quite simply, [government] should have considered this rigorously. "This policy and the decisions taken affect those with protected characteristics, including age and disability, and it affects 10 million people." [BBC] Earlier pensioners gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to protest against the scrapping of the universal payment. Speeches were given through megaphones amid chants - and several told the BBC they were just over the limit to receive Pension Credit, which would unlock the benefit. First Minister John Swinney said he understood the depths of concerns from members of the public. He said: "The hard reality that I have to face is that [160m] has been removed abruptly from our budget and we have to take action to live within the financial resources available to me. "Because on the question of the law, I am bound by law to balance the budget and to live within the means available to the government." Asked if the Scottish government had failed in its legal duty, Mr Swinney said: "I think the government has taken the action that has been necessary and appropriate, given our legal obligations, to live within our resources, but obviously these are issues that are now the subject of consideration by the courts and we will, of course, engage in that process." A spokesperson for the UK government said it was committed to supporting pensioners and that millions would see their state pension rise by 1,700 this parliament. They added: "Given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, its right we target support to those who need it most. "Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, while many others will also benefit from the 150 warm home discount to help with their energy bills over winter. The video in the player above is from July 1, 2024 an gives background to this case. BOSTON (AP) An attorney for Karen Read has petitioned the highest court in Massachusetts seeking the dismissal of two charges including murder that she faces in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend. Read is accused of ramming into John OKeefe with her SUV and leaving him for dead in a snowstorm in January 2022. Reads attorneys argue she is being framed and that someone else is responsible for OKeefes death. The brief filed Tuesday to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court argues that trying her again on charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene would be unconstitutional double jeopardy. A judge last summer declared a mistrial after jurors couldnt reach an agreement on her case. The defense attorneys said five jurors came forward after her mistrial saying they were deadlocked only on a manslaughter count, and had agreed without telling the judge that she wasnt guilty on the other counts. In August, a judge ruled Read can be retried on those charges and a new trial is set for January. Where there was no verdict announced in open court here, retrial of the defendant does not violate the principle of double jeopardy, the judge, Beverly Cannone, said in her ruling. But Reads attorney, Martin Weinberg, challenged the decision in his brief, arguing it was wrong to suggest that a double jeopardy challenge couldnt successfully be mounted even if all 12 jurors attested to a decision to acquit Read on those two charges. Surely, that cannot be the law. Indeed, it must not be the law, Weinberg wrote. And, in the context of this highly publicized case, it strains credulity to suggest that, if the unequivocal statements of five jurors quoted above did not, in fact, represent the unanimous view of all 12, the remaining jurors would allow the inaccuracy to go uncorrected, he wrote. Instead, they would predictably have notified the Commonwealth or the court of their own recollection. The Norfolk District Attorneys Office has until Oct. 16 to file its response. Prosecutors said Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, and OKeefe, a 16-year member of the Boston police, had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow Boston officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away. An autopsy found OKeefe had died of hypothermia and blunt force trauma. The defense portrayed Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside Alberts home and then dragged outside. They argued that investigators focused on Read because she was a convenient outsider who saved them from having to consider law enforcement officers as suspects. The lead investigator on the case, State Trooper Michael Proctor, was relieved of duty after the trial revealed hed sent vulgar texts to colleagues and family, calling Read a whack job and telling his sister he wished Read would kill herself. He said that was a figure of speech and that his emotions had gotten the better of him. Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik, another state witness who was Proctors supervisor, also lost vacation days for failing to reprimand Proctor for his offensive texts, according to The Boston Globe. Canton Police Det. Kevin Albert, the brother of Brian Albert, also was reprimanded for drinking on the job with Proctor which came up during the Read trial, the newspaper reported. In its brief, the defense also argued that the judge abruptly announced the mistrial in court without first asking each juror to confirm their conclusions about each count. Prosecutors had urged the judge to dismiss what they called an unsubstantiated but sensational post-trial claim based on hearsay, conjecture and legally inappropriate reliance as to the substance of jury deliberations. Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally argued that the jury never indicated they had reached a verdict on any of the charges, were given clear instructions on how to reach a verdict, and that the defense had ample opportunity to object to a mistrial declaration. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. CRANE COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Election day is right around the corner, and on November 5th voters can head to the polls and cast their votes. This year, voters ballots for Crane County will include federal, state, and local elections. No proposals, city office, school, or district hospital elections are set to take place for this years November 5th General Election in Crane County. Heres a look at what will be listed on each Crane County local ballot, excluding Federal and State elections for all Precincts. County Attorney Austin Ryan Rawls Sheriff Andrew Andy R. Aguilar County Tax Assessor-Collector Judy Crumrine County Commissioner, Precinct No. 1 Manuella Y. Kirkpatrick County Commissioner, Precinct No. 3 Domingo Escobedo County Constable Rory Crumrine For more information about this upcoming election, visit the Vote 2024 category located at the top of our website or click here. For more information regarding the Crane County election, visit this page or contact the Crane County elections office at (432) 558-3581. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. ESPANOLA, N.M. (KRQE) One teenager is dead and another suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash late last night in Espanola. Details are limited but police said two cars collided on Riverside Dr. Pojoaque Valley High School mourns student who died in crash First responders had to pull the teens out of their vehicle. The people inside the other vehicle had minor injuries. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Crime data guru frustrated by media insisting crime is down under Biden-Harris: Huge spike in our cities A guru on crime statistics believes progressive journalists and pundits have misled Americans by insisting crime is down under the Biden-Harris administration. Jeffrey Anderson is the president of the American Mainstreet Initiative, a small think tank that focuses on issues "everyday Americans" care about, such as crime and immigration, inflation and the national debt. Prior to that, he was the director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, which is the arm of the Department of Justice that puts out federal crime stats. He recently penned a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, "Contrary to Media Myth, U.S. Urban Crime Rates Are Up," which suggested flawed FBI data hides a rise in urban-area crime since the Defund the Police movement of 2020. Abc Presidential Debate: Moderators David Muir And Linsey Davis Fact-check Trump 5 Times, 0 For Harris A guru on crime statistics believes progressive journalists and pundits have misled Americans by insisting crime is down under the Biden-Harris administration. Anderson was "frustrated and yelling at the TV" when ABC Presidential Debate co-moderator David Muir cited FBI data to insist violent crime has come down "overall" in recent years when fact-checking former President Trump. "Contrary to the fact-checkers and the debate moderator there's no statistically significant evidence in the best, most authoritative source that crime is dropping in America," Anderson told Fox News Digital. Read On The Fox News App "There's been a huge increase in urban crime from 2019, right before the summer of George Floyd and the Defund the Police movement to 2023, which are the most recent numbers, which were just released a couple weeks ago," Anderson added. "In fact, the increase in urban crime, violent crime is [up] 40% over that period of time." Anderson said that if you remove simple assaults, which are considered the "least serious" of violent crimes, then data shows a 54% increase in urban areas since 2020. "It's a huge crime spike in our cities," Anderson said. Anderson believes the major uptick in urban-area violent crime is the result of major cities being controlled by left-leaning officials. "They've had a very lax law enforcement philosophy they put handcuffs on police. They've made it very difficult for them to do their jobs. And then the prosecution of criminals once they're arrested has been minimal," Anderson said. Abc's The View Was 100% Negative About Trump Following Second Assassination Attempt: Study There has been a significant spike in violent crime in major cities, according to Jeffrey Anderson. "And so, as a result of that, really, these are the same lax law enforcement policies we tried back in the 1960s and 70s. We're getting the same results in our cities," he continued. "And we know the way out, thanks to the broken windows policing we tried in the 1990s and 2000s, but we'll see if the cities actually adopt those policies." Trump pushed back on Muir during the infamous debate, suggesting the FBI data was fraudulent because major cities werent included. "I think the media, which is highly progressive, does not want to admit these progressive policies in our cities caused a huge crime spike. So, they're trying to grab on to whatever numbers they can, stats they would never normally cite, like partial year, unpolished FBI figures, and try to claim that we're seeing a decline in crime," Anderson said. Anderson said the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), which is put out by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the DOJ statistical agency where he used to work, proves his point. "The FBI is not a statistical agency. The NCVS says that violent crime in our cities is up 40% from 2019, pre-George Floyd, Defund the Police to 2023," he said. "It does not show any statistically significant decline in violent crime either nationwide, or in our cities, over the most recent year," he added, noting that NCVS is particularly important to understand because it includes crimes that are not reported to the police, in addition to the ones that were reported. "That's hugely important, especially given that most respondents to the NCVS, 55% who reported they were a victim of a crime, said the crime was not reported to police. So, when you only look at crimes reported to police, you're missing most crimes," Anderson said. San Francisco Might Not Be Liberal City Anymore As Progressive Mayoral Candidate Is Underdog, Says La Times Police from the Crime scene unit of NYPD arrive at the scene and investigate after two women shot in a possible murder-suicide near Gracie Mansion in Manhattan, New York, on July 26, 2024. Other recent headlines include NBC News "Murder and other violent crime dropped across the U.S. last year, FBI data shows" and CNNs "Did you know violent crime is down? Not if youre watching right-wing media." Both of these articles cited FBI data that compares 2022 to 2023, which does not include all law enforcement agencies in the United States. In his Wall Street Journal piece, Anderson noted five reasons why he feels left-leaning news organizations and pundits emphasize FBI data. "First, the NCVS figures are finalized statistics, not unpolished, partial-year preliminary figures. Second, the FBI switched to a new reporting system in 2021 that makes year-to-year comparisons (from before to after its change) difficult if not impossible," he wrote. "Third, the NCVS is a nationally representative survey, while the FBI lacks data from a relatively large number of law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, and it hasnt had the same mix of agencies reporting data each year. Fourth, the FBI isnt considered a principal statistical agency by the federal government, so its ability to compensate for such missing data is limited," Anderson added. "Fifth, the NCVS captures crimes whether they are reported to the police or not." The Bureau of Justice Statistics has been publishing the National Crime Victimization Survey on an annual basis since 1973. It includes statistics on nonfatal violent crimes including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault. It also includes property crimes such as burglary or trespassing and motor vehicle theft. The most recent edition was published earlier this month. Original article source: Crime data guru frustrated by media insisting crime is down under Biden-Harris: Huge spike in our cities By Luc Cohen and Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. prosecutors on Thursday charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with accepting illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel from Turkish nationals seeking to influence him, capping an investigation that has sent the largest U.S. city's government into turmoil. In a 57-page indictment, prosecutors laid out an alleged scheme stretching back to 2014 that helped to underwrite Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign and showered him with free rooms at opulent hotels and meals at high-end restaurants. In return, Adams pressured city officials to allow the country's new 36-story consulate to open despite safety concerns, prosecutors said. The Democrat faces five criminal charges and could face decades in prison if found guilty. Adams, 64, denied wrongdoing and said he would fight the charges in court. He said he would not step down. "I will continue to do my job as mayor," he said at a news conference, where some onlookers called on him to resign. He is due to appear in court on Friday at noon Eastern Time (1600 GMT). Turkey's foreign ministry and president's office and its embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Earlier on Thursday, federal agents searched the mayor's Gracie Mansion home on Manhattan's Upper East Side, according to a Reuters witness. Around a dozen people in business attire were seen walking on the mansion's grounds with briefcases and duffel bags. Adams, a former police officer who rose to the rank of captain, is the first of the city's 110 mayors to be criminally charged while in office. He could be removed from office by Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul but the process is complicated, said Pace University Law School professor Bennett Gershman. Hochul issued a statement saying she would "review my options and obligations as the Governor of New York." "I expect the Mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders," Hochul said. 'A TRUE FRIEND OF TURKEY' According to the indictment, Adams accepted free travel from a Turkish airline worth tens of thousands of dollars while serving as Brooklyn borough president and paid $600 to stay two nights at a luxury suite in the St. Regis hotel in Istanbul, well below the actual cost of $7,000. Prosecutors said Adams would fly on the Turkish airline even when it was inconvenient. "You know first stop is always Istanbul," he wrote in a 2017 text message when his partner expressed surprise that they were flying from New York to Paris through Istanbul. For his 2021 mayoral campaign, Adams disguised campaign contributions from Turkish sources by funneling them through U.S. citizens, the indictment said. Those funds allowed Adams to qualify for an additional $10 million in public financing. "This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise," Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said at a news conference. Prosecutors say Adams responded to Turkish concerns. Acting on a request by a Turkish diplomat, Adams pressured city safety inspectors to allow the country's new 36-story consulate to open in time for a September 2021 visit by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan even though it would have failed a fire inspection, the indictment said. After repeated messages about the building from Adams, a senior Fire Department official allegedly told a subordinate he would lose his job if he did not allow the consulate to open. Adams notified the diplomat when the Fire Department approved the building to open later in the day, the indictment said. "You are a true friend of Turkey," the diplomat allegedly responded. Adams performed other favors as well, the indictment said. Before serving as mayor, Adams allegedly cut ties with a community center in Brooklyn that the diplomat said was affiliated with a hostile political movement, according to the indictment. Shortly after he was inaugurated in 2022, an Adams staffer assured the diplomat that the new mayor would not make a statement on 1915 massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire that Washington has called a genocide. Adams said he was aiming for a public trial to clear his name. "If it's foreign donors, I know I don't take money from foreign donors," he said. TOP CITY OFFICIALS RESIGN The case is likely to complicate any Adams bid for re-election in 2025, as other Democratic politicians, including New York City comptroller Brad Lander, plan to challenge him. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat who represents portions of the city, called on Adams to step down. But two powerful lawmakers from Brooklyn, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House of Representatives Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, stopped short of doing so. New York has been in a state of political upheaval for the past month. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on Sept. 12, a week after FBI agents seized his phone. Days later, Adams' chief legal adviser resigned. On Wednesday, the city's public schools chief David Banks said he would retire at the end of the year, after the New York Times reported his phones were seized by federal agents. (Reporting by Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel and Bing Guan in New York; additional reporting by Katharine Jackson and Doina Chiacu in Washington and Jonathan Allen in New York; writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski, Lisa Shumaker and Lincoln Feast.) Editors note: A previous version of this story stated criminal charges were filed against former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance. For clarification, this has been updated to a criminal complaint. SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) A local Haitian community group has filed a criminal complaint against former president Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance. On Wednesday, one group filed a motion to put Trump and Vance behind bars. Hoping for criminal prosecution, the group is now heading to court. Since the presidential debate, the city of Springfield has been under constant surveillance due to numerous threats. Smales Pretzel Bakery sets date for grand reopening following oven fire The complaints filed by the Haitian Bridge Alliance include telecommunications harassment, complicity, disrupting public services, aggravated menacing, and making false alarms. After Trump supported false allegations that Haitians in Springfield had been eating peoples pets, entering the country illegally and spreading deadly disease at the presidential debate, the city has seen a total of 33 threats in the last two weeks. City leaders and local law enforcement have repeatedly disputed those claims. We all know that if anybody else had done this, if anybody else had inflicted this kind of chaos on a community and its residents, action would been taken by now, said Subdoh Chandra, representative for the Haitian Bridge Alliance. Colleges, elementary schools, and public service buildings have shut down due to bomb threats. Hospitals and official city buildings also see the impact of negative political statements. Leaders are asking the Clark County Municipal Court to determine whether there is probable cause for the allegations. 1st business breaks ground at new Miami Twp. commerce center I would really like to hear them before a judge and then tell the judge where they got all these things from and keep them accountable for what they say, said Viles Dorsainvile, Executive Director of the Haitian Community and Resource Center. Haitian community leaders also say they need mental health professionals to volunteer as they try to navigate these trying times in their community. To view the court documents, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. When the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced she was releasing thousands of criminals from prison early, she assured the country that every precaution would be taken to prevent innocent people getting hurt. Instead, weve seen a botch job, with criminals released without proper tagging, and now a new admission that dozens of inmates were incorrectly freed due to a mistake. Most have been returned to custody, but at the time of writing, five are still at large. Thats five convicted criminals on our streets evading justice, and perfectly capable of committing more illegal acts. The risks to public safety from the last governments failure to build more prisons are obvious. But there is another fundamental issue at stake. We pay our taxes with the expectation of reciprocal service. But despite an ever-growing proportion of our stagnating incomes being seized for such a purpose, the social contract between citizen and state now resembles a one-sided relationship. The failings of the system are rarely owned by the well-paid leaders of it. It is highly unlikely that anyone at the Ministry of Justice or HM Prisons and Probation Service will be held accountable for these errors, regardless of the consequences for ordinary people. No, if anyone is to get it in the neck for the release, it will be the humble prison officer who was the last person in the chain of command likely someone early in their career, trying to get their job done while operating under some of the most dreadful working conditions imaginable. The same is true in other areas of policy. Despite repeated promises by politicians to secure borders, the flow of migrants entering the country continues apace. The huge costs of this failure dont accrue to the elites but to ordinary members of the public. Take the example of a couple in Suffolk, who called police when they discovered a migrant in the back of their van while travelling from France and got stung with a 3,000 fine. We treat criminals with more care and compassion than we do the law-abiding public, or the police and prison officers charged with keeping us safe. Are the officers who get stabbed, slashed, or otherwise savagely assaulted while upholding the law on our behalf compensated generously? No, but a burglar stabbed by a fellow prisoner can receive 5 million from the taxpayer because their attacker, a convicted murderer, had access to knives in the prison kitchen. If a recidivist who really ought to be in prison stabs an innocent member of the public, would their victim have any hope of such an award? Hardly. Has any survivor of the grooming gangs scandal received a multi-million pound award from the state for the failure of the authorities to stop these violent rape gangs because they didnt want to risk being called racist or Islamophobic? No, in modern Britain it is not the law-abiding, crime-fighter or victim of crime with the privilege or the rights its the criminals themselves. If a police officer dares to be proactive and actually perform the job they signed up for, they arent rewarded. Quite the contrary: they run the risk of losing their career, their sanity and even their freedom. Our institutions treat even the most prolific, dangerous and dishonest offenders with more respect than they do even the most diligent and committed police officer. The failure to secure our borders, to back our police when they confront criminals, and to build more prisons all compound each other. They create conditions for criminals at home and abroad to sense and exploit the fundamental weakness in our system. That means our towns and cities become zones of danger and misery. People become accustomed to a life of constantly looking over their shoulders, fearing that any potential victimisation at the hands of a criminal will be compounded by a distant and uncaring state. Shops need more security. Goods need to be locked away. Staff begin to wear cameras. Businesses adapt, reluctantly, to the conditions of the new post-punishment Britain. The greatest losers of all are women and girls, who find themselves leered at, followed, touched, and preyed upon by unstable career criminals who manage to escape justice time and time again. Few in politics or power deliver results or even dare state the blindingly obvious. Combining a weak political class, a denuded criminal justice system and mass uncontrolled immigration was never going to end well. Our society is too fragile to cope. The continued entry of large numbers of men with attitudes and values antithetical to Britain to say nothing of any criminal histories or conduct is, like prison releases, a scandal in plain sight. If Labour is to have any hope of winning a second term, it cant afford to neglect our public security and if anyone else is to break through, then it will need to have a serious and detailed plan for making Britain safe again. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Zaheer Kachwala (Reuters) - An activist investor pushing for a sale of "Assassin's Creed" maker Ubisoft has gathered support from 10% of the French videogame publisher's shareholders, it said in a letter on Thursday that was exclusively shared with Reuters. AJ Investments, which has less than 1% stake in Ubisoft, said it was in talks with private equity firms for its push. "We call on the management of Ubisoft to allow the sale of the company to third parties or private equity firms at a fair price," the Slovakia-based activist investor said in the letter, which would be made public later in the day. AJ Investments did not name the investors in its letter and declined a Reuters request for the names of the investors. The move comes weeks after AJ Investments called for a CEO change at Ubisoft and urged it to go private or be sold. The company's shares have declined more than 30% so far this month after the letter from AJ Investments dated Sept. 9 and following Ubisoft's announcement that the release of the next "Assassin's Creed" game would be delayed by three months. For the year, the stock is down about 50%, underperforming rivals such as Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive Software and Capcom. The "Assassin's Creed" delay follows a poor run of form in the past two years for the family-run publisher with games such as "Skull and Bones" and "Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora", which have fallen short of the expectations of investors and analysts. Ubisoft is run by its founders, the Guillemot family, which owns 15% of the firm, followed by Chinese gaming giant Tencent, which owns just under 10%, according to LSEG data. The Guillemot family, Ubisoft and Tencent did not respond to requests for comment. Ubisoft's newly released "Star Wars Outlaws" had a strong launch last month but sales have slowed since then, analysts have said. The underperformance has sparked questions about Ubisoft's strategy of launching new licensed intellectual property at a time when gamers are sticking with already proven titles. "The focus should be much more on existing intellectual property (IP) and leveraging the strengths they have. It's a risky time to make more than $100 million bets on new IP or licensed IP that hasn't proven itself as a game yet," said Karl Kontus, co-founder of data analytics firm Video Game Insights. AJ Investments said it would speak with Ubisoft's management on Tuesday to discuss its proposals. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) MANHATTAN (KSNT) Staff at the Sunset Zoo are announcing the successful birth of two Malayan tiger cubs in a first-ever event for the Little Apple. Melissa Kirkwood with the City of Manhattan said in a press release that two cubs were born on Aug. 23, 2024. These were born to Indrah and Jaya. The births mark a big moment for both the zoo and the critically endangered species. The successful birth of these tigers is a triumph for Sunset Zoo and conservationists worldwide who are striving to protect Malayan tigers and other endangered species from extinction, Kirkwood said in the press release. (Photo Courtesy/Caitlin Kenney) (Photo Courtesy/Caitlin Kenney) (Photo Courtesy/Caitlin Kenney) KCC approves new energy transmission lines in Kansas Malayan tigers are one of the most critically endangered of the tiger subspecies with only around 150 or fewer left in the wild. Poaching, habitat destruction and human-wildlife conflict have taken their toll on the species. The birth of these tiger cubs is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve through collaboration and dedication to conservation, said Scott Shoemaker, director of the Sunset Zoo. We hope that these cubs will inspire people to take action to protect Malayan tigers in the wild, as they are nearing extinction. Kirkwood said the Sunset Zoo cares for five of the 56 Malayan tigers in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Malayan Tiger Species Survival Plan. The tiger cubs in Manhattan will be monitored by zoo staff to ensure they grow up healthy. It took an incredible effort and several years to get to this point. Considerable hard work and continued dedication on behalf of our keeper staff went into this process and we are incredibly proud of the care we can provide our first-time mom, Indrah, and her cubs, said Head Keeper, Caitlin Kenney. Alligator snapping turtles are back in Kansas, what to know The names for the two cubs will be revealed at a later date once identification of their sex can be made by zoo staff. Learn more about the Sunset Zoo by clicking here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Port Tampa Bay closed Wednesday night ahead of Hurricane Helene, which will impact cruise schedules. At 8 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard set Port Condition ZULU due to impending weather conditions, halting inbound and outbound vessel traffic, according to a news release from Port Tampa Bay. LIVE: Hurricane Helene real-time wobble tracker The shipping channels have been closed, and landside operations will continue as long as its safe. Cruise schedules will also be impacted. Passengers should reach out to their cruise line directly for more information on itinerary changes. Carnival Cruise Line: 1-800-764-7419 Margaritaville at Sea: 1-800-814-7100 Royal Caribbean International: 1-800-256-6649 Port Tampa Bay will work with fuel terminal operators to ensure that fuel can get to consumers for as long as possible, officials said. Port staff will work round-the-clock so we can re-open to full operations as soon as safely possible to support the community and region we serve, the release reads. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) vented his frustration on the Senate floor Wednesday evening after Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), in an unusual exchange, objected to a bipartisan bill sponsored by Cruz that would crack down on fake revenge porn generated by artificial intelligence. The clash is a sign that Democrats dont want to give the embattled Texas incumbent any legislative victories before Election Day. The Cruz-sponsored bill, the Take It Down Act, appeared headed for passage as part of a routine legislative wrap-up session before Congress leaves Washington for six weeks of recess for the 2024 presidential election. But Booker filed a last-minute objection to Cruzs bill, which is co-sponsored by Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Laphonza Butler (Calif.), John Hickenlooper (Colo.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.) and Martin Heinrich (N.M.). Booker didnt provide any reason for the objection, leaving Cruz who is in the middle of a tough reelection race fuming on the Senate floor. I am saddened that the senator from New Jersey chose to give no explanation for his objection, Cruz said, pointing out that New Jersey native Francesca Mani had testified before the Commerce Committee about the dangers of deepfake revenge porn. He chose to give no reason to Francesca why shes being denied, Cruz said after Booker objected. Usually, senators explain their objections on the floor. A frustrated Cruz said he suspects politics played a role. He wondered aloud whether Booker was trying to score partisan political points by denying him a legislative victory while hes in the midst of the campaign. Its not lost on anyone that this is an election year, and I will say absent a single substantive objection, the obvious inference is that this objection is being made because weve got an election in less than six weeks, he fumed. I sure hope hes not standing up here denying victims of this abuse relief simply to score partisan political points. I would like to think he wouldnt do such a thing. But in order to believe he wouldnt do such a thing, he needs to actually explain some reason for his objection, he said. Booker is a longtime ally of Cruzs opponent in the general election, Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), who reported raising a whopping $41.2 million for his Senate campaign at the end of June. Booker made an impassioned fundraising pitch for Allred on the social platform X last year. Ive known this guy for years. So trust me when I say this: We need people like Colin in the Senate, Booker said in a video pitch, standing alongside the Texas congressman in November. Cruz noted Wednesday evening that he circulated his bill to Democratic and Republican colleagues two weeks ago to smooth away any potential objections. He expected it to be included in the list of uncontroversial items that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Republican leaders agreed to include in the wrap-up of unfinished bills before leaving town for the fall campaign. But Bookers late objection stopped it in its tracks. It cleared 99 senators. He had a week and a half to object. Yesterday, this legislation was about to pass, and an hour before it was going to pass, the senator from New Jersey raised his objection, Cruz said on the floor, exasperated that Booker had blocked the bill at the last minute. Jeff Giertz, a spokesperson for Booker, accused Cruz of staging the floor confrontation to score his own political points. Sen. Cruz refused to work together to resolve Sen. Booker and other senators legitimate concerns with the bill. Its clear from Sen. Cruzs social media posts that his floor stunt was not about advancing bipartisan legislation but a cynical attempt to score political points in his tight race with Colin Allred. Sen. Cruz is trying to create controversy where there has been none and should only be cooperation and collaboration something he clearly has no interest in, he said. The Booker aide said, The sharing of nonconsensual explicit images online is a serious and urgent problem that Sen. Booker has built a record working to address. The Cruz bill would criminalize the publication of deepfake porn, known as nonconsensual intimate imagery, and require big tech companies to put systems in place to remove such images within 48 hours of receiving a valid request from a victim. The legislation is intended to protect victims such as Mani, a 15-year-old New Jersey high school student who learned last year that boys in her class had used artificial intelligence (AI) to fabricate nude images of her and her classmates to disseminate on the Internet. Mani testified before the Commerce Committee in June that without Sen. Cruzs bill, well continue to have teens making AI deepfake images of girls. The obvious lack of laws speaks volumes. We girls are on our own, and considering that 96 percent of deepfake AI victims are women and children, were also seriously vulnerable and need your help, she told senators. Cruz pointed out on the floor that his bill includes some of the same language that Booker requested in another bill, the Shield Act, which is sponsored by Klobuchar. The Senate passed that bill by voice vote July 10. It would establish federal criminal liability for individuals who share private, sexually explicit or nude images without consent. Cruzs and Klobuchars Take It Down Act would go further by criminalizing AI-fabricated sexually explicit images. The Shield Act was significantly modified at the request of my colleague from New Jersey before he would allow that to pass, Cruz said. Now it appears the senator from New Jersey no longer supports the language he has voted for and the language he negotiated and helped draft. Klobuchar said, after the floor exchange, she didnt know precisely why Booker objected. Well have to get it done by the end of the year. Im going to try to talk to Cory, she said. Theres something different for Cory than was in the bill [the Shield Act] that passed the Senate. I dont know. Im going to talk to him. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (COLORADO SPRINGS) At a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 26, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) released the findings of an extensive review of its training programs in regard to use of force & defensive tactics, de-escalation, procedural justice, and response to people in crisis. CSPD said it contracted with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in 2023 to conduct an extensive review of our training programs. The review was recently concluded, and the findings were made public on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. The presentation included remarks from Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade and Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez, as well as a briefing from PERF personnel who conducted the study. Click the video player above to watch the full press conference. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. What is a Cuban Interior Ministry colonel doing in New York this week? A high-ranking official with Cubas Interior Ministry, an agency sanctioned by the United States for its role in human-rights violations, was granted a visa to travel to New York as part of an official Cuban government delegation attending the United Nations General Assembly this week. The Cuban Foreign Ministry did not mention the presence of Col. Mario Mendez Mayedo who heads the key Interior Ministry department handling migration and issues involving foreign citizens in a statement listing the delegation members traveling to New York. However, an opinion piece published by the official news outlet Cubadebate identified him as one of the Cuban officials who met with Cuban Americans at the Cuban mission to the U.N. in New York. The Interior Ministry is in charge of state security, among other responsibilities. A State Department spokesperson said that the United States takes seriously its obligations as host country of the UN under the UN Headquarters Agreement, including the issuance of visas for certain travel to the UN headquarters district. Mendez has not appeared in pictures released by Cuban official government accounts of the delegations activities and meetings linked to the U.N. events this week. It doesnt seem he traveled to discuss migration with Biden administration officials either. The State Department declined to say whether Cuban and U.S. officials would meet on the sides of the U.N. high-level week, but an administration source said there are no planned meetings between the delegations. Mendez has previously participated in official talks with U.S. officials on migration. In 2016, he traveled to Miami to discuss human trafficking and migration fraud with Obama administration officials. During the current visit, Mendezs only public event so far has been the gathering at the Cuban mission, where he and Ana Teresa Gonzalez, who leads a Foreign Ministry division handling the Cuban governments relationship with the islands diaspora, explained to the audience new migration and citizenship laws passed by the National Assembly last July. The laws were drafted by the Interior Ministry and presented by Mendez to legislators during the July session. According to the Cubadebate report, Mendez told the embassy audience that the migration law eliminates restrictions that had prevented Cubans from keeping their properties on the island if they stayed abroad longer than 24 months. However, the laws final text has not been published, and an earlier version discussed at the National Assembly contained new requirements tying property rights to residing in the country for an unspecified period of time each year. The migration law also gives the Interior Ministry ample powers to cite national security and hostile political actions against the government to impose travel bans on Cubans and foreigners, an unwritten policy that had already been enforced prior to the new legislation. The citizenship law goes as far as granting the Cuban president the authority to strip Cuban nationals of their citizenship if they engage in acts contrary to the political, economic and social interests of the country. The Miami-based Human Rights Foundation has included Mendez in a database of Cuban officials accused of human-rights violations for his role in the banning of dissidents and critics of the government from leaving or entering the country. Cuba admits to massive emigration wave: a million people left in two years amid crisis The government admitted in July that more than a million Cubans had left the island in just two years, in 2022 and 2023, the largest exodus in Cubas recent history, fueled by poverty and political oppression. Most have come to the U.S. But at the gathering with the group of Cuban Americans at the Cuban mission to the U.N., Cuban officials touted the governments efforts to have a normal relationship with Cubans living abroad. We have made long-term efforts to fully normalize Cubas relations with its emigrants who love their homeland and their families, said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky believes that Vladimir Putin has adjusted Russia's nuclear weapons doctrine to intimidate Ukraine's allies, and that these intimidations should not be accepted. Source: Lipavsky expressed this opinion on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda. Details: The Czech minister said that intimidation of the democratic world with nuclear weapons is a cornerstone of Kremlin propaganda. Quote: "Its goal is to deter support for Ukraine and enable Russian occupation. Adjusting Russia's doctrine to ease nuclear use is part of this intimidation," Lipavsky said. Threatening the democratic world with nuclear weapons has been a cornerstone of Kremlin propaganda. Its goal is to deter support for Ukraine and enable Russian occupation. Adjusting Russia's doctrine to ease nuclear use is part of this intimidation. Lets not fall for it. Jan Lipavsky (@JanLipavsky) September 26, 2024 He urged the public not to give in to the Kremlin's intimidation. Background: Support UP or become our patron! DA: Two brothers charged with stealing nearly $200k from Boston bank in brazen daytime heist Bank officials helped foil the plans of two brothers who are accused of stealing nearly $200,000 in a brazen daytime bank robbery Tuesday. 32-year-old Justin Flounoury and 28-year-old Jenel Flounoury, both from Brockton, were charged with larceny over $1,200 and conspiracy in West Roxbury Boston Municipal Court. Just before 1 p.m. on Tuesday, officers responding to the Energy Credit Union on Spring Street for a robbery in progress found bank teller Jenel Flounoury, who claimed an unknown suspect, later identified as his brother, approached the window and passed a note saying, hand it over, according to the Suffolk County DAs Office. Investigators say Jenel then turned around, entered a closed door where the main vault was, retrieved approximately $197,146 from a vault on the top right, and put it in a blue ATM bag. Jenel allegedly said that the suspect, Justin, collected the bag and said, Thank you, sir, before fleeing on foot in an unknown direction. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) was suspicious that Jenel didnt look in his cash drawer and immediately walked to the vault without being told to do so and providing more than the amount demanded. The CFO informed investigators of this, saying thats not how tellers are trained on bank robbery procedures. Bank officials also told detectives Jenel was fired in May 2023 for violating company policy before being rehired in August 2024. At 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday, police executed a search warrant on Flounourys Brockton residence and found a large sum of cash. Both brothers were apprehended. Judge John Garland ordered both held on $10,000 bail and to stay away from Energy Credit Union at their arraignment. Weve seen time and time again employees hatching what they think is a clever plan to steal from their workplace, and then we see those supposedly clever plans unravel, usually very quickly, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. The immediate suspicions of the bank officers and some extremely effective work by the investigative agencies involved led to these brothers answering to these charges in court today. Both are due back in court on October 30 for pre-trial hearings. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Sarah Williams, who lost her home in the fire, says the government needs to intervene to help affected residents [BBC] Residents who were evacuated from a fire in a block of flats in Dagenham a month ago are still being housed in temporary accommodation amid a dispute about who should foot the bill. Barking and Dagenham Council, which is funding the accommodation despite the residents not being council tenants, has called on block's management company to fulfil its "moral duty" and help out. Eighty people were evacuated from the building in east London on 26 August. They say said the block's management company has "vanished". Block Management UK Limited says it was employed by the freeholder only to look after the common areas, not individual flats. The freeholder, Arinium Limited, is yet to respond to the BBC. The cause of the fire is still being investigated [Getty Images] One displaced resident of Spectrum House, Sarah Williams, told the BBC: "My life has been completely upended, it's been traumatic. I don't know where I'm going to live in a week, in a month, in a year." She said that a month on from the fire she had been left feeling "really angry and frustrated", adding: "Private companies take money from people like me and other leaseholders, and when catastrophe happens they vanish completely and leave the council to pick up the pieces." She went on to say: "Block Management UK Limited and Arinium Limited have not been at the (residents') meetings - and they haven't put their hands in their pockets to even help with small expenses." 'Ongoing dialogue' Barking and Dagenham Council told BBC London: "Block Management UK Ltd manage the building and were working with the government to ensure they comply with their legal obligations to residents. They should be leading on support for residents in this private block and they havent yet shown up to meet those affected they have a moral duty to do so. In the meantime, and in lieu of this support from Block Management, we continue to provide affected residents with humanitarian support funded by the council including emergency accommodation." It added: "We are in ongoing dialogue with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regarding our funding of this, and hope to be able to recoup the costs." The council said it was also working with residents to help secure "longer-term accommodation options", depending on individual needs. Irina Vasila lived on the second floor and still does not have a new place to live [BBC] Another resident, Irina Vasila, said she had been moved between three different hotels in the past month. She said her thoughts were on being "homeless and losing everything", adding that "all of us are desperate". Ms Vasila said on the night of the fire she had shouted "help" from her second-floor flat while thick smoke poured in. She said "for about an hour we breathed smoke, no oxygen at all". She says without the fire service rescuing her, she does not think she or her partner would have survived. Ms Vasila said that since the fire, there had been very little communication from the freeholder, "just a few emails about insurance". She said residents had been relying on help from the council. She said she was hoping the council would help her move into a new flat, but added that "nothing will replace what we lost and nothing will redress our trauma". 'Terrible thing' The Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, Margaret Mullane, said: "It's been a really complex picture and the council undoubtedly have done an outstanding job." She said it was a "terrible thing" to happen to residents and she "can't imagine what it must be like". The MP said progress to help the residents had been slow and, adding that "the residents were quite right to be saying, 'it's a month on - come on'". Scaffolding had been erected around Spectrum House months before the fire so that "non-compliant cladding" could be removed [Getty Images] Block Management UK Limited said in a statement: "We sympathise with all those affected by this situation. "We are working with all relevant parties to provide support and have agreed a communications strategy with the council, which includes weekly and urgent updates to all residents." It added that it had been hired by the building owner to "manage the common parts of the property, not the individual flats". 'Full force of government' Residents have expressed their concerns about the role that cladding played in the fire, and works had been under way at the block to replace "non-compliant cladding". The cause of the fire has still not been established. London Fire Brigade is investigating. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said of cladding issues nationally: "We have been clear that the progress on remediation has been too slow and must urgently be addressed. "The full force of government will be brought to bear to make sure building owners fix this - with plans to accelerate the pace of remediation to be announced in the autumn." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk More on this story External Links GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Thursday on the Daily 8, were looking at absentee ballots being sent out in Michigan, a new bocce-themed venue coming to Grand Rapids, the tug-of-war tradition at Hope College and more. You can watch the full Daily 8 for Sept. 26, 2024, in the video player above or check out any of the stories mentioned below: Each weekday, the Daily 8 brings you the top eight stories we are keeping an eye on in and around West Michigan. Join us again Friday for the Daily 8. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City watched as U.S. Attorney Damian Williams unsealed the historic federal criminal charges against Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday, but just who is the districts top lawyer? Williams recently garnered public attention for his work prosecuting Sean P Diddy Combs, accused of sex trafficking. Now the Department of Justice official is back in the spotlight investigating Mayor Eric Adams alleged bribery. NYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted on federal criminal charges: sources As the attorney for the Department of Justices Southern District of New York, Williams serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for Manhattan, the Bronx, and Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Westchester counties. President Joe Biden nominated Williams in August 2021, making way for him to become the first Black U.S. attorney for the Southern District. Before that, Williams served the District as an assistant attorney and the chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. NYC Mayor Adams charged with bribery in federal indictment The Districts top lawyer has a history of investigating corruption cases among public officials. He previously prosecuted Congressman Chris Collins for insider trading and lying to the FBI. In 2018, he investigated State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for bribery, extortion, and money laundering. Now, Williams is investigating Adams on charges of bribery, solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national, and wire fraud, according to the indictment. Despite the probe, Adams has claimed he will not step down. Mayor Adams charged with bribery: Inside the indictment From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, Adams said on Thursday. My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Nvidias (NVDA) ultra-bullish trend in the first half of the year has paused, with the stock failing to reach new peaks over the past few months. Following the highly anticipated Q2 earnings report at the end of August, Nvidia stock experienced a pullback due to elevated investor expectations for hypergrowth, despite the strong results it posted. I believe this price correction offers a compelling opportunity. In this article, I will outline five reasons for my bullish view on Nvidia, focusing on strong revenue growth (despite tough comps), AI dominance, valuation, technical indicators, and Wall Street analyst consensus. Lets dive in. 1. Nvidias Strong Revenue Growth Despite Tough Comparisons The first point supporting a prolonged bullish thesis for Nvidia is the solid revenue growth demonstrated in its Q2 results, despite challenging comparisons. Nvidia posted 122% year-over-year growth in the most recent quarter, reaching revenues of $30 billiona remarkable achievement given the companys already substantial revenue base. Although this growth rate is lower than the 200% surge from the previous quarter, the absolute triple-digit top-line growth remains impressive. This underscores Nvidias ability to scale its revenue significantly even when set against its prior performance. While the post-Q2 stock pullback can be attributed to expectations being set too high, its crucial to note that Nvidia continues to deliver sequential quarterly revenue growth, signaling robust demand for its products, especially in AI and data centers. This level of sustained growth at such a large scale highlights Nvidias capacity to capture market share and drive long-term revenue expansion. Nvidias Q3 sales guidance of $32.5 billion further reflects the companys confidence in maintaining its growth trajectory. 2. Nvidias Dominance in AI and Data Center Market The second bullish point is Nvidias continued dominance in the data center GPU space, where it holds a 98% market share in this rapidly growing sector, according to HPCwire. Demand for AI-driven solutions is booming across industries, with Nvidias H100 Hopper GPU becoming crucial for enterprise cloud applications that require massive computing power. Beyond hardware, Nvidia dominates AI through its software ecosystem, including CUDA and cuDNN, offering a comprehensive AI solution. As highlighted in Nvidias earnings call, the company aims to transform the $1 trillion data center market by shifting from traditional to accelerated computing using advanced data processing libraries. Looking ahead, Nvidia plans to launch its Blackwell architecture in Q4 of Fiscal 2025, offering greater power and efficiency than Hopper. Designed to meet the demands of hyperscalers and AI developers, Blackwell will provide comprehensive solutions, including chips, systems, networking, and software. This release is a key catalyst that will further solidify Nvidias leadership in AI. 3. Nvidia Appears Attractively Priced When Adjusted for Growth The third point concerns Nvidias valuations. At first glance, its P/E ratio of 54.7x and forward P/E of 42.5x may seem high, especially compared to the semiconductor industry average of 23.7x. However, my bullish stance is strengthened by Nvidias growth prospects, with the company expected to achieve 106% revenue growth and 119% EPS growth this year. Furthermore, analysts expect Nvidias EPS to grow at a CAGR of 36.6% over the next three to five years. This impressive growth rate, combined with the current forward P/E, results in a reasonable forward price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 1.16. Traditionally, undervalued stocks have a PEG ratio below one, yet NVIDIAs PEG ratio is more favorable than those of all other Magnificent 7 stocks. Among this group, Alphabet (GOOGL) and Meta (META) have the next lowest PEG ratios at 1.28 and 1.48, respectively. While this doesnt necessarily mean NVIDIA is undervalued compared to its Big Tech peers, it does suggest that, according to this metric, the stock doesnt appear overly expensive. 4. NVDAs Moving Averages Suggest a Bullish Trend The fourth point reinforcing the bullish thesis is closely tied to the sentiment surrounding Nvidias stock performance. Despite recent fluctuations, the companys triple-digit revenue growth indicates that it is still in a hypergrowth phase. However, with a staggering 2,700% stock price surge over the past five years, concerns about a potential bubble remain. In this context, I believe that focusing on long-term moving averages is essential for gauging momentum. This provides a clearer view of Nvidias trend amid daily volatility, especially given the stocks 48% annualized volatility. NVDA stocks upward trend is supported by a current trading price above its 200-day moving average of $92.80. 5. Wall Street Remains Overwhelmingly Bullish on NVDA Finally, the fifth point contributing to my favorable outlook for Nvidia is the overwhelmingly bullish consensus among Wall Street analysts. Of the 42 analysts covering the stock, 39 have issued Buy recommendations, while the remaining three have a Hold rating. Moreover, the average price target among these analysts is $152.44, indicating potential upside of nearly 25%. A standout is Rosenblatt analyst Hans Mosesmann, who has the highest price target on Wall Street for Nvidia at $200 per share. His optimism persisted after the Q2 results, which he deemed strong, driven by growth in Hopper AI and networking. Although gross margins dipped slightly due to updates on Blackwell chips aimed at improving yields, Mosesmann remains confident. He highlights that despite potential short-term weakness in the share price, the bullish sentiment is supported by a 44x P/E multiple based on Fiscal 2027 EPS. Conclusion In this article, Ive outlined five key points supporting my Buy stance on Nvidia. I believe that the stocks recent weakness presents an attractive buying opportunity for investors eager to capitalize on its strong growth trajectory. While some short-term hiccups may persist, Nvidias Q2 results suggest that its growth story is set to continue robustly as the company consolidates its market dominance and prepares for the upcoming release of the Blackwell architecture. Given the potential for further growth in the coming years, the current rich valuation can be justified, and Wall Street believes the same. Disclosure Disclaimer SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) Despite marijuana being legal in the state of Massachusetts, there are still illegal sales and purchases every day. Police bust marijuana grow house in Hampden It is significantly less expensive, however, you dont know what you are getting, said Captain Brian Keenan, Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit. In 2016, the state of Massachusetts legalized the recreational use of marijuana, but that only increased the business of the illegal business of growing and selling the drug. Much more acceptable than it was before and as a result the illegal marijuana market is thriving because it is not regulated and it is significantly cheaper than buying out of a dispensary, said Captain Keenan. In the state of Massachusetts, residents over the age of 21 can legally grow 6 marijuana plants in their home, but only for personal use. They must also be grown in an area that is locked or monitored by a security device. For households with multiple people over the age of 21, the maximum you can have is 12. Springfield Police told 22News, that 2 years ago, about 70% of their homicides were related to the buying and selling of marijuana. They said not only is it illegal, it is very dangerous. You run the risk of being robbed. If you are with a marijuana grow house, there are fire implications, there are violence implications. The black market has created a very dangerous world around street marijuana said Captain Keenan. Not only are there dangers for the illegal grower and seller of the drug, but there are also for the buyer. Buying it on the street is just not safe anymore, I mean you cant even, people do stuff with pills, they do stuff with all types of things now, so its not safe to buy really anything on the street, said Chris Huff who drove up from Manchester, Connecticut. Springfield Police said many times, a marijuana dealer is also dealing with other drugs, so it is unknown what can get mixed in with the marijuana they are selling. 24 states now have legalized recreational marijuana for adults AND The marijuana industry continues to grow. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Red paint and anti-Israel slogans were spreayed on the Danish foreign ministry building in Copenhagen (Emil Nicolai Helms) (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP) The facade of Denmark's foreign ministry in Copenhagen was sprayed with anti-Israeli slogans Thursday, police said. Police told AFP in a statement that they had been made aware early Thursday that a foreign ministry building had been "vandalized with political graffiti". Messages such as "Boycott Israel" and "Israel kills children" was spray-painted on the wall in red. Pictures from news agency Ritzau showed cleaners removing the paint and words. Police said they were securing video images and conducting technical investigations. The Gaza war has caused protests across Europe. The conflict began with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,534 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Fighting between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah has heightened fears that the war could spread across the region. cbw/nzg/ef/jll/tw Political Patties, a new bar on U Street in Northwest D.C., is already stirring controversy just days after its opening. The bar, which took over the space formerly occupied by the popular gay bar Dirty Goose, has faced criticism over its original logo featuring a donkey and an elephant, representing the Democratic and Republican parties. In a predominantly liberal city like D.C., many locals took issue with the presence of the GOP elephant on the bar's exterior, leading to a wave of backlash on social media before the doors even opened. Andrew Benbow and Sydney Bradford, the owners of Political Patties, are a couple who hoped to create a bipartisan space for political discourse. Benbow, a moderate Republican, and Bradford, a Democrat, saw their own relationship as proof that people with differing political views can connect and communicate. "If we can be of different political views and still fall in love, surely, two people of two completely different worldviews can come together and have a conversation and get to know one another," Benbow said. They thought their idea of a bipartisan bar would resonate in the nations capital. "Because D.C. is such a political city, I thought it just made sense that we set up a political bar little did we know that was not the case," Benbow added. The social media backlash primarily centered on the bars logo, which featured both the Democratic donkey and a Republican elephant. Many in the community, particularly those with strong feelings about the Republican Party, were upset by the inclusion of the elephant symbol. "What we want to do is create a safe space for people to come in and have political discourse or any type of conversation they want. But its important for folks to know that we dont support debating anyones existence or discrimination of any kind that is not going to be tolerated here at Patties," said Bradford. In response to the outcry, Benbow and Bradford decided to change the logo, removing both the red elephant and blue donkey to avoid further controversy. They explained that the backlash made them realize how powerful certain imagery can be. "It may just look like a GOP elephant to some people, but to others, they may have a real visceral reaction to it that makes them feel unsafe," Bradford said. The couple stressed that their goal was to create an inclusive environment where people from all sides of the political spectrum could gather, not to hurt or offend anyone. They believe the situation highlights the need for spaces in Washington where all opinions are welcome. "I think its important for both sides to be represented," Benbow said. Despite the initial criticism, the owners hope people will give their new bar a chance and see it as a place for thoughtful discussion and unity. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) As members of the DC Court system celebrated a major victory Wednesday, the opening of a new wing of the courthouse, a major problem still looms: there are not enough judges to hear all the cases. I must note my deep concern with the long-standing judicial vacancy crisis that the DC Courts face, said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse C Street Addition. And I know its a deep concern for all of you. The new addition adds six new courtrooms and chambers for 21 judges. Still, right now roughly 14% of judicial positions are vacant. Its been like playing Whac-a-mole. We solve one problem, another pops up, said Anita Josey-Herring, outgoing Superior Court Chief Judge. DC Council to investigate ride-hailing app Empower According to the DC Courts, there are 10 judicial vacancies within the court system. Eight of them are within the Superior Court system. Two are within the Appeals Court system. The vacancies, coupled with a rising number of criminal and civil cases, is leading to a backlog within the system. Right now the average age of a criminal case is 200 days higher than in 2019, according to court data. We have a public responsibility to the public to dispose of the cases that come before us, said Chief Judge Josey-Herring. We try our best to do the best job we can. Maryland Task Force 1 deploys to Georgia ahead of Hurricane Helene The hold up on filling vacancies falls with the Senate, which must confirm judges for the DC court system. Right now, eight judges between the two systems are awaiting confirmation, according to the DC courts. Its an issue Holmes Norton has tried to address. Shes introduced the DC Judicial Vacancy Act, which would allow DC judges to be appointed after a Congressional review period rather than waiting on Seante confirmation. That bill is in committee. (The vacancies have) an impact on our ability to manage cases and process them when they come before us every day, said incoming Chief Judge Milton C. Lee Jr. Lee said managing the issue is his top priority when he takes over as Chief Judge next week. We have a committed, dedicated set of judges, managers and staff who will meet the challenge, but it is a much bigger challenge when you dont have a full set of resources to meet the demand, said Lee. The number one focus for me is to make sure we can motivate all the people here, put them into the very best position to be in to accomplish our task. But everyone has to understand its going to be a challenge. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced Wednesday that they arrested a man for a fatal shooting that happened in Northeast D.C. last month. MPD searching for man allegedly involved in deadly shooting on Minnesota Avenue At about 5:39 p.m. on Aug. 24, officers responded to the report of a shooting in the 3800 block of Minnesota Ave. NE. There, they found 49-year-old Michael Simpson of Northeast D.C. suffering from gunshot wound injuries. He was taken to a hospital, where he died the next day. A month after his death, MPD arrested 43-year-old Damon Maurice McQuarters. He was charged with First Degree Murder While Armed (Premeditated). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. COPPERAS COVE, Texas (FOX 44) A dead skunk found in Copperas Cove has tested positive for rabies. A Copperas Cove Animal Control Officer was dispatched around 10:05 a.m. Monday in reference to a call of a dead skunk found by a citizen in the 800 Block of Massengale Circle. Animal Control Officers took possession of the dead skunk, which was sent to the Texas Department of Health Laboratory in Austin for testing. Animal Control received notification from the Texas Department of Health on Wednesday that the skunk was infected with rabies. Any citizen who believes they, or their pet, or has knowledge of a person or animal having any contact with a skunk or other wild animal in this area should immediately contact Copperas Cove Animal Control at (254) 547-5584 (after hours contact the Copperas Cove Police Department at (254) 547-8222). You should also contact your physician and/or veterinarian in the case of a possible animal exposure. PREVIOUS STORY: Rabid skunk bites feral kitten in Copperas Cove Copperas Cove Police say rabies infection is most common in bats, coyotes, raccoons, skunks and foxes. Signs of rabies infection in a human may include but are not limited to fever, headaches, fatigue, respiration difficulties, possible paralysis or hyperactivity and/or coma. Signs of rabies infection in pets may include fever, chewing at site of infection or bite, erratic behavior, walking aimlessly, general restlessness, skin irritability, sensitivity to light, aggression in animals not normally aggressive, and generally unnatural behavior for that animal. Police say citizens are warned not to approach, touch or have any contact with wild animals, and to keep their pets from having contact with wild animals. Steps should be taken to safeguard their outside areas by covering garbage cans and not leaving pet food outside. Anyone observing a wild animal acting strangely should contact Animal Control immediately at (254) 547-5584. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez describes the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act in October 2022, in a Mora high school classroom as FEMA officials listen in. Those affected by the fire will now have until Dec. 20 to file a notice of loss. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM) Those affected by the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire have until Dec. 20 to file claims for damages, an extension contained in the continuing resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. Congress in September 2022 enacted the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, which created a claims office tasked with compensating those who lost their homes, businesses, and trees, among other losses, in the spring 2022 wildfire. The blaze, which destroyed hundreds of homes and covered an area of 534 square miles, began as botched federal prescribed burns. Congress awarded the claims office, which is overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, $3.95 billion and set a deadline for victims to file initial claims, known as notices of loss. Those with losses will not be able get any compensation if they do not file before the deadline. The Dec. 20 extension is a short-term solution to the original mid-November deadline that, for many, was coming too soon, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez told Source New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. She cited delays in the office getting up and running, and the damage from burn-scar flooding that continues to this day in and around the mountains scorched by the blaze. There have been 27 flash floods and debris flows reported in Mora and San Miguel counties since March of this year, according to National Weather Service data. Flooding is expected to occur for several more years. Extending the deadline will mean people can get compensation if new damage occurs, she said. We also want to make sure that everybody has the ability to file a claim if they didnt have initial damage, but they have subsequent damage because of the cascading event from the flooding, she said. She described the extension to December as a short-term solution that keeps the application period open until lawmakers can consider a longer extension. She and other members of New Mexicos congressional delegation sponsored a bill extending the deadline until late 2026. What we expect to happen is that before the (continuing resolution) expires, that we will put it in the next, more permanent funding,, she said. But thats our goal, is a two-year extension. While thats their goal, she urged everyone who thinks they might be eligible for compensation to file a notice of loss as soon as possible, and definitely before Dec. 20. Theres no guarantee Congress will approve the two-year extension, she said. You never know what Congress is going to do, right? she said. And we cannot rely on anything until it is a law. As of Tuesday, Sept. 24, the claims office had paid $1.35 billion in 10,417 claims. More information about filing a claim can be found here. via Associated Press In an attempt to reach at-risk youth in Washington, D.C., the metropolitan police department created a go-go band. It was an extension of the wildly popular Officer Friendly initiative in which officers come to schools or youth centers and play the sounds of the city. They were called the Side by Side band and surprisingly, they werent bad. I remember coming home after their performance and telling my dad about what Id witnessed and how they even had a conga player, which has always been one of the most popular positions in a go-go band. I noted that the members of the band even hung around to talk to us. I will never forget my fathers laugh at the whole story. He couldnt believe that the police department had a go-go band or that they were playing in schools or that they were even remotely talented enough to perform listenable music. I will also never forget what he said after he was done chuckling: Lets see how nice the cops in the Side by Side band are once you get pulled over for speeding.
I just knew Marcellus Williams wasnt going to die. Knowing that politicians are nothing if not theatrical, I assumed that in the 11th hour with just minutes to go they were going to stay the execution of Williams shortly after the tension had reached its crescendo. Since 1998, Williams had maintained his innocence in the killing of Felicia Gayle, a former reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who was found brutally murdered inside her home in a St. Louis suburb. Williams was convicted in 2001, his execution halted twice. First, in 2015, the Missouri Supreme Court halted execution plans and appointed a special master to review DNA testing on the handle of the murder weapon, the butcher knife that was used to stab Gayle 43 times and was left lodged in her neck, CBS News reported. And then again in August 2017, when then-Gov. Eric Greitens stopped the proceedings just hours before Williams was set to be executed. Greitens created a panel of five retired judges to investigate the DNA evidence. For six years, the panel combed through the findings until current Gov. Michael Parson put an end to their work. Parson didnt just stop the panel because the work was incomplete the judges were never able to issue a final report. But Parson didnt just revoke the board, he started the clock back up on Williams execution. See, the execution had been halted while the panel was at work, but as soon as that stopped, so did Williams chances at survival. This Board was established nearly six years ago, and it is time to move forward, Parson said last year, according to CNN. We could stall and delay for another six years, deferring justice, leaving a victims family in limbo, and solving nothing. This administration wont do that. But things kept changing in the case. Testimony was recanted or found to be untrue. DNA evidence was inconclusive. And two witnesses mightve just made up their stories for the reward money. There is no physical or forensic evidence linking Williams to the crime scene, MSNBC reported. Fingerprints taken at the crime scene were inexplicably destroyed. Neither bloodied footprints nor hair at the crime scene could be linked to Williams. The evidence against him is the testimony of two eyewitnesses a jailhouse informant and Williams former girlfriend. His attorneys argue that both implicated Williams because they wanted to claim a $10,000 reward. And none of that moved the needle for those who wanted Williams dead. Im glad that Parson mentioned Gayles family and the justice they werent receiving as long as Williams was alive. Because here is the rub: They didnt want Williams to die. Neither did the prosecutor who argued the case, or some members of the jurors that found him guilty. All of them banded together to try and stop the execution, and none were successful in saving his life. But a decision was made that didnt need DNA results, or testimony, or evidence, or a petition signed by some 900,000 people who didnt want Williams to die. And all of it was ignored. The Missouri Supreme Court and Parson both made the decision to proceed with killing Williams. Even the highest court in the land voted along party lines to continue with Williams execution. And I would love to call it a miscarriage of justice, but truthfully, the American justice system is working just as its designed: the police department in tandem with the prosecutors, the judges being lock step with the elected officials. All of it was systematically designed to do exactly what it did. Parson has presided over 11 executions and has never granted clemency. But you know who he did pardon? The white couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters. What I didnt realize years ago standing in the kitchen of a house I would never see again, is that it takes time to cultivate the level of disdain and cynicism that my father had for the police and this country and those who run it. He wasnt trying to diminish my enthusiasm for the Side by Side band, he was trying to lessen the blow that he knew was coming once I got older: that the police, no matter how much they emulate familiar sounds, are not familiar people. They arent your friends. Its a weird position to be both Black and a parent and try to make sense of the nonsensical, while trying not to diminish the joys of childhood and simultaneously wrestling with the terrors of reality. This feels like the beginning of my villain era. I feel stupid and ashamed of what we are becoming. But the one feeling I cant shake is the shame and embarrassment for even thinking that the truth would be enough to save a mans life. The state of Texas is asking the Supreme Court to allow it to continue denying emergency medical care to pregnant women, pretty please. The request, which the justices will consider at conference on Monday, September 30, comes on the heels of a new report that shows the states maternal mortality rate has spiked dramatically since the states first ban on abortion went into effect in 2021. Across the United States, maternal mortality rose 11 percent between 2019 to 2022; in Texas, over the same period, the maternal death rate surged 56 percent, according to an analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data conducted by the Gender Equity Policy Institute. Theres only one explanation for this staggering difference in maternal mortality, Nancy L. Cohen, the institutes president, told NBC News. All the research points to Texas abortion ban as the primary driver of this alarming increase. Five weeks before an election that could hinge on outrage over abortion restrictions, officials in Texas are nevertheless charging ahead with their effort to ensure that the state can continue blocking doctors from providing emergency medical treatment to pregnant residents. The state sued the Department of Health and Human Services, arguing that the Biden administration violated the Medicare and Administrative Procedure Acts when it issued guidance clarifying that hospitals are required to provide emergency abortions if necessary to preserve a womans health even in states that, like Texas, ban abortion. Texas won with this argument in the Fifth Circuit earlier this year, allowing the state to continue prohibiting emergency abortions. The Biden administration is now appealing that decision, and Texas is asking the high court to let the Fifth Circuit decision stand. If all of this sounds familiar, it is because a case that pivoted on a very similar question came before the Supreme Court last session; the court dismissed that case Moyle v. United States without ruling on the merits. The fundamental question at the heart of both cases is the same: Should doctors be allowed to treat pregnant women with health- and life-threatening conditions, or should those women be forced to grow sick, and in some cases, die because of a state law banning the specific treatment they need? At least one Texas woman may have already died because of Texas ban. Yeniifer Alvarez-Estrada Glick, 27, died of complications from her pregnancy in 2022; four experts who examined her case told the New Yorker she likely would have lived if she had been offered, and accepted, an abortion. She was never given the choice. Texas, for its part, denies that this case is about whether or not women in the state will be able to access abortion care. Instead, Attorney General Ken Paxton assisted by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative Christian law firm that helped engineer the destruction of Roe v. Wade insists he and his co-counsel are simply trying to ascertain whether Joe Bidens HHS violated the law by issuing its clarification without the appropriate notice and comment period and/or without proper statutory authorization. Republican attorney generals like Paxton have increasingly begun outsourcing their culture war litigation to ADF, as Rolling Stone has previously reported. The group, which claims it helped draft the Mississippi abortion ban the Supreme Court used to knock down Roe, was tapped by Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador to defend that states abortion ban at the Supreme Court in the previous case involving emergency abortions before the court this year. Some background on that case: After the Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion in 2022, Idaho imposed a near-total ban on pregnancy terminations in the state. The ban included one exception: Abortions could be provided to save a pregnant persons life. But the language presented doctors and nurses with a difficult challenge especially when it came to treating conditions like ectopic pregnancies and PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membrane), both of which can be fatal if left untreated and they had to decide how sick a woman needed to be before they could legally intervene. Last year, a lower court halted, in part, enforcement of the Idaho ban, allowing emergency abortions at hospitals if needed to protect the health of the mother. Shortly thereafter, the Supreme Court intervened to block that decision, preventing doctors from treating their patients, in some cases forcing them to fly those patients to a neighboring state for treatment. In June, a majority of justices admitted the court should not have gotten involved in the case prematurely, dismissing the case and allowing doctors to begin providing emergency abortions in Idaho again. Now, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar is asking the court to hear the Texas case, vacate the Fifth Circuits ruling, and remand the case to the lower courts to be re-considered in light of the courts decision in Moyle. Ken Paxton and ADF meanwhile have insisted to the justices: This is not Moyle 2.0. The justices will consider both arguments in conference next week, and, in the meantime, pregnant women in Texas will likely continue dying at higher rates than their counterparts in states with reasonable governance. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. CAYUTA, N.Y. (WETM) The Department of Environmental Conservation reports that a man is facing misdemeanor charges and violations after he allegedly shot at a crow from his vehicle on the highway in the Town of Cayuta. The DEC states that a report came in on Sept. 1 from a person who heard the shot and had followed the vehicle to gather a description, which was reported to the Schuyler County Sheriffs Office and the New York State Police. After receiving the report, Environmental Conservation Police Officers were contacted to assist with the incident. Police searching for three men suspected of stealing UTV out of Pennsylvania Upon investigation, officers say they determined that the man had shot at the crow while sitting in his vehicle and issued him four tickets. Two of the tickets were misdemeanors for having a loaded gun in a motor vehicle and shooting from a public highway, and the other two were violations for taking wildlife in or on a motor vehicle and taking wildlife from a public highway. Fines for these offenses range from $200 to $1,000 for each of the misdemeanors and up to $250 for the violations. The mans charges are pending in the Town of Cayuta Court. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. We recently compiled a list of the 8 Best Marine Shipping Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) stands against the other marine shipping stocks. The Maritime Freight Transport industry plays a significant role in global trade as it handles about 90% of it. The expansion of seaborne trade is benefiting consumers worldwide by providing competitive freight rates. According to Mordor Intelligence, the industry is projected to grow from approximately $381.69 billion in 2024 to around $471.81 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.33%. The Evolution of Shipping in a Changing World According to a KPMG report posted in May, the global shipping industry is on an upward trend despite challenges like vessel accessibility, labor shortages, and geopolitical instability. Around 83% of the world fleet consists of small to medium-sized ships, with small vessels making up 38% by number but only 1% by tonnage. Increasing container ship availability is expected to stabilize freight rates and restore the supply-demand balance. Port delays and logistical bottlenecks are expected to ease, but geopolitical conflicts, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East have disrupted some important shipping routes, which have led to longer, costlier voyages. The industry faces a potential shortage of maritime officers by 2026 and women make up only 2% of the workforce. Despite these challenges, global economic growth of 3% annually will support seaborne trade expansion. Freight rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels, as tanker demand remains strong due to a 1.9% fleet growth in 2023. Additionally, LNG demand is expected to stabilize the market, while container freight rates are recovering due to voyage restrictions and reduced vessel availability. Trends Shaping the Industry According to the above-mentioned KPMG report, the shipping and port industries are experiencing transformative trends that are influenced by decarbonization, digitalization, and evolving supply chains. Despite 6% of post-COVID stimulus efforts targeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, rising fuel prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict pose challenges, as the maritime sector accounts for 2.8% of global GHG emissions, with over 40% of marine cargo being fossil fuels. Digital adoption is on the rise, with the smart ports market expected to grow from $1.9 billion to $5.7 billion at a CAGR of 24.3% from 2022 to 2027. The pandemic has highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities, which has prompted the companies to diversify sourcing and rethink logistics. Story continues Our Methodology For this article, we used stock screeners to identify 25 marine shipping stocks with a market cap of above $50 million. We narrowed our list to 8 stocks most widely held by hedge funds, as of Q2 2024. The 8 best marine shipping stocks to invest in are listed in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). A close-up of a large cargo vessel in the open sea, its sails billowing in the wind. Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21 Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) is known for the global transportation of dry bulk cargoes as it operates a diverse fleet to meet the demands of various industries. It has a focus on transporting important materials like iron ore, grains, coal, and steel products. The company serves a wide range of clients, including trading houses, commodity producers, and government entities. It is 5th on our list of the best marine stocks to invest in. The company operates a fleet projected to comprise 41 vessels, featuring 15 Capesize, 15 Ultramax, and 11 Supramax carriers. The fleet has a total capacity of approximately 4.3 million deadweight tons. The average age of its vessels is around 11.9 years, striking a balance between seasoned operational experience and opportunities for modernization through targeted upgrades. Referring to the second quarter, CEO John C. Wobensmith emphasized the successful execution of a fleet renewal initiative aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. The company has been proactive in selling older vessels at favorable prices and reinvesting in newer, more advanced ships. Recent transactions, including the sale of two Capesize vessels, Genco Maximus and Genco Claudius, along with planned sales of Genco Warrior and Genco Hadrian, show this commitment. It helped generate significant cash inflow and will help it in avoiding $5 million in upcoming drydocking expenses, positively impacting overall profitability. On September 10, Genco Shipping (NYSE:GNK) announced a notable adjustment to its dividend calculation methodology. By removing drydocking capital expenditures from the formula, the company aims to increase the cash available for distribution to shareholders starting in the third quarter of 2024. It has established a voluntary quarterly reserve of $19.5 million under this new approach, which provides flexibility in cash flow management while prioritizing shareholder returns. In the second quarter, 21 hedge funds had stakes in Genco Shipping (NYSE:GNK), with total positions worth $81.3 million. As of June 30, Renaissance Technologies is the largest shareholder in the company and has a position worth $22.376 million. Overall GNK ranks 5th among the best marine shipping stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of GNK as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is promising and trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Read Next: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) The Decatur school superintendent has found a cheaper way to get more space. Teachers at Dennis Schools have complained to the board that the school of modular classrooms are too squeezed for space. Decatur Superintendent Rochelle Clark said the district should consider renting three construction trailers. Decatur takes steps to protect local animals The trailers would cost to rent $1,500 each per month, not including delivery fees. Clark compared it to the cost of another modular classroom. Theyre less work to get ready to go, versus another modular at $18,000, and up to $125,000 delivery and fees and other work that goes along with it, Clark said. The three trailers would need to be 30 feet apart for fire safety reasons. Each trailers would provide two office spaces for working privately with students and giving teachers. Board members have given administrators the power to start looking at vendors for the trailers. 18 Illinois schools named National Blue Ribbon School Teachers at Dennis have asked for more communication with school administrators. We need clear communication and a detailed plan to address short-term and long-term issues effectively, Emma Morrison, a teacher at Dennis, said at the school board meeting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. ABORTION PROTEST: The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022 ended federal abortion rights. Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom Editors note: This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. Dr. Kristin Lyerlys placenta detached from her uterus when she was 17 weeks pregnant with her fourth son in 2007. Her doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, gave the devastated recent medical school graduate one option: to deliver and bury her dead child. But she requested a dilation and evacuation abortion procedure, knowing it would be less invasive and risky than being induced. And she couldnt fathom the agony of holding her tiny dead baby. But Lyerlys doctor declined, giving her a direct window into the many ways Americans lack real choice when it comes to their reproductive health decisions. At the time of this miscarriage, Lyerly was getting a masters degree in public health before beginning her residency. She was able to get a D&E at the same hospital by a different doctor. As an OB-GYN, she soon would learn how much abortion is stigmatized and limited throughout the country, but also regularly sought after and sometimes medically necessary, including among her many conservative Catholic patients in northeastern Wisconsin. And then, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights, prompting states such as Wisconsin to resurrect dormant abortion bans from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lyerlys job changed overnight. She stopped working as an OB-GYN in Sheboygan and moved her practice to Minnesota. She became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law being interpreted as an abortion ban, which has since been blocked. When a congressional seat opened up in a competitive Wisconsin district this year, the 54-year-old mother of four joined the post-Dobbs wave of women running for office to restore reproductive rights, which this election cycle includes another OB-GYN and a patient denied abortion care. Lyerlys decision to run is emblematic of the nationwide backlash against the Dobbs decision, which altered the reproductive health care landscape, with providers, patients and advocates turning to the ballot box to change the laws to restore and broaden access. Wisconsin is among seven swing states expected to determine the countrys next president and federal leaders. And in many ways theyre being viewed as referendums on how much the right to have an abortion can move the needle in a tight presidential election. What weve seen in every election since the Dobbs decision is that abortion is at top of mind for voters and its not just helping voters decide who or what to vote for. Its actually a turnout driver, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at national lobbying group Reproductive Freedom for All. The group is investing in down-ballot races in conservative districts such as Lyerlys, buoyed by cash and momentum from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris reproductive-rights-focused campaign. Anti-abortion money is also flowing through the swing states, led by lobbying groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC. Some of their messaging, adopted by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many GOP candidates, often paints Democrats as champions of infanticide, focusing on the rarest and most controversial type of abortions, those performed in the third trimester. But aside from that rhetoric, many Republican candidates have been quiet on an issue that for years motivated their staunchest supporters. SBA Pro-Life America declined an interview for this story but shared a press release outlining the organizations strategy trying to reach 10 million voters in Montana, Ohio and all of the battleground states except for Nevada. The group endorsed 28 House candidates total this cycle, and a fifth of them are in North Carolina. One of North Carolinas endorsed candidates in a toss-up race is Republican GOP challenger Laurie Buckhout, who does not mention her abortion stance on her campaign website, and did not return a request for comment. Our field team is talking to persuadable and low propensity pro-life voters to urge them to cast their votes against the party that endorses abortion in the seventh, eighth and ninth months, said SBAs national field team director Patricia Miles in the press statement. But throughout this election cycle, polls in the swing states have shown bipartisan support for abortion rights, especially when voters are educated about what abortion bans do. Voters in more than half of the states expected to determine the presidential winner have, to varying degrees, lost access to abortion. And abortion-rights activists across these states told States Newsroom they are determined to protect that access, or to get it back. Arizona sees backlash after GOP upholds Civil War-era abortion ban In Arizona, the Dobbs decision resurrected a Civil War-era ban that allowed abortions only to save a pregnant patients life. Legislators repealed the law, but abortion-rights supporters fought for more certainty. This fall, Arizonans will vote on a proposed ballot measure that would protect access until fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Now, two of the judges who upheld the abortion ban Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are up for reelection, in races infused with national cash by groups such as RFA and Planned Parenthood. Also on the ballot is Proposition 137, which would give lifetime appointments to state judges. The Republican-initiated measure has garnered controversy in part because it is retroactive to this years election, so if approved, any retention bids would be nullified even if the majority votes to unseat the judge. Ballot organizers turned in more than 800,000 signatures, double the required number, and overcame opponents legal challenges to qualify the abortion-rights ballot measure, Proposition 139. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but there are many state restrictions that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would eliminate, such as a ban on any abortions sought for fetal genetic abnormalities and a blocked law from 2021 granting personhood status to fertilized eggs. Recent deaths reignite controversy over Georgias abortion ban This month, ProPublica reported on the deaths in 2022 of two Georgia women who suffered rare complications after they obtained mifepristone and misoprostol for early-term medication abortions. Both were trying to navigate a new state law that banned abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy and threatened medical providers with up to a decade in prison. In one case, doctors at an Atlanta-area hospital refused for 20 hours to perform a routine dilation and curettage, a D&C, to clear the patients uterus when her body hadnt expelled all the fetal tissue. In the other, a woman who had ordered the pills online suffered days of pain at home, fearful of seeking medical care. Both women left children behind. Georgias law permits abortion if the patients life is at risk, but medical providers have said the laws language is unclear, tying their hands and threatening the health of patients who have high-risk pregnancies. Their cases, which a state medical review committee found to be preventable, have galvanized activists in the state. Harris spoke at length about the women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, at a recent campaign event in Atlanta. She blamed their deaths on Georgias law, calling it the Trump abortion ban, because the former president appointed three justices hed promised would overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of this crisis, Harris said. Understand what a law like this means: Doctors have to wait until the patient is at deaths door before they take action. Youre saying that good policy, logical policy, moral policy, humane policy is about saying that a health care provider will only start providing that care when youre about to die? Trump has not commented on the deaths. He has repeatedly said this year that abortion access should be left to the states. He has dismissed the idea of a federal abortion ban, but during the presidential debate, he refused to say whether he would veto such legislation. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump addressed our great women (a demographic hes trailing among), saying, you will no longer be thinking about abortion, because it is now where it always had to be, with the states, and with the vote of the people. Abortion was a driving concern in this springs qualifying process for Georgias 2024 legislative elections the first opportunity for aspiring state lawmakers to jump on the ballot in response to their states severe abortion restrictions. Melita Easters, the executive director and founding chair of Georgia WIN List, which endorses Democratic women who support abortion rights, was already calling this years general election Roevember back when President Joe Biden was still the partys nominee. But Easters told States Newsroom that having Harris on the ticket instead has elevated the issue of reproductive freedom even more and has breathed new life into down-ballot campaigns. Easters said she is especially encouraged after a Democratic state House candidate in Alabama who ran on abortion rights flipped a Huntsville seat during a special election in March. Michigan Democrats continue betting on abortion after 2022 successes Michigan was one of the earliest states post-Dobbs to show that abortion rights could be a strong election-winning issue. Months after the Supreme Courts ruling, Michiganders overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution; reelected Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to prioritize reproductive freedom; and voted for Democratic majorities in both chambers, giving the party a legislative trifecta for the first time in 40 years. In 2023, the legislature repealed a 1931 abortion ban that was still on the books and passed the Reproductive Health Act, expanding abortion access in the state. This year, state and national abortion-rights groups have campaigned in toss-up congressional districts across Michigan, warning that a federal ban would supersede the states protections. State judicial races, meanwhile, have attracted millions of dollars, as they could determine partisan control of the Michigan Supreme Court. Democrats secured a slim 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court in 2020 after Republican-nominated justices controlled the court for most of the last few decades. Nevada reproductive rights activists hope ballot initiative improves turnout In Nevada, abortion remains legal through 24 weeks and beyond for specific health reasons. In 2023, the states Democratic-led legislature passed a law shielding patients and providers from out-of-state investigations related to abortion care; it was signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Seeking to cement these rights in the state constitution, reproductive health advocates mobilized a ballot initiative campaign, which they hope will drive voter turnout that would affect the presidential and down-ballot races. Constitutional amendments proposed through an initiative petition must be passed by voters twice, so if voters approve Question 6 in November, they will have to approve it again in 2026. In the states closely watched U.S. Senate, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen currently edges Republican Sam Brown, who has had inconsistent positions on abortion and reproductive rights but opposes the abortion-rights measure. Growing Latinx voting bloc in North Carolina National anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America have notably not focused on Nevada in their campaign strategies. In North Carolina many Democrats are campaigning in opposition to a 12-week abortion ban that the Republican-majority legislature passed last year after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. In a high-profile race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein faces Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has previously said he believes there is no compromise on abortion, according to NC Newsline. The lieutenant governor is now facing calls to withdraw from the race over comments made on a pornography website years ago, and Stein has started racking up endorsements from prominent state Republicans. Iliana Santillan, a political organizer who supports abortion rights, has focused on mobilizing Latinos, a growing voting bloc in the state. The executive director of progressive nonprofit El Pueblo and its political sister group La Fuerza NC told States Newsroom shes talked to many young women motivated to secure their own reproductive rights, including her college-age daughter. She said the Latinx community faces additional reproductive care barriers such as language and transportation, with undocumented immigrants scared to cross state lines without a drivers license. Santillan also said theres a misconception that all Latinos are against abortion because theyre Catholic, when in reality opposition to abortion skews among older voters. With older folks, the messaging that weve tested that has worked is: We dont want politicians to have a say in what we do with our bodies, Santillan said. Motivated voters in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the largest swing state and considered essential to win the White House. In a poll conducted this month by Spotlight PA and MassINC Polling Group, abortion ranked as the fifth most-important concern in the presidential race for likely voters, with 49% naming it as among their top issues. The issue is far more important to Democrats, however, with 85% calling it a top issue compared with 17% of Republicans. Among those who arent registered with either major party, 49% called it a top issue. In 2022, voters surprised pundits by sending enough Democrats to the state House to flip it blue. Voters were responding to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told Pennsylvania Capital-Star at a recent Harris campaign event. Shapiro also won in 2022, and so far his administration has supported over-the-counter birth control pills and ended the states contract with a network of anti-abortion counseling centers. He said his administration would not defend a current state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used for abortions. Abortion isnt protected under Pennsylvanias state constitution, but it remains legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and clinics there have seen an influx of out-of-state patients. Wisconsin abortion services resume After more than a year without abortion access, reproductive health clinics in Wisconsin resumed abortion services in September 2023, shortly after a judge ruled that the 1849 state law that had widely been interpreted as an abortion ban, applied to feticide and not abortion. A state Supreme Court race a few months earlier saw Justice Janet Protasiewicz win in a landslide after campaigning on reproductive freedom. Seven months later when Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation, Lyerly threw her hat in the ring, running as the only Democrat in the 8th District. She now faces businessman Tony Wied. Although in the past it was considered a swing district, it has leaned conservative in recent election cycles. With the redrawn maps and national support, Lyerly said its a competitive race. We have the potential to really fix, not just reproductive health care, but health care, Lyerly told States Newsroom. Bring the stories of our patients forward and help our colleagues understand, build those coalitions and help to gain consensus thats going to drive forward health care reform in this country. Wieds campaign website does not mention abortion or his policy proposals related to health care, though the words Trump-endorsed appear prominently and abundantly throughout the site. Wied hasnt said much about the issue beyond it should be a state issue, but the two are scheduled to debate this Friday night. His campaign declined an interview. Currently the only OB-GYNs who serve in Congress oppose abortion. If Lyerly wins in November, she would not only change that (potentially alongside Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison) but also could help flip party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most Wisconsin voters oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a poll this year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation. Patricia McFarland, 76, knows what its like to live without abortion access. For more than 50 years, the retired college teacher kept her pre-Roe abortion a secret, having grown up in a conservative Irish Catholic family like many of her suburban Milwaukee neighbors. McFarland told States Newsroom she has been politically active most of her life, but the Dobbs ruling dredged up the physical and emotional trauma from the illegal procedure she had alone in Mexico City. Now, McFarland rarely leaves home without her Roe Roe Roe Your Vote button, engaging anyone who will talk to her about the dangers of criminalizing pregnancy. The mother and grandmother said shes been canvassing and doing informational sessions with her activist group the PERSISTers, as well as the League of Women Voters. As she has warned fellow Wisconsities about the federal power over their reproductive freedom, she said the enthusiasm for abortion rights in her state is palpable. For women my age, McFarland said, we dont want our grandchildren to lose their ability to decide when to become a mother. Georgia Recorders Jill Nolin contributed to this report. U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin received a Zoom call from an unknown person claiming to be former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the New York Times (NYT) reported on Sept. 26, citing a letter from the Senate security service and its undisclosed sources. The senator's office received an email from a person posing as Kuleba on Sept. 19 requesting to contact him via a Zoom call. During the video call, the person looked and spoke like Ukraine's former foreign minister. The senator became suspicious when the person posing as Kuleba began to behave atypically, asking "politically charged questions in relation to the upcoming election" and demanding opinions on sensitive foreign policy issues such as the launch of long-range missiles into Russian territory, the media outlet wrote. The senator ended the conversation and informed the State Department, which confirmed that the person introducing himself as Kuleba was an impostor who had used "deepfake" technology. Deepfake video technology uses artificial intelligence to create videos with fictional people who look and sound like real ones. This technology has also been used to impersonate public figures, such as in 2022, when a video that purported to show President Volodymyr Zelensky announcing Ukraine's surrender in the war with Russia was circulated on social media. The video was later debunked. While the Senate security email did not specify that Cardin was involved, two Senate officials familiar with the matter confirmed it to the NYT. Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also confirmed in a statement on Sept. 25 that "the malign actor" had fraudulently attempted to communicate with him by posing as a "known individual." Cardin did not specify that the "known individual" was Kuleba. It was not clear at first who had organized the operation against Cardin, the NYT said. Intelligence officials have warned that foreign actors such as Russia, Iran, and China are using artificial intelligence, including "deepfakes," to bolster their election interference efforts, with Russia generating the most content, the NYT reported, citing the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The presidential election will be held on Nov. 5, 2024. Democratic candidate and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will face Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump. Read also: Investigation: Apparent Russian disinformation group posing as ex-president Poroshenko targets foreign fighters in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) Deer Creek High Schools band has been invited to join in the 40th anniversary of the London New Years Day Parade on January 1, 2026. According to Deer Creek Schools, the band was personally invited to participate in the parade on September, 26, 2024, after a group from England made a trip to Edmond. GOOD NEWS!: Mustang Lions Club working towards new projects Officials say Bob Bone, the Londons New Years Day Parade and Festival co-founder and chair, was accompanied by Steve Summers, chair of the London Mayors Association, (former Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster), Dean Oblonsky, senior American consultant, and Bill Northen, and Jonathan Whaley, senior directors of international participation extended an invitation to band students and staff. We only wanted the very best marching bands for our 40th Anniversary event and know that the band has a terrific track record and reputation, said Bone. GOOD NEWS!: Oklahoma City Veteran gets free help with tree, poison ivy removal School officials say the London New Years Day Parade is known for its entertaining performances and global participation. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come together to see the event, with millions more watching on television. Deer Creek Schools held a ceremony on Thursday to recognize the exciting opportunity for students alongside parade officials. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. The Defence Secretary is seeking legal advice about a 1.6bn Royal Navy shipbuilding contract as the struggling British company hired for the work faces a Spanish takeover. Belfast-based Harland & Wolff, which built the Titanic, was hired alongside Navantia, a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding giant, to build three Navy vessels but Harlands decision to call in administrators last week has plunged the project into crisis. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, and his team have asked civil servants to provide legal advice about the terms of the shipbuilding contract as the Ministry of Defence examines options for the fleet solid support (FSS) programme, a government-initiated plan to supply more Navy support vessels. Harland is scrambling to find a potential buyer after calling in administrators, with Navantia seen as the frontrunner. Amid the turmoil, Admiral Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, flew out to Cadiz two weeks ago for talks with Navantia executives. However, unions are concerned that the Spanish company is interested in Harlands Belfast yard alone. That leaves the fate of hundreds of workers spread across its three other sites Appledore, Devon; Methil, Fife; and Arnish, on the Isle of Lewis hanging in the balance. Harland & Wolffs future role in building three Royal Navy support vessels is now unclear They want the Defence Secretary to use the Governments influence over the FSS contract to ensure any buyer of Harland takes on all four yards in an attempt to preserve jobs. Harlands share of the deal, worth around 700m, is seen as the debt-ridden companys most valuable asset. Mr Healey is understood to have discussed the matter among other issues with representatives of the GMB union, one of his partys most important backers, at the Labour conference in Liverpool earlier this week. In a letter earlier this month, the union warned that any buyer should not be allowed to cherry-pick what yards or contracts they wish to save. And the Irish Congress of Trade Unions pressed this case in a meeting with officials from the Department for Business and Trade last week. However, it is not clear what powers ministers have to interfere directly in the sales process. In theory, the appointment of administrators could entitle the Ministry of Defence to put the FSS contract back out to tender, according to the Sunday Times. Against that backdrop, ministers are understood to have quietly commissioned advice from officials on their legal options. They are understood to be prioritising the delivery of the three Navy ships, which are meant to supply Britains aircraft carriers with stores and munitions from the early 2030s, on time and on budget. Ministers are said to be focused on ensuring that national shipbuilding capacity would be preserved and that work promised to UK yards would be honoured. Unions have previously raised fears that the work could be entirely outsourced to Navantias yard in Cadiz if a rescue package for Harland is not agreed. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, has been in discussion with unions about preserving shipbuilding jobs in the UK - Phil Noble/Reuters Under the original plans, Harland & Wolff and Navantia would each have fabricated various sections of the ships, known as blocks in their respective Appledore and Cadiz yards. These blocks would then have been taken to Belfast for final assembly, with the first in class entering service in 2031 and the last by 2033. In the first two ships, the engine, superstructure and lower cargo blocks were to be fabricated by Navantia, with the upper and mid cargo blocks and the bow made by Harland & Wolff, according to documents seen by The Telegraph. Harland & Wolff was also set to build the lower cargo section for the third and final ship, with the rest built by Navantia. The companys troubles moved from a slow-burning concern to full-blown crisis in July when Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, refused to underwrite a 200m restructuring loan to the firm, amid concerns taxpayers would be exposed to unacceptable risk. That triggered the exit of former boss John Wood and the appointment of caretaker managers, including restructuring expert Russell Downs. A spokesman for Harland & Wolff could not be reached for comment. A government spokesman said: We know this will be a concerning time for those affected and we are clear that, following a thorough review of the companys financial situation, at present the market is best-placed to address these challenges. We are continuing to work extensively with all parties to find an outcome for Harland & Wolff that delivers shipbuilding and manufacturing in Belfast, Scotland and across the rest of the UK and protects jobs. Navantia declined to comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The lawyer for a 20-year-old man accused of a December shooting outside a South Side club has notified a judge his client will be claiming self defense. Attorney Aaron Meikle earlier this week filed the notice before Judge Maureen Sweeney on behalf of his client, Jonthony Altreche, of Youngstown. Meikle also asked that his clients $750,000 bond be modified. The case is set for a pretrial hearing on Wednesday and a jury trial on Oct. 7. Altrech faces charges of aggravated murder, murder and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises for the Dec. 10 shooting death of TyRice Logan, 26. Altreche was not arrested until more than a month later after a chase. He was indicted on a charge of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer for the chase. Logan was shot several times at about 4:45 a.m. December 10 on the sidewalk outside a 2210 South Ave. nightspot. A murder warrant was issued on December 15. Police have refused to discuss a motive except to say the shooting was not a random act. At his preliminary hearing in municipal court, prosecutors said the shooting is on video. Altreche was arrested Feb. 3 after a chase on the East Side when officers tried to pull over a car he was a passenger in on Wilson Avenue. The car refused to stop and led police on a short chase before crashing. Altreche was recognized and taken into custody without incident. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. JAY, Okla. After two days of testimony centering on a Grove mans genitalia, District Judge Jennifer McAffrey dismissed a sexual abuse case. Sisters testify to abuse and foster parents toxic home environment Lonnie Lee Spurgeon, 59, was charged with two counts of lewd molestation, two counts of indecent exposure, and sexual battery involving teenage girls. Spurgeon and his wife Sharon were the, now adult, womens foster parents when they were teens. I am very pleased my client is now free from false allegations and charges brought against him, said Winston Connor, II. At the end of Wednesdays court proceedings, McAffrey dismissed the 7-woman, 6-man jury and two alternate jurors after the state rested its case. When the jury left the courtroom, McAffrey granted Connors demur, which means, in simplest terms, she dismissed the case. Connor said the court has to decide whether, in light of the evidence or lack thereof, any reasonable jury following the law could decide guilt. McAffrey indicated that it did not rise to the level of probable cause because there were too many inconsistent stories, Connor said. The state put on five witnesses: three teenage girls, a former Grove High School counselor, and Grove Police Det. Mark Sheridan. Spurgeon was accused of exposing himself to two girls in a pool setting, one girl in his living room, and inappropriately touching two of the teenagers. Connor challenged the girls to describe Spurgeons genitalia, with one teen saying he was circumcised and then saying later she had never seen a circumcised male, but she knew what the term meant. During Connors cross-examination of Sheridan, an officer with 40-plus years of experience, Connor asked Sheridan if he questioned Spurgeon or his wife or if he inspected Spurgeons genitalia. Sheridan said the girls testified they saw his penis. It doesnt matter if there was skin over the head, he said. Would you like to go to the restroom to see his penis, Connor asked Sheridan. Sheridan, who has spent decades investigating sexual crimes against children, responded with an emphatic No. Connor also accused Sheridan of not properly investigating the case, referring to the 30-page investigation reports lack of DNA, photographs, fluid samples, and other evidence. Did you do anything to determine if this innocent man is innocent or not, Connor said, referring to Spurgeon. Sheridan testified that when he interviewed Spurgeon, he was very quiet, and when I told him about the allegations, he didnt reactjust a denial. No No, I just cant believe this is happening, Sheridan said of Spurgeons interview. When Spurgeons genitalia wasnt the center of testimony, the shape of one of the girls breasts was. The younger sister testified about the night Spurgeon allegedly touched her when she was in her bed. Connor pointed out that the girls testimony differed from previous interviews. On Wednesday, she testified that she was getting ready for bed when Spurgeon came into her bedroom to say goodnight and hugged her. As Spurgeon was pulling away from the hug, his hands were cupped and touched the side of my breast, the witness testified. After tearing up, the witness testified she didnt have a bra on as she was getting ready for bed. Connor pressed her, saying he didnt understand the logistics of the bed and the situation. The 19-year-old, visibly uncomfortable with the line of questioning, told Connor one of Spurgeons palms touched her right breast. I have uneven breasts, the witness said. The right breast is significantly larger than the left breast. Connor kept saying he didnt understand her answers, even going as far as to say, Ive had my share of breasts, and I still dont understand. McAffrey quickly shut down Connors line of questioning. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. This article has been updated to remove a reference to a giveaway contest held by a different Chick-Fil-A location, and clarify where franchisee Angelo Santos grew up. Yes, Delaware, you're getting another Chick-fil-A. On Thursday, Oct. 3, the newest location of the cultishly popular fried chicken spot will open at 4008 N. Dupont Highway, just south of Wilmington near Minquadale. The opening date underscores Chick-Fil-A's ever-increasing speed at plunking down new locations. It was just four months ago that construction fencing first came up on North Dupont Highway, in front of a self-storage facility. Signs and construction fencing signal a new Chick-fil-A location coming to 4008 N. Dupont Highway just south of Wilmington. The restaurant got its construction permits in March 2024. Typical Chick-fil-A locations require three to six months to build, after groundbreaking. The new location will be 5,400 square feet, according to plans submitted with the county, with two drive-thru lanes a feature that's become commonplace at fast food restaurants across the country to accommodate advance orders from phone apps and delivery websites. Chick-fil-A's dedicated phone-app lane is called Mobile Thru. A nearby Chick-fil-A location at Governor's Square in Bear has also submitted plans with the county to demolish and rebuild with a double-drive thru. The Mobile Thru line is a new lane for guests to pick up orders placed on the Chick-fil-A app only, as seen at a location in Topeka, Kansas on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. When it opens, the North Dupont location will be Delaware's 16th location and also the closest Chick-fil-A to the city limits of Wilmington, which remains Chickless. The new restaurant will bring 130 new jobs, according to a company press release, and plans to participate in a Chick-fil-A Shared Table program donating surplus food to shelters, food banks, soup kitchens and other nonprofits. North Dupont's franchisee, Angelo Santos, held down his first job at a Chick-fil-A in the Delaware County suburb of Ridley at the age of 16, near where he grew up. A decade later, he wrote, he's a franchise owner in Delaware. "I am most looking forward to being a beacon of hope in the New Castle community," Santos wrote in a statement. "I want to bring real change by providing career opportunities and leadership growth to my team members." In celebration of the North Dupont opening, parent Chick-fil-A, Inc. has donated $25,000 to nonprofit Feeding America, which partners with the Food Bank of Delaware. The restaurant will also award a prize of free Chick-fil-A entrees for a year to 100 "local heroes" making an impact in the New Castle area. Chick-Fil-A will open on Oct. 3 at 4008 N. Dupont Highway. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Drive-thru open until 10 p.m. Details at chick-fil-a.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When will North Dupont Chick-fil-A be open? NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) A trail of bogus texts and small cover-up payments allegedly show Mayor Eric Adams attempts to hide fancy trips and illegal campaign donations, prosecutors contend in a historic indictment unsealed Thursday. Adams is accused of covering up bribes in the form of luxury trips and illegal campaign donations, according to federal prosecutors. He was charged with bribery, wire fraud, and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. Mayor Eric Adams could be arraigned soon in federal bribery case The 57-page indictment includes details not only of the way Adams allegedly incentivized foreign government representatives to pay for his lavish trips but of the clumsy coverup Adams deployed to keep investigators off his back, according to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. Adams denies all wrongdoing and vows to fight the charges. He intends to continue serving as mayor, he said Thursday. I know Ive done nothing wrong, Adams said. My day-to-day will not change. Here are some of the ways Mayor Eric Adams allegedly covered up his crimes, according to court records: Phony payments Adams often paid small sums of money to make it seem like his luxurious trips were not fully funded by foreign donors, according to federal prosecutors. Text messages show a staffer for Adams negotiating a cover-up charge with an airline manager booking flights to Istanbul for the mayor in 2021. The airline manager suggests a $50 charge from Adams, which his staffer suggests is not convincing enough. His every step is being watched right now, $1,000 or so Let it be somewhat real, the staffer said, according to court documents. Text messages between an Adams staffer and an airline manager were included in the unsealed indictment on Sept. 26, 2024. (Court records) Adams ultimately paid $1,100 for roundtrip tickets that would have cost over $15,000, according to the indictment. He allegedly pulled a similar con in 2021, paying a small fee for tickets that were then upgraded, prosecutors said. At times, Adams is accused of sending fully bogus texts and emails to create records of payments never sent, prosecutors said. In 2017, after accepting a trip on a Turkish Airline, the then-Brooklyn borough president emailed an employee to retroactively pay the airline using a cash envelope left on her desk, prosecutors said. Adams email suggested that he left, at a minimum, well over $10,000 in cash in the [employees] desk drawer to send to the Turkish Airline as payment for the flights taken months earlier. He did not do that, the indictment reads. Bogus donors Adams is accused of taking money from so-called straw donors, or people who donate on behalf of companies or governments who cannot legally donate, rules often put in place to protect U.S. elections from foreign interference. In a descriptive 2018 text conversation, a Turkish donor explains the system to one of Adams staffers. Fund Raising in Turkey is not legal, but I think I can raise money for your campaign off the record, the prospective donor said. Well make a donation through an American citizen in the U.S. A Turk Ill give cash to him in Turkey Or Ill send it to an American Hell make a donation to you. In 2020, Adams staff instructed a New York City businessman to reimburse his employees for smaller donations to the mayoral campaign to skirt restrictions on corporate donations, prosecutors alleged. In return, the businessman secured city sponsorship for events and helped resolve Department of Buildings violations, prosecutors said. One of Adams staffers later asked the businessman to lie to federal investigators about the donations, according to the indictment. Deleted texts and lost passwords Text messages between Adams and a staffer show the mayor wiping evidence from his phone, according to prosecutors. While planning a trip to Turkey in 2019, Adams staffer texted him, To be o[n the] safe side Please Delete all messages you send me, court records show. Adams responded, Always do. Years later, when the FBI seized Adams cellphone and iPad in Manhattan, Adams told the FBI he had forgotten the password to his phone, which he had recently changed from a simple four-digit number to a more complex six-digit one, court documents show. In June, as the investigation ramped up, Adams employees promised illegal donors that they had left their phones outside of meeting rooms, giving them full protection to arrange how they would lie to federal investigators. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Democrat senator targeted by deepfake impersonator of Ukrainian official on Zoom call: reports Authorities are investigating a mysterious "deep fake" video call that successfully impersonated a Ukrainian high official. Democratic Sen. Benjamin Cardin announced Wednesday that he had turned over materials to law enforcement after an unknown suspect had tricked him onto a video call via impersonating a foreign official. "In recent days, a malign actor engaged in a deceptive attempt to have a conversation with me by posing as a known individual. After immediately becoming clear that the individual I was engaging with was not who they claimed to be, I ended the call and my office took swift action, alerting the relevant authorities." Putin Lowers Threshold For Nuclear Response As Biden Administration Pledges New Funding To Ukraine He continued, "This matter is now in the hands of law enforcement, and a comprehensive investigation is underway." Sen. Benjamin Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland, during an event in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The Democrat senator was the target of a deep fake video call by an impostor claiming to be the Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs. Cardin had been duped into accepting the call after receiving what seemed like authentic emails from Dmytro Kuleba the Ukrainian foreign minister requesting an opportunity for a one-on-one conversation. Read On The Fox News App When the Democratic senator logged on to a video call with the Ukrainian official, everything seemed normal at first but the conversation soon turned tense and Cardin realized something was wrong. Zelenskyy Warns Vance's Plan To Give Russia Seized Land Will Lead To 'Global Showdown' The Kuleba impersonator reportedly asked Cardin a series of increasingly direct foreign policy questions, such as "Do you support long-range missiles into Russian territory? I need to know your answer." After realizing what was happening, Cardin reportedly disconnected the call and contacted the authorities. Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Ivanovych Kuleba talks to media prior to the start of an Informal meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in the Europa Building in Brussels, Belgium. The Senate security office issued an alert to relevant leaders on the Hill urging vigilance against similar schemes. The alert noted that the impostor asked a series of "politically charged questions in relation to the upcoming election" that were "likely trying to bait the senator into commenting on a political candidate." The FBI is reportedly investigating the incident. Original article source: Democrat senator targeted by deepfake impersonator of Ukrainian official on Zoom call: reports (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google has restricted the creation of new accounts for Russian users, state news agencies cited Russia's digital ministry as saying on Thursday. Google has been under pressure in Russia for several years, particularly for not taking down content Moscow considers illegal and for blocking the YouTube channels of Russian media and public figures since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. "The ministry confirms that Google has restricted the creation of new accounts," Interfax quoted the digital ministry as saying. "Telecom operators have also recorded a significant reduction in the number of SMS messages sent by the company to Russian users." Google and the ministry did not immediately respond to comment requests. The ministry said there was no certainty that SMS confirmations for two-factor authentication would continue working, Interfax reported. "The ministry recommends that users of Google services create backup copies of their data and switch to using alternative methods of two-factor authentication or to domestic platforms," the ministry said. Google in August said it was deactivating AdSense accounts in Russia. The U.S. company stopped serving ads to users in Russia in March 2022 and paused monetisation of content that exploited, dismissed or condoned Russia's war in Ukraine. It has blocked more than 1,000 YouTube channels, including state-sponsored news, and over 5.5 million videos. Slower speeds have been recorded on Google's YouTube video hosting platform in Russia in recent months. Russian lawmakers blame the slowdown on Google's failure to upgrade equipment, something the company and technology experts dispute. (Reporting by Alexander Marrow; editing by Jason Neely) To help inform voters about the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible. Name: Sophia Chitlik District/seat: NC Senate District 22 County or counties represented: Durham Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 35 Campaign website: https://sophiafornc.com/ Current occupation: Self Employed, investor and fractional Chief Operating Officer. Professional experience: I began my career on the Obama campaign and later served in the White House and the Department of Labor as a political appointee. I went on to work as a chief of staff, eventually rising to become a chief operating officer of an eight-figure education nonprofit. For many years, Ive been a strategic planning consultant, partnering with CEOs in the public and private sector. I have spent the past five years investing in women-led companies and nonprofits in Durham and beyond. Education: New York University, Bachelor of Arts, Individualized Study (Magna Cum Laude), Concentration in Political Community Building. Please list any notable government or civic involvement. I have worked at the intersection of politics, policy and community engagement for my entire career, including serving at the U.S. Department of Labor. Additional civic involvement includes: Founding Board Member Aya Birth & Community Wellness; pro-bono advisor to Mi Malatin; Member, NC Funders for Maternal Health; Jewish For Good Young Leadership Award Winner; Narrow Bridge Fund, Co-Founder; At The Well Founding Board Secretary; Startingbloc Fellow. What would be your top priority if elected? Supporting working families by safeguarding public education and stabilizing the child care industry. We need to end the disastrous voucher program that is privatizing education and draining resources from our public schools. We must fully fund NC pre-K, Head Start and Early Start, and clear the waitlist for child care subsidies. We have the resources to do this; we need new leadership in our legislature to make it happen. By percentage, what raises should state employees, school staff and teachers receive in the next state budget? State employees: 8.5%; teachers and school staff: 10% What legislation would you support to improve Triangle transportation, housing or infrastructure? Please be specific. North Carolina is one of 11 states that reinforce historically exclusionary development by blocking communities from pursuing inclusionary zoning, which is why I support House Bill 645, the latest effort to eliminate these barriers. We need to build more housing, which begins by investing more money into our North Carolina Housing Trust Fund. I support Senate Bill 809 which allocates $30 million to this fund, but thats really just the beginning. Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not? Absolutely not. Instead of investing in our public schools, our NC General Assembly has chosen to bribe people to leave them. Voucher programs dont improve educational outcomes, but they do pour money into the hands of unregulated schools that can discriminate against North Carolinians at will. They take our tax dollars away from critical priorities that benefit everyone (like pre-K) and give handouts to the few; almost a quarter of the families receiving this latest voucher expansion make $250,000-plus annually. Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? There is not yet broad consensus within either party about the expansion of midwifery, which is an issue I would lead on if elected. Were facing a maternal mortality crisis that is disproportionately impacting Black families, especially in District 22. We need to make it legal for Certified Professional Midwives to practice in North Carolina (as they do in 36 other states), which is why I support House Bill 751 and the North Carolina MOMnibus Bill introduced by Sen. (Natalie) Murdock. Under the Dome Get the latest news about North Carolina politics from The News & Observer's award-winning team. Get the free digest sent to your inbox by signing up here. Sen. Sherrod Brown and the Democrats are getting outspent this month in the Ohio Senate race by Republican Bernie Moreno and his allies. CLEVELAND Republicans are dominating the airwaves in Ohios Senate race this month, erasing an advantage that Sen. Sherrod Brown and his Democratic allies enjoyed all spring and for much of the summer in a battle that could tip control of the Senate. GOP nominee Bernie Moreno and the outside groups supporting him have spent double what Brown and the Democrats have on TV, radio and digital advertising since Sept. 1 roughly $70 million to $35 million through Wednesday, according to the tracking firm AdImpact. By comparison, from Ohios March primary through August, Democrats held the edge, dropping $78.5 million on ads to Republicans $59 million. Red flashing lights have to be blinking all over [Browns] campaign headquarters, said Jai Chabria, a GOP strategist in Ohio who helped run Sen. JD Vances successful 2022 campaign. The Republican money has just started to be spent, and they are going to take this seriously because this is the race they need for the majority. The onslaught, which comes amid a shakeup of the Senate battleground map, coincides with a rough week for Moreno, whose hard-line positions on abortion have brought new scrutiny to his campaign. Bernies special interest allies are dumping hundreds of millions of dollars into this race to try and defeat Sherrod because they know Sherrod will always stand up to them to do whats right for Ohio, Brown spokesperson Matt Keyes said in a statement. Democrats, who hold a one-seat majority in the Senate, are growing increasingly nervous about Sen. Jon Testers re-election bid in Montana. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on Thursday announced investments in races in Florida and Texas, two GOP-held seats seen as heavier lifts. Republicans, meanwhile, have more paths to a majority. West Virginias open seat is widely expected to flip their way. And along with Montana and Ohio, they have pickup opportunities in the battleground states of Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as well as deep-blue Maryland, where popular GOP former Gov. Larry Hogan is running. We need to continue to invest in Ohio, the DSCC chairman, Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, said Thursday at an event at the National Press Club in Washington. Were not done investing in Ohio, and it will take more money. But right now ... we have a lot of outside groups that are dumping tens of millions of dollars against Sherrod, trying to prop up another highly flawed candidate. Philip Letsou, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, countered that Brown had sold out his working-class base to toe the Democrat Party line, voting in lockstep with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. After 50 years in politics, Ohio voters are ready to send him home, Letsou added. Brown, seeking a fourth term, is the only Democrat other than former President Barack Obama who has won more than one statewide election over the last quarter-century in Ohio. Former President Donald Trump, who is on the ballot again this year and has endorsed Moreno, twice won the state by 8 percentage points. The few recent public polls in the state indicate a close Senate race. It is an unprecedented level of spending against Sherrod, said a Democrat who works on Senate races and was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the uphill battle. It speaks to his resilience that this is still a toss-up, because most people would be done. Early voting begins Oct. 8. Both sides are fighting as if the race is close and can be altered by a single error. While Brown and Moreno have each expressed passing interest in having a debate, neither has demanded one an unusual dynamic in a state where Brown debated each of his previous general election opponents multiple times. As of this week, nothing was close to being scheduled, officials with both campaigns said. Democrats had a clear advertising advantage coming out of a contentious March primary that cost Morenos campaign millions of dollars to win. Brown, who through July had outraised his GOP opponent considerably even after the independently wealthy Moreno lent his campaign more than $4 million, tapped into his cash lead and began airing ads to define himself positively as an apolitical friend of the working class. Eventually, Brown and outside groups unleashed spots that depicted Moreno as a ruthless businessman and untrustworthy car dealer. But the Republican barrage intensified in mid-August and, by September, the Democratic edge had evaporated. Sherrod acted like the true liberal he is and spent and, frankly, wasted an entire summer doing God knows what with his money, said Chris Grant, Morenos general campaign consultant. So whatever cash advantage they had, its gone, and they didnt move anything. The Republican ads have been a mix promoting Morenos background as a businessman and characterizing Brown as a career politician beholden to Harris and President Joe Biden. Defend American Jobs, a pro-Moreno group tied to the cryptocurrency industry, and the GOP-aligned Senate Leadership Fund have each spent more than $25 million on ads in Ohio this month, making them the races two biggest players, according to AdImpact. Close behind is WinSenate, a political action committee affiliated with the Democrats Senate Majority PAC, which has spent more than $22 million this month. Democrats have been able to stretch their money a bit more than the spending disparity shows, in part because candidates can buy ads at lower rates than super PACs and Browns campaign has outspent Morenos on the airwaves. Browns campaign on its own has spent $10.5 million on ads this month, while Morenos has joined with the National Republican Senatorial Committee to spend about $5 million. As of Thursday, ad reservations placed through Election Day were on more equal footing, with Republicans booked to spend $64 million to Democrats $58 million. Reservations can be modified, though, as groups and campaigns can cancel airtime or buy more of it. Bernie is headed in the right direction and has momentum, said Scott Guthrie, a GOP strategist who has worked on Senate campaigns in Ohio but is not affiliated with Morenos team. Several polls have shown him either tied or ahead going into the last few weeks before the election, and the overall spending over the final six weeks is overwhelmingly in Bernies favor. Peters declined Thursday to specify how much money the DSCC will spend in Texas and Florida, but he stressed to reporters that the new investments will not divert resources from other states, like Montana and Ohio. There is no world that I, that you can conceive of, that Im not going to be in Montana right to the very end, Peters said. Jon Tester will have everything that he needs to win. Peters was also bullish on Ohio: Theres no way Im losing Ohio. Ohio Democrats plan to call more attention to Morenos recent disparaging comments about women who base their votes on access to abortion. Moreno described the idea of being such a single-issue voter as a little crazy especially for women that are, like, past 50. Moreno spokesperson Reagan McCarthy said the remarks were a tongue-in-cheek joke meant to chastise Brown and the media for their heavy emphasis on the abortion issue. But it could be a significant one in Ohio, where last year voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative that preserved abortion rights in the state constitution. Moreno was a prominent opponent of the measure and has continued to express support for federal abortion restrictions. WinSenate debuted an ad Thursday in which Mary Ann, a Toledo woman, recalls an emergency abortion performed years ago during her ectopic pregnancy. She says her doctors would have had to let me die if a federal abortion ban had been in effect at the time. Its about my granddaughter and all the women that I know and love and future generations, Mary Ann says in the ad. Our lives dont belong in Bernie Morenos hands. Chabria, the Vance strategist, argued that last years successful ballot initiative has made the abortion issue a moot point in Ohio. The electoral ramifications, he added, will be marginal. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Ads that uplift immigrant stories are more likely to sway voters toward down-ballot Democrats than ones focusing on border security, according to a new impact testing study. The research, commissioned by progressive groups ASO Communications and Way To Win, measured the reactions of 5,197 adults to a series of campaign ads on immigration and the southern border, including Tougher, run by Vice President Harriss campaign touting her border enforcement credentials, and a control ad run by former President Trumps campaign making the opposite case. Test subjects were also shown two ads paid for Way To Win Action Fund, People Move, which equates moving from one town to another and one country to another, and Love Makes a Family, which links the ideas of providing for a family and migration. What you want to say is, what the ads end up doing the trick of and Im pointing to People Move here in particular as an ad you want to lift up, like, why does immigration happen? Why is this occurring, in terms that the average American who has not immigrated can understand? And so in the lexicon of the ad, its freedom. Its people move, said Anat Shenker-Osorio, a messaging expert at ASO Communications. According to the study, respondents who viewed Harriss Tougher ad matched up against the Trump ad were afterwards more likely to declare voter intent for Harris; the effect was slightly lower for People Move versus the Trump ad and significantly lower for Love Makes a Family. But the two Way To Win ads outperformed the Harris ad in affecting respondents choices in House and Senate votes, in declaring their trust for Democrats on immigration issues, in stating that immigrants contribute to the United States and in overall approval for Harris. The People Move ad also significantly increased respondents stated likelihood to vote, according to the study. Those effects, said Shenker-Osorio, are part of a messaging strategy designed to counter fear narratives that seek to paint migration as an all-encompassing bogeyman. The antidote, the pushback, the way to deal with it is first of all to recognize that [fear-mongering] does have these two elements to it. Element one is raise the saliency of this issue make people think a lot, in this case, about the border and how you know, the border is sort of the epicenter of all things problematic, said Shenker-Osorio. And thing two that you also need to do is make clear that for opposition, in this case, for Trump, the Democrats are the reason why this issue is so terrible and horrible, and if they are in power come next year, this will only get worse for you, John Q. average voter, in nowhere near the border, or perhaps bordering Canada. To counter those arguments, Shenker-Osorio said, Democrats need to avoid raising the saliency of the border to instead focus on individual freedoms, including the freedom for people to move from one place to another. And you want to have a way to actually explain, Yeah, there is this issue, there is this challenge going on in our country thats real. Were not going to make believe its not occurring. And here is why its occurring, and heres what Im going to do about it, and heres why, what the opposition is saying to you is a bunch of its a bunch of bulls, she said. Shenker-Osorio panned Democrats for supporting the failed bipartisan Senate border security bill, which was tanked among GOP lawmakers by former President Trump. Narratively, if youre trying to tell voters, This is an authoritarian faction in waiting that is hell bent on taking away your freedoms and letting corporations take the wealth our work creates, you cannot say in one breath, Hey, these folks are fundamentally dangerous, and they go against everything that you want for yourself and your family in this country. But you know what? They have a decent set of policy ideas on the border, if only they would just pass them. Like, those are two opposite things. And so, yeah, its a confusing story to tell people, she said. The failed bill has become a useful cudgel for the Harris campaign to blast Trump for choosing his own political interests above bipartisanship, but its also deeply unpopular with immigration advocates and a source of tension with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). While the CHC adamantly supports Harris, its members are quick to remind Democratic leadership the group was excluded from the deals negotiations. If this bill is going to come back in any form it has to go through the CHC first, said CHC Chair Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.). And for Shenker-Osorio, a messaging expert, a proactive message helping voters to relate to immigrants would be more effective for Democrats than hammering the political implications of the divisive bill. Its this idea that moving to make a better life is not just a familiar thing that anyone can understand, even if the only move theyve ever made is across the street or across the county or across state, but that it comes from a place of courage. It comes from a place of tenacity. It comes from a place of being a really strong, you know, when the going gets tough the tough get going. Not a place of patheticness, of weakness, of, you know, please sir, help me out kind of thing, she said. So first you want to make clear, like, what is going on here? Why is it going on? And then you want to address, I guess, what we could call the elephant in the room pun, very much intended which is, heres why you are hearing from the other side all of this crap and nonsense. Its because they want you pointing your finger in the wrong direction. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A new proposal by Democratic lawmakers would restructure Ohios Ballot Board, after the states Supreme Court ordered the Republican-controlled board to revise Issue 1 language appearing on Novembers ballot. Ohios Ballot Board, which certifies the ballot language for proposed Constitutional amendments and initiatives, would be restructured under the legislation to have co-chairs of opposite parties who jointly set the boards agenda. Democrats said the changes would increase bipartisan cooperation, who spared with the board over deceptive wording for 2023s abortion rights amendments and the language for this falls Issue 1 on redistricting. For three straight elections now, Ohioans stood by helplessly as the Republican-controlled Ballot Board played partisan politics with the democratic values guaranteed to voters in the Ohio constitution, said Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) at a Sept. 20 news conference. All of us who serve as lawmakers are elected by Ohioans who rightfully expect and want us to work together to represent their interests in government. Reaction from both sides to Moreno comment about women, abortion If passed, Issue 1, proposed by a group called Citizens Not Politicians, would create an independent redistricting commission of 15 Ohio citizens, rather than the current commission made up of seven politicians. A yes vote would be in support of the citizen-led commission, and a no vote means to keep the system as is. The Ohio Supreme Court ordered the ballot wording to be revised after a lawsuit said Republicans on the Ohio Ballot Board, who largely oppose Issue 1, twisted the language to be biased and misleading. The board ended up making two revisions to the wording that Ohioans will see when voting on Nov. 5, each less than a sentence long. Written largely by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, chairperson of the board who is against Issue 1, the ballot language will say the amendment would instead require gerrymandering and limit the publics ability to weigh in on the process. Republican lawmakers assert that the language isnt deceptive. To say that this misleads people is simply untrue, said state Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green). The ballot language, this summary accurately describes whats in that amendment. Haitian nonprofit files criminal charges against Trump and Vance over Springfield I wish they hadnt contested our ballot language, which is truthful and factual, lays out exactly what Issue 1 does, said LaRose. House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), a supporter of Issue 1 and the bill to restructure the board, said, Power-hungry politicians used the Ballot Board as a political tool to write dishonest language to deceive, mislead, and defraud voters. As its chairman, Secretary of State LaRose has destroyed the reputation of this body beyond repair, said Russo. No secretary of state should put their own political ambitions in front of the best interests of the people. These types of partisan actions, from Republicans or Democrats, are wrong and fail the people of Ohio. If signed into law, the proposal would require legislative leaders appointments to the board to be agreed upon by both legislative leaders of opposite parties in the Ohio House and Senate. Lobbyists and politicians would be prohibited from serving as an appointed member on the board. The board would also determine statewide ballot issue titles by a majority vote, rather than the secretary of state. Immigration targeted by proposed Ohio bill When Ohioans go to the polls, they expect partisan bickering to be left out of the voting booth, said Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland), who is a member of the current board. The system currently in place to ensure that is broken and, as elected officials, we owe it to the people to solve a problem within our democratic process with bipartisan solutions. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Politicians in Guernsey have said proposals for tax increases are on the way in 2025's budget. It follows the revelation the States is heading for a 24m deficit this year. Former Policy and Resources (P&R) member Deputy David Mahoney predicted proposals to increase income tax would be put forward in the 2025 budget. Vice-president of P&R Heidi Soulsby wouldn't be drawn on whether income tax increases would form part of proposals for next year's budget. She said: "Since P&R took office we have been monitoring the situation carefully. We know decisions have to be made. "We've spent a lot of time in recent months trying to put a package together to stabilise our position and bring in the investment we need in the island". During a debate on reforms to Guernsey's tax system in 2023 P&R President Lyndon Trott attempted to include a proposal to increase income tax by 3% as part of the options, but his scheme was defeated by 30 votes to 10 in the States. A number of deputies have told the BBC they expect plans to increase income tax rates to be included as part of the budget for 2025, which is set to be published on 8 October for debate in November. In an update to deputies on public finances Deputy Trott said it was "time to make some tough decisions". Trott told BBC Radio Guernsey that islanders should be "under no illusions" that taxes would go up. He said: "The amount we take from our economy is lower than any other comparable jurisdiction in the world. "The truth - and I've been saying this for at least a decade - is the problem we have is we simply do not take enough tax to fund public services at the level this community wishes." 'Pro-business approach' Deputy John Dyke said tax increases were "inevitable" in the budget after recent news about the poor state of public finances showed the need for the States to get "costs under control". Dyke suggested the States should look at the number of public sector staff and the new projects being taken on, "unless the public want major tax increases". Leader of The Guernsey Party, Deputy Simon Vermeulen said the budget would be "very interesting" and he thought it "sounded like" there would be proposals for tax increases. He said he wanted to see a "pro-business approach", "economic growth" and "investment in infrastructure" rather than tax rises. He suggested extending the runway would be one of the options for deputies to consider, alongside changing the way the hospital operates to make it more efficient. New figures from the States of Guernsey showed the island's economy shrank by 2% last year. Follow BBC Guernsey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines man has been arrested in connection to a shooting earlier this month that sent one person to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. On September 6 at around 8:18 p.m. the Des Moines Police and Fire Department responded to a report of a shooting with a victim at an apartment in the 3700 block of 57th Street. According to court documents, an adult male was shot in the chest and was transported to a nearby hospital. According to a criminal complaint, 44-year-old Aaron Jaye Pickens, along with two women, were inside the victims apartment when the shooting occurred. The victim told police that Pickens was the person who shot him, the complaint states. AG concludes fatal shooting of suspect by 2 Des Moines police officers legally justified Shortly after the shooting occurred officers located Pickens just blocks away from the crime scene and identified him as the suspect, court documents state. Video evidence collected in the investigation showed Pickens leaving the apartment and making statements about how he shot someone, according to a criminal complaint. Officers also located a stolen 9mm Glock 48 in a dumpster outside of the apartment building, court documents state. Pickens was booked into the Polk County Jail Wednesday night and remains behind bars on a $500,000 cash-only bond. Pickens has been charged with Attempted Murder and Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by felon. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October 7. Latest Metro News: Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Former President Donald Trump has accused Vice President Kamala Harris of flip-flopping on her policies this electoral cycle. But the Republican nominee has himself publicly shifted his positions on a woman's right to choose, opposing and then supporting Florida's six-week abortion ban while coming out in favor of state-funded fertility treatments. Believing that it's a losing issue, he's also tried to change the topic, preferring to demonize Haitian immigrants rather than discuss his shifting stances on reproductive freedom. The former president boasts about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, claiming that abortion bans are best sorted by the states instead of at a federal level. He's also expressed support for the morning-after pill and promised, without providing details, that he'd make the government and insurance companies pick up the costs of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite all his attempts at striking a moderate pose, many in the anti-abortion movement believe Trump's just playing politics and that he will do as the movement wishes when back in power, deriving comfort from his refusal at this month's debate to say that he would veto a national abortion ban. An ardent anti-abortion activist told Salon that of course Trump will sign any restrictions that Republicans send his way when he wins the White House. In fact, Lila Rose who started the anti-choice group Live Action when she was 15 years old believes that voters like her shouldnt lose too much sleep over the claims Trump makes when he's in campaign mode. "One of the things that's been so compelling for so many people about President Trump is that he's a fighter," she said in an interview. Rose acknowledged that her fighter and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have shown a softening on life." The Republican ticket has balked at explicitly endorsing a national abortion ban, preferring strategic ambiguity, and even suggested that IVF should be funded by taxpayers. But she believes that Trump and Vance just need some critical support; she's not too concerned that their campaign proposals will be reflected in actual policy. Minds are still being made up and, policies are actively changing. President Trump seems to be actively introducing policy proposals and changing stances, Rose told Salon. So I think now's the time for pro-life Americans to say, 'Listen, if you want the pro-life votes, fight for life.'" While anti-choice activists may not like everything Trump says on the trail and believe there should be some pushback, they see a wide gulf between him and his Democratic opponent. Harris, in their view, is a non-starter, the vice president having pledged to restore the national right to an abortion. Trump, by contrast, is just trying to win an election and will have to lean on a base, and Republicans in Congress, who are adamantly opposed to moderation on questions of "life." It's a very difficult election cycle because we're dealing with one party, the Democratic Party, whose nominee is passionately pro-abortion, Rose told Salon, calling Harris and Walz the most pro-abortion ticket in American history. That leaves anti-choice campaigners with the Republican Party, which in turn cannot afford to alienate a key constituency. That could portend a rollback of rights that the Trump-Vance ticket is today claiming it will protect as it seeks to maintain the GOP coalition. Rose, like other anti-choice activists, has extreme views on when life begins that are out of step with scientific understanding of human development. These activists claim to not see any difference between an embryo, a fetus and a live baby. And they are not alone: such extreme views are reflected in Republican-led states such as Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Oklahoma, where laws assert that life begins from the moment of fertilization. However, medical experts are clear that an embryo is not a fetus and a fetus is not a child. Its not until about 10 weeks that there is an actual structure that has four tubes and connects to the lungs and major vascular system like we would think of as a heart, Dr. Sarah Prager, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington Medicine, told NBC. Additionally, it is only at about 10 weeks of pregnancy that an embryo becomes a fetus, which is the state it remains in until birth. The debate over when "life" begins impacts not just abortion policy, but efforts to produce a child via IVF, which activists like Rose see as tantamount to murder. IVF refers to a process wherein mature eggs are collected from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab, as explained by the Mayo Clinic. Often this fertility treatment is sought out by individuals who have trouble conceiving children on their own. Every child created using IVF is a precious, irreplaceable human being and deserves every protection and has all the dignity of every other human being, and these lives are incredibly precious, Rose told Salon. That's why IVF is so problematic, because according to the research, it's about 93% of all children created through IVF, but don't make it to birth. They're killed via embryo destruction, or they are miscarried, or they're in deep freeze. They're frozen indefinitely, or they end up being donated for human experiments, and, in laboratories." According to the national and clinic-specific data from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), an association of Americas fertility clinics dedicated to the practice of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), released in April of this year, 2.5% of all births in the country are a result of successful ART cycles. In 2022, the number of babies born from IVF increased from 89,208 the year before to 91,771. Among the GOP base, the Live Action president is not alone in her belief that IVF effectively kills more "children" than it creates. We believe human embryos should not be destroyed, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told Salon in a statement. All too often, proposals on this issue go too far by giving blanket immunity to IVF clinics even for rogue practitioners who switch human embryos, fail to follow basic safety standards, or negligently destroy human embryos desired by infertile couples. IVF is an industry that needs strong oversight and regulation, especially considering its standard operating procedure of force fertilizing young life and then destroying them when no longer desired, Kristi Hamrick, vice president of media and policy at Students for Life Action, told Salon in a statement. Such callous disregard for the humanity of the preborn isn't part of every nation's practices. This emphasis on IVF among the Democratic Party is the very definition of cognitive dissonance, as the party both celebrates the destruction of human life in abortion while trying to embrace families who would welcome those children. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Asked to comment on Trumps own stated support for IVF, including state funding for the procedure, Hamrick told Salon: J.D. Vance went on Fox & Friends shortly after Trump's remarks to media and said that the conscience rights of Americans would not be violated with a new mandate, but we need the details to know that. And therein lies the crux of the issue. Although Trump has tried to distance himself from the more extreme views in the anti-choice movement, those views are widespread among the GOP's core voters and those voters think Trump is one of them. At the very least, foes of abortion and IVF are reasonably convinced that Trump will sign any restrictions sent his way by a Republican Congress. What's more, despite the former president's more moderate claims as of late, few in his party have lent those claims their support. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., speaking on a recent press call hosted by the Harris-Walz campaign, said that Democrats want to work with Republicans to protect IVF. On Sept. 17, however, all nine Republican senators running for reelection voted against the Right to IVF Act, which would create a federal, statutory right to fertility treatment. Vance did not show up (a spokesperson said he was busy campaigning). "If he was on the phone last night urging people [to vote] 'yes,' then I'll take him seriously," Stabenow said. "This is just excuse after excuse after excuse because they don't believe women and their families should have their own freedom to make decisions using IVF," she concluded. Steven Miller, a father from Wisconsin who used IVF to start a family, said that was no shock. "It's no surprise to me that JD Vance couldn't be bothered to show up for it for today's vote. We know he voted against IVF access the last time he had a chance. Just like Donald Trump appointed an anti-IVF judge to the federal bench as president," Miller, who noted that he is a Christian, said on the press call. "Vance loves to talk about family values and has plenty of time to degrade childless people in the press, but when it comes to real action to support families' access to IVF, he's not just missing action he's working with his Project 2025 allies to undermine our families rights to make their own health care decisions," the father of twins who are now starting kindergarten said. Anti-choice activists and Democrats do seem to converge on one point: Trump and the GOP are anti-choice, and despite their campaign rhetoric, their actions overturning the federal right to an abortion and failing to protect IVF reflect their dim view of reproductive freedom. Micaela Hoops with her children at their home in Sherman. Hoops three sons lost insurance after she misunderstood the states deadline and failed to submit their renewal for the first time in three years. When the North Texas mother discovered her error, she frantically reapplied, putting her children at the back of an ever-lengthening waitlist. Credit: Danielle Villasana for ProPublica and the Texas Tribune For three years during the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government gave Texas and other states billions of dollars in exchange for their promise not to exacerbate the public health crisis by kicking people off Medicaid. When that agreement ended last year, Texas moved swiftly, kicking off more people faster than any other state. Officials acknowledged some errors after they stripped Medicaid coverage from more than 2 million people, most of them children. Some people who believe they were wrongly removed are desperately trying to get back on the state and federally funded health care program, adding to a backlog of more than 200,000 applicants. A ProPublica and Texas Tribune review of dozens of public and private records, including memos, emails and legislative hearings, clearly shows that those and other mistakes were preventable and foreshadowed in persistent warnings from the federal government, whistleblowers and advocates. Texas zealousness in removing people from Medicaid was a choice that contradicted federal guidelines from the start. That decision was devastating in Texas, which already insures a smaller percentage of its population through Medicaid than almost any other state and is one of 10 that never expanded eligibility after the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The difference in how Texas approached this compared to a lot of other states is and was very striking. It wanted everybody off, anybody extra off, even though we knew that meant that state systems would buckle under the pressure, said Erin OMalley, a senior policy analyst with Every Texan, a left-leaning statewide advocacy group. Medicaid rolls swelled nationally during the pandemic, with tens of millions of people added to the program and no one removed. In Texas, the number of people receiving Medicaid benefits grew by more than 50%, to 6 million. When the federal government stopped requiring continuous coverage in April 2023, states had to determine who was no longer eligible. The question wasnt whether to remove people but instead how to do it in a way that caused the least disruption and ensured those who qualified stayed on. To that end, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services advised states to proceed slowly and rely heavily on existing government data to automatically renew eligible residents, steps the agency believed would prevent poor families from wrongly losing coverage. Congress gave states a year for the so-called Medicaid unwinding. But Texas opted for speed, launching reviews of about 4.6 million cases in the first six months. It also decided against the more vigorous use of automatic renewals urged by the federal government, forcing nearly everyone to resubmit documents proving they qualified. Nearly 1.4 million of those who lost coverage were disenrolled for bureaucratic reasons like failing to return a form or completing one incorrectly, not because they werent eligible. The decision to buck federal government guidelines was one of many that led to serious repercussions for Texas residents who rely on the program. Among them were children forced to forgo or postpone lifesaving operations such as heart surgeries, said Dr. Kimberly Avila Edwards, an Austin pediatrician and Texas representative for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children with severe diseases such as sickle cell anemia, as well as those with neurodevelopmental delays and autism, also unnecessarily lost critical care. One of her colleagues treated a boy with a rare heart condition who lost Medicaid coverage in January after his parents failed to sign a form that even his caseworker was not aware the family needed to complete. The boys parents couldnt afford his $6,000 monthly pulmonary hypertension medication, nor could they pay for an ultrasound that would help determine whether he could survive without the drugs, said Avila Edwards, who declined to identify him because of medical privacy laws. If we have children who are less healthy, who are unable to get the preventative care they need for their chronic medical conditions, that fundamentally should raise concern for all of us, she said. The boy was eventually reenrolled in Medicaid after Texas pediatricians persuaded the state health agency to restore his coverage, Avila Edwards said. Thomas Vasquez, a spokesperson for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, acknowledged that the agency learned many lessons and is working to improve eligibility processes. HHSC representatives defended the rollout, saying that the agency conducted community outreach and hired more than 2,200 employees. Texas approach to the Medicaid unwinding reflected the states long-standing conservative ideology regarding the government-subsidized program, said Simon Haeder, an associate professor at Texas A&M Universitys School of Public Health. As attorney general more than a decade ago, Gov. Greg Abbott helped lead a successful lawsuit against the federal government to ensure states didnt have to cover more residents under Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act. Since then, Abbott and state lawmakers have continued to severely limit the program to mostly children, pregnant women and disabled adults. Poor adults arent typically eligible for Medicaid unless they have children. Parents of two kids must earn a combined income of less than $285 monthly to qualify for coverage. A spokesperson for Abbott declined an interview on his behalf and did not respond to a request for comment on the states handling of the unwinding. Texas stance during the unwinding, Haeder said, was, We dont do anything illegal, but we want to get our program as fast as we can down to what it was before the pandemic. Ignored warnings It was inevitable that the COVID-19 public health emergency would eventually end, as would the prohibition against pushing people off the rolls. Federal officials worried about the effects of the unwinding on vulnerable Americans almost from the start. In fact, the Biden administration repeatedly extended the emergency declaration, even after the peak of the crisis, to maintain safeguards that included keeping millions of low-income people on Medicaid. Once the emergency officially ended in April 2023, states were free to cull their rolls. In preparation, federal officials advised states not to review more than 11% of their caseloads each month, cautioning that moving more quickly could overwhelm their systems and lead to the wrongful removal of eligible people. But that was guidance, not a requirement, and Texas chose a far more aggressive plan. In the first month of the unwinding, the state started the review process for about a million cases, or 17% of its caseload. The federal government in May 2023 pressed Texas on why the state was moving so quickly. State officials downplayed the concerns, writing in an email obtained by the news organizations that they were frontloading people who most likely no longer qualified and were reviewing entire households at once. Within the first four months of the unwinding, the state dropped more than 600,000 people from Medicaid. The vast majority were removed not because the state determined they were no longer eligible but for reasons such as failing to provide the proper documents in time. That July, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra called on Texas and other states to increase the number of eligible people they automatically renewed with existing government data. He warned in a letter that his agency would take action against states that were not complying. In the same week, a group of employees anonymously emailed HHSC Executive Commissioner Cecile Young and media organizations, claiming senior management had alerted them that tens of thousands of people had improperly lost Medicaid due to the agencys poor handling of the unwinding. Youngs chief of staff responded in an email that she couldnt address the allegations of unidentified whistleblowers. Texas alerted the federal government days later that it had erroneously dropped nearly 100,000 people, according to records obtained by the news organizations. In August 2023, CMS once again implored the state to stop requiring eligible people to resubmit paperwork proving they still qualified. The federal agency said it appeared that many people didnt know they needed to reenroll, didnt understand the forms or faced obstacles in submitting the required information. Other states that had taken a similar approach, such as Pennsylvania and Maine, made significant changes. Not Texas. The state agency flagged to CMS last September that more than 30,000 kids lost their coverage, even though most of them should have been moved from Medicaid to the Childrens Health Insurance Program, according to emails the news organizations obtained through the states Public Information Act. State officials later told the news organizations that 95,000 people had been wrongly removed, instead of close to 130,000, as originally reported to CMS. Asked why the figures had decreased, a spokesperson said the agency provided approximate numbers as we worked to resolve the issue. Agency representatives said the state quickly reinstated coverage and implemented changes to prevent further improper denials. They did not provide specifics. Alarmed by the deluge of disenrollments, advocacy groups, health providers and newspaper editorial boards began calling on the state last summer to pause the unwinding and ensure people were not incorrectly losing coverage. It did not do so. In October, after Texas had already disenrolled more than 1.2 million people, the state gave about 400,000 people who likely qualified for Medicaid an extra month to submit paperwork, according to an agency spokesperson. Still, problems persisted. In December, Becerra appealed directly to Abbott and eight other governors of states with the highest shares of children who had lost coverage. Texas accounted for nearly a quarter of all children in the U.S. who had lost Medicaid or CHIP during the unwinding, Becerra wrote. He again urged the state to employ a series of actions, including automatically renewing eligible people. Without providing details, Becerra said the federal government would not hesitate to take action against states that did not comply with federal requirements. A one-two punch Three months later, Micaela Hoops children lost the government-subsidized health insurance for which they had qualified their entire lives. After years of not having to renew their Medicaid coverage under the pandemic rules, the 37-year-old North Texas mother said she was confused about when she was required to reapply and missed the deadline to provide proof of the familys income. Hoops sifts through paperwork from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission at her home in Sherman. Credit: Danielle Villasana for ProPublica and The Texas Tribune In other states, the kids might have been automatically renewed using other government information, like quarterly payroll data reported by employers to the state or federal tax records. Instead, Hoops had to frantically reapply seven days after the coverage lapsed in March, submitting 24 pay statements for her husbands weekly wages as a marketing director for a real estate company. This put the family at the back of a monthslong waiting list. During that time, Hoops, a stay-at-home mom who homeschools the children, had to take her eldest son to the emergency room for a debilitating migraine. The visit came with a $3,000 bill that she and her husband could not pay. A few months later, the 14-year-old broke his nose while playing with his brother on a trampoline. She paid a few hundred dollars out of pocket for the doctor but couldnt afford the CT scan required to reset his nose. More than 100 days after Hoops reapplied, the state restored her childrens coverage retroactively. She hopes Medicaid will cover the hospital visit, but her sons nose remains crooked. My children didnt deserve to go without insurance, Hoops said. Theyre kids. They have medical emergencies, things happen, and they deserve to be taken care of. Coverage for Hoops children wasnt restored until more than 100 days after she reapplied. Credit: Danielle Villasana for ProPublica and the Texas Tribune While Hoops children got their Medicaid back, some families that believe they wrongly lost Medicaid are still waiting after being forced to reapply. Texas median processing time for Medicaid applications is almost three months, according to a recent agency briefing obtained by the news organizations. This exceeds the federal limit of 45 days for most cases. The sudden suspension of health insurance for a population the size of New Mexico has had additional ramifications in Texas, including higher treatment costs for hospitals and clinics forced to take on more uninsured patients. Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston, the largest pediatric hospital in the country, laid off employees this year after significant budget shortfalls. A hospital spokesperson declined to comment, but, in a recent financial filing, the hospital attributed some of the challenges to losing Medicaid patients during the states unwinding process. Across the state, some safety net clinics reported a 30% decrease in Medicaid revenue due to the unwinding, said Jana Eubank, who heads the Texas Association of Community Health Centers. She said the extra costs added to challenges for the already financially strapped facilities. Some centers are having to lay off staff. Some centers are furloughing staff, Eubank said. Ive got a couple of CEOs that arent taking a salary right now. Ive had centers that are unfortunately having to cut back certain services or extended hours, like behavioral health services, dental services, just because they cant afford to continue to offer that care. Separately, some families that were pushed off Medicaid are also waiting more than a month for food assistance because Texas uses the same eligibility system to process applications for both. San Antonio Food Bank CEO Eric Cooper said the nonprofit was crushed by demand this summer when families faced sudden medical bills, kids were out of school and the state had a backlog of more than 277,000 food stamp applications. The situation worsened when Texas declined to participate in a federal nutrition program, turning down an estimated $450 million that could have helped feed nearly 3.8 million poor children during the summer. HHSC officials said they could not get the program running in time. Its felt like a one-two punch, the double whammy, Cooper said. We havent really felt any relief since the Medicaid unwinding and the official end of the public health emergency, he added. Its still an emergency. Its still a crisis. Federal investigation In May, after Texas unwinding ended, the federal government launched an investigation into long waits faced by people who had applied for Medicaid coverage. Addressing these persistent delays was especially important because they affected eligible people who lost coverage in the past year, Sarah deLone, director of CMS Children and Adults Health Programs Group, wrote in a letter to the state. Former federal officials and health policy experts called the probe a significant step by the agency, which typically works with states behind the scenes. But CMS has few options to hold Texas accountable if it finds wrongdoing, said Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The Biden administrations major enforcement tool is yanking federal funding, but that could cause low-income people to lose health insurance and invite a lawsuit from Texas, Alker said. And the investigation likely wont go anywhere if Donald Trump wins in November, she said, since the former president previously encouraged states to restrict Medicaid access and promised to undo the Affordable Care Act entirely. CMS spokesperson Stephanie Rossy declined to comment directly on its investigation or on Texas handling of the unwinding. But in a statement she wrote that states choices have real consequences for eligible peoples ability to stay covered. Texas officials also declined to discuss the probe, but in a letter to the federal agency two weeks after the May investigation announcement, the states Medicaid director, Emily Zalkovsky, acknowledged that Texas experienced severe operational and systems challenges during the unwinding. Although the federal probe was welcomed by advocacy groups, as well as some health care providers and Texas families, its unlikely to immediately help eligible people who lost Medicaid during the unwinding and are waiting to get back on. While Hoops children have regained coverage, she believes that what her family endured reflects state leaders attitudes toward low-income people. Maybe they didnt realize they were making cruel decisions, she said. Still, she feels like the states mentality is basically, Well, you just shouldnt be dependent on us. Disclosure: Every Texan, Texas A&M University and Texas Association of Community Health Centers have been financial supporters 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 Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Get the data and visuals that accompany this story Detectives need help figuring out who killed man sleeping in parking lot Detectives tell Channel 9 they are desperate for information that could lead to a killer. On Feb. 29, employees at a west Charlotte Bojangles found a man shot dead in their West Trade Street parking lot, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said. Michael Beasley-Kanash was a homeless man trying to better himself here in Charlotte. He was trying to get back to family in Florida. He was sleeping in the parking lot of a Bojangles when he was shot & killed. Now police & his mom need your help. The story at 6 on Ch. 9 pic.twitter.com/5VgDXRLh0d Hunter Saenz (@Hunt_Saenz) September 26, 2024 Police said Michael Beasley-Kanash was found around 8:30 a.m. They believe he had been dead for hours before someone noticed him. In February, police said they were speaking to several witnesses, as well as reviewing surveillance footage. They hoped the fact that it happened in a busy area just off Interstate 77 and across from a gas station would help their investigation. PREVIOUS: West Charlotte restaurant workers find man shot dead in parking lot On Thursday, Channel 9s Hunter Saenz spoke with the victims mother and the lead detective still working to bring her closure nearly seven months later. Michael was my firstborn, said Billie Acevedo. She said her son was her light. He had a vibrant heart from the day he was born. And as he got older, he still carried that same kind heart, she said. Acevedo admits Beasley-Kanash struggled with addiction and mental health issues and came to Charlotte from Florida to get help at a clinic. He was homeless here and was trying to get back home to his family in February, but he never made it. CMPD homicide detective Miranda James said Beasley-Kanash was lying down for the night in the parking lot. And someone took advantage of him, she said. They came up and shot just as he was laying down. ALSO READ: CMPD makes another arrest in 2021 drive-by shooting that killed toddler Surveillance video and interviews led Detective James to believe Beasley-Kanash was likely shot around 4 a.m. People didnt even realize that he was not just sleeping until they finally went out to check on him, she said. For months, detectives have reviewed the evidence gathered, but no arrests have been made yet. Its why they are pleading for anyone who came in contact with Beasley-Kanash, or knows something about the case, to reach out. Just call me so we can talk about it, James said. The detective is on a mission to find a killer as the victims mother grieves her firstborn and begs for justice. Honestly, the inside of me feels empty and lost, Acevedo said. But I ask God to give me grace and to share with people the love my son had. Anyone with information is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak to a homicide unit detective. You can also leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. (WATCH BELOW: CMPD investigating deadly east Charlotte shooting) A Detroit man is facing murder and sexual assault charges in connection with the case of long-missing teen Na'Ziyah Harris, who was last seen in January and whose body has not been found, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday. At a news conference, Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Jarvis Ramon Butts, 41, was being charged with first-degree murder, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and child sexually abusive material. Butts is also facing sexual assault charges involving two additional victims who were under age 13 at the time, Worthy said. Na'Ziyah, then 13, was last seen getting off a school bus Jan. 9 in the area of Cornwall Street and Three Mile Drive on Detroit's east side, police have said. A selfie taken by Na'Ziyah Harris in January. This is the last known picture of her, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. At the news conference, Worthy stood in front of the last known photo of NaZiyah a selfie she had taken on the day she disappeared. She is smiling and waving and saying hello, but little did she know that she was really saying goodbye," Worthy said. According to a news release from the prosecutor's office, Butts, who has children with Na'Ziyah's aunt, is accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to Na'Ziyah beginning in September 2022 and she sent sexually explicit photographs of herself in return. Na'Ziyah allegedly texted Butts in September 2023 saying she had not had her period and "in November 2023 the evidence shows that Butts knows that she is pregnant. His phone records show that he searches online about abortions, abortion pills and drinking red anti-freeze." Na'Ziyah sent a message to Butts on Jan. 9 the day she went missing indicating they would meet up after she got out of school that day, the news release said. Na'Ziyah met up with Butts and his co-worker and they went to an auto repair shop, where she was seen by Butts' sister, according to the prosecutor's office. Na'Ziyah, Butts and the co-worker went to Ypsilanti in the co-worker's car and then returned to the shop. Worthy said Butts checked into a motel at 9:30 p.m. that night. Na'Ziyah, she said, "was never seen or heard from again." On Jan. 10 a day after Na'Ziyah went missing Butts was allegedly in the Rouge River area in Detroit and clothing the teen was last seen wearing was found in the same area, according to the prosecutor's office. Worthy said Butts is expected to be arraigned Friday. She said Na'Ziyah would have turned 14 this month. "You look at that face and you do not see the horrors she had gone through in her short life," Worthy said. "The exploitation, the molestations, the sexual abuse and the pregnancy that she was concealing. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announces criminal charges against a man in connection with the case of missing teen Na'Ziyah Harris, at a news conference Thursday at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center in Detroit. Jernell Smith-Holland, Na'Ziyah's great aunt, said she had made multiple calls to Children's Protective Services about Butts. "There were multiple opportunities to save her life," Smith-Holland told the Free Press on Thursday. Worthy said Na'Ziyah was reported missing by her grandmother to Detroit Public Schools Community District police. In early February, the case was turned over to the Detroit Police Department. Detroit Police Chief James White said at the news conference he would have rather had the case earlier but said he doesn't "know if the outcome would have been any different based on some of the things we've learned in the course of the investigation, but we may have had an opportunity to recover even more evidence." He added that the evidence they have in the case is strong. According to the prosecutor's office, Butts is accused of sexually assaulting a now-20-year-old from April 2012 to April 2014 at a home in Detroit and is facing one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is also accused of sexually assaulting a now-13-year-old at a home in Detroit from July 2015 to July 2017 and is facing a charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in that case, prosecutors said. Worthy called Butts "a classic and expert groomer and pedophile," alleging he targeted and befriended women in order to have sexual contact with their young daughters. According to online court records, Butts pleaded guilty in 2005 to a count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and served time in prison. A check of online jail records Thursday showed Butts was in custody at the Wayne County Jail. It was unclear whether Butts has an attorney on the current charges. Worthy said she has spent decades of her career looking at photographs of murdered people and, as an assistant prosecutor, would spend hours thinking about the victim whose case she was preparing to try, "wondering how they spent their last weeks, their last days, their last hours and their last minutes of their lives." She said, "it's always, always a thousand times worse when the person is a child or a baby, someone in the dawn of their lives who haven't begun to live their lives." Contact Gina Kaufman: gkaufman@freepress.com Contact Kristi Tanner: ktanner@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jarvis Butts charged in homicide, sexual assault of Na'Ziyah Harris Eight years on, China's FAST telescope continues to contribute to global radio astronomy research Xinhua) 08:15, September 26, 2024 An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) GUIYANG, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The construction of the Core Array of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) started Wednesday, highlighting China's growing potential in global radio astronomy research. As a proposed extension of FAST, the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, the Core Array integrates 24 secondary 40-meter antennas implanted within 5 kilometers of the FAST site, said Jiang Peng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The Chinese-designed array will combine the unprecedented sensitivity of FAST with a high angular resolution, thereby exceeding the capabilities at similar frequencies of next-generation arrays in the world. The FAST Core Array is estimated to be completed and put into operation in 2027. According to a study conducted by CAS, the Core Array will be equipped with advanced devices to improve the survey efficiency of FAST, whose broad frequency coverage and large field of view (FOV) will be essential to study transient cosmic phenomena such as fast radio bursts and gravitational wave events; conduct surveys and resolve structures in neutral hydrogen galaxies; monitor or detect pulsars; and investigate exoplanetary systems. This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows the first test prototype of the Core Array of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) being installed in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Jiang said that once operational, the FAST Core Array could provide more possibilities for global radio astronomy research, owing to a wide range of potential scientific applications from cosmology to exoplanet science. Wednesday also marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of FAST. In less than a decade, FAST has already significantly expanded its astronomical observation capability, and the FAST Core Array is set to enhance its observational capabilities further. Jiang said observations made solely with FAST are like using a pencil to draw a sketch, while the FAST Core Array is akin to capturing the night sky with a digital camera. To date, FAST has identified more than 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016. The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number of pulsars found by foreign telescopes during the same period. FAST started formal operations in January 2020 and was officially opened to the world in March 2021. The telescope provides astronomers around the globe with a powerful tool to uncover the mysteries and evolution of the universe. An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Core Array of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) Since its formal opening to the global scientific community on March 31, 2021, FAST has facilitated over 900 hours of observations for research teams from 15 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia, covering various scientific objectives. On April 6 this year, FAST reopened applications for observation projects for the 2024-2025 season, offering 1,600 hours of telescope time for freely applied projects. British astronomer Ralph Eatough said that opening up FAST to the world means that astronomers can now perform experiments that were previously not possible due to insufficient telescope sensitivity, with a prime example of this being the potential to detect pulsars located in external galaxies. Chen Xianhui, an academician at CAS, said, "FAST is helping mankind explore the origins, evolution, and structure of the universe, providing crucial observational data for understanding pressing scientific questions, while also serving as an important platform for international scientific exchange and collaboration." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The country has relied on IMF loans to meet its needs for decades [Getty Images] The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $7bn (5.25bn) loan to cash-strapped Pakistan. The country is due to receive the first $1bn of the loan immediately, with the balance to be paid out over the next three years. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the decision and thanked the head of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, and her team. Pakistan has taken more than 20 loans from the IMF since 1958 and is currently its fifth-largest debtor. The new programme "will require sound policies and reforms" to stabilise and help make the economy more resilient, the IMF said. The South Asian nation has pledged that it would be the last loan from the international lender. As part of the deal, Islamabad agreed to a number of unpopular measures, including increasing the amount of tax it collects from people and businesses. The country has relied on IMF loans to meet its needs for decades and continued to struggle after years of financial mismanagement. Last year, the country was on the brink of defaulting on its debts and had barely enough in foreign currencies to pay for a month of imports. The IMF approved a $3bn bailout for Pakistan in July 2023. It also received funds from allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). At the time, Mr Sharif said the bailout was a major step forward in efforts to stabilise the economy. "It bolsters Pakistan's economic position to overcome immediate to medium-term economic challenges," he said. Detroit property tax relief program deadline moved up to Nov. 1. What to know. The deadline to apply for a program that can help Detroiters avoid property tax foreclosure is now Nov. 1. In previous years, Detroiters had until December to sign up for the city of Detroit's Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program to see a partial or full reduction in their current year property taxes. The deadline was moved up about a month to give the board responsible for hearing property tax appeals in Detroit more time to review applications and give applicants a chance to submit completed forms, according to officials. "The earlier deadline will allow us to better manage the high volume of applications, especially those that come in without the necessary documentation. This additional time is crucial to helping as many Detroit homeowners qualify for the program and ultimately avoid foreclosure," Willie Donwell, director of the city of Detroit's Property Assessment Board of Review, said in a news release. More: More Black Detroiters got home loans since 2018, report shows Here is what to know: What is the HOPE program? The HOPE program is a tax exemption that can reduce or exempt qualifying homeowners from property taxes for the current year based on household income. The exemption can help Detroiters avoid property tax foreclosure. Who qualifies for the program? Eligibility for the HOPE program is based on whether a resident owns and occupies their home as their primary residence and their household income, according to the city of Detroit. The income limit for a full exemption for a family of three is $26,849. Most homeowners whose income falls below the HOPE program's income requirements are generally approved. The city received more than 21,300 HOPE applications last year and expects similar numbers this year, including 7,000 carried over from last year. Applications submitted close to the deadline were often left incomplete, the city says. Last year, more than half of the 2,500 applications that came in between Nov. 1 and the deadline of Dec. 11 were missing information and documents. How to apply Detroiters have until 4:30 p.m, Nov. 1 to submit a 2024 HOPE application. Residents can apply in the following ways: Go to the city of Detroit's HOPE website at bit.ly/DetroitHOPEApplication to submit an application online or print out a form, fill it out and drop it off at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520. to schedule a meeting with a housing counselor and submit a HOPE application. Detroiters can also schedule an appointment online at bit.ly/HOPECounselingNetwork. Attend in-person housing resource fairs to get help completing the HOPE application. The events will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Northwest Activities Center on 18100 Meyers Road; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Oct. 12 at the Abayomi Community Development Corp. at 24331 West Eight Mile Road, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Oct. 26 at Perfecting Church at 7616 Nevada Ave. Contact Nushrat Rahman: nrahman@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @NushratR. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit property tax relief program deadline moved up to Nov. 1 A year after devastating floods, West Side residents are still dealing with damage and expensive repairs A year after devastating floods, West Side residents are still dealing with damage and expensive repairs Shirley Howard sighed as the rain pounded down in Chicagos Austin neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. Water seeped into her basement again, right by her new washing machine. Some more work has to be done, she said. Im telling you its so frustrating. It was just over a year ago that she was pulling debris out of a nearby storm drain in a desperate attempt to drain water out of her basement bedroom. Her grandsons sneakers and notebooks were floating on inches of water. Since then, her life has been filled with contractors, cleaning supplies and bills. So many bills. The 70-year-old is among the many West and South Side residents whose basements flooded in a torrential downpour in July 2023. Despite promises of public assistance, many low-income residents, some who are seniors, are still dealing with damages and repairs. Local stormwater systems were so overwhelmed by 8 inches of rain falling within 12 hours that water rose into thousands of West and South Side basements. In an attempt to alleviate the sewers, officials turned to their outlets of last resort: releasing runoff mixed with human waste into Lake Michigan. Still, in the aftermath, tens of thousands of Chicagoans applied for federal flood assistance. This weeks damage, caused by less than an inch of rain, was minimal compared with the $8,000 of damage in July 2023. But when promised relief assistance isnt adequate and flood mitigation efforts flounder, all the destruction compounds. Its never-ending, said Howard, looking at the latest water to make its way into her home of nearly three decades. When she spoke with the Tribune last year, she was standing in water up to her ankles. The federal government made $172 million available to help flood victims on the West and South sides. When Howards check finally came in early 2024, half a year after the floods, and it was for only $4,400. She went into debt stripping her carpets, cutting open her walls to replace the insulation and buying that new washing machine. Sadly, her family photo albums didnt survive the 3 feet of sewage water that rushed into her basement. No money could save them. Meanwhile, the repairs she could barely afford struggled to withstand Tuesdays much less violent storm. Howard hoped to alleviate some of her debt in July when Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his administration was making $5 million available from the citys corporate fund to assist flood victims. The city said the funding was intended to support seniors like her, after all. But she was denied. Homeowners who have received federal and state assistance are generally not eligible for the new municipal assistance, city spokesperson Peter Strabazzabosco told the Tribune. To be eligible, Strabazzabosco said, individuals must also own and occupy homes within the hardest-hit portions of the flood area, have household incomes that do not exceed the Chicago areas median income and be current on property taxes. Her neighbor Edie Jacobs, 78, received $10,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair her basement. It helped, but, similarly, wasnt enough. One of her bathroom walls still needs to be redone. Theres a circular stain where the water seeped through the insulation. Shes worried there might be mold, but its too expensive to fix. Jacobs also thought she might finish her basement repairs money from the $5 million the city made available, but there was no formal application process, so she didnt know how to tap into the funds. The city Department of Housing has already worked with local community organizations to identify 200 households in need, Strabazzabosco told the Tribune on Wednesday. Repairs have begun on 20 basements at an average cost of $25,000 per home, significantly more than Jacobs and Howard received from the federal government. Affected homeowners can still contact the Department of Housing and their ward offices to be placed on a waitlist for city assistance, pending funding availability, Strabazzabosco said. Jacobs said shes been making calls to the city for weeks to see if she qualifies, but no one answers. Over a year since the flood damage, the bureaucracy is finally wearing her down. I just have to let it go because theres nothing I can do, she said. Restoring her basements from the July 2023 floods does not solve the root problem, however. Severe flooding is anticipated to increasingly threaten Howard, Jacobs and their neighbors homes. Climate change is making intense rainfall more frequent because warm air holds moisture. Total precipitation statewide already increased 15% from 1895 to 2019, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Just this month, the Biden administration authorized another round of FEMA funding for residents in seven Illinois counties including Cook County affected by severe rain this July. Chicagos West Side sits in a floodplain, meaning it is more susceptible to flooding than the rest of the Chicago area. Historically, high-value properties are not built in floodplains, so the aging infrastructure in West Side communities was likely never best suited to endure floods. As climate change worsens, underinvested communities on the West Sides will likely continue paying the highest price for heavy rainfall. DICKSON, Tenn. (WKRN) A Hickman County womans trip to the hospital last week took a detour when she ended up giving birth on the side of Interstate 40, with some help from a member of the Dickson Police Department. Dickson officials said Officer Dyllon Larson responded to a call at approximately 6:04 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 about a woman in labor near mile marker 176 on I-40. He was told the woman, whose water had broken about 20 minutes earlier, was alone in the car. Student in Sumner County recognized for his artwork I arrived on the scene at [6:09] and ran to the passenger side of the car and could tell the driver was having a contraction, Larson recalled. Shortly after she had another, they were only a minute apart or less. I held her hand and reassured her that everything was going to be alright, that medical help is almost here. However, after just a few minutes, the mother reported the baby was coming. I ran to the drivers side of the car and lifted her dress to see the baby was beginning to crown, Larson explained. Only a few short moments after that the baby was born. I immediately cleared anything I could from his mouth and stimulated his back until he was inhaling and exhaling, then gave him to mom. The city said Dickson County Emergency Medical Services arrived a few minutes later, along with other law enforcement officers. The mother and baby Theodore were transported to Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, which is where she was heading initially. Tennessee population boom largely driven by people moving from other states, research finds On Tuesday, Sept. 24, officials said Theodore and his mother visited the police department to thank Larson for his actions. Officer Larson was very kind and extremely helpful, especially when it was so greatly needed, said the Lyles woman, who asked not to be identified. My family cannot thank him enough for stopping to help us. Theodorewho was born healthy at 21 inches long, weighing 8 pounds, 2 ouncesis the sixth child in his family. During Tuesdays visit, the babys mother FaceTimed his siblings so they could meet Larson. Fun fact: Theodore actually shares a birthday with Larsons first child. In addition, this marked the second time Larson delivered a baby, with the previous one being the officers fourth child, according to the city. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Officials said Larson grew up in Minnesota, earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy, graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2019, and completed a transition school with the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. Then, after working in the Detention Division of the Williamson County Sheriffs Office, Larson joined the Dickson Police Department in October 2022. With everything bad and disheartening that law enforcement officers have to deal with on almost a daily basis, it is moments of being able to make a positive impact in peoples lives that encourage us at the beginning of each shift, Dickson Police Chief Seth Lyles stated. I cant say enough how proud I am of Officer Larson putting into action the mission to serve and protect. Larson is the second officer from the Dickson Police Department to help deliver a baby in recent years, the city said. Back in November 2018, Sgt. Sierra Reprogal assisted in a roadside delivery after the mother realized she wasnt going to reach the hospital in time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com. At a news conference last week, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said inmates continue to smuggle fentanyl into his jail facilities and called for stricter California laws that punish those selling the deadly synthetic opioid. Cooper said his deputies have confiscated 500 grams of fentanyl that newly arrested inmates tried to smuggle into his two jail facilities this year. That is enough fentanyl to kill the entire population of Elk Grove, Cooper said about the confiscated fentanyl. But can 500 grams of fentanyl kill the entire population of Elk Grove? Yes, it just depends on who is ingesting the fentanyl and whether theyve used the synthetic opioid before, according to federal authorities. The sheriff used the population size of the Sacramento County suburb to demonstrate how much fentanyl his deputies have confiscated and how some are so determined to smuggle the potentially deadly drug and sell it to addicted fellow inmates. Attorneys at the Prison Law Office, which litigated a class action lawsuit regarding jail conditions, said the sheriff hasnt done enough to stop the flow of smuggled drugs into the jails. Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper walks into the general population pod on Six West of the Main Jail on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a persons body size, tolerance and past usage, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Elk Groves total population in 2020 was 124,312 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The 500 grams of confiscated fentanyl at the jails equals 500,000 milligrams, enough for 250,000 potentially lethal doses of the synthetic opioid. A DEA analysis found that counterfeit pills have .02 to 5.1 milligrams of fentanyl per tablet; 42% of pills tested for fentanyl contained at least 2 milligrams of fentanyl, according to federal law enforcement agencys Facts about Fentanyl web page. Drug dealers mix fentanyl, because of its potency and low cost, with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, which increases the likelihood of a fatal dose, according to the DEA. Its possible for someone to take a pill without knowing it contains fentanyl or whether it contains a lethal dose of fentanyl. So far this year, 153 people in Sacramento have died from fentanyl, according to the Coroners Office. There were 402 fentanyl deaths in the county last year; 230 in 2022; 215 in 2021; 108 in 2020; 33 reported deaths in 2019. Cooper said last week that six out of eight inmates who died while in custody in the past 14 months died from ingesting either fentanyl or other narcotics. He said the other two deaths were due to a medical condition and violence allegedly committed by another inmate. Fentanyl gets past screening The confiscated fentanyl Cooper mentioned was found during the booking process. But sheriffs officials said more gets through. Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, said the 500 grams of confiscated fentanyl was found by deputies as inmates were booked either at the downtown Main Jail or the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center near Elk Grove. He said the newly arrested inmates or convicted offenders ordered to serve time in jail will try to smuggle the fentanyl into the jail through a variety of methods. The contraband could be hidden in their rectum, tucked underneath a breast, concealed in a stitched hidden pocket or placed inside the mouth. This isnt just one big bust, Gandhi said. These are small amounts that trickle in every day. And this is just the stuff we find; not the stuff that gets into the jail that we dont find. Despite three physical searches, including a digital body scan and a strip search and a video warning about fentanyl played for inmates during booking, Cooper said fentanyl continues to be smuggled into the jails. He said those dealing the drugs behind bars are preying on inmates addicted to narcotics. Its impossible for us to catch it all, he told reporters last week. An opioid rescue kit is on the wall in one of the general population pod at the Sacramento County Main Jail on Sept. 19, 2024. Sheriff Jim Cooper said fentanyl overdoses have become so prevalent that anyone found unconscious will likely be given nasal Narcan. Deputies and medical staff at Coopers jails have administered 75 doses of Narcan to revive inmates suffering from a suspected drug overdose this year. Jail staff also place Narcan in the jail cell pods to be accessible to the inmates. Cooper said last week that jail staff have replenished 110 doses of Narcan in the opioid rescue boxes in the jail pods, so he worries some inmates are overdosing and not reporting it to jail staff. More should be done, attorneys say Attorneys with the Prison Law Office have argued that Cooper hasnt done enough to stop drug smuggling. The law office litigated a class action lawsuit regarding jail conditions that resulted in a 2019 county settlement called the Mays Consent Decree. In an August 2023, letter to the sheriff, the attorneys at the Prison Law Office said drugs are widely available inside the jails, and people are dying as a result. The attorneys said the Sheriffs Office doesnt have a policy that requires deputies to walk through a scanner or any screening technology to stop jail smuggling. They are not required to have their bags or their person searched, according to the Prison Law Office letter. They are not required to have clear bags to prevent them from concealing contraband. There are zero security measures in place to prevent custody staff from bringing contraband, including drugs, into the jails. We understand that screening staff is not the entire solution to the substance use-related issues at the jails. But the people who are most frequently walking in and out of the jails must be subject to common sense screening measures to prevent the introduction of drugs to the jails. Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper shows photos of fentanyl smuggled in by inmates during a press conference at the Main Jail on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. This year his deputies have confiscated 500 grams of fentanyl, which he says would be enough to kill the entire population of Elk Grove. On Wednesday, the sheriffs spokesman did not respond to the statements made in the Prison Law Office letter, telling The Sacramento Bee the sheriff addressed those issues at last weeks news conference. Cooper told reporters that the Prison Law Office and other advocates claim deputies are smuggling drugs into the jails, which is not true. Theyre not bringing the drugs in. Weve done investigations to make sure, Cooper said last week. I wanna make sure my house is in order and my folks are doing what they should be doing. A year ago, a Sheriffs Office investigation into a spike in overdoses at the jail led to the arrest of six people, including a member of the jail medical staff, for their alleged involvement in an operation to smuggle drugs into the jail in exchange for money. Those arrested included Zareonna Harris, who was working on-call for Avid Healthcare Services, a county contractor. Harris is no longer an Avid employee, according to the company. James Whitfield, Donald Zackery and Tomani Zackery also were arrested in the smuggling investigation into contraband found at the downtown jail. The Sheriffs Office later arrested two others Roderick Turk and Dimauri Allendandridge for allegedly supplying the narcotics. Margot Mendelson and Patrick Booth, attorneys with the Prison Law Office, said they have not received any indication the Sheriffs Office has implemented or is planning to implement a policy to screen deputies. Mendelson said its surprising for the sheriff not to implement a screening policy for deputies, which doesnt reflect the crisis in the wake of a wave of deaths at the jails. She said its not responsible to increase screening of inmates without any screening for custodial deputies going in and out of the jails. We recognize the enormity of the challenge, Mendelson said about drugs smuggled into the jails. And its not limited to Sacramento. Booth said the attorneys at the Prison Law Office has never said they believe deputies are smuggling drugs into the jails. But drugs are still getting inside the jails, which is evident by the overdose deaths of incarcerated people. That could be one source of the drugs going in, Booth said about deputies. Youd think (the sheriff) would want to do anything to keep drugs out. How Did the Titan Sub Implode? Coast Guard's Expert Has 5 Theories All it takes is that one thing to go for the whole thing to go," engineer Bart Kemper told investigators Petty Officer 2nd Class Kate Kilroy/U.S. Coast Guard via AP, Pool Bart Kemper of Kemper Engineering testifies on Sept. 25, 2024, at the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation hearing into the June 2023 loss of the Titan submersible An engineer whose firm was asked by the U.S. Coast Guard to offer additional expertise in the investigation of the deadly 2023 Titan submersible implosion testified this week that the root cause of the disaster is unknown at the moment but there are some plausible options. Debris from the Titan was found near the wreck of the Titanic in June 2023, four days after the submersible lost contact with the surface while en route to the famed shipwreck, officials have said. The five people aboard all died. Bart Kemper, of the firm Kemper Engineering, was among the witnesses at the ongoing Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation hearing into the Titan tragedy and the decisions made by OceanGate, the company behind the sub. The root cause for the implosion is indeterminate at this time, Kemper told the panel on Wednesday, Sept. 25, during a presentation of his companys summary of preliminary findings. There are multiple unmitigated single-mode failures, which means that all it takes is that one thing to go for the whole thing to go," he said. The sub was deep underwater when it lost contact, and was under extreme pressure, which experts have said means any failure of its structural integrity would have led to an instantaneous fatal implosion of its pressurized passenger compartment. Related: Titanic Lovers and Deep-Sea Divers React to Titan Implosion Revelations with Alarm: 'Worse Than I Thought' (Exclusive) HANDOUT/OceanGate Expeditions/AFP via Getty The Titan Kemper identified five possible causes that initiated the implosion, all related to the subs makeup. These include an "internal localized failure" due to "cumulative carbon fiber breakage," a failure of the "composite hull due to fabrication" also known as a failure in manufacturing or a failure from exposure damage, failure of the glue ring that connected the sub's hull and ring or a failure of its acrylic window, which was the only way to look out from within. Other witnesses have offered their insights into what they think caused the submersible's deadly implosion. In separate testimony at the hearing, last week, Tym Caterson, a former OceanGate contractor, said he believes the failure "happened at the forward glue line at the ring," which would have had to "happen extraordinarily fast." "Which means the people in there, they had no idea this was coming. I just want to make sure you let the public know nobody was suffering in there," said Caterson, who was present when the Titan began its final dive from the Polar Prince off the coast of Canada on June 18, 2023. Don Kramer, a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) engineer, testified on Wednesday that the pieces from the subs wreckage showed separation within the hulls adhesive, primarily through the carbon fiber composite. Kemper said during his testimony that in December 2017, his firm was asked by Wiliam Kohnen whose company Hydrospace Group constructed the window used on the Titan to do a pro bono analysis of a non standard acrylic window for [another OceanGate sub] Cyclops II. About a month later, January 2018, Kempers firm furnished a report to Ocean Gate that the results indicated failure likely after multiple full-depth dives, based on that windows design. The results indicated it was possible the window would fail in cyclic failure, read Kempers presentation at the Coast Guard hearing about his firms 2018 report. We did not have the head design to analyze the mechanical response of the pressure boundary to the dive profile. The intent was to start a discussion to agree upon a safer, more reliable solution. HANDOUT/US Coast Guard / Pelagic Research Services/AFP via Getty Debris from the Titan after its implosion During questioning for Kemper, the Coast Guard panel referenced a previous loud banging noise linked to the Titan. One of the panelists asked Kemper if he would have allowed the sub to continue diving if it experienced such noise upon surfacing. No, Kemper replied. I wouldve done more investigative work and considered my options of whats available for testing, whats not available for testing. In testimony on Tuesday, Sep. 24, Karl Stanley, a friend of OcenaGate co-founder and CEO Stockton Rush, who piloted the Titan on its final dive last year, recalled hearing concerning noises during a 2019 submersible dive he took with Rush and two others while in the Bahamas. Related: How the Titan Broke Apart (and What Was Left) After Deadly Implosion, According to New Photos "He told us to be prepared for noises, Stanley said of Rush at the time. He had recently done [a] solo dive on his own, and basically just said, This is going to make noise, and, Brace yourselves. Looking back, Stanley said that there were a lot of red flags during that dive, including the noise, which he believed was the carbon fiber hull snapping. We were hearing it so often, he told the investigators on the panel, noting that even though Rush had warned them, The first couple of times [were unnerving]. The panel also asked Kemper if a submersible that carries people even an experimental one should be designed if the life cycle of the system is uncertain. Its flat wrong, Kemper responded. When you look at any sort of design, the first thing is you set your requirements. If you dont have requirements, how do you know youre good? He later added: The only way thats acceptable as a concept is if its something you can break [like a] toy. Toys are built that way. If they break, you just hurt feelings." Petty Officer 2nd Class Kate Kilroy/U.S. Coast Guard via AP, Pool Bart Kemper "If you are doing something thats life safety ... theres no coming back from that," Kemper said. "You dont get a second chance. You get to say oops once. Toward the end of his testimony, Kemper offered some recommendations to the panel so that a future tragedy like the Titans could be prevented which is expected to be a key area of the Coast Guard's work in investigating the implosion. Those suggestions included a requirement that an experimental craft carry just two people an operator and assistant, with no passengers or cargo; and to have a licensed professional engineer as a part of the engineering team. The nearly two-weeks hearing by the Coast Guard investigative board which is set to conclude on Friday, Sept. 27 have featured testimonies from former OceanGate employees, experts and others about their experiences at the company and on the Titans previous dives. Related: Titan Sub Malfunctioned Days Before Deadly Implosion, Causing Passengers to Tumble, Ex-Scientific Chief Testifies In his final remarks on Tuesday, Stanley, who also runs a dive expedition company, said: "OceanGate came very, very close to killing me and had a severe impact on my business as well as an entire industry. Stanley also said that he believed his late friend Rush was looking to make a mark on history. I think these wealthy individuals ... threw money at him, he said. And he was painted into a corner I think thats why he kept diving." Per a previous statement obtained by PEOPLE, OceanGate, which has suspended all operations, said it has been fully cooperating with the Coast Guard and NTSB [National Transportation Safety Board] investigations since they began. "OceanGate expresses our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died in the tragic implosion of the Titan," the companys statement continued. "There are no words to ease the loss endured by the families impacted by this devastating incident, but we hope that this hearing will help shed light on the cause of the tragedy." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Sean Diddy Combs attorney Marc Agnifilo told a reporter that the rapper stockpiled baby oil in his home simply because he likes to shop in bulk. I mean, theres a Costco right down the street, he said. I think Americans buy in bulk, as we know. And this is consensual adults doing what consensual adults do, he added. We cant get too puritanical in this country to think that somehow sex is a bad thing, because if it was, thered be no more people. Combes was arrested and charged with three federal counts of sex trafficking and racketeering. A judge denied his teams request for bail, and noted that Combs resources make him a flight risk. The indictment, which was unsealed Tuesday, accused Combs and associates of having engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice. The indictment also indicated at least 1,000 bottles of baby oil were seized from Combs home during raids earlier this year. Combs was accused of having organized Freak Offs which were described as elaborate sex performances in which force, threats of force, and coercion was used to cause victims to engage in extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers. The rapper was further accused of recording the events. Following his arrest, Agnifilo told TMZ on his way into the courthouse that his client will fight like hell. Sean Diddy Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children and working to uplift the Black community, Agnifilo said. He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. You can watch the interview with Marc Agnifilo in the video above. The post Diddys Lawyer Suggests Rapper Stockpiled Baby Oil Because Theres a Costco Right Down the Street | Video appeared first on TheWrap. Diddy Plans To Testify In His Criminal Case And Will Tell His Story Of 'Love,' 'Hurt' And 'Heartbreak' Sean "Diddy" Combs' racketeering and sex crimes case is set to take a dramatic turn as he intends to testify in his own defense. The rapper's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, acknowledged that the move is a gamble but noted that "there's no one better to defend Diddy than Diddy himself." Sean "Diddy" Combs' longtime rival, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who has gained notoriety for shading the embattled music mogul, also recently disclosed that his documentary detailing Diddy's abuse cases is in the works at Netflix. Diddy Will Testify In His Criminal Case MEGA According to TMZ, Diddy's attorney, Agnifilo, disclosed that he'll be taking the witness stand to defend himself in his criminal trial. The high-profile case, which has garnered widespread attention, marks a pivotal point for the "Finna Get Loose" rapper, who faces separate charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Appearing on the news outlet's documentary, "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment," which was released on September 25, Agnifilo acknowledged that the move might be quite a gamble. It will open Diddy up to being cross-examined and asked several shocking questions. However, Agnifilo believes that the Grammy winner is seemingly in the best position to defend himself in court. Diddy's Lawyer Says The Rapper Will Tell His Story Of 'Love,' 'Hurt' And 'Heartbreak' MEGA The lawyer further revealed that Diddy's story involves love and hurt, and for that reason, no one is better to "defend Diddy than Diddy himself." "He has his story, and he has a story that I think only he can tell in the way he can tell it in real-time," Agnifilo said, per The Mirror. "And it's a human story. It's a story of, of, of love. It's a story of hurt. It's a story of heartbreak." The lawyer continued, "I mean, when he describes that relationship, the word he uses more than any other word is heartbreak. He was heartbroken; she was heartbroken." If Diddy takes the stand, he would most likely face questions from prosecutors about the recent viral hotel surveillance clip that saw him physically assault his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura. He may also be asked about his alleged drug-fueled orgies called "freak offs," as well as other sexual assault allegations that have been leveled against him recently. Why The Rapper Had Many Bottles Of Baby Oil And Lube In His Homes MEGA The "Bad Boy For Life" rapper is currently being held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center following his September 16 arrest at the Hyatt Hotel in New York City by Homeland Security agents. The law enforcement agency had reportedly been building its case against Diddy before going public with the information it gathered. Back in March, they carried out coordinated raids on his Miami and L.A. homes, where they discovered and confiscated three AR-15 rifles and 1000 baby oil and lubricants as part of investigations into his alleged sex trafficking charges. However, Agnifilo explained that there was a large product stash because Diddy buys his items in bulk. "He has a big house; he buys in bulk," the lawyer told TMZ. "I think they have Costcos in every place where he has a home." He joked, "Have you sat in the parking lot of a Costco and see [sic] what people walk out of there with?" 50 Cent Is Producing A Diddy Documentary For Netflix MEGA Meanwhile, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has disclosed that he's working on a documentary about Diddy's abuse case at Netflix. "This is a story with significant human impact. It is a complex narrative spanning decades, not just the headlines or clips seen so far," 50 Cent (for G-Unit Film & Television) and director Alexandria Stapleton (for House of Nonfiction) said in a statement to People Magazine. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives," the statement continued. "While the allegations are disturbing, we urge all to remember that Sean Combs's story is not the full story of hip hop and its culture. We aim to ensure that individual actions do not overshadow the culture's broader contributions." The Embattled Rapper Is Not Getting Special Treatment MEGA After being denied bail twice, the "I Need A Girl" crooner would seemingly remain incarcerated at his Manhattan jail until he goes to trial. A source told People that he isn't getting any special treatment there and has seemingly had to grapple with a tight schedule. "He is being treated like any other detainee awaiting trial," the source told the news outlet. "As with all public figures in his position, he was placed on suicide watch upon admittance to the facility as a precaution." The insider added that Diddy is "very concerned about his kids and their well-being." "He has three minor children, two of whom now have no living parent available with him incarcerated. Four of his seven children have neither parent available with him incarcerated. Mr. Combs has been able to speak briefly to family members and his children via phone," the source shared. A group of California health care workers are pressuring Dignity Health to reverse on proposed cutbacks. The workers are members of the Service Employees International Union, which represents frontline workers like cafeteria staff, aides, techs and environmental services workers. Lenny Rizzuto, regional director for SEIU Healthcare, said workers at hospitals across the state have received reduction-in-force notices over the last two months. Under the union contract, he said, the health system has to bargain over the impacts of the cutbacks, so the company and the guild will attempt to place people in other positions when possible. The union said statewide 174 full-time equivalents have received notices. Dozens picketed outside of Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento on Thursday. The action was preceded by rallies in Bakersfield, Northridge and San Bernardino, capping a three-day series of union protests against the hospital chain. The number one thing in the world is to make sure everybody stays gainfully employed, Rizzuto said. In a statement, the health system said it respects employees rights to participate in the picket, and hospital operations would not be affected by the event. Dignity did not respond to questions about the reasons for the cutbacks. Workers said they fear the reductions will make units even more short-staffed, or cause delays to patient care. I believe when people come here to the hospital, they and their loved ones are often in a vulnerable and heart-wrenching time, said Cheri Nelson, who works as a distribution tech in the materials department at Mercy General Hospital. They deserve to be well-supported. Gabriel Ruiz, an aide in Mercy San Juans imaging department, told the Bee this week that he received a notice on Aug. 2 that his position was no longer needed. Ruiz, a 42-year-old father of four from Rancho Cordova, brings patients from different parts of the hospital to and from the imaging department to get CT scans. He said management told him radiology techs would be asked to transport patients, in addition to their other responsibilities. Ruiz was told administrators would work with him to place him in another position. Ruiz said he is still on his departments work schedule, and he hasnt received any official end date. The union, he said, is trying to convey to management that he and his coworkers are vital to the hospital. Ruiz said he doesnt want to start over with a new employer, away from his longtime coworkers, and starting over with seniority. Plus, his daughter was born at Mercy San Juan. His son was born at Mercy General. Im still a department aide, I still show up to radiology. But I cant really tell you when that will come to an end, or will it come to an end, Ruiz said. Were definitely doing our best and working with our union to fight for our jobs. But also, Im not naive. I know we cant fight forever, and there will have to be a resolution somewhere. Discovery of vector-borne disease that's new to Europe has governments on high alert here's what you should know The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has discovered a virus in Europe that has not been seen on that continent before. According to Popular Mechanics, the ECDC has discovered 19 European cases of the sloth virus, also known as the Oropouche virus. What's happening? The sloth virus primarily infects sloths and other animals. It's spread through midges and mosquitoes. The symptoms are similar to those of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses, which are mosquito-spreading illnesses. Most infected will experience general achiness, joint pain, chills, fever, nausea, or headache. More severe symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and vomiting. The sloth virus is not new. The first case was discovered near the Oropouche River in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. Eight thousand cases were reported between Jan. 1 and Aug. 1, 2024. That's up 832 cases from the previous year. The illness was historically endemic to the Amazon basin and was mostly found in Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and Peru until 2000. Why is the sloth virus showing up in different countries concerning? In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the disease in Cuba. The sloth virus has also been found in Italy, Spain, and Germany. Popular Mechanics reported that most of these cases "were related to travelers who returned to the continent from Cuba." Two people have died from the 8,000 cases reported between Jan. 1 and Aug. 1, 2024, and eight cases were transferred from mother to fetus, which caused abnormalities or fetus death. According to Harvard, as temperatures rise, animals migrate to cooler habitats, meaning animals that didn't originally come in contact are now coming in contact with each other. This provides an opportunity for diseases to spread. Deforestation can also cause animals to migrate to new habitats, leading to the same risks. What's being done about the sloth virus? According to Popular Mechanics, health officials will monitor this virus. Harvard also noted that livestock can be a source "for spillover of infections from animals to people." This risk can be prevented by a decrease in meat demand and more sustainable farming practices. Decreasing polluting gases to slow rising temperatures is also a solution for preventing infectious diseases from spreading. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso have discovered a way to battle malaria-carrying mosquitoes by adding soap to pesticides. According to a threat assessment brief by the ECDC, the good news is: "Direct, horizontal, human-to-human transmission of the virus has not been documented so far." You can also help the scientists who are doing this work to mitigate diseases that are spread by midges and mosquitoes by donating to climate causes. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Two Disney cruises have made last-minute plans to their itineraries after storm activity from Hurricane Helene and civil unrest forced the ocean liners to remain at sea. Disneys Fantasy cruise ship spent extra time out at sea after being forced to skip a stop at Grand Cayman while Helene, at that stage a tropical storm, dumped 48 inches of rain, with isolated totals of 12 inches, on the region. The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands announced on Tuesday that they would be closed due to the inclement weather caused by Potential Tropical Cyclone 92, the same day that Fantasy was supposed to dock there. Helene became a tropical storm in the western Caribbean Sea on 24 September, causing major flooding in the Cayman Islands as heavy rain and huge waves ripped through. Disney Fantasy skipped the Cayman Islands and spent extra time out at sea while storms caused major flooding (Getty Images) Fantasy left the Mexican port of Cozumel on Monday, but instead of sailing towards Grand Cayman as it was scheduled to do, the cruise spent an extra day at sea, giving the Caymans a wide birth as the storm activity intensified, ship tracker CruiseMapper shows. The 4,000-passenger ship instead went straight to its next destination, arriving in Falmouth in Jamaica on Wednesday, before sailing off to its penultimate port at Disney Castaway Cay, the companys private Bahamas island, before it is due to arrive at its final destination at Port Canaveral in Florida on Saturday. However, the Sunshine State is currently bracing for the same storm activity, which threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year as it is expected to strengthen to a dangerously strong Category 4 storm before it is due to make landfall on 26 September. Now a Category 1 hurricane, Helene is currently moving towards Florida with 90mph winds as of this morning, with sustained winds potentially building up to 135mph. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, and several areas remain under hurricane warnings, with the states Big Bend due to see the worst of the storm surge, with up to 20 feet possible this week. Fantasy was not the only Disney cruise ship that had a change of plan to their cruise itinerary, as the 2,700-passenger Disney Wonder will also be stuck out at sea for an extra day, but instead of stormy weather, it is unrest that caused the last-minute rearrangement. The ship is due to embark on a journey around the Pacific Ocean, departing from Honolulu, Hawaii, on 3 October, stopping at Samoa and Fiji before arriving in Sydney, Australia, on 19 October. Yet, a short stop at Noumea, in the French territory islands of New Caledonia, on 15 October will be replaced with a day at sea, according to The Street. The archipelago of around 300,000 citizens has experienced four months of unrest, with US government has warned visitors to reconsider travel to New Caledonia at this time, with the UK government advising against all but essential travel to the islands. The Independent has contacted Disney Cruise Line for comment. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast We recently compiled a list of the 7 Undervalued Canadian Stocks To Buy According To Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Imperial Oil (NYSE:IMO) stands against the other undervalued Canadian stocks. Canadas Economic Outlook According to the report Economic Outlook Canada Q4 2024, released by S&P Global on September 24, Canada's economy shows signs of improvement, with growth expected to gain momentum in the coming years. S&P Global forecasts a 1.2% GDP growth in 2024 and a 2.0% growth in 2025, which still falls short of the country's potential growth rate of 1.8%. However, a recovery in 2025 is expected to be driven by fixed investment, particularly residential and non-residential, rather than consumer spending. Consumer spending will remain subdued due to the cumulative effect of higher interest rates. Changes to immigration policies and their effectiveness are key uncertainties in the forecast. The labor market in Canada is softening, with weaker hiring and rising unemployment. Wage growth is outpacing productivity growth, which is inconsistent with 2% inflation. The unemployment rate is expected to rise to 7% by the end of 2024 before falling in 2025. Despite this, the Bank of Canada (BoC) is shifting its focus to downside risks to the economic growth outlook. The BoC has already cut interest rates for the third consecutive time and is expected to continue making 25 basis point cuts in the fourth quarter and January. Canada: A Prime Destination for Foreign Direct Investment Canada is one of the world's top destinations for foreign direct investment. Warren Buffett expressed a positive view of investing in Canada, stating that Berkshire Hathaway has a significant presence in the country with many operations and investments across various entities. He feels comfortable investing in Canada, just like in the US, as he understands the business environment and economy. Buffett noted that Canada's economy moves closely with the US, and the results from his company's businesses with Canadian operations are consistent with those in the US. He is open to investing in Canada, citing a past example where his company invested in a Canadian financial institution. Buffett stated that his company has no "mental blocks" about investing in Canada and views the country as a "terrific" place to operate. He also mentioned that Canada is a major economy that his company feels confident about operating in and that they are currently looking at a potential investment opportunity in the country. Story continues Investing in Canada, particularly in the Atlantic region, presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for green hydrogen and its applications. Green hydrogen production can be leveraged to create new industries, such as ammonia and fertilizer production, as well as green steel, which can be produced using the region's abundant natural resources and innovative technologies. Canada's economy is showing signs of improvement, with growth expected to gain momentum in the coming years. The Bank of Canada's monetary policy adjustments and the recovery in fixed investment are expected to drive growth in 2025. With that in context, lets take a look at the 7 undervalued Canadian stocks to buy according to hedge funds. Our Methodology To compile our list of 7 undervalued Canadian stocks to buy according to hedge funds, we used the Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find the largest Canadian companies. From that list, we screened for companies that are trading at a forward P/E ratio of under 15, as of September 25. We then narrowed our choices to 7 stocks according to their hedge fund sentiment, which was taken from our database of 912 elite hedge funds as of Q2 of 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment, as of the second quarter. Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). A close-up of an oil rig in motion with the ocean shining in the background. Imperial Oil (NYSE:IMO) Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 18 Forward P/E Ratio as of September 25: 10.86 Imperial Oil (NYSE:IMO) is one of Canada's largest integrated oil companies, with operations in exploration, production, refining, and petroleum product distribution. The company is a majority-owned subsidiary of ExxonMobil and plays a significant role in Canadas energy industry, especially in the oil sands sector. In May, Imperial Oils (NYSE:IMO) Grand Rapid project started producing oil at its Cold Lake site in Alberta using solvent-assisted technology. This new technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40%, a big step towards the companys goal of reducing its oil sands emissions by 30% by 2030. The project is expected to produce 15,000 barrels of oil per day. Additionally, the company is expanding its Cold Lake oil sands facility with the Leming redevelopment, which will start in 2025. Once fully operational, the project will increase production by 9,000 barrels per day and produce 20,000 barrels per day of diesel. Imperial Oils (NYSE:IMO) strong production growth and innovative projects position it for long-term success. The companys stock is trading at a forward PE of 10.86, a 5.42% discount to its sector median of 11.48. Industry analysts have a consensus on the stocks Buy rating, setting an average share price target at $74.39, which represents an almost 4% upside potential from its current levels. Analysts expect the company to increase its earnings by almost 4% this year. As of the second quarter, Imperial Oils (NYSE:IMO) stock is held by 18 hedge funds with stakes worth $76.36 million. Overall IMO ranks 5th on our list of the undervalued Canadian stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of IMO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than IMO but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Divers death on bucket list trip could have been prevented, says coroner David Pleaces fate was sealed when he entered the water with a disconnected hose, the coroner said - Police Scotland The death of a scuba diver on a bucket list trip could have been prevented by proper equipment checks, a coroner has concluded. David Pleace, 57, went missing on a dive of the SMS Brummer shipwreck in Scapa Flow, Orkney, in June 2021 while he was on a week-long holiday with a group of other divers. At Derby Coroners Court on Thursday, assistant coroner Sophie Lomas concluded the experienced divers death was accidental, but could have been prevented. Mr Pleace, of Chellaston, Derbyshire, had undertaken several scuba diving training courses and no mechanical defects were found on his equipment, the inquest was told. But during the second dive of the trip on June 27, he was reported missing when the other divers could not find him. The following day, a local diver found him face down about 20 metres from the shipwreck, and he was pronounced dead at the shore. Earlier in the inquest, a diving expert who inspected Mr Pleaces equipment said part of it had become disconnected before he entered the water. Coroner highlights value of checks Ms Lomas told the court: The reality is because the hose was not connected, from the moment David entered the water, sadly the outcome was set. The coroner said it was not entirely clear what checks Mr Pleace personally took, but that fewer checks took place on this dive because experienced divers tend to do fewer team checks. She said: On the evidence, such checks had not been carried out to an appropriate level. Had those checks happened, the wing inflator hose could have been noticed and corrected prior to his entry to the water. He was unable to control his buoyancy and descended quickly. It is unlikely his team members would have been able to do anything in the limited time available. I would like to highlight to all of the diving community that these checks are very important and that carrying out personal and body checks regardless of your level of expertise can have a significant impact in terms of what follows. Ms Lomas offered her sincere condolences to Mr Pleaces family and said he clearly had an enthusiasm for life and the activities he enjoyed. She added: I would like to extend that to the diving community as a whole. David was a well-liked member of that community and I know it has had a significant impact on them, so they have my condolences too. The coroner decided not to complete a prevention of future deaths report, and said: My view is that this is not a gap in training or knowledge or something the organisations are not doing properly it is attitudinal. The Brummer, a cruiser that was part of the German fleet scuttled in Scapa Flow in 1919 after its surrender at the end of the First World War, is a popular destination for divers as it remains largely intact. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A sign protesting Enbridge Line 5 in Michigan. (Laina G. Stebbins | Michigan Advance) The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Thursday released a final environmental impact statement on Enbridge Energys plan to relocate its controversial Line 5 oil pipeline out of the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin. The nearly 900-page document is another step toward the company receiving the necessary permits from the DNR to move the pipeline, which has for years drawn legal challenges and protests for its potential detrimental effect on the environment. In 2019, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa filed a federal lawsuit to force the 70-year-old pipelines removal from tribal land. In 2023, a federal judge ordered Enbridge to remove the pipeline from tribal land within three years. While the lawsuit has been pending, the company has applied for permits to move the pipeline, rerouting it around the reservation. The company is required to receive approvals and permits from local, tribal, state and federal governments. Under state law, the company must obtain permits for the proposed new pipelines effect on stormwater, wetlands, groundwater use, emissions, construction and other potential environmental effects. After the release of the report, environmental legal advocates said they believe the agency has not given the public enough opportunities for input and promised legal action if they find that the agency has failed to fulfill its requirements under the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act. Regardless of whether the final EIS is accurate and complete, we believe the DNR has failed to comply with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA), Midwest Environmental Advocates Executive Director Tony Wilkin Gibart said in a statement. WEPA requires the DNR to adequately inform members of the public about the potential impacts of the proposed project so they can meaningfully participate in the permitting process. Yet the agency has not held a single hearing or public comment period on Enbridges application for wetlands and waterway permits since 2020 well before the public had the benefit of even a draft EIS. Given these concerns, as well as the significant risks associated with pipeline construction and operation, MEA will continue to subject the final EIS to the highest possible legal scrutiny, he continued. If we find that it falls short of what the law requires, we are prepared to take legal action to stop this dangerous and destructive pipeline project. In a statement, Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner said the pipeline relocation will keep affordable and reliable energy flowing to Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region. The project has been designed to avoid and minimize temporary construction impacts, and we believe the planned route is the best alternative, she said. The Wisconsin DNR has thoroughly evaluated the environmental impacts of the proposed project and have presented their findings in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The proposed project will construct a new, replacement segment of the Line 5 pipeline around the Bad River Reservation, infuse millions of dollars in construction spending into local communities, create over 700 family supporting union jobs, and preserve the flow of essential energy that millions of consumers in the region rely on every day. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) A fourth-generation doctor who works at the Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center reached a milestone in his medical career recently. Dr. William Carney, MD completed his 1,000th robotic surgery on Sept. 16. I am immensely grateful to have reached such a milestone in my career, Dr. Carney said in a press release. Becoming a doctor wasnt a hard decision. You could even say it was in his blood. We have a deep family history of medicine in Johnstown. Im a fourth-generation surgeon here in town, and proudly, my son is the fifth generation of surgeons in Johnstown, Carney said. Over the span of his medical career, he embarked on several types of surgeries. When we started, it was all open procedures, removing colons, gallbladder and even doing hernias open. Then during my training, it moved to some laparoscopic type surgery. Over the years, its just refined into laparoscopic surgery. Then with the invention of the robot and the robot coming to Johnstown via Dr. Do Meyer his vision, weve now incorporated robotic laparoscopic surgery to our surgical practice, Carney said. Altoona VA houses dozens of local veterans with nationwide effort to end veteran homelessness According to Conemaugh Memorial, Dr. Carney is among the few surgeons in Pennsylvania to achieve this remarkable accomplishment. Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center introduced robotic surgery in 2012, initially offering it for gynecological, urological, and general surgery. Dr. Carney was among the first providers to utilize this minimally invasive technology. The Chief Medical Officer at Conemaugh said its another accolade that Doctor Carney and the hospital can add to its resume. It highlights what we all know is that you dont have to leave this region of Pennsylvania to get top notch, cutting edge medical care. That we offer that here. And so people can feel great about staying here in the community and getting these cutting edge procedures, Elizabeth Dunmore, MD said. However, this is just phase one of working with the technology. In the future, the robot could get a tactile sense, which lets the doctor feel the tissue theyre managing through the robot. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. The whole purpose of the robot is fewer complications, less patient pain, quicker recovery, and it might take a little bit longer in the operating room. But the downstream benefits of those complications and pain outweigh trying to do in the operation faster with an open technique, Carney said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." At the large white marble-top kitchen island, two American women of Indian descent are chopping onions and exchanging notes on their similar family backgrounds. So, South Indians, its vegetarian, says then-Senator Kamala Harris to comedian and producer Mindy Kaling, who responds with an anecdote about visiting her own strict, vegetarian Hindu family in South India. As they stir curried potatoes in a skillet and ladle store-bought dosa mix into a pan, they talk about their parents, who immigrated to the United States as professionals. My mother came when she was 19, by herself and she wanted to study science, Harris says. Five years and one lukewarm term as vice president later, Harris is running for president on the Democratic Partys ticket. She has been reemphasizing her mothers immigrant journey, most recently in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. The news coverage has followed her cues: A Mother Jones profile described her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, as hailing from a progressive Brahmin family (echoing Harriss own words from the 2019 video with Kaling), with a father who fought against British colonialism and pushed Gopalan toward higher education in the U.S. On the opposing side stands Usha Chilukuri Vance, another Indian-American woman, supporting the vice presidential aspirations of her husband, Senator J.D. Vance, who is running alongside former president Donald Trump. Usha Vance, while generally less willing to dive deep into her cultural background, nevertheless also referenced it in her speech at the Republican National Convention in July. Since then, a New York Times profile has detailed her evolution from sunny young law student of leftish persuasion to second-lady hopeful on the GOP ticket. Another Times piece cited Vances family as an example of how Indian-Americans have become a political forcethe largest, wealthiest group among Asian-Americans. Vances father, Krish Chilukuri, is a successful engineer, the piece noted; his wife, Lakshmi Chilukuri, is a biologist and university provost. Stephen Maturen - Getty Images But the public commentary around Harris and Vance, two figures of Indian descent in the spotlight of the 2024 presidential election, misses complex (and perhaps inconvenient) truths about the Indian migration to the U.S.about who was able to immigrate and what they made of themselves here. Like other Indians now in the U.S., Gopalan and the Chilukuris benefited greatly from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which did away with existing race-based exclusions and opened Americas door to immigrants from around the world. These laws favored professionals, selecting Indian immigrants from a narrow pool of applicants already at the height of privilege. Both Harriss mother and the Chilukuris are Brahmins, topmost in Indias hierarchy of castesbackgrounds in which access to educational capital was a defining feature, says anthropologist Ajantha Subramanian, author of The Caste of Merit: Engineering Education in India. This thin upper crust, in addition to having intergenerational educational advantages, also benefited most from the postcolonial states investment in higher education, especially in science, medicine, and engineering, according to Subramanian. Gopalan was a graduate of the University of Delhi, and Krish Chilukuri of the Indian Institute of Technology, the elite engineering college created by Indias government after the country won independence from the British in 1947. IIT graduates were chief among those who took advantage of the U.S. immigration overhaul, especially from the 1990s onward, as caste-focused affirmative action policies were rolled out in India and the tech boom kicked off in Silicon Valley. Caste and accompanying advantages helped Indians obtain specialized education in India and then migrate legally to the U.S. Once they arrived, these Indians were well equipped to prosper. Andrew Lichtenstein - Getty Images Its important to situate caste not as a strand that weaves into how we navigate the world, but rather the very foundation of how Indiansand South Asianssee the world, says Christina Dhanuja, a writer, caste researcher, and founding member of the Global Campaign for Dalit Women. The caste system, which colonial powers only strengthened, was legally abolished in post-independence India. Yet it remains entrenched, dictating marriage decisions, culinary practices, housing distribution, and the workings of the justice system, among other aspects of Indian life. (The vegetarianism that Kaling and Harris claim is specific to their caste, and not something all South Indians adhere to, for instance.) The caste system is a violent paradigm that denies basic needs and human rights to those it relegates to its lowest ranks. When Indians migrated around the world, they took caste with them, just as B.R. Ambedkar, Indias foremost political theorist, anti-caste thinker, and the drafter of its constitution, had predicted. Andrew Lichtenstein - Getty Images The first South Asians arrived at U.S. ports in the 19th and early 20th centuries from a pre-independence, pre-partitioned India (which included what are now Pakistan and Bangladesh). These immigrants typically were not upper-caste Hindus (who were restricted by caste norms from traveling abroad at the time). Most were working-class men who fled poverty wrought by colonial rule and ended up working in the American agriculture, shipping, and logging industries. In his book Bengali Harlem, historian Vivek Bald unearths the histories of Bengali migrantslargely Muslimwho abandoned their low-wage posts on British trade ships for life in the United States. Race-based immigration laws of that era banned immigration from Asia, so many were what we would now call undocumented. The earliest immigrants from the Indian subcontinent were, therefore, very different in profile from the ones who arrived after 1965. What all had in common, however, was that they encountered Americas racial hierarchy upon arrival. To be American was to be whiteas was explicitly stated by 18th-century naturalization laws, designed to exclude enslaved and free Black folks, Native Americans, indentured labor, and anyone else not seen as white. The foreignness of South Asians, when accentuated through clothing (turbans and saris), sometimes confused the color line but never dissolved it. Sikh workers in the United States faced racist, xenophobic violence at the turn of the 20th century; Indian residents of the U.S. who organized against colonial rule in their home country were systematically surveilled. Eventually, South Asians situated themselves along the Black-white racial binary in a variety of ways, consciously and unconsciously. Balds book describes, for instance, that Bengalis who jumped ship in the early 20th century integrated into Black and Puerto Rican families in cities like New York and New Orleans. Some South Asians later aligned themselves with the Civil Rights struggles of Black Americanswriting in Black leftist publications, for instance. So Gopalans marriage to a Black man from Jamaica was not unprecedented for South AsianAmericans, but less common among her peer group, the upper-caste Indians who migrated later. Earlier on, many of the elite Indian-Americans leveraged their caste to bargain for rights reserved for white people in the U.S. and intermarried into white communities. The case of Bhagat Singh Thind is probably best known. In 1923, his lawyers argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that Thind deserved citizenship as a pure-blood high caste Aryan. Scores of others employed the same strategy, including Indian political asylees who had been organizing against British colonial rule and had spoken out against racism in America. The common assumption among Indian immigrants has been that the path to social status and financial security requires avoiding the stigma of blackness, Subramanian says. With the arrival of highly educated, caste-privileged Indians post-1965, the strategy shifted slightly: This group readily embraced the model minority image, declaring themselves differentinnately betterthan less affluent populations in order to access spaces traditionally reserved for white Americans. The IT boom has helped in this regard because it has made Indianness synonymous with technical skill and professional success, Subramanian notes. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who was competing for the Republican presidential nomination during the primary, demonstrated how that narrative works in Milwaukee last year: My parents came to this country with no money 40 years ago, said Ramaswamy, who also comes from a Brahmin background, during a debate. I have gone on to found multi-billion-dollar companies. He then went on to push for a meritocratic admission of immigrants; the right kind of immigrants meant immigrants who could afford to come legallyimmigrants like the ones in his family. As NBC News pointed out at the time, Ramaswamy wasnt speaking to the relatively small existing share of Indian-Americans among Republican voters, but to white Americans who comprise the majority of the partys base. Michael Swensen - Getty Images The model minority narrative, in addition to shrouding caste privilege, completely erases Indian-American experiences with hardship that do not fit its outlines: those suffering rising inequality, exploitation, and wage theft; the many who cross the U.S. southern and northern borders to request asylum or seeking economic opportunity, and sometimes lose their lives in the process. (Indians make up the third-largest population of undocumented immigrants in the country.) It also sweeps under the rug the frequency of Indians exploiting other Indiansof forced Indian labor in the U.S., especially targeting Dalits (formerly deemed untouchable, per the caste system). While caste-privileged Indians can capitalize on the model minority myth and claim merit, Dalits, Adivasis, and Bahujans cannot shake the weight of caste abroad, Dhanuja says. So, in that sense, caste is designed to be adaptable, she saysit protects those it invests with power while plaguing those lower in the hierarchy. In 2018, a survey commissioned by the human-rights collective Equality Labs found that Dalits in the United States reported discrimination in virtually all walks of life. Two years later, the state of California filed a lawsuit against tech giant Cisco on behalf of a Dalit employee who reported caste-based harassment, litigation around which is still ongoing. The problem, as the journalist Sonia Paul has since documented, went far beyond a single company. In 2022, a talk with Equality Labs organized by a manager at Google was canceled after pushback from Hindu employees, leading to the managers resignation. And while the city of Seattle was the first to ban caste discrimination, a similar measure that passed in California was vetoed by the governor. Several Hindu groups opposed it, arguing that it paints the Indian-American community with a negative brush. But what is the Indian-American identity? Dhanuja says. These opponents of anti-caste legislation support an imagined Indian-American identity, but demonstrate no loyalty to the majority of Indians, she says. (Upper castes make up only 15 percent of Indias population.) Indians in the U.S. surely have experiences with American racism, but if Indian-Americans privileged by the caste system take on liberal politics, they often do so without acknowledging the role caste has played in their backstories and continues to play in their lives, Dhanuja adds. Or, they explicitly gun for white adjacency, consolidating power and distancing themselves from marginalized members of their own community, as well as Black, brown, and Indigenous populations. Indian-Americans have increasingly embraced Hindu nationalism in the U.S., an ideology that appears to jibe well with the Christian nationalism of the far Right. Like all people of Indian descent, Harris and Vance have been shaped by caste, whether they do or do not acknowledge it. What is different about Harris is that she is also Black. Her mother not only married a Jamaican immigrantthey also raised Harris and her sister enveloped in the Black community. Even though she has a Brahmin lineage, the fact remains that shes viewed as a Black person, Dhanuja says of the vice president.She would have therefore experienced the specific race-based discrimination, which likely played a role in Harriss party identification, she adds. Indian-Americans make up a sizable chunk of U.S. voters, and they are an engaged electorate. While they have increasingly voted for the Democratic Party since the attacks of September 11, 2001, a sense of caste superiority, religious divisions, and wealth disparity are among the reasons contributing to an uptake of conservative values and creating conditions for the emergence of ideologues, says Sangay Mishra, a professor of political science at Drew University in New Jersey and the author of Desis Divided: The Political Lives of South Asian Americans. Republicans have been trying to attract Asian-Americans in recent years, so it is possible Usha Vances mere presence may bring in votes even though she and her husbands party give her identity very little explicit play. Then again, when she briefly mentioned her multicultural family at the RNC, it elicited racist attacks from the far Right and a very awkward defense from her husband: Shes not a white person but I just love Usha, J.D. Vance told conservative talk show host Megyn Kelly. (Similarly, right-wing pundit Ann Coulter told Ramaswamy last year that she would not vote for him because he is an Indian.) And yet, Usha Vancewhile not herself fighting for the presidency as a Republican, like Ramaswamy or former UN ambassador Nikki Haleyis staying firmly aligned with her husband (and seemingly with his recent penchant for spreading misinformation about Haitian immigrants). She has agency in this matter, contrary to the helplessness many onlookers would like to project onto her. Of course, she might find, as others have, that white-adjacent is often not white enough in the American imagination. Harris does not stand on firm ground either. Some Indian-Americans have been prompted by her identity to reckon with their anti-Blackness, and some are jumping to claim her; but others do not believe she is Indian enough to represent them. Voices on the progressive Left have criticized Harriss apparent reluctance to rein in Israels assault on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, her rightward swing on immigration, and her criminal justice record as a prosecutorall issues that segments of Indian-Americans care about. So while the biographies of Harris and Usha Vance do still matter, they may not outweigh the politics the two women espouse or support. But what they choose to say or leave out about themselves as people could help contextualize some of who they are as public figures. You Might Also Like Dont wait to evacuate if instructed to do so, Gov. DeSantis warns as Helene nears Gov. Ron DeSantis updates the media on Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee on Sept. 24, 2024. Later that morning, the system became Tropical Storm Helene. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Hurricane Helene was upgraded to a Category 2 storm Thursday and is expected to increase its intensity as it approaches Florida and makes landfall near Tallahassee Thursday evening. During a morning news conference in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis stressed that Big Bend residents are running out of time to evacuate, if they choose to do so. If your local [emergency management] officials say that its too hazardous to go, and that youre better off just hunkering down, heed that advice, DeSantis said. Evacuation orders are left up to local officials, some of whom have issued instructions to evacuate, according to the Division of Emergency Management website. If you are in the northern part of the state and you have access and youre in an evacuation zone and youve been told to evacuate, you do have time to do it now, so do it, DeSantis said. But dont wait another six hours, seven hours, and say, Oh, man, this thing looks big, and think that youre going to want to go out. Forecasters are warning of 20-foot storm surge in coastal areas, and forecasts still have time to change, DeSantis said. I think that these things can rapidly intensify. Sometimes they become major, sometimes theres changes, so were just going to continue to do our thing and assume that this is going to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall, DeSantis said. Once the storm hits, officials urge Floridians to take shelter and to stay off the road. A concern especially in wooded Tallahassee, Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of emergency Management, is the danger of falling trees. If you hear trees snapping around your home, treat it like a tornado, Guthrie said, instructing people to cover themselves with a heavy blanket, a comforter, or a very, very small, thin mattress. Get to that point, put it over the top of yourselves and hunker down there, Guthrie said. Treat it just as you would a tornado. You will hear tree snapping. Pine trees snapping sound an awful lot like fireworks or potentially gunshots. The emergency management director said to be sure the storm has passed before surveying damage, and dont mistake the eye of the storm, which could last about 30-45 minutes, for the end of the storm. For the people in the Tallahassee area, if all of a sudden it goes from catastrophic trees popping to absolutely nothing, that does not mean the storm is over, Guthrie said. What that actually means is youre in the eye of the hurricane. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Away from the eye Although the eye is forecast to hit northern Florida, most of the state is under an emergency declaration, with southern Florida under threat of tornadoes and much of the rest expecting flooding and winds. Just because youre outside the cone, and I think a lot of those parts on the west coast of Florida are probably outside the cone, that does not mean that youre not going to see significant impacts, DeSantis said, adding that storm surge will be all up and down the west coast of Florida. As weve said all along, this storm was never projected to make landfall on kind of the Florida peninsula Gulf Coast, whether youre talking about Sarasota, Tampa, some of those areas, but because its such a big storm, its churning a lot of water. The Division of Emergency Management posts updates, including county emergency management information, sandbag use, evacuation information, and more on its website. Shelter information can be found on the Division of Emergency Management website. DeSantis appeared on Fox and Friends earlier in the day to talk about the storm. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Senator Rick Scott made three stops Wednesday in the Panhandle and Big Bend areas in advance of Hurricane Helenes arrival. Helene is due to make landfall Thursday night in or near Franklin County as a possible category 4 hurricane. Thats where Rick Scott was this afternoon. The senator made clear his message to Franklin County residents; evacuate. Panhandle shelters available ahead of Hurricane Helene Youre not going to survive it. In Big Bend, theyre talking about waiting for the storm surge. Youre not going to survive that. Also talking about flooding. Talking about a lot of wind. This is a massive storm. So heres what I ask everybody. Take this seriously. Follow the weather. Watch what locals are telling you. If they tell you to evacuate, do it immediately, Scott said. Franklin County is expected to receive up to 15 feet of storm surge maybe more, when Hurricane Helene makes landfall Thursday evening. They cannot wait to evacuate because what happens is these roads get clogged up, the bridges, you get flooding. Theres debris all over the place. You cant drive in the wind. Youve got to evacuate early. So I tell everybody, I mean, I dont want anybody to die. Scott says while this storm is moving quickly, residents shouldnt underestimate the power of water. Theres water is so powerful. It is just deadly. If you look at our state now because of our building codes, a lot of our hurricanes now are water events. Right. And so its the water thats going to kill you. Its not the wind thats going to kill you. Its the water thats going to kill you, Scott said. Scott also said the federal government is already working to make FEMA funds available. I will do everything I can to make sure FEMA has the resources they need. Tonight in D. C., theyre going to pass you know, more money. Its going to actually move money, and allow them to spend money earlier. Ok. And then if FEMA needs more money, we are going to make sure they get the money, Scott said. Several Panhandle organizations announce closures due to potential tropical storm He ended the news conference with one message. If you love your kids and your grandkids and your siblings and your friends and your spouses, I mean, come on. Why are you taking a risk like this? So dont take risks. I mean, it doesnt make any sense, Scott added. Sen. Scott has experience with major hurricanes. When he was Governor he was here in Bay County almost every day after Hurricane Michael hit. His own home in Naples also suffered damages during Hurricane Ian in 2022. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. The News Donald Trump is making increasingly grand promises to enact the largest deportation program in American history, asking voters to imagine a presidency in which illegal aliens are rounded up en masse for removal, and even some legal immigrants are stripped of their current status and sent to other countries. The Trump campaign has signaled a rough order of operations, beginning with an intense focus on deporting migrants who have committed crimes, with a broad plan afterwards intended to make it so difficult for undocumented immigrants to live in the U.S. that they, as Mitt Romney once put it, self-deport. How he would accomplish it all, though, is still an open question. Experts across the political spectrum and people familiar with the campaigns plans say that while he would have significant leeway to make changes to Biden policy, there could still be legal, logistical, and funding hurdles to his plans. Just as Trump struggled to impose his will on the border and immigration enforcement as president the first time, it may take more than just a couple of executive orders to quickly enact his agenda. The sort of greatest mass deportation program in history is definitely going to be challenged in court, Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration studies, which is broadly aligned with Trumps goals, told Semafor. Theres no question about it. But at the end of the day, people who have no right to be here have no right to be here. Some of these legal challenges could come from immigrants in places like Springfield, Ohio many of whom are in the U.S. legally under temporary protected status. Sen. JD Vance, Trumps running mate, has said he believes that status is being applied improperly, and thus views it as illegal. Judges have not always been kind to these arguments, although Trump made progress on similar initiatives late in his presidency and Krikorian predicted the 6-3 Supreme Court could ultimately side with him. Trump would withdraw that status, and he could do that, but that would be litigated, and it was litigated under the first Trump administration, and he was stopped from simply revoking Temporary Protected Status, Doris Meissner, a senior fellow and director at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, told Semafor. So there will certainly be court challenges to measures like that that he would take. Other legal challenges will likely come from efforts to once again end programs like DACA, Vanessa Cardenas, the executive director of Americas Voice, a left-leaning advocacy group, told Semafor. Trump faced challenges on this during his first administration the Supreme Court overturned his administrations termination of DACA in 2020 on procedural grounds, setting up another fight down the road. Know More Perhaps the biggest potential hurdle a second Trump administration could face is in the actual deportation of such a large amount of people. In addition to its own set of legal complications, identifying and removing undocumented immigrants would require a major boost in funding and personnel, plus cooperation from state, local, and foreign governments. None of those are going to be easy to achieve on their own. Krikorian said that the administration would begin by ramping up the removal of criminals something Trump has discussed often on the campaign trail and continue by revoking or not renewing parole grants. Trump has also vowed to end all sanctuary cities if elected president again, and Krikorian told Semafor that cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities are another obstacle to deportation. Trump deported fewer people than President Obama in part due to widespread local non-cooperation. Democratic administrations have formally prioritized deportations of criminals in allocating resources. Immigration hardliners hope Trump could make some further gains by creating an atmosphere of fear among undocumented workers even if the kinds of sweeping national crackdowns he envisions arent immediately possible, an uptick in worksite enforcement might make employers and employees alike more hesitant about their status. Making it unsustainable to stay here and to work here is going to be one of the keys to carrying out their plans, according to Krikorian. Meissner also pointed out that Trump will need to expand his resources beyond ICE, recruiting other federal agencies, local law enforcement, the National Guard, and potentially the military to expel migrants. This, she said, will require persuading organizations to change their missions and even with ICE, Trump would have to make a tradeoff decision about using those resources in the interior of the country compared to at the border. I think that there would be inevitably, very, very significant pushback, because all of those other entities have important missions and missions that are with appropriations from Congress that are designated for that work, or missions from their state and local jurisdictions that are funded not to do that kind of work, Meissner told Semafor. So thats a whole area of complexity that cannot happen with just a snap of a finger. Stephen Miller, a close Trump confidant who served in his first administration and helped craft Trumps immigration policies, told The New York Times last year that Trump would invoke the Insurrection Act, which is an exception to a law that restricts using armed forces as law enforcement, called the Posse Comitatus Act. The building of large detention centers is another hurdle the administration will need to grapple with Krikorian noted that this would be very expensive and require a significant investment, at least for the short or medium term, but argued it will serve as a deterrent long-term. Congress could be resistant to Trumps plans, though. He ended up controversially, even within his own party rerouting defense funds to build parts of a border wall after struggling to gain their approval. It may take similar emergency measures that test the limits of his power to fund other priorities, which also could create additional court challenges. Miller told the Times that theyd likely build holding facilities on open Texas land close to the border, directing the military to construct them. Meissner, meanwhile, predicted that the most likely target for those kinds of camps will be military bases, which were used temporarily to bring Afghans into the country during the 2021 withdrawal. The Defense Department will have a big problem with that, so he would have to have a very compliant Secretary of Defense, she said. Cardenas brought up another challenge to Trumps plan, arguing that his efforts would be detrimental economically to the U.S., which has relied on immigrant workers to power the post-pandemic recovery. While Miller has argued that this would actually be a good thing for the country by reducing competition for native-born workers, research suggests the additional workers come with a number of economic benefits, including holding down prices. Having a mass deportation plan is terrible for the United States, Cardenas said. Entire industries depend on the undocumented population in this country. Shelbys view While everyone, including Trumps aides, recognize the hurdles facing them, the general consensus among experts is that the former president has a more experienced team this time around a fact that could help him more efficiently implement broad swaths of his plan. The more conservative-leaning Supreme Court could also be more friendly to his goals. Alongside this effort, you have people like Stephen Miller, [former Trump administration immigration policy official] Gene Hamilton, and a number of other Trump officials that were with him when he was at the White House. And again, now theyre eager to continue advancing their agenda, according to Cardenas. Theres a lot of levers that he can pull in our government. Politically, Trump may have a greater mandate to pursue immigration crackdowns than in his first term. Then, Democrats were confident opposing policies like child separation as human-rights abuses, defending asylum seekers from attacks, and deriding efforts to build a border wall as folly. This time, both the Biden administration and Harris are emphasizing more hawkish policies as polls show voters have shifted their priorities in the same direction. The bipartisan bill backed by Harris would add more resources to the border, including barriers, while also limiting asylum claims. Biden, meanwhile, is boasting of reduced crossings after initiating his own executive orders designed to make it harder for migrants to make such claims at the border. Notable Trump said this week hed look to expel hundreds of thousands of migrants let into the US legally through Biden administration programs that are intended to discourage people from seeking asylum by crossing the border. Trump to meet with Ukraine's Zelenskiy, UK's Starmer in New York FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign event at the Johnny Mercer Theatre Civic Center in Savannah FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign event at the Johnny Mercer Theatre Civic Center in Savannah By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday, after a separate meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday night. The Republican presidential candidate announced the upcoming meetings, both of which are set to take place at his Trump Tower property in New York, during a Thursday press conference. The two leaders are in the United States to attend the U.N. General Assembly, and they are among a slew of foreign officials who have sought to meet Trump in the final weeks before the Nov. 5 election. Separately on Wednesday, Trump met with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates president widely known as MBZ, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment regarding that meeting, nor did the embassy of the UAE in Washington. Trump's decision to met with Zelenskiy followed several days in which campaign officials and people close to the former president indicated that such a meeting was unlikely. (This story has been corrected to fix the British PM's first name to Keir, not Keith, in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Gram Slattery and Michelle Nichols; editing by Ross Colvin and Jonathan Oatis) Dorchester County rescue team deploys to South Carolinas upstate to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) Members of the Dorchester County Fire Rescue Swift Water Rescue Team deployed to the Upstate on Thursday afternoon. The team, made up of firefighters and paramedics from within the county, is headed to Anderson County ahead of Hurricane Helene to assist with recovery efforts. Dorchester County Fire and Rescue photo Dorchester County Fire and Rescue photo While the major hurricane will not make direct landfall in South Carolina, the state will be impacted by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and isolated tornadoes through Friday. The storm is expected to strike Floridas Big Bend before moving north through Georgia. South Carolinas Upstate could see major impacts from the storm. Dorchester County photo We are grateful for the support Anderson County provided us during Tropical Storm Debby, and now were proud to return the favor by offering assistance during their time of need, said Dorchester County officials. Safe travels to our team as they head out to serve! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A snowy day in March 2022 changed the course of Tara Currins life forever. She had just finished her shift at Integris Health Baptist Medical Center when she was shot eight times in the stomach and thigh. Her ex-boyfriend had been hiding in the parking garage waiting for Tara. I felt the heat from the first bullet and maybe a poke from the second, but nothing else after, she said in 2022. PAY IT 4WARD: We just love him: Chickasha barber Pays It 4Ward by shaping the future After seven hours of surgery and 11 units of blood, Tara survived thanks to another man who was also in the parking garage that day. John Kalhoeffer was leaving his appointment when he heard a soft cry for help and found Tara lying in the stairwell and bleeding profusely. I said, Im going to have to do get help for you. I promise you I will be right back. Im going to be as fast as I can, but I will be back, he said. John ran downstairs for help and, once again, the right person at the right time appeared a nurse. I said, Can you help? And she said, Help with what. I just kind of nodded with my head follow me. She followed me upstairs, John said. When she saw the situation with so much blood and everything. She said, Im going to have to get a doctor. It happened a third. She went downstairs. The door opened. There was a doctor standing on the other side of the door, John said. And a fourth. He was accessing her, and the nurse said, I think we should get security involved here, John said. She walked downstairs. The door opened. A uniformed security guard was standing there. It has been two years since Tara was ambushed in the parking garage. She is now retired and speaks full time about domestic violence, encouraging and educating others. That is why John nominated her for Pay It 4Ward. Im just amazed at the way she has taken such a bad situation and turned it into something so positive, he said. With $400 from First Fidelity Bank, John and KFOR surprise Tara in the middle of one of her presentations. Thank you so much, Tara said. I worry about you more than you worry about me. This is the gentleman who found me first in the stairwell. He downplays his role in it, but had it not been for him stepping in and being there, I wouldnt have made it. That day created such a friendship with us, and I just love him to death. Same with me, John said. Tara and John have met before, and John gave Tara a poem he wrote about her incredible strength. She carries it with her wherever she goes. Im so blessed that I made it, and so I just want to give back, Tara said. And theres so much healing in helping other women that thats what I want to do. This is my passion. If you are in an abusive relationship to get out of it, and that there are people there and that here are resources that will help you. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, resources are available at https://palomarokc.org/. Pay it 4Ward is sponsored by First Fidelity Bank. Nominate someone for Pay it 4Ward Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. By Rishika Sadam BENGALURU (Reuters) -India's drug regulator has found more than 50 drugs, including some batches of widely used antacids and paracetamol, to be substandard or fake, according to government documents. The regulator, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, releases a monthly list of substandard or fake medicines sold in the country after routine tests across the country by multiple agencies. The regulator found some drugs as "not of standard quality", including a batch each of Alkem Laboratories' popular antacid Pan-D, Hetero's anti-infective Cepodem and Shelcal, a vitamin and calcium tablet brand made by privately-owned Pure & Cure Healthcare, and several antibiotics, according to the lists for August. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries separately informed the regulator of a fake batch of Pantocid, a popular Indian brand of an antacid called pantoprazole. The agency said it is investigating the matter. Fake, or "spurious", batches of Sun's drug Pulmosil, used to treat high blood pressure in the lungs, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals' anti-hypertension drug Telma H, among others, were also notified by the companies to the regulator and were being investigated. "When a medicine is found to be below quality standards, the drug regulator sends a notice to the manufacturer to check and recall that batch of product. Companies too conduct their own tests on leftover samples to check for the possibility of counterfeit," said Rajiv Singhal, general secretary of drug retailer body All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. The companies did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Gastrointestinal, anti-diabetic, vitamins and nutraceutical drug sales were one of the top contributors to the domestic pharma market growth in August, according to research firm Pharmarack. India, one of the world's largest drug producers and exporters, is working to restore confidence after Indian-made cough syrups were linked to the deaths of children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon. (Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Leroy Leo) Part of the Sao Raimundo that connects to the Negro River is visible amid a severe drought in Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo /Edmar Barros) MANAUS, Brazil (AP) Drought is devastating Brazils Amazon rainforest, and some rivers are falling to historic lows. Images of one of the Amazon Rivers main tributaries, the Negro River, show just how dramatically water is dwindling. When The Associated Press photographed the Negro River and surrounding areas in late June and early July, it was nearly 27 meters (88.5 feet) deep at the port in Manaus. In just three months, it fell by nearly half, to 13.9 meters (45.6 feet) as of Thursday. If the pace at which the Negro has been dropping continues, within a week it will break the record for the lowest level in 122 years of monitoring. The record was set last year, but toward the end of October. The Negro River drains about 10% of the Amazon basin and is the worlds sixth-largest by water volume. Manaus, the biggest city in the rainforest, is where the Negro joins the Amazon River, which in Brazil is called the Solimoes River upstream. Riverine communities around Manaus and elsewhere in the Amazon have been left stranded. Authorities have been distributing potable water and water purification systems. Passenger boats and supply ships are struggling to navigate the shallows. Amazonas states fishing federation has warned that limited access to nearby, traditional fishing areas is imperiling their livelihoods, diminishing supply of the regions mainstay food and boosting prices. The cost of bottled water and other goods in far-flung areas has surged, too. Water levels in Brazils Amazon always rise and fall with its rainy and dry seasons but not like this. At this time of year, the Negro River should still be around 21 meters deep at the Manaus port, according to the nations geologic service. And all of the major rivers are at critical levels, with the most dramatic decline at the Madeira River, the Amazon Rivers longest tributary. On Monday at the measuring site in the city of Porto Velho, the Madeiras level fell to just 25 centimeters (about 10 inches), a record since measurement began in 1967, and more than 3 meters below the historic average for the day. It increased the next day, but only slightly, and rivers were expected to stay low well into October. ___ Biller reported from Rio de Janeiro. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. DENVER (KDVR) A deputy with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office recently pulled over a vehicle with temporary tags that had been expired for over two years, according to a post shared on social media. According to the post on X, the deputy pulled over the truck because it had a VERY expired temporary plate. Have expired plates? Registration crackdown on I-25, I-70 corridor starts Monday The sheriffs office shared an image that included the back of the truck alongside the blurred temporary tags. The tags expired in August 2022. The sheriffs office said the driver explained he had already been pulled over twice before and couldnt afford the plates so he kept driving with the expired tags. While we understand financial issues come up, we are pleading with our public that if you want to operate your vehicle on the public roadways, you must keep your vehicle registration and insurance up-to-date, the post said. It will cost you a lot less in the long run. Colorado residents are required to register their vehicles within a set amount of time and renew their registration on an annual basis. People who are caught not doing so can face a fine and will also have to pay back taxes and fees when they register the vehicle. Law enforcement agencies have conducted crackdown operations to enforce the states registration requirements. Most recently, the Denver Police Department conducted a monthlong crackdown operation that resulted in over 400 citations being given out for expired or missing registration. On Monday, the Colorado State Patrol added personnel and partnered with local agencies to conduct surge enforcement, mostly aimed at curbing speeding. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Dumbest Congress Ever? A Look Back At The Shambolic 118th Meeting Of U.S. Lawmakers WASHINGTON Even more than usual, the current Congress, which will effectively end this week, seems like the punchline of a joke: Boy, the 118th was a crazy Congress! How crazy was it? It was so crazy, it: Cue Yakety Sax, everyone! And that was just in the House. The Senate, while minimally chaotic by comparison, didnt exactly cover itself in glory either. In the Senate: A bipartisan compromise over immigration and border security changes, the first attempt at major reforms in 10 years and full of Democratic concessions, was torpedoed by Republicans ahead of the fall presidential campaign; A senator offered to fight a witness at a committee hearing until the chairman calmed things down; And another senator held up the promotion of scores of Pentagon officials in a failed bid to trade those promotions for a change Defense Department policy to make it harder for soldiers to access abortion-related care, resulting in a useless months-long delay. On the just-barely-bright-enough-to-see-a-few-feet-in-front-of-you side, the government did not shut down a live prospect as recently as last week, with former President Donald Trump urging the GOP to block necessary government funding unless Republicans pushed through a bill addressing nonexistent voter fraud. Well credit them for that, although I do think we might be lowering our standards, joked Sarah Binder, senior fellow in governance studies at the centrist Brookings Institution. Any one of this Congress big uproars from the vote to expel disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) to multiple failed Cabinet and presidential impeachment attempts to the successful removal of onetime Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) would distinguish a Congress on its own. So, how crazy was the 118th, historically speaking? Its fair to say it was one of the craziest ever, Binder said. The main competition would come from Congresses in the 19th century, which saw the chamber struggle with slavery and eventually the Civil War. And Binder said the blame could be fairly laid on one side of the aisle in one chamber. All of this speaks to the utter disarray of the [House] Republican majority to a degree weve not seen before, certainly not in the last 100 years, she said. Even if you had a fully functional majority leadership, thats not sufficient to create a functional Congress, Binder added. But you certainly cant succeed if you have a majority party that ... only when pushed to its very end, [is] able to put must-pass measures on the floor. As of Wednesday, only 82 bills have passed both the House and Senate this Congress and been signed into law by President Joe Biden. While more are likely to be enacted during the post-election lame duck session, the 118th Congress productivity is almost certain to hit a modern low. In November of 2023, Congress was on pace to enact the fewest laws since the Great Depression-era 1931-1932 Congress, which didnt even start meeting until December of its first year. Even during the 116th Congress, the last time Washington experienced this level of gridlock when Democrats controlled the House and Republicans the Senate lawmakers were able to pass more than four times as many laws as this Congress has so far. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) decried the House GOPs inability to force through its priorities against the Democratic Senate and White House in an epic rant caught on C-SPAN in November 2023. One thing! I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing one that I can go campaign on and say we did. One! Roy said on the House floor, angrily holding up his index finger. Anybody sitting in the complex, if you want to come down to the floor, come explain to me one material, meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done besides, Well, I guess its not as bad as the Democrats, said Roy, a member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus But with the November elections looming, Roy was eager to point out what he saw as the chambers accomplishments Tuesday. Among the GOPs wins this session, he argued: Non-defense spending didnt grow much, Congress passed a sanctions bill aimed at deterring the International Criminal Court from prosecuting Israeli officials over the Gaza war, and Republicans raised border security as a top political priority. I think theres a lot of things weve been able to do when we unify, but we could do more, and we should have done more, Roy said. Another House GOP member, spending committee chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), said Republicans played defense in the 118th Congress, focusing more on stopping things than getting things done. We kept the Democrats from doing what they did the first two years, like [the] American Rescue Plan and all that. But a Congress where we obviously didnt control the Senate, [didnt] have the administration, so we couldnt push as much through as we would like, he said. If there was one thing it seemed like House Republicans would achieve at the outset of the 118th Congress, it was avenging the two impeachments of Donald Trump with an impeachment of President Joe Biden. An impeachment inquiry led mainly by House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) foundered largely because its major premise that Biden participated in his son Hunters foreign business deals was not true. But Comer also often overpromised on House Republicans material, including a dubious tip from an FBI source who turned out to have ties to Russian intelligence services. And the committees hearings were routinely absurd, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) repeatedly displaying images of Hunter Biden engaging in sex acts with prostitutes. The nastiest moment came when Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), in response to a personal insult from Greene, roasted the Georgia Republicans bleach blonde bad-built butch body. Comer, for his part, frequently sparred with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), who he called a clown this week. Failure sometimes is hard to deal with, right? Moskowitz told HuffPost. And so I think the chairmans just trying to come to grips with the fact that he wasted millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Has nothing to show for it. Thats unfortunate. We could have done some really good stuff in that committee. In the Senate, even Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) acknowledged the 118ths relatively short list of accomplishments. This has been a very, very unproductive Congress on things that we are supposed to do, like passing appropriation bills, doing a farm bill every five or six years, McConnell told reporters Tuesday. For a moment in February, the Senate appeared very close to a huge bipartisan breakthrough on immigration. Democrats wanted money for Ukraines efforts to fend off Russias invasion, but Republicans said they wouldnt support the aid unless Democrats agreed to stricter policies at the southern U.S. border. So Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) collaborated with Senate Democrats on a package pairing Ukraine aid with money for more border agents, border wall construction and faster deportations of immigrants ineligible for asylum. Their bill also left out expanding pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, one of Democrats longtime priorities. Trump ordered Republicans to kill the deal anyway. Later, Biden unilaterally tightened asylum access, leading to fewer arrivals at the border, which Lankford took as half a win. The administration stepped forward after the bill went down, and said, OK, well start doing something anyway, Lankford said. So thats helpful, though theyve only reduced the number a tiny fraction of what they were capable of actually doing. The apotheosis of Republican dysfunction in the 118th Congress came Feb. 6, as the party suffered a trifecta of legislative failures across both chambers. Senate Republicans walked back from the border bill they had demanded, while in the House, they lost two layup votes: one to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and another to send aid to Israel. Binder, the Brookings scholar, said Republicans could not solely blame having a slim majority in the House for all their problems. The partys internal divisions also made that slim margin of error hard to overcome. And those factors, along with high levels of polarization between the parties, are whats new, she said. I think were quite used to polarization. Were a little less used to seeing what a fragmented majority means, Binder said, noting whichever party is in the House majority next Congress is unlikely to have much breathing room. And the hijinks in the 118th may not even be over yet. Minutes away from the final votes Wednesday, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) confronted Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) about a racist social media post. Higgins took the post down. Horsford threatened to file a censure resolution against Higgins the 26th such resolution introduced in the 118th Congress. In the prior Congress, there were only 16. Igor Bobic contributed to this report. Related... EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4) A woman from Eagle Mountain is behind bars after she reportedly pulled a handgun on two people in the drive-thru line of a pharmacy, according to the Utah County Sheriffs Office. Christine Kotter, 53, was arrested on Tuesday evening and faces one count of aggravated assault. According to the probable cause statement, she told police that she was at a pharmacy to get pain medication when a vehicle cut her off. Kotter told police that she and one of the two occupants in the other car started to argue. Man found dead at West Valley City apartment complex, police open homicide investigation Kotter told police that the victim appeared confrontational when their vehicle reversed to pull even with her, so she allegedly pulled out her handgun. One victim reportedly told police that she was walking back to her car when Kotter allegedly pulled the handgun. The second victim then got out of the car and stood between the first victim and Kotter. The second victim told police that Kotter reportedly pointed the handgun at the first victim, and stated that Kotter should not point a gun at a pregnant woman before both victims returned to their car and called 911. Police arrested Kotter for aggravated assault and booked her into Utah County Jail on the aforementioned charge. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The Community Foundation of North Louisiana presented its project Community Counts, the annual data report card on the quality of life in Shreveport-Bossier. Statistics from federally collected data include many socioeconomic indicators such as: population, poverty, health, education, and crime. Dr. Dave Norris presented the data. What we do is utilize Daves data report along with data we collect from our non-profit partners, and also national data from other community foundations to determine how we can most efficiently and effectively spend our donor dollars on our grant program, said Community Foundation CEO, Kristina Gustavson. Community Foundation of North Louisiana has granted over $140 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in the area. The foundation says, By tracking progress in each priority indicator, the Community Foundation seeks to assess the impact of funding and programs and identify areas needing additional support. One central area of focus is early childhood education. Burton says he will listen to and learn from community as Caddo Schools superintendent If youre kindergarten ready statistically, your life is better. Youre better adept at third grade reading, better a fifth-grade math, youre more likely to graduate from high school, youre less likely to need individualized services and care, and more likely to have a productive future as a member of the community, said Gustavon. She adds that this work couldnt be done without non-profit partners, donors, and experts. According to the foundation, funds are invested for the communitys benefit and then returned to the community in the form of grants to various charitable endeavors. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Cardiff council said temporary accommodation across the city was already full [Getty Images] Prisoners being released early is one of the biggest pressures that housing and homelessness services face, a council has said. Cardiff council said it received mixed reports "every other day" about how many prison leavers it would have to support with already under-strain services. With temporary accommodation across the city already full, it is looking to purchase a hotel, student accommodation, and a house of multiple occupations to provide people with homes. This comes after the Labour government implemented plans to tackle overcrowding in prisons, releasing 1,700 convicts in England and Wales on 10 September. Cardiff council cabinet member for housing Lynda Thorne questioned the decision by the prison service to release all of the prisoners on the same day. She said: "I dont know why they cant [do it] in one or two a day over three months rather than all in one day. "It has got to be easier for the prison service, for probation and certainly for us." Cardiff has the second highest number of expected releases across England and Wales under the SDS40 scheme, according to Cardiff council. It said it had to support 11 prison leavers with housing in a single day on 10 September. Cardiff councils director of adults, housing and communities, Jane Thomas, said: "They [prison leavers] were risk assessed and placed in appropriate placements. "[In] the run up, the information was very misleading I think it is true to say. "We had various different reports because obviously the probation service were also having to deal with this really quickly." She said the probation service was providing them with "different lists every other day" but that they "got there in the end". The council is expecting to deal with more released prisoners on 22 October - but it is unable to say yet how many it will have to support. If it goes ahead with the purchase of the three properties it is in negotiations for, 280 units could be used to house people needing accommodation. There are currently about 8,000 people on Cardiff councils housing waiting list. Acceleration of decision making on asylum applications is also expected to bring more pressure on the councils homelessness service. Many asylum seekers have already been living in Cardiff for a number of years, but they will be entitled to seek support with housing from the council if they are granted leave to remain in the country. The states of Illinois, North Dakota, Florida and Michigan all began early voting on Thursday as the 2024 election continues to get underway. Here is all the information about the elections in each state and how to vote. Michigan shocked the country in 2016 when it backed former President Trump by 0.23 points, or a mere 10,704 votes. Since then, the state has delivered for Democrats, with a nearly 3 point win for President Biden, the election and re-election of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and in the last midterms, a state government trifecta. Even so, this will be a competitive race. Recent high-quality polls have Harris ahead by 2 to 5 points; in each case within the margin of error. Democrats do well in the southeastern part of the state, and Biden was able to win in 2020 by bringing out Black voters and gaining in the Detroit metro area. Flipping Kent County, home to Grand Rapids and a representative mix of urban, suburban, and rural vote, was also crucial to his victory. Trump will need to take it back for a statewide win in 2024. Read On The Fox News App Early voting Michigans population grew by 2% over the last full decade, with growth concentrated in the Grand Rapids area. Since then, the state has experienced decline, especially in Detroit. The Great Lake State will also vote for a new senator after Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow decided not to run for reelection this year. House Rep. Elissa Slotkin hopes to keep the seat in Democratic hands and has an edge in this competitive race. She faces GOP candidate and former Rep. Mike Rogers. Both the presidential and senate races are ranked Lean D on the Fox News Power Rankings. Across the states that begin early voting today, there are four competitive U.S. House races in Illinois and Michigan: Michigans 7th district : Slotkin is vacating this south central Michigan district, which she flipped on a 5.4 point margin in the midterms. This year, its a battle between two former state senators; Democrat Curtis Hertel and Republican Tom Barrett. This race is a Toss Up on the Fox News Power Rankings. Michigans 8th district : Next door, the 8th district is also without an incumbent. Rep. Dan Kildee is retiring after 12 years in the House, making this a race between Democratic state senator Kristen McDonald Rivet and Republican businessman Paul Junge. The seat includes Flint and the Tri-Cities area, so winning working class vote will be critical. Its also a Toss Up on the Power Rankings. Michigans 10th district : Republican incumbent Rep. John James has the edge in the 10th district; hes up against Democrat and former judge and prosecutor Carl Marlinga. The district includes southern Macomb County and Rochester. Holding on to outer suburban vote there will be critical to a GOP win. This is a Lean R race. Illinoiss 17th district: In northwest Illinois, Democratic Rep. Eric Sorensen won this seat on a four point margin in 2022 and is fighting for a second term. He faces Republican judge Joe McGraw this time around. Sorensen has the edge in this Quad Cities-area district. The race is ranked Lean D on the Power Rankings. This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Illinois. Illinois began absentee voting on Thursday. Applicants do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. The state must receive a ballot application by Oct. 31, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5. Illinois also began early in-person voting on Thursday, and it will continue through Nov. 5. Illinois residents can register to vote online through Oct. 20. They can register by mail through Oct. 8, and they can register in-person at any point during early voting or on election day. This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for North Dakota. North Dakota began absentee voting on Thursday. Applicants do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. The state must receive a ballot application by Nov. 4, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 4. Some North Dakota counties began early in-person voting on Thursday. Others start later or do not offer early voting at all. Check the state's website for more information. All eligible citizens can vote in North Dakota elections without prior registration. Four states began early voting on Thursday. This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Florida. Florida began absentee voting on Thursday. Applicants do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. The state must receive a ballot application by Oct. 24, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5. Start dates for early in-person voting vary by county in Florida. Check the state's website for more information. Florida residents can register to vote online, in-person or by mail through Oct. 7. This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Michigan. Michigan began absentee voting on Thursday. Applicants do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. The state must receive a ballot application by Nov. 1, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5. Start dates for early in-person voting vary by county in Michigan. Check the state's website for more information. Michigan residents can register to vote online or by mail through Oct. 21. They can register in-person at any point during early voting or on election day. Original article source: Early voting begins in Illinois, North Dakota, Florida and Michigan Earthquake recorded in southern Illinois. If you felt it, the USGS wants you to report it A 2.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded Wednesday night about five miles northwest of Keyesport, the United States Geological Survey said. The quake hit at 9:50 p.m. Wednesday and it was about seven miles below the surface. The epicenter was off Illinois 127 near Tamalco Avenue in southern Bond County. If you felt the quake, you can go to the USGS website to give the agency information about your experience. Seven responses had been sent as of Thursday afternoon. About 1 million earthquakes of similar magnitude occur globally each year and are usually felt by people close to the epicenter, but cause no damage. According to the USGS, the territory of the quake is part of the Illinois Basin-Ozark dome region, which borders the New Madrid seismic zone. The Illinois Basin-Ozark dome region covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis. According to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the New Madrid seismic zone, which includes parts of southern Illinois and Missouri, averages about 200 measurable events per year, most of which are not felt. Tremors between magnitude 2.5 and 3.0 occur annually with a 4.0 or greater about once every 18 months and 5.0 or above every 10 years. This New Madrid area produced a series of three major earthquakes in the winter of 1811-12. They occurred on Dec. 16, 1811, with an estimated 7.5 magnitude; on Jan. 23, 1812, with a 7.3 magnitude; and on Feb. 7, 1812, with a 7.5 magnitude, according to the USGS. These New Madrid earthquakes are believed to be the largest earthquakes east of the Rocky Mountains in the history of the United States, according to a report by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency. The U.S. Geological Survey rates earthquakes on a scale relative to the amount of damage they can cause: 2.5 or less: Usually cannot be felt. 2.5-5.4: Often felt, but causes only minor damage. There are an estimated half-million worldwide each year. 5.5 to 6.0: There may be slight damage to buildings and other structures. They are more rare, though, with 350 or so annually. 6.1-6.9: The 100 that occur annually may cause significant damage in areas that are highly populated with a density of buildings. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) They want your blood! East Carolina University is hosting a week-long blood drive competition in partnership with NC State University. The Blood Connection will be at both university campuses starting September 30, through October 4. This is the fourth year the universities are participating in the blood drive competition. Seeing students at ECU and NC State team up in friendly competition to save lives in their community is incredible, said Delisa English, President and CEO of The Blood Connection. Without everyday heroes donating blood and partnering with TBC, we could not give North Carolinians in the Triangle and Greenville another chance at life. These students, professors, and alumni who donate during blood bowl week deserve to make North Carolina proud. Anyone can donate by making an appointment with The Blood Connection. Blood donors will receive a NC blood bowl rivalry sweatshirt and $30 in TBC rewards. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. (Bloomberg) -- Wealthy neighborhoods in Quito remain under threat of flames, and schools have shifted to online teaching through the end of the week as firefighters battle forest fires in Ecuadors capital. Most Read from Bloomberg Quito Mayor Pabel Munoz of the left-wing Citizen Revolution party declared an emergency for the city of almost 3 million residents to obtain additional funding to tackle more than two dozen blazes since Tuesday, almost of all of them set intentionally. Police detained a male, 19-year-old suspected arsonist after flames forced firefighters and government ministers to abandon a command post near a highway. Two hundred firefighters from seven local governments and 180 soldiers are working to contain the fires, while 1,600 police are keeping the peace. President Daniel Noboa canceled his planned speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York to return home and manage the crisis. An extended drought is also threatening agriculture in Ecuador and has prompted rolling blackouts nationwide. Were experiencing the worst climate situation in decades, which calls for urgent decisions at all levels of government, Noboa said late Tuesday in a post on X. Adversity will find us more determined than ever. Resurgent flames near the colonial neighborhood of Guapulo where Noboa rents a mansion led to a major highway and tunnel being closed again Wednesday, blocking direct access between north-central Quito and its eastern suburbs. Nearby homes are being evacuated. Air force helicopters outfitted with suspended buckets are flying between a low-lying reservoir and burning wooded mountain slopes that separate downtown from the valley a steep 400 meters below. While no deaths have been reported, the flames destroyed several homes in the Guapulo and Bellavista neighborhoods. Six firefighters and five civilians including an infant have been injured, newspaper Expreso reported. The health ministry reported 44 people treated and released for smoke inhalation. Volunteers flocked to support firefighters while neighborhood and animal welfare organizations worked to coordinate aid for people, pets and both feral and wild animals affected by the fires. Aid agencies and municipal offices called for water, eye drops, industrial-strength gloves and other help for firefighters and people evacuated from their homes. While the interior ministry ordered large-scale events canceled, the prosecutor generals office said it would investigate the causes of the blazes. Beyond the suspect arrested Wednesday, other individuals in recent days were found to have set fires in other parts of the capitals metropolitan area. (Updates with declaration of emergency and arrest of suspected arsonist in second and third paragraphs, injury toll in paragraph eight) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. TOKYO (AP) The governing party of outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida holds a key vote Friday that will establish a new national leader. The vote is limited to the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party's parliamentarians and dues-paying members. Because the party's governing coalition dominates parliament, the winner is assured to be Japans next prime minister. A record nine lawmakers, including two women, are vying for the job in an unpredictable race. The winner must quickly regain public trust, or Japan could face a return to a damaging cycle of short-lived governments, experts say. How does the election work? The vote is limited to LDP lawmakers and 1.1 million grassroots members. That's less than 1% of the countrys eligible voters. No candidate is expected to win a majority in the first round of voting because of split votes, so the winner will probably be determined in a runoff between the top two vote-getters. LDP leadership votes used to be determined by the partys powerful faction leaders, but experts say that may change this time because all but one of the six factions has announced their dissolution following the partys corruption scandals. The vote is crucial for the LDP, which is looking for a leader who can revive public support for the party after scandals that hurt Kishida's popularity. What does the vote mean for Japan? Experts say this election could mark a return to an era similar to the early 2000s, when revolving door leadership changes and political instability ended only with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe' s eight-year reign. This is because the new leader will lack stable backing by powerful factions. Kishida's three-year leadership stint followed Yoshihide Suga, who had one year in power before he was forced to resign over his unpopular handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequent government changes make it difficult for Japanese leaders to tackle long-term policy goals or develop trusted relations with other leaders. Japans diplomatic and security policies, though, will continue to be based on its key alliance with the United States. With less influence from factions, the prime minister can exercise more power, but stability depends on support ratings, said Yu Uchiyama, University of Tokyo politics professor. The question is whether the next prime minister can decisively carry out political reform. A new leader will also have to deal with soaring military, child care and climate change costs, he said. The most damaging scandal centers on the failure of dozens of the partys most influential members to report political donations. That led to the indictment of several lawmakers, their aides and accountants. Kishidas party has tightened political funds laws and conducted an internal investigation, but critics say the measures weren't enough. Story continues I foresee a continued stagnation in the political situation, with the LDP repeatedly changing faces, said Chiyako Sato, a political editorial writer for the Mainichi newspaper. Who's running? All nine candidates are incumbent or former Cabinet ministers. Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister, has steadily ranked No. 1 in media surveys. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of a former popular prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, is behind Ishiba. Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, an Abe protege and staunch conservative who ran against Kishida in 2021, is third by a narrow margin. Experts say two of the three are expected to advance to a runoff. But it's difficult to predict a winner, because a runoff could be influenced by backroom dealing among party heavyweights. A first female prime minister? Takaichi and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa are seeking to become Japans first female leader. That, however, is largely in the hands of senior male veterans like former Prime Ministers Taro Aso, Suga and Kishida. Of the two women, Takaichi ranks higher in media surveys than Kamikawa. She has ties to Abe faction members, including those implicated in the slush funds scandal, and her conservative support for paternalistic traditions are criticized by some as bad for womens advancement. Kamikawa is seen as a safe choice by some. She has said that just being able to enter the race has demonstrated a new LDP. Women make up only 10.3% of Japan's lower house of parliament. That makes the country 163rd for female representation among 190 countries examined in an April report by the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union. In Japan's largely paternalistic culture, it's still normal for sons to inherit political power from their fathers, often limiting opportunity for women from nonpolitical families to run. The nine candidates include five male hereditary politicians. What happens next? On Oct. 1, Kishida and his Cabinet ministers will resign. The new leader, after a parliamentary endorsement, will then form a new Cabinet later in the day. While the current term for the lower house lasts until October 2025, most candidates say they'll hold an early election soon after taking office. Observers expect an election within weeks, so the new prime minister can try to capitalize on a fresh image. The main opposition the liberal-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has scored some wins in local elections this year. That was helped by LDP scandals. But the party has since struggled to build momentum. The CPDJ on Monday chose former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda as leader. That's a conservative shift likely meant to grab swing voters and LDP supporters disgusted by the scandals. Political watchers say the opposition is too fractured to attract voters who want to punish the LDP, and there's skepticism that the opposition parties are viable alternatives. At an LDP candidates' campaign event in Tokyo, party member Shohei Tsunoda, 72, said: It would be good if we could have a system like in America, where two parties compete and take turns in power. But right now, the CPDJ doesnt seem to have that kind of strength. ___ Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific CHELSEA, Mass. (WWLP) The state police featured a playing card on social media Thursday with the unsolved case of a Chelsea victim. Mass. municipalities & agencies awarded road safety project funding Seven years ago, on September 26, 2017, Eduardo Troche Jr was shot on the front porch of 119 Congress Ave in Chelsea. Someone in a gray sedan was seen shooting. If you have any information that could be crucial to solving this case, you are asked to call 1-855-MA-SOLVE. The Massachusetts State Police Department, the Massachusetts Department of Correction, and the District Attorneys Offices collaborated to create playing cards that feature homicide and missing persons on them. The cards are funded by the Department of Correction and are made available to state prison inmates. With this, they hope that they will be able to find out additional information about the crimes on the cards. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer and TV personality Eduardo Xol has died after reportedly being stabbed. He was 58. According to the Riverside County Sheriff, Xol died on Sept. 20 after being injured in an incident that occurred on Sept. 10 in Palm Springs in the early morning. The Palm Springs Police Department said in a Sept. 10 press release that officers responded to a request for help call at 5:41 a.m, which matches the Riverside County Sheriff's noted time of Xol's incident at the same address. When arriving at the location, the officers found a man suffering from significant injuries consistent with an assault. According to the press release, he told them that he had been stabbed and was transported to the local hospital. At the time, he was in serious but stable condition. Eduardo Xol That same day, Palm Springs Police Dispatch received a call from a male who claimed to have been assaulted the previous night, the release states. After identifying the caller and further investigation, they determined that the caller was the suspect in the stabbing incident. The suspect was arrested for attempted murder and was booked on Sept. 10. TODAY.com has reached out to the Palm Springs PD for additional comment. Xol formed part of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for more than seven seasons. Also an actor, he was in the 1998 film Bravo and telenovelas like La Jaula de Oro, Sentimientos de Oro and Acapulco, Cuerpo y Alma. He was also a correspondent for People en Espanol and AOL Latino, a published author and involved in a number of charity work. Xol's family issued a statement to TODAY.com after his death, saying, We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved Eduardo Xol. As his family, we know that his kindness has touched the lives of so many. We ask for that kindness returned now allowing our privacy to be respected as we process our grief. In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made in Eduardos name to the Lupus Foundation of America as he spent so much of his life in the service of others, the statement continued. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Eduardo Xol of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" died last week, 10 days after being assaulted at a home in Palm Springs. (Peter Kramer / Associated Press) Eduardo Xol, a fixture of ABC's reality show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," has died. He was 58. The designer and TV personality died Friday at the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Coroner, 10 days after he was assaulted at a Palm Springs residence. According to Palm Springs police, officers responded to a call at 5:41 a.m. on Sept. 10 from a man who requested help but was unable to provide specific details. "Upon arriving at the scene, officers heard a male voice inside the residence in apparent distress. After making entry, officers discovered a man suffering from significant injuries consistent with an assault," police said. "The victim informed officers that he had been stabbed, though he did not identify the assailant." Read more: Riverside County sheriff's deputy stabs inmate who attempted to grab his gun during court hearing Xol was then transported to a hospital and was listed in serious condition but was stable at the time. Police said that they received a call a few hours later from a man claiming to have been assaulted the previous night. They responded and identified the caller as Cathedral City resident Richard Joseph Gonzales, 34. "Through further investigation, officers determined that Gonzales was the suspect in the earlier stabbing incident," police said. Gonzales was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio. Gonzales remains in custody, according to inmate records, and has been charged with murder. No bail was set and he is due in court Dec. 18. Read more: HGTVs 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' warms hearts anew Representatives for Xol did not comment on the investigation when reached by The Times. Xol appeared on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition alongside Ty Pennington for more than seven seasons, 2005-12, and was part of the team that earned the series' two Emmy Awards in 2005 and 2006. He was also an author and an actor, appearing in the 1998 film Bravo and 1990s Spanish-language telenovelas La Jaula de Oro, Sentimientos de Oro and Acapulco, Cuerpo y Alma. In a statement to The Times on Thursday, Xol's family said they were heartbroken over the "tragic loss." "As his family, we know that his kindness has touched the lives of so many," the statement said. "We ask for that kindness returned now allowing our privacy to be respected as we process our grief." Read more: And then the roof caved in The family asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Xol's name to the Lupus Foundation of America "as he spent so much of his life in the service of others." On Instagram stories, Pennington wrote Wednesday that he was "devastated to hear about Eduardo's passing." "Truly the most genuine, kind soul," the "Extreme Makeover" star said. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" had another season in 2020 and will return to ABC and Hulu for 2024-25. Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyones talking about from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Corey DeAngelis, a school choice advocate known for opposing LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools, speaks at Young Americans for Liberty Foundation event in 2022. DeAngelis has supported policies banning LGBTQ+ content and outing transgender students. Corey DeAngelis, a school choice advocate known for opposing LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools, speaks at Young Americans for Liberty Foundation event in 2022. DeAngelis has supported policies banning LGBTQ+ content and outing transgender students. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr) Your trusted source for contextualizing education news. Sign up for our daily newsletter. School choice activist Corey DeAngelis who has garnered praise from former President Donald Trump and works for an education nonprofit founded by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is now reportedly on leave from that organization after news broke last week that he appears to have been featured in gay porn films. DeAngelis has advocated for parents rights in schools, particularly conservative parents to have control over what their children learn in class about LGBTQ+ topics and other woke issues. In May, Trump called him a fighter while praising DeAngelis new book, The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids From the Radicals Ruining Our Schools. The book calls out the hypocritical elites who are content to hold other peoples children captive to poorly run government schools. Now DeAngelis is being characterized as a hypocrite after the blog Str8 Up Gay Porn, which covers sex and adult films, reported that he appears to be shown masturbating alone and with other men in multiple gay porn films dating back a decade ago and available on the GayHoopla website. He is said to have appeared in the films with the pseudonym Seth Rose. In light of that news, DeAngelis is reportedly on leave from the DeVos-affiliated nonprofit the American Federation for Children, which works to expand school choice for the nations families. DeAngelis serves as a senior fellow for the nonprofit. His page on the organizations website seems to have been taken down. Neither DeAngelis nor the American Federation for Children responded to The 19ths requests for comment before publication. In May, the Education Freedom Center at the Independent Womens Forum (IWF), a conservative organization that backs school choice and parents rights and opposes protections for LGBTQ+ students, presented DeAngelis with its Students Over Systems Award. It honors Congress members or advocates dedicated to advancing school choice, exposing teachers unions, celebrating parental rights and prioritizing academics over activism. The award coincided with the release of his book The Parent Revolution. I can say with full confidence that Corey has been a phenomenally effective champion for giving parents more opportunities, freedom and leverage, Ginny Gentles, director of IWFs Education Freedom Center, said in a statement in May. As one of those parents, I am grateful for Coreys forceful advocacy on behalf of families nationwide and his relentless push to prioritize students over systems. He ensures that state leaders around the country hear parents pleas for alternatives to the union-controlled and profoundly broken public school system. DeAngelis supported a district policy in Chino, California, to out transgender students to their parents and one in Temecula, California, to ban books with LGBTQ+-related content. He has dismissed the efforts of schools to be more LGBTQ+ inclusive and accused educators of wanting to indoctrinate children. The IWF did not respond to The 19ths request for comment about DeAngelis before publication. Upon receiving the Students Over Systems Award, DeAngelis used the opportunity to criticize Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers union, who he called a more fitting recipient. The teachers unions overplayed their hand and have inadvertently done more to advance school choice and homeschooling than anyone could have ever imagined, he said in a statement. The parents have awakened, like a sleeping giant, and are holding politicians accountable. Were freeing families from the clutches of the teachers unions once and for all by funding students, not systems. DeAngelis is the latest of several conservatives opposed to LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools who has reportedly been involved in sex scandals. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a 2024 gubernatorial candidate in that state, has called teachers demons and demanded school curriculum takeovers. Theres no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth, he said in 2021. Last week, CNN reported that Robinson made several offensive and explicit comments on a pornography forum called Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012. He allegedly said that he liked transgender pornography despite his many remarks disparaging the LGBTQ+ community. Endorsed by Trump, Robinson has denied making the comments on the forum and ignored calls to withdraw from the gubernatorial race. Last fall, news broke that a Philadelphia outreach coordinator for Moms for Liberty a conservative group advocating for parents rights and against LGBTQ+ issues in schools was convicted of aggravated child sexual abuse when he was 25 and his male victim was 14. During the same period, a police investigation into allegations of rape against her husband revealed that Bridget Ziegler, a co-founder of Moms for Liberty and a board member of Sarasota County Schools, participated in threesomes with her husband and another woman. Much like DeAngelis, Ziegler was characterized as a hypocrite because she supported Floridas Dont Say Gay law, which prohibits teachers from discussing topics like gender identity and sexual orientation in class. Ziegler has ignored calls from LGBTQ+ activists and other members of the public to resign from the school board. DeAngelis is slated to speak Sunday at the pro-Trump Rescue The Republic rally, which will include Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and entertainer Russell Brand. In addition to his role with American Federation for Children, DeAngelis is listed as an adjunct scholar for the Cato Institutes Center for Educational Freedom and a senior fellow with the the Reason Foundation, both libertarian think tanks. Earlier this month, he shared a post by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson accusing the Biden-Harris administration of peddling woke ideologies in schools and the radical left of devising weekly lesson plans covering critical race theory, drag queen story hour, mandatory pronoun recognition, boys participating in girls sports and pro-Hamas protest hour. Responding to Johnsons post, DeAngelis wrote that its time to pass the Educational Choice for Children Act, which includes provisions related to parents rights and school choice. School choice defeats the woke mind virus, DeAngelis said. The post Education activist praised by Trump reportedly on leave after blog claims he appeared in gay porn appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) Public education advocates across Kentucky are sounding off against a proposed amendment to the state constitution. A coalition called Protect our Schools rallied in Owensboro tonight, encouraging people to vote against Amendment 2. Politicians in Frankfort want to rob our public schools so that a few children will get a voucher to go to private schools. The government shouldnt be picking winners and losers. We should be helping all kids, says Michael Johnson, a former Owensboro Public School board member who joined the coalition. The coalition calls Amendment 2 a voucher bill. If passed, coalition members say it would rob public schools of critical resources and hurt students. It would siphon tax dollars away from our public schools and starve students of critical resources they need to receive the strongest education possible, says Megan Warder, the President of the Owensboro Education Association. Maria Clark has children attending Daviess County Public Schools and says Amendment 2 would worsen the teacher shortage. It is difficult to attract and retain teachers as it is. Our budgets will be even tighter and budget cuts will have to be made, Clark says. One of the amendments authors says the amendment is not tied to any vouchers. State Representative Suzanne Miles of Owensboro helped write Amendment 2 and said she did it for the kids, teachers, and their families. I hear about groups who say protect our schools. Well, I am here to protect our kids, their families, and the education system, State Representative Miles says. Miles says the amendment has no strings attached. The amendment gives legislators the possible option to have conversations. The policy would follow after the amendment is passed. That policy would go as far as any other piece of legislation. It would go through the complete process, says State Representative Miles. Miles also says Amendment 2 would help get Kentucky on the same page as other states, and help students and teachers have more options. All of the states around us already have some form of school choice. Some form of educational freedom, and we continue to try different processes of how we do this. And the reality is, we cannot even have those conversations based on the way the constitution is written right now, says State Representative Miles. Amendment 2 will be voted on during the general election on Tuesday, November 5th. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Besides helping decide who will be Americas next Commander-in-Chief, Californians will also vote on numerous propositions in the Nov. 5 General Election. Heres what you need to know: Ballot Measures Prop 2: Proposition 2 would provide $10 billion for repairs, upgrades and construction for public schools, community colleges and career technical education programs. The money would be distributed through matching grants. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California Federation of Teachers are among those who support the measure. Assemblyman Bill Essayli ( R-Corona) and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association are among those who oppose the proposition. Prop 3: This constitutional amendment would amend the states constitution to recognize the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race. The amendment also seeks to remove language from Prop. 8, which voters passed in 2008, that says marriage is only between a man and a woman. Prop 4: The proposition would allow the state to borrow $10 billion for water and wildfire prevention programs and to protect communities and lands. Prop 5: Proposition 5 would make It easier for local governments to borrow money for affordable housing and some infrastructure projects. Prop 6: This constitutional amendment would end indentured servitude in state prisons. The California Black Legislative Caucus included the proposal in its reparation agenda, according to Cal Matters. Prop: 32: This initiative would immediately raise the statewide minimum wage from $16 to $17 and again to $18 in 2025 for employers with 26 or more employees. Businesses with less than 26 employees will be required to implement the $17 increase in 2025 and the $18 increase in 2026. Prop 33: Proposition 33 would roll back the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which limits a local governments ability to cap rents on newer properties and single-family homes. A yes vote on Prop. 33 would mean cities and counties can control rents for any housing and limit how much a landlord may increase rents when a new renter moves in. California voters have already rejected two similar proposals in the past. Prop 34: This proposition would require select providers to spend 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug programs on direct patient care. Prop 35: Proposition 35 seeks to permanently support the states healthcare system, especially the Medi-Cal program. The measure would also make a tax on health insurance providers, also known as managed care organizations, permanent. Revenue from these programs would be used to increase Medi-Cal programs. The California Democratic and Republican parties support the measure, as do several organizations, especially those in the medical field. Newsom has indicated that he would oppose it, even though no official opposition group has been registered so far. Newsom argues that restricting tax revenue spending would hamstring future legislators and governors ability to balance the state budget, Cal Matters reported. Prop 36: A yes vote on Prop. 36 would roll back provisions of Prop. 47, a voter-approved initiative that reduced some felonies to misdemeanors and set a $950 threshold for shoplifting charges. This ballot proposition would also create a new treatment-focused court process for some drug possession crimes, and require courts to warn people convicted of selling or providing illegal drugs to others that they can be charged with murder if they provide drugs to someone who later dies, according to the states Legislative Analyst Office. More information about all the 2024 California ballot propositions can be found here. More information on Californias voting registration process can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A view of the U.S. Capitol down East Capitol Street at sunset. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) In less than two months, voters in Ohio and around the country head to the polls. If everything goes smoothly and theres no guarantee it will we might know who won the races for president, Congress and more later that evening. What happens next is where we ran into trouble in 2020, and its what a 2022 law known as The Electoral Count Reform Act aims to clarify. Following the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump refused to accept his defeat. He filed scores of lawsuits that went nowhere, and badgered state officials in Georgia to find him votes. Ambiguities in prior law gave Trump allies just enough to room to believe they could overturn the election at the certification ceremony on January 6. The Electoral Count Reform Act establishes concrete deadlines for state level certification between the election and the joint session in Congress. It also raises the threshold for challenging electors and clarifies that the vice presidents role as presiding officer is a purely ministerial one the vice president can not unilaterally reject electoral votes and certification. Summing it up, Holly Idelson from Protect Democracy said, I think the ECRA bumper sticker could have been make January boring again. The timeline in Ohio and under the ECRA Election Day this year is Nov. 5, but Ohioans who want to vote early or absentee can begin doing so Oct. 8. Absentee ballots for overseas voters have already gone out. Voters who choose to cast a ballot absentee will need to get it postmarked by Nov. 4 at the latest, and the postal service must deliver it by Nov. 9 to count. Following Election Day comes the canvass where local election officials make their final tally with party representatives and supporters or opponents of ballot issues looking on. Under Ohio law, that cant begin until five days after the election (Nov. 10) but must begin within 15 days (Nov. 20). County boards must have their official canvass completed by Nov. 26. Following the canvass, Ohio officials issue whats known as a certificate of ascertainment. Its essentially a document laying out the official vote totals and slates of electors for each presidential candidate. Its signed by the governor and the secretary of state and submitted to the national archivist. Under the ECRA, that certificate must be issued by Dec. 11, and any litigation stemming from a dispute must be wrapped up by Dec. 16. In each state the electors meet at their state capitols cast their official votes the next day, Dec. 17. About three weeks later on Jan. 6, the vice president, presiding over a joint session of Congress, receives and tallies those Electoral College votes. The ECRAs changes Before the ECRA, the certification of presidential election results was governed by the Electoral Count Act. That law, passed in 1887, was meant to address another Electoral College crisis that came out of the 1876 election. But Campaign Legal Center executive director Adav Noti explained some provisions were loose enough to allow Trump allies try upending the 2020 elections results at the state and federal level. One was trying to get state legislatures to overrule the popular results in their states, he explained. And the other was trying to get Congress and or the vice president to basically throw out electoral votes when they were counted in January of 2021. Part of defusing those strategies, Idelson explained, is just being more explicit about timing and responsibilities. The ECRA makes it clear the time for deciding electors is Election Day, not through state legislative action after the fact. And this language replaces something that was intended to do the same thing, she said, but because it was written in a somewhat vague way and talked about a failed election, was misperceived or misrepresented, to potentially open the door to saying, hey, we didnt like the way the election went, it was fraudulent, we can do something different. The ECRA also places explicit authority for submitting them in the hands of the governor, unless the state had previously put it in the hands of another official. Under previous law, the authority for appointing electors was more diffuse allowing for state legislatures to assert a role in settling disputes. Following the 2000 election, the U.S. Supreme Court even determined the legislature may, if it so chooses, select the electors itself. If a dispute arises, the ECRA requires expedited court proceedings to review the case at the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., with an eye toward settling disagreements before the Electoral College meets. Michael Thorning from the Bipartisan Policy Center argued thats important, because there are complications in elections from time to time even if people are acting in good faith. In 1960, for instance, Hawaiis governor submitted a slate of electors for Richard Nixon only to find after a recount that John F. Kennedy had actually won the state. At the time, some members of Congress werent sure which slate to accept, and partisans have cited the incident in election disputes for the 2000 and 2020 presidential election. Theres a way to resolve that in a definitive way before the certificate gets to Congress, Thorning said. Because what the law says is that if you go through this court process, and the court rules, as they may have in the Hawaii case, that one set of electors is not the correct set, its this other one, youll have a definitive answer. So had we had the ECRA maybe in 1960 versus the old version of the law, that ambiguity might never have come up, he added. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Once lawmakers are meeting in the Jan. 6 joint session to tabulate the votes, the ECRA sets a higher threshold for challenging electors. Under previous law, objections needed only one U.S. representative and one U.S. senator. Now, a challenge will require one fifth of both chambers. And the one other adjustment that ECRA made, Idelson added, is that if an objection is made and then sustained by a vote in both chambers, then that number is subtracted from the denominator when it comes time to calculate if someone has won a majority of the electoral votes. Thorning explained that undercuts a tactic partisans tried in 2020. Throwing out some electors while keeping the overall number steady could keep either candidate from reaching a majority, thus putting the decision in the hands of the U.S. House of Representatives where the GOP held an advantage. So, the ECRA really shut down the avenues of attempted overturning of the election from 2020, Noti described. State legislatures arent an option anymore. Congress isnt really an option anymore. But he acknowledged in states like Georgia, some officials are looking for ways to gum up the works for certification at the local level. The state elections board there has approved rules allowing counties to delay certification while investigating purported discrepancies as well as requiring a hand count of ballots at polling places. The states Republican attorney general has warned the board it is likely exceeding its authority, and Noti doesnt believe their efforts will go anywhere either. He noted Georgias Secretary of State has already publicly insisted on counties meeting the state certification deadline which falls well before the federal one. And theres an opportunity to get a court order if somehow (counties dont certify), Noti said. So quite a few safeguards built into the system in case there is an effort to slow things down at the at the county level. Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The rotunda of the U.S. Capitol seen from a street at sunset A view of the U.S. Capitol down East Capitol Street at sunset on January 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Electoral Count Reform Act, passed in 2022 to address attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, establishes concrete deadlines for certification of votes; raises the threshold for challenges and clarifies that the vice president has a ministerial role in the process. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) This story originally appeared on Ohio Capital Journal. In less than two months, voters in Ohio and around the country head to the polls. If everything goes smoothly and theres no guarantee it will we might know who won the races for president, Congress and more later that evening. What happens next is where we ran into trouble in 2020, and its what a 2022 law known as The Electoral Count Reform Act aims to clarify. Following the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump refused to accept his defeat. He filed scores of lawsuits that went nowhere, and badgered state officials in Georgia to find him votes. Ambiguities in prior law gave Trump allies just enough to room to believe they could overturn the election at the certification ceremony on January 6. The Electoral Count Reform Act establishes concrete deadlines for state level certification between the election and the joint session in Congress. It also raises the threshold for challenging electors and clarifies that the vice presidents role as presiding officer is a purely ministerial one the vice president can not unilaterally reject electoral votes and certification. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Summing it up, Holly Idelson from Protect Democracy said, I think the ECRA bumper sticker could have been make January boring again. The timeline in Ohio and under the ECRA Election Day this year is Nov. 5, but Ohioans who want to vote early or absentee can begin doing so Oct. 8. Absentee ballots for overseas voters have already gone out. Voters who choose to cast a ballot absentee will need to get it postmarked by Nov. 4 at the latest, and the postal service must deliver it by Nov. 9 to count. Following Election Day comes the canvass where local election officials make their final tally with party representatives and supporters or opponents of ballot issues looking on. Under Ohio law, that cant begin until five days after the election (Nov. 10) but must begin within 15 days (Nov. 20). County boards must have their official canvass completed by Nov. 26. Following the canvass, Ohio officials issue whats known as a certificate of ascertainment. Its essentially a document laying out the official vote totals and slates of electors for each presidential candidate. Its signed by the governor and the secretary of state and submitted to the national archivist. Under the ECRA, that certificate must be issued by Dec. 11, and any litigation stemming from a dispute must be wrapped up by Dec. 16. In each state the electors meet at their state capitols cast their official votes the next day, Dec. 17. About three weeks later on Jan. 6, the vice president, presiding over a joint session of Congress, receives and tallies those Electoral College votes. A man in a suit holding a gavel, standing near a woman in a blue suit with a mask on The ECRAs changes Before the ECRA, the certification of presidential election results was governed by the Electoral Count Act. That law, passed in 1887, was meant to address another Electoral College crisis that came out of the 1876 election. But Campaign Legal Center executive director Adav Noti explained some provisions were loose enough to allow Trump allies try upending the 2020 elections results at the state and federal level. One was trying to get state legislatures to overrule the popular results in their states, he explained. And the other was trying to get Congress and or the vice president to basically throw out electoral votes when they were counted in January of 2021. Part of defusing those strategies, Idelson explained, is just being more explicit about timing and responsibilities. The ECRA makes it clear the time for deciding electors is Election Day, not through state legislative action after the fact. And this language replaces something that was intended to do the same thing, she said, but because it was written in a somewhat vague way and talked about a failed election, was misperceived or misrepresented, to potentially open the door to saying, hey, we didnt like the way the election went, it was fraudulent, we can do something different. The ECRA also places explicit authority for submitting them in the hands of the governor, unless the state had previously put it in the hands of another official. Under previous law, the authority for appointing electors was more diffuse allowing for state legislatures to assert a role in settling disputes. Following the 2000 election, the U.S. Supreme Court even determined the legislature may, if it so chooses, select the electors itself. If a dispute arises, the ECRA requires expedited court proceedings to review the case at the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., with an eye toward settling disagreements before the Electoral College meets. Michael Thorning from the Bipartisan Policy Center argued thats important, because there are complications in elections from time to time even if people are acting in good faith. In 1960, for instance, Hawaiis governor submitted a slate of electors for Richard Nixon only to find after a recount that John F. Kennedy had actually won the state. At the time, some members of Congress werent sure which slate to accept, and partisans have cited the incident in election disputes for the 2000 and 2020 presidential election. Theres a way to resolve that in a definitive way before the certificate gets to Congress, Thorning said. Because what the law says is that if you go through this court process, and the court rules, as they may have in the Hawaii case, that one set of electors is not the correct set, its this other one, youll have a definitive answer. So had we had the ECRA maybe in 1960 versus the old version of the law, that ambiguity might never have come up, he added. Once lawmakers are meeting in the Jan. 6 joint session to tabulate the votes, the ECRA sets a higher threshold for challenging electors. Under previous law, objections needed only one U.S. representative and one U.S. senator. Now, a challenge will require one fifth of both chambers. And the one other adjustment that ECRA made, Idelson added, is that if an objection is made and then sustained by a vote in both chambers, then that number is subtracted from the denominator when it comes time to calculate if someone has won a majority of the electoral votes. Thorning explained that undercuts a tactic partisans tried in 2020. Throwing out some electors while keeping the overall number steady could keep either candidate from reaching a majority, thus putting the decision in the hands of the U.S. House of Representatives where the GOP held an advantage. So, the ECRA really shut down the avenues of attempted overturning of the election from 2020, Noti described. State legislatures arent an option anymore. Congress isnt really an option anymore. But he acknowledged in states like Georgia, some officials are looking for ways to gum up the works for certification at the local level. The state elections board there has approved rules allowing counties to delay certification while investigating purported discrepancies as well as requiring a hand count of ballots at polling places. The states Republican attorney general has warned the board it is likely exceeding its authority, and Noti doesnt believe their efforts will go anywhere either. He noted Georgias Secretary of State has already publicly insisted on counties meeting the state certification deadline which falls well before the federal one. And theres an opportunity to get a court order if somehow (counties dont certify), Noti said. So quite a few safeguards built into the system in case there is an effort to slow things down at the at the county level. Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Ohio Capital Journal maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor David Dewitt for questions: info@ohiocapitaljournal.com. Follow Ohio Capital Journal on Facebook and X. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE TOPEKA (KTMJ) Fox 43 AM Lives Ely Millard spoke to Brandon Hogan with Electrical Specialists and Brian Green with Allstate Insurance about storm damage and how best to prepare for it, and if necessary, deal with the aftermath. Watch the video above to get the full story. Critically endangered tiger cubs born at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. A Detroit judge temporarily removed from the bench after he detained a sleepy teen girl has returned to work after completing mandated training originally crafted for early childhood educators. But it's not the same job for 36th District Judge Kenneth King: Instead of hearing the early stages of murder and domestic violence cases, Chief Judge William McConico said, King is headed to traffic court. "Judge King has successfully completed his training and began hearing cases on the traffic docket (on Tuesday), filling in for another judge who is on vacation. On Monday, September 30th, he will assume his own docket in the traffic division," McConico said in a statement late Wednesday. "We appreciate his efforts in preparing for this role, and wish him success as he transitions into this new responsibility." 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King returned to work this week after he was removed from his docket for training. However, after he had a sleepy teen detained in his court, he's been reassigned to preside over cases in the traffic division, said 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico. A lawyer representing King did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment. Gary Felty, a lawyer representing the girl King had detained, declined to comment. Before his removal, King had one of the more high-profile criminal case schedules in Detroit. He presided over the preliminary stages of the case against Michael Jackson-Bolanos, the man Wayne County prosecutors accused of killing well-known Detroit Jewish leader Samantha Woll. Jackson-Bolanos was eventually found not guilty of murder after King sent his case to 3rd Circuit Court for trial. The traffic division handles far smaller cases. While some traffic-related matters can be criminal, others are civil citations. Common issues in this court include speeding, making an illegal turn or driving without insurance. The docket also handles crimes that might violate city ordinances but do not necessarily amount to breaking state law, according to the court website. King successfully completed a course in a concept called "Conscious Discipline," McConico said. McConico handpicked a private, Chicago-based consultant to provide the training on an open-ended contract after he determined King's decision to handcuff and threaten a teen girl was inappropriate. The trainer, Tanyelle Hannah, is a longtime educator. Until recently she worked as a principal at a school on Chicago's south side, according to multiple public profiles online. However, someone who answered the phone at the school Thursday said Hannah left about a year ago. King's training was an open-ended contract. McConico said there was every effort to keep costs down, but his office won't know the final cost until the trainer submits an invoice. He declined to provide additional information about the cost. The Conscious Discipline website says individual online courses can run several hundred dollars per program, but the company crafts individual quotes for specific training requests. It's unclear if Hannah's prices are comparable. Conscious Discipline is a form of social emotional learning instruction designed to help teachers, administrators, mental health professionals and parents find the tools needed to regulate their own emotions while helping children or others under their charge thrive, according to the company's website. "Conscious Discipline creates a compassionate culture and facilitates an intentional shift in adult understanding of behavior via the Conscious Discipline Brain State Model," states an "evidence" portion of the website. "This highly effective approach is proven to increase self-regulation, sense of safety, connection, empathy and intrinsic motivation in both children and adults." Hannah's profile speaks to her education credentials and how her training can help teachers, students and the broader school community. In describing her training with King, McConico said she would focus on "empathy and vulnerability in the legal practice, and addressing bias and fostering equity, among other topics." She provided two virtual sessions a week and one in-person course on Saturdays, McConico said. Hannah recently posted to social media an image of herself outside the Motown Museum. King remained off the bench for about six weeks, during which he was paid to receive training. There is very little McConico or anyone else can do in terms of docking a judge's pay; as is the case when anyone in an elected position is accused of wrongdoing, punishment options and oversight powers are limited. McConico removed King from his scheduled docket after King had a teen girl detained, put in jail garb and handcuffed for repeatedly falling asleep in his courtroom during a field trip. The teen, who has since filed a federal lawsuit against King, was held for roughly two hours in an isolated cell. Eventually King brought her back to court, lambasting her before he asked her to plead with the court and her peers not to go to jail. King told the Free Press previously he did not act inappropriately and was trying to impress upon the girl the seriousness of going to court. He has not provided additional comment since the lawsuit. The Free Press also uncovered King's regular use of a chat in the livestream of his proceedings broadcast via YouTube. The investigation determined King regularly appeared to comment in the chat, at times during hearings and about those hearings. McConico and other judicial experts criticized this decision: Some noted he could violate judicial rules by having conversations outside of formal hearings with parties to a case, or garner relevant information from commenters despite those details not being a part of the court record. The Free Press also reported King granted moderator privileges to a private citizen in the chat, a woman living in Georgia who was not employed by the court. McConico stripped her of this power and told the Free Press he was investigating the situation. As of earlier this month, that investigation was ongoing. In his statement about King returning to the bench he did not provide an update on that case. Reach Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com and on X, previously called Twitter, @Dave_Boucher1. (This story was updated to delete a word.) This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit judge Kenneth King finishes training, heads to traffic court We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Low Beta Stocks To Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) stands against the other low beta stocks. After a rough few years, the market is coming together and is on a healthy trajectory. The recent Fed rate cuts triggered a lot of bullish sentiment toward the broader market. For example, on September 20, Business Insider reported that Brian Belski from BMO raised his S&P 500 price target for 2024 to 6,100 from 5,600, followed by the Fed's recent rate cut and strong seasonal market data. Moreover, Belski talked about broadening stock market gains and the increased likelihood of a soft landing for the U.S. economy. He finds current elevated valuations justified as he compared the situation to the mid-1990s when the market sustained high multiples. In addition, Tom Lee of Fundstrat is bullish on the market for several upcoming years and expects the broader market to nearly triple to 15,000 by 2030. His bullish sentiment is driven by demographic shifts, millennial spending, and technology advancements. He mentioned the prime earning years of millennials and Gen Z, which mirror previous periods of high stock market returns. Furthermore, he also highlighted the role of technology in addressing global labor shortages and projects significant spending on AI and tech solutions. Broadening Market Participation and the Outlook for Recession Risks On September 24, Prashant Bhayani of BNP Paribas Wealth Management joined CNBC to discuss the current market conditions. He discussed the improving liquidity and noted the tight credit spreads, near-record equities, and steady lending. While U.S. hiring is slowing, he explained that rising unemployment is partly due to labor force growth, not just layoffs, which makes it different from past cycles. Bhayani stressed that employment data, like jobless claims, will be important in determining market outlooks. On market valuations, Bhayani acknowledged some sectors are overvalued but sees broader market participation beyond AI-related stocks. He suggested that stocks could outperform bonds if a soft landing or no recession occurs. Addressing concerns about potential triggers for volatility, Bhayani said that a credit event, similar to those seen in 2000 or 2007, could lead to significant market declines. However, current credit spreads and a healthy banking system support the soft landing view. Our Methodology For this article, we used the Yahoo Finance stock screener to identify over 30 mid to mega-cap stocks with a 5-year beta (monthly) between 0.2 to 0.8. Next, we narrowed the list to 10 stocks most widely held by institutional investors. The 10 best low-beta stocks to buy are listed in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment and we used the beta as a tie-breaker as well. Story continues Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). A military jetfighter against a deep blue sky with the sun behind it. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) 5-year Beta (monthly): 0.73 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40 L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) is well-known in the aerospace and defense sectors, providing essential mission-critical solutions to both government and commercial clients across the globe. The company was established through the merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation in 2019, the company operates through four main business segments, Integrated Mission Systems, Space and Airborne Systems, Communication Systems, and Aviation Systems. The segments offerings allow it to offer a wide range of products and services, including advanced electronic systems, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) technologies, and pilot training solutions, effectively serving a variety of sectors from defense to commercial aviation. It takes the 10th place on our list of the best low beta stocks to buy. 2024 has seen the company securing several key contracts in the aerospace and defense landscape. On September 12, it was awarded a substantial five-year contract valued at up to $587.4 million from the U.S. Navy. The contract is focused on developing the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB) system, which aims to enhance the Navy's aerial electronic warfare capabilities. Additionally, the company is set to deliver eight operational prototype pods for fleet assessment, further strengthening its position in this area. Another significant development came on September 17, when L3Harris (NYSE:LHX) received a $142 million contract for Photonics Mast Depot repair services. The contract shows the companys capability to provide ongoing support and maintenance for sophisticated defense systems, with work expected to extend through 2029. Such long-term contracts not only provide steady revenue but also highlight the trust that government agencies place in the companys expertise. Furthermore, it is making strides in the space sector. In August, the company partnered with Firefly Aerospace, Inc., which includes provisions for up to 20 launches on Firefly's Alpha rocket. The agreement improves its ability to support satellite deployment missions, a growing area of importance as global demand for satellite services continues to rise. At a stake value of $1.2 billion, 40 hedge funds held positions in L3Harris (NYSE:LHX) in the second quarter. As of Q2, Diamond Hill Capital is the top shareholder in the company and has a position worth $334.428 million. Overall LHX ranks 10th on our list of the best low beta stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of LHX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is promising and trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Read Next: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. NEW YORK (PIX11) Federal authorities unsealed a criminal indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday. The embattled 110th mayor of New York City vowed to fight against the indictment, saying he does not plan to resign. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, said Adams outside Gracie Mansion. My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. Adams was charged with accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources stemming from his 2021 mayoral campaign. As we allege year after year after year, he kept the public in the dark, said Damien Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said during a news conference on Thursday. He told the public he received no gifts, even though he was secretly being showered with them. Mayor Adams indictment: Timeline of federal investigations Despite Adams response, a growing number of city and state officials called on the mayor to resign. It was not immediately clear when the mayor would appear in court. This liveblog is no longer active. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. After Employee Died at Her Desk, Union Slams Wells Fargo for Allegedly Ignoring Her: Went Unnoticed for 4 Days Denise Prudhomme's cause of death, which will be determined by the local medical examiner's office, is still pending Google maps Wells Fargo office in Tempe, Arizona. Following the death of 60-year-old Wells Fargo employee Denise Prudhomme, who was found dead days after clocking into her Arizona office in August, one union didn't mince words when it came to the company. In the statement, obtained by The Arizona Republic and NBC affiliate KPNX, a union that represents Wells Fargo workers said, "We are saddened and outraged by the devastating tragedy and loss of our coworker, Denise Prudhomme, who worked as a Business Execution Consultant in Corporate Banking in Tempe, Arizona." Although the union was identified by the outlets as Wells Fargo Workers United, according to their website, the union which represents 19 branches throughout the county but not corporate employees like Prudhomme is called the Communications Workers of America. Related: Mom Says Daughter, an Ernst & Young Employee, Died as a Result of 'Overwhelming Workload' Prudhomme's body was found on a third-floor desk in the Tempe office by on-site security on Aug. 20, four days after she clocked in, police confirmed with PEOPLE at the time. "The preliminary investigation did not show any obvious signs of foul play," police said. A cause of death, which will be determined by the county's medical examiner's office, is still pending. 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. "Denise was the only person on her team in Tempe. This may be one of the reasons why her desk was located in an underpopulated area in the building and nobody checked on her for four days," the union said in its statement, per the outlets. "Wells Fargo monitors our every move and keystroke using remote, electronic technologies - purportedly to evaluate our productivity - and will fire us if we are caught not making enough keystrokes on our computers; however, Denise went unnoticed at her desk for four days." "The contradictory nature of electronic surveillance versus an unnoticed death sheds light on the reality of what it means to be a worker at Wells Fargo," they added. The union, which made a number of demands, went on to say that the solution is not more monitoring, but ensuring that we are all connected to a supportive work environment instead of warehoused away in a back office. In a statement, a Wells Fargo spokesperson tells PEOPLE the company is "deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague." "Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones, and we have been in touch to ensure they are well supported during this difficult time," the spokesperson added. "For any employees with specific concerns, we encourage them to continually share their feedback, as this helps us build a stronger company. Related: Man Found Dead in Hospital Coffee Shop Sat Unnoticed for Over 3 Hours: Reports Following her death, Wells Fargo previously told PEOPLE that the company was "committed to the safety and wellness of our workforce and are reviewing our own internal procedures after this event." PEOPLE has reached out to the union for additional comment. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Mimicking the mountains behind them in color and shape, the homes of Rijal Almaa are fortresses that have provided staunch defense against many attacks on the region. Built from stones of various shapes and sizes, yet fitting snugly like a jigsaw puzzle, the walls are reinforced with mud and clay. Each buildings facade is punctuated with rows of small windows cascading downward, bordered by square frames of white quartz, and facing either southward or westward to catch the mountain breeze. Rijal Almaa, a village designed for defense against the elements as well as enemy attacks in days gone by, now protects and preserves the culture of Soudah locals. Photograph by Soudah Development On the inside, the spacious rooms are decorated with Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, an art form of geometric patterns, shapes and symbols, applied traditionally by women to the walls and ceilings of each home using natural dyes. A variety of sources, including pomegranate peel, clay, frankincense resin, onion peel, basil lead, turmeric and charcoal create a kaleidoscope of colors. Each of the painstakingly executed decorations carries a story, a flow of conversation about the people who live here. Over a lunch of rotisserie chicken piled on heaps of rice and stewed okra, with the beloved local staple of aseed, a bread baked in wood-fired tandoors, soaked in ghee and doused with honey, Ibrahim Al Fathy recounted the history of his ancestral home. Over nine centuries old and located at the crossroads between the south of the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, the village of Rijal Almaa in Saudi Arabias southwestern Aseer region has sat alongside an important ancient trade route, which connected merchants to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Fresh dough being mixed to be served with ghee and honey, resulting in the nourishing dish aseed. Photograph by Rena Effendi Its described in both the Quran and the Bible. The first tribes settled here after the ancient Marib Dam was destroyed. Ibrahim told me as he drew a map of Rijal Almaas valley on a piece of paper. The dam was originally built to irrigate crops by capturing monsoon rains from the nearby mountains. However, once the dam collapsed, the area became too arid for agriculture. People moved and settled in Rijal Almaa, attracted by its fertile land and the surrounding scenic mountains. A decade ago, Ibrahim embarked on a passion project to renovate his ancestral home, for which he kept the original title deed from the mid-1800s, written in Ottoman Arabic script. All my friends told me I was crazy, wasting my time fixing some old wreck, he said. But they surely are impressed now. He chuckled with pride as he pushed the door open to a spacious terrace overlooking the ancient fort towers. In the basement, Ibrahim pointed out that his home was built on a solid rock foundation. It must be very strong. If you dont find good location for the foundation, facing the right direction of the wind, the house will collapse, he said, placing his hands on the original walls that are rendered with a mixture of mud and manure. He opted for a different method for the sleeping chambers upstairs, using paint and plaster instead. Its not good for your health to breathe manure while sleeping, he noted. The combination of brown stone and straw that its buildings are made of, coupled with their shape and arrangement, has earned Rijal Almaa the apt nickname, Gingerbread Village. Photograph by Rena Effendi Ibrahim restored his house using traditional materials and centuries-old methods he learned from the elderly village masons. He pressed the mud with his own feet and inserted ragaff, flat-shaped sharp rocks, into the exterior walls to protect them from the rainfall. I wanted to bring my home to life in its original form, but make it even better and more functional. This is where I spent the best years of my life. My most treasured childhood memories come from heremy mother baking bread, our doors staying open for visitors all day longI left a part of myself here. Now in his mid-thirties, Ibrahim Al Fathy is a tour guide, a cook, and a village imam, whose dream is to share his family home with the world. After inheriting such a rich history, the Flowermen of today practice, celebrate, and share their culture both within and outside their community. Photograph by Rena Effendi I dont want a regular life. This way is closer to nature. Everyone who enters my home tells me it has a special soul. Our ancestors were wise; they knew how to do everything with their hands. Donning a black blazer embroidered with gold, a sword tucked into his waist belt, a white sarong with yellow and red stripes and an elaborate headdress of orange flowers and mountain herbs, Ibrahim prides himself on preserving the culture of his community and passing it on to future generations. The next day at dawn, I followed Ibrahim and his friend Ahmed Ali Asogy into the hills of Rijal Almaa, as they walked on the sun-kissed slopes, collecting flowers and herbs to make essabah, the traditional headdress for men. Later in the day, they spread a carpet on the ground under the shade of juniper trees. Ibrahim and Ahmed emptied the sacks of flowers and herbs and joined a group of men sitting on the ground, making flower crowns, cracking jokes and reciting poetry. Septuagenarian Abou Wael, the oldest in the group, told me that his ancestors covered their heads with flowers to protect themselves from the sun while harvesting crops. The flowers served a practical purpose, but they are also part of our tribal identity, said Abou Wael as he neatly twisted thread around the stems of rue, which he attached to a thin band. They are beautiful and smell great. They symbolize youth and good health. Abou Wael described an old custom of wearing a flower crown while sleeping: These herbs were said to repel demons and give you nice dreams, he said, before adding, They also cast away geckos and bedbugs. The essbah, the ring of carefully selected flowers that form the Flowermens headdress, is said to serve many spiritual and practical purposes. Photograph by Rena Effendi Two men made fire in a dug-out pit and prepared a young sheep carcass for al haneeth, a traditional southern dish of meat slowly roasted on hot embers under a bed of palm leaves and herbs, covered with a mound of earth with margoog, patties of dough soaked in mutton broth, jammed between the layers. Musa Al Mangahi, the musician in the group, pulled out a small plastic flute and began to play. Dressed in jubba and futa (shirt and sarong) with kohl lining his serene eyes and long dark hair, Abou Wael sat reclining on a pillow. As if on cue, he began to chant in sharp melodic bursts, cajoling others to join the chorus. While the lamb roasted in the earth oven, Abou Fayeh Makloty, one of the cooks, sprang to his feet and raised a dagger into the air, shedding years, as he pranced about clicking his tongue rhythmically to the music. "Whats your secret for staying young and healthy?" I asked Abou Wael. I spent most of my life as a nomad, which kept my mind at peace. I never bothered with the problems of modernity. Now, I have a sedentary lifestyle, but I cant live without nature. Everything I need is always in my carthe cooker, the pillows, the food. I go out every day with my friends. We sit by the fire, tell stories, cook and sing, he answered. Through music, dance and dress, a summer's afternoon is enjoyed under the shade of acacia trees. Photograph by Rena Effendi Whiffs of roasted meat and herbs rose from the fire pit, mixing with the sweet aromas of the flower crowns. Abou Fayeh dug out the crispy, golden cuts of tender meat and smoky bread patties and served them on a platter of rice. The head is always for the esteemed guest, he said with a smile, skillfully dividing the meat. As the sun began its descent, the men gathered to enjoy the feast, savoring the tender meat and flavorful broth. The skies turned dark and moody, and cool raindrops fell on the juniper needles first and then onto the mens flower crowns. The rain is always a blessing here, Ibrahim said, and everyone nodded. A fresh breeze followed the rain, breaking the afternoon heat. A critical infrastructure facility has been damaged as a result of a Russian drone attack in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, leaving part of the oblast centre [the city of Ivano-Frankivsk] without electricity. Source: Svitlana Onyshchuk, Head of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Military Administration; Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv Quote: "A critical infrastructure facility has been damaged. Part of the city is partially without power. Power engineers are already working to restore the electricity supply. All the appropriate services have arrived promptly at the scene to address the aftermath. The fire that broke out at the scene has been extinguished. Fortunately, there are no injuries reported." Photo: State emergency service Details: Martsinkiv noted that he was present at the scene and confirmed that no one had been injured. Photo: State emergency service "However, some trolleybus routes will not be operating. Some schools and educational institutions will experience power issues, at least for a day. There may also be problems with food supplies," the mayor stated during a live radio broadcast, which he streamed on his social media page. Background: Russian forces launched attack drones on Ukraine on the evening of 25 September. Explosions rang out in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. Explosions were heard in the city of Kyiv at night, where air defence systems were responding. Reports indicated that wreckage from a Russian Shahed drone had caused a fire on the ground floor of a residential building in the Pecherskskyi district of Kyiv. Approximately 20 cars were damaged and wreckage fell on a kindergarten. Authorities reported that around ten drones had been downed over the capital. Another 13 Russian Shahed drones were intercepted in the skies over Sumy Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Environmentalists are pushing President Biden to veto a bill that would weaken federal scrutiny of semiconductor manufacturing. But Biden is reportedly set to sign the legislation, which has moved quickly through both the House and Senate and has support from lawmakers in key swing seats. The bill would exempt semiconductor manufacturing facilities that receive federal funding from environmental reviews. Opponents warn that it could lead to less oversight of the industry and more pollution. Harry Manin, the Sierra Clubs deputy legislative director for industrial policy and trade, said that if the legislation becomes law, its going to be completely secret going forward whether facilities are using PFAS and other harmful chemicals. Its not going to have to be reported, Manin said. That really was the last protection that communities and workers had the promise of transparency so that then through federal, state and venues with the companies [they] can negotiate for mitigations and in some cases eliminations. The bill unanimously passed the Senate late last year with little fanfare. This week it sped through the House, passing the lower chamber 257-125 on Monday despite not being subject to any House committee hearings. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, told The Hill that not sending the bill through committee represented a major departure from typical procedure. She added that it would be unwise to eliminate environmental reviews completely, given historic pollution tied to semiconductor manufacturing. In floor speeches, other opponents raised similar concerns. Semiconductor manufacturing has never been clean. Its left behind pollution, toxic waste and even poisoned workers, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) said Monday. Were talking miscarriages, cancer and entire communities still dealing with the fallout today. She added that the legislation intends to throw all those lessons out the window and bring back the same toxic mess we saw in Silicon Valley, only bigger. Despite these concerns, a White House official told Politico that Biden would sign the bill into law. The official said in a statement that the legislation will allow us to continue our efforts to ensure Americans across the country can benefit from the promise of the Investing in America agenda while protecting communities and the environment. White House spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment from The Hill about whether Biden would sign the bill or how he would respond to environmentalist criticisms. The legislation follows 2022s CHIPS and Science Act, which put $280 billion into building, expanding and modernizing semiconductor manufacturing. Semiconductors are used in a wide range of technologies ranging from phones and computers to weapons systems to renewable energy. However, their manufacturing has historically included carcinogens like arsenic and benzene. In the present day, a major concern that has been raised is the use of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have become widespread in the environment and human beings and have been linked to cancer and other health issues. While the legislation saw opposition from mainstream Democrats, it is supported by vulnerable lawmakers including Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who touted its House passage in a written statement. This legislation will help prevent delays to the semiconductor manufacturing projects the CHIPS Act made possible and will encourage future investments in American manufacturing, he said. The legislations House co-sponsors include Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who are both running for Senate in competitive races. But the bills opponents said Biden shouldnt sign it. I think he should veto it, Lofgren told The Hill. But hes the president and Im not. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) A federal judge has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address the potential impacts of fluoride in drinking water on IQ levels. In a new ruling this week, Obama-appointed Judge Edward Chen ordered the EPA to take regulatory action over the issue. Chen wrote that a preponderance of the evidence shows that there is an unreasonable risk stemming from fluoride in drinking water. Specifically, he wrote that there is ample support in the scientific record that the U.S. population is at risk of losing more than four IQ points due to fluoride exposure. Free COVID tests will be available again soon: How to get yours Fluoride is intentionally added to drinking water to prevent tooth decay. About 200 million Americans drink water with added fluoride. The substances health impact has been the subject of significant debate. The Department of Health and Human Servicess National Toxicology Program found in August that higher levels of fluoride exposure is linked to lower IQs in children. But, following that report, the American Academy of Pediatrics stood by its recommendation in favor of adding fluoride to water and toothpaste. Could a powerful solar flare wipe out life on Earth? In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement that expert panels have not found convincing scientific evidence linking community water fluoridation with any potential adverse health effect, including low intelligence. Chen, in his ruling, said that his unreasonable risk finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health; rather, the Court finds there is an unreasonable risk of such injury. He wrote that this risk is sufficient to require the EPA to engage with a regulatory response but does not dictate what the outcome of that EPA action will be. A spokesperson for the EPA said that the agency was reviewing the decision, but did not comment further. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. EVANSVILLE, In (WEHT) The trial for a man charged with murder at an Evansville strip club will extend go into a fourth day. Zachary Diaz is accused of fatally shooting Derrick Dye, Jr. outside of Ponytails Lounge in Feburary. EPD detectives and forensic experts took the stand in Vanderburgh Superior Court. One forensic pathologist said a blood draw from Dye showed drugs and alcohol in his system, but those factors did not medically contribute to his death. It was also noted that the bullet went through one of Dyes ribs, causing fragments to damage the kidney. The expert said Dye was at a .2 level at the time of death, which was classified as moderately intoxicated. He also said the bullet hit the aorta where someone would lose consciousness very quickly with death happening within 30 seconds if no help was administered. Detective Nicholas Hackworth testified he was called to assist on what was described as a homicide investigation and later two separate warrants on South Kentucky Avenue and Ravenswood Drive. He also said he searched Diazs silver Lexus two separate times and did not find anything. Brandon Carpenter said he also aided with the warrant on South Kentucky Avenue by taking photos. He said among the items that were found was a .22 caliber rifle that was not related to the case and a hoodie in the main bedroom closet. He explained the suspect was described as wearing a black hoodie at the time of the crime. He verified it was Diazs address by them finding pieces of mail and his drivers license at the South Kentucky Avenue address. Carpenter said he also aided with the warrant at Ravenswood Drive and among the things collected was a hoodie with gunshot holes. During cross examination, it was noted that the hoodie had a size difference in the holes and only the hoodie was sent to the lab among several items. Carpenter commented he was not at the scene when the crime occurred. The first authority person on the scene was Deputy Dylan Yates with the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office. He said he found the victim to the left of the main building. He described the mood as panicked from onlookers. The jury got to see Yates body cam footage, and it confirmed Dye was shot in the chest. Yates said after he left, he drove around looking for the car that Diaz allegedly fled in but was unsuccessful. ISP Forensic Examiner Mitzi Templeton was next, and she was able to confirm the gun that was submitted to her as evidence was the same gun that was used in the crime. She also said the bullet that was found at the scene was a hallow point where the top would deform, creating a bigger cavity. It was determined to be a .35 caliber, which could have been a 9mm. Templeton said there are a number of different rounds that fall into the .35 caliber category including a 9mm, .380 special and a .357. Cameron Arvin was on the stand when time was running short, and the jury was sent home for the evening. Testimonies are set to resume at 8:15 a.m. Thursday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) has announced its new director of operations services through a press release stating that Joel Valencia was selected for the position on Wednesday, Sept. 25. According to EPISD, Valencia was a facilitator for the Elementary Division in the School Leadership Department and a principal before his new role. According to EPISD, Valencia has a masters degree in education administration and supervision and will complete his doctorate in organizational leadership in 2024. The district has yet to say when Valencia will begin his new role. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. The Supreme Court has set a high bar for prosecutors to prove public corruption cases, so its difficult to predict how even the most shocking allegations against politicians will turn out in court. But one thing that may help the government in the newly unsealed case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams is the almost absurd collection of cover-up type behavior alleged in the indictment. Fake paper trails and deleted messages are among such alleged evidence that no criminal defendant wants to be in a position of having to explain away, even if its the prosecution that has the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial while the defendant has no burden. Indeed, such evidence can help the government clear that properly steep hurdle. Adams, who is presumed innocent like any defendant, confronts this evidence in an indictment that alleges the former New York City police officer sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. The alleged fake paper trails again, really not something anyone wants to have to explain arise in part of the indictment that claims Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails, falsely suggesting that he had paid, or planned to pay, for travel benefits that were actually free. For example, prosecutors allege that Adams attempted to create a fake paper trail suggesting he had paid for his 2017 flights on the Turkish Airline, when in fact he had not. Regarding the allegedly deleted messages, those surface in the prosecutions claim that Adams concealed benefits from foreign nationals seeking to gain influence over him. The indictment says that an Adams staffer texted the mayor, in the context of planning a possible trip to Turkey, to delete all messages you send me in order to be on the safe side. To which Adams allegedly replied: Always do. Similarly, another stranger-than-fiction passage in the indictment alleges that, during a voluntary interview with FBI agents, the staffer went to a bathroom and deleted the encrypted messaging applications that she had used to communicate with Adams and others. One doesnt have to be a lawyer to understand how such evidence can be damning. It can therefore easily resonate with a jury, which could be useful for prosecutors, especially if Adams can raise doubts about the underlying charges themselves. Prosecutors could then ask the natural question: If he wasnt doing anything wrong, then why try to cover it up? Of course, this indictment was only just unsealed, and we dont know what, if any, defenses Adams will raise if the case does go to trial. Most cases dont go to trial. But if this one does, this type of evidence can be useful to prosecutors in any sort of case. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for updates and expert analysis on the top legal stories. The newsletter will return to its regular weekly schedule when the Supreme Courts next term kicks off in October. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Eric Adams becomes first sitting NYC mayor indicted in historic federal probe claims feds persecuting him over migrant crisis Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on charges connected to a federal probe, sources told The Post as the defiant chief executive claimed he was being persecuted by the federal government for speaking out about the citys migrant crisis. The historic indictment the first for a sitting New York City mayor is expected to be unsealed Thursday by US Attorney Damian Williams, according to the sources. The news was first reported by the New York Times. Adams will surrender to authorities early next week, sources said. Details about the exact accusations remained unclear, but they are believed to be connected to allegations of the Turkish government illegally funneling money into his mayoral campaign in exchange for approval of the Turkish Consulate in Manhattan, according to sources. Sources said the mayor is facing a charge of acting as an unregistered foreign agent after accepting donations from foreign entities. Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly denied wrongdoing as he faced a federal investigation. Mayor's Office I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said in a statement to The Post. If I am charged, I am innocent, and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. In a video statement released later, Adams said he wouldnt step down and pledged to fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and spirit. New York Post front cover on Sept. 25, 2024. I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life, he continued. That fight has continued as your mayor. Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics. A rep for the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment. Sources told The Post that two others Adams top campaign fundraiser Brianna Suggs and his director of Asian affairs, Winnie Greco are expected to be named in the indictment. Adams claims hes being persecuted by the feds for speaking out against NYCs migrant crisis. Bloomberg via Getty Images At least three others are also expected to be charged, though The Post could not immediately confirm their identities. Following news of the indictment, cops set up barriers outside Gracie Mansion, the mayors home, and forced reporters back from the house. At about 11:50 p.m., Adams ex-chief of staff Frank Carone emerged from the property. When asked by reporters whether Adams was distracted by the legal trouble, Carone replied, Not at all. Then about a half-hour later, three black SUVs were seen leaving the mansion with their emergency lights flashing. Eric Adams indicted: Live updates after NYC mayor hit with indictment Its uncertain how the indictment is related to a sweeping set of Sept. 4 raids that targeted several high-profile Adams administration officials, which sent City Hall into a weeks-long tailspin as news reports emerged of investigations focused on alleged corruption among the mayors inner circle. By Wednesday morning, word had spread that a senior City Hall official soon would be indicted, sending staff into a panic throughout the day, insiders said. The indictments unveiling will come after federal prosecutors recently demanded City Hall cough up all communications between the Adams administration, Turkey and five other foreign countries amid the long-running probe. New Yorks City Hall. Mayor Eric Adams is the first sitting mayor to face a federal indictment in the citys history. Christopher Sadowski Adams 2021 campaign had previously been served with subpoenas for information on its campaign donations specifically those that had ties to Turkey, sources told The Post. Sprawling records requests then came in a July batch of subpoenas seeking details on all interactions between admin officials and Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan, the sources added. Adams, City Hall and his election committee were also hit with grand jury subpoenas that same month with the feds obtaining text messages, documents and other communications and materials. Adams has been a vocal critic of the Biden administrations soft immigration policies as the Big Apple was flooded with more than 250,000 migrants since 2022, accusing the federal government of leaving New York to fend for itself. The scene outside Gracie Mansion after Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by federal prosecutors in New York, on September 25, 2024. Christopher Sadowski An NYPD car sits outside Gracie Mansion overnight, following Adams indictment. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post Two NYPD officers stand outside Gracie Mansion on Sept. 25, 2024. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post The national government has turned its back on New York City, he said in early 2023. He also said the White House needed to appoint a person who would be dedicated to a decompression strategy at the border. The migrant crisis is expected to cost the city upward of $12 billion by 2026 and Adams has repeatedly pleaded for Washington to provide more funds to Gotham. Adams top campaign fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, also faces charges in the foreign influence case one of several federal probes swirling around the mayor and his inner circle. serinc I am lost. I am confused on this topic on why we still, almost 20 months later, were still talking about this issue and it has inundated the city, Adams told Fox 5 in December 2023. The US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York had remained tight-lipped about the probe ever since it burst into view last November with a dramatic raid on top Adams fundraiser Brianna Suggs Brooklyn home. The raid which sought evidence of straw donor kickbacks by the Turkish government and the Williamsburg-based construction company KSK Construction Group into Adams mayoral campaign prompted Hizzoner to scurry back from a much-publicized White House meeting on the migrant crisis. Follow the latest on the FBI raids of Adams administration officials: The feds subsequently raided the homes of City Hall staffer Rana Abbasova and Cenk Ocal, a former Turkish Airlines executive who worked on Adams transition team. A week later, Adams had his own phones and iPad seized by FBI agents on the streets of Manhattan. Meanwhile, another aide, Winnie Greco, had her Bronx home raided by FBI agents in February, though it wasnt clear at the time whether it was tied to the Turkey probe. Hizzoner has long denied any wrongdoing. It takes a great deal of discipline to not say something when you know youve done nothing wrong, Adams said in August when asked about the mayoral campaign investigation. Now-former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban (center) and top Adams aide Tim Pearson (right) are targets of federal probes. Brigitte Stelzer The indictment marks the first time a New York City mayor has faced charges in 170 years, according to historical research done by The City. All recent mayors from David Dinkins to Bill de Blasio have faced some type of corruption investigation, but all those probes ended with, at worst, lower-level aides being slapped with charges. Former Mayor Jimmy Walker famously resigned in 1932 while under investigation, but he was never charged. The bombshell indictment will come amid a spate of other federal investigations targeting City Hall and Big Apple officials that came to light in a stunning series of raids on Hizzoners top lieutenants, closest political allies and most trusted aides of late. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are behind many of the probes but like the mayoral campaign investigation have remained tight-lipped about the aims, potential charges and how the probes might entwine. No one, to date, has been charged or accused of any wrongdoing in the other investigations. Additional reporting by Ben Kochman, David Propper and Marie Pohl We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Low Beta Stocks To Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) stands against the other low beta stocks. After a rough few years, the market is coming together and is on a healthy trajectory. The recent Fed rate cuts triggered a lot of bullish sentiment toward the broader market. For example, on September 20, Business Insider reported that Brian Belski from BMO raised his S&P 500 price target for 2024 to 6,100 from 5,600, followed by the Fed's recent rate cut and strong seasonal market data. Moreover, Belski talked about broadening stock market gains and the increased likelihood of a soft landing for the U.S. economy. He finds current elevated valuations justified as he compared the situation to the mid-1990s when the market sustained high multiples. In addition, Tom Lee of Fundstrat is bullish on the market for several upcoming years and expects the broader market to nearly triple to 15,000 by 2030. His bullish sentiment is driven by demographic shifts, millennial spending, and technology advancements. He mentioned the prime earning years of millennials and Gen Z, which mirror previous periods of high stock market returns. Furthermore, he also highlighted the role of technology in addressing global labor shortages and projects significant spending on AI and tech solutions. Broadening Market Participation and the Outlook for Recession Risks On September 24, Prashant Bhayani of BNP Paribas Wealth Management joined CNBC to discuss the current market conditions. He discussed the improving liquidity and noted the tight credit spreads, near-record equities, and steady lending. While U.S. hiring is slowing, he explained that rising unemployment is partly due to labor force growth, not just layoffs, which makes it different from past cycles. Bhayani stressed that employment data, like jobless claims, will be important in determining market outlooks. On market valuations, Bhayani acknowledged some sectors are overvalued but sees broader market participation beyond AI-related stocks. He suggested that stocks could outperform bonds if a soft landing or no recession occurs. Addressing concerns about potential triggers for volatility, Bhayani said that a credit event, similar to those seen in 2000 or 2007, could lead to significant market declines. However, current credit spreads and a healthy banking system support the soft landing view. Our Methodology For this article, we used the Yahoo Finance stock screener to identify over 30 mid to mega-cap stocks with a 5-year beta (monthly) between 0.2 to 0.8. Next, we narrowed the list to 10 stocks most widely held by institutional investors. The 10 best low-beta stocks to buy are listed in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment and we used the beta as a tie-breaker as well. Story continues Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). 5 Countries with the Most Special-Mission Aircraft in the World A military aircraft in flight, showing the strength of the company's combat & air mobility capability. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) 5-year Beta (monthly): 0.47 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 56 Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is a Maryland-based global aerospace, defense, and security company. The company focuses primarily on the research, design, development, manufacture, and integration of advanced technological systems and services. The companys expertise spans key sectors, including aerospace, military defense, cybersecurity, and space exploration. The company operates through key segments, namely, Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space. Its Aeronautics division is known for developing military several aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II, one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. The Missiles and Fire Control division focuses on precision weaponry and advanced missile systems, while Rotary and Mission Systems covers naval warfare, radar technologies, and cybersecurity. Lastly, the Space segment handles satellite technologies, missile defense, and space exploration. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has been receiving a significant number of contracts recently, including the latest NASA contract. NASA has awarded the company with a contract to develop the next-generation GeoXO Lightning Mapper instruments for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The initial contract is valued at around $297 million for two instruments, with options for two more. The innovation is designed to provide meteorologists with improved tools for issuing timely warnings about severe weather events, including rapidly intensifying hurricanes. The companys joint venture (JV) with RTX, Javelin, has received several contracts in September. Earlier in August, Reuters reported that Lockheed Martins (NYSE:LMT) JV secured a follow-on contract valued at $1.3 billion from the U.S. Army for Javelin missiles, which have been crucial in Ukraine's defense against Russia. The contract is part of a broader agreement awarded last year, potentially worth up to $7.2 billion, which covers an unspecified quantity of missiles from 2023 to 2026. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) tops our list of 10 best low beta stocks as its stock was held by 56 hedge funds, at a combined value of $2.056 billion in Q2. Two Sigma Advisors is the companys largest shareholder with 855,600 shares worth $399.65 million as of the second quarter. Overall LMT ranks 1st on our list of the best low beta stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of LMT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is promising and trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Read Next: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a chaotic, short-lived press conference Thursday morning to address his damning public corruption indictmentonly for the charges to be made public while he was speaking to the press. Adams was indicted Wednesday in a federal case, though the specific charges against him were not immediately released. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became, Adams said in a statement that night. He said that charges against him were entirely false, based on lies, though it was not yet clear what those charges were. Despite our pleas when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics, said Adams, suggesting this might be the reason hed been targeted. The next morning, the mayor held an official press conference on a public street outside of Gracie Mansion in Manhattan. Flanked by supporters, who were there to voice their confidence in the embattled mayor, Adams was also greeted by protesters. This is not a Black thing! This is not a Black thing! This is a you thing! This is a you thing, Eric Adams! shouted one protester as Adams chuckled awkwardly. Your policies are anti-Black. You are a disgrace to all Black people in this city! the protester continued. This is not a Black thing, this is a justice thing! As Adams began speaking, he insisted he was not surprised by the indictment. This is not surprising to us at all. The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months. The leaks. The commentary. The demonizing, he said. Adams confirmed that he would not be stepping down as New York Citys mayor but instead continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. (The indictment alleges that Adams swindled more than $10 million in public funds for his 2021 mayoral campaign.) Adams enlisted several speakers, including the Reverend Herbert Daughtry; Hazel Dukes, head of the NAACP New York State Conference; and activist Jackie Rowe Adams, who had to scream to be heard above the hecklers and protesters. When a reporter notified Adams that the indictment had been unsealed, his face fell. The reporter also asked him to clarify his suggestion that hed been targeted by the federal government. I think we should ask the federal investigators and prosecutors who directed them to the actions that we are witnessing right now, Adams responded. You know I have ran many campaigns. I have been part of many campaigns. And um, the scrutiny of those campaigns always revealed the same thing. I follow the rules, I follow the law. I do not do anything thats going to participate in illegal campaign activity. And I will not do that. And Ive instructed not only in writing, but in verbal conversations with the team, we do not participate in straw donors, we do not participate in foreign donors, Adams said. We know what those rules are, we comply with those rules. And I think that my attorneys are going to reveal that as we move forward. The 57-page indictment alleged precisely the opposite, claiming that Adams had sought out and received luxurious trips and straw-man payments facilitated by a senior Turkish official. Those perks were then allegedly covered up by Adams and members of his staff. In return for all the favors, Adams allegedly pressured the New York Fire Department to sign off on a new Turkish consulate skyscraper without a fire inspection. The full indictment includes other charges as well, alleging hefty straw-man payments from a construction company owner and the owner of a Turkish university. One reporter asked Adams to respond to the charges, which went back to before his 2021 mayoral campaign, despite Adams implying the indictment was payback for complaining that the federal government had helped to create an immigration surge in New York City. The mayor was also asked, point-blank, whether he had taken kickbacks from foreign countries or intervened on behalf of the Turkish governmentand that seemed to be all he could take. My legal team will peruse the entire indictment. We got it today when it was released, said a pained-looking Adams. The news media received information before we did. It appears as though the goal is to try to try this case publicly, and not in the criminal justice system thats in place, he said. If its campaign violations, I know I dont violate the campaign. If its foreign donors, I know I dont take money from foreign donors, Adams said. Adams then abruptly ended the news conference and shuffled away with his herd of supporters, as some in the crowd cheered, RESIGN! RESIGN! RESIGN! New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been charged with bribery and fraud following a spiraling federal investigation into his administration. Among other accusations, federal prosecutors alleged in their September 2024 indictment that Adams received campaign donations from the Turkish government for his 2021 mayoral race and sought to conceal these illegal foreign contributions. Adams is New Yorks first mayor to be charged with a crime, but he is hardly the only politician to run afoul of rules that govern how political campaigns can raise and spend funds in U.S. elections. And as we document in our new podcast, Scandalized, discovering campaign finance violations is often just the first chapter in a much wilder story. Why campaign finance law matters The U.S. has federal rules that govern how political campaigns can raise and spend money in U.S. elections. For example, they limit how much money individuals and groups can contribute to candidates campaigns. Federal rules also restrict how campaign funds may be used and require the disclosure of all campaign expenditures, ensuring candidates cant spend campaign money on whatever they want. Legally, candidates may use campaign donations on expenses directly related to their race for office. Allowable expenditures include advertising, travel and costs related to fundraising, such as renting an event space or buying food for guests. Candidates may use excess campaign funds after the election is over to pay down outstanding loans, or they can transfer it to other campaigns or party organizations. Campaign funds may not, however, be spent at any time on purely personal expenses. Candidates cannot pay their mortgage or rent out of their election war chest, or purchase clothing or household supplies. The disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York, was a particularly egregious violator of the rules related to personal expenses. Santos pleaded guilty in August 2024 to nearly two dozen counts of campaign finance violations a smorgasbord of crimes. According to The New York Times, he rerouted tens of thousands of dollars of campaign money toward personal expenses, including luxury goods, Atlantic City casinos, rent payments and a website primarily known for explicit sexual content. Santos, who served for just under a year until he was expelled from Congress in December 2023, is a prime example of how the complicated U.S. campaign finance system can unearth other, even more scandalous actions by politicians. Former U.S. Rep. George Santos outside court after pleading guilty to 23 felony counts on Aug. 19, 2024, in West Islip, N.Y. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images A window into bigger scandals A key element of campaign finance law is disclosure. Candidates must publicly report donations over US$200, for example, and document everything they spend those donations on during and after their campaigns. For former U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter Jr., a California Republican, failure to comply with disclosure laws during his 2016 election campaign resulted in a federal investigation. The Justice Department found that Hunter used campaign donations to fund family vacations, video game purchases and hotel rooms for multiple extramarital affairs. In 2020, he was sentenced to 11 months in prison. Former President Donald Trumps longtime lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, also failed to disclose a contribution to his bosss 2016 presidential campaign. But the real scandal was what that money actually went for: paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to making an unlawful contribution. Many, if not most, campaign finance violations are minor. Small mistakes such as filing a late donor disclosure report or miscategorizing an expense usually incur little more than a small fine. When technical campaign finance violations shed light on a big scandal, however, they attract attention. Voters and the media latch onto the fact that not only are donors funds not going where they intended, but in many cases the money has been spent to subsidize candidates personal misbehavior and corrupt activity. High-profile political scandals erode the public trust Just about every recent survey shows Americans levels of faith and trust in government at historic lows. In the 1960s, three-quarters of voters said they trusted the government to do the right thing most or all of the time. Today, only one-fifth do. Unseemly behavior by politicians, including by candidates who misspend their supporters donations, may contribute to this declining trust. Americans have real fears about money in politics. For example, 84% of Americans worry that wealthy lobbyists and interest groups have undue influence on elections, and 80% say campaign donations have corrupting effects on politicians. Even when candidates arent technically breaking the law, they often use campaign funds in ways donors may not realize or appreciate. Sometimes, investigations into seemingly technical campaign violations uncover a wilder story. Filo via Getty In the 2024 election, for example, political campaigns, both major parties and private fundraising entities on both sides of the aisle have spent millions in campaign funds on the legal fees of candidates fighting court battles over allegations of serious criminal misconduct. Beneficiaries include Trump, who has been indicted for suspected mishandling of classified documents, and New Jerseys Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Mendendez, who was recently convicted on federal corruption charges. The bottom line: Donations made to help a candidate win their race are not always going where donors actually intended or believed they would. Still, the U.S. political climate is so polarized that these scandals may not dramatically affect voters decision-making. Political scientists sometimes refer to todays voters as calcified in their partisan identities, meaning they are so loyal to their own party that campaign-finance violations and other scandals cannot change their views much. Research shows voters are also increasingly motivated not so much by their support or affection for their own party but rather by their fear and loathing of the other party. As a result, partisan voters are willing to accept or forgive scandalous behavior from their own side in the interest of beating the opposition. Hardcore partisans are also adept at finding ways to justify or rationalize these transgressions. With record amounts of money flowing in and out of political campaigns in 2024, the coming months are bound to bring more campaign finance scandals. But our research indicates they are unlikely to have major effects at the polling station. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Charlie Hunt, Boise State University and Jaclyn Kettler, Boise State University Read more: The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Mayor Eric Adams September 25 indictment has spurred hilarious reactions from New Yorkers. On Wednesday, the 64-year-old politician was indicted on federal charges of bribery, wire fraud, solicitation of contribution by a foreign national, and conspiracy. The US Attorneys in the Southern District of New York announced his five-count indictment and accused him of taking illegal campaign contributions during his 2021 mayoral campaign in addition to other things of value, from foreign nationals. These charges come after a lengthy federal investigation into his 2021 campaign as well his personal ties to Turkish government officials and nationals. Adams is now the first sitting mayor to face federal criminal charges. On social media, locals were quick to joke about the ordeal. Eric Adams was indicted on September 25 for charges of bribery and fraud (REUTERS) And thats why you dont play chicken with the public library budget, The New Yorkers Emily Nussbaum joked Meanwhile across town Samantha was dealing with an indictment of her own Asscela Express (@biz_socks) September 26, 2024 Meanwhile across town Samantha was dealing with an indictment of her own, wrote another, referencing a famous Sex and the City bit. I guess God doesnt want Eric Adams to be mayor anymore, a third wrote. Adams famously once said that God wanted him to be New York City mayor. Eric Adams throwing awaying his career, wrote another next to a video of the mayor introducing the citys trashcans. Eric Adams throwing away his career pic.twitter.com/RZPpaVLHFv Leaf Nagy (@nagy_minaj) September 26, 2024 Others shared jokes about Adamss famed hatred of rats. Between his 2022 press conference remarks, where he officially declared his distaste for the citys unofficial inhabitants, to the Urban Rat Summit he hosted earlier this month, Adams has been very vocal about wanting to solve the citys rodent problem. Rats high-fiving each other in the street, one person remarked. rats secure yet another victory in New Yorks war on rats JP (@jpbrammer) September 26, 2024 A second posted a Photoshopped picture of a rat seated at the head of a table with the caption: Tell Eric I want him to know it was me. Rats secure yet another victory in New Yorks war on rats, another person commented, while a fourth added: Theyre winning the streets one slice of pizza at a time lmfao. Adams confessed he was not surprised by the charges raised again him and refused to step down from his position as mayor. He denied all the allegations against him, ignoring all past and present lawmakers urging him to leave his post as the top official in the city. Adams was elected as New York Citys 110th mayor in 2021 and took office in 2022. He was due to run again in next years mayoral race for a second term. Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, indicted on federal charges New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and those within his inner circle, have faced a swath of investigations (REUTERS) New York City Mayor Eric Adams was criminally indicted on Wednesday on federal charges, according to people familiar with the matter. It is unclear this time what the charges could be, the indictment is under seal at this time, the New York Times reported. However, Adams has been facing numerous federal investigations. Adams would be the first New York City mayor in history to face a criminal indictment. For months the mayor and those close to him, including employees, have been facing subpoenas, raids and allegations of wrongdoing. New York City Eric Adams was reportedly indicted (Getty Images) One of those allegations of wrongdoing is related to an alleged straw donor scheme. In November 2023, federal agents seized Adams electronic devices as part of an ongoing probe into allegations of corruption related to campaign finance wrongdoings. According to reports, Adams allegedly benefitted from a straw donor scheme during his 2021 mayoral campaign through his ties to Turkish government officials and Turkish nationals. The New York City mayor has been vocal about his longstanding relationship with Turkey and the Turkish-American community of New York. He previously boasted that hes made at least six trips to Turkey. Reports circulated that Adams received campaign donations from employees of a Brooklyn-based construction company owned by a Turkish-American businessman. Adams has vehemently denied any allegations. The FBI and the New York City Department of Investigations will release more information on Thursday. This is a breaking news story, more follows... Eric Adams says he "expected" indictment, refuses to step down as DOJ reveals bribery allegations In a press conference outside Gracie Mansion, which was raided just hours earlier, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he wasnt fazed by a five-count indictment that outlined detailed allegations that he accepted foreign bribes and broke campaign finance laws We are not surprised. We expected this, a surprisingly chipper Adams said. I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before they make any judgments. Adams also revealed he didnt plan to step down, as calls from top city elected officials mount for his ouster. I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city as I've done throughout my entire professional career, Adams said, alongside religious leaders and other allies who came to his defense. Everyone who knows me knows that I follow campaign rules and I follow the law. When they removed my phones ten months ago, people said the city was gonna collapse, Adams said, referring to an earlier FBI seizure of his devices, before suggesting that prosecutors could have political motives for investigating him. I think we should ask federal investigators and prosecutors if they were directed to take the actions that we are witnessing right now. The presser, which was interrupted several times by protestors calling for Adams to quit, came just minutes before federal prosecutors laid out their case. "You are a disgrace for all Black people in this city!"-- Eric Adams's news conference is not going well pic.twitter.com/Gq0Ui8Yeyh Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 26, 2024 In a DOJ press conference a few miles downtown, investigators laid out the sprawling case against Adams and revealed the extent of luxury that a Turkish airline allegedly afforded to Adams, as a Turkish official sought his help in expediting city business. Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, called a Turkish official and a Turkish airlines alleged pampering of Adams over nearly a decade a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise, per the New York Times. Williams alleged that Adams accepted over $100,000 in luxury travel benefits, including first-class airfare and five-star hotel accommodations, ultimately taking corrupt official action on behalf of those who bribed him. Eric Adams suggests he is being targeted by Biden administration over criticism of migrant crisis Eric Adams has implied that the criminal indictment against him is a result of his criticism of the Biden administrations handling of the migrant crisis. The Democrat became the first sitting New York Mayor to be federally indicted on Wednesday, almost a year after his phones were seized as part of an investigation into illegal foreign donations. Responding to the charges, Mr Adams suggested the investigation was the result of the Biden administration unfairly targeting him because of his criticism of the White House for failing to help the city cope with the influx of immigrants crossing the US southern border. I have been fighting injustice my entire life, Mr Adams, 64, said during a video address on Wednesday night. That fight has continued as your mayor. Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics. More than 210k migrants in New York since 2022 Once close allies, the relationship between Joe Biden and Mr Adams has cooled in recent years as the New York Mayor continued to criticise the president over the migrant crisis. And Donald Trump, at a press conference in New York on Thursday night, said that he predicted Mr Adams would be indicted because of critical comments he made about migrants. I remember NYC Mayor Eric Adams, a year ago, criticizing the federal government for the migrant crisis, he said. And I said, within a year, hed be indicted. And I was right. Thats what happened. And I noticed the indictment is very old. I have the same thing. I wish him well. More than 210,000 migrants have arrived in the Empire State since the spring of 2022. New York has a legal obligation to provide shelter to anyone who asks, and the influx of migrants, many of which were bussed up to the United States most populated city by Texas governor Greg Abbott, pushed the already stretched public system to breaking point. Let me tell you something New Yorkers, never in my life have I had a problem that I did not see an ending to I dont see an ending to this, the mayor said last year. This issue will destroy New York City. Accusing Mr Biden and New York governor Kathy Hochul of failing to help with the crisis, Mr Adams said last November: DC has abandoned us, and they need to be paying their cost to this national problem. Dont yell at me, yell at DC. At Thursdays fiery press conference, Mr Adams suggested the indictment against him is politically-motivated. Asked whether the indictment is political, he suggested we should ask who ordered the directive. Mr Adams was heckled relentlessly during the hostile press conference as he attempted to defend the five criminal charges he is facing. Crowds yelled for him to resign and called him a disgrace to the black community. Mr Adams was interrupted numerous times as he said there would be no circumstances under which he would resign. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss his "victory plan", which the Ukrainian president hopes will pressure Russia into agreeing a diplomatic end to the war. Details have been kept secret, but Zelensky is likely to ask the US president and vice-president for continuing military and financial support, as well as security guarantees. It comes amid a row with Donald Trump and the Republican party ahead of November's US presidential election. They were angered by Zelensky's visit to an arms factory in Biden's hometown of Scranton with top Democrats. Zelensky will meet Trump on Friday despite earlier reports that the meeting had been cancelled. Zelensky's visit to the ammunition factory in the key swing state of Pennsylvania was labelled by leading Republicans as a partisan campaign event. In a public letter, speaker of the US House Mike Johnson said the visit was "designed to help Democrats" and claimed it amounted to "election interference". He also demanded that Ukraine fire its ambassador to Washington who helped arrange the visit. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has also announced it would investigate whether Zelensky's trip was an attempt to use a foreign leader to benefit Harris's campaign. Her Republican rival for the presidency, Donald Trump, mocked Zelensky at a campaign event as the "greatest salesman on Earth" and accused him of refusing to "make a deal" with Moscow. Earlier this week, Trump also praised Russia's military capabilities, saying: "They beat Hitler, they beat Napoleon - thats what they do, they fight." The two men have long had a fractious relationship. In 2019, Trump was impeached by the US House over accusations that he pressured Ukraine's leader to dig up damaging information on a political rival. The row clouded a week in which Zelensky has twice addressed the United Nations, ramping up efforts to persuade the US and other allies to boost support more than two and a half years into Russia's full-scale invasion. At the White House meetings, Zelensky is expected to push again for US backing to fire Western-made long-range missiles deep into Russian territory, which Biden has so far blocked. Before the meeting, Biden said: "Let me be clear, Russia will not prevail in war... Ukraine will prevail". He also pledged to support Kyiv "in its path to membership to both the EU and Nato". Meanwhile, Zelensky thanked the US for its "unwavering bipartisan support". He later met Harris, with the vice-president reiterating her support for Ukraine and arguing the US must continue its role of global leadership. With Russian troops advancing in the east of Ukraine, the outcome of Zelensky's meeting with Biden and Harris is seen by many experts as a key moment in his attempt to shore up US support before the November election. On Wednesday, Russia's Vladimir Putin announced a plan to revise Moscow's nuclear doctrine, to enable Russia to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states if they are supported by nuclear states. Putin's spokesperson later clarified that it was meant as a "specific signal" to the West. President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant alongside top Democrats on Friday [Reuters] Hours before his meeting with Zelensky, Biden announced a $7.9bn (5.9bn) package of military assistance to Ukraine. The aid, part of a $61bn package that passed Congress in April, will be approved through presidential drawdown authority and will pull from existing Pentagon supplies to deliver the arms more quickly. Congressional Republicans blocked the package for months earlier this year, before ultimately relenting and passing the legislation. The delay caused arms supplies to Ukraine to dry up for several months. Zelensky thanked the US - Ukraine's largest foreign donor. At the same time, he also reportedly expressed frustration at the delay in delivering weapons that were already promised when he met US congressmen on Thursday morning. [BBC] More on the US election [BBC] North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of the race for the White House in his weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here. Say your boss gives you an unexpected bonus at work. Would you save the money, make those home upgrades youve been putting off or splurge on a nice vacation? School districts had to make similar calculations with the financial windfalls they received in the wake of COVID-19. Known officially as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds ESSER $190 billion was disbursed by Congress to schools and districts in three installments from March 2020 to March 2021. It was the largest one-time infusion of federal funds ever, and the money officially expires at the end of September. So what have researchers learned about ESSER, and what should it mean for future federal investments? Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Any evaluation of the ESSER funding has to start by defining its purpose. Was it intended as a financial lifeline for a large and important public-service sector in the midst of a turbulent economic climate? Was it supposed to nudge schools to reopen their doors for in-person instruction? Or was it meant to help re-engage students and help them address learning loss? Congress essentially took an all of the above approach. It did specify that 20% of the last round of ESSER funding be directed toward addressing learning loss, but the allowable activities were extremely broad and inclusive. Without a clear purpose or goal, districts could and did spend their money in wildly different ways. The result is that no one really knows how districts spent their ESSER money. Marguerite Roza and the team at Edunomics Lab did yeomans work of collecting what spending data they could find from state reports, but its far from a comprehensive story. Related Studies: Pandemic Aid Lifted Scores, But Not Enough To Make Up for Lost Learning When AASA, The School Superintendents Association, surveyed its members recently, it concluded that the wide diversity of investment strategies with the ESSER money does not illustrate or support any additional trends within specific categories. They found that districts spent the funds on tutoring, summer and afterschool programs, facilities, professional development for teachers, supports for English learners and students with disabilities, early-childhood programs and a host of other activities. At an event marking the surveys release, the superintendent from Umatilla, Oregon, highlighted her districts choice to invest in a cadre of substitute teachers who could be deployed as needed. The superintendent of schools in Fargo, North Dakota, emphasized the large number of initiatives his district launched and cautioned that those should be evaluated one by one rather than as a group. Congress could have set clearer priorities and set aside funding dedicated to specific initiatives, such as tutoring. But it may have been justified in deferring to local communities. Research on school finance has found that, in general, additional money helps boost a variety of student outcomes, but theres still an open debate about how funds should be distributed and spent. So flexibility was probably the right bet during a period like COVID. But without greater clarity on goals, the question of whether ESSER funding worked is hard to answer. Did the program provide a financial lifeline to schools and districts in an uncertain economic climate? That answer is an unequivocal yes. The early rounds of funding helped districts pay for personal protective equipment like masks, upgrade their technology and begin to re-staff schools after COVID layoffs and hiring freezes. Did ESSER convince districts to reopen their schools? Thats less clear. The first round of funds, which were approved in March 2020, wasnt enough to help most schools reopen their doors to in-person learning the following fall. And the last round, approved in March 2021, probably came too late to have an effect. According to the AEI Return to Learn tracker, only 7% of districts were fully remote by the time the last round of ESSER passed, and half of all districts remained fully remote or hybrid through the end of that school year. Related Schools Must Know If Their Learning-Loss Programs Work Before ESSER Funds End Did ESSER boost student outcomes? The early answer to that question appears to be yes, it did lead to meaningful improvements. By identifying districts that happened to get more or less money, two separate research teams found that the ESSER funds helped boost outcomes by a similar amount as past financial investments did. But did ESSER provide the right amount of money? The answer here is yes and no. The no side is dominated by practical realities. One-time windfalls are hard to handle, especially in an industry like education, where 85% to 90% of expenditures are tied to salaries and benefits. In a detailed report on the ESSER funds, New Americas Zahava Stadler quoted a school business official as saying, While [it was] fantastic that schools had these resources to be able to get through COVID and then try to recover those big Title I districts got so much money in such a short amount of time. [Its] really hard to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on one-time expenditures within that window. Its also hard to ignore the fact that the expiration of the money will likely lead to a fiscal cliff as districts scale back. How bad will that be? One way to estimate it is to note that, according to data compiled by FutureEd, districts had about $67 billion in ESSER funds left to spend as of one year ago. That money is now all about gone, and the states are not in a position to fill the gap. This is likely to lead to potentially large program and staffing reductions, which would be destabilizing for schools and bad for kids. Related 4 Things Districts Should Do Right Now Before the Fiscal Cliff But the other way to look at this question is from the student perspective. Its fair to conclude that students would likely be far worse off in the absence of the ESSER funds, and they remain so far behind pre-COVID performance levels that researchers estimate it would take an additional $450 billion to $900 billion to get kids fully back on track. No policymaker is seriously talking about making additional investments on anything close to this sort of scale. But focusing on student learning needs should be the ultimate goal, and thats a discussion policymakers should be having as the ESSER funds wind down. The country's public health system has been much criticised (ATTILA KISBENEDEK) (ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/AFP) The European Union's decision to name a Hungarian as its health commissioner has raised eyebrows in his country, which itself has crumbling hospitals and no health minister. The nomination of Oliver Varhelyi, an ally of Hungary's nationalist ruling party, to the health portfolio in the bloc's new executive commission last week cast a harsh spotlight on the country's own much-criticised public health system. "If the goal is to help the member states of the European Union with ideas to destroy the health sector, to ransack it... then it was a great idea" to nominate Varhelyi, Zoltan Tarr, an EU lawmaker from Hungary's opposition, told local media. Hungary's public health system has been under scrutiny since opposition leader Peter Magyar -- a former ally turned critic of Prime Minister Viktor Orban -- started touring hospitals this summer to denounce their "deplorable" conditions. Magyar accuses Orban of "systematically underfunding and dismantling public healthcare" by getting rid of the health ministry to save money shortly after he returned to power in 2010. Hungary spent only 4.4 percent of its GDP on health in 2022, a smaller share than any other EU country, Eurostat figures show. "Unfortunately... successive governments have not treated health as a priority," the head of the country's Hospital Association, Gyorgy Velkey, told AFP. - No water, no air con - Surveys show the quality of healthcare is one of the Hungarian public's biggest concerns. Complaints from patients proliferate on social media. From the lack of basic sanitary items to crumbling facilities, the list of complaints is almost as long as the notorious waiting lists for specialist care. In one Facebook post from last month, a father deplored the state of the hospital in which his son, in his 30s, died of thrombosis. "There was no air conditioning in the ICU. We had no light in the bathroom outside the ICU, and we were using our phone to get some light. There was no toilet seat and no water," Laszlo, who asked not to be identified by his full name, told AFP. Many patients say they turn to private providers to get better and faster medical care. Szilvia, 32, who did not want to be identified by her full name, paid the equivalent of 3,000 euros ($3,350) to give birth to her second child in a private hospital after a "traumatic birth experience" with her first-born. Experts say many of the difficulties predate Orban's return to office, as healthcare systems across Europe are struggling with ageing populations and shortages of workers. But the nationalisation of municipal hospitals in 2011-2012 exacerbated the problems, leading to inefficiency and indebtedness, according to Eszter Sinko, an economist specialising in the topic. "There are some well-functioning hospitals, clinics and GPs, but the system performs poorly overall," Sinko told AFP. Medical professionals and staff -- who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity -- also painted a dire picture. Medical workers are generally "overwhelmed and burned out", partly due to staff shortages, said one paramedic in Budapest with more than 10 years of experience. A 68-year-old specialist assistant at a Budapest hospital complained about working without air conditioning in temperatures up to 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer heat. And "bedsheets instead of curtains" were hung up to cover windows, a cleaner at the same facility said. "If a high-ranking visitor or an inspection comes, we quickly gather up supplies and equipment and bring them to the given ward to show that everything is fine," she told AFP. - 'Smear campaign' - Journalists are seldom permitted to do reports or interviews at hospitals -- and were barred altogether during the Covid-19 pandemic, when Hungary suffered one of the highest mortality rates in the EU. Only one of the eight hospitals visited by Magyar granted access to an AFP photographer. Following reports of failing air conditioners amid the summer's scorching heatwaves, Magyar spent August visiting hospitals -- armed with a digital thermometer and cameras. Videos of his visits were viewed by hundreds of thousands of people on Facebook. The government accused him of "misrepresenting the situation" and conducting a "smear campaign". Orban, in a rare press conference early this month, defended his record on healthcare, pointing to rising salaries and other improvements. "Every year we are making progress in healthcare, too. Of course, our work is not yet finished," he said. ros/jza/rlp Carles Puigdemont, leader of Catalan separatist party Junts and secretary general Jordi Turull attend a welcoming event organised by the party in Barcelona BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU Court of Justice has rejected an appeal by Catalan separatist leaders Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comin who both sought recognition as European Parliament members after being denied in June 2019, the court said on Thursday. Despite being elected in the 2019 European Parliament elections, their status was eventually not recognised due to their failure to take an oath pledging to respect the Spanish constitution, a procedure normally done in person in Madrid, as is required of newly-elected MEPs ahead of taking up their seat. The ruling upheld an earlier judgment by the EU's General Court that waived the immunity that Puigdemont and Comin would hold as MEPs. "The General Court correctly held that the President of the European Parliament could not depart from the list of elected Members which had been officially notified to him by the Spanish authorities," the Court of Justice said in its judgement. Jordi Turull, secretary-general of Puigdemont's and Comin's party Junts, which campaigns for independence from Spain for Catalonia, said on X: "We will continue fighting and persisting on every front to give voice and vote to what the ballot boxes said." Puigdemont fled Spain in 2017 to avoid prosecution following a short-lived declaration of independence for Catalonia that prompted Madrid to take direct control of the region. Comin was re-elected to the European Parliament in this year's elections in June and again refused to take the constitutional oath in Madrid. The separatist leaders both live in self-imposed exile. The ruling may open the door for their eventual extradition to Spain. In July, Spain's Supreme Court upheld arrest warrants for Puigdemont, Comin and others charged with embezzlement over the region's failed secession bid, as it ruled that a recent amnesty law does not apply to them. (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Joan Faus; Editing by Ros Russell) We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Performing Small-Cap Stocks in 2024. In this article, we will look at where Lumen Technologies Inc. (NYSE:LUMN) ranks among the best-performing small-cap stocks in 2024. The Case for Small Caps The recent Fed rate cut has made the market cautiously optimistic. Despite the unusual timing, historical data suggests a continued upward trend. Recently, we discussed the Dows new all-time high. The major stock index recently surpassed its previous peak, closing at a record-breaking level. This surge was fueled by a combination of factors, including positive investor sentiment following a central bank rate cut and broader economic optimism. This record-breaking performance reflects a strong upward trend in the market, indicating robust investor confidence and a favorable economic outlook. Heres an excerpt from the article on 10 Best Performing Stocks in 2024: The Dow Jones Industrial Average has recently made headlines by closing above the 42,000 mark for the first time, a significant milestone that reflects a surge in investor confidence following a substantial interest rate cut by the Fed. This momentous achievement occurred on September 19, when the Dow jumped over 500 points, closing at 42,063.36. This rise was part of a broader trend in the stock market, with major indices experiencing overall gains throughout the week, largely fueled by optimism surrounding the Feds decision to lower interest rates by 0.5%. On September 21, Edward Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, while acknowledging that the market tends to keep rising, also discussed the warning signs of a melt-up, in the context of the markets response to the September rate cut on CNBCs Closing Bell. He doubted the necessity of such a large rate cut, suggesting that the economy is currently growing at about 3% year-over-year and could potentially grow even faster. Yardeni noted that while productivity gains are expected to be more pronounced shortly, he would have preferred to see the market stabilize for a while instead of continuing its upward trajectory. Richard Bernstein, CEO of Richard Bernstein Advisers, joined CNBCs The Exchange on September 24 to provide insights on the performance of small-cap stocks. He noted that while small caps have been performing well, they have not kept pace with more speculative investments, such as cryptocurrencies, which have seen significant gains. Bernstein expressed concern that this trend could signal to the Fed that their liquidity measures may have been excessive, as funds are not being directed towards productive uses in the economy. Story continues He elaborated on his bullish stance regarding mid-cap and small-cap stocks, emphasizing that these categories are expected to experience substantial earnings growth. By the end of this year or early next year, Bernstein forecasts that small caps will grow at a rate significantly higher than the MAG 7 tech stocks. He pointed out that this phenomenon is typical when profit cycles hit a trough; small caps tend to be more sensitive to upturns in profitability, and noted the Feds current easing policies are occurring simultaneously with an environment of accelerating profits, an unusual combination that could fuel economic growth. When asked about the current market dynamics favoring mega-cap stocks over smaller ones, Bernstein acknowledged that many managers are indeed gravitating towards these larger companies. However, he cautioned that from a fundamental investment perspective, mega-cap stocks are generally slower-growing and more expensive compared to other market segments. He argued that historically, a combination of cheaper and faster-growing stocks has proven to be advantageous for investors. Bernstein also discussed the implications of rising gold prices and the performance of cryptocurrencies following recent Fed actions. He distinguished between gold and cryptocurrencies, suggesting that while gold has legitimate economic uses, cryptocurrencies often do not serve productive economic functions. He expressed concern over the speculative fervor in the market, arguing that excessive financial asset inflation can be as detrimental as real asset inflation. This misallocation of capital can lead to inflationary pressures as resources are diverted from essential sectors like infrastructure to less productive areas such as cryptocurrencies. Overall, Bernsteins insights reflect a cautious optimism regarding small-cap stocks amidst broader market trends. With that, were here with a list of the 10 best-performing small-cap stocks in 2024. Methodology We used stock screeners to look for companies trading between $1 billion and $10 billion, thats our definition of small-cap stocks. We then selected the top 10 stocks with the best year-to-date performance and that were also the most popular among elite hedge funds. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their year-to-date performance. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). Lumen Technologies Inc. (NYSE:LUMN) Year-to-Date Performance as of September 23: 281.42% Market Cap as of September 23: $7.13 billion Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18 Lumen Technologies Inc. (NYSE:LUMN) is a telecommunications company that offers communications, network services, security, cloud solutions, voice, and managed services through its fiber optic and copper networks, as well as its data centers and cloud computing services. The goal is to provide customers with a platform to connect, protect, and compute, enabling them to achieve their digital ambitions. The company sees the AI TAM opportunity in 3 phases. Currently, the race is for companies developing large learning algorithms. These firms need to train these algorithms quickly to be ready for the next phase when larger enterprises will start using them to run their businesses. The connectivity being acquired is to support data center builds for this training. With over $5 billion in major partnership inked to date, Lumen Technologies Inc. (NYSE:LUMN) sees a $7 billion revenue opportunity in data center networking. AI needs data, which requires data centers and connectivity, areas where this company excels. It is well-positioned for growth due to partnerships with Microsoft and Corning. These partnerships provide network infrastructure and fiber optic cables to support Microsofts Azure Cloud expansion and enhance Lumens supply chain. These developments have recently led to a 7% increase in its stock. Revenue in Q2 2024 was $3.27 billion, down 10.73% year-over-year, due to divestitures and commercial agreements. Mass markets segment revenue declined 8.2%. Wholesale revenue declined 10% year-over-year. North American business declined 5.5%. International and other revenue declined by 67.1%. Large enterprise revenue declined 6.9%. Notable wins include Uber and the state of New Mexico. Customer satisfaction in the companys service delivery process also improved significantly. Although the company faces financial challenges and high debt levels, the positive market response suggests that the successful execution of its partnerships could lead to a turnaround. If it capitalizes on these opportunities, it could see substantial revenue and profit growth, making it an appealing investment despite its risks. Overall LUMN ranks 5th on our list of the best-performing small-cap stocks in 2024. While we acknowledge the growth potential of LUMN, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LUMN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published on Insider Monkey. Sir Keir Starmer will meet the European Commission president in Brussels [Getty Images] Sir Keir Starmer will head to Brussels for the first time as prime minister next week to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The visit comes as the European Union appears to be willing to compromise with the UK over a new deal to allow more freedom for young people to travel around Europe. The EUs ambassador in the UK, Pedro Serrano, has suggested a scheme allowing young people to move freely during a gap year rather than for longer. However, Sir Keir has said that the government had no plans for a youth mobility scheme. Mr Serrano has told Times Radio: If we have a mechanism that allows young British citizens to go out for a gap year, for example, to any - they have a choice of 27 states within the European Union - to do a bit of learning and pay there for their learning while they're there. Why not? "If people want then to stay later for work, it's a totally different process. This would be limited in time. The idea is much more restrictive than some have suggested a youth mobility scheme could look like. The European Union would like to give its young people the opportunity to travel freely to the UK, in return for young people from the UK being able to do the same in the EUs 27 member states. The prime minister has frequently talked of what he calls a reset with the UKs European neighbours since Labour won the general election. He has visited Germany, France, Italy and Ireland since he came to power in July. But, until now, he hasnt visited Brussels. EU officials frequently make clear, both publicly and privately, that any changes to the arrangements between the UK and the EU will have to be negotiated directly with Brussels, rather than with individual capitals. Brussels sources say they have welcomed Downing Streets tone in recent months but that wont on its own unlock any substantial changes in the post-Brexit deal between London and Brussels. The government has ruled out rejoining the EU, or its individual big projects the single market and the customs union. Membership of the single market would oblige the UK to accept freedom of movement where citizens of any members of it can move freely between member countries. Many at Westminster conclude that unlimited immigration from the EU was a motivating factor for many to back leaving the EU in the referendum in 2016. The prime minister was a passionate supporter of Remain in the referendum and later campaigned for a second referendum. Senior Labour figures are aware that some who backed Leave might be suspicious of the governments true intentions and so made their red lines on negotiations with the EU very clear in the election campaign. The political difficulty of a youth mobility scheme is some would see it as at least a partial return of freedom of movement, for some people, for a fixed period of time. It is also likely, given the EUs size, that more young people from the continent would come to the UK than vice versa. EU figures insist it would be nothing of the sort. Mr Serrano said: There is the fear of migration. It's a big topic not only in this country but in Europe as well. And we have to see how we're going to be facing that working together more effectively. But it has nothing to do with the youth mobility scheme. "The government would like to negotiate a veterinary agreement to remove some border checks, help touring artists travel around Europe and get a deal where the UK and EU recognise the professional qualifications of each others people." Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's fresh threats to use nuclear weapons on non-nuclear countries are yet another example of his irresponsible behaviour, and they will not influence the European Union's decision to continue to support Ukraine. Source: Peter Stano, spokesman of the European Union, as reported by European Pravda Details: Asked how the EU would react to another lowering of the threshold for the use of Russian nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states, which Putin declared on 25 September, Stano emphasised that Putin "is playing gamble with his nuclear arms". Quote: "This is just a continuation of a very irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour on the side of Putin, showing basically to the whole world especially during the United Nations General Assembly," he stressed. The speaker noted that the head of the Kremlin "doesnt shy away from playing nuclear gamble over and over again". "We, of course, strongly reject these threats and the position of the European Union remains unchanged," Stano emphasised. He also noted that the EU is trying to convey this position to international partners, drawing their attention to how insane and irresponsible Putins behaviour is, especially considering he represents a permanent member of the UN Security Council, whose main task and duty is to maintain peace in the world. "This is fitting the pattern of his behaviour so far, unveiling his true face during a very important, high-level international event ongoing right now in New York," Stano concluded. On 25 September, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin made changes to Russia's nuclear deterrence doctrine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted he is sceptical of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's threats, which come amid discussions about allowing Ukraine to launch long-range missiles deep into Russia. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is convinced that Ukraines allies should increase their support for Kyiv despite Russian leader Vladimir Putin's threats, as he does nothing beyond talking. Support UP or become our patron! How Europe is embracing industrial decline to become the worlds museum Volkswagen workers warned the company against making a historic mistake this week as bosses prepare to enter talks with union leaders over one of the biggest shake-ups in its 87-year history. It is not a usual round of negotiations over pay and conditions: Volkswagen is considering the closure of factories in Germany, a first for the carmaker in its home country. It is the latest flashpoint in the economic crisis engulfing Germany and the wider European manufacturing industry. The slump is so severe that the European Central Bank (ECB) has raised the prospect that the Continent may have to radically shift its focus, abandoning swathes of uneconomical manufacturing and embracing services instead, and particularly booming sectors such as tourism. It highlighted the threat to factories from cheap Chinese goods flooding world markets, undercutting those made in Germany, which it said ultimately resulted in significant losses of price competitiveness for the eurozone. The ECBs solution is to try something radical at home: focus on tourism. It is easy to see why analysts might be tempted to call time on Europes struggling factories and push for something new. Germany, which relies so heavily on industry, is in a seemingly permanent stagnation, teetering on the brink of recession for several years even as other economies bounce back from the pandemic. The eurozones share of global goods exports has been shrinking for decades, but the crisis has intensified with the war in Ukraine. Energy prices jumped from around twice those in the US before Covid to a peak of more than five times in 2022. Even now, energy costs around four times as much as it does on the other side of the Atlantic, underlining the long-term blow to Europes factories competitiveness. Some of Germanys largest employers are even switching their focus and investment toward China. Chemicals giant BASF is expanding its 10bn (8.4bn) site in Guangdong, in the biggest investment since the storied company was founded on the banks of the Rhine in 1865. Business surveys show manufacturing is consistently shrinking across much of the eurozone, even as services, and particularly tourism, roar ahead. Inspiration for revitalising old industrial areas abounds from Europes hottest travel destinations. Mateu Hernandez, at Tourisme de Barcelona, says that until the 1990s the Spanish city was suffering a post-industrial slump that he compares to British cities such as Birmingham and Liverpool, before the Olympics helped kickstart a turnaround. Barcelona struggled against deindustrialisation through introducing services and tourism. That allowed Barcelona to stay alive as a wealthy city, he says. Tourism has kept the whole country afloat. Spains economy is on course to grow by 2.8pc this year, according to the OECDs latest forecasts. That is more than twice as fast as France, and even outstrips the 2.6pc growth anticipated in the US. The contrast with Germany could not be starker. As workers in Germany suffer from a lack of demand for their goods, Spains tourist numbers are so high that campaigns have erupted against their impact on residents, the environment and the jobs market. Protesters this summer blasted tourists with water pistols in Barcelona, put up signs in English falsely claiming beaches in Mallorca are closed, and marched through the Canary Islands denouncing the number of visitors and the impact on locals. In an acknowledgement of local discontent, the tourism slogan Visit Barcelona has been replaced with This is Barcelona, as the city stops seeking merely higher volumes of visitors. Spain might be the shining example, but turning from manufacturing to tourism is not unprecedented in Germany. The Zollverein coal mine and powerplant in Essen, in the industrial heartland of the Ruhr, is now a Unesco world heritage site, museum and shopping centre. On the other side of the country, the former textiles hub of Chemnitz still host to a giant statue of Karl Marxs head, a legacy from its days behind the Iron Curtain is next years European capital of culture. Tourism is now the third-biggest employer in the country after healthcare and retail, according to the countrys tourist board. In the past year Germany has added 23,000 jobs in hospitality, according to the investment bank Societe Generale not enough to replace the 123,000 lost in manufacturing, but a sign that there is rising demand. But a wholesale shift from industry to holidaymaking might be too radical an idea for Germany, and would be perceived as a surrender to China in some quarters. Volker Treier at DIHK, the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says the slump hit after Germany became complacent, taking its competitiveness for granted even as red tape and regulations piled up at a far faster rate than those in the US. He says it is not the time to give up on industry. We still have wonderful companies with well-known trademarks, very well located in world markets. We have to unleash private sector activities again, cut red tape and regulations, he says. It is not too late to get a turnaround. We are still in a market position which is not lost, especially when it comes to the degree of innovation, and the cooperation between science institutions and the business sector, as we have in Germany. Levelling the playing field with China would help manufacturers recover, Treier says, as would more free-trade deals. The mammoth Zollverein industrial complex in Essen has found a new lease of life as a cultural site - Rupert Oberhauser/Alamy Turning away from factories also risks beating swords into ploughshares just as war has arrived on the EUs doorstep, underlining the need for heavy industry for the sake of security. Jude Kirton-Darling at trade union group industriAll Europe says: One of the lessons of the pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine is the need for strategic autonomy. Calls to focus on services and tourism instead of manufacturing fail to appreciate the vulnerabilities exposed by recent events, she argues, comparing it to the wave of globalisation of the 1990s which accompanied a turn away from industry. All that analysis was that services were the future for Europe, you could rely on global value chains, you could import things that are produced elsewhere in the world cheaper, and there were no consequences for that, she says. But you create major vulnerabilities by pursuing that approach. We saw that in the pandemic in relation to basic medicines [and] semiconductors. There is also the likelihood that workers would not be best pleased with an industrial overhaul. In Mallorca, the heart of some of Spains protests, Aleix Calveras Maristany, professor of business economics at the University of the Balearic Islands, says jobs in tourism are not always good substitutes for those in manufacturing. It is true that the Spanish economy is growing, to a large extent because it is dependent on global demand for tourism, he says. But we should look at productivity and wages. A lot of the jobs are not highly paid, and they do not need a lot of qualifications. With warnings like that, German workers will need quite some persuading by the ECB if they are to give up hope on manufacturing and welcome visitors to their factories as museums instead. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. European Investment Bank to provide Ukraine with funds for construction of water supply system in Mykolaiv Ukraine has reached previous agreements with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to raise funds to construct a water extractor in the Pivdennyi Buh River and a central water supply system to Mykolaiv. Source: Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine Quote from Shmyhal: "We have found a technical solution for Mykolaiv, [we can] use the water from the Inhulets River. This year, the government has allocated a total of UAH 384 million (roughly US$923,000) to finance the stable supply of industrial water to Mykolaiv using this method." At the same time, Shmyhal stressed that the long-term solution to the problem lies in constructing a water extractor from the Pivdennyi Buh River and a central water supply pipeline to the regional centre. The project's estimated cost is about UAH 8.8 billion (US$213.7 million). Shmyhal said that preliminary agreements with partners, including the European Investment Bank, to raise funds for this project are already in place, so he expects it to be implemented quickly. Support UP or become our patron! People across a New Lebanon neighborhood are now able to be back in their homes after a major gas leak forced them out Thursday afternoon. As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, the gas leak happened in the area of Hazelhurst Street between Lawson Avenue and Rosetta Street. It is unnerving. Having an event to make you leave your house, said Albert Dennis, a retired firefighter. He knows the potential dangers of a gas leak, including the one that was just a block over from his house. TRENDING STORIES: Something was to go awry, you dont know if your house is going to be there or not anymore, Dennis said. Village council member Charles Cooper lives right across the street from the house where the gas leak started. I was at a coffee shop in a meeting and got a text: Dont come home, Cooper said. Contractors were using an auger to dig post holes for a fence. They were in the backyard of a house on Hazelhurst Street and while digging, the auger is what ruptured a gas main. The lines were marked while they were digging the fence post prior to them starting digging, said Lt. Joe Hetzel, New Lebanon Fire Department. However, the line was struck even with it labeled and marked with flags and paint in the backyard. At 1:00 p.m., New Lebanon Fire said CenterPoint Energy crews were able to stop the gas leak and get to work repairing that main line. Firefighters said it would take 6 to 7 hours to finish the repair job. After some tense moments, there was relief that everyone was safe as crews worked on a fix. Yeah, Everythings back. Well, not quite normal, but its getting there, Cooper said. The fire department said that while people can be back in their homes now, they can expect their gas service to be affected while that repair work is going on. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Evacuation order lifted after chemical leak from train car in Ohio Hundreds of people returned to their homes Wednesday night after firefighters responded to a railyard for a reported chemical leak in Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) said on social media Wednesday night that the evacuation order was lifted. As previously reported by News Center 7, the Hamilton County EMA said just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday that people were told to go and stay inside after a chemical leak was reported near State Route 128. TRENDING STORIES: There were concerns a dangerous chemical called styrene could explode after it leaked from a tanker car at a railroad yard, a Central Railroad of Indiana spokesperson told our news partner WCPO in Cincinnati. Residents were also told to seal off doors and windows, close fireplace dampers, and turn off their heat. Hamilton County Public Health told WCPO that the air quality had shown, no issues within the incident zone, and the nearby water source from the Village of Cleves Waterworks is not experiencing any issues. As a precaution, health officials asked people to wipe down surfaces and throw unpackaged foods, including pet food. The evacuation order has been LIFTED. Please see the updated Fact Sheet regarding the Styrene Chemical Leak incident. pic.twitter.com/SLr53lmBZs Hamilton County EMA (@HCEMA) September 25, 2024 [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] WHITEWATER TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN) People are now allowed to return to their homes after a toxic chemical was released from a train car. Hamilton County Emergency Management updated residents on the evening of Sept. 25 relating to the evacuation order caused by the release of Styrene gas, a toxic chemical, on Sept. 24. Officials lifted the order Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., allowing businesses and residents in the Cleves and Whitewater Township area to open back up for business and return back home. Upon returning home, officials recommended people wash any clothing or bedding left out. Any food items, plants and pet food believed to have been exposed should be thrown away, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Leaders also suggests people to take measures to conduct additional cleaning. Surfaces in your home should be wiped down, said a release. The Ohio Department of Agriculture also recommends that, out of an abundance of caution, residents change HVAC filtration. Businesses and homes were forced to evacuate and close for the day on Tuesday afternoon. Roads within a half-mile radius of U.S. 50, State Route 128 and Valley Junction Road were closed. All roadways have reopened. Whitewater Township Styrene Gas Leak Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. After an eventful year as Chicago police superintendent, Larry Snelling makes it clear its not about him Preparation is important to Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling. From the chiefs overseeing Chicago Police Department bureaus to young patrol officers, he wants everyone under his leadership to feel equipped to carry out their job duties. After years of serving as a training academy instructor and an expert witness in use-of-force matters, Snelling is confident and well-spoken with a physically commanding presence. He is in charge, and its clear hes willing to mix it up. But, Snelling says, finding his stride as the departments leader is not actually about him. My job is to make sure everyone else has what they need to succeed, Snelling told a recent City Club of Chicago luncheon. Because if I worry about me and how Im going to appear and what my legacy is going to be, then my focus is narrow. I need to broaden that focus because if Im focused on success and the success of those around me and making sure those people who are actually going to keep this city safe and make sure that were successful, if Im doing what I need to do for them, everything else will take care of itself. He recently became a grandfather, and catching up with his family, reading a book and watching the History Channel are still some of his preferred ways to unwind. But work is never not on his mind. A year has now passed since Snelling, 55, and raised in Englewood, was unanimously approved as the CPD superintendent, a tenure that lasts, historically, about three to four years. With a busy year under his belt and the long-awaited DNC and the security concerns that came with it in the rearview mirror, he keeps looking forward. A visible leader Much of his first year as superintendent was marked by the 2024 Democratic National Convention and the departments extensive preparation for the four-day event, during which time Snelling and his top deputies were a constant presence outside around the United Center and Union Park. Praise for Snelling and the department was extensive in the wake of the event, and critics of his style so far have been few and far between. Darryl Smith, a neighborhood violence interrupter and community activist in Englewood, was among those who endorsed Snelling for superintendent during the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountabilitys vetting process in summer 2023. Speaking with the Tribune this week, Smith credited Snellings openness and willingness to engage with average citizens and community groups. His interactions with community organizations and just having an open-door approach to the community, thats something that I havent seen in many superintendents, Smith said. Throughout his first year as leader of CPD, Snelling has said that rebuilding trust is one of his top priorities, and hes made plenty of calls for more collaboration between police and community residents. He raises this point at nearly every police board meeting and often gives shoutouts to a handful of South Side community leaders who attend the monthly meetings, too. And thats not for show, said Anthony Driver Jr., president of the CCPSA, the body that recommended Snelling and two others as finalists for the superintendent job last year. Larry Snelling is the type of person who straps on a bodycam and goes out and leads from the front, Driver said. Hes also the type of person who, the same person I get behind closed doors in meetings, is the same person who the public gets. Hes no different in meetings with political people, with our commission, with other folks, than he is with the public. Hes the exact same person. What you see is what you get. Definitely a man of his word. The largest controversy of Snellings early tenure came last March when a team of tactical officers fatally shot Dexter Reed during a traffic stop in the Harrison District (11th) on the citys West Side. Police said Reed was pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, and he shot one of the officers who had surrounded his vehicle. The other officers then fired dozens of bullets at Reed, striking him 13 times. Reeds family has since filed a federal civil rights lawsuit. In April, dozens of demonstrators flocked to the boards monthly meeting to decry Reeds death. Snelling listened attentively and responded to many of the criticisms as they came. Conflict, Snelling told the City Club last month, can help him stay sharp. I like a good fight, Im just going to be honest with you, Snelling said. It keeps you on your toes. And even when someone writes something that you know is not the truth, I know the truth. So it doesnt matter what someone writes. Someone writes or says something negative, I know the truth. So its water off a ducks back. It doesnt bother me. Trends show improvement During Snellings first year atop the department, the city saw decreases in homicides, nonfatal shootings, robberies and car thefts, though overall crime totals still outpace pre-pandemic levels. Gun violence, felt citywide, remains most concentrated in a handful of neighborhoods on the West and South sides that for decades have borne the brunt of disinvestment and neglect. As of Sept. 15, CPD had opened 416 new murder investigations this year, compared with 457 in the same time frame a year earlier. Meanwhile, CPD officers still recover about 800 to 1,000 guns each month. Through August, the department said its homicide clearance rate was 53%, the highest, year to date, since 2015. Snelling told the City Club that CPDs crime-fighting approach now is more intelligence-based. Were not just throwing police at a matter without a strategy behind it. Having all of the bureaus working together is the most important thing right now because prior to that, weve been siloed, Snelling said. Each bureau was doing their own things. Now all the bureaus are working together toward the same strategy. His boss, Mayor Brandon Johnson, campaigned on a promise to end the citys contract with SpotSpotter, the oft-criticized gunshot detection equipment and software that is designed to alert police to gunfire even if no one calls 911. After months of uncertainty, that pledge came to fruition early Monday when the devices and software were taken offline. Several studies and analyses concluded that ShotSpotter did little, if anything, to reduce the rates of gun violence. But last March, the Tribune reported that CPD officers responding to ShotSpotter alerts had rendered lifesaving aid to hundreds of gunshot victims in recent years. The city is now exploring other means to dispatch officers to gunfire without a 911 caller. During an interview last week, Snelling said the loss of ShotSpotter was no surprise, though the department did not have a replacement or alternative for the software and equipment. He added that CPD officers would be instructed to encourage members of the public to call 911 if they hear anything resembling gunfire. Ive been anticipating it for awhile, and weve prepared to deal with not having it, Snelling told the Tribune last week. And not having it means that our officers are going to be out there doing the work that they do every single day. Were going to dig a little deeper. Stabilizing from the top Snelling regularly credits CPD command staff, several of whom Antoinette Ursitti, chief of detectives; Yolanda Talley, chief of internal affairs; and Angel Novalez, chief of constitutional policing and reform held their current ranks under the superintendents predecessor, David Brown. One of Snellings first personnel decisions was to rehire Fred Waller, a longtime CPD supervisor who was chief of patrol under former Superintendent Eddie Johnson and who served as interim superintendent before Snelling was selected. Waller, now a civilian, serves as deputy director of the superintendents office. Since then, Snelling has promoted Duane DeVries and Jon Hein to chief in the bureaus of counterterrorism and patrol, respectively. Driver Jr., president of the CCPSA, credited Snelling for having stabilized the leadership of CPD. In just the two years that Ive been on this commission as CCPSA president, weve had four superintendents, so I think there was a need for stability, Driver Jr. said. I think hes been able to accomplish that. I also think theres a lot of progress that still needs to be made, but the numbers, in general, are trending in the right direction, Driver added. I think hes made a big difference in (officers) morale, and also the way that he works with our commission and different community groups. Ive also seen, sort of, an about-face with CPD with the way that they engage the community, as well. Snelling did not select a first deputy superintendent during his first year leading CPD, and he gave little indication that there is any rush to do so when speaking with the Tribune last week. Snelling said hes assumed most of the first deputy responsibilities himself with help from the CPD chiefs. He conceded that some find this approach problematic and he would like a break every now and again, but the arrangement, so far, has worked. I learn by diving into the deep end of the pool, Snelling said. I want to know every aspect of every job at the command staff position because it really helps me to develop and it helps me to have a better understanding of what to expect for the next person that Im going to put in that position. I think were effective right now with the work that weve been doing, and I believe that the leadership has really stepped up and has been a lot more effective than weve been in the past, he added. Shortly before he was confirmed by the City Council in September 2023, Snelling told a public forum in Pilsen that there cannot be a one-size-fits-all strategy to reduce crime as each district has its own individual issues. Chicago police superintendents usually have a three- to four-year shelf life. As his first year comes to a close, Snelling said he is already thinking about who could lead CPD after his time at the helm is over. Its personal for him almost familial. For much of his more than three decades with CPD, Snelling was a supervisor in the departments training academy, where he sought to prepare young officers for the work awaiting them on the citys streets. Having seen these people for over 20 years now, my kids are all grown up, Snelling told the Tribune last week. These young people are the future of the department. So what I think about right now is developing the next superintendent, the next first deputy, the next command staff member. I think if Im not developing people to step into my job, then Im not doing my job, he added. A 2023 survey released by the Police Executive Research Forum found that police departments across the country were struggling to hire new officers at the pace of attrition. Data from the citys office of inspector general show CPD employed about 13,300 officers in January 2019. As of August 2024, that total had fallen to about 11,600. CPD is the largest city department by a wide margin. In 2024, the departments budget was nearly $2 billion a figure that will almost certainly grow again next year as CPD officers are set to receive pay raises but the overall cost to fund the department and cover related expenses is far higher. The police department budget does not include overtime costs and settlement payments related to misconduct lawsuits both of which balloon to hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Meanwhile, a long-awaited workforce allocation study is in the works, Snelling said last month, blaming red tape for the repeated delays. Handling the DNC CPD started preparing for the 2024 Democratic National Convention more than a year before the four-day political pep rally overtook the citys Near West Side. Throughout the lead-up, Snelling sought to reassure the city of CPD officers training ahead of the anticipated protests. References to the infamous 1968 DNC were unavoidable, even as CPD opened up an officer training session to the media at McCormick Place. In his frequent public remarks, the superintendent never strayed from his messages of preparation, communication and collaboration among CPD and other law enforcement agencies tasked with maintaining security in and around the convention. Still numbering in the thousands, far fewer demonstrators showed up than were promised by local organizations. Meanwhile, only a handful of complaints were filed with COPA throughout the four days and the rest of the city carried on as the police department was stretched to its limit. Snelling and other city officials held news briefings at 10 a.m. every day of the DNC. Afterward, the superintendent, with other members of the command staff, would remain in and around Union Park to monitor each days demonstrations and marches. Friday morning, after not sleeping at all the night before, Snelling joined Mayor Johnson and other city leaders for a victory-lap news conference at City Hall. Despite any fatigue, Snellings pride was evident. Can we stop talking about 1968? 2024 is the new standard, and the men and women of the Chicago Police Department set that new standard out in the field. Praise for CPD officers performance during the DNC was almost ubiquitous. Maggie Hickey, independent monitor of the federal consent decree, and her team were among those offering plaudits. The (independent monitoring team) observed that the city and police department had significantly prepared for the challenge, Hickey said of the DNC during a consent decree status hearing earlier this month. There were notable successes in our observations, including demonstrated de-escalation tactics, coordinated responses, limited uses of force, officer-wellness preparations and consistent leadership. Importantly, the Chicago Police Departments preparation also included specific efforts by the city of Chicago and the CPD to hear from and work with the office of the Illinois attorney general and other members of Chicago communities and stakeholders. Officer discipline The system for adjudicating the most serious cases of alleged CPD officer misconduct came to a halt soon after Snelling took over. In summer 2023, an arbitrator overseeing contract negotiations between CPD and the Fraternal Order of Police ruled that CPD officers facing firing or lengthy suspensions have a choice whether their cases are heard and decided by a third party or the Chicago Police Board. Board proceedings are largely public, while arbitration hearings would be closed. The rest of the CPD contract was approved by the City Council last year. The four-year agreement gives officers a roughly 20% pay raise while also creating another disciplinary adjudication system the Peoples Court that provides for single-day hearings and decisions in more minor disciplinary matters. In March, Cook County Judge Michael T. Mullen ruled that officers may choose an arbitrator to decide disciplinary cases, but those arbitration hearings must remain publicly accessible. The FOP has since appealed that ruling, and the process for adjudicating serious discipline cases remains, effectively, frozen for the foreseeable future. Snelling and CPDs Office of Legal Affairs have not brought administrative charges against any rank-and-file officer since Mullens order was announced. While the future role of the police board remains undetermined, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability another city agency subject to the federal consent decree has continued to close out investigations and submit to Snelling their findings and recommendations. Between January and mid-August, COPA had recommended that Snelling fire 50 different CPD officers for various rule violations. With the disciplinary adjudication process still on hold, Snelling and CPDs lawyers have yet to respond to or act on any of those specific cases, including one involving an officer who worked under Snelling in the Englewood District (7th). Most complaints of CPD misconduct are handled by the departments Bureau of Internal Affairs, while COPA investigates when officers fire their guns. COPA also investigates allegations of domestic violence and verbal misconduct. Snelling publicly lambasted COPA and agency investigators during the February meeting of the Chicago Police Board. He said the cases sent to him are often rife with anti-police biases and the recommended punishments are too severe. When we speculate, when we add our personal opinions, then those penalties become punitive and unfair and unfair to the officers, Snelling said at the meeting. What were seeing are egregious penalties for extremely minor infractions. Now, oftentimes when I go through these reports, I agree that the infraction should have been sustained, but a 30-day (or) 90-day suspension is egregious. Earlier this month, a former supervisor at COPA filed a whistleblower lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court that alleges he faced retaliation after raising those same concerns internally. John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, the union representing rank-and-file officers, detectives and retirees, said morale among CPD officers has improved during Snellings tenure. Im pretty confident in stating that I think that the membership feels that the top person in this department, for the most part, has their back. As long as theyre doing police work and doing it properly then I think hes there to back that up, Catanzara said. All that (COPA whistleblower) lawsuit did was confirm what Snelling said, and all Snelling did was confirm what weve been yelling about for years. While sometimes critical of COPA, Snelling believes CPD needs an outside oversight agency. I do believe that there has to be some level of oversight, Snelling said. Even if you do everything right, without another body to agree with that or even argue with you on the decision that youve made, the public is not going to feel 100% comfortable that the police department is stepping up and doing exactly whats supposed to be done. The citys contract with the FOP bars a superintendent from unilaterally firing an officer. If he could pluck an officer from the department, Snelling said that would resolve a lot of issues. But even with the current police discipline apparatus in place, Snelling has shown a willingness to seek harsher punishment for at least one officer. Last October, the Chicago Police Board voted to clear Officer James Hunt of wrongdoing in an administrative case that stemmed from a chaotic arrest in River North during the unrest of summer 2020. In December, a still-pending lawsuit was filed on Snellings behalf in Cook County Circuit Court that seeks to have Hunt fired. While the most serious police discipline cases are on hold, CPD adjudicates, internally, thousands of less severe incidents of wrongdoing every year with the Bureau of Internal Affairs and Summary Punishment Action Requests SPARs issued by mid-level CPD supervisors. SPARs can range from a noted violation or reprimand to a multiday suspension. Data obtained by the Tribune through the Freedom of Information Act shows that, through late July, CPD supervisors had issued nearly 2,900 SPARs since the start of the year. Records show supervisors issued 3,704 SPARs in all of 2023. So far this year, more than 850 SPARs have been issued to CPD officers who failed to appear in court, resulting in 82 suspensions, data shows. Last year, court appearance violations totaled 613. Meanwhile, more than 400 SPARs have been issued this year related to officers failing to timely activate their bodyworn cameras a sticking point highlighted by the consent decree independent monitoring team. During a June (2022) meeting with the CPD, the (consent decree independent monitoring team) expressed concerns about the ability to review use-of-force incidents when no body-worn camera footage was available 12% of the time, according to the tactical review divisions 2022 year-end Report, the monitoring team previously wrote in a federal court filing. CPDs progress in adhering to the federal consent decree a set of sweeping reforms that were borne out of the fatal 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald by former CPD Officer Jason Van Dyke has been slow. In the five years since the consent decree was codified, CPD has reached full compliance with 8% of the roughly 800 paragraphs of reform obligations. Every time I have it in my hands, I still get goose bumps: Rare copy of Constitution up for auction An 1787 copy of the U.S. Constitution that will be put up for auction on Sept. 28, 2024, is shown at Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina, on Thursday, Sept. 5. | Jeffrey Collins Tucked away in an old, unremarkable, metal filing cabinet in a North Carolina mansion for decades and discovered by accident, a rare original copy of the United States Constitution is up for auction this week and it could sell for millions. The happenstance discovery occurred two years ago, when an antiques appraiser was hired to determine the value of the historic Hayes Farm property, a 184-acre plantation in Edenton once owned by Samuel Johnston, per CBS News. Johnston, who served as the states sixth governor from 1787 to 1789 and was later elected to the U.S. Senate, chaired the 1788 and 1789 state conventions that were convened to ratify the federal constitution, according to the National Governors Association. During his appraisal of Hayes Farm in 2022, Ken Farmer opened a folder that had been stored in a dusty filing cabinet, and discovered a document that he immediately recognized to be printed in either the 18th or 19th century, The New York Times reported. As he further analyzed the thin, creased document, he began to realize the significance of what hed discovered; Ive never found anything this exciting, Farmer said. Per the Times, the well-preserved, ratified version is signed by Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress during the Constitutional Convention. The copy found at Hayes Farm was dated in 1787 and is one of the first copies of the Constitution that Congress sent to the original 13 colonies for ratification, according to The Washington Post. Every time I have it in my hands, I still get goose bumps, Andrew Brunk, president of Brunk Auctions, told the Post. This is far and away the most exciting thing that weve ever come upon. Brunk Auctions will place the relic of American history up for auction in Asheville, North Carolina, on Saturday, Sept. 28, the 237th anniversary of the day Congress passed the ratification resolution, a press release from the company reads. According to Brunk Auctions, the last sale on record of a similar document was in 1891 and the version up for auction this week is one of eight surviving copies of its kind and the sole copy known to be in private hands. Bidding will start at $1 million for the roughly 237-year-old document, but experts believe it will fetch an even heftier price tag. Updated as of 9/27/24 at 1:00 p.m. ET New York City Mayor Eric Adams has entered a not guilty plea to the five federal felonies he was indicted on Thursday. During the Friday arraignment, Adams was ordered by Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker not to discuss the case with any witnesses and was released on his own recognizance, per The New York Times. He was also able to retain his passport. Gov. Kathy Hochul said she carefully reviewed the indictment but stated it is now up to Adams to show the City that he is able to lead, per her statement. While she has the power to remove him from power, she did not call him to resign. Next week, Adams attorney Alex Spiro is expected back in court to argue a motion to dismiss the charges. The Charges Thursday, federal prosecutors just unsealed the indictment filed against Mayor Adams. Hes is facing a five-count indictment featuring charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals, wire fraud, solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national, solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and bribery. In response to the charges which he was notified of Wednesday evening, Adams said, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. The Accusations Federal prosecutors brought forth this indictment following a probe into the mayors suspicious relations with the Turkish government. As Adams prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York Citys mayor. Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received, read the indictment. That favorable treatment included a discounted stay at the St. Regis Istanbul from a businesswoman who sought to ingratiate herself with the then-Brooklyn mayor in 2017 - which he failed to disclose, the indictment claims. The Feds also claimed Adams and his companions received discounted and free travel on Turkish Airlines and free stays at luxury hotels from a senior Turkish diplomat who facilitated straw donations to Adams. With those straw contributions, Adams was accused of using them to defraud the city and steal public funds by fraudulently applying for matching fund through the citys program: $10 million to be exact. The indictment also claims Adams was pressured to repay the senior official who granted him favors by convincing the New York City Fire Department to facilitate the opening of a 36-story Turkish consular skyscraper without a fire inspection. The indictment comes after FBI agents raided Adams home and seized his phone in connection to the probe into the alleged illegal Turkish relations. In a press conference Thursday, Adams yet again denied any wrongdoing. Its an unfortunate day. And its a painful day But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, Ive gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself, said the mayor. Everyone who knows me knows that I follow campaign rules and I follow the law. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We recently compiled a list of 10 Best Stocks To Buy Right Now According To Billionaire Cliff Asness. In this article, we will look at where McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) ranks among the 10 best stocks to buy right now according to billionaire Cliff Asness. The investment approach of Cliff Asness, through his multi-billion dollar hedge fund AQR Capital Management, is quite unique. While some investors such as Warren Buffett and Seth Klarman focus on value, and others like Ken Fisher focus on growth, Asness fund tries to quantitatively define what quality is. While it sounds like a tall order, the hedge fund investor whose latest net worth is estimated to be $2 billion, has written quite a bit on the determinants of a quality stock. One such work came in the form of a research paper published in 2013. In it, Asness and his co authors shared three primary drivers of a quality stock. These are a stocks profitability, growth, and safety. Within these three factors, profitability is driven by gross profits over assets, return on equity, return on assets, cash flow over assets, gross margin, and the portion of earnings that was cash. A quality stocks growth is determined by the five year average growth in the per share values of the first five profitability factors, while a stocks safety is based on its beta, leverage, bankruptcy risk, and return on equity volatility. Using these metrics, Asness built two portfolios. The first portfolio selected stocks based on the quality metrics, while the latter, called Quality Minus Junk (QMJ) goes long on the quality stocks and shorts the junk stocks. QMJ is more characteristic of AQR Capitals investment approach. The results showed that without adjusting for risk, the ten sub quality portfolios starting from a quality score of one and ending at ten all had positive excess returns over Treasury bills. These returns ranged from 28 basis points of excess returns for the lowest quality portfolio to 70 basis points for the highest quality portfolio. The difference in the highest and lowest returns for these portfolios was the sharpest when they were tuned for the Carhart Four Factor Model that adds momentum to the traditional three factor Fama Factor model. The difference was 105 basis points per month for the four factor adjustment. Looking at the returns for the QMJ portfolio, these jump to 60 basis points for the four factor model for US stocks and 61 basis points per month for the three and four factor models for global equities. When the US and global monthly excess returns are plotted over time for cumulative alpha, they sit at roughly 425% for the US between 1957 and 2016 and at 200% for global stocks between 1986 and 2012. Shifting gears, as 2023 proved to be beneficial to the stock market because of returns driven by large cap stocks and artificial intelligence, AQR Capital also posted strong results. As per Reuters, the funds Absolute Return Strategy delivered 18.5% in returns in 2023, while the AQR Equity Market Neutral Global Value strategy returned a stronger 20.6% in net returns. Before fees, the Absolute Returns returns were 55%, with the net, or post fee returns sitting at 43.5% in 2022 according to Bloomberg, AQRs double digit performance continued during the first quarter. More data sourced by Bloomberg shows that AQRs Managed Futures Full Volatility Strategy, Delphi Long Short Equity Strategy, and Apex Strategy gained 17.4%, 13%, and 11%, during Q1 2024. Insider Monkeys data shows that the cumulative value of the hedge funds stock holdings filed with the SEC was $58.7 billion by the end of that time period marking a $13.1 billion or 28.7% annual jump. Double digit returns in a quarter are no small matter, and some of the best known hedge funds such as Citadel Wellington, Point72, and Millennium 5.8%, 5.3%, and 3.7% in respective returns during the same time period. Before we get to our list of Cliff Asness top stock picks, its also important to see how his firms funds have performed so far during the year. September has marked the start of a paradigm shift on Wall Street in the form of the Federal Reserve starting its interest rate cuts in the form of a 50 basis point cut. However, the Feds data seems to have disappointed investors as it indicates that as of mid September, it expects the rate to sit at 3.25% 3.50% by 2025 end. When looking at the returns of AQRs different funds year to date, it appears that momentum is one of the top plays as of now. This is because the AQR Large Cap Momentum Style Fund has delivered 21.70% in year to date returns which is roughly three percentage points higher than the benchmark indexs 18.64% in returns. On the flip side, the AQR Large Cap Defensive Style Fund has delivered 16.11% in year to date returns which are 2.53 percentage points lower than the benchmarks returns. Judging by this, the momentum fund which touts to invest in stocks considered to have positive momentum if it has performed well in the prior 12 months relative to other stocks in the investment universe has been the way to go so far in 2024. Our Methodology To make our list of the ten best stocks to buy according to Cliff Asness, we ranked all the stocks part of his fund AQR Capitals Q2 2024 13F SEC filings and picked out the most valuable stakes. For these stocks, we also mentioned the number of hedge fund investors based on Insider Monkeys research. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here). McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q2 2024: 70 AQR Funds Latest Investment Stake: $500.8 million McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) is a diversified healthcare products company that sells surgical products, pharmaceuticals, and services that enable healthcare professionals and others to distribute medicines. Given that McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) is one of the biggest firms of its kind as it serves more than 2.1 million people, the firm can benefit from trends in the pharmacy industry. The biggest such trend is for weight loss drugs, and with pharma giants continuing to develop new weight loss drugs and prepare to negotiate with Medicare and Medicaid for existing treatments, McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) could see tailwinds to revenue stemming from greater weight loss coverage. However, the shares have gained a modest 8.76% year to date on the back of weak earnings performance. McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK)s first and second calendar quarter financials saw it post $68.79 billion and $71.7 billion in revenue, respectively. These missed analyst estimates of $71.65 billion and $74.1 billion. After the Q2 report, the stock dropped by 11.34% and by an additional 9.9% in September after McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) announced that it was selling its Canadian pharmacy and eCommerce businesses. Any further earnings weakness could spell more trouble for the shares. Baron Funds mentioned McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) in its Q2 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said: McKesson is a leading distributor of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and also provides prescription technology solutions that connect pharmacies, providers, payers, and biopharmaceutical customers. McKessons stock reacted positively to the companys fiscal year 2025 earnings guidance, which came in ahead of investor expectations. We continue to think McKesson can generate mid-teens earnings per share growth annually through organic growth, operating leverage, and share repurchases. Overall MCK ranks 8th on our list of the best stocks to buy according to Cliff Asness. While we acknowledge the potential of MCK as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MCK but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published on Insider Monkey. Everything you need to know about the upcoming Vance-Walz VP debate JD Vance and Tim Walz are set to face off in the vice presidential debate, likely the last major debate for the vice presidential or presidential candidates of the election cycle. The match-up between the Republican senator from Ohio and Democratic Minnesota governor comes three weeks after the presidential debate between nominees Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. While itll be their first time taking the stage together, both Vance and Walz have already taken swings at their opponents. Walz was first launched into internet virality even before Harris picked him to be her running mate for calling Trump and Vance, and Republicans in general, weird during an interview on MSNBC in July. The insult took off and became a line of attack for Democrats, to which Trump responded theyre the weird ones, and Im a lot of things, but weird Im not. Vance, on the other hand, has gone after his counterparts military history, prompting a barrage of Republican attacks after he accused Walz of stolen valor over the timing of his retirement from the military. Walz has defended his military record, saying it speaks for itself. Both midwesterners agreed to the debate in early August. Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer is playing Walz during Vances preparation sessions, while Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is standing in for Vance during Walzs preparation sessions. Heres everything you need to know about the upcoming event. When is the debate? The debate will kick off on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. ET. and run for 90 minutes. Where is the debate? CBS is holding the debate at their CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. Who is moderating the debate? CBS Evening News host Norah ODonnell and Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan will moderate the vice presidential debate. Both ODonnell and Brennan were moderators in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary debate. Neither has previously moderated a presidential or vice presidential debate. How can I watch the debate? CBS will broadcast and livestream the debate on all platforms where CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+ are available. It will also be made available to simulcast, according to the network. A livestream of the debate will be available at POLITICO.com. What are the debate rules? CBS is expected to reveal the debate rules later this week. Will there be more debates? It doesnt look that way. Vice presidential candidates typically only debate once before an election, though Vance challenged Walz to a second debate earlier in September that never materialized. Trump has declined to participate in a second debate with Harris, after the vice president challenged him to a rematch. Harris said we owe it to the voters to hold another debate after her strong performance during their face-off earlier this month, but Trump rebutted that its too late, arguing that his June debate with President Joe Biden already made two debates for him the norm for presidential debates during most elections and the fact that early voting has already started in some states. (This story was updated to add new information and images.) The ousted Detroit Riverfront Conservancy chief financial officer was arraigned Thursday in federal court, accused of wire fraud and money laundering in a yearslong scheme that he siphoned millions from the nonprofit organization that he was financially overseeing. William Smith, then 51, initially was accused in a criminal complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Detroit in June. A criminal information was filed Tuesday in federal court, which commonly suggests a plea deal is in the works. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Stafford entered a not guilty plea and continued Smith's prior bond conditions. A plea hearing is set for Oct. 21 in federal court. Smith's lawyer, Gerald Evelyn, had no comment after Thursday's brief proceeding, which was attended by about 10 members of the conservancy or interested parties. William Smith, right, former CFO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, walks outside the U.S. District Court with his attorney after being arraigned in federal court in Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison, who attended Thursday's proceeding, had no comment afterward. She shook hands with and spoke with conservancy members and their related party before it began. Ison's spokesperson, Gina Balaya, said Wednesday "we're going to let the document (filed this week) speak for itself." Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran told the court Thursday that the loss amounts exceed $40 million. If convicted, Smith could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison and have to pay fines of $250,000 and $500,000 or more, depending on the charge, Stafford said. "The Conservancy welcomes any efforts by the U.S. Attorney's Office to hold Smith accountable for his crimes. We appreciate their continued vigilance and speed to prosecuting Smith," Ryan Sullivan, the conservancy's interim CEO, said in a statement emailed to the Free Press on Thursday. Smith appeared in court in a dark-colored suit and answered "yes" to questions posed by Stafford as he stood with Evelyn. Smith has been accused of siphoning nearly $40 million from the nonprofit organization during an 11-year period. The conservancy is funded by public grants and private donations. Federal prosecutors accused him of embezzling to support a lavish lifestyle, with spending on air travel, hotels, limos, clothes, jewelry and more, the Free Press previously reported. Allegedly stolen funds from the organization went to cover credit card charges made by him and his family members from 2012 through 2024, including a $17,500 Louis Vuitton purchase, federal investigators had said. The criminal information this week dates the scheme from about November 2012 through about May of this year. It alleges Smith transferred conservancy funds from the organization's Comerica Bank account to a bank account in the name of The Joseph Group & Associates LLC, a corporation owned and controlled by Smith. The corporation was not an approved vendor for the conservancy, and it provided no services to the organization, according to the filing. It states Smith "routinely and without authorization" transferred the funds, which he then transferred to accounts held by other entities he owned and controlled, including First Round Management LLC. The criminal information states he used the embezzled funds to buy real estate and support his personal and business interests. It alleges Smith used conservancy funds to pay off American Express charges he and his family incurred, typically by initiating wire transfers from the conservancys account at Comerica Bank to American Express to pay off the credit card balances. None of the expenditures were authorized by the conservancy, according to the filing. More: Amid scandal, interim Detroit Riverfront Conservancy CEO focuses on future It indicates that Smith and his family incurred about $15.6 million in American Express charges between November 2012 and May 2024, and Smith used about $14.9 million in conservancy funds to pay off the charges during the same time period. Smith is accused of buying cashier's checks from various financial institutions, purchases that were not authorized, and using the cashier's checks for his own purposes without the knowledge or approval of the conservancy's board of directors. The filing states Smith "covered up and sustained his fraudulent scheme by falsifying bank statements that he provided to the Conservancy's bookkeeper, altering or deleting unauthorized transfers on the statements in order to keep them off of the Conservancy's books." It adds that Smith took out a line of credit with Citizens Bank on behalf of the conservancy, claiming to be acting with the authorization of the group's board of directors "but, in fact, he had no such authority." He is accused of using the funds from this line of credit, which eventually totaled $5 million, to infuse monies into the conservancy's bank accounts to help cover up his embezzlement. William Smith, former CFO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, walks out of the U.S. District Court after being arraigned in federal court in Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. For the laundering charge, Smith is accused of initiating the transfer of $65,000 in funds embezzled from the conservancy from a bank account held by The Joseph Group & Associates LLC to an account held by First Round Management LLC on or about Sept. 24, 2021. Smith was fired from the conservancy by a vote of the nonprofit's board and the former CEO resigned amid the criminal investigation. The FBI previously raided Smith's Northville home as well as his conservancy office twice, according to prior Free Press reporting. In a prior, separate federal civil forfeiture matter against Smith, up to $3.9 million of his assets were frozen, though a judge previously granted him a monthly allowance of up to $3,421 from a rental property he owns. The conservancy also filed a civil lawsuit against Smith, his family members, and a friend in July in Wayne County Circuit Court in a step to recoup some of the alleged millions he is accused of embezzling. Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-Detroit Riverfront Conservancy CFO arraigned in federal court Harrods' managing director on Thursday said his former boss Mohamed Al-Fayed, who is accused of sexual assault by dozens of women, presided over a "toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct". Michael Ward worked with the Egyptian billionaire at the luxury London department store for four years but said he had not been "aware of his criminality and abuse". A BBC documentary last week aired claims by women that Fayed raped and sexually abused them during his ownership of Harrods. The tycoon has since joined a list of rich and powerful, such as Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, disgraced by accusations of sexual abuse. Lawyers representing some of the women said they were victims of "systematic abuse" over 25 years "within the knowledge of Harrods", which Fayed sold in 2010. Following the broadcast, the lawyers said they had received over 150 new enquiries, a "mix of survivors and individuals with evidence". "As managing director of Harrods, I wanted to convey my personal horror at the revelations that have emerged over the past week," Ward said in a written statement. "We have all seen the survivors bravely speak about the terrible abuse they suffered at the hands of Harrods former owner Mohamed Fayed. As we have already stated, we failed our colleagues and for that we are deeply sorry," he said. Ward's comments came as London police said they were exploring whether anyone else "could be pursued for criminal offences". "It is not possible for criminal proceedings to be brought against someone who has died," said a police statement. "However, we must ensure we fully explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences," it added. The legal team representing the alleged victims is bringing claims against Harrods for enabling the abuse of its employees, many hired as Fayed's personal assistants and secretaries. - 'Not aware of abuse' - The accusers say assaults took place at Fayed's apartments in London, residences in Paris, and on trips abroad from Saint-Tropez to Abu Dhabi. British prosecutors said Sunday they had twice received evidence against Fayed. "We reviewed files of evidence presented by the police in 2009 and 2015", a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesperson said. In 2008, Fayed was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and CPS reviewed evidence in 2009. In 2013, he was accused of raping a woman, a claim investigated in 2015. In both instances, the CPS, which decides on prosecutions in England and Wales, said there was no "realistic prospect of conviction" and did not bring charges. "As someone who has worked at Harrods since 2006, and therefore worked for Fayed until the change of ownership in 2010, I feel it is important to make it clear that I was not aware of his criminality and abuse," Ward added. "While it is true that rumours of his behaviour circulated in the public domain, no charges or allegations were ever put to me by the police, the CPS, internal channels or others. Had they been, I would of course have acted immediately," he said. har/jwp/tw Innocent until proven guilty! Thats what Bill de Blasio said in defense of his successor Eric Adams the first sitting mayor of the Big Apple to be indicted by a grand jury on charges connected to a federal probe. I think first, we owe to the mayor, again, the presumption of innocence, because thats how our system works, he told CNN host Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday night. Former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said Eric Adams is innocent until proven guilty during an appearance on CNN Wednesday night. In 2021, de Blasio was accused of misusing NYPD resources for political purposes during his failed presidential campaign in a damning Department of Investigation report. In his interview with Collins, he drew on this experience as he revealed his mixed reactions to the Adams indictment. I went through an experience with a Southern District where I saw a lot of things that did not come true despite allegations, I do think we have to be really careful here, he warned. We havent seen anything specific. We dont know what this is yet. We havent heard a defense so Im feeling very, you know, two different feelings at this moment. One is, of course, shock and concern for our city. And then another is a very strong reminder that innocent until proven guilty is the American way. Getty Images Eric Adams indicted: Live updates after NYC mayor hit with indictment In his interview with Collins, he drew on this experience as he revealed his mixed reactions to the Adams indictment. AP De Blasio, who served as the 109th mayor from 2014 to 2021, advised that Adams needs to stabilize things and show that his administration is strengthened in this difficult moment. Stay updated with the New York Posts coverage of Mayor Eric Adams indictment This embedded content is not available in your region. View this document on Scribd A mayor or any leader could do that in a moment of crisis, but it takes leveling with people and saying, Yeah, we have a tough situation here, not sugarcoating it, but heres what Im going to do to fix it, de Blasio said. If he truly believes hes innocent, he has a right to stand up and say that and keep his job, he added. New York Post front cover on Sept. 25, 2024. Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on charges connected to a federal probe, sources told The Post as the defiant mayor claimed he was being persecuted by the federal government for speaking about the citys migrant crisis. It comes as part of a widening probe into his administration, which has been followed by several high-profile resignations, including Schools Chancellor David Banks this week. The historic indictment is expected to be unsealed Thursday by US Attorney Damian Williams, according to the sources. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A Kingston man and former Tik-Toker is facing life in prison after he was convicted in federal court of nine counts involving child pornography and attempting to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity. According to the Department of Justice, Christopher Edward Allen, 33, was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday of nine counts, including: Three counts of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, One count of producing child pornography, Two counts of attempting to produce child pornography, Two counts of transporting a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, One count of transferring obscene material. Allens sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2025. He is facing a sentence of up to life in prison, the DOJ explained. Severe weather causes closures in East Tennessee During the three-day trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Allen used multiple social media platforms to identify minors online and entice them via social media or texting apps to engage in sexual activity and send nude images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct, the DOJs release stated. The DOJ explained that in two instances, Allen paid the minors for nude images of themselves, which he later emailed to himself using the victims name as the subject line. He also reportedly sent sexually explicit images of himself to minors over social media, the DOJ said. On one instance, the DOJ said, Allen met a minor at the restaurant where he worked, added them on social media, and began communicating with them. When law enforcement learned about those messages, with the permission of the childs parents, an agent assumed the minors identity on social media two days later. That day, Allen was arrested in a park in Kingston after arriving with the intent to meet the minor, the DOJ said. Deputy shoots bear seen guarding body after fatal crash on the Dragon Previous, 6 News reported that Allen, who was a fast food employee known for his TikTok videos, was arrested in April 2022 during a sting operation while attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex. He was later indicted in 2023. The FBI and the Tennessees Ninth Judicial District Attorney Generals Office investigated the case that led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Allen. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. To learn more about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. There is a new push in Congress to stop private housing companies from requiring military families to sign non-disclosure agreements in connection with their housing. This comes after our two-year-long investigation exposed widespread housing problems at homes on military bases run by private companies and revealed the use of NDAs when families tried to get housing issues resolved. The office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) shared details with us exclusively about her new bill, Restore Military Families Voices Act. It bans private landlords from requesting that military families sign NDAs in connection with leases, any housing services including repairs, and for legal settlements. In a statement about the new bill, Warren said: Our servicemembers and military families shouldnt have to put up with mold, lead paint, and infestations My bill will put an end to private military landlords abuse of non-disclosure agreements and empower our servicemembers and military families to hold bad landlords accountable. In 2022, we first told you about a military family who faced mold and pest infestations at their home on a military base. The private housing company that ran the housing told them they would have to sign an NDA to accept a settlement. The family rejected the NDA and the settlement. Its hush money, military spouse Breanna Bragg said in 2022. Its, we put you in a moldy unsafe houseYou need to take the money and shut up and go away. Our Washington News Bureau then brought an NDA from a private housing company given to military families to Warren. We showed her how the agreement banned families from talking publicly about the agreement and from making negative statements about military housing in general, to the public (including but not limited to current, future, or former residents), the press, on social media, or with any media outlet. Private housing companies told us the NDAs included standard confidentiality terms that complied with the law. In 2023, the Defense Department told our Washington News Bureau it would not stop the use of NDAs in housing settlements. It came after Warren sent a letter to the DoD and called on the Department to stop private housing companies from requiring military families to sign NDAs. Now, Warrens bill would make the change through legislative action instead of a departmental change. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are co-sponsors of the Senate bill. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and Rep. Don Davis (D-NC) are introducing the bill in the House, according to Warrens office. In a statement, Jacobs said: Its unconscionable that landlords can hide behind Non-Disclosure Agreements to avoid responsibility for substandard privatized military housing and take advantage of their tenantsIve visited privatized military housing units in San Diego and across the country, and Ive seen firsthand the impacts of living with black mold, leaky roofs, loose electrical wiring, and other unsanitary conditions. Our service members and their families sacrifice so much for us, and the least we can do is ensure they have safe, sanitary housing in return instead of protecting negligent landlords. Thats why we need to pass the Restore Military Families Voices Act to prevent landlords from abusing NDAs and providing unsafe conditions to our military families. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW An exhibition titled For the Sake of a Letter, featuring works by Ukrainian collage artists, has opened in Paris. The exhibition aims to support Ukrainians illegally detained by Russia and advocate for their right to communicate with family and friends. The exhibition was initiated by the #myministryofculture community and the CUTOUT COLLAGE art project. Its organisation in Paris was made possible with the support of gallery owner Xavier Gras and his gallery, Le Bonheur est Dans L'instant. The exhibition was curated by multimedia artists Katia Syta and Annette Sagal. For Syta, this is her second art project focusing on Ukrainian prisoners held by the Kremlin. Her first project, Please Release the Birds, was completed last year with support from the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Center for Civil Liberties. Katia Syta, one of the curators of the project. Photo: Katia Syta "My first project is still ongoing, travelling across Ukraine and occasionally being exhibited in various European cities, such as The Hague. Olena Tsyhipa, the wife of one of the civilian prisoners, is actively working to promote the exhibition further, as there are few opportunities to raise awareness on this issue," Katia Syta told Ukrainska Pravda.Culture. The project raises the issue of providing prisoners with the opportunity to correspond. Photo: Katia Syta She adds that the new project highlights a crucial issue the right of prisoners to correspondence. This is stipulated in Article 71 of the Geneva Convention, but the Russians are blatantly violating this right for Ukrainian military and civilian prisoners. For the For the Sake of a Letter exhibition, 21 collage artists and photographer Olena Morozova contributed their works. Her photographs served as the foundation for the project and as the inspiration for the artists' creations. For the Sake of a Letter. Photo: Katia Syta "Together with Annette Sagal and Olha Syta, we founded the CUTOUT COLLAGE ART PROJECT, where we have resident artists who regularly create works under our curation. This time, I proposed a project on the theme of prisoners of war. It turned out that some of our artists have personally experienced, or have family members affected by, Russias crimes captivity, sexual violence, occupation. For some, this topic was so challenging that they had to step back from participating," admits Katia Syta. For the Sake of a Letter opened in Paris. Photo: Katia Syta To distinguish the main artistic activities of the collage community from the socio-political ones, she established the #myministryofculture community. The For the Sake of a Letter project is divided into two parts: portraits of women from the families of prisoners who are fighting for the freedom of their loved ones and analogue, digital, and animated collages inspired by photographs taken by Olena Morozova. Photo: Katia Syta The curator acknowledges that the French are more familiar with the culture of the Russian Empire and its successor, Russia, so Ukraine remains relatively unknown to them: "Thats why I chose the exhibition as a means to engage in dialogue with the French audience. It is important to me that they understand the distinction between Ukraine and Russia. They need to be aware of the immense pain and damage the aggressor country is inflicting upon us and that the prisoners, who dont even have the right to correspond, are just one aspect of this tragedy." The exhibition is held at Le Bonheur est Dans L'instant gallery. Photo: Katia Syta The exhibition at the Le Bonheur est Dans L'instant gallery in Paris will be open until 30 September. Support UP or become our patron! HONOLULU (KHON2) A multi-million dollar expansion project at the Womens Community Correctional Center, Hawaiis only womens prison, has officially been completed. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You A blessing ceremony was held today to celebrate the new housing, intake, and administration buildings. The newly constructed housing facilities feature both open dorm and cell units, while the intake building includes an enclosed vehicle sally port, booking and release areas, as well as safety and sobering cells. USACE completes Lahaina residential debris removal, commercial cleanup 64% done The new administration building provides office space, training areas, and locker facilities for staff. These improvements will allow for the transfer of all female inmates currently held in the overcrowded OCCC to the WCCC. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke emphasized the importance of community support for women seeking a second chance, stating, Its a commitment that signals the state of Hawaii will not give up on these women as long as they are committed to bettering themselves. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Additionally, the Hookipa Cottage, designed for inmates transitioning back into the community, has also been renovated as part of the project. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Experts see hope in new book ban data, but caution much work is left to be done Opponents of book bans across the nation see signs of hope in a pair of reports released this week, but they say the data also demonstrated the vast scope of the issue. The American Library Association (ALA) found a drop in challenges to books in the first eight months of this year compared to the same time frame last year. PEN America, on the other hand, found book bans have doubled in the 2023-24 school year compared to the previous academic year. Experts highlight the different methodologies used in the two reports but say both findings show the fight against book bans still needs to be top of mind for those concerned about students access to titles. As someone whos studied book banning now for about 25 years, I think what both reports reflect is that were in a moment thats different from any moment Ive been historically a part of, said Kathleen Newman, an associate professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University. I think were in another watershed moment for book banning, where after [former President] Trumps loss in the 2020 election, I think some of the passion and fervor of the movement that he generated turned towards what weve very commonly called the culture wars, Newman said. So a lot of that energy, a lot of that activism, turned towards fears around gender identity, sexual identity and critical race theory and so those sort of almost sort of social identities were highlighted as concerns for conservative political activists. The ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom reported 1,128 different books were contested through 414 challenges in the first eight months of 2024. At the same time last year, the ALA found 695 challenges involving 1,915 different books. PEN America says in the 2023-24 school year, it found more than 10,000 instances of book bans, double from the year before. The ALA counts challenges to books from the media and librarians, while PEN America uses local reports, school websites and board meeting minutes and works with other partnering organizations. Both groups caution their reports could be an undercount, with the ALA emphasizing it doesnt include libraries that choose not to even put a particular book on shelves in order to avoid a potential fight. Even though our numbers are slightly down from last years numbers, theyre still way beyond what numbers we saw prior to 2020, said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom. Weve long cautioned that we know that its not complete. We know we cant collect we dont learn about every instance where an elected official or community group tries to remove a book from the library. But we feel that our numbers and our data collection offer a fair snapshot of whats going on with book censorship in libraries across the country, Caldwell-Stone added. We do have very defined terms for what we consider a challenge, which is a demand to censor a book, which doesnt always end with the censorship. Another difference is in the terminology used between the groups. The ALA only considers books that are permanently taken off the shelves as bans, whereas PEN America considers any challenge that leads to a book even temporarily removed as a ban. PEN America points to concerns of how long books are taken off the shelves when they are under review as part of the reasoning for referring to even temporary removals as a ban. Our guiding principle here is free expression, and even when a book is restricted for a short period of time, thats a restriction to ones freedom to read, so we count that as a ban, said Kasey Meehan, director of PEN Americas Freedom to Read program. The reason we count that as a book ban is because we have seen those review processes take weeks, months, years, where access to that book is prohibited, Meehan added. Much of the spike PEN America found in its report is from Florida and Iowa, which saw about 8,000 book bans due to state laws. And the challenges to books have not gone unnoticed. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against book-banning entities, and many local groups have found creative ways around the restrictions, such as banned book clubs. Last week in Florida, a school district reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit to restore three dozen book titles to its libraries. Weve been doing this for over 20 years, and weve noticed that, especially recent years, that a lot of times books a lot of books are challenged, but at least half of them returned back to shelves, and a lot of times it doesnt get any attention when the books go back, said Christine Emeran, director of the Youth Free Expression Program at National Coalition Against Censorship. Newman, from Carnegie Mellon, said shes actually cheered by the ALA study. Book banning is incredibly unpopular. So I would say that just as those who seek to control what others read have been ignited in the last four years, book defenders have also been activated in the last four years, and theyre using some of the same opportunities and techniques social media reporting, school board elections, school board meetings to stand up for the rights of professionals to make the choices about what books are on the library shelves or what books are in K-12 curricula, she said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Editor's note: The story was updated with comments by Kyiv authorities. Explosions were reported in Kyiv on the morning of Sept. 26 almost immediately after an air raid alert went off in the city, but authorities later denied Russia had attacked the capital. Ukraine's Air Force said that the alert had been prompted by the launch of a Mig-31K aircraft, a carrier of Kinzhal ballistic missiles that Russia uses to attack Ukraine. Three missiles were launched, according to a statement, but the Kyiv City Military Administration later said that Kyiv was not the target of the attack, and air defense systems were not activated. "The enemy did not use missile weapons on the territory of Kyiv," it said. No damage or casualties have been reported in Kyiv at this time. Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said that sounds of explosions could have been caused by the Kinzhal missile "breaking the sound barrier while flying over Kyiv" or "another physical phenomenon." Explosions were also reported in the town of Starokostiantyniv in western Khmelnytskyi Oblast, which is the home of a Ukrainian air base. Overnight, more than 15 drones were spotted near Kyiv, with around 10 of them downed by air defenses, the Kyiv City Military Administration said. No casualties were reported. Read also: Around 10 Russian drones downed over Kyiv, debris causes fire Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MILAN (Reuters) -A prospective investment by Meta Platforms in eyeglasses maker EssilorLuxottica will be a "symbolic" gesture to cement their long-term partnership, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told technology news website The Verge. Earlier this month, EssilorLuxottica said it had extended its partnership with Meta for developing smart eyewear. "I think we've talked about investing in them. It's not going to be a major thing. I'd say it's more of a symbolic thing. We want to have this be a long-term partnership, and as part of that, I thought that this would be a nice gesture," Zuckerberg said in a video interview published late on Wednesday on The Verge. "I fundamentally believe in them a lot. I think that they're going to go from being the premier glasses company in the world to one of the major technology companies in the world," he added. In July, EssilorLuxottica confirmed that the tech giant might invest in the company, after the Wall Street Journal reported that the two companies had discussed Meta taking a 5% stake in the French-Italian group. EssilorLuxottica and Meta have been collaborating since 2019, creating two generations of Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses. Zuckerberg said sales of the latest version were going "very well", with demand much stronger than expected. "We thought that Ray-Ban Meta was probably going to sell three or five times more than the first version did. And we just dramatically underestimated it," he said. Zuckerberg said it was hard to gauge real demand for Ray-Ban Metas because they had sold out. But more manufacturing lines have been built and the situation has been resolved, he added. Facebook owner Meta showed off its first working prototype of augmented-reality glasses, called Orion, during its annual Connect conference on Wednesday. (Reporting by Elisa AnzolinEditing by Mark Potter) Explosions rang out in the city of Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi Oblast on the night of 25-26 September. Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne; an Ukrainska Pravda reporter; Kyiv City Military Administration (KCMA) on Telegram Details: Explosions were heard in Kyiv at around 01:40. Two series of explosions rocked Khmelnytskyi Oblast around 02:00. Updated: At 02:27, explosions could be heard in Kyiv again. The KCMA reported that air defence units were engaging Russian drones in the city. At 04:21, an Ukrainska Pravda reporter noted that explosions were heard in Kyiv and that air defence units were responding. At 05:22, explosions rocked Kyiv again. KCMA reported air defence activity. At 05:40, a series of explosions rang out again, the Ukrainska Pravda reporter said. At 05:46, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko pointed out that air defence units were responding in the city's Obolonskyi district and urged residents to stay in shelters. At around 06:00, air defence operations were heard again, followed by a loud explosion. Support UP or become our patron! The Department of Veterans Affairs' request for an extra $12 billion from Congress to cover medical care costs is in limbo after lawmakers did not include the money in a short-term funding bill approved this week. Congress passed what's known as a continuing resolution, or CR, on Wednesday to ensure the government stays open after the fiscal year ends next week. While CRs typically just extend existing funding levels, VA officials asked Congress to include extra funding for the department to make up for an expected shortfall in its medical budget, warning that failing to provide the funding could mean staffing cuts and increased wait times for veterans. Lawmakers did not include the requested VA funding in the CR -- and are so far not committing to including the money in the next government funding bill that they will need to pass when the CR expires in December. Read Next: Army Surpasses its Goal for Recruiting Active-Duty Soldiers, But Just Barely "I think a lot of what's in the future funding depends on who wins the election, honestly," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., told reporters Wednesday when asked by Military.com whether the extra VA funding would be included in the next government funding bill. In July, VA officials informed Congress that the department was short about $3 billion of what it needed for veterans benefits payments this year and about $12 billion of what it will need for its health care budget next year. Last week, lawmakers approved the $3 billion for veterans benefits, ensuring that disability and education benefits checks can be sent to veterans uninterrupted. Earlier this month, VA officials confirmed they were asking for the $12 billion in medical funding to be included in the CR. While officials acknowledged there would be other opportunities for Congress to provide the money since it will still need to pass a comprehensive government funding bill for fiscal 2025, they argued getting the money sooner would allow them to plan to avert worst-case scenarios. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the CR to prevent a government shutdown, but the White House also lamented in a Tuesday statement that excluding the VA funding is "creating a risk that the agency would slow hiring and reduce health care services to veterans." The benefits funding garnered bipartisan support from lawmakers unwilling to risk veterans getting their payments on time. But Republicans have shown more skepticism toward the requested $12 billion for medical costs. "Getting $12 billion surprises at the end is probably not very good governance," Cole said. "I think we'll sit down and take a look at it. But right now, I think getting out of town as quickly as possible was the right thing to do." Immediately after approving the CR, Congress left Washington, D.C., for a six-week break to campaign for November's elections. VA officials have largely attributed the medical budget shortfall to record enrollment resulting from the PACT Act, which expanded VA eligibility to millions of veterans exposed to toxins during their military service. Higher-than-expected staffing levels, pharmacy and prosthetics costs, and community care costs have also contributed to the shortfall, officials have said. But Republicans blasted what they have described as "mismanagement" contributing to the shortfall and said they have unanswered questions about the funding. "It has been a battle getting clear information from VA about the [Veterans Health Administration] budget shortfall," House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., said at a hearing Wednesday, adding that he's heard from veteran caregivers that services have slowed down since the shortfall was announced despite caregiver accounts not being included in the shortfall. "I understand that the administration and VA leaders are urging Congress to immediately approve the VHA $12 billion budget shortfall without us asking questions." At a news conference Thursday, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said the department is working to answer lawmakers' outstanding questions about the shortfall and expressed hope the $12 billion would be included in any government funding bill approved in December. "In the meantime, we'll continue to provide world-class care. And we will continue to be very discerning about hiring decisions," McDonough said. For now, he added, concerns about the budget shortfall are "manageable." One complication for giving the VA an extra $12 billion is budget caps that Congress approved last year. The VA has asked for the money to be included in the PACT Act-created Toxic Exposures Fund, or TEF, which is considered what's known as mandatory spending and therefore not subject to the budget caps. Republicans have traditionally been resistant to adding money to the fund, which was a flashpoint during the debate over the PACT Act as some Republicans argued the TEF could become a slush fund. But if Congress were to provide the VA with $12 billion in what's known as discretionary spending, the budget caps would apply, and lawmakers would need to either agree to raise the caps or find $12 billion to cut elsewhere in the federal budget At a hearing earlier this month about the budget shortfall, Bost pressed VA officials on whether they are "accurately" calculating TEF funding needs. "We are very confident, Mr. Chairman, that we can use all of the $12 billion that we requested in the Toxic Exposures Fund for direct care to veterans exposed to toxic substances," Shereef Elnahal, the VA under secretary for health, told Bost at the hearing. Despite the potential hurdles, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont., expressed optimism that lawmakers will find a path forward on the funding. "We'll take care of that," Tester said Tuesday. Related: $12 Billion More for VA Medical Budget Urgently Needed, Department Says The first shipment of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Louisiana the week starting Dec. 14, 2020, including these doses that arrived at Ochsner Lafayette General. (Photo courtesy Ochsner Health) A state legislative hearing Wednesday that lawmakers said was to review Louisianas response to the COVID-19 pandemic turned into a forum for anti-vaccine advocates and proponents for alternative cures. The Louisiana House Select Committee on Homeland Security convened Wednesday for the first of two meetings meant to evaluate how the state responded to the coronavirus. The second takes place Thursday. More than 5.6 billion people worldwide have received a COVID-19 vaccine as of Aug. 12, 2024, according to data from the World Health Organization. Lawmakers invited Dr. Richard Bartlett of Odessa, Texas, to speak. Bartlett is a devout Christian who practices family medicine and authored a book in 2018 on doctor confirmed miracles. He made headlines across Texas in the spring of 2020 after he claimed to have a simple cure for COVID-19 using budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid commonly used for asthma. Early news reports hailed it as a silver bullet cure, and in August 2020 Bartlett told a Christian radio station that he saw a 100% cure rate in his clinic, including among the sickest of the sick. An Oxford University study that included two randomized controlled trials gave credence to Bartletts claims, but a subsequent analysis and additional studies cast doubt on the effectiveness of the treatment. Bartlett claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was part of a worldwide campaign to discredit the Oxford study and other forms of early treatment. Bartletts two-hour presentation to the committee contained numerous short video clips of Fauci and screenshots of frightening headlines about vaccines in an effort to support his case. Some of his material came from mainstream media sources, while others came from fringe sources or had no visible citations. He suggested lawmakers codify protections for doctor-patient relationships and the autonomy of patients to choose the treatments they want. Bartlett later walked some of this back when Rep. Phillip Tarver, R-Lake Charles, pointed out that Louisiana restricts treatment options for women that involve abortion. I want to be careful about that thinking because we do not agree with that in terms of some of the abortion-type things, Tarver said. The committee invited similar testimony from New York lawyer Aaron Siri, who specializes in vaccine injuries, and from former ophthalmologist Dr. Holly Groh of New Orleans, who shared her experiences with helping treat unvaccinated homeless people. The exorbitant amount of claims presented to the committee on Wednesday, particularly those from Bartlett and Siri, make it nearly impossible to do a complete fact-check of the hearing, so the Illuminator has focused on some of the more significant claims: Fact-checking the claims Claim 1: Budesonide is an effective treatment for COVID-19 infections. Fact-check: Partially true. Research has found budesonide to be effective at treating the symptoms of COVID-19, but its results are mixed. A study published in the Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection in 2023 analyzed nine randomized controlled trials (including the Oxford trials) involving more than 4,000 patients to test the efficacy of budesonide for COVID-19. The study found budesonide showed significant benefits for symptom relief, however, the inhalant proved no ability to prevent hospitalization or death from COVID-19. The consensus among the medical community is that prevention through immunization is the best way to fight the virus. Claim 2: Dr. Anthony Fauci lied to Congress about the National Institutes of Healths involvement in so-called gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute in China. Fact-check: True, but lacking context. During a 2021 congressional hearing, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, got into a heated debate with Fauci as part of Republicans investigation into the origins of COVID-19. In response to Pauls questioning, Fauci claimed the NIH had not funded any gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute. His statement was later contradicted by documents and other NIH officials. Fauci, who has been lauded by Democrats and villainized by Republicans, later said the contradiction was the result of different definitions of gain-of-function research. In general, it is a method of studying enhanced viruses as a way to combat them, and it has become a big target of proponents of the theory that COVID-19 either accidentally or was purposely leaked from the Wuhan lab. Many scientists say gain-of-function research is worthwhile, though it does carry risks. Early investigations into the Wuhan Institute were stymied by the Chinese government. Some Democrats, including President Joe Biden, have said an accidental lab leak was plausible and worthy of investigation, while some Republicans have made much stronger accusations such as falsely blaming Fauci for helping create the virus. Claim 3: COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe, and many more vaccinated people are dying. Fact-check: False. More than 5.6 billion people worldwide have received a coronavirus vaccine as of Aug. 12, 2024. The vaccines have become one of the most monitored and scrutinized drugs ever created, according to Yale Medicine. Bartlett pointed to a study that showed mRNA vaccines cause ribosomal frameshifting, which he described as the production of abnormal proteins that can be mechanisms for cancer. But that is not what the study concluded. In a screenshot he presented of the studys abstract, Bartlett underlined one part of a sentence but ignored the part that states the proteins have caused no ill-effects, keeping with the extensive safety data on these COVID-19 vaccines. According to a review of the study in Science, frameshifting is a natural occurrence in the body during viral infections. The effect might even provide added benefit by broadening the bodys immune response, the researchers said. Vaccine skeptics often cite data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System to try to support claims that vaccines are dangerous, but VAERS is a passive monitoring system that anyone can use to make a claim of a vaccine injury. Data from VAERS has not been vetted or validated. Its purpose is to allow experts to search for safety indicators that can be further investigated. The VAERS site makes clear that the existence of a reported event after a vaccine doesnt necessarily mean the vaccine is what caused the event. The same false logic could be used to blame patient deaths on Dr. Bartletts preferred treatment of budesonide. Several patients died or were hospitalized after receiving budesonide during the inhaled corticosteroid trials, but researchers havent linked those outcomes to the inhalants because mere correlation doesnt equate to causation. Claim 4: The vaccines dont work because vaccinated people started dying more in 2022. Fact check: False. The death rate among unvaccinated people has always been many times greater than that among the vaccinated even after vaccinated people began to make up a significant proportion of COVID-19 deaths in 2022. The CDCs coronavirus death data, taken at surface level, might appear as if vaccination is having no effect, but this perception is known as the base rate fallacy, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data cited in Scientific American. This becomes apparent when considering the sizes of the two groups. Over 81% of Americans have received at least one vaccine dose for COVID-19, and 70% have received two, according to the CDC. Therefore, even a small percentage of deaths among the vaccinated group will drive up the raw number of deaths for that group. For example, compare 100 deaths from a group of 800 to 40 deaths from a group of 200. Which group is dying more? The first group is larger in sheer size but has proportionally fewer deaths than the second group. The telling indicators are in the death rates per 100,000 people in each of the two groups. Those rates show the unvaccinated dying at a much greater proportion than vaccinated people. FEMA scrutinizes New Orleans overflow site Wednesdays committee hearing began with testimony from Jacques Thibodeaux, director of the Governors Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. He confirmed to lawmakers that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has launched an inquiry into possible fraud at a makeshift hospital in New Orleans, set up at the Morial Convention Center to handle potential overflow from other hospitals . GOHSEP turned a portion of the convention center into what was effectively a 1,300-bed hospital with a staff of roughly 500. Only about a hundred of the beds were ever put to use at a cost of over $100 million, Thibodeaux said. The federal government paid the tab, but officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency are now taking a closer look. We know exactly where it was spent, said Thibodeaux, who was not the GOHSEP director at that time. Information is being provided to FEMA, but he declined to go into specifics, saying he anticipates having to respond to a subpoena regarding the matter. Thibodeaux kept his testimony largely nonpartisan through some of the more pointed questions and comments from certain lawmakers. In my opinion, some of what we were ordered as citizens to do violated our constitutional rights, Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Gray, said. Amedees opinion was shared by many conservatives at that time who equated the inconveniences of social distancing and wearing a cloth mask with violations of constitutional rights. That conservative viewpoint remained firm even as the virus, at its peak, was killing more than 3,000 people per day nationwide. It has to date claimed a total of 1.2 million lives in the U.S. roughly twice the number of Americans who died in every war and conflict combined since 1775. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Fact Check: Real Pic of 'Suicide Pod' Used by US Woman To Take Own Life in Swiss Forest Claim: A photograph authentically shows a "suicide pod" designed for assisted suicide sitting in a Swiss forest, where it was used by a U.S. woman to take her own life. Rating: Rating: True In September 2024, a photograph of a "suicide pod" in the woods spread online along with a rumor that a 64-year-old woman from the United States had used it to kill herself in Switzerland (archived): (The Last Resort) As of this writing, the post on Reddit had gained 19,000 upvotes and 1,800 comments. As we will see, the photograph is authentic and the story is true. Switzerland is a country where assisted suicide is legal. Assisted suicide entails providing a person with the substances required to end their life, according to Switzerland's Federal Office of Justice. The person must take them on their own in order to die, as opposed to having someone else administer them something known as euthanasia. The reason for assisting a person in ending their life cannot be "selfish," according to Swiss law. Some forms of euthanasia indirect active euthanasia, such as administering drugs that might help shorten someone's life, such as morphine, or passive euthanasia, such as removing life-maintaining measures are also legal in Switzerland. In order to benefit from assisted suicide provisions in Switzerland, a person needs to show they have an incurable illness and are close to death, that they endure extreme suffering, even if death is not imminent, or that they suffer from invalidating pathologies due to aging. The person who chooses to die must have the ability to clearly consent. Switzerland attracts many people from abroad, something the media has coined "suicide tourism." The "suicide pod" has the brand name "Sarco Pod." Invented by Dr. Philip Nitschke, the founder of Exit International an organization that helps people die painlessly and peacefully the device looks like a futuristic coffin. Once inside, the person who wishes to die can press a button to release nitrogen, a gas that quickly brings about death. The organization and its founder imagined this device to help Tony Nicklinson, a British man with Locked-In Syndrome, a whole-body paralysis that prevented him from taking pills orally. For Nicklinson, Exit International explored the possibility of a device activated with an eye blink, according to The Independent. The Sarco Pod had reportedly never been used before the 64-year-old U.S. woman used it to take her own life on Sept. 23, 2024, in Merishausen, in northern Switzerland, close to the German border. The pod was marketed as portable, which presumably made it possible to take it into a forest. We contacted Exit International for more details on the events that took place. Swiss authorities arrested "several people" who'd assisted this suicide, arguing the device had not been cleared for use in Switzerland. Nitschke had told the AP in 2021 that a legal consultant confirmed use of this device in Switzerland did not require "formal authorization or licensing." In a statement, the organization The Last Resort, whose co-president Dr. Florian Willet was present at the suicide, said Willet had been alone for the death: On Monday 23 September, at approximately 16.01 CEST, a 64-year old woman from the mid west in the USA died using the Sarco device. Dr. Florian Willet, copresident of The Last Resort Association and who was the sole person present for the death, described her passing as 'peaceful, fast and dignified'. The death took place in open air, under a canopy of trees, at a private forest retreat in the Canton of Schaffhausen close to the Swiss-German border. 'Ann' (not her real name) had been suffering for many years from a number of serious problems associated with severe immune compromise. After monitoring events closely, Sarco inventor, Dr. Philip Nitschke, said he was 'pleased that the Sarco had performed exactly as it had been designed to do: that is to provide an elective, non-drug, peaceful death at the time of the person's choosing'. The Last Resort Advisory Board member and lawyer, Dr. Fiona Stewart has said that The Last Resort was acting at all times on the legal advice of their lawyers. Legal advice since 2021 has consistently found that the use of Sarco in Switzerland would be lawful. Sources: justice, Office federal de la. Les differentes formes d'assistance au deces et leur reglementation legale. https://www.bj.admin.ch/bj/fr/home/gesellschaft/gesetzgebung/archiv/sterbehilfe/formen.html. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024. Media | The Last Resort. https://www.thelastresort.ch/contact/media/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024. 'No, Switzerland Has Not Approved a "Suicide Capsule"'. AP News, 9 Dec. 2021, https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-993202650845. Portable Sarco. 4 June 2019, https://www.exitinternational.net/sarco/portable/. 'Press Releases Archives'. Exit International, https://www.exitinternational.net/category/press-releases/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024. Reyes, Ronny. Sarco 'suicide Pod' Gave Chilling Command before American Woman Took Her Own Life. 24 Sept. 2024, https://nypost.com/2024/09/24/world-news/sarco-suicide-pod-gave-chilling-command-before-american-woman-took-her-own-life/. 'Suicide Machine Kills Users in the Blink of an Eye'. The Independent, 1 Apr. 2019, https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/suicide-machine-assisted-dying-euthanasia-debate-uk-clinic-sarco-nitschke-a8307741.html. 'Swiss Police Detain Several People in Connection with Suspected Death in a "Suicide Capsule"'. AP News, 24 Sept. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/switzerland-suicide-capsule-people-detained-06d38d708d8b8b4b771bb2df047adfd0. Claim: JD Vance said "car seat rules" are causing Americans to have fewer kids. Rating: Rating: Correct Attribution Context: The comment originated from a March 2023 U.S. congressional hearing. The remark appeared to reference a research paper from 2020 titled, "Car Seats as Contraception." A video shared on social media in September 2024 claims to show U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio former President Donald Trump's running mate in the 2024 presidential election saying American parents aren't having more children because of "car seat rules." For example, on Sept. 20, TikTok user @whattheactualkaren posted (archived) the video showing Vance making the "car seat rules" remark with the caption, "JD Vance. American Families aren't having children because of car seat laws. Seriously." Numerous social media users across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, TikTok and X also shared the video. Many of those posts displayed the watermark for @whattheactualkaren's upload of the clip. The video showed Vance saying the following: American families aren't having enough children. I think there's evidence that some of the things that we're doing to parents is driving down the number of children that American families are having. In particular, there's evidence that the car seat rules that we've imposed, which of course I want kids to drive in car seats, have driven down the number of babies born in this country by over 100,000. So as we think about how to make kids safe here, I think we should do it in a way that's accommodating to American families, and I encourage your organization to do that. It's true that Vance genuinely made this remark during a March 23, 2023, hearing held by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in Washington. The hearing's purpose centered on "Enhancing Consumer Protections and Connectivity in Air Transportation." During Vance's time to speak, he shared his thoughts regarding the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union's proposal of enacting new Federal Aviation Administration mandates requiring children under the age of 2 to be restrained in special seats during flights. After that, he said the words appearing in the September 2024 video posts. The Governors Highway Safety Association's website hosts a page displaying all states' laws of restraining children in car seats while riding in motor vehicles. Meanwhile, the FAA website published safety information about flying with young children, "strongly [urging]" not mandating that parents place infants and toddlers under the age of two in "an approved child restraint system (CRS) or device," and not in their laps. As for Vance's comment referencing birth rates in the U.S., The Associated Press reported figures dropped in 2020 to "the lowest point since federal health officials started tracking it more than a century ago." We emailed a spokesperson for Vance's campaign asking about the comment but did not receive a response prior to the publication of this story. Vance's Complete Remarks and Full Video The longer video of the committee hearing revealed Vance was having an exchange with Sara Nelson, the international president of the Associated of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO. This transcription begins at the 1:45:08 mark in the complete video (emphasis ours): VANCE: The one thing that I'd encourage your organization to do is maybe to think out how to look, I don't think this is the right rule but if you guys are going to advocate for this rule, maybe to fit it in with some other changes that would make things easier on parents as you're advocating for that particular approach, because, here's the thing. I mean, the difference, of course, between an automobile leaving the hospital [with an infant] and [bringing an infant on] an airplane, there are two obvious ones that I could think of, right? One is that, look, if I take my kids from Cincinnati to visit their grandparents in San Diego, that's five hours. I mean, try to keep a toddler or a baby in a car seat for five hours. That is torture for everybody, including the baby and certainly the passengers around the baby. But the second thing, of course, is that air traffic accidents are thankfully, thank God, so much less frequent and less common than car accidents are. And so, what I worry here is that in the name of safety improvements, and I don't doubt that there are marginal safety improvements, we're actually proposing a change that would make things much, much more miserable for parents for very little marginal improvement in safety. And I want to, just one final comment here and then I'll shut up. One thing that I really worry about, and I think both Democrats and Republicans should worry about, is we have some real demographic problems in our country. American families aren't having enough children. I think there's evidence that some of the things that we're doing to parents is driving down the number of children that American families are having. In particular, there's evidence that the car seat rules that we've imposed, which of course I want kids to drive in car seats, have driven down the number of babies born in this country by over 100,000. So, as we think about how to make kids safe here, I think we should do it in a way that's accommodating to American families, and I encourage your organization to do that. NELSON: Thank you, I appreciate that. I just want to clarify one point, and that is that the child would [only] be required to stay in the seat for the critical phases of flight. So this is not keeping babies in a seat for five hours. VANCE: Thank God. NELSON: [laughing] All right, thank you. Possible Inspiration for Vance's Quote Vance's remark about "American families aren't having enough children" and "car seat rules" possibly stemmed from a 2020 preprint research paper about how parents view car seats, considering their price and other factors. Jordan Nickerson, an associate professor of finance at the University of Washington, and David Solomon, a finance professor at Boston College, authored the paper, which has been peer-reviewed and will be published in the Journal of Law and Economics. At least two users on social media made a connection between the paper and comment by Vance. One of them, a user on X, posted, "'Car seats as contraceptive' rhetoric from JD Vance likely stems from this 2020 finance bro paper." According to the paper, the research involved looking at states' child car seat laws, U.S. Census Bureau data and car crash data. One of the paper's driving points was the fact that child safety car seats are expensive and that more than two car seats or booster seats don't always easily fit in the back seats of many motor vehicles. The first page also claimed car safety seat laws for children prevented 145,000 births since 1980 an assertion that roughly matches the comment by Vance. Page 12 of the paper noted the authors were not arguing that car seat regulations were the primary reason for declining birth rates. The authors wrote: While we do not claim that car seat laws are the primary driver of the secular trend, it is a useful sanity check as to whether the introduction of the laws seems roughly consistent with the declines we observe, which became prominent in the mid-2000s. On the face of it, the introduction of the laws in the 1980s appears somewhat at odds with this, occurring during a period of somewhat rising birth rates. The authors also noted later: Anecdotally, it is rare to find people who will openly state that car seats concretely stopped them having a third child. But it is quite common to find people who cite car seats as being a pain and a hassle that they had to deal with, especially in the context of having a third child. The conclusion of the paper appeared to advocate for "easing" safety restrictions for car seats "to increase birthrates": Child car seat laws reduce fertility by restricting the choice set among women who, at the margin, would like to have another child. Easing such restrictions is not only likely to increase birthrates, but unlike many fertility-increasing policies, does not cost the government anything. Sources: Blanco, Evie. "Flight Attendants Support Enforcing the Ban of Lap Children on Airplanes." Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2023, https://www.miamiherald.com/detour/article273547000.html. "Cars, Kids, and Unintended Costs." United States Joint Economic Committee, 5 Oct. 2020, https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/2020/10/cars-kids-and-unintended-costs. "Child Passenger Safety." Governors Highway Safety Association, https://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/child%20passenger%20safety. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024. C-SPAN.org | National Politics | History | Nonfiction Books. https://www.c-span.org/. "Enhancing Consumer Protections and Connectivity in Air Transportation." U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation, 23 Mar. 2023, https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2023/3/enhancing-consumer-protections-and-connectivity-in-air-transportation. "Flying with Children." Federal Aviation Administration, https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children. "Historical Newspapers from the 1700's-2000s." Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/. Nickerson, Jordan, and David H. Solomon. Car Seats as Contraception. 3665046, 31 July 2020. Social Science Research Network, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3665046. "Senate Hearing Transcripts." Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/senate-hearing-transcripts. Stobbe, Mike. "US Birth Rate Falls to Lowest Point in More than a Century." The Associated Press, 5 May 2021, https://apnews.com/article/birth-rates-science-coronavirus-pandemic-health-d51571bda4aa02eafdd42265912f1202. "TV News Archive." Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/tv. Updates: Sept. 27, 2024: This article was corrected to note that the Nickerson study has been peer-reviewed and is soon to be published in the Journal of Law and Economics. Fact finding is easy and essential for the 2024 November election. Here is where you can turn. A voter drops off their ballot at the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City as votes are cast in Utahs primary election on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Misrepresentations, half-truths and outright lies are common in any political season. But this year, the numbers have exploded beyond anything ever experienced. Add in new evidence of election interference from Russia through RT the Kremlins media arm plus absolute lies about immigrants eating pets, one must ask: How can anyone know what is true or not? Part of the problem is that so many people now live in an echo chamber of their own opinions thanks to social media. New websites looking like journalism, but are not, are cropping up and can fool some people into believing lies or misinformation. What can an ethical person do to get real information? The answer is easy, take a few minutes to check facts before repeating anything found on social media/online or stories/information from friends and family. There are two excellent websites where anyone can check a story with a few clicks. One is PolitiFact, a division of the Poynter Institute, a nonprofit media institute. At PolitiFact, stories/rumors/statements are fact checked as true, false, mostly true, mostly false or a pants on fire lie. For example, a recent Instagram post saying California dropped the voter ID requirement at polls was reported as mostly false because it lacks context of the states voting laws. An example of a pants on fire label is a claim the Biden administration was manipulating the job statistics. Another quality resource is Snopes, the 30-year-old fact-checking site that investigates stories/statements/rumors and labels them as correct, fake or a mixture. Like PolitiFact, Snopes is a nonprofit that checks all sides equally. In addition, both groups belong to the International Fact Checking Network. A recent Snopes debunk was the AI-generated image of Vice President Kamala Harris in a communist dictators uniform. Snopes researchers named Elon Musks X as the origin, most likely generated by Midjourney AI. A recent true determination was on a story that former President Donald Trump invited the Taliban to Camp David for a meeting, although the meeting was later canceled. Like any responsible fact-checking group, both PolitiFact and Snopes give the names of the staff who did the fact-checking on each article. There are also other resources people can use. Anyone can do a quick search in a search engine, or sites such as Google News, Apple News or SmartNews for the information. The following recommendations are from the News Literacy Projects SmartNews: Look for standards, such as the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics. Check for transparency news sources should be transparent. Look at their about link for ownership and funding, is the advertising clearly labeled and you tell who is writing and producing content. Dont be fooled by a sleek page design, look for the information. Check how errors are handled. Credible news sources hold themselves accountable for mistakes and correct them. Does your source correct their errors? Assess the reporting. Is it obvious the reporting is original, is it straight news reporting (the facts) or opinion? Are there grammatical or spelling errors? Are there bylines giving the reporters names? SmartNews also cautions people against what they call the trust busters: information that is false or untrue without correcting it, using click bait tactics of false or misleading headlines, a lack of balance in the stories, misleading photos or videos, and state-run propaganda. They do caution against dangerous, malicious and offensive content that includes discriminatory language, unverified pseudoscience or content that promotes violence/panders to lurid curiosity. As someone who worked on revising the SPJ Code of Ethics in 1995 (the code was again updated in 2015), I understand the knee-jerk want by some people to spread a rumor in favor of one candidate or another; but I also understand the need for all facts to be checked for accuracy. Unfortunately, some people do not want accuracy, they would rather spread rumors and innuendo. Thanks to the internet, such fact checking is easy. It is incumbent on all of us especially those who consider themselves to be ethical people to check the facts and help stop the spread of untruths and rumors. Our democracy depends on it. Factbox-What are countries doing to get their nationals out of Lebanon? (Reuters) -Nations worldwide have begun evacuating citizens from Lebanon after a sharp escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah. People are also fleeing on their own. Here are details of evacuations or plans to evacuate: AUSTRALIA Australia started evacuating its nationals from Lebanon via Cyprus on Saturday. More than 400 people arrived on the east Mediterranean island on two chartered flights on Saturday, and more were expected on Sunday. More flights could be expected based on demand, Australian and Cypriot officials said. BELGIUM Belgium's foreign ministry has advised citizens to leave as soon as possible, the Belga news agency said. BRAZIL Brazil, which says 3,000 nationals want to be repatriated, has sent an Air Force Airbus A330 for those seeking to leave. The plane was due to fly 220 people out of Beirut on Friday and do two flights a week. CHINA More than 200 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated from Lebanon, China's foreign ministry said on Saturday. CANADA Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadian citizens still in Lebanon on Saturday to sign up to be evacuated on special flights that have already helped more than 1,000 leave. Canada has 6,000 signed up to leave and officials are trying to reach another 2,500 over the weekend, an official in Trudeau's office said, adding that more flights were being added for Monday and Tuesday. CYPRUS Cyprus evacuated 38 of its nationals on Thursday using an aircraft provided by Greece, and chartered another flight for 70 people, including a number of Cypriots and other nationalities including from Greece and Poland to Cyprus on Friday night. DENMARK Denmark has urged citizens to leave as soon as possible, but said it had not initiated an evacuation as there were still commercial flights out of Lebanon. Middle East Airlines will add extra flights from Beirut to European destinations to meet the demand for commercial travel outwards, the Danish foreign ministry said. FRANCE France has had contingency plans for months but has not yet ordered an evacuation. Current plans centre on Cyprus and Beirut airport, while it is also discussing evacuations via Turkey. France has a warship in the region, with a helicopter carrier set to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in coming days in preparation for any decision to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon. GERMANY Germany's Foreign Ministry said it was flying another 219 nationals out of Lebanon on Friday as it continues to evacuate non-essential staff, families of embassy workers and medically vulnerable nationals. It says it will support others trying to leave. GREECE Greece, which evacuated 22 nationals on Thursday along with some Cypriot citizens, has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid any travel there, putting a frigate on standby in case assistance is required. ITALY Italy has cut diplomatic staff and added security personnel at its Beirut embassy. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has repeatedly urged nationals to leave the country and sought assurances from Israel over the safety of Italian peacekeepers in the area. JAPAN Eleven Japanese and five foreign nationals left Lebanon for Jordan aboard Japan's C-2 military transport aircraft on Friday. There were about 50 Japanese citizens in Lebanon as of Thursday. THE NETHERLANDS The Netherlands is sending a military plane to repatriate nationals from Lebanon via two flights on Friday and Saturday, the Dutch defence ministry has said, adding that the flights to the military airbase in Eindhoven will also accommodate people from other countries if there is enough room. POLAND A plane carrying several dozens of Poles and citizens of other countries who wanted to leave Lebanon landed in Warsaw on Friday. Poland earlier said it would limit staff numbers at its Beirut embassy. PORTUGAL Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has advised against travel to Lebanon. A small number of Portuguese citizens living there have been evacuated. ROMANIA Romania evacuated 69 citizens from Lebanon in a military aircraft on Thursday, its foreign and defence ministries said. More than 1,100 Romanian citizens and their families registered their presence in Lebanon at the embassy, the foreign ministry said this week. RUSSIA Russia has started evacuating citizens from Lebanon, with families of its diplomats leaving on a special flight from Beirut on Thursday, its emergencies minister said. About 3,000 Russians and citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States want to leave, the TASS news agency said. SLOVAKIA Slovakia has sent a military aircraft to fly Slovak and other citizens to Cyprus. SOUTH KOREA A South Korean military aircraft has evacuated 97 citizens and family members from Lebanon, the country's foreign ministry said on Saturday. SPAIN Spain said it planned to send two military aircraft to evacuate as many as 350 citizens from Lebanon. TURKEY Turkey's foreign ministry said on Tuesday it was ready for possible evacuation of Turks from Lebanon via air and sea, and was working with about 20 countries for a possible evacuation of foreign nationals via Turkey. About 14,000 Turkish citizens were registered at the consulate in Lebanon, but the number was not definitive. UNITED KINGDOM Britain has chartered a limited number of flights for citizens to leave Lebanon, repeating advice to evacuate immediately. It has moved about 700 troops to Cyprus, bolstering military assets, including two Royal Navy ships. UNITED STATES The United States has ordered dozens of troops deployed to Cyprus to help prepare for scenarios such as an evacuation of Americans from Lebanon. It is working with airlines to add flights out of Lebanon, with more seats for Americans, the State Department said on Tuesday. (Reporting by Reuters bureausWriting by Michele KambasEditing by Rosalba O'Brien, Clarence Fernandez, Michael Perry, Sonali Paul, Edwina Gibbs, Mike Harrison and Frances Kerry) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. presidential contest between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump features an array of legal battles over how the votes are cast and counted that are likely to last beyond Election Day on Nov. 5. Here are some of the most significant voting-related disputes that are playing out in the seven competitive swing states that are likely to determine the outcome of the election. Together they control 94 of the 270 Electoral College votes a candidate needs to win: ARIZONA, 11 Electoral College votes 2020 winner: Democratic President Joe Biden Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, Republican-controlled state legislature State laws that prevent people from being registered to vote in different places remain in effect under a federal appeals court ruling. The laws allow counties to cancel registrations of voters who have moved out of state and makes it a crime to help an out-of-state resident vote in Arizona. Voting-rights groups had said they unfairly targeted voter-registration efforts. A conservative legal group has also sued to force election officials to verify that registered voters are U.S. citizens. Separately, the state's Supreme Court ruled in September that 97,000 registered voters should not be disqualified because the state does not have proof that they are U.S. citizens. The voters in question had been registered before 2004, when the state passed a law requiring proof of citizenship to vote in state and local elections. The state Supreme Court also dismissed a lawsuit brought by a conservative group that sought to roll back expanded voter registration and ballot drop options. GEORGIA, 16 Electoral College votes 2020 winner: Biden Republican Governor Brian Kemp, Republican legislature The Republican-controlled state election board has required ballots to be counted by hand to ensure the total number of votes matches the total number of voters. Democratic and Republican officials have said this would slow down and potentially inject chaos in the vote counting process. The panel also has given county officials more power to investigate vote results, which could potentially enable Trump allies to block certification if he loses. Democrats have sued the Georgia Election Board to block enforcement of that second rule, and a trial started on Oct. 1. The hand-count requirement is likely to be challenged in court as well. Democrats and voting rights groups are also seeking to overturn a 2021 overhaul of election laws that they say aims to suppress turnout among Democratic-leaning groups. MICHIGAN, 15 Electoral College votes 2020 winner: Biden Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Democratic legislature The Republican National Committee has filed several lawsuits challenging the way the state counts absentee ballots, and has also sued to block the state from allowing veterans and small business agencies to register voters. NEVADA, 6 Electoral College votes 2020 winner: Biden Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, Democratic legislature The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have sued to force officials to verify that registered voters are U.S. citizens, saying the state has not done enough to prevent non-citizens from voting. Trump and his allies have claimed that the election could be skewed by widespread voting by non-citizens, though they have provided little evidence in court filings. NORTH CAROLINA, 16 Electoral College votes 2020 winner: Trump Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, Republican legislature The Republican National Committee sued to prevent the state from accepting digital identification cards issued by the University of North Carolina at polling places, which could make it more difficult for students to vote. A state court denied the request on Sept. 19 and the RNC is appealing that decision. Republicans have also sued to invalidate absentee ballots that have not been properly sealed. PENNSYLVANIA, 19 Electoral College votes 2020 winner: Biden Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, divided legislature The state Supreme Court ruled that mail ballots must be rejected if they do not have the correct date written on their outer envelope. Voting rights groups had argued that the requirement serves no purpose and has invalidated thousands of legitimate ballots. Pennsylvania's highest court is also considering whether counties must count provisional ballots cast at polling places by voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected due to flaws like missing secrecy envelopes. Separately, election officials may again need several days to tally those mail ballots, as state law does not allow them to begin processing them until Election Day. That risks repeating the chaos of the 2020 election, when Trump and his allies used the delay to sow doubts about the validity of the outcome. WISCONSIN, 10 Electoral College votes 2020 winner: Biden Democratic Governor Tony Evers, Republican legislature The State Supreme Court is considering a case brought by a conservative group that would bar the use of mobile voting sites on the grounds that they give Democrats an unfair advantage. The court is also considering whether election workers can allow voters to fix errors on absentee ballots. As in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin also may not be able to quickly declare a winner as it does not allow absentee ballots to be preprocessed before Election Day. (Reporting by Andy Sullivan and Jack Queen; Editing by Scott Malone, Nick Zieminski and Deepa Babington) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Thursday charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with accepting illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel from Turkish nationals seeking to influence him, with prosecutors alleging the scheme stretched back to 2014. Adams has longstanding ties with NATO member and regional power Turkey including a handful of visits to the country, ties to Turkish companies, organizations and prominent Turks, and numerous appearances at Turkish events in New York. VISITS AND AGREEMENTS: As Brooklyn borough president in 2015, Adams signed a "sisterhood" agreement between Brooklyn and Istanbul's Uskudar district that led to collaborations aimed at enhancing commercial exchange between the two cities. In a 2017 interview with a Turkish newspaper, he said he was on his fifth visit to the country and was looking to purchase a home there. TURKISH AIRLINES: Adams attended several Turkish Airlines events since 2017, including the 2019 celebration in Brooklyn marking 25 years of direct flights between New York and Istanbul, according to the Elite Traveler website. Cenk Ocal, the airline's former New York general manager, was a key figure at these events, and Adams praised the airline publicly, stating it was "his way of flying," Turkey's pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper reported. After becoming mayor in 2022, Adams appointed Ocal to his transition team, further solidifying his close ties to Turkish figures. TURKISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY: The mayor regularly appeared at events organized by the Turkish-American community. In 2021, while meeting the Turkish-American National Steering Committee he expressed his deep connection to Turkey, saying: "I am a friend of the Turkish people here and abroad", Daily Sabah said. Other events he attended included the 2022 Turkish Day Parade and Turkish Republic Day celebrations, according to Turkey's communications directorate. CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENT: Adams hosted events that catered to the Turkish and Muslim communities such as a vegan iftar meal in 2022, attended by Turkish representatives including Ocal. In 2024, he hosted another iftar, catered by Turkish restaurant owner Ali Riza Dogan, Turkey's state-owned Anadolu news agency reported. MEDIA: When Adams became mayor, Anadolu news agency interviewed him and said it was his first interview with the international press. (Reporting by Mirac Eren Dereli; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Daren Butler and Daniel Wallis) FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) Three immigrant minors filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against a major New England seafood company, 12 News has learned. The lawsuit accuses Raw Seafoods, Inc., of child exploitation and unsafe working conditions at its Fall River processing plant. The lawsuit alleges that Raw Seafoods hired children and had them work shifts lasting nine to eleven hours. The children were allegedly subjected to coercion, psychological abuse, hazardous workplace conditions, and discrimination. Raw Seafoods, founded in 1998, runs an 80,000 square-foot plant in Fall River with approximately 350 employees. The company specializes in seafood product preparation and manufacturing, working with nationwide distributors, restaurants and vendors. The company has previously been investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for workplace safety and employment law violations at its Currant Road plant in 2011, 2014 and 2016. The plaintiffs, two of whom reside in Rhode Island and the other in Massachusetts, were reportedly 15 years old when hired by Raw Seafoods after seeing a recruitment kiosk at a Fall River grocery store in summer 2022. Court documents allege they were seeking work to support their family members in Guatemala. The employment documents were printed in English, which they were instructed to sign without understanding the contents. Due to the victims still being minors, they are referenced in the complaint as M.R., Y.O. and S.S. Many immigrant workers are afraid, even the adults, Y.O. said. Thats why we want to bring to light what happened, because its not right, and we want to prevent others, especially children, from facing what we faced. Target 12: Federal probe finds RI regularly warehoused children in psychiatric hospital Their shifts generally started between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. and would end around 2 a.m. They were granted one 15-minute break and one 30-minute meal break, the complaint states. Their responsibilities included cutting fish using machines with sharp blades, operating a dangerous fish-sorting machine which they did not receive training for and moving heavy boxes of fish and equipment. Most of the shifts were spent in freezing temperatures, being exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes. According to the complaint, they were left with two or three hours of sleep at night, preventing them from attending school. M.R. and S.S. were reportedly reprimanded when they had to go to class or do homework. Meanwhile, Y.O. was refused time off for a scheduled vaccine required to enroll, due to his work schedule at Raw Seafoods, causing him to miss the entire 2022-23 school year. During their employment, each child allegedly suffered injuries, including M.R. once slicing his thumb with the fish-cutting machine and S.S. cutting his hand with a knife to open bags of fish. They were only given bandages to treat their injuries. I remember being so tired and afraid of saying anything. I was fifteen. I had rashes all over my body all the time because of the work with the cleaning chemicals. In school, I couldnt write the next day because my hands were freezer-burned from work. They often shook, so I couldnt hold a pencil, S.S. recalled. I dont think its okay for anyone to experience that. The lawsuit claims they also experienced racial discrimination, being regularly insulted and verbally abused almost daily for their non-Kiche Guatemalan ethnicity. Non-Kiche employees were given harsher working conditions and assigned more physically demanding tasks. M.R. and Y.O. were reportedly threatened and intimidated regularly to keep working at Raw Seafoods and were told if they left, they would not be hired to work anywhere else. S.S. quit working at Raw Seafoods in December 2022. On Jan. 10, 2023, M.R. and Y.O. were told they were fired but could work for the company again in the summer. According to the lawsuit, eight to ten other minors worked at the plant during the time of the plaintiffs employment. The victims are requesting a jury trial, along with compensation for being subjected to forced labor, forced services, denial of benefits as stated in their contracts and violating child labor laws. 12 News reached out to Raw Seafoods but the company declined to comment. AHEAD: RI Commerce officials lambaste Cox Communications over lawsuit Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Nancy Pelosis husband sold Visa shares 2 months before a DOJ lawsuit some say the trade shouldn't have been allowed Nancy Pelosis husband dumped 2,000 Visa (V) shares in July just weeks before the payments giant was sued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for monopolizing the debit markets. The timely trade which documents show was worth at least $500,000 has once again set the rumor mill running about the former House speaker and her venture capitalist husbands investing strategies, which have netted them an impressive nine-figure net worth over the years. Don't miss Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years but only the super rich could buy in. Here's how even ordinary investors can become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024 and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how Some believe the pair have too much influence and institutional knowledge to trade fairly in the Visa case, potentially helping them to avoid a drop in the stock value amid the DOJ lawsuit but they have repeatedly brushed off any allegations of wrongdoing. Pelosis spokesperson has said multiple times that the congresswoman does not own any stocks. The money moves are being made by her husband, Paul and, as is required by law, she then discloses his trades to Congress via Periodic Transaction Reports. Heres whats gotten her critics so riled up. Another timely trade The DOJ filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against payments giant Visa on Tuesday, Sept. 24, for anticompetitive conduct and monopolizing the debit market. It claims Visa illegally paid its rivals to keep them out of the market and hinder innovation. As a result, it holds about a 60% share of the debit payments market and earns about $7 billion annually in debit swipe fees, per the DOJ. We allege that Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees that far exceed what it could charge in a competitive market, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a press release announcing the lawsuit. Merchants and banks pass along those costs to consumers, either by raising prices or reducing quality or service. As a result, Visas unlawful conduct affects not just the price of one thing but the price of nearly everything. Visa stock slumped shortly after the DOJs announcement but unlike some investors, the Pelosis came out of that dip without too much pain. Thats because Paul sold 2,000 Visa shares worth between $500,001 and $1 million on July 1, 2024, according to Pelposis congressional filing on July 3. The trade was defined as a partial sale, meaning he did not unload his entire holding. Story continues There was no public indication at the time of the transaction that the DOJ was preparing to sue Visa. This case bears some comparison to another well-timed trade Paul made in December 2022, when he sold 30,000 shares of Google (GOOGL) stock just one month before the tech giant was sued over alleged antitrust violations. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Banning lawmakers from trading There is a growing chorus of Americans who think lawmakers and their spouses should be banned from trading because of the unfair advantage they have as well-connected people with the inside track on legislation that might affect a company or industry. Christopher Josephs, a tech entrepreneur who runs the Nancy Pelosi Stock Tracker on X, is firmly in that camp. On X, he highlights politicians trades so we [Americans] can invest alongside or, even better, get them banned from trading. In a post on Monday, Sept. 23 one day before the DOJ filed the antitrust lawsuit he described Pelosis timely sale of Visa shares as wild. But in a follow-up post, he was quick to state: No one's proven she trades on insider info. In an effort to put an end to the suspicion around the Pelosis trades, her spokesperson stated she has no prior knowledge or subsequent involvement in any transactions. Ron Geffner, a former enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), acknowledged that sometimes politicians conflicts are called into question when they disclose trades but he encouraged Pelosis critics to consider the context behind her disclosures before jumping to conclusions. Before public opinion judges Pelosi unfairly, it is important to determine who engaged in the transaction on her behalf as well as whether it was part of a broader change of her portfolio, he told the New York Post. The former speaker did disclose several other trades made by her husband around the same time as the Visa sale including the sale of 2,500 Tesla (TSLA) shares, worth up to $500,000, and the purchase of 10,000 Nvidia shares (NVDA), worth up to $5 million. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Families of 43 missing students in Mexico are still demanding justice 10 years later Youths take part in a demonstration marking the 10-year anniversary of the disappearance of 43 Ayotzinapa rural teacher's college students, in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Orbach) MEXICO CITY (AP) Families of the 43 students from a rural teachers college abducted 10 years ago in southern Mexico marked the painful anniversary Thursday, disillusioned after what they say was a decade of unfulfilled government promises. Thousands marched with the families in the rain through Mexico's capital, demanding the truth about what happened and justice for the missing. The first time we came through here, who could have imagined that all of this time would pass and (we're) here again without answers, said Margarito Guerrero, the father of missing student Jhosivani Guerrero de la Cruz. Guerrero appreciated those who accompanied them, like Lourdes Silva, a homemaker, participating in her first march with her daughter, a student who has been following the families' movement for a decade. We need to keep pressuring, Silva said. We want this agony to end for the parents. The anniversary falls just four days before the departure of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose election in 2018 generated hope among the families. His administration made some early advances, established a Truth Commission and declared the disappearances a state crime. But when the investigation stalled without the cooperation of the military, the president closed ranks with the generals. He gave us a lot of hope, said Joaquina Garcia, mother of missing student Martin Getsemany Sanchez. But it looks like he really protects the military and thats not fair. On Sept. 26, 2014, students from the Rural Normal School at Ayotzinapa went to Iguala to steal buses a common way they obtained transportation. They were attacked by a local drug gang in cahoots with local, state and federal authorities. Two administrations later, many details of what happened to the students and most importantly where they are remain unknown. They are among the more than 115,000 recorded missing in Mexico. Ten years of suffering, 10 years of pain, of not having your son isnt easy, Garcia said at an event Thursday at Mexicos National Autonomous University. Here were shouting to see if the people who took our children will find it in their heart. Some 120 people are in custody. Mexicos former attorney general has been charged in inventing a false narrative about what happened. Lopez Obrador had promised to solve the mystery. But on Wednesday, he downplayed, minimized and even pushed back against the findings of his own administration, asserting that those trying to link the military are driven by political interests. The United Nations Human Rights Office lamented in a statement Thursday the unsatisfactory results of authorities. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which sent experts to Mexico to aid in the investigation for eight years said in a statement it was worried the investigation had stalled and denounced a pact of silence that has impeded the identification of the perpetrators and those who cover for them. The families are prepared to pressure incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum as well. We're going to press her if she doesn't respond, Guerrero said. Garcia agreed. This fight is not over. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The family of an innocent woman killed during a Gresham police chase in June has filed a federal lawsuit for millions in damages. The lawsuit, filed on Sept. 25, claims Officer Jonathan Buck performed a high speed chase of a 2004 Silver Buick Regal Limited he believed was a robbery suspects vehicle on the evening of June 25. After chasing the car for more than a mile, the car crashed into another car with Jennifer Parise, 40, and her husband inside, according to the lawsuit. Oregon workers exceeding BOLIs salary threshold will have wage claims dismissed According to the lawsuit, Parise was stopped at an intersection near NE Glisan Street and 148th Avenue while driving home from the grocery store when the driver of the Buick Regal lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the rear end of the Parises car. The impact of the crash caused Parises car, a Blue Toyota Yaris, to lift off the road, crash down back onto the road, then spin around in the roadway before stopping facing Eastbound in the north side bike lane of Glisan, the lawsuit said. Emergency responders cut the couple from the severely crushed car. But according to the lawsuit, Parise lost a pulse on the way to the hospital where she was eventually pronounced dead. Her husband had also been taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. An investigation found Officer Buck had followed the wrong vehicle, and the driver of the car was not involved in the previously associated robbery, according to the lawsuit. Person missing after boat capsizes in Columbia River The lawsuit alleges that Officer Bucks actions led to Parises death because he failed to follow the Gresham Police Departments protocol. By not turning on his body camera and chasing a car at dangerously high speeds through intersections, the lawsuit claims he had put bystanders at risk and neglected his duties as an officer. A law enforcement officer exercising reasonable care would know, or should know, that a person who has failed to obey the law regarding traffic stops, has attempted to flee a traffic stop, and who evades pursuit by law enforcement in violation of the law is likely to persist in the evasion of pursuit by law enforcement, the lawsuit alleges. In response, the Parise family is seeking $17 million from the City of Gresham and Officer Buck to compensate for their injuries, emotional distress and economic damages. The City of Gresham declined KOIN 6 News request for comment due to ongoing litigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. LONDON (AP) Rights groups and the family of convicted Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah on Thursday called on authorities to release him at the end of his five-year sentence next week. Abdel-Fattah, an outspoken dissident, rose to prominence with the 2011 pro-democracy uprisings that swept the Middle East and in Egypt toppled long-time President Hosni Mubarak. The 42-year old activist spent most of the past decade behind bars and his detention has become a symbol of Egypts return to autocratic rule under President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. He was first sentenced in 2014 after being convicted of taking part in an unauthorized protest and allegedly assaulting a police officer. He was released in 2019 after serving a five-year term but was rearrested later that year in a crackdown that followed rare anti-government protests. In late 2021, Abdel-Fattah was sentenced to five years after being convicted of spreading false news. But his release at the end of that term is not assured as he still faces other charges in Egypt, including allegations of misusing social medial and joining a terrorist group a reference to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group that authorities declared a terrorist organization in 2013. More than 59 Egyptian and international rights groups signed the appeal, expressing concern at Abdel-Fattah, who obtained a U.K.-passport in 2022, could not be released for years into the future. In the statement, the groups "expressed their deep alarm at news, shared by his lawyer, that the Egyptian authorities do not plan to release Alaa until January 2027. The statement did not say how the lawyer obtained this information. They warned that not releasing Abdel-Fattah on Sunday would violate the country's penal code, which deducts time spent in detention before trial from the total sentence. An Egyptian government media officer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Abdel-Fattah's lawyer could also not be reached for clarification. Abdel-Fattah and his family have campaigned for his release for years. In 2022, he intensified a hunger strike in prison and halted all calories and water to coincide with the start of the U.N. climate conference, known as COP27, in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Concerns for his health intensified as the family was barred from seeing him. They stepped up their campaign to draw attention to his case and those of other political prisoners in Egypt. He stopped the strike after a matter of days, after he collapsed and fell unconscious, describing it later in a letter to his family. The hunger strike drew attention to Egypts heavy suppression of speech and political activity. Since 2013, el-Sissis government has cracked down on dissidents and critics, jailing thousands, virtually banning protests and monitoring social media. Human Rights Watch estimated in 2019 that as many as 60,000 political prisoners are incarcerated in Egyptian prisons. At a London news conference on Thursday, Abdel-Fattah's sisters Sanaa and Mona, called on British authorities to press for their brother's release. Each day after Sept. 29 that Abdel-Fattah spends behind bars is a "grave atrocity on top of everything else he has had to endure, said Mona Seif, according to a statement released by the family. A Southern California teen who had been missing for nearly a month was found safe Thursday. The girl was identified as Cayla Marchetti, 18, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Thank you to the public, the media, Aero Bureau, and deputy personnel for their tireless efforts in the search for Cayla Marchetti, LASD said. At the time of her disappearance, Marchetti was last seen on Aug. 26 near the 18000 block of Sandy Drive in Canyon Country at around 7:45 a.m. According to her family, she had a mental disability and required medication. They were concerned when they couldnt reach her. The circumstances surrounding her discovery were not released by authorities. Cayla Marchetti, 18, also known as "Rowan," is seen in a 2024 photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Anyone with additional information can call the LASDs Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Abdel Fattah was arrested in 2019 for sharing a Facebook post about police brutality (Khaled DESOUKI) (Khaled DESOUKI/AFP/AFP) The family of jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah urged the UK government on Thursday to act to ensure his release in three days' time, when he will have served a full five years in custody. Abdel Fattah, 42, was arrested on September 29, 2019. Just over two years later, he was handed a five-year sentence for "spreading false news" by sharing a Facebook post about police brutality. But his family say the time he spent in pre-trial detention from 2019 means he should be freed on Saturday. The activist, computer programmer and blogger, who was given British citizenship in 2022 through his British-born mother, mobilised youths in the 2011 uprising that unseated autocratic Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. Rights groups say there are more than 60,000 "prisoners of conscience" who have been jailed in Egypt under the rule of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak raised the case directly with the president during the United Nations' COP27 climate summit in November 2022, which was held in Egypt. French President Emmanuel Macron also took up his case with Sisi and US President Joe Biden raised human rights issues. "If he is not out by September 29, it is an open-ended sentence. This means that they (the Egyptian authorities) can do anything," one of his sisters, Mona Seif, told reporters in London. Another sister, Sanaa Seif, said UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy had been "extremely supportive" when his Labour party was in opposition. - UK government 'ignoring us' - But she said that since Labour came into government following the UK general election in July, it had been "hard to stay hopeful" as it felt like the government had been "ignoring us". Fiona O'Brien, head of press freedom body Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said Abdel Fattah's situation reflected "a bigger problem" of the UK failing to support its citizens. It would be "a total failure" if the UK government did not -- once again -- stand up for one of its citizens, she added. In a 2019 interview with the show "60 Minutes" on US broadcaster CBS, Sisi said there were no political prisoners in Egypt. The former army chief became president in 2014 after leading the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi a year earlier. He has since overseen a sweeping crackdown on dissent. Those jailed for criticising the political status quo have included academics, journalists, lawyers, activists, comedians, Islamists, presidential candidates and former MPs. Rights group Amnesty International said Abdel Fattah should not be further detained after completing the full length of an "unjust prison term". "He is a prisoner of conscience. He should never have been forced to spend a single minute behind bars," said Amnesty's researcher Mahmoud Shalaby. "The prospect that the authorities could further extend his unlawful imprisonment instead of releasing him is appalling," he added. mhc/har/phz/gil My family went on a $6,000 Disney World vacation and a $5,900 Disney Cruise. The latter was a much better deal. My family went on a Disney World vacation and a Disney cruise back to back. Kari Becker Last year, my family of four went on a Disney World vacation and took a Disney cruise. On the Disney cruise, we got to see different places and explore new countries. The vacations cost about the same amount of money, but the cruise was a better value. As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels, clients often ask me if I prefer Disney cruises or Disney World vacations. My family did a split trip where we spent four days at Disney World and four days on the Disney Wish, which gave me a great insight into the differences between the two options. Here's why I think the cruise was a much better value. We visited all four theme parks on our trip to Disney World. Kari Becker undefinedundefinedundefined After visiting the parks, we boarded the Disney Wish for a four-night Bahamian cruise. This was our first time on the Disney Wish. Kari Becker Stepping aboard the Wish for the first time was breathtaking. It's filled with exquisite designs and unmatched attention to detail. It also looked impeccably maintained and offered classic Disney service. As we settled in and explored the ship, characters greeted us around every corner, which added to the magic. Our four-night cruise in a deluxe family ocean-view stateroom with a veranda cost $5,900, including meals. Throughout our cruise, we experienced so much of what the ship had to offer. My boys enjoyed playing in the kids' clubs on the ship. Kari Becker Disney Cruise Line has an app named Disney Cruise Navigator that shares all the daily activities. Most are complimentary, and there's always something to do. My kids hung out in the kids' clubs, saw movies, and played at the pool and gym. As a family, we saw Broadway-caliber shows, participated in family trivia, and ate at fun restaurants (including a Marvel dining experience and "Frozen" dinner show). While our kids were supervised, my husband and I enjoyed the adults-only lounges and activities. We got to enjoy a drink at the "Star Wars"-themed bar. Kari Becker The kids were supervised when they hung out in the club, so my husband was able to do a fun beer tasting, and we both loved doing a wine tasting. My favorite adventure was enjoying a massage at the Senses Spa, followed by a great glass of wine at the Rose Lounge. There's also the adults-only Quiet Cove Infinity Pool, where you can have a drink or read a book, and adults-only brunch and dinner available at Palo or Enchante. At Disney World, it's almost impossible for us to appreciate adults-only activities when we're with our kids. You can hire a babysitter or seek out the kids' club at Camp Dolphin inside the Dolphin Hotel. But these services aren't included in your stay, and I find them much more difficult to arrange. Another great perk of the cruise was getting to explore different places. We made a stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. Kari Becker Disney Cruise Line has itineraries all over the world including Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. On this trip, we visited Nassau in the Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. We also took a day trip to the Atlantis resort, and my kids had a blast at the water park. Castaway Cay offers a relaxing and fun beach day. We snorkeled, built sand castles, ate a delicious barbecue lunch, and basked in the sun. The cruise ended up being more affordable, and I think it was a better value overall. My family really enjoyed our time on the Disney Wish. Kari Becker A Disney Cruise might look pricier on the surface, but after we factored in the cost of meals and drinks at Disney World, the value of the cruise was more apparent. Plus, the number of activities offered for both kids and adults made for a relaxing and fun experience. If you haven't experienced a Disney Cruise, I highly recommend it. This story was originally published on October 19, 2023, and most recently updated on September 26, 2024. Read the original article on Business Insider Elon Musk has been nominated by far right lawmakers for the the EU's prestigious Sakharov rights prize (NELSON ALMEIDA) (NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/AFP) Far-right lawmakers have proposed Elon Musk for the EU's top rights prize for the second year in a row as a champion of "free speech", the European Parliament said on Thursday. The billionaire boss of social media platform X was among nominees put forward by EU lawmakers for the prestigious Sakharov Prize -- a choice that raised a few eyebrows in Brussels. Other nominees included Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, her ally presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, and jailed Azerbaijiani activist Gubad Ibadoghlu. Musk was recommended by the far-right Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations groups, with the first citing "his commitment to free speech, transparency, and fighting against censorship". The owner of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has repeatedly sparred with the European Commission over EU rules requiring social media to better police online content. The EU could decide within months to take action against X, including possible fines, as part of a probe into whether the social platform has breached content laws. But French lawmaker Thierry Mariani of the Patriots told AFP the nomination was not meant as a dig to the commission. The group wanted to reward Musk for the work X was doing to foster "free and independent debate" at a time where "freedom of expression is threatened by woke ideology". Paying tribute to individuals who made "an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought", the Sakharov Prize counts South Africa's Nelson Mandela and late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny among previous recipients. Musk was also nominated last year, but was not shortlisted. "Elon is increasingly the leader of extremists and nationalists around the world. His cheerleaders in the EU made him another gift," said Sandro Gozi of the centrist Renew Europe group. A winner is to be selected next month ahead of the prize ceremony in December. Machado and Gonzalez Urrutia were named by the conservative European People's Party Group, with the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists also backing Gonzalez Urrutia. The centre-left Socialists and Democrats and the centrist Renew Europe backed two Israeli and Palestinian organisations working together for peace, while The Left chose a group of Palestinian journalists, including some who died covering the conflict in Gaza. Ibadoghlu was named by the Greens. ub-adc/ec/tw KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A Friendsville man was convicted on Thursday of aggravated child neglect after his 15-month-old child nearly died from a fentanyl overdose in 2021. According to Knox County District Attorney Charme Allens office, Jeffery Michael Thompson, 36, was convicted of aggravated child neglect and aggravated child endangerment on Thursday. On October 13, 2021, Thompsons toddler nearly died from a drug overdose on the fentanyl Thompson was using to get high, the DAs office said. Thompsons sentencing is scheduled for October 31, and he is facing between 15 and 25 years in prison. Severe weather causes closures in East Tennessee Court records from before the trial state that Thompson admitted to investigators that he had shot up with what he believed to be heroin in the bathroom while watching the child, but did not wash his hands afterwards and fed the toddler some string cheese. The records continue to explain that Thompson said that shortly after, he noticed the child became woozy and sleepy, their eyes rolled back in their head, and then they stopped breathing. During the three-day trial, prosecutors told the jury that on October 13, 2021, first responders answered a call at a home off of Rutledge Pike and found the toddler suffering from a drug overdose. EMS worked to resuscitate the child and, after two doses of naloxone, the child began breathing on their own. This child is alive and doing well today thanks to the hard work of the first responders who undoubtedly saved her life, said Allen. Ex-TikToker from Kingston convicted of federal child sex crimes Both aggravated child neglect and aggravated child endangerment are Class A felonies, which the DAs office said carry between 15 and 25 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. RowVaughn Wells, mother of Tyre Nichols, closes her eyes during a prayer vigil outside the federal courthouse during the trial of three former Memphis police officers accused of killing her son Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) An FBI agent who interviewed two former Memphis police officers on trial in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols testified Thursday that they accepted accountability for participating. FBI Special Agent Anthony Householder took the stand in the federal trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty to charges of excessive force, failure to intervene, and obstructing justice through witness tampering. Two other former officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., have testified after pleading guilty to depriving Nichols of his civil rights. Householder said he interviewed Bean and Smith as part of the FBIs investigation into the January 2023 beating. Householder said Smith told him that he and Martin both punched Nichols. Smith said he should have stopped Martin from punching Nichols, Householder said. Smith added that he didnt tell emergency medical technicians about punches delivered to Nichols because he thought Nichols would be able to tell them himself, Householder said. Nichols died in the hospital on Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the beating. The officers used pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols, who was Black, during a traffic stop, but the 29-year-old ran away, police video shows. The five officers, who also are Black, then punched, kicked and hit him about a block from his home, as he called out for his mother. Video also shows the officers milling about and even laughing as Nichols struggled with his injuries. Smith took ownership and said he had failed, Householder testified. The FBI agent also acknowledged that Smith cried during the interview. He was certainly remorseful, Householder said. Bean also accepted responsibility and told Householder that he had previously omitted information about the beating because he did not want to be labeled a snitch, the FBI agent testified. He didnt want to throw his team under the bus, Householder said. Householder said he did not record the interviews. Under questioning by Beans lawyer, John Keith Perry, Householder acknowledged that some agents do record such interviews, which are summarized by FBI agents and known as proffers. But the recordings are not required, Householder said. Taylor Chesser, a nurse who treated Nichols in the emergency room, said he was in cardiac arrest and not breathing when he arrived at the hospital. Chesser said medical providers eventually were able to restore his heart beat. Nichols was dead until we intervened, Chesser said. Prosecutors rested their case after her testimony. Lawyers for the three officers then requested an acquittal based on claims that prosecutors have failed to present enough evidence. U.S. District Judge Mark Norris did not immediately rule on the requests Thursday. Earlier Thursday, Mills testified he had not previously seen Bean nor Smith participate in the street tax, which is police slang for punishing people who run away from police. Prosecutors maintain officers employed the street tax or run tax against Nichols. The officers were part of a since-disbanded crime suppression unit. Under cross-examination from Smith's lawyer, Martin Zummach, Mills said he got to know Smith well in the two years they rode together with the Scorpion Unit. Mills said he had not previously seen Smith abuse people and Smith would not tolerate other officers mistreating suspects. Mills, who used pepper spray on Nichols and hit him with a baton, said its possible that the beating could have ended if one of the officers had said to stop. Mills, who cried on the stand and apologized during testimony earlier in the week, said Thursday that he couldnt hold it no more after seeing the video of the beating. I wasnt going to stand and say I did right, Mills said. Bean, Haley and Smith face up to life in prison if convicted. The five officers also have been charged with second-degree murder in state court, where they pleaded not guilty. Mills and Martin are expected to change their pleas. A trial date in state court has not been set. ___ Associated Press reporter Kimberlee Kruesi contributed from Nashville, Tennessee. The FBI seized New York City Mayor Eric Adamss phone early Thursday, hours before a federal criminal indictment against him was expected to be unsealed, The Associated Press reported. Federal agents arrived at the mayors official residence, Gracie Mansion, at about 6 a.m. and entered the building to conduct a search, The New York Times reported. The group of nearly a dozen men and women was seen entering Adamss apartment wearing business attire after arriving in SUVs, the Times said, noting that at least one of the SUVs had a sign on its dashboard indicating it was a federal law enforcement vehicle. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again), Adamss lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement to the AP, adding that the mayor had not been arrested. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. A grand jury indicted Adams on federal criminal charges, the AP reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter who were not authorized to discuss it publicly. The indictment is expected to be unsealed Thursday in federal court in New York. Adams vowed to fight any charges against him in a video released Wednesday night. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, he added. Federal prosecutors have investigated numerous officials in Adamss orbit and seized the devices of the citys police commissioner and of at least four top deputies to Adams. FBI agents also seized Adamss electronic devices last year, as part of an investigation focused, at least in part, on campaign contributions and possible interactions between Adams and the Turkish government. The Hill has contacted the FBI, U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York, and Spiro for comment. The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Insight School kids, get off your damn phones! Trust me, you will thank us later By Robin Abcarian Los Angeles Times/(TNS) Published September 26, 2024 SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. LOS ANGELES At Venice High School's recent Back to School night, I was impressed that so many classrooms had signs forbidding students to use their cellphones. But how, I wondered, do teachers handle kids who break the rule? "I try not to be punitive," said my niece's ethnic studies teacher. Well, why not? I wanted to ask. Why not just send them to the vice principal's office the way teachers did in the good old days? A few days later, my ninth-grader proudly showed me a TikTok dance video that she and her friend made in their math classroom. "Why were you filming yourselves in class when phones are banned?" I demanded. "Oh, it was before the bell rang," she said, "and the teacher said it was OK." Seriously? Maybe it's the teacher who needs a talking-to from the vice principal. (I'm kidding, Mr. P!) About a week later, I found myself among hundreds of parents in a Zoom meeting that was billed as a chance for Los Angeles Unified School District parents to discuss the district's new policy banning smartphones during the school day. It soon became clear that parents were not being asked whether they support a cellphone ban the Board of Education passed the resolution in June but how best to implement it when it takes effect in January. That realization prompted one father to snap, "This whole meeting was stupid and pointless." It's true that the district could have done a better job explaining the meeting's purpose, but it was valuable to hear what parents think, especially parents who also happen to be teachers, who bemoaned the stress and distraction of policing cellphone use in their classrooms. "They are not wrong that we didn't get their input," L.A. Unified board member Nick Melvoin told me unapologetically. Melvoin, a former teacher, spearheaded the resolution. "This is a policy that's in the best interest of kids and teachers. Every school that has done this says, 'I wish we'd done this earlier.' " While there seemed to be general agreement that the ban was a positive step, I was surprised by how many parents strongly objected. Negative reaction ranged from"My child needs her phone at all times to control her anxiety" to, basically, "Over my dead body." One parent said she didn't care what the district implemented, she and her child were not going to go along with it. Sadly and predictably, a lot of the parents fretted about school shootings and the need for kids to be able to let their parents know they're safe. But let's be honest, phones don't make people safe. Anyway, said Melvoin, in an emergency "it's much safer for everyone for kids not to be texting, and for adults to do their job. Part of this is trying to change the culture around addiction to our phones. We want to check in with our kids all the time, but you shouldn't. They have to develop some independence, and even a vibration in your pocket or book bag distracts you." The good news is that L.A. Unified is not alone. Many private schools already ban phones, and a handful of states have adopted no-phone policies. In August, the California Legislature passed a bill requiring school districts to develop policies limiting the use of smartphones by July 2026. "Quite frankly, school boards in general need to be pushed into this," said Democratic state Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), a co-author of the bill. "There's always reasons to drag your feet, but the data shows that phones lead to learning loss, lower scores, increased depression, physical fights, less focus, less ability to learn. We need to shift the culture to a place where this is not acceptable." And let me add, this is a problem that extends beyond the classroom door. Whenever they aren't in class, kids are on their phones at school, ignoring each other in favor of texting, Snapping and whatever else distracts them from face-to-face interaction. So, how to get kids off their phones? Some schools collect phones in the morning using phone lockers, while others supply magnetic pouches that stay in kids' possession but can be unlocked only at school exits or by teachers and administrators. In a big school like Venice High, Melvoin said, pouches would seem to make the most sense. A pouch for every student would cost the district about $6 million, according to Melvoin, a drop in its $15 billion annual budget. "The return on this investment will be huge." The 10-year-old Mar Vista-based company Yondr, a pioneer in the phone pouch field, first created them to free live performers from the distracting and constant use of cellphones in the audience. Many artists have adopted the practice of shutting down cellphones, including Alicia Keys, Guns N' Roses, the Lumineers, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. Then teachers began reaching out to the company, its director Sarah Leader told me. Now the pouches are being used in thousands of schools in all 50 states and in 27 countries. The company estimates that they will be used by more than 2 million students by the end of this year, double the number at the end of 2023. "We are not taking something away," said Leader. "We are giving kids access to a phone-free education." Yondr works with schools to train staff, and to make sure kids and their parents understand how and why a phone-free day can improve the school experience. Turns out, there are all kinds of unexpected benefits to getting kids off their phones. Schools that use the pouches are seeing more meals eaten in their cafeterias, Leader said, "because kids feel better about eating when they are not being recorded." Some schools, she added, report that more books are being checked out of the library. Banning cellphones in schools won't solve all the problems wrought by a technology that has gotten way out of hand. But wouldn't you agree that it's a great first step? (COMMENT, BELOW) Previously: After years of running, I quit and took up Pilates. Here's how that turned out The boomer versus millennial grudge match is silly I wanted to hate what UC Berkeley parents are doing in the name of safety, but I can't Fani Willis' inexplicably bad judgment has endangered her case and the nation Elon Musk rides to the rescue of Gina Carano, fired by Disney for 'abhorrent' posts Should fat people get an extra airline seat for free? This company thinks they should I thought Sandra Day O'Connor was too conservative. Now her moderation would be a godsend What kind of terrible parent pays their child to get an A? (Well, me.) Do video cameras make you feel safe, or just show you how dangerous your neighborhood is? 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The end of 'harmless' recreational drug experimentation The 'Catfish' Killings: My teen is easy prey. Is yours? And you thought the movie 'L.A. Confidential' was fiction Tell your kids that Billie Eilish says porn destroyed her brain Why a lifelong Dem and education reformer is supporting Larry Elder for governor Robin Abcarian is a columnist at the Los Angeles Times. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) For decades, Jeff Card's family company was known for manufacturing the once ubiquitous tin boxes where people could buy newspapers on the street. Today, reach into one of his containers and you may find something entirely different and free of charge: Naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug. Naloxone distribution containers have been proliferating across the country in the more than a year since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its sale without a prescription. Naloxone, a nasal spray most commonly known as Narcan, is used as an emergency treatment to reverse drug overdoses. Such boxes appearing in neighborhoods, in front of hospitals, health departments and convenience stores are one way those supporting people with substance use disorder have sought to make Narcan, which can cost around $50 over the counter, accessible to those who need it most. Not unlike little free libraries that distribute books to anyone who wants one, the metal boxes used formerly as newspaper receptacles arent locked and dont require payment. People can take as much as they think they need. Advocates say the containers help normalize the medication and are evidence of steadily reducing stigma around its use. Sixty Narcan receptacles were distributed across 35 states in honor of Thursday's Save a Life Day a naloxone distribution and education event started by a West Virginia nonprofit in 2020. Containers were purchased from Card's Texas-based Mechanism Exchange & Repair, which still serves newspaper customers but has expanded to manufacturing other products amid the newspaper industry's decline. Its fortunate and unfortunate, said Card, who started making the Narcan containers over two years ago. "Fortunate for us that weve got something to build, but unfortunate that this is what we have to build, given how bad the drug problem is in America. Opioid deaths were already at record levels before the coronavirus pandemic, but they skyrocketed when it hit in early 2020. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated there were about 85,000 opioid-related deaths in the 12 months that ended in April 2023. But since then, they fell. The CDC estimate for the 12 months that ended in April 2024 was 75,000 -- still higher than any point before the pandemic. The reasons for the decline are not fully understood. But it does coincide with Narcan, a medication thats been hard to get in some communities, becoming available over the counter, as well as with the ramping up of spending of funds from legal settlements between governments and drugmakers, wholesalers and pharmacies. Story continues The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved use of Narcan to treat overdoses back in 1971, but its use was confined to paramedics and hospitals for decades. Narcan nasal spray was first approved by the FDA in 2015 as a prescription drug, and in March, it was approved for over-the-counter sales and started being available last September at major pharmacies. That took the barriers away. And thats when we realized, OK, now we need to increase access. How can we get naloxone into the communities? said Caroline Wilson, a West Virginia social worker and person in recovery who coordinated this year's Save a Life Day. Last year, all 13 states in Appalachia participated in the day spearheaded by West Virginia nonprofit Solutions Oriented Addiction Response. Community organizations in hundreds of counties table in parking lots, outside churches and clinics handing out Narcan and fentanyl test strips and training people on how to use it. They also work to educate the public on myths surrounding the medication, including that it's unsafe to have in easily accessible places. Narcan has no effect on people who use it without opioids in their system. This year, with the effort expanding to 35 states and a theme of naloxone everywhere, the group sent out 2,000 emergency kits containing one Narcan dose to be placed in locations like convenience store bathrooms or parks. The 60 tin newspaper boxes which sell for around $350 apiece were purchased with grants. Aonya Kendrick Barnett's harm reduction coalition Safe Streets Wichita installed one of the Kansas' first Narcan receptacles which she refers to as nalox-boxes in February. The boxes, now sold by a few different companies, can look different, too. Some look like newspaper boxes, while others look like vending machines. Since installing a vending machine Narcan container which just requires a zip code be entered on the keypad to access the medication it's distributed around 2,600 packages a month. To say, Hey, we have a 24-hour vending machine, come over here and come get what you need no judgment, is so bold in this Bible belt state and its helping me break down the the stigma," she said. Kendrick Barnett said there's no place for judgment when it comes to what she calls live-saving health care: People are going to use drugs. Its not our job to condemn or condone it. Its our job to make sure that they have the necessary health care that they need to survive. The Save a Life Day box her organization received is going to go in front of their new clinic, scheduled to open in October. In Erie, Pennsylvania, 74-year-old stained glass artist Larry Tuite said he grew concerned seeing overdoses increasing in his city. He began leaving Narcan packages on the windowsills of 24-hour markets in town that sell products like pipes and rolling papers. He was shocked at how quickly they disappeared. As many as I give out, I run through them really quickly," said Tuite, who keeps cases of the drugs stacked along the walls of his studio apartment. The Save a Life Day container, which he got permission to put outside one such store, has helped him to disperse even more Narcan. At least a dozen people have been saved by the medication he's distributed, he said. Tasha Withrow, a person in recovery who runs a harm reduction coalition based out of Putnam County, West Virginia, said Narcan wasn't something she ever had access to when she was using opioids. People can just reach in and grab what they need we didn't have that back then, she said, while stocking a container in a residential neighborhood earlier this week. To actually see that there is some access now Im glad that weve at least moved forward a little bit in that direction." ___ AP journalist Geoff Mulvihill contributed to this report. When a man claiming to own a vacant Randolph, New Jersey, investment property called real estate agent Lisa Shaw last summer, she thought it would be the start of another typical real estate transaction in the Garden State suburbs. "He said he had this piece of property for over 25 years in Randolph, even though he had never been to Randolph," Shaw told ABC News. She said she asked the man why he wanted to put this land on the market. "He said, 'Well, real estate is really high right now.' He thought he could get the best dollar for it," Shaw said. "He also told me his wife was ill and he needed the proceeds from that money for his wife's illness." MORE: Treasury Department sanctions companies allegedly linked to timeshare fraud by Mexican cartel Shaw says she did not realize that not only did the man on the phone not actually own the property in question -- but that this one phone call would ultimately connect that vacant lot to an alleged international crime web that authorities say involves fake documents ranging from Canada to Vietnam. The incident is just the latest example of what the FBI says is a growing and troubling new form of fraud affecting unsuspecting landowners nationwide. "Who would ever think that somebody would sell your own property from right under your nose, without your knowledge, and be able to dupe the system and everyone involved in that transaction?" Jim Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI for New York, told ABC News Chief Business Correspondent Rebecca Jarvis. 'No one suspected it' Shaw, who has been selling properties in and around Randolph for more than two decades, says that after she spoke with the purported property owner, she asked him for documentation. The man said that he and his wife were Canadian citizens living in England, and he provided a British address and copies of what appeared to be their driver's licenses from the Canadian province of Ontario. PHOTO: This undeveloped property in Randolph, New Jersey, was sold in December 2023, but the owners did not place the land on the market. (Jared Kofsky/ABC News) What Shaw didn't know was that the property in Randolph was actually owned by a husband and wife from Texas. When the driver's licenses arrived, they had the names of the real owners -- just not their Texas address. "Everything looked fine," Shaw said, explaining that she proceeded to put the land up for sale and immediately received around 10 offers. But the licenses turned out not to be fine. An official with Canada's Peel Regional Police told ABC News that both identification cards were fake. Although the licenses contained real addresses in the Toronto area, the owner of the home at one of those addresses told ABC News that she has no idea how her address ended up being listed on the fake identification card, and that she had nothing to do with an attempted property sale in New Jersey. The owner of the home at the British address, an attorney, said the same thing -- but he suspected that scammers could have found his home address in England because he used to own property in Florida. PHOTO: The man who claimed to own the property in Randolph, New Jersey, provided Shaw with driver's licenses that listed two addresses in the Toronto area, but Canadian police say that those supposed licenses were actually fake IDs. (Jared Kofsky/ABC News) Back when the property in Randolph was getting ready to be sold, Shaw says no one involved detected that this was a scam. "No one suspected it, not the attorneys, not myself, not the title company," she said. When the supposed property owner asked Shaw about the offers that had come in, Shaw said she told him that the highest one was for $140,000, and that he told her to immediately accept the offer. Sale documents were soon prepared and the man provided paperwork that purportedly showed he had gotten the deed notarized at the U.S. embassy in Vietnam. In December, the deal closed -- all while the real property owners had no clue that the transaction had taken place. The supposed seller asked for the $140,000 payment to be split in half and sent to two different banks, according to Shaw. PHOTO: Lisa Shaw says she has been selling properties in suburban New Jersey for more than two decades, but this was her first time encountering a case of this sort. (ABC News) But the title company encountered trouble while attempting to submit the second $70,000 payment. "That set off the red flag," explained Shaw, who said that the title company was then able to get in touch with the son of the real owners. "We knew it was definitely identity fraud." But by that point, it was too late. Shaw said that the initial $70,000 payment had already gone through, and the supposed seller had disappeared. The buyer that paid $70,000 to the fraudulent seller is still listed in municipal and county tax records as the property's new owner -- but since the original owners did not authorize the sale, it remains unclear what will happen to the land now. "It was a real shock to find out that people were devious [enough] to do this kind of thing," Shaw said. 'A lot of litigation' ABC News has learned that the FBI is now investigating the alleged scammers who fraudulently sold the lot in Randolph -- though the owners of the British and Canadian homes that were used as fake addresses said they have not yet been contacted by American law enforcement authorities. The FBI would not confirm or deny details of the investigation. Dennehy, who was previously FBI Newark's Special Agent in Charge, is urging owners of vacant land to remain vigilant and check their property records, as the bureau has reported a 500% increase in vacant land fraud over the last four years. "It all comes down to due diligence on behalf of the buyer, the real estate agent, the title companies and beyond," Dennehy said, explaining that scam artists pretend to be real landowners by using publicly accessible property information. PHOTO: FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Jim Dennehy says that reports of vacant land fraud have increased by 500 percent over the last four years. (ABC News) Dennehy cited another New Jersey case in which a property owner found out that her land was fraudulently sold when the new owner showed up with construction equipment. The FBI is encouraging real estate agents and property owners who suspect fraud to contact authorities before money changes hands. "It's probably going to be a whole lot of litigation for many, many months and years to come, if that money is already gone," Dennehy said. "Technically you're no longer the owner of the property, so now it has to get into civil lawsuits, a lot of lawyers [with] a lot of litigation involved in order to try to reclaim what's yours to begin with." 'Vacant land is very easy to steal' As a result of these scams, real estate industry groups in parts of the country with large swaths of vacant land are issuing urgent warnings to their members. "Vacant land is very easy to steal because not everybody is going to be checking up on a vacant piece of property once a month," Emily Bowden, executive officer of the Sussex County Association of REALTORS in New Jersey, told ABC News. "Not everyone who owns that land necessarily lives in our area." Bowden said real estate agents should try to meet with sellers in person whenever possible, make sure that their mailing addresses line up, and assess how well sellers actually know the lay of the land that they are seeking to put on the market. PHOTO: The deed transferring ownership of the property in Randolph, New Jersey, remains on file at the County of Morris Complex. (Jared Kofsky/ABC News) A desire to sell a vacant lot as quickly as possible can be suspicious, Bowden said, adding that real estate agents who do not do their due diligence when representing fraudulent sellers could face lawsuits. Derek Doernbach, who sells properties on the Jersey Shore, says he was contacted by three purported sellers who he believes were actually scammers. He said that, as a result of his suspicions, he declined to list any of the three properties. According to Doernbach, all of the supposed sellers sent him Canadian driver's licenses containing the exact same picture and address as the license that was presented to Shaw by the alleged scammer in the Randolph case. MORE: From hope to heartbreak: Families allege surrogacy escrow company stole millions "Without a doubt, this has to be the same people, or it's just a ring on the dark web that is circulating the same driver's license around," Doernbach said. A year after she was first contacted by the alleged Randolph scammer, Shaw says she wants to make sure other real estate agents remain on the lookout. "If you have a piece of property that someone wants to sell and it's vacant property, really, really get your feelers up on that one because there could be a potential fraud," she said. "It's a very easy way that they're doing this, and it's successful. And nobody knows until after the fact." FBI warns scammers are impersonating landowners to sell properties to unsuspecting buyers originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Consultant fined $6 million for using AI to fake Biden's voice in robocalls Signage is seen at the headquarters of the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday finalized a $6 million fine for a political consultant over fake robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden's voice, urging New Hampshire voters not to vote in that state's Democratic primary. In May, Steven Kramer, a Louisiana Democratic political consultant, was indicted in New Hampshire over calls that appeared to have Biden asking residents not to vote until November. Kramer had worked for Biden's primary challenger, Representative Dean Phillips, who denounced the calls. In January, Kramer told media outlets he paid $500 to have the calls sent to voters to raise attention to the danger of artificial intelligence in campaigns. The FCC said the calls were generated using an AI-generated deepfake audio recording meant to sound like Bidens voice. FCC rules prohibit transmission of inaccurate caller ID information. The commission said Kramer will be required to pay the fine within 30 days or the matter will be referred to the Justice Department for collection. Kramer or a spokesperson could not immediately be reached. "It is now cheap and easy to use Artificial Intelligence to clone voices and flood us with fake sounds and images," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said. "By unlawfully appropriating the likeness of someone we know, this technology can illegally interfere with elections. We need to call it out when we see it and use every tool at our disposal to stop this fraud." In August, Lingo Telecom agreed to pay a $1 million fine after the FCC said it transmitted the New Hampshire fake robocalls. The FCC said Lingo under the settlement will implement a compliance plan requiring strict adherence to FCC caller ID authentication rules. The commission in July voted to propose requiring broadcast radio and television political advertisements to disclose whether content is generated by AI. That proposal is still pending. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) Programs to help seniors stretch and develop postural stability and awareness of body positioning in space are helpful to overall wellness. Older adults can also use chairs safely for balancing exercises. (Getty images) A $600,000 federal grant awarded to the Rhode Island Department of Health will fund programming to reduce the risk of falling among older adults and adults with disabilities living in low-income households in three communities. State health officials will collaborate with public housing authorities in Woonsocket, Providence, and East Providence housing authorities to expand evidence-based fall-prevention programs like A Matter of Balance and Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance. They will also work with community providers on fall prevention training and improve the collection of data from emergency responders. The announcement of the funding Thursday coincides with Falls Prevention Week, which ends Friday, a nationwide public health initiative to raise awareness that falls are preventable and encourage older adults and their families to be vigilant about potential hazards. Preventing falls is a key strategy to ensure that older adults can age in place in the comfort of their own homes. Falls are the number one cause of injury and fatal injury among older adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than one out of four older adults fall each year, and falling once doubles their chances of falling again. In Rhode Island, from 2016 to 2022, falls were the most common injury for Emergency Department visits, with a rate of 19.6 per 1,000 visits, state health department officials said. But the state has lower rates of falls among people age 65 and older compared to the national average, according to CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data analyzed in the 2023 Americas Health Rankings. About 27.1% of older adults in the U.S. reported falling in the past 12 months. In Rhode Island, the figure was 25%. This is Fall Prevention Awareness Week, and it is an important reminder that the prevention of falls is one way to help older adults maintain their independence, said Olutosin Ojugbele, M.D., Medical Director for RIDOHs Division of Community Health and Equity. By helping older adults to focus on improved balance, strength, and home safety, we can significantly reduce the risk of falls and enhance quality of life. Healthcare professionals, caregivers, and family members should all know about the resources that are available to help prevent falls. There are things older adults can do to prevent falls, including: Remove tripping hazards like area rugs or other clutter. Add grab bars inside and outside of bathtubs and showers and next to toilets. Be sure all stairs have railings. Make sure all areas in your home are well lit. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review all the medicines you take, including anything that is not prescribed. Have your vision checked by an eye doctor. Poor vision can increase the chance of falling. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) A judge on Wednesday dismissed a federal lawsuit challenging a suburban New York ban on wearing masks in public except for health and religious reasons. The class action lawsuit was filed last month by Disability Rights New York on behalf of two individuals with disabilities against Nassau Countys Mask Transparency Act, or MTA. The law makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone in the county to wear a face covering to hide their identity in public. The lawsuit claims the ban is unconstitutional and discriminates against people with disabilities. The legal action includes two plaintiffs with various health conditions who wear medical-grade face masks to protect themselves. They said they were fearful of being harassed and possibly arrested because of the new mandate. But U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show they have legal standing to sue since the law since has exemptions for people who wear masks for health reasons. Plaintiffs wear masks to protect themselves from illness, the judge wrote. That is expressly excluded from the MTA's reach by its health and safety exception. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who signed the bill into law in August, said in a written statement that residents can be grateful that the court dismissed a lawsuit that would have made Nassau County less safe. An email seeking comment was sent to Disability Rights New York. Former lawmaker John Mark Windle, foreground, with hands on chair, is believed to have been visited by U.S. Marshals in connection with an ongoing corruption investigation. Windle is not a target of the investigation. (Photo: John Partipilo) Former lawmaker John Mark Windle, foreground, with hands on chair, is believed to have been visited by U.S. Marshals in connection with an ongoing corruption investigation. Windle is not a target of the investigation. (Photo: John Partipilo) Federal law officers might have visited the home of former state Rep. John Mark Windle on Thursday, igniting speculation that he is being subpoenaed to testify in the corruption trial of former House Speaker Glen Casada and his chief of staff, Cade Cothren. Rep. Gloria Johnson said in a social media post Thursday that Word on the street is that US marshals are at John Mark Windles house. A spate of motions have been filed in the case over the last 10 days, many of them sealed. Windle could not be reached to confirm the comment. But the former House member from Livingston could be a figure in the Casada-Cothren trial set for Nov. 6 on federal bribery and kickback charges involving a vendor Cothren allegedly ran in 2019. Rep. Kent Calfee told the Lookout two years ago he was listening when Casada discussed making Windle a general in the Tennessee National Guard in a last-ditch effort to garner enough votes to pass Gov. Bill Lees education savings account bill. The measure was held up by a tie that was later broken when Republican Rep. Jason Zachary flipped his vote. Calfee, a former Kingston Republican House member, told the Lookout he heard Casada tell Windle, I cant promote you, but the governor can. Ill call the governor. Windle, who held the rank of colonel in the National Guard, did not change his vote and didnt receive a higher rank. Calfee said the governor later called him to his office for a meeting where he said Lee told him, You know, youre kind of talking bad about me. Calfee said he responded. I told the truth. Responding to questions about the purported meeting, Lee has said at least twice he didnt know what Calfee was talking about. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A month after a federal judge dismissed machine gun possession charges in Kansas based on the Second Amendment, federal prosecutors are appealing to the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Tamori Morgan had been indicted by a grand jury in April 2023 in U.S. District Court in Wichita. Those two counts of unlawful possession of a machine gun were dismissed Aug. 21 by U.S. District Judge John Broomes. Broomes wrote that the prosecution "fails to meet its burden to demonstrate that possession of the types of weapons at issue in this case are lawfully prohibited under the Second Amendment." Prosecutors filed the appeal with the 10th Circuit on Sept. 20 but as of Wednesday had not yet filed documents detailing their arguments. Here's what to know. This photo of an AM-15 was submitted by federal prosecutors in a criminal case. Can you have a machine gun in Kansas? Possessing a machine gun is generally illegal in Kansas and the rest of the United States. Under federal code 18 U.S.C. 922(o), "it shall be unlawful for any person to transfer or possess a machinegun." The maximum penalties are up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. But the code provides exceptions for government agencies, as well as a grandfather clause allowing for "lawful transfer or lawful possession of a machinegun that was lawfully possessed before the date this subsection takes effect." The law went into effect in 1986. A report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shows that as of 2021, there were about 741,000 legally registered machine guns in the U.S., with about 4,000 of those in Kansas. Federal prosecutors alleged that Morgan illegally possessed "an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15 .300 caliber machinegun." More: Kansas judge dismisses machine gun and Glock switch charges, citing 2nd Amendment This photo of a machinegun conversion device, also known as a Glock switch, was submitted by federal prosecutors in a criminal case. What are Glock switches? Federal prosecutors also alleged that Morgan illegally possessed a machine gun conversion device. Machine gun conversion devices are considered a machine gun under federal law. That includes the so-called Glock switch, which allows a semi-automatic Glock pistol to function as a fully automatic firearm. Such devices have received greater attention from law enforcement nationally due to their ability to spray a large number of bullets in a short amount of time while being difficult to control. More: Is a Glock switch illegal? Here's what you need to know now about the devices U.S. Supreme Court decisions require historical analogues Two relatively recent gun rights decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court known as Bruen and Rahimi have influenced the Kansas case. The 6-3 opinion in the 2022 Bruen decision ruled that gun regulations must be "consistent with this nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation" to survive court challenges. The 8-1 opinion in the 2024 Rahimi decision clarified that the 2022 ruling requires gun regulations to have a "historical analogue" and not a "historical twin." More: Supreme Court's landmark guns ruling prompts race to test Second Amendment's limits Why Kansas judge dismissed the machine gun case Morgan's federal public defender, David Freund, filed a motion to dismiss citing the Supreme Court decisions. He wrote that the machine gun ban "offends the history and tradition of the Second Amendment." He questioned "whether stripping someone of their right to possess a machinegun without exception is consistent with the Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation." The prosecutor, assistant U.S. attorney Aaron Smith, responded that the country has a historical tradition of "regulating dangerous and unusual firearms." He also argued that "the plain text of the Second Amendment does not cover the possession of machineguns." Broomes ruled that "in this case, the government has not met its burden under Bruen and Rahimi to demonstrate through historical analogs that regulation of the weapons at issue in this case are consistent with the nation's history of firearms regulation." Broomes wrote, "The Bruen analysis is not merely a suggestion," and "The government has barely tried to meet that burden." Does Kansas ruling mean machine gun ban is unconstitutional? The Kansas judge declined a facial challenge to the law, which would require showing it is unconstitutional in all its applications. But he agreed with the as-applied challenge. Broomes did not strike down the machine gun ban. "Importantly," Broomes wrote, "this decision says little about what the government might prove in some future case. ... The court expresses no opinion as to whether the government could, in some other case, meet its burden to show a historically analogous restriction that would justify 922(o)." More: Supreme Court turns away, for now, challenges to state ban on assault-style weapons Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Prosecutors appeal Kansas judge's machine gun Second Amendment ruling Guest Opinion. When Congress passed the TikTok ban legislation in April, it did so without consulting any tribal representatives. On Monday, the D.C. Circuit heard oral arguments in the case that will determine the bans fate. The court should strike down this overbroad and unconstitutional ban for many reasons, including the Governments abject failure to consult with tribes. Tribal representatives have expressed that the ban would have disastrous effects in Indian Country, as it would silence a vital forum for tribal creators. If this kind of legislation stands, without regard for tribal consultation, what else could it herald for the future of digital tribal sovereignty and respect for the well-established norm of tribal consultation. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Here are the facts: TikTok is an important source of tribal activism, community building, communication, creative economy, and commerce. Many tribal members have used TikTok to raise awareness about the epidemic of violence against Indigenous people. Weve done so by posting videos for May 5 the National Day for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Tribal members have TikTok to raise awareness about the shocking numbers of Indigenous women who are murdered and raped without any kind of official response. Through TikTok, we have encouraged other tribal members to paint a red hand on their face to honor these sisters legacy and raise awareness of the crisis facing Native women. Tribal citizens also used TikTok as a site to raise awareness about the April 2024 disappearance of Native actor Cole Brings Plenty. Indigenous-led grassroots campaigns started #BraidsForCole on TikTok showing people of all colors around the world braiding their hair in solidarity and to raise awareness for the many other Indigenous youth who go missing every year. This campaign pushed the investigation forward, and gained a rare apology from the officers who investigated the disappearance. April 15th has now been officially declared Cole Brings Plenty Day by the Oglala Lakota government. TikTok has been the site of successful Get Out The Vote efforts targeted at tribal youth, ensuring that tribal voices are heard in key elections. Native politicians have found a campaigning home on TikTok. TikTok was also the site for tribal members to raise awareness about the Supreme Court case that threatened to overturn the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a 50-year-old law that prevents states from tearing tribal families apart, and fends off the looming history of displacement and assimilation. Last summer, the Supreme Court narrowly upheld ICWA after months of activism. Apps like TikTok are especially important for reaching rural tribal members because the primary form of internet access for many are smartphones, often received through the Federal Lifeline program. TikTok is also an important site for tribal commerce. Many reservations are rural and isolated from the rest of the nation, let alone the world. Artisan goods are one of the primary forms of income for tribal members, and are now accessible year-round, to anyone, anywhere in the world via TikTok. The federal government has long recognized that tribal consultation is a critical aspect of upholding the unique trust relationship between the United States and tribal nations. Given the many ways that Tribes and tribal citizens use TikTok, you would think that the federal government would have at least considered the effects the ban would have. But Tribes were not consulted at all. Whats more, this is not the first time this neglect has happened. In April 2023, Montana unsuccessfully attempted to ban TikTok in the state without regard for the impact on Indian Country. The state overstepped its right to regulate within reservations, where it does not have jurisdiction, in a gross circumvention of the trust relationship between governments, completely dismissing federal consultation practices. Congress opted to neglect the voices of the countless tribal members who are part of the 170 million Americans who use TikTok. Instead, the Government has filed secret evidence, redacted from public view, to support its national security concerns. When litigation affects tribes, tribes take notice. Groups representing their interests have already joined the conversation challenging this brazen federal indifference towards sovereignty and tribal data protection to the Supreme Court. The U.S. federal government cannot change the rules based on secret evidence. Their speculative national security concerns cant justify the TikTok bans collateral damage. The court should strike down this unconstitutional legislation. Other social media platforms simply do not have the same reach and effect when it comes to Indian Country. Help us keep this important source of communication, commerce, and creative expression open for all. Leland Marmon of Laguna Pueblo is a policy advocate focused on addressing systemic inequities and promoting Indigenous rights. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net Eric Adams, the first sitting New York City Mayor to face federal charges, accepted bribes from a Turkish official to, among other things, ignore the existence of the Armenian Genocide, according to an indictment. The indictment, unsealed Thursday morning in the Southern District of New York, lists a litany of misconduct allegations agains Adams, a former NYPD captain, that involved illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals, including lavish overseas trips, in exchange for favors that for Turkish government officials. Adams, the indictment says, agreed to ignore Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in 2022. After he was sworn into office a Turkish official "repeatedly" demanded Adams ignore the Armenian Genocide and bypass any statements of condolences to its victims in deference to that country's continued denials of the atrocities that began in 1915 when the Ottoman Empire began a targeted decimation of its civilian Armenian population. The systematic killings continued until 1923 when the Ottoman Empire ceased to exist and was replaced by the Republic of Turkey. According to the indictment, the Turkish officials "messaged the Adams staffer, noting that Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day was approaching and repeatedly asked the Adams staffer for assurances that Adams would not make any statements about the Armenian genocide." Adams bypassed the day without any mention of the Armenian victims. Eric Adams was hit with federal corruption charges in the Southern District of New York and allegedly agreed to ignore the Armenian Genocide to appease the Turkish government Department of Justice SDNY The indictment, which charges Adams with five federal charges of bribery, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations, also alleges Adams promised the Turkish government that he would insure they could bypass a fire inspection for a new diplomatic tower in the city. At the time, Adams was completing his second term as Brooklyn borough president, and did not have authority to push through the promise connected to Turkey's new consulate building, Turkevi Center. Still, according to the indictment, Adams instructed the city's Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro, a veteran FDNY leader, to sign off on the $300 million, 35-story tower project in time for a September 2021 visit to the United Nations General Assembly by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Fire Department approved the project before that visit. In exchange for these favors, and others, Adams pocketed $100,000 in graft and continued to use his powers to help Turkey, federal prosecutors stated. "Mayor Adams abused his position as this Citys highest elected official, and before that as Brooklyn Borough President, to take bribes and solicit illegal campaign contributions," Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said in a statement. "By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationalsincluding to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspectionAdams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents." Nigro has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but two other FDNY officials in Adams' cabinet, former chiefs, Brian Cordasco, 49, and Anthony Saccavino, 59, who ran the Departments Bureau of Fire Prevention, were indicted last week on federal charges that they took tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to speed up building inspections. A defiant Adams insisted in a video recorded at Gracie Mansion Wednesday, the Mayor's residence, that the federal investigation was based on "all lies." Hour's later Gracie Mansion was the site of a federal raid yesterday as agents executed search warrants as part of the continuing investigation into corrupting in Adams City Hall. "This is not a black thing!" protestors yelled over a press conference a defiant Adams held Thursday morning while flanked by clergy members and supporters. "This is a justice thing." Adams statements were made roughly thirty minutes before the indictment was unsealed, and he made it clear that he will not give up his leadership of the city. "My day to day won't change," he insisted as the protestors continued to rail against him. "It's a painful day...I look forward to defending myself, and defending the people of this city." FBI agents raided New York City's mayoral mansion on Thursday morning in a predawn raid hours before a federal indictment on campaign corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams became public. Federal prosecutors allege the 64-year-old illegally received foreign and corporate campaign donations for a decade in exchange for influence. Adams countered with a video statement saying any charges filed against him would be "entirely false, based on lies," and insinuated that his criticism of the Biden administration's disastrous border policies made him a target for retaliation. "The federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief," he said. "I put the people of New York before party and politics." New York City Mayor Eric Adams Indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a press conference on gun violence at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York City on June 26, 2023. Sources said agents seized the mayor's phone during the morning operation, although it was not immediately clear whether Adams was at Gracie Mansion when they arrived. They did not arrest Adams, according to his lawyer, Alex Spiro. Read On The Fox News App The alleged fraud also sucked in more public funding for the mayor's campaign under a program that supplements small-dollar donations with matching grants of up to $2,000 supported by taxpayers, according to the indictment. According to court documents, a donation of just $250 from an individual could send a candidate up to $2,000 in "matching funds" from taxpayers. It happened so frequently that Adams allegedly received $10 million from the program. On top of campaign donations, Adams allegedly received other perks like free flights on Turkish Airlines to destinations in Europe and Asia, free hotel stays and free high-end meals. In one instance, he allegedly asked about flying to Chile's Easter Island on a Turkish jet but he couldn't because it did not offer a route connecting New York and the South American country. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, speaks to reporters. In some cases, Adams is accused of creating a fake paper trail to make it look like items had been paid for, and he is accused of deleting text messages to and from co-conspirators about the purported scam. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, called the fake paper trail "just a clumsy cover-up." READ The Indictment: "Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams' phone (again)," Adams' lawyer told The Associated Press. "They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in." But court documents allege a long history of public corruption. As far back as 2016, Adams allegedly began accepting luxurious travel perks in secret, according to the indictment. Adams Office Lashes Out At Fbi Employee Who Might Have Improperly Leaked Details Of Corruption Probe In a series of free or "heavily discounted" trips overseas, Adams visited India, France, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Nepal and China, according to the filing. In all, he and his entourage allegedly paid around $2,300 for flights that should have cost $66,000. He sometimes allegedly flew hours off course to transfer at Instanbul and save money when he could have flown somewhere direct in far less time. Federal prosecutors allege he was given free yacht rides, driven around in luxury cars and got free stays at hotels like the Four Seasons and St. Regis. Then he illegally failed to disclose the trips and perks on annual disclosure forms, according to prosecutors. WATCH: NYC Mayor Adams calls pending federal charges 'entirely false' At one point, an Adams staffer allegedly pushed back at a Turkish national's attempt to give donations through an American straw-donor of Turkish descent. "I think he wouldn't get involved in such games," the staffer said, according to court documents. "They might cause a big stink later on but I'll ask anyways." The staffer later discussed the logistics of a $100,000 donation, according to the indictment. David Gelman, a New Jersey-based defense attorney and legal surrogate for the Trump campaign, said the feds were likely serving a warrant to seize data on the mayor's devices. But he also questioned the case against Adams. "The question is, is it politically motivated?" he said. "Its possible. The DOJ has shown over the last 3.5 years that they are weaponized." Adams blasted the feds for what he described as a pressure campaign designed to make him look guilty and undermine his credibility. WATCH: Federal agents enter Gracie Mansion following an indictment against Mayor Eric Adams Fbi Raids Home Of Nyc Mayor Eric Adams' Chief Fundraiser Brianna Suggs, Source Says "Just this past week, they searched the home of our new police commissioner looking for documents for 20 years ago, just one week after he joined my administration," he said. "Enough. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit." Adams insisted that he is innocent and argued against calls for his resignation. "Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case," he said. "I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while facing accusations. But I have been facing these lies for month, since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started, yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake, you elected me to lead this city, and lead it I will." Details of the indictment were expected to be made public later Thursday morning. "We have no idea of the charges or accusations but Adams and his legal team have been well aware that the indictment was coming down," Gelman said. "Nobody knows if they have cooperated but if the Feds have a person in their crosshairs, they dont miss." Federal agents have conducted a series of raids targeting Adams' inner circle in recent weeks, including the new police commissioner, the commissioner he replaced, and other top aides in the mayor's office and from his campaign. The FBI has reportedly been looking into whether Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign conspired with the Turkish government and other entities to raise funds. Some New York officials have also been probed over potential investigations into contacts with China. The mayor is now accused of one count of conspiracy to receive campaign contributions from foreign nationals and commit wire fraud and bribery, one count of wire fraud, two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals and one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe. Adams could face up to 45 years in prison if convicted of all charges. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Feds seize Eric Adams' phone after NYC mayor's indictment BALTIMORE For a short period of time in the early hours of March 26, before the entire world could see the devastation, the only evidence of the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster was the disconcerting, eerie rhythm of steel bumping into steel. The country would soon wake to the news that a wayward container ship, lacking power, had barreled straight into a support pier, felling within seconds a half-century-old structure essential to East Coast transportation and commerce. But as the darkened tide continuously rocked a vessel carrying thousands of steel containers and, now, a bridge span, the noise was the only hint of ruin. That banging, its what we kept hearing, said Marcus Johnson, a Baltimore County assistant fire chief and one of the first responders present that morning. Thursday marks the 6-month anniversary of the Key Bridge collapse after a 984-foot, 100,000-ton container ship named the Dali rammed into it, a tragedy that rattled Baltimore, killed six construction workers toiling through the night, and launched national efforts to study and better protect infrastructure. The effects are most felt locally, though, where residents can easily recall the flashbulb memory of where they were when they learned the news early that Tuesday morning. Feels like yesterday, feels like an eternity, said Bruce Gartner, executive director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, which owned the bridge and is responsible for its rebuild. In the immediate aftermath, crews set up shop on land as close as they could to the scene. For Baltimore County responders, that was the Dundalk side; for Baltimore City, it was near Fort Armistead. When Johnson arrived on-site around 2 a.m., about a half-hour after the collapse, he spotted the city responders emergency lights flashing about 1.5 miles away, across the Patapsco River. Realizing the two teams needed to unite their efforts, he got in his car. My first instinct was to drive across the bridge, he said. Every day before then, it would have been a quick, 3-minute drive. Instead, he became perhaps the first person in post-bridge Baltimore to drive all the way across the city to reach a location that the Key Bridge, now lost in the water, had once connected. Two million lost hours Traffic is not a tragedy. There is nothing inherently appalling about a drive taking 10 minutes longer than it should, nothing cataclysmic about being stuck behind a bevy of brake lights. And yet, it can be maddening, and can, ultimately, rob residents of their most precious commodity: time. Six months after the collapse of the Key Bridge, traffic impacts remain and they will continue for years. Its one of the most far-reaching consequences of the disaster. The 30,000 vehicles that took the Key Bridge each day have all been rerouted and will not be able to use a rebuilt span until at least 2028. Vehicles have spent over 2.6 million more hours on three particularly impacted Baltimore-area roadways Interstate 95, Interstate 695 and Interstate 895 from April 1 to Sept. 21 of this year as compared with the same time frame last year, according to data from the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology at the University of Maryland. The analysis is not definitive, cautioned the labs founder and director, Michael Pack, but, given that the data does not include delays on other, smaller roads, its likely a conservative estimate of the severe congestion impact. Traffic engineers compute how costly delays are using estimates of the worth of time. For example, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute has set the national average hourly cost per passenger vehicle as $39.30 per hour and $64.68 per hour for commercial vehicles. Those 2.6 million extra vehicle hours have resulted in a loss of time equating to at least $108 million, a figure that does not include the cost of fuel or environmental impacts of emissions. Over the course of four-and-a-half years the amount of time between the collapse and the expected bridge rebuild that number could exceed $1 billion. In some cases such as heading north on I-95 during the evening rush hour average travel times have increased by 50%. And when traffic is bad, its really bad. Comparing the 95th percentile commutes (meaning especially lengthy travel times) shows a more than two-fold increase during morning rush hour on some roadways. No magic pathway or temporary bridge is coming to mitigate the congestion. People might continue to adjust to a new normal, Pack said, but the traffic is expected to continue until the new bridge is ready. Its difficult to predict, Pack said, but added: I doubt there would be a vast improvement. The best of us The morning of the collapse, video of the bridge collapse circulated immediately. By 4 a.m., it had made its way to Honduras, to Martin Suazo Sandoval, whose youngest brother, Maynor, had been fixing potholes on the bridge. Martin got out of bed, summoned his nephew and resolved to travel across Honduras to the town where his mother, Rosa Emerita Sandoval Paz, lives. They wanted to give her as much information as possible without harming her fragile health. She had a strange feeling when they arrived, Martin recalled, and when, accompanied by a doctor, they finally told her the circumstances, she immediately fainted. That night, the six construction workers still in the Patapsco River were assumed to be dead by authorities, but the Suazo Sandoval family held onto a sliver of hope. We knew that my brother could swim, and we had great hope, Martin said in Spanish. You believe in God and had a great hope that he was alive. For almost two agonizing weeks, Martin and his family in Honduras anxiously awaited updates from another brother, Carlos, who lives in Baltimore. Martin said videos posted on social media falsely saying that his brother had been found alive played with our feelings, played with our familys dignity. Then, Maynors body was found. It was even harder when they told us Maynor had been found dead, Martin said. Lost was the little brother who supported his siblings and his parents. Lost was the perpetual dreamer. The generous man who worked hard jobs in America like repairing roadways at 1 a.m. to send money back to Honduras to support youth sports, the terminally ill, the handicapped. He was the Suazo Sandoval familys fundamental pillar. He left himself with nothing to support others, Martin said. He was the best of us in the family. Maynor called his mother each day, without fail. The afternoon before the collapse, he told her that he loved her, that he had to hang up to go to work and that he would call her the next day. The next day, I awaited a call, his mother, Sandoval Paz, recalled in Spanish. Attorneys representing the estates or families of the six victims Maynor, Miguel Angel Luna, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, Carlos Daniel Hernandez Estrella and Jose Mynor Lopez have filed lawsuits against the Dalis owner. Among the legal jargon in the claims is a brief, personal description of each immigrant who sought in Baltimore a better life. Those few sentences fail to fully encompass the men. And any dollar amount will fail to make up for their loss, Martin said. None of this will stop our pain, he said. Years of litigation The bodies of the six victims have been found, tons of debris have been removed from the Patapsco River, and the Dali cargo ship is on its way to China for repairs. The lengthy Key Bridge fallout, however, will carry on in courtrooms and litigation that could take several years. Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Ptd. Ltd., the Dalis Singaporean owner and manager, have turned to a 19th-century law in an effort to limit their liability in the disaster to $44 million a drop in the bucket of the billions of economic loss from the event. More than two dozen lawsuits, however, counter those efforts. None are more explosive than the U.S. Department of Justices assertions that cheap, shoddy quick fixes precipitated the disaster. And none are likely to seek as much in damages as a claim by the state of Maryland, the owner of the bridge. In a news conference Tuesday, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown vowed that the state would move quickly in asking a federal judge for a trial date. It is our goal to break through this limitation of liability that they, so quickly after their gross negligence and reckless conduct, ran to the courthouse steps to limit their liability, based on a law passed 150 years ago when you had wooden ships and crowded ports, he said. Meanwhile, the Port of Baltimore continues to rebound economically. The shipping channel, blocked by the bridge that once spanned it, was closed for months, forcing vessels to unload at other ports. Some fretted that lost business would never return to Baltimore, but in recent months, the port has begun to bounce back. The public port terminals are currently handling roughly 60% of the cargo as they did at this point last year, but are receiving about 90% of the ships, Maryland Point Administration spokesperson Richard Scher said. That discrepancy means that ships are unloading less cargo than usual which could be a vestige of the shipping channel being closed. This week has been a busy one, though, as 19 container ships are expected at the Seagirt Marine Terminal a figure that approaches the pre-collapse norm. After the sun rose on March 26, Johnson, the fire chief, took a silent moment, standing next to a couple of federal officials, to digest the scene in front of him. He took a moment to think on the collapse shortly afterward, when a flight he was on happened to provide a birds eye view of the bridges blank space. And as he later analyzed the wreckage from a police boat, he took another pause to process the loss. Reflecting recently, he stressed how bizarre it still is to see the disconnected bridge, and his realization of just how often he drove over the span. But his reflections mostly lie with the victims. Port workers were impacted. Commuters continue to face traffic delays. But, for the families of six construction workers, they will forever be searching for what was lost. They left for work, Johnson said. You expect your family to come home from work. By Jarrett Renshaw ERIE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Drillers in energy-rich Pennsylvania this week called on Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris to detail her position on natural gas, a fuel the energy industry bills as clean but which climate activists say is a global warming menace. President Joe Biden put a freeze on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits in January to study its environmental impacts, in an election-year move aimed at making gains with the party's green voting blocks. But it is now Harris squaring off against Republican rival Donald Trump, who has said he would immediately lift the permit freeze if elected. If she wins, she will likely be tasked with unwinding the pause and incorporating any new recommendations from the promised review, which the administration says is expected to land after November's election. Pennsylvania, a must win state for both Harris and Trump, is the nation's second largest producer of natural gas. The state's natural gas is tightly locked in shale rock and requires fracking to extract. "We need more details," said Dave Callahan, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, whose members gathered in northeast Pennsylvania this week for an annual conference. Reuters talked to a dozen natural gas and drilling executives who attended the conference, all of whom said they are still guessing about Harris's energy policy. "I think the public should want to know what her position is on these matters prior to the election, because, ultimately, they are the ones who will be impacted," said Rob Boulware, director of stakeholder relations for Seneca Resources Company, a major Marcellus Shale natural gas producer. A spokesperson for Harris campaign acknowledged the industrys need for clarity, but suggested the details of her approach on LNG need to be guided by the outcome of the review. "The Vice President believes that we need to make decisions informed by the best economic and scientific information -including projected impacts on energy costs, energy security, the environment, and public health, the campaign aide said. Harris has adopted a plan of what aides call "strategic ambiguity" on energy policy to avoid alienating environmental activists and moderate voters this November. She no longer supports a ban on oil and gas fracking on federal lands, like she did during her 2020 presidential run. The United States is the world's top producer of natural gas, and became the No. 1 exporter of LNG in 2022 as Europe looked to America to wean itself off Russia's vast energy supplies following the invasion of Ukraine. Story continues Thats been a boon for U.S. natural gas producers like Devon Energy Corp and Exxon Mobil Corp. In July, a federal judge blocked Biden's decision to freeze new LNG export permits, ruling the administration overreached its authority. However, the ruling didn't require the administration to issue new permits and it has only issued one since. Toby Rice, CEO of EQT, a major natural gas producer, told a room of natural gas officials at the coalition gathering that political decisions were harming consumers. "How can we have tremendous energy resources under our feet, but energy bills in this country are going up 35%?" he asked. "These bizarre things are happening in energy because political force has overwhelmed market forces." Much of the increase in gas prices in recent years relates to increased global demand for U.S. natural gas since Russia invaded Ukraine. In June, U.S. producers exported 356.4 billion cubic feet of LNG, up from 109 billion cubic feet just four years earlier, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Roughly 40% went to European allies such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. North America's LNG export capacity, meanwhile, is projected to more than double by the end of this decade to over 24 billion cubic feet per day, the EIA projects. Currently, gas from Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale flows to the Gulf Coast and Maryland's Cove Point terminal before it is exported. But the industry harbors hopes for an LNG export facility closer to home in the Philadelphia area. (Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw in Erie, Pennsylvania; Tim Gardner contributed reporting from Washington DC; Editing by Anna Driver) Fellow Dems turn on Mayor Eric Adams after indictment, call for him to resign: His fight is not our fight Embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams is facing mounting calls to resign by local politicians after he was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday night amid a federal investigation into his mayoral campaign and administration. Several top members of Adams campaign have already resigned amid the City Hall chaos following a number of federal raids at officials homes earlier this month, sparking concerns of Adams ability to lead the Big Apple moving forward as he deals with legal troubles. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said Wednesday was a sad day for New Yorkers, after news of the indictment broke, and that the most appropriate path forward is for Adams to step aside. Mayor Eric Adams is facing mounting calls from New York democrats to resign from office after being indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday night amid a federal investigation into his mayoral campaign and administration. James Keivom Mayor Adams, like all New Yorkers, deserves due process, the presumption of innocence, and his day in court. However, it is clear that defending himself against serious federal charges will require a significant amount of the time and attention needed to govern this great city, he added. Lander, who plans to run against Adams in 2025, was one of at least 24 politicians at the city, state and federal levels that have called on Adams to resign as of Wednesday night most of whom are fellow Democrats. Former city comptroller, Manhattan borough president and mayoral candidate Scott Stringer said the mayor should step down so other leaders can focus on the business of the city. His fight is not our fight, Stringer said. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said Wednesday was a sad day for New Yorkers, after the Adams news broke. Michael Nagle Several members of the City Council have demanded he resign, including Tiffany Caban (D-Queens), Alexa Aviles (D-Brooklyn), Shekar Krishnan (D-Queens), Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn), Chris Banks (D-Brooklyn) and Bob Holden (D-Queens). There is no way [Adams] can effectively lead with this cloud hanging over him. With the challenges our city faces, he must step down for the good of New Yorkers, Holden, a moderate, said. Eric Adams indicted: Live updates after NYC mayor hit with indictment Councilman Oswald Feliz (D-Bronx), however, told The Post hes not there yet in regards to calling on the mayor to step down. Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) declined to comment on the Indictment but said will run for office if the mayor steps down. City Council members Tiffany Caban (D-Queens), Alexa Aviles (D-Brooklyn), Shekar Krishnan (D-Queens) (pictured), Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn), Chris Banks (D-Brooklyn), and Bob Holden (D-Queens) have called on Mayor Adams to resign. William Farrington New York State Assembly members Phara Souffrant Forrest (D-Brooklyn), Emily Gallagher (D-Brooklyn), Danny OConnel (D-Manhattan), Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (D-Queens), Tony Simone (D-Manhattan), Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D-Queens) have also called for Adams ouster. Stay updated with the New York Posts coverage of Mayor Eric Adams indictment This embedded content is not available in your region. View this document on Scribd Eric Adams must resign. Even before this indictment, he has completely failed to address the crushing cost of living crisis that is driving working families out of our city. In fact, he has only made it worse, Mamdani said. State Senators Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn), Gustavo Rivera (D-Brooklyn), Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn) Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn), Brad Holyman-Sigel (D-Manhattan) John Liu (D-Queens) also joined the chorus calling for the mayor to leave office. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is the highest ranking Democrat to call for Adams to resign as she said it would be for the good of the city hours before the news was revealed that he was being indicted. Shutterstock US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) became the highest ranking Democrat to call for Adams to resign for the good of the city hours before it was revealed he had been indicted. New York Post front cover on Sept. 25, 2024. Adams is the first sitting mayor of New York City to be indicted. Hes requested an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth, he told The Post. Adams said he became a target of federal authorities for standing up for New Yorkers and vowed to fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. (Reuters) - Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell on Thursday urged Americans in the path of Hurricane Helene not to underestimate the storm's impact, hours before it was expected to make landfall in Florida. "Take the storm seriously. People in Hurricane Helena's path, you need to listen to your local officials if they tell you to evacuate," Criswell told reporters at the White House, adding that she plans to travel to the region on Friday to assess damage. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Katharine Jackson) NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) The City of New Orleans Health Department has developed a division to deal with the fentanyl crisis. WGNOs LBJ spoke with the divisions director, who pointed out the alarming facts of how the drug is affecting our community. Last year in New Orleans we lost 523 individuals to accidental drug-related deaths. 6% of those tested positive for fentanyl. So we do know that the majority of people who are dying from drug overdose at least have fentanyl in their system. Weve seen a, unfortunately, pretty steady increase in the last few years of our drug-related deaths, said Opioid Special Projects Coordinator Dana Wilkosz. Who is most affected? Fentanyl is a wicked addiction but there is help for those who struggle Last year 75% of the individuals were male. 56% of them were black. So we know its mostly black males, said Wilkosz. Thats whos being most affected in New Orleans? In New Orleans, yes. And we have seen across the country a pretty significant increase in drug overdose deaths among people of color. They are impacted more substantially, but weve also seen a really rapid rise in deaths among people of color, said Wilkosz. For that reason, Orleans Parish Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna has spoken up since he has been in office, witnessing how many residents have landed in the citys morgue. Were sounding the alarm to parents, to young people, to everybody who will listen to tell you about the dangers of this drug. Weve never seen anything like this deadly opioid, said McKenna. Whats even more dangerous and frightening is that the drug is being combined with other drugs and the user unknowingly ingests fentanyl. That could be some type of pill is marketed as another pill like Percocet but theres fentanyl in it. Were even hearing of instances of amphetamines like cocaine or methamphetamines having trace amounts of fentanyl in them. Which is especially dangerous if somebody hasnt built up a tolerance to fentanyl and they come into contact with that, said Wilkosz. Pharmaceutical fentanyl vs. illegal fentanyl: Whats the difference? The health department has sprung into action with a number of initiatives by making the drug Narcan available to combat an overdose and training workspaces and individuals on helping out. We have our Narcan training program and overdose response programs. New Orleans EMS has partnered with Odyssey House Louisiana to dispatch quick response teams to the scene of an overdose. Those are comprised of social workers so its an effort to get to that person right away to try to provide support to them and whatever kinds of resources they might need. The New Orleans Health Department is partnering with the DAs Office to form an overdose fatality review team. Thats in the very early stages. Were hoping to start that early next year but thats going to give us a little bit more insight into the people who were losing in Orleans Parish. We have this very basic demographic data, but we dont know whether theyve been incarcerated, how many times theyve been in treatment, so this will allow us to do deep dives on individuals who have passed, said Wilkosz. As for the living, McKenna has a warning. Young people if you are going to use drugs and I dont want you to use drugs, but if youve made the decision youd better be doggone sure that what youre buying or what youre doing has not been mixed with fentanyl or you will not wake up, said McKenna. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. Lloyd Gofton, director of the Sussex Dolphin Project, said the hunts are "completely against the cultural heart of Brighton and the wider Sussex community" [Sussex Dolphin Project] A music festival in East Sussex has withdrawn its partnership with the Faroe Islands after it was criticised for working with a country which allows barbaric whaling. The Great Escape, a festival based in Brighton, announced last week that it was teaming up with the Faroe Music Export (FME), a Faroese government office, to bring musicians from the country to next years festival. But the Sussex Dolphin Project said it feared the Faroese government was using the partnership to distract people from its country's whaling practices, which the government denied. The Great Escape has now ended its partnership with the Faroe Islands but said it will continue to support the countrys musicians. Thousands of people visit Brighton each year to find new music talent at The Great Escape [BBC] During the hunts, which began about 1,200 years ago, boats herd whales and dolphins to the shallows where they are killed with knives, then pulled ashore and eaten by locals. In 2023, 897 whales and 10 dolphins were killed, according to the Faroese government. In 2021, however, more than 1,400 dolphins were killed in a single day. Lloyd Gofton, director of the Sussex Dolphin Project, said: Medieval practices like [this] have no place in an ethical and progressive society. Tradition can no longer be an excuse for the barbaric massacre of animals." Mr Gofton said his organisation had no issue with The Great Escape promoting Faroese musicians, but did object to the festival partnering with the countrys government. The hunts are organised by the community and regulated by national legislation, according to the Faroese government [Getty Images] A spokesperson for The Great Escape said: We are very grateful to the Sussex Dolphin Project for bringing this issue to our attention. The festival has now withdrawn its partnership with the Faroe Islands and remains dedicated to showcasing new music talent from around the world. The hunts are legal in the Faroe Islands and are regulated by the country's government. The Faroese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade denied it was using Faroese music and international festivals as a distraction tactic to whaling. A spokesperson for the ministry said it "regrets" the decision taken by The Great Escape to end the partnership, adding that the activities and mandate of the FME "have nothing to do with whaling or Faroese government policy on maritime resource management". Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Related internet links NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by federal authorities on Wednesday, making him the first sitting mayor to face criminal charges. Adams was charged with bribery and a slew of other federal charges in a 57-page indictment unsealed Thursday. Authorities were seen arriving at Gracie Mansion Thursday morning. My fellow New Yorkers, its now my belief the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, Adams said in a video responding to the indictment. He defended his innocence and ability to continue running the city, despite calls for him to step aside. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life. That fight has continued as your mayor. Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics, Adams said. Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case. I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations. But I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. The federal investigation into Adams became known in November 2023, with questions on illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government and businessmen in exchange for favorable treatment, according to reporting from The New York Times. The mayors phones were subpoenaed. The homes of his inner circle, including Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks, Schools Chancellor David Banks and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright were raided by the FBI in a separate investigation. Phones were seized from top NYPD brass, including former Police Commissioner Edward Caban, also in another investigation. David Banks, Caban, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg and Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan all recently resigned from the Adams administration. The mayor vowed to fight and requested an immediate trial. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers I would be a target and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who would take over Adams position if he stepped down, responded to the indictment saying, The news of this indictment is itself incredibly serious. the focus should be on New Yorkers regaining trust in city government. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove the mayor of New York City. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Rubble and destruction caused by an Israeli air strike is pictured in a neighbourhood in the village of Saksakieh, south of Lebanese-Israeli border. Tens of thousands of people fled southern Lebanon as Israel continues to pound Hezbollah targets with an aerial offensive. Str-/dpa Mutual attacks between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia continued on Thursday, with tens of thousands of people said to have been displaced since Israel began its massive bombardment of Lebanon four days ago. Following months of cross-border skirmishes between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed militia, which says it acts out of solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, Israel began an intense aerial campaign to strike Hezbollah targets - with the region now on the brink of all-out war. International efforts are under way to negotiate a ceasefire. But Israel denied it has agreed to any such plan, with the military saying a possible ground operation inside Lebanon could yet take place. More than 600 people have been killed this week in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese authorities. Among them are more than 100 Syrian refugees, according to human rights activists. A total of 70,100 displaced people are currently registered in 533 emergency centres, Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said at a press conference in Beirut. The exact number of internally displaced people in Lebanon is difficult to determine as many have fled to relatives. Others are sleeping on the streets. Beirut suburb hit again by Israel The Israeli military said an airstrike near Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander who was responsible for the group's drone fleet. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said air unit commander Muhammad Hussain Sarur was killed in the targeted attack. A witness said the third floor of an 11-story building was hit in the Jamous neighbourhood to the south of Beirut, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least two people were killed and 15 wounded in the bombing. The strike took place close to where a high-ranking Hezbollah military commander, Ibrahim Akil, was killed last week. The Israeli army was also continuing its airstrikes in the south and east of Lebanon. At least four people were killed in attacks near the border with Israel, according to the Health Ministry. State media mentioned around two dozen locations where attacks occurred overnight and in the morning. The Israeli military said the air force had hit around 75 sites in Lebanon, including the Bekaa Valley in the east. It had specifically aimed at Hezbollah weapons depots and rocket launchers, it said. In northern Israel, the western part of Galilee was attacked with 45 missiles from Lebanon, the Israeli army reported. Some of them were intercepted by the missile defence system, the rest fell in open areas. The news site ynet reported a rocket salvo on the city of Acre on the Mediterranean, with two people suffering shock. Israeli attacks Syria targets for first time this week Israel has also attacked infrastructure used by Hezbollah along the Lebanese-Syrian border, specifically routes used by Hezbollah to bring weapons to Lebanon via Syria, according to the army. Four border crossings have been hit since Israel intensified its attacks in Lebanon on Monday, Lebanese security sources said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has been documenting violence in Syria since 2011, said Israeli warplanes attacked a border crossing in the area around the Syrian town of al-Qusayr, near the border with Lebanon. The war monitor said several people were injured. It is the first Israeli attack on Syrian territory since Monday, the observatory said. According to information from the war monitor, Hezbollah tried to use the border crossings to bring more fighters from Yemen and Iraq into the country. They were suppose to come in the country to support the Shiite militia in the event of a feared ground offensive by the Israeli military, it said. As a result of the serious Israeli attacks in Lebanon, around 13,500 people have fled to Syria since Monday, most of them Syrian citizens, according to the Lebanese Interior Ministry. An estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in Lebanon. Netanyahu denies report of imminent ceasefire While a group of countries led by the US and France is working to secure a deal for a 21-day ceasefire between the two sides, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a report he has given the green light for the plan. "The report about a ceasefire is incorrect," a statement from Netanyahu's office said. "This is an American-French proposal that the prime minister has not even responded to." A report by broadcaster N12 that Netanyahu had instructed the army to reduce attacks in the northern neighbouring country was also "the opposite of the truth," his office said. "The prime minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him." A joint demand for a ceasefire lasting 21 days was issued on Wednesday. The pause is intended to create space for a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as the nearly year-long Gaza war. The joint statement was supported by the US, Germany, the EU, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. A fire erupts in a forest following a rocket hit from Lebanon on Safed. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa A view of a damaged building following a rocket from Lebanon hit a house in Safed. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Scenes of destruction amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip Scenes of destruction amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -An Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families in the northern Gaza Strip killed at least 14 people on Thursday, Palestinians medics said, with the Israeli military saying it targeted militants using the compound. Several people were wounded and others were missing after an Israeli missile hit the Al-Falouja School in Jabalia camp, Gaza's health ministry and the Civil Emergency Service said . The Israeli military said is attack was aimed at a Hamas militant command centre there. It has regularly accused Hamas of using civilian buildings for military purposes - something the group denies. War in Gaza has not let up, even as Israel's battle against Hezbollah on another front further north in Lebanon has escalated. Gaza health authorities say more than 41,400 Palestinians have been confirmed killed in the near year-old offensive which Israel launched after Hamas fighters attacked Israeli towns on Oct. 7 last year, killing 1,200 people and capturing around 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Palestinian health officials said Israeli military strikes across Gaza had so far killed at least 31 people overnight into Thursday. The armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad said their fighters had attacked Israeli forces in the central Gaza Strip area with several mortar bombs. Hamas said its fighters also fired mortar bombs against Israeli forces in Khan Younis. Residents said Israeli forces operating in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and in Zeitoun, a suburb of Gaza City, had blown up several homes in both areas as the military continued its operations there. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the fighting in those areas. PEACE HOPES Many months of diplomatic efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire have yielded little progress, with Israel refusing any deal to halt the fighting without the total defeat of Hamas. Over the past week, Israel has also launched some of the biggest airstrikes on Lebanon in nearly two decades, targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has been firing into Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians. On Wednesday, the United States, France and several other allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border while also expressing support for a Gaza ceasefire following intense discussions at the United Nations. In Gaza, many Palestinians voiced hope that a deal to end the war in Lebanon would also bring an end to the fighting in the Palestinian enclave. "Since Oct. 8, Hassan Nasrallah conditioned ending the strikes by Hezbollah on ending the Israeli crimes and war on Gaza. This is a big gate of hope that peace may prevail in Lebanon and Gaza," said Tamer Al-Burai, a Palestinian businessman from Gaza City, who is currently displaced in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Nasrallah is the leader of Iran-backed Hezbollah. "We stand in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and we don't wish that anyone be harmed as Gaza was," Burai told Reuters via a chat app. Some expressed concern that a deal in Lebanon alone could free Israel's hands further in Gaza, but Abed Abu Mustafa, a resident of Gaza City, said he expected Nasrallah to continue supporting the Palestinian enclave. "We are confident that Nasrallah wouldn't agree to a deal that doesn't include Gaza," Mustafa, 48, told Reuters. (Reporting and writing by Nidal al-MughrabiEditing by Gareth Jones and Andrew Heavens) KC-10 Extender tail #86-0036 performs its final mission as it heads of to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., following a July 13 ceremony at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., that marked the first retirement of 59 Extenders intended for eventual replacement by the KC-46A Pegasus. A total of three KC-10s from the Air Forces Backup-Aircraft Inventory were congressionally approved for retirement during Fiscal Year 2020. As KC-10s are retired, the 309th AMARG will continue to support the remaining Extenders with spare parts as they are flown for several years while the KC-46A Pegasus is integrated into Air Mobility Commands Total Force tanker enterprise. For nearly four decades, the KC-10 has helped secure global reach for America, providing in- flight refueling to U.S. and coalition aircraft, from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm to Operation Inherent Resolve. The KC- 10 is flown from JBMDL by both the 305th AMW and its associate Air Force Reserve unit, the 514th AMW. The U.S. Air Force officially said farewell today to the KC-10 Extender, sending its final example to the boneyard, while recognizing the service that the stalwart tanker and cargo aircraft provided since it first entered service in 1981. As you can read about here, the KC-10 inventory has been rapidly reduced over the last couple of years, although its not yet entirely clear what the services future tanker fleet will consist of. Today is a bittersweet day as we bid farewell to the last KC-10A Extender heading to the boneyard. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, Big Sexy. Share your favorite memories below and tag the friends, colleagues, or family members you've made memories with the #Gucci crew. pic.twitter.com/3mdgHpAkKO Travis AFB Official (@Travis60AMW) September 26, 2024 The KC-10 farewell ceremony took place in Hangar 46 at Travis Air Force Base, California, home of the final Air Force wing to operate the type. After official speeches, the last KC-10, callsign GUCCI 10, made the flight from Travis to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The aircraft made some low passes over Travis before heading to Long Beach, passing over the place it was built. They sent her with some friends so she wouldnt be lonely pic.twitter.com/FSgvk8IeF5 KC-10 Driver B-737 Wrangler (@MCCCANM) September 26, 2024 The first KC-10 for Travis arrived at the base in 1994 and the type was most recently operated by the 6th and 9th Air Refueling Squadrons supported by the 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. So long, old friend! Fair skies & tailwinds enjoy your hard earned retirement! Ill come see you in a museum someday & well reminisce on old times. Ill bring the patch, too. pic.twitter.com/kmXT5db9LR KC-10 Driver B-737 Wrangler (@MCCCANM) September 26, 2024 Unofficially nicknamed Gucci or Big Sexy, the KC-10 was based on the DC-10-30CF and retained 88 percent of systems commonality with the commercial trijet. The Air Force acquired the KC-10 as a heavy tanker to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker family, with a DC-10-derived design chosen since it could be brought into service quickly to provide urgently needed additional tanker capacity. A primary mission was refueling large, fully laden transports flying over long distances, something that would become arguably even more important in the decades to follow. The KC-10 was especially well suited to this mission. With the three main DC-10 wing fuel tanks supplemented by three large fuel tanks under the cargo floor, it accommodated almost twice as much aviation fuel as the KC-135 more than 356,000 pounds. Unlike almost all the KC-135R fleet, the KC-10 was also fitted with its own refueling receptacle, meaning it could take on gas from a KC-135 or another KC-10 to increase its delivery range. Another interesting feature was the KC-10s ability to pump fuel in reverse, sending it back up the boom from another aircraft. A U.S Air Force KC-10 with the 76th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, is refueled by another KC-10 over the Atlantic Ocean, on February 14, 2018. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen Mark Olsen Other advantages over the Stratotanker included the KC-10s integrated hose-and-drogue system, allowing it to refuel U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, as well as probe-equipped receivers flown by other operators, without any further modifications. Twenty KC-10s did, however, receive wing-mounted pods, allowing multiple probe-equipped receivers to top up simultaneously. The KC-10 was also a load-carrying specialist. In its important secondary cargo-carrying mission, the Extender could transport nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo and up to 75 passengers over a distance of around 4,400 miles. The ability to lift cargo and simultaneously refuel other aircraft made the KC-10 ideal for supporting transoceanic deployments of fighters, for example, with support personnel and equipment being carried to the destination while the accompanying jets topped up en route. A KC-10 assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, refuels an F-22 Raptor. U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andy M. Kin Staff Sgt. Andy M. Kin On the KC-10's last day, I remember the 1st time I refueled from one, the most enormous airplane I'd ever flown in close proximity to, and how powerful its boom was, moving my F-15 (not a lightweight jet) around as easily as a child picking up a Lego brick. #EagleBot #SierraHotel https://t.co/XXeGPR3INM Paul Q. G. Woodford (@PWoodford) September 26, 2024 The Air Force bought 60 KC-10As only one variant of the type was ever fielded although one was later lost in an explosion and subsequent fire while undergoing maintenance at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana in 1987. The Netherlands also received two similar KDC-10 aircraft, now operated by Omega Air, a pioneer in the commercial aerial refueling segment. An Omega KDC10 tanker refuels a U.S. Air Force F16C from the 51st Fighter Wing, en route to Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, on November 6, 2023. U.S. Air Force The hard-worked KC-10 fleet was beginning to show its age by 2018 when smoke on the flight deck of one of the aircraft forced the crew to evacuate. A separate fault quickly revealed itself in the same incident, when the crews escape slides failed to activate. The problem was found to affect the entire fleet. At the same time, with DC-10s and MD-11s having left airline service and now also disappearing from cargo operators, the KC-10 was also becoming harder to support. Soon enough, the Air Force was looking for ways to retire the KC-10. Despite some resistance, including from within the military, Congress ultimately approved the divestiture. In July 2020, the retirement of the U.S. Air Force KC-10 fleet began, when the first example arrived at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. As of September 2023, 37 KC-10s were in the boneyard, including 12 that had gone there in that same year. The U.S. Air Force KC-10 completed its final combat deployment on October 5 last year, when the last example departed Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB) in Saudi Arabia. The KC-10s career included more than 30 years spent within the U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) area of responsibility, supporting military operations, including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. U.S. airmen salute a KC-10 as it begins to depart after conducting the final combat deployment at Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB), Saudi Arabia, on October 5, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexander Frank Although the KC-10 has now bowed out, the Air Force is still weighing up options for its future tanker fleet. The immediate replacement for the KC-10 is the KC-46 Pegasus, an aircraft that has had no shortage of problems in its development, many of which persist now that its in service. A KC-46, lower right, conducting refueling receiver tests behind a KC-10 Extender with a KC-135 Stratotanker in the background waiting its turn as refueler. U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Photo by Christopher Okula Previously, there were plans to field a KC-10 successor under the KC-Y program, the counterpart to the KC-X, which was to replace the KC-135 (and for which the KC-46 was eventually selected). The question now is what happens after the Air Force receives the last of its 179 KC-46s, which is due to happen in 2029. As soon as the KC-46s are delivered, the service wants to start inducting 75 more aerial refuelers, aircraft that it had previously referred to as bridge tankers. The bridge tankers which could be more KC-46s, Lockheed Martins LMXT, or even based also contractor-based leased solutions are viewed as an interim solution until the Air Force gets the tanker that it really wants, and one that will very likely feature survivability as a core element of its design. This may well result in a design that stresses low-observable features, as we have discussed before. A concept of a future low-observavle tanker from the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. Lockheed Martin By the time a tanker of that kind is in service, the Cold War-era KC-10 will look even more dated. That said, the aircraft is still providing useful service in its contractor-operated form. It would not be entirely surprising if at least some of the former U.S. Air Force KC-10s end up in the hands of private companies, like the former Dutch KDC-10s with Omega. Were that to happen, the KC-10s career refueling U.S. military aircraft might not be over. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Several guns were seized following a threat to a school in Merced on Wednesday, according to the Merced Police Department. Officers say they were made aware on Wednesday of a possible threat, made on the social media platform TikTok, regarding Farmdale Elementary School. According to police, they received the report after the school had already been dismissed for the day. Officers were able to locate a juvenile who was playing on the social media account and made the post. However, they say it was concluded through their investigation that the juvenile did not appear to have any intent to carry any threat toward the school. However, detectives add several firearms were located at the home of the juvenile during the investigation. Those firearms were then seized for sake keeping. The Merced Police Department says they were in contact with Farmdale Elementary School throughout the investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS47 and KSEE24 | YourCentralValley.com. Fired NEO instructor accused of sexually abusing teen out on $150K bail MIAMI, Okla. A fired Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College instructor accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl posted $150,000 bail and was released from Ottawa County jail on Thursday. Aaron Smith, 44, of Fairland, is charged in Ottawa County District Court with six counts of child sexual abuse. Online court records show his request for a bond reduction was denied on Wednesday. He is ordered to return to court on Nov. 5 for a preliminary hearing. Smith is accused of sexually abusing the teen on NEOs campus and exchanging nude photographs of themselves, according to an arrest affidavit. Investigators say the teen, while on the telephone with Smith, took 25 muscle relaxers. Smith allegedly stayed on the phone until the teen passed out, according to the affidavit. During her hospitalization, Smith allegedly called the hospital repeatedly, asking if medical personnel had pumped the teens stomach and what they found in her system, the affidavit states. Investigators said Smith made allegations to the Delaware County Sheriffs Office and child welfare services that a 14-year-old boy had raped the teen. The teens mother denied any sexual assault by a teenage boy, the affidavit states. Smith had requested a reduction in bond, but was denied. He is scheduled to be back in court on November 5, 2024. Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact Leslie Bissell, Childrens Advocacy Center of Ottawa County executive director at (918) 540-1621 if they suspect any child is a victim of abuse. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Newcore Gold Ltd. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newcore Gold Ltd. ("Newcore" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NCAU, OTCQX: NCAUF) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing, announced on September 5, 2024 and upsized on September 6, 2024, pursuant to which the Company issued 18,965,518 units of the Company (the "Units") at $0.29 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $5,500,000 (the "LIFE Offering"). The Units under the LIFE Offering were issued pursuant to the LIFE Exemption (as defined below). Luke Alexander, President and CEO of Newcore stated, "We are very happy to have had such strong funding support to allow Newcore to continue to advance and de-risk the development of our Enchi Gold Project in Ghana. We would like to thank new and existing shareholders for their continued support. We are thrilled to be welcoming new institutional investors who recognize the significant upside potential at our Enchi Gold Project, as we advance the project towards a pre-feasibility study and continue to explore the district scale potential. Management and the Board of Directors also meaningfully participated in the financing, continuing to be strongly aligned with shareholders by way of an approximate 18% equity ownership post financing. With a drill rig turning at Enchi, we look forward to a busy year ahead as we continue to prove out the significant potential across the property." In addition to closing the LIFE Offering, the Company has also closed a concurrent non-brokered private placement financing pursuant to which the Company issued 151,638 Units at $0.29 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $43,975 (the "Concurrent Offering" and together with the LIFE Offering, the "Offerings"). Each Unit under the Offerings consisted of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.40 per Common Share at any time on or before September 26, 2025. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offerings to fund exploration and development activities at the Companys 100% owned Enchi Gold Project in Ghana, as well as for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Units were sold under the LIFE Offering to purchasers pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (the "LIFE Exemption") under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions. The Units issued in the LIFE Offering pursuant to the LIFE Exemption are not subject to a statutory hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. The Units issued in the Concurrent Offering are subject to a hold period of four months and a day ending on January 27, 2025. In connection with the completion of the Offerings, the Company paid $119,110.25 to certain arm-length third parties who assisted in introducing subscribers to the Offerings. Certain directors and officers of the Company (the "Insiders") participated in the Offerings. Participation by the Insiders in the Offerings was considered a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as the Insiders are directors or senior officers of the Company. The Company was exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation or minority shareholder approval in connection with the Insiders participation in the Offering in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. The Company will file a material change report in respect of closing of the Offerings. The securities offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. person. "U.S. person" and "United States" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. About Newcore Gold Ltd. Newcore Gold is advancing its Enchi Gold Project located in Ghana, Africas largest gold producer (1). Newcore Gold offers investors a unique combination of top-tier leadership, who are aligned with shareholders through their 18% equity ownership, and prime district scale exploration opportunities. Enchis 248 km2 land package covers 40 kilometres of Ghanas prolific Bibiani Shear Zone, a gold belt which hosts several multi-million-ounce gold deposits, including the Chirano mine 50 kilometers to the north. Newcores vision is to build a responsive, creative and powerful gold enterprise that maximizes returns for shareholders. (1) Source: Production volumes for 2023 as sourced from the World Gold Council. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Newcore Gold Ltd. Luke Alexander President, CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Mal Karwowska | Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations +1 604 484 4399 info@newcoregold.com www.newcoregold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes statements that contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative 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) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the use of proceeds from sales from the Offerings, the estimation of mineral resources; results of preliminary economic assessments; completion of a pre-feasibility study; results of our ongoing drill campaign, magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; and future exploration prospects. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. The assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Newcore. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of Newcore believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Newcore cannot provide any assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information also involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Newcore to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of Newcores business; Newcores formative stage of development; Newcores financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold and other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, unusual or unexpected geological formations); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Newcore disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that 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. A new first-in-class Chinese attack submarine sank at a Wuhan shipyard in a pier-side accident: US official One of China's newest attack submarines sank at a shipyard in Wuhan. Satellite images show China's efforts to salvage the nuclear-powered vessel. China's shipbuilding industry is massive and at the core of its naval modernization efforts. One of China's newest nuclear-powered attack submarines sank in a Wuhan shipyard, a US official told Business Insider, confirming earlier reporting. The Chinese submarine, said to be the newest Zhou-class vessel, sank sometime after it was documented in the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan in late May. The incident was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Satellite images captured by Planet Labs after it sank showed large, floating cranes near the pier in June. China is believed to have been attempting to salvage the vessel. The sub that sank was the first of its class. Apparent efforts to salvage the submarine, June 15. Planet Labs PBC Thomas Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security think tank and former US submarine officer, first posted images on X in July showing cranes clustered around something in the water at a spot where the new submarine had been earlier. He also noted the presence of an oil containment boom and speculated that something "odd" was happening. Satellite image shows the pier before the incident, May 16. Planet Labs PBC Satellite images from July 5 that Shugart shared online showed the cranes had cleared, suggesting the suspected efforts to salvage the vessel had been completed. Acquiring a yet more recent and higher-res image, from 5 July, it now appears that whatever was going on there is over, and there is now a submarine moored at a different floating pier, further to the west. It's unclear if it was the same boat repositioned, or a different one. pic.twitter.com/uWFjFFblrZ Tom Shugart (@tshugart3) July 16, 2024 Neither Beijing nor its military branch, the People's Liberation Army, have addressed the sinking. A senior defense official told Business Insider what was told to The WSJ, stating that "it's not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside." "In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality," the official said, "the incident raises deeper questions about the PLA's internal accountability and oversight of China's defense industry which has long been plagued by corruption." China's shipbuilding capacity overshadows the rest of world. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images The submarine's sinking comes as China's shipbuilding industry continues to fuel its naval modernization plans. China's shipbuilding capacity, for both commercial and military vessels, is massive, and it uses many of its dual-use shipyards to build its navy, which is the largest in the world. The Pentagon has long identified China's shipbuilding industry as key to its naval buildup, which is occurring at a rapid pace. The efforts are tied to the modernization of China's military, developments that have played into the US decision to shift its focus towards the Indo-Pacific. Read the original article on Business Insider First day of early voting brings in ballots all across central Illinois PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) America is just six weeks out from a day that only comes once every four years: Election Day. However, Thursday, people all across Illinois were able to cast their ballot on the first day of early voting. Vance, Walz face potential game-changing moment with VP debate Both Peoria County and Tazewell County had lines out the door with voters eager to cast their vote. McLean County County Clerk Kathy Michael said their election commission had more than 100 voters by 2 p.m. She says its unheard of to be this busy in my 15 years. What voters are saying Many who voted early had the same desire: To cast their ballot the first chance they got. I have to go back to JFK, said Willa Lucas, a Peoria County early voter. Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. And this is part of it. One voter felt voting is a place to express his ideas by filling in the dots. Our country is founded and based upon representative government, and we are representatives at the lowest level, at the base level, said Steve Dickinson, a Peoria County early voter. And if we dont vote, we cant complain about those who did vote. So I always want to make my thoughts, my feelings known. So it could just be the dog catcher on the ballot, but Ill be here voting. How can I research the candidates? On the Peoria County Election Commissions website, anyone can research candidate and party information. People can also download a sample ballot from their village, town or city. The same goes for any Illinois election commissions website. When is the general election? The general election takes place on Nov. 5, with early voting ending on Nov. 4. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. Five injured after bomb set off at courthouse Police at the scene following the explosion that left five in hospital - KEYT via AP Five people were taken to hospital in California after a man allegedly set off an improvised explosive device in a courthouse. A suspect was arrested on Wednesday morning after allegedly detonating the makeshift device in the lobby of the Santa Maria Courthouse, in the city of Santa Maria. The resulting explosion injured five people and prompted the closure of the court complex and other city buildings, officials said. Bill Ausman, a lawyer, said the suspect was screaming that over 900,000 people a year are being killed by the US governments Food and Drug Administration when he arrived at the courthouse. I heard an explosion and someone screaming, Its a bomb, its a bomb, its a bomb, he said. Mr Ausman described how he saw a man tackled by law enforcement as he tried to run while dozens of bystanders fleed. It was really chaotic, he added. Sandy Doucette, a spokesman for Marian Regional Medical Center, said the hospital was treating five patients in connection with the explosion. Two were said to be in good condition and three in fair condition on Wednesday. Darrel Parker, the court executive officer in Santa Barbara County, said the explosion occurred in the first-floor lobby of the criminal court building, which serves as the entryway and weapons screening point for the court campus. Anyone who wants to go to criminal, civil or other courts would have to pass through there to do so, he said, adding: I am not certain that the suspect made it past weapons screening. Loud bang Shane Mellon, a witness, told KSBY-TV that he was at the courthouse when he heard a loud bang and was escorted away by a court officer. Mr Mellon said he saw a man screaming while four or five people climbed on top of him, trying to keep him restrained. I think this could have been way worse than it was if not for the deputies just jumping on top of that guy, he continued. The office of Gavin Newsom, the California Governor said it was monitoring the situation and coordinating with local law enforcement. The courts were closed on Wednesday and filing extensions will be offered for those affected by the shutdown. Mr Parker said he expected the court to resume operations on Thursday. Patrols were stepped up at courthouses in neighboring Los Angeles County, the local sheriffs department said. Santa Maria City Hall, which is near the courthouse, was also closed Wednesday due to the ongoing investigation, said Mark van de Kamp, the citys spokesman. The courthouse holds state and county courts in the city of Santa Maria, which is about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Two decades ago, the courthouse was where Michael Jackson was tried and acquitted of sexual abuse. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Five men arrested over 1.2m cannabis factory in West Lothian Five men have been arrested after cannabis plants worth 1.2m were seized by police in West Lothian. Police Scotland said a large cannabis factory was found in a unit in Polbeth Industrial Estate at about 10:20 on Wednesday. The men, aged 36, 29, 26, 22 and 20, were arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences. They are due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court later. Police Constable Michael Fairbanks said: We will use all resources at our disposal to disrupt the drugs trade in Scotland. This significant recovery underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the countrys Serious Organised Crime Strategy." DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Houston County. The warning was issued around 11:50 a.m. Thursday and is expected to expire at 3:45 p.m. This warning is due to the impending impact of Hurricane Helene, which is expected to make landfall between the panhandle and the big bend of Florida on Thursday evening or night. Additional flash flood warnings may be necessary as rain bands from Helene make their way into the Wiregrass. The Weather Prediction Center stated locally catastrophic flooding could be possible across much of the southeast. Houston, Henry, and Early counties are under a hurricane warning and have a level four high risk of flash flooding. Level four is the highest that the Weather Prediction Center can issue. Stay with WDHN for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Flights to resume from Argentina to Falklands as tense relations with UK ease David Lammy reaches an agreement with Diana Mondino on resuming flights from Argentina to the Falklands - Ben Dance/FCDO Argentina will resume passenger flights to the Falkland Islands after David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, held talks with Diana Mondino, his counterpart. The deal, reached on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, will re-establish a weekly flight from Sao Paulo in Brazil, which once a month will also stop over in the Argentinian city of Cordoba. Argentinas previous Leftist government, led by Alberto Fernandez who is now facing prosecution for domestic abuse allegations suspended the flights in 2020. He blamed the decision on the UKs alleged refusal to negotiate over the sovereignty of the islands, which Buenos Aires has long claimed as its own. Port Stanley, which was liberated by the UK in the Falklands war in 1982 - Liz Leyden/iStock Mr Lammy and Ms Mondino also agreed to co-ordinate humanitarian visits to the islands, known in Spanish as the Malvinas, by the Red Cross to identify the remains of Argentine soldiers buried there following the 1982 Falklands war, as well as by relatives of the fallen. Separately, they agreed to reopen talks on the contentious issue of fisheries in the islands rich waters, which Argentina wants to access. The resumption of flights will allow relatives to visit graves at the Argentine Military Cemetery in Darwin in the Falklands - mtcurado The deal marks a minor victory for Javier Milei, Argentinas populist-Right president who had vowed to resume diplomatic pressure on the UK. An Anglophile, Mr Milei nevertheless prefers to take a low-key approach to the islands, unlike that of his Leftist predecessors, most notably Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who was often accused of Malvinerismo, opportunistically using them for domestic political gain. Mr Lammy has previously insisted that the Government would not discuss sovereignty with Buenos Aires, continuing a bipartisan position held by all British governments since the war. In a statement, the Foreign Office described the new agreement as the start of a new era of constructive co-operation within the bilateral relationship, characterised by improved dialogue and confidence-building measures. But the agreement has been criticised in Argentina, where Falklands conflict veterans have accused Mr Milei and Ms Mondino of using the countrys war dead as a bargaining chip. You cant make humanitarian work contingent on fisheries exploitation, Jeronimo Guerrero Iraola, a lawyer with the La Plata Malvinas Islands Veterans Centre, told the Buenos Aires Herald. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Florida sheriff asks residents who refused to evacuate to write information on body for identification after Helene landfall TAYLOR COUNTY, Fla (WDHN) Residents in Taylor County, Florida, who defied mandatory evacuation orders, were instructed by the sheriff to write their name and birthday on their arm or leg to identify them. If you or someone you know chose not to evacuate, PLEASE write your, Name, birthday and important information on your arm or leg in A PERMANENT MARKER so that you can be identified and family notified, the Taylor County Sheriffs Office wrote on its social media. This order came just hours before Hurricane Helene, a Category 4, made landfall in Taylor County, 10 miles south of Perry. The Sunshine State issued mandatory evacuation orders due to Helenes catastrophic storm surges, flooding, and winds. The Taylor County Sheriffs Office also instructed residents to email the following information so Search and Rescue teams can hone in on their operations: Is the residence inland or on the coastline? Full address of the residence Your name Name(s) of the resident(s) at this location Number of individuals and animals present Contact information for both yourself and the resident(s) Any additional information, such as a recent photograph of the individual(s), disabilities, or special requirements. Taylor County, a mostly rural county, is located approximately one-hour southeast of Tallahassee and two and a half hours from Dothan. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. A Florida surgeon accused of removing a man's liver instead of his spleen during a surgery, causing the patient to bleed out on the operating table, has had his medical license suspended by the state. In a damning emergency order from the Florida Department of Health, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky is said to have removed Alabama resident Bill Bryan's liver instead of his spleen in a "grievous medical error" that makes him an "immediate, serious danger" to the public. The order details Shaknovsky's alleged "egregious conduct," saying he went to great lengths to cover up his mistake by fabricating medical records, lying about what happened and pressuring others to lie about what happened. Bryan, 70, died during surgery performed by Shaknovsky at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida, on August 21. Hot Tub Death: Wife Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit, Calls For 'Accountability' Bill Bryan's (L) liver was removed instead of his spleen, leading to his death, according to a Florida State Department of Health emergency order. Bryan and his wife Beverly were visiting their rental property in Destin on August 18 when Bryan began feeling pain in his side. Read On The Fox News App According to the order, Bryan arrived at the hospital and was told he was suffering from an enlarged spleen. Shaknovsky said Bryan needed his spleen removed immediately, but Bryan refused. "We called Bills doctor, here at home in Northwest Alabama, and he told Bill that he would have surgeons here in North Alabama waiting when we got home," Beverly told local station WMBB. "I tried to convince Dr. Shaknovsky to let me take him home or arrange for him to be transported, but Dr. Shaknovsky said that Bill would bleed to death if he was moved." The order says after three days in the hospital, Shaknovsky continued to pressure Bryan to have surgery and he eventually gave in. The order says operating room staff were concerned that Shaknovsky "did not have the skill level to safely perform" the "complicated" procedure but the operation went forward. The order says Shaknovsky lied and gave several different accounts of what happened during the surgery, finally admitting that at one point during the operation he fired a stapling device "blindly" into the abdomen and removed an organ he "believed to be a spleen." He claimed the spleen was grossly enlarged and deformed and that the liver was in an unusual location, which caused him to confuse the organs. However, the state's order said witnesses in the operating room told a very different story. At one point, Shaknovsky identified a vessel he intended to cut and said he could feel it pulsing under his finger. According to the order, he told the staff member assisting him, "thats scary." The order details that after the organ was removed, Bryan began to severely hemorrhage and went into cardiac arrest. Despite this, the order says, Shaknovsky continued dissecting even though there was "no visibility" and he never called for a clamp or cauterizer. Witnesses confirmed that Shaknovsky "blindly" fired the stapling device into Bryans abdomen. Surviving Family Of Titanic Submersible Explorer Files Wrongful Death Suit For $50 Million Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, a surgeon at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, is accused of causing a tragic death in the operating room. The order says Shaknovsky removed Bryans liver but identified it as a spleen, despite the two organs being different sizes, colors and on totally different sides of the body. "The staff looked at the readily-identifiable liver on the table and were shocked when Dr. Shaknovsky told them it was a spleen," the order reads. "One staff member felt sick to their stomach." Shaknovsky claimed Bryan died from a "ruptured splenic artery aneurysm," and made several efforts to convince staff in the operating room that he was correct, even though they knew it wasnt true. Shaknovsky requested the organ that was removed be labeled a "spleen" and be sent to pathology. The order says the person responsible for labeling the organ knew it was not a spleen but did as they were instructed. After the "chaos of the surgery was over," Shaknovsky even went to pathology to look at the organ again, but refused to acknowledge his mistake, the order said. Instead, he fabricated his operative order in great detail, claiming specific ligaments and structures were dissected, but they were never touched. Fox News Digital reviewed the pathology report from Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, and it confirmed the organ removed from Bryan was, in fact, his liver. According to the state's order, removing Bryan's liver instead of his spleen was not Shaknovsky's first medical mistake. In May of 2023, Shaknovsky removed a portion of a patients pancreas instead of the adrenal gland, the order said. Shaknovsky claimed the adrenal gland had "migrated" to a different part of the body when he was confronted about the mistake. The order said the patient in that case suffered "long-term, permanent harm." "Dr. Shaknovskys repeated egregious surgical errors resulted in significant patient harm coupled with his failure to take responsibility for these errors indicates that his reckless conduct is likely to continue," the order says. "Therefore, Dr. Shaknovskys continued practice as an osteopathic physician presents an immediate, serious danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the public." Alabama Supreme Court Rules Couples Can Sue For Wrongful Death After Embryos Were Dropped William "Bill" Bryan died when a surgeon mistakenly removed his liver instead of his spleen, "causing immediate and catastrophic blood loss." Beverly Bryan is pursing both criminal and civil proceedings in her husband's death, according to Zarzaur Law, the Florida-based firm representing the family. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital by Zarzaur Law, Beverly Bryan described her husband as a "homicide victim." "I can say this. My family and I and friends in Walton County and the surrounding area that use that hospital are simply relieved that the Florida Board of Medicine has made the decision to suspend the medical license of Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky," she said. "Were hoping that the board of medicine in Alabama will suspend or revoke his license as well; the sooner the better." Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast told Fox News Digital Shaknovsky was not an employee of the hospital. "The physician practiced at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, but that is no longer the case. We have removed all of the physician's access to our facilities," a spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement. "We have no comment regarding the physicians license as it is under the purview of the State of Florida Department of Health." The hospital previously told Fox News Digital it was investigating Bryan's death, but said it does not comment on specific patient cases or active litigation. "We take allegations like this very seriously, and our leadership team is performing a thorough investigation into this event," Ascension Sacred Heart spokesperson Gary Nevolis said. "Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has a longstanding history of providing safe, quality care since the hospital opened its doors in 2003. Patient safety is and remains our number one priority. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family." Original article source: Florida surgeon accused of fatally removing mans liver instead of spleen has license suspended Several passengers who landed at Logan Airport from Orlando, Florida Thursday morning said it was a scramble to get out of the state before the hurricane moved in. Some people said they rearranged their plans early in the morning and theyre glad they did. You have no idea incredibly, incredibly relieved, said Amanda Dobbins, passenger. Some travelers said they were in Orlando for a conference and let out a huge sigh of relief after their flight landed in Boston. Im glad to be back, we werent sure we were going to be able to take off this morning, said Deb Farrington, passenger. Several people on that flight said they felt like they got out just in time. Some colleagues drove home from the meeting and the interstate was backed up a 2 hour ride took over 8 hours, said Farrington. One woman said she was up in the middle of the night to make sure her flight didnt get delayed or cancelled. It was intense it was making my heart go but I just kept watching, said Rose Fitzgerald, passenger. Everybody was tracking the storm the play by play on different apps, said Dobbins. Nicole Shaul flew to Boston for her bachelorette party and said she was worried she wasnt going to make it. We were leaving this morning 10:30ish out of Tampa, Florida and it got shut down there so we had to change flights to Orlando, said Shaul, I was at work I had my fiance call and change all of our flights because weve been planning this for a while. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Members of the Los Angeles Police Commission during a meeting at LAPD Headquarters. Django Sibley was named the commission's executive director Wednesday. (Los Angeles Times) As the Los Angeles Police Department holds its breath over the selection of its next chief, officials this week announced the selection of the agency's new top watchdog. Django Sibley, a former police officer in the United Kingdom, was named executive director of the Los Angeles Police Commission. Sibley held the job on an interim basis for nearly six months after the retirement of Richard Tefank, who served in the role for nearly two decades. His selection was ratified in a 4-0 vote by the commission on Tuesday. Read more: Who's the next LAPD chief? Two likely finalists spotted at mayor's mansion Before taking over for Tefank, Sibley spent about two decades in the LAPD inspector general's office, rising to the rank of assistant inspector general in charge of all investigations of serious police uses of force. He joined the office in 2004 and built a reputation as an effective behind-the-scenes operator with a sophisticated understanding of police affairs. In a prepared statement, commission president Erroll G. Southers said that the pick comes at "a critical time in this Departments history. Mr. Sibley comes to us uniquely qualified with an extensive career in law enforcement and police oversight," the statement read. A commission spokesperson said that Sibley was selected from among 20 applicants. As its executive director, Sibley, 51, will act as a liaison between the commission and police department officials. The civilian oversight panel reviews all serious uses of force by LAPD officers and helps craft policies. His selection fills one of three vacancies in LAPD leadership and oversight positions: chief, inspector general and executive director of the Police Commission. Read more: 'A shock to us all': LAPD moves to fire supervisors of troubled Mission gang unit Sibley's former boss, then-inspector general Mark Smith, left in April after being named as an independent monitor to oversee police reforms in Portland, Ore. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has said she intends to make her chief pick by the end of the month. The three finalists for the position, winnowed down from a list of more than 30 candidates, are LAPD deputy chief Emada Tingirides; Jim McDonnell, a one-time LAPD assistant chief and former Los Angeles County sheriff; and Robert Arcos, a former LAPD assistant chief who is a senior official in the L.A. County district attorneys office. The commission remains at four members, after a potential replacement for former commissioner William Briggs pulled out of consideration a day after his confirmation hearing before the City Council's Public Safety Committee. Bass had nominated Karl Thurmond, a co-chair of Rep. Adam B. Schiffs finance committee. But members of the council committee appeared to grow frustrated with Thurmond over his responses and non-responses to questions about his background, police hiring and other issues. Before enrolling at graduate school at USC, Sibley worked for Humberside Police, a roughly 4,000-member force that patrols East Riding of Yorkshire, about four hours north of London. Read more: Who disciplines LAPD officers? Records show same lawyers picked repeatedly for process Sibley's departure was chronicled in the local newspaper, the Hull Daily Mail, in an article titled, "Bobby packs bags for spell in sunshine state." The story says that Sibley joined Humberside police in 1995 and spent the bulk of his career patrolling areas around Hull, a faded North Sea port in northeast England. Sibley had reportedly chosen to attend USC to study geography, taking advantage of a five-year sabbatical granted to all Humberside officers to "pursue other personal activities." Sibley told the paper that he was looking forward to living in California, but that "the plan is that I will be back in two years." Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. TOKYO (AP) A record nine candidates are running in Japan's ruling party election Friday to replace outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. A former defense minister who is a longtime veteran, the relatively young son of a popular former prime minister and the economic security minister who would be the country's first woman prime minister are considered top contenders. No candidate is likely to win a majority in the first round, so the top two vote-getters will advance to a second round to be held immediately after the first on Friday afternoon. Here are the candidates: Shigeru Ishiba Ishiba, a 67-year-old former banker, is running in the leadership race for a fifth time and said this will be his final battle. First elected to parliament in 1986, he has served as defense minister, agriculture minister and other key Cabinet and party posts. Despite his longstanding popularity among voters, the outspoken idealist has struggled to win enough support from fellow party lawmakers. But now, Ishibas experience, stability and expertise is increasingly considered a strength for the party as it prepares to face the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japans new leader, former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, a veteran known for gripping speeches. Considered a defense policy expert, Ishiba has proposed an Asian version of the NATO military alliance and a more equal Japan-U.S. security alliance. Ishiba is a supporter of Taiwan s democracy. He calls for an establishment of a disaster management agency in one of the worlds most disaster-prone country. Ishiba vows to push for more diversity and gender equality. He supports a revision to a 19th century civil code requiring married couples to choose one of their surnames, which has caused most women to adopt their husbands surname. Moves to change the code have stalled for decades due to the LDPs sole opposition. Ishiba also supports legalizing same-sex marriage. Shinjiro Koizumi Koizumi, the son of popular Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has been considered a potential candidate for the top position since he was elected to parliament in 2009 and at 43 would be Japan's youngest prime minister. Considered a political blue blood, he has been popular despite his relative lack of experience, and is backed by a former prime minister, Yoshihide Suga. But some of his popularity has eroded as policy debates have heated up, displaying his lack of expertise. Koizumi has vowed to push reforms that would create more choices in careers and life paths. In an attempt to promote paternity leave, he took two weeks off when his first child was born in 2020. Koizumi also supports allowing a duel surname option for married couples, an option that is now supported by the countrys powerful business lobby but opposed by conservatives in the LDP. Story continues His policy proposal of easing regulations on dismissing workers as a way of promoting a flexible labor market has stirred controversy because it was seen as a lack of protection of labor rights. He said he would further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and expand a cooperation network with other like-minded nations to deter Chinas growing influence. He regularly visits Tokyos controversial Yasukuni Shrine, seen by Asian neighbors as a symbol of Japans wartime militarism. As environment minister in 2019, Koizumi made his international debut at a United Nations summit, saying a big-scale issue like climate change has got to be fun, its got to be cool, and its got to be sexy, too. His choice of language was criticized as shallow. Koizumi holds a masters degree in political science from Columbia University. Sanae Takaichi Takaichi, 63, is the economic security minister and is making her second bid to become Japans first female leader. A protege of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she is a staunch conservative and attracts the right wing. In the 2021 party leadership vote, she finished third in a runoff. Takaichi has vowed to fortify Japans resilience to natural disasters and security risks by bolstering food security, supply chains and military capability. She calls for strengthening cyber and space defense, and has proposed the creation of a Cabinet-level intelligence bureau. She has stressed economic growth over fiscal discipline as a key pillar of her policies. A regular visitor to Yasukuni, Takaichi is known as a revisionist who downplays Japans wartime atrocities, and has called for a tougher stance on China. Her ties to Abe faction membes who have been implicated in a slush fund scandal have been seen as a potential weakness. Taikaichi opposes same-sex marriage and the proposal to allow married women to keep their maiden name, and supports the imperial familys male-only succession. Her support for traditions considered paternalistic have been cited by critics as bad for womens advancement. After serving as a newscaster for a Japanese TV station, Takaichi was elected to parliament in 1993 and has also served as minister of internal affairs and gender equality. She has said her role model is Margaret Thatcher. Additional candidates: Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63, is chief Cabinet secretary and a former foreign minister who is known as Kishidas confidante and for his all-round policy expertise. Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, a former economic security minister, is a rising policy guru among the younger generations and a conservative who backed Takaichi in 2021. Toshimitsu Motegi, 67, is the LDP's secretary general who has served as foreign minister and trade minister and who is known as a tough negotiator. Yoko Kamikawa, 71, is the foreign minister. She is a Harvard-educated former think tank analyst known as low-key and dilligent, and has pushed a U.N. initiative of women, peace and security. Taro Kono, 61, is the digital minister who is known as a maverick for criticizing party policies, but has reversed his opposition to nuclear energy citing growing power demands for data centers and AI. Katsunobu Kato, 68, is a former health minister who was close to Abe and shares his conservative views. His campaign policies include seeking to double income. (FOX40.COM) The former fire chief of a Northern California fire district was convicted of embezzlement, the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office said on Wednesday. The agency said Frank Ramirez was a retired fire chief of the Mokelumne Rural Fire District, which serves an area in northeast San Joaquin County. Ramirez was chief from 2016 until December of 2022. Threat forces closure of San Joaquin County courthouse In a Facebook post, the sheriffs office said that on Tuesday, Ramirez pleaded no contest to two felony counts of embezzlement by public officers. The sheriffs office said it received a report of alleged embezzlement in February of 2023 and that an investigation that included a search warrant at his residence turned up fire department property, including a dump trailer. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Former Customs and Border Protection officer sentenced for depriving New Mexico man of his rights NEW MEXICO (KRQE) A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was sentenced to 20 months in prison for violating the civil rights of a U.S. citizen in New Mexico and falsifying records in a federal investigation. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, former officer Oscar Orrantia was working at the Columbus Port of Entry when he encountered a 63-year-old man who was a U.S. citizen. Story continues below The man was complaining about the heat, and in response, Orrantia pulled the man out of his vehicle and performed a take-down, where he threw the victim into a side barrier, which resulted in the victim hitting his head. John Doe sustained bruising to his body and head as a result, according to the Department of Justice. Orrantia placed the victim in handcuffs and took him inside the facility. He then wrote an official report filled with false statements, the DOJ said in a news release. Orrantia was convicted by a federal jury of one count of deprivation of a right and one count of falsification of records in December 2023. Upon his release from prison, Orrantia will be subject to three years of supervised release. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Hurricane Helene is forecast to rapidly intensify as it moves into the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Thursday. It may become a Category 4 storm before it reaches landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida. A former Erie County resident, Sherri Meeder, who lives in Crystal River, Florida has a portable weather station placed and anchored at the foot of her driveway by the Weather Channel. This will hopefully record valuable weather information including wind speeds, etc. during the storm. Recent radar image showing the outer bands of Helene moving north along Floridas Gulf Coast. Crystal River is the yellow dot on the Gulf side between Tampa and Gainesville. The storm will affect that and many other areas in the Sunshine State with potential winds of 130 mph and a potential storm surge of 10-15. We will keep you advised of the latest as it makes landfall. As you can see by the projected path, it is forecast to weaken and move north and then west, keeping most of its moisture to the south of our area. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. NEW YORK (PIX11) After trouble in Mayor Eric Adams administration surfaced nearly a year ago, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was already a popular choice to replace the embattled mayor. If Cuomo runs for office, New Yorkers will get the chance to decide after Adams became the first sitting mayor to be indicted on federal charges Wednesday night, according to sources. Mayor Adams indictment: Timeline of federal investigations A Cuomo spokesperson told AM New York the former governor has no plans to make plans. Insiders believe Cuomo would run if Adams resigns, according to the article. Adams was charged with accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, stemming from his 2021 mayoral campaign. Prosecutors accuse the mayor of accepting illegal campaign donations as early as his time as Brooklyn borough president. Adams allegedly sought and knowingly accepted money from foreign donors, including Turkish government officials, prosecutors contend. Speaking in front of Gracie Mansion on Thursday, Adams urged New Yorkers to wait for his defense before making judgments. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, Adams said. My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. In the December 2023 poll, 24% of voters preferred Cuomo and 14% favored NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. More than half of New Yorkers believed Adams should resign if he were indicted by federal prosecutors, compared to 38% who thought he should remain in office, according to the poll. Williams, who would take over Adams position if he stepped down, responded to the indictment saying, The news of this indictment is itself incredibly serious. the focus should be on New Yorkers regaining trust in city government. More Local News Cuomo comes with scandals, too. He resigned from office in August 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, which he denies. Recently, the politician was under fire for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when the virus was spreading through nursing homes during often combative congressional subcommittee testimony. Republican lawmakers who questioned the Democrat zeroed in on a controversial directive his administration issued in March of 2020 that initially barred nursing homes from refusing to accept patients just because theyd had COVID-19. Live upates: Adams charged with taking bribes in federal indictment U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York called the directive deadly. In over two hours of testimony, Cuomo defended his actions and blamed former President Donald Trumps administration for failing to provide enough testing and personal protective equipment in the early days of the pandemic. These are all diversions to blame New York and other states for the culpability of the federal response, which was malpractice, Cuomo said. If Cuomo decides to run, he will face other Democratic contenders, including former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, current Comptroller Brad Lander, and State Senators Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie. Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A former Mille Lacs reserve deputy was arrested last week on multiple charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. Tyler Pettit, 28, was charged with four counts of disseminating pornographic work of a child under 14 years old after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip in May. A warrant was issued on Sept 17, ending with his arrest two days later by Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton. The sheriff's office put him on administrative leave while the investigation was ongoing, and he was later fired after his arrest. "I preach transparency and practice it," Burton said on social media. "I hold people accountable, even if it's our own folks who work here." Mille Lacs County Jail Roster According to the complaint, Mille Lacs officers received a tip that Snapchat reported on April 8 a customer with the username ''macg.24'' was associated with an email account that was sending a potentially explicit video depicting child sexual abuse to another user through private message. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension sent subpoenas to Snapchat, Yahoo, and Savage Communications, which they used to identify the user as Pettit. On June 3, police reviewed the video, and found it contained sexually explicit footage of what appeared to be underage boys. The complaint says Pettit uploaded the video and sent it to another user via private chat. A search warrant was conducted on Snapchat for the username ''macg.24,'' which revealed multiple sexually explicit videos of underaged boys were uploaded to the chat media on April 8. Pettit allegedly pretended to be 13 years old in private message conversations with other Snapchat users who themselves claimed to be underage. Court documents say Pettit consented to a search of his iPhone, which revealed URLs connected to pornographic sites that included people who appeared to be teenagers. Several photos depicting juvenile boys were also found. While speaking with officers, Pettit reported what social media accounts and email addresses he uses. Two of the reported email addresses had the same recovery phone number as the email address associated with the Snapchat account tied to the child sexual abuse videos. He claims the email address associated with the sex crimes was created 20 years ago and that his grandma helped him set it up, but that she would be the only other person who may have had access to it. Pettit is currently out of custody after posting $200,000 bail on the conditions he makes all future court appearances, remains law-abiding, does not leave the state, and does not speak with a person under 18. His next court date is Oct. 1 at 3:30 PM Related: Charges: Shooter, victim had Snapchat dispute before house party killing ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A former teacher in the Pattonville School District is accused of inappropriate behavior involving minors. According to the Bridgeton Police Departments probable cause statement, Jonathan A. Striebel (age not provided) is accused of possessing a nude image of a former student who was under the age of 18 and distributing said image. The incidents occurred between August 2021 and Sept. 24, 2024. Police said several former students at Holman Middle School reported Striebels behavior. Police said the student in the image identified herself to investigators and said she was 16 at the time the photo was taken. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Striebel had obtained the photo, kept it for years, and sent it to the student, police said. According to police, Striebel admitted keeping the picture and knew the student was underage. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Striebel with second-degree promoting child pornography and first-degree possession of child pornography. Striebel was jailed on a $100,000 cash-only bond. Hes due in court for a bond reduction hearing on Oct. 3 and a preliminary hearing on Oct. 24. Streibel was employed in the Pattonville School District since 2006 until his resignation at the end of the 202223 school year. A PSD spokeswoman said the district was never made aware of any reports or investigations during that time. Superintendent Dr. Barry Nelson sent the following letter to families and staff on Wednesday: Dear Pattonville families, On Monday, we notified families that the district was made aware of a social media post referencing a Holman Middle School staff member who resigned in 2023. Today, we learned that this former employee, Jonathan Striebel, has been arrested and charged with possession of and promoting child pornography. The district is saddened to learn about this. Due to the nature of these charges, we want to assure our families that, during his time in Pattonville, the district never received any reports related to the type of behavior described in these charges. Because this is an active police investigation, if you have any additional concerns related to this case, please contact the Bridgeton Police Department at (314) 739-7557. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Guitarist Josh Klinghoffer of Red Hot Chili Peppers - Credit: Mat Hayward/WireImage Josh Klinghoffer, the former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist who went on to play for Pearl Jam and others, pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence in a California courtroom Thursday. Klinghoffer did not attend the hearing in person but entered the plea through his lawyer, Blair Berk. The criminal charge, filed quietly in August, stems from a deadly crash on March 18, 2024, in the city of Alhambra, just east of Los Angeles. Klinghoffer, 44, was driving a black 2022 GMC Yukon when his vehicle struck pedestrian Israel Sanchez in a crosswalk. Sanchez, 47, was pronounced dead at a hospital later that day from blunt force trauma. More from Rolling Stone Sanchezs family filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against Klinghoffer in July, claiming he was on his cellphone and driving a car with no plates when the incident occurred. The lawsuit claims video suggest Klinghoffer was likely driving while distracted and that he made no braking or slowing motion until after he fatally struck Sanchez. A source with knowledge of the investigation tells Rolling Stone that no criminal intent is alleged and a review of the evidence determined there was no phone involved. A lawyer representing Sanchezs family tells Rolling Stone that he disagrees. Speaking after the hearing on Thursday, attorney Grayson Yoder said Klinghoffer passed in front of a business seconds before the crash and appears to be holding a phone. If they have exculpatory evidence, its never been presented to us, Yoder tells Rolling Stone. All I can see is what I see on the video. If he says hes not on his phone, fine. But its the middle of the day, hes coming into an intersection and there are no brake lights on his vehicle, none, not until a man is hit in the crosswalk. Im skeptical of exculpatory evidence, and I cant speak to the DA and their charges, but at the end of the day, in broad daylight, he had many, many opportunities for this not to have happened. Theres no other word for it besides negligence. We allege that its gross negligence. I miss my dad, Sanchezs daughter, Ashley Sanchez, said after the hearing. Were seeking justice here. I dont know why Josh is getting just a misdemeanor. Its not okay. My father was a very great father. Klingoffers criminal case is due back in court on Oct. 31. The civil case, which is seeking medical costs and damages for pain and suffering, has a hearing set for Oct. 18. This was a tragic accident, Klinghoffers camp told Rolling Stone in July. Josh immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, called 911, and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. He is fully cooperating with the traffic investigation. Klinghoffer has been a name in the alt-rock world for some time. In 2009, he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers, replacing his friend, guitarist John Frusciante, but was fired by the band in 2019 when Frusciante returned. He is currently on tour with Pearl Jam as a supplemental musician (he also contributed to the bands latest album, Dark Matter) and also works with his own band, Pluralone. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Josh Klinghoffer, September 2021 (Jim Bennett/WireImage) Back in July, Josh Klinghoffer, the former guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers, was sued for wrongful death and negligence for allegedly running over and killing a pedestrian in Alhambra, California. The lawsuit was filed by the family of Israel Sanchez, the 47-year-old man who was struck by the musicians car in the March 18 incident. Today, Klinghoffer was arraigned in Alhambra on a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. Through his lawyer, Blair Bernholz Berk, the musician pleaded not guilty, Rolling Stone reports. According to the lawsuit, Klinghoffer was allegedly on his phone while driving an SUV and made a left turn while Sanchez walked across the street in a marked crosswalk. The impact caused blunt-force trauma to the head, and Sanchez died from his injuries hours later. The complaint also states that no arrest was made in the incident. Klinghoffers attorney in the civil case, Andrew B. Brettler, called it a tragic accident in a statement to Pitchfork. After the car struck the pedestrian, Josh immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, called 911, and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. He is fully cooperating with the traffic investigation, said Brettler. Mr. Klinghoffer should be arrested and prosecuted for homicide. We have a video of him on his cell phone at the time he hit and killed Israel Sanchez, a loving father, in a crosswalk, the Sanchez familys attorney, Nick Rowley, told Variety. Israel Sanchez was on his way to the grocery store to make soup for his family and never came home. He did everything right, looking for oncoming traffic and abiding by pedestrian signage, but tragically Mr. Klinghoffer, in a rush and on his phone, hit him fatally from behind with a large SUV. The loss and grief that the Sanchez family now faces is immense. We will not stop until there is accountability and justice for Mr. Sanchez and his family. Klinghoffer played guitar with the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, when he was replaced by returning member John Frusciante. Klinghoffer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2012, making him the youngest inductee ever at the time. Since leaving the band, he has been performing as a touring member of Pearl Jam and Janes Addiction. Originally Appeared on Pitchfork EXCLUSIVE: Three more Republicans are crossing the aisle to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House. Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, R-Kan., former Kansas state senator and Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger and Deanell Reece Tacha, a retired federal judge, condemned the current state of the GOP in a statement shared with Fox News Digital Thursday. "This election presents a stark choice that is not easy for any of us. The Republican Party of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bob Dole, Frank Carlson, Jan Meyers, and generations of Kansas leaders does not exist within the current Republican Party," the former officials wrote. "But, it requires Republicans speaking out and putting country over party when those values are at stake." Harris-trump Showdown: The Edge Is Clear On This Key Issue Retired Republican Sen. Nancy Kassebaum led a group of Kansas GOP women in endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris They added that the race between Harris and former President Trump presented a "stark choice," but not an easy one. Read On The Fox News App "No candidate is perfect, and we do not pretend that we subscribe to all the policy positions taken either by the national parties or any individual candidates," they wrote. "However, we fervently believe that we must do our part to try to build a brighter future, which is why we will be voting for Kamala Harris and [Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz] in this election. We believe they most closely align with the aspirations of Kansans and reflect our rich history of working together to the stars through difficulty." All three have backed Democrats in recent elections, however. Harris And Trump Deadlocked In Pennsylvania As Former President Trails In Other Blue Wall States: Poll Kassebaum, who now goes by Nancy Kassebaum Baker, served in the U.S. Senate from December 1978 through January 1997. She was the first woman elected to represent Kansas in the chamber, and her career included a stint as chair of the Senate Labor Committee. Deanell Reece Tacha was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit by former President Reagan in 1985 Tacha was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by former President Reagan in 1985 and served as chief judge from 2001 until 2008. Praeger served as the Kansas Insurance commissioner from 2003 to 2015. Harris campaign has made a point of courting Republicans in a bid to widen her appeal and cast Trump as an extreme and polarizing choice. A majority of Republicans, particularly those still in elected office, do support Trump. The vice president has scored support from several notable GOP figures, however. Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Trump administration aides Stephanie Grisham and Olivia Troye have all publicly stated support for Harris. Early Voting Begins In Illinois, North Dakota, Florida And Michigan Troye is one of several people who headlined a Republicans for Harris event Thursday alongside former representatives Barbara Comstock, R-Va., and Denver Riggleman, R-Va. A new Marist College poll found Harris and Trump neck and neck in three critical states. The two candidates are tied at 49% among likely voters in North Carolina, while Trump slightly edges Harris in Georgia and Arizona 50% to 49% in both states. Those statewide polls were conducted Sept. 19-24. Asked for comment on the Kansas Republicans' endorsement, the Harris campaign sent Fox News Digital a broader statement on the Republicans for Harris initiative. "The Vice President is bringing together voters from across the political spectrum by running a campaign about freedom, democracy and opportunity," said Austin Weatherford, National Republican Outreach Director. "Our Republicans for Harris program is taking that unifying, inspiring message to anti-Trump Republicans, moderates and independents. While were seeing a surge in support, we arent taking anyone for granted." The Trump campaign said of the Harris endorsement, "Nobody knows who these people are, and nobody cares." Original article source: Former Republican US senator endorses Kamala Harris, says election offers 'stark choice' Former SC school administrator charged with criminal solicitation of a minor, SLED says A former dean at Camden Military Academy is facing charges against a minor after persuading a student to send him a nude photo, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. John Heflin, 53, was charged Thursday with criminal solicitation of a minor on accusations he urged a student to send a photo of his private parts to Heflin via social media, according to SLED. Camaden Military Academy, founded in 1958, is a military-style boarding school in Camden, S.C.. The school serves male students between grades 7 to 12, according to information on its website. Heflin is accused of inducing, enticing and persuading a school cadet to send a photo of his genitals on Sept. 14, an arrest warrant said. Prior to Heflins photo request, authorities say he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the cadet, who told investigators the conversations began in 2022. Heflin told the student he wanted to get him alone on the dirt roads ... to be one on one, an arrest warrant said. Heflin further told the minor what he would love to do if the cadet came to Heflins house. On Sept. 16, Heflin called the student to his office at the academy and apologized for his explicit advancements, according to the warrant. Heflin was booked into the Kershaw County Detention Center. We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Low Beta Stocks To Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) stands against the other low beta stocks. After a rough few years, the market is coming together and is on a healthy trajectory. The recent Fed rate cuts triggered a lot of bullish sentiment toward the broader market. For example, on September 20, Business Insider reported that Brian Belski from BMO raised his S&P 500 price target for 2024 to 6,100 from 5,600, followed by the Fed's recent rate cut and strong seasonal market data. Moreover, Belski talked about broadening stock market gains and the increased likelihood of a soft landing for the U.S. economy. He finds current elevated valuations justified as he compared the situation to the mid-1990s when the market sustained high multiples. In addition, Tom Lee of Fundstrat is bullish on the market for several upcoming years and expects the broader market to nearly triple to 15,000 by 2030. His bullish sentiment is driven by demographic shifts, millennial spending, and technology advancements. He mentioned the prime earning years of millennials and Gen Z, which mirror previous periods of high stock market returns. Furthermore, he also highlighted the role of technology in addressing global labor shortages and projects significant spending on AI and tech solutions. Broadening Market Participation and the Outlook for Recession Risks On September 24, Prashant Bhayani of BNP Paribas Wealth Management joined CNBC to discuss the current market conditions. He discussed the improving liquidity and noted the tight credit spreads, near-record equities, and steady lending. While U.S. hiring is slowing, he explained that rising unemployment is partly due to labor force growth, not just layoffs, which makes it different from past cycles. Bhayani stressed that employment data, like jobless claims, will be important in determining market outlooks. On market valuations, Bhayani acknowledged some sectors are overvalued but sees broader market participation beyond AI-related stocks. He suggested that stocks could outperform bonds if a soft landing or no recession occurs. Addressing concerns about potential triggers for volatility, Bhayani said that a credit event, similar to those seen in 2000 or 2007, could lead to significant market declines. However, current credit spreads and a healthy banking system support the soft landing view. Our Methodology For this article, we used the Yahoo Finance stock screener to identify over 30 mid to mega-cap stocks with a 5-year beta (monthly) between 0.2 to 0.8. Next, we narrowed the list to 10 stocks most widely held by institutional investors. The 10 best low-beta stocks to buy are listed in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment and we used the beta as a tie-breaker as well. Story continues Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). An aeronautics engineer inspecting a model aircraft engine in a factory setting. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) 5-year Beta (monthly): 0.34 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 49 Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is a global aerospace and defense technology company that provides innovative systems, products, and solutions for a wide range of customers, including the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and commercial customers worldwide. The company operates in four main business sectors: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems, and Space Systems. It is widely recognized for its advanced aircraft development, particularly the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, which is unique in its ability to carry both nuclear and conventional munitions. Additionally, it excels in unmanned aerial systems, represented by the RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force. Recent contracts point to the companys ongoing strength, including a $197.5 million U.S. Navy contract awarded in September for the production of Bomb Tactical Electronic Fuze systems, and a $1.5 billion contract from July for nine E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Japan, expected to be completed by 2029. On September 3, The Fly reported that Seaport Research increased its price target for Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) to $599 from $530 and maintained a Buy rating on the company stock. The firm made its price target revision after discussions with the current and upcoming CFO of the company. The firm feels optimistic about the companys future and believes that, while overall sentiment about the company is good, investors are still not as confident as they could be. Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) is the 4th best low beta stock on our list. The company stock was held by 49 hedge funds with stakes worth nearly $1.8 billion in Q2. As of the second quarter, D E Shaw is the companys most prominent shareholder. It increased its stake in Q2 by 830% to 642,609 shares worth $280.145 million. Citadel Investment Group is its second-largest shareholder after the firm increased its stake in the company by 1218% to 451,800 shares, valued at $196.962 million. Overall NOC ranks 4th on our list of the best low beta stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of NOC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is promising and trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Read Next: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The former treasurer of the Shortsville Fire Department Citizens Hose Company was arraigned on a grand larceny charge Wednesday, accused of stealing more than $100,000 from the organization over the course of four years. Jill Havens served as the fire company treasurer from 2018 until August 2022. During that time, investigators said she issued unauthorized checks to pay off her credit cards, make retail purchases, and pay for online video games using company funds. She then allegedly changed the fire companys financial records to cover her tracks. Havens was the town clerk in the Town of Manchester during the same time period. The New York State Comptrollers Office said her actions in that position would be investigated as well. The previous Citizens Hose Fire Company treasurer, Wendy Wharton, pleaded guilty to grand larceny in 2019 after investigators discovered she used company credit cards and cash to gamble at casinos in New York and Las Vegas. Unfortunately, despite our warnings of needed improvements in oversight, this is the second theft my office has found by this companys officials in six years, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a statement Thursday. Havens is scheduled to appear in court on October 23. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) A former corrections officer at an Alabama jail pleaded guilty to criminal charges for his role in the death of a man who died of hypothermia after being held naked in a concrete cell for two weeks. Joshua Conner Jones pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of criminal conspiracy to deprive an inmate of their rights related to the 2023 death of Tony Mitchell, 33, according to federal court records. Jones also pleaded guilty to a separate rights-deprivation count related to the assault of another unidentified inmate. The charges against Jones and his intention to plead guilty were announced in July. A second Walker County jailer, Karen Kelly, agreed to plead guilty to related charges shortly after. Jones is out on bond while he awaits sentencing. Jones plea agreement included three additional unnamed co-conspirators that allegedly contributed to Mitchells death, an indication that more people could be charged. Attorneys for Jones declined to comment. Miles College signs agreement to buy Birmingham-Southern College campus Mitchell was arrested Jan. 12 after a family member noticed he appeared to be experiencing a mental break down and asked emergency responders to do a welfare check on him. After law enforcement arrived, Mitchell brandished a handgun and fired at least one shot at deputies, according to a statement made by the Walker County sheriffs office at the time. In the two weeks that he was incarcerated, the plea deal describes Mitchell as almost always naked, wet, cold, and covered in feces while lying on the cement floor without a mat or blanket and eventually, listless and mostly unresponsive to questions from officers. Instead of getting Mitchell medical treatment, Jones and his co-conspirators said that Mitchell gets what he gets since he shot at cops or words to that effect, according to the plea deal. On Jan. 26, 2023, corrections officers finally drove Mitchell to a hospital emergency room, according to the plea document, waiting more than three hours after a nurse insisted that he needed urgent medical attention. Mitchell died shortly after. His death certificate listed his cause of death as hypothermia and sepsis from medical neglect. The plea deal said Jones admitted that collectively we did it. We killed him. In August, Jon C Goldfarb, an attorney representing Mitchells family in the civil litigation, told The Associated Press that the family is shocked to see in writing what they knew happened to Tony Mitchell. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) The former Warren Police officer convicted of sexually assaulting four women while he was on duty will spend more than three decades behind bars. Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice sentenced Michael Edwards, Jr to 34-39 years in prison. She also ruled she could not find Edwards guilty of the sexually violent predator specifications beyond a reasonable doubt. The court finds that these women were the citizens this defendant was obligated as an officer of the law to protect and yet he preyed on them instead. He targeted them for his own perverse pleasure, Judge Westcott Rice said. A jury convicted Edwards Monday of 15 of the 23 counts including rape, gross sexual imposition, sexual battery, extortion, theft in office and dereliction of duty. Prosecutors had accused Edwards of sexually assaulting six women while he was on the job, he was found guilty of crimes against four of those women. One of the four women Edwards was convicted of sexually assaulting addressed the court. The uniform that should symbolize safety and protection has now become a symbol of betrayal and fear, she said. I struggle with overwhelming feelings of fear, shame, and guilt and I have blamed myself. Im left with scars that will never fully heal and I dont want what happened to us to ever happen to anyone else again at the hands of Michael Edwards. Edwards Attorney David Betras told the judge Edwards, under the advice of counsel, wouldnt be speaking. Betras told the court Edwards maintains his innocence but admits he committed theft in office and was derelict in his duty. Someone being sent to jail that is a rapist is in harm every day for their life and him being a police officer being sent to the penitentiary hes going to be in harms way every day hes in prison, said Betras. Edwards will have to register as a Tier 3 sex offender for life. Judge Cindy Rice really laid down the law. She sent a clear message to Mike Edwards and anyone like him that this isnt going to be tolerated, said Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. At least four Russian Shahed loitering munitions entered Belarusian airspace on the night of 25-26 September. Two fighter jets were scrambled to patrol the skies. Source: Belaruski Hajun, an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet Quote: "Ukrainian monitoring resources report that at least 4 Shahed-type kamikaze drones flew into Belarus last night. The first of them crossed the border with Belarus at around 00:13 near the village of Liubech [Ukraine] and came back to Ukraine 30 minutes later. The Shaheds then entered Belarus at 02:29, 03:05 and 03:52. Notably, one of the drones entered Belarusian airspace not from Ukraine but from the Russian Federation. This Shahed is known to have been flying towards Gomel, but its further fate is unknown." Details: Analysts noted two fighter jets had been patrolling over southeastern Belarus during the night: the first one took off around 00:30 and the second at 02:50. Background: At around midnight on 26 September, a Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drone flew into the territory of Gomel Oblast in Belarus from Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Heres how to get free COVID tests through the mail Heres how to get free COVID tests through the mail All Americans can order free COVID-19 tests by mail starting Thursday, the Biden administration announced. Households will be able to order four free tests through the Covidtests.gov website. The tests will be mailed directly to peoples homes, and orders will begin shipping Monday. The move comes ahead of the typical fall and winter respiratory virus season, though a summer surge of infections has begun to fade. This is the seventh time over the past three years the administration has made free tests available for all Americans. Health insurers no longer cover over-the-counter tests, which can cost about $10 or $11 per test at most pharmacies. The tests can detect the currently circulating COVID-19 variants and include clear instructions on how to verify the extended expiration dates. Consumers are also encouraged to check the Food and Drug Administrations website to find the updated expiration information. Dawn OConnell, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement encouraged people to use the tests ahead of any holiday travel and family gathering. The announcement comes as the administration is trying to encourage people to get the updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and the updated flu vaccine. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Since 2001, The Great North Innocence Project has helped free 11 people who were wrongfully convicted of a crime, one of which was serving a life sentence. Anna McGinn is one of the staff attorneys for the Great North Innocence Project. An organization that represents clients in Minnesota, and South and North Dakota. We get dozens of applications every year from individuals in South Dakota claiming their innocence. And we look into every single one of those cases, McGinn said. A process that can take time. Its sort of a two-step process. One, do we believe the individual is innocent? And two, do we believe that theres some path forward to help get them relief? As cases become older, its a lot harder to get back into court and litigate cases, McGinn said. Taking a gun into a SD school: What state law says Tom Rhodes is one of the 11 people the organization helped exonerate. He was a client of Great North Innocence Projects for I want to say, about 10 to 15 years before he was released from prison, McGinn said. Currently, their organization is working on a handful of South Dakota homicide cases. Oftentimes very serious crimes like homicides. We find rates of wrongful conviction occur at anecdotally, perhaps a slightly higher rate, given the fact that theres a lot of pressure to solve these crimes and mistakes can happen, McGinn said. With the goal of giving back freedom to the innocent. We serve a very narrow role in the criminal justice system. But it is an important role to correct a very specific type of wrong, McGinn said. The Great North Innocence Project also has a clinic at the University of South Dakota Law School. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The first rocky planet ever spotted orbiting a burned out star called a white dwarf offers a glimpse of what may be in store for Earth billions of years from now - showing it is possible our planet might survive the death of the sun, albeit as a cold and desolate outpost in space. The planet, with a mass about 1.9 times that of Earth, is orbiting the white dwarf about 4,200 light-years away from our solar system near the bulge at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, according to a study using data from Hawaii-based telescopes. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, about 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km). The white dwarf began as an ordinary star one or two times the mass of the sun. Its current mass is about half the sun's. Stars with a mass less than eight times the sun's end their lives as a white dwarf, the most common type of stellar remnant. Before its host star's death, the planet orbited at a distance possibly placing it in the "habitable zone" - not too hot and not too cold, where liquid water could exist on the surface and perhaps support life. It originally orbited at about the same distance as Earth is to the sun. Following its star's demise, it is at 2.1 times that distance. "It's currently a freezing world because the white dwarf, which is in fact smaller than the planet, is extremely faint compared to when it was a normal star," said University of California, San Diego astronomer Keming Zhang, lead author of the study published on Thursday in the journal Nature Astronomy. The sun, roughly 4-1/2 billion years old, is destined to become a white dwarf. "At the end of our sun's life, it will puff up to enormous size - astronomers call it a red giant - and gently blow off its outer layers in a wind," University of California, Berkeley astronomer and study co-author Jessica Lu said. "As our sun loses mass, the planets' orbits will expand to larger sizes. Eventually, the sun loses all of its outer layers and leaves behind a hot compact core. This is called a white dwarf." Astronomers have debated whether Earth - the third planet from the sun, with Venus the second and Mars the fourth - would be engulfed and destroyed when the sun expands during its red giant phase, estimated to occur seven billion years from now. It will become a white dwarf a billion years after that. "Theoretical models disagree as to whether Earth could survive. Venus will most certainly be engulfed whereas Mars will most certainly survive. Our modeling shows that this planet very likely had a similar orbit to Earth before its host star became a red giant. It implies that Earth's chances for survival may be higher than currently thought," Zhang said. Until now, only gas-giant planets larger than Jupiter, our solar system's biggest planet, had been spotted orbiting white dwarfs. The white dwarf is orbited by two bodies - the Earth-like planet and, further out, a brown dwarf, an object bigger than a planet but smaller than a star. The planet endured tough times during its star's death throes. "It may have been a lava planet when the star became a red giant, then eventually cooled down to its current freezing state," Zhang said. As the sun ages and heats up, our solar system's habitable zone would move outward. Earth will remain habitable for less than about a billion more years from now, by which point its oceans likely will have evaporated, Zhang said. Does this mean certain doom for humankind - or whatever life still resides on Earth? "We must migrate out of Earth prior to the one-billion-year time scale," Zhang said. By the time the sun becomes a red giant, certain large moons in the outer solar system like Jupiter's Ganymede and Saturn's Titan and Enceladus may offer a refuge, Zhang added. "There's hope," Zhang said. (Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) PAC Man Using AI-generated visuals and IRL quotes, a parody political action committee (PAC) is taking on North Carolina's embattled lieutenant governor and GOP candidate Mark Robinson and AI itself. Released by a group calling itself Americans for Prosparody, the fake ad has all the hallmarks of AI uncanniness: weird hands and fingers, jerky serpentine motions, and a voice that sounds like Robinson's but somehow inhuman. On the fake "Mark Rottensen" campaign website created by the PAC, which was founded by Raleigh investor and Democratic donor Todd Stiefel, Americans for Prosparody notes that everything the fake version of the gubernatorial candidate says in the phony attack ad are real quotes from the pol himself. "When I speak to school shooting survivors," the fake Robinson intones, "I say 'Shut Up You Spoiled Little Bastards!'" That quote, as the "Rottensen" website notes, comes directly from a 2018 Facebook post the Republican made in the aftermath of the Parkland, Florida school massacre. Parody Politics Stiefel, the fake PAC leader, told local broadcaster WCNC that the ad is "parodying both Mark Robinson's extremism and AI itself." As he notes, the ad includes large-font disclaimers at its beginning and end to denote that it was created by AI. "These are tools that are available to everyone, which is great that we have this new technology," Stiefel told the Raleigh news outlet. "A little scary for when this technology is used by bad actors if you don't cover it in disclaimers, it can be used for misinformation." This approach is not without controversy. Earlier this month, Amanda Sturgill, a journalism professor Elon University and no, there's no relation told Raleigh's WRAL that disclaimers aside, the AIads might confuse voters. "The problem really is that [AI] can be deeply confusing to people," she explained, "particularly when you're using a technology that makes it sound like it is the candidate themselves." This potential for confusion could be made worse by the fact that Robinson, who's in the midst of a very real scandal regarding racist and sexist posts he seemingly made more than a decade ago on a porn forum amid the use of other sex sites, has implausibly claimed the posts were somehow generated using AI. In a statement to WRAL, Robinson spokesperson Mike Lonergan said Stiefel's ad is "full of fake clips" meant to "smear" the GOP gubernatorial nominee which, to be fair, is the point of using disclaimed AI in an attack ad. More on Robinson: Close Trump Ally Mark Robinson Linked to More Sex Websites Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) told the House Ethics Committee that he will no longer voluntarily participate in the panels probe into him, accusing it of leading a political payback exercise and calling it uncomfortably nosy. In a Thursday letter that Gaetz posted publicly on the social platform X, the Florida Republican ticked through a list of questions he said hed received from the committee. The Ethics Committee is investigating whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, among other allegations. Gaetz said the committee, as part of a larger correspondence on Sept. 4, asked him for a list of adult women with whom hed had sex over the last seven years. The lawful, consensual sexual activities of adults are not the business of Congress, Gaetz said. Gaetz also said the panel asked him if he has taken illegal drugs, to which he wrote: I have not used drugs which are illegal, absent some law allowing use in a jurisdiction of the United States. The Florida congressman is a longtime supporter of cannabis legalization. Gaetz wrote that his understanding is that the committee has issued, but not yet served, a subpoena for his testimony. If true, the subpoena for Gaetzs testimony may be a sign that the years-long investigation into him is approaching an end point. The House Ethics Committees staff director declined to comment on Gaetzs letter and assertions. The congressional probe into Gaetz was opened in 2021, shortly after news reports emerged that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was reportedly investigating whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has vigorously denied allegations of wrongdoing, and the DOJ declined to charge him with a crime. The Ethics Committee probe, though, continued on. In the Thursday letter, he said that the answer to the question of whether he has engaged in sexual activity with any individual under the age of 18 is unequivocally NO. Gaetz asserted that his former friend Joel Greenberg who is in prison after pleading guilty to a number of crimes including underage sex trafficking and wire fraud, and cooperated with the Justice Department investigation into Gaetz planned to lie about Gaetzs sexual contact with a minor in order to reduce his own prison time. The Florida congressman cites information he says he obtained from an informant who was in jail with Greenberg. Greenberg allegedly informed the jailmate that a victim of his planned to lie about Gaetz in hopes of a future financial benefit. Much of the letter reiterated longtime assertions from Gaetz that the investigations into him are political, pointing to his longtime criticism of the Biden administration. But now, Gaetz is also accusing the panel members themselves of being political, pointing to a contribution to Gaetzs primary opponent from a leadership PAC for Ethics Committee member Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio). It seems the fix is in, Gaetz said. The question about my sexual history reveals a sinister motive of the Committee to harm me and those who have had any associations with me, said Gaetz, who got married in 2021. To date, I have voluntarily produced tens of thousands of records and answered many of your relevant questions over several years. But asking about my sexual history as a single man with adult women is a bridge too far. The Ethics Committee, though, said in a rare update about the Gaetz investigation in June that it had difficulty in obtaining relevant information from Representative Gaetz and others, and is formally investigating whether Gaetz sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct. In that update, the panel said it was investigating allegations that the congressman dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct. The panel had already been looking into whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct, engaged in illicit drug use or accepted improper gifts, areas of inquiry that began in April 2021. The Ethics Committee said at the time that it had spoken with more than 12 witnesses, issued 25 subpoenas and reviewed thousands of pages of documents. The panels probe has had an influence on other political disputes in the Capitol, most notably when Gaetz led the charge to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). McCarthy, who resigned from Congress in December following his historic ouster from the Speakership, has repeatedly claimed that Gaetz led the charge to remove his gavel out of frustration that the California Republican did not stop an Ethics Committee investigation into him. Gaetz has denied that his motivations for ousting McCarthy had anything to do with the Ethics probe. The two butted heads over the summer in Milwaukee at the Republican National Convention, when Gaetz approached McCarthy on the floor while he was doing an interview and taunted him about attending the gathering after his ouster. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover to appear in court for the first time in years in long-shot bid for release Infamous Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover is set to appear in court for the first time in decades Thursday as his long-shot bid to win freedom comes to a head at Chicagos federal courthouse. Hoover, 73, had initially been scheduled to appear in person at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, but U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey later said he would be linked via videoconference, citing logistical and safety concerns. The 1 p.m. hearing is a crucial step in Hoovers yearslong quest to win early release from his federal sentence under the First Step law passed in 2018, which has already led to reduced sentences for several of his co-defendants. Federal prosecutors have vehemently opposed such a break for Hoover, arguing he has continued to hold sway over the gangs hierarchy from the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, even secretly communicating with an underling through coded messages hidden in a dictionary. Hoovers attorneys, meanwhile, have claimed that decades behind bars have left him a changed man and that prosecutors have unfairly painted him as a puppet master to try to keep him locked up. The motion was pending for years before U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, who passed away in June, and has since been transferred to Blakey. Hoover was already serving a 200-year state sentence for the murder of a rival when he was indicted in federal court in 1995 on charges he continued to oversee the murderous drug gangs reign of terror from prison. Hoover was convicted on 40 criminal counts in 1997, and Leinenweber sentenced him to the mandatory term of life. I dont always agree with the guidelines, Leinenweber told Hoover during that hearing. Sometimes I think they are too draconian. But in this case, I agree with them 100%. For years, Hoover been housed in solitary confinement at the Supermax prison, which counts a number of high-profile and notorious detainees, including Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, Sept. 11 terrorist attack plotter Zacarias Moussaoui, and Jeff Fort, the Chicago gang leader who founded the El Rukns. Hoovers attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, argued in a motion in 2022 that there was no evidence whatsoever that Hoover had received any communication from other Gangster Disciples while in federal prison, and said the governments efforts to paint him as an unrepentant criminal are baseless. It is not in dispute that many people from all walks of life, including politicians, celebrities, community activities and people who self-identify as GDs, support Hoover, Bonjean wrote. Indeed, the fact that Mr. Hoover is supported by individuals who are not gang members is what frightens the government the most. The government does not want to see a rehabilitated Hoover. It wants to hold on to its narrative of Hoover as the most notorious dangerous, and violent man on the planet. Prosecutors, however, have contended that granting Hoover a sentence reduction would send a shockwave through the community and embolden gang members who still look to Hoover as their inspirational leader. In a 2022 memo asking Leinenweber to deny the request, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz called his life sentence richly deserved. Hoovers crimes are among the most serious ever prosecuted in this district, such that reducing his life sentence would undermine the statutory goals of promoting respect for the law and deterring others from engaging in gang violence and large-scale drug trafficking, Schwartz wrote. Even if Blakey were to grant Hoovers release request, he would not walk free. But he would likely be transferred out of the federal prison system to continue fighting his state conviction from a jail cell much closer to his home. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) just made a partnership play worth $600 million with a small biotech called NanoVation that might just change the stock's trajectory for many years to come. On Sept. 18, the pair signed a deal that could eventually pave the way for Novo to make a next-gen medicine that it hopes will one-up Ozempic, its best-selling drug for type 2 diabetes. Competitors like Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) are likely to be caught out of position by this move. But it won't pay off immediately, and there's a fair amount of risk involved. Let's dive in and analyze what all of this means for the stock, and when it'll matter the most. There's a lot to unpack here NanoVation's expertise is in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which it engineers to circulate in the body for long periods. LNPs are a drug delivery technology that essentially encapsulates a few molecules of a drug into a very tiny bubble of fat such that the active ingredient of the medicine can survive the trip through the patient's body until it gets to where it needs to go for its desired therapeutic effect to be the most efficient. Then, the fat bubble disburses its cargo and gets recycled, and the drug (ideally) helps the patient. LNPs, while relatively new, are a workhorse technology, and they're used most famously by Moderna to deliver its coronavirus vaccine. In that context, the LNP's cargo isn't molecules of a medicine like aspirin, but rather nucleic acids, specifically messenger RNA (mRNA). And that's roughly the same payload that Novo Nordisk is interested in delivering with the help of NanoVation. Per the terms of their collaboration agreement, the pair will be working together on two currently active programs, and five additional physiological targets that could become full programs at a later date. The two programs are intended for a pair of rare diseases that weren't disclosed, whereas the targets are slated for cardiometabolic disease indications -- most likely type 2 diabetes and obesity, based on Novo's current pipeline. Importantly, the mechanism of action described for the projects in the agreement is gene editing. Therefore the approach is to use NanoVation's LNPs to carry a gene editor as the active ingredient, which implies a slew of financially impactful factors I'll get to shortly. This deal opens up the possibility of a very lucrative future At the moment, Novo's rights under the agreement only enable it to use NanoVation's LNPs for the two programs, but that could change in the future. In exchange, it'll pay some of the biotech's research and development (R&D) bills, and offer it as much as $600 million in royalties, milestone payments, up-front payments, and other fees. It'll take multiple years for any of the projects or programs involved to pan out, and it might even be a few years before anything even enters early-stage clinical trials. Story continues So why should investors care about any of this right now? In short, Novo has been spending a lot of cash lately to gamble on developing genetic editing medicines for cardiometabolic indications with the help of biotechs, and this latest deal shows its intent even more clearly. On Sept. 16, it penned a very similar deal with Korro Bio worth $530 million. The takeaway is that its next-gen replacements for its blockbuster drugs Ozempic (for type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (which treats obesity) may be gene-editing therapies rather than peptide therapies. For investors with a long time horizon for holding their shares, that could be very good news. One of the problems with peptide-based drugs that Novo and its chief competitor, Eli Lilly, struggle with is that they're relatively expensive to produce, thereby necessitating many billions of dollars of investment into manufacturing facilities to meet demand. And while the molecules used in gene-editing therapies like those covered in the collaboration agreement aren't exactly free to assemble and encapsulate into an LNP, comparatively speaking, they have the potential to be vastly cheaper on a manufacturing basis, even if they're often more expensive to develop. So if these collaborations yield at least one of the medicines that the company is looking for, it'll have a product that might be more effective for patients, and which requires less capital investment as well as a lower ongoing cost of goods sold (COGS) to make and sell at the same scale. There's also a possibility that the medicines will be more tolerable for patients. All of that will generate value, which will likely trickle back to investors in the form of higher share prices, and perhaps higher dividends and share buybacks. In other words, while the agreement with NanoVation isn't a distinct reason to buy the stock today because of how early-stage the programs involved are, it's still a factor that supports the bull thesis for Novo Nordisk stock over the long term. Should you invest $1,000 in Novo Nordisk right now? Before you buy stock in Novo Nordisk, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Novo Nordisk wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $740,704!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of September 23, 2024 Alex Carchidi has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Moderna and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Novo Nordisk's $600 Million Gambit Could Be a Game Changer for the Stock. Here's Why. was originally published by The Motley Fool UPDATE: All clear given for gas leak in Gladewater UPDATE: The City of Gladewater said the Ricks Circle gas leak was been cleared up on Thursday and the area is now safe to return to. GLADEWATER, Texas (KETK) Gladewater authorities are advising caution in part of town due to a gas leak. Kilgore recognized as a Purple Heart City Police said a leak near Ricks Circle off Highway 271 in north Gladewater is causing the issue. People in the area are asked residents in the area to immediately extinguish burners and other flames. Anyone not in the area is asked to stay away, as roads may be blocked, barricaded or closed. You can keep up with Gladewater PDs updates here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. The transit of Azerbaijani gas through Ukraine to Europe will not protect the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS) from Russian attacks. Source: Serhii Makohon, head of the Ukrainian Gas Transmission System Operator for 2019-2022, reports Interfax-Ukraine Quote from Serhii Makohon, during a press conference at the Media Centre Ukraine in Kyiv: "There is an argument that the Russians will not attack Ukraine's gas transmission system as long as Azerbaijani gas is being transited. What is their interest in not hitting it if it is really Azerbaijani gas? The only argument is that it will be Russian gas, even under the guise of Azerbaijani gas." Details: At the same time, he noted that even under such circumstances, the Russians will not stop in their intentions to destroy Ukraine's energy sector, including gas, as the transit pipeline is only part of Ukraine's extensive and powerful gas transportation system: "But we have no guarantees that the Russians will not attack the GTS while maintaining transit". Quote from Serhii Makohon: "They have already spent US$15 billion to damage our energy sector, and there have been six waves of missile attacks on the GTS in the west of Ukraine. Yes, there were no such attacks on the GTS, such as on thermal power plants, but this does not mean they spared it. They simply do not have enough missiles." At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that even with significant damage to the GTS, it can perform its functions, for which various relevant response scenarios have been developed. Serhii Makohon reports that it would still make sense to continue gas transit from Russia, even under the guise of Azerbaijani gas, if Ukraine, for its part, set certain conditions, such as the return of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and guarantees not to attack the power grid. Quote from Serhii Makohon: "And if we are now being offered transit of allegedly Azerbaijani gas, and everyone understands that it is actually Russian gas, then it seems to me that this is just a deal that will allow the Russians to continue to earn US$5 billion annually, which they will use to strengthen their armaments." Serhii Makohon emphasised that to replace the 14 billion cubic metres currently exported from Russia to Europe via Ukraine, Azerbaijan would need to double its gas exports, which it does not have the capacity to do. Makohon also believes that Europe is not interested in continuing transit from Russia. It intends to get rid of Russian gas by 2027, the share of which has already decreased from 45% to 15% in recent years, and Ukrainian transit accounts for only 5% of total European imports. Background: Ukraine is negotiating natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan to the European Union, seeking to maintain its role as a transit country and help its Western neighbours guarantee energy security. Support UP or become our patron! SACRAMENTO, California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected a bill Wednesday for the second year in a row that would have required high schools to offer free condoms to students, arguing that it would cost too much. The bill was overwhelmingly supported by Newsoms fellow Democrats in the Legislature and mainly opposed by conservative and Christian groups, like the California Family Council. But Newsom said the ongoing price tag would be too much to bear. It is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget, such as this measure, Newsom said in a veto message. Lawmakers have been trying to push this measure through as sexually transmitted infections have steadily increased in California and across the nation in recent years: Syphilis rates rose 31 percent in the state from 2017 to 2021, and infections disproportionately affect people under the age of 25, people of color and gay or bisexual men. Under the bill, high schools would have had to provide condoms in at least two locations on their grounds where students wouldnt have to go through staff to get them, starting at the beginning of the 2025 school year. It would have also required other public schools that start in seventh grade to allow condoms to be available as part of their public health programs. Outside of schools, stores would have been prohibited from refusing to sell condoms to customers based on their age. When Newsom vetoed a nearly identical proposal in 2023, he cited the estimated $4 million cost of implementing it, saying the state couldnt afford the price tag. That was a common refrain from Newsom at the time, excoriating legislators for passing bills with high funding requirements after the state budget had been negotiated and put to bed. In an attempt to get ahead of that concern this year, while facing a cumulative $47 billion state budget deficit, the bills author, state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, secured a $5 million outlay in the budget specifically for her bill. While the author successfully championed $5 million for a similarly aligned purpose in this years budget, one-time funding does not adequately address the fiscal concerns associated with this bill, Newsom said. Menjivar said in a statement: "The Governor vetoes bills because they werent considered in the budget process and even when I did that, it still gets vetoed, causing a lot of confusion. While I cannot speculate on an ulterior motive, lets get real, its not the cost." Menjivar also argued the upfront costs outweigh the price of inaction. "The ongoing cost California cannot afford is the $1B we spend annually on STI related care," Menjivar said. "In deficit years we continue to address the budget with cuts instead of reinvesting into preventive measures." A crowd gathers for the burial in Khan Yunis of some of the 88 bodies the Palestinian health ministry says entered Gaza from Israel the day before (Bashar TALEB) (Bashar TALEB/AFP/AFP) The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Thursday accused the Israeli army of treating exhumed bodies in an "inhumane" manner, saying it deposited a container containing scores of dead Palestinians without proper documentation. The Israeli army rejected the accusation, saying its policy was to treat the bodies of the deceased "with dignity and respect". Israel has regularly taken dead bodies out of Gaza to determine whether they are hostages seized during Hamas's October 7 attack which sparked the ongoing war in the Palestinian territory. "The hostage identification process, conducted at a secure and alternative location, ensures optimal professional conditions and respect for the deceased," the army statement said. "Bodies determined not be those of hostages are returned with dignity and respect." However the Gaza health ministry said the Israeli army sent back a container on Wednesday containing 88 bodies "without any data or information that could help identify" them. The ministry accused Israel of "exhuming graves and stealing bodies", saying it held Israel "fully responsible for the inhumane and unethical treatment of the bodies". An AFP photographer saw a crowd gathered around the bodies on Thursday as they were unloaded from a truck, wrapped in blue tarp. Hisham Mhanna, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said it was not involved in the transfer of 88 bodies to Khan Yunis in southern Gaza because they did not have proper documentation. "The Red Cross declined to participate in the reception of the bodies because it did not comply with the applicable protocols. There are no data, lists, or evidence identifying these bodies, and we have no information about them whatsoever," Mhanna said. "We emphasise the right of all families to receive information about their relatives and loved ones and to carry out burial ceremonies in a manner that respects human dignity." Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people on Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity. Of the 251 hostages seized by militants, 97 are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,534 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN has described the figures as reliable. str-crb/rcb/jd/dv GEMA recommends that all Georgia schools consider early dismissal and closure SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security (GEMA/HS) has recommended Thursday that all schools south of Macon consider early dismissal and closure. Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, GEMA recommends that all Georgia schools south of Macon, public and private, consider early dismissal on Thursday. GEMA is also recommending that all schools are closed throughout the state for Friday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Georgetown County 12-year-old admits sending photo of gun, tells judge he was being bullied, deputies say GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A 12-year-old Carvers Bay Middle School student who recently sent a photo of a gun admitted to making the threats and told a judge he overreacted because he was being bullied in school, the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office said. The student had a hearing on Thursday in Georgetown County Family Court and was allowed to return home under the supervision of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice before his sentencing. Judge Melissa Buchanan ordered a community evaluation for the 12-year-old after he sent text messages threatening to shoot his classmates on Monday, the sheriffs office said. The texts contained a photo of him displaying a gun with a high-capacity magazine. The state recommended he remained in custody for a secure evaluation at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia before sentencing, but Buchanan denied it, according to the sheriffs office. Buchanan ordered his psychiatric evaluation, adherence to the rules of his supervision and continuing education be based from home under DJJ supervision. Georgetown County deputies retained the gun, which was surrendered by the boys mother. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Is your Georgia home in a high-risk flood zone with Hurricane Helene incoming? How to know As Hurricane Helene moves toward Georgia, its best to know your flood risk while the region faces prolonged rain and flooding risks. Hurricanes are capable of creating high winds, heavy rainfall and floods that could damage homes, buildings and roadways. So, how can Georgians make sure their home is ready for a flood and how can residents stay safe? Heres what to know: What flood zone is your home in? According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, every homeowner lives in an area with some type of flood risk, but its good to know how serious that risk is when a flood is coming. Thats what flood zones are for; flood zones are similar to maps and they help a community determine its flood risk for safety and insurance purposes. Here are the zones to know: Zone A: These areas have a high-risk for flooding because they are close to a pond, stream, river or construction barrier. Zone V: Zones V and VE are high risk coastal areas with an additional hazard from storm waves. These areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. Zone D: Zone D areas have a possibility of flooding, but the risk is undetermined. Flood insurance for Zone D homes is still recommended. Zone B & X: These areas are a moderate flood hazard, but flood insurance is still recommended. Zone C & X: Zones C & X have a lower risk of flooding, but flood insurance is still recommended. If you are unsure which flood zone your home is in, call your home insurance company to find out and see what your flood risks are. Homeowners can also go to FEMAs flood map website and type in their address to see the flood risks in their area. How to prepare your home for a flood Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster, according to FEMA. Heres how to prepare your home: Get flood insurance. Know your flood risk by using this map. Take inventory of household items and valuables. Be sure to include photos and video. Store important documents. Save copies of birth certificates, passports, medical records, and insurance papers in a safe, dry place. Keep original documents in a watertight safety deposit box. If you have a basement, waterproof it by installing a water alarm and maintain a working sump pump. Clear gutters and elevate valuables. National Weather Service tips for safety during a flood Now that youve assessed your homes safety before a flood, its time to prepare yourself and your family during a flood. Here are some safety tips to follow: Get to Higher Ground: If you live in a flood prone area, get to higher ground immediately. Obey Evacuation Orders: If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Lock your home when you leave. If you have time, disconnect utilities and appliances. Practice Electrical Safety: Dont go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged. If you see sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping or popping noises--get out. Avoid Flood Waters: Dont walk through flood waters. It only takes 6 inches of moving water to knock you off your feet. If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible. Do NOT drive into flooded roadways or around a barricade; Turn Around, Dont Drown! Water may be deeper than it appears and can hide hazards such as sharp objects, washed out road surfaces, electrical wires, chemicals, etc. A vehicle caught in swiftly moving water can be swept away in seconds. 12 inches of water can float a car or small SUV and 18 inches of water can carry away large vehicles. Have any more questions? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com. Helene is now a hurricane. Much of Georgia under watch, warning for floods & damaging wind Independent candidate Cornel West appeared at a protest outside the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder This story was updated at 1:25 p.m. on Sept. 26 to add comment from Secretary of State Brad Raffenspergers office. The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled against bids by two independent presidential candidates to count on ballots for the states November election. Independent presidential candidate Cornel West and Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Claudia De la Cruz are not qualified to run for president in Georgia, the court ruled unanimously Wednesday, marking a win for Democrats, who sought to keep the left-wing candidates off the ballot. A lawyer for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told justices during arguments Tuesday that it was too late to change ballots, but if the court ruled against the candidates, Raffenspergers office would place notices at polling places and within absentee ballot envelopes that votes for either candidate will not be counted. With this decision, Georgians will choose between Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Kamala Harris, Libertarian Chase Oliver and Green Party candidate Jill Stein on Nov. 5. De la Cruz said her campaign is weighing its future legal options and called the arguments in favor of the decision outlandish, arguing that if independent candidates were to follow the rules as proscribed by the justices, they would have to collect more than 120,000 signatures to qualify for Georgia ballots, an overburdensome number. Democratic Party lawyers and the Republican-majority Supreme Court worked together to suppress democracy, she said in a statement. This unjust ruling is a reminder of why it is so urgent to build an alternative outside the two-party system. We have a socialist program that speaks to the needs of working people clearly this is something that scares the Democrats and Republicans, and the Wall Street billionaires who control both parties. Regardless of this ruling, we will not stop organizing in this state and we will continue to spread our socialist message far and wide. In an email, a spokesman for West said the campaign continues to encourage supporters to vote for West. The justices decision had to do with the meaning of the word candidate in part of state code. When Americans vote for a presidential ticket, they are not actually voting for the presidential and vice presidential candidates directly. Instead they are voting for a slate of presidential electors, who will vote for the candidate in the Electoral College, a group of 538 people from across every state based on population. Georgias 16 electoral votes are supposed to all go to the candidate who wins the majority of the votes in the state, and the winning candidate will need 270 total electoral votes to win the White House. Under Georgia law, candidates to become electors, not to become president have to file under their own names petitions to have their independent candidates to become president placed on the ballot. De la Cruz and Wests elector candidates filed petitions under the presidential candidates names instead. According to the state Supreme Court, presidential electors have been described as candidates in state code since at least 2005. The high courts ruling affirms the decisions of a state administrative law judge and two Fulton County Superior Court judges, but reverses a ruling from Raffensperger, a Republican and the states top election official. Raffensperger and other state Republicans made strange bedfellows with West and De la Cruz, who are both to Harris left. With the 2024 election likely to be close, some argued that the two progressives could have siphoned off some voters who may have otherwise preferred Harris. In a Thursday email, Raffenspergers office reaffirmed it will respect the Supreme Courts decision and, citing statements from the justices, suggested that lawmakers may wish to clarify state code dealing with independent presidential candidates. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A portrait of Kesaria Abramidze, a transgender actor and model who was stabbed to death, is displayed at a vigil near parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sophiko Megrelidze) TBILISI, Georgia (AP) Dozens of Georgians stood in tearful silence in a central square near parliament last week to mourn Kesaria Abramidze, a transgender actor and model who was stabbed to death the previous day in her apartment. Alongside flowers and candles, some carried banners that read, Hate kills. Some in the conservative South Caucasus nation see a direct line between violent attacks, such as the one on the 37-year-old Abramidze, and a sweeping measure that severely restricted LGBTQ+ rights which was given final approval by parliament a day before the slaying. Activists fear the measure could increase hate crimes. The bill, introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party, includes bans on same-sex marriages, adoptions by same-sex couples and public endorsement and depictions of LGBTQ+ relationships and people in the media. It also bans gender-affirming care and changing gender designations in official documents. The events were a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ people in the country of 3.7 million where the Orthodox Church wields significant influence. We have been saying all along, all these months, that laws like this are going to cause violence and are going to increase the number of people that are physically attacked, Tamar Jakeli, the head of Tbilisi Pride, told The Associated Press at the vigil. We are quite desperate, honestly, Jakeli added. We dont know how we can survive in this country under this law, under this government. Concerns about Russian influence Because the measure echoes similar laws in Russia, some Georgians fear they are being drawn further into Moscow's orbit after more than three decades of independence following the collapse of the USSR. Authorities in both countries believe the laws protect traditional family values from what they call dangerous foreign influence. Georgian Dream introduced the anti-LGBTQ+ bill shortly after parliament adopted a law in June that requires media and nongovernmental organizations to register with authorities if they get more than 20% of their funding from abroad. This is similar to a Russian measure that the Kremlin uses against its critics and other dissenters. For years, Moscow has sought to bring Georgia back under its influence, fighting a brief war in 2008 over a breakaway province. The decade-long rule of Georgian Dream - a party created by shadowy billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia - has raised concerns it is acting in concert with the Kremlin. Many ordinary Georgians supported Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion in 2022. But Georgia's government refused to impose sanctions on Moscow, barred Kremlin critics from entering the country, and accused the West of trying to drag Tbilisi into the conflict. Georgia's foreign influence law ignited mass protests, with critics saying it threatened democracy and jeopardized Georgias bid to join the European Union. Georgian Dream pressed ahead anyway, approving the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. The measure still could be vetoed by President Salome Zourabichvili, long at odds with the party, but it has enough seats to override her the same way it did with the foreign influence law. The EU's criticism and Georgia's response After the foreign influence law passed, the EU halted Georgia's effort to join the bloc that began in 2022 and froze some financial support. The U.S. also imposed sanctions on government officials and parliament members. The anti-LGBTQ+ measure further deepened that rift. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it will undermine the fundamental rights of the people, increasing discrimination and stigmatization." Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze replied that such criticism will not benefit the image of the European Union within Georgian society. In our perception, Europe represents transparency, traditional, Christian values. For centuries, Georgians have strived toward Europe because we were united by shared Christian traditions and culture, Kobakhidze said, arguing the measure protects families and minors. It is seen as a populist step to win conservatives' support in the Oct. 26 parliamentary election in which Georgian Dream seeks to maintain its dominance. They are just using the same methods and means and tools Russia is using - to somehow take peoples attention (away) from the real problems and create a new enemy somewhere within the society, and then defeat that enemy that doesnt really exist, said Giorgi Davituri of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information in an AP interview. A setback for the vulnerable LGBTQ+ community The sweeping restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights and representation mirror those adopted in Russia over the last decade, packaged into one crippling blow. Some of them, like the ban on same-sex weddings, cement existing Georgian law that defines marriage as a voluntary union between a man and a woman. Others, like the ban on gender-affirming medical care or changing ones gender in documents, drives an entire social group, such as trans people, to the fringes. Everybody is really under threat, but trans people are the most vulnerable, said Tbilisi Prides Jakeli, because the legislation bans any kind of physical intervention which is needed for trans people to continue living. Giorgi Gogia, associate director of the Europe and Central Asia division at Human Rights Watch, told AP the legislation's impact may be far-reaching, limiting multiple rights, including to health care, peaceful assembly and education. It's at odds with Georgias laws that ban discrimination based on gender identity, among other things, Gogia said. More dangerously, it perpetuates already existing negative stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people in the country and encourages hate speech, and could lead to further violent incidents, he said. Gogia pointed to the stabbing death of Abramidze, even though he believed it's unlikely the developments are directly linked. A 26-year-old man was detained, and police opened an investigation on a charge of "premeditated murder committed with particular cruelty and aggravating circumstances on gender grounds. Abramidze was famous in Georgia as a symbol of the freedom and fight and a very strong woman, said Taki Mumladze, a director, actor and screenwriter. Mumladze, who co-wrote and starred in a movie depicting a same-sex relationship and later directed a play about it, told AP the killing shocked Georgians, whatever side of the issue they were on. Georgia was very, very homophobic at one point, she said, recalling anti-gay demonstrations two years ago on the day her movie premiered. Such protests are common in the country. Last year, hundreds of opponents of gay rights stormed an LGBTQ+ festival in Tbilisi, forcing its cancellation, and tens of thousands marched in the capital this year to promote traditional family values. But Mumladze said attitudes had begun to change in recent years, thanks to NGOs educating society and providing support for the LGBTQ+ community. She says her own conservative, religious parents saw her movie and play, and really liked both. So I felt very good. And now with this law even my art will be forbidden, she said. Its crazy that the government is trying to stop this progress. She and Jakeli are pinning their hopes on the upcoming election. We are mobilizing for the elections, Jakeli said. We are urging everybody to go and vote, go and vote for Georgias European future, which also includes human rights for all, including us. Added Mumladze: I hope with the elections we will change this because if not, we will lose this country for a long, long time. - Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Georgia's ruling party intimidates citizens with destruction caused by Russia in Ukraine as part of its election campaign photos As part of its election campaign, the ruling Georgian Dream party created banners depicting the carnage wrought by Russia in Ukraine, comparing it to a "normal life" in Georgia. Source: Georgia Online and SOVA, as reported by European Pravda Details: Advertising banners began to be utilised on 26 September in Tbilisi and other locations. This is a series of similar posters and a video in which intact Georgian cities, fountains, and new buses are juxtaposed against videos of destruction in Ukraine. Banner signatures call on voters to "choose peace" and "say no to war". In certain regions, a snapshot showing the destruction is complemented with figures from opposition pro-Western parties' electoral lists. President Salome Zourabichvili was among the first to respond to the new campaign. Quote: "I have never seen anything so shameful, so offensive to our culture, traditions, history and faith... What a vile thing it is, to hang a poster for its people, made in the forges of the KGB, without dignity and shame," Zourabichvili exclaimed. A day earlier, a Georgian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly did not join in applauding a sizable portion of those present when US President Joe Biden talked about the importance of continuing to support Ukraine. It was also revealed that Kobakhidze's invitation to Biden's reception for foreign leaders had been cancelled. Georgia's parliamentary elections will be held on 26 October for the first time without a majority system, increasing the opposition's chances of victory. Support UP or become our patron! WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / O&L Leisure, a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, is proud to announce its rebranding as part of a strategic move to position itself as a premium provider of authentic, luxury travel experiences. This transformation aligns with O&L Leisure's evolving vision and growth strategy, reflecting its commitment to offering world-class service while maintaining deep connections to its Namibian heritage. The new brand, featuring a sleek and refined logo, captures the spirit of O&L Leisure's dedication to authenticity, care, and passion. Designed to appeal to a premium, international market, the rebrand underscores O&L Leisure's ambition to elevate its offerings while remaining true to its Namibian roots. Sven Thieme - Executive Chairman, O&L Group and Managing Director, O&L Leisure. Sven Thieme, Managing Director of O&L Leisure and Executive Chairman of the O&L Group, elaborated on the rationale behind the rebranding: "As we expand our reach and transition into the premium and super-premium markets, we recognise the need to refine our brand to reflect our new audience. This rebrand positions us to speak directly to our new audience and convey the luxury, authenticity, and world-class standards we uphold across all our properties. Our guests will know that no matter which O&L Leisure property they visit, they will experience the same exceptional standard." The rebranding is also a pivotal part of O&L Leisure's broader strategy as it prepares to grow its portfolio. The new identity reflects a unified promise across all O&L Leisure properties, ensuring a consistent, premium guest experience while allowing each location to retain its unique charm. Thieme added: "With our expansion plans, we are committed to maintaining one consistent standard across all properties. While each destination - whether it's Chobe Water Villas or Mokuti Etosha - has its unique appeal, the golden thread throughout will now be more visible than ever. Our new brand is a promise to our guests that they will enjoy world-class service, comfort, and authenticity, wherever they choose to stay." The new logo reflects this refined approach, combining modern sophistication with a deep respect for the brand's Namibian heritage. Retaining the iconic "1919" symbol, the logo emphasises O&L's legacy while embracing a minimalist and elegant design. The new tagline, "Namibia Through Our Eyes," encapsulates O&L Leisure's mission to provide genuine, unfiltered experiences that connect guests to the heart of Namibia. Thieme explained: "We are proud to showcase Namibia's true essence through this rebrand. The new tagline is not just a slogan; it represents our authentic, caring, and passionate approach to hospitality. Every interaction with our guests, every detail of their experience, is designed to reflect the beauty and soul of Namibia." As part of its enhanced visual identity, O&L Leisure has introduced new secondary colours such as Dune Beige and Golden Metallic, reflecting Namibia's stunning landscapes and the unforgettable moments shared in its properties. The golden thread in the branding represents the connection between all O&L Leisure destinations, offering a sense of place and a promise of luxury. (from left to right): Shepherd Chinhoi - Operations General Manager; Franziska Rueeck - Chief Experience Officer, O&L Group and Quality & Experience General Manager, O&L Leisure; Sven Thieme - Executive Chairman, O&L Group and Managing Director, O&L Leisure; Maryke van Lill - Marketing Manager, O&L Leisure; Victory Shimwandi - Sales Manager, O&L Leisure and Sonja Bartsch - Financial Director, O&L Leisure. The rebranding aligns with O&L's Vision for 2029, which includes global recognition for service excellence and a focus on being one of the top 10 Great Places to Work (GPTW). By enhancing its brand and service standards, O&L Leisure aims to set new benchmarks for luxury travel, both in Namibia and internationally. Sven Thieme concluded: "Our new brand is a crucial part of O&L's Vision for 2029. We are committed to providing exceptional guest experiences, while creating a work environment that empowers our team to grow and thrive. By elevating our brand and service, we are not only showcasing the best of Namibia to the world, but we are also contributing to our long-term financial goals and ensuring each property operates at the highest standards of efficiency and excellence." This bold rebrand reinforces O&L Leisure's dedication to offering handpicked, unique locations that tell Namibia's story and create memorable, world-class experiences for all guests. About O&L Leisure: O&L Leisure is a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, offering premium, authentic hospitality experiences in Namibia. Its portfolio includes Strand Hotel Swakopmund, Midgard, Mokuti Etosha, and Chobe Water Villas, with expansion plans underway. O&L Leisure is driven by its mission to provide luxury experiences rooted in Namibia's natural beauty and culture, ensuring a consistent world-class standard across all properties. Media Contact: Organization: The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group Contact Person Name: Roux-che Locke Website: https://www.ol.na Email: roux-che.locke@ol.na Contact Number: +264612075207 Address: Alexander Forbes House, 7th Floor, Address 2: South Block, 22-33 Fidel Castro Street, Windhoek, Namibia City: Windhoek State: Khomas Country: Namibia SOURCE: The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group Boris Pistorius German Minister of Defense, gives a press conference after his speech in the Lithuanian parliament. Pistorius will also travel to Szczecin in Poland for a visit to the NATO Command for North-East Europe. Kay Nietfeld/dpa German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius issued a warning about the dangers of Russian rearmament in a speech before the Lithuanian parliament on Thursday. "We are witnessing how Russia is rapidly ramping up its weapons production and dramatically building up its armed forces. All of this leaves no doubt: For Russia, for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's Russia, Ukraine is only the beginning," the Social Democrat politician said in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. He also assured: "The German armed forces are ready to become a central pillar of conventional deterrence and defence in Europe." In this context, he highlighted the role as a hub to quickly move troops from the Atlantic to NATO's eastern flank. The German government has promised NATO partner Lithuania that it will permanently station a combat-ready and autonomous combat unit in Lithuania. This brigade is scheduled to be operational by 2027. The formation of the brigade is a response to Russia's war against Ukraine and reflects the changed security situation in Europe. A permanent presence of up to 5,000 soldiers is planned, with their permanent locations to be the small communities of Rudninkai and Rukla in Lithuania. Initially, an interim solution in Lithuanian barracks near the capital Vilnius is to be implemented. There have repeatedly been doubts whether Lithuania is on schedule with its own preparations. Soldiers of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) lay barbed wire in Hamburg port as part of the "Red Storm Alpha" exercise by the Hamburg State Command and the Hamburg Homeland Security. Steven Hutchings/dpa The German military started exercises on Thursday in which troops prepared for a defence of the large Hamburg harbour on the Elbe River. The exercises, known as "Red Storm Alpha," deployed around 100 soldiers to set up checkpoints and secure the port facilities in case of a threat, Germany's military announced. The port authority is also taking part in the manoeuvrers, which will continue through Saturday. Civilian traffic should continue uninterrupted throughout. NATO countries in Europe have stepped up preparations for defence against an attack in the years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Securing the Hamburg port in northern Germany could be critical for the rapid deployment of NATO forces to Eastern Europe in the event of further Russian aggression. "Due to its geostrategic location, Germany has the function of a hub. That is why the organization of military transports by rail, road or air, the supply of food, beds or fuel, or the securing of entire vehicle convoys, must be practised in order to have a credible deterrent effect," Germany's military, known as the Bundeswehr, said in a statement on the exercises. Soldiers of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) lay barbed wire in Hamburg port as part of the "Red Storm Alpha" exercise by the Hamburg State Command and the Hamburg Homeland Security. Steven Hutchings/dpa The German parliament's lower chamber, the Bundestag, has approved the German government's proposal to increase funding for military support for Ukraine by nearly 400 million euros ($447 million), according to the Sept. 25 statement. The Bundestag announced the decision to increase financial aid following a meeting under the Ukraine Compact, a security framework signed by 32 allied countries at the NATO summit in July 2024. The meeting was held on Sept. 25 on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The additional financial assistance will allow the procurement of more air defense systems, tanks, drones, ammunition, and spare parts, "effectively strengthening the Ukrainian Armed Forces in defending their country," the statement read. Berlin also announced it will provide an additional 170 million euros ($190 million) "soon" to help restore Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which comes under frequent Russian attacks. Initially a hesitant partner, Germany has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S. since Russia's full-scale invasion. Berlin will provide Kyiv with around 8 billion euros ($8.8 billion) this year, but the aid will be reportedly cut by half to 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) in 2025. Berlin had been hoping that the shortfall in assistance would be made up by Ukraine receiving $50 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets. However, Hungary has caused delays in the U.S.'s procedural involvement in the assets scheme. In addition to budgetary concerns, German "anti-war" parties that oppose aid to Ukraine on the right and left made gains in regional elections on Sept. 1, causing political complications for Germany's commitment to support Ukraine. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), as of June 2024, Germany has allocated 14.7 billion euros ($16.4 billion) in support for Ukraine since 2022. Read also: Its personal Why Germany still refuses to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Shein logo can be seen on a smartphone. Germany is pushing for an EU crackdown on Chinese goods sold online and imported to the European Union that don't comply with the bloc's internal market rules. Monika Skolimowska/dpa Germany is pushing for an EU crackdown on Chinese goods sold online and imported to the European Union that don't comply with the bloc's internal market rules. "These parcels are a direct threat to European industrial producers as well as law-abiding trading companies," German Deputy Economy Minister Sven Giegold said on Thursday in Brussels. EU industry and competitiveness ministers are in the Belgian capital to debate the bloc's economic performance and ability to compete with international trading rivals like the United States and China. Giegold said that Germany, France, Poland, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands are calling on the European Commission to use all powers under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to investigate. The DSA is a set of powerful EU laws governing online e-commerce companies that apply to Chinese firms Temu and Shein. "Systematic misconduct" must be found, Giegold said. "Every day, hundreds of parcels come mainly from China with goods which do not correspond regularly with EU market rules," Giegold said. Giegold noted that "a significant share of these products" do not comply with intellectual property rules, data protection regulations and environmental standards, citing testing data. "A common market which takes itself seriously has to make sure that the products sold on that market correspond to the laws we set democratically in Europe," he added. Rubble and bulky waste fill the streets of Glatz after floods devastated parts of southern Poland. Villages are now beginning the cleanup and rebuilding process." Krzysztof Kaniewski/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Germany plans to send 120 soldiers to neighbouring Poland to help with flood relief efforts including infrastructure repairs and clearance work, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said during a visit to the north-western city of Szczecin on Thursday. The minister said Germany was sending support upon request from Poland and a forward command would initially be deployed for eight weeks. Poland is one of several countries in Eastern and Central Europe that was hit by severe flooding earlier this month, with several towns in the south-west of the country completely devastated. Pistorius was in Szczecin on Thursday to mark the 24th anniversary of the NATO headquarters responsible for the alliance's north-eastern flank. It is led by German Lieutenant General Jurgen-Joachim von Sandrart. Last week, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, after a crisis management meeting in Wrocaw, that Germany was ready to send soldiers to provide support. "So if you see German soldiers, please don't panic. This is help. Just so there are no doubts," said Tusk. He was referring to anti-German sentiment that remains widespread among parts of the Polish population, 85 years after Nazi German invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, which started World War II. Rubble and bulky waste litter the streets of Glatz following the recent floods. Krzysztof Kaniewski/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Germany's Pistorius says for Russia 'Ukraine is only the beginning' Boris Pistorius, German Minister of Defense, takes part in the 25th anniversary of the NATO Command for North-East Europe in Szczecin, Poland. Kay Nietfeld/dpa German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius issued a stark warning about the dangers of Russian rearmament on Thursday, calling the Kremlin's assault on Ukraine a "wake-up call" to the West about its wider intentions. "We are witnessing how Russia is rapidly ramping up its weapons production and dramatically building up its armed forces," Pistorius said in a speech before the Lithuanian parliament in Vilnius. "All of this leaves no doubt: For Russia, for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's Russia, Ukraine is only the beginning." For Putin, the free and democratic way of life is the real enemy, said Pistorius, whose speech was applauded at several points. "Ukraine was a wake-up call, perhaps the last one we will get." At the same time, according to the minister, the leadership in Moscow is attempting to undermine social cohesion in the EU and NATO member states, using hybrid means like cyber attacks. He also assured: "The German armed forces are ready to become a central pillar of conventional deterrence and defence in Europe." In this context, he highlighted the role as a hub to quickly move troops from the Atlantic to NATO's eastern flank. Pistorius also said he is working to permanently raise German defence spending above 2% of gross domestic product - the NATO target. All partners in the 32-country alliance should do this, he said. The German defence chief also addressed his plans to introduce a new model of military service. Times have changed, he said. "Germany must introduce a new form of military service. This is the only way the armed forces can survive in the event of war." In response to the growing threat from Russia, the German government has promised NATO partner Lithuania that it will permanently station a combat-ready and autonomous combat unit there. This brigade is scheduled to be operational by 2027. In Lithuania, German soldiers would soon be standing "shoulder to shoulder with the Lithuanian armed forces, ready to defend the country," said Pistorius. A permanent presence of up to 5,000 soldiers is planned, with their permanent locations to be the small communities of Rudninkai and Rukla in Lithuania. The brigade's formation is a direct response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and reflects the changed security situation in Europe. In mid-September, Putin increased the number of troops in his armed forces for the third time since the start of the war. According to a presidential decree, the number of military personnel should be 2.38 million from December onwards, including 1.5 million soldiers. Only last December, Putin increased the target number of troops in the armed forces to 2.2 million, including 1.33 million soldiers. At the start of the Ukraine war, the number of soldiers in Russia was just over one million. Boris Pistorius (C), German Minister of Defense, speaks at the 25th anniversary of the NATO Command for North-Eastern Europe in Szczecin, Poland. Kay Nietfeld/dpa Boris Pistorius (L), German Minister of Defense, and Laurynas Kasciunas (C), Minister of Defense of Lithuania, sign a declaration of intent with other NATO partners in the pouring rain at the 25th anniversary of the NATO Command for North Eastern Europe in Szczecin, Poland. Kay Nietfeld/dpa The Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan) Montanas rural counties and tribal communities will receive a $2.5 million infusion to implement locally developed solutions to behavioral health needs, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Thursday in a news release. The investment was recommended by the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission, according to the news release. It represents the next allocation of $300 million the governor requested and Montana Legislature approved through House Bill 872 last year to improve Montanas behavioral health and developmental disabilities services systems. Each Montana community faces different challenges, and its critical we help address their specific needs to tackle the behavioral health crisis together, Gov. Gianforte said in a statement. This funding will provide tribes and rural counties with the resources they need to design and implement programs that work best for the Montanans they serve. The one-time, two-year grants of as much as $250,000 each will be awarded to up to 10 tribal communities and rural counties, said the news release. Tribes and counties can apply for grants that support a couple of different areas, or tracks. One, the System-Level Innovation track, is aimed at supporting collaboration at the local level to strengthen programs with the assistance of the Montana Public Health Institute. Another, the Local-based Community Health Workers track, allows tribes and counties to receive support incorporating county-based community health workers into existing behavioral health infrastructure, according to the news release. This model includes training, clinical supervision, and access to an extensive telehealth network of licensed professionals. This investment supports local innovation and community coordination while simultaneously maximizing the effectiveness of the behavioral health resources that currently exist within Montanas rural and tribal communities, Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton said in a statement. Montanans living in rural counties and tribal communities often have to travel long distances to access care, which can prevent them from receiving appropriate and timely support for their behavioral health needs, said the news release. Tribes and rural counties will be able to apply for funding later this fall on the DPHHS website. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been permanently disbarred from practicing law in the District of Columbia, a court of appeals panel ruled Thursday. According to the ruling, Giuliani's disbarment is a resort of reciprocal discipline resulting from his law license being stripped in New York state over his efforts aiding former President Donald Trump's bid to overturn the 2020 election. Giuliani's law license had already been suspended in D.C. MORE: DC Bar panel recommends Rudy Giuliani be disbarred over 2020 election efforts The appeals court panel noted that Giuliani declined to respond when given notice back in July that he could face reciprocal discipline. In a report issued in July, the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility recommended Giuliani be disbarred, saying that in his capacity as personal attorney to then-President Trump, he committed misconduct by his "frivolous and destructive" efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's win through his failed legal challenges to the election results in Pennsylvania. According to the report, the former New York City mayor violated two legal ethics rules in bringing the lawsuit, which sought to block the certification of votes in the state following Trump's defeat. PHOTO: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani attends the 9/11 Memorial ceremony on the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Sept. 11, 2024, in New York. (Adam Gray/AFP via Getty Images) The committee said that one of the rules was violated when he filed the lawsuit in Pennsylvania "when he had no factual basis and no legitimate legal grounds to do so." The other rule Giuliani violated was Pennsylvania's Rules of Professional Conduct, the report said. "He claimed massive election fraud but had no evidence of it," the committee wrote. Giuliani permanently disbarred from practicing law in District of Columbia originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Patterson Legal Group is a paid sponsor of FOX 43 AM Live and is responsible for this content. TOPEKA (KTMJ) In this weeks segment of Giving Back sponsored by Patterson Legal Group, we are proud to spotlight the VFW Post 1650. Members of the post join FOX 43 AM Lives Dane Kroll to discuss their work in the community. Watch the video above to get the full story. Why is there so much road work in Topeka this fall? For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Gonna kill this kid: N.H. mom pleads guilty to murder, texts reveal she deprived son before death A New Hampshire mother on Thursday pleaded guilty to murder in the 2021 death of her five-year-old son, Elijah Lewis. Danielle Dauphinais of Merrimack appeared in Hillsborough County Superior Court on Thursday morning, shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit. She pleaded guilty to second degree murder and two counts witness tampering in the death of her young son. Elijah was assaulted, starved, isolated, and neglected. He was tortured, a prosecutor said. The state said Elijah died between Sept. 21, 2021 and Sept. 24, 2021. The boy was found face down in the fetal position in a shallow hole at Ames Nowell State Park in Abington. According to prosecutors, had this case gone to trial, Dr. Richard Atkinson, who was at the burial site and conducted Elijahs autopsy, would have said, Elijah died as a result of violence and neglect including facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment, and pressure ulcers. I am sick to my stomach and I cant believe what I heard today. Thats not the person I knew, MJ Morrison, Elijahs aunt, said after Thursdays court hearing. Dauphinais was indicted by a grand jury on murder charges in connection with her sons death in April 2022. Dauphinais and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, were originally charged with witness tampering and child endangerment. Both remain in prison. Prosecutors said Thursday that the investigation into Elijahs whereabouts began after Dauphinais gave birth to a baby boy and Stapf dropped the child off at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. The Division of Children, Youth, and Families began questioning Dauphinais about where Elijah was. Prosecutors said she told them Elijah was gone and then said he was living with her sister Tracy in California. Her sister later told the social worker and investigators that Dauphinais asked her to lie and say Elijah was with her in California, but she refused. According to cell phone records, Dauphinais was confronted again by DCYF workers, at which point she told them she sent Elijah to her brothers house in Texas. Her brother, Bruce, told DCYF workers he had custody of Elijah since September, not knowing it was more than a wellness check, but couldnt provide any information on him like where he went to school. He was told to call them back but never did. DCYF then went to Merrimack Police to report Elijah as missing. Text messages between Dauphinais and Stapf revealed she was depriving the child of nourishment, prosecutors said in court. I gave him a small bowl of cereal so he would shut the **** up. But that wasnt enough. He said he wants food and wants me to stop starving him because its not nice, read one message. Im gonna kill this kid joe, ****ing screaming at the top of his lungs ****ing water, said another from Dauphinais to Stapf. Prosecutors outlined how and when the couple buried Elijah. Merrimack Police tracked the couples cell phones, finding that the pair traveled through Boston to Abington, 14 hours after investigators started asking questions. Prosecutors said Stapf buried Elijahs body and put a white birch tree over his grave. Then, the couple drove to Mohegan Sun, had a bite to eat, went to a country music concert and boarded a bus to New York City. The two were arrested at a subway station in the Bronx. Cristee Chasse went to the courthouse on Thursday wearing a shirt that read, Justice for Elijah. Absolutely disgusting, disgusting. And that could have been prevented. A lot of this, according to what happened today and what I heard, happened after the fact, that he went to the doctors and bruising was seen, said Chasse. Prosecutors also said that Elijah weighed 32 pounds at his last and only doctors visit with his mother, and weighed 19 pounds when his body was found in the state park. Im just hoping she gets the absolute maximum. Thats what Elijah deserves, added Morrison. Dauphinais is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 25. She could face between 58 years to life in prison. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW By Maha El Dahan, Olesya Astakhova and Alex Lawler DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) -The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies will go ahead with a planned oil production increase in December but first need to cut output to address overproduction by some members, two OPEC+ sources said on Thursday. The sources said the plan didn't represent any major change from existing policy after the Financial Times reported Saudi Arabia is committed to OPEC+ raising production on Dec. 1 and dropping its unofficial $100 a barrel oil price target to win back market share. OPEC and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly said they do not target a certain price and make decisions based on market fundamentals and in the interest of balancing supply and demand. The output increase in December is not about regaining market share, it is about a small number of countries phasing out their voluntary output cuts, one of the OPEC+ sources said. OPEC+, which groups OPEC members and allies such as Russia, is scheduled to raise output by 180,000 barrels per day in December. Iraq and Kazakhstan have pledged to cut 123,000 bpd in September to compensate for earlier pumping above agreed levels. "When the compensation plan and production figures from those countries becomes clear for September then that will allow the increment to come in as the impact of the increment will be negligible," one of the OPEC+ sources said, referring to the December increase. The Saudi government's communications office and OPEC's headquarters did not immediately return requests for comment. OPEC+ is currently cutting output by a total of 5.86 million bpd, equivalent to about 5.7% of global oil demand. Earlier this month, they delayed the plan to boost output after oil prices fell to a nine-month low. Global crude benchmark Brent was down about 2.5% to below $72 a barrel at 1420 GMT. A panel of top ministers from OPEC+ called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee is scheduled to meet on Oct. 2 to review the market and is not expected to make any changes to policy. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told Reuters on Thursday that there were no changes to OPEC+ plans to start phasing out oil production cuts from December. Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin said that Russia does not want to flood the market with oil when speaking about plans to raise country's output to 540 million tons from 2030. The cuts by Iraq and Kazakhstan are so-called compensation cuts that the countries have pledged to make up for earlier pumping above quotas. More such cuts are pledged in later months this year and into 2025. Story continues OPEC+ ministers could meet again in November, a third OPEC+ source said. (Reporting by Maha El Daha, Olesya Astakhova, Vladimir Soldatkin and Alex Lawler; Additional reporting by Yousef Saba, Editing by Dmitry Zhdannikov, Kirsten Donovan and Sharon Singleton) It's A Good Time To Revisit What Project 2025 Would Mean For Hurricane Forecasts Millions of Americans along the Gulf Coast and throughout the U.S. Southeast are turning to the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service for accurate information about Hurricane Helene ahead of its expected landfall late Thursday just as they have with tropical storms going back decades. But if pro-Donald Trump conservatives have their way, these lifesaving forecasts could come to a screeching halt next year. Project 2025 the sweeping policy blueprint that GOP operatives, including dozens of former Trump administration officials, compiled to guide a second Trump term calls for a future Republican administration to break up the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is the parent agency of the 154-year-old National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should be dismantled and many of its functions eliminated, sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control of states and territories, reads the 920-page manifesto. This GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken at 5:51 p.m. EDT, provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, Sept. 25. NOAA via Associated Press Experts warn that doing so would be a deadly mistake. The National Hurricane Center is the lead federal agency for forecasting and tracking tropical weather, which Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, said is critical to coordinating evacuations and emergency response. Its just one example of how dangerous, deadly, and disastrous Project 2025 would be if implemented, he told HuffPost. The Project 2025 authors primary beef with NOAA is that the agency is studying human-caused climate change a global threat that is supercharging hurricanes and other extreme weather and that Trump and his right-wing allies are hellbent on ignoring. NOAA and its six main divisions form a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future U.S. prosperity, Project 2025 reads. This industrys mission emphasis on prediction and management seems designed around the fatal conceit of planning for the unplannable. That is not to say NOAA is useless, but its current organization corrupts its useful functions. It should be broken up and downsized. As for NWS, Project 2025 wants to see its forecast operations fully commercialized and its data sold to private companies. The document argues that forecasts from private entities, namely AccuWeather, are more accurate than those of NWS. But as AccuWeathers chief executive Steven R. Smith told the Los Angeles Times in July, the private, for-profit company relies in part on NOAA data for its own forecasting and does not share Project 2025s vision for commercializing NWS operations. Nothing shows the social bankruptcy of Project 2025 more than lets privatize the weather service, Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. These hurricane center forecasts literally save lives is this something that only people able to afford the forecasts should get? NOAA is a bureau of the Department of Commerce. The chapter of Project 2025 that calls for dismantling NOAA was written by Thomas Gilman, a former automotive executive who served under Trump as chief financial officer of the Commerce Department. Helene is forecast to rapidly intensify over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico before slamming into Floridas Big Bend late Thursday evening as a major Category 3 hurricane or higher. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee is warning of catastrophic impacts across the region, including high winds, flash flooding, tornadoes and an unsurvivable storm surge of 15 to 20 feet in Apalachee Bay. This forecast is a nightmare surge scenario for Apalachee Bay, NWS Tallahasse wrote in an advisory early Thursday. Please take any evacuation orders seriously! Jose Gonzales and his son Jadin Gonzales, 14, fill sandbags in Clyattville, Georgia, ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) via Associated Press In an editorial on Wednesday, as Helene took aim at Florida, the Miami Herald condemned what Project 2025 would mean for accurate information during future hurricane seasons. In Florida, we live and die sometimes literally by what the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service, which are parts of NOAA, tell us, the papers editorial board wrote. Its hard to put into words how important the information from the NHC and NWS becomes as a storm heads toward us. We cling to the utterances of the weather pros during these times of high stress, as we huddle in our homes or debate whether to flee an on-coming storm. We want no, we need forecasts that are free of hype, a profit motive and the taint of politics. Along with unraveling the federal agencies that provide free, critical weather forecasting, Project 2025 would likely make it harder for communities to recover in the wake of hurricanes and other disasters. It calls for reforming FEMA emergency spending to shift the majority of preparedness and response costs to states and localities instead of the federal government, as well as increasing the threshold for states to secure disaster relief aid. In this Sept. 4, 2019, file photo, then-President Donald Trump holds up a Sharpie-altered forecast map for Hurricane Dorian. AP Photo/Evan Vucci While Trump has attempted to distance himself from Project 2025, claiming he has no idea who is behind it, a CNN review identified at least 140 people who worked in the Trump administration who played a role in its creation. Project 2025 envisions meddling with the nations premier weather and climate agencies in much the same way that then-President Trump did with an official forecast for Hurricane Dorian in 2019. After Trump used a Sharpie pen to alter a NOAA map for the storm, White House officials pressured NOAA to issue an unsigned statement denouncing a National Weather Service tweet that corrected his false claim that Dorian could strike Alabama. The Commerce Departments internal watchdog later concluded that the fiasco, which came to be known as Sharpiegate, risked public safety and threatened to undermine public trust in weather warnings. Project 2025 threatens to do the same. Related... Washington state GOP congressional candidate Joe Kent told supporters at a recent event that the Proud Boys the all-male, far-right, neo-fascist organization whose leaders were convicted for seditious conspiracy after trying to violently overthrow the U.S. government on Jan. 6, 2021 are really just a bunch of hooligans who scare progressive Democrats. During a Sept. 21 event marking the opening of a new Clark County GOP headquarters, an attendee asked Kent about ads being run by his opponent, Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, tying him to the Proud Boys. The attendee said she wasnt familiar with the group, but asked how Kent countered the accusation. Kent, a former special forces operator and foreign policy adviser in the Trump administration, scoffed at Gluesenkamp Perez for trying to make the Proud Boys scary-sounding. Look, the Proud Boys are the guys who went and fought antifa, Kent said, using a nickname for the anti-fascist, left-wing movement that confronts neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations. So, the left says theyre terror, I dont know, he continued. Its just, its a group to scare left-wing people. Its like saying antifa to a bunch of Republicans. So really, its a scare tactic. In fact, the Proud Boys are nothing like antifa and have been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a watchdog organization that highlights that the Proud Boys are known for their white nationalist memes and anti-Muslim and misogynist rhetoric. But the Proud Boys are perhaps best known for their central role in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attempt to stop the constitutionally mandated transfer of presidential power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the key role he played in orchestrating the attack on the U.S. Capitol that resulted in more than 140 police officers injured and several later dying by suicide. Other Proud Boys leaders, all of whom are Trump loyalists, were also found guilty of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to prison. A Kent campaign spokesperson did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment about why the Republican is downplaying the dangers of a violent, extremist, neo-fascist organization. Heres a video of the GOP congressional candidate making his latest remarks. Kents comments on the Proud Boys begin around the 42:28 mark. Kent, who unsuccessfully ran against Gluesenkamp Perez in 2022, has been tied to alleged Proud Boys and far-right extremists. In 2022, he took donations from Jan. 6 rioter Carlos Ayala, whom the FBI later arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges. He paid $11,375 to a consultant, Graham Jorgensen, who was identified as a Proud Boy in a 2018 law enforcement report. In 2021, one of Kents top campaign advisers, Matt Braynard, organized a rally in support of insurrectionists who had been arrested. Kent spoke at the rally, too. The Republican congressional hopeful is also a close affiliate of Joey Gibson, the founder of a Christian nationalist group, Patriot Prayer, that has coordinated with the Proud Boys to organize several demonstrations and violent rallies. Kent hasnt tried to hide his associations with extremist groups. In March 2022, he posted on social media that it was Great to see all the Patriots at GRIT rally in Olympia yesterday! GRIT, which stands for Government Resistance Impedes Tyranny, was a themed event hosted by the anti-government extremist group Washington State Three Percenters. Kents campaign also did not respond to a request for comment on whether he unequivocally condemns white nationalism and political violence. More recently, the GOP congressional hopeful made some curiously timed statements on social media about Ukraine that echo the propaganda being pushed out by pro-Putin outlets. Ukraine is out of men, so their only option is to get NATO involved. What happens when Russia kills French troops in Ukraine? Kent asked in one post in May, despite there being no French combat troops (or any troops from a NATO country) deployed to the region. His post came about an hour after the prospect of French troops in Ukraine was raised on another social media app by a pro-Kremlin feed. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates this congressional race a toss-up. Polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight only features one poll in this race so far, and it shows Gluesenkamp Perez leading by four points. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., arrives for the House Republican Conference caucus meeting in the U.S. Capitol on June 4. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., called Haiti the "nastiest country in the western hemisphere" in a post on social media Wednesday, saying migrants from the Caribbean country, the majority of whom are in the U.S. legally, should "get their ass out of our country." Higgins' rant on X which was deleted hours later came in response to an Associated Press story about a Haitian nonprofit group that filed a citizen criminal charge against former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance for their repeated baseless claims about migrants in Springfield, Ohio, including Trump's assertion at the presidential debate they were "eating the dogs" and "eating the cats." Higgins' post amplified the debunked pet claim, which was followed by dozens of bomb threats in the city. "Lol. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters but damned if they dont feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP," he said, referring to Republican presidential and vice presidential nominees Trump and Vance, respectively. "All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th," the post concluded. That would be the day Trump and Vance would be sworn into office if they win November's election. Subodh Chandra, the attorney representing the Haitian Bridge Alliance, the nonprofit group that filed the charges, said the post is not a dog-whistle but the trumpeting of a clear threat." He said that "in a functional House of Representatives under a responsible speaker who cares about integrity, this would be addressed swiftly by an Ethics Committee investigation and censure or expulsion. But this is a House majority that indulges antisemitism and racism, so well see if the Republican leadership does anything at all. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters that Higgins is a dear friend of mine and a colleague from Louisiana and a very frank and outspoken person. He said that he'd spoken to Higgins on the House floor about the post and that Higgins went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down. A spokesperson for Higgins did not respond to a request for comment on the post. Neither did a representative for the Trump campaign. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Higgins' comments vile, racist and beneath the dignity of the United States House of Representatives and said he must be held accountable for dishonorable conduct that is unbecoming of a Member of Congress. Rep. Steve Horsford, D-Nev., moved to censure Higgins on the House floor early Wednesday evening. "They are inciting hate. They are inciting fear," Horsford said. "It is time to end hate and the rhetoric of hate, and that it is not becoming on any member to continue to push this type of rhetoric on any platform, let alone from the House of Representatives," he added. Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Higgins' fellow Republican congressman from Louisiana, said, "The tweet has been deleted already and removed, but I object to the motion." The motion was found to be out of order. Horsford then re-introduced his resolution as privileged, which requires action within two legislative days. The House, however, just left town until after the election. That means he will need to introduce it again in November. Horsford told reporters afterward that he'd spoken to Higgins earlier and that Higgins had told him he would not remove the post. He didnt, in my view, show any remorse, didnt understand how his rhetoric is contributing to the feeling of people being harassed and threatened and feeling unsafe in their own communities, and that is why I asked him to remove the post, Horsford said. He actually told me, no, he would not, and then thats when we started the action on the floor. The vast majority of Haitians in Springfield are in the country legally after having been granted temporary protected status by the Department of Homeland Security. Trump and Vance have vowed to end that protection and immediately deport them if they are elected. If Kamala Harris waves the wand illegally and says these people are now here legally, Im still going to call them an 'illegal alien,' Vance told reporters at an event in North Carolina this month. Higgins is a staunch Trump ally who has become known for using heated rhetoric, including saying last year of special counsel Jack Smith, "Ill just say that his days are numbered and American patriots are not gonna stand idly by, good sir, and allow our republic to dissolve." After a 2017 terrorist attack in London, Higgins said anyone even suspected of being an Islamic terrorist should be killed. Not a single radicalized Islamic suspect should be granted any measure of quarter, he wrote on Facebook. Their intended entry to the American homeland should be summarily denied. Every conceivable measure should be engaged to hunt them down. Hunt them, identify them, and kill them. Kill them all. He also made headlines last year for physically removing an activist from an outdoor news conference on Capitol Hill. He said in a post on Twitter afterward that the activist became very disruptive and threatening, in violation of the law, and had aggressively disrupted Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and approached her in a threatening manner. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A key Pennsylvania swing county just a few miles southwest of President Biden's birthplace has swung to the Republicans' favor in voter registration figures, a county party district officer confirmed to Fox News Digital. Luzerne County, home of the Democratic stronghold of Wilkes-Barre, and surrounded by working-class cities like Hazleton and Pittston, is now light red, with at least 83 more Republicans on the rolls than Democrats as of Thursday. "We'd all like to thank the Democrats and the Democratic platform because they're the ones that really inspired people to leave the party and become Republicans," Luzerne County GOP 119th District Chairman T.J. Fitzgerald said Thursday. "They get most of the credit, then, of course, the [GOP] grassroots and people themselves." Working Class Will Come Home To Harris, Rallygoers In Wilkes-barre Say Fitzgerald, who represents the Nanticoke, Sugar Notch and Plymouth areas in the county party structure, said it was a combined effort of the Luzerne County GOP, Early Vote Action leader Scott Presler and the Trump Force organization that drove new registrants to file with the clerk's office. Read On The Fox News App A Pennsylvania welcome sign greets drivers on U.S. 222 entering Peach Bottom, Pa., from Maryland in 2022. Fitzgerald claimed there are also several thousand voter registration forms yet to be processed by county officials in Wilkes-Barre. The trend would suggest somewhere around two-thirds could go to the Republicans, he said, citing information from a recent meeting he attended. Fitzgerald also leads the separate, grassroots group Luzerne County Republicans, adding the group's work is likely to make a difference in key races this fall. He cited contests between Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa., and David McCormick and Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., against Rob Bresnahan. "I think a lot of the state representatives are going to get the coattails of Donald Trump, and they're going to come in as well," he added. While Luzerne is home to former Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., neighboring Lackawanna County is better known for Democrats Joe Biden and Casey and his late father. Luzerne County Democratic Party Chairman Tom Shubilla reacted to the news by saying his focus is actually getting voters to the polls. "This is something [the Republicans] have been talking about for a while," he said. "We're making sure [voters] have returned their mail-in ballot or whether they could vote early so that's not really my primary focus. Pro-palestinian Protesters Taunt Harris Rallygoers As Veep Supporter Hits Back: What About Hamas' Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, listens as former President Trump speaks during a presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia Sept. 10, 2024. "I really don't think that's going to be a game changer one way or the other. What if they don't go?" Shubilla said Luzerne has been a "purple county" for a long time and that Pennsylvania likes to vote "split-ticket." "Is this something I wanted to see? No. But, at the end of the day, we are working hard to make sure our voters get to the polls. "Even though maybe the registration numbers aren't necessarily in our direction this time around, I have a feeling that we, at some point, we will overcome that number," he said. "Again, we're going to do amazing this election with Luzerne County." The county recently hosted Vice President Kamala Harris at Wilkes University, and Shubilla noted it was a "fun" event that attracted a large number of supporters. The former Central Scranton Expressway now the President Biden Expressway diverges from I-81 just north of the Lackawanna-Luzerne County line. "We got to see a lot of people get involved for the first time, or a very long time," he said, adding some of those supporters may not have been as active since 2008 when Barack Obama entered the political scene. In that regard, Luzerne County did vote for the Illinois Democrat before supporting Trump in both of his recent bids despite its Democratic majority in voter registration at the time. Before then, the last Republican to win the working-class county was George H.W. Bush, against Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988. Original article source: GOP gains voter advantage in Pennsylvania swing county near Biden's birthplace GOP Rep. Clay Higgins deletes post calling Haitian migrants thugs, telling them to get their a** out of our country House Democrats immediately tried to reprimand GOP Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana from the floor of the chamber on Wednesday over a since deleted social media post calling Haitian migrants thugs and slapstick gangsters who needed to get their a** out of our country. The chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada, called on the House Committee on Ethics to investigate what Higgins posted on X and pushed for the House to censure Higgins over his comments, a significant rebuke of a member of Congress. Higgins told CNN he did not regret his comments. But GOP Rep. Jay Obernolte of California, who was overseeing the floor for Republicans at the time, told Horsford the matter could not be pursued immediately given the House had finished voting for the month. Prior to his public comments, Horsford confronted Higgins on the floor and the two men had a heated exchange, according to sources who witnessed the interaction. Horsford told CNNs Anderson Cooper Wednesday night that he had asked Higgins to delete the post, to which Higgins replied that he would pray about it. Horsford said he told Higgins, If you refuse, I will take this to the floor. We will move for a resolution to censure you. Despite the backlash and ultimate decision to take down the post after he said he prayed on it, Higgins told CNN he stood by his demeaning comments. Its all true, Higgins said. I can put up another controversial post tomorrow if you want me to. I mean, we do have freedom of speech. Ill say what I want. Digging in, Higgins continued: Its not a big deal to me. Its like something stuck to the bottom of my boot. Just scrape it off and move on with my life. Horsford said on AC360 that he will follow through on the effort to censure Higgins over the post, which he called divisive, racially charged, hateful rhetoric. It is not about the next election. It is about everyday people in America feeling targeted. Today, its the Haitians. Who will it be tomorrow? Will it be you? Horsford added. Higgins is the latest Republican to repeat false claims about Haitian immigrants eating the pets of residents in Springfield, Ohio, led by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance. The Haitian immigrants Higgins was referring to are largely in the United States legally as part of a parole program that allows citizens and lawful residents to apply to have their family members from Haiti come to the United States. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN that Republicans should consider removing Higgins from the bipartisan task force investigating the assassination attempts against Trump in light of his comments about Haitian migrants. The statement by Congressmember Clay Higgins was disgusting and dangerous, Jeffries said. Its questionable as to why someone so irresponsible like Clay Higgins could be put on a serious task force that is investigating the work of the Secret Service. Perhaps thats something that House Republican leadership should re-evaluate, Jeffries added. Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland, who also serves as a member of the CBC, told CNN that Higgins comments were shocking. I was really taken aback, Ivey added. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson tried to claim that Higgins did regret his post. Look, he was approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive. He went to the back I just talked to him about it he said he went to the back, and he prayed about it and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down, Johnson said Wednesday. Thats what you want the gentleman to do. Im sure he probably regrets some of the language he used. But you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here. This story has been updated with additional details. CNNs Jack Forrest contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Gov. Greg Abbott visited Fort Worth Wednesday to celebrate the launch of the first dual enrollment adult high school in Texas. Traci Berry, the CEO of New Heights High School, gives Texas State Governor a tour of the campus prior to the grand opening ceremony of the New Heights Adult High School at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Campus in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. New Heights is the first dual enrollment adult high school in Texas. Abbott toured New Heights Adult High School located at 5901 Fitzhugh Ave. in the Stop 6 neighborhood. There is no more important category for Texas to be number one than adult education, especially for high school training jobs that will lead to a high paying job for these people who have before never received their high school degree, Abbott said. That is what Texas wants to be ranked number one for. Thomas Ford, an instructor at New Heights Adult High School, displays welding parts to Texas State Governor Greg Abbott during a campus tour prior to the grand opening ceremony of the New Heights Adult High School at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Campus in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. New Heights is the first dual enrollment adult high school in Texas. He was able to take a tour of the building, welding labs, and meet current New Heights students. In partnership with Tarrant County College, New Heights opened on Sept. 3 to allow adults 18 to 50 years old to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and certification in one of at least 10 career and technical programs. Traci Berry, the CEO of New Heights High School, speaks to the attendees gathered for the grand opening ceremony of the New Heights Adult High School at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Campus in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. New Heights is the first dual enrollment adult high school in Texas. Traci Berry is the CEO and superintendent of New Heights and was part of the schools inception in Fort Worth. She helped bring forth The Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School, the first free public high school in Austin, in 2014. In 2023, there was a successful push for adult high schools throughout the state. Berry helped write Senate Bill 2032, which moved public adult high schools to sustainable funding under the Foundation School Program administered by the Texas Education Agency. Elva LeBlanc, the Tarrant County College Chancellor, speaks to the attendees gathered for the grand opening ceremony of the New Heights Adult High School at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Campus in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. New Heights is the first dual enrollment adult high school in Texas. Elva LeBlanc, Tarrant County College chancellor, said this new partnership bring a new chapter in a community wide commitment to lift the living standard, empower the workforce and drive economic prosperity. There is nothing more important or exhilarating than providing Tarrant County residents the education and training they need to pursue their needs and their dreams, LeBlanc said. Partnering with New Heights High School delivers on our 60-year promise to educate learners at every stage of their career and of their life. According to the Census, 14% of Fort Worth residents live below the poverty rate compared to 13.9% statewide. In Fort Worth, 17% of residents do not have a high school diploma compared to 15% across Texas. People with GED certificates have lower monthly earnings, an average of $3,100, compared to those who earned a regular high school diploma, who earn an average of $4,700, regardless of sex, race and ethnicity or age, according to the Census Bureau. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, left, and Texas State Governor Greg Abbott share a laugh on stage for the grand opening ceremony of the New Heights Adult High School at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Campus in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. New Heights is the first dual enrollment adult high school in Texas. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said she is confident there will be schools similar New Heights Adult High across the state and hopes one more will end up in Fort Worth. This state has to focus on the students in our classrooms, in every single classroom, regardless if that kid is homeschooled or private school or charter school or traditional public it doesnt really matter, Parker said. Because eventually these students have to be a part of the workforce of tomorrow, and I have confidence that with places like New Heights, it will happen. Texas State Governor Greg Abbott arrives for the grand opening ceremony of the New Heights Adult High School at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Campus in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. New Heights is the first dual enrollment adult high school in Texas. Texas State Governor Greg Abbott takes a photo with students and faculty prior to the grand opening ceremony of the New Heights Adult High School at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Campus in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. New Heights is the first dual enrollment adult high school in Texas. Gov. Beshear seeks resignation of Kentucky sheriff charged in shooting death of judge Gov. Andy Beshear is seeking the resignation of a Kentucky sheriff charged with killing a local judge. Beshears office sent Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines a letter dated Sept. 25 asking him to submit his resignation by the end of the day Friday to the county judge-executive, Terry Adams, who would appoint a replacement. The letter said if Stines doesnt quit, Beshear will start the process of removing him. State law allows the governor to remove a peace officer for neglect of duty. Stines is charged with shooting Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins to death in Mullins office in the county courthouse on Sept. 19. Shawn Mickey Stines was being held in the Leslie County Detention Center in Hyden. Police have not released a motive but said there was a brief, personal argument between the two before Stines allegedly shot Mullins, 54. Stines surrendered immediately after the shooting and had been in jail since. The court record does not indicate a bond has been set for him. Stines incarceration has created questions about a potential delay in sending out property-tax bills. Kentucky sheriffs typically send those bills out around Oct. 1. Beshears office sent the letter to Stines at the Leslie County Jail, where he is being held. It was signed by S. Travis Mayo, Beshears general counsel. If Stines chooses not to resign, he has the right to contest the removal. Beshear would hear evidence and make the decision, according to the statute. Beshear said during a news conference Thursday that if Stines refuses to quit, the process of removing him could take up to six months. Beshear said he hopes Stines will resign. Every Kentucky county deserves an active and a working sheriff, Beshear said. Beshear said there is more than enough evidence to justify removing Stines from office, though he stressed that was not a comment on the criminal case against the sheriff. The standard for a criminal conviction would be different than the standard for removing Stines. Stines, 43, pleaded not guilty as his arraignment Wednesday. Gov. Cooper emphasizes flood danger in western North Carolina as Hurricane Helene projects to bring over 12 inches of rain Gov. Cooper emphasizes flood danger in western North Carolina as Hurricane Helene projects to bring over 12 inches of rain (WGHP) Governor Roy Cooper held a press conference alongside other emergency personnel ahead of Hurricane Helenes arrival on Thursday morning. Cooper spent much of the press conference emphasizing the danger the storm presents in the foothills and western North Carolina. Catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene possible in western North Carolina Helene will bring flood risks to central North Carolina and bring potentially catastrophic floods to the western portion of the state. Cooper says that Helene is threatening to bring over a foot of rain to parts of western North Carolina. Risks include landslides, flash flooding, damaging debris flows, slope failure and river flooding. When will Hurricane Helene reach North Carolina? The flooding could potentially expand into areas not in the storms path. Tropical-storm-force winds are a possibility in western North Carolina throughout Thursday and into Friday. There are currently already more than 14,000 people without power in the state. The strong winds threaten to cause more power outages as it could knock trees down on top of power lines. Speaking to the flood threat, Cooper requested that anyone who does not need to travel to stay off the road during the storm as flooded roads present a great danger to drivers, particularly in the foothills and mountains. Hurricane Helene strengthening, bringing tornado threats to North Carolina Cooper urges families to make evacuation plans if they live in an area that threatens to be flooded and to listen to any evacuation orders that may come in their area. Helene update According to the National Hurricane Centers 11 p.m. advisory, the storm passed through Florida at 24 mph. It has maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, making it a category 4 hurricane, according to the NHC. Helene is a very large hurricane with its hurricane-force winds expanding 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds expanding outward up to 345 miles. The winds will be able to penetrate inland across the Southeast and into the higher terrains of the southern Appalachians and in western North Carolina. The rainfall projections in the area of western North Carolina will likely result in catastrophic potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. satellite image of Hurricane Helene A satellite image of Hurricane Helene on September 26, 2024 (Image: NOAA) North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned residents on Thursday to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Helene, which is expected to bring heavy rains, flash flooding and power outages to the state. This is an unusually dangerous storm that threatens to bring heavy rain and potentially catastrophic flooding tonight and tomorrow for central and particularly western North Carolina, Cooper said. When tropical weather crosses into our mountains, it can be deadly. Three years ago, Tropical Storm Fred devastated mountain communities with severe flooding, and Hurricane Helene poses a similar threat, the governor said. Cooper noted that the recent coastal storm that dumped more than 20 inches of rain on parts of southeastern North Carolina serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of severe weather. We have to be clear: heavy rains and winds are coming, beware and prepare. Travel will be dangerous, Cooper said, adding that the state is preparing for the unexpected. The governor activated 175 soldiers and airmen from the North Carolina National Guard to assist in the response and rescue efforts. Emergency management officials have also deployed swift water rescue teams and urban search and rescue teams to help affected areas. Governor Roy Cooper warns of Hurricane Helene's impact on North Carolina. (Screengrab from video stream) Our thoughts are with our friends in Florida and other southern states that are being hit first, and our priority here is to protect lives and manage the impact of the storm on our communities here in our state, as it arrives, Cooper said. Helene is forecast to bring over a foot of rain to parts of western North Carolina, which could lead to significant flash flooding, landslides and river flooding. The governor urged residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate if necessary and avoid travel, especially in the foothills and mountains. If you are told to evacuate, get out of the danger zone. Make a plan now to stay with friends or family if you are in an area that could likely be flooded, Cooper said. The state has already experienced power outages affecting around 14,000 customers, primarily in the western regions and that number is expected to rise, said the North Carolina Emergency Management Director William Ray. Ray said FEMA has approved North Carolinas request for federal assistance in response to the hurricane. President Joe Biden formally approved the emergency declaration Thursday morning. A FEMA team is now assisting the states emergency operations. There are currently 18 local states of emergency declared, with more expected. Three shelters are open in western North Carolina, and the state is preparing to open more as needed, according to Ray. Please do not drive through water and respect the barricades and road closures for those that are in flood prone areas, Ray said. Make sure youre informed that you have a plan of action to quickly evacuate if necessary, and that youre receiving information from reliable source. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) Ron DeSantis gave an update in Tallahassee as Hurricane Helene makes its way toward Florida. DeSantis was joined by Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, Major General John Haas, and Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze. DeSantis said the storm is expected to make landfall around 11 p.m. as a major hurricane. All areas on the coast along the Big Bend region of Florida are under mandatory evacuations, according to the governor. You still have time to do that now, DeSantis stressed. The Florida governor also said to avoid getting on the road once conditions worsen. Dont try to drive in your car through the flooded streets, DeSantis said. Youre going to end up stalling out and getting stuck. Earlier Thursday morning, DeSantis provided an update on Hurricane Helene ahead of the storms landfall. He warned of debris and damage as the storm passes, especially in Tallahassee, saying to anticipate a need for serious debris removal. Hurricane Helene 8 a.m. update: Helene now Category 2 Hurricane Overnight, the state had 14 different tornado warnings and urged residents to continue their last-minute preparations. DeSantis also warned residents to stay away from where trees could fall, even when in their homes, and to stay away from live wires in standing water. Dont put yourself at risk, DeSantis said. DeSantis spoke from Tallahassee at the State Emergency Operations Center and was joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, and Major General John Haas. You do have time to evacuate, but that time is now, Guthrie said. Guthrie said residents dont need to go far, but they should head more inland to a safer area. He also urged residents to stay indoors until it is safe since the eye of the storm may pass and does not indicate that the storm is over. Stay in place, do not move, Guthrie added. Tampa Bay could see record-level water levels, storm surge from Hurricane Helene After the storm, several hundred officials will be deployed to help with recovery efforts. There will be 30,000 linemen staged. On Thursday morning, Hurricane Helene became a Category 2 hurricane and is forecasted to bring catastrophic storm surge and wind to parts of Florida, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 in Floridas Big Bend Region on Thursday night. In an 8 a.m. update, the storm has maximum sustained winds at 100 mph and is moving north at 12mph. WFLA live streamed the press conference, which can be viewed in the video player above. ARE YOU PREPARED? Download this years Max Defender 8 Hurricane Guide Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Italian apparel brand OVS is extending its partnership with Swiss product traceability firm Haelixa. For a second year, OVS will use Haelixas DNA marking technology to trace cotton grown in Italy. More from Sourcing Journal The partnership is a key part of OVS Cotone Italiano, the retailers mission to support domestic cotton cultivation. OVS is sourcing long-staple cotton with high resistance from Palermo, Sicily. Haelixas patented marker is applied to the cotton at the gin close to the farm to record the fingerprint of the raw material. The fibers are tested during the entire manufacturing process, ensuring that the cotton used in this OVS collection is ethically and sustainably sourced. OVS introduced a collection of T-shirts made with the cotton last April. Simone Colombo, OVS head of corporate sustainability, said the companys goal is to source 5 percent of its cotton requirements from Italian farmers within a few years. By partnering with Haelixa, OVS is meeting the demand and setting a new standard for cotton in Italy. The alliance benefits customers and the farmers in Italy, giving them fair recognition for their work. In tracing the journey of the Italian-grown cotton, we are supporting OVS in bringing full transparency to their supply chain, said Patrick Strumpf, Haelixa CEO. The marking increases brand trust and enables OVS to make sustainable product claims. OVS is working towards improving its products social and environmental impacts. Since 2019, 100 percent of its denim is made without potassium permanganate. Instead, OVS uses treatments that are safe for workers, such as laser technology or biodegradable enzymes, to create the aged denim effect. Last year the brand partnered with The Godfather of Denim Adriano Goldschmied to design an elevated denim collection with sustainable technologies. The most significant innovation was the introduction of Blue Infinity, Pakistani mill company Crescent Bahumans dye process that allows up to 62 percent water savings compared to conventional dyeing methods using indigo as well as a significant reduction in energy use and CO 2 emissions. Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected a bill to more closely monitor the states spending on homelessness programs and their outcomes. AB 2093 was authored by Assembly member Josh Hoover, R-Folsom, following a state audit that found the state lacked the data to determine whether the billions spent on homelessness in recent years have been cost-effective. While I fully support efforts to increase accountability and the effectiveness of our state homelessness programs, similar measures are already in place, Newsom wrote in a veto message. He cited budget laws approved earlier this year to require regular reports on the states two largest homelessness grant programs: the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program, or HHAP a pot of roughly $1 billion doled out to local governments to spend as needed and an encampment resolution program. These reports will be made publicly available by Cal ICH, Newsom wrote. He said another bill he recently signed addresses the same objectives as this bill in a more targeted and cost-effective manner. More than 181,000 people in California are homeless on any given night, according to the latest figures. The vast majority, nearly 80%, are unsheltered, sleeping in vehicles, parks and on the street. Despite spending $24 billion on various homelessness programs over the past five years, the problem has continued to worsen in California. Homelessness increased by 6% this year from the year before, driven mostly by the states high cost of housing. An audit released in April found the state did not collect enough data for several programs meant to serve the states homeless including rental assistance and local government grants to determine whether they were effective. Hoovers bill would have implemented recommendations from the audit to require more data collection and reporting. It passed both chambers of the legislature this year without a single vote against it. In a statement to The Bee, Hoover said Newsom rejected the recommendations of the State Auditor and vetoed legislation that received unanimous support in the Legislature. The Folsom Republican said Californians deserve transparency and accountability in how their tax dollars are spent, especially on such a critical issue. Our state has spent billions of taxpayer dollars in recent years only to see homelessness get worse. We will not solve this crisis and get people the help they need until we get serious about accountability, he said. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams is in uncharted waters after he was indicted on federal charges, sources told PIX11 News. Several outcomes lie ahead for the embattled mayor. But could he be removed from office? More Local News Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. New Yorkers cannot recall the mayor, nor is he legally required to resign. Hochul could suspend the mayor for 30 days. If Adams is hit with criminal charges, which is expected with the unsealing of a federal indictment, Hochul can remove him from office. A trial and conviction is not required for Hochul to remove Adams. Hochuls office released a statement, saying, Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement. The indictment has prompted calls for Adams to resign. Adams has called for an immediate trial, promising to fight against the indictment. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers I would be a target and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said in a video responding to the indictment. Its not confirmed what charges hes expected to face. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. TOPEKA (KSNT) Governor Laura Kelly is honoring more than 6,500 fallen Kansas service members and their families at the third annual Kansas Gold Star Remembrance and Recognition Ceremony at the Statehouse on Thursday. The Kansas Gold Star Remembrance and Recognition Ceremony was first held after the signing of Senate Bill 330 in 2022. The signing established the Kansas Gold Star Families Memorial on the Statehouse grounds. For our Gold Star Families, there are no words or gestures that can ease the pain of such a loss or fill the void left in their homes and in their hearts, Kelly said. That will never go away. Gold Star Mothers and Familys Day is an important reminder that the cost of freedom is enormous and enduring, even long after the battles to protect it have ended. (Photo Courtesy/Office of the Governor) (Photo Courtesy/Office of the Governor) (Photo Courtesy/Office of the Governor) Guests were invited to lay flowers to honor lost family members and service members. Following remarks from Kelly, she laid a wreath to honor those who have been lost. What is legal window tint in Kansas? Today is a special day to honor the memory of Kansas service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Its also a time to express our ongoing support for the Kansas families who have lost their loved ones, said Brig. Gen. Bill Turner, director of the Kansas Office of Veterans Services. I want to thank our federal and state partners, veteran service organizations, the military department survivor outreach coordinators, and fellow Kansans for joining us for this important ceremony. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Nebraska State Capitol (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Gov. Jim Pillen promoted three state employees Thursday to oversee the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services and Department of Environment and Energy. Pillen announced that Lee Will, current state budget administrator, will now oversee the Administrative Services Department. The department in part manages the budgets of various state agencies and oversees state employees. Effective Saturday, Will will also serve as chief operating officer for the department. In Wills place, Neil Sullivan will step up to fill the role as state budget administrator. Wills salary will be $205,000. Sullivans will be $155,000, according to the Governors Office. Pillen also announced Thursday that Kara Valentine will join his cabinet as the interim director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, beginning Monday. Valentine has been a deputy director for the past eight years. Will has been with Nebraska government since 2015 as a budget management analyst and deputy budget administrator. In 2020, he was appointed state budget administrator. Pillen in a statement described Will as an exemplary leader for the states budget processes, to the benefit of all Nebraskans, and he said he is excited for what Will brings to his new role. Will has worked closely with Pillen on property tax relief proposals that took various forms over the year and helped to implement efficiency savings via an out-of-state analysis. Lee has worked closely with state agencies and our legislative partners to provide sound forecasting and budget advice, Pillen said. At DAS, he will be able to implement additional spending reductions through direct oversight of the states procurement, facilities and vehicle fleet operations. Pillen announced earlier this month that Director Jason Jackson, who has led the department since 2018, would step down from his post effective Friday. Jackson had also served as the states chief human resources officer since 2016. Will is not formally titled the chief HR officer, a spokesperson said, but he will oversee the states personnel division. Sullivan has been with Nebraska government since 2014 and has followed the same path as Will, working as a budget management analyst and then deputy state administrator in 2020. Sullivan previously was business manager at the Grand Island Veterans Home. Valentine came to Nebraska from Missouri, where she was an environmental attorney with the Missouri Attorney Generals Office and general counsel for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. She replaces acting director Thad Fineran, who was recently promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army and is leaving Nebraska for an out-of-state post. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CHICOPEE (WWLP) Congress has avoided a government shutdown after the Senate passed a funding bill Wednesday night. Do Healey-Harris connections help Massachusetts get federal funding? The Senate passed the measure with a vote of 78 to 18, and all opposing votes were Republicans. It comes just hours after lawmakers passed the measure, which funds the government at current levels through December 20. The legislation includes $231 million additionally for the Secret Service to protect presidential candidates but does not include a proposal that would require Americans nationwide to show proof of citizenship to register to vote. Speaker Mike Johnson spoke on Congress passing the bill and assured there will be no omnibus spending package in December that wraps all spending bills into one. We worked very hard to break that tradition, as you know we broke it into mini-buses the last time, weve got to build back muscle memory to run Congress the way its supposed to run and the Republicans are committed to doing that, said Johnson. President Biden also spoke out on the bill, thanking lawmakers for keeping the government open. He vowed that his administration would work to make sure funding is passed for national defense, veterans, and American families. The bill will now go to President Biden to be signed into law. Both chambers are set to adjourn this week and will not return to Washington until after the November 5th election. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys trip to Pennsylvania, where he appeared with Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) in what many Republicans saw as a political event. Graham told reporters at the Capitol that what happened in Pennsylvania was a mistake. Graham said he didnt know who set the meeting up and that Zelenskys visit to a munitions factory to thank workers makes sense. But the political overtones of the trip, Graham suggested, should have been avoided. Whether it was intended or not, [it] has a political perception, and that was a mistake, Graham said. But Graham also said that error should be stripped from the long-term goals of ensuring Ukraine is successful in its battle with Russia. Now heres what my view is: Its not about this moment, its about the long-term outcome, he said. It is in our interest as Americans to make sure that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin does not succeed dismembering Ukraine, because that will unleash China to tie Taiwan, and I think Putin will continue to go. Its very important that I think President Zelensky make his case to President Biden today to change the military strategy, or Ukraine will be doomed, in my view, to failure. Zelensky is in Washington to meet with members of Congress, as well as Biden and Vice President Harris. The Ukrainian leaders visit to Pennsylvania with Shapiro, a finalist to be Harriss running mate, and other Democrats sparked criticism from a host of Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.). Johnson has demanded that Zelensky fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., and Comer has started an inquiry into the Ukrainian presidents visit to Pennsylvania. The facility was in a politically contested battleground state, was led by a top political surrogate for Kamala Harris, and failed to include a single Republican because on purpose no Republicans were invited. The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference, Johnson wrote Wednesday to Zelensky. Zelensky had a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators on Thursday, in which he told the lawmakers that he could bring Russia to the negotiating table in the upcoming year if the Biden administration picks up the pace on shipments of weapons to Ukraine and greenlights missile strikes farther into Russia. President Zelensky says he wants to end this war through negotiations, Graham said at the Capitol on Thursday. The only way [youre gonna] get Russia to the table, is hit them harder than were hitting them today. His number one request was to have more permissive use of long-range missiles to hit legitimate military targets. He believes if he could shut down those Russian air bases and missile bases that are attacking his country, that would give him leverage to get [Putin] to the table. I believe that, too. In response to Grahams comments about long-range missile usage, a U.S. official told The Hill the weapons, in the Ukraine-Russia wars case, are believed to be not largely effective. The official cited reasons for that belief, including the munition not being able to reach targets and an issue with stock. The Hill has reached out to Shapiros office and the White House. Updated at 4:28 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. This new food pantry opened on Long Island in September 2024. Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images All major supermarkets and retailers that sell groceries, such as Kroger, Walmart and Costco, give large amounts of food to food banks and pantries. In 2022, retailers donated close to 2 billion pounds of food across the United States, which amounted to US$3.5 billion that year. The estimated value of donated food was a little less than $2 per pound in 2022. Retailers donate products that are typically packaged, palatable and safe for consumption, yet unsuitable for sale due to quality concerns, such as minor blemishes. Since these items can go a long way to feeding hungry people, donations represent one of the best uses of leftover or surplus food. Donations are also technically acts of charity, and the companies responsible for them get tax breaks. This means that donations boost profits by lowering costs. Theres a second effect of donations on a stores bottom line: They improve the quality of food on the stores shelves and increase revenue from food sales. As a supply chain scholar who studies food banks, I worked with a team of economists to estimate the effects of retail food donations. We used sales data for five perishable food categories sold by two competing retail chains, with stores located in a large, Midwestern metropolitan area. We found that stores that remove items on the brink of expiration, donate them to food banks and fill up the emptied shelf space with fresher inventory get more revenue from sales and earn higher profits. Retailers donate 30% of what food banks give their clients U.S. food banks, which have been operating for more than 50 years, give away over 6 billion pounds of food annually. They get about 30% of that food for free from supermarkets and big-box retailers that sell groceries. Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers supplied more than twice as much food to food banks than the federal government did. The volume of food supplied by federal programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program, have steadily increased since 2020, to now almost match the volume of food donated by retailers. In 2022, for example, the network of more than 200 Feeding America member food banks procured about 2 billion pounds from retailers and almost 1.5 billion pounds from government programs. The remaining 2.88 billion pounds of food were either purchased directly, provided by farmers, donated by food processing companies or donated by people and organizations in local communities. Despite several federal programs that help low-income people get food and the nations robust network of food banks and food pantries, nearly 50 million Americans are experiencing food insecurity. That means they cant get enough nutritious food to eat at least some of the time. Story continues Retail donation routines are established but inconsistent When food on a stores shelves is on the verge of expiration, store managers have three options. They can donate or discard it, or sell it at a discount. Stores that regularly donate food have established routines for when they set aside about-to-expire food to give away. However, these routines are often inconsistent. Many stores donate only on a seasonal basis or just give away certain kinds of food. For example, they might donate only meat, baked goods or fruits and vegetables. In many cases, donations take a backseat to more immediate priorities, such as customer service. Those realities can increase the likelihood that food will land at the dump instead of on somebodys table. Although millions of Americans struggle to find their next meal, close to 40% of food gets thrown out along the supply chain, as food moves between agricultural producers, factories, retailers and consumers. This is largely due to logistical challenges: Its hard to transport and distribute highly perishable food. Discounted meat is displayed at a San Rafael, Calif., grocery store in September 2024. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Discounts on food can undercut sales Stores often prefer to sell food on the brink of expiration at a discount rather than donate it or throw it out due to the money they recoup that way. This option, however, also keeps the discounted food on the shelf, where it takes up valuable space that could otherwise hold fresher inventory. Shelf space dedicated to the sale and promotion of full-priced products competes with that for price-discounted food. Stocking perishable foods that are starting to look iffy such as bananas with brown spots sold alongside unblemished yellow bananas could harm a retailers image if shoppers start to question the stores quality. In other words, if consumers make judgments based on all the produce thats on display, then it may be better for stores if they dont sell sad-looking bananas and instead just give them away. My research team calls this practice preemptive removal. Increasing the average quality level of food on display does more than improve a stores appearance. We used panel data with over 20,000 observations, and we included 21 retail stores that compete in a similar market geography. The five fresh food categories were bakery, dairy, deli, meat and produce. Stores that donated food, instead of discounting it, may have made better use of the limited room to display fresher inventory. My research team found that food donations can increase average food prices by up to 1%, which corresponds to a 33% increase in profit margins. Profit margins for supermarkets and other food retailers are quite low and typically hover below 3%. That means even a small increment in food prices, even a 1% bump up, can translate into significantly higher profits for retailers. At the same time, increasing the volume of retail food donations would get more food to people who need it, limit hunger and reduce food insecurity. Prof Lowrey has consulted with several Feeding America member Food Banks on procurement and food-distribution-related supply chain projects. He has also served on an advisory board to the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, focused on supply chain responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the emergency feeding network. His research has been funded by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (National Institute for Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture). The tense back and forth over recent actions of the State Election Board in Georgia is intensifying with another lawsuit, this time aimed at the governors office. State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes joined former Fulton County Board of Elections Chair Cathy Woolard and former state Representative Randal Mangham at the Georgia State Capitol to announce plans for a lawsuit against Gov. Brian Kemp for what they say is a lack of action to rein in the state board. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The three politicians accused the governor of abdicating his responsibility by not investigating ethics complaints against the board over its actions in recent months. Among the issues highlighted by state Sen. Islam Parkes and the rest of the group, a meeting in July said to have violated Georgias Open Meetings laws and a series of decisions they say are politically and partisanly motivated which needed to be the focus of an official investigation by the governor. TRENDING STORIES: Under Georgia law, the governor is required to investigate ethics complaints against the State Election Board. But Kemp has engaged in delay tactics and refused to take action, hiding behind an opinion from the Georgia Attorney General that states the governor is not required to act because the ethics complaints filed were not formal however, no definition of a formal complaint exists under Georgia law. This all comes 42 days out from Election Day and with early voting set to begin on Oct. 15, Islam Parkes and her fellow complainants said in a statement. The group said the latest legal action builds upon previous steps, including an ethics complaint the state senator filed against three members of the State Election Board, Janelle King, Janice Johnston and Rick Jeffares. In response to questions about the legal action from Channel 2 Action News, a representative for the governors office said they have not yet been served. However, the spokesman continued that while it isnt their offices practice to comment on pending or active litigation, they said Per the standard stated in the Attorney Generals opinion, there have been no formal charges filed that would trigger the governors statutory authority to take act on these matters. As he has done in the past, the governor will follow the laws and constitution of our state. Additionally, the governors office directed Channel 2 Action News to a recent opinion from the Georgia Attorney Generals Office regarding investigative authority in regard to the ethics allegations. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Two-thirds of registered voters say that the increasing number of people of different races, ethnic groups and nationalities in the United States serves to enrich the nations culture, the latest CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds. But a rising minority, centered largely within the Republican Party, say they see it as more of a cultural threat. Openness or hostility to rising diversity serves as a clear dividing line between voters supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election and those backing former President Donald Trump. A 56% majority of Trump supporters say that growing diversity is threatening American culture, while just 10% of Harris backers say the same. The findings come amid the Trump campaigns repeated political attacks on immigrants to the US, including those legally in the country. Trump used his first debate against Harris to amplify baseless claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, that have since been disavowed by other GOP politicians. Those claims were earlier elevated by his running mate JD Vance, who has said he would continue to refer to those Haitian immigrants as illegal aliens, even though most have entered the United States legally. The Harris campaign has also tried to make a case on immigration, with the vice president, who plans to visit the US-Mexico border on Friday while in Arizona, attacking Trumps call for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. The latest CNN poll also finds that a 54% majority of registered voters including 80% of Trump supporters and 26% of Harris supporters say that the federal government does too much for immigrants who come to the United States, with about a quarter saying that the government isnt doing enough. Roughly 4 in 10 Harris supporters say the US should do more for immigrants, with just 9% of Trump backers saying the same. But views of increasing racial and ethnic diversity as a cultural threat are not universal across Trumps supporters. They are particularly prevalent among the former presidents strongest backers, and less widespread among the youngest voters supporting him. Among registered voters who say they are voting for Trump mostly to oppose Harris, 44% 44% call a diversifying America threatening, compared with 61% among those who say theyre voting mostly to show support for the former president. And 45% of Trump backers younger than 35 call it a threat, compared with 59% of those 35 and older. Overall, the poll finds a notable shift in the GOPs outlook on the nations increasing diversity since before Trump won the presidency in 2016. In the latest poll, 53% of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say they consider growing diversity a cultural threat. While that number has fluctuated over the past eight years, its the first time over that period that a majority of Republican-aligned voters have taken that position. In the summer of 2016, as Trump clinched the GOP presidential nomination, it was 39%; that dipped to 20% in 2019 before rising to 40% last spring amid the run-up to the 2024 Republican presidential primary. By contrast, theres been relatively less movement among Democratic-aligned voters: In the latest survey, 86% say rising diversity enriches American culture, down from the near-universal 94% who said so in 2019 but similar to the 82% who said the same in 2016. (The 2023 survey focused solely on Republican-aligned adults.) Among likely voters in this years election, Harris leads Trump by a 15-point margin, 48% to 33%, on trust to handle racial inequality in the US, while Trump has a 14-point advantage, 49% to 35%, on trust to handle immigration. Likely voters backing Trump overwhelmingly say they trust him to handle immigration 95% say hed do a better job of handling the issue, including 92% of Trump supporters who say increasing diversity is enriching the culture. His backers are somewhat less universally behind him on handling racial inequality, with only about two-thirds saying hed do a better job handling it. Among those Trump supporters who see diversity as a benefit to American culture, that ticks further down to 58%, with 10% saying they put more trust in Harris and 32% that they trust neither candidate on the issue. The CNN Poll was conducted by SSRS online and by telephone September 19-22, 2024, among 2,074 registered voters nationwide drawn from a probability-based panel. Likely voters include all registered voters in the poll weighted for their predicted likelihood of voting in this years election. Results for the full sample of registered voters have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.0 percentage points. It is the same among likely voters and larger for subgroups. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Gulf County officials have ordered a mandatory evacuation for the Indian Pass, Cape San Blas, Simmons Bayou, Oak Grove Areas, Highland View, Wind Mark, St. Joe Beach, Beacon Hill, and Port St. Joe from the bay to Garrison Avenue as well as all RV parks south of the Intracoastal waterway. These low-lying areas are the most prone to flooding, and Hurricane Helene is definitely going to be a water event. Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison says they are doing everything they can to keep people in the community safe, and to make sure those who need to get out have a safe passageway. School closures for Panhandle counties Weve got a concern for a very vulnerable part of the county there at Cape San Blas that was called the stump hole. Weve been in contact with Florida Highway Patrol, weve talked to their colonel, talked with the commissioner of FDLE this morning, and talking to our local folks with FHP, making sure we get the extra resources in here if needed. Said Harrison. Gulf County Florida Emergency Management is anticipating power outages. Theyre warning those who rely on electricity or refrigeration for medical needs to consider evacuating even if they are not under a mandatory evacuation order. Members of the Cape San Blas community are securing their boats and homes, and emphasizing the importance of taking this storm seriously. Employees at Scallop Cove general store say theyve been incredibly busy helping residents and tourists get gas and other necessities. The vast majority seem to be evacuating. Sen. Rick Scott speaks in Bay County Be safe, be prudent. You know, dont ever underestimate Mother Nature. The tide obviously can come in very good. The storm surge, the high winds. Things can be picked up and used as projectiles so dont wait too late. Get going and be safe, Scallop Cove Employee Robert Johnston said. The Honeyville Community Center opens at 8:00 a.m. Thursday as a Last resort general population shelter, accommodations will be minimal. Evacuees must bring their own food, water, bedding, and other necessities. The center will not be allowing pets and encourages parents to bring activities to entertain children. The shelter will operate for 72 hours and will close on Saturday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) continues to rack up new contracts. The latest is a deal with the U.S. government to bring artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to the various military branches through its Maven Smart System. The contract will pay Palantir up to $99.8 million over the next five years. With the company announcing several new contract wins, many investors are wondering if these contract awards will be enough to fuel the growth needed to justify the company's high valuation. Let's see if an answer presents itself. Valuation versus growth Palantir established itself as a top data analytics and AI tech company that helps the government in some of its most important mission-critical tasks. Its services have been used to fight terrorism and track COVID-19 cases during the pandemic. More recently, it has seen a lot of growth in the private sector as customers adopt its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) to address their various use cases. Palantir's success in the private sector extends across industries. Its recent contracts include work for the health system Nebraska Medicine and energy giant BP. The company is getting a lot of traction with commercial customers for its AI platform, with its commercial segment seeing 33% year-over-year revenue growth in the second quarter to $307 million. Its overall government segment had shown signs of slowing in the past, growing only 14% in 2023. But it is picking up this year, with 16% growth in Q1 accelerating to 23% year-over-year growth in Q2 to reach $371 million for the quarter. Its U.S. government segment growth, meanwhile, went from just 12% year over year in Q1 to 24% in Q2. Overall, Palantir reports solid growth that is accelerating, with Q2's overall revenue growth hitting 27% to $678 million. When it comes to the stock, the company's revenue growth still doesn't quite justify its current valuation. Its forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio sits at 25 times analysts' 2025 consensus revenue estimates. PLTR PS Ratio (Forward 1y) Chart That is the type of valuation that is typically reserved for hyper-growth stocks that expect 50% or more revenue growth over the next few years. Palantir needs to see its growth continue to accelerate if it wants to justify the stock's current valuation. A deal like the one it just signed with the military for its Maven Smart System will add about $20 million a year in revenue. The company has forecast revenue of between $2.742 billion and $2.750 billion this year, so $20 million isn't moving the needle too much, adding about 0.7 percentage points of growth. Story continues This is a large deal, but the company will need a lot more big U.S. government contracts to really help accelerate growth. One way it could do this is by teaming up with Microsoft, as it will now be able to deploy its offerings through Microsoft's government cloud, including Microsoft Azure Government, Azure Government Secret, and Azure Top Secret cloud. The government isn't known to make the quickest decisions, and Palantir is hoping this partnership will help it speed up deployments with the U.S. government, especially with AIP. On the commercial side, the company will continue to look to grow its customer base through its use of boot camps, which show customers how AIP can be applied to potential use cases while providing onboarding and training. The company has been winning many customers for prototype work with this go-to-market strategy, which it then has been moving to production. This transition from prototype to production is where Palantir sees its biggest opportunity, and the company has been doing a great job of growing business with existing commercial customers as a result. Image source: Getty Images. Valuation still matters The problem, though, still comes down to valuation. If Palantir were able to grow revenue by 30% in each of the next three years (a rate higher than its current revenue growth), it would result in $6 billion in revenue in 2027. That revenue total would result in a forward P/S multiple of about 14 using the current stock price. With 30% revenue growth, that 14 P/S could be justified and would be similar to a company like CrowdStrike. However, it would also mean that Palantir's stock traded flat over the next two years. It is also asking a lot to see the company generate 30%-a-year revenue growth over the next three years when it generated 24% revenue growth in 2022, 17% revenue growth in 2023, and 24% through the first six months of this year. While Palantir has the makings of being a great company, valuation does still matter, and Palantir's valuation is just too high to justify buying right now. Should you invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Palantir Technologies wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $740,704!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of September 23, 2024 Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends BP, CrowdStrike, Microsoft, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Palantir Just Won Another Large Contract. Is It Enough to Make the Stock a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool WARSAW, N.C. (WNCT) Officials with Duplin County Schools confirmed a child brought a gun to Warsaw Elementary School Tuesday. They said it happened by accident and no shots were fired and no one was injured. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, a first grade student accidentally picked up his fathers bookbag, thinking it was his school bag, Warsaw Elementary School Principal Pamela Murray said. The father came to the school immediately when he realized that his child had the wrong bag. The contents of the fathers bag contained his personal belongings and the fathers legal firearm. Murray went on to say Upon his arrival, the father shared this information with the school. The bookbag was retrieved and given to the SRO. The SRO contacted the Duplin County Sheriffs Office and it was determined that at no time did the first grader intend to possess a firearm on campus, harm anyone, or pose a threat to the school. Based on these circumstances, there have been no charges filed at this time. Murray said they thank the childs parent for being diligent and cooperative during this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. GUNNISON, Colo. (KREX) A Gunnison police officer was arrested Wednesday night on suspicions of incest, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The arrest comes after a three-week CBI investigation into an allegation that officer Daniel Huff, 41, sexually assaulted an adult female. The Seventh Judicial District Attorneys Office launched an investigation into Huff after he was reportedly involved in abuse. The Gunnison Police Department placed Huff on administrative leave per department policy. Huff will make his first court appearance Friday afternoon. Hes being held without bond at the Gunnison County Detention Center. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. Nineteen children with special educational needs (SEN) in County Down face a "gut punch" due to a delay in starting school. That is according to the independent autism reviewer for Northern Ireland, Ema Cubitt. In a statement, Ms Cubitt also criticised what she described as Education Minister Paul Givan's "misplaced and out of touch priorities". The children were due to start Oakwood School in Saintfield - but building work at the school has not yet been finished. The Education Authority (EA) said that because of the works across the education estate, to increase capacity, some schools were "operating alternative classroom arrangements or an extended induction period to enable pupil attendance". The EA said this would facilitate the completion of a "bespoke learning environment to meet the specific needs of the children and young people within their school community". Ms Cubitt said: "It is beyond my comprehension that while so many children with special educational needs are actively being denied their right to education, that Minister Givan is proposing spending a quarter of a million pounds to restrict mobile phone use in schools and is meeting with an umbrella organisation representing paramilitary organisations." Givan recently met the Loyalist Communities Council, which includes representatives of loyalist paramilitary groups. The minister is also planning to spend about 250,000 for schools to buy pouches to prevent mobile phones being used. 'Significant increase' In a statement, a Department of Education (DE) spokesperson said: "Meeting the needs of children and young people with special educational needs is a priority for the Education Minister and the Executive". It added that there has been a "significant increase in the number of children requiring specialist education provision since 2020, which has necessitated the creation of additional capacity across the education system". "This has involved the establishment of 183 new special education classes, creating 1,450 new places. "The establishment of new provision on this scale has required a significant programme of capital works to ensure school facilities can meet the needs of the children placed in them. "There have been unavoidable delays in the opening of on-site provision in some schools whilst building works are being completed," the DoE spokesperson said. Crisis 'incredibly plain to see' Ms Cubitt was appointed as Northern Ireland's first autism reviewer by the Department of Health (DoH) in August. Her role is independent of government departments, however, and involves assessing the adequacy of services to autistic people. Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, she detailed being "inundated with emails from distressed families" since starting in her role only four weeks ago. She said that the crisis is "incredibly plain to see". "The frustrating thing for me, for the teachers and the school community is that we have been promised that this would be ready for the end of August. "The reality is that these children probably wont start until 4 November. "The Education Authority is making no provision for them in the meantime. She added that "these children are not in school, they're not getting that right to education that they are entitled to" and "the impact on these children is phenomenal". Ms Cubitt said that, as a result of the amounting emails from distressed parents, she had contacted the principal of Oakwood School. While the main campus of the school is in Belfast, there is a satellite site in the former St Mary's Primary in Saintfield. But building work was required to create more classrooms and facilities for pupils with SEN due to start school in Saintfield in September. There has been a significant increase in demand for special school places in recent years. Pupils with SEN have also been unable to start school elsewhere in Northern Ireland due to delays in building work commissioned by the EA. The EA is establishing more than 1,450 new and additional places across both special schools and specialist provisions in mainstream schools. However, Ms Cubtt said that when teachers from the school became aware the building was not going to be ready, they had started home visits to the pupils affected. The 19 children affected are all due to enter pre-school or Primary One. "The vast majority have autism, many will be non-verbal," Ms Cubitt said. "Getting them into school in a timely manner is really important for these children, because school is so very new." She urged the education and health ministers "not to look away from the ongoing crisis facing autistic children and young people in Northern Ireland". Asked by BBC News NI why she was particularly critical of what she called the education minister's "misplaced and out of touch priorities", Ms Cubitt said parents of children unable to start school felt "ignored". "They ring the EA and there's no answer on the phone, yet online there's lots of photo-ops in schools where children are attending. "There's been several posts about attendance matters. "I would say if that is true, why is the placement of children with SEN not the primary priority?" A spokeswoman for the EA said it remains "firmly committed to meeting the individual needs children and young people with special educational needs". There have been significant efforts made by all colleagues across the education sector to provide additional appropriate places, reflective of pupils needs," they continued. The EA said it will continue to work with schools and families to minimise any impact for children and young people. In a statement, the DoH said that the health minister "is aware of the significant pressures on services and has recently met with both the Children's Law Centre and the family of a child with complex needs to discuss ongoing challenges". "The minister recognises the current situation is unsustainable and is determined to see urgent improvements in this area," it added. More on this story A general view of buildings in Port-au-Prince, is seen from the outskirts of Port-au-Prince PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Land access to a vital supply port in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince is being closed off after attacks by armed gangs, operator Caribbean Port Services (CPS) said on Thursday. "CPS will shut its barriers to all types of land-based traffic from Sept. 26 to Sept. 29," it said in a statement, saying that the suspension should allow the army and national police to secure the area. A shipping official told Reuters this week that ships were being shot at, preventing them from docking and unloading containers, while authorities have reported the kidnapping of two Filipino crew members from a cargo vessel in the port. Haitian leaders speaking at the United Nations General Assembly this week have warned of worsening insecurity in the Caribbean country despite the partial deployment of a U.N.-backed security force, whose initial mandate expires in less than a week. Powerful gangs, armed with weapons largely trafficked from the United States, have united in the capital under a common alliance and now control most of the city and are expanding to nearby areas. Over 700,000 people have been internally displaced - nearly double the figure from six months ago - many residing in makeshift camps in schools and without a fixed source of income as food becomes increasingly expensive and hunger rates soar. "This situation is not just a humanitarian emergency but it is a threat to the stability of our nation," Haiti's transition council president Edgard Leblanc Fils told the U.N. general assembly earlier on Thursday. "It's never too late to act." Food prices in Haiti rose 42% in July from a year earlier according to the World Food Programme. Leblanc also urged the Security Council to consider converting the under-funded and under-staffed Kenyan-led security force into a formal peacekeeping mission to secure more stable funding, troops and equipment from U.N. member states. Haiti's main seaports and international airport closed for nearly three months earlier this year when violence peaked at the end of February, thousands broke out of prison and the last prime minister resigned. (Reporting by Harold Isaac and Sarah Morland; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Rosalba O'Brien) (Bloomberg) -- Haitis interim leader took a not-so-veiled swipe at Donald Trump over the Republican nominees amplification of unfounded conspiracy theories about immigrants. Most Read from Bloomberg The passions that naturally arise during an election campaign should never serve as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country such as the United States, a country forged by immigrants, Edgar Leblanc Fils, the head of Haitis presidential transitional council, said during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly. Fils extended what he called a brotherly greeting to those who have shown solidarity with migrants from his country, and in particular those living in Springfield, Ohio. Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, have repeatedly cited unfounded claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are eating pets. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a response to questions that Trump is rightfully highlighting the failed immigration system that Kamala Harris has overseen. He added the Republican candidate would secure our border and put an end to the chaos that illegal immigration brings to our communities. The governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, has said Haitian immigrants in Springfield are there legally. Trump brought it up during his Sept. 10 debate with Democratic rival Kamala Harris, and the comments sparked controversy and public safety concerns after the city received bomb threats to schools and hospitals. Haitis security and humanitarian woes, which have sharply deteriorated since gangs took over following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, are having spillovers into the US. Florida has been deploying more law enforcement officers to its southern waters this year amid an increase in the number of migrants from Caribbean nations like Haiti coming by boat, and US-made guns are said to be fueling gang violence in the country. The Biden administration, meanwhile, has been pushing for the deployment of a UN peace mission to address the Haitian crisis after the multinational police force it pitched last year has struggled to achieve its goals amid insufficient funding. --With assistance from Stephanie Lai. (Updates with comments from Trump campaign from fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The head of Haitis presidential transition appealed for global solidarity Thursday during his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, while also endorsing a Biden administration push for a formal U.N. peacekeeping mission in his crisis-wracked nation. Edgard Leblanc Fils, who spoke as the head of Haitis Transitional Presidential Council, said as the worlds first Black independent nation, Haiti is today the greatest victim of a historical injustice, which has not only delayed our development but saddled our people with a burden. We demand recognition of the moral and historic debt and implementation of justice, he said. Leblanc outlined Haitis crisis, which U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described as a human tragedy with a very well known history. The ongoing gang abuse and violence against children should be considered a crime against humanity, Leblanc said. He noted that past U.N. peacekeeping missions have not been without controversy. The mission deployed in 2004 after a bloody armed revolt forced the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, had some of its members accused of sexual abuse and the mission was later found to have introduced a deadly cholera epidemic after the countrys devastating 2010 earthquake. But Leblanc said Haiti needs help finding a way to guarantee funding for the current Kenya-led security support mission. This transformation would not only allow to secure more stable financing and to expand the capabilities of the mission, but also strengthen the commitment of member States to security in Haiti, he said. I am convinced that this change of status, while ensuring that errors of the past are not repeated, will guarantee the full success of the mission in Haiti. Days of drama Leblancs appearance came after days of internal drama in the ongoing U.S.-backed political transition, in which the government and the presidential council Leblanc leads found themselves in a behind-the-scenes war that played out to the embarrassment of many Haitians. On Saturday, during a visit to Port-au-Prince by Kenya President William Ruto on his way to New York, Leblanc announced that he would not be attending the U.N. forum due to confusion over who would be representing Haiti. The U.S. Secret Service, which was offering protection to Prime Minister Garry Conille, had declined a similar detail for Leblanc. The matter was eventually solved after a high-level official at the State Department intervened. But while Leblanc prepared to travel, the confusion continued as fellow presidential council member Leslie Voltaire met with Guterres and then bumped heads with Conilles government after a closed-door meeting with Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Voltaire was stopped from entering the room by Brazilian security who said he was not on the attendance list and could not believe Haiti had more than one president. Leblanc didnt address the brewing tensions or an ongoing corruption scandal involving three of his fellow council members, who are accused of bribery and have refused to step down. Instead, he asserted himself as the official representative of the Haitian republic, the spokesperson of the Haitian people and a champion of democracy. He had been a witness, he said, to many critical moments in the countrys political transition from dictatorship to democracy dating back to his days as the president of the Senate from 1995 to 2000. In outlining Haitis problems from endemic poverty and inequality to a near takeover by gangs of its capital on the worlds most important stage Thursday, Leblanc argued that his countrys colonial past continues to have present-day repercussions. He called for restitution and reparations, endorsing efforts already being led by the Caribbean Community and the U.N.. Reparations demands The demand for France, Haitis original colonial ruler, to repay Haiti is not new. In 2004 during Haitis bicentennial, Aristide publicly called on Paris to repay the 90 million gold francs Haiti was forced to pay to secure its independence. The amount, Aristide calculated at the time, was the equivalent of more than $21 billion. The payment was ordered in 1825, 21 years after Haiti won its independence from France. It was finally paid off in 1947 after being financed by French banks and the National City Bank of New York, present-day Citibank. This ransom imposed under threat siphoned off resources of a young nation, plunging it into an infernal cycle of impoverishment, which it still struggles to overcome, Leblanc said. The unabated violence gripping Haiti is fueling one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, with nearly half of the countrys estimated 12 million people going hungry, Leblanc said. The increase of armed gangs, general violence and political instability have plunged the nation into a state of extreme vulnerability, he said. Citizens live in fear, unable to move around freely throughout the country, to go and work or send their children to school without risk, particularly in the capital of Port-au-Prince. On Monday, the U.N. Security Council will meet to decide on a proposal by both the U.S. and Ecuador to extend the multinational security support mission for another year and to work on a transition to a formal U.N. peacekeeping mission. Springfield, Ohio Leblanc started his speech with an issue closer to the hearts of the hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in the U.S. He thanked those who have shown solidarity with Haitis migrants, particularly those living in Springfield, Ohio, who have been thrust into presidential election politics by former President Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance over false accusations that they are eating neighbors pets. The American people reject any incitement to hate against our community, Leblanc said. The active participation of Haitian immigrants at various levels of life in the United States is tangible and significant. In this regard, the passions that naturally arise during an election campaign should never serve as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country forged by immigrants from all countries, and which has become a model of democracy for the world, he added. Leblancs calls for reparations came near the end of his speech in which he spoke of the help Haiti needs to hold elections by the end of next year. Its clear to restore public order, to hold free and transparent elections at the end of 2025 to restore trust in the institutions of the state that we will need the support of the international community, he said. Following Leblancs speech, Haitians on message boards debated his appearance and welcomed his endorsement of the U.N. peacekeeping mission and his call for reparations. There was a moment near the end of his speech that went viral on social media, when video showed the president grabbing a pitcher of water on the podium and drinking directly from it. The presidency was forced to issue a note of apology. The president of Haiti's transitional presidential council, Edgard Leblanc Fils, addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The president of Haitis transitional presidential council announced Thursday that he supports a U.N. peacekeeping mission to fight gang violence still overwhelming authorities. It was the first public support announced by a Haitian government official since the U.S. proposed a U.N. peacekeeping mission earlier this month as one way to secure more resources for a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenya that officials say lacks personnel and funding. I am convinced that this change of status, whilst recognizing the errors of the past cannot be repeated, would guarantee the full success of the mission, Edgard Leblanc Fils, council president, said at the U.N. General Assembly. On Wednesday, Fils met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others to talk about the state of the mission, which began when the first contingent of Kenyan police arrived in Haiti in late June. Nearly 400 Kenyan officers are now in Haiti, joined by nearly two dozen police officers and soldiers from Jamaica. The officers fall significantly short of the 2,500 pledged by various countries, including Chad, Benin, Bangladesh and Barbados for the mission. The mandate of the current mission expires soon and must be renewed by Oct. 2. We would like to see a thought being given to transforming the security support mission into a peacekeeping mission under the mandate of the U.N. Leblanc said. A senior U.S. State Department official said Wednesday that the U.S. and some of its partners would like to make changes to the mandate to lay out a path to become a more traditional peacekeeping operation, but the Russians and Chinese, who supported the initial mandate, have expressed concerns about doing that. The U.N. Security Council would ultimately have to vote on a peacekeeping mission, and experts have said its unlikely it would support one. They have noted many Haitians would likely balk at it given the introduction of cholera and sexual abuse cases that occurred when U.N. troops were last in Haiti. Since the early 1900s, there have been at least three major foreign military interventions in Haiti led by the United States and the United Nations. A U.N. peacekeeping effort was launched in September 1993 and ran until 2000. Then in February 2004, former President Jean Bertrand Aristide was overthrown a second time and flown out of Haiti by the U.S., which sent troops as did Canada, France and Chile. They were soon replaced by troops of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, which stayed until 2017. Although some of these missions have helped to temporarily stabilize the country, they also have left behind a heavy heritage, Leblanc said. The U.N.s 2004-2017 peacekeeping mission was marred by allegations of sexual assault by its troops and staffers and claims that peacekeepers from Nepal introduced cholera into Haitis largest river in October 2010 through sewage runoff from their base. The U.N. has since acknowledged it played a role in the epidemic and that it did not do enough to help fight it, but it has not specifically acknowledged it introduced the disease. The epidemic killed nearly 10,000 people. Leblanc said that while the current U.N.-backed mission has made some inroads, a lot still remains to be done. He said Haitians continue to live in fear and cannot move around the country freely, unable to work or send their children to school without great risk. He said the country's security continues to deteriorate. Armed gangs that control 80% of the capital of Port-au-Prince have only grown more powerful since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Its weakening institutions, paralyzing the economy and its undermining hope in a better tomorrow. The future of the country is under threat, Leblanc said. More than 3,600 people have been reported killed during the first half of this year, a more than 70% increase compared with the same period last year. The violence also has left nearly 700,000 Haitians homeless in recent years and thousands have fled Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. On Wednesday, Dominican President Luis Abinader said he would take drastic measures if the mission in neighboring Haiti fails. He did not provide specifics. Also on Wednesday, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille noted that about 25% of Haitis police officers have left the country, and of those still working, about two are wounded and one killed every week. He said he expects Haiti to hold elections by November for the first time since 2016 even though we know we will not have the highest level of security. On Thursday, Leblanc said Haitis government was thinking of all the hard-working Haitians who have left their country because of the insecurity and hoped they would return once conditions improve. He thanked those showing solidarity with Haitian migrants, especially those in Springfield." Haitians living in that Ohio town have said they fear for their safety after former President Donald Trump falsely accused immigrants there of abducting and eating pets. The passions that naturally arise during an election campaign should never serve as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country such as the United States, a country forged by immigrants," Leblanc said. Police in New Hampshire on Thursday announced an arrest in connection with a child sexual assault investigation. Ramon Ayala, 51, of Manchester, is charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault in a case that dates back years, according to the Manchester Police Department. Investigators received information that a child under 13 had been sexually assaulted by Ayala in January 2018, police said. A warrant was issued for Ayalas arrest but police were unable to find him because its believed he fled the state after the alleged assault. Investigators got new information over the summer that revealed where Ayala was living, according to police. He surrendered to Manchester police on Monday. Anyone with information on Ayala is urged to contact police at Manchester police at 603-668-8711. Ayalas bail was set at $1,000. He is slated to appear in court on Oct. 1. Police noted that additional charges could be filed against Ayala. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Extreme Makeover: Home Edition star Eduardo Xols sudden passing has shocked fans. Many are delving deeper into the cause of his untimely death. So, what happened to the popular TV designer? Heres everything you need to know about Eduardo Xols sudden demise. Eduardo Xol passes away at 58, claims report Eduardo Xol sadly passed away at the age of 58 on Thursday. He was reportedly stabbed to death in an apartment in Palm Springs, California. Authorities told People that they received a call from Xol asking for help on September 10. Upon arriving at the crime scene, they discovered multiple stab wounds on Xol. He was then rushed to the Desert Regional Medical Center but didnt survive. His family released a public statement confirming his death news. It reads, We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved Eduardo Xol. As his family, we know that his kindness has touched the lives of so many. We ask for that kindness returned now allowing our privacy to be respected as we process our grief. A man named Richard Joseph Gonzales was initially taken into custody for attempted murder charges in Xols case. Gonzales had reportedly contacted the police officials later that morning, saying he was attacked the night before. Due to his presence at the crime scene, he was arrested and likely considered a suspect. After Xols demise, the murder charges on Gonzales were also accepted by the district attorneys office. The police claim that the pair were likely associates. However, the nature of their relationship remains unclear. Gonzales is currently held in custody at Riverside County without bail. The post What Happened to Eduardo Xol? Actor Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. New York Citys mayor, Eric Adams, is at the center of growing speculation regarding a federal investigation that may have led to his indictment. While details remain scarce, reports suggest that it involves potential corruption. Now, many are left wondering whether Eric Adams is getting indicted. Here is everything to know about the same. Eric Adams reportedly indicted after federal corruption investigation Eric Adams, New York Citys 110th mayor and a former police captain, has reportedly been indicted following a federal corruption investigation, according to The New York Times. The indictment remains sealed, leaving the exact charges unclear. However, the investigation has reportedly focused on allegations that Adams and his campaign conspired with the Turkish government to accept illegal foreign donations. If the indictment is confirmed, Adams will become the first sitting New York City mayor to face federal charges. The news follows months of increasing pressure on his administration. Recently, federal agents have been raiding the homes of high-ranking officials within his inner circle. Despite the mounting legal trouble, Adams remains defiant. In a video statement, he maintained his innocence and stated, I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became. Adams further vowed to fight the charges and continue his work as mayor. He reassured New Yorkers that he is committed to leading the city through this crisis. The mayors legal troubles come at a critical time. His administration is already embroiled in multiple investigations involving top aides and advisers. Calls for Adams to step down have intensified. Political figures such as Scott Stringer have described Adams administration as a train wreck and added that the mayor should resign. The indictment is expected to be made public soon, and federal prosecutors are set to release more details. The post What Happened to Eric Adams & Is He Being Indicted? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. U.S. President Joe Biden has disinvited Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze from the September 25 reception for world leaders and senior U.N. officials. PM Kobakhidze, along with Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, is attending the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.The cancellation was first reported by Voice of America, citing unnamed White House and congressional sources. The decision was reportedly linked to "recent actions and statements by the Georgian government [which] indicate a shocking disregard for democracy and the will of the Georgian people."The Biden administration made this move after communications with Georgian officials failed to show any change in direction. Recently, the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia expressed concern that the government's actions were isolating the country from the West. This came after PM Kobakhidze summoned the U.S. Ambassador to criticize new U.S. sanctions on Georgian police officials, calling it a "critical limit."The U.S. Embassy confirmed that the decision was due to "increasing concerns about the Georgian government's anti-democratic actions, disinformation, and negative rhetoric about the United States and the West."The de facto government of South Ossetia claims that Georgian citizen, Vasili Salamashvili, who allegedly violated the state "border", has been handed over to Georgia.According to the occupation authorities, Salamashvili, a 43-year-old resident of Sakorintlo village in Georgia's Kaspi municipality, was arrested on September 24 in the Akhalgori district near a monastery.The de facto security committee stated "due to Salamashvili's health problems, the South Ossetian KGB's border service decided to transfer him to the Georgian side without imposing any penalties".The Georgian State Security Service has confirmed the transfer. By Kashish Tandon and Christy Santhosh (Reuters) - Pfizer's decision late on Wednesday to withdraw its sickle cell disease treatment due to the risk of death could help speed up trials of new experimental rivals, Wall Street analysts said. Oxbryta, one of at least six treatments for the disease, is mostly used in patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms. The drug received accelerated approved in the U.S. in 2019, requiring further trials to confirm the benefits. In July, the European Medicines Agency posted online concerns about deaths in two of those trials. The regulator, after a meeting on Thursday to discuss the data, said that it had serious concerns about the safety. It recommended an immediate suspension of its authorization. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it was conducting a safety review of postmarketing clinical data for the drug, and will also review real world registry studies. After the review it will communicate any additional findings, if necessary. At least three Wall Street brokerages said the withdrawal could create an immediate need to accelerate trials of rival drugs for the inherited condition, including Agios Pharmaceuticals' mitapivat and Fulcrum Therapeutics' pociredir. Enrollment in an early-stage trial has been a hurdle for Fulcrum, said analysts at Leerink. In case of Agios, it could create pressure on regulators to speed up the review, Piper Sandler analysts said. If mitapivat shows benefit in reducing the painful episodes that mark the disease, "we anticipate this will enable an easier regulatory review, especially now considering the greater demands from patients who can no longer access Oxbryta," said Piper Sandler's Christopher J. Raymond. Shares of Agios rose 4% before reversing gains, while Fulcrum jumped over 17% on Thursday. Two recently approved gene therapies - bluebird bio's Lyfgenia and Vertex Pharmaceuticals' and partner CRISPR Therapeutics' Casgevy - are reserved for people with severe form of the disease. The removal of Oxbryta likely leaves the vast majority of patients, who have mild-moderate symptoms, relying on chemotherapy medicine hydroxyurea, said Stifel analyst Dae Gon Ha on Thursday. Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 people in the U.S., most of whom are Black. The withdrawal is the latest headwind for Pfizer and its CEO Albert Bourla. Investors have punished the company as it navigates sharply dropping sales for its COVID vaccines and drugs, a weaker-than-hoped launch of its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and disappointing clinical data for an obesity pill it was developing. Story continues Pfizer's shares were marginally down on Thursday. The stock is trading at around half its pandemic highs. Oxbryta was the centerpiece of Pfizer's $5.4 billion buyout of Global Blood Therapeutics in 2022, one of a number of deals bankrolled by the pandemic-era windfall. It also picked up two other experimental sickle cell treatments, both of which remain in clinical trials, according to Pfizer's website. In patients with the disease, red blood cells become sickle or crescent shaped and can cause strokes, organ damage and early death, as well as debilitating pain crises. (Reporting by Christy Santhosh and Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Michael Erman in New Jersey and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Krishna Chandra Eluri) What happened over the last 36 hours? The story of the styrene leak in Whitewater Township, Ohio More than 24 hours after a leaking railcar in Whitewater Township prompted a forced evacuation, residents were finally allowed to go home. On Wednesday evening, officials deemed the area surrounding the railcar leaking styrene, a toxic and highly flammable chemical, safe. However, township residents made clear that plenty of questions still remain. The railcar owned or leased by INEOS, a global petrochemicals manufacturer with a facility in Addyston, began leaking styrene Tuesday afternoon. The railcar was located at U.S. Route 50 and state Route 128 on property owned by the Central Railroad of Indiana. The railcar had been sitting on the tracks for seven days before officials noticed the leak. Railroad representatives at the Whitewater Township Community Center Wednesday said they would answer residents questions about the leak. They declined to give The Enquirer details about what exactly they were doing, but one resident showed The Enquirer that he had received about $50 in Visa Gift Cards and a list of nearby hotels. Some residents walked around the center visibly frustrated. "You never expect this in your own country," Arthur Pelcher, a 64-year-old evacuated Hooven resident, told The Enquirer at the community center Wednesday. The leak is discovered Early Tuesday afternoon, citizens near U.S. Route 50 and state Route 128 told police they smelled strong chemical odors resembling paint fumes, according to 911 calls. By 1 p.m., first responders told dispatchers they needed to block off U.S. 50 at Kilby Road, as well as Ohio 128. The Central Railroad of Indiana was notified that a railcar on its property was venting styrene. Drivers are rerouted at a road closure at Cilley Road and OH-128 in Whitewater Township due to a chemical leak Tuesday. Officials reported a rail car began leaking styrene, a toxic and flammable chemical. Shortly after, Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency alerted residents about a dangerous chemical leak near state Route 128. Officials urged everyone within a half-mile radius of the railyard by U.S. Route 50, state Route 128 and Valley Junction Road to immediately leave the area. A shelter-in-place order was also put in effect for residents within three-quarters of a mile from the leak. Hamilton County spokesperson Bridget Doherty said Wednesday roughly 210 homes had been evacuated because of the chemical leak. Residents who didnt have anywhere to go were told to visit the Whitewater Township Community Center. Managing the leak Around a dozen agencies, including the Greater Cincinnati Hazardous Materials Unit, responded to the scene late Tuesday afternoon, said Mike Siefke, chief of Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District. The Ohio EPA said its Emergency Response team also arrived to assist local responders. Officials said a chemical reaction caused styrene, which is naturally a liquid, to heat up into a gaseous state. This chemical reaction caused the tanks pressure valve to open and release gas in the air. Siefke expressed a very real concern that elevated temperatures inside the railcar could cause an explosion. Mike Siefke (left), chief of Little Miami Join Fire and Rescue District, speaks to the media about the chemical leak near Cleves Tuesday. Crews worked the rest of the day and into the night to detach the remaining 29 cars from the leaking railcar and to cool down the car by applying water to its tank. Cooler temperatures and the application of water caused the pressure valve on the car to close as the styrene changed into a semi-solid state, officials said. By Wednesday morning the tank had stopped leaking. Concerns about an explosion remained, however. The evacuation order remained in place while officials worked to deem the area safe for residents. Monitoring the effects Early Wednesday morning, officials shared upcoming plans with the media at a press conference outside of the community center. This is going to be a slow process, its going to be an all-day event, Siefke told the media Wednesday morning. Officials monitored the temperature of the railcar and tested the air quality. By the afternoon, officials confirmed there were no air quality concerns in the area. Jason Cashmere with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said three fixed air monitoring stations and mobile crews did not observe any odors or concentrations of styrene in the air overnight. Whitewater Township Community Center. Federal Railroad Administration and Environmental Protection Agency officials were also on the ground assisting with hazmat operations and air quality testing, according to a statement issued by the White House. Dr. Stephen Feagins, medical director of Hamilton County Public Health, added styrene evaporates almost immediately in the air, so the likelihood of irritation or toxicity is low. However, some residents complained of possible health effects and odors. Pelcher said he had a major headache, his throat hurt and that his eyes were agitated at the center Wednesday afternoon. He planned to get a blood test to see if styrene was in his system. There have yet to be any hospitalizations as a result of the leak, officials said Wednesday evening. The evacuation order is lifted At approximately 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, the evacuation order was lifted. U.S. 50 and Ohio 128 were reopened. The railcars temperature had been stabilized, and the car had been transported to its final destination in Addyston, officials told the media at an evening press conference. Air quality levels and water sources were deemed safe, they added. Schools planned to reopen Thursday after officials found no risk of contamination. U.S. Route near the intersection of 50 and 264 in Cleves was closed for more than 24 hours. Miller said the railroad would continue to be at the center to address residents concerns for the next few days. Officials said anyone who had other questions or concerns could call 211, the number for United Way. But a handful of residents at the conference were not satisfied. There was uncertainty about how safe they were. People asked if the soil was okay for their pets to eat grass outside. They expressed concern about the air quality levels before Tuesday evening, when the EPA started to monitor levels. They worried theyd had been exposed to a carcinogen. Feagins said the amount of styrene emitted was not even close to the amount that causes cancer. He added that typically those levels occur an industrial incident where people are covered with styrene. A resident said she felt a film of some substance cover her arm yesterday after the leak. There was also uncertainty about how all of this started in the first place. A man at the conference asked if the leak was caused by the tank being overfilled. Miller could not give a definitive answer, but he said federal regulators were investigating the cause. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The story of the railcar leak in Ohio over the last 36 hours Bryan Kohbeger, the 29-year man charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, will appear in a Boise courtroom for the first time on Thursday, Sept. 26. The status conference hearing is set to take place at 2 p.m. at the Ada County Courthouse. Members of the public started lining up hours ahead of time, and seats, which are on a first-come, first-served basis, will fill up fast. Those wanting to watch from home can stream through the Idaho Statesmans website and on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. The Statesman will update this page at 2 p.m. to include the live courtroom video feed. If youre on your phone click this link to watch the livestream in your browser. Kohbergers murder trial was scheduled to start in June 2025, a date set by the prior judge in Latah County. But the venue change to Boise and switch in judges led to the trial date and location, and each of the proceedings leading up to it, being vacated and possibly delayed. Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler is expected to set a new court schedule at the hearing.. Kohberger, a former Washington State University graduate student, faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of the students, who were killed in an off-campus home in November 2022. The victims were Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, both 20, and Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21. Harris up 8 points on Trump in Virginia, Kaine up 10 on Cao, new Emerson poll finds PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Vice President Kamala Harris leads former President Donald Trump by eight points and Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine leads Republican challenger Hung Cao by 10 points in a new poll of Virginia voters. The new survey from Emerson College/The Hill and WAVY-TV 10/WVBT FOX 43 was conducted from Sept. 22-24 and polled 860 likely voters in the Commonwealth. It comes just one week ahead of a televised debate between Kaine and Cao, hosted by Nexstar Media Group on the campus of Norfolk State University. Related: Local analyst talks Kaine, Cao race ahead of debate The 10-point gap (now 51% to 41%) between Kaine and Cao is the same as it was in a previous Emerson poll from back in July before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. That poll had Trump up two points (45.4% to 43.4%) over Biden, with 11% of likely voters still undecided. Just over two months later, Harris has a significant lead, 52% to 44%, picking up a large chunk of undecided and independent voters, the latter of which supported Trump over Biden in the last poll, 46% to 38%. Read the crosstabs data for the Emerson pollDownload Trumps support has not significantly shifted since Harris became the nominee in Virginia; instead, undecided voters have moved off the sidelines to back Kamala Harris, said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. Independents polled this time support Harris, 52% to 38%. Emerson emphasized support from women voters is up 20 points now for Harris (58% to 38%) compared to only a 6-point lead for Biden (47% to 41%). Virginia voters say overall, the economy is their biggest issue, with housing affordability second. Heres the breakdown of top issues those those polled: Economy: 43.1% Housing affordability: 13.7% Threats to democracy: 11.6% Immigration: 7.7% Abortion access: 6.1% Health care: 5.9% Education: 5.8% Something else: 2.9% Crime: 2% Foreign policy: 1.1% Its also important to point out that those polled also voted 51.4% for President Joe Biden and 41.4% for former President Trump in the 2020 election, in line with Bidens 10-point win margin in Virginia in 2020. Just 4% polled said theyve already voted, but the rest said they were very likely to vote this election season. You can read the full poll here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Laying out her economic agenda this week, Vice President Harris backed increasing domestic minerals production and creating a minerals stockpile. A press release from her campaign said it would invoke wartime authority under the Defense Production Act to build stronger mineral supply chains and reduce dependence on China. In a plan posted to her website, Harris also backed an America Forward tax credit that benefits various industries, including many with the potential to combat climate change. This tax credit would go toward projects including reducing emissions from steel and iron production, creating new sustainable materials, expanding climate-friendly energy manufacturing and bolstering the semiconductor industry. Under the plan, these credits would also benefit biotechnology and medicine, data centers for artificial intelligence and aerospace, autos and other forms of transportation. These tax credits would include additional benefits for investments made in longstanding manufacturing, farming and energy-producing communities. In the transition to lower-carbon fuels, concerns have been raised about workers in places that have historically produced fossil fuels. Additionally, Harris said the nation needs to speed up its approval for infrastructure, backing a suite of policies known as permitting reform that aim to make the nation build faster. Permitting reform has been a hot topic in Washington, with lawmakers currently considering legislation aimed at speeding up new energy projects. Opponents of such efforts have raised concerns that environmental reviews will be weakened in the process. The plan released by the Harris campaign also calls for more energy production in a section on lowering energy costs. It does not specify whether that includes more fossil fuel production, though in the past Harris has touted the record oil production that has occurred under the Biden administration. The release of the plan comes about two months after Harris entered the race upon President Bidens announcement that he would not seek reelection. In that time, critics have called for more detailed policy proposals from the vice president. This plan marks significantly more detailed information than she had previously released. Some of the policy proposals Harris has called for would require the support of Congress, and it looks increasingly likely that Democrats will lose the Senate. Tax credits in particular cannot be unilaterally issued by a presidential administration. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Some Democrats are sounding an early alarm on the prospect of reforming the Senates filibuster rule in 2025 if they keep control of the White House and Senate and win a House majority, setting the stage for a contentious debate over how far the party should go to respond to the Supreme Courts overturning of abortion rights. Vice President Harris put filibuster reform back in the spotlight this week when she told Wisconsin Public Radio that she would support a carve-out of the Senates filibuster rule to codify Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established the right to abortion. Some Democratic senators say that while they support the goal of passing legislation to protect abortion rights, theyre leery of blowing a hole in the filibuster rule that Republicans warn would be used to pass conservative priorities, such as a national voter ID law, through the Senate with only simple majorities. We should approach it very carefully because what goes around comes around. Thats one of the few permanent rules of the United States Senate, said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who was elected to the Senate in 1997 and has seen complete control of Washington shift from party to party over his career. Reed said Democrats lowered the threshold for approving district and circuit court judges in 2013 after Republicans blocked qualified nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals but later paid a price when Republicans then reduced the threshold for approving Supreme Court justices, which enabled them to establish a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court. We said, Lets reduce it to 50 [votes] for just circuit and district judges. And when the Republicans took over, they said, Lets do it for Supreme Court justices, too. And I think its really affected the quality of the court. Before, [with] 60 votes, you had to [find] someone really qualified and more to the center to confirm a nominee to the Supreme Court, he noted. I think it would be good to have a national abortion [law] to protect the reproductive freedom of women, and I think we should try to get it, but I dont think the first procedure would be to change the rules of the Senate, Reed said. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said he would prefer to first try to cobble together 60 votes in the Senate to pass legislation protecting womens access to reproductive health care before rewriting the Senates filibuster rule. Reproductive freedom is a right that women should have everywhere. The surest way to ensure that, which makes it much, much more durable, is to get 60 votes, and I think, having talked to Republicans, I think theres a reasonable chance we could do that. So the first effort would be to go and pass it, get it done with 60 votes, he said. I have actually gone and talked to a couple Republican senators just to sound them out. Theyre cautious, but I think people would be surprised. Again, if we get 60 votes, it becomes more durable, Hickenlooper said of codifying Roe v. Wade without changing the Senates rules. The Colorado senator warned that lowering the threshold for passing legislation through the Senate to a simple majority could lead to so many sudden reversals of law that it would undermine national stability. If it becomes a pendulum that swings one way and then back the other one way, back the other that harms everybody. Again, thats why 60 votes really kind of nails it down and says this is the law of the land, he said. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the Senates most senior Democrat and an outspoken advocate for defending womens reproductive freedom, stopped short of endorsing Harriss call for filibuster reform. Im looking at it, she told The Hill on Wednesday. Other Democrats, however, are eager to have a debate over reforming rules next year if they have control of Congress and the White House. Sign me up for an honest-to-goodness conversation about reforming the filibuster beyond one or two [issues], voting rights and reproductive rights. I think weve allowed the filibuster rule to eat the business of the Senate, said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.). Weve reached the point now where were doing nothing. Were reporting every three months that we didnt shut down the government, a big source of pride. If were going to be a functioning legislature, weve got to change some fundamentals, he said. The 60-vote threshold for most legislation has forced Democrats and Republicans to cooperate on major bills, such as legislation addressing gun violence in 2022 and a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill in 2021. The two biggest Democratic proponents for keeping the filibuster intact have been Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), who both became independents after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tried to carve out an exception to the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation in January 2022. Sinema and Manchin were the only two Democrats to vote to protect the filibuster nearly two years ago, and both came under heavy criticism from the partys base for doing so. Both senators on Wednesday strongly criticized Harriss call to eliminate the filibuster to reestablish the protections of Roe v. Wade. Republicans and institutionalists who favor preserving the Senates character worry that the retirement of Sinema and Manchin at the end of December will leave little resistance for liberals who want to curtail the filibuster. But one Democratic senator who requested anonymity told The Hill on Wednesday that there are other old-school Democrats who would be willing to take their places to block another attempt to water down the filibuster rule. The minute you change it for one thing, you change it for everything, the senator said, arguing its a fallacy to claim that the filibuster would only be carved out for specific issues. Its just a question of whos going to [step up] to object to lowering the threshold for passing bills, the lawmaker said. Somebody will. I think so. I have always believed that there are four or five people who didnt have to say anything because Manchin or Sinema were there. Schumer told reporters Tuesday that Democrats would debate filibuster reform next year if they remain in the majority and declined to say whether he personally supports carving out an exception for abortion rights legislation. The Democratic leader told reporters at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that he would support making another attempt at amending the filibuster rule to allow voting rights and campaign finance legislation to pass with a simple majority if Democrats control the White House and both branches of Congress. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris called former President Donald Trump's tariff proposals "a sales tax on the American people" in an interview with MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle. President Joe Biden has also backed certain tariffs and done little to roll back ones Trump put into place while president, but Harris emphasized that tariffs should not be implemented across all imports as Trump has said he would do if he returns to the White House. "You don't just throw around the idea of just tariffs across the board, and that's part of the problem with Donald Trump," Harris said. "I say this in all sincerity, he's just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues," she continued. "And one must be serious and have a plan, and a real plan that's not just about some talking point ending in an exclamation at a political rally, but actually putting the thought into what will be the return on the investment, what will be the economic impact on everyday people." During the debate this month, Trump said he would implement a 10% tariff on all imported goods and a 60% tariff on goods from China. "Other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that weve done for the world, and the tariff will be substantial," Trump had said during the debate. The questions came during Harris' first one-on-one interview with a national network since she became the Democratic nominee. Trump has criticized her for not doing more sit-down interviews. Harris also said in the interview that corporate taxes would have to be raised to fund some of her policies tackling affordability for child care and housing. "We're going to have to raise corporate taxes," she said. "We're going to have to make sure that the biggest corporations and billionaires pay their fair share," she continued. "That's just it. It's about paying their fair share." Her comments came in response to a question about how she would find the money to fund her proposals if she was unable to raise corporate taxes or Republicans take control of the Senate. Harris has proposed expanding the child tax credit, creating a tax break for homebuilders and providing a subsidy for first-time homeowners. The Trump campaign responded to Harris' interview by criticizing her economic record in the Biden administration. The interview came shortly after Harris' campaign event in Pittsburgh, where she described her economic priorities. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Kamala Harris is scrambling Democrats long-running family feud over cryptocurrency as she rallies the party behind a pragmatic vision of the economy. The vice president is signaling that her administration would be more supportive of the crypto industry than President Joe Bidens, whose regulators have taken a hard line with digital asset firms for pushing the limits of traditional financial safeguards. In Congress, key Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren have been taking conflicting positions on whether the nascent industry is a valuable innovation or a magnet for scams. Harris, for now, is walking a fine line that has yet to trigger a public outcry from her partys crypto lovers or haters. Shes vowing to encourage technologies like digital assets while protecting consumers and investors, and her campaign is conducting outreach to the industry. Harris appears to be keeping a backlash from either side at bay as she seeks to build a broad base of support, and as a $160 million crypto industry super PAC network looms over races that will be critical to determining who controls Washington. Inside the crypto world, the maneuvering by Harris has forced advocates to rethink how they grade whether a policymaker is truly an ally or not. Theres nothing controversial in there, Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), a leading crypto skeptic, said of Harriss new position on the industry. Harriss approach to crypto illustrates the balancing act her campaign is attempting to pull off on some economic issues. She has leaned on platitudes in certain areas, allowing her to avoid specific positions that could alienate various factions within her party. But the differing interpretations of her vision exemplify the policy clashes that await her on the other side of the election, when she may be forced to stake out more concrete directives. "This is a political season. The crypto people are flashing huge amounts of money," said Rep. Brad Sherman, a California Democrat who is one of Capitol Hill's top crypto critics. "We know they're playing big. If that means they get a meeting, they get a meeting. They get three meetings, they get three meetings. But ultimately I think that Harris will stand firm." Democrats have been sharply divided over crypto issues, making it a thorny policy area for Harris to wade into. An emerging coalition that includes party leaders like Schumer has embraced the crypto industry and championed its policy goals alongside Republicans, but some progressives remain staunch skeptics who warn of risks to consumers. Crypto supporters have lauded her comments as a break from Biden. Rep. Wiley Nickel of North Carolina, a leading pro-crypto Democrat, said they represent the crypto reset that weve been suggesting. As soon as she became our nominee, we worked with her team right away to encourage her to take a look at this issue as a place to differentiate her campaign from the current administration, he said. Harriss campaign has been meeting with figures in the crypto industry, according to Nickel and others involved in the discussions. Former Treasury official Brian Nelson is one of the people spearheading this issue for the campaign, Nickel said. When asked about her crypto stance this week, billionaire investor Mark Cuban, a high-profile Harris surrogate and crypto advocate, told reporters that people in her campaign are very clear in conversations with him that they are not fans of regulation through litigation, echoing a crypto industry complaint about federal regulators. Industry leaders have had mixed reactions to Harriss comments, as former President Donald Trump pledges a sweeping series of crypto-friendly policies. The advocacy group Stand With Crypto, which was launched by the digital asset exchange Coinbase and gives politicians letter grades for their crypto stances, rated Harris with a B this week before reversing course and downgrading her to N/A." The move was illustrative of the industry's struggle to interpret her position and respond. Rep. Ro Khanna, a pro-crypto California Democrat who has helped facilitate meetings between the White House and industry leaders, said it is encouraging that shes going to have a place for digital assets and understands their value. Embracing crypto could help unlock financial support from executives in Silicon Valley and the digital asset world who have put more than $160 million into a super PAC network aimed at electing crypto allies to Congress. A spokesperson for Crypto4Harris a pro-Harris crypto group that launched after she became the nominee said it is pitching Harriss campaign on an in-person fundraiser for crypto executives following her recent encouraging comments. A crypto-friendly stance may be a way to help Harris win over young men. Polls show that crypto ownership is higher among young men and Black and Hispanic voters, though it is unclear whether they are likely to vote based on digital asset issues. If Harris wins the Oval Office, supporting the digital asset industry could set up a major policy clash with the left. So far, the rift hasn't opened in public. Asked about Harris comments this week, Warren said in an interview she doesnt have any problem with people who want to buy and sell crypto. My concern is law enforcement, Warren said. Kamala Harriss background is a law enforcement officer. I havent heard the defense for why crypto should be a welcoming home for terrorists and drug dealers. Sherman, who like Warren has criticized the industry for inviting financial crime, said he expects Harris to keep Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who is the crypto world's top foe in Washington because of the enforcement crackdown he has pursued. We want well-regulated industries. Thats fine," Casten said. "Theres nothing problematic about saying that. Eleanor Mueller contributed to this report. Vice President Kamala Harris used her first major solo interview to push her economic message and ding Donald Trump, as the Democratic presidential nominee moved to address some of her biggest vulnerabilities this week. Harris sitdown with MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle followed an economic speech in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, part of her effort to reverse Trumps advantage with voters on the economy. She used that speech to add layers to an economic plan Republicans have slammed as thin, promising to eliminate degree requirements for federal jobs, double union apprenticeships in her first term and reform permitting to speed up building projects. The sitdown built on Harris message as voters across the country continue to express concerns about high prices. But it also offered an opportunity for her to attack Trump on the economic front, including on tariffs, a policy tool the former president has cast as a solution to problems ranging from high prices to war and the cost of child care. Well, part of it is you just dont throw around the idea of tariffs across the board, Harris said. Thats part of the problem with Donald Trump. Frankly, Im going and I say this in all sincerity hes not serious about how he thinks about some of these issues. And one must be serious and have a plan and a real plan thats not just about some talking point ending in an exclamation at a political rally. The campaigns decision to select Ruhle a friendly interviewer for Harris for the first national, solo sit down has drawn criticism. But Ruhle was also an advantageous choice for Harris. The MSNBC hosts deep expertise on the economy offered the vice president a venue to answer questions about her economic agenda as she tries to draw contrast with her opponent and increase voters trust on economic issues. Not everyone gets handed stuff on a silver platter. My vision for the economy I call it an opportunity economy is about making sure that all Americans, wherever they start, wherever they are, have the ability to actually achieve those dreams and those ambitions, Harris said. In response to one of the more challenging questions about the International Brotherhood of Teamsters declining to endorse her last week Harris dodged twice. The lack of endorsement was a blow to the vice presidents campaign as it seeks to maintain the kind of union support President Joe Biden garnered in 2020. The powerful union is also connected to working class voters in battleground states who could be critical to Harris in November, and the lack of consensus among its million-plus members has spooked some Democrats. Im proud to have the endorsement of the steel workers and almost every other major union in America because I stand by workers, Harris said. And I stand by the importance of being able to join a union and to understand the benefit and the value of unions. And I understand the importance of investing in new industries and working actively with the private sector to grow our economy. Harris was also asked to respond to Trumps efforts to appeal to women in recent weeks, as he tries to repair damage with the voting bloc. The vice president slammed Trump for his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, and talked about the consequences of the Supreme Court ruling: I dont think the women of America need him to say hes going to protect them. The women of America need him to trust them, Harris said. But its Harris own weak spots she is focusing on this week. After a day focused on the economy, shell turn her attention to her second biggest vulnerability and one of Trumps favorite lines of attack: immigration. Harris will travel to Douglas, Arizona, on Friday, where shell make a stop at the southern border. Border crossings are now lower than during Trumps last month in office, plummeting after Biden clamped down on asylum in June. The vice president will use the visit to speak about border security, hitting Trump for his role in killing the bipartisan border deal earlier this year, according to a campaign aide granted anonymity to speak freely about a trip still in planning stages. She will also highlight her background as attorney general of California, and her work on international gangs and criminal organizations who trafficked humans, guns and drugs a piece of her bio shes touted repeatedly on the trail. Harris is also expected to talk about building a secure, fair, orderly and humane immigration system, moving to draw a contrast with Trumps rhetoric and immigration policy plans, the official said. During Wednesdays interview, Harris again vowed to bring back the border bill and sign it into law. And we need a comprehensive plan that includes what we need to do to fortify not only our border but deal with the fact that we also need to create pathways for people to earn citizenship, she said. The Scoop Kamala Harris isnt just talking about a friendlier approach to cryptocurrency than President Joe Biden. Shes already dispatching aides to court well-heeled crypto investors and their Democratic allies in Congress. Harriss emissaries to the crypto sector include Brian Nelson and Louisa Terrell, according to two people familiar with the outreach. The Harris campaign advisers have solicited feedback from crypto executives as well as Hill Democrats seeking to steer the vice president away from the Biden administrations crackdown on a resurgent sector thats lavishing cash on the 2024 election. Pro-crypto Rep. Wiley Nickel, D-N.C., has been in touch with Harris team on the topic and organized two briefings in recent weeks for fellow House Democrats interested in learning more about digital currencies. Youre going to see a much more balanced approach from President Harris on this issue, Nickel told Semafor, adding hed spoken to her advisers about blockchain technology and other ways to promote decentralized ownership of digital assets. Harris debuted her newly crypto-coded message in remarks to Wall Street donors this past weekend, and her campaigns quiet work with crypto allies indicates that she sees a space to compete on that turf with former President Donald Trump who this month endorsed a still-unclear crypto platform launched by his sons. Pro-crypto Democrats have even enlisted a celebrity Harris backer to marshal support for any cryptocurrency bill that would create industry-backed regulatory standards: billionaire investor Mark Cuban. He told Semafor that he plans to visit Capitol Hill to personally lobby lawmakers on any major crypto bill that gets a vote in the future, whether its industry-favorable or not. Some prominent Democrats are also tempering their initial skepticism of crypto assets. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, a member of the Senate Banking panel, derided digital tokens as bullshit after the FTX collapse in late 2022. I was never an opponent, Tester told Semafor this week. I always said we got to put side rails on it. The Harris campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Know More During a fundraiser on Sunday, Harris pledged support for digital tokens that the Biden administration has sought to rein in, and reiterated it three days later. I will recommit the nation to global leadership in the sectors that will define the next century, Harris said Wednesday, listing blockchain as a specific priority for her. We will encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets while protecting consumers and investors, she said over the weekend. We will create a safe business environment with consistent and transparent rules of the road. Crypto backers are particularly hopeful that Harris, if elected, would end what they call a siege spearheaded by Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler. Last year, the SEC brought 46 crypto-related enforcement actions a new high including against industry behemoth Coinbase alleging it violated the law by not registering with the government as a broker. Gensler also publicly opposed an industry-backed House GOP bill on crypto that passed earlier this year. Nelson brings his own potentially crypto-averse background to his work for Harris; he served as a Biden administration Treasury official as the department proposed to tighten scrutiny of certain crypto assets potential misuse for money laundering. On the Hill, however, Democrats were already starting to follow the lead of Harris team by building ties to the crypto sector, a $2 trillion industry with a historic libertarian streak. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., joined a Crypto4Harris town hall last month and talked up the prospect of action in his chamber of Congress on industry issues before 2025. Yet Schumers optimism is likely misplaced; Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told Semafor she still hasnt managed to draw a GOP backer for her plan to hand the Commodity Futures and Trading Commission more jurisdiction over digital assets. And Harris still isnt seen as favorable to the industry as Trump, who has publicly vowed to fire Gensler if elected. Theyre trying to figure out what the right place for her to be is, said Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith, who has spoken with Harris team. In a perfect world, we would want to see something a little bit more fleshed out. No matter whos president next year, though, a crypto regulatory battle is likely to take place in Congress. Anticipating that possibility, crypto companies have spent at least $119 million in the 2024 election, pumping it into super PACs backing pro-crypto candidates, according to the nonprofit watchdog Public Citizen. I have no problem with people buying and selling crypto, Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, perhaps cryptos most prominent skeptic in Congress, told Semafor. We need to make sure we have curbs in place, like we do in every other part of our financial system, so that crypto cant be used by terrorists, drug traffickers and rogue nations, she added. Josephs view Harris has carefully chosen just a few policy areas to distinguish herself from Biden, and its notable that crypto is one of them. Shes now reiterated her support for the digital asset community at least twice in public, bringing on Cuban and former Trump aide Anthony Scaramucci to informally advise her campaign on crypto. The campaign-cash onslaught unleashed by the crypto industry makes it an attractive sector to court, at least as a possible insurance policy against it spending heavily against her. But friendliness during campaign season doesnt always translate into the same approach after an election so her stance on Stabenows regulatory proposal may be a better gauge of her crypto attitudes than any private meetings or speeches. The View From a crypto skeptic Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., argues the crypto sectors influence over Harris will be short-lived and limited to the 2024 campaign. He said hes also spoken with Harris team. He argued that Harris wouldnt dial back regulations and would stand firm on rules to prevent money laundering, as well as to compel crypto platforms to verify customers identities. This is a political season. The crypto people are flashing huge amounts of money, Sherman told Semafor. We know theyre playing big. If that means they get a meeting, they get a meeting. Notable Trump has warmed up to a crypto industry he once despised, per The Wall Street Journal. Harris crypto-friendliness could help her with young men who are breaking heavily for Trump, per Axios. Theres an influx of crypto cash in the Ohio Senate race, where crypto skeptic Sen. Sherrod Brown is facing off against GOP candidate Bernie Moreno, The Washington Post reported. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are out on the campaign trail in key swing states. Harris is in Pennsylvania, and Trump is in North Carolina. When we invest in those things that strengthen the middle class, it grows our economy, Harris said. Harris spent the day focusing on the top issue for voters: the economy. I have pledged that building a strong middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency, Harris said. She told the crowd in Pittsburgh she wants to boost Americas manufacturing and cut taxes. Under my plan, more than 100 million Americans will get a middle-class tax break, Harris said. Both Vice President Harris and former president Donald Trump talked about the importance of manufacturing nationwide. Trump was in the battleground state of North Carolina. Weve had enough. We cant take it anymore. Kamala Harris, you have fired. Get out! Trump said. He focused a lot of his speech on hammering out his plan to increase tariffs which are taxes on goods imported from another country. Im imposing tariffs on your competition from foreign countries. All these foreign countries that have ripped us off, Trump said. Harris says increasing tariffs will hurt middle-class families, but Trump pushes back on the claims. Kamala is not attacking me. Shes attacking you, a furniture job, shes attacking your community, Trump said. Trump is headed to Michigan later this week and Harris heads to Arizona. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. (This Sept. 26 story has been corrected to fix the company name to Novotrans, not Novaport, in paragraph 6) By Olga Popova and Gleb Stolyarov MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia, the world's leading wheat exporter, is expanding its Baltic Sea ports as it aims to boost agricultural exports by 50% by 2030 while reducing dependence on traditional Black Sea routes, officials and executives said. The country, which exported at least 72 million metric tons of grain in the 2023/24 season, is looking at new markets in Latin America and Africa to diversify from its traditional grain markets in North Africa and the Middle East. It has relied on its Black Sea ports to handle booming agricultural exports for the past decades but the conflict with Ukraine has made the area risky for shipping with both sides regularly striking each others facilities and infrastructure. "Last year with its record harvest showed that with the pace of loadings for exports, we do not have enough capacity," Ksenia Bolomatova, deputy head of state-controlled agricultural conglomerate OZK, which owns several Black Sea terminals, told an industry gathering in Sochi in southern Russia. In the last 18 months, Russia has launched two major ports, Vysotsky and Lugaport, in the Gulf of Finland, not far from St. Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin's hometown. Vysotsky shipped its first grain in April 2023, while Lugaport began operations in June this year and capacity is expected to reach 7 million tons by early 2025, according to its owner Novotrans. Dmitry Rylko from the IKAR agricultural consultancy said the two ports will be able to handle up to 15 million tons of agricultural exports, including grain, per year. That would account for a quarter of Russia's 60 million tons of grain exports forecast for the 2024/25 season. Private firm Primorsky UPK is also planning a grain terminal at Primorsky port with capacity of up to 5 million tons. EXPORT CONSTRAINTS Putin set out a goal to increase agricultural exports by 50% by 2030 as part of a strategy to cement the countrys position as an agriculture superpower along with Brazil, the United States and China. Russia has become the world's biggest exporter of wheat, corn, barley, and peas in the last decade, but further growth could be constrained by shipping capacity bottlenecks. Many Russian ports announced plans to boost capacity after record harvests in the last two years. The Baltic Sea terminals are expected to expand at a faster rate. "The expansion of the Baltic Sea terminals' capacity is a question of economic and transport security and sovereignty," Novotrans said in an emailed comment. Story continues Russian trade flows and shipments have so far seen no major disruptions in the Baltic, where 96% of the coastline belongs to NATO members, including Finland and Sweden. By contrast, disruptions are rising in the Black sea and could reduce global grain supplies, according to a report by the World Bank. Two weeks ago, a Ukrainian vessel carrying grain to Egypt was hit by a missile. In August, Russian local authorities said Ukraine sank a ferry carrying fuel tanks in Port Kavkaz, which is also used for transshipment of grain. ECONOMIC APPEAL Russian exported 62 million tons of grain by sea in the 2023/24 season with 90% of supplies going via the Black Sea, mostly to markets in the Middle East and North Africa. This share is set to fall as Baltic Sea infrastructure grows. Baltic Sea ports loaded 1.5 million tons of grain last season, a three-fold increase from the previous season but still just 2.4% of overall Russian exports, according to Reuters calculations based on publicly available data. Logistically, the Baltic has many advantages for grains exports, said Darya Snitko, vice president for Gazprombank, one of Russias largest banks and one of the biggest lenders to farmers. She said the ability of Baltic terminals to handle bigger ships should help reduce overall costs. "Supplies from the Baltic Sea beat (economics of) shipments from the Azov-Black Sea area when trading with countries in Africa outside the Mediterranean as well as Asia," she added. Vysotsky has been sending grain to Algeria, Brazil, Cuba, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia, according to data from logistics company Rusagrotrans. (Reporting by Olga Popova and Gleb Stolyarov; Writing by Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The results of a poll released Thursday find Democrats lead their Republican counterparts in the race for the White House in Virginia and for one of the states U.S. Senate seats. The Emerson College Polling/The Hill/DC News Now survey shows 52% of Virginia voters support Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race, compared to 44% for former President Donald Trump. Three percent of those polled said they were undecided. A poll in July 2024, conducted before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, found 45% of Virginia voters favored Trump, 43% supported Biden, and 11% remained undecided. Trumps support has not significantly shifted since Harris became the nominee in Virginia; instead, undecided voters have moved off the sidelines to back Kamala Harris, said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. There have been some demographic shifts underneath the toplines in July, independents broke 46% to 38% for Trump, now they break 52% to 38% for Harris. One of the most significant shifts occurred among women voters they broke by six points for Biden over Trump in July (47% to 41%), and now break by 20 points for Harris, 58% to 38%. Alsobrooks leads Hogan in Maryland Senate race, DC poll finds The Emerson College Polling/The Hill/DC News Now poll found that Harris fellow Democrat U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine leads Republican Hung Cao by 10 points, 51% to 41%, with 6% undecided. Kaine, the incumbent, has held a 10-point lead since the survey in July showed Kaine at 49%, compared to Caos 39%. The September 2024 poll found the top issue for Virginia voters is the economy. The issues following that are: housing affordability (14%), threats to democracy (12%), immigration (8%), abortion (6%), health care (6%), and education (6%). Voters who find the economy to be the top issue break for Trump, 68% to 30%, while voters who say housing affordability is the top issue facing Virginia break for Harris, 76% to 15%, Kimball noted. Forty percent of Virginia voters said they would like to see the states abortion laws to be less strict, while 39% think they should remain as they are. Twenty-two percent think they should be made more strict. Harris and Trump draw sharp contrasts Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin holds a 44% job approval rating, while 34% disapprove of the job he is doing. Biden holds a 40% job approval rating among Virginia voters, while 51% disapprove of his performance. Methodology The Emerson College Polling/The Hill/DC News Now Virginia survey was conducted September 22-24, 2024. The sample of likely voters, n=860, has a credibility interval, similar to a polls margin of error (MOE), of +/- 3.3 percentage points. The data sets were weighted by gender, education, race, age, party affiliation, and region based on 2024 likely voter modeling. Turnout modeling is based on information provided by voter registration/statewide demographic databases. It is important to remember that subsets based on demographics, such as gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity, carry with them higher credibility intervals, as the sample size is reduced. Survey results should be understood within the polls range of scores, and with a confidence interval of 95% a poll will fall outside the range of scores 1 in 20 times. Data was collected by contacting cell phones via MMS-to-web text, (list provided by Aristotle), and an online panel of voters provided by CINT. The survey was offered in English. All questions asked in this survey with the exact wording, along with full results, demographics, and cross tabulations can be found under Full Results. This survey was funded by Nexstar Media. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Harris pokes fun at Trumps obsession with her McDonalds job: I did the fries Kamala Harris doubled down on her burger-flipping duties at McDonalds during her college years, as Donald Trump continues to baselessly claim that the vice president is lying about her summer job. Harris has repeatedly noted her brief stint at the fast food chain before her first law job in the 1980s since she ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket. If elected in the 2024 election, shed make history as the first US president to have worked at McDonalds. A tetchy Trump, however, has repeatedly dismissed Harriss employment as fake. The vice president sat down with MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle in her first one-on-one network interview since she became the Democratic partys presidential nominee, and at one point poked fun at the former presidents obsession with her days at the Golden Arches. Kamala Harris sat down with MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday night in a one-on-one interview (MSNBC/YouTube) I just want to ask you, yes or no, Ruhle said. At any point in your life have you served two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions I have, Harris replied. It was not a small job, I did the fries. She continued: Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonalds is because there are people who work at McDonalds in our country who are trying to raise a family. I worked there as a student. Harris has repeatedly compared her more humble beginnings to Trumps wealthy background, suggesting the former president is out of touch with the average citizen. I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility, then, is to meet those needs. Harriss rebuttal comes after Trump once again taunted his Democratic rival for her McDonalds job during his Indiana, Pennsylvania, campaign rally on Monday. Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Ed Fry Arena in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on September 23 (AFP via Getty Images) The former president said that he was going to stop by a fast-food joint to try the French fry job for a bit to see how it is. She never worked there! And these fake news reporters will never report it, they dont want to report it because theyre fake, he added. Theyre fake. Trump first declared that Harris was lying about her culinary career at a Moms for Liberty convention at the end of August. Since then, hes fired off numerous social media posts accusing Harris of lying about her stint at McDonalds including a poorly Photoshopped picture of the vice president sporting the iconic Golden Arches cap in a restaurant. On Thursday, Trump took another swipe at the vice president during a Truth Social tirade, once again claiming that her one-time McDonalds job was a lie. Comrade Kamala Harris just put up an Ad saying that I.V.F. was banned in certain areas because of me. That is another LIE, just like her working at McDonalds was a LIE! he said. US Vice-President Kamala Harris, seeking to sharpen her economic message, pledged to usher in new investments in domestic manufacturing across a range of industries if elected to the White House in November. In a speech in the must-win state of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Harris cast herself as "a capitalist" with a pragmatic approach to boosting the middle class. An hour before the speech, her Republican rival Donald Trump touted his own economic agenda - including a 15% made-in-America tax proposal - while visiting North Carolina. Both candidates are campaigning in battleground states this week on their competing visions for the economy, a key issue that voters say is a top priority in casting a ballot. In a tacit rebuttal to Republican claims that she supports "communist" policies, Harris described herself as "a capitalist". "I promise you I will be pragmatic in my approach," she said at an event hosted by The Economic Club of Pittsburgh. Building on her vision for an "opportunity economy", Harris laid out new proposals to help young families, first time homebuyers and the elderly through $100bn worth in tax breaks and financial incentives. She vowed new investments in artifical intelligence, aerospace and energy development. Harris added, however, that tax rates for large corporations and the wealthiest Americans must rise so they "pay their fair share". She also promised to reform permitting to speed up building in the US, eliminate college degree requirements for federal jobs and increase union apprenticeships, if elected. I intend to chart a new way forward and grow Americas middle class she argued, while Trump has no intention to grow our middle class hes only interested in making life better for himself and people like himself. Later in her first major solo interview with MSNBC, Harris lambasted Trump, saying he "isn't very serious" on his tariff proposals and "constantly got played by China". You dont just throw around the idea of tariffs across the board," she said. "Hes just not serious about very many of these issues." Harris also pushed back for the first time on the Trump campaign's claim that she is lying about having worked at McDonald's as a university student. "Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonald's is because there are people who work at McDonald's in our country who are trying to raise a family," she said. "I worked there as a student." Harris's remarks came as she is seeking to chip away at Trump's advantage with voters on his handling of the economy. Though the race remains close, Harris has opened up a narrow lead in national polling since the two candidates met on a debate stage earlier this month. At a campaign event in Mint Hill, North Carolina, Trump defended his tariff proposals and suggested they were the reason "people in [other] countries want to kill me". Im imposing tariffs on your competition from foreign countries, all these foreign countries that have ripped us off, which stole all of your businesses and all of your jobs years ago, he said. He reminded supporters that, as president, he had passed the largest corporate tax cut in US history, from 35% to 21%. The centrepiece of his second term, he said, would be a "manufacturing renaissance" ushered in by a 15% tax rate for products made in America. The economy routinely emerges as the top issue for voters this November and both candidates have touted populist policies, with Harris appearing to mirror a Trump proposal to end taxation on service workers' tips. In her sitdown with MSNBC, Harris said that "Donald Trump has a history of taking care of rich people". "I'm not mad at anybody for being rich, but they should pay their fair share," she added, arguing that Trump advocates "tax cuts for the billionaires and the top corporations in our country". "My perspective on the economy is when you grow the middle class, Americas economy is stronger, and theres empirical evidence to prove my point correct." (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said keeping domestic control of steel production was more important than possible job losses if a proposed deal for Nippon Steel Corp., a Japanese company, to purchase United States Steel Corp. fell through. Most Read from Bloomberg Its most important that we maintain Americas ability to have American manufacturing of steel by American workers, Harris said Wednesday in an interview with MSNBC, when asked which concern weighed more heavily in her consideration of the deal. US Steel Chief Executive Officer David Burritt told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that the company would likely have to close plants and move its headquarters from Pittsburgh if the $14.1 billion deal wasnt consummated. But Harris said that her economic policy platform, which she detailed earlier in the day at a speech in Pittsburgh, included investing in emerging sectors including bio-manufacturing, aerospace, artificial intelligence, blockchain and nuclear energy. All of those would require manufacturing of steel as a fundamental part of what it accomplishes, she said. An American company manufacturing that steel for those new industries is going to be critically important, not only in terms of our economy, but also in the context of national security, Harris continued. While Harris had previously signaled her opposition to the Nippon Steel purchase, her comments Wednesday represented some of the most detailed rationale yet provided by the Biden administration. Harris met with steel workers whose union has opposed the acquisition during her trip to Pittsburgh. Earlier in the day, an arbitration panel sided with US Steel in a dispute with union workers over whether the proposed deal would breach labor agreements. While that clears one obstacle for the potential deal, others remain - including a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. While Nippon Steel was allowed to refile its request to the panel earlier this month likely pushing a decision on the takeover past the US election President Joe Biden and Harris Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, have both expressed their own opposition to the deal. --With assistance from Jennifer Epstein. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has said she supports Ukraine's vision for the end of the war. Source: live stream from the White House Quote from Harris: "Nothing about the end of this war can be decided without Ukraine. However, there are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations. These proposals are the same as those of Putin. And let us be clear: they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender." Details: Harris believes that if Russia's aggression is not stopped, NATO members could be Putin's next targets. She also stressed that Putin could end the war if he withdrew his troops from Ukraine. Harris assured Zelenskyy of her ongoing support for Ukraine, which she said is a strategic interest of the United States. She emphasised that the US must stand with its allies and partners, defend democratic values, and stand up to aggressors. Support UP or become our patron! Vice President Harris on Thursday said so-called Ukraine peace plans from some in the United States are proposals for surrender during an appearance alongside the countrys leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, who has come under Republican fire this week. There are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality, and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations, the vice president said. These proposals are the same as those of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable, she added. Harris and Zelensky met on Thursday afternoon, after the Ukrainian president met with President Biden and went to the Capitol to meet with bipartisan groups of House and Senate members. Harris did not name Republicans specifically in her remarks, but the visit comes as some members of the GOP have become increasingly isolationist, with former President Trump indicating that an end to the war should be prioritized over Ukraines victory. During a debate against Harris, he refused to say if he wants Ukraine to defeat Russia. Republicans in Congress have become increasingly divided over Ukraine, with many senior GOP House members aligned with Senate leaders in support of Ukraine, while a growing right-wing group wants to end assistance to Kyiv. Ukraine skeptics have grown louder this week after Zelensky went on a tour of a Pennsylvania weapons factory with Democrats, and criticized Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), in a magazine interview. Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, is aligned with Biden in her unwavering support for Ukraine and has reiterated that notion on the campaign trail, drawing a distinction with Trump. Putin started this war and he could end it tomorrow if he simply withdrew his troops from Ukraines sovereign territory, Harris said on Thursday. Nothing about the end of this war can be decided without Ukraine, Harris added, noting that she has conveyed that stance to other world leaders. Zelensky traveled to Washington after he attended the summit in New York at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week, where he pushed for the international community to embrace his peace plan, which includes the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. At the White House, Zelensky introduced a victory plan he had talked about for weeks. He had promised to show it to not just Biden and Harris but also to Trump, the GOP presidential nominee. There was no clear indication as of Thursday late afternoon of whether Trump would meet with Zelensky this week, though Trump claimed on his social media site, Truth Social, that Zelensky had requested a meeting for Friday. Zelensky offered little details of the victory plan but said on Thursday that we believe this war can be won. We have to keep pressure on Russia to stop the war and to make truly lasting and just peace, he said. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Thursday late afternoon that the meetings with Zelensky this week were a really good couple of days. Kirby did not outline the victory plan that Zelensky presented on Thursday but said broadly that it contains a series of initiatives and steps and objectives that President Zelensky believes will be important to end the war with Russia and prevent future ones. Zelenskys meeting with Biden comes as Russian forces are making steady progress in eastern Ukraine, putting Kyiv in a precarious position after more than two years of war. But overshadowing the meetings on Thursday were criticism from Republicans of Zelensky and Ukraines ambassador to the U.S. Republicans said they were not invited on the Pennsylvania visit and that it amounted to a campaign stop for Democrats, while other GOP lawmakers slammed Zelensky for calling Vance too radical in a New Yorker article published Sunday. At the meeting with lawmakers, Zelensky pushed for the U.S. to speed up arms shipments and lift a policy prohibiting Ukraine from carrying out deep strikes inside of Russia. Ahead of the Zelensky meeting, the White House had warned no such reversal was expected and there was no announcement on Thursday. On Wednesday, Putin issued a new threat to the U.S. and Western nations, saying Russia could carry out nuclear attacks on any nation that has the backing of a nuclear-armed country. Russia could be provoked if conventional missile strikes were directed at Moscow, Putin said, making what appears to be a veiled threat at the U.S. to not lift the policy prohibiting Ukraine from hitting deep into Russia. Ukraine has pushed for a reversal of the policy, particularly after Ukrainian troops invaded Russias Kursk region in early August, which was previously considered a likely red line. Kyiv argues that allowing it to use long-range missiles to hit deep into Russia can stop punishing Russian attacks, such as glide bombs, by targeting airfields and military sites. During the meeting with Zelensky, Biden said the U.S. will stand with Ukraine now and in the future, vowing Russia would not win the war. We have to ensure Ukraine has sufficient capabilities, I mean sufficient capabilities, to defend against future Russian aggression, so Im proud of the steps weve taken in our partnership on these fronts, Biden said. Ahead of the Zelensky meeting, the Biden administration on Thursday announced $5.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine, drawing billions from defense stocks. As part of the new aid, Biden pledged to Ukraine a Patriot defense battery and expanded F-16 pilot training. He also said $2 billion for Ukraine would be purchased through the defense industry. Biden directed the weapons to flow in the billions rather than the standard packages of a few hundred million because an extension of his drawdown authority was not included in a continuing resolution passed by Congress this week to keep the federal government temporarily funded through Dec. 20. The aid is expected to arrive in Ukraine by the end of Bidens term on Jan. 20. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MSNBC Vice President Kamala Harris has rejected Donald Trumps recent assertion that, if elected, he will serve as the protector of women. During an MSNBC interview Wednesday, the Democratic nominee for president cited her rivals pride about the overturning of Roe v. Wadedespite its negative consequences, as seen recently with the deaths of two women in Georgia. When asked to react to Trumps comment from Monday, Harris began her response by pointing to how Trump said in 2016 that there has to be some form of punishment for women who have abortions if the procedure was banned. Trump said women should be punished for exercising a decision that they rightly should be able to make about their own body and their future, Harris told anchor Stephanie Ruhle. So I think we would all agree that as a result of that perspective that he has about women, he also then chose three members of the United States Supreme Court who did as he intended: undid the protections of Roe v. Wade. Now, in state after state you see laws being passed that do punish women, Harris continued, referencing how Georgias Republican state legislators have since made it a felony to perform a routine dilation and curettage procedure. Two women died as a result, ProPublica reported earlier this month. Trump, With a Straight Face, Tells Women: I Am Your Protector Heart-wrenching storiesand thats for the listener, much less their family, Harris said. The family of one of those women, Amber Nicole Thurman, who left behind a 6-year-old boy, appeared at a Harris campaign event last week, where they and Harris agreed that Thurmans death was preventable. Harris concluded that the protection pledge from Trump, who was found liable for sexual abuse last year, didnt amount to much at all. I dont think the women of America need him to say hes going to protect them. The women of America need him to trust them, Harris said. Can we trust you? Ruhle asked. Yes, Harris replied. Im not perfect, but I will tell you: Im always going to put the needs of the people first. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday pledged to continue support to Ukraine as she met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss his so-called "victory plan" to bring an end to war with Russia. Harris cast the conflict as a fight for fundamental principles of "freedom and independence." "We also know that other would-be aggressors around the world are watching to see what happens in Ukraine," Harris said. "If Putin is allowed to win, they will become emboldened, and history reminds us, and history is so clear in reminding us, the United States cannot and should not isolate ourselves from the rest of the world. Isolation is not insulation." MORE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discusses 'Victory Plan' he will present to Biden: GMA exclusive Harris also appeared to take a swipe at her political opponents -- former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance -- who've floated Ukraine ceding territory to Russia as part of negotiations to end the war. "However, in candor, I share with you Mr. President, there are some in my country who would, instead, force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forego security relationships with other nations," Harris said. "These proposals are the same of those of Putin. And let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable," she added. PHOTO: Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sept. 26, 2024, in the vice president's ceremonial office inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) This is Zelenskyy's fifth visit to Washington since Russia's invasion began in Feb. 2022, and he now faces an increasingly partisan environment with an election just weeks away. Trump ratcheted up his criticism of Zelenskyy and Ukraine on Wednesday, calling Zelenskyy the "greatest salesman on Earth" and painting a picture of an "obliterated Ukraine." The former president suggested Ukraine should've made a "deal" before the war started. Trump said, "If they made a bad deal it wouldve been much better. They wouldve given up a little bit and everybody would be living." Trump also accused Zelenskyy of making "little, nasty aspersions" about him, likely referring to Zelenskyy's comments to The New Yorker casting doubt on Trump's claim he could quickly end the Russia-Ukraine war. PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers remarks to the press at Trump Tower in New York, on Sept. 26, 2024. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) After sources said Wednesday Trump was not expected to meet with Zelenskyy, Trump told reporters Thursday afternoon Zelenskyy had asked to meet and that they would do so Friday morning at Trump Tower. "I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelenskyy quite quickly," Trump said. But when asked what that would look like, he responded, "I don't want to tell you what that looks like." And when asked to respond to what a reporter said was Harris' suggestion his strategy amounted to "surrender" to Russia, Trump said, "No, I don't think so. I don't think so. And, it's not a surrender. What my strategy is to save lives. I want to save lives." He went on to claim "millions" were dead. When ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott asked if Ukraine should turn over some of its land to Russia, as his running mate suggested, Trump said: Well see what happens. Lets get some peace. We need peace. We need to stop the death and destruction." Zelenskyy has called Vance "too radical," taking issue with his statements that a Trump-Vance administration's approach to the war would likely include Ukraine ceding territory to Russia and the current line of demarcation becoming a demilitarized zone. Vance said on Wednesday that "everything would be on the table" when asked if Ukraine should give up some of its land. MORE: Trump lashes out at Zelenskyy after Ukraine's leader questioned his claim he could end war Earlier Thursday, Zelenskyy met with bipartisan members of Congress on Capitol Hill. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson did not meet Zelenskyy. Johnson told reporters he would not be in town, but if he had sat down with Zelenskyy, would have aired grievances about his tour of an American munitions manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania. Zelenskyy made the case to lawmakers for permission to strike deeper into Russia at military targets using U.S.-supplied weapons. Several senators on both sides of the aisle expressed a desire for Biden to give Zelenskyy authorization to do so. PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, walks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as he arrives for a briefing with lawmakers at the Capitol, Sept. 26, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) But the White House continued to express opposition to such a move. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, peppered with questions on the issue during Thursday's briefing, told reporters not to "expect any new announcements" coming out of Zelenskyy's one-on-one meeting with Biden. "Our policy has not changed," Jean-Pierre said. "They're going to talk on a range of issues today. What we can say and what we can commit to is that we will continue to support Ukraine as they continue their fight against Mr. Putin's aggression, into Ukraine. And so that is our commitment, that's what the president is focused on." PHOTO: President Joe Biden meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House, Sept. 26, 2024. (Susan Walsh/AP) In the Oval Office, Biden said he looked forward to discussing Zelenskyy's "victory plan" and said he saw two key pieces in aiding Ukraine. The first, Biden said, was to "strengthen Ukraine's position on the battlefield." He then highlighted the new $2.4 billion package of security systems announced earlier Thursday and his directive to the Pentagon to allocate all remaining security system funding by the end of his term. MORE: Biden administration pledges new glide bombs to Ukraine ahead of Zelenskyy White House meeting The second, Biden said, was to "look ahead to help Ukraine succeed in the long term" by helping Ukraine join NATO and the European Union as well as reforms to counter corruption, strengthen democracy and enhance security in the nation. "Let me be clear: Russia will not prevail in war. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and we'll continue to stand by you every step of the way," Biden said. ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Allison Pecorin, Lauren Peller, Michelle Stoddart and Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report. Harris, standing with Zelenskyy, indirectly jabs at Trump and Vance on Ukraine views originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Vice President Harris will travel Friday to Douglas, Ariz., to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. The Harris campaign announced the trip to the border, across from Agua Prieta, Mexico, on Wednesday. Former President Trump criticized Harris for the planned trip earlier this week, saying she was only visiting the border for political reasons. The former president has sought to keep the border a hot-button issue for voters ahead of November, consistently bashing Harris and the Biden administration for their border policies. The Trump campaigns first ad when Harris took over at the top of the Democratic ticket in July bashed her for her role in the administration addressing migration to the U.S. border. House Republicans also approved a resolution in July that condemned Harris as the administrations border czar after she was tasked in 2021 with addressing the root causes of migration. Meanwhile, Harris has touted her record on immigration policy, arguing in a recent ad that shes tougher than Trump on the issue. After her trip Friday to the border in Arizona, Harris will travel to San Francisco to participate in a political event there Saturday. She will then campaign in Los Angeles and Nevada on Sunday as part of her West Coast swing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. From an aerial view a Texas National Guard soldier inspects razor wire along the bank of the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border on Sept. 18, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. Immigrant border crossings remain low months after the Biden Administration's executive order banning most asylum claims at the southern border. Credit - John MooreGetty Images Mexico, remarkably, is a word that is barely being mentioned in the lead up to the U.S. presidential election. It is not being discussed much on the campaign trail, even though the southern border and immigration are central protagonists in the contest. It takes two sides to have a border, but U.S. political discourse these days treats the 2,000-mile-border with Mexico as if it were the wardrobe leading to Narnia, or the edge of the known world represented by dragons on maps from antiquity. Pet-eating dragons, in Donald Trumps narrative. Who knows, really, what were bordering. Our southern neighbor and top trading partner was mentioned once in passing in the Sept. 10 presidential debate, and only in the context of auto manufacturing and trade policy. There was no mention of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador; the years of wrangling with his administration over various aspects of immigration policy; Mexicos current democratic backsliding or the imminent arrival of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum; the looming joint review of the USMCA trade agreement that must occur by 2026, the high-profile frictions around combating cartel drug lords. Nada specific. Its not surprising that talk about the border and immigration no longer borders anything resembling the real world. From the very day Donald Trump announced his first presidential run in June 2015, he has ruthlessly demonized immigrants as mystical, treacherous scapegoats for all our ills. And regardless of how much Trumps insidious talk of Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating pets gets mocked, or how he fares at the ballot box in November, the sad truth is that he has succeeded in shifting the center of gravity on immigration in our politics. All sides seem to accept the dangerous Trumpian worldview. Vice President Kamala Harris rightly condemns Trumps more racist pronouncements and exaggerations, but neither she nor Democratic candidates in tight congressional races appear eager (judging by the commercials I am being bombarded with in my battleground state of Arizona) to push back on his movements premise that we are being invaded. Instead, they engage in arguments about whos to blame for too many people coming, and whos tough enough to handle the supposed crisis. I dont see much of an appetite to point out that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans, that we need more legal pathways to attract the workforce we rely on, or that countless economists point out that immigration remains a huge competitive advantage for the U.S. at a time of low unemployment and an aging population. And I certainly dont see political leaders refuting Trumps doomsday proclamations by reminding voters that, whatever todays frictions in the relationship, in the grand scheme of things the U.S. is very fortunate to border Canada and Mexico. Indeed, sharing North America with these two friendly neighbors that dont harbor ill will has provided the U.S. a luxury that no other continental power has enjoyed in modern history. Much like the island-based British Empire in its heyday, the U.S. has been free to project force around the world without having to worry about its own borders. Its no wonder generations of national security and foreign policy elites in Washington are often more conversant in Russian, East Asian, and Middle Eastern affairs and geography than anything having to do with Canada or Mexico. Harris has rightly accused Trump of preferring to exploit the idea of a border crisis to addressing it. But Trump hardly started this countrys venerable tradition of treating our most important trading partner with complacent, benign neglect. Because Mexico hasnt posed a pressing threat to the U.S. for over a century, it could languish off the priority list of policymaking and most Americans. My home of Phoenix is one of the most vibrant metropolises of what I like to call MexUs, the glorious swath of the U.S. that was once part of Mexico, which spans from northern California to the Texas Gulf shores. If MexUs were its own country, it would be home to more than 85 million people and the third largest economy in the world. I often point this out in speaking about the relationship (even to groups of military officials), not to make a huge deal of the fact that so much land changed hands as the result of a war that both Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant decried as immoral, but to suggest we should be more appreciative of the fact that it isnt a huge deal in the relationship. Elsewhere in the world, you can find flashpoints of ongoing tension and hostility between neighbors in many places where far less impressive slivers of land than California or Texas changed hands. The U.S. has a long track record of dealing decisively and effectively with existential threats. If the border did pose the national security crisis Trump and his MAGA allies suggest it does, we wouldnt be relying on a federal law enforcement agency with fewer deployed officers than the NYPD to address it. Nor would we continue to muddle through with our lackadaisical and incoherent set of immigration policies that can be summed up as conflicting signs posted along the border, one reading Do Not Trespass; the other Help Wanted: Inquire Within. Yet this approach isnt a cost-free indulgence. With all the nonsensical talk of invading migrants and the border crisis, legitimate challenges and frictions arent being addressed. It is an affront to the rule of law to rely on a workforce of millions of undocumented migrant workers forced to live in the shadows because we havent provided adequate legal pathways for immigration. And you dont have to be an anti-immigrant zealot to agree that in the absence of such realistic legal channels for immigration, the asylum-seeking process has been abused and that border infrastructure and public services in some communities when the number of arrivals spike are overwhelmed. But these are solvable problems if we were in a problem-solving mood. As for our relationship with Mexico, in a more rational policymaking universe we would engage with its government to develop a regional, North American migration policy that reflected our interdependence. After all, in 2023 more than half the migrants seeking to cross our southern border came from countries beyond Mexico, and the occasional overwhelming spikes in arrivals tend to be driven by events in Venezuela or Central America. North America would do well to have a coordinated approach to immigration for the entire region, in the same way the European Union does. We would also try to align our energy policies and work toward shoring up the rule of law and democracy. The U.S.-Mexico relationship should be a considerable asset for both countries, but politics undermines its potential. This is also true of Americas own relationship with its immigrant population, not to mention our heritage as a nation of immigrants. Immigration is a blessing the U.S. needs to nurture and manage, but our shared politicized narratives on the subject are veering so dangerously off course that a serious contender for the presidency can pass off talk of deporting millions of hardworking immigrants as a sensible proposal. If we continue down this road, we may end up with a truly existential crisis, not just one made up to fire up a political campaign. Contact us at letters@time.com. Key Insights Sime Darby Berhad's significant sovereign wealth funds ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public 60% of the business is held by the top 2 shareholders 37% of Sime Darby Berhad is held by Institutions A look at the shareholders of Sime Darby Berhad (KLSE:SIME) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 44% to be precise, is sovereign wealth funds. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Institutions, on the other hand, account for 37% of the company's stockholders. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Sime Darby Berhad. View our latest analysis for Sime Darby Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Sime Darby Berhad? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Sime Darby Berhad. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. 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 Sime Darby Berhad's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Sime Darby Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Permodalan Nasional Berhad is currently the largest shareholder, with 44% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 16% and 6.6% of the stock. To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 2 shareholders have a majority ownership in the company, meaning that they are powerful enough to influence the decisions of the company. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Sime Darby Berhad While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. 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. Story continues Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Sime Darby Berhad in their own names. It's a big company, so even a small proportional interest can create alignment between the board and shareholders. In this case insiders own RM3.0m worth of shares. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership With a 19% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Sime Darby Berhad. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. 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. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Sime Darby Berhad 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. (Bloomberg) -- Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the US-Mexico border on Friday in an attempt to show voters that she has a firm grasp on the issue of immigration and border security, a key policy concern in the November election. Most Read from Bloomberg Harris will travel to Douglas, Arizona on Friday, according to her campaign, kicking off a West Coast swing that also includes California and Nevada. In Arizona, a battleground state where Harris has been deadlocked against Trump, Harris plans to tout her efforts to bring forth a bipartisan bill that would address border security and the influx of fentanyl, according to a campaign aide who asked not to be named while discussing a trip still being planned. Harris will look to point blame at former President Donald Trump for the failure of that legislation to pass Congress, claiming that he blocked Republican support for political purposes, the aide added. We do have a broken immigration system and it needs to be fixed, said Harris in an interview Wednesday with MSNBC. My pledge is that when elected president, if the American people will have me, I will bring that bill back and I will sign it into law. Immigration remains a cornerstone of Trumps election pitch, and in August he toured Montezuma Pass, Arizona, a border area in a swing state. He has pledged to complete the construction of a border wall and to carry out the largest deportation effort in US history. A Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll conducted in late August showed the presidential race was closest in Arizona, where the two candidates were deadlocked, and where immigration and the opioid epidemic are front of mind for voters. The former president has repeatedly attacked Harris for what he calls weak border security stances and mocked her as the border czar referring to her work on solving the root causes of immigration during the early years of the Biden administration. Earlier: Trump Threatens Tariffs on Nations That Dont Take Back Migrants In the same Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll, 6 in 10 swing-state voters said immigration was a very important issue in deciding who to support. At the time, 53% of respondents across the seven swing states polled said they trusted Trump more to handle immigration versus 39% who put their faith in Harris. --With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron. (Updates throughout with additional comments from Harris, aide) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- US Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to create a national stockpile of critical minerals, saying a cache of the materials used in everything from batteries to defense systems is needed for economic and national security. Most Read from Bloomberg The plan, part of a broader $100 billion industrial policy vision Harris campaign laid out Wednesday, also called for new incentives and the use of emergency government powers under the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to increase domestic processing of critical minerals. Increased domestic production will be paired with innovative and sustainable steps to build stronger critical mineral supply chains alongside our allies and partners, including by incentivizing investments that expand US and allied production of these resources, the Harris campaign said in a statement. These efforts will reduce our dependence on China, which leads production on many critical minerals. As part of the plan, the campaign said Harris was proposing America Forward tax credits to be used in the energy, manufacturing and agricultural sectors that would be linked to the treatment of workers and paid for in part by Harris proposal to overhaul the international tax system. Critical minerals which include dozens of materials including antimony, lithium, and cobalt are those considered essential to the economy and at risk of supply disruption. The House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the US and the Chinese Communist Party in December recommended creating a reserve of critical minerals to insulate American producers from price volatility and protect against Chinas weaponization of its dominance in critical mineral supply chains. The committee also recommended spending $1 billion to expand an existing National Defense Stockpile, an inventory of critical minerals managed by the Defense Department that is used to provide emergency access to domestic manufacturers for defense purposes. Over the past several decades, China has cornered the market for processing and refining of key critical minerals, leaving the US and our allies and partners vulnerable to supply chain shocks and undermining economic and national security, the White House said in a statement last week. As the world builds a clean energy economy, demand for critical minerals is projected to grow exponentially. (Updates with tax credit details in fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. LGBTQ advocates are expressing concern after FBI data released this week revealed that despite a decrease in violent crime across the U.S., hate crimes particularly against their community increased in 2023. Despite regular conservative rhetoric that violent crime is on the rise, the FBI findings, which are based on local law enforcement submissions, showed a 3% overall decrease from 2022 to 2023. Thats a return to what had been years of falling crime rates since the 1990s, with the exception of an increase amid the social upheaval starting with the 2020 pandemic. But the new data also showed hate crimes have increased in the past two years, with the largest increase against LGBTQ people. Analysis by ABC News revealed there were at least 2,389 recorded incidents where bias against a victims sexual orientation, excluding heterosexuality, was a motivator. In 2022, that number was about 2,188 and about 1,300 in 2021. Members of the Queens Latino trans community and their allies set up a memorial for trans people killed across America, Nov. 20, 2023, in the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images ABC News also reported that gender identity-based incidents have increased from 307 recorded offenses in 2021 to 515 in 2022 and 547 in 2023. Multiple LGBTQ advocates said the FBI data tracks with what theyve been seeing in recent years. In an email to HuffPost, Sasha Buchert, director of the Non-Binary and Transgender Rights Project, attributed the escalation of hate and violence to how far-right politicians talk about LBGTQ people. Such attacks are heartbreaking and despicable, and are badly out of step with American support of LGBTQ people, who are part of our families, our communities, and our country, Buchert said. Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign president, said in a press release that public acceptance of LGBTQ people has continued to grow, in spite of the hate the community faces. Make no mistake, politicians who spread disinformation and demonize our lives are contributing to this violence, Robinson said. The ACLU is currently tracking more than 500 proposed bills and policies that target LGBTQ+ people, including, but not limited to, barriers to accurate IDs, health care restrictions and weakening of civil rights laws. This trend needs to end. LGBTQ+ people need full non-discrimination protections in law, nationwide. All law enforcement agencies must commit to fully reporting data on hate crimes in their communities, Robinson said in her statement. And politicians and community leaders across the country need to stop lying about our community and inciting hatred against us. Heron Greenesmith, deputy director of policy at the Transgender Law Center, told HuffPost in an email that they saw this coming with the rise of anti-trans rhetoric, the rise in anti-trans legislation, and now were seeing the rise in anti-trans violence. Greenesmith added that after acknowledging the violence, the solution is to actively work to find community-based alternatives to policing. They noted that hate crime laws have resulted in longer prison sentences that disproportionately impact Black and other people of color. The carceral system is not a safe place for anyone, they said. We do not need hate crimes laws to keep us safe. In fact, we keep us safe. Related... BOSTON (WWLP) After a signing ceremony for a bill that helps Massachusetts compete for federal funding, Governor Healey addressed how her close ties to the Biden-Harris administration have impacted Massachusetts ability to get money. This bill, which sets aside interest from the states stability fund to go towards fighting for federal funding, has raised questions about the states ability to secure funding under a potential second Trump administration considering Healeys close relationship with the current White House. The governor says all the credit for securing federal funding goes to her team. Unless you submit applications that meet the moment, that show them to be not just qualified applications but really well done applications then youre not going to get those federal dollars, Healey said yesterday. Still, Governor Healey says she advocates for Massachusetts whenever she speaks to the president, vice president, or members of congress. Certainly as governor, Ill be the first to brag on the state, Ill be the first to go to D.C., Ill be the first to pick up the phone and ask for money, said Healey. Certainly Ill never pass up an opportunity to plug Massachusetts. The governor is an outspoken advocate for Kamala Harris for President, although she says that is unrelated to Massachusetts ability to secure federal funding. Governor Healey says she will continue to fight for federal funding for Massachusetts regardless of who our next president is. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. BOSTON (SHNS) Gov. Maura Healey continued to put her imprint on the judiciary Wednesday, tapping Justice Amy Blake to be elevated to the first female chief justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Blake has been a justice of the Appeals Court since 2014 and, if her elevation is confirmed by the Governors Council, would succeed Chief Justice Mark Green, who resigned earlier this month after a nearly seven-year tenure as chief. Blakes judicial career began on the Family and Probate Court in 2008 and she moved to the Appeals Court in 2014, nominated both times by Gov. Deval Patrick. Justice Blakes decade of service on the Massachusetts Appeals Court and additional experience with the Probate and Family Court and in private practice make her an outstanding candidate for Chief Justice, Healey said in her announcement. Im proud to nominate her and appreciate the Governors Councils review of her nomination. Im also grateful for Chief Justice Mark Green for his leadership on the Appeals Court. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said Blake is uniquely qualified to lead the states intermediate appellate court, which consists of a chief justice and 24 associate justices. The governors calendar for August shows that Healey held an interview in her ceremonial office with Blake on the morning of Friday, Aug. 16. The governor interviewed another associate justice of the Appeals Court, Kenneth Desmond, in her office that afternoon. Before becoming a judge, Blake was a partner at the Boston law firm Casner & Edwards; an associate and partner at White, Inker, Aronson; and an associate at Yasi & Yasi. She worked for two years as an assistant district attorney in Middlesex County and also has been an adjunct faculty member at New England Law. Blake graduated from the University of Rochester and New England Law. She lives in Peabody. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The preliminary hearing for a protester accused of threatening to kill Bakersfield City Council members will continue Thursday morning. The hearing for Riddhi Patel began Wednesday and is expected to last into next week. At its conclusion, Judge Brian M. McNamara will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to order her to stand trial. Man pushing disabled vehicle dies after being struck by another car Riddhi Patel sits next to Deputy Public Defender Jacob Evans during a Sept. 25 court hearing. 17 News will live blog Thursdays proceedings. The hearing is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. Patel was criticizing security measures at an April 10 city council meeting claiming the measures were retaliation against protesters who demanded the council pass a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza when she said, Well see you at your house, well murder you. Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage She was arrested immediately afterward and charged with 21 felony counts. Prosecutors allege Patel threatened all council members, the city attorney, Mayor Karen Goh and other city officials present at the meeting. Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage Following her arrest, Patel was fired from her job with an environmental advocacy group. As part of her bail conditions, she was ordered to turn in her passport, remain in the state and be placed on GPS monitoring. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Billing Aquadrome in Northamptonshire has already been submerged in floodwater and more heavy rain has been forecasted [PA Media] A warning of further heavy rain has been upgraded for parts of the East of England already affected by flooding. The Met Office has announced a new amber alert for Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire between 18:00 BST on Thursday and 06:00 on Friday. It previously issued a yellow warning for the areas, which remained in place for Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk until 09:00 on Friday. The Met Office said its fresh warning meant the bad weather could "affect communities recovering from recent flooding". Heavy rain was expected to fall across large patches of the UK from Thursday evening [PA Media] It said: "Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears." It meant properties could be flooded, communities cut off by submerged roads, routes closed, public transport disrupted and power cuts or other utilities affected. Slow-moving showers and thunderstorms were expected to develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain during the evening, before clearing south. For areas affected by the amber warning, about 30 to 40mm (1.18 to 1.57in) of rain could fall in three hours or less, and perhaps 50 to 60mm or (1.97 to 2.36in) over about six hours. Specific areas of the East of England - including Bedford, Peterborough and Milton Keynes - have been mentioned as part of the amber warning. People in these areas were advised to avoid travelling by road during the potentially dangerous conditions and not to drive, walk or swim through any floodwater. Householders and business owners could also prepare a flood kit comprising of essentials, including insurance and other important documents, as well as prescription medicines. Parts of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire have already been badly affected by flooding, with roads closed and some schools shut on Monday. Heavy rain was expected to sweep across large swathes of the UK, and the Met Office warned "lightning and strong, gusty winds may be additional hazards, especially in south-west coastal areas". "Given the recent very wet weather, this will bring the potential for further flooding and transport disruption," it added. The Met Office advised people to check if their property could be at risk of flooding and consider a plan of what to do, review any travel plans, be prepared for any power cuts and stay updated with weather forecasts. The A421 remained closed in both directions [BBC] Heavy rain already meant a major road in Bedford was closed since Sunday, when a roadside pumping station became flooded. Articulated tankers and pumping equipment were used to try to clear the A421 in both directions - between the A6, at Bedford, to the M1 junction 13, near Brogborough and Marston Moretaine. More than 40 people were also rescued from a holiday park in Northamptonshire overnight on Tuesday. Billing Aquadrome, in Great Billing, was evacuated for a third time this year because of flooding. The rest centre at Lings Forum Leisure Centre housed 52 people and 22 displaced dogs, the county's fire and rescue service said. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk. More on this story Related internet links A contingent of hecklers drowned out a press conference held Thursday by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his supporters as he rejected calls to resign following news of his federal indictment on criminal corruption charges. Adams said there was no circumstance in which he would resign, when asked by a reporter at the mayors official residence. Some New York Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had called for Adams to step aside Wednesday night when news of the indictment, which at the time had been sealed, broke. No, no. Listen, Im here, I was elected by the people of this city, Adams responded to the reporter. This is a city that is extremely resilient. This is a city, we have gone through some difficult and hard times and we are going to continue to move forward as a city. Adams, surrounded by Black clergy members who supported him, was met with protesters at his media availability, even before he began his remarks. Adams largely ignored their attacks and calls to resign, but the group continued to grow in numbers and in volume as the press conference continued. At the end of the press conference, they shouted, resign, as Adams walked away with his supporters. You are a disgrace to all Black people in this city, one protester was heard saying at the start of the press conference, with another demonstrator calling him an embarrassment. This is not a Black day. This is a justice day, another critic said. There was at least one member of the audience shouting on behalf of Adams. While Adams refrained from attacking the protesters too forcefully, his supporters who spoke at the microphone after he did spoke directly to them at times. Hes not resigning. Hes not quitting. Were standing behind him, one of the speakers said, trying to shut down the protesters as they grew louder. The calls to resign from protesters add to the pressure from some local officials, including Ocasio-Cortez, who called for his resignation Wednesday night. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration, Ocasio-Cortez said in a post on the social platform X. Adamss public address came shortly after a federal criminal indictment against him was unsealed and just before federal prosecutors addressed the charges at their own press conference. Adams faces five counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and bribery. Adams addressed the media, vowing to continue on as mayor and asking the public not to rush to judgment before hearing his defense. We are not surprised. We expected this, Adams said at the start of his prepared remarks. This is not surprising to us at all. The actions that have unfolded over the past 10 months the leaks, the commentary, the demonizing this did not surprise us that we reached this day. I ask to wait and hear our side to this narrative. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, he added. My day to day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Helene dumps rains on Charlotte, as mountains brace for 20 and catastrophic flooding Hurricane Helene showers arrived in Charlotte Thursday morning, as the North Carolina mountains braced for up to 20 of rain and what the National Weather Service has labeled catastrophic flooding. At 10 a.m. Thursday, Charlotte Douglas International Airport was under a Helene-spawned tornado warning, along with Belmont and Mount Holly in Gaston County. Radar indicated a tornado, NWS meteorologists said, but there were no confirmed reports. This is an unusually dangerous storm that threatens to bring catastrophic rains, Gov. Roy Cooper said at an 11 a.m. news conference Thursday. It can be deadly. Beware and prepare. Drivers should stay off roads, especially in the mountains and foothills, although even Charlotte could see flooding despite not being in the path of the storm, Cooper said. We have lost too many North Carolinians who have driven around barricades and into floodwaters, Cooper said. Gusts up to 50 mph are expected in Charlotte late Thursday and early Friday, NWS meteorologists said. The storm is predicted to dump 2 to 3 of rain on Charlotte, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. AIRPORT FLIGHT STATUS: Helene causing delays at CLT The Charlotte area, Upstate South Carolina and the N.C. foothills could see widespread downed trees, and numerous power outages (are) likely, the NWS office in Greer, South Carolina, said on Twitter. Tornadoes threaten the region through Friday morning, NWS forecasters said. 10,000 without power in NC mountains Nearly 10,000 Duke Energy customers were without power in the North Carolina mountains at 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the company outage map. Most were in the Asheville and Hendersonville areas, and 1,000 were in Franklin. Statewide, 14,000 had no power, Cooper said. No outages were reported in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. ARE SCHOOLS CLOSED? Updates from CMS as Helene arrives In the Carolinas mountains, catastrophic flash-flooding is expected along numerous streams, with possibly historic flooding near the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the NWS said on X, the former Twitter, just before 8 a.m. Landslides/debris flows expected through at least Friday, the NWS said. Shelters opened Thursday in Avery, Buncombe and McDowell counties, emergency officials said. Excessive rainfall and flooding can lead to landslides. Sign up to receive emergency alerts to stay aware of hazards like landslides in your area. Have a plan and act quickly if your area is under a Landslide Warning. #ReadyNC pic.twitter.com/hWc8HrVgCg NC Emergency Management (@NCEmergency) September 25, 2024 Thursday morning, Helene became a category 2 hurricane, with significant additional strengthening expected before landfall in Florida, according to a National Hurricane Center bulletin. Helene was about 320 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, with 100 mph winds. Charlotte airport flight delays American Airlines issued travel alerts on Wednesday for airports in the Southeast, including Charlotte Douglas International Airport. American accounts for about 87% of all flights out of CLT. In less than two days as of noon Thursday 471 CLT flights were disrupted, according to tracking site FlightAware.com. Gov. Cooper declares NC State of Emergency Cooper declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, activating the National Guard and deploying swift-water teams in advance of Helene. Helene threatens heavy rain, flash flooding, landslides, and damaging winds to the mountains and Piedmont areas of our state, Cooper said in a statement. Now is the time for North Carolinians to prepare, make sure emergency kits are up-to-date and pay attention to the weather alerts in your area. On Thursday, Cooper said Helenes path is wide, and its impacts will be felt far from the center of the storm. Charlotte officials said crews are preparing for heavy rain and strong gusts knocking down trees and limbs. Call 911 immediately if a tree or part of a tree has fallen and blocks a road, officials said. Duke Energy called in power line and tree crews from other states. Wind damage and flooding could delay restoring power, but its crews will do so as quickly and safely as possible, according to a company statement Thursday morning. Charlotte Motor Speedway opened its campgrounds at noon Wednesday for Helene evacuees from across the Southeast. Evacuees should check in at the Camping World Racing Resort office at 6600 Bruton Smith Blvd. in Concord. Caldwell County also declared a state of emergency. Haywood County in the mountains urged residents to prepare for possible evacuation due to flooding from Helene. School closings Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials canceled in-person classes for the rest of the week. The district will move to remote learning on Friday, with classes to be completed asynchronously, meaning there wont be any face-to-face instruction, according to a weather alert posted on the CMS website. After school activities for Thursday and Friday are canceled, according to the district. Athletic events will be rescheduled. Check The Charlotte Observers updates on school closings here. This is a developing story that will be updated. Observer staff Writers Chase Jordan and Evan Moore and Adam Wagner of The News & Observer contributed. Catastrophic flash-flooding is expected along numerous streams, especially in the NC/SC mountains and NE GA. Flooding of mainstem rivers is expected, with major to possibly historic flooding near the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Landslides/debris flows expected through at least Friday. pic.twitter.com/i4yazbbQKD NWS GSP (@NWSGSP) September 26, 2024 Wind gusts of 45 to 60 mph are expected tonight into Friday, with brief 60 to 70 mph gusts possible across the western part of the area. Widespread downed trees and numerous power outages likely. Isolated tornadoes are possible through Friday morning. pic.twitter.com/MAuyVTTozW NWS GSP (@NWSGSP) September 26, 2024 As Southwest Airlines held its Investor Day Thursday, CEO Bob Jordan said a $2.5 billion stock buyback and a new three-year financial plan heralds a new era of transformation at the airline. Southwest said the plan includes cuts, capital reallocation and an improved flying experience for customers. Photo courtesy Southwest Airlines Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Southwest Airlines Thursday authorized $2.5 billion for stock buybacks to defeat a bid from activist shareholder hedge fund Elliot Management. Southwest shares rose roughly 10% on news of the action. The stock buyback authorization coincides with the airline's investor day Thursday and a comprehensive three-year plan to cut costs, improve customer service and re-allocate capital. Southwest said it expects its three-year reform plan to add $4 billion to company earnings in 2027 with a return on investment of 15% or higher. "We're now ushering in a new era at Southwest, moving swiftly and deliberately to transform the Company by elevating the Customer Experience, improving financial performance, and driving sustainable Shareholder value," Southwest CEO Bob Jordan explained in a Thursday statement. Southwest said it will outline its next steps in "a comprehensive three-year plan that builds upon the company's unique business model for an even better Southwest." Former Spirit Airlines CEO Bob Fornaro will join the Southwest board of directors. Elliot Management owns about 10% of Southwest shares. Elliot wants to get rid of current management and force a comprehensive business review, insisting leadership change is needed to deal with the airline's financial challenges. Jordan said Elliot Investment shows no real interest in working with Southwest Airlines management. "We have demonstrated that willingness time and again through our attempts and engagement, but time and again, Elliott has demonstrated little or no interest in collaborating with Southwest on how to deliver more shareholder value, focusing instead, as evidenced by their most recent letter and recent action, on tactics and on gamesmanship," Jordan said. On Wednesday, Southwest told its workers Atlanta service will be cut in 2025 with more than 300 flight attendants and pilots from the city facing layoffs. What customers can expect Changes for customers include assigned seating rather than open seating and premium seating with extra legroom and an updated boarding process. "Southwest will offer extra legroom options with up to five additional inches of pitch for approximately a third of its seats while maintaining a standard economy seat pitch among the best in the industry," the airline said. That will mean 34 inches of leg room versus the standard 31 inches. Bags will continue to fly for free, allowing passengers up to two checked bags at no extra cost. Ryan Green, Southwest's Executive Vice President Commercial Transformation, said in a statement, "We've already started rolling out modernized cabins with improved Wi-Fi, in-seat power, larger overhead bins, enhanced operational efficiencies, and optimized flight schedules. We will continue to build upon our unique competitive advantages, while adapting to consumer priorities in today's dynamic environment." Story continues Anticipated savings Southwest said the multi-year plan is expected to save $500 million in cost savings by 2027 through "minimized hiring," improvements in corporate and scheduling efficiency, and capitalizing on supply chain cost savings. The airline is attempting to "monetize the value of its fleet order book and drive a significant fleet modernization, with the goal of achieving an average fleet age of just five years in 2031." That is expected to yield roughly $500 million in reduced average aircraft expenditures through 2027. Another critical link in Southwest's financial plan is the $2.5 billion stock buyback. "Southwest is balancing its capital allocation priorities to minimize capital expenditures on aircraft, continue investing in infrastructure that optimizes operations, and manage debt to preserve the airline's investment-grade balance sheet, all while returning capital to Shareholders through dividends and share repurchases," Southwest's statement added. Starting in February Southwest will offer 24-hour flight operations with redeye flights in key markets as part of the effort to maximize aircraft utilization. Vacation packages called Getaways by Southwest will be rolled out in 2025, as well, allowing customers to customize vacation bundles with generous cancellation and no-fee change policies. How will Helene impact Nashville? Why heavy rains could be beneficial to Middle Tennessee drought (This story has been updated with new information from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.) Remnants from Hurricane Helene will bring heavy rain to Middle Tennessee Thursday and through the weekend, alleviating the region's drought conditions. According to the National Weather Service, Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend region Thursday evening as a major hurricane. The storm will weaken to a tropical depression as it moves north before reaching Middle Tennessee Friday night. The region will primarily experience heavy rainfall, with possible localized flooding, as well as strong winds reaching up to 40 mph, bringing along the potential for scattered power outages, said the weather service. The entire region is under a flood watch and wind advisory from 7 p.m. Thursday until 7 a.m. Saturday. The weather will become more active as we head into the overnight. Hurricane Helene will make landfall this evening over FL as a major hurricane and will then move north and weaken. This will bring periods of rain and breezy winds to Middle TN into the weekend. #TNwx pic.twitter.com/LZBqIeZ6Ua NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) September 26, 2024 When will Hurricane Helene arrive in Tennessee? The remnants of Hurricane Helene will bring periods of heavy rain to Middle Tennessee Thursday night through Friday. The heaviest rain will be possible Thursday through Friday, with lingering showers continuing over the weekend. Strong winds can also be expected Thursday through Friday night, with winds reaching speeds of 30-40 mph. Wind gusts are likely to exceed 40 mph on Friday, said the weather service. Localized flooding is possible, however widespread river flooding is not expected, reported the weather service. Heavy rain and wind remain as the main concern, the threat for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is low. How will Hurricane Helene impact Middle Tennessee? Rain expected to alleviate drought conditions The rainfall from Helene is expected to bring much needed relief to the area, alleviating drought conditions throughout the state. According to the latest Drought Information Statement, much of Middle Tennessee is experiencing a severe drought, while some portions of the Cumberland Plateau area are experiencing an extreme drought. "Our soil moisture is quite low, so the rain is going to have an impact in improving our soil moisture," said the weather service during a webinar. "Its going to bring our streams, creeks and smaller rivers back to normal, to maybe slightly normal for this time of year." The anticipated rainfall from Helene will prove beneficial to the area, as the entire region is expected to receive at least three inches of rain, with some locations receiving up to six. The drought conditions in Middle Tennessee are expected to continue throughout the fall, however, they will gradually improve through the winter months, said the weather service. How much rain is Middle Tennessee expected to receive? Nashville, Clarksville, and Columbia are predicted to receive between 4-6 inches of rain, while areas to the east like Smithville, Crossville and Jamestown are predicted to receive between 3-4 inches of rain. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: No significant rising expected of the Cumberland River The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District announced on Thursday that significant rising in the mainstem of the Cumberland River are not anticipated. The rainfall forecasts from the National Weather Service estimate three to four inches of rain over the next three days, but it would take significantly more rain to push any of our damage centers into flood stages, said David Bogema, chief of water management for the Nashville District in a statement. River forecasts from the Ohio River Forecast Center also show that water levels at Pineville, Barbourville, and Williamsburg on the Upper Cumberland will remain below action levels. Preliminary estimates suggest that lakes managed by the Corps, including Percy Priest Lake, will likely remain within safe levels. Percy Priest may rise, but is expected to remain below 498 feet. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency encourages moving out of flood prone areas Ahead of the heavy rain and wind event, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is advising Tennesseans to exercise caution, should they live in an area that is prone to flooding. TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan advised residents to move out of flood-prone areas prior to storm's arrival in Tennessee. "If you know your home floods, this would be the time to make other arrangements for tonight," said Sheehan. Sheehan added that due to the strong winds anticipated for the area, TEMA's ability to make aerial rescues will be significantly hampered. Where is Hurricane Helene? Track the storm's path Nashville weather radar Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Hurricane Helene may be beneficial to Nashville, Middle TN drought LAMAR, Mo. One of the volunteers at the Barton County Senior Citizens Center celebrated a major milestone this week. Dorlyne Schorzman celebrated her 101st birthday Tuesday and says her time working at the senior center is part of the key to staying young. Work hard, said Schorzman. ALSO: Dorlynes 100th Birthday last year She says thats step one to staying young. Keep moving, eat well. Just keep active. After celebrating her 101st, on Wednesday she kept the celebration going by volunteering at the senior citizens center. To help others. Doing a job she started decades ago Oh, my. 20 years ago? for one big reason. So I could keep moving, and to feel like Im of some value to somebody, to help others, said Schorzman, And that helps your mind, you know. Youve got to keep busy, not hibernate. Dont do that. Thats just hard on a body, and mind. State and local partnership drives Barton County Senior Center renovation Also at the Barton County Senior Citizens Center, a partnership between local and state agencies is being credited for meeting a growing need. Renovation work is underway on the cetners new ADA-compliant restrooms. Funding for this was made possible through the Senior Services Growth and Development Fund passed by the Missouri Legislature in 2019. However, due to a working in the legislation, the program was left unfunded. Area Agency on Aging CEO Jennifer Shotwell says that changed, thanks to work done by Barton County commissioners, community volunteers, and state representative Ann Kelley, who says the center fills a key need in the community. They can come in here, socialize with other people their age, and have that relationship, that communication within the community, and its just a great atmosphere, said Kelley. Its state, county, and the citizens, and our non-profit agency coming together to have a place that is a true senior citizens center, said Shotwell. The re-designed restrooms are intended to modernize the senior center to help with the expected increase in people visiting the building as the Baby Boomer generation ages. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Lebanese army soldiers secures the area, where an apartment in a building was targeted by an Israeli air strike in Beiruts southern suburb. The attack targeted a top pro-Iranian Hezbollah commander. Marwan Naamani/dpa Hezbollah said it launched 80 rockets at the Israeli city of Safed on Thursday. The Iran-backed group also said it fired 50 rockets at the town of Ahihud, about 40 kilometres to the west of Safed, as well as military sites in northern Israel. The Israeli military said a house in Rosh Pina, a town near Safed, was hit by a rocket. There were not believed to be any injuries. Since Thursday morning, the Israeli army said that some 150 rockets had been launched from Lebanon, with some of the impacts reportedly causing fires to break out around Safed. Israel kept up its attacks on Hezbollah in southern and eastern Lebanon. A strike also hit a building south of Beirut and killed Hezbollah's drone chief, the Israeli military said. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said that dozens of people had died on Thursday in Israeli attacks. A Lebanese civil defense worker search in rubble and debris of an apartment in a building was targeted by an Israeli air strike in Beiruts southern suburb. The attack targeted a top pro-Iranian Hezbollah commander. Marwan Naamani/dpa Lebanese employees work on dismantling electricity wires in front of an apartment in a building was targeted by an Israeli air strike in Beiruts southern suburb. The attack targeted a top pro-Iranian Hezbollah commander. Marwan Naamani/dpa A good British Israeli friend of mine, who sits on the left of Israeli politics, was telling me last night how the majority of Israelis of all faiths are supporting the possibility of a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. The reason he said was simple: Israelis have been suffering under daily Hezbollah rocket barrages for almost a year now, and seemingly not many people outside of Israel neither know nor care. One recurring problem which has partly caused this antipathy to the current conflict a conflict not of Israels making has been the relative slowness with which Israel responds to addressing the prevailing narrative of a genocide committed in Gaza, which despite tragic accounts of innocent Palestinians being killed, is about as far from the truth as one could get. For instance, Israeli forces will routinely go to great lengths warning residential areas in Gaza of an upcoming strike on Hamas positions. This gives Hamas terrorists further time to prepare their defences by ensuring the area is filled with civilians. This in itself is a war crime by the actual definition, by Hamas operating in residential areas and using civilians as human shields. This is a tried and tested propaganda tactic first employed by the Iranians during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, now pioneered across most of Irans proxy forces in the region operating under Tehrans Empire of Evil. This includes, of course, Hezbollah. The caretaker Lebanese government still includes Hezbollah ministers, and the group enjoys enormous power, particularly in southern Beirut and across the south of Lebanon. I remember visiting the remarkable Crusader-era castle in Sidon in 2012, and the tour guide proudly proclaiming that he was a member of Hezbollah, so ubiquitous are its members. We dont know whether Israeli forces will go into Lebanon, but there are signs that they are preparing to do so. Around 4,000 reserve forces have been called up and are mobilising to the north of Israel. Thats a fairly small number for any serious invasion force. Much more likely they will patrol the border area and provide immediate security where there are supposed to be UN peacekeepers under UNSC Resolution 1701. Intended to ensure a form of peace on the border since 2006 by enforcing the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River, the UN has time and again proven itself not only inept, but overwhelmingly biased in its moral equivalence between Israel and the terrorists of Hamas and Hezbollah. Just this week, Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the horror of Gaza, and the immediate need for a ceasefire. In the UK, both Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have called for the same, whilst all but abandoning our long-term ally Israel in its fight for survival. What these men fail to recognise is that there can be no ceasefire neither in Gaza or the Lebanese border without Irans proxies first ceasing to threaten Israels right to exist. As Yoav Gallant, Israels defence minister, put it this week, the nightmare which the Secretary General speaks of, is in fact reality. The reality is Hezbollah taking Lebanon hostage, as the UN neither acknowledges their actions, nor fulfills its fundamental obligation preventing Hezbollah attacks and demanding the implementation of Resolution 1701. Whilst politicians like Guterres, Starmer, and Lammy should in fact be supporting Israels right to defend its own people, which can very well require an invasion of Lebanon to hunt down and bring to justice Hezbollah terrorists, Israel may not even need to do so. Its command structure all but decimated, its foot soldiers crippled with anxiety, Hezbollah are in no state to conduct a defensive war against the most technologically advanced military outside of the US. But Israel will need to go after Hezbollahs rockets, its launching sites, and infrastructure and that will require a limited incursion into southern Lebanon. Whilst the Lebanese terror group has foolishly planned to fight the last war, Israeli forces have 3-D mapped the entirety of Lebanon, including LiDAR maps of all Lebanons buildings. Hezbollahs terrorists would have no place to run, far less to hide. It would be a war where the conventional metrics of success would grade it far higher than other examples we have seen in many recent conflicts. The question of a land invasion will ultimately come down to this: can Israel sufficiently reduce the threat from Hezbollah with targeted airstrikes alone? This would have been impossible in the past, but with Israeli technology and air superiority, Israel may be able to keep Hezbollah pinned down, and degrade them from afar. If not, a limited incursion into Hezbollahs southern heartlands of the Bekaa Valley, cutting off their resupply from Iran, would seal their demise. Whichever option Israel chooses, the British government must be prepared to show greater support to our ally, rather than giving further succour to our enemies. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. What is Hezbollah and why does Israel want to invade Lebanon? Hezbollah fighters attend the funeral of two commanders who died in an Israeli strike - WAEL HAMZEH/Shutterstock Israel launched its Northern Arrows offensive across Lebanon on Sept 23, targeting Hezbollah strongholds in the south and the Bekaa Valley to the east in large-scale air strikes. The major aerial bombardment came days after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah fighters exploded simultaneously in dual attacks blamed on Israel, killing dozens and injuring 2,800. Hezbollah has responded by firing hundreds of rockets into northern Israel, while a ballistic missile appeared to reach Tel Aviv for the first time before it was intercepted. Israels army chief warned on Sept 25 it was preparing for a possible invasion of Lebanon, while Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, dismissed calls from world leaders for a ceasefire, vowing to fight on with full force. Here we explain why Israel might invade Lebanon, and the wider context of its conflict with Hezbollah. Why is Israel at war with Hezbollah? On Oct 8, previous sporadic fighting escalated when Hezbollah fired guided rockets and artillery at Israeli-controlled territory. The group said this was done in solidarity with Palestinians after the previous days Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed 1,200. Israel evacuated 60,000 people living near the Lebanon-Israel border early on in the war, and has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Hezbollah ever since. Tensions have recently spiralled into the risk of all-out war because of Israels widespread air strikes across Lebanon, the pager attacks and Israels killings of senior Hezbollah commanders in Beiruts southern suburbs. Why might Israel invade Lebanon? Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, Israels army chief, told IDF troops their boots will enter enemy territory after three days of bombings across Lebanon under Operation Northern Arrows. The aftermath of an Israeli air strike which hit the southern suburbs of Beirut on Thursday - Ibraham Amro/AFP via Getty Images Smoke billows from the area hit by the Israeli air strike - AFP via Getty Images His statements, paired with the activation of 4,000 reservists to be sent to the northern front, is a signal that Israel intends to escalate its offensive. Joe Biden, the US president, said on Sept 25 that an all-out war was possible but not inevitable, while Sir Keir Starmer urged all British citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, saying the situation was deteriorating hour on hour. What happens next? Israel could launch a full-scale invasion of Lebanon to remove what remains of Hezbollah from its bastions in the southern villages, the Bekaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut. It could also launch a limited invasion with the intent to create a buffer zone. Senior Israeli military figures have suggested occupying the area between the Lebanon-Israel border and the Litani River. Tensions could also de-escalate. Although the death toll in Lebanon has been the highest since the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, the Iran-backed group has yet to use its most devastating missiles, which suggests that Iran could be restraining the group. Tehran has also reportedly rejected requests from Hezbollah to join the fight with a direct attack on Israel. Who was behind the pager attacks? Israel has rejected claims that it was behind the clandestine operation to plant explosives in Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies, but experts widely believe that Mossad, Israels national intelligence agency, was responsible. Hezbollah officials have described the attack as the most serious security breach in the history of the group, and said it dealt a severe blow to its logistics. The blasts took at least 1,500 members of its fighting force out of action, most blinded or maimed. Israel is already strongly suspected of being behind the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political chief who was assassinated in Tehran on July 31 shortly after meeting Iranian officials. Israel generally has a policy of not commenting on attacks or assassinations carried out overseas, though its leaders do sometimes allude to them. What is Hezbollah? Hezbollah is a radical Shia Islamist paramilitary group based in Lebanon. Backed by Iran, it is considered to be the most powerful and heavily armed non-state actor in the world. Its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has claimed that the group could field more than 100,000 trained fighters, although independent observers believe that this is more likely to be 20,000 to 50,000. Israeli soldiers outside a Hezbollah tunnel. The terrorist group is reported to have thousands of miles of tunnels under Lebanon - IDF Hezbollah is stronger than the cash-strapped Lebanese military, which has been reduced to selling tourist rides in its ageing fleet of 1960s helicopters. Lebanese soldiers also often take on second jobs to supplement their meagre $100-a-month salary. The terror group boasts a fearsome long-range armoury, which ranges from cheap Katyusha rocket artillery to high-tech Fateh 110 precision-guided ballistic missiles. Where did Hezbollah come from? After Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, forcing its long-term enemy the Palestine Liberation Organization to flee to Tunisia, it kept troops stationed in a southern buffer zone. Disparate Islamist militias that continued to fight Israeli troops subsequently consolidated under an Iran-backed initiative that was to become Hezbollah. The group pioneered modern terrorist tactics, such as suicide bombings and kidnappings, and fought against peacekeepers and international actors. In 1983, it bombed the US embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people. In 1985, it published a manifesto in which it pledged the destruction of Israel. Hezbollah continued to fight against Israeli troops stationed in Lebanon until Israeli forces withdrew on May 25, 2000 a day that is now a Lebanese public holiday. In 2006, a full-blown war broke out between Hezbollah and Israel, sparked by a deadly cross-border raid by the Iran-backed terror group. In what became known as the Second Lebanon War, Israeli troops invaded southern Lebanon, leading to a 34-day conflict that killed 1,000 civilians. Both Hezbollah and Israel claimed victory. What are the differences between Hezbollah and Hamas? Hamas and Hezbollah are both Islamist groups committed to the destruction of Israel, but there are key differences between them. Hamas, a Palestinian organisation, is a Sunni offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. It has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007 after it defeated rival group Fatah in an election, and in subsequent violent clashes. Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia group that was formed by Iran during the Lebanese Civil War to fight Israel. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Laila Bassam and James Mackenzie BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hezbollah's flexible chain of command, together with its extensive tunnel network and a vast arsenal of missiles and weapons it has bolstered over the past year, is helping it weather unprecedented Israeli strikes, three sources familiar with the Lebanese militant group's operations said. Israel's assault on Hezbollah over the past week, including the targeting of senior commanders and the detonation of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies, has left the powerful Lebanese Shiite militant group and political party reeling. On Friday, Israel killed the commander who founded and led the group's elite Radwan force, Ibrahim Aqil. And since Monday, Lebanon's deadliest day of violence in decades, the health ministry says more than 560 people, among them 50 children, have died in air barrages. The Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that Aqil's death had shaken the organisation. Israel says its strikes have also destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rockets and shells. But two of the sources familiar with Hezbollah operations said the group swiftly appointed replacements for Aqil and other senior figures killed in Friday's airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in an Aug. 1 speech that the group quickly fills gaps whenever a leader is killed. A fourth source, a Hezbollah official, said the attack on communication devices put 1,500 fighters out of commission because of their injuries, with many having been blinded or had their hands blown off. While that is a major blow, it represents a fraction of Hezbollah's strength, which a report for the U.S. Congress on Friday put at 40,000-50,000 fighters. Nasrallah has said the group has 100,000 fighters. Since October, when Hezbollah began firing at Israel in October in support of its ally Hamas in Gaza, it has redeployed fighters to frontline areas in the south, including some from Syria, the three sources said. It has also been bringing rockets into Lebanon at a fast pace, anticipating a drawn-out conflict, the sources said, adding that the group sought to avoid all out war. Hezbollah's main supporter and weapons supplier is Iran. The group is the most powerful faction in Tehran's "Axis of Resistance" of allied irregular forces across the Middle East. Many of its weapons are Iranian, Russian or Chinese models. The sources, who all asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, did not provide details of the weapons or where they were bought. Hezbollah's media office did not reply to requests for comment for this story. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London, said that while Hezbollah operations had been disrupted by the past week's attacks, the group's networked organisational structure helped make it an extremely resilient force. "This is the most formidable enemy Israel has ever faced on the battlefield, not because of numbers and tech but in terms of resilience." POWERFUL MISSILES Fighting has escalated this week. Israel killed another top Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Qubaisi, on Tuesday. For its part, Hezbollah has shown its capacity to continue operations, firing hundreds of rockets towards Israel in ever deeper attacks. On Wednesday, Hezbollah said it had targeted an Israeli intelligence base near Tel Aviv, more than 100 km (60 miles) from the border. Warning sirens sounded in Tel Aviv as a single surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by air defence systems, the Israeli military said. The group has yet to say whether it has launched any of its most potent, precision-guided rockets, such as the Fateh-110, an Iranian-made ballistic missile with a range of 250-300 km (341.75 miles). Hezbollah's Fateh-110 have a 450-500 kg warhead, according to a 2018 paper published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Hezbollah's rocket attacks are possible because the chain of command has kept functioning despite the group suffering a brief spell of disarray after the pagers and radios detonated, one of the sources, a senior security official, said. The three sources said Hezbollah's ability to communicate is underpinned by a dedicated, fixed-line telephone network - which it has described as critical to its communications and continues to work - as well as by other devices. Many of its fighters were carrying older models of pagers, for example, that were unaffected by last week's attack. Reuters could not independently verify the information. Most injuries from the exploding pagers were in Beirut, far from the front. Hezbollah stepped up the use of pagers after banning its fighters from using cellphones on the battlefield in February, in response to commanders being killed in strikes. If the chain of command breaks, frontline fighters are trained to operate in small, independent clusters comprised of a few villages near the border, capable of fighting Israeli forces for long periods, the senior source added. That is precisely what happened in 2006, during the last war between Hezbollah and Israel, when the group's fighters held out for weeks, some in frontline villages invaded by Israel. Israel says it has escalated attacks to degrade Hezbollah's capabilities and make it safe for tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return to their homes near the Lebanon border, which they fled when Hezbollah began firing rockets on Oct. 8. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has said it prefers to reach a negotiated agreement that would see Hezbollah withdraw from the border region but stands ready to continue its bombing campaign if Hezbollah refuses, and does not rule out any military options. Hezbollah's resilience means the fighting has raised fears of a protracted war that could suck in the U.S., Israel's close ally, and Iran - especially if Israel launches, and gets bogged down in, a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Israel's military did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Monday of "irreversible" consequences of a full blown war in the Middle East. A U.S. State Department official said Washington disagreed with Israel's strategy of escalation and sought to reduce tensions. UNDERGROUND ARSENAL In what two of the sources said was an indication of how well some of Hezbollah's weapons are hidden, on Sunday rockets were launched from areas of southern Lebanon that had been targeted by Israel shortly before, the two sources said. Hezbollah is believed to have an underground arsenal and last month published footage that appeared to show its fighters driving trucks with rocket launchers through tunnels. The sources did not specify if the rockets fired on Sunday were launched from underground. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday's barrage had destroyed tens of thousands of Hezbollah rockets and munitions. Israel's military said long-range cruise missiles, rockets with warheads capable of carrying 100kg of explosives, short-range rockets, and explosive UAVs were all struck on Monday. Reuters could not independently verify the military claims. Boaz Shapira a researcher at Alma, an Israeli think tank that specializes in Hezbollah, said Israel had yet to target strategic sites such as long-range missiles and drone sites. "I don't think we are anywhere near finishing this," Shapira said. Hezbollah's arsenal is believed to comprise some 150,000 rockets, the U.S. Congress report said. Krieg said its most powerful, long-range ballistic missiles were kept below ground. Hezbollah has spent years building a tunnel network that by Israeli estimates extends for hundreds of kilometres. The Israeli military said Monday's air strikes hit Hezbollah missile launch sites hidden under homes in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has said it does not place military infrastructure near civilians. Hezbollah has issued no statement on the impact of Israel's strikes since Monday. TUNNELS The group's arsenal and tunnels have expanded since the 2006 war, especially precision guidance systems, leader Nasrallah has said. Hezbollah officials have said the group has used a small part of the arsenal in fighting over the past year. Israeli officials have said Hezbollah's military infrastructure is tightly meshed into the villages and communities of southern Lebanon, with ammunition and missile launcher pads stored in houses throughout the area. Israel has been pounding some of those villages for months to degrade Hezbollah's capabilities. Confirmed details on the tunnel network remain scarce. A 2021 report by Alma, an Israeli think tank that specializes in Hezbollah, said Iran and North Korea both helped build up the network of tunnels in the aftermath of the 2006 war. Israel has already struggled to root out Hamas commanders and self-reliant fighting units from the tunnels criss-crossing Gaza. "It is one of our biggest challenges in Gaza, and it is certainly something we could meet in Lebanon," said Carmit Valensi, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, a think-tank. Krieg said that unlike Gaza, where most tunnels are manually dug into a sandy soil, the tunnels in Lebanon had been dug deep in mountain rock. "They are far less accessible than in Gaza and even less easy to destroy." This story has been refiled to fix the spellings of Netanyahu's first name, and 'comprise,' in paragraphs 26, 37 respectively) (Reporting by Laila Bassam and Tom Perry in Beirut and James Mackenzie in Jerusalem; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) The new daytime Paris-Berlin route will be carried by a German ICE high-speed train (Getty Images) A new high-speed train connecting Paris and Berlin will be launched in December, allowing travellers to visit the capitals on a daytime service after the introducion of a popular night route. The French operator SNCF and the German Deutsche Bahn have announced they will be running the service between Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Paris Gare de LEst, stopping in Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Frankfurt Sud. The service will take about eight hours in total, taking an hour longer than initially promised. While the current fastest train between Paris and Berlin only takes a fraction more time at just under nine hours, it requires passengers to make two or three changes, causing the journey to be more of a nuisance and can often be unreliable. This will be the first time in rail history that the service will directly link the two capital cities from city centre to city centre. Launching on 16 December, there will initially be one service of the high-speed route each day, with the train leaving Paris at 9.55am and arriving in Berlin just after 6pm. For those departing from the German capital, the train will leave at 11.54am and will arrive in Paris just before 8pm. Reservations for the new service will open on 16 October and will initially cost passengers as little as 59 (49.20) for a one-way second-class ticket and from 69 (57.55) for a first-class seat. The two train operators have collaborated on services since 2007, linking cities such as Frankfurt and Stuttgart to Paris, transporting 32 million travellers over the years. With this new service between Paris and Berlin, the number of daily connections between Germany and France will increase from 24 to 26, with the operators predicting a boost of more than 320,000 additional seats per year for customers. Both operators say they hope the service will be a more sustainable journey than flying, as well as an improvement on the train services between the capitals that are already in place. Alain Krakovitch, the managing director of TGV-Intercites, part of the SNCF group, said: This new link is further concrete proof of the Franco-German friendship, and contributes to an objective shared by our two countries: to promote low-carbon mobility. For SNCF Voyageurs, it also represents continuity in our ambition. This European development is essential, he added. This summer, more than 20 per cent of our customers travelled on our cross-border or intra-European offers. Michael Peterson, the Deutsche Bahn board member for long-distance passenger transport, also said that the new high-speed collaboration is strengthening European connections, while offering more climate-friendly travel. SNCF Voyageurs and DB are sending a strong signal that Europe is growing together by rail. The new ICE [high-speed train] connection will give a further boost to the booming international long-distance transport sector, he said. We will continue to work together with our cooperation partners to enable more and better international rail connections. This is the only way Europe can achieve its climate targets. While high-speed travel between French and German cities has been a favourite among those travelling for business, with the ability to work onboard the trains, the operators are also pushing for more tourists exploring Europe to use their services with a number of deals available, from age discounts and low-cost fares. The new daytime service comes after the launch of the Nightjet sleeper train operated by Austrias OBB in December 2023. While it has experienced its own technical issues, it has remained a popular option for European travellers. The seven-car sleeper trains comprise of two seating cars, two sleeping cars with two-person compartments, and three couchette cars made up of four-person compartments, as well as mini cabins for solo travellers. However, in August, OBB had to temporarily suspend services from Berlin and Vienna to Paris and Brussels to allow for several weeks of major infrastructure work to rail lines. The services are expected to resume services in late October. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Hillsborough County Emergency Management officials are holding a news conference as Floridas Gulf Coast prepares for the impacts of Hurricane Helene. County Administrator Bonnie Wise, Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management Director Timothy Dudley, and other officials will provide updates and safety information related to Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene has strengthened to a Category 4 Hurricane. At 6: 20 p.m., the NHC reported that Helene had maximum sustained winds of 130 and was located 120 miles west of Tampa while moving north-northeast at 23 mph. Helene is expected to make landfall Thursday night in the Big Bend region. Watch Tracking the Tropics on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT. Be prepared with the 2024 Hurricane Guide and stay ahead of tropical development with the Tracking the Tropics newsletter. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Longer wait times are expected at several local stores as residents in Hillsborough County head to shop for last-minute items. Several residents in Tampa said they have seen empty shelves when it comes to the water and canned food aisles. Hurricane kit: What to pack ahead of Helene Its been hard to get water, weve been to three or four different locations, Hillsborough County Resident Khiry McQuay said. I even went to St. Pete to get some water. When it comes to essential things like water, food, gas, equipment, or services, price gouging laws are in effect. If you see or suspect any price gouging, you can report it by calling1-866-966-7226 or by visiting http://myfloridalegal.com You can see a lot of people scattering everywhere. Everybody is going crazy, trying to get last-minute supplies and stuff like that. Publix, Winn-Dixie, Walmart and Aldi are just some of the stores that you can visit online to find out if a location near you is open. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The bridges to Hilton Head Island rarely close for hazardous weather, but town officials and the South Carolina Department of Transportation are monitoring Hurricane Helene and potential dangers to drivers as the aggressive Category 2 storm continues toward the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday. SCDOT has the final say in closing all bridges across the state. As of Thursday morning, there were no bridge closures related to Helene, according to an agency spokesperson. State officials do not appear to have rigid criteria or specific benchmarks to close a bridge; instead, they work closely with local emergency management and law enforcement officials to determine when closures are necessary. Historically, the Hilton Head bridges have remained open during most major hurricanes and tropical storms, including Debby, Idalia, Ian, Florence and Michael. Even after Hurricane Dorian prompted a mandatory evacuation in 2019, the Cross Island Parkway stayed open one lane of eastbound traffic was briefly switched to westbound as motorists evacuated the island en masse. About seven hours after the lane reversal, traffic resumed its normal flow. Thomas Dunn, Hilton Heads emergency manager, said he could not recall the last time the Cross Island Parkway shut down for a hurricane or tropical storm. In a 2018 winter storm, the Charles E. Fraser Bridge was closed for the bulk of two days due to icy conditions. Despite a lack of definitive standards for closing bridges, officials have previously indicated conditions that would likely shutter certain spans. The primary factor is wind: If it reaches sustained speeds of 30 mph, the Cross Island Parkway would typically be restricted to high-profile traffic such as emergency vehicles, an SCDOT official said last year. If winds exceeded 40 mph, all vehicle traffic would likely be blocked. At sustained winds above 40 mph, most vehicles used by the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office Dodge Chargers and Ford Explorers are unable to safely cross major bridges. With a wind field spanning 400 miles, Hurricane Helene could cross those thresholds. Winds driven by the storm could reach between 39 and 57 miles beginning Thursday afternoon in the Lowcountry, with possible gusts up to 61 mph in the evening, according to the latest forecasts from the National Weather Services Charleston Office. By Rajesh Kumar Singh CHICAGO (Reuters) -Southwest Airlines on Thursday unveiled several initiatives to shore up sagging profits, including partnerships, vacation packages for customers and aircraft sale-leasebacks, but activist investor Elliott Management shrugged off the plan. Southwest shares rose 5.4% after the announcement but are only up about 4% year to date, a gain that is far shy of 29% for Delta Air and 43% for United Airlines . Elliott reiterated its demand for CEO Bob Jordan's ouster. The hedge fund also said it remained determined to request a special shareholder meeting for the leadership overhaul. Elliott said the airline's plan was "filled with long-dated promises of better performance," and called for "credible leadership". It accused Jordan of "playing with shareholders' money." "Another promise of a better tomorrow from the same people who have created the problems we face today," it said in a statement. While the airline has offered the hedge fund some concessions, it has ruled out any leadership change. At the company's first public investor meeting since 2022 in Dallas on Thursday, Jordan said Southwest does not want a proxy fight with Elliott, but the activist investor has shown "little or no interest" in collaborating. He called the changes announced on Thursday, "the most transformational plan we have ever had." The initiatives augment previous plans to switch to assigned and extra-legroom seats to attract premium travelers, and start overnight flights. The carrier, however, will continue with its bags fly free policy. Southwest said these measures would contribute about $4 billion in incremental earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by 2027. It expects to produce at least a 10% operating margin, 15% return on its invested capital and more than $1 billion in free cash flow in three years. Savanthi Syth, airline analyst at Raymond James, said the 2027 targets were encouraging but the airline must deliver. On Thursday, Southwest also boosted its third-quarter revenue forecast and announced a $2.5 billion share buyback program. The low-cost carrier has been hard-pressed for new high-margin revenue streams as costs have ballooned. The company's operating margin fell to 0.2% in the first half of this year from more than 13% in 2019, passenger volumes are running below pre-pandemic levels and shares have slid about 40% in the past three years. It has downgraded its outlook at least eight times in the past 20 months despite booming travel demand. Analysts expect profit in 2024 to plunge about 83% from a year ago. Story continues The airline's underperformance has raised questions about its business model. Jordan acknowledged the company needed to evolve and transform. "Our model is not broken but it is in need of continued calibration and enhancement," he said. NEW INITIATIVES Before COVID-19 restrictions, Southwest boasted a record 47 consecutive years of profit. But aircraft delivery delays by planemaker Boeing and post-pandemic travel patterns have depressed earnings. To mitigate the operational risks, Southwest plans to slow annual capacity growth between 1% and 2% between 2025 and 2027, and minimize hiring. Southwest said this has reduced its aircraft needs, opening opportunities to monetize the value of its Boeing 737 fleet. The airline said it is considering selling its planes to leasing companies. Shortages of new aircraft have made so-called sale-and-leaseback transactions a moneymaker for some airlines. Southwest has nearly 700 new Boeing aircraft on order through 2031. The company said it will launch a partnership with Icelandair in early 2025 for transatlantic connectivity. It plans to add at least one additional partner carrier next year. It will also start selling vacation packages to customers. Southwest appointed Robert Fornaro, former chief executive of AirTran and Spirit Airlines, to its board. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Additional reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Deepa Babington, Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A mother of eight children, who teaches at SUNY Broome, owns her own business, sells real estate, all while battling a deadly disease, is somehow finding the time to go back to school for her doctorate. Ellie Rivera is the youngest of nine sisters, with Puerto Rican roots, hailing from the Bronx. She is the Senior Staff Assistant at the Entrepreneurial Assistance Center in the Koffman Incubator, helping small businesses get their start. She says when she moved to the area ten years ago, being a person of color made it that much harder. Because when youre rompiendo barreras, when youre breaking barriers, its pretty lonely. And were lonely in a community, where being of color, being a BIPOC person, youre the minority of the minority. And it makes it that much more difficult, but then it makes it that much more necessary, said Rivera. Gladys Brangman teaches an entrepreneurship class with Rivera and says Ellie approaches everything in life with 110% effort. I have never had a colleague like Ellie. She always starts out with how are you doing? She brings love to every single situation. She brings humor. She brings knowledge. But you always know when youre working with Ellie, when youre talking with Ellie, that she cares, said Brangman. Rivera battles with lupus, an autoimmune disease, and 75% of those diagnosed are Latina, Black or Asian. Rivera wanted to start a family, but was told she couldnt have kids. But she didnt take no for an answer. Shes adopted eight kids, the most recent was one of her former students at Broome. All of them come from different backgrounds, and Rivera raises them to celebrate their heritage, but also warns that not everyone will. We still have to smile sometimes for that paycheck. Sometimes youve got to pick your battles right. Not everything has to be a race war, not everything you have to throw out the race card but, this is what we are living every day. I dont just wake up one day and say you know what, Im not going to be Latina today, said Rivera. Rivera says she is African, Spaniard, and Taino, the indigenous people of the Caribbean. We are the forgotten indigenous, because we were erased by a census. They took us off the census one year, and then people started believing that there are no more Tainos. Well, were still here. We exist, said Rivera. She already has two masters degrees, one in science and fine arts, but just added another thing to her plate, getting her doctorate from Marymount University. Because, as Rivera put it, you should never stop achieving. News 34 will air a half hour Hispanic Heritage special on WBGH NBC-5 on Friday October 11 at 7 p.m. and again on WIVT News 34 on Sunday October 13 at 1. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Editors note: This is the second in a series of stories highlighting Latino Idahoans as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. State Rep. Sonia Galaviz knew education was her key. Her dad, a migrant worker, would tell her, Youll learn to work with your head or youll work with your back. Galaviz shouldered her fathers hopes on her back, carrying the pressure so many children of immigrants face, and earned both a bachelors and two advanced degrees in college. Now she works in Title 1 schools (which receive federal funding) in the Boise School District to show her students the path they can take. We have a growing Latino population in Idaho and representation is important, Galaviz said, standing in front of the Idaho Capitol. As a schoolteacher, I want my students to see that they can become and do anything that they want. Galavizs fathers family came to the United States from Jalisco, Mexico, and her mother is white. Her family maintained strong cultural ties for her. For example, uncles and aunts (tios y tias) often came by her home in North Idaho growing up. And Galaviz remembers fresh tamales for Christmas, with a chain of family members spreading the masa and passing it to others to finish the dish. She did not, however, have a quinceanera because no one would have known what that was where she grew up, Galaviz explained. It would have been a fish out of water situation, she said, so instead Galaviz simply had a big birthday party. A quinceanera is a rite of passage celebrated at a girls 15th birthday. I think its important to honor Hispanic Heritage Month and what we see in our community around Idaho, said Rep. Sonia R. Galaviz. The Latino population is growing throughout the state and particularly in Southwest Idaho. They are a meaningful part of our communities here. Before she went to her university, the first on either side of her family to do so, her father took her on a three-week pilgrimage to Mexico to anchor in her roots. Galaviz is not the first Hispanic legislator in Idaho but she is the only one now, something she keeps in mind when she sees legislation that targets some in the Latino and immigrant communities. For example, lawmakers in 2024 tried to remove non-emergency health care benefits from undocumented immigrants. I am keenly aware of where the roots of my family come from, Galaviz said. I take it personally, because it is personal. Instead of getting upset about it, though, you work hard to help people understand who folks are and what they do, and how they contribute to the state of Idaho. Galaviz also provides Latino representation in school. She has held a big Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in her classroom, for instance. Galaviz said shed like to work on getting more Latino Idahoans into education jobs, to better represent the portion of Idahos growing Hispanic population. Latino Idahoans make up 13% of the states population but around 17% of all births in 2021 were Latino, according to a report from the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs. Were going to celebrate each other and where we come from, Galaviz said. And recognize differences as strengths. WINNEBAGO, Neb. (KCAU) The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska celebrated the 30th anniversary of Ho-Chunk, Incorporated on Wednesday. The celebration took place at the Annual Community Celebration at the Ho-Chunk Village in Winnebago. There was a dinner, along with a traditional round dance and fireworks. Dakota County among counties to get federal funding for flood, storm recovery Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration Isabel Guzman attended the celebration. The SBAs 8(a) business development program is the biggest stream of revenue for Ho-Chunk. The company started back in 1994 to help people by creating jobs and diversifying the tribes economy. Well, thirty years is a milestone, CEO Lance Morgan said. They say the test is the test of time in business. The fact that were still here and were still growing still at a very fast clip I think speaks for itself. Im super impressed by the housing development, the thoughtfulness around the manufacturing, the distribution, as well of course the construction, Guzman said. Ho-Chunk Inc. has more than 2,000 people employed today. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) According to New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls office, shootings dropped by 28% in 2024 compared to 2023. She owed the decreasing numbers to the hard work of police departments, specifically highlighting Long Island, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Yonkers as taking major strides to reduce gun violence. The 28% number comes courtesy of 28 local police departments in localities outside of New York City that take part in the states Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative. They are Amherst, Albany, Auburn, Binghamton, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Elmira, Greece, Hempstead, Ithaca, Jamestown, Kingston, Lackawanna, Middletown, Mount Vernon, Nassau County, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Schenectady, Spring Valley, Suffolk County, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, Watertown, and Yonkers. From January to August 2023, these spots in New York saw 578 total shootings that caused injuries or deaths. During that same time in 2024, theyve only seen 417 so far. The number of people shot also decreased from 698 to 533 during those times, representing a 24% drop. However, these GIVE statistics doesnt account for noncriminal shootings like an accidental discharge or justifiable homicide. Syracuse had a a 26% decrease, Rochester and Suffolk County both fell 39%, Nassau County saw 40%, Utica dropped by 47%, and Yonkers led with a whopping 56% fewer shootings. Hochul said that sustained investment from her administration fueled the reduction in gun violence in these communities. Twenty-one counties outside of New York City feature GIVE communities. In the city, the NYPD also reported a 12% reduction, with 602 incidents in the first eight months of the year, compared to 682 in the first eight months of 2023. Schools are turning to artificial intelligence to spot guns Public safety is my No. 1 priority, and protecting New Yorkers and their communities is the foundation of all our efforts, Hochul said on Wednesday in a written statement accompanying the announcement. Our strategies for tackling gun violence are proving effective, but our work is never finished. The city and state have to continue making targeted investments in cure-violence efforts, read a statement from Assemblymember Latrice Walker on the 28% figure, which has remained stable since at least June. We cant rest on our laurels and think that gun violence is a thing of the past. But, yes, the numbers are absolutely encouraging. The work must continue. Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond, President of the New York State Sheriffs Association, responded to Hochuls announcement. He said that they appreciate the drop in shootings, but that, ever since bail reform took effect in 2019, judges dont have the power they need to detain dangerous suspects. The line of duty murder of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller last March was a tragic illustration of how radical bail legislation enacted in Albany jeopardizes the lives of police officers and the public at large, DuMond said. Diller died in Queens in March when the passenger of a car hed pulled over shot him. Police arrested both the suspected shooter in that case and the driver of the car. When Diller was shot and killed, the driver was out on bail, though the suspected shooter was not, and both had extensive criminal histories. Hochul announced the updated data on shootings just days after the FBI released violent crime figures for 2023 nationwide, as well as in New York. In the U.S., they said, violent crime dropped 3% nationwide in 2023 compared to 2022. Murder dropped by 11.6%, rape by 9.4%, aggravated assault by 2.8%, and robbery by .3%. And in the first quarter of 2024, they said violent crime decreased by 15.2% compared to the first quarter of 2023. Nationwide, murders dropped by 26.4%, rape by 25.7%, robbery by 17.8%, and aggravated assault by 12.5%. FBI numbers for generalized violent crime in New York dont perfectly map to Hochuls figures specifically for shootings. In fact, they show a peak of violent crime reports in mid-2023 that rivals statistics from the mid-90s. Even so, in recent months, Hochul has repeatedly drawn attention to progress, noting data showing crime rates in New York at 50-year lows. She acknowledged that while many people feel unsafePart of it is fostered by people not just reading the news, but also being bombarded with social media, she said at a meeting of the Business Council of New York State on September 20reporting from law enforcement reveals safer streets. She has stressed that changing public perception takes time, but that the facts tell a story of meaningful progress, adding that less crime comes with job growth and greater investments in education. We will continue investing, innovating, and partnering with law enforcement to make New York a safer place for everyone, Hochul said Wednesday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. A picture posted on the family's GoFundMe shows Talise Dunmore posing for a photo after receiving her certificate for completing the Wisconsin Manicure Program. Dunmore was struck and killed in a reckless driving incident on Sept. 21, 2024. A 34-year-old woman with a history of drunken driving is accused of killing a 20-year-old woman and injuring the woman's sister on Saturday. A criminal complaint was filed against Stephanie Sykes on Thursday, alleging she drove while drunk and hit and killed Talise Dunmore and injured her sister, De-Lisha, while they attempted to cross North 76th Street north of Good Hope Road. The woman is charged with three felonies: homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle; homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration; and hit-and-run resulting in death. Records from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner estimated the car that hit the sisters was traveling about 80 miles per hour, as it struck and threw Talise an estimated 50 to 75 feet. The same report said the striking vehicle was located "a few miles from the incident." The posted speed limit is 40 mph. Parents of Dunmore will hold a vigil for their child on Saturday at 5 p.m., at the site of incident. A GoFundMe for the family can be found here. The Dunmore family intends to create a foundation in honor of Talise, called the Dunmore Foundation, which will raise awareness to reckless driving, according to their GoFundMe page. De-Lisha and Talise Dunmore. The two were hit in a reckless driving incident on Sept. 21, 2024, killing Talise and injuring De-Lisha. The Dunmore family intends to start a foundation to raise awareness of reckless driving in the community. According to the criminal complaint: The criminal complaint against Sykes said two witnesses saw her vehicle hit the Dunmore sisters and continue driving north. It details a Milwaukee Fire Department lieutenant later saw a woman, subsequently identified as Sykes, get out of a damaged white sedan on North 76th Street, where she was seen getting into a black vehicle. Police arrested Sykes at that location based on that information. She was then taken to a police station for field sobriety tests, where officers concluded the majority of intoxication clues indicated she was drunk. Sykes' blood was also taken at 5:03 a.m. and it was determined she had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.081%. The complaint detailed Sykes had a driver's license restriction until 2031 that barred her from having a BAC of more than 0.02% and said her driving record included four prior operating while intoxicated, between 2009 and 2012. In a subsequent interview with a police detective, Sykes said she had been drinking that night, including believing she took five double shots. She told officers she "blacked out" and could only remember being in a car with her mother and her car was damaged. In the interview, she admitted to police the white Acura she was shown in pictures was hers and she was the person seen in a photo getting out of the driver's seat of the car. Online court records show Sykes was previously sentenced in four drug-related charges. The judge in the case stayed Sykes' sentence and she was placed on probation for four years in November 2021. Sykes is scheduled to have her initial court appearance on Thursday. She is currently held on $100,000 bond in Milwaukee County jail. David Clarey can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Homicide charges filed against drunk driver accused of killing one Authorities launched a homicide investigation after skeletal remains were found Tuesday in pasture in southeast Kansas. The Neodesha Police Department called the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Tuesday morning after they found skeletal remains in a pasture east of Neodesha in Wilson County, a KBI news release said. KBI agents arrived and determined the remains were those of a human. An autopsy will be done and positive identification may take longer than typical cases due to the condition of the remains, the KBI said. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information on the investigation is encouraged to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar. The Neodesha Police Department and Wilson County Sheriffs Office are assisting the KBI in the investigation. Neodesha is a town of 2,275 about two hours east of Wichita. Man and woman both expected to survive after domestic shooting outside Wichita school Kansas man thrown from farming tractor dies after being rear-ended on a highway Hong Kong court sentences editor to 21 months in jail in a case seen as a barometer of press freedom Chung Pui-kuen, the former chief editor of Hong Kong's now shuttered pro-democracy news outlet Stand News, arrives at the Wanchai District Court ahead of the final sentencing of Stand News sedition case in Wan Chai district court in Hong Kong on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/May James) HONG KONG (AP) A Hong Kong court sentenced a former editor of a shuttered news publication to 21 months in prison on Thursday in a sedition case widely seen as an indicator of media freedom in the city, once hailed as a beacon of press freedom in Asia. A second editor was freed after his sentence was reduced because of ill health and time already served in custody. Former Stand News editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam are the first journalists convicted under a colonial-era sedition law since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Chung was sentenced to 21 months but is expected to stay in prison for about 10 months given his pre-conviction detention. Lam was also sentenced but allowed to go free. The online news outlet was one of the last in Hong Kong that dared to criticize authorities as Beijing imposed a crackdown on dissidents following massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. Its closure in December 2021 came months after the demise of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, whose jailed founder Jimmy Lai is battling collusion charges under a tough national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Last month, the court found Chung and Lam guilty of conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious materials, along with Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Ltd., Stand News' holding company. They faced up to two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (about $640). The company was fined that amount. Judge Kwok Wai-kin began Thursday's sentencing hearing two hours after the scheduled time. The journalists' lawyer, Audrey Eu, requested sentence mitigation, saying Lam had been diagnosed with a rare disease and she was concerned that he could not be treated by the hospital handling his case if he were sent to jail again. She argued that they should be sentenced to up to time served, saying their case was different because they were journalists whose duties were to report different peoples views. The defendants were detained for nearly a year after their arrests before being released on bail in late 2022. In his sentencing, Kwok dismissed the defense's argument that the journalists had unintentionally fallen afoul of the law, and accused them of siding with the protesters. Since Stand News had a mass following, the seditious articles caused serious harm to the Beijing and Hong Kong governments, he said. The three defendants were not engaged in genuine media work but were instead participating in the so-called resistance of that time, he said. Eu told the court that the articles in question represented only a small portion of what Stand News had published. The defendants also stressed their journalistic mission in their mitigation letters. On Thursday morning, dozens of people waited in line to secure a seat in the courtroom. Former Stand News reader Andrew Wong said he wanted to attend the hearing to show his support, though he felt it was like attending a funeral. Wong, who works in a non-governmental organization, said he expected the convictions last month, but still felt a sense that we've passed a point of no return" when he heard the verdict. Everything we had in the past is gone," he said. Their trial, which began in October 2022, lasted some 50 days. The verdict was postponed several times for reasons including a wait for an appeal outcome in another landmark sedition case. Rights groups swiftly expressed concern about media freedom in the city after Thursday's sentencing. The Hong Kong Journalists Association said the sentences reflect the ongoing decline of press freedom and the real dangers faced by journalists. There is nothing wrong with safeguarding national security, but allowing journalists to speak out and enabling society to speak freely is necessary to maintain Hong Kongs prosperity and stability, it said in a statement. Cedric Alviani, Asia-Pacific director for media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, said Chung and Lam were serving the publics interest and should never have been detained. He urged the international community to increase pressure on China to secure the release of Chung and other journalists detained in the city. Amnesty Internationals China director, Sarah Brooks, said the sentences given to the defendants simply for doing their job makes this another bleak day for press freedom in Hong Kong." The government said in a statement that justice was upheld in the sentencing, adding that foreign media and both anti-China politicians and organizations have made false comments to smear the city since the verdict was delivered. In the United States, Rep. Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the court ruling showed Beijing's political motivations and pervasive control over society. Hong Kong is no longer the vibrant, free city it once was; citizens now face the chilling reality that exercising their civil liberties including free speech can lead to prosecution under Chinese law, the Republican congressman said in a statement. Sen. Ben Cardin, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on social platform X that the 21-month sentence for Chung was "another indication Hong Kongs once free press has been trampled by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities. Hong Kong was ranked 135 out of 180 territories in Reporters Without Borders latest World Press Freedom Index, down from 80 in 2021 and 18 in 2002. Self-censorship has also become more common during the political crackdown on dissent following the 2019 protests, with increased reports of harassment against journalists in recent months. In March, the city government enacted another new security law that raised concerns about further curtailment of press freedom. Hong Kong officials insist the two security laws are necessary to maintain stability and that there are no restrictions on media freedom when journalists report the facts. __ Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific Hong Kong court sentences two editors to jail in landmark sedition case Patrick Lam, former acting chief editor of the Stand News, arrives at the District Court in Hong Kong HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Hong Kong judge on Thursday sentenced to jail two former editors who had been earlier found guilty of sedition in a landmark case that sparked an international outcry. One of the editors, Patrick Lam, was immediately released on health grounds. (Reporting By Jessie Pang and Clare Jim; Writing by Greg Torode; Editing by Alex Richardson) Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam were editors at Stand News, a pro-democracy media outlet which is now defunct [Reuters] A Hong Kong Court has jailed two journalists who led a pro-democracy newspaper after they were found guilty in a landmark sedition case last month. Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, editors at the now-defunct Stand News media outlet, had published articles about the crackdown on civil liberties in the city under China. Chung was sentenced to 21 months, while Lam was given 11 months, but was released on medical grounds. The publisher behind Stand News - Best Pencil - has been fined HK$5,000 (US$643; 480). It is the first sedition case against journalists in Hong Kong since the territory's handover from Britain to China in 1997. After a lengthy trial, which began in October 2022 and was originally scheduled to last just 20 days, district court judge Kwok Wai-kin Kwok found that 11 articles published by Stand News were seditious and that Stand News had become a "danger to national security". Their newspaper's editorial line supported "Hong Kong local autonomy", Mr Kwok said in a written statement. "It even became a tool to smear and vilify the Central Authorities [in Beijing] and the [Hong Kong] SAR Government," he added. Both journalists were charged under a colonial-era sedition law - which until recently had been rarely used by prosecutors - rather than the controversial national security law (NSL). Stand News was among a handful of relatively new online news portals that especially gained prominence during the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Rights groups have condemned the sentencing. Reporters Without Borders told the BBC it is "yet another nail in the coffin for press freedom in Hong Kong". Since the introduction of the NSL in 2020, a host of media outlets have closed in Hong Kong. Critics say the law effectively reduces the city's once-prized judicial autonomy, making it easier to punish demonstrators and activists. China defends it as necessary for maintaining stability. Stand News was among the last openly pro-democratic publications until its closure in December 2021, when more than 200 police officers were sent to raid its office. Seven employees were arrested and accused of a "conspiracy to publish seditious publications", which included interviews with pro-democracy activists. Hong Kong's current chief executive John Lee supported the police operation at the time, calling those arrested the "evil elements that damage press freedom". The case has drawn international scrutiny and condemnation from western countries. The United States has repeatedly condemned the prosecutions of journalists in Hong Kong, saying that the case against the both editors "creates a chilling effect on others in the press and media". The former British colony has seen its standing in press freedom rankings plummet from 18th place to 135th over the past two decades, according to the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. Their Asia-based Advocacy Manager Aleksandra Bielakowska told the BBC that the Hong Kong judiciary has become "a political tool, used to threaten those who dare to speak independently". "Like in China, the regime is trying to create its own narratives, and make sure that all reporters will be only 'telling Hong Kongs story well'," she said. "Deliberately targeting independent media and its journalists has left a huge void in Hong Kongs media landscape that will be very difficult to rebuild," she added. The sentencing of Chung Pui-kuen is the latest crackdown on free speech in the former British colony that has seen critics of China jailed or forced into exile (ISAAC LAWRENCE) (ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP/AFP) A Hong Kong judge jailed a former chief editor of pro-democracy outlet Stand News for sedition on Thursday, handing down a 21-month prison term in the landmark case. The sentencing of Chung Pui-kuen is the latest crackdown on free speech in the former British colony that has seen critics of China jailed or forced into exile after huge pro-democracy protests in 2019. Chung, 55, and fellow chief editor Patrick Lam, 36, were in charge of Stand News, a Chinese-language website that gained a massive following during the protests before it was raided and shut down in December 2021. District court judge Kwok Wai-kin found the pair guilty last month of "conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications". Stand News' parent company, Best Pencil Limited, was also found guilty. Chung's 21-month sentence makes him the first journalist to be jailed for sedition since Hong Kong came under Chinese rule in 1997. Lam received a sentence reduction and will not return to jail, owing to time already served, with Kwok saying a prison term "could endanger his life" due to serious health issues. Kwok said the two defendants, as well as the publication, were "not doing genuine journalistic work". "They were taking part in the so-called resistance. They stood on the side of the protesters to oppose the government," he said. "Stand News had 1.6 million followers and these seditious articles must have caused quite serious damage, even though I couldn't quantify it," Kwok said, adding that prison was the only option. Swift condemnation followed from the European Union, United Nations, as well as the US consulate in Hong Kong, which called for the government to cease targeting journalists. "The Hong Kong court's sentencing... is a direct attack on media freedom," a spokesperson for the US consulate told AFP. The European Union called on the government "to restore confidence in press freedom in Hong Kong" while the United Nations right office said the colonial-era sedition provisions should be repealed. The Hong Kong government said in a statement that the crimes involved were "very serious" and that concerns over press freedom were attempts at "smearing" the city. - International criticism - Defence lawyer Audrey Eu had argued for leniency for Lam because he had been suffering from a "very rare and complicated" immune condition that left him with "less than 30 percent" of kidney function. "Our largest concern is that if (Lam) has to return to prison, in case anything happens there... that may put his life in danger," Eu told the court. Chung and Lam had each spent nearly a year behind bars before they were granted bail at the time of their trial. Thursday's hearing was delayed by two hours and Lam left the court building with his wife at dusk without making any public comment. Amnesty International's China director Sarah Brooks said Thursday's sentencing "looks designed to reinforce a 'chilling effect' that dissuades others in the city - and beyond -- from criticising the authorities". "It is rule by fear," Brooks said. The duo were charged under a colonial-era law that punishes sedition with a maximum jail term of two years. A security law enacted in March raised that to seven years. The conviction of Stand News editors in August drew swift global outcry, including from the European Union which called on Hong Kong to "stop prosecuting journalists". Chinese authorities in Hong Kong rejected the criticism, saying that Stand News was "a political organisation through and through". The Chinese finance hub has seen its standing in global press freedom rankings plummet in recent years. su-hol/nro Temenos has announced that it has signed a Multi-Country Model Bank development agreement with Bahwan CyberTek (BCT), a global digital transformation company. Temenos Country Model Banks offer financial institutions a faster go-live experience with Temenos solutions, while simultaneously reducing costs and risks through pre-configured banking functionality and country-specific localisation. The agreement will see BCT develop further and market Temenos Country Model Banks, using the latest cloud-native technology and extensibility framework, for financial institutions in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Philippines and Taiwan. BCT becomes the Temenos preferred upgrade partner for banks in these markets Country Model Banks are a key differentiator for Temenos and through such agreements, Temenos can scale this competitive advantage, with partners further developing and building new model banks compatible with Temenos composable banking solutions and SaaS offerings. With a network of 4,500 product engineering and digital services practitioners and consultants, BCT will support Temenos clients' modernisation programmes. BCT has committed to invest in developing localised functionality to further enhance the Temenos Model Banks for financial institutions in the seven countries. This new agreement extends the close collaboration between the two companies with BCT signing a strategic agreement with Temenos in 2022 to market, implement, and support all Temenos products and solutions in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. William Moroney, Chief Revenue Officer, Temenos, commented: We are delighted to extend our strategic relationship with BCT to provide enhanced local functionality and service capability to customers in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Philippines and Taiwan. By leveraging the expertise and resources of both companies, this collaboration will enable financial institutions in these markets to deliver innovative and customer-centric banking experiences with greater agility and speed to market while also reducing cost and risk. S. Durgaprasad, Co-founder, Director & Group CEO, Bahwan CyberTek, said: "We are excited to collaborate with Temenos in developing and marketing Country Model Banks, enabling financial institutions in these countries to leverage the latest banking capabilities and technology from Temenos to achieve operational excellence and their digital transformation goals. This latest agreement between our companies signifies a significant step forward in empowering financial institutions across these target markets in Asia with innovative banking solutions, ultimately driving growth and enhancing customer experiences. Story continues "Temenos signs development agreement with Bahwan CyberTek" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) The trial for an Horry County man accused of taking part in a November 2023 cross-burning incident was pushed back for a third time Thursday morning. Worden Butlers trial on a charge of second-degree harassment was scheduled to start in Myrtle Beach Magistrate Court, but the judge granted another continuance in the case. A new date for the trial has not been set. The charge stems from multiple incidents between Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 on Corbett Drive near Conway, according to an Horry County police report. During one of the incidents, Butler and his girlfriend, Alexis Hartnett, who are white, were arrested in December after authorities said they erected a cross facing the home of their Black neighbors Monica and Shaun Williams and set it on fire. According to police reports, the Butler and Hartnett had intimidated and harassed the Williams family for months, including using racial slurs. After their arrest, FBI agents searched Butlers home as part of a civil-rights investigation. In late March, a judge granted a temporary injunction to close the property where Butler and Hartnett lived, declaring it a public nuisance because of the alleged harassment of the Williams family. The home on Corbett Drive remains shuttered despite an appeal filed by Butlers lawyers earlier this week. Hartnett also is charged with second-degree harassment. Its unclear when she could go to trial. The Nov. 24 cross-burning prompted a new round of calls by state lawmakers and the NAACP for adoption of a hate crimes law. The Williams have traveled across South Carolina the past year, speaking with civil rights groups and urging lawmakers to adopt a hate crimes law the state is one of just two that doesnt have on the books. Wyoming is the other. The 2023-224 regular session of the South Carolina General Assembly ended without any action on the matter. A bill, known as the Clementa C. Pickney Act, would have enhanced penalties for violent crimes fueled by hate. Its named after a state senator and one of the nine victims of the 2015 church shooting in Charleston. Monica and Shaun Williams appeared at a Conway City Council meeting last week, praising leaders there for adopting a local hate crimes ordinance. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. * * * Savannah Denton joined News 13 in July 2023 as a reporter and producer. Savannah is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Follow Savannah on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., is followed by reporters as he walks to the House Chamber for a vote on an interim spending bill to avoid a government shutdown next week, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. | J. Scott Applewhite After weeks of negotiations, the House passed a stopgap bill to avoid a government shutdown ahead of the September 30 deadline. The continuing resolution, CR, passed in a 341-82 vote. Utah GOP Reps. Blake Moore, Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens, and all Democrats voted in favor of the stopgap while Rep. John Curtis and other Republicans voted against it. Hours later, the Senate advanced the measure in a 78-18 vote. Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee voted against the CR, while Sen. Mitt Romney voted in favor of it. In separate conversations with the Deseret News before the vote, Moore and Maloy expressed their frustrations with the appropriations process. Utah Reps. Blake Moore and Celeste Maloy react to CR This CR, negotiated by House Speaker Mike Johnson, is a short term measure that will fund the government at current levels until Dec. 20. Its fascinating to me that the House can pass over 73% of the 12 appropriations bills, Moore, who presents Utahs 1st District, said. And the Senate hasnt (passed) one. Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, listens to proceedings at a field hearing for the House Ways and Means Committee at ARUP Laboratories in Research Park in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 12, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News Moore said he was frustrated with all of the members that are out there complaining about the CR and theyre going to use this to grandstand for a little while, calling it disingenuous. Moore, vice chair of the Republican Conference, said lawmakers need to focus on real budget issues instead of trying to politicize the salaries of our military members. Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, who also voted in favor of the stopgap measure, said she would like Congress to focus on passing each spending bill separately and on time. But each year, were making the same mistakes weve made before. As a general rule, I dont like continuing resolutions. I think its a failure on our part to do our job, she said. The Houses progress, and the Senates lack thereof, creates problems, she said. Spending bills have to pass both chambers, and the other chamber wasnt moving anything, and so we ended up right back where weve been before. Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, speaks at a field hearing for the House Ways and Means Committee at ARUP Laboratories in Research Park in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 12, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News Maloy noted she voted against two short-term funding bills earlier this year because they were continuing to fund the budget passed under a Democratic-controlled Congress. In the spring, we passed budget bills, and this is a continuation of those budget bills that I already voted for. So, this CR is a little bit different, she said. Now that the House and Senate have passed the stopgap bill, Maloy said doesnt expect any hiccups between now and the shutdown deadline. What can Congress do to stay on schedule? Moore, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, constantly advocates for reforming the appropriations process. He said Congress needs to switch passing spending bills from a fiscal year to a calendar year. Theres really no significant origins of why this is even on a fiscal year. Its crazy to even do it before an election, he said, adding Congress is in a rut of getting into these big spending fights right before the election. As NBC News noted, the House and Senate will adjourn next week and return after Election Day on Nov. 5. Besides a more practical schedule, Moore advocated for the Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act, which he introduced earlier this year. The bill approaches the budget process as a whole, taking into account complete spending as well as revenue. It simplifies the process while allowing input from the president as well as committees in Congress. The current budgeting systems main focus is on discretionary spending, which is the money needed for federal agencies and their hundreds of programs to continue functioning. But, as the Deseret News previously reported, this is only about 45% of government spending. Entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for more than half of federal spending. But spending on these programs doesnt go through an approval process each year and are on autopilot. The rest of the spending around 8% is the interest on the mounting federal debt. If I had my magic wand, I would enact legislation like the Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act, and if we do that, we force a vote on all funding, Moore said. Contributing: Samuel Benson Artist Vedale Hill is one of the leaders of HomeWorks: Bronzeville. Milwaukee's Bronzeville area is getting more housing, with one project building houses for first-time homebuyers and the other creating live-work spaces for local artists. Developers of HomeWorks: Bronzeville, an artist-driven initiative, updated the Bronzeville Advisory Committee Monday on their plan to renovate a cluster of city-owned duplexes into owner-occupied artists' housing and provide programs based on their artistic disciplines. It's live-workspace for creatives to lay anchors in the community they invest in not just the money, but with soul, creativity, thinking towards the future and combating gentrification, said Vedale Hill of Jazales Art Studio and one of the co-founders of HomeWorks: Bronzeville. HomeWorks: Bronzeville is a project led originally by Hill, Mikal Floyd-Pruitt of the I Am Milwaukee apparel brand and Sara Daleiden, director of the MKELAX consulting company. The newest member is Lexi S. Brunson, publisher of CopyWrite Magazine. In March 2022, HomeWorks: Bronzeville bought the cluster of housing at the corner of Vel R. Phillips and Meinecke avenues. The parcel originally contained three buildings. One structure a four-unit apartment building at 334-340 W. Meinecke Ave. was demolished because it was structurally unsound, to make way for green space. The two remaining duplexes were rehabbed, with one as the live/work space of Hills art studio. The second duplex, at 322 W. Meinecke Ave., is being converted to a single-family live/work space for Brunson, with her publication's office housed on the first floor. Both properties, including one at 2408 N. Vel R. Phillips. were purchased for $1 from the city of Milwaukee. A mix of donations, loans from the Wisconsin Preservation Fund and a forgivable $25,000 loan from the citys Art and Resource Community Hub Loan Program helped defray the cost of rehabbing the properties. The hope, Brunson said, is to stop the gentrification and displacement that comes from redevelopment fueled by outside investors that often pushes local artists out. As creatives, who may be freelancers or self-employed, financing for home ownership looks different than it does for people with 9-to-5 jobs, Brunson said. We may have the funds to do so, but that is not how the corporate world sees us, she said. It was one of the ways we could get at our goal of moving someone into property ownership, Daleiden added. The project also includes green space that the group envisions being used for poetry readings, youth art workshops, music events and outdoor galleries. Pruitt has created an interactive community art program called Splash the last few years. The facade of the now-demolished four-unit building, which the group called the quad, became a canvas. Residents would create art by throwing paint-filled balloons against the building's exterior. It's an art-making game show, Pruitt said. The group is eyeing other properties to establish live/work spaces for creatives that fit their craft and family needs. It is not just about us being stable," Brunson said. "It is about our community being stable." Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is building nine new homes in the Harambee neighborhood, part of an ambitious plan to build 32 new homes over three years. Six of the homes will be in the 2600 block of North Vel R. Phillips Avenue and the 2600 block of North Dr. William Finlayson Street. In the second project, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity plans to build nine homes in the Harambee neighborhood this year. Its part of an ambitious plan to build 32 homes over three years. Six of the homes will be in the 2600 block of North Vel R. Phillips Avenue and the 2600 block of North Dr. William Finlayson Street. Eric Neeb, Habitats real estate developer manager, said it's awaiting land surveys and permitting for the other homes and expects construction to begin spring of next year. The homes will be two stories, with a mix of three and four bedrooms. Neeb said Habitat is working with the city to identify lots to develop the remaining homes. He said Habitat prefers residential neighborhoods over commercial corridors. We also like to cluster new builds if we have other Habitat homeowners on the block," he said. "We find that builds really good strong communities. To help residents live in safe homes or become new homeowners, Habitat has several programs. Through its critical home repair program, homeowners can get financial assistance to make safety improvements to their homes, including porches, plumbing or electrical repairs. The agency plans to do up to 75 of these home repairs in its service area. More: With a raise-the-wall event, Habitat for Humanity launches its effort in Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood The program offers zero percent interest loans of up to $20,000, and up to 80% of the project cost can be covered by Habitat, said Mirella Reyes, its home ownership program manager. The agency working in partnership with the city also offers free lead removal for the entire home, but residents must apply. The organization has several educational workshops to prepare individuals to become successful homeowners, especially those transitioning from renter to homeowner. To qualify, an applicant must be a first-time homebuyer, meet credit requirements and put sweat equity into building their home or volunteer to help construct other homes Habitat is building in the neighborhood. The organization partners with several lenders to do mortgage loans, which Reyes said won't exceed 30 percent of an individuals gross annual income. But there are still some financial requirements. People can't have more than $500 in collections, bankruptcy filings in the last two years or late payments. If people dont meet the qualifications, they can reapply once they do meet them, Reyes said. Applications are accepted year-round and can apply on Habitat's website. There isnt a time limit or timeframe that they must reapply within or must wait to reapply, just as long as they are resolving whatever is on their credit thats hindering them from qualifying, Reyes said. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee housing efforts coming to Bronzeville neighborhood TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) An enormous Hurricane Helene swamped parts of Mexico on Wednesday as it churned on a path forecasters said would take it to Florida as a potentially catastrophic storm with a surge that could swallow entire homes, a chilling warning that sent residents scrambling for higher ground, closed schools, and led to states of emergency throughout the Southeast. Landfall was expected sometime Thursday evening, and the hurricane center said by then it could be a major Category 4 storm with winds above 129 mph. Tropical storm conditions were expected in southern Florida Wednesday night, spreading northward and encompassing the rest of Florida as well as Georgia and South Carolina through Thursday night. The storm was moving north at 12 mph with top sustained winds of 85 mph Wednesday evening. Helene could create a life-threatening storm surge as high as 20 feet in parts of the Big Bend region, forecasters said. Its tropical storm-force winds extended as far as 345 miles from its center. The fast-moving storms wind and rain also could penetrate far inland: The hurricane center posted hurricane warnings well into Georgia and tropical storm warnings as far north as North Carolina, and it warned that much of the Southeast could experience prolonged power outages, toppled trees and dangerous flooding. The National Weather Service says rain associated with remnants of the storm will move into the Mid-South area beginning Thursday and stick around through the weekend. For areas mostly north of the Tennessee-Mississippi state line, they say there is a greater than 50% chance for two inches or more of rain by Sunday. Check the latest forecasts from WREG Weather Helene is forecast to be one of the largest storms in breadth in years to hit the region, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. He said since 1988, only three Gulf hurricanes were bigger than Helenes predicted size: 2017s Irma, 2005s Wilma and 1995s Opal. Areas 100 miles north of the Georgia-Florida line can expect hurricane conditions. More than half of Georgias public school districts and several universities canceled classes. And for Atlanta, which is under a tropical storm watch, Helene could be the worst strike on a major Southern inland city in 35 years, said University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. UNITED NATIONS, New York Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto revealed in an interview with Fox News Digital that former President Trump alone is his countrys "hope" for helping bring stability to a fraught and increasingly chaotic international security landscape. "We do believe that actually the game changer here can be the U.S. presidential election, in case President Trump wins," Szijjarto said, referring specifically to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "Because knowing Trump, I think its absolutely possible absolutely likely that with two phone calls he can end this conflict." "No one else can do so," he insisted. "I think only President Trump has the hope and our hope is all in President Trump to do this." When pressed on whether that could be understood as a preference for a second Trump administration, Szijjarto insisted, "We are not Americans, so we cannot say we prefer this or that." El Salvador's Bukele Slams Censorship As He Touts His Country's Turnaround: We Have Freed Millions "What we can definitely say is the following: Politics is based on experience, and we have a clear experience about the term of President Trump in office, and we have clear experience from the terms when the Democrats were there," he said. Read On The Fox News App Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Wednesday. "From the aspect of the U.S.-Hungary relations and from the aspect of the global security situation, when it comes to the U.S.-Hungary relations, its obvious that during [the term of] President Trump, these relations have been on the top best ever," Szijjarto added. Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have done little to hide their rosy friendship, with Trump invoking the Hungarian leader as a "strong man of Europe" who speaks well of the former president. Danny Danon: Un Abdicates Role Of Middle East Peacemaker By Backing Terrorists Orban proved this is a mutual dynamic when he chose to leave the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., earlier this year to instead meet with Trump in Mar-a-Lago in Florida to discuss foreign relations. "Under President Trump, everything was under control," Szijjarto said. "Since President Trump has left office, the whole global security situation is deteriorating, so, I mean, these are experiences." "If we base it on our experience, we say yes, from a perspective of U.S.-Hungary relations, I think President Trump would bring another impetus, freshness, dynamism to this relationship, and I think if President Trump is elected, I think the world has a good chance to become a more peaceful place compared to the current situation." he said. President Trump shakes hands with Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, in the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 13, 2019. Szijjarto argued that "if you look at an administration which is led by a president and vice president, and we didnt hear too much initiatives from the vice president means to me that the vice president was part of the structure 100%." He noted that this comment came from a personal opinion "based on logic" and not the opinion of the Hungarian foreign minister. Argentina's President Javier Milei Says Un Turning Into Leviathan-like Organization Hungary has attempted to pursue peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, positioning itself as a chief facilitator for resolving the conflict. Hungary assumed the presidency of the European Union as part of a rotating six-month structure. Orban seized on the opportunity to visit both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy within the first days after taking the seat, but European leaders moved quickly to stress that the role is purely ceremonial and that Hungary had no official capacity to represent Europe in any peace talks. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto spoke with Fox News Digital on politics and tensions in the international security landscape. Szijjarto blasted those who criticized the Hungarian effort, claiming "those who have been criticizing us, the prime minister, the peace mission, have clearly been the pro-war politicians." "They just simply don't like that there is a country, there is a government, there is a prime minister in Europe who speaks direct language, who speaks honestly and who is not a hostage of the liberal mainstream," he said. "Therefore, it is very unpleasant and inconvenient for them that we are there and that we act, that we speak, that we make actions." Szijjarto resisted the idea that Ukraine should join NATO, noting that "including Ukraine into NATO would put us in a totally exposed situation, security-wise, because it would mean that NATO could be easily dragged into a war against Russia at any time, and this is something that we dont want." "Everyone knows that any kind of direct confrontation between NATO and Russia would mean an outbreak of Third World War immediately, and we have joined NATO to enhance our security and not to make ourselves exposed," he said. Original article source: Hungarian FM recalls strong Trump admin 'experience,' claims 'our hope is all' on former president Hungary is willing to enforce a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that declared longstanding restrictions on asylum rights unlawful, European Affairs Minister Janos Boka said on Tuesday (24 September). But Boka insisted he will not pay the hefty fine imposed by judges, which grows by the day. In June, the EU's highest court found that Hungary had committed an "unprecedented and exceptionally serious" legal breach by making it virtually impossible for asylum seekers to submit claims for international protection. Judges imposed a 200 million fine, plus 1m for each day the wrongdoing continued. The European Commission's numerous demands for Budapest to react have been met with continued silence. Last week, the Commission triggered an "offsetting procedure" to deduct 200m from the country's share of EU funds, which are already partly frozen due to concerns of democratic backsliding in the country. "As far as the financial penalty is concerned, I can confirm that the Hungarian government will not pay this penalty," Boka told reporters. "As I understand, the Commission has other tools at its disposal to recuperate this sum." But the government is willing to engage in a "constructive way" with Brussels to ensure compliance with the ECJ ruling, Boka said after a ministerial meeting in Brussels, which he had chaired as EU Council Presidency. Abiding by the verdict would require Hungary to lift all restrictions on the asylum procedure that judges found to be against EU law. "We agreed on a timetable on how we will conduct these discussions and also on the technicalities and the channels of communications," Boka said, referring to his recent meeting with Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs. The minister said Budapest was looking into "legal possibilities on how certain expenses that we have incurred in the protection of the border could be offset" against the penalty. Hungarian officials say they have spent 2 billion since 2015 to curb migration, but Brussels has denied their claim that Budapest is now owed that sum back. "It's the responsibility of the Commission to implement the decision of the European Court of Justice," said Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, at the press conference. "It will not be the first time that we use the different tools to ensure that we receive the amount decided by the court. It's very clear," he added. Even if there's no full harmony with Brussles, Boka's comments do suggest a willingness to settle the dispute before penalties balloon out of control. The Commission has already asked for 93m and could demand more if wrongdoing persists. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called the fine "outrageous and acceptable" and ratcheted up his eurosceptic rhetoric, while his ministers have sparked a further row by threatening to bus migrants to Brussels. EU citizens vote to select new members of the European Parliament in Hungary BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary's chief prosecutor has asked the president of the European Parliament to suspend the parliamentary immunity of Prime Minister Orban's main political rival, MEP Peter Magyar, the prosecutor's office said on Thursday. Chief prosecutor Peter Polt, a supporter of Orban and former member of the ruling Fidesz party, said in a statement that Magyar had allegedly seized the cellphone of a man who had recorded him in a bar on June 21. "Then the MEP walked down right to the riverbank and dropped it into the Danube. This behaviour can correspond to the offence of theft," the statement said. The device was later recovered and returned to its owner. A spokesperson for Magyar referred Reuters to a post on his Facebook page, in which he noted that Polt was a founding member of Fidesz, but did not specifically comment on the case of the alleged phone theft. The EP Press Service told Reuters in an emailed reply that the European Parliament does not comment on individual cases nor on potential judicial proceedings. Magyar, who entered the political scene in February, leads a centre-right party that is now supported by 39% of likely voters, compared with 43% for Orban's Fidesz, according to a survey published by pollster Median in early September. The 43-year-old lawyer, formerly close to the government, swooped into public life as he accused Orban's government of corruption and triggered mass marches against the premier, who has been in power since 2010. The next election is due in early 2026. Magyar's Tisza party won nearly 30% of the votes and seven seats in June's European Parliament elections, coming second to right-wing nationalist Fidesz. Tisza's MEPs, including Magyar, subsequently joined the European People's Party's group. (Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Frances Kerry and Jonathan Oatis) How will Hurricane Helene affect Miami and Broward? Region is under weather alerts Although Miami-Dade and Broward counties will be spared the worst of Hurricane Helene, which continues to make its way toward Floridas Big Bend with more than 100-mph winds, the National Weather Service cautions that South Florida will still feel an impact. All of South Florida has been under a tropical storm warning since Wednesday and that continues into Thursday, as tropical storm wind gusts and heavy sporadic rain are expected through the day. Flood and tornado watches are also in the mix. Broward County Public Schools has canceled Thursday classes while Miami Dade Public Schools decided to remain open. The area is not going to see the strongest impacts from the storm, said weather service meterologist Will Redman .Along the outer bands of the storm, were going to have some stronger wind gusts, which have already been happening overnight and early this morning. 6 AM Update, Thur Sept 26: Hurricane Helene will continue to strengthen as it crosses the Gulf today. Its outer rain bands will continue to push into South Florida as the day progresses, with conditions gradually deteriorating for our area. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/7BQ0MeiQ5Z NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) September 26, 2024 What are wind gusts? Wind gusts are brief, sudden increases in wind speed typically lasting a few seconds. Gusts are stronger than the average wind speed and can happen during storms and high pressure systems. The strongest wind gust felt so far was 64 mph at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to the weather service. Right behind it is Naples with 56 mph wind and Pembroke Pines with 55 mph. In Miami, Morningside Park saw a wind gust of 49 mph. In a post to X, the city of Fort Lauderdale said its expecting 3 to 5 inches of rain that could be made worse by King Tides. While their beaches are still open, Ocean Rescue crews have red flags up to let beachgoers know the dangers of current conditions. The city says it will close beaches if necessary for public safety. 8:30, 9/26: Here's a quick look at the peak wind gusts over the last 3 hours. FLL Airport saw the strongest gust this morning at 64 mph when a strong thunderstorm moved through. Similar conditions could be possible as additional bands from #Helene come through. Stay safe! pic.twitter.com/ndvrBKjD5K NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) September 26, 2024 The weather service warns that similar conditions are possible through the day as Helenes bands sweep through. In the Florida Keys, the National Weather Service has reported a 61 mph wind gust in Cudjoe Key from Helenes broad feeder bands. Hurricane Helene arrives in Manatee County, causing damage and flooding. Take a look Hurricane Helene is barreling toward Florida as a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. Its expected to make landfall in the Big Bend region by Thursday night as a major hurricane, according to the latest forecast update. As Helene churns through the Gulf of Mexico, its effects have already started in Manatee County. Heres a look at Hurricane Helenes impact in Bradenton and Manatee County: Bradenton Riverwalk has areas of standing water. Barricades are being placed by public works. pic.twitter.com/c0CJyVd8ij Bradenton Police Department (@BradentonPD) September 26, 2024 The Palma Sola boat ramp is under water, but the Causeway is clear. However, we expect that to change. Please do not go "sightseeing" on the Causeway. BPD will report on conditions throughout the day. #Helene pic.twitter.com/04vTscjWMq Bradenton Police Department (@BradentonPD) September 26, 2024 As winds begin to pick up, the biggest concern for our area remains the storm surge. Some roads are already experiencing localized flooding, and conditions are expected to worsen. Please DO NOT drive through flooded roadways.https://t.co/lUfPIE2qri pic.twitter.com/LELpbFYWkv City of Bradenton, Florida - Government (@BradentonGov) September 26, 2024 We're on scene of a large tree blocking 20th Ave W near 26th St. Similar reports of downed trees are coming in through our emergency operations center. #Helene pic.twitter.com/PXRUTxSsk6 Bradenton Police Department (@BradentonPD) September 26, 2024 And a look at other impacted Florida areas: Hurricane Helene is now a category 2 storm and is located about 320 miles southwest of the Tampa Bay area. (The video is of current flooding in the Sunset Beach neighborhood) (1/4) pic.twitter.com/Q8Mt43zh37 Treasure Island, FL (@TresIslandFL) September 26, 2024 Water from Sarasota Bay coming up into parking area under John Ringling Causeway @wfla #HurricaneHelene pic.twitter.com/P0EeehGAxw Allyson Henning (@WFLAAllyson) September 26, 2024 We have a fish swimming in the street in Sarasota. The rain that came down from the outer bands this morning is having trouble escaping to the Bay because of high tide and water levels coming up. @weatherchannel pic.twitter.com/n5GTQNZjEw Molly McCollum (@WXMolly) September 26, 2024 By Rich McKay, Brendan O'Brien and Andrew Hay (Reuters) - Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region late Thursday as one of the most powerful storms to hit the state, raising fears of deaths, widespread damage and even worse floods than the severe deluge which had preceded its arrival. Helene hit Florida packing sustained winds of around 130 mph (209 kph), the National Hurricane Center said, making it a powerful Category 4 storm. Even before it made landfall, the storm had flooded the Gulf Coast and knocked out power for at least 1 million customers in the state. Officials pleaded with residents in the path of the storm to heed mandatory evacuation orders or face life-threatening conditions. Helene's surge - the wall of seawater pushed on land by hurricane-force winds - could rise to as much as 20 feet (6.1 meters) in some spots, as tall as a two-story house, the center's director, Michael Brennan, said in a video briefing. "A really unsurvivable scenario is going to play out" in the coastal area, Brennan said, with water capable of destroying buildings and carrying cars pushing inland. Strong rain bands were whipping parts of coastal Florida, and rainfall had already lashed Georgia, South Carolina, central and western North Carolina and portions of Tennessee. Atlanta, hundreds of miles north of Florida's Big Bend, was under a tropical storm warning. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told reporters late Thursday the hurricane had already caused one fatality. He gave no details. In Pinellas County, which sits on a peninsula surrounded by Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, roads were already filling with water before noon. Officials warned the storm's impact could be as severe as last year's Hurricane Idalia, which flooded 1,500 homes in the low-lying coastal county. Videos posted on the county's social media site showed some swamped beachside roads and water rising over boat docks. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee and St. Petersburg all suspended operations on Thursday. Helene is expected to remain a full-fledged hurricane as it rolls through the Macon, Georgia, area on Friday, forecasters said. It could bring 12 inches (30.5 cm) of rain or more, potentially devastating the state's cotton and pecan crops, which are in the middle of harvesting season. "The current forecast for Hurricane Helene suggests this storm will impact every part of our state," Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said. After making landfall across the Florida coast, Helene is expected to move more slowly over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday, the NHC said. WALL OF WATER Storm surge was forecast to reach 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 meters) in the Big Bend area of Florida's Panhandle region where the storm came ashore. Numerous evacuations were ordered along Florida's Gulf Coast, including Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Not everyone heeded the evacuation orders. In coastal Dunedin, Florida, about 25 miles west of Tampa, state ferry boat operator Ken Wood, 58, planned to ride out the storm with his 16-year-old cat, Andy. "We're under orders, but I'm going to stay right here at the house," Wood told Reuters by telephone. "The storm looks like it'll be a bit west of us, but who knows? I'm sure it'll be interesting, to say the least." In Taylor County, the Sheriff's Department asked residents who decided not to evacuate to write their names and dates of birth on their arms in ink - so that they could be identified in the case they lost their lives in the hurricane. Reinsurance broker Gallagher Re said preliminary private insurance losses could reach $3 billion to $6 billion, with additional losses to federal insurance programs approaching a potential $1 billion. Energy facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast scaled back operations and evacuated some production sites. The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deanne Criswell, said at a White House briefing that she would travel to Florida on Friday to assess the damage. Helene was expected to dump up to 15 inches (38.1 cm) of rain in some isolated spots after making landfall in Florida, causing considerable flash and urban flooding, the hurricane center said. "You need to prepare for prolonged (energy) outages. Those trees are going to come down in strong winds, block roads," National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said. (This story has been refiled to add the missing word 'to' in paragraph 12) (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta, Brendan O'Brien in Chicago, Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; and Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Writing by Joseph Ax; Editing by Mark Porter, Deepa Babington and Matthew Lewis and Miral Fahmy) LAS VEGAS (AP) The UFC reached another settlement with one of the two class-action litigants, agreeing Thursday to pay the former fighters $375 million after a previous agreement was thrown out by a Nevada district judge. Judge Richard Boulware in July dismissed a $335 million settlement with two antitrust lawsuits, including one brought by Cung Le. The new agreement by UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings is with Le, who filed his lawsuit in 2014, and the court still must approve the terms. While we believe the original settlement was fair a sentiment that was also shared by Plaintiffs we feel it is in the best interest of all parties to bring this litigation to a close, the UFC said in a statement. The UFC still has not reached an agreement with Kajan Johnson, who filed his in 2021. In a statement, the UFC called said that was in very early stages, and a motion to dismiss the complaint remains pending. ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports Has Hurricane Helene closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay? Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Transportation have closed the Sunshine Skyway bridge due to high wind from Hurricane Helene as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is closed due to high wind as Hurricane Helene impacts the Tampa Bay area. At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, the Florida Highway Patrol said wind gusts had reached 60 miles per hour at the Skyway and closed the bridge to traffic. Authorities usually shut down the four-mile bridge when wind speeds hit 40 mph. The signature span connects Manatee County with Tampa and St. Petersburg. Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes, the agency said in a statement. Troopers also urged drivers not to drive through flooded areas and to stay off roads entirely if possible. If traveling, please travel cautiously, avoid any flooded roadways, increase following distance and slow down, FHP said. Flooding has also been reported on roads around Anna Maria Island in the Bradenton area. Local law enforcement agencies are urging residents to stay home as the storm passes on Thursday. (This story was updated to add new information.) In a hurry? Here's what's happening with Tropical Storm Helene in less than a minute. Hurricane Helene continues to strengthen and is now a Category 2 storm. More strengthening is expected before landfall later tonight as a major hurricane, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves, forecasters warned. Spaghetti models for Hurricane Helene Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location The danger from storm surge won't be limited to near where landfall takes place. There's also a "danger of life-threatening storm surge along the remainder of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula," the Hurricane Center said. Winds are forecast to intensify today, Sept. 26, and could reach 115 mph by landfall tonight, according to the National Hurricane Center. That's a significant drop from earlier forecasts that had Helene reaching Category 4 strength, with 130-mph winds, by the time of landfall. However, AccuWeather forecasters continue to predict a landfall tonight as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds between 130 and 135 mph, along with higher gusts. Where will Hurricane Helene make landfall? Landfall is expected along the coast of the Florida Big Bend Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The latest information suggests landfall may be near Apalachicola, Florida, between 9 and 11 p.m., according to AccuWeather. Live updates on Hurricane Helene "There is still some risk the storm may drift a bit to the west or east, but steering breezes are more deliberate with this storm over the Gulf of Mexico compared to some in the past that have shifted their tracks considerably at the last minute." After landfall, Helene is expected to interact with a deep-layer trough over the Lower Mississippi Valley and swing back to the northwest and stall near the Tennessee Valley late Friday into the weekend. AccuWeather expert meteorologists expect this to be a highly impactful storm, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. This could be the storm that the 2024 hurricane season is remembered for. Don't focus on the cone! Helene is large storm, impacts will be widespread https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/09/26/PTCN/75389265007-5-am-hurricane-helene-new-cone-sept-26-2024.png Use the slider to compare the old cone of concern to the experimental version now posted by the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Helene is expected to grow even larger before it makes landfall Thursday and impacts can be expected hundreds of miles from the center. "This can be a large hurricane with life-threatening impacts such as storm surge and flooding rain hundreds of miles away from where the storm makes landfall," Porter said. "Storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts will likely extend well away from the center and outside the forecast cone, particularly on the east side," the National Hurricane Center said. "In addition, the fast forward speed while Helene crosses the coast will likely result in farther inland penetration of strong winds over parts of the southeastern United States after landfall." Most of Florida under state of emergency Counties under the state of emergency are: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties. Hurricane Helene: What you need to know Location : 320 miles southwest of Tampa; 365 miles south of Apalachicola Maximum sustained winds: 100 mph Movement : north-northeast at 12 mph Pressure : 960 mb Next advisory: 11 a.m. Watches, warnings issued across Florida as Hurricane Helene approaches Florida won't be able to dodge Helene Live updates: Get the latest on Hurricane Helene Hurricane warning: Anclote River to Mexico Beach A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. Hurricane watch: Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Storm surge warning: Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo Tampa Bay Charlotte Harbor A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials. Tropical storm warning: Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet Lake Okeechobee Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. Radar images of Hurricane Helene How strong is Hurricane Helene and where is it going? At 8 a.m., EDT, the center of Hurricane Helene was located near latitude 24.5 North, longitude 85.9 West. Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph. This general motion is expected to continued with a significant increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours. Track all active storms On the forecast track, Helene will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today and cross the Florida Big Bend coast this evening or early Friday morning. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph, with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast this evening. Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene's fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 345 miles. he estimated minimum central pressure based on data from the NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 960 mb. Spaghetti models for Hurricane Helene Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. Track Hurricane Helene Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Hurricane Helene A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves. There is also a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the remainder of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula. Residents in those areas should follow advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so. Potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds are expected within the eyewall of Helene when it makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend region later today. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed this morning before tropical storm conditions arrive. Damaging and life-threatening hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, will penetrate well inland over portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia later today and tonight where Hurricane Warnings are in effect. Strong wind gusts are also likely farther north across portions of northern Georgia and the Carolinas, particularly over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, including numerous significant landslides, is expected across portions of the southern Appalachians through Friday. Considerable to locally catastrophic flash and urban flooding is likely for northwestern and northern Florida and the Southeast through Friday. Widespread significant river flooding and isolated major river flooding are likely. Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of western Cuba within the Tropical Storm Warning area. Hurricane Helene will bring heavy rain to portions of the western Caribbean with potentially significant flooding across western Cuba and the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula through this morning. Current forecast: Where is Hurricane Helene going and how strong could it get? As of 5 a.m.: 90 mph 12 hours: 115 mph 24 hours: 85 mph 36 hours: 35 mph 48 hours: 30 mph 60 hours: 25 mph 72 hours: 25 mph 96 hours: dissipated What impact could Hurricane Helene have and what areas could be affected? Wind: Hurricane conditions are expected within the U.S. hurricane warning area late today, with tropical storm conditions beginning this morning. Tropical storm conditions are spreading across the Florida Keys at this time, and they are expected to spread northward across the rest of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina through tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the warning area in western Cuba during the next few hours. Storm surge: The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide: Carrabelle, FL to Suwannee River, FL...15-20 ft Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL...10-15 ft Suwannee River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...10-15 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...8-12 ft Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL...6-10 ft Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...5-8 ft Tampa Bay...5-8 ft Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...4-7 ft East of Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft Charlotte Harbor...3-5 ft Why is a storm surge so dangerous? Rainfall: Hurricane Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over western Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the northeast Yucatan Peninsula, with isolated totals around 12 inches. This rainfall brings a risk of considerable flooding. Over portions of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches with isolated totals around 18 inches. This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians. Excessive rainfall forecast Surf: Swells generated by Helene will affect the southern coast of Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico during the next couple of days. Swells will spread northward toward the west coast of Florida and the northeastern Gulf Coast today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Tornadoes: The risk for several tornadoes will gradually increase today through tonight. The greatest threat is expected from parts of northern Florida into southeast Georgia, the Midlands and Low Country of South Carolina, and southern North Carolina. See new 'cone of concern' with Helene The National Hurricane Center first launched its new "cone of concern" for Hurricane Ernesto on Aug. 14. Ernesto stayed well away from Florida and the U.S., so residents didn't see many differences between the original and new cone. One of the biggest differences between the two is that the new cone will show wind warnings issued for interior counties, not just those on the coast. Both cones will be visible on the Hurricane Center's website. Find the new cone by going to the graphics page for the storm, then click on "New Experimental Cone," which will be highlighted in red. Differences you'll see: Watches and warnings for inland counties, not just coastal areas. White transparent shading for the entire five-day forecast, instead of white stippling (dots) for the four- and five-day forecast. Interactive map: What tropical storms, hurricanes have impacted your area in the past? What's next? We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Hurricane Helene radar, Florida impacts. Landfall location Helene delay or cancel your flight? What to expect from your airline. (This story was updated to add new information.) Tropical Storm Helene has weakened significantly since making landfall in Florida's Big Bend area as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday, but it's still affecting travel. Over 1,000 U.S. flights are canceled and nearly 6,000 flights are delayed as of Friday evening, according to FlightAware. Airlines began offering travel waivers earlier this week so customers could reschedule their plans around the storm. Anyone whose flight was canceled is eligible for a refund under Department of Transportation rules. They aren't, however, entitled to any compensation for delays due to the storm, since weather is outside airline control. Here's what travelers should know about their rights when flight disruptions arise. Do you get compensation for a canceled flight? Yes. The Department of Transportation requires all airlines to offer customers a refund if their flights are canceled for any reason. Customers may be entitled to additional compensation if a cancellation is within the airline's control. Weather, again, is outside their control. According to the DOT's consumer dashboard, if Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue or United cancel a flight for controllable reasons, they're committed to: rebooking passengers on the same airline or a partner airline at no extra cost providing a meal or cash or a voucher for a meal when the cancellation results in a passenger waiting at least 3 hours for a new flight providing complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation providing complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation Allegiant, Southwest, and Spirit will do all of the above, except they do not rebook customers on partner airlines. Frontier will not rebook travelers on other airlines, cover a hotel or provide transportation to a hotel for overnight cancellations. 'Still floating': Florida boaters ride out Hurricane Helene This image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Helene while it was still a tropical storm on Sept. 25, 2024. What happens if my flight is delayed? Federal laws do not require airlines to compensate travelers for delayed flights, but carriers have committed to various degrees of compensation for significant delays within their control. Each airline defines significant delays differently, and weather does not count. If a flight is significantly delayed for reasons within their control, Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue and United offer: rebooking passengers on the same airline or a partner airline, at no extra cost providing a meal or cash or a voucher for a meal when the delay results in a passenger waiting for at least 3 hours for departure providing complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay providing complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay Allegiant, Hawaiian, Southwest and Spirit do not rebook travelers on partner airlines, but offer the rest of the above. Additionally, Alaska, JetBlue and Southwest also offer additional compensation when the flight is delayed by three or more hours for controllable reasons. Frontier will offer rebooking on the same airlines and a meal, but no hotel accommodations, transportation, or booking on other airlines. What should I do if my flight is delayed? Airlines will sometimes offer compensation beyond what they've formally committed to with the Department of Transportation. For instance, according to Delta's Customer Commitment, "Delta representatives are empowered with the flexibility and discretion to issue the following forms of compensation for passenger inconvenience when individual circumstances warrant doing so: cash equivalents (e.g., gift cards), travel credits/vouchers, and/or miles for SkyMiles members." Travel insurance and certain credit card protections can also help offset costs tied to covered cancellations and delays. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Helene flight cancellations, delays aren't covered the same With Hurricane Helene expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida Thursday evening, ports throughout the area have already shut down and closed shipping channels, while couriers are temporarily halting their service. The storm was upgraded to a Category 2 Thursday morning, with maximum sustained winds at nearly 105 mph and gusts reaching as high as 125 mph as of 11 a.m. However, Helene is projected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, potentially approaching Category 4 status. More from Sourcing Journal An AccuWeather report says Helene will hit the Florida panhandle between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., projecting it to have maximum sustained winds of 130 to 135 mph, with much stronger gusts to at least 150 mph. Total rainfall through Friday is forecast to be up to 18 inches. Catastrophic and deadly storm surges could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level in Floridas Big Bend, as well as the remainder of the states west coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. While UPS says its facilities in the southern U.S., specifically Florida, are providing pickup and delivery services as conditions permit, some delays are possible. FedEx says its Express segment has no service across 635 ZIP codes in Georgia, Florida and Alabama, while another 241 ZIP codes in Florida and Georgia have limited service. FedEx Ground has no service in 265 ZIP codes in Florida and offers limited service in another 91 ZIP codes in the state. FedEx Freight wont operate in 281 ZIP codes in Florida and has limited operations across 1,057 ZIP codes in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The company said delays and disruptions could be possible for inbound and outbound shipments in affected areas depending on local conditions and restrictions. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) also suspended retail and delivery operations across seven ZIP codes Thursday, before closing four processing and distribution centers across Tampa, Fort Myers and Sarasota. No drop shipments are accepted at those areas, but two alternate sites in Orlando will accept them. All sites will resume normal operations at 4 a.m. on Friday. Ahead of a probable East and Gulf Coast port strike on Oct. 1 that could bring cargo movement to a standstill, some hubs in Florida will get some disruption of their own due to Hurricane Helene. Port Tampa Bay announced Wednesday night that its shipping channels have closed to inbound and outbound vessel traffic. At 8 p.m., the Coast Guard set port condition Zulu, an indicator that sustained gale force winds of 39 to 54 mph would reach the hub within 12 hours. Landside operations would continue as long as safely possible to ensure gas and other fuels can move out of the port to consumers. Maritime operations have been halted at many other Florida ports, including Manatee, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Panama City and Port St. Joe. On Thursday morning, Zulu was set for the Port of Jacksonville (JaxPort) as well, prohibiting vessel movements both in and out of the port. All terminal gates will remain open and landside operations will continue throughout the duration of the weather event, the port says. The Ports of Miami and Everglades are currently open and operating, and not expected to close. Port Canaveral, known as the busiest cruise port in the state, is also closed, and all waterside and ship-side port activities are shut down. According to MarineTraffic data, there was a significant 70 percent drop in passenger ship arrivals this week. Tampa International Airport suspended operations at 2 a.m. Thursday, while Floridas other international airports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and Orlando remain open and operational. On late Thursday, hurricane-force winds will penetrate inland over portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia. Strong wind gusts are also likely farther north across portions of northern Georgia and the Carolinas. The National Hurricane Center said it expects urban and flash flooding, including significant landslides, likely for northwestern and northern Florida and the southeastern U.S. through Friday. Rainfall totals have already exceeded seven inches in parts of Florida and Georgia and nine inches in the Appalachian Mountains, according to AccuWeather. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, said the National Hurricane Center in its advisory. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 61 of 67 counties. Helene is projected to be significantly larger than Hurricane Beryl in July, which forced the closure of major Texas ports including Houston, Corpus Christi and Galveston. That deadly storm knocked out power for nearly 3 million customers in the state. The storm also outpaces that of Hurricane Debby, which made landfall as a Category 1 in Florida in August. It is also stronger than Hurricane Francine, which peaked at a Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph after slamming Louisiana and the northern Gulf Coast in early September. Hurricane Helene is shaping up to be a historic Florida storm, with the potential to make landfall near Tallahassee as a Category 4. But for Floridas insurance market, losses are expected to be modest and nowhere near 2022s Hurricane Ian or 2018s Hurricane Michael. For the states homeowners insurance companies, the storm is expected to be a manageable event, said Mark Friedlander, spokesperson for the industry-backed Insurance Information Institute. This looks like it will not be a large loss event for Florida insurers, he said. Theres one simple reason why: Helene is hitting one of the least-populated parts of the state. On Wednesday, the global reinsurance broker Gallagher Re estimated private insurers losses at between $3 billion to $6 billion. That includes companies covering policies in Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and southern Appalachia, which could see tropical storm-force winds as the storm dissipates into the interior, the company noted. Those figures would put Helene well below what Florida insurers alone saw in past storms, according to state regulators. Hurricane Ians strike on Southwest Florida has caused insurers $21 billion in losses so far. Michael, a Category 5 when it hit a more populous part of the Panhandle, caused $9 billion in losses. Hurricane Irma in 2017 was a Category 3 when it made landfall near Marco Island, generating nearly 1 million claims and about $20 billion in losses. The figures include all private insurers, including those that cover automobiles and commercial properties. Industry observers say Hurricane Helene could be closer to hurricanes Idalia ($309 million in losses so far) and Debby ($128 million), the two other hurricanes that struck the states Big Bend in the last 13 months. Locke Burt, the CEO of Ormond Beach-based Security First Insurance Co., said he thought Florida insurer losses from Helene would be between $2 billion and $4 billion. This is not going to be a major test of the industry, Burt said. Its hitting in a place in Florida where very few people live. Thats not to say that Helene wont be destructive. Its shaping up to be the worst hurricane to hit Tallahassee in living memory, with potentially 120 mph winds. The states capital city, whose metro area has less than 400,000 people, is known for its towering pine and oak trees, which could do serious damage to roofs and generate enormous amounts of flying debris, Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned. Helene is also churning up massive storm surge in the Panhandle and is flooding streets in Tampa Bay. But flooding is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program or private flood insurers, not homeowners insurance companies. Losses to the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Department of Agricultures crop insurance program could together approach nearly $1 billion, Gallagher Re estimated. Homeowners are encouraged to contact their insurance company immediately if their home has been damaged. Burt said he has a team of adjusters and crews standing by to remove fallen trees from homes and cover roofs with tarps. Information from the News Service of Florida contributed to this report. Tampa Bay Times hurricane coverage 2024 5 things to know about the 2024 hurricane season, according to forecasters. Forecasters predict extremely active 2024 hurricane season. Heres why. Could Tampa Bay flood insurance rise after a hurricane? A warning from Hurricane Ian Want to know what areas are flooding in Tampa Bay? Heres where to look. Checklists for building all kinds of storm kits. Americans can rely on FOX News Media for news and information ahead of Hurricane Helenes expected onslaught. FOX Weather will present continuous live coverage of Hurricane Helene ahead of the storms expected landfall on Thursday evening and FOX News Channel will simulcast FOX Weather overnight from midnight through 5 a.m. ET. FOX Weather, FOX News Medias free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) weather service, has deployed meteorologists and correspondents across the southeast with Mike Seidel reporting from Keaton Beach, Florida, meteorologists Ian Oliver and Michael Estime live from Tampa Bay along with correspondent Brandy Campbell. What To Do When Hurricane Or Tropical Storm Watches And Warnings Are Issued For Your Town FOX Weather will present continuous live coverage of Hurricane Helene ahead of the storms expected landfall on Thursday evening and FOX News Channel will simulcast FOX Weather overnight from midnight through 5 a.m. ET. Meteorologist Marissa Torres will be posted in St. Marks, Florida, meteorologist Kiyana Lewis will provide coverage in Tallahassee, correspondent Robert Ray will be in Cross City, Florida and meteorologist Bob Van Dillen will be live from Atlanta. Hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross will keep viewers up to date on the latest developments throughout the duration of the storm. Read On The Fox News App FOX Weather meteorologists Britta Merwin, Craig Herrera, Stephen Morgan, Kendall Smith, Haley Meier, Steve Bender, Jane Minar and Ari Sarsalari will anchor coverage from FOX Weather headquarters in New York. Much of the state of Florida is under a tropical weather alert, as Tropical Storm Warnings extend hundreds of miles into George and the Carolinas. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says that because of Hurricane Helenes massive size, there is a significant risk of a life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula, as well as Floridas Big Bend region. "A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves," the NHC warned. Tracking Hurricane Helene: Live Forecast Cone, Spaghetti Models, Alerts, Wind Projections And More The highest inundation, with as much as 20 feet of storm surge flooding, is expected from Carrabelle to the Suwannee River in Florida, with other locations like Apalachicola and Chassahowitzka forecast to see 10-15 feet of storm surge. NHC Director Dr. Michael Brennan joined FOX Weather on Thursday and urged residents to listen to officials and leave immediately if told to do so. "The impacts of this storm are on an enormous scale and are going to extend over multiple states all the way up into the Carolinas and southern Appalachians the storm surge, the hurricane and tropical storm force winds and the potential for catastrophic rainfall," Brennan said. FOX Weather contributed to this report. Original article source: Hurricane Helene: FOX Weather to present continuous coverage of catastrophic and deadly storm surge Hurricane Helene strengthened to a catastrophic category 4 storm as it barreled toward Floridas Gulf coast, making it one of the most powerful storms to hit the US this year. The storm is expected to make landfall on Thursday night. Forecasters warn the enormous storm could create a nightmare scenario, with a potentially life-threatening storm surge that could reach 15-20ft (4.6-6.1 meters) in the Big Bend area of Floridas Panhandle region. Related: What is a storm surge, and what is the threat from Hurricane Helene? Much of Hurricane Helenes gathering strength comes from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which have reached unprecedented high temperatures in recent years. In general, the ocean waters around Florida have also seen rising temperatures, making the state more susceptible to catastrophic storms. By Thursday afternoon, the storm had already strengthened into a category 3 hurricane in the Gulf waters and was expected to become more powerful before it made landfall. It was about 200 miles south-west of Tampa at midday and slightly gained speed, moving at 16mph (26km/h). Before its arrival, floods from a storm surge were already hitting some cities and communities like Fort Myers Beach, where water was already 2ft above normal. The winds have already left 600,000 homes and businesses in Florida without power, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us. Early on Thursday, the storms maximum sustained winds were near 110mph with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extended as many as 60 miles (95km) outward from the center of the storm. Much of the state is under a state of emergency. Though the storm is expected to weaken once it makes landfall, the storm is moving fast and could spread up to 400 miles. A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20ft above ground level, along with destructive waves, the National Weather Service warned on Wednesday evening. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by early Thursday before tropical storm conditions arrive. The hurricane is expected to travel up the south-eastern coast once it makes landfall, moving from Florida up to North Carolina. Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have been put under emergency declaration. At least 50 million people are under hurricane and tropical storm warnings. School districts along Floridas Gulf coast and in Georgia, including in Atlanta, will be closed on Thursday in anticipation of the hurricanes arrival. Joe Biden declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, ordering federal assistance to Florida. Mandatory evacuations in the state started to go into place earlier this week. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) is expecting the storm to inflict damage across several states. This is going to be a multistate event with potential for significant impacts from Florida all the way to Tennessee, Deanne Criswell, the Fema administrator, warned during an appearance at the White House press briefing. Cities as far north as Asheville, North Carolina, were seeing heavy rain starting Wednesday night as the furthest edges of the storm moved north. Roy Cooper, the North Carolina governor, told residents in a new conference Thursday that the storm cold bring heavy rain and potentially catastrophic flooding tonight and tomorrow for central and particularly western North Carolina. Ron DeSantis, Floridas governor, warned residents across the state of the impending damage the storm is expected to deliver. Its not a matter of whether were going to get effects, its just a question of how significant those effects will be, DeSantis said on Wednesday. State officials warned residents on Thursday that time to evacuate was running out. You do have time to evacuate, but that time is now, Kevin Guthrie, the Florida division of emergency management director, said on Thursday morning. Officials in Tallahassee, the states capital, said the storm could be the worst in the citys history. If our community remains central in Helenes path, as forecasted, we will see unprecedented damage like nothing we have ever experienced before as a community, Tallahassees mayor, John Dalley, said at a news conference on Wednesday. Early Thursday, the National Weather Service said the impacts of the storm would depend on its track, though widespread power outages, damage to infrastructure including power lines, blocked roads and damage to structures are all possible. Related: A brutal hurricane razed their town. Five years later, theyre still searching for home Power outages will likely last days, if not weeks, near where it makes landfall, the National Weather Service said on Thursday. The hurricane will be the fourth to make landfall in the US this year. This is the second major hurricane to hit the state this year. In August, Hurricane Debby, a category 1 storm, brought power outages and flooding to the north-western part of the state. The impact of the storm will be felt far from the Gulf coast. Cooper, warned of the intense rains it was likely to bring as it moved inland. This is an unusually dangerous storm that threatens to bring heavy rain and potentially catastrophic flooding tonight and tomorrow for central and particularly western North Carolina, he said. He added that major cities in the state such as Charlotte and Asheville could see flash flooding despite not being directly in Helenes projected track. In Asheville, more than 7.5in of rain had already fallen since Wednesday night, and only another 2in were needed to make the storm a once-in-1,000-year rain event for the area, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center. Meanwhile in Georgia, Atlanta issued a rare top-level flood warning: a level four on a scale of four for a high risk of flooding rainfall. Hurricane Helene has graduated to a Category 3 hurricane as of Thursday afternoon and continues to speed up as it moves closer to landfall in Florida. Some Florida residents have already started evacuating from areas near the predicted landfall. Almost 80 million people in Florida and across the Southeast are under hurricane or tropical storm warnings. Further north, states are preparing for "catastrophic" flooding as the remnants of the storm are expected to dump inches of rain in several places, including Tennessee. "Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene's fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians," the National Hurricane Center said in the advisory Thursday morning. Here's the latest on Helene and where it is right now. Live coverage of Helene: When is Hurricane Helene expected to make landfall? Watch live coverage as storm approaches Florida How strong is Hurricane Helene? As of Thursday afternoon, Helene developed into a Category 3 storm, a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. AccuWeather forecasters predict that Helene could reach Category 4 strength, with winds of 131 to 155 mph, in the Gulf ahead of landfall and maintain windspeeds through it. This can have devastating effects in Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. "Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months," the hurricane center says of Category 4 storms. A Category 3 storm, while significantly weaker, is still a major hurricane. "Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes," the center says of Category 3 storms. How big is Hurricane Helene? Helene is a huge storm. As of Thursday morning, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 345 miles from the center. Where and when will Helene hit Florida? Helene is forecast to continue across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Thursday and hit Florida's Big Bend coast Thursday evening or early Friday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. Where is Jim Cantore right now? For many the question now is, "Where is Jim Cantore?" The now infamous weather hound is usually in the thick of things when severe weather hits...especially when it comes to hurricanes. Cantore is currently in Tallahassee, Florida, documenting not only the weather, but also the impact that it is having on the residents there as well. Traffic on i10 westbound out of TLH as #helene evacs continue. Bumper to bumper. pic.twitter.com/gY78qeuK6s Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 26, 2024 Even though Cantore may be in Florida, he's still keeping an eye out for those that will be dealing with the remnants of Helene. "This will be a historic storm for many including southern Appalachia with flooding and wind damage. Pray Im wrong, I want to be. Be safe all and protect your families and property as best you can," Cantore wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. It cannot be understated the threat #helene poses across the southeastern United States just based on current intensity projections. There doesnt appear to be any wiggle room on the downside either. This will be a historic storm for many including southern Appalachia with pic.twitter.com/PtUzvVjvH5 Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 25, 2024 Where is Helene right now? Potential path of the hurricane As of Thursday morning, Helene was located about 320 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida and was moving north-northeast around 12 mph, according to the hurricane center. Tracking Hurricane Helene 2024 Spaghetti Models for Hurricane Helene How do you pronounce Helene? Phonetically it is pronounced HELL-EEN. Take a listen to the pronunciation here. What are the different categories of hurricanes? Helene is expected to make landfall as at least a Category 3 hurricane. This category can cause devastating damage and bring dangerous storm surges to coastal communities. But this isn't the strongest hurricane possible. Hurricanes have five types of categories, here are what each are, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Category 1: A Minimal Hurricane Winds: 74-95 mph Minimum surface pressure: higher than 980 mbar Storm surge: 3-5 feet Damage primarily to shrubbery, trees, foliage and unanchored homes. No real damage to other structures. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Category 2: A Moderate Hurricane Winds: 96-110 mph Minimum surface pressure: 979-965 mbar Storm surge: 6-8 feet Considerable damage to shrubbery and tree foliage; some trees blown down. Major damage to exposed mobile homes. Extensive damage to poorly constructed signs. Some damage to roofing materials of buildings; some window and door damage. No major damage to buildings. Category 3: An Extensive Hurricane Winds: 111-130 mph Minimum surface pressure: 964-945 mbar Storm surge: 9-12 feet Foliage torn from trees, large trees blown down. Practically all poorly constructed signs blown down. Some damage to roofing materials of buildings with some wind and door damage. Some structural damage to small buildings. Mobile homes destroyed. Serious flooding at coast and many smaller structures near coast destroyed. Larger structures near coast damaged by battering waves and floating debris. Category 4: An Extreme Hurricane Winds: 131-155 mph Minimum surface pressure: 944-920 mbar Storm surge: 13-18 feet Shrubs and trees blown down; all signs down. Extensive damage to roofing materials, windows, and doors. Complete failure of roofs on many small residences. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Flat terrain 10 feet or less above sea level flooded inland as far as 6 miles. Major damage to lower floors of structures near shore due to flooding and battering by waves and floating debris. Category 5: A Catastrophic Hurricane Winds: greater than 155 mph Minimum surface pressure: lower than 920 mbar Storm surge: higher than 18 feet What category was Hurricane Katrina? Hurricane Katrina was a massive and deadly storm that skipped around the Gulf causing destruction as levees in Louisiana near New Orleans broke and caused massive flooding and destruction throughout the city in 2005. Katrina started as a low grade hurricane making landfall in the Hallandale Beach area in Florida before skipping into the Gulf and strengthening to a Category 5 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. It made its second landfall in southeast Lousiana as a high end Category 3 hurricane, according to previous reports by the National Hurricane Center. The scars of the storm still remain in some areas in the form of red Xs on buildings and areas that were left abandoned for years after Katrina hit. USA TODAY, Doyle Rice and The Florida Times-Union contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Hurricane Helene: Latest updates, projected path, spaghetti model Hurricane Helene is expected to land on Floridas Big Bend Coast as a sizable Category 3 storm during the evening hours of Thursday, September 26. When it does, officials warn of life-threatening conditions that could include maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, heavy rainfall, flooding, and storm surges ranging between 15-to-20-feet above normal tide levels. [Related: The average hurricane season is officially more intense.] These estimates, updated in real-time by meteorological experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rely on spacecraft such as its Geospatial Operational Environmental Satellite 16 (GOES-16) to provide regular visual and analytical data. Launched in 2016, GOES-16 is just one a fleet of similar satellites, and is designed to monitor the Earths atmospheric conditions by regularly capturing images of the planet using 16 channels of light. And thanks to Colorado State Universitys Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), many of those remarkable images are available online to illustrate the incoming storms intense power. Hurricane Helene is now a powerful, major hurricane. pic.twitter.com/sUP6K2kbZw CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) September 26, 2024 On Thursday afternoon, CIRA posted a composite image on X of the lightning flashes (also known as robust convection fires) occurring within Hurricane Helenes eye wall as it made its way towards the Florida coastline. The lightning isnt confined to the inner portions of the storm, however. Late Wednesday evening, CISA showcased similar lightning spirals that take place in the storms outer bands. Lightning flashes within Hurricane Helene's eye wall as robust convection fires. Helene continues to strengthen as it approaches Florida. pic.twitter.com/XOhTY3JOSU CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) September 26, 2024 Part of Hurricane Helenes rapid strengthening is due to record-setting warm temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. This can act as high-octane jet fuel for the storm, according to a University of Miami hurricane researcher speaking with The New York Times on Thursday, adding that water in Helenes path is roughly the ideal temperature for a warm bath. In one time-lapse posted to X, CISA illustrated those high temperatures that lay ahead of the storm as it neared Florida on Wednesday. Very warm waters await Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico as seen in this satellite imagery showing the sea surface temperatures of the body of water. Helene is forecast intensify into a major hurricane before making landfall in the Florida panhandle tomorrow evening. pic.twitter.com/Ryd6bnK8iQ CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) September 25, 2024 GOES-16 isnt the only tool tracking Helene from orbit. The International Space Stations own exterior cameras recorded the hurricane as it passed over the hurricane at roughly 12:50 EST on September 26 from a height of about 260 miles above Earth. Hurricane Helene is estimated to make landfall around 7pm EST in Floridas Big Bend before quickly moving north through the Appalachians and the Ohio Valley before veering northwest as it loses strength. For real-time information, visit the US governments disaster information page for more details. Hurricane Helene updates: Helene made landfall as dangerous, major Category 4 hurricane Heres what you need to know: Hurricane Helene made landfall along Floridas Big Bend as a Category 4 storm. Hurricane Warnings include Butts, Jasper, Pike, Upson, Lamar and Spalding counties. All of metro Atlanta and north Georgia are under a Tropical Storm Warning. Helene is expected to remain a Category 2 storm as it moves into south Georgia Could still be a Category 1 storm when it moves into the southern part of the Channel 2 Action News viewing area. For the heart of the Atlanta metro area and North, expect tropical storm conditions The storm will have moved out by Friday afternoon Parts of North Georgia could see an additional 4-8 hours on top of the rain we have gotten over the last couple of days On Thursday morning, President Biden approved an emergency declaration for Georgia to send federal assistance to the state. Possible extensive wind and tree damage expected Tornadoes are also possible Rivers expected to reach flood-stage 1/3 of the state of Georgia is now under a rare HIGH RISK for flooding through early Friday. Severe Weather Team 2 is monitoring Hurricane Helene around the clock and making sure you have the latest information to keep you and your family safe. Hurricane Helene officially made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane Thursday night along Floridas Big Bend. Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan says the storm is moving fast and will make its way across Georgia and into metro Atlanta and north Georgia late Thursday night and into Friday morning. The NWS latest update shows a slight shift east of metro Atlanta, but Monahan says hurricane conditions are expected all the way through Georgia. The highest impacts over the eastern parts of metro Atlanta and north Georgia will be winds as high as 60 miles per hour. Heavy rainfall will continue through Thursday and into early Friday morning. North Georgia can expect to see anywhere between six and 12 inches of rain. All of metro Atlanta and north Georgia are under a Tropical Storm Warning. A Flood Warning is also in effect through Friday afternoon. [DOWNLOAD: Free Severe Weather Team 2 App for alerts wherever you go] How strong is Helene? Around 11 p.m., the National Weather Service shared an update confirming that Helene made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region. The max sustained winds at landfall were estimated at 140 mph. The storm will slowly start to weaken as it moves across Georgia, but its unclear how strong it will be by the time it reaches metro Atlanta. [INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar] When will Helene move into Georgia? Monahan says Helene is moving quickly. So once it makes landfall late Thursday in Florida, it is expected to quickly make its way into Georgia and into north Georgia by late Thursday night and early Friday morning. As it moves in, Georgians can expect to see heavy rains and strong winds. Monahan said to expect sustained winds of 40-60 mph, and gusts of 60-75+ mph. Along the track and to the east of Helenes center, there will be a risk of a brief, spin-up tornado. So depending on the exact path Helene follows, parts of metro Atlanta could see a tornado risk. [INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar] Are schools open? Dozens of school districts and universities across metro Atlanta and north Georgia have shut down on Thursday and Friday. Others are choosing to stay open on Thursday while closing on Friday. You can see a full list of school closures by clicking here. Has the government responded? On Tuesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency through Oct. 2. What does a state of emergency do? The order essentially frees up emergency funds for areas that could be impacted and mobilizes agencies to help with preparation, response and recovery before and after a storm. The order also allows up to 500 Georgia National Guard troops to help with storm preparation and response. President Joe Biden, also on Tuesday, approved a major disaster declaration for FEMA to assist the state. Channel 2s Tom Regan spoke with Georgia Emergency Management Agency officials who say they are already preparing for the storm and warning Georgians to stay alert and have a plan before the storms effects move into the area. [UPLOAD PHOTOS: Share your weather photos with us here] (Reuters) - New vehicle sales in September in the United States are projected to fall 1.8% from a year ago, partly hurt by three fewer selling days, a report by industry consultants J.D. Power and GlobalData showed on Thursday. Seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) sales of new vehicles are expected to stay flat at 15.8 million units, according to the report. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT Rising inventories are leading to larger discounts from both manufacturers and retailers, resulting in falling transaction prices. The industry continues to be impacted by reduced leasing activity from three years ago. Fewer leases signed back then mean fewer lessees are returning to dealers to purchase or lease a new vehicle. BY THE NUMBERS Total new-vehicle sales for September, including retail and non-retail transactions, are expected to be down 1.8% at 1,164,900 units from a year ago. The same sales volume without adjusting for the number of selling days translates to a decrease of 13.2% from 2023. Transaction prices are trending towards $44,467, down $1,296 or 2.8% from a year earlier while the average incentive spend per vehicle has grown 63.2%. Total retailer profit per unit - which includes vehicles' gross plus finance and insurance income - is expected to be $2,249, down 29% from September 2023. KEY QUOTES "In September, the interest in EVs by new-vehicle shoppers reached a low point for the year. Just 21.7% of new-vehicle shoppers said they were 'very likely' to consider an EV for their next new-vehicle purchase, a 4.2-percentage-point drop from a year ago," said Elizabeth Krear, vice president, electric vehicle practice at J.D. Power. "While the rate adjustment is a positive for the industry, the effect will be neither immediate nor linear whether it's improving vehicle affordability for consumers, reducing the cost of low APR (annual percentage rate) deals for manufacturers or helping retailers with floorplan expense," said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. (Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) Hurricane Helene strengthens into a Category 3 storm as it moves towards Columbus Hurricane Helene is now a major hurricane after being upgraded to a Category 3 storm, according to Accuweather. The storm continues to intensify in the Gulf of Mexico, and currently has sustained winds surpassing 120 mph. Helene is expected to make landfall later tonight near the Big Bend in Florida. Columbus should begin seeing the impacts from the storm overnight and into Friday morning. Georgia officials warned yesterday that the storm is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane, and will bring hurricane-force winds to a greater number of counties, including Muscogee County, than previously anticipated. Flooding and power outages are expected to be widespread across the state, and the southeastern counties in Georgia have a higher risk for tornadoes, according to a Sept. 26 update by GEMA. The remnants of Helene should exit the state by Friday afternoon. ORLANDO, Fla. Hurricane Helene intensified into a major Category 3 hurricane on Thursday with 120 mph sustained winds, with the National Hurricane Center predicting it will grow further bringing devastation to Floridas Gulf Coast and inland toward Tallahassee. A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves, said NHC senior hurricane specialist Jack Beven. There is also a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the remainder of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula. Residents in those areas should follow advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so. The special update came at 2:25 p.m. EDT after the Air Force Hurricane Hunters found that the maximum sustained winds had increased to near 120 mph located about 170 miles west-southwest of Tampa and 205 miles south of Apalachicola as it moved north-northeast at 16 mph. Additional strengthening is expected before Helene makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend this evening, the update reads. It could reach Category 4 with 130 mph winds. Hurricane-force winds extend out 60 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend out 345 miles from the center. The National Weather Service also issued a tornado watch covering the majority of Floridas peninsula from north-central Florida down to the Keys until 8 p.m. Nearly 20 tornado warnings have been issued across Florida since midnight through 10 a.m. including South Florida warnings in Wellington, Clewiston and Port St. Lucie, and recent warnings in Brevard and Volusia counties. Power outages are beginning to pop up across the state, with nearly 100,000 customers out by 3 p.m., according to poweroutage.us. Wind gusts over 60 mph forced the Florida Highway Patrol to shut down the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay in the afternoon, and later shut down the Howard Frankland Bridge that connects Tampa to St. Petersburg. The forecast intensity has it reaching Category 3 major hurricane strength with 120 mph sustained winds and 145 mph gusts by Thursday night ahead of landfall, but it could intensify further. Forward speed is picking up now, said NHC Director Michael Brennan. That speed is going to continue to increase to over 20 mph by the time Helene makes landfall later this evening ... Weve seen data from both the NOAA and Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft that shows Helene his strengthening, getting better organized, forming an eye wall, and were expecting steady to rapid intensification to continue. Before Helene makes landfall later tonight as a Category 3 or possibly even Category 4 hurricane, but the impacts are whats going to be most important. A Category 4 hurricane would mean 130 mph sustained winds and gusts of 160 mph. Brennan warned for those powerful winds north of landfall up into the Tallahassee area and even further into Georgia. Everybody in that region needs to be prepared for hurricane-force winds, the potential for long-duration, widespread power outages, structural damage, tree damage, trees falling on homes, out on cars or people if youre outside, and the potential for catastrophic wind damage near where the core of Helene makes landfall on the Florida Big Bend coast. As a result, storm surge, wind and rainfall impacts will extend well away from the center and outside the forecast cone, particularly on the east side, Beven said. In addition, the fast forward speed when Helene moves inland will result in a far inland penetration of strong winds over parts of the southeastern United States, including strong gusts over higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. ... A higher-than-normal gust factor is indicated in the official forecast while Helene is inland. Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at a 9 a.m. press conference from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee with a status update. This is a very large storm, so youre going to see tropical weather thats going to extend hundreds of miles away from the center of the storm, he said. But even though landfall will be in North Florida, Gulf Coast cities including Sarasota and Tampa are not out of danger. Because its such a big storm, its churning a lot of water, and so youre going to see surge all up and down the west coast of Florida, he said. The water is going to rise, and that is going to create hazards as well. So just because youre outside the cone, and I think a lot of those parts on the west coast of Florida are probably outside the cone, that does not mean that youre not going to see significant impacts. Already surge on the Gulf Coast is causing minor flooding in southwest Florida such as Charlotte and Lee counties and in Tampa Bays Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The town of Fort Myers Beach posted images of flooding up to the windows of some beachside buildings. Earlier surge flooded streets in Key West and the lower Florida Keys. DeSantis addressed how hard a hit the states capital city could take if the course remains on track. If you look at the track that we were talking about last night, that was a track that we have not seen of that magnitude hit Tallahassee in anybodys lifetime, and if that were to happen, there is just going to be a lot of debris, he said. It is going to push down a lot of trees, and it will cause significant damage. Any shift in the storms path farther east, though, will spare Tallahassee some of the more devastating winds. We always prepare for the worst and hope for the best, he said. You have seen the models nudge it more to the east, and if youre on the west side of the storm, the amount of damage is just less than if youre on the east side of the storm. The Florida Division of Emergency Management has been responding to 1,100 requests from counties with provision of requests such as generators and high-water vehicles. Also the state will have 30,000 linemen staged to respond to expected power outages after the storm passes. The storm, its coming, he said. Were already seeing some effects in the southern part of the state. Were going to continue to see conditions deteriorate throughout the rest of the day, and we are anticipating a landfall as likely a major hurricane sometime this evening. As of noon, the NWS in Melbourne said Vero Beach had seen a 59 mph wind gust while wind gusts of 43 mph were recorded at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, 41 mph at Daytona Beach International Airport, 38 at Melbourne International Airport and 37 mph at Orlando International Airport. On Wednesday, he said mandatory evacuation orders were in place for some parts of 16 counties. This things going to be whipping through, he said. Its going to cause a lot of churn, and is going to drive that water and so it is going to be a significant water event. ... Remember, you hide from wind, but you run from the water. He said the state had partnered with Uber for free rides for those in those evacuation zones. He also said Visit Florida has activated emergency accommodation modules on Expedia and Priceline for hotel availability. The breadth of the storm has already prompted tropical storm warnings to extend to the entirety of Floridas east coast and into Georgia on top of Floridas Gulf Coast and Panhandle hurricane warnings and watches. And several coastal counties have ordered evacuations as storm surge was a threat from southwest Florida up to the Panhandle including up to 20 feet in the Big Bend, up to 8 feet in Tampa Bay and 5 feet in Charlotte Harbor. It is going to be a big storm, and by big I mean not intensity, I mean size, said NHC Deputy Director Jaime Rhome. And big storms cause big problems. And thats one of the take-home messages that I need you to understand. Hurricane warnings are in place for the Gulf Coast from the Anclote River near Tarpon Springs north to Mexico Beach, Florida on the Panhandle. A hurricane watch is in place for Englewood north the Anclote River and Tampa Bay. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Dry Tortugas, all of the Florida Keys, the Florida west coast from Flamingo to the Anclote River and Tampa Bay, west of Mexico Beach on the Panhandle to the Okaloosa/Walton county line and the east coast of the Florida peninsula from Flamingo around and north up to the Little River Inlet, South Carolina. Tropical storm warnings are in place as well for Lake Okeechobee and inland warnings for all of Central Florida including Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties. The western inland portion of Marion County is under a hurricane warning. Hurricane conditions are expected within the U.S. hurricane warning area late today, with tropical storm conditions beginning this morning, Beven said. Tropical storm conditions are spreading across the Florida Keys at this time, and they are expected to spread northward across the rest of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina through tonight. The big worry for more of the Gulf Coast is storm surge with a warning in place from Mexico Beach in the Panhandle all the way south to Flamingo near the bottom of the Florida peninsulas southwest coast, but also vulnerable Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Storm surge as high as 20 feet could be seen in the area directly near landfall. Its going to push a big swath of storm surge across the western portions of the Florida peninsula, Rhome said. This area is really, really vulnerable to storm surge. Its not going to take a lot of wind, and even tropical-storm-force winds along the Florida West Coast produce significant and life threatening storm surge. The NHC warned surge and high tide could lead to 15-20 feet from Carrabelle to the Suwannee River, 10-15 feet from Apalachicola to Carrabelle and from the Suwannee to Chassahowitzka, 8-12 feet from Chassahowitzka to the Anclote River near Tarpon Springs, from 6-10 feet from Indian Pass in the Panhandle to Apalachicola, 5-8 feet from the Anclote River south to the middle of Longboat Key as well as Tampa Bay, 4-7 feet from the middle of Longboat Key south to Englewood and 3-5 feet from east of Mexico Beach to Indian Pass, Englewood south to Flamingo and Charlotte Harbor. On the forecast track, Helene will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today and cross the Florida Big Bend coast this evening or early Friday morning, Beven said. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. Helene is forecast to drop 6-12 inches of rain with some areas getting up to 18 inches across the southeast United States. This rainfall will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with areas of significant river flooding, forecasters said. Landslides are possible in areas of steep terrain in the southern Appalachians. Inland tropical storm watches are in place deep into the U.S. up into Georgia including Atlanta as well as western South Carolina and western North Carolina. We dont normally issue tropical storm watches this far inland, especially here, over the Appalachians area, Rhome said. So thats unusual. You really need to be paying attention. Theres also a big flood threat. The NHC also warns tornadoes could form over the western Florida peninsula and southern Alabama with the risk growing on Thursday and expanding across Florida and into parts of Georgia and South Carolina. Helene formed from Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine as a tropical storm on Tuesday morning, and has picked up steam since developing into a hurricane off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday morning before entering the Gulf of Mexico. The wind swath is going to be huge with this system, and its basically going to carve a path right over a good portion of the Florida peninsula, including the highly populated I-4 corridor, Rhome said. So if youre watching from Tampa and Orlando, youre going to have a big wind event with this, no matter where it goes with respect to the track. The storms center has a likely target of the Big Bend, similar to this years Hurricane Debby and 2023s Hurricane Idalia with a tighter cone of uncertainty 12 hours out from landfall that ranges from near east of Apalachicola to west of Keaton Beach. All indications are a significant hurricane impacting the Florida Big Bend, but, and this is a big but, the hazards are going to be well removed from the center and well removed from the cone, Rhome said. So I dont want you to look at the cone and say, Im out of the cone, or Im on the edge of the cone, because this wind field, the wind field with this system, is going to be really large larger than youre used to seeing with a traditional hurricane. DeSantis urged residents to listen to local evacuation orders, and avoid the tragedy seen in 2022s Hurricane Ian that killed 149 people in Florida, most of whom were caught in major storm surge in southwest Florida. The field is so big with the winds and its going to churn up a lot of surge that youre likely to see something significant, particularly in the barrier islands and those low lying areas, he said. So we always say you can hide from the wind, especially with Florida structures that have been built in modern times, but you run from the water, because if that water really does come crashing in, its not a lot you can do about it at that point. Each county has designated shelters, including at least one that will let residents take their pets. You dont have to get in your car and drive 350 miles away. You can evacuate safely to higher ground, he said. Theres shelters, theres hotels, friends houses, family. All that is fine. People, including some in mobile or manufactured homes, can find out if they are under an evacuation order at floridadisaster.org. He reiterated that even though landfall will be on the Gulf Coast, the east side of the storm will cause havoc across the entire peninsula. Youre going to see the more violent side of the storm. Its going to whip up surge. Its going to produce high winds that are going to impact the Florida peninsula from Tampa Bay all the way across to the Atlantic coast of Florida, he said. DeSantis earlier this week issued a pair of state of emergency orders covering 61 of Floridas 67 counties. President Joe Biden approved federal disaster assistance that authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts for 28 of those counties. DeSantis said he would revisit their request to see if the federal order can be expanded, which would help refund preparations some of the cities and counties in effected areas have to make. There are 3,500 Florida National Guard soldiers ready to assist with post-storm assistance, which can be surged to 5,500 if necessary. The state has also mobilized more than 250 from the Florida State Guard as well as personnel from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, county sheriffs and city police forces. Also late Wednesday, the NHC said Tropical Storm Isaac formed in the north Atlantic. As of 11 a.m. Thursday, the system was located about 1,345 miles west of the Azores and 820 miles east-northeast of Bermuda with 50 mph sustained winds moving east at 12 mph. A turn toward the east-northeast or northeast is expected by the weekend, along with a slight increase in forward speed, forecasters said. Strengthening is forecast, and Isaac is expected reach or be near hurricane strength by late Friday or early Saturday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center, but for now it is no threat to land. The NHC was tracking two more systems in the Atlantic basin with a chance to become a tropical depression or storm. As of the NHCs 2 p.m. tropical outlook Thursday, the most likely was a broad low-pressure system associated with a tropical wave located several hundred miles west of the Cape Verde Islands has been producing more organized shower and thunderstorm activity. Recent satellite imagery suggests the system does not yet have a well-defined surface circulation, forecasters said. However, environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for further development. A tropical depression is expected to form later today or tomorrow while the disturbance moves generally westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. Its forecast to slow down and turn north late Friday and Saturday, and is no threat to land. The NHC gives it a 90% chance to develop in the next two days and 90% in the next seven. The next name on the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season list is Joyce. New on Thursday, the NHC began forecasting an area of low pressure to form over the western Caribbean by the middle of next week. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for slow development thereafter, while the system moves generally northwestward, forecasters said. The NHC gives it a 20% chance of development in the next seven days. Hurricane season runs from June 1-Nov. 30, with the height of hurricane development running from mid-August into October. --------- Residents in the southeastern US are concerned about the Hurricane Helene timeline and where the storm is going. Current projections have the heart of the system heading through Florida and Georgia over the next several days. As of an advisory on Thursday, September 26, Hurricane Helene has been declared a Category 2 and is projected to intensify into a Category 3 by the time it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida. The main concern of Helene is the potential storm surge, especially around the Big Bend coastline, which might see the water level rise anywhere from 12 to 20 feet. Hurricane Helene timeline, path, and projectory through to the weekend The timeline for Hurricane Helene from Thursday to Sunday has it move through the Florida panhandle, up through Georgia near Atlanta, and then settling in the western border between Kentucky and Tennessee. This is based on combined reports from WPLG Local 10, The Weather Channel, 11Alive, and the National Hurricane Center. [Image Credit: National Hurricane Center] Thursday, 2:00 PM ET Hurricane Helene is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds. The center of the storm will still be in the Gulf of Mexico. But nearly the entire state of Florida will be under heavy rainfall and face strong gusts throughout the day. Thursday, 8:00 PM ET Helene should make landfall along Florida near the Big Bend region during the evening. Projections have weakened slightly with most Thursday forecasts predicting that it will be a Category 3 at this time instead of a Category 4. Good look at Hurricane Helene this morning in the Gulf of Mexico. Winds have increased to 100 mph, category two strength. pic.twitter.com/1YKIY1LLOw James Spann (@spann) September 26, 2024 Friday, 2:00 AM PT With Helene now inland and without the moisture from the Gulf, the winds of the storm will fall to around 85 miles per hour. Its center will be south of Atlanta, Georgia. Friday, 2:00 PM PT As the storm heads through Atlanta, its winds are estimated to calm to around 35 mph. Still, through to Sunday, several regions around Atlanta and Tallahassee are expected to receive anywhere from 3 to 8 inches of rainfall. Because of this, Many counties northeast of Atlanta are under a high flood risk watch. Saturday and Sunday The system is expected to be drawn into a low-pressure system between Kentucky and Tennessee. During the weekend, winds will likely drop to 25 to 30 mph. The post This Is Hurricane Helenes Timeline & Path From Thursday to Sunday, Experts Project appeared first on Mandatory. With typhoon Yagi battering Asia, storm Boris drenching parts of Europe, extreme flooding in the Sahel and hurricane Helene racing towards Florida, September so far has been a very wet month. But while scientists can link some extreme weather events directly to human-caused global warming, it remains too early to draw clear conclusions about this sodden month. "You will always have some sort of extreme weather events, but their intensity has been magnified by global warming, especially in the context of rainfall," Paulo Ceppi from Imperial College London's Grantham Institute told AFP on Thursday. "That's probably one of the common drivers of these different events in very different parts of the world." Early indications from monthly data show some record-breaking precipitation levels in the regions affected. In central Europe, the torrential rains accompanying storm Boris were "the heaviest ever recorded" in the region, according to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network of scientists, inundating homes and farmland. Global warming has doubled the likelihood of severe four-day downpours since the pre-industrial era and the costs of climate change are "accelerating", WWA said in a report published Wednesday. Meanwhile in Japan's city of Wajima, more than 120 millimetres (4.7 inches) of rainfall per hour was recorded on the morning of September 21 -- the heaviest rain since comparative data became available in 1929. - Hotter, and wetter? - "Attributing different weather patterns around the world at the same time to climate change is very challenging," said Liz Stephens, science lead at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. "But the fundamental principle remains that for every 1 degree Celsius of warming the atmosphere can hold seven percent more moisture," she told AFP. With global warming on track to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times "you can do the math pretty quickly and that will have a measurable impact," said Ceppi from the Grantham Institute. The 2024 northern summer saw the highest global temperatures ever recorded, beating last year's record, according to the EU's climate monitor Copernicus. A hotter planet, in other words, could also signal a wetter one. The sweltering summer in the Mediterranean this year "gives a lot of extra evaporation, pumping more water vapour into Europe if the conditions are right and allowing for all that moisture to be dumped in certain places," Ceppi said. "The global temperatures -- both over the land and the ocean -- were anomalously high during August-September despite La Nina-like conditions evolving in the Pacific," Roxy Mathew Koll at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology told AFP. "Anomalously high temperatures assist in supplying additional heat and moisture for storms and weather systems to intensify." La Nina refers to a naturally-occurring climate phenomenon that cools the ocean surface temperatures in large swathes of the tropical Pacific Ocean, coupled with winds, rains and changes in atmospheric pressure. In many locations, especially in the tropics, La Nina produces the opposite climate impacts to El Nino, which heats up the surface of the oceans, leading to drought in some parts of the world and triggering heavy downpours elsewhere. Currently, "neutral" conditions prevail, meaning neither El Nino nor La Nina are present. Large swaths of South America and Southern Africa suffered from drought in 2024. The global September update from Copernicus is due early next month and will provide hard data on precipitation levels. eab/ Iceland are trying to trademark its King Prawn Rings, claiming they invented them [Getty Images] Supermarket Iceland has applied to trademark its "iconic King Prawn Rings" and demanded other supermarkets stop selling them. The chain, which has its headquarters in Flintshire, claimed it had been beset by "copy crustaceans" since it launched its product in 1991. In an open letter published on X, formerly Twitter, it took aim at Aldi, Tesco, Lidl and Asda. Lidl said: "Here was us thinking it was a classic 1970s party dish." But on social media Iceland executive chairman, Richard Walker, said: "The King Prawn Ring is ours and we won't be letting you off the hook." The letter, addressed to "all other supermarkets" and signed "Iceland Foods", accused its competitors of thinking they were "pretty shrimpressive", adding: "There's only one original and that's us." It said that after 30 years it had had enough of other stores' "fishy behaviour". It added: "We are today asking you to remove your pretender King Prawn Rings from sale and to not include them in any of your impending Christmas ranges. "Doing so will ensure you don't have any action taken against you should our applications be granted. "Our lawyers are more than ready to dive into legal waters, and trust us, they're well-armed to claw back what's rightfully ours." The firm filed its application with the Intellectual Property Office to trademark the product, which it dubbed "shellfishly brilliant" on 9 September. But Giles Parsons, of the Law Societys intellectual property law committee, dismissed the matter a publicity stunt. He said: "Trademarks are registered for signs in respect of goods and services, such as Nike being a sign registered for footwear. Iceland executive chairman, Richard Walker, said the prawn ring belonged to the supermarket [PA Media] "Trademarks have to be capable of function as a badge of trade origin, so they cant be descriptive." The term "king prawn ring", he said, was descriptive. He expected the application would be refused. "It is likely that they are using this application before Christmas to flag that their king prawn ring is the original one," he said. Aldi and Tesco, have been approached for comment. Asda declined to comment. Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane and county clerks from from across the state discuss steps they take to make Idaho elections easy, accurate and secure Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane and county clerks from from across the state discuss steps they take to make Idaho elections easy, accurate and secure on Sept. 25 at the Idaho State Capitol. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun) Election officials from across the state gathered on the front steps of the Idaho State Capitol in Boise on Wednesday to publicly pledge that elections are secure and encourage Idahoans to vote in the Nov. 5 general election. During the event, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane unveiled a letter to voters signed by all 44 county clerks pledging to make voting in Idaho easy, secure and accurate. As the elected leaders responsible for conducting elections in every corner of our great state, we are united in a shared commitment to ensuring the accessibility, integrity and security of Idahos elections, the letter states. While each county in Idaho may differ in size, geography and population, one thing remains constant: your right to a secure and transparent elections process. About 25 county clerks attended the gathering on the Statehouse steps, where elections officials highlighted steps they take to secure Idaho elections, including testing the accuracy of vote tabulation equipment before Election Day, the use of paper ballots, ensuring equipment that is used to count the ballots is not connected to the internet and post-election audits. Something that I was surprised to find that most people dont know is prior to every single election there is logic and accuracy testing of those machines prior to every single election to make sure that the machines that have been vetted and tested are still working accurately, Bannock County Clerk Jason Dixon said. Bannock County clerk Jason Dixon gives remarks during a press conference on the Idaho Statehouse step During Wednesdays event, election officials encouraged Idahoans to vote with confidence. Today one of the things that we wanted to share was our commitment to secure and accessible elections, McGrane said. To register to vote, request an absentee ballot, find out which legislative district you live in, view your sample ballot or request directions to your polling place, visit VoteIdaho.gov. The deadline to register to vote online before the election is Oct. 11. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 25. Early voting begins Oct. 21. Polls will be open for in-person voting from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Election Day Nov. 5. Voters are allowed to register to vote and vote at their polling place on Election Day. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Bryan Kohberger, the 29-year-old criminology Ph.D. student accused of murdering four undergrads at the University of Idaho days before Thanksgiving in 2022 is preparing to appear in a new court for the first time after his successful push for a change of venue. The hearing Thursday is the first in Boise and is expected to be a minor event to bring the new judge up to speed on the case. But it marks the beginning of a new phase in the proceedings against Kohberger, who could face the death penalty if convicted. Experts don't expect to see any surprises but say the new judge will make his presence known to both sides as he takes over the case. Kohberger's lawyers have asked the new judge to let him wear "street clothing" rather than a jailhouse jumpsuit to court, which they say would protect his right to a fair trial. "Authorizing Mr. Kohberger to wear street clothing to all public hearings is one way to reduce potential for prejudice," defense attorney Anne Taylor wrote. Idaho Student Murders Suspect Bryan Kohberger Asks New Judge For Courthouse Wardrobe Exception Bryan Kohberger is led to an awaiting Ada County Sheriff's vehicle at Boise Airport in Boise, Idaho, Sept. 15, 2024. "Its just a check-in, since the case was moved, and probably just to let the parties know what he expects going forward," said Edwina Elcox, a Boise-based defense attorney who is not involved in the proceedings. Read On The Fox News App Judge Steven Hippler is the Ada County jurist now in charge after his counterpart in Latah County, Judge John Judge, agreed to a defense motion for a change of venue. "The judge will introduce himself," said David Gelman, a New Jersey-based defense attorney who has been following the case closely. "They have to get familiar with everything and what motions are still left to do. "Im sure they already have a good idea, but when you change venue, its chaotic. Not saying it resets everything, but it definitely makes the case take a couple steps back." New Idaho Judge In Bryan Kohberger Trial No Stranger To Brutal Murder Cases The case's previous judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger's behalf to four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge at his arraignment last year. His lawyers have asked the court to throw out the possibility of the death penalty. A hearing on the capital punishment issue has been scheduled for Nov. 7, nearly two years after the slayings. Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter Madison Mogen, top left, smiles on the shoulders of her best friend, Kaylee Goncalves, as they pose with Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and two other housemates in Goncalves' final Instagram post, shared the day before the four students were stabbed to death. GET REAL TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub According to prosecutors, a man with a large knife entered an off-campus house around 4 a.m. Nov. 13, 2022, and killed four students inside Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. As investigators scoured the bloody crime scene, they found a Ka-Bar knife sheath under Mogen's remains, according to court documents. On the sheath, they say, they found a DNA sample that led them to Kohberger. Bryan Kohberger arrives at the Monroe County Courthouse in Pennsylvania in advance of an extradition hearing. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Additional evidence revealed in court includes cellphone records and video showing the movements of his car. Two additional roommates were not attacked, and prosecutors said one of them froze in place as she watched a masked man leaving out the back door. The trial has already been delayed and is expected to begin in June 2025. Original article source: Idaho murders: Bryan Kohberger makes first Boise courthouse appearance as defense wages jumpsuit war Cyanobacteria blooms occur when blue-green algae rapidly grows out of control. (Courtesy of Lorraine Backer/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health image library) The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has issued a health advisory for the west side of Henrys Lake near eastern Idahos Island Park, urging caution when recreating in or near the water. Recent samples from the Henrys Lake showed high amounts of toxin-producing cyanobacteria, which can cause harmful algal blooms in the water. The toxins they produce called cyanotoxins can be harmful to people, pets and livestock. When recreating near or in the west side of Henrys Lake, Health and Welfare said in a press release that Idahoans should take the following precautions while the advisory is in effect: Avoid swimming, wading or other contact with the water. Take extra care to ensure children do not drink or get the water on them. Ensure pets and livestock do not drink or go into the water. If they have contact with the water, clean skin, hide or fur with clean water right away. Do not drink or cook with the water. Boiling or filtering the water does not remove the toxins and can increase the risk of becoming sick. Wash hands thoroughly in clean water after handling fish or objects from the water. If you choose to eat fish from the water, clean and wash fish thoroughly in uncontaminated water. Fillet the fish, and remove all fat, skin and internal organs before cooking. Cyanotoxins can build up in fish, and the risk to people is unknown. Watch for symptoms. If you touch or swim in the water or breathe in water droplets, you might experience a rash, hives, red eyes, wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath. If you swallow the water, you might have stomach pain, diarrhea or vomiting. You might have a headache, muscle weakness or dizziness. If your liver is damaged, your skin might turn yellow, and you will have dark urine. If you think you might be sick from cyanotoxin, consult your health care provider or call the poison center at 800-222-1222. Notify algae@deq.idaho.gov. Monitor media reports and Health and Welfares website for health advisories. Cyanobacteria are a natural part of Idahos water bodies, but when temperatures rise, their populations can bloom and toxic chemical compounds can be released into the water, the press release said. Blooms dont all look the same. They may look like mats, foam, spilled paint or surface scum and have a foul odor, according to Health and Welfare. Mats can be out of sight on the bottom of the water body. Pets, livestock and wildlife can get sick or die, within minutes to days after cyanotoxin exposure. Dogs may become sick first because they are more likely to swim in or drink contaminated water or lick contaminated water or bloom material off their fur. If your pets or livestock have been in the water, immediately wash them with clean water to keep them from licking cyanobacteria off their bodies. Health and Welfare urges you to seek veterinary care immediately if your pets or livestock seem sick after going in or drinking the water. For information about harmful algal blooms, visit DEQs website or Health and Welfares website. The public will be notified once the advisory is lifted, according to the press release. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX GEAUGA COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz says an immigrant here illegally has been indicted on numerous charges, accused of creating a life for himself in America by completely taking over someone elses identity for years. Asuncion Rivera was indicted Sept. 23 in Geauga County Common Pleas Court on 25 charges, including counts of identity fraud and false voter registration. Video: Brawl breaks out at Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center He has been living in the country for a couple of decades under the stolen identity, Flaiz said. He applied for and received Medicaid benefits over $25,000 in Medicaid benefits. He also applied for food stamps. The prosecutor said Rivera is accused of using the stolen identity to register to vote, get a drivers license, a United States Passport and thousands of dollars in government benefits. Flaiz and Kendra Yurgionas, an investigator at the Geauga County Prosecutors office, said Rivera was also arrested several times. Welcome mat: Local sheriff speaks out on controversial post about Harris supporters, immigration Since 2005 , there was a criminal history involving disorderly conduct and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, Yurgionas said. Its very concerning and that is why we took this investigation tremendously seriously. We dont want someone living in our community who is potentially a danger or a threat. Flaiz said investigators discovered the scheme, after the person, whose identity was stolen, applied for government benefits last year. Rivera is due in court soon to face the charges. He is being held in the Geauga County Jail. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Illinois Attorney General warns of election misinformation generated by AI (WTVO) Illinois voters can start casting ballots tomorrow for the U.S. President and other political offices. The states attorney general is warning people about election misinformation generated by artificial intelligence. There are multiple tips voters should know before they cast their ballots: Visit the Illinois State Board of Elections and local election boards for information. Do not rely on chatbots or search engine AI to answer questions about election voting. Be skeptical of images, audio, video and articles online that elicit a strong emotional response. Register to vote through trusted sources like the State Board of Elections Online Voter Application For more information on how to vote online click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Volkswagen in Germany has rejected union demands over pay and plant guarantees after the first round of collective bargaining negotiations ended without agreement. IG Metall and VW are negotiating new labour deals for the core VW brand's 130,000 workers in Germany, after the group this month ended agreements that had safeguarded employment at six of its plants in Germany for decades. Workers at VW have threatened strikes in response to VWs warnings of the possible need for plant closures in Germany as part of cost-cutting measures aimed at making it more competitive versus rival OEMs with much lower cost bases. IG Metall has threatened strikes from the start of December and is also insisting on a 7% pay rise. Arne Meiswinkel, chief negotiator for Volkswagen AG said: We must safeguard Volkswagens future viability and competitiveness in the long term. To do this, we need to reduce costs. Now is the time to take groundbreaking action together. During the negotiations, Arne Meiswinkel rejected IG Metalls demands for plant guarantees, saying: We can only future-proof Volkswagen if we are competitive. To achieve this, we need sustained cost reductions and a future-proof structure for the working conditions covered by our collective bargaining agreement. We must also reduce our labour costs in Germany. We can only maintain our top position and safeguard jobs in the long term if we work more economically. The one presupposes the other and cannot be achieved without a contribution from the workforce. In the upcoming collective bargaining process, we will therefore be seeking solutions that strengthen both the company and the workforce in the long term. As the parties to the collective bargaining agreement, we must work together to shape the companys future viability and safeguard it for the long term. "VW rejects union demands over possible plant closures" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Illinois plans to take the leap in quantum computing with EeroQ (WTVO) Illinois has landed another business in the growing industry of quantum computing. Quantum hardware company EeroQ has announced it will join two Illinois programs aimed at helping the state take the lead in the development of supercomputing. We will see many more billions in new investments and thousands of quality high-paying jobs that will grow our economy and create new opportunity for Illinois working families, said JB Pritzker. Its also a chance to bring history-altering innovations into the world. EeroQ is a startup company that uses liquid helium and traditional chip-making technologies to create processors, or qubits, for quantum computers. The 8-year-old startup that raised $13.5 million decided to move to Chicago in 2022, according to Chicago Business. Where is best place to build a quantum computer? Farina says of the decision. It came down to talent: the quality and cost of living. The universities and national labs are here. People see themselves buying a house here more quickly than in New York and California. EeroQs CEO said the company is building the next generation of quantum computer chips. He said, once developed, it will help lead to breakthrough advances in areas such as medicine, finance, energy efficiency and aerospace. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Charles Fox Special to ICT OGLALA, S.D. As darkness descended, the procession to rebury Samuel Flying Horse (also known as Tasunke Kinyela) made its way along a dirt road to the Brave Blue Horse Family Cemetery outside of Oglala, S.D., on Sunday, Sept. 22. The memorial service and community gathering had run behind schedule and now the blue skies that marked the day and golden light of the setting sun were gone. Samuel died as a student at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and waited 131 years to be disinterred and returned to his homeland. Those gathered were not about to let darkness make him wait longer. Approximately 20 vehicles in an open field encircled and directed their headlights on the small fenced-in cemetery. The pounding of the drum, the singing of songs, and prayers drifted up as pinpoints of starlight began dotting the night sky. Eventually, a group of men lowered Samuels casket, covered in a star quilt and a bouquet of red roses, into the ground. Samuel was now part of the land he had left behind in 1891. Along with Fannie Charging Shield and James Cornman, Sameul was reburied on the Pine Ridge Reservation this past weekend. Fannie and James were buried at St. Julius Cemetery in Porcupine on Saturday, following a community gathering at the Pahin Sinte Owayawa School to celebrate the homecoming of the three Oglala Lakota students. Samuel was reburied the following day. They died in the early 1890s as students of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the first federally run, off-reservation boarding school for Native Americans. Approximately 8,000 Native American students attended the school in a misguided attempt at forceful assimilation into white civilization by cutting all links in their cultural chain. It became the model for more than 400 schools across 37 states and territories in the U.S. and provided a blueprint for Canadas notorious residential school system. The three students were among the estimated 232 students who died during its years of operation from 1879 to 1918. Each passed from tuberculosis, then called consumption. It was the leading cause of death at the Carlisle school. The dream Corrine Brave looks over the casket of her relative, Samuel Flying Horse, in Oglala, S.D., on Sept. 22, 2024. Samuel was one of three Oglala Lakota students disinterred and returned to their homeland from the Carlisle Barracks Post Cemetery in Pennsylvania. (Charles Fox, Special to ICT) It wasnt until the three students came home to Pine Ridge a week earlier that Corrine Brave, 70, checked her family tree and realized she was a relative of Samuel Flying Horse, who school records indicate was an orphan. With some trepidation, she stepped forward to claim Samuel and offer a burial site. As the mourners gathered, illuminated by the headlights of the surrounding cars, Corrine Brave told the gathering the story of a dream she had had the night before. A figure of a man descended a steep series of steps toward her. He kept slipping and falling, appearing to be legless. She could not make out the features of his face, but his voice was distinct. As he got closer, he said wopilayelo (the male version of thank you) to her four times. She felt the man was Samuel. The dream woke her. Vee Janis, left, a relative of Fannie Charging Shield, and Corrine Brave, a relative of Samuel Flying Horse, hug during a memorial service at Pahin Sinte Owayawa School in Porcupine, S.D., on Sept. 21, 2024. The remains of Fannie Charging Shield, Samuel Flying Horse, and James Cornman were returned from the Carlisle Barracks Post Cemetery in Pennsylvania and reburied on the Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota. (Charles Fox, Special to ICT) I sat straight up, looked around thinking I was hearing things, she recalled. Then I said to myself, Thank you. Thank you. So that's when I knew I was doing the right thing for my relative, Brave said. It was for love the love of my relatives, the love of my family. I just really felt that in my heart that there was a relationship between us. She began to think of herself in the role of an auntie. He was buried beside his namesake, her late brother Samuel Brave. The 'peaceful war' A group of Lakota motorcyclists from Washington state lead a convey of approximately 25 vehicles along Chief Big Foot Highway (Highway 27) on their way to Porcupine, S.D., on Sept. 21, 2024. The convey was part of a memorial services for Fannie Charging Shield , Samuel Flying Horse, and James Cornman, whose remains had been returned from the Carlisle Barracks Post Cemetery in Pennsylvania. (Charles Fox, Special to ICT) The weekends ceremonies started Saturday morning when a convoy of nearly 25 cars made their way from Pine Ridge through the rolling hills. It traveled along the Chief Bigfoot Highway past the Wounded Knee Massacre site. It was a morning to celebrate and memorialize the three students. Fannie, James and Samuel left home for Carlisle in the name of education. The students did not realize they were taking part in a peaceful war, one fought in the classroom using education as the ammunition to force assimilation and cultural destruction. Books and blackboards were deemed a cheaper solution to the Indian problem than bullets and battlefields. The school, located on a vacant U.S. Army base in Pennsylvania, was run in a military fashion. It was only fitting that upon their return they be memorialized in a school, Pahin Sinte Owayawa, in Porcupine, S.D. It was the graduation day they had not lived to see. The casket of Samuel Flying Horse is carried out of a ceremonial tipi by Tayton Kills Small, left, and Rodney Rouillard at Pahin Sinte Owayawa School in Porcupine, S.D., on Sept. 21, 2024, during a memorial service that was held for Fannie Charging Shield , Samuel Flying Horse, and James Cornman. (Charles Fox, Special to ICT) The three caskets were carried into the school gym and placed in ceremonial tipis. About 100 community members and students sat in folding chairs and bleachers. They gathered to gain knowledge from all the students had endured over a century before by traversing 1,500 miles across the country to a school that had all intentions of erasing their culture. The trio of students and their experiences had become the teachers. Courage, perseverance and overcoming adversity were their subjects. It was their time to be honored. They were innocent, and they were raised right. And when they went to Carlisle, their parents got them ready, Pat Janis, a medicine man and relative of Fannie Charging Shield, had said the previous day in an interview with ICT. They said, This is a different way than we live, but you got to go forward. You got to learn these things. This is the way we're going to live now. So you got to have strength. You got to have courage and do your best. Get educated. You're going to help us. So they prepared them. Although those students didn't want to go there they took it as a warrior. They said, I'm scared. I don't know what this is, but my parents believe in me, and they want me to move forward into this way of life. I'm not selling out our people. A question becomes a movement The movement to repatriate the remains of students from the Carlisle Barracks Post Cemetery in Pennsylvania began in 2015, when the Sicangu Youth Council of the Rosebud Sioux stopped at Carlisle following an event in Washington, D.C. It began with the simple question Why arent we doing something to bring them home? Justin Pourier, right, blesses former youth council members (left to right): Chris Eagle Bear, Jayden Whiting, and Rachel Janis on Sept. 21, 2024, at Pahin Sinte Owayawa School in Porcupine, S.D. where a memorial service was held for Fannie Charging Shield , Samuel Flying Horse, and James Cornman. (Charles Fox, Special to ICT) The movement to repatriate the remains of students from the Carlisle cemetery began in 2015, when the Sicangu Youth Council of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe stopped at Carlisle following an youth event in Washington, D.C. It began with the simple question no one had thought to ask in earnest before, Why arent we doing something to bring them home? The question ultimately led the Office of Army Cemeteries to begin the process of returning students remains to their tribal communities. Since 2017, the Office of Army Cemeteries which oversees the Carlisle cemetery along with other military gravesites, including Arlington Cemetery has disinterred and returned the remains of 32 children from the schools cemetery. Still, 146 students have yet to be returned to their tribes prior to this falls disinterment. Three former members of the Sicangu Youth Council, Chris Eagle Bear, Rachel Janis, and Jayden Whiting, were recognized and honored at the memorial service for initiating the return of Carlisle students. You know, 10 years later, I didn't expect to be where we are today. Because at the end of the day, we were just kids with a curious question, said Chris Eagle Bear, 26, who is currently a Rosebud Sioux Tribe councilman. My generation is the first generation that is not a part of the boarding school era. And with that, we're able to share what we feel. We're able to speak on matters that a lot of our people couldn't speak on for a long time because they were scared, Eagle Bear said. The older generation started sharing their stories, started sharing things that they've never shared before with anyone. Janis called the relatives of the three students forward for a ceremony of healing and compassion near the end of the event. We are still in mourning over it. It's a good thing that we can get over it now, because sometimes we walk around with sadness and mourning, and we don't even know we're in mourning til we get a physical sickness like diabetes, he said. For Justin Pourier, the Oglala Sioux Tribal Historical Preservation Officer, who had gone to Carlisle and accompanied them on their homecoming, there was the satisfaction of a mission accomplished. He often thought of all they had endured and felt a love and an attachment to the three students. Yet, there was so much more work to be done. Pourier thought about other Oglala Lakota children who remain buried at other boarding school cemeteries and artifacts in the possession of museums and academic institutions. He spoke at the event of the Oglala Lakota students buried at the Whites Indiana Manual Labor Institute, a Quaker-run, Native American residential school in Wabash, Ind.,which was initially established by Quaker missionaries in 1862. And he talked about his hope to continue to have artifacts, such as war bonnets and moccasins with beautiful beadwork, returned from various museums to a place where Native youths could draw inspiration and pride in the beautiful craftsmanship. If they can see all these things, it reestablishes their pride and their sense of knowing who they are. Im hoping it brings healing, and helps our children grow back into the strong nation we used to be, Pourier had said while in Carlisle. We can't afford to send a busload of kids all the way to New York to look at something that should be back home. Michael Littlevoice, a Ponca and Omaha man from Ponca City, Okla., plays the flute in front of the casket of Samuel Flying Horse. Littlevoice felt compelled to attend the event to help the community heal and celebrate. The words of his song are: After all of these years, I'm home, I'm home. I'm home after all these years. (Charles Fox, Special to ICT) As the morning of speeches and prayers came to a close Saturday, Michael Littlevoice, a Ponca and Omaha man living in Ponca City, Okla., asked permission to address the crowd. He had attended Chilocco Indian Agricultural School with Orville Flying Horse of McIntosh, S.D., in the early 1970s. He felt compelled to attend the two events to help the community heal and celebrate. He performed an original composition on his flute inspired by the occasion. The haunting yet peaceful music echoed through the room, setting the mood for the reburial that would follow shortly, the ending to the long and unfortunate journey home of Fannie, Samuel and James. While he performed as an instrumental, he informed those gathered of the words: After all of these years, I'm home, I'm home. "I'm home after all these years. Mourners bury the remains of Samuel Flying Horse a Lakota student who died while attending the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1893 near Oglala, S.D., on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Charles Fox, Special to ICT) Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. Image shows UFO downed by US fighter jet in Canadian airspace days after Chinese spy craft incident Image shows UFO downed by US fighter jet in Canadian airspace days after Chinese spy craft incident An image of a UFO that was shot down by a U.S. fighter jet over Canada last year was released Wednesday. The blurry photo, which appears to be a photocopy of an email printout, of the unidentified cylindrical object was captured as it hovered in the air in February 2023, days before it was shot down over Canada's Yukon Territory, which borders Alaska, according to CTVNews. The news outlet obtained the image through an information request from Canadas Department of National Defence. The object initially drifted from Alaska into Canadian airspace. The North American Aerospace Defense Command first detected the "high-altitude airborne object" flying at about 40,000 feet over Alaska and scrambled jets to monitor it. UFOs SOAR FROM TABOO TO PRESIDENTIAL: TIME HAS COME TO INJECT UAPs INTO THE ELECTIONS, INSTITUTE SAYS A newly released image shows the UFO that was shot down by a U.S. fighter jet over Canada in 2023. It was shot down on Feb. 11, 2023, and was one of three aerial objects brought down that month after the downing of a Chinese surveillance balloon days earlier. Read On The Fox News App All three objects were smaller than the Chinese spy balloon that drifted from Alaska across the U.S. before it was shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4, 2023. "Yesterday afternoon, I also spoke with President Biden and confirmed together that we will continue to do everything necessary to protect the sovereignty of our shared North American airspace but also to do everything necessary to keep our citizens safe," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at the time. Congressman Gives 270 Days To Disclose All Ufo Docs: If You Got Nothing To Hide, Release The Files A U.S. F-22 Raptor shot down the UFO in Canadian airspace. A U.S. F-22 Raptor fired an AIM 9X missile to down the object. It was believed to be a "small metallic balloon with a tethered payload." Biden later said the three objects were not related to the Chinese spy craft incident. The image of the UFO was initially declassified in Canada and approved for public release before the acting assistant deputy minister for public affairs questioned whether the public should be allowed to view it, according to the news outlet. "Should the image be released, it would be via the [Canadian armed forces] social media accounts," the official wrote in an internal email. "Given the current public environment and statements related to the object being benign, releasing the image may create more questions/confusion, regardless of the text that will accompany the post." Click To Get The Fox News App Officials held back the release pending "U.S. engagement." Fox News Digital has reached out to the Canadian Department of National Defence. Original article source: Image shows UFO downed by US fighter jet in Canadian airspace days after Chinese spy craft incident COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Immigration policies have been a big campaign talking point this election season and Ohio has been in the spotlight on claims about Haitian immigrants. Now, one state lawmaker is proposing a new policy that has to do with immigration. Springfield students suffer collateral damage over anti-immigrant conspiracy theory If you refuse to allow your employees or your agents or officers not to work with federal immigration officials in any effort of removing and deporting illegal immigrants, then you lose a portion of your local government funds, Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) said. Williams is sponsoring House Bill 666 or the Protecting Ohio Communities Act. The bill would require state and local authorities to cooperate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws. Watch: Immigration targeted by proposed Ohio bill Were seeing more and more cities look to try to put up a flashlight towards Mexico, encouraging people to come to their community and then refusing to work with federal immigration officials to help with deportation of immigrants that are here illegally, Williams said. If the municipality doesnt comply with the legislation, it stands to lose 10% of its local government funding. All were saying is you are going to use the resources available to you through your police power to work with the federal government to remove illegal immigrants from our community, Williams said. If you refuse to do so, it is going to take more money from the state towards our highway patrol to catch them when theyre on the interstate, its going to take more effort in other areas. So, were going to take 10% of your local government funds and allocate towards the other departments so they can increase their enforcement efforts. A desperate MAGA playbook to make up an immigration problem that isnt actually happening, that he has no evidence for, that violates home rule and also strip cities of their ability to provide basic safety services for their citizens, Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) said. Other than that, its a great idea. Williams said the bill has been in the works for 11 months now and is in reaction to Toledo and Lucas County receiving the status of Certified Welcoming for immigrants. According to the City of Toledo, the designation means it has created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion. Which are closeted sanctuary cities without it because their voters wont like that idea, Williams said. It doesnt say legal immigrants. It says immigrants. That means, illegal and legal immigrants, you must provide equal access to. Could Columbus hack put credit ratings in jeopardy? Sanctuary cities and counties, on the other hand, are places that limit or refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Williams said these areas are allowing illegal immigrants to use taxpayer-funded resources. This is actually sucking off, or siphoning off resources from average Ohioans, he said. What I look for in legislation is evidence, Weinstein said. Is this actually a problem or is this a political solution timed for campaign season, looking for a problem? Williams said this is not about telling cities what they can or cannot do, but about the state putting its foot down. No city in Ohio fully protects an illegal immigrant from federal policies or deportation, but Franklin County, for example, will not detain people based solely on immigration status. That is their right under home rule authority, but the state of Ohio is not going to subsidize those bad decisions, Williams said. Theyre willing to strip rights from cities, to strip the ability of cities to regulate themselves and basically come over top in a big government power grab, Weinstein said. It really puts our cities and the millions of Ohioans that live there in the crosshairs over, you know, a made-up political stunt. Part of the legislation prohibits any rule that hinders a public official or employee from maintaining information about a persons immigration status and sending or requesting information about someone for the purpose of determining someones immigration status. We need to know exactly who is on these programs and how much money we are losing to illegal immigrants, Williams said. All this is, is data collection. As far as funds, the number of illegal immigrants in the state, who are protected by their city, or funds that they are allegedly using, Williams said there is no number that we know about the illegal immigrants because municipality are refusing to look at it. My concern about this is when the sponsor cant provide evidence or data to back it up, is that it ends up backfiring and targeting legal immigrants, Weinstein said. Williams said the legislation is not guided by any bigotry or hatred towards any community. He said he is trying to solve real problems and this should not deter anyone from legally coming to the state. Between this and this Springfield episode where weve got MAGAs who are desperate to divide and scapegoat and use people to whip up anger and hatred, yeah, it is worrying, Weinstein said. We want to help our cities and Ohio take in legal immigrants, but we need to resource folks to handle illegal immigrants, too. How would it? The legislation says communities that are refusing to work with immigration officials at the federal level for purposes of deportation will lose their funds, he said. Why would a legal immigrant be in fear of deportation if theyre law abiding, and they have legal protected immigration status? Theres no reason they would be fearful. The bill was just introduced, and the legislature is on break until November, so it will not have its first hearing until then, at least. The bill does have an emergency clause attached so if it is passed and signed by the governor, it will go into effect immediately. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Impeachment witness says its embarrassing that Trump only just found out about WWII and Napoleon Retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and Trump impeachment witness Alexander Vindman mocked the former president on Thursday for what he saw as the Republicans limited historical knowledge, after Trump seemed to describe just learning about WWII history during a recent campaign stop. At a rally in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday, the former president took aim at Joe Bidens vow the U.S. will continue supporting Ukraine until it finishes fighting off the invasion from Russia. Biden says, We will not leave until we win, Trump said. What happens if they win? Thats what they do, is they fight wars. As somebody told me the other day, they beat Hitler, they beat Napoleon. Thats what they do. They fight. And its not pleasant. Vindman, who served on the National Security Council, and whose family immigrated to the U.S. from the Soviet Union, took issue with these comments. "First, I have to address this commentary," Vindman told CNN. "I mean, just the other day somebody told him about World War II? I mean, how preposterous is this? It is embarrassing that a former president would say, even use that kind of language, that he just learned about World War II and his false impressions of how the records of the Soviet Union performed, really at the backbone was support from the West in massive casualties that they took. But I think I would say that we would be facing a different kind of disaster. It wouldnt be a complete collapse of the Ukrainians." The Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany on the eastern front in 1945, four years after the Nazis had invaded and at the loss of tens of millions of Soviet troops and civilians. Imperial Russia defeated a French invasion led by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812. Trump has insisted he would negotiate end to Russia war in Ukraine (AP) Russias military record has been far from the parade of victories Trump seemed to be describing, however. The Ukraine war, for instance, has stretched far longer than Russian war planners thought it would, and the Russian military has been bogged down in other quagmires before, including its campaign and eventual withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, as well as other major losses like the Cold War and WWI. Trumps attacks on the Ukraine war, which he often insists without evidence he would rapidly end, come as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris met with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has equivocated over whether he will meet with the Ukrainian leader, suggesting last week the pair would probably get together, a plan that then was reportedly scrapped, ABC News reports. Trump further muddied the waters on Thursday, sharing a purported message from Zelensky seeking a meeting for Friday, where the Ukrainian insisted, I believe its important for us to have a personal contact and to understand each other 100%. On Sunday, Zelensky said he doubted Trump could finish the conflict. My feeling is that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how, Zelensky toldThe New Yorker. With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it the less you understand. Ive seen many leaders who were convinced they knew how to end it tomorrow, and as they waded deeper into it, they realized its not that simple. Zelensky has also called into question recent comments by Vance appearing to suggest the war could be ended with Russia keeping the Ukrainian land it has conquered, and seemed to suggest that Germany not Russia should lead the way in paying to rebuild the damage Vladimir Putins troops have wrought. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is currently set to be indicted on federal charges after a sweeping corruption investigation, according to multiple reports on Wednesday nighta staggering fall for a mayor who has been confusing and perplexing New Yorkers for years. Before entering politics, Adams spent over 20 years as a police officerfirst in the New York City Transit Police and then the New York Police Department after the two agencies merged in 1995. He retired from the force in 2006, shortly before launching his campaign for state Senate. In 2013, he was elected Brooklyn Borough President. As he ran up against his term limit in 2021, he launched a campaign for City Hall in a crowded field of Democratic candidates. Adams law-and-order message stood outearning him endorsements even from conservatives on the New York Posts editorial board. Adams secured the nomination after the primary in June 2021, and easily defeated his Republican opponent, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, with over 67 percent of the vote. The Fridge Incident A peak inside the fridge The salmon and other non-vegan items are his sons, according to his campaign team pic.twitter.com/McmhVEfIZa David Brand (@DavidFBrand) June 9, 2021 The spotlight of the 2021 mayoral campaign began showing New Yorkers some of Adams eccentricities. For weeks, Adams campaign was on the defensive after local publications, including City Limits, couldnt find exactly where Adams lived. A Politico report also revealed he had a unit in a co-op building in Fort Lee, New Jerseyleading some to speculate whether the prospective mayor was not a real New Yorker. Finally, his campaign clarified: Adams lived in a one-bedroom duplex apartment in Bed-Stuy, and rents the upper floors out to other tenants. The campaign invited reporters to tour the building in June before the primary. During the tour, Adams, an outspoken vegan who even published a cookbook of plant-based recipes, had a bizarre refrigerator full of refrigerated croutons, sketchy leftovers, and a half-peeled banana. Although he claimed the apartment as his primary residence, the fridge was stocked full of what appears to be meat and salmon. Adams campaign said the non-vegan items belonged to his son, who sometimes slept there. Hatred for the Rat Race Then-Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams points at a chart as he announces the results of a pilot program aimed at curbing the rat population around Brooklyn Borough Hall. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images For much of his public life, Eric Adams has spoken of his strong animosity toward the rodents scurrying around the streets of his hometown. I hate rats, he declared to kick off his remarks at the inaugural National Urban Rat Summit, a hyper-specific pest control convention held at the mayors behest in 2022. In fact, some point to a now-infamous rat control press conference then-Brooklyn Borough President Adams held in 2019 as the moment that he vaulted onto the scene as a candidate for citywide office. In it, he championed a new bucket-shaped rat trap as the solution to the citys centuries-old struggle against its rodent interlopers. The trap works by drowning unsuspecting rats in a chemical solutiona ghastly spectacle that produced a stomach-churning odor, according to a New York Times reporter who saw it in action that day. Some voters even pointed to Adams rat-control efforts as the reason they voted for him during his 2021 mayoral primary (or at least as the reason they remembered who he was). A bucket-shaped rat trap is displayed at a press conference held by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams in 2019. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images Last year, he also announced the formation of a new position: the citywide director of rodent mitigation, dubbed by Adams as the rat czar. Longtime Department of Education staffer Kathleen Corradi was tapped to lead the effort. The rats are going to hate Kathy, but were excited to have her leading this important effort, Adams said in his public announcement. The embattled mayor attributes his hatred toward rats to a pet he and his siblings adopted. They named it Mickey Mouse, and kept it in a box, he told the New York Post in 2021, but he remains frightened of the creature to this day. I have a fearI just remember him being afraid also, he said. Ill face the biggest criminal before Id face a rat, he said Nightlife Mayor Eric Adams hosts a party at swanky Manhattan club Zero Bond in 2021. Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Haute Living After taking office, Adams began efforts to rebuild tourism in New York City after the pandemic. He gleefully referred to himself as the Nightlife Mayor, and quickly became associated with the glitzy NoHo private nightclub Zero Bond. Zero Bond charges annual membership fees of $4,400 for people his age, alongside a $1,000 initiation fee. The mayor has been seen partying there with celebrities like Ja Rule and Chris Rock, who both attended his election-night victory party at the swanky club. He even appointed the clubs owner, Scott Sartiano, to a seat on the Metropolitan Museum of Arts board in 2022, Politico reported, although it is unclear if he is still serving in the role. History of Folksy Sayings "All my haters, become my waiters, when I sit down at the table of success"pic.twitter.com/oj1uZRKzXL plainview.sol (@CryptoPlainview) September 26, 2024 As New Yorkers began hearing Adams more frequently, they began to recognize his strange but often frequently repeated stories. In 2022, he gave the Pace University commencement speech, where he proclaimed: There's going to be a lot of people who will hate you. All I can say, have your haters become your waiters when you sit down at the table of success. It turns out, Adams has been using this phrase for years, with Defector tracing it back to at least 2015. Local publication HellGate has since used the phrase Table of Success to refer to their ongoing chart connecting all of the City Hall and campaign officials caught up in corruption scandals. Earlier this year, Adams was mocked for calling New York the Port-au-Prince of Americaa phrase that Adams has been using for years by inserting different cities from around the globe. He even used the tagline in a Turkish rom-com he guest-starred in while still serving as Borough President. Brooklyn loves Turkey. Brooklyn is the Istanbul of America. We love your food, we love your music, but I dont understand Turkish. We can take a selfie, though. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol October 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine announced on Thursday that he will be voting for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, a choice he said was driven by seeing the former California senators work during their shared time in the high chamber. King, who regularly caucuses with Democrats, has endorsed Democrats before, including President Joe Biden in 2020. Highlighting Harris ability to ask tough questions, remain calm under pressure and work in a non-partisan manner while not in the public view, King explained his decision in a post on Instagram. Twice a week for four years, she sat next to me in the Senate Intelligence Committee questioning witnesses, sparring with the chairman, and engaging with some really difficult issues in national security, King wrote. What made this experience especially relevant was that these exchanges took place almost entirely behind closed doors due the classified nature of most of our work. So I got to see and know her more personally, outside our usual world of cameras and constant attention from the press. During that time, King wrote he saw qualities in Harris that he wants in a president. She is a tough questioner, always going to the heart of the matter, King wrote, pointing to Harris prior experience as district attorney of San Francisco. I remember thinking I was glad I was not on the receiving end of some of her questions. King also described Harris as quick and whip-smart. She is steady and calm under stress, he wrote. She wasnt particularly partisan (like the members of our committee generally). Concluding his explanation, King wrote that Harris is passionate about two things the truth and our democracy. Maines other U.S. senator, Republican Susan Collins, has said she will not be voting for the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump. As of her last comment on the matter, Collins said earlier this summer that she would be writing in former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for president.The Democrats in Maines congressional delegation are not aligned in their presidential endorsements. While U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree has thrown her support behind Harris, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden has declined to endorse a candidate at all. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE TechCrunch This weeks biggest drama on TikTok tells the story of a woman from Ohio who was building a fence in her yard, only to uncover a mysterious rug buried on her property. Viewers speculated that her home could be a potential murder scene, and suddenly, local content creator Katie Santry was at the center of her own real-life true crime story, unfolding video by video on TikTok. Before finding the rug, Santry had roughly 6,000 followers on TikTok, where she mostly shared content about her life as a mom, discussing challenging topics like pregnancy, miscarriages, and divorce. March 10, 2011 was Iwao Hakamadas 75th birthday. It was also the day he celebrated a rather grim milestone Guinness World Records certifying him as the worlds longest-held death row inmate. Inmate no more, however. This week more than 56 years after his conviction, 46 of which were spent facing the death penalty he was cleared of his crimes, in a trial that has gripped Japan and rekindled debate about the use of capital punishment. Hakamada, now 88, was just 30 years old when he was arrested and charged with the murder of his boss, the mans wife and their two teenage children, after they were found stabbed to death in their home in Shizuoka, central Japan, on June 30, 1966. According to his lawyers, Hakamada was interrogated for a total of 264 hours, for as many as 16 hours a session, over 23 days, to obtain a confession. Hakamada, a former professional boxer, later retracted his confession and consistently protested his innocence. But at his trial in 1968, prosecutors presented five pieces of bloody clothing that were allegedly found in a tank at the miso factory where he worked. Hakamada was found guilty and sentenced to death. All his requests for an appeal and a retrial were denied, but his death warrant was never signed. It was only in 2007, when one of the judges who had convicted Hakamada in 1968 expressed his doubts and guilt over the sentence hed passed, that a campaign to retry Hakamada gained momentum. Hakamada was just 30 years old when charged with the murder of his boss, the mans wife and their two teenage children in 1966 - AP In 2008, a DNA test suggested that the blood on the clothing used as evidence did not match Hakamadas. He was freed from prison in 2014 when new evidence emerged, and a retrial was ordered. Hakamada, who was baptised while in prison with the Christian name of Paulo, was invited to a Mass in Tokyo during Pope Franciss visit in 2019. But it wasnt until this week that he was finally found not guilty, 58 years after his arrest. This astonishing case has shone a light on what human rights charities have called Japans hostage justice system. At the moment, police can detain suspects for up to several months or over a year, with no lawyers present, in order to obtain confessions. Conviction rates exceed 99 per cent. The last execution in Japan was carried out on July 26 2022, and in that case a retrial was still actively being sought. Since 2000, the country has executed 93 inmates, who are only notified of their hanging a few hours or even minutes in advance. Executions are carried out in secrecy and although Japan began disclosing the names of those executed in 2007, details are still limited. Iwao Hakamada spent every day for 46 years thinking it could be his last, says Saul Lehrfreund, co-executive director of The Death Penalty Project, an NGO which offers free legal representation to people on death row around the world. Hes been through an unimaginable ordeal, with more than 30 years in solitary confinement and under constant surveillance. Lehrfreund says that Hakamadas case is hugely significant, not just because of the record-breaking number of years an innocent man has served behind bars, but because certain features of the case should be sending alarm bells ringing in Japan. This is a case where someone was forced to confess and evidence was fabricated, says Lehrfreund. It would be easy to say OK this happened in 1966, this is a product of its time, but in fact many features in this case still exist in Japans criminal justice system today and Hakamadas is not an isolated case. Hakamadas sister Hideko (centre and pictured on the banner) has campaigned tirelessly on her brothers behalf - PHILIP FONG/AFP Lehrfreund points out that the US (the only other G7 country to enforce the death penalty) has whats called super-due process, meaning that its death penalty cases are subject to heightened standards of exactness. In Japan there is no such policy, and of the 106 people currently on death row there, 61 are requesting retrials. The reality is that there is no such thing as a perfect criminal justice system, so if you have the death penalty youre accepting the risk that you will execute innocent people, says Lehrfreund. This case needs to make Japan take a long hard look at whether theyre ready to take that risk. The Japanese government says it regularly polls the public and that 80 per cent consider the death penalty unavoidable, and yet reputable academics have found that if you ask a different question, such as Should the death penalty be abolished? then 71 per cent are in favour of abolition. Hakamada was pardoned before his death warrant was signed, but not all wrongfully convicted prisoners live to see their convictions overturned. Inevitably, miscarriages with terrible consequences have occurred across the world. Since 1987, China has executed three men Teng Xingshan, Nie Shubin and Huugjilt whom it later transpired had never committed the murders they were convicted of. The exact numbers of people executed in China is officially a state secret but while rates have been falling in recent years, politically motivated executions remain a feature. In 1997, Taiwan executed Chiang Kuo-ching, an air force pilot who had been tortured for 37 hours to extract a confession for the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl. In 2011, another man confessed to the crime and Chiang was posthumously acquitted. Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwans president, apologised to Chiangs family, who were awarded 2.1 million in compensation. There are also plenty of cases of people who have died of natural causes while trying to appeal their wrongful convictions. In 2015, Romeo Phillion died at the age of 76 before his $14 million lawsuit against the Ontario government had been settled. He had been convicted in 1972 for the murder of an Ottawa firefighter, after an eyewitness wrongfully identified him. He served 31 years in prison, the longest ever sentence served by a Canadian prisoner whose conviction was later overturned. Canadian Romeo Phillion spent 31 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of murder. He finally gained his freedom in 2003 - Getty In the US, 200 people have been exonerated from death row since 1972. One of the most notorious cases was that of Henry McCollum and Leon Brown. These two half-brothers from North Carolina were awarded a record-breaking 53 million settlement in 2021 after serving more than three decades in prison for a crime they did not commit. The black, intellectually disabled men were just teenagers when sentenced to death for the 1983 rape and murder of 11-year-old Sabrina Buie. Convicted based on false confessions obtained through coercion, DNA evidence eventually proved their innocence. They were exonerated in 2014 and granted pardons of innocence in 2015. Sisters Tracey ONeal and Michelle Wallace hug their cousin Henry McCollum after his release from 31 years on death row in North Carolina - Getty The UK has witnessed plenty of tragic miscarriages of justice, too. One of the most famous dates back to 1950, when Timothy Evans, from Wales, was convicted and hanged for the murder of his wife and daughter in their flat in Notting Hill. It later transpired that his neighbour, John Christie, was a serial killer who had murdered at least eight women, including Evanss family. Evans finally received a royal pardon in 1966, and the case was influential in leading to the abolition of capital punishment in the UK in 1969. But that was too late for Derek Bentley, who was just 19 years old when he was sentenced to death, and hanged in 1953 for the murder of a policeman during a robbery that went wrong. The jury found him guilty based in large part on Bentleys ambiguous phrase let him have it, which prosecutors argued was an order to shoot, and the defence counsel argued was an order to surrender. After a 40-year-long campaign, Bentley received a posthumous pardon and his murder conviction was quashed in 1998. But there have also been examples of grave miscarriages of justice more recently, too. In 2023, the UK Court of Appeal overturned the rape conviction of Andrew Malkinson, who had spent 17 years in prison. Barry George spent eight years behind bars before he was cleared of the murder of Jill Dando in 2008. Campaigner Winston Trew one of the Oval Four had a decades-long fight to clear his name, after he was one of four black men arrested and imprisoned by police at Oval tube station in 1972, supposedly on suspicion of stealing passengers handbags. Hopefully, Hakamadas ordeal is done. There was no immediate decision on whether prosecutors would challenge the ruling, but given Hakamadas age, his defence lawyers have urged them not to. If his acquittal is finalised, Hakamada would be entitled to seek compensation. But its hard to put a price on spending 46 years on death row for a crime you didnt commit. Hakamada was too frail to appear in court this week, but his 91-year-old sister, Hideko, who has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of her brother, told reporters before the verdict: For so long we have fought a battle that has felt endless. But this time, I believe it will be settled. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a UN Security Council meeting on the conflict between Ukraine and Russia at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Sept. 24, 2024. Credit - Julia Demaree NikhinsonPool/AFP/Getty Images Many nations keep a nervous eye on U.S. presidential races, but none have as much at stake this time as the people of Ukraine. For them, the outcome could determine how their war against Russia ends, and their leaders have spent months vying for the support of both candidates. The effort, which culminates with President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to the U.S. this week, has involved priests and billionaires, highly paid lobbyists, and a former British prime minister. As of Sunday, when Zelensky arrived to begin his trip, some officials in his entourage seemed to be tempering their expectations. No matter who wins in November, one of them told me, things will get worse for us. In their view, the victory of Kamala Harris would likely prolong the policies of the Biden administration, which Zelensky and his advisers see as overly cautious and indecisive in standing up to Russia. Trumps victory, on the other hand, offers both risks and opportunities for the Ukrainians, according to four people familiar with their outreach to the candidates. There is a level of hope for Trump, one of them told TIME in Kyiv before Zelensky's visit to the U.S., requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive issues of wartime diplomacy. Of course we could be mistaken. We dont know how divisive he will be with the West at large. He might weaken it But someone has to stop this war, and Kamala Harris does not seem like she would play that role. Trump in theory could make some drastic moves, at least thats our perception. This week, as Zelensky met with world leaders at the United Nations in New York, Trump's rhetoric turned against him, and he began taunting Zelensky at his campaign rallies. The attacks surprised the Ukrainians, because only two months earlier, during a cordial phone call in July, Trump promised Zelensky that he would support Ukraine. "So who is the real Trump?" asked a member of the entourage traveling to the U.S. with Zelensky this week. "It's still an open question." Given how tight the U.S. presidential race remains, the Ukrainians cannot afford to stop engaging with either candidate. They have tried since the summer to build bridges to the Trump campaign, holding numerous meetings with senior Republicans and former Trump administration officials. Among the most prominent has been Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director and Secretary of State, who has expressed interest in joining a possible future Trump administration. In recent months, he has met several times with senior Ukrainian officials, helping them understand the dynamics of the U.S. presidential race and the Trump campaign's evolving stance on the war in Ukraine. In mid-September, Pompeo met with Zelensky in Kyiv and offered some practical advice on how to advance Ukraine's diplomatic strategy: appeal to Americas interests, not its values. In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, shakes hands with Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP It has to be good old-fashioned greed, Pompeo told TIME in Kyiv after his meeting with Zelensky. It has to be a good old-fashioned, commercial, profit-driven, incentive-forming, risk-taking, entrepreneurial model that delivers that sustainable place for Ukraine. Appealing for American help in the defense of Ukraines democracy or its survival as a nation would not be likely to secure Trump's lasting support. It cant be a donor base, Pompeo explains. Its not, Hey, we had a donor conference. Those are interesting, and they get things rolling perhaps. But they are wholly unsustainable. In trying to deliver that message to Trump and his supporters, some of Zelenskys Republican allies have pointed to the resource wealth Ukraine could offer the U.S. after the war. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, hammered on this point in a video he recorded with Zelensky in Kyiv earlier this month. Theyre sitting on a trillion dollars of minerals that could be good to our economy, said the Republican from North Carolina. So I want to keep helping our friends in Ukraine. Zelensky, who absorbed that remark with a polite smile, has so far avoided such direct appeals to U.S. economic interests, preferring instead to argue that Ukraine is defending not only itself but the entire free world against Russian attacks. He hoped to deliver this argument to Trump in person, and Trump said last week that he would "probably" meet with Zelensky during his visit to the U.S. Their teams had discussed the idea of a meeting at Trump's estate in Mar-a-Lago, according to two officials close to Zelensky. But the Ukrainians set that possibility aside, as it could be seen as an endorsement of Trumps campaign. Instead, the Ukrainians asked to meet Trump on more neutral ground, for example, on the set of a U.S. television network for a joint interview. This option was still under discussion when Zelensky landed in the U.S., according to one of the Ukrainian officials. But the first public event of the trip appeared to change the tone of these discussions. On Sunday, Zelensky visited an arms factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the city where President Biden was born and grew up. Touring the facility alongside the state's Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, Zelensky expressed gratitude to all American workers who are helping produce weapons for Ukraine. But the optics of the visit upset Trump and his allies, and their talks about a possible meeting with Zelensky broke down. "It seems he took offense," one of the Ukrainian officials says of Trump. The problem, he added, seems to have been the choice of venue: the hometown of the incumbent U.S. President in a hotly contested battleground state. On Monday, the day after Zelensky's trip to Scranton, Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania, where he unveiled a new attack line against the Ukrainian leader, referring to him as the world's "greatest salesman" for managing to convince the U.S. to send aid to Ukraine. Trump also told the crowd in Pennsylvania that Zelensky wants the Democrats to win in November: "He wants them to win this election so badly." The following day, at a rally in Georgia, Trump used a similar line against Zelensky. "Every time he comes to the United States he walks away with $100 billion," he said, drawing loud jeers from the crowd. "But we're stuck in that war unless I'm president," Trump added. Such remarks have caused concern among observers in Ukraine, including some inside Zelensky's team. Still, they see no choice but to continue trying to appeal to the Republican candidate and win his support. "Of course we hear all this," one of the Ukrainian officials close to Zelensky said of Trump's recent remarks. "But we still have to try." Their main hope, he added, is that Trump's views on the war are not yet settled, and that his unpredictable nature could leave room for his position to swing Ukraine's way. Back in Kyiv, Zelenskys allies have spent months trying to influence Trumps views on the war. Leaders of the countrys vibrant community of Baptists have reached out repeatedly to Trumps evangelical allies on Capitol Hill, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. Victor Pinchuk, a Ukrainian billionaire on good terms with the Zelensky administration, hired Trumps former aide Kellyanne Conway as a lobbyist in Washington for a fee of $50,000 per month. According to official filings with the Justice Department, Conway will advise Pinchuks foundation on the current state of views on Ukraine among US elected officials, candidates, experts, and opinion leaders. The lobbying agreement expires on Nov. 14, about a week after Election Day, unless both sides agree to extend it. In mid-September, about a week before Zelenskys arrival in the U.S., Pinchuk hosted an annual summit in Kyiv that attracted a range of influential guests from the U.S. and Europe. While working on the program, Pinchuk appealed to Boris Johnson, the former British Prime Minister, to convince Trump to participate via live video link. Unfortunately I failed completely to get that, Johnson said at the conference. Instead, Trump sent a brief video message that he apparently filmed aboard his private jet while flying to a campaign event. The war with Russia and Ukraine would never ever have happened if I were president, Trump said in the video, drawing a few groans from the audience in Kyiv. One of the first things I want to do is get that war settled with Russia and Ukraine. People hold signs that read "Trump Will End the Ukraine War" and "Make America Strong Again" on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Alex WongGetty Images But he has not put forward any detailed plan for achieving that. Earlier this month, Trumps running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, suggested a peace settlement that would entail Ukraine ceding vast amounts of occupied territory to Russia. The current line of demarcation between Russia and Ukraine, that becomes like a demilitarized zone, Vance said on a podcast that aired on Sept. 11. That vision for ending the war alarmed many in Kyiv. He is too radical, Zelensky said of Vance in an interview with the New Yorker. For us, these are dangerous signals, coming as they do from a potential Vice-President." He added: "I should say that it hasnt been like this with Trump." During Zelensky's phone call with Trump in Julytheir first conversation since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022the Ukrainian leader came away reassured. His message was as positive as it could be, Zelensky said. It encouraged the Ukrainians to believe they could win Trump over, or at least balance out the views that Vance has brought to the Republican platform. But, as Zelensky admitted on the eve of his trip to the U.S. this week, getting Trump to understand the war will be enough of a challenge. My feeling is that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how, he told the New Yorker. With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it the less you understand. Contact us at letters@time.com. Warren Buffett is the CEO of the Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) investment company, where he has overseen a compound annual return of 19.8% since he took the helm in 1965. That would have been enough to turn an investment of $1,000 back then into $44 million today! That's why investors closely watch Buffett's every move, and he has made a lot of them lately. According to Berkshire's 13-F filing for the second quarter of 2024 (ended June 30), the investment company sold a significant amount of stock, which suggests Buffett might be feeling cautious about the broader market. However, he did buy another $345 million worth of one particular stock, and here's why that might actually be a warning sign for investors. Image source: The Motley Fool. Berkshire sold several stocks during Q2, including half of its largest holding The benchmark S&P 500 is unquestionably expensive right now. In fact, as my colleague Sean Williams points out, the index is currently trading at twice its historical valuation as measured by the Shiller (or CAPE) price-to-earnings ratio. Since Warren Buffett is a value investor, his recent caution isn't a surprise. Earlier this year, Berkshire held more than 900 million shares of Apple, which were worth a little over $170 billion at the time. The position accounted for almost half of the conglomerate's entire stock portfolio, and considering it only had a cost-basis of around $38 billion, it was sitting on a very nice profit. Berkshire sold small portions of its Apple shares over the years to lock in gains, but in the first quarter of 2024 (ended March 31), it dumped a sizable 13% of its stake. Buffett said it was for tax reasons, but then Berkshire proceeded to sell a whopping 49% of its remaining Apple stake during Q2! Apple is still Berkshire's largest position. Its remaining 400 million shares are worth over $90 billion at the current price of $226 as of this writing, which represents 28.8% of its portfolio. Therefore, I think Buffett's recent sales reflect his stance on the broader market, as opposed to an issue with Apple itself. My view is supported by the fact that Berkshire also trimmed its positions in Capital One Financial, T-Mobile, and Louisiana-Pacific Corp (to name just a few) during Q2, and sold its entire stakes in Snowflake and Paramount Global. Berkshire is now sitting on a record $277 billion worth of cash and equivalents, which is a sign that Buffett is struggling to find value in this market. But it didn't stop him from buying one stock in particular. Why Buffett's $345 million purchase of one stock might be a warning sign The stock I'm talking about is... Berkshire Hathaway! Despite Buffett's caution, he continued to authorize stock buybacks during Q2, plowing $345 million into Berkshire shares. Story continues That isn't bad or even unusual at face value, because Buffett has now authorized a whopping $77.8 billion worth of buybacks since 2018. That's more than twice the amount Berkshire spent buying Apple! Buybacks are his preferred way to return money to shareholders -- they shrink the total number of Berkshire shares in circulation, which organically increases the price per share. However, the pace of those repurchases has slowed. In fact, $345 million was the smallest amount Berkshire spent acquiring its own shares during a single quarter since it resumed buybacks six years ago. Berkshire can repurchase stock at its discretion, as long as its cash, equivalents, and holdings in U.S. Treasury bills remain above $30 billion. Since the conglomerate is sitting on $277 billion in dry powder right now, why isn't Buffett being more aggressive? It's possible that he thinks Berkshire stock is expensive. It's currently trading at a fraction below its all-time high, and the company was even a member of the $1 trillion club earlier this month before a modest pullback. Plus, Berkshire's price-to-sales ratio is currently 2.44, which is 24% higher than its 10-year average of 1.97. Buffett's preference to sit on a record cash pile rather than put it to work in the market -- or even use it for buybacks -- is a warning signal to investors that perhaps valuations are a little too high right now. It's possible he wants to be ready in case the S&P 500 enters a correction. What should investors do? Buffett himself will tell you he has no idea exactly where the stock market will be tomorrow, or even a year from now. He's a long-term investor who buys into quality companies and lets time do the heavy lifting. He is an active manager, though, and he has a duty to Berkshire's shareholders to make decisions which he feels will deliver the most value. Sometimes that involves selling large volumes of stock, like he has in 2024. Buffett recommends that regular investors purchase exchange-traded funds (ETFs) which directly track the performance of diversified indexes like the S&P 500. Consistently adding money to an ETF each month can yield great results over time. Even if the market seems pricey today, its current level will probably seem like a bargain when you look back in 10 years. Berkshire actually holds a small position in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, which is one of the most cost-friendly funds investors can buy thanks to its expense ratio of just 0.03%. That might be a great place to start. Should you invest $1,000 in Berkshire Hathaway right now? Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Berkshire Hathaway wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $740,704!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of September 23, 2024 Anthony Di Pizio has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Snowflake, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Warren Buffett Recently Plowed Another $345 Million Into His Favorite Stock, But Here's Why It Could Spell Trouble for the Market was originally published by The Motley Fool John Bowman, Kentucky campaign organizer for Dream.Org. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) LOUISVILLE Kentuckians in recovery say the state needs to better educate youth about addiction, digitize expungement for certain crimes and make harm reduction and community-based services more widely available to combat overdoses. About 30 people gathered at the Womens Healing Place in the West End of Louisville Wednesday as part of a Public Health is Public Safety tour aimed at finding solutions to the opioid crisis and raising awareness about what addiction looks like person to person. That tour has made six stops across the state this year in Ashland, London, Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Lexington and, now, Louisville. John Bowman, Kentucky campaign organizer for Dream.Org, which organized Wednesdays panels, said drug criminalization often drives people to harder substances. We made all these laws on prescription opioids. Everybody went to heroin. We made stricter laws on heroin. Everybody went to fentanyl. Were making stricter laws on fentanyl, and everybodys going to xylazine, he said. The measures that weve got in place now are really, really making it hard for us to keep getting the overdose rates lower. Bowman also worries a 2024 law that supporters called the Safer Kentucky Act and opponents said would criminalize homelessness could cause overdose deaths indirectly. Another provision of House Bill 5 created a first degree manslaughter charge when a person knowingly sells fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative to another person, which results in that persons death. Its kind of like a drug-induced homicide law, Bowman said. And its going to make folks scared to call 911. Carson Justice, a 17-year-old from Eastern Kentucky who said addiction has affected her entire community, including her parents, said the state should invest in more harm reduction and less criminalization. Instead of bad policies like House Bill 5, we could have prison after care, we could have harm reduction resources, we could have IDs, we could have all kinds of things, she said. By focusing more on harm reduction, she said, Not only could it save us thousands of dollars, it could save thousands of lives. Lawmakers should also focus on revamping reentry programs, lowering what counts as intent to distribute and ensuring people can access a full range of treatment while incarcerated, Bowman said. Several panelists who discussed their treatment and recovery echoed that point, saying they did not have access to help while behind bars. Amanda Bourland, who has lived through addiction and incarceration and is now the vice president of mission advancement at Recovery Now, said when I got out of prison, there were no resources for me. Four years in prison, in a row, and nobody said, would you like to learn how to live a life in recovery? Nobody said, do you think you have a problem with drugs and alcohol? Bourland said. What they said was, Chow ladies. Lights out ladies. Meds, ladies. That was it. Trauma is the gateway Over the course of three hours, two panels and a series of small group discussions at the womens campus of The Healing Place, advocates and people in recovery emphasized that widespread access to harm reduction is key to lowering the number of Kentuckians dying from overdose. Harm reduction is anything that decreases the harm a person may experience like wearing a seat belt when driving or brushing teeth to avoid cavities. In the context of substance use, harm reduction includes the use of the overdose-reversal Narcan, fentanyl test strips, syringe exchange programs and more. Harm reduction emphasizes engaging directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission, says the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Stigma sometimes stands in the way of recovery, advocates said. In this country, we still view substance use disorder as a moral failing, said Tara Hyde, the CEO of People Advocating Recovery who is also in long-term recovery. And until we, as a community, really gather together and really start to create more of an argument against that narrative, theyre going to continue with that, because thats all that they know. Stephanie Johnson with Vocal KY said the word addiction is still quite stigmatized and asked the audience, how many people would not move or have gotten dressed without a cup of coffee this morning? Changing the narrative, she said, is harm reduction. Focusing on mental health for people in active addiction and recovery is also huge, Johnson said. You can have a mental health issue without having a substance use issue, she said. You will not have a substance use issue without having any mental health issue. We have got to address mental health. Trauma is the gateway. Youth education and recovery funding Lawmakers should codify a requirement for schools to have uniform education on mental health, Hyde told the Lantern. There are quality programs available, she said, but theres no requirement, so not every school gets that. This is a systemic problem. And we cant just, (say) oh well, this school has it, and this school doesnt, she said. You cant just make it bounce like that; thats a really big problem. The state could also save itself money, Hyde said, by funding long-term recovery programs. Usually a person attempts recovery an average of six times before being successful, she said, meaning their treatment could cost around $180,000 by the end of those attempts, which are usually in short-term programs. Some research suggests longer programs are more effective, especially in dealing with severe cases. A lot of that money is already being spent, she said. Medicaid is paying for each attempt six on average. Justices mother, Beckie Rose, shared a panel with her daughter. Shes from Pike County from coal mines and coal fields and mountains, as she described it, as well as ground zero of the opioid epidemic. Rose is in long-term recovery now, and she advocates for a better future for her daughter and Eastern Kentucky community. We have way more in common than we have differences, Rose said. And I would just like to see our communities and our families come together, and instead of incarcerating disease, start treating disease. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The interim director of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has announced his resignation amid a long search for a new leader at one of the states largest health departments. Jack Cornett has served as interim chief administrative officer since Dr. Sheila Owens-Collins was fired in April 2023. Owens-Collins had served only three months as health commissioner before she was terminated by the Board of Health. Cornett was a former board member who had previously served as the departments chief financial officer. His resignation is effective Oct. 11, said Kevin Hall, a department spokesman. Serving as the Interim Chief Administrative Officer the past year and a half has been richly fulfilling for me, Cornett said. I have enjoyed working with this team of public health professionals, and Ive gained much respect for the skills, professionalism and overall strengths of this organization. The Board of Health, which oversees the health department, has struggled to both attract and keep a health commissioner for several years. Prior to Owens-Collins, the health department board appointed Dr. Joel McCullough to the position. McCullough was hired in December 2021 but resigned in July 2022. The Board of Health has been searching for a commissioner for more than 16 months. Board Chair Majd Jabbour said Aug. 14 the department would re-post the position. The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department played a key role in the citys efforts to provide information, testing and immunizations to residents during the height of the coronavirus pandemic The health department also has a health clinic, oversees restaurant and other inspections, runs school nurse programs and operates a needle-exchange program, among other public health initiatives. It has a staff of around 170 employees and an operating budget of more than $30 million. The search for a permanent leader has been costly, according to records obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader through an Open Records Act request. Owens-Collins threatened to sue the department after her termination. A settlement agreement shows Owens-Collins received more than $95,000 in severance payments from the department. The department has spent at least $5,644 on food, lodging and air travel for previous candidates for the position, according to expense documents. Those interviews took place between February and June, according to the expense reports. Jabbour declined to comment in August why none of the candidates interviewed were selected for the position. None of the Board of Health meeting minutes from January to August mention the decision or a vote to re-post the position. It has also paid $45,000 to 20/Twenty Strategic Consultants to help with the search for a new commissioner. BOSTON (WWLP) The giant, invasive Joro spider has made its way to Massachusetts. Beacon Hill celebrates Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month One spider is building its nest on Beacon Hill. The yellow, palm-sized spider is from East Asia and was first spotted in the United States in Georgia about a decade ago. Theyve picked up a rather chilling reputation online as people say theyve seen them flying. Scientists say its closer to using a parachute as they release silk strands that can catch the wind and carry them through the air. They have a leg span of around four inches long. Experts say although it is invasive, there is no threat to humans. The spiders bite is rare and less painful than a bee sting. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Investigation underway after 2 injured in shooting in Grand Crossing Investigation underway after 2 injured in shooting in Grand Crossing CHICAGO An investigation is underway on Wednesday afternoon after two people were injured in a shooting on the citys South Side. According to Chicago police, the shooting unfolded around 2 p.m. in the 7800 block of South Maryland Avenue in Grand Crossing. FBI investigates robbery of ATM technician outside Naperville bank Police said one of the victims, a 26-year-old man, was standing on a sidewalk in the area when he suffered a gunshot wound to his right foot. The man took himself to the hospital where he was listed in good condition. Investigation underway after 2 injured in shooting in Grand Crossing Investigation underway after 2 injured in shooting in Grand Crossing Investigation underway after 2 injured in shooting in Grand Crossing Investigation underway after 2 injured in shooting in Grand Crossing Investigation underway after 2 injured in shooting in Grand Crossing A second victim injured in connection with the shooting, a male whose age has not been determined, later took himself to the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. He was listed in critical condition. Authorities said no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting and an investigation is underway. 7 robbed, 1 carjacked in hour-and-a-half-long crime spree on Southwest Side WGN SkyCam9 was over the scene around 4:10 p.m. when some CPD officers could be seen canvassing an area near a gas station at the intersection of East 79th Street and South Maryland Avenue. Officers had also taped off a portion of Maryland Avenue near the gas station. Police have not provided details on how long the road closure will last. Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and authorities said no arrests have been made. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Area farmers and producers helped to prepare lunch at the Riceville Community School District on Sept. 25, 2024 for Iowa Local Food Day. (Photo courtesy of Riceville CSD) Students in the Riceville Community School District often make an interesting lunchtime request: pea shoots. The kindergarten- through 12th-grade students learned about the nutrient density of the microgreens during a presentation about locally grown foods, and now ask for the superfood to appear on the salad bar at lunch. Nancy Eastman, the districts food service supervisor, stocks her kitchen with local food as much as possible, and grants like Local Food for Schools from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) have allowed her to afford it. Its making it easier to bring local foods into the school than it was before, Eastman said. And its a lot healthier. Typically, Eastman stocks the salad bar with locally sourced fruits and vegetables, but on Wednesday, Riceville students ate a 100% locally sourced meal in celebration of Iowa Local Food Day. Everything that we are having, besides condiments, are going to be local items, Eastman said leading up to the Wednesday feast of burgers, fresh buns and fun veggies like purple cauliflower. Local Food for Schools (LFS) is a $200 million program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and states. Since it started in 2022, IDALS has awarded over $1.7 million total to 137 Iowa school districts. Participating schools like Riceville are in the third and final round of the funding, which will end December 2024. Funding local food Through the grant, school districts work with their local food hubs to source Iowa grown produce, dairy, meats, eggs and other local foods. Riceville has worked with the Iowa Food Hub, which serves the Driftless area. Peter Kraus, Iowa Food Hubs general manager, said most of the schools he sells to use LFS funds. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Its been a good way to consistently partner with schools, but Kraus said to truly support a local food system, the state needs to offer more permanent funding. Itd be really nice if the state would have a consistent program that was something that producers and food hubs and schools could depend on, Kraus said. But so far, its been in little blips here and there, and thats just really hard to design a business around. Kraus works for both the producers and the purchasers. He helps the producers know what to grow to meet the customers needs, and he helps the schools, colleges and early childhood centers that buy from the hub know whats in season and available. The LFS grants have given him an idea of what schools would want to purchase and how much they could use, but as the funding runs out, hes skeptical if many of the schools will continue to buy locally. Producers are wanting to know, What can I grow next year? and I cant really tell them how much to grow or what to grow, because I dont know what the demand is going to be, Kraus said. All the food hubs in the state are trying to scramble and figure out what is going to be the new normal. Schools can apply for other programs that support local food procurement, like Choose Iowa and USDA Farm to School, but Kraus said those programs are also not continuous. Kraus hopes Iowa will create a program similar to Michigans or New Yorks programs, which give reimbursements or incentives to schools that purchase locally. Top: On Local Food Day, Eastman hung signs to show where each of the items came from. For everyday lunches, students can see the local foods written up on a whiteboard in the lunch line. Bottom: Nancy Eastman was excited to serve locally grown, purple cauliflower to Riceville students on Wednesday. (Photos courtesy of Riceville CSD) Its not like LFS, where schools were given a chunk of money that was basically free local food, Kraus said. LFS worked to introduce schools to local procurement, but he worries that wont be incentive enough when kitchen managers are staring down their budget sheets. Eastman said she plans to continue serving as much local food as she can once the LFS funder ends. Local is more expensive, but its a lot better for us, Eastman said. Those LFS dollars, they helped show you how to and where to get these items but I wish that we could do everything local. Schools that participate in the National School Lunch program with the USDA, can purchase certain foods that are part of USDA approved commodities. It gives schools the ability to affordably feed their students, but Eastman said she wishes that funding could be used at the food hub. I wish that the government funding, (that) more funding would go to the local foods, she said. Plus, in her own experience, the local food is more expensive, but she said it lasts a lot longer. In addition to celebrating the statewide local food day, and offering local foods on the salad bar daily, Eastman is planning a fall farmers market for the over 400 students in her district. Riceville Community School district won the 2024 Golden Root award for school of the year, by the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care, because of its dedication to engaging students in its local food program. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Iowa Capitol as seen Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Democrats who are seeking to expand their numbers in the Iowa House announced four top agenda items Thursday for the 2025 legislative session, addressing public education, reproductive freedom, legalizing marijuana for adults and reducing costs for families. Democrats currently hold 36 out of 100 seats in the Iowa House, and Republicans hold the majority trifecta with control of the governors office and Senate as well. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said during a news conference Thursday that Democrats chose to highlight issues that regularly come up when theyre knocking on voters doors and receive majority support from Iowans. These are issues that are reflected and supported by more than 50% of Iowans, not just Democrats, but all Iowans who want the Legislature to focus on things that matter to them, she said. While offering few details of legislation, Democratic leaders emphasized these concepts: Supporting and defending public education, including fully funding public schools, raising pay for educators, ending vouchers that funnel taxpayer money to private schools, support special education and end book bans passed for special interests. Restoring reproductive freedom, including advancing a constitutional amendment specifying a right to abortion and working for legislation to ensure access to abortion, in vitro fertilization and birth control. Reducing costs for families, including making housing and child care affordable, capping heath care costs, expanding access to mental health care and lowering taxes for working families. Legalizing marijuana for adults, including for recreational use. Iowa House Republicans suggested Democrats were taking a page out of their playbook. In response to Iowa House Republicans record of improving educational opportunities, maintaining safe communities, and letting Iowans keep more of their hard-earned money, Iowans have only grown our majority, House GOP spokesperson Melissa Saitz said in an email to Iowa Capital Dispatch. Seeing the massive election success our agenda has had, its not surprising to see Democrats taking some cues out of our book. Its great to hear Democrats will now join us in our work to support public education and make Iowa more affordable. Though most recently, their voting record shows votes against historic tax cuts for all Iowans and against public-school teacher pay raises. House Democrats voted against changes to Area Education Agencies that also included a pay raise for teachers, but supported amendments that would have raised teacher pay. Konfrst said Democrats recognize the reality that Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is not up for reelection until 2026, will remain in office next year and would not likely sign legislation to repeal Iowas six-week abortion ban. While she said the caucus would reintroduce a constitutional amendment that would guarantee a right to abortion access, members would also work to clarify the existing law and potentially expand exceptions and exemptions. Iowas current law would ban most abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, typically around six weeks of gestation. It includes narrow exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the pregnant patient. However, she said Democrats also hope to mobilize political pressure for issues like marijuana legalization. so we can independently put forward legislation and let the governor be the one who says that something that Iowans support over 60% of Iowans support shes going to oppose again, Konfrst said. House Minority Whip Lindsay James of Dubuque noted that in her tri-state area, marijuana is already legal in Wisconsin and Illinois and is coming into Iowa regardless of current laws. The product is here. Its here in our states. And the most important thing we can do with that reality is to say we want to regulate it so that we can have a safe product, and we want to regulate it so that we can keep it out of the hands of kids, James said. The lawmakers emphasized the list of priorities would not preclude efforts related to other issues Democrats have long supported, such as water quality. What is the Iran-backed 'Axis of Resistance' and what does it mean for Israel? Iranian army members march during Army Day parade at a military base in northern Tehran on April 17. (Vahid Salemi / Associated Press) Israels sharp escalation against the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah has killed hundreds of people, injured thousands and left an estimated half a million displaced, Lebanese authorities say. The violence has spiked fears of a full-on regional conflict, one that would embroil Iran and the U.S. Whether that happens could depend heavily on the so-called Axis of Resistance, an Iran-backed coalition of governments and paramilitary groups spanning Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Syria and Yemen that see the U.S. and Israel as a common enemy. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war nearly a year ago, the groups have forced Israel to contend with multiple low-level fronts even as it pursues its main battle in Gaza. Leaders of the militant groups have said they will suspend their campaign if a ceasefire takes hold in Gaza. But an all-out conflagration with Hezbollah could trigger a more intense response. Heres a closer look at the Axis of Resistance. How did the axis start? The idea crystallized during Syrias civil war around 2011, when Iran which already had close ties with Syria and helped establish Hezbollah in the '80s pushed the Lebanese group to send its veteran fighters to bolster the flagging forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad. As the Syrian war continued, other groups established or assisted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps were integrated into the alliance. Read more: News Analysis: An imperiled Hezbollah faces the prospect of all-out war with Israel The name is a bit of a play on President George W. Bush's "axis of evil," a term he used in 2002 in reference to Iran, Iraq and North Korea. Some of the militias in Iraq were already calling themselves "the Islamic Resistance." Axis of Resistance emerged as a more formal entity in more recent years. Houthi fighters march during a rally of support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and against the U.S. strikes on Yemen outside Sanaa on Jan. 22. (Associated Press) Who is part of the axis? Iran of course. Aside from Hezbollah, it also includes a number of Iraqi and Syrian militias, along with the Syrian government. Yemens Houthi rebels joined after receiving substantial Iranian help when they fought in 2015 against a Saudi-backed coalition. Also part of the alliance is Palestinian Islamic Jihad, based primarily in Gaza. Hamas is one of the more recent additions, joining after Iran brokered a reconciliation between the militant group and Assad. How big of a fighting force is it? Numbers are hard to come by. Before last weeks attacks, Hezbollah was widely considered one of the worlds best-organized and most well-equipped paramilitary groups. It was thought to have some 100,000 fighters, according to statements from Hezbollah leaders in years past. This year, the CIA Factbook put its strength at around 50,000, though its unclear how many of those are reservists. Estimates as to the number of rockets and missiles in the groups arsenal range from 120,000 to 200,000, including guided and unguided munitions. It also possesses a number of tanks, APCs and other armored vehicles. It has demonstrated more sophisticated weapons in recent months, including kamikaze drones and longer range projectiles. Read more: Hezbollah head strikes defiant tone after 'unprecedented blow' On Wednesday, it used a ballistic missile for the first time to strike Tel Aviv, some 70 miles away from its positions on the Lebanese-Israeli border. Hezbollah said it was targeting the headquarters of Israel's intelligence service, the Mossad. Some of the more advanced arms and designs come from Iran, but experts say the group has design and manufacturing capability of its own. Israel claims a significant portion of that arsenal was destroyed in recent attacks. Yemens Houthis use arms taken from Yemeni government forces stockpiles, said Mohammad Basha, a U.S.-based Yemen analyst who specializes in Houthi military affairs. When the Houthis seized control of Sanaa in 2014, they got thousands of missiles and rockets, he said, including Soviet-era Scuds, Grads and Smerch launchers. But they, too, rely on Iran to develop, modify and upgrade existing arms and manufacture drones. Theres enough evidence to show the fiberglass and the body of the drones are manufactured inside Yemen, Basha said. Other components the engine, the GPS, etc theyre smuggled from other parts of the world such as Germany and China. Iraqi and Syrian militias total 67,000, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a watchdog monitor. The more sophisticated factions have deployed drones and longer-range missiles. After almost a year of fighting, Hamas is weakened. Israeli officials say they have killed more than 17,000 militants. Is the axis a formal agreement of mutual support, like NATO, or more of an informal coalition? More informal. Iran is the most powerful player and the organizing force behind the axis, but the various groups nevertheless do maintain their autonomy, said Michael Knights, an expert on Iran-backed militias at the Washington Institute. He described the alliance as a network of "ideologically compatible partners." "A lot of these factions may be willing to hit Israel as hard as they can, but are they doing it because they want to, or because theyre being told to by Iran?," he said. "Right now, the key trend is that every group in the Axis of Resistance is looking for their own interests," he said. "And even Hezbollah is in a really tricky situation. It doesn't want to die because of decisions made by Hamas." Iranian worshippers walk past a mural showing the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, right, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, and Basij paramilitary force, as they hold posters of Ayatollah Khomeini and Iranian and Palestinian flags in an anti-Israeli gathering after Friday prayers in Tehran in April. (Vahid Salemi / Associated Press) How has the axis responded to Gaza? The primary response came from Hezbollah, which on Oct. 8 began to lob rockets across the border with Israel in what it called a "support front," intended to relieve pressure on Palestinians in Gaza by forcing Israel to keep troops near its northern border rather than deploy them in the south. The Israel-Hamas war started Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people. Israel has responded with a military assault in Gaza that has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, Gaza officials estimate. Others in the axis have also responded to the war in Gaza. In Yemen, the Houthis began targeting ships believed to be affiliated with Israel in the Red Sea, and launched long-range missiles to attack Israeli ports. Earlier this week, Israel said it intercepted cruise missiles and drones sent by Iraqi militias. Earlier this year, after Israel attacked the Iranian Consulate in Damascus and killed military officials, Tehran launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Israel. It also continues to threaten vengeance for a presumed Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. How will the axis respond to the growing conflict in Lebanon? There are mixed messages. Iranian leaders say Hezbollah should not have to fight alone when Israel receives so much Western support. That is likely to mean Iran would continue to send arms, and Tehran has also regularly dispatched military advisors to aid Hezbollah. But, like their American counterparts, they say they want a diplomatic solution. At the same time, Iraqi and Syrian groups have intensified their attacks on Israel in recent days, and the Houthis, who have a close relationship to Hezbollah, say they are ready to support Hezbollah with whatever is needed. 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. By Michelle Nichols and John Irish UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthi rebels have grown "from a localised armed group with limited capabilities to a powerful military organization" with the help of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iraqi specialists, according to a confidential report by U.N. sanctions monitors. The independent panel of experts, who report annually to the U.N. Security Council, said Houthi fighters had been receiving tactical and technical training outside Yemen, traveling on fake passports to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq. Over the past year the Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile strikes on ships in the crucial Red Sea shipping channels to show support for Palestinians in the Gaza war with Israel, disrupting global maritime trade by forcing shipping firms to divert cargos. "The multiple testimonies gathered by the panel from military experts, Yemeni officials and even individuals close to the Houthis, indicate that they do not have the capacity to develop and produce, without foreign support, complex weapon systems," the U.N. experts wrote in their latest report, seen by Reuters. "The scale, nature and the extent of transfers of diverse military materiel and technology provided to the Houthis from external sources, including financial support and training of its combatants, is unprecedented," they said. The Houthis did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the U.N. report. The sanctions monitors said weapons systems operated by the Houthis were similar to those produced and operated by Iran or armed groups of the Tehran-backed "Axis of Resistance" opposed to Israel and U.S. influence in the Middle East. "This transformation has been possible due to the transfer of materiel and the assistance and training provided by IRGC-QF, Hezbollah, and Iraqi specialists and technicians to the Houthis," the U.N. experts reported to the 15-member Security Council Yemen sanctions committee. "IRGC-QF" refers to the Quds Force, the overseas branch of the Revolutionary Guards. Built up over years or decades of Iranian support, the "Axis of Resistance" includes the Houthis, Palestinian militants Hamas, Hezbollah and various armed groups in Iraq and Syria. The Houthis have effectively been under a U.N. arms embargo since 2015. Iran has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to the group. Iran's mission to the U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the U.N. sanctions monitors report. At the United Nations on Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters before a Security Council meeting that his country supported Hezbollah and would not remain indifferent if the Lebanon conflict with Israel spiraled. The U.N. sanctions monitors also expressed concern about an increasing collaboration between the Houthis and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. "Both have agreed to cease internal conflict, transfer weapons, and coordinate on attacks against the forces of the Government of Yemen," they said. "Additionally, increased smuggling activities, involving small and light weapons (SALWs) are observed between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab, with indications of shared military supplies or a common supplier." On the issue of fake passports, the U.N. sanctions monitors said that the Houthis issue the counterfeit documents to people who "act on their behalf, for their support or under their control." "These people are tasked with the procurement and/or transfer of illicit goods or weapons or they travel abroad to participate in military training," they wrote in the 38-page report that includes hundreds of pages of annexes. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols and John Irish; Editing by Don Durfee and Howard Goller) The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Thursday said Iran is showing "willingness" to re-engage on the nuclear issue, but that Tehran will not reconsider its decision to deny access to top UN inspectors. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said Tehran was "showing signs of willingness to reengage, not only with the IAEA, but also... with our former partners in the nuclear agreement of 2015." Grossi spoke after meeting this week with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who played a key role in the negotiations that culminated in the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with world powers which has since unraveled. "It's a moment where there is a possibility to do something" on the nuclear question, Grossi told AFP on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. "The advantage Araghchi has is that he knows everything about this process, so that allows us to move faster," Grossi said at the IAEA's New York offices. In recent years, Tehran has decreased its cooperation with the IAEA, while significantly ramping up its nuclear program, including amassing large stockpiles of uranium enriched to 60 percent -- close to the 90 percent needed to develop an atomic bomb. But since the July election of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Tehran has signaled openness to relaunching talks to revive the nuclear agreement. The landmark deal -- also known by its acronym JCPOA -- started to unravel in 2018 when then-US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from it and reimposed sanctions, and Iran retaliated by stepping up its nuclear activities. - 'For them to decide' - Efforts to revive the deal -- bringing the United States back on board and Iran back into compliance -- have so far been fruitless. "If things move in a positive way... and I think this is the intention of the president and the foreign minister (of Iran), there will be a return to the conversations with the former partners," Grossi said. Tehran, however, is not willing to walk back on a decision it took last year to ban some of the IAEA's "best inspectors," Grossi said, a move Teheran initially described as retaliation for "political abuses" by the United States, France, Germany and Britain. "They are not going to restore the inspectors to the list," Grossi said. "Maybe there will be a review of that. I will keep pushing," he added, explaining that he is due to visit Tehran in the "coming weeks." During his visit, Grossi plans to discuss "different monitoring and verification measures that we could agree on prior to a wider agreement." "I think getting an agreement with Iran on these things would be a very constructive indication... towards a future negotiation," Grossi said. "If you do not allow me to establish a baseline of all the capacities that the country has at the moment, then what kind of confidence and trust are you injecting in the system for a negotiation with other partners?" he added. According to a diplomatic source, the European side is skeptical about the possibility of returning to the framework of the initial pact. Grossi said the actual framework of the deal would be left to Iran and Western powers. "Will it be the same? Will it be updated? Will it be something completely different? This is for them to decide," Grossi said. ho/gw/acb Leo Varadkar made the comments while talking to schoolchildren during an event exploring youth perspectives on the constitutional future of the island of Ireland - PA/David Young Brexit has made a united Ireland more likely, Leo Varadkar has said. The former taoiseach made the statement before calling on all Irish political parties to make manifesto pledges to pursue reunification. The 45-year-old, who served two terms as prime minister, said the parties should declare Irish unity to be an objective, not an aspiration before a general election that must be held by March. Sir Keir Starmer has declared a reset in relations with Ireland and the EU and wants to negotiate closer trade and security ties with the bloc. Mr Varadkar said the push for a united Ireland would not damage Anglo-Irish relations because Britain needed a lot of help from Dublin in upcoming negotiations with the EU. I think almost all trends point towards unification in the next few decades, said Mr Varadkar, who was prime minister during the Brexit negotiations that strained relations between Dublin and London. There are lots of different things in its favour. There are the demographics, the fact that the Republic is so much more prosperous now than the North, and then also that Brexit has changed the UKs relationship with Europe and the rest of the world. Most Northern Irish want to remain in UK The Good Friday Agreement says the secretary of state for Northern Ireland should call a border poll if it appears likely a majority would back unity. Another referendum also has to be held in the Republic under the agreement. Recent polls, however, show most Northern Irish voters want to remain in the UK. Fleur Anderson, Northern Ireland minister, said a border poll was not a priority for Labour at a fringe event at the partys conference in Liverpool earlier this week. Brexit gave the debate over Irish unity fresh impetus because a majority of people in Northern Ireland voted against it, and the post-Brexit trading arrangements led to a two-year boycott of Stormont by the DUP. Since Brexit, Sinn Fein has won the Northern Ireland Assembly elections, local elections and, most recently, became the regions largest Westminster party in Julys General Election. On Sunday, Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein president, demanded that the UK stop dodging giving a timeline for a border poll, which it wants to be called by 2030. Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein president, has called on the UK to name a timeline for a border poll - PA/Brian Lawless In 2022, a census taken every decade showed that traditionally nationalist-voting Catholics outnumbered historically largely unionist Protestants, for the first time in Northern Ireland. While Ireland is predicted to have a budget surplus of 17.9 billion in 2026 and 56.3 billion surplus by 2027, Northern Ireland is the poorest region of the UK. Mr Varadkar stepped down as taoiseach and Fine Gael leader in April, after almost two years of trailing Sinn Fein in the polls. Since taking over, Simon Harris, his successor, has managed to overtake Sinn Fein and defeated them in Junes local elections. Mr Harris said unity was an aspiration, but not a priority when taking office. Mr Varadkar told the Irish Times: For a lot of people, unification is an aspiration, its an idea. Whereas I think it needs to become an objective for the next government in Ireland, no matter whos in that government. Im not saying it should just be in the Fine Gael manifesto, Im saying that it should be in the manifesto of all the parties. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Paper: We noted that China and Zambia jointly held the High-level Meeting on International Cooperation on Capacity-Building of Artificial Intelligence on the margins of the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. China announced the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All. What does China hope to achieve through the Action Plan and what actions will be taken to translate the Action Plan into reality? Lin Jian: On September 25 local time, the High-level Meeting on International Cooperation on Capacity-Building of Artificial Intelligence was jointly held by China and Zambia at the UN Headquarters in New York. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and addressed the event. Serbias President Aleksandar Vucic, Indonesias Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and high-level representatives from more than 80 countries and international organizations participated in the event. Participating parties had in-depth exchange of views and reached extensive common understandings on enhancing international cooperation on AI capacity-building. The AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All proposed by China was supported and echoed by all parties. The Action Plan is aimed at bridging the AI divide and promoting the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Five visions were proposed on cooperation areas that meet the expectation of all parties, in particular the Global South, namely AI infrastructure, industrial empowerment, personnel training, digital development and security governance. The Action Plan identifies 10 actions China will take, including promoting AI and digital infrastructure connectivity and carrying out cooperation in R&D and application of models and language resources, better synergizing AI strategies and strengthening policy exchanges, and actively sharing technical practices. China will hold 10 sessions of AI seminars by the end of 2025 for developing countries as a priority. China has proposed to set up the Group of Friends of International Cooperation in AI Capacity Building in an effort to deliver on the Action Plan. Since the beginning of this year, China has promoted the adoption of the resolution entitled Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence at the UN General Assembly, and held the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, and the first Seminar on Capacity Building of Artificial Intelligence. The Action Plan as part of the ongoing effort fully reflects Chinas leading role in global AI governance. We stand ready to work with the international community to implement the Action Plan, ensure that all countries can benefit from the AI dividends, and jointly pave the way for a brighter, more intelligent future. KBS: Yesterday, a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer for the first time sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Japanese media commented that this is a response to Chinas military activities near Japan and is an assertion of freedom of navigation. Whats Chinas position? Lin Jian: The Taiwan question concerns Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is the political foundation of China-Japan relations and a red line that must not be crossed. The Chinese military has handled in accordance with laws and regulations the entering into the Taiwan Strait of a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel. China is highly vigilant on Japans political intention behind this move and has protested to the Japanese side. Japan made a clear commitment on this in the 1972 China-Japan Joint Statement, which says The Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. The Government of the Peoples Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the Peoples Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this position of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its position under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation. We urge Japan to honor its commitment and act prudently on the Taiwan question, and refrain from causing disruption to its relations with China and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. TASS: Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in New York. The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that if there are still some people making accusation against China, they are ill-motivated and if some still shift the blame to China, there are hidden agenda behind. What does Foreign Minister Wang mean by suggesting individual countries have hidden agenda? What motivation would these countries have? Lin Jian: During his meeting with High Representative Josep Borrell in New York, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that China upholds an objective and fair position on the Ukraine crisis, works for deescalation and does not give up efforts for peace. Chinas efforts have been well recognized by the international community. Certain countries repeated blame-shifting towards China is certainly not aimed at cooling down the situation and promoting peace talks. As for what they are truly up to, I believe people will have their own judgement. Rudaw Media Network: Kurdistan Region enjoys strong economic and trade relations with China. And Kurdistan Region is going to hold its parliamentary election. As a region friendly to China, what is your opinion on the upcoming elections? This is my first question. My second question is with tensions escalating in the Middle East, are you willing or is China taking any practical measures to ensure the safety and security of its projects and civilians? Lin Jian: China and Iraq enjoy a traditional friendship. China supports Iraq in maintaining stability and realizing development. We stand ready to strengthen exchanges with Iraq, deepen cooperation, and strive for new progress in our strategic partnership. As for your second question, owing to the current tensions at the border areas between Lebanon and Israel, the Center for Consular Assistance and Protection of Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinas Embassy in Lebanon have activated the emergency response mechanism, worked out relevant plans and issued multiple security alerts. We once again advise Chinese citizens not to travel to Lebanon in the near future and ask those already in Lebanon to follow closely the developments of the situation and return to China or depart Lebanon as soon as possible via commercial flights. For those who have to remain in Lebanon, please stay on high alert, prepare for contingencies, have sufficient supplies, and avoid traveling to the high-risk areas in southern Lebanon. In case of emergencies, they need to contact the Embassy as soon as possible for help. We will make all-out effort to assist Chinese citizens who need to relocate to safe places or have other needs. AFP: Japan says they were not notified by Beijing before the launch of the ICBM missile yesterday. Is that true? And if its true, why did China not inform Japan of the launch? Lin Jian: The Ministry of National Defense of China released information on this yesterday. The test launch is a routine arrangement in our annual training plan. It is in line with international law and international practice and is not directed against any country or target. Weve notified relevant countries in advance. Id refer you to the Ministry of National Defense for your specific question. AFP: Indian media have reported that a team of Indian mountain climbers has summited a previously unclimbed and unnamed peak in the region of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of southern Tibet. The Indian climbers have named the peak after the 6th Dalai Lama. Does China have any comment on this? Lin Jian: Im not aware of what you mentioned. Let me say more broadly that the area of Zangnan is Chinese territory, and its illegal, and null and void for India to set up the so-called Arunachal Pradesh in Chinese territory. This has been Chinas consistent position. Reuters: Naval vessels from New Zealand and Australia sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, according to a statement from the New Zealand Defense Minister. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment? Lin Jian: China handles foreign warships transit through the Taiwan Strait in accordance with laws and regulations, and meanwhile we stay vigilant against any acts that might jeopardize Chinas sovereignty and security. We recently compiled a list of the 8 Best Marine Shipping Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM) stands against the other marine shipping stocks. The Maritime Freight Transport industry plays a significant role in global trade as it handles about 90% of it. The expansion of seaborne trade is benefiting consumers worldwide by providing competitive freight rates. According to Mordor Intelligence, the industry is projected to grow from approximately $381.69 billion in 2024 to around $471.81 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.33%. The Evolution of Shipping in a Changing World According to a KPMG report posted in May, the global shipping industry is on an upward trend despite challenges like vessel accessibility, labor shortages, and geopolitical instability. Around 83% of the world fleet consists of small to medium-sized ships, with small vessels making up 38% by number but only 1% by tonnage. Increasing container ship availability is expected to stabilize freight rates and restore the supply-demand balance. Port delays and logistical bottlenecks are expected to ease, but geopolitical conflicts, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East have disrupted some important shipping routes, which have led to longer, costlier voyages. The industry faces a potential shortage of maritime officers by 2026 and women make up only 2% of the workforce. Despite these challenges, global economic growth of 3% annually will support seaborne trade expansion. Freight rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels, as tanker demand remains strong due to a 1.9% fleet growth in 2023. Additionally, LNG demand is expected to stabilize the market, while container freight rates are recovering due to voyage restrictions and reduced vessel availability. Trends Shaping the Industry According to the above-mentioned KPMG report, the shipping and port industries are experiencing transformative trends that are influenced by decarbonization, digitalization, and evolving supply chains. Despite 6% of post-COVID stimulus efforts targeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, rising fuel prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict pose challenges, as the maritime sector accounts for 2.8% of global GHG emissions, with over 40% of marine cargo being fossil fuels. Digital adoption is on the rise, with the smart ports market expected to grow from $1.9 billion to $5.7 billion at a CAGR of 24.3% from 2022 to 2027. The pandemic has highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities, which has prompted the companies to diversify sourcing and rethink logistics. Story continues Our Methodology For this article, we used stock screeners to identify 25 marine shipping stocks with a market cap of above $50 million. We narrowed our list to 8 stocks most widely held by hedge funds, as of Q2 2024. The 8 best marine shipping stocks to invest in are listed in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). A fleet of vessels docking at a busy harbor, signaling the company's presence in global marine shipping. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26 ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM) is a prominent name in the container shipping industry, recognized for its innovative approach and extensive global reach. The companys operations span over 90 countries and services that touch approximately 300 ports worldwide, which has helped it create a diverse customer base of more than 32,000 clients. The broad network supports its mission to provide efficient and reliable shipping services on key trade routes, including the Pacific, Latin America, Atlantic, Cross-Suez, and Intra-Asia. It takes its place among our best marine shipping stocks to invest in. A significant part of the companys competitive edge is in its agile fleet management and deployment strategy. The company is in the middle of a substantial fleet renewal initiative, featuring a modern lineup of 46 new container ships, of which 28 are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). As of mid-May, ZIM Integrated (NYSE:ZIM) had already received 30 of these vessels, with the remaining 16 scheduled for delivery by the end of 2024. Once this fleet renewal program is completed, over half of its operated capacity will consist of these newbuild ships, with the rest of the portion being LNG-powered. In the second quarter, the company showed strong performance, evidenced by a nearly 11% year-over-year increase in carried volume. The growth resulted in a remarkable 48% rise in revenue, reaching $1.93 billion. Furthermore, net income climbed by 46% to $19 million, both figures surpassing analysts' expectations. CEO Eli Glickman credited the success to a strategic increase in the companys exposure to the spot market, which allowed it to capitalize on elevated rates that have persisted longer than anticipated. Glickman is confident about ZIM Integrateds (NYSE:ZIM) performance in the second half of 2024. He sees improved results driven by ongoing supply pressures from the Red Sea crisis, alongside favorable demand trends. Overall ZIM ranks 4th among the best marine shipping stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of ZIM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is promising and trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Read Next: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. IRVINE, Ky. (FOX 56) The Irvine Police Department is looking for a man accused of stealing from the Kentucky agate, gem, mineral, and fossil show. Agate is an area treasure in Estill County and Members of the Southeast Kentucky Gem, Mineral and Fossil Club told FOX 56 that people come from all over the nation to hunt Irvine creek beds for the gem. RELATED: The club hosted its fall agate show on Sept. 22 at Estill County Central Office, but afterward, realized a few pieces were unaccounted for. Irvine police hope the public may recognize the man allegedly responsible for the stolen pocket knife and pendants. Do you recognize this man? Irvine police believe he may be behind an agate theft (Irvine Police Department) Do you recognize this man? Irvine police believe he may be behind an agate theft (Irvine Police Department) Do you recognize this man? Irvine police believe he may be behind an agate theft (Irvine Police Department) Stolen agate pendant from the Kentucky agate, gem, mineral, and fossil show (Irvine Police Department) Stolen agate knife from the Kentucky agate, gem, mineral, and fossil show (Irvine Police Department) Stolen agate pendant from the Kentucky agate, gem, mineral, and fossil show (Irvine Police Department) According to Irvine police, hes described as a bald, white man with tattoos who drives a Jeep Wrangler. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: If you have any information regarding the man and items shown, contact the Irvine Police Department at 606-723-2221, extension 2. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. The last time Israel invaded Lebanon in 2006 the conflict ended with a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. Security Council Resolution 1701 called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south to be replaced by Lebanese and UN peacekeepers. Militias, including Hezbollah, were to be disarmed and removed from areas south of the Litani river, which flows about 18 miles north of the border. The resolution also emphasised the need for the Lebanese government to exert control in their own country. Needless to say none of this happened, apart from the Israeli withdrawal. Hezbollah not only continued to operate south of the Litani and rebuilt its missile batteries destroyed by Israel. The area is now bristling with ordnance provided by Iran. In addition, Hezbollah has strengthened its military and political grip over the entire country and is now the de facto government. This is the background to renewed calls from Western countries, including the US and Britain, for a 21-day ceasefire in the renewed hostilities between the two sides. Israel justifiably points out that the last time they agreed to one the terms were broken. In 2006 Hezbollah had no intention of observing the deal any more than it has of doing so now should a new agreement be put in place. The question the international community needs to address is what is Israel supposed to do if enemies on its borders continue to fire missiles into its towns and villages? The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), a presence in the country since 1978 and currently made up largely of Irish troops, is utterly ineffectual as a barrier to Hezbollahs authority in southern Lebanon. Briefings from officials in Washington suggesting a ceasefire was imminent were scotched by Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, as he headed to New York for the UN general assembly meeting. Without guarantees that Hezbollah will stop firing missiles into northern Israel, where 80,000 residents have been displaced, it is hard to see the conflict abating. Israeli airstrikes are seeking to degrade Hezbollah positions and communications but Jerusalem will be reluctant to order a ground invasion. Hezbollah is a different order of opponent to Hamas in Gaza, having been battle hardened in the Syrian civil war and supplied with weapons by Tehran. It should not be forgotten that both groups are proxies for Iran, itself motivated by the express ambition of destroying the state of Israel. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Thursday rejected proposals from the United States and France calling for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had not responded but told the army to keep up its operation. "There will be no ceasefire in the north," Katz said on the social media platform X. "We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes." Netanyahu, who left Israel on Thursday to address the United Nations, issued a statement that said he had ordered the military to keep fighting with full force, in accordance with operational plans. "This is an American-French proposal that the Prime Minister has not even responded to," his office said in a statement. Shortly after the statement was published, the Israeli military said it had launched a new wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who heads one of two nationalist-religious factions in the coalition, said Hezbollah should be crushed and that only its surrender would make it possible for the evacuees to return. "The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows he received and to reorganize for the continuation of the war after 21 days," he said in a statement. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's far-right faction was due to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday but members of the party have already come out against the proposal. The United States and France, backed by other allies, called on Wednesday for a 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon "Blue Line", the demarcation line between the two countries, to allow the parties to negotiate towards a potential diplomatic resolution. Israel has launched the heaviest air strikes against Lebanon since the 2006 war over the past week, killing more than 600 people, as months of cross-border fire with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement spiralled close to all-out war. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of missiles at targets in Israel including, for the first time, its economic hub Tel Aviv, although Israel's aerial defence system has ensured that the damage has been limited. On Wednesday, Israel's army chief made the most explicit public comment yet on the possibility of a ground assault on Lebanon, telling troops near the border to be prepared to cross the border. It was not immediately clear whether the comments were a precursor to a ground operation or a negotiating tactic designed to pressure Hezbollah to back down. Israel called up two extra reserve brigades to the northern sector on Wednesday. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire for almost a year since Hezbollah launched a first barrage the day after fighters from the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas attacked communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Additional reporting by Maayan LubellEditing by Steven Scheer and Kevin Liffey) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office deflected international calls for a cease-fire with Hezbollah Thursday, hours after President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement calling for them to back a temporary truce proposal with wide international support. The U.S. and French leaders called Wednesday on both sides in the high-stakes standoff to back the proposal, but neither had indicated any support by Thursday, and the exchange of deadly fire continued. "This is an American-French proposal that the Prime Minister has not even responded to," Netanyahu's office said Thursday, adding a dismissal of a separate report suggesting the Israeli leader had told his military to "moderate" its assault on Hezbollah to give space for discussion about a possible cease-fire. "The report about the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth," Netanyahu's office said. "The Prime Minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force." Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said definitively on social media early Thursday: "There will be no cease-fire in the north." People inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike in Jiyeh, along the highway linking Beirut to the southern city of Sidon in southern Lebanon, Sept. 25, 2024. / Credit: MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Mr. Biden and Macron, both in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, issued their joint call late Tuesday for a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah after a week of Israeli airstrikes that have killed more than 630 people in Lebanon, according to the country's health ministry. Several people have been wounded in Israel by the unrelenting barrage of Hezbollah rockets and drones, which are mostly shot down by the country's advanced missile defense systems. The escalation in the violence began on Oct. 8, as Hezbollah said it was attacking Israel in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip coming under fire as Israel launched its devastating retaliation for Hamas' terrorist attack the previous day. The exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah which is larger and far better armed than its Hamas allies has fueled fear of a wider war in the Middle East that could draw the U.S., as Israel's closest ally, and Hezbollah's backer Iran, directly into the fighting. Tens of thousands of people from communities on both sides of the border had already been driven from their homes by the ongoing exchange of fire, and since Israel started hammering Hezbollah targets in Lebanon with airstrikes last week, many thousands more have fled from the south of the country. Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Tyre, Lebanon, Sept. 26, 2024. / Credit: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/REUTERS "It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes," the U.S.-French statement said. "The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. We therefore have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border." Mr. Biden and Macron said their cease-fire proposal had been endorsed by the U.S., Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. "We call for broad endorsement and for the immediate support of the Governments of Israel and Lebanon," the two leaders said. Speaking Thursday in London, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah "deeply troubling," acknowledging a risk of all-out war and urging Israel and Hezbollah to "choose a different path" with a diplomatic solution. "The best way forward is to pursue a cease-fire that will enable diplomacy to take place," Austin said. Asked about the remarks from Netanyahu's office earlier in the day, Austin said he believed that neither Israel nor Hezbollah wants a wider war, and he remained "optimistic the right things will happen." The IDF said overnight that the Israeli Air Force had struck "approximately 75 terror targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the area of Beqaa and in southern Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, ready-to-fire launchers, terrorists, and terrorist infrastructure." On Thursday, Lebanon's state-run news agency reported that an Israeli airstrike had hit a building housing workers from Syria, killing 23 people and wounding eight, according to The Associated Press. Why Hurricane Helene could be catastrophic National Hurricane Center warns of Helene's life-threatening storm surge Top executives leave OpenAI amid for-profit push Israel-Hezbollah conflict: Why is Lebanon being attacked and will there be a ceasefire? A cloud of smoke erupts during an Israeli air strike on the village of Sujud in southern Lebanon on September 25, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Israel ramps up its assault on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Beginning with a major bombardment on 23 September, Lebanon has now experienced its deadliest attack since the end of the 1975 - 1990 Civil War, with over 90,000 civilians displaced from their homes. Israel has called the bombardment a new phase of its war on Gaza, striking more than 1,000 targets in Lebanon which it says were Hezbollah strongholds or military facilities in homes. Since the 7 October Hamas attack where over 240 Israeli hostages were taken, Hezbollah has been striking Israel from Lebanon on the countrys northern border in support of Hamas. Israeli forces have continued to respond with strikes on the paramilitary group which regularly fired missiles and rockets to intercept military technology like drones or tanks. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on September 25, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) But the massive bombing campaign by Israel marks a major escalation in the exchanges one which the international community worries could lead to all-out war in the Middle East. It comes as the country also continues its military action in Gaza, which has now killed over 41,000 Palestinians. Why is Israel attacking Lebanon? Israel says it is attacking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in a bid to return its citizens who have been displaced from the north by Hezbollah attacks. The countrys officials say that 65,000 Israeli citizens have been evacuated due to conflict on the border. Speaking in the days after the initial wave of attacks, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would deploy renewed forces, resources and energy to the northern region in its campaign against Hezbollah. Today was a masterpiece, he later added, this was the worst week Hezbollah has had since its establishment, and the results speak for themselves. Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist group in the UK, was formed in 1982 but gained significant military power in the 2006 Lebanon War against Israel. Its stated objective is to drive Israeli forces away from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah members carry the coffins of Hezbollah commanders Ibrahim Kobeisi, and Hussein Ezzedine, during their funeral procession in Beirut, Wednesday, September 25 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The group is aligned with Iran, which is understood to provide most of its funding. Hezbollahs military wing is sophisticated and thought to be about the strength of a medium-sized army, stronger than Lebanons own forces. Israels heightened assault on the group has pulled civilians into its wake, killing an estimated 620 and injuring nearly 2,000. Wednesday 25 September saw Hezbollah aim a long-range missile at Israels capital Tel Aviv, the deepest into the country the group has attempted to attack. On the same day, Israel targeted mountains north of Lebanons capital Beirut for the first time in the war. The countrys forces are now reportedly preparing for a possible ground operation. While the military has said in recent days that it does not have plans for an invasion, spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters: The army is in full readiness, and we will do whatever is necessary to bring back home all our citizens to the northern border safely. Could other countries become involved? A ground invasion of Lebanon would mark a major escalation in the conflict, likely with serious international repercussions. The United States has already announced it would deploy additional troops to the area, with 40,000 already in the region. With its close ties to Iran, a direct assault on Hezbollah runs the risk of drawing the country a long-time opponent of Israel into the conflict. Tensions already reached a high point in April when Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israeli targets in April, responding to the countrys bombing of part of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria. Israel responded in turn with a series of retaliatory strikes on Iranian military sites, with little further conflict between the two nations reported since. Although it has never revealed its nuclear weapon status, Israel is thought to hold an arsenal of 90 nuclear warheads. Iran is not believed to be nuclear-armed but resumed its nuclear programme after limits were lifted by former US president Donald Trump in 2018. United States President Joe Biden addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, September 24 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The UK has now joined the US, France and other allies in calling for a 21-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The joint statement reads: It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. The exchange of fire since 7 October, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, due to address world leaders at the UNs General Assembly, has ruled out the deal. There will be no ceasefire in the north, a spokesperson said, we will continue to fight against the terrorist organization Hezbollah with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, Jerusalem, 4 September 2024 (via REUTERS) Speaking ahead of the assembly, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza. Lebanese officials have also called for a ceasefire and suggested they will involve their own forces if Israel undertakes a ground invasion. Speaking to Sky News, health minister Firass Abiad said that Israeli strikes in the country are causing carnage. Were already at war - this is not just an escalation, we are already at war, he added. If Israel uses these very big and strong bombs to target civilian areas, as they have been doing, then yes, the numbers could reach catastrophic even more catastrophic than what we see now. But Israeli strikes on targets in Lebanon continue, with 75 attacks reported on Wednesday. And while Israel and Hezbollah have both advocated for de-escalation in the region, both maintain their attacks and threats. Pelicans fly under Iron Dome rockets intercepting a barrage of rockets fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah near Zikhron Ya'akov. Hezbollah fired rockets at Tel Aviv, and Zichron Ya'acov for first time, Israel continues strike at Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon. The sides appeared to be spiraling toward all-out war following months of escalating tensions. Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Regardless of a possible ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia, the mutual shelling between the two sides was continuing on Thursday. The Israeli army reported that the western part of Galilee in northern Israel had been attacked with 45 missiles from Lebanon. Some of them were intercepted by the missile defence system, the rest fell in open areas, it said. The news site ynet reported a rocket salvo on the city of Acre on the Mediterranean, with two people suffering shock. Earlier, Israeli fighter jets had fired on targets in southern Lebanon. According to the army, the targets were "Hezbollah military sites, terrorists, and weapons storage facilities." During the night, the air force had attacked 75 "terror targets" in the south and north-east of Lebanon, according to the information provided. More than 600 people have been killed in recent days in massive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese authorities. Israel said it killed another top Hezbollah commander -- Muhammad Hussein Srour, the commander of Hezbollah's Aerial Command -- in a "precise" strike on Beirut Thursday. At least two people were killed, and 15 others were injured in a strike on Dahieh in Beirut, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Hezbollah has not yet commented on the death of its commander. This comes hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will "continue the fighting with full force." At least 23 people were killed -- including 19 Syrian refugees -- and four others were injured after Israel struck a building on the Syrian-Lebanese border in another strike Thursday, officials said. Nearly 700 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since Monday, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Strikes this week follow the explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies throughout the country last week. PHOTO: Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Tyre, Lebanon Sept. 26, 2024. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters) Netanyahu shot down the possibility of a cease-fire that could end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon after the U.S. and France said they have put a proposal on the table for a 21-day stop in fighting. He also said fighting in Gaza will continue until the goals of the war are achieved. MORE: Israel prepares for potential ground invasion of Lebanon, continues airstrikes on Hezbollah Despite the proposal on the table, all signs point to Israel preparing for a possible ground invasion into Lebanon. PHOTO: Israeli Army tanks are transported, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, Sept. 26, 2024. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters) President Joe Biden told reporters on Wednesday that there is global support for a 21-day cease-fire proposal that he and other leaders have called for. "We were able to generate significant support from Europe, as well as the Arab nations. It's important this war not widen," Biden told reporters as he returned to the White House Thursday. The president was returning from the U.N. General Assembly, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday to discuss details of a joint statement announcing the proposal, according to senior administration officials. MORE: Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: Netanyahu disputes reports of cease-fire talks, vows to fight on in Gaza PHOTO: Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, Sept. 26, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images) The Israel Ministry of Defense secured a $8.7 billion U.S. aid package from Washington to support its ongoing military efforts. The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been transferred, and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems, according to the Ministry of Defense. Israel has said it is attacking Hezbollah in order to allow residents to return to the north. MORE: Biden administration floats pause in Israel-Hezbollah conflict amid fears of all-out war As tensions continue to rise in the region, Iran "will not remain indifferent in case of a full-scale war in Lebanon," the Iranian Foreign Minister said in comments to reporters Wednesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. PHOTO: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Lebanon towards Israel, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Acre, northern Israel, Sept. 26, 2024. (Ammar Awad/Reuters) He also warned Israel's "crimes will not go unpunished," and said the Middle East region "risks full-scale conflict" if the U.N. Security Council does not "act now to halt Israel's war and enforce an immediate cease-fire." "The Israeli leaders must understand that their crimes will not go unpunished. The path to de-escalation is clear. Israel must immediately stop its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. Without a cease-fire in Gaza, there will be no guarantee of peace in the region," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Wednesday. "Iran will not remain indifferent in case of a full-scale war in Lebanon. We stand with the people of Lebanon with all means," he added. Israel kills Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike, Netanyahu vows to continue 'with full force' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com BEIRUT (Reuters) -Israel, which has engaged in border warfare with Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement for a year in parallel with the Gaza conflict, has a long history of military incursions and invasions in Lebanon. After assassinating Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut airstrikes last week, Israel has indicated it is preparing for a full-fledged invasion of Lebanon to stabilise the border region for its citizens who have fled fighting. Here is a look at Israel's incursions and invasions of Lebanon: 1948 Lebanon fights alongside other Arab countries against the nascent state of Israel. Around 100,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in what had been British-ruled Palestine during the war arrive in Lebanon as refugees. Lebanon and Israel agree to an armistice in 1949. 1968 Israeli commandos destroy a dozen passenger planes at Beirut airport in response to an attack on an Israeli airliner by Palestinian guerrillas. The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) relocates to Lebanon two years later after its expulsion from Jordan, leading to more cross-border flare-ups. 1973 Disguised Israeli special forces shoot dead three Palestinian guerrilla leaders in Beirut in retaliation for the killing of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Palestinian guerrilla raids into Israel and Israeli military reprisals on targets in Lebanon intensify during the 1970s, leading many Lebanese to flee their country's south and aggravating sectarian tensions in Lebanon, where civil war is starting. 1978 Israel invades south Lebanon and sets up a narrow occupation zone in an operation against Palestinian guerrillas after a militant attack near Tel Aviv. Israel backs a local Christian militia called the South Lebanon Army (SLA). 1982 Israel invades Lebanon all the way to Beirut in an offensive that followed tit-for-tat border fire. Thousands of Palestinian fighters are evacuated by sea after a bloody 10-week siege of the Lebanese capital involving heavy Israeli bombardment of West Beirut. Hundreds of civilians in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila are massacred by Christian militiamen allowed in by Israeli troops after Lebanon's newly elected Maronite Catholic president is killed by a car bomb. Iran's Revolutionary Guards establish the Shi'ite Muslim armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon to counter the Israeli invasion. 1985 Israel pulled back from central Lebanon in 1983 but retained forces in the south. It establishes a formal occupation zone in southern Lebanon, about 15 km (nine miles) deep, controlling the area with its SLA ally. Hezbollah wages guerrilla war against Israeli forces. 1993 Israel launches in July "Operation Accountability", a week-long attack by its forces against Lebanon. Israel says the aim is to strike directly at Hezbollah, to make it difficult for the group to use southern Lebanon as a base for striking Israel, and to pressure the Lebanese government to intervene against the group. 1996 With Hezbollah regularly attacking Israeli forces in the south and firing rockets into northern Israel, Israel mounts 17-day "Operation Grapes of Wrath" offensive that kills more than 200 people in Lebanon, including 102 who die when Israel strikes a U.N. base near the south Lebanon village of Qana. 2000 Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon, after continued attacks on Israeli military positions in occupied Lebanese territory by Hezbollah, ending 22 years of occupation. 2006 In July, Hezbollah crosses the border into Israel, kidnaps two Israeli soldiers and kills others, sparking a five-week war involving heavy Israeli strikes on both Hezbollah strongholds and national infrastructure. While Israeli ground forces move into southern Lebanon, much of the conflict is conducted by Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah rocket fire. It ends without Israel achieving its military objectives and with Hezbollah declaring it a "divine victory". At least 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 158 Israelis, mostly soldiers, are killed. 2024 On Oct.1, the Israeli military says it has had begun "limited, localised and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence" against Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon villages close to the border that pose "an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel". It says the air force and artillery are supporting the ground forces with "precise strikes". (Compiled by Tom Perry and Angus McDowall and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Michael Georgy and Ros Russell) TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) The Israeli prime minister on Thursday appeared to downplay hopes of an imminent truce with Hezbollah after the United States and its allies called for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to provide space for diplomacy. Hours later, the Israeli military said it killed a Hezbollah drone commander in an airstrike on an apartment building in the suburbs of the Lebanese capital. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was en route to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly, his office said there had been no directive to ease up on fighting on the northern border with Lebanon. It said that there was only a proposal for a cease-fire on the table and that Netanyahu had not responded to it. The statement tempered hopes for the international initiative aimed at halting increasingly heavy exchanges of fire that have killed hundreds of people in Lebanon and threatened to trigger an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has talked of a possible ground invasion into Lebanon to push the militant group away from the border. Soon after the statement was issued, Hezbollah TV station Al-Manar reported an Israeli airstrike in a suburb of Beirut. It and other stations showed a damaged apartment building in Dahiyeh, the mainly Shiite suburb where Hezbollah has a strong presence. The Israeli military later said the strike killed Mohammed Hussein Surour. Hezbollah offered no immediate comment on the claim. Two people were killed and 15 wounded in the strike, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Over the past week, Israel has carried out several strikes in Beirut targeting senior Hezbollah commanders. Earlier in the day, a strike in eastern Lebanon killed 20 people, most of them Syrian migrants, according to Lebanese health officials. Israel has dramatically stepped up its bombardment in Lebanon, saying it is determined to stop Hezbollahs near-daily rocket volleys over the past 11 months that have forced tens of thousands to evacuate homes in northern Israel. Strikes since Monday have killed more than 630 people in Lebanon, around a quarter of them women and children, according to local health authorities. Intensifying Hezbollah barrages have wounded several people in Israel. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal for a pause in fighting. Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed it, but his government has no sway over the group. Hezbollah has insisted it would halt its strikes only if there is a cease-fire in Gaza, where Israel has battled Hamas for nearly a year. That appears out of reach despite months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. In its statement, Netanyahus office said that the fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved. Netanyahu is expected to meet with other world leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. One of Netanyahus far-right governing partners threatened on Thursday to suspend cooperation with his government if it signs onto a temporary cease-fire with Hezbollah and to quit completely if a permanent deal is reached. It was the latest sign of displeasure from Netanyahus allies toward international cease-fire efforts. If a temporary cease-fire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government, said National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party. If Ben-Gvir leaves the coalition, Netanyahu would lose his parliamentary majority and could see his government come toppling down, though opposition leaders have said they would offer support for a cease-fire deal. Israel launched a massive operation in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack into southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and some 250 were taken hostage. The Israeli campaign has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local officials. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel one day after the Oct. 7 attack in support of its Hamas allies, and Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire ever since. Israeli families of the hostages said they are pushing for a possible cease-fire deal for Lebanon to include provisions for the war in Gaza, especially securing release of the roughly 70 hostages still presumed to be alive and the bodies of some 30 others. Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel Gat was kidnapped and was one of six Israelis whose bodies were recovered from tunnels in Gaza in August, said the hostages families are feeling forgotten as attention shifts to the northern front. He called on Netanyahu to reach a truce with both Hezbollah and Hamas with provisions for the release of hostages. We know that these things are connected to each other, the northern part and the southern part, Dickmann said Tuesday. Were very worried that if we dont make the right decisions now, we will miss this amazing opportunity to get the hostages out. Before this week, the cross-border barrages between Hezbollah and the Israeli military had killed about 600 people in Lebanon, mostly militants but including more than 100 civilians, and about four dozen people in Israel, roughly half of them soldiers and the rest civilians. The fighting also forced tens of thousands to flee homes on both sides of the border. Israeli leaders have said they are determined to force Hezbollah back from the border to allow its citizens to return to their homes. It has moved thousands of troops to the order in preparation for a possible ground operation. It says its escalated strikes across Lebanon the past week are targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. Hezbollah in turn has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, saying they are targeting Israeli military positions. On Wednesday, they fired on Tel Aviv for the first time with a longer-range missile that was intercepted. Early Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a building housing Syrian workers and their families near the ancient city of Baalbek in Lebanons eastern Bekaa Valley. The Lebanese Health Ministry said 19 Syrians and a Lebanese were killed, one of the deadliest single strikes in Israels intensified air campaign. The state news agency had initially reported that 23 people were dead. Hussein Salloum, a local official in Younine, said most of the dead were women and children. We dug through the rubble with our own hands until a small bulldozer was brought in, Salloum told The Associated Press by telephone. We had very limited capabilities. Lebanon, with a population of around 6 million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. Israel struck 75 sites overnight across southern and eastern Lebanon, the military said. At least 45 projectiles were fired from Lebanon early Thursday, all of which were intercepted or fell in open areas, it said. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (Bloomberg) -- A year ago Benjamin Netanyahu came to the United Nations touting the blessings of peace with the Arab world. He returns with the region on the brink of all-out war. Most Read from Bloomberg The Israeli prime minister landed in New York on Thursday after postponing his trip to oversee days of air strikes against Hezbollah that have killed more than 600 people. A ground invasion could be next, despite efforts by the US and other world powers to bring about a three-week cease-fire. At the UNs annual General Assembly, hell come face-to-face with the reality that hostility toward his government and him personally is at a years-long high. Several world leaders have taken the podium to castigate Israels military campaign in the Gaza Strip, with at least one, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling him out by name. Its a stark reminder of how the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and Israels subsequent military campaign in the Gaza Strip roiled the region and made Netanyahus speech a year ago seem like a fantasy. Then, he heralded the blessings of the Abraham Accords that brought diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and others. Next, he said, was the possibility of what he called a historic peace deal with Saudi Arabia. When he speaks from the UN rostrum on Friday, hes certain to take a far different tone, defending his nations campaign in Gaza, where the death toll has now reached more than 41,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Hes also expected to say Israel had no choice but to bombard Hezbollahs positions in Lebanon and prepare for a possible ground offensive. On Thursday, his office denied local reports he had told the military to ease its strikes on Lebanon to help the proposed truce talks. Officials said the cease-fire offer provided too little and there was no point in starting negotiations with Hezbollah being degraded by the day. In fact, Netanyahu ordered the assassination of a Hezbollah commander while en route to the US. His office even released a picture it said was taken of him calling in the command on the plane. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, Netanyahu said upon landing in New York. We shall not cease until all our goals are achieved - chiefmost the safe return of our northern residents. Some far-right members of Netanyahus ruling coalition have said a truce cant be accepted because it would allow Hezbollah, which has suffered significant losses of weapons and seen key commanders killed this month, a chance to regroup. Netanyahu believes that when he addresses the chamber, hes addressing the world and that audience includes Israelis back home, his base among them, Dan Gillerman, a former ambassador to the UN, said. He will doubtless defend the war on Hamas and now, Hezbollah as necessary. Israel argues that it has a duty to defend itself in the wake of Oct. 7, when Hamas, labeled a terrorist group by the US and the European Union, attacked from the Gaza Strip, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. But the scale of Israels subsequent offensive in Gaza, and the toll on Palestinian civilians, has deepened Netanyahus isolation at the UN. I sincerely think that the countries that support Prime Minister Netanyahus rhetoric need to make a bigger effort so that this genocide stops, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told reporters on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Its that sort of language that has led Israel, the US and some others to accuse the UN of anti-Israel bias. Israel remained very much in the spotlight hours before Netanyahu was set to arrive. On Wednesday night the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis in Lebanon, and is scheduled to meet on Gaza on Friday. As the Lebanon session got underway, France announced its proposal, along with the US, for the 21-day cessation of hostilities. Beyond stopping an all-out Israel-Hezbollah war, it could be a way to restart stalled talks for a cease-fire in Gaza and ensure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, people familiar with the matter said. Focus on Iran Netanyahu is likely to inveigh against Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas, again this year as he also did when he gave a fiery speech to the US Congress in July. The prime minister has often used the green-marbled rostrum at the UN to warn of war. In 2012, he drew a red line across a large cartoon bomb, a metaphor for how close he said Tehran was to potentially gaining nuclear weaponry. Three years later, outraged by world powers nuclear-capping deal with Iran that he described as insufficient, Netanyahu opted for a long, silent and disapproving glare at the audience. We have an Israel problem in the UN, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said this month. There is an unfair amount of focus on Israel in the UN, and it is problematic. Despite all the controversy, Netanyahu is loath to stay away from the UN and inadvertently satisfy the campaign to isolate and exclude Israel. It is in Israels interest to show we are still acting, we are still meeting, we are still participating, said Robbie Sabel, an international law professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (Updates with Netanyahu comments starting in ninth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen will speak at a regional informed voter event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, at Oak Ballroom in Schuyler. Pillen, a Columbus native, will be sharing the stage with Executive Director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference Tom Venzor, an alumni of Schuyler Central High School. Although neither Pillen nor Venzor are currently political candidates, they both hold statewide positions, have knowledge of Nebraska voters concerns and will answer questions for people attending the regional event in Schuyler. Schuyler is centrally located in the nonpartisan State Board Of Education District 3 which includes Columbus, Fremont, Norfolk, West Point and Schuyler, as well as nonpartisan Legislature Districts 23 and 15 which includes David City, Wahoo, Fremont and Schuyler area voters. Many candidates from the region will also be in attendance to meet and greet the public. This fourth event in a series of free, regional informed voter events will be hosted in the historic Oak Ballroom at 175 Higgins Drive in Schuyler. The doors will open at 5 p.m. and the program will commence at 5:30 p.m. After Hezbollah fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv, Israel's top commander told his forces to be prepared to invade Lebanon. In the wake of Hezbollahs first ballistic missile attack on Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been told to prepare to fight in Lebanon. That statement, from the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, is the strongest indication so far that an invasion of the north is fast approaching. You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day. This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said in a message to his troops on Wednesday. Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves. The Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi: "Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves. Today, we will continue, we are not stopping; we keep striking and hitting them everywhere. The goal is very pic.twitter.com/oQi00DOhZS Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) September 25, 2024 Halevi told the troops they would be needed to create a buffer zone to help foster the return of tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled their homes in northern Israel as a result of Hezbollah missile, rocket and drone attacks. To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a maneuver, which means your military boots, your maneuvering boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts, with underground infrastructure, staging points, and launchpads into our territory and carry out attacks on Israeli civilians. THIS is how close Hezbollahs weapons are located to communities in Israel. Each picture shows different civilian houses in southern Lebanon that had weapons ready to be used to kill Israelis. We are operating in this area in order to eliminate the presence of terrorist pic.twitter.com/M0ACnPMYLW Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 25, 2024 Israeli troops, he vowed, are more than up to the challenge. The IDF has called up two reserve brigades to bolster its forces in the north, according to PBS. Your entry into those areas with force, your encounter with Hezbollah operatives, will show them what it means to face a professional, highly skilled, and battle-experienced force, he added. You are coming in much stronger and far more experienced than they are. You will go in, destroy the enemy there, and decisively destroy their infrastructure. These are the things that will allow us to safely return the residents of the north afterward. A ground operation into southern Lebanon appears aimed at creating a buffer zone to keep Hezbollah from using its massive quantities of short-range rockets, as well as anti-tank missiles, small drones, and sniper fire to make life near the border and in northern Israel in general very challenging. While the goal may be to protect the north, Hezbollah also has an arsenal of missiles and drones that can strike into Israel from a significant distance. So such an operation could severely degrade Hezbollahs ability to strike into Israel, but it alone would not come close to eliminating it entirely. Hezbollahs long-range capabilities were driven home when the militant group fired what it called a Qader-1 ballistic missile at Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv yesterday. Hezbollah confirmed that the targeted headquarters is responsible for assassinating the leaders and blowing up the pagers and wireless devices, the groups Al Mayadeen news outlet reported on Telegram. You can read our reporting of the first wave of those explosions here, and the second wave here. Israeli officials say the missile was intercepted by the Davids Sling air defense system with no casualties or damage. The IDF said it quickly struck the launch site. This morning, Hezbollah launched a surface-to-surface missile at central Israel, setting off sirens in Tel Aviv and other towns. The missile was intercepted by the medium-range David's Sling system, and no injuries were caused. A short while later, the IDF said it struck the pic.twitter.com/Fe6kJpPGA8 Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 25, 2024 However, the ballistic missile attack marks a major escalation by Hezbollah, which has previously struck only northern Israel and mostly with rockets and drones. Little is known about the Qader-1. The official Iranian Mehr news agency described it as a long-range missile using a combination of solid and liquid fuel, with a range of up to 1,950 km (about 1,200 miles) and a warhead weighing between 700 and 1,000 kilograms (about 1,540 to 2,200 pounds. As we noted in our deep dive into Hezbollahs massive arsenal of missiles and rockets, the Lebanese militant groups weapons development and stockpile is primarily provided by Iran. One expert on Iranian and Hezbollah weapons told The War Zone that it could be from the Fateh family of weapons. The Qader-1 could be a single-stage, short-range ballistic missile, probably a copy of the Fateh system, Benham Ben Taleblu, a senior research fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank in Washington D.C., told The War Zone Wednesday. It could be a Fateh-110, he surmised. Or it could be the domestic upgrade that turns rockets into missiles with guidance systems and controllable fins. After we interviewed Taleblu, Hezbollah released images it claims were the Qader-1. After The War Zone shared them with Taleblu, he said that confirmed his earlier suspicions about it being some version of a Fateh-110. Hezbollah shows its Qader-1 ballistic missile fired on Tel Aviv. Range: 190 km. Diameter: 620 mm Length: 7,665 mm Total weight: 2,870 kg Total weight of the warhead: 500 kg Simply, downgraded variant of Iran's Fateh-110 ballistic missile. pic.twitter.com/T2NU1rhXIW Clash Report (@clashreport) September 25, 2024 As we previously reported, the Fateh-110 is one of the longest-range weapons Hezbollah possesses, able to reach targets as far away as 186 miles. That is certainly far enough to strike Tel Aviv, about 70 miles south of the border. The Fateh-110 can carry a high explosive warhead weighing around 1,000 pounds and has become increasingly accurate in later variants and derivatives, with GPS-assisted guidance added. The use of Fateh-110s and Zolfaghar (also written Zulfiqar) derivatives to target a U.S. military base at Erbil, in Iraq, in March 2022, as well as on other targets in Syria, suggests that current variants are much more accurate, offering true precision strike capabilities. It remains unclear if Hezbollah has the latest versions and/or in what quantities. A military truck parades the Fateh-110 SRBM during a military parade in the Iranian capital Tehran on September 22, 2010. (ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images) In the wake of Israels massive bombardment of Lebanon to degrade Hezbollahs capabilities, an image emerged of a reported Fateh-110 in the rubble of a home that was struck. Very interesting: Iranian Fateh-110 ballistic missile under the rubble of a building in Mount Lebanon after an Israeli airstrike. This is the first factual confirmation Hezbollah has the missile. Hezbollah reportedly received Fateh-110 missiles from Iran around 2014. pic.twitter.com/ZV0SQSJz1k Clash Report (@clashreport) September 25, 2024 Regardless of what kind of ballistic missile Hezbollah fired at Tel Aviv, such a launch is significant, Taleblu said. This is the first launch by Hezbollah of a ballistic missile at Israel, he stated. That Hezbollah launched just one ballistic missile may be a message to Israel that the campaign described by Halevi to degrade Hezbollah ahead of a looming Israeli incursion did not work, an Al Jazeera correspondent posited. Its only one missile, so its more than likely to be a message from Hezbollah that they still have ballistic missile capability, Al Jazeeras Imran Khan said. You can see the results of part of Israels strike campaign against Hezbollah in this video below. It shows rockets cooking off after a building in Lebanon was hit. Rockets seen flying from a building following Israeli airstrike in Lebanon today. pic.twitter.com/QrVJ4NH62X Clash Report (@clashreport) September 25, 2024 In addition to the attack on Tel Aviv from Hezbollah, Israel was also struck by Yemens Houthis, another Iranian-backed group. The IDF said the southern port city of Eilat was struck by a Houthi drone. Video emerging from the scene shows damage to the port, but the extent is not immediately clear. What you are watching is a UAV hitting a port in Eilat, Israels southernmost city. This is what we mean when we say were fight a multi-front war. pic.twitter.com/QPV4NiMDHr Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 25, 2024 It appears the port of Eilat was struck by a projectile fired by the Houthis or Iraqi militias. pic.twitter.com/qYU1BjxL4D Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) September 25, 2024 More footage of the damage at Port of Eilat. https://t.co/rBj48VLroI pic.twitter.com/ifnHMNcdg4 Clash Report (@clashreport) September 25, 2024 With Halevi hinting that Israeli troops and armor could soon roll over the border, the U.S. is frantically working behind the scenes to reduce hostilities and avoid a regional war that could draw in Iran and potentially U.S. forces. The Biden administration is working on a new diplomatic initiative for a pause in the fighting in Lebanon and a resumption of negotiations on a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials, one Israeli official and two sources with direct knowledge. The aim is to achieve a pause that will give space for negotiations on a broader diplomatic deal to prevent a wider war, allow displaced civilians to return to their homes on both sides of the border, and provide renewed momentum for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. While Axios suggested that the plan could be announced as early as Wednesday, it had yet to officially emerge as of 6:30 PM Eastern time. U.S. preparing plan for temporary Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. The plan could be announced as early as today. My story on @axioshttps://t.co/Bdy9Rwzn3G Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) September 25, 2024 Asked whether his country would join Hezbollah in a fight against Isreal, Irans Vice President Javad Zarif told CNNs Christiane Amanpour that both Iran and Hezbollah have exercised restraint so far. Iran has exercised restraint when Israel took conducted military operations against Iran, conducted terrorist operations killing the leader of Hamas who was attending the inauguration of our president, of all things, and we exercised restraint, Zarif said. We believe that Hezbollah is capable of defending itself. It has been exercising restraint enough to doing so, it is the responsibility of the international community to come in before Hezbollah has to take its defense into its own hands and maybe, the situation will get out hand. Will Iran fully enter the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel? As its proxies Hezbollah and Hamas are battered by Israel, heres what Irans Vice President @JZarif tells me. pic.twitter.com/Py5e3vRkCs Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) September 25, 2024 Meanwhile, amid the growing tension, the U.S. is sending an unspecified number of additional troops to the Middle East. Given the dynamics in the region and Israels growing frustration with Hezbollah attacks, which have now reached their furthest point yet, whether the Biden adminisgtration can prevent a ground war in Lebanon could be a challenge. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com An Israeli fighter jet returns to base after a bombing mission on Thursday (GIL COHEN-MAGEN) (GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP/AFP) Top Israeli officials on Thursday rejected a US-backed proposal for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, even as Washington insisted the truce plan had been "coordinated" with Israel. The United States and allies issued a joint call for a 21-day halt in fighting in Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based, after Israeli air strikes targeting the Iran-backed group killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands this week. The appeal for the three-week ceasefire came hours after Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, told soldiers Wednesday to prepare for a possible ground offensive against Hezbollah. On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government had not even responded to the proposal and instead ordered the military to "continue fighting with full force" against Hezbollah. The White House insisted that the ceasefire offer had been "coordinated" with Israel before it was announced. "The statement was indeed coordinated with the Israeli side," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. "We felt comfortable in releasing that statement last night." Israel's left-leaning Haaretz newspaper, citing diplomatic sources, said Netanyahu and his close associate, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, were regularly updated on Tuesday and Wednesday about the proposal and the two had given it their "blessing". But while on his way to New York on Thursday to attend the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu reversed his position in response to sharp criticism from some of his cabinet ministers, the newspaper said. - Stiff opposition - Three top ministers in Israel's ruling coalition openly declared their opposition to the proposal on Thursday. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich insisted that continuing the war against Hezbollah was the only way forward. "The campaign in the north should end with a single result: crushing Hezbollah and elimination of its ability to harm the residents of the north," Smotrich said on social media platform X. "The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows it has suffered and reorganise itself to continue the war after 21 days," he said. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir threatened to boycott cabinet activities if the government agreed to a temporary ceasefire and to resign altogether if a ceasefire became permanent. "The most basic and obvious thing is that when your enemy is on its knees, you don't allow them to recover, but rather you act to defeat and overthrow them," Ben Gvir said, according to a party statement. "If you don't do that, you project weakness, endanger the security of your citizens, and prove that you have no intention of winning." Ben Gvir and Smotrich have also been strong advocates of continuing the war in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been battling Palestinian militants since October 7. Netanyahu's coalition relies on their support. - 'Continue to fight' - In a separate statement on X, Foreign Minister Israel Katz also opposed any halt to the campaign against Hezbollah. "There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes," Katz said. He was referring to the tens of thousands who have been displaced by nearly a year of cross-border exchanges which escalated dramatically this week. Israel's main opposition leader Yair Lapid said the government should agree to a ceasefire, but only for seven days. This would "prevent Hezbollah from restoring its command and control systems," Lapid said on X. "We will not accept any proposal that does not include the withdrawal of Hezbollah from our northern border." The Gaza war erupted when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel from Lebanon a day later in what it said was a show of solidarity with its Palestinian ally. Since then Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in fierce cross-border exchanges, which worsened this week when Israel launched a withering bombing campaign against Hezbollah targets in the deadliest violence since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. burs-jd-rcb/kir Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a temporary cease-fire proposal with Hezbollah, offered by the U.S. and several allies this week, and vowed to continue fighting against the Lebanese militant group. A Thursday statement from Netanyahus office said the prime minister has not even responded to the proposal and that the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth. The Prime Minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him, the statement reads, referring to the Israeli military. The fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also rejected a cease-fire in the north. There will be no ceasefire in the north, he posted on the social platform X. We will continue to fight against the terrorist organization Hezbollah with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes. There was no immediate statement from Hezbollah or Lebanons government on the potential cease-fire agreement. The U.S. and French-led proposal, released Wednesday, called for a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah, which are inching near a full-scale war after an intense exchange of strikes and rocket attacks in the past week. The proposal was signed by Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. A senior Biden administration official said Wednesday night that the U.S. hopes for Lebanon and Israel to accept the proposal, which will involve negotiations for an agreement along the Blue Line, a boundary between the two countries, before the 21-day truce is up. The negotiations would seek to resolve the crisis of the about 60,000 displaced Israeli residents from the northern border with Lebanon. Israel has stated returning those residents home to a safe zone is now a war goal. With the war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas largely dying down, Israel has escalated its attacks against Hezbollah this month, allegedly exploding pagers and handheld radios that targeted the group last week and conducting massive strikes over several days, including a Monday attack that killed more than 500 people. Israel and Hezbollah have been fighting since Oct. 8, but it has largely been limited to cross-border attacks. Hezbollah has tied its operations to the war in Gaza in support of Hamas. U.S. diplomatic efforts have failed for months to stop the fighting. Israels top general warned Wednesday that troops were preparing for a ground invasion of Lebanon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah on Thursday which was offered by the U.S. and several allies earlier this week promising instead to continue waging a war against the Lebanese militant group, Reuters reported. Lebanon has been bombarded by Israeli warplanes this week, with strikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut, shaking the capital. The attacks targeting Hezbollah, including the assassinations of several senior commanders, have raised concerns that a wider war might engulf the region. Netanyahus office issued a statement Thursday saying the prime minister has not even responded to the proposal, arguing the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth. The Prime Minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him, the statement continued, The Hill reported. The fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved. Citing the need to return 60,000 displaced Israeli residents who have fled Hezbollah rocket fire in the north of the country, Israel has ignored the push for a peaceful settlement, saying it will not stop before ensuring those residents can return to their homes. On Wednesday night, a senior Biden administration office said that the U.S. hoped Lebanon and Israel accepted the ceasefire proposal. The U.S. and French-led proposal was released Wednesday and called for a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal was also signed by Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Israel says it has hit several targets on Lebanese-Syrian border Rubble and destruction caused by an Israeli air strike is pictured in a neighbourhood in the village of Saksakieh, south of Lebanese-Israeli border. Tens of thousands of people fled southern Lebanon as Israel continues to pound Hezbollah targets with an aerial offensive. Str-/dpa The Israeli military said it attacked several targets in the border area on the Lebanese-Syrian border. Israel's army said it had attacked infrastructure used by the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia along the Lebanese-Syrian border, specifically routes used by Hezbollah to bring weapons to Lebanon via Syria. Four border crossings have been hit since Israel intensified its attacks in Lebanon on Monday, Lebanese security sources said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has been documenting violence in Syria since 2011, said Israeli warplanes attacked a border crossing in the area around the Syrian town of al-Qusayr, near the border with Lebanon. The war monitor said several people were injured. It is the first Israeli attack on Syrian territory since Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon on Monday, the observatory said. According to information from the war monitor, Hezbollah tried to use the border crossings to bring more fighters from Yemen and Iraq into the country. They were suppose to come in the country to support the Shiite militia in the event of a feared ground offensive by the Israeli military, it said. A picture of the secretary-general of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah is seen among the rubble in a house that was struck by an Israeli air strike in the village of Saksakieh, south of Lebanese-Israeli border. Tens of thousands of people fled southern Lebanon as Israel continues to pound Hezbollah targets with an aerial offensive. Str-/dpa Rubble and destruction caused by an Israeli air strike is pictured in a neighbourhood in the village of Saksakieh, south of Lebanese-Israeli border. Tens of thousands of people fled southern Lebanon as Israel continues to pound Hezbollah targets with an aerial offensive. Str-/dpa Israel says it killed Hezbollah drone chief in strike near Beirut Lebanese army soldiers secures the area, where an apartment in a building was targeted by an Israeli air strike in Beiruts southern suburb. The attack targeted a top pro-Iranian Hezbollah commander. Marwan Naamani/dpa The Israeli military said an airstrike near Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander who was responsible for the group's drone fleet. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said air unit commander Muhammad Hussain Sarur was killed in the targeted attack. A witness said the third floor of an 11-story building was hit in the Jamous neighbourhood to the south of Beirut, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold. A Lebanese stands at the entrance of his shop that was damaged when Israel attacked a building in Beiruts southern suburb. The attack targeted a top pro-Iranian Hezbollah commander. Marwan Naamani/dpa Lebanese employees work on dismantling electricity wires in front of an apartment in a building was targeted by an Israeli air strike in Beiruts southern suburb. The attack targeted a top pro-Iranian Hezbollah commander. Marwan Naamani/dpa Israel says it has secured $8.7 billion U.S. aid package JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel said on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support its ongoing military efforts and to maintain a qualitative military edge in the region. The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been received and earmarked for critical military purchases, and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems including the Iron Dome anti-missile system, David's Sling and an advanced laser system. Israel is currently fighting on two fronts, against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. The aid announcement came after negotiations at the Pentagon between Eyal Zamir, the director general of Israel's defense ministry, and U.S. defense officials, including acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, Israel's Defense Ministry said in a statement. "This substantial investment will significantly strengthen critical systems such as Iron Dome and David's Sling while supporting the continued development of an advanced high-powered laser defense system currently in its later stages of development," it said. The ministry said the deal underscores the "strong and enduring strategic partnership between Israel and the United States and the ironclad commitment to Israel's security", particularly in addressing regional security threats from Iran and Iranian-backed militias. (Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Gareth Jones) Smoke billowed over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli air strike targeted the head of Hezbollah's drone unit (-) (-/AFP/AFP) An Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday killed the head of Hezbollah's drone unit, the militant group and the Israeli military said. The Iran-backed Hezbollah said in a statement that the strike killed Mohammed Srur, born in 1973. The Israeli military earlier said in a statement that its fighter jets had "targeted and eliminated" Srur, identifying him as "the commander of Hezbollah's air unit". It was the fourth attack in a week targeting Hezbollah commanders in the densely populated area, one of the group's strongholds. Lebanon's health ministry said in a statement that two people were killed in the attack and 15 wounded, "including a woman in critical condition". Srur studied mathematics and was among a number of top advisers sent by Hezbollah to Yemen to train the country's Huthi rebels, who are also backed by Iran, a source close to Hezbollah said. Lebanon's official National News Agency said "three missiles" targeted "a residential apartment in a 10-storey building". An AFP photographer said the target of the strike was close to the building where the head of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, Ibrahim Aqil, and other commanders were killed in a strike last Friday. Lebanon's health ministry said that strike killed 55 people, including seven children. bur-rlp/nro More than 600 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon since Monday, according local authorities [Getty Images] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the countrys military to continue fighting with full force against the armed group Hezbollah, despite calls from the US and other allies for a ceasefire. Lebanon's health ministry said at least 92 people were killed in Israeli air strikes on Thursday, with hundreds more killed since the strikes escalated on Monday. Hezbollah has confirmed that an air strike on an apartment building in the south of Beirut killed the head of its drone unit, Mohammad Surur. Fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah are at a high, after a dramatic escalation in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since Monday. The increase in hostilities prompted a 12-strong bloc - including the US, UK and EU - to propose a three week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Wednesday. The proposal was initially met with hope after Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said his country was open to ideas. But by Thursday it had been roundly rejected by Israeli politicians. Landing in New York for the UN General Assembly, Mr Netanyahu said Israel would not stop in Lebanon until it reached all of its goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes. The White House later said the ceasefire proposal had been coordinated with Israel, despite Mr Netanyahu's assertion, just hours later, that his country would continue fighting. Speaking in New York, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called for an "immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement" to resolve the conflict in Lebanon. He said the conflict could spill over into a war "no one can control". Around 70,000 Israelis have been displaced from the north of the country since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, sparked by the war in Gaza, began nearly a year ago. In Lebanon, around 90,000 people have been displaced since Monday, adding to the 110,000 who had fled their homes already, according to the UN. Through Thursday, the Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanons south and in the Bekaa Valley in the countrys east. It also struck infrastructure on the Lebanese-Syrian border, which it said was to cut weapons supplies to the group. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it had fired 50 rockets towards the Kiryat Ata settlement, and 80 missiles towards the city of Safed, both in northern Israel. The Israeli army said it intercepted a missile that was fired from Yemen after sirens and explosions were heard. Israels military chief Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said on Wednesday Israeli air strikes on Lebanon could pave the way for the IDF to enter enemy territory. Israeli Air Force (IAF) Commander Maj Gen Tomer Bar told troops on Thursday they should be prepared to support a ground manoeuvre into Lebanon. Meanwhile, Qatar joined calls for a de-escalation with government spokesman Majed al-Ansari saying the country had received "horrific reports from Lebanon about targeting whole families, in a way that is similar to the atrocities in Gaza". After meeting with British and Australian counterparts in London, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Israel and Hezbollah face the risk of "an all-out war" but that "a diplomatic solution is still viable". "Israel has stated that its goal is to return its citizens to their home in the north. I believe the quickest way to do that is through diplomacy," Austin said. On Thursday evening, Israel's defense ministry (IMoD) said it had secured an $8.7bn (6.5bn) US aid package to support its current military campaigns. In a statement, IMoD said the package includes $3.5bn for "essential wartime procurement", which has already been transferred, and $5.2bn for air defense systems such as the Iron Dome, David's Sling and an advanced laser system. More on this story People inspect damages caused by an overnight Israeli air raid attack in the area of Jiyeh along the coastal highway between the southern port city of Sidon and Beirut. Marwan Naamani/dpa Israel's military chief told troops to prepare for a possible ground offensive in Lebanon as heavy Israeli airstrikes continued for a third day and militants targeted the cities of Tel Aviv and Eilat. The strikes on Lebanon, and the subsequent reduction in the military power of the Shiite militia group Hezbollah, have laid the foundation for a possible ground incursion, Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) chief of staff Herzi Halevi told troops on Wednesday. "You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day," the IDF chief said as he visited a troop exercise on the northern border, according to a military statement. "This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah," he said. Earlier Ori Gordin, the IDF commander for the north, said the army was mobilizing two more reserve brigades for missions in the northern area and that troops must be ready for a ground manoeuvre. "We have entered a new phase in the operation," he said. Israel must "change the security situation, and we must be fully prepared for manoeuvres and actions." Israel's goal is to return the some 60,000 people displaced from their homes in the north due to the near daily attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah. "I would like to see a ceasefire and the return home of Israelis to the homes in the north and southern Lebanese, to their homes in southern Lebanon," Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York later on Wednesday. "That's what we all want to achieve. It will happen either after a war or before a war. We hope it will be before," Danon said, as he also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would arrive in the US on Thursday. The cross-border clashes have taken place for more than 11 months and have also displaced thousands of Lebanese from their homes. Hezbollah sources said the militia fighters were "ready to confront any possible ground invasion." US, France and others call for 21-day ceasefire In New York, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said a proposal prepared with the US for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon would be presented "very soon." "The situation in Lebanon today may reach the point of no return," Barrot said in a UN Security Council meeting. "We're beyond escalation." "War is not inevitable. A diplomatic solution is indeed possible. In recent days we have worked with our American partners on a temporary ceasefire platform of 21 days to allow for negotiations," Barrot said, adding that the plan would be made public "very soon." "We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay," Barrot said. "We are working with other countries on a proposal that we hope will lead to calm and enable discussions to a diplomatic solution," said US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood minutes later. "We encourage the Security Council to lend its support for these diplomatic efforts in the coming days." Later on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, called for a settlement on the border "that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes." The two leaders said in a joint statement released by the White House that they "have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border." "The statement we have negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. We call for broad endorsement and for the immediate support of the Governments of Israel and Lebanon." Military conflict heats up, death toll rises Israeli strikes on Wednesday morning killed 51 people and injured more than 200, the Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said. Overall some 600 people have been killed since the escalation began on Monday, the ministry said. The latest attacks struck towns and villages in the south of the country and also north of Beirut. Front line action saw not only more Israeli strikes in Lebanon, but a Hezbollah strike - for the first time - on the Israeli metropolis of Tel Aviv. The IDF said it intercepted the rocket. In the evening the southern port city of Eilat was attacked by two drones. One was intercepted while the other hit the harbour and exploded, injuring two people and sparking a fire, Hagari said. Reports said they could have been launched from Iraq. Hagari did not comment on that. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have repeatedly targeted the Israeli southern port city. But Halevi, acknowledging Hezbollah's unprecedented rocket attack on Tel Aviv, said: "Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves." Hezbollah declared that the rocket was aimed at the headquarters of Israel's foreign intelligence service Mossad in a suburb of Tel Aviv. Mossad, it said, was responsible for the assassination of several of the militia's leaders and for the evidently coordinated mass explosions of communication devices used by Hezbollah in Lebanon last week. Around 110 missiles were fired from Lebanon and some of them were intercepted, the Israeli military said. One rocket fell near an assisted living facility near Safed in the north; there were no injuries. Hezbollah hiding behind Lebanese civilians Observers and ex-military personnel in Lebanon affirmed the Israeli military's accusation that Hezbollah is hiding weapons in residential areas. "[Hezbollah] has no barracks or places to store their weapons because Israel will detect them," said former Lebanese army brigadier Wehbe Katischa, who served in southern Lebanon. "That's why their most important depots are located between houses and in mountainous areas near residential areas." The Hezbollah militia had an estimated 150,000 missiles in the region before the start of the Gaza war almost a year ago. Israel's military repeatedly said that the attacks in Lebanon would target the militia's weapons depots. Israel has long accused Hezbollah of hiding weapons in residential areas and of manufacturing rockets there. The Lebanese government has tried to refute some of these accusations. Thousands displaced in Lebanon Meanwhile at least 90,530 people have been displaced since Monday, including nearly 40,000 in 283 shelters, the United Nations reported. It said nearly 600 have been killed, including 50 children and 94 women in nearly 1,700 strikes across the country. Humanitarian organizations urgently require at least $170 million to sustain ongoing response and respond to new needs, the UN said. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday that international humanitarian law made it clear that care must be taken at all times to spare the civilian population and civilian objects when carrying out military operations. A fire-fighting plane tries to extinguish a fire that erupts in a forest following a rocket hit from Lebanon on Safed. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Rubble and destruction caused by an Israeli air strike is pictured in a neighbourhood in the village of Saksakieh, south of Lebanese-Israeli border. Tens of thousands of people fled southern Lebanon as Israel continues to pound Hezbollah targets with an aerial offensive. Str-/dpa Fighting between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia continued on Thursday, with hundreds killed and tens of thousands of people displaced in Lebanon since Israel began its massive bombardment four days ago. Following months of cross-border skirmishes between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed militia, which says it acts out of solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, Israel began an intense aerial campaign to strike Hezbollah targets on Monday - with the region now on the brink of all-out war. International efforts are under way to negotiate a ceasefire, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied any plan had been agreed to and vowed to keep hitting Hezbollah with "full force." At least 92 people died and more than 150 people were injured in Lebanon on Thursday from Israeli attacks, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said. More than 600 people have been killed this week, according to the Lebanese authorities. Among them are more than 100 Syrian refugees, according to human rights activists. A total of 70,100 displaced people are currently registered in 533 emergency centres, Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said attacks would continue despite calls for a ceasefire and that he had "approved the next set of operations." "We continue to eliminate Hezbollah terrorists, dismantle offensive infrastructure, and destroy rockets and missiles," he posted on X. Israel: Hezbollah's drone chief killed The Israeli military said an airstrike near Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander who was responsible for the group's drone fleet. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said air unit commander Muhammad Hussain Sarur was killed in the targeted attack. A witness said the third floor of an 11-story building was hit in the Jamous neighbourhood to the south of Beirut, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least two people were killed and 15 wounded in the bombing. The strike took place close to where a high-ranking Hezbollah military commander, Ibrahim Akil, was killed last week. Southern Lebanon and northern Israel under fire The Israeli army was also continuing its airstrikes in the south and east of Lebanon with the military saying the air force had hit around 220 Hezbollah militia targets, including weapons depots and rocket launching pads. Hezbollah said it launched 80 rockets at the Israeli city of Safed and another 50 at the town of Ahihud, as well as military sites in northern Israel. Since Thursday morning, the Israeli army said that some 170 rockets had been launched from Lebanon, with some of the impacts reportedly causing fires to break out around Safed. Israeli attacks Syria targets for first time this week Israel has also attacked infrastructure used by Hezbollah along the Lebanese-Syrian border, specifically routes used by Hezbollah to bring weapons to Lebanon via Syria, according to the army. Four border crossings have been hit since Israel intensified its attacks in Lebanon on Monday, Lebanese security sources said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has been documenting violence in Syria since 2011, said Israeli fighter jets attacked a border crossing in the area around the Syrian town of al-Qusayr, near the border with Lebanon. The war monitor said several people were injured. It is the first Israeli attack on Syrian territory since Monday, the observatory said. According to the war monitor, Hezbollah tried to use the border crossings to bring more fighters from Yemen and Iraq into the country. They were supposed to come in the country to support the Shiite militia in the event of a feared ground offensive by the Israeli military, it said. As a result of the Israeli attacks in Lebanon, around 13,500 people have fled to Syria since Monday, most of them Syrian citizens, according to the Lebanese Interior Ministry. An estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in Lebanon. Netanyahu denies report of imminent ceasefire While a group of countries led by the US and France is working to secure a deal for a 21-day ceasefire between the two sides, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a report he has given the green light for the plan. "The report about a ceasefire is incorrect," a statement from Netanyahu's office said. "This is an American-French proposal that the prime minister has not even responded to." A report by broadcaster N12 that Netanyahu had instructed the army to reduce attacks in the northern neighbouring country was also "the opposite of the truth," his office said. "The prime minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him." A joint demand for a ceasefire lasting 21 days was earlier issued by a handful of countries, including the US, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The pause is intended to create space for a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as the nearly year-long Gaza war. A fire erupts in a forest following a rocket hit from Lebanon on Safed. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa A view of a damaged building following a rocket from Lebanon hit a house in Safed. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa A dramatic escalation on the Israel-Lebanon border has sent Lebanese seeking safety in neighbouring Syria (LOUAI BESHARA) (LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/AFP) Lebanese man Hassan Slim had avoided Syria for years as war raged in the neighbouring country, but has now found himself fleeing there as Israeli strikes pounded Lebanon's south. Slim, 24, was waiting on Wednesday with his elderly mother for their papers to be processed on the Syrian side of a border crossing, after a dramatic escalation this week of nearly 12 months of cross-border clashes between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israeli forces. "We were avoiding Syria because of the war, but now war is at our doorstep and we have to flee," said Slim, from south Lebanon, who has not visited since civil conflict erupted there in 2011. "I don't know how long I'll stay in Syria, I'm afraid of this leap in the dark." "We have family in Aleppo who invited us... but we didn't think the situation would degenerate so quickly," he said. Nearly a year of clashes had already sent tens of thousands of people fleeing for their lives, many from the southern border area and the eastern Bekaa valley. As the violence rapidly escalated in recent days, more have fled. With Lebanon otherwise surrounded by Israel and the Mediterranean Sea, crossing into Syria is the only option available for leaving by land. Lebanese authorities said Thursday that over the past two days, they had "recorded the crossing of 15,600 Syrian citizens and 16,130 Lebanese citizens into Syrian territory". Syria security sources told AFP that more than 22,000 people including more than 7,000 Lebanese had crossed from Lebanon into Syria this week via just two border crossings. Sitting on the footpath or waiting in cars packed with bags, women and children waited for men to take care of the paperwork at the Jdeidet Yabus border crossing. The main crossing between the two countries, known as Masnaa on the Lebanese side, is located on the Beirut-Damascus road in Lebanon's Bekaa valley, an area Israel has been pounding with air strikes. - 'At the mercy of war' - Volunteers from the Syrian Red Crescent handed out water and other items to those arriving, an AFP photographer said. Lebanese trader Ali Mohammed Ghosn, 54, among those waiting with his family, said he usually travelled to Damascus for business. "I would never have through I'd come for this," said Ghosn, who plans to stay with relatives in the Syrian capital. "We won't be in Syria long. We'll return after our victory over Israel," he said. When Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006, Ghosn said he spent nearly a week in Syria, but this time, "the bombing is much stronger". According to UN figures, an estimated 250,000 Lebanese fled to Syria during the 2006 war, with about 70,000 of them heading to third countries. Now, authorities have prepared three shelters and opened several hotels for arrivals in the Sayyida Zeinab area south of the Syrian capital, home to an important Shiite Muslim shrine that is protected by pro-Iran groups, including Hezbollah. This week, President Bashar al-Assad told a meeting of his new government that "the main issue, before all others, is to know how to stand beside our Lebanese brothers". Hezbollah since 2013 has openly backed Assad's forces in his country's civil war. Lebanon says it hosts some two million Syrian refugees, more than 774,000 of them registered with the United Nations. Among those making the reverse journey was Syrian Abu Mohammed Rifai, who fled to Lebanon in 2014 from Daraa, the cradle of the country's uprising. "I thought I wouldn't hear the sound of bombardments and missiles" in Lebanon, said Rifai, in his 60s. "We are destined to live our whole lives at the mercy of war," he said. "War has no pity." mam/lar/sar/lg/ami Israeli defence minister says new operations in Lebanon approved Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant holds a briefing on the various possible developments in the campaign against Hezbollah on Israels northern border. Shira Keinan/GPO/dpa Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said attacks would continue in Lebanon despite international efforts to secure a ceasefire. "I have approved the next set of operations," Gallant posted on X. "We continue to eliminate Hezbollah terrorists, dismantle offensive infrastructure, and destroy rockets and missiles. The missions ahead of us are clear, and we are determined to ensure the safe return of Israel's northern communities to their homes." Gallant met on Thursday with senior military officials to discuss Israel's airstrikes on Lebanon, including near the capital Beirut. A joint demand for a ceasefire lasting 21 days was earlier issued by a handful of countries, including the US, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The pause is intended to create space for a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as the nearly year-long Gaza war. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office dismissed the plan and said that no truce was imminent. Tensions on Israels northern border with Lebanon have reached a critical point, with Israeli military officials preparing for the possibility of a ground operation against Hezbollah. According to a report from the Associated Press published Wednesday, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi addressed troops, suggesting that recent airstrikes were setting the stage for a larger military action. "Our airstrikes are designed to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah," Halevi said to troops stationed along the northern border. The military chiefs statement marks the most explicit signal yet that Israel may be planning a ground invasion in response to Hezbollahs increasing missile attacks. Hezbollahs missile strike reaches Tel Aviv Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Herzi Halevi holds an assessment meeting after Israeli intelligence agency Mossad planted explosives in the batteries of pager devices that detonated in Lebanon, killing nine people and injuring hundreds, on September 17, 2024. (Photo by Israel Defense Forces (IDF)) Hezbollah escalated its attacks on Israel this week, launching a missile aimed at Tel Aviv the deepest strike yet from the militant group in Lebanon. This attack followed several days of rocket fire from Hezbollah into northern Israel, sparking fears of a broader conflict. In a speech to soldiers, Halevi acknowledged Hezbollahs increased aggression, stating, "Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response." While he did not specify whether this response would involve a ground invasion or further airstrikes, Israeli officials have indicated that they are ready for tougher action, including the activation of two reserve brigades for northern missions. RELATED: Biden in UN address: Peace still possible, US must not retreat from the world Airstrikes and casualties mount Israeli airstrikes have intensified in recent days, with targets including Hezbollah weapons depots and rocket launchers. According to Lebanese health officials, the attacks have resulted in the deaths of more than 600 people, a quarter of them women and children. The violence has led to significant displacement, with families fleeing to Beirut and Sidon, as well as into Syria. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the strikes and called on the United Nations to intervene. "France stood by our side in the darkest circumstances, the best proof being the efforts France is making today in collaboration with the United States in order to issue a joint communique that enjoys international support and which would put an end to this dirty war," he told the U.N. Security Council. U.S. and France push for cease-fire As the conflict escalates, international leaders are urging restraint. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking from the U.N. General Assembly, called for both Israel and Hezbollah to step back, warning that an all-out war would be disastrous for the region. The U.S., along with France, is working on a temporary cease-fire plan that would allow displaced civilians to return to their homes. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also emphasized the importance of de-escalation, revealing that France and the U.S. are jointly proposing a 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations. The Source: This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press and information from Lebanese health officials, Israeli military statements, and international diplomatic sources, including statements from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot at the United Nations General Assembly. Hundreds gather for a rally in support of Lebanon in light of recent Israeli strikes that killed hundreds, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 in front of the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn, Mich. (Katy Kildee/Detroit News via AP) DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) The rapidly escalating war in the Middle East has heightened anger at Democrats from within Michigan's Arab American community, just over a month before a presidential election in which Vice President Kamala Harris is counting on support from within a key party constituency. Well over 1,000 people attended a rally Wednesday organized overnight by some of the top leaders in Dearborn, Michigan, a hub of the nation's largest Arab community, to protest an Israeli offensive against Hezbollah in which 600 people have been killed so far. Hundreds of green and red Lebanese flags filled Dearborns night sky. Many speakers blamed Harris and President Joe Biden for U.S. arms shipments to Israel, which has launched a second major offensive while still fighting Hamas in Gaza in a conflict that's caused thousands of civilian casualties already. We cannot condone any president that uplifts any administration that bombs every school, decimating children to smithereens. That is the message we have and those are values we will take with us to November, Dearborn's Democratic Mayor Abdullah Hammoud told the crowd. As the 34-year-old leader of a community central to the Democratic divide over the Israel-Hamas war, Hammoud has been courted by top Democratic leaders for months. He met with Harris in August. I am not here to endorse any single candidate, for no candidate has earned my vote, said Hammoud, who is the son of Lebanese immigrants, on Wednesday. The Harris team highlighted a Wednesday statement from campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, who said Harris "will continue to work to prevent the conflict from widening throughout the region. Both Harris and Trump have courted Arab Americans While discord between the Democratic Party and a community frustrated with the Biden administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war has persisted for months, party leaders believed they had made progress when Harris stepped in as the partys nominee. That goodwill is gone, said Arab American News Publisher Osama Siblani, an organizer of Wednesday's event who has also met with top Democrats. He suggested Harris now finds herself in the same predicament that Biden faced before he stepped down. A couple of months ago you could have argued to the community that Harris is different. Now, people are not convinced that she is any different, said Siblani. Former President Donald Trump is actively attempting to court these dissatisfied voters. Earlier this week, he received the endorsement of Democrat Amer Ghalib, the Muslim mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan. On Tuesday, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas met with Massad Boulos, Trumps youngest daughters father-in-law, who is spearheading the former presidents outreach to Arab and Muslim communities. The meeting was confirmed by Bishara Bahbah, chairman of Arab Americans for Trump, who attended but could not disclose its details. Many Arab American leaders, including Hammoud and Siblani, have strongly opposed a Trump presidency, citing his so-called Muslim ban on immigrants from several majority-Muslim countries. Many in Michigan have ties to the Middle East Israel in recent days has expanded its air campaign against Hezbollah, with strikes on Lebanon killing many women and children. It's the deadliest bombardment since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel one day after the Oct. 7 attack in support of its Hamas allies, which killed approximately 1,200 people. Since then, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in ongoing exchanges of fire. In response to the Oct. 7 attack, Israels offensive in Gaza has killed over 41,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between combatants and civilians. Michigan has the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the nation, with nearly a quarter of them being of Lebanese descent. In Wayne County, which includes the cities of Detroit and Dearborn, approximately 34% of the 139,751 individuals of Middle Eastern and North African descent identified in the 2020 Census are Lebanese. The close ties to the overseas conflict fueled raw emotions at Wednesdays rally. One speaker, Ali Dabaja, a resident of nearby Dearborn Heights, shared his grief over the recent deaths of family members in Lebanon. Hossam Hossein, a Lebanese American born in Dearborn, attended the rally with his family, marking his first since the war began. While Hossein has been sympathetic to the Palestinian cause for months, the recent days of bombing in southern Lebanon compelled him to participate. Its really simple. Biden just needs to pick up the phone and tell Israel that hes not going to give any more weapons, that he needs to stop, said Hossein, who stated that he plans to vote for neither Trump nor Harris in November. A razor-thin presidential election could hinge on crucial demographics, including Michigans Arab American population, a group that helped lead a protest-vote in the state's Democratic primary in February that led to over 100,000 people voting Uncommitted. Harris appeared to make strides in the community after becoming the partys presumptive nominee, even sitting with the Dearborn mayor during a visit to the state in August. She gained the support of Emgage Action, a prominent Muslim American voter mobilization group, on Wednesday. However, community leaders expressed skepticism about Emgage Actions influence. Voting for Harris now feels like what voting for Trump was like back in 2016. You dont say youre voting for Harris because its shameful, said Dearborn City Council member Mustapha Hammoud, who said he considered himself a Democrat until recently. Hammoud, who has sat on the Dearborn City Council since 2022, was visiting his grandparents in Lebanon in 2006, the last time the conflict escalated to this level. He said the past few days have felt similar to that war, a sentiment shared throughout the crowd Wednesday. I was born on the 4th of July. Ive been a very patriotic American my whole life. I was a Democrat for an extremely long time up until fairly recently, because I always believed in the values of the Democratic Party, said Hammoud. But I can't support this. TechCrunch Tesla loves to put on a show, and Thursdays Robotaxi reveal might just be the flashiest of them all. The electric vehicle-maker is slated to unveil its much-hyped Robotaxi vehicle at Warner Bros. Discoverys movie studio in Burbank, California. In usual Tesla fashion, we expect the company to livestream the event on its YouTube page and on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that Elon Musk owns. Israel's air war may put Hezbollah in a bind over its most threatening missiles Israel is trying to destroy the long-range missiles that Hezbollah views as their foremost weapon. These missiles are most threatening when fired together in a large salvo. "It can only really be done once," a Middle East expert told BI. The Israeli Air Force is pounding the enormous missile arsenal Hezbollah built up over the past 18 years since its last full-fledged war with Israel. The aerial bombardment is so relentless 2,000 targets struck in the first three days that Hezbollah could quickly find itself in a "use it or lose it" dilemma over the long-range missiles the group and Iran view as its most formidable weapon. "The Israeli military campaign is expected to persist over the coming weeks, beginning with an extensive phase of aerial bombardments targeting Lebanon," Freddy Khoueiry, a global security analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at the risk intelligence company RANE, told Business Insider. "Should these efforts fail to achieve the desired strategic outcomes which is likely, the risk of a subsequent phase involving ground operations increases," Khoueiry said. Israel launched Operation Northern Arrows on Monday, attacking 1,500 Hezbollah targets in 200 areas in Lebanon, destroying several rocket launchers, weapons depots, and drones, using 250 fighter jets. The targets are mainly in South Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley where Hezbollah has a strong presence. Lebanese media reported Wednesday that Israel also attacked villages north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. "Israel appears to have been able to devastate Hezbollah's missile arsenal and launch capacity in Lebanon with airstrikes, and certainly has decimated the IRGC [Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps paramilitary] network's command-and-control structure in Lebanon," Kyle Orton, an independent Middle East analyst, told BI. The air war is attempting to destroy Hezbollah's long-range missile arsenal, their most threatening weapons for Israelis which Iran provided as a last-resort threat to safeguard its nuclear program. "Both an aerial bombing campaign and ground incursions, while impactful, are unlikely to completely dismantle Hezbollah's military infrastructure or eliminate its long-term operational capacity," RANE's Khoueiry added. "Hezbollah is a much more organized and entrenched group than Hamas, and Lebanon's wider geographic landscape provides the group with opportunities to adjust and adapt." Hezbollah fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv in central Israel on Wednesday morning, the first time it has done so since it began skirmishing with Israel nearly a year ago. Israeli air defenses successfully intercepted it. If a similar attack causes casualties or destruction, Israel may extend its campaign against Hezbollah's urban stronghold in southern Beirut. Israel's army chief visited troops in Israel's north on Wednesday, the third day of this campaign, and hinted at a possible ground operation. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes by the artillery battles across the border. Israel aims to compel Hezbollah to withdraw all its forces and weapons from the Lebanese border regions with Israel and north of South Lebanon's Litani River, so the tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by the border clashes since October can return. A portrait of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah rests amid destruction in a southern Lebanon area hit by Israel airstrikes. MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images Hezbollah's long-range weapons can reach well beyond the northern Israel border regions it has blasted with drone and rocket fire. Orton noted that Hezbollah has demonstrated a "marked disinclination" against firing long-range missiles to date, speculating that it has now only done so after facing several setbacks, including the injury of thousands of its fighters by explosive-rigged pagers. "The probable reason for this is a combination of Israel degrading the launchers so severely and the political consideration that the mass-launch of long-range missiles is supposed to be the deterrent that prevents an Israeli strike at Iran directly," Orton said. "It can only really be done once, and there is a wariness about exposing this threat as hollow." Numbering up to 150,000 surface-to-surface munitions, Hezbollah has more surface-to-surface missiles and rockets in its arsenal than any other militant group. It is much larger than what the group had the last time it fought a full-fledged war with Israel in 2006. In addition to short-range munitions, Hezbollah also has short-range ballistic missiles and precision-guided munitions. "Hezbollah is undoubtedly under significant pressure to deploy its more advanced capabilities and achieve successful strikes, particularly as recent tactical losses have further diminished its deterrent effect and weakened its internal image," Khoueiry said. "A single missile could miss its intended target, causing mass casualties and triggering a proportional Israeli retaliation." Iran, which has the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, armed Hezbollah, its most powerful and important proxy, with variants of its indigenous drones and missiles over the past two decades. With Iran's help, Hezbollah acquired large numbers of Zelzal-1 and Zelzal-2 long-range artillery rockets and Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missiles, specifically the Syria-produced M-600 variant. It also has tens of thousands of long-range unguided rockets, including the Fajr-3 intermediate-range multiple launch artillery rocket and the Fajr-5 multiple launch rocket system. Iran views these missiles as a means of counterattack if the Israelis follow through on threats to bomb Iran's nuclear program. That is one reason it proved reluctant to risk an all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel. "The Israel campaign can significantly degrade Hezbollah's capabilities, but they would be re-buildable," Arash Azizi, a senior lecturer in history and political science at Clemson University and author of "The Shadow Commander: Soleimani, the US, and Iran's Global Ambitions," told BI. "It will set Hezbollah back but won't permanently put it out." While condemning Israel's attacks, Iran has not militarily intervened on Hezbollah's behalf. It last took action in April, with missile attacks directly against Israel after an Israeli airstrike killed IRGC commanders in Syria. It vowed retaliation for Israel's killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July but has not done so by late September. Hezbollah is a far more important proxy and asset for Iran than Hamas or any other regional group. Azizi noted that Iran still doesn't want a war since it doesn't have "a lot of great military options" against Israel. "Iran also currently prioritizes economic development, which requires peace in the region and beyond," Azizi said. "But there is a limit to such logic, i.e., in some points, if the escalation continues, Iran might have no choice but to attack Israel and get involved more broadly." Many Iranians support the new Iranian president's peace overtures at the United Nations. Still, it's possible that the destruction of its Hezbollah missile deterrent will convince Iranian officials to build nuclear weapons faster as the ultimate deterrent. "Many in Iran and the Iranian establishment now believe that Iran has no choice but to pursue nuclear weapons," Azizi said. "The dominant opinion still probably prefers Iran to use its nuclear advances to make some sort of a deal with the West as opposed to pursue a nuclear weapon." "But the more Iran feels isolated, weak, and defeated, the more there is a chance that it will go toward the nuclear test option." Read the original article on Business Insider Italian town outraged over plan for wind turbines four times taller than famous cathedral Orvieto cathedral is considered one of the finest Gothic buildings in the country - Stone RF Campaigners are battling the planned construction of giant wind turbines among the olive groves, vineyards and woods of Umbria. They say that at 200 metres (656ft), the turbines will be four times the height of the 13th-century cathedral or duomo of Orvieto, a medieval hilltop town in the area of Italy where the turbines will be built. Considered one of the finest Gothic buildings in the country, a pope once said that it was so sublime that, on the Day of Judgment, it would float up to heaven, carried by its beauty. A group of 100 intellectuals, directors, actors and sustainable environmental experts have signed a petition of protest and sent it to Sergio Mattarella, the president of Italy. In an open letter to Mr Mattarella, campaigners say the transition to green energy needs to take into account the risk of radical and irreversible changes to the landscape - Getty Images They are adding their voices to the local protest groups and environmental activists who already oppose the project. Among the signatories are actress Isabella Rossellini, director Alice Rohrwacher and Claudia Cardinale, a major Hollywood star during her heyday, as well as botanists, poets and writers. While stressing support for renewable energy, they argue that the turbines will ruin an unspoilt rural area that spans the regions of Umbria and Lazio. The machines will be visible, for instance, from the celebrated hamlet of Civita di Bagnoregio which sits on a crumbling outcrop of tufa rock and can only be reached by a footbridge. The seven turbines are set to be built by RWE, a German company, in a stretch of countryside between Orvieto and Lake Bolsena renowned for wine, olive oil, extinct volcanoes and historic sites. The 13th-century Orvieto cathedral presides over the medieval town - David C Tomlinson/The Image Bank RF The campaigners claim that one of the turbine towers will be built just 500 yards from an ancient Etruscan necropolis. This breaches a law that stipulates that there must be a distance of at least three kilometres between a wind turbine tower and cultural heritage sites or monuments, they say. As we confront the climate crisis, promoting sources of energy other than fossil fuels is certainly an urgent objective, to be pursued with determination, the campaigners wrote in an open letter to the president. But, they wrote, the transition to green energy needs to take into account the risk of radical and irreversible changes to the landscape. They said the German companys plans would have a devastating impact on the countryside, putting at risk tourism and the economy of the region, adding: We do not believe that the energy transition should be based on the exploitation of the countryside we need a change of paradigm. Wind turbines erected near Montepo Castle in Tuscany - Getty Images RWE maintains that the project has been approved by all relevant authorities in Italy, including the environment ministry. All the requirements, criteria and regulations have been respected, the company said in a statement. It pointed out that a local tribunal had also rejected the complaints of local activists. The Telegraph has contacted RWE. Environmental groups are calling for the project to be scrutinised by a public inquiry. Maurizio Conticelli, from a local NGO called Amici della Terra, translated as Friends of the Earth, said wind turbines had already colonised large parts of southern Italy, Sardinia and Sicily. He said energy firms now had their sights set on central Italy, from Lazio and Umbria to Tuscany, adding: But they did not reckon with local communities which are confounding their plans for industrial wind turbines with huge towers. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Italy's Salvini set on staying in office even if given jail time Italy's Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini speaks during the National Assembly of Conflavoro at the Eliseo Theater in Rome. Vincenzo Nuzzolese/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Thursday that he will remain in office even if he is initially convicted of charges relating to his blocking a migrant ship from entering an Italian port. He is hoping for an acquittal, but if not, he would still be back in his ministerial office and working the next day, he said in Rome. Salvini, 51, heads the right-wing governing party Lega. "I am counting on an independent judge to come to the conclusions that seem clearest to me. If this is not the case in the first instance, there are fortunately two further instances in Italy," he wrote." Whether acquitted or convicted, he will continue to work as usual. But if he is convicted, he will be "a little angry," he said. The public prosecutor's office in Palermo is demanding a six-year prison sentence in the trial concerning the handling of migrants on the Mediterranean. The Lega politician is accused of preventing the ship of a Spanish aid organization with migrants on board from entering a port for weeks when he was interior minister in 2019. In a court in the Sicilian capital, the prosecution categorized this as deprivation of liberty and abuse of office. The judgement against Salvini, who is Italy's current minister of transport and infrastructure, is expected to be handed down next month. Salvini remains unrepentant of harsh measures he ordered as interior minister from 2018-19. "I would do it all over again," he wrote on his Instagram profile. At the time, he made a name for himself internationally with a crackdown on the ships of private aid organizations that take migrants on board from boats in the central Mediterranean. Today, he is one of the central figures in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing three-party coalition. Salvini described the trial as a political process brought about by the parties of the left. Italy's Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini speaks during the National Assembly of Conflavoro at the Eliseo Theater in Rome. Vincenzo Nuzzolese/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa I've traveled to all 50 states. These are the 7 most overrated tourist attractions in the US. I've visited all 50 states and most major US tourist attractions some of which I found overrated. I wouldn't plan trips around the Four Corners Monument or Mount Rushmore. I'd also recommend avoiding Salem, Massachusetts, in October due to the immense crowds. I love visiting kitschy or unique tourist landmarks on a road trip or weekend getaway. In fact, after visiting all 50 states solo, I've enjoyed my short visits to nearly all the major tourist attractions in the United States. However, in retrospect, I've found some to be overrated and not places I'd plan an entire trip around. Here are the seven tourist attractions I think are overrated. At Four Corners Monument, visitors can stand in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico simultaneously. Emily Hart undefined In New Orleans, I'd recommend visiting Frenchmen Street over Bourbon Street. Bourbon Street is one of New Orleans' most famous attractions, but it can be overwhelming. Emily Hart New Orleans is one of my all-time favorite cities, and the iconic French Quarter neighborhood is always a must-see when visiting. Despite that, I don't recommend a trip to the city just to see Bourbon Street. While it can be interesting to walk along in the morning or pop in quickly at night, the overwhelming crowds of tourists do not, in my opinion, best represent the city or its culture. If I want to escape the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, I prefer the more low-key Frenchmen Street which some tour guides call a "local's Bourbon Street." Although Frenchmen Street has become more popular over the years, I still don't find it as overwhelming as Bourbon Street. South Dakota's Black Hills region offers more than just Mount Rushmore. I wouldn't plan an entire trip around visiting Mount Rushmore. Kurt Nichols/Shutterstock Like most spots on this list, I'd revisit Mount Rushmore if I were in the Black Hills area of South Dakota, but I wouldn't center an entire trip around it. The monument is impressive, but in its immediate vicinity, there isn't much more to do than hike a couple of very short trails. I'd instead plan a trip around the entire Black Hills Region, with stops at Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, and Badlands National Park. The Las Vegas Strip is near the top of my list of overrated destinations. I prefer Fremont Street over the Las Vegas Strip. Paparacy/Shutterstock Although the Las Vegas Strip is a sight unlike any other, its artificiality puts it near the top of my list of overrated tourist destinations. Despite that, I've enjoyed my time on the nearby Fremont Street and in the surrounding natural areas near the city, such as the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. I wouldn't visit Times Square more than once on a New York City trip. When it comes to New York City attractions, I prefer the High Line or Little Island over Times Square. Benjamin Lebrun/Shutterstock Similar to the Las Vegas Strip, Times Square is one of the most iconic US landmarks. Although I'd visit if I were nearby, there are so many other spots in New York City that I prefer. In my opinion, spending time walking around smaller neighborhoods in Manhattan or Brooklyn gives visitors a much better understanding of the local culture. For those looking for a more touristy experience, I recommend checking out The High Line, which offers great views of Manhattan, or Little Island, which is an artificial island within Hudson River Park. The line for photos at the Southernmost Point of the US in Key West, Florida, is often extraordinarily long. Key West, Florida, has incredible culture, museums, and outdoor recreation. Emily Hart Key West, Florida, is one of my favorite cities in the US. Despite all the city has to offer, many visitors first make a beeline for the Southernmost Point. As the title implies, it's a simple monument that marks the southernmost point of the US, just 90 miles north of Cuba. Although I visited the point and thought it was a fun photo opportunity, the line for pictures was extraordinarily long. There are many other places in the area where I'd rather spend that time, with Key West's exciting culture, museums, history, food, and excellent outdoor-recreation opportunities. I recommend avoiding Salem, Massachusetts, in October. Beware of the Halloween crowds visiting Salem, Massachusetts, in October. Heidi Besen/Shutterstock I first visited Salem, Massachusetts, on a whim while traveling nearby one October. However, I didn't realize the city is inundated with visitors throughout the entire month not just on Halloween. Infamous for the Salem Witch Trials, the city has become a tourist destination for lovers of everything spooky, especially as Halloween approaches. Most of my visit was spent finding a parking spot, with the hoards of crowds limiting the appeal for me. I'd love to visit outside October and recommend only spooky-season fanatics plan a trip during that timeframe. Read the original article on Business Insider U.S. sanctions former politician once close to President Moise, along with gang leader From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch Happy Thursday! Election Day is 40 days away. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former presidential candidate who may have a role to play in a future Trump administration, posted a video this week about toxins found in some popular snacks. We wonder how junk-food aficionado Donald Trump feels about Yellow 5. Up to Speed New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury, the New York Times reported Wednesday. The charges, NBC News reported this morning, include wire fraud, solicitation of campaign contributions by a foreign national, bribery, and conspiracyall stemming from connections Adams has with Turkish nationals. The public first became aware of the nature of the probe when federal investigators raided the home of a top fundraiser for Adams last November. Adams, a Democrat who has been planning to run for a second term as mayor next year, said in a statement Wednesday night he is innocent. Because of the number of investigations surrounding Adams, some Democrats were already calling for him to resign before news of the indictment, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Federal prosecutors in New York are holding a press conference today at 11:30 a.m. Vice President Kamala Harris sat down for an interview Wednesday with MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle following the Democrats economic speech in Pittsburgh. The interview covered multiple topics, including taxes, housing, and immigration. Harris promised not to raise taxes on Americans making less than $400,000 a year, talked up cutting red tape to allow for more new home construction, and reiterated her claim that she would sign into law this years failed immigration enforcement bill. Ruhle pressed Harris on several subjects, including whether the Democrats pledge to fight price gouging would simply mean instituting federal price controls. Harris failed to answer the question directly, saying instead that she would never apologize for addressing price gouging. Those few companies that would take advantage of the desperation of people and jack up prices, yeah, Im going to go after them, she said. The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill to keep the government funded when the new fiscal year begins next week. The stopgap measure passed with the majority of Republicans joining up with every Democrat to support it, though Speaker Mike Johnson lost 82 Republican votes. The Senate approved the bill hours later, which, when signed by President Joe Biden, will fund the government through December 20, long after Election Day but expire just in time to, potentially, intrude on the Christmas holiday. Democrats have won a victory in Georgia, where the state Supreme Court has ruled that two left-wing independent candidates for president are disqualified from the ballot. Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz will still be listed on ballots, which have already been printed, but votes for them will not be counted according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Republicans had backed these candidates legal fight, but Georgias highest court affirmed the rulings of two superior court judges that neither West nor De la Cruz qualified under the states ballot-access law. Top members of Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinsons staff in the lieutenant governors office have resigned, WRAL reports. The departures mark the second exodus of staff from Robinsons campaign following last weeks revelation that, years before entering politics, Robinson had posted bizarre and offensive comments on a forum on a pornographic website. Michigan Crowd Eats Up Vances Pitch Sen. J.D. Vance speaks to supporters during a campaign event on September 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) TRAVERSE CITY, MichiganOn paper, Sen. J.D. Vance is quite different from most of the people who attended his Wednesday night rally here. The Republican vice presidential nominee is a Yale Law School graduate, a former Washington lawyer and Silicon Valley venture capitalist, and 40 years old. Not to mention, hes a Buckeye. By contrast, many in the over-capacity crowd Vance drew to the fairgrounds just south of town were blue-collar retirees from a relatively remote part of Michigans rural north. But the Ohio senator wowed the crowd, endearing himself to them with his working-class upbringing, military service, and populist politics. I think hes fantastic, Dave Wilks, a retired machinist, police officer, and fireman, told Dispatch Politics. As far as hearing his views on things, it sounds a lot like hes with Trump on a lot of issues. Hes for the working person, and hes ex-military. Those who came to the Cherry Capital of the World to see Vance had many hallmarks of a traditional Republican base. But the crowd, after cheering when Vance took the stage to Merle Haggards anti-Iraq War song America First, nodded along approvingly as he espoused a populist agenda that would have been foreign to a rising Republican star a generation ago. Heres the Donald Trump tax plan. Were going to cut taxes on American workers, and were going to penalize companies that are shipping jobs overseas, not write them a big fat check, Vance told the crowd. He also connected these economic issues to illegal immigration. We need common sense tax and economic policy, we need to bring back some good American manufacturing jobs to the state of Michigan, Vance said. But if we want to allow American citizens to afford a home again, weve got to start by deporting the millions of illegal aliens that Kamala Harris let come into this country. When Vance took questions from the press after his remarks, one reporter asked the senator to respond to Volodymyr Zelenskys comments in a recent interview in which the Ukrainian president called him too radical. I dont appreciate Zelensky coming to this country and telling the American taxpayers what they ought to do. He ought to say, Thank you, to the American taxpayers, Vance replied. The crowd ate all of it up. They were especially attuned to Vances message on the economy. The economy sucks, said Greg Techel, another retiree. And Wilks lamented that it cost me $26 to fill my Harley up with gas. Asked about the issues that will motivate them to vote in November, multiple attendees mentioned immigration. Ed Rice, a retired electrical engineer, said the country needed deportations to get our population back in check. And while attendees did not mention the war in Ukraine as a major motivation for their vote, they seemed to appreciate the way Vance conducts himself with the media. When somebodys interviewing him he doesnt play their games. He tells them like it is, Techel told Dispatch Politics. During the Q&A session, members of the crowd did not hesitate to voice their opinions of some of the media gallerys questions. When a reporter from the local Traverse City Record-Eagle introduced himself, people began to boo, and Vance played off of it. Thats okay. Were having fun, he laughed. Youre allowed to ask your question. Theyre allowed to tell you how they think about it, right? Thats okay. This is America. Vance left the stage to the same Merle Haggard song, and the crowd left buzzing with excitement. I think it was all great. He was well-spoken and said exactly what I was hoping to hear, Cheryl Olson, who works in medical transport, told Dispatch Politics. And Martha Cosens, yet another retiree, said afterward she sees big things in Vances future. Hes going to be president one of these days, she said. Harris Filibuster Comments Roil the Senate Vice President Kamala Harris faced a backlash this week from Republicansand two outgoing Democratic-turned-independent senatorsover comments calling for changes to the Senate filibuster. I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, Harris told Wisconsin Public Radio, and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do. The Biden-Harris administration embraced ending the filibuster on the issue of abortion way way back in July 2022, but in Harris Etch A Sketch campaign, every restatement of policy counts as news. And this news prompted a swift condemnation from the last two defenders of the filibuster in the Democratic Senate caucus. To state the supremely obvious, eliminating the filibuster to codify Roe v Wade also enables a future Congress to ban all abortion nationwide. What an absolutely terrible, shortsighted idea, tweeted retiring Arizona Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin was the only Senate Democrat to vote against the partys federal abortion billon the grounds that it would actually go far beyond Roebut his withering criticism of Harris focused solely on the procedural issue. I think that basically can destroy our country, and my country is more important to me than any one person or any one persons ideology. I think its the most horrible thing, Manchin said while announcing he would not endorse Harris due to her filibuster stance. The two Democratic senators who may have been placed in the most uncomfortable spot by Harris filibuster comments are red-staters Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. We need to change the filibuster into a talking filibuster, Tester told Semafor last week. We should not eliminate the filibuster. The difference between Testers comments and Harris stance is largely one of semantics. Both Democrats favor a simple-majority threshold, rather than 60 votes, on abortion and other legislative issues. But Tester wants to frame the issue as a mere change to a talking filibusterwhereby each senator is allotted at least one opportunity to speak until he can no longer hold the Senate floorrather than eliminating the filibuster altogether. The latter message could spook centrists worried about unchecked Democratic governance on a wide variety of issues, not just abortion. Would Democrats actually change the filibuster if they take the White House, House of Representatives, and have at least 50 Democratic senators with Vice President Tim Walz as tiebreaker? At the Democratic National Convention, Schumer told reporters that he would have the votes to do so on at least one issue: voting rights. Schumer noted that the Senate has already voted on effectively scrapping the 60-vote rule for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the only two Democrats who opposed the rules changeSinema and Manchinwill be gone in 2025. Sinema and Manchin voted no; thats why we couldnt change the rules. Well, theyre both gone, Schumer told reporters while previewing a legislative agenda for 2025. But would they change the filibuster for abortion? Its something our caucus will discuss in the next session of Congress, Schumer said this week in the Capitol. Bypassing the 60-vote rule for legislation on voting and abortion could very well lead to simple-majority rule in the Senate for all legislation. At the DNC, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said Democrats would be virtually certain to pass an omnibus bill to evade the current 60-vote requirement for legislation. To get around the filibuster, were going to have to have a process that allows very substantial debate from the Senate minority, Whitehouse said. We are not going to want to give the Republicans multiple stalls, multiple filibusters on this, so the bill that gets around the filibuster will be virtually certain to include permanent reproductive rights, permanent restored voting rights, getting rid of corrupting billionaire dark money, and Supreme Court reform. If youve got a bill like that moving, thats going to have spectacular tailwinds behind it. Eyes on the Trail Former President Donald Trump will be in New York today, with his campaign announcing he will be speaking to the press this afternoon at Trump Tower. Vice President Kamala Harris will be off the trail and at the White House today for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Harris will also deliver remarks along with President Joe Biden about gun violence. Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall on the Florida Panhandle later today, and due to severe weather forecasts, the Trump campaign has postponed two events in neighboring Georgia, where Sen. J.D. Vance had been scheduled to appear. Gwen Walz, the wife of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will be in Wisconsin today, campaigning in the suburbs of Milwaukee, including planned appearances in Grafton and Waukesha. The Trump campaign announced the former president will return to Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5 for an event. It will be Trumps first visit to the town since July, when a gunman opened fire during a rally. Trump was struck in the ear, while rally attendee Corey Comperatore was killed and two others were wounded. Notable and Quotable I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became. New York Mayor Eric Adams in a statement to the New York Post in response to his indictment as part of a federal corruption probe, September 25, 2024 Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Special counsel Jack Smith, stymied at every turn by federal courts from putting Donald Trump on trial, is about to submit his most compelling evidence that the former president conspired to derail the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election. Whether the public sees it before the 2024 election rests with U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan. On Thursday, Smiths prosecutors are scheduled to submit to Chutkan a 180-page dossier distilling their case against Trump the fruits of a two-year investigation that included secret grand jury testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence and former chief of staff Mark Meadows. It is likely the special counsels final chance before Election Day to lay out his case for why Trump deserves to be put on trial and convicted. The filing a legal brief accompanied by supporting exhibits is expected to contain never-before-seen evidence about Trumps efforts to subvert the last election. It could include snippets of interviews prosecutors conducted with some of Trumps top advisers, documents Smith procured from the National Archives and a log of Trumps Twitter activity as violence raged on Jan. 6, 2021. But prosecutors are not going to file these documents publicly. They must first submit them under seal to Chutkan, who will then decide how much of the evidence is fit for public release. Its all a far cry from the dramatic courtroom showdown Smiths team had been preparing for a year ago, when they hoped to bring the case quickly before a jury. But it is likely to include damaging details for Trump just weeks before Election Day. Trumps lawyers oppose any disclosure of the evidence that prosecutors have amassed, arguing that it amounts to interference in the final weeks of the campaign. They have repeatedly called for the entire case to be dismissed in light of the Supreme Courts July 1 decision granting broad immunity for official presidential acts. But the very purpose of Smiths brief is to advise Chutkan on how much of the case can proceed in light of the immunity ruling. Prosecutors are expected to argue that most of Trumps allegedly criminal acts were in his capacity as a political candidate, not as president or that any purportedly official acts are not entitled to immunity. Hanging over the entire case is the Nov. 5 election. If Trump wins, the case is all but certain to be shut down, because Trump or his next attorney general could fire Smith and order the case to be dismissed. (And even if they didnt do that, Justice Department policy bars prosecution of a sitting president.) Chutkan, for her part, has emphasized that the political calendar will not affect her handling of the case. And in a procedural order on Tuesday, she chided Trumps lawyers for their claims of election interference. Defendants concern with the political consequences of these proceedings does not bear on the pretrial schedule, Chutkan, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, wrote. Smith charged Trump last year with orchestrating a breathtaking conspiracy to disenfranchise millions of voters, browbeat state officials, assemble fraudulent presidential electors and pressure members of Congress to keep him in power despite losing the 2020 election. The special counsel had hoped to put Trump on trial early this year, but the Supreme Court froze the case for eight months while it considered whether Trump should be deemed immune from the charges altogether. The justices ultimately adopted a sweeping view of presidential immunity and sent the case back to Chutkan for her to apply the ruling to the allegations against Trump. Smith responded by trimming some of the allegations but seeking to proceed with four felony charges. Chutkan, over Trumps objection, agreed this week to let prosecutors file an unusually lengthy brief to lay out their massive roster of evidence against the former president. How much of it becomes public and when is largely within her discretion. But because much of the evidence was obtained through a grand jury, subjecting it to formidable secrecy rules, Chutkan may be limited in how much she can release. She may also need to contend with renewed objections from Trumps team, who could move to block the release of the evidence shortly after the special counsel submits it to the judge. The battle over the evidence has prompted a role reversal, at least as compared to a more typical criminal case. Defense attorneys usually demand details about the prosecutions plan for a trial, while prosecutors insist the defense isnt entitled to a preview of the governments case. The murkier question is precisely what new evidence Smith might reveal. The broad case against Trump is widely understood and has been previously pieced together by congressional investigators, Georgia prosecutors, civil lawsuits, news reports and prior filings by Smiths team. But Smith won legal fights to interview an array of witnesses who refused to cooperate with congressional investigators. Chief among those witnesses was Pence, who was the subject of Trumps last-ditch pressure campaign to reverse the election results on Jan. 6. Meadows provided thousands of text messages to Congress that became a crucial timeline for investigators, but he refused to interview with lawmakers. And Trumps social media adviser Dan Scavino, who was with Trump during key moments on Jan. 6 when rioters were ransacking the Capitol also spoke to Smiths investigators despite spurning Congress. In addition, Smith obtained reams of data from Twitter, now known as X, that could shed light on Trumps movements during the Jan. 6 riot, including where he was when he tweeted an attack on Pence just as rioters were descending on his location in the Capitol. Trumps tweet inflamed the mob and preceded some of the largest spasms of violence that day. Other witnesses, like Trump White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and his deputy Pat Philbin, spoke to Congress but halted their testimony at key moments, citing executive privilege. Smith was able to secure court rulings to override Trumps privilege claims, giving him access to details that other investigators were unable to learn. Some commentators sharply critical of Trump have been building expectations for the special counsels filing. Donald Trump is afraid very afraid of what is in special prosecutor Jack Smith's 180-page brief, MSNBC host Lawrence ODonnell declared on-air Tuesday. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Sazanami passed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, marking the first time a modern Japanese warship has navigated this strategically sensitive waterway. The Japanese destroyer was en-route to multinational naval drills. Australian and New Zealand vessels are also reported to have transited the strait. China has consistently opposed foreign naval vessels transiting the strait, which it considers part of its territorial waters. Japans move aligns with the stance of the U.S. and other allies, asserting that the strip constitutes international waters where freedom of navigation must be upheld. Recent transits by warships from Britain, Canada, France, Australia and Germany have also reinforced this principle. The Japanese ship's movements come as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is on his way out of office this month. PHOTO: Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden shake hands as Kishida departs after the Quad leaders summit in Claymont, Delaware, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) China often tests Japans response to their air and naval movements but theyve been upping ante as of late. A People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier recently maneuvered between two of Japans southern islands. And the Chinese military tested on Wednesday its first ICBM in decades, a launch about which Japan hadn't received prior notification. MORE: China test-fires ICBM with 'dummy' warhead, after Biden touts US relationship with Japan, South Korea The decision to send the Sazanami through the strait is significant given Japans decades of post-war pacifism. The government has tread lightly on all things military, to avoid stirring unrest at home. This bold move by Japan wouldve been hard to imagine a decade ago, but as the Chinas assertiveness grows, so has Japans effort to beef up its national defense. It also appears to signal that Japan will stand with allies, as well as support Taiwan. PHOTO: Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida speaks during the High-Level Meeting to Launch the Friends of Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty at UN headquarters in New York City, Sept. 23, 2024. (Bryan R. Smith/pool via Reuters) Japans government and Ministry of Defense have not yet made public statements about the move. The ship's movements come as the U.N. General Assembly meets in New York, where U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on Tuesday of his efforts to build a strong trilateral relationship with Japan and South Korea. Those relationships have been part of Biden's strategy to counter China's influence in the region. "These partnerships are not against any nation," Biden said on Tuesday. "They're building blocks for a free, open, secure, peaceful Indo-Pacific." Japan flexes in Taiwan Strait, sending warship through disputed waters originally appeared on abcnews.go.com When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A Japanese H-2A rocket launches the IGS-Radar 8 spy satellite on Sept. 26, 2024. | Credit: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries via X Japan's workhorse H-2A rocket flew for the second-to-last time early Thursday morning (Sept. 26). An H-2A topped with a secret spy satellite called IGS-Radar 8 lifted off from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center on Thursday at 1:24 a.m. EDT (0524 GMT and 2:24 p.m. local Japan time). The rocket deployed the satellite as planned, according to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which builds and operates the H-2A. According to NextSpaceflight.com, IGS-Radar 8 is headed to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), a polar path in which satellites cruise over patches of Earth at the same local solar time each day. SSOs are common destinations for spy and weather satellites, because they provide consistent lighting conditions over time. IGS-Radar 8 will be operated by Japan's Cabinet Satellite Information Center, like other members of the IGS ("Information Gathering System") fleet. As its name suggests, the spacecraft will study Earth in radar light, collecting data for intelligence purposes and for natural-disaster monitoring. The IGS fleet of satellites includes both a radar and an optical line. Indeed, the most recent H-2A launch, which occurred this past January, sent the IGS-Optical 8 spy satellite to SSO. Related: The history of rockets RELATED STORIES: Facts about Japan's H-2A and H-2B rockets JAXA: Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency Gallery: Declassified US spy satellite photos & designs Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built and operates the H-2A, which debuted in 2001. The 174-foot-tall (53 meters) rocket now has 49 missions under its belt, all of them successful except one; it failed during the November 2003 launch of the IGS 2 satellite. The end is near for the workhorse H-2A, however. It will be retired after its 50th launch, which could occur before the end of the year. The H-2A will be replaced by the new H3, which has launched three times to date, most recently on June 30. Editor's note: This story was updated at 2:30 a.m. ET with news of launch success and satellite deployment. (Bloomberg) -- Among the challenges awaiting Japans next prime minister, few will be as weighty as managing relations with its sole treaty ally the US and navigating fraying ties with China, the biggest trading partner for Tokyo. Most Read from Bloomberg The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will elect a new leader Friday who is set to become the next premier. During initial stages of the election campaign, foreign policy issues mostly took a back seat. That changed last week after the fatal stabbing death of a Japanese schoolboy in China, an incident that prompted all the candidates to make calls for a full investigation and demand steps to protect Japanese citizens. Tensions had already been high in meetings between Japanese and Chinese diplomats after a Chinese military aircraft made an unauthorized entry into Japanese airspace for the first time last month. Japan countered by sailing one of its warships through the Taiwan Strait for the first time earlier this week, Kyodo News reported Thursday, in a move likely to anger China. The LDPs dominance in parliament makes it all but certain the winner of its leadership race will be elected the nations next prime minister on Oct. 1. The nine candidates have all indicated they would continue to align with the US to counter Chinas growing assertiveness, as well as threats from North Korea and Russia. I wouldnt expect any great changes because the main objective of any Japanese government remains consolidation of the alliance with the US, and expansion of and strengthening ties to other security partners in the face of doubts about the credibility of the US and an increasingly hostile external environment, said Brad Glosserman, a senior adviser at Pacific Forum, a think-tank based in Hawaii. Confidence in the US has been shaken by recent moves seen as inward looking. These include opposition by US President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and from leading Republicans to a proposed deal by Nippon Steel Corp. to buy United States Steel Corp. However, none of the candidates has advocated major change in Japans relationship with the US, and most want to continue deepening ties to other leading democracies including South Korea and Australia. That doesnt mean it will be smooth sailing. It still remains unknown how Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris would approach Japan if she wins the November presidential election. During his campaign for the election, Trump has renewed criticism of trade imbalances with Japan. When he previously held the office, Trump demanded that Tokyo pay more to host US troops. Japan may have its own requests. Shigeru Ishiba, a frontrunner in the LDP election, has said he would like a review of the agreement that allows US troops to be based in Japan to make it fairer. He hasnt provided specifics. Some of the candidates want Japan to be allowed to join the intelligence-sharing group of nations known as the Five Eyes, comprising the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. One of the foreign policy achievements of outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been to foster a closer relationship with South Korea and increase trilateral cooperation with the US in areas such as missile defense. That progress could be at risk if a new prime minister doesnt invest as much in fostering ties with Seoul. Friction may surface if the new premier visits the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a memorial for the nations war dead that is regarded by South Korea and some other nations as a symbol of past militarism. Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative who is among the election favorites, is a regular visitor to the shrine. She has said she would continue to go as prime minister. Any visit to Yasukuni where 14 Class-A war criminals are honored alongside other war dead might trigger tension with the US. A visit by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Yasukuni in December 2013 prompted a rare public expression of discord when then US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy expressed disappointment over the visit. Abe then refrained from going to the shrine until he stood down as prime minister in 2020. Alternatively, some political analysts say a more overtly nationalist Japanese prime minister may be a better fit in coordination with the US over China, the country that both have said is their primary strategic threat. Japans deep business ties to China sometimes make Tokyo cautious over fully aligning with the US, such as over restrictions on exports of semiconductor-related equipment. There is a possibility that Trump would see policy agreement with Takaichi in terms of being tough on China, said Naoko Funatsu, a research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, a Tokyo-based think tank. The third frontrunner in the LDP campaign is Shinjiro Koizumi, who studied at Columbia University in New York and worked as a researcher at a Washington think tank. Koizumi, 43, once served as environment minister but his lack of experience compared with most of the other candidates could be a handicap in the election. One of the concerns about Koizumi is his very limited track record in diplomacy, said Yu Uchiyama, a professor at Tokyo University. During the campaign, Koizumi hasnt disputed his inexperience, but said his youth could be an asset, including in dealing with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a contemporary at 40. Koizumis father is Junichiro Koizumi, a former prime minister who held a 2002 summit in Pyongyang with then-leader Kim Jong Il, after which North Korea released some of the Japanese citizens it abducted during the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, Japan has demanded the release of all the other surviving abductees. North Korea has said the issue is settled, with Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the current leader, saying in March a summit cant be held because Tokyo has no courage to take the first step toward better relations. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Japan on Thursday acquitted boxer Iwao Hakamata in a rare retrial after finding that evidence that led to his conviction in the killing of four people in 1966 was fabricated. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI Sept. 26 (UPI) -- An 88-year-old former boxer was acquitted in a rare Japanese retrial Thursday in a 1966 quadruple murder case after spending nearly half a century on death row. The Shizuoka District Court ruling said Iwao Hakamata's alleged confession was forced and cited three instances of evidence fabrication, including clothing items Hakamata allegedly wore during the murders. He was found guilty in the death of four people who were stabbed to death on June 30, 1966, and their house set on fire. The court ruled the bloodstained clothing items were not worn by the murderer, but fabricated by police. The clothing was found 14 months after the killings in a miso barrel at a factory where Hakamata worked. His defense lawyers argued it was planted because the clothing would have been discolored if it had been in a miso barrel for that long. Hakamata was released in 2014 due to new evidence. Guinness World Records said he is the world's longest-serving death row prisoner. Judge Koshi Kunii said his confession statements were "forced by inflicting physical and mental pain." Hakamata was interrogated for an average of 12 hours a day for 19 days. "When the judge said the defendant was not guilty ... I was so overwhelmed with joy that tears streamed down my face," Hakamata's 91-year-old sister said. Prosecutors have two weeks to decide whether to appeal the acquittal. The Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office's deputy chief prosecutor Kenshi Konagamitsu said prosecutors are closely examining the ruling and will "deal with it appropriately." The Tokyo High Court ordered the retrial in March 2023 after the Supreme Court directed it to re-examine its initial ruling not to grant a new trial. (Bloomberg) -- Japan and South Korea are the latest countries to target Chinese steel products with anti-dumping measures, amid a growing backlash across the world against the countrys cheaper commodities. Most Read from Bloomberg Japans Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is seeking to broaden the scope of anti-dumping duties to cover Chinese steel among other products routed via third countries. Meanwhile, South Korea said Thursday it has launched an anti-dumping probe into imports of stainless steel plates made in China. The actions come as concerns grow in a number of countries over the impact of cheap goods flowing from the worlds biggest manufacturing nation. The US announced higher tariffs on Chinese steel earlier this year, adding to South American countries which also hiked taxes on the same. Chinas steel industry has been decreasing output, with production down more than 3% in the first eight months in 2024 compared with the same period last year. But the domestic slowdown means that even with that cut, theres too much metal for the local economy to absorb, pushing steel exports up more than 20% in the same period. Officials in Seoul said a local company has alleged that Chinese products were sold below market value. Meanwhile, the Japanese trade agency is considering approaching the Ministry of Finance before the end of this month, when all government agencies present their requests for tariff revisions in the following fiscal year. The countrys biggest steel manufacturer Nippon Steel Corp. had said it is lobbying the government alongside other local firms to impose measures against Chinese imports of the building metal. --With assistance from Sam Kim, James Mayger and Tsuyoshi Inajima. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. China on 'high alert' after Japan warship sails through Taiwan Strait Japan's Sazanami destroyer, pictured here in 2017, sailed through the Taiwan Strait according to local media (ARUN SANKAR) (ARUN SANKAR/AFP/AFP) China's military was on "high alert" Thursday and Beijing said it had lodged a complaint with Tokyo after a Japanese warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time. Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the reports at a regular briefing because they concerned military operations. But Beijing confirmed its military had responded to "the activities of a Japanese Self-Defence Force ship entering the Taiwan Strait". "China is highly vigilant about the political intentions of Japan's actions and has lodged stern representations with Japan," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. The United States and its allies are increasingly crossing through the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering China. The Sazanami destroyer made the unprecedented passage on Wednesday, several Japanese media outlets said. Military vessels from New Zealand and Australia also sailed through the fiercely contested waterway on the same day, Wellington's defence ministry said on Thursday. A defence official told AFP that one of its ships made its first passage through the Taiwan Strait in seven years, alongside an Australian guided missile destroyer to assert the "right of freedom of navigation". The official added the mission was not conducted with Japan. Japanese media said the three nations planned to conduct military drills in the contested South China Sea. China's defence ministry also confirmed Thursday that vessels from the three countries "had a transit operation through the Taiwan Strait". The Chinese military "stayed on high alert and monitored these passages", spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said. "These operations will undermine China's sovereignty and security," he said. "The (Chinese military) will remain on high alert and take all necessary measures to counter these threats and provocations," he added. - 'Threaten' China - In response to the "foreign warships transiting the Taiwan Strait", Beijing on Thursday said it "consistently handles such matters in accordance with laws and regulations". The foreign ministry said it remained "highly vigilant against any actions that may threaten China's sovereignty and security". Last week, China's Liaoning aircraft carrier sailed between two Japanese islands near Taiwan for the first time, accompanied by two destroyers. The ships entered Japan's contiguous zone -- an area up to 24 nautical miles from the country's coast -- Tokyo said, calling the incident "totally unacceptable". China said it had complied with international law. It followed the first confirmed incursion into Japanese airspace by a Chinese surveillance aircraft in August. The Yomiuri Shimbun daily cited unnamed government sources as saying Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had ordered Wednesday's Taiwan Strait journey out of concern that doing nothing following China's intrusions could encourage Beijing to take more assertive actions. - 'Serious concern' - Beijing, which says democratic Taiwan is part of its territory, claims jurisdiction over the body of water that separates the island from China. But the United States and many other countries argue their voyages through the strait are routine, citing freedom of navigation. China this month accused Berlin of heightening security risks in the Taiwan Strait, a day after two German navy ships sailed through the waters. On Wednesday, China test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean in its first such exercise in decades. Japan said it had not been given advance notice of the test, with Hayashi expressing "serious concern" about China's military build-up in comments he reiterated on Thursday. "China's military intrusion into our territorial airspace and other incidents have been happening one after another in a short period of time," Hayashi said. Japan will do its "utmost in patrolling and monitoring" the situation, he added. Taiwan's defence ministry also said Thursday that 43 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels were detected around the island within a 24-hour period. Beijing has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in recent years upping the rhetoric of "unification" being "inevitable". Bec Strating, professor of international relations at La Trobe University, said Japan's reported Taiwan Strait transit "is part of a broader pattern of greater naval presence by countries in and beyond Asia that are concerned about China's maritime assertions". "Japan in particular has been dealing with China's 'grey zone' tactics in the East China Sea," including an increasing number of coast guard vessels sailing close to disputed islands, she told AFP. Grey-zone tactics are actions that serve to exhaust a country's armed forces, military experts say. burs-oho/je/smw (Bloomberg) -- Three US allies sent warships through the Taiwan Strait in a rare defiance of China in those waters, on the same day Beijing fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean in 44 years. Most Read from Bloomberg Japan sailed a vessel through the sensitive waterway Wednesday for the first time since re-establishing its armed forces after World War II, according to local media. Tokyos willingness to take a more robust stance on regional security is likely to anger China, which wants to regulate the strait and protests transits by foreign powers. New Zealands HMNZS Aotearoa also passed through the major shipping lane for the first time since 2017, along with the Australian vessel HMAS Sydney, according to both nations defense ministries. Taiwans defense ministry declined to comment on the transits. Hours before the rare voyages, the Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force made the surprise announcement it had fired an ICBM carrying a dummy warhead into international waters, marking Beijings first major missile launch since testing hypersonic weapons in 2021. The ruling Communist Party first publicly tested such an ICBM in May 1980. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing had dealt with the entry of a Japanese vessel into the strait in accordance with laws and regulations and urged it not to interfere with the stability of the waterway at a regular briefing on Thursday. The number of American partners transiting the strait hit a record this year, according to publicly available data from Taiwan and the US. Earlier this month, Germany also sent its first warship through Taiwan Strait in 22 years, as trade tensions simmer and European countries protest Chinas support of Russias war in Ukraine. The ramped up military activity comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden prepare to hold a phone call, after a recent thaw in military talks that were suspended in the wake of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis 2022 visit to Taiwan. Chinese and US military commanders overseeing operations in the South China Sea recently had their first talks since that trip. Underscoring lingering tensions, Biden was caught on a hot mic this month saying China was testing the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific during a summit that included Japan and Australia. The flurry of trips through the strait come as the worlds No. 2 economy ramps up military, economic and diplomatic pressure on Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who refuses to endorse the claim his democratically run island is part of China. Beijing hasnt ruled out taking the territory by force, if necessary. But while New Zealand and Australia confirmed their transits, Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to confirm at a press briefing if his nation sent a ship through the waterway. Japan is sending the message that it stands with like-minded states such as the US, said Kyoko Hatakeyama, a professor of international relations at the University of Niigata Prefecture. Announcing this before or after the passage would be a loss of face for China. So I think there is some consideration for China, to show that Japan doesnt want to worsen relations. Already fraught ties between Beijing and Tokyo have been tested in recent weeks by suspected territorial infringements by both sides and the fatal stabbing of a Japanese schoolboy in China. China claimed it had given relevant countries notice of the ICBM launch, with the Pentagon praising Beijing for its transparency on the forewarning. The Japanese Coast Guard said that it received a notice from China before the launch about potential space debris. The PLA has been expanding its missile capabilities, with the nations Rocket Force possessing some 350 ICBMs with a range of more than 5,500 kilometers (3,420 miles), according to a Pentagon report. US officials have been increasingly concerned Beijings stance in the Taiwan Strait could result in more frequent challenges at sea. US Navy warships often transit the Taiwan Strait through a corridor the Pentagon says is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state. The US military has said the trips uphold freedom of navigation. This was a routine activity, consistent with international law, a New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins said of this weeks transit. It exercised the right of freedom of navigation as guaranteed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. --With assistance from James Mayger, Yian Lee, Alastair Gale, Isabel Reynolds, Ben Westcott and Charlie Zhu. (Updates throughout.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) A five-year-old boy and his non-custodial father who were at the center of a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Endangered Child Alert were found in Johnson City. On Tuesday, the TBI issued the alert for Dejon Parker on behalf of the Knoxville Police Department. PHOTOS: Waters rise across region as rains hammer Tri-Cities Parker was believed to be with his non-custodial father, Darrell Moore, 42, of Knoxville. According to the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD), an investigation by the Knoxville Police Department found that Moore was in the Johnson City area. The JCPD, TBI and Knoxville police worked together to locate both Moore and Parker. The JCPD took Moore into custody without incident and turned him over to Knoxville police on Wednesday, a news release from the JCPD states. Parker was found unharmed and placed in the care of the Department of Childrens Services. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. JD Vance claims he doesnt have to prepare much for VP debate Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has suggested that he doesnt need to prepare that much ahead of his debate with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on October 1. The debate is set to take place at 9pm ET and will be hosted by CBS News. We have well-developed views on public policy, so we dont have to prepare that much, the Ohio senator said during a press call on Wednesday, according to the New York Post. However, The New York Times has reported that Vance is spending several days hosting prep sessions in rural Michigan this week. While President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spent days preparing for their debates, which in the end led to Bidens departure from the race, Vance said, Were not planning to do anything similar. What were going to focus on is that I make as concise and direct appeal to the American people as possible about Donald Trumps successful policies and Kamala Harris failed policies, he added. Kamala Harris record is one of unadorable groceries, unaffordable housing and Americans who are losing their jobs. So I dont think we have to prepare that much because we dont have to hide our record from the American people, we just have to talk about it, Vance said. Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) speaks to supporters during a campaign event at the Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds. He is now saying he doesnt have to prepare that much for his upcoming debate (Getty Images) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is playing Vance during Walzs mock debates while Republican and Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer playing the part of Walz during Vances preparations. Emmer was called in to emulate Walzs folksy demeanor, according to ABC News. Vances debate prep has consisted of sessions at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as online preparations with colleagues, including Trump advisor Jason Miller. The Ohio senator has over the course of the last month looked over debate plans, tactics, as well as questions that might arise during the debate, ABC noted. The Republican VP nominee is set to attempt to depict the Minnesota governor as a far-left progressive, taking aim at his policy priorities during his time in the governors mansion. Emmer, the House Republican majority whip, previously chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee. He endorsed Trump earlier this year even after the ex-commander-in-chief called him a globalist RINO (Republican In Name Only) as he took him out of contention for the House speakership following the departure of former California Representative Kevin McCarthy. Between 2015 and 2019, Walz and Emmer both served in the House. Vances wife Usha, a fellow Yale Law School graduate, has been taking part in the debate preparations, according to ABC News. Usha Vance previously clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. The debate prep has included watching footage of Walzs previous debate from earlier campaigns but a source close to Vance told ABC that his interviews with the press have also helped him prepare. The debate is set to be moderated by Norah ODonnell, the anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News, as well as Margaret Brennan, the moderator of Face the Nation and the chief foreign affairs correspondent for the network. JD Vance scheduled to speak at town hall in Monroeville Vice Presidential Nominee Senator JD Vance will be visiting Monroeville. According to the Trump Vance campaign website, Vance will be a featured guest at a town hall. The event is part of the Courage Tour, hosted by the Lance Wallnau Show. It will be held at the Monroeville Convention Center on Saturday. Doors open at 9 a.m. and Vance will participate at 1 p.m. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Arrest warrant issued for man accused of stealing car with veterans dog inside Pittsburgh business named to New York Times list of 50 best restaurants in America Local man admitted to using skimming device on gas pumps at Monroeville Sheetz, police say VIDEO: Man charged after his parents found beaten inside Crafton home DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) tried to attack Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday but his critics said it sounded more like an argument against Donald Trump instead. Vance, who is Trumps running mate, said the election isnt just about issues but character. The most important thing is not that we agree on 100% of the issues, its that we have a person of character and courage under fire in the Oval Office, he said as he recounted Trump surviving two assassination attempts. He compared that to Harris, who he called a woman who is so afraid of the American media the friendly media that she wont even do an interview. Harris was actually doing an interview with MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle at around the same time Vance was speaking. Vance claims that the "most important thing" is "having a person of character" in the Oval Office pic.twitter.com/Yt3sAPLaKq Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 25, 2024 Vance has in the past slammed Trump over character and other issues. I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon who wouldnt be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that hes Americas Hitler, he wrote to a friend in 2016. In a 2016 piece for The Atlantic, he called Trump cultural heroin. He told NPR that same year that he couldnt stomach Trump. I think that hes noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place, Vance said. Since then, hes done a 180 on Trump and has now joined him with demeaning attacks on women, xenophobic lies about immigrants, and outright hypocrisy. Critics stepped up with some reminders: "I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab 'em by the p***y. You can do anything." - Donald Trump https://t.co/BugavRgfDl Chasten Glezman Buttigieg (@Chasten) September 26, 2024 JD Vance endorses Kamala Harris. https://t.co/FcTVs4l3Pc Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) September 26, 2024 if there is anything my faith teaches me, it is that demonizing immigrants who are seeking safety for their family means that person has high character https://t.co/2uUnMvqNLu Patrick De Klotz (@patdeklotz) September 26, 2024 Im Kamala Harris, and I approve this message. https://t.co/z9lpjGVsgo Ethan (@Ethan_Norof) September 26, 2024 Its like this asshole thinks we dont have eyes and ears and that we suffer from political amnesia https://t.co/ivB0vHJ3mH Lesley-Ann Brandt (@LesleyAnnBrandt) September 26, 2024 Sweet baby Moses, self awareness and shame died a a horrible yet quick death https://t.co/WictznncYd Jonathan Salama (@JSalama5) September 26, 2024 The old epitome of chutzpah was the guy who murders his parents and begs for mercy from the court because he's an orphan. The new epitome of chutzpah is this. https://t.co/IdnRIZ5MCO Airbag Moments is not going back. (@airbagmoments) September 26, 2024 Jimmy Carter Is Just Days Away From Turning 100Help Wish Him A Happy Birthday! Heres how you can sign a digital card for the former president. Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post via Getty Images President Jimmy Carter continues to defy the odds. Now in his 18th month of hospice care, the Georgia native is just days away from turning 100 years old on Tuesday, October 1st. Its an incredible milestone, and the Carter Center is celebrating by inviting the public to upload a photo and a message to a virtual birthday card for the former president on its website. Submissions will be shared with the Carter family and compiled into a digital mosaic illustrating the magnitude of President Carter's legacy and his impact on people all over the world. The idea of a mosaic comes from a quote from a speech Jimmy gave in Pittsburgh on October 27, 1976: "We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." We're just one week away from President Jimmy Carters 100th birthday! Join us in celebrating this milestone by uploading a message and photo to our birthday mosaic. Lets honor his legacy together! https://t.co/TtFVEAcC1q#JimmyCarter100 #HappyBirthday pic.twitter.com/n5rUUmtdL6 The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) September 24, 2024 Jimmy is the oldest living president in U.S. history. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, were married for 77 years before her death in November 2023. Jason Carter, the oldest of the couples 22 grandchildren, told Southern Living last week, that his grandfather is doing okay hes really physically diminished. He really cant do much on his own but hes emotionally engaged. He is mentally engaged. In June, Jason said, the former president is simply experiencing the world as best he can as he continues through this process without his wife by his side. After 77 years of marriage I just think none of us really understand what its like for him right now, Jason said. We have to embrace that fact, that theres things about the spirit that you just cant understand. He said that a lengthy hospice stay was the last thing the Carter family expected for the patriarch. But God had other plans, Jason mused. To submit your own birthday message to the 39th president, visit cartercenter.org. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. Hundreds of job seekers attended a jobs fair where they were able to meet organisations and businesses from sectors with labour shortages, such as the care and construction industries. The number of unemployed residents in the borough aged 16 or over fell last year to around 3,000. The event, at the Belmont Community Hall in Wellington, was organised by Telford and Wrekin Council. One firm, a care provider, said they had noticed a shortage of workers in the care sector, particularly after the covid pandemic. Care workers and social carers were added to the government's shortage occupation list in February 2022. Taylor Support, which provides care for disabled children and adults across Shropshire, attended the event looking for eight new support workers. "We've been very fortunate with recruitment and haven't seen much of a dip, however, we've notice a change in the type of people applying for jobs," Holly Taylor said. "They're often looking for work rather than specifically wanting to work in social care," she added. Holly Taylor from Taylor Support said her business needed both part-time and full-time staff [BBC] Other employers looking for staff included The Wrekin Housing Trust, construction training provider Anta Education and the national care home group, Home Instead. Telford and Wrekin Council's Job Box team was also on hand to offer advice and guidance about job vacancies in the borough. "There's a job for everybody in Telford," said Councillor Shirley Reynolds, portfolio holder for employment, education and skills at Telford and Wrekin Council. "It's important to have recruitment events in town's like Wellington because they help put local people in local jobs. "That cuts down on their travel costs and saves employers having to advertise for staff, so there will always be a demand for face-to-face events like this," she added. Telford and Wrekin's unemployment rate fell from 4.3% to 3.4% in 2023. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. External link (WHTM) John Deere is recalling more than 140,000 of their compact utility tractors due to a crash hazard. According to a notice published by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, the front bell crank of the brake linkage can fail, causing the tractor to lose the ability to brake. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest About 147,900 John Deere 1023E, 1025R, and 2025R Compact Utility Tractors sold in the United States are affected by the recall, as well as 16,800 tractors that were sold in Canada. There have been four reports of the brake linkage failing, including one hospitalization, two impact injuries, and minor property damage to the tractors. Anyone with this tractor should immediately stop using it and contact an authorized John Deere dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair. If the owner is not able to bring the tractor to the dealers location, the dealer will make arrangements to visit the residence. The tractors were sold at authorized John Deere dealers nationwide from November 2017 through July 2024 for between $12,7800 and $21,000. John Deere is contacting known purchasers of these tractors directly. Deere & Company can be contacted by calling 800-537-8233 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Saturday. Those impacted can also go online to the Deere & Company website and click on Recalls on the drop-down menu under Parts & Service located at the top of the webpage. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) More than a year after a man was found dead along an Indiana County road, a Johnstown man pleaded guilty to killing him. Justin Green, 42, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in Cambria County court Wednesday, according to our media partners at the Tribune-Democrat. Green faces a sentence of 14 to 28 years in prison, his public defender Michael Filia said. The body of Daryl Vincent Lee, 44 of Johnstown was found along Route 403 in East Wheatfield Township in the early morning of July 14, 2023. An autopsy found that Lee died from a gunshot wound. Justin Green, 42, of Johnstown. Image provided by the Cambria County Prison. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Johnstown couple charged in homicide of man found along Indiana County road An investigation led state police to Green who had worked with Lee at three landscaping jobs in the Johnstown area the day prior. Green initially told troopers he dropped Lee off at his home but later admitted he drove Lee across town in his truck to collect money from a customer after finishing the landscaping jobs. Green then confessed that he shot Lee with a shotgun before covering his body with a shirt and tools in the passenger seat of his truck, according to a criminal complaint. Green and his girlfriend Brooke Pullin along with their child then took a trip to Maryland with Lees body allegedly still in the vehicle. According to the complaint, Green got rid of the shotgun in the Potomac River while in Maryland and dumped Lees body along Route 403 when they returned home later that night. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Pullin, who faces four misdemeanor charges in the case, is expected to appear for a video conference plea on Sept. 30, according to court documents. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Joint Declaration of Support for Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine adopted by 30 countries and EU A meeting of the Group of Seven + Ukraine in New York. Photo: Ukrainian President's Office Over 30 countries and the European Union have adopted the Joint Declaration of Support for Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine during a meeting of the G7 countries and Ukraine in New York. Source: Ukrainian President's Office Details: The main points of the declaration are comprehensive assistance in rebuilding Ukraine on its path to EU membership, coordination of support through the Ukraine Donor Platform, and the provision of additional financial support worth about US$50 billion by the end of the year from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets, part of which will be used for defence purposes. US President Joe Biden emphasised that this declaration is being made public to show support for Ukraine now and in the future: "I am determined to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to prevail in its fight for survival. Tomorrow, I will announce a series of actions to accelerate support for Ukraine's military". He also stressed that partner countries will help Ukraine move from economic sustainability to economic revival. The US president noted that the proceeds from frozen Russian assets will be used to rebuild the country. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that this joint commitment will contribute to Ukraine's recovery. It provides for the coordination of relevant efforts through the Ukraine Donor Platform. The president stressed that this support should become tangible this year. Quote from Zelenskyy: "This reflects our shared vision of life we protect people, and we ensure that people have the opportunities to live. And it is absolutely justified that those who help us withstand now will be the first to benefit together with Ukraine from the large-scale reconstruction." Details: Zelenskyy, Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered speeches during the adoption of the Joint Declaration. Background: Earlier, Zelenskyy reported that the foundations had been laid for Ukraine's recovery, which would contribute to peace for Ukraine and the whole of Europe and to the common good. Support UP or become our patron! CHESAPEAKE A judge on Thursday dismissed two lawsuits that challenged the eligibility of Chesapeake City Council member Don Careys candidacy for mayor. At issue was whether Carey should have resigned from his council seat in order to run for mayor in the upcoming Nov. 5 election. One legal challenge was filed by Careys City Council colleagues after a majority of members voted in July to hash out a city charter dispute in court. The city charter requires any council member running for mayor to vacate their council seat by June 30. But that provision was established when Chesapeake held city elections in May, and wasnt altered when the General Assembly acted in 2021 to shift city elections to November. Careys council term will end Dec. 31. The other lawsuit was filed by Nelson Velez, chair of the Virginia Tea Party, who asked the court to compel the Virginia Department of Elections and the local registrar to find Carey ineligible to run, arguing that because he didnt resign as per the city charter, he didnt fulfill all necessary requirements to be a mayoral candidate. Im happy that the judge was able to see through what I think is something that was politically motivated from the beginning, Carey said after the hearing Thursday. Carey is challenging Mayor Rick West for the seat. Judge William Moore Jr. from Portsmouth heard arguments for both cases in a packed room in Chesapeake Circuit Court. He first addressed the City Councils writ of mandamus request, which is a judicial order that requires a government official to comply with the law in this case, the city charter. Moore said the city charter provision and state law were in conflict and that council shouldve addressed the oversight, though he added it may not have been intentional. The citys legal counsel, Gary Bryant of Wilcox Savage, agreed that council should have asked the General Assembly to fix the discrepancy in the charter, but argued the court cant fix a statutory oversight and that Carey would have to abide by the city charter as written. The judges decision was ultimately based on language in the same charter provision that states Careys successor wouldnt take office until July 1 even though council would swear in new candidates in the Nov. 5 election on Jan. 1. Related Articles Moore pressed Bryant about the discrepancy in the dates required to step down and then fill the vacated seat. He asked whether it presented a conflict with state code, which states that no council members term may be shortened as a result of the changes to the charter implemented in 2021 shifting local elections to November. Reached by phone, Bryant declined to comment, noting he doesnt speak on behalf of most city clients. Chesapeake City Attorney Catherine Lindley said comments on the ruling would need to come from council members. Amanda Newins, who spearheaded the request to pursue a writ of mandamus, did not respond to a request for comment on the ruling. In an interview after the hearing, Carey said before making his bid for mayor, he asked the city attorney in February to weigh in on the provision. Lindley noted a potential conflict between the provision and state code, so she sought an opinion from Attorney General Jason Miyares. In the May 30 opinion, Miyares wrote that Carey was required to step down by June 30 because he would be shortening his term voluntarily in seeking the mayors seat. Miyares spokesperson Shaun Kenney said Thursday such opinions are meant to help officials implement their duties in the absence of clear statutory or judicial guidance. While courts may find them to be persuasive, the courts are empowered to make final determinations in the cases before them, Kenney said. Carey said he did contemplate stepping down when learning of the charter provision. But he chose not to because he wanted to maintain a full City Council. Me resigning based on the black and white of the charter would have meant that my replacement would not take office until (next) July 1. That is an entire year of council not having its full force to conduct the issues relevant to the citizens of Chesapeake, Carey said. After denying the City Councils petition, Moore then heard brief arguments in Velezs case before quickly denying the petitions request to find Carey ineligible to run for mayor because of the resign-to-run provision in the city charter. Moore based the denial and dismissal on the previous case ruling. Velezs complaint had also asked the court to remove Carey from the ballots and delay printing them, which Moore denied per a request from the state board of elections and registrar. Sept. 6 was the deadline for local registrars to change ballots or remove candidates. Ballots were finalized and early voting began Sept. 20. Velezs attorney, Christopher Woodfin, told The Virginian-Pilot that though the charter should have been changed, the statute should be enforced as written. Were disappointed in the ruling, obviously, but not overly surprised, Woodfin said. Courts often do not like to get involved with what can be seen as a political issue, but I feel that if were going to have rules which basically statutes are basically the rules that were supposed to follow then everybodys got to follow them. Council member Robert Ike, who attended the hearing and voted against councils petition, and Carey told The Pilot theyd like to push for an update to the city charter provision as soon as they can likely within the coming months as council compiles its legislative agenda. Though we prevailed in there, there are no victories here, Carey said. The ones who suffer the most are the people of Chesapeake. Instead of using our taxpayer dollars to go benefit our citizens, theyre being used to attack a councilman. Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com Gov. Jared Polis talks about House Bill 24B-1001, the special session bill that cements a deal between the legislature, governor and two conservative groups that had put two ballot measures on property taxes on the November ballot. Joining him for the signing, left to right, House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon; Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver; and Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, three of the bills sponsors. House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, was unavailable. LOCKWOOD, N.Y. (WETM) A federal judge in Washington D.C. cited the governments general immunity in dismissing a lawsuit that accused the Department of Defense of deceiving millions of Americans into taking experimental Covid-19 vaccines, while asserting they were safe and effective. The family of 24-year-old college student George Watts, Jr. from Lockwood, New York, filed the lawsuit in 2023. It accused the DOD of willful misconduct in the death of their son in October of 2021 after he received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine to attend in-person college classes. A Bradford County Coroner ruled Watts died from Covid-19 vaccine-related myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart. 24-year-old George Watts of Lockwood, New York. The defendant is named as Lloyd J. Austin III in his official capacity as Secretary of the United States Department of Defense. Lloyd has been serving as Defense Secretary since January 22, 2021. The estate of George Watts, Jr. is represented by attorney Ray Flores from San Diego, California. The lawsuit says Watts expected to receive a fully approved FDA vaccine, Comirnaty, that was legally distinct from the Pfizer-BioNTech EUA (emergency use authorization) vaccine which he received instead. Covid-19 vaccine killed our son says lawsuit against Dept. of Defense The lawsuit alleged willful misconduct that caused the death of George Watts, Jr. The lawsuit accused the DOD of engaging in a deliberate and calculated mass-deception campaign specifically designed to obfuscate the fact that OWS vaccines werent safe and effective, were merely experimental, and legally could only be characterized as may be effective but not pronounced safe. OWS stands for Operation Warp Speed, the name given to the U.S. government effort in May of 2020 to create and distribute Covid-19 vaccines to millions of Americans. The suit filed in May of 2023 said, By intentionally blurring the line of the critical distinction between licensed and experimental, DOD duped millions of Americans, including Mr. Watts, into being DODs human subjects in its medical experiment, the largest in modern history. While Mr. Watts cared about the safety of OWS, DOD sadly did not. I dont know what else to do, or where to even go from here. COVID-19 vaccine to blame for Southern Tier mans death: Deputy Coroner In the summer of 2021, the suit says Watts took his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine so he could attend class in person at Corning Community College instead of remotely, as mandated by the school. He received his first shot on August 27, 2021, at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania. The lawsuit said Watts experienced medical symptoms after his first dose of the experimental COVID-19 injection that worsened after Mr. Watts received a second dose of the vaccine on September 17, 2021. The suit says Watts developed extremity numbness, difficulty grasping and holding onto objects, sinus infection, cough and light sensitivity. On October 12, 2021, Mr. Watts visited the emergency department at Guthrie complaining of a sore throat, sinus congestion and a cough. He also reported to medical staff a lump on the side of his neck. He was prescribed Augmentin and took Mucinex and Nyquil. His family says he tested negative for COVID. The lawsuit says Wattss condition kept deteriorating. He returned to the Guthrie emergency room on October 19, 2021. He told his doctors his cough had gotten worse, and he was not getting better after a week of antibiotics. Watts also said he had vomited the previous night. The lawsuit does not say if Watts was prescribed any new medications or treatments. On October 27, 2021, the lawsuit says Watts was at home talking with his mother when he started coughing up blood. He then became suddenly unresponsive and was found to have no respiration or pulse. The lawsuit says his mother immediately called 911 and began CPR. Upon arrival at the emergency room, Mr. Watts was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. He was declared dead in the emergency room. Mr. Watts had no past medical history to explain his sudden death, the suit added. According to his death certificate, Mr. Watts died of Covid-19 vaccine related myocarditis. The Covid-19 vaccine is covered by Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act also known as the PREP Act. It provides liability protections for vaccine manufacturers during a public health emergency. In a motion filed on September 24th, U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols wrote: Plaintiff responded to the motion dismiss by arguing that the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act is unconstitutional insofar as it provides immunity from suit because it (1) violates the Fifth Amendments Due Process clause and (2) amounts to a taking of a plaintiffs cause of action. But Plaintiff misunderstands the source of the immunity asserted by the government. While the PREP Act provides immunity from suit under certain circumstances. The government does not invoke that provision here. Rather, the government asserts its general immunity from suit, which, independently of the PREP Act, bar[s] suits for money damages against officials in their official capacity absent a specific waiver by the government. Clark v. Lib. of Congress, 750 F.2d 89, 103 (D.C. Cir. 1984) The PREP Act, rather than waiving such immunity, explicitly preserves it. See 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(f) (Nothing in this section shall be construed to waive sovereign immunity or limit any defense or protection available to the United States or its agencies, instrumentalities, officers, or employees.). Plaintiff asks the Court to sever that provision of the PREP Act. But even if the Court were to do so, it lacks the power to replace that provision with a specific waiver of sovereign immunitywithout which Plaintiffs suit cannot proceed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination are rare but can cause long-term health problems. They usually happen within six weeks of getting a vaccine. The CDC website says myocarditis or pericarditis and anaphylaxis have been identified as two serious adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination currently used in the United States. The CDC says Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis is inflammation of the outer lining of the heart. Myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. The CDC says Anaphylaxis is a severe type of allergic reaction that can rarely happen after any vaccine. Anaphylaxis needs to be treated with epinephrine (for example, EpiPen) and may require hospitalization. Anaphylaxis can involve wheezing, difficulty breathing, or low blood pressure; and sometimes is accompanied by hives. Anaphylaxis after COVID-19 vaccination is rare. In a phone call, George Watts Sr. told 18 News the family is obviously unhappy with the Judges dismissal. He declined to make other public comments at this time. In a statement to 18 News, the familys attorney Ray Flores said: I am obviously deeply disappointed by the courts truncated ruling. But it proves one thing: It is imperative that everyone realizes that without recourse in a court of law, the government has a license to commit any atrocity, enforce any mandate, and experiment on the public as long as a Public Health Emergency is declared. Covid is the first in a long line of pandemics to come. In a statement on June 5th, 2023, a CDC spokesperson told 18 News: Reports of death after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. More than 672 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through March 1, 2023. During this time, VAERS received 19,476 preliminary reports of death (0.0029%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. CDC and FDA clinicians review reports of death to VAERS including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records. Continued monitoring has identified nine deaths causally associated with COVID-19 vaccination. These nine deaths were the result of complications of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome following the J & J Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. CDC and FDA continue to review reports of death following COVID-19 vaccination and update information as it becomes available. 18 News has reached out to the CDC to ask for updated numbers on reports of deaths among people who received a COVID vaccine. A spokesperson acknowledged our inquiry was being looked into. As of this publication, we have not received a response. 18 News also reached out to the Department of Defense for comment on the dismissal of the lawsuit. A spokesperson also acknowledged our inquiry was being looked into. As of this publication, we have not received a response. You can read the full dismissal motion and full lawsuit below: Watts-Dismissal-Judge-Carl-NicholsDownload Watts-v.-DOD-EDTDownload Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. This photo taken April 27, 2022, by Tonya Junker shows a sinkhole in the Hideaway Hills neighborhood near Rapid City, S.D. (Tonya Junker via AP) A judge in South Dakota has thrown out a lawsuit brought by dozens of neighbors in a Rapid City-area subdivision whose homes were built above an old, underground mine linked to sinkholes in the neighborhood. Circuit Court Judge Eric J. Strawn in a ruling posted online Wednesday granted the state's motion for summary judgment and dismissed all the claims, ruling that the state has sovereign immunity, a sort of legal protection against lawsuits. The plaintiffs' attorney, Kathy Barrow, said her Hideaway Hills clients will appeal to the state Supreme Court. The plaintiffs are arguing that the state's mining activities and the way it ultimately closed the mine created conditions ripe for sinkholes to develop. They also fault the state for failing to disclose the problematic conditions. The plaintiffs want the Supreme Court to sort out the blurred lines of the legal theory behind their claims, Barrow said. An attorney for the state referred The Associated Press to Ian Fury, spokesman for Gov. Kristi Noem, who didn't reply to The AP's email seeking comment. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2020. That same year, a giant sinkhole opened in the neighborhood, which later revealed the extent of the mine beneath. About 150 neighbors in 94 homes are seeking $45 million. Other holes and sinkings have occurred since, imperiling houses, roads and utilities, according to the homeowners. The former state cement plant mined gypsum for several years in the area decades ago. Attorneys for the state have argued that the cement plant did not mine underground and the collapse would have occurred regardless of the plant's mining activities. ___ Dura reported from Bismarck, North Dakota. The Red River Women's Clinic moved from Fargo to this location in Moorhead, Minnesota. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakotas abortion ban was officially repealed Thursday following a judgment entered by South Central District Court Judge Bruce Romanick. The law as currently drafted takes away a womans fundamental rights to liberty and her fundamental right to pursue and abstain safety and happiness, he wrote in the judgment. The law also impermissibly infringes on the constitutional rights for victims of crimes. Romanick was asked to review the ban as part of a lawsuit brought by Red River Womens Clinic once North Dakotas only abortion clinic before it moved to Moorhead, Minnesota and a group of reproductive health care doctors. Tammi Kromenaker, the clinics director, said the facility has no plans to move back to North Dakota. The clinic used to operate in Fargo but moved across state lines when North Dakotas previous abortion ban took effect following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to repeal Roe v. Wade. Having moved once was already a huge upheaval and drain on our resources. We are 5 minutes away from our former location in downtown Fargo, which means that access for our patients is essentially the same, Kromenaker wrote in a Thursday statement to the North Dakota Monitor. She noted that other North Dakota regulations, including a 24-hour waiting period, restrictions on medication abortion, forced state materials designed to dissuade patients from abortion, strict parental involvement laws and more, still make abortion care difficult to provide in the state. We would not take a step back and subject our patients to these stigmatizing and difficult restrictions, she wrote. We moved once and do not want to undertake that again. The court judgment came two weeks after Romanick found the abortion ban unconstitutionally vague and a violation of health care rights. The law made all abortions illegal except when the pregnancy poses a serious health risk to the mother, and in cases of rape or incest during the first six weeks of a pregnancy. Plaintiffs argued the law infringed on individual rights and endangered pregnant mothers by not making it clear when abortions may be administered under the health risk exemption. In his Sept. 12 order, Romanick found that the criminal penalties included in the law could deter doctors from providing abortions for legitimate health reasons. He also questioned how doctors could determine whether patients are eligible for the rape and incest exemption, given that they do not have legal expertise and that sex crimes are notoriously difficult to investigate. Attorneys for the state have previously argued that the ban is not vague, and was written with input from North Dakota doctors, including some of the plaintiffs. The law was adopted with overwhelming support by the states Republican-majority Legislature in 2023 following a ruling by the North Dakota Supreme Court finding its previous abortion ban unconstitutional. Attorney General Drew Wrigley has previously said the state plans to appeal Romanicks ruling. Following Romanicks Sept. 12 order, the North Dakota Attorney Generals Office filed a motion asking Romanick to keep the abortion ban on the books until the North Dakota Supreme Court makes a final decision on the case. Romanick will hear arguments on the motion at 9 a.m. Oct. 10 in Bismarck, according to court records filed Thursday. This story was updated to add comment from the Red River Womens Clinic director. Romanick judgment SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is set to make his first public appearance since being freed from a U.K. prison, his organization said in a statement on Tuesday. Assange will be addressing the human rights organization Council of Europe next week. He will be providing evidence on Oct. 1 to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg. The appearance comes as PACE determined in a recently released report that he was a political prisoner and that he served a lengthy detention in a high-security prison despite the political nature of the most severe charges against him. The WikiLeaks founder, 53, returned to his home country of Australia after striking a plea deal with Justice Department (DOJ) officials to secure his freedom. He pleaded guilty to one felony count in late June under the Espionage Act for his role in publishing classified military documents. Julian will be in Strasbourg next week on October 1st. It will be an exceptional break from his recovery as @COE invited Julian to provide testimony for the JUR Committees report into his case and its wider implications, his wife, Stella Assange, said in a Tuesday post on X. Assange entered the plea deal in court in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands. He was held in Belmarsh high-security prison since 2019, following his removal from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He was accused of assisting U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in stealing military documents and diplomatic cables so that WikiLeaks could publish them online. Prosecutors argued that the thousands of documents regarding the Afghanistan and Iraq wars that were published endangered lives. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. No leniencyis the message from the court for Julie Chrisley at her resentencing hearing. The reality star's resentencing judge upheld her initial 84-month sentence in the tax evasion and fraud case despite claims of a legal error. Julie was also denied the opportunity to show up in prison by herself after 24 hours. Julie Chrisley and her husband, Todd Chrisley, received a combined 19-year sentence in 2022 and have been spending time at their respective prisons since January 2023. Julie Chrisley's Initial Sentencing Deemed Sufficient For Her Crime MEGA The Northern District of Georgia judge resentenced the 51-year-old to the same duration she previously received. During the hearing, which was held at a court in downtown Atlanta, the judge shared that she received letters from Julie's family, including her daughter Savannah Chrisley and a licensed therapist for Grayson and Chloe. The judge noted that in her experiences, most cases do involve people with minors at home who do not have the ability to provide the same resources like access to therapy like the Chrisleys. While she was concerned about the children, the judge insisted that Julie would not "get a pass from criminal conduct" because she is a parent. PEOPLE shared that, in addition to the resentencing, the judge also denied Julie's attorney's request that she self-report back to jail in Kentucky after a 24-hour furlough. Julie Was Remorseful During The Court Hearing View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julie Chrisley (@juliechrisley) Julie was reportedly unrecognizable during the hearing and addressed the court tearfully while apologizing for her wrongdoing. She also apologized to her kids, Savannah and Chase Chrisley, who were in court, for how the legal matter had impacted her family. Julie's declared to the court saying: "I would like to say I've had years to think about what I've wanted to say and I'm sorry for my actions and situations that led us to where we are today." The Chrisley family matriarch further said, "I have spent 20 months in prison, but it has been much more leading up to the trial, and I apologize for my actions that led to where we are today." She noted that she has tried to get closer to her family, including learning new skills, like driving a forklift and serving food properly. "This has been the most difficult part of my life. I can't ever repay my children for what they've had to go through and for that, I am so sorry," she concluded. Julie's Resentencing Was Ordered Due To A Discovered Legal Error View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julie Chrisley (@juliechrisley) The reality star was sentenced to 7 years in prison back in November 2022 alongside her 55-year-old husband, who got a 12-year sentence for fraud and tax evasion. The Blast reported that the federal appeal judges ordered that her former sentence be thrown out after a legal error was found in the trial judge's calculation of her inmate sentencing. Her first sentence reportedly held her liable for the entire bank fraud scheme instead of admitting she was only a part of it. The fraud and federal tax evasion also involved other people, including Todd and their accountant, Peter Tarantino, which meant she could not be held accountable alone for all the crimes. Julie's case was sent back to the lower court for review and resentencing while her husband and Tarantino's sentences remained the same. Todd Chrisley's Appeal For A Sentence Review Was Thrown Out MEGA Court documents revealed that the district court must address "what the proper loss amount attributable to Julie is for the purposes of the base offense level, restitution, and forfeiture." It stated that the district court must make factual findings about the timeline of Julie's involvement in the conspiracy. The document added that if Julie's involvement began in 2006, the court must also "identify the evidence on which it bases its finding." Alex Little, the couple's legal rep, expressed their relief at that time that Julie's sentence was deemed improper. However, he shared that they were "obviously disappointed that it rejected Todd's appeal." Julie Chrisley's Legal Woes Began In 2019 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julie Chrisley (@juliechrisley) The reality star entered legal trouble in August 2019 when a federal grand jury indicted her and Todd on several fraud and tax evasion charges. The couple's crimes included one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, and one count of tax fraud. Julie was also charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of obstruction of justice, and the couple was ordered to pay $17.8 million in damages. They ran out of luck in 2022 when they were each found guilty on all counts, and all efforts to get out of their misery have proved ineffective. What is the next step for Julie Chrisley following this crushing disappointment? The lack of leniency in Julie Chrisley's case stems from prejudice against celebrities as far as her legal rep is concerned. The "Chrisley Knows Best" alum's lawyer did not mince his words against the judge, who denied his client a 24-hour furlough and refused her resentencing appeal. The attorney believed the verdict served as a warning to other stars. Julie Chrisley's legal woes began in 2019 after she and her husband, Todd Chrisley, were indicted on fraud and tax evasion charges. They received a combined 19-year sentence in 2022 and reported to their respective prisons by January 2023. Julie Chrisley's Attorney Plans To Appeal Her Recent Judgment MEGA One of Julie's defense attorneys, Jay Surgent, addressed her failed resentencing case in a heated statement. He believed the judge showed his client no leniency because of her celebrity status. He claimed that as a former reality TV star, millions knew Julie and the judge allegedly used her as a scapegoat to warn others. Surgent argued that there was no need to make an example out of his client. The legal rep noted that Julie had been a model inmate and was not a threat to society. The outcome naturally left a bitter taste in her mouth, with Surgent echoing his client's disappointment and her will to seek justice. Julie, per her attorney, would appeal the resentencing. Surgent noted that she believed everything would work out, telling TMZ that neither she nor Todd were letting the rejection break their wills, and their marriage was stronger than ever. The Judge Believed Julie's 7-Year Sentence Was Appropriate For Her Crimes View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julie Chrisley (@juliechrisley) The resentencing drama began on Wednesday, September 25. The Blast reported that Julie had an emotional episode at the downtown Atlanta court. The judge determined that the original 7-year sentence would stand. The legal umpire noted she had received letters from Julie's family, including her daughter Savannah, a licensed therapist for her son Grayson, and granddaughter Chloe. While she was concerned about Julie's loved ones, the judge stressed that most cases did not involve families privileged to have therapy like the Chrisleys. Therefore, the inmate could not "get a pass from criminal conduct" because of her status as a mother. Julie Gave A Tearful Apology To The Court And Her Family View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julie Chrisley (@juliechrisley) The months behind bars had done a number on Julie, who was remorseful during her hearing. She tearfully apologized for her wrongdoings to the court before addressing her older children, Savannah and Chase, who were in attendance. "I would like to say I've had years to think about what I've wanted to say, and I'm sorry for my actions and situations that led us to where we are today," Julie told the court, adding: "I have spent 20 months in prison, but it has been much more leading up to the trial, and I apologize for my actions that led to where we are today." "This has been the most difficult part of my life. I can't ever repay my children for what they've had to go through, and for that, I am so sorry," Julie concluded, noting she had been learning new skills to get closer to her family. The Attempt At Resentencing View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julie Chrisley (@juliechrisley) Julie's attempt to get her 7-year sentence reduced began in June, with The Blast sharing that a federal appeal judge had ordered the verdict to be tossed. Their judgment was based on the legal error in her original sentencing. The fraud and tax evasion trial Judge who sentenced Julie in 2022 incorrectly calculated her sentence. She was held liable for the entire bank fraud scheme instead of her role as an accomplice. Part of the court documents revealed that the district court must address "what the proper loss amount attributable to Julie is for the purposes of the base offense level, restitution, and forfeiture." Additionally, it must make factual findings about the timeline of her involvement. Inside Julie Chrisley's Legal Drama MEGA Julie's fall from grace began in August 2019 when a federal grand jury indicted her and her husband, Todd, on multiple fraud and tax evasion charges. The list included one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, and one count of tax fraud. Julie was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of obstruction of justice. She and Todd were also ordered to pay $17.8 million in damages, but the real punishment came in 2022 with the combined 19-year sentence. Will Julie Chrisley be able to convince the court to reduce her sentence? Jungle Reef under scrutiny again after USDA inspection report EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Jungle Reef Aquarium is once again under scrutiny following a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection that uncovered significant issues related to animal care, record-keeping and handling practices at the facility. The USDA report, which was released last month, details several concerning incidents including the deaths of two animals in August a wallaby named Jupiter, who was killed by a gate crush injury, and a female budgie that died following inadequate veterinary care. The report also cites issues with improper feeding and incomplete animal care records. The report is attached below: PST_Inspection_Report_Jungle_Reef_LLCDownload Jungle Reef, which has been in operation for just under eight months at Shoppes at Solana Mall, originally opened as a hands-on touch aquarium. However, this concept quickly faced backlash after visitors reportedly mistreated the animals in the sea life touch tanks. Kids were pulling the animals out of the water, they were squeezing them too tight, said Jon Hepworth, one of the owners of Jungle Reef in an interview on Aug. 8. We had to switch gears. If I didnt care about the animals, I would have kept putting them in there because thats what people are paying for, said Hepworth. The aquarium has since removed the interactive touch tanks and replaced them with a treasure hunt exhibit for children. The USDA has conducted multiple routine inspections at the facility, with the most recent report highlighting the wallabys death. The incident occurred when the animal was left to roam freely while an employee was moving a large load of hay through the gate, leading to the fatal injury. Following the report, Hepworth provided a statement, saying This unfortunate event deeply affected us, and we take this situation very seriously. He added that Jungle Reef remains compliant with both state and federal regulations and had recently passed a city inspection. In response to the wallaby incident, a guard has been installed on the gate to prevent similar accidents. Hepworth also confirmed that the individual previously responsible for animal care is no longer with the facility. Animal rights organization PETA has been vocal in its criticism of Jungle Reef, urging the public to avoid supporting such establishments. Klayton Rutherford, a PETA spokesperson said, PETA urges the public to do its part by not visiting facilities like Jungle Reef. This is a for-profit company, and theyre not in it for animal welfare. Theyre in it to make money. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. EDITORS NOTE: The story has been edited to say that Jones was found guilty of second-degree arson. We regret the error. DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (KCAU) A man accused of murdering four people in the small northeast Nebraska town of Laurel has been found guilty by a jury. Jason Jones has been found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony, and two counts of second-degree arson. The arson charges were originally first-degree arson. In order for Jones to be eligible for the death penalty, the state needed to argue for aggravating circumstances, setting the first-degree murders apart by establishing factors that make a particular case warrant the death penalty. Prosecutors presented evidence that Jones killed Janet and Dana Twiford after he killed Gene. The state is contending that not only did he commit another murder at the time that he killed them, but that his reason his motive for killing those 2 people was to conceal his identity, said prosecutor Corey OBrien. Sioux City PD investigating robbery of downtown credit union Court reconvened, and, Thursday afternoon, the jury found that aggravated circumstances were present during the murders, meaning that Jones is eligible for the death penalty. Specifically, the jury found that the murders of Janet Twiford and Dana Twiford were done in a effort to conceal the commission of a crime, or to conceal the identity of the perpetrator of such crime. Going forward, a three-judge panel will decide whether or not to sentence Jones to death. Jones was originally accused for the murder of Gene Twiford, 86, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, at their home during the early morning hours of Aug. 4, 2022. He was also accused of killing a fourth person, Michele Ebeling, 53, at her home. He then allegedly set both homes on fire. Jones was arrested the following day. He was then charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson, and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony. Jones pleaded not guilty to the charges in May 2023. Jones wife, Carrie Jones, is also charged in connection with the case. She is accused of one count of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and accessory to a felony. Carrie Jones also pleaded not guilty to her charges in May 2023. Her trial is set for Nov. 25 in Cedar County. The Jason Jones verdict comes after a jury trial that lasted 10 days over the course of three weeks. A vast array of evidence was presented and a number of witnesses took the stand. Closing statements took place Wednesday. Authorities provide details of deadly crash on Highway 75 north of Sioux City In a testimony, Nebraska State Patrol officer Tyler Mann said a cell phone had what appeared to be a suicide note by Jason Jones, apologizing to his wife and making a reference to taking others with him. One key piece of evidence was a recording of a phone call Jones allegedly made to his mother. In the call, Jason Jones was allegedly heard saying Carrie Jones dealt with harassment from Gene Twiford, but they couldnt go to the police. Two years we dealt with that, we try to get cops to do something, Jason Jones was allegedly heard saying in the voice recording. Well, technically hes in the street. You can get a harassment order but you gotta go to court, you gotta get all the evidence to prove it, and Carrie was kinda embarrassed about it. Another witness said two different guns were used in the quadruple homicide. He told jurors that bullets and casings recovered from Michele Ebelings property matched a 44-calibre handgun that was found at the Jones residence. Another weapon, a Ruger-57, was found at the Twiford home and matched bullets recovered from the three bodies, he said. According to a forensic scientist, Joness DNA was also found on 15 items recovered from the crime scenes and his bedroom, including guns and magazines. Jason Jones himself chose not to be present in the courtroom during the trial due to injury. He was treated for significant burns after his arrest, according to the Nebraska State Patrol. Murder charge filed in death of 17-year-old Farnhamville girl The trial was originally set to take place in Cedar County, where Laurel is located. However, it was moved to Dakota County due to concerns over the ability to seat an impartial jury in Cedar County. Chase Foix, Wesley Thoene and Reilly Mahon contributed to this report. To view KCAU 9s previous coverage of this case, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Whats the justification? Officer in Southern California punches man after fatally shooting him New video taken moments after police fatally shot a man in San Bernardino County Tuesday shows an officer violently striking the suspect in the face three times after he had been shot and was on the ground. The deadly encounter occurred when an officer with the Fontana Police Department responded to the area of Chery Avenue and Baseline Road just before 2:20 p.m. on reports of a man armed with a metal pole assaulting a person and damaging property. Authorities say the suspect, now identified as 44-year-old Fontana resident Jesus Garcia, also smashed computers and registers in a nearby AutoZone. Police say the responding officer attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the man refused multiple commands to drop the weapon and surrender. During the encounter, the suspect attacked the officer with the pipe, resulting in a lethal force response from the officer, a Fontana PD news release stated. It was like four or five shots that caught my attention and then I got out of my car and saw a person on the floor, Arturo Garcia who witnessed the beating in the parking lot told KTLA. Footage of the incident shows the 44-year-old suspect on the ground in the parking lot writhing from one side to another on his back after being shot. An officer is then seen putting on gloves and telling Garcia to get on his stomach. As he attempts to get on his stomach, the officer steps over him, rolls him onto his back and strikes him in the face three times until Garcia goes completely limp. A Fontana police officer seen striking a suspect on the ground on Sept. 24, 2024. (Ailah Ponla) A Fontana police officer seen striking a suspect on the ground on Sept. 24, 2024. (Ailah Ponla) Fontana police seen putting on gloves and striking a suspect in the face after he had already been shot on Sept. 24, 2024. (viewer pic) Police in Fontana seen rendering aid to a suspect after fatally shooting him, striking him in the face and handcuffing him on Sept. 24, 2024. (viewer pic) An image from a Fontana police officers body-cam that shows the suspect attempting to attack an officer on Sept. 24, 2024. (FPD) A Fontana police cruiser seen with evidence markers after the vehicle and officer were attacked by a suspect armed with a metal pole on Sept. 24, 2024. I cant comment on whether it was appropriate or not, Steve Reed, with the Fontana Police Department, told KTLAs Shelby Nelson. When were trying to detain someone, we have to take the force necessary to make that detention. Like I said, from the video, it appears he was actively resisting. Officials at the police department said they were aware of videos circulating on social media showing the beating after Garcia was shot and added that the video only showed a portion of the incident. It is important to note that this video only shows a small portion of the event in its entirety. The Fontana Police Department is conducting an internal administrative investigation into the entirety of the incident, a Fontana PD news release stated. Reserve officer Dennis Zine has worked in law enforcement for more than 55 years and believes the shooting portion of the encounter was likely justified because the suspect attacked the officer. Santa Monica man develops unique device to deter homeless Its what happened before the officer eventually handcuffed the 44-year-old and rendered aid that he feels puts the officers actions into question. The individual was neutralized, hes no longer a threat to you, Zine explained. The man is on the ground, he has no weapons in his hands. Whats the justification for striking? The 44-year-old was later taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The officer was also taken to the hospital for injuries sustained during the ordeal, though the extent of his injuries and current condition are unclear. Per protocol, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department will handle the investigation into the incident. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. After briefly dropping Kaiser Permanente last week, the state and the company announced they have reached agreement on new deal that will let the company stay on as a Medicaid provider. File photo by Danielle E. Gaines. The Maryland Department of Health and Kaiser Permanente have settled negotiations on a contract that will let the health care company continue as a state Medicaid provider, ensuring that more than 100,000 Medicaid recipients maintain access to their current doctors. In a joint statement Wednesday, the department and the company said their agreement will increase accountability and responsibility among the states providers while focusing on the states efforts to achieve health equity and improve health outcomes for Marylanders. WYPR reported last week that the department had dropped Kaiser Permanente as one of the managed care organizations that provide Medicaid services through contracted arrangements between the state and health care agencies. Soon after, Kaiser Permanente reached out to further continue negotiations with the health secretary, the department said in a statement Tuesday. At that point, the department had agreed to continue contracts with eight other Medicaid participants: Aetna Better Health, CareFirst Community Health Plan, Jai Medical System, Maryland Physicians Care, MedStar Family Choice, Priority Partners, United Healthcare and Wellpoint. A department official said that the 2025 contracts include changes that increase accountability and health equity among the managed care organizations. They also require the providers to screen patients for social needs such as food access, transportation, housing and employment, among other requirements. While its not clear if the new requirements led to the initial disagreement with Kaiser Permanente, an official with the department said Wednesday that Kaiser Permanente had agreed to the updated requirements in the new agreement. Losing Kaiser Permanente as a Medicaid provider could have been a major crisis for some 109,000 Medicaid recipients who would have lost access to their physicians, said Gene Ransom, CEO of MedChi, the states medical society. He noted that many Kaiser Permanente patients are residents of Prince Georges, Montgomery and Baltimore counties. Since these physicians would no longer be eligible to take care of those patients, they would have to go to other physicians. And we just dont have enough doctors to do that, Ransom said. We would essentially, suddenly, have 100,000 people displaced to find new physicians and the markets just arent strong enough to deal with that right now. Ransom added that people without access to a physician tend to seek care in Marylands already crowded emergency rooms, exacerbating the problem of extended emergency room wait times. If those folks got displaced and they didnt have a doc, would that mean that they end up in the emergency room and other places like that? Where costs are higher and are already backed up? he said. We dont need to make them any worse. But the agreement between the health department and Kaiser Permanente means that such a crisis appears to have been avoided, for now. This is going to happen occasionally when you have something as complicated as this, Ransom said. The most important thing is that everybody calmed down and worked it out. A Texas woman with Pikes Peak-area ties has answered Childrens Hospital Colorados request for help making the first weeks of life easier for some of their littlest patients, and hopes others will do the same. In August, the Colorado Springs hospitals neonatal intensive-care unit, or NICU, asked the public to donate to protect premature babies from too much light and sound before theyre ready. An isolette is an enclosed crib that helps provide a warm and germ-free environment for premature babies, commonly known as an incubator. A baby that is born weeks or months before full gestation will function better in a dark, quiet environment that simulates the conditions inside the womb. A NICU, when its full of the hospitals tiniest and sometimes sickest patients, is the exact opposite of that. The isolette cover damps light and sound to help mimic the environment inside a mothers womb while the babys senses are still developing, according to clinical nurse manager Erin Havrilla. Its important to try to provide everything they would be experiencing in Moms tummy, to the extent that we can, Havrilla said in August. That includes sound and light dampening. When Linda Davenport Miller read a Gazette article about the need for the covers, she saw a need that she was singularly qualified to help with. I saw that there was a need, and this was something I could do, said Miller, who holds a Bachelor of Science in clothing and textiles. Ive been sewing and making patterns forever, so I thought, Lets do this. She tried to find out if anyone out here was making the covers, said Bob Carroll, Millers husband. It didnt sound like anyone was, so she started making them. After searching everywhere she could for the right materials and patterns, including fabric shops, hobby stores, and the Internet, Miller got to work. Featured Local Savings She was only planning to make a couple, Carroll said. Next thing she knew, shes made 21 of them. Miller and Carroll, who live in Texas but have a condo in Manitou Springs, brought the covers with them to donate to the hospital. Despite its appearance, an isolette cover is not a blanket, and according to Havrilla, making one is a little more complicated than sewing a blanket or a T-shirt. The ideal cover, she said, would have a dark inner layer to dampen ambient sounds, and a quilted outer layer, preferably decorated. According to Miller, it takes about four hours to create a single cover. The collection she and her husband brought to Colorado from their Texas home represents nearly 100 hours of work. I have the experience, and I have the time, so I thought, Why not? she said. Miller, who plans to make a few more covers with the remaining materials she has, said she hopes other people will follow her example and make a few covers for the little ones at Childrens Hospital Colorado. They dont have to make a bunch, like I did, she said. Just one or two will make a difference. We could call it the Isolette Cover Challenge, Carroll said. Community members who would like to help can contact the hospitals Association of Volunteers at 719-305-7042 or cosdonations@childrenscolorado.org. TechCrunch Actress Emma Watson has made a previously undisclosed investment into the womens health company Hertility, bringing its total funding to more than $14 million, the company told TechCrunch in an interview on Monday. Dr Helen ONeill, the CEO and co-founder of Hertility, said she met Watson through one of her investors who felt that the actress's stance on womens rights would make her a natural fit as an investor. Kamala Harris appears in 2011 at a "Smart on Crime" policy summit at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, where she spoke about protecting the rights of victims of sex trafficking. (Associated Press) Twenty years ago, freshly elected as San Francisco's district attorney, Kamala Harris urged California lawmakers to crack down on child sex trafficking and warned that her fellow prosecutors had gotten it all wrong. Minors should not be arrested as "child prostitutes" and charged for their own abuse, she said, but deserved to be treated as victims who needed support. In one of her first acts as an elected official, Harris sponsored a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that increased penalties for adults who solicited sex from minors and was considered revolutionary for its push to transform children from criminals into victims. It would turn out to be an often-overlooked but significant moment in the political career of the now Democratic presidential nominee, a rare instance of Harris taking an early stand on an issue that many others both Democrats and Republicans would later follow. Read more: Bill Would Fight Child Prostitution Lawmakers cried hearing testimony in the California Capitol from teenagers sold for sex and imprisoned for it. Its a sea change in terms of how this issue has been dealt with through the ages, a celebratory Harris said in 2004 after the state Legislature approved the bill. Its finally in black and white, legislated, that adults cannot buy children for sex. A year later, Schwarzenegger signed another bill she sponsored that made human trafficking a felony and also made it easier for victims to get restitution. Arresting minors for prostitution in California would not officially be prohibited until Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law in 2016. How the state handles child sex trafficking is still a controversial debate being legislated in Sacramento though now more commonly spearheaded by Republicans. But advocates across the political spectrum in California credit Harris for helping create that "sea change" she predicted decades ago and for bringing a once under-the-radar crime to the bipartisan mainstream. "Everybody's on the bandwagon to show what they're doing about human trafficking now, but she was there when it started," said Maggy Krell, a former state prosecutor who worked with Harris to take down Backpage.com, a classifieds website that allegedly facilitated sex trafficking. "She really was an architect for that legal framework to hold perpetrators accountable and see victims as victims... which, frankly, just didn't exist before." In many other ways, Harris had been a cautious politician during her time in California, refusing to support a police accountability measure and declining to take a position on some criminal justice reforms. Read more: How will Kamala Harris vote on California's Prop. 36 to toughen some criminal penalties? She won't say Though she broke barriers as the first woman and first Black person elected as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general, she did not emphasize her race and gender. Harris' focus on sex trafficking, whose victims are primarily girls and women of color, was one of few instances where her identity was reflected in her public policy priorities. In 2016 as California attorney general, Harris was the first in the nation to criminally charge operators of Backpage, which raked in millions by offering "adult services." She called the website an online brothel" and sought pimping charges for its leaders, alleging that some victims were children. Republican Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton quickly followed suit. The complex case fizzled amid legal disputes over internet and free speech protections but the government pulled Backpage from the internet in 2018. New charges were filed, and just last month, founder Michael Lacey was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $3 million for money laundering. Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer, former owner James Larkin, COO Andrew Padilla, and former owner Michael Lacey were sworn in to testify at a Senate hearing in 2017 about the site's alleged facilitation of sex trafficking. (Cliff Owen / Associated Press) Long before Backpage, though, Harris aggressively lobbied law enforcement to reframe sex work involving minors a big swing to disrupt the status quo that required admitting that her peers had failed. She made child sex work a focus as she oversaw child abuse cases in San Francisco City Hall and opened a shelter for former child prostitutes in 2005. She helped lead an anti-human trafficking task force in 2007 as San Francisco district attorney and later did the same as attorney general. She supported legislation that ensured traffickers could not keep money reaped from their crimes and pushed for training for first responders to recognize if someone was being trafficked. While working in City Hall, she refused to use the term "child prostitute" a refrain that officials like Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell would push more than a decade later. "When it is a girl, a young girl under the age of 18, who is being trafficked, the law should not require that we prove that she was forced," Harris said at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco in 2010. "The fact of her age and her youth should be enough." Nationally, concerns about human trafficking were starting to catch on, with Republican President George W. Bush assembling the first national training conference on the issue in 2004 and warning that women and children were being forced into "a new form of slavery." But in California, Harris' stance was so rare that Lateefah Simon remembers shuddering when she got a call from her in the early 2000s when she was working for the San Francisco city attorney, scared that it meant someone was in trouble. Simon was working for the Young Women's Freedom Center, helping girls who were being trafficked get off San Francisco's streets. Under the leadership of then-Dist. Atty. Terence Hallinan, cops were arresting minors for prostitution and sending them to juvenile detention centers instead of helping them, Simon said. But to her surprise, Harris, who would replace Hallinan in 2004, was on their side. "Lateefah, they're being raped," Simon recalled Harris saying on that initial call. "My eyebrows rose a bit and I was like, she gets it." Lateefah Simon, who is now a Democratic candidate for Congress, worked with Harris to help sex trafficking victims in San Francisco. (San Francisco Chronicle via Getty) Simon agreed to meet with Harris and brought with her sex trafficking victims, including a 14-year-old girl who was pregnant. Harris leaned down, Simon said, cupped the girl's face in her hands and kissed her on the forehead: "I remember getting chills at that moment, like, she sees her." Harris' work on sex trafficking was a rare instance in which she took a position ahead of the curve and stuck with it in a long career where she has been criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike for dodging or flip-flopping on issues such as marijuana and fracking in order to win favor in the ever-changing political zeitgeist. "Mostly every step of the way she was playing it safe," said Rob Stutzman, a Republican strategist who worked for Schwarzenegger when he was governor. "She bounded around with so many positions and backtracked and so desperately contorted ... . She is more consistent now than she was then." Read more: The 'defunding' police debate and reimagining public safety: Kamala Harris' record on a fraught American issue Her advocacy also proved to be a smart political strategy, allowing her record to appear more moderate as she got tough on a crime that her progressive peers calling for less incarceration could not argue with: child abuse. Fifteen years after Harris supported the California legislation to help trafficked children, her political foe Donald Trump issued a similar executive order as president, declaring human trafficking a priority for the federal government and echoing her concerns about "modern slavery." Harris' balance of compassion for victims and ire for perpetrators and her background as a prosecutor was crucial in helping forge bipartisan approval on a politically tricky issue at a time when Democrats were resistant to stiffening criminal penalties and under pressure to address overcrowded prisons, said Kathleen Kim, a professor at Loyola Law School and a national expert on human trafficking. "It's undeniable that her support helped the bill become law. Her support was essential," said Kim, who worked on AB 22, the bill signed by Schwarzenegger in 2005 that she called "an incredibly progressive civil rights law" despite its increase of criminal penalties. Courtney Baldwin doesn't know Harris personally but spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last month in support of her because of her work to combat sex trafficking. Courtney Baldwin, youth organizer and human trafficking survivor, speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Baldwin, 31, was sold for sex across California when she was a teenager after spending time in the foster system and finding herself abruptly homeless at 17. In an act of desperation to survive, she turned to sex work at the recommendation of a friend. But a pimp who made money off of people like Baldwin using Backpage.com eventually controlled her every move, she said, "tormenting" her and insisting on sex work quotas. "I didn't have anything so I just relied on this new lifestyle. But it turned into: I had to do these things or else. I couldn't sleep until I went out. I couldn't eat until I did this," Baldwin said. "Everything became controlled. It felt like, damn, I'm never, ever going to get free." She did eventually get free, and is now a youth advocate in Florida. When she took the stage at the DNC last month, Baldwin gave a short speech about Harris' work to fight sex trafficking. Raising her hands as she addressed the massive convention hall, Baldwin said Harris has "protected people like me her whole life." California politics editor Laurel Rosenhall contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Vice President Kamala Harris told MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle that her job at McDonalds was not a small job. Harris added, I did the fries before the pair launched into a discussion about why the Democratic presidential candidate brought up her work history at McDonalds on the campaign trail in the first place. Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonalds is because there are people who work at McDonalds in our country who are trying to raise a family I worked there as a student, I was a kid who worked there trying to raise families and pay rent on that, Harris added. And I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility then is to meet those needs. As Ruhle noted, Donald Trump has been falsely accusing Harris of lying about working there, most recently at a Tuesday night campaign event in North Carolina. These claims are part of a broader effort by right wingers to spread the lie that Harris never worked at McDonalds. Of course, she did in fact work for one in Oakland, California in the summer of 1983, while still an undergraduate student at Howard University. But 4 years later, while she was in law school, she didnt list McDonalds on her resume when she applied for a job as a clerk in the Alameda County District Attorneys office. No, really, these people want you to think its suspicious that someone applying for a legal job wouldnt mention irrelevant fast food work years earlier. Thats literally all it is. You can watch the clip from Ruhles interview with Vice President Harris in the video above. The post Kamala Harris Tells MSNBC Working at McDonalds Was Not a Small Job: I Did the Fries | Video appeared first on TheWrap. WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the U.S.-Mexico border during a campaign stop in the critical battleground state of Arizona on Friday as immigration remains one of her biggest liabilities in the 2024 election. Harris is set to visit Douglas, Arizona, about 120 miles southeast of Tucson and home to Arizona's second largest port of entry along the southern border. A Harris campaign aide, who discussed the trip on the condition of anonymity, said Harris will speak about border security during the visit. The aide said Harris will emphasize she is "pushing the toughest bipartisan border security plan in a generation" and that former President President Donald Trump "killed it for political reasons." A USA TODAY/Suffolk University national poll this month found likely voters, by a 50%-47% margin, believe Trump, the Republican nominee, would do a better job handling immigration than Harris, the Democratic nominee. A Quinnipiac University poll this week found Trump with a wider 53%-45% edge on immigration. More: Harris, Trump to take part in dueling Univision town halls of Hispanic voters More: Biden said he needed Congress' help to 'shut down the border.' Now he's doing it anyway. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to El Paso, Texas to tour the U.S./Mexico border with Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas where she toured the border community. (Via OlyDrop) Harris has faced criticism from the Trump campaign over her role as Biden's point person overseeing efforts to stem migration at the southern border and address root causes. Trump has pushed for "mass deportations" of undocumented immigrants who are in the country illegally. He's also continually pushed for construction of a border wall. "After almost four years, Border Czar Kamala Harris has decided, for political reasons, that its time for her to go to our broken Southern Border," Trump wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. "What a disgrace that she waited so long, allowing millions of people to enter our Country from prisons, mental institutions, and criminal cells all over the World." As vice president, Harris previously visited the southern border during a 2021 trip to El Paso, Texas. President Joe Biden visited the southern border in Brownsville, Texas, in February, several months before he dropped out of the 2024 election. In the 2020 election, Biden narrowly won Arizona, which has 11 electoral votes up for grabs. Trump currently leads Harris in Arizona by 1.6 percentage points, according to the Real Clear Politics average of recent polls. "We have a broken immigration system, and it needs to be fixed," Harris said in an MSNBC interview Wednesday night. Looking to flip the script on a historically vulnerable issue for Democrats, Harris has attacked Trump for encouraging Republican senators earlier this year to block bipartisan border legislation backed by the Biden administration that included tough new restrictions for asylum seekers and additional resources for Border Patrol agents. "Donald Trump got on the phone, called up some folks in Congress, and said kill the bill," Harris said during her Sept. 10 debate with Trump. "And you know why? Because he preferred to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem." More: After record-breaking years, migrant crossings plunge at US-Mexico border After the legislation died in Congress, Biden took executive action in June to turn away migrants who do not enter the country through legal ports of entry anytime unlawful crossings hit an average of 2,500 people a day in a given week. As of August, migrant crossings had declined every month for the past five months after illegal crossings surged to their highest-ever level in 2023, with more than 300,000 irregular crossings in December alone. Early in the administration, Harris famously told migrants, "Do not come," echoing a Border Patrol talking point. Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @Joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: VP Harris to make campaign stop at US-Mexico border in Arizona WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Hurricane Helene is gaining strength as it bears down on Floridas Gulf coast. Helene is expected to make landfall late Thursday, and some people from Kansas are among the millions on the storms path. Zach Trotter and Whitney Ford attended college in Florida but grew up in the heart of Kansas. They said they were bracing for their first hurricane, which was very different from the tornadoes they grew up with here. Growing up in Clearwater, Trotter moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to run track at Florida State University. He said many family members back home are worried about his safety. So the word is scary, coming from Kansas, when I first heard it, I was like, man, Im really going to see hurricanes, but I talked to all them, told them were going to be alright, said Trotter. Fighting a frenzy of shoppers and preparing for Hurricane Helenes landfall, he stocked up on necessities. He said going to the store took a while. LIVE TRACKER: Whats the path of Hurricane Helene? It was crazy today. It was crazy. The line was probably about 50 people at self-checkout by the time I got to it. I was standing near the back of the store where the water and milk, and the line all the way to the front of the store by the doors, said Trotter. Ford, an Andale native, attends law school in Deland, Florida. Her apartment sits on the water, and shes been told she is in Evacuation Zone A. Friends have offered a place to shelter, but shes not nervous about the hurricanes arrival. I kind of want to see part of the storm. I think thats the Kansan tornado watcher in me, but I want to watch the streets flood a little bit before I get out of here, but I think Ill go over to their apartment soon, said Ford. She said shes only lived in Florida for a few months, but the people in her new community have extended a helping hand, preparing for Helene. Local first responders heading to Florida for Helene relief There are so many people that have their doors open. The whole class has a big group, and I cant even count the number of people that said, hey, if youre in the evacuation zone, my door is always open for you, said Ford. Both students said their universities have canceled classes for the remainder of the week. KSN spoke to a rep from the American Red Cross, who said three responders from Wichita and one from Maize were sent to Florida to help render aid during Hurricane Helene. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Alexandra Middlewood, chair of the political science department at Wichita State University, said Kansas Republicans may have been mistaken in gerrymandering left-leaning Lawrence into the 1st congressional district with immigrant youth of southwest Kansas. Eventually, she said during a Dole Institute forum, the GOP district might be competitive for Democratic candidates. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Dole Institute's YouTube channel) Alexandra Middlewood, chair of the political science department at Wichita State University, said Kansas Republicans may have been mistaken in gerrymandering left-leaning Lawrence into the 1st congressional district with immigrant youth of southwest Kansas. Eventually, she said during a Dole Institute forum, the GOP district might be competitive for Democratic candidates. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Dole Institute's YouTube channel) LAWRENCE Wichita State University political science chairwoman Alexandra Middlewood suspects Kansas Republicans made a tactical error by gerrymandering left-leaning Lawrence into the conservative, rural 1st congressional district that extends to the Colorado border. Lawrence was removed from the 2nd District of U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican, and buried in the 1st District controlled by hard-right GOP U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann. In exchange, LaTurner absorbed part of Democrat-rich Wyandotte County stripped from U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat. This remapping exercise was designed to undercut support for Davids, but she won reelection in 2022. Middlewood said during a Dole Institute of Politics forum Wednesday at the University of Kansas that continued population growth in Lawrence and emergence of young immigrant-family voters in portions of southwest Kansas could within eight years or so make the 1st District competitive for a Democrat. This is a little controversial, she said. For the past two years, Ive been telling my students that the Republican Party made a mistake by gerrymandering the 1st. Daniel Desrochers, the Washington correspondent for the Kansas City Star, said polarization of Congress made it difficult for politicians with massive districts to decide when to work for all residents of their district and when to concentrate on interests of just the people who voted for them. Its a conflict faced by Mann, who is responsible for a district encompassing all or part of 60 counties covering more than half of Kansas. Thats a difficult line members of Congress are walking right now, Desrochers said. It feels more and more that elections are leaking into the governing part. That makes balancing all of your constituents interests more difficult. Host Jonathan Shorman, the Stars lead political reporter, asked Desrochers and Middlewood why attempts to destabilize Davids werent more effective. Both said Davids worked diligently to connect with her new rural constituents in Miami, Franklin and Anderson counties. She also was appointed to the House Agriculture Committee and earned endorsement by the Kansas Farm Bureau. Shes done a really good job pitching herself to those rural voters to get more support in those counties than anybody expected, Middlewood said. Voters want to be listened to. They want to be heard. Desrochers said he spoke to a moderate Republican political operative about Davids, and her view was that Johnson County, the states most populous, would cling to Davids as long as former President Donald Trump led the Republican Party. Her take on it is as long as Trump is at the top of the ticket, Sharice Davids isnt going anywhere, he said. The moderate Republican voters of Johnson County dont really like whats going on in terms of where Trump is leading the Republican Party. Davids rival in 2024 is Republican Prasanth Reddy, who comes from an immigrant family, served in the military and worked as a cancer doctor. Reddy is really a political outsider, Middlewood said. He doesnt have political experience, and hes pushing that message to voters. Desrochers said it didnt appear the House GOPs leadership fund was prepared to pour cash into Kansas on Reddys behalf, which would follow the pattern set in 2022 when Davids beat GOP nominee Amanda Adkins. He just has a lot of institutional disadvantages to overcome, Desrochers said. The incumbent advantage is real. LaTurner, the 2nd district Republican, decided not to seek reelection in 2024. The November ballot pits Republican Derek Schmidt, the states former attorney general, against Democrat Nancy Boyda, who served a single term in the U.S. House after winning in 2006. After subtracting liberal and moderate voters of Lawrence, the 2nd District certainly leans in favor of Republican candidates. Boydas campaign in some ways tracked with the centrist messaging of Gov. Laura Kellys two successful campaigns for governor. Her ads literally showed her walking down the middle of a road. In 2018, Kelly defeated Republican Kris Kobach. Kelly repeated that feat in 2022, but this time outran Schmidt. Even in loss, that statewide campaign helped Schmidt in terms of his congressional campaign. Derek Schmidt is a really popular name, Middlewood said. In the 4th District held by Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, blue-collar voters of Sedgwick County have moved to the right for the benefit of Estes. That trend differed from Johnson County, which has a college-educated population drawn more to the Democratic Party. Desrochers said Estes, who is matched against Democrat Esau Freeman on the November ballot, is a conservative who often embraced populist legislation in Congress along with Mann. When Representative Estes is voting, hes often kind of siding with the wing of the Republican Party that views themselves as populists, Desrochers said. He said all the states congressional candidates found it a challenge to connect with undecided voters. The task often proved so complex, he said, candidates tended to focus on appealing to base voters and on turning out supporters on Election Day. To the people who follow politics, its kind of like: Who doesnt have an opinion by now? Desrochers said. These people tend to be low-information voters that are harder to reach. They might be picking based on vibes, you know, like: Would you get a beer with that person? From left, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz celebrate after Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Aug. 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) TOPEKA The Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska Conference of Teamsters endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz days after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse a presidential candidate in the November election. The conference cited Harris Senate voting record, Walz commitment to working families and the middle class and the pairs strong support of the labor movement as reasons to join hundreds of thousands of other union members in endorsing their campaign. The conference is made up of more than 15 locals and two joint councils one based in St. Louis and another in Kansas City, Missouri that voted along with the conferences executive board in favor of endorsing the Democratic ticket. The Teamsters union is Americas largest, with 1.3 million members and nearly 2,000 affiliates across the country. The Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska Conference accounts for roughly 400,000 active and retired members, whose careers range from zookeepers to airline pilots, as the conferences president, Mike Scribner, likes to put it. Union pride is strong in the heartland, and we need a president who is going to stand up to corporate greed and fight for the needs of our families and communities. The Harris-Walz team will do just that, Scribner said in the Sept. 20 endorsement letter. The brotherhoods member polls favored President Joe Biden before he dropped out of the race, but subsequent polls revealed majority support for former President Donald Trump. A lot of people get wound up with the social issues and the social platforms and social distractions. Thats not where the Teamsters attention is focused, Scribner told Kansas Reflector on Wednesday. He lauded Harris 2021 tiebreaking vote that authorized $36 billion in pandemic-era funds to be invested in the Teamsters Central States Pension Plan in her role as Senate President. That saved thousands from poverty, Scribner said. In his mind, Harris vote carried real weight because of the gravity of a potentially failed multiemployer pension plan, which had been on the brink for about a decade, he said. While breaking from the national group, the local Teamsters support of a Democratic ticket is on par with tradition. The union has endorsed the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 2000, exercising its vast network of workers. Many of them maintained employment, and even worked more than usual, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Scribner said. I dont know if the average person realizes when you click a button on the computer, thats probably a Teamster bringing what you ordered from start to finish, he said. The union announced its decision to refrain from endorsing a presidential candidate Sept. 18. It fielded criticism from its former president, and, in the days following, about a dozen locals and conferences endorsed Harris. Since the Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska conference announced its own endorsement, Scribner said he has heard input from both sides of the fence. We are the Teamsters in the heartland. We are representatives for those Teamsters, and an endorsement says just what it says, Scribner said. No more, no less. Kansas veteran served three tours in Vietnam, used training to become a federal agent WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A Kansas veteran served three tours in Vietnam and continued to serve his country for decades. Norris Marshall grew up in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. I had never seen a person of color. There was no vehicles on this island. No bars. Grocery stores, churches and that was it, said Marshall. Courtesy: Norris Marshall He volunteered for the draft in 1956 and got out after two years. I go back to this little island. I just didnt saw no livelihood for me there. I really didnt, said Marshall. After a month, he re-enlisted. Marshall ended up at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he met a Kansas woman named Eloise, who was serving as a dental hygienist in the Womens Army Corps. So we dated for a month or two, got serious, and I said, Eloise, I proposed to her. And she accepted, and we got married, said Marshall. Got married there at Fort Rucker. The Chaplin married us. Courtesy: Norris Marshall Together, they started a family. Marshall served as a driver for a two-star general, meeting senators and dignitaries before heading to intelligence school and later to flight school, where he trained on the Huey helicopter. Everybody that was going through flight school, the next destination was Vietnam, he said. In October 1966, he served his first of three tours in Vietnam. Combat is scary , said Marshall. He started in an air assault helicopter unit. Flew assaults, transported senior officers and did medevac. I was never shot down, but I had a lot of bullet holes in my helicopter, said Marshall. Sometimes, he would have to transport casualties. All the way back, youre thinking about all their families and whats happened to them, said Marshall. Somewhere back in the United States, two or three days from now, theyre going to be families that will be mourning these people.' Kansas veteran continues to serve after more than three decades On Easter Sunday in March 1967, then warrant officer Marshall was involved in a major operation to airlift Vietnamese soldiers. The enemy was just waiting for us, and they unloaded on us, he said. They made repeated trips from Vinh Long back to the Hot Zone. Several aircraft were shot down. It was very tragic, and this one pilot that got shot down was a warrant officer like me, said Marshall. The pilot was trapped, and the unit could not get to him. He laid in that landing zone for five or six hours, said Marshall. Marshall went back to dump ammo. Went back and flew into this landing zone, and it was still hot as, I mean, we were getting shot at big time, he said. Hours later, the officer was rescued but injured. He survived. The irony is that. Years later, when I got assigned to Fort Riley on my last assignment, I walk into a building where he sits. I about dropped my drawers, laughed Marshall. Courtesy: Norris Marshall His 22 years of service took him all over the country and Europe. Vietnam is a beautiful country. I got to see almost all of it, said Marshall. In 1978, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Norris Marshall retired from the army. I was at the young man. I was 39 years old, Marshall said. He and Eloise settled in Chapman, and he used his training to become a federal agent. Doing background investigations on individuals that ended high-security clearances, said Marshall. I met all walks of life and had it was a wonderful- it was a wonderful job. He was always happy to go to work. I will tell you that I never had a boss In the military or civil service that I disliked. I was very fortunate. I never got up every morning and didnt want to go to work. Never. That never occurred to me. I had good jobs and worked for good people, and I was blessed that way, said Marshall. Kansas Air Force veteran went on over 700 flights across the world He and Eloise were married just shy of 60 years. She died a couple of years ago after a battle with cancer. She never met anybody that she couldnt get along with. She had that ability. Honest to God. That was one of her main characteristics, said Marshall. When he returned from the war, he, like many other veterans, received a lot of anger. I mean, we were treated like dirt. You may get spit on. You didnt never want to wear your uniform out to a restaurant, said Marshall. Today, hes appreciative of a very different reception from the public than when he first returned from Vietnam. Not a day goes by that I wear that Vietnam service cap that somebody dont come up to me and say thank you for your service,' said Marshall. If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, email KSN at news@ksn.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. As Indian-administered Kashmir prepared for assembly elections earlier this month, a local MP returned home from a Delhi prison to campaign for his candidates. Who is he and why does his return matter to the region's politics? Auqib Javeed reports from Srinagar. Sheikh Abdul Rashid, who had been in jail since Article 370 was abrogated in 2019, was granted interim bail earlier this month on terror funding charges he denies. The 57-year-old, who is popularly known as Engineer Rashid, has urged people to vote for his candidates instead of regional or national parties. His Awami Ittehad Party has fielded candidates in more than three dozen seats. The high-stakes assembly elections are the first since the region's autonomy was revoked in 2019. With 873 candidates across 90 constituencies in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and Hindu-majority Jammu, the elections have been described by federal officials as a proof of normalcy in a region long plagued by insurgency. The third and last phase of the polls will be held on Tuesday and votes will be counted on 8 October. Kashmir's politics, dominated by mainstream parties pledging allegiance to India, has had a history of individuals and groups seeking separation from the country or enhanced autonomy for Kashmir, with some of them supporting an armed movement to achieve that. Some separatist groups in the past have also backed Pakistan's role in Kashmir. India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in full, but control only parts of it. But this assembly election has seen participation of many former separatist leaders as well. Rashid has chosen to be part of the democratic process but has been vocal against what he calls Delhi's "heavy-handed" rule in Kashmir. He is known for his fiery speeches, and leading protests in unconventional ways against alleged government excesses, often irking authorities. He made waves in June when he defeated regional political heavyweight Omar Abdullah in parliamentary elections. While he was lodged in jail, his sons led an emotionally charged and successful campaign on his behalf. But this time he is able to speak to voters directly and he has also smartly used social media to amplify his messages. Within hours of being released on 11 September, Rashid told the media that he was going to fight against the removal of Article 370. The article allowed the state its own constitution, a separate flag and freedom to make laws. Foreign affairs, defence and communications remained the preserve of the federal government. "We dont accept Prime Minister [Narendra Modi's] decision taken on 5 August [2019], he said, referring to the day when the autonomy was abrogated. He then went live on Facebook, repeating similar messages. The hour-long speech currently has more than 2.5m views, 44,000 likes and 25,000 comments an unusually high number for a regional politician. Rashids popularity worries his regional opponents, who have termed him a proxy of Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Two former chief ministers of the state and the heirs of leading regional parties, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, have publicly questioned his partys funding and alleged that he was dividing voters to favour the BJP. He has repeatedly denied the allegations. "If I were a BJP man, I wouldnt have spent over five years in jail, he told the BBC. "I won [almost] 500,000 votes in the general elections, how could I be dividing votes?". Prof Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a political analyst, said Rashid's release from jail just days before the elections did give his opponents a pretext to accuse him of collusion with the BJP-run federal government in Delhi. Despite these allegations, his win in the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail has given him an unprecedented credibility in the eyes of the locals, he said. Rashid has also worked hard to carefully craft his image. Unlike the valleys prominent leaders who have established political lineages, Rashid has managed to establish an image of a common mans politician who doesnt shy away from taking on authorities. In 2012, he attempted to bring dozens of dogs into the state secretariat as a protest against the government's inaction on the growing canine menace in his constituency, where numerous dog bite incidents had been reported. "I hope the ministers and bureaucracy now understand the seriousness of the issue," he said at the time. But Rashids bluntness and candour have also landed him in trouble. In 2015, he hosted a beef party to protest a ban on the slaughter of cows, considered sacred by many Hindus, in several states. A day later, members of the BJP, then a part of the states ruling coalition, assaulted him in the assembly. A few days later, members of a Hindu group outraged by the "beef party" attacked him at Delhis Press Club, dousing his face with ink as he protested the lynching of a Kashmiri truck driver accused of cow smuggling in Jammu. Rashids unusual protests have often addressed the alleged human rights violations in the Kashmir valley, a charge that the federal government denies. On International Human Rights Day in 2015, his party marched through Srinagar with a cow, a mule, a goat, and a dog, holding placards saying, Animals have more rights than people in Kashmir. He and other leaders were detained. His family members say they are not surprised by his politics as he had a rebellious nature since childhood. He used to protest against the human rights violations, presence of military bunkers, forced labour by the army," said his brother Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh. In 2008, he resigned from his government job as an engineer to contest assembly elections, winning twice in a row as an independent candidate. Once elected to the state assembly, he gained recognition across Kashmir for protesting against what he called the governments anti-people policies, analysts say. The element of protest makes him popular. He has been a crowd-puller since he entered politics, said Noor Mohammad Baba, a political analyst based in Kashmir. His jail term has intensified public interest in his rallies, he added. At a recent rally, an enthusiastic group of men assembled to listen to him. Some of them were curious onlookers hoping to see the man in the news, and some were his fans. Did the allegations of Rashid being a proxy of Delhi bother them? Almost all the regional parties have been in an alliance with the BJP [in the past]. They arent in a position to allege him of complicity with the BJP, said Rafiq Ahmad, a businessman. People want to give Rashid a chance and see what he does. Rashid spoke and demanded a resolution to the Kashmir conflict and an end to the use of anti-terror laws to put Kashmiris in jail. Young men shouted in unison in support. Within minutes, Rashid was on his way to his next public meeting. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is working with the Neodesha Police Department and the Wilson County Sheriffs Office after skeletal remains were found in Wilson County. The KBI said the NPD requested its help around 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 24 after they located the remains in a pasture east of the 6500 block of Ottawa Road in Neodesha. This embedded content is not available in your region. U.S. Marshals find missing Las Vegas child in Augusta The KBI responded, and investigators confirmed the remains were human. An autopsy is scheduled. Positive identification may take longer than typical cases due to the condition of the remains. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Although members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared wary on Tuesday of finding a large swath of the government can be deemed a "criminal justice agency," they also recognized lawmakers used broad language to seemingly sweep public entities into that category. The case at hand questions whether the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board, as the agency that certifies and decertifies law enforcement officers, is a criminal justice agency. If so, its records are subject to more stringent disclosure guidelines. Previously, the state's Court of Appeals concluded POST met the definition of a criminal justice agency. Its collection and storage of criminal records during the decertification process fulfilled the requirement that a criminal justice agency "performs any activity" related to criminal records. Complicating matters, the Supreme Court recognized many professional licensing agencies that have nothing to do with policing may also come into contact with criminal history documents. Still, members of the court seemed to accept that even minimal handling of criminal records would count as "any activity." The legislature "has written our criminal justice records law in much broader terms than a number of other states have. And that was their choice," said Justice Melissa Hart. "In some other instance say the Dental Board was here, instead of POST we might be saying, 'Huh, is this really what they meant?' And that might be the absurd-result case. But that's not what we have here." The case, spurred by the reporting of Christopher N. Osher at The Gazette in Colorado Springs and of the Invisible Institute in Chicago, implicates the wide discretion government agencies have to deny open records requests when they fall under the label of "criminal justice agency." Clarity Media Group, the parent company of Colorado Politics, also owns The Gazette and The Denver Gazette. Osher leads the investigative team of the Gazette family of newspapers. Beginning in 2019, Osher and the Invisible Institute sent a series of requests to POST seeking data about the law enforcement officers certified and decertified in Colorado. The Department of Law, which is home to POST, determined the requests were subject to the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, which allows for greater withholding of information than the state's primary disclosure law, the Colorado Open Records Act. "Publicly disclosing the names of peace officers in response to your request threatens harm to ongoing investigations and to the safety of peace officers," a spokesperson for the attorney general's office wrote in response to one request. The Gazette and the Invisible Institute then asked a judge to find the government had abused its discretion by failing to balance the privacy interests of officers with the public's interest. Also, they maintained POST could not be a criminal justice agency because it actually operated more akin to a licensing agency like the state's Dental Board or Department of Motor Vehicles. Denver District Court Judge J. Eric Elliff agreed POST was a criminal justice agency and that the records custodian acted within her discretion by denying the request. The plaintiffs appealed to the Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel appeared uncomfortable that any state body handling criminal records as part of its licensing duties is legally a criminal justice agency with a robust shield over all its files. Nonetheless, they conceded the broad language about the collection and storage of criminal records applied to POST's revocation process for peace officers. Featured Local Savings "In doing so, the General Assembly sought to convey that a criminal justice agency is one that performs any of the enumerated activities," wrote Judge Robert D. Hawthorne. During oral arguments to the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs maintained it made no sense to deem agencies that have any interaction with criminal records a criminal justice agency. But Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr. pointed out the director of POST testified he occasionally investigates officers' alleged misconduct using law enforcement techniques. "It just says 'any activity' any activity," Samour emphasized. At the same time, "I dont know if you ask the average person on the street, 'Is the Dental Board a criminal justice agency?' most people would say yes to that," said Chief Justice Monica M. Marquez. Some justices wondered if it was possible to deem a governmental body a criminal justice agency based on some threshold of activity relating to criminal records. "Does that impact how we analyze this? If its 2%, 5%, 10% of what they do?" asked Justice Brian D. Boatright. No, responded Assistant Solicitor General Brittany Limes Zehner, because of the words "any activity." At the same time, she acknowledged lawmakers may want to re-evaluate the sweeping nature of the definition. "Ultimately, thats our General Assembly's prerogative to decide," said Zehner. "And to the extent the legislature wants to take another look at that, that's their prerogative. But its not for this court to rewrite the statute." Unusually, the court and the parties repeatedly invoked an entity that was not part of the litigation the Dental Board when exploring the potential absurdity of deeming the board a criminal justice agency for records purposes just because its licensing activities touch on applicants' criminal histories. In response to an email from Colorado Politics, the Dental Board declined to say whether it considers itself a criminal justice agency. The case is The Gazette et al. v. Bourgerie. KCs interim fire chief has had job nearly 2 years. More qualified applicants ask why Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com. When former Kansas City Fire Chief Donna Lake retired in January 2023, City Manager Brian Platt picked assistant chief Ross Grundyson as her interim replacement while the city conducted a nationwide search for Lakes successor. Though he had risen through the ranks for 27 years, Grundyson lacked the minimum qualifications for the full-time chief job he had no college degree and a city news release said he would not be in the running for the permanent Chief position. But now nearly two years later, Grundyson, 56, is still leading the department, and the city has set no deadline for replacing him with any of the multiple applicants for the permanent role who did have the required credentials yet were never interviewed for the job. That time lag and the fact that city officials have, without explanation, dropped the interim in Grundysons title when referring to him in official communications has job applicants wondering why. Several of them have hired attorneys who are taking the procedural steps necessary to file discrimination lawsuits, The Star has learned. One lawyer speaking on background to discuss potential litigation criticized the citys bait and switch approach during the hiring process. Potential applicants, many of whom were women or people of color, were told they would not be considered for the permanent chief position if they applied for the interim job. Now as they see it, Grundyson, who is white, has become the de facto chief, having served in that job far longer than any other interim chief in modern history, based on a check of newspaper articles dating back to the 1970s. They did not apply for interim chief because they were told they could not be chief (if they did), that lawyer said. The procedures and application process (the city) set out is appalling. The department has long been accused of bias and favoritism in its hiring and promotion practices, as well as fostering a hostile work environment for those not part of the white, male demographic group that has shaped the departments culture for many decades, according to a report the city commissioned after The Star published a series of articles in 2020 about racism and sexism within the KCFD. That series also prompted an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation into whether the fire department is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against Black individuals in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discrimination lawsuits filed by current and former firefighters have cost the city more than $4.8 million in the past two decades. The latest settlement, approved this week, was for $1.3 million to a 61-year-old lesbian firefighter who claimed she was harassed for years on the basis of her age, gender and sexual orientation. Why the holdup? Normally, Kansas City fire chiefs are replaced within a few months, with 10 months being the longest gap between Rick Brisbins retirement at the end of 1999 and Smokey Dyers hiring in October 2000. Grundyson was appointed interim chief 20 months ago. He did not respond to text or voice messages left on his phone Thursday. The city has issued no statements on the search for a new fire chief since that initial one announcing Lakes retirement. But without making a public announcement, the city quietly suspended its search last December, according to a form letter obtained by The Star that was sent to applicants and signed by the citys talent acquisition manager, LaToya Black. The Fire Chief recruitment has been temporarily paused and it is anticipated that the hiring process will likely resume in April or May 2024, the letter said. But Black offered no explanation for why the city was delaying hiring a new fire chief. When applicants sought further explanation, they learned that the city was putting off the search until a new labor contract with the International Association of Firefighters Local 42 was negotiated. City press secretary Sherae Honeycutt also cited union negotiations as the reason for the delay last February when a reporter asked why no replacement had been found for Lake by then. The previous union contract was set to expire that May, which was no secret when the search for a chief began. Negotiations did not wrap up until this August, when the City Council ratified a contract that Mayor Quinton Lucas said guaranteed firefighters better pay and a number of initiatives addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the department. The Star submitted an open records request for a copy of that contract more than one month ago, but the citys law department has refused to provide a copy, claiming the contract would remain a closed record until it was executed. City officials did not say when that might be accomplished or elaborate on what the nature of the holdup was. Moreover, officials did not respond to requests from The Star and others for an explanation on why it was important to suspend the search for a new chief while the union contract was being negotiated. I couldnt understand it, said one applicant, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to an ongoing legal matter concerning the city. I dont know why you wouldnt want to have a chief in place before you start negotiating with the union. The chief is going to have to uphold the contract, right? So, to say that youre putting off finding the chief so you have continuity in the contract makes no sense whatsoever. Qualified candidates kept in the dark In an advertisement on ziprecruiter.com since deleted, the city said the fire chief job required the minimum of a bachelors degree with a major in fire science, business administration, public administration or a related field. But a masters degree in fire and emergency management, public administration or a related field was preferred. Grundyson has neither. In a court deposition he gave in 2020 as part of a lawsuit over alleged discrimination within the fire department, Grundyson said he attended college for three years in the 1990s but did not graduate. He joined the fire department in 1996. The Star has confirmed the names of several applicants, both from inside and outside the department. All have either masters or doctorate degrees. One applicant who retired from the department a couple of years ago has a doctorate, and another current employee who applied has a masters degree both in related fields noted in the job description. Other applicants included the former chiefs of fire departments in Baltimore and Oakland, California, and an assistant chief with the Dallas Fire Department, all of whom are Black. Kansas Citys department has had only one non-white chief in its 156-year history. Ed Wilson, a Black firefighter who joined the department before it was desegregated in 1958, was chief from 1980 to November 1989. Lake was the only woman appointed to the job and was chief for just over three years. Interim or chief? One outstanding question is: What exactly is Grundysons current employment status? Is he the fire chief or still the interim chief? Honeycutt did not provide a direct response to requests asking for clarification other than to say that the hiring process to pick a new fire chief will begin again in a few weeks. Sometime after sending the letter announcing it was suspending the chief search, the city stopped referring to Grundyson as the fire departments interim chief in its news releases and meeting agendas, which it had done through 2023. The citys human resources department lists him as a department director. And the fire departments latest organizational chart put out in September has him in the top as simply fire chief. While editing a recent public statement concerning the on-duty death of firefighter Kyle Brinker, Platt and Mayor Quinton Lucas insisted that interim be removed from Grundysons title, according to two sources with knowledge of the editing process. Lucas declined comment through press secretary Jazzlyn Johnson and deferred comment to Honeycutt, who did not offer a response on Platts behalf. Grundysons current salary is $194,388, the city said, which is roughly equal to what Lake was earning when she left. DODGE CITY, Kan. (KSNW) The Kansas Corporation Commission has given conditional approval for transmission lines connecting wind and solar farms to the Grain Belt Express. One proposed line would run 46 miles through parts of Ford, Meade, and Gray Counties. The other is a 16-mile line that would run through Ford County only. The approval conditions require that Grain Belt LLC, the company behind the transmission line, conduct an analysis of the proposed Meade-Dodge City line to an alternate route called the Boyd Alternative 2. Helene now a Cat 3 hurricane; unsurvivable storm surge expected in parts of Florida This map shows the proposed Meade-Dodge City line highlighted in Yellow (courtesy KCC) This map shows the Boyd Alternative Route 2 map (courtesy KCC) Additional conditions to the approval include allowing Grain Belt LLC to micro-site the proposed route, which would limit modifications within 660 feet. This would mean less land taken away from landowners to build the lines and minimize environmental and engineering impacts The study must be submitted by Jan. 25, 2025. A second public hearing and comment period will then be scheduled to allow property owners to comment on both routes. In addition, Grain Belt is not allowed to install transmission facilities on easement property until it has an interconnect agreement with one or more of the power generators near the transmission lines. Also, if the company does not sign an interconnect agreement within five years of obtaining easement on land through eminent domain, the land is returned to the property owner within 60 days, and the property owner will keep the original payment they received for the land. Grain Belt must also submit detailed Kansas-specific protocols governing its relationships with affected oil and gas lease production operators for the KCCs approval. The full order from the KCC is at the bottom of this story. Last month, Pawnee County residents met to discuss concerns over the U.S. Department of Energys preliminary list of National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs). The Midwest-Plains corridor would run through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, and the Grain Belt Express would be connected to the corridor. Map is a rough approximation for illustrative purposes only. (Courtesy: U.S. Department of Energy) Map is a rough approximation for illustrative purposes only. (Courtesy: U.S. Department of Energy) KSN Graphic KSN Graphic The Kansas Farm Bureau sent KSN News the following statement today in connection to the proposed NIETC through Kansas: Kansas Farm Bureau has been engaged on National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) issues for nearly two years. Based on our grassroots policy, we have opposed the NIETC process, and we have opposed both of the proposed NIETC corridors in Kansas. More specifically, we oppose the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission being given backstop authority to override decisions made by our state regulators, and we oppose the use of eminent domain within these corridors. We have voiced our concerns over the 5-mile width of the proposed Midwest-Plains corridor, which overlaps the path of the already-approved Grain Belt Express transmission line, and because of feedback like ours, Invenergy has submitted a request to the Department of Energy (DOE) to reduce the width of that proposed corridor to a half-mile span. KFB is hopeful DOE considers these requests in its review and will continue to engage with all entities to either eliminate the proposed NIETC designations in Kansas or make them as narrow as possible. The next phase of the NIETC designation process will involve DOE-led community engagement. We encourage our members, and other potentially affected landowners, to thoughtfully participate in this process and voice their concerns. When we learn more about that engagement process, we will share it. If you would like to offer your comments to the Department of Energy for consideration, please do so at NIETC@hq.doe.gov. If you want to learn more about this and other current transmission issues, and our advocacy efforts, visit our Legal Foundation website. President Joe Newland Kansas Farm Bureau To learn more about the energy corridor, click here. Order_Granting_Siting_Permit_with_ConditionsDownload Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. The 83-page court document says Express Scripts is at the center of the opioid dispensing chain. (Photo by Getty Images) Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has sued a pharmacy benefits manager he says played a role in worsening the deadly opioid crisis in Kentucky. The complaint, filed in Jessamine County Circuit Court Wednesday, names Express Scripts and affiliates as defendants and targets alleged practices over the last two decades. The opioid crisis was fueled and sustained by those involved in the supply chain of opioids, with manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, and Pharmacy Benefit Managers including Express Scripts, each playing a role, Coleman wrote in the suit. The 83-page court document says Express Scripts is at the center of the opioid dispensing chain. It also accuses the company of colluding with Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers in the deceptive marketing of opioids in order to alter perceptions of opioids and increase their sales, among other things. It also accuses the company of: Colluding with Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers to restrict or eliminate utilization management tools on national formularies that would have limited opioid prescribing and/or dispensing. Deciding not to act on the vast amount of data and other information they had about the epidemic in order to limit the overflow of opioids into communities throughout the United States, including in Kentucky. Dispensing prescription opioids through their mail order pharmacies without effective controls against diversion, in violation of Kentucky law and federal law. A spokesperson for Express Scripts parent company, Evernorth, has not yet responded to a Lantern request for comment. The lawsuit says its purpose is to abate public nuisance caused in substantial part by these Defendants unreasonable acts and omissions fueling the opioid epidemic. Express Scripts central role in the opioid crisis was facilitated by their unique combination of knowledge and power that provided them with the extraordinary ability to control the opioid supply throughout the United States. He is seeking a jury trial, among other relief. The opioid-fueled drug crisis is the greatest tragedy of our lifetime. It has stolen loved ones, drained scarce public resources and inflicted generational harm on Kentucky communities large and small, Coleman said in a statement. Express Scripts and the other pharmacy benefit managers amassed an unprecedented level of power, using it to push opioid pills and conceal unlawful activity. They must be held to account for profiting off Kentucky families pain. Read Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Express Scripts KY_PBM Complaint 24-CI-00594 FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) The Kentucky Senate majority spokesperson released a statement Wednesday with a health update on Sen. Johnny Turner, a Republican from Harlan. Turner went to the hospital on Sept. 15 after driving his lawn mower into an empty swimming pool at his home. RELATED: Kentucky lawmaker critically injured in lawn mower accident The statement said Turner is improving physically. However, he remains in the ICU. Turner was elected to the Senate in 2020 and served in the Kentucky House from 1999 to 2002. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: The spokesperson continued to ask for prayers for Turners recovery. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Kentucky man hit, killed by commercial truck while loading vehicle on I-64. Driver charged A Kentucky man was struck and killed Wednesday while trying to load a disabled vehicle onto a wrecker, according to Kentucky State Police. The collision happened in Bath County. The driver, 54-year-old Troy Caldwell, of Morehead, was loading a vehicle onto a rollback-type wrecker on Interstate 64 when a commercial truck hit him, according to a release. State police received a call about the collision at 5:17 p.m. Caldwell was pronounced dead at the scene. State police charged the driver of the commercial vehicle, Shodmon Yuldashev, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y., with tampering with physical evidence in connection with the wreck. Police did not say in the news release how Yuldashev allegedly tampered with evidence. Vendors hauling their goods travel on a rocky, cliff-lined road to avoid gangs in the Port-au-Prince area (Clarens SIFFROY) (Clarens SIFFROY/AFP/AFP) Kenya will complete by January its full deployment of a stabilization force in violence-torn Haiti, President William Ruto said Thursday, as he appealed for greater funding to assist other contributing countries. Funding for the mission to combat widespread lawlessness and gangsterism has been a sticking point, with the UN previously calling the level of commitments "unacceptable." "Kenya will deploy the additional contingent towards attaining the target of all the 2,500 police officers by January next year," Ruto said in a speech to the UN General Assembly. "Kenya and other Caribbean and African countries are ready to deploy, but are hindered by insufficient equipment, logistics and funding," he said. "I appeal to all member states to stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti by providing necessary support, either directly to MSS contributing countries or through the UN trust fund," he said, using the acronym for the Multinational Security Support Mission. Criminal gangs control more than 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince, as well as key roads around the country. Haitian interim prime minister Garry Conille warned Wednesday that "we're nowhere near winning this" as he stressed the battle against the gangs would not be won without outside help. The United States announced on Wednesday $160 million of new aid for Haiti, bringing the amount of US aid to the troubled Caribbean country to $1.3 billion since 2021. The coordinator of Haiti's transitional council, Edgard Leblanc Fils, said his country still needed "much more in terms of personnel and also equipment to be able to solve the security problems and allow elections to take place." Washington on Wednesday also announced sanctions against two Haitians. abd-sct-gw/st Vendors hauling their goods travel on a rocky, cliff-lined road to avoid gangs in the Port-au-Prince area (Clarens SIFFROY) (Clarens SIFFROY/AFP/AFP) Kenya is aiming to complete its full deployment of a stabilization force in violence-torn Haiti by January, President William Ruto said Thursday, as Haiti's leader suggested making it a UN peacekeeping mission. The three-month-old security force to combat spiraling insecurity in the Caribbean nation is currently a Kenyan-led multinational policing operation, and changing it into a UN-mandated force would require a Security Council vote. "Kenya will deploy the additional contingent towards attaining the target of all the 2,500 police officers by January next year," Ruto said in a speech to the UN General Assembly. "Kenya and other Caribbean and African countries are ready to deploy, but are hindered by insufficient equipment, logistics and funding," he said. Ruto called on member states to "stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti by providing necessary support." Criminal gangs control more than 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince, as well as key roads around the country. - Powerful gangs - Edgard Leblanc Fils, the head of Haiti's transitional council, told the General Assembly Thursday he "would like to see a thought being given to transforming the security support mission into a peacekeeping mission under the mandate of the United Nations." Leblanc Fils said that such a change would allow for the challenge of funding the mission to be resolved, while helping "to strengthen the commitment of member states to security in Haiti." "I am convinced that this change of status, whilst recognizing that the errors of the past cannot be repeated, would guarantee the full success of the mission in Haiti," he said. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, which deployed from 2004 to 2017, was tarnished by accusations of sexual abuse by peacekeepers and the force's accidental introduction of cholera, which killed some 10,000 people. The United States has also backed consideration of putting the new force under the UN flag to ensure a predictable source of funding. But the move faces daunting odds in the Security Council, where China and Russia hold veto power. A draft UN Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the security mission contains a call "to consider" transforming the deployment into a UN-mandated peacekeeping mission. It is due to be debated Monday. Haitian interim prime minister Garry Conille warned Wednesday that "we're nowhere near winning this" as he stressed the battle against the gangs would not be successful without outside help. The United States announced on Wednesday $160 million of new aid for Haiti, bringing the amount of US aid to the troubled Caribbean country to $1.3 billion since 2021. Leblanc Fils said his country still needed "much more in terms of personnel and also equipment to be able to solve the security problems and allow elections to take place." Washington on Wednesday also announced sanctions against two Haitians linked to the country's powerful gangs. abd-sct-gw/des Coffins are arranged before a memorial service for the pupils who died after a fatal fire at the Hillside Endarasha Academy within Kieni in Nyeri County Coffins are arranged before a memorial service for the pupils who died after a fatal fire at the Hillside Endarasha Academy within Kieni in Nyeri County By Thomas Mukoya and Monicah Mwangi NYERI, Kenya (Reuters) -Grieving relatives and former classmates bid a solemn farewell on Thursday to 21 children who died in a boarding school fire in central Kenya earlier this month, laying nine of them to rest in small white coffins. Dozens of children carrying floral wreaths led funeral processions for the boys from Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri town, who were aged between nine and 13. They were trapped in their dormitory as the blaze spread through the building on Sept. 6.Kenya has a sad history of school fires. There were more than 60 cases of arson in public secondary schools in 2018, according to the most recently available government data. Thousands of mourners earlier attended a memorial ceremony for the young victims, whose photographs were displayed on top of coffins, along with flower bouquets. "These young souls, innocent. Young boys," Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said at the service. "Our heart cries for them." It is not yet known what caused the blaze, but researchers say many similar fires have been set by students protesting harsh discipline and poor conditions. In 2017, ten girls lost their lives in a high-profile fire at a school dormitory in Nairobi. A teenage student was charged with manslaughter for committing arson. Maryanne Mwangi's 14-year-old daughter, Virlear, was among the victims in 2017. News of the latest fire infuriated Mwangi, who said the government had done nothing to improve conditions in schools during the intervening years. "I (didn't) want to look at social media because I'm telling myself, 'it can't be happening again,'" she told Reuters. "I always prayed Bubbles will be the last child who will die of a school fire," Mwangi said, using her daughter's nickname. Kenyan boarding schools often impose too many strict rules, creating discontent that lead some teenagers to commit arson so they could go home, Mwangi said. "Our schools are a school of rules. It's actually like a military camp," she said. (Reporting by Monicah Mwangi and Thomas Mukoya in Nyeri; Writing by Sonia Rao; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly, Hereward Holland) The dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Academy was completely destroyed by fire, killing 21 (Raphael AMBASU) (Raphael AMBASU/AFP/AFP) As Kenya mourns 21 children killed in a boarding school fire this month, anxious parents are left wondering why the country suffers so many similar tragedies. A mass is planned Thursday for the boys, aged nine to 13, killed in an overnight fire in their dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Academy in central Kenya on September 6. It was a particularly horrific incident -- the victims burnt beyond recognition, requiring DNA to be identified. But school fires are far from rare in Kenya -- there have been more than a dozen this year alone. There were 63 arson cases at schools recorded in 2018, and no less than 117 in just a three-month period in 2016. Most seem to target boarding schools, of which Kenya has thousands as a colonial legacy of missionaries and the British. Many parents still see boarding schools as prestigious and practical. Silvana Wachira, a 47-year-old receptionist, put her three children in a boarding school near Nairobi to spare them from the city's infernal traffic. "But it is not worth the lives of my babies," she said, adding that the accounts from Hillside "broke my heart into pieces". Phineas Ojwang', whose 11-year-old attends a primary school 400 kilometres (250 miles) away from his home in western Kenya, told AFP he will likewise pull his daughter out at the end of the year. "I sleep a worried man. I have the matron on speed dial to check on my daughter," he told AFP. - Arson - Investigators have yet to say what caused the Hillside fire, but the power company has ruled out an electrical fault. In many cases, the children are to blame. In 2017, 10 children died in a fire at a prestigious Nairobi school. A 14-year-old with a history of clashes with the school was eventually found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. Pupils were also accused after a 2001 dormitory fire in the southern county of Machakos killed 67. A 2017 report by Kenya's National Crime Research Centre blamed exam stress and long terms, and said students in different schools were communicating via smuggled phones, leading to copycat acts. In the two days after the Hillside tragedy, there were at least two more fires at boarding schools in other counties. "Fires are contagious," said Pius Masai Mwachi, a former acting director of Kenya's national disaster management unit. He said students often shared their frustrations with each other, encouraging what he called "young criminals" to vent them through arson. But "school staff and outsiders" were also sometimes responsible, Mwachi added. - Enforcement - The government has promised a safety audit of all schools and to prosecute violators. But critics say they hear the same promises after every tragedy. Most schools lack access to experts who could help prevent such incidents, said Mwachi. "Institutions must periodically conduct emergency training and drills," he told AFP, calling for "100 percent enforcement" of safety guidelines. There have also been repeated calls to ban boarding schools, especially at primary level, with suggestions that abandonment issues could be partly to blame. Whatever the causes, Ojwang' said he will no longer take the risk with his daughter. "I am counting the days to the end of term. It will be her last day in boarding school," he said. ho/er/sbk DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Some families have chosen to stay and weather the storm as Hurricane Helene prepares to hit Florida. 2 NEWS spoke with a Kettering resident of 40 years who has a home in Florida. She says shes staying put despite the warnings. Ohio Task Force 1 announces deployment The Waizmann family went down to Florida two weeks ago. They say that they are in a zone that is not expected to get the brunt of Helene. While they are still being cautious, the family says they are in good shape to wait out the storm. Paula Waizmann says she and her husband live in Sarasota, a zone that has not been given the order to evacuate. We left Dayton two weeks ago! And we have a dog and a cat, and I am not getting into the car with them again, and I am also not in a flood zone. I have been in one hurricane about six years ago, and the patio umbrella blew over. And that was it, said Waizmann. She says theyre stocked on supplies and have even received packages from concerned friends. I have a friend that hilariously sent us MREs the first year we moved here, said Waizmann. They stocked up at the right time, as Florida residents have been filling up and emptying out the grocery stores. I mean, there is no water on the shelves. And people are crazy. I mean there was a three-hour line for sandbags. And I get that. But I got cat litter, Im good. Its kind of nuts because people do start hoarding, said Waizmann Even if the storm takes out power, she says she has the tools needed to get by. I still get airflow. I still have my old windows. So Ill still get airflow, but I dont relish the fact I will not get air conditioning, said Waizmann. Criminal charges filed against Trump, Vance for false claims against Haitian community Even with her friends and family back home urging her to return, she is staying in her home away from home in Sarasota. Yes, so Im staying. Im in. Ive got clean clothes for seven days. I went through the hurricane preparedness list, said Waizmann. Waizmann says that right now in Florida, her neighbors are not sure what they can expect. She will keep a close eye on any updates Helene might bring. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. All six of the suspects tied to the viral Aurora apartment video that made national news have been identified, according to the Aurora Police Department. Investigators have positively identified the three remaining suspects shown in the video men with guns minutes before a fatal shooting. Arrest warrants for two of those three are being written while investigators are building additional facts about the third remaining suspect, the department said Wednesday. The fatal shooting occurred outside The Edge at Lowry at East 12th Avenue and Dallas Street at about 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 18. Through security camera footage, six men were seen banging on an apartment door with both handguns and rifles. The men then entered the unit and threatened the residents, authorities said. Around 10 minutes later, the fatal shooting occurred. The video quickly made national headlines, emphasizing the potential gang activity at the complex. The property owner claimed that Tren de Aragua (TDA), the Venezuelan prison gang, had taken over the complex. On Friday, the Aurora Police Department publicly announced Operation Safe Haven the operation tied to investigating the fatal shooting and potential burglaries caught on video. Featured Local Savings Police obtained arrest warrants for Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta, 20, and Naudi Lopez Fernandez, 21, on charges of first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm. Lopez-Fernandez is in custody, while police are searching for the two other suspects. The department did not identify the three new suspects or their charges as they wait for the arrest warrants to be officiated. This investigation is and has been of great interest to the community and the media, Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain said in the release. Although the investigation is ongoing, we want to share what we can with the community to ensure the steady release of factual information as part of our dedication to transparency, public safety and, most importantly, community service. On Friday, Chamberlain said the department is working to determine whether the men are members of Tren de Aragua. We dont want to misidentify an individual as a gang member, Chamberlain said. As the director of the All Ages and Faces Academy on St. Pauls Fuller Avenue, Debra Messenger struggles to find enough workers to staff the center, which has capacity for 90 kids but currently serves about 40. When St. Paul Public Schools began enrolling 4-year-olds in pre-kindergarten two years ago, she lost key revenue. Messenger has been a vocal proponent of state-driven child care solutions through Kids Count On Us, a St. Paul-based advocacy effort she helped launch in 2016. Still, shes a firm No vote on a question on St. Pauls November ballot that would use city property taxes to create municipal child care subsidies. There is no real workforce for child care as it is, she said. It would spread out the workforce we do have even further. I believe it would hurt existing child care centers in St. Paul. Its kind of an extra step thats not needed. Were doing the same work, but how you get from Point A to B, its two different routes. Strong feelings on all sides For months, members of ISAIAH one of the states most active faith-based social justice organizations have quietly grappled with the ballot question, which asks city residents whether to increase property taxes annually, each year for 10 years, in order to fund municipal child care subsidies for low- and moderate-income families. Within the organization, the prospect of raising housing costs to help meet deep and growing child care needs that have become even more complex since the pandemic has drawn strong feelings on all sides, but no definitive statement of support or opposition. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Kids Count On Us ISAIAHs child care advocacy and lobbying affiliate said that after extensive discussion, the coalition of child care leaders decided this week they would neither collectively support nor oppose the ballot question. Kids Count On Us has chosen not to take a position, said Kelly Martinson, a communications director for the advocacy group. That silence is notable, given that Kids Count On Us is made up largely of community-based child care providers, as well as some teachers and parents. The ISAIAH affiliate was represented on an early learning advisory committee assembled by the city council to study the issue in 2022, and it continues to advocate for statewide child care solutions through a working group of early learning advocacy organizations. Other nonprofits on the working group, such as Think Small and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, remain members of the SPARK Education coalition that fought to get the child care initiative on the ballot. Most nonprofits, however, avoid direct advocacy on ballot questions as their lobbying is limited under IRS rules. Progressives split The ballot question has split St. Pauls progressive bulwarks and others focused on child care outcomes. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and city council President Mitra Jalali have come out strongly opposed to the ballot question, citing concerns it will lock the city into creating a new department on par in budget size with the city library system at a time when property taxes are rising fast and downtown building values dropping. In early September, the St. Paul Federation of Educators the St. Paul school districts teachers union issued a strongly-worded statement urging a No vote, as well. The ballot question originated with the Yes for St. Paul Families coalition previously known as the St. Paul All Ready for Kindergarten campaign, or SPARK which is chaired by Halla Henderson, a St. Paul school board member. Its also drawn backing from state Rep. Dave Pinto and St. Paul City Council members Rebecca Noecker, HwaJeong Kim and Nelsie Yang. The coalitions treasurer is Justin Lewandowski, an organizer with the Hamline-Midway Coalition, a neighborhood nonprofit. Child care in Minnesota is prohibitively expensive and thousands of kids in St. Paul are missing out. On average, the cost of care for one child is $13,000 per year, reads a recent guest editorial written by the three council members, which highlights the benefits of early learning programs. Despite increased investments by the state in recent years, hundreds of St. Paul children remain on waitlists for child care, and most families pay more for child care than they do for housing. Campaign donations A review of campaign finance documents recently filed by the coalition also indicates donations from a seemingly unlikely source a series of real estate developers and others associated with the real estate community. Recent Yes for St. Paul Families donors have included Chris Sherman of Sherman Associates, Richard Pakonen of Pak Properties, Johnny Opara of the JO Companies, Steve Wellington of Wellington Management, former Dixies on Grand owner Peter Kenefick and Brian Alton, an attorney who frequently represents businesses in land-use issues before City Hall. I think most economists feel that child care financial assistance for lower- and middle-income families is a very effective policy for a communitys economic improvement, said Wellington, in an email Monday. To grow and develop St. Paul, we need to attract and support growing and successful families, Wellington said. Child care assistance is an excellent long-term investment not only for the recipients but for those committed to helping our entire community to do better. St. Paul has to be careful with increasing its tax burden when many suburban cities have lower taxes. But strategic investments in child care and certain infrastructure projects are essential for building a growing city. Voters, immigrant leaders also split Voters casting absentee ballots this week at the Ramsey County government building on Plato Boulevard in St. Paul lined up on all sides of the issue. It is a big one, said Denise Deppe, an engineer who opted to vote yes, as did her partner on Monday. Its a tough one for the population as a whole because we do have a high tax burden. But an investment in a child early is worth it. I know theres some uncertainty about how the money would be used. A husband-and-wife couple coming out of the polls a moment later offered the opposite tack. Who is going to administer it? Were retired. Our property taxes are high, said the wife, calling a new layer of city-driven services redundant to state and county efforts around early learning. The ballot question also has split many of the citys immigrant leaders, some of whom have quietly acknowledged theyve shifted mindset over time. When Yan Chen moved to America from China, she assumed all child care was subsidized by the federal government. Child care is an important topic for our society to engage with, but not with our city tax dollars, said Chen, a biophysicist who ran for city council in Ward 1 in 2023. The proposed program wouldnt even put a tiny dent in the child care problem, but it would give our city yet another slight financial disadvantage, among many others, as it relates to the overall affordability of living here. Omar Syed, another former Ward 1 city council candidate, said immigrants in the Somali community many of whom run or rely upon home day cares would be impacted both negatively and positively if the ballot question is approved. He said his community is feeling the negative effects of high housing costs, which could be passed on to tenants through higher rents. On the other hand, with both parents working, some young families are at a loss for how to hold down multiple jobs without access to affordable child care. Raising taxes, its tough to do it, said Syed, who runs a St. Paul coffee shop. But also we need the child care. Im voting yes. Related Articles The key people who resigned from Eric Adams' office ahead of the New York City Mayor's indictment Eric Adams was indicted after a federal corruption probe, The New York Times first reported. Law enforcement seized devices belonging to some of Adams' administration. High-profile resignations include the public school chancellor and police commissioner. Eric Adams has become the first mayor in modern New York City history to be indicted while in office. Adams was indicted following a corruption probe that led to chaos in his office and a series of resignations, The New York Times first reported on Wednesday. Details of the charges have not yet been made public but are due to be revealed on Thursday, per The Times. The indictment follows a lengthy inquiry into the fundraising for Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign and whether it involved illegal donations. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing criminal charges. Hans Pennink/AP "It is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies," Adams said in a statement to The Times and New York Daily News . The investigation has majorly impacted Adam's administration. Law enforcement confiscated objects from several high-profile individuals, including a phone belonging to David Banks, the public school chancellor, and devices belonging to the city's police commissioner, two deputy mayors, and one of Adams' advisors, Scripps News reported. Meanwhile, several individuals have already resigned. David Banks, chancellor of NYC's public schools system David Banks, head of NYC's public schools system, became the most recent member of Adams' office to announce his departure on Tuesday. Banks was involved in the investigation weeks prior when his phone was confiscated by police. In a resignation letter cited by CBS, Banks, 62, said he informed Adams earlier this year that he planned to retire by December. "After nearly 40 years of dedicated service to New York City's public schools, I have made the decision to retire at the end of this year. I want to thank Mayor Adams for giving me the opportunity to serve as chancellor, and I am immensely proud of the progress we've made together," Adams said in an online statement. Dr. Ashwin Vasan, health commissioner Dr. Ashwi Vasan, NYC's health commissioner since 2022, announced on Monday that he planned to resign before the end of the year. "I want to thank Dr. Vasan for his service to New York City since the start of our administration," Adams said in a statement cited by Fox 5. "His expertise as a mental health expert, coupled with his training as a public health professional, have proven indispensable to our city over the past two-and-a-half years as we've handled rising COVID rates, Mpox outbreaks, and a mental health crisis both on our streets and in our schools." Lisa Zornberg, chief counsel Adams' chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg, announced her departure on September 15. Zornberg was the lead attorney for the mayor and City Hall for just over a year. "I am deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for giving me the opportunity to serve the city, and I strongly support the work he has done and continues to do for New Yorkers," Zornberg said in a statement cited by Fox 5. Edward Caban, NYPD commissioner NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on September 12 following speculation about whether he could stay in the role during the investigation. "A short time ago I accepted the resignation of the NYPD commissioner, Edward Caban. He concluded that this is the best decision at this time. I respect his decision and I wish him well," Adams said in a speech. "Commissioner Caban dedicated his life to making our city safer and we saw a drop in crime for 13 of the 14 months he served as commissioner." He added that Tom Donlon, a former FBI and counter-terrorism official, would replace Caban. Read the original article on Business Insider KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) Law enforcement officers with the Kinston Police Department arrested a suspect for allegedly setting a residence on fire. On Wednesday night officers with the Kinston Police Department responded to reports about a structural fire on Caswell Street. There were no injuries or deaths. Officers spoke with witnesses and learned of a suspect. Kinston resident, 52-year-old Dorne Maye, was a likely suspect as earlier that day Maye allegedly threatened to kill the residents. Maye had also broken windows at the residence. Maye was found at the intersection of Carey Road and Vernon Avenue and was promptly detained. After an investigation, Maye was charged with three counts of attempted murder and first-degree arson. He is being held at the Lenoir County Jail. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. What to know about the 2024 Sussex County general election candidates After some exciting primary results in Sussex County, candidates are gearing up for the general election. Two Sussex County Council members were ousted by newcomers in the primary, including longtime President Michael Vincent (R-Seaford) and Cynthia Greene (R-Greenwood). Now, another council member's fate will be decided in the general election. There are also several Delaware House and Senate seats that are far from decided. Here are all the offices up for election in Sussex Nov. 5 and what you should know about the candidates. Sussex County Councilman Mark Schaeffer at a meeting March 19, 2024. Sussex County Council Republicans Matt Lloyd (R-Seaford) and Steve McCarron (R-Greenwood) won their primary races and face no Democratic challengers, making them the de facto new Sussex County council members. The only council race in the general election is between District 3 Councilman Mark Schaeffer (R-Lewes) and Democratic challenger Jane Gruenebaum. Mark Schaeffer (R) Schaeffer was elected to the council in 2020. He is a University of Delaware graduate, a certified EMT, a Lewes Fire Department volunteer and an associate commercial broker for Long & Foster real estate, his website says. His "issues and positions," according to his website, are "no tax increases," preventing sprawl and overdevelopment, supporting first responders, promoting transportation improvement districts, protecting individual property rights, fostering responsible economic growth and opportunity and safeguarding "our agricultural heritage." Jane Gruenebaum Jane Gruenebaum (D) Gruenebaum has served in leadership positions at several Washington, D.C. policy-oriented nonprofits, worked in the executive search field and taught political science at Columbia University, her website says. She was the founder of the Sussex Preservation Coalition and recently resigned as president to run for office. Her platform includes promoting quality of life for all and economic prosperity, providing for the health and safety of our community, synchronizing growth with infrastructure improvements and promoting citizen access and transparency, her website says. House District 4 (Long Neck) Incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Hilovsky faces Democratic challenger Gregg Lindner in this election. Jeff Hilovsky (R) Jeff Hilovsky was first elected in 2022. He is a doctor who co-founded an optometry practice and a retired Air Force reservist who served as a wartime medical commander, according to his website. Jeff Hilovsky Issues important to him include improving education, finances, public safety, small business support, veterans, manufactured housing, government accountability and improved medical care, his website says. Gregg Linder (D) Gregg Lindner holds two degrees from the University of Maryland, including a "graduate degree" in quantitative analysis, his website says. He recently became "semi-retired" from his role as president "of a division within a major international business, overseeing approximately 1000 employees," while also serving "as the executive chairman of a successful joint media and marketing venture," according to his website. Some policies Lindner will focus include public education, safe and affordable housing, reproductive health care and early and absentee voting, his website says. Gregg Lindner House District 14 (Rehoboth Beach) After over 20 years in the legislature, incumbent Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf (D) is retiring, leaving the Rehoboth seat open to a newcomer. Claire Snyder-Hall took home the Democratic primary win, beating out Kathy McGuiness and Marty Rendon. In the general election, she faces Republican Mike Simpler. Claire Snyder-Hall (D) Claire Snyder-Hall has a doctorate in political science. She is the former director of Common Cause Delaware, has served in Democratic party leadership positions in Delaware and Florida and, before moving to Delaware in 2011, taught political science at George Mason University, according to her website. Claire Snyder-Hall "I am strongly pro-choice and will always defend our freedoms the freedom to choose, the freedom to vote, and the freedom to enjoy the quality of life we deserve. And as a former teacher, I know we need good public education to prepare our young people to exercise those freedoms wisely, her website says. Mike Simpler (R) Mike Simpler's website says he is employed by Beebe Healthcare, is the president of the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company and is a lifelong Cape resident. If elected, he will advocate for economic relief, grant-in-aid funding for nonprofits, improvements to emergency services, protecting the environment, increased access to specialized health care and education opportunities, more public transportation, and the rehabilitation of county infrastructure, his website says. Mike Simpler House District 20 (Milton) Incumbent Democrat Stell Parker Selby beat newcomer Brian Jenkins in the primary and will face Republican Nikki Miller in the general election. Stell Parker Selby (D) Stell Parker Selby holds a master's degree in education instruction, her website says. She was a teacher and administrator in the Cape Henlopen School District for over 30 years, then spent five years on the school board. Parker Selby's "points of focus," as they're called on her website, include smart growth, environmental preservation, education, health care, safety and human rights. Stell Parker Selby Nikki Miller (R) Nikki Miller holds a doctorate in education, according to her website. She served as principal at Cape Henlopen High School from 2015 to 2022 and is now the supervisor of instruction for the Seaford School District. Her top three issues include empowering educators and children, expanding access for health services and investing in infrastructure to complement development, Miller said in an email. Nikki Miller House District 36 (Milford) Incumbent Bryan Shupe narrowly beat fellow Republican Patrick Smith in the primary, by just 12 votes. Now, Shupe faces Democratic challenger Rony Baltazar-Lopez in the general election. Bryan Shupe (R) Bryan Shupe has been the District 36 rep since 2018 and, prior to that, served as mayor Milford. He has a bachelor's degree in political science and owns four businesses, his website says, including Delaware LIVE News, Milford LIVE News, Fur Baby Pet Resort and The Farmacy Market. Republican State Representative Bryan Shupe listens during a House Judiciary Committee meeting on Wednesday March 27, 2024. According to his website, Shupe's "Vision for Delaware's Future" includes reviving the economy, restoring law and order, fixing health care, reforming education, promoting government transparency and accountability, embracing innovation and promoting responsible growth. Rony Baltazar-Lopez (D) Rony Baltazar-Lopez, has a master's degree in public administration, his website says. He is former member of the Milford Board of Education and works as the director of legislative affairs and communication for the Delaware Department of State, according to his website. Baltazar-Lopez's priorities are equitable education, affordable housing, quality health care, supporting small businesses, ensuring access to government, reproductive health, protecting the environment, maintaining balanced growth, upholding voting rights, investing in clean infrastructure, protecting human rights, investing in public safety and a balanced criminal justice system, his website says. Rony Baltazar-Lopez House District 41 (Millsboro) Rep. Rich Collins (R) was first elected in 2014. He faces Democratic challenger Tom Brett in the general election. Rich Collins (R) Collins is a University of Delaware graduate, his Delaware House Republicans biography says, formerly worked in insurance and is now a "working farmer." State Rep. Rich Collins, R-Millsboro, represents the 41st Representative District. In the General Assembly, Collins has "has sponsored numerous bills to reduce the tax burden imposed on Delawareans, curtail the regulatory authority of state agencies, and make public officials more accountable to the people they serve," the Delaware House Republicans website says. Tom Brett (D) Brett is a U.S. Army veteran and a "senior business leader," according to his website. His priorities include responsible growth, women and families, quality education, clean energy and jobs, his website says. Tom Brett Senate District 6 (Lewes) Democrat Russ Huxtable, a two-year incumbent, faces Republican Kim Hoey Stevenson in this election. Russ Huxtable (D) Russ Huxtable is a University of Delaware graduate and, for over 18 years, "he has "worked for a nonprofit that is dedicated to developing affordable housing in Sussex County" and Delaware, his website says. Russ Huxtable Issues Huxtable focuses on include transportation and infrastructure, investment in Delaware and the District 6 community, better balanced growth, housing, quality of life, health care, education, environmental stewardship, public safety, equality and voting, his website says. Hoey Stevenson (R) Hoey Stevenson is "a small business owner, former state senate communications director, award-winning writer and journalist, teacher, and the director of the mentoring program for the Cape Henlopen School District," her website says. She is a former vice-chair of the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission. Stevenson's website says she will focus on enhancing personal responsibility, expanding and embracing government efficiency, strengthening public safety, supporting children and seniors and prioritizing the values of equality and equal opportunity. Kim Hoey Stevenson Unopposed candidates In Senate District 18 (Milford), incumbent Dave Wilson easily beat Republican challenger Bob Reed in the primary. He faces no Democratic candidates in the general election. In Senate District 21 (Seaford), incumbent Bryant Richardson (R) is also running unopposed. In the House, incumbents Reps. Daniel Short (R-Seaford), Valerie Jones Giltner (R-Georgetown), Ronald Gray (Bethany Beach) and Tim Dukes (R-Laurel) face no challengers. Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Your guide to the 2024 elections in Sussex County The nine candidates running in the LDP leadership election (left to right): Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, Digital Minister Taro Kono, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Sept. 13. Credit - Kyodo News/Getty Images When Japans ruling political party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), votes on Friday for its next leader, it will effectively be choosing the countrys next Prime Minister. A slew of scandals have plagued the tenure of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who announced in August he would step down after assuming power in 2021. From his son throwing a party at an official residence to alleged fundraising misconduct by party members, the scandals in addition to underwhelming economic reform have dented the LDPs popularity and forced a reset. A record nine lawmakers are standing in the intra-party election, competing for majority support among the partys 368 members of parliament and 368 representatives of its more than a million dues-paying rank-and-file members. Most candidates, according to AP, have vowed to call for a general election, which isnt due until October 2025, shortly after being elevated within the party, to try to capitalize on their fresh image. The key issue at stake for the LDP is restoring public trust. That change, many observers have noted, could come in the form of a first-ever female LDP president. Two of the nine candidatesincluding one of the three top contendersare women. Japan is the only G7 country other than the U.S. that has never had a female head of government, and some within the party have said such a move could go a long way toward boosting its image. Read More: Japan Sends Male Minister to Lead G7 Meeting on Womens Empowerment But experts tell TIME that despite the momentum and opportunity, the party is unlikely to pick a female leader, citing its patriarchal history, internal politics, and lack of political competition. Among the women floated for the Sept. 27 LDP presidential election is Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, a veteran LDP politician likened to the U.K.s Margaret Thatcher. Takaichi ran in 2021, backed by the late premier Shinzo Abe, and came in third. LDP supporters prefer her as the next Japanese Prime Minister, according to a Kyodo News poll. Theres also incumbent Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, who was praised as a rising star by party vice president and former Prime Minister Taro Aso, a reputed kingmaker. A Pew Research Center poll earlier this year found that Japan has a high share of citizens who say that men and women generally make equally good leaders. But the LDP cares little about public opinion, at least in the context of female representation. For the LDP, the inside politics, inner politics is the most important issue, Mikiko Eto, professor emerita on gender and politics at Hosei University in Tokyo, tells TIME, adding that for the LDP, women have been used primarily as tokens. In 2021, LDP seniors had called on women party members to join key meetings in the wake of sexist remarks from a former Prime Minister, but it was revealed that the women members were only permitted to observe and not speak. Hiroko Takeda, who teaches political science at Nagoya Universitys Graduate School of Law, says the LDP has become a separate universe in Japan. Parliamentary posts are treated by LDP members as house or family businesses which are inherited, says Takeda, making it hard for political novicesespecially womento get into key positions. While opposition parties have elevated women to leadership positions, Emma Dalton, senior lecturer in Japanese Studies at La Trobe University in Australia, says they are too weak to ramp up pressure on the LDP to demand greater inclusivity. [The LDP] are in a little bit of trouble, and I think they recognize that. But at the same time, the Japanese public, I think, just look around and say, Well, where is the realistic opposition? Among the other frontrunners in the LDP presidential election are former defense minister and LDP veteran Shigeru Ishiba, 67, who is running for the fifth time. Another favorite is Shinjiro Koizumi, the 43-year-old son of former premier Junichiro Koizumi. Shinjiro Koizumi, who is more than a decade younger than the average Japanese member of parliament, would also offer a stark shift for the LDP, which has struggled to enthuse youth voters. Also running is maverick-turned-insider Taro Kono, the current digital minister who previously ran to lead the party in 2021 and lost to Kishida in a run-off. Still, its not impossible to see either of the female candidates win the Friday election, which is expected to go to a run-off. But while a victory for either would be a feat for Japan on the international stage, it would not necessarily indicate a shift in how the LDP treats women. Eto from Hosei University predicts that while Kamikawa could steer the LDP to be more women-friendly, she wont act in accordance with her campaign pledges because of political conventions and customs within the party. As for the more conservative Takaichi, she behaves like men, Eto says, often hostile toward feminist issues or gender matters. Contact us at letters@time.com. What to know about noncitizen voting and the November referendum question in Wisconsin In addition to voting for president, members of Congress and state lawmakers on the Nov. 5 ballot, Wisconsin voters will see the fifth and final statewide referendum question of the year. The question at the heart of the referendum, led by Republican lawmakers, is whether to prevent Wisconsin from allowing noncitizens to vote in the future. Cities in some states have allowed noncitizens to vote in local school board elections, for example, but nowhere in Wisconsin allows that. Democrats and voting rights groups are concerned a simple change in wording that "only" rather than "every" citizen can vote could weaken how voting rights are laid out in the state constitution. They also worry the question will spur up harmful rhetoric toward immigrants and lead voters to believe noncitizens are fraudulently voting in the state, which is extremely rare. Here's an explanation of the referendum question, what noncitizen voting is, the groups on both sides of the referendum question, and why there have been so many referendum questions on Wisconsin's ballots this year: What is the November referendum question in Wisconsin? All voters will see the following question on their ballot, asking them to vote yes or no: Eligibility to vote. Shall section 1 of article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum? That section of the state constitution currently reads that "every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district." That means the wording would switch from "every" to "only," and clarify that applies to all elections and referendums, whether local, state or national. What is noncitizen voting, and does Wisconsin allow it? There's a federal law that prevents noncitizens from voting in federal elections, like for president. But some cities in states like Maryland, California and Washington, D.C., do allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. In San Francisco, for example, parents and guardians who aren't U.S. citizens can vote in school board elections. There are no cities, towns or villages in Wisconsin that allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. In 1848, Wisconsin did allow noncitizens to vote, but that ended around 1912. Voting rights in the state constitution have been amended multiple times to expand rights based on race, gender and age. "If you declared an intent to become a citizen, that was sufficient for you to vote," explained Bree Grossi Wilde, executive director of the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which has researched referendum questions this year. Has there been a push for noncitizen voting in Wisconsin? There hasn't been a significant, recent push in Wisconsin to allow noncitizen voting in local communities. Still, it's an idea supported by Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera. "It gives people a greater voice and greater accountability for our officials who, whether or not you vote, they have an obligation to represent everybody in the district," Neumann-Ortiz said. "The constitution is supposed to be about expanding rights. It's never supposed to be a place that limits rights." Proposals to allow noncitizen voting in Wisconsin haven't come up in caucus discussions among Democratic lawmakers, according to state Sen. Mark Spreitzer, the top Democrat on the Senate elections committee. "We're talking here about long-term permanent residents, green card holders, who just are not citizens but are very much citizens of the community they live in. They're going to go to the schools, they pay property taxes, they drive down the city streets, they're impacted by police and fire," Spreitzer said. "I absolutely understand the push and where folks are coming from, but I don't see this happening anytime soon." Which groups support a 'yes' vote on the November referendum question? Referendum questions are placed on the ballot by the state Legislature, which is controlled by Republicans. Among the Republican authors of the proposal is state Sen. Julian Bradley from New Berlin. "If, in the future, people want to allow noncitizens to start voting, I think it should be very difficult to make that change. That's why we have a constitutional process that we have," Bradley said. The language would be hard to change back because proposals to change the state constitution have to pass through the Legislature two sessions in a row before going to the voters. Bradley used the example of people going on vacation or owning a business in another city who are still investing in the community without having voting rights there. "If you want to vote in elections, then you have to declare your citizenship, and you have to go through the process," he said. Wisconsin isn't the only state weighing in on the issue in November. Seven other states have similar questions on the ballot: Idaho, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri and Kentucky, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That national push has been led by a group called Americans for Citizen Voting, whose vice president for outreach, Jack Tomczak, noted the amendment was approved unanimously by Iowa's Legislature, while it received no votes from Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin. "Most people assume that only citizens are allowed to vote as it is," he said. Most state constitutions refer to "'any' or 'all' or 'every' (citizen), and because we don't say 'only,' that leaves open the possibility of municipalities or even the state Legislature legalizing noncitizen voting." Which groups support a 'no' vote on the November referendum question? The Journal Sentinel talked to several liberal-leaning voting rights groups including the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, All Voting is Local and Law Forward that oppose the referendum question. One of their concerns is that switching out the word "every" would remove a broad guarantee of voting rights in the state. "It seems like it takes one of the areas, but not the only area, of our constitution that protects the right to vote and tweaks it, without really explaining why or what's going to happen," said Dan Lenz, an attorney at Law Forward, which is focused on voting and redistricting lawsuits. Bradley pushed back against that idea, arguing that narrowing the wording from "every" to "only" provides fewer chances to say there's room for interpretation in the constitution. Voting rights groups are also worried the way the referendum question is written on the ballot doesn't explain to voters what the constitution currently reads. "The actual change to the constitutional language is not accurately reflected in the question that's being put in front of voters, which I have a problem with," said Debra Cronmiller, the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. "I think the language change, if enacted, would kind of move us from a ceiling to a floor." Other Democrats argue the referendum is a "non-issue" because noncitizens already can't vote in Wisconsin and worry the misconception that they do could harm immigrants. "If you vote no on this amendment, the status quo after November will be the same as it is today in that regard. There's not a problem to be solved here," Spreitzer said. "I think it's trying to create fear and trying to play to the Republican base." Sam Liebert, the state director for All Voting is Local, sees the referendum as part of a nationally coordinated effort to use "racist tropes of migrants voting en masse," which could encourage violence against immigrants. Is there any documented noncitizen voting fraud in Wisconsin elections? Noncitizens attempting to vote in Wisconsin elections is extremely rare. In testimony before the state Legislature, the Wisconsin Elections Commission said it has only been made aware of four alleged cases of election fraud related to citizenship since the agency was created in 2015. One of those cases happened in Mequon last year, when a Ukrainian woman was charged with a felony after voting in a school board election. She said it was a misunderstanding and her daughter filled out the voter registration form due to her limited English abilities. Her case will be dismissed if she follows the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement. Bradley, the Republican lawmaker leading the constitutional amendment, said the referendum is not about election fraud and it's "great" that WEC has only found a low number of cases. "This (referendum) is all about shoring up the constitution and making sure that the intent of the framers is actually being carried out," he said. Some Republicans, including former president Donald Trump, have falsely claimed that millions of immigrants are being registered to vote. Neumann-Ortiz, from Voces de la Frontera, worries the referendum question will lead to anti-immigrant perceptions because it "(implies) that people who are noncitizens are voting in elections, which they are not." Is proof of citizenship required to vote in Wisconsin? No, though a document verifying your address called proof of residence is required when registering to vote. But voting rights groups are concerned that the amendment will lead to Wisconsin requiring proof of citizenship to vote, a law that has been struck down or not enforced in some states that have it. About one in 10 voters would have trouble producing a document that proves their citizenship like a birth certificate, passport or naturalization papers because they might be lost, destroyed or kept in a family member's home or safe, according to a report from the Brennan Center for Justice. More: AZ GOP wanted voters to prove citizenship. With legislative control at risk, it's pivoting More: Wisconsin voter ID law still causing confusion, stifles turnout in Milwaukee, voting advocates say Bradley said proof of citizenship is a separate issue, and "the opponents of this are trying to tie the two together to cause confusion." A previous Republican-led bill that would have required the WEC to validate voters' citizenship status was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who noted the federal database has caused errors elsewhere. The first checkbox on Wisconsin's voter registration form asks whether the voter is a U.S. citizen. Making a false claim of citizenship to an election official to register to vote is a felony and can lead to fines and jail time. "Nobody knows about felonies better than people who are looking to not be deported. They're staying away from things that can be even remotely seen as an illegal act," said Cronmiller from the League of Women Voters. Why are there so many referendum questions in Wisconsin this year? This is the final statewide referendum question posed to Wisconsin voters in 2024. In April, voters approved two referendum questions that now prevent clerks from using outside funding and resources to run elections. In August, voters rejected referendums that would have limited the governor's ability to spend federal funds. That represents split outcomes for Republicans, who control the Legislature and placed the questions on the ballot. Democrats messaged heavily against the August questions, but attention hasn't yet ramped up to the same level against the November referendum. Grossi Wilde, from UW-Madison's State Democracy Research Initiative, said this type of constitutional amendment is more common when state government is divided. While Evers can veto a bill, governors can't block constitutional amendments. Looking back at Wisconsin's history "suggests that amendment attempts were twice as common when the government was divided," she said. "It's not a new trend. It's a pretty consistent trend that the way you get around a gubernatorial veto is through a legislatively referred constitutional amendment." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin noncitizen voting referendum in November election, explained NYC mayor Eric Adams indicted: Everything you need to know about FBI probe NYC mayor Eric Adams indicted: Everything you need to know about FBI probe Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday by federal prosecutors on five counts, including bribery, wire fraud, solicitation of contribution by a foreign national, and conspiracy, making him the first mayor of the city to be charged in office. Prosecutors say Adams, who denies the charges, has been taking bribes and foreign campaign contributions since at least 2014, when he was elected Brooklyn Borough president. Since then, the indictment alleges, Adams has continued to seek out accept, improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. All told, he took more than $100,000 in luxury travel benefits and solicited campaign contributions from straw donors, allowing him to rake in at least $10 million in public funds for his campaiang, prosecutors alleged. The Democrat, a retired police captain who grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, is now fighting for his political career with several prominent politicians already calling for him to resign, including congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Adams was elected as New York Citys 110th mayor in 2021 and took office in 2022. He was due to run again in next years mayoral race for a second term. So what do we know about the indictment of Adams? New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he will fight the charges (Eric Adams) What are the allegations? Federal prosecutors hit Adams with five counts: wire fraud, bribery, conspiracy, and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. As Adams prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York Citys mayor, the indictment states. In exchange for the bribes and campaign contributions, Adams is accused of doing favors for foreign nationals, including a senior Turkish official. In one particularly egregious episode, prosecutors say Adams turned the screws on New York City Fire Department officials to approve an occupancy permit for a newly constructed Turkish consular building in Manhattan that the FDNY did not believe was safe. In all, the indictment says Adams received free international flights to France, Sri Lanka, Hungary, China, India, and Turkey, deeply discounted stays at opulent hotels, pricey meals, and other perks worth more than $100,000. He then repeatedly took steps to shield his solicitation and acceptance of these benefits from public scrutiny, omitting the gifts from his required annual financial disclosures, paying nominal amounts to make it seem as if he had in fact paid for the freebies, and created fake paper trails to obfuscate the truth, according to the indictment. Straw donors allegedly allowed Adams to secretly take in cash from foreign entities, wealthy individuals who had already maxed out their allowable yearly contributions, and corporations prohibited by New York City law from donating money to political candidates. Federal agents seized mayors electronic devices In November 2023, federal agents seized Adams electronic devices as part of an ongoing probe into allegations of corruption related to campaign finance wrongdoings. The New York City mayor has been vocal about his longstanding relationship with Turkey and the Turkish-American community of New York. He previously boasted that hes made at least six trips to Turkey. Reports circulated that Adams received campaign donations from employees of a Brooklyn-based construction company owned by a Turkish-American businessman. Adams denies any wrongdoing At a chaotic press conference on Thursday that was interrupted multiple times by protesters Adams denied all allegations of wrongdoing and said he would not be stepping down as mayor. On Wednesday evening, Adams had released a video statement that also proclaimed his innocence. My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, said Adams in the video. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target, and a target I became. He added: I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations, but I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started. Calls for mayor to resign Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has called for Adams to resign (Getty Images) Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams to resign on Wednesday. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, she wrote on X. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. Others have echoed her calls, including State Senator John Liu, ABC7NY reports. The people of New York City, however, need a mayor who is able to devote full time and full energy to putting the city on the right track, including recruitment and retention of top leadership for the City, he said. Mayor Adams is simply unable to do that for the foreseeable future and therefore, for the good of all New Yorkers, must resign immediately, Liu added. NYC council member Shekar Krishnan said: New Yorkers deserve better. Mayor Adams has already proven himself unfit and unable to lead from City Hall, Krishnan said. He will absolutely be unable to lead from inside a courtroom. He must resign. Who takes over if the mayor steps down New York City public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would step in as acting mayor if Adams resigns (Getty) Adams said he has no intention of resigning. Im stepping up, not stepping down, he said. I have a city to run that I will continue to run. But in the event of his resignation, the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would step in as acting mayor. A special election would be scheduled by Williams who is a fierce critic of Adams which would take place by the end of the year. As the facts emerge, the Public Advocate will have more to say to the people of New York City and right now, he is focused on how best to ensure that New Yorkers can regain trust, confidence and stability in city government, a spokesperson for Williams said in a statement. New York governor, Kathy Hochul (AP) Adams is not required to resign but there is only one person has the power to remove him from office before the end of his term: New Yorks governor, Kathy Hochul. A source told the New York Post there is no chance she would, however. String of mayors associates have already resigned Over the past several weeks several of the mayors political associates have resigned or announced their intention to leave their positions. These include the mayors police commissioner, the schools chancellor, the health commissioner and his chief counsel. What to know from the UN: Ukraine doesn't want the world to forget, and attention turns to Lebanon Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives to address the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) UNITED NATIONS (AP) Sometimes the issues brought forward at the United Nations signature annual meeting may feel a bit familiar. Climate change is always in focus, especially in the past few years. There are regular disputes about who is on the security council. Pleas to stop wars and address hunger. But this year, it's what's not getting as much attention that has Ukraine concerned. The war in Ukraine was center stage the last two times that world leaders convened for the high-level meeting of the General Assembly. But this year, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the escalating developments along the Israeli-Lebanese border have gotten much of the spotlight. Ukraine president VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, at the podium, implored world leaders not to give in to calls for a ceasefire that doesn't guarantee Ukraine's sovereignty. When some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles, it not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians who are affected by the war the most, it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war, Zelenskyy said. Heres your daily guide to whats going on at the United Nations this week, day by day: From the podium French President EMMANUEL MACRON told the U.N. General Assembly that "Israel cannot, without consequence, just expand its operations to Lebanon. He urged Israel to cease the escalation, and Hezbollah to cease missile launches to Israel. Panama President JOSE RAUL MULINO drew attention to the humanitarian crisis playing out in his country. More than half a million migrants crossed the Darien jungle last year that joins Colombia and Panama. Panama today is the new border of the United States, Mulino said, noting that the migrants crossing his country are seeking a better life in the U.S. I ask you to see the magnitude of what is happening because we feel like we dont have the international support we are due." On the sidelines The chance of a ceasefire proposal to try to stop fighting between Israel and Lebanon took up a lot of oxygen behind the scenes on Wednesday. Rumors floated through the halls, and France called a last-minute session to discuss the conflict. At the session, French Foreign Minister JEAN-NOEL BARROT said later in a meeting of the Security Council that France was working with the U.S. on a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire. Climate moment In a special high-level summit to address the impacts of rising seas, small island nations pleaded for the survival and insisted on their sovereignty despite overflowing oceans. Sea level rise threatens the well-being of our peoples cultures, food security and livelihoods, said Samoan Prime Minister FIAME NAOMI MATA'AFA, speaking for 39 small island nations. Marshall Islands President HILDA HEINE and others said even if their lands are submerged, their nations should still be recognized, asking the world not to rig the map and try to erase us with a pencil sovereignty ultimately rests with our people, not in distant diplomatic centers. U.S. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN said the United States is committed to counter or at least adapt to rising sea levels that pose an existential threat to many coastal communities around the world. Blinken also said that the Biden administration would oppose any effort to limit or curtail the rights of any countries affected by it. Voices you might have missed Globalization has failed in its mission to bring prosperity to people. XIOMARA CASTRO, president of Honduras ___ "In this emerging global order, we must ensure the United Nations remains at the forefront of global governance. If multilateralism is to trump unilateralism, the UNs role, as the worlds foremost multilateral organization, is pivotal. With the necessary resources and resolve, the UN can ensure a future of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity." MOHAMED IRFAAN ALI, president of Guyana ___ Island nation leaders warned about sea level rise in the most dire and personal terms. Our future is uncertain, Fiji President WILIAME KATONVIERE said. Will our children and their children have a place to call home? And Maldives President MOHAMED MUIZZU said: An emergency is upon us, threatening our way of life. Our fight to live on will survive. Something you might not know Leaders speeches take a variety of forms and are delivered in a variety of languages -- some rendered on plain paper, others on elaborate letterhead. Taken collectively, they represent the words and ideas of an entire governed world and the politics and maneuverings that come with leading, or helping to lead, one of the nations of Earth. In photos, you can sometimes see the speech on the lectern, including one of Zelenskyy from Wednesday. One notable number Number of speakers scheduled at a last-minute, evening Security Council session on conflict between Israel and Lebanon: 24 Quotable Colleagues, Im often asked which one issue keeps me up at night. What I always say is this: We cant afford to limit our attention to just one issue. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, speaking to the Security Council ___ Annihilation may bring military success but not political or moral victory. If security systems take over every political decision you forfeit your option to negotiate. MIRJANA SPOLJARIC EGGER, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross ___ Rising seas mean a rising tide of misery. Communities swamped, fresh water contaminated, crops ruined, infrastructure damaged, biodiversity destroyed, and economies decimated with sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, and tourism pummeled. The poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit. U.N. Secretary-General ANTONIO GUTERRES ___ Do not divide the world. Be united nations. And that will bring us peace. Ukraine's Zelenskyy, to leaders at the General Assembly Up next Palestinian President MAHMOUD ABBAS is scheduled to speak Thursday morning and Israels Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU on Friday. ___ AP writers Seth Borenstein, Michael Weissenstein and Matthew Lee contributed. See more of APs coverage of the U.N. General Assembly at https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations What we know about the victory plan Zelensky presented to Biden Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented the victory plan to his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden at the White House on Sept. 26, a potentially pivotal moment in the long-running saga of Washington's support for Ukraine. Zelensky, who is visiting the U.S. this week, has said that the plan is designed to push Russian President Vladimir Putin into a fair peace agreement by boosting Ukraines firepower and giving it an upper hand two and a half years into Russias full-scale invasion. Zelensky has not publicly specified how it will achieve this. Here's what we know so far The timing The announcement that Kyiv was preparing a victory plan came as Ukraine gained momentum following its surprise incursion into Russias Kursk Oblast. The ongoing operation, the first significant invasion of Russian territory since World War II, was a significant blow to the Kremlin and Putin. It exposed Russias inability to defend its own territory and challenged Putins so-called "red lines" aimed at deterring Ukraines Western allies from stepping up weaponry supplies. It also showed Ukraine's backers that Kyiv could still seize the initiative on the battlefield. As well as riding the momentum of the Kursk operation, events in the U.S. could also be a big factor in Kyiv's push to present the plan the November U.S. presidential election that might bring former President Donald Trump back to the White House and jeopardize the U.S. support for Ukraine. The content The fine details of the plan are yet to be made public. It is expected to address military, political, diplomatic, and economic strategies. A source close to Zelensky told the Kyiv Independent last week that it aims "to create such conditions and such an atmosphere that Russia will no longer be able to ignore the peace formula and the peace summit." But some elements have been revealed. The head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak earlier this week said that an invitation to join NATO is part of the plan. According to the information obtained by the Kyiv Independent on Sept. 22, Ukraine would ask for NATO membership within the months, not years. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Yermak also said that the five-point victory plan includes both diplomatic and military components. US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at an event with world leaders launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US on Sep. 25, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images) "I also urged our partners to ignore Russia's threats of escalation," he said. One element certain to be in the plan is the U.S. and other allies' approval for Ukraine to use long-range weapons including Western-provided missiles to target military sites deep inside Russia. Kyiv has long been pushing for restrictions to be lifted as it would enable Ukraine to destroy the airfields from which Russian aircraft are taking off to attack Ukrainian civilian infrastructure as well as degrade Russian air defenses. And we also know one thing that won't be in the plan a partial ceasefire. After a German media report suggested otherwise, Zelensky personally refuted the claim. "There is not and cannot be any alternative to peace, no freezing of the war or any other manipulations that will simply move Russian aggression to another stage," Zelensky said in his evening address on Sept. 18. How has it gone down so far? The first reports aren't too positive. The White House is concerned that Zelensky's plan lacks a clear strategy to win against Russia, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Sept. 25, citing U.S. and European officials. Some officials familiar with the plan's outlines said it focuses too heavily on requesting more weapons and lifting restrictions on long-range missile strikes. "I'm unimpressed, there's not much new there," one senior official told the WSJ. White House officials are worried that Zelensky's plan does not offer clear, actionable steps that Biden can support in his four remaining months in office, the WSJ reported. U.S. and European officials told the WSJ that parts of the plan remain underdeveloped, and that requests related to weapons are the most specific and detailed. What happens if Biden rejects the plan? "That's a horrible thought," Zelensky said when asked this question by The New Yorker in an interview, published on Sept. 22. "It would mean that Biden doesn't want to end the war in any way that denies Russia a victory," he said. "And we would end up with a very long waran impossible, exhausting situation that would kill a tremendous number of people. Having said that, I can't blame Biden for anything," Zelensky added. Introducing official merch from the Kyiv Independent Shop now Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Knox County DA wants harsh consequences for students who make threats: 'We can't tolerate this' Three students remain locked up among the 31 charged by Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen, who says she's determined to use deterrence to quash the wave of hoax threats against schools that washed over the nation following a school shooting in Georgia earlier this month. "We can't tolerate this," Allen told Knox News. She's pushing for strong consequences and asked judges to detain each of them until trial, which for juveniles legally has to occur within 30 days. Judges rejected her request to detain every student charged with making threats, she said, though signed off on keeping three in detention. None of the 31 had actual plans to commit violence, Allen stressed. They include an 18-year-old charged as an adult and 30 minors, both boys and girls. The youngest arrested are 11 years old. They are facing felonies, based on what they said or did. Of the 31, 23 have been charged with threats of mass violence and eight for making false reports. None of the threats, Allen said, were credible and not one of the students had access to weapons or wrote manifestos. Charme Allen "Law enforcement is spending an enormous amount of time on this to the detriment of other crimes going on," Allen said. "It causes an emotional trauma for kids who are going to school and doing the right thing to constantly be under a threat watch. We're going to take these threats very, very seriously." How does the district attorney approach student arrests? Allen said there's a difference between making a fake threat versus a student repeating what they heard or sharing a social media post that's already in circulation. Knox County Schools and districts around the country are dealing with false threats that often circulate via social media. Prosecutors have cracked down and are asking judges to keep students detained. When kids are reposting threats, her team looks at the intent. Was the student sharing the threat because they were scared and wanted to alert someone? Or was it done to be disruptive? The prosecutor's office looks at students' behavioral patterns and family situations and whether the student has access to weapons. Students' disciplinary histories also play a role. "We do have students who are making these threats that were already on probation, that have a history of being in trouble," Allen said. "And we're treating those kids differently." "A kid that was on probation maybe for possession of a weapon already," she added, "and now they're threatening to shoot up the school, we're going to look at that kid differently." Do the arrested students face prison time? Only teens who commit serious crimes such as rape or murder can be transferred to adult court and ultimately face prison time. The students arrested for false threats of mass violence do not fit the bill, Allen said. "Juvenile court and prison do not go together," Allen said. "We don't send juveniles to prison. The juvenile justice system is built on rehabilitation. It is built to rehabilitate these juveniles and try to turn them away from a life of crime. The adult system is punitive." Short of that, everything is on the table for consequences if the students are found guilty. Students can be assigned to probation or put in a therapeutic group home. Punishment can include "being locked up in a lockdown facility," Allen said. "That's the most severe thing that will happen." When that happens, kids will have a treatment plan in place, and will be under the Department of Children's Services' Juvenile Justice Division, she said. The treatment plan includes completing school work, taking anger management classes and undergoing mental health evaluations. This process lasts six months but can be extended if the child gets in trouble again. For students put on probation, their driver's license can be suspended for a year, they could have to wear a GPS monitor, have their phone taken away or be restricted on social media. Per Knox County Schools' policy, students can be suspended for over 45 days for making bomb threats and false threats of mass violence. For other lesser threats, policy dictates that students are suspended for less than 10 days. What happens to the students when they're arrested? When students are arrested, they are brought in front of a magistrate or judge to determine if they can be kept in juvenile detention away from their families until a trial. Allen's office thinks detention sends the appropriate message. "The reason we're doing that is just to try to address this influx and try to get the message out there that this is serious and try to get the message out that we're taking it serious. That the kids have to stop doing this. That this is something that's not going to be tolerated and we're going to take it seriously," Allen told Knox News. After the arrest, children go through a mental health risk assessment either by the Helen Ross McNabb Center or the mental health team at the court. The team determines if the child is low, medium or high risk to commit an offense against themselves or someone else. That assessment is used by judges to determine what happens next. Between their arrest and the start of trial, Knox County Schools decides whether to let students back into school. If they're released from custody, judges can add restrictions on social media or phones. Will the minors' records be sealed forever? Yes. Juvenile records are sealed. How to prevent threats and how to help students who make them A lot of the threats have to do with children not knowing how to channel their anger, Allen said. Her team and juvenile mental health professionals encourage students to identify one person at school they feel most comfortable with to talk through when they're angry, upset or anxious. "We're trying to encourage kids to go talk to the one person that you have identified that you feel comfortable talking to and go talk to them instead of spouting off a threat," Allen said. "A lot of this is really kids not knowing how to express themselves." Criminal justice organizer and activist Imani Shu'la agrees with the need for support and early interventions. Imani Shu'la The threats are cries for help, said Shu'la, who is also the co-founder of Community Defense of East Tennessee. The criminal justice system and society need to take a different approach to dealing with false threats that have the potential to alter a child's future. Putting the kids through the court system encourages the school-to-prison pipeline, Shu'la told Knox News. The new laws addressing school threats, for example, require public schools to expel for one year any student convicted of making a threat of violence to a school. Instead of seeking to punish students who make hoax threats, there needs to be a culture shift to address why students to act out in the first place. "Instead of first call to the police, we should have systems in place to support students," Shu'la said. The resources and systems currently in place offer help with a punishment attached, Shu'la said. She calls the system a "hamster wheel of harm." "If we did not tie help to punishment, then more people would be willing to reach out," she said. KCS Director of School Culture Janice Cook told Knox News in a written statement the district has "a wide range of supports of students" intended to "identify when students are struggling to connect students with the support they need as quickly as possible." Among those efforts, Cook said, are school-based teams that try to identify students who need help and connect them with resources. KCS also trains teachers in behavioral crisis management and threat assessment. What are the arrested students charged with? Students who are arrested for making threats against schools are categorized depending on the nature of the threat. The first covers making false reports, which is a longstanding law, Allen said. Since many school threats do not fall under the specifics of that law, the Tennessee Legislature created a new one that went into effect this summer specifically targeting threats of mass violence in schools. Each has a different felony level attached. "But," Allen said, "Felonies really don't matter in the juvenile system. They do in the adult system because that's how we determine how long somebody's going to stay in custody. In the juvenile system ... the level of felony really doesn't have any bearing on what ultimately happens to the child." Areena Arora, data and investigative reporter for Knox News, can be reached by email at areena.arora@knoxnews.com. Follow her on X @AreenaArora and on Instagram @areena_news. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County DA cracks down on students who make threats The Colorado Springs Police Department is seeking the community's assistance in finding 18-year-old Caterra Poma and her 11-month-old daughter Zelaya Rose Poma-Davis. On Sept. 13, officers with the Stetson Hills division responded to a call for service regarding a possible court order violation. The mother of the child, Caterra, had reportedly agreed to meet the childs father at a Texas Roadhouse so she could say goodbye to her child before leaving the state, according to a press release sent Wednesday evening. Police say even though there was a protection order in place for an earlier domestic violence incident between the mother and father, he agreed to meet her. When he stepped outside to get a diaper bag, the mom allegedly took the child and left. Several attempts were made to contact the mom without success, according to law enforcement. A violation of protection order arrest warrant was obtained for Caterra, and efforts to find her and her daughter have been ongoing. Caterra is known to travel between the Denver metro area and Colorado Springs, police say. She has also recently traveled to Atlanta and may intend to return there with her daughter. On Wednesday, an El Paso County Court hearing was scheduled regarding the custody of 11-month-old and custody was granted to the childs father. If anyone sees Caterra or Zelaya or know of their whereabouts, they are encouraged to contact the department's non-emergency line at 719-444-7000. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A man described by the District Attorney Generals Office as a habitual drug offender is facing decades in prison after he was convicted by a Knox County jury of cocaine and firearms charges. According to a release from the DAs Office, Justin Orlando Mack, 43, was convicted of Possession with Intent to Sell Cocaine, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Closures in East Tennessee due to severe weather During the two-day trial in a Knox County courtroom, prosecutors told the jury that on July 28, 2022, Knoxville Police Department officers and Tennessee Department of Correction parole officers conducted a parole check at Macks residence where they found cocaine, cash and a loaded handgun. Specifically, officers located 36 grams of cocaine in the kitchen which equates to about 200 individual uses of cocaine, the DAs Office said along with $15,000 cash and a loaded firearm in a bathroom. Mack was reportedly Mirandized and admitted possession of the cocaine. Mack has six prior felony convictions in Knox and Sevier counties, five of which were for distributing cocaine, the DAs Office said, and served prison time for these previous convictions before getting released on parole. Mack was still on parole when he committed the most recent offenses, and the DAs Office noted that Mack was identified as a member of the Bloods criminal street gang. PHOTOS: Flooding, storm damage in East Tennessee Habitual offenders who do not take advantage of multiple opportunities to change their criminal behavior can expect to receive lengthy prison sentences, DA Charme Allen stated in the news release. Knox County Criminal Court Judge Hector Sanchez set Macks case for sentencing on Nov. 14. Mack faces a minimum of 42 years in prison because of his prior criminal convictions. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. A line of onlookers, some of whom had been waiting since 8 a.m., gathered at the Ada County Courthouse to attend Bryan Kohbergers first hearing in Boise on Thursday. The case was moved earlier this month following a decision by Judge John Judge of Idahos 2nd Judicial District that stipulated the high-profile trial be moved out of Latah County because of, among other things, a lack of resources. He also stepped down from the case, leaving the Idaho Supreme Court to select the new venue and a new judge. Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler was assigned the case and held a status conference hearing to determine whether a new trial calendar would be needed. Id like to say Im happy to be here, but why start with an untruth? Hippler said, setting the tone as he addressed the courtroom. He said the stakes were high as they can be and reminded the attorneys that their goal should not be victory but honoring their oaths to the judicial system. Kohberger, a former Washington State University graduate student, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students at an off-campus home in November 2022. He also is charged with one count of felony burglary. The victims were Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, both 20, and Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21. Kohberger, 29, attended Thursdays hearing in handcuffs and a dark suit. Hippler said he has not decided yet on a motion from the defense to allow Kohberger to continue wearing street clothes in court as the proceedings move forward. Kohberger did not speak throughout the hearing. Bryan Kohberger, who is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in November 2022, listens to arguments during a hearing in October 2023. Both the judge and defense addressed issues they had with the previous trial dates set by Judge in Latah County. Those dates, which had the trial running from June 2 to Aug. 29, would wipe out the entire summer and be burdensome on jurors, particularly those who are parents, according to Hippler. The judge said it could pose child-care difficulties and interfere with other family obligations when school is out. Hippler proposed to either start the trial a month earlier, at the beginning of May, or wait until the start of September. The prosecution, led by Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson, said it would prefer May, but the defense pushed for a September start. The defense has faced challenges that included the death of an expert witness, leading the team representing Kohberger to find a new expert in a certain aspect of the case, and a large amount of information sent by prosecutors, according to defense attorney Anne Taylor. Since August, we have received about 398 gigabytes of new information, and I can tell the court that nobody on our team has read every bit of that yet, Taylor said. So theres a vast amount of discovery to continue to go through. She declined to provide information about the defense expert in open court, saying that would reveal too much information about strategy to the prosecution and public, something Hippler said he understood. He offered to hold an ex parte hearing which meant only the defense team and Hippler would be present so that hed have more information before deciding on trial dates. That hearing took place after the status conference, which ended without new trial dates being set. Nate Poppino, Idaho Supreme Court communications manager, told the Idaho Stateman that Hippler likely would issue a written order once he had made a ruling. BOISE, Idaho (NewsNation) Bryan Kohbergers request to wear a suit, instead of an orange jumpsuit during his court appearance, has reportedly been granted. The defense asked that Kohberger, who is accused of stabbing four college students to death in 2022, be allowed to wear street clothes in the presence of the jury. The defense filed a motion arguing that if jurors were to see Kohberger in the standard orange prison jumpsuit, he would lose his presumption of innocence. Kohbergers attorneys would like him to appear in a suit and tie, as the previous judge in Moscow, Idaho permitted. Kohberger murder trial to be livestreamed at new location Judge Steven Hippler said Kohberger was allowed to wear civilian clothes for the next hearing only and that future decisions about his attire would be made prior to each hearing, based on security concerns. Hippler took the case over from Judge John Judge when the defense successfully motioned for a change of venue to Ada County, Idaho. The bulk of the trial dealt with scheduling and administrative matters, including the death of one expert on the defense team, who will need to be replaced before the trial. The new trial venue in Boise is about 300 miles from Moscow, where the killings took place. Prosecutors unsuccessfully argued they could find impartial jurors in Moscow by choosing from a large pool. They also said the move inconveniences the family members of victims, attorneys and witnesses. The victims families are unhappy and think he should stay in the jumpsuit until trial. They say other prisoners have to show up shackled and in the jail jumpsuit and Kohberger should, as well. 092024-Motion-Defendant-Wear-Street-ClothingDownload Kohberger, 28, is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, who were killed in the early morning of Nov. 13, 2022. When asked to enter a plea last year, Kohberger stood silent, prompting a judge to enter a not-guilty plea on his behalf. Bryan Kohberger likely segregated from inmates: Jail expert Officials have said that Kohberger traveled in the region the night of the killings and that his DNA was found at the crime scene. They say surveillance video and cellphone data show Kohberger visiting the area at least a dozen times before the killings. Kohbergers attorneys said in court filings that he was just out for a drive that night, which he often did to hike, run or look at the moon and stars. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted. The trial is set for June 2025. NewsNations Sean Noone contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A soldiers remains have been returned to East Tennessee 74 years after he went MIA during the Korean War. U.S. Army Master Sergeant David Paul Sluder was honorably discharged after serving in World War II. He later reenlisted at the start of the Korean War. Sluders unit was stationed south of the Kum River Line. On July 14, 1950, his unit was attacked by enemy ground forces of the North Korean Peoples Army (KPA). Sluder was sent to warn soldiers and civilians in a nearby village about an upcoming invasion after all communications with them had been lost. He was killed upon arrival to the village as KPA had already gotten to the village. He was reported MIA that day. After the war, recovery teams retrieved the bodies of soldiers. Sluders body was taken to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. It would be decades before his family learned what happened to him. Veteran honored for his service in Vietnam, Korea, and WWII Sluders niece, Gerri Hayden, who is now in her 80s, was at McGhee Tyson for the arrival of his remains Thursday. Today when I saw that casket come out and to think that we dont have to worry about where his remains are is such a good feeling to know that we can put him to rest and not wonder where he is, she said. In 2008, Sluders family learned about The Korean War Project, an effort to identify soldiers through DNA. Sluders daughter, Mary Gail Sluder Smith, posted a message on the projects website seeking information about her father. I did not think that we would ever find him, and we wouldnt have if it hadnt been for one man keeping a daily diary, and that was James Bolt, who served with him, Hayden said. Smith received a response from James Bolt. Bolt served alongside Sluder, and thanks to the diary he kept, he was able to tell Smith what happened to her father on July 14, 1950. Now that they knew how Sluder died, his family was determined to find his body. They got the call about his identification on September 27th, 2023. Through the DNA of my aunt, his sister, her two children, and Pauls, my uncles daughter, and then the DNA from this unknown soldier that was in Hawaii, it was my uncle, Hayden said. 10 pounds of chicken tossed during inspection at Pigeon Forge restaurant Hayden wants to encourage other families to do their research and look into the resources available. Dont give up hope because they are working miracles with this, she said. After WWII, Sluder was awarded: Combat Infantryman Badge American Theater Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern (EAMET) Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Star Good Conduct Medal WWII Victory Medal Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII After the Korean War, he was awarded: Purple Heart Marksmanship Badge Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star National Defense Service Medal Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal United Nations Service Medal Army Presidential Unit Citation Veterans Voices: Hear the stories of those who served A funeral for Sluder will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at the gazebo on the grounds of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Mountain Home National Cemetery in Mountain Home, TN. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Kremlin says changes to Russia's nuclear policy are a signal to the West MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Thursday that changes to Russia's nuclear weapons doctrine outlined by President Vladimir Putin should be considered a signal to Western countries that there will be consequences if they participate in attacks on Russia. Putin said on Wednesday that Russia could use nuclear weapons if it was struck with conventional missiles, and that Moscow would consider any assault on it supported by a nuclear power to be a joint attack. The decision to change Russia's official nuclear doctrine is the Kremlin's answer to deliberations in the United States and Britain about whether or not to give Ukraine permission to fire conventional Western missiles into Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said adjustments to a document called "The Foundations of State Policy in the Sphere of Nuclear Deterrence" had been formulated. Asked by reporters if the changes were a signal to the West, Peskov said: "This should be considered a definite signal." "This is a signal that warns these countries about the consequences if they participate in an attack on our country by various means, and not necessarily nuclear ones," Peskov said. The world, Peskov said, was witness to an "unprecedented confrontation" which he said was provoked by the "direct involvement of Western countries, including nuclear powers" in the Ukraine war. Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Moscow was attempting to intimidate alliance members. "Russia's nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and reckless," Stoltenberg said at the Council on Foreign Relations. "We are closely watching what Russia is doing." Peskov said a decision on whether or not to publish the nuclear documents would be made at a later date. Russia's current published nuclear doctrine, set out in a 2020 decree by Putin, says Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state. Asked if rejecting a post-Soviet moratorium on nuclear tests had been discussed as part of the changes, Peskov said he could not answer the question as Wednesday's meeting had been mostly top secret. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Putin's comments "totally irresponsible." "I think many in the world have spoken clearly about that when he's been rattling the nuclear sabre - including China, in the past," he said in an interview with MSNBC on Thursday. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Additional reporting by John Irish in New York; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Stephen Coates) Some Ky. schools, including one in Lexington, cancel classes Friday for Hurricane Helene Several Kentucky school districts, including a private school in Lexington, canceled in-person classes Friday as Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida and drench much of the southeastern U.S. Rain was expected to move into Lexington around 8 p.m. Friday and continue until early next week. Some parts of Kentucky may receive 2-4 inches of rain by the end of the weekend. Lexington Christian Academy and Harrison County Schools canceled classes altogether on Friday. Dan Koett, spokesperson for LCA, said Friday was an inclement weather day, and Harrison County said in a statement that the area is prone to flooding in low-lying areas and projected to experience extremely high winds on Friday. The University of Louisville also announced that classes were canceled and offices would be closed on Friday. Among the school districts that canceled in-person classes and moved to remote learning were Floyd County, Bell County, Rowan County, Middlesboro Independent, Lewis County and Lawrence County. Harlan County also canceled in-person classes, but it was not immediately clear if it would move to remote learning. Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday that the district has no plans to cancel classes at FCPS schools. In Harlan County, the district said in a social media post: Substantial rain has fallen in the area, causing creeks to rise. Significant rain is expected, prompting a flood watch throughout the area as the remnants of Hurricane Helene move through tonight and Friday. We are also under a high wind warning, with winds expected to reach 60 miles per hour. The safety of our students continues to be our top priority, the post said. We appreciate your understanding the decision to close on Friday. In Bell County, the district posted on social media: Due to the warning of dangerous weather, Bell County Schools will operate remotely. LOS ANGELES - A suspected serial rapist has been indicted by a grand jury on 26 charges involving nearly a dozen victims possibly more across Los Angeles County. According to an announcement from Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, 41-year-old Terrance Hawkins will face charges that includes forcible, intimate partner violence, and stalking of at least 11 victims all spanning nearly a decade. "This is a truly egregious case," Gascon said in a press release published on September 25. "I want to acknowledge and commend the bravery of the women who have come forward to share their painful experiences. It takes incredible courage to speak out, especially when facing such trauma." The indictment, unsealed this week, detailed allegations against Hawkins, including 10 counts of forcible rape, one count of forcible sexual penetration, and one count of raping an unconscious person. Other charges include multiple counts of inflicting injury on a significant other, stalking, cruelty to an animal, and possession of a firearm as a felon, according to LA County DA Gascon's office. In previous reports over the summer, the Los Angeles Police Department had warned the public that Hawkins had a history "of briefly dating women, abusing them and filming them during sexual intercourse." LAPD also said earlier in the year that Hawkins met the victims "on various social media platforms." The alleged crimes occurred between 2014 and 2023, with Hawkins accused of physically and sexually abusing women he had dated during that period, Gascon said in a press release. Both LAPD and Gascon issued warnings that there may be more than 11 victims who were targeted by Hawkins. Hawkins remains in custody without bail and, if convicted, faces life in prison. Anyone with information on Hawkins or may have been a victim are asked to call 213-709-9017 or 800-222-TIPS. La Vergne man suspected of dealing cocaine under investigation in connection with deadly Coffee County overdose COFFEE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) A La Vergne man suspected of dealing both cocaine and fentanyl in South Nashville has landed in custody in connection with a deadly overdose in Coffee County, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee MNPD said that Joshua Hardaway, 30, was on the radar of not just MNPD, but the Tullahoma Police Department, the Coffee County Sheriffs Department, the La Vergne Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) as part of a coordinated investigation on fentanyl distribution. MNPD stated that Hardaway was injured multiple times in a suspected drug-related shooting on Edge O Lake Drive last month. Detectives reportedly discovered a .38 caliber revolver in Hardaways vehicle related to that case. A search of Hardaways home on Tuesday reportedly yielded three firearms and roughly five ounces of fentanyl, MNPD added. RELATED: 1 injured in shooting on Edge O Lake Drive Charges in relation to those seizures will be forthcoming in Rutherford County, a press release from the department reads, in part. Inasmuch as Hardaway is a convicted felon in Michigan for assault against law enforcement, he is also facing a felony unlawful gun possession charge. As of publication, Hardaway is being held on a $192,000 bond. Both MNPD and the Coffee County Sheriffs Department said that if you or someone you know needs help with addiction, you can call the Community Overdose Response Team for help. The telephone number is (615) 687-1701. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The team at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Committee continues to shake up this time, as SVP of human resources Kristina Guillen steps down. Guillens resignation came just two weeks after chief legal officer Tanja Olano left her role after LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman reiterated he would not be stepping down, despite the ongoing scandal over his alleged extramarital affairs with female staffers. No specific reason was given for Guillens departure, but she had been with LA28 for less than four months. Olano, meanwhile, had served as both Wassermans top advisor and legal counsel for the citys Olympics efforts since 2015. With new leadership, its logical that staffing changes will be made. No other conclusions should be drawn, an individual with knowledge of the matter told TheWrap. Its a natural transition for turnover coming out of the Paris Games as LA28 embarks on its next chapter. Of Guillens exit, a spokesperson for LA28 said they will not discuss personnel or specific people, but echoed that the end of the Paris Games marks a natural time of transition, and staffing changes are to be expected. Both departures follow an August Daily Mail report in which 11 sources accused Wasserman of having a chronic condition of sleeping with people who work for him, further labeling him a serial cheater. Im going to do my job and do it till the end, the Wasserman agency mogul told CNBCs Andrew Ross Sorkin at the CNBC x Boardroom: Game Plan Summit earlier this month. Im the one whos got the most invested and the most capable of delivering the [best] result for the city. Consider the source, he continued, addressing the Daily Mails expose. If The Daily Mail qualifies as reporting, I guess were all in trouble We live in a day where people can say whatever they want, without facts, without cooperation, without sources and it is the world we live in. The wind hits the tall trees. The Daily Mails report detailed a years-long history of alleged affairs that included former secretary and chief of staff Patricia Feau, who is now vice president of host city relations for the LA28 Olympics; Kristen Merrill, a human resources employee; and Jenny Chandler, a former flight attendant on Wassermans private jet and his current girlfriend. Feau denied the allegations. Two weeks after the scandal broke, Billie Eilish (who helped close the Paris 2024 Olympics), dropped Wasserman as her live booking agent alongside brother Finneas OConnell in favor of William Morris Endeavor. While grateful to their former live booking agents at Wasserman, Billie Eilish and Finneas OConnell have opted to have film, TV and music handled by the same agency, WME, moving forward, her spokesperson told TheWrap at the time. Sharon Waxman contributed to this report. The post LA28 Olympics Head of HR Resigns on Heels of Chief Legal Officer | Exclusive appeared first on TheWrap. LAKE CITY, S.C. (WBTW) The South Carolina Department of Transportation has granted Lake City $176,000 for the development of a safety action plan for the community, a news release said. Lake Citys application was one of 12 South Carolina projects selected for funding from the Safe Streets and Roads for All grants. The citys grant is a Planning and Demonstration Grant will help us develop a new comprehensive safety action plan that addresses our specific issues, Mayor Yamekia Robinson said. Once we get the plan in place, we will begin to implement it. Lake City was also recently given a Community Block Development Grant that helped remove more than a dozen run down buildings from the city. The city has been very blessed with multiple grant awards recently, said William A. Hall, city administrator. City staff are currently working on closing out about $20 million worth of grant projects. A news release said that both grants are part of the bipartisan infrastructure law that supports DOTs national roadway safety strategy and its goal of zero roadway deaths. We hope to develop the plan in conjunction with other grants we have and be able to beautify some of our streets and communities in addition to making them safe, Hall said. We have a sidewalk grant that were working with and are on the cusp of about $25 million in more grants going forward that we hope will help us build for tomorrow. To develop the new comprehensive safety action plan, city officials will reach out for input from the community in the coming months. For more information, click here. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Randall Terry on Tour in Wisconsin 'Defend Children, Defeat Kamala/Walz and Destroy the Democrat Party' NEWS PROVIDED BY Terry for President Sept. 26, 2024 MILWAUKEE, Sept. 26, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Terry / Broden Campaign releases the following: Wisconsin Campaign Schedule Thursday, September 26th Milwaukee, 9:00 AM , Affiliated Med Services 1428 N Farwell Avenue Madison, 11:00 AM, Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Road Lacrosse, 2:30 PM CST, Planned Parenthood, 1201 Caledonia Street Milwaukee, 9:00 AM , Affiliated Med Services 1428 N Farwell Avenue Madison, 11:00 AM, Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Road Lacrosse, 2:30 PM CST, Planned Parenthood, 1201 Caledonia Street Friday, September 27th Eau Claire, 11:00 AM CST, City Hall, 203 S Farwell Street Wausau, 1:00 PM CST, Health First Services, 216 S 3rd Avenue Green Bay, 3:15 PM CST, Planned Parenthood, 2605 S Oneida Street Candidate for President, Randal Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, the largest peaceful civil disobedience movement (Biblical obedience) in American history. Countless lives were saved from murder because of those who laid their lives down and sacrificed their time and liberty so babies could be saved from a horrible death. This rescue movement was ten times greater in participation than the civil rights movement for blacks. VP Candidate, Pastor Stephen Broden, Founder of Fair Park Bible Fellowship for over 35 years (a non-denominational inner-city church) in Dallas, Texas, a resident of the Dallas area for 43 years. Ran for Congress in Texas District 30 in 2010. Speaker on Fox & Friends, Glen Beck, Huckabee shows. For more information go Terry2024.com and Interview Randall Terry at each stop. Contact: Joe Slovenec Campaign Manager 909-273-7004 Terry2024.com ConstitutionParty.com ConstitutionPartyofWisconsin.com SOURCE Terry for President CONTACT: Joe Slovenec, campaign manager, 909-273-7004 Hats, jackets, selfies and social media posts have all been used by law enforcement at one point to identify the 19 Coloradans who have so far faced charges since the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. They join over 1,000 people arrested in nearly every state for felonies and misdemeanors relating to the attack. On the third anniversary of the Capitol riot, here are the people from Colorado who have been accused so far, according to records in the database maintained by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia: Jacob Travis Clark, Colorado Springs Clark was sentenced to 33 months in prison in October 2023 for his role in the Capitol riot. He was found guilty of felony obstruction of an official proceeding as well as several misdemeanor charges. The U.S. Attorney's Office said in a release that Clark was one of the first individuals to enter the Capitol, and that he was carrying a 2-by-4 plank and was part of a mob that threatened police officers. The release said that Clark texted that he was expecting a "revolt" at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and that he was going to be "part of history." Glenn Wes Lee Croy, Colorado Springs Croy faced federal charges for demonstrating in the Capitol and plead guilty in August 2021. Croy reportedly sent photos of himself in the Capitol, including in front of a bust of Abraham Lincoln in the south wing of the Capitol. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail and three years of probation. Jennifer Horvath, Colorado Springs Horvath, identified during the investigation of Glenn Wes Lee Croy as his girlfriend, was also filmed breaching the Capitol. Photos released showed Horvath putting a hat and glasses on a bust of Winston Churchill. Horvath was sentenced to three years of probation. Tyler Earl Ethridge, formerly Woodland Park A pastor who graduated in 2017 from the Practical Government School at Andrew Wommack's Charis Bible College in Woodland Park, Ethridge, 34, was found guilty of six criminal charges relating to his involvement in the Jan. 6 riot. Ethridge was convicted on felony counts of civil disorder and tampering with a witness or informant as well as four misdemeanor charges relating to his breach of the Capitol. Prosecutors said Ethridge removed fencing on the Capitol's northwest approach, encouraging other rioters. According to previous reporting from The Gazette, videos filmed and posted by Ethridge show him in the Capitol Rotunda. In one video he says, "I don't want to say that what we're doing is right, but if the election is being stolen. What's it going to take?" Shortly after the riot Ethridge lost his job as a pastor at Christ-Center Church of Tampa in Dover, Fla. Dover's sentencing is set for Jan. 18, 2024. Daniel Michael Morrissey, Denver Morrissey was sentenced to 45 days in prison after pleading guilty in 2022 to charges related to breaching the Capitol. Morrissey was identified through selfies taken in the Capitol and CCTV footage. Hunter Palm, unknown The latest Coloradan to plead guilty to Jan. 6 charges, Palm was indicted on one misdemeanor charge of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Palm made several recordings inside the Capitol as part of crowds that pushed past police officers. He was sentenced to three years of probation. Timothy Wayne Williams, Trinidad Williams was arrested in 2021 on suspicion of entering the Capitol unlawfully. He told investigators that he was "pushed" inside, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. Williams was identified in videos in the Capitol Rotunda. Klete Derik Keller, Colorado Springs A former U.S Olympian, Keller was sentenced in December 2023 to three months of probation for felony obstruction of Congress. Keller was identified by his unique Olympic jacket, which had "USA" emblazoned on the back. Keller was filmed resisting officers' efforts to get rioters to leave the Capitol. According to a U.S. Attorney's Office statement Keller at one point called out to police officers "Why do we have to leave?" After exiting the Capitol, he then destroyed his phone's memory card and threw away his Olympic jacket, according to the statement. A former member of the U.S Olympic swimming team, Keller won gold twice during competition from 2000 to 2008. Robert Gieswein, Woodland Park Featured Local Savings Gieswein was sentenced in June 2023 on two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers. Gieswein marched with a group of Proud Boys before breaching the Capitol, where he used an aerosol canister of irritant to attack several officers. Gieswein was sentenced to 48 months in prison as well as three months of supervised release and a $2000 restitution fine. Logan Grover, Erie Grover was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in 2022. He was identified in footage from the riot outside the Capital and near the entrance to the Rotunda. Patrick Montgomery, Littleton The owner of a hunting guide business called Pmonte Outdoors, Montgomery was allegedly identified by the FBI at the Capitol through social media posts. He was arrested in 2021 on several charges including assaulting law enforcement. The Littleton man was in further legal trouble after photos surfaced that seemed to show Montgomery with a mountain lion he killed using a firearm he was not allowed to possess according to court stipulations. Avery C MacCracken, Telluride MacCracken pleaded guilty in October 2023, to felony obstructing law enforcement officers during a civil disorder. The Telluride man pushed an officer away as he attempted to enter the Capitol, then grabbed a second officer by his arm and jacket. MacCracken's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2024. Rebecca Lavrenz, Colorado Springs Lavrenz was arrested in December 2022 after admitting to the FBI that she participated in the Capitol riot. Lavrenz allegedly identified herself from a photograph of the day, according to the U.S Attorney's Office. Thomas Patrick Hamner, Peyton Hamner was sentenced in 2022 to 30 months in prison for charges including felony interfering with a law enforcement officer. The U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement that Hamner engaged in a "tug-of-war" with an officer over a bike rack being used as a barricade and used a metal sign to push into a defensive line formed by officers. Todd Branden Casey, Denver Arrested in August, Casey is facing charges including felony civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. According to a U.S Attorney's Office statement, Casey was filmed attempting to breach barricades set up by officers, at one point shouting "I would have come locked and loaded if I knew this was happening!" The statement said Casey also allegedly pushed and grabbed a Metropolitan Police officer, requiring the intervention of another officer. Jonathan David Grace, Colorado Springs Grace pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement in October 2023. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Grace attempted to push past a police line in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel entrance to the Capitol. The statement said that one officer in the footage could be heard "screaming in pain" as Grace and others smashed the officer between a shield and door frame. Grace is set to be sentenced on Jan. 30, 2024. Jeffrey Sabol, Kittridge Sabol was found guilty in August 2023 on felony charges including obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, federal robbery, and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon and aiding and abetting. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Sabol brought items like a buck knife and zip ties to the "Stop the Steal" Rally preceding the riot, in which he assisted in dragging an officer down a flight of steps where the officer was beaten with a flagpole and a baton. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Sabol destroyed his cellphone and laptop and attempted to board a flight to Zurich, Switzerland. He was unable to leave the country and was arrested in Westchester, N.Y. His sentencing is set for Jan. 19, 2024. Justin Schulze, Colorado Springs Schulze was arrested in November 2023 along with Eric Zeis on suspicion of felony and misdemeanor offenses for the pair's actions on Jan. 6. Schulze was allegedly seen with Zeis breaching the East Rotunda doors. Eric Zeis, Monument Zeis traveled with Schulze by car to Washington to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was also allegedly identified in an open source video joining a group that pushed officers. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A homeowner shot and killed a person who was attempting to break into their home Thursday morning, police said. On Thursday, Sept. 26 at around 7:40 a.m. a person called 911 to report that their home in the 6400 block of Placer Drive, near West Harmon Avenue and South Torrey Pines Drive, was being broken into. As officers were dispatched, the 911 dispatcher heard a shot over the phone, LVMPD Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said during a news conference Thursday. The person reporting told the dispatcher they shot the man, who appeared to be in his 30s or 40s, Johansson said. The homeowner, who is in their 20s, told police that the man was acting extremely irrational and would not listen to the homeowner when they asked him to leave the home, Johansson said. Johansson said the man then moved toward the doorway where the homeowner was, leading to the homeowner to shoot him. Arriving officers found the man in the driveway suffering from a gunshot wound. Medical personnel took the man to a local hospital where staff pronounced him dead. Johansson said police did not believe there was any relationship between the man and the homeowner as the homeowner moved into the home recently. Johansson also said police obtained surveillance video from across the street. He said he does not anticipate an arrest in this investigation at this time. The investigation will go through a review with the Clark County District Attorneys office to determine if any charges will be filed. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521 or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or on their website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Representatives from a prominent Italian restaurant located near the Las Vegas Strip filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the organizers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and Clark County after they said they lost millions of dollars because of event-related construction. Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. (LVGP) Liberty Media Corporation, LV Diamond Property 1, LLC, and Clark County are all named as defendants in the suit. Ferraros Ristorante, which opened in November 1985 and has since been recognized globally, is Las Vegas longest-running family-owned authentic Italian restaurant, the lawsuit stated. Gambero Rosso, a prominent Italian food and wine magazine, listed it as one of the best Italian restaurants in the world. According to the lawsuit, the restaurant suffered a loss of thousands of guests and millions of dollars over approximately 8 months during ongoing F1-related construction. The 29-page lawsuit claims that F1 organizers touted: economic boom and benefit to the city, but the F1 race had the opposite effect on Ferraros, causing what the lawsuit calls irreparable harm to the restaurant and its employees. RELATED: Petition aims to stop Las Vegas F1 race until 2023 damage corrected The lawsuit said the restaurant, located at 4480 Paradise Road, is accessible by entrances on Paradise, Harmon Avenue or South University Center Drive. The business is completely dependent on guests, taxis, and rideshares using those roads to access the restaurant. The lawsuit claimed that F1-related construction effectively cut off and severely limit access to the Property and its business for the better part of nine months, and that the limitation would be an annual occurrence. F1s construction rendered it impossible for general tourists, convention attendees, or locals to access Ferraros when it severely limited and often dramatically reduced access to the business over about eight months, the lawsuit claimed. The lawsuit claims Ferraros lost the majority of its regular customer base due to the F1 construction, leading to fewer tips for employees. Additionally, vendors and suppliers were also impacted with hours of travel time added to reach the restaurant. The F1 construction was unpredictable and cripplingly disruptive. The lane closures and complete road closures fluctuated continuously, sometimes different from hour to hour, the lawsuit read. The owners of Ferraros told 8 News Now in Nov. 2023 that reservations at the restaurant were down from an average of 200 to 400 diners per day, down to around 20 to 40 just days before the Grand Prix kicked off. Additionally, F1 constructed a bridge on Flamingo Road to provide access to resorts within the F1 Circuit between Las Vegas and Koval Lane. The construction of the bridge caused the road to close for approximately 11 days while it was built and 11 days while it was dismantled. RELATED: Clark County applauds better F1 operations while small businesses continue to fight for compensation The bridge was not dismantled until February, roughly 3 months after the F1 race. While the bridge was up, the lawsuit claims it prevented practical ingress and egress to Ferraros, meaning customers and employees faced difficulties getting to the restaurant. The lawsuit said employees had to leave their homes early just to sit in traffic for hours in an attempt to get to work on time. According to the lawsuit, possible plans to make the Flamingo Road bridge permanent would be devastating to the restaurant. The lawsuit said that in or around March 2022, LVGP, under the name Liberty Dice, entered into a letter of intent with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) to facilitate an annual Formula 1 Grand Prix race in Las Vegas that included the Strip, to be held from Nov. 16-18, 2023 and each year thereafter on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. The lawsuit claims that the letter of intent said the local community would be able to operate as usual with minimal disruption. Documents claim the owners of Ferraros Ristorante were never given any prior notice by F1 for race-related construction around their business and were never provided a fair opportunity to voice any objections to the County expressing an intent for a long-term F1 Race in the Resort Corridor. The lawsuit also claims that despite county code requiring a special use permit, LVGP never obtained one for the F1 circuit or the F1 race as they did not follow the application process that requires a neighborhood meeting and notice to all property owners. Instead, Clark County granted LVGP a less rigorous special event permit, which is normally used for activities that will very temporarily close a roadway, such as a grand opening or a parade. RELATED: Clark County to streamline special events after this years F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix According to the lawsuit, a special event permit should not be issued if it will unduly interfere with the orderly operation of public roadways, hospitals, parks, schools, or other public and quasipublic institutions in the county. The lawsuit claims LVGP was allowed to intentionally circumvent local ordinances and was further allowed to proceed without complying with permits that were issued. Two other lawsuits against the racing giant were already filed, one from the Ellis Island Hotel & Casino in late April. A second lawsuit from Battistas Hole in the Wall and Stage Door Casino was filed in early September. A fourth lawsuit from Jays Market was pending, 8 News Now was told. After meetings in August, County Commissioners indicated they would reach out to the restaurant to work through the issues caused by F1, but no one from the county ever reached out, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit seeks an award against the defendants in favor of the restaurant in an amount in excess of $15,000, an award for pre-condemnation damages, reasonable attorneys fees and costs, equitable relief, and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial. 8 News Now reached out to LVGP and Clark County. Officials at Las Vegas Grand Prix indicated they cannot comment on pending litigation, and the county had the same response. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department honored two of its officers Wednesday for their heroic efforts in helping rush K9 Enzo to a nearby animal hospital after a man stabbed him. The incident happened on March 29 when police responded to a call of a suicidal man. When officers arrived they found the man barricaded with a small fire in an apartment. SWAT, a K9 team and negotiators were called in to help assist. Officers deployed Enzo to stop the man who had a knife and was threatening to attack police officers. Enzo raced toward the man, biting him on the left bicep and refusing to let go, despite being repeatedly stabbed. Officers rushed Enzo to a nearby veterinary hospital where he was stabilized, but he was required to be transferred to another animal hospital for more care on the other side of town. The only option was to transport Enzo by helicopter: In come, Officer Kenneth Sager and Officer Pilot Patrick Sherwood. Sager said it took the teamwork of several agencies to help save Enzos life after he was stabbed several times by a man threatening officers. Sager was with Enzo and his partner Officer Remi Damole on that fateful day. It happened in Downtown Area Command, so you had all those officers originally being there and things like that and then from [the suspect] coming out to Enzo being stabbed and us trying to make our way to the hospital, Sager explained. You had area commands from Bolden, just all over the valley blocking areas off. Even Swat officers that hadnt arrived yet, they started taking spots on the streets to make sure it was blocked off. Sherwood said he was the tactical flight officer on that day and knew it was a dire situation. We put Enzo in the back and I believe he was that critical, there was blood all over the place. The look on Remis face was very concerned. He looked scared and very worried about his partner, Sherwood said. Sherwood knew time was of the essence. It was 4 or 5 in the afternoon, rush hour traffic in Vegas and it was going from Decatur and Washington clear up on Durango in the southwest part of the valley so theres no way an ambulance or police car or anything else was going to get that dog there faster than us and luckily we have the training to put our K9 partners in back and save a life. It was great, added Sherwood. Both officers said that Enzo is a hero too and being recognized by the department and the community makes the job worthwhile. Officer Remi, hes received countless texts, Ive received texts from just people in this community who are police force friendly, its awesome to know that we have the support from the community, Sager added. The man who stabbed Enzo who was wanted for an out-of-state murder will serve at least eight more years in prison, a judge ruled earlier this month. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Firefighters and helicopters battled five forest fires on the outskirst of Quito that have injured six people, destroyed homes, and led to the evacuation of dozens of families (Galo Paguay) (Galo Paguay/AFP/AFP) Ecuador's capital Quito, already reeling from a spate of horrific gang violence, is now fighting fires with limited water amid the country's worst drought in six decades. "It feels like punishment," said 56-year-old Fernando Muirragui, whose house barely escaped the flames authorities believe were the work of arsonists. The misery just "seems to pile up," Rolando Marcillo, a 60-year-old carpenter in the fire-hit Bellavista neighborhood complained, calling the fires "the last straw." Ecuador is one of several South American nations battling record wildfires that have consumed millions of hectares amid one of the most severe droughts in years, linked by experts to climate change. The Andean country has received almost no rain for nearly three months, making it tinder-dry. So far this year it has recorded 3,300 forest fires that have destroyed nearly 38,000 hectares of vegetation. Quito, a city of around three million people situated at a vertiginous 9,350 feet (2,850 meters), has been battling blazes for three weeks. Five new fires broke out simultaneously Tuesday on the capital's eastern outskirts, some of which were still burning a day later despite the efforts of about 2,000 firefighters, soldiers, and rescuers. One man has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting one of the fires. Six people have been injured and about 100 families moved to safety as residents tried to save their homes with buckets of water carted sometimes over long distances. - Losing money - The fires could not have come at a worse time, with 20 of Ecuador's 24 provinces on "red alert" due to drought. The country, which relies heavily on hydroelectric power, is facing severe energy shortages and has introduced rolling blackouts of up to 12 hours a day, while drinking water is in ever shorter supply. The business sector has estimated its losses at about $12 million per hour of power lost. "We are losing money because we cannot sell cold products like beverages even as the heat has increased demand," grocery store owner Ana Topon, 77, told AFP. "We are ordering fewer perishable products like meat, which now cannot be stored due to the risk of spoilage" with fridges and freezers more offline than on. With farmers battling to keep thirsty crops and livestock alive, consumers are starting to feel the sting of price increases. "Everything is going up because of the drought," said 59-year-old homemaker Consuelo, who did not want to give her surname. "A bag of vegetables still costs a dollar, but it comes with fewer tomatoes, fewer onions, fewer peppers, and the vendors think we don't notice." About 40,000 hectares of crops have been affected by drought and fire, according to Agriculture Minister Danilo Palacios. - 'Criminals take advantage' - Quito residents are navigating a perfect storm of crises. Apart from the food shortages, rising prices and flames, they also live in fear of armed gangs looking to exploit the chaos. The once peaceful country of 17 million inhabitants has seen its homicide rate increase eightfold in five years as gangs vying for control of the drug trade wage war with the state. The lawlessness has been concentrated in prisons and port areas, but has also reached Quito, where several clashes have been reported in recent days. A shooting at a hair salon killed five people last Friday. Muirragui, whose home was nearly consumed by flames on Tuesday, said the rise in criminal activity made people loathe to evacuate their properties. "You can't leave things unattended because criminals take advantage of your absence to steal," he said. tip-pld/mlr/cb/fb/md Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the Economic Club of Pittsburgh on the Carnegie Mellon University campus in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged to build an economy that is both pro-business and helps the middle class. In remarks Wednesday at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh in battleground Pennsylvania, she said she would take good ideas from wherever they come as she promised to double the number of people being trained in registered apprenticeships and outlined her support for more home ownership. Meanwhile, Republican Donald Trump offered his own competing vision of the economy while visiting a furnituremaker in Mint Hill, North Carolina. He defended his idea for a special lower tax rate for U.S. manufacturers and pledged to impose tariffs high enough that there would be an exodus of auto factory jobs from Japan, Germany and South Korea. Follow the APs Election 2024 coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024. Heres the latest: Trump won't say whether he's pulling Robinson endorsement Trump has stumped several times in North Carolina since CNNs reporting about Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons alleged disturbing sexual and racial online posts, but the embattled candidate has not appeared with him. Asked if he is going to pull his endorsement of Robinson, North Carolinas GOP gubernatorial nominee, Trump neither said yes or no. I dont know the situation, Trump said. Robinson was granted a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention and Trump has described him as one of the great leaders in our country and better than Martin Luther King. The former president often denies knowledge of associates or familiar topics after they become particularly controversial, such as the authors of the conservative Project 2025. Trump claims the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams was related to immigration Asked about the bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Trump framed the allegations as politically motivated and tied them to immigration-related strains on the city. Saying, I wish him well, Trump added that he had predicted that Adams will be indicted within a year after the mayor talked about how the illegal migrants are hurting us. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, when questioned about the indictment earlier Thursday, said that the Department of Justice is handling this case independently and that Biden has not spoken to the mayor. Harris embraces Ukraine's defense Vice President Kamala Harris embraced Ukraines defense on Thursday and criticized calls for the besieged country to give up territory to Russia. They are not proposals for peace, the Democratic presidential candidate said. Instead they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable. Harris made the comments alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was visiting Washington to shore up American support. We have to keep pressure on Russia to end the war, Zelenskyy said. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine needs to cut a deal to end the war, and hes criticized U.S. military assistance. Trump discusses immigration at news conference Donald Trump opened a news conference Thursday by calling Vice President Kamala Harris the architect of this destruction at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump spoke at Trump Tower in New York ahead of Harris expected trip Friday to the border. In part, the former president read from prepared remarks. Shes got no plans, shes got no talent, he said, of Harris work on immigration. Trump has built his campaign partly around calling for cracking down on immigration and the border. Harris has increasingly tried to seize on the issue and turn it back against her opponent, though polls show voters continue to trust Trump more on it. FCC adopts $6 million fine against consultant behind fake Biden robocalls The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a $6 million fine against a man who sent misleading generative artificial intelligence robocalls to New Hampshire voters. Steven Kramer must pay in full within 30 days or the case will be referred to the Justice Department, according to Thursdays release. The FCC initially proposed the fine in May. Kramer has admitted orchestrating the AI-generated message that was sent to thousands of voters two days before the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23. The calls impersonated President Joe Bidens voice and falsely suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November. The consultant told The Associated Press in February that he wasnt trying to influence the outcome of the primary election but rather intended to send a wake-up call about the potential dangers of AI. Kramer declined to comment through a spokesperson Thursday. He also is charged with 13 felony counts and 13 misdemeanor counts in New Hampshire associated with the scheme. Republican Wisconsin congressman falsely suggests city clerk was lying about absentee ballots MADISON, Wis. The mailing of about 2,200 duplicate absentee ballots in Wisconsins heavily Democratic capital city of Madison has led a Republican member of Congress to falsely suggest that the clerk was lying about the presence of barcodes on the ballots themselves. An initial statement on Monday from Madison Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl did not specify that it was the envelopes, not the ballots, that contain the barcodes. The statement posted on the clerks website was later updated to specify that the barcodes were on the envelopes, not the ballots. Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany posted a picture of an absentee ballot on the social platform X to show there was no barcode and suggested the clerk was lying. Harris issues a policy guide Vice President Kamala Harris has issued an official policy guide, a full 82 pages that push back against Republican criticism that she lacks policies. Entitled A New Way Forward for the Middle Class, the guide is one-stop-shopping for the ideas appearing in Harris speeches. The first section goes over her thoughts on lowering costs for groceries, energy, health care and other items. The second section outlines her ideas for constructing 3 million more homes and boosting manufacturing and entrepreneurship. But much of the guide focuses on former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. His last name appears 135 times and the first charts cite independent analyses suggesting he would be worse for inflation and job growth than Harris. Wisconsin district attorney pursues investigation into mayors removal of absentee ballot drop box MADISON, Wis. A Wisconsin district attorney said Thursday that her office is pursuing an investigation into the removal of an absentee ballot drop box by the mayor of Wausau. Mayor Doug Diny removed the drop box from outside of City Hall on Sunday. He distributed a picture of himself doing it while wearing workers gloves and a hard hat. Diny is a conservative opponent to drop boxes. He insists he did nothing wrong. The drop box was locked and no ballots were in it. The city clerk notified Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon and she said in an email on Thursday that she is requesting an official investigation with the assistance of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Wetzsteon said she was waiting to hear back on her request. A DOJ spokesperson did not immediately return a message Thursday. It was the latest example in swing state Wisconsin of the fight over whether communities will allow absentee ballot drop boxes. Millions face new voting restrictions Millions of people face voting restrictions that did not exist during the 2020 election after states reacted to false allegations of widespread voter fraud, according to the latest assessment of the voting system by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. In a report released Thursday, the center said about half of the 63 new restrictive laws in effect this election curtail mail voting. Eleven shorten the period to request a ballot and five either tighten the deadline for returning one or place restrictions on officials in accepting late-arriving ballots. Twelve states have laws on the books that restrict helping voters in returning their mail ballot applications or ballots, the report said. Several also reduced the number of drop boxes available for voters to return ballots. Andrew Garber, counsel in the centers Democracy Program, expects that people in places such as Georgia, Texas and Florida are going to attempt to vote the same way they did a few years ago and theyre going to discover that theyve been wrongly removed from the rolls or theyre not going to realize that the window to request and return a mail ballot is significantly shorter than it used to be. Not all the news in the assessment is about limits on voting. At least 156 laws make it easier to vote. The report cited New York, Michigan and Virginia as leaders in the push to expand voting rights. Walz will attend Michigan-Minnesota college football game Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz will campaign at a college football came in Michigan this weekend, ahead of his upcoming debate with Republican vice presidential pick JD Vance. Walz, the governor of Minnesota and a former high school coach and teacher, will attend the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday. Its in Ann Arbor. Walz will talk with students about the importance of voting in November. The vice presidential debate is Oct. 1. Melania Trump calls it a miracle that her husband wasn't killed Melania Trump said it was a miracle that her husband wasnt killed during two recent assassination attempts. In an interview that aired Thursday on Fox News Channels Fox & Friends, the former first lady said a staffer alerted her to the shooting at a July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump said she was in New York this month when she saw television reports of the second shooting at a golf course in Florida. I think something was watching over him, Trump said of her husband surviving both attempts. Its almost like, the country really needs him. Melania Trump also described the FBIs 2022 search on her Mar-a-Lago home as an invasion of privacy, saying the situation made me angry. Federal prosecutors ultimately charged Trump with mishandling classified documents, but a judge tossed the charges earlier this year. Prosecutors are challenging that decision. This was the former first ladys first interview in more than two years and comes as she promotes her new memoir. Harris makes scandal-plagued Republican the star of her campaign to win North Carolina Theres an unlikely star in Kamala Harris push to win North Carolina: Mark Robinson. The states embattled Republican candidate for governor, Robinson is featured in conversations this week with Harris volunteers and voters on the phone and at their doorways. Democrats wave signs warning of Trump-Robinson extremism at their news conferences. Billboard trucks circulate in key cities warning that Robinson, also the states lieutenant governor, is unhinged. And Harris is running a new television advertising campaign highlighting Donald Trumps history of lavishing Robinson with flowery praise. No Democrat has carried this Southern state since former President Barack Obama in 2008, whose victory stands as the only Democratic win on the presidential level here in a half-century. But Trump held North Carolina by just 1.3 percentage points four years ago, and it is again emerging as one of the most competitive states in the final weeks before Election Day. A new mystery firm enters Trumps orbit, rekindling criticism of his presidential campaign spending Launchpad Strategies was incorporated less than a year ago and has since received $15 million from Donald Trumps election fundraising machine. For what is mostly a mystery. Campaign finance records indicate the limited liability company was hired to provide online advertising, digital consulting and fundraising. On its website, the firm boasts it is a full-service Republican digital agency run by expert strategists. Yet, those expert strategists arent identified. An online contact form doesn't appear to work. And business registration records in Delaware provide no clues as to who owns or runs the firm. The campaigns checks are sent to a P.O. Box in North Carolina. Campaign finance experts say Launchpad Strategies was built for anonymity and is the latest example of how the Trump campaign has used secretive businesses to obscure its spending from the public. The Latest: NYC mayor charged with taking bribes and illegal campaign funds from foreign sources New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on federal charges alleging that he took bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams compounded his gains from the illegal contributions by gaming the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. FBI agents entered the mayors official residence and seized his phone early Thursday, hours before the indictment was made public. The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have homed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that have thrust City Hall into crisis. Here's the latest: Adams lawyer says the mayor wanted to turn himself in Thursday but is now hoping to appear in court Friday or Monday Speaking to reporters, Alex Spiro suggested federal authorities waved off his immediate surrender. He also accused them of leaking word of Adams indictment to the news media. Weve known for some time that they intended to bring a case against the mayor one way or another, Spiro said, standing with Adams outside the mayors official residence. Spiro said that after having had a chance to read the indictment, you could almost picture them trying to cobble this together and try to tell a story so that they could say, corruption, corruption at a press conference. He criticized the indictment as a jumble of accusations and innuendo he said was meant to mislead the public about Adams. He argued that the conduct described in the charges either wasnt illegal or didnt involve the mayor. The Turkish consulate was asking for a courtesy, not payback, when it wanted Adams help in skipping a fire inspection, Spiro said, adding: New Yorkers do this all the time. Adams said hed see what he could do and, a few days later, ignored a follow up phone call from the consulate, Spiro asserted. There is no corruption. This is not a real case, Spiro said. Officials who enforce public campaign financing program say theyre reviewing the indictment Officials who enforce the citys public campaign financing program and can impose penalties for violations say theyre reviewing Adams indictment. The allegations detailed in the indictment are very serious, for New Yorkers and for those of us working to make our elections more accessible, transparent, and accountable to our city, Frederick Schaffer, chair of the citys Campaign Finance Board, said in a statement. While the mayor is presumed innocent until proven guilty and deserves due process, the Board will nonetheless review all relevant information, including but not limited to the indictment, in order to uphold our citys campaign finance rules and protect taxpayer dollars. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer comments on Adams indictment No one is above the law, including the Mayor of New York City, the New York Democrat said in a statement. The charges are serious, and the legal process should now play out speedily and fairly. Speaker of the New York City Council: We will continue to monitor the situation At a news conference, Adrienne Adams, speaker of the New York City Council and a fellow Democrat who isnt related to the mayor, said she hasnt begun considering potential removal of the mayor from office. She said people charged with crimes are presumed innocent and have the right to defend themselves. But, she added, I ask the mayor to seriously and honestly consider whether full attention can be given to our deserving New Yorkers who need our government to be sound and stable. Asked about removing the mayor, Adrienne Adams responded, We are of course, like I said, very troubled by everything thats transpired. We are not prepared today to give an answer to that question. We will continue to monitor the situation, to be in talks with our colleagues both at city and state level as we all monitor the situation and see how this further unfolds. Adams came from a working class childhood Adams has often highlighted his working-class upbringing. He was one of six children raised by a single mother and has spoken of carrying around a garbage bag packed with his clothes because he feared his family would be evicted. At 15, he was beaten by police officers after being arrested for trespassing, but the bruising encounter sparked a desire to change the system from within, he said. Adams joined the New York City transit police in 1984 and eventually became a New York Police Department officer when the transit department merged into the larger NYPD. He rose to the rank of captain and was the co-founder of an advocacy group called 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, which sought criminal justice reform and denounced police brutality. He retired from the police department in 2006. Read more about New York City Mayor Eric Adams biography. The White House responds to claims made by Adams about his indictment The White House pushed back against claims by the New York City mayor that he was targeted because of his objections to the administrations efforts to address immigration and border crossings, saying the actions by the Justice Department were independent of politics. The president was clear, even when he was running in 2020, that he was going to make sure that DOJ is independent and the DOJ is handling this case independently, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at Thursdays briefing. Adams administration has been bogged down with attempts to house tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the citys homeless shelters, with Adams at odds with President Joe Biden over funding and a strategy to handle the influx of new residents. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she hasnt read the Adams indictment yet Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, told reporters after an event Thursday morning that she had not yet read the indictment but would soon do so and then offer detailed comments on the charges. Im going to take the time I need to review this indictment, see whats embedded with this, but my number one responsibility is to make sure the people of New York city and state of New York are served, Hochul said. If Adams were to resign, he would be immediately replaced by Jumaane Williams, the citys public advocate Williams, a Democrat, would then schedule a special election. In a statement Thursday, Williams did not explicitly call for Adams to step down but said It is federal officials obligation to prove their case, it is the mayors obligation to prove to New Yorkers that there is a real plan and path to govern the city effectively and regain trust, and his time to show that plan is rapidly running out. A stunning turn for Adams Adams is the police captain who won election nearly three years ago to become the citys second Black mayor on a campaign that stressed his working class roots and commitment to public safety. But as he has made reducing crime a cornerstone of his administration, he's faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations homing in on his top aides and his own campaign. In the last two weeks alone, the leaders he appointed to oversee the countrys largest police force and largest schools system have announced their resignations. Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries calls Adams indictment a serious and sober moment for New York City Jeffries is the Democratic leader of the U.S. House and a New Yorker. Like every other New Yorker and American, Eric Adams is entitled to the presumption of innocence. That principle is central to the administration of justice in the United States of America, Jeffries said in a statement. A jury of the Mayors peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately render a determination. In the meantime, I pray for the well-being of our great City. Former political science professor says the Adams indictment will cause a leadership vacuum Douglas Muzzio, a retired political science professor from Baruch College with extensive knowledge of New York politics, said the indictment will cause a leadership vacuum at the highest level of city government as Adams tries to fend off the charges. Pretty soon entire departments are going to have gridlock, and as people are worried about their jobs, their future, the momentum of the city is going to slow considerably, Muzzio said. The impact is going to be real and substantial, particularly with the mayor out of the picture and many of his commissioners have resigned, will resign or are under a cloud. U.S. Attorney Damien Williams says Adams violated the public trust Williams says Adams engaged in long-running corruption involving bribes from foreign nationals dating back nearly a decade. Speaking at a news conference at his Manhattan office, Williams detailed the allegations of bribery and illegal campaign contributions. Williams also said the investigation continues and more people will be held accountable. Adams was defiant in his news conference, criticizing federal authorities handling of the investigation and denying he broke any laws Everyone who knows me knows that I follow campaign rules and I follow the law, he said. The mayor said people should question the federal officials who orchestrated Thursdays events, when asked if he believed the investigation was political. More details on coverup allegations in the indictment Adams failed to disclose his free and discounted travel, created a false paper trail to suggest he had paid it, claimed to a staffer that he deleted his text messages and directed the staffer to ensure his activities in Turkey in 2021 were shielded from public view, prosecutors alleged. Adams and his co-conspirators, unnamed in the indictment, continued their efforts to defeat scrutiny of their criminal conduct after the federal investigation into those crimes became known to them, the indictment said. Last November, as FBI agents knocked on her door to execute a search warrant, Adams fundraiser called the mayor five times and Adams later called her phone as agents were leaving her residence, the indictment said. The fundraiser refused to tell agents who paid for her 2021 travel to Turkey, the indictment said. Adams was in Washington, D.C. at the time, but upon learning about the search, he canceled the meeting and immediately returned to New York City. A few days later, the FBI executed a search warrant for Adams electronic devices. According to the indictment, Adams produced two cellphones but not the personal cellphone he used in conjunction with his alleged crimes. Adams later turned over the phone in response to a subpoena, but it was locked and required a password that Adams claimed to have forgotten, the indictment said. Protesters made their feelings known at Adams news conference Shouting from the crowd, one told the mayor he should resign because hes an embarrassment. Another called him corrupt and said he should be in handcuffs. Hazel Dukes, 92, the former leader of the NAACP and an Adams supporter, yelled back to the protesters, Will you shut up. Police circled the protesters as they chanted abuse of power. At news conference, Adams says he wasnt surprised by the indictments Standing outside Gracie Mansion and surrounded by prominent Black clergy and civic leaders, Adams vowed to continue his mayoral duties and urged New Yorkers to wait to make any judgments until after he presents his defense. Its an unfortunate day. And its a painful day, he said. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, Ive gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself. Adams starting exploiting foreign relationships years before becoming mayor, while serving as Brooklyn Borough President, prosecutors say According to the indictment, Adams accepted tens of thousands of dollars in free flights and upgrades on Turkeys national airline for him and his companions, stays in luxury hotel suites, as well as other amenities such as a car and driver, boat tour, a Turkish bath at a seaside hotel and high-end restaurant meals. Prosecutors also detailed steps Adams allegedly took to cover up his conduct In 2019, while exchanging text messages to plan another possible to trip to Turkey, an Adams staffer texted the then-Borough President, To be o(n the) safe side Please Delete all messages you send me, according to the indictment. According to prosecutors, Adams responded: Always do. Adams was indicted on federal charges alleging he took bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources The indictment alleges Adams compounded his gains from the illegal contributions by gaming the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. His campaign received more than $10,000 in matching funds as a result of the false certifications, according to the indictment. Adams allegedly solicited and demanded bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official, the indictment alleges, noting that the official was seeking Adams help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. Despite indictment news, Adams touts new program on housing projects Adams appears to be going about some usual business as he touted a new program to help affordable housing projects become more eco-friendly. Were making sure that we dont leave anyone behind as we build a greener, cleaner city for working-class New Yorkers, the mayor said in a statement Thursday morning, without any mention of the indictment. Adams is the first NYC mayor to be indicted Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul spokesperson Avi Small issued a statement late Wednesday that said Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement. Adams was still at Gracie Mansion, his official residence, as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday His former chief of staff, Frank Carone, and deputy mayor for communications, Fabien Levy, were seen entering. The mood at City Hall, roughly 30 minutes south, was notably quieter. As a gaggle of reporters typed in a press room, the side of the building used by the mayors staff was largely silent, with only a handful of aides walking in and out of the normally lively corridor. A portion of the outdoor plaza used as parking for municipal employees featured far fewer city vehicles than usual. US attorneys office in New York says it will announce significant public corruption charges The U.S. attorneys office in New York says it will announce significant public corruption charges at a news conference later Thursday morning. The announcement came hours after federal agents entered the mayors official residence and seized his phone early Thursday, hours before the indictment was made public. The news conference is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET. In a video speech released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to fights any charges against him, claiming he had been made a target in a case based on lies. The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have homed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that have thrust City Hall into crisis. Adams' lawyer criticizes the large FBI presence at the mayor's residence New York City Mayor Eric Adams lawyer is calling the large FBI presence at the mayors official residence Thursday morning an unnecessary show of force. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in, attorney Alex Spiro said in a statement. Spiro said federal agents were at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again). Dozens of uniformed police officers as well as law enforcement agents in suits milled around the security gate. SUVs with darkened windows came and left, and officers could be seen bringing coffee and doughnuts inside. A Columbus gang member who laughed in court at the family of two people he fatally shot and a third he wounded in April 2021 will spend at least 46 years in prison. In August, a jury found Datwain Crudup, 29, guilty of four counts of murder and one count each of attempted murder and felonious assault for the April 3, 2021, shooting deaths of 19-year-old Nickolas Cowans and 24-year-old Kevin Williams and for wounding the third victim. Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jaiza Page on Thursday ordered Crudup to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole for at least 46 years. The sentencing hearing Thursday had several delays as members of the victims' families needed time to compose themselves before continuing with their pre-sentence statements. During one of the breaks, Franklin County Sheriff's deputies moved Crudup to another table in the courtroom because Crudup kept looking back at them and laughing. "The fact that he could laugh at these women is the most gross thing Ive ever seen. Zero has been learned from this," Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Leigh Bayer said. "To have the person who is responsible for their deaths, laugh in their (families') faces during their sentencing is just unfathomable." Bayer said the victims didn't know what was about to happen to them until the gunshots began ringing out. Crudup had been on parole for an aggravated robbery conviction at the time of the shooting. "He has not spent any reasonable time in society without some type of violence occurring. Thats what scares me. This man would be perfectly capable of doing the same thing again tomorrow," Bayer said. Cowans' grandfather, Bruce McCaskill, said despite being an ordained minister, he has been unable to set aside his feelings of hatred toward Crudup. Datwain Crudup, 29, received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for at least 46 years for the April 3, 2021, shooting deaths of Nickolas Cowans and Kevin Williams. A jury convicted Crudup in August. "To murder people in broad daylight, it shows an evilness that we shouldnt have to live with that we shouldn't have to be around," McCaskill said. "You have put my soul at stake because theres no forgiveness. It hurts for me to have to set aside everything I have preached and I have taught because I cant get this hatefulness out of my heart." Williams' sister, Ebony Williams, said her family will never be the same after losing her brother and having another relative injured in the shooting. She said she found it hard to believe Crudup, who has children of his own, could wreak that level of havoc on other families. "Im pretty sure you dont want nobody to take yours," she said. "And you took yourself from your own." Prosecutors say Crudup is a documented member of the Hilltop Posse street gang, which is affiliated with the Crips. When given an opportunity to speak, Crudup said he had not turned around and maintained he had not committed the murders. "I didn't do what they're saying I did. I did nothing wrong," Crudup said. On April 3, 2021, police and prosecutors say Crudup was in a vehicle that went around the corner of an apartment building on the 900 block of Eaton Avenue on the city's West Side, shooting out the window indiscriminately. Prosecutors said Crudup "created a firestorm" that resulted in the deaths of Cowans and Williams and seriously injured a third man. Police respond to a report of a shooting at 2:43 p.m. in the 900 block of Eaton Avenue. The shooting occurred around 2:45 p.m. and appeared to be an ambush, court records say. A video from the apartment complex introduced as evidence at trial shows Crudup getting out of a vehicle, running to the area where the shooting took place and running back to the waiting car. bbruner@gannett.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Hilltop gang member sentenced for April 2021 double murder WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Lawmakers investigating the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump in July held their first public hearing Thursday. Law enforcement on the ground that day testified and were pressed for answers. Local law enforcement painted a disjointed picture of the day. They say the Secret Service, the agency in charge, did not effectively communicate on the ground. They say it created a situation where ultimately the gunman, who came within centimeters of killing the former president, was allowed to stand armed on a roof for nearly three minutes. We didnt receive any direction from the Secret Service as far as how they wanted our sniper teams to deploy or what their actual mission would be, said Commander Edward Lenz, Butler County Emergency Services. Its one of many security failures local law enforcement say took place July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania when a 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, fired several rounds at former President Trump striking him and killing one man. At a bipartisan hearing lawmakers tasked with investigating the attempted assassination called the breakdown inexcusable. I think we realize it was entirely preventable, said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.). Pennsylvania law enforcement on the ground that day told the committee the Secret Service did not streamline communication, and while mapping out a plan beforehand they say the agency ignored warnings about the building Crooks fired from. A 10-year-old looking at that satellite image could have seen that the greatest threat posed to the president at that day outside security perimeter was the AGR building, said Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas.). Patrick Sullivan, a retired Secret Service agent, says the Secret Service should have acted quicker after local law enforcement flagged Crooks as suspicious well before the shooting. I would have told the supervisors. Its not safe to bring the president here, said Sullivan. The committee will now move to phase two of its investigation. Former president Donald Trump will be returning to the scene of the crime next week and will hold a rally at the same venue. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) In a Wednesday court appearance, the death penalty was listed as a possible sentence for Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines. Death penalty laws vary across the country, but here in Kentucky, professor Ken Katkin said this sentence is an option for murders with aggravating factors. Related: And in this case, the aggravating factor would be that the victim was a judge, said Katkin, who serves as a professor of law at Northern Kentucky University. So, if the victim is a public official, that can be one of the aggravating factors that could qualify someone for the death penalty. While Kentucky does have the death penalty, Katkin said lethal injection is the only method thats been allowed in our state. However, he noted that lawmakers ruled this a cruel and unusual method in 2010, which means the death penalty has been on hold since then. Nobodys actually been executed since 2008, and nobody could be executed unless that moratorium is resolved, he said. But people can still be sentenced to death in the meanwhile. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Katkin also said people in Kentucky diagnosed with a mental illness prior to committing a crime are exempt from the death penalty. Although Katkin said he cant predict if this punishment will be implemented on Stines due to lack of evidence right now, he said its very unlikely for execution to be carried out any time soon. Even in the years from 1976 to 2010, when the death penalty was being used, it was only used three times in all those years. So, its very unusual for people to be executed in Kentucky, even though we do have a death row, and some people get sentenced to it. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Stines will appear in court again for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1, in Morgan County. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha. Aug. 16, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN A state lawmaker is formally challenging Nebraskas rules and regulations on gender care treatments for transgender youths and minors with gender dysphoria. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who staunchly opposed Legislative Bill 574 that granted the rulemaking authority in 2023, has issued a letter to State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island objecting to the regulations. Aguilar chairs the Legislatures Executive Board, the highest-ranking committee that oversees internal affairs. Under state law, any state senator can challenge a set of rules or regulations if they feel it is unconstitutional, inconsistent with legislative intent or creates an undue burden in a manner that significantly outweighs its benefit to the public. State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha sponsored LB 574, the Let Them Grow Act, which Cavanaugh fought throughout the 2023 legislative session. That opposition brought the legislative process to a crawl. Cavanaugh said in her letter that the gender care regulations impose significant barriers to the treatments primarily puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on the basis of gender identity. She said the regulations represent a profound injustice. The regulations, motivated by animus toward the affected class, undermine their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Cavanaugh wrote to Aguilar, referring to the Nebraska Constitutions Bill of Rights. Access to necessary health care is a fundamental aspect of these rights, determined by the individual, their medical provider and their family. History of the regulations LB 574 set out a minimum four-part standard for eventual regulations that the states chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, would need to adopt: A minimum number of gender-identify-focused hours of therapy. Patient advisory requirements. Patient medical documentation requirements. A minimum waiting period between informed patient consent and the administration, prescription or delivery of such medications. The final regulations from Tesmer and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services mandated at least 40 hours of clinically objective and non-biased gender-identity-focused therapy, required youths to live primarily as their preferred gender for at least six months and imposed a seven-day waiting period between informed patient consent and prescription. No more than two hours per week of therapy can be banked, pushing the minimum timeline to at least five months. Injectable medications are required to be performed in a doctors office. LB 574 took effect Oct. 1, 2023, alongside emergency regulations. Gov. Jim Pillen approved the final, slightly modified set of regulations March 12, and the regulations took effect five days later. Similar concerns already aired Many of the concerns Cavanaugh shared in her letter mirror those that transgender Nebraskans and their providers told DHHS officials about at a 12-hour hearing last November. Transgender youths and mental health providers shared similar concerns with the Nebraska Examiner. Cavanaugh said shes heard from many of those same testifiers since the regulations took effect. She said she filed the complaint as soon as she could after learning this summer of the law to challenge a regulation. Cavanaughs letter cites the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Nebraska Constitution in stating that the regulations delay care and ignore the specific clinical needs of transgender individuals. Cavanaugh said the set of guidelines also disregards the urgency and individualized nature of treating gender dysphoria. For example, Cavanaugh said, requirements are different for patients with gender dysphoria compared to requirements for other patients who use puberty blockers and hormones for non-gender-dysphoria-related reasons. Kauth and others have argued there needs to be extra care for youths before deciding whether they should be prescribed puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones that will impact them for the rest of their lives. LB 574, as introduced, would have banned the medications before age 19. Complaint referred to legislative committee Aguilar, reached Thursday, said he will refer the complaint to the Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee, of which Cavanaugh is a member. Nobodys ever come to me and said anything about it, Aguilar said about the set of regulations. I just want to leave it alone. Under the law, if the Health and Human Services Committee concludes that the complaint has merit, it can take various steps, such as requesting: A description of the regulations. An explanation of how the regulations abide by legislative intent and the state and federal constitution and are not an undue burden. A statement on why the regulations are necessary. An explanation on how public comment was taken into consideration by the agency with respect to drafting the rules and regulations. DHHS would need to respond within 60 days, should the committee make such a request. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, who chairs the committee, was also the key lawmaker who wrote the final amendment to LB 574, delegating the regulations to the chief medical officer. He did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Kauth said she was reviewing the complaint letter and had no immediate comment. A spokesperson for DHHS said the agency promulgated regulations in accordance with the law. Senator vows to continue fighting The HHS Committee, with support from Hansen and Cavanaugh, requested an in-person briefing from Dr. Tesmer on Feb. 29. He did not show up. The agencys chief legal officer said Tesmer had to respectfully decline because the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office was at the time reviewing the regulations. Cavanaugh had withdrawn another bill this year to repeal LB 574 in exchange for the briefing, which she said was to get more clarity. She said Thursday she will keep fighting. I will continue to use every tool available to me to advocate for and fight for transgender youth and all youth in Nebraska and across the country, Cavanaugh said in a phone call. As soon as I realized that I had this tool available to me, I found a way forward to utilize it. The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to take up a similar case dealing with treatments for youths with gender dysphoria in its next term this fall, on an appeal from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeal deals with prohibitions on care in Kentucky and Tennessee. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is in the process of weighing an appeal from Arkansas after a federal judge struck down a related gender care law in June 2023. Nebraska is part of the 8th Circuit, and Nebraska lawmakers said they would be watching for the 8th Circuit decision. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A Connecticut oil and gas trader was convicted on Thursday over a nearly eight-year scheme to bribe officials at Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras so two Connecticut trading companies could win business, U.S. prosecutors said. Glenn Oztemel, 65, of Westport, Connecticut, was found guilty by a Bridgeport, Connecticut, jury on all seven counts he faced, including money laundering, conspiracy and violating the federal Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Oztemel and another defendant, Brazilian-Italian oil and gas broker Eduardo Innecco, were accused of bribing officials to help Arcadia Fuels and Freepoint Commodities win contracts and learn confidential details about Petrobras' fuel oil business. Prosecutors said Oztemel paid more than $1 million in bribes that were split between Petrobras officials in Brazil and Rodrigo Berkowitz, a Petrobras fuel trader in Houston. The defendants allegedly used coded language such as "breakfast," "breakfast servings" and "freight deviation" to refer to bribes and bribe amounts. Prosecutors said the scheme ran from 2010 to 2018. Oztemel worked at both Arcadia and Freepoint, before retiring in 2020. "We are very disappointed in today's verdict," Oztemel's lawyer Nelson Boxer said in an email. "Glenn has had an unblemished record for 40 years in the oil industry, and we will continue to fight to clear Glenn's good name." Innecco is awaiting extradition from France to face U.S. charges. Oztemel's brother Gary Oztemel pleaded guilty to a related money laundering charge in June. Last December, Freepoint, based in Stamford, Connecticut, entered a deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to pay more than $98 million to resolve related U.S. bribery charges. Brazilian authorities had investigated Freepoint employees as part of Operation Car Wash, a seven-year investigation into suspected bribery involving Petrobras. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in February 2019 in Brooklyn to a money laundering conspiracy charge. He has yet to be sentenced, court records show. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) The members of Parliament sit in their seats at the start of the constituent session of the Thuringian state parliament. For the first time, the AfD, as the strongest parliamentary group, has the right to nominate candidates for the office of President of the state parliament. Bodo Schackow/dpa The new state parliament in the central German state of Thuringia convened for the first time on Thursday following elections in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made historic gains. Initial sessions are expected to be turbulent, as the AfD has vowed to enforce its new-found prerogatives as the largest single party with more than a third of the total seats. But the other parties in the Thuringian parliament - the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), the hard-left Die Linke (The Left) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) - have all vowed to block the AfD. Mainstream political parties in Germany have insisted on a so-called firewall against the far right, with each vowing not to form coalitions or otherwise cooperate with the AfD. The AfD plans to put forward Wiebke Muhsal for president of the state parliament. The other parties have dismissed her nomination as a mere provocation, pointing in part to a past conviction for fraud. The CDU, which finished second to the AfD in the September 1 election, plans to nominate Thadaus Konig for the post. The CDU is still locked in tough negotiations with the BSW and SPD over how to form a new coalition government. That coalition is one seat short of the necessary majority. But the CDU, which has a long history of staunch anti-communism dating back to the Cold War, has so far also ruled out any coalition with Die Linke. That stance is anchored in national CDU party policy, but leaves a difficult puzzle to solve in Thuringia. The parliamentary leaders of the parties confer during an interruption shortly after the start of the constituent session of the Thuringian state parliament. For the first time, the AfD, as the strongest parliamentary group, has the right to nominate candidates for the office of state parliament president. Martin Schutt/dpa Bjoern Hoecke, leader of the AfD parliamentary group, attends the constituent session of the Thuringian state parliament. For the first time, the AfD, as the strongest parliamentary group, has the right to nominate candidates for the office of State Parliament President. Martin Schutt/dpa TechCrunch The U.S. Department of Justice says bankrupt EV startup Fisker's plan to make owners pay for labor costs related to multiple recalls is illegal, according to a new filing. The DOJ, writing on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), said in a filing submitted to Fisker's bankruptcy docket Monday that the "scheme" violates the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in multiple ways. The agency told the court that it therefore objects to Fisker's proposed settlement plan, which lays out steps to liquidate the remainder of the company. Montana Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy addresses the crowd at a rally in Bozeman alongside Gov. Greg Gianforte on Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Montana Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy addresses the crowd at a rally in Bozeman alongside Gov. Greg Gianforte on Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) A Florida lawsuit against Montanas Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy that alleged his negligence caused the plane he was training in to crash into a home, was dismissed earlier this month following a notice of settlement. The 2019 crash killed his instructor and injured one of the residents. Polk County 10th Judicial Circuit Judge Michael McDaniel issued an order on Sept. 11 dismissing the Ngalamulume familys suit against Sheehy and the company that maintained the plane he was training in on Feb. 23, 2019, when it crashed into the familys home in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorneys for the family, Sheehy and the company had a day earlier filed a joint stipulation for dismissal of the case in which they agreed that each party would pay their own attorneys fees and costs. A view of the airplane from the back of the Winter Haven, Florida, home. (Photo courtesy the Polk County Sheriff's Office/NTSB) On July 3, the attorney for the plane maintenance company, Amphibians Plus LLC, filed a notice with the court that it had settled the claims between the Ngalamulume family and the company, and it would be finalized within 60 days. But the notice did not mention Sheehy; both he and Amphibians Plus were the named defendants in the case. It remains unclear whether Sheehy was party to the likely settlement, as neither his campaign nor nearly all the attorneys involved in the case responded to questions from the Daily Montanan. The court docket for the case does not include a copy of the settlement, which are often kept private by the attorneys and parties involved. Last year when the Daily Beast first reported on the lawsuit and Sheehys involvement, it noted that the final report on the plane crash from the National Transportation Safety Board pointed the finger at Sheehys flight instructor for missteps that caused the crash. Because the case was dismissed with prejudice, the family cannot file another lawsuit in the same venue against Sheehy claiming he was negligent and caused the crash. The first amended complaint, filed in 2021, alleged two counts of negligence against Sheehy, one from Guillaume and Esmerance Ngalamulume for property damage to their home from the crash, and another from their daughter, Carmelle Ngalamulume, for bodily injuries she suffered in the crash, disability, mental anguish, and loss of earning capacity. According to filings in the case, the National Transportation Safety Boards final report on the crash and other documents associated with the investigation, including Sheehys interview with investigators, Sheehy and another man were receiving training from instructor James Wagner on a multi-engine sea plane to gain another certification. Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, by that time had more than 800 hours of flight logged and had a commercial pilot, single-engine for land, single-engine for sea, and flight instructor certifications. He had started his aerial firefighting company Bridger Aerospace in Bozeman five years earlier. Sheehy and the other man training, Timothy Cherwin, had each done one flight already that day, taking turns flying and observing while Wagner trained them. Sheehy told investigators that they had refueled and inspected the plane before Sheehy was to take his second flight of the day, in which they were going to practice procedures for when one engine failed and for water landings. Cherwin opted not to ride along for the flight as he had with Sheehys first. After takeoff and about 300 feet above ground level, according to Sheehys interview with an NTSB investigator, Wagner reduced the throttle on the left engine the critical engine causing it to fully lose power. Wagner took the flight controls while both tried to restart it, according to the documents. But the engine would not restart. Sheehy was retracting the landing gear and was trying to retract the planes flaps as Wagner decided they would miss the forced landing site they had selected, according to his interview. Wagner turned the plane left toward a closer landing site, but it likely slowed below its minimum control airspeed, according to the NTSB report. The left wing dropped, and the plane crashed nose-first into the home. An aerial view of the airplane following the crash. (Photo courtesy Polk County Sheriff's Office/NTSB) Sheehy wrote in a statement to the NTSB he did not lose consciousness in the crash and immediately crawled over to Wagner to check his pulse. He wrote that Wagners head was severely injured and he was clearly not going to make it. He said he called 911 and went to help the family inside the house. A guy across the street then cut the power, and I took my shirt off to help the lady who was injured, he wrote. At that time the first responders showed up and took it from there. The NTSB report said Sheehy suffered minor injuries and that Carmelle Ngalamulume was seriously injured. Sheehy told KBUL News Talk in 2019 that neighbors deserved credit for their bravery after the crash and provided the radio station a photo of himself with one of those neighbors right after the crash, showing him shirtless, bruised and bloody. The final NTSB report said Wagners decisions to simulate the critical engine failure at such a low altitude provided little margin for successfully maintaining flight and that his failure to maintain enough airspeed resulted in a loss of control. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: A total loss of left engine power for reasons that could not be determined, and the instructors failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing, which resulted in a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the instructors decision to conduct a simulated engine failure at low speed, the report concluded. In Sheehys interview, he told the investigator that Wagner had not told him he would simulate failure of the critical engine or at such a low altitude. The report says Sheehy said he didnt know what (Wagner) was thinking. He said he believed that Wagners reducing the engine throttle flooded the engine and would not allow it to restart. An autopsy confirmed Wagner died of blunt impact injuries. The left engine was later tested and started immediately and ran at all power settings without interruption, the final NTSB report said. It also noted that a Federal Aviation Administration pamphlet on flying twin-engine planes says the left engine on them is the critical engine whose failure would most adversely affect the planes performance and handling. It also cautions heavily against performing low-altitude engine failure training. A view of the airplane Tim Sheehy was in when it crashed in Winter Haven, Fla., in February 2019. (Photo courtesy FAA/NTSB) Low altitude engine failure is never worth the risks involved, the pamphlet is cited as saying. Multiengine instructors should approach simulated engine failures below 400 feet (above ground level) with extreme caution, and failures below 200 ft (above ground level) should be reserved for simulators and training devices. The final report was not published until Dec. 3, 2020, well after the initial lawsuit had been filed. In the suit filed in 2021, the Ngalamulumes attorneys alleged Sheehy performed specific acts of negligence by failing to follow the instructions of the flight instructor during the flight, making a recovery by the flight instructor impossible. In Sheehys answer to the complaint, his attorney denied most of the claims made in the suit and also provided affirmative defenses, including that since Sheehy was the student pilot and did not yet have a multi-engine sea rating, Sheehy was not the pilot in command of the plane at the time of the accident. The NTSB report referred to Sheehy as the pilot and Wagner the flight instructor. Sheehys answer also says that as the pilot in command, Wagner was responsible for the aircraft, and it accuses him of failure to properly operate the plane, failure to properly instruct Sheehy, and failure to utilize industry standards for flight instruction. It also says the planes owner, ESP Aviation, would be the one responsible for Wagner since he was their employee. Later in the case, Sheehys attorney contended again that he did not engage in any decision-making that led to the crash and was not flying the aircraft at the time of the crash. The case moved along through 2022 and 2023, but in May of this year, the court set a case management conference for July 3. The day of that conference, Amphibians Pluss attorney filed the notice the parties were trying to settle the case, and the court five days later said it would check back on a possible settlement in 60 days. The joint stipulation for dismissal with prejudice, signed by all parties attorneys, was filed on Sept. 10, and the final order of dismissal with prejudice was signed on Sept. 11. What remains unclear is whether Sheehy was party to the purported settlement and the terms of the agreement. Rolando Santiago, one of the attorneys for the Ngalamulumes, said Wednesday he could not access case files because the office was closed due to the incoming Hurricane Helene. He pointed the Daily Montanan to the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, Seattle-based Anthony Marsh. Marsh did not return multiple phone messages and emails this week asking whether Sheehy was party to the settlement or about its terms. Sheehys attorney, New York-based Jennifer Huang, did not return an email seeking clarification on whether Sheehy was party to the settlement. Amphibians Pluss attorney, Miami-based Roberto Torricella, did not return a phone message and email Wednesday asking if Sheehy was involved in the settlement. Sheehy faces incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, Green Party candidate Robert Barb, and Libertarian Sid Daoud in November. documents-2021CA002579000000 (1) Rep. Clay Higgins, the MAGA congressman from Louisiana, on Thursday walked back his since-deleted social media post saying Haitian migrants are thugs who are eating pets. But the lawyer representing Haitians victimized by the viral pet-eating conspiracy says hes not buying it. Its a lame and pathetic excuse for naked racism and xenophobia, Subodh Chandra told the Daily Beast. Chandra represents the Haitian Bridge Alliance, which has filed citizen criminal charges in Springfield, Ohio and seeks the arrests of Donald Trump and JD Vance. Its bad enough that Higgins is a racist, but hes also a threatening racist whos vowing to take illegal action against people who are here legally, Chandra said. Higgins sparked an uproar in Congress Wednesday when he tweeted, These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters but damned if they dont feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP. He ended his vitriol by saying, All these thugs better get their mind right and their a-- out of our country before January 20. The Louisiana Republican deleted the comment soon after posting it and, while not apologizing, he told reporters on Thursday: You never want to intentionally hurt someones feelings, and that post was intended for Haitian gangs, you understand? He suggested he didnt mean to insult Haiti as a country, not at all. Republican Rep. Clay Higgins just crossed another line. His vile, racist tweet, full of disinfo, is especially dangerous given the active threats in Springfield, Ohio. Even worse, he serves on the Homeland Security Committee & chairs the Border Security Subcommittee. This is a pic.twitter.com/Vx859ZLB3Q Olivia of Troye (@OliviaTroye) September 25, 2024 The criminal charges filed against Trump and Vance include disrupting public service, making false claims and committing aggravated menacing, among other charges. Chandra, the groups lawyer, said he plans to add another chargeinducing panicto the filing by Friday. The viral claims perpetuated by Trump and Vance sowed chaos in Springfield, Ohio. Schools, businesses, medical centers and City Hall were forced to close amid bomb threats. The states Republican governor condemned the claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield were eating pet dogs and cats as garbage. Trump infamously claimed during his debate against Kamala Harris that in Springfield, those Haitians were eating the dogs and eating the cats. Theyre eating, theyre eating the pets of the people that live there. Higgins posted his anti-Haitian tirade on Wednesday in response to the news that the Haitian group represented by Chandra had filed charges against Trump and Vance. He deleted it hours later. Democrats moved to censure Higgins over the Wednesday post, but Republicans blocked the move on the last day in session until after Election Day. Higgins was in the Capitol on Thursday serving as a member of the House task force investigating the July assassination attempt against Trump. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) A 42-year-old Wisconsin man was sentenced to ten years behind bars on Wednesday for charges related to one of the largest fentanyl distribution networks ever investigated in the Badger State. According to a release, U.S. District Judge William Conley sentenced Hector Jimenez-Sosa, 40, of Eau Claire, to ten years in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Three Wisconsin wholesale dealers have licenses revoked for violating state law Jimenez-Sosa will remain on supervised release for four years after his prison term is served. He pleaded guilty to this charge on July 8, 2024. An investigation revealed that Jimenez-Sosa was the leader of a methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking organization in Eau Claire. He received large quantities of controlled substances through the mail from his sources in California. Between August and October 2023, law enforcement officers purchased methamphetamine and fentanyl pills from Jimenez-Sosa and his associates on multiple occasions using a confidential informant. The drug sales took place at two workshops operated by Jimenez-Sosa. The final drug sale occurred on Oct. 31, 2023, when Jimenez-Sosa sold around one pound of methamphetamine to the informant. On Dec. 8, 2023, Jimenez-Sosa was arrested, and search warrants were executed at his residence and workshops. Officers located cocaine, marijuana, ammunition, and other drug trafficking supplies. During this investigation and while running his drug trafficking organization, the release says that Jimenez-Sosa was out on bond and later convicted and placed on probation for a felony domestic abuse conviction. 18-year-old turns himself in as fourth suspect in Green Bay homicide case At the sentencing, Judge Conley found that the total quantity of narcotics Jimenez-Sosas organization distributed in the Eau Claire area was significant. Judge Conley also noted that Jimenez-Sosa had an extensive arrest history that included convictions for drug trafficking, violence, and illegal weapons possession. Another individual, Mario Aviles, was charged in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Aviles pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine on July 16, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 17, 2024. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region (LWVPPR) will host candidate forums across the Pikes Peak region over the fall to help inform voters of their choices for elected officials. The winners of the June 25 Primary Election and non-primary candidates have been invited to the forums including candidates for; El Paso County Commissioner districts, state house and senate districts, district attorney, and Congressional District 5. LWVPPR is planning to livestream each forum with a recording being posted on their website. LWVPPR said forum details are subject to change to accommodate candidate schedules or venue changes, information on times and venues for forums can be found on its website. LWVPPR said VOTE411.org will have its voter guide published in mid-October. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. People inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike in Jiyeh along the highway linking Beirut to the southern city of Sidon on Wednesday. This is already a war. For many in Lebanon, warnings from the United States that further escalation between Israel and Hezbollah could lead to all-out conflict have fallen flat. To Elias Faouz, it feels like that moment has already passed. It has been going on for a year now, said Faouz, 44, an architect in Beirut, the capital city. He recalled how during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, there was a sense of hope because several countries were actively mediating. This time, however, with the U.S. elections looming, it feels different. I think Israels government is playing into the timeline of the U.S. presidential elections, since they have about 40 days where they can do whatever they want before a new president comes in, Faouz said. Its not only going to impact people, its going to change their lives radically, like its happening in Gaza right now, he added. Faouz, whose family originally hails from the town of Maarakeh in the south, just welcomed friends an extended family of seven to stay in his apartment. Faouz said it took them 32 hours to drive from Maarakeh to Beirut, a trip that should normally take just over an hour. Their hometown was bombed after they left, he said. Across Lebanon, which has a diverse religious population including Shiites, Sunnis, Christians and Druze, fear is gripping people who say they dont want a repeat of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war or worse, a situation like Gaza, where the death toll has surpassed 41,000, according to health officials there. A barrage of Israeli strikes in Lebanon have already killed more than 600 since Monday, about half the number killed over the 34 days of fighting in 2006. Lebanons Health Ministry said at least 50 children and 94 women have been killed this week. The countrys foreign minister said Wednesday that the number of displaced was likely approaching half a million. Israels military said the strikes have targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah, particularly in the south and the densely populated neighborhoods in southern Beirut. Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israel since the day after Hamas fighters killed more than a thousand people and took around 250 hostages in the Oct. 7 attacks. While both a political party with elected members in parliament and a Shiite Islamist group, the U.S., the United Kingdom and other nations consider Hezbollah to be a terrorist organization because of its militant activity and its backing from Tehran. It was formed in 1982, after Israel invaded Lebanon, with the initial aim of ending Israels occupation of southern Lebanon, which it achieved in 2000. The groups conflict with Israel has intensified over the past year. Hezbollah has fired rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel; and Israel has responded with increasingly heavy airstrikes. The tit-for-tat fighting has caused tens of thousands to be displaced on both sides of the border. Israel has vowed to do whatever it takes to safely return its citizens to their homes in the north. Before Israels siege on Lebanon began this week, 23 Israeli soldiers and 26 civilians were killed amid low-level, cross-border fighting. More than 500 Lebanese people, including at least 100 civilians, had been killed in those strikes. Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Lebanon's eastern city of Baalbeck in the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday. Sandra Moukhtar, an English teacher at a Catholic school in Mount Lebanon, a mostly Christian area, said she has conflicted emotions.Its a feeling of rage and devastation about whats happening. We didnt ask for this, said Moukhtar, who lives in the Beirut suburbs. But at the same time, theres a feeling of solidarity with our Lebanese fellow citizens in the south. The Israeli government has said that it doesnt want war with Hezbollah and that it can be avoided if the Iran-backed group stops firing into Israel. Hezbollah has also said that it does not seek war but that it will continue striking Israel until there is a cease-fire in Gaza. Moukhtar, a 50-year-old mother of two, said that people tried for months through anti-war campaigns to prevent what is unfolding. They are fighting their wars on our land. How many times should we pay the price of other peoples wars? said Moukhtar. We do feel for the Palestinian cause. But why does it have to play out on our soil? So far, we have over 500 killed and thousands who have left their homes. How is this helping the Palestinian cause? The ongoing strikes are wreaking havoc on a country that has repeatedly been the stage for armed conflict from a 15-year civil war that began in 1975 and involved both Syria and Israel, to an intense 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, and the simmering border fights in between. Causing further worry for Lebanese people are the potential effects of a full-scale war on an economy that has been in crisis since 2019. The amount of people living below the poverty line rose from 12% in 2012 to 44% in 2022, according to the World Bank. The country is also hosting an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, the largest tally per capita in the world. And the government has been in political deadlock for months, with the parliament failing to elect a president 12 times. With a stream of people fleeing from the south to Beirut and other areas, it has been a daunting task for many to find a place to stay. Some have sought refuge with family and friends or churches, while nearly 40,000 displaced people are staying in 283 shelters, according to the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration. Still, some have resorted to sleeping on the street, next to their cars. For many in Lebanon, peace cannot come soon enough. Sarah Waizani, 38, has family that fled the south after their town was bombed and traveled more than 14 hours by car to reach Beirut. They are now staying with extended family. Waizanis parents moved in with her and her 13-year-old son in Beirut after their area, on the outskirts of Dahiye, was also bombed. We are in a war and were supposed to live a normal life, go to work, and its very difficult, Waizani said. I want peace and love. I have nothing to do with politics or religion. I just want to live in peace. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Timour Azhari and James Mackenzie BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel rejected global calls on Thursday for a ceasefire with the Hezbollah movement, defying its biggest ally in Washington and pressing ahead with strikes that have killed hundreds in Lebanon and heightened fears of an all-out regional war. Despite Israel's stance, the U.S. and France sought to keep prospects alive for an immediate 21-day truce they proposed on Wednesday, and said negotiations continued, including on the sidelines of a United Nations meeting in New York. An Israeli warplane struck the edges of the capital Beirut, killing two people and wounding 15, including a woman in critical condition, Lebanon's health ministry said. That took deaths overnight and on Thursday to 28 and over 600 since Monday. The strike killed the head of one of Hezbollah's air force units, Mohammad Surur, Hezbollah said, the latest senior Hezbollah commander to be targeted in days of assassinations among the group's top ranks. On the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, the army staged an exercise simulating a ground invasion - a potential next stage after relentless airstrikes and explosions of communications devices. Israel's air force is planning to assist troops in the event of a ground operation and will stop any arms transfers from Iran, Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar said late on Thursday. "We are preparing shoulder to shoulder with Northern Command for a ground maneuver. Prepared, if activated. This is a decision to be made above us," he told soldiers in a video distributed by the Israeli military. Israel has vowed to secure its north and return thousands of citizens who have evacuated since Hezbollah launched a campaign of cross-border strikes last year in solidarity with Palestinian militants fighting in Gaza. Arriving in New York before addressing the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters the military will keep hitting Hezbollah with "full force and we will not stop until we achieve all our goals, first and foremost returning the residents of the north safely to their homes." Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X, "There will be no ceasefire in the north." Israel's stance dashed hopes for a swift settlement and Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib appealed to the U.N. to win an immediate ceasefire "before the situation spirals out of control, with a domino effect, making this crisis impossible to contain." "Lebanon is currently enduring a crisis which is threatening its very existence," Bou Habib said at a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly late on Thursday. White House spokesperson John Kirby told a briefing earlier that Israel had been "fully informed and fully aware of every word" in the ceasefire proposal and allies expected it would be taken seriously. The U.S. is Israel's longtime ally and biggest arms supplier. French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not believe Israel's rejection was definitive. "It would be a mistake by the prime minister to refuse it because he would be taking responsibility for regional escalation," Macron told reporters in Canada. "We will do everything to ensure this proposal is accepted," Macron said, adding that France was ready to call a new U.N. Security Council meeting to endorse the proposal. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes during the heaviest Israeli bombardment of Lebanon since a major war in 2006. Hezbollah has faced off against the Israeli military since the Shi'ite Muslim movement was created by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982 to counter an Israeli invasion of Lebanon. It has since evolved into Tehran's most powerful Middle East proxy. WASHINGTON STILL SEEKS CEASEFIRE The White House said that U.S. and Israeli officials, including U.S. Mideast envoy Brett McGurk, were holding discussions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned to meet with Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. In London, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned there was a risk of all-out war in the Middle East, but a diplomatic solution was still possible. "So let me be clear, Israel and Lebanon can choose a different path, despite the sharp escalation in recent days, a diplomatic solution is still viable," Austin said. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of missiles at targets in Israel, including its commercial hub Tel Aviv, although Israel's aerial defense system has ensured the damage has been limited. Israel's military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen late on Thursday. Yemen's Houthi militants, allies of Hezbollah and Hamas, have fired repeatedly at Israel in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli fighter jets on Thursday also hit infrastructure on the Lebanese-Syrian border to stop the transfer of weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel's military said. The Lebanese health ministry said most of the victims on Thursday were Syrians killed in the town of Younine in the Bekaa Valley. Lebanon is home to around 1.5 million Syrians who fled civil war there. Hezbollah said in a statement it had struck the town of Kiryat Shmona in north Israel and an Israeli military northern command base, as well as using air defense weapons to force two Israeli warplanes back. In Beirut, thousands of Lebanese were sheltering in schools. Aid organisations distributed clothes and food, and checked on medications needed by elderly people who fled too quickly to bring prescriptions with them. (Reporting by Laila Bassam, Timour Azhari and Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Ari Rabinovitch, Maayan Lubell and James Mackenzie in Jerusalem; Jana Choukeir and Nadine Awadallah in Dubai; John Irish, Michelle Nichols and Humeyra Pamuk at the United Nations; and Gabriella Borter and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Writing by Michael Georgy, Sharon Singleton and Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Peter Graff and Jonathan Oatis) Netanyahu vows to use 'full force' against Hezbollah and dims hopes for a cease-fire A man reacts in a damaged apartment at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Saksakieh, south Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari) NEW YORK (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to carry out full force strikes against Hezbollah until it ceases firing rockets across the border, dimming hopes for a cease-fire proposal put forth by U.S. and European officials. Israel carried out a new strike in the Lebanese capital, which killed a senior Hezbollah commander, and the militant group launched dozens of rockets into Israel. Tens of thousands of Israeli and Lebanese people living near their countries' border have been displaced by the fighting. Netanyahu spoke as he arrived in New York to attend the annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, where U.S. and European officials were putting heavy pressure on both sides of the conflict to accept a proposed 21-day halt in the fighting to give time for diplomacy and avert all-out war. Nearly 700 people have been killed in Lebanon this week as Israel dramatically escalated strikes, saying it is targeting the military capacity of Hezbollah the Iranian-backed Shiite group that is the strongest armed force in Lebanon. Israeli leaders say they are determined to stop the group's cross-border attacks, which began after the Hamas militant group's Oct. 7 attack that ignited the war in Gaza. Israels policy is clear," Netanyahu said. "We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes. Later, the prime minister's office said in a statement that Israel and U.S. officials met Thursday to discuss the cease-fire proposal and would continue talks in coming days. One of Israel's latest airstrikes killed a Hezbollah drone commander, Mohammed Hussein Surour, in the suburbs of Beirut. Israel's military announced the death, which Hezbollah later confirmed. The Health Ministry said two people were killed and 15 wounded in the strike. Associated Press photos of the scene showed a gutted apartment in a residential building in Dahiyeh, the mainly Shiite suburb where Hezbollah has a strong presence. Until recently, Israel had rarely targeted sites in Beirut during the low-level conflict with Hezbollah that began in October. But it has struck Beiruts southern suburbs several times this week. Several strikes in Beirut targeted senior Hezbollah commanders. One strike in eastern Lebanon on Thursday killed 20 people, most of them Syrian migrants, according to Lebanese health officials. Israel hit 75 sites early Thursday across southern and eastern Lebanon and launched a new wave of strikes in the evening, the military said. Throughout the day, Hezbollah fired some 175 projectiles into Israel, the Israeli military said. Most were intercepted or fell in open areas, sparking some wildfires, though one rocket hit a street in a town near the northern city of Safed. Israel has talked of a possible ground invasion into Lebanon to drive Hezbollah away from the border. It has moved thousands of troops to the north in preparation. Some 100,000 Lebanese have fled their homes in the past week, streaming into Beirut and points further north. Israeli military vehicles transported tanks and armored vehicles toward the countrys northern border with Lebanon a day after commanders issued a call-up of reservists. Several tanks arrived in Kiryat Shmona, a hard-hit town just several miles from the border. Lebanons foreign minister called for an immediate cease-fire on all fronts, warning that continued violence at his nations border will transform into a black hole that will engulf international and regional peace and security. Abdallah Bouhabib, speaking before the U.N. General Assembly, decried Israels systematic destruction of Lebanese border villages. The crisis in Lebanon threatens the entire Middle East, Bouhabib said. We wish today to reiterate our call for a cease-fire on all fronts. He said Lebanon welcomes efforts by the United States and France to move urgently toward a cease-fire before things spin out of control. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal. Israels military on Friday also said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen that set off air raid sirens across the countrys center. Sirens rang out across Israels populous central area, including the seaside metropolis of Tel Aviv. Another missile from Yemen landed in central Israel about two weeks ago. The escalation has raised fears of a repeat or worse of the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah that wreaked destruction across southern Lebanon and other parts of the country and saw heavy Hezbollah rocket fire on Israeli cities. Another full-scale war could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after talks with his British and Australian counterparts in London. One of Netanyahus far-right governing partners threatened to suspend cooperation with his government if it signs onto a temporary cease-fire with Hezbollah and to quit completely if a permanent deal is reached. It was the latest sign of displeasure from Netanyahus allies toward international cease-fire efforts. If a temporary cease-fire becomes permanent, we will resign from the government, said National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party. If Ben-Gvir leaves the coalition, Netanyahu would lose his parliamentary majority. That could topple his government, though opposition leaders have said they would offer support for a cease-fire deal. Hezbollah has insisted it would halt its strikes only if there is a cease-fire in Gaza, where Israel has battled Hamas for nearly a year. That appears out of reach. One day after Hamas Oct 7 attack, Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel, bringing Israeli counterfire and a cycle of reprisals since. Hezbollah says its barrages are a show of support for Palestinians and that it is targeting Israeli military facilities, though rockets have also hit civilian areas. Before this week, the cross-border exchanges had killed about 600 people in Lebanon, mostly militants but including more than 100 civilians, and about four dozen people in Israel, roughly half of them soldiers and the rest civilians. The fighting also forced tens of thousands to flee homes on both sides of the border. Israel says its escalated strikes across Lebanon the past week are targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. Since Monday, strikes have killed more than 690 people in Lebanon, around a quarter of them women and children, according to local health authorities. The campaign opened with what is widely believed to be an Israeli attack on Sept. 18 and 19 detonating thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, killing at least 39 people and maiming thousands more, including civilians. Hezbollah in turn has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel. Several people in Israel have been wounded. On Wednesday, the group fired on Tel Aviv for the first time with a longer-range missile that was intercepted. Early Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a building housing Syrian workers and their families near the ancient city of Baalbek in Lebanons eastern Bekaa Valley. The Lebanese Health Ministry said 19 Syrians and a Lebanese were killed, one of the deadliest single strikes in Israels intensified air campaign. Hussein Salloum, a local official in Younine, said most of the dead were women and children. The state news agency had initially reported that 23 people were dead. Lebanon, with a population of around 6 million, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered the worlds highest refugee population per capita. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut, Lidman from Tel Aviv. Associated Press journalist Sam McNeil contributed to this report from Kiryat Shmona, Israel. (Bloomberg) -- Hezbollah has shown flexibility with regards to a proposal for a cease-fire with Israel, according to Lebanons economy minister, as world powers rush to prevent a full-blown war between the two. Most Read from Bloomberg We feel there is a lot of flexibility in the past 24 hours from Hezbollahs side, Economy and Trade Minister Amin Salam told Bloomberg TV on Thursday. The US, European and Arab countries are calling for a three-week truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in a deal that could prevent an Israeli ground offensive of southern Lebanon and potentially help end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. A key element of the deal would be enabling tens of thousands of displaced Israelis and Lebanese to return to their homes in the Israel-Lebanon border area. There have been very positive messages from Hezbollah with an intention to avoid escalation, Salam said. Hes been communicating to Hezbollah and others very serious messages about the repercussions of such a full-scale war on Lebanon. There was no word from Hezbollah on whether the militant group would agree to a deal and stop firing rockets and missiles at Israel. Moreover, some far-right Israeli politicians say their government cannot agree to a cease-fire and allow Hezbollah to regroup. Hezbollah began shelling Israel on Oct. 8, a day after Hamas fighters swarmed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage, triggering the conflict in Gaza. Hezbollah says its acting in solidarity with Hamas both groups are considered terrorist organizations by the US and have received funding and training from Iran. Israel has stepped up its attacks on Hezbollah in the past 10 days, saying it had no choice because diplomatic efforts to stop the groups strikes and get it to move fighters back from the Israeli border were failing. Moribund Economy The escalation in hostilities is already exacerbating Lebanons economic situation. Before October, tourism was rebounding, bringing in much needed hard currency. Now, the Lebanese economy is in a very bad place, Salam said. Hopes of Lebanons tourism and food industries flourishing are gone, he said. The small Mediterranean country is in the grips of a crisis rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement. Lebanon defaulted on around $30 billion in international bonds in March 2020 and saw its economy crater. Growth is non-existent at this point, the minister said. Foreign investment is far to reach and a spread of the conflict in the Middle East may push Lebanon to a point where there is no return for the economy, Salam said. Lebanons government has been functioning in emergency mode for over three years and has no president because political parties disagree on who to pick. Moreover, policymakers are far from agreeing on how to restructure banks and carry out other reforms that will be needed to get a loan from the International Monetary Fund. In 2022, Lebanon reached a preliminary agreement with the IMF on a $3 billion loan, a deal that is conditional on a series of deeply divisive reforms. Lebanon has not accomplished half of the commitments to unlock the IMF program, Salam said, as political tensions have thwarted attempts to enact changes. (Updates throughout.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday finalized a $6 million fine for a political consultant over fake robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden's voice, urging New Hampshire voters not to vote in that state's Democratic primary. In May, Steven Kramer, a Louisiana Democratic political consultant, was indicted in New Hampshire over calls that appeared to have Biden asking residents not to vote until November. Kramer had worked for Biden's primary challenger, Representative Dean Phillips, who denounced the calls. In January, Kramer told media outlets he paid $500 to have the calls sent to voters to raise attention to the danger of artificial intelligence in campaigns. The FCC said the calls were generated using an AI-generated deepfake audio recording meant to sound like Bidens voice. FCC rules prohibit transmission of inaccurate caller ID information. The commission said Kramer will be required to pay the fine within 30 days or the matter will be referred to the Justice Department for collection. Kramer or a spokesperson could not immediately be reached. "It is now cheap and easy to use Artificial Intelligence to clone voices and flood us with fake sounds and images," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said. "By unlawfully appropriating the likeness of someone we know, this technology can illegally interfere with elections. We need to call it out when we see it and use every tool at our disposal to stop this fraud." In August, Lingo Telecom agreed to pay a $1 million fine after the FCC said it transmitted the New Hampshire fake robocalls. The FCC said Lingo under the settlement will implement a compliance plan requiring strict adherence to FCC caller ID authentication rules. The commission in July voted to propose requiring broadcast radio and television political advertisements to disclose whether content is generated by AI. That proposal is still pending. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) Lebanon says Israel continuing attacks in south and east A Lebanese Muslim Sunni cleric inspects damages caused by an overnight Israeli air raid attack in the area of Jiyeh along the coastal highway between the southern port city of Sidon and Beirut. Marwan Naamani/dpa The Israeli army has continued its airstrikes in Lebanon, local sources said on Thursday. The state news agency NNA reported that Israel had bombed a municipal building near Nabatyieh in the south on Thursday morning. Further south, at least four people were killed in attacks near the border, according to the Health Ministry. State media mentioned around two dozen locations where attacks occurred overnight and in the morning. The Lebanese Civil Defence Department reported rescue operations, including in the Bekaa Valley in the east. Following Israel's attacks, rescuers retrieved a girl and other injured individuals from the rubble and also recovered bodies, it said. The Israeli military stated that the air force had targeted around 75 sites in Lebanon, including the Bekaa Valley and the south. It had specifically aimed at weapons depots and rocket launchers. In Lebanon, a search for safety and sanity as half a million are displaced Displaced women and children sit in a classroom in Beirut on Thursday after fleeing Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon. (Bilal Hussein / Associated Press) Ahmad Ghaddar couldnt sleep. He was sitting on a seaside railing, alternating drags of his cigarette and sips of coffee. It had only been a day since his neighbor in their town of Ghaziah got a phone call from the Israeli army warning residents to evacuate. It seemed like so much longer. Ghaddar already knew the destructive power of Israeli missiles he'd seen one hit a building near his home so he bundled his parents and siblings in the car (They were eight of us. We could barely breathe, he said) and drove to his aunts place in nearby Sidon. "When we were driving, we heard blasts from every direction," he said. "It was like a video game." They had joined the deluge of what authorities estimate are half a million Lebanese displaced by the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, fleeing Israeli strikes that health authorities say have killed more than 700 people this week. His aunts place was the best option, since every hotel, mosque and school-turned-shelter in Sidon was already filled with other displaced families. But in his aunt's home, with her brother's family also staying there, 23 people were packed into the same apartment. Read more: News Analysis: An imperiled Hezbollah faces the prospect of all-out war with Israel I just couldnt think, couldnt move, couldnt even go to the bathroom, Ghaddar said. He also couldnt sleep so he went outside, and spent the night walking back and forth on Sidons promenade, the sea castle built by crusaders in the 13th century in the background. Thats where 21-year-old Ghaddar remained on a recent morning, and where he had made the decision: He was going back to Ghaziah and staying there, come what may. At least Ill sleep in my bed. Go to my own bathroom. Maybe even light up an arghileh [water pipe], he said, a faint smile crinkling his face. Read more: Israeli barrage kills nearly 500 people in Lebanon A friend sitting by him started off discouraging him, telling him he should stay with his family and not put himself in danger. But Ghaddar countered with some gallows humor. Man, my roof is made from straw. Im not a fighter they can see everything I do anyway, he said, referring to Israeli drones. His friend Abbas, who gave only his first name over fears of backlash for speaking to Western media, played along. Yeah, I guess so. Besides, why would they bother sending a million-dollar missile for your house? Both laughed before turning to a man sleeping on the ground nearby, swathed in whatever items of clothing he had salvaged from his home. Read more: What is the Iran-backed 'Axis of Resistance' and what does it mean for Israel? Hes been here since the first day of the attacks, just sleeping in the sun, Ghaddar said. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah began lobbing rockets into northern Israel last October in what it says is a solidarity campaign with Palestinians in Gaza. By this month, the fighting had already driven 90,000 people from their homes in Lebanon and 60,000 in northern Israel. Israels escalation has killed hundreds of people, injured thousands and displaced an estimated 500,000, Lebanese authorities say. Some more than 30,000 Syrian or Lebanese citizens have fled into war-torn Syria, authorities say, a stunning turn considering Lebanon is still hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who fled that country's ongoing civil war. But most of the displaced in Lebanon are looking for shelter within their country. Though the government, NGOs, political parties and private volunteer groups have set up hundreds of shelters across Lebanon, the magnitude of the crisis is already proving too much for a country suffering through a multiyear political crisis. Many of the shelters are plagued by lack of maintenance, ill-equipped to handle large numbers of evacuees. Many don't have enough mattresses, bedding or food. Every time they distribute aid, they go up floor by floor and by the time they get to us its finished, said Reham Fadlallah, a 21-year-old beauty salon stylist from the Dahieh, the Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs of Beirut. "Then they repeat the same thing, so we get nothing. Read more: Israel strikes Beirut suburb as conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon intensifies She and her aunt came to a hotel management institute turned shelter in the Dekawneh neighborhood of Beirut on Tuesday, after finding it through a combination of word-of-mouth and WhatsApp groups. There were no fans to help with Beiruts still-sweltering weather, and no running water. I cant believe it. Weve been shouting since yesterday for this, Fadlallah said to a passing volunteer. We cant find a plumber sorry, the volunteer responded, walking briskly past. Unlike Ghaddar, Fadlallah couldnt go back home. Living in Dahieh, among Hezbollah officials, administrators and possibly even fighters, meant the area was a target. The day before, a neighbor had told her their building was going to be hit and it was, just as she was leaving with her aunt, Nadia. Fadlallah couldn't easily find a place to rent. Prices were already skyrocketing, and many Lebanese, fearing Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah officials, were reluctant to rent out apartments to people from those areas. And other shelters were full so for now she stayed, hoping for rest and some running water. I just want to shower, Fadlallah said. Read more: Hundreds of pagers mysteriously explode in Lebanon; Hezbollah blames Israel 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. LEMONT, Ill. Authorities said two teens who went missing in Lemont have been safely located. According to police, the teens had run away from a treatment facility but were located unharmed on Wednesday afternoon.ations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Letter: Marsha Blackburn doesn't need to debate Gloria Johnson. Here's why she shouldn't Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to the bottom to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree. We welcome diverse viewpoints. Re: Marsha Blackburn won't debate Gloria Johnson, despite benefits for Tennessee voters, by David Plazas, The Tennessean, Sept. 16 (digital) and Sept. 22 (print). I dont blame Marsha Blackburn for not debating Gloria Johnson. She and her supporters have nothing to gain if their goal is to win the election. Theres no one to blame except Ms. Johnson for this. Her antics in disrupting the decorum of the Tennessee General Assembly as one of the Tennessee Three embarrassed her. Vivek Ramaswamy and Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn has a table conversation the Bitcoin 2024 conference at Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, July 27, 2024. Whats even worse is that shes proud of it as she pontificates on CNN and MSNBC of how wonderful she is. If Ms. Johnson wants to elevate Tennesseans, she would use her experience as a schoolteacher to address our students illegal use of mood-altering drugs, of their sexual promiscuity resulting in STD epidemics and unplanned pregnancies, and to promote STEM, arts, and vocational training as to prepare our youth. But no! Shed much rather focus on issues such as LGBTQ rights, abortion and teachers unions. Opinion: We asked readers if Marsha Blackburn should debate. The results are overwhelming Ms. Johnson is doing just fine in contrasting her and her partys approach to destroying Tennessee as opposed to Marsha Blackburn. Perhaps you may wish to investigate why one would not want to be on stage with her instead of demeaning that person. Jim Kennedy, Smyrna 37167 Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Letter: Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn is better off skipping debates Letters to the Editor: California finally fixed its plastic bag ban, which wasn't a ban at all Plastic bags at the Burbank Recycling Center are prepared for shipping out of the U.S. in 2013. (Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: Los Angeles passed a ban on supermarket plastic bags in 2013, which the state followed with its ban a year later, preempting L.A.'s ordinance. But the state version had an amendment lobbied for by the plastics industry allowing thicker plastic bags to be sold, marketed as reusable. This created an environmental disaster. ("Governor signs California plastic bag bill into law," Sept. 22) Have you ever seen someone bring these scam "reusable" bags back? I havent. It has been estimated that plastic bag waste sent to landfills has increased by more than 40% since the bag ban was passed. It took 10 years for the Legislature to overcome the lobbying power of the plastics industry and close this horrible loophole. Billions of plastic bags will now be removed from the waste stream, no longer causing harm as they break down into micro-plastics. Oceans, rivers, marine life and ultimately humans who ingest them will be better protected. Bravo to the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Paul Koretz, Los Angeles The writer, a City Council member from 2009-22, authored Los Angeles' bag ban. .. To the editor: Although I couldnt agree more with the intent behind banning all plastic grocery bags, I fear the state will still fail to meet its goal. There are far too many stores offering plastic bags Home Depot is just one example. It has single-use plastic bags at its check-out registers for free. Sporting goods stores, clothing stores, pretty much all stores that are not grocers, including our local farmers market, offer plastic bags. To truly make a difference, plastic bags should be withheld at all retail stores, including restaurants that bag up leftovers. We all need to do our part to reduce the use of plastic. Susan Cossaboom, Yorba Linda .. To the editor: So, the reusable plastic bags for which we paid 10 cents apiece are now illegal. They are not easily recyclable. What about the plastic and polystyrene that the meats and other products that are wrapped in? They are not recyclable. What about all the polystyrene that manufacturers and fast-food outlets use to package their products? What about all the plastics that are used to package soaps, cleaners, solvents, oils and other items? Bring your used bags (that you purchased) back to the store so they can be recycled? Most just end up back in a landfill. Lets just go back to free paper bags. Stop nickel-and-diming the public. Mike Hayashi, Ladera Heights This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Letters to the Editor: Karen Bass has the right idea in her search for the next LAPD chief To the editor: Your article on Mayor Karen Bass' focus on officer morale in her search for the next Los Angeles Police Department chief reassured me, once again, that I had done the right thing in casting my vote for her. Rather than focusing on checking every box on progressives' wish list, it appears that Bass understands that no amount of criminal justice reform will help the city if we cannot recruit and retain enough police officers to maintain even basic staffing, much less increase it. Yes, officer morale is important if we expect LAPD cops to sign up, train, work and stay on the force. If LAPD officers feel that their work is undercut by policies that do not deter crime, they will defect to other cities that have more stringent policies. And when they do, Los Angeles loses and its residents are less safe. Thank you, Mayor Bass. Please keep doing what you are doing. Michael Krumme, Los Angeles This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to the bottom to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree. We welcome diverse viewpoints. Hold a Senate debate for the sake of the public Re: Marsha Blackburn won't debate Gloria Johnson, despite benefits for Tennessee voters, by David Plazas, The Tennessean, Sept. 16 (digital) and Sept. 22 (print). I'll get right to it: U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn hasnt held a town hall in over seven years and only appears in friendly venues, excluding the public from attending. If shes able, Marsha should have the opportunity to defend her voting record on air. As a news outlet, you have a responsibility to inform the public. Its clear that Marsha avoids debates because many voters in this state tend to support candidates solely based on party affiliation. This lack of accountability allows her to maintain the illusion that shes serving her constituents without facing any challenges. Debates provide an opportunity for candidates to inform voters on their positions. Marsha Blackburn and Gloria Johnson Debates often attract significant media coverage, amplifying candidates messages and reaching a broader audience. Something that is seriously lacking in this state. Elizabeth Kamrowski, Brentwood 37027 Opinion: We asked readers if Marsha Blackburn should debate. The results are overwhelming Is Blackburn unwilling to show up to defend her record? Senator Blackburn, the bare minimum of any job is to show up when you are expected. Its time for you to show up and debate Gloria Johnson or step down if you cannot do your job. Justin Sewell, Murfreesboro 37129 I would be fired if I missed my performance review What ever happened to the concept of politicians earning our vote? Senator Blackburn has done nothing in the past six years to earn my vote. She hasnt held a town hall meeting. She only meets with constituents who support her. She doesnt answer my emails or phone calls except with form letters that are filled with Republican talking points. Neither she nor my House member even respond to reporters who are doing their best to cover the election. What arrogance! As taxpayers and constituents we deserve answers to our questions. We deserve to know where each candidate stands on the issues. We shouldnt have to guess. Blackburn does have a record from her time in the Senate, but do we have to extrapolate from that as to what her current positions are? Considering how many people have moved to Tennessee from other parts of the U.S/ since 2018, there are a lot of voters who are unfamiliar with Blackburn. Seeing the candidates side by side would be very helpful as they determine for whom to vote. Bottom line: She works for us. If I refused to show up for a performance review in my workplace, I wonder how much longer I would be employed. Sally Carlson-Bancroft, Nashville 37221 Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Letters: Tennessee U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn should defend her record LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) Bob Haven is a maker of fine jewelryvery, very fine jewelrysuch as necklaces that fit on the tip of your finger. But his large talent doesnt stop at tiny trinkets. He makes miniature furniture, books, paintings, and hand-stitched rugs. Hes a room designer, but his rooms are inside wooden boxes that can sit on a shelf. They may be art galleries, federal mansions, or New England cottages. Hes easily inspired. Miffytown celebrates a Dutch storybook character in Kentucky Its been a lifelong study of American architecture and interiors, Haven said. And Ive spent my life in the theater world, so Ive seen a lot of really good set designs. I like to build rooms that I would like to live in, but essentially cant afford to. If you could shrink yourself and walk into one of Havens tiny rooms, youd see no detail is overlooked. Cushions match the wallpaper, wooden floors have intricate designs. The dishes, the books, and the flowers all look real. Haven started making miniatures in 1973 while working as a volunteer at the Historical Society in Nashua, New Hampshire. He had just graduated from college, and another volunteer told him she would like to have a grandfather clock for her dollhouse. He decided to try making one-in-one in his fathers woodworking shop and has never looked back. I was hooked quickly, he said. Treasure hunters seek Kentucky agates Now, 50 years later, Haven is a giant in the land of the small, winning Best of Show ribbons at the Kentucky State Fair for three of the past four years. The hobby takes patience, a steady hand, and an incredible attention to detail. Theres a great deal of math and I am not a math person, but I can scale things down to one inch to the foot, he said. Haven has sold a few room boxes, but he works on them mostly for his own enjoyment. Pretty much every day. He said his hands have to stay busy, The mini-rooms are placed throughout his Lexington home as hidden treasures for visitors to discover. Louisville store specializes in Derby memorabilia He said, People often ask, How do you do that? You sit down, you do it. Thats all there is to it? From his workshop, Bob Haven gets the big picturethat its often the little things that can make us the happiest. You can see some of Havens work on his website, A Miniature Haven. Anyone interested in the hobby can get a wealth of information at the annual Louisville Miniature Show. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Across the Great Plains, eliminating bison and native grasses to introduce cereal grain led to an unsustainable system, writes Daniel Wildcat in his latest book. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) On Indigenuity: Learning the Lessons of Mother Earth, by Daniel Wildcat, Haskell Indian Nations University (Fulcrum Publishing, 2023) First came bone needles and stone projectile points, then the wheel, then iron and steel, gunpowder, typesetting, and the American Revolution, followed by the steam engine and Civil War. Automobiles showed up next, followed by the first world war and the advent of penicillin, then the A bomb yada yada. Logical, linear progression makes sense to minds like mine, conditioned to measure technological advances in civilizations across time. Linear history fixes complex happenings, including birth and death, in straight lines. But as I age towards my expiration, Im catching glimpses of the timeless, ecological succession of all things, and that perhaps history is circular. Or maybe history is zigzag as suggested by Hegel: order, disorder, reorder. Progress is rarely a straight and uninterrupted line, as weve been led to believe by Western philosophy. Instead, every original Order learns to include an initially threatening Disorder, which morphs into and creates a new Reordering, a new combination or synthesis and we begin all over again. How we view time is a kind of litmus test put forth by Daniel Wildcat in his new book On Indigenuity: Learning the Lessons of Mother Earth (Fulcrum Publishing, 2023). Wildcat is a Yuchi member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma who directs the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center and is also a member of the Indigenous and American Indian Studies Program at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence. He heads a National Science Foundation-funded project to develop a research hub where indigenous knowledge will be connected to climate science. The world does not, in fact, revolve around our species. Wildcat sees serious problems with us relying heavily on what he calls Rooms Full of Mirrors, defined as humans gazing primarily at our own designs and creations. We fill hour after hour with flatscreen access to blogs, websites, YouTube, Twitter and streaming media all inculcating ignorance of the biosphere and ecosystems that undergird our existence. Active listening is replaced by an algorithm-driven, smartphone reality that grabs our attention but fails to provide nourishment. Were building on shifting sands, Wildcat contends. Insulated by ignorance plus a sort of technological Manifest Destiny, we feel compelled to seek modification and control of nature: our birthplace. Boldly, we call this new thing connectivity. Western hierarchy places humans at the top, plants at the bottom. With Indigenuity, humans are seen as the younger brothers of creation. A cure for whats ailing us is to spend more time outdoors learning our place in nature, where a mysterious order awaits us as we open our eyes and ears. Not all honey tastes the same, to take just one example. Honeybees produce different varieties according to the kind of soil and species of plants grown in each field. Wildcat suggests that we each give ourselves to a particular landscape, examining it from as many angles as we can, to wonder about it and to dwell upon it. But people seldom stay put long enough to learn the language of the Earth and her children in that place. The Renaissance introduced recognition of individuals competing to invent stuff, whereas Indigenuity is knowledge co-produced via interspecies cooperation with humans expected to look ahead several generations before making key decisions. Are we relatives or resources? Wildcat dwells on this question as a way to separate harmful from helpful thinking. All living things are our relatives the animals, the plants forming an eco-kinship. Resources are abstracted lists of things living and extracted that can be commodified and sold for profit. Have we forgotten the natural law of respect for land, air and water? he asks. Across the Great Plains, eliminating bison and native grasses to introduce cereal grain led to an unsustainable system. Its like a dying patient clinging to life, dependent on large doses of chemotherapy (ammonia, carbon and nitrogen-based fertilizers and a host of pesticides) hooked to an artificial life-support system (center-pivot irrigation drawing on the Ogallala Aquifer), observes Wes Jackson of the Land Institute at Salina. The Land Back movement is a declaration, a philosophy, a way of life, an idea, a restorative justice principle, a policy proposal, an aesthetic principle Indigenuity in action, Wildcat says. Witness the Sacred Red Rock successfully moved by Kaw Indians from Lawrence to their Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park near Council Grove. Or the Ioway Tribal National Park taking shape near Rulo, Nebraska. Restoring the torn, unraveled and frayed nexus of nature and culture, of right relationships between people and place, may be our highest calling, Wildcat says. Theres enough good work for everyone. Dave Redmon is a retired journalist and educator reared in southeast Kansas and living in Manhattan. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) Holyoke held its first listening session to present and discuss its comprehensive plan for the city. Portion of Homestead Ave in Holyoke closed due to tree on power lines The city of Holyoke hasnt updated its comprehensive plan since 1999. And local leaders say its a long time coming to refresh Holyokes vision for its future. Massachusetts law requires cities and towns to maintain a comprehensive plan for their long-term physical development. Through comprehensive plans, communities can quote, envision aspirational futures for themselves and identify implementation pathways for achieving them. These plans span all aspects of physical development, from the types of housing in a community, to transportation, and even climate change resilience. What is it that our community wants to see our city be in the next 20 to 25 years? Its a tangible document that we can refer to when we are trying to make important decisions and how we invest resources to improve the quality of life in our city. Mayor Joshua Garcia, Holyoke These meetings are bilingual and residents can get involved by taking a Holyoke Comprehensive Plan survey. The city anticipates by spring of next year the plan update will be completed. The next community listening session is slated for Saturday, October 26 at the Holyoke North High School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The following is another being held on Thursday, November 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. By Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ukraine should be able to freely use arms it has been provided, Lithuania's foreign minister told Reuters on Thursday, adding he hoped Kyiv would be able to shoot further into Russia with weapons Washington announced it would deliver to Ukraine. Arming Ukraine is one thing, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told Reuters in an interview, but he said it is not extremely efficient if Kyiv is not allowed to use the arms. "The strategic goal that puts Ukraine in the strongest possible position requires to allow them to use the weaponry freely," Landsbergis said. Ukraine has been pressing the United States and other Western governments to authorize long-range strikes that it says will help counter Russia's relentless aerial attacks on Ukraine. Russia has warned that any decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range Western missiles would deepen what it called the direct involvement of the U.S. and Europe in the war and would trigger a response from Moscow. U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday announced more than $8 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, which Landsbergis said was "huge." It includes the first shipment of a precision-guided glide bomb called the Joint Standoff Weapon, with a range of up to 81 miles (130 km). The range is further than current U.S.-furnished air-dropped glide bombs. "I'm reading President Biden's statement, and I'm seeing that there is a new type of rockets that are being delivered that are longer-range than the previous ones," Landsbergis said. "My hope is that it's not a rocket that they should shoot from afar, from a distance to the front, that they would be allowed to use those rockets and shoot further out." A U.S. official earlier said Biden would not announce that Washington would let Ukraine use U.S. missiles to hit targets deeper in Russia. Landsbergis said that while he has not seen the specifics of Kyiv's "victory plan" to end the war, they have heard from Ukrainians that security guarantees have to be discussed. Talks about including Ukraine in the common defense area of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have reemerged, he said, adding that Lithuania is very supportive of such a move and glad to have it back on the agenda. "It has to happen," Landsbergis said. "If you're saying that, OK, we want Ukraine in a safe, secure position, without the risk that they will be attacked, you have to answer how. And, honestly, it's not rocket science." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a visit to Washington on Thursday said it was important to secure Ukraine's future in NATO, something he has long sought. But allies have stopped short of taking that step. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, John Irish and Mike Stone; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Lithuania to deliver thousands of FPV drones to its army, Ukraine MILAN The Lithuanian government will supply thousands of locally-made, first-person-view drones to the Ukrainian and Lithuanian armed forces as part of a major investment in a low-cost capability that is reshaping modern combat. The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense has announced a $1 million contract with Vilnius-based drone company Granta Autonomy, founded in 2015, for its new GA-10-FPV-AI quadcopter platform. The new unmanned aerial vehicles form part of a larger 8 million defense procurement initiative involving several additional Lithuanian drone manufacturers, the Lithuanian authorities said in a press release. Overall, 2,300 drones will be delivered to the Lithuanian military and 5,000 units will be donated to Ukraine, pooled together from selected Lithuanian companies, with the first deliveries expected to arrive in the war-torn country by the end of this month. This marks the first time that the Granta Autonomy GA-10FPV-AI platforms will be delivered to both armies, a company representative told Defense News, with almost 1,000 drones included in the contract. The drones feature a quadcopter frame with vertical take-off and landing capabilities and the ability to carry a maximum payload of 3 kilograms, per company information. In August, the Lithuanian defense ministry had announced that combat drones manufactured by five Lithuanian firms had passed the tests put together by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to simulate a front-line environment and would be chosen to be sent to troops. According to the local news network LRT, an initial batch of drone had previously failed such a test. The GA-10-FPV-AI is advertised as being able to operate autonomously in GPS-denied environments, customizable for different video transmission frequencies and camera types. Ukrainian FPVs have grown in importance in recent months on the battlefield, hailing successes of striking Russian attack helicopters as well as armored vehicles. Experts have predicted that the future use of FPVs in combat is expected to involve them operating in swarms or groups to overwhelm adversary defenses on the cheap. Lithuania has paid attention to these developments, having announced over the summer that its armed forces are undergoing a specialized course at training instructors to operate FPVs as well as plans to equip all military branches with these drones. (This story was updated to add new information.) Information about landfall and Friday's updates are here. Hurricane Helene has made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Florida Big Bend region Thursday at 11:10 p.m., and is moving quickly inland over the Florida Panhandle. In a special update from the National Hurricane Center, Helene made landfall just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River. This is about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida. Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Live WeatherTiger updates: Meteorologist's running forecast as Hurricane Helene nears Big Bend landfall. Live updates for Florida Big Bend: Get the latest for Tallahassee, coastal Big Bend areas. Live updates for Collier County: Get the latest for the Naples area here. Live updates for Lee County: Get the latest for the Fort Myers area here. Live updates for Sarasota-Manatee Counties: Get the latest for Sarasota-Bradenton here. Live updates for Brevard County: Get the latest for Melbourne and other areas of the Space Coast. Live updates for Volusia County: Get the latest for the Daytona Beach area here. Updates for Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie County: Get the latest for the Treasure Coast area here. Live updates for Marion County: Get the latest for the Ocala area here. Helene is expected to rapidly grow into a very large and powerful hurricane. The threat of storm surge along the Big Bend of Florida is life-threatening and destructive, warned AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva. Serious impacts will be felt hundreds of miles away from the center of circulation. Emergency preparedness: What to pack in a 'go bag' Helene poses dangers of life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds and flash flooding along the entire west coast of Florida and the Big Bend, the NHC reported. The highest inundation levels and potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds are expected along the Big Bend coast. Preparations to protect life and property along the Florida Big Bend coast "should be rushed to completion," the NHC said. Florida power outages leave more than 1 million in the dark Power customers around Florida were left without service after Hurricane Helene's devastating winds and surge flooded and blasted the Gulf Coast from Southwest Florida to Tampa Bay to the Big Bend. As of 1 a.m. Friday, there were more than 1.2 million customers without power around the state. Power outages in your area and around the state can be checked here. Report outages: Check your utility bill for contact information. Some common power companies in Florida are: Is there another hurricane forming? In the eastern and central Tropical Atlantic there is Invest 98L, which has a high chance of formation, according to the National Hurricane Center's tropical outlook. Showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure located about one thousand miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands continue to show signs of organization. Recent satellite imagery suggests the system does not yet have a well-defined surface circulation. However, environmental conditions are expected to beconducive for further development. A tropical depression is expected to form tonight or on Friday while the disturbance movesgenerally westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. The system is then forecast to slow down and turn north-northwestward late Friday and Saturday. It is too soon to know whether it will affect land. Formation chance through 48 hours: High, 90 percent Formation chance through 7 days: High, 90 percent Eyewall is moving quickly inland over the Florida Panhandle As of midnight, Helene continues to produce catastrophic winds that are pushing further inland over the Florida Big Bend and Florida Panhandle and will soon be entering southeastern Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions. When in the eye, people are reminded to not venture out in the relative calm, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly when the eye passes. An ASOS station at the Perry-Foley Airport recently reported a sustained wind of 55 mph and a wind gust of 99 mph while also reporting a minimum pressure of 948 mb. A National Ocean Service tide gauge at Cedar Key is reporting a water level 8.68 feet above mean higher high water, which is an approximation of inundation in that area. Helene is located 80 miles north-northwest of Cedar Key and 45 miles east-southeast of Tallahassee with winds of 140 mph, moving north-northeast at 24 mph. Helene makes landfall near Perry, Florida Hurricane Helene has made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Florida Big Bend region Thursday at 11:10 p.m. In a special update from the National Hurricane Center, Helene made landfall just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River. This is about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida. Based on data from Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, the maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 140 mph. Helene is located 70 miles north-northwest of Cedar Key and 45 miles south-southeast of Tallahassee with winds of 140 mph, moving north-northeast at 24 mph. Hurricane Helene very close to making landfall In a 11 p.m. update, the NHC said Hurricane Helene is very close to making landfall in the Florida Big Bend, accompanied by a catastrophic storm surge and life-threatening winds. Helene is located 75 miles northwest of Cedar Key and 40 miles southeast of Tallahassee with winds of 140 mph, moving north-northeast at 24 mph. Eyewall begins to move ashore along the Big Bend coast In a 10 p.m. special update, the NHC said the eyewall of Hurricane Helene is beginning to move ashore along the Florida coast of the Big Bend. Helene is producing catastrophic winds that will be spreading onshore in the Florida Big Bend region during the next few hours. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions. When the eye comes ashore, people are reminded to not venture out in the relative calm, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly when the eye passes. A University of Florida Coastal Monitoring Program tower located on Cedar Key recently reported a sustained wind of 59 mph and a wind gust of 78 mph. A NOAA National Ocean Service tide gauge located at Clearwater Beach recently reported a water level of 6.18 feet above mean higher high water, which is an approximation of inundation in that area. A National Ocean Service tide gauge at Cedar Key is reporting a water level 5.76 feet above mean higher high water. Helene is located 65 miles west-northwest of Cedar Key and 65 miles south of Tallahassee with winds of 140 mph, moving north-northeast at 24 mph. Helene slightly stronger as eye approaches coast of Florida's Big Bend In a 9 p.m. special update, the NHC said Hurricane Helene has grown slightly. A University of Florida Coastal Monitoring Program tower located on Cedar Key recently reported a sustained wind of 55 mph and a wind gust of 73 mph. A NOAA National Ocean Service tide gauge located at Clearwater Beach recently reported a water level of 5.07 feet above mean higher high water, which is an approximation of inundation in that area. Helene is located 65 miles west of Cedar Key and 90 miles south of Tallahassee with winds of 140 mph, moving north-northeast at 24 mph. Tornado watches issued for parts of Florida and Georgia Tornado watches have been issued across the state, with a threat through 6 a.m. Friday. A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Florida and Georgia until 6 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/XMGOtQ9cjE NWS Tornado (@NWStornado) September 26, 2024 Helene nearing the Gulf coast; Catastrophic storm surge and life-threatening winds expected As of 8 p.m., Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 23 mph. A continued fast motion to the north-northeast is expected through landfall in the Florida Big Bend in a few hours. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. The eye of Hurricane Helene is located 80 miles west-southwest of Cedar Key and 115 south of Tallahassee with winds of 130 mph. Helene winds now 130-mph, storm moving at 23 mph Helene is accelerating toward Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane. As of a NHC update at 6:20 p.m., the eye of Hurricane Helene was located 120 miles west of Tampa and 165 south of Tallahassee. "NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft currently investigating Helene recently found that the maximum sustained winds have increased to 130 mph." Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 23 mph. Courtney Campbell Causeway eastbound lanes closed in Clearwater Helene's "wind-whipped waves" shut down the eastbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Clearwater Thursday afternoon, the Clearwater Police Department reported in a post on X. Eastbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell are shutting down now because of wind-whipped waves from #helene westbound lanes likely to follow in closure. #clearwater #traffic pic.twitter.com/171NqXBne5 Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) September 26, 2024 Potential storm surge: Up to 20 feet expected in Big Bend The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide, according to the NHC: Carrabelle, FL to Suwannee River, FL...15-20 ft Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL...10-15 ft Suwannee River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...10-15 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...8-12 ft Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL...6-10 ft Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...5-8 ft Tampa Bay...5-8 ft Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...4-7 ft East of Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft Charlotte Harbor...3-5 ft Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa closed The Florida Highway Patrol closed the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa Thursday afternoon, the agency posted on X. "The Skyway Bridge and the Howard Frankland Bridge are both CLOSED due to high winds and storm surge. Motorists should stay off the highways, the post reads. The Skyway Bridge and the Howard Frankland Bridge are both CLOSED due to high winds and storm surge. Motorists should stay off the highways. #Helene pic.twitter.com/OAM2aMUPEP FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) September 26, 2024 Helene winds now 125-mph, storm moving at 23 mph Helene is accelerating toward Florida's Big Bend as tropical storm conditions are occurring across most of the West Coast. As of the NHC's 5 p.m. update, the eye of Hurricane Helene was located 130 miles west of Tampa and 175 south of Tallahassee. Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 23 mph. A continued fast motion to the north-northeast is expected through landfall in the Florida Big Bend this evening. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph with higher gusts. Helene is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is expected, and Helene will likely be an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane at landfall. Weakening is expected after Helene moves inland, but the fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 310 miles. A weather station at Venice Municipal Airport recently reported a sustained wind of 46 mph with a gust of 69 mph. Another observation near Venice Beach reported a sustained wind of 51 mph with a gust to 66 mph. FEMA chief to visit Florida Friday, assess storm impacts FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will visit Florida on Friday to assess the impacts of the storm and report back to President Joe Biden. Criswell said she would fly as close as she could to Tallahassee and meet with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his team. The FEMA leader said she would like to take an aerial tour if possible so she can see the damage for herself. Afterward, she is prepared to move up to Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, also expected to be heavily affected by Helene. "Me being on the ground helps me validate some of the damage more quickly, so we can get major declarations in place faster," she told reporters at a White House briefing Thursday, adding the agency has the resources it needs to respond to this disaster. Criswell said FEMA has aggressively deployed resources in advance of Helene's arrival and advised those likely to be impacted to do the same, both in Florida and across inland locations far from the storm's landfall. Parts of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and the Appalachians could get up to 20 inches of rain and experience widespread flooding. "Take the storm seriously,'' Criswell said. "People in Hurricane Helene's path, you need to listen to your local officials. If they tell you to evacuate, please do so, and if they tell you to shelter in place, then that's what you should do. They're going to give you the best information that you can do for your specific situation. Those decisions can save lives." Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY Storm surge flooding Treasure Island homes Storm surge from Hurricane Helene has pushed Gulf waters onto Treasure Island's Sunset Beach and, flooding homes and businesses, according to a post by the city on X. Storm surge starting to inundate some homes and businesses on Sunset Beach. pic.twitter.com/i6bVSmwAaD Treasure Island, FL (@TresIslandFL) September 26, 2024 TIPD got this video of the waves and current storm surge on Treasure Island Beach. pic.twitter.com/ZAO5ajL7fv Treasure Island, FL (@TresIslandFL) September 26, 2024 Helene racing toward Florida landfall at 21 mph, winds picking up in Tampa Bay, Sarasota Data from an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the minimum pressure of Helene has decreased to 951 mb, according to the latest update from the National Weather Service. As of 4 p.m., the center of Helene was 145 miles west-southwest of Tampa and the storm was moving north-northeast at 21 mph and packing 120-mph winds. A Weatherflow station at Egmont Channel at the entrance to Tampa Bay recently measured a sustained wind of 54 mph and a gust to 68 mph. The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport recently measured a sustained wind of 43 mph and a gust to 63 mph. Waffle House closes Tallahassee, Crawfordville locations Waffle House, a chain used by many as an unofficial benchmark for the severity of a disaster, has officially shuttered its doors at all its Tallahassee locations and Crawfordville location as Hurricane Helene approaches. "In areas predicted to be hit hardest, we will preemptively close restaurants with a goal of reopening them as soon it is safe to do so, to serve communities that have been there for us over the years," a Waffle House representative told the Tallahassee Democrat in an email Thursday afternoon. Waffle House Index explained Kya A. Sanford Coast Guard rescues man, dog from sailboat off Sanibel Island A man and his dog were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard around 3 p.m. Thursday from a sailboat 20 miles off the coast of Sanibel Island, according to NBC2. Both are safe, the USCG told the outlet. Helene picks up speed, winds rise in Tampa Bay In a 3 p.m. update, the National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Helene has sped up to 20 mph. A significant increase in forward speed is expected during the next 24 hours, the NHC said. A Weatherflow station at Egmont Channel at the entrance to Tampa Bay recently measured a sustained wind of 50 mph and a gust to 62 mph. Spectrum offering free, unlimited Wi-Fi in Florida during, after Helene Spectrum announced Thursday it will help residents stay connected during and after Hurricane Helene with free, unlimited access to Spectrum Wi-Fi access points, the company said in a news release. Spectrum will make available more than 45,000 access points in Florida, 2,000 in Georgia and 2,900 in Alabama. See the Spectrum Out-of-Home WiFi map. Tampa's Howard Frankland Bridge flooding with storm surge from Helene Helene's storm surge is pounding the bridge with crashing waves and pushing water onto the Howard Frankland Bridge at I-275 in Tampa, as seen in a post on X by Spectrum Bay News 9.. Check out the Howard Frankland Bridge! This is the camera at I-275 and Kennedy Blvd. You can see the water going over the barriers and ponding on the road. Drive safe out there!!! Get the latest updates on Helene -> https://t.co/qyo9QUAXi9 pic.twitter.com/og9lwGTtDe Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) September 26, 2024 See Fort Myers Beach flooding, huge waves from Helene Water on the Matlacha Bridge, Pine Island flooding Water is starting to spill over the top of the Matlacha Bridge, thanks to Helene's winds and the high tide, said Cody Allen, assistant chief for the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire District. Allen said he encourages people to stay off the roads and the bridge unless they absolutely need to be there. "As far as I know, it's not impassable," he said about the bridge. "But we encourage people, if you don't need to be on the roadway, then stay off the roadway. People can drive, but we encourage them not to." Other than that, the fire district is continuing to monitor things as Hurricane Helene continues its path north. So far, there hasn't been anything major happening other than some expected flooding in flood-prone areas, rain bands and gusty winds, Allen said. "We've had a couple of downed branches and downed trees that we're moving off the roadway " he said. "We've been continuously driving the streets on all areas of the island to monitor flooding, any damages, and do debris assessments and things like that. And we're monitoring wind speeds, as well." Charles Runnells Helene strengthens to major Category 3 hurricane Helene is now a major Category 3 hurricane, packing 120-mph winds and moving at 16 mph, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. As of 2:25 p.m., the center of Hurricane Helene was located about 170 miles west-southwest of Tampa and 205 miles south of Apalachicola. A significant increase in forward speed is expected during the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, Helene will make landfall in the Florida Big Bend region this evening. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast this evening. Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene's fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Helene is a very large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 345 miles. Live video shows Helene impacts across Florida Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg closed The Florida Highway Patrol in Tampa on Thursday afternoon announced the closure of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg due to high winds and asked drivers to find alternate routes. "As weather conditions continue to deteriorate & wind gusts have reached 60 MPH, FHP is closing the #Skyway. Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes, do not drive through flooded roads & unless absolutely necessary stay off area roadways," FHP posted on X. September 26, 2024 @ 1:30 PM As weather conditions continue to deteriorate & wind gusts have reached 60 MPH, FHP is closing the #Skyway. Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes, do not drive through flooded roads & unless absolutely necessary stay off area roadways. pic.twitter.com/SuUYhvMsxy FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) September 26, 2024 Part of fallen tree splits Stuart mobile home in half Part of a tree fell Thursday morning on a mobile home on Southeast Cortez Street in Stuart, collapsing the home's roof but causing no injuries, Martin County Fire Rescue officials said. Fire rescue officials were called at 9:17 a.m. to a fallen tree in the 400 block of Cortez Street, said Martin County Fire Rescue District Chief Joshua Shell. Wind from Hurricane Helene's squalls knocked down a portion of the tree. He said the tree collapsed the roof and separated the front from the back of the mobile home. There were no serious injuries. Olivia Franklin USGS deploys wave sensors ahead of Helene The U.S. Geological Survey deployed 13 wave sensors between Venice and Panama City Wednesday. According to a news release, the sensors will measure water levels and give insight on factors such as wave height and frequency, storm tide and storm surge. The sensors will be in place from before Helene arrives until the storm departs, and at that time, scientists will retrieve the instruments and analyze collected data. According to USGS, the resulting information can be used to fine-tune future storm surge and coastal change forecasts. The sensor data can help identify areas hit the hardest by storm surge and guide emergency responders and local officials with recovery efforts. Insight can also help inform flood insurance maps and building codes to improve structural designs for public safety. Studying Helene and other storms gives real-world insight thats valuable in helping with community preparedness, USGS associate center director for data Kevin Grimsley said. Wave sensors capture data at a very high frequency, so we are able to receive extremely detailed and comprehensive records. USGS deploys wave sensors along Florida's coast ahead of Hurricane Helene. USGS deploys wave sensors along Florida's coast ahead of Hurricane Helene. Florida airports closed, over 1,000 U.S. flights canceled Over 1,000 U.S. flights are canceled by early Thursday due to Hurricane Helene, according to FlightAware. Tampa International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Tallahassee International Airport in Florida all announced they'll be closed for the day, but the storm's impacts extend beyond its projected path. Airlines began offering travel waivers earlier this week so customers could reschedule their plans around the storm. Anyone whose flight was canceled is eligible for a refund under Department of Transportation rules. Federal laws do not require airlines to compensate travelers for delayed flights, but carriers have committed to various degrees of compensation for significant delays within their control. Read more here. Eve Chen, USA TODAY Volusia County beaches closed Volusia County has closed beaches to driving because of the high tide, and beaches will remain closed to driving the rest of the day. Beach conditions are hazardous. "Its almost time to hunker down," the county said in a news release. "If you havent already done so, take one quick, final look around your property. Be sure to take in anything furniture, tools, flowerpots, wind chimes, yard debris that could become airborne in high winds and cause damage or injury." The county provided other storm updates: The Daytona Beach International Airport is open, but flights could be impacted. The county is encouraging people to call their airlines for flight information. Volusia County libraries and government offices are closed today. The Florida Department of Health in Volusia is also closed. The county does not plan to open shelters. People should "never use a generator indoors or outside near windows, vents or air intakes that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. This could be fatal. Also, proper ventilation is critical to reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generators engine exhaust. When using one, be sure to maintain plenty of air flow space around the generator. And consider buying a CO detector." People who see a downed power line should assume it's electrified and avoid it. People should report the downed line to their power company and the county's Citizens Information Center at 866-345-0345. The center will be open until 6 p.m. today. People should only travel if it's essential once the weather gets worse, and people should avoid roads with standing water. Sheldon Gardner Naples flooding, roads closed from Helene storm surge Some Collier County roads are closed as flooding caused by Hurricane Helene impacts the Naples area. Current conditions at Clearwater Beach The Clearwater Police Department warned residents to stay clear of the beach. "Current conditions at #clearwaterbeach ahead of #HurricaneHelene Zone A, which includes the beach, remains under a mandatory evacuation order," the agency posted on X late Thursday morning. "Stay away from the beach today." Current conditions at #clearwaterbeach ahead of #HurricaneHelene Zone A, which includes the beach, remains under a mandatory evacuation order. Stay away from the beach today. pic.twitter.com/k29wocgGzK Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) September 26, 2024 Universal Orlando announces changes, closures, cancellations due to Helene Universal Orlando Resort announced operational changes for Thursday due to Hurricane Helene. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida is canceled. (Tickets dated Sept. 26 can be used through Sunday, Sept. 29) Universal Volcano Bay is closed. Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure will close at their regularly scheduled times with Universal Studios closing at 5 p.m. and Islands of Adventure closing at 8 p.m. Universal CityWalk will close early at 8 p.m. Hotels remain operational Halloween Horror Nights single night dated tickets for Thursday, Sept. 26 will be honored for a single night use through Sunday, Sept. 29. All other HHN ticket questions can be directed to our Guest Contact Center team by calling 800-711-0080, according to a weather update on Universal's website. "We anticipate a full reopening of our resort including Halloween Horror Nights on Friday, Sept. 27," the resort posted on its website. Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard sees flooding ahead of Helene "The hurricane hasn't even hit yet, Bayshore is already completely flooded," TikTok user Tampa Terrence said in a video posted on the platform. "Might get pretty scary come 4 o'clock," he added. Helene continues to strengthen, winds now 105 mph Helene continues to strengthen as the Category 2 hurricane closes in on Florida with landfall expected this evening as a major hurricane in the Big Bend region. As of the NHC's 11 a.m. advisory, Helene's center was 255 miles southwest of Tampa and 290 miles south of Apalachicola, packing 105-mph winds and moving at 14 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported. Helene is a very large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 345 miles. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for: Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo Tampa Bay Charlotte Harbor A Hurricane Warning is in effect for: Anclote River to Mexico Beach A Hurricane Watch is in effect for: Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for: Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet Lake Okeechobee See flooding, Helene impacts in Sarasota and Manatee counties A storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is anticipated from Bonita Beach to Englewood; 4 to 7 feet from Englewood to the middle of Longboat Key; and 5 to 8 feet from the middle of Longboat Key north to Anclote Key. The area is still projected to receive tropical storm force winds, beginning this morning. Tropical storm winds are projected to exit both Sarasota and Manatee counties between 9 p.m., Thursday and midnight Friday. The rainfall forecast still calls for 3 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 10 inches with potential for moderate flooding from rains in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Flooding in St. Petersburg, St. James City The Shore Acres area of St. Petersburg and homes in St. James City were impacted by storm surge flooding Thursday morning, according to posts on X. A look at shore acres right now, experiencing flooding this morning. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/yAS4Hnnmgi Olivia Stacey (@Olivia_Stacey) September 26, 2024 Storm surge flooding homes in St. James City. Codty Pierce. pic.twitter.com/rhjMwPPHuY Andrew Shipley (@AShipleyWX) September 26, 2024 Tornado Warning issued for New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Glencoe until 11:00 a.m. The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a tornado warning for New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Glencoe until 11 a.m. Take cover now. Tornado Warning including New Smyrna Beach FL, Edgewater FL and Glencoe FL until 11:00 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/AYZFXkkzKF NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) September 26, 2024 Minor flooding reported in Clearwater "Very minor tidal flooding from #Helene in Clearwater, Florida," Chris Conte posted on X. A few pics coming into @abcactionnews of very minor tidal flooding from #Helene in Clearwater, Florida. pic.twitter.com/BlDTmZUsaE Chris Conte (@chrisconte) September 26, 2024 Video, photos show Fort Myers Beach flooding from Helene Fort Myers Beach Emergency Management continues to monitor Hurricane Helene as it moves past our Island. With inclement weather anticipated throughout the day, the Town asks you to try to limit your travel and stay off the Island if you are not already here. pic.twitter.com/OAhDnkot3o TownofFortMyersBeach (@TownofFMB) September 26, 2024 Pinellas County roads flooding Roads in Pinellas County are beginning to flood, including streets in Belair, the town posted on X. "Its likely to get much worse later today as storm surge levels rise. Residents should shelter in place and avoid travel," the post warned. Some roads in Pinellas are already starting to flood, including streets in Belleair (as seen in the photo below). Its likely to get much worse later today as storm surge levels rise. Residents should shelter in place and avoid travel. pic.twitter.com/Twu50kHCCi Town Of Belleair (@TownofBelleair) September 26, 2024 Melvin Juarbe, right, and another man attempt to help a Mercedes driver whose car stalled in floodwaters from Hurricane #Helene on Madeira Beach this morning. @TB_Times pic.twitter.com/ECazQ9QpjU Max Chesnes (@MaxChesnes) September 26, 2024 Free Uber rides to, from Florida shelters The Florida Division of Emergency Management has partnered with Uber to provide free rides to shelters, up to $35 each way to and from a state-approved shelter, in counties under a state of emergency for Hurricane Helene, the agency posted on X. To get a ride: Open the Uber app Tap Account on the bottom right & tap Wallet Add promo code HELENERELIEF Fish swimming in flooded Sarasota street A fish swimming in a flooded downtown Sarasota street was caught on video by Weather Channel reporter Molly McCollum. "We have a fish swimming in the street in Sarasota. The rain that came down from the outer bands this morning is having trouble escaping to the Bay because of high tide and water levels coming up," McCollum posted on X. We have a fish swimming in the street in Sarasota. The rain that came down from the outer bands this morning is having trouble escaping to the Bay because of high tide and water levels coming up. @weatherchannel pic.twitter.com/n5GTQNZjEw Molly McCollum (@WXMolly) September 26, 2024 Florida power outages As Florida power outages begin to mount, with over 5,000 outages reported in Polk County and significant impact still to come, here's a look at the power outage map for Hurricane Helene. DeSantis: Time to evacuate running out Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared on Fox & Friends Thursday morning to talk about Florida's preparations for Hurricane Helene. The governor warned that time is running out for those living in evacuation zones to leave. "People just need to make decisions, keep themselves safe," DeSantis said. "Soon as the storm passes, you're going to see the response very quickly." He also emphasized the potential damages for Tallahassee, which has historically missed the brunt of major hurricanes. "If it does hit Tallahassee, they have not had a major hurricane in Tallahassee in recent memory," DeSantis said. "We've got a lot of beautiful trees here the neighborhoods have them. But when you start having 125 mph winds, that could cause a lot of damage, a lot of debris as well." He gave another warning for those who live beneath trees: "You got a big oak fall on your roof, that is not going to be something that you're going to want to be there for," he said. Tallahassee Democrat Staff Fort Myers Beach flooding Street signs bobbed up and down in the strong breeze along Crescent Street as a slow procession of cars were leaving Fort Myers Beach. Charcoal gray clouds slipped across the horizon as water continued to flood Times Square. Sea water was flowing into the storm water drains early this morning. High tide here is around 9:30 a.m., although surge is expected to be at its worst in the afternoon and evening hours. Conditions are only expected to get worse today as winds shift and start to blow onshore. Storm surge is expected to be the greatest danger for this region with Hurricane Helene. Chad Gillis Flash flood warning issued for Florida Big Bend's Franklin County According to the National Weather Service, doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across Franklin County, Gulf County, and areas in and around the Big Bend and Gulf Coast. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. Locations that will experience flash flooding include: Carrabelle, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St George Island, Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach, Wewahitchka, Stonemill Creek, Franklin, Beverly, Buck Siding, Hays Place, Fort Gadsden, Creels, Howard Creek, Bay City, Apalachicola Airport, Tilton and Willis Landing. This warning expires at 12:15 p.m. Thursday. What is Hurricane Helene's category level? Hurricane Helene continues to strengthen, with winds at 100 mph, now a Category 2 storm, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Additional strengthening is expected and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane before landfall later tonight. A major hurricane has maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph, making it a Category 3 storm or higher. Cheryl McCloud What will the wind speeds be for Hurricane Helene? Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 storm, meaning sustained winds at 111-129 mph, with stronger gusts that could cause extensive damage. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 345 miles (555 km), according to the National Hurricane Center's forecast discussion. The Key West Naval Air Station recently reported sustained winds of 41 mph (66 km/h) and a wind gust of 55 mph (89 km/h). Schools closures from Helene in dozens of Florida counties Many Florida districts have closed schools and state universities are also shut down, along with early learning and vocational rehabilitation offices. Here's a complete list. Will Hurricane Helene hit Orlando? The eye of Hurricane Helene, forecast to be a catastrophic storm, is not forecast to pass through Orlando. But the area, Orange and surrounding counties, are under tornado watch until 8 p.m. In Central Florida, the biggest associated with Helene include heavy rain, potential flooding, gusty winds and potential tornadoes starting Thursday, WESH 2 news reported Thursday. Tornado watches issued for most of Florida Peninsula Tornado watch issued until 8 p.m. for a large portion of Florida as Hurricane Helene heads for landfall later today. A tornado watch has been issued for most of the Florida Peninsula until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Several tornadoes are likely. Counties included in the watch are: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia. Cheryl McCloud What time is Helene supposed to hit land? Landfall forecast Landfall is expected along the coast of the Florida Big Bend Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The latest information suggests landfall may be near Apalachicola, Florida, between 9 and 11 p.m. Thursday, according to AccuWeather. Cheryl McCloud Sarasota area forecast for tropical storm-force winds Sarasota and Manatee counties can expect winds of 39-57 mph starting early this morning and extending into the afternoon. The current National Weather Service forecast calls for 3-6 inches of rain, with up to 10 inches in select areas; a storm surge of 4-7 feet in coastal Sarasota and 5-8 feet in coastal Manatee; and heavy winds, especially along the coast. Brian Ries Volusia County braces for rain, wind. SunRail service suspended Volusia County is expected to experience tropical storm-force winds beginning around noon, with sporadic gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall will range from 1 to 4 inches with possible flooding in low-lying and urban areas. There is a possibility of overnight tornados that will increase Thursday. All Volusia County offices will be closed on Thursday, including library branches. Beach driving, beach restrooms, and coastal parks will be closed tomorrow, with the inlet parks closing at 11 a.m. The Florida Department of Transportation has announced that SunRail will not operate on Thursday with service expected to resume on Friday pending inspections. Votran was planning to run Thursday morning, but service may be suspended at any point during the day. The landfill and trash collection in unincorporated areas will operate on a regular schedule. Tornado warning for Collier County. Take cover! Take cover, a tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Miami at 5:04 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. That includes the following counties: Collier. The warning was set to expire at 6 a.m. Thursday. The NWS recommends: "TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!" What should you do today if you live in Florida? How to prepare for a hurricane Your hurricane preparations should be complete. If advised to evacuate, please do so before conditions become too dangerous. Keep an eye on weather updates. Make sure you monitor the latest conditions. Cheryl McCloud Hurricane Helene current path Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph. This general motion is expected to continue with a significant increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, Helene will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today and cross the Florida Big Bend coast this evening or early Friday morning. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwest and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph, with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast this evening. Cheryl McCloud Hurricane Helene current location As of 5 a.m. Thursday, the National Hurricane Center put Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico and tracking north-northeast: Location : 350 miles southwest of Tampa; 385 miles south of Apalachicola Maximum sustained winds: 90 mph Movement : north-northeast at 12 mph Pressure : 966 mb Next advisory: 8 a.m. Helene could bring up to 20 feet of storm surge The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline, according to the NHC. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide: Carrabelle, FL to Suwannee River, FL...15-20 ft Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL...10-15 ft Suwannee River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...10-15 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...8-12 ft Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL...6-10 ft Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...5-8 ft Tampa Bay...5-8 ft Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...4-7 ft East of Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft Charlotte Harbor...3-5 ft Peak storm surge forecast for Hurricane Helene as of 5 p.m., Sept. 25, 2024 Warnings, watches issued for Florida Storm surge warning: A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo Tampa Bay Charlotte Harbor Hurricane warning: A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds. Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay Tropical storm warning: A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within the next 36 hours. Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet Lake Okeechobee Evacuations ordered for Florida counties ahead of Helene According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, evacuations have been ordered for the following Florida counties: MANDATORY Charlotte County: Evacuations have been ordered for barrier islands, low-lying and flood prone areas, manufactured homes, and homes that dont meet 1995 building codes. Citrus County: Mandatory Evacuation: For licensed Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities located in ZONE A ONLY: Wednesday, September 25, 8AM Those living within Evacuation Zone A or any structure countywide not capable of withstanding tropical storm force winds or greater: Wednesday, September 25, 2PM Dixie County: Dixie County Emergency Management has issued a mandatory evacuation order in preparation for Hurricane Helene. Evacuations will begin at 10AM on Wednesday September 25, 2024 for the following: All coastal communities including: Suwanee, Horseshoe Beach, Jena, and the immediate surrounding areas. Mobile Homes and Manufactured homes throughout the county. Recreational Vehicles County Wide. Low Lying Areas in the county. Franklin County: In response to the projected trajectory and intensity of Tropical Storm Helene, Franklin County will implement a mandatory evacuation for the entire county, effective at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Gulf County: 09/24/24 1000 hours - All non-residents and all Recreational Vehicles (RV's) in Indian Pass, Cape San Blas, & Simmons Bayou MUST be evacuated by 8:00 AM Wednesday (09/25) Hillsborough County: Mandatory Evacuation for Zone A and All Mobile and Manufactured Homes Ahead of Tropical Storm Helene. Jefferson County: Residents of mobile homes, low lying flood prone areas, RV's, modular homes, and homes that are not up to current hurricane standards. Lafayette County: Lafayette County Board of County Commissioners and Division of Emergency Management has issued a mandatory evacuation order for all residents living in mobile homes, travel trailers, structurally compromised housing and low lying areas for the entire county. The mandatory evacuations will go into effect on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 8:00 AM. Leon County: Leon County has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents of mobile and manufactured homes due to the threat of hurricane-force winds. Manufactured and mobile home residents in Leon County should seek safer shelter by 8 a.m. on Thursday, September 26. Levy County: A Mandatory Evacuation Order is issued for: -Recreational vehicle parks throughout the county, and they shall be removed from the county to the maximum extent possible. -Mobile Homes and Manufactured homes throughout the county. Coastal Communities in the county. Low-Lying areas throughout the county. Madison County: Due to expected Hurricane force winds, Madison County has a VOLUNTARY evacuation in place for mobile homes, sub-standard housing and flood prone areas. Manatee County: Manatee County announced a call for evacuation for residents who live in Level A flood zones starting Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. in preparation for Tropical Storm Helene. Evacuation Level A includes all of Anna Maria Island and Manatee portions of Longboat Key, as well as coastal mainland areas. The evacuation also applies to all low-lying and flood-prone areas as well as all mobile and manufactured homes. Pasco County: Mandatory evacuations will go into effect Wednesday, September 25, at 9:00 a.m. for the following: Evacuation Zone A. Everyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or RV anywhere in Pasco Everyone in low-lying areas or areas prone to flooding Everyone in an area ordered evacuated by local authorities due to life-safety hazards Voluntary evacuations will go into effect Wednesday, September 25, at 9:00 a.m. for the following: Evacuation Zones B and C Everyone registered with Pasco as a Special Needs Resident Everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss. Pinellas County: Mandatory Evacuation Order only for our long-term healthcare residential facilities, which includes hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities that or in Zone A. https://www.facebook.com/PinellasGov Sarasota County: Sarasota County has declared a local state of emergency and has called for evacuations of Level A manufactured home communities starting Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 7 a.m. Evacuation centers in Sarasota County will open at noon Wednesday. Taylor County: The Taylor County Sheriff's Office is issuing a Mandatory Evacuation Order for everyone in Taylor County due to the intensity of the forecasted Hurricane Helene effective immediately. Wakulla County: All evacuation zones in Wakulla County are under a mandatory evacuation order. On September 24, 2024, the Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners issued a countywide mandatory evacuation for citizens and visitors by no later than 8 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2024. VOLUNTARY Alachua County Baker County Gadsden County Hamilton County Jefferson County Madison County Suwannee County Union County Hurricane Helene projected path Weather radar Florida Tropical Storm Helene tracker Helene spaghetti models Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Hurricane Helene makes landfall near Perry, Florida GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) A local group is asking Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper to answer the call. As part of the Protect the Dolores coalition, Western Slope officials, advocates, families and community members are asking the senators to support the creation of the Dolores Canyon National Monument. This was done as a virtual press conference on Friday. The group said it wants community members to remember this is about people, not political games. Although most Coloradans support conservation efforts for the Dolores, the way to maintain it has been up for debate. In July, Hickenlooper and Bennet said in a joint statement that the Dolores must be permanently protected and provided guidance on how to do so. However, the senators did not say anything about a Dolores Canyon National Monument. Mesa and Montrose counties announced the same month they will not go for a national monument designation for Dolores Canyon. They said the next step should be a Dolores Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) map as a way to balance resource conservation, multiple-use principles, economic prosperity and local values. The Protect the Dolores coalition said in its release that over 100,000 people have signed petitions calling for a national monument. It also noted the City of Grand Junction has supported the idea. According to the release, A national monument would preserve the majestic landscape for future generations, create opportunities for economic development and protect the regions most biologically and culturally-rich public lands from mining speculation and other development while continuing to honor existing claims and traditional uses. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diego city councilmembers Raul Campillo and Stephen Whitburn held a press conference Thursday to share resources to the community regarding hate crimes. This comes as hate incidents have increased across the region. City council approves demolition to begin on Oceanside Pier Unfortunately, recent data has confirmed what our communities have already felt firsthand: hate is on the rise in San Diego and across the nation, said Campillo. By reporting hate incidents using tools like California vs. Hate, we end the normalization of behavior that truly has no place in San Diego or anywhere else. California vs. Hate is a free and confidential online and phone hotline available in over 200 languages. It that enables residents to report hate incidents and access support, including legal, financial, mental health and mediation services. In District 3, weve seen targeted attacks on our LGBTQ+ community and businesses, a stark reminder that hate has real and harmful impacts on our friends, neighbors, and loved ones, said Whitburn. We cannot and will not allow hate to divide us or undermine the inclusive values that define our city. This tool is now available as a resource for locals and all Californians to report hate crimes and support victims. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A Pennsylvania police officer on Thursday told lawmakers that a local operator's bullet ultimately stopped failed assassination attempt shooter Thomas Crooks before the U.S. Secret Service fatally shot him. Adams Township Police Department Sgt. Edward Lenz's testimony came Thursday morning during a hearing before the House Trump Assassination Attempt Task Force, which has been tasked with investigating the July 13 shooting of former President Trump, the first of two recent assassination attempts against him. "Across the two counter assault teams, the quick reaction force, three sniper teams and support personnel, we provided total manpower of 44 persons, exceeding the number requested by the Secret Service," Lenz, a commander with the Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU), said in his opening remarks. "At no point during the planning process was Butler County ESU asked to secure the AGR complex, nor the perimeter surrounding that area. At no point during the planning process was Butler ESU asked to deploy a sniper team to the roof of the AGR complex." Butler County snipers inside the AGR building could not see the shooter from the roof of the AGR complex, nor was that part of their duties for the day, Lenz added. Butler Lawmaker Slams Inappropriate Treatment Of Local Police After Trump Incident: Thrown Under The Bus A member of the quick response force, however, noticed several suspicious people in the area, one of whom turned out to be the shooter. Read On The Fox News App A Beaver County sniper took a photo of the suspicious male near the AGR building and a photo of the shooter using a range finder pointing toward the stage, who was later identified as Crooks. The sniper reported that information to the Pennsylvania State Police, Lenz explained. The FBI previously said this sighting occurred around 5:10 p.m. on July 13, one hour and one minute before Crooks began shooting. Trump Assassination Attempt: Inexperienced Secret Service Agent Flying Drone Called Toll-free Number For Help Thomas Crooks is seen at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Soon afterward, when it became clear that a threat was on the roof of the AGR building, an operator with Butler County ESU exited the red barn from behind the stage where Trump was speaking and monitored the AGR building area, Lenz said. He "quickly identified" where the shots were coming from, located the shooter, and fired one round at Crooks with his rifle, "which caused the shooter to recoil and briefly fall out of sight," the Adams Township officer testified. "He did this less than six seconds after shots began at a distance of approximately 110 yards," Lenz said. Trump Assassination Attempt: Whistleblowers Claim That They Were 'Woefully Unprepared' To Provide Security A Secret Service counter sniper then fired the fatal shot that neutralized Crooks on the roof of the AGR building, where he was perched with a direct line of sight to Trump. The FBI previously told reporters during a press call that the Secret Service counter sniper fired the fatal round that killed Crooks approximately 15.5 seconds after Crooks began shooting. The FBI also noted at that time that the local officer who fired a round at Crooks did not hit him. Secret Service Boss Says Vital Info Not Relayed Over Radio, Delaying Response To Would-be Rally Assassin "Regarding the round fired by the local officer, we have no forensic evidence indicating that that round either struck our subject or the subject's rifle," FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said in August. The Task Force on Thursday heard testimony from three local Pennsylvania law enforcement officials, including Lenz, who provided security protection at the July 13 rally; the medical examiner who conducted Crooks' autopsy; and a retired Secret Service agent. Trump Shooting: Timeline Of Assassination Attempt Raises Questions About How Gunman Evaded Security A graphic representation of the position of the sniper team in relation to the would-be assassin at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Witnesses largely suggested that the Secret Service's lack of direction given to local agencies ultimately led to the security failures that allowed 20-year-old Crooks to position himself on a nearby rooftop and fire at the former president, striking him in the ear and killing rally attendee Corey Comperatore. Two other attendees, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, were critically wounded by Crooks' gunfire. "If we knew there was a suspicious person out there why in the world would you let President Trump go on that platform?" Task Force Chairman Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Penn., asked during his opening remarks. Attempted Trump Assassin Seen Walking Around Pennsylvania Rally Hours Before Opening Fire Ranking Member Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., said in his opening remarks that while the Secret Service "failed on July 13," the agency has more responsibilities than ever since it took over full-time presidential protection in 1902. "The Secret Service must be expected to accomplish its zero-fail protection mission without any errors, but Congress must also ensure that the Secret Service has the resources it needs to accomplish that mission. It's become clear since July 13 that the Secret Service is stretched too thin," Crow said. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe said in a statement Thursday, "We thank Congress for addressing some of the U.S. Secret Services most immediate needs in this heightened threat environment. This short-term funding will better equip the U.S. Secret Service to enhance security measures in the months ahead. We look forward to working with Congress on full-year funding to deliver the additional personnel, technology, and equipment our workforce needs to do their jobs." On the day of the rally, Crooks parked his vehicle and flew a drone between approximately 3:50 p.m. and 4 p.m. about 200 yards from where the former president would be speaking. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified during a July 17 congressional hearing that Crooks had been at the rally site for about 70 minutes the morning of the assassination attempt. Investigators located eight casings on the roof where Crooks fired from. Original article source: Local officer's bullet stopped Trump shooter's gunfire before Secret Service shot, witness testifies Many are scrambling to get out of Florida Wednesday night before Hurricane Helene hits the area. Some are flying family and friends into Boston for safety. Christine Conlon says her father-in-law lives near the path of the storm in Florida, and hes 91 years old. He just wanted to make sure he was going to be safe if he loses electricity, he lives on his own, so if he loses electricity he wont be able to live there by himself, so he comes up to see us a lot during the fall for this reason, said Conlon. Lots of people are changing their travel plans before their flights get canceled Thursday. The Leifelds are heading to Paris with a new detour to Boston. So we had to go through lots of different hoops to get a different flight, rent a car, drive to Fort Lauderdale, and get out this morning, but were thrilled that we got out, said Ellen Leifeld, who lives in the Fort Myers area. Many are excited they escaped to Boston, but theyre also worried about their homes back in Florida. We didnt put our shutters up because we didnt think its gonna hit, but if it turns, no windows! said Leifeld. Hes got his hurricane shutters up and everything just to be safe about stuff, but he always worries either what hes going to be going home to or when hes going to be going home, its a one-way trip because we dont know, said Conlon. Luckily a lot of people coming from Florida have family or friends they can stay with up in New England until they know its safe to go back to Florida. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Last week, diners flooded into Le Monde the Mediterranean cafe that has been operating at 602 N. West St. since 1994 after its owner posted on Facebook that the restaurant was doing its best to keep its doors open. The post became the topic of local TV news stories, and customers showed up in droves to support the longtime business. Meanwhile, customers were unaware of the drama that was simmering behind the scenes. One of the owners of the restaurant the late owners widow, Lilas Krichati is being sued by the restaurants other owner and longtime manager, Ghassan Gus Hajeh. Lilas Krichati was the owner featured on the television reports about the restaurants struggles. Hajehs lawyers said they had no comment except to say that the complaint, filed in Sedgwick County District Court on Aug. 21, speaks for itself. In it, Hajeh who still works at the restaurant with Lilas Krichati says that he signed a deal with the restaurants late owner, Mohamad Krichati, that made him a 50% partner and that, since his death, Krichatis widow has been misappropriating restaurant money to pay for personal expenses, including a new roof for her house and catering for her California wedding to her new spouse. Hajeh is suing for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and fraud and wants a court order preventing Lilas Krichati and the other defendants named in the lawsuit, J&K Inc. and Kasem MD PC, from causing interference or disruption with the restaurants normal operations. He is also asking for damages in excess of $75,000. Lilas Krichatis lawyer, Wichita attorney Todd Tedesco, however, says that he thinks the matter is a big misunderstanding and that the allegations contained in Hajehs complaint may be a result of his overzealous lawyers mischaracterizing events. Tedesco said hes hopeful that the parties can still work the matter out between them. We believe that this, at its core, really amounts to a misunderstanding between the partners, he said. Mohamad Krichati is pictured in 2010. He owned Le Monde from 1995 until his death in a car accident in 2017. Out-of-state owner Local restaurateurs Youssef Youssef (Sesame Mediterranean Kitchen) and Kassem Yassine (Delanos Diner) opened Le Monde in April 1994. Mohamad Krichati, a former engineer at Cessna Aircraft, bought the restaurant the following year and even briefly opened a Le Monde on Rock Road in 2010. In 1997, Mohamad Krichati hired his then brother-in-law, Hajeh who at the time was married to Krichatis sister to work for him. Around 2012, Mohamad Krichati relocated to San Diego and left the daily operation of the restaurant in Hajehs hands. Hajehs face is the one most Wichitans associate with the cafe, partly because he spoke on behalf of Le Monde in 2016, when customers rallied to support the restaurant after a customer called for people to boycott it because it was Muslim-owned. But Mohamad Krichati died in a car accident in San Diego in May 2017. According to Hajehs complaint, Lilas Krichati appears to have inherited the business and or the real estate business from him and has since been actively involved in every facet of the business. Hajeh says in the lawsuit that he paid Mohamad Krichati $50,000 in 2008 to purchase 25% of J&K Inc., the business entity that owns Le Monde. Under the terms of the agreement, Krichati maintained ownership of the building where the restaurant is located, charged rent, and required Hajeh to work a minimum of 50 hours a week as the manager at a rate of $12 per hour, according to the lawsuit. The profit of the restaurant was to be split between the owners with Hajeh getting 25%. Then in January 2015, according to Hajehs complaint, the partners signed an amendment that upped Hajehs share to 50% of the companys profits and 50% of the rent income. But ever since Mohamad Krichatis death, Hajeh alleges, hes never been able to get a full accounting of the companys finances and has never been able to collect on his share of the profits despite repeated requests, the lawsuit says. Hajeh further alleges in the lawsuit that, after hiring an accountant this year to review books, he discovered that Lilas Krichati had been using restaurant money for pricey personal expenses, including insurance on a rental house in Andover, charges for her wedding and prenuptial legal fees and for her home mortgage. Le Monde Cafe at 602 N. West St. has long been known for its crumbly biscuits, above, its fattouch salad and its gyro. She also, according to the complaint, used company money from a COVID relief loan to pay for a roof replacement on her home and used company funds to donate $13,710 to the Islamic Society of Corona Norco, California. After the donation was made, the societys property and catering was used for her wedding, the lawsuit says. It also accuses her of making several false reports, including highly inflated rent amounts, to the IRS to hide earnings that were owed to Hajeh. According to the complaint, Hajehs accountant uncovered numerous transactions that appear to be outright theft of money, where Defendant Lilas Krichati obtained Company funds under false pretenses and converted them into personal use. The lawsuit also says that Hajeh filed a police report in August alleging employee embezzlement. A misunderstanding Tedesco said he must file a response to the suit by Monday, adding that hell be denying most of the allegations on behalf of his client, Lilas Krichati. He also questioned whether Hajeh actually was a 50% owner of the business. On both the 2015 and 2017 tax returns both filed after Hajeh says Mohamad Krichati agreed to make him a 50% owner Hajeh is listed as a 25% owner, Tedesco said. Its our belief that this is really not much more than a misunderstanding that could have been resolved had there been an effort before filing the lawsuit. It still can be resolved, he said. He added that the lawsuit was counterproductive to what he believed both Hajeh and Lilas Krichati want: to keep their restaurant open in a time when many other restaurants are struggling to survive. Tedesco added that he and Lilas Krichati had a hard time understanding many of the allegations in the complaint. Its my hope that the leaps to conclusions that whoever drafted this petition made do not serve as an impediment to the partners in the business coming to a resolution. Its her intention that Le Monde get through this and that she and Gus get through this and come to an understanding between them. One of Old Town Squares longest-running restaurants is leaving, bound for the west side Shuttered Kansas truck stop restaurant revived by cook who dreamed of having his own place Oktoberfest season is here, and Wichita will soon be filled with bierocks and biergartens TechCrunch California's newest law could land social media users who post, or repost, AI deepfakes that deceive voters about upcoming elections in legal trouble. Governor Gavin Newsom suggests that AB 2839, which went into effect immediately after he signed it on Tuesday, could be used to reel in the retweets of Elon Musk, among others who spread deceptive content. "I just signed a bill to make this illegal in the state of California," said Newsom in a tweet, referencing an AI deepfake Musk reposted earlier this year that made it appear Kamala Harris called herself an incompetent candidate and a diversity hire (she did not). LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) The World Chicken Festival puts a big spotlight on London, and the community is excited to celebrate rain or shine. Through the next four days, 150 to 200,000 people are expecting to flock to London for the World Chicken Festival. Ride operators, vendors, and organizers are hard at work making sure it goes off with a bang. Travis Shortt is with the London-Laurel Tourist Commission. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: One of the reasons its so important for this festival to continue even in the face of weather like this is because of the number of nonprofits that it actually benefits. The World Chicken Festival is a fundraising event that helps over 50 local nonprofits, so its very important that we keep this going on, Shortt said. While theres excitement in the air, theres also rain. Shortt said organizers have a plan to make sure nothing stops the fun. Part of that is if the rain starts, individuals seek shelter in their cars and buildings. Then, once the coast is clear and that announcement has been made by our emergency team, the festival will resume, Shortt said. Speaking of the emergency team, thats where a dedicated team of first responders comes in, like Officer Hobie Daugherty. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: We have protocols in place from everything from lightning to severe weather. All the vendors have been made aware that everything must be tied down and properly weighted that way in case we have strong winds, or something to that effect that we do have plans in place just to keep everybody safe, Daugherty said. But if the worst that comes is some rain, Gilbert Acciardo with the Laurel County Sheriffs office said it wont be enough to rain on their parade. Ive been to chicken festivals up here before, and rain doesnt slow anybody down. They have umbrellas, they have raincoats, and they even put garbage bags on, but theyll still be here, Acciardo said. With the manhunt for Joseph Couch now over, law enforcement and the community are just ready to get back in the swing of things, rain or shine. Latest central Kentucky weather forecast Because of whats happened in the past several weeks here in Laurel County, Laurel County needs this. Even law enforcement needs it. Itll be an escape from all that bad stuff that was going on, Acciardo said. I got phone calls, as soon as it happened from all over the country Wanting to know if the festival was still going to happen. There was never one time that our board or the emergency response team have thought about canceling the festival, Shortt added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWLP) The interest in solar energy continues to rise as people look for ways to cut energy costs. As a result, others are looking to cash in on this growing business by offering fraudulent opportunities to consumers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning people to do their homework before signing any agreement or spending money. You can order free at-home COVID tests from the federal government again: Heres how The FTC says that anyone who solicits you, whether in person or online, and offers free rooftop solar panels is a fraud. Another scheme is to tell the consumer that they will never have to pay another electricity bill because government programs, grants, or rebates cover solar installation. The FTC offers this advice if youre approached by someone offering free solar panels and installation: Do research. Avoid solar companies that say a government program will cover the whole cost of solar panels or say theyre from (or affiliated with) the government. Get quotes from reputable providers with a valid license and compare their offerings. Go to the Department of Energys guide for homeowners and commonly asked questions for more information. Dont pay advance fees. Dont fall for the promise of big savings if you act now and the demand for large upfront payments or deposits. These thieves will disappear with your money with little or no way to recoup. Legitimate contractors will work with you to figure out whether solar energy is right for you. Read the Department of Treasurys guidance on clean energy. Take your time. If someone is rushing you to sign a contract, or insists you sign an agreement on an electronic tablet without showing you the full agreement, dont do it. Thats a fraud red flag. Take the time to read and understand the agreement with the provider. Pay attention to warranties, cancellation policies, and payment schedules, and look for hidden fees. Reliable businesses will go over the terms of the contract, make sure you understand the agreement, and let you sign it in writing. The FTC offers information on residential solar power for consumers on its website. If you or anyone you know has been the victim of solar or other consumer fraud, report it to the FTC. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. KYIV (Reuters) -Russia unleashed a new barrage of drones and missiles on Ukraine overnight, again targeting the energy sector and killing at least one civilian, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday. Ukraine's military said Russian forces had fired 78 attack drones and six missiles over various regions during the hours-long attack. Air defences destroyed 66 drones and four missiles, it added. "This night the enemy carried out another massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector, using drones and missiles," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said, adding that three electricity transmission facilities, including one in the southern Mykolaiv region, were among the targets. Later in the morning, the air force said it had recorded the launch of several hypersonic Kinzhal missiles targeting the small western Ukrainian city of Starokostiantyniv, home to an important air base and a frequent target of Moscow's strikes. The air force provided no further details. One woman was killed in a missile strike on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, and 10 people were wounded in a guided-bomb attack on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, officials said. Around a dozen drones were destroyed over the capital Kyiv, while power outages were reported in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, in the central region of Poltava and in Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, regional officials said. Russian forces attacked Ukrainian facilities supplying electricity to the weapon production industry, the TASS news agency quoted Russia's defence ministry as saying on Thursday. Moscow denies targeting civilians in Ukraine but says the country's energy infrastructure is a legitimate military target. Its attacks since March have knocked out about half of Ukraine's available power generation capacity, resulting in lengthy blackouts for millions across the whole country. Ukraine is at a crucial juncture in the 31-month war as Russian forces steadily capture more territory in the eastern Donetsk region. (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Olena Harmash and Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Gareth Jones) Sedgwick County Commission District 2 candidates Sarah Lopez, the Democratic incumbent, and Jeff Blubaugh, the Republican challenger, disagree about how the county should address affordable housing in Sedgwick County. But they both said they think county property taxes play a key role. Lopez said she plans to offer property tax relief by consolidating services offered by cities and the county but opposes a Republican proposal to cut property tax funding for all but the countys core services while funding everything else with sales taxes. Blubaugh voiced support for outright cuts to the county budget and called for changes to how the appraiser calculates fair market value to keep property taxes lower. The two candidates squared off at the Wichita Journalism Collaboratives housing forum at Friends University on Tuesday night. If we want long-term, transformational change at local government, its not going to come from a sales tax over property tax because thats just shifting the burden from one to the other, Lopez said. But its really going to come down to functional consolidation of services between the cities and the county. Theres so much duplication of efforts right now. Right now, as Im out door knocking, people are struggling, Blubaugh said. Property taxes are the number one issue. I hear it time and time again. People point out to me our neighbors are losing their house, were behind on our payment and it gets back to the property tax and the property tax assessment. Lopez defended her record, saying the county voted to lower its mill levy two years in a row while increasing pay for staff and hiring more county employees in vacant positions while Blubaugh said he favors freezing county spending and would vote against exceeding the revenue neutral rate, as he did on the Wichita City Council. We were able to improve the services because we invested in our people, and our services are only as good as the people who provide them, Lopez said. Blubaugh said the public expects government to cut down on spending as the cost of living increases, and that he would. If you look at whats going on in peoples homes right now, whenever you hear about quality of life, quality of life starts at home, Blubaugh said. Do you have groceries? Do you have gas in your car? Do you have enough money to pay your bills each month? Thats where it starts. Everybodys tightening their belts on their houses, and they expect government to do the same. Lopez called the revenue neutral plan irresponsible given the countys recent initiatives to increase staffing levels and improve pay. We have put so much effort into prioritizing our staff to then turn around and say, Actually, just kidding, were going to cut your job or youre just not going to get a raise for a while to expect anybody to stay is just not the reality of the situation, she said. Property taxes are calculated based on property valuations, set by the appraisers office, and mill levy rates, set by local governments. Blubaugh said he would like to see lower property valuations. Weve got to have a fair assessment of value, Blubaugh said. Im a real estate broker, and usually when I look at the tax values, it used to be, well, you know, those tax values are well under the sales price right now. When I look at the numbers, you normally cannot sell those properties for what the tax value is, so weve got to ensure we have a realistic assessment value for property taxes. At one point, an audience member had to be cut off after he began shouting at the candidates and moderator about corruption in the appraisers office, accusing the appraisers office of punishing taxpayers for challenging their tax appraisals. Blubaugh said he plans to ask questions of the appraisers office to find out if theres any merit to the mans claims. I will continue to ask a lot of questions, Blubaugh said. I do know that, you know, its just like police officers. Sometimes you have a bad police officer. And I know that theres some appraisers that go out there and target people. I dont know if its just coincidence or not, but whenever I started raising flags about all this property tax issues, I look outside my window and theres a central county property tax appraiser sitting right outside my window this afternoon. Lopez said the County Commission has no business interfering with the Sedgwick County appraiser, who reports to the state of Kansas. This almost sounds kind of conspiracy, Lopez said. . . . The appraiser works for the state and not Sedgwick County Commissioners, so our hands really are tied when it comes to appraisal because we are not a part of that. That is a state and appraiser led deal. It is not a county commissioner thing. A hospital in Los Angeles is asking the public for help Thursday in identifying a 78-year-old man who arrived nearly two weeks ago. The unidentified patient has been hospitalized at Los Angeles General Medical Center since Sept. 13, 2024, according to L.A. Countys Department of Health Services. No details about why the man was hospitalized were provided but the Department of Health Services did provide a photo of the man they referred to as John Doe. He was listed as 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 224 pounds with a medium build. He has white hair and light brown eyes. Anyone with information about the mans identity was asked to contact the Medical Centers social work department at 323-409-7672 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After-hours information can also be provided at 323-409-6883. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Los Angeles man accused of raping at least 11 women faces possibility of life in prison A Los Angeles man arrested last year on accusations that he forcibly raped numerous past romantic partners was indicted by the Los Angeles County Criminal Grand Jury on 26 charges. Terrance Hawkins, 42, has been charged with crimes against 11 victims, including ten counts of forcible rape, nine counts of intimate partner violence and three counts for stalking. He also faces charges for animal cruelty and gun violations. At the time of his arrest last April, authorities described Hawkins as a serial rapist with a long history of briefly dating women, abusing them, and filming them during sexual intercourse. He met many of his victims on dating apps and social media, officials from the Los Angeles Police Department said. The Los Angeles Police Department provided this undated photo of Terrance Hawkins. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office unsealed the Grand Jury indictment, which detailed Hawkins alleged crimes. From 2014 to 2023, Hawkins is accused of dating and physically and sexually abusing women throughout the county, the D.A.s Office wrote in a press release. In July 2023, police announced that theyd identified at least 16 alleged victims of Hawkins. Its unclear how or why the Grand Jury settled on 11 in its indictment. Los Angeles County D.A. George Gascon praised the victims who have gone on the record to detail their alleged abuse. This is a truly egregious case and I want to acknowledge and commend the bravery of the women who have come forward to share their painful experiences, Gascon said. It takes incredible courage to speak out, especially when facing such trauma. Hawkins was arrested in April 2023 and has remained in custody without bail. On Monday, he appeared at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown L.A. to face the charges from the Grand Jury. He pleaded not guilty to all counts, the D.A.s Office said. He is due back in court on Oct. 21. If convicted as charged, Hawkins could spend the rest of his life in prison. The LAPD is investigating the case and believe there may be additional victims that have not yet been contacted. Those victims can contact the LAPDs Family Justice Center at 213-the 709-9017. Anonymous tips can be made online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The city of Los Angeles is on the verge of redrafting blueprints for its neighborhoods to accommodate more than 250,000 new homes . But under a recommendation from the planning department, nearly three quarters of the city will remain off limits to further growth. At stake is no less than a vision for Los Angeles future. Will L.A. continue to preserve communities dominated by single-family homes? Or will the city make a historic shift to allow for more affordable housing in areas that have long excluded it? The department's proposal leaves alone neighborhoods that only allow for the building of single-family homes as well as accessory dwelling units in many cases a classification that represents 72% of the residential land in Los Angeles. Instead, the department is pushing for the city to meet the 250,000-unit production goal through incentives for greater development in existing multifamily and commercial areas. The city planning commission is scheduled to vote on the proposal Thursday . The City Council must approve a final plan in advance of a February state deadline. Keeping single-family home neighborhoods untouched maintains the low-density character that, as much as any big U.S. city, has defined modern Los Angeles and responds to advocacy from homeowner groups who want to maintain their neighborhoods as they are. But some social justice and housing groups argue that doing so will fortify longstanding inequalities in L.A.s housing market in the face of an ongoing affordability crisis. Read more: L.A.s love of sprawl made it America's most overcrowded place. Poor people pay a deadly price A newly released city-funded report, more than three years in the making, bolsters critiques of so much single-family-home zoning. The 124-page study , which the planning department initially refused to disclose to The Times through a public records request, calls the century-old zoning designation a key factor in maintaining current racial and economic disparities and one that originated as a means of advancing the interests of white-led real estate and homeowner groups. The city awarded a contract to write the report in July 2021, and published it last week after The Times argued its withholding was unlawful. Past planning and housing policies have too often prioritized the concerns of the White middle class over the marginalized, denying communities of color access to resources and excluding them from wealth-building opportunities, reads the report , which was written by the Architectural Resources Group firm and academics affiliated with UCLA and USC. Exclusionary policies of the past persist today, perpetuating patterns of segregation, displacement, inequity, and exclusion. The report noted that more than 80% of L.A.s land area with the highest-performing schools, most public amenities and best access to jobs is zoned only for single-family homes. In a smaller slice that captures the wealthiest neighborhoods that are majority white, 95% of residentially zoned land is exclusively for single-family homes. Detached single-family residences cover a disproportionate amount of the land zoned residential, the report said. This has resulted in an unaffordable housing market due, in part, to a pervasive lack of supply and the fact that single-family homes are more expensive than multi-family residences. The future of single-family-home neighborhoods has been one of the most contentious issues in the citywide rezoning discussions, an effort required every eight years under state law . New regulations are forcing cities to plan for a lot more housing than before and shift development toward richer areas that have long resisted it . Read more: California lawmakers have tried for 50 years to fix the state's housing crisis. Here's why they've failed The citys initial November 2021 proposal committed to study allowing some low-income housing in single-family home areas near mass transit and in wealthier neighborhoods. The plan simply would have let property owners build multifamily housing if they wanted. Last fall, pushback from homeowner groups, which argued that the city should instead prioritize development along commercial corridors, led the city to decide it wouldn't change the single-family-home areas. The planning departments current recommendation maintains these neighborhoods as they are, save for the 1% of single-family-home-zoned land owned by public agencies or faith-based organizations who could build limited affordable housing. But in its report to the planning commission, the department lists options to allow low-income housing in single-family-home areas should commissioners or City Council members want to do it. Under the recommended plan, 56% of growth would be targeted in higher-resourced multifamily or commercial areas of L.A., a percentage the planning department expects will meet state requirements. If some single-family-home neighborhoods in Mid-City, the Westside and San Fernando Valley, for instance, were included in the zoning changes, higher-resourced communities would receive more than two-thirds of the projected new housing, the department said. Planning department spokesperson Nora Frost said officials included the different options given the importance of the issue and considerable public debate. The departments report noted that it had received roughly 3,000 comments addressing the status of single-family-home neighborhoods in the rezoning plan with more than three-fourths opposed to making changes there. At the same time, some housing advocacy groups are campaigning for new rules. Mahdi Manji, director of public policy at the Inner City Law Center, said that by not allowing affordable housing in the single-family-home areas, the rezoning proposal is playing at the edges of integrating communities. Nearly two-thirds of homes in L.A. are renter-occupied, per U.S. census data. By concentrating housing production where tenants already live, the city is asking them to bear the brunt of growth since developers will have to tear down small, often rent-controlled apartment complexes, and replace them with larger ones, Manji said. The argument is that the majority of the residents need to accept a greater disruption to their lives so the minority of residents, who are disproportionately wealthier and whiter, can continue to keep their neighborhood as it is, Manji said. Read more: In Beverly Hills, no kitchen remodels or pool grottoes as judge orders building moratorium over lack of affordable housing The intensity of these conversations has led planning officials to argue that they should continue after the rezoning effort is complete, Frost said. She noted that it took Minneapolis and Portland at least five years to tailor affordable housing incentives in previously single-family-home-only areas in their communities. The city should engage further with Angelenos and reach a consensus that prioritizes housing equity while moving the needs of the city forward, Frost said. The city-funded study was intended to be part of the rezoning debate. In May 2021, the city asked consultants to document the historical role of planning in creating and furthering housing inequities. The study was expected to cost $60,000 and be finished by August 2021, before the citys first submission of its broad rezoning plans to the state. But the process dragged out as city planners made multiple revisions to report drafts. In December 2022, the city increased the contract amount to $124,480 and asked the consultant to make final changes. Earlier this month, more than three years after the study was supposed to be completed, the planning department denied a Times request for the report. The department said that even though the consultants had finished, planning staff was working to prepare an outreach plan for the study and therefore it was exempt from release to safeguard agency deliberations. On Sept. 20, after the Times protested the withholding, the department published the document on its website. The study calls Los Angeles a pioneer in the early 20th century in creating single-family home-only districts that, when combined with racially restrictive covenants, mortgage redlining and other policies, ensured that white residents often had sole access to good housing. Planning practices in the second half of the 20th century were less explicit in efforts to bar poor and nonwhite residents, the report said, but have reinforced existing patterns of exclusion. Starting in the 1970s, the report said, the city downzoned large swaths of land , reducing building allowances that would have let the city accommodate enough homes for 10 million people to 4 million, and further empowered homeowner groups in the planning process. The study calls the 1972 development blueprint for Westwood a useful case study for how zoning rollback fostered economic inequality. The Westwood plan set aside 435 acres for multifamily housing intended for 51,000 people and 1,000 acres for single-family housing for 14,000 people. It required any future density increases to be paired with reductions elsewhere in the neighborhood. These constraints have limited housing opportunities and raised costs for the growing numbers of students and staff at UCLAs Westwood campus, the study concluded. The Community Plan essentially captured multiple acres for properties used by wealthier households, excluding that land from higher-density development and preventing future changes that could be needed to address a housing shortage, the report said. While the city has updated the Westwood plan over the past 50 years, the study said, many of its core components remain unchanged. 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. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson is pitching a lower income tax rate for most Louisiana's residents. (Photo by Henrietta Wildsmith) Louisiana might have met revenue and tax collection thresholds that would trigger an across-the-board personal income tax cut at the beginning of 2026, but would worsen the states budget crisis over the next few years. Gov. Jeff Landrys administration said Wednesday the projected state budget deficit for next fiscal year could grow another $100 million to $200 million if income tax rates automatically lower as a 2021 state law requires. The income tax rate reductions, if mandated, would bring the states estimated financial shortfall from $587 million next year to as much as $787 million, according to the state revenue department. This larger deficit would make budget cuts to higher education, disability services and public school teacher pay more likely. State budget holes would also deepen for years to come. Starting July 1, 2026, the impact of the income tax reduction would be a loss of $200 million to $400 million in state revenue per year. It would bring the projected budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027-28 to more than $1 billion. The income tax cut might come to fruition, but it isnt a certainty yet. The 2021 state law provides for income tax decreases in January of 2026 if revenue collections and a state savings account balance reached certain levels as of June 30, 2024. Some preliminary estimates calculated last week indicate a portion of the triggers were likely met, but all the figures cant be confirmed until after a review is completed in December. We wont know if the conditions for these triggers, inherited from the previous administration, are satisfied until the state finalizes its receipts from the prior fiscal year, said James Lee, revenue department spokesman, in a written statement Wednesday. Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, said lawmakers are still waiting on information from the state Department of Treasury that will provide a clearer picture of whether the triggers are a factor. Its something that may happen. Were watching it, she said. Currently, individuals pay a 4.25% tax rate on income $50,000 and above, 3.5% on income between $12,500 and $50,000, and 1.85% rate on income less than $12,500. Its not clear what the new rates would be if they were lowered. The Landry administration hasnt provided that information. Still, the preemptive income tax cuts could complicate Landrys ambitious plans to overhaul the states tax structure. Louisiana was already bracing for potentially drastic cuts to government services before the income tax reduction was in play. State officials warned last month that health care services for seniors, children and people with disabilities could be eliminated next fiscal year. Higher education leaders this week described the potential financial shortfalls they are being asked to prepare for as devastating for public universities and colleges. A $2,000 public school teacher yearly stipend is also vulnerable to being cut and again, that becomes more likely if Landry and legislators have to cope with the significant revenue loss of an income tax reduction. This just kind of gets piled onto the fiscal cliff, said Steven Procopio, head of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, a nonprofit organization that studies the states tax and budget policies. We already have a [budget] hole and we dont have, as far as I know, a solution to that, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Landry has been hoping to use the states existing budget challenges to usher in a tax system rewrite. In general, the governor wants to move to a single income tax rate, that would be lower for many households, in exchange for attaching the states sales tax to more services and products. This scheme is supposed to allow families to pay less in income taxes without the state seeing a large drop off in revenue that would cause enormous budget cuts, Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson said at a legislative hearing last week. People and companies would be turning over more in sales taxes instead. But this concept doesnt align with the automatic income tax deduction that could happen in 2026. The automatic deduction would allow people to receive an income tax cut without legislative approval, and without having to trade it off for paying more sales taxes, as Nelson has proposed. Its possible that Nelson, Landry and lawmakers could get out in front of the income tax cut trigger even if it were to move forward, however. I think it does make the case to try and have tax reform sooner rather than later, Procopio said. The governor is pitching a special legislative session on tax policy for November. The session would allow lawmakers to change the law around the income tax cut triggers before they take effect in a couple of months. Landry and the lawmakers could also put in place the governors proposed tax plan with a flat income tax rate if they desired. The responsible thing would be to cancel these triggers and deal with the fiscal cliff, said Jan Moller with the left-leaning think tank Invest in Louisiana. Mollers organization opposed the automatic triggers when they were put in place in 2021 because he believed they would result in arbitrary budget cuts. We did speak out about this in 2021 for the exact reason of what we see happening today, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Some legislative leaders havent been convinced that a November special session on tax policy should move forward. Senators, in particular, have said they need more information about where the sales tax would be newly applied or what other tax breaks might be lifted. Landry has planned a press conference Tuesday, Oct. 1, to unveil more details about his tax plan. Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said Wednesday that a potential income tax cut doesnt take effect until 2026, and isnt a reason to rush through a tax plan in November at this time. We dont know with certainty that the triggers will take effect. We get that information in December, Henry said. Along with the personal income tax cut, Louisiana could hit triggers that cause the corporate franchise tax to automatically lower, but that cut is less of an immediate budget concern. The revenue loss from the franchise tax is earmarked for a state savings account, and lowering it wouldnt directly exacerbate the deficit, officials said. Even without the income tax reduction, state residents are already expected to see another major tax break next year. In July, the state sales tax rate will automatically go from 4.45% to 4% thanks to a law passed in 2018. The reduction is estimated to cost the state $455 million in the next budget cycle. FILE This image from video from Louisiana state trooper Lt. John Clary's body-worn camera shows trooper Kory York standing over Ronald Greene on his stomach on May 10, 2019, outside of Monroe, La. (Lt. John Clary/Louisiana State Police via AP, File) Louisiana prosecutors on Thursday dismissed the most serious remaining charge in the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene, dropping a negligent homicide count against a veteran trooper seen on body-camera video dragging the Black motorist by his ankle shackles and forcing him to lie face down before he stopped breathing. The move coming just a month before Kory Yorks trial marks only the latest withering of a case that began in 2022 with five officers indicted on a range of charges over the stunning, punching and pepper-spraying of Greene following a high-speed chase. Now, only two still face charges, multiple felony malfeasance counts against York and another officer, all but eliminating the chance that anyone will face significant prison time in a death troopers initially blamed on a car crash. This whole thing started with a lie and a coverup and its going to end the same way, a furious Mona Hardin told The Associated Press when told of the latest dropped charge. You have so much evidence yet no one wants to be the one pointing the finger against killer cops," she said through tears. They killed my son and no one gives a rats ass. Greenes death sparked national outrage and was among several beatings of Black men by Louisiana troopers that prompted the U.S. Justice Department to open an ongoing civil rights investigation into the state police. But the latest dismissal underscores a weakness in the case that has also discouraged federal prosecutors from pursuing charges: After years of investigating, authorities have failed to pinpoint what, exactly, caused Greenes death during the arrest. Autopsy reports cited a number of contributing factors, including troopers repeated use of a stun gun, physical struggle, prone restraint, blunt-force injury and complications of cocaine use, with a forensic pathologist declining to identify which was most lethal. Union Parish District Attorney John Belton said in a statement that even though the grand jury indicted York for negligent homicide, the evidence does not meet the beyond a reasonable doubt standard necessary to secure a conviction at trial. Belton also dropped a malfeasance count against the recently retired York that stemmed from authorities still-unproven suspicion that Greene was pepper-sprayed even after he was handcuffed. Its clear to me that the case should never have been indicted, said York attorney Mike Small, adding he seeks full exoneration of his client at his Oct. 28 trial. I am confident that once the jury looks a those videos theyre not going to see any illegal touching of Ronald Greene by Kory York. Greene's May 2019 death case has been shrouded in secrecy from the beginning when state authorities told grieving relatives the 49-year-old died in a car crash at the end of a high-speed chase near Monroe an account immediately questioned by an emergency room doctor who noted Greenes bruised, battered body. Still, an initial coroners report listed Greenes cause of death as a motor vehicle accident, a state police crash report omitted any mention of troopers using any force and 462 days passed before the state police even launched an internal investigation. All the while, officials from then-Gov. John Bel Edwards on down refused to release the body-camera video of Greenes arrest. That all changed in 2021 when AP obtained and published the long-suppressed footage showing troopers swarming Greene even as he appeared to raise his hands, plead for mercy and wail, Im your brother! Im scared! Troopers repeatedly jolted him with stun guns before he could even get out of the car, with one wrestling him to the ground, putting him in a chokehold and punching him in the face. One trooper struck Greene in the head with a flashlight and was recorded bragging that he beat the ever-living f--- out of him. That trooper, Chris Hollingsworth, was widely considered the most culpable of the half-dozen officers involved but died in a high-speed, single-vehicle crash in 2020 hours after he learned he would be fired. York also played a prominent role in the arrest. He is seen on video stepping on Greene's back, pressing his body to the ground for several minutes and repeatedly ordering him to shut up and lay on your f------ belly like I told you to! Use-of-force experts say that type of prone restraint could have dangerously restricted Greenes breathing, and the state polices own force instructor described the troopers actions as torture and murder. For years, Hardin has crisscrossed the country advocating for justice in her sons death and has vowed to not even bury his ashes until she gets it. Now she is questioning if that day will ever come. I hate that my son is one of countless others, she said. Theres a lot that could be fixed in Louisiana that will never be fixed because of choices like this. ___ Mustian reported from New York. Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, on Wednesday posted to X, and later deleted, a comment that invoked racist stereotypes about Haitians. In this photo, Higgins speaks during a press conference on the National Defense Authorization Act with members of the House Freedom Caucus on July 14, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford of Nevada took to the U.S. House floor Wednesday night to condemn an overtly racist tweet against Haitians and Haitian Americans by Louisiana Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins. Hours before members were scheduled to depart for a recess through the November elections, Higgins posted to X a comment that invoked racist stereotypes about Haitians and said Haitians in the United States should leave the country before Jan. 20, the date the next president will be inaugurated. Higgins post included a link to an Associated Press story about a nonprofit representing Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, that has brought charges against former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, whose campaign for president and vice president has centered on criticism of immigration. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters but damned if they dont feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP, Higgins wrote. All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th. GOP Rep. Clay Higgins has now deleted this tweet after he was confronted by CBC Chair Steven Horsford on the House floor, and asked to take it down, multiple sources tell me & @heatherscope >> pic.twitter.com/10c8e5SZEP Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) September 25, 2024 Haitians are generally not among the immigrants living in the country illegally, as they have been granted Temporary Protected Status due to conditions in their home country. Trump and Vance have amplified disproven rumors about the Haitian community in Springfield, leading to hoax bomb threats against schools, government buildings and local leaders. Horsford, a Democrat, and other members reportedly including Florida Republican Byron Donalds approached Higgins on the House floor after the tweet. Higgins deleted the post shortly after. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Democrats condemn post After a brief period of confusion about the proper process to introduce a censure resolution, Horsford surrounded by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and other Democrats spoke on the House floor to condemn the tweet and called for a vote to censure Higgins when the House returns from recess. Rep. Higgins used his official account on X to publicly slander, insult and demean all Haitians and Haitian Americans in an overtly racist post, Horsford said. Rep. Troy Carter, the lone Democrat and only Black member of Louisianas congressional delegation, blasted Higgins post in a written statement. I am appalled by the racist and reprehensible remarks made by Rep. Clay Higgins about the people of Haiti, he wrote. We all owe each other better than this, but as elected officials we should hold ourselves to an even higher standard. We have a solemn responsibility to represent and respect all races of people. Hate-filled rhetoric like this is not just offensive it is dangerous. It incites division, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and undermines the core values of our democracy. Johnson, Scalise defend Higgins Two of Higgins fellow Louisiana Republicans in House leadership defended him Wednesday. Talking to reporters, House Speaker Mike Johnson said hed spoken to Higgins, who told the speaker he regretted the language of the tweet. Higgins was approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive, Johnson. He said he went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down. Thats what you want the gentleman to do. Im sure he probably regrets the language he used. But, you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana briefly defended Higgins on the floor before the chamber took a short recess. Scalise noted the post had been taken down and suggested censure was inappropriate because he could find examples of Democratic members making divisive comments. If we want to go through every comment, tweet from the other side, well be happy to do it and youll be appalled, Scalise said. My statement on Rep. Clay Higgins. pic.twitter.com/YPpdcgDSD9 Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) September 25, 2024 SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) A Louisiana marine who died 82 years ago during World War II has now had his remains identified, and is planned to be buried on Friday. According to the Firemens Charitable and Benevolent Association, on Sept. 18, 1942, the 7th Marine Regiment arrived on Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. The regiment was ordered to patrol southwest toward Mount Austen. While patrolling on Sept. 24, the regiment found and defeated a small enemy force, and in doing so, alerted nearby Japanese troops and prompted a large firefight to begin. Culture exchange, world music on tap at New Orleans International Arts Festival On Sept. 25, 10 fallen marines were buried by their comrades. The 10 were split up, with five buried in a location called Hill X and the rest in a location called Hill Y. Searches took place after the war had ended, but Private Randolph Ray Edwards, who was reportedly buried on Hill X, wasnt found, as the two gravesites were lost. Edwards was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, and after many years, laboratory analysis along with all of the circumstantial evidence available allowed scientists to identify Edwards remains on May 17, 2024. Edwards will be buried with full military honors on Sept. 27 at Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans, where members of the Edwards family have been buried since 1894. His flag-draped casket will reportedly leave from the Greenwood Funeral Home at 5200 Canal Blvd. at 1 p.m., and will be escorted by officers with the New Orleans Police Department, sheriffs deputies from Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Tammany parishes, and the Louisiana Patriot Guard Riders. Big Banana award fame for French Quarter restaurant The procession is set to travel down Canal Boulevard to City Park Avenue, entering the cemetery through its City Park Avenue gate. The public is invited to solute Edwards along the route. Edwards remains were identified thanks to a DNA sample provided by his nephew, Richard Edwards, and his great-niece, Anne Edwards Anderson, who will both represent the Edwards family at his burial. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. The Louisville Democratic Party has joined the chorus of officials and organizations from Rep. Daniel Grossbergs own party calling on him to resign. In a statement released Thursday morning, the local partys executive committee reported that they voted to call on his resignation Wednesday evening. The vote came less than a week after reporting from the Herald-Leader revealed that Grossberg had been permanently banned from a Louisville strip club for groping a dancer on stage; he also faces allegations from multiple employees at the club that he tried to solicit another dancer for prostitution and threatened to use his office to retaliate against the establishment after being kicked out. It is imperative that we create a culture that prioritizes respect and dignity for all, especially in our political institutions. The pattern of harassment and other inappropriate behavior is unacceptable and undermines the trust and integrity that are essential in public service. Every individual deserves to work and live in an environment free from intimidation and harassment, regardless of their position or identity, the committee wrote in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. Prior to last weeks story about the strip club ban, the Herald-Leader has also reported on the adverse experiences six women, all anonymous at the time, had with the Louisville legislator. Many of those women went public in the aftermath of Fridays events, including all three women who alleged various forms of sexual harassment in an Aug. 20 story. Grossbergs own local party joins the states most powerful Democrats Gov. Andy Beshear, the chair and executive committee of the Kentucky Democratic Party, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, among others in asking Grossberg to step down. The 45-year-old lawmaker has not signaled any intention to resign. In response to the recent Herald-Leader report, Grossberg has denied soliciting prostitution from anyone and said he hasnt used his office to gain advantage. However, Grossberg told News Radio 840 WHAS in Louisville that he is seeking treatment for his behavior. I apologize to anyone who I have made uncomfortable, he said in a statement. Their voices deserve to be heard. Similarly, I deserve due process so that I can respond to these allegations in the appropriate venue. I look forward to doing so, under oath, during the legislative ethics inquiry. He added that he is in treatment to help reduce my impulsive behavior going forward and I will keep my head down and continue working to serve my constituents. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) As the countdown to Election Day inches closer, Kentuckys top elected teacher is making her strongest statement so far against this years Amendment 2, the highly debated ballot question of deciding if tax money can be spent on students outside of the public school system. Theres no promise of perfection. But what they do is they offer opportunity. They dont shut kids out. They dont leave families out, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said, praising the obligation of public schools to accept all students regardless of income. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Coleman is a well-known advocate for public schools, the former social studies teacher and school administrator joined the latest media conference on Amendment 2 to encourage Kentuckians to vote no. She argued it threatens public school budgets and removes a layer of accountability. Whatever the complaint may be about public education, blowing up an entire system and creating another system that is not accountable to you with your taxpayer dollars, that doesnt have to tell you what the superintendent salary is at the private school is not the answer to that, Coleman said. However, supporters of the amendment said the current options arent cutting it. The money is not to support and prop up a system. The money is to educate students. So if thats not happening and I would say only one in three children reading professionally in Kentuckys public education system, its not happening for enough kids, Jim Waters of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions told FOX 56 during an interview on Amendment 2 in June. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: The question posed on the November ballot will asks if the constitution should be changed to allow tax money to support students outside of the public school system. Waters argued a vote yes allows lawmakers to debate policy options that up to now have been ruled unconstitutional. He believes state support for some to attend charter or private schools would create competition to improve the whole system, and argued parents still keep officials responsible, not with their vote, but by where they believe their kid is getting the best education. The greatest accountability that we have in this debate is parents make those decisions about where children attend school, Waters said. We have school choice in Kentucky, its just not the kind of school choice that would drain our public schools of funding they so desperately need, Coleman said, referring to a recent law that allows open enrollment at public schools across Kentucky. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pulitzer Prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri declined to accept an award from New York City's Noguchi Museum after it fired three employees for wearing keffiyeh head scarves, an emblem of Palestinian solidarity, following an updated dress code. "Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy," the museum said in a statement on Wednesday. "We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyone's views." Lahiri received the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for her book "Interpreter of Maladies." The New York Times first reported the news. Across the world, in protesters demanding an end to Israel's war in Gaza have worn the black-and-white keffiyeh head scarf, a symbol of Palestinian self-determination. Anti apartheid South African leader Nelson Mandela was also seen wearing the scarf on many occasions. Israel's supporters, on the other hand, say it signals backing extremism. In November, three students of Palestinian descent in Vermont were shot in an attack. Two were wearing the keffiyeh. Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly everyone there. It followed a deadly attack by Palestinian Hamas militants on Israel on Oct. 7. Last month, the art museum - founded by Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi - announced a policy prohibiting employees from wearing anything that expressed "political messages, slogans or symbols." Three employees were sacked. Other people in the United States have also lost their jobs due to their stance on the Israel-Gaza war. A New York City hospital fired a Palestinian American nurse in May after she called Israel's actions in Gaza a "genocide" during an acceptance speech for an award. Israel denies genocide charges brought by South Africa at the World Court. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Miral Fahmy) RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for North Carolina governor, posted a video Wednesday pushing back on intra-party squabbling amid the fallout from the CNN report linking him to comments on a pornographic website over a decade ago. Robinson said the 10-second clip on X was from a call with Republican leaders that morning. It is unclear who was on the call. Republicans have to win on this ballot from top to bottom, Robinson says in the video. Im talking about for president and school board. We have got to do it, folks. You all know whats at stake. In the accompanying post, Robinson wrote, Now is not the time for intra-party squabbling and nonsense. He also urged Republican unity in another X post later that day. The CNN report alleged Robinson made several offensive comments on pornographic website Nude Africa before his political career, including calling himself a Black Nazi and expressing support for reinstating slavery. Robinson has denied making the comments and pledged to continue his gubernatorial campaign. Robinsons comments come after he loses support from another GOP governor. WRIC-TV reported Wednesday that Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin has withdrawn his support for Robinson, joining the Republican governors of Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina in distancing themselves from the North Carolina lieutenant governor. Youngkins withdrawal leaves Robinson without the support from the governors of all four states that border North Carolina. As a member of the RGA Executive Committee, Gov. Youngkin attended an event for Mark Robinson in August and has no plans to further support his candidacy, Justin Discigil, a spokesperson for Youngkin said in a statement. North Carolina voters react to Lt. Gov. Robinsons latest scandal In addition to losing support from four GOP governors, Robinson has seen several of his staff members resign in the wake of the scandal. The same day Robinson posted his video, state Sen. Benton Sawrey confirmed Robinsons chief of staff is resigning. Brian and his staff worked every day to help make North Carolina the best state in the nation, Sawrey said. Hes a true public servant who led by example and tackled every issue thoughtfully. I wish them well in their future plans. Sources tell CBS 17 three additional staff members are also resigning, meaning half of Robinsons staff will depart the office. Since the CNN report, Robinson has not attended the presidential campaign events held by former president Donald Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance in North Carolina, including Trumps rally in Mint Hill the same day Robinson posted his video. However, Trump has not withdrawn his support for Robinson. Key staffers exit Mark Robinson campaign for NC governor in wake of report about online posts During his appearance at the New York Times Climate Forward Conference in New York City Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper said Trump still hasnt condemned [Robinson] in any way. He needs to suffer the consequences of creating and supporting people like Mark Robinson. Geoff Duncan, a former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia who has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, also referenced Robinsons scandal at a press call held by the Harris-Walz campaign. Thinking in Georgia terms, I never thought Id live long to say this, but I think Mark Robinson is a worse candidate than Herschel Walker was for representing the Republican brand, said Duncan, calling back to Walkers unsuccessful U.S Senate bid in Georgia. I highly encourage Republicans to walk as quickly as they possibly can, in fact, run away from Mark Robinson. In response to Duncans comments, the Robinson campaign referred CBS 17 back to his post on X. Republicans in NC remove Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson from their social media following new scandal Mitch Kokai, senior political analyst at the conservative John Locke Foundation, said hes skeptical about Robinson having an impact on Trump electorally because the former president won North Carolina twice before. But he does believe Robinson could affect other candidates. I do think that there is a possibility [Robinson] has more of an impact down the ballot, especially Council of State races, the state Supreme Court race, he said. And Robinsons woes, especially if more things come out, could have an impact down the ballot. A poll released the same day as the report shows Democratic state attorney general Josh Stein leading Robinson 48% to 40% in the North Carolina governors race, with 10% of voters undecided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally supports a special prosecutor to examine potentially illegal recordings of visitors and defense attorneys made inside Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funks office. McNally, R-Oak Ridge, is also calling for the legislature to review Funk's record as Nashville's top prosecutor, a day after a scathing report by the Tennessee Comptroller about recordings made inside the DA's office. The comptroller report, conducted with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, found that Funks office recorded audio of criminal defense attorneys and other visitors with scant notice. Recordings were made of criminal defense attorneys without their knowledge, including in a room defense attorneys were required to use to review evidence in pending criminal cases. Investigators found that the practice may have violated Constitutional provisions and state law which requires at least one party of a conversation to be aware of the recording. But Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has said his office will not pursue criminal charges following its own investigation, saying evidence does not give sufficient basis for a successful criminal prosecution. Skrmetti notified Funks office that the state would investigate the matter in February 2023 following reports by NewsChannel 5. In a statement Wednesday, Funk's office said it consider the matter closed and pointed to Skrmetti's letter. Mumpower expressed support for a special prosecutor in the matter on Wednesday. When you look at this report, when you look at what has happened in the District Attorney General's Office, you know, you don't even need to watch a full episode of 'Law and Order' to know that it was wrong," Mumpower told NewsChannel 5. McNally shared his support for a special prosecutor. I am sympathetic to the view that the Glenn Funk situation needs a closer look and am supportive of Comptroller Mumpowers call for a special prosecutor, McNally said in a statement to The Tennessean. I would also be in favor of the legislature examining his record along with the record of District Attorney Mulroy of Memphis. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, did not respond to inquiries from The Tennessean on the matter. Melissa Brown contributed to this report. Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X @Vivian_E_Jones. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville DA Glenn Funk recordings: McNally supports special prosecutor A mother and son who conspired to embezzle $3.6 million from their jobs were ordered by a Macon federal judge on Wednesday to pay the money back and serve more than three years in prison. Eva Rebecca Wells and her son, Billy Lee Wells Jr., were indicted in early 2023 on charges of conspiring to defraud Mid-Georgia Sales, a wholesale beer and wine distributor they both worked at. They were accused of taking $3.6 million from 2008 through 2019, when they were fired. Both pleaded guilty nearly a year after their indictment and received their sentences Wednesday. Eva Wells was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison, and her son Billy Wells Jr. will serve four years and nine months. They both will pay more than $2.5 million back to Mid-Georgia Sales each and $150,000 to the Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, a judge ruled Wednesday. Billy Wells will also pay $586,112 to the IRS because he did not disclose the embezzled money in his tax forms. Both will have to forfeit the $3.6 million they stole from the company. The attorney representing Eva Wells, Brian Jarrard, attempted to convince the judge to allow her to serve her sentence at home due to heart complications and old age, saying, Sending her to prison is greater than necessary. Aundrea Roberts, the attorney representing Billy Wells, also asked for him to serve his sentence at home due to a genetic disorder that requires weekly hospital visits. Prison for him would be a life-threatening consequence, she told the judge. But Judge C. Ashley Royal disagreed, saying home confinement wouldnt be enough of a punishment for the crime and that the pairs health concerns could be addressed within the prison system. Crimes of trust are serious crimes, said Royal. Eleven years of embezzling money Eva Wells was an officer manager for Mid-Georgia Sales in December 2008 when she began writing unauthorized checks to herself and her son Billy Wells, who worked for the company in IT and sales according to court records. She used the president of the companys signature stamp to sign the check on his behalf and pulled the money from the companys general operating fund rather than the account used for payroll, according to court documents. Eva Wells often reviewed the bank statements through her email, but the bank went through a transition and the companys president began reviewing bank statements. He then discovered that unauthorized checks totaling $3.4 million were sent to Billy Wells. Eva Wells also received $221,648 through unauthorized checks between 2008 and 2019, according to court documents. Macron says he does not think Israeli comments on ceasefire plan are definitive OTTAWA (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he did not think comments by Israeli officials on a proposed ceasefire in Lebanon were definitive, adding he would work to ensure Israel signed on. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Thursday rejected proposals from the United States and France calling for a 21-day truce. Netanyahu's office said the prime minister had not responded to the idea. "I don't consider that the first comments are definitive coming from Israel. So we will work hard in the hours to come in order to convince Israel to commit and indeed deliver the ceasefire for 21 days," Macron told a press conference in Montreal during an official visit to Canada. "We are ready to call for a new meeting of the (U.N.) Security Council in order to raise the question and increase the pressure precisely to deliver concrete results," he said, speaking in English. Macron also said France was opposed to Lebanon becoming a new Gaza. He called on Israel to stop its strikes and Hezbollah to stop retaliating. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Donald Trumps latest event in North Carolina was ostensibly supposed to focus on manufacturing and job creation, but true to form, the Republican candidate strayed from his script. This included some curious comments about the results of the 2020 presidential election: We did much better, by the way, in the election of 2020, than we did in 2016. Just remember that. Millions and millions of votes more more votes than any sitting president in the history of our country. But they beat us by a whisker. They beat us just by a little whisker. He beat us from the basement. For the record, his assessment was uncharacteristically accurate. In 2016, the Republican ticket received roughly 63 million votes, which worked out to be approximately 46% of the popular vote. Four years later, amid higher turnout, Trump finished with more than 74 million votes which wouldve been great, were it not for the fact that Joe Biden finished with more than 81 million votes. Nevertheless, as a video excerpt of the GOP candidates comments makes clear, he didnt appear to be kidding. Trump on the 2020 election "They beat us by a whisker." pic.twitter.com/ywhgjKsDly Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 25, 2024 And thats what makes this story rather weird. About a month ago, Trump appeared at a far-right event in Washington and said, in reference to Biden, He beat us by a whisker. It was a terrible thing. Five days later, the former president said effectively the same thing, telling a podcaster that he had lost by a whisker in 2020. As just about everyone familiar with American politics knows, Trump has waged a relentless campaign against his 2020 defeat, desperately trying to convince the public that he secretly won the race he actually lost. The former president has lied about this so often and with such ferocity that its become known as the Republicans big lie. All of which made it odd when he started telling people out loud and in public that he lost to Biden by a whisker. This came up during the recent presidential debate, when ABC News David Muir reminded Trump of his by a whisker rhetoric. The GOP nominee immediately pushed back. I said that sarcastically, Trump replied. You know that. It was said, Oh, we lost by a whisker. That was said sarcastically. The response didnt make sense. The former president has long struggled to understand what sarcasm actually means, and this didnt help. The videos of Trumps public comments made clear that he was not, in fact, being sarcastic. And now, he has said the same thing once again, without a hint of sarcasm or intended humor. As for the potential legal relevance, The New Republic noted, Of course, its important to know that pretty much every time Trump opens his mouth, his words are admissible in court. So admitting that he didnt win the election could potentially hurt the former president in court specifically, in his election interference case in Washington, D.C., where special counsel [Jack] Smith is seeking to prove that Trump knew he lost the 2020 election but still tried to overturn the results. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Maddow Blog | Even now, Trump and Vance arent yet done with Springfield, Ohio It was earlier this month when Donald Trump and JD Vance launched an ugly and racist offensive against Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, falsely accusing them of being pet-eating, disease-ridden thieves. A dangerous national firestorm, including threats of violence, soon followed. What might not be immediately obvious to the public is that the offensive isnt over. The New Republic noted: Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that the towns he smeared with anti-immigrant lies actually suffered hostile takeovers by immigrants, and insisted that immigrants have been taking over cities across America. During a campaign stop in Mint Hill, North Carolina, Trump continued to escalate his violent rhetoric about immigrant populations in Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado. In the same remarks, the former president said illegals are creating havoc in Springfield, despite the fact that the Haitian immigrants entered the United States legally, and the only people responsible for creating havoc in the Ohio community are members of the Republican Partys presidential ticket. A day earlier, Trump campaigned in Georgia, mocked Haitian immigrants accents, and said theyll have to leave the country, despite the positive impact theyre having in Springfield. The day before that, Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania where he said, in reference to the Haitian immigrants, You have to get them the hell out because theyve destroyed Springfield. His followers responded by chanting, Send them back! Send them back! Trump: Do you think Springfield will ever be the same? You have to get them the hell out. You have to get them out. Crowd: *chants send them back* pic.twitter.com/0QVkXCQ9si Acyn (@Acyn) September 24, 2024 If there was another moment in this campaign as nauseating as this one, I cant think of it. His running mate, who ostensibly represents the community, isnt letting up, either. After playing a direct role in picking this radical and unnecessary fight, Vance complained at a rally this week about news organizations daring to tell the public the truth about immigrants in Springfield. A few days earlier, the Ohio senator dared journalists to go to Springfield and get the whole story indifferent to the fact that when a Wall Street Journal reporter did exactly that, Vances lies actually looked worse. All the while, local Republican officials have continued to confirm that Trumps and Vances claims remain the opposite of reality. Even the editorial board of the local newspaper in Springfield condemned the senators lies as unbecoming of his office. It was against this backdrop that the senator implored reporters to tell the truth, even as he expressed utter indifference toward the truth. As for why, exactly, the GOP presidential and vice presidential nominees wont let this particular lie go, The Atlantics Adam Serwer had a smart piece along these lines, explaining, Whats going on here is emblematic of the Trump campaigns strategy, which is to try to make race the big issue of the campaign, via incessant trolling, lying, and baiting of both the press and the Harris camp. Adam added, The theory is that by supercharging the salience of race a reliable winner with huge swaths of the electorate they can compensate for the unpopularity of the Trump campaigns actual policy agenda: its plans to ban abortion, repeal protections for preexisting conditions in the Affordable Care Act, deregulate Big Business, and cut taxes on the wealthy while raising them on everyone else. The campaign wants people white people in particular thinking about race, and hopes that these kinds of appeals will activate the necessary number of voters in the key swing states where the electorate is more conservative than the country as a whole. With this in mind, its likely that the Republican tickets offensive against Springfield will continue for the next 40 or so days. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, U.S. support for our allies was largely bipartisan. There was a so-called Putin wing among congressional Republicans, but for the most part, both parties were aligned with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and recognized the importance of providing officials in Kyiv with resources. Two and a half years later, that bipartisan stance appears to be collapsing. NBC News reported: Vice President Kamala Harris is meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a trip to the U.S., while former President Donald Trump isnt, highlighting the growing partisan division over a key foreign policy issue. Harris is scheduled to meet Thursday with Zelenskyy at the White House. Trump wont meet with him while hes in the country this week for the United Nations General Assembly, and he has grown increasingly critical of Zelenskyy, accusing him of having a favorite in the coming election. As recently as Tuesday, the Republican candidate insisted that the U.S. is to blame for Russias war in Ukraine, publicly mocked Zelenskyy, and argued without evidence that Ukraines president wants Harris to win the 2024 election so badly. A day later, the former American president also signaled reluctance about providing further U.S. financial assistance to Ukraine, marveled at the history of Russias military might, blamed Zelenskyy for tactical decisions that Russia didnt like, and accused the Ukrainian leader of making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me. But on Capitol Hill, GOP criticisms of Zelenskyy have also reached a new and unprecedented level. Ahead of Zelenskyys address to the United Nations General Assembly, the Ukrainian leader visited an important artillery plant in Pennsylvania and thanked those who work there. It didnt seem like the sort of thing that would enrage congressional Republicans, but a few days after Zelenskyys visit, GOP officials threw quite a fit. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, whose track record on launching pointless probes is already a brutal embarrassment, launched an investigation into Zelenskyys visit to an ammunition factory, suggesting it was some kind of partisan campaign event. Soon after, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who really ought to know better, sent a letter to Zelenskyy to demand that you immediately fire Ukraines ambassador to the U.S. over the Pennsylvania trip. The Louisiana Republican also announced that he would not meet with the Ukrainian president. Around the same time, Republican Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, appeared on Fox Business, endorsed his partys conspiracy theory about the factory visit, and called on the United States to move on from supporting Ukraines war effort. Support for Ukraine against Russian aggression might not have been an especially partisan issue before, but just in recent days, partisan divisions have become surprisingly stark. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. * In her latest event in Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris outlined an America Forward agenda that calls for tax credits to boost investment and create industrial jobs, along with investments in artificial intelligence, science and energy development, as well as supporting American-made products. Soon after, the Democratic nominee also sat down with MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle for an exclusive one-on-one interview. * Ive been writing quite a bit about possible Democratic interest in Sens. Ted Cruzs and Rick Scotts re-election campaigns, which made it all the more interesting when the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced new multimillion-dollar investments in television advertising for the Senate races in Texas and Florida. * On a related note, the latest Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey found Cruz leading Democratic Rep. Colin Allred by just 4 points, 49% to 45%. (Click the link for information on the surveys methodology and margin of error.) * The latest batch of Marist polls found Donald Trump leading Harris by a point in Arizona and Georgia, while the major-party nominees are tied in North Carolina. (Click the links for information on the surveys methodologies and margins of error.) * Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, the latest polls from Susquehanna and Muhlenberg College found Harris and Trump tied in the Keystone State. (Click the links for information on the surveys methodologies and margins of error.) * In Marylands closely watched U.S. Senate race, the latest Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found Democrat Angela Alsobrooks with a surprisingly large advantage over former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, 51% to 40%. (Click the link for information on the surveys methodology and margin of error.) * To a striking degree, Harris husband is all over the campaign trail and Trumps wife is not. * And the Anti-Psychopath PAC, led in part by lawyer George Conway, launched two new ads this week featuring some of the many women whove accused Trump of sexual misconduct. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * A very scary hurricane: Helene is currently a major Category 3 hurricane with wind speeds of 120 mph. It is expected to make landfall on Floridas Big Bend this evening, bringing the risk of devastating damage. The storm was 170 miles southwest of Tampa as of 2:30 p.m. ET, traveling northeast at 16 mph. * The rebukes take an international turn: A strange moment in American politics paid a visit to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, brought there by a top Haitian official. Edgard Leblanc Fils, the president of Haitis transitional council, spoke to world leaders about gang violence in his country and bemoaned the large number of citizens fleeing the violence. Then he referenced false claims that Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs. * GDP growth: The US economy grew at a 3% annualized pace in the second quarter, a faster rate than Wall Street had expected. * A frustrating delay: A sprawling review of the Justice Departments handling of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot and the Trump administrations actions that preceded it is unlikely to be released until after the next election takes place in November, the agencys top internal watchdog said Wednesday. * A civil case Ive been following: Smartmatic on Thursday settled its defamation lawsuit against Newsmax, the right-wing cable news channel that had spread false claims of election fraud, the companies said. The details of the settlement, reached as the jury was being selected before the trial, were not immediately disclosed. * UAV was created by former Trump game show contestants: United Atlantic Ventures LLC, a major shareholder in Trump Media, has sold or otherwise gotten rid of more than 7.5 million shares in the company, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday. * Brutal findings in Mississippi: The city of Lexington, Miss., has fewer than 1,500 residents and only 10 police officers. But it prompted a 47-page report by the U.S. Justice Departments civil rights division, which found that residents are routinely jailed on illegal investigative holds or for unpaid fines, and that they face excessive force, retaliation when they criticize the police, and racial discrimination. * Hmm: Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein was suspended Thursday from the social platform X after sharing materials about Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) that were allegedly obtained in an Iranian hack on former President Trumps campaign. Klippenstein published the 271-page report compiled by the Trump campaign to vet Vance, now the Republican nominees running mate, on his Substack. * Place your free order: Americans can once again order COVID-19 tests, without being charged, sent straight to their homes. The U.S. government reopened the program on Thursday, allowing any household to order up to four at-home COVID nasal swab kits through the website, covidtests.gov. The tests will begin shipping, via the United States Postal Service, as soon as next week. See you tomorrow. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com It was nearly a full month ago when Donald Trump started publicly lobbying for a pre-election government shutdown. As the former president saw it, congressional Republicans had some leverage, which they could use to demand passage of a far-right election scheme called the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. I would shut down the government in a heartbeat if they dont get it, Trump said in late August. If they dont get these bills, they should close it down and Republicans should not approve it. It was not a stray comment. On Sept. 10, the GOP nominee wrote on his social media platform, If Republicans in the House, and Senate, dont get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET. In the same missive, after lying about Democrats registering undocumented immigrants, Trump added, DONT LET IT HAPPEN CLOSE IT DOWN!!! In case that was too subtle, the former president published a related item a week later. If Republicans dont get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form, Trump wrote, referring to a stopgap spending bill that would prevent a shutdown. The same message concluded, BE SMART, REPUBLICANS, YOUVE BEEN PUSHED AROUND LONG ENOUGH BY THE DEMOCRATS. Exactly one week later, Congress passed a continuing resolution to prevent a shutdown. In the House, 82 House Republicans ignored Trumps demands, as did 28 Republicans in the Senate. These GOP members realized (a) that Democrats were never going to agree to the SAVE Act; and (b) they'd be blamed for a pre-election shutdown they created. As Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently warned his fellow Republicans, such an endeavor would be politically beyond stupid. Theres a myth in some circles that the former president can simply bark orders and watch GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill obediently follow his instructions. But on multiple occasions throughout the Biden era, quite a few congressional Republicans have heard Trumps demands, recognized the risks to their own careers, and blown off the former president. But as members head back to their home districts for a couple of months, and the dust settles on the unnecessary recent drama, were left with a lingering question: Why exactly did Trump push so aggressively for a shutdown in the first place? As it turns out, Politico published a good report along these lines this past weekend, before a bipartisan deal was reached. The former president had convinced himself that a shutdown over voting laws would usher in a GOP wave, enabling him to not only reclaim the White House but land substantial majorities in Congress. Trump, after all, had been burned by the 35-day-shutdown over his demands for a border wall at the end of 2018, with voters overwhelmingly blaming him as president for the chaos that ensued. Therefore, he reasoned, Joe Biden, Harris and the Democrats would take the heat this time around, since theyre the ones in power. In other words, if the reporting was accurate, Trump was convinced that Republicans could shut down the government, six weeks before Election Day, in pursuit of a ridiculous anti-voting law, at which point voters would reward Republicans with their support. These were the apparent assumptions of a man who, during his presidency, oversaw a handful of shutdowns, each of which ended with Trump surrendering in humiliating fashion. The former presidents faults are legion and well documented, but I wonder if Republicans fully appreciate just how terrible Trump is when it comes to strategic thinking. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic growth accelerated in the second quarter amid strength in consumer spending, the government confirmed on Thursday. Gross domestic product increased at an unrevised 3.0% annualized rate last quarter, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said in its third estimate of second-quarter GDP on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast GDP would be unrevised at a 3.0% pace. Growth in the first quarter was revised up to a 1.6% rate from the previously reported 1.4% pace. The government revised the national accounts data from the first quarter of 2019 through the first quarter of 2024. The revisions showed economic growth and corporate profits were stronger in 2023 than previously estimated. The revision narrowed the gap between GDP and gross domestic income (GDI), an alternative measure of economic growth. Some economists have argued the gap suggested that GDP was overstating the economy's health. GDI, which measures economic activity from the income side, increased at a 3.4% rate last quarter, revised up from the initially estimated 1.3% pace. It rose at an upwardly revised 3.0% pace in the January-March quarter. GDI was previously reported to have increased at a 1.3% rate in the first quarter. In principle, GDP and GDI should be equal, but in practice they differ as they are estimated using different and largely independent source data. The average of GDP and GDI, also referred to as gross domestic output and considered a better measure of economic activity, increased at a 3.2% rate last quarter. That was revised up from the previously estimated 2.1% pace. Gross domestic output advanced at a 2.3% pace in the first quarter, revised up/down from the previously reported 1.4% pace. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Paul Simao) (Bloomberg) -- Nicolas Maduros Venezuela is not included on a list of prospective invitees to the BRICS bloc of emerging market countries that has circulated among the groups members at the United Nations this week, according to three Brazilian officials familiar with the situation. Most Read from Bloomberg Maduro has chased a BRICS invite as the group plans another expansion after adding four members to its core roster of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in January, in hopes of using it to bolster Venezuelas legitimacy globally. Russia, which will host the blocs annual summit next month, presented a preliminary list of names to its fellow members during the UN General Assembly in New York as it seeks consensus around which countries to invite, according to the officials, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. A Russian official close to the Kremlin declined to comment specifically on Venezuela but said Vladimir Putins government cannot formally invite any nation to the group before there is agreement among all current members. Neither Russias foreign ministry nor a spokesperson for Putin responded to comment requests. Venezuelas information ministry didnt immediately respond to a written request for comment. The countries that ultimately receive invites would join the group as partner nations rather than full members, another Russian official familiar with the plans said. That differs from the previous expansion, in which the BRICS countries added Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to their ranks. Venezuela is among more than 30 countries that applied to join the new category, and Maduro has publicly discussed his desire to enter the group he sees as a counterweight to the US and other Western nations that have hammered him with sanctions in recent years. But Brazil has grown increasingly uncomfortable with a potential invite in the wake of Venezuelas disputed July election, which has frayed relations between Maduro and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a longtime ally. Officials from the BRICS nations are meeting Thursday in New York to continue discussions ahead of the October summit in Kazan. The Brazilian officials cautioned that the expansion talks have so far taken place solely among diplomats and foreign affairs ministers, and that Putin who maintains close ties to Maduro could still decide to invite Venezuela. Doing so, however, would create a massive potential headache for Lula, who has refused to recognize Maduros self-declared victory and criticized the socialist regime over the wave of repression it has unleashed against political opponents. At the same time, he has avoided recognizing the oppositions claims to victory while seeking to keep diplomatic relations between Caracas and Brasilia from fully breaking. Brazil is set to take over the rotating presidency of BRICS from Russia, and adding Venezuela would likely intensify the global scrutiny Lula is facing over his strategy toward Maduro as the crisis continues to deepen. Brazil has already vetoed an invite to Nicaragua, according to the Brazilian officials. Diplomatic relations between the two nations broke off in August amid a dispute between Lula and President Daniel Ortega, another traditional leftist ally. Nicaragua is also absent from the list circulating in New York, according to the officials. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Governor Kathy Hochul announced that President Biden approved her Major Disaster Declaration request for federal assistance following Tropical Storm Debby. Following the Aug. 8 through 10 storms, Governor Hochul announced grants of up to $50 thousand for homeowners in Allegany, Delaware, Franklin, Steuben, and St. Lawrence Counties for health and safety repairs not covered by insurance. Now, this approved Major Disaster Declaration will provide federal financial assistance, primarily through FEMAs Public Assistance Program, to support infrastructure reconstruction in the New York communities impacted by the August storm. The declaration will also provide funding to local governments and eligible non-profits for debris removal, protective measures, and repairs to roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, schools, parks, and other impacted facilities. The effects of Tropical Storm Debby caused extreme damage across parts of New York last month, and I'm thankful President Biden has approved my request for a Major Disaster Declaration, Governor Hochul said. My administration will continue to work with FEMA to ensure those affected receive the critical funding they need to begin the recovery and rebuilding process. New York was also granted access to FEMAs Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs through this declaration. These programs provide funding for states to administer grant programs supporting local hazard mitigation planning and long-term hazard mitigation measures, the Governor's office stated. All counties and local governments in New York State will be eligible to apply for these grants. Certain non-profits that perform government-like functions will also be eligible to apply for this funding, Hochul's office said. More: Hochul tours devastation in upstate NY after Tropical Storm Debby hits hard What counties will be impacted by this declaration? The New York State counties that will receive this federal financial assistance through the Major Disaster Declaration include: Allegany Broome Delaware Essex Franklin Jefferson Ontario Steuben St. Lawrence Yates Tropical Storm Debby: What was the impact? Tropical Storm Debby was considered a category 1 hurricane based on the Saffir-Simpson scale, which factors in wind speed. The storm, though, was classified as a 3 based on AccuWeather's Real Impact scale, which factors in flooding rain, storm surge, and economic damage and loss. To be classified as a 3, the hurricane must have impacts from this list: Widespread and substantial flooding Structural damage to buildings, especially mobile homes Trees down Power outages Major coastal inundation In the wake of the storm, Accuweather's preliminary estimate was a total of $28 billion in damage and economic loss. There were 10 all-time one-hour rainfall rate records broken based on the 126 stations in the state Mesonet network, highlighted by the State Weather Risk Communication Center at the University of Albany. Here are some notable rainfall totals, with all-time records noted by an asterisk: Belleville, Jefferson County: 2.48 inches/hour Cohocton, Steuben County: 2.22 inches/hour (record) Roxbury, Delaware County: 2.17 inches/hour (record) Penn Yan, Yates County: 2.12 inches/hour *Potsdam, St. Lawrence County: 2.07 inches/hour A dozen daily rainfall precipitation records were also recorded on Aug. 9, with Edwards in St. Lawrence County eclipsing 5 inches of rainfall. Other notable daily rainfall totals, with all-time records marked denoted: Edwards, Lawrence County: 5.29 inches (record) Potsdam, St. Lawrence County: 4.91 inches (record) Tannersville, Greene County: 4.47 inches Bradford, Steuben County: 4.09 inches Philadelphia, Jefferson County: 4.14 inches Rochester recorded 0.73 inches of rain on Aug. 9, well short of the daily record of 1.71 inches set in 1951. For the year, Rochester is 0.68 inches above normal for precipitation. On Aug. 10, a record-breaking 20 flash flood warnings for New York in August were issued. More information on the Major Disaster Declaration will become available in the coming months, Hochul's office stated. More: What impact will Tropical Storm Debby have on NY? Here's the top concern Steve Howe assisted with reporting for this story. Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Biden approves aid for NY counties hit by Tropical Storm Debby MADISON COUNTY, N.C. (WJHL) A man accused of burning his fathers home in Unicoi County was arrested in nearby Madison County, North Carolina, according to authorities. A news release from the Unicoi County Sheriffs Office (UCSO) states that on Wednesday, crews were called to a house fire in the 1800 block of Rice Creek Road in Flag Pond. Deputies arrived in addition to fire crews and EMS personnel. The 911 caller told dispatchers that Brian T. Briggs, 42, had intentionally set the fire and fled the scene in a vehicle. The sheriffs office reported that one of Briggs family members saw him beating on the house and yelling. Briggs allegedly yelled that he was going to burn the house down with the family member inside, the release states. According to the UCSO, a family friend told deputies that Briggs and his father had been arguing. The friend reportedly saw Briggs carry a fuel container up to the house and pour fuel on it before setting it on fire. A deputy who responded to the scene of the house fire was able to monitor a conversation between the family friend and Briggs, who allegedly made more threats and admitted to setting the fire. SCSO: Parents charged with murder in infants death A be on the lookout (BOLO) was issued for Briggs and the vehicle he was in. Madison County Sheriff Buddy Harwood announced in a social media post that his office apprehended Briggs after receiving the BOLO. Harwood stated his deputies located Briggs on Highway 23 just inside Madison County, and he was apprehended without incident. Unicoi County Chief Deputy Frank Rogers traveled to Madison County and interviewed Briggs. The release states Briggs admitted to Rogers that he had set the house on fire because he was angry at his father. Briggs was charged with arson and vandalism in Unicoi County. He was also charged with being a fugitive from justice in Madison County and was transported to the Madison County Detention Center. On Thursday, Briggs waived extradition and was transported by deputies back to Unicoi County, where he was booked into the countys jail. The UCSO reports he is being held on a $30,000 corporate bond and will be arraigned on Monday. Both Harwood and the UCSO credited the arrest to the partnership and mutual assistance between agencies. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A 26-year-old Ohio man is facing a felony kidnapping charge after allegedly assaulting a 60-year-old woman in a bathroom. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Hilliard Division of Police said the woman incident took place last Friday at the At Home store in Mill Run. According to police, the woman entered the restroom at the retail store and moments later she was attacked by a man later identified as Mohamed Camara, 26, of Columbus. The woman fought back and was able to get the attention of her family, who ran to her assistance, called 911, and held Camara until our officers arrived, the police department said. Camara was charged with kidnapping, a first-degree felony, and is currently in Franklin County Jail. The police department said additional charges are possible as the investigation continues. This victim did everything right. She fought back hard, she loudly called for help, and shes doing a great job assisting with our investigation, the police department said. Anyone who may have information on this incident is asked to contact Detective Brandon Long at blong@hilliardohio.gov [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A Springfield man is facing charges after being accused of pointing a gun at a Haitian man and children. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Saturday, James Blaney, 43, allegedly went into his neighbors garage and pointed a gun at a man and three juveniles, all of which were Haitian, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Clark County Municipal Court. During this time, he also reportedly yelled Shut up and an expletive at them. TRENDING STORIES: When this happened, another person who was at the house attempted to shut the garage door and thats when Blaney ran out of the garage. The victims told police they did not want Blaney to be charged in fear that there will be retaliation in the future. They also told police that the children are not allowed to play outside and must stay in the garage or house due to fears of someone harming them. When police spoke to Blaney, he denied ever being in the victims garage. Officers didnt find a firearm but noted Blaney did have a concealed handgun license. Blaney was taken into custody and charged this week with three counts of aggravated burglary. Hes since pleaded not guilty to the charges. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Man Allegedly Throws Bag with Explosives Inside Calif. Courthouse on the Day of His Arraignment: Police Nathaniel McGuire, 20, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, using an explosive device in attempting to kill someone and possession of explosive devices A man who was set to be arraigned on Wednesday, Sept. 25, allegedly threw a bag with explosives inside a California courthouse, authorities said. During a press conference, Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office Undersheriff Craig Bonner said officers received a report of an "explosion" near the Santa Maria courthouse at around 8:48 a.m. local time. "The initial report included that a single individual entered the facility and threw a bag at the screening station [and] that bag exploded," he added. The suspect, who Bonner later identified as 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire, was detained outside the courthouse as he was entering a vehicle alone. McGuire was "wearing body armor underneath his jacket," said Bonner, and did not have injuries from the explosion. Getty stock image of police sirens Related: Arizona State Student Allegedly Stabbed Another While Victim Walked to Class Authorities quickly evacuated nearby buildings such as a school and homes as a local bomb squad cleared the courthouse, surrounding areas, the suspect's car and his home. After speaking with McGuire, officials learned that his motivation "appeared to have stemmed from his recent arrest" on July 28 for firearms violations, Bonner added. In that incident, police had found a concealed revolver in McGuire's pants pocket that was not registered under his name. His arraignment was set for Wednesday morning at the courthouse. According to Bonner, officials are also investigating whether McGuire could also be connected to some recent arson cases. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, using an explosive device in attempting to kill someone and possession of explosive devices. He is being held without bail. Subject who is detained is an adult male. Explosion was from an intentionally set improvised explosive device. https://t.co/oNr5kPcnX6 PIO Raquel Zick (@SBSOPIO) September 25, 2024 "We are not absolutely ruling out that there is not something larger at play but at this time we do believe that this is a local matter that has been safely resolved and there are no outstanding community safety concerns," said Bonner. The official said that following the incident, "four victims were transported from the scene to an area hospital, and one additional victim arrived at the hospital on their own. Three of the five people seen at the hospital were physically injured with non-life-threatening injuries, including burns. All of these victims were treated and released by the hospital." Related: A Wife Was Found Fatally Stabbed Next to Injured Husband on Kitchen Floor. Police Just Charged Him with Murder The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department also addressed the incident, sharing in a statement on X that it was "on heightened alert and providing extra patrols in and around our courts." NBCLA police present at the scene of the incident "At this time there are no credible threats to any courthouses in Los Angeles County," the statement added. The City of Santa Barbara, which had closed several nearby buildings in response to the "bomb explosion," shared in an update on Wednesday night that "it will be business as usual Thursday morning." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office, the United States Attorney's Office, and the FBI are continuing to investigate the incident. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office also said on X that it is actively monitoring the situation. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Capitol police arrested a 23-year-old man in connection to the mass shooting at the Daiquiri Bar in Jackson. Police said Cleon Walker has been charged with one count of murder and five counts of aggravated assault. Two charged with gun theft from fatal Mississippi wreck scene Capitol Police Chief Bo Luckey said some people walked into the Daiquiri Bar in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 17 and started shooting. One person was killed and five others were injured. Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart identified the victim as Niger Devon McGee, 25. The coroner said McGee was shot in the face. Anyone with additional information about the shooting can contact Capitol police at 601-359-3125. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man originally charged with felonious assault for firing a gun at a woman and hitting her in the head with a chair pleaded guilty Wednesday to an amended charge of a misdemeanor charge of assault. Andrew Smith, 36, entered his plea in municipal court before Judge Carla Baldwin and was fined, according to court records. The records do not indicate how much the fine was. Smith was arrested last week by U.S. Marshals on a warrant for an Aug. 26 incident in the double-digit block of Hilton Avenue. Reports said officers were already on another call on the street when they received an alert for a gunshot sensor activation. When they went to the area the sensors detected gunfire, they were waived down by a woman in a car who said she was arguing inside the home with Smith when he hit her in the head with a chair. After he hit her, the woman told police she decided to leave, and as she left, she heard at least two shots. Police went to the home but could not make contact with Smith, reports said. Reports said police found two .40-caliber shell casings in the driveway. Reports said the woman was not hit by gunfire. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. ORANGE COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) The Orange County Sheriffs Office (OCSO) said a man is facing several charges after a loaded gun was found inside a 6-year-old elementary students backpack. On Sept. 16, an Orange Elementary School staff member contacted the Sheriffs Office about a loaded gun that was found on campus. The Sheriffs Office said the gun was discovered inside the students backpack. As the investigation developed, deputies learned that the student never intended to use the gun. Investigators also believed that the student didnt know the gun had been stashed in his bag. University of Maryland police continue to investigate unlawful touching incident After working closely with the school district, Virginia State Police, Department of Social Services, the Commonwealth Attorneys Office and several agencies, 31-year-old Drakar L. Rawlings, of Orange, was arrested. Rawlings was charged with Allowing access to firearms by children, Abuse and neglect of children and two counts of Possession or transportation of firearms, firearms ammunition, stun weapons, explosives or concealed weapons by convicted felons. He was being held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail without bond. This case has been a very convoluted and complicated one involving many challenges that required many hours of investigation and effort by numerous members of the Orange Sheriffs Office but particularly the investigations section, said the Sheriffs Office in a release. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A 22-year-old man was charged Wednesday with exposing himself to women across Nashville for months. According to court documents, the first incident happened at the Target store on Old Hickory Boulevard in Brentwood on Friday, July 12. Man charged with exposing himself to women across Nashville Metro police reported a Target employee was notified by a woman that a man was pleasuring himself inside the store. Surveillance footage was reviewed and the man was reportedly seen exposing himself until a woman looked at him. The man returned to the same Target on Wednesday, July 31 and was recognized by security. He ran from the store but officials were able to identify his vehicle and license plate. (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) Metro police released an image of the suspect after he exposed himself to a woman who was out walking her dog on 25th Avenue South on Thursday, Aug. 8. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com According to court documents, the victim was outside a sorority house around 7:30 a.m. when the suspect approached her and exposed his penis. He was described by Metro police as a man who appears to be in his mid-20s with a tattoo on his left forearm. The man was booked into the Metro jail and charged with one count of indecent exposure and two counts of public indecency. He was released on a $1,000 bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges. Sources familiar with the matter told the New York Times on Wednesday night that Adams was indicted following a federal corruption investigation, though the specific charges are sealed. This would make him the first mayor in the city's history to be indicted while in office. In a statement to the outlet, Adams remained defiant. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, he said. While the charges are unknown at this time, the federal investigation into Adams was focused partly on allegations that Adams conspired with the Turkish government to push through the construction of a new consulate for the country, eschewing safety concerns. In return, the Turkish government allegedly funneled illegal foreign funds into his campaign war chest, multiple outlets have reported. The indictment is expected to be unsealed on Thursday. Adams, in a video statement Wednesday night, decried the allegations as smears and politically motivated, connecting them with his response to the migrant crisis. He also said he would not step down. "I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. If I'm charged, I know I am innocent, I will request intermediate trials so the New Yorkers can hear the truth," he said. "Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case," Adams continued. "I can also understand everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusation. But I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started, yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake, you elected me to lead this city, and lead it I will." Featured Local Savings Adams's rivals in next year's mayoral election were quick to call on him to step down. The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can get the full focus its leadership demands, City Comptroller Brad Lander said, according to the outlet. We need a leader who is fully focused, without distraction, on the enormous challenges we face, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie said. If Adams resigns, public advocate Jumaane Williams would become the acting mayor and set a date for a special election. However, the mayor has repeatedly insisted that he will not do so. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Department of Justice, FBI, IRS, and the city Department of Investigation all have investigations into Adams, though in most cases it isnt clear what crimes they are focusing on. Investigations and accusations of corruption have plagued Adams since November 2023, when the FBI raided the homes of two of his associates. Numerous close associates have since been investigated, raided, and arrested, some as recently as this month, presenting a chaotic image of his administration. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) became the most prominent Democrat to call on Adams to resign ahead of the report. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) declined to do the same. Adamss phone and iPad were seized in November, one of the first indications of a major investigation. In July, the mayor was served two grand jury subpoenas. The past month has seen a slew of new revelations, raids, and resignations. Man charged in Harrison County police chase last week accused of fatally stabbing his dad in Pittsburgh CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) A man who was released on bail from a West Virginia jail last week is now accused of stabbing his father in the chest in Pittsburgh, killing him. Christopher Hudak, 28, was arrested and charged with felony fleeing from law enforcement showing a reckless indifference to safety of others on Sept. 19. While driving a lime green Dodge Charger, he allegedly reached 120 miles per hour during a police chase on Interstate 79 that started in Harrison County and continued almost 100 miles before he was detained in Kanawha County, according to a criminal complaint filed in Harrison County. According to the West Virginia Judiciary website, he was released on $25,000 bail on Sept. 20. On Monday, Sept. 23, he was arrested again in Pittsburgh and charged with criminal homicide for allegedly stabbing his father to death. NBC affiliate WPXI reported that Christopher Hudak was taken to the hospital with a hand injury. A neighbor told reporters that the victim, 64-year-old James Hudak, was the suspects father. Appeal denied for Preston County murderer The stabbing happened around 3 p.m. Monday at the 2100 block of Lucina Avenue, which is in the Overbrook area of Pittsburgh. Neighbors who spoke to WPXI called the Hudaks nice people and said that they were shocked and cant believe it. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. After years of fighting to prove his innocence, 55-year-old Marcellus Khaliifah Williams was executed in Missouri on Tuesday, leaving behind a touching and simple message as his last statement. Prosecutors, Williams defense attorneys and the victims family agreed that his murder trial had been mishandled and that his life should have been spared. A groundswell of online supporters had called out the lack of evidence against him, and Williams had maintained that he was not involved in the 1998 murder for which hed been convicted. In spite of that, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) denied his request for clemency. All praise be to Allah in every situation!!!, Williams wrote in a final statement that was filed with the state corrections department. Marcellus Williams' last statement, filed with the Missouri Department of Corrections. Missouri Department of Corrections Tricia Rojo Bushnell, Williams attorney, described her client in a statement before his death as a kind and thoughtful man, who spent his last years supporting those around him in his role as Imam. We will remember him for his deeply evocative poetry and his love for and service to his family and his community, Bushnell said. While he yearned to return home, he is a thoughtful man who has worked hard to move beyond the anger, frustration, and fear of wrongful execution, channeling his energy into his faith and finding meaning and connection through Islam. The Innocence Project shared some of Williams poetry online. He told the organization that his most meaningful pieces were the ones he wrote to support and remember his fellow incarcerated people. Marcellus Williams was executed in Missouri on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Marcellus Williams Legal Team A predominately white jury found Williams guilty in 2001 for the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch who was found dead inside her home with 43 stab wounds. Williams was sentenced to death that same year. But his defense attorneys with the Midwest Innocence Project argued in a motion to vacate his conviction that his trial was unfair, using witnesses who were not credible and forensic evidence that had no match with Williams. The St. Louis County Prosecutors Office, which tried the case in 2001, also said the conviction should be overturned. Prosecutors reached an agreement with Williams defense team to take him off death row in exchange for life in prison, but the states attorney general blocked the agreement. According to a joint brief filed over the weekend by prosecutors and the defense, there was no forensic evidence that linked Williams to Gayles murder. The bloody shoe prints found in Gayles home did not match Williams shoe size, the hairs that were found near her body did not belong to him, and the fingerprints found on the kitchen knife used in the crime did not match his. Current prosecutors even acknowledged the original trial prosecutors mishandling, contamination, and destruction of evidence and the racial bias that Williams had faced in court. Marcellus Williams should be alive today.Wesley Bell, prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County However, Circuit Judge Bruce F. Hilton said earlier this month in his judgment that there was no basis for a court to find that Williams is innocent and denied the motion to vacate his conviction. After denying Williams request for clemency, Parsons criticized media coverage of the case. The facts are Mr. Williams has been found guilty, not by the Governors Office, but by a jury of his peers, and upheld by the Courts, he said. According to Bushnell, those who opposed Williams execution included Gayles family, the jurors who sentenced him and more than 1 million concerned citizens and faith leaders. The execution of an innocent person is the most extreme manifestation of Missouris obsession with finality over truth, justice, and humanity, at any cost, Bushnell said. Wesley Bell, prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, said in a statement to HuffPost that Williams should be alive today. There were multiple points in the timeline when decisions could have been made that would have spared him the death penalty, Bell said. If there is even the shadow of a doubt of innocence, the death penalty should never be an option. This outcome did not serve the interests of justice. A team from the federal public defenders office that worked on his case also released a statement on Tuesday, saying they had never met someone like him, and never will we again. His faith was so much a part of his identity and there was always an acknowledgment of regret he expressed in not finding it earlier, the statement continued. While he would readily admit to the wrongs he had done throughout his life, he never wavered in asserting his innocence of the crime for which he was put to death tonight. Related... NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) It took 32 years, four months and 20 days, according to the prosecutors closing statement, but the man who broke into a Norfolk womans apartment with a knife, threatened her children and raped her in her own bed in May 1992 finally stands convicted. Shortly before 4 p.m. following about two hours of deliberation, the judge quickly read the jurys verdict: guilty on both counts. Vernon Gay, 56, was direct-indicted on charges of rape and statutory burglary with a deadly weapon in November 2023. After the guilty verdict, Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise set his sentencing hearing for Dec. 20. The incident occurred before state forensic scientists could use DNA evidence, and before the existence of the FBIs Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS. The case was the first case in Virginia under the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, or SAKI to go to trial and reach a conviction through a jury trial. It wasnt until there was a DNA match between the perpetrator, whom our survivor could never identify, and the man who went on trial today, that the police were able to crack the case, Norfolk Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi told 10 On Your Side after the verdict. The trial began with jury selection Tuesday morning, and members heard testimony from the modern-day investigator on the case, Norfolk PD Sgt. Brian Williams, as well as the hospital workers who were present for the victims PERK (Physical Evidence Recovery Kit) examination following the incident, and the forensic scientists who analyzed it in the early 1990s. A former forensic serologist told the jury of identifying biological material on a piece of clothing. All we could tell was there was a male, she said. The court also heard from the lab scientist who found a 1-in-5.7 trillion chance the DNA belonged to someone other than Gay. The DNA was never in question in court. The defense attorney acknowledged to the jury in opening statements that they were stipulating to those facts. The expert testimony was, effectively, procedural. Gays defense wasnt that it wasnt him; it was that the incident was consensual. On the stand, Tuesday, the victim said she had complained to management about the windows: they had locks, but they effectively didnt do anything. Shed worried about them before the incident. She recounted to the jury how, on the night of May 5, 1992, she had awakened to an unknown man in her bed with a dangerous object. She sat, stoic, as the 911 call she made that night, preserved for three decades, blasted over the courtroom speakers. In it, she said the man had held a knife to her throat. He had come in through her sons window and raped her. Three children were in the home at the time, and one of them was in bed with her at the time, with another child in a crib in the same room. The other child was in the bedroom next door. He said he knew I had children; if I didnt do anything, he wouldnt hurt them, she testified in court. She obeyed when he said not to look at him as he left. The victim went to Sentara Leigh Hospital and a PERK was collected. During arguments over a defense motion to strike the charges, with the jury excused from the room, the judge noted that only she and the jury could see Gay smirking during the victims testimony. Later Wednesday, Gay took the stand, an optional move for defendants. He said the victim was one of several women he was involved with at the time of the incident. He said he brought her a sandwich from work that night and entered the apartment through a door left unlocked for him. He also said he never knew her real name, but referred to her as a fictional childrens character. According to his account, that was the last time they ever saw each other. She became upset when he declined to become more exclusive. I was young, I wasnt into no commitment stuff, he said. So you agree, she never mentioned you in 1992, in the 2000s, in the 2010s, the prosecutor asked Gay during cross-examination, possibly rhetorically. The commonwealths rebuttal argument aimed to take apart Gays version of events. When asked about his photo in 2023, she couldnt identify him, the prosecutor stressed to the jury during closing arguments. Why would she false accuse and never identify? Fatehi said he didnt buy the defenses argument for a second. We didnt think that anything in the evidence supported the idea of consent burden, but that was the defense that the defense chose to present; it was their prerogative, he told us after the verdict. The jury weighed all of the evidence and from our understanding of the case, they made the right call. He explained that the funding for the DNA analysis that solved the case was provided by the state through the attorney generals Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, known as SAKI. That took place in July 2022, and in August 2023, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science found that the DNA evidence matched that of Gay. Commonwealth v. Vernon L. Gay Once again, Norfolk leads Virginia with the first SAKI jury to go forward in the Commonwealth, Fatehi said. Thank you to former Attorney General Mark Herring and Attorney General Jason Miyares for devoting resources to test back evidence cases in cases like these. The wheels of justice may move slowly, but they never stop, and we have served justice today. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A man who shot and killed his ex-girlfriend in Norfolk last April will spend 26 years in prison. 31-year-old Dayqwan Stevenson received the 26-year sentence earlier this month after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and maliciously shooting into an occupied vehicle in the case. Prosecutors with the Norfolk Commonwealths Attorneys Office say he shot Terri Renee Denmark, his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child, 10 times around 1 a.m. at an apartment complex off East Ocean View Avenue on April 16, 2023. Previous: Man arrested in connection to homicide on E. Ocean View Ave. in Norfolk Previous: An angel gone too soon: Norfolk thrift store honors beloved mom killed Sunday Mr. Stevenson, driven by jealousy, killed someone he claimed to love, taking the victim away from her family forever, said Norfolk Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. Prosecutors say Stevenson was driven to the victims home by another person under the pretense of taking food to he and Denmarks child. Stevenson tried calling the victim several times during the ride over, and yelled at her for being out late when she wasnt there when he arrived. When the victim got home about 10 minutes later, Stevenson got out of the car and shot her 10 times while she was still in the drivers seat. Authorities tied Stevenson to the shooting through cell phone records and through the driver of the car, who Stevenson also threatened to kill after Denmarks murder, prosecutors say. Prosecutors did point out Stevenson was previously the victim of a shooting back in 2022. He was shot in the back of the head and had permanent injuries. While it is impossible to know whether Mr. Stevensons head injury played a part in his decision to kill the victim, he had no excuse to commit murder, Fatehi added. Mr. Stevenson poses a danger to the public and will now serve the sentence that fits his crime. Stevensons plea agreement means 24 additional years were suspended on the condition of supervised probation upon release. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) A man was given five years deferred adjudication July 15 related to allegations stemming from a November 2017 incident. PAST COVERAGE | Scream Hollow owner arrested in connection with sexual assault at park In Texas, deferred adjudication is a type of probation, which gives the person sentenced the opportunity to keep the conviction off their criminal record if they meet the terms of the agreement. According to Bastrop County court documents, Norman Glenn pleaded guilty to the injury of a child with the intent of bodily injury, a third-degree felony. As a part of the order, Glenn must also pay $855 in court costs, fines and fees, according to court documents. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A federal appeals court has rejected a West Haven mans claim that he was wrongly convicted in a conspiracy to steal government COVID relief money because his jury was allowed to hear testimony that he had ties to organized crime. John Trasacco was one of three people convicted with former state Rep. Michael DiMassa in schemes that resulted in the theft of about $1.2 million from a federal grant West Haven received to defray costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Besides sitting in the legislature, DiMassa had a city job that gave him authority over COVID spending. Trasacco ended up with $431,982 of the stolen COVID money after persuading DiMassa, described by federal prosecutors as a gambler, to bet with what the prosecutors described as an illegal gambling operation at a restaurant in Branford. It was at the restaurant, called Doma, that DiMassa delivered Trasacco city checks for COVID-related supplies and services that were never delivered or performed. Trasacco contends that the district court abused its discretion when it admitted testimony suggesting that he had ties to organized crime, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit wrote Thursday in a decision denying Trasaccos appeal. Specifically, the Government elicited testimony that DiMassa received cash kickbacks from Trasacco at an Italian restaurant in Branford, Connecticut called Doma where Trasacco and a group of regular customersincluding two individuals known as John Taddei and Johnny Mopcongregated, the court wrote. Trasacco argued in the appeal that a federal prosecutor prejudiced jurors against him when referring to the Doma gang. The appeals court found the reference harmless. In addition to denying his request for a new trial because of the alleged organized crime reference, the appeals court rejected Trasaccos argument that his sentence was unfairly long compared to those imposed on others in the case. Wife of former CT state rep gets prison for her role in scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds Trasacco was sentenced to 96 months while DiMassa was sentenced to 27 months. The appeals court noted that DiMassa cooperated with the government and testified against Trasacco, who he said intimidated him. DiMassa was permitted to testify that Trasacco acknowledged having been in prison, but prosecutors were forbidden by court order from asking him about organized crime or Trasaccos criminal history, which includes a half dozen prior convictions for crimes that include robbery and assault. At Trasaccos trial, when prosecutors suggested DiMassa may have conspired with him out of fear, the trial court, U.S. District Judge Omar Williams, closed the courtroom and ejected the public from what he said would be a matter that is under seal. The appeals court said the longer sentence might discourage future criminal conduct from this defendant who already has been sentenced to seven years in jail for separate violent crimes. Man with gun to head leads police on chase through downtown Vancouver PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man threatening to shoot himself in front of the Clark County Jail got on his e-bike and led police on a chase through downtown Vancouver when they attempted to stop him Wednesday evening, authorities said. Officials seek source of mysterious odor that affected SW Wash, Portland Just before 8 p.m., the Clark County Sheriffs Office said a man approached a deputy in a patrol car outside of the Clark County Jail and started yelling. After the deputy moved the patrol car through the jails roll-up security doors, the man entered the area before the doors closed and placed a gun against his head, authorities said. The deputy said they briefly attempted to negotiate with the man, but he left the jail quickly. The man kept the gun pointed at his head, authorities said, continuing to walk around outside the jail and Clark County Courthouse, prompting a response from CCSO deputies and Vancouver police units. A man threatening to shoot himself in front of police got on his e-bike and led a chase through downtown Vancouver on Sept. 25, 2024. (Courtesy: Clark Co. Sheriffs Office) The man, who was later identified by police as Jaison Teragouchi, then got on his e-bike with the gun still against his head, authorities said. Officers and armored vehicles attempted to block his exit, but officials said Teragouchi was able to break through multiple times throughout downtown Vancouver, never removing the gun from his head. Police: Man arrested after 11 year old brandished gun at Skyridge Middle School Authorities added that even the several uses of less than lethal projectiles did not stop him. Authorities said that when Teragouchi turned onto the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail system, a SWAT team was called, drones were deployed for an aerial search, and police sent out a shelter in place notice for the area. Once the drones found Teragouchi, SWAT and a Crisis Negotiations Team were able to bring him into custody. Officials said Teragouchis gun was found to be a pellet gun. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and then booked into the Clark County Jail on possession of contraband inside a correctional institution. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. UPDATE 9/26/2024 A Springfield man who allegedly forced his way onto a Springfield school bus has been committed to the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Online court records show William Trenton Moore appeared in court on Aug. 27, 2024 and was declared incompetent and unable to proceed. Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson tells KOLR 10 Investigates that means the case is effectively on hold, at least for now. Typically what happens is the Department of Mental Health evaluates and treats the individual and then in six months will provide another report that will tell us whether they believe in the foreseeable future that hell be restored to competency, said Patterson. In some cases the suspect may never be deemed competent to proceed. If that happens then charges could be dropped, but they could also be re-filed later on. Original story: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Prosecutors in Springfield have filed charges against a man who forced his way onto a Springfield school bus on Wednesday, April 4. William T. Moore is charged with vehicle hijacking, assault with intent to commit bus hijacking and a sex offender violation of being within 500 feet of a school building or transport. Well be looking at that case more in detail now that we have him in custody to make sure we have the full range of charges filed, said Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson. Suspect in custody ending lengthy Springfield standoff over bus driver assault According to a probable cause statement, Moore stepped to the front doors while the bus was in a waiting area and forced them open. Moore then stepped onto the bus and took the keys from the ignition switch. Most of the juvenile occupants were able to exit towards the back of the bus. A witness told police they exchanged words with Moore when he forced the doors open to the bus. The witness told Moore to get off the bus to which Moore responded, What bus? When he was told to get off the bus again, he then said, This is my bus. Moore retreated to his residence in the 2800 block of S. Barnes where he refused to come out for several hours. After a search warrant was obtained, officers entered the home and Moore was eventually apprehended and taken into custody. Moore is a registered sex offender and has a prior charge in 2021 of third-degree kidnapping and was placed on probation, according to the probable cause statement. Because of this persons criminal history, the danger posed by this offense, that is why weve sought to have him be held without bond, Patterson said. I would anticipate us seeking a prison sentence. Its just its much too early for me to say what that might be. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A man accused of attacking and trying to rob a pregnant nurse has been indicted. Roge Berger, 35, of Youngstown, faces aggravated robbery and felonious assault charges. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday and was ordered held without bond. Judge Ronald Rice said that while his bond in municipal court was set at $100,000, he ordered no bond because of the substantial risk of physical harm that Berger poses to each one in the community. Berger was accused of assaulting a nurse in the parking lot of Trumbull Regional Medical Center earlier this month. Police were told that Berger tried to steal her car and then took off shirtless down Laird Avenue. Officers located Berger walking on South Street, between Bonnie Brae and Homewood, where he was arrested. A police report indicated that the nurse had injuries to her head and face, and she complained of pelvic pain. She told police that she was sitting in her car after her shift ended when the suspect ripped her door open and pulled her out. She was able to push Berger to the ground and tried to get back in the vehicle to lock the doors but was unsuccessful, the report stated. The victim stated Berger then slammed her head against the car and began punching her in the face. She said she fought with Berger for about three to four minutes before witnesses came to help and another nurse called 911. Police spoke with ER staff who said just before the incident occurred, Berger had checked himself out of the hospital against medical advice. He was there seeking drug rehabilitation treatment, ER staff said. Madison Meeker and Patty Coller contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Man indicted for crash that was not an accident: OSHP LOWELLVILLE, Ohio (WKBN) A local man was indicted after the Ohio State Highway Patrol determined that a crash that happened last month was not an accident. According to court records, Paul Jones has been indicted on two counts of attempted murder, four counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated menacing. Reports said that the crash happened on August 17 around 6:10 p.m. at the intersection of River Road and Lowellville Road. OSHP said that a silver Chevy Silverado and a White Jeep Cherokee were involved in the crash. Troopers said that the White Jeep Cherokee started to drive left of center before overcompensating and spinning around. Reports said that the gray Chevy Silverado then hit the vehicle. OSHP said that two people in the White Jeep Cherokee were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Reports said that both vehicles were heavily damaged. OSP said that the silver Chevrolet was driven by Jones. Troopers said that Jones told them that the Jeep locked up its brakes, thus causing the Jeep to cross the center line. Troopers said that after an investigation, there was no evidence that the Jeeps brakes locked up. The next court date for Jones is October 24 at 9 a.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) will no longer voluntarily participate in a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use, the Florida Republican announced Thursday. In a letter, Gaetz accused the panel of using the inquiry as a "political payback exercise" that seeks "deeply personal information that is no business of Congress." The letter comes after the committee confirmed reports earlier this summer that it is investigating whether Gaetz has engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use while also giving "special privileges" to individuals with whom he had personal relationships. "This question about my sexual history reveals a sinister motive of the Committee to harm me and those who have had any association with me," Gaetz said in what he called his "final response" to the committee. "To date, I have voluntarily produced tens of thousands of records and answered many of your relevant questions over several months. But asking about my sexual history as a single man with adult women is a bridge too far." As a result, Gaetz said, he would no longer participate voluntarily in the investigation. However, that does not mean the Florida Republican will not be called to testify. Gaetz noted in his letter that the Ethics Committee has issued a subpoena for his testimony, although it has not yet been served. The Washington Examiner contacted a committee spokesperson for comment. The Ethics Committee first opened the inquiry into Gaetz in April 2021 based on allegations of lobbying violations, sex trafficking, sex with a minor, and obstruction of justice. The panel later referred the allegations to the Department of Justice, which closed the investigation after concluding it had not found enough evidence to charge the congressman with any crimes. However, the Ethics Committee later reopened the investigation in May 2023. Since then, the panel has closed four inquiries into Gaetz related to allegations he shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe or improper gratuity. Featured Local Savings However, the allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use are still under review. "You ask, in part, whether I've had sex with a list of adult women over the past seven years," Gaetz said in his letter. "The lawful, consensual, sexual activities of adults are not the business of Congress. Neither is a detailing of medications I have taken under the color of law." Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations, previously accusing former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of greenlighting the inquiry last year due to personal conflicts between the two. McCarthy even cited the ethics investigation as the primary reason for his ouster as the top Republican in the House, which Gaetz led last year. The Florida Republican also criticized the committee for relying on "star witness" Joel Greenberg, a former friend and political ally of Gaetz who is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of sex trafficking in May 2021. Gaetz claimed he provided a memo to the Ethics Committee written by federal agents detailing an interview with a jailhouse informant who claimed Greenberg talked about plans to frame Gaetz in exchange for a lesser sentence. "I provided the Committee dispositive evidence of my innocence by producing a 'smoking gun' contemporaneous, jailhouse writing, documenting the plot to frame me, which includes both Joel Greenberg and his victim," Gaetz said. "This was authenticated by two former federal agents who interviewed the jailhouse informant who revealed the plot against me." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Greenberg has cooperated and is cooperating with congressional requests for information, his lawyer Fritz Scheller told the Washington Examiner earlier this year. Scheller did not disclose whether Greenberg had submitted materials supporting the sex allegations against Gaetz, but he noted that documents provided to Congress support statements Mr. Greenberg has made in the past. The timing of Gaetz's letter suggests the committee may be nearing the end of its investigation and in the process of finalizing a report. The inquiry has spanned three years and two Congresses. Kieran Carter was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Daniel Rae [South Wales Police] A man has been jailed for life for murdering a father of four over a drug debt. Kieran Carter, 33, used a knife to stab Daniel Rae, 30, in the leg at a house in Treforest near Pontypridd in December 2023. The Judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, told Cardiff Crown Court he was satisfied Carter "did not intend to kill" but was clearly "responsible" for Mr Rae's death. Carter, from Birmingham, was told he'd serve life with a minimum of 17 years in prison minus the time he had spent on remand. The court heard Carter was a drug dealer who came to Mr Rae's house on 17 December last year, looking to get money he was owed. Housemates said they heard "a scuffle" and "fighting talk" coming from Mr Raes room before Carter left, with Mr Rae heard asking him to call an ambulance. Mr Rae died from blood loss caused by the stab wounds to his leg. Mr Justice Nicklin said Carter had been "callous" not to call the ambulance and that only he "knows the details of precisely what happened" that evening. He said he believed Mr Rae had been the one who took a knife ahead of the meeting with his dealer, adding that the jury had rejected Carter's claim of self-defence. Daniel Rae died from blood loss caused by the stab wounds in his leg [Family Photo] A victim impact statement was read in court from Mr Rae's mother Adele Webster, who said her son's four children, aged six, eight, 10 and 11, kept asking why they couldnt see their father again. She said one child told her "I pray every night to God for my daddy back and I keep waking up hoping it has come true". She described Mr Rae as a "kind and loving person adding that "his aspirations and dreams were cut short". Ms Webster said "this was a meaningless attack over a stupid amount of money and a life has been stolen". Mr Raes father, Anthony Rae, also addressed the court to highlight the impact on his grandchildren. "They have been robbed of ever spending a Christmas, or another birthday, or any other milestones together. Sharing those precious memories with their daddy." He said the way his son died was "horrific" and the family were "constantly tormented" by the thought of what he endured in his last few minutes. "The way Daniel died will haunt us forever." He said his son was "no angel", but had the "biggest heart, infectious humour", adding "your family love you dearly". "You had your whole life ahead of you flourishing at your aircraft-engineering training at university. "Never could we have imagined your fate, to be callously cut down in an act of mindless brutality." Carter also pleaded guilty to supplying class A and B drugs, specifically cocaine and cannabis. The court heard he moved to south Wales from Birmingham and planned to set up a "county lines business" and was earning 200 to 300 a week supplying drugs. Mr Justice Nicklin took these offences into account when sentencing and decided they should run concurrently. Carter was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years for murder, four years for the supply of class A drugs and 12 months for the supply of class B drugs. Two other people received suspended sentences for offences in connection with the case. Amy Jones, who lived with Carter, was also sentenced for suppling cannabis with the court hearing she sold cannabis "edibles" for 15. Ms Jones, 37, from Derwendeg Avenue, Glyncoch, was sentenced to 10 months in jail, suspended for 24 months for perverting the course of justice, after the court heard she helped treat a wound to Carters hand and helped him travel to Birmingham. She was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and undergo rehabilitation and mental health programmes. Chad Joy, 33, from Garth Avenue, Glyncoch, was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended for 18 months, for assisting an offender after the court heard he tried to retrieve items belonging to Mr Carter following the murder. He was ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and undergo a rehabilitation programme. BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) Utah Highway Patrol has identified the man who died after being ejected from his utility vehicle in Box Elder County on Monday, Sept. 23. The deceased has been identified as Colten Naef, 28, of Tremonton. According to a Facebook post from one of Naefs family members, Naef was a fearless firefighter. At the time of the accident, Naef was driving a UTV on a dirt road that crosses SR-102 into a church parking lot, a press release from the Utah Dept. of Public Safety states. At the same time, a Chevrolet truck pulling a flatbed trailer was heading westbound on SR-102. PREVIOUSLY: UTV driver ejected, killed in Box Elder County crash Naef failed to yield the right of way, officials said, colliding with the right rear tire of the Chevrolet. Naef was ejected and declared deceased at the scene. The Chevrolet reportedly jackknifed and came to rest, blocking the roadway. Officials said that the driver and passenger of the truck were not injured. Funeral services will be held at Rudd Funeral Home, located at 111 North 100 East, Tremonton, on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. Visitation hours will be held prior, 12 p.m. 1:45 p.m. No further information is available at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Man killed in shooting at house party just outside Sumner has been identified by ME A 30-year-old man who died in a shooting associated with a house party just outside Sumner has been identified by the Pierce County Medical Examiners Office. Javaun Cordova died from multiple gunshot wounds near the 7400 block of Riverside Drive East on Sept. 14. His manner of death was listed as a homicide, according to a news release from the medical examiners office. Pierce County Sheriffs Department deputies responded to calls of a shooting just before 2 a.m. with help from Bonney Lake and Puyallup police departments, The News Tribune reported. Detectives investigated the scene and believe the shooting was connected to a fight that broke out at a house party thrown by a girl while her parents, the homeowners, were out of town. Besides Cordova, whom authorities found severely injured in the houses driveway, two 16-year-old boys were shot. They were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two other 16-year-old boys, who werent shot, were discovered inside a Honda fleeing the scene, The News Tribune reported. The Honda allegedly rammed a Bonney Lake police cruiser before authorities pushed the Honda into a parked car and stopped it from leaving. Authorities discovered a handgun on the floor of the Honda. The News Tribune reported that the two teens were booked into Remann Hall juvenile detention center, both suspected of unlawfully possessing a firearm. One of the teens, who was driving the Honda, was also booked on suspicion of second-degree assault for allegedly ramming the cruiser. The News Tribune has reached out to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department for any updates on the investigation and is waiting for a response. Man lured to robbery through dating app, police say Police are appealing for other victims to come forward [PA Media] A man was tricked into meeting another man through a dating app and then robbed, police said. The victim was also subjected to a homophobic slur and had his phone taken, officers investigating the incident said. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is now urging other potential victims to come forward. A 19-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of robbery over the 2 September incident in Tameside, and remains in police custody. PC Toni Kos, from GMPs Tameside district, said: "I know coming forward to report incidents like this can make people feel uncomfortable. "But I want to reassure people that we will always investigate reports of this nature and seek to secure the justice that victims deserve." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk Related internet links Man with machete accused of trying to steal shotgun from Dickson Walmart DICKSON, Tenn. (WKRN) An arrest was made Wednesday after Dickson police said a man armed with a machete entered a Walmart and tried to steal a shotgun. In a news release, Dickson Police Chief Seth Lyles said the incident began with a domestic dispute at an apartment at the Trails of Dickson off Beasley Drive. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee During the fight, the suspect, whose name has not been released, reportedly stabbed a machete into a wall. Authorities said the suspect suffered a cut to his hand in the process. He then went to the Walmart Supercenter at 175 Beasley Drive and walked to the sporting goods section, where police said the man used the machete to smash through the glass of a gun case. The man reportedly removed a shotgun from the case, grabbed some shells off a nearby shelf and loaded the gun. However, officers said he discarded the weapon in a toy aisle after discovering there was a trigger lock preventing the gun from being fired. According to the police chief, Dickson officers were already in the store responding to a separate shoplifting call when the incident unfolded. Officers confronted the man, who was still armed with a machete, in front of the store. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The suspect then ran back to the apartment complex, where another group of officers caught up with him, officials said. Thats when the man reportedly pointed the machete at them and screamed that he wanted to be killed. Lyles said the officers were able to subdue the suspect using stun guns. After being taken into custody, the man was transported to Horizon Medical Center to be treated for his hand injury. Authorities said he is expected to be charged with aggravated assault, felony vandalism and theft. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible. No further information was immediately available. 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. AUSTIN (KXAN) A man was sentenced to 22 years in prison after he was indicted for a murder that happened in August 2022, according to a judgement from the 390th District Court. Nathan Ramirez, 18-years-old at the time of the shooting, was arrested one hour after the murder happened and was charged with first-degree murder, according to APD. KXAN previously reported that Austin Police officers responded to an early morning shooting on Aug. 6, 2022, which happened in 500 block of East Seventh Street. Officers found two men with gunshot wounds when they arrived. One of the men, Dionysius Edward Thompson, 20, was found unresponsive and died at the scene, according to police. The judgement states Ramirez is entitled to a credit of 771 days already served. His sentence began on Sept. 18. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A man residing in Bakersfield was sentenced to six years in prison for leading a $25 million tax fraud scheme against the IRS. Officials with the Department of Justice say Miguel Martinez, 39, led the scheme to file fraudulent tax returns that claimed millions of dollars in refunds from November 2019 to June 2023. Martinez used stolen identities to create fake businesses and information and report them to the IRS. He also used multiple people to help the scheme. One of the people used was a former IRS tax examiner who advised Martinez on how to avoid IRS fraud detection. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to host ceremony marking construction work progress at billion-dollar project According to the department, Martinez lied to government agencies at the beginning of the investigation and said he had no knowledge of tax preparation. He said he ran a party rental business and sold gold. After searching three of Martinezs properties, detectives found $750 thousand in fraudulent tax refund checks, multiple firearms that he legally cannot possess due to his legal status and identification cards for more than 200 people. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Man who set off explosion at California courthouse had a criminal case there In this still image from video provided by KEYT, law enforcement work on a scene following an explosion at the Santa Maria Courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (KEYT via AP) SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) A 20-year-old man tossed an explosive device into the California courthouse where he was about to be arraigned on a gun charge and the explosion left five people with minor injuries and shut down the court complex and other nearby city buildings, police said. The explosion occurred Wednesday morning in Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 in Californias central coast region. The suspect ran away after the explosion and was captured as he tried to get into his vehicle parked nearby. Nathaniel McGuire, a Santa Maria resident, was wearing body armor underneath his jacket, according to Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Craig Bonner, and was booked on attempted murder and explosives charges. Officials are also investigating whether McGuire is tied to a series of recent arsons. Contact information for McGuire could not be located and it wasn't known Thursday if he has an attorney. Officials said it appeared the courthouse attack was related to McGuire's earlier arrest on a gun possession charge and not terrorism or an act of political violence. We do believe this is a local matter that has been safely resolved and that there are no outstanding community safety concerns, Bonner said. McGuire had been arrested last July for illegal gun possession and was to be arraigned Wednesday. When he entered the courthouse and approached the screening station, he tossed a bag that then detonated. Bonner said three of the five victims suffered burns. All were treated and released from a hospital. None were court employees. Authorities evacuated a five-block radius of businesses, homes and a school after the explosion. The courthouse will be closed Thursday as police complete their investigation, and filing extensions will be offered for those affected by the shutdown. Shane Mellon told KSBY-TV that he was at the courthouse when he heard what sounded like chairs falling over. It was a loud bang, he said, adding the bailiff escorted him and others out. Mellon said he saw what looked like a sweater smoldering and a man screaming while four or five people got on top of him, trying to keep him restrained. I think this could have been way worse than it was if not for the deputies just jumping on top of that guy, Mellon said. Santa Maria is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. The courthouse, which houses state and county courtrooms, was where Michael Jackson was tried and acquitted of sexual abuse two decades ago. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) More than 15 months after a man was found shot to death inside a vehicle in a South Nashville neighborhood, authorities announced someone has been indicted for murder. The Metro Nashville Police Department said 24-year-old Majok Chol, of Nashville, was shot inside his car in the 5200 block of Tusculum Court on June 15, 2023. Chol was reportedly found dead behind the wheel of a Dodge Charger, which was parked in the middle of the street, around 12:15 a.m. after meeting with the occupant of another vehicle. Joel Hernandez (Source: MNPD) PREVIOUS: Man found shot to death inside car in South Nashville More than a year later, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, officials announced the indictment of 24-year-old Joel Hernandez for a first-degree murder charge, saying that a detectives investigation led to the identification of Hernandez as the suspect in the fatal shooting. According to authorities, Hernandez was last known to have lived in Smyrna. He is now considered a fugitive by law enforcement. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com No additional details have been released about this case. If you see Hernandez or have any information regarding his whereabouts, you are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A 12th grader at Manassas High School was the victim of an attempted kidnapping by her ex-boyfriend at the school Wednesday, the schools principal said. Memphis Police is still searching for the 18-year-old suspect. Manassas Principal Eric Cooper says he is an inactive 10th-grade student who dropped out of Craigmont High last year. Cooper said in a news release, that the student victim had left school around 1 p.m. for work-based learning and was in a car with other students on their way to jobs. While they were driving on Chelsea Avenue, they saw the victims ex-boyfriend, an 18-year-old former Craigmont High student, who was in another car with a friend. The second car began to follow the victims car to a red light. Once at the light, the victim says the suspect pulled behind them, got out of the car, and attempted to get to the victim. For their safety, the first car turned around and drove back to Manassas High with the other car following. As the victim got out of the car and tried to walk back into the school, Cooper said two males got out of the second car. The victims ex-boyfriend allegedly picked her up off the ground, walked her to the second car, put her in the back seat, and closed the door. MPD says a school coach intervened allowing the student to get away before the driver got in the car and sped off. Cooper said the victim was unharmed. Her father came to the school and pressed charges. Memphis Police are investigating. Its sickening really. Theyre too young. They dont know anything yet. The only thing they know is to be troublesome, said a nearby resident. A warrant has been issued for the suspect. If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that votes for third-party presidential candidates Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz would not be counted. In a unanimous vote, the court determined that while West and De la Cruz met the minimum requirement of collecting 7,500 petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, neither submitted those signatures in the name of one of the 16 possible state electors, as required by state law. West and De la Cruz cleared the minimum of 7,500 petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, but state law requires those signatures to be submitted in the name of one of a candidates 16 possible state electors. The court ruled neither West nor De la Cruz electors meet that requirement. But the defect that prevents independent presidential candidates West and De la Cruz from appearing on Georgias ballot does not pertain to the number of signatures acquired; it is that Wests electors and De la Cruzs electors filed no nomination petitions at all, Justice Sarah Warren wrote. The courts ruling had affirmed the decisions of two lower court judges who found West and De la Cruz were not in compliance with state law. The case was brought to the state Supreme Court after Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger did not comply with the court rulings. No constitutional challenge to the current statutory scheme for qualifying candidates for the office of elector of independent candidates for president is properly before this court in these cases, Warren wrote. We therefore express no view on any such constitutional questions today. Raffensperger said neither candidate will be removed from the November ballot as there is not enough time nor enough paper. Featured Local Savings Instead, Raffensperger will be issuing notices to all polling locations and mail-out ballots that votes for De la Cruz or West will be counted. Todays ruling affirms what two judges have already found: neither of these candidates is qualified to be on the ballot, and the Secretary of State attempting to ignore the judges rulings doesnt make state election law any less clear, Democratic Party of Georgia Executive Director Tolulope Kevin Olasanoye told the Associated Press. Third-party candidates such as West, De la Cruz, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have been the target of Democratic operatives who fear they will be siphoning off votes from Vice President Kamala Harris. In 2020, President Joe Biden won Georgia by fewer than 12,000 votes. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Democratic Party lawyers and the Republican-majority Supreme Court worked together to suppress democracy, De la Cruz said. This unjust ruling is a reminder of why it is so urgent to build an alternative outside the two-party system. The Georgia ballot will see Harris representing the Democratic Party, former President Donald Trump for the Republican Party, Jill Stein for the Green Party, and Chase Oliver for the Libertarian Party. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Several different aspects of Hispanic culture were celebrated at Manual High School Wednesday night with a special event. The event was held at the high schools auditorium, celebrating fashion, dance, music, and other parts of Hispanic culture. Several different countries were discussed as well, including Honduras, Venezuela, and El Salvador. I could be doing more honestly: Latina businesswoman hopes to expand her Austin empire Cesar Vargas attended Manual and was a volunteer for the event. He reflected on how Peorias Hispanic population has grown since he was a high schooler. The community has grown so much. Were not only celebrating Mexican culture but also Honduran, Salvadoran, Dominican, Puerto Rican at the school. Being an alumni at this school, we didnt see that back in the day, he said. He also credited teacher Kristen Bailey for coordinating the event, which included a lot of student involvement. This was part of Manuals Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week, which ends Friday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. Mapped: Charting Hurricane Helenes deadly path as it slams Georgia after making landfall in Florida At least 41 people are dead after Hurricane Helene crashed into Florida as a Category 4 storm, pounding the states west coast with unsurvivable conditions, before tracking a destructive path north through Georgia and the Carolinas on Friday. The storm is tracking north over the Tennessee Valley Friday night and through the weekend, threatening dangerous flash flooding. Helene has since been downgraded to a tropical depression but remained life-threatening, according to forecasters, causing a flash flood emergency in metro Atlanta and putting Kentuckys Appalachia region on high alert for heavy rains and landslides. A map shows the expected trajectory of Tropical Depression Helene as it continues to move north over the Carolinas on Friday afternoon and is expected to stall over the Tennessee Valley Friday through the weekend (NHC) Sustained winds had dropped to around 35mph with higher gusts on Friday after Helene had slammed into the Gulf coast with 140mph winds, and 15ft storm surge, late on Thursday night. As the sun came up in Florida, the damage was widespread and catastrophic. Storm surge has left some homes underwater to the roofline, and boats in marinas were smashed together like bath toys. Downed trees, powerlines and other debris were making navigating roadways treacherous for emergency responders. Around 4 million people were without power from Florida up the east coast to Virgina. A map charts the Excessive Rainfall Outlook for Helene on Friday afternoon, with areas in the Carolinas the hardest hit by rainfall, landslides, and life-threatening flash flooding (NHC) Among the fatalities were a driver who was killed when a sign fell onto their car in Tampa. Five other deaths were reported in Floridas Pinellas County. Some 11 people died in Georgia, including two in Wheeler County who were killed after their trailer crashed on a highway. Another person was an emergency responder. At least six people died in South Carolina, including two people who died when tree fells on houses Friday morning in Anderson. In North Carolina, a person was killed by a falling tree in the city of Charlotte. NOAA satellite imagery shows the eye of Helene as it hammers the Carolinas and US Southeast on Friday afternoon (NOAA Satellites) Helene continued to bring historic and catastrophic flooding to the Appalachians and large parts of the Southeast on Friday afternoon as the storm hovered about 125miles south of Louisville, Kentucky. Some places in the Carolinas and Tennessee have seen a half of foot of rain since Tuesday. Helene is the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the US this year. In the past 24 hours, media coverage has focused on Marcellus Williams, who was convicted of fatally stabbing former newspaper reporter Felicia Gayle in 1998. Williams was executed by lethal injection in Missouri but both prosecutors and Gayles family have questioned his conviction. Dan Abrams agrees that if there was any doubt, the execution should have been delayed. However, he says the media often overlooks the evidence that led to the conviction. Geraldo Rivera and former prosecutor Randy Zelin, who still believes the conviction was justified, join NewsNations Dan Abrams Live to discuss. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Former President Trump is leading Vice President Harris by 1 point among likely voters in Arizona and Georgia, while the two candidates are tied in North Carolina, according to Marist sun belt state polls released Thursday. Trump received 50 percent of support from likely voters in Arizona, where Harris received 49 percent. Among independents in the state, Harris led Trump, 51 percent to 47 percent. Trump edged out Harris with white and Latino voters in Arizona, where he received 51 percent of support among white voters, compared to 48 percent for Harris, and 51 percent of support among Latinos, compared to 49 percent for Harris. Trump led Harris, 53 percent to 46 percent, among men in Arizona while Harris led Trump, 52 percent to 47 percent, among women. Trump also had a one-point lead against Harris in Georgia, where he received 50 percent of support from likely voters and Harris received 49 percent. Among Georgias independent voters, Harris led Trump by five points, 51 percent to 46 percent. Trump has a major lead among white voters in Georgia, 66 percent compared to Harriss 34 percent while Harris has an even bigger lead among Black voters, 86 percent compared to 13 percent. Trump led Harris among men, 56 percent to 42 percent, in Georgia while Harris led Trump among women, 54 percent to 44 percent. In North Carolina, Trump and Harris both received 49 percent of support from likely voters. Harris and Trump were also tied, 48 percent each, among independent voters. Trump led Harris, 59 percent to 40 percent, among white voters while Harris massively outpaced Trump, 86 percent to 13 percent, among Black voters. Trump led Harris, 54 percent to 44 percent, among men while Harris led by 54 percent compared to Trumps 45 percent among women in North Carolina. The Marist surveys were conducted Sept. 19-24. The Arizona survey included 1,524 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The Georgia survey included 1,514 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The North Carolina survey included 1,605 adults and has a margin of effort of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Mark Cuban Recalls Email From Trump As He Unpacks How He 'Grew Out Of' Being A Fan Billionaire Mark Cuban has shed more light on his reasons for distancing himself from former President Donald Trump. Im not a Trump fan at all, he said on Wednesdays episode of the This Past Weekend podcast. Used to be, but then kind of grew out of it. When Trump announced his bid for the White House in 2015, Cuban had called his candidacy the best thing to happen to politics in a long, long time. Looking back at that moment on This Past Weekend, Cuban recalled how he eventually began to change his mind, citing a remark that Trump made after the Shark Tank star criticized him publicly. What he would do is, he would write it, and then somebody would scan it, and then theyd email it to me. And so he sent me What happened? because he saw a CNN interview where I criticized him. And I literally, I told him, Im like: Youve got to start learning the issues, right? You cant just talk, Cuban said. All these things are important, and if youre going to be president and ... youve got a chance to win, then youve got to learn this stuff. And I just never felt he made an effort to learn anything. Not just that, but anything, right? And so whenever you try to get into a conversation about details, it never worked, he continued. Billionaire Mark Cuban, known for the show "Shark Tank," said he used to be a Donald Trump fan but now supports Kamala Harris for president. Brian Fluharty via Getty Images Last month on The Daily Show, Cuban reflected on another interaction that shifted his opinion of Trumps character, recalling how the former president acted as though he was above meeting with small-business owners. He goes: Mark, Donald Trump and Mark Cuban dont go to peoples houses and have dinner. Are you kidding me? Cuban recalled. Thats who he is. Cuban, who describes himself as an independent voter, made multiple media appearances this week in which he slammed the Republican and voiced support for Vice President Kamala Harris, Trumps Democratic opponent in the 2024 White House race. On Tuesday, he said Trump is unable to demonstrate depth or nuance on policy. Whenever Donald Trump says something, everybody else has to explain for him what he said, right? Cuban told MSNBC. He contrasted that with the Democratic presidential nominee, arguing that she says what she says [and] everybody knows what she means. That is such a stark difference between the two. Mark Cuban said Wednesday that former President Trump talks a good game when it comes to the economy, but it doesnt mean he gets the job done. Why does Trump even have the perception of being good on the economy? MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace asked the billionaire investor and TV personality on Deadline: White House. I mean, hes a good salesperson, you know? Cuban responded. He talks a good game, but it doesnt mean he follows through or gets the job done. The remarks follow Cubans criticism of Trump over the former presidents threat to slap large tariffs on John Deere if it outsources part of its manufacturing to Mexico. This Lack of Understanding of Business is insane, Cuban wrote Monday in a post on the social platform X. Put a 200% tariff on the American company moving some production to Mexico[.] But tariff Chinese manufacturers 10 or 20%, so that the Chinese products will be cheaper to sell in the US than the American company. In his interview on MSNBC, Cuban again noted Trumps comments regarding John Deere. We saw him threaten John Deere with a 200 percent tariff, Cuban said. That doesnt do anything to make John Deeres business better. In fact, it makes it easier for Chinese companies to compete with John Deere, even after a 10 or 20 percent tariff. Cuban has endorsed Vice President Harris in her bid for the White House and has referred to her as pro-business. Shes a good CEO who says, We need to do this right, because Im responsible to my stakeholders and we need to make sure we do it the right way, Cuban said during the MSNBC interview. You could not have a greater difference between two candidates. In an emailed statement to The Hill, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said Cuban has no idea what he is talking about. Cheung added that if Cuban actually looked at Harriss failed record as vice president and listened to what she says, he would know her policies will destroy our country and the American dream for hardworking families. Updated at 9:17 a.m. EDT Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A file photo from July 1946 shows the mushroom cloud following nuclear testing on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands (-) (-/US Defense Nuclear Agency/AFP) Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine has called for an apology from the United Nations for the organization's indirect involvement in nuclear tests on its territory in the wake of the Second World War. The United States detonated 67 nuclear bombs in Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958, and the health and environmental impacts are still felt today in the Pacific Ocean country, which is home to 42,000 people. At the time of some of the tests, Washington was the UN's administering authority for Marshall Islands, with Heine charging it was "the only time in which any UN organ has ever explicitly authorized the detonation of nuclear weapons." "We can't undo the past. But as a United Nations, we owe it to ourselves to make amends through the adoption of a resolution which formally apologizes for the failure to heed the petition of the Marshallese people," she said in a speech to the UN Wednesday. Residents of the chain of islands and atolls had petitioned against the UN Trusteeship Resolutions that led to the territories falling under US control, she said. The US State Department says that in 1947, the UN assigned the United States "administering authority over the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands," which included Marshall Islands. Washington says it has given more than $1 billion at current rates "to the affected communities." - 'Deep scars' - Heine said the tests had left an "ongoing legacy of death, illness and contamination. The impacts are handed down, generation to generation." Thousands of Marshall Islanders were engulfed in a radioactive fallout cloud following the 1954 Castle Bravo nuclear test by the US military, and many subsequently experienced health problems. Heine said Thursday the exposure was the "equivalent of 1.6 Hiroshima shots, every day, for 12 years." Tonnes of contaminated debris from the testing was dumped in a crater on the Enewetak Atoll and capped with concrete that has since cracked, sparking health concerns. Hundreds of islanders from the Marshalls' Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap and Utrik atolls have also had to relocate due to nuclear contamination. Many are still unable to return home. "Testing impacts left behind deep scars, with communities remaining in exile from their home islands, billions of dollars in unmet adjudicated claims, and a social and environmental burden upon our youngest and future generations," she said from the General Assembly rostrum. "We did not choose this nuclear fate -- it was chosen for us." A study issued by the US National Cancer Institute in 2004 estimated around 530 cancer cases had been caused by the nuclear testing. gw/sct/aha Maryland: After Joppatowne shooting, a delegate wants to change how schools are informed of students criminal charges BALTIMORE In the wake of several high-profile crimes related to Harford County schools, including a fatal shooting at Joppatowne High School this month, officials are navigating and proposing changes to the way police and schools can legally communicate with each other about student victims and offenders. Current state law prohibits police from informing schools about students charged with certain crimes that do not fall under the classification of reportable offenses. These offenses range from violent crimes to firearm infractions, vehicle charges and more. State Del. Mike Griffith, a Republican who represents parts of Harford and Cecil counties, has drafted legislation that aims to expand upon the current list of reportable offenses and allow law enforcement to inform schools of students who are suspected of felony offenses. Griffith said the legislation would add fourth-degree sex offenses, child pornography offenses, visual surveillance with prurient-intent offenses, threats of mass violence, revenge pornography and stalking to the list of reportable offenses. This is to make sure that the superintendent knows they have a student charged with or suspected of a felony or these crimes in their school system. This holds them accountable to act appropriately with the information, Griffith said. Following the shooting in a bathroom at Joppatowne High that killed a 15-year-old, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said the suspected shooter had a history with law enforcement, but the teens record was not publicly available. Months prior, an MS-13 gang member and immigrant who lacked permanent legal status pleaded guilty to the murder of a 20-year-old woman. He attended Edgewood High School at the same time he was under investigation for the murder. Parents and local leaders questioned why the school system was not made aware of these students backgrounds. Gahler said the answer is simple state law prohibits law enforcement from releasing information regarding certain charges against minors. People want to know who it is that might be a threat to their child, Gahler said. It is frustrating that we cant tell them. If Griffiths legislation were in effect at the time the gang member enrolled in Harford schools, for instance, school officials could have had the opportunity to enroll him into alternative education and remove him from the general student population, the delegate noted. Harford schools manager of communications, Jillian Lader, has said in regard to the Joppatowne High shooting that removal to an alternative school is only lawful if the students charges have a direct connection to the school and pose a risk of danger or disruption. Harford Board of Education President Aaron Poynton said he supports Griffiths bill, as it would give school officials the ability to make informed decisions. It is my opinion that if you are a suspect of a felony, that we are informed because we have other options to educate you such as virtual which removes you as a potentially dangerous person from the general student population, Poynton said. Poynton explained that Harford schools take state law seriously and that student safety has remained the top priority of all staff. He cited a recent incident at Aberdeen Middle School during which the former principal and a paraeducator were criminally charged for allegedly failing to report a rape as being an uncommon situation for school staff. When stuff like this happens, it is an extreme exception because our educators know the law and have been trained on it, so they follow the law, Poynton said. This was a unique case not a systemic problem of Harford County Public Schools because reporting offenses is not just critically important, it is the law. State law obligates educators and school staff to report crimes and suspected incidents to law enforcement. Lynne Shepard, the mother of a Harford student, said she is grateful for mandatory reporting. If they had not contacted me, I would not have been able to get my child the help they needed, Shepherd said. Children cannot comprehend the lifelong damage this will do to a person, and it is the responsibility of the adults to help them heal. At a Board of Education meeting Monday, Poynton said he wants to set up a meeting with school board members, Harford school administrators, the sheriff and police chiefs from all three municipalities to discuss the most efficient way to communicate and file reports to each other. A date for the meeting has yet to be determined. Griffiths bill, which does not impact mandatory reporting required by educators, will be filed in the coming months, he said. I do not think any of this bill is unreasonable or partisan. I think every parent across every political affiliation and background would agree that at the very least, the superintendent should be made aware of the students that fall under these offenses, Griffith said. ______ BALTIMORE Maryland State Police is asking the state for $2.75 million to settle a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into racial discrimination within the agency. The state polices request for settlement funds appears on the agenda of next weeks meeting of the Board of Public Works, Marylands spending board. According to the agenda, the amount includes damages for people the Justice Department identified during its investigation into potential racial discrimination regarding MDSPs testing of potential applicants. In a statement, the office of Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek Barron confirmed that it and the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division reached a settlement with state police, but declined to comment further. State police spokesperson Elena Russo said in a statement that the investigation, launched in July 2022, prompted the agency to conduct a rigorous and thorough evaluation of its hiring practices. Following careful consideration and negotiations, the Department looks forward to hearing the settlement matter before the Maryland Board of Public Works, and will provide additional comment pending settlement action on October 2, Russo said. The Justice Department probe followed persistent complaints from Black troopers about racial discrimination in the workplace. Sgt. Anthony Alexander, president of the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers, said in a phone interview with The Baltimore Sun that he was not surprised to learn about a settlement, but called the persistence of racial discrimination at the agency very saddening. Ive been at this for close to 17 years, Alexander said of his efforts to abolish discrimination within state police. The agency is supposed to be moving forward and having ideals in order to create and hire Black and brown people. We live in a state thats basically 30%. How do we not know how to do that? Where are we going wrong? We have to start looking internally. Barron previously told The Sun that the investigation would examine how the agency hired, promoted, trained, disciplined and made special opportunities available to its employees. For years, Black troopers and state lawmakers raised concerns about the state polices disparate treatment of Black employees around discipline, hiring and promotions. The superintendent of the agency was called in for questioning by lawmakers in 2021, and had to address an incident in which a banana was left on the hood of a Black troopers car. In June 2022, The Sun reported on an explicit challenge coin with the Maryland State Police logo and offensive language. Some Black troopers said they took the coins message about being offended as a response to allegations theyd raised about racial discrimination. Clarke Ahlers, an attorney who has represented Black and brown troopers in disciplinary and criminal matters, described the proposed settlement as an acknowledgement of racial misconduct. Theyve mistreated their own minorities for years, Ahlers told The Sun. The proposed settlement comes as a proposed class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of Black troopers continues through federal court. Filed in October 2022, the complaint alleged state police had a longstanding pattern of discrimination through disparate discipline, retaliation against officers making complaints and the denial of promotions. The plaintiffs, three current and former troopers who are Black, sought a revision of the agencys disciplinary and promotion policies, an independent monitor to oversee the department and a declaration that the state police violated the Civil Rights Act. They also demanded relief including monetary compensation, expunged discipline, reinstatements and promotions for those determined to have been discriminated against. Alexander added that there is definitely a bigger issue than recruiting. The best recruiters are troopers, he said. When you have an agency where troopers are not happy with where they work at, that causes a problem. U.S. District Judge Brandon A. Hurson ruled Sept. 13 that the lawsuit could proceed, dismissing some counts at the state polices request, but allowing others to stand. Broadly speaking, we think its only helpful to our case seeing that the Department of Justice investigation led to evidence of discrimination that warranted settlement, said Michal Shinnar, an attorney representing the state troopers who sued their employer for discrimination in federal court. Shinnar told The Sun that the legal team looked forward to seeing the complete terms of the state polices settlement with the Justice Department. We believe that our case will continue to show that these issues of discrimination at Maryland State Police are systemic and affecting officers of color and we look forward to continuing to litigate our case in federal court, Shinnar said. ________ Marylanders Can Order Free COVID Tests Again: How To Get Yours MARYLAND Marylanders can now order another round of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests that will be delivered directly to their homes. Each household can get four tests through COVIDtests.gov. Already have some at home? Check here to see if your tests' expiration dates have been extended. Shipping forms just opened on Thursday and are free to all residents. Access this link to order yours. Updated rapid tests are expected to be able to detect newer variants just as a new COVID variant, XEC, arrives in Maryland. It is a member of the Omicron family. The availability of free at-home tests comes just after the Food and Drug Administration approved two updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging everyone 6 months or older to get a new shot this fall since last year's shots were geared toward a strain that is no longer around. As flu and RSV season approaches, health officials recommend residents stock up on tests and update all vaccinations. Marylanders Can Order Free COVID Tests Again: How To Get Yours originally appeared on the Annapolis Patch The Ministry of Finance has been accepted as a full member of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, Azernews reports citing the ministry. With 92 finance ministers as members, the Coalition has institutional partnerships with 26 international organizations that play a key technical and advisory role in supporting finance ministers' efforts to develop and implement climate change policies. In April of this year, the Ministry of Finance participated in the 11th meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers on Climate Action during the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. Azerbaijan's representation as a full member of this Coalition, which often aligns its activities with the COP, will significantly contribute to achieving the goals set by the COP29 presidency. The next meeting of coalition members will be held next month in Washington as part of the Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group. A preliminary agreement has also been reached to hold a special meeting of the Coalition during the "Finance Day" of the COP29 Conference, which will be hosted by Azerbaijan in November. Congress passed a short-term extension in government funding on Wednesday, temporarily avoiding a shutdown as Washington shifts its attention to the November election. Lawmakers in both chambers easily passed the three-month measure, known as a continuing resolution, over the objection of some conservatives and former President Donald Trump, who wanted election security legislation attached. All House Democrats ultimately voted in favor of the extension, with 82 Republicans opposed. In the Senate, the measure passed 78-18 in a vote held an hour later. The bill now heads to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it before the Oct. 1 deadline. "Tonight, the American people can sleep easier knowing we have avoided an unnecessary government shutdown at the end of the month," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said from the Senate floor on Wednesday. "This bipartisanship is a good outcome for America, and I hope it sets the tone for more constructive, bipartisan work when we return later in the fall," he added. The legislation, which extends current spending levels until Dec. 20, buys lawmakers more time to negotiate a budget for the 2025 fiscal year. It also punts that fight until after the election, when voters will decide control of Congress. Lawmakers will not return to Capitol Hill until Nov. 12. The continuing resolution does not allocate new spending for most government agencies, according to legislative text released on Sunday. It does, however, include an additional $230 million for the Secret Service following two attempts on former President Donald Trump's life. Featured Local Savings The bill's passage follows a failed effort by House Republicans to extend government funding until March with the SAVE Act, a proof-of-citizenship voting bill, attached. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) initially demanded the voting legislation at the urging of Trump, but later back-tracked when it could not pass the House. On Wednesday, hard-line conservatives voted against the funding extension, which Schumer demanded be free of poison pills. Still, GOP leaders framed the bill as a win, arguing they were able to fight off Democratic demands for spending increases. The real fight will come in December, when Republicans seek to reduce spending below the caps set in debt limit negotiations with Biden last year. Kevin McCarthy, then the House speaker, benefited from GOP unity in talks with the White House, but Republican infighting over the deal he brokered has weakened Johnsons hand. Johnson, who blames Senate Democrats for not passing any of their appropriations bills so far this year, has promised not to push through an end-of-year omnibus when lawmakers return to Washington, despite the new funding deadline butting up against the Christmas recess. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Five of the Houses 12 appropriations bills have yet to be passed. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told the Washington Examiner she expects one all-encompassing bill to be negotiated when lawmakers return in the fall. BOSTON, Mass. (SHNS)What do bread, books, wines, windows and doors, ice cream, and mascara brushes have in common? Theyre all manufactured in Massachusetts by companies that were recognized Wednesday with a Making it in Massachusetts Manufacturing Award. Nearly three dozen lawmakers were on hand at Gillette Stadium as the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus hosted its 9th annual awards ceremony as part of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Mash-Up, put on by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. These Massachusetts municipalities awarded funding to develop parks, protect conservation areas From local gourmet ice cream making in Lawrence, to the manufacturing of leading epaper technology in Billerica, to the production of innovative cell and gene therapy solutions in Hopkinton, to the manufacturing of the worlds largest kielbasa weighing in at a whopping 600 pounds in Chicopee, the diversity on display in this room shows why Massachusetts manufacturers are setting the global example in creativity and entrepreneurship, said Sen. Paul Feeney, who co-chairs the caucus and co-emceed the event with Rep. Jeff Roy. There were 58 different businesses recognized during Wednesdays awards ceremony, having been selected by 62 participating lawmakers. Howlingbird Studio in Falmouth, which does screen printing and makes branded items often used as giveaways, was selected for the award by Rep. Dylan Fernandes. Rep. Joseph McGonagle chose Ultimate Windows in Everett for the honor, Rep. Francisco Paulino picked Lawrences Cremosos Gourmet Ice Cream to be recognized, Rep. Mindy Domb highlighted Harris Mountain Sugar Shack in Granby with an award, and Reps. Steven Howitt and Jay Barrows jointly selected South Shore Millwork in Norton for an award. Manufacturing in the commonwealth provides high-paying jobs, contributes significantly to the states economy, and plays a vital role in driving innovation and technological advancements, Roy said, jokingly adding that he is looking for a job when he noted the $115,000 average annual salary for the manufacturing sector here. Today, we are proud to honor these companies and meet the dedicated men and women who make our economy soar. Manufacturing accounts for approximately 10 percent of Massachusetts total economic output, with an economic contribution of more than $56 billion as estimated by CAM. The states roughly 6,000 manufacturers employed about 232,800 people here as of last month, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Thats down from 238,000 people employed a year ago, from 241,400 employed just before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, and from about 400,000 at the turn of the millennium. The fourth annual Mash-Up, held just before Manufacturing Month begins Oct. 1, is meant to bring together industry players, state officials and more than 1,000 students from area schools and Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs. The intention is to give manufacturers a chance to learn about new trends and technologies, to lobby state officials for more favorable policies or regulations, and to present the industry to students who could address workforce talent needs as it increasingly shifts towards innovation and digital transformation. As you all learn and absorb from each other and hopefully connect with each other today, we as legislators myself, Chair Roy, all the state reps and senators that are here are working to better understand what we can do to best support all of you and facilitate your incredible success, Feeney said. Were also cognizant, we know very well, that your success cannot come without its challenges. The lasting effects of the pandemic, rising costs, [and] ensuing supply chain disasters exacerbated the already competitive nature of manufacturing Massachusetts. That is not lost on us. The morning session featured the presentation of Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program awards to 24 companies, a keynote speech from a former National Economic Council special assistant to President Joe Biden for manufacturing and economic development, a session on possible partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense, and a state Office of Business Development-moderated panel on the resources Massachusetts makes available to manufacturers. The afternoon includes sessions focused on artificial intelligence, finding success outside of Boston and Cambridge, and navigating the impacts of automation on employees. There was also a live start-up pitch contest hosted by the nonprofit FORGE. Five clean technology start-ups Active Surfaces, Arbon, Atlas Urban Farms, Highland Park Technologies, and Quant AQ, Inc made four-minute pitches in front of a panel of four judges. In addition, four other start-ups had a chance to made rapid fire pitches of one minute. Recipients of the 2024 Making it in Massachusetts Manufacturing Awards: Hardwick Vineyards & Winery Sen. Peter Durant Howlingbird Rep. Dylan Fernandes Ultimate Windows Rep. Joe McGonagle Cremosos Gourmet Ice Cream Rep. Francisco Paulino Say It With Symbols Rep. Carmine Gentile Sanderson-MacLeod Sen. Jacob Oliveira Keystone Precision Rep. Margaret Scarsdale Harris Mountain Sugar Shack Rep. Mindy Domb South Shore Millwork Rep. Steven Howitt & Rep. Jay Barrows Cambridge Printing Company Sen. Sal DiDomenico Indigo Coffee Roasters Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa Dirty Water Distillery Rep. Kathleen LaNatra Witricity Corporation Rep. Steve Owens Barnstable Brewing Rep. Kip Diggs Blackburn Energy Rep. Kristin Kassner Bridgeport National Bindery Sen. John Velis Helfrich Brothers Boiler Works Sen. Paul Payano Dulce deLeche Senate President Karen Spilka Hearth Artisan Bread Rep. Mathew Muratore Hamilton Storage Rep. Jeffrey Roy Boston Metal Rep. Richard Haggerty Berkshire Grey Rep. Ken Gordon Multiscale Systems Rep. David LeBoeuf IEMMALLO Wine Cellars Rep. Jack Lewis Amazon Granite & Marble Rep. Steven Xiarhos Avery Dennison. Rep. Mike Kushmerek Hired Hand Signs Rep. Natalie Blais & Sen. Jo Comerford R. E. Kimball & Co. Rep. Adrianne Ramos Mark Richey Woodworking & Design Rep. Dawne Shand King Printing Co. Rep. Vanna Howard McGill Hose & Coupling Rep. Brian Ashe A&P Woodworking Rep. Adrian Madaro Mitchell Machine Rep. Carlos Gonzalez Thermo Fisher Scientific Rep. Marcus Vaughn Willow Tree Poultry Farm Sen. Paul Feeney Siligrams, Inc. Rep. Simon Cataldo Medical Component Specialists Rep. Michael Soter E-Ink Rep. Marc Lombardo Roslin-CT Rep. James Arena-DeRosa Cord Master Engineering Company Rep. John Barrett III Gaston Electrical Rep. Ted Philips, Rep. John Rogers & Sen. Mike Rush MooneyTunCo, Inc. Sen. Patrick OConnor Mill City Iron Works Rep. Colleen Garry A&M Tool and Design Sen. Ryan Fattman United Prosthetics Sen. John Keenan Process Cooling Systems Rep. Natalie Higgins ATS Cases Rep. Kate Donaghue Rebars & Mesh, Inc Sen. Barry Finegold Refried Apparel Rep. Chris Hendricks Boston Sword & Tuna Rep. David Biele E.W. Hobbs, Inc. Sen. Joan Lovely BCD Metal Products Rep. Steven Ultrino Cado Products, Inc. Sen. John Cronin Russell Morin Catering & Events Rep. James Hawkins Carbone Metal Fabricators. Rep. Judith Garcia Noyes Sheet Metal Rep. Brian Murray Chicopee Provisions. Rep. Shirley Arriaga Nitto Denko Avecia Sen. Rebecca Rausch Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Massachusetts driver flown to hospital after crash on I-93 in New Hampshire, state police say A 22-year-old driver from Massachusetts suffered life-threatening injuries following a crash on Interstate 93 in Salem late Wednesday night, state police said Thursday. Fredi Lopez De Leon of Lawrence, Massachusetts was flown to a Boston hospital following the crash on I-93 south, state police said. His condition was not known on Thursday. At approximately 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, troopers responded to the area of mile marker 1.4 for a report of a crash involving serious injuries. When they arrived, troopers found a vehicle that had left the road and was split in half after striking several trees, state police said. A preliminary investigation found that a white 2016 Lexus IS-300 driven by Lopez De Leon, was traveling north at a high rate of speed when it left the road and traveled toward the tree line, state police said. Fire crews extracted Lopez De Leon from the vehicle before rushing him to the Salem High School field complex, state police said. He was then flown by medical helicopter to Boston. Salem Police and Fire and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation responded to assist state police. Authorities closed a travel lane for approximately two hours while investigators were on scene. The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information for investigators is urged to call Trooper Matthew Howe at 603-451-9588. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW BOSTON (WWLP) A healthcare company executive has pleaded guilty in a health benefit program fraud case. According to the U.S. Attorneys office in Boston, 42-year-old Miguel Saravia of Hanson pleaded guilty to six counts of healthcare fraud in a Boston federal court on Thursday. Saravia is the CEO of Dana Group Associates, and also the former COO of Prime Behavioral Health. Healey nominates first female chief justice of appeals court Investigators say that from 2017-2022, Saravia had persons with no billing or medical training enter Current Procedural Terminology codes (CPT) for therapy services that were not provided and to upcode CPT codes used for psychotherapy visits. He submitted, or directed the submission of, false claims for treatment that was not provided or for more complex and expensive treatment than was provided. Saravia is scheduled for sentencing on January 2, 2025, and could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. NEW YORK Appeals court judges appeared to question the legitimacy of the civil fraud case against Donald Trump as the former president urged the court Thursday to overturn a judgment against him that has ballooned, with interest, to more than $478 million. In February, a Manhattan trial judge found that Trump and other defendants including his adult sons, Don Jr. and Eric, along with several business associates fraudulently inflated his net worth and the value of his real estate properties to obtain favorable rates from banks and insurers. The nearly half-billion-dollar penalty ordered by the trial judge initially threatened to trigger a financial crisis for Trump. But a New York appeals court sharply reduced the amount of the bond he had to post to avoid immediate enforcement of the verdict. Trump is now asking that same court to toss out the verdict entirely. During oral arguments on Thursday, some members of the five-judge appeals court panel suggested that New York Attorney General Tish James had overstepped by using the particular New York fraud statute she used to bring the case against Trump. As soon as Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale, arguing for James, began her opening remarks, she was cut off by Associate Justice David Friedman, who questioned whether her office had ever before used the statute to upset a private business transaction that was between equally sophisticated partners. Associate Justice Llinet Rosado chimed in once Friedman finished to add, and little to no impact on the public marketplace. The justices questions echoed one of Trumps central lines of defense: He has argued that no one was harmed by the inflated valuations. Vale disputed that suggestion, saying there was absolutely a public impact and a public interest here, but she continued to field similar questions from other judges. I think you hear underneath all these questions, the question of mission creep, Associate Justice Peter Moulton said. Has 6312 the statute in question morphed into something that it was not meant to do? I will stress, your honor, that this does have harm to the public and to the markets, Vale said in response. Trumps lawyer, D. John Sauer, also fielded questions about his arguments as the former president seeks to eliminate one of his most serious financial burdens as he heads into the final stretch of the presidential race. Sauer argued that in the deals in question, there were no victims, no complaints. But Moulton wondered, What about deterrence? Even if the transactions at issue in the Trump case went down fine, Moulton said, similar fraudulent conduct in the future might not go down well, and someone would be harmed by that. The panel didnt rule Thursday. The former president hasnt had to turn over the full amount of the judgment because a panel of state appeals judges allowed him to put up only a $175 million bond while he appeals the verdict. Master key that can open 90% of Urbana mailboxes stolen from mail carrier Update at 3:00 p.m. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) The Urbana Police Department has provided additional details about Mondays armed robbery involving a U.S postal worker. Early voting is open in Illinois. Heres where you can cast your ballot: The say around 7:48 p.m. a male approached a mail carrier in the 2400 block of Prairie Green in Urbana. The male held a handgun at his side during the confrontation and grabbed the keys to the community mailboxes from the carriers bag. The suspect was described as a black male, around 20 years old and between 508-509 with a thin build. He was wearing a black ski mask, gray hooded sweatshirt and black pants. Anyone with information can contact Urbana Police at 217-384-2320. Residents can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-373-TIPS, online or the P3 Tips mobile app. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) A key that unlocks 90% of mailboxes in Urbana, as well as USPS collection boxes, is missing after a carrier was robbed at gunpoint Monday night. Champaign County records first human case of West Nile Virus According to Nikeya Holmes, a customer service supervisor with the Urbana Post Office, the carrier was delivering mail to Prairie Green Apartment Homes complex in Urbana between 7:30-8 p.m. when it happened. Holmes said the key that was stolen was an arrow key. Better known as a universal or master key, these keys can unlock collection boxes, outdoor lockers and apartment panels throughout the city. Holmes said she isnt sure what will happen if the key is not found, but that the Chicago-area has seen similar crimes in the past. She said that the Urbana Post Office will communicate with other offices who have experienced this issue before to figure out what to do if the key remains stolen. The mail carrier wasnt hurt, but mail delivery has been paused at this location and Prairie Green residents will pick their mail up from the post office at Tatman Court. Holmes said this is due to safety concerns. This is a matter of public safety: Springfield leaders defend removing homeless belongings The post office hopes to work out an agreement with the apartment complex to have mail delivered to the main office, rather than to individual boxes. Holmes said the main office has better lighting and cameras. According to Holmes, the Urbana Police investigated the scene on Monday. They have also been in touch with postal inspectors. WCIA reached out to Urbana Police for more details on the incident and is waiting to hear back. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Matt Gaetz has published a lengthy letter hed sent to the House Ethics Committee informing the panels lawmakers that he would no longer be complying with the Ethics investigation into allegations that he had slept with an underage girl. The Florida congressman rehashed a number of familiar complaints in the letter, which accused the panel of pursuing the investigation for the purpose of humiliating him and damaging him politically after a Justice Department investigation ended without charges being filed. But he went further than just denouncing the committee Gaetz also would go on to write a Twitter thread on Thursday discussing the evidence in his case, and included several pieces of evidence he argued exonerated his name. The tone of Gaetzs letter was angry and defiant: Your correspondence of September 4 asks whether I have engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18. The answer to this question is unequivocally NO. You can apply this response to every version of this question, in every forum. He also denied using illicit drugs. Altogether, the thread and letter represent Gaetzs latest salvo against the Ethics Committee, which clearly aims at repairing his image with both journalists and moderate voters. The congressman made no mention of the Deep State or any overarching conspiracies against him or the former president instead, he focused on two pieces of information he argued undermined the allegations against him. One was a grainy image of a text message, purportedly from his former friend and confidante Joel Greenberg, stating that he was arranging to pay for legal representation for someone presumably the underaged girl Gaetz is accused of having sex with. No actual evidence of transferred funds is shown, nor is the identity of the unnamed witness. In a second image shared by Gaetz, an unnamed jailhouse informant describes in an affidavit hearing a plot by Greenberg to smear Gaetz and possibly others in order to secure a sentence reduction deal with federal prosecutors. Greenberg, a former friend and political ally of Gaetz, also served as Tax Collector for Seminole County, Florida, before he was indicted on nearly three dozen federal charges. He eventually pleaded guilty to six, including sex trafficking a minor. None of the images shared by Gaetz constitute the kind of hard evidence that would immediately exonerate him as he has claimed. But they do raise questions about the charges that need to be answered, including how much they revolve around Greenbergs accusations and whether the underage person whom Gaetz supposedly had sex with was financially supported by Greenberg. The Ethics probe into Gaetz has made little public progress under Speaker Mike Johnsons tenure as the highest-ranking House Republican, even as Gaetz contends that the investigation was triggered by allies of the former speaker, Kevin McCarthy. McCarthys political career did not survive to see the investigation completed; he left the House at the end of 2023 after an embarrassing ouster from the Speakers chair. Gaetz, meanwhile, is widely speculated to be considering a run for governor of Florida after Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited, leaves office. Hes expected to face a competitive Republican primary for the nomination, including potentially against a Republican backed in part by McCarthy, who has funded primary challenges against a number of his former party members who backed his downfall last year. McCarthy told The Independent at the Republican National Convention in July that the Ethics investigation would prevent Gaetz from winning that primary: I dont think hell ever be able to run for governor like he wants to. Rep. Matt Gaetz isnt happy that the House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor and used illegal drugsgoing as far as to describe the probe as Soviet. Gaetz, a Florida congressman and close Donald Trump ally, took to X on Thursday to make the far-fetched historical comparison after learning that the committee intended to subpoena him. He shared an indignant letter addressed to the committees leaders, Rep. Michael Guest and Rep. Susan Wild. My final response to the Ethics Committee: pic.twitter.com/iCBR3fyB6D Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) September 26, 2024 Your investigation into me has devolved into a political payback exercise, devoid of adequate due process, riddled with leaks, and now seeking deeply personal information that is no business of Congress, Gaetz wrote. I am being investigated and judged by my political opponents, he added. This is Soviet. Gaetz is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, and in the letter he denied this claim outright. Matt Gaetz Was at Sex and Drugs Party With High School Junior: Court Docs However, his denial of the illegal-drug-use claim was somewhat more nuanced. I have not used drugs which are illegal, absent some law allowing use in a jurisdiction of the United States, he wrote. I have not used illicit drugs, which I consider to be drugs unlawful for medical or over-the-counter use everywhere in the United States. He also said the panels questions were uncomfortably nosey because they asked about the lawful, consensual, sexual activities of adults, which are not the business of Congress. As a result of the perceived injustices, Gaetz declared in the letter that he will no longer voluntarily participate in the Houses probe. The probe began after Gaetzs friend Joel Greenberg went to prison for sex trafficking, and several of the women who testified in the case said Greenberg had paid minors to attend sex parties at which Gaetz was present. Gaetz has previously denied allegations of engaging in sex trafficking or having sex with a minor. A DOJ probe ended in 2023 without charges being brought against the congressman. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) Federal investigators on Thursday outlined years of Eric Adams expensive bribes and clumsy coverups in the first-ever indictment of a sitting New York City mayor. In a 57-page indictment unsealed Thursday, prosecutors charged the mayor with bribery, solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and wire fraud. NYC Mayor Adams charged with taking bribes in federal indictment Prosecutors accuse the mayor of accepting illegal campaign donations as early as his time as Brooklyn Borough President. Adams allegedly sought and knowingly accepted money from foreign donors, including Turkish government officials, prosecutors contend. Adams has continuously maintained his innocence, and on Thursday reiterated he has no intention of resigning. My day-to-day will not change, Adams said. I look forward to defending myself. Adams accepted well over $100,000 in luxury travel benefits, including business class flights and opulent hotel rooms, according to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. The donations came in via straw donors, or cover-up U.S. donors acting on behalf of a foreign government. Then, Adams used a public program to match the illegal donations with $10 million in public funds, according to the indictment. Adams knew that these wealthy individuals could not legally donate in the U.S. election, Williams said. He knew they were illegal and to buy influence. A list of undisclosed benefits allegedly taken by Mayor Eric Adams, as alleged by the U.S. Attorneys office. (PIX11 News) As part of his corrupt relationships, Adams gave the donors favorable treatment in exchange for illicit benefits, according to the indictment. For example, Adams in 2021 intervened to open the Turkish consulate building that did not meet FDNY regulations, prosecutors contend. Turkish officials told Adams it was his turn to support Turkey, and Adams delivered, pushing the FDNY to open the 36-story skyscraper. He was rewarded with more travel benefits, prosecutors said. Some of the people at FDNY thought the building had so many issues and defects that the building was not safe to occupy, Williams said. The FDNY official responsible for the FDNYs assessment of the skyscrapers safety was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce, according to the indictment. Adams hid the corruption with a clumsy coverup, including falsifying paper trails and deleting text messages, prosecutors said. Adams behavior crossed bright red lines over and over for years, consistently breaching the publics trust, Williams said. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Mayor Adams sexual assault accuser must show for Oct. 16 deposition or case to be dimissed NEW YORK Lorna Beach-Mathura, who has accused Mayor Eric Adams in a civil lawsuit of sexually assaulting her, must be deposed by Oct. 16 or her case will be dismissed, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Richard Latin ruled Thursday. After Beach-Mathura missed a court-ordered deposition on Sept. 6, lawyers for Adams asked the judge that the case be dismissed. We look forward to all of the depositions in this matter, Megan Goddard, Beach-Mathuras attorney, said in a statement. Beach-Mathura explained in court papers that she experienced an anxiety attack requiring her to seek medical attention, at the last minute on the day of the deposition, she wrote in a court filing last week that laid the blame for her breakdown on Adams team. In response, Adams lawyer Alex Spiro cast doubt on her credibility, pointing out past lawsuits she had filed and questioning her actions the day of the scheduled deposition. The court should not be fooled, Spiro wrote in a court filing Wednesday. The decision comes on the same day Adams was indicted on criminal charges of receiving illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals. Spiro wrote that it seemed unlikely Beach-Mathura was not able to give her lawyers advance warning that she couldnt make the deposition, and said that she did not appear to have gotten any treatment for anxiety, instead visiting an urgent care center hours after the deposition was set, where she was diagnosed with a sinus infection. The day of my scheduled deposition, I woke up in an extreme state of duress, unable to breathe and hear properly with a hoarse voice, and throat pain, Beath-Mathura previously wrote in explanation for the missed deposition. I became very concerned about my health. These symptoms greatly exacerbated my underlying anxiety and depression. The $5 million lawsuit stems from an alleged 1993 incident when Beath-Mathura met Adams, a transit cop at the time, to discuss Adams helping her get a promotion in the Transit Police Department. Adams picked her up in his car. Once in the car, the suit alleges, he attempted to force her to perform oral sex on him. She refused, and he instead ejaculated on her leg, according to the complaint. Adams has denied the allegations. The notice of claim for the suit was filed last November under the Adult Survivors Act, a state law that gave sexual abuse survivors a one-year window to sue their perpetrators even if the statute of limitations had expired. Mayor Adams term has been mired by squabbles with White House over migrant influx and border crisis Mayor Eric Adams who was federally indicted Wednesday has spent the latter end of his first term mired in battles with the White House over the migrant crisis, with Hizzoner lobbing repeated accusations that President Biden has left the Big Apple to fend for itself. Help is not on the way, Adams told reporters after meeting with Biden to discuss the crisis back in December 2023 and ever since his rhetoric towards the White House has only grown grimmer. The national government has turned its back on New York City, he said months later, adding that every service in this city is going to be impacted by the asylum seeker crisis. Over the course of his term, Mayor Eric Adams has had countless battles with the White House over the migrant crisis, accusing President Biden left the Big Apple to fend for itself. AP Those comments were just a few in a long chorus of complaints about the Biden administration from an increasingly frustrated Adams who at one point called on New Yorkers to march on DC over migrants being shipped by the thousands to the Big Apple. The city spent at least about $5.5 billion on the migrant crisis as of August, which has gone toward housing more than 250,000 migrants since 2022. The crisis is expected to cost the city upwards of $12 billion by 2026, but the count by July was already hundreds of millions of dollars more than than the predicted budget by that time. City Hall estimates that amount represents about 69% percent of the total cost for the migrant crisis, while the state will absorb 30% the federal government meanwhile is only expected to cover 1% of it. New York Post front cover on Sept. 25, 2024. Adams has called Washingtons refusal to fork over more cash baffling, explaining how over the course of numerous meetings with the Biden administration he has failed to be given a concrete commitment for greater help. I am lost. I am confused on this topic on why we still, almost 20 months later, were still talking about this issue and it has inundated the city, Adams told Fox 5 in December 2023. Eric Adams indicted: Live updates after NYC mayor hit with indictment Months later in August Adams declared we are past our breaking point, but over a year later the crisis shows no sign of slowing down. The city has claimed sanctuary city status for decades meaning it refuses to cooperate with federal immigration officials, even when migrant fugitives are identified and it was codified under Adams predecessor, Mayor Bill de Blasio. Adams told reporters after meeting with Biden to discuss the crisis back in December 2023 that Help is not on the way, while also adding, The national government has turned its back on New York City. Getty Images Migrants first started arriving largely from the southern border about two years ago. Some were being bussed up on the orders of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who in spring 2022 rolled out a campaign of sending migrants from his overwhelmed state to cities which had declared themselves sanctuaries. Follow the latest on the FBI raids of Adams administration officials: Adams was not pleased with this move, however, and accused Abbott of trying to hurt black-run cities and using human beings as political pawns. Months after Abbott started his busing, Adams complained that both political parties were doing nothing to stop the crisis. New York City has spent at least around $5.5 billion on the migrant crisis as of August, which has gone toward housing more than 250,000 migrants since 2022. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The far right is doing the wrong thing. The far left is doing nothing, he said in October 2022. I mean, the silence I dont believe the silence Im hearing. But Bidens administration has also actively participated in sending migrants to Gotham. While roughly 37,000 of the citys migrants had been bused in from Texas as of Spring 2024, the Department of Homeland Security had flown in about 33,000 migrants into the city without coordinating any of it with City Hall, according to findings from the Center for Immigration Studies. The House voted to condemn several Biden administration officials for the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 on Wednesday in the latest step from Republicans to push for accountability for the failures that led to 13 service members' deaths. House members voted 219 to 194 to condemn President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, among others. All Republicans and 10 Democrats voted to hold the officials accountable for the preparation failures and department-level mistakes that led to the deaths of the 13 service members and nearly 200 Afghans. Republicans have ramped up their messaging on the Afghanistan withdrawal after the third anniversary passed in August and as the 2024 election grows closer. With 41 days until the presidential race, the GOP has blasted the Biden-Harris administration for playing politics during the withdrawal that led the Taliban to retake the country. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) awarded the 13 deceased service members' families the Congressional Gold Medal on Sept. 10 for their sacrifice after they were killed in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate near Kabul's airport. Featured Local Savings Republicans are still moving forward with their investigations into the withdrawal. On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to advance a resolution holding Blinken in contempt of Congress for not appearing before a hearing on the failures that led to the withdrawal. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Blinken said he could not appear before the committee due to his secretary of state travel schedule, but the GOP argued he has been dodging accountability. Democrats have blasted Republicans and the committee's lengthy report on the withdrawal as a political ploy right before an election. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that the contempt resolution will likely be brought up for a full House vote when the lawmakers return from a long recess after the November election. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson has issues a local state of emergency for Columbus and Muscogee County. In the declaration sent out Thursday afternoon, the mayor says the decision came after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The declaration says, There exists emergency circumstances located throughout the area of Columbus/Muscogee County requiring extraordinary and immediate corrective actions for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Columbus/Muscogee County, including individuals with household pets and service animals. The declaration states the state of emergency will remain in effect until conditions surrounding the declaration end. Hurricane-Helene-Declaration-of-Local-EmergencyDownload Weather updates and live tracking of Hurricane Helene can be found on WRBLs weather page. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams will be arraigned on Friday in his federal bribery case, according to court records. Adams attorney, Alex Spiro, had asked for the mayors expedited court appearance in a letter to the judge, according to the filing. Spiro said prosecutors did not object to the request. Theres no corruption. This is not a real case and were going to see everyone in court, hopefully tomorrow and not Monday, Spiro said outside Gracie Mansion Thursday. NYC Mayor Eric Adams allegedly pressured FDNY to open unsafe Turkish building Adams was charged with accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, stemming from his 2021 mayoral campaign. Prosecutors accuse the mayor of accepting illegal campaign donations as early as his time as Brooklyn borough president. Adams allegedly sought and knowingly accepted money from foreign donors, including Turkish government officials, prosecutors contend. Speaking in front of Gracie Mansion on Thursday, Adams urged New Yorkers to wait for his defense before making judgments. Will former Gov. Andrew Cuomo run for NYC mayor? From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, Adams said. My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. About a year ago, the federal investigations into the Adams administration first emerged, when FBI agents raided the home of his chief fundraiser. Days later, agents seized the mayors phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. Earlier this month, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the citys police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall. A wave of high-profile departures followed. Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. (Bloomberg) -- The mayor of South Africas capital was ousted on Thursday after a multiparty coalition that ruled the city collapsed. Most Read from Bloomberg Cilliers Brink, a member of the Democratic Alliance who has led the Tshwane municipality since March 2023, was removed through a motion of no confidence. It was backed by the African National Congress, the Economic Freedom Fighters and ActionSA, which collectively hold more than half the seats in the municipal council. A new mayor has yet to be named. The ANC lost outright control of Tshwane in 2016 and the mayoral chain has changed hands five times since then. The municipality, which includes the capital Pretoria, has been dogged by breakdowns in the provision of basic services and a deadly cholera outbreak. DA leader John Steenhuisen conceded earlier this year that his party hadnt done an optimal job in Tshwane, having had to replace its own tainted mayors at least three times. The ANC and DA entered into a coalition along with eight other parties to run the country on a national level in June and are part of a multiparty administration in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province. But the two havent found common ground in the central Gauteng province, which includes Pretoria and Johannesburg which has also been plagued by political instability. South Africas next municipal vote will be held in 2026. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso Central Business Association (CBA) hosted its September luncheon with seven out of eight mayoral candidates for the City of El Paso on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the El Paso Convention Center. Candidates for El Paso Mayor include three sitting El Paso City Representatives including District 1 Brian Kennedy, District 3 Cassandra Hernandez and District 5 Isabel Salcido. Also in the race are businessman Renard Johnson, Army retiree Steven Winters, magazine owner Elizabeth Cordova, entrepreneur Marco Contreras and Ben Mendoza. Mendoza was the only candidate not present at the forum. Candidates were asked five questions that they were told ahead of time. They were given one minute each to answer. Those questions were on: Economic development Public safety Infrastructure Affordable housing Environmental sustainability Attendees at the luncheon said they appreciated the opportunity to hear more from the candidates. I looked into them briefly on their websites and what they said, but this forum was a really good way to know more specifically, what policies and ideas they want to contribute, El Pasoan Manuel Guzman said. With so many candidates on Novembers ballot, Guzman said hes interests lie in a transparent leader. I just want someone who cares about the residents of this city. More like, you know, combating misinformation. Who is transparent to the residents and how their taxes and their resources are being used for and to look for long term solutions to towards the prosperity of the city, because the city has a lot of potential, he said. Another El Pasoan present said she hopes the next mayor will have good judgment on how to propel the city economically forward. I think its important that they understand finances. I think that its important that they have their eye on a good vision for economic development for our community. We got so much talent here, such a great workforce here and I think really looking to build better jobs for people here is something that they need to support as a region, said Cherly Mele. Should this race go into a run-off that election will be on Dec. 14. The last day for Texans to register to vote is Oct. 7. Early voting begins Oct. 21 with Election Day on Nov. 5. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. The News Mitch McConnell is convinced of one thing: The Democratic Party would have the support it needs to kill the Senate filibuster if it takes full control of Washington this year. The outgoing Republican leader told Semafor on Thursday that he now believes Democrats, should they sweep into power this fall, would dispense with the Senates 60-vote threshold to pass most legislation. I dont think theyre kidding. I think theyll do it, McConnell said. Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated this week that she hopes to eliminate the filibuster for the purposes of writing s abortion right into law, a move that doesnt have full backing on her side of the aisle yet. Her comments reignited the Senates yearslong battle over an arcane filibuster rule that Democrats famously weakened in 2013 by eliminating the 60-vote bar to confirm most presidential nominees, citing GOP obstruction. Republicans presided over their own weakening of the filibuster by voting in 2017 to end it for confirmation of Supreme Court justices. Democrats tried again to chip away at the filibuster two years ago in order to pass a voting rights bill, a move stopped by Independent Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Since then, its become clear that anti-filibuster sentiment which first spiked on the left has become a more mainstream Democratic position, with ample interest in killing the filibuster for other issues too. McConnell is taking the opposing party at its word. What I concluded is, whenever they think its getting in the way of something they really want to do, theyre going to break the rules, the Kentuckian said of Democrats. And once you do it once, its over. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., declined to discuss changes to the filibuster this week, saying it would be something Democrats would discuss next Congress. Of course, the question is only relevant if Democrats can take back the House and hang onto their Senate majority; theyre currently in a brutal battle to do just that. Know More McConnells view is buoyed by the likelihood that a future Democratic majority would be more liberal than todays, which includes the retiring Manchin and Sinema. Democratic candidates running for Senate seats this year have largely endorsed at least weakening the filibuster, if not outright eliminating it. Getting agreement among a small majority of senators for such a consequential change is tough, though, so theres no guarantee that Democrats would be able to pull it off. For McConnell, theres little mystery. Theyre all committed to it now, because Chuck has made them take a public position. Every Democratic challenger, Im told, running for the Senate is taking the same position, McConnell said. I think they fully intend to do it if they can. From Schumer on down the ranks, however, several Democrats hedged over the past month about their plans. After all, the election is around the corner and theres little utility in talking about theoretical changes before they win the majority. But progressive reform advocates say they are tired of Republicans using the 60-vote threshold to block Democratic priorities and then push through tax cuts with a simple majority, as the GOP did in 2017. Democrats passed their own big legislation without Republican votes in 2021 and 2022, but they ran into big procedural problems trying to squeeze some of their agenda into it. Burgesss view Most conservatives will admit the filibuster benefits their party more than Democrats. Thats why the Senate didnt change the rules when former President Donald Trump was in office, even as he pushed to kill the filibuster while his party controlled all of Washington. That is a fundamental imbalance. So basically, McConnell has said: Look, we benefit from obstruction. Its a heads, we win; tails, they lose proposition, said Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, a top backer of weakening the filibuster. McConnell spoke relatively often to Manchin and Sinema over the past few years about preserving the filibuster. He even cut deals that allowed Democrats to raise the debt ceiling, which were unpopular among Republicans, in order to avoid what he perceived as a risk of the filibusters demise. I asked McConnell Thursday if he had tried to change Democrats minds about the issue, but he answered by emphasizing his public remarks against changing the filibuster. He said he doubted Democrats could be swayed because its become party policy, and Harris taking that position again only underscores that this is part of their playbook. The only way to keep the filibuster, he insisted, is for Republicans to win the Senate. PINEVILLE, Mo. McDonald County Schools are celebrating a new safety addition to the Pineville Elementary School campus. The ribbon was cut Wednesday for the schools new storm shelter and multi-purpose room. Its one of six new facilities that have been added, or are still in the works, across the district. The school was built in 2007 and lacked a gym space for students until now. The district is also celebrating new offices for its Student Services Division. Staff now have a dedicated space to collaborate with each other, as well as work with parents and students confidentially. Parents now have a place that they can come if they have questions or concerns about their students academics. We provide services to students will all variety of eligibility under the state of Missouri. They get an IEP and then we provide accommodations, said Jeanna Cable, Special Education Director. For us to be able to come in a safe, tight facility that we absolutely know is going to be absolutely essential for our littlest learners, that gives us peace of mind in this community and in this school, said Shelly Emmert, Pineville Elementary School Teacher. Pinevilles new shelter is part of the $21.5 million bond issue voters approved back in 2022. Before the shelter was built, the elementary school had no formal storm shelter to help protect students and staff during severe weather. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Medicaid Matters: A Community Summit on Healthcare will be held Oct. 1, 2024, at the Kanawha County Public Library. (Getty Images) West Virginians for Affordable Health Care (WVAHC) could not be happier to announce our annual summit. Medicaid Matters: A Community Summit on Healthcare will be held Oct. 1, 2024, at the Kanawha County Public Library, and will consist of two sessions both sessions are free and open to the public. We have hosted the Medicaid Summit for over a decade to highlight the significance of the states largest health insurance program and how it provides access to affordable care for the most vulnerable West Virginians. At the beginning of 2023, Medicaid provided health care to more than 650,000 West Virginians, including children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, low-income working adults and seniors. Medicaid played an essential role in protecting the states population from the spread of the deadly and contagious COVID virus. At a projected combined federal/state budget of more than about $5.2 billion, Medicaid supports not only West Virginia residents but also the health care infrastructure through more than $4 billion in federal matching dollars. Thats an eye-popping return on investment that should make supporting Medicaid a no-brainer. This is why West Virginians for Affordable Health Care is thrilled to be hosting its annual Medicaid Summit. And in keeping with our tradition and mission of bringing a consumer voice to public policy, we have added a new session: Enroll & Eat gets underway at 10 a.m. and will be focused on educating the public, providing free enrollment assistance, and/or providing guidance to individuals who may have lost coverage, or just need help navigating the system. If you are without insurance or anticipating the loss of your current health coverage, stop in for free assistance from WV Navigators, the experts in enrollment. Whether or not you qualify for Medicaid, WV Navigators will help you with affordable ACA options. The afternoon session will consist of policy conversations from local experts composed of health care professionals and advocates focusing on Medicaid and its emerging issues, as well as substance use disorder and recovery and oral health. Sarah Young, deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Medical Services at the West Virginia Department of Human Services will be kicking off the afternoon Policy Talks session starting at 1:30 p.m. Young and her team bring decades of experience and insights about Medicaid in West Virginia, how it is currently working, and what we can expect in the near future. Today, 512,000 West Virginia residents rely on Medicaid. About 87,000 West Virginia residents enrolled in Medicare are also covered by Medicaid. More than 50% of West Virginia residents live in rural areas; rural residents are much more likely to depend upon Medicaid than those living in urban areas. In one of the poorest states in the country, the cost of health care in West Virginia weighs heavily on our residents. This financial strain creates significant barriers to accessing essential health care services and threatens the financial stability of individuals and families. Medicaid is a lifeline. It saves lives every day. Ive seen it. One of the reasons Medicaid is continually at the forefront of our advocacy efforts is because we must ensure lawmakers prioritize the health of West Virginians and fully fund Medicaid today, tomorrow, and into the future. It seems every year Medicaid has a target on its back. Medicaid covers 53% of all children in West Virginia, including 56% of children with special health care needs. Medicaid is not a luxury. Its a vital program for tens of thousands of children, their families, and their communities. Know anyone in a nursing home? Medicaid covers 76% of nursing home residents in West Virginia, including Medicare beneficiaries who rely on Medicaid for long-term care, which Medicare does not cover 87,000 Medicare recipients also rely on Medicaid for gaps in coverage Failure to adequately fund Medicaid would have catastrophic long-term detrimental effects on our economy and our people. Stability is essential for our health and emotional well-being. It is also essential to our hospitals and the 512,000 West Virginians who depend upon Medicaid for their health-related needs People and economies rely on stability. Medicaid matters. Period. Join us on Oct. 1, 2024, at the Kanawha County Public Library. All the fun kicks off at 10 a.m. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A medical assistant employed by a North Texas pediatrics practice is accused of sexually abusing multiple children during their medical examinations, according to Irving police. The suspect, 25-year-old Angel Nunez, worked at offices of Little Spurs Pediatrics in Fort Worth, Irving, Grand Prairie and Arlington between August 2023 and August 2024, Irving police said in a news release on Thursday. Police investigators were first made aware of the allegations in late August, when they received a report of abuse that occurred at the Little Spurs Pediatrics location in Irving. The investigation found that Nunez had inappropriate sexual contact with multiple juvenile patients on separate occasions, police said in the release. These patients believed they were receiving a medical exam and were not aware at the time that they were being abused. Nunez was arrested on Sept. 5 on a charge of indecency with a child. He was released from the Dallas County Jail on $100,000 bond on Sept. 7. Irving police said that Little Spurs Pediatrics has been fully cooperative during the investigation. Investigators are encouraging anyone who may have interacted with Nunez to discuss this with their children, family members and friends. If you know of a victim or are a victim, you can contact Investigator Padrutt at (972) 721-6565 or apadrutt@cityofirving.org, or the Irving Police Department at (972) 273-1010. More top stories from our newsroom: Fort Worth school board accepts superintendent's resignation Fort Worth ISD teachers speak out as superintendents fate is decided Driver shot by off-duty officer shares his account of events [Get our breaking news alerts.] Melania Trump said that the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 angered her, calling the federal agents execution of a search warrant on the Trump Florida estate an invasion of privacy. It made me angry, yes, she told Fox News in an interview that aired on Thursday morning. Invasion of privacy. And the way it was done was I was really surprised. Asked what the state of her house was after the search, Trump said she saw unpleasant stuff that nobody wants to see it. And you get angry, because nobody should be putting up with that kind of stuff. Some person I dont even know who or how many people they went through my stuff, she said. Trump has previously referred to the search of Mar-a-Lago as an invasion of privacy. In one of her recent videos posted on social media, she appeared to suggest that the search was unconstitutional and, more ominously, that it serves as a warning to all Americans, a reminder that our freedom and rights must be respected. Unsurprisingly, that language echoes Donald Trumps attacks on the FBI search. The former president has called the Mar-a-Lago search illegal and unconstitutional, and he has repeatedly falsely accused President Joe Biden of weaponizing federal law enforcement to punish him. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has denounced such claims as false and extremely dangerous. The Fox News sit-down was the former first ladys first TV interview in more than two years, and it comes just days ahead of the release of her self-titled memoir. Melania Trump, who is known to be fiercely guarded about her private life and shares her husbands disdain for the media, said her memoir will clarify the facts about herself and present the truth. From the marketing around the book which has included cryptic black-and-white videos on her social media that allude to conspiracies against her husband the memoir could touch on her past modeling work, the media coverage of her time in the White House, and her husbands many legal woes. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Men wanted after purse stolen from car parked at Issaquah trailhead King County Sheriffs Office detectives want your help to ID a pair of suspected thieves. According to detectives, they broke into a womans car while she was hiking on Poo Poo Point, a popular trail in Issaquah. During the incident on Sept. 2, they stole her purse and the credit cards inside. Surveillance video from the Issaquah Target store captured the suspects. If you recognize the men, youre asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or use the P3 Tips app. An investigative journalist has published what he claims is the vetting dossier on Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) compiled by former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, which was hacked by Iran and subsequently leaked. The dossier, which compiles a list of the Ohio senator's "vulnerabilities," was initially sent to the likes of Politico, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, all of whom declined to publish its contents, instead writing stories about who was believed to be behind the leak. The Trump campaign said at the time it had been "obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States." But on Thursday, Ken Klippenstein, who formerly worked for the left-leaning outlet the Intercept, published what he said was the dossier on his Substack, saying he was doing so "because its of keen public interest in an election season." In his Substack post, he noted that the dossier highlights perceived weaknesses of Vance, including his opposition to providing assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Vance was picked as Trump's running mate in July, on the first day of the Republican National Convention. Social media website X suspended Klippenstien's account shortly after he posted a link to the published dossier and joked about never being able to work in media again. The Trump campaign did not outright confirm the veracity of the document published by Klippenstein and said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that he was working to advance Iran's interests. "The terror regime in Iran loves the weakness and stupidity of Kamala Harris, and is terrified of the strength and resolve of President Donald J. Trump," wrote Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign's communications director. "It's sad some reporters and media outlets have decided to do Iran's bidding." Jeffrey McCall, a professor of communication specializing in political media studies at DePauw University, told the Washington Examiner that publishing hacked materials can be "very murky water for a journalist to navigate." "Although the documents might well be authentic, Klippenstein can't be absolutely sure, and even if they are authentic, there is the matter of publishing information hacked by miscreants and basically doing the bidding of the miscreants who want to disrupt the rhetorical sphere," he wrote. "It appears the documents don't really have that much juicy stuff in them, which could well be why other media outlets have taken a pass on publication." Furthermore, McCall said he found Klippenstein's explanation for publication "a bit thin," as opposed to summarizing the documents "for their news value." "Klippenstein has now set an expectation or precedent for himself with regard to publishing hacked documents. He might have found the decision easy in this case because the documents involved Vance," McCall continued. "But should he receive unverified material regarding the Harris-Walz campaign, it will be interesting to see if he is so eager to disseminate it." Journalists publishing stolen materials has been a source of contention in modern politics. During the 2016 presidential election, a Russian hack of Democrats' emails was released in troves by WikiLeaks, with major outlets such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reporting on Hillary Clinton's private conversations. In 2017, BuzzFeed published a discredited opposition dossier compiled by ex-British spy Christopher Steele alleging Trump's ties to Russia. In the 2020 election cycle, the New York Post revealed the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop. The story was throttled by social media companies and downplayed by Joe Biden as the product of a Russian disinformation campaign. Thursday's release of the Vance dossier set off another social media firestorm. Ali Breland, a writer for the Atlantic, claimed to have been temporarily locked out of his X account for posting a screenshot of the published dossier. Featured Local Savings got temporarily locked out of twitter for posting about the jd vance dossier with a screenshot from his investments portion. it's not "private information" anymore pic.twitter.com/WWasZhlvRU Ali Breland (@alibreland) "Notable how quickly they started enforcing the Vance dossier given how diminished the moderation team is and how they often don't bother to handle a lot of things that otherwise violate the rules, or at least handle them quickly," Breland added in a subsequent post on X. X's safety account confirmed that Klippenstein was temporarily suspended from the platform, "for violating our rules on posting unredacted private personal information, specifically Sen. Vances physical addresses and the majority of his Social Security number." Ken Klippenstein was temporarily suspended for violating our rules on posting unredacted private personal information, specifically Sen. Vances physical addresses and the majority of his Social Security number. Safety (@Safety) Elon Musk, X's owner, frequently defends the platform as a harbor for free speech and was quickly criticized for suppressing Klippenstein's report despite the website's stated policy on the publication of hacked materials. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "Elon Musk, 'free speech absolutist', just suspended progressive journalist Ken Klippenstein after he reported on the JD Vance Dossier," one self-identified "socialist and progressive" content creator wrote. "If anybody still believes the delusional notion that Elon is some sort of free speech champion and not a total partisan hack, he suspended Ken for leaking the JD Vance dossier. Shameful and cowardly behavior," added user "BirdRespecter." Elon Musk, "free speech absolutist", just suspended progressive journalist Ken Klippenstein after he reported on the JD Vance Dossier: pic.twitter.com/rKMZK8ubDl SDL (@SocDoneLeft) Meryl Streep takes on the Taliban with a story about cats, squirrels and birds When award-winning actress Meryl Streep spoke on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly about cats, squirrels and birds, she wasnt making a point about hunters and prey. She was comparing all three with women and girls in Afghanistan and pointing out that the animals have more rights. A cat may feel the sun on her face. She may chase a squirrel into the park A bird may sing in Kabul, but a girl may not, and a woman may not in public. This is extraordinary, Streep said on Monday. This is a suppression of the natural law. This is odd. As Streeps words ricocheted around social media, four countries stepped forward to announce unprecedented action against the ruling Taliban for its systematic oppression of women and girls. Germany, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands on Thursday accused the hardline Islamist group of violating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The convention was ratified by the previous Afghan government in 2003, well before the Taliban re-seized power three years ago after the withdrawal of the United States and its allies following a 20-year war. We know that women and girls of Afghanistan are effectively being erased from public life by the various edicts the Taliban have issued, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters in New York. The steps we are taking with Germany, Canada and the Netherlands are unprecedented. Taliban security personnel stand guard as a burqa-clad woman walks through a market in Baharak district of Badakhshan province, Afghanistan on February 26, 2024. - Wail Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images/File Tightening restrictions Since taking power, the Taliban has gradually tightened restrictions on women and girls. They are no longer allowed to work or study beyond grade 6. Their bodies must be fully covered, and they are forbidden to look at men they are not related to by blood or marriage and vice versa. The Talibans latest edicts last month, referred to by Streep, include the demand for women and girls to remain silent in public. According to the Talibans own strict interpretation of Islam, a womans voice is deemed intimate and so should not be heard singing, reciting, or reading out loud. This systematic oppression of women and girls, also alleged by the UN, has fueled a mental health crisis in Afghanistans female population. Depression among women and girls is rising, according to health experts and rights activists leading to a surge in suicide and suicide attempts. Human Rights Watch says the legal move by the four Western nations could lead to proceedings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. As a signatory to CEDAW, Afghanistan is expected to respond to the complaint. However, the document was signed by the previous government, and so far, the Taliban has shown no sign of changing its stance despite international condemnation. In a statement Thursday, a Taliban spokesman said it was absurd to accuse Afghanistans leaders of gender discrimination. Human rights are protected in Afghanistan and no one is discriminated, said Hamdullah Fitrat Fitrat. Unfortunately, an attempt is being made to spread propaganda against Afghanistan through the mouths of some women and make the situation look wrong. Meryl Streep attends a press conference following an event on "The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan," on September 23, 2024, at the United Nations headquarters. - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Erasure of an entire gender In New York, Streep told CNNs Christiane Amanpour that she felt moved to speak up for Afghan women and girls because the Talibans actions are like the erasure of an entire gender. Fawzia Koofi, a former Afghan member of parliament, told Amanpour the Taliban had failed to understand that Afghanistan has transformed. Despite the Talibans efforts to erase them, she said women were fighting to have their voices heard. After the Taliban banned womens voices in public, some posted videos of themselves to social media, singing in defiance. That is a sign of a different Afghanistan that the Taliban dont get, said Koofi. Today, every woman in Afghanistan is a journalist, every woman in Afghanistan is a TV, by talking about what their experience is. Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the action by Germany and its partners may mark the beginning of the path to justice for the Talibans egregious human rights violations against Afghan women and girls. It is vitally important for other countries to register their support for this action and for them to involve Afghan women as the process moves forward, she said. CNNs Ehsan Popalzai contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) With the month of September wrapping up, that means the end of Workforce Development Month. Created in 2005, Workforce Devlopment Month is a chance for jobseekers to find work. Mesa Countys Workforce Development Center held an open house Wednesday, to highlight the many services the Workforce Center has to offer. Individuals can come and work on their resumes, can work on cover letters, actually do job searching and meet with employment specialists, said Mesa County Workforce Center Director Heather Nara. Nara also talked about other services offered, including assessments jobseekers can take to help further build their resume. (Its) to be able to show many of the skills that are sometimes hard to put down on paper. We actually have assessments to be able to show those results. A recent graduate of Colorado Mesa University and jobseeker Tafa Bochmann came to the open house to take assessments to build his resume. Bochmann had this to say to any employers looking for someone with his skill set. Im fresh out of college, but Ive got a lot of work experience under my belt. I feel like Ive got a lot of give to people and more important than anything, I think I have the right attitude and the compassion and the flexibility needed to be an asset to any employer, business, or organization that may need me. A link to the Mesa County Workforce Center can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. The co-chair of the Republicans for Harris committee, Mesa Mayor John Giles, said in an exclusive interview on Wednesday he supports Vice President Kamala Harris' economic plan because it would help middle America. Harris, who is expected to visit Douglas, Arizona, on Friday, rolled out details of her economic policies earlier in the day. She said in a major policy speech that her goals are to further manufacturing investment in the country, create opportunities for trade workers and cut red tape to build homes faster. Giles, a Republican mayor, has fully backed Harris run for president when he endorsed her candidacy in July and spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Some 90 Arizona Republicans have publicly thrown their support to the Democratic candidate. Mesa is the second-largest city in Maricopa County and has seen a boom in economic investment over the past several years, particularly in the southeastern area of the city near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Giles told The Arizona Republic that Harris plan shows she is focused on real people, real-life problems and Mr. Trump seems focused on the people that are exactly like him. For undecided voters, Giles said this economic plan is a great area for people to do a deep dive into. This is what Giles had to say about how the plan will benefit Mesa and Arizona. How does Harris' plan promote affordable housing development and housing assistance? The Harris plan calls for an expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to reduce the cost for private developers to reserve a percentage of rent-restricted units. Harris promises an additional 3 million homes built with these tax incentives. First-time homeowners who have paid their rent on time for two years could see $25,000 in down-payment assistance. Those are very specific and very targeted government steps ... that would have tremendous impact on the housing supply and housing affordability crisis were having, Giles said. What did Harris mean about cutting the 'red tape'? Harris said in her speech at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh on Wednesday that in America it takes too long and costs too much to build. She said she would work with Congress, businesses and local leaders to reform permitting. Granting permits is a distinctly local government role. Giles acknowledged there needs to be some local reform to the zoning and permitting process. He said the Arizona League of Cities has worked on state legislation that could help, but more is needed. We need to remove any barriers that we can when it comes to developing residential properties. We still want to have well-planned cities and there is still a role for the city, in making sure bad housing isnt built, Giles said. How would the Harris plan help bring jobs to Mesa residents? Giles views Harris plan as a direct response to struggling middle-income Americans and that a majority part of our city would likely benefit from that. He said the city has already been on the receiving end of the current administrations policies that helped bring advanced manufacturing and the semiconductor industry to Mesa. The idea that were going to see more of that would be very exciting for places like southeast Mesa, where we have a lot of commercial and industrial buildings that would be filled with those jobs, Giles said. 'I am a capitalist': Harris promises 'pragmatic' economic approach This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 reasons Mesa mayor likes Harris' economic plan for Arizona Mohamed Fayed, the late Harrods owner, has been accused of multiple instances of rape - PA Nineteen women have made allegations against Mohamed Fayed, the former Harrods owner, to the Metropolitan Police, the force has revealed. The reports, made between 2005 and 2023, included three allegations of rape, 15 reports of sexual assault and one related to trafficking. The offences are said to have taken place between 1979 and 2013. Between 2005 and 2023, the Met approached the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on five occasions two of these, in 2009 and 2015, were to pass full files of evidence. However, in all 19 allegations that were reported to police, no further action was taken against Fayed, who died last year aged 94. The Metropolitan Police also announced it was looking into any other people who could be pursued for criminal offences over sexual abuse allegations against Fayed. The force is asking potential victims who have not come forward to do so. It is important to make clear at this stage that it is not possible for criminal proceedings to be brought against someone who has died, the force said in a statement. This means there is no prospect of any conviction relating to Fayed himself. However, we must ensure we fully explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences. As such, we are carrying out full reviews of all existing allegations reported to us about Al Fayed to ensure there are no new lines of enquiry based on new information which has emerged. It comes as Michael Ward, the managing director of Harrods, claimed that he was not aware of Fayeds predatory sexual abuse. Fayed has been accused by more than 100 women of sexual abuse in the wake of a BBC documentary about his alleged attacks. Mr Ward has been under mounting pressure to reveal what he knew about Fayeds alleged attacks after managers were accused of presiding over a culture of secrecy and fear. Mr Ward, who has been in the post since 2006, oversaw the luxury retailer both while it was under Fayeds ownership and afterwards. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Mr Ward. In a written statement, Mr Ward accused his former boss of presiding over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct. Michael Ward, the managing director of Harrods, said an independent review was under way into the allegations made against Fayed - GEOFF PUGH FOR THE TELEGRAPH Mr Ward said an independent review was underway into issues arising from the allegations and that he had provided all the information I have to ensure my own conduct can be reviewed alongside that of my colleagues. In a statement, he said: As we have already stated, we failed our colleagues and for that we are deeply sorry. As someone who has worked at Harrods since 2006, and therefore worked for Fayed until the change of ownership in 2010, I feel it is important to make it clear that I was not aware of his criminality and abuse. While it is true that rumours of his behaviour circulated in the public domain, no charges or allegations were ever put to me by the police, the CPS, internal channels or others. Had they been, I would, of course, have acted immediately. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has backed stop and search as an extremely important tool against knife crime - Guy Corbishley / Alamy Stop and searches by Metropolitan Police officers have fallen by more than a fifth in just a year despite record rates of knife crime, official figures show. The number of stop and searches nationally declined year-on-year by 2.3 per cent to 530,093, a third of the number in the peak year of 2008-09, when Labour was last in power. The fall in stop and searches by the Met was even steeper, dropping by 22.8 per cent from 177,490 in the year to March 2023 to 137,055 in the year to March 2024. It was the fifth-highest fall of any police force across England and Wales and its second-lowest stop and search figure after 2017-18, when just 134,619 were recorded. Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has pledged to increase its use after admitting it had fallen partly because of officers lack of confidence amid fears of complaints, the investigation they get and whether they feel supported behind it. It comes as knife crime in the capital has hit a record high of 14,961 offences in the year to March 2024, up 16.3 per cent from 12,864 in the previous year and beating the previous high of 14,680 in 2019-20. Sir Mark Rowley has pledged to increase the use of stop and search - Aaron Chown/PA Wire The West Midlands, which has the highest knife crime rates relative to the population, recorded a 1.5 per cent increase in such offences. It also recorded a drop in stop and searches of 6.1 per cent in the year to March 2024, although the figures in the previous year were at their highest levels in a decade. This is in stark contrast to Greater Manchester Police, which increased searches by 51 per cent this year to 45,851, its highest levels since 2011-12. Manchester did not release knife crime data this year, but the city saw overall violent crime with or without a weapon decline by 6 per cent last year, whereas Londons knife crime increased by 4 per cent. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has backed stop and search as an extremely important tool against knife crime but said it must also be done in an effective and fair way because of community concerns. She has also pledged to halve knife crime in a decade. Measures include banning ninja swords, introducing new penalties for tech bosses who allow the sale of knives online, and ensuring no young person caught with a knife will escape sanction. Decline in searches makes streets less safe Chris Philp, the shadow commons leader who was policing minister, said: I am appalled by the decline in stop and search. It means our streets are less safe. Stop and search is an effective way to take knives off streets and squeamishness about community relations should not be prioritised over public safety. Greater Manchesters force and their excellent Chief Constable Stephen Watson is once again leading the way. I call on the Home Secretary to urgently show real leadership to ensure that all forces, especially the Met, are using their powers fully to fight knife crime by increasing stop and search. Otherwise Yvette Coopers words this week about cutting knife crime are meaningless platitudes. Sir Mark Rowley admitted stop and search operations had fallen partly because of officers fears of complaints - pixel8000 Knife crime in London has increased, despite a reduction in stop and search tactics by police - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Among the victims of knife crime are Daniel Anjorin, 14, who was stabbed by a 33-year-old man armed with a ninja-style sword who attacked him as he was walking to school in Hainault, Redbridge in April. Josh McKay, a 33-year-old father of two was stabbed in Waltham Forest, east London, just before 3pm on July 6. He died at the scene. His family said: The heart of our family has stopped beating. The world is less bright without his beautiful smile. Pharrell Garcia, 15, was stabbed in Stoke Newington, Hackney, at about 4.05pm on July 23. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Another 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder the same evening. On July 25, the suspect was charged with murder. Pharrell Garcia, 15, was stabbed in Stoke Newington on July 23 - Metropolitan Police Police may be using targeted approach Although stops have fallen, the proportion resulting in an arrest has risen to its highest rate at 14.2 per cent per stop and search suggesting police are using a more targeted intelligence-led approach. Alleged inequality is down with black people 3.7 times more likely to be stopped compared with 4.1 last year and 9.7 in 2018-19, representing a record low. Stop and searches by police plummeted in 2014 after Theresa May, the then home secretary, clamped down on what she claimed were illegal searches by officers and a disproportionate use of tactics against ethnic minorities. They dropped to a low of just 282,380 in 2017-18 before increasing after Sajid Javid, then home secretary, expanded police stop powers. Supporters of stop and search point out that the success rate for finding knives or drugs using the tactics are the same across ethnic groups irrespective of whether they are white or black, challenging claims that police unfairly target particular minorities. They also say that the rate of stop and search is not disproportionate if the statistics compare people of different ethnic backgrounds but focus on younger generations who are more likely to be knife offenders than older people. A Met Police spokesman said: We focus on the quality of the encounter and the precision in the use of the power, in order to ensure that we retain the trust and confidence of the public. The launch of our new stop and search charter, co-written by Londoners, will help us greatly with this work. But we also know that an accountability system which is slow, unfair and ineffective has damaged officers confidence to use the power. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Hundreds protest against the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students, at the anti-monument on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City in June 2022. Hundreds protest against the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students, at the anti-monument on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City in June 2022. Photograph: Isaac Esquivel/EPA Their faces gaze from banners on street corners, in trendy neighborhoods and roughshod barrios. Their eyes watch from gas stations and toll booths. On Mexico Citys central Paseo de la Reforma, an entire roundabout has been taken over by family members begging for help to find their missing loved ones. In cities from Monterrey to Merida, the missing loom large, a constant, ever-present reminder of a crisis that has overtaken the nation. More than 100,000 people have disappeared in Mexico, a staggering human rights catastrophe. A combination of soaring cartel violence and government impunity has left tens of thousands of people unaccounted for, many of them dead and buried in unmarked graves, others kidnapped and forced to work for organized crime. But while they may be missing, they are ever-present in cities across the country, changing the urban fabric as relatives and activists demand help in the face of government inaction through murals, posters, statues, blockades and tent encampments. Related: Disappearing the disappeared: outcry after Mexico reduces number of missing The phenomenon is perhaps most palpable in Mexico City, seat of the countrys political power. In recent years, the statues of great heroes from Mexicos past that line Paseo de la Reforma have been joined by a new set of public monuments created by an underground collective of artists, activists, engineers and architects to draw attention to the extraordinary acts of violence sweeping the nation. The first such anti-monument, as they are known, was set up in 2015 marking what remains Mexicos most devastating case of disappearance: the forced disappearance of 43 student teachers from the Ayotzinapa rural teachers college at the hands of a crime faction working with local and federal authorities. The anti-monument of a giant red 43 remains a painful reminder of violence and impunity in Mexico, particularly given that the case remains unsolved. Related: A Mexican town celebrates even as it mourns the victims of forced disappearance: Theres still this emptiness This week marks the 10th anniversary of the mass vanishing, which has become a thorn in the side of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The president, who leaves office at the end of the month, had vowed to solve the case and even created a special truth commission to investigate the students disappearance, but little significant progress has been made in solving one of Mexicos most horrifying crimes. According to one of the activists behind the anti-monument who gave only his codename, Juan, the idea for the monument was not just about drawing government attention to the 43 missing students but also the tens of thousands of other missing people in Mexico hence the inclusion of a plus sign next to the number. And unlike a speech or a rally, he said, an anti-monument is built to last until such time as justice is served. With a poster, with a slogan, with a banner, its very easy for them to fade away, said Juan. But to represent that absence as a three-dimensional object makes it so that it cant fade away, its not something ephemeral. On the 26th of each month, parents of the missing students march through Mexico City to mark the anniversary of the mass disappearance. Along the way, they stop at the anti-monument to read out the names of their missing sons, marking another month without their children. The anti-monument is so the government doesnt forget, said Cristina Bautista, whose son Benjamin was among the 43 who disappeared that night. We can never forget our children. For us as mothers, they are always present. Valentina Rozas-Krause, assistant professor of architecture and design at Adolfo Ibanez University in Chile, said that these kinds of anti-monuments were a powerful way for citizens to reappropriate public spaces and counter official narratives. If the state has been silencing these deaths or if the disappearances havent been investigated, you can say, no, theyre not forgotten, this is not closed, we will not rest until theyre back or until we know what happened. A few hundred feet from the 43 sculpture on Paseo de la Reforma, family members and activists have pasted faces of their missing loved ones all over a set of bollards, creating another ad-hoc anti-monument to the disappeared. One of the faces is of a young man, Jhonatan Guadalupe Romero Gil, a lawyer, who was 25 when he was abducted by police in 2018 along with a friend in the city of Acapulco. His friends body was found the next day, but Jhonatan has not been seen since. His mother Socorro has spent the last six years searching, begging for help from the police and prosecutors, but has received no answers. Related: Can Mexicos 43 missing students get justice at last or will politics prevail? Its been hell, truly, she said. There were days that I didnt sleep, I stayed inside all day crying. I wanted to die. Like many mothers in Mexico, Socorro took matters into her own hands, even going out into the field searching for her sons body. In 2023, she found a grave with 17 corpses. None were her son. Now she travels the country and even the world with her little posters, putting them up everywhere from Mexico City to Venice. I want to think that hell see one of the posters one day, she said through tears. Or that the people who took him away will see a poster, take pity and tell me where he is. Reporting for this story was supported by the Alicia Patterson Foundation New Mexico man pleads guilty to being a felon in possession of a gun ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A New Mexico man who led police officers on a violent chase through an Albuquerque hotel pled guilty in federal court on Wednesday. In February, Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputies tried to stop 39-year-old Lupe Vargas for a problem with his temporary tag. Thats when investigators said Vargas crashed his car into a pillar at the Ramada Hotel in northeast Albuquerque, shot at deputies, and then ran into a hotel. Espanola man sentenced for role in kidnapping, killing woman in 2018 During the pursuit, BCSO said Vargas changed out of his white tank top into a red shirt and walked out of the property acting like nothing happened. A K9 deputy led deputies to him. Vargas pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a gun. He faces up to 15 years behind bars. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. (Bloomberg) -- Mexicos peso is set to strengthen through the first half of next year as investors grow more comfortable with the new administration and volatility around the US election fades, according to UBS Group AG. Most Read from Bloomberg The currency should gain around 5% from current levels to 18.50 per dollar by the middle of 2025 and end the year in those levels, said Gabriela Soni, head of investment strategy at UBS Mexico. Thats stronger than the median of analyst expectations, at 19.13 per dollar, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. We see a window of opportunity, a better relationship between risk and reward, toward the end of this year when all the uncertainty has passed, Soni said in an interview in Mexico City. In the short term, the currency will likely remain volatile, she added. Mexicos peso lost its post as the best major currency in the world after June elections brought in an unexpected landslide win for the ruling coalition, giving it a majority in congress that allows for constitutional changes. The peso tumbled around 14% as lawmakers moved forward with a plan that would replace judges with elected officials, raising fears of fewer checks and balances on the ruling Morena party. The currency recovered more than 2% from a nearly two-year low this month when the measure was signed into law ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. The peso will get a lift if Sheinbaum implements a more business-friendly stance than outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Soni said. Still, analysts remain cautious of the peso, which has also been hit by the unwinding of so-called carry trades, volatility around the US election and the growing interest-rate differentials with other emerging currencies all of which have helped dent its appeal with traders. Signs of Moderation As Sheinbaum takes office on Oct. 1, investors will be watching for signs that she could moderate the judicial overhaul through secondary legislation needed to implement it. Moves to tighten up requirements to run for judicial office would be positive, Soni said. Investors will also watch for more details on her plans to fund national infrastructure spending to address constraints in logistics, power and water supply that could crimp the migration of more factories to Mexico in order to be closer to the US, the so-called nearshoring. If a plan is sent where they are going to invest in all these issues, in order to be able to resolve the bottlenecks, then it could also be a catalyst to attract more investments to Mexico, Soni said. Sheinbaum will need to engineer an opening toward the private sector in order to attract the investment needed to fund such infrastructure plans, she said. The peso could also gain if Sheinbaum delivers a budget that clearly lays out how the government will cut its deficit, Soni said. Sheinbaum and Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O have said they aim to narrow the deficit to under 3.5% of gross domestic product from 5.9% this year, which is the highest since the 1980s. A consolidation effort perhaps not toward 3%, but toward 4% or 4.5% would be well received by the market, she added. Mexico Operations UBS is expanding its private banking operations in Mexico after it shuttered its local stock brokerage in 2021 and then acquired Credit Suisses business in the country following UBSs rescue of its Swiss rival in 2023. Gustavo Galvan Duque, UBSs country head for Mexico, said the bank is advancing well in combining the two businesses, which allowed it to grow wealth management assets and clients in a way that otherwise would have taken it seven or eight years. --With assistance from Andrea Navarro and Alex Vasquez. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Reclining in his Miami home, retired U.S. Army Colonel David Lawrence Adderley faced the television screen through which he watched countless Christian programs on Three Angels Broadcasting Network. The lifelong Seventh-day Adventist expressed regret as he reflected on a real estate transaction he made with the nonprofit network, known as 3ABN, which pitches charitable trust opportunities to the faithful. The land in dispute is on Long Island, Bahamas. Adderleys grandfather, Lawrence Wellington Adderley, the grandson of a former slave, purchased the property piece by piece over his lifetime and left it to his 12 children, Adderley family members say. David Adderley, who is legally blind and has dual citizenship in the United States and The Bahamas, said he inherited the land from his father and intended to donate one to two acres to Adventists for a sanctuary and other religious purposes. He alleges 3ABN executives misled him into signing away some 400 acres for a fraction of the propertys estimated $23 million to $32 million value. It was just so confusing for me, said Adderley, now 86, as he reflected on signing various documents that gave 3ABN possession of the oceanfront property that had been in his family for four generations. The dispute has pitted Adderley and his family against a global televangelical network, stoked the suspicions of Bahamians wary of foreigners stripping locals of generational property, and raised questions about the tactics used by an independent, nonprofit Christian ministry with close ties to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a denomination with deep and growing roots in the Caribbean. Krystal Adderley, 40, embraces her father, David Lawrence Adderley, 86, at their home in Miami-Dade on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. David Adderleys daughter, Krystal Adderley, who lives near her father in suburban Miami, said 3ABN took advantage of him. If theyre Christian, they should want to pay my father what that property was actually worth. 3ABN obtained the real estate through an irrevocable trust agreement David Adderley signed in 2011 and a lawsuit settlement he agreed to in 2020. Questions remain about whether Adderley relatives in The Bahamas have a claim to the property, a dispute now pending in the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Mysterious neighbors Long Island, a narrow swath of land about 80 miles long and home to 3,000 residents, is a place where locals take pride in family heritage, foreigners find solitude in the laid-back Caribbean lifestyle, and island gossip spreads like wildfire through the balmy tropical breeze. In recent years, locals have watched with curiosity as No Trespassing signs, security cameras, a chain link fence, and new dirt roads appeared on the Adderley property. Most noticeably, a deck emerged on the beachfront, offering a breathtaking view of the prismatic blue waters. Locals have watched with suspicion as gates, roads and this oceanfront deck began to appear on the property. The oceanfront land is a short walk up the beach to Long Islands most famous tourist attraction, Deans Blue Hole dive site. At Ericas Bakery & Shop, a popular store with everything from bug spray to freshly-baked coconut cake, owner Erica Darville said the situation is a hot topic of conversation on the island. They had [construction] equipment and everything come from far away, and nobody knows whats going on, Darville said. When I was a little girl, we used to go in the back there, fishing and camping. But when they came, they blocked the road off so nobody had access. At the center of the dispute is Danny Shelton, who founded 3ABN 40 years ago in a small Illinois town with his second wife, Linda Shelton. Rising from humble beginnings, the Sheltons turned 3ABN into a powerful media outreach ministry, but not without controversy. Despite stepping down twice as president, Danny Shelton remains a central figure at 3ABN, hosting programs, promoting books and singing gospel favorites. Now a 3ABN business consultant, he remains the highest-paid person listed on 3ABNs non-profit tax filings and the first leader listed on the ministrys website. Shelton and his fourth wife, Yvonne, founder of 3ABNs Dare to Dream Network, have established themselves on the island. They are now permanent residents of The Bahamas, living in a yellow house with a white lattice fence and spectacular Atlantic ocean view. Danny and Yvonne Shelton are establishing themselves in The Bahamas community. Here, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis thanks the couple for donating Jaws of Life rescue equipment to the government for use on Long Island. As residents of Turtle Cove, a subdivision adjacent to the world-famous Deans Blue Hole dive site, the Sheltons neighbors are expats from the United States, Europe and other parts of the world. Some neighbors interviewed for this article said Danny Shelton has been flying in friends and associates from the United States in an effort to sell portions of the Adderley property for residential development. They said he told them he also plans to build a health and wellness facility of some kind. Shelton has been managing the Adderley estate in The Bahamas with the help of former Long Island Police Superintendent Warren Rodgers. Twenty years ago, Rodgers kept an eye on the property for David Adderley. Today, he works as a security subcontractor for 3ABN, preventing Adderleys from accessing the former land. Tensions have flared, with the family accusing Shelton and Rodgers of having relatives who try to access the property arrested. READ MORE: Scandals over the years at the Christian TV ministry known as 3ABN The Sheltons neighbors, Travis and Betsy Hoffman, said they moved from southern Illinois to Long Island to live in paradise. They said they try to mind their own business, but the controversy has been hard to ignore. No locals are happy about this, Travis Hoffman said. They think he (Shelton) is stealing the land. Requests for interviews with Shelton and other 3ABN leaders were referred to Minnesota attorney M. Gregory Simpson, who replied to emailed questions. Simpson denied all allegations against the network, saying 3ABN did not mislead David Adderley or mistreat the family in The Bahamas. According to Simpson, 3ABN verified that Adderley had clear title to the land. A photo of David Lawrence Adderley standing on his land in The Bahamas. He said the trust agreement was read to Mr. Adderley in its entirety. Mr. Adderley was vision-impaired, but the extent of his impairment was never precisely determined. He had a device with which he could read documents in his home. Simpson said 3ABN advised Adderley to get his own attorney to help him with the trust agreement. Adderley did not, despite the staggering volume and value of the land involved. He trusted them According to Simpson, the transaction began when Adderley made an unsolicited call to the ministry in July 2011, saying he owned land on Long Island and wanted to donate to 3ABN in a way that would allow him to achieve both tax benefits and income. A month later, Roy Hunt, Jr., 3ABNs director of planned giving & trust services, headed to Miami to help Adderley sign an irrevocable trust agreement with 3ABN, court records show. Five months later, according to documents filed in Miami federal court, Hunt was back in Miami to take Adderley to the Bahamian consulate in Miami to execute and notarize three indentures of conveyance transferring the Bahamas property to the trust. That same day, he resigned as trustee. Under the terms of the trust agreement Adderley signed six months earlier, that meant 3ABN became trustee. The trust was an irrevocable Charitable Remainder Unitrust or CRUT. This is a type of trust where a donor is able to get some income and tax benefits by transferring an asset to a charitable organization. Typically, the asset would produce some amount of income, a portion of which would then be transferred to the donor on a fixed annual schedule. David Lawrence Adderley, 86, is photographed at his home in Miami-Dade on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The problem with the Adderley CRUT is that the land wasnt generating income and there was no requirement that 3ABN sell it or develop it within a certain period of time, experts consulted by the Miami Herald said. If theres no income, you get nothing, said Pamela Harrigan-Young, an estate planning attorney based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a disincentive for the charity to sell and that is a shame. If the property had been sold, however, Harrigan-Young said, the charity could have been on the hook to pay Adderley back for the years he didnt get income, based on the value of the sale. Simpson said Adderley understood the terms of the trust and that the property had to be marketed and sold for the trust to have any money with which to make any payment. Mr. Adderley was then to receive income from the CRUT during his lifetime, and upon his death, 3ABN would receive the remainder. Simpson said 3ABN made several attempts to sell the property, but all were unsuccessful. Seven years after entering the 2011 trust agreement with 3ABN, Adderley sought to overturn it. He hired Miami attorney Ross Kulberg and filed suit in Miami federal court, arguing that he was legally blind and did not realize what he was signing, and that 3ABN misled him about the terms of the trust. Adderley had a heightened level of trust in Hunt and 3ABN, the lawsuit alleged. He trusted them to be truthful and moral in character because he thought Hunt and 3ABN were working in conjunction with the beliefs, doctrines and mission of his Church. TIMELINE: How a TV ministry took over a familys 400-acre Bahamas estate for a fraction of its value The suit, initially filed in 2018 and amended in 2019, named as defendants 3ABN, Hunt, and Shelton, as well as James Gilley, at the time 3ABN president and now deceased, and Richard Barry Benton, an attorney working for 3ABN. Hunt testified that Adderley was bound and determined to sell the property for $30 million. He said an appraisal commissioned by 3ABN put the value at $22.9 million in November 2012. In his lawsuit, Adderley claimed the property was worth $32 million. According to records filed in the suit, Benton prepared a document for Adderley showing that, with his gift valued at $30 million, he could make $1.5 million a year from the deal and take major tax deductions, but that would only come if the property was sold and the proceeds invested. Regarding the amount Adderley expected to receive, Simpson stated in an email: Mr. Adderley was never told that he would receive $1.5 million annually. In court, 3ABN argued to dismiss the suit. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. agreed that Adderley failed to do his due diligence in understanding the terms of the agreement he signed, but declined to dismiss several claims against 3ABN - among them civil theft and exploitation of an elderly person. Those claims were never tried. The case was voluntarily dismissed in 2020, when Adderley and 3ABN agreed to settle. The network would pay Adderley $3 million for full ownership of the land, and Adderley would recant his allegations against 3ABN. Krystal Adderley, 40, helps her father, David Lawrence Adderley, 86, walk at their home in Miami-Dade on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. Simpson would not disclose or verify the terms of the settlement. Adderleys daughter, Krystal Adderley, said it amounted to about 10 percent of the value of the property, and much of that went to attorneys fees. David Adderley, whose memory now comes and goes, told a reporter he felt overwhelmed by all of the legal maneuvers. So, he said, I just got out of it. Conflicts flare over generational property To Adderley relatives in the Bahamas, 3ABNs possession of the land came as an unwelcome surprise. My granddaddy always said it was generational property, said Christine Adderley-Smith of Nassau, David Adderleys cousin. It was where the males back in the day would get married, and their dads would give them property to build on the farm because thats what most of the island folks did. Adderley-Smith said most family members left the island for Nassau or the United States years ago. Her brother, Ambrose, now 53, was the only one still living on the property, where he raised sheep and goats and grew watermelons, pineapples and pumpkins. When relatives came to town, Ambrose was the one who took them around and made them feel like they were still connected to the island. Adderley-Smith said she did not know 3ABN had possession of the property until December 2022, when friends contacted her about a dispute between Ambrose and 3ABN representatives. According to the family, Ambrose found himself unexpectedly barred from the property when he returned from a two-month stay in Nassau, where he had gone for treatment of a leg injury. When he arrived, he found a sign in front of the property: Private Property. No Trespassing. Violators Will Be Prosecuted. Krystal Adderley, left, a Miami resident and daughter of David Adderley, stands next to a No Trespassing sign erected by 3ABN in Long Island, Bahamas, with her cousin Norma Fernander, who lives in Nassau. The family, which owned the property for four generations, alleges that 3ABN misled David Adderley into signing away 400 acres. Ambrose Adderley described the incident in Bahamian court papers, stating Rodgers told him Shelton did not want him on the land. Ambrose requested papers confirming Sheltons legal possession of the property, but the documents were not provided and he was told to vacate the property or be arrested. In an interview with a reporter, Ambrose said he became angry, tried to burn down the no-trespassing sign and was arrested. In a more recent incident this spring, Ambroses niece was briefly arrested for damaging a security camera, according to Adderley-Smith and other relatives. Simpson, the attorney representing 3ABN, denied Ambrose Adderleys allegations. He said network representatives maintained a friendly relationship with him in the past, which included hiring him on numerous occasions to do work on the property. 3ABN has given him clothing, food, and a bicycle, and on one occasion 3ABN paid for his flight to Nassau for medical care, he stated. The controversy sparked a backlash against Rodgers among some Bahamians on social media. A political activist in The Bahamas, Lincoln Bain, posted a live video on Facebook last fall, urging Bahamians on Long Island to fight 3ABNs possession of the land. 3ABN, Danny Shelton, or whoever, dont own the property yet, he said. Long Islanders go and kick that sign down now. Pull that up, uproot that. Yall stand up. What kind of nonsense is this? Ambrose Adderley is pictured on the property with his goats in this undated photo. Rodgers denied destroying Ambrose Adderleys animals and crops and said he has had no influence over the police force. In his role as 3ABNs security detail, Rodgers said, he put up 30 No Trespassing signs on the property, and the one Ambrose vandalized cost $700. If you own your property and house, would you allow anybody with free will just to come onto your house or property? I dont think so, he said. Its private property, and it belongs to 3ABN. Bahamian relatives fight back In an effort to obtain clear title to the property, 3ABN in March 2023 filed a petition with the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas under the Quieting Titles Act of 1959. The petition gave anyone who believed they had legal right to the property 30 days to file a claim. Adderley relatives in The Bahamas filed a claim on behalf of Ambrose Adderley. In August 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that a surveyor could access the land to assess Ambroses claim and determine the number of acres. A hearing is scheduled for October, according to Adderley-Smith. In written statements to the court, the family argued that the land had been Ambroses home for decades. It was a place where he and his sister harvested and exported the bark of cascarilla trees, known for medicinal properties. Hurricane Irene destroyed much of that business in 2011, they said, but Ambrose continued farming the land. Relatives involved in the Quieting Title case said David Adderley had no right to transfer the property to 3ABN, alleging that his father fraudulently obtained the land by misrepresenting his birth order. According to relatives, the true eldest son was a baby born out of wedlock, before Adderleys father was born. David Lawrence Adderley, 86, is photographed at his home in Miami-Dade on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. David Adderleys daughter, Krystal Adderley, said her grandfather received Letters of Administration from the Supreme Court of The Bahamas, giving him the legal right to settle his fathers estate. She said her grandfather conveyed several of the properties to himself and her father while he was still living, so that when he died the properties automatically transferred to her father. Krystal said she supports her cousin Ambroses efforts to retain the land, even if it means her father will never regain the property. I dont care what happens in the end as long as my family is back on that land and 3ABN is gone (because) what they did is wrong, she said. I recognize as somebody in America that a lot of African American people dont have a lot of things like this. So it brings me joy and pride to know that I had a great-grandfather who did something for the betterment of his family. Thats generational property. While visiting the Bahamas in May, a reporter stopped by the government house on Long Island in an attempt to interview Long Island Administrator Jandilee Archer about 3ABNs possession of the property, the treatment of family by law enforcement, and the quieting title case. Archer said she could not comment on the controversy and referred the reporter to the Bahamian attorney generals office in Nassau. Calls to the AGs and prime ministers offices were not returned. Simpson said the network acquired the land legally. When David (Adderley) conveyed his Long Island property to 3ABN, he believed he was its sole owner, Simpson said. After a thorough survey and expert research into old land records, 3ABN concluded that David was correct: Nobody else appeared to have a claim of ownership on the land. 3ABN plans to establish clear title to the property it acquired from Mr. Adderley through the Bahamian quieting title process, Simpson said. It is hoped that the sale proceeds realized from this property will help 3ABN spread its message of truth, hope and inspiration. Chosen by God 3ABNs Adventist-themed programming is popular in Latin America and the Caribbean, home to a deep and growing Adventist community. The network, based in the southern Illinois town of West Frankfort, broadcasts and streams around the world 24 hours a day. 3ABN is financially and legally independent of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but the network features prominent Adventist preachers and programs on its TV, radio and internet channels, and employs many of the Adventist faith. As a nonprofit, the media ministry relies on tens of millions of dollars from its planned giving and trust services that it promotes on its broadcasts and in Adventist churches. A statement in the about us section of the networks website reads: We believe 3ABN has leaders chosen by God to guide this ministry for His glory. The site features Danny Sheltons story of how he, a carpenter and musician, was inspired by divine intervention to build a network to spread the message of the three angels who urge people to turn to God or face judgment in Revelation 14 of the Bible. Three Angels Broadcasting Network grew into a global operation that reported $72.1 million in assets in 2022. Current 3ABN President Greg Morikone and his wife, Jill Morikone, vice president and COO, have remained silent about the controversy involving the Adderley property. A collage of photos of David Lawrence Adderleys 27-year military career with the U.S. Army is seen at his home in Miami-Dade on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. In late June, several leaders representing the Seventh-day Adventist Church in The Bahamas attended a 3ABN rally at Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nassau. The event featured some of the networks most popular personalities, including the Sheltons, the Morikones, and Christian gospel vocalists Reggie and Ladye Love Smith. 3ABN representatives in attendance gushed over the beautiful Bahamian beaches and shared inspirational testimonies about Sheltons launch of the media ministry 40 years ago and the many lives changed as a result. Shelton stepped up to the podium and pulled out his Bahamian residency card, which ignited cheers and applause from the audience. Yvonne and I, when we would come to The Bahamas, wed say, Why arent we citizens of the Bahamas? All of these people are getting to enjoy all of this, especially in the winter time, he said, jokingly. So the Lord worked it out. Shelton spoke of bringing visitors to the country. Hope you dont mind me bringing these foreigners from America, too, with us, he said. But we feel at home, and were so blessed. There was no mention of the hundreds of acres 3ABN possesses on Long Island, the networks plans for the property, or the simmering dispute over its title. Raising biblical concerns Some Adventists in the United States interviewed for this report questioned the tactics 3ABN has used in the Caribbean country, considering its colonial and slave history. As members of a global church with the vast majority of its members in Africa, the Caribbean islands, and Latin America, they said Adventist leaders whether working directly for the church or as independent ministries should exhibit cultural sensitivity and Christian love and grace. The racial and cultural aspects of the case are hard to ignore, said Carmela Monk-Crawford, a Maryland journalist and attorney who focuses on social justice issues. That is the historical context and the cultural backdrop against which many will evaluate this huge transfer of Black family land to [a Christian ministry], the face of which, at least in this case, is white, she said. Once its gone, its gone. Thats this familys inheritance, economic independence, nest egg, generational wealth, and lets face it, power. Everyone involved should take a long, hard look at these implications. Yi-Shen Ma, assistant professor and associate director of the Center for Christian Bioethics at Loma Linda University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution in California, said the land dispute raises questions about not only what is legally permissible, but what is just and right. Religious leaders often receive the benefit of the doubt on account of their public demonstration of piety. Thus, Christians should rightly hold them to a higher standard, he said. The tactic of utilizing a complicated legal web is reminiscent of those teachers of the law in Jesus time who leveraged their legal expertise to cheat widows out of their property. Ted Ramirez, an Ohio attorney with 45 years of experience in nonprofit governance who has served the Seventh-day Adventist church on boards at all levels of the denomination, said: 3ABNs reasoning and court tactics may be legal, but the facts reported leave one to wonder at the ethics of a gospel ministry engaging in such complex business with a blind octogenarian who struggles with memory. One hopes that Adventists will be able to distance our name from this. 3ABN has remained publicly quiet about the controversy. Yet, in September 2023, a day after the issue was first exposed by Spectrum, an independent magazine published by Adventists, Shelton addressed inheritance disputes at a 3ABN event. During a presentation titled Doctrine of Demons, he and his wife, Yvonne, warned those in the audience they might be bullied and attacked for taking a stand for whats right. He used as an example children trying to revoke wills and trusts their parents set up with 3ABN and other organizations. They are so upset because mom and dad wont change the will; they tell them, Were putting you in a nursing home unless you give us all this money instead of giving it to 3ABN, or the church, or whatever, he said. ... After they die, they get upset. Well, its our fiduciary responsibility to do what? to carry out the will of the person who put the will with us. Shelton said the children then threaten to sue. But it usually doesnt work, he said. So what do they do? They go into the chat rooms, to the gossip pages, to the gossip magazines and start spreading all the evil they can do. Well, we used to, like, really defend ourselves, he continued. That doesnt work. Cant win an argument with the Devil. So were learning more and more to stay back and let what happens, happen. McClatchy and Miami Herald Investigative Reporter Ben Wieder contributed to this report. Alva James Johnson is a freelance journalist in Collegedale, Tennessee, where she also works as an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Southern Adventist University. This article was published in partnership with Spectrum, an independent magazine published by Adventists. This is an adapted excerpt from the Sept. 25 episode of "All In with Chris Hayes." On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle for her first solo broadcast interview as a presidential candidate. It was a great opportunity for the vice president to speak directly to the American people and explain her economic vision for a Harris administration. Overall, I thought she did a very solid job but there was one theme, both in that interview and in her economic address in Pittsburgh earlier in the day, that stuck out to me the most. Harris, who frequently references her experience working at McDonald's as a student, presented herself to voters as this combo meal of Im a capitalist, but I also support unions and workers. Thats a space we dont often see a candidate occupy these days. Harris wants to bridge together two sides that people frequently try to pit against each other. Harris is trying to create an opportunity economy around fundamental ideas ideas that translate across party platforms. Shes not strictly appealing to or excluding specific parts of the electorate. Shes inviting voters to look at her proposals and ask themselves: How does this benefit my personal economy? What also stuck out to me about the interview was that Harris didnt strike an absolute populist tone. Instead, there was a modicum of populism in her message. You could hear it when she talked about the American worker, when she talked about families who dont want their lives to be disrupted because the car broke down, and families who just want to be able to pay their bills. Thats a form of populism, but its not at the extremes. She's touching on that center space and trying to appeal to a wider range of voters. It's what a lot of politicians on the Republican side did before the party wandered into Donald Trumps cray-cray land. Harris is following that lead and building her economic case around a central point one that can touch people who live in cities, in the suburbs and the exurbs and appeal to voters across the political and demographic spectrum. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle contended Vice President Kamala Harris failed to provide a substantive answer on her policy proposals, an area Harris's critics have focused on. Harris, the Democratic Partys 2024 presidential candidate, sat down with Ruhle on Wednesday night for her first one-on-one interview with a legacy media outlet. While reflecting on the interview, Ruhle admitted the vice president did not answer the question regarding how she would fund the policies on which she is campaigning. She doesnt answer the question around, if the GOP is controlling the Senate, if she cant raise corporate taxes, where is she going to get the money from, you know, to expand the Child Tax Credit and do all the things she wants to do, Ruhle said. And she says, We just have to do it. And thats great and thats a campaign promise, but the issue is, if it means were just going to just borrow again, then what were doing is were just never addressing the deficit. Ruhle said getting the nations deficit and debt under control are two important things voters have seemingly forgot" about. She claimed that neither Harris nor former President Donald Trump has a plan to address this. She also interjected that Trump would increase the deficit significantly bigger than under Harriss leadership. Featured Local Savings In July, the United Statess national debt reached $35 trillion. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER After the first presidential debate between Harris and Trump on Sept. 10, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon found it interesting how he could not remember if the countrys debt was discussed at all between the two candidates. He stated that this policy matter is one thats going to have to be wrestled with, but he didnt hear any discussion on it. Harris discussed several topics during her interview with Ruhle, during which she previewed a visit to the southern border Friday. Harris was deemed the "border czar" after being placed in charge of it by President Joe Biden upon entering the White House in 2021. However, under her watch, the border has routinely been criticized for its lack of security. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The former mayor of Inkster has pleaded guilty to criminal charges for accepting bribes while in office. Dawn Ison, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, announced Patrick Wimberlys plea on Wednesday. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors say the bribery scandal stems from the sale of a property owned by the city. In the spring of 2022, Wimberly allegedly demanded $100,000 in cash payments from the buyer in exchange for guiding the city council on approving the deal. The buyer, referred to by Ison as Person A, initially started paying Wimberly $5,000 a month. After several months, Wimberly allegedly demanded the payments increase to $10,000 per month. Person A paid Wimberly $50,000 before the FBI intervened. Public officials who act in their own best interests, motivated by greed, betray the trust of their communities and the general public, Ison said in a statement. We will continue to aggressively prosecute corrupt public officials for their illegal actions. Wimberly was elected to the office in 2019. According to The Detroit News, he lost his re-election bid in 2023 to his predecessor, Byron Nolen, who previously served as mayor from 2015 through 2019. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Michiganders Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours. MICHIGAN Americans can now order another round of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests that will be delivered to homes. Each household can get four tests through COVIDtests.gov. Already have some at home? Check here to see if your tests' expiration dates have been extended. Shipping forms just opened on Thursday and are free to all residents; access this link to order yours. Updated rapid tests are expected to be able to detect newer variants just as a new COVID variant, XEC, arrives in Michigan. It is a member of the Omicron family. The availability of free at-home tests comes just after the Food and Drug Administration approved two updates COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging everyone 6 months or older to get a new shot this fall since last year's shots were geared toward a strain that is no longer around. As flu and RSV season approaches, health officials recommend residents stock up on tests and update all vaccinations. Michiganders Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours. originally appeared on the Across Michigan Patch A 12-year-old middle school student riding a bicycle was struck by a vehicle and injured Thursday morning in a reported hit-and-run near the campus in Sacramento County. The hit-and-run collision occurred at a crosswalk near Albert Einstein Middle School, according to Principal Chase Tafoya. The school is on Mirandy Drive, just north of Kiefer Boulevard in Rosemont. In a letter to parents, Tafoya said one of Albert Einstein Middle Schools students was riding a bicycle and struck by a vehicle. She said the student was trying to cross the street at a crosswalk near the school. The principal said the vehicles driver did not stop after the student was struck. Law enforcement officials were investigating the collision as a hit-and-run, Tafoya said, and she urged students who witnessed the collision to contact the California Highway Patrol. On Thursday afternoon, the CHP East Sacramento Area Office released a photo of the vehicle investigators believe struck the 12-year-old boy near the school. The CHP said the hit-and-run occurred shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday, when the boy riding his bicycle in the marked crosswalk was struck by the vehicle on Mirandy Drive, east of Huntsman Drive in front of the school. Investigators believe an unidentified driver of a silver 2001 to 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe heading east on Mirandy Drive hit the boy on the bicycle and drove away, the CHP said. The boy suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to a hospital. The school principal said campus officials have reached out to the students family. We will be investigating how this incident happened to see if there are any steps that we can take to make our routes to school safer, Tafoya said in the letter to parents, but more importantly we are focused on providing support to the student and their family. She said the hit-and-run should serve as a reminder for everyone, especially students and drivers, to be more mindful of safety in and near neighborhood school zones. The principal said drivers should always use extreme caution and slow down, even when students arent visible. Investigators asked anyone who witnessed Thursdays hit-and-run, can identify the vehicle and or its driver or has video of the incident to call the CHP at 916-464-1450 or send an email to tsenter@chp.ca.gov. The News Mike Pence stuck his head up this week to take a whack at Trumpism, urging Republicans to reject protectionist tariffs and isolationism while unashamedly recommitting to anti-abortion positions. Its a sign of what hes up to behind the scenes as well. The former vice president is laying the groundwork for a party that could move on after the election from Donald Trumps populism and protectionism. Sometimes that means being a rare voice of public dissent, at other times it means quietly trying to recruit allies to his cause who might be more willing to join him on specific policy or political fights. Were trying to plant a flag for conservatism and believe that many of our traditional conservative groups have become far more enamored with populism these days and walked away from those principles, Marc Short, Pences longtime advisor, told Semafor. The former vice presidents Wall Street Journal op-ed taking veiled shots at Trumps policy priorities is just a hint of what Pence is thinking as he waits for the 2024 election to play out. But the big question for Pence is: Is there still a place for him in todays GOP? The answer isnt even clear to his fans: Pence doesnt fit into the Republican party of today, said Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney. The Republican Party of tomorrow may be a different matter. After incurring Donald Trumps wrath for certifying the 2020 election, Pences platform of traditional conservatism failed to move GOP voters in his presidential campaign. Yet the former vice president, governor, and member of House leadership who was key to helping expand Trumps coalition in 2016 remains concerned about the direction of the party, and hes been making moves to cultivate like-minded supporters. Pence faces a tough road back: He doesnt have the same rabid fan base as other leaders in the party his presidential run confirmed that. As Trump-aligned Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley put it: If you run for president and lose, its hard to maintain influence. Pence also faces criticism from Trump allies for being disloyal to the former president. But he does have long standing relationships with lawmakers on the Hill and activists across the country, and is well-respected, albeit quietly at times, among a solid faction of the party. Hes leaning into that, and trying, with the help of his group Advancing American Freedom (AAF), to be the GOPs conscience of sorts, as the organizations president Tim Chapman put it. Its welcome news for the coterie of Republicans who, like Pence, find themselves on the outside of the partys populist bent. Theres room for his voice and the voices of others, for this reason: Our party is, at this point, mostly a political coalition in search of a clear policy agenda, said Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, a Republican who has not endorsed Trump. At some point were going to have to gravitate around a clear policy agenda And Mike Pence is very well equipped to do that. Know More Pence and AAF weighed in on various issues this year most notably abortion and the SALT deduction, the latter of which Trump vowed to reverse (after it passed during his first administration) just last week. Pence is also reaching out to his partys more hawkish and interventionist wing, while harmonizing with free traders and criticizing tariffs, which are Trumps top economic priority. His group has spent $10 million on defending the partys 2017 tax cuts, and is also in the midst of hosting sessions for staffers on the Hill about the expiring tax cuts. Theyve engaged in support for Ukraine, anti-abortion legislation, and the bill intended to force a TikTok sale or ban. Pence personally meets often with lawmakers and texts with them on AAF priorities. The group distributes policy memos around the hill, holds off the record events, and generally tries to maintain a visible presence. Over the last year or so youve definitely seen more members and staff taking note of what AAF is putting out there as they call balls and strikes on policy, one former GOP leadership aide told Semafor. Pences team believes theres still a lane for his style of conservatism, even as they acknowledge questions about his continued relevance. Short argued that theres been an increased appetite among supporters who are concerned about the direction of the party. Chapman maintained that there are a lot of lawmakers who still would describe themselves behind closed doors as traditional Reagan Republicans. Pence and their organization have done a good job of focusing on the issues and not being antagonistic to President Trump, one senior Republican staffer said, adding that theyve spent time on the Hill highlighting areas, like tax cuts, where theres agreement with Trump. There are a lot of people here who maybe dont agree with the president on all policy matters and might align more with the vice president. And then theres vice versa. Despite Pence and AAF being at odds with many of Trumps current positions, Short said he wouldnt describe their effort as non-MAGA. Instead, Pence would be willing to work with Trump on policy topics where there is agreement. Still, the dynamics between Trump and Pence could spark party infighting next year if Trump wins and Pence challenges the former presidents priorities. Chapman made clear that their mission would be to keep Republicans accountable to a set of principles regardless of who wins the White House, even if it meant conflict. Pence is also keeping strong Indiana ties, meeting with Republican Sen. Mike Braun this summer to discuss his gubernatorial campaign. They evaded discussing Pences refusal to endorse Trump this cycle, Braun said: I felt that was not for me to weigh in on. Its a difficult spot because of the crossfire he was within. And I think at some point, well get back to true conservative principles once we get past the moment in time that looks chaotic politically, Braun told Semafor. Were a party that avoids policy. Shelby and Burgess View Pences best opportunity to redirect his party is if Trump loses. Theres pent-up angst over the partys policy direction on foreign and economic policy, and lots of social conservatives who are closer to Pence on issues like abortion than they are to Trump. So if Republicans are picking up the pieces in mid-November, it seems likely Pence will be one of the voices involved. Its harder to see where Pence and his group will go if Trump wins and Pences non-endorsement of Trump doesnt help in that scenario. Its also hard to see Pence holding elected office again, though there are plenty of opportunities for him to influence policy through his group and in the press. While these challenges are real, at minimum hes engendered goodwill around Washington from his time on Capitol Hill and the Trump presidency. Mike Pence is a good man and I definitely think he has a place in the party, Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said. Im not going to second-guess anybodys endorsement. Notable One notable longtime Pence ally? Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who was at a donor retreat this week for Advancing American Freedom, Politico reported. Kemp has had his own tense relationship with Donald Trump, although theyve (at least somewhat) buried the hatchet in recent months. Pences longtime advisor, Marc Short, roasted his former colleague (and close Trump ally) Peter Navarro after the latter suggested Pence stop listening to him: Good to hear from you Peter. Glad youre out of jail, Short wrote. BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentina's poverty rate soared to almost 53% in the first half of the year, official data released on Thursday showed, the first hard evidence of the painful impact of libertarian President Javier Milei's tough austerity measures. That marked a steep jump from 41.7% at the end of last year and more than double the 26% just seven years ago, underscoring the severe cost to regular Argentines of repeated economic crises that have hammered the South American nation. The data underscores how Milei's spending cuts, aimed at overturning a deep fiscal deficit, have caused major short-term pain. The country is in a deep recession and inflation remains in triple digits, though there are signs things are improving. "Since this government came to power, jobs have dropped away," said Irma Casal, a 53-year-old in Buenos Aires, who works three shifts as a garbage recycler, cardboard collector and bricklayer, but still struggles to stay afloat. "We work twice as hard for less and we have to keep going." Milei's spending cuts have been cheered by markets and investors for helping right the state's finances after years of deficits, but have pushed the country into a recession, despite signs the economy could now be bottoming out. The Catholic University of Argentina's (UCA) observatory had estimated the poverty rate soared to 55.5% in the first quarter of the year before easing to 49.4% in the second quarter, giving a 52% average for the first six months of this year. 'ANY LEVEL OF POVERTY IS HORRENDOUS' Agustin Salvia, director of the UCA's Observatory, said that there was a significant impact at the start of the year from Milei's policies. However, there had been signs of an improvement recently, he added. "If you look at the whole story, it shows a deterioration in the first quarter. That situation has since started to ease," he said. Argentina's government has cut some welfare programs and reduced support to soup kitchens, but argues that it has also expanded two key welfare programs, the Universal Child Allowance and a Food Card program, giving direct support to families. "Any level of poverty is horrendous," presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said in a daily press conference on Thursday, blaming mismanagement by previous governments for leaving economic "bombs" that Milei was now trying to deactivate. "We are doing everything, everything so that this situation changes." (Reporting by Horacio Soria, Javier Corbalan and Lucila Sigal; Additional reporting by Walter Bianchi and Jorge Otoala; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'Brien) Minneapolis Man Allegedly Shot at Police and Crashed Ex-Girlfriends Car After She Broke Up with Him Eddie James Freeman III was charged with six felony counts on Sept. 24, after he allegedly fired gunshots at Minnesota law enforcement on Sept. 21 Hennepin County Jail Eddie James Freeman III A 23-year-old man allegedly fired shots at a state trooper after crashing his ex-girlfriend's car when she attempted to end their relationship on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Minneapolis, per the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Sept. 24 news release and WCCO News. Minnesota State Patrol troopers were dispatched to the crash site at eastbound I-94 and Dowling Avenue shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday. Gunshots were allegedly fired at the scene before authorities arrived. State trooper Mark Vande Steeg responded to the incident and allegedly "came under almost immediate gunfire" by Eddie James Freeman III, 23, per the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Vande Steeg and Freeman exchanged gunfire, and no one was hit or injured, authorities said. Body cam footage captured BCA crime scene responders finding a handgun where Freeman was arrested and assessing bullet holes on the police car. According to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox 9, Vande Steeg, who was identified by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, approached the scene, turned on his squad lights and sirens, and then shined a spotlight on the suspect, who matched Freeman's description. Related: Off-Duty Chicago Police Officer Fatally Shot While Driving Home from Work Days Before 31st Birthday Getty Stock image of a state Trooper officer car in Minnesota Allegedly, Freeman "raised his hand and pointed what appeared to be a gun in the officer's direction," the complaint added, noting that Vande Steeg returned fire. Additional law enforcement officers with the Minneapolis Police Department responded to the scene. Then, more officers surrounded Freeman. He tossed the gun before he was arrested police recovered the gun. He allegedly spit in the face of a Minneapolis police officer while being arrested, according to the criminal complaint, per WCCO News. Law enforcement then spoke with the vehicles driver, who said she was Freemans girlfriend. The pair had been driving on I-94 when she told Freeman the "relationship was over." Freeman allegedly grabbed the steering wheel and crashed the car. After the crash, he exited the vehicle and the woman, whose name has not been made public, said she heard gunshots. Police say officers discovered a bullet hole in the driver's side door, but no injuries were reported, according to WCCO News. Two witnesses who were about to offer help fled the scene when they saw someone pointing a gun at them. They ran away and heard approximately six gunshots, per WCCO News. Related: Person of Interest in Custody After Fatal Shooting of Memphis Police Officer Getty Stock image of police tape at night time After the incident, I-94 shut down for over 12 hours so authorities could investigate the incident before reopening late Sunday morning, Sept. 22. The BCA says it is investigating Van Steegs "use of force," and he was placed on standard critical incident leave. Freeman is being investigated by the Minnesota State Patrol. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Freeman was charged with first-degree assault against a police officer, four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and fourth-degree assault, Fox 9 reports. Freeman remains in custody at Hennepin County Jail. His bail has been set at $300,000 with conditions. He appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 25, per WCCO News. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for more information on Wednesday. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. PANOLA COUNTY, Texas (KTAL/KSHV) The body of a Tatum man was found Wednesday after he went missing last weekend. Danizy Arthur was last seen Sunday when family members dropped him off to go fishing at a location off Hwy 43. The following day, his family reported him missing. Deputies and investigators began searching the area where he was last seen, as well as where his cellphone pinged in Rusk County. K-9 search teams from Texas Search and Rescue arrived Tuesday to assist the sheriffs office. Authorities continued the search Wednesday and found Arthurs body at a nearby pond around 10:15 a.m. The cause of Arthurs death is under investigation. An autopsy was ordered at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas. Panola County Sheriff Cutter Clinton thanked the public, TEXSAR, Tatum Police Department, Rust County Sheriffs Office, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Rangers and the Panola County Fire Marshal/Emergency Management for their help. He also extended his condolences to Arthurs family. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Missing Texas Woman Was Found Dead off Hiking Trail, Police Charge Man After Being Questioned on Case Stacey Dramiga, 63, went on her regular morning walk at a San Antonio park on Sunday morning and never made it back home, say police Bexar County Sheriff's Office (2) Stacey Dramiga; Marco Flores mugshot A Texas woman out for her morning walk on a popular San Antonio park trail was found dead and now police have arrested a man on charges of evading arrest and detention after being questioned in the case. On Monday, Sept. 22, authorities found the body of a woman in a wooded area of the Salado Creek Greenway Trail near Dafoste Park in San Antonio, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office identified the woman as Stacey Dramiga, 63, of San Antonio, the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to PEOPLE. Dramiga was the victim of an apparent homicide, the Medical Examiners Office confirmed. The autopsy report said Dramiga died of blunt force, penetrating trauma of the head, the Medical Examiners Office said. On Thursday, Sept. 26, the BCSO arrested Marco Flores, 38, and charged him with evading arrest and detention, a spokesperson for the BCSO said in an email to PEOPLE. Prior to leaving the scene, a BCSO Deputy made contact with a male, the email stated. The male was later identified as Marco Flores. While Flores was speaking with the Deputy, Flores provided some details regarding the victim's condition that were not released to the public. When Flores was told that he would be transported to the Criminal Investigation Department for questioning, he ran from the deputy, the email said. Deputies were able to detain him and transported him to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office Headquarters for questioning. Investigators spoke with Flores but he provided no additional info, the email said. He was transported to South Tower, where he was booked and remains held. It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf. On Monday, Sept. 23, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar held a press conference telling reporters that the sheriffs office was notified on Sunday night at 11 p.m. that Dramiga was missing. Dramiga was last seen at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Salazar said. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. When she didn't return home, her husband and family and friends became somewhat concerned, he said. Dramiga was a regular at the park, he said. She loved to come walk the Greenway Trails in the morning, he said. A man told authorities he saw Dramiga talking to an African American woman along the trail who, Salazar learned, was also a regular walker. He said they dont believe the woman had anything to do with Dramigas death but asked her to contact the BCSO because authorities believe she is the last person to have seen Dramiga alive. Dramiga worked at the Brooke Army Medical Center, which released a statement on Wednesday, saying that it had received the tragic news that a member of our family, Ms. Stacey Dramiga, was found deceased by the Bexar County Sheriffs office after having been missing since Sunday morning. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and co-workers. Stacey was a beloved member of the BAMC staff and will be greatly missed. The sheriff asked anyone who came in contact with Dramiga on Sunday morning or passed her on the trail to reach out to the sheriffs office at 210-335-6000 or email BCSOTIPS@Bexar.org. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The state of Mississippi will send assets to Florida in response to Hurricane Helene. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has coordinated with the Mississippi National Guard and the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security to send two Blackhawk helicopters with crews and search and rescue teams. This will be a total of 26 personnel. Hurricane Helene, a Cat 2 storm, could bring 20-foot storm surge: This is not survivable Florida has always stepped up to help us in our time of need, its time to be there for our friends when they need it the most, said MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney. Helene is expected to bring catastrophic storm surge and wind after making landfall on Floridas northwestern coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to rapidly intensify into a Category 4 storm and make landfall Thursday night. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Weather Forecast Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. ST. LOUIS A young boys quick thinking and bravery saved his father and brother during a family camping trip to Washington State Park last year. Louis Miklovic was awarded the Public Safety Civilian Partnership Award for alerting park rangers after his father Josh and younger brother Peter fell off a cliff while hiking. The incident occurred during the Mikovec familys annual camping trip on a trail to Big Foot Cave. Josh Mikovec grabbed his 6-year-old son Peter when they exited but he lost his footing, causing both to tumble down the bluff. Louis, who remained on the trail, immediately sprang into action. U.S. Labor Dept. sues Missouri restaurant for $1.9M in wage violations Instead of attempting a dangerous rescue himself, Louis ran back to find help. He found a rangers vehicle and told the officer about the accident. The ranger then drove Louis to the lookout point, where a helicopter was able to airlift Josh and Peter to safety. The father required multiple surgeries and 150 stitches for a nine-inch head laceration. He continues to recover. His son Peter suffered a minor head injury. The family credits their experience outdoors and Louiss involvement in scouting for his ability to handle the emergency. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is defiant despite his legal troubles. It was revealed late Wednesday night that Adams was indicted after a federal corruption investigation, the Washington Examiner reported. He had been under investigation for his fundraising efforts during his 2021 mayoral campaign, according to reports. The specific charges of his case are sealed and were not disclosed to the public. As news spread of his indictment, the New York City mayor released a video denying any wrongdoing and claiming the charges were based on lies. He also said that he would not resign. My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, Adams said. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies, but they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target, and a target I became. For months, leaks and rumors had been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility, and paint me as guilty, Adams said. The federal charges against New York Citys mayor follows several federal investigations and multiple resignations from top city government officials in the last month, local media outlets reported. The New York Police Department commissioner, the citys health commissioner, the mayors chief legal counsel, and the citys chancellor of public schools recently tendered their resignations. Featured Local Savings I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. If Im charged, I know I am innocent, Adams declared. Despite his vow not to step down, Adams faced many calls for his resignation, including political rival and likely future mayoral candidate Brad Lander, New York Citys comptroller, and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, Ocasio-Cortez posted on X. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Adams addressed such concerns in his statement on Wednesday night. Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case, Adams said. I can also understand everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusation. But I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you, and their investigation started, yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake, you elected me to lead this city, and lead it I will. (Getty Images). Missouri has begun distributing summer food benefits for children and aims to finish by the end of the year, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services told The Independent this week. The aid was intended to be distributed during summer break, to help vulnerable kids avoid a drop-off in nutrition while they were out of school. Missouri didnt begin issuing the benefits until Sept. 19. Thats faster than the state issued summer 2022 emergency benefits that were tied to the COVID-19 pandemic those were not distributed until the following summer. And in 2023, Missouri did not accept federal pandemic summer food aid for children. This years benefits are part of a federal program in its first year called Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, or SUN Bucks, which is administered by states. Each eligible child receives a one-time benefit of $120, loaded onto a card that can be used like a debit card to buy groceries. Thirteen Republican-led states, but not Missouri, opted out of participating in the program. Benefits for the program have so far been issued to 9,500 Missouri kids, out of the 490,000 kids estimated to receive benefits that amount to $58.8 million. [The Family Support Division] remains committed to disbursing benefits as swiftly and accurately as possible, DSS spokesperson Chelsea Blair said, with the goal of completing all disbursements by the end of the year. State officials said they dealt with technical issues that delayed federal approval and hindered earlier launch of the program. One issue is that much of the data collection process for children enrolled in the National School Lunch Program is still manual at this time, another DSS spokesperson, Baylee Watts, said the department needs schools to submit data before they can determine eligibility for many of the kids. The children who will be automatically eligible for the program are: Students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch during the school year; Households already enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or temporary assistance; and Students who are in foster care, are experiencing homelessness or are migrants. Missouri has so far issued benefits to foster kids, Watts said, and is next turning to kids whose families are already on SNAP or temporary assistance. It wont be until after Oct. 10 that the benefits for kids on free or reduced-price lunch will begin to be issued, she said, because thats the deadline for schools to submit eligibility data to the department. Benefits will be issued on an existing card if the family is enrolled in SNAP benefits or temporary assistance, or on a new mailed card if they are not. Families who need a new EBT card can request one by phone or the ebtEDGE mobile app. SUN Bucks benefits will expire 122 days after they are issued, regardless of usage, so families must act quickly once the benefits are distributed. They should also keep the cards for next summers program, the states website advises. Those who arent automatically eligible were required to submit an application. The window for applications closed Aug. 31, and any received thereafter will be considered for next summers program, the department said. The agency received 17,000 applications. Next summer, Watts said, the agency is expecting benefits to be distributed during the summer months, because the proper infrastructure will be in place. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) and the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley are partnering to welcome back International Towers residents. The groups are sponsoring a Mobile Hope Resource Fair. Area resource agencies will be on the scene to provide opportunities to access resources and services these residents may need and show them as much support as possible, according to a press release. Various food trucks will also be on site. Two months after the explosion at the Realty Building, residents living next door at the International Towers moved back home in mid-August. The residents had been evacuated due to concerns about the potential collapse of the Realty Building, which crews have demolished. The event is not exclusive to International Towers residents; all are welcome. The fair will be held this Friday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the International Towers property at 25 Market Street. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) Grab your hats and boots, the rodeo rolls into Moncks Corner early next month. The Moncks Corner Pro Rodeo will be held at the Old Moncks Corner Fair Grounds on October 4, 5, and 6. It is rain or shine. Its super fun. We have eight different events, three rough stock, and five timed events, so the time and events are faster and the rough stocks more adrenaline pumping, said Ashley Housand. Tickets for the rodeo can be purchased in advance. They are being sold at all three Boot Jack locations, UPS Store Moncks Corner, and Black Dog Trailers until October 2. Housand said 50/50 tickets will be sold for Fridays event, meaning 50% of the money goes back to the person who wins it, and the other 50% goes to South Carolina to help fight human trafficking. Gates open at 6 p.m., the rodeo starts at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and gates open at 2 p.m. Sunday with the rodeo starting at 4 p.m. Click here to learn more. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. (Photo by Rebecca Rivas | Missouri Independent) A couple of lawmakers arent so sure at least yet that a sea change isnt taking place when it comes to how the Department of Public Health and Human Services is awarding contracts. Last week, a Democrat from Bozeman asked DPHHS if a recent award to an out-of-state company for providing support to child care facilities represented a new trend, but Director Charlie Brereton said it did not. A presentation from DPHHS to a legislative budget committee listed the provider contract at $3 million. The health department earlier said the award is going to Shine Early Learning of New York, or Acelero. Montana organizations will lose a significant number of employees or even close as a result of the change in the way DPHHS broke out recent contracts for child care related services. It means, in part, that one New York company will provide services that seven regional organizations used to provide. It means just a couple of Montana businesses will stretch to try to provide support to families, including for the Best Beginnings scholarship, to the entire state. Earlier this year, a different change meant Maximums, a company based in Virginia, was awarded $15 million to do business in Montana. At least a couple of nonprofit employee-training agencies in Montana closed as a result, according to earlier reporting from the Daily Montanan. At the time, DPHHS said having one provider as opposed to multiple contracts streamlines the clients experience, and virtual options give people more choices. The Department of Public Health and Human Services didnt answer a question this week about whether other proposals are in the works that could replace more Montana businesses with outside companies. Although Brereton last week disputed the idea a sea change was underway, a couple of legislators with expertise in child and family issues said this week they still have questions about whether the new contracts mean a new way of doing business. Rep. Jennifer Carlson, a Republican from Manhattan, said given the fact that at least one business thats been around for decades is considering closure means the change in Montana is significant. The department says, No, its not. And I disagree, frankly, she said. Child Care Connections in Bozeman has 16 staff, and its in limbo; 4 Cs in Butte will lose eight to 10 of its 18 workers as a result of the changes, the directors said earlier. Carlson said she would like the state to give Montana companies preference with contracts, in part because its money coming from the state even if its federal and could go to Montana organizations, which employ people who have jobs and spend their dollars here. There is an opportunity to give a preferential score to a Montana business, and I know that they did not do that, Carlson said. She also said Montana is a long way from the East Coast Were not New York West and the company doesnt have a footprint here. They might be able to do it better, and they might be able to do it cheaper, she said. But I dont think theyre going to be able to do it better and cheaper from 3,000 miles away. DPHHS earlier said the New York company plans to hire some workers in Montana to help child care facilities. However, its fewer than the number currently supporting child care facilities. Carlson also said she hadnt heard complaints that the Montana businesses were doing a poor job or overspending or anything else: So Im not sure what problem we were trying to fix. The health department has argued the change will improve services to Montanans, and a pay for performance model means incentives to open more child care slots and retain child care businesses. Carlson agreed its good to save money, but she said other factors are important too. Accessibility should be the No. 1 requirement, she said. If youre going to provide a service, it needs to be accessible. Sen. Chris Pope, a Democrat from Bozeman, asked the question last week about whether the new contracts represented a sea change. He said this week he trusts the directors word, and at the same time, legislators have said more data from DPHHS would be helpful. For instance, he said he would like a report with the number of contracts assigned to out-of-state companies. The department is very good and capable of producing good data about their programming. And this is a glaring omission, Pope said. He also said having a birds eye view of strategy and direction would help. Are there new rules that make the contracts unavailable to Montanans? And how will rural communities fare with the changes? The initiative is to find out why our local providers are being told their services are no longer necessary, and in some cases, theyre having to close their doors or completely restructure their business plan after being very valuable contributors to the health of Montanans for decades, Pope said. Since the legislature is the body that funds the efforts, he said, lawmakers need to understand why the state may be taking a different path when it comes to delivery systems and goals for efficiency and affordability. He said having more information from DPHHS would help citizens understand too. The question of the day is why would a very competent Department of Public Health and Human Services elect not to be a little more forthcoming on some of the details about how these contracts have been rewritten and redesigned as such that were starting to lose some of our legacy providers? Pope said. (He also said he has no information to suggest that Shine or Maximus or any other new company DPHHS may be working with doesnt have the capability to do the work.) The fact that this is not a sea change doesnt really pass the smell test yet, he said. A plume of smoke from the Remington Fire in southern Montana during sunset on Aug. 25 (Photo from the House Draw Fire Command via Inciweb). In a recent study of properties at risk for wildfire, Montana has the second highest percentage of at-risk properties with more than half of the structures in the state possibly vulnerable to wildfire. The study was published by researchers at LendingTree, a national company that specializes in home mortgages and also studies issues related to housing. In the report, it shows that as the climate gets hotter and states like Montana become more populated, more properties are at risk. That additional risk is driving up the cost of homeowners insurance for many residents, even those whose property isnt normally thought of as at-risk. According to the study, wildfires nationally have increased by 17% year over year. Furthermore, Montana is one of the western states that hasnt adopted a collection of building codes for areas where housing touches wilderness. The area is often referred to as the wildland-urban interface and Montana has a lot of both wildland and properties that touch those areas. Only Wyoming has more buildings at risk of wildfire with 54% compared to Montana at 51%. Study authors collected national data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Risk Index of wildfire danger. In terms of sheer property value, California is at risk for nearly $1.4 billion in losses it estimates, while Florida comes in a distant second at No. 2, with $269.3 million, followed by Texas at $240.3 million. In a previously reported story, Headwaters Economics pointed out that the number of homes in moderate and high wildfire risks areas nearly doubled between 1990 and 2018. In 2022, the most recent available data for the LendingTree report, 51% of all homes were in areas prone to wildfire. The wildfire risk has meant two things for Montana residents: It likely means homeowners insurance is rising quickly in some areas. However, it also means that overall insurance rates for all groups will rise as insurance carriers spread the risk to different pools. In some states, insurance companies have either quit offering coverage in wildfire-prone areas or made it prohibitively expensive with less coverage. In some states where natural disasters due to climate are more common, like Florida, the state has had to create a state insurance pool of last resort that offers property owners some coverage because of insurance companies unwillingness to take the risk in certain areas. Montana does not have such a program, and officials with the state said that one has not been needed because of commercially available insurance. Montanas rise in the number of properties at risk of a wildfire has shot up, largely because of the after effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, says one of the lead LendingTree insurance experts, Rob Bhatt. At the time, Montanas lower housing costs, coupled with residents fleeing from larger, urban areas to more remote locations made Montanas homebuilding boom. A lot of Montanans can do things before a fire starts, said Kelly Pohl, an the associate director of Headwaters Economics. We have to realize that wildfire is part of our landscape, so we have to take actions to reduce the likelihood that it will destroy property. The challenge, Bhatt said, is that as the climate changes, fires grow in their intensity and duration, making it a more risky proposition to fight them. That also means that they become larger and larger. It really has to be up to local government to minimize the risk, Bhatt said. But that brings a new, different challenge, said Pohl, who has studied the problem extensively. The Montana Legislature has adopted laws that prohibit local governments from making zoning or ordinances more restrictive than the state. She said that part of that resistance to adopting more comprehensive wildfire-property rules comes from an historic Western attitude tied to individual property rights. Unfortunately that ties the hands of local leaders who might want to think about it, Pohl said. We all hear about the burden of these costly disasters, but the most cost effective way to deal with it is to avoid them. Even though California has the most property, by value, at risk, the Golden State has more than 30 times the number of people, and Bhatt explained, that the number of properties at risk in Montana, as a percentage, is much, much larger than even California. A majority of homes in most California communities are urban, not sprawling and out in the woods, Bhatt said. Preparing for fires, though, isnt just a matter of better zoning or different materials, although everyone the Daily Montanan spoke with for this article agreed those would help. They also said that fighting fires and protecting properties have other needs, such as more firefighting equipment and better roads and water systems all costly in a large, spread-out state like Montana. No one likes the guy who comes and tells people what to do, but uniform rules and codes can protect the properties, Bhatt said. And those places where there is greatest risk will pay the most. Sometimes, insurance companies may not even cover them. OK, now what? Bhatt and others admit that the solution to the problem isnt simply forcing people off properties. He said there are plenty of things that homeowners and local leaders can do to mitigate the risk. You want to be aware of the risk, Bhatt said. Youre not going to tear down something and move it elsewhere. Instead, newer construction materials are more fire resistant, and Pohl said a cost analysis shows that many of the newer products do not significantly if at all increase the building costs. Its not like you have to build homes out of concrete bricks. There are wonderful materials, she said. It doesnt necessarily cost more, either. But Pohl said cost is usually the first objection a person may raise to building a dream home in the woods without more protection. Awareness is part of it as well cost is a common misperception, Pohl said. The data says it doesnt cost more. It costs the most to retrofit something. Folks just assume that theyre doing everything they can for durability and longevity. She said that states, including Montana, have adopted codes for other disasters like earthquakes and flood zones, so it makes sense to prepare for wildfires. Bhatt said landscaping and property maintenance can help by trimming any fuels brush, small trees that are near buildings, essentially robbing any future fires of potential fuels. What we want to do is make homes as fire resistant as possible, Bhatt said. You need to look at the demands and the capacity of firefighting resources and water. Other strategies include prohibiting vehicles or cars from going off road near dry fuels because many fires are started by hot mufflers or other vehicle parts. Another key strategy is making sure roads are either paved or wider for emergency vehicles like firefighting trucks to access the more remote properties in order to extinguish the blazes quickly. Pohl said that some communities are beginning to wrestle with the problem, trying to figure out how to balance the states permissive laws with protecting the community. She said Missoula, Gallatin and Park counties have been looking for ways to make their new developments more wildfire resilient. It will take leadership at the state level to allow others to keep people safe, Pohl said. This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter. The White House claimed that thousands of veterans would benefit when President Biden announced this summer he was issuing pardons to gay veterans who were forced out of the military because of their sexual orientation and have carried the burden of this great injustice for decades. But three months later, only eight veterans have applied for pardonssix from the Air Force, two from the Army, and none from the Coast Guard, Navy or Marines. The dismally low numbers are disappointing advocates who say the promise of Bidens pardons raised hopes thatthousands of LGBTQ veterans would not only lose the stigma of courts-martial but also qualify for long-denied veterans benefits. The War Horse discovered only eight veterans have applied for pardons since Bidens June 26 announcement after reaching out over the last two weeks to each branch of the military. The White House did not respond to questions about the lack of applicants or whether it was doing anything more to promote the pardons. Steve Marose, an Air Force veteran who lives in Seattle, is among the eight whove applied, and his case is still under review. Marose said he was shocked by the response and wondered if the pardons limitations have discouraged other veterans. Only those convicted in a military court of consensual sodomy qualify, but experts say many LGBTQ veterans were forced from the military for decades simply under the threat of a court-martial. It sounds like its very broad, that thousands of people will be positively impacted, Marose says. When you look under the hood, he said, it seems doubtful that such a large number of veterans will benefit. Marose was convicted in 1990 of two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer in addition to three counts of consensual sodomy, so he is worried he may not receive a full pardon but decided to submit an application anyway. His case is not unique. As The War Horse has reported, gay service members who wound up in a military court often faced other charges, including misconduct or conduct unbecoming, putting their eligibility for the pardon in question. Michael Wishnie, a professor at Yale Law School and veteran law expert, was also surprised to learn that so few have jumped at the opportunity to apply for a pardon. Its early, but these numbers are disappointing, he told The War Horse. Neither the Biden administration nor the Department of Defense could tell The War Horse how they came up with the claim that thousands of veterans would be eligible. In July, The War Horse submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for Defense Department memos or reports that informed the White House that thousands of veterans would benefit from Bidens act of clemency. However, the agency denied the request, saying the documents were part of the decision-making process, and therefore protected. The War Horse is filing a lawsuit to compel each branch of the military to turn over court-martial records that will help determine how many service members were convicted for consensual sex or other charges that criminalized their sexual orientation. Hopefully this lawsuit will make it easier for thousands of service members to receive some measure of recognition for how they were unfairly treated ... and also allow the public to fully appreciate the scale of this injustice, said attorney Joel Richert, an associate with Davis Wright Tremaine, a law firm that represents The War Horse. The Department of Defense had no comment about the lawsuit. Wishnie and other attorneys familiar with the military justice system believe that some veterans have likely found the pardon process too cumbersome. Veterans must gather documents related to their conviction, and submit a personal statement of why a pardon is being sought. If a pardon is granted, theres also an entirely separate process for upgrading dishonorable discharges and earning VA eligibility for benefits including health care. The pardon Biden issued this past summer is known as a mass pardon, meaning individuals arent named. That places the onus on veterans to work out whether theyre eligible and then commit to the application process. Wishnie and other advocates say the Defense Department should take the lead in identifying veterans who were harmed and automatically upgrade their discharges. Until then, he said, little progress will be made in the effort to rectify the harms of past anti-LGBTQ policies. Rather than do the work itself to correct the Pentagons wrongdoing, the administration put the burden on veterans to prepare lengthy applications, Wishnie said. These low figures are the natural and foreseeable result of that choice. A Defense Department official told The War Horse that it isnt practical to notify every person who is eligible for a pardon. Because the pardon period spans 60 years from the end of World War II up until the repeal of dont ask, dont tell in 2011 a majority of the court-martial records are not digital, meaning thousands of cases would have to be reviewed one by one. Instead, the same official said, veterans who think they may be eligible are encouraged to apply. In 2013, a House bill to upgrade discharge records for LGBTQ troops indicated that between the end of World War II and the repeal of dont ask, dont tell, about 114,000 service members were involuntarily separated based on sexual orientation. A class action lawsuit filed last year in the Northern District of California found more than 29,000 service members were booted between 1980 and 2011 without receiving an honorable discharge due to real or perceived homosexuality or sexual perversion. That case seeks automatic discharge upgrades for gay veterans forced to leave the military. Many of those like Army veteran Mona McGuire wont qualify for the pardons. Earlier this year, The War Horse told the story of McGuire, a military police officer who in 1988, at the age of 20, was outed by a fellow soldier, taken into custody and told she either had to accept an other than honorable discharge or face a court-martial and possibly prison. She chose the less than honorable discharge in lieu of court-martial and gave up VA benefits and her dream of a career in the Army. Without an actual court-martial, she doesnt qualify for Bidens pardons. Ramona McGuire with a portrait with her dad Almus B. McGuire at her home in Muskego. Mona McGuire enlisted in the Army to feel closer to her father, Almus Bernard McGuire, a former military police officer who died when she was seven. There is still hope for some veterans who are not eligible. Last September, the Defense Department announced it would proactively review about 2,000 military records of service members who served during the dont ask, dont tell era and whose sexual orientation resulted in a separation. An update to this effort is expected sometime this fall. But it appears that too wont help McGuire or Marose, who were discharged before dont ask, dont tell, a 1993 policy that forced gay service members to stay quiet about their sexual orientation or face punishment. In 1990, Marose, a former Air Force second lieutenant, was sent to federal prison at Fort Leavenworth for 18 months following his convictions for consensual same-sex relationships and sharing an apartment with a fellow airman. Marose is pursuing every possible path to clear his record and access VA benefits. Along with his pardon application, hes appealed his case directly to an Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records, which cant forgive his convictions but can upgrade his dishonorable discharge. Hes also made his case directly to the VA, which has become increasingly accepting of veterans who did not separate from the military with spotless records. More than 30 years after Marose was kicked out of the military for his sexual orientation, he understands why some LGBTQ veterans are not up for the lengthy process that may only lead to frustration or disappointment. And there is also the added question about who will be in the White House in the fall and how that could impact the pardon process. I have a lot of balls in the air, and I was hoping something would land, Marose says, but instead I feel like Im constantly having to argue and defend and hope and pray. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Biden promised to pardon LGBTQ veterans, but only 8 have applied More than 2,000 voters in the Wisconsin capital city of Madison have received duplicate absentee ballots in the mail, as Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wisc., calls for an investigation into "the full scope of this blunder." File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI Sept. 26 (UPI) -- More than 2,000 voters in the Wisconsin capital city of Madison received duplicate absentee ballots in the mail, as the city admitted it "was a mistake." Madison city officials said 2,215 duplicate ballots were sent out across 10 wards. After admitting the error, city officials claimed the duplicate ballots have identical barcodes and cannot be counted twice. "This was a mistake," said Madison city spokesperson Dylan Brogan. "On the day we found out a clerical error occurred, we immediately reached out to voters." The ballot error in the Democratic stronghold, which happens to be in a battleground state, is prompting calls from Republicans, including Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany, to investigate. "The city of Madison clerk said the duplicate absentee ballots were sent to one ward yesterday. Now, they say it's 10. There needs to be an independent investigation now, not after the election," Tiffany wrote Wednesday in a post on X. Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin is calling for an independent investigation, saying "voters deserve clear answers," after a Madison city error released more than 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI "Although the Madison Clerk's Office claims 'The voting system does not allow a ballot with the same barcode to be submitted,' my office has proof that there is no barcode on the actual ballots," Tiffany added in a separate post on X, along with a photo of an absentee ballot. DEVELOPING: Although the Madison Clerk's Office claims, "The voting system does not allow a ballot with the same barcode to be submitted," my office has proof that there is no barcode on the actual ballots. Here is a picture of the absentee ballots - NO BARCODE. pic.twitter.com/1ZepAFW5RK Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) September 25, 2024 Madison city officials said: "The error affected only an isolated number of voters and was quickly caught and corrected so that it will not affect any other ballots going forward." The clerk's office confirmed it has been contacting the voters individually and has cautioned them to submit only one ballot and to destroy the second one "to avoid any confusion." "The voter is also marked in the poll book as having submitted their absentee ballot as another safeguard against the voter submitting a second ballot," the city said. Tiffany sent a letter Tuesday to Madison city officials, asking them to provide information on how the error was discovered and why it occurred. "Voters deserve clear answers regarding the full scope of this blunder, how the city plans to restore public confidence in its ability to accurately administer the election and assurances that those responsible are held accountable," the letter said. DAKAR (Reuters) - Over $800 million has been pledged to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention for its fight against a surging mpox outbreak on the continent, the agency's head said on Thursday, adding that the amount was higher than expected. It had previously promised to raise $600 million against mpox, which was declared a global health emergency in mid-August after a new strain began spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries. Africa has seen over 32,000 suspected mpox cases including 840 deaths so far this year, according to Africa CDC data. Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, told reporters the agency received pledges for $814 million aimed at supporting its response plan. With the consideration of additional support, that number would increase to around $1 billion. A big part of this funding will come from the U.S., which will be providing $500 million and 1 million vaccine doses to the response plan, he said. Africa CDC will receive around $314 million from a mpox fund that has been created to receive contributions from member states and partners. This amount includes $129 million that was offered by the pandemic fund. The agency has secured 4.3 million vaccine doses out of the more than 10 million needed to start to control this outbreak, Kaseya said. Additional funds came from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness, which shared around $72 million for vaccine development and $145 million for expansion of manufacturing capacity in Africa, especially in Rwanda. Kaseya told reporters that Africa CDC would have to modify its response plan as the outbreak continues to spread and now affects more countries. "We'll redistribute this funding based on the discussions that we have with all partners to ensure that all affected countries and high risk countries are getting appropriate support against mpox," Kaseya said. (Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Bill Berkrot) A plurality of voters say gender will hurt Vice President Harriss chances of winning the White House and will help former President Trump, according to a survey published Thursday. The Associated Press-NORC Research Center poll shows 38 percent of voters say being a woman hurts Harriss chances of winning in November, while 34 percent say her gender will help. Another 26 percent say it wont make a difference. Meanwhile, 41 percent say Trumps gender will help his campaign, compared to 13 percent who say it will hurt his chances; 45 percent say it wont make a difference. Men and women largely agree about the role gender plays in the 2024 campaign, according to the data. For Harris, 39 percent of women and 37 percent of men say gender will hurt her chances. At the same time, 34 percent of both groups say gender will help the vice presidents campaign, while 25 percent of women and 27 percent of men see her gender as making no difference, the survey found. Results are similar for Trump: 42 percent of women and 40 percent of men see gender as detrimental to his campaign, compared to 11 percent of women and 15 percent of men who say being a man will hurt him in the campaign. About 46 percent of women and 43 percent of men say it will make no difference. There is a more significant split across political parties in views about the way gender will play a role in the election, now less than six weeks away. Democrats are more likely to say the Democratic nominees gender will hurt her chances including 52 percent of women and 53 percent of men while 30 percent of Democratic men and women say her gender could be helpful. Republicans are more likely to say gender will boost Harriss chances, including 42 percent of women and 41 percent of men; while 27 percent of Republican women and 23 percent of Republican men think her gender will hurt chances. For Trump, Democrats are more likely to see his gender as helping his campaign, including 56 percent of women and 52 percent of men. Only 7 percent of Democratic women and 11 percent of Democratic men say being a man will hurt the former president, the poll shows. Republicans, meanwhile, mostly say gender wont make a difference to the GOP nominees campaign, but 29 percent of women and 32 percent of men in the party say it will help his chances, while 16 percent of GOP women and 18 percent of GOP men say it will hurt his chances. Americans see gender as more of a threat to Harriss campaign against Trump than they saw with former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons race against him in 2016, according to a poll taken ahead of that election. While today, the former president has a 7-point advantage over the vice president on the helpfulness of their respective genders, back in 2016, gender was seen more as an advantage for Clinton, the poll notes. At the time, 37 percent saw the former New York senators gender as helpful, compared to 29 percent who said it would hurt her campaign, and 33 percent who said it wouldnt make a difference. For Trump, the vast majority saw gender as inconsequential to his chances, but 28 percent saw it as helpful, while 10 percent saw it as detrimental, the data shows. The AP-NORC poll was conducted Sept. 12-16 with 2,028 adults nationwide. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. More countries are somehow involved in violent conflicts than any time since World War II Ukrainian military medics of the Azov brigade move an injured comrade on a stretcher, at the stabilization point near Toretsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. | Evgeniy Maloletka Out of 195 countries in the world (including two non-member observer states at the U.N., the Holy See and the State of Palestine), 92 countries were at least partially involved in conflicts beyond their borders in recent years, according to a respected international research agency, the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). The IEPs 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI) provides a comprehensive data-driven analysis of 23 different indicators of global peacefulness. Other similar assessment efforts have applied varied criteria to measuring global conflict over the years, including from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). What does it all mean? The numbers have remained fairly stable in recent decades for both traditional intrastate conflicts (a country fighting rebels within) or interstate conflicts (two sovereign countries fighting). As reflected below, its the international coalitions of countries involved in backing various fights that has expanded noticeably (an increase of 33 countries, up from 59 in 2008). While only three of the 92 countries have been acting alone in some kind of a conflict, 33 others were involved in a small coalition, and 84 were involved in a large coalition of 10 or more countries most of which were supporting an existing government in its conflict with an internal armed rebel or terrorist group. Graphic from the Global Peace Index 2024, drawing upon data from UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflict Database Heres another graphical representation of the same general data trend, this time zooming into the period since 1989 demonstrating a steady increase over recent years, especially in non-state violence (where one state battles terrorists, rebels, or other criminal groups, often with the assistance of other allied countries). Our World in Data Chart based on 2024 data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) From minor to major conflicts Depending on the measurement criteria used, the picture of global warfare and conflict looks different. For instance, although the Global Peace Index identifies 56 substantial conflicts in which those 92 countries are involved, the Geneva Academys Rule of Law in Armed Conflict identifies almost double that 110 based on finer distinctions in how international law classifies armed conflict. The Uppsala Conflict Data program has also identified nearly 50 more ongoing conflicts based on an even more detailed set of classifications. Some of these conflicts have started only recently, while others like the civil war in Burma (Myanmar) have raged for more than 60 years. Our World in Data Chart based on 2024 data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) A few of the largest conflicts generate regular headlines, while many others dont (Myanmar, Mali and Libya, for instance). IEP cautions that the rising number of minor conflicts increases the likelihood of more major conflicts in the future pointing to Ukraine and Gaza, which were both classified in 2019 as minor conflicts. It is imperative for governments and businesses worldwide to intensify their efforts to resolve the many minor conflicts before they escalate into larger crises, says Steve Killelea, IEPs founder and executive chairman. Worst and best countries for peacefulness Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, Europe remains the most peaceful region overall according to IEPs assessment with Iceland ranking as the worlds most peaceful country since 2008, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Singapore. (Asia-Pacific remains the second most peaceful region by these same standards). According to IEPs 23 variables, the United States ranks as the 132nd most peaceful country linked to several concerning variables, including a homicide rate twice as high as the global average and an increase in the number of politically motivated attacks and mass shootings. Graphic from the Global Peace Index 2024, summarizing IEP's trends from the 23 categories of peacefulness between 2008 and 2024. Yemen takes Afghanistans place this year as IEPs least peaceful country in the world, followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Different assessments agree that the Middle East and North Africa remains the least peaceful region overall home to four of the 10 least peaceful countries in the world, and two of the least peaceful, Sudan and Yemen. In addition to the most visible conflict in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, there are 45 other armed conflicts active in the Middle Eastern/North African region according to the Geneva Academy, including in Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Turkey, and Western Sahara. (The UAE is a noticeable exception to that pattern, recording the largest improvement in peacefulness in the region in the 2024 results). Our World in Data Chart based on 2024 data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) The second least peaceful region according to many measures is Sub-Saharan Africa with the Geneva Academy identifying 35 non-international armed conflicts taking place in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. Asia also has 19 non-international armed conflicts taking place in Afghanistan, India, Myanmar, Pakistan and The Philippines along with two international armed conflicts that are simmering between India and Pakistan and India and China. In addition to its incursion into Ukraine, Russia also occupies part of Transdniestria (Moldova) and South Ossetia and Abkhazia (Georgia), while Armenia is occupying parts of Nagorno Karabakh (Azerbaijan). Six non-international armed conflicts are taking place in Latin America too particularly in Mexico and Colombia. The Geneva Academy notes that Columbia is experiencing one of the longest non-international armed conflicts in modern times. And for the first time, Mexicos battle with drug cartels have been classified as three official armed conflicts, as Dr. Chiara Redealli explains, given the level of organization of the cartels and intensity of violence. An Israeli soldier lights candles at the entrance of a tunnel where the military says six Israeli hostages were recently killed by Hamas militants in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. | Leo Correa Past and future trends Trends in conflict deaths over time run in two different directions. On one hand, a statistical analysis of battle deaths up through 2020 found evidence that the world had become more peaceful in the past 30 years. More recent trends, however, have not been as encouraging. Over the past decade, peacefulness has declined in nine out of the ten years says IEP Founder Steve Killelea. We are witnessing a record number of conflicts, a rise in militarisation, and heightened international strategic competition. As IEP notes in their 2024 report, 97 countries have deteriorated in peacefulness, more than any year since they began tracking the Global Peace Index in 2008. Since the Ukraine war began, militarization has also increased in nearly 100 countries reversing a previous 15-year trend. A new map from the Institute for Economics and Peace based on the overall Global Peace Index Scores for 2024 This global decline in peacefulness is primarily driven by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as reported battle deaths reached 162,000 in 2023 according to IEP. North America also recorded a 5% deterioration in peacefulness including increases in violent crime and fear of violence in both the US and Canada. Central America and the Caribbean also experienced a minor decline in peacefulness, as countries like Haiti battled high levels of organized crime and civil unrest (the big exception being El Salvador, which recorded the worlds most significant improvement in peace). South America as a whole also experienced a 3.6% decline in peacefulness. Global evidence for how often conflicts are reconciled or resolved is also concerning. According to IEP, the number of conflicts resulting in a decisive victory for either side has fallen from 49% in the 1970s, to less than 9% in the 2010s. In the same period, the number of conflicts ending in peace agreements dropped from 23% to just over 4%. Although most indicators of peacefulness deteriorated over the past 18 years, the IEP reports encouraging improvement in several areas, such as the international homicide rate, which dropped in 112 countries including in the United States (which still remains twice the global average). EXCLUSIVE A State Department-backed group and a top Republican lawmaker are butting heads over a congressional report that accused the entity of working with "censorship" activists, leading to Congress demanding fresh documents, the Washington Examiner has learned. The National Endowment for Democracy, a nonprofit group that receives most of its funding through congressional appropriations, was faulted in a House Small Business Committee report earlier this month for flouting its mandate to work internationally. That is because, in the telling of Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), the panel's chairman, the NED linked itself to censorious activity in the United States through its funding of the Global Disinformation Index, a British group blacklisting conservative media outlets, and other programs aiming to thwart alleged "disinformation" and "misinformation." Committee members argued in the 66-page report that "government agencies are working with the private sector to ensure that certain businesses do not have a fair chance to compete online." Its release ruffled feathers within the highest levels of the NED, the CEO of which, Damon Wilson, penned a Sept. 18 letter to Williams requesting that the GOP-led panel "correct the record" on its report titled "Instruments and Casualties of the Censorship-Industrial Complex." "NED does not and has never sought to censor or hinder free speech, which is enshrined in our Constitution and central to the vitality of our democracy," Wilson, a former White House and State Department official, wrote in the letter. "NED has not engaged or been engaged by the Executive Branch, companies, their intermediaries, or any other parties to this end." The leader of the NED, which sits on roughly $126 million in assets, emphasized how the group cut ties with the Global Disinformation Index after the Washington Examiner reported on the NED funding the entity last year. "Alerted by a story in the Washington Examiner," Wilson wrote in the letter, "NED leadership took seriously the concerns raised and our obligation to ensure sound stewardship of American taxpayer dollars." The CEO insisted that the NED's funding for the British group was "to analyze media environments in Mexico, Nigeria, India, Malaysia, Colombia, Turkey, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Thailand," according to a copy of the letter. "I want to underscore this point: NED has no programming related to information integrity and Americas democracy," Wilson added in the letter, which came after a Washington Examiner story detailed an NED staffer's involvement in a fact-checking Google listserv discussing conservative media in the U.S. Williams, the House Small Business Committee chairman, replied to Wilson in a letter on Thursday, according to a copy obtained by the Washington Examiner. His panel's report also notably took aim at the State Department's Global Engagement Center office for funding the Global Disinformation Index and other "censorship" groups. In the Thursday letter, Williams demanded sets of documents from the NED on its ties to the Google listserv, telling the CEO that the nonprofit group must explain its ties to it. Featured Local Savings "Given the NEDs strict international restraints, to which you refer in the letter, the committee hopes you would agree that the use of NED resources to send such an email about a domestic press outlet and evaluating its admission to a private credibility organization is improper and, as the finding states, a violation of the NEDs international restrictions," Williams wrote in the letter, citing a then-2021 NED official's discussion of the Daily Caller in the listserv. To Williams, the CEO mischaracterized how his committee described the NED's relationship with the Global Disinformation Index. The NED leader alleged that the House Small Business Committee said the NED backed the British group to target domestic media outlets but lawmakers never made that argument. To Republicans, it is problematic enough for a group such as the Global Disinformation Index to receive any federal funding which prompted a new Defense Department law last year banning certain funds to the British group, as does a new provision through the annual State Department appropriations bill that cleared the House and will be negotiated in the Senate. "The report does not allege the funds were used for 'programming focused on the United States,'" Williams wrote to the CEO. "The report instead provides evidence that, prior to administering the GDI grants, the NED was aware of the GDIs work in the United States, as well as impacts the funding may have had domestically," the lawmaker continued. "This is part of a larger conclusion of the report that no taxpayer dollars should be given to any entity which seeks to demonetize domestic press outlets because of their lawful speech." In his letter, Williams asked the NED leader whether his staff "ever submitted social media posts or accounts to social media companies in the context of flagging them as potentially violative of terms of service or similar policies." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The back-and-forth between Williams and Wilson, captured in the sets of letters, comes on the heels of the New York Post reporting on internal State Department press guidance that, according to the outlet, was used in 2023 to "discredit" the Washington Examiner, journalist Matt Taibbi, and a Republican congressman over coverage of state-funded groups aiming to suppress speech. "By smearing anyone who disagrees with it as a Russian stooge, this network conflates U.S. citizens with a U.S. adversary, as State Department talking points did to my colleague Representative Jim Banks and the award-winning journalists Gabe Kaminsky and Matt Taibbi in a scheming sleight of hand that ruled out of bounds political opinions and fact-based reporting it opposed but cannot refute," Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) wrote in a letter this week to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the revelation. Movies in the Twin Cities this week: Arab Film Fest, Frankenheimer, 'Starcrash' The Arab Film Fest opens this week, highlighting a packed calendar of film screenings around the Twin Cities. The festival, which doubles as a 25th-anniversary celebration for Mizna, which organizes the festival, is putting a spotlight on voices from Palestine and Sudan in this year's installment. Find more about the festival and other screenings in this week's highlights. 19th Arab Film Festival Wednesday, Sept. 25Sunday, Sept. 29 at The Main Cinema, Third Street Bridge, and Walker Art Center Among the litany of alluring films at this year's Arab Film Fest is the opening night screening of Bye Bye Tiberias, a documentary about the life of Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas (Succession), directed by her daughter, Lina Soualem. The fest also features a free screening of Tajouje (1977) at the Third Street Bridge, Kamal Aljafari's heralded A Fidai Film (2024), and the closing night presentation of the Sudanese drama Goodbye Julia (2023). Prices and locations vary, complete listings below The Train (1964) Friday, Sept. 27Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Trylon Cinema The Train is the final film in the Trylon's "Conspiracy/Clairvoyance in John Frankenheimer's 1960s" series. It's not one of Frankenheimer's best-known, but it's a sweaty thriller following Paul Labiche (Burt Lancaster) as he attempts to orchestrate the retrieval of great works of art from the Nazis before they can move them into Germany at the end of the war. Members of the Resistance have to take control of the train, but can't destroy it as they aim to protect the precious cargo inside. It's an intense portrayal of the stakes and cost of resistance akin to John Sturges' The Great Escape (1963). 2820 E 33rd St., Minneapolis ($8) Starcrash (1978) Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Emagine Willow Creek Starcrash isn't just an old genre movie hitting the screen for laughs. (Though, to be fair, there's plenty to laugh at.) Genre director Lewis Coates (aka Luigi Cozzi) directed a wild array of genre pictures in the U.S. and Italy (including "Cozilla," a colorized print of Godzilla: King of the Monsters! the American release of the original film to which he added footage). Starcrash is beautifully emblematic of what's bad about genre pictures from this era and what's so bad it's good. The story is absurd, and the effects can't rival the groundbreaking effects of Star Wars, released a year earlier. Still, they're beautiful and inventive. (Employing some of the techniques he refined making "Cozzila.") Will you be able to suspend your disbelief? No. You will disbelieve. But that's not to say that there aren't aesthetic pleasures to be found in its meticulous and budget-conscious sets, costumes, and effects. 9900 Shelard Pkwy., Plymouth ($6) Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Thursday, Sept. 26Thursday, Oct. 3 at St. Michael Cinema, Marcus Oakdale Cinema, Marcus Parkwood Cinema, Marcus Rosemount Cinema, and Marcus Southbridge Crossing Cinema; part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2024 Like any of Hayao Miyaziki's films, Howl's Moving Castle thrives on the big screen, showcasing his detailed, magical world. Howl's follows Sofi, who was transformed from a young woman into an elderly woman by the Witch of the Waste following a chance encounter with the wizard Howl. She finds herself inside his moving castle as the country teeters on the brink of war and the King summons the nation's wizards. Various theaters and prices Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) Monday, Sept. 30 at the Heights Theater The classic screwball comedy is getting an 80th-anniversary screening at the Heights. It pretty much nails everything moviegoers want to see from the genre. Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant at the height of his comedy prowess) goes home to Brooklyn to show off his new wife after writing books about the pitfalls of the institution. Somehow, director Frank Capra (as well as writers Julius Epstein and Joseph Kesselring) keep this a comedy despite Mortimer discovering his spinster aunts and psychotic brother are serial murderers. 3951 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis ($15) Related: Twin Cities Arab Film Festival unveils full schedule including parties and 'rage karaoke' More movies playing this week: Related: Twin Cities Film Fest lineup includes Daisy Ridley, Josh Duhamel and more (Bloomberg) -- Mpox vaccinations will be administered in the Democratic Republic of the Congos capital Kinshasa in a bid to stop the virus from spreading rapidly in the tightly-packed city of 17 million and around the world through its air links. Most Read from Bloomberg The adjustment to a planned immunization program that was going to focus mainly on the epicenter of the outbreak in the east of the country 900 miles away comes amid concern the viral disease is spreading rapidly in Africa, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance for the disease in the city will also be stepped up. The increase of mpox in Kinshasa, where scientists say a more rapidly spreading sub-variant of the disease known as clade Ib has been found, is something that worries us very much, Ngashi Ngongo, chief of staff at the Africa CDC, said at a briefing on Thursday. The crowding is real and in addition there is the opening of Kinshasa to other countries and the world. While mpox has been endemic to central and west Africa for decades, this years outbreak has raised concerns because of the apparent spread of clade Ib though all types of sexual and close physical contact, leading to the infection and death of hundreds of children. The disease appears to be spreading rapidly on the continent and there are suspected cases in at least 15 countries, Jean Kaseya, the director-general of Africa CDC, said. They cant all be confirmed due to inadequate testing. Single cases of clade Ib have also been found in Sweden, Thailand and India. Reported cases on the continent of both the original clade I and the newer sub-variant have exceeded 32,000 this year and 840 people have died, Kaseya said, adding that the true figures are likely to be much higher. Its just the tip of the iceberg, he said. No one can say this is the reality we are facing in Africa. The response to the disease, which was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization last month, is gathering pace in Africa. Earlier this week African heads of state set up an mpox fund to which $314 million has been pledged, Kaseya said. In addition the US has said it will provide $500 million and 1 million vaccine doses. More detail about the aid will be given in coming days, he said. Overall the continent now has access to 4.3 million vaccine doses and in addition to Congo, where the pace of infections picked up last week, vaccines will be distributed to Rwanda, South Africa, the Central African Republic, Burundi and Cameroon. Carefully targeted groups will receive vaccines, including some HIV positive people in South Africa, Ngongo said. This plan is flexible, the outbreak is growing, Kaseya said. Sign up here for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The eastern Congolese mining town of Kamituga will be among the first to be vaccinated against mpox in the DRC (Glody MURHABAZI) (Glody MURHABAZI/AFP/AFP) Mpox epicentre DR Congo is less than a week away from the start of a vaccination campaign, but the rollout faces challenges in a vast country with limited roads, often in poor condition. Residents of Kamituga, a bustling mining town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province, will be among the first to be vaccinated when the campaign begins on October 2. But authorities still face logistical challenges -- only one road leads to Kamituga and most of the communities surrounding it are isolated. Taxis crammed with passengers sit beside large trucks, moving slowly through the winding, bumpy mountain pass. For the most part, the road is a dirt track, interspersed with bridges made from metal beams and wooden planks that allow drivers to cross overflowing rivers. The town, where the latest mpox epidemic began in September 2023, lies around 180 kilometres (112 miles) from the provincial capital, Bukavu. - 'We are afraid' - Lack of passable roads to villages and suburbs of Kamituga means that motorcyclists often provide rides to people going to the town's hospital. "We are the first in danger because we carry customers and we do not know if they are infected," motorbike driver Salumu Hassan told AFP. The only protection Hassan and his colleagues have are long-sleeved jackets and making sure they limit physical contact with passengers. "We are afraid," Daniel Ngama, another driver, told AFP. Kamituga has around 280,000 inhabitants, according to official statistics. But locals estimate the number to be closer to half a million. Gold mining attracts many to the town and it can often be difficult to monitor the population flow. "This transient population poses a lot of problems," said Evariste Mbayu, who supervises workers responsible for detecting mpox cases in villages and neighbourhoods. People come from the eastern city of Bukavu, neighbouring North Kivu province and even Burundi, he said. With people coming and going "we fear that vaccination will be difficult", doctor James Wakilonga Zanguilwa at Kamituga hospital told AFP. -'We have been cautious'- At night, Kamituga's clubs are full of miners and sex workers. "We don't have time to educate them" on the risk of mpox infection, doctor Dally Muamba Kambaji told AFP. Sex workers were among the first to spread the virus in the town, according to local doctors. "We don't have the means to protect ourselves. If you sleep with someone who is going to kiss you and take off their clothes, it's difficult to respect distancing measures," prostitute Nicole Mubukwa told AFP. "Since we were hit by the epidemic, we have been cautious," the 30-year-old, who hopes to be vaccinated quickly, said. "We require our customers to take off their clothes, and if they show signs of mpox, we tell them to leave," she added. The peak of the epidemic has now passed the town and spread to the shores of Lake Kivu to the north and Lake Tanganyika to the east. But authorities are confident they are managing the outbreak. "We are in a very encouraging phase where the disease has stabilised," South Kivu governor Jean-Jacques Purusi told AFP. Claude Bahizire, a doctor and communications officer at South Kivu's provincial health division, told AFP that authorities have a "cold room for the storage and transport of vaccines". The doses must be kept at a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit). Public confidence in vaccines has plummeted in South Kivu since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study published in the journal Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics last year. But people interviewed by AFP in Kamituga all said they were ready to get vaccinated. clt/cld/sba/keo/kjm MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle said her interview with Vice President Kamala Harris might have been perceived as refreshing mostly because it was normal. The journalist spoke to MSNBC colleague Chris Hayes after interviewing the Democratic presidential nominee to reflect on their conversation. Hayes began by praising Ruhle for the great interview, which he described as refreshingly substantive. I think what youre actually complimenting is that it was a normal interview, Chris, Ruhle replied. Thats actually what it was. It was a normal interview. It was a person running to be the president of the United States, and for 25 minutes, we talked about their vision, and we talked about policy. I think that its just that were so desensitized in that so many interviews that that we do were forced to cover so much lunacy, or so much crazy, or so much fact-checking, or get distracted by so many issues that arent core policies that serve the American people, she added, in a clear reference to former President Donald Trump and Republicans that adhere to his brand of politics. What you saw right there was just sort of a classic interview with somebody running for president. It was Harris first one-on-one with a major cable news network since becoming the nominee. She discussed her economic agenda, immigration and reproductive rights, as well as her decision to select Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. See Ruhles assessment of her conversation with Harris below. Related... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Authorities say a pedestrian was seriously injured in a crash near Grand Rapids Thursday morning. Michigan State Police said the crash happened at the intersection of Crahen Avenue and Fulton Street in Grand Rapids Township. State police said the vehicle was turning on a green arrow signal and struck the pedestrian who was crossing the street. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital in serious condition, according to MSP. The intersection was closed as authorities investigated and worked to clear the scene. It has since reopened. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Around 10 Russian drones downed over Kyiv, debris causes fire Editor's note: Kyiv authorities initially reported a child was injured and hospitalized during the overnight Russian attack, but later retracted this information. Debris from intercepted Russian drones damaged a gas pipe in a residential building in Kyiv during an overnight attack on Sept. 26, city authorities reported. The air raid alarm in Ukraine's capital sounded for 5 hours. Multiple explosions were heard in several of the citys districts as well as in Kyiv Oblast, according to the Kyiv Independent reporters. Over 15 drones were spotted near Kyiv, with around 10 of them downed by air defenses, the Kyiv City Military Administration said. No casualties were reported. Debris fell in the citys Pechersk district, damaging a gas pipe in a five-story residential building. The attack also damaged about 20 cars. Emergency services were called to the district due to a fire on the first floor of a residential building caused by falling debris. Debris was also spotted on the territory of a kindergarten, local authorities said. Read also: Russia attacks Kramatorsk city center, killing 2, injuring 19, including children Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. (WHNT) The Muscle Shoals Police officers involved in a deadly shooting Monday have been cleared to return to work, the City of Muscle Shoals attorney confirmed to News 19. According to ALEA, at around 5 p.m. on Sunday, the Muscle Shoals Police Department responded to a call in the 300 block of Tuxedo Avenue West in Muscle Shoals. Attorney for family of man killed in Muscle Shoals police shooting speaks out about incident The City of Muscle Shoals released a statement regarding the officers return to work: The three officers involved in this incident have over 35 years of combined law enforcement experience and training. In accordance with MSPD policy, all three officers were placed on administrative leave pending an internal review. After reviewing all essential body-camera footage, documents, and statements, MSPD concluded that all three officers complied with applicable standards, policies, and procedures and cleared them to return to work. An independent investigation is currently being conducted by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. This is an unfortunate incident that has taken a toll on MSPD officers, the mans family, and the community. MSPD exists to serve and protect the citizens of Muscle Shoals. However, it is also imperative that MSPD officers protect themselves and each other from imminent threats of serious bodily harm or death when performing their law enforcement duties. In this tragic situation, it is clear that MSPD officers acted appropriately under tense and rapidly evolving circumstances consistent with their training. City of Muscle Shoals Statement The agency said that once officers arrived they found a man, identified as 68-year-old Ronald Parrish of Muscle Shoals, with a knife. ALEA said officers gave repeated verbal commands to drop the knife but the man lunged toward officers. Athens Police Department looking for missing UAH student According to the statement from the City of Muscle Shoals, body camera footage shows officers told Parrish to drop the knife approximately 102 times. During these de-escalation efforts, Officers 2 and 3 had their tasers drawn to a low-ready position while standing away from the man at the safest distance the space allowed. Officer 1 retreated to a location behind Officer 3 with his department-issued firearm drawn to a ready-gun position to provide cover for Officers 2 and 3 if necessary. At this point, the man concealed himself from Officers 1 and 3 behind an open refrigerator door. Officer 2 maintained a direct line of sight with the man while communicating with him, the statement said. The city said that during negotiations with Parrish, who they add was still holding the knife, he threatened Officer 2, saying Ill throw this right through your heart. Muscle Shoals officials said Officer 2 then continued to calmly ask the man to drop the knife so he could get him help. After approximately 8 minutes and numerous commands to drop the knife, the man, without provocation, stepped away from the refrigerator and charged Officer 3 with the knife raised in a stabbing motion. Officer 3 deployed his taser at the man making contact with the front of his body. Officer 2 deployed his taser as well making contact with the back of the mans body. The man fought through both taser deployments and continued to charge at Officer 3. In an attempt to stop the imminent threat of bodily harm or death to Officer 3, Officer 1 discharged his firearm at the man causing him to fall to the ground, the city said. Get breaking news, traffic and weather alerts directly to your smartphone. Download the News 19 App ALEA said officers engaged and shot Parrish. He was transported to Helen Keller Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Huntsville Attorney Tyler Mann, who is representing the Parrish family, told News 19 that the incident stemmed from a mental health call. While we respect law enforcement and the job that they do, MSPD nor ALEA have responded to my requests to view the body cam footage of this tragic encounter. ALEAs statement is premature under the circumstances. According to witnesses, Mr. Parrish was tased at least once. This leads to questions about the use of deadly force and the departments training in response to mental illness calls, including, but not limited to, dementia. On behalf of the family, I would request all information regarding this incident be made transparent before judgment is passed in the public. My sincerest condolences reside with the family at this time as they grieve the loss of a husband, father, and well known member of the Muscle Shoals community.Attorney Tyler Mann Tyler Mann Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Myanmar's junta chief military Min Aung Hlaing arrives to deliver a speech during a ceremony to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw on March 27, 2024 (STR) (STR/AFP/AFP) Myanmar's embattled junta on Thursday invited armed groups opposed to its rule to stop fighting and start talks to bring peace, after three-and-a-half years of conflict. The unexpected offer comes after the junta suffered a series of major battlefield reverses to ethnic minority armed groups and pro-democracy "People's Defence Forces" that rose up to oppose the military's seizure of power in 2021. As well as battling determined resistance to its rule, the junta is also struggling with the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, which triggered major flooding that has left more than 400 dead and hundreds of thousands in need of help. "We invite ethnic armed groups, terrorist insurgent groups, and terrorist PDF groups which are fighting against the state to give up terrorist fighting and communicate with us to solve political problems politically," the junta said in a statement. The military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected civilian government in February 2021, triggering mass protests that were met with a brutal crackdown. Civilians set up PDFs to fight back and ethnic minority armed groups -- many of which have fought the military for decades -- were reinvigorated, plunging the country into civil war. Armed groups should follow "the path of party politics and elections in order to bring about lasting peace and development", the statement said. "The country's human resources, basic infrastructure and many people's lives have been lost, and the country's stability and development have been blocked" by the conflict, the junta said. Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a spokesman for the Karen National Union (KNU), which has been battling the military for decades for more autonomy along the border with Thailand, said talks were only possible if the military agreed to "common political objectives." "Number one: no military participation in future politics. Two they (the military) have to agree to a federal democratic constitution," he told AFP. "Number three: they have to be accountable for everything they have committed... including war crimes and crimes against humanity," he said. "No impunity." "If they don't agree with it, then nothing will happen," he added. "We will keep putting pressure on them politically, militarily." - Election pledge - The junta, which justified its coup with unsubstantiated allegations of fraud in the 2020 elections won by Suu Kyi's party, has long pledged to hold fresh polls when conditions permit. Census takers are due to start collecting data in early October in preparation for possible polls in 2025. The military has lost swathes of territory in border areas in the past year after a major surprise offensive led by a trio of ethnic minority armed groups. The groups have seized control of lucrative border crossings and last month took Lashio, a city of 150,000 people -- the biggest urban centre to fall to rebels since 1962. Batches of conscripts have been training after the military enforced a draft law in February -- prompting tens of thousands of eligible young people to flee the country to avoid being called up, according to rights groups. More than 5,700 civilians have been killed and over 20,000 arrested in the military crackdown since 2021, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local monitoring group. The United Nations warned last week that Myanmar was plunging into a human rights "abyss", detailing shocking torture meted out by the military on people in its custody. Detainees reported being beaten with iron poles, bamboo sticks and motorcycle chains, and being terrorised with snakes and insects. Pope Francis has offered refuge on Vatican territory to Suu Kyi, Italian media said on Tuesday. The 79-year-old Nobel peace laureate is serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges ranging from corruption to not respecting Covid pandemic restrictions. Rights groups say her closed-door trial was a sham designed to remove her from the political scene. bur-pdw-rma/nro FILE - Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York, Jan. 11, 2024. (Shannon Stapleton/Pool Photo via AP, File) WASHINGTON (AP) Launchpad Strategies was incorporated less than a year ago and has since received $15 million from Donald Trumps election fundraising machine. For what is mostly a mystery. Campaign finance records indicate the limited liability company was hired to provide online advertising, digital consulting and fundraising. On its website, the firm boasts it is a full-service Republican digital agency run by expert strategists. Yet, those expert strategists aren't identified. An online contact form does not appear to work. And business registration records in Delaware provide no clues as to who owns or runs the firm. The campaigns checks are sent to a P.O. Box in North Carolina. Campaign finance experts said Launchpad Strategies was built for anonymity and is the latest example of how the Trump campaign has used secretive businesses to obscure its spending from the public. The Trump campaigns sort of exhibit a lot of the patterns of behavior that weve become accustomed to with Trump and his associates, said Michael Kang, a law professor at Northwestern University. There does seem to be some kind of self-dealing in a lot of what they do when it comes to their financial matters. Launchpad is not alone An Associated Press review of Federal Election Commission records shows that more than $876 million moved through Trumps campaigns and pro-Trump fundraising committees over the past nine years to six limited liability companies, including Launchpad Strategies. The filings meet the minimum disclosure requirements, yet the final recipients of the cash are unknown. The $15 million paid to Launchpad Strategies is a fraction of the huge sums spent during presidential elections. But the lack of transparency makes it impossible to know if money donated by Trumps supporters was spent wisely or could be personally benefiting the former presidents aides and allies. The AP was not able to identify a representative for Launchpad Strategies from whom to seek comment. The Trump campaign did not respond to questions about Launchpad Strategies or the other such companies it has paid. But its attorneys have argued previously in a federal filing that campaigns and fundraising committees are rarely required to itemize the ultimate payees of a contractors expenses. While other political campaigns have relied on vendors with hazy origins, Trumps operation has set its own standard in terms of doing it far more than anyone else, said Saurav Ghosh of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, which advocates rigorous enforcement of campaign finance law. The payments to Launchpad Strategies have evoked earlier allegations the Trump campaign subverted federal rules designed to prevent candidates from concealing how they spend donor dollars. FEC not likely to take action But the government agency that enforces federal campaign finance laws is unlikely to do much about it. A deep ideological divide among the FECs commissioners has stymied almost 30 investigations recommended by agency lawyers of accusations Trumps campaign broke the rules. One closed complaint alleged two of the limited liability companies were used to mask millions of dollars in payments to Trump family members or vendors controlled by campaign staff. The FECs evenly divided structure and a polarized political environment have paralyzed the agency at a time when presidential and congressional elections are awash in money. The Supreme Courts 2010 Citizens United ruling opened the floodgates of election spending and raised the potential for misconduct. Yet no more than three of the FEC's six commissioners can be from the same political party, leading to frequent gridlock. FEC attorneys, for example, have advised commissioners to investigate 29 of the 59 complaints against the Trump campaign or his fundraising committees, according to a tally maintained by FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub, a Democrat. The agency pursued none of them. The dysfunction, according to campaign finance experts, has given political campaigns the green light to ignore the transparency voters need to make informed decisions. Its hard to know if a secretive group like Launchpad is doing anything improper, and its unlikely that the current Republican FEC commissioners would approve an investigation to find out, said Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of the Campaign for Accountability, a government watchdog group. "By repeatedly stonewalling merited complaints, theyve made it clear that they have no interest in taking a closer look at any campaign activity tied to Donald Trump. The Trump campaign is not the only one to employ opaque firms. President Joe Bidens presidential campaigns paid $522 million to a Georgia company called Media Buying & Analytics LLC. Its current address is a UPS mailbox at an Atlanta strip mall. Vice President Kamala Harris took over Bidens campaign account when he dropped out of the race in July. Unlike Launchpad Strategies, however, Media Buying & Analytics left digital fingerprints. A Federal Communications Commission form linked the company to Canal Partners Media, an established firm aligned with the Democratic Party. Bobby Kahn, president of Canal Partners Media, acknowledged CPM owns Media Buying & Analytics and said the company was formed to handle the heavy accounting and paperwork load of a presidential campaign. Both companies are independent of their clients, he said. Documents shed light on how one opaque company operated Before Launchpad Strategies stealthy entry into Trumps orbit, FEC records and a congressional transcript provide insights into how two of these limited liability companies operated. Former 2020 Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, assisted by campaign attorneys, established American Made Media Consultants in Delaware just after his appointment to the post to relieve him of time-consuming political advertising duties. He picked a campaign finance official named Sean Dollman to run the company, according to an interview Dollman had with House Jan. 6 committee investigators. The campaign would at times tell him which subcontractors to hire, Dollman said. One of them was Phunware, a financially troubled Texas cellphone app developer that had built ties to Parscale. The Trump campaign promoted Dollman to chief financial officer in early 2020 while he was still in charge of American Made Media. His salary would grow to $40,000 a month as more money flowed to the company for advertising-related work. Dollman did not respond to messages seeking comment. FEC filings show Trumps campaign paid American Made Media $782 million. The Campaign Legal Center lodged a complaint with the FEC in July 2020 alleging American Made Media functioned as a conduit to conceal transactions with people under the direction and control of the campaign. The center also accused the Trump campaign and the Make America Great Again fundraising committee of routing campaign staff salary payments through Parscales political consulting firm, Parscale Strategy. Two of the recipients were Lara Trump, the former presidents daughter-in-law, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, a lawyer who was dating Donald Trump Jr. The Trump campaign derided the complaint as a headline-seeking publicity stunt, according to its response to the FEC. But FEC attorneys determined the allegations had merit. In April 2022, they recommended the FECs commissioners approve a formal investigation based on a reason to believe campaign finance law may have been violated. Votes from at least four of the six commissioners are required to move ahead with an investigation. They split, 3-3, killing the probe. ___ Associated Press data journalist Aaron Kessler in Washington contributed to this report. Adams is the first New York City mayor to face an indictment while in office Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock New York City Mayor Eric Adams After months of federal investigations and recent high-ranking resignations, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges, a source told PEOPLE. According to The New York Times, which first reported the news, the indictment is sealed as of the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 25, so the charges remain unclear. Adams, 64, will become the first New York City mayor to face criminal charges while sitting in office. Federal prosecutors, the FBI and New York City's Department of Investigation are expected to announce details on Thursday, reports the Times. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit," Adams said in a statement to PEOPLE. In a speech Wednesday night, Adams, who retained lawyer Alex Spiro in the federal case, said he will not resign and said the charges "would be entirely false, based on lies." He later added, "If I am charged, I know I am innocent. I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth." The indictment comes after federal agents seized Adams phones and iPad in November and after prosecutors issued subpoenas in July involving his 2021 mayoral run, according to the Associated Press in August. Adams and Fabien Levy, the mayors head of communications, have not yet commented on the indictment. The last time Adams publicly mentioned the investigations was during a Sept. 17 in-person press conference. Im focusing on protecting the people of this city, and the investigations will take care of themselves, Adams said at the time. And that is not where my time is going to be consumed by answering the same questions over and over again. We know what you know. ichael M. Santiago/Getty New York City Mayor Eric Adams in 2023 That statement came five days after Adams accepted the resignation of New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban, who was among four of they mayors administration officials whose homes were raided by federal agents on Sept. 4. [Caban] concluded that this is the best decision at this time, Adams said on Sept. 12. I respect his decision and I wish him well. Commissioner Caban dedicated his life to making our city safer and we saw a drop in crime for 13 of the 14 months he served as commissioner. Agents also raided the homes of Schools Chancellor David Banks, Deputy Mayor Philip Banks and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. This continued a string of raids on homes over the past year of people surrounding Adams political orbit since he became mayor in 2022, some of whom hed known before he took on the mayoral role. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock New York City Mayor Eric Adams in 2022 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Adams previously addressed New Yorkers at a Sept. 10 virtual Q&A. The job I have as your mayor is the only one I've ever wanted, he said. I grew up with injustice, and I set out to make sure that New York City was a better, fairer place. I want to assure you that I feel the awesome weight of that responsibility with my whole heart, and I would never do anything to betray your trust. The mayor continued: I realize that these investigations have raised a lot of questions and a lot of concerns. There are some serious matters that must be addressed. I was surprised, as you, to learn of these inquiries, and I take them extremely seriously. I spent more than 20 years in law enforcement, and so every member of the administration knows my expectation that we must all follow the law. From here, I will share with you what I can and what I can't, Adams explained. Let me be clear. I and this administration are focused on New Yorkers, not investigators. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Vice President Kamala Harris did not get grilled in her sit-down with MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday, but the interview did signal the ways in which Harris plans to blunt former President Donald Trump's perceived advantage on the economy in November. Much of the interview with Ruhle focused on Harris's stance on tariffs, corporate tax rates, and how best to address the struggles of working- and middle-class voters. At one point, she even used her past stint as a fast food worker to contrast her upbringing with that of Trump. "It was not a small job," Harris said as she pushed back against Trump's repeated claims that she didn't work at McDonald's. WHO HAS AND HASNT ENDORSED HARRIS AND TRUMP THIS ELECTION CYCLE? Later on, the vice president touched on topics including immigration and abortion. Here are the top takeaways from her second solo interview of the campaign cycle, filmed in Pittsburgh. Harris defends economic agenda to blunt Trump edge Before the MSNBC interview, Harris had given a speech outlining her policies on growing the middle class at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh. She has in some polls eaten into the advantage Trump enjoys on the economy but will face voters in November as consumers still grapple with a post-pandemic surge in the price of goods. The vice president used the Ruhle sit-down to reiterate her proposals, among them not raising taxes on anyone making less than $400,000, expanding the Child Tax Credit, creating 3 million new housing units for rent, and helping first-time home buyers with $25,000 for a down payment. But Harris also had strong criticisms of how Trump would handle the economy, slamming his embrace of high tariffs on corporations that move their business out of the United States. The Biden administration has generally kept the tariffs Trump levied as president intact, but Trump has promised to go further if elected to a second term. Well, part of it is you dont just throw around the idea of just tariffs, across the board, and thats part of the problem with Donald Trump, Harris said. I say this in all sincerity, hes just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues, Harris continued. And one must be serious and have a plan, any real plan, thats not just about some talking point ending in an exclamation at a political rally. But actually putting the thought into what will be the return on the investment, what will be the economic impact on everyday people. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment by press time but has accused Harris of pursuing a socialist agenda despite her pivot to the right on some issues, citing the views she held in her first run for president in 2019. Harris also stated that billionaires should "pay their fair share" as she was questioned about the economy. Ruhle briefly asked about her plan to ban price-gouging for groceries, criticized by Republicans as price controls, but Harris did not revisit the proposal. "I am not mad at anyone for achieving success, but everyone should pay their fair share," Harris said. "And it is not right that the teachers and the firefighters that I meet every day across our country are paying a higher tax than the richest people in our country." When asked about her time at McDonald's, Harris suggested Trump is an out-of-touch billionaire who does not represent the middle class. The two candidates have dueled for the working-class vote with proposals that would cut taxes, including on tip wages. "Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonald's is because there are people who work at McDonald's in our country who are trying to raise a family," she said. "And I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people, and what our responsibility, then is to meet those needs." Harris headed to US southern border The vice president will head to Douglas, Arizona, a border state, on Friday, which Ruhle brought up during the interview. Harris largely repeated her past statement calling for immigration reform and a pathway for citizenship as voters name illegal border crossings as one of their top concerns heading into November. Featured Local Savings "We do have a broken immigration system, and it needs to be fixed," she said before blaming Trump for scuttling a bipartisan border security bill earlier this year. The Senate bill would have put more border agents on the border, stemmed the flow of fentanyl, and increased the standards for migrants looking for asylum in the U.S. "Donald Trump got word of the bill, realized it was going to fix a problem he wanted to run on, and told him to kill the bill. Don't put it up for a vote," said Harris. "My pledge is that when elected president, if the American people will have me. I will bring that bill back, and I will sign it into law." Meanwhile, Trump and other Republicans have blamed Harris for the record number of crossings since President Joe Biden took office, calling her the "border czar" due to the role she played in investigating the root causes of illegal immigration. Trump made his own trip to the border in August. Harris says women can 'trust' her Recently, Trump claimed that he would "protect" women in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. But Harris used the interview to remind viewers that Trump appointed the three conservative justices that helped strike down Roe, which guaranteed a federal right to an abortion. "Donald Trump is also the person who said women should be punished for exercising a decision that they rightly should be able to make about their own body and their future," said Harris. "And now in state after state, you see laws being passed that do punish women," she continued, pointing to a ProPublica article detailing the death of Amber Nicole Thurman, a woman in Georgia who died after doctors waited to perform a dilation and curettage procedure, fearing prosecution under the state's restrictive abortion laws. "The thing about Donald Trump is that, you know, I don't think the women of America need him to say he's going to protect them. The women of America need him to trust them," said Harris. When Ruhle asked if women can trust Harris, she responded, "Yes, I am not perfect. But I will tell you I'm always going to put the needs of the people first." The Trump campaign's war room account on X felt differently. "No we can't. She is weak, failed, and dangerously liberal," the account responded. Trump, who has committed not to pass a federal abortion ban, has repeatedly embraced the role he played in Roe being overturned, arguing voters in each state should decide the limits they impose on the procedure. Harris shows caution with MSNBC interview The Trump campaign began slamming the Ruhle interview as an another example of Harris dodging tough questioning from the national media. Harris has limited the number of national media interviews she is willing to engage in since replacing Biden as the nominee. Of the few interviews Harris has down with before a national audience, most have been with friendly allies including Ruhle. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER She sat down with former talk show host Oprah Winfrey last week for a Unite for America rally in Michigan a month after Winfrey endorsed Harris at the Democratic National Convention. In less friendly interviews, Harris and running mate Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) sat down for a joint interview with CNNs Dana Bash in August. Harris also faced a moderated panel of journalists with the National Association of Black Journalists this month. N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams Charged with Taking Foreign Bribes During His Rise to Power in Newly Unsealed Indictment The embattled mayor faces five criminal counts including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting foreign contributions Spencer Platt/Getty New York City Mayor Eric Adams at the African American Day Parade in Harlem on Sept. 15, 2024 New York City Mayor Eric Adams is charged with five criminal counts relating to his alleged ties with foreign businessmen and a Turkish official who sought to influence his decision-making, according to a newly unsealed indictment. Adams is charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and receiving campaign contributions by foreign nationals; as well as one count of bribery, one count of wire fraud, and two counts of soliciting a contribution by a foreign national. The conduct alleged in the indictment the foreign money, the corporate money, the bribery, the years of concealment is a grave breach of public trust, said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams after the charges were revealed on Thursday, Sept. 26. Alex Spiro, a celebrity lawyer whom Adams recently retained for his criminal case, is accusing federal investigators of putting on a show as the mayor maintains his innocence. "We have known for some time that they would try to find a way to bring a case against Mayor Adams. Yesterday more improper leaks. Today they emailed us a summons (and created the spectacle of a bogus raid)," he tells PEOPLE in a statement, later adding: "We will see them in court." Related: N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams Indicted amid Federal Corruption Investigation On Wednesday, Sept. 26, news broke that a federal corruption investigation into New York City administrators had resulted in criminal charges against the mayor, though the specific charges remained sealed until Thursday. Adams is now the first sitting N.Y.C. mayor to face criminal charges, joining a growing list of political figures who have been indicted by the Department of Justice since last year, including now-former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, President Joe Biden's son Hunter, and former President Donald Trump. Related: New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez Found Guilty in Federal Corruption Trial as He Weighs Reelection Bid TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Federal agents search Gracie Mansion, the official N.Y.C. mayor's residence, on Sept. 26, 2024 one day after Eric Adams was indicted on federal criminal charges Adams, a former NYPD officer, was elected mayor in 2021 after serving eight years as Brooklyn's borough president and seven years as a state senator. Recently a series of officials in his administration have resigned or retired, some of whom had been roped into the federal probes. The mayor is up for reelection in 2025, though a chorus of N.Y.C.-based leaders have called for him to immediately step down, including council members, state legislators, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X soon after the indictment news dropped. "The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov [sic] function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign." In a press conference on Thursday, Adams denied that he is considering a resignation, saying, "I was elected by 700,000 people." Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams at the Labor Day Parade in Manhattan on Sept. 7, 2024 Federal agents raided the home of Adams' former campaign fundraiser in November 2023, first revealing that a corruption investigation was underway. A copy of that search warrant, obtained by The New York Times, showed that investigators were seeking more information about the possible involvement of a Brooklyn construction company with ties to Turkey and a Washington, D.C., university with ties to both Turkey and Adams. The Times reported that investigators were looking to determine if Adams' mayoral campaign kicked back benefits to the construction companys employees and officials from Turkey, according to the warrant. Michael M. Santiago/Getty N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams at a press conference on public safety on July 31, 2023 When the investigation ramped up in recent months, several top officials in Adams' administration had their homes raided and phones seized. The new indictment accuses him of engaging in an alleged decade-long scheme to accept "valuable benefits" from foreign actors in exchange for giving them influence. "As Adamss prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York City's mayor," the indictment reads. "Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received." It continues: "After his inauguration as mayor of New York City, Adams soon began preparing for his next election, including by planning to solicit more illegal contributions and granting requests from those who supported his 2021 mayoral campaign with such donations." The wealthy contributors allegedly circumvented election laws that put a cap on campaign contributions by trickling their money down through several small donors, with the indictment claiming he "increased his fundraising by accepting these concealed, illegal donations at the cost of giving his secret patrons the undue influence over him that the law tries to prevent." 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. The Turkish official mentioned in the indictment allegedly gave Adams and his staff more than $120,000 worth of free and discounted luxury travel to Turkey, France, China, Sri Lanka, India and Hungary, which Adams is accused of going through great lengths to cover up including by allegedly instructing others to "create fake paper trails" and deleting messages. Later, when the Turkish official wanted to hurriedly open a new skyscraper consular building in New York City, Adams allegedly pressured the city's fire department to skip a fire inspection so that it would not fail the test. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Naomi Campbell is the latest celebrity to find themselves in hot water, as an investigation indicates that the British supermodel misused charity funds from her Fashion For Relief organization. A three-year investigation into Fashion For Relief found it to be poorly governed with inadequate financial management, according to the Associated Press. The Charity Commission claimed Thursday (Sept. 26) that only 8.5% of the charitys overall expenditure was used for charitable grants in the six-year period between 2016 and 2022. It also found multiple instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement, claiming Campbell herself used thousands of pounds in charity funds for a luxury hotel stay in Cannes, France, as well as spa treatments, room service and cigarettes. Trustees told the regulator that hotel costs are usually covered by a donor to the charity, as to not dip into actual charity funds. However, no evidence was submitted to support this claim. This has resulted in Campbell being banned as a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years. MILAN, ITALY SEPTEMBER 19: Naomi Campbell attends the presentation of the book Naomi in Fashion at Rizzoli Galleria on September 19, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images) Fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich was also found to have received around 290,000 pounds ($385,000) in unauthorized funds as a consultant, breaching the organizations constitution. She has been disqualified as a trustee for nine years. Trustee Veronica Chou has been barred for four years. Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charitys best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities, said Tim Hopkins, deputy director for specialist investigations and standards. Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them. Fashion For Relief was established in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina with the goal of, uniting the fashion industry to relieve poverty and advance health and education, by making grants to other organizations and giving resources towards global disasters. The organization was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Naomi Campbell cries after being awarded with the medal of "Chevalier de l'Ordres des Arts et des Lettres", at the Culture ministry, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) LONDON (AP) British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from being a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years after the poverty charity she founded nearly two decades ago was deemed Thursday to have been poorly governed with inadequate financial management. Following a three-year investigation into the financial activities of Fashion for Relief, the Charity Commission, which registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, said it had found multiple instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement, and that only 8.5% of the charitys overall expenditure went on charitable grants in a six-year period from 2016. For example, it said that thousands of pounds worth of charity funds were used to pay for a luxury hotel stay in Cannes, France, for Campbell as well as spa treatments, room service and even cigarettes. The regulator sought explanations from the trustees but said no evidence was provided to back up their explanation that hotel costs were typically covered by a donor to the charity, therefore not costing the charity. Campbell, 54, said she was extremely concerned by the findings of the regulator and that an investigation on her part was underway. I was not in control of my charity, I put the control in the hands of a legal employer, she said in response to a question from the AP after being named a knight in Frances Order of Arts and Letters at the country's culture ministry for her contribution to French culture. "We are investigating to find out what and how, and everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes to charity. The commission, which registers and registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, also found that fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich received around 290,000 pounds ($385,000) of unauthorized funds for consultancy services, which was in breach of the charity's constitution. She has been disqualified as a trustee for nine years. The other trustee, Veronica Chou, was barred for four years. Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charitys best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities, said Tim Hopkins, deputy director for specialist investigations and standards. Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them. The charity, which was founded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year. On its website, which is still active, the charity said that it presented fashion initiatives and projects in New York, London, Cannes, Moscow, Mumbai and Dar es Salaam, raising more than $15 million for good causes around the world. The charity had been set up with the aim of uniting the fashion industry to relieve poverty and advance health and education, by making grants to other organizations and giving resources towards global disasters. The commission said that around 344,000 pounds ($460,000) has been recovered and that a further 98,000 pounds of charitable funds have been protected. These funds were used to make donations to two other charities and settle outstanding liabilities. I am pleased that the inquiry has seen donations made to other charities which this charity has previously supported, said the regulator's Hopkins. ___ Lesprit reported from Paris. Naomi Campbell and Fashion for Reliefs Directors Banned From Being Charity Trustees LONDON The Charity Commission, a government department for England and Wales, has disqualified Naomi Campbell and others from being charity trustees following an investigation into the mismanagement of funds at Fashion for Relief. Fashion for Relief was founded by the British supermodel in 2005, with the aim of raising funds for health, education and lifting people out of poverty. The charity has been under investigation since 2021 and was dissolved in March this year. More from WWD Campbell had served as chairperson, with Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou serving as directors. Campbell has been disqualified for five years; Hellmich for nine years, and Chou for four years following multiple instances of misconduct or mismanagement. The news of Campbells disqualification came the same day she was celebrating in Paris, receiving an honor from the French government. The Charity Commission found that, between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5 percent of Fashion for Reliefs overall expenditure went toward charitable grants. Paris Hilton walks the runway at Naomi Campbells Fashion for Relief in 2015. The inquiry found that the charity had made payments totaling 290,000 British pounds to Hellmich for consultancy services, which was a breach of the charitys constitution. According to the Charity Commission, Hellmich had proactively proposed repaying the funds for her consultancy services. The Guardian newspaper reported that tens of thousands of pounds of charity funds were spent on luxury hotel rooms, spa treatments, cigarettes and personal security for Campbell. There was no dedicated bank account in the charitys name and the funds were held and applied to its external professional advisers. When this was investigated, 54,000 British pounds was recovered from one advisory firm. Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson walk for Fashion for Relief show in 2007. Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charitys best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities. Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them, said Tim Hopkins, the Charity Commissions deputy director for specialist investigations and standards. A sum of more than 344,000 pounds was recovered, and a further 98,000 pounds of charitable funds were rescued. The money that was recovered in the investigation has been donated to the charities that Fashion for Relief had supported. Campbells charity held glamorous fundraising events in London, New York, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Cannes, France, raising money for a variety of causes including British Summer Floods in 2007, the Times Up and #MeToo movements and Save the Children in 2018. Campbell convened celebrities and members of the British royal family who attended the events, some of which doubled as runway shows. Famous faces included the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and their daughter, Princess Beatrice; Paris Hilton; Justin Bieber; Kendall Jenner; Tyson Beckford, and more. Plenty of brands got involved in the fundraising too, including Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Iris Van Herpen, Tomo Koizumi and Valentino. Between 2020 and 2021, Fashion for Relief held online campaigns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last physical event was in 2019. Held at the British Museum, it was for the Mayors Fund for London. That same year, Campbell received the Fashion Icon Award from the British Fashion Council for her contribution to the fashion industry, her career as a supermodel, her philanthropic work and efforts for a more diverse and equal future, especially in Africa. A spokesperson for Campbell declined to comment. The news of the charity ban broke as Campbell attended a ceremony in Paris, where she was made a Chevalier de lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by French Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A NASA employee testified during a weekslong hearing on the implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible that the agency had disagreements over the sub maker's press materials mentioning NASA. Justin Jackson, a materials engineer with NASA, testified Thursday during the U.S. Coast Guard's hearing into the June 2023 implosion of the OceanGate submersible, which killed all five passengers while on a deep-sea dive to the Titanic shipwreck. PHOTO: Remotely operated vehicle image of the Titan submersible tail cone on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean presented by the U.S. Coast Guard during a marine board formal hearing, Sept. 16, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Pelagic Research Services/U.S. Coast Guard) Jackson said OceanGate's then-chief operating officer initially reached out to NASA to manufacture a composite hull and they signed an agreement under the Reimbursable Space Act Agreement in early 2020. NASA had an interest in the fabrication of a thick composite hull for "exploration applications," though the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the agency from manufacturing or testing one for OceanGate, he said. NASA did provide remote consultation to OceanGate on a one-third scale mockup, including a plan to try to fabricate a thick-walled hull, Jackson said. Conversations with the company ended in 2021, shortly after a disagreement over press materials invoking NASA, he said. MORE: OceanGate exaggerated details of industry partnerships behind lost Titan submersible Asked by investigators why NASA refused OceanGate's request to use its name in a media release, Jackson said, It was the language they were using was getting too close to us endorsing. So it was, our folks had some heartburn with the endorsement level of it." As previously reported by ABC News, in some public statements, OceanGate suggested that its Titan submersible was designed and engineered with the assistance of entities such as NASA and Boeing. In statements to ABC News in the wake of the catastrophic implosion of the Titan, each entity described its role in the Titan submersible, or lack thereof, as more limited than sometimes stated by OceanGate. PHOTO: The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation hearing into the June 2023 loss of the Titan submersible, in Charleston, S.C., Sept. 26, 2024. (USCG ) Investigators also heard from a witness with Boeing regarding the company's past dealings with OceanGate over a carbon-fiber hull during the hearing on Thursday. Boeing entered an agreement with OceanGate in 2013 to conduct a preliminary feasibility study for a concept vessel, the Coast Guard said. Boeing was asked whether it was feasible to "have a design with a certain amount of buoyancy and safety factor," Mark Negley, a materials and process engineer with Boeing, said during his testimony. Negley said Boeing did not manufacture any parts for OceanGate or give advice on the type of carbon fiber to purchase and was not involved in materials testing. Negley said Boeing did not work with OceanGate on subsequent requests from the submersible maker. "I don't know [why] exactly, you know, I think maybe we were too expensive," he said. Coast Guard testimony The Titan submersible made multiple dives to the Titanic wreckage, located in international waters, before it catastrophically imploded on June 18, 2023. The experimental Titan sub was not classified by any agencies that regulate safety and was not registered as a U.S. vessel. Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Duffett with the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance testified Thursday that the Titan seemed to meet the requirements for it to be registered as a U.S. vessel. Because the Titan carried paying customers -- what OceanGrate referred to as "mission specialists" -- he said the Titan would have been considered a small passenger vessel, which would have made it subject to Coast Guard inspection. MORE: NTSB engineer says Titan submersible's carbon-fiber hull showed 'anomalies' John Winters, a marine inspector with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, based in Seattle, testified Thursday on his experience working with Oceangate in 2010 on the Antipodes, a submersible OceanGate had acquired. Winters said Oceangate CEO and co-founder Stockton Rush expressed frustrations with a small passenger vessel regulation that prevented the vessels from diving more than 150 feet. "He did express, on multiple occasions, that regulations were stifling his innovation process," Winters said. He said OceanGate changed to an oceanographic research vessel designation, which does not have that depth restriction, and the Antipodes never received a small passenger certificate of inspection. Winters said that there was "never an attempt by OceanGate to circumvent" or not comply with regulations in the time he interacted with the company in 2010. Winters said he did not provide Rush with guidance on regulations for Titan. OceanGate suspended all exploration and commercial operations after the deadly implosion, which killed five people, including Rush. The hearing on the incident began on Sept. 16 and is scheduled to run through Friday in North Charleston, South Carolina, though the proceedings might be impacted by Hurricane Helene, the Coast Guard said. The main purpose of the hearing is to uncover the facts related to the implosion and to make recommendations, the Coast Guard said. NASA disagreed with how OceanGate wanted to invoke the agency: Titan hearing witness originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Nashville man dead after crashing into traffic light pole, police say NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A man was killed in a Wednesday night crash along Brick Church Pike, according to Nashville authorities. The single-vehicle collision was reported at approximately 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25 by the intersection of Brick Church Pike and Woodfolk Drive. 1 killed in 2-car collision in Antioch The Metro Nashville Police Department said the preliminary investigation shows 18-year-old Zakaria Elmi was driving a Toyota Camry south on Brick Church Pike when, for unknown reasons, he veered to the right and crashed into a traffic light pole. Officials said the Nashville man who was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision was brought to TriStar Skyline Medical Center, where he died. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com According to police, there was no evidence of impairment at the scene. No additional details have been released about this incident. Editors note: In a press release on Thursday, Sept. 26, MNPD identified the man who died in the crash as 43-year-old Hirsi Elmi, but the department sent a correction the following day saying the driver was actually 18-year-old Zakaria Elmi. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. April McClain Delaney talks with supporters at her Democratic primary election night watch party in downtown Frederick. File photo by Danielle E. Gaines. Just a week after the campaign arm for U.S. House Republicans elevated Marylands 6th District to its priority list of targeted congressional races, House Democrats are doing the same. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Thursday that it is adding the Democratic nominee in the 6th, former U.S. Commerce Department official April McClain Delaney, to its Red to Blue program, which boosts competitive Democratic challengers and open-seat candidates. The campaign committee in a statement labeled Delaney a top-tier candidate, and said it is investing in the race to provide her with the support needed to continue building a winning campaign. April McClain Delaney is a common-sense leader who will champion the issues that matter most to everyday Marylanders like lowering costs, creating good-paying jobs, and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms, said U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Ore.), the chair of the DCCC. Meanwhile, Aprils extreme opponent would be dangerous for Maryland families, DelBenes statement said. Neil Parrott has advocated for total abortion bans, defended spousal rape exceptions, and voted against measures that keep Marylanders safe. A week ago, the National Republican Congressional Committee added Parrott, a former state delegate and three-time congressional nominee, to its Young Gun program, which bolsters Republican challengers or nominees in competitive open-seat districts. The 6th District, which takes in a portion of Montgomery County along with Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties, is by far the most competitive in the state Delaney was one of three candidates added to the DCCC Red to Blue list on Thursday, joining 30 other Democrats who are getting extra party support and guidance for the general election. The other newcomers are Whitney Fox, a former local transit official in the Tampa area who is challenging U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), and John Avlon, a former CNN anchor who is challenging Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) on the eastern end of Long Island. The DCCC is well positioned to take back the House thanks to incredible candidates like John Avlon, Whitney Fox, and April McClain Delaney, DelBene said. Unlike the other two districts added to the Red to Blue program, the 6th District is currently held by a Democrat, Rep. David Trone, who gave up the seat to wage an unsuccessful bid this year for Senate. Delaney is the wife of former Rep. John Delaney (D), Trones predecessor, who held the seat from 2013 to 2019. QUANAH (KFDX/KJTL) Quanah High School can now add blue ribbon school to its list of achievements. Quanah High is one of only 31 schools in Texas to receive this recognition. This award celebrates schools where students perform at high levels or demonstrate significant improvement. National edu. program awards Archer City Elementary school Quanah Highs success is rooted in a commitment to providing a well-rounded education and focusing on fostering a sense of community within the school. Principal Mills said theres no secret recipe or program that led to their success; its about working hard as a team and consistently maintaining a great school culture. With Quanah High and Archer City Elementary both being selected as standout schools for the state of Texas, principal Mills hopes this sheds light on how good rural schools can be. We have limited resources in rural schools, and a lot of times we struggle to get teachers sometimes because were not close enough to a larger metropolitan area, but this should shed some light on the fact of how good rural schools can be like we can be just as good as anybody else. And so thats really big for the community to know that, hey, we got a great school here, Mills said. As Quanah High School continues to celebrate this achievement, it remains focused on building upon their success. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. The Navy decommissioned the 37-year-old cruiser Leyte Gulf this month at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, months after the ship concluded its final deployment. The ships decommissioning comes amid tension in recent years between the Navy and Congress regarding how fast to phase cruisers out of the fleet. While the Navy looks to decommission more cruisers to secure funds for new ships and maintenance, lawmakers have pushed to keep them in service longer to cover any capability gaps. Retired Vice Adm. Eugene Black III, who served as the commanding officer of the Leyte Gulf in 2010 and 2011, spoke at the decommissioning ceremony on Sept. 20, along with the ships final skipper, Cmdr. Brian Harrington. Fair winds and following seas, USS Leyte Gulf What a great opportunity to celebrate the Sailors who brought this ship to life, kept her operating at the highest level and ready for a fight throughout her long and illustrious career of service to our nation, Black said, according to a Navy news release. Commissioned in 1987, Leyte Gulf will head to the Navys Inactive Ships facility in Philadelphia in October, and be placed in a Logistical Support Asset status. The ship is named after the 1944 World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Sea, the largest naval battle in history. The ship returned from its last deployment in May, after months underway in the Caribbean Sea and South Atlantic in the U.S. 4th Fleets area of operations. While deployed, the ship conducted drug interdiction missions with the Coast Guard. Altogether, the Leyte Gulf team seized 4,100 kilograms of cocaine during the deployment including more than 2,000 kilograms of illicit drugs from a drug smuggling submarine that the Navy later sunk in an exercise. NC is black hole for public records. Is there a fix for state law thats getting worse? Long delays, legally questionable fees and a controversial change in state law raised concerns about North Carolinians ability to access public records. Experts and advocates have suggestions for what lawmakers can do to improve transparency. The state of North Carolinas laws earned the General Assembly the Society of Professional Journalists 2024 Black Hole Award, which is bestowed annually upon government institutions or agencies for acts of outright contempt of the publics right to know. In Charlotte alone, more than 1,000 requests dating back to 2019 sit unfulfilled, according to an Observer analysis. Slow or no responses affect more than journalists about 20% of requests are filed by individuals, a 2017 study by the Columbia Journalism Review found. Vagueness about how quickly records must be provided under North Carolinas public records law and whether requesters can be charged for services creates confusion and frustration, veteran First Amendment attorney Amanda Martin told The Charlotte Observer. Then came a 2023 decision by the state legislature to exempt themselves from public records laws, which Martin described as a significant problem and disappointment. I think things may be getting worse, said Martin, who spent 25 years as a lawyer for the North Carolina Press Association and serves as supervising attorney for Duke Universitys First Amendment Clinic, of public records access. Multiple public records advocates told the Observer that clarifying deadlines for responses and better staffing could improve the flow of public information. North Carolina public records laws problems North Carolinas current law has strengths, Martin said, including that it applies to drafts and final documents. But one of the biggest complaints she hears from people is the long wait to get their records. North Carolinas law says government agencies must provide records as promptly as possible. But unlike neighboring states such as South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia, it doesnt set specific deadlines. Does as promptly as possible mean an agency has to drop everything else to comply with a public records request, or does it mean they have to allocate a certain amount of time each week to fulfilling public records requests? Its just unclear, Martin said. Long waits to receive documents are one of the biggest issues the North Carolina Open Government Coalition hears, too, the groups immediate past president, Kym Meyer, said. Theres not a super clear answer from the courts on the legality of delays, she said. If it takes a year to get documents, then thats almost like youre denying the request, she said. Martin and Meyer also have concerns about agencies and municipalities imposing fees for records requests, something they said is becoming more common in North Carolina. Huntersville leaders, for example, voted unanimously in May to institute an $18-an-hour fee for time spent on records requests that take staff more than four hours to fulfill. Thats a problem, to have a statute that allows public officials to pick and choose who theyre going to charge and who theyre not going to charge, Martin said. Fees can be a barrier to access, Meyer said. 2023 change creates black hole The situation worsened in 2023 when a provision in the state budget left it up to lawmakers to decide which of their own public records, if any, to reveal, attorney Mike Tadych said. The SPJ said legislators set another dangerous precedent by shirking their obligation to transparency in its announcement of the Black Hole Award. Howard Goldberg, who sits on the SPJs Freedom of Information Committee, told the Observer the blatant nature of North Carolinas action stood out to the committee amid a number of jaw dropping nominations. The change could, for example, limit journalists and citizens ability to look into how legislators handle consequential redistricting decisions, he noted. The Raleigh News & Observer tested the change earlier this year, requesting communications from all 170 members of the General Assembly. More than 70% did not respond. Public information should belong to the public, and lawmakers should not be exempting themselves from transparency or giving themselves more access than journalists or their constituents have to examine the workings of government, said Goldberg, a longtime reporter and editor who worked at the Charlotte Observer before a decades-long run with the Associated Press. Can North Carolinas public records laws be improved? Its important, Goldberg said, for governments to make the process of getting records as streamlined and efficient as possible. Clarifying the timeline for when state and local governments have to respond to requests and provide available records could help, Martin, Meyer and Tadych agreed. But concerns that imposing a set number of days would lead to longer waits for simple requests mean its not as simple as setting a five-, 10- or 30-day deadline. Tadych suggested adding language saying agencies must respond no later than a certain number of days so requests are not allowed to languish. Better staffing government agencies responsible for responding to records requests could help, too, Meyer suggested. If I could wave a magic wand, I would require that all units of government have the funding to adequately staff offices that could respond to public records, she said. Some lawmakers are taking notice of the need for potential changes, too. A group of Democrats in Raleigh earlier this year tried to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot enshrining the right to access public records and meetings. In 2011, Republicans in the General Assembly proposed a similar constitutional amendment. Neither bill advanced. State Sen. Graig Meyer, who is Kym Meyers husband, told the News & Observer when Democrats introduced their proposal in June he didnt expect it to move forward but said it was important nonetheless. We stand at a crucial moment for sustaining some of the fundamental tenets of democracy, he said. If the public cant see what the public pays us to do, then were failing a fundamental test the public expects of us. A spokesperson for House Speaker Tim Moore did not respond to a request for comment on Democrats proposed amendment. Its important for legislators to ensure any changes in law dont have unintended consequences such as overloading government staff, Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari said. Improving public records access really is a bipartisan issue, Kym Meyer said. It doesnt benefit anyone in any particular party Its also really important to a functioning democracy, she said. George Brauchler is the former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District and is a candidate for district attorney in the newly created 23rd Judicial District. He has served as an Owens Early Criminal Justice Fellow at the Common Sense Institute. Follow him on Twitter(X): @GeorgeBrauchler. Editors note (9/25/24): Since this story was published, Clendaniel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to damage an energy facility and felony possession of a firearm. She was sentenced on September 25, 2024, to 18 years in prison, with credit for time served, followed by supervised release for life. Russell has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to damage an energy facility. Two people charged with conspiracy to damage energy facilities a neo-Nazi leader and a woman with whom he had a personal relationship allegedly planned to attack electrical substations encircling Baltimore and completely destroy the entire city, according to federal court documents. The Justice Department has charged Brandon Clint Russell and Sarah Beth Clendaniel with conspiracy to damage energy facilities, alleging that the Maryland-focused plot was driven by ethnically or racially motivated extremist beliefs. They conspired to inflict maximum harm on the power grid, Tom Sobocinski, who heads the FBIs field office in Baltimore, said during a news conference Monday. The accused were not just talking, but taking steps to fulfill their threats and further their extremist goals. The charges come as domestic violence experts have warned that attempts by extremist groups to attack power facilities are trending up. Clendaniel made her initial appeared in federal court in downtown Baltimore Monday afternoon before District Court Judge Richard Collins. Sitting in the courtroom before the hearing, Clendaniel read parts of the criminal complaint against her, shaking her head as she flipped through several pages. Kirstin Hopkins, Clendaniels court-appointed attorney, consented to the governments request to keep Clendaniel detained pending further hearings. Clendaniel is expected to enter a plea during a future court appearance. A preliminary hearing in her case is scheduled for February 15. Russell made his initial appearance in a federal courthouse in Florida on Monday. He will remain detained pending further hearings and his case has been committed to the District of Maryland. Hopkins declined CNNs request for comment on Clendaniels case and an attorney for Russell has not been listed on the courts public docket. In a recorded voice conversation last month, Clendaniel allegedly told the FBI source that targeting the facilities would completely destroy this whole city. She and Russell allegedly sent the source information about the facilities, and according to the charging papers, Russell sent the source a YouTube video about a recent substation attack in North Carolina. The FBI also obtained a document allegedly written by Clendaniel that authorities say resembles a manifesto. In it, she allegedly references Hitler, as well as Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and the perpetrator of the 2011 terrorist attack in Norway. Russell, according to the the charging documents, ascribes to having neo-Nazi beliefs and had started his own local National Socialist Group. Before allegedly conspiring to attack the Maryland power grid, authorities say he had plotted with his roommates in Florida to attack energy facilities there. That alleged plot was revealed during an investigation into the 2017 murder of two of Russells roommates by another roommate. Law enforcement officials at Mondays news conference described Russell and Clendaniel as having both a personal and online relationship, but did not elaborate further. The Justice Department says that Russell, allegedly under the username Homunculus, has been in contact with the FBIs source since at least June of last year. Homunculus allegedly made several statements to the source throughout 2022 about attacking critical infrastructure. At one point, as Homunculus and the source discussed Mylar balloons, Homunculus allegedly said that putting holes in transformers though is the greatest thing somebody can do, and he allegedly floated other ideas to the source about attacking electrical substations. Clendaniel, said to be going by the username Nythra88 and Kali1889, introduced herself to the FBIs confidential source last month, according to the charging papers. She allegedly told the source she wanted to accomplish something worthwhile, before she died of a terminal illness, as she sought help obtaining firearms. The source discussed the plans with Homunculus for Clendaniel to participate in an attack on energy facilities, and the source also taped a nearly two-hour voice conversation he had with Clendaniel on January 24 about the plot, according to the charging papers. In a separate conversation five days later, Clendaniel told the source in a recorded voice conversation that the targets were facilities surrounding Baltimore. Corresponding behind bars Clendaniel and Russell had been corresponding since at least 2018 while both were serving time behind bars in separate prisons, according to the charging documents. Russell was sentenced to 60 months in prison in January 2018 after pleading guilty to possession of an unregistered device and improper storage of explosive materials. In that case, according to court documents, Russells roommate at the time told authorities that he was the leader of a neo-Nazi group to which their two other roommates belonged and that they were planning to attack US infrastructure, including a nuclear power plant and power lines along the part of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley. The roommate was being interviewed by authorities after he had killed the two other roommates because, he said, they bullied him for converting from neo-Nazi beliefs to Islam, court documents show. Russell served his time in the explosive materials case and was on supervised release at the time of his arrest in the newly announced case against him. For her part, Clendaniels record includes a 2006 arrest on several offenses, including armed robbery at a convenience store where she wielded a large butcher knife, according to court documents. She was sentenced to five years in prison. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified the location of a 2011 terrorist attack that took place in Norway. This story also has been updated with additional details and developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Sarah Beth Clendaniel is shown in tactical gear in a picture released by the Department of Justice A woman with links to a neo-Nazi group plotted to destroy Baltimores power grid in an attempt to destabilize the government according to court records. Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 36, planned to target five electricity substations around Marylands largest city to further a white supremacist ideology that called for the collapse of American society, prosecutors said. The Washington Post reported Clendaniel had earlier admitted to support for a white-supremacist ideology known as accelerationism, which suggests drastic actions are needed to bring about societal and government collapse. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively counter, disrupt and prosecute those who seek to launch these kinds of hate-fueled attacks that target our critical infrastructure, endanger entire cities, and threaten our national security, Merrick Garland, the US attorney general, said in a statement. Clendaniel pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to damage an energy facility and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Clendaniels plans were fueled by white supremacist ideology Clendaniel was recorded telling an associate that the plan, if successful, would completely destroy this whole city, according to prosecutors. Sedira Banan, a lawyer for Clendaniel, asked a judge to impose a 10-year prison sentence, arguing that she had had a difficult upbringing and sought meaning and control in toxic beliefs and planning of destruction, according to a court filing. Her inherent goodness may at times be buried beneath destructive ideologies, but it is not destroyed, the lawyer said. Clendaniel was sentenced to 18 years behind bars followed by supervised release for the rest of her life. Clendaniel was charged last year along with Brandon Russell, the founder of a neo-Nazi group called the Atomwaffen Division, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that tracks US hate groups. Russell pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in his case. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The original version of this article was published on ExplorersWeb. Its been another busy climbing season on Manaslu. Every year about this time, the Himalayan mountain sees hundreds of ascents by paying clients. This year even saw a new record set by endurance athlete Tyler Andrews. But now, many of those climbers cant fly off the mountain after locals blocked the helicopter pad, according to guiding services and a Nepalese official. The Nepalis are protesting the government. It frequently refuses permits for emergency airlifts for sick or injured villagers living nearby. Foreign tourists, meanwhile, use the service without restrictions. The situation led locals to block the helicopter pad Wednesday, shortly after many climbers had summited in the last few days. Now, most of them remain in Base Camp. Climbers will have to wait for a resolution to the situation or walk down the valley when the weather allows. Still, at least some guiding operators in Base Camp are understanding of the locals point of view. Though inconvenient to our operations, the expedition operators and all stakeholders agree that the cause is just. The government needs to make sure their citizens are not treated as second-class, Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking told ExplorersWeb. We all know of cases of sick locals and pregnant women losing their lives waiting for flight permissions. Helicopter Flights at Manaslu: Living in a Restricted Area Most of the Manaslu area in Nepal borders China and lies in a restricted zone. That makes obtaining an airlift permit difficult for locals. Foreigners, however, simply pay a trekking permit fee to the government for the right to fly in and out. The locals have the support of their elected officials, who want the government to remove the regions villages from this restricted zone. If their demands arent met, theyre ready to stop helicopters from landing indefinitely. The District Administration Office in nearby Gorkha made public an open letter requesting the Nepali federal government address the needs of locals. Airlifts are a locals final lifeline, member of parliament Rajendra Bajgain told ExplorersWeb. Bajgain represents the area and knows the problem first-hand. He has personally arranged several emergency airlifts for neighbors in trouble, he said. He has also been vocal on social media this week, supporting the protests of his constituents. Bajgain also shared the open letter asking for changes to permitting, which can take days for locals to obtain. But the foreigners have easy access, Bajgain said. Locals are only asking for their basic rights. They are also humans, and the government must come up with a solution so local people can freely fly out of the area when in need. A History of Conflict The area around Manaslu was initially restricted to prevent the Khampa guerillas from smuggling arms into Tibet during a 1959 uprising, according to Bajgain. But that conflict is long over and the highlanders of this mountain area are farmers with small pieces of land, he said. They are very poor. Because many helicopter companies prioritize foreign tourists over locals, Bajgain is demanding that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal change its policies. When helicopters drop foreigners on the mountain, they should try to ferry locals on their way back to larger cities with more medical facilities, Bajgain said. Alex Txikon midwife manaslu Thats not unheard of among climbers. Two years ago, Spanish climber Alex Txikon was on his way back from Manaslu by helicopter. En route, they picked up a pregnant woman in labor during a refueling stop at Samagaun. She gave birth to her baby in the helicopter. For the moment, the protest is unlikely to present a life-threatening situation for those in Base Camp, according to Dawa Steven of Asia Trekking. No one needs evacuation. Climbers were already expecting to spend a few more days in Base Camp because of an approaching storm. I had told my clients before the summit push that the weather would turn bad for many days. [I told them] to be mentally prepared to wait until the end of September if they want to fly out, Dawa Steven said. We are also looking at our options. [We could walk] to a lower village from where the climbers are allowed to fly if this issue is not resolved quickly. The post Nepalis Block Flights to Manaslu Over Lack of Medical Access appeared first on GearJunkie. People inspect damages caused by an overnight Israeli air raid attack in the area of Jiyeh along the coastal highway between the southern port city of Sidon and Beirut. Marwan Naamani/dpa The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied a report that he gave the green light for a ceasefire with the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. "The report about a ceasefire is incorrect," the statement said. "This is an American-French proposal that the prime minister has not even responded to." Citing an unnamed member of Netanyahu's staff, Israeli TV channel N12 reported that a ceasefire should enable negotiations for a permanent agreement. A report by the broadcaster that Netanyahu had instructed the army to reduce attacks in the northern neighbouring country was also "the opposite of the truth," his office said. "The Prime Minister has directed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him." After massive Israeli bombardment of Lebanon with more than 600 dead, a group of states led by the United States, together with key Arab countries, is calling for a 21-day ceasefire. Nevada Democrats add to calls for Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraines use of long-range missiles The Democratic delegation of Nevada lawmakers in Congress is calling on President Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraines use of U.S.-provided, long-range weapons to strike beyond Russias border, saying such operational bans hinder Kyivs path to victory and prolong suffering inflicted by Moscow. In a letter exclusively obtained by The Hill, the Democratic senators from Nevada, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, joined by their House counterparts Reps. Dina Titus, Steven Horsford and Susie Lee, urged Biden on Thursday to reduce restrictions on Ukraines use of U.S.-provided weapons. Granting Ukraine greater access to long-range weaponry would enhance its operational capabilities, enabling precise attacks that could disrupt Russian military operations, the lawmakers wrote. Throughout this conflict, Ukraine has consistently shown that, despite its challenges, it can overcome a formidable adversary when properly equipped. It is crucial for the United States and NATO allies to not only deter Russian aggression but to enable Ukraine to fight unhindered by restrictions. The lawmakers cite Russian attacks on civilian sites in Ukraine as motivating their demands. In July 2024, Russia struck Ukrainian cities with more than 40 missile types, killing 42 people and damaging a childrens hospital. Just this month, Russia struck Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, which hit high-rise apartment buildings, leaving at least 21 wounded, including an 8-year-old child, the lawmakers wrote. Russia also did not place restrictions on their weapons when it targeted Kharkiv earlier in August 2024, killing a 14-year-old girl when a Russian guided bomb hit a playground. The letter was sent following Bidens meeting Thursday afternoon with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House and after the president announced $8 billion in new military assistance for Kyiv. But asked Sunday if the president had made a decision surrounding Ukraines use of long-range weapons, Biden responded no. Biden administration officials say they are constantly evaluating their support for and guidance to Ukraine for how U.S.-provided weapons are used part of efforts to manage escalation with Russia, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top officials routinely threatening the use of nuclear weapons to deter American, European and other support for Ukraine. The United Kingdom has also held back on permitting Ukraine to use its long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike deep into Russia. Ukraine has shown a capacity to strike far across the Russian border, but officials argue that having a green light to use, in particular, American-provided long-range weapons would allow them to accurately strike Russian military targets and deliver decisive damage. And calls on Capitol Hill are increasing for Biden to give Ukraine more flexibility in hitting Russian targets. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for the president to ease restrictions on the weapons use. That call followed a demand from six House Republicans who urged the president to lift restrictions. Alex Gangitano contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Nevada Supreme Court has ordered the dismissal of the Chasing Horse sex abuse case but leaves open possibility of charges to be refiled. The Dances with Wolves actor Nathan Chasing Horse, 48, was accused of victimizing Indigenous underage girls and women for nearly two decades. Nathan Chasing Horse stands in court on Feb. 6, 2023, in North Las Vegas, Nev. A grand jury on Wednesday, Feb . 22, 2023, indicted the former Dances With Wolves actor on felony charges that he sexually abused and trafficked Indigenous women and girls in Nevada for a decade. The sweeping 19-count indictment charges Nathan Chasing Horse, 46, with sexual assault, trafficking and child abuse. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil, File) The full seven-member courts decision, issued Thursday, reverses earlier rulings upholding the charges by a three-member panel of the high court and a state judge. Proceedings in the 18-count criminal case have been at a standstill for more than a year while the former Dances with Wolves actor challenged it. Accused sex predator Nathan Chasing Horse gets another chance at Nevada Supreme Court Kristy Holston, the deputy public defender representing Chasing Horse, had argued that some evidence presented to the grand jury, including an improper definition of grooming that was presented without expert testimony, had tainted the states case. Holston said prosecutors also failed to provide the grand jury with exculpatory evidence, including inconsistent statements made by one of the victims. The high court agreed. The combination of these two clear errors undermines our confidence in the grand jury proceedings and created intolerable damage to the independent function of the grand jury process, the court said in its scathing order. Breaking the Circle: Nathan Chasing Horse Exposed Holston declined to comment further. Prosecutor Stacy Kollins did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The ruling directs the judge overseeing the case in Clark County District Court to dismiss the indictment without prejudice, meaning the charges can be refiled. Las Vegas crimes case against actor Nathan Chasing Horse continues to stall The allegations against Chasing Horse are indisputably serious, and we express no opinion about Chasing Horses guilt or innocence, the order says. Chasing Horses lawyer had also argued that the case should be dismissed because, the former actor said, the sexual encounters were consensual. One of his accusers was younger than 16, the age of consent in Nevada, when the alleged abuse began, authorities said. Chasing Horse has been in custody since his arrest last January near the North Las Vegas home he is said to have shared with five wives. He also faces criminal sexual abuse charges in at least four other jurisdictions, including U.S. District Court in Nevada and on the Fort Perk Indian Reservation in Montana. Neighbors of Dances with Wolves actor accused of running cult, sex trafficking react to arrest Chasing Horse is best known for portraying Smiles A Lot in the 1990 film Dances with Wolves. But in the decades since starring in the Oscar-winning movie, authorities said, he built a reputation as self-proclaimed medicine man among tribes and traveled around North America to perform healing ceremonies. He is accused of using that position to gain access to vulnerable girls and women starting in the early 2000s. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.) Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. FILE - Nathan Chasing Horse is led out of the courtroom after being arraigned at North Las Vegas Justice Court, Feb. 2, 2023. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, File) LAS VEGAS (AP) The Nevada Supreme Court has ordered the dismissal of a sprawling sex abuse indictment against Nathan Chasing Horse, while leaving open the possibility of charges being refiled in a case that sent shockwaves throughout Indian Country and led to more criminal charges in the U.S. and Canada. Proceedings in the 18-count criminal case have been at a standstill for more than a year while the former Dances with Wolves actor challenged it. The full seven-member courts decision, issued Thursday, reverses earlier rulings upholding the charges by a three-member panel of the high court and a state judge. Kristy Holston, the chief deputy public defender representing Chasing Horse, had argued that a definition of grooming presented to the grand jury without expert testimony tainted the states case. Holston said prosecutors also failed to provide the grand jury with evidence that could have cast a doubt on the allegations against Chasing Horse, including what she described as inconsistent statements made by one of the victims. The high court agreed. The combination of these two clear errors undermines our confidence in the grand jury proceedings and created intolerable damage to the independent function of the grand jury process, the court said in its scathing order. The ruling directs the judge overseeing the case in Clark County District Court to dismiss the indictment without prejudice, meaning charges against Chasing Horse can be refiled. But the order for dismissal wont take effect immediately, as prosecutors also have the option to ask the high court to reconsider within 25 days. The allegations against Chasing Horse are indisputably serious, and we express no opinion about Chasing Horses guilt or innocence, the order says. Holston declined to comment. District Attorney Steve Wolfson, in a statement Thursday, described the court's decision as only a minor setback. My office is committed to resurrecting the charges in this case, Wolfson said, and we will not rest until we obtain justice on behalf of the victims in this matter. Chasing Horse is charged with sexual assault of a minor, kidnapping and child abuse. He has pleaded not guilty. The 48-year-old has been in custody since his arrest last January near the North Las Vegas home he is said to have shared with five wives. He is unlikely to be released from custody, even after the high court's decision, because he faces charges in at least four other jurisdictions, including U.S. District Court in Nevada and on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. Chasing Horse is best known for portraying Smiles A Lot in the 1990 film Dances with Wolves. But in the decades since starring in the Oscar-winning movie, authorities said, he built a reputation as a self-proclaimed medicine man among tribes and traveled around North America to perform healing ceremonies. He is accused of using that position to gain access to vulnerable girls and women starting in the early 2000s, leading a cult and taking underage wives. Authorities have said one of the wives was offered to Chasing Horse as a gift when she was 15, while another Chasing Horse also is accused of recording sexual assaults and arranging sex with the victims for other men who allegedly paid him. His legal issues have been unfolding at the same time lawmakers and prosecutors around the U.S. are funneling more resources into cases involving Native women, including human trafficking and murders. Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, which is home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Democratic Nevada Rep. Steven Horsford called for the censure of a Republican U.S. House member after that congressman posted and then deleted a racist tweet. The tweet from Republican Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins continued the debunked allegation that Haitians in Ohio are eating pets, saying: All these thugs better get their mind right and their [expletive] out of our country before January 20th, according to several reports. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance, have claimed without any evidence that Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio, are eating peoples pets. The claim has led to intense pressure in the immigrant community, including dozens of bomb threats. The mayor of Springfield, a Republican, and other community leaders have discredited the claim. Jan. 20 is Inauguration Day when either Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris will be sworn into office. Horsford, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, later filed a motion to censure Higgins. It is time to end hate and the rhetoric of hate, Horsford said. It is not becoming on any member to continue to push this type of rhetoric on any platform let alone from the House of Representatives. In response, Republican Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise said the tweet was deleted. The Haitians a population ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 living in the area came to the United States legally, officials have said. A nonprofit said it intended to file charges against Trump and Vance for creating chaos in the community. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Newsmax has settled a lawsuit brought by voting systems provider Smartmatic in connection with the channels airing of false claims about its software after the 2020 election, the network announced Thursday. Newsmax is pleased to announce it has resolved the litigation brought by Smartmatic through a confidential settlement, a spokesperson for the outlet told The Hill. The settlement comes as jury selection was underway Thursday ahead of trial in the case set to start next week. Smartmatic sued Newsmax, along with a host of other conservative media companies and allies of former President Trump, over claims about its software and the fairness of the 2020 election. In public statements and legal filings over the last two years, the voting systems provider had argued Newsmax damaged its reputation and financial health by spreading unproven claims of voter fraud. To prove defamation, Smartmatic would have had to convince a jury the conservative outlet acted with actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth when broadcasting claims about the company. Smartmatic, through testimony and exhibits entered before the court, was expected to lay out for jurors how pressure to retain audience in the days following the election motivated the channel to promote unproven claims about the company and its software. The cable channel, in defending itself from Smartmatics claims, argued that it was simply reporting on newsworthy allegations being made by Trump and his supporters, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and conservative attorney Sidney Powell. The Delaware Superior Court judge presiding over the case, Eric Davis, ruled earlier this month that Newsmax would be allowed to argue it is protected from liability under the states neutral reporting privilege, which extends to disinterested and neutral reporting on matters of public concern. Attorneys for the network argued the outlet was protected from liability because many of the allegedly defamatory statements were made by third parties appearing as guests or were rebroadcast. Attorneys for the cable channel were also expected to underscore indictments handed down last month against three current and former Smartmatic executives, including the companys Venezuelan-born co-founder, Roger Pinate. Those charges involve an alleged scheme to pay more than $1 million in bribes to put Smartmatic voting machines in the Philippines. Davis issued a pretrial ruling limiting the scope of the evidence Newsmax can present relative to the corruption allegations. Davis on Monday ruled out the possibility of a jury awarding punitive damages in the case, increasing what many saw as the likelihood of a settlement between the two sides. As part of his ruling, Davis concluded Newsmax did not engage in express malice meaning it never explicitly intended to harm Smartmatic though he found the claims broadcast on its air to be materially false. Smartmatic has pending litigation with Fox News, which last spring paid Dominion Voting Systems $787 million in a separate lawsuit brought against the top-watched cable network. Smartmatic initially pegged its damages at $1.7 billion in its case against Newsmax, a number that has since been adjusted to about $370 million, according to statements during Mondays hearing. We are very pleased to have secured the completion of the case against Newsmax. We are now looking forward to our court day against Fox Corp and Fox News for their disinformation campaign, Smartmatic said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday. Lying to the American people has consequences. Smartmatic will not stop until the perpetrators are held accountable. Fox News is a statement late Thursday said it looks forward to defending itself in court against Smartmatic. Smartmatic unsurprisingly chose to settle its case with Newsmax on the eve of trial after a series of major setbacks devastated its case, the network said in a statement. Those setbacks included: the fact that Smartmatics President and Co-Founder, as well as one current and one former executive, were federally indicted for bribery in obtaining key businesses in the Philippines; Smartmatic was forced to cut its damage claims from $1.7 billion to $370 million to avoid evidence of those indictments; and the Delaware Judge ruled that Smartmatic could not recover punitive damages. Smartmatics claims against Fox are similarly impaired, unsupported by the facts and intended to chill First Amendment freedoms. The Associated Press contributed reporting. Updated at 10:35 p.m. EDT Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have required most high schools in the state to make condoms available for free to all students in grades 9 through 12. SB 954 would have required condoms to be placed in at least two locations on each campus starting in the 2025-26 school year, along with information about how to obtain and use them. California residents could get digital IDs and drivers licenses: Heres how to sign up The bill would also have largely prohibited stores from refusing to sell nonprescription contraception to someone based solely on their age. In his veto message, Newsom said he appreciated the bills commitment to the health and safety of students, but added the bill would have created ongoing cost pressures to the state in the millions. Newsom vetoed a similar bill last year and in that veto message, he said that a bill with ongoing costs should be considered as part of the annual budget process. California CCW holders no longer prohibited from several public locations In his veto message for this years bill, Newsom said that the author championed $5 million in this years budget, but that that would be one-time funding and that it would not adequately address the fiscal concerns associated with this bill. Legislators have the option of overriding the veto, but that has traditionally been avoided in the state government. The veto was announced by the governors office in a message that lists dozens of other bills that he signed into law or vetoed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Barry Fagin is a lay Torah Reader at Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs, where he has been a member for 30 years. His views are his alone. Readers can write Dr Fagin at barry@faginfamily.net. Nico Rosberg says he was baffled by Lando Norris mistakes which almost cost him victory at the Singapore Grand Prix. Norris won by a comfortable 20-second margin to Max Verstappen at the Marina Bay Street Circuit but almost undid all his hard work with three careless errors. The McLaren driver clipped one of the barriers before his first pit stop, not sustaining any major damage, bumped the wall with his right-tear tyre and ran wide while overtaking a backmarker. Norris did go on to claim his third F1 win, narrowing the deficit to Verstappen in the world championship to 52 points, but 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg was unimpressed by the 24-year-olds mistakes. "It kind of baffled me a little bit what was going on there because he hit the wall twice, Rosberg told the Sky Sports F1 podcast. "Both were like really severe, almost race-ending moments where he was quite lucky not to be DNF. He went miles off the track in a hairpin, out-braking, but really not a small out-braking, like a massive out-braking. "And the other time he hit the same wall that George Russell hit last year where he went crashing out on the last lap of the race. "And what you maybe dont remember is he went off the track again when he was passing a back-marker, which was a Williams. Nico Rosberg was baffled by Lando Norris mistakes in Singapore (PA Wire) So, theres three moments here and thats so strange. "I cant remember myself or a Max Verstappen or Lewis (Hamilton), when leading so comfortably with 30 seconds, making three major mistakes like that. That was a bit strange. Norris is looking to chase down Verstappen and claim a first world title with six races and three sprint races left. F1 returns after a four-week break with the United States Grand Prix in Austin on 18-20 October. Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley detailed her long and complicated history with Donald Trump during an episode of her new Sirius XM radio show Nikki Haley Live on Wednesday. On this show, youre not going to hear me say glowing things about Donald Trumps personality. I have issues with him, as well, Haley said. I have not forgotten what he said about me. Ive not forgotten what he said about my husband or his, you know, deployment time or his military service. I havent forgotten about his and his campaigns tactics from, you know, putting a bird cage outside our hotel room to calling me bird brain. Despite serving in the Trump administration, Haley has had an often-times contentious relationship with the former president. During the 2024 primary campaign, Haley challenged Trump, and the former president often insulted her in return, calling her bird brain and making light of her husbands military deployment. Haley wasnt afraid to go after Trump either, arguing both he and Joe Biden were too old to still be in the running, and calling for mental competency tests for politicians above age 75. Nikki Haley has alternatively praised and criticized Trump since serving in Trump administration (AP) That disdain continued during Wednesdays broadcast, where Haley reiterated her reservations about both men. If I thought either one of those candidates were great, I wouldnt have run for office, she said. Still, despite her issues with Trump, Haley endorsed her rival in July during the Republican National Convention. "Ill start by making one thing perfectly clear: Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period," she told the crowd. I know there are people out there who dont agree with Donald Trump 100 percent. I happen to know some of them, Haley added. I want to talk to them tonight. My message is simple: You dont have to agree with Donald Trump 100 percent of the time to vote for him. The stance earned her the ire of other Republicans who have criticized Donald Trump, including former congresswoman Liz Cheney, who broke party ranks and endorsed Kamala Harris. I cant understand her position on this in any kind of a principled way, Cheney said. I think that the things that she said, that she made clear when she was running in the primary, those things are true, she continued. Those of us who have fidelity to the Constitution, have a responsibility and a duty to recognize [that] this is not about partisan politics. NM Auditor says no evidence of misuse of $5.3M at troubled water utility Vivian Fuller, a resident of Sunland Park, told Dona Ana County Commissioners in April that concerns about the safety of drinking water are not new in Sunland Park. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) The New Mexico Office of the State Auditor released the findings of an investigation into a troubled southern New Mexico utility Tuesday, concluding that there was no evidence of misuse of $5.3 million in public funds. The New Mexico Environment Department called for multiple state agencies to take a closer look at the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority in March, alleging potential fraud, waste and abuse of $5.3 million awarded by the Water Trust Board in 2013. New Mexico environmental officials requested the investigation after a series of drinking water disasters in late 2023 revealed that the utility had been sending water with high levels of arsenic to people living in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa for more than a year, without alerting the public. The most recent tests show that CRRUAs drinking water arsenic levels remain within federal limits, but community trust has eroded. The board granted the funding for the construction and operation of the Santa Teresa Arsenic Community Treatment Plant, and that the allegations were that the money was not spent for the correct purpose, or went unspent entirely. The auditors office reviewed documents provided by the New Mexico Finance authority and the utility, according to a Sept. 24 statement. All loans and grants related to the $5.3 million were used for construction and spent between August 2015 and July 2017, the auditors findings said. All the requests to the finance authority were approved by the environmental agency and there was no documentation to support misuse by CRRUA of these specific funds, according to a statement releasing the findings. CRRUA did not make anyone available for an interview Tuesday, and instead issued a statement, with Executive Director Juan Crosby saying he was gratified by the outcome. We acknowledge that operational issues have resulted in varying degrees of mistrust among some CRRUA customers, Crosby said in the written statement. Hopefully, the positive outcome of OSAs investigation will put many of those concerns to rest and with CRRUAs continued system improvements help gain customer confidence. In the past year, the utility was required to upgrade two filters at arsenic treatment facilities, and raised rates for water after failing to implement an increase over the last five years. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) is set to conduct warrant round-up operations statewide, NMSP announced in a news release. NMSP said this operation is a proactive measure in attempt to apprehend individuals with outstanding warrants. Individuals with outstanding warrants are encouraged to address these matters voluntarily and contact the law enforcement agency or appropriate court to which the warrant was issued from. By taking the opportunity to resolve the warrants, individuals can get ahead of an unexpected visit from NMSP officers, according to the news release. Our goal is to conduct proactive warrant round-up operations statewide in order to create a safer environment for the public. I would encourage those with warrants to take care of these matters before causing unwanted disruption to their lives, especially close to this holiday season. My officers are committed to removing law-breaking individuals from the streets, and these types of operations are one way we can do that, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. No early in-person voting in N.H. Absentee ballots available under certain circumstances New Hampshire has historically been known as a battleground state. While that may change this year, it doesn't mean you shouldn't go out and make your vote count. Election Day is less than two months away, and, with former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris going head to head on Nov. 5 and other major electoral races in New Hampshire that day, many feel they must vote this year. This can be difficult, as you can only vote in person on Election Day in New Hampshire, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures website. There is still same-day voter registration in the state, so you don't necessarily need to worry about that if you forgot to register before Nov. 5. More: N.H.'s other major electoral race Pappas vs. Prescott: NH congressman has 'least Trumpiest' challenger yet in 2024 Is there early voting in New Hampshire No, New Hampshire does not offer in-person early voting. How can I vote if I am not here on Election Day Residents can still cast a vote with an absentee ballot if you expect yourself unable to make it to the polls on Election Day for specific reasons, according to the Laconia government website. "The reasons include being absent from the voters city or town, a religious observance, disability or illness, and employment commitments (including caregiving) during the entire time the polls are open," the website says. "Absentee ballots may also be available when a weather emergency impacts an election." Apply for an absentee ballot here and the deadline to send in your mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. on Election Day. How to register to vote Residents can register to vote on Election Day at your polling place or at your local clerk's office up to 6-13 days before the election. Check your town/city website or call your clerk's office for specific details. Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Is there early voting in New Hampshire. How to file absentee ballot 'Nobody deserves this.' Man, 65, slain at Housing Authority complex in downtown Indianapolis INDIANAPOLIS He just moved in two weeks ago, hopeful for the future. Coming out of the John J. Barton Towers on Thursday morning, Forest Hill Jr.'s family was left with many questions. Hours earlier they'd been informed Hill the father, brother and uncle they loved was the latest name added to the city's homicide tally. Hill, 65, had just gotten out of prison and was working to overcome a violent past. "He had family," his niece Shanta Lewis told IndyStar. "Nobody deserves this." The second oldest of 13 kids, with three kids of his own, Hill's youngest sister, Sherry Tate, said the last time she spoke to her brother was about a week ago. Hill was excited about getting his own place. "He made mistakes in life," his sister told IndyStar. "He was trying to make his life better. He was going to church and serving God. He would remind us to come on Sundays." The family was escorted by complex staff up to his room on the 14th floor confused about who could have caused Hill's death. Forest Hill Jr.: After man found slain in downtown Indianapolis apartment, residents worry for safety Forest Hill Jr., 65. Hill was found dead on Sept. 25 inside the John J. Barton Towers. His family says he just moved into the building that has had police respondence least 58 times since the beginning of this year. Forest Hill Jr., 65, dead from trauma-related injuries Hill was found dead from trauma-related injuries during a welfare check by an officer working off-duty employment alongside staff at John J. Barton Tower. It's unknown who requested the welfare check or why. Police are investigating Hill's case. Hill's sister said she has already forgiven whoever was involved in her brother's death. She just wants them to come forward. Other family members told IndyStar they want justice. Forest Hill Jr., 65. Hill was found dead on Sept. 25 inside the John J. Barton Towers. His family says he just moved into the building that has had police respondence least 58 times since the beginning of this year. "I'm going to miss my brother," Tate said. "He used to give us all little nicknames and I'm going to miss fussing with him while he calls me by my nickname, you know? It's hard." Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective David Miller at 317-327-3475 or email the detective at David.Miller2@indy.gov. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477, by downloading the mobile P3tips app or visiting CrimeTips.org. Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for IndyStar. Contact her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis man found dead inside Housing Authority apartment complex FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) Nonprofit organization Sight Savers of America gave away free take-home, high-tech vision aids to 15 children with severe visual impairment at the Pee Dee Education Service Center in Florence. Fifteen severe visually-impaired children received high-tech vision aids, allowing them to magnify up to 118-times the objects size. It also helps contrast colors and shapes, helping with educational and everyday activities. Sight Savers of America Chief Program Officer Jennifer Haddox said a child with severe and permanent visual impairment often sees at 20-200, meaning they have to be 20 feet away from something that someone without visual impairment could see at about 200 feet away. You know, pointing in the camera back in their face or their moms face or being able to read, you know, letters on their own comfortably without the paper at their nose, Haddox said. You know, theyre [sitting] back like we do at a computer screen. Its just thrilling to see their excitement. Hartsville Middle School 6th-grader Jack Threatt said the new portable aid makes him fortunate to have help from visual aid teachers from Sight Savers of America. He said his visual journey has been nothing short of uniquely his. Honestly, exciting, Threatt said. I get more things to play around with. They help me explore or to help do work or read something or do something. Lets say one child with severe visual impairment wanted to focus on just one sentence while reading. This visual aid remote can allow them to use line markers, making things much easier to read. Haddox said being able to see the childrens excitement while pointing the visual aid camera on their own faces or doing activities they enjoy with more clarity is something she never gets tired of. We hear things like, I can read now, or Mom, I can see your face,' she said. Its really great to be a part of that. Threatt said hes excited to now be able to read one of his favorite books, the OG Man, without having to have it read to him. * * * Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. During its 6 p.m. Thursday briefing for Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, the National Weather Services Charleston Office reinforced that tornadoes were the greatest threat for the Lowcountry and they upped overnight wind-gust speeds. The service placed Beaufort County under a tornado watch until 8 a.m. Friday, shortly before a tornado warning expired at 9:15 p.m. Thursday. A tornado watch means twisters are possible in and near the watch area, which typically covers multiple counties or states. Beaufort County was under the following advisories: Tropical storm warning until 1:15 a.m. Friday Tornado watch until 8 a.m. Friday High surf advisory until 8 p.m. Friday Rip current threat until 8 p.m. Friday At 8:42 p.m. a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was 5 miles northeast of Wassaw Island, in Georgia, moving north at 40 mph, the service said. Even before Helene had made landfall, which was expected in Floridas Big Bend region later Thursday, South Carolina had already been under four tornado warnings throughout the day. A warning was issued in Beaufort County at 7 a.m. Thursday. We expect more to come tonight, NWS Meteorologist Ron Morales said during the briefing. Because Helene is a fast-moving system, the storm doesnt feel friction of the ground, which brings in stronger winds, Morales said. Especially after 8 p.m., after the next rain band develops out of Florida, up into Georgia and then moves northward into South Carolina later tonight, winds will get stronger. At the peak, Beaufort could get 60 mph wind gusts around 3 a.m. Friday. At 6:20 p.m., Helene intensified into a Category 4 hurricane. The storm was 120 miles west of Tampa, Florida, moving toward the north-northeast near 23 mph, with sustained wind speeds of 130 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center advisory. Helene will weaken after making landfall and moving inland, the center said; however, the storms fast, forward speed will bring strong, damaging winds that will penetrate well inland across the Southeast. Morales urged South Carolina residents to report real-time and in-depth flooding and storm damage from Helene. Any damage can be reported to the National Weather Service at inws.ncep.noaa.gov/report/. Noon update The threat of several tornadoes spawning in the Lowcountry on Thursday in Hurricane Helenes wake has increased, according to the NWS Charleston Office. During the services noon weather briefing, Morales said forecasters confidence had grown that Southeast South Carolina would get scattered tornadoes, with the majority blowing through Thursday evening. The service is also concerned that earlier-predicted land wind and wind gusts speeds will be higher. At 2:25 p.m. Thursday, Helene strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane and was 315 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, packing winds near 120 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Because Helene is rapidly intensifying, it can be difficult to deal with, Morales said, because, while the impacts dont last long, the storm can feel significant. Were not flying by the seat of our pants, were trying to fine tune things with maybe not the greatest (computer model) guidance, Morales said. Tornadoes impacts are getting to be one of our top concerns. Greater tornado concern A tornado outbreak is considered between 4 and 6 twisters, Morales said. With Hurricane Debby, which hit Beaufort County as a tropical storm in August, there were eight confirmed tornadoes in South Carolina, according to the NWS. Two of those twisters were in Beaufort one on Ladys Island and the other on Saint Helena and both clocked in as an EF-0. Morales said predicted tornado counts with Helene will eclipse those that touched down during Debby. Were expecting tornado warnings coming out later tonight and, again, those nighttime tornadoes (are dangerous), particularly as people sleeping dont get the warning, Morales said. A screen-grab of a likely brief tornado touched down in Bluffton on Thursday morning, Sept. 26, 2024. The National Weather Service said the twister is not confirmed. Before the NWS noon briefing, the service reported a tornado likely had touched down in Beaufort County early Thursday. The NWS issued a tornado warning at 7 a.m. Thursday and it was lifted at 7:45 p.m. Beaufort County was under a tornado watch until 1:15 a.m Friday. National Weather Service Meteorologist Emily McGraw said they had seen some damage like snapped trees and debris early. However, whether a tornado caused the damage is not confirmed, McGraw said. At about 7:03 a.m., tree damage was seen on Daufuskie Island, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Emily McGraw, and at 7:15 a.m., trees were snapped and minor debris shown around Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton. Morales said tornadoes during these types of storm systems are typically quick-hitting, short-lived and not very strong. However, some twisters have defied the norm and led to significant damage. There are no tornado sirens in Beaufort County, so it is imperative to have access to at least one alert system. CodeRED : Download the free CodeRED Mobile Alert app from the Google Play or iTunes store. Everbridge : Download the free Everbridge app from the Google Play or iTunes store. Other options: NOAA weather radio, news media coverage, Emergency Alert System on radio and TV broadcasts. Heightened wind worry Helene, which was 255 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, at 10 a.m. Thursday morning and packing 105 mph wind speeds, is a very large storm and is rapidly intensifying, possibly hitting Floridas Big Bend region late Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane, Morales said. Hopefully that doesnt happen, but its already strong enough and the wind field is extending way out to the east, Morales said. Helene has about a 400-mile-wide wind field, larger than 90% of hurricanes, which may end up breaking the last-known record for storm size, Morales said. In Beaufort County, winds gusts could whip up to 60 mph near the coast, according to the NWS latest briefing. More inland, the maximum gust speed is 54 mph. Morales said that as the storm system progresses, the service would continue to assess whether it needed to increase wind-speed maximums for the Lowcountry. Sands Beach in Port Royal, South Carolina, as high tide came in at about 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The county could get up to 4 inches of rain, but Morales said the service is not expecting flooding to be a massive issue. As quickly as the storm effects blow in Thursday is as fast as theyll leave the area. By Friday sunrise, wind and rain should slow in Beaufort County, which is indicative of Helene rapidly northwestward movement late Thursday and into Friday, Morales said. Norfolk plans to begin replacing lead pipes across the city in 2025, starting with the most at-risk communities, a public works leader told Norfolk City Council members Tuesday. Council members also approved $26 million in funding for the program a 20-year, $15.6 million low-interest loan and another $10.4 million loan which operates like a grant and does not have to be repaid. Both federal loans are funded through the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Lead does not come from the water that leaves Norfolks water treatment plants, said Mary Keough, acting assistant director of utilities. Instead, it seeps through old service lines and plumbing. Through the new program, Norfolk workers are inspecting the citys 71,000 service lines to determine whether they are made of lead. The city is on track to meet an Oct. 16 deadline for an initial inventory of lead lines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. An elimination of these lead service lines will reduce that exposure and make our water system even stronger and healthier, Keogh said during the meeting. Keogh said the city designates the service lines into public parts, which run from the water mains to the water meters, and private parts, which go from the meters to the buildings. For the public parts, she said the city will begin replacing those in 2025 beginning with underserved communities and areas with children and the elderly. For the private side, building owners must volunteer for the program. Keogh said the program includes a big public outreach component to let residents know they can have their pipes replaced for free, including letters sent to each household, which is still in the works. The program will replace both sides of the water line but not pipes inside homes and other buildings, Norfolk Director of Utilities Robert Carteris told council members last year. The replacement program will take around six to eight years to complete, she said. The proposed EPA rule change means most cities would be required to replace lead pipes within 10 years. According to the agency, lead in drinking water has been linked to developmental problems in children, issues with pregnancies, heart problems in adults and other health effects. According to the EPA, there are approximately, 9.2 million lead service lines in the U.S. and around 188,000 in Virginia. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com A bombshell report from CNN about North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor, didnt exactly upend the raceRobinson was trailing significantly even before the story brokebut the details were nonetheless shocking, even considering Robinsons history of making controversial remarks. CNN reported that Robinson made comments on a pornographic website from 2009 to 2012 in which he declared himself a black Nazi, said hed take Hitler over anyone in Washington, admitted to peeping on women in high school, and expressed both his support for slavery and desire to purchase slaves if it were legal. Whats not shocking is why someone like Robinson was able to get to such a position in the first place: State Republicans simply chose not to stop him. A non-traditional politician. Like many Trump-era politicians, Robinson comes from a nontraditional political background. Robinson grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, a midsized city near the states geographic center. As Robinson recounts it, he and his nine siblings dealt with an abusive father and spent time in foster care. They would later be returned to their mothers custody. Robinson credited his mothers devout Christian faith with inspiring his own. In speeches, he often sounds more like a Baptist country pastor than a politician. After high school, Robinson spent time in the Army Reserves and furniture manufacturing. He married his wife Yolanda in 1980. In 2018, Robinson delivered a speech in support of gun rights at the Greensboro City Council that went viral after then-U.S. Rep. Mark Walker shared it. Within a week, the then-unknown Robinsons speech had been viewed by more than 3 million people. That burst of attention prompted Robinson to pivot heavily to politics. He became a frequent speaker at conservative events and a board member of the National Rifle Association. Even still, when he announced a run for lieutenant governor in 2019, he did so to little fanfare. But despite being heavily outraised by a field with eight other Republicansincluding the incumbent state superintendent of public instruction and a former congresswomanRobinson won the primary with 32.5 percent of the vote, almost 20 points ahead of the next-closest finisher. The campaign. Initially, state Republicans were excited about the relatively unknown Robinson. His compelling personal backstory, strong ties to and support in evangelical churches, and potential to be the states first black lieutenant governor led him to be seen as a potential rising star. Then news outlets began looking more closely into his past. In September 2020, Travis Fain of WRAL, the NBC affiliate in Raleigh, reported on a slew of offensive and bigoted remarks Robinson had made on his Facebook page. Robinson had, at various points, criticized black people for giving shekels to Jewish figures in Hollywood, claimed that Michelle Obama was a man, and warned that acceptance of homosexuality was a slippery slope toward pedophilia. Later reporting from the News & Observer found that Robinson declared transgenderism to be a mass delusion, bemoaned Muslim immigrants as invaders, and used a Yiddish slur. Robinson generally stood by his remarks, and the North Carolina Republican Party refused to comment on the matter. The race itself also drew national investment from an unrelated front: Michael Bloombergs Beyond Carbon Victory Fund spent more than $2.5 million supporting Robinsons opponent, Democrat Yvonne Holley. Despite all of this, Robinson would end up winning by a margin of around 3 percent, greater than Donald Trumps margin of victory in the state. State Republicans had managed to win, but in the process they had put Robinson in a stepping-stone office for governor. A tumultuous tenure as lieutenant governor. As lieutenant governor, Robinson faced several major hurdles, the first being the nature of the office. Long an important role, most of the offices powers were stripped by the General Assembly in 1989. The office of lieutenant governor has since become little more than a figurehead. Robinsons powers consist primarily of membership on a handful of boards, like the State Board of Education, and the ability to act as governor when the governor is out of state. North Carolina elects its governor and lieutenant governors separately, and Robinsons relationship with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has been nonexistent. Unlike previous governors, Cooper has eschewed notifying the lieutenant governor when hes out of state. Cooper feared that Robinson would abuse any time spent as acting governor. Using what little influence he does have as lieutenant governor, Robinson has focused mostly on education. He also focused on socially conservative priorities, supporting a total ban on abortion (a stance hes since reversed) and opposing LGBT rights, especially transgender rights. Robinson has faced continual scrutiny over his personal life. His financial history includes three personal bankruptcies, hundreds of dollars in unpaid taxes, and missing seven years of income tax filings. In 2022, Robinson admitted that he had once paid for an abortion. Robinson has added to the fire with increasingly controversial statements; among other things, he denounced homosexuality as filth and suggested in a speech at a church that society should be led by men. A disastrous run for governor. In April 2023, Robinson announced his gubernatorial campaign. That Robinson was ultimately aiming to run for governor wasnt a surprise; what was a surprise, however, was how the state Republican establishment immediately lined up behind him. Robinson was flanked by Republican legislatorsincluding state Sen. Phil Berger, perhaps the most powerful Republican in North Carolina. Berger justified his appearance by touting Robinsons support of the legislatures priorities. Support from a prominent establishment figure like Berger effectively signaled that Robinson had the partys blessing. His most notable primary opponentMark Walker, the same man who first shared the speech that made Robinson a stardropped out of the race in October 2023, leaving only incumbent treasurer Dale Folwell and businessman Bob Graham as opponents. Robinson defeated both in the primary, securing around two-thirds of the vote. Folwell opted not to endorse Robinson afterward, and he has since condemned Robinson for fleecing Republican donors. Early polls indicated Robinson held a slight edge over Democratic nominee Josh Stein, the states attorney general. But as the campaign has dragged on, Robinson has cratered, and his inflammatory statements have become more and more frequent. For example, at a speech at a church in June 2024, he told the audience that some folks need killing. Robinson hasnt led in a poll since July, and he trails by 11 points on average in the polling aggregator from The Hill/DDHQ. And now, the CNN report might have put the final nail in his campaigns coffin. Republicans could have stopped Robinson. Robinson has denied the CNN report and rejected calls to drop out of the race, and the state Republican Party is publicly standing by him. However, the picture is a little different behind the scenes. According to Carolina Journal, a prominent conservative outlet in the state, Robinson faced immense pressure from state Republicans to drop out and is not welcome at Trump or Vance events. The deadline to drop out was September 19, the day the CNN report came out; most of Robinsons campaign staff have since resigned. On Monday, the Republican Governors Association said it would stop buying ads on Robinsons behalf. At any point, elected Republicans could have stepped in and opposed Robinson publicly. Instead, they stood by as he was elected in 2020, stayed silent as he served as lieutenant governor, and preemptively surrendered when he announced a run for governor. Republicans could have taken his candidacy seriously before his run for lieutenant governor, and after he won the primary, they could have done the basic due diligence of candidate research before treating him like a rising star. They could have chosen to cut him loose in 2020 rather than allow him to reach an office that would set him up for a gubernatorial campaign. They could have disowned him for any of his controversial statements or actions as lieutenant governor. Instead, for half a decade, Republicans were more than happy to tolerate Robinson because they thought it would benefit them. But now, Democrat Josh Stein is almost certainly going to win the governorship. Republicans control both chambers of the statehouse, and overall control of the legislature isnt in play in November. They will be unlikely to get any bills past Steins gubernatorial veto without a supermajority. In order to win the 72 seats needed for a supermajority in the lower house, Republicans need to win at least one Biden district while holding a slew of left-trending districts in suburban Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. Its hard to imagine a worse-suited candidate for such areas than Robinson. Theres also the possibility that Robinson might have reverse coattailsthat is, he might perform so poorly that he drags Trump down as well. Republicans havent lost North Carolina in a federal election since 2008, and with 16 electoral votes, it isnt a state they can afford to lose. Without a supermajority, many of the legislative priorities the Republican establishment supportslike continued funding for the states school voucher programwill be in jeopardy. But the party cant expect voters to turn a blind eye when it supports a bad actor like Robinson. When youre standing behind and supporting a candidate known for inflammatory statements, bigoted remarks, financial indiscretion, and personal improprieties, the outcome is entirely predictableand the North Carolina GOP has only itself to blame. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. LETTERS: Our city's quality of life; doing more harm than good North Carolinas State Board of Elections has removed 747,000 people from its list of registered voters within the last 20 months, officials announced Thursday in a press release. The State Board of Elections in the release said the majority of those stripped from the rolls were deemed ineligible to be registered because they had moved within the state and did not register their new address, or because they did not participate in the past two federal elections, prompting an inactive status. Other reasons for removal included death, felony convictions, out-of-state moves and personal requests for removal, the board said. North Carolina is one of seven swing states likely to decide the presidential election between Vice President Harris and former President Trump. Only one Democrat this century, former President Obama in 2008, has won the state in a presidential contest, but Harris has been polling close to Trump this cycle. The state is also home to a tough gubernatorial contest between Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein. The purge comes just a few weeks after North Carolina Republicans filed a lawsuit that said the state had failed to act on complaints about ineligible people on voter rolls. In the GOP lawsuit, a Wake County resident in North Carolina claimed voter registration forms in that county did not include drivers license and Social Security numbers. By failing to collect certain statutorily required information prior to registering these applicants to vote, Defendants placed the integrity of the states elections into jeopardy, the lawsuit read. Republicans also filed a lawsuit recently raising concerns after state approved digital IDs issued by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a valid form of voter ID. That claim was rejected by a local judge. The state now has around 7.7 million registered voters. The Hill has reached out to the North Carolina State Board of Elections for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - This undated photo provided on Sept. 13, 2024, by the North Korean government shows its leader Kim Jong Un, center, on an inspecting visit at what they say is an institute of nuclear weapons and a facility for nuclear materials at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea has likely enriched enough uranium to build a double-digit number of bombs and is making progress in its efforts to develop more powerful and accurate missiles targeting rival South Korea, Seouls spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday. The closed-door parliamentary briefing by the National Intelligence Service came after North Korea offered a rare glimpse into a secretive facility to produce weapons-grade uranium earlier this month as leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his goal to exponentially increase his stock of nuclear weapons. The South Korean agency assessed that Kims disclosure of the facility was likely a statement of defiance toward Washington ahead of the U.S. presidential election and meant to domestically showcase his military accomplishments amid deepening economic struggles, according to Lee Seong-kweun, one of the lawmakers who attended the briefing. When asked about North Koreas bomb fuel capacity, the agency said North Korea likely has about 70 kilograms (154 pounds) of plutonium and an unspecified but considerable amount of weapons-grade uranium that would be enough to build at least a double-digit number of weapons, Lee said. While North Korean state media did not disclose the location of the uranium enrichment facility that Kim visited on Sept. 13, the South Korean agency said it was likely to be a site in Kangson, near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, said Park Sun-won, another lawmaker who attended the briefing. Along with the Norths main nuclear complex in the town of Yongbyon, the Kangson plant is one of two known sites in North Korea that has been linked to uranium enrichment activities. Some analysts say North Korea likely has other hidden sites for enriching uranium. Kims visit to the uranium enrichment site was followed by a North Korean missile test days later, as the country continues to flaunt its weapons capabilities in the face of deepening confrontations with Washington and Seoul. North Korean state media said the test launches on Sept. 18 involved two types of new missiles one designed to deliver super-large conventional warheads and the other a strategic cruise missile, a term that implies it was developed for nuclear strikes. North Korean state media reports on the tests suggested that North Korea was improving the capabilities of the weapons, which are designed for delivering precision strikes on South Korean targets, the lawmakers paraphrased the South Korean spy agency as saying. Some analysts speculate that North Korea could attempt to dial up pressure on Washington by conducting a nuclear test ahead of the U.S. presidential election. But the South Korean spy agency assessed that North Korea could wait on a nuclear test until after the election since there are other steps it may want to try first, such as test-firing a long-range missile targeting the U.S. mainland or launching a military reconnaissance satellite, Lee said. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Norway issued an international wanted notice on Thursday for a man linked to a Bulgaria-based company that may have been involved in the dissemination of exploding electronic devices to the militant Hezbollah group that killed dozens and wounded thousands in Lebanon last week. The notice is part of a multi-country investigation trying to piece together how thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies were rigged to explode and their trail to Lebanon. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have blamed Israel for the coordinated two-day attacks, which killed at least 39 people and wounded more than 3,000, including civilians. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. We have on behalf of the Oslo police sent out an international wanted notice today, Aste Dahle Sundet, a spokeswoman for Norway's National Criminal Investigation Service told The Associated Press. The agency declined to name the man or provide his nationality. All that is known is that he was listed as working for a Norwegian company. Norwegian news agency NTB wrote on Thursday that the 39-year-old man had traveled to the United States last week but vanished after arriving there. The man was subsequently reported missing on Wednesday, one of Norway's major tabloids VG wrote, citing police. The CEO of the mans employer, Norway-based DN Group, told the AP in an email that the company had tried to contact our employee without success since we first heard the serious allegations about his alleged private activity, which we did not know about and has nothing to do with us as a company. We havent heard from him since (last) Wednesday, and we dont know where he is. This worries us, DN Group CEO Amund Djuve said. Djuve also did not give the man's name. The man holds a Norwegian passport and has lived in Norway for 12 years but was born in another country, NTB reported. The news agency described him as one of the founders of the Bulgarian company that was allegedly connected to supplying the pagers to Hezbollah. The Bulgarian company is not the only firm implicated in the pagers' journey to Lebanon. Last week, Taiwanese firm Gold Apollo, whose name appeared on the pagers, said it had authorized Budapest, Hungary-based BAC Consulting to use its brand for the devices that exploded, but insisted the Hungarian company was responsible for their manufacturing and design. Hungarys Special Service for National Security told the AP last week that the CEO of BAC Consulting had been interviewed several times as part of an investigation, but that they believed the company had not taken part in rigging the devices to explode. The results of the investigation so far have made it clear that the so-called pagers have never been on Hungarian territory, and that no Hungarian company or Hungarian expert was involved in their manufacture or modification! the agency said in an email. Norways domestic security agency, known by its acronym PST, earlier told the AP that it was checking whether a Norwegian national had any connection with the company that sold the pagers that exploded in Lebanon. PST stressed that it was not a formal investigation and that there was currently no concrete suspicion against the man. ___ Spike reported from Budapest, Hungary. This is Not a Black Thing: Heckler Tears Into Eric Adams at Post-Indictment Presser New York City Mayor Eric Adams first press conference after being indicted on federal charges was interrupted by a heckler calling the former police officer a disgrace to the Black community. This is not a Black thing, this is a you thing, the man cried through a bullhorn, just as Adams appeared outside of his Gracie Mansion residence. This is a you thing, Eric Adams, he continued. This is not a Black thing. Your policies are anti-Black, youre a disgrace for all Black people in this city. The things that you have done are unconscionable. Our children are harassed by police. This is ridiculous, this is ridiculous. You can shush me all you want, but the people are with us. This is not a Black thing, this is a justice thing. Adams faces charges of wire fraud and bribery, among others, in connection to illegal campaign gifts from the Turkish government, which prosecutors say included plane tickets, hotel rooms, and mealswith a value totaling more than $100,000. This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise: Eric Adams, U.S. attorney Damian Williams said at a press conference. Year after year, he kept the public in the dark. Williams said that Adams tried to conceal the gifts, but it was a clumsy coverup. Prosecutors claim that in exchange for the gifts, Adams pressured New York Fire Department officials to allow the construction of a new Turkish consulate despite safety concerns. The investigation began in 2021, although prosecutors say Adams received improper gifts as early as 2014, when he was a top official in Brooklyn. Adams has said, despite calls for his resignation, he will remain in office. He is the first sitting mayor of New York City to be criminally charged. At Thursdays conferencewhen he could speak over the frequent interruptions of hecklersAdams urged the public to withhold their judgment. I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense, he said. He has insisted that he's being targeted for fighting against injustice. We expected this, Adams said. This is not surprising to us at all. The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months with leaks, commentary, the demonizing this did not surprise us that we reached this day, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Ask House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer about Gov. Tim Walz, a fellow Minnesotan and Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, and the five-term Republican congressman jokingly takes a shot. "I didnt realize that Tim Walz and I are around the same age. He looks so much older," the 63-year-old Emmer said about the 60-year-old Walz. Emmer was answering a question during a Fox News Digital interview about whether Emmer was playing the role of the Minnesota governor in debate prep with GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance of Ohio because they're both from the same state and similar ages. Emmer, a one-time college hockey player and attorney who serves as the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House, shared that he and Vance had not yet [as of Thursday afternoon when he spoke to Fox News Digital] conducted a mock debate. Fox News To Simulcast The Vice Presidential Debate Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican vice presidential nominee, speaks to supporters during a campaign event at the Northwestern Michigan Fair grounds Sept. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. "Were going to get together at some point," he said, declining to add any details or specifics on the mock session with Vance ahead of Tuesday's vice presidential debate in New York City. Read On The Fox News App But Emmer, who steered the House Republicans' campaign committee in the 2020 and 2022 cycles, had plenty of criticism of Harris and Walz. Which Presidential Candidate Holds The Edge On The Economy? "Its an honor to be asked to play a very small part in helping JD and President Trump expose the failures of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz." Emmer argued "the hardest part of playing Walz is trying to tell lies with a straight face, because thats what he does. Hes good at the debate game, but there isnt substance there. Theres a lot of air." Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the House majority whip, speaks at a rally featuring former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, the Republican vice presidential nominee, at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center July 27, 2024, in St Cloud, Minn. Emmer and Walz overlapped for four years in the House before Walz won election in 2018 as Minnesota's governor. "I do know him probably as well or better than most on the Republican side. And I can tell you that Minnesotans, people at home, know better than anyone that we cant afford four years of a Harris-Walz administration in the White House," Emmer emphasized. And Emmer claimed "its very clear today that the Tim Walz that was here in Congress was literally, he was a fraud. He was playing the character of a Greater Minnesota ag-friendly outdoorsman who really cared about the people. Since then, hes made it very clear to people in Greater Minnesota that he has very little interest in them. What The Latest Fox News Power Rankings In The 2024 Election Show "It doesnt get reported enough, but under Walz, Minnesotas taxes have skyrocketed. Violent crime is up all over, and our communities are worse off," Emmer argued. "No amount of Minnesota nice is going to make up for Tim Walzs failed policy record." Emmer claimed that "Walz is an empty suit who has worked to turn Minnesota into Harris home state of California. This guy is Gavin Newsom wearing a flannel shirt." Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Party's 2024 vice presidential nominee, speaks onstage at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pa., Sept. 21, 2024 A Republican hasn't carried Minnesota in a presidential election since President Richard Nixon's 1972 landslide re-election over a half century ago. It was the only state President Reagan lost in his 1984 re-election landslide. Asked if Minnesota is in play in the presidential race, Emmer said, "Are we going to be close enough that Donald Trump has a chance to be the first Republican presidential candidate to win Minnesota since 1972? I think the answer is yes." Emmer noted that polls suggest Harris margin in Minnesota over Trump has dropped since she named Walz as her running mate early last month. "Hes not popular in Minnesota. I think by picking Tim Walz, they may have put Minnesota in play," Emmer argued. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Original article source: Not Minnesota nice: GOP congressman playing Tim Walz in debate prep with JD Vance argues he's an 'empty suit' American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians increasingly contend with rights violations concerning transboundary matters that cannot be resolved through federal-level advocacy alone. From climate change and repatriation to traditional knowledge and border crossings, the protection of Indigenous Peoples rights often calls for multilateral diplomacy at the United Nations, the worlds leading intergovernmental organization. Pressure can also be generated on the world stage that can contribute to federal law reforms here at home. To support those efforts, a new publication, prepared specifically for Indigenous Peoples, helps to demystify the UN and aid Tribal leaders, lawyers, and community members in making the most out of their international advocacy. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Successful international engagement requires a significant investment of time and energy, undertaken over many years, and developing familiarity with the institution. The Guide covers the structure of the UN, with a focus on mechanisms, bodies, agencies, and initiatives devoted to Indigenous Peoples. The Guide is filled with practical tips and tools from Tribal leaders and their teams, aimed to provide insight on UN entities such as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Implementation Project, a joint initiative of the Native American Rights Fund and Colorado Law, advances education and advocacy regarding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. To help provide access to justice in participating and advocating at the UN, the Project has produced The Indigenous Peoples Guide to the United Nations (2024). To network with other international Indigenous advocates, watch helpful webinars, and access additional resources, visit The Implementation Projects website at un-declaration.narf.org. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net A New York appeals court grilled attorneys for both Donald Trump and the New York attorney generals office Thursday over the $454 million civil fraud judgment against the former president, raising questions about the size of the penalty and the scope of the attorney generals authority to bring case itself. Trump did not attend Thursdays oral argument, but his lawyers are seeking to overturn the judgment levied by state Judge Arthur Engoron in February, who found that Trump, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and his business liable for fraud, as well as issuing false financial statements and false business records. The appellate hearing is yet another legal development for Trump playing out the same time as his presidential campaign hits the home stretch. In addition to the civil fraud appeal, Trumps lawyers have argued to dismiss the guilty verdict in the New York criminal case, the federal election interference case in Washington, DC, and the E. Jean Carroll defamation verdict all in the past month. Heres what to know from Thursdays hearing: Justice says size of penalty against Trump troubling The five-judge appellate panel peppered Deputy New York Solicitor General Judith Vale with questions about the scope of the attorney generals authority, the lack of alleged victims in the conduct and the size of the penalty Engoron imposed. The immense penalty in this case is troubling, said Justice Peter Moulton. How do you tether the amount that was assessed by the Supreme Court to the harm that was caused here where the parties left these transactions happy? Vale responded that while it was a large number, the process of disgorgement, or the return of ill-gotten gains looks to take away the gain from the wrongdoer. Although this is a large number, its a large number for a couple reasons. One, because there was a lot of fraud and illegality, she said. That is an enormous benefit they got from this conduct of falsifying financial statements to obtain better loan rates, Vale said. The judges also questioned how the disgorgement was calculated. Justice Llinet Rosado asked if it should have been calculated based on the difference in the property valuations. Vale argued that the disgorgement was properly calculated based on the difference in loan rates that Trump received from the falsified financial statements, which they were able to quantify. She also pushed back on the notion that the penalty against Trump double-counted the Trumps sale of Old Post Office building in Washington, DC, saying that the disgorgement properly included both the benefit Trump received with a better loan rate and the profits from the sale. State attorney asked about scope of case vs. Trump if bank wasnt harmed Much of questioning of the New York state attorney involved the law that state Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, used to bring the action against Trump and his business. Justice David Friedman questioned the attorney generals authority given that Deutsche Bank is not saying they were harmed by Trumps actions. It hardly seems to justify bringing an action to protect Deutsche Bank against President Trump which is what you have here, Friedman said. You have two really sophisticated players in which no one lost any money. Vale responded by saying the statute doesnt require that. She also pushed back on the idea that Deutsche Bank wasnt harmed by the financial statements, saying the bank did complain when the allegations of false statements were raised and ultimately pulled out of the agreement. Moulton said that the underlying issue behind the questions about the attorney generals scope was the question of mission creep. There has to be some limitation in what the attorney general can do in interfering in these private transactions where people dont claim harm. So what is the limiting principle? he asked. There are still limits, Vale responded. It is not falsity in the wind it has to be related and relevant to the business at hand, and it does have to have a capacity or tendency to deceive. She argued that the statute was intended to protect honest businesses that were not engaging in the fraud. When you have hidden risks, Vale said, that hurts the market and honest participants in the market. Trumps lawyer questioned on statute of limitations claims A lawyer for Trump argued the $454 million judgment should be thrown out because most of the conduct at issue was too old. This case involves a clear-cut violation of the statute of limitations and the law of case doctrine, Trump lawyer John Sauer argued. Sauer pointed to a ruling by this court before the 2023 trial that drew lines around what conduct was too old to be considered and dismissed Ivanka Trump, the former presidents daughter, as a defendant. Theres a direct contradiction, a direct disregard of this courts prior opinion, Sauer argued. All five of the judges interrupted to pose questions, including digging in on whether Trumps team was trying to curtail the attorney generals authority to bring cases about persistent and repeated fraud. Presiding Justice Diane Renwick asked, Why isnt the language of the statute here repeated and persistent fraud? Why doesnt that define the scope of the statute. Why do we need to go to harm? Sauer said, We have a situation where there were no victims, no complaints, no evidence of materiality or reliance. He said the lenders did do their due diligence. Sauer said he was not asking for a ruling about the scope of the states authority, merely a reversal of the claims in this case. Moulton asked Trumps attorney about deterrence to others in the marketplace. He said it may be fine, but in the future some deal might not go down well, and someone may be harmed by that. A massive judgment against Trump at stake In February, Engoron ruled that Trump and his co-defendants inflated the value of the former presidents assets in order to obtain more favorable loan and insurance rates. The judgment against Trump was for $354 million, with an additional $100 million in interest that had accrued when the judges ruling was issued in February. The interest is still accruing at a rate of nearly $112,000 per day while Trump appeals, and the amount had surpassed $478 million as of Thursday, according to a person familiar with the judgment. Trump posted a $175 million bond in April while the appeal is ongoing. Thursdays hearing gave his lawyers an opportunity to air their grievances with the 11-week trial held last fall, in which the former president frequently clashed with the judge, including while on the witness stand. In his ruling, Engoron wrote that Trump and his co-defendants complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological. Trumps attorneys have argued in written filings ahead of Thursdays hearing that the monetary penalty in the judgment was unconstitutional and that most of the case against Trump should have been barred because the conduct was too old. The former presidents attorneys raised several other legal arguments they lost at the trial court-level, including that no bank or counterparty lost money on loans, saying the judge made reversal mistakes in his rulings. The award of $464 million in a case with no victims, no proven injuries, and no losses is not remotely defensible, Trumps lawyers wrote. The additional $10 million relates to other defendants in the case. The New York attorney generals office, which brought the case against Trump, has argued in written filings there was overwhelming evidence that Trump knowingly committed fraud and inflated the value of his properties on financial statements to obtain loans. This Court should affirm. Supreme Courts liability determinations are supported by overwhelming evidence that, in each Statement, defendants used a variety of deceptive strategies to vastly misrepresent the values of Mr. Trumps assets, the attorney generals office wrote in a filing last month. The attorney generals office argued that Trumps lawyers, in their briefs, largely avoided any substantive discussion of the many different deceptive practices they used to vastly inflate the values of Mr. Trumps assets on each annual Statement. Instead, defendants focus their appeal primarily on meritless legal arguments about the elements of the law, they wrote. These arguments are contrary to the statutes text and settled precedent and should be rejected. The panel did not rule at the end of Thursdays hearing and no decision is expected before the election, and the appeals court ruling can still be appealed to New Yorks highest appellate court. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com New York Mayor Eric L. Adams has been indicted on charges of bribery; conspiracy to commit wire fraud, receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals, and accept bribes; wire fraud; and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national partly in connection with his 2021 campaign for mayor. The news makes Adams the first sitting mayor in the citys modern history to face federal charges. The federal indictment, unsealed Thursday morning following a years-long federal corruption investigation, alleges that Adams crimes date back to 2014, when he was the Brooklyn borough president. It accuses him of seeking and accepting improper benefits, including luxury international travel from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official. During his 2021 mayoral campaign, Adams allegedly sought and accepted illegal campaign contributions and other things of value from foreign nationals. The indictment also accuses him of providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received. Also on Thursday morning, FBI agents entered Adams residence in Manhattans Upper East Side and seized his cell phone. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again), Adams lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement to the New York Times. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. At a heated press conference outside the mayors Gracie Mansion home on Thursday, Adams denied the allegations in the indictment, while journalists fired questions. Its an unfortunate day. And its a painful day, Adams said. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, Ive gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself. Community members at the press conference repeatedly shouted resign at the citys mayor. I follow the rules, I follow the law, he said. We know what those rules are, and we comply with those rules. Adams also wrote in a post on X Thursday afternoon that he has done nothing wrong. At a press conference after the indictment was unsealed, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said that federal investigators had uncovered that Adams allegedly accepted more than $100,000 in luxury travel benefits, including several free business class flights and opulent accommodations in various countries for himself and a companionnone of which he publicly disclosed. Authorities allege Adams created, and told others to create, fake paper trails that indicated he had paid or planned to pay for the free travel benefits, according to the indictment. As we allege, year after year after year, he kept the public in the dark, Williams said. He told the public he received no gifts, even though he was secretly being showered with them. The indictment says Adams allegedly intervened in the New York City Fire Departments inspection process for the Turkish official who had gifted him with free travel benefits. The building that would house a new Turkish consulate would have failed a fire department inspection, but Adams facilitated the buildings opening after the Turkish official told Adams in September 2021 that it was his turn to repay the official, the indictment alleges. The indictment also alleges that Adams disguised illegal campaign contributions from foreign donors through straw donors, which hide the moneys true source. Adams also allegedly accepted campaign donations from corporations, violating New York Citys ban on corporate contributions, according to the indictment. Federal law clearly prohibits foreign donationsthats how we protect our elections from foreign influence, Williams said. Yet Adams directed his staff to pursue this illegal money to support his campaign for mayor. The mayor shared a video late Wednesday, saying that any crimes the federal government intends to charge him with would be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. He added that many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case but emphasized that he has no plans to step down. Adams, who described himself as a target, said that when the Biden administrations broken immigration policies overwhelmed the citys shelter system, he put the people of New York before party and politics. Adams regular criticism of the Biden administration over the influx of migrants into New York City put the mayor at odds with the President. In response to a question about Adams apparent suggestion that his charges were politically motivated and related to his falling out with the Biden administration, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that the DOJ is handling this case independently. She also said that Biden did not see or speak to Adams when the two attended the same reception at the Met Museum on Wednesday. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump also similarly claimed that Adams was being targeted for political reasons. I watched about a year ago when he talked about how the illegal migrants are hurting our city, and the federal government should pay us, and we shouldnt have to take them. And I said: You know what? Hell be indicted within a year. And I was exactly right, Trump said at a press conference on Thursday. The indictment comes less than a year ahead of the Democratic primary for next years mayoral race, in which Adams has said he intends to run for re-election. So far, the field of challengers already includes New York City comptroller Brad Lander, state senator from Brooklyn Zellnor Myrie, state senator from Queens Jessica Ramos, and former city comptroller Scott Stringer. Lander issued a statement on X Wednesday night, saying that while Adams deserves due process the most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can get the full focus its leadership demands. Myrie echoed the call for Adams to resign in a statement on X, saying a mayor under the weight of a serious indictment would no longer be able to be fully focused on the citys issues. Hours before the indictment was reported, congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) urged Adams to step down, posting on X that she does not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City given the flood of resignations and nonstop investigations. Other Democratic members of Congress from New York, including Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez and Rep. John C. Liu, have since also called for his resignation. While Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) did not explicitly call for Adams to resign, he said in a statement that no one is above the law, including the mayor of New York City. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office but is reportedly unlikely to exercise it, said in a statement that she expects Adams to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders. I have been facing these lies for months, Adams said in his video statement, yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this cityand lead it I will. Before Adams indictment, several high-ranking New York City officials resigned earlier this month, including City Halls top lawyer, the health commissioner, and the police commissioner. On Tuesday, the citys school chancellor also announced his retirement by the end of the year, after federal agents in early September raided his home and seized his and other officials phones as part of ongoing investigations into Adams administration. Should Adams leave his post before his term ends in 2026, New York City public advocate Jumaane Williams would become acting mayor, and a special election would be scheduled. The conduct alleged in the indictmentthe foreign money, the corporate money, the bribery, the years of concealmentis a grave breach of the publics trust. Public office is a privilege. We allege that Mayor Adams abused that privilege and broke the lawlaws that are designed to ensure that officials like him serve the people, not the highest bidder, not a foreign bidder, and certainly not a foreign power, Damian Williams said during his press conference. These are bright red lines, and we allege that the mayor crossed them again and again for years. Contact us at letters@time.com. NEW YORK Federal investigators searched Gracie Mansion early Thursday as U.S. prosecutors are expected to unseal an indictment against Mayor Eric Adams. Nearly a dozen men and women in business suits showed up outside the Mayors Upper East Side residence in SUVs, some with with federal parking placards, just before 6 a.m. The men and women entered the grounds with bags of camera equipment, briefcases, backpacks, and duffel bags and executed a search warrant to collect additional evidence. Last November, the feds seized multiple phones and electronic devices from the mayor as part of their corruption prove. Alex Spiro, Adams attorney in the federal investigation, slammed the Gracie Mansion search. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again), Spiro said. He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. An email to the U.S. Southern District for comment was not immediately returned. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District is expected to unseal an indictment against Adams later Thursday. The exact charges werent immediately disclosed but two sources familiar with the matter said they stem from allegations that Turkeys government funneled illegal donations into Adams 2021 campaign coffers. Earlier this month, it was revealed that the probe is also looking at communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said in a video statement late Wednesday. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. A handful of others involved in either Mayor Adams campaign or City Hall operations are also expected to be indicted Thursday, sources familiar with the matter say. Several elected officials and advocates have called on Mayor Adams to resign in light of the indictment, claiming he cant oversee city government while defending himself in a criminal federal case. An indictment would make Adams the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office and comes as his administration is reeling from the news of additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations. NYC is hiring for hundreds of HR and administrative jobs NYC is hiring for hundreds of HR and administrative jobs NEW YORK (PIX11) City departments in New York City are hiring for hundreds of open jobs in human resources and administration. The jobs are listed online on JobsNYC, the official careers website for the City of New York. More Local News The JobsNYC website allows people to search for a variety of jobs at different governmental departments and agencies in New York City. Most positions are full-time and are described as experienced roles, but some part-time and entry-level positions are available. The departments with the most job openings are the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Social Services. NYC is hiring for hundreds of jobs in technology and data Find more information about the jobs and how to apply on the JobsNYC website, click here. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Azerbaijan remains committed to reducing methane emissions. Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov made this statement during his speech at the fifth annual Caspian Business Forum in New York, Azernews reports. To overcome the main obstacles in the energy transition, he called on the countries of the Caspian region to continue working in joint formats: "Initiatives such as the SPECA Climate Innovation Dialogue, launched at COP29, are designed to promote regional cooperation and innovation." E. Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan is also working to significantly expand renewable energy opportunities through the construction of new power lines and energy production facilities. "One of the main challenges remains the development of critical infrastructure. Another issue is the need for 'green' finance to support large-scale renewable energy projects. Azerbaijan is committed to reducing methane emissions as part of our broader commitments to the global methane initiative," said E. Mammadov. He emphasized that Azerbaijan is ready to lead COP29 based on its experience as a major energy supplier while promoting sustainable development. Following this week's debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Colorado's Democratic and Republican party chairs shared their reactions with Colorado Politics, opining on who won and more importantly if their nominee accomplished what they needed to in what could be the last pivotal event before votes are counted. NYC judge orders DOC and civil rights lawyers to flesh out plan to restructure how jails are run A Manhattan federal judge on Wednesday directed top Department of Correction leadership and civil rights attorneys representing Rikers Island detainees to flesh out a plan to restructure how the citys jails are run amid staggering and increasing levels of brutality. Chief Judge Laura Swain issued the directive at a packed Manhattan Federal Court hearing where she weighed a request to hold the city DOC in contempt for failing to abide by years-old court orders to curb violence in the citys jails. Swain, who is also considering whether or not to place the citys jails under the feds control, reserved issuing a decision on the contempt motion, but said Wednesdays arguments presented a clear and unavoidable need for the imposition of new measures addressing fundamental vulnerabilities in the current system and structure of leadership and the policies and practices of the Department of Correction. Violence has only increased on Rikers Island since the city agreed to reform the pattern and practice of excessive force in a landmark settlement in 2015, civil rights lawyers for detainees and the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office told Swain at the hearing. Two administrations, five jail commissioners, 15 reports by federal monitors finding the city noncompliant, and DOC brass have not done what they agreed to do, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Kenneth Powell said. Now, despite all of those orders, the jails are more violent and less safe than they were when the consent judgment was ordered, Powell said, noting 33 people had died in city custody since 2022. Its hard to imagine a more robust record to form the basis of a contempt finding. Citing a federal monitors findings of 587 instances involving head strikes in just a year and a half, Legal Aid lawyer Kayla Simpson said, Where excessive force should be rare, here it is commonplace. Simpson said there had been 47 head strikes in December 2023 alone, a stark contrast to levels of violence in larger U.S. jail populations like in Los Angeles, which logged 52 head strikes in 2022. She noted that the DOC identified more than 3,000 instances of violent force from 2021 to 2023 and that the monitor believes thats an undercount. Representing the city, attorney Alan Howard Scheiner pushed back on allegations the DOC had made no progress and was willfully noncompliant rather than struggling to institute reforms. He argued that progress had been hindered by changes to the makeup of the citys jail population since the order. The number of people charged with homicide, as a percentage of people in our custody, has doubled, Scheiner said. The city is dealing with a different population than in the past and quite possibly a different sort of population in other systems. Scheiner said every staff member on every level was struggling to manage people with complicated needs safely. The problems are different from one, you know, period to another from one month to another, from one quarter to another, from one year to another. But theres a court order that says a security plan is supposed to be developed, Swain interjected. Swain said she would issue a decision in writing as soon as possible on the contempt motion but that the vulnerabilities presented warranted immediate action, whatever she decides. Chief among these vulnerabilities is that leaders who are appointed by political authorities on an at-will basis change at the will of those authorities, Swain said. Every time that it does happen, the new leaders understandably need to learn the territory, frame their own perspective on the past and the present, and they will seek to make their mark, build their own relationships with powerful stakeholders and the system, including but not limited to the unions, and often try to reset the clock in some way notwithstanding the clear presence of the judicially imposed requirements and existing violations of those requirements. And in the meantime, while all of this is going on, the lives of persons in custody and staff are in terrible danger. And those lives simply cant continue to be vulnerable to such cycles in this way, the judge added. Swain directed meetings take place under the direction of the monitor between the parties, including top DOC leadership, and that they come up with a fully fleshed-out description of the authority and structure a federal receivership might take or another outside party who could be brought in to address the issues. NEW YORK (PIX11) Charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams were unsealed Thursday following a federal criminal indictment. The charges stem from a federal investigation into his 2021 mayoral campaign, and the indictment was unsealed Thursday morning before federal investigators planned a news conference. Mayor Adams indictment: Timeline of federal investigations Here is a list of the charges against Adams: Bribery Solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national Wire fraud Conspiracy to defraud the United States (Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals) Federal investigators arrived at Gracie Mansion Thursday morning and seized Adams cellphone, according to his lawyer, Alex Spiro. Spiro called Thursdays search an unnecessary spectacle. We are not surprised. We expected this, Adams said during a press conference Thursday afternoon. I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. The indictment does not affect Adams standing as mayor. For Adams to leave his post, he would have to resign or be directly removed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, said Adams outside Gracie Mansion. My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. Adams said he plans to fight the indictment and called for an immediate trial to prove his innocence in a video statement Wednesday night. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers I would be a target and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said. The historic indictment comes after a year of intensifying investigations. Federal investigators have been looking into Adams since at least November 2023, when the FBI raided the home of a campaign fundraising consultant for the mayor. More Local News Federal authorities were investigating if Adams received illegal donations from the Turkish government and businessmen in exchange for favorable treatment during his 2021 mayoral campaign, according to The New York Times. The FBI also seized Adams cellphones. Earlier this month, federal authorities raided the homes of several members of his inner circle, including Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks, Schools Chancellor David Banks, and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. Investigators also seized the cellphones of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, who subsequently resigned, and other NYPD lieutenants as part of a separate investigation. When Thomas Donlon was announced as interim NYPD commissioner, his house too was searched. Donlon has said that the investigation is unrelated to his work with the NYPD. Caban was not alone in resigning. David Banks, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg and Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan all resigned from the Adams administration in recent months. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK CITY - New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by a grand jury on criminal charges Wednesday evening following escalating federal criminal investigations against his administration nearly a year after FBI agents seized his phones, according to multiple reports. "I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became," the Democratic mayor said in a statement obtained by FOX 5 NY's Morgan McKay. "If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit." Adams is connected to at least four federal investigations, but this indictment could be tied to the probe into whether Adams accepted illegal campaign donations from the Turkish government, sources tell FOX 5 NY's Morgan McKay. We first learned of this investigation in November 2023, when the FBI raided the home of Adams' top campaign advisor, Brianna Suggs. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has opened the door for city employees to work remotely, after criticizing the practice early in his administration. FOX 5 NY also learned this week that federal investigators believe other countries may be involved in this potential scheme, including Israel, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Qatar and China. Details about the exact accusations in the indictment are still unclear as the indictment is sealed, but sources tell McKay it will be unsealed Thursday morning. The indictment was first reported by The New York Times. If Adams resigns or is forced to step down, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would take over, and a special election would be held to choose a new mayor. Tracking the federal investigations into Adams and NYC officials In recent weeks the investigations produced a drumbeat of subpoenas, raids and whiplash-inducing developments for the first-term Democrat. They involve senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling. Federal investigators visited over a dozen members of his administration, taking devices from the police commissioner (who then resigned), the head of the public schools and other trusted confidantes both in and out of City Hall. At least one high-ranking mayoral aide received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury. New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a press conference after he was subpoenaed by the federal grand jury at New York City Hall on August 16, 2024 in New York. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP) (Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images) The indictment comes after David Banks, the head of NYC's public schools system, said on Tuesday he will step down at the end of the calendar year. Adams, a former police captain, has adamantly denied any knowledge of criminal activity. A mayor under a microscope The first sign that federal authorities were investigating people close to Adams came early last November, when agents searched the home of one of his top fundraisers, Brianna Suggs. Then, on Nov. 6, FBI agents stopped Adams himself as he left an event in Manhattan and seized his cellphones and iPad. Agents also searched the home of Adams' liaison to the Turkish community in New York and a former Turkish airline executive. Mayor Eric Adams and senior administration officials hold an in-person media availability. City Hall. Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office. As part of that inquiry, federal prosecutors have sought information about a time period when Adams was still Brooklyn borough president, but had won the Democratic primary and was widely expected to be elected mayor in the fall. During that period, Turkish officials were trying to get the city to expedite Fire Department approval of a new diplomatic building that were being held up because of safety concerns. Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign arm and City Hall, requesting information about the mayors schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government. Who has stepped down from the Adams administration? NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban stepped down from his post following a federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Adams confirmed he received Caban's resignation letter in a press conference back on Thursday, Sept. 12. New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban speaks during the first quarter crime briefing press conference Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Manhattan, New York City. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) It came days after federal agents seized the cellphones of the head of the police department and at least three other high-ranking mayoral deputies. FOX 5's Morgan McKay said federal investigators were reportedly looking into whether his twin brother, James, sold police protection to nightclubs and restaurants in the city. He also allegedly had police protection and had been chauffeured in and around the city since his brother became the commissioner. Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg Lisa Zornberg, Chief Counsel, speaks during Mayor Eric Adams' press briefing at City Hall. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) A few days later, on Saturday, Sept. 15, Adams' chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg, resigned. Since July 2023, Zornberg had been the lead attorney for both the mayor and City Hall. "I am deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for giving me the opportunity to serve the city, and I strongly support the work he has done and continues to do for New Yorkers," Zornberg said in a statement. Zornberg had advised Adams and other city officials on legal strategy for over a year and often parried legal questions from the press on his behalf. She was not his personal lawyer. Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan This past Monday, the Health Commissioner of New York City, Dr. Ashwi Vasan, submitted his resignation and will leave his position by the end of this year. Vasan has led the health department since 2022. NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks The head of New York Citys public schools system, David Banks, said Tuesday he will step down at the end of the calendar year. In a retirement letter shared with The Associated Press, Banks said he informed the mayor this summer of his plan to step down "after ensuring the school year got off to a good start." A former teacher, principal and founder of a network of all-boys public schools, Banks has led the citys public school system, the nation's largest, since Adams took office in 2022. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams lawyers slammed the woman accusing him in a lawsuit of sexual assault, questioning the credibility of Lorna Beach-Mathuras explanation for why she missed a court-ordered deposition this month and referencing past lawsuits shed filed, a Tuesday filing in Manhattan Supreme Court says. Beach-Mathura, in a previous filing, said she was unable to attend the deposition scheduled for Sept. 6 because she suffered an anxiety attack at the last minute that required her to seek medical attention. Plaintiffs proffered excuses are neither credible nor legitimate reasons for flouting the courts order while also failing to provide any advance notice or subsequent explanation, wrote Adams lawyer Alex Spiro in a court filing. The court should not be fooled. Spiro questioned Beach-Mathuras truthfulness, writing in that it defies credulity that she was not able to give her lawyers a heads-up that she wouldnt be able to make the deposition. He added that Beach-Mathura does not appear to have gotten any treatment for anxiety, instead visiting an urgent care hours after the deposition was set, where she was diagnosed with a sinus infection and prescribed cold medicine to treat it, records submitted by her lawyers last week show. In her explanation for missing the deposition, Beach-Mathuras attributed her health hiccup to the great emotional distress and anxiety caused by what she described as a concerted effort by the mayors allies and Spiro to portray her as a liar. At an explosive court hearing in August, Beach-Mathura and Adams lawyers traded barbs, each saying the other side was withholding information. Spiro said they would not consider settling the civil lawsuit because the alleged sexual assault was fictitious. The day of my scheduled deposition, I woke up in an extreme state of duress, unable to breathe and hear properly with a hoarse voice, and throat pain. I became very concerned about my health. These symptoms greatly exacerbated my underlying anxiety and depression, Beach-Mathura wrote. In the new filing, Adams lawyers also attached multiple exhibits from past lawsuits Beach-Mathura had filed, including a slip-and-fall suit against American Airlines in 2009, an assault and battery case from 2008 and a 2022 personal injury case against a casino. Spiro, who is known for representing celebrities like Elon Musk, pushed for a dismissal of the case, or at least an evidentiary hearing. The lawsuit, filed this past March, alleges Adams, who worked with Beach-Mathura in 1993 in the city Transit Police Department, attempted to force her to perform oral sex on him after the two met to discuss a workplace issue. When she refused, he instead ejaculated on her leg, according to the $5 million suit. Adams has vigorously denied the allegations. _____ New York City Mayor Eric Adams is due to be arraigned in a federal courthouse on Friday to face five counts of criminal offences, including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. An indictment unveiled on Thursday alleges Adams sought and accepted illegal campaign funds and over $100,000 (75,000) in luxury travel benefits from Turkish businessmen and an official seeking to gain his influence. Adams, 64, is a former police officer who was elected to lead the most populous US city nearly three years ago on a promise to be tough on crime. The mayor has denied any wrongdoing and rejected growing calls for his resignation. Mr Adams' arraignment, in which he will be formally informed of the charges and asked to enter a plea, will take place at noon local time before Magistrate Judge Katherine Parker. "I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defence before making any judgments," Adams said at a press conference on Thursday. "I follow the rules, I follow the federal law, I do not do anything that's going to participate in illegal campaign activity." The news conference was regularly interrupted by New York residents who called Adams a "disgrace" to the city and asked for "justice". If convicted, the mayor could face up to 45 years in prison. New York Governor Kathy Hochul - who has the power to remove the mayor from his post - said on Thursday she was reviewing the charges. "I'm going to take the time I need to review this indictment, see what's embedded with this, but my number one responsibility is to make sure the people of New York city and state of New York are served," Governor Hochul said. Adams can also be ousted from the mayor's office by a so-called "inability committee", which would likely include at least a few city officials who oppose him. The 57-page indictment lays out an alleged scheme of corruption and bribery that spans a decade, beginning when he was the Brooklyn borough president. The corrupt activity continued after he became mayor, the documents alleged, and included extravagant international travel. In one alleged text exchange included in the indictment, an Adams staffer and an airline manager discuss where the mayor should stay on a trip to Turkey. After the airline manager suggests the Four Seasons, the staffer replies "it's too expensive". "Why does he care? He is not going to pay," the manager replies. "Super," the Adams staffer says. Prosecutors claim that same staffer asked the airline manager to charge Adams an artificial price for his travel, to conceal the favourable treatment. "His every step is being watched right now," the staffer says, suggesting the mayor be charged $1,000 for a flight to Turkey. "Let it be somewhat real." At a Thursday press conference, US attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams alleged that the mayor developed relationships with foreign nationals to take in illegal funds for his 2021 campaign. In 2023 the mayor rekindled these corrupt relationships, seeking more illegal campaign contributions from some of the same foreign sources to support his re-election campaign, said Mr Williams. The indictment notes Adams used straw donors - a scheme that a person or entity uses to evade campaign finance limits - to take in illegal donations from foreign entities. Prosecutors say his campaign also applied and received NYC funds that are supposed to match small dollar contributions from city residents, which amounted to more than $10m. He is also accused of seeking to conceal the benefits he received, hiding the gifts from annual disclosure forms and telling a co-conspirator he "always" deleted text messages related to illegal trips and gifts, according to court documents. Officers outside Mayor Adams residence on Thursday morning [Getty Images] Several high-profile New York Democrats, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called on Adams to step down. Others, including House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, stopped short, saying Adams was entitled to the presumption of innocence. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denied any connection to political squabbles over immigration and disputed any coordination between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the White House. DOJ is handling this case independently," she told reporters on Thursday. Since being sworn in on the first day of 2022, Adams and his colleagues have been put under growing federal scrutiny. The FBI raided the home of his chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, and other members of his campaign last year as part of a probe believed to be focused on whether he received illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government and other foreign sources. In more recent weeks, the Adams' administration has been roiled by the resignation of a number of top aides as new investigations grew to a fever pitch. The police commissioner, the health commissioner, and the mayor's chief counsel have all left office. New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks also announced his plans to resign weeks after federal investigators seized his phones during a search of the home that he shares with his partner, Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, on 4 September. Amid the upheaval, Adams has received some of the lowest approval ratings of any mayor in city history and a crowded field of Democratic primary challengers - potentially including disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo - is gearing up to challenge his bid for re-election. If Adams resigns or is removed before his term ends next year, Jumaane Williams - the city's left-leaning public advocate - will replace him. (Bloomberg) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams engaged in years of sustained corruption, accepting more than $100,000 in lavish bribes from foreign nationals, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan claimed in a scalding indictment. Most Read from Bloomberg Adams, charged with bribery, conspiracy and breaking campaign finance laws, is accused of secretly accepting illegal contributions to his 2021 campaign and of taking free flight and hotel upgrades and other gifts without disclosing them as required, repeatedly crossing the laws bright red lines. The charges, unsealed Thursday morning, call into serious question the political future of the man in charge of running the biggest US city. I want to be clear, these upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent flier program available to the general public, Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at a news conference after the indictment was unsealed. This was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise, Eric Adams. He added that year after year after year, Adams kept the public in the dark. Adams, who is seeking re-election next year, said at a press conference on Thursday that he will continue to serve as mayor and looks forward to defending himself against the charges. Adams is set to appear in court Friday, where hell be formally charged and will likely enter a plea of not guilty. US District Judge Dale Ho, whos supervising the case, also set an initial conference for Oct. 4 to discuss planning for the prosecution to go forward. Federal prosecutors allege that over nearly a decade, dating back to when Adams served as Brooklyn borough president, he accepted improper benefits including luxury international travel from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. The prosecutors detailed improper relationships that Adams allegedly had with a Turkish diplomat, including accepting free upgrades and tickets to business class for himself and companions on round-trip flights from New York to China, France, Hungary, India, Sri Lanka and Turkey and discounted hotel stays. We continue to dig, Williams said, suggesting others could be prosecuted. In a nod to the nations political polarity, he added: We are not focused on the right or the left. We are only focused on right and wrong. The indictment of the 64-year-old Adams, just the second Black mayor in the citys more than 400-year history, is a remarkable turn for a former police captain who beat a crowded field to win the mayors race in 2021, running on a law-and-order platform that pledged to make city government work better. Adams lawyer Alex Spiro said in a statement that we have known for some time that they would try to find a way to bring a case against Mayor Adams. Yesterday more improper leaks. Today they emailed us a summons (and created the spectacle of a bogus raid). And very soon they will no doubt hold an hour-long dog-and-pony show presser rather than appear in open court. Federal judges call them out all the time for spinning in front of the cameras and tainting jurors, Spiro added. But they keep doing it because they cant help themselves, the spotlight is just too exciting. We will see them in court. Adams potentially faces decades in prison if convicted of the charges. Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars, accepting a bribe comes with a maximum of a decade, and the other charges top out at five years, according to prosecutors. The government is also seeking to have him forfeit any proceeds that can be traced to the commission of the alleged crimes. Governor Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams, according to the New York City Charter. Hochul said at a news conference that she would address the indictment later on Thursday, calling it a very serious matter. She added that as governor she has a unique responsibility to serve all the people of the state, including residents of New York City, and that she would be deliberative and thoughtful in reaching the right decision. Another route is through a so-called inability committee, which can declare the mayor unable to serve. The panel includes New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as well as Comptroller Brad Lander, who is running against Adams and has called for his resignation. On Thursday afternoon Speaker Adams stopped short of directly calling on the mayor to resign but questioned whether he would be able to do his job following the charges. There are major questions of how the serious nature of the allegations affects ones ability to govern, she said. I ask the mayor to seriously and honestly consider whether full attention can be given to our deserving New Yorkers who need our government to be sound and stable, adding that if he stays in office, he has to fulfill his duties without interruption. Should Adams be forced to step down, then New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would immediately become mayor, according to Jerry Goldfeder, an election law expert. He said that if a mayoral vacancy occurs more than 90 days before the primary scheduled for June 24, Williams would then need to call a special election within three days. Adams is accused of exploiting New York Citys unusually generous public matching funds program, which provides $8 in public funds for every $1 raised by donors from New York City, up to a maximum of $250 for candidates seeking citywide office. The indictment alleges that Adams campaign applied for those funds based on straw donations, receiving as much as $2,000 in funds for each contribution. In all, his mayoral campaign received more than $10 million in public funds. Prosecutors said Adams repeatedly took steps to shield the solicitation and acceptance of these benefits and failed to disclose them in his annual financial disclosures, as required for a New York City employee. Federal agents publicly seized Adams mobile devices last November, and although Adams was carrying several mobile devices, he wasnt carrying his personal cellphone, the indictment said. Prosecutors allege that Adams later handed over his personal cellphone, which is the device he used to communicate about the conduct described in the indictment. By that time, he claimed he had forgotten the password to unlock it, complicating the FBIs ability to access the phones contents. The indictment is detailed. Prosecutors claim that during an August 2017 trip, Adams and a relative accepted a heavily discounted stay at the St. Regis Hotel in Istanbul, which was owned by a Turkish businesswoman who sought to ingratiate herself with Adams. He stayed at the Bentley Suite for two nights that should have cost $7,000, but instead the mayor paid $600. The Turkish official allegedly told Adams in September 2021 it was his turn to repay him by pressuring New York City Fire Department officials to enable the opening of a new 36-story Turkish consulate building without a fire inspection ahead of a visit by the Turkish president. An official at the Turkish embassy in Washington declined to comment on Wednesday. The case is US v. Adams, 24-cr-566, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). --With assistance from Chris Dolmetsch, Myles Miller and Selcan Hacaoglu. (Adds details of Adams arraignment in paragraph 5.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. US prosecutors have charged New York City Eric Adams with bribery and fraud charges as part of a "long-running" scheme that has upended politics in America's largest city. As part of what officials have described as an "abuse of power", Adams is alleged to have accepted illegal gifts worth over $100,000 (75,000) from Turkish citizens and at least one government official. In exchange, Turkish officials are believed to have sought favours from the mayor, including help skirting safety regulations to open a consulate in New York, according to prosecutors. Adams, a former police captain, has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight the allegations in court. Here's what we know. What is Eric Adams accused of? Eric Adams is facing five separate criminal counts, including "conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals", wire fraud, two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and bribery. According to the 57-page indictment, Adams allegedly accepted more than $100,000 in luxury travel - including hotel stays, lavish meals and airline upgrades - from Turkish nationals beginning in 2016, when he still served as president of the New York borough of Brooklyn. In one instance, for example, Adams is alleged to have received a "heavily discounted" stay at the "Bentley Room" of Istanbul's St Regis hotel, paying $600 for a two-day visit that was valued at approximately $7,000. "This was a multi-year scheme to buy favour with a single New York City politician on the rise," US Attorney Damian Williams said at a news conference. Additionally, Adams is alleged to have sought out campaign contributions from Turkish sources for his 2021 mayoral election campaign. None of this was publicly declared, and prosecutors claim Adams used "straw donors" to hide the sources of the money, and at times created "fake paper trails" that suggested he paid, or intended to pay, for the gifts. What is the wire fraud charge? One of the charges in the indictment, wire fraud, stems from allegations that Adams devised a scheme to obtain money "by making false and fraudulent pretences" in his dealings. Specifically, prosecutors claim that the money Adams obtained from Turkey allowed him to qualify for a public financing programme that provides eligible political candidates with funds to match donations from New York City residents. As part of the initiative, known as the Matching Funds Program, candidates are prohibited from accepting contributions from people who are not US citizens or lawful residents, as well as corporations and foreign entities and organisations. According to the justice department, Adams fraudulently obtained as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution. What did Adams allegedly do in exchange? In exchange for the campaign contributions and lavish travel, Adams is alleged to have responded to a variety of concerns from Turkish nationals and at least one government official. In 2016, for example, the indictment claims that Adams was told that he would cut ties with a Turkish community centre in Brooklyn after a Turkish official told him it was affiliated with a group "hostile" to Turkey's government. That Turkish official also reportedly told him that he could no longer associate with the centre if he wished to keep receiving "support" from Turkey's government. In another instance in 2021, prosecutors allege that Adams - at the behest of a Turkish diplomat - also pressured an official from New York's fire department to help make sure the new Turkish consular building in the city was ready for a visit from Turkey's president - without a fire inspection. The fire department official responsible for the assessment of the skyscraper consulate building was told he would lose his job if he failed to approve the building, prosecutors allege. In that instance, the indictment claims that a Turkish official told Adams it was "his turn to repay" him. "After Adams intervened, the skyscraper opened as requested by the Turkish official," the indictment says. Adams has denied these claims as well. "I know I don't take money from foreign donors," he said on Thursday. Could Adams go to prison? In theory, Adams could face a lengthy prison sentence for the charges. The wire fraud count alone carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, while both counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals each carry a maximum sentence of five years. The bribery charge carries a maximum charge of 10 years in prison. The remaining charge, "conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals" carries with it a maximum sentence of five years. In the shorter-term, the charges are likely to imperil Adams' political future ahead of his 2025 re-election bid. Dozens of lawmakers, including members of New York's city council and Democratic US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes, have called on him to step down. Adams has vowed to fight the charges and called for an "immediate" trial, resisting calls to resign. "I will continue to do my job as mayor," he said at a news conference. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams was called a true friend of Turkey after allegedly pressuring the FDNY to overlook fire safety issues in a Turkish-owned building so it could be ready for a visit from the countrys president, authorities said. Everything should be good to go, Adams wrote in a Sept. 2021 text message, prosecutors said. You are a true friend of Turkey, the Turkish official responded. You are my brother, Adams replied. Will former Gov. Andrew Cuomo run for NYC mayor? In August 2021, construction was completed on the 36-story Turkish House building in United Nations Plaza, less than a month before the presidents arrival. But the FDNY safety inspection was holding up the process until the mayor intervened, according to the federal indictment. Even after a fire department official warned that major defects at the consulate building had left it unsafe to occupy, Adams pushed safety officials to allow it to open, according to authorities. The FDNY official responsible for the FDNYs assessment of the skyscrapers safety was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce, according to the indictment. Some of the people at FDNY thought the building had so many issues and defects that the building was not safe to occupy, United States Attorney for the Southern District Damian Williams said. Mayor Adams charged with bribery: Inside the indictment Adams was charged with accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, stemming from his 2021 mayoral campaign. Prosecutors accuse the mayor of accepting illegal campaign donations as early as his time as Brooklyn borough president. Adams allegedly sought and knowingly accepted money from foreign donors, including Turkish government officials, prosecutors contend. Speaking in front of Gracie Mansion on Thursday, Adams urged New Yorkers to wait for his defense before making judgments. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, Adams said. My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. About a year ago, the federal investigations into the Adams administration first emerged, when FBI agents raided the home of his chief fundraiser. Days later, agents seized the mayors phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. Earlier this month, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the citys police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall. A wave of high-profile departures followed. Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (AP) New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on charges that he took illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city. Adams, a former police officer, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment that describes a decade-long trail of crimes. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his mayoral campaign. A senior official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment facilitated many straw donations to Adams and arranged for Adams and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkeys national airline to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey, the indictment alleges. Adams compounded his gains from the illegal campaign contributions by gaming the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. His campaign received more than $10,000 in matching funds as a result of the false certifications, according to the indictment. New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference at City Hall, Dec. 12, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie, File) Adams allegedly solicited and demanded bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official, the indictment alleges, noting that the official was seeking Adams help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails in order to falsely suggest he had paid for travel benefits that were actually free, prosecutors allege. He also deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, at one point assuring a co-conspirator that he always deleted her text messages, according to the indictment. Sources: NYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted on federal criminal charges The charges were made public hours after FBI agents entered the mayors official residence and seized his phone early Thursday. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again), Adams lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement hours before the indictment was made public. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. In a video speech released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to fights any charges against him, claiming he had been made a target in a case based on lies. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit, he said. The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have honed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that have thrust City Hall into crisis. The U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan has declined to comment on the investigation, though it said it would announce significant public corruption charges at an 11:30 a.m. news conference. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment. A spokesperson for the mayor did not immediately respond to questions Thursday morning. Adams spent 22 years in New York Citys police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as the citys second Black mayor in 2021. In a video speech released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to fight any charges against him, claiming he had been made a target in a case based on lies. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Her spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement. ALSO READ: Court asked to dismiss murder charge against Karen Read in death of her police officer boyfriend The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have homed in on members of Adams inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations. Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. In the last two weeks alone, the citys police commissioner and head of the schools system have announced their resignations. FBI agents had seized Adams electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters. In early September, federal investigators seized devices from his police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted confidants both in and out of City Hall. All have denied wrongdoing. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and to receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals, wire fraud and bribery in a federal indictment unsealed Thursday as part of a City Hall federal corruption investigation. The charges stem from an investigation by the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office that has scrutinized allegations that Turkeys government funneled illegal donations into Adams 2021 campaign coffers. Earlier this month, it was revealed that probe is also looking at communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries. In the indictment, federal investigators described what they called a scheme that spanned nearly a decade, starting when Adams became Brooklyn borough president in 2014, that involved him seeking and accepting improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. They say Adams then proceeded to solicit and accept illegal straw donations from Turkish nationals and, once he became mayor, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him by seeking and securing favors from him. Adams has kept this favor trading relationship going while mayor, and has continued soliciting illegal straw donations from Turkish nationals for his reelection campaign, according to the indictment. Adams first traveled to Turkey in 2015, where he met many of the unnamed foreign nationals who are key to the indictment, including the Turkish Official, a Turkish promoter and a Turkish businessman who owns a Turkish university. The trio would spend years pulling together illegal straw donations to Adams campaign and bribe him with gifts, the indictment claims. With Adams on that 2015 trip was Rana Abbasova, a longtime aide of his who was suspended from her City Hall post after being raided by the feds last year. The court papers say Abbasova coordinated many of the illegal campaign contributions and improper personal travel benefits relevant to this Indictment. After accepting the travel perks and free flights, Adams was told by the Turkish national that it was his turn to repay him by pressuring the FDNY to fast-track the opening of a new 36-floor Turkish consulate, the indictment read. The FDNY official responsible for the FDNYs assessment of the skyscrapers fire safety was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce, according to the indictment. The feds say that his campaign managed to steal public matching funds as part of this scheme by falsely certifying illegal donations to the campaign. As a result of those false certifications, ADAMSs 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds, the indictment says. Adams has professed his innocence. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said in a video statement late Wednesday after news broke that he had been indicted in the long-brewing corruption probe. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. On Thursday morning federal investigators converged on Gracie Mansion and executed a search warrant, seizing at least one phone, his attorney Alex Spiro said. They emailed us a summons (and created the spectacle of a bogus raid), Spiro said in a statement. And very soon they will no doubt hold an hour-long dog-and-pony show presser rather than appear in open court. Federal judges call them out all the time for spinning in front of the cameras and tainting jurors. But they keep doing it because they cant help themselves, the spotlight is just too exciting. We will see them in court, Spiro said. Several elected officials and advocates have called on Adams to resign in light of the indictment, claiming he cant oversee city government while defending himself in a criminal federal case. Last November, the feds seized multiple phones and electronic devices from the mayor as part of their corruption probe. Adams is the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office. His administration has been reeling in recent weeks from additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations. Its a great weekend to live in Corvallis and not, say, the town from "Footloose" as the Saturday night street dance is on the docket once again for this years Fall Festival. So dust off your boogie shoes and get ready for a night to remember. The Saturday night street dance, taking place on Sept. 28, has been a tradition since the festivals origin in 1973 (excluding a COVID-19-related hiatus of the dance that ended just last year). As the sun lowers over Central Park, the art booths close, and festival-goers gather around the main stage to revel in danceable rhythms and excellent musicianship. This years line-up is no exception when it comes to both quality and fun. The schedule is as follows: 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Son de Cuba 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. Drum Circle Connection 8 to 9:30 p.m. Grupo Masato Son de Cuba is a Portland-based Latin dance band with musicians from Chile, Mexico, the U.S. and Cuba. Communications and festival coordinator Caitlin Garets said that after knocking it out of the park during their performance at the festival last year, they were a natural fit for this upcoming street dance. Drum Circle Connection is a local drum circle founded and facilitated by Michelle Lovrich. Its an ideal fit for Saturday night because, as Lovrich says, drums make people dance. Lovrich has a colorful palette of instruments from around the world that people at the street dance will get to explore. She has hundreds of percussion pieces in her possession, she said, which shes collected from garage sales and thrift stores over time. During the drum circle, which will happen off-stage to facilitate participation, Lovrichs students will kick it off with traditional West African-style rhythms. From there, theyll teach festival-goers how to play along, encouraging improvisation over their rhythmic foundation. Ive kind of been trained in taking people whove never played music together, Lovrich said, and turning them into a percussion orchestra within about 10 or 15 minutes. The headlining performance will be by Grupo Masato, a high-energy, 10-piece Latin dance band. The Portland-based group has many connections to Corvallis for example, they used to play at events hosted by the Association of Latin American Students at OSU, and one of the percussionists, Pedro Polanco, currently works for Benton County, according to Garets. "It is a homecoming for all of us," Otto Gygax, one of the band's co-founders, said in an email. The idea of playing Chica music, which grew out of Andean music in Peru mixed with Cumbia rhythms from Colombia, came about while he and bass player Greg Klein were living in Corvallis, he said. They later moved to Portland and started Grupo Masato, which has five members from Latin America, including Gygax. The band now plays irresistible dance music, according to its website, and is even named after a powerful liquor derived from South Americas Amazon Jungle. Garets said audience members can expect a delightful mix of Chica, Cumbia and Afro-Peruvian music. The street dance is open to all ages and will offer food, beer, wine and cocktails. Theres a free shuttle service running every 10 to 15 minutes until 9:30 p.m. For those who want to utilize it, Garets said to park vehicles in Samaritan Square on Ninth Street, which is behind Five Guys. And if you're in the mood for grooving, the street dance will not be your only opportunity this weekend musical performances will take place on the main stage during festival hours on both Saturday and Sunday, ranging from Celtic to Japanese drumming to ethereal alternative rock. There is no admission cost to the Fall Festival or to the street dance. After all, as Lovrich says, "Rhythm is free. And its in everybody. Close Donna Pioli, of Corvallis, plays a double gongkogwe bell with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Alan Rappoport, left, of Corvallis, closes his eyes and Michelle Lovrich speaks with students while they play djembes with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. People from across the Willamette Valley practice hand percussion with Drum Circle Connection at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis while rehearsing beats and rhythms ahead of the 51st Corvallis Fall Festival. Instructor Michelle Lovrich's students ranged in experience from their second visit to several years playing drums with the group. "There's a part for everybody," Lovrich said. Dave Marshall of Tangent and Nancy Ballerstedt of Philomath play djembes with Drum Circle Connection while rehearsing for the Corvallis Fall Festival. Elizabeth Dodd, right, focuses on the beat while practicing with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Michelle Lovrich, right, shakes caxixis while teaching students how to hold a downbeat or accompany heavier drums Monday with Drum Circle Connection at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Baskets of hand percussion instruments are arranged near Drum Circle Connection's community drum circle practice Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, during a rehearsal for the 51st Corvalls Fall Festival. Hand percussionists react to instruction while practicing with Drum Circle Connection. Joleesa Ammann was among a few wearing ear protection at a Drum Circle Connection practice Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Michelle Lovrich shakes ankle bells while keeping time with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Tony Zib listens to the beat before joining into a song with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Zib said he can't find West African drumming classes most places and credits facilitator and teacher Michelle Lovrich's instruction for his participation. "It's my favorite thing to do, really," Zib said. "You can't get this all over the place." A bucket and cushion used as a seat, visible Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis, during Drum Circle Connection's rehearsal ahead of the 51st Corvallis Fall Festival. Dave Marshall, right, of Tangent, practices with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis while rehearsing before the 51st Corvallis Fall Festival. Marshall said he started attending the drum circle in 2022. PHOTOS: Drummin' it out in Corvallis MLK Park Do you know how to hold a downbeat with a caxixi? Drum Circle Connection rehearses for the 51st Corvallis Fall Festival. Donna Pioli, of Corvallis, plays a double gongkogwe bell with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Alan Rappoport, left, of Corvallis, closes his eyes and Michelle Lovrich speaks with students while they play djembes with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. People from across the Willamette Valley practice hand percussion with Drum Circle Connection at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis while rehearsing beats and rhythms ahead of the 51st Corvallis Fall Festival. Instructor Michelle Lovrich's students ranged in experience from their second visit to several years playing drums with the group. "There's a part for everybody," Lovrich said. Dave Marshall of Tangent and Nancy Ballerstedt of Philomath play djembes with Drum Circle Connection while rehearsing for the Corvallis Fall Festival. Elizabeth Dodd, right, focuses on the beat while practicing with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Michelle Lovrich, right, shakes caxixis while teaching students how to hold a downbeat or accompany heavier drums Monday with Drum Circle Connection at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Baskets of hand percussion instruments are arranged near Drum Circle Connection's community drum circle practice Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, during a rehearsal for the 51st Corvalls Fall Festival. Hand percussionists react to instruction while practicing with Drum Circle Connection. Joleesa Ammann was among a few wearing ear protection at a Drum Circle Connection practice Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Michelle Lovrich shakes ankle bells while keeping time with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Tony Zib listens to the beat before joining into a song with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis. Zib said he can't find West African drumming classes most places and credits facilitator and teacher Michelle Lovrich's instruction for his participation. "It's my favorite thing to do, really," Zib said. "You can't get this all over the place." A bucket and cushion used as a seat, visible Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis, during Drum Circle Connection's rehearsal ahead of the 51st Corvallis Fall Festival. Dave Marshall, right, of Tangent, practices with Drum Circle Connection on Monday, Sept. 23, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis while rehearsing before the 51st Corvallis Fall Festival. Marshall said he started attending the drum circle in 2022. New York City Mayor Eric Adams received more than $100,000 worth of free plane tickets and luxury hotel stays from wealthy Turkish nationals and at least one government official in a nearly decadelong corruption scheme, according to a 57-page federal indictment unsealed Thursday. In return for free travel benefits and illegal campaign contributions, Adams performed favors for his foreign benefactors, including pressuring the New York Fire Department to allow a Turkish consulate building to open despite serious safety concerns, the indictment says. The alleged international pay-to-play scheme began after Adams became the Brooklyn borough president in 2014 and helped to underwrite his successful mayoral campaign seven years later, the indictment says. It continued into this year, even after federal officers seized Adams electronic devices and raided the home of his chief fundraiser, according to the indictment. This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a news conference. Charged with five counts, Adams, 64, becomes the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted in the modern era. The details of the criminal case come at a time of extraordinary turmoil for the Adams administration. In the past two weeks alone, the citys police commissioner, top lawyer and schools chancellor have announced their resignations. Adams, in a defiant address shortly after the indictment was made public, vowed to fight the charges and stay on as mayor. We are not surprised. We expected this, Adams said. I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. Several prominent politicians have called on the Democrat to resign, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and state Sen. John Liu, D-Queens. But the most powerful political figures in New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries; and Gov. Kathy Hochul have not joined the others in calling for Adams to step down. Hochul, who has the power to remove the mayor, released a lengthy statement late Thursday in which she stopped short of urging Adams to leave office. "While I review my options and obligations as the governor of New York, I expect the mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders," Hochul said. "We must give New Yorkers confidence that there is steady, responsible leadership at every level of government. The mayor is scheduled to be arraigned Friday on charges that include bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. "The indictment of a sitting mayor is not just another headline," said James Dennehy, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs New York field office. "It is a stinging reminder that no one is above the law or beyond reproach, and it serves as a sobering moment for all of us who place our trust in elected officials." The indictment centers on Adams relationship with a handful of well-connected Turkish nationals: a senior diplomatic official, a promoter, a university chairman, an airline manager and a luxury hotel owner. They provided Adams with free travel and entertainment benefits as well as illegal campaign cash, according to federal prosecutors. New York Mayor Eric Adams talks to the media outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence of New York City, on Thursday after he was indicted on federal criminal charges. As he was locked in the 2021 mayors race, Adams and his staff worked to disguise the foreign money by funneling it through U.S. citizens, the indictment says. His campaign received more than $10 million in matching public funds as a result of the false certifications, according to the indictment. From 2016 to 2021, he received free business class tickets or upgrades on seven trips to India, France, China, Hungary, Ghana and Turkey and other countries a value of more than $123,000, the indictment says. Ahead of one trip to Istanbul, an Adams staffer requested that the Turkish airline manager charge him a real price to conceal the travel gift, the indictment says. How much should I charge? the airline manager asked in June 2021, a few weeks before the Democratic primary. His every step is being watched right now, the Adams staffer replied, according to the indictment. $1000 or so. Let it be somewhat real. Prosecutors say Adams kept fake paper trails and deleted messages to hide his misconduct in one instance assuring a co-conspirator he always deleted her messages. In September 2021, the Turkish government official told Adams it was his turn to support Turkey after the official had helped arrange straw donations to his campaign, the indictment says. The official insisted that a new Turkish consular building, a 36-story skyscraper, be opened in time for a high-profile visit by Turkeys president. But there was a problem: It would have failed a fire inspection. Adams began pressuring the then-fire commissioner to do what was necessary for the building to get approval to open, the indictment says. Soon the official responsible for assessing the safety of the building was told he would lose his job if he failed to approve the skyscraper, according to the indictment. When Adams delivered the news that the building would be approved to open in time, the Turkish official responded with effusive praise, it says. You are Great Eric, we are so happy to hear that, he wrote, according to the indictment. You are a true friend of Turkey. Adams offered a similar sentiment in his reply, it says. Yes even more a true friend of yours, he wrote, according to the indictment. You are my brother. I am hear [sic] to help. Adams foreign benefactors celebrated his election victory two months later, according to the indictment. The promoter reached out to Adams and others saying he would soon be president of the U.S., it says. The president is our brother from now on, sir, the promoter wrote to the Turkish university owner, according to the indictment. May it be auspicious for all of us. He is most likely going to assign me as a representative, sir, the promoter added, it says. Im going to go and talk to our elders in Ankara about how we can turn this into an advantage for our countrys lobby. The Turkish Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, told reporters that the indictment left him with a sense that prosecutors knew the case was overblown. You could almost picture them trying to cobble this together and try to tell a story so that they could say, corruption, corruption at a press conference," Spiro said. The Adams administration still faces other federal investigations. Investigators working a separate probe searched homes and seized phones belonging to multiple top officials close to Adams this month. Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who was among those whose phones were seized, resigned Sept. 12. Authorities also seized the phone of Cabans twin brother, James Caban, a former police officer who owns a nightclub security business. Federal investigators were looking into whether bars and clubs in midtown Manhattan and Queens paid James Caban to act as a police liaison and whether those clubs were then afforded special treatment by local precincts, according to sources familiar with the matter. There is also a public corruption investigation and another federal probe that resulted in a search of homes belonging to Adams director of Asian affairs. Williams, the U.S. attorney, said the foreign bribery and campaign finance investigation is not over. "We continue to dig, and we will hold more people accountable," he said. FBI agents appeared to make that clear hours before the indictment was unsealed, when they descended on Adams' home, Gracie Mansion, in the predawn darkness. The agents seized Adams' phone for the second time, according to his lawyer. "They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in," Spiro said. He described the law enforcement action as "an effort to create a spectacle." The FBI declined to comment. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams was hit with a raft of fedearl corruption charges Thursday accusing him of accepting thousands of dollars in illegal campaign donations from Turkish officials that cost city taxpayers upwards of $10 million in public matching funds. The massive indictment also alleges Adams accepted $100,000 in lavish trips and hotel stays all paid by Turkish officials who thought Adams rising political career would lead the former NYPD cop to the White House. These upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent flyer or loyalty program, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a Thursday press conference unveiling the charges. The grandiose gifts were intended to buy a New York City politician on the rise, Williams said. These are bright red lines and we allege that the mayor crossed them again and again for years. Adams is facing 40 years in prison after being charged with bribery, campaign finance, wire fraud and conspiracy offenses, federal officials said. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by the Manhattan U.S. Attorneys Office that has scrutinized allegations Turkeys government funneled illegal donations into Adams 2021 campaign coffers. Earlier this month, it was revealed the probe is also looking at communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries. In the indictment, federal investigators described a scheme that spanned nearly a decade, starting when Adams became Brooklyn borough president in 2014. Adams allegedly accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him, the 56-page indictment charges. Federal prosecutors say Adams proceeded to solicit and accept illegal straw donations from Turkish nationals and, once he became mayor, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him by securing favors from him. Since becoming mayor, Adams has kept this favor-swapping relationship going and has continued soliciting illegal straw donations from Turkish nationals for his reelection campaign, according to the indictment. Its illegal to accept campaign donations from non-U.S. citizens. To get around this, Turkish officials would send the donations through a third party, known as a straw donor, who was a citizen. Adams accepted the donations, allegedly knowing their origins, and maximized his gains through New York Citys matching funds program netting his 2021 campaign over $10 million in public funds. This is a grave breach of public trust, Williams said, adding that Adams solicited these benefits even though he knew they were illegal. No one else is named in the federal indictment. Adams is expected to be arraigned on the charges Friday or early next week. Flanked by more than a dozen faith leaders outside Gracie Mansion Thursday, Adams proclaimed his innocence and shot down calls to step down. Its an unfortunate day and its a painful day. But aside of all of that, its a day that will finally reveal why for 10 months I will have gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself, he said. I look forward to having my legal team handle this as I handle the city of New York. Williams said politics had nothing to do with the federal investigation. We are not focused on the right or the left we are only focused on right and wrong, he said. We allege that Mayor Adams abused that privilege and broke the law. Laws that are designed to ensure that officials like him serve the people not the highest bidder, not a foreign bidder, and certainly not a foreign power. After accepting the travel perks and free flights, Adams was told by the Turkish national that it was his turn to repay him by pressuring then-FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro to fast-track the opening of a new 36-floor Turkish consulate, the indictment reads. The FDNY official responsible for the FDNYs assessment of the skyscrapers fire safety was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce, according to the indictment. Some of the people at FDNY thought the building had so many issues and defects that the building was not safe to occupy, Williams said at the press conference. So the Turkish official sent word to Adams that it was, quote, his turn, unquote, to support Turkey. Adams delivered and pressured the Fire Department to let the building open, Williams added. The FDNY professionals were convinced that they would lose their jobs if they didnt back down. And so they did. They got out of the way and let the building open. When reached Thursday, Nigro said he told the FBI everything that I know. They have all that information, Nigro said, adding that Adams request to expedite the inspection was unusual. It was the first time I had ever heard from him about something like that, he said. Whatever he did, he did. It doesnt involve the Fire Department. Earlier Thursday morning, federal investigators converged on Gracie Mansion and executed a search warrant, seizing at least one phone, Adams attorney Alex Spiro said. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again), Spiro said. He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. Several elected officials and advocates have called on Adams to resign in light of the indictment, claiming he cant oversee city government while defending himself in a criminal federal case. Adams first traveled to Turkey in 2015, where he met many of the unnamed foreign nationals who are key to the indictment, identified as a Turkish official, a Turkish promoter and a Turkish businessman who owns a Turkish university. The trio would spend years pulling together illegal straw donations to Adams campaign and bribe him with gifts, the indictment claims. The Turkish nationals who funneled the money into his campaign coffers and sent him on expensive trips did so believing they werent just buying influence with a mayor, but a future president, the indictment reads. The Promoter also celebrated Adams prospects with additional people, telling others including Adams himself that Adams would soon be president of the United States, the indictment reads. Similarly, the Turkish official wrote to (an Adams staffer) that given Adams increasing prominence the Foreign Minister of Turkey is personally paying attention to him.' Adams never disclosed the upgraded flights and hotel stays and sometimes created fake paper trails to try to cover up the travel benefits he solicited and received, Williams said. The indictment says Adams falsely suggested that he had paid, planned to pay, for travel benefits that were actually free. He also deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, including, in one instance, assuring a co-conspirator in writing that he always deleted her messages.' the indictment reads. Through it all, Adams would preach about how important fundraising was to winning a mayoral campaign. You win the race by raising money Have to raise money, he said in 2018 texts to a person the indictment identifies as a close supporter. Everything else is fluff, Adams added, according to the indictment. The supporter he was texting is Bling Bishop Pastor Lamor Whitehead, who was convicted in March of federal wire fraud and attempted extortion charges for swindling a parishioner out of her life savings. The same texts are quoted in Whiteheads federal indictment. Last year, the feds seized multiple phones and electronic devices from the mayor as part of their corruption probe. Even with the feds breathing down their necks, Adams and at least two underlings tried to hide information on their phones, according to federal prosecutors. Longtime aide Rana Abbasova is identified as Adams staffer in the indictment and fundraiser Brianna Suggs is identified as Adams fundraiser. Their homes were raided on the same day last November. After learning that FBI agents had arrived at her residence, but before answering their repeated knocks at her door, (Suggs) called Adams five times, even though the agents had not yet given (her) any indication of the purpose for their visit, the indictment reads. When (she) then spoke with the FBI agents, she agreed to discuss many subjects, but refused to say who had paid for her 2021 travel to Turkey. When Abbasova agreed to be interviewed by FBI agents, she excused herself to a bathroom and, while there, deleted the encrypted messaging applications she had used to communicate with Adams, the Promoter, the Turkish Official, the Airline Manager, and others, the indictment read. After the FBI raided Abbasovas New Jersey home, she agreed to cooperate with investigators, The News previously reported. When FBI agents seized Adams phone in November, the mayor told them he had changed his password and now didnt remember it and so couldnt help them unlock the phone, the indictment reads. Adams is the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office. His administration has been reeling in recent weeks from additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations. --------- (With Graham Rayman, Cayla Bamberger and Josephine Stratman.) NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams was charged with bribery, wire fraud, and secretly soliciting campaign contributions from overseas donors in a sweeping indictment unsealed Thursday stemming from a wide-ranging federal probe into corruption at City Hall. The stunning indictment alleges Adams accepted $124,000 in lavish trips, cruises, and hotel stays all paid by Turkish officials who thought Adams rising political career would lead the former NYPD cop to the White House. These upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent flyer or loyalty program, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a Thursday press conference unveiling the charges. The grandiose gifts were intended to buy a New York City politician on the rise, Williams said. These are bright red lines and we allege that the mayor crossed them again and again for years. Adams allegedly repaid the favors by pressuring the FDNY into fast-tracking the opening of a new 36-floor Turkish consulate in Manhattan despite serious fire safety concerns, the indictment charges. Adams is facing the possibility of up to 40 years in prison after being charged with bribery, campaign finance, wire fraud and conspiracy offenses, federal officials said. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by the Manhattan U.S. Attorneys Office that has scrutinized allegations Turkeys government funneled illegal donations into Adams 2021 campaign coffers. Earlier this month, it was revealed the probe is also looking at communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries. Scheme spanned a decade In the indictment, federal investigators described a scheme that spanned nearly a decade, starting when Adams became Brooklyn borough president in 2014. Adams allegedly accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him, the 56-page indictment charges. Federal prosecutors say Adams proceeded to solicit and accept illegal straw donations from Turkish nationals and, once he became mayor, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him by securing favors from him. Since becoming mayor, Adams has kept this favor-swapping relationship going and has continued soliciting illegal straw donations from Turkish nationals for his reelection campaign, according to the indictment. Its illegal to accept campaign donations from non-U.S. citizens. To get around this, Turkish officials would send the donations through a third party, known as a straw donor, who was a citizen. Adams accepted the donations, allegedly knowing their origins, and maximized his gains through New York Citys matching funds program netting his 2021 campaign over $10 million in public funds. This is a grave breach of public trust, Williams said, adding that Adams solicited these benefits even though he knew they were illegal. No one else is named in the federal indictment. Adams must appear before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker in Manhattan Federal Court Friday at noon to be presented on the charges. Adams lawyer Alex Spiro said the mayor is eager to appear in court. You can almost picture them trying to cobble this together and try to tell a story so that they could say Corruption, corruption, corruption, Spiro told reporters outside Gracie Mansion Thursday afternoon with Adams at his side. They do that to tarnish him in your eyes. Theres nothing improper, illegal, or wrong about that, Spiro said of a free 2017 flight on a Turkish airline Adams is accused of accepting before becoming mayor. Airlines regularly provide such upgrades when seats are available and any perks Adams received were not gifts or bribes, Spiro said. Spiro released old emails from Adams reminding staff not to accept foreign contributions and insisted his client is innocent of all charges. Flanked by more than a dozen faith leaders outside Gracie Mansion earlier Thursday, Adams proclaimed his innocence and shot down calls to step down. Its an unfortunate day and its a painful day. But aside of all of that, its a day that will finally reveal why for 10 months I will have gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself, he said. I look forward to having my legal team handle this as I handle the city of New York. Williams said politics had nothing to do with the federal investigation. We are not focused on the right or the left we are only focused on right and wrong, he said. We allege that Mayor Adams abused (his) privilege and broke the law. Laws that are designed to ensure that officials like him serve the people not the highest bidder, not a foreign bidder, and certainly not a foreign power. Pressure on FDNY After accepting the travel perks and free flights, Adams was told by the Turkish national that it was his turn to repay him by pressuring then-FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro to fast-track the opening of the new 36-floor Turkish consulate, the indictment reads. The FDNY official responsible for the FDNYs assessment of the skyscrapers fire safety was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce, according to the indictment. Some of the people at FDNY thought the building had so many issues and defects that the building was not safe to occupy, Williams said at the press conference. So the Turkish official sent word to Adams that it was, quote, his turn, unquote, to support Turkey. Adams delivered and pressured the Fire Department to let the building open, Williams added. The FDNY professionals were convinced that they would lose their jobs if they didnt back down. And so they did. They got out of the way and let the building open. When reached Thursday, Nigro said he told the FBI everything that I know. They have all that information, Nigro said, adding that Adams request to expedite the inspection was unusual. It was the first time I had ever heard from him about something like that, he said. Whatever he did, he did. It doesnt involve the Fire Department. Earlier Thursday morning, federal investigators converged on Gracie Mansion and executed a search warrant, seizing at least one phone, Adams attorney Spiro said. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again), Spiro said. He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. Several elected officials and advocates have called on Adams to resign in light of the indictment, claiming he cant oversee city government while defending himself in a criminal federal case. Coverup alleged Adams first traveled to Turkey in 2015, where he met many of the unnamed foreign nationals who are key to the indictment, identified as a Turkish official, a Turkish promoter and a Turkish businessman who owns a Turkish university. The trio would spend years pulling together illegal straw donations to Adams campaign and bribe him with gifts, the indictment claims. The Turkish nationals who funneled the money into his campaign coffers and sent him on expensive trips did so believing they werent just buying influence with a mayor, but a future president, the indictment reads. The Promoter also celebrated Adams prospects with additional people, telling others including Adams himself that Adams would soon be president of the United States, the indictment reads. Similarly, the Turkish official wrote to (an Adams staffer) that given Adams increasing prominence the Foreign Minister of Turkey is personally paying attention to him.' Adams never disclosed the upgraded flights and hotel stays and sometimes created fake paper trails to try to cover up the travel benefits he solicited and received, Williams said. The indictment says Adams falsely suggested that he had paid, planned to pay, for travel benefits that were actually free. He also deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, including, in one instance, assuring a co-conspirator in writing that he always deleted her messages.' the indictment reads. Through it all, Adams would preach about how important fundraising was to winning a mayoral campaign. You win the race by raising money Have to raise money, he said in 2018 texts to a person the indictment identifies as a close supporter. Everything else is fluff, Adams added, according to the indictment. The supporter he was texting is Bling Bishop Pastor Lamor Whitehead, who was convicted in March of federal wire fraud and attempted extortion charges for swindling a parishioner out of her life savings. The same texts are quoted in Whiteheads federal indictment. Last year, the feds seized multiple phones and electronic devices from the mayor as part of their corruption probe. Even with the feds breathing down their necks, Adams and at least two underlings tried to hide information on their phones, according to federal prosecutors. Longtime aide Rana Abbasova is identified as Adams staffer in the indictment and fundraiser Brianna Suggs is identified as Adams fundraiser. Their homes were raided on the same day last November. After learning that FBI agents had arrived at her residence, but before answering their repeated knocks at her door, (Suggs) called Adams five times, even though the agents had not yet given (her) any indication of the purpose for their visit, the indictment reads. When (she) then spoke with the FBI agents, she agreed to discuss many subjects, but refused to say who had paid for her 2021 travel to Turkey. When Abbasova agreed to be interviewed by FBI agents, she excused herself to a bathroom and, while there, deleted the encrypted messaging applications she had used to communicate with Adams, the Promoter, the Turkish Official, the Airline Manager, and others, the indictment read. After the FBI raided Abbasovas New Jersey home, she agreed to cooperate with investigators, The News previously reported. When FBI agents seized Adams phone in November, the mayor told them he had changed his password and now didnt remember it and so couldnt help them unlock the phone, the indictment reads. Adams is the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office. His administration has been reeling in recent weeks from additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations. With Graham Rayman, Anusha Baaya, Cayla Bamberger and Josephine Stratman NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges, sources told PIX11 News. Adams has been under federal investigation related to fundraising during his 2021 mayoral campaign. The charges against Adams are still sealed. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said in a statement Wednesday night. In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers would question his ability to manage the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office. I have been facing these lies for months yet the city has continued to improve, Adams said. Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. Its not immediately clear when the charges will be made public or when Adams might have to appear in court. Adams is the first mayor in the history of New York City to be indicted while in office. The indictment follows a tumultuous month at City Hall marked by federal investigations and a slew of resignations from top city officials, including Adams chief legal counsel, the NYPD commissioner, the health commissioner, and the chancellor of New York Citys public schools. The investigation into Adams 2021 mayoral campaign fundraising became widely known in November 2023. Thats when FBI agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs, who was a fundraiser for Adams during his 2021 campaign, and Rana Abbasova, who worked in the mayors international affairs office. Four days later, FBI agents seized phones and an iPad from Adams as he was leaving a public event in Manhattan. Adams responds to indictment: If I am charged, I am innocent A search warrant indicated that authorities have been examining whether the Adams campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, funneled through straw donors, The New York Times previously reported. Investigators have also looked into whether Adams took steps in 2021 to help the Turkish government get city approval to open a Manhattan skyscraper, despite concerns about the buildings fire prevention systems, according to The New York Times. The investigations scope has since grown. Over the summer, federal investigators requested information about Adams dealings with Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan, the New York Times reported. Adams has maintained he follows the law. When asked about the investigation on Tuesday, the mayor said he would cooperate with investigators. Whatever information is needed, were going to turn over, Adams said. Its going to go to process. Recently, federal investigators have taken aim at Adams inner circle. The FBI in September raided the home of now-resigned New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks, which he shares with Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, according to sources. Philip Banks, the deputy mayor of public safety and brother of the schools chancellor, also had his home raided, sources said. As part of a separate investigation, federal authorities seized the phones of now-resigned NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and several NYPD lieutenants, sources told PIX11 News. More Local News Just over a week after Adams named Thomas Donlon the interim NYPD commissioner, his home was searched by federal authorities. Donlon said the investigation was not related to his work with the NYPD. Molly Schaeffer, who coordinates the citys efforts to get housing and social services for newly arrived migrants, received a subpoena at her Brooklyn home on Sept. 20, according to a person familiar with the matter. Back in February, a third aide to Adams had her properties targeted by federal agents. FBI agents searched two Bronx addresses owned by Winnie Greco, a former fundraiser for Adams who now serves as his director of Asian affairs. The purpose of the investigation was not revealed, and it wasnt clear at the time whether it was related to Adams. But it was another sign of the deepening law enforcement scrutiny of the mayor and members of his inner circle. Calls for Adams to resign are mounting following the indictment. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is running for mayor, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are among the elected officials who have called on Adams to step down. If Adams were to resign, he would be replaced by the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election. A spokesperson for Williams said news of the indictment is incredibly serious. As the facts emerge, the Public Advocate will have more to say to the people of New York City, and right now, he is focused on how best to ensure that New Yorkers can regain trust, confidence and stability in city government, said William Gerlich, a spokesman for the public advocate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams has been charged in an indictment following a federal corruption investigation, the New York Times reported Wednesday evening. It was unclear what the charges were or if they were related to a probe into foreign influence and donations from Turkey related to his 2021 mayoral campaign or another one of the investigations that has been swirling around his administration. The indictment remained sealed, the Times reported. An arrest would make Adams the first mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office and comes as his administration is reeling from the news of additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations. Lawyers for Adams and City Hall spokespeople could not be immediately reached. The investigation related to potential Turkish influence exploded into public view in November 2023 when federal agents searched Adams fundraiser Brianna Suggs Crown Heights brownstone. According to a search warrant reported by The New York Times, the raid on Suggs townhouse home in Crown Heights was part of a federal public corruption investigation into whether Adams 2021 campaign conspired with the Turkish government and a Brooklyn construction firm to funnel foreign cash into the campaigns coffers via straw donors. The warrant, seeking troves of financial records, documents related to contributions to Adams 2021 campaign and travel logs, reportedly sought evidence of a conspiracy to steal federal funds, make illegal campaign donations with foreign money and fraud, and whether Adams campaign secured perks for Turkish government officials and executives at the construction company, a Williamsburg-based outfit called KSK Construction Group. Adams had traveled to Washington the day of the Suggs raid to meet with White House officials about the citys migrant crisis but turned back and canceled all his meetings after the news broke. Four days later, the feds stopped him on the street and seized his phones. Earlier this week, it was also revealed that the feds have subpoenaed information about interactions between Adams, his campaign and City Hall and six foreign counties as part of a probe that is scrutinizing, at least in part, possible illegal campaign contributions to Adams 2021 campaign from Turkey. City Hall was rocked by a new wave of investigations just weeks ago when federal investigators searched the homes of four of the most high-ranking officials in Mayor Adams administration, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, and seized electronics from them as well as top City Hall adviser Tim Pearson, the Daily News has learned. The flurry of federal law enforcement activity had kicked off when FBI agents arrived to search the homes of Sheena Wright, Adams first deputy mayor, and Philip Banks, his deputy mayor for public safety. Since those raids, several top members of the administration have resigned, including now-former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg, Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan and Schools Chancellor David Banks. _____ NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams has been charged in an indictment following a federal corruption investigation, sources told the Daily News late Wednesday. It was unclear what the charges were or if they were related to a probe into foreign influence and donations from Turkey related to his 2021 mayoral campaign or another one of the investigations that has been swirling around his administration. The indictment, which remained sealed, was initially reported by the New York Times. An arrest would make Adams the first mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office and comes as his administration is reeling from the news of additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said in a statement. The investigation related to potential Turkish influence exploded into public view in November 2023 when federal agents searched Adams fundraiser Brianna Suggs Crown Heights brownstone. According to a search warrant reported by The New York Times, the raid on Suggs townhouse home in Crown Heights was part of a federal public corruption investigation into whether Adams 2021 campaign conspired with the Turkish government and a Brooklyn construction firm to funnel foreign cash into the campaigns coffers via straw donors. The warrant, seeking troves of financial records, documents related to contributions to Adams 2021 campaign and travel logs, reportedly sought evidence of a conspiracy to steal federal funds, make illegal campaign donations with foreign money and fraud, and whether Adams campaign secured perks for Turkish government officials and executives at the construction company, a Williamsburg-based outfit called KSK Construction Group. Adams had traveled to Washington the day of the Suggs raid to meet with White House officials about the citys migrant crisis but turned back and canceled all his meetings after the news broke. Four days later, the feds stopped him on the street and seized his phones. Earlier this week, it was also revealed that the feds have subpoenaed information about interactions between Adams, his campaign and City Hall and six foreign counties as part of a probe that is scrutinizing, at least in part, possible illegal campaign contributions to Adams 2021 campaign from Turkey. City Hall was rocked by a new wave of investigations just weeks ago when federal investigators searched the homes of four of the most high-ranking officials in Adams administration, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, and seized electronics from them as well as top City Hall adviser Tim Pearson. The flurry of federal law enforcement activity had kicked off when FBI agents arrived to search the homes of Sheena Wright, Adams first deputy mayor, and Philip Banks, his deputy mayor for public safety. Since those raids, several top members of the administration have resigned, including NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg, Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan and Schools Chancellor David Banks. The investigation, sources said, is looking at the possibility of influence peddling and kickbacks. _____ New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing federal criminal charges, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner. Federal investigators searched Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence, on Thursday morning, hours before prosecutors were expected to reveal details of the indictment. Adams, 64, was elected to lead the most populous US city nearly three years ago on a promise to rein in crime. But he and a string of top officials in his orbit have faced growing scrutiny as part of multiple federal corruption probes, including whether his campaign received illegal foreign donations from Turkey. The exact charges will not be known until the indictment is unsealed. Adams would become the first mayor in New York City's history to be charged while in office. He released a video statement late on Wednesday where he vowed to fight the charges and remain in office, asking New York residents for both "prayers and patience". "I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit," he says in the video, adding "I am innocent" and he plans to request an "immediate trial so New Yorkers can hear the truth". He also took on the flurry of calls for him to resign. "Now, if I am charged many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case. "I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations, but I have been facing these lies for months." Federal prosecutors are expected to unseal the indictment on Thursday, when Adams will make an initial court appearance, CBS News reports. The reported charges come less than a year after federal agents seized Adams' electronic devices and searched the home of Brianna Suggs, his chief fundraiser. It was later revealed that the US attorney's office in Manhattan was looking into whether Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign team conspired with the government of Turkey to funnel illegal donations into the campaign. The New York Times reported on Monday that prosecutors subpoenaed the campaign and the mayor's office for information related to five other countries: Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan. Adams has remained steadfast that he would remain in office even as a growing list of officials have called for his resignation. Earlier Wednesday, US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - a popular figure in left-leaning New York - joined that list. "I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. "For the good of the city, he should resign." Ocasio-Cortez referenced a recent "flood of resignations and vacancies" that she said were threatening city government's ability to function. Adams's reported indictment comes weeks after federal agents seized electronic devices belonging to three people closely affiliated with him - schools chancellor David Banks, his brother Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, and his fiancee Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, David Banks announced he would be stepping down from his role at the end of the year. The US attorneys office in Manhattan is investigating another Banks brother, Terence, over a possible bribery scheme involving his consulting firm and city contracts. Prosecutors in that office are also looking into bribery claims against the twin brother of former New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned earlier this month weeks after his phone was seized by federal agents. Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon had his own homes searched last Friday. In the past two weeks, the mayors chief legal counsel and the city health commissioner have also stepped down. Adams, who is only the second black person to run New York City, is facing a growing list of Democratic challengers ahead of his re-election bid next year. New Yorks Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, a close ally who has yet to comment on the indictment, has the power to remove Adams from office. If Adams tenure ends prematurely, Jumaane Williams, the citys public advocate, is next in line to become the citys acting mayor. (Bloomberg) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted following a federal corruption investigation, according to people familiar with the matter, calling into question the political future of the man in charge of running the biggest US city. Most Read from Bloomberg The indictment of Adams, just the second Black mayor in the citys more than 400-year history, is a remarkable turn for a former police captain who beat a crowded field to win the New York City mayors race in 2021 running on a law and order platform that pledged to make city government work better. Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. The widening investigations of City Hall first became public when FBI agents raided the home of an Adams campaign fundraiser last November. The probes accelerated in recent weeks, prompting the mayors chief counsel and police commissioner to quit this month, while two former fire department officials were charged with bribery. The indictment is sealed and its not yet clear what charge or charges Adams will face, said the people, who asked not to be identified speaking publicly without authorization. Adams lawyer Alex Spiro lashed out at federal agents after they searched the mayors official residence, hours before the charges are expected to be announced. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again), Spiro said in a statement. He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court. Adams Vows Fight On Wednesday, after news of his indictment was made public, Adams, 64, vowed to remain in office and to fight any charges he might face. Lawyers for Adams have previously said their own investigation showed no evidence of illegal conduct by the mayor. Several mayoral administrations in modern history have faced investigations, but Adams situation is unusual because of the scope of the probes and the people involved, said George Arzt, a political consultant who served as former Mayor Ed Kochs press secretary. Every administration goes through down moments. Whats different about this is the hierarchy of the administration involved, Arzt said. Its the proximity to the seat of power that is different about these stories, he added. One investigation, being conducted by the Manhattan US Attorneys office, had sought information about whether the Adams campaign coordinated with the Turkish government to take illegal donations, and whether the mayor pressured city fire department officials to approve permits for a Turkish consulate building despite safety concerns, according to the New York Times. An official at the Turkish embassy in Washington declined to comment. Second Investigation A second federal investigation became public in February, when federal agents searched homes owned by Winnie Greco, a prominent Adams fundraiser, and a mall in Flushing, Queens, where she held campaign events. The City, a nonprofit news website, reported that donors to the Adams campaign who worked at the mall were reimbursed for their donations or were unaware of contributions made in their names. Greco has separately been investigated by New York Citys Department of Investigation following reports of ethical improprieties, The City reported. Scrutiny of Adams who is seeking re-election and his administration has rapidly accelerated since Sept. 4, when federal agents targeted senior officials. First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, City Schools Chancellor David Banks, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks, and Police Commissioner Edward Caban had their homes searched or cell phones seized. Those searches were connected to two additional investigations being conducted by the Manhattan US Attorneys Office. After his home was searched, Caban resigned, saying the investigation had become a distraction. Banks announced plans to resign at year-end, and Lisa Zornberg, chief counsel to the mayors office, abruptly quit on Sept. 14. Adams has insisted the investigations arent a distraction. Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case. I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations, Adams said in a video message released by his office late Wednesday. Make No Mistake But I have been facing these lies for months, since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this city and lead it I will, he added. But the depth and breadth of the probes surrounding him and his top aides and the drumbeat of negative press stories are ratcheting up demands that Adams quit. On Wednesday, US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Adams to resign, becoming the most prominent Democrat to do so. Former city comptroller Scott Stringer and Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie, two Democrats who are challenging Adams in the June 2025 mayoral primary, also called on Adams to step down. Enormous Challenges We need a leader who is fully focused, without distraction, on the enormous challenges we face from housing affordability to public safety, Myrie said. A mayor under the weight of a serious indictment can no longer do that and today I am calling on him to resign. Were Adams to resign, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would immediately become mayor, said election law expert Jerry Goldfeder. He said that if a mayoral vacancy occurs more than 90 days before the primary scheduled for June 24, Williams would be required to call a special election within three days. Adams could also be removed from office by Governor Kathy Hochul upon formal charges, with a chance to defend himself, and can be suspended for up to 30 days during the process, according to the New York City Charter. A spokesperson for Hochul didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Alternatively, a so-called inability committee, which includes Comptroller Brad Lander who is running against Adams and has called for his resignation can declare the mayor unable to serve. The committee also includes the vacant position of corporation counsel, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, a designated deputy mayor, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who serves due to being the longest-serving borough president. Four of the five members must agree to take action. Covid Pandemic The indictment could imperil a mayoralty that has already faced extraordinary challenges. Adams took office in January 2022 as the city was reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which killed thousands of New Yorkers and cost thousands of jobs amid government-mandated shutdowns. Other difficulties hes faced were unforeseen, including the arrival of more than 200,000 migrants since the spring of 2022, a logistical and financial challenge that Adams said was so burdensome that it could destroy the city. Three years into his first term, Adams has been able to claim progress on some issues major felony crimes declined this year compared to last, though they are still up compared to pre-pandemic trends. Significant Problems But there continue to be significant problems, across a huge number of city agencies. By some measures, the city has gotten worse under his leadership. Nearly five years after the pandemic began, New York City schools continue to struggle with chronic absenteeism, with about 35% of students missing 10% or more of the school year. Police response times have sharply increased, taking nearly five minutes longer than in 2020. And on Wednesday, in an extraordinary sign of the problems besieging the Adams administration, city officials found themselves in federal court trying to stave off management of the citys jail system being taken out of their control. The Adams case is being handled by the office of Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams, who has overseen several public corruption prosecutions since he was appointed in 2021. Most recently, his office won the conviction of New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez for accepting bribes in exchange for political favors and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt. In an interview Wednesday before news of the indictment became public, Norman Siegel, a civil rights attorney who is one of Adams oldest friends, expressed concern for his friend, who Siegel said had never seemed to care about money, and who prized loyalty among his associates, even, sometimes, to his detriment. Its painful to see whats happening, Siegel said. --With assistance from Ava Benny-Morrison, Derek Wallbank, Michael Sin, Aradhana Aravindan and Nacha Cattan. (Updates with response from Adams lawyer in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges. While the indictment is sealed, two people familiar with the matter confirmed to the Associated Press that Adams had been indicted. The news followed a series of investigations by federal authorities of Adams and a number of his associates, and swirling questions surrounding the major. The New York Times was the first to report the indictment. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said in a statement. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. The indictment comes a little more than a month before the presidential election, as well as contests for the House and Senate. New York state is at the center of the race for the House majority, with a half dozen races seen as competitive. The Hill has reached out to Adamss press office, and a spokesperson from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment. It is unclear what charges Adams faces or when he will appear in court. Adams is up for reelection next year. In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers would question his ability to manage the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office. I have been facing these lies for months yet the city has continued to improve, Adams said. Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. Multiple deputies for Adams had their homes searched by FBI agents earlier this month. Adams also had his home raided by the FBI earlier this year as part of an investigation from the U.S. attorneys office in Brooklyn. New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks submitted his resignation earlier this week after federal agents seized his phone earlier this month, the Associated Press reported. Earlier this month, New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban also resigned nearly a week after the FBI seized his devices. The mayor has faced calls to resign, including on Wednesday from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration, Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday in a post on the social platform X. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), however, had defended Adams on Wednesday morning. As far as I can tell, Mayor Adams is trying to do the best that he can in one of the toughest jobs in the world to keep the focus on meeting the needs of the residents of the people of New York City, Jeffries said. As the controversies have built up and the pressure has intensified, Adams has maintained his innocence. He had repeatedly said he wasnt aware of any wrongdoing and vowed as recently as Wednesday afternoon to stay in office. Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochuls office did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday night. The federal investigations into Adams administration first emerged publicly on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Adams chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be shocked if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team weve got to follow the law, he told reporters at the time. Days later, FBI agents seized the mayors phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. The interaction was disclosed several days later by the mayors attorney. Then on Sept. 4, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the citys police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall. Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams has been charged in an indictment following a federal corruption investigation into his campaigns ties to foreign governments, multiple sources told the Daily News late Wednesday. The exact charges against Adams werent immediately known, but two sources familiar with the matter said they stem from an investigation by the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office that has scrutinized allegations that Turkeys government funneled illegal donations into Adams 2021 campaign coffers. Earlier this month, it was revealed that probe is also looked at communication between Adams and the governments of five other countries. One of the sources told The News the charges against Adams which are expected to be unsealed Thursday by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams involve allegations that pertain to interactions with foreign governments. Three sources familiar with the matter said other individuals are expected to be named as defendants as well. An arrest would make Adams the first mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office and comes as his administration is reeling from the news of additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations. The indictment, which remained sealed late Wednesday after being cleared by a federal grand jury, was first reported by The New York Times. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said in a statement. In a recorded video statement, Adams made it clear he had no intention of stepping down, even as potential challengers seized on Wednesdays news to call for his resignation. He called the changes entirely false, based on lies and referenced his criticism of the Biden White Houses handling of the migrant crisis. I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations. But I have been facing these lies for months, since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. A spokesman for the Southern District of New York declined to comment. The investigation related to potential Turkish influence exploded into public view in November 2023 when federal agents searched Adams fundraiser Brianna Suggs Crown Heights brownstone. According to a search warrant reported by The New York Times, the raid on Suggs townhouse home in Crown Heights was part of a federal public corruption investigation into whether Adams 2021 campaign conspired with the Turkish government and a Brooklyn construction firm to funnel foreign cash into the campaigns coffers via straw donors. The warrant, seeking troves of financial records, documents related to contributions to Adams 2021 campaign and travel logs, reportedly sought evidence of a conspiracy to steal federal funds, make illegal campaign donations with foreign money and fraud, and whether Adams campaign secured perks for Turkish government officials and executives at the construction company, a Williamsburg-based outfit called KSK Construction Group. Adams had traveled to Washington the day of the Suggs raid to meet with White House officials about the citys migrant crisis but turned back and canceled all his meetings after the news broke. Four days later, t he feds stopped him on the street and seized his phones. Among the issues reportedly under investigation was whether Adams had pressured the FDNY to fast-track inspections for a new Turkish consulate and had accepted free flights and upgrades from Turkish Airlines, The News previously reported. It was unclear if the charges were related to either of those issues. Earlier this week, it was also revealed that the feds have subpoenaed information about interactions between Adams, his campaign and City Hall and six counties as part of a probe that is scrutinizing, at least in part, possible illegal campaign contributions to Adams 2021 campaign from Turkey. City Hall was rocked by a new wave of investigations just weeks ago when federal investigators searched the homes of high-ranking officials in Mayor Adams administration, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, and seized electronics from them as well as top City Hall adviser Tim Pearson. The flurry of federal law enforcement activity had kicked off when FBI agents arrived to search the homes of Sheena Wright, Adams first deputy mayor, and Philip Banks, his deputy mayor for public safety. Since those raids, several top members of the administration have resigned, including NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg, Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan and Schools Chancellor David Banks. The investigation, sources said, is looking at the possibility of influence peddling and kickbacks. One focus, sources said, is the former commissioners brother, James Caban, and the question of whether he was squeezing nightlife venues for promises of preferential treatment by the NYPD. His lawyer has said he did nothing wrong. Another line of inquiry has focused on Terence Banks, brother of David and Phil Banks, who runs a consulting company with clients that did business with City Hall. As part of the probe into possible influence peddling involving nightclubs and James Caban, police officers have received subpoenas directing them to appear this week before a federal grand jury at 500 Pearl St. and bring with them any communication with James Caban, according to a source who has seen one of the subpoenas. Since it first emerged late last year that Adams and his campaign were under scrutiny by the feds, the mayor has been represented mainly by Brendan McGuire, a former federal prosecutor who served as his first chief counsel at City Hall until his resignation in summer 2023. But late Wednesday, Alex Spiro, a celebrity attorney known for representing Elon Musk and Jay-Z, confirmed via an assistant that hes representing the mayor in the federal matter. The assistant wouldnt say whether McGuire is still representing the mayor, too, and neither Spiro nor McGuire returned requests for comment. Spiro is separately also representing the mayor against a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a co-worker more than three decades ago while he was a city transit cop an accusation he has vigorously denied. ------ (New York Daily News writer Graham Rayman contributed to this story.) ----- (NewsNation) New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday morning he wont resign despite being indicted on federal charges alleging he secured bribes from foreign nationals and took illegal campaign contributions in exchange for favors. Authorities said this included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a 36-story Turkish consulate building despite it not passing inspection. The long-running corruption goes back nearly a decade, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a Thursday news conference. The investigation into Adams is continuing, Williams said. The conduct alleged in the indictment, the foreign money, the corporate money, the bribery, the years of concealment, is a grave breach of the publics trust, Williams said. We continue to dig, and we will hold more people accountable. Adams maintained his innocence, both in a statement to NewsNation and at a Thursday news conference of his own where he said hes not stepping down. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers, that I would be a targetand a target I became, the statement said. Mayor Eric Adams corruption investigation, indictment: Timeline To reporters, Adams said his day-to-day will not change. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, Adams said. I ask New York to just wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. Attorney Alex Spiro, who is representing Adams, said federal authorities were trying to tell a story despite the mayor not doing anything illegal or wrong. He argued that a free flight referenced by prosecutors happened years before Adams assumed his position as mayor and that the upgrades they alluded to were on airlines with open seats. Were going to see everybody in court, hopefully tomorrow if not Monday, Spiro said. A retired police captain who was elected as New York Citys 110th mayor nearly three years ago, Adams is now the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal charges. Eric Adams indicted News of Adams indictment comes weeks after the FBI raided the homes of multiple top Adams aides, City Hall sources confirmed to NewsNation local affiliate WPIX. Federal investigators had seized Adams electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams interactions with the Turkish government. Prosecutors said Adams did not disclose free and discounted travel to places including France, China, Turkey, Sri Lanka, India and Hungary and created a paper trail to suggest he had paid it. One staffer was directed by Adams to make sure his activities in Turkey from 2021 were not made public, according to prosecutors. A senior official from Turkeys diplomatic establishment facilitated straw donations to Adams. The mayor had a duty to disclose these gifts on his annual public disclosure forms so that the public could see who was giving him what, Williams said. But as we allege year after year after year, he kept the public in the dark. In addition, Adams compounded his gains from illegal contributions he allegedly obtained by gaming the citys matching funds program, authorities said in the indictment. Through false certifications, Adams campaign got more than $10 million in matching public funds, the indictment said. NYC investigations: Whos resigned from Eric Adams administration? Recent resignations Several top city officials have announced their resignation from the Adams administration in recent weeks. So far, federal prosecutors have declined to comment on the investigations or provide details about their scope. Recent resignations include New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks, head of the largest school system in the U.S. He submitted his resignation Tuesday, effective at the end of the calendar year. Banks decision to step down came after federal agents seized his phone and other devices earlier this month, The Associated Press reported. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan additionally announced he would resign early next year. Vasan was appointed in December 2021 while the omicron variant of COVID-19 was in full swing and was soon after confronted with the citys first case of polio in a decade. Hes the third high-ranking city official to announce a resignation this month. Unnamed sources reportedly told NBC New York that Vasans announcement is unrelated to the investigation involving several other city officials. Former New York City Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban and chief legal counsel Liza Zornberg also announced their resignations in recent weeks. Caban, the citys former police commissioner, resigned in early September one week after investigators seized his phone. Federal officials seized phones from Caban and two New York police lieutenants who worked in the commissioners office and on his detail, sources told NewsNation local affiliate WPIX. Officials also took devices from the home of Cabans twin brother, James Caban a former police officer who now runs a nightlife consulting business, according to the AP. Zornberg is a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. attorneys office who led some of the investigative efforts into the Adams administration and also resigned abruptly around that time. Officials did not seize her phone, the AP reported. The Associated Press and NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Adams is the first sitting New York City mayor to be charged with a federal crime. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on five federal criminal charges related to campaign finance, bribery and conspiracy. The indictment detailing the charges was unsealed Thursday morning. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams outlined the allegations to reporters Thursday. As the indictment alleges, Mayor Adams engaged in a long-running conspiracy in which he solicited and knowingly accepted illegal campaign contributions from foreign donors and corporations, Williams said. We also allege that the mayor sought and accepted well over $100,000 in luxury travel benefits from some of the same foreign actors who arranged many of the illegal campaign contributions. Adams maintained his innocence, telling reporters on Thursday after the indictment was made public to wait and hear our side of the story. It comes just hours after FBI agents searched Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Adams, early Thursday morning to seize his phone. Adamss attorney, Alex Spiro, said the search was an unnecessary show of force. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in, Spiro said in a statement. City Hall has been thrust into crisis in recent weeks following high-level resignations within the Democratic mayors administration, amid multiple federal probes that have been ongoing for several months. Four higher-level resignations within the Adams administration have been announced in the past month, including the citys police commissioner, the mayors chief counsel, the citys health commissioner and the schools chancellor. What are the federal charges against Adams? New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the press outside his official residence on Thursday after he was indicted. (Caitlin Ochs/Reuters) Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals (one count) Wire fraud (one count) Solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national (two counts) Bribery (one count) Read the indictment here. What are the undisclosed luxury travel benefits Adams allegedly received? Williams outlined what he says are undisclosed trips Adams allegedly took and their value totaling over $100,000. "The mayor had a duty to disclose these gifts on his annual public disclosure forms so that the public could see who was giving him what, but as we allege, year after year, after year, he kept the public in the dark. He told the public he received no gifts, even though he was secretly being showered with them," Williams said. Those alleged gifts included: 2016: Round-trip free flight upgrade to business class for two from New York to India, with a value of over $12,000 2017: Free business-class tickets for three, round trip, from New York to France, Turkey and China, as well as a discounted stay in a suite at the St. Regis hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, with a value of over $41,000 2017: Two free round-trip, business-class tickets from New York to China, with a value of over $16,000 2018: Free upgrade for two round-trip, business-class tickets from New York to Hungary, valued at over $12,000 2019: Free upgrade to business class on one flight from New York to Turkey, free stay at a suite at the St. Regis hotel, along with free meals, transportation and entertainment, totaling over $9,000 2021: Free upgrade to business class for one flight from New York to Turkey, free or deeply discounted hotel and resort stays, totaling over $21,000. The trip was solicited and accepted but ultimately canceled, Williams indicates. 2021: Trip between New York and Ghana via Turkey that included a free upgrade to business class for two, a free meal and transportation during an Istanbul layover, with a value over $12,000 "In exchange for some of those improper benefits, he intervened in the New York City Fire Department's inspection process for a building owned and operated by the Turkish government, allowing it to open, even though it had not passed the fire inspection," Williams said. What happened Wednesday night? News of Adamss indictment was made public late Wednesday. He denied any wrongdoing. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became," Adams said in a video statement released Wednesday night. "If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. He is now the first sitting mayor of New York City to face criminal charges. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of New York, became the most prominent elected official to call for Adamss resignation on Wednesday. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, Ocasio-Cortez said on X. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. What led to the indictment? One of several federal investigations homing in on Adams's administration focuses on his mayoral campaign in 2021 and whether it conspired with the Turkish government to conceal foreign campaign contributions, which are illegal in the U.S. Agents were also looking into whether Adams pressured the citys fire commissioner to approve a high-rise building for the Turkish consulate, despite safety concerns. Investigators were also looking into flight upgrades they believe Adams received from Turkish Airlines. Heres what could happen next Adams will be arraigned on the federal corruption charges on Friday. While Adams said Thursday he plans to stay on the job, if he were to leave office, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would take Adamss place and would have three days to set a date for a special election to choose a new mayor. On Wednesday (Sept. 25), The New York Times reported that Mayor Eric Adams was hit with a federal indictment. The specific charges are expected to be unsealed on Thursday (Sept. 26). It was also reported that the FBI subsequently conducted a search within his official residence, Gracie Mansion. [UPDATE: You can now read the full indictment here.] Trending After the news broke, Adams shared a video statement denouncing the investigation. My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, he explained. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28xtYmbYkuU The mayor continued, I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target, and a target I became. For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty. Just this past week, they searched the home of our new police commissioner, looking for documents from 20 years ago, just one week after he joined my administration. Enough! I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEHkLcUfxh0 On Thursday (Sept. 26), Adams' attorney, Alex Spiro, confirmed the aforementioned search in a message shared by NBC News. Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle, again, and take Mayor Adams phone, again. He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court, he said. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in. A spokesperson for New York Governor Kathy Hochul also addressed the indictment and stated that her office would be monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement, the rep added. You Might Also Like NEW YORK NYC Mayor Eric Adams said he wont step down amid widespread calls for his resignation following his indictment on charges he raked in $10 million in illegal campaign donations as part of a scheme where he received flight upgrades and travel perks in exchange for carrying out favors for the Turkish government. At a raucous press conference outside Gracie Mansion Thursday, hecklers shouted over the mayor as he denied the charges and dismissed the indictment as a story, asking New Yorkers to wait and hear our side of the narrative. Its an unfortunate day and its a painful day, Adams said, flanked by many of the citys Black faith leaders. But inside of all of that, its a day that will finally reveal why for 10 months I will have gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself. Calls for the mayor to resign have flooded in since Wednesday night, when news of the indictment broke. Antonio Reynoso, Adams successor as Brooklyn borough president, called for his resignation. The mayor cannot lead this city, nor can he in good faith ask the public to put their trust in him. The City Councils Progressive Caucus, which is made up of 18 council members, issued a scathing statement that slammed him as a failed leader and accused him of finger-pointing to distract from the federal investigation. This administration has operated with an alarming level of political favoritism, akin to a system of patronage and cronyism we have not seen in almost a century, read the caucus statement. As progressives, weve long been alarmed by his mismanagement of vital public resources and questionable ethics. The details of todays indictment make it clear that we have been right to call him out. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams did not ask Adams to step down but said that there are major questions about the mayors ability to govern given his charges. I ask the mayor to seriously and honestly consider whether full attention can be given to our deserving New Yorkers who need our government to be sound and stable, she said. Among those not calling for Adams to step down was Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who wrote in a statement that Adams is entitled to the presumption of justice. A jury of the mayors peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately render a determination, he said. In the meantime, I pray for the well-being of our great city. Adams is the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted. If he were to resign, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would take over as mayor. It is federal officials obligation to prove their case, it is the mayors obligation to prove to New Yorkers that there is a real plan and path to govern the city effectively and regain trust, and his time to show that plan is rapidly running out, Williams said in a statement. While Adams has remained steadfast that he wont quit, Gov. Hochul could force him out, according to the city charter. Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement, Hochul spokesperson Avi Small said in a statement early Thursday. The indictment, unsealed Thursday morning, alleges that Adams engaged in a yearslong scheme to solicit and accept illegal straw donations to his campaign in exchange for luxury travel perks. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, receiving campaign contributions by foreign nationals, and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. Turkish foreign nationals sought to cash in on Adams rising political star, according to prosecutors. In 2021, when it became apparent that Adams, who was Brooklyn borough president at the time, would become mayor, they called in their chips on the relationship telling Adams it was his turn to repay them, according to the indictment. Adams denied the charges, stating that he follow[s] the law. This is not surprising to us at all, he said outside the mayors official residence on the Upper East Side. The actions that have unfolded over the past 10 months the leaks, the commentary, the demonization this did not surprise us that we reached this day. Hecklers yelled as Adams made his remarks, calling him disgrace to this city and an embarrassment to black people. ---------- (With Anusha Bayya) _____ New York City Mayor Eric Adams began Wednesday, as he often does, by calling into a morning radio show to promote his administration, to chitchat about the current news and to answer questions. Little seemed to be bothering the mayor as he chatted with the hosts of "Jonesy in the Morning," a staple on 94.7 the Block, on New York City's WXBK. He spoke about Marcellus Williams, the man who had been executed in Missouri, and about wanting the general public to be more engaged in politics. He mentioned justice for those who were standing trial. And he bantered with the DJs a bit. One host, Tarsha Jones, referred to the mayor as "my boo." And then Jones said she'd like to switch gears. She asked him "what's going on over there?" "I see you cleaning house every time I turn around," she added. City Hall chief counsel Lisa Zornberg, a former federal prosecutor, resigned on Sept. 14. Two retired fire chiefs were arrested two days later following a yearlong corruption investigation. Federal authorities on Friday executed a search warrant for the homes of Interim NYPD Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon and the chancellor of schools announced his resignation two days later. PHOTO: A view of the exterior of Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, amid reports that he will be charged with federal crimes in New York City, U.S., Sept. 26, 2024. (Bing Guan/Reuters) MORE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams' federal probe: A timeline of corruption probe People sometimes "run their time" in government, Adams said, according to a transcript released by his office. He said many of the people who had left his administration had served for a while and many wanted to "go out and lose that 24 hours, seven days a week" schedule. "City government is extremely demanding," he said, adding a moment later that "people normally don't stay for these full terms in government because of the man, the stress on the family. And all we can do is say thank you. They served us well. We've done some great things in this city." Over the next few hours, Adams would voice his support for the Planning Commission's approval of his "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" Proposal and appoint Melissa Aviles-Ramos as next chancellor of New York City Public Schools System. But by the evening he was back in the interview seat, this time with the Bronx's News12, taking questions that had been submitted by New Yorkers. He had struggled to make the show on time, he said, because he had been at a reception hosted by President Joe Biden for diplomats and others who were in New York City for this week's U.N. General Assembly. The president was hosting world leaders and senior U.N. officials for a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, according to the White House. PHOTO: This image taken from video released by New York City Office of the Mayor, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, shows mayor Eric Adams speaking during a videotaped statement. (New York City Office of the Mayor via AP) MORE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted by federal grand jury: Sources "My question to you is, should we expect any more resignations or changes at City Hall in the days to come?" the News12 reporter, Amanda Bossard, asked him. Adams answered by repeating almost verbatim what he'd said a few hours earlier. "You know, it's a constant change in government," he said. "When you look at the fact that many of them have been with me for three years, close to three years, it's a very high stressful job to be at the high end of government." He was then asked directly about whether he'd resign. The question had been brought up by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the reporter said. "We know that we can't listen to the noise. Look at the numbers. More jobs in the city, the city history, what we're doing around housing, what we're doing around public safety, the decrease in crime, decrease in homicide shootings, our transit system is safer," Adams said. He added, "You know, what is unique about this administration is our ability to stay focused. I don't listen to those comments that come from a, you know, just basically a no-show congresswoman." Within hours, news would be spreading of the mayor being indicted by a federal grand jury, sources told ABC News. Adams in the wake of the indictment vowed to fight what he called the "entirely false" indictment with "every ounce of my strength and my spirit." NYC Mayor Eric Adams spent Wednesday fielding resignation questions, attending Biden event, before being indicted originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Who is NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, next mayor if Eric Adams steps down? The next acting mayor of New York City if federally indicted Eric Adams were to step down would be Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a lefty Democrat who is often critical of cops and once ran a failed campaign for governor. Williams, a self-described activist-politician who began his tenure as public advocate in 2019, has held elected office since 2010 when he first served on the City Council. The 48-year-old Brooklynite, who lives on an Army base, has pushed for numerous liberal causes during his nearly 15-year career in public service. The 48-year-old Brooklynite, who lives on an Army base, has pushed for numerous liberal causes during his nearly 15-year career in public service. Getty Images Most recently, he backed a City Council bill that requires police officers to fill out detailed forms for encounters as mundane as helping a tourist with directions or asking witnesses questions while helping a sick train passenger. During the tense 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the city, Williams stoked anti-cop sentiment and even accused then-Mayor Bill de Blasio of using his biracial family as a shield. He also pushed to end solitary confinement in city prisons over the objections of correctional officers who work in the facilities. Williams was caught in controversy when it was revealed in 2021 that he lives on a US military base that has 24-hour security even as he pushed for slashing the NYPDs budget. He also was under fire last year because he allowed his staff to work from home after COVID lockdown regulations were lifted. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said in a statement to The Post. Mayor's Office He defended the move, stating the office is on a hybrid schedule. A pair of moderate Democratic council members offered up legislation to eliminate the public advocate office, claiming its a waste of taxpayer funds, but the proposal went nowhere. Eric Adams indicted: Live updates after NYC mayor hit with indictment Despite dealing with challenges from Tourettes and ADHD, Williams earned Masters degree from Brooklyn College, according to his public advocate website. Williams ran in a Democratic primary for governor in 2022, and lieutenant governor in 2018, but fell short both times. He was reelected public advocate in 2021 with nearly 76% of the vote. Stay updated with the New York Posts coverage of Mayor Eric Adams indictment This embedded content is not available in your region. View this document on Scribd The public advocate office was established in 1993 and is considered a watchdog arm of the government that helps citizens with municipal complaints and inquiries. Williams would replace Adams and serve temporarily until a special election is set 80 days from the change in power. New York Post front cover on Sept. 25, 2024. Adams was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday night on charges connected to a federal probe, sources told The Post. Hizzoner claimed he was being persecuted by the federal government for speaking about the citys migrant crisis following the historic indictment the first for a sitting mayor. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said in a statement to The Post. If I am charged, I am innocent, and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. In a video statement released later, Adams said he wouldnt step down and pledged to fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and spirit. when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics. A rep for the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment. NYT, MSNBC, PBS journalists pressed on how they covered Biden's age: We probably need to do 'soul-searching' AUSTIN, Texas - A panel of political journalists were asked how well the media covered President Biden's age before his disastrous debate performance that resulted in his exit from the 2024 race. The New York Times' chief White House correspondent Peter Baker, MSNBC host and Politico White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire, "PBS NewsHour" correspondent Laura Barron-Lopez and The Guardian Washington bureau chief David Smith spoke about the media's coverage of the 2024 presidential campaign at the Texas Tribune Festival earlier this month. Smith conceded the possibility of bias: "There was perhaps, even on an unconscious level, the notion that if you focus so much on Joe Biden's age, you are somehow helping Donald Trump." All of them weighed in on how their news outlets and the media broadly handled the subject of the 81-year-old president's apparent mental decline and were asked to compare that to their ongoing coverage of former President Trump, the 78-year-old Republican nominee who has remained in the race. Wh Reporters Admit Being Turned Off From Exposing Biden's Mental Decline Because Of Right-wing Media Hype (L to R) New York Times' Peter Baker, The Guardian's David Smith, MSNBC's Jonathan Lemire and PBS NewsHours' Laura Barron-Lopez discussed how well the media covered President Biden's age at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Texas on Sept. 7, 2024. Barron-Lopez first responded by pointing to a discussion she moderated on "NewsHour" with two doctors about memory and age before Biden ended his presidential bid, but noted that they also discussed Trump, citing his gaffe mixing up Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi during the GOP primary. Read On The Fox News App "We weren't relentlessly covering, the way some of my peers were, Biden's age necessarily, even all the way up until the debate," Barron-Lopez said. She continued, "It is and was a valid question. Many times when I was on the trail, even before the debate, voters would bring it up. Almost every single voter I spoke to would bring it up, even if they were planning to vote for President Biden. Compared to now, I definitely think that Donald Trump's age could be covered more by the press." Biden Interviewers Shed Light On His Frailty Behind The Scenes: It's Impossible Not To Notice' PBS NewsHour correspondent Laura Barron-Lopez said voters constantly brought up Biden's age while reporting from the campaign trail. Lemire called the issue of Biden's age a "persistent story line" and suggested Biden brought it upon himself after he previously suggested during the 2020 campaign that he would be a transitional one-term president," saying it "couldn't be avoided." "I think that even though that led to the, shall we say, unhappiness of some of the MSNBC's viewing public who felt like, Hey, why are you focusing on this? It shouldnt matter. He's doing a great job.' And I think our job is to simply call it like we see it," Lemire said. The MSNBC host said there has been "more scrutiny" towards Trump's age in recent weeks, but pointed out how the former president "has always sort of been rambling and all over the place," adding "it's hard to see the change perhaps." White House Press Corps Defends Itself Over Coverage Of Biden's Age: Its Complicated' MSNBC host Jonathan Lemire suggested viewers were "unhappy" with the network's coverage of Biden's age. Smith responded by saying "the further you were away from Washington the clearer you can see the problem," telling the panel how his fellow British colleagues at The Guardian were saying "What on earth are the Democrats playing at here? The nominee is too old! Why is he the nominee?" "And then the closer you got to Washington, the White House in particular, the more caveats, the more ambiguous it became," Smith said. "You had all sorts of people - Democratic insiders and White House officials playing this down It took a while for Washington to catch up and in a sense the media as well." Karine Jean-pierre Answers Point-blank If Biden Suffers From Dementia After Disastrous Debate The Guardian journalist went on to suggest an anti-Trump bias within the media was at play regarding the lack of attention Biden's age received prior to the June 27 debate. "There was perhaps, even on an unconscious level, the notion that if you focus so much on Joe Biden's age, you are somehow helping Donald Trump, who is in an entirely different category. He is a threat to democracy," Smith said. "And to me, that is another indication of how the Trump era has warped so much around it, you know, the normal scrutiny of a candidate and his [frail] condition by 'Yeah, but on the other side there's Trump.' And Democrats would make that point." President Biden's disastrous performance at the June 27 debate resulted in his exit from the race less than a month later. Baker called Biden's age a "hard issue" to cover, but suggested journalists broadly need to do some "soul-searching" on how they handled it after the election. "It's very personal. Anybody who's had a father or mother whose age and you talk to them by taking away their keys, these are not easy issues. That's a sense of what the country is going through with Biden," the Times correspondent said. "And how do you write something in the appropriate way, balanced and yet tough We wrote these stories, aired these stories repeatedly over the last couple years. The editors, our writers got massive complaints from the White House about it. The campaign took after the reporters who did focus on this. And yet it was our responsibility to do so." "I can sit down and make the case that we did too little about it. I can make the case we did too much. I can play it either way. But the truth is, it's an important issue. And President Biden himself said it was a legitimate issue. And when he was asked about this, his answer was, Well, watch me. Well, people did ultimately. And that, of course, came back to haunt him in a severe way in June," he continued. Biden Donors Freaked Out By His Reliance On Teleprompters At Private Fundraisers Baker agreed with Barron-Lopez that there should be more coverage towards Trump's "rambling, incoherent statements," but said Trump has been able to "mask" the issue of age because the former president has "volume and energy," at least compared to Biden. "Biden had a hard time projecting his voice. It was hard to hear him. He'd shuffle when he walked. He came across in a physical way, as frail in a way that Trump doesn't, right? Trump is very loud and loud seems to cover in some ways for the, you know, the undiagrammable sentences," Baker said. Original article source: NYT, MSNBC, PBS journalists pressed on how they covered Biden's age: We probably need to do 'soul-searching' Oceans Calling is no stranger to storms: How will Hurricane Helene impact the music fest? With Hurricane Helene strengthening into a major Category 3 hurricane, concerns have begun to grow for Ocean City, Maryland's, long-awaited second round of Oceans Calling Festival. Here's everything we know about the devastating storm, including its predicted path across the U.S., and if festivalgoers need to fret over the incoming rain. GUIDE TO 2024 OCEANS CALLING FESTIVAL: Ultimate guide to 2024 Oceans Calling Festival: performances, traffic, weather forecast Will Hurricane Helene impact this year's Oceans Calling Festival? Jun 19, 2022; Washington, DC, USA; Dave Matthews Band performs at the Moon Stage during the Something in the Water music festival in Washington, DC on June 19, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Jarrad Henderson-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-492714 (Via OlyDrop) The southeastern state of Florida is the first up on Hurricane Helene's hit list. Florida will soon face a life-threatening storm surge, as Helene is expected to make landfall Thursday evening, Sept. 24, as a Category 4 hurricane. Hurricane Helene's path will impact the Southeast. As of now, it's projected to plow across Florida before slamming into Georgia and Tennessee, while also affecting nearby states such as Alabama, Kentucky, the Carolinas and more. Helenes large wind field which has now reached wind speeds of 105 mph means impacts will be felt far away from the storm. As a result, states lining the East Coast, including Maryland, are not exempt from her wrath. According to The Weather Channel, Ocean City can expect both wind and occasional rain showers to pick up over the weekend, before wrapping up halfway through the following week, around Wednesday, Oct. 2. However, rest assured: Any safety concerns that pop up over the span of the three-day music festival can be directed to Oceans Calling's SafeVest personnel, who can be found donning bright yellow vests. "Say hello to SafeFest, a team dedicated to helping festival-goers all weekend long. Safety is our #1 priority at #OceansCalling, so if you need any assistance at all, just look for signs with the helping hand or team members in yellow vests!" the festival promoters said online. HURRICANE HELENE'S IMPACT ON MARYLAND: Will Hurricane Helene affect Maryland? Storm's projected path, plus more on local weather Hurricane Ian forced Oceans Calling Festival to cancel in 2022 Oceans Calling Festival is no stranger to severe storms. The music festival made a comeback in 2023 after being forced to cancel in 2022 due to Hurricane Ian's impending bad weather. The three-day, inaugural music festival's plans were foiled when then-Hurricane Ian formed, bringing with it endless bouts of rain, wind, flooding, beach erosion and large breaking waves of 7-10 feet to the resort town. Now, with Hurricane Helene about to make landfall in the U.S., festivalgoers have expressed their concerns regarding the worrisome weather online. Yet, the festival promoters are unfazed. "Expect to dance in some rain," @oceanscallingmd said in a comment on Instagram. OCEANS CALLING IS HEADED TO MEXICO: Oceans Calling Second Wave, a spinoff of Oceans Calling, will kick off in Mexico in 2025 What is the weather forecast? Like Oceans Calling Festival said online, be sure to expect some light rain in Ocean City this weekend. Hurricane Helene 12:30 p.m. Sept. 26, 2024. According to The Weather Channel, festivalgoers can expect a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday, with an 80% chance of rain that evening. Friday will also see a high temperature of 75 degrees. Then, Saturday's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies early in the day, and a 50% chance of rain that evening beginning around midnight. Temperatures will reach a high of 78 degrees. The final day of the musical festival, Sunday, is calling for a 40% chance of rain showers and a high temperature of 74 degrees. As the day goes on, the sky is expected to remain considerably cloudy. 2024 COUNTRY CALLING FESTIVAL LINEUP: Ocean City's 2024 Country Calling to host Eric Church, Tyler Childers: Here's the lineup Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com. This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Hurricane Helene to bring wind and rain to Oceans Calling Festival DAVIESS Co., Ind. (WTWO) A man attacked his girlfriend, spraypainted her and her vehicle and then fired a bullet into her car, Indiana State Police said Thursday. The incident happened Wednesday in the Raglesville area. The woman said she was approached by her boyfriend while she was picking persimmons alone and they got into an argument. During the argument her boyfriend, Jeremy Graber, 43, of Odon, pulled his vehicle behind her, not allowing her to leave, police wrote. Graber then sprayed her and her vehicle with spray paint. Graber then retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and shot a round into her vehicle next to where she was standing, police wrote. When the woman used her phone to call police Graber left, they added. Officers said they found a spent shell casing and a can of spray paint at the scene and they saw paint on the female and her vehicle. A bullet was recovered from inside the engine compartment of the vehicle. Graber was later arrested and charged with criminal confinement (with vehicle), criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, pointing a loaded firearm, obstruction of justice, domestic battery, and criminal mischief. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. BROOKLYN, New York (PIX11) An off-duty school safety agent was arrested in Brooklyn on Wednesday morning, police say. Brian Frett, 39, was taken into custody at 6:15 a.m., according to authorities. More Local News Officials say he faces multiple charges including two counts of rape, two counts of sexual misconduct, forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful imprisonment, and sexual abuse. Further details on the case were not immediately made available. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. HONOLULU (KHON2) Officials are employing drone technology to address the growing population of coqui frogs in the Koolau Mountains on Oahu. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The state Department of Land and Natural Resources reports that these noisy invasive pests have been discovered at higher elevations than previously thought, with an estimated 13 acres of forest infested below the summit of the Kuliouou Ridge Trail. Due to the steep terrain, crews are unable to access the area on foot. Instead, drones will be used to apply a non-toxic citric food additive to help eradicate the frogs. Major upgrades coming to Frank Fasi Municipal building Jonathan Ho from the Department of Agriculture stated, Were not quite sure how the frogs got there because the area is so remote, but our goal is to eradicate them. Coqui frogs have not yet been detected at lower elevations on the leeward side of the Koolau Mountains. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Residents and hikers are encouraged to listen for the frogs and report any sightings by calling 808-643-PEST or visiting 643pest.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The Kroger Co. corporate headquarters is seen in downtown Cincinnati. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 11 other Republican attorneys general on Monday filed a brief in federal court in Cincinnati arguing that an attempt by the Federal Trade Commission to block the merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons is unconstitutional. If successful, their argument would stunt the FTCs ability to fight anticompetitive practices in a plethora of other areas, from prescription drugs to concert tickets. It would also threaten the independent powers of myriad other executive-branch agencies that also practice administrative law. The argument made by Yost and his colleagues tracks closely with a proposal made in Project 2025, a controversial roadmap for a potential second administration of Donald Trump. Trump has been trying to distance himself from it. Food giant Yosts office didnt respond to questions for this story including whether he regarded one of the attorney generals core functions to be facilitating grocery mega-mergers. But in a statement announcing the friend-of-the-court brief he led, the attorney general said, The FTCs judges are part of the executive branch, and that means theyre supposed to be subject to removal by the president. Their multilayered protections from removal undermine the presidents authority and violate the constitution. The FTC, an agency intended to police anticompetitive practices, in March released a report saying that big grocers such as Kroger and Walmart engaged in several schemes that artificially increased grocery prices during the pandemic, and that they seemed to be continuing. Even before that, Cincinnati-based Kroger and Boise-based Albertsons proposed a merger. If allowed, it would create a chain that owned 5,000 stores and approximately 4,000 retail pharmacies and employ nearly 700,000 across 48 states. Fearing that would sap even more competition and send grocery prices still higher, the FTC in February sued to stop the merger. Last month, Yost and three other attorneys general filed a friend-of-the-court brief seeking to end the FTCs intervention. They claimed that creating a mega-grocer would actually increase competition. The acquisition would likely increase, not restrain, competition in the market for grocery sales, benefiting consumers, it said. It promises to strengthen Krogers ability to compete effectively for consumer dollars in an already crowded field of retailers, and there is no factual or legal basis for the (FTC) to claim otherwise. As components of that crowded field of retailers, they listed chains such as Costco, Sams Club, Aldi, Whole Foods, as well as Family Dollar and Dollar General. Sweeping challenge On Monday, Yost and 11 colleagues filed a brief challenging the very constitutionality of the mechanism the FTC used to try to stop the merger. They claim that the agencys use of administrative law judges is unconstitutional because it doesnt give the president the power to fire them. This case arises from an administrative proceeding that defies the separation of powers. Kroger, a prominent grocery-store chain, is being subjected to proceedings before an Administrative Law Judge of an executive branch agency, the Federal Trade Commission, Yost and the other attorneys general argue in their brief. Although the presiding ALJ is part of an executive branch agency that must stand in the chain of command from the People to the President, Congress has legislated to insulate that officer from that chain of command. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In addition to Ohio, the AGs of Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia joined the amicus brief. What theyre seeking to do could upend decades of rulings in administrative law proceedings conducted by scores of agencies. They include the Environmental Protection Agency, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. The brief by Yost and his colleagues argues that earlier guidelines set out in a Supreme Court ruling after the 1914 Federal Trade Commission dont cover the FTCs action against the Kroger-Albertsons merger. In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt tried to remove Federal Trade Commissioner William Humphrey, who was appointed by Roosevelts predecessor, Herbert Hoover. Roosevelt thought that Humphrey was blocking some of his New Deal initiatives and as head of the executive branch, the president believed he had the power to remove him. Not so fast, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Humphreys Executor v United States. The court said the Constitution never gave the president unlimited power to remove executive-branch employees especially those in agencies like the FTC, which had quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative functions. For more than a decade, some in the conservative movement have been trying to roll back that decision. Its a movement that has also tried to greatly expand presidential power beyond its already vast boundaries. Controversial ideas A version of the argument made by Yost and the Republicans attorneys general appears in Project 2025, a 900-page policy document for a second Trump term created by right-wing thinkers. In addition to expanding presidential power by rolling back civil-service protections, its proposals include prohibiting the federal government from calling abortion health care, gutting attempts to counter global warming, and phasing out Title I funding for low-income schools. In an era of surging corporate power, Project 2025 questions the very need for the Federal Trade Commission to exist. Should the FTC Enforce Antitrustor Even Continue to Exist? it asks. Some conservatives think that antitrust enforcement should be invested solely in the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FTCs commissioners are not removable at will by the President, which many quite reasonably believe violates the Vesting Clause of Article II of the Constitution; it is for this reason that conservatives have long believed in either ending law enforcement activities of independent agencies or ending their independent status. The Supreme Court decision in Humphreys Executor seems ripe for revisiting and perhaps sooner rather than later. Conundrum Yost has been a foe of what he regards as anticompetitive practices on other fronts. Hes overseen several lawsuits against giant health conglomerates that own pharmacy middlemen whom he accuses of using their dominance to raise drug prices. The suits include one under Ohio antitrust law against Cigna-Express Scripts. Yet if the argument he made in the Kroger case is successful, it would gut what some observers say is among the most serious attempts so far to rein in the pharmacy drug middlemen. On Friday, the FTC filed a lawsuit accusing the big-three health conglomerates of working to raise the cost of insulin a drug many diabetics need to stay alive. As with its action to stop the Kroger-Albertsons merger, it was filed as an administrative law proceeding within the FTC. Thats a process that Yost and his colleagues seem intent on ending. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Ohio lawmakers have requested federal funding to help with the Springfield immigration surge. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported by News Center 7, the City of Springfield has been receiving national attention over the past two weeks due to its immigration surge. RELATED COVERAGE: Dayton Congressman Mike Turner sent letters to the U.S. Attorney General, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education for emergency funding, according to a spokesperson. Other Ohio lawmakers signed on including Rep. Mike Carey, Rep. Michael Rulli, Rep. Brad Wenstrup, Rep. Warren Davidson, and Rep. Robert Latta. In the letter, the lawmakers blamed the Biden-Harris Administration for the Immigration crisis in Springfield. The Biden-Harris Administration must assist the City of Springfield, said Turner on social media. Over the last few years, 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian migrants have settled in Springfield. With a population of approximately 60,000 people, these migrants have put a significant strain on the citys resources, including housing, hospitals, and schools. The Biden-Harris Administration must assist the City of Springfield. I led @RepMikeCarey, @RepMichaelRulli, @RepBradWenstrup, @Rep_Davidson, and Rep. @BobLatta in requesting emergency funding for the City of Springfield. Over the last few years, 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian US Rep. Mike Turner (@RepMikeTurner) September 25, 2024 Visit this website to read all three letters. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] This article was originally published in Ohio Capital Journal. As the presidential election inches closer, Ohio social studies and government teachers are using this as an opportunity to engage their students in civics education. The Ohio Capital Journal talked to three current teachers elementary, middle and high school about how they are incorporating the presidential election into their curriculum. This is just another opportunity that only comes around once every four years, Westerville South High School Government Teacher Kelley Stocker said. The most rewarding part is knowing that I am helping to create a citizenry that understands how our country works. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter She typically tries to find current events that tie into what they are learning about in her class to help give real life examples to her students at the suburban high school just north of Columbus. You have to help them understand how government touches their lives and the real world applications, said Stocker, who is in her 11th year teaching. I just want them to start to understand why this stuff matters. I always tell them, you know, you can be anything you want to be in (her classroom), except apathetic or ignorant. Stocker rearranged her curriculum this semester to cover elections, campaigns, political parties and the First Amendment in a unit called the role of the people. Before she starts the unit, she sends letters home to the families to let them know she plans on covering the election in class and encourages parents to reach out if they have any questions. One activity she has her students do is make a prediction map on 270 to Win. Its like doing the (March Madness) brackets, she said. When talking politics in the classroom, Stocker has one boundary with her students they can talk about issues, not people. You can say, I dont agree with this position, not I dont like these people, she said. I try to separate issues from people. Government is a high school graduation requirement in Ohio and Cleveland Teachers Union President Shari Obrenski previously taught high school government and history for more than 20 years. I always enjoyed seeing students at the beginning of an election cycle who have absolutely no interest in whats going on that by the time we get to the presidential election, or a big election of some sort, be able to talk about platforms, be able to analyze commercials, be excited about the process and interested in how it was going to turn out, she said. Obrenski fondly looks back on her time in the classroom teaching the political process. We would talk about campaign commercials and the techniques that are used in campaign advertising, and having them take a look at different platforms from different political parties, having them analyze their own viewpoints, to see kind of where they line up ideologically with different political parties, she said. Some of Obrenskis former students have reached back out to her and said they vote because of what they learned in her class. It reinforces that the work is important and reinforces that civic education is important, Obrenski said. James Lautzenheiser, an eighth grade history teacher at Crestview Middle School in Van Wert County in Northwest Ohio, said he views teaching how government works as an introduction to citizenship for his middle schoolers. I really like helping kids distinguish between what they think history and government is, and helping them kind of figure out some things for themselves, Lautzenheiser, who has been a teacher for 15 years, said. Even though Angel Dyer Sanchezs fifth grade students arent old enough to vote, she hopes what they talk about in class will lead to conversations about voting at the dinner table. The elementary school teacher in Columbus City Schools encourages her students to think for themselves when it comes to which candidate they want to win. Dont just vote because its who your parents or grandparents are voting for, she said. You should have your own opinion. You should know who youre voting for and what they stand for. Voting Stocker keeps voter registration forms, stamps and envelopes in her classroom, so students can come to her if they are ready to register to vote. The only thing they have to do by themselves is we have a mail drop box across the street, and they just have to walk it over, Stocker said. In a similar vein, Obrenski helped eligible students register to vote and would teach a unit on voting and the countrys evolution of voting rights. Students are often really surprised to know that its only been 100 years since women have had the right to vote, she said. Its inconceivable to them that thats possible. Sanchez, who is her 20th year of teaching, gives lessons about voting and the three branches of government while encouraging her students to go to the voting polls with their parents. I just want to instill in them early that it is a right, and they need to make sure they take advantage of that right, Sanchez said. Lautzenheisers students are excited about the idea of voting. A lot of them have already expressed that its frustrating that their parents dont always vote, he said. Only 32% of Ohios 18-year-olds are registered to vote as of May, according to the Civics Center, a nonpartisan organization trying to increase voter registration. When you look at the types of issues that are on the ballot with the candidates that we have on the ballot, young people are often more impacted by these decisions than other age groups, so its so important for them to see value in the process and to try to get them to go to the polls, Obrenski said. Teaching about the election doesnt end once the votes are counted. Stocker plans on analyzing the outcome with her class to see how accurate the polls were. If they werent accurate how can we maybe explain that? she said. Teaching students media literacy goes hand-in-hand with teaching about the election. One of my personal goals is that I want them to be able to read the news and understand it, Stocker said. Im teaching them all of the things that they need and the tools that they need to be able to think critically about the news, what they read, what they hear, and to be able to understand it. Sanchez said she teaches her fifth graders how to identify if a news outlet is a trustworthy site. Half the battle is, are you sure youre getting truthful information? she said. Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Ohio Capital Journal maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor David Dewitt for questions: info@ohiocapitaljournal.com. Follow Ohio Capital Journal on Facebook and X. Oklahoma City police on Wednesday reported the city's 66th homicide of 2024. Police released a man pending further investigation after a deadly shooting Wednesday in south Oklahoma City. Just before 4:30 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at a residence in the 1800 block of SW 18. Arturo Martinez, 31, was found shot and killed inside the residence. Martinez drove to the residence to settle a dispute he had with an occupant of the residence, according to police. During the dispute, Martinez pulled out a pistol and pointed it at the persons head, police reported. A third person who saw what was transpiring retrieved a gun and shot Martinez, according to police. Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts Investigators interviewed the shooter and released him pending further investigation. The shooting death is considered the 66th homicide in Oklahoma City this year. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Homicide in OKC under investigation, police release suspected gunman The Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board voted to approve over $158 million in broadband expansion projects. The board approved 50 projects during its meeting in Oklahoma City on Thursday. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Over $158 million in broadband expansion projects were approved Thursday by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. The 50 awarded projects are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Project Funds. The Oklahoma Broadband Office had $159 million available to award for the projects. The projects will bring internet service to over 28,000 homes and businesses spanning 28 counties in Oklahoma, mostly in rural areas. Over 70 projects were denied due to high costs, and three others were approved in the event that more funding becomes available. The board unanimously approved projects with proposed costs per location of $10,000 or less in order to stretch the funding. The projects that were denied had costs per location over that threshold. Mike Sanders, executive director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office, said these projects are tentatively approved as contracts have not been signed yet and there is a lot of work on the backend. All but one of the 50 approved projects were fiber projects, which Sanders called the gold standard of broadband because it lasts decades and maintenance is easier. These investments are a game changer for communities that have for far too long been left behind in the digital age, Sanders said in a statement. Were moving closer to ensuring that every Oklahoman has access to the high-speed internet essential for success in todays world. The 50 approved grants are for 12 different internet service providers. The top awarded providers were: Cox Communications was awarded nine contracts totaling nearly $61 million, Dobson Fiber was awarded 10 contracts totaling over $24.7 million, Resound Networks was awarded 11 contracts totaling over $18.2 million, Atlas Broadband was awarded eight contracts totaling over $17.6 million, and AT&T Services, on behalf of its affiliate Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, was awarded three contracts totaling over $14.1 million. This is the second round of approval for broadband grant funding by the board this year. Total funds awarded now total over $500 million. After this round of approval, the projects will provide high-speed internet access to more than 66,000 locations in 57 of the states 77 counties, according to a news release. The Oklahoma Broadband Office will next work to approve grants for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program. The BEAD program will provide over $750 million in grants to expand internet access in Oklahoma. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The ongoing showdown over transparency between state legislators and the State Board of Education entered a fourth month on Thursday, with the board again declining to conduct an executive session during its monthly meeting. Legislators are allowed under the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act to be present during the executive session of any state board, a point reinforced by a recent formal opinion issued by Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Such opinions have force of law, absent a court decision. But the boards contracted attorney, Cara Nicklas, has fought against lawmakers using that authority. Board member Sarah Lepak complained during Augusts meeting that if lawmakers attended an executive session, anything discussed in private wouldnt really be private, even though lawmakers are bound by the same confidentiality rules as are board members. In June, state Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, was kept out of an executive session. The next month, Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, and Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, joined Boren, but they again were prevented from entering the boards executive session. More: Ryan Walters calls for $6M to purchase Bibles for classrooms in proposed budget Drummonds opinion came out just before the August meeting, which five lawmakers (Rosecrants; Osburn; Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater; Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber and Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond) attended. But the board chose for the first time in recent memory to not hold an executive session during a monthly meeting. The same thing happened Thursday, even as five Republican legislators Pugh, Lowe and Reps. Mark Vancuren of Owasso, Danny Sterling of Tecumseh and Ronny Johns of Ada sat in the audience. Pugh and Vancuren had left by the time the board began voting on teacher licensing proposals in open session, more than three hours after the meeting started. The board usually goes into executive session to discuss those proposals before returning to open session for votes. Oklahoma State Board of Education also changed media policy for meetings Asked for his reaction to how the meeting was run, Sterling said he needed "to research this matter further on procedural issues. Actually, I thought (for the most part) It was conducted very professionally." The media policy for the meeting also changed in the wake of a federal judges order Wednesday that Oklahoma State Department of Education officials most notably its spokesman, Dan Isett must allow journalists from Oklahoma City television station KFOR into the meeting room. Theyd been banished to an overflow room for months. About 90 minutes before the meeting started, Isett escorted the KFOR journalists, including reporter Dylan Brown one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Isett and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters into the meeting room, long before other journalists received access. More: Federal judge issues restraining order requested by KFOR against Ryan Walters, spokesman Journalists also waited to enter the Oliver Hodge Building where the meetings are held in a boardroom with a capacity of less than 50 people, far fewer than usually show up hoping to watch in the same line as other members of the public, after months of being placed into separate lines. There was no indication given that journalists would be allowed into the room without being near the front of the public line, so journalists began arriving as early as 5:15 a.m. to ensure they could have a seat. Eventually, as has been the practice in past months, the remaining journalists were allowed into the room a few minutes ahead of the public, to allow them to set up equipment and prepare for the meeting. Attendees look through into a room where an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting is being held on Thursday. The room has a capacity of 50 people, and many people who would like to attend are not allowed inside. But after the meeting that lasted nearly five hours, Walters did not answer questions from members of the press about the board's actions and other issues, something he's done after every monthly meeting but one in the past year. After the meeting ended, about 20 journalists remained in the meeting room, waiting about 10 minutes for Walters, before Isett entered and said "no scrum today" before abruptly leaving. During the meeting, the board unanimously approved its monthly meeting schedule for 2025, with all 12 meetings set to be held in the same small board room. Drummond criticized officials at the education agency for failing to take simple steps to make sure lawmakers, journalists and members of the public have access to official meetings. "It is bewildering that adults answerable to voters would operate in this manner, Drummond told The Oklahoman. Every other state board appears able to accommodate relevant legislators into executive sessions on the rare occasions those legislators request to do so. Every other state board appears able to accommodate both the general public and members of the press without playing games. These are not difficult tasks. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: At Oklahoma education board meeting, lawmakers have no special access McALESTER Oklahoma on Thursday carried out its 14th execution since lethal injections resumed three years ago after a long hiatus brought about by drug mix-ups and botched procedures. Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, was pronounced dead at 10:17 a.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. In his last words, he told his mother and daughter that he loved them but expressed no remorse and did not repeat his claim of innocence. "I'm OK," he said in tears, strapped to the gurney. "Everything's going to be OK." He was one of four men executed in the United States in a week's time. The other executions were in South Carolina, Texas and Missouri. A fifth man was set to be executed in Alabama Thursday evening. Emmanuel Littlejohn is shown during his clemency hearing before the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board in August. Littlejohn was executed for the fatal shooting of Oklahoma City convenience store owner Kenneth Meers in 1992. Littlejohn acknowledged he was one of two robbers at the store but always denied he was the shooter. A jury in 1994 concluded he was the triggerman based on the testimony of two witnesses inside the store. Two witnesses outside the store said the shooter was the taller man, a description that fit his accomplice. The latest news, in your inbox: Sign up for breaking news alerts The uncertainties in the case and his innocence claim resulted in a strong public showing of support in the days leading up to the execution. His spiritual adviser, the Rev. Jeff Hood, said 12,202 people signed online petitions calling on Gov. Kevin Stitt to show mercy, The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 in August to recommend clemency. Stitt could have commuted Littlejohn's punishment to life in prison without the possibility of parole but didn't. "These decisions are very difficult and I do not make them lightly," Stitt said in a news release Thursday morning. "Mr. Littlejohn murdered an innocent man 32 years ago while robbing a convenience store. A jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death. The decision was upheld by multiple judges. "As a law and order governor, I have a hard time unilaterally overturning that decision. Today, justice for this life lost was carried out. I hope this brings closure to the families impacted by this murder." Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who witnessed the execution, said he "prays that today brings some measure of peace to the Meers family." What happened in Emmanuel Littlejohn's case? Littlejohn and his accomplice, Glenn Bethany, got away with only a few hundred dollars from the Root-N-Scoot convenience store in south Oklahoma City on June 19, 1992. Littlejohn was 20 years old at the time and had been recently released from prison. Meers, 31, was killed by a single shot to the face as he charged at the robbers with a broom. He bled to death, saying, "Oh, God, please help me," according to the attorney general's submission to the parole board. At his clemency hearing, Littlejohn said, "I know that you have heard from a variety of people who think I deserve to die. They don't know me. They were not there. I know that I didn't kill Mr. Meers. I've admitted to my part. I committed a robbery that had devastating consequences. But, I repeat, I did not kill Mr. Meers." Bethany was tried first, in 1993. His jury chose life in prison without the possibility of parole after finding him guilty of first-degree murder. Littlejohn's first jury voted for the death penalty in 1994 after finding him guilty of first-degree murder. A second jury in 2000 also voted for the death penalty at a resentencing trial. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ordered the resentencing because of improper testimony from a jailhouse snitch. More: Rev. Jeff Hood prays for the condemned at their executions. His first time was in Oklahoma People gather in a prayer circle on Thursday in front of the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion, protesting against the execution of Emmanuel Littlejohn. The attorney general and his assistants told the parole board Littlejohn and Bethany robbed the store to pay back a drug dealer who went by the nickname "Big E." The two had been selling drugs for "Big E" but owed him because Bethany "was more interested in using the drugs than selling them," they said. Littlejohn's attorneys sought to portray the death verdicts in his robbery-gone-wrong case as an "outlier." They told the parole board that from 2009 to 2020 none of the death sentences handed down in Oklahoma were for a murder associated with a robbery. The first inmate executed in Oklahoma after a hiatus of more than six years threw up from the gurney. Since that Oct. 28, 2021, execution, Oklahoma has carried out a string of lethal injections without major issues. LIttlejohn's breathing appeared to be labored for about five minutes at the start of the procedure. His spiritual adviser, Hood, read to him from the Bible at his feet and made the sign of the cross over and over. "He was snoring for a long time, much longer than I have experienced in other executions," Hood said. "I felt like there was some anticipation in the room that this should be happening faster." Steven Harpe, the executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, said, "There wasn't anything that was abnormal in terms of our process or what we experienced during the execution." He said other states now "reach out to us on this on a regular basis." The inmate's mother, Ceily Mason, of Wichita, Kansas, sobbed quietly and clutched a gold cross necklace as she watched from the first row of the witness room. "Oh, God," she said early in the procedure. "They killed my son," she said at the end. "Kansas wouldn't do this." For his last meal Wednesday evening, Littlejohn had a max meat pizza, two slices of cheesecake and a Coke, according to the Department of Corrections. Oklahoma's next death row inmate to be executed is Kevin Ray Underwood, 44, who suffocated a 10-year-old Purcell girl in 2006 because of his cannibalistic fantasies. His execution date has not been scheduled yet but will likely take place in mid-December or early January. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Convicted murderer Emmanuel Littlejohn executed in Oklahoma MCALESTER, Okla. (KFOR) The state of Oklahoma executed Emmanuel Littlejohn at 10:17 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Littlejohn spent 30 years on death row for the shooting death of convenience store manager, Kenny Meers, who was working at the Root-N-Scoot convenience store when he was shot and killed during a robbery in 1992. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Death Row inmate Emmanuel Littlejohn fights for life in final appeal Despite being convicted of first-degree murder, and owning up to his role in the robbery, for three decades Littlejohn claimed he was not responsible for Meers death. I committed a robbery that had devastating consequences, said Littlejohn. But Ill repeat, I did not kill Mr. Meers. He said his accomplice, Glenn Bethany, pulled the trigger. On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, Littlejohn pleaded his case to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board during his clemency hearing. The Meers family and the state urged the board to deny clemency, arguing Littlejohn has shown a lack of remorse and has a violent history. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Clemency recommended for death row inmate Emmanuel Littlejohn; decision now in governors hands I believe my mom died of a broken heart, said Bill Meers, Kennys brother. I cannot and will not forgive this man for carelessly deciding Kennys life meant nothing. Joshua Fanelli with the Attorney Generals Office added, Littlejohns selfish and manipulative behavior has made him a menace to society for years and its time for him to pay the price. The Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2, recommending clemency for Littlejohn. I am praying that Gov. Stitt find mercy and forgiveness in his heart. Emmanuel Littlejohn is a changed man. He acknowledges his guilt for participation in the robbery. He regrets the trauma that he has caused the family of Kenneth Meers. said Rev. Don Heath, Chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Clemency was not granted and Littlejohn was executed Thursday morning. Gov. Stitt responded after the execution on Thursday. These decisions are very difficult and I do not make them lightly. Mr. Littlejohn murdered an innocent man 32 years ago while robbing a convenience store. A jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death. The decision was upheld by multiple judges. As a law and order governor, I have a hard time unilaterally overturning that decision. Today, justice for this life lost was carried out. I hope this brings closure to the families impacted by this murder. Stitt said. Attorney General Gentner Drummond commented on the execution saying, Justice has been served for the murder of Kenny Meers. I pray that today brings some measure of peace to the Meers family who has waited 32 long years for justice to be served. Rev. Heath also responded following the execution. Emmanuel Littlejohn is dead because Gov. Stitt could not see the humanity in him. He didnt even show Mr. Littlejohn enough respect to make a formal statement to deny clemency. This is now the third time that Gov. Stitt has rejected a clemency recommendation from the Pardon and Parole Board and he didnt bother to let the condemned man know that he was denying clemency until the last minute. This is the needless infliction of emotional distress to those being executed in their last moments and it has to stop. said Rev. Heath. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Oklahoma County killer Emmanuel A. Littlejohn was executed Thursday at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. (Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished unless you have a Getty subscription.) OKLAHOMA CITY Convicted Oklahoma County killer Emmanuel A. Littlejohn was put to death Thursday after Gov. Kevin Stitt declined to grant clemency. These decisions are very difficult and I do not make them lightly, Stitt said in a statement following the execution. Mr. Littlejohn murdered an innocent man 32 years ago while robbing a convenience store. Stitt said a jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death. The decision was upheld by multiple judges. As a law and order governor, I have a hard time unilaterally overturning that decision, Stitt said. Today, justice for this life lost was carried out. I hope this brings closure to the families impacted by this murder. Littlejohn, 52, was pronounced dead at 10:17 a.m. Thursday after the administration of a lethal injection at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, said Kay Thompson, Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesperson. The execution was carried out with no complications, she said. Littlejohn was sentenced to die for the 1992 shooting death of Kenny Meers during a convenience store robbery in Oklahoma City. Meers was shot in the face. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on Aug. 7 voted 3-2 to recommend clemency. Littlejohn said he participated in the robbery, but wasnt the shooter. Glenn Bethany received life without parole for his role. In 2023, Oklahoma County killer Phillip Dean Hancock was executed. Stitt took no action on the Pardon and Parole Boards clemency recommendation . Don Heath, Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty chair, said Stitts failure to notify Littlejohn until the last minute that he was not granting clemency was a needless infliction of emotional distress. It has to stop, Heath said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE FILE - This booking photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Emmanuel Littlejohn, Feb. 8, 2023. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP, File) McALESTER, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma executed a man Thursday for his role in the 1992 fatal shooting of a convenience store owner after the governor again rejected a recommendation from the states parole board to spare a death row inmate's life. Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, received a lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary and was declared dead at 10:17 a.m. A jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement explaining why he declined to commute Littlejohn's sentence to life in prison without parole. As a law and order governor, I have a hard time unilaterally overturning that decision. Stitt has granted clemency only once out of the five times that the parole board has recommended it during Stitt's nearly six years in office. Oklahoma has carried out 14 executions under Stitt, having resumed them in 2021 after a more than six-year hiatus. In voting 3-2 last month to recommend clemency, the board appeared to be moved by questions Littlejohn's lawyers raised about whether he or a co-defendant fired the shot that killed Kenneth Meers. Littlejohn's attorneys also suggested the jury was unclear about whether a sentence of life without parole would guarantee someone would never be released. His lethal injection came just two days after the execution of Marcellus Williams in Missouri, where advocates insisted Williams was innocent. Strapped to a gurney and with an IV line in his right arm, Littlejohn looked toward his mother and daughter, who witnessed the execution. Mom, you OK? Littlejohn asked. I'm OK, his mother, Ceily Mason, responded. Everything is going to be OK. I love you, he said. Mason sobbed quietly and clutched a cross necklace during the lethal injection, which began shortly after 10 a.m. Littlejohn's breathing became labored before a doctor declared him unconscious at 10:07 a.m. He was pronounced dead 10 minutes later. Littlejohn's spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood, was inside the death chamber and prayed over him. Steven Harpe, the director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, said the lethal injection went without any problems. If an execution set for Thursday evening in Alabama is carried out, it would mark the first time in decades that five death row inmates were put to death in the U.S. within one week. The five executions would also mark another grim milestone 1,600 executions since the death penalty was reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Littlejohn was 20 when prosecutors say he and co-defendant Glenn Bethany robbed the Root-N-Scoot convenience store in south Oklahoma City in June 1992. During video testimony to the Pardon and Parole Board in early August, Littlejohn apologized to Meers family but denied firing the fatal shot. Littlejohns attorneys pointed out that the same prosecutor tried Bethany and Littlejohn in separate trials using a nearly identical theory, even though there was only one shooter and one bullet that killed Meers, 31. But prosecutors told the board that two teenage store employees who witnessed the robbery both said Littlejohn, not Bethany, fired the fatal shot. Bethany was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Littlejohns attorneys also argued that killings resulting from a robbery are rarely considered death penalty cases and that prosecutors today would not have pursued the ultimate punishment. It is evident that Emmanuel would not have been sentenced to death if hed been tried in 2024 or even 2004, attorney Caitlin Hoeberlein told the board. Littlejohn was prosecuted by former Oklahoma County District Attorney Bob Macy, who was known for his zealous pursuit of the death penalty and secured 54 death sentences during more than 20 years in office. Stitt previously asked one of his appointees to the parole board, Adam Luck, to step down after Luck voted several times to recommend clemency. The only time Stitt has granted clemency was in 2021, when he commuted Julius Jones death sentence to life without parole just hours before Jones was scheduled to receive a lethal injection. Stitt has denied clemency recommendations from the board in three other cases: Bigler Stouffer, James Coddington and Phillip Hancock, all of whom were executed. A state appellate court on Wednesday denied a last-minute legal challenge from Littlejohn's attorneys to the constitutionality of the states lethal injection method of execution. A similar appeal filed in federal court also was rejected Thursday. Oklahoma sends help to Florida in preparation for Hurricane Helene KSNF/KODE Oklahoma Task Force One has officially deployed to Pensacola, Florida in preparation for Hurricane Helenes arrival. Two of the 16-member water rescue team are from the Grand River Dam Authority, one is from the Bixby Fire Department, and 13 are from the Tulsa Fire Department. The state approved their 14-day deployment and theyll wait in Pensacola for further instructions. Theyve taken boats and swiftwater rescue equipment with them. Grand River Dam Authority has also sent 20 employees to southern Georgia in preparation for the storm. Theyll be tasked with mutual aid and power restoration in Thomasville, Georgia. Hurricane Helene is currently a category one hurricane with sustained winds of 85 mph. Its forecast to become a major hurricane of 130 mph and make landfall in the Florida panhandle Thursday evening. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. (Getty Images) One in four Tennesseans carry delinquent debt, a figure that jumps to 41% in the states communities of color, a recent analysis of the nations debtors by The Urban Institute finds. Nationally, 23% of white Americans and 29% of Black and other minorities have struggled to pay back car, credit card, student loan and medical bills that then fell into delinquency. The rate of unpaid debt in Tennessee, like the majority of the Southeast, outpaces U.S. averages. Delinquent debts trail individuals for years, limiting their ability to secure new loans for homes and cars, rent apartments and pay for everyday living expenses. The Debt In America analysis by the Washington, D.C. based think tank relies on a sample of 2023 consumer data from credit reporting bureaus and Census estimates. Seven percent of Tennessees white residents hold medical debt, compared to 10% of minority residents; 5% of white residents have delinquent auto loans, a rate that doubles among communities of color; and the median credit card debt for the states white residents is $599 versus $485 for minority residents. Student loan debt defaults overall hover at 1% for Tennessees white residents versus 2% for communities of color. Among young people aged 18 to 24, rates of student debt delinquencies shoot up to 14% for white residents and 21% for Black, Asian and other minorities. Williamson County with a median income of $175,000, the states wealthiest county has the lowest share of residents with debt in collections: just 8%. Haywood and Lauderdale, largely rural counties in west Tennessee just north of Memphis, have the highest: about four in every ten residents of these counties are delinquent on their loans or medical bills.. The analysis, which includes interactive maps that illustrate delinquency debts in each county, defines delinquencies to include both unpaid bills in collection and past-due credit lines that have been closed and charged off. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX One nation's plan for success: Work less and make more babies A currency trader stands near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index and foreign exchange rates at the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul last month. Some in South Korea say the country needs to switch to a four-day workweek to improve work-life balance. (Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press) Less than a generation ago, South Korea held an unenviable distinction it has since tried to shed: land of the burned-out workers. Burdened by obligatory company dinners and unspoken expectations to stay late in the office, South Koreans worked an average of 2,357 hours in 2006, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development , which includes most developed countries. That figure amounting to more than 48 hours a week if you factor in a typical three weeks of vacation was 31% higher than in the United States and 70% higher than in the Netherlands , which ranked lowest. Though the establishment of a 52-hour workweek in 2018 and other labor reforms led to big reductions, traces of that high-pressure working culture remain. Logging an average of 1,872 hours a year a 10-hour a week reduction South Koreans now rank sixth in the 38-member OECD. Only Mexicans, Costa Ricans, Chileans, Greeks and Israelis work longer hours. Many in the country now say its time for an even more dramatic step: switching to a four-day workweek. Read more: This tiny apartment costs $7 a month. Scoring one is like winning the lottery The notion has taken on a special resonance in South Korea, where poor work-life balance is widely seen as one of the primary reasons for a nose-diving fertility rate , which politicians have described as a national emergency . As of last year, South Koreas fertility rate is 0.72 births per woman, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population. The reduction of working hours is the unavoidable call of the times, lawmaker Park Hong-bae told reporters this month. It is the key to solving the many challenges that South Korea faces today. As in much of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a fundamental shift in the way South Koreans view their jobs. Reports of delivery drivers and other frontline workers dying of exhaustion fed a broader sense of disillusionment with the status quo, while those working at home found themselves questioning which of their day-to-day tasks were truly necessary. Health workers check their protective gear outside a COVID-19 testing center at Incheon International Airport in 2023. As in much of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many South Koreans view their jobs. (Lee Jin-man / Associated Press) Working less is one of the only labor policy issues where support is high across both sides of the political aisle especially among millennials and Gen Zs, said Kim Jong-jin, a labor researcher at the Korea Worker Institute. More than 60% of South Koreans in the labor force favor a four-day workweek, according to a survey last month by local polling company Global Research. Among workers in their 20s and 30s, that figure tops 70%. Another survey, conducted last year by human resources company Wanted, found that over half of the 1,700 respondents preferred a four-day workweek even if it meant a reduction in pay. Read more: Korea's army of senior citizens ready for battle. 'I dont remember the rifles being so heavy' Elsewhere in the world, the reduced workweek is increasingly being backed up by real-world evidence that it boosts productivity and winning over believers. With American workers reporting high levels of burnout , Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a bill in March to enact a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay. Steve Cohen , the billionaire hedge fund manager and owner of the New York Mets, has predicted that the efficiency gains achieved by artificial intelligence will soon make a four-day workweek the norm. In Britain, the majority of the 61 companies and organizations that participated in a six-month trial of the shorter workweek in 2022 the biggest such experiment in the world to date have made the change permanent, reporting better employee retention and higher on-the-clock productivity. South Korean employers and politicians are also beginning to take notice. Last year, Severance Hospital, one of the countrys largest medical institutions , tested out a four-day workweek for some of its nurses. A medical worker walks toward Seoul National University Hospital. Last year, Severance Hospital, one of South Korea's largest medical institutions, had success with its test of a four-day workweek for some nurses. (Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press) Though accompanied by a 10% pay cut negotiated with the hospitals labor union, the program reported both a significant decrease in employee turnover and heightened patient satisfaction. Following smaller-scale experiments by several regional governments to reduce working hours for civil servants, the government of Gyeonggi the most populous province has recently announced it would spend $7.4 million to launch its own 4-day workweek pilot program next year, with around 50 private and public employers planning to participate. The Korea Financial Industry Union, which represents the countrys bank workers, has framed its demand for a 4-day workweek as a matter of national survival, saying that the first thing that needs to be done to solve the countrys fertility crisis is reducing time spent working. In the final collective bargaining agreement tentatively reached with the union this week, employers stopped short of granting a full half-day per week cutback, but agreed to try a 30-minute reduction in daily working hours beginning next year. Read more: Netflix turns to South Korean writers and crews as Hollywood strikes. But they feel exploited too Kim Jang-ung, a 32-year-old office worker at a major retail company in Seoul, said that an across-the-board four-day workweek feels like a far more effective pro-fertility measure than any current policy. He and his wife have recently begun planning for a family, but he wonders how he will manage when he spends more than 12 hours of the day either commuting or at the office. I would like to have enough time to actually take care of my child, he said. Like his wife, who also works, Kim is legally entitled to a year of parental leave, and his company has a policy allowing parents to come into work a little later if they need to drop their child off at day care. But there is an unspoken stigma against making full use of these policies. Everybody understands that if you use your full parental leave, youre not going to be promoted, he said. But South Koreas small and medium-size companies, which employ the majority of the countrys workforce, say they are in no position to adopt a four-day workweek. A man brings his daughter to a polling station in Seoul in April 2024. Some workers thinking about starting families wonder how they will manage when they spend more than 12 hours a day commuting or at the office. (Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press) Lee Myung-ro, head of the labor policy division at the Korea Federation of SMEs, said these companies are locked in a vicious cycle: Long working hours are driving away young workers, deepening labor shortages that further lower productivity and increase individual workloads. Although South Korea ranks sixth in hours worked among OECD members, the nation's labor productivity as measured by GDP per hour worked was ranked just 33rd out of 38 in 2022. The low productivity in smaller companies has to do with the fact that they lack the capital to modernize their operations with technology, as well as the fact that their workforces are rapidly aging, Lee said. There arent many short-term productivity-boosting measures they can take. But with no easy answers either way, he expects that there will still be employers willing to give it a chance. All of these companies know that young workers these days prioritize work-life balance, he said. The ones that have the ability to do so are certainly going to try it out. 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. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The secret to more plentiful, unconventional superconducting materials could lie in an exotic physics trigger called the Griffiths singularity. After 55 years, physicists are finally beginning to show that this landmark singularity can also describe 3D and solid materials. If Griffiths singularities can be studied and tailored across more materials, we may find superconductors that are within way more peoples reach, which could in turn massively change the study of quantum computing systems. Scientists in China are on the lookout for a way to better understand superconductors. And as it turns out, the secret to more plentiful unconventional superconducting materials could lie in an exotic physics trigger called the Griffiths singularity. The team behind this investigation recently published a new paper on the subject in the journal National Science Review. The Griffiths singularity is named for physicist Robert Griffiths, who first laid out his theory over 50 years ago. In 1969, he wrote a paper detailing how a particular magneta ferrous or iron-containing materialshowed unusual behavior above the temperature of whats called its quantum phase transition (QPT). Thats notable, because for quantum mechanics, the phase transition occurs at absolute zeroits comparable to freezing, melting, and vaporizing in classical physics. And if something was different after that point, it must have occurred during the key reaction at absolute zero. Griffiths core observationthat his magnet must have shown a surprising variable during transitionbecame known as the Griffiths singularity. The quantum Griffiths singularity (QGS) is a phenomenon driven by quenched disorders that break conventional scaling invariance and result in a divergent dynamic critical exponent during quantum phase transitions (QPT), the scientists explained in their new paper. And after 55 years, physicists are finally beginning to show that his landmark singularity can also describe 3D and solid materials. With that information in hand, scientists say, they can further study and improve other high-temperature unconventional superconductors with a similar makeup. The unconventional superconductors in this new research are the iron pnictides, or ferropnictides, made of a combination of iron and arsenic (plus other elements). Theyre set apart from traditional superconductors in a couple of different ways, and were discovered in the early 2000s. The most common form of superconductivityat least, that we observe todayhappens when very, very cold matter (were talking almost absolute zero) becomes what is called a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC)sometimes referred to as the fifth form of matterwhich was theorized about and discovered beginning over 100 years ago. But ferropnictides dont rely on being induced into a BEC state, and they can superconduct at much higher (still not high, just... less cold) temperatures. In a typical quantum phase transitionthe superconductor-insulator transitionscientists expect to find a homogeneous material that superconducts. But with a Griffiths-compatible material, the scientists wrote in the paper, distinct superconducting islands (rare regions) emerge. Thats because the transition that produces these materials is not homogeneous. These islands show where the Griffiths singularities have occurred while the metal material transitions from its room temperature state to a superconducting one. And in this paper, the scientists claim, theyve shown for the first time that they can induce and observe these hot spots in a 3D sample of an iron pnictide superconductor. This comes after experiments showed that these hot spots were found in 2D materials, here meaning thin or just one molecule thick. Over time and progressive experiments, scientists have shown that they can create Griffiths singularities at more and more temperatures and in ranges of other variables. So, what does this all mean? Well, high temperature superconductorslike the iron pnictides and others that can superconduct at even higher temperatureshave the potential to blow the barn door open on superconductor research. Thats because the materials and equipment required to cool to, say, 50 Kelvin cost far less than those you would need to get all the way down to approaching absolute zero. If Griffiths singularities can be studied and tailored across more materials, we may find superconductors that are within way more peoples reach. That could, in turn, massively change the study of quantum computing systems, which rely on superconductors and must be kept at these extremely low temperatures. Instead of a low temperature material with just one superconductive hot spot, we might use a higher temperature iron pnictide with well controlled Griffiths islands. The researchers suggest that the next step could be to extend this research into copper-containing (cuprite) superconductors, which work at even higher temperatures than the iron pnictides. Well just have to wait and see what comes next. You Might Also Like SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) One of the most high-ranking executives at one of the preeminent AI companies announced her resignation Wednesday. Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, announced she would be leaving the company in a post on X. After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI, Murati wrote. My six-and-a-half years with the OpenAI have been an extraordinary privilege. While Ill express my gratitude to many individuals in the coming days, I want to start by thanking Sam (Altman) and Greg (Brockman) for their trust in my to lead the technical organization and for their support throughout the years. Murati went on to explain her departure, saying that she was stepping away because she wanted to create time and space to do my own exploration. Dog dies in Pleasanton apartment balcony from heat stroke In a response to the tweet, OpenAI Sam Altman wrote, Mira, thank you for everything. Its hard to overstate how much Mira has meant to OpenAI, our mission, and to us all personally. Murati spent six-and-a-half years with the company and briefly served as CEO after Altman was temporarily ousted last year. Her departure is the latest leadership at the San Francisco-based AI company. In August, Brockman said he was taking a sabbatical through the end of the year. Another OpenAI co-founder, Ilya Sutskever, left in May to launch his own company. Days after Sutskevers departure, his safety team co-leader Jan Leike also resigned and leveled criticism at OpenAI for letting safety take a backseat to shiny products. Murati praised the company upon her departure, saying the companys work had made cuttingedge AI research intuitive and accessible. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris following the Democratic presidential nominees speech at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she laid out an economic vision for her administration if elected. If there was an overarching theme to the interview, it was the disconnect between the two parties records on the economy, the publics perception of those records and the irony that some middle-class people including some union members believe former President Donald Trump has a greater understanding of their struggles than the vice president. Here are five takeaways from this exclusive interview, her first solo sit-down since she became the Democratic nominee. Harris working-class street credibility Ruhle pointed out during the interview that most likely voters still think Donald Trump is better to handle the economy. But Harris articulated how she comes from a background thats far more relatable to the struggles of most Americans. Part of the reason I even talk about working at McDonalds is that there are people who work at McDonalds in our country there who are trying to raise a family. I worked there as a student. I was a kid who worked there. Harris added that some families are trying to raise families and pay rent based on that income. I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility is to meet those needs. As Helaine Olen noted in an MSNBC column in April, after Californias $20-an-hour minimum wage for fast-food workers became law, the era of mostly teenagers working fast-food jobs after high school was rendered obsolete, and well over half of Californias fast-food workers are people of color and over 25. In an interview in which Harris often stuck to well-rehearsed talking points, her answer about her time at McDonalds came off as the most genuine, and it was the best evidence that she sees struggling people not as abstractions but as real human beings. Harris knows how to needle Trump, subtly Harris won her debate against Trump by triggering him into a rambling rage after she characterized his big, beautiful rallies as small, boring affairs that have many attendees seeking the exit. It was amusing, then, to see her sandwich that same point in an answer about how shes going to keep reminding people that Trump is lying about his economic record and lying when he says he stands with workers. Harris described the challenge she faces to earn the vote of everybody. She argued that regardless of what somebody says in a small rally somewhere ... part of what Im doing in this campaign is to remind people, just like here in Pittsburgh, of the reality of who has stood with union labor, who stands for American manufacturing, who stands for American jobs. The only two words Trump is likely to hear are small rally. The pandemic doesnt give Trump a pass on how he handled the economy When the vice president said Trump had left us with the worst unemploy,et rate since the Great Depression, Ruhle pointed out that that dramatic downturn happened during the height of the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, he lost manufacturing jobs, Harris countered. His raison detre as president, Harris essentially argued, was to provide tax cuts for the billionaires and the top corporations in our country. Harris gut decisions When Ruhle asked Harris about the most recent time shed made a gut decision, she answered, Probably the biggest gut decision Ive made most recently is to choose my running mate. There were lots of good, incredible candidates, and ultimately that came down to the gut decision. Though Republicans tried to make hay with the preposterous claim that antisemitism made Harris (who is married to a Jewish man) pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, picking Walz has proven to be a smart political choice, and it demonstrated she can make wise decisions in a limited amount of time. Women have reason to fear a second Trump presidency Trump has recently boasted that hell be womens protector. Harris, who has made abortion rights a centerpiece of her campaign, said thats rich coming from a man who once said women who get abortions should be prosecuted and whose Supreme Court appointees helped dismantle Roe v. Wade. But Ruhles question about Trumps statement prompted what was perhaps Harris best line of the interview: I dont think the women of America need him to say hes going to protect them. The women of America need him to trust them. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Linda Suns high heels clicked evenly on the terrazzo floor as she proceeded on Wednesday afternoon from the elevators on the 10th floor of Brooklyn federal court, where she is facing charges of being an agent for China in exchange for money and gifts. She was accompanied by her husband, Chris Hu, who is also her co-defendant. He stands accused of visa fraud and laundering money that Sun allegedly received from the Peoples Republic of China during her 11 years in New York State government. Both Sun, 40, and Hu, 41, were clad in fashionable black as they entered the courtroom and joined their lawyers at the defendants table. Sun is as tall and slender as a classic fashion model and she exhibited an understated elegance with pearl earrings, a thin gold chain on her neck and an even thinner one, barely visible on her left ankle. A knock signaled for everyone to rise as U.S. District Court Judge Brian Cogan entered the room. A court officer called out the number of the indictment that was unsealed three weeks ago. 24-CR-346. USA versus Linda Sun and Chris Hu. Feds: Govs Aide Became China Spy for Cash and Salted Duck Sun and Hu had pleaded not guilty at their arraignment on Sept. 4. They now were back for a hearing for some preliminary legal housekeeping. She sat, erect with perfect posture, her hands folded in front of her. Among the many accusations in the indictments 64 pages is an allegation that when Sun visited Beijing in 2018, a Chinese official arranged for her to stay in a presidential suite where Michelle Obama once stayed. Whether or not that will be proven at trial, nobody could dispute that Sun would have fit right in there. By all accounts, her elegance is accompanied by competence and she seemed just the right person for a politician to hire. She was chief of staff for a Queens state assemblywoman and then deputy chief diversity officer for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. She became chief of staff for his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul. Next, Sun served as a deputy commissioner in the state department of labor. Along the way, Sun allegedly did the bidding of handlers at the Chinese consulate in Manhattan. She is said to have done everything from forging official letters of invitation to facilitate U.S. visitors visas to preparing bogus proclamations lauding Chinese officials to discouraging Hochul from mentioning Taiwan and Uyghur oppression. According to court papers, one way Chinese officials expressed their gratitude was by sending salted ducks prepared by a consular chef to her parents home in Queens. She and her husband are said to have received enough money to buy a $3.6 million house on Long Island and a $1.9 million condo in Hawaii. The couple also acquired several luxury cars, including a 2024 Ferrari. As told by the indictment, Sun was able to live the American dream by betraying America. Linda Sun after her hearing in Brooklyn federal court. The Daily Beast In a corner beyond the defendants table that Sun and Hu now occupied stood an American flag. A reminder that the naturalization ceremony where Sun officially became an American citizen would have ended with the Pledge of Allegiance. But in the republic for which that flag stands, Sun and Hu are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. In federal court, where only 4 percent of those to go to trial are acquitted, many defendants plead guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence. We have not yet offered the defendants a plea offer, but we do anticipate doing so, a prosecutor told the judge. The case may involve classified documents, and the judge set a date for what is known as a CIPA hearing; CIPA standing for the Classified Information Procedures Act. The judge also noted that the investigation that culminated in the arrests appears to have been going on for years. The FBI had been looking at Sun since at least July of 2018, when she was called in for a voluntary interview about her travels to China. The present charges involved a host of individual acts over more than a decade. I am hereby designating the case complex, the judge said, giving the defendants more time to prepare if needed. Wednesdays proceedings ended in less than an hour. A crust of diamonds on Suns wedding band glinted as she held the courtroom door for Hu, the lawyers and even a reporter, who thanked her. No problem, she replied. Top Chinese Official Ousted After Ex-Gov Aides Spy Claims A gaggle of Asian citizen journalists waited outside the courthouse with cellphone cameras raised. Shame on you! one of them called out to the couple. Sun and Hu had summoned an Uber-type car and a few uncomfortable minutes passed until they spotted it across the street. They strode over and he held the car door for her. She slid inside, an accused spy looking like elegance itself. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Opinion - America is less polarized than it seems. Politicians need better data. Polarization, a scholar has quipped, is a problem that no one can explain or solve. We know that a vast ideological gulf now separates most Democratic from most Republican politicians. We also know that highly polarized politicians poorly represent many of their constituents, who remain comparatively moderate. But were not sure why polarization has arisen or what we can do about it. As a pathology of American politics that has developed over decades, polarization probably has no single cause or cure. One major driver of polarization, however, is just starting to come into focus: Many politicians may be representing their constituents poorly because they dont know what their constituents want. Unlike other potential drivers, this one also points to an obvious response: We should educate politicians about their constituents preferences so they no longer have to guess what voters think. Historically, information about public opinion was largely unavailable for the districts and municipalities that elect most politicians. Recently, though, new tools have made this data accessible to many more levels of government. These tools have the potential to substantially improve representation at the federal, state and local levels. Politicians knowledge of their constituents views is worse than youd expect for professionals whose careers depend on public approval. A pioneering 2018 study found that Republican state legislators err by 10 to 40 percentage points in their perceptions of voters positions on issues, including abortion, gun control and immigration. Moreover, these politicians almost always err in a conservative direction, mistakenly believing voters are far more right-wing than they actually are. Nor are legislative staffers any more discerning than their bosses. According to a 2019 study, both Democratic and Republican staffers wildly misstate congressional district opinion. Concerning repealing Obamacare, for example, true voter support hovers near 50 percent in most districts. But Democratic staffers usually underestimate this figure by 20 to 30 points while Republican staffers tend to overestimate it by a similar amount. If politicians skewed perceptions of their constituents preferences contribute to polarization, could correcting these biases lead to better representation? An innovative 2008 experiment suggests that it could. A pair of researchers conducted a large-scale survey of New Mexicans views on a pending fiscal proposal. This poll was big enough to generate estimates of public opinion in each State House district. The scholars then circulated the results to some (randomly chosen) State House members but not others. Among the legislators who were informed about their voters preferences, their votes on the fiscal proposal were highly responsive to public opinion. Conversely, among the legislators who denied this data, there was no correlation between their votes and their constituents attitudes toward the bill. Unfortunately, this experiment is the exception, not the rule. In general, politicians lack policy-specific information about their voters preferences. Presidents often have access to this data at the national level. But at every subnational level, this data isnt widely available. The representational gains that would follow if politicians were more knowledgeable about their constituents views therefore dont materialize because most politicians arent well-informed. In recent years, though, this situation has begun to change. The American Values Atlas now reports state-level opinion, derived from a major national survey, on issues including immigration, gay rights and abortion. The American Ideology Project relies on several national surveys to estimate the overall ideologies of individuals at several geographic levels. And a new site called TrueViews, which I helped to produce, uses many national surveys to estimate peoples preferences on many issues within many geographic units. In sum, TrueViews covers dozens of policies and geographic units ranging from municipalities to districts to states and periods from 2009 to the present. For the first time, the data make it possible for politicians of all stripes to learn instantly what their voters want. As these capabilities become better known, they could plausibly dampen polarization and bolster representation. For politicians who would like to abide by their constituents preferences but frequently dont know what they are, the new public opinion tools supply this exact information. They enable politicians who want to be faithful delegates to be faithful delegates. What about politicians who would rather advocate other positions, like those of their parties or donors? For them, the new tools raise the cost of defying the will of the people. Candidates running against these politicians could highlight their divergence from voters preferences. Journalists could run stories about this mismatch. Activists could make it the target of protests. In some cases, these efforts might persuade these politicians to heed public opinion. In others, these politicians might be ousted from office and replaced by rivals more mindful of voters views. The new tools have the ancillary benefit of puncturing some common misconceptions about American politics. We often hear that the country is divided into red and blue (and maybe purple) states. But on many issues, public opinion doesnt correspond to this familiar partisan cleavage. There are policies that people heavily support in most states that are unpopular nearly everywhere, and there are policies on which the states line up in unusual ways. Likewise, the gradient from urban to suburban to rural areas is far from universal. Some cities have pockets of surprising conservatism. Many suburban belts are internally quite heterogeneous. And rural America is anything but monolithic, often resembling a checkerboard more than the uniform red landscape depicted by electoral maps. A generation ago, an immigration scholar wrote The American Kaleidoscope, a book about American political culture. As the new tools illustrate, this title also applies to American public opinion. Variable but nonrandom, related but not identical to partisanship, the product of myriad social, historical, and economic forces, the spatial patterns of voters views are absorbing, even entrancing. Take a look and see for yourself. Nicholas Stephanopoulos is the Kirkland and Ellis Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and a member of the academic team behind TrueViews. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In 2021, the U.S. surgeon general declared a mental health crisis across our nation particularly in adolescents. As a medical student and future pediatrician, I am deeply concerned about this adolescent mental health epidemic. In our state, nearly one quarter of children have one or more behavioral health conditions. Moreover, adolescents who are from immigrant and marginalized communities are especially vulnerable to mental health problems. This number is staggering and highlights the need for comprehensive and widely available mental health services in Tennessee. To care for all adolescents, we must consider the unique backgrounds and experiences of those from immigrant communities. These children come from multicultural families and comprise an important part of our community. Children of immigrants are underrepresented in our health care system often due to language and cultural deficiencies in healthcare services. This has impacted mental health services as well; services are not sufficiently tailored to meet the specific needs of these adolescents. Studies have shown that adolescents of immigrant backgrounds can benefit greatly from therapy services that reinforce bilingualism, cultural richness, and family togetherness, all core values that may not be highlighted in conventional mental health services. Partnership was key to acquiring necessary mental health services In addition to my clinical training, I serve as co-director of the Vanderbilt Shade Tree Pediatric Primary Care and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinics, student-run free clinics providing care to uninsured children. Having informed discussions about your care is crucial for improving your health outcomes and, ultimately, your quality of life. Serving in this role has revealed the limited mental health service options for adolescents of immigrant backgrounds particularly for those without insurance. Within our patient panel, nearly 75% of patients have a mental health diagnosis including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of these adolescents were initially referred to their school counselor and then to our adolescent psychiatry clinic due to their ineligibility for insurance. We were able to provide them psychiatric services, but as providers, we knew many could benefit greatly from long-term therapy. Unfortunately, most Tennessee schools do not have a bilingual counselor, nor anyone trained to provide culturally humble mental health services. We ultimately looked beyond our clinic and established a partnership with Family and Childrens Services, a Tennessee nonprofit organization, which has a staff of bilingual, bicultural mental health providers. This organization represents a small but powerful effort to provide culturally nuanced mental health care to adolescents from immigrant backgrounds. More: Mental health workers are responding to crisis calls with Nashville police. Here are their stories. Four ideas for closing the gap on disparities in care As we look forward to shaping the future of mental health services in our state, we must reflect on how to ensure adolescents of immigrant backgrounds are not left behind. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has recently received federal funding for a School-Based Behavioral Health Liaison Program with the goal of increasing the density of school-based mental health providers in our state. Through this new program, we have an opportunity as a community to equip mental health providers with the tools to care for adolescents from diverse backgrounds. There are several ways we can encourage policymakers to fill the gap in care for adolescent children of immigrants: Consult experts from organizations that serve bilingual, bicultural adolescents like Family and Childrens Services Implement training for school counselors on providing trauma-informed and culturally nuanced therapy Advocate for hiring bilingual and bicultural mental health providers in Tennessee schools Invest government resources in interpreter services specially trained for mental health visits In these next months, it is crucial that we advocate for high quality mental health care for all adolescents in our state, including those from immigrant backgrounds. Starina D'souza Starina Dsouza is a fourth year medical student in Tennessee. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: Ensure mental health care services for children of immigrants Former news anchor and Arizona U.S. Senate Republican nominee Kari Lake speaks during a campaign rally for Former President Donald Trump on Sept. 12, 2024, at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall in Tucson. Donald Trump has a Mark Robinson problem. And that, in turn, has given Kari Lake a Donald Trump problem. Because these days, when critics of Trump point to Robinson as an example of Trumps poor ability to judge character, they often also point to Lake. Robinson, of course, is the Republican candidate for governor in North Carolina whom Trump called Martin Luther King on steroids. Adding, I told that to Mark. I said, I think youre better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two. Of course, that was before the CNN report alleging Robinson had posted racist and sexist comments online that included support for reinstating slavery and calling himself a black NAZI! And its only gotten worse, as other outlets have unearthed other ugly, inflammatory postings. Trump has admitted his bad judgment Trumps critics have (correctly) pointed out that Trump and Robinson made a number of appearances together in North Carolina and endorsed one anothers campaigns. The closest Trump has come to acknowledging the bad judgment in that is telling a crowd in Georgia, I have a bad trait. I only like people who like me. Kari Lake also likes Trump. Worships him. And he likes her. At least he used to. How hate of Taylor Swift: Could cost Trump Arizona And now, when critics blast Trump for his connection to Robinson, and want to point out that it isnt just a single misjudgment with Trump, but a pattern, they point to Lake. For example, the radio host and former Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh posted a lengthy video commentary that begins, Its time, Republican voters, to face this music. You chose Kari Lake. You chose Mark Robinson. You chose to embrace the lies they told you. You chose to believe the lies. You chose to believe the hate they spewed . It goes on. Critics draw a line from Robinson to Lake In an article in Rolling Stone magazine, longtime Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg said, Its very possible that Kari Lake and Mark Robinson are going to make Kamala Harris president. An article in The Nation reads, Robinson is very much a product of the Trump era. His ability to go viral on social media is an essential talent, one shared by Trump and his many imitators such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kari Lake. Another article, on CNNs website, speaks about how Trump backs candidates who heap praise on him, in spite of red flags, adding, That list includes 2022 Arizona gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake, 2022 Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker, 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial contender Doug Mastriano and more. And there is this from The American Prospect, In any event, Robinson isnt that much of an outlier in todays Trumpist GOP. Remember, for example, other Trump-endorsed candidates like Kari Lake, Madison Cawthorn, or Hershel Walker. No wonder Trump no longer mentions Lake You can even find an electoral college map of the U.S. that has Kamala Harris winning the presidency under the heading, The Mark Robinson & Kari Lake cost Trump the election scenario. All of that perhaps explains why, at a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump did not even mention Robinson. He hasnt had much to say publicly about Lake recently, either. And for the first time in forever, Id guess that Lake and her campaign handlers are perfectly OK with that. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Opinion: Mark Robinson and Kari Lake could cost Trump the election Anyone who would consider voting for Donald Trump needs a reminder about the horror of the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. (Junko Kimura / Getty Images) It was a mistake to visit Los Alamos in the middle of a presidential campaign that Donald Trump might win. I get that now, after wandering around the New Mexico town that is synonymous with cliches like cautionary tale and Pandoras box and be careful what you wish for. The shadow over the Manhattan Project the undeniable feat of scientific brainpower that gave us the nuclear bomb is apparent nine miles from this haunting town, in a roadside protest sign that quotes Pope Francis speaking five years ago in Hiroshima: The possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral . It is apparent in a video at the local history museum, as scientists reflect on their work with ambivalence and pride regretful that Japanese leaders were not offered the chance to see a demonstration of a nuclear bomb and perhaps surrender before two cities were destroyed; thankful that after President Franklin Roosevelts death, President Truman followed through with the plan to use the bombs that ended World War II. Read more: Opinion: Trump proved himself unfit to be commander in chief Truman could have stopped it. He didnt, but right afterward he ordered that presidential permission was required for such action, and his administration made it official policy in a 1948 memo : U.S. presidents had the sole authority to launch nuclear weapons. If a president gives the word, the military must obey. Thats even if America has not been attacked, and even if a president is demonstrably unfit. A president, for instance, such as Trump, whose reckless, divisive term ended with his loyalists at his urging staging a deadly attack on the Capitol to try to keep him in power after he lost the 2020 election. Read more: Calmes: Donald Trump's state of mind should be under debate President Trumps last terrifying weeks in office have been a wake-up call. Never again should we allow a dangerous president to have unilateral control over nuclear launch, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Defense Secretary William J. Perry wrote in USA Today shortly after the mob rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump wasnt the first president to raise such concerns, they said, nor would he be the last. They called for ending this godlike power for all presidents to come. But presidents still have it . And Trump is now trying for a second term in a race most analysts consider too close to call a prospect so disturbing that this week more than 700 current and former national security officials signed a bipartisan letter endorsing his opponent , asking Americans to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris because Trump is impulsive and ill-informed. Just days earlier, more than 100 former Republican national security officials warned in a similar Harris endorsement that Trump's erratic nature threatens reckless and dangerous global consequences. Read more: Calmes: What's with the silence from former Trump heavyweights? A volatile temperament is one of the many reasons Trump is a national security menace. As Hillary Clinton memorably noted in her 2016 convention speech accepting the Democratic nomination: A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons. Trump has already made America less safe. In his one term, he destroyed three nuclear agreements by unilaterally pulling the U.S. out, and he refused to extend the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (a position President Biden reversed). Historian Lawrence S. Wittner, author of Confronting the Bomb , warned in July that Trump was far less interested in arms control and disarmament than in entering and winning a new nuclear arms race . This was full circle from President Carters single term 40 years earlier, in the midst of the Cold War. He signed the second Strategic Arms Limitation Talks treaty (SALT II) with the Soviet Union in 1979 and told Congress that every president since the end of World War II has sought to reduce the most dangerous elements of the Soviet-American competition. Three of those presidents were Democrats and three were Republicans. This was a bipartisan project for decades, both before and after Carter. But President George W. Bush withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001, and 15 years later came Trump. We need to get back to reducing the risk of nuclear war. However, says author Steve Olson, who wrote about the Manhattan Projects plutonium reactors in The Apocalypse Factory , that is not going to happen with any Republican administration if Republicans continue on their current path. How about sending them on a field trip to Los Alamos? The Bradbury Science Museum there features a short film called Racing Toward Dawn , an allusion to the dawn of the atomic era. It recounts the two nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. The Manhattan Project had unleashed a force never before seen, the narrator says. Each strike claimed tens of thousands of lives and left the cities in ruins. The devastation of these attacks, along with the Soviet entry into the war on Aug. 8, compelled the Japanese to surrender. The war ended on Aug. 14. More than 50 million people had died because of the conflict . And the lab at Los Alamos moved on to improving atomic weapons, described in the film as refining the nations nuclear deterrent. What happened at Los Alamos was both a triumph and a tragedy. Whats inarguable is that nuclear deterrent is a nerve-racking concept, especially if voters once again hand the godlike power to launch a nuclear strike to Donald Trump. Jill Lawrence is a writer and author of The Art of the Political Deal: How Congress Beat the Odds and Broke Through Gridlock. @JillDLawrence If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The headlines from the last months are telling: In Arizona, two people were arrested after a multi-agency investigation into a $2.3 million retail theft ring. Eight people were sentenced for stealing $1.7 million of high-end goods in what California Attorney General Rob Bonta called a dangerous, coordinated scheme. A Tennessee man was charged with stealing nearly $475,000 in electronics and reselling them online. These are just a sampling of the arrests and investigations into organized retail crime nationwide. Solving the multi-million-dollar problem will require retailers, online marketplaces and law enforcement to coordinate efforts. Institutions such as eBay, where I lead the North American Criminal and Regulatory Investigations team, have made real strides in addressing organized retail crime, but without action from the federal government, our efforts can only address a fraction of the issue. Organized retail crime is not simple petty theft but involves sophisticated criminal organizations with multiple layers designed to evade law enforcement. Bad actors steal millions of dollars in merchandise from retailers to resell it online or on the black market. Both retailers and consumers, who face higher prices to cover losses and additional security measures, pay for organized retail crime. But the costs extend beyond the economic. In 2022, 81 percent of retailers said organized retail crime perpetrators had grown more violent over the previous year, according to a poll from the National Retail Federation. The next year, 67 percent said offenders had become even more violent. Moreover, some of the criminal groups associated with organized retail crime also partake in narcotics and human trafficking. The size and scale of the problem explain why eBay has invested billions in making our platform safer. Advanced AI tools and highly trained inspectors constantly monitor our listings to identify and remove potentially stolen or prohibited items. Thanks to these efforts, 99.2 percent of prohibited item violations were blocked last year before ever appearing on eBay. Additionally, my team proudly partners with retailers and law enforcement agents nationwide to investigate and prosecute these cases. Our work with CVS helped prevent an estimated $50 million from being stolen from the pharmacies last year. This week, the Western States Organized Retail Crime Alliance is holding its annual conference at the eBay campus in Salt Lake City the first time an ecommerce company has ever hosted such an event. This gathering has brought together loss prevention executives from leading national retailers, law enforcement officials from across the western U.S., and prosecutors who are increasingly prioritizing the fight against organized retail crime. The conference has been a goldmine of ideas and criminals worst nightmare, with professionals exchanging best practices, building new connections, and even sharing tips on active investigations. A keynote speech from Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes confirmed what we have been seeing as those of us in attendance have investigated organized retail crime cases this is no longer a secondary crime. Attorneys general across the nation are putting real resources into stopping these crime rings, starting task forces, partnering with retailers, and working with companies like eBay to fight back. In California, for instance, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a new law last month that makes it easier to prosecute these cases and enforce existing laws. Now, its time for the federal government to step up as well. Fortunately, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) have introduced the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which would go a long way toward ending these activities. If passed, the law would launch a Center to Combat Organized Retail Crime at Homeland Security Investigations. The new center would bring together representatives from industry and state and local law enforcement agents. The bipartisan law would also establish new tools to help in federal investigation and prosecution. We all lose from organized retail crime, whether its through paying higher prices, needing to ask for help to buy baby formula kept behind a lock and key or the loss of tax revenue. Passing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would be a win and an important step in stemming this growing problem. Christian Hardman leads eBays North America Criminal and Regulatory Investigations team. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A geothermal plant near the Salton Sea in Imperial County. Residents of the economically distressed area worry that companies coming to the region to extract lithium will reap the rewards while local communities suffer. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Imperial County consistently ranks among the most economically distressed places in California. Its Salton Sea, the states biggest and most toxic lake , is an environmental disaster. The county also happens to be sitting on enough lithium to produce nearly 400 million batteries , sufficient to completely shift Americas auto industry to electric and, if officials manage this moment carefully, to revolutionize the local economy and political culture. This doesnt need to come at the expense of the environment; companies are pioneering a method to extract the mineral from underground briny water and inject the water back into the ground in a closed loop, yielding the cleanest, greenest lithium on the planet . Read more: Column: The lithium revolution has arrived at California's Salton Sea Its understandable why the prospect of a new clean industry, a white gold rush, would be appealing to residents. Capitalizing on the resource is not simple, however. If industry is allowed to drive the process completely, the result could be further economic and environmental exploitation. Theres a better way forward, though an opportunity to ensure that residents directly benefit from the lithium extraction boom, while supporting the global shift to clean energy and ensuring that companies that invest in the Imperial Valley can turn a profit. This pocket of California is emblematic of the potential and the risks that have long faced impoverished communities in resource-rich regions. As often happens, public officials have been working to roll out the red carpet for big investors, including trying to create a clear plan for infrastructure and a quicker permitting process. To get community groups support, they are playing up the potential for jobs, including company commitments to hire local workers . Read more: The Salton Sea is now smelly all year long and making people's asthma worse. The culprit? Bacteria But Imperial Valley residents, who have been on the receiving end of get-rich schemes around water and real estate in the past, are worried that their political leaders may be giving away the store. Decades of racial exclusion and broken promises have led to a deep distrust of outsiders who assert that things will be better this time. Irrigation at the turn of the last century was supposed to bring an agriculture boom, but the early result was a broken canal that released enough water over nearly two years of disrepair to create what is now the Salton Sea . The Salton Sea was then supposed to fuel tourism , but the failure to replenish it with anything but agricultural runoff helped kill fish, birds and recreation . In recent decades, a plan to attract solar farms delivered little employment and more worries about agricultural displacement . A lithium boom could be different, but there is cause for caution. Read more: Op-Ed: Restore the Salton Sea not to its former size but to its role in the ecosystem Todays battery technology necessary for electric vehicles and energy storage relies on minerals including cobalt, magnesium, nickel and graphite. And mineral extraction is often accompanied by obscured environmental risks . In Imperial Valley, environmental and community organizations are worried about lithium extractions water use as well as waste and air pollution as production steps up and truck traffic increases. The regions childhood asthma rate is already more than twice the national average and dust from the drying lake is toxic , so any extra environmental health risk is a big deal. Local communities are also concerned about how much benefit they will see while the industry profits. They note that the electric vehicle boom driving lithium demand occurred precisely because of public policy. Tesla, for example, has benefited from multiple rounds of state and federal zero-emissions-vehicle incentives, including the sale of emissions credits that accounted for 85% of Teslas gross margin in 2009 and rose to $1.8 billion a year by 2023 . Behind these policies and financial incentives have been public will and taxpayer money. Imperial Valley residents, not just companies, deserve a return. Rather than promising to only pay for community benefits, such as environmental mitigation, contributions to municipal coffers or jobs, the companies extracting lithium could make payments directly to the people and communities that live there. There are models for this type of approach. The Alaska Permanent Fund , for example, gives an annual amount to all state residents from oil extraction revenue. Ensuring that the surrounding communities benefit from a new lithium boom also requires thinking about how to attract not just the companies extracting the lithium but those that will use it further down the supply chain and generate more and better jobs. So far, Imperial County has had limited success in attracting related industries. Last year, a company said it would build a gigafactory there to assemble batteries. However, the companys previous efforts in the United Kingdom and Italy have stalled. A potentially promising future for modern transportation and energy storage may be brewing in Imperial Valley. But getting to a brighter future will require remembering a lesson from the past: Community investments tend to be hard-won. Ensuring that everyone benefits is essential for achieving a more inclusive and sustainable future. Manuel Pastor is a professor of sociology and director of the Equity Research Institute at USC. Chris Benner is a professor and the director of the Institute for Social Transformation at UC Santa Cruz. They are co-authors of Charging Forward: Lithium Valley, Electric Vehicles and a Just Future . This article was produced in partnership with the Conversation . 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. A few chapters into Margaret Atwoods magnum opus The Handmaids Tale, the protagonist recalls watching a group of people standing in the winter air lighting books and magazines on fire. It is a memory from before, when the America in the book was teetering on the edge of patriarchal theocratic rule. The reader already knows what is coming, but that doesnt dull the danger. The Velshi Banned Book Club has been featuring literature like The Handmaids Tale for nearly 2.5 years. This weekend will mark our 100th meeting. Every single author we interview and work of literature we profile from universally beloved classics to contemporary, buzzy novels serves to highlight this intensely scary moment. Every act of censorship, every attempted removal, and every ban is a flashing red warning sign we cant ignore. Censorship efforts are getting worse. PEN America, a nonprofit that supports free speech, has been collecting data on book banning and censorship for decades. According to PEN, there were over 10,000 books removed or challenged from public schools in the past school year. According to reporting from various news outlets, including The New York Times, many of those book bans are occurring in states, like Iowa, Utah and Florida, where new laws support overt censorship. Many of these lawmakers have aligned themselves with so-called parental rights groups that advocate for restricting books lest children stumble upon something inappropriate. The problem is, of course, that such legislation leaves what is and isnt appropriate intentionally vague. And what ends up falling into the inappropriate category, again and again, are books that explore LGBTQ+ identity, what it means to be Black in America today, and womens sexuality. And that includes novels that grapple with the realities of sexual assault and rape. These are the topics that are disproportionately banned and targeted every single day. 10,000 times in the past school year. And when youre a reader who is Black, or queer, or dealing with the trauma of sexual assault, removing a book that speaks to your experience signals your story doesnt deserve to be told. The goal isnt to hand every kindergartener a copy of Lolita and leave it at that. Thats obviously ridiculous, and ignores the way young people actually read. It also grossly undermines the importance of freedom of speech. It should be up to you, your family and your children to decide what is appropriate and when it is appropriate. These are not decisions that should be delegated to groups of lawmakers, select power-hungry parents, or far-right advocacy groups. Censoring books isnt better for so-called parental rights, it isnt pro-family, and it certainly isnt pro-democracy. Every week, members of our book club write in (and please do write to us at mystory@velshi.com) and ask what can be done. The answer is read. When you borrow a book from your local library, support your local bookshop and interact with your local school board, you are actively and directly resisting the systematic elimination of these books and the degradation of your freedom. Literature contributes, in no short order, to the cultural fabric of our nation. There is something in the pages of each of these novels that is so important, so threatening, that the only solution is to take them away. Find out what it is. Read as resistance. Dont ignore the warning. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com On July 19, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) started an Instagram Live stream with the caption This messy moment. Over the course of nearly an hour, she spoke extemporaneously about the drama within the Democratic Party over whether President Biden should remain the nominee. She promised to deliver the straight truth about how ss hitting the fan, and the chaos and enormous peril if Biden steps aside. The stream reached an audience of millions. It made national headlines. Of course, two days later, it would all be for naught. Biden announced he was quitting the race via a letter posted to his social media accounts. Whatever you think about Ocasio-Cortez, the Instagram Live that night showed she has cultivated an authentic connection with her audience. It may not feel particularly familiar to people who expect and embrace the proper etiquette of American politics, but thats precisely the point. AOC is Extremely Online, as they say, but she has made it work because its not artificial. That stands in stark contrast to the months-long effort to make Vice President Kamala Harris brat to clunkily attach her to a cool movement (based around pop star Charli XCXs new album) that she would glom onto through artifice and cultural deception. Looking at Harriss social media output, one doubts that she even knows the password to get into her accounts. Its all meaningless and hollow clumsily constructed campaign slogans and low-level social media marketer-speak. It is indistinguishable from what we would get if we asked ChatGPT to do the job. But its not surprising Harris oozes inauthenticity. Witness how she stumbled last week through an overly-produced town hall with Oprah Winfrey, in which she happily took a backseat to the festivities. On the other side of the aisle, former President Donald Trump deserves a plaque in the Twitter Hall of Fame one of the true champions when it comes to the craft and artistry of posting. He happily veers into the Extremely Online world while firing off missives like I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT, which he actually posted on Truth Social, which he owns. This surely makes his advisors, and detractors, cringe. But its not far off from the type of content he has enjoyed wading into on social media for decades like in 2012, when he felt very strongly that Robert Pattinson should dump Kristen Stewart, his Twilight co-star. And then theres Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who uses social media in a way no American political figure has before. Earlier this month, Vance responded to a brief comment on X about daycare from Hannah Anderson, a Christian writer, by delivering a point-by-point, 350-word policy dissertation in the unlimited-character posting format that Elon Musk brought to the platform. It was nuanced, thoughtful and purely authentic and unmistakably written by JD himself. As journalist Zaid Jilani noted, Its hilarious how JD Vance dropped a whole policy manifesto in a Twitter reply and Kamala Harris cant describe one policy in this level of detail in a televised interview. A week later, it would be Jilani who got a lengthy X reply from Vance, about the Extremely Online issue of his and Trumps claims about Haitian immigrants eating the pets in Springfield, Ohio. Vance began his response with dude, Ive always liked you, so maybe this should be a longer conversation He then laid out his take on how immigration hurts the working class more broadly. It was a fascinating exchange, and one that left Jilani, a longtime liberal who runs The American Saga Substack, with a respect for Vance, despite their disagreements. Vance is very intellectually curious, Jilani told me. He reads stuff on the left and the right. Hes very online, and spends a lot of time in that theory and debate spacein a way most lawmakers dont. Despite the casual dude beginning to the X reply, Jilani says he has only met Vance once in person, before he was a senator. At the time, Vance noted that he read Jilanis work. Jilani is also friendly with Vances chief of staff, Jacob Reses. Its refreshing to see somebody whos involved in government and politics actually be that responsive, Jilani said about the exchanges, not just with him but with others on X. He put a lot of thought and effort into allaying someones concerns. Both Vance and AOC are millennials, so, as Jilani notes, they probably grew up writing social media posts unlike the elderly Biden, or Gen Xer Harris. But Vances online persona notably matches his in-real-life persona which only adds to the perception that the online engagements are the real JD. Vance has answered questions from more than 100 interviewers in the time since he joined the GOP ticket and thats not including a vast number of casual opportunities for constituents to engage with him. Trump may be the Poster President, but Vance has more of a sheen of intellectualism, Jilani told me. And its quite obviously natural to who he is. This is a skillset that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) may have trouble with when he meets Vance on the debate stage on Tuesday. And no matter how it goes when the bright lights are on in the most traditional of political formats, Vance will likely be back on X soon for some more intellectual curiosity and thoughtful combat. Maybe being Extremely Online isnt such a bad thing especially when its juxtaposed with the stilted emptiness on the opposing ticket. Steve Krakauer, a NewsNation contributor, is the author of Uncovered: How the Media Got Cozy with Power, Abandoned Its Principles, and Lost the People and editor and host of the Fourth Watch newsletter and podcast. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Courthouse bureaucrats are helping a left-wing dark money group exploit the judicial system to destroy American traditional energy companies. The Federal Judicial Center (FJC), the federal agency in charge of research and education for federal judges and judicial staff, has partnered with a leftist group called the Climate Judiciary Project, according to a new oversight report. Im concerned that this collaboration means court staff are helping far-left climate activists lobby and direct judges behind closed doors. Green New Deal policies are deeply unpopular with the American public. Instead of advancing policies that will benefit Americans, the left is funding lawsuits and trainings to achieve them. Since 2017, left-wing groups have donated millions of dollars to law firms like Sher Edling, which has filed over 20 unprecedented lawsuits alleging that oil and gas companies are liable for weather-related damages because they knowingly caused climate change. Around the same time these lawsuits popped up, the Environmental Law Institute, a nonprofit climate advocacy organization, launched the Climate Judiciary Project to provide judges with education on climate science, the impact of climate change, and the ways climate is arising in the law. To date, the Climate Judiciary Project has briefed more than 2,000 state and federal judges on how to establish a body of law supporting action on climate change. As the report details, the organizations funding comes from the same sources bankrolling the climate change lawsuits. Activist academics participating in the climate litigation prepared the Climate Judiciary Projects educational curriculum, which is full of rigged, made-for-litigation studies. The taxpayer-funded FJC whose stated mission is to support the efficient, effective administration of justice and judicial independence is compromising its credibility and mission by helping these climate activists, who by all appearances are facilitating plaintiffs suits through ex parte communications with judges. That is the opposite of judicial independence. From my post on the Senate Judiciary Committee, I watched many of my Democratic colleagues grill President Trumps judicial nominees over participating in events hosted by certain non-profits. Unlike the Climate Judiciary Project, these nominees were transparent in disclosing their participation to the committee. The events they attended were also almost always public, unlike the Climate Judiciary Projects private judges-only briefings. Moreover, those events were forums to debate and discuss the law not indoctrination sessions where activists sought to influence outcomes of specific cases. Imagine the hue and cry from these same colleagues if FJC was hosting events with a right-leaning organization. FJC must publicly renounce future collaborations with the Climate Judiciary Project and publicly share the content it has previously distributed at these events. FJC should also share what criteria, if any, it uses to assess the propriety of partnerships with third-party groups. Failure to do so represents an ongoing and substantial ethics issue for the FJC, and by extension, our courts. Furthermore, governors, state lawmakers and state attorneys general should contact their state judicial administrative agencies to ensure they are not hosting or endorsing Climate Judiciary Project programming. The justices of the Supreme Court should also take note of the Climate Judiciary Projects corrupt influence campaign. A certiorari petition in Sunoco v. City and County of Honolulu is currently pending before their court. The case is a potential landmark, asking whether suits of the kind Climate Judiciary Project champions can even proceed. The organizations underhanded campaign reveals the essentially political nature of these climate cases and weighs in favor of the high court taking the case. Indeed, the counsel of record for the Honolulu case is Sher Edling. Not only does Sher Edling have the same left-wing funding sources as the Climate Judiciary Project, but it also relies on the same left-wing law professors. For instance, UCLA law professor Ann Carlson, the Biden-Harris administrations failed nominee to head up the countrys highway safety agency, assisted Sher Edling on these climate change cases and helped to develop the Climate Judiciary Projects curriculum. Issues like these prompted House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and me to conduct a joint investigation into Sher Edlings operations, which, as we will soon publicly detail, has revealed new information regarding its backers. The Climate Judiciary Projects website anonymously quotes a judge who received one of its climate briefings. The judge said courts have a legal need to be gatekeepers about good and bad science. Thats absolutely true. But the Climate Judiciary Projects partnership with the FJC betrays a different kind of gatekeeping function one that privileges certain parties and causes over others. That is contrary to judicial independence and to the FJCs mission. It must stop. Ted Cruz is Texass junior U.S. senator and its former solicitor general. He is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonights 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here. State of play: 40 days to the election Decision Desk HQ average : Kamala Harris +4.1, as of around noon ET today. Click here to see the latest numbers. PredictIt betting odds: 56 to 46 in favor of Harris. Say a prayer: Tonight, hundreds of people will call 911 as waters rise around them in Floridas big bend they will beg for rescue from Hurricane Helenes storm surge. Their pleas will go unanswered because its simply too dangerous for crews to head out. Many will die. I know this because it happened a few years ago during Hurricane Ian. If you want proof of what 15 feet of a storm surge can do, look at the before and after of my parents home on Fort Myers Beach. That was two years ago. We are lucky and have the resources to rebuild many of our neighbors do not. Still today, much of Fort Myers Beach looks like a war zone and I say that having been to many war zones. Tonight, many will die because they didnt or couldnt heed evacuation warnings but thousands or tens of thousands of others will be left with nothing; their dreams, their retirement savings, their businesses will be swallowed in a wall of water and insurance wont cover it. So say a prayer and lend a thought because a lot of Americans need it tonight. Look forward: Disaster politics will be in full swing. Who shows up first: Donald Trump or Joe Biden or Kamala Harris? What do they promise to Georgia? Last thought: In times past, when hurricanes came ashore, tonight or tomorrow night, wed be joined by Waffle House CEO and my good friend Walt Ehmer from the hurricane zone. Ehmer led from the front and helped reopen Waffle Houses in the hours after the hurricanes hit with prepositioned refrigerator trucks, generators and extra employees. Ehmer and his team would head in often before the National Guard and reopen stores for decades, the FEMA operations center in D.C. would call Waffle House to see how bad the storm was. As a young correspondent chasing storms, I remember our first hot meal in days often coming at a Waffle House, eating with police and other first responders as everything else remained closed. After Hurricane Ian, Ehmer joined us from ground zero. One thing we can do is feed people, he told me its worth listening to the interview. Walt Ehmer died a few weeks ago after a heroic battle with cancer no surprise he died doing what he did best: helping people. In his final days, he volunteered to try a new cancer drug in the hope that it might save others. I am told, For the past several days, the team at Waffle House has been working hard to be ready to serve communities hit hard by Hurricane Helene Walt would have been right there with them. Programming alert: Former Ambassador John Bolton joins us tonight to discuss the State Departments $20 million reward for the capture of an Iranian who tried to hire an assassin to kill Bolton and, as we predicted, why the Israelis told President Biden to take his cease-fire proposal and shove it. New York City Mayor Eric Adams talks to the press outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor of New York City, on September 26, 2024, after he was indicted on federal criminal charges. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) Spare Me The indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams is laughable. No, you shouldnt take free business-class tickets or suites at the St. Regis Its wrong Its unethical Its illegal The text messages show he knew that From the indictment, as highlighted by Politicos Playbook newsletter: Adams staffer: He is also asking where else they can go in Turkey Do you have a recommendation? Airline manager: Four Seasons Adams staffer: Is too expensive Airline manager: Why does he care? He is not going to pay His name will not be on anything. either Adams staffer: Super But seriously after years of investigative work and a major press conference with the U.S. district attorney and the representative of the FBI in New York City, this is the best they have?! The U.S. district attorney called it a grave breach of the publics trust. The FBI assistant director in charge of the New York field office said, No one is above the law or beyond reproach. The press conference made it sound like they took down the notoriously corrupt Lyndon B. Johnson or Al Capone. Of all the grease in New York politics, we are to believe this is the worst?! Spare me! The power of public office should never be abused that includes prosecutors going after the political enemies of their bosses. Look back: Adams was the first to ring the alarm bells about the Biden border disaster. Quid pro quo: Corruption cases require payments for official acts The alleged payment : Business-class tickets on Turkish airlines for Adams and his friends The quo: Moving up a fire inspection to open a Turkish consulate that was going to open anyway It sounds a lot like the head of Stalins secret police, Lavrenty Beria: Show me the man, and Ill find you the crime. Be fair: Turkish airlines doesnt hand out free business-class tickets for nothing. But seriously, all the gang violence, drug running, fentanyl deaths, terrorist sympathizers in the United States and the FBI dedicated tens of thousands of man hours on a sped-up fire inspection. Or maybe Adams is the sacrificial lamb so the Biden Department of Justice can say they go after Democrats too. Click here for Team Bidens response. Big picture: Yesterday, Stacey Plaskett, a nonvoting member of the House of Representatives, said how Democrats really feel about the FBI and DOJ, saying their primary function is to serve as a check against white nationalism, great replacement theorists, Christian nationalists, white fragility, fascists, and the twice impeached convicted felon, former president and would-be dictator Donald Trump. Wow just wow. You didnt see or hear that anywhere else, do you? As I tweeted: My job as a journalist is to ask questions so here it goes what would happen to a member of congress if they gave (the) same speech but replaced white and Christian with pro Palestinian and Muslim or violent members of BLM movement or Venezuelan gangs? Vice President and Democratic nominee for President Kamala Harris speaks at an event hosted by The Economic Club of Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University on September 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) Holistic = Equity Yesterdays MSNBC interview with Vice President Harris did not change any minds thats because the 30% of swing voters who say they need to learn more about Harris arent watching MSNBC! The Right keeps trashing Harris interview for lack of specifics and because she has no plans. Of course she does Take her answer on housing: Looking holistically at the connection between that and housing, and looking holistically at the incentives we in the federal government can create for local and state governments to actually engage in planning in a holistic manner that includes prioritizing affordable housing for working people. (emphasis ours) What those words mean, nobody knows, but maybe that is the point But you only have to know one word Holistic is an excuse to deal with the root causes, which always means more government intervention and spending to create equity Rather than just dealing with the problem, the government must grow in size, spending and control. More holism: Take the border, which she will visit tomorrow, as Harris admits in the interview she wont just close the border there must be a comprehensive approach, like a path to citizenship. Bigger pictures: Does anybody, even her staff, think she is good at this? It doesnt matter. Remember what Stephanie Ruhle said: If you dont like her answer, are you going to vote for Trump? Kamala Harris is not running for perfect, she is running against Trump. We have two choices. There are some things that you might not know her answer too. In 2024, we know exactly what Trump will do, who he is, and the kind of threat he is to democracy. Thought bubble: When the anchor who promised to cover for you feels compelled to point out you didnt answer the questions, its pretty bad. Be fair: This is the exact same campaign President Biden ran and won on. Long list: Every day now, our buddy Alex Thompson is out in Axios with another one of Kamala Harris positions on a major progressive priority that she wont talk about today is ending the filibuster for the Green New Deal Thompson writes about other previously-supported policies of hers that shes silent on now: That includes: Ending the death penalty, imposing an electric vehicle mandate, decriminalizing prostitution, providing reparations for slavery, and issuing executive actions for undocumented people brought here as children. Tune into On Balance with Leland Vittert weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Last week, House Republicans voted on a slew of China-related national security measures. The agenda undeniably included some important legislation, but unfortunately the final list of bills omitted major priorities that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had publicly committed to address. Among the important legislation passed were several non-controversial, bipartisan bills aimed at China-related threats. These included measures such as the BIOSECURE Act, which would prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to contract with Chinese military-linked biotechnology firms. The House also passed bills to check Chinas dominance of the U.S. drone market, increase scrutiny over exports of critical technologies to China, prohibit tax credits for Chinas heavily subsidized electric vehicles, and potentially strip special privileges for Hong Kongs diplomatic outposts, which now essentially grant China an extra set of consulates in the U.S. While long overdue, these are all encouraging steps. However, the success of China Week was undermined by several glaring omissions. For example, The House didnt address the de minimis tariff loophole, which provides duty-free treatment for any shipment valued under $800 and has become a backdoor free trade agreement with China. The U.S. receives about a billion of these shipments each year, over 60 percent of them from China alone, allowing hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese imports to evade tariffs and overwhelm customs inspectors. After the House failed to act, the White House immediately capitalized by enacting de minimis reforms that Republicans support but werent able to vote on. Most critically, the agenda for China Week didnt include measures to prohibit Wall Street from funding the development of military technology inside China itself. U.S. investments into China are mostly unrestricted and run into the trillions of dollars, with at least tens of billions supporting Chinas military buildup and communist atrocities. President Biden has taken executive action to address some flows of U.S. capital into Americas top adversary, but congressional action remains essential. Stopping the funding of Americas destruction is arguably Congress most urgent responsibility when it comes to China, yet certain Wall Street-friendly members have repeatedly foiled efforts to do so. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the lame duck chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is one of the chief culprits who, along with other Wall Street-aligned lawmakers, continues to block scrutiny for investments in Chinese military technology. This intransigence is all the more frustrating because Johnson highlighted both outbound investment and the tariff loophole as important aspects of China week in a major speech just a few months ago. These items being forced off the agenda undoubtedly sends a mixed message to Americas adversaries in the Chinese Communist Party. On the one hand, the House took some strong actions to check China-related threats. On the other hand, some members still fight to perpetuate the U.S.-China economic interdependence built up over decades of blind engagement with China, which the Chinese communists eagerly leverage to undermine U.S. economic and national security. House Republican leadership created the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to chart a path forward on these very issues. By all accounts, that idea worked. The Select Committee forged a bipartisan consensus to reform the de minimis loophole and strengthen scrutiny on U.S. investments in China, among many other issues. On matters of national security, House Republicans should heed their national security experts not the minority who think that Wall Streets dealings with China should remain hidden and untouchable. Weve seen this battle play out before, when Congress deliberates China legislation that makes sense for everyday Americans but is unpopular with economic elites. In 2021 a bill to ban the imports of Chinese slave labor products faced fierce opposition from big business and President Bidens climate czar John Kerry. Once it was put up for a vote, however, it passed overwhelmingly. Similarly, when Congress was preparing to force Chinas Communist Party to divest from TikTok earlier this year, the company mobilized high-profile donors and former officials to lobby on its behalf. Yet the TikTok bill also passed by an overwhelming vote after it was brought to the floor. Curbing Chinas abuse of trade loopholes and halting the unrestricted flow of U.S. capital into Chinas military-industrial complex would play out the same way. If Congress has the courage to put these policies to a vote, they would almost certainly pass with overwhelming majorities. Its well past time to do so. Bryan Burack is a senior policy advisor for China and the Indo-Pacific at The Heritage Foundation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president this year, knows she faces an enthusiasm gap with Black male voters. But does she know how to reach them? Its very important to not operate from the assumption that Black men are in anybodys pocket, Harris said recently during an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists. You got to earn their vote. So, Im working to earn the vote. She could start by literally meeting Black men where they are: the barbershop. Although Harris attended a panel in a South Carolina barbershop in November 2019, she seems to have spent little time visiting Black barbershops during her current bid for the presidency to her detriment. In addition to several Black male celebrities who have associated themselves with Donald Trump, such as actor and rapper Ice Cube (star of the movie Barbershop), a new NAACP poll reveals that more than one-fourth of Black men under 50 plan to vote for Trump. Harris could easily make her case in the thousands of barbershops that dot America. It is there where Black men of varied socioeconomic status and age gather to get haircuts, while socializing and discussing issues of the day. For those who say a woman cant connect with men in such a space, I did. I spent two years hanging out in a barbershop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, researching my upcoming book, The Headmasters of Brooklyn: Barbering, Blackness, and Brotherhood. When I tell people about my work, their first question is, What was it like being a woman in that space? rather than, What were Black men discussing? Or: What are their cares and concerns? Black male constituents deserve to have the Democratic nominee for the presidency demonstrate they matter to her. Harris may sit in the situation room in her role as vice president, but a lack of presence in Black barbershops seems to rest on a troubling notion: that women, especially women of color, need to ask permission or have a surrogate to enter male-dominated spaces. Harriss women constituents need to see her confidently present in these predominantly male public spaces. If I can enter a Black barbershop to conduct ethnographic research for several years, then Harris can tour barbershops in Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, Milwaukee and beyond to chat with Black men. Harriss team has effectively used social media and influencers to target Gen Z. Harris has toured dozens of small, local businesses. She should remember the barbershop is a historically important business and social space for Black communities. Black barbershops have been sites for people to organize politically against racial inequality and to get Black men who have been disenchanted with electoral politics registered to vote. Doctors have even used the barbershop to improve public health, training barbers to screen customers for hypertension and other conditions that disproportionately affect Black men and often go undiagnosed and untreated. Because barbershops in working-class urban neighborhoods are also frequented by middle-class Black men who live in more affluent, suburban areas, the barbershop could also be a site for Harris to reach suburban, politically moderate swing voters and older generations who are less likely to encounter her messages on social media. She could reach Black men who are eligible but not registered to vote. Harris could recruit Black barbers to talk to their customers about making a plan to vote, verify their voter registration at voter-registration stations, and outline the main issues on the ballot. Harris, who has mostly avoided discussing her race and gender, should lean into the powerful optics of Black barbershops, just as President Biden and former President Barack Obama did. She should keep the longstanding tradition of Black politicians visiting the barbershop during their campaign to signal her interest and commitment to the issues and needs of Black communities. Unlike myself, who spent years in one barbershop listening to the mens organic conversations, Harris has less than two months to build rapport with Black men across the country. Harris will have to enter with a set agenda and be prepared to discuss criminal legal reform and housing insecurity, conditions that make it difficult for Black men to vote. Shatima Jenique Jones is a clinical assistant professor in the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University and a Public Voices Fellow. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the attempted murder and criminal trespass guilty verdict of a Mason City man who claimed the court systemically excluded African Americans from the jury pool. Trapp Leroy Trotter Jr., 37, was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison following an April 2019 jury trial. Prosecutors said he stabbed Andrew Nodtvedt of Manly, who was 25 at the time, multiple times on June 2, 2018, near Schoolside Apartments, an income-based complex in the 600 block of Seventh Street North in Northwood. Trotter claimed he acted in self-defense. The trial was moved from Worth County to Bremer County because of pretrail publicity. During the trial, the defense challenged the composition of the all-white jury, arguing jury pools over the previous year underrepresented Black potential jurors in Bremer County, according to the Sept. 16 Iowa Court of Appeals ruling. The court denied that challenge. Only 1.4% of the jury-eligible population in Bremer County is Black. In his appeal, Trotter's defense stated a member of the jury pool had served on a previous jury pool in the county just two weeks earlier, even though those who complete jury service are supposed to be excused from serving again for two years. The juror was white, which the defense cited as evidence that the jury selection process is unfair. However, the state argued the failure to excuse the juror was inadvertent, and even if the juror had not been chosen, the chances of a non-white juror being selected instead was miniscule because of the overwhelmingly white population of Bremer County. During the jury trial, Nodtvedt claimed he was hanging out with Andre Hill when some guy came and started fighting with him because he didn't like that he was white, according to court documents. Andrew stated the male pushed him into his car and chased him into Andres apartment, court documents said. Nodtvedt claimed that he did not know the man who chased him into the apartment. Charging documents claim Trotter then started stabbing Nodvedt. Nodtvedt told law enforcement Trotter started fighting with him "because he didn't like that he was white" and, after stabbing him, chased him while yelling, "You're going to die tonight, white boy," according to court documents. Nodtvedt had multiple stab and slash wounds to his torso. He was treated and released from a local hospital. A criminal mischief charge related to hate crime legislation was dismissed. Kamala Harris owes her general election strategy to having avoided the Democratic primaries. It wasnt just Bidens withdrawal that was crucial for Kamala, but its timing. Had Harris been forced to run in the 2024 primaries, she likely wouldnt have survived. If she had, she would have been unable to run away from her past positions now. Despite being vice president in the current administration, Kamala Harris is trying to cast herself as a candidate for change. Nowhere has that change been more evident than in her positions on several politically sensitive issues. When Harris was in the Senate, she cosponsored the extremist environmental legislation the Green New Deal. She also supported banning fracking something noted both in her first post-nomination interview with CNN and then in her debate with Donald Trump. When Harris was in the Senate, she also excoriated the Trump administration over its efforts to stem illegal immigration. She visited the border in California to demonstrate her opposition and she castigated the Immigration and Nationalization Service over accusations (later proved to be a hoax) that it had whipped people trying to enter the U.S, illegally. When called out on these in her Aug. 29 CNN interview Harris said the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed. When these same reversals were noted in the Sept. 8 presidential debate Harris stated: So my values have not changed. In addition to these notable reversals, Harris also accentuated her past as a prosecutor, saying: So Im the only person on this stage who has prosecuted transnational criminal organizations for the trafficking of guns, drugs, and human beings, and even her gun ownership: Tim Walz and I are both gun owners. Regardless of whether you accept Harriss explanation of her position reversals, she is clearly trying to run more toward the center and away from her own leftist past. Harris could not have even attempted to make such a case had she been forced to run in the Democratic primaries. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson decided to not seek reelection. Vice President Hubert Humphrey picked up the administrations standard, ran in the Democratic primaries, and won the Democrat nomination. Had President Joe Biden withdrawn at the beginning of 2024 instead of after winning the essentially uncontested primaries the 1968 scenario would have repeated itself. An open 2024 Democratic contest would have brought another flood of aspirants just as in 2020. The contest would again have been waged on the political spectrums left as in 2020 because thats where the Democrats majority resides. According to Gallup, 54 percent of Democrats identify as liberals an all-time high. Not only are they on the left, they are on the far left: another Gallup poll found in 2020 that just over three-quarters (76 percent) of Democrats would support a socialist for president if their party nominated one. And with a 2020-repeat, Kamala Harris would likely have lost again just as she had four years earlier. Carrying the administrations mantle, Harris would have been hobbled by its slew of policy liabilities, which Harris would have had to defend to the political left. Nor would she have had the entire Democratic apparatus behind her or its money: Harris inability to put together a winning staff in 2020 and her lack of money were both elements that drove her from the race before she reached the starting line. But even had Harris survived the Democrats nomination contest, the process would have driven her so far left that she could not then have successfully moved herself back to the center just months later. Harris could never have won the Democratic nomination by saying she no longer wanted to ban fracking, no longer supported decriminalizing illegal immigration, by accentuating her background as a prosecutor and that she owned a gun. And these would not have been her biggest liabilities. She would have had to tie herself in knots trying to address the Biden-Harris administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war an issue on which Americans rate Biden extremely poorly. Regardless of whether you accept that Kamala Harris has indeed changed her positions something Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) does not buy she would not have been able to attempt it in the first place. Harriss current general election strategy would have been undermined before it even began. The establishment media would have naturally tried to close arms around whomever the Democrats nominated; however, ignoring Harriss previously stated goals would have been impossible, had her left positions of 2020 been reiterated in early 2024 for months, not far removed at all from the general election. Kamala Harris 2024 is only viable now because Kamala Harris 2020 is mostly forgotten. Kamala Harris 2024 wants to keep it that way, which is why she is running away from her own past. She could never have done this without Bidens help. Harris owes Biden for his withdrawal. but she owes him even more for its timing. J.T. Young was a professional staffer in the House and Senate from 1987 to 2000, served in the Department of Treasury and Office of Management and Budget from 2001 to 2004, and was director of government relations for a Fortune 20 company from 2004 to 2023. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Vladimir Putin issued a decree last week authorizing the Russian military to add another 180,000 active-duty troops, reflecting Russias ongoing efforts to recruit and coerce men to fight in Ukraine, where Moscow continues to send thousands of Russians to their deaths every month. This presents an opportunity for the West. The U.S. should conduct information operations aimed at encouraging Russian resistance to the war. Russian casualties in the invasion of Ukraine are staggering. According to U.S. officials, at least 350,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since February 2022, and some estimates put it closer to 650,000. Ethnic minority groups are overrepresented among Russian forces and casualties in Ukraine. In 2022, one activist reported that Crimean Tatars received 80 percent of the peninsulas mobilization summonses despite comprising less than 20 percent of the Crimean population. Buryats, a Mongolic ethnic group largely inhabiting the southeastern region of Siberia, account for 1.16 percent of all identified Russian casualties despite comprising just 0.3 percent of the total Russian population, according to a U.S.-based Buryat researcher. In total, ethnic minorities make up almost 30 percent of all casualties, despite representing less than 20 percent of Russias population. Russian regions populated by ethnic minorities tend to be poorer, so men there are more likely to be drawn by the lucrative salaries offered to volunteers willing to fight in Ukraine. But the Kremlin probably also made a conscious decision to target poorer regions and minorities, as these groups hold less political sway than Moscow and St. Petersburg. Yet despite the Kremlins best efforts, protests have occurred in several regions that have been the most affected by the war, such as Dagestan. Protesters have shouted messages like No to war! and No to genocide! Frustration has also grown among the mothers and wives of mobilized Russian troops, many of whom have now been fighting in Ukraine for two years with little prospect of rotation or demobilization. Putin rightly fears this. Russian authorities have sought to delegitimize or even buy off women who have complained about the prolonged deployments. So far, Russian authorities have managed to keep a lid on public protests against the war. Though some Russians might privately resent the conflict, theyre largely unwilling to take to the streets. Should that change, however, Putin could feel more pressure to end the war. History shows how Russian mothers have mobilized their grief into action. Soviet mothers played a crucial role in undermining public support for the invasion of Afghanistan. During the conflicts in Chechnya, the Committee of Soldiers Mothers launched large protests. This same potential exists today, but it needs to be unlocked. But at present the West isnt doing much of anything to aid that resistance. While Russian authorities frequently accuse the U.S. of waging an information war on Russia, the truth is that Washington largely fails to return the favor for the extensive information operations Moscow continues to conduct against America and other Western countries. This needs to change. The U.S. has an opportunity to illuminate and fuel discontent among ethnic minorities and the families of Russian soldiers. Washington should demonstrate that Putin is throwing away their lives for a war that will lead to a worse future for them and for Russia. The U.S. should engage in information operations geared toward supporting anti-war sentiment. For example, Washington could organize social media campaigns on Telegram and the social media app VK, which are popular in Russia, focusing on how young Russians and ethnic minorities are being sacrificed for Putins war in Ukraine. If Moscow already believes the U.S. has declared an information war on Russia, maybe it is time we did so in earnest, to help hasten an end to the war. At the very least, the U.S. can ensure that the Kremlin spends more time and energy defending itself. American reluctance to engage in information wars, on the other hand, plays into the Kremlins hands. U.S. interests, as well as those of Ukraine and the Russian people, would be better served if Washington were willing to get into the fight. America should waste no more time in seizing its opportunity to counter Putins narrative. Ivana Stradner is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where Rear Adm. (Ret.) Mark Montgomery is a senior director at its Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Following the exploding Hezbollah pagers in Lebanon and the elimination of the terrorist organizations senior leadership in the last week, there is a sense that Israel is shifting from a strategy of containment to one of decisive action. This paradigm shift moves beyond merely managing the threat toward a bolder objective: pre-emption and total victory. As President Isaac Herzog said, we dont want war, but if its waged against us, we go all the way. Israeli leaders have long understood the existential danger posed by Iran and its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. Yet over the last two decades, instead of eliminating these threats, Israeli policies at the Wests insistence have often emboldened the rise of these powerful non-state militias. The policy of limited warfare has allowed these groups to survive, grow and become more entrenched. This strategy is not unique to Israel. Since the end of World War II, Western powers have consistently avoided all-out victories, often choosing containment and appeasement or limited engagement over total warfare and the crippling of these terror networks. The result? Persistent, unresolved conflicts which, like the Korean War, linger to this day with continued threats. If the West had allowed Gen. Douglas MacArthur to fully deploy his military strategy against North Korea and its Chinese backers including a blockade of Chinese ports and decisive action to cut off supply lines the outcome could have been quite different. As matters stand, we are left with a North Korean regime that continues to destabilize global security to this day. The Vietnam War presents another example of limited warfares long-term costs. President Richard Nixon eventually escalated U.S. actions with the bombing of Haiphong and incursions into Laos and Cambodia, but by then, it was too late. Had the U.S. taken these decisive steps earlier or used the full force of its military to block the Ho Chi Minh Trail from the start, the course of the war might have shifted. Instead, Vietnam became a symbol of American defeat. Fast-forward to today, and the West is repeating this pattern of half-measures. In Ukraine, the incremental and conditional aid provided to President Volodymyr Zelensky in his battle against Russian aggression evinces the same mindset. Instead of immediate, overwhelming support, Western nations trickle in aid and impose restrictions on its use. Sanctions, too, are often enforced unevenly. For example, sanctions on Iran are easily circumvented, with Iranian oil still finding buyers worldwide, undermining the impact of economic penalties. As history has shown, authoritarian regimes and non-state actors understand and respond to one thing: ruthless power. Whether military, economic or political, decisive action has proven to be the only language understood by those who seek to disrupt global stability. Western nations learned this lesson the hard way during World War II, when British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlains policy of appeasement failed spectacularly. Chamberlains ill-fated agreement with Hitler, meant to ensure peace for our time, only delayed the inevitable. As Churchill scolded him, you were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war. Ultimately, it was not diplomacy but total military defeat that ended Nazi Germanys threat to Europe. To use Churchills words again, when asked what was Britains policy, he said victory, victory at all costs. Yet since its establishment in 1948, the Jewish state has been the only democracy repeatedly denied the right to achieve total victory against enemies who have time and again initiated wars and pogroms, seeking no less than its very annihilation. Even though it was Israel attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, it was also an assault on the West and the principles it claims to uphold freedom, democracy and the rule of law. If the West truly seeks to uphold these sacrosanct values, then it must finally abandon the strategy of limited warfare and throw its full weight behind Israel as the frontier of Western civilization. This is not the time for half measures. Hamas, Hezbollah and their sponsors in Tehran must be decisively defeated, not contained. As Ronald Reagan warned in 1964, during his A Time for Choosing speech in the peak of the Cold War, a policy of accommodation is appeasement, and it gives no choice between peace and war, only between fight or surrender. The bad actors of today China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and their proxies do not negotiate from a place of weakness or fear international opinion. Instead, they project power without concern for identity politics or public sentiment. In short, the West must play to win in order to defend freedom. Businessman Rick Ekstein, founder of Phaze 3 Associates, advocates for the Jewish community and improving Canada through political engagement. Arsen Ostrovsky is a human rights attorney who serves as CEO of The International Legal Forum and is a senior fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. You are only as strong as your weakest link, and for Ukraine, that link is fast becoming the United States. The Biden administration continues to balk at Ukraines request to strike, at will, military targets within Russia that pose a clear and imminent threat to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and civilian population centers. Red lines have become a Washington and Brussels problem, not one for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his generals. Determined to drive the Russian invader from Ukraine and win the war, Ukraine has taken the fight to Russian soil. To achieve his aims, Zelensky has increasingly turned to his own countrys resources with remarkable success. He has also boldly taken the initiative by invading the Kursk Oblast in southwestern Russia, to the chagrin of many. Zelenskys inner circle, including Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander who is now Ukraines ambassador in London, cautioned against it. Emil Ishkulov was relieved as the commander of Ukraines 80th Air Assault Brigade after he opposed Zelenskys Kursk offensive attack. President Bidens own risk-averse national security advisors, including Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, were aghast. They likely viewed Kursk as a red line as well. Yet the Ukrainian military continues to expand its foothold in Kursk. Ukrainian Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi estimates that Ukraine now controls 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory. This has forced the Kremlin to reposition forces to counter the intrusion, providing some relief for Ukrainian defenders in the Donbas and Pokrovsk. Maneuver, however, is not a Russian strength. As the Kremlins forces reposition, their convoys have presented lucrative targets for the Ukrainian artillery and attack drones. It has been a turkey shoot on the Russian highways and railways leading to Kursk. For now, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains undaunted. His forces continue to advance in the Donbas. And as they advance, their losses have risen to 1,000 a day. An astounding 70,000 were killed or wounded between May and June, and 645,150 since February 2022. Putin appears determined to continue feeding the Ukrainian meat grinder. On September 16, he signed a decree increasing the overall number of soldiers in the Russian military by 180,000. Zelensky had an immediate response. Two days later he went for the Russian armys center of gravity: artillery via its munitions pipeline. Ukrainian-manufactured drones struck an ammunition depot in the Tver region of Russia. The depot, located in the town of Toropets, is approximately 240 miles west of Moscow and 300 miles from the Ukrainian border. The depot held Iskander tactical missiles, Tochka-U missile systems, glide bombs, air defense missiles (S-300 and S-400), Grad multiple launch rocket systems and artillery ammunition. According to a Ukrainian Defense Ministry official, it also contained North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, which have been used to target and kill Ukrainian civilians. The Toropets explosion and its surge in thermal activity was captured by NASA satellites. An estimated 750,000 shells were destroyed, or the equivalent of two to three months supply for Russian forces. Biden should be taking notes: Interdiction is a good thing. The Patriot missile system, National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System and all the other air defense assets provided to Ukraine are essential. But destroying these munitions in Russian ammunition depots is a far better strategic course of action. Adding insult to injury, an image of Ukraines intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, appeared on the Toropetsk Districts web page shortly after the attack. Zelensky is putting to work the I in DIME (information). The drone strike was followed by strikes on ammunition depots in Tikhoretsk and Oktyabrsky. The Tikhoretsk ammunition depot is one of the three largest in Russia. The Oktyabrsky arsenal is the Main Artillery Directorate. Reports suggest a supply train delivering at least 2,000 tons of ammunition, including North Korean ballistic missiles, was at the facility. Innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness in the form of domestic weapons has afforded Ukraine some of the operational reach it needs to interdict Russias ability to strike Ukrainian population centers. Ukraine has demonstrated that hitting those targets deep within the Russian interior is well within its capabilities and intent. A revamped Neptune missile and the new Palianytsia missile/rocket-drone have become Ukraine s deep strike weapons of choice. The strike on the Toropetsk ammunition depot easily exceeded the range of ATACMS (190 miles); British Storm Shadow and French SCALP air-launched cruise missiles each have a range of just 155 miles. But it is not just ammunition depots they are striking Ukraine has struck Russian air bases, seaports, oil refineries, assembly plants, and government facilities throughout the Russian interior. Putin does not like this. On Sept. 12, he warned the U.S. and NATO that he would consider the approval of plans to allow Kyiv to strike targets inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles tantamount to NATO directly entering the war stating, This will mean that NATO countries, the United States, and European countries are fighting Russia. Even so, he does not seem to have any problem with firing North Korean and Iranian ballistic missiles into the interior of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added that Russias response will be appropriate, implying once again a nuclear option. That threat lost a bit of its luster on September 21, when a Russian RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile test launch timed to demonstrate Russian nuclear capability suffered a catastrophic failure on the launch pad at Russias Plesetsk test site. Yet Biden had already caved. White House national security spokesman John Kirby explained, There is no change to our view on the provision of long-range strike capabilities for Ukraine to use inside Russia, and I wouldnt expect any sort of major announcement in that regard coming out of the discussions certainly not from our side. Zelensky is back in New York City. He briefed the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 20, urging the countrys representatives to come together against Russian aggression, stressing the need for peace, and recognizing Ukraines territorial integrity. Later today, he will present his victory plan to Biden. Ukraine cannot win this war without the ability to interdict Russian forces and their equipment before they arrive on the battlefield in Ukraine and to disrupt Russias war machine from afar using ballistic missiles and glide bombs. Even if Ukraine kills or wounds 1,000 Russian soldiers a day in Ukraine, this has no impact on the war if Russia can simply reset the next day. Ukraine must be able to stop the flow, and precision deep strike weapons provide that capability. The war simply cannot be contained inside the borders of Ukraine. The Ukrainian military cannot defend its way to victory. Zelensky has a workable, winnable plan to take the fight to Russia, but it requires American backbone. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Sweet served 30 years as an Army military intelligence officer. Mark Toth writes on national security and foreign policy. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has a catchphrase of sorts he likes to bandy about when describing his path to Gracie Mansion: Dyslexic, arrested, rejectednow Im elected! As of Thursday morning, the former police captain turned leader of Americas largest city can add another word to his jingle: Indicted. The announcement of federal charges against Adams is not a truly stunning turn of events, not when the storm clouds have been gathering over his administration for months. But it can at least fall under the category of deeply ironic. Adams was once heralded as a new face of the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, an answer to the leftward tilt that some commentators thought was damaging the partys brand with swing voters. As an ex-cop, Adams channeled a deluge of funding to his former colleagues at the New York Police Department in the name of fighting crime but it turns out he was allegedly lining his own pockets without any sign of cognitive dissonance. Even before the charges were unsealed, Adams issued a defiant statement denying any wrongdoing. I always knew that if I stood my ground for [New Yorkers] that I would be a target and a target I became, he declared, doing his best impression of former President Donald Trump. After all, how could he be guilty if his only crime was caring too much for the well being of the city? But that was far from the allegations in the indictment against Adams that the Justice Department unsealed on Thursday morning. He is charged with four crimes: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals; wire fraud; bribery; and two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. The allegations extend back over a decade to when he was Brooklyns borough president all the way through to his mayoralty. The allegation that Adams took bribes in exchange for political favors to Turkish officials is particularly galling when Adams has centered his political brand around the need to provide justice and safety to beleaguered Gothamites. Once in office, he made crime the focal point of his administration, falsely declaring a few months into the job in 2022 that he had never witnessed crime at this level in the city. (Major crimes were nowhere near the peak seen in the 1990s, neither nationally nor in New York City.) Adams (sometimes shifting) backstory as someone who overcame run-ins with the law to rise in the NYPD fueled his campaign for City Hall, even as some of his opponents warned that he was a magnet for corruption. Many of the things Adams was alleged to have received stand out in how petty they seem, including free upgrades on Turkish Airlines and luxury hotel stays in exchange for helping clear the way for the construction of a Turkish consulate in the city. But the worst of the allegations is that he raided the public coffers to increase the impact of illegal campaign donations from his benefactors. According to the indictment: New York City has a matching funds program that matches small-dollar contributions from individual City residents with up to eight times their amount in public funds, to give New Yorkers a greater voice in elections. ADAMSs campaigns applied for matching funds based on known straw donations, fraudulently obtaining as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution. ADAMS and those working at his direction falsely certified compliance with applicable campaign finance regulations despite ADAMS s repeated acceptance of straw donations, relying on the concealed nature of these illegal contributions to falsely portray his campaigns as law-abiding. As a result of those false certifications, ADAMSs 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds. That is $10 million in public money that could have gone to almost anything else that needs funding especially under budget cuts in the Adams administration. It wouldnt provide enough to cover, say, the billions of dollars that the Metro Transit Authority is now missing thanks to Adams ally Gov. Kathy Hochul delaying congestion pricing in Manhattan. It wouldnt cover the 4,000% increase in police overtime funding jumping $4 million in 2022 to $155 million over the same period in 2023, according to Gothamist that went into Hochul and Adams decision to flood the transit system with cops to fight a war against bad vibes. But it would cover, though, the roughly $104,000 in fares that turnstile jumpers arrested during the surge of 1,000 police cost the MTA. Its incredible to think as well that, with that much money flowing to the NYPD, there were no indications that Adams might be under investigation himself for what appears to have been a ludicrously transparent scheme. Where is the $6.5 billion in annual funding for the NYPD going if this kind of white-collar crime is happening under its very nose? And what should we make of the seeming belief from the man who is leading them that he is himself beyond the law? Adams has so far resisted calls to resign even as his allies step down and his administration crumbles around him. Its more likely that he will attempt to stay in place for as long as possible, even contending with a soon to be crowded primary of candidates to replace him next year. That fits with the level of hubris hes previously displayed, having claimed that it was God who ordained that he be elected mayor and recently declared I am City Hall. But it is in the publics best interest that he be removed as far away from power as soon as possible. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The Airport fire destroyed a number of homes, including this one in the El Cariso neighborhood in Lake Elsinore. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Orange County is girding itself against a potential flood of litigation from victims of the Airport fire, a destructive blaze that was sparked by a public works crew and destroyed more than 160 structures. On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to retain the law firm of Meyers Nave to assist the county in litigation in connection with the fire. Four claims for expenses such as destroyed property and hotel fees during evacuation orders have already been filed with the county, according to public records. Read more: 4 O.C. firefighters hurt in crash after battling the Airport fire remain hospitalized Attorney Emily Pincin told The Times that she and business partner Michael Kent were coordinating with several other law firms to file a mass action lawsuit, potentially representing more than 1,000 victims, within the next six months. A mass action lawsuit involves separate lawsuits against a single defendant. Pincin says the county could be held financially liable for damaged property, lost personal items, relocation expenses and emotional distress. Orange County Counsel Leon Page declined to comment to The Times on the county's liability in the fire, which the Orange County Fire Authority determined was set off by two public works employees using heavy machinery to move boulders on Trabuco Creek Road. Authorities classified the cause as "unintentional." This revelation spurred a public outcry as people questioned why employees brought heavy machinery into dry brush on a blisteringly hot day. Retired Orange County firefighter Steve Palmer told the O.C. Register that the decision was "reckless and stupid." Its triple digits and youre going to use a big piece of steel equipment to hit rocks?" he said. "That always causes sparks. Who wouldnt know that or assume that? Read more: Wildfires can release more energy than an atomic bomb. No wonder they look apocalyptic Gregory Keating, a professor at the USC Gould School of Law, told The Times "there is reason to expect substantial liability" if the county is unable to fend off the charge of negligence in starting the fire. "It could indeed be pretty expensive," he said. "It might also be complex as many of these properties are probably insured, and the litigation could become entangled in claims made by insurance companies seeking to recover payments theyve made under their policies." Keating said the "basic rule" in negligence law is that liability requires proof of physical harm meaning personal injury or property damage. Therefore, it may be difficult for victims to receive county compensation for pure economic loss or pure emotional distress. For example, a local business owner might not be compensated for economic loss due to customers staying away during the fire if their store was not physically harmed. However, if people can prove physical harm, even from something minor like smoke damage, the county then may be liable for their other forms of loss, he added. The fire began on Sept. 9 and went on to ravage some 23,500 acres, injure 22 people and destroy more than a hundred homes in Orange and Riverside counties, according to fire officials. The blaze was 95% contained by Wednesday morning. Read more: Fire engineer arrested on suspicion of setting blazes in Northern California The four claims received by the county so far were submitted independently of any coordinated legal effort. Mikhail Trubik filed a $2.34-million claim for his house, guesthouse and five-car garage, which were all destroyed by the fire. The other three claimants submitted reimbursement requests ranging from $833 to $1,121 to cover hotel and meal expenses during mandatory evacuation orders. Claims for personal injury or damaged property must be filed within six months of the date of loss, according to state law. The county has also received, as of Sept. 20, at least two claim notice letters from law firms asking that evidence related to the fire be preserved, according to the clerk to the board. 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. Orban administration hints that Hungary would not defend itself like Ukraine in case of attack Balazs Orban, the political director and close adviser to the Hungarian prime minister, has caused a wave of outrage among Hungarians with his statement that Hungary would not have fought a defensive war in 1956 like Ukraine, as it would have been "irresponsible". Source: Balazs Orban spoke about this with a Mandiner journalist, quoted by Telex, as reported by European Pravda Details: Viktor Orban's associate said that if they recall the year 1956, when Soviet troops suppressed the uprising in Budapest, "we [Hungarians ed.] probably would not have done what President Zelensky did two and a half years ago because it is irresponsible". "He put his country in a defensive war, and so many people were killed, so many territories were lost," said Balazs Orban. He added that it was a sovereign decision of Ukrainians, to which they had every right. "But if we had been asked, we would not have advised it," he added. "Because we realised that you have to be careful here, and you have to be careful with very valuable Hungarian lives. You can't just throw them away in front of others," said Viktor Orban's political director. Answering a journalist's question about what would have happened if the United States had helped Hungary in 1956, Balazs Orban said that, in his opinion, it would have led to World War III. "We might have won, or we might not have won; the neighbouring countries might have been with us or they might have been against us," he said. Later, on his Facebook page, Balazs Orban added that Hungary does not see the point of the Ukrainian-Russian war. "Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, hundreds of thousands of square kilometres of territory have been lost, and the country has been destroyed. Why is it so? No reason at all. The war should never have started or should have ended earlier through diplomatic means. Everyone would have been much better off," the Hungarian prime minister's adviser said. Critics took Balazs Orban's statements as a hint that Hungary would not fight a defensive war in the event of an attack. Background: The Hungarian government and Orban, in particular, are open critics of military assistance to Ukraine and continue to maintain relations with Russia. In July, the Hungarian prime minister even went to Moscow to "negotiate peace". Support UP or become our patron! BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Hungary's most popular opposition figure called for the resignation of one of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's closest aides on Thursday over statements he made suggesting that Hungary wouldn't have defended itself against a Russian invasion, unlike Ukraine. The aide, Balazs Orban, who isn't related to the prime minister, said on his podcast on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had made an irresponsible decision by opting to militarily defend his country after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. He said that Hungary had learned from its anti-Soviet uprising in 1956 which was eventually crushed by the Red Army, killing as many as 3,000 civilians and destroying much of the capital Budapest that precious Hungarian lives must be treated with caution rather than offering them up for defense. Every country has the right to decide its own destiny for itself, Balazs Orban said. But based on '56, we wouldnt have done what President Zelenskyy did two and a half years ago, because that was irresponsible. The leader of Hungarys strongest opposition party, Peter Magyar, wrote in a post on social media that the statement humiliated the memory of the thousands of Hungarian freedom fighters, hundreds of whom unlike Balazs Orban were willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedom and independence of their country. Balazs Orban is the political director of the nationalist prime minister and one of his closest advisers. He has been instrumental in devising much of Hungary's foreign and domestic strategy, and pursued close relationships with certain segments of the U.S. Republican Party that are aligned with former President Donald Trump. His government has taken an adversarial position toward neighboring Ukraine, and sought to block, delay or water down European Union efforts to provide financial and military support to Kyiv and to pass sanctions on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. Such efforts have led to accusations from many European leaders that Hungary is acting to divide the EU and advance Russian interests. Hungarys Cold War-era anti-Soviet uprising looms large in the countrys consciousness as a symbol of its heroic struggle for independence and self determination. Some Hungarians view their governments close ties to Russia today as a betrayal of the 1956 revolutions efforts to force Soviet soldiers out of the country. On Thursday, Magyar called for Balazs Orbans resignation by Oct. 23, the 68th anniversary of the revolution. Such a man cannot hold public office alongside the Hungarian Prime Minister, Magyar wrote. In a video on Facebook later on Thursday, Orban said that his words had been twisted, and blamed pro-war propaganda for seeking to involve Hungary in the war in Ukraine. The heroes of 1956 are national heroes. Their memory is sacred and inviolable, and the heroes of 1956 were right and did the right thing, he said. Hungary's government has long advocated for an immediate cease-fire and peace talks for the war in Ukraine, but hasn't outlined what that would mean for Ukraine's territorial integrity or the future security of Europe and other NATO allies. Viktor Orban angered EU leaders in July when he made unannounced visits to Russia and China on what he described as a peace mission. His meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first by an EU leader in more than two years. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Starting next month, the Oregon agency aiming to protect workers rights will automatically dismiss wage claims from residents whose annual earnings exceed a certain amount. The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries will implement this threshold for workers who earn more than $52,710 per year or $24.34 per hour. BOLI Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson estimates this will make up at least 17% of cases. OB-GYN testifies on how Idahos abortion ban led to her move to Oregon But Stephenson said this change is a message to bad actors that they could get away with cheating their employees without needing to pay up. They may not have to pay, they can keep that $5 million in their pocket over a seven year period, Stephenson said. Thats exactly why were asking for funding to make sure that good employers dont have to compete with bad employers who use wage theft as a business model. At a Senate Interim Committee On Labor and Business meeting on Monday, Stephenson explained this number represents 250% of the federal poverty line. She stated the new policy is due to the bureaus lack of funding. BOLI is requesting an additional $17 million for its next biennium budget to improve on areas like case management replacement, agency modernization and sustainability within its wage and hour division. According to the bureaus State of the Worker Report, the proposed budget represents a 30% increase in service level. The report also shows the agency experienced a 208% increase in wage claims from Fiscal Year 2020 to Fiscal Year 2024. Stephenson said additional funding could help boost staffing and therefore give investigators more time to review worker claims. Jury awards $21M to family of man killed by Portland security guard In May of this year, BOLI had a backlog of about 3,250 wage claims some of which involved cases from 2022 and 2023. Officials recorded a backlog of just over 2000 claims as of Sept. 23, but the bureau leader indicated that the progress in some areas caused issues in others. The agency had a backlog of nearly 900 complaints in May, compared to just under 2000 complaints this month. Claims involve workers who werent paid their wages, whereas complaints are about issues like meal and rest breaks and sick leave. Were now working on 2024 claims and were happy about that, but you see what that means, Stephenson said. That means the complaints dont get worked. That means now we have an investigations backlog because once theyre through one part of the process, now theyre waiting for an investigator and theres not enough investigators to do that work either. Accused violent sexual predator arrested, deputies seek more victims The bureau currently employs 10 labor standards investigators. Leaders hope to hire seven additional investigators by Fiscal Year 2026. Each investigator has a capacity of 85 claims to review annually. As of now, they would need to review about 200 claims through the year to fill the backlog. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Other than candidates, what else is on the 2024 ballot? HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) There will be more than just candidates on the ballot in November. Voters in the Tri-State will have the opportunity to have their say on issues from tax increases to school choice. Some of those referendums have been getting a lot of attention, while others have received virtually none. Kentucky Two constitutional amendments will be on the ballot. The amendments Senate Bill 143 Are you in favor of amending Sections 145 and 155 of the Constitution of Kentucky to prohibit persons who are not citizens of the United States from being allowed to vote in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, as stated below? IT IS PROPOSED THAT SECTION 145 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY BE AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: Every citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years who has resided in the state one year, and in the county six months, and the precinct in which he or she offers to vote sixty days next preceding the election, shall be a voter in said precinct and not elsewhere. No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in this state. The following persons also shall not have the right to vote: 1. Persons convicted in any court of competent jurisdiction of treason, or felony, or bribery in an election, or of such high misdemeanor as the General Assembly may declare shall operate as an exclusion from the right of suffrage, but persons hereby excluded may be restored to their civil rights by executive pardon. 2. Persons who, at the time of the election, are in confinement under the judgment of a court for some penal offense. 3. Idiots and insane persons. IT IS PROPOSED THAT SECTION 155 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY BE AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: The provisions of Sections 145 to 154, inclusive, shall not apply to the election of school trustees and other common school district elections. Said elections shall be regulated by the General Assembly, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution. No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in said elections. YES NO Kentuckys Secretary of State website A full text of this amendment can be found here. House Bill 2 To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below? IT IS PROPOSED THAT A NEW SECTION BE ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY TO READ AS FOLLOWS: The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools. The General Assembly may exercise this authority by law, Sections 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186, and 189 of this Constitution notwithstanding. YES NO Kentuckys Secretary of State website A full text of this amendment can be found here. What do those mean? According to the Kentucky General Assembly, the house bill proposes a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to authorize the General Assembly to provide funding for the education of students outside of the public school system. This is also known as the school choice bill. The Kentucky General Assembly says the Senate bill proposes to amend parts of the Constitution of Kentucky to prohibit persons who are not citizens of the United States from being allowed to vote in the state. This bill pertains to voting rights. Kentuckys Election Day is November 5. Other items on the ballot McLean County McLean County election officials say there will be a countywide medicinal cannabis question, a wet/dry vote for the city of Livermore and the addition of A102 Sacramento and B102 Island precincts. Webster County Webster County election officials also have a medicinal cannabis question on the ballot. This question will give people to vote to either prohibit cannabis businesses from operating within the county or not. Union County Union County election officials say there is a question related to medical cannabis for Union County on the ballot, as well as for the cities of Morganfield, Sturgis and Uniontown. Muhlenberg County Muhlenberg County election officials say there is a question asking if voters are in favor of the sale of medicinal cannabis at a licensed dispensary and the operation of other cannabis businesses in the county. Voter registration deadline approaching for Tri-State residents Illinois Officials with the Illinois State Board of Elections say there are no constitutional amendments on the ballot in Illinois, but there are three advisory questions. These were placed on the ballot by a vote of the Illinois General Assembly. The advisories Should any candidate appearing on the Illinois ballot for federal, State, or local office be subject to civil penalties if the candidate interferes or attempts to interfere with an election workers official duties? Yes/No Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief? Yes/No Should all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization, be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy benefits, without limitation on the number of treatments? Yes/No What do those mean? The first advisory is asking if candidates may face consequences for interfering with an election workers duties. The second advisory is asking for permission to add a tax that could impact people who make more than $1,000,000. The third advisory asks if assisted reproductive treatments can be covered by health insurance that provides those benefits without a limit on how many treatments someone can take. According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, the General Election is on November 5. The full text for all these advisories can be viewed below. 2024gestatewideadvisorydraft_638612230866120752Download Other items on the ballot Wabash County Election officials say Wabash County has a referendum on the ballot for the city of Mt. Carmel voters. The referendum is about the Mt. Carmel pool. The question asks voters if the city of Mt. Carmel should repair and renovate the pool, demolish the existing bath house and build and equip a new bath house at said pool. Officials want to know if people want them to issue bonds to the amount of $3,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs for this plan. Election officials say there will also be a question on whether each judge shall be retained in his or her present office. The ballot notes no judge is running against any of the other judges. Edwards County Edwards County election officials say there will also be a question on whether each judge shall be retained in his or her present office. The ballot notes no judge is running against any of the other judges. FOX59/CBS4 to host gubernatorial debate before Novembers general election Indiana Indiana election officials say people can vote to retain judges for state-level positions. Examples of these questions can be found on ballots from Dubois County, listed here. There is one public question on the ballot, and it will be on ballots throughout the state. Public question According to a ballot from Dubois County, the statewide public question is: Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to remove the state superintendent of public instruction from the list of officeholders who shall discharge the powers and duties of the governor if the office of the governor and lieutenant governor are both vacant? Yes/No What does this mean? According to Vanderburgh County election officials, the statewide public question is pertaining to the director of public schools being the person to take over in the event of the governor and lieutenant governor not being available. According to the Indiana Election Division, the General Election is on November 5. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). The Mason City Family YMCA faces a $400,000 funding gap as it ends its 25-year partnership with MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. That is in addition to a nearly $500,000 debt owed to MercyOne. A letter from the board of directors, including board President Mandi Pralle, states $150,000 is needed "to keep the doors from closing and continue to grow a solid future." An additional $250,000 is needed to make the final mortgage payment in April. The YMCA has launched a $500,000 fundraising campaign in response. The YMCA opened at 1840 S. Monroe Ave. in February 2001. It cost $9 million and sits on 13 acres. The fitness floor is 9,000 square feet, featuring a swimming pool, therapy pool and hot tub, racquetball courts and other amenities. The child care center remains open, although hours have recently been reduced due to lessening demand. MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center has always been a great advocate for the YMCA in addition to providing financial support for more than 20 years. We place great value in the solid relationship we've shared, and we are committed to working with the (YMCA) to support a transition that will result in ongoing success for all parties, said Scott Curtis, vice president of network development at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. Executive Director Tammy Hertzel has been holding "Talk with Tammy" meetings for anyone curious about the direction the YMCA is taking. On Sept. 17, she shared that staff have been working with consultants to determine the best path forward. Hertzel also has been looking for other funding opportunities, including from the YMCA of the USA. "We're working on some things with the city, we're working on some things with Mercy. Obviously, we're getting some grants from YMCA (of the USA), and these are things we hadn't really been pursuing or pushing for. All of the trajectory is in the right place. My problem is, I don't have the cash flow to make the bend," Hertzel said. Hertzel said the Y's operating costs are approximately $25,000 per month, and it has cash on hand to keep the doors open until December. The partnership with MercyOne saw the YMCA pay half of the mortgage and maintenance costs each month, with Mercy paying the other half. Asked by a Y member during a meeting if Mercy had done its part, Hertzel responded, "They have been paying 50% of mortgage, and actually a little bit more, because they picked up ours a couple of times, and they pay 50% of all of the maintenance costs on this building. So it's been a real partnership. The part of the partnership that's been a little bit harder to deal with is the building was built so that they would help, and that hasn't happened, right? Their physical therapy hasn't been in this building for 21 years. They moved out in 2003, and the building was actually built so that that would be part of (Mercy's) foot traffic. The foot traffic would help us. So, some of it, they've been a really good partner. Some of it, maybe not too much. But same thing is true for us, right?" The final mortgage payment of $250,000 is due in April. The $150,000 is to provide six months of operating expenses, allowing staff and management to improve the financial situation. The Y also has additional outstanding debt to MercyOne that staff estimates to be nearly $500,000. It is working with Mercy to manage the money owed. "I have a lot of people asking me, 'If I donate now, will my money go to paying old bills and not to keeping the doors open?' I say, give us the six months we need to turn it around," Hertzel said. "I plan on being in this business for decades to come." "Talk with Tammy" continues for the next few weeks. The next meeting is at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 8 at the YMCA. An evening meeting has been added at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 9. Morning meetings will be held Oct. 15, 22 and 29. Otium opened to great acclaim. Now workers of the shuttered restaurant say owners won't pay them Former workers at the now-shuttered Otium restaurant protested in front of the shuttered restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. They say they are owned thousands in unpaid wages. (Cindy Carcamo / Los Angeles Times) Yosselin Cortes, a manager at the now-shuttered Otium, first noticed last year that something was amiss at the celebrated downtown L.A. restaurant when produce and wine vendors came to her asking why they hadnt been paid. Upper management told her that Otium the ambitious showcase restaurant opened in partnership with the Broad museum in 2015 and with investment from billionaire Eli Broad, who died in 2021 was struggling. They assured her the moment would pass. A few months ago, however, the situation worsened. Workers told Cortes that their paychecks had bounced. Equipment including a pasta maker and lighting went unrepaired for long stretches. One time, she said, the restaurant was so slow they closed for the weekend. But Cortes never imagined, she said, that the Otium's owners would stiff her on her last paycheck after the restaurant closed on Sept. 8. She wasnt the only one. Its heartbreaking to see how they are treating their staff, she said. On Wednesday, about a dozen former Otium workers picketed in front of the empty restaurant, holding handmade signs that read, Overworked. Never Paid and 14 days late. They marched down Grand Avenue, in sight of the Broad museum, Disney Hall and L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art, chanting Wage theft is a crime. Pay your workers for their time. About a month before it shuttered, Otiums owners announced on Instagram that it would close for good after nine years in business, stating that financial difficulties had led to the decision. The restaurants management hinted that they could possibly reopen elsewhere. Back in 2015, Otium opened to much fanfare in an airy building in the Broad museum complex led by celebrity-chef Timothy Hollingsworth. In his 2016 review of Otium, former Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold said, "Timothy Hollingsworth seems to be trying to do no less than to reinvent what an American restaurant might be." Hollingsworth himself said to former Times food editor Amy Scattergood, To support the museum, to support the neighborhood [Otium] needs to be more than just a restaurant. Read more: The shocking state of the restaurant industry: 'We can't afford to be open. We can't afford to be closed.' Hollingsworth, who was Thomas Kellers chef de cuisine at the French Laundry, co-owned the restaurant with Carl Schuster, a founding partner of Wolfgang Puck catering and CEO and founder of Cast Iron Partners. The restaurant opened with partners that included philanthropist Broad and restaurant entrepreneur Bill Chait, who owned Hollingsworth's previous barbecue spot Barrel & Ashes. In recent years, Hollingsworth has divided his time between Otium and the pop-up series Chain with B.J. Novak, Chrissy Teigen and other partners plus the subsequent ChainFEST, billed as "the world's first gourmet chain food festival," now in its second year. In statements to The Times, Hollingsworth and Schuster said they were aware of the unpaid wages and tips. "The Otium team has been my family for nearly a decade. I am heartsick that they have not been paid for their hard work and supportive of the action they have been taking to be heard," Hollingsworth said in a text sent to The Times. "As an employee of Otium myself, I will not accept any payment until everyone else has been paid." He referred further questions to Schuster and in an earlier email to The Times, said he hoped Schuster would provide a date for resolution on this crisis. In a prepared statement sent to The Times on Wednesday, Schuster said he was trying to finalize a plan to get the employees paid as soon as possible and hoped to have something in place by the end of the week. Im making every effort to take responsibility to pay the employees their wages and the penalties associated with it, he wrote in an email. I feel terrible that we put the employees in this position and understand the hardships theyre going through. I know the urgency that this has to be done and its 100% of my focus until we have resolved and paid everyone. This is my responsibility. Schuster blamed economic conditions of the restaurant industry and fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic for the delay in unpaid wages and tips, which are often included in paychecks. What we had anticipated for our final few weeks from a cash flow perspective to cover final payroll along with anticipating selling off some of our inventory didnt materialize as we had hoped, he wrote in an email. Schuster explained that the restaurant's customer base had dropped by 30% to 40% and that a big reason for the decrease was due to fewer people downtown for lunch and a drop in event business. He said their landlord the Broad museum "worked with us but the cost to run a large freestanding building in the middle of downtown" with sales down up to 40% proved difficult. "We just couldnt catch up," he said. Otium's closure is just the latest in a string of restaurants that have shuttered since the start of the pandemic. Despite a few hopeful signs as restaurants continue to open, the tumult in the industry and its fragile recovery have forced many restaurants to close with some saying they can't afford to stay open or to close. Read more: More than 75 big-deal L.A. restaurants closed so far this year. So why are chefs still optimistic? Former Otium workers said they aren't confident they'll ever get paid. Rylee Ratcliff, a 21-year-old barista, said shes owed up to $3,500 in wages and tips and is frustrated with managements excuses and delays. She said the last month of goodbye dinners meant she worked 12-hour shifts and up to 60 hours a week because of the onslaught of restaurant diners after news got out that Otiums days were numbered. This pay could be an entire semester of tuition for me, said Ratcliff, who plans to return to university. Maria Ramos Hernandez, a 53-year-old who washed dishes for seven years at Otium, said her $1,750 check bounced. Like many restaurant workers, Hernandez lives paycheck to paycheck. Shes worried about her rent thats due in a few days. One doesnt live here for free, she said in Spanish. I spent so many years working for them, for the restaurant. Now look, this is the thanks we get. Melissa Cristina Mendoza, a server for eight years at Otium, said shes owed at least $1,500 in tips alone because she worked six days a week mostly without a break during the last month of service. Wednesday, the 28-year-old brought her 2-year-old daughter to the protest. Mendoza worried about paying rent and other expenses, such as diapers. She said shes tried reaching out to several managers. Shes emailed. Shes called. Ive gotten no response, she said. Read more: Is a dine-in service fee a tip? Former servers allege in suit they are owed gratuities from Jon & Vinny's Cortes, a manager, said other managers have told her that theyve also gone unpaid. Shes owed at least $1,500 for her last week of service. When she was told about the closure, she stepped it up and worked 15 hours a day almost every day because they were understaffed as some called out or looked for other jobs. To me they were family so I wasnt going to leave them alone, she said of the owners. I was doing whatever to try to help them. Cortes said she felt like Otium was a second family to her, partly because of what she said Hollingworth would say: Were all family here. If you guys ever need anything, let me know. She said she reached out to Hollingsworth. So far, she said, he hasnt responded. Sign up for our Tasting Notes newsletter for restaurant reviews, Los Angeles food-related news and more. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has rejected a $900,000 grant from the state as it approved its budget for 2025. During its meeting Tuesday, the board voted 6-4 to reject an Infection Prevention Grant from the state, which Board Chair Joe Moss said was for communicable diseases like COVID-19. I understand the state would like to continue to incentive spending in this area, Moss, co-founder of the conservative political action committee Ottawa Impact, said during a discussion on the grant. I dont think that we need to preplan to spend $900,000 on communicable diseases and COVID. Ottawa Impact likely to lose commission majority in new year Commissioner Allison Miedema, also backed by Ottawa Impact, argued that declining the funds is the responsible thing to do for taxpayers. Its otherwise continually funding something that we dont necessarily need to have, she said. The more that county boards do that across the entire nation if we actually turned it down, were actually saving tax payer dollars, keeping it in their own pockets over time. Whereas if we continue saying yes, year after year after year, it becomes something from the federal government that were depending on. Commissioner Doug Zylstra, a Democrat, argued that rejecting the funds could take money out of the pockets of Ottawa County taxpayers. I think anything that gives us the opportunity to have emergency funding. Why would we reject it if the alternative is to put that on the backs of the taxpayers, which makes zero sense to me, he said, later adding, $900,000 is a lot of money just to, at the last minute, say we dont want that. The county doesnt know whats around the corner, Commissioner Jacob Bonnema said. Sign up for the News 8 daily newsletter I would rather have the money accessible to us and not need it then to need it and not have it accessible to us. Plus at this very late hour, I dont think it makes sense to make a change like this that could be adjusted later on. I just have some severe concerns that were not considering all the ramifications that could happen by saying no to this right now, Bonnema, who is a Republican but is unaffiliated with Ottawa Impact, said. We want every option available to help care for the people of Ottawa County. While arguing against rejecting the grant, Commissioner Chris Kleinjans, a Democrat, pointed out that whooping cough is on the rise nationally. Infectious diseases will not stop, he said. I understand the passions that COVID brings up in people, but there are a myriad of other things that will put you down. If this is for training and prevention of that myriad of other things, removal of that at this point seems to be a bit perfunctory to me. But Moss said he does not expect any COVID emergencies or other similar emergencies with communicable diseases. I think it would be safe and prudent to reject the grant and not preplan ahead to use it for an emergency, he said. Moss started Ottawa Impact after his childrens school was shut down by county health officials in October 2020 for violating a COVID-19 mitigation mask mandate. The board also voted Tuesday to approve the budget for the next fiscal year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Part of the city of Hoonah's waterfront is seen in a 2012 photo. (Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development; Division of Community and Regional Affairs Community Photo Library) The former Hoonah City School District superintendent has filed a complaint against the local school board over a conflict with its president that allegedly led to the superintendents dismissal. In court filings, former Superintendent Helen Cheek claims that school board President Harold Houston continually overstepped the legal constraints of his authority over the Hoonah District. The complaint details a scenario wherein Houston sought to influence personnel matters and daily school management. Court filings allege he made multiple efforts to access confidential information about school employees, entered the school to tell teachers how to teach and asked the districts finance manager to complete work for him. Cheek is seeking damages in the amount of the wages and benefits of her unfinished three-year contract, emotional distress, damage to her professional reputation and attorneys fees. She had not completed the first year of her contract when she was fired by the board; the job listing shows her salary would have been in the range of $100,000-$115,000 a year. Despite the allegation that the termination was without cause, Plaintiff Cheek firmly believes that the termination was directly and proximately caused by her exercise of her First Amendment right to object to Mr. Houstons conduct that violated public policy, state law and the school board policies, the complaint said. The Hoonah City School District board has not yet answered the complaint with Alaskas District Court and neither the board nor Cheeks attorneys office responded to a request for comment. Houstons alleged efforts to influence the daily operations of the district manifested in three to four unscheduled meetings with Cheek each week and unannounced visits to the school while she was away, court filings say. After Cheek set boundaries to prohibit that behavior, he refused to speak with her at board meetings and, within a month, she was fired by the board, the complaint says. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) More than 100 individuals have been charged with public assistance fraud in Pennsylvania in July and August. The Office of the State Inspector General said they filed fraud charges against 103 people over the two months. Restitution owed to the Commonwealth in the cases totals $680,303. Officials said cost savings will also be realized as the defendants will be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits in the programs theyre accused of defrauding. Operation Beef Bandit nabs 3 men with nearly 2 tons of meat in Pennsylvania Each of these charges is a reminder of our responsibility to protect the integrity of the Commonwealths resources, State Inspector General Lucas M. Miller said. We remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure that public assistance benefits are used as intendedto support those who are truly in need. I am proud that the funds recovered will be returned to help individuals across Pennsylvania. The office investigates and prosecutes public assistance fraud and conducts collections for the public benefits programs administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. The Shapiro Administration is committed to protecting Pennsylvanias public assistance programs, which are a lifeline for people in difficult situations. DHS works diligently to ensure the benefits we administer remain available to those who deserve them, and we are proud to partner with OSIG every day to refer suspected public assistance fraud and maintain the responsible stewardship of these essential programs, DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said. Of the 103 people charged, 102 are facing felony charges and one a misdemeanor charge, officials added. Its alleged that these people either sold their assistance to others or misrepresented their circumstances to receive taxpayer-funded benefits. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. If convicted, the maximum penalty defendants face for public assistance fraud is seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000. In the case of SNAP, Cash Assistance, or Subsidized Day Care fraud, defendants also face a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they allegedly defrauded. All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. More than 30 countries and the European Union adopted the Joint Declaration of Support for Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine during a meeting in New York on Sept. 25, Ukraine's Presidential Office said. Backed during the Group of Seven (G7) + Ukraine meeting, the document contains several points including helping to rebuild Ukraine on its path to EU accession, and providing about $50 billion by the end of 2024 in profits from frozen Russian assets. "I'm determined to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to prevail in its fight for survival. Tomorrow, I will announce a series of actions to accelerate support for Ukraine's military," U.S. President Joe Biden said. The U.S. authorized a new military aid package for Kyiv worth $375 million on Sept. 25. Washington is also reportedly planning a military aid package worth over $8 billion, which is expected to be announced when President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the White House on Sept. 26. The countries said that by collectively supporting Ukraine's reconstruction they will ensure that Russia is unable to achieve its goals, as well as contribute to the post-war stability of Ukraine's economy, according to the Presidential Office. Zelensky said that the effort will be coordinated through the Ukrainian Donor Platform. "It is absolutely justified that those who help us withstand now will be the first to benefit together with Ukraine from the large-scale reconstruction," he added. The material costs of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine continue to grow as Moscow's forces regularly strike the country's cities and infrastructure with missiles and drones. The estimated cost of Ukraine's post-war recovery has risen to $486 billion over a 10-year period, the World Bank said in February. Kyiv has been searching for new sources of income, both at home and abroad, to cover these needs. Read also: Ukraine needs $9.5 billion for rapid recovery in 2024 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Pakistani police are responsible for killing a doctor held in a blasphemy claim, the government says Family of Shah Nawaz, a doctor who was accused of blasphemy, from left, mother Rehmat Kunbhar, wife Niamat Bibi, and daughter Hareem Nawaz, speak to media at their residence in Umerkot, a district in the Pakistan's Sindh province, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. The family said Monday that Shah Nawaz was killed by police while in custody in southern Pakistan after he voluntarily surrendered following assurances that he would be given a chance to prove his innocence, denying a police account that he was accidentally killed in a shootout. (AP Photo/Allah Bux) MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) Pakistan's government said Thursday that police had orchestrated the killing of a doctor who was in custody after he was accused of blasphemy. Officers then lied about the circumstances of his death, claiming he was killed in a shootout between police and armed men, a provincial minister said. The statement marks the first time the government has accused security forces of what the doctor's family and rights groups have said amounted to extrajudicial killing carried out by police. The doctor, Shah Nawaz, from the southern Sindh province, had given himself up to police last week in the district of Mirpur Khas, following assurances that he would be given a chance to prove his innocence. Days earlier in the city of Umerkot, a mob claimed he insulted Islams Prophet Muhammad and shared blasphemous content on social media, and demanded his arrest. The mob also burned Nawazs clinic. According to the provincial interior minister, Ziaul Hassan, a government probe concluded that Nawaz was killed shortly after he gave himself up to authorities in what was a staged "fake encounter engineered by the security forces. There was no shootout with armed men as police had claimed, Hassan told reporters at a news conference in the southern port city of Karachi, and added that Nawaz's family will be able to file murder charges against police officers who killed him. Hours after Nawaz was fatally shot and his body handed over to his family, a mob snatched it from Nawaz's father and burned it. Hassan's statement backed up Nawaz's family allegations earlier this week. Accusations of blasphemy sometimes even just rumors can spark riots and mob rampages in Pakistan. Although killings of blasphemy suspects by mobs are common, extra-judicial killings by police are rare. Under Pakistans controversial blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death though authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy. Nawazs father thanked the government for backing the family and demanded that his son's killers face justice under the eye-for-an-eye concept under Sharia, or Islamic law. We have only one demand: those police officers who staged the killing of my son ... must also be killed in the same manner, said Nawaz's father, Mohammad Saleh. Saleh told The Associated Press over the phone that he was grateful for all the support that the family was given and to all those who condemned extremist clerics who had enraged the mob with calls for his son to be killed. Those who killed my son should be punished quickly so that others learn a lesson and not indulge in extra-judicial killings in the future, said Nawaz's mother, Rehmat Kunbar. She added that her son can no longer come back to her but that she wants to save the children of other parents from the hands of the extremists. Nawaz's killing was the second case of an extra-judicial killing by police this month in Pakistan. A week before, an officer opened fire inside a police station in the southwestern city of Quetta, fatally wounding Syed Khan, a suspect held on accusations of blasphemy. Khan was arrested after officers rescued him from an enraged mob that claimed he had insulted Islams prophet. But he was killed by a police officer, Mohammad Khurram, who was quickly arrested. However, the tribe and the family of the slain man later said they had pardoned the officer. ___ Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Palestinian journalist Bisan Atef Owda has won the Emmy for Outstanding Hard News Feature: Short Form for her ongoing project Its Bisan From Gaza and Im Still Alive. The win comes 5 days after a campaign to get her nomination at the 2024 News and Documentary Emmy Awards rescinded was rejected by the Television Academy. The project documents Owdas daily life in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that has devastated the region since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 of last year. She previously won a Peabody Award for Its Bisan From Gaza and Im Still Alive earlier this year. At the News & Documentary Emmys, Owda was nominated alongside media outlet AJ+. But soon after it was announced, her nomination drew outrage from Jewish nonprofit Creative Community for Peace, which accused her of being a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a United States-designated terrorist organization. As evidence, CCFP cited speeches she purportedly gave at PFLP rallies, and events she hosted to honor Palestinians injured or killed in violent confrontations with Israeli soldiers. The PFLP also referred to her as a member of the Progressive Youth Union of the organization in 2018. 5 days ago, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences said it wouldnt rescind her nomination, noting that all documented ties between her and PFLP occurred between six and nine years ago, when Owda was still a teenager. NATAS added that it unable to corroborate reports of other ties, and that it wasnt able to date, to surface any evidence of more contemporary or active involvement by Owda with the PFLP organization. The content submitted for award consideration was consistent with competition rules and NATAS policies. Accordingly, NATAS has found no grounds, to date, upon which to overturn the editorial judgment of the independent journalists who reviewed the material, the group also said. Owda is an activist and filmmaker best known through Instagram (4.7 million followers) and TikTok (191,500 followers), where she documents her experience during the ongoing Israel-Hamas War in Gaza. Other winners from the News category ceremony included ABC and CNN, both with multiple wins, among others. You can read the complete list of winners here. The post Palestinian Journalist Bisan Owda Wins News Emmy After Campaign to Get Nomination Rescinded appeared first on TheWrap. Abbas said that Washington continued to provide diplomatic cover and weapons to Israel for its war in Gaza (Leonardo Munoz) (Leonardo Munoz/AFP/AFP) Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called Thursday on the international community to stop sending weapons to Israel in order to halt bloodshed in the West Bank and Gaza, singling out the United States. Abbas said that Washington continued to provide diplomatic cover and weapons to Israel for its war in Gaza despite the mounting death toll there, now at 41,534 according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run strip. "Stop this crime. Stop it now. Stop killing children and women. Stop the genocide. Stop sending weapons to Israel. This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people in Gaza and the West Bank," Abbas said in an address to the UN General Assembly. The vast majority of the besieged Gaza Strip's 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once by the war, sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, with many seeking shelter in school buildings. "The US alone stood and said: 'No, the fighting is going to continue.' It did this by using the veto," he said, referring to the veto repeatedly wielded to thwart censure in the UN Security Council of Israel's campaign in Gaza. "It furnished Israel with the deadly weapons that it used to kill thousands of innocent civilians, children and women. "This further encouraged Israel to continuous aggression," he added, saying that Israel "does not deserve" to be in the UN. Washington is Israel's closest ally and backer, supplying the nation with billions of dollars of aid and military material. - Attacks Israel's UN membership - The speech by Abbas comes months after the General Assembly voted that the State of Palestine merited full membership. As world leaders opened their speeches Tuesday, Abbas was able to take his seat alongside the Palestinian delegation, seated in the General Assembly in alphabetical position. In his address, Abbas said Israel's defiance of the United Nations, which it often calls biased, showed the country should not be part of the world body. "Israel, which refuses to implement United Nations resolutions, does not deserve to be a member in this international organization," Abbas said. Israel, whose right-wing government has sought to isolate the Palestinian Authority, swiftly attacked Abbas's speech and faulted him for not condemning Hamas. "Only when he stands on the UN platform does he talk about a peaceful solution. There is no greater hypocrisy and lie than this," said Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations. "Abbas's legacy is one of chronic weakness in the face of terrorism and hatred." The October 7 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, which includes hostages killed in captivity. Out of 251 people taken hostage that day, 97 are still being held inside the Gaza Strip, including 33 who the Israeli military says are dead. gw/sct/st President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas sharply criticized the United States government at the United Nations General Assembly Thursday, pointing to U.S. vetoes of Security Council cease-fire resolutions. Abbas speech highlighted the growing isolation of the U.S. and Israel on the world stage and denounced the U.S. government for wielding its veto power to vote down Security Council resolutions calling for a cease-fire to Israel's war in Gaza. Earlier this year, the U.S. was the lone No vote on a resolution to grant Palestine full membership to the U.N. We regret that the U.S. administration, the largest democracy in the world, obstructed three times [a] draft resolution to the Security Council demanding Israel observe a cease-fire, Abbas said before the General Assembly. Abbas criticized U.S. military aid to Israel and called on the international community to impose sanctions, while thanking the vast majority of member states for supporting its bid to become a full member of the U.N. The American people are marching in the streets, in these demonstrations, and we are grateful to them, Abbas said. He called for political and financial support for the U.N.'s humanitarian aid agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and other aid organizations. At least 220 UNRWA workers, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack against Israel the highest death toll of any conflict or natural disaster where the U.N. has worked. Israel has alleged that UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas, claiming some of its workers participated in the Oct. 7 attack. While two separate U.N. investigations have not substantiated those claims, nine staffers were sacked after an investigation found they may have been involved. Many countries withdrew funding from UNRWA in the wake of the accusations, but have since restored funding the agency. The U.S., however, has frozen its funding until at least March 2025. Abbas also outlined his vision for a post-war Gaza, including Palestinian Authority control. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people in Gaza and the West Bank, he said. JERUSALEMMahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, once again delivered a stridently anti-Israel speech at the U.N. on Thursday, where he also praised the anti-Israel protests across the U.S. and condemned Washington for its support of Israel. Abbas, who presented a 12-point plan for a post-war Gaza that calls for a permanent cease-fire, accused the Jewish state of committing genocide, while calling for its expulsion from the U.N. and taking aim at the Biden Administration for vetoing Security Council resolutions on the issue, while supplying arms to the Israelis. He charged the U.S. "furnished Israel with the deadly weapons that it used to kill thousands of innocent civilians, children and women. And this further encouraged Israel to continue with aggression." Abbas started his speech by questioning Israel's legitimacy: "We will not leave. We will not leave. We will not leave. Palestine is our homeland. It is the land of our fathers, our grandfathers. It will remain ours. And if anyone were to leave, it would be the occupying usurpers." Extremists Rise In New Palestinian Authority Government As Biden Threatens Israel Over Gaza War "Abbas spoke for 26 minutes and did not say the word Hamas once. Since the massacre of October 7, Abbas has failed to condemn Hamas for their crimes against humanity," Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon charged in a statement following the speech. Read On The Fox News App Yet while leaders from around the world watched his UNGA speech, some critics complain the 88-year-old's rule and domination of Palestinian politics in the West Bank (known in Israel by its biblical name of Judea and Samaria in Israel) has done little for the Palestinian cause. Abbas was born Safed duing the British mandate period (now in Israel). His family fled to Syria when Arab armies invaded Israel to prevent the establishment of the Jewish state. Abbas has been accused of rewarding Palestinian terrorism via the infamous "pay for slay" system that supports financial stipends for convicted Palestinian terrorists and their family members. Israeli army soldiers search the remains of a torched vehicle for forensic evidence at the site of the October 7 attack on the Supernova desert music Festival by Palestinian terrorists near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 13, 2023. The rave event had drawn thousands of party-goers from October 6 to the desert site close to Kibbutz Reim, less than five kilometres (three miles) from the Gaza Strip. But it turned into a horror show early the next day when Hamas militants crossed the border on motorcycles, vans, speed boats and paramotors, launching their surprise offensive on Israel. He has also garnered a reputation over the decades as an anti-American agitator who stokes wild antisemitic conspiracy theories. Just last month, Abbas delivered a speech to the Turkish parliament, where he announced that that "America is the plague, and the plague is America" and "We implement Shari'a law: victory or martyrdom." Asaf Romirowsky, executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME), told Fox News Digital that "Mahmoud Abbas aka Arafat's appointed successor after 20 years has done what Arafat hoped he would, that is maintain a Palestinian stasis while at the same time refusing to root out the corruption within the PA or combat terrorism. Further, as he has shown during his recent speech in the Turkish Parliament, a clear allegiance to Hamas and an endorsement of 10/7, underscoring the consistent antisemitism of his leadership." Romirowsky added "With no heir apparent, Abbas's legacy, as was Arafat's, is that of self-inflicted victimology while maintaining wealth on the back of his own people in the name of the so-called Palestinian struggle." More Than A Million Palestinians In Gaza Are Now Displaced; Why Are Arab Countries Not Opening Their Doors? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) and former head of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh (R) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 26, 2023. Fox News Digital reported shortly after Hamas slaughtered nearly 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, including over 30 Americans, that the Abbas PA might compensate convicted Hamas terrorists for their role in the attack. Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, told Fox News Digital the PA and Abbas "duplicate all of the corruption, nepotism, and inefficiency of the Palestine Liberation Organization" that was created by Arafat. He said "Abbas does not accept the basic right of the Jewish people to self-determination, and therefore he doesnt recognize the right of the state of Israel to be a nation state of the Jewish people in any borders." Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority president, left, and Olaf Scholz, Germany's chancellor, during a news conference in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. Scholz and Abbas were speaking following their bi-lateral meeting in the German capital. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Michael, who is affiliated with the Misgav Institute continued, "He has not educated the young generation and has not educated PA officials for peace. On the contrary, Abbas has led and enabled the indoctrination toward hatred and toward delegitimization of the state of Israel." In contrast to the U.S.-designated terrorist movement, Hamas, Abbas and the PA are considered to be relatively moderate, according to some Mideast observers. In 2022, Fox News Digital reported Abbas issued a shocking diatribe against Israel in the German capital of Berlin, where the Holocaust the mass extermination of European Jewry was organized, claiming that the Jewish state has carried out "50 Holocausts." Abbas refused to apologize (or aid in a professional inquiry) in Berlin at the time of the Palestinian Black September massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer during the 1972 Munich Olympics. Fox News' David Hammelburg contributed to this story. Original article source: Palestinian President Abbas slams Israel, US during UN speech as critics decry his support for terrorism What do you think you did well - Admitted Student Advice - Part 2 Let's face it, we have a TON of people applying to business school that stop being active on the forums once they start classes. Rightfully so, because business school can be HARD! I was barely active on GMAT Club when I was knee deep in assignments, networking and preparing for interviews. So I wanted to get a "last call" from all our folks before they step into their fancy business school oxfords. Here is what they had to say about what they thought they did well. Part 1 - What I wish I had known before - 70+ MBA Admit Responses Part 3 - What I wish I had done better - 70+ MBA Admit Responses Please remember that these comments are completely unadulterated and we have not done any edits to them at all. Some of them may be controversial and some of them may not! I am glad the community was candid in sharing their advice and I hope you all prospective students would appreciate it. neonuk I think I stayed true to myself and conveyed my personality and strengths well, through my application and interview. As an MBA candidate, you don't need to have all your career goals chiselled out before you start your journey - you figure it out along the way! But, it's important to have a vision and a motivation to work towards. Authenticity goes a long way in making a strong candidate. xavier8 I believe I was very well prepared before applying to school. I did extensive research on the schools I was interested in, I prepared great essays and I did interview preparation in a great way so to compensate my relatively low GMAT. erlandgas I think I did well painting myself in the best light. It goes back to confidence, but when in doubt give yourself the benefit of the doubt as long as it's true. Competition is too fierce not to. I think I did well looking at employment reports to see what exactly this school is capable of. To be honest, there's only like a 5-10k difference between Harvard and 12,13,14 (Ross, Duke, Darden, Tuck, Stern). One admit is great. Anything more is a dream come true. Also, I did well in my later interviews after experience. I noticed the schools that I got admitted to were my best interviews, and by best I mean that I really, really got enthusiastic along with making logical coherent sentences. I believe that your enthusiasm is more important in an interview than possibly the content. As long as you're not saying BS things like I was president of the student class before freshman year. JKRudomanski I had a strong, honest, and cohesive narrative that I worked on deliberately before beginning my application, I worked to ensure that my essays were giving the school a clear look at who I really am, what my experiences are, and what I want to do after school. I prepared intensely for the interviews mkv30 I think I did well on the GMAT. And on reaching out to alums from target schools to understand whether or not the school I was applying to fit my requirements. ankitagrawal079 My GMAT score was decent at 730. I also was able to cover up my shortfalls in my interview. haileyyy I tried to show different aspects of myself, my aspirations, my life and my personalities. There is a piece of advice everyone would say " Be authentic", and I finally got to understand what that really means. I do not need to be perfect, I tried to show the schools that I am real. umeshsukhwani The first and most important thing IMO was the clarity of the purpose for which I was applying to B schools. Secondarily GMATclub helped me a lot with the GMAT prep, once that got out of the way, My friend who is a senior alum from ISB (my target B school) helped and guided me throughout both in terms of resume building, essay writing & finally interview prep. sebo08 1- I had a real back story and went in naturally in my essays and interviews. Having a back story is a must, and the information flow should be smooth and logical for sure, both in essays and interviews. How one presents it is also as important. the best way is not to struggle to deliver the message, especially during the interview. Short, smart and accurate sentences. Although it might sound strange, but there must be some emotional elements in the application and interview, the adcom likes it, makes them feel that we are humans not robots. 2- I was so nervous about my interviews, but since I had practiced the questions, some parts just came out automatically with acceptable quality for the listener. 3- I kept the smile during the interviews, it helped to prevent getting into a defensive position and helped the interviewer feel more satisfied when talking to me. 4- I am 32, and what surprisingly helped me was that when I knew that the interviewer is younger than me, and he or she is also talking to a stranger, they should also be nervous, so I tried to think "Ok this is a young person who is also nervous, so I should make that feeling go away for him/her. How do I do that? just talk relaxed, smile, use a couple of light jokes, open up", and that way I would have a positive impression because they felt relaxed when talking to me. the interviews with female interviewers (I am male) were more fun I would say, regardless of the age. and I got accepted to 3 of 4 universities where the interviewer was female. hakotaco I think I was successful in showing interest in specific programs at Anderson through networking and relatable work experience. I only applied to UCLA Anderson and prior to submitting my application I signed up to sit in on a lecture in person as well as a coffee chat meetup to talk to current students about their experience. Through the coffee chat I met the vice president and head of admissions of the Entrepreneurship Club, a club I was already interested in joining. In my application I mentioned some of the networking I had done with current students and which specific on campus clubs I would pursue if I was admitted to UCLA which strengthened my application beyond personal experiences. strawberryjelly I think as above, I put together a coherent story of what I wanted to do in the future, and what I had done up to that point that supported that plan. I think my extra-curricular activities and community volunteering possibly came across as 'genuine', I've been volunteering as part of my extra-curricular since I was 19 so it was consistent dedication, as opposed to something that looked like I picked it up a few months before the applications were due. "nvdmurty" Engaging with the B-schools early on, getting my CV reviewed and visiting the campus to meet Ad-coms was the part that went well. When you do that you actually tend to find the right fit for you. Brand names such as LBS, Oxford etc are enticing just on the basis of their brand value but until you visit them in person and talk to students you can never find out if that is actually the right place for you! I come with 15 years of work-experience in 2 countries , across 2 business domains and with 6 clients, therefore was looking for classes where there would be equal amount of maturity. I was not at all keen on LBS but nevertheless applied on the advice of my consultant. I was a bit indecisive on Oxford too but unfortunately never got through to the interview round. As regards the GMAT, I still don't think it is an exam that should make people nervous. I prepared for 2.5 months and throughout that time worked diligently through all the 700 plus practice questions available on GMAT Club and read different explanations for the right answers. This helped in my preparation a lot and I am glad I registered on GMAT Club at the right time. ZY123 Storytelling. It is the most important part of the MBA application. Have a good story, be true to yourself. tsassos I did very well on my GMAT. I did a good job of showing interest in schools by attending an event, contacting current students, etc. Persis Networking, Interview prep, building connections with adcoms before interviews so they can advocate for me to the admission committee Synchrony I nailed down my narrative really well. I made sure that if someone asked the typical, "Why MBA?" "Why X school?" "Why did you choose your major?" "Why did you leave X firm and go to Y firm?" "What are you good at?" I could give clear, concise answers. Honestly, it boiled down to just making all of my answers, written or verbal, a lot more casual. naveenchandra Networking with current students, going to the school for interview even though there was a skype option available. These things have helped me to create a good impression. phobos1233 I managed to tell my story and explain why I am a good candidate who can contribute to the program. "Nyler" Allocating equal time to all parts of the application. I think there is an obvious focus on the GMAT, and while I did put a lot of time into that, I also spent an equal amount of time crafting my essays, researching schools, working on my ECs. umanathk87 I'm not sure in which circumstance this question is for, but during the application process my SOP was regarded as "deeply personal and quite different from the regular letters they receive". Given that I have 9 years of work ex, the interviews were more of a breeze since I had enough examples to back my answers with and also I have a solid 5 year plan. "Subs11" 1. Target and shortlist colleges of my liking/capability 2. I had a list of financial aids and scholarship options available for each of my target colleges. So I was less worried about that aspect and am now able to focus on just my preparations. Also, I was able to apply to them as soon as I got the admit. 3. I had a lot of time to focus on my essays - so I felt my profile was more complete shruthiarvindh Talking to a lot of alumni and taking their inputs to craft my application. "SenorBey" - Network: Connected with current students with some attribute in common with me. I also kept in touch with admissions reps I met for one-to-one coffee chats. - Working well in teams: Framed my achievements in terms of working with other people and how my background prepared me to facilitate collaboration. - Recommenders: I prepared them on what type of candidate each school looks for. Both of them submitted strong recommendations. RicAssassin I chose a very counter intuitive approach, I did nit take help from any professional consultants and kept my stories and stats very genuine. (I believe that genuine voice helped me with an 80% hit rate of interview invites.) sohamdta I took around a couple of weeks to prepare applications for each school and had 2-3 people review each draft. I think I had sufficient time in hand to reflect rather than copy paste the same thing for every school, which worked for me. XyLan "contagiousme" Another thing i did well was find out how i can get my application fee waived for different schools, so managed to apply for free to three schools! I think i handled my GMAT well and got a decent score. The other thing i think i did well was that i concentrated on a smaller number of schools, this allowed me to give really personalized essays for each school rather than just copy pasting and editing.Another thing i did well was find out how i can get my application fee waived for different schools, so managed to apply for free to three schools! admission2020 I think my story was well thought through and I did well in interviews. Good interview preparation is key. priyanshubhalotia I think my professional skills were good. I worked whole-heartedly at my previous employer and raked up early promotion which helped me learn a lot. Both professionally and personally. chinmayrav I made a very calculated and wise decision to NOT opt for any paid admission consultancy services (both online and in-person) but rather fully leveraged the power of the internet and intensive research to land admits from all 3 of the colleges I had applied to. The fees consultants charge is extremely inflated/unjustified and most of the time they underestimate your true potential in cracking essays, interviews, etc. For example, when just casually investigating, I had 2-3 relatively famous paid consultants declined helping me in my application for my ambitious college (Schulich school of business, Toronto) because, upon inspection of my interests, history, and overall profile, they thought I STOOD NO CHANCE. Not to mention, thanks to my own research and work, I got an admit into Schulich. The fact that I declined it for another college is another story, but I feel I truly saved 1000s of dollars in not taking any external paid help for my work. So I really feel that GMATClub and other parts of the internet have all the answers you need in THE ENTIRE admission process. taroon123 I showed the impact I had at work through my leadership despite having about only 3 years when I applied and ensured that my recommenders really showed the initiative I took on special-projects while continuing to perform the day-to-day tasks at a high level. talz94 I think I managed to tell my story well and convey what I am passionate about very genuinely. I come from a non-target school so I knew that my story is very very important and I spent a lot of time on that Kurtosis I was able to network well with current students from multiple universities and attended several webinars to give adcoms an hint that I was interested in the respective universities that I applied. I also did a good job by presenting my professional and extra curricular achievements in an impactful manner. jagp20 I delivered a clear way of how I intend to profit and contribute to B-School. I had a clear path forward, with ambitious yet realistic goals that demonstrated how committed I was and how I wasn't just applying as a stepping stone. sheen22 I got a score of 660 in my first attempt by prepping my verbal only from Gmatclub. I did take a course for quant. While on the face of it, it doesn't seem to be a great score, I almost was selected to every school I applied to. I wish I had known not-to-fret and be more ambitious to apply instead of being Indian-Engineering candidate and that not everyone needs a perfect 700+ GMAT score to get in a good school. However, scholarships mostly depend on the score and I could have done better if I knew that earlier. "abhimanyu1945" -Decent GMAT score definitely helped. -Had a great interview. All the schools asks everyone the same questions, so there should be no excuse. -Applying in the first round and showing genuine interest in the program by maintaining correspondence. -My unique academic background probably helped (Law). AbhimanyuS26 Flesh out my stories and examples of leadership, conflict, successes, failures well in advance of the admission cycles - so that material could then be adapted and modified according to the school! blowice27 I think my interviews went well. I was very genuine, real and personable. I had talked to a lot of students so mentioning that in interview is a great thing. My advice for everyone interviewing(any interview job or school) is that be vulnerable, don't sound rehearsed(ahs are okay) and be pretend. krasha My GMAT preparation. I was focused and disciplined and I think I managed to do better than I expected. I was worried that I have not been in academia for 6 years, but it turned out pretty well. philippi I was very consistent throughout my GMAT. When it comes to the application requirements, I was very well balanced, put a lot of effort in each step instead of putting 100% in some and neglecting others. Also, my timing was good. "gmatnewbie19" 1) I thoroughly researched each school and evaluated different types of programs, full-time 2-year MBA, full-time 1 year MBAs, Executive MBA and Part-time MBA, based on my level of experience (10 years). 2) I worked hard on my essays and they improved with every application. The application questions/essays really force you to reflect and think about your future goals, and that should be reflected in your answers. aviral101032 I believe that despite a low GMAT score I fared really very well in interviews. I had structured my ideas and thoughts in a pragmatic manner and also tried to relate every situational based question on a real time scenario. Aelius72 I believe I did really well at networking with admissions team/students at Queen's and Schulich. This helped a lot to receive scholarship and admissions as the admissions team remembered me really well. "fitzpratik" Although I am not sure, the following points might have helped me: 1. I had a fair idea of what is the common characteristics of students admitted to a particular school 2. My interviews were conversational, yet to the point. Many aspiring candidates mistake ""To the point"" answers as curt or short answers - Big mistake. elaborate on your ideas of the school, demonstrate that you have taken efforts to know the school beyond what is pictured on the website. I was able to show that the school was the missing piece in my career. 3. I had a clear vision of why I was applying to a particular school, and I tried to channel that in my interviews 4. I was also not shy of sharing any potential shortcomings of my profile with my interviewers "Brahma11" A few things that I did well. - Getting GMAT out of the way before starting my application. - Attending information sessions of the schools the schools I was interested in. The insights of alumni and admissions team helped me understand their MBA experience more holistically. - Attempting to honestly put my story across in the application essays. "dikshitratan" The chance I took on and Orion learning. Orion shutdown their program, but it was good. Not the best, but affordable and good. They could have made it adaptive learning and further improved upon it. 2nd : Gmat forum. I think, this forum is a huge resource for the candidate. Timebomb I made good connections from people who were joining different Bschools (US/Non-US) it really helped to sail the tough covid time together and to stay up-to-date on what is happening at individual bschools. GittinGud Long and structured GMAT prep. Solved over 12000 questions. Still not too happy with my 750 score though. "shubham2312" 1.) I applied in round 1. 2.) I was ready to face failures, I applied to some 6/7 colleges and only received admits from 2, in the end an applicant can only attend 1 program so it doesn't matter how many B-schools reject you as long as there is 1 which is going to give you an admit. 3.) I had a different profile than a regular Indian IT Male, I have been working in public sector since the start of my career, people from my organization don't go for an MBA, along with that I was very clear regarding my story or as they say good fit. here I would like to share what i have understood by good fit, let's take my example I have been working in a retail bank and now I want to move into Fintech, B-schools which are situated in cities with good Fintech scene are a great fit for me, for ex- London, Hongkong, Dubai, on the other hand, B-school like Insead which is very good for consulting is not a good fit for my career aspirations. TakingThePlunge GMAT Score, Personal Interview (Honest, Realistic) waybo I reached out to students and faculty fairly late but it still helped. I wished I would've built the network and kept the connection much earlier. Those conversation really helped my essays and interviews. "Priyanka1293" I prepared for my stories well in advance I applied only in R2, but I had stayed with the questions since July-August (when they were released). I was thinking about my stories even when I wasn't actively working on my apps. (Ex: stuck in traffic, traveling to a friend's place etc.) This helped me speed up my application when I was working on it actively. MBAApplicant93 I think I managed my time well. I took the GMAT, visited schools, etc. early in the process so that I could spend the whole summer focused on essay writing and application work. I strongly encourage people to take the GMAT/GRE as early as possible as it's one less thing to worry about. And make sure you visit the schools if you can! This shows adcom you are taking their program seriously. Vaibhav0607 I had a clear understanding of why MBA part and specifically why MBA from IIMB part. I managed to put forward some specific points that were only pertinent to IIMB and my career goal. Secondly, I had practiced quite a lot of guesstimate questions. In my interview, I was asked to design an app and derive the business model to it. pikolo2510 ASPEBoston I did well in attending many events and class visits at all the business schools I was interested in, and did a great job at networking and meeting staff and students. I spent many hours perfecting my resume and crafting my story to get great essays at the end. Baibaobao - I didn't spend much time on writing essays, i saw many people spend huge time on application. i think the process is a bit overwhelming, in reality it is not as hard/ time consuming as i had heard easterngod See note about being authentic and telling the story only you can tell. This complemented my solid stats (Top 25 undergrad/3.5/730) and work experience at a blue-chip (FAANG/GS/MBB) kind of firm. As far as interviewing, I found it to be pretty easy. Just be cool and know your reason for why MBA and you should do better than most who let nerves get the best of them. avinoam In all honesty, I don't think I did anything particularly well. I knew if I had worked for it I could have been a competitor for schools like HEC Paris or IE but leaving Canada wasn't an option so I did the bare minimum to get into McGill and Queen's and I applied to McGill and Queen's. "zzz0288" Firstly, I value the strength of professional relationships I fortified over my time at work. As an example, my supervisor of 6 years, who left the company a couple of months before my applications commenced, went out of his way to tell me that he would be more than glad to write recommendations for me even before I requested him to do so! This proved to be vital in having a smooth application process, owing to not ever having to 'chase' my receommendors for anything. Secondly, apart from a good amount of GMAT prep and an ok GMAT score of 710 considering my profile, what really made the difference for me is reaching out, maintaining correspondence and being persistent in following up with current students and alumni of my target schools throughout the application process. This was crucial in creating and displaying a sense of personal connection with the school during my interview. Lastly, in hindsight, getting myself involved in hands'-on volunteer work, albeit only six months before my application process helped. ILMRG Networking. I cannot stress this one enough. Getting to know people is so important as current students can really paint a complete picture for you of what's going at the school. Not only did this help me in my journey to make a decision, but I also felt like I got a very clear understanding of what it takes to be successful at each school. With that frame of reference, it made attacking many of the essays a lot easier. Also, I had the chance to let some of the folks I met review my essays and offer feedback on my progress. That was really helpful because it give me an unbiased third-party who could tell me whether or not I was meeting the mark. MichaelIN I think I did a pretty great job in demonstrating that I am a well-rounded applicant. In such a highly competitive process, I think applicants need to realize that extracurricular activities are sometimes the difference maker. I'd also further that comment by saying that I was rather personable. I have no doubt that there are many applicants with more extensive job profiles, but the personal essays and interview(s) are opportunities to tell the story behind those experiences. Those stories you tell are a great way to create a connection with adcom. pinetree22 I had a great stats (>3.8 GPA, >95 percentile standardized score) gmatman77 Getting my application ready earlier than later (the lockdown happened shortly after I finished taking my GMAT and got all my transcripts ready), talking to others, doing my own research hypryst With my average stats, I think telling a compelling story - linking my why in life to my why business school - made the difference for me. Every school I applied to could resonate with it and I left the interviews with open declarations of support. "sarafa" I think that, apart from the basic ingredients that I mentioned above, an MBA application to a top school needs to stand out in some way; it should be memorable. I tried to bring out my personal story in an articulate, engaging way, and I think that this helped me a lot. If I could offer a single piece of advice to an MBA applicant, it would be - stand out! Dig for and bring out the personal experiences that have made you a better person and a better professional. HealthcareMBA2 I spoke to a handful of current students from each school, asked thoughtful questions, and developed reasons why I wanted to attend each school. I wove my connections into my application (essays, interviews), and I believe it was critical to my success. isaacnewton1234 I think I had a great essay. I answered the prompt in a way that felt comfortable to me - I tried to avoid too many third party opinions (had only two people read it) to ensure my voice was present. The essay came out very genuinely and I think it saved some of the weaker aspects of my application (gmat, gpa). ppkreik All of the above, which greatly helped especially since I had the bare minimum professionsl experience required to do an MBA, which is lower than the average FinanceMan One thing I was very proud of myself for was my ability to connect with current students, alumni and faculty of my programs of interest. This allowed me to pick their brains on what they felt the strengths and weaknesses of their respective school was. This gave me a greater understanding of which program would be best for me. _________________ By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday to stop the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants, saying Israel had almost entirely destroyed Gaza and it was no longer fit for life. "This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people," he told the 193-member General Assembly. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen stormed Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's military has leveled swaths of the besieged Palestinian enclave, driving nearly all of its 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing more than 41,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have been trying unsuccessfully to broker a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Abbas called for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza and a full withdrawal of the Israeli military from the enclave. "We refuse the establishment of buffer zones or taking any part from Gaza," he said. "We will not allow a single centimeter of Gaza to be taken." "The State of Palestine must shoulder its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip and impose its full mandate on it and jurisdiction on it, including the border checkpoints, especially the Rafah international border," Abbas said. He said that the Palestinian Authority, which he leads, should have control over all Palestinian territories and that it would hold elections once the war is over. Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon responded to Abbas' speech in a statement, accusing him of only talking about a peaceful solution when he is at the United Nations and failing to condemn the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that triggered the war in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Howard Goller) Giant pandas An An and Ke Ke arrive as a gift from China in Hong Kong Giant pandas An An and Ke Ke arrive as a gift from China in Hong Kong By Joyce Zhou and Lam Yik HONG KONG (Reuters) - Pandas An An and Ke Ke, a gift from Beijing to Hong Kong, arrived in the Chinese territory on Thursday to much fanfare, with officials welcoming them at the city's international airport with a red carpet on the tarmac and panda toys. The Sichuan-born male and female will increase the total number of pandas to six, the highest ever in the financial hub. Some lawmakers called on the government to use the animals to boost tourism and create a "panda economy" by building themed promotions and infrastructure. The five-year-old pair will be housed at the city's Ocean Park theme park and remain out of the public eye until December, officials said, so they can get used to their new habitat. Hong Kong leader John Lee said the pandas would soon receive new names through a public contest organised by the government. Workers at Ocean Park have prepared a giant enclosure for the new arrivals complete with bamboo leaves planted in Guangdong province. An An and Ke Ke's arrival comes just after resident giant panda Ying Ying gave birth to twin cubs ahead of her 19th birthday. She was the oldest panda on record to have successfully given birth for the first time, Ocean Park said. The cubs are still under intensive care and are expected to make their public debut in a few months. (Writing by Farah Master; editing by Miral Fahmy) Gage Skidmore/Flickr Sign up for The Agenda Thems news and politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Thursday. Corey DeAngelis, a right-wing advocate against LGBTQ+ rights and public schools who was recently alleged to have performed in several gay adult films, also contributed to the Heritage Foundations infamous Project 2025 policy blueprint, as The Advocate first reported this week. DeAngelis name appears on page 27 of the full Project 2025 document, which lays out a plan to dramatically reshape the U.S. government around a far-right agenda in the event of a second Donald Trump presidency. He is listed as a contributor to the plan in his capacity as a senior fellow for the American Federation for Children (AFC), a conservative advocacy group for private and charter schools (and against teachers unions) founded and chaired by Betsy DeVos until she was named Trumps Secretary of Education in 2016. DeAngelis is also an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank best known for its fight to privatize Social Security. DeAngelis has called for the Department of Education to be abolished, one of Project 2025s main goals, and previously spoke at Heritage Foundation events as an AFC mouthpiece. The kids have a union of their own now, theyre called parents, and they can beat the [teachers] unions at their own game, DeAngelis told a Heritage audience in June. He is also steadfastly anti-LGBTQ+, telling Fox News in May this year that public schools are focusing more on the LGBTs than the ABCs and derisively posting online about the woke mind virus an anti-LGBTQ+ dog whistle made popular on the right by leaders like Jordan Peterson, whom DeAngelis has promoted, and Elon Musk. DeAngelis has built a career railing against left-wing indoctrination in government schools, the subject of his 2024 book The Parent Revolution, which claims to teach parents how to rescue their children from the radicals ruining our schools. But DeAngelis is also the most recent conservative ideologue to seemingly be caught literally with his pants down. DeAngelis is alleged to have performed in adult films under the name Seth Rose in 2014 for the porn studio GayHoopla. As nonprofit education news site The 74 noted, DeAngelis was actually felled by his fellow conservatives: The revelations were first posted on X (formerly Twitter) in July by podcaster Sarah Fields, then picked up last week by Current Revolt, a far-right Substack blogger who found details of Seth Roses filmography. (We suppose he never imagined the leopards would eat his face.) The allegations were then spread even further by activist, podcaster, and content creator Matt Bernstein. After Gay Porn Allegations, Trump Fave Corey DeAngelis Placed on Leave by Right-Wing Org DeAngelis is a parental rights activist who has railed against the woke mind virus. The former president blurbed his 2024 book *The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools.* Shortly after his alleged adult film history was exposed, AFC confirmed that DeAngelis had been put on leave. DeAngelis himself has been silent, and did not respond to multiple requests for comment, according to The Advocate; he has also not posted to social media since September 19, leading American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten a frequent target for DeAngelis ire to wonder wryly, Has anyone heard from Corey DeAngelis in the last few days? He normally tweets at me incessantly - hes been very silent. Hope hes ok. As with so many other instances of conservative queer hypocrisy, DeAngelis shouldnt be ashamed of allegedly having done gay porn in the past; rather, he should be ashamed of making money from gay porn, then helping enact political agendas like Project 2025, which also contains a plan to ban pornography as a whole. DeAngelis fraud on school districts across the country should be seen for what it is: an anti-LGBTQ attack, underwritten by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ groups, said GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis in a statement to The Advocate earlier this week. DeAngelis and Heritage have no business anywhere near Americas schools, students, and families. Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here. Originally Appeared on them. Timothy Piazza would have turned 27 this week. But instead of celebrating his birthday, his parents have been fighting to keep his memory alive and this week, they got a bittersweet victory. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We kind of feel like we got a little wink from heaven, said Jim Piazza, Timothys father. TRENDING STORIES: On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Stop Campus Hazing Act, a bill that could become the first federal law to address hazing nationwide. Its the kind of legislation that the Piazzas say could help prevent what happened to their son from happening to other students. It brings us closer to the transparency that we so desperately need for parents and students that are making decisions about what organizations to join, said Jim Piazza. Its bittersweet because it wont help our son or any of the other families that we know but it will hopefully save lives and our kids deaths wont be in vein, said Evelyn Piazza. Tim Piazza was just 19 years old when died in 2017 after a hazing incident at a fraternity party at Penn State University. Security camera footage captured fraternity members giving Piazza 18 alcoholic drinks in less than 90 minutes. He then fell down the stairs, injured himself, and died less than two days later. He was the kind of kid that if he observed something like this happening to someone else, all of his friends said he would have been the first one to carry that person to the hospital himself if he had to, said Jim Piazza. And thats really whats heartbreaking knowing that nobody cared, nobody valued his life and they just you know watched him die essentially after putting him in a state that was irrecoverable. Today would have been Tim Piazzas 27th birthday. He died in 2017 after a hazing incident at Penn State. His parents are celebrating a bittersweet victory after the House passed the Stop Campus Hazing Act. I talked w/them about this moment after years of pushing for change. pic.twitter.com/SAjwafAftA Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) September 25, 2024 The bill is the change the Piazzas have been fighting for since his death. It would require universities to report hazing incidents, create a consistent definition for hazing statistics, and provide hazing prevention programs for students and faculty. Hazing is always done with the intent to do cause harm to somebody whether it be embarrassment or physical harm or making them sick, demeaning them in some way, said Evelyn Piazza. It may not be a deadly weapon like an automobile, but you give some a handle of alcohol and theyre under duress that is a deadly weapon, so you need to look at hazing in the light that it really is and how dangerous it is. Lawmakers say more than 100 students have died on college campuses in hazing-related incidents since 2000. Some of those parents of hazing victims were inside the House Gallery Tuesday as both Democrats and Republicans prepared to vote for the bill. Many of them like Georgia Democrat Lucy McBath got emotional while advocating for the bill on the House Floor. Its about transparency and accountability. Empowering students and families so they can make informed decisions about the schools that they attend or the clubs that they join, said Rep. McBath. Its about ensuring that college remains a place of new beginnings and hope for our childrens future. Several others acknowledged the families who have experienced these tragedies and the work theyve done to fight for change at the state and federal levels. The memories of hundreds of other campus hazing victims by mandating greater transparency in fraternity hazing reporting, said Rep. Jeff Duncan, R - South Carolina In the face of this unspeakable tragedy, Evelyn and Jim [Piazza] have been at the forefront of efforts in Pennsylvania, here in Congress and other states around the country about the dangers of hazing, said Rep. Glenn Thompson, R Pennsylvania. As the bill moves to the Senate, the Piazza family said theyre also urging colleges and universities to step up. Report to law enforcement when you find a hazing incident and also expel students. Obviously, they are not the type of people that you want in your university so get rid of them, said Evelyn Piazza. The Piazzas said theyre also pushing for more states to pass felony hazing laws that include jail time for people who violate their violations. According to the organization, StopHazing, 44 of the 50 states have anti-hazing laws in place. But these laws vary significantly. The organization says some statutes focus only on hazing at the collegiate level, while others expand to include other groups. Since his passing, the Piazzas have also set up the Timothy J. Piazza Memorial Foundation in his honor. The organization provides support for children and adults who need prosthetics. His parents say Timothy loves kids and his dream job would have been making prosthetics. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Six years in the making, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation officially opened a new, nine-acre riverside park in the Northeast neighborhood. Graco Park has been in development since 2018, with construction starting last August. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) announced on Wednesday that its first phase is complete and now open to the public. The park, located north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge between Boom Island Park and Graco Inc. headquarters, features trails and walkways, a river landing, public art, picnic tables, and gathering spaces surrounded by hundreds of new trees and native plants. An outdoor stage has also been added for events or performances, with a slopped grass area for seating. Left to Right: MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Executive Director Kevin Reich, Jan and John Gray, representatives from the Gray family that founded Graco Inc., Graco President and CEO Mark Sheahan, MPRB President Meg Forney Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board It is the latest addition to the riverfront in the north of Minneapolis. Two other new riverfront parks, Water Works and the 26th Avenue North Overlook, opened in 2021. Earlier this year, the MPRB opened a new 20-acre park at the Upper Harbor redevelopment and a trail connection between the 26th Avenue North Overlook and Ole Olson Park. "If were going to have a truly equitable park system, residents of Northeast and North Minneapolis must be able to enjoy thoughtfully designed access to the Mississippi Riverfront," said MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura. "This is something that weve advocated for and worked on for decades, and now these parks are no longer just ideas, plans, or illustrations; theyre real. Were in the middle of a golden era of riverfront park development in Minneapolis." MPRB The next phase of Graco Park's development includes a 4,000-square-foot park building called The River Hub, which is scheduled to open in 2025, and a trail under the Plymouth Avenue Bridge connecting it to Boom Island Park. According to MPRB, the River Hub will be a central area where people can enjoy the Mississippi River, offering environmental education, youth employment, performances, and events supporting the local arts community. Some plans for the future building include a Sparkd Studios location with a recording studio, a performance workshop that leads to an outdoor stage, a conference room, and a geothermal energy system. The building will be considered "Net Zero," consuming only as much power as can be generated onsite by clean, renewable resources. MPRB Opening Graco Park is a monumental milestone in our ongoing, decades-long mission to transition Minneapolis northern riverfront to a world-class attraction thats more welcoming to people and wildlife, said MPRB President Meg Forney. "Were incredibly grateful to have a network of partners and neighbors like Graco who believe in our park system and support ambitious plans to restore our natural resources and offer outstanding trails and recreation opportunities." The new park is being partially funded by the Graco Foundation, which donated over $3 million to MPRB, while the parks board also sold 2.2 acres of land to Graco next to its production facility for $1.1 million. A grant was also awarded by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) to fund native vegetations, habitat restoration, and stormwater infiltration. MPRB The Orangery in Heaton Park has been closed to the public since 2012 [BBC] Plans to refurbish a Georgian building at a popular park have been approved by councillors. Built in the 1820s, the Orangery in Heaton Park in north Manchester, was constructed as an addition to Heaton Hall. It was last opened in 2012 but could be returned into use as an "events space, Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon said. Work will start on stonework repairs and internal refurbishment, which will include new flooring and doors, a full redecoration and an overhaul of the electrics and heating. Officials want Heaton Park's Orangery to become a "high-quality dining and event space" [Manchester City Council] It is part of a 2.1m investment by Manchester City Council and Historic England in 2018, to ensure the Grade I- listed building remained wind and weathertight. The council said it would work with Manchester and Cheshire Construction to fit out the building over 12 months, enabling a blank canvas for any future operating partner. It said it wanted a high-quality dining and event space right in the heart of Heaton Park. Councillor Igbon, executive member for vibrant neighbourhoods, said: "We are delighted that we can now get started on bringing this much-loved part of the building, steeped in history, back into use. David Blood, chair of Friends of Heaton Hall, said: "We are excited by the news and hope that more people will get to experience a special place that is Heaton Hall." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk Related stories An artery in Sean Cliffords brain was a stroke waiting to happen, but a Prenuvo radiologist told him everything looked normal, according to a new lawsuit (New York State Supreme Court) A 37-year-old father of two is no longer able to dress himself, speak clearly, or move large portions of the left side of his body after an allegedly botched diagnosis by a buzzy healthcare startup that counts Kim Kardashian among its celebrity endorsers and 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki among its A-list investors. In July 2023, New Jersey resident Sean Clifford laid out $2,500 for an AI-assisted full-body scan from Prenuvo, a California-based company that offers patients an MRI like no other. The boutique procedure, which is not covered by insurance, is advertised as one that checks for hundreds of conditions, including most solid tumors at Stage 1, and silent killers like aneurysms. No evidence of proximal intracranial arterial aneurysm, the Prenuvo radiologist who read Cliffords scan wrote in his chart. But, in fact, the scan showed precisely that: an obvious vascular blockage in Cliffords brain that any qualified physician should have clocked as a sign of impending disaster, according to an eye-popping lawsuit obtained by The Independent. Nine months later, the lawsuit says Clifford sustained a full-blown catastrophic stroke in the exact same area where he had the Prenuvo scan, requiring three emergency brain surgeries to save his life. The filing lays out the ways in which the finance entrepreneur has since suffered, detailing, among other things, extensive paralysis on the left side of his body, vision problems, cognitive delays, inability to speak properly, and profound neurological deficits. Attorney Neal Bhushan, who is representing Clifford in court, called his clients situation devastating. [It] could have been prevented, had the MRI scan been properly interpreted, Bhushan told The Independent. Very tragic. This family deserves justice it is not right what happened. Bhushan pointed to Cliffords Prenuvo report, which he said on Wednesday clearly shows a 60 percent narrowing of the proximal right middle cerebral artery, according to a third-party neurologist hired by the family and cited throughout the lawsuit. This should have been documented in the MRI report, Bhushan said. And it wasnt. Sean Cliffords MRI scans showed clear warning signs of an impending stroke, which he says a Prenuvo radiologist negligently missed (New York State Supreme Court) Caught in time, the blocked blood vessel could have been treated with targeted stenting or other minimally invasive procedures, the lawsuit states, noting that Clifford will now require lifetime physical and occupational and other therapies and special education. A Prenuvo representative did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Prenuvo presently has more than a dozen clinics across the US and Canada, with plans to nearly double that footprint. The company has raised in excess of $70 million, with backers that include Wojcicki, supermodel Cindy Crawford, Nest Labs founder Tony Fadell, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Aside from Kim Kardashian and various members of her family, Cliffords lawsuit notes that Prenuvo has been namechecked on social media by, among others, Paris Hilton, Maria Menounos, and actress Lisa Rinna. The company has been generating buzz thanks to some of its high-profile clientele who have told millions of Instagram followers about the life-saving machine, Cliffords lawsuit states. Yet, the outside neurologist Clifford hired to re-read his Prenuvo chart said the company failed to document crucial, life-saving medical information, incorrectly describing his cerebral and cerebellar vasculature as normal, according to the suit. There were worrisome areas of arterial stenosis, especially in the right middle cerebral artery, and [Clifford] subsequently had an ischemic infarction in the distribution of the right middle cerebral artery. The services Prenuvo provided Clifford were rendered carelessly, unskillfully, negligently, and not in accordance with good and accepted standards of medical, radiological, and/or hospital care in the community and constituted medical, hospital, radiology, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, and professional malpractice, the lawsuit contends. It claims Prenuvo materially breached the terms of the Patient Agreement and on their website by informing plaintiff that his head scan was normal. Clifford is suing on numerous causes of action, including medical malpractice, negligence, gross negligence, lack of informed consent, negligent hiring and retention, loss of consortium and services, and breach of contract. His wife has been deprived of the services, companionship, society, consortium and support of her spouse, according to the suit, and the couples two children, both of whom are under the age of 3, have been deprived of guidance, love, and affection by Clifford. He is asking for compensatory damages and punitive damages to be determined by a jury. A GoFundMe campaign set up by Cliffords family has so far raised $55,000 of its $125,000 goal. AUSTIN (KXAN) In a petition filed Wednesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged the Texas State Fair firearms ban. The goal of the petition was to prevent the City of Dallas from assisting the State Fair of Texas in enforcing a firearms ban that would unlawfully prohibit Texans who are licensed to carry from exercising their rights, according to the AGs Office. Previously, a Texas appeals court denied Paxtons request to temporarily block the State Fair of Texas policy. RELATED | Appeals court says Texas State Fair can ban guns Paxton said he immediately challenged the decision in the Texas Supreme Court. The City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas cannot nullify state law by banning firearms. And a government entity cannot contract away our rights by offloading this policy to a private entity. Texans who are licensed to carry have a right to defend themselves, and I will fight every step of the way to protect it, Paxton said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist and current touring member of Pearl Jam, Josh Klinghoffer, is set to appear in a California court today to be arraigned on a misdemeanour charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. The charge stem from a tragic incident that took place on March 18th, 2024, when Klinghoffer struck 47-year-old pedestrian Israel Sanchez with his SUV in Alhambra, California. Josh Klinghoffer Live With Pearl Jam According to reports, Sanchez was walking in a crosswalk when he was hit from behind by Klinghoffers vehicle. Sanchez was rushed to a nearby hospital but sadly succumbed to his injuries shortly after. In July, Sanchezs family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Klinghoffer, accusing him of being distracted while driving and failing to brake in time to avoid the accident. Klinghoffers attorney, Andrew Brettler, then released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the accident. This was a tragic accident, Brettler said. After Josh struck the pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, called 911, and remained at the scene until police and paramedics arrived. He has fully cooperated with authorities throughout the investigation. While the charge does not imply gross negligence, the arraignment marks a critical step in the legal proceedings that will determine Klinghoffers future in this case. Further updates are expected after Thursdays court appearance. The incident has drawn widespread attention, particularly within the music community, where Klinghoffer is known for his work with both the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam. Klinghoffer is currently due to visit Australia with Pearl Jam for a Stadium tour this November. Further Reading Legends Pearl Jam Name All-Aussie Openers For 2024 Australian Stadium Tour Pearl Jam Announces 2024 Australian Tour Pearl Jam Announces New Album Dark Matter The post Pearl Jams Josh Klinghoffer Has Been Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter appeared first on Music Feeds. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) A man died after he was struck by a vehicle in Fairfax County on Thursday morning. Details about what led to the crash are limited; however, the Fairfax County Police Department said officers were on the scene of the deadly crash involving a pedestrian on Richmond Highway (Route 1) near Woodlawn Trail, in Fort Hunt, around 7:15 a.m. The pedestrian died there. Virginia Gov. Youngkin issues state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene Police said the driver who hit the man fled the area. As police continue their investigation, Route 1 is blocked off to all traffic at Belvoir Drive. Drivers are encouraged to use an alternative route, as of Thursday morning. This is a developing story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. County boards of elections across Pennsylvania are preparing for November, but warn that more support would help them get the job done quicker while state laws hamstring their effort. We should have one uniform way of handling elections that takes out all the ambiguity, Jeff Reber, a Union County Commissioner and election reform committee chair of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, said. Honestly, everybody Ive talked to from the election administration side would be thrilled if that were the case. Speaking during a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on mail-in and absentee ballot access, Reber and others noted how Election Day in Pennsylvania is an event done in 67 ways. Counties, not the state, set their policies around things like ballot drop boxes and whether to notify mail-in voters of errors made on their ballot. Recent election law changes like Act 88 of 2022 and Act 77 of 2019 brought many changes to voting in Pennsylvania, like dramatic expansions of mail-in voting and more funding for local election boards, but it didnt always bring clarity. We do extensive research and training to constantly improve our processes, Krista Kerr, deputy director of Chester County Voter Services, said. This law, when it was enacted, it doesnt come with standard operating procedures or a manual on how to do it, so we have to be very creative and come up with our own ideas. Those election law reforms have created problems, too. Unlike other states, Pennsylvania counties arent allowed to prep mail-in ballots, known as pre-canvassing, until 7 a.m. of election day. That prohibition delays results. Kerr referred to it as simultaneously running dual elections for in-person voting and for mail-in ballot counting. Theres another hiccup too: Chester Countys elections office is split between two locations, one in the county seat of West Chester and another outside it a couple miles away. But state law requires ballots to be counted in the county seat. Were trying to instill trust through transparency with the public and we offer them to come to the central scan, its open to the public, Kerr said. James Allen, Delaware Countys director of elections, advocated for more engagement from county officials to let voters know if they have problems with their mail-in ballots. We should be allowed to help voters who arent there on election day, Allen said. We should be able to call them, email them, send them a letter, whatever means we have, and let them know they did not sign their envelope, did not date their envelope, did not use their secrecy envelope. He noted that Delaware County has copied what Allegheny County has done to notify voters. If its plainly apparent that this voter will be disenfranchised based on the envelope, and based on their lack of signature, date, or secrecy envelope, were going to cancel that, notify the voter but also send out the replacement envelope and ballot right away, Allen said. Problems do not get better with time. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt has told legislators he doesnt expect delays like 2020 in counting votes, but also noted that fewer than two dozen people work on elections full-time in the Department of State. Running elections is extremely local in Pennsylvania. Local headaches are due to the states inaction. Its our fault as legislators there is no consistency between counties on all aspects of the mail-in balloting or absentee balloting process, Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Reading, said. Any changes that come may be a result of the judicial branch; the Commonwealth Court ordered Washington County on Tuesday to notify voters of ballot errors after a controversial decision in April by county commissioners not to do so. Election officials urged legislators to change the law to allow early pre-canvassing before election day hits. Reber noted that CCAP was asking for pre-canvassing minimum of five days. We need to get results out the day of the election or people start to question it a little bit, he said. Any sort of adjustment there is gonna help not only give credence to many peoples thoughts about the election results, but its gonna help the administration of the counties themselves. Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the good-governance group Committee of 70, made a plea for Pennsylvania to be as good as other states. I just want to vote like Florida, she said. They allow pre-canvassing I think weeks in advance of election day every county has been subject to tremendous stress, most of which stems from restrictions and ambiguities in state law. The family of a Pennsylvania musician killed when he was allegedly struck on his motorcycle by an illegal immigrant who fled is reflecting on the life of the 23-year-old victim. "There was nobody like him. I don't know what I'm going to do because, as an adult, I had to go to him for solace on many things when I struggled. And I don't know how we go on without that," Marcia Goisse, Christian Sluka's aunt, told Fox News Digital in an emotional interview. Sluka was riding home on his motorcycle after watching his cousin perform at a local bar when he was struck and killed Saturday evening in Dormont, Pennsylvania. "I mean it's odd. It's pretty crazy we were there that night. I was in his band with him. I am a performer, but I had just had an acoustic set that I was playing at a local bar, which was right up the street from his house and in the community that we're always in," Noah Goisse, Sluka's cousin, recalled about that night. "He came, and he was like, 'I had such a tough week at work. I can't wait to be there and just unwind and enjoy myself.'" Illegal Immigrant Accused In Fatal Pennsylvania Hit-and-run That Claimed Life Of Young Musician Family and friends are mourning the loss of musician Christian Sluka, who was killed in an alleged hit-and-run accident by an illegal immigrant Saturday night. Noah said Sluka was with him and their friends from 8-10 that evening. He said Sluka even helped him carry all his equipment back to his car like he always did. Read On The Fox News App "We're in the bar, and we're getting ready to leave. And he says to me, 'It's such a nice night out. I think I'm going to go take my bike on a joyride.' And so he did. He put his helmet on. He put his gloves on. He's walking around the bar. He's like pretty much showing off how safe he was being. And then me and a couple of friends were walking down the street, and he comes zooming by on his bike, and he honks and he waves. And down the street he went. And once he got down there, he made a left turn, and that's when it happened," Noah said. Noah added that it did give him some solace to know that Sluka was with people he cared about and people who cared about him that night and that Sluka got to go out while riding his bike because he loved it so much. Marcia, Noah's mother, is hoping Sluka's death wasn't in vain and that justice will be served. Illegal Immigrant Brothers Arrested In Missouri In Connection With Deadly Carjackings Noah Goisse said he and his cousin, Christian Sluka, had been playing in a band together since they were teenagers. "We're trying to be hopeful and have faith in the justice system that the person that did this gets what they deserve and gets it to the fullest extent of the law. It's very difficult as a family to wrap your head around it because we're just looking at it right now from a human point of view, just the type of person that Christian was," Marcia explained while choking back tears. "It's just hard to think that someone could treat him when he was so good to everyone. He was so good. It's just hard to think that someone could do that to him and just leave him there. "To think that these kids were right around the corner, they could have been there with them. It's just so hard. I just keep thinking, you know, if one thing was different. One minute. One second. I mean, if he did anything different, he would still be here. "If he went home instead of left. It's always too hard to even imagine. And you want to blame somebody, but I don't know that there's any at this point. It's very hard to sit here and point fingers. And, I mean, we know who did it. We know what they did. I know there's no excuse for it, but it is hard. I'm not going to lie." Police identified the driver of the car as 25-year-old Saul Rivera-Ramirez. Officials said Rivera-Ramirez was driving a red Ford Taurus and took off on foot with a female and a small child after the crash. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to Fox News Digital that Rivera-Ramirez is an illegal immigrant who was previously deported. 'Our People Are Dying': Rachel Morin's Mom Sounds Alarm About Illegal Immigration After Daughter's Murder Police confirmed an illegal immigrant was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed Christian Sluka, 23. "ERO Philadelphia can confirm that Saul Ramirez-Rivera is a noncitizen who is in the United States unlawfully. Ramirez-Rivera was previously removed from the United States and unlawfully reentered, without admission or parole by an immigration official," a spokesperson for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations said in a statement. "Following his arrest, ERO Philadelphia lodged an immigration detainer with the Allegheny County Jail. ERO Philadelphia anticipates ACJ will not honor the immigration detainer given its current policies." Sluka's cousin is still struggling to understand how the driver allegedly fled without even trying to save Sluka. Honduran Illegal Immigrant Charged In Alleged Dui Crash That Killed Arkansas Children's Respiratory Therapist Saul Rivera-Ramirez, 25, was arrested and is facing several charges, including homicide by vehicle and driving without a license after allegedly fleeing a crash that left a young musician dead in Pennsylvania Saturday night. "It makes us physically sick to our stomach to think that somebody was so inconsiderate and so selfish that they could just cause such a tragedy and walk off as if nothing even happened and not even take the time to even just check on him or admit some sort of fault in the matter and at least do what's right to turn that around and just to give him any help," Noah Goisse said. "Even just to hold his hand in those final moments or something, just to be there with him. It absolutely sickens us." "You took away the heart and soul of our family," Marcia Goisse said. "And I just want him to know the driver, the person that did this. I just pray to God he feels something. I want him to feel the same pain that we feel right now. Not in a physical way. I just want him to realize how much he's hurt our family." Ramirez-Rivera is facing several charges, including homicide by vehicle and driving without a license. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail pending a preliminary arraignment. Noah hopes that, beyond the tragedy, people will remember his cousin and the impact he had in his short life. "I hope people do remember him. I mean, there's so many things to remember him as. He was an animal lover. He was a lover of the outdoors. He loved his bike. I knew him best as not only my cousin, but a musician," he said. "I've played music with him for so long and just his level of creativity and his understanding of art, it was remarkable. It was something I have still never, ever seen in a person. And that element that he brought to the world is completely irreplaceable because art is something that I think comes directly from the soul." Original article source: Pennsylvania musicians family prays illegal immigrant suspect in hit-and-run death will feel its pain Pennsylvania ranks number one for pizza in America. No, seriously (WTAJ) Pickles on pizza might sound crazy, almost as crazy as thinking Pennsylvania is the number one state for pizza but a 2024 study shows that PA hand tosses the competition. A report from Clever, a site to help make smarter real estate decisions and match people with realtors, looked at various pizza categories including Pizza Passion and Yelp reviews to determine the best pizza cities across America. With both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia ranking in the top 10, they declared that Pennsylvania is the number one state for pizza in 2024. Philadelphia outranked Pittsburgh, number four to number 10. The city boasts 11.2 pizzerias per 100,000 residents. Clever said thats 33 percent more than the average citys 8.4 per 100,000. They also said that buying a cheese pizza in Philly once per week for a year costs 1.21 percent of the typical residents annual income. Top fast-food chains you cant find in Central Pennsylvania In Pittsburgh, Clever said that the city has 14.4 pizzerias per 100,000 residents. The city has a pizza passion score of 90 out of 100. The score is determined using google search analytics. Pittsburgh also ranks number two and three for Sicilian pizza and tomato pies, respectively. Both cities rank top five for Sicilian pizza and tomato pie cities. What else about Pennsylvania? Well, Clever shows that Pennsylvania prefers pizza over tacos, burgers or barbecue. Cheese pizza outbakes pepperoni pizza, and we want New York style over Chicago style. When it comes to pineapple, Pennsylvania mostly says Pass. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. Clever also reports that after two years in the number one spot, Detroit got deep in the dish and landed at number nine this year, leaving room for Denver Colorado to rise up to be the number one pizza city in the United States. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Pension credit applications have more than doubled since Labour announced a winter fuel raid in a blow for the Treasury. Labour is increasingly under fire over the decision to strip winter fuel payments worth up to 300 from 10 million pensioners. Government figures have now revealed that 38,500 people applied for pension credit in the five weeks following the Chancellors announcement. This compares to just 17,900 in the five weeks before, Department for Work and Pensions statistics show. The new claims could cost the Government an additional 278m a year, according to Policy in Practice, a fifth of Labours estimated 1.5bn saving. Ms Reeves announced on July 29 that those over state pension age would no longer automatically receive the annual winter fuel payment. Now, only retirees with an income of less than 11,343 are eligible for the payments via pension credit support. However, government figures published last year showed approximately 850,000 pensioners entitled to pension credit were not claiming it roughly one in three. On average, the benefit is worth 3,900 a year to claimants and with winter fuel, this will rise to at least 4,100. Those aged over 80 will be able to claim more as the fuel allowance rises to 300 for older claimants. In addition to the state pension top up, pension credit entitles some claimants to additional perks including reduced council tax, housing benefit and free prescriptions. As a result, the cost to the Government per claimant rises to around 7,223, according to analytics firm Policy in Practice. On the week of Ms Reevess announcement, 7,900 applications were made for pension credit, double the previous weeks total. When calculating the 1.5bn saving from cutting winter fuel payments, the Government estimated pension credit uptake would increase by an additional 95,000. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that all of those who applied will be entitled to claim the additional money. The news comes as the Prime Minister was dealt a humiliating blow on the final day of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool as party delegates voted to oppose the Governments winter fuel raid. Though the vote, led by trade unions, was non-binding, it showcased the strength of the opposition to the move from within the governing party, embarrassing No.10. It follows a parliamentary vote on the move earlier this month when 50 Labour MPs defied Sir Keir Starmer and refused to vote for his plan to strip pensioners of the allowance. At the same time, official data shows that it is the oldest pensioners who will suffer as a result of the cut. Official data shows that 11.6 million winter fuel payments were received last year, up by 214,000 compared to the previous winter. But the increase was almost entirely driven by claimants aged 75 and over who accounted for 5.8 million of the recipient households. A government spokesman said: We do not recognise these figures. We are committed to supporting pensioners with millions set to see their state pension rise by 1,700 this Parliament through our commitment to the triple lock. Given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, its right we target support to those who need it most. Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, while many others will also benefit from the 150 warm home discount to help with their energy bills over winter. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Peter and Florence Fanning announced their legal action at a press conference in Edinburgh with Alex Salmond, left, the Alba Party leader and former Scottish first minister - Craig Paton/PA Two pensioners are taking legal action against the Scottish and UK governments, arguing that their decision to means test the winter fuel payment is unlawful. Peter and Florence Fanning have lodged a petition for judicial review at the Court of Session in Edinburgh claiming that both governments failed to follow the correct procedure before cutting the payment. The pensioners argued SNP and Labour ministers did not adequately consult pensioners and did not release an equality impact assessment of the change. Mr Fanning, 73, accused the two governments of damaging the welfare of pensioners and argued the legal battle had to be fought regardless of the outcome. He said he was anaemic, asthmatic, and had heart problems and he would be forced to remain in bed with a hot water bottle if he could not afford to heat his home. The couple, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, raised their case against the Scottish Government and Liz Kendall, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, with the help of the Govan Law Centre. A judge will now consider whether a hearing should be held, and the pensioners lawyers are calling for a final ruling to be made before the winter. If the legal action succeeds, the manner in which the decision was made to means test the payment will be declared unlawful. This would force ministers to set aside the cut until they follow the correct procedure to make the decision again. The legal action was disclosed on Thursday as pensioners staged a protest outside the Scottish Parliament to mark the upcoming UN International Day of Older Persons. SNP ministers announced last month that almost a million Scottish pensioners will lose their winter fuel payments from this year. The payment of between 100 and 300 will now only go to 130,000 OAPs in receipt of Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits 900,000 fewer than last year. This means the SNP will break a 2021 Holyrood election manifesto pledge not to means test the benefit, control over which was recently devolved to the Scottish Parliament. John Swinney, the First Minister, has argued he had no choice but to follow the Chancellors decision to means test the payment in England, as that led to a 160 million cut in the Scottish Governments funding. But the Tories said this was only 0.3 per cent of the Scottish Governments 50 billion annual budget, and the decision not to pay the money to Scottish pensioners was one taken by SNP ministers. A battle worth fighting At a press conference in Edinburgh, Mr Fanning said: We intend to sue both the London and Scottish governments, since both are guilty, through action and inaction, of damaging the welfare of pensioners. We are hoping to be successful, given the manifest injustice involved. However, my work as a trade unionist and shop steward has taught me that some battles are worth fighting regardless of the outcome. I believe this is one such battle. He also told STV: I think [winter] is looking bleak because its came out the blue. Normally wed have an opportunity to save for things like Christmas or whatever and we wouldnt worry as much about the winter fuel bill, but because its been taken off so quickly and so disastrously for us we are really going to suffer this winter, and I think its going to affect my health. Rachel Moon, the instructing solicitor and a partner at Govan Law Centre, said: Quite simply, (ministers) should have considered this rigorously. This policy and the decisions taken affect those with protected characteristics, including age and disability, and it affects 10 million people. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) conducted an abridged equality impact assessment of the cut, a Freedom of Information request disclosed, but the UK Government concluded a full study was not required. Alex Salmond, the leader of the Alba Party and former SNP first minister, who helped put the Fannings in touch with Govan Law Centre, argued that all Scots should be grateful for them taking legal action. Salmond: SNP meekly accepted policy He said it was reprehensible that the UK Government had not conducted a full equality impact assessment and SNP ministers instead of meekly accepting this, should have challenged it. Mr Salmond added: They should have stood up for pensioners and stood up for the people as opposed to meekly toeing the line that was coming from Westminster. Speaking after First Ministers Questions on Thursday, Mr Swinney said: I think the Government has taken the action that has been necessary and appropriate, given our legal obligations, to live within our resources. But obviously these are issues that are now the subject of consideration by the courts and we will, of course, engage in that process. The UK Government declined to comment on ongoing legal matters. A DWP spokesman said: We are committed to supporting pensioners with millions set to see their full new State Pension rise by 1,700 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock. Given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, its right we target support to those who need it most. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Pentagon announces details of US$2.4 billion support package for Ukraine The US Department of Defense has announced an additional US$2.4 billion in support for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Source: European Pravda citing the Pentagons website Details: This package will provide Ukraine with additional air defence equipment, unmanned aerial systems and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine's defence industrial base and meet its maintenance and support needs. The capabilities covered by the package include: Munitions and support for Ukrainian air defence systems; Air-to-ground munitions; Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and components to support Ukrainian production of UAS; Counter-UAS equipment; unmanned surface vessels; Secure communications equipment; Equipment and materiel to support Ukrainian munitions production; Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, and other ancillary equipment. This is the 21st USAI package from the Biden administration. Background: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday. As Zelenskyy said before the meeting, they will discuss the details of the Victory Plan and coordinate further steps. At the meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House, Biden said that Russia would not win the war with Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! The Missile Defense Agency has chosen Northrop Grumman to design an interceptor capable of defeating hypersonic weapons in the glide phase of flight, the agency announced Wednesday. MDA director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins revealed earlier this summer that the agency would soon choose between Raytheon and Northrop who were competing to design the Glide Phase Interceptor, or GPI. Lockheed Martin was one of three original companies picked to work on design concepts for GPI in November 2021 but by June 2022, MDA had chosen to proceed with only Northrop and Raytheon. MDA made the decision in favor of Northrop together with the Japanese government, which is signed on to co-develop the capability. The companys win comes after it recently lost another big MDA competition to develop the Next-Generation Interceptor that will replace interceptors that make up the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System. That system is designed to defend the continental U.S. from intercontinental ballistic missile threats from North Korea and Iran. Lockheed Martin was chosen earlier this year in another early downselect. The decision to move to just a single vendor prior to reaching preliminary design review is out of the ordinary, but Collins told Defense News last month that MDA, like the rest of the Defense Department, had to make really tough prioritization and resource-informed decisions. ... We were no exception, so we had to take a look at how we balance and make decisions on the capability we bring. MDA will have to assess the risk of that design, any corrective actions ... or mitigation activities we want to take, Collins said, discussing next steps after MDA chooses a single vendor. And then we would re-baseline the program based on that with an updated, independent cost estimate. Northrop Grumman said in a statement that during the next phase of GPI development, it will continue to refine its preliminary design intended to fire from the U.S. Navys Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense destroyers and Aegis Ashore using the standard Vertical Launch System. The company will move quickly by using digital engineering. It plans to demonstrate system performance in hypersonic environments before the preliminary design review and complete flight experiments early, according to the statement. Todays decision represents a turning point for hypersonic glide phase defense, Collins, the MDA director, said in the statement. While the U.S. has some capability to track and counter hypersonic threats regionally in the terminal phase, the ability to defeat hypersonic missile threats during the glide phase of flight is difficult because of the nature of a hypersonic missiles ability to maneuver in unpredictable ways at high speeds. But while GPI is a necessary capability, fielding is not planned until the 2035 timeframe. Tom Karako, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that something else is going to be needed in the meantime a future terminal interceptor of some kind. Congress wants MDA to move more quickly. Lawmakers mandated in the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act that the agency reach full operational capability by the end of 2032 and provide no fewer than 12 GPIs for tests by the end of 2029. Pentagon officials have urged the US to provide Ukraine with white phosphorus munitions, primarily to help conceal troops on the battlefield, but the White House has repeatedly rejected the idea. Source: European Pravda, citing NBC News, which spoke to three US officials Details: The publication reports that the US Department of Defense recommended providing Ukraine with white phosphorus shells as part of several aid packages to allow the armed forces to conceal themselves using the light and smoke produced by such munitions. Calls to supply these munitions were made as part of the most recent aid package as well. However, two officials stated that the stigma surrounding white phosphorus and concerns that it could harm civilians prevented officials in US President Joe Biden's administration from approving the recommendation. Additionally, the publications sources noted that if this decision is ever made, such munitions will not be listed in the contents of the military aid package, similar to previous weapons and ammunition the US has sent to Ukraine without publicly announcing them. Background: Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly accused Russia of using phosphorus bombs in its war against Ukraine, including in Kramatorsk in March 2022, as well as against Ukrainian fighters at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol in May of the same year. In April 2024, Russian occupiers used 444 munitions containing dangerous chemical substances against Ukrainian forces. On 25 September, the US announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth US$375 million. During a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US. President Joe Biden announced an increase in aid, with media reporting on weapons assistance packages totalling US$8 billion. Support UP or become our patron! Waco, TX (FOX 44) What was once known as the Humane Society of Central Texas is now known as Pet Circle. The City of Waco finally breaks their silence and addresses updates in an Animal Welfare Board Meeting. After a surprise inspection, the State Department of Health Services says the shelter is, the most cleanest and well-run facilities they have ever visited. We did close down on that Monday and Tuesday for a deep clean and the reset of the facility. We did some staff cross-training, and things like that. Then after those two days, when we were closed, we were right back open to the public, says Waco City Managers Office Chief of Staff Ashley Nystorm. One of their goals at Pet Circle is committed to be a no kill shelter and eliminate the need to euthanize healthy adoptable animals. Our euthanasia this month, were a little lower than last month. So we are still no kill. What no kill is, is it just means that we have a 90 percent or higher live exit rate, says Nystorm. Ken Willits is a Waco resident who has been volunteering for four years, and when he needs a pick-me-up he can always rely on the dogs. The bottom line is the dogs are suffering. The dogs dont get the love. We only get back here as a volunteer to get back at the shelter so the dogs can be socialized, and theyll have a better chance of getting adopted, says Willits. Pet Circle continues to work to fill open positions and is gearing up to welcome back volunteers soon. We will have a volunteer program. Weve been doing the background checks, our volunteer interest form is on our website, says Nystorm. Pet Circle and the City of Waco continue to figure out the best ways to care for the dogs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. PETERSBURG Police say a 16-year-old juvenile is in custody for his alleged role in a fight on a city school bus that left an elementary-school student and the bus driver injured. The juvenile, whose name was not immediately released because of his age, has been charged with malicious wounding and trespassing onto a school bus. He is being held at a juvenile detention facility pending a court appearance. Police said the incident happened around 4 p.m. as the school bus carrying a load of elementary students was traveling in the 700 block of Halifax Street. Students on the bus began fighting with each other, and somehow, the suspect managed to get aboard the bus and assaulted the driver. The suspect later fled the bus, and the driver was able to get the vehicle to the intersection of Halifax and St. Matthews streets where police intervened. The bus driver and a student were taken to Bon Secours Southside Medical Center in Petersburg for treatment. In a statement, Petersburgs acting school superintendent said the division was working with police, its staff and parents on the investigation. The original police report said a "group of students" were fighting, but the school division statement said only two students were involved. Please be clear this type of behavior will not be tolerated, Yolonda Brown said in the statement. It is the responsibility of our entire school community to provide a safe and supportive environment for our students and staff. Anyone who neglects this responsibility will be addressed in accordance with the law. Brown encouraged parents who have concerns about bus safety to contact Paul Ronca, the divisions director of safety and security. More: Superintendent: 'Changing mindsets' is biggest challenge in leading Petersburg schools 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: Petersburg Police make arrest in school-bus fight On September 25, 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, Baiba Braje, during the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Azernews reports. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to political, economic, regional security, interparliamentary relations, and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries. They also addressed preparations for Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), as well as regional and international security issues. The satisfaction with the current level of strategic partnership between the two countries in the fields of politics, economy, trade, and humanitarian cooperation was expressed. The importance of continuing and developing this cooperation in other areas, including infrastructure, transportation, and energy security, was emphasized. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov provided detailed information to his counterpart about Azerbaijans COP29 chairmanship, including its goals and priorities, the 14 key initiatives proposed within this framework, and the efforts being made to ensure their practical implementation. It was noted that the chairmanship is promoting the creation of a Climate Finance Action Fund aimed at attracting financial resources to support efforts against climate change. Azerbaijans inclusive approach to the COP29 chairmanship process was also highlighted, with the intention to engage all interested parties in the process. The Latvian side was additionally informed about the post-conflict situation in the region, the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the progress of bilateral negotiations, and the challenges in signing the peace agreement. Specifically, attention was drawn to Armenias legislative acts, particularly its constitution, which still contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan. During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on other regional and international security issues of mutual interest. The Danville Utility Commission has established rules for members of the public who wish to comment on agenda items at the commissions meetings. The commission voted 4-0 Monday afternoon to approve the policy for public comment. Under the rules, residents wishing to comment must sign up to do so before the start of the meeting. Commission Chair Anna Kautzman proposed establishing the policy. I felt as though we should be consistent in our standards across the city, Kautzman told the Register & Bee after the meeting. Other boards and commissions in the city have allotted times for public comment, officials pointed out. Each speaker during the public comment period will have three minutes to speak, while each resident representing a group will be limited to five minutes. The group must be present and have a single speaker to be eligible for the five-minute period, according to the rules. The chair/vice chair may restrict the number of speakers. Also, there will be no question-and-answer period in which commission members get into discussions with those giving public comment. Kautzman and commission members Sheila Williamson-Branch and Mary Williamson voted in favor of the move. Amanda Paez, who was filling in for City Manager Ken Larking, also voted in support. Commission members Vanessa Cain, Steven Merricks, Larking and Vice Chairm Helm Dobbins were absent. In other matters, Danville Utilities Director Jason Grey gave an update on capital improvement projects in the department. Expansion of the West Fork electric substation in Brosville has been complete and operating for two months, and includes a new Appalachian Power transmission line and substation. Expansion of the substations footprint includes a new power delivery point from Appalachian Power. This project will be good for the citys electric customers for years to come, Grey told the commission. Also, the new Cyber Park substation behind the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing building should be complete by January or February next year, Grey said. A new transformer was delivered to the site on Sept. 11, he said. The substation project will serve the increased demand for electricity at the Cyber Park. In addition, the project to install underground electric lines along West Main Street in front of the upcoming Caesars Virginia casino hotel should be complete in October, Grey said. The project is being paid for with utility funds and money from the general fund coming from revenues from Danville Casino, he said. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Pennsylvania state lawmakers who tried to impeach Philadelphias elected progressive prosecutor improperly tried to stretch that process across two different legislative sessions, the state's highest court ruled Thursday. The decision was a victory for Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, following his impeachment by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in 2022. Chief Justice Debra Todd, writing for the majority in a 3-1 decision, said the state Constitution does not grant power to the House and Senate in subsequent sessions to act on matters that were begun in a prior session. As a result, the articles of impeachment became null and void when that legislative session came to a close at the end of 2022, Todd wrote. Accordingly, given these explicit constitutional constraints, we conclude that, when the House exercises its power of impeachment during one session of the General Assembly via the passage of articles of impeachment, trial on those articles must be held by the Senate of that session before it ends, Todd wrote. Todd, a Democrat, was joined in the opinion by Justices Christine Donohue and David Wecht, both Democrats. Justice Sallie Mundy, a Republican, dissented. Three other justices did not participate. Krasner has remained in office after being overwhelmingly reelected in 2021 to a second four-year term. Krasner has not been charged with a crime or been sanctioned by a court. The Republican-controlled Senate never took the Republican-penned House impeachment articles to a trial while it awaited the outcome of the court case and Krasner never faced expulsion from office. The Houses seven impeachment articles asserted that Krasner should be removed from office for various reasons, including complaints about his failure to prosecute some minor crimes and enforce bail in some cases. The articles also cited court rebukes of how his office handled several cases, complained that he had not adequately notified some crime victims of developments in their cases and claimed that Krasner obstructed the Houses investigation of his office. Krasner a progressive civil rights lawyer who ran as an opponent of the death penalty, cash bail and prosecuting minor nonviolent offenses had called his impeachment pure politics and an effort to subvert the will of Philadelphia voters. Democrats accused Republicans of abusing their legislative power. The high court's decision was at odds with a lower court's split ruling last year. The lower Commonwealth Court had agreed with Krasner that the impeachment articles didn't meet the state constitutions definition of misbehavior in office. But it rejected his arguments that lawmakers cannot impeach local officials, like him, and that the constitutional window for a trial had closed when the legislative session ended in 2022. The state Supreme Court did not rule on the other claims. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, had protested that the court had no role in determining whether the constitutionally empowered impeachment action was appropriate. The House's vote to impeach Krasner was along party lines, except for one vote. A successful Senate vote to convict Krasner and force him from office would have required cooperation from Democrats to reach the necessary two-thirds majority, but Democrats never showed any willingness to cooperate. Democrats now control the state House. Jason Gottesman, a spokesman for House Republicans, declined to say if the GOP caucus will try to take up the impeachment issue again. (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines aims to have its first nuclear power plant by 2032, joining Asian counterparts in turning to the emissions-free power source for its booming electricity needs. Most Read from Bloomberg The government will prioritize legislation focused on nuclear safety, and ensure that legal and regulatory frameworks are in place to safeguard public health, environmental protection and national security, the Department of Energy said in a release on Wednesday. It will also work to establish an independent nuclear regulatory authority to oversee the development of the program. The Philippines will seek to have at least 1,200 megawatts of commercially operational nuclear capacity by 2032, rising to 4,800 megawatts by 2050, said Sharon Garin, the energy departments undersecretary. That compares with the nations total energy capacity of about 28,400 megawatts at the end of 2022, according to BloombergNEF data. Nuclear power is being considered across emerging markets for round-the-clock generation to meet rapidly rising power demand and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Vietnam and Indonesia are also considering its adoption, while the US is also looking to restart shuttered facilities. Having a reactor operating by 2032 is still an ambitious goal for the Philippines. Five reactors were connected to the grid for the first time in 2023, and the mean construction time was a little under 10 years, according to the World Nuclear Association. It wont be the Philippines first crack at nuclear the archipelagos options include reviving a plant on its western coast that has sat idle for nearly four decades, costing billions of dollars and never producing a watt of electricity. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Editors note: This story was originally published on Sept. 25 by KCUR and is republished here with their permission. The painter, ceramicist and printmaker Philomene Bennett died September 25 at the age of 89 after a battle with stomach cancer. Bennett was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1935. The youngest of six children, she discovered a passion for art early in life. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she received her BFA in 1956. Whenever I work, its like I have a conversation with me, and myself. Its about the conversation that is going on and how strong it is and how interesting it is, Bennett told KCPT in 2015. If its boring I have to figure out what to do to make that conversation better. Bennetts paintings can be found in the collections of the Kemper Museum and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Daum Museum in Sedalia, Kansas. Her paintings, ceramics and prints have been included in over 100 solo and group exhibitions. Her work also found an audience beyond the Midwest. She was featured in a group show A Kansas Collection: A Harvest of the Best from Kansas Artists at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, which opened in Washington, D.C., in 1987. A distinctive style Bennett was known for her large-scale, colorful, abstract paintings and prints. She was a fixture in the Kansas City art community. Photographer Roy Inman spent time with Bennett as she worked in her studio in the 1970s. She was just so laser-focused on the work, Inman said. He said Bennett worked quickly and was deliberate with her brush. Every stroke, shes just moving around at the speed of light. It was really fascinating to watch. Bennett and her husband of 43 years, Louis Marak, held the first meeting of the Kansas City Artists Coalition in their studio above the restaurant Poor Freddies in the River Market. It was 1975, and known then as the River Quay. The meetings agenda was How the Artist Can Benefit From Centralization. Artists Philomene Bennett and Lou Marak put out the call for artists when they had a studio in the River Quay, now the River Market. We decided wed put out a paper saying, Calling all artists, were having a meeting, and we dont know who you are, but we want to meet you all, blah blah blah, whatever it was, Bennett told KCUR in 2016. And we sent this out and we went down there thinking wed have two people. It was packed. We couldnt even get in the door. Bennett said when she arrived from Nebraska in 1956, Kansas City had art institutions like the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Kansas City Art Institute and corporations like Hallmark Cards. But few local galleries featured contemporary work. She wanted to meet other artists and build an arts community. I thought it was just important to get all these people together and make belligerent conviction of their art, by God, Bennett told KCUR. Bennett and Marak sought to create a community where artists could share ideas and support each other. Former Kansas City Artists Coalition Executive Director Janet Simpson said Bennett and her husband reached many people over the years. Philomene is just a force and her impact cant be overstated. Simpson said. She was so generous with her time, her goodwill, and her generosity of spirit, which isnt always the case with artists. Roy Inman photographed Bennett as she conjured colorful abstract paintings in 1971. Simpson retired in 2018, after serving as executive director for three decades. Often shed see Bennett and Marak at gallery openings. People would light up and they would just flock to her, and the same thing with Lou, Simpson remembered. People gravitated toward them and wanted to be in their light, and to be in that bubble of joy. It was a characteristic Inman noticed, too. She really cared about people and she cared about art, Inman remembered. She was just the most accepting, loving person. No kidding. She was just amazing. The artist Jane Booth started out as a student of Bennett and the two later became close friends. She walked through life and she created beauty with every spare moment, Booth said. She raised five children and when they were young, she would put them to bed and she would go out to her studio in the garage and she would paint until the early hours of the morning, because she just had to do it. Bennett dressed artfully, wearing fluttering silk shirts, tall hats, and big black boots. Booth said she created a stir wherever she went. She would just drape her fingers in big, heavy silver Southwestern jewelry on all ten digits with bracelets that just stacked halfway up her forearm and put on a high crowned hat and go out and meet the city and she knew everybody, Booth remembered. There was always just that pop, pop, sparkle, sparkle, pop, pop going on for her. Earlier this year, Bennett stopped by the Artists Coalition to meet current Executive Director Courtney Wasson and see work donated to the nonprofits Annual Art Auction. Both Marak and Bennett donated many pieces to the fundraiser over the years. Almost 50 years after that first meeting of artists in the River Quay, Courtney Wasson has taken over as the current executive director of the Artists Coalition. Earlier this year, Bennett stopped by the gallery to see the work donated to the nonprofits Annual Art Auction. Both Marak and Bennett donated many pieces to the fundraiser over the years. Wasson said Bennett cultivated a culture of uplifting artists and it is a legacy that continues to this day. Whenever I hear someone speak about Philomene, they speak about how foundational she was to their career, Wasson said. And thats truly because of her gift and what she was willing to give of herself and to others and to our community. Inman remembered the bohemian scene as the Artists Coalition was being founded in 1970s-era River Quay where artists and musicians mingled together. People would often gather in Bennett and Maraks studio in an inclusive, salon-style environment. We would stay up to all hours talking about art, life, love, politics, and the world, Inman remembered. It was the way I imagined that it might have been on the left bank in Paris in the 20s and 30s. They were so welcoming and accepting of everybody. Lou and Philomene were just so much a part of that, Inman continued. That was just a very special time. Everybody was so, so sorry to see it, to see it go. After mafia violence in the River Quay drove Bennett and Marak from their studio, they settled in a 2 -acre farm in Lenexa where a remodeled 1890s-era farmhouse and barn served as their home and studio. In 1988, the city council voted to condemn their farm to widen Renner Road in order to make way for a new business corridor. The couple rallied their friends and neighbors and held a widely publicized public battle with the city. Ultimately, the city prevailed and purchased the farm. The two had to relocate. The Lenexa city councils decision left a lot of bitterness. That was a hard one for them, Simpson said. You know, I think that one really I dont think they ever got over losing that. Two paintings from a retrospective of the Bennets work held at the Artists Coalition in 2006. At left, Orange Hacienda, oil on canvas, and Fulllment in Red and Orange, acrylic stain. Bennett and Marak decamped to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for almost a decade before returning to Kansas City. Not long after returning, the two opened a new studio in the West Bottoms on Union Street where Bennett hosted independent study sessions for students of art in drawing, painting, and ceramics. She encouraged her students to find their own voice in the artwork they created. I think you have to realize that you are uniquely you, Bennett told KCPT in 2015. There isnt anybody else like you. And that you also have experiences that are uniquely yours. You have all this richness that you can use to do a painting. Former student Jane Booth said that Bennett was able to meet each person in her class right where they were and she did not have preconceived ideas about the direction their art should take. She really taught us to be authentic, which I think is where all the great art comes from, Booth said. She made marks that changed peoples lives. She changed my life profoundly and I owe her everything. Bennett expressed her thoughts about the way art shaped her life in an artist statement when the Artist Coalition held a retrospective of the couples work in 2006: Our work is paramount to us and weve made a lot of it. People often ask us where we get our ideas, what inspires us, how do we do it? All I can say is I draw from the life around me. Ive always said its somewhat like osmosis, I absorb everything and it comes out in the work. Nothing else makes sense to me. Bennetts husband Louis Marak preceded her in death. He died in 2020. Phoenix city manager, DOJ to begin talks on police reform; no elected officials on trip to DC Phoenix City Manager Jeff Barton will travel to Washington, D.C. on Friday to begin negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, more than three months after the DOJ released its investigation of the city that found routine brutality and discrimination. Barton will be joined by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays, police Chief Michael Sullivan, City Attorney Julie Kriegh and attorneys from Dentons and Steptoe & Johnson, firms the City Council hired for legal assistance. They will stay in D.C. overnight. The team will not include Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego or any members of the City Council. It was not immediately clear who from the Justice Department will attend. City Communications Director Dan Wilson said, "The purpose of this initial meeting is to begin productive discussions between the City of Phoenix and the DOJ about a path forward that works best for the members of the Phoenix community." Wilson and Gallego's spokesperson Arielle Devorah declined to explain why no elected officials were attending, saying it was a subject of executive session. Executive sessions are legally allowed confidential meetings. Attendees of such meetings are not allowed to publicly discuss what was said. Councilmembers on Thursday expressed mixed feelings about whether elected officials should have gone. Councilmember Jim Waring said he couldn't discuss how or why that decision came to fruition but that he personally disagreed with it. "I'm not saying I should be there, but ... I would like the idea of an elected official going," Waring said, explaining that he wanted someone who directly interacts with and was elected by the public in the negotiation room. Councilmember Carlos Galindo-Elvira supported management alone going. "I think that if you're going to have elected officials (there), it's going to be all or none. Because not one council member can speak on behalf of the entire council," Galindo-Elvira said. He said he was open to elected officials getting involved later "depending on where the conversation is going." Councilmember Laura Pastor said the city "sent leadership with expertise in policing, legal negotiations, and city management to lead these critical discussions. I dont think its typical for elected representatives to attend, but if one were to, it would be most appropriate for the mayor, who was elected to represent the entire city." In other cities investigated by the Justice Department, mayors were part of negotiations, such as Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. But a key difference is that those cities operate under a strong-mayor form of government in which the mayor acts as the city CEO. Phoenix has a council-manager form of government, which puts Barton at the helm. Gallego represents all of the city's 1.6 million residents but has no more voting power than the other eight council members, who each represent roughly 200,000 constituents. Vice Mayor Debra Stark said she had "mixed emotions" about no elected leaders going. Both she and Councilmember Ann O'Brien said it made sense to leave it to the lawyers given the Justice Department could sue. Still, Stark wondered if having an elected official would go a long way in showing the Justice Department the city was serious about reform. Councilmembers Stark, O'Brien, Galindo-Elvira and Kevin Robinson were hopeful the negotiations would go well, though Stark acknowledged the possibility the DOJ might still sue Phoenix. "I suspect there might be a lawsuit, but I'm always the optimist and I'm hoping we can come to some terms." She said she thought Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke "seemed heartfelt" about working with the city the day the report dropped. Pastor said she hopes the negotiations bring "an agreement that includes monitoring, timeline and real accountability." What are Phoenix officials and the DOJ negotiating? The Justice Department released its three-year investigation of the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department on June 13. The 126-page report found the city and police force routinely used excessive force, discriminated against residents and illegally seized unhoused peoples belongings. DOJ investigators say their findings in Phoenix were so egregious that a consent decree is needed to ensure constitutional policing. Sometimes referred to simply as federal oversight, a consent decree is a legally binding contract enforceable by a judge. It includes measurable police reforms mutually agreed upon by the city and DOJ, and compliance is monitored by an outside entity. But Phoenix leaders for months have insisted the city can reform its police department without federal help and have resisted signing a consent decree. Even before the investigation concluded, city attorneys wrote the Justice Department asking for a different resolution. The Police Department published the "Road to Reform," a report outlining changes made or underway in response to the DOJ investigation. On Tuesday, the City Council approved new staff positions and mandated changes to improve police data collection and accountability to address critical flaws the DOJ reported. Notably, some of the changes include a "police analyst team" to help the department with reforms recommended by the Justice Department. Gallego said the change represented "a transformation in government," while residents expressed skepticism that meaningful change would follow. Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or by phone at 480-476-6116. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix city manager to begin negotiations with DOJ on police reform Here are the phone numbers to call if Hurricane Helene knocks out your power in SC Do you know the number to call if your electricity goes out from a storm? Hurricane Helene, currently a Category 1 storm, is expected to become a major hurricane before making landfall along the Florida Panhandle Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service. While the storm should weaken as it heads inland overnight through Georgia and past South Carolina, its still predicted to make its presence known. The storm is forecast to drop several inches of rain on the Midlands and produce wind gusts of up to 60 mph strong enough to damage porches, unanchored mobile homes and break large tree limbs. The storm could also produce some tornadoes, especially around south and east of I-20, the NWS states. Strong winds and tornadoes means greater chances of downed power lines and loss of electricity. But if Helene knocks out your electricity and disrupts cell service, looking up online who to report a power outage to could be problematic. Here are all the phone numbers to call to report a power outage from the storm in South Carolina, depending on utility provider. SC power outage numbers Photo of exploded toilet in Hong Kong falsely linked to Lebanon pager blasts A photo of an exploded toilet in a Hong Kong public restroom ricocheted across social media following deadly attacks involving hundreds of hand-held devices used by Hezbollah which detonated across Lebanon. The picture shows a toilet targeted in January 2020 by a suspected home-made bomb amid a spate of attacks on public facilities in the former British colony. "The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that 300 people were injured in radio explosions and nine others died," read an X post from September 19 written in traditional Chinese characters. "Hezbollah operatives keep exploding across Lebanon and reporters saw militants frantically removing batteries from all radios and throwing them into trash cans and toilets." The post, which attracted more than 100,000 views, showed a photo of a charred lavatory with a smashed seat and debris scattered on the floor. Screenshot of the false X post, captured on September 24, 2024 The photo spread online in languages including English, Hebrew and Hindi and in an X post from former French MP Meyer Habib. Hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded on September 17 and 18 in coordinated blasts widely attributed to Israel (archived link). The explosions killed 39 people and wounded almost 3,000. Hezbollah has traded almost daily cross-border fire with Israel since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. The unprecedented attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity. Of the 251 hostages seized by militants, 97 are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,495 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN has described the figures as reliable. However, this photo is unrelated to the pager explosions in Lebanon. Hong Kong toilet blast A reverse image search on Google found the photo published by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper on January 28, 2020 (archived link). The photo is captioned: "A suspected improvised explosive device destroyed a public toilet at the King George V Memorial Park on Jordan Road in West Kowloon on January 27". A cleaner discovered the public toilet on fire at the park in Hong Kong's Jordan district. No injuries were reported, the SCMP said. The photo published in January 2020 by the South China Morning Post "A police source said the case, which has been classified as arson, was believed to have been the result of an improvised incendiary device," the report said. Hong Kong police confirmed to AFP on September 26 that the photo shows an arson incident in Jordan in 2020. A string of explosions and bomb plots targeting public facilities in Hong Kong were linked to groups calling for shutdowns of the China-Hong Kong border during the Covid-19 pandemic and groups connected to the city's 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations (archived links here, here and here). Hong Kong news site HK01 published similar photos from the scene of the toilet explosion (archived link). (WGHP) Due to Tropical Cyclone Helene, the Piedmont is under multiple flood and wind advisories. Rain and wind in the Piedmont will increase as Hurricane Helene makes landfall across the panhandle of Florida. By Friday morning, the Piedmont could have gusts around 40 mph. Also by sunrise Friday, heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely. From Friday morning through lunchtime Friday, rain will be heavy at times, and we could have wind gusts up to 45 mph. Friday morning will also carry a chance for brief, spin-up tornadoes. Flooding is possible in the Piedmont. In the mountains, significant flooding is likely along with possible landslides. Our rain and thunderstorm chances, along with our winds and tornado threat, will fall during the day Friday as the remnants of Helene weaken over Kentucky and Tennessee. The highest rain totals will be across the mountains where some locations could get over a foot of rain. On average, one to as much as three inches of rain is possible across the Triad. The foothill communities could see three to six inches of rain by the time the storm ends on Friday evening. Saturday will be partly cloudy with highs around 80 degrees. On Sunday, what could be described as the remnants of Helene will leave Kentucky/Tennessee and move into the Piedmont. A few scattered showers are possible with highs in the upper 70s. The chance of rain is 40%. Some leftover showers are possible on Monday with highs in the upper 70s. The chance of rain is 40%. It will be partly cloudy on Tuesday with highs in the upper 70s. The chance of rain is 20%. Wednesday will be mostly sunny with highs in the upper 70s. The sun will continue to shine on Thursday with lows in the upper 50s and highs in the middle 70s. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Can you get pizza delivered in Macon during Hurricane Helene? Many stores open, for now. Hurricane Helene is gaining speed as it continues to aim for Floridas Big Bend region and the Peach State, expected to bring fierce wind and catastrophic damage late Thursday, news experts say. Some Macon businesses, including local pizza joints, have already announced closures for the remaining week in anticipation of the severe weather. It is still possible to enjoy a delivered pie in the area, but the window to order is closing quickly. While local pizza restaurants are closely monitoring the weather to see if store hours will change, here is a list of locations to order from: Dominos Pizza Dominos on New Street told The Telegraph it is currently operating under normal store hours, but it will close if the weather gets worse. The store was experiencing a two-hour wait on deliveries around lunchtime. Two other local locations couldnt be reached. Papa Johns The six Papa Johns Pizza locations in Macon were operating under normal business hours until further notice Thursday afternoon, according to store workers. The businesses are closely monitoring the weather to make a decision. All restaurants close at 11 p.m. typically. Pizza Hut The Pizza Hut on Bloomfield Road is open and currently scheduled to serve until midnight. The other Macon location couldnt be reached. Local pizza: Located at 2395 Ingleside Ave., longtime favorite Ingleside Village Pizza announced that it will close its doors early at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Mercer Village Pizza at 1635 Montpelier Ave. will shut its doors at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Store owners said they will closely monitor the storm and provide updates on tomorrows store hours. Pig on a Pie workers employees informed The Telegraph that the store intends to stay open all day while attentively watching the weather. The pizza joint will close at 8 p.m., or until the power goes off. Romos Pizza is also monitoring the weather for now and will announce updates about schedule changes if necessary. Macon Pizza Company told The Telegraph it is closing at its normal hour, 9:30 p.m. Store hours listed here are up to date as of publication time, but may change. Jet contrails such as these may look harmless, but could be worse for the climate than CO2 emissions, experts warn (Ben Stansall) (Ben Stansall/AFP/AFP) The white, feathery lines behind airplanes that look like bits of harmless cloud are anything but, warn experts, who say they could have a greater environmental impact than the aviation sector's CO2 emissions. The condensation trails -- contrails, for short -- are being increasingly studied as scientists work with the industry to find technological solutions to the problem. Classified as non-CO2 emissions from aircraft, in September they were the subject of a symposium in Montreal organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN agency. - What are contrails? - Contrails are clouds that form at high altitudes in cold, humid areas called ice supersaturated regions (ISSRs). When jet fuel is burned by engines, water vapor condenses on to soot particles to form ice crystals. Enough ice crystals, and they begin to form cirrus clouds -- high-altitude, wispy white filaments that, when created this way, trail out behind planes as they cross the sky. These trails trap some of the heat that rises from the Earth at night, preventing it from radiating back out of the atmosphere -- thus acting as a greenhouse gas, causing warming, explains Donald Wuebbles, a professor at the University of Illinois. Contrails that stay in the sky for a few minutes are not very worrisome, he says. "But if they form at night, they'll maybe last a little longer, and at night they can cause a warming effect," he adds. - What is the impact? - Non-CO2 emissions could account for up to two-thirds of aviation's impact on global warming, which "gives you an idea of how important they are to consider," Wuebbles said. And contrails could form up to 57 percent of that impact -- far more than the C02 emissions from burning fuel, according to a 2021 study. However, such emissions are short-lived compared to carbon dioxide and their impact on global warming could be quickly eroded if solutions were found to avoid them, experts say. - So what can be done? - Not all flights create contrails -- it can depend on weather conditions and the aircraft's trajectory. For example, at Air France, just four percent of flights are responsible for some 80 percent of the airline's contrail impact on global warming, notes Irene Boyer-Souchet, who is leading up the company's efforts to mitigate the damage. The long-term strategy is to modify the trajectory of a fraction of flights. Air France pilots made more than 3,000 observations over 18 months with the aim of helping Meteo-France improve its forecasts for at-risk areas so that pilots could eventually avoid them. "The main risk is that by thinking you're avoiding an area, you could end up flying there because it's slightly off the weather forecast," Boyer-Souchet points out, illustrating the importance of fine-tuning the research. Pilots from American Airlines conducted 70 test flights above or below at-risk areas, guided by satellite images, weather data, software models and AI prediction tools. A 54-percent reduction in contrails was observed, along with a two-percent increase in fuel consumption. Accelerating the deployment of a global contrail avoidance system could reduce aviation's impact on the climate by 40 percent, according to a Cambridge University report published in September. The more flights in the air, however, the more complicated the implementation of such a system would be, notes Boyer-Souchet, who hopes that it will be a reality by 2030. amp/tib/amc/st/aha Ukrainian and Russian forces have clashed 189 times throughout the war zone over the past 24 hours. Most of the combat engagements occurred on the Pokrovsk front, where the Russians mounted 54 assaults and attacks. The Russians are active near the town of Selydove on this front. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 08:00 on 26 September Details: A total of 189 combat engagements have taken place over the past 24 hours. The Russians launched 2 missile attacks using 4 missiles and 75 airstrikes, particularly involving 118 guided aerial bombs, on the positions of Ukrainian units and populated areas. They mounted over 4,600 attacks, including 109 from multiple-launch rocket systems. On the Kharkiv front, the Russians conducted three attacks near the settlements of Vovchansk and Tykhe. On the Kupiansk front, the Russians launched 10 attacks on Ukrainian positions near the settlements of Petropavlivka, Synkivka, Kolisnykivka, Hlushkivka, Stelmakhivka and in the direction of the city of Lozova over the past 24 hours. On the Lyman front, Russian troops mounted 21 attacks. They attempted to advance near seven different populated areas. The Russians are focusing their efforts near the settlements of Hrekivka and Novoliubivka. On the Kramatorsk front, Russian forces launched 8 attacks near the settlements of Hryhorivka, Chasiv Yar and Klishchiivka. On the Toretsk front, Russian troops, supported by aircraft, carried out 10 attacks near the settlements of Toretsk, Shcherbynivka and Nelipivka. On the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 54 Russian assaults and offensive actions towards the settlements of Novotoretsk, Lysivka, Novohrodivka, Hrodivka, Kostiantynivka and Selydove. The Russians launched almost half of their attacks near Selydove. This settlement also came under a guided aerial bomb strike. On the Kurakhove front, Ukrainian forces repelled 25 attacks near Tsukuryne, Hirnyk, Maksymilianivka and Heorhiivka. On the Vremivka front, updated information suggests that Russian forces carried out eight attacks near the settlements of Vuhledar and Vodiane. On the Orikhove front, the Russians made five attempts to advance on Ukrainian positions near the settlements of Robotyne and Novoandriivka. On the Prydniprovske front, the Russians attacked two settlements. They received a fierce rebuff and suffered losses. On the border with Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts, the Russians are actively launching guided aerial bombs and loitering munitions on Ukrainian settlements and conducting artillery bombardments. Russian forces are also dropping guided aerial bombs on Russias Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian troops are conducting an operation. The Russians carried out 15 airstrikes over the past 24 hours, using 26 guided bombs. Ukrainian aircraft and Rocket Forces and Artillery units delivered 15 strikes on clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment, one strike on an air defence system and two strikes on missile and artillery systems belonging to the Russians. Support UP or become our patron! TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Helene has strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane as it barrels across the Gulf of Mexico on a path to Florida. The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued the update Thursday moring. The huge storms center is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area of Floridas northwestern coast as soon as late Thursday. The governors of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas have all declared emergencies in their states. NEW YORK (AP) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges that are still sealed. That's according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Adams said after the indictment that he would not resign. NEW YORK (AP) The U.S., France and other allies are jointly calling for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma is preparing to execute a man for his role in the 1992 shooting death of an Oklahoma City convenience store owner during a robbery. Fifty-two-year-old Emmanuel Littlejohn is set to receive a three-drug lethal injection on Thursday despite a clemency recommendation from the state's Pardon and Parole Board. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabama is preparing to carry out the nations second nitrogen gas execution. Alan Eugene Miller is scheduled to be executed Thursday with nitrogen gas at a south Alabama prison. The state carried out the first nitrogen gas execution in January. Miller was convicted of killing three men in back-to-back workplace shootings in 1999. Derided by Donald Trump as a communist, Vice President Kamala Harris is playing up her street cred as a capitalist. Attacked by Harris as a rich kid who got $400 million from his father on a silver platter, Trump is leaning into his raw populism. The two presidential candidates delivered dueling speeches Wednesday that reflect how theyre honing their economic messages for voters in battleground states. In other news: Police arrest suspect in shooting death on University of Arizona campus after 3-day search Police arrested a suspect Wednesday following the shooting death of a community college student on the University of Arizona campus Sept. 22. The three-day search ended after Ryan Romero-Encinas was arrested by university police at an apartment complex about four miles north of the campus in Tucson. Romero-Encinas was arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing Minhaj Jamshidi, a Pima Community College student, on the UA campus near the volleyball courts at Park Ave. and 4th St. He is charged with first-degree murder. The community college's Chancellor, Jeffrey P. Nass, released a statement expressing his condolences and confirming that Jamshidi was a student there. Romero-Encinas was not affiliated with UA. The killing happened around 11 p.m. Sunday outside the Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall afte a fight involving several individuals, according to authorities. It's unclear if the two men were connected or why they were on the UA campus. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ryan Romero-Encinas charged with 1st degree murder in UA shooting Authorities determined the deaths of a couple inside a Northwest Austin apartment complex were the result of a murder-suicide, police said. A 911 caller asked police to check on the welfare of her niece and her nieces husband at 5705 Diehl Trail, near W. Parmer Lane and McNeil Drive, on Tuesday afternoon and said she had not heard from either person in the previous 24 hours, police said Thursday in a news release. About an hour later, the caller made a second 911 call and said she was outside the apartment and that no one was answering the door, despite the couple's car being in the parking lot. Police responded to the scene and found Youree Kang, 34, and Hannah Kang, 25, dead inside the apartment, the release said. They believe Youree Kang killed Hannah Kang, and then committed suicide. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Police: Couple found dead in NW Austin apartment was murder-suicide Police in Biddulph were initially called to a branch of Bargain Booze [Google] Police officers have been assaulted while arresting a suspect following reports of a man brandishing a pole and damaging property. Police were called to Bargain Booze on Tunstall Road in Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent, at about 20:30 BST on Wednesday over complaints about a man causing damage there. Shortly after, two officers were injured as they sough to make an arrest following a disturbance at the Crown and Cushion pub on High Street. Staffordshire Police said a man, of no fixed address, was in custody, suspected of multiple offences including possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, criminal damage, affray and two counts of beating an emergency worker. The injuries to the officers were not serious, the force added. Earlier in the evening, three teenagers had reported being approached by a man with a pole who demanded their shoes and money, but nothing was taken and nobody was hurt. A car, the staircase to a block of flats and a light were also damaged during the evening, said the force. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Related internet links EMPORIA (KSNT) The Emporia Police Department (EPD) was notified of a threat made to the Emporia Middle School on Wednesday. At 7:15 p.m. on Sept. 26, the EPD got a notification that a student had threatened to bring a gun to school. The student was allegedly warning other students not to go to school that day. According to police, the threat was made through email. The EPD found the student who was making the threats and determined the student didnt have access to any firearms and that nobody was at risk. The EPD said the case is being referred to the Lyon County Attorneys Office. What is legal window tint in Kansas? USD 253 was informed of the threats, and it was decided that the Emporia Police Department would be present at Emporia Middle School to provide reassurance to parents, students, and staff regarding their safety, the EPD wrote in the press release. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Police investigate two fires at auto repair shop, arrest made in one case MEMPHIS, Tenn. Police have arrested a man who allegedly set a car on fire at an auto repair shop because his vehicle was not ready. It was one of two fires at the Gordilla Auto Repair in southeast Memphis over the last two months. Anthony Ross, 43, was booked in the Shelby County Jail Wednesday on a charge of setting a personal property on fire. Police said on July 30, firefighters were called to Gordillo Auto Repair in the 3700 block of Contractors Place to put out a fire. The owner of the business does not speak English, but his son told WREG that Ross slapped his father and then went outside and started a fire inside his dads burgundy minivan. One guy sold a car to Ross. The seller brought him here and showed him the car, but the car wasnt ready because the guy had never brought us the parts, said the son. We told him if you want to take the car, take the car. We dont care. We never got paid for any repairs. According to the affidavit of complaint, Ross used a cigarette lighter to set a blanket inside the van on fire. The victim was able to extinguish the fire but said Ross tried to hit him again. The owner of Gordillo Auto Repair said Ross later sent him a picture of his wife going into their home and said I know where you live. The owners son, who did not want to be identified, said Ross also threatened to damage his business. He told my dad he was going to burn the building. Police said a month later, someone set eight vehicles on fire outside the auto repair shop. No one has been charged in that case, but police said it was possibly related to the other incident. Eight cars set on fire at Gordillo Auto Repair. WREG photo. Eight cars set on fire at Gordillo Auto Repair. WREG photo. Eight cars set on fire at Gordillo Auto Repair. WREG photo. Eight cars set on fire at Gordillo Auto Repair. WREG photo. Eight cars set on fire at Gordillo Auto Repair. WREG photo. Eight cars set on fire at Gordillo Auto Repair. WREG photo. Police told the business owner the damage was around $130,000, according to his son. The owners son said their cameras were not working that night, but an employee did spot a man running from the business. Ross is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Police have launched an investigation into separate shootings at two nightclubs in Lawrence early Thursday morning. Officers responding to a report of a shooting in front of Attika Night Club on Mill Street just after 12:15 a.m. found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, according to the Lawrence Police Department. The victim was taken to Lawrence General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A man, whose name hasnt been released, was arrested in connection with the shooting as he tried to flee the scene, police said. He is facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and firearms offenses. About an hour after the shooting at Attika, officers responded to Atlantico V8 Night Club on South Union Street, where they found another man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was also taken to Lawrence General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries before being transferred to a hospital in Boston. Police noted that the shootings arent believed to be random acts of violence and there is no threat to the public. Both shootings remain under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Police looking for driver accused of pedestrian hit-and-run in Haverhill Police are searching for a driver who allegedly struck a pedestrian and fled the scene Saturday night. Haverhill authorities say the hit-and-run occurred in the area of 350 Washington Street. The condition of the victim was not immediately available. The vehicle, described as an older model, gold or beige, four-door sedan, was last seen traveling westbound on River Street at 8:24 p.m., according to police. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Keith Cronin at 978-373-1212 ext. 1225. Good Evening everyone. On September 21, 2024, the Haverhill Police Department responded to the area of 350 Washington... Posted by Haverhill Police - Official on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The chief constable of Police Scotland has criticised the Scottish and UK parliaments for failing to set out laws to help public bodies deal with gender identity. The force had been questioned by some of its own officers over how the gender of rapists should be recorded. This prompted Chief Constable Jo Farrell to clarify that male rapists will not be recorded as women. Ms Farrell told a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) - the governing body for the force - that public bodies have been left to develop their own practices in the absence of legal direction. She said these practices were "consistent with the Equality Act" - meaning they protect both women and those changing their gender. The chief constable said a review on police policy and practices on sex and gender would continue, but said the issue was not straightforward. Ms Farrell told an SPA board meeting that gender self-identification had been "amongst the most emotive and arguably divisive" areas of public policy and practice in recent memory. She said: "Neither Scottish or UK parliaments have been able to set out a codified approach in legislation to the legal status, rights or duties pertaining to the concept of gender recognition in a way that reconciles with the Equality Act of 2010. "It is within this context that Police Scotland and other public bodies have determined policy and practice in a way that achieves what we consider to be a legal and appropriate balance of rights and duties." Recently, Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton told the Scottish Parliament that she had heard concerns that male rapists could "demand" to be called women - a claim Ms Farrell said was not true. The chief constable said she understood there was a desire for clarity over the way sex crimes were recorded, saying: "To be clear, a male rapist cannot demand to be called a woman and further traumatise the victim. "This would not happen and to my knowledge this has never happened." Ms Farrell added that people who commit serious sexual assaults have their DNA taken to determine their biological sex, and this information can be used for future and historic police investigations. Police Scotland's policy on recording the gender of rapists was also clarified in a letter to Holyrood's criminal justice committee on Wednesday - which again said there had been an "absence of direction" from the Scottish and UK parliaments. What led to the police clarification? Trans rights campaigners attend a demo in Glasgow city centre [Getty Images] In recent years there has been ongoing debate over gender identity in Scotland, largely around the Scottish government's failed attempts to reform the way people can legally change their gender - a bill introduced by Nicola Sturgeon. This has put public services under pressure to be clearer about the way they deal with issues relating to gender and sex. The Scottish Prison Service, for example, issued new guidance last year setting out that trans women who have hurt or threatened women or girls will not be held in female prisons unless there are "exceptional" circumstances. This followed public outcry over the case of Isla Bryson, who was charged with rape as a man called Adam Graham, transitioned while awaiting trial and was sent to a women's prison after conviction - though was kept apart from other inmates. Bryson was moved to a male wing of HMP Edinburgh two days later. In April last year the Scottish government's Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee asked Police Scotland for an update on whether any biological males had been charged with rape and self-identified as a woman. In its response, Police Scotland said there were circumstances where women could be recorded as having committed a rape. This was true if a new record had been created for a first time offender where the attending officer was satisfied that they "present as female". The correspondence also said that there were no instances on record of a man carrying out a sexual assault and then being classed as a woman. It added that no women suspected or accused of involvement in rape at that time had involvement in the physical act itself - all of those cases were connected with someone aiding or abetting the crime. The BBC understands Police Scotland believes its past language on the matter has not been helpful as it left the decision-making to the judgement of individual officers. 'U-turn' claim Police Scotland's clarification on the gender of rapists has been called a "major U-turn" by an research group Murray Blackburn Mackenzie - which analyses public policy around women's sex-based rights. Murray Blackburn Mackenzie has repeatedly criticised the Scottish government's gender reforms. The Edinburgh group said it was "an extraordinary act of institutional gaslighting" to pretend the letter was not a significant policy change from their previous position. They claim that Police Scotland persistently defended the use of self-ID for recording the sex of all offenders, including sex offenders. They say the police claim that a rapist self-identifying as a woman would not happen is contradictory to previous advice - which said that a person would be recorded as female if they had a gender recognition certificate. Ms Farrell, who took over the role last year, told the SPA that she had been "struck by commentary from some quarters" that police, under her leadership, were perpetuating a policy that was "misogynistic". "I have spent my entire career of more than 30 years in policing facing and challenging misogyny while supporting the rights of women," she said. She said everybody should be able to speak to police knowing they would be treated with dignity and respect - and that these values had not always been applied to the LGBTQI+ community in Scotland. Ms Farrell said she wanted to build a service that was inclusive and respected the diversity and rights of all individuals. LONDON (AP) U.K. transport officials and police said Thursday they are investigating a cyber-security incident after users of public Wi-Fi networks at the countrys biggest railway stations reported being shown anti-Muslim messages. Passengers trying to log onto the Wi-Fi at 19 stations, including Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and several London terminuses, on Wednesday evening were met by a page reading We love you, Europe, followed by an anti-Islam message listing a series of terror attacks. Network Rail, which manages the stations, said the Wi-Fi had been switched off and no passenger data was taken. British Transport Police are investigating the incident, Network Rail said in a statement. This service is provided via a third party and has been suspended while an investigation is under way. The police force confirmed it was investigating reports of Islamophobic messaging on some Network Rail Wi-Fi services. Telent, the company that provides the stations' Wi-Fi, said an unauthorized change to the landing page was made from a legitimate administrator account and that the matter was now subject to criminal investigation. The incident follows a more disruptive cyberattack in early September on Transport for London, which runs the capitals bus, subway and suburban train system. TFL said some customer names, contact details and potentially bank account details were exposed in the attack, which is being investigated by the National Crime Agency. A 17-year-old was arrested over the attack, questioned and bailed without being charged. Weeks on, the attack continues to affect the transit companys ability to provide some online services such as refunds and real-time transit information. SEATTLE - Police are searching for a suspect who shot and killed a man in West Seattle on Wednesday evening. The Seattle Police Department (SPD) made the initial announcement on social media at around 4:15 p.m. According to the SPD, officers responded to reports of a shooting near the corner of SW Snoqualmie St. 36th Ave. SW. Upon arrival, they found a 30-year-old victim in serious condition. He was treated at the scene and taken to Harborview Medical Center. The Seattle Police Department (SPD) reported that officers responded to a shooting near the corner of SW Snoqualmie St. and 36th Ave. SW. They found a 29-year-old man in serious condition. The victim received treatment at the scene before being transported to Harborview Medical Center. The man later died from his injuries. Authorities say the suspect fled the scene on foot and may be armed. He is described as a Black man in his 20s or 30s. He was wearing black clothing and a blue surgical mask. Officers responding to 4600 blk 36 Ave SW for a report of a shooting. One person injured. Suspect seen fleeing the area on foot, possibly still armed. No suspect description at this time. We will update with more information as it becomes available. Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) September 25, 2024 The shooting happened just southeast of the West Seattle YMCA. FOX 13 Seattle reached out to the YMCA and learned they were put into lockdown while police investigated the area. HAPPENING NOW: SPD on scene at Distinguished Foods Kitchen Rentals in West Seattle where a 30-year-old man was shot multiple times. Victim taken to Harborview Medical Center. Police looking for suspect. He was described by victim as a Black man, late 20s to early 30s, pic.twitter.com/M3tLsgllgq Dave Detling (@DetlingFOX13) September 26, 2024 MORE NEWS FROM FOX SEATTLE Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena to refund concertgoers, pay nearly $478K in penalties Murder-suicide suspected cause for I-5 North shut down in Everett, WA Argument over motorcycle leads to deadly shooting in Graham, WA Complaint alleges unethical, unprofessional conduct from Marysville superintendent Seattle family members mourn couple who drowned while snorkeling in Maui To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle newsletter. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. (KRON) If youre a Sonoma Valley High School student who is planning on joining Fugitive Night, real police officers will be looking for you with real consequences. The Sonoma Police Department is urging students against participating in the non-sanctioned hazing event. Police warned that officers will enforce laws against reckless driving, vandalism, and violence. Rumors are circulating that Sonoma Valley High School students are planning a Fugitive Night for Saturday, September 28, police said. SPD explained, What is Fugitive Night? This is a non-sanctioned event that has occurred over several years with the freshman class traveling on foot from the Ernie Smith Community Park to the Sonoma Valley High School campus without the senior class catching them along the way. It is organized in secrecy by the student body. In past years, seniors wielding paintball guns and airsoft pellet guns have chased freshmen on foot for several blocks. In 2022, Fugitive Night generated more than 40 calls for service to the Sonoma Police Department and the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office. Nearly all of the calls were from community members who were scared for the safety of youth who were chased by vehicles and teenagers. The police department is also warning parents that they are responsible for their childs actions. If a teen commits a crime, it can affect the students ability to get a job or into college, SPD said. It is upon each parent to know what your kids are up to and ensure they are safe, SPD wrote. VTA employee owed homicide victim NFL gambling debt: court documents Students who participate in Fugitive Night usually make bad decisions, police said. We do not believe that the majority of the student body sets out to cause harm or damage, however, the excitement of the event can lead to some very poor choices by those involved, the Sonoma Police Department wrote. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A Shreveport man was arrested after police said he beat another person with a metal table. Police said they responded to a battery call in the 2700 block of Murray Street on September 23. When they arrived, officers reportedly found a victim with multiple cuts, contusions, and swelling to the scalp. More: Local News Investigators learned that the victim and 35-year-old Chaceler Bennett argued, and during the confrontation, Bennett grabbed a small metal table and struck the victim in the head. The victim is expected to recover from their injuries. Shreveport police arrested Bennett at the scene. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. GREENE COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) The Greene County Sheriffs Office is urging that residents be wary of scam calls that are impersonating members of law enforcement. The office posted on social media to warn of fraudulent telephone scams on the rise throughout the county. The scammer calls the local resident, acting as a member of the Greene County Sheriffs Office. The scammer tells the resident that there is an active warrant for their arrest. The scammer may then say that paying an undefined financial sum may reduce the amount. The scammer will ask for payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer or P2P. The sheriffs office will never call to alert of a warrant or to charge payment. The office advises that residents hang up the phone if they receive a call like this and report it to local police. Read the sheriffs offices warning below. Courtesy of the Greene County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Political showdown in Germany's Thuringia after victory by far right Klaus-Dieter von der Weiden (L), President of the Thuringian Constitutional Court, welcomes the incumbent Minister of the Interior, Georg Maier, while the constituent session of the Thuringian state parliament was interrupted for the second time. For the first time, the AfD, as the strongest parliamentary group, has the right to nominate candidates for the office of President of the state parliament. Martin Schutt/dpa The first meeting of the new parliament in the central German state of Thuringia adjourned amid chaos on Thursday as the emboldened far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) faced off with other parties. The gathering was the first time lawmakers met since the September 1 elections in which the AfD made historic gains, claiming more than a third of the seats and finishing in a clear first place. Initial sessions are expected to be turbulent, as the AfD has vowed to enforce its new-found prerogatives as the largest single party. But the other parties in the Thuringian parliament - the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), the hard-left Die Linke (The Left) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) - have all vowed to block the AfD. Mainstream political parties in Germany have insisted on a so-called firewall against the far right, with each vowing not to form coalitions or otherwise cooperate with the AfD. On Thursday, the session abruptly adjourned amid a standoff over the AfD's plans to put forward Wiebke Muhsal for president of the state parliament. The other parties have dismissed her nomination as a mere provocation, pointing in part to a past conviction for fraud, and she has little chance of commanding a majority given the opposition of all other parties. But the AfD refused to consider changes to the rules that would allow other parties to put forward competing candidates, instead abruptly adjourning the meeting. The CDU, which finished second to the AfD in the election, filed a hasty appeal to Thuringia's state constituional court to settle the matter. The CDU plans to nominate Thadaus Konig for the post. The parliamentary president runs the administration of the body and has the power to convene lawmakers at any time. The CDU's leader in Thuringia, Mario Voigt, said that such a "guardian of the constitution" should not be appointed by a party that is classified as a right-wing extremist group by the state's domestic intelligence agency. The squabbling during the parliament's first day could be a foretaste of the coming months in Thuringia. Although the AfD is almost certain to remain frozen out of power in Thuringia, the election victory means the party now has enough seats to veto key measures that require a two-thirds majority in parliament. That includes the appointment of certain judges as well as any changes to the state's constitution. Meanwhile, the CDU is still locked in tough negotiations with the BSW and SPD over how to form a new coalition government. That coalition is one seat short of the necessary majority. But the CDU, which has a long history of staunch anti-communism dating back to the Cold War, has so far also ruled out any coalition with Die Linke. That stance is anchored in national CDU party policy, but leaves a difficult puzzle to solve in Thuringia. The popular incumbent state premier of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow of Die Linke, has repeatedly criticized the CDU for not considering talks with his party. Ramelow's most recent coalition ruled as a minority government with the tacit backing of the opposition CDU. But major losses by Die Linke following a bitter split with the populist BSW, as well as gains by the AfD, mean that Ramelow no longer has enough support to remain in office. The members of Parliament sit in their seats at the start of the constituent session of the Thuringian state parliament. For the first time, the AfD, as the strongest parliamentary group, has the right to nominate candidates for the office of President of the state parliament. Bodo Schackow/dpa Embryologist Ric Ross holds a dish with human embryos at the La Jolla IVF Clinic Feb. 28, 2007 in La Jolla, California. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) Imagine you want something you believe will bring you joy for the rest of your life. To achieve your goal, you need help. It may take several attempts and methods may change as needed, but you and your helper make a good plan. Imagine that someone who does not know you or your journey, who is not trained to offer the help you need, mandates that your helper is not allowed to use one of their most effective and safe tools. This is the heartbreaking situation people who need fertility treatment and the reproductive medicine providers who serve them face as judges and policymakers consider efforts to limit access to fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg and sperm donation. To see a person hold their child brings joy. Reproductive medicine providers embrace efforts to help us serve the 1 in 6 people who experience infertility and need help to become parents. To offer IVF, a reproductive endocrinologist completes four years of college, four years of medical school, four years of obstetrics and gynecology residency, and three years of fellowship. We embrace regulations that help us keep our patients safe, annual medical licensing and board recertifications. We embrace professional society guidance with their thoughtful recommendations for best practices in medical ethics and the need for shared decision-making between patients and providers. We report to and have regular oversight visits from governmental agencies and professional organizations dedicated to quality and safety. While surgery to improve anatomy and non-IVF treatments including fertility medicines and intrauterine insemination help some, we can attain a path to eventual success for over 90% of our patients only if we have access to IVF, egg, sperm, and embryo donation, and gestational carrier treatments. Why? Humans are beautifully made, but all made differently. Some have persistent troubles with eggs and sperm finding each other, interaction, or quality. Some have genetic conditions they do not want to pass on to their children. Some have difficulty carrying a pregnancy. IVF is a path to assist eggs and sperm interaction, identify embryos with a higher chance of healthy live birth, and place embryos into a receptive uterus. Few fertilized eggs have both normal chromosomes and molecular competence to become an ongoing pregnancy, so some pursue multiple attempts, including egg, sperm, and embryo donation. Each journey is unique, with no one right way that will serve everyone. For some, IVF is their best treatment option, for others, their only treatment option. Take away IVF, egg and sperm donation and reproductive medicine specialists will go from counseling-patients they have a greater than 90% chance that treatments will eventually bring them to their family to a less than 30% chance restricted to non-IVF or donation options. Think about your own medical care. Imagine your provider advised treatments exist that could over time bring a greater than 90% chance of achieving your medical goals, but the most successful tools were made unavailable by people who are not aware of your unique situation and not experts in the field. If your personal medical success was reduced to less than 30% chance of success, would you advocate for bodily autonomy and shared decision-making between patients and providers? Human biology and medical treatments are too complex for one size fits all regulation. The reason providers complete extensive training, licensing, and certification is to gain the capability to offer safe and effective treatments tailored to those who need them. One in six people experiences infertility in their lifetime. You do not need to imagine someone who has infertility. You know them, even if they have not shared their painful and private journey. Please remember them and the families they yearn to build when you consider supporting people and policies that protect the right to keep decisions about medical care between providers and patients. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE New Poll Shows Just How Much People Hate J.D. Vance J.D. Vance is not polling well among 18- to 29-year-olds nationwide. A Harvard Youth poll found that only 18 percent of respondents had a favorable view of Donald Trumps running mate. The Bulwark editor Jonathan V. Last argued Wednesday that this was a particularly bad number for Vance, especially when compared with the favorability of North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. A recent Elon University poll found that 27 percent of female respondents had a favorable opinion of the now-disgraced Republican gubernatorial candidate. The poll was taken before Robinsons scandal broke last weekbut after hed said and done a slew of other insane things. The guy who says the Holocaust was overblown and Hitler was great, who wants to own slaves, who was a frequenter of backroom porn video booths, and who bragged about banging his wifes sister. That guy was able to get to 27 percent favorable with women in North Carolina, Last wrote. A closer look at the Elon University poll found that 15 percent of female respondents found Robinson very favorable and 13 percent found him favorable. Forty-two percent of female respondents said Robinson was very unfavorable. Meanwhile, in the Harvard poll, 46 percent of respondents found Vance to be unfavorable and only 33 percent found his opponent, Tim Walz, unfavorable. Last tried to throw Vance a bone. This Harvard poll did not test favorability ratings for the Taliban, or Vladimir Putin, or herpes. If they had, Im sure all three would have been less popular than JD Vance, Last wrote. But not by much. (Bloomberg) -- Former Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz is examining a list of ideas to get the countrys pension funds to invest more in the domestic economy including the creation of a pooled fund that would make dealmaking easier for some of them. Most Read from Bloomberg People in the industry have also told him the government may need to change regulations for pension funds potentially opening the way for them to play a more activist role in companies theyve invested in, the former central banker said in an interview with Bloomberg News. In April, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tasked Poloz with exploring ways to catalyze more local investment opportunities for Canadian pension funds. His study comes at a time when theres a debate in the country about how to solve weak productivity, soft business investment and a general lack of excitement in capital markets. The initial public offerings market in Canada has been largely frozen for the past two years. Some pension funds may be discouraged from looking at smaller opportunities within Canada because the analytical work in making an investment decision is costly and eats up a greater share of their potential profit, Poloz said. Thats where the pooled fund concept comes in. Pension plans could make allocations to a central fund devoted to Canadian assets, where those costs are shared. Its one of the ideas that solves scale, Poloz said, increasing the likelihood that pension managers will say yes to investing in assets that they would otherwise take a pass on. He pointed to the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative or VCCI as one potential model. Through the initiative, the federal government invests in funds-of-funds and venture capital funds, which are required to raise capital from private-sector investors to leverage the public money. Most recently, the government made C$450 million ($334 million) available through three streams of the program. The 30% Rule Poloz, who ran the central bank from 2013 to 2020, said he has also heard that some pension funds would like to play a more active role in their investments, including board seats where they can leverage their expertise, but there are impediments to doing so. In Canada, theres a rule that restricts pension funds from holding more than 30% of the voting shares of some companies. Last year, the government said it will explore changing that rule, but it hasnt acted yet. Another roadblock to the pension investment is the reluctance of governments including provincial administrations to allow the privatization of larger infrastructure assets such as airports and highways. Canadas largest pension funds tend to deploy a much smaller proportion of their capital in domestic assets now than they did two decades ago, when reforms were kicking in that permitted them to become more active in global public and private markets. The manager of the largest public fund, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, had 12% of its assets in its home country as of March 31. Twenty years earlier, that figure was around 70%. Its a matter of diversification and bigger opportunities being available in other countries. Poloz, whos now a special adviser at law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, declined to comment on a news report from The Logic last week that said Brookfield Asset Management had pitched itself as a potential manager of a new investment fund that would be seeded with C$10 billion of federal money. The story led to criticism from members of the Conservative Party because Mark Carney, the chair of Brookfield, recently became an adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party. Carney is also the chair of Bloomberg Inc. Neither Brookfield nor Carney has commented on the report. A person familiar with the matter said Brookfield brought the idea to all the major pension funds shortly after Poloz was hired in April, but the funds declined. The federal government didnt endorse the idea either and Carneys new political role officially makes it a non-starter, said the person, who asked not to be identified to discuss sensitive information. A senior government official said it did not ask Brookfield to initiate a fund. Carrots, Not Sticks Poloz said consultations have been wide-ranging, with proposed reforms going from broad suggestions to specific policy proposals. Its an amazing number of cool ideas that have emerged, he said. Its a restaurant with too big of a menu to choose from. Its not clear when Poloz will deliver his report to Freeland. Hes met with her several times on the matter and he has a team at the Finance Department supporting him. Freeland has declined to say whether the document will be made public. Some firms have worried that the government will consider coercive measures, like taxes or new constraints on non-Canadian investment, to push pension funds to use more of their capital in Canada. Still, Poloz was clear to point out that all of the solutions he discussed in the interview fall into the carrot category, not the stick category. He reiterated that one of the quickest ways Canada can unlock investment, economic growth and productivity gains is by removing regulatory and trade barriers between the countrys 10 provinces. --With assistance from Paula Sambo and Brian Platt. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Pope Francis (R) is received by Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri at the Grand Ducal Palace. It is the first visit by a pope to Luxembourg in almost 40 years. Harald Tittel/dpa Pope Francis will visit Luxembourg on Thursday in a highly-anticipated trip to Europe's second smallest country - and the first papal visit there since 1985 - before heading on to neighbouring Belgium in the evening. The pope will to address a number of issues, including migration, climate change and war in Europe. It is Francis' 46th international trip as pope. On arrival in Luxembourg, the pope will be greeted by Prime Minister Luc Frieden, as well as the Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri and his wife, the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. After a reception with the duke and duchess at the Grand Ducal Palace, and meeting with public officials at Cercle Cite, a cultural centre, the pope will tour Luxembourg city in the popemobile. The pope will also meet the public in the Luxembourg Cathedral of Notre-Dame before continuing his tour to Belgium where he will stay until Sunday. The pontiff will mark the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Leuven, founded in 1425. He will also say mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The pope is scheduled to meet with a group of victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic Church in Belgium. Pope Francis is pressing on with the trip despite cancelling all appointments on Monday due an illness. The Vatican said the 87-year-old was suffering from a "mild flu." The pope has had to cancel appointments multiple times in recent months due to his health. However, he successfully completed a 12-day trip to Asia and the Pacific in the first half of September. Pope Francis turns 88 in December. He is the oldest pope in more than a century. By Joshua McElwee and Marine Strauss LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Thursday called on leaders in Luxembourg - a small nation with a thriving economy and the highest density of millionaires per capita in the world - to devote resources to help improve conditions in developing countries. The 87-year-old pontiff, in the landlocked state for a day visit, suggested that an increase in foreign aid could help stem the flow of refugees and migrants seeking to enter Europe. "Let us not forget that having wealth includes responsibility," the pontiff told a gathering of political and civil leaders at Luxembourg's Cercle Cite, a neo-baroque palace. "I ask for constant vigilance so that the most disadvantaged nations ... may be helped to rise from their impoverished conditions." It is a rare European visit for Francis, who will also head to Belgium later in the day. He has tended to go to places never visited by a pope, or where Catholics are a small minority. The pope, who has made care for migrants a priority of his 11-year papacy, said Luxembourg had set "an example in pointing the way forward in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees". Nearly half of Luxembourg's 654,000-strong population are foreign nationals, primarily from neighbouring countries such as France, Belgium and Germany. In an off-the-cuff comment, the pope referred to Luxembourg's low fertility rate and said: "Please, more children." Referring to jokes he had made in the past about Western countries having more pets than kids, he promised he would not repeat them. But he said again: "More children." Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, in a speech welcoming Francis, said the Luxembourg constitution proclaims human dignity as a "fundamental right". "We must each of us constantly strive to ensure that this dignity is maintained," he said. Francis met local Catholics at an event later Thursday at Luxembourg's Notre-Dame Cathedral. Hundreds of people stood outside the 17th century church to greet the pope, many holding umbrellas under grey, drizzling skies. MEETING CLERGY ABUSE VICTIMS In Belgium, where the pope is travelling Thursday afternoon, he will hold a private meeting with 15 survivors of abuse, the country's ambassador to the Vatican, Patrick Renault, said. More than 700 complaints and reports of abuse involving the church have been made in Belgium since 2012, according to a church report. In March, the pope expelled from the priesthood a former Belgian bishop who admitted to sexually abusing two nephews. On the flight from Rome on Thursday morning, Francis briefly greeted the journalists travelling on the plane with him, but did not tour the aircraft to meet them individually, as he usually does. The pope, who now uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain, said he did not feel up to "making the trip" around the back of the single-aisle aircraft. Luxembourg, a country with an area of 2,586 square km (998 square miles), counts about 271,000 Catholics among its population, the Vatican says. (Reporting by Joshua McElwee and Marine Strauss, editing by Bart Meijer and Andrew Heavens) [Source] Pope Francis has called for the liberation of Myanmars detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, offering Vatican territory as a refuge for her. The pontiff reportedly expressed his offer during a private conversation with Jesuits in his recently concluded Asia-Pacific tour. I asked for Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's release and received her son in Rome. I offered the Vatican to receive her in our territory, he said, as per Reuters. Furthermore, he emphasized that we cannot stay silent and that we must do something about the situation in Myanmar. The country is currently ruled by a military junta that came into power after staging a coup against the democratically elected Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021. Suu Kyi, who was subsequently imprisoned and remains in detention, faces a 27-year sentence on politically motivated charges. Responding to the popes offer, her son Kim Aris told AFP, I am sure that Maymay would express her gratitude to Pope Francis... Nonetheless, I am doubtful that the junta would take such a request into account. Trending on NextShark: Delaware becomes 7th state to require Asian American history in schools Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Now enemies, but once friends "Transformers One" (PG-13) At the Cinemark Grade: B+ Noisy movies hurt the ears and numb the mind, although a good story can sometimes mute the cacophony. The Transformers franchise started in the hands of more-is-more director Michael Bay, an unapologetic in-your-face macho movie maker. The first Transformer film found a following, but most were more noise than art. One critic credited Bay for raising seemingly irredeemable thrillers and other types of junk food to the status of art. As for me, Im not a Bay watcher. I ventured out to see Transformers One because Bay has moved on, and handed the helm to a Pixar director. One is the first fully animated Transformers tale. Director Josh Cooley started at Pixar, winning an Oscar for Toy Story 4. I hoped Cooley would cool the transformer engines, and find a beating heart or two inside the bots. I am not literate in Transformer mythology, but I gather this film is an origin story that drops back to the days when two fight-to-the-death enemies were close friends. We learn that Megatron and Optimus Prime were buddies before they were rivals. The film starts at high decibels, shaking the walls as if to show its Bay ID at the door to be let into the Transformer dance. Once inside, things do occasionally quiet down a bit, including a few tender scenes along the way. Cooley does, eventually, detect a bot pulse. What defines a transformer is not the cog in its chest, but the spark in its core. Franchise research suggests that these sparks trace to the Matrix, and that when a Transformers life ends his spark returns to the Matrix? I think? One source says the spark is the reservoir of memories and growth. Now thats a movie I want to see the story of robots nurturing their sparks, until the flame flickers to an end, and returns to the mother ship. Transformers One hints that it wants to be quieter, deeper and more philosophical than its predecessors. But Cooley didnt quite have the guts to idle his engines and fully embrace that gentler, more cerebral vision of Bots circuits with souls. Bullock won the presidency after all "War Game" At the Myrna Loy Grade: B- Former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (2013-2021) plays the president in an election-year movie, War Game. War Game is garnering mostly positive reviews as a political thriller, which finds former public officials engaging in a simulated session deep inside a secure situation room. The actors include our former governor, assisted by former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota), retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, retired Maj. Gen. Linda Singh, and retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark, who plays the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They are given a fictional scenario of a stop-the-steal coup which includes some AWOL members of the military being staged against a just-elected president. The actors are apparently told to improvise their own script, and save the country while the not-very-well-concealed cameras roll. Members of a group called The Order of Columbus are contesting the election and preparing to stop certification of the results in Congress. In other words, these real-life public servants from both parties are reenacting the events modeled after Jan. 6, 2021. The team is given six hours to resolve the crisis, which boils down to one decision: Whether to use the Insurrection Act to employ forces across the country to confront and control the protesters on multiple fronts. Bullock, ultimately, must choose: Yes, invoke the Act or No, employ other means. Bullocks best moment in the film is a long thoughtful silence, preceding the presidents one-word answer. Bullock represents our state well, embodying the president with a conscience that rises above politics. Amidst mostly positive reviews, Im the outlier. I did not warm to War Game as a film, nor as a docudrama. Some of my distancing relates to timing. The film takes great care to cast itself as non-political/bipartisan, but its fall release is obviously timed to influence the presidential election. Trump is the elephant in the situation room. His invisible role is as the leader of the insurrection. Im sympathetic to the films values and I share the central fear that our political war is not far removed from a civil war. But I didnt enjoy the film, and was not drawn in to this ticktock thriller. Our own Steve Bullock was believable as a president under stress, but Heitkamp stole the show with her portrayal of a hard-nosed adviser. But for me, the film was only a few pings removed from the political ads from both parties that are flooding my cellphone this political season. Would you give just $1? Please? Simulation just didnt work for me. We jump back and forth between the people on screen being immersed in a crisis to shots of people puppeteering the simulation. Any hope to accept this scenario as real was lost in that split focus. But congratulations to Steve Bullock on crowning his career with the presidency! Pope Francis sits with folded hands in Notre Dame Cathedral during his visit to Luxembourg. Harald Tittel/dpa Pope Francis on Thursday lamented the emergence of new "rifts and enmities" in Europe, during a visit to Luxembourg, the second smallest country in the European Union. The 87-year-old pontiff called on politicians to act and show "a willingness to find honest compromises." He said new conflicts can have "destructive and deadly consequences." "We must not forget that war is always a failure," the pope said. Luxembourg can show "the advantages of peace over the horrors of war and the advantages of integrating and promoting migrants over marginalizing them." The size or population of a country does not determine its important role on the continent, he added. Luxembourg has a population of around 650,000, of whom just over 40% are Catholic. Almost half the residents in the country are foreigners. Only Malta has a smaller population among the 27 EU nations. Thousands of people braved the rainy weather to line the streets to cheer the head of the Catholic Church as he rode by in his popemobile along with Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich. After the approximately 2 kilometre tour, he arrived at the Bishop's House, where he shook hands and distributed sweets to children. There was an incident on the route when a woman stormed towards the popemobile with a placard reading "Bullfighting is a sin." Security guards immediately dragged her away. In the morning, the pope met with Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa at the Grand Ducal Palace. Pope Francis is the second pope to visit Luxembourg, after John Paul II in 1985. The Argentinian-born pope travelled on to Belgium on Thursday evening and will stay there until Sunday, visiting the cities of Brussels, Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve. He was welcomed in the pouring rain at the Brussels airport by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. The pontiff will mark the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Leuven, founded in 1425. He will also say mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The pope is scheduled to meet with a group of victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic Church in Belgium. Pope Francis is pressing on with the trip despite cancelling all appointments on Monday due an illness. The Vatican said he had suffered from a "mild flu." The pope has had to cancel appointments multiple times in recent months due to his health. However, he successfully completed a 12-day trip to Asia and the Pacific in the first half of September. Pope Francis turns 88 in December. He is the oldest pope in more than a century. Pope Francis (R) speaks in Notre Dame Cathedral in the presence of Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich during his visit to Luxembourg. Harald Tittel/dpa Pope Francis speaks in Notre Dame Cathedral during his visit to Luxembourg. Harald Tittel/dpa Postmaster General Louis DeJoy sought to address criticisms and concerns about mail-in ballots ahead of the upcoming presidential election in a congressional hearing Thursday. Testifying before a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, DeJoy said the U.S. Postal Service would be even better prepared for the surge on mail-in ballots in 2024 compared to the unprecedented rise in 2020 amid the pandemic. We operate as the one uniform element in a sea of variation when it comes to elections, he said. Last week, DeJoy expressed frustration after facing criticisms from former President Trump and other elected officials, saying it would be wrong to say mail-in ballots would be misplaced under his watch. But, with less than 40 days until the election, representatives of more rural districts are still concerned about the efficiency of the postal system. In the hearing, Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), who represents areas of Eastern Pennsylvania, cited an August article from The Washington Post about plans to allow slower services for more rural areas of the country after the election. DeJoy dismissed the claims, saying the outlet was historically a negative, unsubstantiated, sensationalized newspaper for matters related to the United States Postal Service. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) also expressed concerns, citing problems with a pilot program, which resulted in delays across the country, including in Wisconsin. You know what I would really appreciate? If you could show us a specific plan for Wisconsin, because you broke us, right? Pocan said. DeJoy attempted to excuse past mistakes, saying the first rockets that went to the moon blew up. He emphasized the Postal Service has since learned and is working to improve services in rural areas. We do everything we possibly can in an imperfect system that expects the perfect, DeJoy said. Were a good target for a lot of blame. The postmaster general also referenced scrutiny on Georgia mail-in ballot processing, saying that what went on in the states past was an embarrassment to the Postal Service, but that investments and changes will soon make the states postal services among the best in the nation. Throughout the hearing, DeJoy continuously reassured the subcommittee that the service is doing everything in its power to prepare for the election and surge of ballots while operating under the constraints of the federal government. DeJoy even cut off Cartwright before he could finish asking if American citizens can trust the mail-in ballot system. Absolutely. I dont know why you wouldnt, DeJoy said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A visual representing the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is spreading in social media posts that misleadingly claim the gas does not have a major effect on Earth's climate. Most scientists agree CO2 is not "saturated" and has grown due to humans burning fossil fuels, thereby driving global warming . "Co2 has negligible heat trapping effects. man's input (white spec) has no accurate measurable effect," says a September 15, 2024 X post, adding that CO2 levels have been saturated for decades and no longer induce warming. The post includes a graphic with colors representing the composition of the atmosphere. Human-produced CO2, denoted by a small white box, equals a fraction of a percent. Screenshot of a post on X taken September 25, 2024 Other posts have shared the same visual, including in French. In pre-industrial times, naturally occurring greenhouse gases helped make Earth's climate habitable. Without CO2, the planet's average temperature would be below freezing. The graphic shared online accurately shows greenhouse gases -- including CO2, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone -- make up a tiny fraction of the atmosphere at 0.04 percent. But they play a major role in trapping heat and warming the planet (archived here). Scientists have repeatedly said human-caused emissions are consequential because they are not absorbed as part of the natural CO2 cycle, triggering larger environmental consequences as they stay in the atmosphere for years. Graphic explaining the greenhouse effect, which contributes to a warming Earth Gal ROMA Sophie RAMIS AFP "The math is clear -- CO2 increases make a difference," said Gavin Schmidt, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (archived here). A 2016 study found a mathematical model confirmed a link between Earth's temperature increases and rising CO2 concentration in the atmosphere (archived here). Schmidt told AFP on September 23 that the X post misleads on "how much CO2 is human-caused" and is "wrong about it not mattering." "All of the climate trends in recent decades are due to human drivers," he said, as shown in a NASA database (archived here). 'Saturated' CO2 levels? Climate skeptics have long promoted the unsubstantiated theory that CO2 levels will eventually become "saturated," meaning the gas will no longer contribute to global warming. "The saturation 'theory' assumes that CO2 is somewhat like a sponge so that it absorbs longwave radiation to some maximum capacity and then stops because it cannot absorb anymore," said Marilyn Raphael, director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at the University of California-Los Angeles (archived here). "This is not how it works." She told AFP on September 24 that CO2 "absorbs longwave radiation, warming the atmosphere which re-emits longwave radiation in all directions, including towards the Earth, thereby increasing surface temperatures." "This occurs constantly," Raphael said. Research indicates CO2 "is nowhere near being saturated" (archived here), and scientists have demonstrated that adding more of the gas will make the greenhouse effect stronger regardless of saturation (archived here). Raphael pointed to Venus, which she said is "often considered a twin of Earth." NASA describes the planet as "a hellish world" with a CO2 layer 90 times as thick as Earth's and temperatures that reach 864 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius). "Is something like this what is being recommended?" she said. Increase over time NASA and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have tracked the drastic acceleration of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere over the past half-century. The concentration of the greenhouse gas has risen from around 280 parts per million (ppm) in the 1850s to 426 ppm (0.04 percent), per NASA data last updated in July 2024 (archived here). Greenhouse gas concentrations hit record highs yearly (archived here and here). NOAA data show atmospheric CO2 has increased alongside a surge in human-caused emissions (archived here). Chart showing the rise in the global concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, in parts per million (ppm) Sylvie HUSSON Valentina BRESCHI AFP Such high concentrations of CO2 have not been recorded on Earth in the last 14-16 million years. Six datasets from educational and governmental agencies (archived here) have tracked the resulting rise in global average temperature (archived here). "Today we are increasing CO2 at a rate that may be faster than ever before in the geological record," said Barbel Honisch, a professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (archived here). "This CO2 contributes to the greenhouse effect and warms our planet." She previously told AFP on April 16 that climate models "cannot explain observed global temperature ranges without the addition of anthropogenic CO2." The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says it is "unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land" -- and that CO2 is the main culprit (archived here and here). More of AFP's reporting on climate misinformation is available here. Editors note: This story is part of our ongoing Hurricane Helene coverage, a fast-moving developing story. For the latest information, please visit ledger-enquirer.com. Nearly all the power outages in Columbus were fixed by noon Friday, but the city saw thousands of them earlier in the day. As of 6 a.m. Friday, power outage maps showed more than 3,000 Muscogee County residents without power. Many of the outages were from Diverse Power, according to poweroutage.us, an outage service that tracks issues across the U.S. By noon Friday, all Diverse Power outages had been fixed and only 121 total outages remained, all of which were from Georgia Power. Across the whole state, more than 1 million people were without power Friday afternoon. Outages started Thursday in Columbus Outages were around 3,000 Thursday before being reduced into the hundreds overnight. In one Thursday incident, a utility pole was split in half on Norris Road. Three crane trucks and other support trucks were working on the issue around midday Thursday. A tree fell along Fuller Street off Norris Road as well, bringing down power lines. Around 7 a.m. Sept. 26, 2024, a tree fell on Fuller Street off Norris Road in Columbus, knocking down power lines and causing an outage. Power was restored and the tree debris was cleared later that day. There does not appear to be any damage to homes or vehicles, Fuller Street area resident Michelle Gagnon told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email. Just a giant mess of tree parts and power/cable lines in the front yard. If you know about a power outage or downed utility poles or trees, please email us at newsroom@ledger-enquirer.com PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) More than a dozen Portsmouth businesses were targeted as part of a city-wide illegal gambling bust that led to the confiscation of more than $30,000 and 157 computers. Portsmouth Police said they conducted the bust around 3 p.m. Sept. 19 after getting a number of complaints from residents about illegal gambling at local businesses. All the police and enforcement, they came and shut it down, said a new business owner. The departments special investigations unit led a department-wide operation that went after 14 Portsmouth businesses. Not in Portsmouth, said Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen Jenkins in a statement. Every citizen and businesses [are] expected to follow the law. Im proud of our department. They did outstanding work. In addition to confiscating the money and computers, Portsmouth Police issued 11 summonses and made one probation violation arrest. One of the establishments was Kings on 2910 Victory Boulevard. Their employee tells 10 On Your Side they were unaware of the gambling law in Virginia. Yeah, its shut down, said a Kings employee. Illegal gambling? I didnt know about it. These machines are owned by a third party, and I have the paperwork for it. A new business owner watched one of the establishments get busted outside of his new shop. He believes now that the bad apples are out, hes confident his business will go on without a hitch. Everybodys been pretty quiet about it, he said, but I think theyre gone now so its going to be a great place to start a business now that everybodys being legit. The following businesses were involved in the bust: Cherry Vape 812 Airline Blvd. Crazy Overstock 1935 Victory Blvd. The other locations were convenience stores/gas stations throughout the city. They include: 3401 Hartford St. 900 Effingham St. 1607 Rodman Ave. 301 Mt. Vernon Ave. 2910 Victory Blvd. 3000 Victory Blvd. 3301 Victory Blvd. 3501 Portsmouth Blvd. 52 Afton Pkwy. 5000 George Washington Hwy. 2600 Frederick Blvd. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. President Joe Biden announced he would make federal disaster assistance available in Georgia before the hurricane actually reached the state Thursday. As a result, FEMA will lead the efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe, a press release said. FEMA announced Thursday that federal funding for cost-sharing emergency protective measures, and direct federal assistance, will be available to counties including Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Pulaski, Schley, and Sumter counties. Tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in these counties will also receive federal funding. Federal funding limited to direct federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care, including evacuation and shelter support, will be provided to Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Dodge, Houston, Jones, Laurens, Monroe, Peach, Taylor, Twiggs, Upson, Washington, and Wilkinson counties. Kevin A. Wallace Sr. will be the coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in Georgia. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Big honors are being awarded Wednesday evening for Valley journalists who have made a mark in journalism two members are from the WKBN First News and WYTV 33 news team. Photographer Nick Rich and Daybreak Len Rome will be inducted into the Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame during a dinner and ceremony at Stambaugh Auditorium. Len, a native of Pittsburgh, got his start in radio, working at WKJF, a Pittsburgh easy-listening station. He later landed a job on TV as an anchor at WSEE in Erie, Pa., also working at WFBC in Greenville, SC, and WAKR in Akron before coming to WYTV in Youngstown, where he has been for 40 years. Len said he fell in love with the work at WYTV and learned the most as news directors here gave him the freedom to tell stories in his own style. He has always looked for ways to innovate in the position and says he doesnt go to work every day, he goes to fun. Len is known for his health segments dating back to the mid-1980s. He believes theyve helped the community. I believe so, yes, because I get feedback from time to time saying thank you for that little health segment you did or people will walk up to me on the street and say, Hey that came in handy that information you gave me,' he said. Nick Rich was born in New Castle, Pa., and he currently resides in Neshannock Township. He received a bachelors degree in broadcasting and film from Temple University, where he worked on several documentaries at the university. He began his news videographer career in 1975 at WYTV, where he worked for 32 years. Nick was instrumental at WYTV in creating an archiving system that preserved thousands of news stories. In 2007, Nick began working at WKBN when the two stations merged. Over the years, he has covered many major news events in the area, including the closure of the steel mills in the 1970s and most recently the explosion of the Realty building downtown. He has received numerous awards during his career and has continuously worked to perfect his craft, keeping up with the latest technology. He is always willing to help his fellow employees and goes above and beyond to contribute to the team. Also among the inductees are Mona Alexander, the recently retired news director of WFMJ; William Lewis, a retired photographer for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator; and the late William Fleckenstein, co-founder and general manager of WHOT Radio. The Youngstown Press Club also awarded two $2,000 scholarships to local college students, including WKBN First News multimedia content producer Molly Burke who is a junior at Youngstown State University. The other scholarship recipient was Merrick Morneweck, a senior at Penn State University and native of Mercer, Pa. Chelsea Simeon and Kristen Hephner contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Two days after a railcar started leaking styrene, a harmful and flammable chemical, into the air at a railyard in Whitewater Township near Cleves, public health officials say there still haven't been any reported hospitalizations. There have not been any changes since Wednesday evening when officials lifted an evacuation order and told residents it was safe to return home, said Allison Babka, a spokesperson with Hamilton County Public Health. Babka said there are currently no reported concerns about air or water quality. "From our perspective, we're pretty good right now," she said. Ohio Environment Protection Agency officials said Wednesday evening that air monitoring of the area did not reveal any detections of styrene at "concerning levels." Officials also said groundwater contamination is "highly unlikely" because the chemical naturally tends to vaporize, adding that drinking water hasn't been affected as there are no public water systems in the area. Any individuals with private water systems who would like their water tested can contact Hamilton County Public Health at 513-946-7966. Mike Siefke, chief of Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District, said Wednesday night that air monitoring by the U.S. EPA would continue for the next few days. Residents can check air quality numbers on the HCReady website. First responders first noticed the venting and the railroad was notified around 1 p.m. Tuesday near U.S. Route 50 and state Route 128, Miller said, adding that firefighters applied water to the rail car to keep its temperature down. In addition to chemical exposure, there were concerns the railcar might explode as the temperature inside was rising. Crews worked to cool the tanker down and the leak stopped Tuesday evening. A Hamilton County spokesperson said the rail car had been sitting on the tracks for seven days before officials noticed the leak. The leaking tanker has been detached from the other 29 rail cars it was connected to and it has since been removed and taken to its final destination at Ineos ABS (USA) LLC, which owned the styrene involved in the incident and operates a facility in Addyston. Railroad officials said 14 other cars were carrying styrene and were found to have no issues after being tested. Some residents have complained of possible health impacts stemming from the leak, including a Cleves woman who filed a lawsuit in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, alleging the chemical exposure caused persistent headaches, itchy and watery eyes, as well as a "scratchy throat." Dr. Stephen Feagins, medical director of Hamilton County Public Health, said at a news conference the amount of styrene that was released into the air was "not even close" to the amount needed to cause cancer. He previously said that styrene evaporates almost immediately in the air, so the likelihood of irritation or toxicity is low. Central Railroad Indiana will have a representative at the Whitewater Township Community Center for several days to answer questions and assist residents. Residents can also call the railroad at 1-800-757-7387. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: No hospital stays, environmental issues 2 days after Ohio styrene leak Previewing the race for Missouri District 132, and why one candidate is suing the other SPRINGFIELD, Mo. With Crystal Quade terming out of Missouri House District 132, residents in downtown and northwest Springfield are guaranteed a new representative come November. OzarksFirst spoke to both candidates about their platforms with less than six weeks until the election. Jeremy Dean is the Democratic candidate, trying his hand at the state legislature after a failed run at Springfield City Council in April 2023. Theres a lot that we can do not only at the city level, but we can help our city from the state level. We just have to have an advocate that focuses on that, and so thats what pushed me to run for the state office, Dean said. Senate candidates butt heads during forum He says his previous work experience and his perspective of the government from 2020 to now also impacted his decision. Watching our state government really fail at a lot of things, specifically when it came to COVID-19 protocols, making sure that we kept our children in our communities safe, and when Roe versus Wade was overturned, I saw the medical fallout of that within an actual medical clinic. I saw women suffer because of their unjustified emotions and decisions that people made up in Jefferson City, Dean said. Dean adds hed like to continue building on what Quade will have to leave behind. We needed somebody in there that was going to continue the fight that shes put forward for us and make sure that weve got a strong advocate in Jefferson City, Dean said. Controversy surrounding Christian County Library District concerns residents OzarksFirst asked Dean about the pillars of his campaign. Number one is going to be cost of living. That kind of breaks down into several points, but my number one within thats going to be housing. Making sure that were bringing back investments, making a culture that brings good investment into Springfield, thats going to help us all the way from creating no-barrier shelters that are [a] holistic approach so that people can get the resources that they need to be successful in our community all the way to low-income housing, middle-income housing, to high-income housing, to make sure that we can keep our college students in in Springfield after they graduate and continue to grow our economy through high-income earners, Dean said. On top of that, its also funding our education system. I realize that we have to invest in our education. We have to support our schools where they need to support. We cant continue to do unfunded mandates. So making sure that were fully funding our schools and keeping public dollars in our public schools. My third largest one thats going to be making sure that were fighting for working families when it comes to workers rights, making sure that they have benefits and pay that is equitable to what they need here in the city of Springfield to live a happy and justified and dignified life. Republican candidate Stephanos Freeman isnt new to politics either. He ran for state office in 2022, losing to Quade in District 132, and lost in the primary to current District 131 State Rep. Bill Owen in the 2020 primary. Freeman hopes voters will see that perseverance in a positive light. I think it probably paid off a bit in the primary. [Maybe] they realized I got a lot of fight in me, Freeman said. Freemans platform is more focused on having less government intervention. Thats basically the idea, is that the more people can help themselves, the better off they are, because quite frankly, the governments not always gonna be able to provide, Freeman said. Missouri Department of Conservation wants to buy your seeds Freeman describes himself as a hard worker, mentioning before our interview, he was actually in the middle of changing the transmission fluid on a car, but also describes himself as a laid-back guy. Ive always been a working-class guy. My friends describe me as well, they tend to agree that I have a breadth of knowledge and lots of different things, a pretty affable guy, Freeman said. Its not a shock that Freeman himself, and maybe others, would view him as an outsider when it comes to politics. Thats one of the reasons why a lot of folks, even within my own party, sometimes dont like me. I call it out and I call it how I see it, and its a lot of its just manipulation or just an echo chamber where people just agree, agree, agree, Freeman adds. However, this race has a legal cloud hovering over it, waiting to rain down at maybe any moment. Freeman is suing Dean to have Dean removed from the ballot in Cole County. Why? Freeman believes, in part based on a conversation that he claims to have had with Dean, that Dean doesnt meet the states requirements to be a candidate in the District 132 race. I asked him when he moved in and he said it was only six months ago, and youre supposed to be here for a year to represent [the district], Freeman said. I dont think just moving in, you can really represent the people because you havent lived the same lifestyle as they have. You havent lived the same life. Dean disagrees with any accusation of ineligibility. I have met all the requirements that I need to in order to be running for this race, Dean said. I left the courthouse with one minute left. I wrote what you seen up in 20 minutes without having ever filed a petition before, Freeman said. Freeman had submitted a handwritten petition on September 10, the day of the deadline to have any names removed from voter ballots. Dean and his attorney filed a motion to dismiss within days. Were fully confident that the court will make the right decision in this. There are several things wrong with his lawsuit, including the timeliness of it. Ballots are already being printed as well. Its just incorrect, Dean said. The evidence that he uses is not really true. We are just waiting for the court to make their decision and not one which we fully expect will be dismissed. Freeman took to social media, posting an opposition on his campaign Facebook page, outlining his desire to not have the case thrown out. Well continue to follow the suit and provide updates as we learn them. The election is November 5. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. New York City hosted its annual Climate Week in late September, and Prince Harry attended multiple events in Manhattan. The Duke of Sussex participated in several events across Manhattan, two of which were dedicated to honoring his late mother, Princess Diana.To learn more about these events and the kind words Harry said in regards to his mother, keep scrolling! The Diana Award event at NYC climate change Harrys first event was The Diana Award recipients' banquet. The award, established in 1999 by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, honors young people for their humanitarian work. In 2024, the award still stands and was given out during NYC Climate Week on Monday, September 24, to Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica. The courage that you have gives me hope because every single one of us needs courage in order to move the dial and create positive change in today's world, Harry told the recipients. Thank you to you guys for giving meand probably a lot of other people in this roomhope. Now we need to listen, constantly, listen and then act on the advice and the vision that you have because otherwise its your future that's been stolen, and that is unacceptable. Harry also shared with Zhang and Williams: I know my mom would be incredibly proud of you. Not just you, but all of the award winners. Your activism and your compassion are two things that are so true of how my mum led her life and what she believed in, and the way you do it is incredible. So thank you. Prince Harry in 2024 John Nacion / Contributor/Getty The HALO Trust event The second event honoring the late princess was hosted by none other than The HALO Trust, a charity that Diana actively supported before her passing. As you know, the HALO Trust work in Angola [Africa] mattered a great deal to my mother, Harry acknowledged on stage. Carrying on her legacy is something I take incredibly seriously. The HALO Trust event was held to try to clear out the land mines on the Okavango River in Botswana, Africa, to which Harry said, This essential cross-border corporation recognizes that this priceless natural asset belongs to all people. Clearing these mines is about more than just physical safety. It's about community, and that sense of peace improves well-being. The work being done in Angola will undoubtedly have a profoundly positive effect on the lives of its people and all those who visit its natural beauty. The rest of Prince Harrys time at NYC Climate Week After he paid tribute to his late mother, Prince Harry still continued to campaign for a more protected Earth at different events across the city. His brother, Prince William, was also in attendance virtually, but the two paths never crossed despite them being at The United Nations (UN) just hours apart. It is unclear what Harry said in his in-person time there, but during his virtual speech, Willaim told people If we are to keep this planet liveable for our children and grandchildren, we must act urgently. We must act to save our rivers, oceans, savannas, mangroves and forests, as well as the communities that protect and live alongside them. For more Royals content, keep scrolling! Royal Family Crops Meghan Markle From Birthday Photo: See the Full Image Kate Middleton Wrote a Rare Public Letter as She Continues Her Cancer Recovery: What She Wrote Kate Middleton and Princess Diana: 12 Kate Quotes That Are Just Like What the Late Princess Wouldve Said A truck laden with tomato puree crashed in England this week, turning a highway red and prompting a number of food-related puns from people on social media. The vehicle was involved in a crash with another truck in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, on Tuesday, Highways England told CNN. The government highways authority said the vehicle "lost its load and damaged the carriageway," leading to a road closure on the A14. One driver sustained a "minor" injury, Highways England said. A spokesman confirmed it was carrying tomato puree, which spilled across the road and prompted emergency road resurfacing overnight until Wednesday afternoon. The crash prompted some jokes -- of varying quality -- on social media. "What happens when you go too fast trying to ketchup to the Volkswagen Passata in front of you," said one person on Twitter. "I went pasta that. Took a while for the traffic to ketchup," said another. One person tweeted of the road closure: "And I imagine when it does reopen cars will have to passata slow speed?" "So this was the sauce of all the traffic problems in Cambridge today," another commented. While relatively uncommon, food spillages on highways do happen. In 2019, a river of chocolate was seen flowing on an Arizona highway after a tanker hauling 40,000 pounds (18,144 liters) of liquid chocolate rolled over on the interstate near Flagstaff. A crash near Knoxville, Tennessee, spilled more than 17 tons of M&M's onto an interstate ramp in the same year. The candy remained in the packaging but had to be destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of red Skittles were found spilled on a road in Dodge County, Wisconsin, in 2017. The local Sheriff at the time said they were surplus and were on their way to a cow farm, where they were to be mixed with livestock feed. WACO, Texas (FOX 44) A new initiative promoting physical well-being among seniors has taken root in Waco, drawing participants from all walks of life. Enhance Fitness was launched in early summer, and offers a welcoming space for both men and women to exercise regularly tailored to their needs. Classes are held three times a week Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the South Waco Community Center. The program has quickly gained popularity, with attendees reporting improved mobility and overall well-being. You can move better, you are more independent, youre stronger, said Sylvia Gonzales, a participant in the program. Exercise is a big part of dealing with all the other health-related issues. One of the standout features of Enhance Fitness is its accessibility. The classes are free of charge and open to anyone in the community, although registration is required. This commitment to inclusivity ensures that all participants can benefit from the program, which focuses on enhancing flexibility, balance, and overall strength. Being healthy and fit contributes to better flexibility, balance, and helps maintain body weight, bone health, and strength, said Susan Krause manager of programs and facilities at Waco parks and Recreation. Its a ton of different things that benefit them. To further promote inclusivity, classes are taught by bilingual instructors, making it easier for non-English speakers to participate. Enhance Fitness is just one of many community initiatives hosted by various centers across Waco. For more information on classes and events, residents can click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesMillions of American families across the United States could be torn apart by the anti-immigrant policies in the far-right's Project 2025 plan. If enacted, these draconian policies could strip legal status from hundreds of thousands of people who already live, work, and care for their families in the US, leading to deportation and the heartbreak of permanent separation. As a Venezuelan immigrant who is under Temporary Protected Status, I am also at risk.Are you registered to vote? Check your voter registration here.Across the country, anti-immigrant policymakers are advancing an aggressively xenophobic agenda to establish a national infrastructure for implementing Project 2025, a plan compiled by the conservative Heritage Foundation for a future Republican presidential administration. From Texas's infamous SB4 bill to copycat bills in Georgia, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Arizona, state legislatures are trying to grant themselves reactionary immigration-enforcement powers. These powers would allow them to identify, arrest, and detain individuals based merely on the suspicion that they are undocumented, setting the stage for systematic racial profiling, increased policing of communities of color, and mass deportations of immigrants.Together, these bills are part of the broader xenophobic policy agenda outlined in the Project 2025 mandate, which seeks to criminalize, detain, and separate millions of immigrant families and people of color, violating all of our fundamental human and civil rights.Project 2025 calls for the immediate repeal of humanitarian relief programs such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Humanitarian Parole. These programs are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people who, like me, have been forced to flee our homes due to devastating emergencies, enabling us to live, work, and care for our families in the US. Nearly eight million Venezuelans have left our country to escape a severe humanitarian crisis and a repressive authoritarian government. These relief programs provide many of us with the safety and stability we desperately need to work, thrive, and live without fear of deportation. Repealing them would not just strip away our legal status, it would shatter lives, tear apart loved ones, and hurt communities and their economic prospects.For immigrants and people of color, the most terrifying part is not only losing our status but what comes after. Under Project 2025, ICE's current "sensitive zone" policies would be rescinded, allowing immigration enforcement agents to racially profile, detain, and deport Black, brown, and Indigenous people in our places of worship, schools, health care facilities, social service centers, and even at peaceful demonstrations.To make matters worse, the plan also calls for ICE to issue what are known as "Blackies warrants," which could allow immigration agents to conduct inhumane raids at our worksites without proper evidence or justification, blatantly harming local businesses and working-class families who strive to thrive, while racially targeting our communities in the places where we live, work, and pray.One thing is clear: Project 2025 aims to make our immigrant communities and people of color feel unsafe everywhere whether at home, work, school, church, or simply walking in our neighborhood. It seeks to not only increase detention, deportation, and family separation for people like me, who have some form of temporary protections, but also to dismantle existing humane pathways for individuals and families seeking refuge. It aims to deny people their legal right to asylum at the border, limit our eligibility for work authorizations, which in turn hurts businesses and local economies, repeal visas for victims of human trafficking, set up detention camps, and codify mandatory detentions and draconian policies like Title 42 and Remain in Mexico into law.As an immigrant who migrated from Venezuela, I've seen firsthand how incredibly difficult it is to restore democracy after it's lost, and I worry that Project 2025 is an authoritarian blueprint for centralizing power under an openly anti-immigrant presidency in the US. Despite the anxiety and fear we may feel about a future under Project 2025, our collective responsibility in this moment is to do everything we can to protect one another from this violent agenda.What brings me comfort in moments like this is knowing that the community I have around me has and will continue to show up to keep me, other TPS recipients, DACA recipients, and undocumented communities safe. The members of my community are a constant reminder that our greatest resources against the threats we are up against are our love, care, and commitment to be there for one another when our safety or rights are under attack.Time and time again, my community has shown that we can win against incredible odds. Whether successfully defending the rights of immigrant youth at the Supreme Court in 2020, winning greater health care access for immigrants through the Affordable Care Act this year, or our latest victory in securing the largest form of protection for undocumented communities since DACA, our power has been and will always be an unstoppable force for good.As the imminent threat of white nationalism and Project 2025 endangers the essence of our multiracial and pluralistic democracy, we must choose to lead in this moment and fight for a future where we can all move freely and safely in the places we call home, live with dignity and alongside those we love without being separated, and take care of our neighbors whether they were born here or elsewhere, like me. We are the leaders we need in this moment, and together we can stop Project 2025.Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue TakeOriginally Appeared on Teen Vogue undefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefined SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A 49-year-old man who is accused of stealing nearly $18,000 in merchandise from retail stores across San Francisco was charged with 21 total counts of commercial burglary, grand theft and shoplifting, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Thursday. Mark Farmer, 49, took part in numerous retail thefts in Union Square and other locations in the city, the district attorneys office said. Farmers alleged thefts date back to December 2023. Altogether, nearly $18,000 in goods were stolen from Bloomingdales, Lululemon, Gap and Athleta, according to the DAs office. Two fatal crashes on SFs Lombard Street lead to calls for pedestrian safety Farmer was arrested by the San Francisco Police Department on Sept. 18 and is being charged with: Six counts of second-degree commercial burglary Four counts of grand theft 11 counts of shoplifting A bail amount of $100,000 was set by the court, and Farmer remains in custody as of Thursday morning, the DAs office said. I would like to thank the San Francisco Police Department for their investigation and continued efforts to address retail theft, Jenkins said in a news release. My office takes these cases seriously and will not allow us to lose ground and regress to an era where fighting these crimes was not prioritized. The case remains active, and anyone with information is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department tip line at (415)-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and start the message with SFPD. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The two candidates for Sedgwick County Commission District 3 have different visions for how county government should raise and spend money in the face of increasing property taxes and a housing shortage in the Wichita area. Celeste Racette, a fiscally conservative Democrat with a background in accounting, said she wants to offer property tax relief by cutting waste and eliminating taxpayer handouts to developers while Stephanie Wise, a Republican with a background in commercial real estate, said she plans to save money through consolidating services and tax reform. The topic of property taxes dominated the Wichita Journalism Collaboratives candidate forum on housing Monday night at Friends University, where both candidates fielded questions ranging from housing affordability to homelessness to flooding in west Wichita. But first, Racette immediately went on offense, saying Wise would have a conflict of interest by serving as a commissioner while continuing to operate her commercial real estate business while also deciding zoning cases and appointing members to boards that regulate commercial development. The county commissioner makes appointments to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, and its subgroups, like the Board of Zoning Appeals, play a role in affordable housing, Racette said. My appointees will give top priority to the public interest and not be a rubber stamp for developers. Where does my opponents loyalties lie? Wise denied that it would represent a conflict. Im a small business owner, and I have been for the last 10 years, specializing in lease negotiations for both tenants and landlords, none of which has any conflict of interest that my opponent has suggested, Wise said. Wise said she supports a proposal to eliminate property tax funding for quality of life services such as Exploration Place, Sedgwick County Zoo, Lake Afton and Sedgwick County Park. Under that proposal, those services instead would be funded by the countys share of a countywide 1% sales tax. I would be open to any conversation that includes tax reform in a sense of relieving our taxpayers and ensuring that we can look them in the eye and tell them that their property tax dollars are only paying for core services of county government: public safety, public works and public health, Wise said. Racettes plan rests on being a watchdog of the countys finances. Its not necessarily, Oh, Im going to cut property taxes or Oh, Im going to switch it out for sales tax, Racette said. You cant do that. You have to look at the finances and figure out where the money is going to and try to cut it so that we dont have these exorbitant raises in property taxes every year. Racette vowed to stand in the way of incentives and tax breaks for developers. Wise said she wants to increase them to promote building. We give millions of dollars away to developers, and we dont get it back, Racette said. She said the county should instead look at the finances and we make sure the developers arent getting the handouts and that the working people of Wichita and Sedgwick County are actually getting a fair shake and representation with how our money is spent. Wise countered by saying I think that the private sector and our relationship with developers is going to be important to find a way that we can provide this housing for our population. She also expressed support for the Reinvestment Housing Incentive District, or RHID, incentive program. Both candidates said they want to limit spending as much as possible. At the county level, we need to hold tight and make sure that we are being very lean in our budgets, . . . limiting them as much as we can, Wise said. I cant stand up here and say Im going to cut your property taxes, Racette said. But I can promise you when I get in there, I will look at the numbers and ensure that your money is spent fairly for you as a taxpayer advocate. Assemblywoman Ellen Park (D-Bergen), who chairs the Assembly judiciary committee, is the prime sponsor of a bill, intended to increase domestic violence convictions, that would allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of defendants' prior offenses. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Domestic violence, sex assault, and child abuse cases are notoriously tough to prosecute because they often occur indoors without witnesses or corroborating evidence, fear and shame keep some victims from cooperating, and jaded investigators can doubt victims claims. Now, several legislators have proposed a solution they say should increase the odds of conviction but critics warn could be unconstitutional. Under a bill introduced earlier this month, prosecutors in New Jersey would be allowed to introduce evidence of a defendants past domestic violence, sex assault, and child abuse offenses in new cases of those offenses. Because such offenders often have a history of such offenses, the theory goes, their prior bad acts could provide context or show a propensity for such behavior, boosting the likelihood of conviction. But evidence of past wrongs or crimes typically is inadmissible in court because it can be prejudicial and threaten a defendants constitutional right to a fair trial. So while prosecutors championed the bill when it came up for a committee hearing last week in Trenton, it prompted concerns even from domestic violence advocates and court officials. Any criminal prosecution should be tried on the facts of the case, and not because the defendant is an alleged bad actor. Really, the job of the courts is to provide opportunity for a fair trial on relevant, non-prejudicial (evidence), said Pam Geller, a legislative liaison for the Administrative Office of the Courts. Denise Higgins, legal director at the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, told legislators criminal prosecution typically does little to deter violence and can even make the abuse worse. She instead urged legislators to focus their attention on prevention and community education. We must work together to effectively prevent domestic violence, Higgins said. Increasing economic supports and access to housing, providing child care, engaging and educating youth, and offering access to community-based services will help us shift our approach to domestic violence from one that primarily relies on the legal system after something has happened to providing solutions that can prevent violence and abuse from occurring in the first place. Thursdays hearing before the Assemblys judiciary committee was discussion-only, so lawmakers did not vote on the bill. Bill sponsor Assemblywoman Ellen Park (D-Bergen), the committees chair, told spectators she and the bills other sponsors Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-Hudson) and Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) would consider the testimony and tweak the bill. This legislation is to protect the victims. Thats our priority, Park said. Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn (R-Monmouth), a committee member whos also an attorney, warned the bill could hurt victims if convictions get overturned on appeal because a judge deems prior offenses were introduced unconstitutionally. While legislators can change court rules of evidence, such changes instead typically go through the Judiciarys rules committee, where theyre vetted by judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and members of the bar association before being adopted or discarded, Geller said. Without such vetting, Flynn urged the bill sponsors to put guardrails into the bill to make it appellate-proof. If youre going to use the legislative process to skip over the court rulemaking process, then lets get it right, Flynn said. Three officials from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office testified in support of the bill, saying the change wouldnt be unprecedented. Several states, including California, Alaska, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, and Wisconsin, have such laws on the books, according to the bill. The change is sorely needed, said Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of the offices violence intervention and victim assistance division. The reality is that domestic violence accounts for a significant portion of the law enforcement responses in New Jersey, Teffenhart said. More than 63,000 incidents of domestic violence were reported in 2020, according to state police data. Children were involved or present during almost 15,000 of them, and nearly 13,000 were committed by someone under a restraining order, Teffenhart said. Domestic violence is seriously underreported, with a tiny fraction resulting in arrest, conviction, or incarceration, she added. This one we cant fix on our own, she said. We need support of our colleagues in the Legislature. We need more tools in our toolbox, as the system does not recognize patterns of behavior or account for the increase in frequency and lethality of unchecked intimate partner violence. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Dai Davies was in charge of keeping the royals safe from 1994 to 1998 [BBC] The former head of Scotland Yards Royal Protection Command says he warned Buckingham Palace about Mohammed Al Fayed in the late '90s. Dai Davies, who was in charge of keeping the royals safe from 1994 to 1998, said he was aware of allegations Fayed had "a reputation", and warned royal officials that Scotland Yards serious and organised crime group was investigating him. Mr Davies said he also raised concerns about the initial police investigation into sexual allegations made against Fayed and the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) not to prosecute. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. More than 200 women have come forward since Fayed's death last year saying they were raped or sexually assaulted by the former Harrods owner. The Metropolitan Police said each allegation was investigated but no charges were brought. Speaking to Welsh language news programme Newyddion S4C, Mr Davies said: "There were allegations that he had been, as it were, sexually promiscuous with some of his employees, but as far as I knew it was well outside of my scope of investigation. "Nobody had actually come forward but there were rumours circulating and I was aware of those rumours in the mid 90s. "The rumours were, as I understood it, that he liked young girls who worked at Harrods and that he touched them inappropriately, sexually and so on." Mr Davies said he contacted royal officials to raise concerns the Met was also investigating Fayed for breaking into business tycoon Tiny Rowlands safety deposit box at the department store. That claim and others led to Fayed being arrested in March 1998 but he was never charged. In July 1997, Princess Diana went on holiday with Fayed and his wife to their St Tropez home with Prince William and Prince Harry. "I was worried that he was being investigated and that she [Princess Diana] was taking the boys with a man that was quite bad," said Mr Davies. In raising concerns about that investigation, Mr Davies said he was told by royal officials Diana was aware of it. He said he did not raise concerns about sexual abuse allegations with the palace as he had no evidence, and women had not yet come forward. He said he warned the palace about Fayed in the '90s [PA Media] The CPS said it twice considered bringing charges against Fayed but concluded there was no prospect of a conviction. Mr Davies said questions need to be asked and that could happen in the form of a public inquiry. "There are big questions here for the CPS because I hear far too often in my opinion that there isnt enough evidence," he said. "We dont know what the Metropolitan Police are actually considering at the moment, I dont know at what level someone is deciding if this warrants a further investigation because people knew. "Its for those in authority and the establishment to decide what's the best formula for actually getting justice for all these women." The Metropolitan Police said it was aware allegations of sex offences against Fayed made over a several years were reported to the force. A spokesman said: "Each one was investigated and, where appropriate, advice from the Crown Prosecution Service was sought. No charges resulted from these investigations." It said if further information came to light it would be investigated accordingly. The CPS said it was "concerning" so many women were coming forward. A spokesman said: "The prosecutors who looked at the files of evidence that were received in 2008 and 2015 concluded at that time that there was no realistic prospect of conviction and no charges were brought. "We are working to build a full picture around these serious allegations and want to reassure the public that alongside our criminal justice system partners, we are determined to secure justice in as many rape and serious sexual offences as possible." PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A Providence man has been sentenced to prison for killing his estranged wife back in 2017, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced on Thursday. Bosco Tukamuhabwa, 53, was convicted in June of domestic second degree murder in the death of 44-year-old Maniriho Nkinamubanzi, as well as violation of a no-contact order. He was given a 60-year sentence, with 45 years to serve at the ACI and the rest suspended with probation, Neronha said. BACKGROUND: Memorial service held for woman allegedly murdered by husband In November 2017, Nkinamubanzis children found her dead inside a closet one day after reporting her missing to police. Detectives were able to link Tukamuhabwa to the crime through DNA evidence and phone records. Domestic abusers perpetuate a cycle of control and violence, which can unfortunately escalate into irreparable tragedy, Neronha said in a press release. Ms. Nkinamubanzi deserved a to live a full life, free of the persistent threat of violence, and the defendant stole that from her. I hope this sentence brings Ms. Nkinamubanzis children some measure of peace and closure. NEXT: Police ID victim, suspect of Providence homicide If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, seek help immediately: National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 Rhode Island Helpline RI: 800-494-8100 Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center: 800-494-8100 Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center: 401-738-1700 Womens Resource Center: 401-846-5263 Crossroads RI: 401-861-2760 Massachusetts SafeLink: 877-785-2020 SSTAR Womens Center: 508-675-0087 The Womens Center: 508-999-6636 New Hope: 800-323-HOPE (4673) Health Imperatives: 508-588-TALK (8255) Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) Rhode Islands Department of Health issued a public health advisory in Woonsocket on Wednesday because of an ongoing increase in drug overdoses. According to state health officials, the city had 376 reported non-fatal opioid overdoses per 100,000 people, more than double what it is statewide (185 per 100,000). The health department said they monitor these numbers with their non-fatal overdose Integrated Surveillance System. Data released for 2023s overdose death numbers showed that although overdose deaths went down 7.3% statewide, Woonsocket had the highest rate, which is 67.4 per 100,000 people. READ MORE: Overdose deaths trending downward in Rhode Island In late July, Mayor Chris Beauchamp told 12 News the opioid epidemic has really affected the citizens of Woonsocket. Beauchamp added that the city got $429,000 from an opioid settlement. The money has been directed to some of the agencies that deal with this on a direct basis. City Council President John Ward, who is running against Beauchamp in November, said theres two fronts that this has to be faced on. Dealing with the homeless population, finding some kind of affordable housing alternatives for them, Ward said. Resources to stay informed and prevent overdose deaths can be accessed by visiting preventoverdoseri.org or by calling 988. NEXT: Active scene in downtown Providence prompts building evacuations Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The public is invited to the groundbreaking ceremony of Fire Station No. 38 in far East El Paso. The celebration will happen at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 at the 14300 block of Pebble Hills Blvd. near Tim Foster, according to the news release by the City of El Paso. Fire Station No. 38 will span more than 9,000 square feet and will feature the following services and amenities: Three emergency vehicle parking bays with vehicle exhaust ventilation system Dispatch office and Information Technology server room Medical supply/equipment storage Decontamination shower room and unisex restrooms with showers Public restrooms, dormitory and industrial laundry facility Food preparation/service area, and a cold and dry food storage Fitness area Public restrooms and lobby The project will cost approximately $5.4 million to build and is managed by the Citys Capital Improvement Department, according to the City. The project is under the voter-approved Public Safety Bond in part of the Citys commitment to maintaining its standing as one of the nations safest cities, taking proactive approaches to prevent fire/medical incidents, and improving public safety operational efficiencies, the City said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. I put the people of New York before party: Eric Adams claims in video hes been targeted for fighting Harris-Biden admin over migrant crisis Mayor Eric Adams claimed he was a victim of political persecution after he became the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted on Wednesday insisting he was targeted for standing up to the Harris-Biden administration as migrants flooded the city. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. If Im charged, I know I am innocent, Hizzoner, 64, said in a video statement. I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life, he continued. Mayor Eric Adams claimed he was a victim of political persecution after he became the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted on Wednesday. Eric Adams indicted: Live updates after NYC mayor hit with indictment That fight has continued as your mayor. Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics. The migrant crisis has likely cost the Big Apple more than $5 billion, according to the citys own online asylum-seeker funding tracker, which showed its spent $4.88 billion combined through fiscal years 2023 and 24. New York City has likely surpassed $5 billion in spending on services for migrants including nearly $2 billion alone on housing the scores of new arrivals flooding into the Big Apple, according to city data. Adams administration has even projected the cost could balloon to $10 billion over the three-year period ending June 30, 2025. I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life, Adams said. Mayor's Office The migrant crisis has likely cost the Big Apple more than $5 billion, according to the citys own online asylum-seeker funding tracker, which showed its spent $4.88 billion combined through fiscal years 2023 and 24. James Messerschmidt The latest stats show 217,300 migrants have flooded Gotham since spring 2022 forcing the city to open emergency shelters to deal with the crush. As of this week, 61,400 migrants are in city care. Adams said that he always knew he would become a target. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became. A defiant Adams also said he would not leave office. Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case, he said. But I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigations started yet the city has continued to improve, he continued. Make no mistake you elected me to lead this city and lead it, I will. Hizzoners comments come as it was revealed Wednesday night he was indicted by a grand jury on charges tied to a federal probe that has hampered his administration and has now led to a chorus of city pols calling him to resign. For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty. Just this past week, they searched the home of our new police commissioner looking for documents from 20 years ago, just one week after he joined my administration, Adams said in reference to a raid of interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlons home on Saturday. He concluded by asking New Yorkers for their prayers and patience following the extraordinary day in Big Apple history. He is expected to surrender to authorities early next week, sources told The Post. The shocking development comes as multiple probes swirled around Adams and some of his top aides and police officials. Hizzoner has not been told of the expected indictment, sources close to Adams said late Wednesday. While details of the accusations remained unclear, they are believed to be tied to Turkeys government illegally funneling money into his 2021 mayoral campaign in exchange for approval of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan, according to sources. Putin knows he will be damned if he is first to use nuclear weapons Polish President Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and his generals are well aware that the first to use nuclear weapons will be damned. Source: Polish President Andrzej Duda, in an interview with TVN24, a Polish 24-hour commercial news channel, reports European Pravda Details: Duda was commenting on the statement of Vladimir Putin, who on Wednesday evening again threatened to use nuclear weapons if there is any massive attack on Russia. The Polish president believes that the Russian leader's statements were nothing new. Quote from Duda: "If we look at this in a cold-blooded way and without panic, it should be clear: he is repeating what has been enshrined in Russian military doctrine for many years, that Russia reserves the right to use any assets, including, of course, the nuclear assets at its disposal, in case of a threat to Russia. On the other hand, Vladimir Putin also knows very well, as do his generals, that the first to use nuclear weapons is the one who is damned... They would never absolve themselves of this responsibility if they use nuclear weapons. Not even to the slightest extent. Never. The world would never forgive them." Background: Support UP or become our patron! Putin lowers threshold for nuclear response as Biden administration pledges new funding to Ukraine In a pointed warning to the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin said any nations conventional attack on Russia supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country. Putin's announcement came as the Biden administration announced $375 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine, including air-to-ground weapons, munitions for rocket systems and artillery, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons. The warning came at a meeting of Russias Security Council, with Putin announcing revisions to the country's nuclear doctrine. Putin said a revised version of the document states that an attack against his country by a nonnuclear power with the "participation or support of a nuclear power" will be seen as a "joint attack on the Russian Federation." Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Vance Criticism Could Come Back To Haunt Him, Republicans Warn Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo estate near Moscow. Putin emphasized that the revised doctrine spells out conditions for using nuclear weapons in greater detail, noting they could be used in case of a massive air attack. Read On The Fox News App "Conditions for Russias move to use nuclear weapons are clearly stated" in the revisions, he said. Iran Spouts 'Propaganda' From Un Podium, Calls On Middle East To Unite Behind Tehran "We will consider such a possibility when we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack assets and them crossing our state border," Putin added, citing "strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other flying vehicles." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City. The Kremlin's revision of its nuclear response doctrine has opened the door for a major nuclear power to loosen its declaratory policy, which is "never good," one expert warned. "Regardless of whether you think this is a bluff or not, its never good when a major nuclear power loosens the conditions for nuclear use in its declaratory policy," Samuel Charap, senior political scientist at RAND, said in a post on X. The $375 million package for Ukraine was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken late Wednesday. "The United States is committed to Ukraines defense against Russias brutal aggression," Blinken said in a statement. "We will deploy this new assistance as quickly as possible to help Ukraine protect its territory and its people." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with President Biden and Vice President Harris in Washington Thursday to discuss allowing his troops to use long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russia. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Putin lowers threshold for nuclear response as Biden administration pledges new funding to Ukraine Putin rachets up nuclear rhetoric, but is he ready to act? Putin issued a new warning on the use of nuclear weapons (Alexander KAZAKOV) (Alexander KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP) Vladimir Putin's proposed revision of Russian nuclear policy signals a worrying readiness to use the ultimate weapon against Ukraine and even NATO members, but it remains far from certain the threat will be translated into action, analysts say. The proposed broadening of Russia's nuclear rules comes as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine stretches into its third year and Kyiv seeks permission from Western allies to use long-range weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia. With the ramped-up rhetoric Putin is looking to dissuade Western countries from broadening support for Kyiv. But with repeated threats, he is also putting himself under pressure to act on the use of nuclear weapons, not only against Ukraine but also its NATO backers. Maxim Starchak, a fellow at the Centre for International and Defence Policy at Queen's University in Canada, said that with the revision of the doctrine, Putin wanted to lower the threshold for use of nuclear weapons. "Putin counts on the introduction of an additional -- nuclear -- factor in the Ukraine war. He believes and hopes that this will work," Starchak said. A senior European military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Putin had a limited range of options two and a half years into the war. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, "Putin went all-in. He therefore has little capacity for escalation," the official said. He outlined three options at Putin's disposal: the use of nuclear rhetoric, the use of nuclear weapons, and hybrid warfare against the West. - 'Western nuclear response' - Since the invasion Putin has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons, which the West has dismissed as sabre rattling. But on Wednesday he went further, announcing changes to the country's nuclear doctrine during a televised meeting of the Kremlin's Security Council. The updated doctrine would allow the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states when they are supported by nuclear powers -- a clear reference to Ukraine and its Western backers. The new rules would also allow Russia to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a "massive" air attack, he said. For Pavel Luzin, a visiting scholar at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Putin's threats still rang hollow. "Russia is frantically looking for ways to make the world afraid of Russian nuclear weapons again," he said. Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said: "While the Ukrainian retaliation strikes into Russia are causing serious damage, a Russian nuclear response could lead to far greater damage if it triggered a Western nuclear response." The European Union on Thursday denounced Putin's latest move as "reckless and irresponsible", and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the Russian leader "totally irresponsible". - 'Questions from people' - In Moscow, Alexander Khramchikhin, a Russian military analyst, said he did not see "any fundamental changes" to the doctrine, and its wording remains intentionally vague. What mattered, he said, was the message the Kremlin was sending after Ukraine repeatedly crossed Moscow's "red lines", with its cross-border offensive in the western region of Kursk and the massive use of drones against targets deep inside Russia. He noted that Putin was coming under increasing pressure from the military, politicians and public opinion at home to use nuclear weapons to win the Ukraine war. "I am now constantly hearing questions from ordinary people who are asking why we are still not using nuclear weapons," Khramchikhin said. Since the start of the war, Russian propaganda has gone into overdrive, threatening nuclear retaliation even against Western capitals. Sergei Karaganov, a high-profile political scientist known for his hawkish views, has urged Putin to use limited nuclear strikes to "save" human civilisation. Thirty-four percent of Russians consider the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine to be justified, according to a poll by the Levada Centre released in July. "Well-articulated direct military threats against NATO are the most effective way to communicate," said Vasily Kashin, a Russia-based political scientist. "But at the same time we must be ready to act on these threats." "We may see limited strikes against facilities in Eastern Europe," Kashin said. "It could lead to a nuclear escalation. A protracted conflict is a dangerous situation." or-dla-as/sjw/js A Lebanese Muslim Sunni cleric inspects damages caused by an overnight Israeli air raid attack in the area of Jiyeh along the coastal highway between the southern port city of Sidon and Beirut. Marwan Naamani/dpa Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said that he is not aware of any direct link between truce negotiations in Gaza and efforts towards a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. "There is a track working on Lebanon, it is more pressing and there are many parties taking part with the aim of immediately stopping the war, and there is another track about Gaza," he told reporters in Doha. "There is no doubt there is huge overlap between the two files, but there are parallel tracks working," he added. Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, has been mediating between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement for months to reach a deal on the Gaza Strip. A Lebanese man sits on the edge of a crater caused by an overnight Israeli air raid attack in the area of Jiyeh along the coastal highway between the southern port city of Sidon and Beirut. Marwan Naamani/dpa Palestinians grief by the shrouded bodies of the victims of an Israeli attack on Saud family household after they were brought to Al Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir El-Balah. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." King Charles is still fighting cancer. In February of this year, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles had been diagnosed, though they declined to disclose the specific type 0f cancer. Since, there haven't been many updates on the King's health, but his stepson, Tom Parker Bowles, has recently shared some insights. "Cancer, it really is a bastard," Parker Bowles told British Vogue in a new interview. "The King's having the best treatment. He's a great man and a tough man, and you've just got to get on with it. Of course, anyone who has someone they love with cancer is going to worry." On how his mom, Queen Camilla, is handling her husband's diagnosis, Parker said, "She's tough, my mother." Shop Now Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III [A Cookbook] amazon.com $35.00 He was doing the interview to promote his new cookbook, Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III, which publishes in the U.S. in October. The text explores two centuries of British royal foods, highlighting recipes for all occasions. At a launch party for Cooking and the Crown in London earlier this month, Parker Bowles thanked both King Charles and Queen Camilla for their support. "Thanks goes to the King and Queen, my mother, and obviously the King, without whom this book wouldn't have been here. Without their support, their insight, their help, the rest of itso a huge thank you to the King and Queen." King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to travel to Australia and Samoa in October, where one of the stops will highlight cancer care. You Might Also Like Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com. Millions of dollars have poured into a campaign to overturn Missouris near-total abortion ban, energizing voters across the state. Polling has suggested the constitutional amendment currently has enough support to pass in November But, if the measure does pass on Nov. 5, what happens in the days, weeks and months after the vote? For all of the excitement, the actual process and timeline of restoring abortion access remains incredibly murky. Even before it banned nearly all abortions in 2022, Missouri had for decades enacted restrictions on providers that whittled down access to just one clinic by 2019. Those laws, as well as the abortion ban itself, would likely have to be struck down in court if the amendment, called Amendment 3, passes. I do think it will be frustrating to Missourians that they dont have restored rights the day after the vote, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. Well be working to make clear to the court that the people of Missouri want to have this right restored. They want to have care available again and the courts have to move quickly. At the same time, providers would be returning to a Republican-controlled state that has been unabashedly hostile to abortion. Some Republican lawmakers are already floating the idea of filing a measure that would ask voters to strike down the amendment in 2026 if it passes in November. We will do everything to protect the innocent life in the womb if Amendment 3 happens to pass, said Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican. Interviews with constitutional experts, lawmakers and abortion rights supporters and opponents emphasized the fact that abortion access will not return to Missouri overnight if the amendment passes. But it would offer a pathway to tear down the ban and years of restrictions, allowing providers to eventually offer the procedure again. These would be the strongest protections for private medical decisions related to abortion that weve ever had, said Wales. The amendment, which would take effect 30 days after the vote, would almost certainly kick off a series of legal battles that will decide how soon those protections will actually allow abortion access. Similar courtroom fights are playing out across the country in states that have voted to expand abortion access such as Ohio and Michigan. But Missouri would be the first state, or among the first, to overturn a near-total ban a law that abortion rights supporters will immediately move to strike down after the vote. Missouri abortion rights supporters hold a celebratory press conference outside the state Capitol after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that Amendment 3 can remain on the ballot. A cluster of TRAP laws, or targeted regulation of abortion providers, will also be a major hurdle to getting clinics to reopen in the state. Those restrictions include a requirement that women wait 72 hours between seeing a doctor and having an abortion and another that requires doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital no more than 15 minutes away. The years-long patchwork of regulations effectively caused the number of abortions in Missouri to drop from 6,163 in 2010 to 150 in 2021 before the ban was enacted. Pamela Merritt, a longtime abortion rights activist originally from Missouri now heads Medical Students for Choice, an international group that trains students about reproductive health care. A self-described pessimist, Merritt cautioned that it could be years before clinics reopen in the state. Missouri, she predicted, could have abortion in name only for years. What I predict is that were likely going to get certain TRAPs struck down, but not enough TRAP to allowfor Planned Parenthood on either side (of the state) to open up a new clinic, she said. And thats not going to be permanent, but thatll probably be the pattern for five to 10 years. Wales, in response, said she understood where Merritt was coming from but that her prediction was not accurate. She pointed to the significant momentum behind the campaign to overturn the ban, saying that the effort has to start somewhere. It will be frustrating that every single day, care is not restored, she said. Missourians lives are at risk, but we will be telling that to the courts who have to make these decisions, and we will do everything we can to restore access as quickly as possible. A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which offers abortion access on the Illinois side of Missouri, also emphasized the urgency of striking down the ban, saying no one should have to go without care or cross state lines to get it. After Missouri voters pass this ballot measure, well work swiftly to ensure patients can come to our health centers for the broad range of reproductive care, including safe, legal abortion, spokesperson Nick Dunne said in a statement. Striking down restrictions Planned Parenthood Great Plains stopped providing abortions at its Kansas City, Missouri clinic in 2018 amid the web of restrictions passed by state lawmakers. It was years of working to comply with the latest nonsensical, medically unnecessary restriction, and then a new thing would be passed, and youd be trying to comply with that, said Wales. If voters approve the amendment in November, supporters will file lawsuits to have those restrictions and the 2022 ban struck down in court for providers to be able to offer abortions. The effects of the measure were the focus of a lawsuit from abortion opponents who argued the amendment did not sufficiently describe what laws it would repeal. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected that argument and in a 4-3 decision ruled the amendment could stay on the ballot. The amendment would prohibit lawmakers from banning abortion until fetal viability, defined in the measure as the point in pregnancy when theres a significant chance the fetus can survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical measures. A key passage in the amendment that could allow for courts to strike down Missouris restrictions states that the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means. The language in the ballot measure gives abortion rights supporters real firepower to remove the restrictions on providers and puts the burden on state officials to provide a reason for the restrictions, said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California-Davis. But the complicating factor is that the state Supreme Court will ultimately have the final say over whether they get struck down, she said. The first immediate impact of the amendment could center on reproductive care in emergency departments, in which some doctors fear legal consequences for providing care to people in cases such as miscarriages, said Nicole Huberfeld, a law professor and co-director of the Boston University Program on Reproductive Justice. Hopefully those go first so that people are no longer dying from abortion bans, Huberfeld said. But it will be harder for providers to ramp up access to abortion because that involves restarting access to clinics, Huberfeld said. Betsy Wickstrom, an OB-GYN from Kansas City, emphasized the impact of the ban on emergency situations. She said shes most concerned about delays in treating ectopic pregnancies, a life-threatening situation in which a pregnancy develops outside of a persons uterus. You can schedule surgery for an ectopic pregnancy in the OR but you have to have clearance from the legal and ethical people to do that because theres a flicker of what will be a heart, she said. Meanwhile, delaying any ectopic pregnancy treatment is asking for disaster. Will GOP fight amendment? The amendment allows but does not require, lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability and the GOP-controlled legislature would almost certainly pass a ban on abortions late in pregnancy. Any post-viability ban would be required to allow at least three exceptions for the life, physical and mental health of the woman. Seitz, the Branson Republican, said that he plans to file a bill next legislative session that would define a fetus as a human upon conception. Seitz, who filed a similar bill last session, claimed that the legislation would pass court muster, because it does not specifically mention abortion. Anti-abortion activists and state lawmakers are also previewing another potential strategy if the amendment passes: a competing ballot measure in 2026. Mary Catherine Martin, center, an attorney from the conservative law firm Thomas More Society, stands in front of the Missouri Supreme Court after arguments in a case deciding the future of an abortion rights amendment. She stood with Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican, left, and Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Mountain Grove Republican, right. Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican, Sam Lee, an anti-abortion lobbyist in Jefferson City, and Seitz each said that they expect lawmakers to pass legislation to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to strike down Amendment 3 if it passes. Thats certainly going to be a priority of mine, said Coleman, who did not offer specifics about what the measure would say. Missouri voters will also decide on Nov. 5 who will become the states next governor, a decision that could have significant consequences for access to abortion. Whoever wins will influence how quickly or slowly access is restored in the state, including administrative decisions such as approving licenses for abortion providers. The two major candidates Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quade offer starkly different positions on abortion. Kehoe opposes it while Quade supports the right to choose to end a pregnancy. Kehoe, in a recent radio interview, promised to work with lawmakers to protect innocent life if the amendment passed. I will do everything I can to work with legislators and other folks around the state to find ways to make sure we continue to do that in some form or fashion, Kehoe said. His campaign did not respond to questions for this story. Quade emphasized that it was critical for voters to elect a governor who would respect the amendment if its approved. As governor, Ill work with medical providers to ensure they have what they need to return to the state, Quade said in a statement. Ill always veto legislation that attempts to overturn the will of voters and work to overturn existing laws that make it difficult for people to access care, like laws around waiting periods or hallway size. Quade also attacked Kehoes stance on abortion, saying Kehoe wont listen to voters and will work with lawmakers in Jefferson City to do everything they can to find ways to keep women in Missouri from accessing the healthcare they need. Access to abortion is poised to be one of the most consequential issues facing Missourians as the November election inches closer. The abortion rights amendment will be centered in TV ads, on campaign fliers and in political debates. But the immediate results of that vote and the timeline of restoring access to the state are less clear. Wales, with Planned Parenthood, said the coalition of abortion rights supporters would move quickly to restore access. Providers, she said, have heard numerous stories of people denied care due to the abortion ban. As soon as we can end those stories in Missouri, were going to do it, she said. A helicopter sprays water over a bushfire on a hill in Quito on September 25, 2024 (Galo Paguay) (Galo Paguay/AFP/AFP) Firefighters in Ecuador's capital were battling the remnants of major forest fires on Thursday that had sent massive plumes of smoke above Quito earlier this week, amid a record drought. Helicopters dumped water to extinguish the flames at two burning sites that remained from about 30 fires, which had devastated 140 hectares of forest on the outskirts of the Andean capital since Tuesday. "Normality is beginning to be restored in the capital city," Mayor Pabel Munoz told local media, adding that he was confident the remaining fires would be extinguished by Friday morning. However, he warned there was always the risk of the flames rekindling as hot summer winds in the capital can reach up to 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour. The blazes injured six people, including a baby and two firefighters. They also destroyed at least seven homes in the humble neighborhood Bolanos, whose residents scrambled to save their pigs, chickens and sheep. Authorities said they believed the fires were started by arsonists, and on Wednesday a 19-year-old man was arrested for starting one of the fires after being found with a gallon of fuel. After declaring a state of emergency in Quito, the mayor is seeking to negotiate loans of $500,000 for the reconstruction of affected properties and the recovery of flora. "We have lost many trees, a lot of vegetation," said Munoz. From Ecuador to Brazil, many Latin American nations are gripped by their worst drought in decades, fueling a blistering fire season that has set residents and governments on edge. The Ecuadoran government is considering a nationwide state of emergency due to its worst drought in six decades which has also devastated crop production. Due to the dry spell, the country, which depends on hydroelectric power, is facing severe energy shortages and has implemented rolling blackouts. "The phenomena of climate change are more aggressive and this is what we are experiencing at the moment," Environment Minister Inez Manzano told a local broadcaster. pld/lv/fb/st HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- Just a week from now, the Indiana Governors debate will take place with a live broadcast out of Indianapolis. Container homes aim to provide affordable housing option The debate is hosted by Eyewitness News parent company, Nexstar and will be televised on the CW 7 at 6:00 p.m. October 2. At this time, Republican candidate Senator Mike Braun and Democratic nominee Jennifer McCormick will take part in the debate. Libertarian Donald Rainwater is also running for Governor, but has yet to meet the criteria to participate in the debate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Racing to Florida, Hurricane Helene set to bring tropical storm conditions to Jacksonville (This story was updated to add new information and because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) A hurricane warning extended Wednesday to Baker County's border with Columbia County, but the Jacksonville area remained under a tropical storm warning, meaning winds up to 73 mph were expected within a day and a half. A wind-threat map circulated by the National Weather Service showed potential wind speeds of 39 to 57 mph across Northeast Florida. The first bands of rain could reach Jacksonville Wednesday afternoon or evening, the National Weather Service in Jacksonville said, and tornadoes could develop tonight or Thursday. Small amounts of "high-tide flooding" could begin Wednesday night with "moderate tidal flooding" and flash floods possible in some areas Thursday, the weather service said. Storm surge could raise St. Johns River levels by up to three feet Thursday night in some areas north of the Buckman Bridge, Angie Enyedi, a weather service meteorologist, said Wednesday during a news briefing with city officials. She said the increase could create a potential for flooding around Riverside, Hogans Creek, San Marco and the Ribault River, especially between about 6:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday. High winds could cause trees to fall, especially where ground is soaked from earlier rains, and wind gusts above 40 mph could affect major bridges around Jacksonville, where police close river crossings if winds become dangerous. Bridge closures: At what wind speed do Florida bridges shut down due to hurricane-force winds? Schools, offices closing for storm Public schools in Duval, Clay, Nassau and Baker counties will be closed Thursday and Friday and St. Johns and Putnam County schools will be closed Thursday, as will most colleges. Courthouses and many local government offices planned Thursday closings too, but varied on when they would reopen. Preparing for Hurricane Helene: What's closed, what's open in Northeast Florida? Tropical Storm Helene expected to make landfall as major hurricane Tropical Storm Helene is expected to become a major hurricane, with sustained winds of 120 mph before making landfall Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. AccuWeather forecasters are predicting the system could become a Category 4 storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Helene Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Watches, warnings issued for Florida As of 8 a.m. watches and warnings issued include: Hurricane warning: Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida Hurricane watch: Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay Storm surge warning: Indian Pass southward to Flamingo Tampa Bay Charlotte Harbor Tropical storm warning: All of the Florida Keys The Florida west coast from Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay West of Mexico Beach to the Walton/Bay County line The Florida east coast from Flamingo northward to the St. Marys Triver Lake Okeechobee Will Tropical Storm Helene become a hurricane? Yes. All predictions are that Tropical Storm Helene will rapidly intensify into a hurricane today, Sept. 25, as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico. At 8 a.m., Helene is close to hurricane strength, with winds at 70 mph. Winds are predicted to hit 120 mph before landfall Thursday evening, making it a Category 3 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. AccuWeather forecasters predict Helene could become a Category 4 storm in the Gulf of Mexico, with sustained winds of 130-156 mph. Where is Tropical Storm Helene expected to make landfall? Landfall is expected along the northeast coast of the Gulf of Mexico late Thursday or Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The highest landfall probability is somewhere along the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle perhaps in the Big Bend area late Thursday evening, according to AccuWeather. Will Tropical Storm Helene impact Florida? Yes. Expected impacts include: Life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend. Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of coast of the Florida Big Bend, Considerable and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding is expected across portions of Florida. Rainfall could range from 5 to 10 inches, with isolated totals around 15 inches. Rough surf, with swells spreading north toward the west coast of Florida and the northeastern Gulf Coast later today and Thursday. A tornado or two may occur tonight over parts of the western Florida peninsula. The risk of tornadoes will increase on Thursday, expanding across Florida . Don't focus on the center of the storm. It's extremely large, which means impacts will be felt hundreds of miles away, especially on the east side. For more details on impacts and timing on Florida impacts Florida Gov. DeSantis expands state of emergency Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency on Monday afternoon for 41 of Florida's 67 counties, including all of the Florida Panhandle. Tuesday morning, he increased the number of counties to 61. Counties under the state of emergency are: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties. What should you do if you live in Florida? How to prepare for a hurricane Finalize your hurricane preparations. If advised to evacuate, please do so before conditions deteriorate. Keep an eye on weather updates. Make sure you have a hurricane plan and supplies. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Racing to Florida, Helene bringing Jacksonville tropical storm weather SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Its Thursday, September 26. Take a look at our top stories with KELOLAND On The GO. A Sioux Falls man who has been wanted for over a month is now behind bars in the Minnehaha County jail. 47-year-old man booked into jail for rape, child abuse A judge in South Dakota has thrown out a lawsuit brought by dozens of neighbors in a Rapid City-area subdivision whose homes were built above an old, underground mine linked to sinkholes in the neighborhood. Judge dismisses lawsuit over Hideaway Hills sinkholes Another hot and dry day is forecast in KELOLAND as this persistent weather pattern continues. Storm Center Update; Dry and warm weather continues The federal government is no longer facing a shutdown because Wednesday night Congress passed a short-term funding bill, but its only a temporary fix. Congress passes short term spending bill Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Need a Red Cross shelter in Georgia amid Hurricane Helene? How and where to find them There are 21 counties in Florida under mandatory evacuation and over 75 Red Cross shelters open in Florida. There are a ton of evacuation centers in Florida, and weve opened several in Georgia, Katie Zwerk, communications director from Georgia Red Cross told the Ledger-Enquirer. In Georgia, where much of the state is expecting hurricane-force winds into the evening and throughout the night, the Red Cross has opened 12 shelters. The 12 shelters across southern and central Georgia are welcoming all people who need assistance. They are open for people to stay dry, get a snack, or sleep overnight. Zwerk said for the most part shelters allow pets but double check by calling the shelter. A screenshot of Red Cross shelters open to the public in Florida and Georgia. www.redcross.org/shelters We do everything we can to accommodate service animals and domesticated pets comfortably in our shelters, Zwerk said in an email. Sometimes, depending on the situation, pets may need to be housed in a different location with support from local partners. Check this website: www.redcross.org/shelter to find a shelter near you, download the free Red Cross app or call 1-800-red-cross. Weve had phone calls from a lot of people wanting to go to shelters, Barbara Fontaine, business operation coordinator at the Valdosta Red Cross told the Ledger-Enquirer. Several of these calls have had folks asking what to do about people on oxygen or on hospice. That, we dont have supplies for. In Columbus, the Valley Rescue Mission has opened an emergency shelter, available from Thursday at 5 p.m. to Friday at 6 a.m. for those in need of protection from Hurricane Helene. The location for men is at the Howard Mott Center, 2903 Second Ave., and the location for women is at the Damascus Way Women and Childrens Center, 1200 11th Ave. For more information, call 706-322-8267. Raleigh voters will pick a new mayor and City Council members this November. All eight council seats, including the mayors, are up for grabs, with all the incumbents except for current Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin seeking another two-year term. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 17, through Saturday, Nov. 2. To help inform voters across the state, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible. Name: Reeves Peeler District/seat: Raleigh City Council, at-large Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 38 Campaign website: www.reevesforraleigh.com Current occupation: Community Development Finance at First Citizens Bank Education: BS in Agriculture Economics at NC State University, MBA at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obsipo Offices Sought/Held: None Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Member of Raleigh Planning Commission since May 2023. While serving on the Planning Commission, working on the station planning and Transit Overlay District for the New Bern Avenue Bus Rapid Transit line. Serving as Precinct Vice-Chair and later as Precinct Chair for the Wake County Democratic Party in Precinct 01-26. Working as Regional Organizer for Down Home NC in Granville and Johnston Counties from February 2022 to June 2024 and while working there, winning our field campaigns to elect Guillermo Nurse for Oxford mayor, Robert Fountain for Granville sheriff, and winning funding to revitalize the historic Granville Street Park in Oxford. Volunteering for Mary Black, Jane Harrison, and Wanda Hunters campaigns for Raleigh City Council in 2022. Managing Damon Chetsons campaign for Wake County district attorney in 2021 and 2022. Serving as a Victory Captain for Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign. Volunteering on the Yes on Propositions I and K campaigns 2020 and the Yes on Proposition C campaign in 2018 in San Francisco, and winning all three. Volunteering and later working on Dean Prestons Campaign for San Francisco supervisor - District 5 in 2019. Which city council district do you live in? C What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it?* Housing. Specifically, the issue of unfettered, real-estate speculation that has led to an increasing lack of affordability for low-income, working-class, and middle-class residents. We can trace this issue directly to our growing gentrification, sprawl and homelessness problems. It will take every tool available to rein this problem in, but we can start by: 1) amending our zoning ordinances to discourage highly speculative practices, 2) offering better tax rebates/credits to low-income residents to help them afford their property taxes, 3) setting transparent guidelines that encourage developers to contribute to the citys affordable housing stock and other infrastructure funding, 4.) investing more locally in subsidies like bonds and preservation funds, and 5) lobbying the state and federal government to support our local efforts. What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh? We need to use every tool available to increase our affordable housing stock and preserve the naturally occurring affordable housing we have left. I will repeat a few from my previous answer, but also add a few: 1) amend our zoning ordinances to discourage highly speculative practices, 2) offer better tax rebates/credits to low income residents to help them afford their property taxes, 3) set transparent guidelines that encourage developers to contribute to the citys affordable housing stock and other infrastructure funding, 4.) invest more locally in subsidies like bonds and preservation funds, and 5) lobby the state and federal government to support our local efforts. Specifically for increasing housing stock, we should also: 6) use zoning to limit short term rentals in highly vulnerable housing areas, 7) limit rents in developments built on city-owned land, 8) streamline zoning of 100% affordable housing developments so that affordable developers can compete for obtaining prime land (especially land near public transit) with market-rate developers. Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affording units from developers or partner with nonprofits? Yes, the city should be more aggressive and transparent about requiring affordable units from developers. A first step for me on council would be to commission a study to gather data showing what we should be requiring in certain developments and start to create a transparent process that can be easily followed by the development community. Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park? I do. There seems to be a great demand for concerts in Raleigh and I see that continuing to grow, which is a good thing. That said, I think a new concert venue in Dix Park should be planned carefully so that the park can be consistently enjoyed by everyone in Raleigh, not just those paying to use the venue. Would you describe Raleighs growth as too fast, too slow or just right? I dont think Raleighs growth discussion should be a question of speed. Growth has been great for Raleigh (especially downtown) and I hope we continue to grow. For me, the discussion should center on whether the fruits of the growth weve seen over the last 15 years (and more specifically, the last 5-8 years) has been experienced by everyday residents. For the most part, I dont see the recent growth in the real estate and tech sectors trickling down to people like teachers, nurses, first responders, service industry workers, warehouse workers, drivers, and the many public employees who make Raleigh and our state government run. We need to address this by 1) paying our city employees a living wage, giving them better benefits, and engaging with their unions so that the municipality of Raleigh can retain and attract the best and brightest (this will also raise local private wages), 2) stop doubling down on unsustainable car-centric sprawl developments that force residents to have longer commutes and put a bigger strain on city services, 3) expanding and improving our public transit services and perfecting our bus corridors so that the people who depend on our buses can afford to live near bus access, and 4) requiring the big corporations that make large profits in Raleigh to pay their fair share to our budget. Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed? Yes. Raleighs history is vibrant and I want to see us do a better job of highlighting our most interesting stories. Particularly, I see historically Black and working class areas of District C and D being flipped and having their history erased faster than other parts of Raleigh. While on Planning Commission, I have advocated for stopping the piecemeal reduction of historic districts like the Prince Hall District. Historic Districts shouldnt be able to be reduced by a singular rezoning case, except for extreme and rare circumstances. We are not only losing too many historic properties, but we are losing existing affordable housing to similar rezonings at an alarming rate. While this will also take many approaches to fix, we can start to fix this by identifying zones that need to be overlayed to protect their affordability (much like a historic overlay does) by both requiring preservation and adding financial incentives to maintain these properties. Michigan State University Professor Josh Cowen, author of "The Privateers - How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers". Photo courtesy of Josh Cowen. The effort to get school vouchers approved nationwide has a long and varied history, but a book released this month posits that it is essentially a Christian Nationalist attempt at undermining public education as we know it. Thats the conclusion of The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers, by Josh Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University. Cowen, whose career as an education researcher in the early 2000s began with the expectation that vouchers, which allow public tax dollars for education to be spent for private school tuition, would ultimately benefit students. However, the reality that Cowen documents in the book turned out to be almost the exact opposite. Starting in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Courts 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision which ordered an end to segregated public education, and ending with the rise of the conservative Moms for Liberty a vocal opponent of LGBTQ+ rights and Project 2025, an authoritarian blueprint offering detailed plans to broadly enhance executive authority during a second Trump term, Cowen describes the arc of the voucher movement as never being far removed from bigotry and intolerance, whether it be against Blacks or the LGBTQ+ community. More importantly, however, Cowen describes in detail the academic framework, whether through universities or conservative-funded think tanks, that provides intellectual cover for the movement. Chief among them was Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Freidman, considered by many to have launched the modern school choice movement, with his 1955 essay, The Role of Government in Education. Friedman, who extolled the virtues of a free market system with minimal government intervention, especially in social areas such as education, wrote that while government financing of education was justified, the administration of schools is neither required by the financing of education, nor justifiable in its own right in a predominantly free enterprise society. Cowen writes that in the aftermath of the Brown decision, Friedman spoke at Southern conferences paid for by conservative donors, where his lecture notes affirmed his published work by arguing that the appropriate solution to tensions rising from integration mandates was a privately operated school system with parent choice of schools. From that setting, Cowen details the decades-long battle about the role of public education, a battle that is no less fierce now than it was in 1954. Michigan Advance had an opportunity to speak with Cowen at length about the book and its conclusions and is presenting that discussion in two parts. What follows is a conversation that has been edited for length and clarity. Advance questions are in bold, and Cowens responses are in regular type. Why is understanding who Milton Friedman was so essential to understanding the modern day voucher movement? Theres this intellectual political history debate about whether Friedman himself was a segregationist, and I sort of alluded to it in the book. Its not really all that important. What is important is that segregation very quickly latched on to the Friedman idea. And the editors (of Friedmans essay) understood it to be from the beginning a potential race-neutral way to avoid Brown. He would go on to win a Nobel Prize 20 years later, worked for (President Ronald) Reagan, advised (Dictator Augusto) Pinochet in the Chilean regime. I mean, this guy was everywhere. Hes still something of a hero among the libertarians. But hes someone whose ideas did kind of give intellectual heft to conservative public policy. There were some Southern states in particular that jumped on this idea. Some successfully proposed small voucher systems in the 50s, and some didnt quite have the votes. But you fast forward to when the first real modern voucher system gets off the ground (Milwaukee in 1990), and in a way, none of the sort of Friedman stuff was nearly as relevant at that time as it really is today, again just because of how much (voucher advocates) believe parents really should have the right to separate their kids out from what they think is going on in public schools. In the 50s, it was race. And now its sort of race. I mean, the CRT business and the DEI business and gender ideology is in Trump 47 (the Trump campaigns official policy proposals) and in Project 2025. So, the underlying act of vouchers is separating kids out from the public school because parents dont like whats going on in public school. Starting with Milwaukee in 1990, those original voucher projects were set up so that they were going to be highly analyzed, that there would be strong data, and the expectation was that it would show student improvement, and yet, ultimately, they did not. Exactly. The original 1990 evaluation that (Wisconsin) sort of obligated itself to when it passed the program, it just didnt show the overwhelmingly positive results people expected, which is I think why in some sense, the conservative voucher advocates got involved in this so heavily and aggressively. What it was about was whether or not this long-time conservative pipe dream actually works or not. And then the fight sort of sustained itself for 10 years and were kind of back in it again. There were some sort of gently positive results. I kind of concede that there were a handful of positive studies from that era, although at this point, theyre now almost two decades old. But what else was going on in the 90s and in the early 2000s was the era of more public school accountability, transparency, standards-based reform in both from the Clinton years and the George W. Bush years. No Child Left Behind was signed by George W. Bush in 2002. They really believed in these three- to five-year long, open independent evaluations. They just have never really shown what these guys wanted. The argument of the book is not only did vouchers kind of fail to deliver in their own right, but theyve actually had some unprecedented declines in student achievement. Thats where you start to see these things kind of return back to. I mean, the reason I opened the book with the 50s stuff is this is where you really have to go back to the 50s to get that the language thats used again in todays debate, because it was not part of the 90s, and it was not part of the early 2000s. People like Ken Starr would sort of trump parents rights out there from time to time, but they still believed these things would move the needle on academics and test scores. It really wasnt until recently where they stopped making that argument. For the most part, its much more about woke ideology and CRT and where people go to the bathroom and all that business. In the book you say that as the data really turns negative, it almost cannot be dismissed any longer. It cant be explained away. Thats where the shift in this approach comes in. Trumps secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, who is featured prominently in your book, was involved in this long before she became the secretary of education. Most of us, I think, are fairly well aware of Betsy DeVos and the DeVos family influence in Michigan, but its really hard to overstate how influential the DeVos have been in national conservative Republican politics for decades. Its not just here (in Michigan). Its the Heritage Foundation. Its focused on the Family Research Council. Theres a DeVos Center For Religion and Family Life at Heritage. A number of the Project 2025 authors have their roots back in some of these big DeVos groups that date back to not just Betsy, but the first generation of Richard and Helen (DeVos). So, their larger goal as a family is much more sort of recentering this vision of Christianity into American life and American public policy, and I dont think thats a statement any of that side would disagree with. When Betsy DeVos became the nominee for education secretary, these old comments that shed made (reemerged) about seeing school choices advancing Gods kingdom and lamenting the fact that public schools are kind of the community centers. She wants churches to be back in the community center. The phrase Christians would would use, and I count myself among Christians, is as a mission field. I mean, the (DeVos) family has always seen public policy as a mission field for their faith. And vouchers is one area where theyve been very, very focused of late out of Michigan, but from time to time here as well. (Note: A request for comment was made to Betsy Devos through the Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation, but was not returned.) But this Christian-based view of public education, its really Christian nationalism is it not? Yes. That is driving this. Is the voucher movements ultimate goal, as personified by people like Betsy DeVos and the Koch brothers, really just an undercover way to destroy public education? I think thats right. I think in the short term, and certainly in the years that I was active working as an evaluator of the space and some of the early programs I write about in the book, they were just trying to get some of the stuff off the ground. I do think theres been much more of a scorched earth take now where theyre going much harder with this sort of Christopher Rufo era, the JD Vance era, Trump himself era. Its much more aggressive in terms of just going right at public schools. Its not something you saw earlier in the 90s and in the early 2000s when it was sort of a much more mainstream conservative policy. But that kind of describes the entire trend right now in American politics, right? This is not the party of George W. Bush anymore. Its not the party of Mitt Romney anymore. Its the party of Vance and Trump, and were having debates about Haitian immigrants and cats in Springfield, Ohio right now. (Note: The racist, discredited lie that Haitian residents in Springfield have eaten pets has been spread by the Trump campaign despite being repeatedly debunked.) Its just a different time. And I think the voucher movement has really just sort of hooked itself to that energy and that aggression. I mean, vouchers are two of the first three paragraphs in the education chapter of Project 2025. They need to package that with everything else thats in that 900 pages. Its pretty fringe and extreme stuff. And I think the quiet part out loud piece of it is, theyre much more willing to go at public schools in general now as opposed to not representing parents values or captured by the teachers unions. Youd hear this from time to time, especially the union piece 20 years ago, but its nothing like today. And so I think when Betsy DeVos left office, and I quote this this column of hers in the book, but in that last few months of her in office, she wrote a piece for USA Today where she basically said What we want to do next as we leave, and thats long term, we want a Supreme Court case thats going to throw out all the remaining Blaine Amendments and get mandatory vouchers in every state. I think those of us who understand school finances, those of us who understand how public school pay budgets work, understand that would imply a substantial deconstruction of public schools. But they dont say it that way. All they say is religious families should get funding for religious education. You have to leave it to experts on budgets and experts on public education to say, Wait a minute. States cant afford to stand up two sectors of education. So if were going to have mandatory vouchers in every state as a fundamental religious freedom exercise, then you are really talking about a complete redesign of what schooling in America is. Isnt the recent legislation in Ohio, as related in a ProPublica story, that gives taxpayer money directly to private religious schools for new buildings, the realization of that column that Betsy DeVos was writing? I mean, its just a direct transfer of dollars. Yes. They (Ohio) had $16 million in grants, so they kind of just steered it over during the budget process, and it wasnt until after the fact, it figured out what it was for. I mean, you see that kind of stuff all the time in our budget process, but not for private school construction. For those of us whove been working in this space for a while, the butts in seats problem for private providers has always been an issue for them. Its actually the reason why the voucher academic results are so dreadful when these things came to scale at a statewide level, because in the early days when all of us who are working on these research teams evaluating them for states and cities, youd get six or seven private schools of a decent quality to participate. Its a very normal part of the social science, including an education to get participant schools. Theyll say, okay. Well admit some students. Well study it. Well be partners with you with this work. But just necessarily, the schools that agree to do that kind of thing are just not necessarily representative of what a typical private school might be when you scale this thing out. Youre talking about hundreds of schools and thousands of children using these vouchers, thats where you start to get these subprime schools, but theyre financially distressed. Theyre not very good. Theyre often run out of church basements or double wides on church grounds in certain areas of the community. Its just a very different kind of environment than I think the stereotype of a private school is. And so whats going on is the other side on this understands that at some point, theres a capacity problem. If the goal here is really to divert lots and lots of money to Christian schools, you can put as much money in a general fund budget as you want for vouchers. But if youre kid doesnt have anywhere to spend it, theyve understood this to be a design problem for a while. And so the answer is, lets try to fund private schools directly. Thats where they run into, even now, some thorny constitutional issues. Thats why the ProPublica story is kind of a big deal. They just havent tried this before, and now they are. Part two of the conversation will publish on Friday and look at the voucher movements status today and into the future. Reoffending prisoner was let out by mistake, BBC told A man who is accused of committing a sexual offence within hours of being let out of prison under the government's early release scheme was freed in error, the BBC has been told. Amari Ward, 31, was one of 37 prisoners who should not have been eligible for the early release scheme because they had breached restraining orders. When police investigated Ward's case, it emerged he and the others had been convicted under an outdated law, which was not recognised during checks. All but one of those mistakenly released have been located, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed. Ward is due to attend Maidstone Crown Court next month. The early release scheme was introduced to ease serious overcrowding in prisons, with some inmates let out after they had served 40% of their sentence rather than 50%. The government had said those convicted of offences linked to domestic abuse - including breaching a restraining order - would not be eligible for early release. However, 37 men's crimes had incorrectly been prosecuted under outdated legislation from 1997. That meant the system did not recognise they were ineligible for release. It only looked at offences under the Sentencing Act 2020. The MoJ suggested the issue had been fixed for forthcoming early releases and all victims had now been contacted. Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of HM Prisons, told the BBC it was "disappointing and particularly concerning" that several prisoners had been mistakenly let out, adding it was a concern that a "lack of quality preparation is being done" ahead of prisoners coming back into society. "People going out from prison without the work being done to help them resettle, without proper housing, allocated drugs, mental health workers - there is a risk they will fall back into reoffending". He said the scheme has eased the overcrowding of prisons, but said more work must be done in the long term to reassess how prison populations are managed. "The scheme was only ever going to be a sticking plaster around a bigger piece of thinking around who we lock up, how long they are locked up for and what happens to them afterwards". [BBC] Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. Itll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. Report: Lexington homeless population is up 26%. Advocates worry new law will make it worse. In our Reality Check stories, Herald-Leader journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com. The homeless population in Lexington has topped 3,000 people, marking a 26% increase from last year, according to a survey by homeless advocates. The community count, conducted Aug. 28 by the Central Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative and the Street Voice Council, made up of people who are homeless, is significantly higher than the citys yearly tally, which in January showed just 825 homeless people. The citys count follows U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines, while the community survey includes several populations not included in those guidelines people in jail, motels, hospitals and drug and alcohol treatment programs Last year, the same community survey found 2,410 homeless people in Lexington. The number of people living outside also grew from 398 last year to 505 this year. Theres a whole story behind these numbers, Ginny Ramsey, director of the Catholic Action Center, said at a news conference Wednesday at Legends Field. We are not surprised that the number has increased. Were sad. The more complete picture is needed, advocates say, as the city heads into colder, winter months, and a statewide ban on sleeping outside took effect in July. We want our city to be prepared for the winter, Ramsey said. Ginny Ramsey is director and co-founder of the Catholic Action Center in Lexington. The Street Survey also asked if homeless people had been harassed for living or staying outside. House Bill 5, a sweeping crime bill passed by the Kentucky General Assembly earlier this year, made camping outside illegal. About 233 people, or 35% of respondents, said they had been harassed for sleeping outside. Of those 233 respondents, 78% reported being harassed by law enforcement. Lexingtons Commissioner of Housing Advocacy and Community Development Charlie Lanter said the community count includes nearly 1,000 people in recovery programs that do no meet HUDs definition of homelessness. Its also not clear if some people were counted more than once.The citys annual count takes pains to make sure that people arent counted multiple times, he said. Unfortunately, we have yet to receive this information in any level of detail. Without it, we question some of the data, particularly when compared to the annual LexCount,(the city count) which offers full transparency regarding its methodology and what people and organizations are counted, Lanter said. Given the mobility of this population, it is crucial that counts conducted over the course of a day carefully prevent duplication. Is House Bill 5 driving the increase? Jarred Paull, co-chair of the Central Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative, a group of homeless service providers and community leaders, said many homeless people were hesitant to speak to the community groups conducting the counts because of the ban on outdoor camping that took effect July 15. That means the group likely missed many homeless people, he said. They wanted to speak to someone who was homeless, Paull said. The city has acknowledged the community count includes more people than the official HUD count, and advocates said Wednesday the discrepancy is not whats important. The most important part of the discussion is what we are going to do about it, said Laura Babbage, chaplain of the Catholic Action Center. What are we going to do to prepare for the adults and children who are going to need a warm place to sleep? Fayette County Public Schools reported 455 children who experienced homelessness as of Wednesday, a slight increase from last year, said T.C. Cobble Johnson, who oversees the school districts homeless program. About 80% of those kids and their families are living with other family members or friends, Cobble-Johnson said. We are looking at how we can support our families, Cobble-Johnson said. John Landon, a lawyer, said hes not surprised the number of homeless people continues to climb. Hes concerned House Bill 5 will push homeless people from rural areas into Kentuckys larger cities, such as Lexington, Louisville, Covington and Bowling Green. House Bill 5 has made it harder for communities to systemically address homelessness, Landon said. The majority of the funding for homeless services comes from local taxpayers, he said. That means Fayette County residents will likely foot the bill for homeless services for the surrounding counties, he said. Landon said people come to Lexington for mental health or addiction treatment but end up in Fayette Countys jail, shelters or streets. We are suddenly going to spend a lot more of our tax base on this particular issue, Landon said. I propose we study how many people are being displaced from rural areas to urban areas so we can get most cost share (from surrounding counties). Attendees of the Hope Center Emergency Shelter groundbreaking wait for the event to begin on Wednesday, June 6, 2023 at the Hope Center Emergency Shelter in Lexington, Ky. The new additions include housing specifically for transitional clients and veterans and will cost $6.2 million. Need for more shelter beds as winter approaches The city is in midst of a homeless needs assessment to determine if another shelter is needed. That study is expected to be completed by 2025, city officials have said. The city gives money to three main shelters: The Hope Center, which largely houses men; The Salvation Army, which houses women and children; and Arbor Youth, which houses youth. The Catholic Action Center shelter on Industry Road receives no city money. The city has spent $44 million over the past five years on various homeless services and programs, officials have said. That figure also includes federal coronavirus relief funding. We remain committed to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring, Lanter said. Unfortunately, the report released today fails to acknowledge the significant work accomplished daily by countless individuals and organizations throughout Lexington who are dedicated to supporting those in need. The city has about 568 homeless year-round shelter beds, according to city data. That number grew to more than 861 thanks to the Hope Village, a temporary shelter constructed on the YMCAs grounds on Loudon Avenue across from the Hope Center. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman Tayna Fogle said Wednesday the city will put people in hotels rather than a temporary shelter this winter. City officials have said they could not find a property willing to host a temporary shelter this winter. Fogle said Wednesday she has been frustrated the city hasnt put more money toward shelters and housing. We are in a state of emergency because we are dealing with peoples lives, Fogle said. Lets do the job that we were elected to do. Low performing schools are twice as likely to have lost substantial numbers of students with nearly 500 losing 20% or more since the pandemic, marking them potential candidates for closures, a new national report has revealed. Analysis released yesterday by the Fordham Institute put forth a list of close to 500 strained schools as a wake up call for districts to plan interventions such as family engagement, high dosage tutoring and address specific community concerns before they find themselves pushed against a wall and forced to close schools, said author Sofoklis Goulas, a fellow with the Brookings Institution who built on his prior enrollment research in this latest study with Fordham. The study cautioned districts against using the list as a strict guide or framing it as a bad schools list, rather, as a starting point for interventions and discussions. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter School closures are often protested and can lead to distrust in the system, particularly when plans target campuses, most often elementary schools, with predominantly Black and brown children. The study is the first to correlate school performance with enrollment declines, revealing the drops are far from random: Among schools identified as chronically underperforming by their states, those in high-poverty, urban areas, and charter schools lost the highest proportions of students, those grappling with systemic challenges and resource constraints, the report stated. Goulass latest findings suggest family dissatisfaction with schools is outpacing other known drivers such as birth rates, which dropped 14% nationally in the last decade, or interstate migration. Families are essentially rejecting schools that are not serving them well, Goulas told The 74, adding solutions wont look the same across all districts some will be forced to close schools while others may not. He urged leaders to address, the core problem, which is the disengagement, the sentiment of dissatisfaction from traditional public schools. California and New York, hosting the nations largest school systems by population, both have about 40 schools on the list of 500. Overall, roughly 5,100 of the nations 98,000 schools, or one in 12, lost substantial numbers of students. Related Exclusive Data: Thousands of Schools at Risk of Closing Due to Enrollment Loss Five are underperforming Los Angeles Unified schools which have lost between 22 and 55% of their enrollment as of 2022-23. Pio Pico Middle School, for instance, lost 261 students since 2019, more than the 212 who remain enrolled. Alongside Illinois and New York, California experienced one of the largest population exoduses heading into 2023. Los Angeles Unified, the second largest district in the country, has established a new office to better support schools recruitment and retention. But, as spokesperson for LAUSD told The 74 by email, there are stark realities confronting Los Angeles Unified that transcend what a school system can address such as cost of living, job prospects and statewide economic challenges that are forcing families to leave the city and state. Our students represent some of the most fragile in the city and are particularly impacted by financial pressures School closures or consolidations are a measure of last resort which have little to do with finances and more with the type of offerings schools are able to provide. In Washington, a multimillion dollar program to re-engage students and families has been credited with bringing back 2,000 kids. Given the financial strain the declines are already placing on districts across the country, some like Seattle and San Antonio have already announced or enacted closure plans. When Oakland Unified School District put forth a plan to merge or close 11 of its 80 schools in 2022, two educators embarked on a hunger strike for 18 days. (Getty Images) Researchers relied on a federal guideline to determine which schools are low performing, using states required Comprehensive Support and Improvement schools lists, those with the lowest performance and graduation rates. They caution this metric is not completely reliable, given the variation from state to state, with some updating every year while others only every three years. The CSI lists dont often account for year-to-year academic growth either, which may be strong and indicate a thriving school community. Researchers also did not determine whether students attending these schools have nearby high-quality alternatives in the event their schools close. This is an exposition of the situation Theres no horizontal solution across the board that we need, said Goulas. District superintendents need to find the solution that meets the needs of their community, he said, adding student demographics, year-to-year growth, transportation and strength of alternatives are some measures that cannot get lost in closure conversations. Historically, children whose schools close fare worse academically and graduate high school and college at lower rates. At the same time, when students are moved into larger schools, it means more financial resources, and with them, more extracurriculars or specialty course offerings. The best of the worst case scenario is to be honest with families about consolidations or closures and provide 5- and 10-year plans, former Chicago schools chief told The 74 earlier this year. I hope that the research that people like me provide can help the districts plan ahead, Goulas said, because the less runway you have to make a plan and be prepared, the harsher the decisions you end up making. Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons. A new analysis looking at child care in several states, including Ohio, shows big costs and staffing shortages, but also some proactive actions taken by states to prepare for the expiration of pandemic-era federal funding. The Century Foundation released a new report showing a wave of increasing prices, economic damage, staffing shortages and reduced wages for early childhood educators, and a dire need for investment at the state and federal levels in child care to lower costs for working families, according to a release announcing the report. The annual cost of care for two children in a center is 93% more than the average rent payment and 28% more than the average mortgage payment in Ohio, the study stated. Julie Kashen, director of womens economic justice at the Century Foundation said the report showed what many parents are contending with every day: finding and affording child care is taking a huge toll on families budgets and remains a big source of stress. At the same time, were seeing these are solvable problems: when elected leaders listen to parents and invest in care, it makes a difference, Kashen said in a statement. The states chosen in the study were Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin, due to the outsized political attention right now in light of the 2024 election, the study stated. Taking all of the states together, the Century Foundation study showed 30 to 40% of child care programs in the five states would have been forced to close without the ARPA stabilization grants distributed to the child care sector. These challenges existed long before anyone had heard of COVID-19, but were exacerbated by the pandemic and made better by the ARPA funds, the study stated. The end of pandemic-era funding began in September of 2023, with the Century Foundation estimated that more than three million children nationally would lose access to child care. Ohio was reported to have 6,265 child care programs which received ARPA grants, with 33% that would have closed without them, according to the most recent study by the Century Foundation. The foundation previously projected more than 130,000 Ohio children would lose child care, and more than 2,000 child care programs expected to close because of the so-called child care cliff. While the study of ARPA funding usages in Ohio showed the state having only spent 2/3 of its supplemental Child Care Development Block Grant from the ARPA monies left room for longer term investments, the states child care sector is still in a precarious state. Between 2019 and 2023, Ohios child care employment levels fell by 26%, 11% of the states programs were lost in that period and 10% of the licensed programs have disappeared since 2019. Citing state data, the study found worsening supply shortages. The data showed that in 2024, Ohio had 30%, or 2,700, fewer providers compared to 2018 levels. Alongside the decreases came a 25% increase in the price of child care since 2019, with the average annual price for an infant listed as $12,351 in the foundations most recent study. Child care has been a hot topic in Ohio, with advocacy groups and families throughout the state sounding the alarm of the state of child care, including its inaccessibility and high costs. The child care sectors issues could have longterm impacts on the entire state economy, amounting to billions in impacts, according to policy advisors and advocates brought together by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Before they left for a summer break that will continue until after the November general election, the Ohio General Assembly saw the introduction of several bills aimed at addressing the child care system in the state, thought its unclear whether those bills will see passage before the end of the current GA in December. If they arent passed through by the end of the year, all bills would have to be reintroduced in 2025. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A federal advisory panel is recommending the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) take a larger role in policymaking around cannabis, as its use among Americans continues to grow. A report issued Thursday by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) outlined several recommendations for the CDC regarding how the agency can get more involved. The panel is also pressing Congress to change the definition of hemp which produces THC, an intoxicating chemical so that it can be regulated, thus closing a loophole that allows certain products to be sold even when cannabis use is illegal in the region. There is an urgent need for a coordinated public health approach to cannabis policy in the U.S., Dr. Steven Teutsch, a senior fellow at the University of Southern California, wrote in a release. Our report shows that cannabis policy often focuses on regulating sales and revenue first, and protecting public health second. Now is the time for the federal government to create guidance for states that have legalized cannabis in the interest of protecting the publics health, Teutsch, who chaired the committee, added. NASEM also urged CDC to create a public campaign, targeting parents and others, to teach them about the risk of cannabis and discourage unhealthy use of it, according to the report. The panel also recommended that the agency create a public health surveillance system to monitor the impact of cannabis on public health and track sales of products. The report was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the CDC. Their findings come as daily and near-daily marijuana use is overtaking the daily use of alcohol. THC levels in products have also spiked, per the report. Around 17.7 million people in 2022 said they use marijuana daily or nearly daily, an analysis published in late May revealed. Currently, 38 states and the District of Columbia allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes, according to the CDC. The advisory panel said regulators on the state level should mandate certification and training for workers who deal with customers at cannabis retail stores. NASEM also recommends states that have already legalized or decriminalized cannabis seal or expunge records for low-level cannabis-related offenses. Cannabis use has been seen as a treatment to ease chronic pain but the risks for heavy users can include car accidents and repeated bouts of vomiting that can send people to the emergency room, The Associated Press reported. The report comes as the Biden administration made moves earlier this year to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I designation to Schedule III. The change will likely soften penalties around its use. Complete decriminalization of marijuana could be accomplished through Congress with legislation removing the drug from the Controlled Substances Act. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The official profile of the X platform on the screen of a smartphone and on the display of a laptop, the white letter X can be seen on a black background. Monika Skolimowska/dpa Elon Musk's social media platform X has complied with the demands of Brazil's Supreme Court and asked that a ban on the service be lifted, local media reported on Thursday, potentially ending a weeks-long stand-off. Lawyers for the company said they provided all the documentation on the appointment of attorney Rachel Villa Nova Conceicao as legal representative of X in Brazil to Judge Alexandre de Moraes, broadcaster TV Globo reported. This means that the conditions set by the top court judge have been met. X had, as requested, earlier appointed Conceicao as legal representative and blocked the profiles of several users under investigation. In addition, a fine of 18.35 million reais ($3.37 million) was collected from the bank accounts of Musk's companies X and Starlink. De Moraes had ordered X be taken offline in the major market at the end of August, after the platform let a court-imposed deadline to appoint a legal representative pass. The company also refused to block the accounts of right-wing activists who spread conspiracy theories and misinformation. Musk, a prominent supporter of former US president Donald Trump in the US election campaign, portrays himself as a defender of free speech. He accused de Moraes of attacking freedom of expression and called him an "evil dictator." New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to members of the press at a news conference in New York, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. | Seth Wenig Reports say New York City Mayor Eric Adams would be indicted by a federal grand jury after an investigation into corruption in his administration. The New York Times was first to report news of the still-sealed indictments, with the charges not yet released. The investigation into the mayor and his cabinet has focused on possible campaign donations from Turkey in exchange for fast tracking an inspection of the new Turkish consulate. The investigation is being led by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. Adams said the federal charges were politically motivated because he spoke out against the surge in migrants coming to New York and other cities, according to the New York Post. In a video statement, Adams said, It is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with federal crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target. And a target I became, he continued. Adams said he would not resign and that he would ask for an immediate trial to fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. The Times reported that Adams is the first New York City mayor to face federal charges while in office. In November, the FBI searched the home of Adams fundraiser Brianna Suggs, then seized the mayors electronic devices, according to ABC7 New York. Several high profile members of Adams cabinet have resigned in recent days, including his chief counsel, the police commissioner, the health commissioner and the schools chancellor. The consequences of Donald Trumps and JD Vances ugly lies about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are quite real. Threats of violence in the community have become painfully common in recent weeks, and some locals have decided to take matters to a new level. As my MSNBC colleague Clarissa-Jan Lim explained, a national non-profit organization called the Haitian Bridge Alliance announced this week that its seeking criminal charges against the former president and the Ohio senator, accusing the Republicans of making false alarms, aggravated menacing and telecommunications harassment. Republican Rep. Clay Higgins saw the news and responded in an overtly racist way. NBC News reported: Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., called Haiti the nastiest country in the western hemisphere in a post on social media Wednesday, saying migrants from the Caribbean country, the majority of whom are in the U.S. legally, should get their ass out of our country. Even by contemporary standards, the GOP congressmans rant was unusually ugly. These Haitians are wild, Higgins wrote in the since-deleted tweet. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters... but damned if they dont feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP. All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th. Theres no point in fact-checking every individual claim in Higgins nonsense, though Ill mention that vudu was probably a misspelling of Voodou, and Jan. 20 was almost certainly a reference to the day Donald Trump would be inaugurated for a second term if voters return him to power. The backlash was immediate, especially from many of the Republicans Black colleagues, though House Speaker Mike Johnson a fellow far-right Louisianan offered words of tacit support. Higgins, the speaker told reporters, is a dear friend of mine and a colleague from Louisiana and a very frank and outspoken person. Johnson added that hed spoken to Higgins about the tweet and that Higgins went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down. Higgins soon after made the House speaker appear foolish by stepping all over his defense. I can put up another controversial post tomorrow if you want me to, he told CNN amid the uproar. I mean, we do have freedom of speech. Ill say what I want. ... Its not a big deal to me. Its like something stuck to the bottom of my boot. Just scrape it off and move on with my life. The idea that Higgins regretted his racism was obviously proven absurd by his on-the-record indifference. What kind of intraparty consequences will he face? Probably none, because in contemporary GOP politics, overt racism is too often tolerated. For those unfamiliar with the far-right congressman Higgins, in his capacity as a local sheriff, appeared in a video in 2016 in which he described several Black criminal suspects as animals and heathens, adding, You will be hunted, you will be trapped, and if you raise a weapon to a man like me, well return fire with superior fire. After the video surfaced, Higgins resigned which cleared the way for his election to Congress, where hes best known for concocting deeply weird conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack. This, of course, didnt stop GOP leaders from assigning him to a task force investigating the Trump rally shooting. But stepping back, Higgins racism comes on the heels of allegations that Republican Mark Robinson of North Carolina described himself as a Nazi who argued that slavery wasnt necessarily a bad thing, which came on the heels of Trump and Vance peddling racist lies about Springfield. Which came on the heels of Trumps racist rhetoric about Vice President Kamala Harris. Which came on the heels of Trump pitching the idea that Black people like him more because hes a criminal. Which came on the heels of Trump telling Time magazine, I think there is a definite anti-white feeling in this country and that cant be allowed. (The Republican added that he hopes to focus on the problem related to the bias against white.) Which came on the heels of Axios reporting that in a prospective second term, Trump and his team intend to dramatically change the governments interpretation of Civil Rights-era laws to focus on anti-white racism rather than discrimination against people of color. A couple of years ago, Republican officials expressed some confidence that the partys strategic outreach to Black voters was starting to pay off. The Hill reported that the GOP believed its messaging was starting to resonate with the crucial voting bloc. The New York Times reported soon after that Republicans saw a fresh opening to peel away some Black voters. I dont know whether Republicans will make gains with Black voters in the 2024 elections, but I do know that the GOP is asking Black voters to overlook an astonishing amount of recent, overt Republican racism. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com To help inform voters about the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible. Name: Jason Chambers District/seat: House District 2 County or counties represented: Durham and Person Political party: Republican Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 38 Campaign website: jasonchambersfornc.com Current occupation: Sales Representative Professional experience: I have worked in the private sector my entire working career, working for several small-to-medium sized businesses. Education: Graduated from Northern High School in Durham - 2004; Durham Technical Community College - 2006 Please list any notable government or civic involvement. I have volunteered for several civic organizations in the community and served on the board of one of the volunteer fire departments in the district. I am also active in my local church, where I serve in various capacities. What would be your top priority if elected? My top priority will be to serve my constituents by truly being a representative who actively engages with the people I am elected to represent. I will keep the people of District 2 informed on what is going on in the General Assembly. By percentage, what raises should state employees, school staff and teachers receive in the next state budget? I am fortunate enough to have family and friends who are state employees, including teachers and other school staff. I certainly appreciate what they do and will work with my colleagues to ensure they are compensated fairly and take into account appropriate cost of living increases and potentially additional raises. What legislation would you support to improve Triangle transportation, housing or infrastructure? Please be specific. The rapid growth of our state and in particular the Triangle, has caused a major strain on our infrastructure and a housing shortage as well. I will work with my colleagues to draft meaningful legislation to address and improve these critical issues. Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not? Yes. I subscribe to an all of the above approach to education in NC. While there are many great public schools, there are some that are severely underperforming. I support the rights of parents to seek the best form of education possible for their children, regardless of it being in a traditional public school, a charter school, private school or homeschooling. Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? I consider myself to be an independent thinker and apply common sense to whatever issue I encounter. There are certainly times I will disagree with some in my party or a majority of my party. On the issue of medical marijuana for instance, I do support it and I know there are many in my party who do not. It did pass the NC Senate with a bipartisan vote and I will vote for it as a member of the NC House. Under the Dome Get the latest news about North Carolina politics from The News & Observer's award-winning team. Get the free digest sent to your inbox by signing up here. Despite deleting an offensive, racist social media post against Haitian Americans on Wednesday, Representative Clay Higgins has doubled down, claiming that it was all true. After making the post, which referred to multiple stereotypes, including the debunked racist rumor that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are capturing and eating pets, Higgins faced immediate backlash online, and Representative Steven Horsford introduced a resolution to censure him. Higgins deleted the post, and was defended by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called Higgins a dear friend of mine and told the press, Im sure he probably regrets some of the language he used. But you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here. But later Wednesday evening, Higgins said the exact opposite. Its all true. I can put up another controversial post tomorrow if you want me to, he told CNN. I mean, we do have freedom of speech. Ill say what I want. Its not a big deal to me. Its like something stuck to the bottom of my boot. Just scrape it off and move on with my life, Higgins said. Horsford told CNN that he confronted Higgins on the House floor, trying to convince him that his comments had real consequences, and he was attacking people who have done nothing wrong. I asked him specifically to remove this post, and he said, Im going to pray about it. What do you need to pray about? Just do what is right and stop this hateful rhetoric that is causing people to feel targeted. He told me no, Horsford said to Anderson Cooper. And that is when I said, if you refuse, I will take this to the floor, we will move for a resolution to censure you, and that is exactly what we did. Republicans, led by Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, have continued peddling racist attacks against Haitian immigrants, with Trump using them to bolster his call for mass deportations. Vance has been unrepentant, even defending his fabrication of the story. Meanwhile, Springfield has faced violent threats to its hospitals, schools, and government buildings, and Trump is trying to spread the rumor to another small town: Charleroi, Pennsylvania. Will Republicans face any consequences for their racist fearmongering? Correction: This article has been updated to accurately reflect how the farm bill that passed the House Agriculture Committee earlier this year would pay for additional subsidies for commodity crops. Dozens of House Republicans are calling on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to schedule a vote on a farm bill before the end of the year. That timeline is essential: Funding from the stopgap farm bill passed last year after the 2018 version expired is set to run out at the end of December. If that happens, American farm policy will be thrown back into the days of the New Deal a stark and disruptive change that will upend much of the foundation the modern agriculture sector is built on, the Congressional Research Service found in May. And while some lawmakers including Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) have called for another one-year stopgap, on Thursday GOP House members warned that this would fail to staunch the bleeding. Farmers and ranchers do not have the luxury of waiting until the next Congress for the enactment of an effective farm bill, the members, who included House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), wrote in their letter. Passing the bill, they wrote, is among the top priorities of the Republican conference. The letter pointed to record levels of farm debt ($540 billion) and steep falls in receipts from crop sales amid rising costs from disasters all of which the agricultural sector is grappling with as the federal support it receives is projected to reach its lowest level since 1982. That years low level of support, the members charged, presaged the farm financial crisis of the mid-1980s, a disaster they argued could be repeated. The GOP lawmakers were clear who they blamed for the delay: House Democrats, who they accused of standing in the way of progress on a highly effective Farm Bill. The two parties have been divided on issues like food aid, conservation funding aimed at slowing climate change and measures aimed at breaking up farm sector monopolies. In particular, the left and right are fiercely divided over the grand bargain that Thompson orchestrated to craft the version of the farm bill that passed the House Agriculture Committee this summer. That legislation, which passed the committee largely along party lines but with some Democratic support, included tens of billions in additional subsidies for commodity crops like rice, peanuts and cotton support that would be paid for by new restrictions on the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Agriculture Departments lending arm. In a controversial move, the bill would also freeze the ability of the government to spend more on food aid in the future, and would reinvest those savings elsewhere. The Congressional Budget Office has found this would come nowhere close to covering the cost. Democrats in both House and Senate have widely panned this plan, which they describe as a back-door cut to food aid and nutrition programs, and Agriculture Secretary Tom has said the funding mechanism would rob Peter to pay Paul. The House process has also been marked by intraparty divisions, with an unusual alliance of left-leaning and libertarian groups uniting to fight farm welfare programs they argue amount to crony capitalism. In their letter to Johnson, GOP members expressed hope that the current bill which includes measures that Democrats in both chambers say they cannot support could pass in the lame-duck session after November, when election year politics have run [their] course. They added: All Americans, particularly our rural constituents, deserve nothing less. Updated at 2:30 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Republicans still haven't found their footing on the abortion issue: From the Politics Desk Republicans still haven't found their footing on the abortion issue: From the Politics Desk Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill. In todays edition, we examine how Republican candidates in key races are still struggling to find their message on abortion. Plus, chief political analyst Chuck Todd asks whether Kamala Harris can keep winning the battle to define herself in the final weeks of the race. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. Two years after the end of Roe, abortion is still tripping up Republicans in key races By Bridget Bowman, Adam Edelman and Henry J. Gomez Republicans are still struggling to navigate the issue of abortion as they face a barrage of Democratic attacks, with Ohio GOP Senate hopeful Bernie Morenos latest comments suggesting it isnt an issue especially for women that are, like, past 50 underscoring the partys continuing challenges. Bernie Moreno, Republican Senate candidate for Ohio, at the RNC in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 16. The GOP is confident about taking control of the Senate this year, thanks to a path to the majority that runs through red states. But some Republicans warn that comments like Morenos arent helpful as he tries to defeat a well-known senator in Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown. Bernie oof, one Republican who works on Senate races texted after the Moreno story broke this week. Honestly I think Bernie is heading in the right direction but handed Sherrod an opening with that. Democrats have been hammering Republicans across the country on the abortion issue. In the seven most competitive Senate races, Democratic campaigns and outside groups launched 33 TV ads about abortion just in the last week, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Just one Republican ad, a Spanish-language spot from an outside group targeting Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada, mentioned abortion. Democrats successfully deployed a similar strategy in 2022, when they defied expectations and kept control of the Senate despite President Joe Bidens poor approval ratings. Some Republicans warned that the partys failure to counter abortion attacks cost them crucial seats that year. In 2022, exit polling found Democrats had an 11-point advantage on the issue of abortion. The latest NBC News national poll finds a majority of voters (54%) say Vice President Kamala Harris would deal with the issue better, while 33% say the same of former President Donald Trump. It was one of Harris top scores on a slate of issues tested in the survey. The challenge for the GOP, Republican strategist Gail Gitcho said, is not falling into the same trap of what happened in 2022. And what happened in 2022 was Republicans didnt do anything to respond on abortion. Nothing. GOP Senate candidates have been slow to proactively talk about the issue so far. Just three candidates in targeted Senate seats Nevadas Sam Brown, Pennsylvanias Dave McCormick and Marylands Larry Hogan have launched TV ads captured by AdImpact that mention abortion. All of them feature the candidates saying that they wouldnt support a federal ban. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida also launched an ad pledging to protect in vitro fertilization. Read more Are we at peak Kamala Harris? By Chuck Todd Depending on the numbers you choose to consume, its safe to say the race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is somewhere between toss-up and lean-Harris. Since their only debate, there hasnt been a poll released even polls with Trump ahead showing anything other than improvement for Harris and problems for Trump. In particular, Harris has closed the gap on Trumps key issue advantages on the economy and the border. While Trump is still seen as stronger on those issues, his leads over Harris are lower than they were when voters were comparing him and President Joe Biden. Take the poll that I have the most confidence in: the NBC News survey overseen and conducted jointly by the bipartisan team of Republican Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies and Democrat Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research. Harris has also flipped some personal attribute questions that were negatives for Biden like questions about having the ability to be president or having the mental and physical capacity for the job. Then theres the issue of abortion rights. While it was an asset for Biden in polling against Trump, it appears to be a much bigger advantage for Harris. For instance, the NBC News poll showed her leading by more than 40 percentage points among white women with college degrees, a group of voters Biden won in 2020 but by a significantly smaller margin. Now, it isnt all gains for Harris. The big change in the Trump electorate both from 2016 to 2020 and this time around is his level of support among Latino voters. In 2016, Trump lost the Hispanic vote by nearly 40 points, according to the exit poll. In the 2020 exit poll, he lost that group by just over 30 points. And in this new NBC poll, Harris advantage was just under 20 points. At this point, its safe to say we have a good idea how the vote is going to break down demographically. What we dont know is how intense the turnout will be among the various groups. For most of this short campaign, Id be describing this race as Trumps to lose, but Trump is losing it. Now, Id describe the race as a jump ball with a slight advantage to Harris, simply because she has room to grow still. But its still a race to define Harris with the remaining undecideds. So far, Harris is winning the battle to define herself. Can she keep that up for five more weeks? Read more from Chuck Todays top stories Threat assessment: Trump and Harris are now both receiving presidential-level protections from the Secret Service, which one former agent said has never been done before. This comes as the Trump campaign said that U.S. intelligence officials briefed the former president about specific threats from Iran to assassinate him. Read more Assassination attempt fallout: A bipartisan report from lawmakers investigating the Trump assassination attempt in Pennsylvania found the Secret Service made foreseeable and preventable mistakes. Read more More Secret Service trouble: A Secret Service agent has been placed on leave following a misconduct allegation involving a Harris staffer. Read more Shutdown watch: The House overwhelmingly passed a funding bill to avert a government shutdown next week after it removed a proposal demanded by Trump that would require Americans nationwide to show proof of citizenship to register to vote. The Senate is also expected to pass the measure and send it to Biden's desk. Read more Aiming for the middle: During an economic speech in Pittsburgh, Harris vowed to govern as a pragmatist who wont be captive to ideology, while outlining some $100 billion in new investments in manufacturing. Read more 2025 vision: Nearly all voters who are familiar with Project 2025 view the conservative policy road map in a negative light, a new NBC News poll shows. Read more Stefaniks mission: GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York is leading a charge to break the record for Republican women serving in the chamber. Read more Celeb status: Harris campaign is racking up endorsements from celebrities, which the Trump campaign sees as an opening to paint the Democrat as out of touch with average Americans. Read more Endorsement with an asterisk: Emgage Action, one of the nations largest Muslim political groups, endorsed Harris despite fierce opposition to her Middle East policy. Read more T-shirt talk: The Washington Post explores why political T-shirts are getting more and more ridiculous. Read more Follow live coverage from the campaign trail Thats all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback likes or dislikes email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Republicans who are voting for Kamala Harris: We dont want someone thats cavorting with dictators Former congresswoman Barbara Comstock, former Trump administration official Olivia Troye and former congresswoman Denver Riggleman took part in a Republican voters for Harris event. (Eric Garcia/The Independent) Barbara Comstock wants people to know that she is still very much a Republican despite the fact she is voting for Kamala Harris. Tonight, I'm going to a Larry Hogan event, the former Republican congresswoman told The Independent, in reference to the former governor and Republican Senate nominee in Maryland. But she said that former president Donald Trump was damaging the GOP, and in particular slammed Trumps running mate, JD Vance. While Republicans probably, certainly look to gain the Senate [in general], they are going to lose a number of winnable Senate seats, she said, adding that Vance is such a non-starter for me because of his misogyny. On Thursday, Comstock led an an event in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia to convince her fellow Republicans to vote for Harris, too. She was joined by former Republican congressman Denver Riggleman and former Trump administration official Olivia Troye, both of whom have emerged as major critics of Trump in the past few months. Throughout the event, each of the speakers emphasized their conservative credentials. Comstock talked about how she grew up in a family of Massachusetts Democrats, but was convinced to join the Republican Party when she interned for Ted Kennedy. She worked for numerous Republican administrations before serving in Congress. Riggleman discussed his time in the House Freedom Caucus, the group of right-wing hellraisers who often accuse other Republicans of being insufficiently conservative. Meanwhile, Troye spoke about her four years in the GOP. Harris has actively courted Republicans throughout her campaign, receiving the backing of some elected officials, as well as former staffers for the Bush and Reagan administration and staff for the late John McCain. Troye even spoke at the Democratic National Convention. What we're saying is, we don't have to be in agreement with everything when it comes to Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. But we can agree on fundamental things, like: we want to preserve our democracy, she told The Independent. We want to be strong on national security. We don't want someone that's cavorting with dictators and lauding praise on dictators like Donald Trump did during the debate. Troye also noted that she is neighbors with JD Vance, who she referred to as anti-women. Attendees at the event talked up their Republican credentials while explaining their decision to vote for Harris. Faith Rodill, who brought her young daughter along to the event, told The Independent that she had worked with numerous Republican members of Congress but I'm worried about the future of my children, especially my daughters, and having an example of the former president who's trying to get his job back is just absolutely unacceptable. I'm really jazzed to have my daughter see that justice needs to prevail, she added. Specifically, Rodill expressed her concern about reproductive rights being taken away from women. It shouldn't even be a question that, at the end of the day, these conversations need to be with a woman, her partner or her religious leader, not by the government whatsoever. I don't want that taken away from my girls, Rodill said. Steve Devine said that he had worked on Richard Nixons re-election campaign, but called Nixon quaint by comparison with Trump. Donald Trump is a convicted felon, and guess what? He's going to be convicted of a whole lot more if he doesn't get elected and make sure the charges are dismissed, he said. This guys a bad guy. He is not interested in representational, constitutional democracy. Riggleman said that Harriss campaign has been incredibly welcoming to Republicans, which is a good sign for how she should govern. I think there should be, literally, Republicans at the White House with her after she's elected, just to talk to her about what we've seen, what we've done, he told The Independent. For her part, Harris expressed openness to hiring a Republican in her administration during her first sitdown interview with CNN. Many other notable Republicans such as former members of Congress Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, both of whom voted to convict Trump for his actions on January 6 and worked on the select committee investigating the riot, as well as former vice president Dick Cheney have all indicated they will vote for Harris. Comstock noted that while Virginia is seen as a state that will likely vote Democratic, she was also going to push for her relatives in Pennsylvania and North Carolina to break for Harris, particularly her Catholic family members. Im proud of my family, my Catholic family, who [Trump] said shouldnt be voting for Harris, she said, referencing a recent speech during which Trump said Catholics considering voting for Harris should have their heads examined. Most of my Catholic family is [voting for Harris], Comstock added. Particularly the ones in the swing states. A previous version of this story misspelled Steve Devines name as Steve Devaine. This has been corrected How to request records from state, local governments in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County Records from local, state and federal government are available to the public if one knows how to ask for them. While journalists like the team at The Charlotte Observer regularly use public records requests, non-journalists can also file requests in order to get information from local, state and federal agencies. In many cases, filing a request is as simple as filling out an online form. But individuals can face hurdles getting their requests fulfilled. The biggest challenge is not getting the proper respect from public officials or from public agencies, said Amanda Martin, a veteran First Amendment lawyer. Heres what to know about your rights to see public records and how to get them at the local, state and federal level: What is the Freedom of Information Act? The Freedom of Information Act, referred to as FOIA, is the federal law that governs how the public can obtain records from federal agencies. It passed in 1967 and has been updated multiple times since. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement, the federal government says. North Carolina has its own public records laws that dictate how to get records from state and local agencies. Who can file a public records request? Although journalists are perhaps best known for filing them, anyone can file a public records request. A 2017 study by the Columbia Journalism Review found journalists file about 7.6% of FOIA requests, while individuals make up about 20% of requests. Filing also frequently comes from businesses, law firms and nonprofits, according to the study. How to request records from the City of Charlotte The City of Charlotte provides an online form for public records requests from the city and city agencies. At charlottenc.gov/PublicRecords/, requestors will be asked to provide their name, contact information and as much detailed information as possible about what youre requesting. The city also makes public online a breakdown of the public records requests it receives. How to file a records request with Mecklenburg County To start the process of making a public records request with Mecklenburg County, visit pi.mecknc.gov/Services/Public-Records-Requests. The county provides a breakdown of where to find commonly requested information, such as property records and birth or death certificates. Those seeking records not available through those portals have the option to file a records request electronically or download a form to print and mail in. How to request records from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools People can request public and student records from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The districts website with information about both processes is cmsk12.org/Page/1019. For public records, CMS asks that members of the public email public records officer Joel Ferdon at joelh.ferdon@cms.k12.nc.us or call 980-343-0126. Alternatively, CMS offers a form for any public records request. Student records are different than those available to the general public. Only people who have authorization from the student, parent, guardian or other designated person, can request records if the person is younger than 18. If the student is 18 years or older, the student must provide consent for another person to receive them. How to file a records request with state government To file a records request with a state agency in North Carolina, go to the specific state agency that has the record youre looking for. Most agencies have an online form on their website and will also allow you to print out a form and mail it in. Information on records requests with the state Department of Public Safety, for example, is available at ncdps.gov/contact/public-records-requests. How to request records from the federal government A streamlined way to file a records request with the federal government or a federal agency is to visit foia.gov. There, requesters can search a database of government agencies and bodies and either file a request electronically through the portal or get information on how to file a request directly with the agency in question. The portal will also provide an estimate on how long it will take for the request to be fulfilled and direct the requester to places where the information in question may already be available. Tips for filing a public records request Its important to understand when filing a request that under public records law people can demand records but do not have the right to demand answers to questions, Martin notes. Theres no magic language for getting a response, she said, and the government cant mandate you use a specific platform to request records. You just have to ask for them, Martin said. Lawyer Mike Tadych, who works with the North Carolina Press Association, recommends people put their requests in writing in order to create a paper trail and have someone read over the request before submitting it to make sure its clear. Narrowing requests by providing a time for when the documents were created, keywords or search terms can also help expedite the process, Tadych said. Tadych suggests setting a reminder when one files a request to follow up regularly until its fulfilled. North Carolina law doesnt set a deadline for fulfilling requests. And, Tadych noted, agencies are required to cite a specific statute if they deny a request. Residents may now return home after being ordered to evacuate due to a styrene leak near Cleves Tuesday afternoon. Officials at a press conference Wednesday evening said the evacuation order, implemented late Tuesday afternoon, has been lifted and all roads, including U.S. 50 and state Route 128, have been reopened. The evacuation order originally impacted a half-mile radius from a leaking railcar, which was sitting in a railyard near the intersection of U.S. 50 and state Route 128 in Whitewater Township. A 'tremendous smell': Dispatch logs detail chaotic scene at Cleves railcar styrene leak More: Styrene leak near Cincinnati is yet another toxic chemical spill in Ohio. Here are more The U.S. Emergency Management Agency started monitoring the air quality around 7 p.m. Tuesday and said it is "very good." Dr. Stephen Feagins, medical director of Hamilton County Public Health, said at the conference the amount of styrene that was released in the air was "not even close" to the amount needed to cause cancer. He previously said that styrene evaporates almost immediately in the air, so the likelihood of irritation or toxicity is low. The evacuation order has been LIFTED. Please see the updated Fact Sheet regarding the Styrene Chemical Leak incident. pic.twitter.com/SLr53lmBZs Hamilton County EMA (@HCEMA) September 25, 2024 Officials said residents can check air quality numbers on the HCReady website. Feagins added that he is not aware of any hospitalizations as of Wednesday evening. Anyone who feels like they were exposed, is experiencing symptoms or has any concerns should reach out to their medical provider. The Village of Cleves Water Work is a closed system and not experiencing any issues related to the chemical leak, according to a news release from Hamilton County EPA. Private water systems and wells within a half-mile have been checked by Hamilton County Public Health and have been deemed safe. Any individuals with private water systems who would like their water tested can contact Hamilton County Public Health at 513-946-7966. Mike Miller, a representative for the Central Railroad of Indiana, the company that owns the railyard, said at the conference the railcar was sitting at the property for seven days, which "can be normal" due to backlogs. He said that when styrene, naturally a liquid, heats up, a chemical reaction occurs, converting it into a gaseous state. The chemical reaction caused the railcar's pressure valve to release, allowing the styrene gas to escape. Crews worked overnight to cool the tank with water until the valve closed. The railcar was removed and taken to its final destination at Ineos Styrolution, located on the banks of the Ohio River at 356 Three Rivers Parkway in Addyston. Ineos Styrolution confirmed Wednesday that it owned the styrene that leaked from a train car on Tuesday. Will school be back open? Three Rivers Local School District is clear to resume normal school operations Thursday, Sept. 26, according to the district's website. Tips to stay safe During Wednesday's conference, Feagins offered residents tips out of an abundance of caution, which include the following: Residents should wash their clothing or bedding that has been left out. Residents should throw out produce or any uncontained food that may have been exposed to vapors, including pet food. Residents should wipe down any surfaces inside the home. Resident should also consider changing their HVAC filtration. What happens next? Mike Siefke, chief of Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District, said at the conference that the U.S. EPA will continue to conduct air monitoring for the next few days. The Whitewater Fire Department will be on scene to assist any individuals or families returning home, according the release from Hamilton County EPA. Those in need of help can also call 211 for information regarding actions they can take when returning home. Miller said the Central Railroad Indiana will continue to allocate resources for several days, as well as have a representative present at the Whitewater Township Community Center to answer any questions. Residents can also call the railroad at 1-800-757-7387. Additionally, Daniel Griffin, a representative for the Federal Railroad Administration, said personnel is on site of the incident. They are conducting a "hazmat incident investigation to ensure all federal regulations were followed and determine if equipment failure and other factors contributed to the non-accident release." First responders in Hamilton County, OH, are dealing with a chemical release from a tank car in a rail yard near Cleves. FRA also has personnel en route. Those near the intersection US-50 and OH-128 should follow safety recommendations and directions from local officials. Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) September 25, 2024 This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio styrene leak: Area deemed safe; residents may return CLEARWATER They waited in a long line spilling out of the tent city, snaking down the sidewalk, shouldering everything they owned. Backpacks and grocery sacks, garbage bags bulging with T-shirts, sweatpants, family photos, Bibles and blankets. Theyd heard theyd have to sleep on the floor. Just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, four city buses idled on the curb, waiting to take 400 people without homes from Pinellas Hope to emergency shelters, as Hurricane Helene swirled toward Florida. Unlike some Tampa Bay residents who resist or resent having to evacuate, they were grateful to have somewhere to go and a way to get there. I just got here. And now we have to go, said Yaquelin Orella, 27, who was carrying three plastic bags filled with soup and popcorn. Im glad we have this opportunity, though, to feel safe. Most of the people had been living in tents, some for more than a year. Others had tiny cottages in the back. All had to leave. The sprawling tent city sits on low land, an A evacuation zone. We flood easy here, said Joe Pondolfino, who directs Pinellas Hope for Catholic Charities. Weve been through this before. Christina Moody stood near the front of the line clutching her emotional support Miniature Pinscher-Chihuahua, Zoie. She and her partner Dakota Milan, 31, had recently arrived from Safe Harbor shelter and didnt learn they would have to leave their new tent until a few hours earlier. Im very worried, Moody said, nuzzling her dog. I dont know what to expect, or what will happen. Some had heard they would have air-conditioning at the shelter at Largo High. Wi-fi, maybe. Food. I was there last year, last hurricane, and they had everything. Except cots or somewhere to sleep, said Gayle Kuhn, 64, who was wearing a straw hat and wristband that said: Never Give Up. After taking care of her mother for years, she said, she had to sell her house to afford a nursing home. She lived on the streets of St. Petersburg for three months, then sought refuge at Pinellas Hope. Im used to storms, said Kuhn, who had been there 18 months. But I feel more comfortable in a shelter than here. Because she relied on the walker now, she would have to go to a special needs shelter at Dunedin Middle School. She waited for another bus. Last call for Largo! Pondolfino shouted at 2:15. He told staff to do one more sweep, make sure everyone was out and knew this was mandatory. One bus is going to Disney World, he joked. The next one is to the Pinellas County jail! Then he headed back into the storage area to get hundreds of mats he had ordered. That afternoon, he would drive them to Largo High to make sure no one had to sleep on the floor. Theyre our clients, he said. We have to take care of them. A half-hour later, five elderly people leaning on walkers and canes mopped their brows in the midday sun. Dan Clemons, 73, sat on a plastic chair, smiling beside an orange backpack. He had moved to Florida to take care of his mom, and spent all their money on her care. I was living in my car for months, then it broke down in Largo. Yesterday, a friend brought me here. It was wonderful, great! he said. We even had a TV, so we were all watching the hurricane. He wasnt worried, he said. He was excited to have a ride and settle in somewhere. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) This week on Restaurant Road Trip, were headed to MIlanos Pizza, a longtime neighborhood favorite in Morgantown thats in good hands. Dan Field told 12 News that he used to go to Milanos as a kid and that he and his wife Karis came to own the restaurant after Dan began to look for a career change. I was a worn-out paramedic. I came in after a shift, just feeling really terrible, tired, trying to have a slice of my favorite pizza, and I saw the place was for sale, and that immediately got me interested, Dan said. New Buckwheat Festival waffle cone: Flavor of the month, or new staple? During a visit, the Fields actually let 12 News Jefferson Pan make his own pizza by hand and showed him how to make it Milanos style. The decorations on the walls reflect the different sides of the Fields, including a cartoon cryptid mural that helps make the place more welcoming and family-friendly. Theres also an Arnold Schwarzenegger print in the corner of the dining room which comes from Dans life as a bodybuilder. Topping it all off is a reason Bible verse above the counter, which comes from Dans enrollment in seminary school, as well as his and Karis desire to go on a mission trip to Kenya. You can find Milanos at 2 Brookstone Plaza in Morgantown. The restaurant is open from 4-8 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and is closed Sunday. You can find out more on the restaurants website here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Oliver Bromley was left hurt and disappointed after being refused service at a London restaurant - SWNS A man with a facial disfigurement was told to leave a restaurant because he was scaring customers. Oliver Bromley, 42, went for lunch at the restaurant, which has not been named, in Camberwell, south-east London, in August, while having treatment at the nearby Kings College Hospital. But he was turned away by a waiter, who told him he had upset other diners and would not be served. Mr Bromley has neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic condition that causes benign, non-cancerous tumours to grow on his nerves. He was undergoing treatment at the hospital when he went to a nearby restaurant. I decided to take myself for lunch, recalled Mr Bromley, who works for an NHS mental health crisis helpline. The food looked good when I looked in one window, and I went inside. They said they were cash-only, so I took some money out and went to place my order. The gentleman behind the counter told me there had been complaints about me, and for me to please leave. I asked him to repeat himself, and he said I was scaring customers. I hadnt even sat down Mr Bromley, who lives in Reigate, Surrey, said he was incredulous because he had hardly been in the restaurant long enough for someone to complain about his presence. I hadnt even sat down, he said. I went to place my order and they asked me to leave. Perhaps they had seen me browsing, perhaps they didnt want me in there. He added: People stare young children, especially but Ive never been treated as directly as that. It was very direct and very clear that I was not wanted. Mr Bromley, who is originally from South Africa, wrote to the restaurant, which he does not wish to name, but received no response. He then contacted the Metropolitan Police, which recorded the incident as a hate crime. The Met confirmed that officers had visited Mr Bromley about the incident and that although no arrests had been made, the force took reports of hate crime seriously. Nerve Tumours UK, a charity that raises awareness for Mr Bromleys condition, said such incidents were not uncommon. Karen Cockburn, its director, said: If Oliver felt that he had been discriminated against, there is the option that he could have a case under the 2010 Equalities Act, in which severe disfigurement is a protected characteristic. Mr Bromley said he did not want retribution and instead aimed to spread awareness. There is nothing to be afraid of, its just something some individuals have to live with, he said. I am hoping this raises awareness and that, going forward, there might be a positive outcome and prevent it happening again. Theres always going to be nasty people in the world, but thats my hope. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A recently retired Las Vegas police sergeant allegedly stole cash while raiding massage parlors as part of the departments investigations into prostitution and sex trafficking, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. Sgt. Sean Lucero, 51, who retired from the department in August, faces charges of theft and oppression under color of office, records said. Lucero worked in Metros Vice Section, which focuses on sex-related crimes. Metro police began their investigation into Lucero in March after a source suspected Lucero of stealing cash from massage parlors while on the job, documents said. In one specific search of a spa in May, an employee claimed her wallet was missing after police froze it before obtaining a search warrant, documents said. In a similar case, a spa worker said a stack of money was missing before the authorized search. In both cases, employees at the businesses were charged with prostitution-related offenses. Court documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtain show photos from a massage parlor raid. Police say the photos show money missing after Sgt. Sean Lucero searched the room. (KLAS) Several other Metro employees told detectives Lucero specifically showed a concerted interest in massage parlor operations and even rebuffed his detectives efforts to conduct other types of enforcement on a more frequent basis, documents said. Records showed Luceros squad searched 79 massage parlors over a one-year period, far exceeding the 17 searched over 17 months before Lucero transferred to the Vice section. Police obtained Luceros bank records, which they said showed several ATM deposits on the day of or within a few days of a spa raid. Since transferring to Vice, Lucero moved more than $37,000 in cash to his accounts all of which there is probable cause to believe are proceeds from his criminal activities, police said. Detectives later put a tracker on Luceros take-home vehicle to watch his movements to ATMs, they said. When speaking with other massage parlor employees, police came to the conclusion that the workers knew money was stolen but feared reporting it. Detectives said they tracked Sgt. Sean Lucero to ATMs to deposit the alleged stolen money. (KLAS) In an interview with detectives in July, Lucero denied stealing any money. According to police, he later admitted to stealing from 10 to 12 massage parlors. When a detective asked if Lucero remembered any of the business names, Lucero reportedly answered: To be honest with you Ive done so many. The [expletive] names, I dont even know. A warrant was issued for Luceros arrest on Tuesday. Luceros attorney was scheduled to ask a judge Thursday if his client could receive a walk-through, meaning he would surrender to the Clark County Detention Center and be released. Luceros attorney declined to comment on the case. 8 News Now Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Revealed: How Iran could be interfering in US election to undermine Trump One news website talked up how Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, had backed US student protests - Reuters Iran is targeting African-American voters and Muslims in the critical state of Michigan in an attempt to sway the US election against Donald Trump, according to a new report. Tehrans attempts to influence the outcome of the Nov 5 White House race include duping Americans into consuming Iranian propaganda disguised as legitimate news outlets, according to the investigation, by the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) think tank. The report asserts that the Islamic republic was attempting to reach key voting groups, among them African Americans, veterans, Hispanic groups, and Muslims in Michigan, for the 2024 campaign. The FDD spotlighted the Westland Sun, an English-language online outlet designed to cater to readers in Muslim-majority suburbs near Detroit. Michigan is one of six key election battlegrounds, and home to the largest Arab-American population in the country. Joe Biden narrowly carried the state in 2020 in part thanks to Arab and Muslim Americans, but their anger over the administrations support for Israels war in Gaza has left Democrats concerned they could deny Kamala Harris victory. Pro-Palestinian protesters at a Democrat rally in Wisconsin, this month - Jim Vondruska/Getty Images According to the report by the FDD, the website focuses on issues of concern to Muslim Americans, specifically those in Michigan, and publishes extensively on the US election, typically criticising conservatives and praising progressive candidates. One article highlights Mr Bidens outreach to Muslim and Arab Americans in Dearborn. Others cover US policy towards Iran with a pro-regime slant, the report said. Max Lesser, a senior analyst at the FDD and the reports co-author, said it appeared to be the first time Iran had targeted Muslim and Arab voters in Michigan specifically. Their primary goal from what were seeing is to promote Harris and denigrate Trump, he told The Telegraph. A second website identified by the FDD is Afromajority.com, which targets African-American voters with content that is often critical of former president Trump and sympathetic to Ms Harris. The website spotlights liberal policies and backs the Black Lives Matter movement. Its pro-Harris objective is pretty clear, said Mr Lesser. It also frames Iran in a positive light, with one article describing how Ali Khamenei, the countrys supreme leader, has backed US student protests in an embrace of the shared struggle for justice. In targeting specific demographics and regions, the Iranian regime has shown itself to be very savvy in its understanding of the dynamics of the 2024 race, according to Mr Lesser. Its not just the Iranians trying to reach black voters, its political parties who recognise this is a critical voting bloc, he said. An anti-US rally in Iran in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Tehran has been accused of interfering in the US election - ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock While the various websites target a range of groups, the researchers said there were indicators they were all outlets for Iranian-backed propaganda, such as the fact they use the same web hosting servers and patterns in the email addresses of the creators of several of the domains. These websites also typically attribute content to unnamed staff authors, rather than specific writers, the report noted. They include Lalinearoja.net, a Spanish-language news website that regularly publishes election-related content while promoting anti-American, anti-Israeli and pro-Iranian content. In all, the think tanks report identified at least 19 websites it asserts were created by the Iranian regime that had been made to appear as legitimate news outlets. Eight of the websites are English-language and focus on the US election. While most of the US-focused news websites support liberal and progressive candidates, two promote more conservative views. Conspiratorial content The latter includes conspiratorial content and some articles are critical of Iran, with analysts speculating this may be an effort by the Islamic republic to cover its tracks. Mr Lesser noted that Irans secondary goal in its election-meddling efforts is to increase the countrys polarisation by undermining Americans trust in their democratic institutions. US officials have previously warned that Tehrans efforts to meddle in the White House race are growing more aggressive as they target the Trump campaign. The FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a rare joint statement warning that Irans measures to stoke discord have increased because the regime believes the 2024 elections will be particularly consequential for its domestic policies. It is unclear whether the actions are motivated by a desire for revenge for the assassination of one of Irans top generals, Qasem Soleimani, during Trumps first term in power, or more strategic aims given the Republicans continued hardline stance on Iran. A commemoration for Qasem Soleimani who was killed in a US air strike - SEDAT SUNA/EPA-EFE/REX Over the summer, it was revealed Iran-backed hackers had successfully targeted the Trump campaign. Members of the Republican candidates inner circle were targeted by phishing attempts. The stolen material including sensitive internal documents was later sent by the hackers to reporters at major US news outlets. This week, Trump revealed he had been briefed by US intelligence on big threats on my life by Iran. Moves were already made by Iran that didnt work out, but they will try again, he said. Efforts to reach the Westland Sun and Afromajority.com were unsuccessful. Lalinearoja.net was approached for comment. Tehran has previously denied claims of interfering in Americas domestic affairs. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. HOUSEHOLDS are losing up to 230 a year because of poor customer service, research suggests. An estimated 298 million and 27.3 million hours are lost by customers who are failing to get their issues resolved, in some cases giving up on getting the problem fixed entirely. Researchers from consumer magazine Which? surveyed more than 4,000 people to identify how the poor customer service of energy and broadband providers was having an impact on households. In the energy sector, one in five (17 per cent) who had contacted a firm said they had given up trying to resolve an issue because of the difficulties they experienced with customer service. Of these, just under a third (32 per cent) said this decision had left them financially worse off with an average of 137 lost. For broadband customers, one in seven said they had given up seeking a resolution and three in ten of these respondents said they were worse off, with an estimated figure of 93 on average. The questions related to the 12-month period up to May 2024 and estimates based on the national population suggest 1.2 million energy customers were left 166m worse off because of customer service across the UK. Meanwhile, a further 950,000 consumers were 89m worse off after giving up contacting their broadband provider, according to Which? Which? also found a small proportion of customers did not even try to contact their providers following bad previous experiences, adding a further 43 million to estimated losses and bringing the overall total to 298 million. Around a third of people who contacted a firm reported having at least one problem that wasted their time - with common complaints including not being able to reach customer service, phone calls being disconnected and being passed between departments. Long call waiting times were also frequently cited. Which? estimates suggested that energy customers lost 112 minutes of their time, while broadband customers lost 1 hour and 38 minutes. Around 8.9 million energy consumers and 9.2 million broadband consumers also experienced emotional harm as a result of poor customer service, according to the research. Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which? said: Our research lays bare the dire state of customer service in the energy and broadband sectors with nearly 300 million lost to poor service in a single year. The impact in terms of wasted time and on peoples emotional wellbeing is just as concerning. Ms Concha added: It is never OK for firms to provide sub-standard customer service, but in essential sectors providing vital services millions rely on every day such as energy and broadband, it is completely unacceptable. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to campaign for Trump in Dearborn LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) will visit Dearborn this Saturday. The visit will be the next stop on what former President Donald Trumps campaign calls the Team Trump Reclaim America Tour. At this point, it is not immediately clear exactly what will be discussed at the event, though Kennedy and Gabbard will be joined by actor Zachary Levi, who will moderate the discussion. FILE (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) FILE (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File) The event will be held at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center at 15801 Michigan Ave. Doors are scheduled to open at 4:00 p.m., with the event scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.. Representatives of both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harrisas well as the candidates themselveshave frequently visited Michigan during this election season. Just this week, Gwen Walz, wife of vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, was in Lansing, and Trump held a town hall in Warren. The Great Lakes State is a battleground state for the upcoming presidential election, with both candidates polling at a statistical dead heat in recent state polls. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Rhode Island Energy to temporarily shut off gas for some Lincoln residents LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) The Town of Lincoln announced Wednesday that an over-pressurization was detected in some Rhode Island Energy gas service lines in the Manville area. According to the town, R.I. Energy will visit each affected home and business twice once to shut off gas service and a second time to restore it after all lines are secured and gas has been safely reintroduced into the system. The impacted streets include: Manville Public Safety Alert 9-25-24 Central Division New River Old River Park Pearl Prospect Railroad Sayles Hill Spring Summer Winter Residents in these areas may have also received a public safety alert on their phones. Customers were reportedly sent the following message: Hello, this is Rhode Island Energy with an important message. Our gas system in your region has been taken offline temporarily. We apologize for any inconvenience and are working to restore gas as soon as possible. To ensure the safety of our customers, please be advised Field Technicians will be going from house to house to perform inspections and survey the area. Access to your meter is required. If you are not home, please contact us at 1-855-743-1101 and we will schedule a time to restore service. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as we work to learn more. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Welcome to The Scoop the ultimate back-to-the-office water cooler cheat sheet, your go-to source for all things everyone really wants to know! Get the latest on everything from the political swamp maneuvering in D.C. and Hollywood drama to jaw-dropping small-town shenanigans from Paula Froelich. Subscribe to her newsletter here. For more of the latest dish and drama, subscribe to The Scoop on NewsNations YouTube. (NewsNation) The gloves are off in the battle over Richard Simmons estate. According to People magazine, On Wednesday, Sept. 25, Teresa Reveles, who served as Simmons house manager and friend for 36 years, filed a petition to be restated as a co-trustee for Simmons estate. Reveles claimed that she was misled by Simmons brother Lenny and his wife Cathy into giving up the role while she was grieving for Richard. Lenny is the other co-trustee of Richards estate and a beneficiary. Richard Simmons would be heartbroken at house managers greed: Brother Reveles is a beneficiary of the will and is said to be getting millions from the wellness gurus estate. The move threw Richards brother Lenny for a loop. Richard Simmons on verge of major comeback before his death According to a statement by the Simmons family spokesperson, Tom Estey: Richards message was always one of joy and positivity. He would be heartbroken to learn of Teresas greed and insulted that she would diminish their three decades of supposed friendship in such a public way. Her actions threaten to harm Richards incredible legacy, which we are working hard to preserve, the statement begins. Fitness personality Richard Simmons attends the Gay Pride Festival on June 9, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodrigo Vaz/Getty Images) Fitness guru Richard Simmons works the crowd during one of his classes at Slimmons Studio, March 9, 2013, in Beverly Hills. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA DECEMBER 13: Personality Richard Simmons post performance at SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert at ACME Comedy Theatre on December 13, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David A. Walega/WireImage) NEW YORK, NY NOVEMBER 28: Richard Simmons attends the 87th annual Macys Thanksgiving Day parade on November 28, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Roth/FilmMagic) Richard took impeccable care of Teresa and made sure even after his passing that she was well taken care of, the statement continues. She is a significant beneficiary of his will. She made an informed decision to decline to serve as co-trustee of the estate, which does not affect her status as a beneficiary at all. The allegations in the petition are completely and demonstrably false, and we have informed her counsel of those facts. Teresas request to be reinstated as co-trustee was declined because co-trustees must work together in the best interests of the estate, and Teresa has shown by her actions that she does not share those interests. Jennifer Aniston latest victim of swatting call Even now, two months after he died, she is staying in his house, even though she has her own residence, and she has attempted to charge the estate for her living expenses. We also have learned that a documentary has been pitched to Netflix that identifies Teresa as the principal source and contributor and that we believe will be hurtful to Richards legacy. Teresa Reveles seeking Netflix deal My sources say she has indeed been seeking a deal with Netflix that has a price tag of $2 million. Simmons died July 13 from blunt traumatic injuries due to a fall. A friend of Simmons who knows Reveles very well told me: Reveles is a greedy money grabber and shes mad shes not in charge. Shes the damn maid. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. RIPTA employees will get their own restrooms in Kennedy Plaza depot People are shown outside the Kennedy Plaza Intermodal Transportation Plaza in Providence on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Christopher Shea/Rhode island Current) The Rhode Island Public Transit Authoritys Intermodal Transportation Center in Providences Kennedy Plaza has never had restrooms reserved for exclusive use by employees since it opened in 2002. That should change by the end of the year. The agencys board of directors voted 7-0 to approve plans to reconfigure space that formerly housed a coffee shop inside the depot to give staff their own restrooms at a cost of $454,356. We simply cant miss an opportunity to have these amenities, Interim CEO Christopher Durand told the board. Wherever we can have a bathroom for all of our employees, we need to do so. Board member Heather Schey was not present. The new restrooms will be built by Providence-based Maron Construction Co. adjacent to the existing public bathrooms. RIPTA expects to have the employee restrooms constructed by the end of 2024, according to its request for proposal issued in August. Bus drivers need a private space to take a break, union president Walter Melillo told Rhode Island Current. Sometimes they encounter people using drugs, Melillo, who heads the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 618, said in an interview before the board meeting. On Monday, the city of Providence announced police arrested 22 people at Kennedy Plaza for drug distribution following a months-long investigation. The arrests did not come up during board discussion, but Durand told Rhode Island Current after the meeting he was grateful to the city for trying to improve the overall atmosphere downtown and getting people the help they need. New employee bathrooms are also just more convenient for drivers who have a schedule to follow, Melillo said. They deal with a lot of traffic and congested roads making it so recovery time isnt as lengthy, he said. The more bathrooms you have for drivers, the better it is for the employee. Though he voted in favor of the new bathrooms, board member Robert Kells questioned why RIPTA should go through with the new construction if the agency intends to move out of Kennedy Plaza at some point as it seeks to build a new transit center somewhere in downtown Providence. Even if we completely vacate, which I dont think would happen, we still have this asset, Durand said of the Intermodal Transportation Center. RIPTAs Board of Directors in January approved a nearly $16.9 million contract with Next Wave Partners to start design work for a mixed-use bus hub. The new building would offer a number of amenities not offered at Kennedy Plaza such as larger indoor waiting areas, expanded restrooms, digital screens to track bus arrivals and departures, and WiFi. Agency administrators narrowed down the new Providence bus hub location down to seven sites in May, with the intention to narrow down its final three sites in July and announce a winning location in August. But no final site was ever selected. It was a bigger bite than we expected, Durand said in an interview. Finalists for the new transit center are expected to be determined in October, he added. RIPTA struggled to attract new bus driver applicants over the past couple years. But its not having trouble lately following a 16.7% hike in starting wages approved by the board in February, along with the agency agreeing to pay for new hires to get a Commercial Drivers License permit. The restroom talk wasnt relegated to just Kennedy Plaza during RIPTAs meeting Thursday, as the board also voted to spend $375,000 toward temporary restroom trailers outside the Pawtucket-Central Falls transit center. The facility opened in January 2023 for train and bus service, but still awaits construction on passenger facilities. At present, passengers who need to use the bathroom can only use portable facilities which RIPTA has rented on a monthly basis. Thursdays vote was to cover costs through the estimated completion of the passenger building, which is slated to finish in January 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Map showing Somalia, neighbour Ethiopia and the breakaway area of Somaliland (Paz PIZARRO) (Paz PIZARRO/AFP/AFP) Growing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, heightened by arms shipments, risk destabilising the fragile Horn of Africa and creating opportunities for the Islamist insurgents of Al-Shabaab, experts say. The region has been on alert since January when Ethiopia made the shock announcement that it would lease a stretch of coastline from Somaliland, a breakaway area of Somalia, to build a naval base and commercial port. Landlocked Ethiopia has long sought its own sea access, but the move enraged Somalia which refuses to recognise Somaliland's claim to independence that it first declared in 1991. Somalia has reacted by growing closer to Ethiopia's biggest regional rival, Egypt. Egypt has its own bugbears with Ethiopia, particularly the vast Grand Renaissance Dam it has been building on the Nile which Cairo sees as threatening its water supply. On August 14, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud announced a "historic" military deal with Egypt. Somalia has since received two arms shipments -- the most recent arriving last weekend. Analysts say that raises concerns. "Somalia, a country already awash in arms, is currently seeing a spike in (weapons) imports amid the ongoing tensions. Given pervasive mistrust and weak controls, this is a worrying development," said Omar Mahmood, of the International Crisis Group. Ethiopia's foreign ministry said Monday it was particularly concerned that weapons would end up in the hands of Al-Shabaab militants. - 'Fundamental breakdown' - Somalia has additionally threatened to boot out Ethiopian troops deployed for an African Union mission against Al-Shabaab since 2007. The mission is due for a makeover at the end of the year and Egypt has offered to take the place of the Ethiopian troops for the first time. Somalia may also force Ethiopia to remove the estimated 10,000 troops it has stationed along their shared border to prevent incursions by the Islamists. Samira Gaid, a Mogadishu-based security analyst, said such threats by Somalia were a "wild card", designed to pressure Ethiopia away from becoming the first country to recognise Somaliland. But the potential loss of experienced Ethiopian troops has already raised fears in southwest Somalia, the area worst-affected by the Al-Shabaab insurgency. "If Ethiopia and Somalia are not cooperating with each other, if there is a fundamental breakdown in their security relationship, Al-Shabaab is the winner... they can take advantage of the gaps," said Mahmood. Attempts by outside powers to turn down the temperature have made little progress. Turkey has hosted two rounds of talks between Ethiopia and Somalia, in July and August. But a third round expected last week in Ankara did not happen. "It's hard to see any progress being made because of such rising rhetoric," said Gaid. Analysts say full-blown armed conflict remains unlikely, but the tripwires are increasing. Last weekend, Somalia accused Ethiopia of supplying weapons to its northeastern Puntland region, another breakaway province that unilaterally declared independence in 1998. "This activity constitutes a grave infringement on Somalia's sovereignty and poses serious implications for national and regional security," the Somali foreign ministry wrote on X. sva/er/kjm 'Root them out, one by one by one': Royal Inn neighbors praise FBI shutdown of Phoenix hotel A day after law enforcement authorities shut down a Phoenix hotel they called a "major hub" for illegal activity, city leaders and neighbors spoke about the positive effects the move would have on the area. Operators of the hotel, built in 1973 and rebranded as the Royal Inn when it was sold to its current owner in 2014, had not only allowed drug dealing and prostitution on the premises but profited from it by renting rooms to people they knew were engaging in illegal activities, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. That is the basis for charges of money laundering and racketeering. According to the indictment served against hotel owner Varsha Patel and five others, Patel made over 600 deposits into a bank account over seven years. That account held more than $1 million. Phoenix City Councilmember Betty Guardado, who represents the district where the hotel is located, addressed reporters Wednesday in front of the shuttered business. She said the closure was a key milestone in an ongoing project to reduce crime along the Interstate 17 corridor in the city. Phoenixs Community Safety Plan, launched in 2022, is an $8 million initiative that combines neighborhood groups, police technology, and city resources to address public safety concerns in nine major areas along the Black Canyon Freeway. "The closure of the Royal Inn has been the critical piece missing from our strategy to restore safety into our neighborhood," Guardado said. U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino addresses the press about the indictment brought on the owners of the Royal Inn and four others on Sept. 24. According to the indictment, police first contacted Patel about crime on the property in 2015 and made multiple visits and phone calls to the hotel operators about problems there over subsequent years. But the effort to close the hotel began two years ago when the Berkley Square Neighborhood Watch was formed, Guardado said. The group started reporting crimes to the police. "Our officers from this particular neighborhood began responding to numerous calls for service at this particular hotel," Phoenix Police Commander Steve Martos said. Detectives realized crime was festering because the owners not only allowed illegal activity but profited from it, Matos said. Because those profits involved bank deposits across state lines and other federal crimes, the FBI got involved and the hotel was seized. "There are properties out of state which are also being seized, and other properties that are being seized based upon the investigation and how proceeds were being used by the owner and management of this particular location," he said. Phoenix Police and FBI collaborate to shut down the Royal Inn on Sept. 24 near the I-17 corridor. 'If there's no noise, there's no problem' Jeff Spellman, who works with neighborhood groups in the area, said the hotel was long a source of frustration for parents whose children attend Alhambra Traditional School nearby. "They were expressing to the school officials, and predominantly the superintendent, their frustration with, you know, 'Hey, we're trying to walk our kids to school, and, you know, we're faced with this day in and day out,'" he said. Eventually, those parents came together to form the Berkley Square Neighborhood Watch, which advocated for the community. Without the community taking action, Spellman doesn't think such a change would have happened. "If there's no noise, there's no problem. Everything's fine. Everybody just goes on about their way," Spellman said. "I think for far too long, there's been an attitude out there that, well, it's west Phoenix. Oh, it's 27th Avenue. That's just where that problem is. It's just the way it is." The closing of the Royal Inn is something to celebrate, he said. It will bring to light crime that would normally happen behind closed doors. "Things are pretty visible now with the with the Real Time Operations Center, the cameras all up and down 27th Avenue. It's a little bit hard to hide that kind of activity." The property will now belong to the government through criminal or civil forfeiture. 'Root them out, one by one by one' Despite the success of the closure, Spellman urged caution. "We're definitely taking a victory lap on this, but we also know that, you know, when they booted everybody out of that hotel, those individuals are going to go somewhere," he said. There are more Royal Inns in the area, he added, and the neighborhood groups will continue to do what they do, "which is pay attention to what's going on, gather information, intel, feed it to the police, pound down the problems, and root them out, one by one by one." Spellman hopes that other property owners see what happened to the Royal Inn as a cautionary tale. "I'm hoping they sit and watch the news, and when they see it or read it in the paper, they might think twice about if they're running a place like that," he said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: FBI closure of Phoenix hotel sparked by neighborhood effort Roseanne Barr shrieked on stage at a MAGA event sharing conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and the January 6 insurrection. During her Tuesday appearance alongside the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Barr baselessly claimed that the Democrats overthrew the government in 2020 because they didnt accept Trumps nonexistent victory, Mediaite noted. The former president lost the popular vote in 2016 and again by a wider margin in 2020, allowing President Joe Biden to claim an electoral college win where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came up short. On Tuesday, Barr made the fact-free claim that liberals have used the January 6 Capitol riot to distract the public from an insurrection of their own. They overthrew the Constitutional Republic of the United States of America. And then they covered it up with their January 6th bulls***. With their insurrection! she stood up from her seat and shouted from the stage. Roseanne Barr shared conspiracy theories at a MAGA event attended by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson (Screenshot / X) President Trump God bless that man I love him and everybody knows it, she added. I love him more now than I ever loved him and I loved him pretty damn good. He drove me out in a Bentley when I did my second HBO special at Trump Palace in Atlantic City if youve seen it. Hes always been a good friend and a good man, she said. Carlson has hosted a traveling talk show alongside other conspiracy theorists, such as InfoWars host Alex Jones, during his national tour. On Tuesday, he watched in silence as Barr yelled at the audience before starting to laugh. Barr recently attempted to distance herself from a video shared on social media in which former independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr told her about how he dumped a dead bear in Central Park a decade ago. This was not filmed by me or my team. This was off the cuff after the interview, she wrote on X on August 6. There is no spin here just a funny story. Its nice to see RFK finally get some press Albeit during an economic crash by the Biden-Harris administration. Great job journos! On Tuesday, Barr made the fact-free claim that liberals have used the January 6 Capitol riot to distract the public from an insurrection of their own by stealing the 2020 election (AP) Kennedy shared the video on X in an apparent attempt to get out ahead of the publishing of a story by The New Yorker magazine. Kennedy, who joined the Democratic primary before dropping out and running as an independent only to end his campaign before the election and endorse former President Donald Trump, said he left New York in October 2014 to go falconing over the weekend in upstate New York, when he supposedly spotted the driver ahead of him strike a bear, killing it instantly. He claimed that he pulled over to pick up the animal. I was going to skin the bear and it was in very good condition and I was going to put the meat in my refrigerator, he claimed. He subsequently attended a dinner before realizing that he didnt have time to go home before he had to head to the airport, prompting him to dump the bear in Central Park. The next day ... it was on every television station. It was [on the] front page of every paper and I turned on the TV and there was like a mile of yellow tape and 20 cop cars, there were helicopters flying, and I was like, Oh my god. What did I do? he added in the footage with Barr. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Rochester police investigator who violated department rules while arresting a working EMT in the Strong Memorial Hospital Emergency Department in 2022 will remain on paid suspension until his retirement. Charles LoTempio was placed on paid suspension after the July 11, 2022 incident. Under the agreement resolving the issue with the RPD and Locust Club Police Union (attached in full at the bottom of this story), he will be eligible for retirement in March 2025, when he reaches 20 years of service with the department. The RPD will then apply to have his basic training certificate as a police officer revoked. The paramedic, Lekia Smith told News 8 she had just brought an elderly patient in need of immediate attention to the hospital when she said she accidentally opened the ambulance door too fast, hitting LoTempios police car. He got up, and kind of brought it to my attention that paint had transferred to his side door, and at the moment he asked me for my ID and I had a patient on the gurney, and we were getting ready to walk inside the hospital, and I explained to him that I would give him my ID as soon as I walked my patient in, Smith said. I guess that wasnt good enough. He walked in side by side into the hospital with us, and once I finished checking my patients temperature, thats when LoTempio came over, pushed me against the registration desk and put me in handcuffs and put me inside his vehicle. LoTempio injured Smiths wrist and shoulder when he handcuffed her. She was still out of work as an EMT with Monroe Ambulance more than a year after the incident. According to public records, LoTempio was accused of five policy violations, but ultimately agreed to plead guilty only to failure to double lock handcuffs when placing Smith into custody, despite having ample time to do so. It was obvious that Investigator LoTempios actions were not in line with my expectations as Chief of the Rochester Police Department, Rochester Police Chief David Smith said in a statement Wednesday. LoTempio had been punished for misconduct prior to this altercation. He was accused of using unnecessary and excessive force by hitting a handcuffed man in the mouth with a flashlight in 2013. LoTempio was also accused of arresting and strip searching a man in February 2012, performing an intrusive visual body cavity inspection without a warrant against RPD training, then arresting him again when he called 911 to report him to a sergeant. Rochester Police Chief David Smith released a statement Wednesday, saying: On July 18, 2022, I became aware of an incident at Strong Hospital involving Investigator Charles LoTempio. After a preliminary review of the situation, it was obvious that Investigator LoTempios actions were not in line with my expectations as Chief of the Rochester Police Department. I immediately suspended Investigator LoTempio and directed the Professional Standards Section to begin an internal investigation. At the conclusion of that investigation, it was found that Investigator LoTempio violated the Rochester Police Department General Orders and its Rules and Regulations. This was a lengthy process, which in accordance with Article 75 of the New York State Civil Service Law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, included a hearing in front of a neutral Hearing Officer. At the completion of that hearing, I did not agree with the recommended discipline and pursued an alternate disciplinary agreement between myself, Investigator LoTempio, and the Rochester Police Locust Club. As a result of that agreement, Investigator LoTempio will be retiring from the Rochester Police Department and will not contest the City of Rochesters application to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service to have his status as a Police Officer revoked. It is important to note, that this agreement is final and not subject to appeal or grievance. As Chief, I have a responsibility to both our community and to the rights of our employees. Although this was a lengthy process, it was crucial to follow all of the steps outlined in both Civil Service Law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. I appreciate the patience shown throughout this process, which is ultimately ending with Investigator LoTempio no longer serving as a Police Officer in the City of Rochester. Read the full report LoTempio-22-0295Download Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Questions have been raised about welfare standards on farms that are members of the RSPCA Assured scheme [Getty Images] Animal welfare inspectors have been sent into more than 200 farms amid claims one of the UKs largest food certification schemes is failing to enforce legal standards, the BBC has learned. RSPCA Assured covers almost 4,000 farms and its supermarket labels are supposed to inform shoppers food they are buying has been produced to higher welfare standards. But a coalition of 60 campaign organisations is calling for the scheme to be scrapped, saying their undercover investigations at around 40 farms found welfare issues. The RSPCA said it had launched an investigation and wider review of the scheme, including unannounced visits to more than 200 randomly chosen members, after hearing the concerns. Animal welfare activists say the food labelling scheme is "misleading the public" [Getty Images] Earlier this year, animal welfare activists carried out secret filming on RSPCA Assured farms which they said showed breaches of legal standards and regulations. These included overcrowding, poor hygiene, unacceptable health conditions and, in extreme cases, physical abuse of livestock by farm workers. At the time, Chris Packham, president of the RSPCA itself, called for the suspension of the RSPCA Assured scheme. RSPCA Assured said it had launched an immediate investigation after receiving the footage and visited all the farms identified as members of the scheme. It said it was established that eight of the farms were not members. It said two members were removed from the scheme and five were sanctioned" which could include "advice, formal warning or additional measures such as unannounced visits. Shoppers are supposed to be able to check whether their food has been produced to higher welfare standards [Getty Images] A separate fine grain and comprehensive review of the scheme, which covers meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, has also been carried out over several months. The RSPCA said the inspections of more than 200 farms were based on a random selection and werent chosen due to specific animal welfare concerns. We commissioned this review as we want to give our supporters, partners and the public confidence that RSPCA Assured is consistently delivering better welfare than standard farming practices, a spokeswoman said. On Thursday, an open letter calling for an immediate end to the scheme was sent to the RSPCA, signed by 60 animal welfare organisations, including Animal Rising, Animal Aid, PETA and Animal Justice Project, alongside celebrities including Ricky Gervais, Joanna Lumley and Bryan Adams. The letter said the scheme was welfare-washing animal cruelty and misleading the public. 'Robust action' Ayesha Smart, a specialist animal welfare barrister who backs the campaign, said she believed the undercover investigation footage she had seen had found legal breaches on RSPCA Assured farms. She said that the scheme cannot legitimately say that it ensures the welfare of its farmed animals and is no longer fit for purpose. Rose Patterson, from the Animal Rising campaign group, said the RSPCA needed to be a true leader for all animals and stop welfare-washing animal cruelty. The RSPCA Assured scheme originally known as Freedom Food was launched 30 years ago. Certified farms have to follow strict welfare standards that are set out by RSPCA welfare scientists and are higher than is legally required in the UK. Those that meet the standards can carry the label on their products, stocked in supermarkets including Aldi, Lidl, Sainsburys and Tesco, and restaurants including McDonalds and the Frankie & Bennys chain. The RSPCA added that both it and the RSPCA Assured scheme take any welfare concerns on farms very seriously - this is the sole focus of the scheme and central to the core work of the RSPCA. Failure to conform to the scheme standards is unacceptable". A spokeswoman added that once the findings of the review had been assessed we will take any necessary robust action. Donald Trumps top ally and attorney Rudy Giuliani was disbarred from practicing law in Washington DC on Thursday, months after a similar decision in his home state of New York left his reputation in tatters. The former New York City mayor was Trumps lead attorney in 2020 and early 2021 as the ex-president launched a series of increasingly desperate schemes to hold on to power. It began in Ukraine, where Giuliani was Trumps man on the ground as part of efforts to coerce that countrys government into opening a criminal investigation into Joe Biden, with the purpose of damaging Biden politically. After Giulianis shenanigans abroad lead to the first impeachment of Trump that year, the ex-mayor would go on to represent Trump at home during the 2020 election and in the days following. In the weeks after his defeat by Biden, Trump leaned on Giuliani and other members of his legal team like Jenna Ellis and Jon Eastman to file legal challenges aimed at halting or reversing the certification of the election results in states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Arizona. Those efforts failed across the board, and Giuliani himself was forced to admit in one instance that the Trump campaign never had the hard evidence of massive numbers of fraudulent ballots which Trump himself was claiming to have obtained. Rudy Giuliani poses for a mugshot weeks after pleading not guilty in an Arizona election interference case (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office) On Thursday, the consequences of that admission and his overall scheme to undo the election, which culminated in January 6 were laid bare once again in the nations capital. Giuliani will be permanently banned from practicing law in the District of Columbia. His spokesman Ted Goodman told NBC News that the decision was an absolute travesty and a total miscarriage of justice" and called on top legal minds to speak out in Giulianis defense. But the exact opposite has been happening for years; all credible constitutional legal scholars have rejected the various arguments put forward by the Trump team in 2020, and have derided the continued inability of Giuliani or anyone else who represented those arguments to actually prove the unsubstantiated claims of fraud they were pushing at the time. The people coming after Mayor Giuliani cant take away the fact that he remains the most effective prosecutor in American history, who did more to improve the lives of others than almost any other American alive today, Goodman added. Rudy Giuliani takes part in a press conference alongside members of Donald Trumps legal team including Sydney Powell. (REUTERS) Giuliani himself added an element of comedy and sad bufoonery to the proceedings with his own behavior. He frequently made outlandish claims which neither he nor his allies could back up, all the while relying on far-from-credible eyewitnesses who where thrust into the spotlight by Trumps legal team. Then there was the spectacle presented by the former mayor himself sweating some kind of black ooze at one press appearance, audibly breaking wind during one hearing where he attempted to present a group of Trump supporters as eyewitnesses to fraud, and calling a press conference at a landscaping company due to a confusing mix-up with the Four Seasons hotel. Altogether Giulianis contributions to Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election likely hurt more than they helped. Now, he claims the RNC and Trump campaign still owe him $2m in unpaid legal fees and he has filed for bankruptcy as the staggering costs of his ride-or-die attitude come to bear. Theres also the issue of the stunning $148m defamation judgement won against him by two election workers in Georgia, whom Giuliani and other Republicans led a harassment campaign against over bogus election fraud claims. But the fallout is not likely to end there. The once-mayor of New York still remains under felony indictment in Arizona, for the Trump campaigns election schemes there, as well as in Georgia where the case is currently held up by the Trump campaigns efforts to delay or shutter the case. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is disbarred in Washington, DC, the districts highest local court said Thursday, a move stemming from the ethics proceedings Giuliani faced in New York because of his efforts to help former President Donald Trump try to overturn the 2020 election. Those New York proceedings led to Giuliani losing his license to practice there this summer, and because the DC Bar has a reciprocal relationship with the New York Bar, he is now being disbarred in the district. According to the new order from the DC Court of Appeals, Giuliani did not respond to an opportunity to object to his disbarment in Washington. Giuliani is one of multiple former Trump attorneys who faced professional disciplinary proceedings for their participation in the former presidents election reversal schemes, but for most of the other Trump lawyers, their proceedings are still ongoing. In addition to the New York proceedings, Giuliani faces a separate track of DC Bar disciplinary proceedings focused on another 2020 election lawsuit he was involved in seeking to throw out thousands of Pennsylvania votes that have not yet reached their final phase. The fallout Giuliani has faced has been particularly acute. Prosecutors in Georgia and Arizona brought criminal charges against him related to the election subversion schemes (Giuliani has pleaded not guilty in both cases). Meanwhile, two Georgia election workers obtained a $148 million defamation judgment against him for false allegations he made about them after the 2020 election. The New York disciplinary attorney ethics proceedings against Giuliani played out mostly behind closed doors. In July, the New York Supreme Court said in its disbarment order that Giuliani not only deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession, but he also actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 Presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant. In a statement Thursday, Giuliani spokesperson Ted Goodman said that Members of the legal community who want to protect the integrity of our justice system should immediately speak out against this partisan, politically motivated decision. The people coming after Mayor Giuliani cant take away the fact that he remains the most effective prosecutor in American history, who did more to improve the lives of others than almost any other American alive today, Goodman said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The misconduct here sadly transcends all his past accomplishments, a legal ethics committee previously wrote of the onetime New York City mayor Anthony Devlin/Getty Rudolph Giuliani Rudy Giuliani the former mayor of New York City and ex-lawyer for Donald Trump was officially disbarred in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 26, for his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The news dropped on the same day that an indictment for current N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams was unsealed with five criminal counts related to foreign bribery and wire fraud. The decision to disbar Giuliani from practicing law in D.C. came more than a year after a legal ethics committee declared in a 38-page decision in July 2023 that his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in favor of Trump had done lasting damage to the oath he swore to support the U.S. Constitution. Per The Washington Post, the panel alluded to Giuliani's past as a beloved figure in politics who sought to bring Americans together in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The misconduct here sadly transcends all his past accomplishments, the committee wrote. It was unparalleled in its destructive purpose and effect. He sought to disrupt a presidential election and persists in his refusal to acknowledge the wrong he has done. Related: Rudy Giuliani Disbarred in New York for 'Flagrantly Misusing' His Power to Spread 2020 Election Lies Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Rudy Giuliani speaks at an event for Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign Giuliani's close connection with the former president, and his attempts to bend the law on Trump's behalf, have led to a near-unraveling of the legal career of a man once known as "America's mayor." In 2021, a New York appellate court ruled that Giuliani, who served as Trump's personal lawyer during the post-election frenzy, made "demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large" related to the election, in which Trump lost to Biden by about 7 million votes but nonetheless claimed it was rigged. The court then temporarily suspended Giuliani's law license in New York. Shortly after that, his D.C. law license was temporarily suspended. In July 2024, he was formally disbarred by a New York appeals court. Related: The Real Rudy Giuliani: Explosive New Docuseries Reveals the Dark Secrets Behind 'America's Mayor' Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks during a news conference in Miami in July 2021 Giuliani has been mired in multiple other legal issues related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Giuliani was indicted in a Georgia election subversion case in August 2023, alongside Trump himself and 17 other MAGA allies. He was indicted in May 2024 in a similar election interference case in Arizona. He has pleaded not guilty. Giuliani has faced a number of reported financial issues, too the result of millions of dollars in legal bills stemming from the 2020 election and from a probe into whether he acted as an unregistered lobbyist for Ukrainian officials. Related: Rudy Giuliani Ordered to Pay $148 Million for Defaming Georgia Election Workers Unrelated to the 2020 election, he was sued by a former staffer for sexual harassment in May 2023. The staffer, Noelle Dunphy, accused Giuliani of forcing her to have oral sex and intercourse. The lawsuit also alleged Giuliani was selling presidential pardons for $2 million. Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson later alleged in her 2023 memoir that, shortly before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot began, Giuliani groped her beneath her skirt while claiming the administration would find a way to stay in power. He denied the accusation. Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in December 2023, citing $500 million of debt. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Rudy Giuliani was disbarred in Washington after a three-judge panel in the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals cited his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Rudy Giuliani was disbarred from practicing law in Washington over his participation in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, a local appeals court ruled Thursday. The three-judge panel of the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals cited Giuliani's work representing former President Donald Trump in his efforts to undo his election loss to President Joe Biden in their decision. "We conclude that disbarment is the only sanction that will protect the public, the courts, and the integrity of the legal profession, and deter other lawyers from launching similarly baseless claims in the pursuit of such wide-ranging yet completely unjustified relief," the court's report said. Giuliani was among a cadre of figures attempting to help Trump remain in office despite losing the 2020 presidential election, including making calls to Republican leaders in various states. He still faces state charges in Georgia and Arizona because of his actions. They noted that Giuliani's efforts amounted to requesting a federal judge disenfranchise hundreds of Pennsylvania voters despite a lack of "objectively reliable evidence" a scheme against Trump existed. Giuliani, who became a national figure as mayor of New York City during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, had his license in the nation's capital temporarily barred in 2021. He had been a Washington bar member since 1976. New York state court stripped Giuliani of his bar license in July for making "demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large in his capacity as a lawyer" to Trump. A jury ordered Giuliani in December to pay $148 million to two election workers in Georgia who he charged without credible evidence of election fraud. He filed for bankruptcy after the verdict, which was dismissed and is currently under appeal. Rudy Giuliani has officially lost his law license in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, the New York City mayor turned sycophant to Donald Trump was disbarred from the practice of law in the District of Columbia. JUST IN: Rudy Giuliani has been officially disbarred in Washington, D.C. He had been suspended since his disciplinary proceedings last year. pic.twitter.com/xNnZefq0UT Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) September 26, 2024 This is an absolute travesty and a total miscarriage of justice. Members of the legal community who want to protect the integrity of our justice system should immediately speak out against this partisan, politically motivated decision, Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, wrote in a statement to Rolling Stone. The people coming after Mayor Giuliani cant take away the fact that he remains the most effective prosecutor in American history, who did more to improve the lives of others than almost any other American alive today. In July of last year, a D.C. appeals court ruled that Giuliani had forfeited his right to practice law and should be disbarred for his actions attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. A report issued by the Court of Appeals found that the former mayor and attorney had violated Pennsylvania law by filing a lawsuit seeking to change the result of the 2020 presidential election when he had no factual basis, and consequently, no legitimate legal grounds, to do so. Giulianis law license was suspended pending a final ruling. The loss of his bar accreditation is the latest in a series of legal blows against Giuliani. Earlier this week, a New York judge ruled that the former mayor owes $300,000 to a forensic accounting firm tasked with auditing his finances in now-abandoned bankruptcy proceedings sought by Giuliani. Earlier this month, New Hampshire District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Giuliani against President Joe Biden, which the presidents lawyers called utterly devoid of well-pled factual allegations. Giuliani has been criminally charged as a party to conspiracies aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 election in Arizona and Georgia where he is a co-defendant to Trump and was ordered to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of committing election fraud. At a Trump rally earlier last week, Giuliani touted his past as a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, promising to track down individuals seeking to harm the former president. Ill find them! he said. I did it to the mafia! I can do it to them! If youre behind it, Im looking at you and Im gonna get you! The loss of his bar accreditation certainly wont help him achieve that promise. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani had his law license permanently revoked in the nations capital, following similar action by a New York court earlier this year over Giulianis role in former President Donald Trumps attempt to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election. In a one-page order Thursday, the D.C. Court of Appeals did not directly address a bar committees recommendation in May that Giuliani be disbarred for pressing a legal challenge to the election results in Pennsylvania without factual support for the claims. Instead, a three-judge panel of the D.C. court found that Giuliani failed to respond to an order requiring him to explain why he shouldnt face reciprocal disbarment after a New York appeals courts decision to strip him of his law license in that state. The D.C. court temporarily suspended Giuliani in July 2021 after being notified of a similar suspension in New York. A disciplinary panel of the D.C. Bars Board of Professional Responsibility in 2022 recommended Giulianis disbarment, triggering the indefinite suspension of his law license. Giuliani had been fighting that proposal when the appeals court made its decision Thursday. "This is an absolute travesty and a total miscarriage of justice, said Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani. Members of the legal community who want to protect the integrity of our justice system should immediately speak out against this partisan, politically motivated decision. It was not immediately clear why Giuliani was unresponsive to the D.C. court while aggressively battling for more than two years the separate case brought against him by D.C. bar authorities in 2022. Lawyers handling the bar proceedings for Giuliani did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday. Though the courts decision did not turn on the D.C. Bar panels findings of misconduct, it is the culmination of a process that began with disciplinary investigations in both New York and Washington, D.C. Bar investigators accused Giuliani of unethical conduct over inaccurate and unsupported claims he made to a federal court in Pennsylvania as part of an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. A panel of judges in New York found similar misconduct when it disbarred Giuliani there, in the state where he rose to fame as a federal prosecutor and tough-on-crime Republican politician, before leading the city through the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Giuliani repeatedly and intentionally made false statements, some of which were perjurious, to the federal court, state lawmakers, the public and this Court concerning the 2020 Presidential election, in which he baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this countrys electoral process, the five-judge appellate panel said. In the worst week to be a New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani was officially disbarred in Washington D.C. by the districts highest court on Thursday. The decision follows a string ethics proceedings connected to the former mayors efforts to help Donald Trump overturn the 2020 election. According to the D.C. Court of Appeals, Giulianis disbarment stemmed from New York proceedings in July which led to him losing his license to practice law in his home state. The now-disgraced attorney did not respond when given an opportunity to object to his latest disbarment. Ted Goodman, Giulianis spokesperson slammed the decision as a politically motivated decision, before claiming The people coming after Mayor Giuliani cant take away the fact that he remains the most effective prosecutor in American history, who did more to improve the lives of others than almost any other American alive today. JUST IN: Rudy Giuliani has been officially disbarred in Washington, D.C. He had been suspended since his disciplinary proceedings last year. pic.twitter.com/xNnZefq0UT Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) September 26, 2024 Giulianis woes in Washington go beyond the high courts decision. He faced a number of disciplinary proceedings from the D.C. Bar regarding his involvement in a 2020 election lawsuit attempting to discard thousands of votes in Pennsylvania. In June, the organizations Board on Professional Responsibility concluded that Americas Mayor should be stripped of his ability to practice law in the nations capital. Meanwhile, the year prior, a disciplinary board for the Washington-based bar also recommended the former federal prosecutor be disbarred for his frivolous and destructive actions surrounding the 2020 election. He claimed massive election fraud but had no evidence of it, the three-member panel wrote in their decision. By prosecuting that destructive case Mr. Giuliani, a sworn officer of the Court, forfeited his right to practice law. The ex-New York Mayor turned GOP insider is one of several former Trump attorneys with ongoing professional disciplinary proceedings for their participation in the former presidents election subversion efforts. In Giulianis case, however, he also faces criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona related to election subversion, to which the former federal prosecutor pleaded not guilty. In Georgia, two election workers won a $148 million defamation suit against him for false allegations made after the 2020 election that sparked a swarm of racist comments and threats being sent to the employees. The former legal advisor to Trump filed for bankruptcy shortly after being found liable. USA-TRUMP/GIULIANI Rudy Giuliani is under increased pressure to pay a $146 million judgement after two Georgia election workers successfully sued him for defamation. Bonnie Cash/Reuters Giulianis representative said the defamation lawsuit was designed to censor and bully the mayor. His comments echo remarks made by current New York City mayor Eric Adams who was indicted on several federal criminal charges on Thursday. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became, Adams claimed. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The era of high oil price volatility linked to last year's global recession has ended. Since March 2024, there has been a clear shift towards increased demand for energy commodities. Spot prices and exchange quotations for futures are on the rise due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which has resulted in reduced production in Russia, a decline in oil and fuel reserves in the US, and the policy of OPEC+ states aimed at refusing to increase production this year. Additionally, stock markets are witnessing an upsurge in the demand for commodities, including gold, base metals, and oil, resulting in a notable increase in prices. But how will Azerbaijan withstand these new trends? Expanding the "Contract of the Century" The ACG fields are a cornerstone of Azerbaijans energy industry, initially developed under the historic "Contract of the Century" signed in 1994. On September 20, Azerbaijan signed a new gas agreement, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's energy industry. This agreement is centered on the exploration of previously untapped natural gas reserves located beneath the Azeri, Chirag, and Guneshli (ACG) oil fields. While these fields have traditionally been associated with oil production, this new contract underscores Azerbaijan's strategic shift towards diversifying its energy exports and harnessing the full potential of its established energy infrastructure. The new gas contract builds on the 2017 extension of this original oil deal, introducing a new layer of energy potential by targeting the free gas reserves beneath the oil fields. The discovery of these reserves is significant because they were not included in the original agreement. The new contract, focusing on tapping the deep gas layers of these fields, aligns with increasing global energy demands, as forecasted by OPECs 2023 annual report. With energy consumption projected to rise by 24% by 2050, the importance of securing natural gas resources has become a geopolitical necessity. In particular according to the data, by 2050, OPEC expects a 29.7% increase in gas demand, placing Azerbaijan in a strong position to contribute to this surge. With the estimated 112 billion cubic meters of gas from the ACG fields, Azerbaijan can support its gas exports, which reached 26 billion cubic meters in 2023. Strategic importance of existing infrastructure Though this figure is modest compared to Azerbaijans major gas fields, the value of the reserves, estimated at around $46-47 billion, is substantial. The synergy between the ACG oil and gas operations ensures that Azerbaijan can optimize resource extraction while reducing overall operational costs. With energy prices fluctuating and Europe seeking to reduce its dependency on Russian gas, Azerbaijans position as a reliable energy supplier is further solidified. Current European gas prices of approximately $415 per thousand cubic meters enhance the profitability of this project. Taking into consideration that, with established platforms like the West Chirag already in place, the cost of extracting natural gas will be significantly lower compared to new projects. So overall, one of the key advantages of the new agreement is indeed the presence of ready-made infrastructure in the ACG fields. Possible Risks of Oil Price Volatility Though Azerbaijan is boosting its gas production, the country might face risks related to oil price volatility, which could significantly impact its fiscal policies. The decision to set the oil price at $70 per barrel in the 2025 budget introduces risk, especially in the face of potential geopolitical instability. But even though by leveraging its gas resources, Azerbaijan can create a buffer against oil price fluctuations, diversifying its energy portfolio while maintaining its role as a vital supplier to Europe. Overall, Azerbaijans signing of this new contract for gas development within the ACG fields is a forward-looking strategy that aligns with the countrys broader geopolitical and economic goals. With global energy demand on the rise, this agreement strengthens Azerbaijan's role in the gas market while also offering economic benefits due to existing infrastructure. This new contract represents a calculated step into the futureone that balances immediate economic gains with long-term energy resilience. This agreement solidifies Azerbaijan's position as a dependable energy provider and strengthens its geopolitical influence, particularly regarding Europes energy requirements. Defense Express has reported that Russia has begun installing SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications on Shahed-136 attack drones. Source: Defense Express Details: Starlink equipment was spotted on one of the drones that Ukraines defence forces downed during a Russian attack on the night of 24-25 September. Defense Express published photos showing a satellite dish with a serial number, which investigators will use to trace the supply channels of the Starlink terminal. The terminal's numbers and QR code have been censored. Photo: Defense Express By equipping the Shaheds with satellite communications, Russia can obtain powerful feedback from these drones, along with the ability to transmit data from it and the capability to change flight tasks at any distance. Defense Express emphasised that this development primarily transforms a Shahed drone into a reconnaissance tool. With Starlink, Russians can use a Shahed drone as an extremely long-range loitering munition capable of additional reconnaissance with an extra camera, and which can even strike moving targets. Shaheds were likely chosen for this purpose due to their range (around 2,000 km) and significant internal space in the fuselage. Defense Express also noted that while Starlink does not operate and is not sold in Russia, the Russians are acquiring it through third-party countries. Support UP or become our patron! Soviet-era flats from the 1990s which dominate Russian cities are falling into disrepair and the lifts have become death-traps - robas/iStockphoto Russia will not replace 140,000 potentially dangerous lifts in state-run apartment buildings as it has diverted funds to the military. The Kremlin has cut social spending and now wants to override rules that force cash-starved housing companies to replace 25-year-old lifts after their expiry dates in mid-February. Postponing this date is currently being actively discussed, said Svetlana Razvorotneva, deputy chairman of the State Duma committee on housing. This week, a leaked draft of the Kremlins 2025 budget showed that spending on social projects will be cut by 10 per cent. Russia is focusing its spending on warfare, neglecting safety in high-rise flats - EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Military spending will rise by 25 per cent to fund Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine. Ms Razvorotneva said there were many dangerous lifts in Russia but she was being forced to delay repairs and replacements. Lifts have become very expensive now, she said. There is nothing in special accounts to pay for them, there is nowhere to borrow this from. Soviet-era high-rise apartment blocks dominate Russian cities and towns and their creaky but usually sturdy lifts are vital for residents. When they break down, residents complain. In one video posted on the Telegram social media app on Thursday, people living in an apartment complex in Moscow consisting of 10 blocks of 23 storeys complained that only 18 of 30 lifts were working. People are getting stuck in lifts. Panic attacks are happening. On Sept 10, not a single lift was working, said a spokesman for the residents. Data from Russias National Lift Union showed that roughly 20 people are killed each year in lift accidents in the country. In July, a lift at a hospital in central Moscow fell 15 floors and killed a workman. Abbas Gallyamov, Putins former speechwriter who now lives in exile, said that the Kremlins lift crisis showed its statements about the rude health of the Russian economy were inaccurate. Its the same people who tell us about the successes of the Russian economy, who now say that they have no money to repair lifts, he said. The Kremlin is to cut spending on social projects by 10pc to focus on investing in the war putting lives at risk in dangerous lifts - AP The Kremlin has prioritised its war in Ukraine over Russian society, making life for ordinary people more expensive and dangerous. Psychologists have accused the Kremlin of ignoring the mental impact of the war and data released by the Verstka opposition media channel this week showed that veterans of the Ukraine war have murdered 242 people since returning home, mainly their wives and girlfriends. The Kremlins emphasis on recruitment for its armies in Ukraine has also distorted the labour market, leading to shortages. Russian police forces have been hit hard because officers are paid roughly half the salary of a soldier. Russias Ukraine war veterans also enjoy extra perks such as having their debt forgiven, criminal prosecutions dropped and priority consideration for comfortable regional political appointments. Some areas of Moscow have reported that 75 per cent of their police officers have left to join the Russian army. Russias interior ministry said this week that budget reductions meant it simply could not afford to increase police salaries. One Russian resident told The Telegraph: Crime is getting worse because people know there is a way to avoid punishment. Still, at least all three lifts in my apartment block are working. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Washington believes Moscow is 'cutting its own deals' with the Huthis to allow their ships to sail through the Red Sea unharmed (Mohammed HUWAIS) (Mohammed HUWAIS/AFP/AFP) The United States has accused Russia of discussing weapon transfers with Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels whose attacks on Red Sea shipping are holding hostage a vital commercial waterway. Speaking to AFP on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said Moscow was "cutting its own deals" with the Huthis to allow their ships to sail through the Red Sea unharmed. "We have confirmation that the Russians and the Huthis are in dialogue about ways to cooperate," including on weapon transfers, Lenderking said Wednesday. "We don't know that weapons are being transferred as we speak, but it's come to the point that we're all sounding the alarm bell to make sure that this does not happen," he added. If the weapon transfers were to materialize, it "could potentially change the conflict in a significant manner", Lenderking said, warning of "an escalation" that would derail already stalled efforts to end Yemen's decade-long war. "The notion that the Russians would provide the Huthis with lethal weapons is deeply alarming to the countries of the region," he said. Russia has been stepping up military relationships with Iran and North Korea, both under heavy sanctions, as it seeks to bolster its arsenal in its war in Ukraine. Russia's relationship with the United States has deteriorated sharply since the invasion of Ukraine, with Washington leading the West in slapping sanctions on Moscow and arming Kyiv. Russia, however, has a cordial relationship with oil producer Saudi Arabia, which waged a military campaign against the Huthis and would be alarmed by any step to boost the insurgents. - 'Pressures and inducements' - The Huthis have been firing drones and missiles at ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November, saying they are targeting vessels linked to Israel, the United States and Britain in a show of solidarity with Palestinians over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Huthi campaign has killed at least four sailors and sunk two ships. One vessel -- the Galaxy Leader -- was hijacked in November and continues to be held by the Huthis along with its 25 international crew. The United States and Britain have been striking Huthi targets in Yemen since January in an attempt to deter further strikes. Their efforts, however, have failed to slow the attacks that have disrupted maritime traffic in a commercial waterway that normally carries up to 12 percent of global trade. The US envoy noted a flurry of diplomatic efforts on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to curb the Red Sea attacks. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Yemen with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council in New York on Wednesday, Lenderking said. "My team and I have been meeting with the Saudis, the Emiratis, the Omanis, and the Yemen government this week," he added. "I think we're all looking for what is the right set of pressures and inducements to encourage the Huthis to back away from the Red Sea," he said. "Our preferred outcome is diplomatic." When asked about Iran's role in the Russia-Huthi talks, the US envoy said: "Iran is always looking for ways to protect and amplify the interest of the Huthis." ho/sct/md Russian attacks against Ukraine kill at least 8, injure 44 over past day Russian attacks against Ukraine killed eight people and injured at least 44 others over the past day, regional authorities said on Sept. 26. Ukrainian forces downed 66 out of 78 Shahed-type drones and four Kh-59/69 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight from, the Air Force reported. Eight more drones were "lost" in a few regions and another one "went back to Russia," it added. More than 15 drones were spotted near Kyiv, with around 10 of them downed by air defenses, local authorities said. The rest of the drones were destroyed over 14 of Ukraine's oblasts, the Air Force reported. Russian forces also attacked Odesa Oblast with four missiles overnight, killing a 62-year-old woman, Governor Oleh Kiper said. Two more missiles were fired at Sumy Oblast. The drone attack also damaged a critical infrastructure facility in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine's west, causing a partial power outage, according to local authorities. Another Russian drone flew near the industrial site of the Rivne nuclear power plant at "a critically low altitude," state nuclear energy agency Energoatom said. A Russian overnight air strike on the city of Zaporizhzhia injured at least 10 people, including a 14-year-old boy, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov. The attack destroyed and damaged 12 houses. Two people were killed and 19 injured in the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast as a result of a Russian Sept. 25 attack, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Two more people were killed in the settlements of Hirnyk and Dronivka. A civilian was killed in a Russian guided aerial bomb attack on the Yunakivka community in Sumy Oblast, local authorities reported. A Russian attack on the village of Ivashky in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of Sept. 26 injured a person, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 24 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. Two people were killed and 14 were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Read also: Explosions heard in Kyiv as Russia reportedly launches Kinzhal missiles Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Reuters) - Russian attacks on Ukraine's east on Thursday killed at least three people and injured five more, regional authorities said. Donetsk region governor Vadym Filashkin said on the Telegram messenger that one person was killed and three others wounded near the town of Chasiv Yar, which Russian troops have been pressing their assault on for months. In the night hours, Filashkin added, two people were killed and two injured in Russian shelling of nearby Toretsk. More than 2/1-2 years since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the eastern front line remains the place of the most intensive fighting. Moscow's troops have been steadily inching forward towards the strategic hub of Pokrovsk, and recently advanced towards the town of Vuhledar, further to the south. Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians, although its troops have killed thousands of them during their invasion. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Peter Graff) A Russian FAB-500 guided aerial bomb, which likely failed to detonate upon impact, was found near the Ivan Kharytonenko road bridge in the city of Sumy on the morning of 26 September. The road was closed to traffic. Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration on Telegram Quote: "Bomb disposal experts and all necessary services are working at the site. The bridge is temporarily closed to traffic and pedestrians in the direction of Heroiv Krut-Troitska." Details: Later, the authorities reported that bomb disposal teams from Ukraine's State Emergency Service had promptly dealt with the threat. The bridge has been reopened to traffic. They added that 13 Russian Shahed loitering munitions had been shot down from the sky over Sumy Oblast on the night of 25-26 September. Background: On the evening of 25 September, Russian troops launched attack drones on Ukraine Explosions were heard in Kyiv all night and air defence units were responding. Fallen wreckage from a Russian Shahed drone caused a fire on the ground floor of a residential building in the Pecherskskyi district of Kyiv on the morning of 26 September. Approximately 20 cars have been damaged and wreckage has fallen on a kindergarten. Explosions also rang out in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. Support UP or become our patron! In this photo taken from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry press service on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, a Russian BM-21 Grad self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher fires on an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukraines air defenses battled an overnight Russian aerial attack on the capital Kyiv for five hours, officials said Thursday, as missiles and drones again hammered the Ukrainian power grid. The Kyiv attack injured at least two people, Ukraines Emergency Service said. A kindergarten, a gas pipe and around 20 cars were damaged in the city, said the Kyiv Military Administration. In western Ukraine, the air force said, Russia fired three Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles one of Russias most advanced weapons in the direction of Starokostiantyniv, a city in the Khmelnytskyi region, on Thursday morning. The air force said it could not make further information public, suggesting the missiles were aimed at a sensitive site. Long-range strikes have been a hallmark of Russias military campaign in Ukraine, now deep in its third year, often hitting civilian areas. Attacks on the electricity network have knocked out around 70% of Ukraines energy generation capacity, according to the United Nations, bringing blackouts as winter approaches. Air defense systems are a critical need for Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to meet President Joe Biden in Washington on Thursday in an effort to ensure continuing U.S. military support for his country. Energy infrastructure was hit in Ukraine's western Ivano-Frankivsk region, causing a blackout in parts of the regional capital of the same name, regional Gov. Svitlana Onyshchuk said. The power grid was also targeted in the southern Mykolaiv region, local authorities said without immediately providing further details. Russia launched six missiles and 78 Shahed drones at Ukraine overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, Ukraines air force said. Defenses destroyed four of the missiles and 66 drones in the air, it said. In the south, a missile killed a 62-year-old woman in the Odesa region, where homes and cars were damaged, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said. In the city of Zaporizhzhia, at least 10 people were injured in the overnight attack, including a 14-year-old, said regional governor Ivan Fedorov. He published photographs of houses with their windows blown out and walls riddled with shrapnel. The Emergency Service said 12 residential buildings were damaged in the city and 18 people were evacuated. Meanwhile, in the northeastern Sumy region ordnance experts defused a 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) glide bomb that landed without exploding next to a bridge over the River Psel. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Russian soldiers continue to commit crimes upon coming back home from war against Ukraine Russian soldiers who come back home from the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine are continuing to commit crimes. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW); Russian online news outlet Verstka Details: Verstka reported that Russian veterans of the war in Ukraine have killed at least 242 civilians and seriously injured another 227 since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Verstka also noted that former convicts who joined Russia's war against Ukraine commit more murders than other military personnel and more crimes against women. The media outlet has information indicating that the Russian authorities have pardoned or conditionally released at least 246 conscripts and 180 servicemen for their crimes. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 25 September: Russian President [sic] Vladimir Putin continues to threaten the possibility of a nuclear confrontation between Russia and the West in order to exert further control over Western decision-making and discourage the West from allowing Ukraine to use Western-provided weapons to strike military objects in Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia is preparing for potential strikes against Ukraines three remaining operational nuclear power plants ahead of the coming winter, highlighting the Kremlin's unwillingness to engage in good-faith negotiations and continued commitment to the destruction of the Ukrainian state and its people. A Russian company is reportedly collaborating with entities in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to develop an attack drone for Russia's war in Ukraine. Russia continues to deepen its relationship with Iran's Axis of Resistance, this time reportedly via Iran-brokered talks facilitating Russian missile transfers to Yemen's Houthi rebels. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances in Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian forces continued to regain positions in Vovchansk. Russian forces advanced northwest of Kreminna, in Toretsk, and southeast of Pokrovsk. Russian forces reportedly advanced within and around Vuhledar (southwest of the city of Donetsk) amid continued offensive efforts to seize the settlement. Veterans of Russia's war in Ukraine continue to commit crimes upon returning to Russia. Support UP or become our patron! A Russian drone was seen flying at a dangerously low height close to the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant industrial site on the night of 24-25 September. Source: press service of Energoatom Quote: "Once again, Russian troops pose a threat to the nuclear safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants," notes Energoatom, the Ukrainian state-owned nuclear company. The company stresses that nobody is allowed to go against the fundamentals of radiation and nuclear safety. Background: An attack drone's flight near Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant was captured on camera on 22 September. Power experts have documented over 70 drones and over 30 Russian Federation cruise missiles flying close to nuclear power reactors in Ukraine within the last two weeks. Support UP or become our patron! Russians drop guided aerial bomb on residential area in Kharkiv, injuring five people photos The aftermath of the attack. Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs Five people have been injured in Kharkiv when a Russian guided aerial bomb struck a residential area in the city. Sources: Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration; Ukraines Interior Ministry; Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office Quote from Terekhov: "We have preliminary information about a house being hit by a guided aerial bomb." Details: Later, the mayor said that early reports indicated that three people were injured. "All three have shrapnel wounds," he said. The aftermath of the attack Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs Terekhov said that according to updated information, two women suffered numerous cuts with glass, and a man had an acute stress reaction. The aftermath of the attack. Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs Update: The head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration clarified that emergency medics provided assistance to four people who were injured, two of whom suffered an acute stress reaction. Two more women were injured by glass, and one of them was hospitalised. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that there are currently five casualties. It is reported that one of the guided aerial bombs hit the territory of a residential area in the Kyivskyi district. Two residential buildings and an outbuilding were damaged. A fire broke out. A hit was also recorded in the forest belt, where the forest litter was burning. Background: On 24 September, the Russians launched eight FAB-500 bombs at residential areas of Kharkiv, hitting residential buildings in the Kyivskyi and Saltivskyi districts and killing four people. Support UP or become our patron! Russians hit Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring one man photos The aftermath of the attack. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office The Russian troops fired on the settlement of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring a 78-year-old man. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office Quote: "The investigation states that the Russian armed forces fired on the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi at around 16:30 on 26 September. A 78-year-old man was injured. Residential buildings and outbuildings were damaged." The aftermath of the attack Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office The aftermath of the attack Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office Details: Moreover, the law enforcement officers recorded a drone strike on Kupiansk at around 09:20. Also, around 11:00, Russia fired on the village of Kivsharivka. The building of an educational institution was damaged. Support UP or become our patron! The Russians launched three Kh-47 M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles in the direction of Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytskyi Oblast on the morning of 26 September. The Ukrainian Air Force states that the information about strikes is not public. Source: Ukrainian Air Force Quote: "From 10:00 to 11:00 on 26 September 2024 three launches of Kh-47 M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from the airspace of the Russian Federation in the direction of Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytskyi Oblast were recorded. Early reports say four MiG-31K fighter jets were in the sky above Russia. The information regarding the sites of the strikes is not public." Details: The Ukrainian Air Force urged the population to quickly react to air-raid warnings, especially when there is a threat of aeroballistic Kinzhal missiles. Background: A military airbase, which has been struck with missiles and attacked by drones by the Russians multiple times since 2022, is located in the settlement of Starokostiantyniv. An air-raid warning was issued throughout Ukraine on the morning of 26 September due to the takeoff of MiG-31K fighter jets in Russia, which are carriers of the Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. The warning lasted for about half an hour. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces struck the village of Ivashky in Kharkiv Oblast on 26 September, injuring a 50-year-old local man. Source: the National Police of Ukraine Quote: "On 26 September at about 07:30 Russian troops shelled the village of Ivashky with artillery. A 50-year-old local man was injured and hospitalised with blast injuries." Details: The Russians also destroyed a one-storey residential building, damaged outbuildings, garages, two cars, a motorcycle and storage facilities. An investigative-operative group, forensics and bomb technicians has inspected the site of attack. A criminal proceeding on the fact of violating the laws and customs of war (Article 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) was initiated. Support UP or become our patron! (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, discussed humanitarian issues linked to the 2-1/2-year-old conflict in Ukraine, his ministry said late on Wednesday. "The sides noted constructive development in the Russia-Vatican dialogue, in terms of relations between states and churches and mutual actions in the humanitarian sphere in the context of the Ukrainian crisis," the ministry statement said. The ministry said talks with the cardinal, in effect Pope Francis's number two in the Vatican hierarchy, also focused on the "reasons for the geopolitical crisis, a direct consequence of the consistent anti-Russian policies of Western countries". Their meeting took place in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session. A papal envoy has visited Kyiv and Moscow as part of efforts to bring home Ukrainian children authorities in Kyiv say have been deported by Russia. Francis has repeatedly called for peace and deplored attacks that caused loss of life during the conflict. Kyiv's relations with the Vatican, underpinned by the presence in Ukraine of some 5 million Eastern Rite Catholics, have been strained at times due to a number of Francis's statements since Russian forces invaded in February 2022. (Reporting by Ron Popeski; editing by Jonathan Oatis) (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that Moscow viewed the notion of "denuclearising" North Korea as a "closed issue" as it understood Pyongyang's logic of relying on nuclear weapons as the foundation of its defence. Lavrov, answering a question on his ministry's website, said Russia would stand alongside North Korea in resisting what he said the U.S. portrays as "expanded nuclear deterrence" alongside South Korea and Japan in the Asia-Pacific region. "This is clearly a real and extremely serious threat to regional security," Lavrov wrote. "In these conditions the very term of 'denuclearisation' as applied to North Korea has lost all meaning. For us, this is a closed issue." Russia has forged closer diplomatic and military ties with North Korea since invading Ukraine in February 2022 and Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have visited each other's countries. Ukrainian experts have produced evidence that missiles produced in North Korea, subject to international sanctions for many years, have been deployed against Ukrainian targets. Moscow and Pyongyang both deny any illicit arms trade or shipments. North Korea has said it will never abandon its reliance on nuclear weapons to ensure its security against South Korea and the United States, which stations some 24,000 troops on South Korean territory. The two sides regularly stage joint drills. North Korea tested new tactical ballistic missiles this month as leader Kim Jong Un called for stronger conventional weapons and nuclear capabilities. In his comments, Lavrov said Russia strongly disagreed with the "senseless" imposition of sanctions by Western countries. Before its invasion of Ukraine, Russia had for many years signed on to U.N.-backed sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear tests. Lavrov said Russia would stand together with North Korea in "confronting a joint adversary" and "consistently strengthen friendship and cooperation" with Pyongyang. (Reporting by Ron Popeski) Rust Judge to Rule Next Week on Armorers Bid for New Trial A judge is set to rule next week on whether to overturn the conviction of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who is serving an 18-month sentence in the accidental death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. During a virtual hearing on Thursday, Gutierrez Reeds attorney, Jason Bowles, urged Santa Fe Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to dismiss the case because evidence was withheld before her trial in February. More from Variety Bowles alluded to the judges decision to dismiss a similar charge against Alec Baldwin, calling that one of the biggest debacles of ethical misconduct, probably in the history of New Mexico. He argued that Gutierrez Reed was subject to similar misconduct, and should get the same result. I will consider these arguments as well as the pleadings, Marlowe Sommer said. I plan to issue the order early next week. Gutierrez Reed was convicted on March 6 of involuntary manslaughter, as a jury found she had committed criminal negligence by loading a live bullet into Baldwins gun. Baldwins case was dismissed with prejudice during his trial in July, after the judge ruled that prosecutor Kari Morrissey had withheld a cache of bullets from Baldwins defense. Bowles argued that the state had also failed to turn over evidence before Gutierrez Reeds trial, including a forensic report that identified unexplained toolmarks on Baldwins gun. We could have used that at trial, he said. Its inexplicable that we didnt have this report. He said the state had also withheld an interview with Seth Kenney, the weapons supplier and a key witness in the case. That evidence, Bowles argued, could have been used to impeach Kenneys testimony. This pattern of discovery abuse occurred in Ms. Gutierrez Reeds case in the same manner as it did in Mr. Baldwins case, Bowles said. This case is so egregious lying, cheating and hiding evidence. In her response, Morrissey conceded that Kenneys interview was suppressed, and should have been turned over. Hes absolutely right, Morrissey said. It was absolutely a failure. Theres no question about it. But she argued that the interview was duplicative of other statements Kenney had given, which the defense had access to. She also argued that other statements were unhelpful or irrelevant to Gutierrez Reeds defense. And she has maintained that the forensic report would have been of no use to Bowles, as his theory was that the gun was functioning properly. She also said the failure to turn over the report was inadvertent. Nothing was intentionally buried, she said. Bowles is asking either for a new trial or for the case to be dismissed outright. He also asked that Morrissey be barred from prosecuting the case if it is tried again. Morrissey argued that Bowles had failed to make a proper motion to have her excluded from a retrial, and that therefore that request should be denied. Bowles also urged the judge to release his client from prison pending her appeal. Gutierrez Reed has served six months of her 18-month sentence. Morrissey is also asking the judge to revive the Baldwin prosecution, arguing that Baldwins lawyers had successfully confused the judge about the relevance of the withheld bullets. Marlowe Sommer has yet to rule on that motion. Assuming it is denied, Morrissey has suggested that the state may appeal the dismissal to a higher court. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hannah Gutierrez, center, sits with her attorney Jason Bowles and paralegal Carmella Sisneros during her sentencing hearing in Santa Fe, N.M. (Eddie Moore / Associated Press) A New Mexico judge will weigh whether "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez should be given a new trial amid allegations that prosecutors concealed evidence in the on-set shooting case. New Mexico First Judicial Circuit Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said Thursday that she would issue a ruling next week on whether to grant a new trial. She will also consider a motion from defense attorney Jason Bowles to immediately release Gutierrez from prison while the court considers her motion. The rulings for immediate release and a new trial will be issued in two separate orders, Sommer said during an hourlong hearing Thursday morning with Bowles and special prosecutor Kari Morrissey. Gutierrez was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter in the accidental on-set shooting death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Prosecutors alleged at the time that Gutierrez brought live rounds of ammunition to the set and loaded it into a prop gun that actor Alec Baldwin was holding. Baldwin was pointing the prop gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal when it discharged. Gutierrez is currently serving an 18-month sentence in prison for her role in the shooting. But the case took a turn in July. Sommer dismissed a felony criminal charge against Baldwin after his attorneys alleged misconduct, including alleged collusion between the prosecutor and Santa Fe County sheriffs deputies to conceal from defense attorneys a bag of ammunition that could have been evidence in the case. Days after that ruling, Gutierrez's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss her case as well. In the Thursday hearing, Bowles said the bag of ammunition, a report from a firearms expert hired by the special prosecutor and an interview with the owner of a company that provided the guns, blanks and some dummy rounds for "Rust" were not disclosed to the defense. The ammo was revealed to have a stamp that was an identifying characteristic of the "Rust" bullets. "We are asking for a dismissal on the same basis as this court dismissed Mr. Baldwin's case," Bowles said during the hearing. He also asked the judge to consider removing Morrissey from the trial as special prosecutor. Morrissey disputed Bowles' claims, arguing that they did not meet the legal standard for granting a new trial. She also opposed Gutierrez's request for immediate release. "When you look at the six factors that the court has to consider when granting a new trial, the defense doesn't get there," she said during the hearing. "They simply do not get there." Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (This story was updated to include additional information and to add or change a photo or video.) State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters called Thursday for another $3 million to provide a Bible in every public school classroom. Walters said during the monthly meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education that the funds would be coupled with $3 million from last year for a total of $6 million to provide Bibles for public schools throughout Oklahoma. He said he wanted to purchase New King James Version editions that were free from commentary, although he noted it would be fine if the books included other key historical documents, such as the U.S. Constitution. "We are not looking for this religious group or that one or this church to say, 'This is how we interpret this,'" he said. "That's not the intent here. It's simply to be the text of a historical document and its usage in American history." Walters made the request during a two-hour discussion focused on the education agency's budget. He said a specific allocation to buy Bibles would be a "significant step" in ensuring that Oklahoma was not allowing the left to "censor" American history. "We've talked about the efforts of left-wing groups and the teachers unions to drive the Bible out of school," Walters said. "I believe it's important for historical context for kids to understand the role the Bible played." Previous mandate on providing Bibles in Oklahoma classrooms garnered national criticism The plan to purchase Bibles for public school classrooms comes nearly two months after the superintendent sent a letter to state school districts, ordering them to incorporate the Bible as an instructional support for student curriculum in fifth through 12th grades. Walters wrote that he wanted the Bible referenced as a historical document. Adherence to this mandate is compulsory, Walters letter to the school districts said. Further instructions for monitoring and reporting on this implementation for the 2024/25 school year will be forthcoming. Immediate and strict compliance is expected. More: Ryan Walters' Bible mandate proves unsurprising for Oklahoma atheists Walters' mandate, however, proved controversial and has made national headlines. Representatives of several religious organizations, including the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, questioned the proposal. At least one lawsuit over the mandate is working its way through state courts. The directive prompted at least a dozen of the states largest districts to announce they have no intention of altering their curriculum to incorporate the order. Be the first to know: Sign up for The Oklahoman's breaking news alerts We adamantly oppose any requirements that religion be forcefully taught or required as a part of lesson plans in public schools, in Oklahoma, or anywhere else in the country, said Adam Soltani, the executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. At Thursday's education board meeting, all four of the appointed members in attendance asked questions about, and expressed support for, Walters' plans to distribute Bibles to every classroom in Oklahoma. Board member Sarah Lepak said she wanted to know who would be selecting Bibles and what version would be used. The version backed by Walters, the New King James Version, was first published in 1982 and, according to Cambridge University Press, is a modernization of the original King James Version of 1611. Both publications use the same underlying Greek text for the New Testament, the university said. Walters said he supported that version because of its widespread use. "We had a study that the vast majority of textbooks that use quotations from individuals throughout American history is citing the King James version," he said. Lepak asked Michael Beason, the department's general counsel, to provide board members some legal guidance about the mandate. "It's no surprise to anyone that's had this conversation with me, I am very uncomfortable with any kind of idea and I know you said this isn't what is going to happen any kind of idea about proselytizing, establishing some kind of state religion. Doing things that may end up favoring one religion over another," she said. "I have not heard anything that makes me say, 'This is unconstitutional and we have a big problem.' If I heard that, I would be putting the breaks on this right now as much as I could." Walters said he believed it was essential that every student has access to the Bible. He said the additional $3 million budget request would cover those costs and suggested the department issue a request for proposals to acquire the Bibles. "We're not buying a book and pushing it because of a religion we're pushing," he said. "We're doing it to be historically accurate." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters calls for additional $3M for Bibles in Oklahoma classrooms The Sacramento Bees AAPI Change Makers: The Top 20 leaders you need to know in the region Bold. Dedicated. Remarkable. These are just some of the words community members used when nominating the following capital region leaders who have made significant contributions to Sacramento and beyond. The Sacramento Bees Top 20 Asian American and Pacific Islander Change Makers include judges and lawyers, small business owners and nationally recognized nonprofit and private sector leaders. What they have in common is the ability to activate those around them. Ranging in age from 27 to 91, this cohort of change makers is a reminder that making a difference can happen at any time and in any sector, including community advocacy, consulting and politics. The Change Maker series is a collaboration between The Sacramento Bees Equity Lab and the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program. The project celebrates pioneers in the Latino, Black and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. This round of AAPI Change Makers represents the first in a series of three which will run into early next year. During this time, well honor leaders in the Latino and Black communities, too. The nomination portal for the Latino series is open through mid-October. Well honor the latest round of change makers, bringing together the latest 60 leaders, at an event at Sacramento States University Ballroom on April 4, 2025. Tickets can be purchased here. Since the change makers projects inception in 2022, it has honored 155 individuals from all walks of life. The selection committee made up of past Change Makers, members of the Nehemiah Community Foundation and The Sacramento Bee convened in August to analyze the communitys nominations and condense the list down to 20. Our selection committee included: Debra Ota Kent, executive director of the Health Education Council; Jim Tabuchi, serial social entrepreneur; Scott Syphax, founder of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program; Scot Siden, chief operating officer of the Nehemiah Community Foundation; Deneva Shelton, chief executive officer of the Nehemiah Community Foundation; Sabrina Bodon, editor of The Sacramento Bees Equity Lab; and Colleen McCain Nelson, executive editor of The Sacramento Bee. Now, lets meet The Sacramento Bee Equity Labs Top 20 AAPI Change Makers: Khydeeja Alam, executive director of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, poses for a portrait Aug. 30, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Khydeeja Alam Executive Director, California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs If you ask Khydeeja Alam what makes her proud, shell tell you a story. While visiting a class of 30 college students in March, she met a young woman. Im happy to see you in this position, the girl said. Because I see myself through you. Alam, 41, is the first South Asian and Muslim American to take the helm as executive director of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. Her job is to assist policy makers in identifying issues affecting AAPI communities in California. For Alam, her achievements help her community and show girls and women they deserve a seat at the table, she said. We have to tell ourselves that we belong in places like these, she said. We need to reassure that we belong in these spaces. Alam has been described as a significant problem solver in Sacramento by her colleague, Chao Vang. Throughout her career, she has helped pass legislation that benefited vulnerable communities, including Proposition 38, which increased funding for early education and K-12 schools. As the former board president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley/Central California, she helped the organization secure statewide grants and positioned it as a leading advocate for Californias Muslim community. She also serves on the Advisory Council for Muslimahs in Policy, a nonprofit that seeks to amplify womens voices in policy and to engage in civic engagement and advocacy. Throughout her life, Alam has always been motivated by the perseverance of her community. She came to the U.S. from Pakistan when she was 13. She didnt know any English and was bullied throughout grade school. But she didnt let those hardships stop her. What my parents taught me was resilience, Alam said. This community taught me resilience. And thats what keeps me going. All I want to do is make a positive impact for our community. Julie Cha, owner J Cruz Beauty Bar, poses for a portrait Sept. 24, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Julie Cha Cruz Owner, J Cruz Beauty Bar Julie Cha Cruzs journey into beauty began during her sophomore year of high school, when she marveled at how two sweaty friends managed to keep their makeup flawless while playing volleyball. How did they keep their makeup on them? Cruz, 40, recalled thinking. From there, I started to explore. At the time, Cruz struggled with insecurities centered around her physical appearance. She grew up in North Sacramento to refugee parents from Laos, a Southeast Asian country. Beauty was never a priority in her family, Cruz said. Her parents were merely struggling to provide for their family of nine children. My parents only knew what they were taught, which was to constantly survive, Cruz said. Makeup offered Cruz an outlet to improve her self-confidence and break away from what she called the generational trauma of her parents. During the last three years of high school, Cruz taught herself everything she could about applying makeup. By graduation, she dreamt of one day opening her own beauty salon. Financial obstacles kept her from attending beauty school, so Cruz shifted to massage therapy. She spent the next several years working at a chiropractic office and practicing her beauty skills on family and friends. In 2015, Cruz learned about paramedical tattooing an advanced cosmetic procedure used to replace skin pigmentation and conceal scars. Cruz has since performed more than 6,000 procedures including tattooing areolas for breast cancer survivors and helping people dealing with alopecia and hair loss. I always enjoyed doing makeup, but that took it to another level, Cruz said. In 2018, Cruz reached the proudest moment of her career by opening J Cruz Beauty Bar a salon off Broadway in Sacramentos Land Park area. The business embodies her commitment to create safe spaces where women feel empowered and confident, regardless of whether it involves makeup. You need to do whatever it takes to make you feel good, Cruz said. That is the most important thing. What you dont need is validation from anyone else. Dana Cruz, governmental affairs attorney at Judicial Council of California, poses for a portrait Aug. 20, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Dana Cruz Governmental Affairs Attorney, Judicial Council of California Born and raised in Pittsburg, California, Dana Cruz, 32, earned a law degree from UC Davis after studying political science and public policy at UC Berkeley. This led him to work in the state Senate as a fellow and then as a fiscal policy adviser at the California Department of Finance. Prior to starting his career in public policy, Cruz served for several years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He has also volunteered as a military lawyer in the California State Guard, providing pro bono legal assistance to soldiers deployed around the world. While working for Sen. Janet Nguyen, Cruz helped propose Senate Bill 410, which streamlines the process for veterans to apply for state government jobs, and shepherded it through the legislative process. Cruz, who comes from a large military family, said that helping those who have served and want to continue their service at the state level was an accomplishment for him. Im sure the state wants good, hard-working, service-oriented people, Cruz said. Helping connect those goals was great. Cruz also helped design the statewide eviction moratorium and rental assistance program during COVID-19 the first such program of its magnitude in the nation. The idea of service is always guiding Cruz in his pursuits, he said. He has been at the Judicial Council for about a year and enjoys his work, which continuously teaches him about the judicial branch of government. By your own existence, you have something to offer to society and to the world, Cruz said. You have a perspective. You have something special. Never doubt what you can bring to the table, never question whether you belong at the table. Mary Halterman, a budget manager at the state Department of Finance, noted that Cruz found a calling in helping people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, co-founding the Sacramento Filipino-American Lawyers Association to serve the Filipino-American community and mentor aspiring lawyers. Rich Forman CEO, Apptology; COO, IGH Naturals; CTO, MarketingHer is an AAPI change maker photographed on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024 in Sacramento. Rich Foreman CEO, Apptology While at a playground watching his young daughter in the early 2000s, Rich Foreman thought of an app. The iPhone had just come out, Foreman, 55, said. I had an idea for a talking book. It was called iMother Goose, and using that as a template, we probably created 25 apps. The venture wasnt lucrative, earning Foreman only a few hundred dollars, but the script put him well on his way to developing apps for others. That was the start of Apptology, Foremans Folsom-based software company that specializes in custom-built mobile apps. Since 2010, it has been part of the development of more than 400 apps. Foreman, an industrial engineer by trade and a former U.S. Navy officer, singles out a wellness app for first responders used by police departments in Vacaville and Dixon as the one hes most proud of. That app helped suicidal individuals and has since been purchased by a private equity firm. Foreman has been on the forefront of connecting tech entrepreneurs in the Sacramento region. He launched Startup Folsom to build a network and recently began staffing up Medstar, a nonprofit to promote medical and life science startups in the region. Theres magic when I see people get together and they start talking and they actually create their own startup, Foreman said. His days primarily consist of working with two new startups: a marketing platform for real estate agents powered by AI and another business working to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. My mom died of cancer, which is why this is a little more personal to me, Foreman said. Personally, my big contribution to society is having it out here to help cancer patients. Andrew Frank, emeritus professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering at UC Davis, poses for a portrait Aug. 22, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Andrew Frank Emeritus professor of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, UC Davis If youve ever traveled in a modern plug-in hybrid electric car, thats thanks to Andrew Frank. Frank is widely regarded as the father of the modern plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, which helped transform clean transportation. The objective was always to improve, Frank, 91, said. Improvement in terms of performance and improvement in terms of fuel economy. Frank has been teaching students about engineering since 1969. Hes currently an emeritus professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering at University of California, Davis. He retired in 2017. He was born in China and later grew up in Southern California. Even before he had his drivers license, Frank spent his teenage years in the 50s working on hot rod cars. Despite his interest in engineering, he was told by high school counselors in Southern California to become a mechanic, which he said was because of his Chinese heritage. But he didnt care what they thought and pursued engineering anyway. Years later, he built the first modern plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with his students in 1971. We didnt have the advanced electronics we currently have today. And because of that, to do everything, we did almost anything mechanically, Frank said. But I showed that it could be done. The invention of the plug-in hybrid electric car has been considered key in the adoption of cleaner cars, said Zan Dubin, a friend of Franks. It allowed drivers across the world to reduce emissions and meet global climate goals. Frank worked on high-profile projects throughout his career. He contributed to the X-15 research project and the Apollo spacecraft. If you step foot on any helicopter today, youll experience Franks work firsthand. Frank built the first stability augmentation system, which is a control device that responds to disturbances and atmospheric gusts. What I have tried to show (is that) these concepts and these numbers are achievable with the technology we clearly have, Frank said. We dont need new technology. We just need to manage the technology in a better way. Mindy Galloway, CEO of Khemia Manufacturing and The Pocket Dispensary, poses for a portrait Sept. 4, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Mindy Galloway CEO, Khemia Manufacturing and The Pocket Dispensary Before Mindy Galloway became a leader in Sacramentos cannabis industry, she was a teenager using marijuana as an escape. As she grew older, Galloway learned to become intentional with her use leveraging it to enhance her creativity, physical wellness and mental health. Now, shes on a mission to ensure others recognize cannabis many benefits. A lot of people buy things in their lives and it might give them some gratification, Galloway, now 38, said. But cannabis works a little bit deeper than that on the spiritual, physical and the health level. Born in the Philippines, Galloway immigrated to the U.S. before she turned 1. At 5, her family moved to Del Paso Heights, where she spent most of her formative years. After high school, she spent two years studying audio engineering at Sacramento City College. But cannabis remained her passion. She got her start in the industry as a dispensary delivery driver, and she soon became entrenched with the cannabis community and culture. There was creativity, there was brainstorming, there was idea sharing, Galloway said. There was always something of value working with and meeting other people within this community. She later transitioned to working with cannabis extracts and manufacturing. In 2017, she helped found Khemia, Sacramentos first woman-owned cannabis manufacturing business. The company packages and sells products throughout Northern California, emphasizing female and social equity branding. In the spring of 2021, she was one of 10 people granted a permit to open a dispensary through Sacramentos Cannabis Opportunity Reinvestment and Equity program. The initiative was created to support communities that disproportionately face barriers to starting cannabis businesses. Last year, Galloway used that permit to open The Pocket Dispensary in south Sacramento. Beyond her business ventures, Galloway has also served on the board of directors for the Yolo County Cannabis Coalition and as director of The Eden Gathering, a nonprofit supporting women CEOs passionate about cannabis. At her core, Galloway remains committed to combining equity and female empowerment with her love for cannabis. I run by a very feminine or heart-centered approach to doing business, so profit doesnt drive me, Galloway said. Helping others and helping the community is what drives me. Kaying Hang, president of The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, poses for a portrait Aug. 22, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Kaying Hang President, The Center at Sierra Health Foundation Deeply engaged with foundations across the country and the movements around immigration reform, Kaying Hang has used philanthropy as a means to initiate change. Hang, who serves as the senior vice president for programs and partnerships with Sierra Health Foundation and president of nonprofit The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, said she came back to my roots in public health, working with the safety net and with health systems. The center works closely with community-based organizations to promote health equity and racial justice. Hang, 51, was key to the centers development and its on-the-ground work in the San Joaquin Valley. Our focus is unapologetically on health equity. Its the way we work, live, play and pray, Hang said. Weve made a deep impact on the region. The centers resulting work touches on nearly every facet of San Joaquin Valley life: health, immigration, housing, education, environmental justice and the digital divide. The Minnesota-reared Hang sees in Sacramento and her work at the center a shared ethos of community that drew her west more than a decade ago. Sacramento, it is almost like a small town, the sense of community, the sense of We can do this, she said. She sees her role as a platform to mentor the next generation of leaders. Education, as it was for Hang and her siblings, is the key. Being a Hmong woman, it also disrupts what a senior VP of a private organization looks like. Its interesting for people to see me in this role, Hang said. But its also a representation to young Hmong girls and others of color. Jeffrey Javinar, attorney with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, poses for a portrait Aug. 27, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Jeffrey Javinar Attorney, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Jeffrey Javinar understands the value of creating connections to his community. The Sacramento government attorney and former administrative law judge learned this lesson at a young age. Javinars parents were first-generation Filipino-Americans. His father served in the Navy; his mother was an accountant, raising their son to carry the spirit of Bayan. Bayan means a nation, a town, a community. It represents the Filipino spirit of helping community. People who you can rely on a safe space, Javinar said. We may not know each other but we have a shared bond. We try to serve and help others create the community. Javinar, 44, an attorney at the states Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and community leader, has dedicated his career to fostering that spirit in the classroom, courtroom and AAPI community in Sacramento. Javinar is also at work in Sacramento on a new community law school workshop series to educate the public on the law, provide free legal services and give vulnerable communities the tools they need to navigate the legal system. Its important to inform the community and create a resource, Javinar said of the series still in development. Theres more people who want to help to do things, but if youre not informed with how the community works, one thing you can do is to make it easier for them. He is a mentor to students at Luther Burbank High Schools Law and Social Justice program. The program offers coursework designed for students interested in the legal profession and law enforcement. Javinar is also founder and president of the Sacramento Filipino American Lawyers Association. The association of attorneys, judges and law students addresses legal issues facing the Filipino community and provides scholarships and mentorships to law students, cultivating the next generation of legal leaders. Its important to continue to highlight people in the community, to change the conversation about what theyre going to do with their own lives, Javinar said. Allison Joe, senior policy advisor Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, poses for a portrait Aug. 28, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Allison Joe Senior Policy Advisor, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg Throughout her government career, Allison Joe has worked on a variety of issues including affordable housing, transportation and climate. But over and over, she has found one throughline in her work her role as a dot connector. Leading behind-the-scenes coordination between government agencies, Joe is particularly drawn to the issue of equity and how it manifests in the ways public agencies communicate with the communities they serve. She is an urban planner by training, having earned a masters degree in planning and community development, and she has worked for the state in various planning roles involving affordable housing, transportation and climate. Joe was the chief of staff to former Sacramento City Councilman Jay Schenirer from 2017 to 2022 before joining Steinbergs office in early 2024. We expect communities to know what were talking about, and to know that they need to be in a certain place to share their concerns or take the survey, Joe, 48, said. The work that Ive done has often been about trying to encourage our public agencies to intentionally message and communicate. In Schenirers office, Joe played a leading role in community outreach surrounding UC Davis Aggie Square development, which was located in Schenirers district and faced community pushback about potential displacement of residents. As deputy director of the California Strategic Growth Council, she also worked on the states pioneering Cap-and-Trade Program, which limits greenhouse gas emissions while generating funds for decarbonization projects. After Steinbergs mayoral term ends in December, Joe plans to continue her work in the public sector, aiming to create equitable policies and resources for underserved communities. My advice would be to stretch, Joe said. Think about what could happen or the possibility of maybe trying something different or new. Maya Wallace, who serves on the city of Sacramentos planning and design commission, called Joe a driving force shepherding the citys racial equity work along with other mayoral staffers. Paul Lau, chief executive officer and general manager of SMUD, poses for a portrait Sept. 15, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Paul Lau Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, SMUD Paul Lau entered Sacramento State University in 1979 and expected to become a dentist. But three months volunteering in dentistry at UC Davis Medical Center changed his mind. I hated it, Lau, 62, said. I still remember calling my mom and saying, Mom, I am changing my major. An immigrant who spent his formative years in Hong Kong and Nigeria, Lau earned his diploma from Norte Del Rio High School in Del Paso Heights before it closed. Hed decided on a career in medicine because his sister was a nurse, he said, and then suddenly, he had to find a new field of study. A friend in his physics class told him that the Sacramento Municipal Utility District was seeking interns and that Lau had done all the coursework to qualify. Lau applied and was hired to write code to manage more efficiently the fuel rods used in the fission process at the utilitys Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station. He was hooked and switched his major to electrical engineering. After college, he went to work full-time for the utility. SMUD executive Tom McIntyre saw management potential in the Sac State grade, but Lau resisted. So, McIntyre told him: Why dont you just do this for 18 months? If you dont like it, you can go back. He didnt. Lau has been SMUDs CEO and general manager since October 2020. Of Lau, SMUD Board Chair Rosanna Herber said: He came to the top post sharing an ambitious vision SMUDs 2030 Clean Energy Vision, which sets an aggressive and nation-leading goal of absolute zero carbon emissions in SMUDs power supply by 2030. Lau also led the installation of smart meters in more than 600,000 Sacramento-area homes, allowing customers to see their electricity use by the hour and act to lower their bills. And, working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Lau recently developed a training program to equip residents of Del Paso Heights and other under-resourced neighborhoods with the climbing skills needed to try out for apprenticeships as lineworkers. Depending on experience, the positions can pay $200,000 or more annually with overtime, he said. Mary Yin Liu, national CEO of Asian Pacific American Public Affairs, poses for a portrait Aug. 27, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Mary Yin Liu National CEO, Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Mary Yin Lius life has always been about uplifting others. A daughter of Chinese immigrants, Liu said her family was treated as outsiders when they came to the U.S. They ran a McDonalds chain in East Oakland and were often challenged because of their heritage. Not only did they work harder to prove themselves, but also to achieve success as a community. That McDonalds would become an avenue into Lius career. Over time, Liu and her family expanded their business to Yolo, Solano and Sacramento counties. She later served as the chair of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship Program, and she raised more than $1 million to support high school students. But her achievements would have never been possible without her family and her community, she said. Its her responsibility to continue her familys legacy and extend a hand to others. The story of America is people helping others, Liu, 55, said. This dedication to uplift other AAPI communities would later inspire the creation of the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs. The national nonprofit, which was founded by her parents, is dedicated to advancing AAPI communities through civic engagement. Liu now serves as APAPAs national chief operations officer. Her mission with APAPA is to ensure Asian communities have a voice and their stories are shared, she said. Through her work with APAPA, Liu has organized an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Advocacy day, partnering with 50 nonprofits and 120 community leaders. We truly are Americans, just like everyone else, Liu said. Some of our families have been here for generations, we have built this community. We have built this country. Lee Lo, executive director of the Asian American Liberation Network, poses for a portrait Aug. 28, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Lee Lo Executive Director, Asian American Liberation Network Guided by her empathy and genuine love for others, Lee Lo routinely finds herself absorbing the feelings of those around her and empowering community members to be there for one another. How do I channel my love of community to be able to change the systems so that future generations do not have to endure the level of pain and suffering and isolation that I experienced growing up? Her parents, Southeast Asian refugees, settled in Stockton before moving to the Sacramento Valley when Lo was a toddler. Her personal mission, she said, is informed by the poverty she experienced. Growing up in Del Paso Heights shaped who I am my drive for work, growing up having experienced layers and layers of oppression in terms of intersectionality as a queer Hmong woman who is fat, who is BIPOC, Lo said. Lo felt her identity was questioned by others, invoking an anger shes since learned to channel into organizing. She credits time with the Hmong Womens Heritage Association for teaching her the foundation of advocacy, a skillset shes developed over the years. A UC Davis graduate, Lo has engaged with nonprofits in Sacramento through work with the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center. In 2020, Lo co-founded the Asian American Liberation Network, formerly Sac API Regional Network, to address the rise in anti-Asian hate and prioritize anti-raicst programming in Sacramento. When we expand our definition of community and the people we care for and the people who are connected to us, we expand the way that we move to support them, Lo, 31, said. We show up in a different way for them. Jaime Ross, an Auburn Union School District educator, poses for a portrait Aug. 22, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Jamie Ross Educator, Auburn Union School District Jamie Ross had just graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 2005. A neighborhood flier changed the trajectory of her life. I was a starving college student and saw an ad that said Rap Battle. Thats how it started, Ross, 43, said. The Auburn native knew I had the skill and the passion and I needed to eat. She competed and won. She followed her passion for music and her newfound dream to Jersey City, New Jersey. She found herself in the New York orbit of artists such as Wyclef Jean and John Legend, signed to Universal Music and toured the world. She left the business in 2012, discouraged by what she experienced as misogyny, and moved to California. I found the business wasnt built for women, Ross said. Ross was disillusioned by the experience, but she saw the value of the art form and its potential to teach young people lessons about equity and inclusion. Ross returned to Northern California and began working with Native American reservations in Washington and Oregon. She tapped into her influences, seminal artists such as Jurassic 5 and Pharcyde. She remembers Jurassic 5s breakdown of the art form: Hip, to know. Hop, to move. The movement of knowledge. How do you move knowledge from one generation to the next? There are so many elements you get to knowledge of self, she said. We want to give kids hope and confidence, that knowledge of self. Were just here to help them along the way, Ross said. Her Beats Lyrics Leaders helps young people use hip-hop to develop music production and entrepreneurial skills. Her Auburn nonprofit Kidzapalooza.org creates family festivals for children to explore music and art. She is an artist-in-residence with the city of Sacramento working with youth in Oak Park and in the Sacramento City Unified and Twin Rivers school districts. Her Any Given Child program trains artists to teach arts-integrated curricula. Shes worked with educators, uplifted youth, advocated for the homeless and displaced, fought for arts and equity in area classrooms and for anti-bias training for local police. Artist, entrepreneur, school board trustee, arts council director, creative director, nonprofit leader, community advocate, Ross, in one nominators words, has given more than anyone I know. Megan Sapigao, director of special projects at Everyday Impact Consulting, poses for a portrait Aug. 28, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Megan Sapigao Director of Special Projects, Everyday Impact Consulting Megan Sapigaos life story has been dictated by being a third-generation Filipino-American. Her grandfather came to the U.S. as a farmworker and started his family in Sacramento. While Sapigaos father was discouraged from expressing his Filipino heritage because of the familys focus on assimilating, she has made it a priority. Her interest only grew after college, where she studied ethnic studies and womens studies at Sacramento State. There was a time where my Filipino identity was recovering a lot of what was lost and understanding the context of why it was lost, Sapigao, 41, said. Today, Sapigaos career has been dedicated to not only serving Sacramentos Filipino community, but the greater Asian and Pacific Islander community. Sapigao currently serves as director of special projects at Everyday Impact Consulting, a consulting firm for nonprofit, government and philanthropic entities. For the past 10 years, Sapigao has served in leadership roles with the Philippine National Day Association, helping Filipino youth with scholarships. During the pandemic, Sapigaos work was focused on providing Asian communities with resources. Sapigao was also part of the SAVE Coalition, a community effort to help people get vaccines in South Sacramento. She served as a vaccine ambassador with Sacramento County Public Health. She also co-founded the Asian American Liberation Network, which gave Asian Americans access to COVID-19 testing, vaccines and other pandemic-related services. In 2021, she led discussions and organized a town hall involving community organizations and Sacramento city councilmembers on anti-Asian hate. She also leads two Northern California Stop the Hate collaboratives, where she helps organizations with approaches for addressing racist violence. Ive just grown a deep affinity for being in the community because thats where change actually originates, Sapigao said. Elizabeth Sarine, deputy attorney general at the California Office of the Attorney General, poses for a portrait Sept. 3, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Elizabeth Sarine Deputy Attorney General, California Office of the Attorney General A grand plan didnt lead Elizabeth Sarine to the law. But for Sarine, 43, a natural resources attorney in the state Attorney Generals Office, the seed was planted at an early age. After her father died of leukemia when she was 5, her mother moved the family from Taipei to the tiny Central American country of Belize. When we moved from this tall apartment building in Taipei to the tropics, it opened up the wonder of the natural world, Sarine said. The next move, when Sarine was 9, took the family to Redding with Mount Shasta and Lassen National Park as backdrops. She earned an environmental sciences degree at UC Davis, taught for a time and worked with nonprofits. She returned to school, earned her law degree and found her calling. It speaks to both sides of my core passions: environmental science and justice, she said. Sarines work helps state agencies comply with laws that protect and manage the states natural resources. Within the AGs office, Sarine led community organizing ahead of California Attorney General Rob Bontas historic apology in August 2023 for the offices role in the forced relocation, detention and dispossession of Japanese Americans during World War II. Sarine is a mentor to law students and new deputies in her office and with the California Water Law Symposium, as well as with the Women Lawyers of Sacramento and the Asian/Pacific Bar Association. Sarine received the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramentos 2023 Community Service Award for her work. Elizabeth believes in the importance of paying it forward, said colleague and friend Tam Ma. Sarine volunteers with My Sisters House, the Sacramento nonprofit serving women and children escaping domestic violence. Dale Shimasaki, retired CEO of Strategic Education Services, poses for a portrait Aug. 22, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Dale Shimasaki Retired CEO, Strategic Education Services For years, Dale Shimasakis family story existed only in the pages of history books. His parents and grandparents, like many Japanese Americans, were forcibly relocated to incarceration camps during the early 1940s. They rarely spoke of those years, leaving Shimasaki to piece together their experiences from books in their home. These stories left a lasting impression, shaping his career and sense of purpose. It got me thinking about how to be involved in the government so they dont abuse the power, and we dont have incidents like this ever happening again, Shimasaki, 70, said. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Shimasaki spent most of his 20s at UC Berkeley earning degrees in economics and public policy. After a short stint in Washington, D.C., Shimasaki moved to Sacramento, where he would influence state policy for years. He served in the Legislative Analysts Office, as principal consultant for the Assembly Budget Committee and chief consultant for educational policy and finance for then-Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. He embodies in generous measure the qualities that successful change makers need, Brown said in a statement. While working in the California Legislature, Shimasaki worked extensively with the AAPI Legislative Caucus and helped found Asian and Pacific Americans in Higher Education an organization devoted to addressing the communitys concerns. To create that group, to give them the AAPI community a voice, and to give them a safe haven to share their issues, I think thats a big thing, Shimasaki said. It was just so unique. In 1996, Shimasakis life came full circle when he was appointed by President Bill Clintons administration to educate the public on the lessons learned from the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this role, he awarded grants to community organizations and educational institutions nationwide. It was one of the most rewarding experiences because it related to my family and my community more than any other job I held, Shimasaki said. In 1999, Shimasaki became the CEO of Strategic Education Services, a government relations and policy consulting firm advocating for education in California. He served in that role until retiring in 2022. Today, Shimasaki is working with the California Public Employees Retirement Systems legislative unit. Rau Mona Tawatao, the legal director at Equal Justice Society, poses for a portrait Aug. 28, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Rau Mona Tawatao Legal Director, Equal Justice Society Rau Mona Tawatao, 63, grew up in largely white Apple Valley where her father, Dr. Manuel Tawatao, relocated to practice as an OB-GYN because the community didnt have enough health providers. Her schoolmates couldnt figure out what Tawataos race or ethnicity was. That might not seem all that important, but Tawatao was targeted with racial slurs intended to demean Asian Americans and with epithets typically reserved for Latino and African Americans. Fortunately, though, her father wove a cocoon around his family by inviting other Filipino families in their region to join a social and cultural network called the Philippine-American Association of the High Desert. While that group nurtured Tawataos pride in her ethnic identity, she said, the racism she faced outside it fueled a spirit of rebellion in her that awakened when she was 19, following the death of her mother, Goyie Tawatao. After that monumental loss, Tawatao said, she no longer wanted to be the good immigrant daughter and follow her father into a career in medicine. Instead, she chose to go to law school where other Asian Pacific Islander students inspired her political activism and led her to volunteer with legal aid organizations. I fell in love with that work for social justice and for representing low-income people, mostly people of color, she said. At the Equal Justice Society, Tawatao collaborated with the Black Parallel School Board and won a legal settlement in 2019 that requires independent monitoring of the Sacramento City Unified School District to ensure equity in its disciplining and education of Black students with disabilities. Theyre students and humans and young people like everybody else who has aspirations, dreams, challenges, and ... really the system is set up in so many ways to just fail them, Tawatao said. Vince Sales, the chief executive officer of Everyday Impact Consulting, nominated Tawatao for this award, saying shes on a mission to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and to fight race discrimination and promote equity in K-12 and higher education. Maikhou Thao, director of movement building initiatives at Everyday Impact Consulting poses for a portrait Sept. 4, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Maikhou Thao Director of Movement Building Initiatives, Everyday Impact Consulting Consultant Maikhou Thao dives into under-resourced communities around the state, working with residents to identify the solutions they believe will improve their lives. This work spoke to her, she said, because she grew up poor in Oroville, the youngest of 11 children. Her parents were among the thousands of Hmong political refugees who came to the U.S. after years of fighting against communism alongside American troops in the Vietnam War. In high school, Thao got involved in the federally funded Upward Bound program, which prepares low-income students for college with tutoring, mentoring and enrichment activities. Its aimed at youth whose parents didnt go to college. Thao got her first taste of being a bridge builder and change agent at the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center at Chico State. There, students of color find a place of belonging and a space where they can begin experimenting with how to tackle challenges of equity. Thao, 27, was hired by Everyday Impact Consulting shortly after graduating in 2018, and her first project was to work with Sacramento County to ensure an accurate 2020 Census count. While preparation for the census begins years in advance, U.S. citizens across the lower 48 see the results of all that work in March when theyre asked to fill out questionnaires. In March 2020, though, the coronavirus epidemic prompted a nationwide lockdown. Everyday Impact and the county had to quickly pivot and take outreach and awareness events online, Thao said. So, what happened? Sacramento County actually had a higher count in 2020 than we did in 2010, and so we ranked eighth in the top response among 58 counties in California, Thao said. In 2010, we actually ranked in the 10 lowest. Nonprofit leader Kiara Reed of Civic Thread described Thao as a compassionate and effective change maker, who is fine leading from behind, but will also step up and command a room when needed. Currently, Thao is working part-time at Everyday Impact and pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Elisa K. Tong, director of the UC Davis Tobacco Cessation Policy Research Center and professor of medicine at UC Davis, poses for a portrait Sept. 4, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Dr. Elisa K. Tong Professor of Medicine, UC Davis When Dr. Elisa Tong visited China for the first time in 1991 to delve into her ancestral history, her group leader brought a box of Marlboro cigarettes and handed packs to people they met. Tong was shocked, but the group leader told her: Dont worry about it. They like this stuff. They cant get American cigarettes yet, so this is considered the good stuff. Tong, 50, has since dedicated herself to educating people about the dangers of tobacco, improving tobacco cessation programs, making inroads into racial and ethnic populations with high rates of tobacco use and drawing attention to how tobacco companies market to consumers. As a medical school student, Tong said, she studied hundreds of documents that Big Tobacco was forced to release as part of lawsuits against the industry. One revealed that tobacco company Philip Morris had paid millions of dollars to undermine World Health Organization research showing that secondhand smoke causes cancer among people who had never smoked. It was just this whole roadmap into how an industry can try to subvert things that are a threat to their business, Tong said. The revelations influenced her to go into tobacco cessation research. One of Tongs studies, which required modifying electronic medical records at all five UC health systems, showed that smokers were more likely to have long-term success with quitting when health care providers gave them an electronic referral to tobacco helplines such as Kick It California. As director of the Tobacco Cessation Policy Research Center, Tong built upon this success by working with other health systems and Medi-Cal to adopt the e-referral strategy and advance research. Tong has been a dedicated problem solver, working within the Sacramento region to bridge the gaps between community, public health, health care and academia, said UC Davis Health researcher Moon S. Chen. For example, she helped educate local and state policymakers about the health risks of flavored tobacco products for young people and diverse communities, which led to Sacramentos law and also the state law (Senate Bill) 793 restricting the sale of flavored tobacco. Jeannie Wong, senior associate vice president of university communications at Sacramento State, poses for a portrait Aug. 28, 2024, as one of this years AAPI Change Makers. Jeannie Wong Senior Associate Vice President of University Communications, Sacramento State As a child of Chinese immigrants, Jeannie Wong always envisioned a career that would reflect her background. But it wasnt until her eighth-grade teacher suggested journalism that Wong found her true calling. I would look at my hometown newspaper back then and realize that there werent a whole lot of bylines that looked like mine, said Wong, who grew up in Los Angeles. Wong became an editor at her high school paper, and she earned a degree in journalism at the University of Southern California. From there, Wong spent more than 20 years working at California newspapers The San Diego Union, Oakland Tribune and The Sacramento Bee while participating in several chapters of the Asian American Journalists Association. All the while, she maintained a focus on lifting up Asian and immigrant experiences. For me, it was always just a matter of equity, Wong, 62, said. I wanted to see these stories. Wong, who is married to Sacramento Bee Opinion Editor Marcos Breton, left journalism in 2008 to raise her twin daughters. She later joined Sacramento State, where she helped develop the award-winning marketing campaign Made at Sac State. Today, Wong is the senior associate vice president of university communications and the only female AAPI member of the presidents cabinet. In the role, she oversees strategic communications, marketing and brand identity for the university. Wong currently serves as a vice chair of the board of directors for the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum Mountain Valley Chapter and sits on the board of directors for the Sacramento Literacy Foundation. For Wong, these roles provide additional opportunities to advocate for equity and collaborate with like-minded individuals. She aspires to keep creating more pathways for future generations. We cant effect change if we dont have a seat at the table or be in the room where it happens, Wong said. (FOX40.COM) Sacramento County law enforcement is investigating a hate crime that happened overnight at a Hindu temple on Wednesday. According to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, vandalism was reported at BAPS Shri Swarminarayan Mandir in the community of Mather, about 12 miles east of Sacramento. West Sacramento park awarded $15 million federal grant for renovation A sign at the entrance to the complex and a driveway were defaced with spray paint, but by Wednesday evening, employees had cleaned off the graffiti. Officials also said a water pipe was cut but not taken, indicating that it may have been done more to cause damage and was not a theft. Man fatally shot by officers after pursuit through Yuba County It was disheartening, it was saddening, especially to see messages like Hindus go back we have no room for hate here, said Paragi Patel, the outreach coordinator. Sergeant Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, told FOX40.com, (Sacramento) prides itself on how diverse we are. We have virtually every race and religion, and its not just a place to coexist, but a place where we thrive together Its sickening on a personal levelthis is the temple I go to with my family, and to see this, (theres) a lot of anger, a lot of frustration, because we know what Sacramento is, we know what Rancho Cordova is, its a great place to live, a great place to be, and (the crime) has no place here. According to the sheriffs office, the Rancho Cordova Police Dept., along with state and federal officials, are also investigating. The temple is also increasing its own security, the sheriffs office said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center and the federal government have agreed to a settlement, which includes a $1 million penalty, after Sacred Heart was accused of giving out controlled substances before patients were examined by a health care practitioner. The addiction treatment services network, which has several locations across Michigan, allegedly violated the Controlled Substances Act at its Berrien Township location, known as Serenity Hills Recovery and Wellness Center, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Michigan. The complaint was filed Tuesday in federal court. The United States alleged that Serenity Hills staff routinely dispensed controlled substances to treat patients presenting with addiction withdrawal symptoms before a qualified healthcare practitioner evaluated or examined those patients, the release says. In many instances, patients spent days on a regimen of controlled substances without being seen by a qualified healthcare practitioner. The Berrien Township location was also accused of not maintaining accurate records of the controlled substances it gave out, not taking an inventory of controlled substances every two years and not filing timely reports of missing controlled substances, according to the attorneys office. In a release, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center said it was never accused of any activity involving illegitimate traffic or diversion in controlled substances. The parties reached an agreement, and on Wednesday, a federal judge entered a consent decree. The court order imposes a $1 million civil penalty and allows the Drug Enforcement Administration access to Sacred Heart locations during regular business hours for the next five years. Sacred Heart will also be required to review its controlled substance procedures, hire an independent monitor to check for compliance and share the findings with the government. Afterward, Sacred Heart will enter a probationary period, according to the consent decree. Now more than ever, Michigan addiction treatment centers like Sacred Heart play a critical role in treating and healing communities plagued by the opioid epidemic and other forms of addiction, said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten in a statement. But as this resolution demonstrates, it is crucial that these organizations and their officers handle controlled substances in a way that maintains the integrity of these services and ensures patient safety. The goal of this consent decree is to provide the necessary support and oversight to ensure that Sacred Heart can continue to provide necessary addiction treatment services, but in a safe and compliant manner. In a release, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center noted that it did not admit liability by agreeing to the settlement. The treatment network said it believes it had strong defenses to the allegations but agreed to the settlement to avoid the delay, uncertainty, inconvenience and expense of litigation. Addiction is a terrible disease, and our team works hard to provide the care and support needed to help patients heal and find recovery, said Sacred Heart CEO Paula Nelson in a statement. Our system still encounters too many barriers for individuals accessing and receiving treatment. We are glad to have this issue behind us so that we can focus 100% of our energy on supporting patients in need. Sacred Heart said it took corrective action, like changing its patient intake policies and adding an electronic monitoring system, to address issues that were raised. Sacred Heart has a strong culture of compliance and remains committed to its obligation to operate in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations, the network stated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The race for San Diego City Council District 9 has current president Sean Elo-Rivera taking on his challenger, former police officer Terry Hoskins. At the League of Women Voters, the divide in priorities between the candidates is clear Rivera says he is focusing on those who trying to get their foothold in Americas Finest City. Every renter in San Diego should have more protections and seniors have additional protections. Nobody should live in fear of being forced out of their homes when they are paying their rent on time, says Elo-Rivera. Carlsbad leaders reluctantly approve multi-use development, calling Sacramento bullies Hoskins says development around District 9 is pitting neighbor against neighbor as more units are built on existing properties. Developers are being incentivized theyre the ones thats buying up all the housing, the ones that are flipping them. Theyre the ones that are creating the price of housing and why its going up Nothing is cheaper, those policies have not worked, Hoskins says. Hoskins says hes running to be responsive to the people of District 9. I am for encampments to be moved and Im for nudging. The incumbent was against the ban on encampments, he says. I will never accept there will always be homeless people. We are better than that, we have to be better than that, Hoskins adds. District 9 encompasses Kensington, City Heights, SDSUs College Area, and Mountain View with all eyes looking to the Nov. 5 election. If you are not responsible for anything, why are you here? So we have to take responsibility, we have to take ownership. The last three plus years, he has not done that, and we are going to change that, Hoskins says. Who are we going to fight for? Are we going to fight for the folks who already have what they need? The businesses that have what they need, the folks who have already made it? Elo-Rivera says. Or are we going to fight to expand opportunity? Are we going to fight for the neighborhoods that havent seen the investment they need? Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is juggling multiple diplomatic stumbles in Latin America, inflaming colonial-era tensions and threatening the regions deepest investment relationships. Most Read from Bloomberg First, there was a historical tussle with Argentina four months ago, still unresolved. Then there was his shambolic intervention into Venezuelan politics in recent weeks. Now, Sanchez finds himself in the middle of a major rift with Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum who is widely considered an ideological bedfellow for the Socialist European leader. The latest clash comes after Mexico snubbed King Felipe VI officially Spains head-of-state by not inviting him to Sheinbaums inauguration and asking Sanchez instead. Spains government said it wouldnt send any envoy as King Felipe is the main representative for such occasions. The tensions underline Sanchezs trouble to assert himself as a major diplomatic leader. Although he feels widely at ease in international forums and discussing foreign affairs, he has focused largely on the European Union and less on Latin America. He has also failed to make major marks on matters beyond Spain and is contending with a growing list of missteps and awkward forays on the international stage. Sanchez shocked many in Europe earlier this month when he suggested on a trip to China that the European Union should reconsider its agreed decision to boost tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles potentially complicating delicate negotiations with Beijing. The reason for Sheinbaums snub is Spains colonization of Mexico, which ended more than two centuries ago. In 2019, Sheinbaums predecessor, the outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, sent a personal letter to King Felipe asking that Spain acknowledge historical grievances against Mexico. Sheinbaum says the letter was unanswered and that instead Sanchezs government issued a press release in which it indicated there was no reason to say sorry. The Spanish governments position is in line with the widespread view in the country shared across party and social lines that there is nothing to regret and that Spain made important contributions to Latin America, including language and religion. Many Spaniards also say the country didnt traffic in slaves in the same way other empires did and that settlers mixed with indigenous populations arguments widely disputed by historians outside the country. But at the heart of the problem also lies Sanchezs problematic management of its relations with Latin America, a region historically seen as its main area of diplomatic influence. The European nation is among the top three investors in most major Latin American countries. The problems for Madrid go beyond ideological lines. In May, Madrid summoned its ambassador in Buenos Aires after right-wing, libertarian Argentine President Javier Milei accused Sanchezs wife of corruption during a visit to to the country. The ambassador hasnt returned yet, effectively making it the lowest point in the two countries relations in well over a century. Milei has repeatedly mocked and criticized Sanchez since then publicly. More recently, Venezuela accused Spain of helping organize a coup against Nicola Maduro and arrested two Spaniards on espionage charges after Sanchezs government granted asylum to opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. However, Sanchezs move has also enraged the Venezuelan opposition, who say that he is enabling Maduro by removing Gonzalez from the country. Compounding the problem is that Spain is home to a large diaspora from all three countries. The nation is home to the largest Argentine community abroad and the largest of Venezuelan population outside Latin America. This decade, Madrid has become a major destination for wealthy Mexicans, who are investing heavily in real estate in the city. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a resolution on Wednesday that will force a vote in Congress to block billions of dollars in offensive American weapons sales to Israel a significant escalation by the Vermont independent as the Biden administration continues to arm the country in its expanding military campaigns that most of the international communityhas decried. Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and Peter Welch (Vt.) joined the lawmaker in sponsoring the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, which Sanders described as essentially the only tool that Congress has to block American weapons transfers that dont follow U.S. and international law. The Pentagon notified Congress last month of five possible foreign military sales to Israel totaling more than $20 billion, a record-breaking series of potential arms transfers to a country that for almost a year now has used U.S. weapons to pummel Gaza and the Palestinian people in response to a deadly attack by Hamas. The Israeli military has also blocked most humanitarian aid from entering the territory, and has significantly escalated attacks in the occupied West Bankand neighboring Lebanon. Israel clearly had the right to respond to Hamas horrific terrorist attack on October 7th But Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahus extremist government has not simply waged war against Hamas. It has waged all-out war against the Palestinian people, Sanders said in a statement. Netanyahu has bombed hospitals and schools, starved children, destroyed infrastructure and housing stock, and made life unlivable in Gaza. The United States must end its complicity in this atrocity. Sen. Bernie Sanders filed a resolution in Congress to force a vote on whether to block a $20 billion weapons transfer from the U.S. to Israel. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images The arms sales targeted in the resolution include $262 million in Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), about $774 million in 120mm tank rounds, about $61 million in 120mm high-explosive mortar rounds, about $583 million in Medium Tactical Vehicles, and almost $19 billion in 50 new F-15IA aircraft, upgrade kits for existing F-15 aircraft, and associated weapons and parts. The resolutions fact sheet lays out some of the specific instances where Israel used U.S. weapons particularly JDAMs and 120mm tank rounds to indiscriminately bomb Palestinians, in violation of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act, the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the Conventional Arms Transfer policy and international humanitarian law. The weapons transfer would also violate one of the Biden administrations own policies: the National Security Memorandum 20, or NSM-20, which required the State Department and Pentagon to investigate whether countries like Israel that receive U.S. military assistance are using it to break international law. Despite two government bodies concluding that Israel intentionally blocked aid to Gaza, Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected their findings in his May report avoiding having to cut off weapons shipments to the country as required by law, according to a ProPublica investigation published this week. President Biden must stop acting like a bystander to the chaos in the Middle East. He has enabled, he can stop it, and he must stop it before the Israeli government finishes off the people of Gaza, destroys Lebanon, and drags our nation into a nightmarish, all-out war, Nihad Awad, executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a Thursday statement. The Biden administration must leverage U.S. military aid to force a Gaza ceasefire deal on Netanyahu now, before its too late. The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment, though Israel announced on Thursday that it just received an $8.7 billion military package from the U.S. An Israeli fighter jet returning to base flies above an area near Tel Aviv on Thursday. Sanders described his resolution as essentially the only tool that Congress has to block American weapons transfers that dont follow U.S. and international law. Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images Once the Senate reconvenes in November, the Foreign Relations Committee will have five calendar days to consider the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, as permitted by the AECA for foreign military sales to NATO and non-NATO allies like Israel. After that, Sanders can force a floor vote on a motion to discharge the resolution from committee and open it up for final passage. The vote only requires a simple majority, and the resolutions privileged status prevents lawmakers from trying to amend or filibuster the legislation. If the Senate passes the resolution, it would still have to be approved by the House and signed by Biden, who could veto the measure. Given the presidents unchanged public position on arming Israel with no red line, its unlikely that Sanders resolution will successfully block the weapons transfer. The resolutions by Sanders, Merkley and Welch are an appropriate, measured and sadly necessary response to a security partners repeated violations of U.S. and international law, Dylan Williams, the Center for International Policys vice president for government affairs, said on Wednesday. These senators should be applauded for taking concrete action to enforce the requirement that other countries only use American weapons for legitimate defense purposes and in accordance with the law of war. A June CBS poll revealed that a whopping 77% of Democrats and 61% of Americans overall want the U.S. to implement an arms embargo to Israel. The decision to move forward with sending Israel billions of dollars in weapons would go directly against what most Americans want, according to Josh Ruebner, policy director for the Institute for Middle East Understanding. There is real anger in this country especially among Democrats that our government keeps writing blank checks to Israels military to kill Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and they are demanding significant policy, Ruebner told HuffPost. Theyll be watching to see if their members of Congress vote in a way that represents them, or whether they continue with a broken status quo by signing off on another $20 billion weapons giveaway to Israel while millions of people here struggle to afford the basics of life health care, housing and education for their kids. Pascual Hernandez stands in silent protest in support of a proposal to move the Soldier's Monument away from the Santa Fe Plaza to the Santa Fe National Cemetery during a Santa Fe City Council meeting on Sept 25, 2024. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM) Santa Fes local elected officials on Wednesday night declined to make a final decision about what to do with the controversial Soldiers Monument, known as the obelisk. With such sharp division among the community members in attendance and an ongoing court battle over the obelisks fate, the Santa Fe City Council voted to postpone any final decision until their next meeting on Oct. 30. During the wave of social unrest in 2020, demonstrators tore the obelisk down with rope, and argued it represents a celebration of the destruction and subjugation of Native people. The monuments base remains in place, covered by a wooden box, some plants and a sign giving context about it for curious visitors and locals. The damaged upper sections of the monument are being held in storage, though their location is a closely guarded secret. Mayor Alan Webber and the Councils eight other voting members could not reach an agreement after an hour-and-a-half of debate on a proposal by Councilor Carol Romero-Wirth to study the possibility of moving the monument to the Santa Fe National Cemetery near Rosario Hill on the citys north side. We have got to figure out a way forward, Romero-Wirth said. This proposal is one way, one path, that we can take to get beyond the events of 2020 when the obelisk came down. The first people to make public comments Wednesday night were local resident Carrie Wood (Dine), a member of the Santa Fe Indigenous Centers board of directors, and her family. They supported Romero-Wirths proposal. I want to remind you that the Native community in and around Santa Fe are against the obelisk, and do not want it on the Plaza, Wood told the councilors. We have made that clear many, many times, so Im not sure why we have to keep restating that. Our stance on this hasnt changed. Moving the monument would require the city to work alongside state and federal officials to formally ask the cemetery to accept the monument. The cemeterys director has already said its something they would consider, Romero-Wirth said. I think we all agree the statue, as is, is unacceptable, said Webber. The only path forward is compromise. Romero-Wirth said she believes the monument can be either rebuilt or moved to the cemetery, near the graves of Union soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. She said that would place the monument in a more appropriate context. When her constituents brought the idea to her in Spring 2023, she said she thought the community was too polarized to accept it. What changed her mind, she said, was the near-fatal shooting of a climate activist later in 2023, about 23 miles north in the city of Espanola, at the site of another controversial monument. Demonstrators gathered in opposition to Rio Arriba County plans to resurrect a statue depicting the genocidal Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate. It had been removed by government officials in 2020. The shooters trial is set to begin on Oct. 7. In Santa Fe that year, Webber declared an emergency in June 2020, saying that continued prominent display of the obelisk and two other monuments in the city, without public debate about their appropriate treatment and context, perpetuates systemic racism, civil unrest, and may lead to violence. Earlier this year, in sworn testimony in court, Webber said at the time he believed the city was facing the possibility of civil unrest, due to reports of imminent demonstrations and counter-protests at monuments. That danger remains today, Romero-Wirth said. I strongly believe we cant put the obelisk back up in the middle of the Plaza, she said on Wednesday. It presents a potential public safety threat. As a result, this idea seemed like something that we should pursue. Offensive plaque has to go Even without official action, council members appeared to reach agreement on one thing: A bronze plaque containing a racist description of Native American people has to go. The plaque included offensive language dedicating the monument to the heroes who fought savage Indians. The plaque was one of four placed on the obelisks stone base at each compass direction, paid for by New Mexicos Territorial Legislature, before statehood. The Soldiers Monument was originally built to commemorate both the American soldiers who fought both in the U.S. Civil War, and wars against Indigenous tribes. Thats according to sworn testimony in court from David Rasch, a museum collections consultant and a former historic preservation officer for the city of Santa Fe. He was the expert witness in the ongoing civil lawsuit over the monument. Rasch was hired by the Union Protectiva de Santa Fe, a fraternal organization suing the city government to try to force the obelisks restoration in its original location, and whose members on Wednesday night called for the same. The deadline for written arguments to the judge is Friday. A member of the public and a city councilor said it might not be a good idea to make a final decision on the monument before the case is resolved. One of the citys arguments in the case is that they havent violated the law at issue because the city government hasnt made a final decision on the matter. How does the lawsuit that were in affect any of these decisions? asked Councilor Lee Garcia. If we were to come up with a consensus on a direction here, and theres a different opinion coming from our courts I would definitely be in support of whatever decision that is, as long as its fair in judgment. Above: A Nexstar Media video on AI and cyber security. SANTEE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) Santee paid a ransomware consulting firm over $600,000 to help the city address a cyber security incident that impacted its computer servers in late August. The incident was first detailed in the closed session agenda for the city council on Aug. 28. The agenda item described the incident as a threat to public services or facilities. Then, on Tuesday, the city council affirmed a $603,000 payment to Coveware, Inc., a firm that bills itself as ransomware recovery first responders. In documents attached to the meetings agenda, the expenditure was described as for consulting services and was dated on Sept. 10. Specific details about exactly what occurred that caused the city to bring in Coveware, Inc. have not yet been made available. City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert sets up run for CA State Senate Bree Osborne, spokesperson for Santee, said in a statement to FOX 5/KUSI that the incident occurred on Aug. 20 and lead to an outage on the computer network that services administration offices for the city. Osborne noted that there was no impact on any systems supporting emergency services, nor the the outage cause public safety issues. The City remained open for business throughout the entire incident, and we have largely resolved the issue, Osborne added. However, she said the city is still investigating to determine whether any information may have been compromised and what triggered the security lapse. We want to thank our employees and our community for their patience and understanding while we addressed the issue, Osborne continued. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A man from Savage has been charged with the murder of a Minneapolis mother, whom he's accused of shooting while she held her child in May. Ayale Ali, 20, has been charged by warrant with 2nd-degree murder for allegedly fatally shooting Lillian Perez, 35, while she was in her car with her three children present. Perez was holding her two-year-old son when she was shot. The boy suffered a gunshot wound to the face, which he survived. Her other two children were in the backseat but not hit. Perez later died from her injuries at the hospital. According to the complaint, police responded to the May 19 shooting around 9:20 p.m. in the 2900 block alley of 18th Avenue South in Minneapolis. Surveillance video was obtained from the alley showing Perez parked behind a home. Her husband is seen getting out of the driver's side of the vehicle, and investigators later learn he was there to borrow tools from his brother. Another car, now known to be Ali's, pulls up behind Perez's vehicle and fires multiple shots into the vehicle. After a few seconds, Perez's husband returns to the car, sees his wife and child have been shot, and starts screaming. Ali shoots at him but misses. Officers recovered seven 9mm discharged cartridge cases from the scene, and the crime lab later determined they were all fired from the same gun. After obtaining search warrants for Ali's social media accounts, investigators obtained pictures of him holding guns, and messages in which he was trying to trade firearms 24 hours after the murder. He is currently being held in Scott County for aggravated robbery and has faced charges in Iowa, including a home invasion/attempted murder. According to the complaint, investigators recovered communications in which the Ali bragged about fleeing to Somalia after some of those charges. His bail has been set at $2,000,000, and the State is seeking an aggravated sentence based on this murder occurring in the presence of children. On a bright, sunny September day, Save the Children Head Start program officially opened its new mobile classroom and early learning bus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, Sept. 24, in Opelousas. The mobile classroom is designed to bring essential educational resources to children in the area. The bus is a renovated RV stocked with learning activities, books and materials. It will travel around Louisiana, serving Head Start and Early Head Start-aged children. The Save the Children Head Program takes its mobile classroom and early learning bus to any area where it has a footprint. Those areas include Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Natchitoches, Red River, De Soto Parish and St. Landry parishes. Opening the mobile classroom and learning bus aims to provide all the resources necessary for children here to succeed. Children without early childhood education can be 18 months behind their peers who have childhood education, and sometimes they never catch up, Johnnie Belle Chavis, program director for Louisiana Head Start, said. According to Chavis, 90 percent of a childs brain develops by age 6, and much of that happens before a child even steps into a classroom. Save the Children was very strategic in finding a mobile unit, and we took it and made it a classroom, Chavis said. The mobile classroom and early learning bus can serve up to eight children at a time. In the next couple of months, Save the Children's Head Starts mobile classroom and early learning bus will be stationed at local libraries in and around the communities, making it easier for children and their families to use those resources to further their education. Inside the learning bus is a play area, reading nook and outdoor learning and play area for larger groups. Chavis said members of the Head Start Program will be on hand in the mobile classroom and early learning bus to help the children develop. One of those who was on hand to check out the mobile classroom and early learning bus was Sarah Pedonti, a member of the Save the Children Head Start Program. She said she was impressed with the bus and all it offered. It is so developmentally appropriate, Pedonti said. It's warm and homey. It's handicapped accessible, so I am just so impressed with what this will bring to communities. Pedonti said the mobile classroom and early learning bus can bring resources to children in rural communities, where it can be difficult to get their children to traditional centers. Chavis said her hope with the mobile classroom and early learning bus is that it will give those who participate a step in the right direction. We hope they have the tools to enter kindergarten; they are kindergarten-ready, she said. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Save the Children launches mobile classroom to travel across Louisiana SC has 4 of the best schools in 2024, US Department of Education says. Does your child go to one? Four South Carolina schools are among the best in the nation this year, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education recently awarded the four schools the title of 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools. Now in its 41st year, the National Blue Ribbons Schools Program recognizes outstanding public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools based on their overall high academic achievement or success in closing achievement gaps among diverse students. Of the 356 schools recognized nationwide in 2024, here are the four South Carolina schools. Blue Ribbon SC schools Academic Magnet High School Nomination category: Exemplary high performing schools Location: North Charleston School type: Magnet school Number of students: 716 Website: https://amhs.ccsdschools.com/ Buist Academy for Advanced Students Nomination category: Exemplary high performing schools Location: Charleston School type: Magnet school Number of students: 533 Website: https://buist.ccsdschools.com/ Langston Charter Middle School Nomination category: Exemplary high performing schools Location: Greenville School type: Charter school Number of students: 471 Website: https://langstoncharter.org/ Sand Hill Elementary Nomination category: Exemplary achievement gap closing schools Location: Summerville School type: Elementary school Number of students: 1,257 Website: https://shes.ddtwo.org/ Since opening in 2016, Sand Hill Elementary has been committed to excellence, offering state-of-the-art facilities and a supportive learning environment, a statement on the Sand Hill website reads. Sand Hill is also proud to be the seventh school in Dorchester District Two to receive the National Blue Ribbon honor. Jacob Perlmutter, principal at Academic Magnet School, said in a press release that he and the faculty were extremely proud of the National Blue Ribbon recognition. The comprehensive application process really made our team focus on the people and programs that make our school excellent, Perlmutter said. Many of those things just exist here, but when you have to sit down and explain in writing just how we create this special community it made us more conscious of the daily mission. Buist Academy for Advanced Students is the first multi-year recipient of the Blue Ribbon, first earning the honor in 2017. Being named a National Blue Ribbon School reflects our unwavering devotion to providing an exceptional education and fostering a supportive learning environment for all our students, Buist Principal Shawntay White said in a press release. Blue Ribbon goals The goals of the program are to shine a spotlight on the best schools in the U.S. and to share best practices, the department states. Each year, the Department of Education works with state departments of education to identify and nominate outstanding schools based on student academic achievement measures and progress toward closing achievement gaps. (WSPA) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced Thursday that the states law against price gouging is now in effect after Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency due to Hurricane Helene. The price gouging law (SC 39-5-145) is a general prohibition of unconscionable prices during times of disaster. The law is in effect until the state of emergency expires or is terminated. Price gougers can be charged for excessive pricing, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Officials said normal fluctuations in price are to be expected and are not price gouging. Anyone who feels that they are a victim of price gouging there are certain steps that can be taken to help the SC Attorney Generals Office investigate such as: Note the time, place, address, and name of the gas station or business Note the price you paid Note any prices nearby and get the same information on those stations or businesses Take pictures that identify the business, along with the price Provide your name and contact information The office asked to email any examples and documentation to pricegouging@scag.gov or give information on the website at https://www.scag.gov/price-gouging/. Individuals that dont have access to email or the website, can call 803-737-3953 and leave a message with the details needed to be able to investigate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. SC braces for strong winds, heavy rainfall as Hurricane Helene heads for the coast South Carolina residents should expect stronger wind gusts than initially predicted from Hurricane Helene, the National Weather Service said Wednesday. The state should prepare for wind gusts ranging from 40-50 mph in the central Midlands with 40 mph gusts in the Pee Dee, said John Quagliariello of the National Weather Service at a Wednesday evening news conference. We have tropical storm or hurricane warnings in effect for all of Georgia and South Carolina, which is pretty unusual, Quagliariello said Wednesday. The storms wind field is about 275 miles from its center, and is projected to move northward and inward from its current position near Floridas Gulf Coast, said Quagliariello, adding that the timing of the storms impact hasnt changed much. Large wind fields are expected east of Helene, bringing frequent tropical storm force gusts to most of the (SC) area late Thursday into early Friday, Quagliariello said. Gusts up to 50 to 60 mph are now expected in the central Savannah River area, and up to 40 to 55 mph across the Midlands, Quagliariello said. Hurricane Helene timeline Helene is expected to make landfall around 8 p.m. Thursday near Tallahassee, Florida, as a major hurricane. The storm is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeast U.S., according to a post on X by the National Weather Service. Heavy rain, tornadoes and strong winds are the primary threats to the Midlands, National Weather Service meteorologists said Tuesday in a briefing. The far western Midlands and central/upper Central Savannah River Area could see three to six inches of rainfall, with areas to the east receiving one to three inches Thursday through Friday, Quagliariello said. Residents should remain vigilant after the storm, as minor to moderate river flooding around the state is possible this weekend into next week, he said. Richland One and Lexington-Richland Five school districts have decided to maintain their normal schedule Thursday, including school start and dismissal times, but have canceled all afters school programs, due to potential inclement weather from Tropical Storm Helene, school officials said Wednesday. Quagliariello emphasized South Carolinaians should be mindful of the potential for heavy rainfall. I dont want anyone to let their guard down, he said. Im still looking at maybe a solid three to six inches of rainfall in parts of the central upper CSRA near the Midlands. SC governor seeks rehearing on K-12 vouchers, as parents scramble to keep their kids in school Nicolas, Carlos and Jose Valenzuela, ages 5, 7 and 9, in their private school uniforms. All three are attending a private school in Charleston with taxpayer-funded scholarships. The state Supreme Court ruled those payments unconstitutional in September 2024. (Provided/Maria Valenzuela) Editors note: This article has been updated with the governors court filing. COLUMBIA Gov. Henry McMaster asked the state Supreme Court on Thursday to rehear arguments on the states school voucher program, in hopes justices flip their ruling, even as legislative leaders say thats a waste of time. The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the Legislatures taxpayer-funded scholarships for private school tuition violated the state constitutions ban on public funds directly benefiting private education. The 3-2 decision, issued weeks into the school year, left parents who were depending on their $6,000 allotment but suddenly unable to use it for private tuition scrambling to figure out how to keep their children in the school they selected. Speaking to reporters this week, McMaster called the majority opinion flawed, repeating arguments that providing the money to parents, to choose where the money goes, is not a direct benefit to private schools. Is that an indirect contribution? McMaster said Tuesday. I dont think that is a direct contribution. The majority of justices dismissed that attempted workaround as window dressing. The language in the constitution is clear, they wrote, saying its not their job to interpret the constitution differently just to give legal cover to some fashionable innovation in social policy. Still, McMaster hopes they think differently after a rehearing. A petition for rehearing should be granted whenever it shows that the court has overlooked or misapprehended a point of fact or law, reads the request from McMasters attorneys, filed with the high court shortly before the 5 p.m. Thursday deadline. While GOP leaders of the House and Senate also criticized the ruling, they said in a joint statement they dont expect a do-over attempt to change the outcome. Further delays caused by continuing the case will not help the students already enrolled, House Speaker Murrell Smith and Senate President Thomas Alexander said in a joint statement Wednesday. Instead, they pledged to get to work when the Legislature returns in January to find a way to restore the opportunities these students deserve and unfortunately lost. That means school choice will certainly be a top priority if not the first priority for Republicans who rule both chambers next year. Still, they recognized there is no immediate relief to the thousands of children who now face being removed from their current schools. Exactly how many of the 2,880 students approved for the program were using their allotment for private tuition remains unknown at least to the public. The state Department of Education has not provided any breakdown of how the moneys being, or already been, spent, which the SC Daily Gazette has requested since the Sept. 11 ruling. After the decision, the agency informed parents they would continue to get their quarterly allotment of $1,500; they just cant use the money on private tuition. It can still be spent on other approved providers the courts decision didnt touch, such as tutoring, speech therapy, and textbooks. It can also be spent for tuition at a public school outside the district where a student lives, which can charge tuition to cover unpaid local property taxes. The unknowns include how many students are in a public versus private school through the program, as well as how much of the first $1,500 that parents received in their online account in July has been spent. None of the money that went to private tuition before the ruling has to be reimbursed, either by parents or the receiving schools. The agencys prior list of approved providers included 259 private schools, 92 tutors, 13 educational therapy services, and 22 public school districts. The private schools were removed from the list following the ruling, and the company that oversees parents accounts was told that day not to send any more payments for private tuition. We cant pay for that For parents depending on the state money to pay tuition, telling them they can use it for something else doesnt help. The inaugural year of the program was directed to low-income families. Only Medicaid-eligible students qualified. Their parents cant have incomes above 200% of the federal poverty level. That means the income cap for a family of four in the program this school year is $62,400. For a family of three, its $51,640. Under the law, the income cap doubles to 400% of the poverty level by year three. When Brittany Almeida of North Myrtle Beach enrolled her first-grader, Aveyan, in Risen Christ Christian Academy this year with the help of state tax dollars, she didnt know about the legal uncertainty of the program. So, she didnt have a fallback plan on how to pay tuition, she told the Gazette. If it was going to be an option for there to be an appeal or some kind of change, why would (the state) have even offered it in the first place? Almeida said. Maria Valenzuela of Charleston has four children in the program. The $6,000 per child would have completely covered tuition costs for her three sons, ages 5 to 9. With an additional scholarship through Bishop England High School, her 14-year-old daughter was attending the Catholic school on Daniel Island for $200 a month. Now she doesnt know what shell spend the remaining $4,500 per child coming to her account. Maybe she could pay a tutor, she said, but her children dont need extra help. If her children have to go back to public school, theres no point in her having the money at all, she said. The main reason we applied is to pay for tuition, Valenzuela said. What now? We cant pay for that. Without the taxpayer-paid scholarships, her daughters tuition will be about $600 per month, and her sons tuition will be about $570 each. Barring some other scholarship help, Valenzuela will need to come up with $2,300 per month to keep her children in their private schools. How she would pay that, shes not sure. Jaleesa Johnson of Sumter is considering getting a third job to keep her three children enrolled in Sumter Christian School and Ragin Preparatory Christian Academy. She already works as an at-home customer service representative and as a caretaker, but that wont be enough to cover what she estimates as $1,500 per month in tuition for all three children. Private school was always her first choice for her children. She liked the idea of a religious education, and she wanted the smaller class sizes and one-on-one attention that came with a private school, especially when her son started struggling with his grades, she said. She didnt have another plan for her children, either. The schools have told her theyll try to find a way to keep her children enrolled for at least the remainder of the semester, and shell pick up more hours at work in the meantime, she said. Its going to be tough, but I dont want them to go back to public school, Johnson said. Schools turn to fundraising Principal Beth Martyns plan for her students at Divine Redeemer Catholic School in Hanahan involves a whole lot of prayer, she said. Martyn is pulling from the schools budget to cover the cost of tuition for the 31 students who enrolled there using vouchers. But she cant do that forever. The pre-K through eighth grade school relies on tuition to keep running, she said. Still, she is determined to not let any students drop out because of finances, she said. I cant believe God would lead me through everything Ive been through, to start the year off with 31 beautiful new friends who need to be here, just to have that taken away, Martyn said. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, which oversees Catholic schools throughout the state, has assured principals that it is doing everything it can to find ways to keep students in its private schools for the rest of the year, she said. The statewide Diocese is raising money through the newly created St. Rita Relief Fund to help cover tuition for the 195 students enrolled in its 32 schools in South Carolina. The fund will need to raise about $975,000, or $5,000 per student, to cover all the gaps in tuition for the rest of the year, according to the fundraising page. Over a third of that money has already been donated, said Michael Acquilano, chief operating officer of the Diocese of Charleston. St. Rita is the patron of impossible causes, the fundraising website reads. While many families have been left with the uncertainty of their childrens education, we are reminded that the Church has historically defied the odds at what is deemed impossible. Governors Petition for Rehearing The U.N. ambassadors advice to a U.S. president addressing world leaders: Keep it like church, she recalled. Although her recommendation about not making a joke at the expense of North Koreas leader wasnt taken, Nikki Haley regaled listeners with the speed of Donald Trumps little rocket man nickname catching on. Haley, former South Carolina governor and 2024 presidential candidate, launched her new satellite radio show on SiriusXM on Wednesday with a memory of a conversation she had with Trump before his speech at the United Nations in New York. Nikki Haley Live debited Wednesday at 8 a.m. In her first episode, she discussed a variety of topics with her longtime staffer Chaney Denton. From attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris policies to the presidential election, she showed listeners a bit of who she was while recounting times in her political career even talking about the current television shows shes watching. In one part of the episode, Haley told the story of Trumps first world speech, or his first on a international stage. Trump called her the Sunday before, asking if she had the chance to look over his U.N. speech for High-level week in New York, an event that brings together world leaders. Haley told Trump she had read over it and thought it was great, but reminded the former president of the venue. When you go to the United Nations, its a serious place, Haley said she recalled telling Trump over the phone. Its gonna be quiet when you speak, its not going to be like a rally, youre not going to hear applause, none of that. So, you know, I want you to think of it like church. Trump said back, Got it, got it, church, Haley recalled before asking her a question. I was thinking, what if I refer to Kim Jong Un as little rocket man in the speech? Haley said Trump asked. Haley takes a second during the show as Denton laughs with her. I said to the president, Mr. President, did you not just hear the part I said about church? He said I know I know, but I tweeted it out and it killed with the base. And so I said, look youre the president, you can say whatever you want to say, Haley said. The North Korean delegation was sitting in the front row when he said it, Haley said, then described their delayed reaction due to translation. But everyone laughed, she added. Haley recalled meeting hours later with the president of Uganda, who asked So, tell me madam ambassador, what are we going to do about this little rocket man?, she said. For the rest of the week, Haley said, everybody referred to Kim Jong Un as little rocket man. That was the power that was Donald Trump. He could literally call someone something and the rest of the world started calling Kim Jong Un little rocket man, Haley said. SC man scammed millions from another state, prosecutor says. Heres how he spent the money A South Carolina man faces hundreds of years behind bars after being indicted on multiple charges related to a multimillion dollar fraud involving a government agency in another state, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. Brandon Lamont Swain, a 53-year-old Columbia resident, was charged with eight counts of bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office based in the Middle District of Florida. According to an indictment, Swain fraudulently obtained millions of dollars from Delawares Division of Child Support Services, Positive Pay bank account. Delaware used the Division account to distribute child support payments to custodial parents, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. Information about how Swain had access to the account and money was not available. In connection with the scheme, Swain transferred more than $2.7 million from the Division account to various businesses and financial institutions, for his personal gain, according to the release. Swain used the Divisionaccount to purchase more than $2 million in timeshare interests in resort properties in Orlando and elsewhere, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. There was no word about how Swain spent the rest of the money. If convicted, Swain faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each count, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. After a former teacher in the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School district was convicted of sexual abuse and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, two of his victims are suing the district for allowing him to return after they reported the abuse. One of Scott Walns victims, now 19, was sexually abused by him when she was in the sixth grade at Los Alisos Middle School in Norwalk when she was 11 years old. I wished it wouldve been sooner and I was believed, the young woman, who requested anonymity, said of Walns conviction and sentence. Dominique Boubion, an attorney with the Carrillo Law Firm who is bringing the suit against the school district on her two clients behalf, said Waln lured the now 19-year-old woman into his classroom when she was isolated and would have no way out. Scott Waln She gets into the classroom and the door closes behind her, Boubion explained. She was sexually molested by Scott Waln. She reported it to the school. The police investigated and he was removed from campus. If you can believe it, he was let back on campus the following year and many more children were victimized as a result of that. The young woman said she wasnt seen or heard by school officials and that Walns return to teaching, while she was still a student there, was traumatic. I had to constantly pass by him, constantly had to remember stuff, constantly had to be afraid, she said. The 19-year-olds mother, who also requested anonymity, said no one believed her daughter, that there wasnt enough evidence. Then it happens again to other students. Norwalk-La Mirada School District lawsuit Waln was arrested in 2022 after another student accused him of sexual abuse. A few years later, we finally got the justice that I deserved, the 19-year-old told KTLA. I have to realize that Im no longer that little girl I once was. Im not happy anymore. I dont trust anybody. The mother of a third former student, whose case Waln was not convicted of, is also a part of the lawsuit against the district. Santa Monica man develops unique device to deter homeless She told KTLA that her daughter was touched by the teacher in 2021 when she was 11 years old and a student in his math and science classes. The mother said she immediately noticed a change in her daughter. My 11-year-old had the face of a ghost, no life in her whatsoever, she said. After her daughter told her what had happened, she pulled her from the class. KTLA has reached out to the Norwalk-La Mirada School District for comment and is awaiting a response. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Multiple school districts in the Charlotte area have announced closures and eLearning days in anticipation of Hurricane Helene arriving in the area Friday. The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday night. On Thursday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced schedule changes, saying all afternoon activities have been canceled for Thursday, and theyre moving to remote learning Friday. TRACKING: High winds, catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene possible in western NC With continued high winds and heavy rain predicted for Friday, Sept. 27, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will move to remote learning, CMS said. This remote learning will be completed asynchronously (no face-to-face instruction). All students will receive paper packets today to complete during the remote learning day on Friday. In addition, there will be no after-school activities including athletics, club meetings, and tutoring at any Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Friday. Athletic events will be rescheduled. Here is a list of announcements in surrounding counties so far. School Closures, Delays and E-Learning North Carolina Cabarrus County Schools closed Friday Catawba County Schools closed Friday Caldwell County Schools three-hour early release Thursday, closed Friday Avery County Schools closed Thursday and Friday Burke County Schools eLearning Thursday and Friday Gaston County Schools eLearning on Friday Watauga County Schools early dismissal Thursday Union County Public Schools after-school activities canceled Thursday, not including UCPS After School Program South Carolina Chester County Schools eLearning Friday Chesterfield County Schools after-school activities canceled Thursday York School District eLearning Friday Clover School District eLearning Friday Fort Mill School District eLearning Friday Rock Hill Schools eLearning Friday Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Scientists raise hope after saving giant spider species from brink of extinction: 'We must continue to restore, manage, and protect' A rare and exceptionally large spider is making a comeback on nature reserves in the United Kingdom, the Guardian recently reported. Thanks to ongoing conservation efforts, populations of the fen raft spider also known as the great raft spider are at a record high after nearly going extinct just over a decade ago. The semiaquatic spiders, which measure up to 3 inches in length and can walk on water, were reintroduced to restored grazing marshes on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, Britain's largest protected wetland. The restored area has an ideal mix of vegetation for nursery webs which conservationists at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds describe as "pizza-sized" and provides plenty of prey for the spiders. The effort to revitalize the species was a collaboration between several conservation organizations: the RSPB, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the Broads Authority, and the British Arachnological Society. RSPB conservationists told the Guardian that the species was previously under threat because of the "large-scale degradation and destruction of the lowland wetland habitats" on which it depended. Much of this habitat damage can be attributed to the impacts of climate change and planet warming. A recent RSPB survey estimated the number of female fen raft spiders is just under 4,000 in the region. The return of the fen raft spider to its native habitat will help revive and support a healthy and diverse wetland ecosystem in the area, which has long been under threat. Restoring damaged ecosystems through species reintroduction is a key way conservationists work to reverse the harm of human influence on the environment. The fen raft spider, in particular, helps its ecosystem by controlling insect populations and serving as prey for fish and birds, according to Suffolk Wildlife Trust. In an RSPB news release, ecologist Jane Sears, who was involved in the fen raft spider conservation efforts, said: "We must continue to restore, manage, and protect the wetland habitats where the fen raft spider thrives to ensure the future of not just this species, but many others too." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. LAFAYETTE PARISH, La. (KLFY) Scott Fire Chief Chad Sonnier was named the new director of Lafayettes Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. The Lafayette Consolidated Government announced Sonniers new role in a news release on Wednesday. His new role is effective Monday, Sept. 30. According to the news release, Sonnier has more than three decades of experience in emergency management, disaster response, and public safety leadership. He will oversee coordination among federal, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector during times of crisis, LCG said. His efforts will focus on enhancing collaboration before, during and after critical emergency events to ensure the safety and resilience of the community, LCG said. Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet expressed her confidence in Sonniers leadership. Chad Sonnier has the experience, dedication, and strategic mindset needed to guide our parish through any emergency. His proven leadership in disaster response and preparedness will be such an asset to our community, Boulet said. LCG said Sonniers career spans 23 years as the Scott Fire Departments fire chief. His work experience also includes positions such as firefighter, hazmat technician, fire engineer, fire coordinator, and hazmat chief. Sonnier was inducted into the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2020. Sonnier also has a proven track record in grant writing at both the federal and state levels to support various projects and initiatives, LCG said. To date, he has successfully secured more than $26 million in grant funding, LCG said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Latest News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. What happens when the government lies about why it's seizing your land? That's the central issue in Brinkmann v. Town of Southold, a case being considered by the Supreme Court. Property rights are inextricably connected to economic security and community. Property gives people a space to raise families, build communities, start a business, practice their faith, and debate their views. This is especially true for disfavored groups most vulnerable to the wishes of a hostile majority. But as with all constitutional rights, property rights exist only to the extent our courts protect them. The Fifth Amendment was one of the ways our nation's founders sought to protect property rights. Its Takings Clause restricts the government's power to seize land through eminent domain, requiring that any taking be "for public use." But what happens when the government lies about why it's taking land, feigns a public use, and a judge blindly accepts the government's reasons? Consider Bruce's Beach, a black resort in Manhattan Beach, California, in the early 20th century. Mere decades after emancipation, Willa Bruce and her husband moved to Los Angeles to earn a living by operating a small seaside business. They purchased a parcel in 1912 and opened a retreat where guests could buy soda and lunches, rent bathing suits, and swim. Within a week of opening, white neighbors and local officials grew agitated and harassed the guests. Despite the challenges, Bruce's Beach flourished, expanding from a modest portable cottage to a two-story brick building to accommodate the growing number of guests. Inspired by its success, other black families also began purchasing property in the area. As opposition increased, Bruce stood firm. "I own this land," she said. "And I am going to keep it." Out of options, Manhattan Beach officials resorted to eminent domain to force the Bruces out of business. To justify the seizure, the city fabricated a "public use," claiming the land was needed for "public park purposes." Public parks are a valid public use, but this park was a mere pretext. In the three decades that followed, no park appeared on the land, but the Brucesand their businesswere gone. Examples of pretextual takings abound. In the 1950s, officials targeted a thriving black community of homes and businesses called Belmar Triangle in Santa Monica, California. A series of bad faith takings devastated the area and upended families under the guise of "urban renewal." But in the end, the city never built much more than a parking lot for a new event space. In the 1980s, Burlington, Massachusetts, targeted affordable housing by using eminent domain for a sham park until the state's high court stepped in. Branford, Connecticut, tried something similar in 2010. That same decade, officials used eminent domain to go after a mosque in Wayne, New Jersey. After exhausting other options to stop construction, the township decided it needed the land for "open space." Abuses like these flip the Takings Clause on its head. Instead of protecting property owners, the provision legitimizes bad-faith land grabs. Now, the Supreme Court has a chance to curb the abuse with a petition from brothers Ben and Hank Brinkmann. Their legal battle started in 2017 when they tried to build a hardware store on their own land in Southold, Long Island. Hostile to the project, town officials tried myriad ways to stifle the brothers' plans. The mayor personally interfered with the land sale, and city officials demanded tens of thousands of dollars for an impact study. After the Brinkmanns complied, officials enacted a dubious building permit moratorium, affecting only a small stretch of road centered on the Brinkmanns' property. Still, the brothers did not give up. When all else failed, Southold took the Brinkmanns' land using eminent domain. What "public use" did the town conjure up as a pretext for the bad faith taking? Officials claimed they needed the land for a "passive use park." That's an empty field. In other words, the public use was a sham. Earlier this year, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rubber-stamped the town's bad faith taking, with the majority concluding that "when the taking is for a public purpose, courts do not inquire into alleged pretexts and motives." All three judges deciding the appeal agreed that the Brinkmanns had alleged a pretextual taking. Two judges nonetheless held for the majority that the Fifth Amendment offers no protection. Dissenting judge Steven Menashi felt differently: "In my view, the Constitution contains no Fake Park Exception to the public use requirement of the Takings Clause." As with the case in Manhattan Beach and so many others, telling the truth would have derailed Southold's scheme to stop the Brinkmanns. Instead, the town resorted to lying about the "public use" to feign compliance with the Fifth Amendment. Brinkmann v. Town of Southold is now at the Supreme Court's door. If the government can hide behind false claims of public use, property rightsand the Fifth Amendmentbecome meaningless. This case is about more than one family's fight to open a hardware store. It's about holding the government accountable for its lies and ensuring that constitutional protections mean something. When the government lies, courts must protect our rights. CORRECTION: The original version of this article erroneously listed a co-author. That author has been removed. The post Will SCOTUS Take on New York's Latest Eminent Domain Scam? appeared first on Reason.com. Sean Daly inducted into RI Radio and TV Hall of Fame EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Former WPRI reporter Sean Daly was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame on Wednesday night. Im touched by this honor, being recognized for having made some sort of an impact, Daly said during the induction ceremony. Its the old line, Its easy to make a buck, the hard part is making a difference.' Daly worked for more than 40 years in television news, retiring back in 2014. TV news in little Rhody, the gift that keeps on giving, Daly said with a smile. Whatever else it may have been, my work world rarely was dull. You can watch his full acceptance speech below: WPROs Dan Yorke, who hosts Dan Yorke State of Mind on FOX Providence, is also among this years inductees. Daly and Yorke will be inducted alongside WBLQs Betty Jo Cugini-Greene and the late Chris DiPaola. Paul Zangari and Joe Hassett were also inducted. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. As Democrats in Maryland tell it, the state's key Senate race isn't about any particular person -- even the candidates themselves. On the campaign trail, you'll hear Democrats vying to keep an open Senate seat blue knock former Gov. Larry Hogan, the GOP nominee. But you'll also hear lamentations about Sens. Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, firebrands who are primed for committee chairmanships in a potential Republican-controlled Senate. In paid television ads, you'll see videos painting Hogan as a partisan, not the moderate he cast himself as during two terms in Annapolis. But you'll also see attacks on outgoing Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, a vaunted political knife fighter and self-proclaimed "grim reaper" of liberal legislation. MORE: Why Maryland Senate hopeful Angela Alsobrooks is championing a Harris presidency That duality is a core feature of the campaign for Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee and Prince George's County executive -- as much as she's talking about her opponent, she's also sounding the alarm about a Senate she's hoping to join. There are few motivators in politics as potent as fear and anger. But Alsobrooks is at a disadvantage in that regard -- Hogan left office in 2023 as a popular two-term governor with a reputation as a pragmatist before running for a Senate seat in a year when any race can determine the chamber's majority. PHOTO: Maryland Senate Candidate Larry Hogan speaks to members of the media after visiting Paint Branch Elementary School, Aug. 29, 2024, in College Park, Maryland. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) And while Alsobrooks and her allies are still casting Hogan as a Republican whose values are misaligned with deep-blue Maryland, particularly on abortion, they're also diverting some of their fire at prominent Senate Republicans and what they could do with committee gavels. "Marylanders are very savvy. They understand that this race is about the 51st vote and about control of the Senate. It is bigger than Larry Hogan. It's actually bigger than me," Alsobrooks told ABC News Monday at an annual community barbecue her family hosts in Greenbelt, Maryland. "It is much bigger than any one person. It is about the future of our state and of our country and the kind of country that we want to build for our children." MORE: Nebraska State Sen. Mike McDonnell on tanking winner-take-all electoral vote: 'This just did not seem fair' The Senate race is tight, especially by Maryland's standards. The 538 polling average shows Alsobrooks up by nearly 6 points in a state where Democratic presidential candidates typically romp by at least 25, a difference universally attributed to Hogan's entry into the race. PHOTO: Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks speaks during an interview in Gaithersburg, Md., Sept. 20, 2024. (Daniel Kucin Jr./AP) Hogan has continued to reinforce his reputation as a moderate, saying he'd vote to restore abortion protections that existed under Roe v. Wade and serve as a check on the GOP's more hard-line impulses. However, he has still said that as a lifelong Republican, he'd caucus with the GOP in the chamber, and Alsobrooks has made hay of his past record, including vetoing state legislation to expand abortion protections. Still, the need to tie Hogan to bogeymen like Cruz, Graham and McConnell was underscored Monday, when conversations with nearly a dozen of Alsobrooks' most vocal supporters revealed little negative to say about the former governor, but a greater eye on the levers of power in Washington. "I guess he's OK. He hasn't really done a bad job since he's been here in Maryland, but I think it's time for a fresh face," said Bertley Thomas, a retired teacher, about Hogan. "I am a lifelong Democrat, and so is Angela. Hogan happens to be a Republican, it doesn't mean I don't like him any less. However, I think we would like to see the Democrats control the Senate." MORE: Ticket-splitters hold the key to majorities in both chambers of Congress Waymon Lynch, a small business owner, said she voted for Hogan twice, but praised Alsobrooks' record as a local politician. "He's definitely not the Trump wing of the party, no, not at all. That's not his history," Lynch said of Hogan. "And if it were someone other than Angela running against Mr. Hogan, I might consider him. But in this particular case, it goes a little bit further than that." That's not to say voters aren't also considering the issues and where Hogan stands. "I was really kind of concerned when all of a sudden he came out to run against her. I just feel that Democrats serve me and my needs, and I am for women's rights," said Valerie Callender, a dermatologist. "I know Angela is going to fight. She's a mother, and she believes in women's rights. And to take total control of their body, as a physician, I feel that's very important." PHOTO: Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks stands for a portrait, Sept. 20, 2024, in Gaithersburg, Md. (Daniel Kucin Jr./AP) Nevertheless, the race's dynamics have left Alsobrooks with limited ability to run against her actual opponent, instead making future colleagues of the very chamber she hopes to join top antagonists in the race. "Angela Alsobrooks is playing the best card she has to play. She is never going to win a contest of personality or popularity with former Gov. Hogan. He is just far too known and too well liked for her to change public opinion on that front. So, she has to run exclusively on the notion that, regardless of how one feels about Gov. Hogan personally, he can and would be the deciding vote in favor of tipping the Senate over to Republicans," said Maryland Democratic strategist Len Foxwell. The argument requires voters to generalize the importance of the race beyond their state's borders, but Democrats are betting that Marylanders -- living in proximity to Washington and many working for the federal government -- are more attuned than the average voter on the current 51-49 Senate majority and the importance of chamber control. "The beauty of it is that the voters we're talking about are voters in Maryland, and this is about one of the most savvy electorates that you can find, not just in the Washington suburbs, but throughout the state," said Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman. "We know what this is about." MORE: 2024 election updates: Trump to deliver remarks to the press in New York At the same time, Alsobrooks has work to do to define herself more concretely outside of her powerbase in Prince George's County, particularly in the vote-rich areas in and around Baltimore. Alsobrooks is working to boost her own policy bona fides with a new ad out Wednesday, noting the threat of GOP Senate control but adding what she would "also" do as Maryland's senator, including taking on "price gouging" and standing "up for a woman's right to choose." Hogan and his allies are trying to do the same, with a well-heeled supportive super PAC releasing an ad Wednesday hitting her over a CNN story alleging she improperly took tax deductions on properties in Maryland and Washington. "Raising her name ID, especially in the Baltimore suburbs, is really important. When you see the polling, you still see Hogan has pretty universal name ID. We've got room to grow her ID," Ulman said. To be certain, Alsobrooks is still viewed as having an advantage. PHOTO: Senate candidate former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan poses for a portrait, Aug. 27, 2024, in Annapolis, Md. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP) MORE: Biden insists he would have beaten Trump in 2024 election Vice President Kamala Harris is anticipated to win Maryland, one of the nation's bluest states, by as many as 30 points, possibly creating tailwinds long enough to carry Alsobrooks over the finish line and forcing Hogan to lean on a potentially unrealistic number of ticket splitters, voters who support one party for president and another in down-ballot races. "If Larry Hogan doesn't win this race, from what I've seen thus far, it has very little to do with whatever Angela Alsobrooks is doing," Doug Mayer, a former Hogan aide. "If Larry Hogan doesn't win this, it's just because it's extremely difficult to have a million switch voters. If anyone can do it, it's him. And while operatives of all stripes agreed that Hogan is the only person who could make the race competitive, Democrats' emphasis on the threat of Republicans who Marylanders are less familiar with and more aligned with former President Donald Trump could help Alsobrooks lean into her state's existing partisan advantage, experts said. "With the base energized in a presidential year, I find it implausible to think that there will be enough ticket splitters, and we're reminding people every day what the stakes are," said Ulman, who was the Democratic lieutenant governor nominee in 2014 when Hogan won his first term. "Nobody will take the former governor more seriously than me, having seen his success in the past, but it just makes the math very, very hard in a presidential year." Searching for a villain in Maryland Senate race, Angela Alsobrooks looks beyond Larry Hogan originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse, home of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. | John Lamparski/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom A federal judge ruled Tuesday that an alternative admissions program to New York City's competitive high schools is unconstitutional if it intended to achieve racial balancing. Although the program does not prescribe racial quotas or favor candidates directly on the basis of race, a criterion was added in 2018 to achieve a higher representation of black and Hispanic students, according to the plan's announcement. In Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York v. Adams (CACAGNY), the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) won a decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit that could roll back the expanded Discovery Program to New York City's specialized high schools (SHSs). The decision has broader constitutional implications for facially neutral discriminationpolicies that are applied equally and superficially neutral but intended to produce disparate outcomes for individuals on the basis of immutable characteristics. In December 2018, plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction against New York City's Department of Education's (DOE) Discovery Program. The complaint alleged that the program's facially neutral selection process disparately impacted Asian-American applicants to the SHSs. New York's SHSs are described as "prestigious, highly competitive institutions that are among the best high schools in the country," by the editorial board of The New York Times. In 1972, the Hecht-Calandra Act legally enshrined regular admissions to the SHSs as "solely and exclusively by taking a competitive, objective and scholastic achievement examination." Civil rights groups have long complained that the SHSs do not reflect the demographics of New York's high school student population and regard the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)the admissions process established by Stuyvesant in 1934as racially discriminatory, reports The New York Times. In 2018, the Office of the Mayor reported that only 9 percent of SHS offers that year went to black and Latino students, despite 68 percent of NYC's high school students belonging to these racial groups. To address these racial disparities, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC DOE Chancellor Richard Carranza announced the expansion of the Discovery Program in June 2018. Per the Hecht-Calandra Act, the Discovery Program offers SHS admission to students who do not meet the SHSAT cutoff score and are certified as disadvantaged by their local school. Carranza added the requirement that a student must attend a school with an Economic Need Index (ENI) of 0.6 or above. CACAGNY plaintiffs alleged the DOE instituted the ENI requirement as a proxy for race to engage in unconstitutional racial balancing. U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York Edgardo Ramos acknowledged that the architects of the Discovery Program's expansion "estimated 16 percent of offers [going] to black and Latino students" compared to 9 percent before the program's expansion. Ramos also admitted that these projections "showed a slight decline of Asian American and white enrollment." Nonetheless, Ramos concluded that the "Plaintiffs cannot prevail on their Equal Protection claim" due to a lack of aggregate discriminatory effect on Asian-American students, who still received more offers to the SHSs compared to any other racial group following the expansion of the Discovery Program. Ramos also insisted that "the Court need not reach any conclusion with respect to whether Defendants enacted the reforms with discriminatory intent." Ramos's decision means that a facially neutral, intentionally discriminatory policy that fails to achieve its end is constitutional. PLF strongly disagrees, arguing in its January 2023 opening brief to the 2nd Circuit that aggregate disparate impact is merely one factor pertaining to the "ultimate question: whether the Defendants acted with impermissible discriminatory purpose." Judge Joseph F. Bianco of the 2nd Circuit concurred with PLF on Tuesday. Bianco's opinion states in no uncertain terms that "an aggregate disparate impact on Asian-American students" is unnecessary to establish an Equal Protection Clause claim under the 14th Amendment. Bianco clarifies that the lower court must allow plaintiffs to conduct discovery into discriminatory intentan explicit reversal of Ramos's opinion. If such intent is proven, "a negative effecton individual Asian-American students applying to SHSs would be sufficient to trigger strict scrutiny," a stringent constitutional standard most laws and policies fail to satisfy. The 1st Circuit disagrees. In its December 2023 decision in Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence v. Boston (Boston Parent), another case litigated by PLF, Judge William Kayatta affirms that even undisputed evidence of the defendants' intent to racially balance certain schools "is not by itself enough to sustain the Coalition's claim." PLF submitted a petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court in April 2024 following Kayatta's decision. On Wednesday, PLF submitted a supplemental brief adding a fourth reason for granting the petition: the "clear circuit split" between the 2nd Circuit's ruling in CACAGNY and the 1st Circuit's decision in Boston Parent. Tuesday's "Second Circuit decisionis a triumph not only for CACAGNY but for the principle that admissions should be based on merit, not race," says Glenn Roper, PLF attorney for CACAGNY. If the Supreme Court grants writ of certiorari to Boston Parent and agrees with Bianco's opinion, no policy will be "immunized from strict scrutiny because it underperforms in an unconstitutional mission" to discriminate on the basis of immutable characteristics. The post Second Circuit Rules Intent To Racially Balance NY High Schools Is Unconstitutional appeared first on Reason.com. The United States Secret Service, which has been the subject of heated scrutiny after two assassination attempts against former President Trump that many believe were avoidable, is now facing even more heat as it prepares to send employees to an LGBTQ-focused event at Floridas Walt Disney World. The Secret Service is expected to send agents to Disney World on Oct. 7-10 as part of the Out and Equal Workplace Summit that includes breakout sessions, a gala and various events aimed at promoting LGBTQ diversity in the workplace. "Individually and as a collective community, we can break down barriers, bring everyone along, and illuminate the way forward where workplacesand the worldare rich in inclusion and belonging, and innovation and opportunity are unlocked, for LGBTQ+ people and for all," the Out and Equal Workplace Summits website states. "And through the Out & Equal Workplace Summit, we will harness, nurture, and grow that light. We will remind our collective community and the world of the brilliance and power we hold. We will remind them that we are an unstoppable, radiant force." Secret Service Struggle To Protect Presidents Won't See 'Immediate' End Even With More Manpower: Retired Agent The Secret Service is sending agents to an LGBTQ event at Disney World next month. A RealClearPolitics reporter posted an email this month reportedly from the Secret Service encouraging agents to nominate others to go on the trip to Florida as part of the agencys Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Read On The Fox News App In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Secret Service spokesperson said, "Due to its current operational tempo, the U.S. Secret Service is limiting participation in conferences to only those personnel who have no impact on current protective operations." "Two U.S. Secret Service administrative staff members, who are responsible for the implementation of federal special emphasis programs, are attending the 2024 Out & Equal Workplace Summit. These personnel are not law enforcement." As the Secret Service continues to face various investigations and reports into massive failures in adequately protecting Trump from two assassination attempts, along with serious concerns about the agencys staffing levels, American Principles Project President Terry Schilling told Fox News Digital the event in Florida is the last thing it should be allocating resources toward. "To say this is a bad look for the Secret Service might be the understatement of the decade," Schilling said. "There have now been two near-assassinations of a former president in the last two months. The readiness and basic competence of the agency is now rightly under scrutiny. Is this really the right time to be sending staff members to Disney World?" Top Secret Service Agent In Pittsburgh Says He Was Kept In Dark On 'Credible' Threat Ahead Of Butler Rally Schilling continued, "Even worse is what this says about the priorities of the Secret Service. At a moment when the agency should be focusing on hiring the best personnel possible, they are instead continuing to focus on the failed and unpopular principles of DEI. If the last couple months have made anything clear, it's that the Secret Service doesn't need more nonbinary-identifying agents. Rather, it needs more "good" agents." A preliminary report on the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs released on Wednesday ripped into newly revealed missteps that went into the Secret Service's planning and execution of security at the event during which a spectator was killed, two others were seriously wounded and Trump was struck on the ear. The Secret Service is currently operating with about 400 fewer employees than what Congress has authorized, according to a report this month. Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. "A person's sexual preferences should have zero bearing on their ability to protect our nation's leaders," Schilling told Fox News Digital. "So, why is the Secret Service spending so much time and resources obsessing over LGBTQ+ issues? This is a serious scandal that the agency needs to address immediately." Original article source: Secret Service ripped for plan to send agents to Disney World LGBTQ summit amid failures protecting Trump Section of Howard Street to be closed until late November SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The City of San Angelo has announced that a portion of Howard Street will be closed due to road work for over a month. Heres what motorists and business owners in the area can expect. According to a public statement issued by the City, a section of Howard Street spanning from Webster Street to Bailey Street will be closed beginning on Oct. 1. It is expected to be reopened in late November 2024. A graphic depicting in red the section of Howard Street that will be closed for road work from Oct. 1, 2024, to late November 2024. While the road is closed, through traffic will not be permitted on Webster Street, North Street or Coleman Street. This includes through traffic from alleys. The City stated that businesses within the road closure area will be open and that access to them will be maintained. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. UPDATE: All lanes of traffic on State Highway 57 in Door County are open hours after vehicle hits utility pole THURSDAY, 9/26/24, 9:33 p.m. SISTER BAY, Wis. (WFRV) The Wisconsin Department of Transportation said that the section that was closed down due to a vehicle hitting a utility pole has been cleared. All lanes of traffic are now open, as of 9:26 p.m. This story will be updated as needed. Section of State Highway 57 in Door County closed after vehicle hits utility line THURSDAY, 9/26/24, 3:10 p.m. SISTER BAY, Wis. (WFRV) Deputies in Door County are asking drivers to avoid a section of State Highway 57 near Sister Bay after a vehicle hit a utility line pole earlier on Thursday. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Door County Sheriffs Office, State Highway 57 will be closed between the 42/57 juncture in Sister Bay and County Highway Q in Liberty Grove. Door County utility line hit by vehicle road closed Wisconsin WisDOT officials say the incident originally happened around 1 p.m. and that the scene was initially estimated to take over two hours to clear. Wisconsin Department of Transportation: WIS 54/57 work finished on time and on budget A Facebook post from the Door County Sheriffs Office states that the closure is due to a vehicle hitting utility lines in the area. The Wisconsin Public Service is at the scene assessing the damage and will work to repair the damage as quickly as possible. All lanes of WIS 57 are affected and drivers are being asked to find an alternate route. Local 5 will update this story when more information is available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. See the luxury hotel suite feds say Eric Adams paid only $600 for when the stay was worth $7,000 Prosecutors said Eric Adams stayed in the Bentley suite at the St. Regis in Istanbul paying a heavily discounted rate. St. Regis and Bentley Eric Adams spent two nights at the St. Regis Istanbul in the summer of 2017, prosecutors said. He paid $600 for the hotel's Bentley suite instead of its true worth, about $7,000, they said. Take a look at the suite, a collaboration with the car brand that has automotive touches throughout. Everyone wants to save money on vacation, but steep discounts are rare for most unless you are a high-profile celebrity, influencer, or, it seems, the mayor of New York City. A page from the indictment showing the Bentley Suite, where feds say Adams stayed at a big discount. NYSD NYC Mayor Eric Adams paid only $600 for a two-night stay at the Bentley suite at the luxurious St. Regis Hotel in Istanbul in 2017, federal prosecutors said in an indictment unsealed Thursday. The stay was worth about $7,000, prosecutors said. That's about 91% off. The discount has landed Adams in hot water. In the indictment, federal prosecutors accuse Adams of engaging in years of public corruption. They say that over the past decade, he accepted gifts from foreign nationals including complimentary or discounted Turkish Airlines flights, stays at luxury hotels, a spa treatment, meals, and boat trips in exchange for political favors. One of these perks was the 2017 stay in the St. Regis' Bentley Suite. The suite is a collaboration between St. Regis Hotels and luxury car brand Bentley, which also worked together on a suite in St. Regis' flagship hotel in New York. Everything was inspired by Bentley, from the curves of the headboard to the sofa that uses the same quilted leather pattern as the auto brand's seats. There's a Champagne chiller built into the couch and a TV in the bathroom. A one-night stay in mid-October 2024 costs around 1,880 euros, or about $2,100, a night, according to the St. Regis Istanbul website. Prosecutors also said in the indictment that on a 2019 trip to Turkey, Adams stayed in a different suite, called the Cosmopolitan, at the same St. Regis hotel, paying nothing instead of the visit's $3,000 value. Adams has said he is not guilty. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 45 years in prison. Take a look inside the Bentley hotel suite where prosecutors say he stayed in 2017 at a major discount. The suite has a king-sized bed. St. Regis and Bentley Modeled after the Bentley Suite at the hotel's New York location, the 1,345-square-foot suite is packed with artful and luxurious details, such as model cars. It's heavily influenced by the Bentley Suite at the St. Regis in New York. St. Regis and Bentley The suite includes a separate living room with a built-in curved sofa modeled after the luxurious cabins inside Bentley cars and upholstered with the brand's signature diamond-stitch pattern. There is a separate living room space. St. Regis and Bentley A light sculpture inspired by one of Bentley's car designs and the curves of the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany hangs above the bed. Many design features, like the lights, draw influence from the Bentley car brand. St. Regis and Bentley The curbed sofa also has a built-in Champagne bar. There are luxurious elements throughout the space. St. Regis and Bentley The marble bathroom is huge and features double vanities, a rain shower, a marble tub, and a TV. The bathroom is covered in dark marble. St. Regis and Bentley The suite is so luxurious that Forbes Travel Guide describes it as a place Jay Gatsby the fictional wealthy-scion character from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby" would stay at if he "were able to time travel and arrive in modern-day Istanbul." The bathroom has a separate bathtub and shower. St. Regis and Bentley Read the original article on Business Insider See why the campaign for WA lands commissioner is the most passionate state race He says shell hand the keys over to the timber industry. She says his harvesting math doesnt add up and would hurt schools. Thats just some of what Democrat Dave Upthegrove and Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler had to say in a heated debate Wednesday that brought the states wildlife policies to the forefront. Their race for Washington lands commissioner has quickly become one of the most talked about thanks in large part to a closely watched recount in a year where nine state executive offices are up for election. The debate at WSUs Tri-Cities campus was an opportunity for Upthegrove and Herrera Beutler to show voters where they differed on forest conservation, timber harvest funding, wildfire prevention and supporting green energy. Washingtons current lands commissioner, Hilary Franz, is bowing out after eight years in the office. She ran for Washingtons 6th Congressional District this year but failed to make it past the states top-two, primary system. The public lands commissioner heads the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The agency manages the states tidelands, grazing lands and forests about 6 million acres of publicly owned land, as well as 3 million acres of trust lands that produce revenue, largely from logging. Revenue from the trust supports local schools, roads, libraries, hospitals and fire districts. The agency also champions preservation for the states public resources and overseeing the states wild land firefighters. The hour-long debate was hosted by the League of Women Voters Benton-Franklin Counties and broadcast by Northwest Public Broadcasting. A playback of the event can be found on YouTube. Rural vs. urban Herrera Beutler is the former Southwest Washington congresswoman who served between 2011 and 2023, and before that was in the state House. Shes raising her kids in the path of the historic 1902 Yacolt burn, which scorched more than 240,000 acres, and says current forest practices havent decreased the severity of wildfires. Herrera Beutler says she doesnt want to gift their kids generations of wildfire smoke, and believes Upthegrove is too cozy with climate activists. She says as the staes lands commissioner she would rely on the DNRs leading scientists to guide decision making. Too many of our forests are under-managed or outright neglected, and they have turned into crowded, diseased tinder boxes just waiting for a spark, she said. Fires run rampant every summer, they ruin our days with smoke and they emit tons of carbon into the air and theyre driving up the costs of home insurance here, making housing in Washington even more unaffordable. Republican U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, representing southwest Washington states 3rd Congressional District, poses for a photo in Vancouver, Wash., Aug. 27, 2018. The congressional race in southwest Washington has drawn national attention in a year Democrats see a chance to take control of the U.S. House. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) Shes endorsed by both of Washingtons Republican House delegates, as well as the Mainstream Republicans of Washington, Washington Farm Bureau and the Association of Western Paper Workers Union. Upthegrove is the current Metropolitan King County Council chairman. Hes served on the council for a decade, and before that was in the Legislature for 12 years, where he chaired the House Environment Committee. He said hes running to improve the management of public lands, to address the impacts of climate change, to protect clean air and water, and wildlife habitat. He believes Herrera Beutlers policies would be bad for conservation efforts, especially for protecting some of the states oldest forests. He also wants to conduct more controlled burns and forest thinning, and bring some management practices in Eastern Washington over to the west side. Upthegrove says hes also running to expand recreational opportunities, and says he would advocate for more resources for firefighters. Voters of this state have strong conservation values, and Im going to bring those values with me into this job. And voters deserve a lands commission who is independent minded, balanced and inclusive, and Ill be that leader, he said. Democrat Dave Upthegrove, a current member of the King County Council and a former state representative, is a candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands. Upthegrove is endorsed by five of Washingtons eight Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. House, as well as Washington Conservation Action, Washington State Council of Firefighters and the Sierra Club. The commissioner of public lands earns an annual salary of $166,762. This race is also a focal point this election season for Washington Republicans, who have been shut out of statewide office since Kim Wyman left her post as Secretary of State to join the Biden Administration in 2021. Their race for Washington lands commissioner has quickly become one of the most talked about this election. Forest land preservation One of Upthegroves signature plans is to defer the harvest of nearly 77,000 acres of mature, lush forests within the lands trust in lieu of harvesting younger parcels in the short term and buying, over the long term, private timber lands at risk of conversion. The amount Upthegrove wants to save represents 3% of the states nearly 1.2 million acres of harvestable land. That would help satisfy part of the states mission of restoring 10-15% of its old-growth forests over the next 50 years, he says. People often call them the salmon forests. These are those lush rain forests with old-growth light conditions in Western Washington that have ferns and lichen, he said. Recent studies have shown they are 30% more resistant to wildfires. Herrera Beutler argues Upthegroves plan doesnt square right with the multi-year process of conducting timber sales and would place funding for public schools and governments in jeopardy. You cannot keep us at the same levels (of harvest) if youre pulling almost 80,000 acres out of the land thats scheduled to be harvest on Day 1. The math does not work, she argued. He keeps saying hes going to find other land to harvest elsewhere well, Id really like to know where, because there are schools... that are waiting on that timber money this year to make sure that they are not in an overcrowded classroom. Climate, education funding With my opponent, were essentially handing the keys over to the timber industry, Upthegrove argued, and were going to end up with the destruction of some of these last special places at a time when our plans call for restoring those. If elected, Upthegrove says he would champion a new clean energy trust that would see DNR buy new lands and lease them to clean energy producers with the backing of communities and tribes. Revenues from those leases would benefit local economic development. Upthegrove says hes committed to our climate future, including the states goal to commit to an electricity grid free of greenhouse gases by 2045. My opponent talks about climate, but when she was in Congress.... she voted over and over again in support of the fossil fuel industry, pushing the Keystone Pipeline, voting to exempt them from capping their liability even when theres damages, he said. She opposes our states Climate Commitment Act, wants to pull us out of the Paris Climate Accords. This goes in the wrong direction. Herrera Beutler characterizes herself as a collaborator who gets results on climate policies and will work with anyone, regardless of political ideology. I worked with my Democrat colleague, Kurt Schrader in Oregon to get legislation passed that protected our wild salmon runs on the Columbia River. That sounds super easy, right? But when we started, the legislation we had, nobody wanted to touch with a 10-foot pole, she said. But Herrera Beutler says they were able to get the 2018 Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predator Prevention Act passed in bipartisan fashion, and with robust support of tribes and unions that were initially put off by the legislation. Herrera Beutler says her big push to fight climate change is to sustainably manage forests and use more carbon-friendly products. Eastern WA wind farm and focus on recreation The former congresswoman also took aim at Gov. Jay Inslees recommendation to max out a 24-mile wind farm project near the Tri-Cities that has drawn sharp criticism. Earlier this year, the states energy facility siting council recommended to Inslee a plan that would eliminate about half the turbines proposed, unless some could be relocated within the projects boundaries. But Inslee declined, asking for a change that appropriately prioritizes the states pressing clean energy needs. The board reconsidered, and earlier this month approved the recommendation in a split 4-3 vote. I think thats actually the wrong approach. That is trying to fit a round peg into a square hole, Herrera Beutler said, adding that they need community backing when approving large energy projects. Upthegrove also spoke frequently about expanding recreational opportunities. He believes its just one effort that could help curb illegal activity on state lands, such as dumping and shooting. For example, if youre frustrated with people target shooting in areas that are unsafe, why dont we develop a safe target shooting location. If people are ripping around in their ORVs in spots where it hurts the environment, lets build another ORV park, he said. Our public lands belong to all the people of the state of Washington, and I want to try to unlock more gates, open up more trails and make sure people can get out and enjoy the outdoors in a healthy, sustainable, natural environment for generations to come, he later added. Maulian Bryant speaks at a rally on Indigenous Peoples Day at the Maine State House in Augusta on Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Maulian Bryant has her eye on more than state-level politics in the fight for the recognition of the Wabanaki Nations inherent sovereignty as she prepares to assume the top role of the Wabanaki Alliance, a nonprofit charged with advocating for that goal. The Wabanaki Alliance announced Wednesday that Bryant, currently president of the groups board, will be the organizations next executive director. Bryant will begin training for the role in the coming weeks as the current executive director, John Dieffenbacher-Krall, prepares for his retirement at the end of the year. I think theres space for greater federal engagement and really looking at our relationship with the federal government, Bryant said. We know were held back in some ways, but also maybe theres other places to connect and take advantage of that relationship as an alliance. The Wabanaki Nations do not have the same rights as the other 570 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. as a result of the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, which has resulted in the Wabanaki Nations being treated more like municipalities than independent nations. Re-examining the relationship the four tribes of the Wabanaki Nations the Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mikmaq Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe have with the federal government could include re-exploring federal legislation. Bryant pointed to the proposal from U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine in 2022 to give the Wabanaki Nations access to future beneficial federal laws, which passed the House but not the Senate. Advancing another such reform would largely hinge on how the November election impacts the currently slim Republican majority in the U.S. House, Bryant said, though she noted that on the state level, bipartisan support for tribal sovereignty has been slowly growing. This support is exemplified in chamber votes for the expansion of tribal authority to prosecute crimes passed this last legislative session, as well as the Wabanaki Alliances bipartisan endorsements for legislative candidates running in the November election. And beyond the Maine Legislature, the alliance has grown into a coalition of more than 300 businesses and organizations across the state of Maine, Bryant confirmed as of Wednesday. Bryant attributes the growing bipartisan support on the issue to education, another key charge of the alliance. When we were making inroads with Republicans, Bryant explained, a lot of them were saying, I do care about this. I havent known how to learn about it, or I havent had those connections or those relationships. Bryant hopes to expand education by hosting events with caucuses and presenting lawmakers with research, as was done in 2022 with a report by the Harvard Kennedy School that found the Wabanaki Nations inability to self-govern has stunted economic growth, both their own as well as neighboring communities. We have a new Legislature were working with every two years, so I think increasing the baseline knowledge that lawmakers have about tribal issues is really important, Bryant said. Vice Chief of the Mikmaq Nation Richard Silliboy, who also serves as vice president of the alliances board, praised the selection of Bryant in a statement on Wednesday, writing she has the temperament and experience to build on progress that has been made in the last several years. We have always been sovereign Wabanaki Nations, Silliboy wrote. Our struggle has been compelling the State of Maine and many settler institutions to recognize and respect our sovereignty. The third attempt at sweeping sovereignty legislation languished this year in favor of the pared back criminal prosecution law, but tribal chiefs have started to strategize for what legislative action theyll back next session. The expanded authority to prosecute crimes was one of several recommendations that came from a bipartisan group of state legislators and tribal chiefs the Legislature convened in 2019 to suggest changes to the Settlement Act. Bryant hopes to see more progress toward implementing these recommendations next session, particularly when it comes to federal Indian law. Having served as the Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador since 2017, Bryant had a pivotal role in pushing for state policy change and hopes to bring those skills with her into the executive director position. I hope to still be a real presence around legislation and advocating for tribal bills, Bryant said. I am used to being there definitely supporting the alliance and promoting that work but more representing the Penobscot Nation. So Im excited to think about being able to testify in support of bills and really carrying a message for all the tribal communities, because our work is so deeply collaborative in the alliance. It is not yet known who will fill the remaining two years left in her ambassador term, which coincides with the chiefs term. Bryant also wants to create opportunities for tribal citizens to more directly engage with the alliance to provide input on legislation as well as the organizations work more broadly. Since the alliances founding in 2020, it has leaned heavily for decision making on its board members, who represent the distinct communities within the Wabanaki Nations, Bryant said, but there hasnt been a direct interface with our citizens in a big way. Bryant envisions hosting forums reminiscent of the representative democracy of the Grand Council in Canada, attributing the idea to Tribal Ambassador for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Osihkiyol (Zeke) Crofton-Macdonald, who also has ties to the Maliseet community in Canada. While each of the Wabanaki Nations have their own annual gatherings to hear from their citizens, Bryant said, I would love to see a larger scale listening session and information-gathering process with the Wabanaki Alliance and tribal communities. Personally, Bryant is also eager to lead the alliance grounded in her own lived-experience and culture. A fertile environment for getting to know each other as human beings thats really the key of so much of this work, Bryant said. When you understand the humanity of somebody else, it makes some of the policy and legal things a lot easier, because youre breaking down a lot of that fear of the unknown. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Self-Professed Super Mom Refused to Listen to Warnings About Co-Sleeping with Her Baby Girl. It Wound Up Killing Her Tricia Cavanaugh pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney's Office Tricia Cavanaugh An Indiana woman who called herself a super mom was sentenced to 14 years in prison after co-sleeping with her baby led to the childs death. Tricia Cavanaugh, 36, pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury on Sept. 3, eight years after her 4-month-old daughter, Celina, died. The Delaware County Prosecuting Attorneys Office said in a release announcing her sentence that Cavanuagh appeared to be intoxicated, and that she had slurred speech and unsteady balance, when police responded to her home in Muncie, Ind., in June 2016 after Celina was found unconscious. At the time, Cavanaugh told police that when she woke up, Celina was lying face down on the bed, prosecutors said. The 4-month-old died in the hospital later that morning. According to the arresting affidavit, police found bottles of prescription drugs in Cavanaughs home, not all of which were prescribed. After submitting to a drug test, Cavanaugh was found to have drugs in her system, some of which were prescribed recently, while others hadnt been prescribed in more than a year. Prosecutors said there was evidence Cavanaugh had taken more Hydrocodone, a painkiller, than instructed in the days leading up to Celinas death. When Celina was born, authorities said she tested positive for opiates and was placed in the NICU for neonatal drug withdrawal, according to the affidavit. Police also found that Cavanaugh had been warned by child services in January 2015 about the dangers of co-sleeping with her other children after the agency previously investigated her because she tested positive for drugs. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. After Celinas birth, the hospital gave her further instructions not to sleep with her baby, the affidavit states. Cavanaugh was arrested in connection with Celinas death in July 2017. At her sentencing hearing, prosecutors said Cavanaugh called herself a super mom, to which Judge Douglas Mawhorr responded, I am not so sure about that. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil of Amador County finds herself in some legal trouble, with her former chief-of-staff challenging her in court for sexual harassment and a serious back injury resulting from allegedly granting the senator a sexual favor. While her attorney denies wrongdoing, the scent of potential scandal is back in the Sacramento air. It is an all-too-familiar fragrance. Alvarado-Gils allegations bring back memories of the 2009 sex talk tape former Orange County Assemblyman Mike Duvall, who ultimately resigned. There was the 2019 finding by the Assembly of sexual harassment against Los Angeles Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who soon resigned from the chamber as well. And there were the 2017 harassment and assault allegations against fellow Los Angeles Democrat Matt Dababneh, who then retreated from public office. Sacramento doesnt confine wrongdoing solely to sexual matters. Take, for example, corruption. Opinion The 2015 guilty plea by former State Senator Leland Yee admitted to racketeering after an investigation into his ties to organized crime led by an associate known as Shrimp Boy. And who can forget the 24 criminal charges filed against Montebello State Senator Ron Calderon in 2014 after a lengthy federal investigation, leading to his suspension from the upper chamber? Having watched hundreds of elected officials in my career, I do not doubt that at some point before the actions that got them into trouble, these leaders became less concerned about their communities and more about their per diem, prestigious office space, and the perks of office. They eventually changed, just in the wrong way. Experts have dissected the crime of fraud as a triangle. There is a pressure to commit fraud, an opportunity to commit fraud, and the ability to rationalize that it is not inconsistent with ones values. The ingredients of financial fraud are similar to Sacramentos political scandals. While Alvarado-Gils case has yet to be decided in a court of law, previous legislators have demonstrated that the Capitol can be ripe with the opportunity to misbehave. Legislators are sometimes surrounded by people in their work environment and communities who make way more money than they do. They also, if they are doing their jobs appropriately, have underappreciated demands on their time and energy. Some legislators wind up wanting things things. They may want to improve their communities, but they may also want money, junkets, sex, or status. Legislators have unusual power. They can hire, fire, and promote. And they can influence legislation on almost every topic if they want to insert themselves into a fight. Most resist heading down a dark path. At some point, elected officials who go awry flip the switch from serving their communities to serving themselves. When that happens, bad things start to snowball. I dont think Senator Yee, for example, started his career wanting to accept bribes or conspire to purchase and illegally import guns from the Philippines to the U.S. At some point, he justified this in his mind despite his record of voting for gun control. Hanging out with someone named Shrimp Boy should have been a warning. (Raymond Shrimp Boy Chow is serving a life sentence in federal prison for murder and racketeering, among other charges.) As for the inappropriate things Assemblyman Duvall said about sexual conquests in an open microphone while in session, they were horrible. Somewhere down the line, he rationalized his conduct as a perk of his status. Public office is supposed to be about serving your community. But for some, losing the meaning of serving can start very small at first. Then they start pushing the limit. Then they lose control. Many years ago a friend told me that whatever age you are when you get elected to a significant office is where you stay developmentally until you leave office. While you are in the Capitol you dont get the normal verbal and nonverbal cues everyone else does. So if you get elected to the Legislature at 28 years old, you are still 28 in intellectual maturity on the day you leave office. We see more evidence all the time that this may be true. When they get to the point where the office is about them and not about the people they serve, it is time for them to move on to something else. Matt Rexroad is an attorney and political consultant Sen. Romney: Attack on Trump in PA shows enormous failures in leadership at the Secret Service U.S. Secret Service agents converge to cover Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. | Evan Vucci The latest congressional report on the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump details failures by the U.S. Secret Service leading up to the attack. During the July 13 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks aimed shots at the former president from the rooftop of the AGR building. A bullet grazed the former presidents ear. One attendee at the rally was killed and two others were injured. The Senates joint report from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations was released Wednesday. It painted a step-by-step picture of the Secret Services lack of preparedness, from initial planning to moments before the suspect shot at Trump. The office of Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who sits on the Senate Homeland Committee, in a statement to the Deseret News said, the GOP senator has said there is no question that there were enormous failures in leadership at the Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security must share in the blame. Romney will consider any recommendations proposed by his colleagues, his office added. What did Congress find about the July 13th attack on Trump? Here are the key findings from the report. The report stated that the Secret Service failed to plan security effectively. Agents did not enter the building and the counter sniper team didnt scan the rooftop. The Secret Service didnt share information with state and local law enforcement in real time. At around 5:44 p.m., the Secret Service received a tip about a person of interest near the building. In less than 10 minutes, at least eight agents were informed. The Secret Service Security Room learned about a suspect on the roof of the building two minutes before shots were fired. According to the report, the Secret Services drone system was inoperable for hours on the day of the rally, meanwhile, the agent operating the system lacked experience and knowledge. Agents also experienced technical issues with their radios on the day of the shooting a problem that is common for this federal law enforcement agency. The report also noted that the Secret Service denied requests for additional security, including to counter unmanned aircraft systems capabilities and a counter assault team liaison. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. | Evan Vucci Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said the findings point to multiple failures. Not only did USSS fail to ensure the AGR roof was adequately covered, they were also aware of a suspicious individual with a rangefinder for at least 27 minutes and did not delay proceedings or remove former President Trump from the stage, even after being informed that the suspicious individual was on the roof of the AGR building, Paul said. Someone needs to be held accountable for these egregious failures, he said, adding the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and other federal agencies have allegedly obstructed the bipartisan investigation. But Paul promised to push for answers. Trump says Iran threats continue The report comes amid continued threats against Trump by Iran. In a post on social media Tuesday night, Trump said, Big threats on my life by Iran. Moves were already made by Iran that didnt work out, but they will try again. Not a good situation for anyone, the former president said. I am surrounded by more men, guns, and weapons than I have ever seen before. The U.S. Senate approved a resolution Wednesday intended to hold Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre in criminal contempt for failing to testify before a Senate panel. The senate approved the measure by unanimous consent. Members of a Senate committee looking into the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care adopted the resolution last week after de la Torre refused to attend a committee hearing last week despite being issued a subpoena. The resolution was sent to the full Senate for consideration. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said de la Torres decision to defy the subpoena gave the committee little choice but to seek contempt charges. The criminal contempt resolution refers the matter to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia to criminally prosecute de la Torre for failing to comply with the subpoena. A representative for de la Torre did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sanders said he wanted de la Torre to explain how at least 15 patients at hospitals owned by Steward died as a result of a lack of medical equipment or staffing shortages and why at least 2,000 other patients were put in immediate peril, according to federal regulators. He said the committee also wanted to know how de la Torre and the companies he owned were able to receive at least $250 million in compensation over the past for years while thousands of patients and health care workers suffered and communities were devastated as a result of Steward Health Cares financial mismanagement. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the ranking Republican on the committee, said communities were harmed because of the actions of Steward and de la Torre. Stewards mismanagement has nationwide implications affecting patient care in more than 30 hospitals across eight states including one in my home state, he said. In a letter sent to the committee ahead of last weeks hearing, Alexander Merton, an attorney for de la Torre, said the committees request to have him testify would violate his Fifth Amendment rights. The Constitution protects de la Torre from being compelled by the government to provide sworn testimony intended to frame him as a criminal scapegoat for the systemic failures in Massachusetts health care system, Merton wrote, adding that de la Torre would agree to testify at a later date. Texas-based Steward, which operates about 30 hospitals nationwide, filed for bankruptcy in May. Steward has been working to sell a half-dozen hospitals in Massachusetts. But it received inadequate bids for two other hospitals, Carney Hospital in Boston and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in the town of Ayer, both of which have closed as a result. A federal bankruptcy court this month approved the sale of Stewards other Massachusetts hospitals. Steward has also shut down pediatric wards in Massachusetts and Louisiana, closed neonatal units in Florida and Texas, and eliminated maternity services at a hospital in Florida. Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts said over the past decade, Steward, led by de la Torre, and its corporate enablers, looted hospitals across the country for profit, and got rich through their greedy schemes. Hospital systems collapsed, workers struggled to provide care, and patients suffered and died. Dr. de la Torre and his corporate cronies abdicated their responsibility to these communities that they had promised to serve, he added. Ellen MacInnis, a nurse at St. Elizabeths Medical Center in Boston, testified before the committee last week that under Steward management, patients were subjected to preventable harm and even death, particularly in understaffed emergency departments. She said there was a time when Steward failed to pay a vendor who supplied bereavement boxes for the remains of newborn babies who had died and had to be taken to the morgue. Nurses were forced to put babies remains in cardboard shipping boxes, she said. These nurses put their own money together and went to Amazon and bought the bereavement boxes. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) New York is continuing to move forward with a major overhaul of a Medicaid program which allows people of all ages with disabilities to choose and receive care in their own home. The big change is the decision to shift from the more than 600 fiscal intermediaries (FIs) down to a single operator. That contract is set to still be awarded by the states deadline of October 1. Since the reforms were announced in the budget, growing efforts to stop the change have pushed forward. Now, a new piece of legislation, co-sponsored by local lawmakers, is aiming to essentially re-expand the program and create greater transparency about the process of operations in its entirety. Senator Pam Helming represents the 54th District which encompasses Ontario, Wayne, and Livingston counties and some towns in Monroe County. She signed on to bi-partisan bill S.9901 which would repeal the current measure as it relates to licensure of the fiscal intermediary and allow for growth. While I think this bill is on the right track and will help us, if we can get it passed to continue to provide good care and services to the most vulnerable New Yorkers. I still struggle with some of the bill language that would allow the Dept. of Health to decide how many FIs we should have in the state, says Helming. According to the Governors Office, the reforms in the budget will not change the eligibility for CDPAP, nor make any new requirement to re-apply. Governor Hochul Office Spokesperson: Our reforms will strengthen CDPAP, protect home care users and ensure taxpayer dollars are effectively serving the people who need them. Our plan does not change CDPAP eligibility for home care users and ensures that caregivers will continue receiving timely payment so they can keep providing the care that CDPAP users need. Bryan OMalley is the Executive Director of the Alliance to Protect Home Care, or Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program Association, which launched a multimillion dollar campaign over the summer to push back against the reforms. OMalley says he feels these reforms to shift from hundreds of FIs to a single, state-run entity is detrimental to the entire healthcare system in the state. He adds, with the current timeline (contract awarded Oct. 1, changes enacted April 2025), he feels it would be nearly impossible to achieve a smooth transition without people falling through the cracks. Yes consumers will not have to reapply for Medicaid but there are medicals that are necessary. There are medical exams for the workers that are necessary, there is paperwork, I-9 documents, W2 documents that cannot transfer from one FI to the other and frankly unless the existing agency gets legal authorization from the consumer and the worker its a violation of HIPPA, OMalley says. Senate bill 9901 would also give the State Comptroller the authority to audit contracts for companies serving as a fiscal intermediary, which is not permitted in the current reform. The countrys largest health care worker union, 1199 SEIU, issued a letter in opposition to S.9901 (see below). The bill will not be heard until January when the legislative session resumes. From the Governors office: Re: recent claims that CDPAP home care users or caregivers could be negatively impacted by the States reforms: New York State is not ending or eliminating CDPAP for home care users and the Governor has never said that. The States recent reforms in the budget do not change eligibility for CDPAP. There will be no new requirement to re-apply to receive CDPAP care. The October 1 deadline is for selecting the Statewide Fiscal Intermediary NOT the deadline for the States reforms to take effect. There will be a transition period following the selection of the Statewide FI, which will help ensure home care users and caregivers are not negatively impacted by the shift to a single Statewide FI. The States RFP to select a single Statewide FI requires it to maintain an irrevocable Revolving Letter of Credit of at least $100 million, exclusively for the purpose of meeting its obligations and responsibilities under the contract. This ensures that the Statewide FI maintains sufficient liquidity to guarantee timely and uninterrupted payment to caregivers. The RLOC is required to be furnished and maintained for the duration of the contract term plus 180 days thereafter. Re: the recent legislative proposal mentioned in your inquiry: Please note that 1199 SEIU released a memo in opposition to that legislative proposal. Im attaching their memo here. It includes a lot of relevant information regarding this issue that Id encourage you to reflect in your reporting. Re: the general reason for our CDPAP reforms: CDPAP spending is expected to exceed $9B this year, which is not sustainable for the long term. The biggest threat facing CDPAP in New York right now is that there are over 600 fiscal intermediaries taking a significant cut of taxpayer dollars without providing enough value to home care users or caregivers. In fact, New York State has more fiscal intermediaries than the rest of the country combined. These entities are not responsible for scheduling care or for supervising caregivers to ensure quality standards are met. They essentially take money from Medicaid and then process the checks to caregivers, after taking a cut for themselves. Were reining this in to focus on quality service and increase oversight of the program, so that we can make sure taxpayer money goes to pay caregivers instead of being siphoned off by middlemen. By October 1, the State will select a single fiscal intermediary to administer CDPAP just as numerous other states have already done. Shifting from 600+ fiscal intermediaries to a single fiscal intermediary will help the State ensure that taxpayer dollars are effectively serving the home care users who need them. Letter-in-Opposition-1199SEIU-S9901-Licensure-Requirements-for-Fiscal-IntermediariesDownload Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate has confirmed a new commander of U.S. Army forces in the Pacific after Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville dropped his objections and allowed a quick vote on the nomination. Tuberville had blocked Lt. Gen. Ronald Clarks nomination for months over concerns that the top military aide to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, along with other staff, did not immediately notify President Joe Biden when Austin was hospitalized with complications from cancer treatment earlier this year. Clark, who Biden had nominated in July, was confirmed late Tuesday evening. Tuberville said Wednesday that he dropped his hold after meeting with Clark and talking to others in the Pentagon. Tuberville had initially demanded to see a report from the Pentagons inspector general that will review the matter, but that report hasnt yet been released and Congress is leaving Washington until after the November election. I didnt want to leave him hanging, so I asked him to come over and we sat down and talked for about an hour, Tuberville said. Clarks explanation matched that of others he had spoken to, so I trusted him and what he was telling me, Tuberville said. There was bipartisan frustration with Austin and his top aides earlier this year after it became clear that Biden was kept in the dark about the defense secretary not being in command for days during his January hospital visit. Lawmakers argued that could have meant confusion or delays in military action. Miles College signs agreement to buy Birmingham-Southern College campus Austin was admitted to intensive care for complications from prostate cancer surgery on Jan. 1, but the White House was not told until three days later. Austins senior staff were notified on Jan. 2. Tuberville said hes still concerned about the situation and how it unfolded, but after speaking with Clark, he believes he wasnt one of the main people responsible for the lapse. We do have problems there, but it wasnt his problem, Tuberville said. Austin said at the time that he took full responsibility and had apologized to Biden. He insisted that there were no gaps in control of the department or the nations security because at all times, either I or the deputy secretary was in a position to conduct the duties of my office. An earlier Pentagon review of the matter blamed privacy restrictions and staff hesitancy for the secrecy, and called for improved procedures, which have been made. A hold by any senator on a nomination, or on a piece of legislation, blocks a quick vote by unanimous consent. Democrats could have brought the nomination up for a vote, circumventing the hold, but it would have taken several days of floor time to do so. A vote would not have been scheduled until after the November election. The objections over Clark came a year after Tubervilles blockade of hundreds of military promotions over a Pentagon abortion policy. The Alabama senator held up the nominations for months but relented after he faced intense criticism from senators in both parties. The Senate finally approved 425 military promotions and nominations in November. Republican colleagues said they agreed with Tuberville on the abortion policy but openly pressured him to drop the holds, voicing concern about military readiness and the toll it was taking on service members and their families who had nothing to do with the regulations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. U.S. Representative Colin Allred speaks during the first general session at the Texas Democratic Convention on June 7, 2024, in El Paso. Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune WASHINGTON U.S. Senate Democrats are sending millions to Texas in a new round of investments to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced Thursday. The DSCC will include Texas in a multimillion dollar push to fund television ads on behalf of U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, who is challenging Cruz. The investment will also target Sen. Rick Scott in Florida, the partys other major flip target. The DSCC declined to further specify the dollar amount going to Texas. Senate Democrats are expanding the map and going on offense, DSCC Chair Sen. Gary Peters said in a statement. All cycle long the DSCC has been preparing to take advantage of Sens. Cruz and Scotts damaged standings in their states and now our efforts in Texas and Florida are accelerating." The DSCC named Texas and Florida as its top flip targets earlier this cycle, including Texas in a $79 million ad reservation and funding staff in the state. But the group has so far put protecting its vulnerable incumbents at the top of its to-do list. Democrats need to defend several difficult seats this year in Republican or swing states to maintain their majority. The investment is a critical sign of the national partys support for a state whose Democrats have long languished on their own. The DSCCs inclusion of Texas in its earlier ad reservations and staffing showed potential in Allreds chances. A later-cycle investment like Thursdays confirms the party remains committed and is taking Texas seriously a shift from past cycles. Texas Senate race is also likely to be one of the most expensive in the states history. Cruz predicted up to $100 million to $150 million being spent on the race. The DSCCs investment could also signal to other groups to put their money in the state. The Senate Majority PAC, the partys primary super PAC for Senate race, has yet to announce any investments in Texas, though it could still send money as Election Day approaches. The DSCC and Allred campaign are legally barred from coordinating with super PACs, which do not have campaign contribution maximums. But its common on both sides of the aisle for super PACs to take cues from publicly released information from formal party groups or campaigns. Texas is home to some of the most expensive media markets in the country, and a cash influx for television ads would support a key component of Allreds campaign strategy. The campaign has focused on blanketing the state with ads to increase his name recognition, especially outside of his home turf in Dallas. Allred was largely unknown outside of Dallas when he first announced his candidacy, while Cruz is one of the most recognized political figures in the country. Recent polling has shown Allred in a close race against Cruz, including a recent Morning Consult poll putting him one point ahead of Cruz. It was the first major public poll of the cycle putting Allred in the lead. Allred is also the best funded candidate in Texas, repeatedly outraising Cruz and former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourkes 2018 campaign. Allred and his joint fundraising committee have raised over $41 million as of the end of June with over $10 million in cash on hand. Campaign contributions generally increase exponentially in the third quarter, which will close at the end of September. Colin Allred has earned broad support from Texans, and our campaign has clear momentum, Allred campaign manager Paige Hutchinson said in a statement. Ted Cruz is weaker and more vulnerable than ever because of his failure to secure the border, his extreme abortion ban that has put women in danger, his efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare and his record of only looking out for himself. Cruz is still a force to be reckoned with. He and his affiliated political action committees have raised over $40 million with over $14 million in cash on hand. He is one of the top fundraisers for the Texas Republican Party and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has coordinated with his campaign throughout the cycle. He is running an aggressive campaign, not wanting to be caught off guard like in 2018 by ORourkes unexpectedly meteoric rise. The National Democrats coming in from their ivory towers in New York. D.C., and California tells Texans all they need to know. Just like them, Colin Allred is nothing more than a radical leftist with a radical record who would destroy Texas and accelerate the decline of America, a Cruz campaign spokesperson said in a statement. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a Montana Republican who chairs the NRSC, said Cruz was always going to attract Democratic fundraisers to Texas because of the ire he provokes on the left but that should not distract from his impressive operation. Ted has been running like he's five points behind since the day he got in the race, even though he's been five or 10 points ahead, Daines said earlier this summer. That's exactly the kind of candidate you want to have for senator running for reelection. I'm just very confident Ted Cruz is going to win handily. Democrats have a challenging map to maintain the majority this year. The party has a one-seat majority, but several of its seats are vulnerable. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana is up for reelection in a state that voted for former President Donald Trump by 16 points. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio is running in a state that Trump won by 8 points. Democrats will also have to defend incumbents in Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which are also presidential battlegrounds. Two Democrats-turned-independents, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema, are also leaving office, opening new vulnerabilities for the party. One of the DSCCs key tenets is to protect incumbents first, and it has not indicated it will abandon any of its incumbents to fund flip opportunities, even if Texas has a closer margin than Montana. But Montana has a considerably smaller media market, and saturating the market with new ads can have diminishing returns. Montana has a population of just over 1 million. Texas, meanwhile, has a population of over 30 million spread out in several distinct media markets. Philip Letsou, an NRSC spokesperson, said Thursday's move is "effectively an admission from [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer and the DSCC that Jon Tester, who is polling very badly, looks like a lost cause." "Colin Allred is an extremist who believes its racist to secure the border. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is a socialist who was fired from her job in Congress after one term because she was so radical. Allred and Mucarsel-Powell are bad fits for Florida and Texas, and voters will reject them, Letsou said in a statement. Screenshot of Debbie Mucarsel-Powell during a Zoom conference call on May 22, 2024. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) on Thursday announced a multimillion-dollar investment in television advertising for Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. The committee said it is doing the same to target U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, with additional funding for television advertising likely to be added in the five-and-a-half weeks remaining in the race. Mucarsel-Powell has been considered an underdog in her race to topple Scott, and national Democrats have not considered the Florida or Texas races as likely to flip this election year. But she has remained competitive in polling. The RealClearPolitics average shows Scott up by four points over Mucarsel-Powell, 46%-42%. In Texas, recent polls show that Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred is also competitive with GOP incumbent Cruz. Senate Democrats are expanding the map and going on offense, said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Gary Peters in a statement. All cycle long the DSCC has been preparing to take advantage of Sens. Cruz and Scotts damaged standings in their states and now our efforts in Texas and Florida are accelerating. Democrats have strong candidates running effective campaigns in both states, and as we escalate our communications against Sens. Cruz and Scott we will crystallize the case against them. The DSCC did not say exactly how much money it is investing in TV advertising in Florida but announced earlier this month a $25 million investment in direct voter contact programs across 10 states, including Florida. Officials with the DSCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But with just 40 days before Election Day and supervisors of elections set to send out vote-by-mail ballots, the question is whether the funding in the Florida Senate race is coming too late. Latinos prod party Latino groups have sent a letter calling on the national Democratic Party to direct significant resources and investment to aid Mucarsel-Powells campaign, according to NBC News. The polls are close, the letter reads. Other ballot initiatives give us turnout momentum. Scott does not have the favorability rating of DeSantis or Rubio. Mucarsel-Powell has a compelling story that contrasts with fraudster Rick Scott. And she is motivating the key Latino constituency. Now is the time for all of us to make Florida a priority and take action quickly, they wrote. Among the groups that signed that letter are Latino Victory Fund, Mi Familia Decide PAC, and Unidos U.S. Action PAC. Organizations that historically have made financial contributions to Democrats have sat out the past two election cycles. In 2022, when Val Demings ended up losing to Marco Rubio by 16 points, spending from outside groups and PACs was less than $2 million, according to a document from the Florida Democratic Party. For the last year, our campaign has been working to reach every voter where they are, Mucarsel-Powell said in a statement sent to the Phoenix. Ive traveled across the state and heard from Floridians of all backgrounds about the issues that matter most to families. Ive spoken to Democrats, Republicans, and independents who are all ready to turn the page on Rick Scotts toxic agenda to ban abortion and cut Social Security and Medicare. Were making the choice in this election clear, and after 14 years of extremism and failure, Florida will come together in November and retire Rick Scott. The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution Wednesday to hold the CEO of Steward Health Care in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena and refusing to appear at a hearing. The matter will now be referred to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia to criminally prosecute Ralph de la Torre for failing to comply with the subpoena. It marks the first time since 1971 that the Senate has held someone in criminal contempt. It is a rare move for the rare degree of callousness, cruelty and cowardliness that Dr. de la Torre has demonstrated, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said. Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor and could be penalized with fines or imprisonment. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) the chair and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee said de la Torre is dodging accountability. They want him to answer questions about how Steward managed its hospitals, as well as how he was able to reap millions of dollars even as the system was failing. I think its unfortunate that we are here, but if someone shows contempt for the American people by defying a subpoena and refusing to provide answers, that is a contemptible thing. Congress has responsibility to act, Cassidy said on the Senate floor. Dr. de la Torre is not above the law. If you defy a congressional subpoena, you will be held accountable, no matter who you are or how well-connected you may be, Sanders said. The goal of the HELP Committee throughout this entire process has been to make sure not only that we have a complete understanding of the financial chicanery surrounding Steward Health Care, but to do everything that we can to make sure that such a travesty never occurs again, he added. The HELP committee overwhelmingly passed two contempt resolutions against de la Torre last week: one for criminal contempt, and the other for civil enforcement. The HELP committee in July issued a subpoena to compel de la Torre to testify, the first issued by the panel in decades. De la Torre told the committee he wouldnt participate in the hearing while Steward was still in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings and asked for the hearing to be postponed. But the committee rejected his request and told de la Torre to appear. When he did not, it initiated contempt proceedings. Last week, de la Torres attorney informed the committee he would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, because the hearing was seemingly designed as a vehicle to violate Dr. de la Torres constitutional rights. The committee rejected that move, as well. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Senate passed a short-term spending bill on Wednesday, avoiding a partial government shutdown at the end of the month and allowing lawmakers up for re-election to head home early to campaign. By a vote of 78 to 18, senators approved a spending bill that will keep funding steady until Dec. 20, known as a continuing resolution (CR). It passed in the House hours before being taken to the floor in the upper chamber, with representatives approving the spending bill 341 to 82. 132 Republican House members voted in favor of it. The bill saw 82 votes against it, all of which were cast by Republicans. Lawmakers avoided a partial shutdown with only days to spare, despite a GOP demand that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act be included. Several Republicans in Congress had insisted the SAVE Act be attached to the spending bill, including some in the Senate. Gop Senators Eye Comprehensive China Strategy To Curb Ccp Influence Read On The Fox News App Chuck Schumer, right, said the spending bill needs to be done in a bipartisan manner. The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. A short-term bill that included that measure failed in the House of Representatives when Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., brought it for a vote last week, effectively killing hopes for a CR with the SAVE Act attached. Top Secret Service Agent In Pittsburgh Says He Was Kept In Dark On 'Credible' Threat Ahead Of Butler Rally People arrive to cast their vote during the early voting for presidential race and local elections in Minnesota on Sept. 20, 2024. The House voted down the stopgap bill 202 to 220, with several Republicans voting against it and two voting "present." Three vulnerable Democrats voted in favor of it. A CR with the SAVE Act had also been backed by former President Donald Trump, who urged Republicans not to accept a spending deal that did not include it. But while Trump encouraged it, Republicans both publicly and privately worried that their party would be blamed for a shutdown. Joe Manchin Says He Won't Endorse Harris Over Support For Eliminating Filibuster Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., even laid the groundwork for blaming the GOP for a potential shutdown in recent floor remarks, labeling the possibility as a "Trump shutdown." "Democrats and Americans dont want a Trump shutdown," he claimed. Dems Look To Force Votes On Emergency Abortion As Abortion Pill Deaths Make Headlines Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) gestures onstage during Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2024. Republicans decided not to prolong the fight over the CR and potentially risk a government shutdown, which is attributed by some in part to incoming severe weather that would make it difficult for senators to get back to their home states and looming competitive elections that they want to get on the campaign trail for. While the CR will keep the government in full operation past the initial appropriations deadline, it sets up another potential standoff before Christmas and a GOP-dreaded omnibus measure that squeezes several necessary legislative items into one massive bill. Original article source: Senate passes funding bill without SAVE Act, avoiding potential shutdown BOSTON (SHNS) More Massachusetts families with pets would gain the ability to foster children under legislation the Senate is poised to take up Thursday. Senators are slated to tackle redrafted legislation (H 4911) that would remove dog breed restrictions that the Department of Children and Families must consider when handling foster placements, Senate President Karen Spilkas office said Wednesday afternoon. It also clarifies animal cruelty reporting guidelines among human service workers. The Senate gave initial approval to the bill on July 29. The House unanimously approved the bill, originally sponsored by Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis of Framingham, on July 25. Under the bill, the Department of Children and Families would consider factors such as a pets history of dangerous behavior and their health records, instead of a pets breed, Spilkas office said in a media advisory. Currently, a family who is thinking of adopting cannot do so if they own breeds including Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, or a dog which mixes at least two of these three breeds. On the House floor in July, Lewis recounted how when he and his husband were considering adopting another child or becoming foster parents, a DCF social worker during a home visit had inquired about the breed of their bulldog. If that DCF social worker, well-intended as she was, had put down pit bull mix or something else along those same terms, my family wouldnt have been able to welcome more people into our home, and I wouldnt have the joy of now having the number of kids that I now have, Lewis said. This is what todays bill is all about. Under the bill, DCF can request that a foster or pre-adoptive parent applicant or a foster or pre-adoptive parent obtain and provide a copy of a behavior or temperament assessment or provide veterinary records for any animal maintained on premises used as a foster or pre-adoptive home. Officials can also consider factors including the age and behavioral aspects of the child, past incidents of dangerous behavior involving the child and animals in other placements, whether the animal is licensed and vaccinated, the age and size of the animal, the number of animals at the home, and whether the animal will be penned or caged. The Senate meets at 11 a.m. Thursday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) A report by the Senate committee investigating the July assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump found multiple key failures that led up to the shooting. Investigators describe tech issues, communications failures and poor planning in the days and minutes before the attempt on Trumps life. The FBI said Thomas Matthew Crooks, from a roof, shot at former President Trump while he spoke at a rally in Butler, Pa., wounding part of his ear. The investigation report said a U.S. Secret Service sniper saw local law enforcement run toward the building Crooks used, with guns drawn, but did not alert former President Trumps protective detail to remove him from the stage. The report said the roof Crooks used wasnt within the secure perimeter, even though it had a clear line of sight of the podium where Trump spoke. Investigators found agents didnt know who was responsible for determining the security perimeter. Central command who was in charge? In Pennsylvania, it was nobody, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), one of the senators in charge of the investigation. Crooks flew a drone over the rally site, hours before former President Trump arrived. The Secret Service had counter drone technology, but the investigation report found the agent in charge of that technology was on the phone with tech support, trying to get it to work. It wasnt operational until about 30 minutes after Crooks finished flying, the report said. Two minutes before the shooting, local police saw Crooks on the roof with a gun. Deputies told local law enforcement over the radio, but Secret Service agents didnt have local police radio, meaning the message didnt get to the Secret Service, the report said. It sounded more like the Keystone cops than the Secret Service, said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). There is a lack of preparation. There was no preplanning. Senate investigators recommend the Secret Service create clear planning roles and responsibilities and overhaul communications procedures. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Senators on Wednesday passed a short-term funding extension that will keep the governments lights on until mid-December and will avert a preelection government shutdown days before the end-of-the-month deadline. The Senate voted 78-18 on the stopgap bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that will keep the government funded at current spending levels until Dec. 20, at which point it will spark a holiday fight during the lame-duck session. The bill now heads to President Bidens desk for his signature. Passage of the CR comes after Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) initial plan a six-month spending bill combined with a Trump-backed measure requiring proof of citizenship to vote failed due to opposition from a number of Republicans. Johnson then resorted to plan B, which he negotiated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). In the end, however, the short-term package advanced with little trouble as the House rushed to pass the bill Wednesday afternoon. The Senate had locked in a time agreement Tuesday night to expedite final passage after the House vote Wednesday. Americans can breathe easy that because both sides have chosen bipartisanship, Congress is getting the job done, Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning. We will keep the government open. We will prevent vital government services from needlessly coming to a halt. We will give appropriators more time to fully fund the government before the end of the year. And Im especially pleased were getting the job done with some time to spare, Schumer added. The three-month package also includes $231 million for the Secret Service in the aftermath of the second assassination attempt against former President Trump. Its the second day in a row Congress has acted on legislation aimed at beefing up Trumps security. The upper chamber on Tuesday passed a bill via unanimous consent that requires the Secret Service to apply the same standards to determine how many agents should be used to protect the president, vice president, and those running for offices who are granted such protection. Earlier Wednesday, the House passed the stopgap bill, 341-82, with every Democrat and 132 Republicans voting in favor. The vote was pushed up to Wednesday afternoon in order for lawmakers to leave Washington ahead of Hurricane Helenes landfall in Florida. Johnson was forced to pass the bill under suspension of the rules, with two-thirds support of the chamber, after hard-liners threatened to block a procedural motion to advance the legislation through regular order. Conservatives and hard-liners have taken the opportunity to tank rule votes in order to express their dissatisfaction with various legislative efforts. Johnsons initial six-month proposal saw opposition from several corners of the Republican conference. Defense hawks argued that six months without an increase in military spending would be harmful to national defense, while some fiscal hawks were opposed to any form of stopgap. But one thing most agreed on was that a government shutdown ahead of November would be a major mistake. While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances. As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice, Johnson said when he and Schumer rolled out the plan Sunday. There are a number of items that were excluded from the funding package that drew the ire of lawmakers, most notably the Trump-backed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. Trump had urged Republicans to shut down the government if Congress didnt adopt some form of voting bill. Also excluded was relief for parts of the country that have been hit hard by natural disasters in recent months. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) noted on the floor ahead of the vote that there was no assistance included to help victims of wildfires in Maui, and pressed that it needs to be a priority in the lame-duck session ahead of Dec. 20. Theyre waiting for help, and the federal government has not come to their aid yet, Schatz said. Theyve lost loved ones. Theyve lost homes. Theyve lost businesses. Theyve lost livelihoods, and all they want is help and a little bit of hope to get their lives back to something close to normal. The next funding fight will also take on a different shape depending on who wins in November. But either way, Republicans are hoping to avoid a massive omnibus spending bill right before Christmas. Johnson vowed that an omnibus will not happen a bold declaration that would go against recent congressional history. He also said that minibuses smaller packages that combine funding for some segments of government also will not be tolerated. We have broken the Christmas omni, and I have no intention of going back to that terrible tradition, Johnson said. We dont want any buses. Were not going to do any buses, OK? Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) During Hurricane Michael, Florida Governor Rick Scott became a daily fixture in Bay County. Now that hes a U.S. Senator, Scott hasnt forgotten how a large hurricane can instill fear and anxiety in residents. He was back at the Bay County Emergency Operations Center Wednesday to hear about local preparations and offer some advice about evacuating. With the wind, the storm surge, all these things. Its going to be very difficult to save your life. You cant wait until the last minute. You have to make a decision. And this is fast moving, just like Michael was, United States Senator Rick Scott said. Franklin County prepares for soon to be Hurricane Helene So far Bay County has not issued any evacuation orders and does not expect to. Helenes biggest impact will be on the counties to our east. Weve been through the worst here in Bay County. We look and see whats off to our east and know what our neighbors are going to be experiencing in the coming days. We are preparing teams to respond at first light Friday over into those areas to help them as many came and helped us after Hurricane Michael, Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said. Franklin County could see fifteen feet of storm surge or more. Bay County is expecting up to eight inches of rain, those who live in flood zones should take precautions. Bay County Emergency officials expect downed trees and utility poles with power outages. For those who stay, you need to have a seven-day supply of food, water, and medications for each person. Walton County Commissioners set the 2025 budget and millage rate One business owner is stocking up on supplies. Make sure we have plenty of light, especially batteries, plenty of water for the house and the business as well. Were used to it now, so we know what to do, Trigo San Francisco Style Deli owner Gilbert Hamati said. Hamati is familiar with the drill, he was able to reopen his Trigos Deli just ten days after Hurricane Michael hit. There are currently no storm shelters open in Bay County. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. A bipartisan group of senators has proposed a new childcare measure that would expand an assistance program that gives employers a tax credit up to $150,000 to help their employees with kids pay for their care. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) has been pushing legislation to help working families with childcare costs for several years. Hes teamed up with Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) this time around. Many families across Tennessee and America are struggling to find reliable and affordable child care, and we need to incentivize businesses to invest in child-care services for their employees, Blackburn said in a statement to The Hill. Our Child Care for American Families Act would help alleviate the financial burden of child-care costs by expanding and modernizing the Employer-Provided Child Care Tax Credit. Their proposal would prioritize incentives for businesses in rural and lower-income areas if they offer workplace childcare facilities to their employees. The proposed act would give up to $1.2 million a year in tax credits, with the amount depending on employer size. Republicans and Democrats have long pushed for expanded tax breaks to cut costs for families. Everywhere I go in Colorado, parents tell me that they cant find high-quality child care and when they do, they simply cant afford it. Thats why Im working across the aisle to ease the burden on hardworking families, Bennet told The Hill in a statement. Im grateful for Senator Blackburns partnership on this important legislation to expand access to reliable, affordable child care in Colorado, Tennessee, and in every corner of our country. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Flood Alerts Issued for Our Region: FLASH FLOOD WARNING: Bland, Giles, and southern most Mercer County until 12:30pm Thursday afternoon. Active flooding is happening or is expected. Flash flooding happens quickly requiring constant monitoring of water levels if you are in this area. Do not drive through flooded roads and be mindful of quickly changing conditions on the road. AREAL FLOOD WARNING: EXTENDED Tazewell County until 4:45 PM, Bland County until 5PM (in addition to flash flood warning), Giles County until 5 PM, Monroe County until 5:15 PM, Summers County until 5:15 PM. Steady rains training over the same area is taxing smaller creeks and streams, pushing them to their breaking points. Low lying areas can expect flood waters as rain continues to move across the region. Monitor local conditions closely and move to higher ground as necessary. Thursday morning will be soggy as rains from Wednesdays stalled front continues to push into the region. With nowhere for the already 2-4 inches of rain to go, adding 1-3 inches more will only worsen the active flooding across the region and add more instances throughout the day. Be vigilant while traveling, especially early on in the day. As our stationary front moves slowly east and the effects of Helene are felt, well catch a small break in activity this afternoon and early evening. A few scattered showers here or there, but overall rain coverage lets up quite a bit. It wont last long. Flooding is still a concern even after the rain stops. All this water has to go somewhere and it can take up to 6 hours after the rain ends for it to do so. Flooded roadways and rising smaller creeks/streams will be something to watch for. Tonight, after making landfall in the Florida Panhandle, Hurricane Helene marches north. Winds will begin to increase late tonight 10-15mph out of the south. Rain returns from south to north overnight. With the outer bands of Helene expected in the overnight hours, itll be a good idea to make sure your set up to receive alerts on your phone. Flooding rains before dawn and winds pushing 20-25mph out of the southeast with gusts as high as 40mph likely. Downed power lines, trees, and debris in roadways will be common place. Not to mention the marginal risk for severe weather with all modes possible including quick spin-up tornadoes and damaging winds. Friday morning Helene continues to pummel our region with heavy rain and strong winds. The morning commute will be difficult for some, if not impossible for others. Downed trees, power lines, and active flooding on and across roads all lead to a very white-knuckle commute. Use caution. The element of severe weather will be with us early on then fade into the afternoon. As the outer band of Helene pushes north and the center of the storm pushes west, well see winds relax into the afternoon with occasional showers remaining but the heaviest of rain moves on. Flooding will still be a concern with the nearly 6-8 inches of rain well have received over the last 3 days. However, for the most part, we look to be on the drier side as Helene moves west. Friday night a few scattered showers as tropical moisture remains and Helene spins just west of our region. Waves of rain showers with breaks between them will keep our flood risk running high. At least the winds will have relaxed to a more manageable 15-20mph range. We continue to see a drying trend into the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. Saturday the remnant low of Helene pushes into western Kentucky away from our region giving us a needed break from the rain for the morning. A bit breezy at times with winds from the southeast 10-15mph with occasional winds gust 20-25mph, especially on the ridgelines. As Helene loses steam our jet stream nudges her back west with showers expected to return Saturday late afternoon and through the overnight hours. By this time, rain will be light to moderate in nature. Sunday is a mostly cloudy day with morning showers that break up a bit into the afternoon. Off and on showers are a good bet but there will be some dry hours mixed in. Winds continue to relax more southwesterly 5-10mph with occasional gusts 15-20mph. The slow moving remnant low of the former Helene drags her feet moving out so expect a few showers through the overnight hours. Monday will be a split day with our mountains remain mostly cloudy with occasional showers from time to time. Its our western counties that begin to see the clouds break up a little to allow for more sunshine into the day. Highs push into the mid and upper 70s while our mountains are stuck in the upper 60s. What is left of Helene continues to push off the Virginia coastline taking the clouds and the rain with her. By Monday night, well have dried out considerably giving us some time to recover. Tuesday is looking to be a dry day with a more clouds than sun but enough to help us push back into the low 70s. Northwest winds and extra clouds will keep temps a touch cool like the last few days but its the dry time were excited about to give our drought stricken ground time to absorb all the rain weve revived. Wednesday we are expected a weak cold front to arrive with increasing clouds, a little breeze, and scattered showers. Better opportunity for rain in the afternoon and evening but even here scattered light to moderate showers in nature. Highs struggle into the 70s with cooler air moving in behind the cold front. In your extended forecast, high pressure is looking promising bringing back the dry and sunny days with temps pushing near average, now in the low 70s this time of year. The tropics are still active which could derail long range forecasts in the coming weeks but for now, we look to quiet down for an extended time heading into the first week of October. THURSDAY ACTIVE WEATHER DAY Heavy AM Rain, Brief PM Break, Helene Arrives Late. Highs in the low 70s. FRIDAY HELENE IMPACTS Heavy rain & strong winds AM, Sct. showers PM. Highs in the low 70s. SATURDAY Drier morning with sun & clouds, PM Showers. Highs in the low 70s. SUNDAY Mostly cloudy, spotty showers at times. Highs in the mid 70s. MONDAY Mtn showers, drier west. Highs in the 70s for most. TUESDAY Drier morning, increasing clouds PM. Highs in the 70s. WEDNESDAY Sct. showers, some dry time. Highs in the 70s. THURSDAY Drier with more sunshine. Highs in the 70s. FRIDAY Sunny & mild. Highs in the mid 70s. SATURDAY Comfy and nice. Highs in the upper 70s. SUNDAY Still sunny. Highs in the 70s. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. (KRON) A San Francisco software engineer manager was returned a guilty verdict by a federal jury on Thursday on three counts of tax evasion after allegedly lying about his medical bills, U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramseys office announced. How many SF Bay Ferry commuters make under $100K per year? According to court documents, Dwayne Lorenzo Richardson, 53, of San Francisco, evaded his personal income taxes for three years from 2017 to 2019. Richardson claimed to owe only about $24,496 in total tax when he made over $1.2 million as a software engineer manager, prosecutors said. Prosecutors allege Richardson filed his false claim by declaring over $1.1 million in medical expenses, overstating those expenses by more than $945,000. Richardson received over $165,000 in tax refunds for the three charged tax years, according to evidence presented at trial. Richardson then lied to an IRS revenue agent in two audit interviews, stating that the $1.1 million of medical expenses were related to an appendectomy. But according to the court record, Richardson paid no more than a few hundred dollars for treatment which took place in 2010, not 2017, 2018, or 2019, prosecutors said. According to court documents, Richardson explained to one of his representatives that he deducted nonexistent medical bills for years because he had not been caught the first time he did it. The guilty verdict of Richardson followed a three-day jury trial in June. Richardsons sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 14, 2025. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine on each of the three counts, prosecutors said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A Russian Shahed drone wreckage has caused a fire on the ground floor of a residential building in the Pecherskskyi district of Kyiv on the morning of 26 September. Approximately 20 cars have been damaged and wreckage has fallen on a kindergarten. Source: Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Telegram Quote: "Emergency services were called to the Pecherskyi district. Early reports indicate that fallen wreckage has caused a fire on the ground floor of a residential building. Units are on their way to the scene." Details: Early reports from Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, indicate that the Russian drone attack caused a gas pipe rupture. Specialist engineers from Kyivgaz [a Kyiv gas distribution company] rushed to the scene. Firefighters putting out the fire. Photo: Kyiv City Military Administration Updated: Klitschko confirmed that the gas pipe on the ground floor of a four-storey residential building ruptured in the Pecherskyi district, where the wreckage fell. All services are working at the scene and no injuries have been reported. Popko added that, in addition to the gas pipe rupture, around 20 cars were damaged. Wreckage fell on a kindergarten. Information about casualties is being established. Background: Explosions were heard and air defence systems were responding all night long in Kyiv. Support UP or become our patron! WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) The Nurse Honor Guard is an organization that pays tribute to nurses across the country, relieving nurses of their duties at the time of their death, but sometimes in life as well. The Rhode Island Nurse Honor Guard held their first living tribute Wednesday, honoring 103-year-old Rosalee Malaby and four other nurses at the assisted living facility Halcyon at West Bay. ALSO READ: World War II veteran celebrates 105th birthday Malaby served as a registered nurse in the U.S. Army during World War II. She recalled the day she received a letter in the mail from the government. The letter said We have not drafted nurses yet, but Malaby decided to volunteer her service, traveling to the Philippines and Japan. Rosalee Malaby served as a registered nurse in the U.S. Army during World War II. (Vallery Maravi/ WPRI-TV) In the same mail, I had my grades that I made to certify me or license me. So, it all happened in one day, she explained. Malaby didnt know what she was getting into when she enlisted. It was the first time I had been out of the country. I had never seen the ocean before It was quite an experience, she added. Darlene Tetreault is a volunteer with the Rhode Island Nurse Honor Guard. She said being able to perform the tribute was a touching moment for the guard too. We are honored to do this living tribute for her today, Tetreault said. Shes an inspiration to our nursing profession. After the war, Malaby continued to work as a nurse and liked her work. Enjoy the people you meet, and you do meet everybody because everybody becomes ill or injured at one time or another, she noted. If I knew, Id be selling it, Malaby said with a laugh when asked about her secret to staying healthy and living a long life. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Shelby County, Tennessees most populous county with more than 916,000 residents in 2022, is facing an exodus, as thousands are leaving the area. Last year, over 6,300 people left the area, contributing to a decline of nearly 20,000 residents since 2020. Tim Kuhn, director of the Tennessee State Data Center at University of Tennessee, says the population trend for Shelby County has not been the trend for the rest of the state. Since 1960, Tennessee has added a million people every 20 years, according to the State Data Center. Tennessee population boom largely driven by people moving from other states, research finds Shelby County is kind of moving in another direction for the state of Tennessee as a whole, since 2020 is having a strong start to the 2020 decade; 77,000 people added last year and about 90,000 added the year before, he said. UTs data reveals the city of Memphis is the epicenter of this decline with over 16,786 residents leaving since 2020. The population in Shelby County has declined every year according to the population estimate except for one since 2012. Its kind of been a slow decrease for the area. A good portion of that, though its probably tied to decreases in population in Memphis itself, Kuhn said. Since 2012, the county has lost over 63,000 residents, according to the University of Tennessees Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. They did not study the reasons for the decline. Suburbs like Bartlett and Germantown also saw significant declines, while Arlington, Lakeland, and Millington experienced modest growth. Despite this, researchers at University of Tennessee say Shelby County remains Tennessees most populous county. But they predict the decline in Shelby countys population to continue for the next 10 years. For Shelby County were looking at an annual decrease for about 2,000 people a year according to those projections, seeing a slow but steady decline that will lower its population by another 10- or 20,000 people by the end of the decade, Kuhn said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Catawba County Schools Board of Education member Michelle Teague said this week she plans to find out why only 11 schools in the district are listed in the Moms for Liberty lawsuit that blocks the 2024 Title IX regulations in those schools. National lawsuits about Title IX, which was designed to give female students opportunities similar to male students, have forced Catawba County Schools to work toward two sets of rules. The 11 schools were listed by Moms for Liberty as part of a judges order. This forced the board to decide how to proceed with updating its Title IX policy. Ultimately, the board decided to create two policies: one for the schools on the Moms for Liberty list, which will operate under the 2020 Title IX regulations, and one for the schools which are not on the list, which will operate under the 2024 Title IX regulations. The 2024 Title IX regulations required an updated policy, school board attorney Crystal Davis said in a phone call. Schools where the 2024 Title IX regulations are blocked Banoak Elementary School Tuttle Elementary School Claremont Elementary School Fred T. Foard High School Jacobs Fork Middle School Mountain View Elementary School St. Stephens High School Balls Creek Elementary School Bandys High School Arndt Middle School St. Stephens Elementary School What we essentially agreed to do is have our attorney draft two sets of guidelines, Catawba County Schools Board of Education Chairman Jeff Taylor said after the meeting. One that would, while we wait for the court to make a final decision on the lawsuits brought by several advocacy groups, it would cover those schools that are enjoined in that lawsuit, and we would create another set of guidelines that would cover us for the schools not enjoined, that way all schools will technically be in compliance with Title IX. Teague said during the regular meeting that she intends to take further action to find out why our other schools are not showing up on that list (of schools where 2024 regulations are blocked). Teague said she hopes that by the next board meeting, every school in the district will be listed as a school where the 2024 Title IX regulations are blocked. At the work session, Teague suggested tabling the matter because the list of schools where the new regulations are blocked may expand by next months meeting. Teague was also against the 2024 Title IX regulations because she said they could allow students who are transgender girls (biologically male) to enter the girls bathroom. The administration of President Joe Biden revised Title IX earlier this year. School board attorney Davis said part of the revision was an expanded definition of sex which under the new regulations would include sexual orientation and gender identity. The 2024 Title IX regulations are blocked in some schools because children of Moms for Liberty members attend those schools, according to the Moms for Liberty website. Moms for Liberty is an organization dedicated to fighting for the survival of America by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government, according to its website. My way of looking at it, its not whether I agree with the Trump 2020 guidelines or the Biden 2024, said Taylor at the regular meeting. Right now, the court has left us hanging. Weve got roughly half our schools under one mandate, and one half of our schools under the other mandate. And to me, it would be a crime on our behalf if we didnt do our due diligence and cover our bases until the court makes up its mind because we stand in danger of losing federal funds if someone brings a lawsuit claiming that were not enforcing Title IX. Chief Financial Officer Karla Aldridge said the district receives up to $20 million in federal funding. Taylor said he agreed with the frustration several colleagues expressed but would rather cover the districts bases. Board member Tim Settlemyre made the motion for Davis to create two policies for each set of schools. The board members present voted unanimously in favor of the motion. Board member Annette Richards was not present. This is not that were favoring one over the other, not that were trying to rally for either one, this is just covering our bases until the court makes its mind up, Taylor said at the regular meeting. Sheriff: 6,700 fentanyl pills seized in SWVA investigation, U.S. Marshals searching for 1 ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) A man has been charged, and the United States Marshals Service is seeking another after 6,700 deadly fentanyl pills were seized on Tuesday, according to a release from Washington County, Virginia Sheriff Blake Andis. The Washington County Virginia Sheriffs Office and members of the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force seized 6,700 fentanyl pills, 20 firearms (two of which had been reported stolen) and $17,000 in drug revenue after a multi-month-long investigation, the release said. JCPD: Endangered child, suspect found in Johnson City Bobby John Arnett, 53, of Bristol, Virginia, was arrested in his home and charged with the following: Sell, Give, or Distribute of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance, Fentanyl Conspiracy to Distribute of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance, Fentanyl Money laundering Possessing a Firearm while Possessing a Schedule I or II Narcotic of the Drug Control Act Possession, manufacture, distribution of weapon of terrorism, Fentanyl Arnett is being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail without bond. The United States Marshals Service is searching for Briar Gage Stephens, 23, of Bristol, Virginia. Stephens has five outstanding felony warrants related to the investigation and is encouraged to surrender, according to the release. Briar Gage Stephens: Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriffs Office Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriffs Office Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriffs Office Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriffs Office Over six thousand potentially deadly fentanyl pills kept off the streets and out the hands of children, Andis stated in the release. The Virginia State Police and Bristol Virginia Police Department also assisted in the investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. The ship is seen from Neptunes Tower in Broadstairs/Margate on Thursday afternoon - James Bell / Alamy Live News/Alamy A cargo ship with links to Russia packed with explosive fertiliser is floating off the Kent coast after being denied entry at other ports over safety fears. Ruby, a Maltese-flagged cargo ship carrying 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser from a port in Russia, was ordered out of Tromso in Norway and turned away from Danish waters. The ship is carrying seven times more explosives than the amount that caused the deadly Beirut port blast in 2020. It is now floating three kilometres outside British waters north of Margate, east of the Thames Estuary, seemingly awaiting permission to enter the Strait of Dover. It is travelling with the assistance of a tugboat. In order to enter the Dover Strait and continue its journey to Malta, it must report its presence, including the ships condition and any hazardous cargo to authorities. The ship has been seeking a port for it to dock in as it is in need of repairs, having cracked its hull after previously running aground. Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen, a defence analyst at Nordic Defense Analysis and a former naval officer, questioned why the ship had not been ordered to return to Russia. He said that its condition and cargo posed an environmental and health risk. One can question whether it is at all justifiable for the ship to be allowed to sail. There are several reasons for this, he told Danish media. It has cracks in the hull. It has rudder problems. It can no longer sail by itself, but must be towed. He added: This is a ship that nobody wants, but that nobody can get rid of. In Beirut, 2,750 tonnes of fertiliser caused the explosion that devastated Lebanon, in 2020, causing 218 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries. The vessel is carrying 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate Although its destination, according to marine tracking data, is Malta, a spokesman for the Maltese transport ministry told local press that without emptying its cargo, it would not be allowed in Maltese waters. The tugboat, which has accompanied Ruby from Norway, is also under the Maltese flag. The ship set sail from Kandalaksha, on the Kola peninsula in Russia, where the fertiliser was loaded and where it is believed to have run aground. It took shelter in the Norwegian city of Tromso for repairs, where six deficiencies including a cracked hull, unlawful fuel, various safety issues and expired crew documents were discovered. It has also been reported to have engine and rudder problems. However, Tromso authorities moved the ship on from its mooring near a major hospital and university, over fears its explosive cargo posed a risk to the city. It has since moored near the Andoya Nato air base and requested permission to go to Klaipeda in Lithuania, but Lithuanian authorities said it would need to offload its cargo before docking. While ammonium nitrate is explosive, it requires a significant trigger, making it generally safe and stable during transport. Dan Kaszeta, an expert in chemical weapons defence, told The Times: It needs a lot of odd circumstances to be a hazard, like being stored poorly in Beirut with a bunch of fireworks. Devastating fertiliser bombs Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a chemical weapons expert and former Nato chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear commander, warned that while ammonia nitrate is a common fertiliser, it is also the favoured substance for explosives by terrorists and the Taliban who created devastating fertiliser bombs which killed many British soldiers in Afghanistan. He said: Terrorists like [ammonia nitrate] because it is easy get hold of and only needs a very basic acceleratant to create a devastating explosion one tonne of AN is roughly equivalent to one tonne of conventional explosives like TNT 2500 tonnes of AM blew up in Beirut causing what is thought to be the largest conventional explosion on earth. The amount of AM on this Russian boat is 10x this and would be equivalent explosive power to one of Putins tactical nuclear weapons this vessel should be treated with kid gloves and returned to Russia asap in normal times this would be a concern but not a national threat but as Putin has yet again threatened the UK with attack and nuclear level attack there must be an urgency to get this ship well away from the UK. Tom Sharpe, a retired navy commander, said the incident with Ruby was a reminder that all areas of UK maritime needed to be protected. He told The Telegraph: When we talk about defending the UK, it needs to be across all domains and all methods, from conventional attack to cyber to something like this. What if the MV Ruby hadnt flagged its many issues previously and the first we knew was it exiting the Dover Strait, turning hard into the Thames and was increasing to full ahead? In this instance, there is a team in Poole who have the answer but it does show that we shouldnt leave any stones unturned when it comes to maritime defence of the UK. Links to Russia The cargo ship is currently owned by a Dubai-registered company and records show it has been chartered by another Dubai-registered company with links to Russia. Campaigners have previously warned that unseaworthy Russian oil tankers travelling through the Strait of Dover posed a risk of causing billions of pounds of environmental damage. The Telegraph understands that the Royal Navy is not currently involved in the passage of the ship. However, they are keeping an eye on the situation and will be ready to assist if asked. HM Coastguard and the Ministry of Defence were contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Shreveport Police Department is searching for Individuals who have failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements. According to a press release from SPD, Emmanuel Dunn was convicted of pornography involving juveniles in the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish on November 29, 2017. Police say that Dunn is classified as a Tier 2 sex offender and is required to register annually until December 26, 2044. He is currently wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Police say that Shontravious Rogers was convicted of sexual battery in the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish on October 19, 2015. Rogers is a Tier 1 sex offender and is required to register annually until July 16, 2034. He is currently wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. 16-year-old in critical condition after shooting says Natchitoches police Lastly, police say that Christopher White was convicted of indecent behavior with juveniles via the 26th Judicial District Court in Bossier Parish. Police say White was sentenced to two years. As a Tier 1 sex offender, White is required to register annually and pay a registration fee of $60.00 until July 27, 2027. He is currently wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The Shreveport Police Department asks anyone with information on the location of these individuals to contact SPD at (318) 673-7300 or Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373. You can search for sex offenders in your area by visiting the Crime Watch website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland have called for stronger enforcement against e-commerce platforms in a joint letter seen by Euronews, ahead of a competitiveness ministers meeting in Brussels today (26 September). The six countries urge the European Commission to take all necessary measures within its competence to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) against Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPS). Designating online marketplaces Temu and Shein as VLOPs is a significant step in the application of the rules, but it remains crucial to rigorously enforce the DSA, the letter says. Temu and Shein joined a list of 25 platforms that each have more than 45 million monthly users in the EU which also includes Amazon, TikTok and Meta. The DSA came into effect in February 2024 for all online platforms, introducing transparency rules and obligations regarding illegal products. The Commission will have to collect data on infringements in cooperation with national digital services coordinators to detect misconduct and impose effective sanctions, the letter says. Further steps in enforcement measures will be required, for example digitisation of the product specifications is crucial in order to automatically detect shortcomings such as via the digital product passport, it adds. In its political guidelines, the Commission has committed to stronger enforcement of e-commerce based on effective customs, tax and security controls. In the incoming college, Finlands Henna Virkkunen is set to oversee the tech portfolio, and Irelands Michael McGrath - slated to oversee rule of law - also has e-commerce among his competences. The Commission already started several DSA probes, including one against e-commerce platform AliExpress. Market surveillance The countries also call for more market surveillance in EU member states, through stronger intervention powers of authorities, in particular regarding their ability to act against e-commerce-platforms. We intend to further enhance automation and digitalisation of the controls, such as through a web-crawler, they write, adding that this should ensure that consumers, children in particular, have safe products. Regarding EU customs, the six member states want the ongoing discussions in the field of VAT and the implementation of the deemed importer and the removal of the 150-euro duty exemption, to be discussed with priority. Germany encourages Hungary, which is currently chairing the EU minister meetings, and the Commission to bring discussions on these proposals forward. Their last priority is data protection. The EU executive will have to find out more about data collected by e-commerce platforms and how they use this data, they letter says. E-commerce was added as an extra agenda point by the German delegation to the ministers' meeting today. They will also discuss the further European competitiveness and how to tackle the challenges facing industry and businesses in the single market,. In addition, will and address the report by former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi on competitiveness. What is that smell? City of Odessa responds to concerns regarding smell of water ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The City of Odessa has issued a statement assuring residents that the water is safe after several concerns regarding the waters smell were voiced throughout social media. The concerns began circulating Wedensday evening, September 25, after several residents noticed a foul smell in their waterand continued to be voiced through social media the following morning. According to the City of Odessas Facebook page, the Colorado River Municipal Water District, which delivers the citys water supply to the water treatment plant, changed the inflow line to the plant causing odor issues in the water supply. The City of Odessa immediately began to address the odor issue. However, the water supply always remained safe, the post stated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Smell that? A strange odor has made its way across southwest Washington state An unpleasant and mysterious odor has lingered in southwest Washington state, wafting over multiple communities overnight. Cowlitz County Emergency Management Services began to field 911 calls from residents about the smell around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a statement obtained by USA TODAY. The smell, according to Cowlitz County, seemed to have wafted through South Kelso, Rose Valley, Kalama, Woodland and Cumbia County before it hit Portland. The source of the odor and what the odor is/was, are still unknown and under investigation, Cowlitz County wrote. A couple of theories have emerged in the hours since the smell was first reported, according to the county, including a ship, train, highway transportation leak; Scappoose Bio Solids; industry; pipelines; natural gas; Mt St Helens; and ground movement. Complaints have varied from unpleasant odors to minor health issues. All agencies continue to work on the situation, according to Cowlitz County EMS. Unpleasant odor complaints vary, have been very inconsistent Early reports showed a strange smell was first reported between Vancouver and Kelso. By tracking winds, we can estimate the path that it may have taken, briefly drifting down near Vancouver WA before southerly winds around 4AM would have pushed it back north again. #WAwx #ORwx pic.twitter.com/bU03MbSfM1 NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) September 25, 2024 Wind conditions, according to Cowlitz County, were variable in direction and speed up until 6 p.m., moving outside of the north and northwest part of the region from Longview towards Portland gradually. Multiple Cowlitz County agencies responded to odor complaints made in the area as a result of the winds path starting Tuesday evening. Cowlitz County EMS were working with both local and federal agencies to figure out the cause of the odor. Even the National Weather Service has weighed in on the matter, mapping the path of the strange smell on social media. By tracking winds, we can estimate the path that it may have taken, briefly drifting down near Vancouver WA before southerly winds around 4AM would have pushed it back north again. Cowlitz County EMS noted that the identification of the smell was unusually very inconsistent. Descriptions have varied from, similar to natural gas, propane, burning garbage, burning rubber, ammonia, and others. As of this briefing, complaints have varied from unpleasant odors to minor health issues. No abnormal activities or readings from Mount St. Helens A view of Mount St. Helens, a volcano in Washington state on December 19, 2006. Cowlitz County EMS checked the Cascades Volcano Observatory to see if there was a connection between Mt. St. Helens and the reported odor. Some residents have even wondered if the source of the odor is tied to Mount St. Helens or volcanic activity in some way. Given the sulfur smell people have described and no known origin at this point as well as the widespread sensation, Im wondering if it could be volcanic in nature, one user wrote under the National Weather Services post. Another asked, whats up with Mt St Helens ?? anyone @MtStHelensNVM that makes the most sense yall anyone seismic stuff going on. But, according to The Cascades Volcano Observatory, there have been no abnormal activities or readings in air quality and seismic activity coming from Mt. St. Helens as Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon. Residents have taken to social media to express their thoughts and feelings about the situation, writing in X and Facebook comments that the smell was "weird" and "strong." Others wondered how dangerous the odor really was and why officials failed to provide a concrete answer about the odor and where it came from. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Unpleasant' odor wafts through southwest Washington state overnight The News New research published by a team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst aims to shed light on how changes to social media platforms algorithms alter the spread of political content. The research, which focuses on Metas Facebook, comes at a moment of intense scrutiny around the online spread of political misinformation ahead of Novembers presidential election in the US. It found that in 2020, Facebooks algorithm was successfully altered to mute political and potentially harmful posts, preventing their spread, but that later algorithm changes may have reversed those effects. Meanwhile, a separate new poll conducted by Axios and The Harris Poll (not associated with Vice President Kamala Harris) found that more Americans are worried about politicians spreading misinformation than they are about the role of social media companies, deceptive AI, or even foreign governments. It used to be, we were worried about China or Russia, fake ads or Facebook. Now, no, its coming from the campaigns, the CEO of The Harris Poll said. The poll also found about 70% of the people surveyed believed misinformation would play a role in the upcoming election, while about 80% believed it could influence the outcome of an election. Meanwhile, local government officials speaking to CNBC voiced concerns about misinformation spreading on Facebook, which they said was worsened by layoffs in the trust and safety and customer service teams, as well as the platform deprioritizing news. SIGNALS Metas algorithm changes may alter how information spreads Last year, a Meta-backed study from several US universities published in Science concluded that Facebooks algorithm muted political and untrustworthy content in the months around the 2020 US election, and didnt significantly affect user polarization. In a new paper published Thursday, a group of independent researchers found that while Meta may be able to effectively filter untrustworthy political content, frequent algorithm changes make it hard to come to definitive conclusions about what works. Meta has down-ranked political content since 2020, but as seen with a recent false Facebook post about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, the networks vast user base means politicized misinformation can still spread, CNBC noted, and could be amplified by high-profile politicians. The big (so far) unmaterialized fear: AI Sources: PBS, Voice of America, The Washington Post, MIT Technology Review Meta hasnt announced any planned changes to its algorithm for this election cycle, although it did require labeling of political ads generated with AI. With so many global elections coinciding this year, some experts have warned that AI could drive a tech-enabled Armageddon, as fighting AI-generated and distributed misinformation has become a fractured and difficult undertaking. But those fears may be overblown, at least for now, the MIT Technology Review noted: Our obsession with AIs supposed impact is unlikely to make things better and could even make them worse when it leads us to focus solely on the shiny new thing while distracting us from the more lasting problems that imperil democracies around the world. World governments take proactive approach to big tech Sources: The New York Times, The Verge, Center for International Media Assistance Some world governments have taken a markedly more interventionist tack to curb social media companies than the US piecemeal approach. Most recently, Brazils judiciary banned Elon Musks X in the country, which some experts consider to have been successful in fighting misinformation. The European Union, meanwhile, has passed sweeping antitrust laws targeting big tech, as well as legislation to ensure more transparency around ads and algorithms. However, critics warn so-called fake news laws could have chilling effects on press freedom in some cases, the Center for International Media Assistance noted. (KRON) Solano Community College (SCC) student Jose Solorio potentially saved an 11-year-olds life through what health officials are calling a remarkable display of compassion and scientific collaboration, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine announced on Wednesday. Petco will stop selling its rabbits, again According to SCC officials, Solario was completing a summer internship at Stanfords Laboratory for Cell and Gene Medicine when he was notified that his bone marrow was a perfect match to that of an 11-year-old boy in New York. In order to make the donation, Solares had to travel all the way to the East Coast, where bone marrow stem cells were extracted from his and used to treat the young patient, CIRM said. Ive always had the passion to help others in some way or another and I finally found a way where I can do that, Solorio said. My mother, who has been dealing with many health problems, has been a huge influence in helping me pursue this career. I hope that one day I can return the favor, Solorio added. Solorio was able to connect with the boy through SCCs partnership with the National Bone Marrow Registry, which coordinated three recruitment drives on campus. These drives, led by Solano Community Colleges local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Beta Mu Gamma, signed up approximately 70 students each time. Due to the colleges diversity, Solanos contributions to the registry are particularly valuable, addressing the underrepresentation of diverse samples in the bone marrow registry, SCC said. Jose started the biomanufacturing bachelors program in the Fall of 2023 with the goal of advancing treatments for currently untreatable diseases using stem cell therapy. He says his family is a big source of inspiration for his journey. My family came from Mexico looking for work in the U.S., and they struggled. Despite financial difficulties, my parents always supported me and my brothers. My education is not only a personal goal but a way to give back to my family, Jose shared in his application essay. Moving forward, Solares says he hopes to pursue a masters degree in biomedical engineering. On October 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the SCC campus will hold an event to find bone marrow matches and will host a blood donation drive at the Pre Med Club Drive on the schools Fairfield campus. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Affordable and available childcare in Sioux Falls is an ongoing issue for both parents and providers. A new initiative presented to the Sioux Falls city council on Tuesday looks to relieve the concern. On Tuesday, officials said childcare services struggle to stay open due to high employee turnover and administrative burdens, and when families do find openings, theyre not always affordable. If all available parents cannot work because they are constantly wrestling with issues of childcare affordability and availability, then those people cant go to work. The businesses in Sioux Falls cannot benefit from those employees, Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith attorney Justin Smith said who spoke on the initiative Tuesday. The initiative is split into three objectives. The council focused primarily on Objective I Tuesday afternoon. Smith said it focuses exclusively on Family Day Care Homes (FDCHs) and identifying how to make those more accessible. Smith added that succeeding under this objective could open up to 60 new childcare slots a year, and many of the proposals within it could fit larger childcare centers down the road. Three potential regulatory changes are included in the initiative. One is amending a city ordinance to allow FDCHs to increase ratios to provide services up to two additional school-aged children during planned closures. Careless driving by school buses rising in Lincoln Co. If the facility had another sibling of normal childcare age in that facility, again, more bodies in the door would simply mean more money in the door for the center, Smith said. However, there are some concerns with that proposal. To me it seems ludicrous to mention that were going to give care to two more kids to an in-home center when a place that is set up for this can only have ten. It makes absolutely no sense to me. And we talk about creating 400 spots. What would it mean if we changed the ratio law for everyone involved? Little Tykes University owner Corri Poore said. There was also discussion on amendments to zoning and childcare ordinances to permit the use of commercial spaces for FDCHs and Group Family Day Care Homes. Smith said this is a down-the-road option if other ideas need to be explored beyond other proposals. The third regulatory consideration is a tax credit, which officials said would lead to measurable savings for daycare homes. The council would have to craft the pertinent ordinance to strictly limit the types of products to which the sales tax rebate could apply, such as groceries, school supplies and other items for use directly in the childcare program, Smith said. I can testify personally that the tax credit would be extremely beneficial, Karen Rieck said on Tuesday. Rieck has an extensive background in childcare. My mortgage payment increased by $400 a month because of the increase in property taxes and having to pay the difference because of lack of escrow account. Four economic incentives are also on the table. Those include a Sioux Falls Tri-Share Program, start-up grants for new FDCHs, cost assistance with child services and a support network of colleagues and mentors. Similar programs have had great success in other communities, and at the end of the day, this could really, really benefit a lot of families and endure and then directly benefit child care providers, Smith said. The most important and immediate of the recommendations in the report is to create a Staffed Family Child Care Network or a Shared Services Alliance. Other public input included further support, questions and concerns for the initiative, as well as caution when it comes to following state licensing requirements. The councils next step is selecting which regulatory and economic initiatives to focus on. The main goal of Objective I is to open three to five new family day care homes annually. Objective II, which includes discussion of the Sioux Falls Tri-Share Program, will be discussed in October. Objective III is set for a November discussion. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. DisCERNing the Trurth Scientists at CERN, the home of the Large Hadron Collider, have just observed an astoundingly rare phenomenon at the subatomic level that could lead to a new understanding of the standard model of particle physics. As part of an experiment called NA62, researchers detected and measured an ultra-rare form of decay for a subatomic particle called a kaon. This is one of the rarest interactions in particle physics ever observed: according to the scientists, fewer than one in ten billion kaons decay in this manner. The standard model predicts this kaon decay, which is called a "golden channel," with a high degree of precision. As such, observing the phenomenon in action provides a unique opportunity for testing our current understanding of the subatomic world. "If we measure a deviation from the [standard model], it's a clear sign of new physics," Cristina Lazzeroni, a particle physicist at the University of Birmingham who worked on the experiment, told Interesting Engineering. Pure Kaos Kaons, also known as K mesons, are made of two quarks. Charged kaons the subject of the experiment contain an up quark and an anti-strange quark. Without getting too far into the weeds, what you need to know is that in the ultra-rare decay the scientists were looking for, charged kaons disintegrate and produce three other particles: a charged particle called a pion, as well as a neutrino and an antimatter neutrino, or anti-neutrino. To observe this scenario, the researchers used a particle accelerator, CERN's Super Proton Synchrotron, to blast a high-intensity beam of protons into a stationary target. This ejected secondary particles, including kaons, which were precisely measured by a detector. And with luck on their side, the researchers caught the kaons in the elusive act: in numbers, the charged kaons underwent the ultra-rare decay about 13 in 100 billion times. That's extraordinarily rare. But according to the researchers, this is about 50 percent more frequent than what's predicted by the standard model a discrepancy that will need to be reconciled, one way or another. Precisely the Case This isn't necessarily the death knell of the standard model, however. Because of the uncertainty involved, it's very possible that its predictions are compatible with what was found here. Even so, this is the most precise detection of its kind to date. Researchers had previously observed the ultra-rare kaon decay, but this is the first time it's been measured with a significance of five standard deviations, or five sigma, which is the standard for making a discovery in particle physics; depending on the phenomenon involved, it means there's either just a 0.00003 percent or 0.00006 percent chance that what was observed is a statistical fluke. "Searching for hints of new physics in this decay requires more data, but this result is a leap forward and further strengthens the strong interest in this line of research," NA62 physics coordinator Karim Massri said in a statement about the work. More on hard science: Scientists Suggest Tiny Black Holes Are Regularly Cruising Through Our Star System Remember Dominic Cummings? The man who was the bete noir of the British Left after he led the victorious campaign to leave the European Union in 2016 was almost as hated as his boss Boris Johnson was, especially when he was hired as Johnsons most senior adviser in number 10. But now the truth can be revealed: the public (and media) had no right to discuss Cummings, however controversial his behaviour might have been. That comes from the horses mouth, from Keir Starmer himself, during an interview during his visit to the United States this week: Im not going to discuss individual members of staff, whoever they are. I dont believe that my staff should be the subject of public debate like this, and Im not going to play any part in it. Of course, the contexts of the controversies around Cummings and the recent criticism of Sue Gray, the Prime Ministers chief of staff, are very different. Gray finds herself in the spotlight partly because it has been revealed that she is paid more than her boss, which some people believe at the very least might justify the raising of an eyebrow or two. Cummings, on the other hand, provided acres of coverage during the early part of the last parliament by being constantly at the centre of various briefing wars between himself and the then Prime Ministers wife, Carrie Johnson. But now we have the authoritative line: a Prime Ministers staff member is not to be discussed publicly, either by the Prime Minister himself or by the media. It is to be regretted, not least by Boris Johnson and Mr Cummings himself, that this new generosity towards special advisers has been extended by the Labour Party only recently, representing quite a marked change in tactics. For the party, when in opposition, was not slow to criticise any and every aspect of Cummings behaviour, and by implication, that of his boss, at every opportunity. Still, perhaps we must extend some patience towards Starmer; he is discovering and probably at a swifter and less comfortable pace than he expected that governing is a bit harder than being in opposition. Perhaps he is only now placing himself in his predecessors shoes and starting to recognise how difficult it is to manage the various personalities in Downing Street while the ravenous media is constantly demanding to be fed. There is, however, an alternative, less charitable interpretation of the Prime Ministers words, which is that he has cynically decided that, now that the tables have turned and that he is in government and the Conservatives in opposition, a different set of standards should apply to him, his ministers and to his staff. Unfortunately, this would chime more comfortably with the behaviour of both Starmer and his senior lieutenants in the last few weeks. In opposition, Labour never tired of seeking to accuse their opposite numbers of venality, of exposing their various acceptance of donations from generous benefactors as evidence of greed and corruption. They regularly announced, as if from a pulpit rather than from the despatch box in the Commons, that moral standards would be lifted to the heights of the angels themselves once the people had come to their senses and voted Labour at a general election. And yet, once in office, and their own tendency to accept similar gifts from wealthy donors was examined, they resorted, not to a mea culpa or to self-flagellation for their own misjudgments, but to saying that when they did it, it was all fine because they had declared all their gifts in the Members Register of Interests. Its all Harold Wilsons fault (bear with me). Labours third ever Prime Minister, the victor in four out of the five general elections he fought in the 1960s and 70s, may not actually have said that a week is a long time in politics, but he did say that The Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing. This inspired the comrades at the time and it has been doing so ever since. And thats the problem: too many of them actually believed Wilson and thought that the comment was clever, virtuous and true. It was not. It was a stupid thing to say because it is so obviously false. Labour is a political party, just like any other one. And like other political parties, it is sometimes right and sometimes wrong. It does some good things and also some bad things. It believes some good things and it believes some bad things. It is for religious and evangelical organisations to undertake moral crusades; it is for political parties to govern the country and to try not to make too much of a hash of it. But Wilson was exploiting the innate sense of self-righteousness and moral superiority that he knew resides in the hearts of most Labour Party members. No Labour leader ever became less popular among his members by exploiting their belief that they are better than everyone else. The row over donations, the hapless and arrogant dismissal of the furore that ministers themselves have provoked, the Prime Ministers outrage that his own staff be treated in the same way that Conservative government staffers were treated, the assumption that removing the winter heating allowance from some pensioners by a Labour government is somehow more acceptable than it would have been had a Conservative government done the same all it reveals is that Wilsons dictum is believed as intensely today as it was 60 years ago. It is a damaging falsehood because it leads the party inexorably and inevitably towards a place where double standards shape the narrative of this government. And the longer that ministers and civil servants believe, despite all the evidence, that their behaviour is more acceptable simply because of the colour of their party membership cards, the less likely the voters are going to continue to give them the benefit of the doubt. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Minister of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia Herbert Reul speaks at the cabinet press conference on the implementation of the package of measures on security, migration and prevention. Christoph Reichwein/dpa The suspect behind a deadly knife attack at a festival in the western German city of Solingen in August bought the weapon at a local store only hours before the stabbings. Sources told dpa the interior minister for the state of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), which includes Solingen, provided that detail during a closed-door briefing to state lawmakers. The attack in the city of Solingen, which left three dead and several more wounded, shocked the country. The suspect, a 26-year-old Syrian man, was captured the next day after a massive manhunt. According to sources, NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul described security camera footage showing the suspect in the store hours before the August 23 stabbing rampage. Reul said he can be seen using a cellphone, which police are still hoping to locate. Another cellphone recovered by authorities had been destroyed, Reul said, according to dpa's sources. The minister also revealed new details in the confidential meeting about a confession video that had been distributed by the Islamic State terror group, which claimed credit for the attack. The video had in fact been filmed in Solingen, although how it was obtained by Islamic State remains under investigation, sources told dpa. The suspect, identified only as Issa Al H. according to German privacy rules, is being held in custody on suspicion of murder as the investigation continues. Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the matter. One Police Department source, who has been granted anonymity for fear of retaliation, told The News Tribune on Thursday that Deputy Chief Paul Junger has been assigned as the departments interim leader. City spokesperson Maria Lee confirmed to The News Tribune on Thursday that Moore was placed on administrative leave effective Wednesday. Lee provided no reasons as to why. The News Tribune has reached out to Moore and the Police Department for comment. The newspaper also asked to speak with City Manager Elizabeth Pauli about the decision, which would fall under her purview, but the city declined to make her immediately available. Moore has headed the department since January 2022, replacing Don Ramsdell. Before that Moore worked as assistant chief for the Investigations Bureau at the Dallas Police Department. A second police source who was granted anonymity told The News Tribune on Thursday that officers were offered no specific details as to why Moore is on leave. However, nobody was surprised to learn of the decision, the source said. Some in the department are worried about whats to come, the source added. Questions remain as to the makeup of TPDs leadership moving forward, the source said. Moores tenure has not been without controversy. His former chief of staff, Curtis Hairston, sued the city in April. He alleged that he had been subjected to racial bias and discrimination during his 18 months in the Police Department. He was fired after being the subject of an ultimately dismissed ethics complaint, the lawsuit said. The suit, which is ongoing in Pierce County Superior Court, accused TPD of biased and discriminatory hiring practices toward Black applicants; unevenly disciplining Black and non-Black employees; and stripping down a program teaching about racial bias and violence in policing because it was purportedly too harsh for officers. Hairston also claimed that the chief didnt appropriately intervene when Hairston brought problems to Moore, to whom he directly reported. Hairston alleged that Junger had harassed him and made comments with racial connotations toward him, and that Moore had told the two to work out any differences. In a June response to the suit, the city denied all allegations of wrongdoing, court records show. Hairston, who claimed the ethics complaint was an attempt to prevent him from scrutinizing the department, had been accused of using his position to aid his stepsons prospects of getting hired by the police agency. His behavior was determined to have been ill-advised, but not unethical, according to the lawsuit. In August, a group of community organizations requested a federal investigation of the Police Department, citing what it called dangerous and inadequate policies, practices and disciplinary rules that the group contends have led to widespread excessive force and discriminatory policing. The Tacoma/Pierce County Coalition made a formal request to the Department of Justice in a letter dated Aug. 9, The News Tribune previously reported. The coalitions letter to the DOJ, which the group posted on its website, cited the death of Manuel Ellis in police custody, for which three charged officers were acquitted. It also referred to investigations by The News Tribune that showed TPD disproportionately used force against Black people between 2015 and 2019 and that TPDs Internal Affairs section rarely sustained citizen complaints against the department, including use-of-force claims. The coalition said recommendations it made to city leaders and Moore about how to address issues were not adequately implemented. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Seattle told The News Tribune on Thursday that she had no information regarding the status of that request. In January, Moore came under criticism from some TPD officers following the acquittal of the three Tacoma officers in the death of Ellis, a Black man who died in police custody in 2020. An Internal Affairs investigation found that Matthew Collins, Christopher Burbank and Timothy Rankine largely did not violate department policy the night Ellis died in their custody. Moore issued a statement in response to the IA findings. I acknowledge the detrimental impact of policing on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, extending both a personal and collective apology, Moore said in part. My awareness of the historical context of policing includes acts of oppression, abuse, and dehumanization, all carried out under the color of law. A number of officers contacted The Jason Rantz Show on KTTH-700 radio to complain about the chiefs statement. They (TPD officers) are being mischaracterized by their own absent chief as racist monsters who have abused their power for the last 30 years. There have been no actual examples provided, one officer told the show. The same chief that is never seen or heard from by the rank and file except in emails and press releases where he demonizes us as a whole. Moore has overseen a three-year plan to reduce violent crime in the city. Starting in July 2022, the Police Department launched the effort in collaboration with the University of Texas at San Antonio to reduce aggravated assaults, robberies and murders through data-driven solutions. The violent crime reduction plan has rolled out in phases, with the first focusing on hot-spot policing of more than a dozen locations with high rates of violent street crime. Officers patrolled these areas at peak times while activating their vehicles lights to deter criminal activity. At an April update presented to Tacoma City Council, Moore said overall violent crime was down 17.3 percent year to date and calls for violence-related help had dropped by 8 percent in hot spots. The second phase of the plan has so far addressed underlying conditions that have contributed to problems on South Hosmer Street, which researchers identified as one of the citys highest crime areas. That involved removing homeless encampments and 83,000 pounds of waste, as well as conducting outreach to community groups and local businesses. Plans were still being finalized earlier this year for a second site where a similar strategy would be deployed, Puyallup Avenue and East 25th Street in the Dome District. Discussion and planning for the third and final phase of the plan is the next step, which would involve a focus on deterring known offenders through social programs and increased investigative resources. The plan has faced skepticism from the outset, including for its similarity to a crime-reduction plan developed for the Dallas Police Department, where Moore worked previously, and for focusing first on short-term solutions rather than prioritizing addressing root causes of violence. The chair of the South End Neighborhood Council previously told The News Tribune that the statistics touted by the department dont reflect residents experiences. Staff writers Shea Johnson, Peter Talbot and The News Tribune archives contributed to this report. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) One-hundred and fifty members of the South Dakota Air National Guard are on their way to the Middle East as violence rises between Israel and Hezbollah. The acting commander of the 114th Fighter Wing says this deployment is part of a scheduled rotation that takes place every four years to sustain military forces in that part of the region. Bus pickup policy in focus for Howard School District But the timing of this deployment is nerve wracking for their families. The U.S. now has about 40,000 troops in the Middle East and soon members of the South Dakota Air National Guard will be there too. 150 members deployed Tuesday. It was very hard, Nicole Ryan said. Ryan, who is a Master Sergeant in the Air Guard and will be retiring soon, says it was important for her to be at the Air Base to see them off. I did cry a little bit just saying good-bye to all my friends, you know with everything going on in the world right now, its very scary, Ryan said. Officials wont say what country they are going to be stationed at, but itll be on a secure air base. Brian Phelps son is part of the deployment. As a parent there really is no comfort to anything when your kid is shipped away, Phelps said. Phelps says his son has been deployed overseas before, but this one feels different. KELOLAND News reached out to the Air Guard for comment, but werent able to get an interview in time for this story, but they did issue us this statement. It reads in part: We are extremely proud of our Airmen who have answered our Nations call, have full confidence in their ability to serve well, and look forward to welcoming them home after a job well done. A feeling echoed by family and friends back home. But every day when you wake up and every night when you go to bed you have them on your mind, Phelps said. Well pray for them every night and keep in contact with them, but until theyre home you wont sleep easily until you know that they are back in America and safe, Ryan said. The 150 members of the 114th Fighter Wing will be gone for six months. Below is the full statement by the acting commander: The 114th Fighter Wing has deployed more than 150 personnel to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility as part of a scheduled rotation to sustain U.S. Air Forces Centrals robust fighter posture within the Middle East. The deployment is part of the Air Force Force Generation, or AFFORGEN model, which in the Air National Guard is a four-year cycle that culminates in a six month availability to deploy, which is where the 114th Fighter Wing is at now. We are extremely proud of our Airmen who have answered our Nations call, have full confidence in their ability to serve well, and look forward to welcoming them home after a job well done. We also want to express our gratitude to our Airmens families, and our local communities. Without the love and support of family, and without our communitys support, our citizen-warriors could not do what they do. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. South Dakotans in Congress request study of Missouri River pipeline to western part of state A view of the Missouri River from the bluffs above Chamberlain looking toward Oacoma on Sept. 20, 2024. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) A view of the Missouri River from the bluffs above Chamberlain looking toward Oacoma on Sept. 20, 2024. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) The three members of Congress representing South Dakota introduced House and Senate bills Wednesday to require a federal feasibility study for a potential water pipeline from the Missouri River to the Black Hills. The legislation would authorize $10 million in federal funding to cover up to 50% of the studys cost. The nonprofit organization leading the pipeline effort aims to cover the rest of the cost with federal and state funding its already received, plus locally raised funds. Senator John Thune introduced the Senate bill, with Sen. Mike Rounds as a co-sponsor. Representative Dusty Johnson introduced the House version. All three are Republicans. The Western Dakota Regional Water System is a promising proposal to address the rapidly growing water needs of the Black Hills region, said Thune in a joint news release. This legislation would advance the project by authorizing a Bureau of Reclamation study in order to determine the feasibility of the project, and Im proud to join Rep. Johnson and Sen. Rounds in this critical effort. Cheryl Chapman is the executive director of the Western Dakota Regional Water System, a Rapid City-based nonprofit organized to advance the pipeline proposal. The nonprofit was founded after a 2019 study by researchers at South Dakota Mines showed the Rapid City area could run short of water during an extended drought. The idea is to bring an additional source of water to our area, Chapman said. The pipeline could bring water to Rapid City and the Black Hills and also to other places in western South Dakota. The nonprofit has a geographically diverse roster of members ranging from the city of Fort Pierre to the city of Newell. Existing Missouri River pipelines, including the Mni Wiconi and Lewis and Clark projects, already bring water to some other parts of the state. Dams on the river control large reservoirs in multiple states, including South Dakotas Lake Oahe, the nations fourth-largest reservoir. The South Dakota Mines report estimated in 2019 that a western South Dakota pipeline would cost $2 billion. Chapman said federal funding is vital. She said the federal feasibility study would assess the projects viability, including its economic and environmental impacts, and is expected to guide future legislative and funding decisions. The feasibility study is kind of the first step of a two-step process to get congressional approval for a project like this, which in turn then puts us in line for federal funding, she said. If the House or Senate bill passes, the Bureau of Reclamation, an agency within the Department of the Interior, will conduct the feasibility study. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE FILE PHOTO: Protest to demand the government to scrap plans to pass a bill to enforce a ban on eating dog meat in Seoul By Ju-min Park SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will help rehome almost half a million dogs bred for food and give dog farmers subsidies and incentives to help them prepare for a ban on the practice set to take effect in early 2027, the agriculture ministry said on Thursday. In January, parliament passed a bill to ban the eating and selling of dog meat, ending the controversial centuries-old tradition in a country that has seen growing support for animal welfare and a waning appetite for the food. Park Beom-su, vice agriculture minister, said the government would spend about 100 billion won ($75 million) on incentives for dog breeders, farmers and restaurants to encourage them to shut their businesses. Farmers can also get up to 600,000 won ($452) for each dog they surrender, and the authorities will try and get as many of these animals adopted, or rehomed in shelters, he added. "Although many are concerned the remaining dogs might be euthanized or a lot of them could be processed for consumption over the next three years, I can certainly say, that is not our plan," Park said. Eating dog meat was once seen as a way to improve stamina in the humid Korean summer, but the practice has become rare as more Koreans consider dogs as pets and as criticism of how the dogs are slaughtered has grown. South Korea has more than 1,500 dog breeding farms and more than 200 dog slaughter houses. Some 2,300 restaurants still serve dog meat. Support for the ban, which takes effect in February 2027, has grown under President Yoon Suk Yeol, an animal lover who owns six dogs and eight cats with First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who is also a vocal critic of eating dog meat. The government's plan, however, drew criticism from some animal activists and members of the dog meat industry. Sangkyung Lee, a campaign manager at animal rights group Humane Society International, said that while the plan marked an important milestone, the authorities need to better manage the welfare of the animals no longer being bred for food. "There is no way animal shelters can take in that huge number of dogs," he told Reuters, noting that fewer than 10% of pets in South Korea were rescued animals. Ju Yeongbong, who represents a dog meat industry group, said the government subsidies were insufficient, and vowed to fight for better support."This is our livelihood and if the government wants us to abandon it, more reasonable support plans should follow," Ju said. ($1 = 1,328.4900 won) (This story has been refiled to add the dropped word 'on' in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Miral Fahmy) FILE - Dogs are seen in cages at a dog farm in Pyeongtaek, South Korea on June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea announced plans Thursday to compensate farmers and others in the country's dwindling dog meat industry before a formal ban goes into effect in 2027, a move that is drawing opposition from both farmers and some animal rights activists. South Koreas parliament passed a landmark bill in January that will ban slaughtering, breeding or selling dog meat for human consumption after a three-year grace period. It will be punishable by 2-3 years in prison. The Agriculture Ministry said that farmers would receive compensation starting from 225,000 won ($170), and rising up to 600,000 won ($450) per dog if they agree to shut down their businesses early. An association of farmers rejected the offer, saying in a statement that they cannot relinquish their dogs for such low prices. Farmers earlier called for 2 million won ($1,505) per dog. Theyve said the ban infringes on their right to choose their own jobs and will aggravate their economic difficulties. The association said that farmers will keep fighting even if they end up being jailed. Earlier in the week, they called for the law to be amended to extend the grace period and add appropriate compensation plans. Sangkyung Lee, a campaign manager at the Korean office of the anti-animal cruelty group Humane Society International, called the South Korean announcement an important milestone in this historic ban that will see the ban through to completion and end our countrys dog meat era for good. But Lee said his office is disappointed at the South Korean plan because it would pay farmers based on the number of dogs they have, potentially increasing dog breeding to get more money from the scheme and more puppies being born into suffering. The Korean Animal Welfare Association, a Seoul-based animal rights group, said that local governments must strictly monitor farms to prevent them from increasing their number of dogs through breeding. It praised the government for trying to take reasonable steps to phase out the industry but criticized farmers for seeking excessive compensation. Dog meat consumption is a centuries-old practice on the Korean Peninsula. It's also eaten in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and some African countries. But South Koreas dog meat industry has drawn more attention because of the countrys reputation as a cultural and economic powerhouse. Its also the only nation with industrial-scale dog farms. South Koreas anti-dog meat campaign received a big boost from the countrys first lady, Kim Keon Hee, who repeatedly expressed her support for a prohibition. She was subjected to withering criticism and crude insults during demonstrations by farmers. Surveys have found that around one in three South Koreans opposes the ban, though most people now dont eat dog meat. Vice Agriculture Minister Park Beomsu told reporters that government studies found that about 466,000 dogs are currently being raised for food across South Korea. He said officials will try to convince farmers to voluntarily phase out dog breeding ahead of the ban. After the ban comes into force, Park said, the government plans to facilitate adoptions for the remaining dogs or move them to care facilities rather than euthanize them. The agriculture ministry said butchers will also be compensated, while local authorities will be responsible for dismantling dog farms and slaughterhouses. Former farmers and butchers will also get low-interests loans if they pivot to other agricultural businesses. The ministry said authorities will also offer financial assistance to traders and restaurant owners to shut down their businesses and find new jobs. South Korean couple with quintuplets gets nearly 100k in childbirth grants South Korean couple with quintuplets gets nearly 100k in childbirth grants A couple in South Korea have received 170m won (95,757) in childbirth grants after giving birth to quintuplets in heartening news for a country grappling with the worlds lowest fertility rate. The couple, Kim Joon-yeong and Sagong Hye-ran from Gyeonggi province, became parents to the quintuplets on 20 September, welcoming three boys and two girls. It was the countrys first natural quintuplet birth, according to the Straits Times. The previous quintuplet births were recorded in 1987 and 2021 where medical fertilisation was used. Mr Kim, 31, said the couple used to call their unborn children the PangPang Rangers, a nickname borrowed from the childrens television show Power Rangers, according to Korea Joongang Daily. The rare birth of the five children in the country drew congratulatory remarks from South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol who called them the power rangers and congratulated both parents and the medical staff. He also sent gifts to the couple, which included infant clothes in five colours red, orange, yellow, green and blue and naturally grown seaweed, a food that promotes postpartum recovery, the newspaper said. The babies were born at the St Marys Hospital last Friday through a caesarean section delivery. The East Asian country is battling a rapidly falling birth rate and has programmes to encourage people to have more children. The fertility rate declined to a historic low of 0.78 in 2022, the lowest globally and well below the replacement rate. President Yeol has called the plummeting birth rate a national emergency and announced the creation of a Ministry of Low Birth Rate Counterplanning. The city of Dongducheon, where the family lives, will provide 15m won in cash vouchers, redeemable at any store with annual sales of less than 1bn won. These vouchers are part of the citys childbirth promotion package, which offers 1m won for the first child, 1.5m won for the second, 2.5m won for the third, and 5m won for the fourth and beyond. The parents will also receive 3.5m won in postnatal care support. Additionally, they will get a one-time payment of 14m won, called the first meeting voucher, along with monthly parental allowance payments totaling 85m won and a childrens allowance of 47.5m won, both spread over time. South Koreas demographic crisis is blamed on a number of factors, but frustration with the rising cost of living and declining quality of life is considered to be the primary reason. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. The Los Osos High School community is mourning another tragic death of a student less than two weeks after its dance captain and cheerleader took her own life. News of the unidentified students death was confirmed by Chaffey Joint Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Mathew Holton. We cant begin to express the depth of our grief over the heartbreaking loss of another student from Los Osos High School, a portion of a statement by Holton stated Thursday. Our deepest condolences go to the families and friends of both students lost in recent weeks. We stand united in supporting our community through this difficult time. No details about the students death were offered. Freelance news video service KNN was at the scene of a fatality on the 210 Freeway near Haven Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga around 1:30 a.m. Emily Gold is seen in a photo shared on Go Fund Me. Los Osos High School Varsity Dance Team Performs During Prom Rally (Courtesy: Rachel Muego) Emergency crews respond to a fatality on the 210 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 26, 2024. (KNN) Emergency crews respond to a fatality on the 210 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 26, 2024. (KNN) The death investigation was taking place at the same location where 17-year-old Emily Gold was found dead on Sept. 13. Officials have not confirmed any connection between Thursdays fatality and Golds death; however, KNN, citing California Highway Patrol dispatch, reported that a teenager had possibly jumped from the overpass. Golds death came just months after she appeared with her dance team on Americas Got Talent. The students deaths come during national suicide prevention month. A suicide and crisis hotline is available 24 hours a day to anyone in need of support and can be reached by dialing 988. A GoFundMe page was set up to help Golds family pay for funeral expenses. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Southwest will never be the same again Southwest will never be the same again Southwest Airlines unveiled its turnaround plan on Thursday as pressure mounts to stem losses. The airline's new strategy includes a redesigned cabin, assigned seating, and route changes. Checked bags will still be free, Southwest said. Whatever you thought you knew about Southwest Airlines is about to change. The airline on Thursday revealed a dramatic turnaround plan, scrapping its unique playbook of more than 50 years in favor of an airline that largely resembles most of its peers. In a 112-slide presentation for investors, executives laid out plans for assigned seating, extra-legroom seats for purchase, a redesigned cabin, and other behind-the-scenes initiatives designed to increase revenue and turn around an underperforming stock price. The announcements, together with an increased third-quarter revenue forecast and a new share buyback program, helped Southwest's stock price climb more than 10% in early trading Thursday. Shares have dropped nearly 50% since the pandemic decimated airline balance sheets industry-wide. When and how Southwest's famous open seating will disappear Southwest first announced plans in July to end its long-standing open seating policy in favor of assigned seats. It said 80% of customers surveyed preferred an assigned seat. Both regular and enhanced seats will be available for selection at booking, starting in 2025 for flights in early 2026, Southwest said. The company's unique boarding process, which relies on position numbers, will largely remain the same. It said this will maintain efficient operations while allowing its most loyal customers and passengers who book premium seats will be among the first to board Southwest unveils its version of premium-economy Southwest will maintain its all-economy cabin but give extra legroom to about a third of its seats, which it says is preferred among business and leisure travelers alike. The enhanced rows will offer up to five inches of additional pitch on top of its standard 31 inches. Southwest said the new seating options would drive demand and extra revenue, noting that they could generate similar revenue with minimal seat loss compared to adding a business class or blocking a middle seat. In August, analysts estimated that assigned seating could generate up to $2 billion in near-term revenue. New and improved cabin Southwest is adding some typical industry perks to its planes, like inflight power and larger overhead bins. Southwest Airlines Southwest has already announced an improved cabin with tablet holders, charging ports, upgraded overhead bins, and better WiFi. While the seats have received backlash for their slim appearance, Southwest said they are preferred over the current ones by 400%. The airline also plans to add additional comforts like a six-way headrest and more cushioning. The cabin improvements come as Southwest plans to cut some short-haul flying in favor of more lucrative long-haul operations. Restructuring its route map Southwest is shaking up its route network to eliminate some less profitable routes. Atlanta and Chicago's O'Hare are among the biggest hits, both losing about a third of their flights. Southwest was the second-largest operator in Atlanta behind Delta Air Lines, leaving customers with fewer choices. Southwest left four airports altogether in August: Bellingham International Airport in Washington, Mexico's Cozumel International Airport, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport in New York. Those cuts free up space for more profitable routes, such as six new flights from Nashville and its first-ever red-eye flights in early 2025. Southwest said the restructuring will improve its network connectivity and efficiency. Behind-the-scenes improvements Southwest is adopting many strategies of its so-called mainline peers in an effort to tap into new revenue streams. Specifically, the airline said it wants to establish international partnerships to expand its overseas operations and generate more demand. Its first partner will be Icelandair, with its first flight scheduled in 2025 through Baltimore-Washington International Airport. This means Icelandair passengers can connect in the US on Southwest flights, and vice versa. Southwest said Icelandair is just the start, with at least one more partner to be announced next year. Southwest also wants to improve its "turn time" or how long a plane sits at the gate between flights and commit to a 24-hour operation to better utilize its fleet, freeing up more aircraft to operate more flights beginning next year. Customers can also expect technology improvements, the ability to book full vacation packages, and changes to the airline's Rapid Rewards loyalty program. Details of the updates remain vague, but Southwest said top-tier status holders will gain more perks, and eventually, the program will extend to international operations once airline partnerships are in place. Free bags are here to stay Despite pressure from an activist investor, Southwest is not giving up its famous two free checked bags. The airline said research shows the fan-favorite policy is the most important thing that sets it apart from the competition. It said removing the unique strategy would lower demand and "far outweigh any revenue gains created by imposing and collecting bag fees." In 2023, global airlines made $33 billion in bag fee revenue. Read the original article on Business Insider To protect against threats from Russia and China, U.S. Space Command needs more advanced tools to track whats happening in space as well as satellites that can move freely in the domain by 2027, according to its commander, Gen. Stephen Whiting. Those capabilities will be crucial to military operations, Whiting said, as both Russia and China have tested and built weapons that could threaten U.S. space operations in the near future. He pointed specifically to Russias development of a nuclear space weapon and Chinas recent launch mishaps that have created a cloud of debris in low Earth orbit. We must heed the clear signals from our strategic competitors, Whiting said Wednesday in a speech at the Defence Space Conference in London. When someone tells you what they are preparing to do, believe them. We must prepare accordingly to safeguard our collective interests in space. The Space Force, which is responsible for developing and buying capabilities to meet Space Command requirements, has a number of efforts underway to help operators better characterize and track objects in orbit whether its a debris field or an adversary satellite or weapon. The service today relies on the more than 50-year-old Space Defense Operations Center for this mission but plans to replace that capability by the end of next year. On the maneuverability side, the service is crafting a strategy for how it will build and buy the capabilities needed to support more dynamic space operations. That could mean partnering with commercial companies to refuel a spacecraft or provide a propulsion boost that allows it to travel into non-standard orbits to track an enemy satellite. Space Systems Command, the Space Forces primary acquisition hub, is planning a refueling demonstration in 2026. Whiting said current space tracking systems are insufficient for future conflicts with countries who have advanced military space capabilities. And while industry has demonstrated some promising capabilities for dynamic space operations, he said the military needs such systems as soon as possible. We need these systems delivered on accelerated timelines, at scale, he said. Now is the time for all of us to work together across our nations and organizations to identify solutions that deliver national capability by 2027. (Bloomberg) -- Relations between Mexicos president-elect and Spain are off to a bad start over grievances about abuses against Indigenous peoples committed by Spanish conquistadors centuries ago. Most Read from Bloomberg The diplomatic row deepened this week when Madrid said it wouldnt send a representative to Claudia Sheinbaums Oct. 1 inauguration because Mexico had only invited Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and not King Felipe VI to the ceremony. In an open letter published Wednesday, Sheinbaum said the king didnt get an invitation because he failed to respond to a 2019 call made by outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for Spain to publicly recognize the atrocities that culminated in the fall of the Aztec civilization and the beginning of the Spanish domination of Mexico. The recognition of indigenous peoples is fundamental to continue advancing in the transformation of our public life, because that is where the root of Mexicos cultural greatness lies, Sheinbaum wrote in the letter, in which she mentioned Mexicos generous welcome to Spaniards fleeing the countrys civil war in the 1930s. Precisely for that, our relationship would benefit from a new historic perspective. Mexico is just the latest diplomatic problem faced by Sanchez in Latin America, a region traditionally seen as part of Spains main sphere of influence. Earlier this year, the Spanish prime minister summoned for consultations his ambassador to Buenos Aires after clashing with Argentinas Javier Milei. More recently, he was accused of enabling Nicolas Maduros continued grip on power in Venezuela after giving asylum to the opposition leader who challenged him in a disputed July election. In Mexico, Sheinbaum said she hopes both nations will find new ways of understanding based on our sovereignty and mutual respect. She received the support of Lopez Obrador, who in a news conference Wednesday again read the letter he had sent to the Spanish king five years ago. Sanchez dismissed Mexicos complaints, in line with a view accepted by many in the country that Spain has no need to apologize for its colonial past. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. We need to speak out and speak loud: People of color battle targeted disinformation Alice Yi, co-founder of Asian Texans for Justice, looks out the window of her home in Austin, Texas, on June 21, 2024. Yi has advocated for the Asian American community for decades and is now fighting racialized disinformation. (Photo by Eliana Alzate/News21) This report is part of Fractured, an examination of the state of American democracy produced by Carnegie-Knight News21. For more stories, visit https://fractured.news21.com. AUSTIN, Texas Each video that spews propaganda on Alice Yis WeChat feed reminds her of the life she fled four decades ago. In her native China, the government controlled her familys land, and her mother lost a job merely because a sister lived in neighboring rival Taiwan. It was useless to speak out, Yi said, because the Communist Party and its propaganda machine could turn opponents to dust. Worse, she recalled, tears welling in her eyes: Youll be disappeared. She dreamed of a life far away to witness a democracy free of deceptive and dangerous narratives. Encouraged by her father, Yi came to the United States in 1981 to attend college, beginning a decadeslong journey to amplify the voices of other immigrants. Today, as co-founder of one of the largest Asian American networks in Texas, she is among a legion of advocates across the United States combating disinformation that singles out immigrant communities and people of color. Democracy means you will have a voice, Yi said. We do need to speak out and speak loud. Fighting Disinformation https://michiganadvance.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fighting_Disinformation.mp3 (Audio by Samantha Grove/News21) Amid the growth of social media, a decline in traditional news outlets and advancing technology that makes it easier to fool people with fake news, disinformation has surged in the U.S. and beyond and become an especially powerful threat during election years. Experts say immigrant communities and people of color are particular targets, as bad actors exploit long-held political fears and ideologies and find these voters where they congregate on free messaging apps such as WeChat and WhatsApp. These bad actors goal is to undermine the growing population and power of immigrants and to further disenfranchise groups that already face barriers to participating in democracy. Disinformation campaigns are always targeted by nature, said Kristy Roschke, an expert on media literacy and misinformation at Arizona State University. These campaigns victimize people based on race, ethnicity, geography, socioeconomic status, she said. Who controls the narrative controls the power, added Anneshia Hardy, executive director of Alabama Values, which fights disinformation aimed at Black voters. Were seeing each day that information is being weaponized against some of the most vulnerable communities. Yi said the stream of disinformation in her WeChat feed is relentless. One video, from a China-based user, claimed rich and politically unprotected Chinese Americans face malicious fines aimed at stripping them of their wealth to help alleviate financial woes in the U.S. Yis group and other organizations are responding with new fact-checking efforts, workshops, online seminars and in-person gatherings, often using the language the audience is most comfortable speaking. We all emigrate from our homeland, with no opportunity (there) for us to choose the leader, Yi said. Our mentality is not used to the democracy process, so we do need somebody to come in and educate them. For two decades, Asian Americans have been the fastest-growing voter population in the U.S. That population has increased by 15% just since 2020, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2022, California had the highest number of eligible voters who were Asian, followed by New York and then Texas, which was home to 1.1 million potential Asian voters. This embedded content is not available in your region. Latinos, expected to be the largest demographic in the U.S. by 2050, constitute the second fastest-growing group of eligible voters, with an increase of 12% since 2020. Black eligible voters, long a target of disinformation and suppression, have increased by 7% since 2020, according to Pew. These groups tend to lean Democratic rather than Republican, research shows, and thats led to an increase in racialized disinformation, coming from the right, that seeks to keep these voters from the polls and drive a wedge between different communities of color. Jaime Longoria is manager of research and training for the Disinfo Defense League, which launched ahead of the contentious 2020 presidential election. The groups national network brings together advocates from different racial and ethnic backgrounds to track and respond to targeted disinformation. A lot of the strategies that are being used on the right happen to use a lot of fearmongering, a lot of scapegoating, Longoria said, pointing to one narrative hes seen circulated: that if immigration continues to rise, Black communities will be ignored and lose important resources. Wedge issues are the type of issues that are meant to drive division among specific groups, he said. Its more about the emotion behind the messaging because mis- and disinformation co-opts your emotions to make you believe different things or act in a specific way. During the 2022 midterm elections, Asian Americans in Raleigh, North Carolina, received mailers claiming an executive order President Joe Biden instituted to advance equity for marginalized groups would instead discriminate against Asian and white people. That, said Jimmy Patel-Nguyen, communications director for North Carolina Asian Americans Together, was a blatant attempt to try to subvert our power and our influence in these elections (and) to drive a wedge between us and other communities. To address ambiguities and misconceptions about the election process, Patel-Nguyens group distributes informational graphics translated into different languages and operates a multilingual hotline voters can call to get trusted information in their primary language. Other organizations have launched multilingual fact-checking operations to fight disinformation. In 2022, after a spike in disinformation involving China and COVID-19, the civil rights group Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) launched PiYaoBa, a fact-checking website produced in Chinese that aims to counter disinformation on WeChat and other platforms. Jinxia Niu, program manager for digital engagement at CAA, said while English fact-checking outlets have been around for years, very few efforts focus on people with limited or no English proficiency. We realized that we have to start our own program to combat disinformation, she said, adding that the organization runs several of its own channels on WeChat, which Niu calls virtual Chinatown. We have to be in the virtual Chinatown and uplift our voice, she said. Factchequeado partners with dozens of media outlets to distribute explainer videos and fact-checking analyses in English and Spanish. Co-founder Laura Zommer said the organization wants to help people understand the electoral system, not direct them to a specific political party. In January, the group spotlighted false narratives expected to arise this election year involving Latino communities, such as claims that noncitizen immigrants could try to vote fraudulently. Factchequeados website has a page dedicated to quashing that issue. What we are doing is a kind of prebunking strategy, Zommer said in other words, combating disinformation before it gains traction. The group also offers a free fact checks of the week newsletter and solicits tips about false content on WhatsApp. Other organizations have similar tip lines for misinformation, while Hardys group, Alabama Values, is beta-testing an app full of data, polls and other information to fight deceptive content. Viet Fact Check, a project of the Progressive Vietnamese American Organization, provides online fact checks in English and Vietnamese, a newsletter and, in some places, in-person workshops where participants across generations learn how to identify disinformation. Managing Editor Saoli Nguyen said shes seen how individuals experiences and ideologies can influence how they digest information and determine whether they believe it. When college protesters in the U.S. rallied for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Vietnamese social media influencers sought support for Palestinians by referencing past American interventions in Asia and claiming the U.S. puts power and wealth over human life. Nguyen recalled a reader messaging Viet Fact Check about those claims. That persons perception of the U.S. was as the good guy who battled communism alongside South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. With that narrative comes the inherent belief that whoever the U.S. sides with is also the good guy and we should be supporting them, Nguyen said. The person who messaged us was just like, I dont know what to believe anymore. Nguyen said voters should be persistent in verifying political news and seeking out accurate information. But she also offered a word of caution: The truth is not always going to be convenient. Family influence also can affect how immigrant communities and people of color process information. Angela Lim co-wrote a study about misinformation among Filipinos for a propaganda research lab housed at the University of Texas at Austin. She found that many families her own included share information via group chats on platforms such as Facebook Messenger. However, Lims research found that Filipinos often dont speak up when something false is shared, because keeping the peace is an important cultural value. With politics, she said, were often told to not rock the boat or to just lay low. Thats also something that my parents emphasized to us. In Austin, Alice Yi, co-founder of Asian Texans for Justice, regularly organizes conversations among community leaders to foster anti-disinformation efforts, at times reserving a room at the back of a French cafe near her home. One recent day, she sat down at a table with Hatem Natsheh, a community organizer and advocate for Arab Americans, Muslims and Palestinians; Becca DeFelice, head of a group working to elect more women from diverse backgrounds; and Azra Siddiqi, founder of a nonprofit working to increase civic engagement among South Asians in Texas. One by one, they talked about their experience with disinformation both online and via the talking points and social media accounts of some politicians. Natsheh has long fended off disinformation about Muslims and Arabs, which worsened after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. They will come for us first, but they will never stop, he said. Theyre going to continue going after the Latinos, the African American, the Asian American. Siddiqi, founder and president of WiseUp TX, said her group has created voter information videos in different South Asian languages and disseminated them in WhatsApp groups. But she noted disinformation doesnt only circulate online. She pointed to the rhetoric surrounding a 2017 law that restricts the application of foreign laws in the state. The measure is widely considered an anti-Muslim effort intended to stop the supposed influence of Islam in U.S. courts. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremism, found about 200 similar measures have been proposed in states since 2010. Just this year, a Texas congressman railed on the floor of the U.S. House about a massive Muslim takeover in the United Kingdom and his worries that Islamic beliefs might be forced upon the American people. Others, including the ACLU of Texas, say political leaders use mis- and disinformation to rally support for anti-immigration efforts such as Operation Lone Star, an $11 billion border security initiative Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched in 2021. Texas Republicans, Siddiqi said, have built their platform off of fear. But I will say that the Democrats have been equally disappointing. She added, It gets exhausting, because I feel that were consistently dehumanized. At 67, Yi refuses to surrender to the onslaught. She said shell continue to combat lies and propaganda, battling for the ideal she dreamed of when she first arrived in America. Back then, she said, I did not feel discriminated against. Not at all. But in the past 10 years, she said, I feel more and more like I dont belong. People yell at me, Go home! People treat me as a foreigner, even (though) I have been here for 40-some years. That has her fearful for the next generation. My son (and) my grandson will carry our family last name. They will forever (be) foreigner to those people if we dont fight today, said Yi, adding that when she one day looks back on her life, she wants to be able to close her eyes without thinking, I regret I didnt do anything. She said she wants to know, deep down, that I fought for democracy. News21 reporters Samantha Grove and Jordan Moore contributed to this story. Speaker Mike Johnson not to meet with Zelenskyy due to being "very busy" US House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated on Wednesday, 25 September, that he would not be meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday. Source: Johnsons press conference, reported by Voice of America correspondent Kateryna Lisunova on Facebook Details: When asked whether he would meet with Zelenskyy and if not, whether it was because of Zelenskyys trip to Pennsylvania, Johnson responded that he couldn't schedule a meeting with Zelenskyy this week due to being very busy. Quote: "And I don't even think I'll be in town now tomorrow. But look, what I would have communicated to him, if we sat down, we would have talked about this letter about the Ambassador. I think it was a very terrible development and it strains the relations between the two nations at a time that [is] very unfortunate for Ukraine, so I regret that." Details: Zelenskyy is scheduled to hold several meetings in the US Congress on Thursday. There will be a closed bipartisan meeting in the Senate, with Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell accompanying the Ukrainian president to the chamber at 09:00. The meeting is expected to last about 1-1.5 hours. At 11:00, there will be another closed bipartisan meeting in the House Armed Services Committee, with Representatives Gregory Meeks and Michael McCaul expected to participate. This meeting will last about an hour. Background: Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a military factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that produces metal casings for the much-needed 155 mm artillery shells for the Ukrainian army. According to BBC News Russian, Scranton is the hometown of US President Joe Biden and Pennsylvania is one of the key battleground states in the upcoming November presidential elections. Zelenskyy was welcomed there by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Matt Cartwright. All of them are Democrats. Zelenskys visit to Scranton caused some dissatisfaction among Republicans. Some perceived his visit to this pivotal state as a form of campaign support for their Democratic opponents. On Thursday, 26 September, Zelenskyy is expected to visit the Capitol and meet with lawmakers from both parties, although Johnson will not be among them. Johnson played a crucial role in the April passage of a bill allocating US$61 billion for supporting Ukraine and related initiatives. However, the most radical Republican opponents of the bill threatened to remove Johnson from his position if he allowed the bill to be voted on. The motion to remove him ultimately failed. Support UP or become our patron! OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) Local health officials have been warning Outagamie County residents about a recent spike in pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, since the beginning of August. A release from the Outagamie County Public Health Division states that there have been seven confirmed cases of whooping cough in Outagamie County since the beginning of August, bringing 2024s confirmed total within the county to eight. Officials say that the last time Outagamie County Public Health received a confirmed case of pertussis was in 2020 when there were four confirmed cases. All of 2024s confirmed cases are children. Wisconsin Department of Health Services monitoring significant increase in Whooping Cough However, pertussis can affect people of all ages and it usually takes five to ten days for symptoms to appear after exposure to the bacteria that causes pertussis. Health officials provided the following initial symptoms to watch out for: Runny nose Sneezing Low-grade fever (between 99.5F and 100.3F) Mild occasional cough Symptoms can progress to an uncontrollable, violent cough that makes it hard to breathe. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has received reports of 625 confirmed cases, compared to 51 cases reported in 2023. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. In the wake of Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vances sustained attacks on immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio, and a series of violent threats on the community, the citys Republican mayor rejected a call with Vance, the states junior senator, according to emails obtained by Rolling Stone. For weeks, Vance and Trump have pushed baseless lies about the citys Haitian immigrants, most of whom are in the United States legally. Trump claimed during his Sept. 10 presidential debate that immigrants are eating the pets of the people that live there. Vance posted on X claiming there are reports of locals having their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldnt be in this country even after the city manager told his office the claims were completely false. Pressed to admit theres no evidence for his claims, Vance recently said, If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then thats what Im going to do. At a rally on Sept. 17, when Vance was asked whether he should fact check claims made by his constituents before broadcasting them to the world, the senator suggested thats only the medias responsibility. (According to The Wall Street Journal, one Springfield resident who blamed her missing cat on her Haitian neighbors soon found her cat was alive and well, living in her basement.) The same night, Springfields mayor, Rob Rue, emailed Vances office to decline a meeting with the senator and Republican vice presidential nominee, citing the serious nature of the threats we are facing. It is disheartening to see our vibrant community drawn into the national immigration debate, leading to disruptions in daily life and increased security concerns. Over the past week, schools and public offices have been closed due to threats, Rue wrote to Vances state director, James Coyne, adding: On a personal note, it is disappointing that, as an Ohio native and elected official, you would speak about our community without first reaching out to me or my team to better understand the situation. Rues email noted that Vances office wanted to include third parties in the conversation. Karen Graves, a spokesperson for the mayor, tells Rolling Stone that Vances camp originally reached out to arrange a private call between the senator, mayor, and city manager. We initially considered accepting the invitation to have the opportunity to honestly discuss the spotlight that has been directed on our community, after having been drawn into the national immigration debate and to discuss the residual security impacts we have faced in light of the spread of misinformation, says Graves. We later learned that they wanted to bring some constituents (without providing their names or how they selected them) into what was initially portrayed as a private call. We decided that it was in our best interest to decline. Vances office disputes that his team requested the meeting with Springfield officials. A Vance spokesperson tells Rolling Stone, Senator Vances office was confused by the last-minute cancellation of a meeting requested by Springfield officials. However, the door is always open for future discussion. The emails show that Coyne, Vances state director, wrote back to Rue the following morning, on Sept. 18, and expressed disappointment that you are no longer interested in having the call your team had requested. He added, Our intention in inviting some of these constituents to join the call was to help facilitate a dialogue between residents we have heard from with first-hand experiences and city officials to help him contextualize their perspective with yours. Rue responded that, given the threats that have rained down on Springfield, it is important that any conversations on this matter involve only those directly responsible for the citys leadership. He continued: Any dialogue about our community should be grounded in facts and a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Unfortunately, recent communications have not consistently reflected this approach. The safety of our residents is a responsibility we take seriously, and it should not be politicized. Trump and Vances ongoing demagoguing of the small Midwestern citys Haitian population this month has exacerbated a climate of anger, resentment, and growing terror among both the Haitian residents and broader community. When Rolling Stone visited Springfield last week, we spoke at length with Casey Rollins, executive director of the Springfield District Council of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic social-services nonprofit that works with the community, including the areas Haitian immigrants and local poor. Rollins said if Vance were sitting in front of her right then, she would tell him: You admittedly continue to encourage untruths and to provoke hatred among us all; politically posturing, and pawning Springfield for political gain. It is hurting all of Ohio, the nation, and our world; not just Springfield and the Haitians who are here with us. I wonder how that makes anyone in Springfield safer or more stable than we were yesterday? A number of Haitian workers and families in Springfield who Rolling Stone approached to interview said they did not want to be included or quoted for an article, even if completely anonymously. Most explicitly cited fear for themselves or their loved ones, given the current political rage directed at Haitians in the area. They also said they didnt know who to trust. Some even conceded that they didnt enjoy venturing outside their homes anymore, believing the city to now be especially dangerous for them and their children. On Tuesday, a Haitian nonprofit filed criminal charges against Trump and Vance with a municipal court in Clark County, Ohio, for disrupting public services, telecommunications harassment, and aggravated menacing. Team Trump plans to keep up attacks on immigrant populations moving into American cities and towns, with one Trump adviser telling Rolling Stone that most voters do not want that to happen where they live and send their kids to school. The former president has pledged to visit Springfield, even as the mayor, Rue, has attempted to publicly discourage him from doing so. Speaking at a rally on Sept. 18, Trump joked about his potential visit. You may never see me again, but thats OK. Got to do what I got to do, he said. Whatever happened to Trump? Well, he never got out of Springfield. Trump has repeatedly promised to lead a historic mass-deportation of immigrants out of the U.S. if he is elected to another term. Despite the fact that most of the Haitian migrants in Springfield are in the country legally, Trump has pledged to start a new administration by rounding them up. We will do large deportations from Springfield, Ohio, he said. Large deportations. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Springfield opens health clinic to help with strained resources due to influx of migrants Springfield residents can now get vaccinations and basic screenings at a mobile health unit, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday. DeWine said the recent increase in Haitian immigrants living in Springfield has strained city resources and the wait times for health care is currently about two months. The governor said state troopers are still monitoring threats to city schools. Springfield schools and government buildings received dozens of bomb threats after Ohio Sen. JD Vance and former President Donald Trump repeated claims without evidence on national television about Haitian immigrants eating dogs and cats. "Everything seems to be pretty much back to normal," DeWine said, but added the troopers will be present as long as needed. Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said it's important that residents are vaccinated against contagious illnesses. "Our mission at the Ohio Department of Health is to advance the health and wellness of all Ohioans, regardless of where they live, regardless of where they work, regardless of who they are, and that is in large part while we're here," Vanderhoff said. Clark County Health Commissioner Chris Cook said he wants the vaccinations and basic screenings to serve as a bridge to primary care for residents. Asked about his recent op-ed about Springfield in the New York Times, DeWine said he felt it was important to point out the city's challenges and its economic progress. "I think it was important for actually, the governor of the state of Ohio to tell the truth about what is going on in Springfield and to describe this community as I've known it my entire life, that had a great future," DeWine said. "What we've seen lately, though, is a great rise, a community that is coming back. More jobs are being created, more companies are coming in." How to get care Cook said the simplest way to make appointments is to call (937) 390-5600, The clinic will also try to accommodate walk-ins as much as possible. Erin Glynn is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Springfield gets mobile health clinic to support city resources SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The City of Springfield demolished a group of tents that homeless people slept in for weeks at the intersection of 5th and North Grand Avenue Wednesday morning. The City said in a statement that homeless outreach officials went to the site of the tents after reports of several crimes in the area, including battery and increased drug usage. They further added the large tents were too close to the road, with some homeless residents sleeping just feet away from the road. Change in leadership announced for Sonya Massey Commission Outreach coordinators were immediately dispatched on-site to connect with all individuals, providing referrals, resources, and contact information, city officials wrote in the statement. Everyone was given the opportunity to collect their belongings. However, some unclaimed items were left behind. The City called the Public Works Department to remove more belongings. Eyewitnesses reported construction vehicles were used to remove the belongings. Photo courtesy of Alex Degman The City cleared the scene before 10 a.m. The City of Springfield recently considered a different proposal to fine the homeless for public camping but that ordinance was later withdrawn from consideration. U of I issues warning against sextortion after three cases in 10 days Alderwoman Lakeisha Purchase for Ward 5 posted on Facebook she has requested two of the outreach coordinators for the City to speak at the next city council meeting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. ST. LOUIS The owner of a St. Louis nonprofit is accused of defrauding the Missouri government of millions of dollars that were intended to be used to feed low-income Missouri children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Cymone McClellan, 31, owned and operated the nonprofit Sister of Lavender Rose (SOLR). From January 2019 to June 2022, McClellan filed phony reimbursement claims to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) as part of the Food and Nutrition Programs for Children. One in seven households, theyre going to experience hunger, and when that translates to children, nationally thats one in six, and locally that can be even higher, up to one in five children experiencing hunger, Ericka Kinkead, director of marketing and communications for the St. Louis area Food Bank, said. The indictment alleges McClellan claimed to have served 860,876 meals to children but only bought enough food and milk to feed fewer than a quarter of those meals. As a result, she defrauded the state out of more than $2 million. As the indictment demonstrates, what she actually used that money for was to enrich herself, assistant U.S. attorney Derek Wiseman said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News McClellan provided fake sign-in sheets for meal recipients and food distribution locations and submitted fraudulent management plans claiming the Missouri funds were being spent properly, according to the indictment. Prosecutors said McClellan used $60,000 in state money to make a down payment on a home in Collinsville, Illinois, a home in Florissant, Missouri, and these five vehicles: a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, a 2012 Chevrolet Express G3500 van, a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris van, a 2012 Ford E350 box truck, and a 2018 Lexus RX SUV. In addition, prosecutors said one of the addresses McClellan claimed was used to prepare the meals for low-income children was actually an adults-only nightclub called Elmos Love Lounge. This indictment is a part of an ongoing, multi-year effort along with our federal partners, including the FBI, to hold those folks accountable who stole public money during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking money that was supposed to go to helping people, especially in this community, and instead using it to benefit themselves, Wiseman said. FOX 2 reached out to McClellan and her attorney, Talmage Newton, who sent the following statement: Cymone McClellan was disappointed to learn she had been charged in this matter. The allegations made by government in the indictment demonstrate a misunderstanding of her business and business practices, are based on mistaken assumptions, misstatements of fact, and an incorrect interpretation of her actions. Ms. McClellan has always acted in the best interests of the children and communities she serves. The charities and organizations under her care have dedicated themselves to ensuring children receive the nutrition they need, especially in underserved areas. McClellan was charged with four counts of wire fraud. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Azerbaijan's business tourism potential is being introduced at the "Kingdom Business & Luxury Travel Congress," held from September 25-26 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau (ATB), under the State Tourism Agency, is representing the country as a "silver partner" at the event, Azernews reports. The ATB's participation aims to promote Azerbaijan as a premier destination for business tourism and to attract more industry representatives to the country. During B2B meetings with leading experts and agencies in Saudi Arabia's business tourism sector, the ATB provided detailed information on Azerbaijan's infrastructure for organizing business events and highlighted the overall tourism potential of the country. The main objectives of Azerbaijan's participation in the event include showcasing its capabilities as a global destination for business events, identifying potential partners and events, and expanding research activities to better position the country on the international stage. In the first eight months of this year, 76,861 visitors from Saudi Arabia traveled to Azerbaijan, marking a 31% increase compared to the same period last year. ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. (WGNO) The St. Tammany Chamber Political Action Committee (CHAMBERPAC) is once again publicizing its support of the recall petition against the parishs coroner, Dr. Christopher Tape, ahead of the submission deadline. A CHAMBERPAC spokesperson says, so far, 21,000 signatures have been collected. Recall petitioners will need 35,057 signatures to submit the petition to the registrars office. Only 14,000 signatures are now needed for this recall to be a success, said St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lacey Osborne. Entergy Louisiana, Cleco send crews to Georgia, Florida ahead of Hurricane Helene CHAMBERPAC leadership say aside from the sexual assault charges against Tape that were dismissed in 2001, some of their concerns are recent. The primary reason we are supporting the recall is the elimination of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, which he eliminated immediately upon taking office, so despite any previous charges against him that were unresolved, thats pretty irrelevant at this point, its about the services being provided to our citizens, explained Osborne. The CHAMBERPAC is hoping their efforts will help recall organizers meet their Oct. 13 deadline. We understand the odds, said Osborne. We would love for this recall to be successful, to be one of the first, but we recognize that its a challenge to collect that number. Terry King, an investigator with the group Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany (CCST) and opposer of the recall, also understands the odds. He was among the people behind the recall efforts against disgraced former St. Tammany Parish Coroner Peter Galvan. CCST wasnt successful in getting that done with Galvan, and it was pretty high publicity concerning that, and some very strong reasons to do it, and we still couldnt, King said. Kenner residents begin applying for FEMA assistance following Hurricane Francine If the recall petition succeeds, there will be a vote on the Mar. 29 ballot of next year. If it fails, Tape will remain in office until Oct. 9, 2027, if he doesnt seek re-election. Its now or never, said Osborne. So, the CHAMBERPAC board is pushing together with our chamber board of directors, and really encouraging our citizens to step up. Tape released the following statement: While some people are trying to force a costly and unnecessary recall election, Im busy fulfilling my duties as coronerserving the families of our parish, supporting staff and resources in our diverse responsibilities and guarding the publics tax dollars fully and transparently. As Ive said from the beginning of this undertaking, Im confident the people of St. Tammany Parish will be satisfied and pleased with my job performance. So far, I havent heard from anyone who isnt. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. The prime minister's image was projected on to a screen in Times Square, New York, ahead of his visit [BBC] The prime minister has had a two-hour dinner with former US President Donald Trump in New York. It is the first time Sir Keir Starmer and Trump have met. The pair were joined by Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Sir Keir was in New York for the UN General Assembly but made time to meet Trump at his New York base - Trump Tower. He is now flying back to the UK. The PM said it was "good" he had the opportunity to meet the Republican presidential nominee and that it was "really to establish a relationship between" the two of them. A UK government source said the pair had "discussed the longstanding friendship between the UK and the US and the importance of continuing to develop the strong and enduring partnership between our two countries". Speaking ahead of their meeting, Trump said of the PM: "I actually think hes very nice. He ran a great race, he did very well, its very early, hes very popular." Lammy has previously called the former president a "racist" and a "neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath". Sir Keir did not meet the Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, on this trip. They have not met before either. He previously said he would like to see both candidates ahead of the US presidential election on 5 November. The prime minister said he "obviously" still wanted to speak to Vice-President Kamala Harris, but that there were the "usual diary challenges". He added: "I'm a great believer in personal relations on the international stage. I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them personally, get to know them face to face." Harris is in Washington for talks alongside President Joe Biden with President Volodymyr Zelensky, as a row between the Ukrainian leader and the Trump campaign escalated. Republicans have reacted angrily to the Ukrainian president's decision to visit an arms factory in the US president's hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, with several top Democrats, and it now appears Zelensky will not meet Trump as had been expected. When asked by reporters if a Trump presidency would leave the UK more exposed on the global stage when it comes to support for Ukraine, the prime minister said: "The first thing I think is important to say in relation to this is we've obviously had a special relationship with the US for a long time, forged in really difficult circumstances. "That always sits above whoever holds the particular office, either in the US or the UK." He said the relationship was probably as "as strong now as it's ever been" in relation to the Middle East and Ukraine". Sir Keir added: "The US people will decide who they want as their president, and we will work with whoever is resident, as you would expect. Im not going to speculate on what any particular issues may be the other side of the election." Foreign Affairs Committee chair and Labour MP Emily Thornberry said she understood there needed to be "a certain amount of relationship building" but that the UK "shouldn't pull our punches". She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she thought Trump was a racist and that racist conduct should be "called out" if it occurs. (Bloomberg) -- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer dined with Donald Trump for two hours as he sought to move past previous criticism of the former president to burnish personal relations ahead of a US election that may return him to power. Most Read from Bloomberg The meal at Trump Tower in New York capped off a two-day visit by the new premier to attend the United Nations General Assembly. The two men discussed the longstanding friendship between their two nations and the importance of maintaining an enduring partnership, according to Starmers office. With UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also in attendance, there was potential for awkwardness given both he and Starmer had criticized Trump while their left-leaning Labour Party was in opposition. Now in government, and with a tight presidential race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on the other side of the Atlantic, they face the prospect of having to work closely with him. Itll be really to establish a relationship between the two of us, Starmer told reporters before meeting Trump. Im a great believer in personal relations on the international stage. I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and you know personally, get to know them face-to-face. While the British premier had hoped to also meet with Harris on the visit, reporters traveling with him to New York were told that diary challenges had prevented it. That raises the chance he may cross the Atlantic again before the US vote, since hes never met the vice president. A Harris win would clearly be preferable to Starmer, whose Labour Party has longstanding ties with the vice presidents Democrats. Starmer denounced the the politics of noisy performance, the weak and cowardly fantasy of populism in his speech to Labours annual conference earlier this week, without naming any populist in particular. Trump remains unpopular in the UK, disliked by 67% of the British public, according to the latest polling by YouGov. But Starmer insisted that the UK would continue to work closely with whoever won the presidential vote in November. The so-called special relationship between the US and UK always sits above whoever holds the particular office, either in the US or the UK, he said. Trump has said he wants to condition US security guarantees on European nations hitting goals for defense spending, raising questions about his commitment to allies. Thursdays meeting provided Starmer with an opportunity to speak about areas of importance to Britain, including support for Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as a commitment to fighting climate change. Starmer declined to comment on his key messages to Trump. Its probably as strong now as its ever been, in relation to the Middle East and Ukraine, the premier said about the relationship with the US. Youve seen how closely Ive been working with the US in relation to both of those issues. The US people will decide who they want as their president, and we will work with whoever is president, as you would expect. Im not going to speculate on what any particular issues may be the other side of the election. As leader of the opposition in early 2021 Starmer said Trump needed to take responsibility for his role in the attack by protesters on the Capitol following the last presidential vote. Moreover, several of his ministers including Foreign Secretary David Lammy have criticized Trump in the past also. Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath, Lammy wrote as an opposition lawmaker in 2018. He is also a profound threat to the international order. But none of that seemed to deter Trump, who told reporters in New York shortly before meeting Starmer: Im going to see him in about an hour so I have to be nice, right? I actually think hes very nice, Trump said. I think he ran a great race, he did very well. Its very early, but hes very popular. --With assistance from Justin Sink and Robert Jameson. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The UK Prime Ministers business whisperer Varun Chandra has been putting his extensive contacts book to use at the Labour party conference this week, meeting corporate networkers who hope to have the ear of the new government. Most Read from Bloomberg Chandra has been popular, getting stopped for chats outside in the Liverpool rain, while on the sidelines of business events people waited their turn to speak to him. Keen to avoid public profile, Chandra told business leaders behind closed doors he would try to be their interface with the government. Some attendees were impressed by his enthusiasm, though cautious about some of his more dramatic pledges and his ability to bring about cross departmental co-operation, according to several people who spoke to him. As a banker turned consultant with long-time Labour ties, Chandra brings much to the role of Keir Starmers special adviser on business. But his previous role in charge of Hakluyt, a consultancy that does not disclose its clients, and his ongoing financial ties to that firm, pose an added complication for a government thats promised to work with the private sector to spur economic growth, while vowing to rebuild trust in public institutions. Point Person Chandra, 39, gave up running Hakluyt shortly after the election in July and has already developed a reputation among civil servants as the business whisperer who can communicate effectively between corporations and the premier, one person said. He has sat in on a series of meetings between international business figures such as JPMorgan Chase & Co.s Jamie Dimon, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Starmer. He is the consummate networker, according to several people who have met him, all of whom asked not to be named discussing private conversations. Previous governments have brought in similar figures, such as businessman Gerry Grimstone who was investment minister under Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson and, most recently, Franck Petitgas, who was a special adviser like Chandra, working for Rishi Sunak after spending three decades at Morgan Stanley. These appointments come with the added complication of ensuring the new official severs ties with their previous companies, to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. While in opposition, Labour criticized the appointment of Dominic Johnson, a former business partner of former Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, for taking the role of investment minister. Johnson, the Conservatives former vice-chairman, was dubbed a crony party donor by Labour. Now, Labour is searching for its own investment minister after the favored candidate decided against making costly changes to his own business ties. There are just weeks to go before an international investment summit in London it says is a key opportunity to showcase the UK. Meanwhile, the government is facing intense scrutiny over revelations that Labour donor Waheed Alli, who paid for clothes for the premier and his wife, was granted a pass to enter Downing Street and advised on public appointments. Starmer has said he will no longer accept free clothes and Alli subsequently lost his pass to Number 10. Stake Sale For Chandra, the move to government means giving up his stake in Hakluyt. He owned at least 454,000 ordinary shares in the company, or under 5% of this class of stock, filings as of the end of last year showed. Their value would have been above 7.2 million at the time of a share issue Hakluyt carried out in May 2023, according to the filings. Hakluyt has agreed to buy his stake at a fixed price over time, meaning he wont benefit from any potential increase in its value. This is a standard process Hakluyt uses when employees with equity leave, according to several people familiar with the matter. Chandra also co-founded and retains a stake in the firms investment arm, Hakluyt Capital. The fund raised about $50 million earlier this year to invest in promising startups. They will be helped by Hakluyts unrivaled network to navigate tricky regulatory challenges, reach decision-makers at potential customers, build relationships with senior advisers, according to a statement on its website. Chandra is selling his stake in Hakluyt Capital but finding a buyer quickly is difficult, one person said. He is not eligible to make further investments in the business. Outside interests by special advisers must be signed off by the prime ministers chief of staff, according to the governments code of conduct. The current chief of staff, Sue Gray, who previously served as the governments director general of propriety and ethics, has indicated to other potential appointees that she would take a hard line on such arrangements, according to one person familiar with the process. At Big Four accountancy firms, there is a practice of partners having to exit their financial interests immediately if they go into government, two people said. But there have been other arrangements some previous special advisers with business interests have been allowed by the government to keep shares in trusts. Hakluyt and the government did not comment on how long it would take to purchase Chandras shares. A person familiar with the matter said he would not be able to take them back if he leaves his government role before their ownership is transferred. Varun Chandra worked for Hakluyt, a global strategic advisory firm, until July 2024, when he left to take up a role in 10 Downing Street, a spokesperson for Hakluyt said. Upon his departure, all due process was followed in accordance with our strict compliance protocols and standard equity policy. Varun is no longer involved in Hakluyts business. Discretion Valued Chandra grew up in South Shields, near the city of Newcastle in the north east of England, with parents who had migrated from India. He never had to be told to do homework as a child as he was so inspired by his parents example of hard work, he told a podcast made by his former firm. After winning a place at a selective state school and going to Oxford University, Chandra worked briefly for Lehman Brothers before it collapsed in 2008 and then, in his early 20s, was hired by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blairs organization. He spent five and a half years flying around the world meeting presidents, prime ministers, billionaires and people running businesses, he told the podcast. He joined Hakluyt in 2014 and rose to be its managing partner five years later. Chandra took charge of a company that has sought to shift out of the shadows in recent years. Hakluyt was created in 1995 by a group of former MI6 intelligence officers and named after the sixteenth century geographer Richard Hakluyt. Its client list is not public but its website says it advises around 40% of the worlds largest corporations by market capitalization, and more than three quarters of the top 20 private equity firms by assets under management. These customers value its discretion and independence of thought, Hakluyt said in its annual report, which also disclosed 26 million of operating profit on revenue of 113 million in the year through June 2023. The firm has about 170 employees and the highest-paid thought to be Chandra earned about 2 million. The companys stock was valued at about 150 million based on the price of the share issue in May 2023, though this could vary in subsequent share sales. Part of the companys success is through tapping a network of several thousand well-connected individuals to help with particular situations, Chandra told the Financial Times in a 2021 interview. Hakluyt has a reputation for charging high fees, which can be three times as much as rivals charges, according to two people. Hakluyts roster of board members shows off its deep business ties. Its main board is chaired by former Conservative minister Paul Deighton, while its international advisory board includes John Bell, chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations Global Health Advisory Board; Vindi Banga, partner at private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and chairman of UK Government Investments; and Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons. Because of the Tata connection, Chandra did not get involved in the governments recent bailout of the groups Port Talbot steelworks, one person said. The advisory board of Hakluyt Capital includes Matt Clifford, chair of the UKs Advanced Research and Invention Agency who was asked by Peter Kyle, secretary of state for science, to lead a project on how AI could help deliver growth. Political Access Labours ambitions in government which include creating a national wealth fund, setting up publicly-owned GB Energy and overhauling the countrys planning system to unlock widescale building chime with Chandras track record. But to be useful to the government, Chandra will inevitably deal with businesses and people who were clients at Hakluyt, given its broad reach into policy, regulation and every major business sector, people said. Hakluyt, meanwhile, has previously supported senior figures now in government. The firm helped Kyle, when he was shadow science secretary, by paying 2,759 for a driver during a visit the west coast of the US in February, according to his register of members financial interests. According to his social media from the time, he met senior figures from Microsoft Corp., Amazon Web Services and the Gates foundation. As well as Bells connection at Gates, Sandi Peterson, a director at Microsoft, is on the international advisory board. Hakluyt would not comment on whether Kyle met the companys clients on the trip. Hakluyt also paid 2,411 for Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, and his wife to attend an event in May called the Hakluyt Forum, the register says. Hakluyt also did not comment about whether Jones met clients of the firm. Andre Spicer, executive dean at the Bayes Business School in London, said it was notable how little money was required to gain access to politicians in the UK. Links between the government and industry are a good thing, giving access to technical skills and to capital, Spicer said. However, there needs to be transparency and some sort of boundaries. A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said the department has a thorough process on declarations of interest for special advisers to ensure any conflicts of interest are properly managed and mitigated, including through recusals where appropriate. While we do not usually comment on individuals, Varun Chandra resigned from his position at Hakluyt and has made all relevant declarations as part of this process, they added. --With assistance from Philip Aldrick. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. In his memo, Attorney General John Formella did not elaborate on why the states defense against two school funding lawsuits is expected to cost $200,000 in the next fiscal year. (Getty Images) The New Hampshire Department of Justice is projecting it will spend about $200,000 in the next year to defend the states school finance laws from a pair of lawsuits. The estimate, which covers the 2025 state fiscal year, is part of a $6.7 million spending request the department made to the council Wednesday to cover its expected litigation costs. Its an unusually high amount for the state to spend on litigation costs, according to Attorney General John Formella in a memo to the council. Lawmakers allocated $350,000 to the department in their budget for state fiscal year 2025, which runs from July 2024 to June 2025. But the department has already blown through that budgeted amount, and has to free up about $1 million in reimbursements and encumbrances to cover litigation costs, Formella wrote. Even after doing so, it is short $6.7 million, he said. The majority of this request is based on the funding needs of the Criminal Bureau and the Civil Bureau due to the number of particularly complex and labor-intensive cases that we currently have in these bureaus, Formella wrote. The council approved the spending at its meeting; the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee had already signed off on the funds on Sept. 13. The money includes $1.1 million in estimated expenses for criminal expenses, about $315,000 of which is to continue to prosecute alleged decades-old abuse at the Sununu Youth Services Center. As the investigation has proceeded, and as we get closer to trials for indicted defendants, the number of documents requiring review has steadily increased and has far eclipsed the number of documents anticipated at the beginning of the investigation, Formella wrote. The department requested an additional $5 million to defend the state from civil litigation. That includes $2.4 million to cover state attorneys costs during the ongoing lawsuits filed against former youth services residents who were allegedly abused. That expense is again high because of the extensive documents that must be reviewed, Formella said, and the department has deployed outside counsel for part of it. This high annual expense stems from the fact that the department is currently handling a larger, more complex civil litigation load than at any time in recent memory, including an unusually high number of complex and high-profile cases, Formella wrote. The state requested $1.3 million to defend against two lawsuits. The first, GK v. Shibinette, was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, the Disability Rights Center, New Hampshire Legal Assistance, and others, and claims that the state is violating the rights of older foster children by keeping them in institutions rather than providing them with homes and mental health treatment. The second, Fitzmorris v. Shibinette, claims that the state violated the rights of 3,500 older and disabled people by preventing them from getting home and community-based care through its administration of the Choices for Independence Medicaid waiver program. In his memo, Formella did not elaborate on why the states defense against two school funding lawsuits Contoocook Valley School District et al. v. State of New Hampshire and Rand et al. v. State of New Hampshire is expected to cost $200,000 in the next fiscal year. Those two cases have been appealed to the Supreme Court, which has not set a schedule for oral arguments. The department also asked for $932,000 to cover other combined expenses for various cases, Formella wrote, without elaborating. State of Idaho wants to put an end to a lawsuit aimed at clarifying abortion law Jennifer Adkins of Idaho, who said she faced a complicated pregnancy, is suing the state over its near-total abortion ban. (Courtesy of the Center for Reproductive Rights) An Ada County judge heard arguments on Wednesday whether to end a lawsuit aimed at clarifying Idahos abortion ban. Idaho has a total ban on abortions, with exceptions for rape and incest in the first trimester with a police report. Doctors can also provide an abortion to prevent a patients death, but not to preserve their health. This means even if a pregnant patient faces organ loss, paralysis, or loss of fertility, they still would not be able to seek an abortion in the state. The lawsuit, Adkins v. State of Idaho, was filed in September 2023. It is named after the lead plaintiff, Jennifer Adkins, who sought an abortion in Oregon after her 12-week-old fetus was diagnosed with a condition that would have resulted in a miscarriage or stillbirth, and likely jeopardized her own health. Adkins is one of seven total plaintiffs who is represented by The Center for Reproductive Rights, a global organization that advocates for reproductive rights. The other plaintiffs include three other Idaho women who were denied an abortion despite concerns for their health, two Idaho physicians who provide obstetrical care; and the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians an organization of physicians, medical residents and students across Idaho. The plaintiffs argue the law is vague, which makes it difficult to practice medicine. The purpose of the lawsuit is to clarify and expand the medical exceptions to Idahos abortion ban to ensure physicians can perform an abortion to preserve a persons health, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. State of Idaho argues abortion ban law is not vague The State of Idaho asked Ada County District Judge Jason Scott to apply summary judgment in the lawsuit, which would end the case without a trial. Jim Craig, an attorney representing the state of Idaho, said Idahos abortion ban is not vague. I dont know how much clearer we can get, Craig said, referencing when the Idaho Supreme Court upheld Idahos abortion ban. The Idaho Supreme Court has made clear You do not have to wait to provide life saving care. You do not have to come to the court. He argued the physician plaintiffs, who have said they are fearful to provide care because they could be criminalized under the law, are bringing on hypothetical situations and that there are no patients who claim to need an abortion right now. All thats required is for the treating physician to make a good faith medical judgment that providing an abortion is necessary to prevent the death of a pregnant woman, Craig said. These are real people: plaintiffs lawyer argues Gail Deady, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, disputed the states claims that the plaintiffs are arguing over hypothetical situations. These are real people who are being harmed by these laws, and there are two plaintiffs right now in this room who are examples of the type of patients who are being harmed by these laws, she said. Aside from Adkins, Jillaine St. Michel, Kayla Smith and Rebecca Vincen-Brown, are the three Idaho women also named in the lawsuit who had fetal complications that were likely to affect their health. Jennifer Adkins is here, and she was denied abortion care at Saint Alphonsus despite having received a devastating, fatal fetal diagnosis and having been at risk of mirror syndrome, which was threatening to her health, Deady said. Rebecca Vincen-Brown is also in the courtroom today, and she was turned away from receiving abortion care at St. Lukes despite again having a likely fatal fetal condition that was posing risks to her health and to her future fertility. Deady said the physician plaintiffs go to work every day unsure about how to apply Idahos abortion exceptions to their practices. They particularly do not understand how to interpret what prevent death means, because physicians are not trained to wait until someone is at risk of death before acting. Theyre healers, Deady said. Scott said he would make a decision at a later time. A pretrial conference is still scheduled at 2 p.m. on Oct. 23 at the Ada County Courthouse. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Jennifer Adkins. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Rail Ridge Fire south of Dayville in Grant County has scorched more than 135,000 acres. (Courtesy of Grant County Emergency Management) The Rail Ridge Fire south of Dayville in Grant County scorched more than 135,000 acres. (Courtesy of Grant County Emergency Management) The Oregon Department of Forestry is getting help from the states general fund to pay its bills after a record wildfire season. The Legislative Emergency Board voted Wednesday to send $47.5 million to the forestry department to help cover the costs of the 2024 wildfire season. Spending on wildfires so far this year has topped nearly $250 million, about 2.5 times the amount budgeted for the forestry department and the State Fire Marshals Office for wildfire response. The Department of Forestry has done incredible work fighting these fires under difficult weather conditions and with personnel and resources stretched thin across multiple states, Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, said in a news release. About half of the $47.5 million was previously earmarked for a potentially expensive wildfire season, while $20 million was appropriated as emergency funding by the board, made up of 10 representatives and 10 senators. There have been more than 2,000 fires this year that have scorched nearly 2 million acres a record in the state and more than three times the 10-year average for acres burned. Gov. Tina Kotek has invoked the Conflagration Act 17 times this year a new record with the latest on Sept. 10 for the Service Fire in Wheeler County. The previous record was in 2020 when then-Gov. Kate Brown invoked the act 16 times, said John Hendricks, a spokesman for the fire marshal. The act unleashes resources to fight blazes that threaten lives, communities or key infrastructure. Kotek also asked for federal help and regulatory flexibility for farmers and ranchers who have lost land used for animals and plants, while urging Congress to pass a spending bill to fully fund federal agencies and increase firefighter pay. The state will likely wrap up its now five-month long fire season in mid-October, according to experts. Projections from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, which coordinates wildfire resources, indicate the state could face one or two more high-risk days before the 2024 wildfire season is over. CORRECTION: Gov. Kate Brown invoked the Conflagration Act in 2020. A previous version attributed the 2020 invocations to Kotek, who was elected in 2022. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Are magic mushrooms legal in New Mexico? Not yet. Its a relatively new area of study for treating conditions like depression. Wednesday, state lawmakers heard from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and University of New Mexico (UNM) professors about their research and how it might work in our state. Story continues below Effects include hallucination, change in perception, distortion of time, and the perception of maybe having a spiritual experience, said Lawrence Leeman, M.D., professor at UNM School of Medicine. Making psilocybin, otherwise known as magic mushrooms, legal is on the table for state lawmakers. Last legislative session, lawmakers from both chambers and both parties asked researchers to look into it for medical purposes: Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound. Its converted from psilocybin to psilocin which is the active agent in the blood, Leeman says. What we intended to do was not really propose a path forward essentially. We tried to do a pretty thorough survey of the research thats been ongoing around psilocybin as a therapeutic medicine. We wanted to look at the regulatory environment; maybe other challenges that other states are facing in implementing these kinds of programs; and just really wanted to provide the community and the legislature, the executive, just a foundational knowledge of sort where were at in the country with this as a medicine, said Arya Lamb, director of the Policy and Communications Division at the NMDOH. Doctors told lawmakers about the current studies underway in New Mexico and around the country for the medical use of psilocybin. For psilocybin, its for depression, major depression, and treatment-resistant depression. Thats being fairly vigorously studied around the country, Leeman said. So far, trials for hundreds of people are underway at UNM. Its a therapeutic model that were looking at. Were not looking at a recreational model, Leeman said. Theres about three phase three trials going around the country. Were part of one of them that we started a couple of months ago and this whole study will take about one year for each patient, probably two years for the whole study, Leeman said. Unlike cannabis, experts said psilocybin would not be for daily use but rather used with medical supervision possibly twice a year. The dosing for psilocybin in the research and as I think theyre doing in some of the other states: six to eight-hour session, comfortable setting, with session facilitators guiding the process, Leeman said with post-dose therapy sessions following. The effects are relatively short-acting, they come on in about 15 to 45 minutes. Peaks at around four to six hours and after that, theyre done so about eight hours the whole session is done, Leeman said. Doctors said they think psilocybin works by opening the mind and allowing the brain to rewire itself: Some of the ideas of the way that psilocybin works in the brain is that it increases whats called neuroplasticityneuroplasticity is sort of a time period after the use of the psilocybin where new connections are made in the brain, Leeman said. So, how should New Mexico move forward? Its part of what experts looked into. We looked at what other states were doing to try to figure out what would be a good way to, whats the feasibility of establishing a program? said Gary French, M.D., medical director for the Center for Medical Cannabis at the NMDOH. The panel offered lawmakers four paths: the first option is to wait and see what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does. Our estimate is that 2027 is probably the soonest the FDA could possibly approve psilocybin. If they approved psilocybin from that, it would be approved for depression, Leeman said. The second option would be to approve use in supervised therapy centers like whats currently in effect in Utah and Oregon. The third option would be to decriminalize it altogether and possibly commercialize the drug like Colorado: There would be risks because theres not that supervision going on, French said. The fourth option would be to have the state fund more research into the drug. While experts did not recommend a specific option at this meeting, they did tell lawmakers that moving forward, it will be important to ask the community what it wants the state to do. If we were to pursue you know, a policy avenue in the future, it would be very important to engage community in a very robust way. We would want to engage stakeholders and make sure that were really providing adequate time to do that community engagement, Lamb said. A big question is safety considerations: as the state looks at this, I think that everybody is concerned about that if the state decides to move forward, how can one move forward safely? Leeman said. Experts said it cost Oregon and Colorado between four and seven million dollars to regulate psilocybin in their respective states. To view the whole presentation, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A photo taken on December 6, 2021 shows high-tide flooding and debris covering the road to the airport in the Marshall Islands capital Majuro (Chewy Lin) (Chewy Lin/AFP/AFP) Rising waters are slowly but surely swallowing Carnie Reimers's backyard in the Marshall Islands, pushing her toward an agonizing choice: stay in the only home she's ever known or leave and face the prospect of becoming a climate refugee. "It's not a comfortable topic to talk about," the 22-year-old activist tells AFP, explaining the emotional toll this looming reality has on the wider community, who are grappling with similar threats. "We're deeply rooted in our country, and we don't want to be displaced or forced to live somewhere else -- it would be hard to preserve our culture." Climate change is dramatically reshaping life in Pacific Island nations, leaving them ever more vulnerable to storm surges, saltwater contamination, ruined crops, and relentless coastal erosion. "Every day it's a constant battle," says Grace Malie, a 25-year-old from Tuvalu, the tiny archipelago facing the grim prospect of becoming the first nation to be rendered unlivable by global warming. Speaking to AFP from the Climate Mobility Summit, held on the sidelines of the United Nations annual meeting, Malie recalls how her community was forced to ration just a few buckets of water among large extended families during a drought two years ago. The freshwater "lenses" beneath Tuvalu's atolls, once tapped through wells, were contaminated by rising seas years ago, leaving the nation's 11,000 residents reliant on rainwater. Even their crops now grow in boxes rather than in the salt-poisoned ground. This past February, storm waters surged from the lagoon on Tuvalu's main island, Funafuti, flooding roads and seeping into homes. It wasn't even a tropical cyclone, says Malie -- just a regular storm -- but with higher sea levels now, any storm has the potential to wreak havoc. - 'Matter of survival ' - Since the start of the 20th century, global mean sea levels have risen faster than at any time in the last 3,000 years, a direct result of land ice melt and seawater expansion from planetary heating, experts say. According to NASA's latest projections, Pacific Island nations will experience at least 15 centimeters of sea level rise in the next 30 years. "It's the difference between flooding a few times a year, or none a year, to 30 times a year, 60 times a year, or every other day," Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, who directs ocean physics programs for NASA's Earth Science Division, told AFP. Even King Tides -- extra high tides caused by new or full moons -- now cause mayhem in the Marshall Islands, according to Reimers, flooding schools and blocking access to the airport. While some Marshallese have already emigrated, forming a sizable diaspora in some places, such as the US state of Arkansas, Reimers says they only truly feel at home when they return to the islands, reconnecting with their people. There's even talk of relocating the capital, Majuro, where Reimers lives with her family. The young activist sees a future for herself shaping these crucial discussions. Tuvalu's situation might be even more precarious. By 2050 -- just 26 years from now -- more than half of the capital's land area will be regularly flooded, a figure set to rise to 95 percent by 2100, according to official estimates. "For us, it's a matter of survival," Prime Minister Feleti Teo, who is helping lead diplomatic efforts to preserve the sovereignty of low-lying island nations even as they risk being submerged. Last year, Teo signed a landmark treaty with Australia, paving the way for more Tuvaluans to obtain permanent residency there when the agreement takes effect. Malie knows of several families who have already relocated to New Zealand and Australia, but for others, the idea of leaving is still "very taboo." Her grandparents, for instance, have vowed to remain on the islands as long as possible -- a sentiment she shares. "We don't want to think of the worst, because if we do, it will diminish our hopes." ia/gw/des/aha MEMPHIS, Tenn A man whose stolen Corvette was connected to the fatal Interstate 55 hit-and-run last Wednesday says hes hurt by the crime and so are other families. Memphis Police are looking for the suspects who are linked to the crash that killed a construction worker and left another worker in critical condition last week during a police chase in Arkansas near the I-55 bridge to Memphis. The victim says his home was burglarized. The two supects stole his white 2010 Cadillac and 2020 Chevy Corvette. The crime in Memphis is so bad and so horrible people cant have anything nice anymore. Something needs to be done, said the victim of the stolen cars, who did not want to be identified. AR police chase leaves 1 construction worker dead, 1 injured When West Memphis Police tried to stop the stolen Corvette, the driver went towards Memphis and hit three construction workers during a high-speed chase, and one person was left dead, state police said. Very tragic situation. I was sad that happened. That shouldnt have happened, said the victim. The next crime happened in South Memphis on West McKellar Avenue, where MPD says they found the Corvette fully engulfed in flames less than three miles from where it was stolen. They hurt me and other families, and they need to be caught immediately, said the victim. In a statement a City of West Memphis spokesperson said, Our thoughts are with the families, coworkers, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking event. No arrests have been made but Memphis Police released photos of the suspects Tuesday. One of the workers was killed at the scene. The Crittenden County coroner identified him as Justin Delgado, 36, of Lola, Texas. The other was taken to a Memphis hospital for treatment. ASP said he is in critical condition. If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the third day of the General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly. Bianca Otero/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa In an appeal to the UN General Assembly in New York, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday urged the international community to halt the violence in Gaza and stop supplying weapons to Israel. "We will not leave, we will not leave, we will not leave. Palestine is our homeland. It is the land of our fathers, our grandfathers. It will remain ours, and if anyone were to leave, it would be the occupiers," Abbas said in his address at the assembly. Speaking to the international community, he continued: "Stop this crime. Stop it now. Stop killing children and women. Stop the genocide. Stop sending weapons to Israel. This madness cannot continue." The entire world is responsible for what is happening to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, said Abbas, but singling out the United States for arming Israel as it kills innocent civilians. The Palestinian President reiterated his call for the release of prisoners and detainees on both sides. There is no reason to hold women, children and elderly people, he said. Israel conquered and occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War in 1967. Although Israel evacuated the Gaza Strip in 2005, it still controls the land, air and sea borders. The Palestinians claim these territories for their own state. Israel launched an air and ground campaign against Iran-aligned Hamas in Gaza to retaliate for a Hamas rampage through southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. The death toll in Gaza stands at more than 41,500 after nearly a year of fighting, according to the Hamas health authority, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. TALLAHASSEE As a potentially catastrophic Hurricane Helene churned its way north, residents of the states capital hit the few remaining stores and restaurants still open Thursday or took solace in their decision to get out before the storm struck. The two state universities located in the city Florida State University and Florida A&M University were deserted, closed due to the impending hurricane. A refugee center for students had been set up at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center nearby. The sidewalks and roads around the state Capitol were nearly empty of pedestrians and traffic, after thousands of state workers were sent home at noon Wednesday. Many residents even veterans of past hurricanes like Hermine and Michael chose to leave rather than ride out another storm, especially one that all forecasts said had the potential to become a major hurricane with devastating 125 mph winds and lacerating rains that would likely trigger flash flooding. Some of those evacuating were still recovering from tornadoes that damaged their homes in May. All signals of it being devastating and the trajectory wavering made me reach a decision point, especially with an elderly cat with kidney disease, said Jeff VanderMeer, a popular science fiction author and longtime resident. Fortunately, his wife was already out of harms way in Holland. So he and his black and white cat Neo decamped to a pet-friendly hotel in Greenville, S.C. a city he was familiar with and knew could provide access to a veterinarian if necessary. This storm has rattled a lot of people who never left before, VanderMeer said. I think a lot of it is exhaustion and the uncertainty of the spaghetti models offering alternate realities and the erratic nature of the storm. Its psychological, too. Some still in town scurried around making last minute preparations, a difficult task when most businesses were closed. The few fast-food restaurants that were open were jammed, with lines at the drive-thru as people grabbed a chance at one last hot meal before the storm struck. Many gas stations were closed after running out of fuel Wednesday, and the ones that were open had lines of cars waiting to fill up. A Home Depot on Capital Circle Northeast remained open through the morning where people could still grab pallets of water, large bags of charcoal, plastic gas cans and other last minute supplies. Several people were eying the $900 portable generators that took up space where Christmas decorations were supposed to be displayed, asking questions about how they operate. Were planning to stay open until about 1 p.m., said the store manager, who would only say his name was Tony. Any later, he added, and conditions wouldnt be safe for employees to make it home. Tallahassee-area Waffle House restaurants were closed, not a good sign since it is known as the last place to shut during an approaching storm. The restaurant chains resistance to closing is so reliable that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has adopted a Waffle House Index as a barometer of how bad things are locally. The Chopstix Chinese Restaurant on Apalachee Parkway was still open and doing brisk takeout business at lunchtime. Owner Yang He said he planned to stay open until 4 p.m. I dont think a lot of restaurants are open today, he said. Roosevelt Norton Jr., a general contractor who lives just outside of Tallahassee, said hes weathered many hurricanes in his fifty-something years and was taking the approaching storm calmly, dismissing the alarming forecasts hes seen online. Its coming, but I dont think its going to be a Category 4 like they are saying. Norton said. Instead, he predicts the storm will be a much weaker Category 1 or 2 when it makes landfall. A lot of the forecasts are for effect and good for business, said Norton, who planned to ride it out at his home. Sometimes they go a little bit overboard. The Story Behind Claims That Israelis Are Offering 'Boat Tours' To Watch Gaza Get Bombed A video authentically captures extremist Israeli settlers viewing Gaza during a conference held amid Israel Defense Forces bombings in Gaza that was aimed at planning the future Jewish resettlement of the Gaza Strip. The "boat tour" itself was, and is not, a regular commercial exercise endorsed by Israel as implied by some social media posts. The people in the video are extremists and not representative of Israel as a whole. In late September 2024, several social media accounts shared a roughly one-minute clip described as showing Israelis giving boat tours "off the coast of Gaza to watch it get bombed and see the place where they plan to build new settlements." The clip comes from the final scene in an hourlong documentary, "Holy Redemption: Stealing Palestinian Land," produced by the Turkish state-controlled media company TNT World. In the clip, the film's narrator is heard describing a scene: That same night, while Gaza is relentlessly being erased, they took a boat with the first families ready to occupy the land of those who are being killed and starved to death. The "they" referenced by the video's narrator are members of the most-extreme wings of the Israeli settler movement, which, generally speaking, seeks to establish Jewish settlements on Palestinian land in part to frustrate attempts at a two-state solution and in part to fulfill biblical prophecies about the return of the Holy Land to the Jewish people. The documentary focused on extremist settlers who use or tacitly endorse violence against Palestinians as part of their settlement strategy. The woman shown leading passengers to the boat in the viral clip is Daniella Weiss, a leader in the ultra-conservative Nachala settlement organization. The trip appears to have been connected to a larger settler conference held in January 2024. NBC News covered that larger event, "Settlement Brings Security," in which participants made an explicit call for the Jewish resettlement of the Gaza Strip and interviewed Weiss about its purpose: The conference, dubbed "Settlement Brings Security," was led in part by the right-wing Nachala organization, a group advocating for the expansion of Jewish settlements, which are considered illegal by international and humanitarian bodies. The event called for Israel to rebuild settlements in both Gaza and northern parts of the occupied West Bank. [] "After Oct. 7th, history changed," [Weiss] said, referring to the Hamas attacks that day on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 260 people were taken hostage into Gaza. "It's the end of the presence of Arabs in Gaza. It's the end." "Instead of them, there will be many, many Jews that will return to the settlements, that will build new settlements," she said. The filmmakers of "Holy Redemption" said they obtained exclusive access to a closed-door conference, which seems to have followed this larger event, in which members of the settlers movement argued over which "first families" would occupy various parts of a reconstructed Gaza. This is the context that preceded the boat ride shown in videos. Following that conference, according to the filmmakers' reporting, several families took a boat ride from a town just north of Gaza to view the land they believed would one day be theirs, as described by the narrator [emphasis ours]: We were invited to a closed-door conference. We left Jerusalem heading to Yavne. Just steps away from Gaza, the main settler organizations are holding a conference near the border to select the first Jewish families to settle in Gaza. We are the only media invited to cover it. As we hear Israeli bombs falling on Gaza, they already discuss how much land each family will take, and the destiny of the people of Gaza, the exiles. That same night, while Gaza is relentlessly being erased, they took a boat with the first families ready to occupy the land of those who are being killed and starved to death. This conference and the views of extremists who participated in it are factual and have been covered by numerous reputable media outlets. It is important to note, however, that while the footage appears to be genuine, the "boat tour" itself was not a regular commercial exercise as implied by some social media posts, nor was it something that would be available to people outside these extremist movements. Finally, it is important to correct the notion, implied by viral posts, that the actions or views of the most-extreme elements of the Israeli settler movement represent Israel as a whole. They do not. Weiss' actions are considered criminal in Israel, and she and her organization have been sanctioned by the United States and several other nations since April 2024. Sources: Chotiner, Isaac. "The Extreme Ambitions of West Bank Settlers." The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023. www.newyorker.com, https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-extreme-ambitions-of-west-bank-settlers. "Israeli Settler Conference Exposes Deepening Chasm - as Airstrikes Rock Region." The Independent, 29 Jan. 2024, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-settler-gaza-netanyahu-middle-east-b2486763.html. O'Carroll, Lisa, and Peter Beaumont. "Extremist Israeli Settlers Hit by EU and US Sanctions." The Guardian, 19 Apr. 2024. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/19/extremist-israeli-settlers-sanctions-eu-us. "Right-Wing Israeli Ministers Join Thousands at Event Calling for the Resettlement of Gaza." NBC News, 29 Jan. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/right-wing-israeli-ministers-join-thousands-event-calling-countrys-res-rcna135863. "TRT World Exclusive: Holy Redemption: Stealing Palestinian Land." YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQOtBztR7i4. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024. Shipping containers on a pier at the Red Hook terminal in Brooklyn, New York, on 20 September 2024. Shipping containers on a pier at the Red Hook terminal in Brooklyn, New York, on 20 September 2024. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters Ten of the busiest ports in North America are at risk of shutdown next week, as a leading union warns that 45,000 workers stand ready to walk off the job if industry operators fail to make key concessions. The International Longshoremens Association (ILA) has accused the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents 40 ocean carrier and terminal operators, of making insulting offers to staff demanding higher pay and commitments on automation. Workers are slated to strike on Tuesday if a new agreement is not reached, hitting 36 ports along the east and Gulf coasts of the US in what would be the first work stoppage since 1977. JP Morgan analysts have estimated a strike could cost the US economy $5bn per day. A one-day strike backlog could take an estimated four to six days to clear, according to analysts at Sea-Intelligence, a shipping advisory firm. Bargaining between the two sides came to a halt in June after the union accused the USMX of violating the current contract by implementing the use of automation at ports, including in Mobile, Alabama. ILA leaders claimed the technology, an auto-gate system used to automate the processing of trucks into ports, was being used to replace union labor. The union says it has been in contact with the USMX several times in recent weeks, but that the USMX has so far declined to increase its offer on pay. The ILA is demanding significant wage increases, healthcare improvements, and no automated terminals or semi-automated terminals at the ports. For years, labor unions representing US port workers have criticized automation for resulting in significant job losses, while shipping corporation profits soared. USMX knows what our bottom line with wages needs to be for our ILA rank and file to ratify a new master contract agreement, said Harold J Daggett, the ILAs international president and chief negotiator. They call me several times each week trying to get the ILA to accept a low-ball wage package. My ILA members are not going to accept these insulting offers that are a joke considering the work my ILA longshore workers perform, and the billion-dollar profits the companies make off the backs of their labor. Earlier this month, Daggett addressed members in a video on the looming strike, describing how port workers continued to work through the Covid pandemic including those who died from the virus as shipping corporations made billions of dollars in profits. The blame for a coast-wide strike in a week that will shut down all ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts falls squarely on the shoulders of USMX, Daggett argued. The union has pushed back on USMX claims about its wage demands, arguing a $5-an-hour wage increase for each year of the six-year contract is only a 9.98% annual increase. It has also alluded to garnering international support if workers do walk out on strike. Without a doubt, we are going to get support from the international dock-worker movement, Dennis Daggett, executive vice-president of the ILA, said in a video address to members this month. Im not going to elaborate on that, but I will tell you this, its going to be the biggest display of international worker solidarity that this world has ever seen. In August last year, port workers on the west coast ratified a six-year agreement, covering 22,000 workers at 29 ports. The agreement included 32% wage increases for the life of the contract, which was retroactive to July 2022. A spokesperson for the USMX shared the latest negotiating update, adding that it would be open to federal mediation. The union and USMX submitted forms in August to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, informing the agency of their dispute. The USMX said: Despite additional attempts by USMX to engage with the ILA and resume bargaining, we have been unable to schedule a meeting to continue negotiations on a new master contract. We remain prepared to bargain at any time, but both sides must come to the table if we are going to reach a deal, and there is no indication that the ILA is interested in negotiating at this time. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The workers at Hilton San Diego Bayfront are getting an extra boost of support as their strike to receive better pay and protections in their next contract nears the one-month mark. The United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) is pulling its biennial upcoming convention from the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, where it was scheduled to take place next month, amid the strike by UNITE HERE Local 30 workers. In a statement on the move Tuesday, UNAC/UHCP, who represents thousands of nurses and healthcare workers including those at Sharp and Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, said it did not make the the decision lightly, but did so to stand in solidarity with those on the picket lines. Among the over 700 striking Hilton workers are bellhops, housekeepers, dishwashers, front desk agents, cooks and servers. They are calling for better pay and work conditions, including the reversal of cost-cutting measures that have saddled staff with unmanageable workloads. Weve held our convention at the Bayfront numerous times over the years. We put a lot of work and preparation into this years celebration, Charmaine Morales, a registered nurse and the UNAC/UHCP president, said in the statement. But weve seen how hard these folks work every day and we appreciate what they do to care for hotel guests. Our choice is clear, as caregivers and union workers ourselves. We will not be divided, Morales continued. One job should be enough to live on, even in San Diego. Carlsbad leaders reluctantly approve multi-use development, calling Sacramento bullies The health care workers union says they also delivered a letter of concern to Hilton San Diego Bayfront management a few days after the strike began over Labor Day weekend. In the letter, UNAC/UHCP leadership offered an ultimatum to the hotel to reach a resolution with the striking workers, or else they would move the multi-day convention in October to another hotel threats that they made good on this week. The nurses union move to stand with the UNITE HERE Local 30 workers comes exactly a week after the San Diego City Council passed a resolution during its regularly-scheduled meeting on Sept. 17 to back the hotel workers in their push for better wages and working conditions. The resolution, while ceremonial, was billed as a way to up the pressure towards reaching a new contract that is fair and reflects the workers demands in the UNITE HERE Local 30 strike. Right now we are not living, we are just surviving, Rosa Carrillo, a housekeeper at Hilton who is a member of UNITE Here Local 30, said during the city council meeting through a Spanish language translator. We need there to be justice in our work so that we can only have one job or only need one job, because when there are two jobs, what happens is that our children are not getting taken care of, she continued. We need the support of all of you You can help us put a little more pressure so that this contract can be resolved. FOX 5/KUSI reached out to both Hilton and UNITE HERE Local 30 for comment, but did not receive a response prior to publication. Now Hilton is finally realizing what we actually do because we tend to be invisible. If we do our job well, you dont notice were there, Bridgette Browning, UNITE HERE Local 30 president, said during the city council meeting. But trust me when were not there, they definitely notice. Were trying to lift up a whole industry because what we win here for these workers, Browning added, the rest of the hotels will copy and we could change peoples lives from living in poverty to actually being able to afford groceries and to not have to work a second job. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Residents of a Milwaukee neighborhood about a mile from the Republican National Convention gather after a police shooting at King Park. Photo by Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner. In 2023, grassroots activists led by the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Police Repression (MAARPR) succeeded in their long campaign to win the public release of footage of critical incidents involving police officers. Almost immediately, Milwaukee Police Association (MPA) initiated a lawsuit against the policy, and a few months later, the Fire and Police Commission (FCP) suspended the policy for the duration of the Republican National Convention. The police killing of Samuel Jah Sharpe during the RNC resulted in a quick release of body camera footage by the police. The next day, the MPA dropped its lawsuit. On May 30, 2021, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) responded to a fatal officer-involved shooting on Milwaukees South Side. Roberto Touch Zielinski, age 49, was having a mental health crisis when Milwaukee police officers opened fire on him. As with other officer-involved shootings, Zielinskis family and community members wanted to know what happened and why the police resorted to deadly force. Once the MAARPR met with Zielinskis family, their demands became quite clear they wanted the release of footage of the incident and the names of the officers involved. Upon investigation into the policies regarding the public release of names of police officers and footage, the MAARPR discovered that Milwaukee had no formal policy requiring the release of that information. The MAARPR, which works closely with and includes the families of victims of the frequent police killings here, began advocating for a policy that would require the release of names within 24 hours and footage within 48. When the MAARPR launched that campaign, the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission (FPC), the oldest civilian police oversight group in the U.S., had policy-making power over the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). Once the path forward was clear, the MAARPR called for and facilitated meetings between the FPC and families of police crime victims. The campaign took more than two years. Finally, in April of 2023, the FPC voted to adopt Standard Operating Procedure 575, which mandates the public release of all footage related to officer-involved critical incidents within fifteen days. Moreover, the MAARPR was able to pressure the FPC to include a provision that would guarantee families access to the footage within 48 hours. The adoption of SOP 575 was a rare victory for the movement against police crimes in Milwaukee, but it was short lived. The day after its adoption, the Milwaukee Police Association (MPA) filed a lawsuit against the city over the SOP. Then, a month after the victory of this grassroots campaign, the FPC met and declared that SOP 575 would not be effective for the duration of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee in July, 2024. Rather than provide opportunity for public testimony, as is customary in FPC meetings, the FPC decided to vote on this suspension first. Not only did the decision go against the good faith efforts of community activists to engage with the FPC, but it also sent a message to the people of Milwaukee to anticipate little to no transparency during the RNC. In January 2024, the FPC lost its policy-making powers under a shared revenue bill passed by the state Legislature. The commission still has the power to hire and fire police and fire chiefs and advocate for the citys residents, but civilian oversight was gutted by the state. As many had feared and actively warned, the RNC brought with it police violence. Over 4,500 additional police descended on the city, recruited from area officers working in the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, and from around the country. Gov. Tony Evers declared Milwaukee to be in a state of emergency for the duration of the convention. On the second day of the convention, officers from Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed an unhoused Black man, Samuel Jah Sharpe Jr., from a blocks distance, while Sharpe was in an altercation with another person and holding a knife. Almost immediately, the Columbus Police Department (CPD) released body camera footage, following it up with more extensive video two days later. That next day, members of the MAARPR received confirmation that the MPA had dropped its legal challenge to SOP 575. This timing wasnt a coincidence. CPDs decision to release the footage within hours of the critical incident contradicted the MPAs claims and demonstrated the lack of merit in their arguments. Such a quick release of footage made it obvious to the MPA that their arguments would not hold up in court. Police body camera footage of the killing of Sharpe Jr. allowed the public to see the event for themselves, and gave Sharpe Jr.s relatives traction to argue that this was an inappropriate use of fatal force. Against widespread condemnation of yet another unnecessary use of deadly force, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman defended the police involved, saying that the video indicated that the officers had made difficult decisions quickly, and that there were no violations of police protocol. But to many in the community, the footage of the killing of Sharpe Jr. clearly indicates that the police shot him from far away, neglecting to attempt to intervene in the situation in less violent ways. What the video does not show is that the Columbus police were a mile away from the convention they were supposedly in town to protect. Their presence in the neighborhood was an invasion that endangered its residents and public safety in general. Access to footage wont put an end to police crimes, but it allows impacted communities to shape the narrative about these incidents and to organize against them. The end of police crimes will come when the community wields the power to have control over the police. Such power would ensure that out of town police arent allowed to patrol areas a mile away from the RNC. Samuel Jah Sharpe Jr. would be alive today if such resources were available to all. The achievement of SOP 575 emerged out of the grief, rage, and demand for better from the relatives of those killed by police, and it highlights what diligent grassroots organizing against police crimes can accomplish. As the MAARPR reminds people, the struggle continues. The struggle for greater transparency and accountability from the police in Milwaukee is far from over, and SOP 575s success marks an important step forward. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) A 12-year-old middle school student in Georgetown County admitted to making school threats during a Thursday hearing in family court. The student was arrested and taken to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia after it was reported that he sent a text that contained a photo of himself holding a weapon with a high-capacity magazine, threatening to shoot classmates at Carvers Bay Middle School. The message was reported to school officials by several students. Officials say the juvenile admitted to making the threat during a juvenile detention hearing in Georgetown County Family Court. The juvenile told Judge Melissa Buchanan that he was being bullied at the school and over-reacted. Judge Buchanan ordered a community evaluation for the 12 year old. According to the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office, the state recommended the juvenile stay in custody for a secure evaluation at the Department of Juvenile Justice before sentencing. Judge Buchanan denied the request and ordered his psychiatric evaluation, adherence to the rules of his supervision, and continuing education be based from home under DJJ supervision, GCSO said. The sheriffs office kept the weapon used in the photo. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. BROOKVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) Schools in the Miami Valley continue to see threats, including Brookville Local Schools which received an online threat on Wednesday. Faculty members were informed of the online threat after school was dismissed and students left for the day. Police arrested a student in connection to the threat against school safety. Criminal charges filed against Trump, Vance for false claims against Haitian community Officers quickly determined that the threat was not credible. They located a student near the school who they believe is responsible. No weapons were found on the individual at the time they were arrested. Parents were then notified of the situation and that there were no further safety concerns. We sent out a ParentSquare to make them aware of what had transpired. And again, that it was resolved and there was no students in harms way, said Superintendent of Brookville Local Schools Jason Wood. According to the schools code of conduct, based on the offense, that student will likely face out-of-school suspension and recommendation for expulsion. Wood says if students see online threats against a school, they should immediately report it to school staff or local police. Do not share or repost a threat in any way. Residents cleared to return home after major gas leak Just to not even address a threat on social media or through any type of electronic communications, because even if you mean it as a joke, it can be taken seriously and there are ramifications for that because you induce panic. Youre menacing. Youre youre posing a possible threat, said Wood. Brookville Police is investigating this situation. There is no word yet if anyone will face charges. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Black graduation cap with gray tassel with hard shadow, on the left side, on yellow background. Graduation, achievement, goal, degree, master, bachelor, university, college and success concept. Credit - Getty ImagesDBenitostock The on-ramp repayment plana buffer given to student loan borrowers as post-pandemic payment pauses resumed last fall will end on Monday, Sept. 30; and once again, borrowers will be subject to consequences for late or non-payment. The move comes as the Biden Administrations broader student relief efforts remain ensnared in legal challenges. The 12-month safety net protected student loan borrowers from being reported to credit bureaus, being placed in delinquency or default, or being referred to debt collection agencies if they missed or had a late paymentthough interest still accrued on their loans. Some 43 million Americans have federal student loan debt totaling more than $1.5 trillion. For millions of borrowers, this is going to be the first time they are experiencing the negative economic consequences of falling behind on student loans, " says Aissa Canchola Banez, policy director of the nonprofit Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC). I think that is a very important piece of context as we're talking about the severity of this safety net protection expiring. Canchola Banez works for one of more than a hundred advocacy, labor, and civil rights groups that signed a letter on Sept. 19 asking Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to extend both the on-ramp period and the Fresh Start program, which helped borrowers who had defaulted on their federal student loans. Both initiatives are set to end on Sept. 30. Advocacy efforts, however, were unfruitful. There are no plans to extend the on-ramp period. Borrowers should go to studentaid.gov to learn more about repayment options available to them, a Department of Education spokesperson told TIME in a statement. Advocates argue that the end of the on-ramp plan program comes amid heightened instability for borrowers who have been impacted by lawsuits limiting facets of Bidens student loan forgiveness efforts. We have borrowers that are really struggling to afford their payment and are not able to access some of the most affordable repayment options, says Canchola Banez. This is probably the worst time to consider allowing [a] safety net like this to expire, because our most vulnerable borrowers are not able to easily access an affordable repayment option right now. Aside from the Supreme Courts strike down of the Administrations broader program last June, which would have forgiven $400 billion in loans, recent litigation has also targeted parts of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) student loan repayment plan, which the Department of Education dubbed the most affordable repayment plan ever." The plan is currently blocked and borrowers have been put into interest-free forbearance. States behind the lawsuits argue that President Joe Biden needs Congressional approval in order to provide loan relief under SAVE. Eight million borrowers currently enrolled in that program were set to receive automatic forgiveness on their loans after making 20-25 years of payments. What should borrowers know? Moving forward, borrowers should know they could face financial harm, including a decrease in their credit scores, if they do not make payments towards their student loans. Starting in October, consumers who have a payment that is 90 days late could see impacts on their credit reports in January, Liz Pagel, senior vice President of Consumer Lending at TransUnion, said in a statement to TIME. Unlike other credit products, student loans payments are not marked delinquent until they reach 90 days past due. Those delinquencies will impact credit scores. Borrowers who miss payments for 270 days could see their loans go into default, which could cause the garnishment of their personal social security, tax refund, and wages. Although the Department of Education cannot currently process any new applications for the SAVE plan due to pending lawsuits, Canchola Banez says that borrowers can still apply for income-driven payment plans, including SAVE. SAVE paper applications are currently being accepted. (Online applications are indefinitely closed.) Borrowers should also be cautious of the actions their loan servicer is taking. Most recently, Navient was ordered to pay $100 million to borrowers after being accused by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) of misleading student loan borrowers and not properly processing payments. If your servicer is giving you misinformation, if your servicer is giving you a runaround, submit a complaint to the CFPB submit a complaint to the student loan ombudsman, or the FSA ombudsman at this Department of Education, because these are the ways that we as advocates and policymakers keep track of harmful trends, she says. Contact us at letters@time.com. A large fire at the proposed battery plant in Morro Bay would not cause irreversible or long-lasting health impacts to people living nearby, according to a March safety report commissioned by Vistra Corp., the Texas-based energy company that applied to build the facility. But some Morro Bay residents arent convinced by the report and want a more comprehensive assessment. Morro Bay Fire Department Chief Dan McCrain presented the study at the Morro Bay City Council meeting on Tuesday night. The battery plant would either house lithium ion batteries in three Costco-warehouse-sized buildings or in 174 individual enclosures enough to store 600 megawatts of electricity. Vistra Corp. owns the retired Morro Bay Power Plant property at 1290 Embarcadero, and the company applied to build the battery plant on a 24-acre corner of the site. The study evaluated the amount of pollutants that would be released by an eight-hour fire at the battery plant, and how those pollutants would impact the facilitys neighbors, McCrain said. The study did not analyze how the fire would impact wildlife or the nearby estuary, nor did it evaluate how a flood, earthquake, tsunami or any other type of emergency would impact the facility and the surrounding community. This is not a comprehensive evaluation of all possible hazards, McCrain said. People who attended the meeting asked the City Council to order a more detailed safety analysis on the battery plant before moving forward with the project. Theres several important consequences of a fire which have not been evaluated, Morro Bay resident Debbie Thoresen said. Texas-based energy company Vistra Corp. applied to build a battery storage facility on the retired Morro Bay Power Plant site. Vistra public information officers Meranda Cohn and Jenny Lyon and project development manager David Yeager tour the site on April 24, 2024. Safety study says large battery fire wouldnt endanger public The city chose the independent engineering company DNV Energy USA Inc. to peer-review the safety study, McCrain said. DNV Energy agreed that the battery plant poses no significant risk to the health or safety of the community during a credible threat under worst-case conditions, the company wrote in a letter to the city. The original study was conducted by Ramboll, a global consulting company. Ramboll scientists ran computer simulations and reviewed reports to determine what toxic chemicals would be released by a battery fire at the facility and how those chemicals would impact nearby residents. The study evaluated two scenarios: if one block of batteries burned in one of the Costco-warehouse-sized buildings for eight hours, or if one of the 174 enclosures in the alternative design burned for eight hours. The study analyzed a maximum credible fire event, which assumed that the wind would blow the fumes toward the homes closest to the battery plant, people living in those residences would remain outside for the entire emergency and that there would be no evacuations. The study also assumed that fire prevention measures built into the facility would fail, and it did not evaluate the impact of firefighting activities on the blaze. Both of the hypothetical fires would emit hydrogen flouride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. An artists rendering shows Vistra Energys proposed 200-megawatt battery storage facility in Morro Bay. It would be located behind the companys mothballed Morro Bay power plant and next to a PG&E substation. However, neither fire would release enough toxins to create irreversible or other long-lasting health effects to the public based on standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, McCrain said. A fire in the enclosure design would emit fewer pollutants than the original design, he said. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride those are all present in a regular residential structure fire, a vehicle fire, commercial structure fire theyre just in different quantities based on what fuel load is in those things, McCrain said. Cayucos resident Rachel Wilson questioned the type of wind patterns Ramboll used in the study. She said they were not specific to Morro Bay. McCrain explained that the report looked at the worst-case wind scenario for a fire, not the most common winds. Even though our natural winds might go in a certain direction, he said, the study evaluated winds that would blow the toxins directly at nearby residences, McCrain said. Other evaluations looking at evacuation distances, firefighting tactics, things like that, would absolutely take into account the actual (wind speed and direction) and meteorological conditions here in Morro Bay, he said. Vistra Corp. applied to build battery storage facility on a former tank farm, shown in the foreground on April 24, 2024. The old Morro Bay Power Plant in the background of the photo would be torn down. Residents ask for more detailed safety study Numerous Morro Bay residents who spoke at public comment were not satisfied with the safety study. Morro Bay resident Debbie Thoresen asked the city to evaluate how a flood, earthquake or systems failures at the plant would impact peoples health and the environment. She also wanted to know how contaminated water from firefighting activities would affect the bay and estuary. If any of this water was to run into the bay, it would most certainly negatively affect the area sea otters and other sea life of the bay, she said. Councilmember Cyndee Edwards wanted to know how firefighting activity would affect the blaze, and how firefighters would handle the fire. McCrain said the Fire Department will form a plan for firefighting at the battery plant when they have a better understanding of the technology. Its constantly changing, McCrain said. A year from now, the recommended tactics might be different as technology changes. Eventually, the city will develop a site safety plan, a hazard mitigation plan, evacuation and shelter in place procedures, and standard operating procedures for the Fire Department, he said. The former Morro Bay Power Plant site on April 25, 2024, where Vistra has proposed a battery electrical storage facility. The battery facility will be located on the former oil tank farm in foreground and hidden behind the current sand berm that was a containment for the tanks. Whats next for the battery plant? Vistra Corp. must clear three hurdles to get the battery plant approved. First, the City Council and the California Coastal Commission must approve an amendment to the citys Local Coastal Program, which would change the propertys zoning from visitor-serving commercial to industrial, Morro Bay community development director Airlin Singlewald said. This process also requires the city and Vistra to create a master plan that guides future development of the power plant property. If Morro Bay voters pass Measure A-24 in November, however, the City Council could not change the propertys zoning. Instead, citizens would have to propose a ballot measure to be approved by a majority of city voters to change the propertys land use. Next, the city must complete an environmental impact report for the project. The city hired Rincon Consultants for this effort, then published the draft environmental impact report in March. The final draft will be published late this year or at the start of 2025. Consider the Local Coastal Program and environmental impact report, those are preconditions to even get to a place where you can approve a use permit, city attorney Chris Neumeyer said. Then, the Morro Bay Planning Commission would be able to issue a coastal development permit to Vistra, which would approve construction of the battery plant in the coastal zone, Singlewald said. Citizens could appeal the permit to the Morro Bay City Council and California Coastal Commission. This results in a two-phased processing of the battery plant, he said. Eventually, city staff will bring a recommendation to the City Council regarding the battery plant. The options are: denial of the project, approval of the project as proposed, approval of an alternative design presented in the environmental impact report or approval of a modified project. Smoke was seen rising over Khartoum on Thursday during the fighting [Reuters] Sudan's army has launched a major offensive against the powerful paramilitary group it is fighting in the country's civil war, targeting areas in the capital it lost at the start of the conflict. In dawn strikes on Thursday, government forces shelled Rapid Support Forces (RSF) bases in the capital Khartoum, and Bahri to its north. Sudan has been embroiled in a war since the army and the RSF began a vicious struggle for power in April 2023, leading to what the UN has called one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Up to 150,000 people have been killed in the conflict while more than 10 million people - about a fifth of the population - have been forced from their homes. The military escalation comes despite US-led efforts to broker a ceasefire, which is being discussed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week. Residents of the capital said the artillery and air strikes started overnight and intensified at dawn. Numerous accounts said the army crossed key bridges over the River Nile - which had separated government-controlled areas in Omdurman from the regions controlled by the RSF. The RSF claimed to have repelled the attempts, but sounds of clashes and plumes of smoke were reported coming from locations in central Khartoum. Since early in the war, the paramilitaries have been in control of nearly all of the capital. Thursday's advances appear to be the government's first significant push in months to regain some territory. Speaking later at the UN General Assembly in New York, Sudan's de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said that he supported efforts to bring an end to the war, but only if they brought an end to the RSF's occupation of Sudanese territory. He questioned why the international community had not stepped in to help counter the group, and accused states in the region of "providing funding and mercenaries for their own political and economic benefit, in flagrant violation of law and international will". The UN has called for "immediate" action to protect civilians and end the fighting. It says that, since the start of September, it has documented at least 78 civilian deaths as a result of artillery shelling and air strikes in the greater Khartoum area. Much of the worst and most intense fighting has taken place in heavily populated regions. Both sides have accused each other of indiscriminately bombing civilian areas. "Relentless hostilities across the country have brought misery to millions of civilians, triggering the worlds fastest-growing displacement crisis," warned the UN on Wednesday. It noted that half of the 10 million people who had fled their homes were children, while at least two million have sought protection in neighbouring countries. It also called Sudan "the world's largest hunger crisis". There are fears of widespread famine as people have not been able to grow any crops. There have also been warnings of a possible genocide against non-Arabs in the western region of Darfur. A cholera epidemic is also raging throughout the country- more than 430 people have died from the easily-treatable disease in the past month, the health ministry said on Wednesday. But getting treatment to those affected areas is hugely complicated by the conflict. Additional reporting by Natasha Booty More about Sudan's civil war from the BBC: Sudans army launched artillery and airstrikes in the capital on Thursday in its biggest operation to regain ground there since early in its 17-month war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), witnesses and military sources said. The push by the army, which lost control of most of the capital at the start of the conflict, came ahead of an address by its commander, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York later in the day. Witnesses reported heavy bombardments and clashes as army troops tried to cross bridges across the Nile connecting the three adjoining cities that make up the greater capital, Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri. The army is carrying out heavy artillery strikes and air strikes on Halfaya and Shambat, Ahmed Abdalla, a 48-year-old resident told Reuters by phone, referring to areas of Bahri close to the river. The sounds of explosions are very loud. Video footage showed black smoke rising above the capital and the booms of the battle could be heard in the background. Army sources said their forces had crossed bridges in Khartoum and Bahri. The RSF told Reuters it had thwarted the armys attempt to cross two bridges to Khartoum. Reuters could not independently confirm the accounts. Though the army retook some ground in Omdurman early this year, it depends mostly on artillery and airstrikes and has been unable to dislodge nimble RSF ground forces embedded in other parts of the capital. Dafur fears The RSF has also continued to make advances in other parts of Sudan in recent months in a conflict that has caused a vast humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 10 million people and driving parts of the country to extreme hunger or famine. Diplomatic efforts by the United States and other powers have faltered, with the army refusing to attend talks last month in Switzerland. This month the battle for control of al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state in the west of Sudan, has also intensified as the RSF has tried to advance from positions surrounding the city against the army and allied former rebel groups. Al-Fashir is the last army holdout across the Darfur region, where the U.N. and rights groups say the RSF and allies have led ethnically-targetted attacks and the humanitarian situation is particularly critical. The RSF has denied being behind the violence. The UN human rights office said on Thursday it had documented summary executions, sexual and gender-based violence, and abductions of women and young men in al-Fashir, in addition to rising civilian casualties. From bitter past experience, if al-Fashir falls, there is a high risk of ethnically targeted violations and abuses, including summary executions and sexual violence, by the RSF and allied militia, U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said. The UN Security Council and secretary-general have also demanded an end to the siege of al-Fashir, home to more than 1.8 million residents and displaced people. The war began when tensions between the RSF and the army, who had been jostling for position ahead of an internationally-backed transition to civilian rule, erupted into open conflict. The army and the RSF had previously shared power after staging a coup in 2021, two years after veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled in a popular uprising. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Sudans army has launched a major offensive in Khartoum against its paramilitary opponents in a fierce battle for control of the capital. Sudanese army forces claimed to have crossed three key bridges over the Nile in an early-morning attack to retake neighbourhoods seized by the United Arab Emirates-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The assault appeared to be the armys biggest offensive in Khartoum since it lost control of much of the city at the start of the countrys catastrophic 17-month-long civil war. The Sudanese army has targeted several RSF areas in the centre, west and south of Khartoum - Sudan Tribune The push came ahead of an address by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army commander, at the United Nations general assembly in New York later in the day. Witnesses reported shelling and air strikes close to the river and columns of smoke rising over densely populated areas. Heavy shelling has been reported in the capital as Sudan looks to wrest control of Khartoum from RSF - REUTERS/Stringer Sudanese army forces have retaken a number of neighbourhoods in Khartoum The army is carrying out heavy artillery strikes and air strikes on Halfaya and Shambat, Ahmed Abdalla, a 48-year-old resident, told Reuters. The sounds of explosions are very loud. The RSF said it had stopped attempts to cross two key bridges into Khartoum and The Telegraph was not able to independently verify the reports. Sudans army and the RSF began a brutal struggle for power in April 2022 when a long-smouldering rivalry between Gen al-Burhan and his deputy, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagaloa, known as Hemedti, flared into open hostilities. The RSF, led by Hemedti, has made strong gains in much of the country, which has been turned into a war zone and one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, whose rivalry with RSF leader Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagaloa sparked the conflict in 2022 - Ibrahim Mohammed Ishak/REUTERS As many as 150,000 people have been killed, while more than 10 million people have fled their homes. Diplomatic initiatives to halt the bloodshed have repeatedly failed, with envoys saying both sides are acting in bad faith. The conflict has become further complicated by foreign powers picking sides and pouring arms into the war, in the hope they can gain resources, concessions or influence from the eventual victor. Earlier this week, Joe Biden, the US president, urged all countries to cut off weapons supplies to the rival generals. The world needs to stop arming the generals. Speak with one voice and tell them: Stop tearing your country apart. Stop blocking aid to the Sudanese people. End this war now, he said. Michelle Gavin, a senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the council on foreign relations, said any claims by the UAE to be trying to ease the humanitarian situation while arming the RSF were a grotesque charade. The UAE has faced sharp international criticism for sending weapons to the RSF despite calls from the UK, US and others to stop. The Gulf state is accused of using Russian Wagner mercenaries to escort weapons consignments through the Central African Republic and also of hiding behind the cover of Red Crescent aid operations to supply weapons via Chad. Earlier this week, the New York Times accused the petro-state of using an airfield in Chad to send sophisticated Chinese drones over the border on intelligence gathering and targeting missions for the RSF. Abu Dhabi is said to see the RSF as an ally against Islamist political movements and the Gulf state is also a significant destination for Sudanese gold. In return for the UAEs support, the RSF is alleged to have sent fighters to help the UAE battle the Houthis in Yemen Abu Dhabi strongly denies supplying the RSF. Shelling and air strikes have been targeting densely populated areas - Sudan Video Antonio Guterres, this week voiced frustration at the role of foreign powers in the brutal power struggle in Sudan that has unleashed horrific violence. A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads. Yet outside powers continue to interfere, with no unified approach to finding peace, he said. Russia has played both sides and Iran and Egypt are supporting the Sudanese army. RSF forces have taken much of the Darfur region, where they have been accused of ethnically targeted attacks echoing the regions 2003 genocide. The besieged administrative hub of El Fasher is the only city in Darfur still under Sudanese army control. Diplomats and those taking refuge there fear its fall will set off another round of atrocities. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, speaks during a news conference at the Sudan Mission to the United Nations Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) CAIRO (AP) New fighting rocked Sudan's capital on Thursday with airstrikes and drone attacks in and around Khartoum amid a worsening cholera outbreak, officials said. Sudans military launched an operation in the early hours of Thursday aimed at taking control of areas in the capital that had been in the hands of its enemy, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. Sudanese media reported increased military movements and airstrikes in the districts of Khartoum and Omdurman, the heaviest in the capital area in months. Mohamed Ibrahim, the health ministrys spokesperson in Khartoum, said in a statement that four civilians were killed and 14 others wounded in the latest fighting in the Karrari district of Omdurman, a city next to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. A military spokesman confirmed the operation was underway, but declined to comment further. A military spokesman confirmed the operation was underway, but declined to comment further. The head of Sudans military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York, saying that weve done everything we could to put an end to this war and to steer our country from the destruction being waged by the militia. He maintained that position when he spoke to reporters at the Sudanese Mission to the United Nations on Thursday evening. The operation going on in Khartoum is meant to preserve the integrity of our country, the safety of our people and our armed forces, he said. The military solution is the last one, Burhan continued. We crave a peaceful solution that spares out people more suffering, more hunger, more displacement. Burhan, who led a military takeover of Sudan in 2021, is a close ally of neighboring Egypt and its president, former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. His country plunged into chaos in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military led by Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo broke out into street battles in Khartoum. Fighting has spread to other parts of the country, especially urban areas and the western Darfur region. At a General Assembly whose doomsday feeling was fueled by three major wars along with inaction on global warming, the fighting and humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan took third place after the killing in the Middle East and Ukraine. The lack of focus on Sudan was bemoaned by many. The brutal power struggle between Sudans warring generals has unleashed horrific violence, including widespread rape, and a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the annual high-level gathering of the 193 member nations on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations met without measurable results Wednesday to urge Sudans warring parties in Sudan to hold breaks in the fighting and allow aid to reach civilians. More than 25 million Sudanese face acute hunger, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement Wednesday. Some 11 million have fled their homes in what has become the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet ... We must compel the warring parties to accept humanitarian pauses. Jeremy Laurence, a spokesman for the U.N. human rights office in Geneva, said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday that at least 78 civilians were killed because of artillery shelling and airstrikes since the beginning of September in the Khartoum area. Our immediate concern is for the welfare of civilians, and the likelihood of further displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure," he said. For months, some of the worst fighting has been in the city of El Fasher, the capital of the North Darfur state. RSF forces have laid siege to the city since May. On Thursday, U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said that artillery shelling on a market there had killed at least 20 civilians on Sep. 20 and 21. Meanwhile, the death toll from Sudans cholera outbreak jumped by nearly 100 or nearly 20% in only two days, Sudans health ministry said Wednesday, in a worrying sign that the disease is spreading more rapidly. A total of 473 people have died from cholera since the countrys rainy season began two months ago, health officials said. Sudans Federal Ministry of Health in a Wednesday update reported on Facebook 14,944 cholera cases across 10 states, with 386 new cases. It said that six people died on Tuesday alone in six states. The majority of cases were reported in Kassala, where UNICEF is collaborating with the ministry and the World Health Organization to carry out a second round of the oral cholera vaccination campaign that kicked off last week. UNICEF delivered 404,000 doses of the vaccine to Sudan on Sep. 9. More vaccination campaigns are expected to be rolled out in other affected states. Cholera was officially declared an outbreak on August 12 by the health ministry after a new wave of cases was reported starting July 22. The disease is spreading in areas devastated by recent heavy rainfalls and floods, especially in eastern Sudan which sheltered millions of people displaced by the conflict between the Sudanese military and the RSF. Cholera is a highly contagious disease that causes diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration and could be fatal if not immediately treated, according to WHO. Its transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. UNICEF said in a statement last week that an estimated 3.4 million children under the age of 5 are at high risk of epidemic diseases. The war in Sudan created environments prone to disease outbreaks, impacting millions of people already experiencing food insecurity and displacement. The country plunged into war in April 2023 after tensions increased between the military and the RSF. ___ Michael Weissenstein contributed to this report from New York and Jamey Keaten contributed from Geneva. Suicides in the U.S. remained at about the highest level in history last year, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show. According to the provisional data, just more than 49,300 suicide deaths were reported in 2023, though the number could increase if investigations are concluded. The CDC said in 2021 and 2022, suicide was the 11th-leading cause of death among all age groups in the U.S. It was a higher cause of death among people aged 10-34. In 2018, there was a peak in suicide rates, which declined through 2020 but new data shows it increased after the pandemic into 2022. From 2002-22, the CDC found the suicide rate for males was three to four times the rate of females, though both increased over time. Firearm-related suicide was the leading means of suicide for both men and women in the U.S., and its rates increased over time. Suicide rates for men 75 and older was significantly higher than all other male age groups. Male suicide rates have been worrisome for years. Experts say mens mental health is often overlooked, and they are not as encouraged to treat mental health issues as women are. More women have been diagnosed with depression than men, likely because they tend to seek out care more often. Katherine Keyes, a Columbia University public health professor, told The Associated Press that the decline in suicide rates around the start of the pandemic was promising news. The uptick since then, or return to what it was before, can be concerning. New resources such as a national crisis line, which allows anyone to dial 988 to reach someone, have been implemented nationally recently. The effects remain to be seen, Keyes said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Crime in Hartford is down, according to the mayor and interim police chief. There have been 14 murders in the city this year, a significant drop compared to the same time last year. 2024 is on track to have the fewest shootings in the city of Hartford in nearly two decades, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said. He said this has also been the safest summer during that time. According to the mayor, homicides are down 53% over last year. The number of shooting victims is down 33% this year, and assaults have dropped about 36% from this time two years ago. With gang and group violence, thats where a city can really make progress in moving the needle and keeping the city safe,Arulampalam said. The mayor said that by working with federal agents, authorities have interrupted organized crime and the city has gotten hundreds of illegal guns off the streets. Weve seized about 300 this year, and continue to go after those firearms which would be used otherwise in shootings in this city, he said. University of Connecticut students in the city said they feel both safe and unsafe; I feel really safe, Shayla Singleton said. When Im walking with my friends, I feel fine and safe to walk around. Setareah Mafaher said she feels that walking by herself isnt safe. Like one the first day of school, I got followed for like two blocks, Mafaher said. The city credits the crime center and city camera network with having an impact on crime. When video evidence is present in a shooting, theres a 442% increase in the solvability of that shooting, Hartford Police Sgt. Chris Mastroianni said. Kenny Howell, the interim police chief, started up walk beat patrols again this summer and said theyve already made a difference in those neighborhoods. What they do every day could have stopped crime, but we just cant measure it, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Some Sumter County residents worry flooding from Helene could damage homes As Hurricane Helene continues to move toward Florida, Sumter County will open shelters at the fairgrounds in Webster and the Wildwood Community Center for those seeking safety. Meanwhile, in the Wildwood area, homeowners told Channel 9 they hope for a more permanent solution to future flooding. Flooding damaged several homes as Hurricane Debbie impacted Florida early last month. Watch: Hurricane Helene to strengthen in the Gulf before making landfall as a major hurricane in Florida City workers placed a pump in areas hit hard by Debby in hopes of preventing more flooding from Helene. Six to eight inches of rain could lead to flooding at rivers near flood stage in the area. Read: Hurricane Helene: These shelters are open in Central Florida The county may suspend emergency services if sustained winds exceed 40 mph, but that is not expected to last long. See more in the video above. A Florida surgeon has had his license suspended after removing a patient's liver instead of his spleen, causing the patient to bleed out and die on the operating table. And now, the man's widow is seeking justice. Alabama couple Bill Bryan, 70, and his wife Beverly had been visiting their rental property in Destin, FL on Aug. 19 when Bryan began to feel pain on his left side and was admitted to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. At the hospital, he was diagnosed by Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky as having an enlarged spleen, who recommended immediate surgery. "We called Bills doctor, here at home in Northwest Alabama and he told Bill that he would have surgeons here in North Alabama waiting when we got home," his wife Beverly told WMBB 13 News. I tried to convince Dr. Shaknovsky to let me take him home, or arrange for him to be transported. But Dr. Shaknovsky said that Bill would bleed to death if he was moved." However, two days later on Aug. 21, Bryan agreed to allow Shaknovsky perform the surgery. A Florida Department of Health emergency order later described the procedure as a "grievous medical error" and called Shaknovsky "an immediate, serious danger" to the public. He also went to great lengths to lie about his error including falsifying medical records and pressuring witnesses to lie. Shaknovsky initially claimed that he confused the liver for the enlarged spleen because it had been in an unusual location, despite the two organs being different sizes, colors, and on opposite sides of the body. However, witnesses in the operating room recalled a drastically different recollection of events. The state order says that Shaknovsky at one point said that he could feel an area he was attempting to cut into as "pulsing under his finger," and described it as "scary" to the staff member assisting him. After removing the liver, Bryan began to hemorrhage severely and went into cardiac arrest. However, Shaknovsky continued making incisions despite the fact that there was "no visibility" with the heavy bleeding, and not once asked for a clamp or cauterizer. He was also described by witnesses as "blindly" firing a stapling device into Bryans abdomen. According to the order: "The staff looked at the readily-identifiable liver on the table and were shocked when Dr. Shaknovsky told them it was a spleen. One staff member felt sick to their stomach." After Bryant died, Shaknovsky was said to have attempted to convince witnesses that the cause of death was "ruptured splenic artery aneurysm" and reportedly even requested the liver be labeled a "spleen" when it was sent to pathology. He later continued to lie about what had transpired, claiming that he had operated on specific ligaments and structures that went untouched. But that allegedly wasn't even Shaknovsky's first serious medical error. In May of 2023, he removed a portion of a patients pancreas instead of the adrenal gland, claiming at the time that the gland had "migrated" to a different part of the body. "Dr. Shaknovskys repeated egregious surgical errors resulted in significant patient harm coupled with his failure to take responsibility for these errors indicates that his reckless conduct is likely to continue," the order reads. "Therefore, Dr. Shaknovskys continued practice as an osteopathic physician presents an immediate, serious danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the public." In the wake of her husband's death, Beverly is now pursing both criminal and civil proceedings. "My husband died while helpless on the operating room table by Dr. Shaknovsky," she said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "I dont want anyone else to die due to his incompetence at a hospital that should have known or knew he had previously made drastic, life-altering surgical mistakes. "Everyone knows you cant live without your liver. Its about the same thing as if they had pulled out your heart. His heart," she explained to the local news station. I know Im not the only wife whos lost her husband suddenly, but the loss of my Bill was exceptionally unnecessary and brutal. "We do not want this to happen to anyone else, but for this particular individual especially," she continued. "I didnt realize it takes so long for a doctor to lose a license. I thought it would be something, you know, as soon as this was known, it would be immediate. That is not the case." Who records their own death? When Jews were last killed so profusely in a single day, there were no smartphones in the cattle trucks, gas chambers or mass grave pits. A year ago in southern Israel, 3,500 festival-goers trippily videoing their own hedonism carried on filming even after the shower of fireworks in the dawn sky were gradually understood to be rockets presaging the motorised arrival of Hamass armed slayers. Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again (BBC Two), which is an all but unwatchable onslaught, is pieced together from footage recorded by killers and their prey. Both captured the days events for posterity, though for different motives. Itll be 20 million years before they understand what happened! hollers a Jihadist into his chest-cam mic as he zooms in from Gaza by motorbike. It hasnt taken that long, mainly thanks to the footage caught by defenceless young Israelis as they ran for their lives and hid in dumpsters or fridges. Its like seeing a horror movie with your own eyes, remembers one survivor. Except that theyre the ones filming the horror. Another remembers having the presence of mind to capture evidence for future use, and even keeps filming as he consoles two cowering women. Im filming so that I believe it myself, says one teenage boy. I have to film to look at it later, if there is a later. The most chilling clip which is saying something was caught by a student who hid in a bunker crammed with nearly naked corpses, all murdered by Kalashnikov. The image is over in a blink, but that split-second collapses the distance between the Nova Festival and Auschwitz. This blistering documentary is the work of Yariv Mozer, who also made last years exceptional The Lost Eichmann Tapes. Although a caption acknowledges its catastrophic human cost, the bloody aftermath of October 7 is not his subject. Nor are the staggering security failures. His subject is terror: raw, pure, uncut, as it happened and as it is traumatically relived by those who saw it, felt it and were somehow hardwired to document it on smartphones. The film climaxes with IDF footage of the festival soundstage, a massacre of the innocents among Coca-Cola-branded fridges. You dont want to see this, cries a survivor as they are driven away from the charnel house. Maybe not. But anyone whose sympathies draw them to Storyvilles forthcoming sister film, Life and Death in Gaza, about life under bombardment in Gaza must see this too. And, it should go without saying, vice versa. Now available on BBC iPlayer and will air on BBC Two at 9pm on Thursday 26 September Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Former student leader turned lawmaker Manuel Vazquez Arellano has spent a decade seeking the truth about one of Mexico's worst human rights atrocities (Carlo Echegoyen) (Carlo Echegoyen/AFP/AFP) Manuel Vazquez Arellano counts himself lucky to have survived the mass disappearance of 43 Mexican students a decade ago. Now a lawmaker, he says he is determined to uncover the truth about what happened. "Even if I were a priest, I would still be talking about the missing 43," the former student leader, a member of congress with the ruling left-wing Morena party, told AFP ahead of the 10th anniversary Thursday of the tragedy. Now 36, Vazquez Arellano said that when he was invited to become a federal legislator in 2021, he accepted on the condition "that I could say anything" about the case, which drew international condemnation. On the night of September 26-27, 2014, Vazquez Arellano, also known as Omar Garcia, was in Iguala at the scene of the disappearance of the 43 students from the Ayotzinapa teacher training college in the southern state of Guerrero. He said he arrived after his classmates vanished. "When the authorities didn't come, we called the media," he said. "When they arrived, we were shot at. Everyone ran." The students -- from a college whose members have a history of political activism -- wanted to commandeer buses to go to Mexico City and participate in the annual commemorations of the student massacre of October 2, 1968. The college, which is free, is the only option for many students from poor families from the surrounding countryside. It has always been considered by the authorities as a hotbed of "guerrillas," according to Vazquez Arellano, who has been accused by some relatives of the missing of being partly responsible because he knew the activities were risky. "We don't want to have anything to do with him anymore. We just want him to stop talking about the missing people," Mario Cesar Gonzalez Contreras, the father of one of the 43, told AFP. - 'State crime' - The case has become emblematic of a missing persons crisis that has seen more than 100,000 people disappear in a spiral of drug-related violence in Mexico. So far, the remains of only three of the missing students have been identified through genetic testing of bone fragments. Outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador created a commission after taking office in 2018 tasked with establishing the truth about the mass disappearance. In 2022, the commission branded it a "state crime" and said the military shared responsibility, either directly or through negligence. Investigators suspect that the students were abducted by drug traffickers in collusion with corrupt police, although exactly what happened to them is unclear. The so-called "historical truth" -- an official version of the case presented in 2015 under then president Enrique Pena Nieto -- was widely rejected, notably the theory that the remains were incinerated at a garbage dump. One theory the commission put forward was that cartel members targeted the students because they had unknowingly taken a bus with drugs hidden inside. Vazquez Arellano believes that Lopez Obrador had "the political will" to uncover the truth and credited him with making progress during his six-year term, which will end next week. "But until we really know what happened that night and where the students are, it won't be enough," he added. Vazquez Arellano deplored "inertia" and an approach within state institutions that favored "impunity rather than justice." The lawmaker, who was re-elected in June, has his sights set on Omar Garcia Harfuch, a former senior police officer who has been tapped to be security minister under president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take office on October 1. "You know what happened on the night of September 26 in Iguala," Vazquez Arellano said in a video message last October. "You knew how the historical truth was constructed." Garcia Harfuch, a former police coordinator in Guerrero who went on to be Mexico City's security chief under ex-mayor Sheinbaum, has denied having participated in meetings that fabricated the "historical truth". Former attorney general Jesus Murillo Karam, the alleged architect of that version of events, was arrested in 2022 on charges of forced disappearance, torture and obstruction of justice. The people responsible "for all these deceptions and manipulations" must be held to account, said Vazquez Arellano. en/st/dr/st Former Survivor contestant John Raymond faces up to 40 years in prison after being convicted of cruelty to juveniles. Raymond who served as headmaster of Lakeside Christian School in Slidell, La. has been found guilty on three felony charges of cruelty to juveniles for taping talkative teenaged students mouths shut. He also received a second-degree charge of cruelty to juveniles for holding his hand over an even younger childs mouth during a temper tantrum. Police statements say he did this until the 4-year-old went limp. Im not guilty, Raymond said following the verdict, according to NOLA.com. Ive never been cruel to a child, and I love children. The Slidell Police Department first received complaints about Raymond back on April 7, 2022, leading to his arrest after a tip from the Department of Children and Family Services regarding possible abuse happening at the Louisiana school. An investigation found that he had taped numerous 13-year-olds mouths shut as discipline for talking in class. John Raymond became angry and brought the students to his office, the Slidell Police said in a statement at the time. At some point, Raymond took a roll of packing tape and taped the students mouths shut by wrapping the tape around their heads. Raymond who appeared briefly on Survivor: Thailand back in 2002 as Season 5s first boot was arrested again on May 9, 2022, for covering the mouth of a 4-year-old who was having a tantrum. A staff member told Raymond to stop, and then observed the boy out of it and lethargic, unable to stand and saw mucous come out of the boys nose as he attempted to breathe, a statement at the time noted. Im glad that the victims obtained justice, prosecutor and Northshore District Attorney Collin Sims said after the verdict. The law is the law and, at the end of the day, you cant put your hands on kids that arent yours without a parents permission. It was a pastors duty to counsel, not suffocate, the child, Assistant District Attorney Christina Fisher added. Raymond was released from St. Tammany Parish Jail Tuesday on $100,000 bond. His sentencing is set for Oct. 23. The post Survivor: Thailand Contestant Found Guilty of Child Cruelty After Taping Students Mouths Shut appeared first on TheWrap. A homeless man was arrested for allegedly strangling a man who was fishing at Santa Monica Beach last Thursday. The suspect was identified as John Broeksmit, 31, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. On Sept. 19, the victim, identified only as a 28-year-old West Hollywood man, was fishing at the waterline when he was suddenly attacked from behind. Broeksmit allegedly strangled the man, leaving him with injuries to the neck, police said. He was transported to the hospital for treatment. The suspect came up behind him and, with absolutely no provocation, put him in a chokehold from behind, said Erika Aklufi with Santa Monica police. As far as we know, the only reason why the suspect let him go was because some witnesses intervened. John Broeksmit, 31, is seen in a booking photo from the Santa Monica Police Department. Broeksmit fled the scene before officers arrived. Police canvassed the beach where he was located and taken into custody. Authorities said the suspect is currently homeless and is originally from Illinois. In 2024, he had multiple arrests in California for public intoxication, possession of a weapon on school grounds, and tampering with a fire alarm. On Sept. 15, four days before the attack, he was arrested for alleged burglary and public intoxication. You have to remember that we are dealing, still, with zero bail, Aklufi explained of L.A. Countys zero-bail policy. He was released with a citation per the bail schedule and was back out and came up to Santa Monica. Its crazy, said Lindsay Ronald, a Santa Monica resident. Ive been coming here for 17 years and to hear it [happened] recently makes me not want to live really close by here, to be honest. On Sept. 23, Broeksmit was charged with one count of attempted murder by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office. He remains in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and is being held on $2 million bail. Were making sure that our police are doing everything within the law to help solve the problems on our streets, said Santa Monica mayor Phil Brock. I need county, state and federal help. Its absolutely imperative. We cannot solve the homeless crisis in our city or our county by ourselves. The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Zamfirov at peter.zamfirov@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commanders desk at 310-458-8427. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A man suspected of shooting at officers Friday in South Carolina took his own life, according to the coroner. READ MORE: Suspect found dead after officer shot in Chesterfield County, investigators say Alston Modilin shot himself in the head after firing at an officer in McBee and getting in a shootout with law enforcement miles away in Lee County. A sheriffs office K-9 died and two officers were hurt. Both are expected to be OK. In this episode of Aloha Authentic, host Kamaka Pili returns to Bishop Museum to explore the ongoing efforts to restore Hawaiis native ecosystems. Kamaka first sits down with Norine Yeung, Malacology Curator at Bishop Museum, who shares about the protected Kahuli snail. This unique creature, which holds deep cultural significance in Hawaii, is facing critical threats, and Norine discusses the museums initiatives to preserve this species. She also shares stories of how plentiful the species once was, what role they play in the forest, and what her and her team learned about the Kahuli snail from chants and hula. Next, Kamaka speaks with Taylour Chang, Director of Public Programs & Community Engagement, about the endangered honeycreepers, a group of native Hawaiian birds. The conversation highlights the museums new exhibit at the Science Adventure Center, which celebrates the Year of the Honeycreeper. Taylour emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about these endangered birds and the urgent need for conservation efforts. Finally, Kamaka travels to Pia Valley, where he meets Nicholas Walvoord, the Seed Bank Collection Manager for Bishop Museum. Nicholas discusses the vital work being done by Protect and Preserve Hawaii, in partnership with the Bishop Museum, to reforest Pia Valley with native Hawaiian plants. He explains the crucial role a native forest plays in sustaining the islands unique wildlife and maintaining ecological balance. This episode of Aloha Authentic is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving Hawaiis natural heritage for future generations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden proposed a new bill Wednesday that would pack the Supreme Court and dramatically overhaul the nations highest court. Wydens bill would expand the court from nine justices to 15 over 12 years, and require two-thirds of the Supreme Court and federal circuit courts of appeals to overturn any law passed by Congress. The bill would require the Senate to automatically schedule a vote on nominees to the high court if they are held up in committee for more than 180 days. Senators would be barred from blocking nominees to the court by refusing to vote on them. Federal judicial circuits would be expanded to 15 from 13, which would add 60 appellate court judges and 100 to district courts. The bill would also increase financial transparency measures for Supreme Court justices, requiring them to make their tax filings public. The IRS would be required to audit their tax returns and release the results. Anyone nominated to the court would have to disclose three years of tax returns. Court proceedings would also be affected, with a two-thirds majority of the court having the ability to force a fellow justice to recuse themselves from a case. Justices would be required to release opinions to the public and detail their votes on issues decided on an emergency basis, upending the infamous shadow docket. The bill stands little chance of passing, particularly in the Republican-controlled House. But it is the strongest proposal from Democrats for reforming the judiciary, not only tackling the Supreme Court but making changes to the federal circuit as well. In July, President Biden announced his own ideas for judicial reform, but only called for 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices as well as a binding code of conduct. Calls for court reform blew up after April 2023, when a ProPublica investigation revealed Thomas received previously undisclosed luxury vacations from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow. Four months later, more revelations of undisclosed gifts followed, including at least 38 vacations and 26 private jet flights given to Thomas from an array of right-wing billionaires. Thomas in 2003 also accepted a free trip to visit Vladimir Putins hometown in Russia. Justice Samuel Alito has had his own scandals, involving political advocacy in the form of political flags flying outside of his home, and he was also implicated for receiving gifts from Crow and other right-wing billionaires. Wydens proposal may not survive Congress or even legal challenges, but it is the first serious proposal to expand the court. The question is whether Wyden can get any other Democrats to sign on. Thom Tillis appears alongside Trump at a rally in 2023. Last week, however, Tillis was nowhere to be seen at Trumps rally in Wilmington, North Carolina (Getty Images) Embattled gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson was not the only Republican absent at former president Donald Trumps rally in Wilmington, North Carolina last weekend. While North Carolinas junior senator Ted Budd addressed the crowd, its senior senator and longtime power broker Thom Tillis notably did not speak. In the days after CNNs report that Robinson had allegedly commented on a porno site called Nude Africa calling himself a black Nazi and a perv who would have owned slaves if he had the chance, the incumbent lieutenant governor has vehemently denied his involvement. He has also hired a lawyer who he says will help to prove the allegations are false. But Tillis told The Independent that Robinson needs to come forward to substantiate his claims that artificial intelligence was behind the posts. What I've said publicly is I think it's on Mr Robinson to demonstrate to us that he has evidence to the contrary, he told The Independent in a brief interview on Tuesday. Its fair to say that there is no love lost between Tillis and Robinson. Back in 2023, Tillis endorsed Bill Graham in the primary for governor rather than Robinson, which led to Robinson calling Tillis North Carolinas Mitt Romney. (That is, of course, more than a little ironic, given that Romney put North Carolina back in the Republican column during his 2012 presidential campaign after Barack Obama won it in 2008.) Tillis denied that he endorsed Graham out of any animosity toward Robinson. The basis for me endorsing Graham and the primary was he has extraordinary experience, business experience, he said. That blew up in Tilliss face when Robinson won with overwhelming niumbers. But it doesnt look like such a bad move now. [Democrats] are going to blame other people for having endorsed Robinson before these revelations ever came out, Tillis said this week. Everybody's going to try and associate President Trump [with him] but there's no way on earth President Trump would endorse his person if this proves to be true and he was aware of the facts. Dan Bishop, the Republican congressman and candidate for attorney general, refused to comment on Robinson on Wednesday. Ive already spoken to that, Bishop, who previously backed Robinson, told The Independent when asked. Meanwhile, Representative Jeff Jackson Bishops Democratic opponent in the attorney general race credited Tillis for speaking out. He has basically pulled his support from Mark Robinson, he told The Independent. Not many Republicans in North Carolina have done so, so credit to Thom for doing the right thing here. Tillis and Robinson represent different approaches to Trump, the Republican Party and the future trajectory of the GOP. Tillis in many ways embodies the pre-MAGA Republican. After North Carolina voted for Obama in 2008, Tillis who is from the Charlotte suburb of Cornelius got to work and helped Republicans win both houses of North Carolinas legislature for the first time since 1898 in 2010. His political ally, former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory, flipped the governorship in 2012. Together, they immediately passed sweeping tax cuts, voter ID laws and other major conservative priorities. In 2014, Tillis would challenge Senator Kay Hagan, the states incumbent Democratic senator, who won the same year Obama won North Carolina. The race was one of the most expensive Senate campaigns in history at the time, and the attacks grew intensely personal as it heated up. Ultimately, Tillis eked out a win. All of this to say: he climbed the ladder in the traditional manner for a Republican. Robinson, on the other hand, largely rose to prominence in 2018 when he gave a scorching speech at the Greensboro City Council defending gun rights after the Parkland shooting. The speech went viral and it led to Robinson easily winning the lieutenant governorship in 2020. That was the same year Tillis won re-election for his second term for Senate. Since then, Robinson has become a favorite of Trump, who called him Martin Luther King on steroids. At the same time, this relatively inexperienced politician has accomplished little though he has made a number of misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic comments. Tillis, for his part, is hardly a moderate McCain-type character. He voted to repeal Obamacare, voted for the Trump tax cuts, confirmed all three of Trumps Supreme Court nominations and more recently helped block a tax package that would have included an expanded Child Tax Credit. Unlike his colleague, former North Carolina senator Richard Burr, Tillis did not vote to convict Trump for his actions on January 6. However, he is a consummate dealmaker in Washington, helping to pass criminal justice reform and the bipartisan infrastructure bill during Joe Bidens presidency. After the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Tillis and Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn worked with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy and then-Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema to pass gun legislation. His friendship with Sinema also led to them passing the Respect for Marriage Act, which included protections for same-sex and interracial couples. In fact, Tillis likes Sinema so much that one Halloween, he dressed one of his dogs up as her. Thom Tillis famously dressed up his dogs as Mitch McConnell and Kyrsten Sinema one Halloween (AFP via Getty Images) Hes also been a major supporter of Ukraine and supported the border-Ukraine bill that Trump killed. But he was careful to couch his language as he did so, saying that supporters needed to tell Trump this was a good deal. Such willingness to work across the aisle has earned Tillis condemnation from some circles in the GOP. Last year, the state party censured him for working with Democrats. Tillis knows he has to walk a fine line and he has been careful not openly criticize Trump. Two weeks after Trump repeated the lie that Haitian migrants were eating pets, for instance, Tillis deflected. I'm worried about the damage being done by one and a half million got-away [migrants] since Biden came into office, he told The Independent. And what I'm saying is, whether it's true or not, it's not near as compelling to people who have not made up their minds as [talking about] the abject failure of the border of the Biden-Harris administration. On Wednesday evening, Tillis posted a photo on X/Twitter of Vice President Kamala Harris with indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams, writing: North Carolina Democrats made it clear this week that they believe in guilt by association. The message was pretty clear. But there is no simple solution to the Robinson conundrum. Tillis knows much of the MAGA-fied base of the Republican Party still likes Robinson, even if Trump seems to have been creating distance since the damaging CNN story. And even if Robinson loses his own election, Tillis will still need to cater to those voters if he is to have a future in Trumps Republican Party. TAD made changes to save homeowners money. But they could end up costing you more Recently approved changes to the Tarrant Appraisal Districts reappraisal plan could cost taxpayers more in the long run, according to an Austin-based taxation research group. The changes could create additional, wasteful expense for cities, school districts and the county government if they lead to a large number of property value arbitration cases, according to the Texas Taxpayers and Research Associations August report. And Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt, considered the architect behind the states tax code, said they will likely spur litigation from school districts concerned about funding. The TAD Board of Directors approved sweeping changes to the countys property reappraisal plan in July. They include reappraising every two years, a hold on reappraisals in 2025 and a 5% threshold on market value increases, which compels appraisers to provide clear and convincing evidence for valuations higher than that. The actions of the TAD BOD raise concerns about equal and uniform taxation, the scope of a BODs legal authority, and the integrity of the property tax system if other BODs follow TADs example, said the association. The report points out that the July 22 TAD board meeting was the first to include participation by the three newly elected board members, Callie Rigney, Matt Bryant and Eric Morris. All three campaigned on promises to be taxpayer advocates, cap residential increases at 5% and move appraisals to every three years. Because the three new, elected positions on the appraisal district BOD re-introduce a political element to the appraisal process, understanding the BODs statutory authority and responsibility is more important than ever, the report states. The Star-Telegram reached out to all nine members of the TAD board, as well as Chief Appraiser Joe Don Bobbit, but did not receive a response. The report goes on to outline the four duties of an appraisal districts board of directors, which are: selecting a chief appraiser; approving the districts budget; selecting members of the appraisal review board; and approving a biennial reappraisal plan. The report then details the limitations on a board of directors authority, arguing that they are bound by a duty to ensure uniform and equal taxation. If a property owner feels their property has not been uniformly and equally taxed, they have the right to arbitrate the value through the appraisal review board, leading to added expenses that are ultimately shouldered by taxpayers. In theory, if the prospect of violating the Constitution is not a deterrent, then the specter of additional expense should dissuade a BOD from adopting a reappraisal plan that will result in non-equal-and-uniform valuations, the report states. Such a plan would create additional, wasteful expense for the taxing units the BOD members represent. The report also addresses a point of disagreement among decision makers and critics of the changes. Critics have accused the TAD board of trying to push the boundaries of whats allowed by law. The tax code states districts must appraise property at market value as of Jan. 1, but the statute does not specify that this must be done each year. But that each is implied, according to TTARA researchers, because property taxes are imposed each year. If property is not appraised at market value on Jan. 1 of a given year, property will not be taxed in proportion to value in that year, which would violate the Texas Constitution, the report states. Issues with school funding School districts property value studies represent another indirect limitation on appraisal district boards of directors, the report states. Performed by the Texas Comptroller, these studies estimate a school districts taxable property values. If the comptrollers numbers differ from the appraisal districts by more than 10%, a district automatically loses funding. If those numbers are off by 5% to 10%, the district enters a two-year grace period to get its values back in alignment with the comptrollers. Several Tarrant County school districts have expressed their concerns about how the changes will affect their ability to pass their property value studies, arguing that they could lose funding and see budget cuts as a result. In August, nine school districts including Fort Worth published an open letter calling the reappraisal plan changes a deliberate attempt to defund schools in Tarrant County. These effects on schools are likely to result in lawsuits, according to Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt. The Republican from Houston, who sponsored bills in the 2023 legislative session that created $18 billion in tax relief, said he is very concerned by the TAD boards actions. The likelihood of litigation is extremely high, especially from the school districts that are going to be harmed by these decisions, he said. Bettencourt also accused the TAD board members of changing the tax code, but board members have argued that they acted within the law. In August, the Arlington school board joined seven others in Tarrant County in passing a pair resolutions in response to the changes at TAD. One was to reject TADs proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which called for a 15% increase. The other was a ceremonial disapproval of TADs new reappraisal plan. School board trustees in Mansfield on Tuesday argued over how harshly they wanted to censure the TAD board of directors in a resolution regarding the vital role of educators and staff in Texas. The resolution that passed included a recommendation that the board encourage TAD to conduct a timely appraisal study to ensure that Tarrant County ISDs do not lose state funding in the event that the district fails to pass a property value study. Trustees Jandel Crutchfield and Benita Reed argued for more and stronger language against TAD, but school board President Keziah Valdes Farrar and Vice President Courtney Lackey Wilson argued that the resolutions focus should center on urging state lawmakers to distribute billions of dollars in funds allocated for public schools. Over $4 billion of Texas record $33 billion budget surplus was allocated to public education during the 2023 legislative session, but that money has yet to be distributed. Absolutely, the state needs to fully fund this, but nobody else needs to hurt us, said Crutchfield, adding that while she did not oppose the resolution, she did think that it did not fully outline the harm the reappraisal plan may have on the districts funding. Other controversies from TAD reappraisal changes In addition to the possible outcomes of the changes to TADs reappraisal plan, the procedures that led to them have also come under scrutiny. Communications the Star-Telegram received through an open records request in August revealed that Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare had scripted the agenda items that resulted in the changes being approved at the July 22 TAD board meeting. Tax attorneys said that the action constituted a violation of the tax code, one that involves a misdemeanor crime. OHare did not respond to a request for comment for that report, but denied having written them 11 days later. Taiwan provides update on its investigation into Lebanons exploding pagers Four people have been questioned as witnesses in the investigation into a Taiwanese company linked to pagers that detonated in Lebanon last week, prosecutors said. At least 39 people, including children, were killed and 3,000 injured after hundreds of pagers and walkie talkies exploded across Lebanon in what is widely suspected to have been an Israeli attack. Israeli president Isaac Herzog appeared to deny his countrys involvement in the attack. He told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: First of all, I reject out of hand any connection to this, or that source of operation. How or when the electronic devices were weaponised and remotely detonated remains under investigation, which has led prosecutors in Taiwan to look at the roles of companies at home as well as in Bulgaria, Norway and Romania. Manufacturing labels on the exploded pagers indicated they were made by Gold Apollo, but the Taiwanese company denied making them. "The product was not ours. It was only that it had our brand on it," company president Hsu Ching-Kuang said. He added that Gold Apollo had licensed BAC Consulting, a company in Hungary to which the devices were subsequently traced, to use its brand. But University College London (UCL) graduate Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, the CEO of BAC Consultancy, said she was just a link in the supply chain and did not make the pagers. Mr Hsu said his company had no knowledge of the pagers being rigged to explode. The remains of exploded pagers on display (AFP via Getty) Although the Taiwanese government also claimed that the pagers were not made on the island, prosecutors in Taipei opened an investigation into Gold Apollo. A spokesperson for the Shilin District Prosecutors Office said a current and a former employee of the company have since been questioned as witnesses. We are processing this case expeditiously and seeking resolution as soon as possible," the spokesperson said They declined to name the people questioned or confirm whether any more employees would be interrogated. "The two helped clarify the case and the whole case is under intensive investigation." Mr Hsu and Teresa Wu, the sole employee of a company called Apollo Systems, were questioned last week, the spokesperson said. The investigators reportedly also conducted searches at four locations linked to the company. A Lebanese security source claimed that Hezbollah had ordered 5,000 pagers from Gold Apollo a few months earlier. The group had reportedly asked members in February to stop using mobile phones, warning they could be tracked by Israeli intelligence. Israeli operatives allegedly manufactured the pagers and had them sent to Lebanon as a part of an elaborate ruse instead of just tampering with the devices at some stage, The New York Times claimed in a report. By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry raised the alarm on Thursday about a renewed surge of Chinese military activity around the island and live fire drills, accusing Beijing of policy instability that presented a serious challenge to its neighbours. Democratically governed Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, has complained of stepped-up Chinese military activity over the past five years. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims. On Thursday, the defence ministry said it had detected a second day of large-scale Chinese military activities nearby, with 29 aircraft engaged in a "joint combat readiness patrol" with Chinese warships. The day before it warned of 43 Chinese military aircraft operating around the island. Of these 23 flew to the south of Taiwan through the Bashi Channel separating it from the Philippines and then up along Taiwan's east coast, a ministry map showed, although without entering territorial air space. Pointing to a visit from Sept. 18 to 20 by the chief of China's southern military command to the U.S. military in Hawaii, the ministry said that at the same time China carried out "multiple waves of live-fire attacks" in drills in the Yellow and Bohai seas near the Korean peninsula and Japan. China is doing all it can to build up its military while creating the illusion of dialogue, the ministry added. The effort "highlights the hegemonic nature of an authoritarian regime that lacks policy stability, posing a serious challenge to neighbouring countries", it added. In Beijing, China's defence ministry defended the drills around Taiwan, with spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang telling reporters they were a "legitimate" activity. China will continue to strengthen its combat readiness and organise military exercises, he added. SIMULATED ATTACKS A security source familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity as the matter is a sensitive one, told Reuters Wednesday's flights were part of annual Chinese drills. The People's Liberation Army was conducting simulated attacks in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, meant to practice access denial to "stop foreign assistance" in the event of conflict in the region, the source added. The Chinese air force also held drills to seize "air dominance" in waters off Taiwan's southwestern coast and practiced air refuelling around the Bashi Channel, the source said. This week China also said it successfully held a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. "China has been carrying out a variety of military exercises in the region recently, which threatens the status quo of peace," Taiwan's presidential office said, urging its neighbour to exercise self-restraint. Tension around Taiwan has been a persistent source of concern for the United States and its allies, which have been sailing warships through the Taiwan Strait to assert freedom of navigation rights. Vessels from New Zealand and Australia had sailed through the Strait on Wednesday, New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins said. China last staged full-fledged war games around Taiwan in late May, shortly after the new president, Lai Ching-te, took office. Beijing detests him, calling him a "separatist". Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future and has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing only to be rebuffed. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Jamie Freed and Clarence Fernandez) Who takes over as NYC mayor if Adams steps down? Who takes over as NYC mayor if Adams steps down? NEW YORK (PIX11) Local leaders are calling for Mayor Eric Adams to resign after an indictment on federal criminal charges on Wednesday. If he does resign, who takes his place? Adams responds to indictment: If I am charged, I am innocent In the event the mayor relinquishes his position or is unable to fulfill it, the New York City public advocate is next in line to take their place. Public Advocate Jumanne Williams would serve as the acting mayor until a special election or general election is held. Williams would be required to schedule the special election on the first Tuesday within the first 80 days of his interim position. Williams is a Brooklynite who previously served on the City Council representing the 45th District. A spokesperson for Williams released a statement Wednesday night. The news of this indictment is itself incredibly serious. As the facts emerge, the Public Advocate will have more to say to the people of New York City, and right now, he is focused on how best to ensure that New Yorkers can regain trust, confidence and stability in city government, spokesperson William Gerlich said. Calls for NYC Mayor Adams to resign mount after indictment As a representative, he sponsored the Community Safety Act that contributed to ending Stop, Question & Frisk practices in communities of color. He also helped establish the NYPDs Office of Inspector General to investigate unlawful and unethical behavior. Although state and local leaders have called for Adams to step down, the mayor has sworn to fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said in a statement released Wednesday night. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Safety is first, especially for 99-year-old Earlene Newton. Her daughter-in-law, Jeanne Newton, is helping with the temporary move ahead of Hurricane Helene. Shes almost a 100-years-old and we want to be sure we were not going to be stuck at the last minute, Newton said. She has lived in the Dana Shores community, just west of Tampa International Airport for more than 50 years. This is not the first time a storms impacts have threated her home and safety. The water has come up but not come into the house. But again, better to be safe than sorry and Im worried about the electricity going out, Newton said. Even though most neighbors appear to be sticking around, they all live in Evacuation Zone A which is under a mandatory evacuation order in Hillsborough County. Everybody has to make their own decisions. They dont have a 100-year-old to worry about, Newton said. A few miles away from the Newton family, the airport is preparing for impacts from the hurricane. John Tiliacos is the Executive Vice President of Operations who wants travelers and workers to be safe. We are going to suspend all commercial passenger and cargo operations beginning at 2 a.m., Tiliacos said. Officials are also telling stranded travelers to leave the airport either to a shelter or hotel. If anyone is at the airport, what we are going to do is make arrangements to get them to a nearby shelter, Tiliacos said. Officials say the airport could see sustained winds of up to 45 mph, wind gusts up to 60 mph, and a storm surge up to 8 feet. That threat of water in coastal communities is a concern. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor also gave residents who live in the evacuation zone some advice. Were asking everyone to hide from the wind and run from the water, Castor said. Countywide, families in mobile homes have been ordered to evacuate. Tampa police officers even went door-to-door urging people to leave. The Tampa Police Department stands ready to rescue when needed. But we dont want to have to call our officers in to rescue someone that shouldve evacuated long ago, Castor said. Thats one of the reasons the Newton family is heading out to higher ground. You dont want to wait too late to find a hotel, Bruce Newton said. The City of Tampa plans to activate its emergency operations center at 7 a.m. Thursday. If you want to see which zone you live in: 2024 Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool (HEAT) (arcgis.com) Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. JPS leaders butted heads Thursday over a surprise decision by Tarrant County commissioners to lower the hospitals tax rate. JPS Health Network, the countys public hospital system, usually gets about a third of its operating money from property taxes. The hospitals tax rate is determined by county commissioners. Last week, after weeks of planning about a tax rate of 18.75 cents per $100 of validation, county commissioners surprised JPS by approving a new number that hadnt previously been discussed: 18.25 cents. The lower tax rate will cost JPS about $14.2 million in property tax revenue, and will save the average homeowner about $48 on their tax bill compared to last year. At a hospital board meeting Thursday, board members outlined diverging visions for the future of the hospital district, with longtime board members worrying that declining property tax revenue will slow the hospitals plans to complete its $2.1 billion construction program. The massive overhaul, which will include a new hospital and a new psychiatric emergency center, is being paid for by $800 million in bonds. The rest of the money will come from hospital cash, and will require the hospital to save $83.3 million every year for the next five years. Board chair Roger Fisher pointed to the hospitals promise to voters in 2018, when JPS pledged that the hospital district would not raise taxes to complete the bond program. The tax cuts put in place by commissioners court, he said, could make the hospitals aggressive saving plan difficult to achieve in the coming years, he said. I understand that the politics of the situation might be different, but we dont get to change the promise, and we dont want to change the pledge, he said. JPS board members Tim Davis and Blake Woodard, both appointed by County Judge Tim OHare, questioned whether the tax cut would have a significant impact on the hospitals long-term operations. Had the court released 18.25 (cents) in August instead of September, I dont think we would be having the indigestion were having today, Woodard said. I was expecting that rate or something close to it. Woodard added that his long-term goal is a tax rate of zero. Almost all public hospitals in Texas are supported by property taxes. In fiscal years 2022 and 2023, property taxes paid for about 34% of the county hospitals operations. As Tarrant Countys public hospital system, JPS Health Network is responsible for caring for the majority of the countys uninsured adult patients. Texas has more uninsured residents than any other state in the nation. About one in every five Tarrant County adults under the age of 65 does not have health insurance, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. JPS also operates one of two emergency rooms in the county that are capable of handling the most serious trauma cases. After commissioners surprised JPS leaders with a lower tax rate, JPS staff decided not to make any changes to the planned 2025 operating budget of $1.65 billion. Instead, the hospital expects to have a net income of $14.2 million less than what it had expected. The hospitals net income for 2025 is projected to be $138.5 million about half of what the hospital will net this year, according to hospital financial statements. The Star-Telegram reached out to all county commissioners who voted for the reduced tax rate to ask why the tax rate was lowered, and why the reduced rate wasnt previously communicated to hospital staff. None of the four commissioners who voted for the rate OHare, Commissioner Roy Brooks, Commissioner Gary Fickes, and Commissioner Manny Ramirez immediately responded to the Star-Telegrams phone calls and emails asking for comment. The Star-Telegram will update this story if they respond. The hospitals fiscal year begins Tuesday. With many 2017 tax cuts expiring and cost of living a major challenge for Americans, tax policy has become a central issue in the 2024 presidential campaign. (Photo by Phillip Rubino/Getty Images) With many 2017 tax cuts expiring and cost of living a major challenge for Americans, tax policy has become a central issue in the 2024 presidential campaign. (Photo by Phillip Rubino/Getty Images) This is one in a series of States Newsroom reports on the major policy issues in the presidential race. WASHINGTON With the clock ticking on former President Donald Trumps signature 2017 tax law, and high housing, food and child care costs darkening Americans mood, tax cuts have become the star of the 2024 presidential contest between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump wants to overall extend his tax provisions beyond the 2025 expiration date and then some, promising to lower the corporate tax rate even further and lift the cap on the state and local taxes deduction. He argues the loss in federal revenue will be made up by imposing steep tariffs on imported goods. Tariff is a beautiful word, he told a crowd in Savannah, Georgia, Tuesday night, one of the most beautiful words Ive ever heard. We will take in hundreds of billions of dollars into our treasury and use that money to benefit the American citizens, he said. Harris is running on an opportunity economy platform that keeps the Biden administrations promises to not raise taxes on those making less than $400,000 and enact a billionaire tax. I think that both candidates are missing the mark when it comes to fiscal responsibility and economic responsibility. Erica York, Tax Foundation The vice president has also vowed to give tax deductions and credits to budding entrepreneurs and first-time homebuyers, and permanently expand the Child Tax Credit. Under my plan, more than 100 million Americans will get a middle-class tax break that includes $6,000 for new parents during the first year of their childs life, Harris said Wednesday at a campaign speech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Whoever wins the Oval Office will need a cooperative Congress to enact these policies with the exception of tariffs, over which the president enjoys wide latitude. What would it cost? The barrage of proposals has kept economists busy with near-constant and evolving analyses of how much the tax cut promises would add to the nations ballooning federal deficit and change the economy. Both candidates plans come with a price tag in the trillions of dollars, though Trumps is the more expensive of the two. Models released in late August by the Penn Wharton Budget Model project Trumps plan would add up to $5.8 trillion to the deficit over 10 years, while Harris plan would increase the deficit by up to $2 trillion over the same time period. I think that both candidates are missing the mark when it comes to fiscal responsibility and economic responsibility, the Tax Foundations Erica York told States Newsroom in an interview Monday. Neither of them have really outlined a plan that would get us on a sustainable path in terms of debt and deficits, nor that would boost growth and opportunity in the economy. Both are likely to have a negative impact on the economy, said York, senior economist and research director for the foundation, which generally favors lower taxes. Promise: No taxes on tips, overtime Trump, followed by Harris, has proposed to nix taxes on tipped workers though Harris has suggested limiting the benefit to workers in the service and hospitality industries who earn less than $75,000. She has also said the tax break would not apply to payroll taxes, meaning the contribution workers pay toward Social Security and Medicare. Trump has not detailed any limits on his proposal for tipped workers. Economists across the board warn Trumps plan could incentivize more tipped work. They also question whether Trump and Harris proposals would actually benefit low-income workers. Both candidates tax plans come with a price tag in the trillions of dollars, though Trumps is the more expensive of the two. (Photo: John Partipilo) After all, tax benefits for lower income workers who have children phase in as the person earns income. Reporting less income means those taxpayers could ultimately see less help from the Child Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit. If you work and you report income, you get these provisions. But if you dont, you dont get these provisions. Well, you add exemptions into the tax code that reduces the amount of earned income that you report to the IRS, you could potentially reduce the value of these credits for very low-income households, Kyle Pomerleau, senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, told States Newsroom in an interview Monday. For instance, a tipped worker who has one child and earns $24,000 annually, half of which comes from tips, could see a $300 decrease in refundable tax credits under this policy, Pomerleau and senior AEI fellows Alex Brill and Stan Veuger wrote in August. The same principle for lower income taxpayers applies to Trumps recent promise to eliminate taxes on overtime. There could be a negative effect there, depending on how this is structured, Pomerleau said Monday. The nonpartisan watchdog Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates an elimination of taxes on all overtime would cost the country $1.7 trillion in lost revenue over 10 years. With no guardrails preventing workers switching from salaried to hourly, the price tag could reach up to $6 trillion in the most extreme case, CRFB estimates. Promise: No taxes on Social Security Economists monitoring the nations Social Security coffers continue to sound alarm bells on the programs solvency with little reaction on the campaign trail. The fund that provides money to senior citizens and people with disabilities is on track to be depleted by 2035, and recipients would face an immediate 17% cut in benefits, as the Tax Foundations Alex Durante wrote Tuesday. Trump has mentioned Social Security during campaign rallies and on his social media platform, but in the context of eliminating taxes on the benefit payments. While low-income recipients do not pay taxes on their benefits, others do and are projected to contribute $94 billion this year back into the fund. Nixing those taxes could speed up Social Securitys insolvency by one year, according to an analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Promise: New corporate tax rates and tariffs Trumps 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which cleared Congress strictly along party lines, permanently lowered the top corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%. Harris has vowed, if elected, she will bump the rate up to 28%. Analyses from the CFRB, the Tax Foundation, Penn Wharton and the Yale Budget Lab estimate the increase would raise roughly $1 trillion to $1.2 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade. The former president wants to cut the rate even further to 15%, a level not seen in the U.S. since the 1930s. Economists estimate the cut would reduce revenue anywhere from $460 billion to $673 billion over 10 years. Here is the deal that I will be offering to every major company and manufacturer on Earth: I will give you the lowest taxes, the lowest energy costs, the lowest regulatory burden and free access to the best and biggest market on the planet, but only if you make your product here in America, Trump said in Georgia Tuesday. Trump has big plans for products imported into the U.S. Hes planning to impose up to 20% tariffs on most imports, reaching as high as 60% on Chinese goods and 100% on countries that turn away from the U.S. dollar. That could cost the typical American household about $2,600 a year as costs on consumer goods would shift to the customer, particularly affecting those with lower incomes, according to economists Kimberly Clausing and Mary Lovely at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Speaking at a farming roundtable in Pennsylvania Monday, Trump publicly warned John Deere that if the company moves manufacturing to Mexico, hell impose a 200% tariff on tractors coming back over the border. Experts warn another downside is that the policy invites foreign retaliation. So if we are, say, exporting Kentucky bourbon to China, China may say, well, to retaliate for the 60% tax on imports, were going to place taxes on this export, and thats going to have a direct impact on the incomes of Americans and make us poorer, Pomerleau said. Promise: A billionaire tax A familiar refrain from Harris and the Biden administration is that billionaires and wealthy corporations should pay their fair share. The U.S. individual tax rate already progresses with an earners income, meaning that the higher your income, the higher your tax rate. Both Harris and Trump want to keep individual tax rates that were lowered across the board in the 2017 law, but Harris is seeking to increase taxes on long-term capital gains, and levy a minimum tax on unrealized capital gains for very high earners. For those earning upwards of $1 million a year, Harris proposed raising taxes to 28%, up from 20%, on profits made from the sale of an asset, like stocks, bonds, or real estate, that have been held by the owner for more than a year. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump say billionaires should pay their "fair share." (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) The vice president also proposes quadrupling the stock buyback tax to 4%, up from 1%. For ultra-wealthy households that have more than $100 million in assets, Harris follows Biden in proposing a 25% tax rate sometimes referred to as the billionaire tax. Those high-wealth individuals would need to calculate their regular income tax liability and compare it to their total net worth, meaning income plus unrealized capital gains, multiplied by 25%. Whichever is greater you pay, Pomerleau explains. So if you are in a situation where you have a low effective tax rate relative to this broader definition of income, the minimum tax will kick in and youll start paying increments. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the plan could raise $750 billion in revenue over ten years. Promise: No SALT cap Ahead of a mid-September campaign rally on Long Island, New York, Trump pledged to abandon the cap in his 2017 law on the state and local tax deduction simply known in tax parlance as SALT. As the law stands now, taxpayers can only deduct up to $10,000 of their state and local tax bill from their federal tax liability. A full SALT deduction is more valuable for higher income taxpayers, and prior to the 2017 cap, 91% of taxpayers who claimed it lived in California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania, according to an analysis by the Tax Foundation. Eliminating the cap would cut taxes by an average of more than $140,000 for the highest earning 0.1% of households, according to modeling by the Tax Policy Center, a collaboration between the left-leaning Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. The Committee for a Responsible Budget estimates the move could cost $1.2 trillion over a ten-year budget window. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Coasting on Fumes A group of Silicon Valley guys are releasing potentially planet-cooling chemicals into the atmosphere and are doing so from a nondescript Winnebago touring around Central California's coastline. As the New York Times reports, the millennials behind a startup called Make Sunsets have raised $1 million in venture capital to send gigantic balloons filled with sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. They call it "stratospheric aerosol injections" or SAI, and believe that the chemicals, which are technically pollutants, will reflect sunlight out and away from the Earth below, resulting in demonstrable cooling of our climate. "Were stealth," teased Make Sunsets cofounder Luke Iseman as a NYT reporter rode along in the back of the camper. "This looks like just another RV." Founded by Iseman and his fellow Y Combinator alum Andrew Song, the startup has gotten into the business of selling so-called "carbon credits" to companies looking to offset their emissions via the experimental technology that many believe will help mitigate climate change. Scientists Say The only problem? There are lots of academics and politicians alike who think what they're doing is bullshit at best and harmful at worst. "They are a couple of tech bros who have no expertise in doing what theyre claiming to do," explained Sikina Jinnah, a University of California Santa Cruz environmental science professor who's studied climate geoengineering schemes like the one undertaken by the startup. "Theyre not scientists and theyre making claims about cooling credits that nobody has validated." With four pounds of sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere in a single giant weather balloon, Make Sunsets fulfills 1,700 cooling credits that, as the NYT notes, the startup sold for a combined total of $2,200. According to a blog post penned by Iseman, their research led them to believe that each credit offsets one ton of carbon dioxide for a full year. Michael Gerrard, a Columbia University legal scholar who founded the school's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, suggested in an interview with the NYT that despite their lofty claims, there's something fishy about Make Sunsets' logic. "There doesnt seem to be any transparency behind their calculations," said Gerrard, who like Jinnah has studied geoengineering. "I dont want to overplay my scientific knowledge, but what little I have makes me deeply suspicious." Between there being no regulatory body or standardization overseeing these credits and there being little transparency as to what their own calculations include, it's impossible to know how legit the startup's claims of carbon offsets really are. To Iseman, however, those criticisms are beside the point. "The fact that were doing it makes it more likely that others will do it," the 41-year-old entrepreneur concluded. More on climate hackers: Scientist Defends Plan to Release Huge Amounts of Sulfur Into the Stratosphere DEKALB, Ill. (WTVO) The DeKalb Police Department recently received new technology to assist detectives in identifying weapons at a quicker-than-normal pace. DeKalb P.D. was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to partner with Evidence IQ, a company whose mission is to analyze firearm evidence, accurately link spent casings to specific firearms and help solve gun crimes. Evidence IQ has a program called Ballistics IQ which is a portable ballistics imaging device that generates rapid crime gun intelligence, therefore allowing law enforcement to make positive identifications of weapons at rapid speeds. Commander of Investigations Keith Ehrke said it will be a big improvement from the current system. Usually, were waiting months before we get those results, Ehrke said. At that time, we could be losing leads. Now we can get those results within 15 minutes, maybe even less. At that point, we can start getting leads almost immediately. It takes months off of the process. The device gives detectives a crime scene analysis report and allows officials the education to apprehend criminals. Ehrke further explained how the process would work. We can immediately put this (casing) in, and it can tell us how many guns were fired, Ehrke said. We would know how many weapons were looking for at this point, how many shooters we have involved in this case. If we do find somebody in the area with a firearm and we take that person into custody or we get a firearm off of somebody, we can immediately test that firearm, compare it with those casings. We would know in a matter of minutes to a couple of hours and have somebody in custody. Chief of Police David Byrd said DeKalb is the only department in the county with this technology, so they want to extend help to others when its needed. Weve had our share of shootings in the city of DeKalb, Chief Byrd said. Of course, were not proud of that, but were doing everything we can to prevent those and to interdict those shootings, and this is a big part of it. We personally want to be able to assist any other law enforcement agency in the DeKalb County and beyond, if we can, if this technology would be beneficial to them. Ehrke said fortunately, the department hasnt had to use it with many cases, but he said if and when they do, it could be an incredible asset. For years weve been trying to get some of the better technology to be able to solve cases faster, Ehrke said. This is one of those things that if it works, its going to be a game changer in law enforcement. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Teen girl injured in crash after driver falls asleep in Beaver County A teen girl was injured in a crash after the driver of a vehicle fell asleep in Beaver County. Police say a 39-year-old woman was driving 1996 Cadillac on Route 30 in Hanover Township at 2:15 p.m. on Aug. 26. She fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the vehicle. The car left the right side of the road while and crashed into a telephone pole. A 14-year-old girl was a passenger in the vehicle. She was taken to a hospital with suspected serious injuries. Police say the driver was charged. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Arrest warrant issued for man accused of stealing car with veterans dog inside Pittsburgh business named to New York Times list of 50 best restaurants in America Local man admitted to using skimming device on gas pumps at Monroeville Sheetz, police say VIDEO: Man charged after his parents found beaten inside Crafton home DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) announced on Wednesday that it had deployed a Swiftwater Rescue Team to Florida to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The hurricane is expected to bring heavy rain, serious flooding, extreme winds and other dangers to parts of Florida. Virginia governor declares state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene According to a news release from TEMA, the Swiftwater Rescue Team is made up of highly trained professionals in swift water rescue, search and recovery, and medical response. The team is comprised of 17 members from the Nashville and Franklin Fire Departments and the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency. Our top priority is protecting lives, and we are proud to use the Emergency Management Assistance Compact network to support our coastal states in their time of need, TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan said in the release. With Hurricane Helene rapidly approaching, our team is prepared to act swiftly and effectively to help mitigate the storms impact and assist in rescue operations. Im incredibly grateful for our local partners willingness to embody the volunteer spirit. Impacts from Hurricane Helene are anticipated to hit Tennessee on Thursday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A Syrian refugee family drives on motorcycle along Sidon-Beirut, as they flee from Rmeileh in south Lebanon to Beirut. Thousands of families fled southern Lebanon for areas in the capital Beirut and Mount Lebanon, following the expanding Israeli attacks. Marwan Naamani/dpa Thousands of people in Lebanon have been seeking refuge in official emergency shelters since Israel's renewed intensive airstrikes, the country's interior minister has said. A total of 70,100 displaced people are currently registered in 533 emergency centres, Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said at a press conference in the capital Beirut on Thursday. Schools in particular have been converted into emergency accommodation. There is still a large influx of displaced people from the south. The exact number of internally displaced people in Lebanon is currently difficult to determine as many people have fled to relatives, others are sleeping on the streets. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday, citing Lebanese authorities, that around 90,000 were considered newly displaced as of Monday. According to the UN, this is not the first time that many of the displaced people have had to leave their homes to find safety. The UN office expects the number of displaced people to continue to rise as the situation remains volatile and many people are still on the move. Visitors at the CELL terrorism exhibit in Denver view a video monitor at which 1 of 7 segments addresses the Jan. 6 insurrection. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) When the CELL first opened in 2008, Melanie Pearlman, the executive director, remarked to a Denver Post reporter that the exhibit transcended partisanship. Everyone could agree, after all, that terrorism should be countered. It cant be taken to a partisan level, Pearlman said. Turns out, it can. Rudy Giuliani got a private pre-opening tour of the exhibit. Those being simpler times, the Post referred to him as a dignitary. This was a sign from the future that aversion to terrorism is not exactly universal, since Giuliani would be a key figure 12 yeast later in a presidents attempted coup a spectacular demonstration that many Americans are OK with violent extremism when its pursued by partisan allies. The problem for the CELL, a permanent exhibit in downtown Denver on terrorism and violent extremism, is that partisanship has crept into its own mission. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Jan. 6 was one of the most consequential acts of anti-government domestic terrorism in U.S. history. A mob vowing to hang the vice president came within 40 feet of its mark after violently breaching security at the U.S. Capitol. And yet the CELL Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab treats the day as if it were just one of the many regrettable instances of extremism that plague the world, not all that unlike far-left protests in Portland, arson during Black Lives Matter protests, or the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Worse, it almost entirely relieves former President Donald Trump of responsibility. It might have been easy for the CELL to deal frankly with post-9/11 terrorism. Now that the standard bearer of a major political party is the spearhead of extremists, it finds itself incapable of telling the truth. None of this would matter much, except the CELL commands outsize influence. Its located in the heart of the city, across a plaza from the Denver Art Museum. When it reopened in May after a renovation, top political figures in the state dignitaries, if you will were on hand to celebrate. They included Gov. Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. It boasts an A-list speaker series, which features defense secretaries, White House advisors, top military commanders, members of Congress, national journalists and other notables. It offers a terrorism preparedness program developed with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security that it says has trained more than 100,000 people in more than 75 municipalities. What it says carries weight. So what does it say? The CELL educates visitors on the causes of violent extremism, the impact of it, and how we can combat it. The exhibit comprises images, audio, interactive displays and interpretative stations. Sept. 11 has an appropriately large presence, but the exhibit ranges far and wide. Richard Spencer, Hezbollah, Timothy McVeigh, Anwar al-Awlaki, The Weather Underground, ISIS, left-wing, right-wing, foreign, domestic it covers a lot of terrorism ground. But none of these figures and groups managed to breach security at the seat of American democracy. No other act of terror was incited by a sitting U.S. president. Never before Jan. 6 had democracy in the U.S. come so close to demolition. And youd never grasp the gravity of the insurrection from the CELLs account of it. The exhibit addresses Jan. 6 at a single video station on domestic terrorism, and a segment on the attack is only 1 of 7 short videos. It mentions that Trump on the morning of the Capitol attack reiterated false claims of a stolen presidential election and exhorted supporters to fight back, but it shifts blame for the attack to extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and says nothing about how the stop-the-steal movement was generated and stoked by the former president. Was Jan. 6 even an act of terrorism? The CELL, by discussing it, thinks so, even if it botches the presentation. One of the most authoritative voices on this matter is a Trump appointee, Christopher Wray, director of the FBI. That attack, that siege, was criminal behavior, plain and simple, and its behavior that we, the FBI, view as domestic terrorism, Wray told Congress. Dignataries celebrate the grand reopening of the CELL in downtown Denver on May 7, 2024. They include Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, with the large scissors, Attorney General Phil Weiser right of Polis, and CELL board director Larry Mizel left of Polis. (Courtesy of The CELL) But many Americans, even if they agree that Jan. 6 was a form of terror, find it too awkward or painful to acknowledge what caused it, though the facts could not be more clear. Trump originated the lie that he had won the 2020 election. He gave encouragement to violent extremists. He called for supporters to join him Jan. 6, 2021, for a wild event. He fueled the Capitol mob even after it had broken into the building. He incited the attack as part of a multi-pronged attempted coup. He caused it. Its well documented. The CELLs whole mission is to explain this. Any attempt to understand why it cant has to note the political inclinations of Denver homebuilder Larry Mizel. The exhibit opened as a subsidiary of the Mizel Museum, which highlights Jewish culture and heritage. Mizel co-founded that institution, and he sits on the CELL board of directors. He is also among the most influential Trump champions in Colorado. He was Trumps Colorado fundraising chairman in 2016. In August, Mizel co-hosted a fundraiser for Trump in Aspen, and hes reportedly planning to host a visit to Denver by Trump running mate J.D. Vance next month. Given Mizels post-coup-attempt allegiance to Trump, it would be surprising if his terrorism museum could be forthright about the former presidents treachery. Newsline asked a CELL spokesperson questions about how it treats Trumps role in the attack on the Capitol and the nature of Mizels influence on the exhibit but did not receive a response. This all reflects how Trump has deranged an entire society. He made it impossible for otherwise norm-respecting, law-abiding conservatives to find their moral bearings, and he forced even antagonists into fits of hypocrisy. How else does this coup plotter get invited to a CNN town hall? How else does a former Trump cabinet member confess his boss was off the rails yet will vote for him again. How else does the Democratic presidential candidate bring herself to shake this felons hand on a debate stage? How else does the Democratic governor of Colorado promote an institution that launders the reputation of an authoritarian poised to seize power. Republican operatives are again preparing to reject unfavorable election results in November. This is an active threat, and there is every reason to expect that the same forces that sparked terrorism after the last presidential election will do it again. The CELL could empower visitors to combat the threat of violent extremism just months away. Its dishonesty about Jan. 6 does the opposite. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and his wife, Sharla, at a Bozeman rally on Sept. 5, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan). Politics, especially campaigning, has never been about reality. Instead, its about a politicians ability to sell his or her version of reality. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has his warped view of reality, with a country doomed by a swarming of immigrants from prisons and asylums that threaten to overrun every American city and state. Yet, when I go to the grocery store or walk around the block, I see the same wonderful people, neighbors and friends, and feel no more threatened than I ever have while roaming the streets of Billings. So, color me doubtful on that one. Just like I am equally weary of the political theater of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester playing coy about presidential endorsements. It is not only political theater without purpose, its a great example of an internal logic that makes perfect sense in the vacuum of political strategy, but looks ridiculous to average folks. I would argue it has the potential to even backfire on Tester, who has made his career by being unflinching, blunt and embodying a what-you-see-is-what-you get approach. Tester has been the first to say that every Senate race hes run has been close, and thats not an opinion, but a mere reflection of how hard a Democrat has to work in a place like Montana to get elected. That is even more true in this race, as Montana has recently turned a brighter shade of Republican red, and the power balance in the U.S. Senate is microscopically thin and may hinge on the Treasure State. Yet his reluctance, with barely a month-and-a-half left till Election Day, to endorse any presidential candidate is undermined not only by the D (Democrat) by his name, but also the millions of dollars pouring into his campaign by Democrats from across the country. Recently, MTN News tried asking Tester the question: Who does he endorse in the presidential election? The reply by Tester was deft, and a great example of not answering the question. He said that hed work with whomever is elected, regardless of political party. On one hand, bipartisan work has characterized Testers tenure in the Senate. In fact, I think I can name more Republicans who have passed legislation with Tester than other Democrats, although if you havent seen the videos of Tester frequently body slamming Cory Booker in various Senatorial sporting contests, Id highly recommend those. The question, though, wasnt who Tester would work with, or if hed be open to working with Donald Trump again. The question was who would he endorse? Tester was a no-show at the Democratic National Convention, and was the only delegate from Montana not to cast a vote for Kamala Harris, leaving the vote undecided. He has repeatedly refused to endorse Harris, the Democratic nominee. But as sure as I am ornery, no one believes Tester is undecided. Even more doubtful is that the dirt farmer from Big Sandy would cast his vote for Donald Trump, the Republican. The real reason for this charade is because Tester believes that as soon as he voices or even shows the slightest support for the Harris-Walz ticket, the Sheehy camp, along with the other Senatorial Republicans will pounce on the message, trying to tie Tester to Kamala Harris, that C-word in Montana, Californian. Every Democrat running for office is attacked in the same unimaginative way: Trying to tie them to any politician outside the West, especially in that Marxist paradise of California. Lame-duck Rep. Matt Rosendales favorite insult is to try tying anyone he doesnt like to Nancy Pelosis agenda or other perceived coastal interests, even though Rosendales background and fortunes were made on the Maryland coast. And Sheehy lived most of his life outside Montana. And Greg Gianforte came from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And Steve Daines was born in California. You probably see the pattern. As much as it may be clever political strategy to remain silent about the national scene and establish that Jon Tester is a Montana Democrat, not to be confused with coastal liberals, there is something gallingly disingenuous about the whole thing. Democrats have not nominated a repeatedly charged felon, who is liable for sexual assault, as their candidate. They havent spread misinformation about immigrants eating pets. They have stood for reproductive rights, something that nearly 80% of Montanans support in some form. But for a Senate candidate who rightfully brags that he still uses the same meat grinder that took several of his fingers because its still a good grinder, this seems uncharacteristically timid. I doubt Harris will be fretting much just because her former Senate colleague hasnt endorsed her, and everyone understands the political game thats being played here. But can you imagine if Sheehy didnt pledge loyalty to Trump or if Trump didnt give him an endorsement? That, more than anything else I can think of, tells me everything about how both major political parties are operating. Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy. (Photos viaJennifer Shutt, States Newsroom and Sheehy campaign) Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and his Republican challenger Tim Sheehy will participate in a debate hosted by Montana PBS next Monday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. The debate will take place live at Montana PBSs studio at the University of Montana in Missoula and will last for one hour, according to a news release from Montana PBS, whose longtime journalists John Twiggs and Anna Rau will host. There will not be a live studio audience. Our live studio debate format offers Montana viewers a close-up view of the U.S. Senate candidates and allows for dynamic interaction on the most pressing issues in our state, said Montana PBS and KSUM-TV director and general manager Aaron Pruitt. This debate, along with our other pre-election programming, aims to provide voters with as much information as possible before they cast their 2024 votes. The debate will be simulcast on Montana PBSs website, its Facebook page, and live on Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. UM School of Journalism faculty and students will fact-check the debate on Montana PBSs website. Pruitt pointed to the organizations established debate criteria to note why Libertarian Sid Daoud and Green Party candidate Robert Barb will not appear at the debate. Tester and Sheehy participated in a debate in early June hosted by the Montana Broadcasters Association. Sheehy now leads Tester by 3.7 percentage points in an average of all polls of the race, according to FiveThirtyEight. Just one poll included in the average since the start of August showed Tester with a lead in the race. Richard Tanner Ozment had recently been released from a Texas prison after serving about 10 years of a 40-year sentence on a burglary conviction GoFundMe, McLennan County Sheriff's Office Michaela Brooker (left) and Richard Tanner Ozment (right). An exhaustive manhunt ended with the arrest of a paroled man, charged with the slaying of a 38-year-old mother, who a Texas sheriff says was killed with a machete and concrete block. Richard Tanner Ozment is charged with first-degree murder and as of Thursday morning, Sept. 26, was being held at McLennan County Jail, according to his online booking records. Michaela Brooker was very badly injured but still alive when McLennan County deputies responded to the China Spring, Texas, address, where Ozment had been living next door to his parents after receiving parole, Sheriff Parnell McNamara said at a press conference streamed by KCENNews. The mother who had extensive injuries, mainly to her head, according to McNamara was flown to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas, where she died, per the criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE. GoFundMe Michaela Brooker. This is one of the most horrific, horrible, brutal, senseless attacks that we have seen in a long time, McNamara said at the press conference. It never should have happened. McNamara said Ozment had been sentenced to 40 years in prison on a previous criminal conviction and served about 10 years before he was paroled out a few months ago. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Ozment was indicted on multiple counts of burglary in 2014, and per McLennan County online court records, waived his right to a jury trial and entered a guilty plea in the case. In 2015 he was sentenced to 40 years behind bars. PEOPLE contacted the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for confirmation of his prison release date, but they did not respond in time for publication. Anytime you see somebody parole out early like this, and then they commit this kind of crime, it's senseless, McNamara added of the Saturday, Sept. 21, morning slaying. Ozments mother found her son standing outside and very sweaty, Saturday morning, per the complaint. Sandra Ozment tried to walk past him but he stepped in front of her and wouldnt let her pass, per the complaint, which noted that after pushing past anyway, she reported seeing a human foot lying on ground behind an RV on the property. (The sheriff clarified at the press conference that Brookers foot had not been severed from her body.) What have you done? she yelled, per the complaint, which stated that his mother had retreated into the house yelling and barricaded herself until responders arrived. McLennan County Sheriff's Office Richard Tanner Ozment in mugshot. Her husband dialed 911, despite Ozments pleas to his father not to, per the complaint, which noted that when first-responders arrived they found a person outside the house fleeing from the scene. A multi-agency manhunt complete with a helicopter and tracking dogs ensued sometime after 9:00 a.m. and ended around 5:45 p.m., according to McNamara. A deputy on horseback came upon Ozment who was hiding by a stock tank and submerged under water about 100 yards from the crime scene, per McNamara. We were horseback riding along the tank when I was able to see from his neck area to the top of his head, Deputy Falcon said at the press conference, adding that he spotted Ozment who was hiding under a tree limb in the water when he shook his head and the water splattered. At that moment, I told him to stay still till we got officers, Falcon continued, adding that Ozment tried to submerge his head back in there, but he instructed him at gunpoint to remain above water, as the SWAT team surrounded him. KCENNews/YouTube McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara (at podium), standing with Deputy Falcon (center). In a GoFundMe set up to help support Brookers child, loved ones said the cherished mother had been a victim of a senseless act of violence. At the press conference Monday, Sept. 23, the sheriff said that Ozment and Brooker knew each other, but that further specifics of their interactions were not clear and that he did not know why Brooker was in the neighborhood. McNamara did not respond to PEOPLEs Thursday request for additional information on the case. McNamara said he had no idea what had led to the attack. The sheriff said the machete allegedly used in the attack had been recovered and that the parents of Ozment had been cooperative. As a juvenile Ozment had been charged with sexual assault, according to the sheriff who noted he did not know further particulars of the case. District Attorney Josh Tetens tells PEOPLE that Ozment has not entered a plea to the charges and a court date has not yet been scheduled in the case. Ozment's defense lawyer, Bryan C. Cantrell, could not be immediately reached for comment. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 40-year-old murder case has been solved after a Texas man pled guilty last month and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Billy Wayne Ludwigson, 62, was recently arrested and sentenced after pleading guilty to the murder of Velma Nesset, 64, back in April 1982. Wayne Ludwigson, 62, was arrested by the Texas Rangers after years of investigation. Photo: Texas DPS DPS says Nesset worked at the Permian Mall in Odessa and usually walked to and from work. On April 19, 1982, her coworkers and family discovered that she did not show up for work and a report was filed with the Odessa Police Department. Nessets body was later found partially nude in a drainage culvert and had been sexually assaulted, according to DPS. Velma Nesset, 64, was murdered back in April 1982. Photo: Texas DPS Odessa Police initially arrested a man who confessed to the crime. However, in 1983, he was acquitted for lack of evidence and a false confession. The case then went cold. In 2020, Nessets case was eligible for the Texas DPSs Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program. The program is funded by the Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance which provides funding for agencies across the nation to further unsolved sexual assaults and sexually related homicides. Advanced DNA testing and genealogy research through Bode Technologies led to identifying Ludwigson. In July 2020, the Texas Rangers and the Odessa Police Department arrested Ludwigson in Denver, Colo., and were able to obtain his confession for Nessets murder. In October 2020, Ludwigson was extradited to Texas and was indicted by an Ector County jury on murder charges. On Aug. 9, Ludwigson pled guilty and was sentenced to 20 years at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the federal government over its requirement that states provide LGBTQ+ affirming placement for foster care youth. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, states that the rule issued by the U.S. Health and Human Services would exacerbate the foster care provider shortage by compelling states to recruit new providers that comply with the rule while costing Texas money. If it fails to implement the requirements, Texas could lose as much as $432 million in annual federal funding for its foster care program. Paxton added that opposing the rule, which requires the state to implement changes by Oct. 1, 2026, is in the best interest of foster care children. The Biden Administration is attempting to hold the Texas foster care system hostage to force unscientific, fringe beliefs about gender upon the entire country, Paxton said in the lawsuit. The new rule directly violates federal law and threatens to undermine our vital foster care programs, putting children who need safe, loving homes at risk. Under the federal rule, Texas must ensure there is designated placement available for all LGBTQ+ children in foster care. It requires foster care providers to give substantial weight to the childs expressed concerns or requests when determining the childs best interest. Additionally, foster care providers would have to provide clinically appropriate mental and behavioral health support to LGBTQ+ youth. Will Francis, executive director of the Texas and Louisiana chapters of the National Association of Social Workers, said Paxtons lawsuit is a long culmination of Texas moving away from the best interest of the child to the best interest of the provider. For the Attorney General to make such a political statement really runs counter to what we know is best for every kid, said Francis. We should be providing support, not erasure. While the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which oversees the foster care system, does not track such data, some advocates estimate about 30% of foster children identify as LGBTQ+. Embroiled in a separate decade-long lawsuit, the Texas foster care system has been riddled with problems, such as findings of overmedication, neglect and abuse among children placed in the states care. Foster care children are already at increased risks of homelessness and human trafficking, with LGBTQ+ foster children facing these problems more severely. LGBTQ+ foster youth are more likely to live in group home settings; frequently move between placements; report being hospitalized for emotional and physical reasons, including suicidal ideations; and face mistreatment from peers and staff. Jacky Varela, an attorney who is frequently appointed by Child Protective Services to represent foster youth, said that the outcome, if Paxton were to win this lawsuit, could lead to higher rates of behavioral issues and suicide. We are going to get into a situation where people are empowered to discriminate against these kids, Varela said, adding that the lawsuit was appalling. While Paxton fears losing federal funding by flouting the new rules, advocates say not providing accepting environments for LGBTQ+ foster youth could also cost Texas taxpayers. Advocates say if such youth dont have proper placements, the state could turn to unlicensed facilities, such as office buildings and hotels, to house them. Using such placements has cost the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services more than $250 million between 2021 and 2023. How much money is this lawsuit going to be costing the citizens of Texas? Varela said. Improper placements increase mental health costs for these youth, which implementing the federal rule can help curb, Catelyn Devlin, the chair of the Texas LGBTQ Foster Youth Workgroup, said. Andrea Segovia, senior field and policy adviser for the Transgender Education Network of Texas, said Paxton is trying to make sure transgender Texans dont survive in their state, noting other lawsuits such as one in August blocking federal protections for transgender workers in the state. She urges people in the foster care system to keep helping LGBTQ+ youth. If you are someone who supports LGBTQ youth, keep supporting LGBTQ youth, she said. Dont stop loving and protecting some of the most marginalized kids in our state. For mental health support for LGBTQ youth, call the Trevor Projects 24/7 toll-free support line at 866-488-7386. For trans peer support, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Texas Woman Was Raped, Killed, and Left in a Culvert in 1982. A Man Confessed But He Wasn't the Killer Billy Wayne Ludwigson, now 62, admitted to killing 64-year-old Velma Nesset in 1982 dps.texas.gov Velma Nesset and Billy Wayne Ludwigson in a 2020 mugshot for murder. A Texas man pleaded guilty last month to the 1982 cold case murder of a woman whose body was found partially naked in a drainage culvert after not showing up for work. After more than four decades of investigation, Billy Wayne Ludwigson, now 62, pleaded guilty to murdering 64-year-old Velma Nesset and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Aug. 9 in Ector County court, according to online court records and a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety. An employee at Permian Mall in Odessa, Texas, Nesset usually walked to and from work. On April 19, 1982, her co-workers and family grew worried when she didnt show up for work, and she was reported missing to police, according to the statement. Nessets partially naked body was later found in a drainage culvert, authorities said, adding that she had been sexually assaulted and killed. dps.texas.gov Billy Wayne Ludwigson in a 1982 mugshot for marijuana possession. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. While Odessa police arrested a suspect who confessed to the crime and went on trial in 1983, he was ultimately acquitted for lack of evidence and a false confession, according to the statement. In the years that followed, there were no major breakthroughs in Nessets case and it went cold. Then, in 2020, Nessets case became eligible for the Texas Department of Public Safetys Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program, a federally funded program that aims to solve sexual assaults and sex-related homicides, authorities said. Through the program, advanced DNA testing, including genetic genealogy, was performed and eventually led investigators to Ludwigson. In July 2020, the Texas Rangers and Odessa Police Department arrested Ludwigson in Denver, Colo., according to the statement. Authorities said he confessed to Nessets murder and was extradited to Texas later that year. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The U.S. Marine Corps says it has demonstrated new capabilities for operating future drones with high degrees of autonomy in expeditionary operations with another test flight of one of its stealthy XQ-58 Valkyries. The U.S. Marine Corps says it has demonstrated new capabilities for operating future drones with high degrees of autonomy in expeditionary operations with another test flight of one of its stealthy XQ-58 Valkyries. Newly added capabilities leveraging the popular Link 16 network were central to the test. The Marines have now conducted three XQ-58 flight tests as the service continues to explore how it might use these or other drones in various roles, including as uncrewed electronic warfare aircraft, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, airborne communications relay, or wingmen for crewed fighters like the F-35. The latest Marine XQ-58 test flight was conducted from the U.S. Air Forces Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on September 20, but was only announced publicly today. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the U.S. Navys Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), and unnamed industry partners supported the test. Eglin is a major test and training hub and is also home to Air Force XQ-58s. The Air Force, which carried out the Valkyries first flight back in 2019, is the only other known operator of the type to date. A US Marine Corps XQ-58 flies together with a pair of US Air Force F-35A Joint Strike Fighters during a previous test out of Eglin Air Force Base in 2023. USAF Kratos included a version of this picture, taken during a test flight out of Eglin Air Force Base on February 23, 2024, in its press release yesterday that mentioned the MQ-58B. USAF The new Marine XQ-58 test demonstrated newly added Link-16 capabilities for the uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft prototype, marking the first time the Department of Defense controlled an air vehicle using offboard expeditionary methods, according to an official release. No further details were provided about the offboard expeditionary methods employed during the flight. Initial results indicate that the prototype met threshold requirements for autonomously exchanging relevant tactical information, the Marine release adds. These Link-16 capabilities significantly enhance the Marine Air-Ground Task Forces ability to conduct integrated and joint operations, contributing to the Marine Corps mission to deter conflict and, when necessary, defeat enemies in complex and evolving scenarios. Another look at a Marine XQ-58 during a previous flight test. USAF An XQ-58A seen during the types first flight in Marine Corps service in October 2023. USAF Link 16 is one of the most common communications waveforms utilized in the U.S. military today. The network has been used in various past drone testing, including ones involving the control of uncrewed aircraft from remote locations. Work is underway now to extend the Link 16 network into space, which will offer significant advantages in breadth and persistence of coverage, as you can read more about here. As such, using Link 16 to demonstrate new ways to control and otherwise exchange information with drones like the XQ-58 makes good sense. The Marine Corps use of Link 16 via offboard expeditionary capabilities also aligns fully with the services desire to be able to use future uncrewed aircraft like this to support forces at and even potentially operate from far-flung forward locations with limited infrastructure. The Marines are now further looking to demonstrate how uncrewed aircraft might fit into those future operations next month. This successful test [on September 20] was conducted in preparation for Emerald Flag 2024, a multiservice and multi-domain training exercise scheduled for October, according to the Marines. The exercise will incorporate technology and focus on the efficiency of joint warfare. The XQ-58A has proven itself ready for this capstone event, allowing the Marine Corps to demonstrate cooperative kill chain closure between manned and unmanned strike platforms for the first time in a large-force exercise. The War Zone has highlighted in the past how the baseline version of the XQ-58, specifically, which takes off and lands without any need for a runway at all, would be ideally suited to the Corps vision for future expeditionary and distributed operations. Kratos, maker of the Valkyrie, has also demonstrated a specialized launch trolley that allows the drones to take off from traditional runways, and do so with more fuel and/or larger payloads. The company is now in the process of crafting a version with built-in landing gear. The addition of a Link 16 capability on the Marine XQ-58 also highlights the drones ability to serve as a valuable communications relay node. Previous Air Force testing has already involved Valkyries carrying software-defined communications packages capable of talking to stealthy datalinks like the Intra-Flight Data Link (IFDL) on the F-22 Raptor and the Multifunctional Advanced Data Link (MADL) found on all three variants of the F-35. MADL could also be a feature on the forthcoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber. F-35s also have Link16 capability, but transmitting via the omnidirectional datalinks used with that waveform makes it easier for hostile forces to detect and track the otherwise stealthy jets. Those datalinks are also more susceptible to jamming than low probability of intercept/low probability of detection (LPI/LPD) types like MADL and IFDL. Its also worth noting that MADL and IFDL cannot communicate directly with each other. This only further underscores the importance of gateway nodes that can translate between various waveforms in future operations, which could also involve allies and partners using their own networks. A US Air Force XQ-58, at left, flies together with an F-35, at center, and an F-22, at right, during a test. USAF A US Air Force XQ-58A, at bottom left, flies together with an F-35A, in the middle, and an F-22 Raptor stealth fighter at top right, during a test. USAF The Marine Corps XQ-58 flight test last week also speaks to broader questions that the entire U.S. military is working to answer about how to control and otherwise manage an increasingly large number of uncrewed platforms, as well as how much autonomy they can and should have going forward. The Marines are currently part of a tri-service agreement with the U.S. Navy and the Air Force regarding the development of future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones, which focuses heavily on common control and communications architectures. While the exact roles and missions CCAs will be able to perform, and how they will be deployed and employed operationally, have already been evolving, there is a broad consensus that they will operate very closely together with crewed aircraft, at least initially. As we go forward, I expect therell be a strike aspect to CCAs, as well, but initially were focused on air superiority and how to use the CCAs in conjunction with a crewed aircraft to achieve air superiority, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall told The War Zone and other outlets at a media roundtable on the sidelines of the Air & Space Forces Associations (AFA) main annual conference last week. When we do the ops analysis, theres a really clear advantage of that. One of the things you have to have if youre going to use CCAs and have them be armed and Lethal is that they have to be under tight control. And, for me, one of the elements of that needs to be line-of-sight communications. And I think that thats an important thing to have in the mix, secure, reliable line-of-sight communications. Were not going to have aircraft going out and doing engagements uncontrolled, Kendall added. So the default, if they lose communications, would be for them to return to base, which takes them out of the fight. So we dont want that to happen. And when they do do engagements, we want them under tight control. So I think the mix of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, I think, is going to be the right answer for the foreseeable future. We know two things about autonomy, Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, said at a separate roundtable at the recent AFA conference. One is laws of war require us to have, you know, human engagement in key decisions involving employment of weapons and other key decisions. So we have to have that. We have to have that human engagement, the ability to do that. The second is [that] we know that our ability to create systems that can operate autonomously and do missions well is something that is still maturing. So, in other words, there are things that we know that we already know how to do well with autonomy, and theres things that we know we do not know how to do well with autonomy, Hunter continued. So were going to stick to the things we know we can do well, and then have humans do the other things, and, over time, that mix is going to change its not going to be static. With all this in mind, the Marine Corps latest XQ-58 flight test looks to be a significant step forward for that services future uncrewed aviation plans, as well as one that could be important in informing CCA and other future drone developments across the U.S. military. Contact the author: joe@twz.com Powerful stuff As a former pastor, a law enforcement officer, and now a leadership consultant, I know about the power of conversations: sitting across from someone who is likely very different from me; someone who has different lived experiences; someone who has been shot at, or misjudged, or who is in a dispute with their spouse. Sitting across from someone who simply wants to be heard. That is powerful stuff. A few years ago, I participated in a moderated conversation as part of the One Small Step initiative. One Small Step brings strangers together with different political views for a conversationnot to debate politicsbut to get to know each other as people. The program is currently expanding its effort nationally, and is continuing to work locally right here in Wichita. I signed up because I was curious to see if the power of conversation could make a difference across political divides. The differences that my conversation partner and I seemed to have were more stark in writing than what I experienced in person during the conversation itself. Our conversation flowed and I was happy to have a moderator, who found ways to guide us and intercede if our comments went too long. What I have taken from my experience is so fundamental: While research shows that One Small Step works, I felt this intuitively after my own conversation. I discovered that even if we hold different political beliefs, we can still have meaningful conversations, see each other as fellow Americans, and be part of the solution. Dioane Gates, Wichita Future leaders This summer my peers and I spent eight weeks participating in Bank of Americas Student Leaders Program working alongside Goodwill Industries of Kansas. The internship not only exposed us to industry-deep connections and tangible experiences, but also strengthened our personal financial skills and opened doors for continued networking opportunities as we begin our professional journeys. Throughout the internship we were given hands-on experience in all levels of operation, from overseeing daily store management, working alongside clients, collaborating with the marketing team and attending social functions. Along with this professional programming, we also participated in Bank of Americas Better Money Habits financial education series which equipped us with critical personal finance skills. The most exciting experience was the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. There, we networked with 300 of our National Student Leader counterparts, all partaking in similar internships across the country. While in D.C., we heard from influential speakers, had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Kansas and expanded our network of like-minded young professionals. The connections we made in D.C. have proven to be more than just a connection on social media, but rather genuine relationships full of constant communication. In fact, since the conclusion of this program, I have relied on this network to be a sounding board for guidance and support as I began my own passion project right here in Wichita a bipartisan voting initiative to bridge the Spanish language barrier of performing our civic duty. It is my hope that projects like this will continue the cycle of leadership development and access here in our community, as well as throughout the Student Leader network. This program exposed us to the inner workings of nonprofits as well as private businesses and how they partner with each other to achieve their goals, equipping us with professional development skills. The opportunities made available to us throughout the Student Leaders Program are irreplaceable, and we are excited to begin putting this learning into action as we advance into our futures. Alonzo Dozal and Avyay Sharma, Wichita Religious leaders and Ethiopians celebrate Meskel, meaning the Cross in Amharic, is an annual religious holiday among Orthodox in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo) ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) Thousands of Ethiopians gathered in the capital Thursday to celebrate an annual religious festival distinguished by the lighting of bonfires according to the beliefs of the local Orthodox Christian faithful. National celebrations of the festival, known as Meskel, traditionally happen in a square by the same name in Addis Ababa. It is one of Ethiopias most celebrated religious holidays, marked with rituals and merriment across the country. Festivities will continue until Friday, a national holiday during which the faithful attend church services and share intimate moments with their families. In celebrations of Meskel a word in the local Amharic language for "cross" bonfires are burned across the country. In Meskel square Thursday, the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church lit a large one in the presence of thousands of believers in white costumes. Across Ethiopia, many gather in public squares and by churches to light similar bonfires from piles of logs, dry leaves and grass. Prayers and religious ceremonies are followed by a feast of kitfo, a lean minced meat somewhat similar to steak tartare that's savored as part of Meskel festivities. According to the church's beliefs, the festival celebrates the cross upon which Jesus was crucified and its recovery by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. The story goes that Saint Helena had a revelation in a dream instructing her to light a bonfire and follow the smoke to find the cross buried in Jerusalem. Meskel has been inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This year's festival comes at a difficult time for Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous country and one of the largest landlocked nations in the world. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's efforts to secure access to the sea via the semiautonomous Somali region of Somaliland have angered authorities in Somalia who see the move as an act of aggression. At the same time, Ethiopia is at odds with Egypt over the large dam on the River Nile that authorities in Cairo say will diminish their share of much-needed Nile water. The disputes have raised tensions in the Horn of Africa in recent weeks. Abiy also has flexed with the Orthodox Christian Church, which criticized him for apparent excesses by government forces in the brutal war in the northern region of Tigray. That conflict ended with a peace deal in 2022. A new insurgency emerged in 2023 when government troops tried to disarm local militia in the Amhara region, which shares a border with Tigray. Some Meskel celebrants said the festival presents an opportunity to consider peace. The importance of the celebration of Meskel to Ethiopians is to have us reflect on the idea of peace," said Berhanu Admass, a church deacon. This is to have us embrace forgiveness and pray for our peaceful co-existence as uniquely and beautifully defined to us by the hope that Meskel is and it represents. A larger celebration of Meskel is expected Friday in Gurage Zone in Ethiopias south, where Meskel has long held particular significance. The Gurage Zone administration said it expects hundreds of thousands of tourists to travel there. Everton Gordon, a Jamaican-Canadian who has previously celebrated Meskel in Canada, said that marking the holiday in Ethiopia is a unique experience. The large bonfires are going to be the highlight, he said. Ethiopian Azeb Bisrat and her children flew into Addis Ababa from Gonder, a city in Amhara that has witnessed intense fighting in recent months. She said that some members of her extended family were unable to travel because of security concerns. As a big family, we often drove to Addis Ababa to take part in such an important ritual, but the last few years have made that journey nearly impossible," she said. Luleseged Tadesse, a resident of CMC, a suburb of Addis Ababa, said that while he was unable to attend the big celebration in Meskel Square, he had mobilized neighbors, including Muslim Sudanese and Syrian refugees, to take part in the celebration. Those neighbors escaped conflicts in their countries. All neighbors have contributed to the festival what we can and we are going to light a bonfire, sacrifice a sheep and pray in our own religions for better days for Sudan, Syria and Ethiopia, he said. Such a celebration brings neighbors together, makes us act like a family and see the best in each other. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Terre Haute Police Department held its annual First Responder Rally Wednesday in Fairbanks Park. The night was fully of games, demonstrations, and free food. Terre Haute PD says this is a chance for members of the public to meet these first responders in a different light. An event like this is just building relationships with the crowd. We have the fire department, the police, and everybody in that first responder realm, were the good guys. Were here to help you. We can provide resources for you. We want that to help develop relationships and make current relationships even better. Sgt. Justin Sears Public Information Officer THPD The most exciting event of the night was the police dog demonstration. Officers would dress up and appear to be running away to show how these dogs work. One dog, a new member of the fire department, made his first appearance to the public at the event. First night out for Max the fire dog, so Max is out here walking around. Hes the ignitable liquids detection dog for the city and the county. Darrick Scott Fire Chief THFD Events like this one have even made some kids consider the profession when they get older. To learn more about how it is to be a policeman and how they do their job. Just helping our community. Deegan Dunlap Terre Haute resident Terre Haute Police say the turnout was great, as they were expecting around 1,000 people and gave out over 1,500 hotdogs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. 'Threat to safety': McMaster requests federal help ahead of Hurricane Helene's arrival On Thursday, Gov. Henry McMaster requested President Joe Biden grant an emergency declaration to all of South Carolina's counties. If Biden approves, the declaration would allow the state to receive federal assistance for the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which is expected to hit Thursday night. Biden approved emergency declarations for North Carolina and Georgia earlier Thursday. On Wednesday, McMaster declared a state of emergency due to the storm expected to bring "dangerous flooding, high winds, and isolated tornadoes." Crews in Anderson County worked to clear a fallen tree on I-85 North. Once crews began cutting away limbs, the road was cleared within 5 minutes. The extent of federal resources is currently unknown, McMaster said in the letter, but he has been advised that federal assistance may be needed for potential water-rescue teams and high-water vehicles. More: Hurricane Helene: See when it will reach the Upstate. 'It's going to be howling' "In sum, the potential impacts from Hurricane Helene represent a threat to the safety, security, and welfare of the residents of South Carolina. With the current forecasted size of Hurricane Helene, I consider all of the state at risk," McMaster said. McMaster also requested Biden to grant reimbursements for debris removal and emergency protective measures, along with non-congregate shelter and direct federal assistance. Savannah Moss covers politics for the Greenville News. Reach her at smoss@gannett.com or follow her on X @Savmoss. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: McMaster requests federal help ahead of Hurricane Helene's arrival A crash involving three tractor-trailers has temporarily closed the eastbound lanes of the New York state Thruway in Ontario County Thursday morning. According to New York State Police, the collision occurred around 4:35 a.m. at mile marker 327.6, near Exit 42 (Geneva) in Ontario County, on the eastbound lanes of the highway. The eastbound lanes of the road are currently closed between Exits 42 and 43, as the collision has blocked the highway, troopers said. Eastbound motorists are being diverted from the Thruway at Exit 43 (Manchester) and are able to re-enter Interstate 90 at Exit 41 (Waterloo), troopers said. Troopers said it was not clear how long the stretch of the highway would remain closed. Expect significant delays in the area. All lanes on I-90 eastbound between exit 43 (Manchester) and exit 42 (Geneva) are closed due to a crash. Eastbound traffic is exiting the Thruway at exit 43. Motorists should plan for significant delays and are urged to avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/bZuJIkfupJ New York State Thruway Authority (@NYSThruway) September 26, 2024 TRAFFIC ALERT NYS Thruway eastbound all lanes blocked between Exits 43 & 42 in Ontario County for a crash involving a tractor-trailer. NewYorkStatePolice (@nyspolice) September 26, 2024 This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Three-truck crash closes eastbound lanes of NY Thruway near Rochester Three Wisconsin wholesale dealers have licenses revoked for violating state law ELKHORN, Wis. (WFRV) The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles revoked the wholesale dealer licenses of three dealers at two locations for violating state law when they failed to maintain a dealer bond. Wisconsin law requires wholesale dealers to carry a security bond to ensure if they commit illegal actions, such as rolling back odometers or making an illegal sale, a consumer may file a claim against their bond to recoup money lost. Applications still available for 2024 Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade Maintaining a bond is a standard business practice and an added security measure meant to protect consumers. JAA Group LLC, a dealer located at 735 N. Wisconsin St. in Elkhorn, had its license revoked on Sept. 21, 2024. Additionally, Almubarak Auto Sales LLC and Willies Auto Sales LLC, located at 613 E. Geneva St. in Elkhorn, had their licenses revoked on Sept. 21, 2024. Dealers are given 30 days to appeal the revocation, but none of the three opted to do so, making the decision final. Health officials report first Winnebago County human case of West Nile Virus in 2024 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Department of Motor Vehicles Dealer and Agent Section licenses and regulates dealers in Wisconsin. They also support consumers by investigating complaints about odometer tampering and title fraud that involve dealerships and private sellers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Melissa Nason (left) and Melissa Agunloye (right) discuss homeless during a recent interview. (Photo: Greg Childress) Melissa Turner calls it Post-Traumatic Homeless Disorder (PTHD). Its the persistent anxiety, Turner explained, that someone who recently experienced homelessness frequently experiences after finding a permanent place to live. Even when you get out of homelessness, you have that fear in the back of your head that youre going to jump right back on that [homeless] bandwagon, someones going to come along and take it [your new home] away from you, Turner said. Turner moved into a public housing community about six years ago. She didnt hang any art or photographs on the walls the first year, worried that something would go wrong, and shed soon have to move. I didnt make it into a home, Turner said of her apartment. I just had this gut feeling. Three Melissas book cover Painful lessons and practical advice Turner is one of three women named Melissa, all single mothers, who shared their story of homelessness with NC Newsline during a recent visit to the Triangle. The three were in the area to launch a book they helped write entitled, The Three Melissas: The Practical Guide to Surviving Family Homelessness. The 183-page book offers practical advice from remembering to show gratitude to those who help you and your kids to educating children about inappropriate touching on surviving homelessness. Turner ended up homeless after being struck by an ex-husband during a disagreement. The husband hit her once and she packed up and left. After experiencing several years of homelessness and being sexually assaulted by men who offered shelter and expected sex in return, Turner wonders if she should have stayed in the marriage, even though she suspects the abuse would have gotten worse. Had I known things would end up the way they ended up, I would not have left my husband, Turner said. Were giving advice [in the book] and its sage advice, its things you need to know and very realistic, but I would be like, do what you need to do to not be homeless. Melissa Turner The Three Melissas assisted Diane Nilan, a longtime homeless advocate, former shelter director and filmmaker from Chicago and Diana Bowman, an experienced educator who served as director of the National Center for Homeless Education for two decades, in writing the guide for families experiencing homelessness. Nilan calls the Three Melissas featured in the book experts. Nilan helped to implement the Illinois Education for Homeless Children Act in 1994 that was later incorporated into federal legislation with the reauthorization of the McKinney-Vento Assistance Improvement Act the primary piece of federal legislation related to the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. She now lives in Blowing Rock. Bowman lives in Greensboro. A guidebook for public school personnel Nilan and Bowman see the new book as a valuable tool for McKinney-Vento liaisons working in schools and school districts to help remove barriers that prevent children and youth experiencing homelessness from enrolling in school and enjoying academic success. Too many liaisons lack the practical know-how of individuals who have survived homelessness, the authors said. I would do trainings [on McKinney-Vento] and I would hear from school staff that they totally didnt understand family homelessness and recognize it at all, Nilan said. Then, I would talk to the families that were having trouble getting their kids into school and I realized these are folks that could talk and make a case [for the rights of students experiencing homelessness] if they had a voice. After helping to birth a more comprehensive and effective McKinney-Vento law, Nilan left her job training educators in the Chicago area about the new law. She packed her belongings into a small camper and set off across the country to interview and film families experiencing homelessness. It was on Nilans 20-year trek across America that she met the Three Melissas Melissa Agunloye of Chicago; Melissa Nason of Florida, and Turner of Kansas. Each Melissa is identified by first name and first initial of their last names in the book. The three women gave NC Newsline permission to use full names. Diane Nilan On their trip to the Triangle, Nilan, Bowman and the three Melissas met with McKinney-Vento liaisons and community groups to share information about the new book and to provide first-hand accounts from people who know what its like to experience homelessness. You can approach this academically and tell people about the law [McKinney-Vento] but there are no experts like the experts who have experienced it, and people are so receptive to that, Bowman said. Policy changes are needed to properly count, serve homeless families In addition to informing and inspiring McKinney-Vento liaisons, the authors hope the book will bring about policy changes that improve the lives and experiences of homeless people and their families. Id like to see the book be the catalyst for change in policy, in procedures, in attitudes that people have all the way from daycare, up to schools and agencies that we have to present ourselves to, Nason said. Nason and Nilan met in 2004 soon after Hurricane Ivan ripped through the Caribbean islands and the southeastern U.S. Nason, a mother of two lost everything in the storm. It was an especially devastating blow as Nason had just gotten back on her feet after a previous bout of homelessness when the storm hit. Shed graduated college, found an apartment and landed a job as a coordinator in a county program for people experiencing homelessness. Hurricane Ivan took everything that Id rebuilt and destroyed it, Nason said. One thing happened Ivan and it took everything. With Nilans help, Nason and her young family were able to move into a small mobile home provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She still lives in the FEMA trailer. Through all of that, Diane [Nilan] was very instrumental in making the phone calls, Nason said. If we hadnt met, I dont things would have worked out the way they did because there were so many times, I was just exasperated with the fact that there should be a system, there should be support services and there just werent. Nilan said she got involved in advocacy work because families experiencing homelessness many of which are led by women seem not to matter to local, state and national leaders. The role [of women] in our country has never reached an equal point and so the needs of women arent considered important, and so their kids arent important, Nilan said. Bowman added that there has been more of an emphasis the past 20 years on chronically homeless adults than on families. Diana Bowman Families just arent in the picture and so, the resources have gone primarily to supporting adults without families, veteran homelessness and chronically homeless adults, Bowman said. Families have just gone under the radar. One big policy change the authors and the three Melissas hope to help spur is a change in the way homelessness is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HUD definition does not include families living in hotels/motels and in doubled-up situations due to the loss of housing. They want the HUD definition changed to match the definition in the McKinney-Vento Act so that more services can be extended to families living in hotels/motels and in doubled-up situations. If you were paying for your own motel room and you tried to get HUD housing assistance, youre not considered homeless, so you dont get the HUD housing assistance, Nilan said. The one thing that weve pushed for the past 20 years is that change in definition, which would have a significant impact on the help that families would get. Expanding the definition would open federal services and resources to hundreds of thousands more families, Nilan said. The number of people identified as homeless would grow substantially, she said. Under HUDs definition, 650,000 people are counted as homeless, Nilan said. The [nations] schools have identified 1.2 million this year as homeless. That number is probably half of what really is the case and that doesnt include babies or toddlers. It doesnt include the older kids. Nilan believes that when homeless families and unaccompanied youth are accounted for, the number of people experiencing homelessness climbs to more than seven million. Were looking at 650,000 or seven million, Nilan said. Congress doesnt want to hear that its seven million, because it would have to cough up some funds. The rent is still too high Nilan met Agunloye in 2010 through a friend who ran a charity in the Chicago suburbs. Agunloye had lost housing and was living in a motel with five young children. She was 22 years-old at the time and working multiple jobs. What made Diane unique is that she comes to you, Agunloye said. She met my family, she met my kids, she saw my situation and she helped. Agunloye was struggling at the time to pay for hotel rooms she and her kids lived in after leaving a relatives home. She described the living arrangement as an unstable situation. Things were substantially cheaper back then, I want to say 15 years ago, Agunloye said. If theyre paying you $8 an hour [15 years ago] and youre trying to make ends meet, now with wages at $17 an hour in some places, its still like the $8 an hour back then. Things are so high. Agunloyes situation has improved. She and her kids has lived in the same house for three years. Thats a good thing because we bounced from place to place, she said. The kids have stayed in the same school for several years, so Im happy for that. Agunloye added, The rent is still too high, but theres nothing I can do about that. Ive learned a lot throughout the years like how to coupon, how to budget and now my kids are old enough to work so they can help me with the bills. The situation is completely different. Meanwhile, Turner has been relatively free of PTHD the past five years, but the old anxiety has begun to resurface. Her youngest daughter is a high school senior and turns 18 in July. The daughter is eager to move to Texas. After she leaves, Turner worries that she could lose public housing. I feel the anxiety building because I dont know whats going to happen, Turner said. Funny enough, Im trying to make as many contacts as I can, do a little networking, because you never know who you might have to ask for a couch [to sleep on]. SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Its now been seven months since 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers disappeared from his Hendersonville home, leaving family, friends and community members with more questions than answers. Seven months into their investigation, Sumner County law enforcement officials have not reported any new information. From day one when this happened, I visited the command center when they had that set up, Don Schmit, the Sumner County commissioner for District 18, said. Law enforcement, all our emergency personnel are investing in this, invested in trying to find him. These men and women, they really put their heart and soul into it. They did everything they could and I am sure they are still doing everything they can. However, the teen remains at the center of an AMBER Alert, with the FBI offering a $50,000 reward for information, and Duane Chapman, also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, matching that reward to raise it to $100,000. Bounty hunter Duane Dog Chapman joins search for Sebastian Rogers, raising reward for info to $100K The celebrity bounty hunters joining in on the search efforts earlier in September has been one of the most recent developments. In an interview with News 2, Chapman called it one of the most horrendous cases of missing children hes ever worked on, adding that he believes increasing the reward money will help them find the answers theyve been looking for. Im just hoping for a positive outcome from this, Seth Rogers, Sebastians biological father, told News 2. That he is alive, that he is healthy so I can bring him home. (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) Early on in their investigation, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) warned against spreading misinformation online. However, as the months have dragged on, the case has been at the center of many social media controversies and rumors, with Seth stating that theyve experienced online harassment and have only seen threats increase. They have kind of taken over the airwaves and created a defamation campaign against my clients, said attorney Joseph Lesniak, who is representing Seth, Chapman and others. Instead of keeping their eye on the real important thing here, which is finding this young man. She is dangerous: Mother of missing Tennessee teen files order of protection against YouTuber Seth has continued actively searching for his son since he went missing on Feb. 26, and still said he has not given up hope, despite the situation being one long nightmare. His searches have stretched as far as West Tennessee. Many community members have also continued to aid in the search by putting up flyers and holding vigils, as well as other gatherings. In August, a group of people with Sebastians Army gathered outside the Sumner County Sheriffs Office for answers or updates in the investigation. However, little new information has been provided. Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) (Courtesy: TBI) Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: FBI) We would like to see a PIO and just to see some updates, a participant with Sebastians Army told News 2. We got tips and stuff coming in and we didnt know if law enforcement was following up on them, Seth said. But now weve got Dogs team. He has a whole team of attorneys, lawyers, private investigators. At this point, my clients are focusing on getting leads, keeping this public and helping law enforcement in any way they can, Lesniak said. This is one of the most horrendous cases that we have ever ever worked on, Chapman added. In the initial days after Sebastians disappearance, law enforcement carried out several massive search efforts near his home off Stafford Court and at a landfill in Kentucky where trash went from his neighborhood. Month one, it was intense for the first half of it, Seth explained. It seemed like there were a lot of people on board trying to find Sebastian. And then it became a circus. Sebastian Rogers: Officials not ruling anything out in search for missing teen Neighbors were also asked to check their yards for any signs of the teen, and numerous search warrants were issued, with cellphone data analyzed and other digital evidence searched and documented. Still, those efforts yielded few clues as to Sebastians whereabouts. In March, authorities announced they were scaling back the ground searches to focus more on the investigative side of the case. By April, hundreds of tips had poured into the TBI. (Photo: WKRN) (Courtesy: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) (Photo: WKRN) (Courtesy: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) (Courtesy: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) One possible sighting was reported a few months later miles away in North Carolina but was later dispelled by law enforcement. Other possible clues like a pair of glasses and a pair of sweatpants found during search efforts have also turned out to be busts. After announcing the new reward for information in August, the FBI said agents are continuing to provide assistance to the Sumner County Sheriffs Office in the search for Sebastian. Another prayer vigil is expected to be held within the next month, and anyone who has any information that could prove helpful in finding Sebastian is urged to contact authorities. Tipsters are asked to contact the sheriffs office at 615-451-3838 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov. You can also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, 15, was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 26 from the Beech area in Hendersonville. Sebastian Rogers: Description Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen on Monday, Feb. 26 near Stafford Court wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants, said the TBI. AMBER Alert Issued The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) originally issued an Endangered Child Alert for Sebastian on the morning of Feb. 26 as multiple agencies took to the area to look for him. Based on additional investigative information developed during the search, the TBI issued an AMBER Alert for Sebastian on the afternoon of Feb. 27. An AMBER Alert is issued when there is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred and the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, per the DOJ. Multiple agencies including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville Fire Department, City of Hendersonvilles first responders, Sumner County Sheriffs Office and Shackle Island Volunteer Fire have assisted in the search for Sebastian. Who to Contact If you have seen Sebastian or have info about his whereabouts, call the Sumner County Sheriffs Office at (615) 451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Hurricane Helene roared ashore late Thursday evening southeast of Tallahassee, FL. The storm came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane with winds up to 140 mph. A peak storm surge approaching 20 was also expected with the landfalling storm. The storm will continue to punch into the Southeast overnight with tropical moisture gradually getting drawn into a separate storm positioned closer to the Ozarks. For tonight, well enjoy clear and cool conditions for most of the night. Clouds will spread in from the east after midnight with showers moving into the Eastern Ozarks. Winds will also pick up, becoming breezy by sunrise. The winds will pick up further Friday with gusts approaching 30 mph, likely sending a flurry of leaves off of trees. Rain will spread west during the morning making it to a Eureka Springs, AR, to Springfield, MO, to Camdenton, MO, line. Areas west of that line will remain mostly dry with areas to the east looking at a wet and cool afternoon. There will also be range in afternoon temperatures with highs near 80 in Joplin with highs struggling to get into the mid-60s in West Plains. The areas that are wet Friday afternoon will remain wet into Friday evening before the rain recedes off to the east. Skies will remain rather cloudy into Saturday with sunnier skies by Sunday. Rain chances look slim through the weekend, focused over the Eastern Ozarks. The breezy winds we find Friday will continue into Saturday before easing by Sunday. Back-to-work weather will come with warmer temperatures with highs back in the 80s. The warm-up will be short-lived with another front freshening up the fall feel by Tuesday. Another burst of warmth is expected later next week. Download the KOLR 10 Weather App Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders defended his offices pursuit policies in a Facebook post Wednesday, a day after a chase ended in an injury collision. Its no secret the last few weeks have been rough here in Thurston County, Sanders said in his post. There are a few allegations that need to be clarified, however, as it pertains to TCSO policy and practice towards pursuits. A deputy pursued a driver in a stolen truck on Black Lake Boulevard Tuesday after the truck sped past. The deputy briefly lost sight of the truck and then found it after a two-vehicle wreck that injured several people, according to a Sheriffs Office news release. Notably, a motorcyclist also crashed and died near Olympia last Friday after being pursued by Yelm police, Nisqually Tribal Police and Thurston County Sheriffs deputies, according to another recent news release. Sanders post said his office does not have what some have claimed is a pursue at all costs mindset. He said deputies recently have stopped more than half of the pursuits they have started due to public safety concerns. We dont discuss these terminated pursuits very often for the simple reason that we do not want criminals to understand what goes into the decision making or they will simply invoke that specific issue every time to get away, Sanders said. As an example, Sanders said his office could create a public policy that deputies must stop their pursuits if the vehicle they are following exceeds 100 miles per hour. In that case, he said he believes fleeing drivers would simply aim for that benchmark for guaranteed escape. Additionally, Sanders disputed a claim that his deputies are not required to weigh the risk to the public when making pursuit decisions. He said county policy and state law require deputies to weigh that risk. Compliance with the statute and policy is enforced by a requirement that the footage from every pursuit is reviewed by a supervisor to ensure decisions being made by deputies are appropriate and within policy, Sanders said. Law enforcement officers currently can pursue a car if they have reason to suspect someone inside the vehicle violated the law in any way, according to RCW 10.116.060. However, the law also states officers must consider if the person they are pursuing poses a threat to the safety of others, and whether the safety risks of failing to apprehend or identify the person is greater than the safety risks of the vehicle pursuit under the given circumstances. The law used to be stricter. A previous version allowed pursuits only if law enforcement had probable cause that someone in the car committed violent crimes, sex crimes, vehicular assault, domestic violence, attempting to escape custody or driving under the influence. Those restrictions went into effect in 2021 and proved controversial enough to prompt changes. In response, the legislature passed a bill to reduce the evidentiary threshold for officers to engage in vehicular pursuits from probable cause to reasonable suspicion. Earlier this year, legislators passed Initiative 2113, which removed the restrictions that limited pursuits to certain crimes. The new law went into effect on June 6. Sanders was among the initiatives supporters. In his Wednesday post, Sanders said his office has pursued 69 fleeing vehicles since June 6. Deputies terminated 38 of those pursuits and captured 31 total suspects, he said. Since the law has changed, Sanders said he believes we are dealing with an intersection of consequences. He said three years of the stricter law clearly outlined that fleeing in cars was an effective means to avoid capture and led to an explosion of stolen cars. He also said a drug epidemic has put more impaired criminals behind the wheel, and Washington state has the fewest law enforcment officers per capita in the country. Sanders said it would be really easy for him to order his deputies to be more cautious and terminate pursuits to avoid blame for any incidents that may arise. He likened such a policy to avoiding confronting a school shooter to avoid potential escalation. We are more comfortable trying to save as many people as we can and failing than to never step foot in the arena for the sake of avoiding scrutiny, Sanders said. Fact-checking Sanders data Sanders listed recent crime statistics in Washington state for added context, but he did not initially list sources for the data. When reached by The Olympian on Thursday, Sanders said he referenced data from news articles, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. His numbers painted an mostly accurate picture, but the data he listed did not entirely align with the latter two sources. Sanders said there were 539 fatal crashes in 2020, 607 in 2021, 701 in 2022, 810 in 2023. Data from the WTSC indicated aligned with those numbers up to 2023. For that year, the WTSC data shows there were 733 fatal crashes as of May 2024. A different data table for traffic fatalities (number of people killed) by year indicates there were 810 fatalities in 2023. Sanders also listed auto thefts by year. He said there were 26,520 auto thefts in 2020, 31,032 in 2021, 46,939 in 2022 and 43,160 in 2023. Data from the WASPC indicates there were actually more: 27,786 offenses reported in 2020, 35,385 in 2021, 47,448 in 2022 and 54,187 in 2023. Though the numbers did not align, the data still shows total yearly auto thefts increasing from 2020 to 2023. Lastly, Sanders stated there were more auto thefts in Washington than Florida in 2022 despite Washington having a third of Floridas population. Florida law enforcement agencies reported 21,388 motor vehicle thefts in 2022, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer. Meanwhile, Washington had 49,804 reported motor vehicle thefts. However, theres a big caveat with this data: It relies on participation from law enforcement agencies. About 99% of the Washington state population was covered by reporting law enforcement agencies in 2022. In Florida, about 71% of the population was covered throughout 2022, per the data. With respect to the number of officers per capita, FBI data shows there are 1.34 officers per 1,000 people in Washington state in 2023. That rate is the lowest among the 50 states and lower than the national rate of 2.4 per 1,000 people. Notably, the FBI advises against ranking locations and making comparisons to measure law enforcement effectiveness on their crime data explorer. Their website states crime is a sociological phenomenon influenced by a variety of factors, and some data may not be comparable due to differing levels of participation over time. Hurricane Helene was still forming in the Gulf, hundreds of miles away and Saidy Martinez only had enough time and money to buy bread, a dozen cans of food, and milk before heading to her mobile home in Wimauma late Wednesday. I had to leave for work very early and didnt have enough money to get more, said Martinez, a 26-year-old Guatemalan immigrant. Martinez works for a landscaping company eight to 10 hours, five days a week. She said her weekly paycheck of $480 isnt enough to cover the $1,500 rent for her mobile home, food, utilities, and other household expenses. During the weekends she sells tamales, sandwiches and soft drinks. Helene is the fifth hurricane to hit Florida since 2019 that, along with numerous other tropical storms and torrential rain showers, push thousands of Florida migrant workers to the brink. Not only must workers like Martinez scramble on limited budgets and bandwidths to prepare for storms, theres little help awaiting them after the deluge of wind, rain and surge. About a month and a half ago, when Tropical Storm Debby caused major flooding in front of her mobile home, Martinez had to borrow $300 from friends to buy additional food and supplies for herself, her husband Marco Lopez, 29, who is blind, and their five-year-old son, Deyner. It was an unexpected expense. Shes still paying it off. A major hurricane like Helene brings even more stress. Ana Lamb, a local activist who assists Hispanic families, said migrant workers are among the most vulnerable during hurricanes. In a new country, many even struggle to understand the concept of a shelter because, in our countries of origin, it is not very common, said Lamb. Many come to work for just a few months and are unfamiliar with the system. Some live in temporary housing or remote areas, making evacuation or finding safe refuge more difficult, Lamb said. Language barriers often prevent them from receiving timely instructions or warnings. For others, the lack of a strong network of friends and family can also be a problem. Rosalba Gonzalez lives in Wimauma. Shes been working in the fields for a decade, supporting her family of four by picking strawberries, tomatoes, and blueberries. She works Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her struggles become harder during hurricane season. She makes $380 a week and cant afford to adequately prepare. Gonzalez does not have health insurance and permanent legal status. She doesnt speak English. Gonzalez, a 40-year-old Mexican immigrant, said when theres work, she can pay their bills but it takes a lot of effort. Life gets much harder when theres no work, especially now that many companies and employers are cutting hours, she said. Hurricane season is like a ticking time bomb either our house floods or we have to spend more money, Gonzalez said. Virginia Tempiche, a 46-year-old construction worker in Dover, said there wasnt much work a month ago, so the Mexican mother didnt make enough money. She earns $16 an hour. Hurricane Helene worried her just as she was starting to recover and work more hours last week. On Wednesday afternoon she tried to buy water and supplies at a nearby bodega, but the owner raised the prices too much, Tempiche said. If its not one thing, its another, she said. Floods, like the ones caused by Debby in August, are still fresh. She said many people lost everything in those rains. I just hope nothing happens, Tempiche said. It doesnt hurt to pray. In the tightest states, new voting laws could tip the outcome in November A person runs by a vote here sign during Georgia's primary election on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these swing states may decide the future of the country. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Some voters are already casting early ballots in the first presidential election since the global pandemic ended and former President Donald Trump refused to accept his defeat. This years presidential election wont be decided by a margin of millions of votes, but likely by thousands in the seven tightly contested states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. How legislatures, courts and election boards have reshaped ballot access in those states in the past four years could make a difference. Some of those states, especially Michigan, cemented the temporary pandemic-era measures that allowed for more mail-in and early voting. But other battleground states have passed laws that may keep some registered voters from casting ballots. Trump and his allies have continued to spread lies about the 2020 results, claiming without evidence that widespread voter fraud stole the election from him. That has spurred many Republican lawmakers in states such as Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina to reel back access to early and mail-in voting and add new identification requirements to vote. And in Pennsylvania, statewide appellate courts are toggling between rulings. The last four years have been a long, strange trip, said Hannah Fried, co-founder and executive director of All Voting is Local, a multistate voting rights organization. Rollbacks were almost to an instance tied to the big lie, she added, referring to Trumps election conspiracy theories. And there have been many, many positive reforms for voters in the last few years that have gone beyond what we saw in the COVID era. The volume of election-related legislation and court cases that emerged over the past four years has been staggering. Nationally, the Voting Rights Lab, a nonpartisan group that researches election law changes, tracked 6,450 bills across the country that were introduced since 2021 that sought to alter the voting process. Hundreds of those bills were enacted. Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, cautioned that incremental tweaks to election law especially last-minute changes made by the courts not only confuse voters, but also put a strain on local election officials who must comply with changes to statutes as they prepare for another highly scrutinized voting process. Any voter that is affected unnecessarily is too many in my book, he said. New restrictions In many ways, the 2020 presidential election is still being litigated four years later. Swing states have been the focus of legal challenges and new laws spun from a false narrative that questioned election integrity. The 2021 state legislative sessions, many begun in the days following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, brought myriad legislative changes that have made it more difficult to vote and altered how ballots are counted and rejected. The highest-profile measure over the past four years came out of Georgia. Under a 2021 law, Georgia residents now have less time to ask for mail-in ballots and must put their drivers license or state ID information on those requests. The number of drop boxes has been limited. And neither election officials nor nonprofits may send unsolicited mail-in ballot applications to voters. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said when signing the measure that it would ensure free and fair elections in the state, but voting rights groups lambasted the law as voter suppression. That law also gave Georgias State Election Board more authority to interfere in the makeup of local election boards. The state board has made recent headlines for paving the way for counties to potentially refuse to certify the election. This comes on top of a wave of voter registration challenges from conservative activists. In North Carolina, the Republican-led legislature last year overrode Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto to enact measures that shortened the time to turn in mail-in ballots; required local election officials to reject ballots if voters who register to vote on Election Day do not later verify their home address; and required identification to vote by mail. This will be the first general election in which North Carolinians will have to comply with a 2018 voter ID measure that was caught up in the court system until the state Supreme Court reinstated the law last year. And in Arizona, the Republican-led legislature pushed through a measure that shortened the time voters have to correct missing or mismatched signatures on their absentee ballot envelopes. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, signed the measure. Look, sometimes the complexity is the point, said Fried, of All Voting is Local. If you are passing a law that makes it this complicated for somebody to vote or to register to vote, whats your endgame here? What are you trying to do? Laws avoided major overhauls But the restrictions could have gone much further. Thats partly because Democratic governors, such as Arizonas Katie Hobbs, who took office in 2023, have vetoed many of the Republican-backed bills. But its also because of how popular early voting methods have become. Arizonans, for example, have been able to vote by mail for more than three decades. More than 75% of Arizonan voters requested mail-in ballots in 2022, and 90% of voters in 2020 cast their ballots by mail. This year, a bill that would have scrapped no-excuse absentee voting passed the state House but failed to clear a Republican-controlled Senate committee. Bridget Augustine, a high school English teacher in Glendale, Arizona, and a registered independent, has been a consistent early voter since 2020. She said the first time she voted in Arizona was by absentee ballot while she was a college student in New Jersey, and she has no concerns whatsoever about the safety of early voting in Arizona. I just feel like so much of this rhetoric was drummed up as a way to make it easier to lie about the election and undermine peoples confidence, she said. Vanessa Jiminez, the security manager for a Phoenix high school district, a registered independent and an early voter, said she is confident in the safety of her ballot. I track my ballot every step of the way, she said. Ben Ginsberg, a longtime Republican election lawyer and Volker Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the think tank Hoover Institution, said that while these laws may add new hurdles, he doesnt expect them to change vote totals. The bottom line is I dont think that the final result in any election is going to be impacted by a law thats been passed, he said on a recent call with reporters organized by the Knight Foundation, a Miami nonprofit that provides grants to support democracy and journalism. Major expansions No state has seen a bigger expansion to ballot access over the past four years than Michigan. Republicans tried to curtail access to absentee voting, introducing 39 bills in 2021, when the party still was in charge of both legislative chambers. Two GOP bills passed, but Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed them. The next year, Michigan voters approved ballot measures that added nine days of early voting. The measures also allowed voters to request mail-in ballots online; created a permanent vote-by-mail list; provided prepaid postage on absentee ballot applications and ballots; increased ballot drop boxes; and allowed voters to correct missing or mismatched signatures on mail-in ballot envelopes. When you take it to the people and actually ask them about it, it turns out most people want more voting access, said Melinda Billingsley, communications manager for Voters Not Politicians, a Lansing, Michigan, voting rights advocacy group. The ballot access expansions happened in spite of an anti-democratic, Republican-led push to restrict ballot access, she said. In 2021, then-Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, signed into law a measure that transitioned the state into a universal vote-by-mail system. Every registered voter would be sent a ballot in the mail before an election, unless they opt out. The bill made permanent a temporary expansion of mail-in voting that the state put in place during the pandemic. Nevada voters have embraced the system, data show. In Februarys presidential preference primary, 78% of ballots cast were ballots by mail or in a ballot drop box, according to the Nevada secretary of states office. In Junes nonpresidential primary, 65% of ballots were mail-in ballots. And in the 2022 general election, 51% of ballots cast were mail ballots. Last-minute court decisions Drop boxes werent controversial in Wisconsin until Trump became fixated on them as an avenue for alleged voter fraud, said Jeff Mandell, general counsel and co-founder of Law Forward, a Madison nonprofit legal organization. For half of a century, Wisconsinites could return their absentee ballots in the same drop boxes that counties and municipalities used for water bills and property taxes, he said. But when the pandemic hit and local election officials expected higher volumes of absentee ballots, they installed larger boxes. After Trump lost the state by fewer than 21,000 votes in 2020, drop boxes became a flashpoint. Republican leaders claimed drop boxes were not secure, and that nefarious people could tamper with the ballots. In 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, then led by a conservative majority, banned drop boxes. But that ruling would only last two years. In July, the new liberal majority in the states high court reversed the ruling and said localities could determine whether to use drop boxes. It was a victory for voters, Mandell said. With U.S. Postal Service delays stemming from the agencys restructuring, drop boxes provide a faster method of returning a ballot without having to worry about it showing up late, he said. Ballots must get in by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The boxes are especially convenient for rural voters, who may have a clerks office or post office with shorter hours, he added. Every way that you make it easy for people to vote safely and securely is good, Mandell said. After the high courts ruling, local officials had to make a swift decision about whether to reinstall drop boxes. All hands on deck Milwaukee city employees were quickly dispatched throughout the city to remove the leather bags that covered the drop boxes for two years, cleaned them all and repaired several, said Paulina Gutierrez, executive director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission. Theres an all-hands-on-deck mentality here at the city, she said, adding that there are cameras pointed at each drop box. Although it used a drop box in 2020, Marinette, a community on the western shore of Green Bay, opted not to use them for the August primary and asked voters to hand the ballots to clerk staff. Lana Bero, the city clerk, said the city may revisit that decision before November. New Berlin Clerk Rubina Medina said her community, a city of about 40,000 on the outskirts of Milwaukee, had some security concerns about potentially tampering or destruction of ballots within drop boxes, and therefore decided not to use the boxes this year. Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell, who serves the state capital of Madison and its surrounding area, has been encouraging local clerks in his county to have a camera on their drop boxes and save the videos in case residents have fraud concerns. A risk of confusing voters Many local election officials in Wisconsin say they worry that court decisions, made mere months before the November election, could create confusion for voters and more work for clerks. These decisions are last-second, over and over again, McDonell said. Youre killing us when you do that. Arizonans and Pennsylvanians now know that late-in-the-game scramble too. In August, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated part of a 2022 Arizona law that requires documented proof of citizenship to register on state forms, potentially affecting tens of thousands of voters, disproportionately young and Native voters. Whether Pennsylvania election officials should count mail ballots returned with errors has been a subject of litigation in every election since 2020. State courts continue to grapple with the question, and neither voting rights groups nor national Republicans show signs of giving up. Former Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar, who is now president of Athena Strategies and working on voting rights and election security across the country, said voters simply need to ignore the noise of litigation and closely follow the instructions with their mail ballots. Litigation is confusing, Boockvar said. The legislature wont fix it by legislation. Voter education is the key thing here, and the instructions on the envelopes need to be as clear and simple as possible. To avoid confusion, voters can make a plan for how and when they will vote by going to vote.gov, a federally run site where voters can check to make sure they are properly registered and to answer questions in more than a dozen languages about methods for casting a ballot. Arizona Mirrors Caitlin Sievers and Jim Small, Nevada Currents April Corbin Girnus and Pennsylvania Capital-Stars Peter Hall contributed reporting. A lawsuit only represents one side of a story. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Former Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) founder Tim Ballard has filed a countersuit for defamation against one of the women accusing him of sexual assault: 2004 Miss Utah Amy Morgan Davis. The suit, filed in Utahs Fourth District Court today, claims Davis falsely stated she had been sexually assaulted by Ballard during a Sept. 9 interview with the New York Times. Everything to know about the Tim Ballard controversies The false claims have to stop, and this lawsuit is intended to begin putting a stop to them, stated the suit, which can be read in its entirety below. Davis is one among a half-dozen women who have accused Ballard of sexual impropriety during his undercover operations as part of his work with OUR. A number of lawsuits have been filed against Ballard, some of which have been dismissed by courts. This is Ballards first countersuit against the women who have come forward. Davis was initially one of a number of anonymous women in a suit filed in October 2023, though this months article specifically named her. In his suit filed Sept. 25, Ballards attorneys attempted to paint Davis as someone attempting to seduce Ballard. The suit claims Davis was supposed to attend OURs formal training in 2021 at OURs expense, but she did not show up. When Ballard allegedly asked her why she didnt show up, the suit claims Davis attempted to seduce him. The suit also claims Ballard rejected her advances and asked staff to remove her from future training. According to her interview in the Times, Davis had been Ballards makeup artist on a number of occasions. She recalled meetings with Mr. Ballard in which he repeatedly told her to prove that the two of them had a connection and then made escalating sexual advances that included caressing her body with his hands, stated the Times article. Its hard to wrap your head around that because you really, in your mind, want him to be the hero, Davis said in the article. Ballards suit claims that text messages between the two showed that Davis said she loved our connection and Maybe your eyes cast a spell on me lol. Alleged texts as printed as an exhibit in the lawsuit claim that Davis also said our time together did mean something to me and Im sad I cant see you. In 2022, Ballard claimed Davis reached out to him again, asking to help him get her hired to perform for the Freedom Festival. The suit also claims Davis told Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leaders that Ballard had sexually assaulted her, but Ballards suit admitted it has no evidence of these discussions. Ballards suit is asking the court for general, special, and punitive damages; attorneys fees; and other relief as the Court deems just and equitable, though no dollar amounts were requested. ABC4.com has redacted telephone numbers from the lawsuit embedded below. This embedded content is not available in your region. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) About 600 shelter beds in San Diego will no longer be available at the end of the year, and city leaders are looking for other temporary solutions. The shelters closing include the 264 beds at Golden Hall. The 60-year-old facility was always planned to be a temporary shelter as it is in need of repair and its permit is expiring. Near the East Village, Father Joes Paul Mirabile Center is closing its 350 beds to transform into a detox center, and Rachels Promise is closing its 40-bed womens shelter due to repairs. SWAT standoff ends in Sherman Heights; man arrested The city currently has 2,508 shelter beds including the safe sleeping tents, but could decrease to less than 2,000 in the coming months. This comes as the homeless crisis continues to grow, with the latest 2024 point-in-time count data showing more than 6,000 homeless recorded in the City of San Diego. Im really looking forward to getting out of there, its not the best place, Anthony Ramirez said, he is one of the 264 residents at Golden Hall. Its a place better than living on the streets, Im not cut out for the streets. Man found dead in Lemon Grove residential neighborhood identified On Tuesday, the council heard the short-term action plan brought forward, while Council President Sean Elo-Rivera said he is for the temporary proposals brought forward. A lot of this is a Band-Aid, my goal is not simply to move folks off the streets and into shelter, all of our goal should be to have folks move into permanent housing, Elo-Rivera said. I dont think any San Diegan should aspire for San Diego to have the most people living in shelter of any city in the country. The short-term solutions include adding additional safe parking, sleeping and camping sites, hotel options and expanding diversion and financial assistance. The current capacity at the 20th and B safe sleeping site has 136 spaces. They are anticipating to expand it by 50 additional spaces. The O Lot can currently fit up to 408 spaces, and the expansion of 182 spots will bring the total there up to 590 spaces. Both expansions are anticipated to happen this fall. The city said they are in discussion with hotel owners to lease room blocks, and other partners to lease room blocks and could have up to 416 spots by the winter. The temporary solutions come as Mayor Todd Gloria has been pushing for a longer-term solution by leasing the facility at Kettner and Vine and turn a 65,000 square foot former warehouse into a 1,000 bed homeless shelter with on-site services. That initial proposal was not approved by city council in July and has been met with criticism. Some of the short-term solutions can go into affect right away, while others will need approval. City leaders are hoping to bring them forward for approval in the coming weeks. Heres a look at the short-term plan brought to council Tuesday: https://sandiego.hylandcloud.com/211agendaonlinecouncil/Documents/DownloadFile/Item%20S502%20Short%20Term%20Plan%20REVISED.pptx.pdf?documentType=1&meetingId=6196&itemId=238089&publishId=899477&isSection=False&isAttachment=True Current Shelter Capacity: Shelter Population Capacity 16th & Newton Men and Women 326 beds 17th & Imperial Men and Women 140 beds C-HRT Men and Women 44 beds Rosecrans Men and Women 150 beds Golden Hall 2nd Floor Men 264 beds DV Shelter Women with Children 160 beds Seniors Landing Senior Men and Women 34 rooms Travelodge Families 168 beds C-HRT Safe Haven Men and Women 22 beds Father Joes Bishop Maher Center Women 28 beds Father Joes Paul Mirabile Center Men and Women 350 beds LGBTQ+ TAY (Clairemont) Transition-age Youth 9 beds LGBTQ+ TAY (Midway) Transition-age Youth 14 beds PATH Connections Men and Women 70 beds Rachels Promise Women 40 beds Salvation Army Interim Family Families 32 beds San Diego Youth Services Transition-age Youth 17 beds Urban Street Angels Youth Transition-age Youth 52 bends 20th & B Safe Sleeping Men and Women 136 tents O Lot Safe Sleeping Men and Women 408 tents TOTAL 2,464 BEDS Data above from The Point-In-Time Count, as reported by The City Councils Staff Report in August. The shelters in bold above will be closing at the end of the 2024 or beginning of 2025. This will bring 654 beds offline, or unavailable, to house the homeless population. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. COMPANY NEWS: ManageEngine, a division of Zoho and a leading provider of enterprise IT management solutions, today announced a significant upgrade to its flagship IT analytics solution, Analytics Plus. Version 6.0 introduces Spotlight, a contextual recommendations engine powered by AI, designed to identify key inefficiencies in IT operations and suggest corrective strategies. The 2023 State of Analytics Engineering report found that time to business insight is the biggest challenge for nearly 50% of surveyed directors. Spotlight dramatically reduces the time IT managers and CIOs spend analysing various IT metrics and coming up with remedies to fix structural fault lines in operations. By incorporating decision-intelligence capabilities, Analytics Plus now facilitates contextual decision-making, addressing a crucial gap in traditional analytics software. For instance, Analytics Plus can analyse correlations between the age of IT assets, their frequency of failure, and the meantime to repair. Based on these parameters, it suggests the optimal time frame for asset replacement. This approach ensures that organisations neither dispose of assets prematurely, losing usable value, nor retain them for too long, negatively impacting employee productivity. With the introduction of Spotlight, ManageEngine reinforces its commitment to enhancing IT operations through intelligent, data-driven solutions. "While traditional analytics tools excel at providing a platform for analysing any type of data, they often lack the necessary context of the data they are analysing. Deriving meaningful and context-specific insights is becoming increasingly challenging due to a significant disconnect: the people performing the analysis are skilled at mining data but often lack the IT context, making it difficult to translate findings into actionable business decisions," said Leathams, a UK-based food supplying company, service delivery manager Samantha Hall Analytics Plus' built-in AI engine is programmed to study common IT processes and identify solutions to achieve desired results more quickly. Spotlight acts like an assistant, constantly monitoring for bottlenecks or operational inefficiencies and offering tips for corrective action. By bringing in IT context and leveraging AI capabilities, Analytics Plus ensures that organisations can address issues more effectively and efficiently. "Organisations no longer want to spend hours mining data for actionable insights. They require ready-made strategies that they can implement immediately to see rapid results," said ManageEngine product manager and chief analytics evangelist Rakesh Jayaprakash. He added, "There are sufficient tools in the market that promise automation and remediation for day-to-day network and application failures, but there's a lack of focus on strategic decision-making. This is the gap Spotlight aims to bridge." Root Cause Analysis Quick decision-making is only half the journey; IT managers and CIOs also need a way to backtest their decisions to ensure a new strategy or model will achieve the desired results. In addition to decision intelligence capabilities, ManageEngine is introducing the Root Cause Analysis feature, which automatically identifies the top factors contributing to a particular trend. This feature allows IT managers and CIOs to verify whether their changes or decisions are having a positive impact. For instance, if tools are implemented for auto-remediation of L1 network issues, Root Cause Analysis can look at the increased uptime and highlight the reduction in L1 network issues as the major contributor to better network uptime. No-Code Auto-ML for deep analysis The new version of Analytics Plus empowers IT teams to create custom machine learning (ML) models without writing a single line of code. Traditionally, developing and deploying ML models was restricted to experts. However, Analytics Plus no-code ML platform democratises this process, allowing IT managers to develop ML models directly on the data they are familiar with. With this capability, IT managers can build ML models for prediction and classification, such as a predictive model to derive the probability of ticket escalations based on various factors or related events. This approach ensures the development of highly specific and accurate models because they are built on the organisation's unique data and validated by the very people who use it daily. Unified IT Metrics Library Analytics Plus serves as a command centre and decision hub for IT by contextually analysing all IT data, enabling organisations to cross-correlate metrics and identify interdependencies. Analytics Plus version 6.0 introduces the Unified IT Metrics Library, listing all KPIs from an IT environment in a single view, effectively acting as a comprehensive directory of metrics. This makes searchability and reusability easier, breaking down silos created by various IT tools and serving as a single source of truth for any metric that IT teams need to track. "Traditional IT data analysis is often confined within individual tools. For instance, resolution time of incidents is limited to ITSM while mean time to repair a device is restricted to IT operations management. This inhibits cross-correlation and prevents organisations from obtaining a complete picture of their IT infrastructure. By analysing all these metrics together in a centralised platform, organisations can unlock significant value," said Jayaprakash. The Unified IT Metrics Library democratises data by making a catalogue of KPIs readily available for technicians to conduct their analyses, which can also be consumed by other IT applications for contextual integration. This comprehensive approach enhances governance and ensures that all relevant metrics are easily accessible and managed effectively, driving quick decision-making. In addition to these key features, Analytics Plus version 6.0 includes a range of productive enhancements such as multivariate forecasting, workflow charts, support for distributed processing (on-premises) and more than 10 new integrations with popular IT tools, detailed here. About Analytics Plus Analytics Plus is an IT analytics and decision intelligence software designed to provide organizations with a unified view of their IT operations, correlate interdependencies, and derive meaningful insights. It breaks down data silos by consolidating both on-premises and cloud infrastructure KPIs. Analytics Plus measures the efficiency of network operations, tracks the responsiveness and availability of business applications, evaluates technician performance, assesses the progress of processes, and flags security anomalies. This comprehensive analysis is achieved by connecting to every single IT software that forms the backbone of an IT infrastructure. These consolidated insights enable organizations to make data-driven decisions that enhance operational efficiency and drive business success. About ManageEngine ManageEngine is a division of Zoho that offers comprehensive on-premises and cloud-native IT and security operations management solutions for global organizations and managed service providers. Established and emerging enterprisesincluding nine of every 10 Fortune 100 organisationsrely on ManageEngine's real-time IT management tools to ensure the optimal performance of their IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, applications, endpoints and more. ManageEngine has 18 data centers, 20 offices and 200+ channel partners worldwide to help organizations tightly align their business to IT. For more information, please visit the company site, follow the company blog and get connected on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). The groundbreaking ceremony for Pulse broadband in Timnath on Tuesday included Dan Oddson with Colorado Boring; Nathan Hoppel with Ditesco; Earl Smith, senior civil engineer with the town of Timnath; Mayor Robert Axmacher; Brieana Reed-Harmel, Pulse broadband manager; and Justin Stone, Timnath Public Works director. Municipal broadband is on its way to Timnath, and Loveland's Pulse held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday to kick off the project. It'll take three to five years to build out the full project, Pulse has said, but the first phase of construction is expected to take six to nine months, the news release said. Network construction has begun, and the first Timnath customers are expected to be connected this year. The service will provide Timnath residents options for high-speed Internet, WiFi, television and voice services. The town of Timnath signed an intergovernmental agreement with Loveland in 2023 to bring Pulse services to town residents. Timnath is using $20 million in capital improvement funds to fund the initial buildout. In return, the town will get 25% of gross internet income, which it estimates amounts to a 2% to 6% return on investment over 20 to 30 years. Full payback is projected within 26 years, according to the news release. When can Timnath residents expect to be connected to Pulse? On its website, Pulse said there are many factors that determine where service will be built and connected next, including proximity to existing infrastructure or ease of construction. The broadband provider said it will notify residents when construction is starting and service is available at their address. It takes six to nine months for service to be available, since construction starts, Pulse said on its website. Residents can sign up for updates online. This project is about more than just internet access, Timnath Town Manager Aaron Adams said in a news release announcing the groundbreaking. Its an investment in our future, ensuring that we have the infrastructure in place to support economic growth, attract new residents and businesses, and improve quality of life for everyone in Timnath. Timnath ultimately chose Pulse after exploring both Fort Collins Connexion and Loveland Pulse. Loveland launched Pulse in 2018. It's one of three municipal broadband providers in Larimer County, including Fort Collins Connexion and Estes Park Trailblazer. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Timnath begins construction to bring Loveland Pulse broadband to town Lebanese businessman Anis Rubeiz has lived through conflict and crisis in his country but now sees no hope as all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah appears closer than ever. "Everything is collapsing around us," said Rubeiz, 55, in Beirut's Christian-majority Ashrafieh district, criticising what he said were attempts to drag Lebanon into a war it could do without. Lebanon is crushed by a five-year economic collapse and paralysed by a longstanding political deadlock. Now it faces the prospect of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, which have been trading near-daily fire since war in Gaza broke out in October. But the situation spiralled dramatically since last week, with hundreds dead in Israeli air strikes on Monday alone, the deadliest day since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war. Lebanon "can't handle" a war, said Rubeiz, who owns a real estate company. "People are tired mentally... I don't see (hope) on the horizon... or even a ray of light." In Beirut, the streets were relatively calm, after schools and universities closed, with some education facilities turned into makeshift shelters for the tens of thousands who have fled for their lives. But people are apprehensive, and everyone is talking about the risk of disaster. Many have vivid memories of 2006 when Israel and Hezbollah last went to war, or the civil war before that. "I'm basically ready in case war erupts -- I packed my bag with my children's identity papers and passports and clothes, and put them next to the door," said Abir Khater, 43, outside a shopping centre. The store manager and mother of three said she moved her family from their home near Beirut's southern suburbs, which has seen several Israeli strikes since Friday, to Bhamdoun in the mountains outside the capital. - 'Afraid' - "I'm afraid just one missile will hit by mistake. Nobody knows what could happen to us," she said. Her children are still traumatised after a catastrophic industrial explosion at Beirut's port in 2020, and the sectarian violence that has occasionally erupted in her area, she said. During the 2006 war, "I wasn't married... but now I'm really afraid for my children", she said. That month-long conflict killed around 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers. It left enormous damage including to roads and other infrastructure. Opinions on Hezbollah's actions have been divided since October when the Iran-backed group began its cross-border attacks on Israel in support of Palestinian Hamas militants fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip. In Ashrafieh's Sassine Square, where an enormous Lebanese flag flies overhead, Mohammed Khalil was sitting on a bench, worrying about how to find a job and provide for his family. "I need to rebuild my life," said the 33-year-old, who fled with his wife and three children from their village in the southern district of Nabatiyeh this week. With so many other people also leaving, it took them two days to reach Beirut, a trip that would normally take a couple of hours at most. "I have children. They need to go to school, I'm thinking of their future... but I hit a dead end," said Khalil, who has previously worked manual jobs. - 'Rebuild' - He said Hezbollah should respond after "what has happened to the people from the south", adding defiantly that "our side will win" in any case. Everything is in "sacrifice for the resistance", he added, referring to Hezbollah. A deep political crisis has left Lebanon without a president for almost two years, with Hezbollah allies and their opponents deadlocked, unable to reach a consensus. The Shiite Muslim movement wields huge influence in Lebanon, while detractors accuse it of being a state within a state and of making unilateral decisions that mean the difference between war and peace. Nina Rufayel, a teacher in her 50s, expressed solidarity with Lebanese from the south, but said she was worried about further escalation. "I'm fearful for tomorrow. Who will rebuild... feed us, teach" our children, she asked. "I'm not just afraid of whether war will break out or not, I'm afraid the whole country will be wiped off the map," she said. Ghada Hatoum, who was walking in Beirut's Hamra shopping district, said "Hezbollah is not a state that can take the decision between war and peace -- it is a parallel entity to the state". "It has shown its people (supporters)... that it took the wrong decision," she said, referring to its move to begin attacking Israel. "Nobody is ready for war or has built a shelter. Are our lives that cheap? Are weapons worth more than lives?" she said, adding: "If I don't have a shelter to hide in, why drag me into war?" am/lar/lg/it/dv Pope Francis and Archbishop of Luxembourg, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, right leave in a popemobile the Cercle-Cite convention center in Luxembourg after a meeting with the national authorities and the civil society on the first day of Francis's four-day visit to Luxembourg and Belgium, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana) BRUSSELS (AP) Little brings more heavenly bliss to the faithful or otherworldly wonder to casual visitors than ethereal hymns cascading amid the columns of Catholic cathedrals. That is, unless the composer is a known molester or someone accused of sexual abuse. A few days before the highlight of Pope Francis' visit to Belgium a Mass at the biggest stadium in Brussels the specially selected choir of 120 was rehearsing a brand-new closing hymn when it became known that the composer was a priest accused of molesting young women. The hymn was hastily removed from the order of service and replaced with another composition but it was too late to reprint the official Magnificat booklet for the Mass because of the number of copies required. The name of the alleged abuser, who died two weeks ago, is right there at the bottom of page 52, next to a request for donations, with a bank account number and a QR code. It was the latest controversy in the Belgian church's decades-long struggle to come to terms with an appalling history of sex abuse and cover-ups by its priests and clergy a legacy Francis will confront in person when he meets with survivors of the abuse during his visit. I pointed it out to them, said the Rev. Rik Deville, a retired priest who has been a torchbearer for survivors of church abuse for three decades. What happened with the hymn is only a symptom of a much wider problem. They still cannot deal with the issue," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. For over two decades, Belgium has been facing a continual cascade of abuse reports that officially total several hundred known cases but which, advocates say, are only the tip of the iceberg: Many of the victims and perpetrators have died, or the alleged crimes have exceeded their statute of limitations. Deville said victims in villages come face to face with such issues on a weekly basis. The Sunday Mass scandal only started to roll early this week when an abuse victim pointed out to a local bishop that he had warmly eulogized the recently deceased priest-composer who had, in fact, been an abuser. As a result, the Bishop of Limburg, Patrick Hoogmartens, announced he wouldnt take part in celebratory papal events. It set off the chain of events leading to the change in the Mass program. It is only now because it is an international event that something is done about it, said Deville. But such things happen on a weekly basis in parishes across the nation that victims are confronted like that. And then nothing is done about it. Church authorities said the hymns were chosen in coordination with the musicians who were unaware of the case, which only came to public attention after the recent death of the priest. Hundreds of churches across Belgium still have hymnbooks with his works. Archbishop Luc Terlinden promised the church would look into it as soon as the Pope leaves. Every Sunday in every parish his songs are sung. So it is a wider problem. And I want to look into this as of Monday to see what we will do in the future with our policy on culprits, on facts out of respect for the victims, Terlinden told VRT network. Debates over what to do with art, be it music or paintings, when the artist has engaged in problematic or even criminal behavior, have confronted the church and society at large for centuries, long before cancel culture became a buzzword. Few people argue that Caravaggio's religious masterpieces should be destroyed or taken down because of his criminal life: The man he killed is dead, as is he. But in Los Angeles four years ago, the archdiocese banned the music of Catholic composer David Haas amid an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, allegations Haas strenuously denied. And more recently, the mosaics of one of the Catholic Churchs most acclaimed contemporary artists, the Rev. Marko Rupnik, have come under scrutiny. Rupnik's Jesuit religious order expelled him in 2023 after more than two dozen women accused him of spiritual, psychological and sexual abuses, some while he was creating the artwork. Francis reopened a church investigation amid suspicions that Rupnik had escaped punishment in Francis' Jesuit-friendly Vatican. Rupnik hasn't responded publicly to the allegations, but his art studio has defended him and denounced what it has called a media lynching. The issue about what to do with his artwork is not minor, since Rupnik's mosaics decorate the facades and altars of some of the most-visited basilicas and churches around the world, including at Lourdes, France; in Fatima, Portugal and even in the Vatican's apostolic palace. So far, the bishop of Lourdes decided to keep the Rupnik mosaics for now because there was no consensus within a committee of experts he formed about what to do with them. The Knights of Columbus religious fraternity decided this summer to cover the mosaics at its shrine in Washington, and chapel in Connecticut. But earlier this year, the head of the Vaticans communications department created an uproar when he defended the continued use of images of Rupniks mosaics on the Vaticans own news portal, Vatican News, even as a canonical investigation is underway at the Vatican's sex crimes office. He argued, as have others, that one must separate the art from the artist. That argument did not sit well with the popes top adviser on child protection and fighting clergy abuse, Cardinal Sean OMalley. He penned a letter to the heads of all Vatican offices in June urging them to refrain from displaying Rupniks artwork as a gesture to abuse victims. Pastoral prudence would prevent displaying artwork in a way that could imply either exoneration or a subtle defense, he wrote in June. We must avoid sending a message that the Holy See is oblivious to the psychological distress that so many are suffering. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. TechCrunch If you ask ChatGPT to help you make a homemade fertilizer bomb, similar to the one used in the 1995 Oklahoma City terrorist bombing, the chatbot refuses. Providing instructions on how to create dangerous or illegal items, such as a fertilizer bomb, goes against safety guidelines and ethical responsibilities. The hacker, who goes by Amadon, called his findings a social engineering hack to completely break all the guardrails around ChatGPTs output. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The top aide to North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson within state government is quitting, a state official said Wednesday, marking another staff separation from the Republican nominee for governor following a CNN report stating he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography websites message board. Brian LiVecchi, Robinson's chief of staff and general counsel, will resign effective next Tuesday, according to state Sen. Benton Sawrey, who has known LiVecchi for many years. LiVecchi didn't return a phone call and email Wednesday seeking information about any staff changes within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. However, Sawrey said LiVecchi had given him authority to confirm his departure. Brian and his staff worked every day to help make North Carolina the best state in the nation, Sawrey said. Hes a true public servant that led by example and tackled every issue thoughtfully. Over the weekend, Robinson announced that four key staff members on his gubernatorial campaign staff had left their jobs, including senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski IIi and campaign manager Chris Rodriguez. Pogorzelski separately Sunday named eight campaign workers who had stepped down, decimating the team six weeks before Robinsons election with Democratic nominee Josh Stein. Robinson vowed to rebuild the campaign staff and remained optimistic about the electoral outcome. CNNs report last week unearthed posts it said Robinson left on a porn sites message boards in which he referred to himself as a black NAZI; said he enjoyed transgender pornography; said in 2012 he preferred Hitler to then-President Barack Obama; and slammed the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as worse than a maggot. Robinson, who would be the state's first Black governor if elected, has denied writing the messages that CNN says were from over a decade ago. He said Tuesday his campaign has hired a law firm to help investigate how what Robinson calls false smears originated. But that hasn't stopped top Republicans from distancing themselves from Robinson. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump endorsed Robinson before the March primary and has let Robinson speak at the former presidents in-state rallies. But he was not involved in Trump rallies on Wednesday in suburban Charlotte and last weekend in Wilmington. The Republican Governors Association has cut off support for Robinson, with no new ad placements. Steins campaign and his allies have outraised Robinson and his supporting groups, running commercials and posting videos criticizing Robinson for his past inflammatory comments on abortion, LGBTQ+ issues and the role of women. Other state Republicans have said that unless Robinson produces evidence soon to refute the allegations in the CNN report the GOP must turn its focus to other critical races in the battleground state. Robinson said in a post on X that he spoke with Republican leaders across the state Wednesday morning and made it clear: This is an election about policies, not personalities ... From President Trump to our local community officials, we must vote Republican. The Lieutenant Governor's Office is small the office website identifies eight employees and Robinson's duties are few. They include presiding over the state Senate and serving on the State Board of Elections. His office also handles constituent services. Robinson tackled other issues, such as boosting work apprenticeships and opposing what he considered political indoctrination in the public schools. The lieutenant governor's four-year term, like the governor's, concludes at year's end. Lucas Ayaba Cho is described as Commander-in-Chief of the Ambazonian Defence Forces separatist group [Ambazonian Defence Forces] A Cameroonian separatist leader has been arrested in Norway for his alleged role in the ongoing armed conflict in the Central African country. Lucas Ayaba Cho was arrested on Tuesday on "charges based on his various expressions on social media", his lawyer told the BBC. Cho is an influential figure in the Anglophone movement pushing for independence from Cameroon, where over 6,000 people have been killed and nearly a million others displaced since fighting began in 2016. Some in the country's two English-speaking regions say they are discriminated against by the French-speaking majority. Human rights group Amnesty International has accused both government troops and the armed separatists of killings, rapes and torture of civilians. A Cameroonian official told the BBC that Norway and Cameroon had a security agreement, which could see Cho being extradited in the coming days. His lawyer said he wasn't aware of any extradition request. Who is Lucas Ayaba Cho? Cho, who describes himself as a liberation leader, is one of the most prominent separatist leaders shaping the conflict in Cameroons restive Anglophone regions. On its website, the 52-year-old is described as Commander-in-Chief of the Ambazonian Defence Forces (ADF), one of several armed groups seeking independence from Cameroon. He commands his movement from his base in Norway, where he is believed to have ordered a recent two-week lockdown as part of the separatists' campaign to boycott schools. Known for his tough-talking and hard-line approach, he came under criticism after ADF fighters recently targeted taxi drivers in the North-West region, ordering them to change the colour of their vehicles from yellow to white and blue the colours of the flag of the planned break-away state of Ambazonia. Some of those who refused saw their vehicles burnt. The ADF's political wing, the Ambazonia Governing Council, has imposed a liberation tax which compels people living in the restive Anglophone regions to pay a certain amount of money to fund the conflict against the government. In January 2017, he said he survived an assassination attempt after holding talks with other separatist leaders in Belgium. His anti-institutional radicalism did not emerge with the outbreak of the Anglophone crisis in 2016. Its a trait that dates as far back as the 1990s when he was reportedly expelled from the University of Buea for taking part in demonstrations over an increase in tuition fees. Norways National Criminal Investigation Service (KRIPOS) said Cho had a central role in an ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon. On Wednesday, the Norwegian investigators sought his custody from the Oslo District Court. We are in an early phase of the investigation, and there are several investigative steps that remain, Norwegian prosecutor Anette Berger said. Emmanuel Nsahlai, a US-based lawyer representing some victims of the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon, hailed Cho's arrest as a "significant victory" against separatist violence in Cameroon. "This arrest marks a critical step in holding him accountable for his actions and bringing justice to the victims of his violence," Mr Nsahlai told the BBC. Cho is not the first separatist leader to be arrested abroad in connection with the violence in Cameroon. Since the outbreak of the conflict, the Cameroonian government has been urging foreign countries hosting separatist leaders to facilitate their repatriation back home for trial over their role in the ongoing violence. In 2018, Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, the leader of the Anglophone separatist movement, and 46 others were arrested in Nigeria and later extradited to Cameroon. More about the crisis in Cameroon: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts A group of senior Democratic lawmakers are calling out the Biden administration for not doing enough to curb the trafficking of illegal firearms into Haiti from South Florida, demanding stricter screening at the regions ports. A letter sent to four different agencies with responsibility over weapons exports and signed by several senators and representatives, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, expresses alarm at the rising lethality, quantity, and caliber of illicit weapons in Haiti. The Biden administrations efforts to combat the unlawful trade risks being undermined without more thoroughly addressing the crisis of illicit arms trafficking to Haiti, reads the letter, which is being sent long after the Miami Herald and other news media spotlighted the escalation of weapons and gang violence on the island. The lawmakers directed their call to the heads of the departments of Homeland Security, State, Commerce and Justice. All four agencies have responsibilities for overseeing weapons exports to Haiti, where an underground market has flourished since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise despite a U.S. and a United Nations arms embargo. Cracking down on the flow of illegal weapons that are facilitating rampant gang violence in Haiti advances U.S. security. It is also a moral imperative, the writers of the letter said. The administration has faced criticism for pulling back resources from the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince and the local Drug Enforcement Administration office. On more than one occasion the State Department has issued mandatory evacuations for staff, which has left the local DEA office empty at times. Congress has also faced questions over its allocation of money critical to federal screening programs. Lawmakers are not expected to take any actions themselves in the coming months, heading into recess until after the November elections. Nor is there any proposed congressional action accompanying the request, despite pressure from Haitian Americans and leaders of the Caribbean Community. The Caribbean, which is seeing a spike in arms-related homicides, has been calling on the U.S. to tighten controls with screenings at its seaports and do more to stop the flow of ammunition and high-powered rifles. In June 2023, during a historic visit to The Bahamas, Vice President Kamala Harris announced additional U.S. assistance to help Caribbean countries tackle illegal arms and ammunition trafficking. The U.S. said it would invest in a criminal investigative unit in collaboration with the Haitian national police, giving officers access to E-tracing capabilities with seized weapons. However, sources in Haiti said they have not seen any follow-up. Homeland Security Investigations in Miami first started sounding the alarm about the escalation in weapons trafficking in 2022 after Haitis national police made several high-profile seizures at the main seaport in Port-au-Prince and another in the countrys northwest. One of the seizures involved shipping containers in the name of the Episcopal Church from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale into Port-au-Prince. The containers, marked Donated goods, held 22 firearms, including 19 assault rifles, 140 magazine cartridges of different calibers, nearly 15,000 rounds of ammunition and $50,000 in counterfeit dollars. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida the only Haitian-American member of the House are among the nearly 60 lawmakers who signed the letter. A Warren aide told McClatchy that her team also reached out to Republican offices for signatures. We did not get any signers from this outreach, the aide said. One of their their requests is for the Justice Department to expand a federal firearms program to Florida requiring gun sellers to notify the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when they sell someone multiple semi-automatic weapons during a five-day period. Right now, Florida isnt among the states covered by the law. According to the ATF website, only Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas are required by the agency to report all transactions. The request shows that lawmakers have finally recognized the role of Haiti in the weapons pipeline. Recent seizures of weapons in Haiti suggest that lawmakers have mistakenly focused on the Miami River as a choke point for illicit arms trafficking. The real source of the problem, the Herald has found, is scant screening of exports at South Floridas major ports, particularly Port Everglades. Floridas seaports have served as a huge pipeline for the illegal firearms and ammunition flowing into Haiti and ending up in the hands of armed gangs now controlling more than 85% of the capital, The gangs are responsible for the deaths of more than 3,600 people in the first half of this year a nearly 74% increase over 2023. The violence has forced more than 578,000 Haitians from their homes and exacerbated a hunger crisis as gangs block roads, charge tolls and kidnap for ransom to collect money for high-powered weapons. Haitis armed groups have thousands of members, many equipped with powerful assault weapons that outgun the Haitian National Police, the members of Congress wrote. In this nation gripped by gun violence, American-made weapons are easy to come by, even as humanitarian aid becomes harder to deliver. The United Nations estimates that there could be as many as 500,000 guns in Haiti, though the country does not produce firearms domestically, they added. Instead, the United States is the number one source of firearms entering Haiti today. Miami Herald federal courts reporter Jay Weaver contributed to this report. Catalan MEP Carles Puigdemont holds a press conference regarding his immunity at the European Parliament in Brussels. Jan Van De Vel/European Parliament/dpa The Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont suffered a defeat at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Thursday over the recognition of his status as an EU lawmaker. The highest court in the European Union dismissed Puigdemont's case against the then European Parliament president's refusal to recognize his status as a member of the EU legislature. The president could not deviate from the list otherwise "the division of powers between the European Union and the EU member states would be disregarded," an ECJ press statement said. Puigdemont has been the subject of an arrest warrant for years for his role in an illegal independence referendum in Catalonia to secede from Spain. The former president of Catalonia fled abroad with some members of the Catalan government after the chaos of the referendum and the Spanish government's response. He currently lives in Belgium. In 2019, he was elected to the European Parliament along with his fellow Catalan separatist politician Antoni Comin. However, the then president of the European Parliament refused to treat them as members of the EU legislature as they were not on the Spanish government's list of elected candidates. Puigdemont and Comin were not on the list as they refused to swear an oath to the Spanish constitution. Their European Parliament seats were declared vacant and their associated rights suspended. The president of Haiti's transitional presidential council, Edgard Leblanc Fils, addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) UNITED NATIONS (AP) A strange moment in American politics paid a visit to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, brought there by a top Haitian official. Edgard Leblanc Fils, the president of Haitis transitional council, spoke to world leaders about gang violence in his country and bemoaned the large number of citizens fleeing the violence. Then he referenced false claims that Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs. The debunked information found its international spotlight in the U.S. presidential debate earlier this month, in which former President Donald Trump repeated the claims that have circulated on the internet and been amplified by his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. The Republican ticket is criticizing the immigration policies of President Joe Bidens administration, which are supported by Trumps Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. In his General Assembly address, Fils made clear his countrys concern about the repercussions of the false claims about fellow Haitians. I would like to extend a brotherly greeting to all friends of Haiti that have shown solidarity towards the migrants from our country and in particular those living in Springfield, Ohio, he said. The history of U.S-Haitian ties enables us to say with confidence that the American people reject any incitement to hate against our community, he said. The passions that naturally arise during an election campaign should never serve as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country such as the United States, a country forged by immigrants from all countries, and which has become a model of democracy for the world. During the debate with Harris, Trump specifically mentioned Springfield, saying that immigrants were taking over the city. Theyre eating the dogs. Theyre eating the cats. Theyre eating the pets of the people that live there, he said. ___ See more of APs coverage of the U.N. General Assembly at https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations Top staff in North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons (R) government office will be stepping down next week, multiple outlets reported on Wednesday, increasing the number of aides parting ways with the states GOP gubernatorial candidate following CNNs explosive report published last week. Robinsons office chief of staff Brian LiVecchi, policy director Jonathan Harris, director of communications John Wesley Waugh and director of government affairs Nathan Lewis will resign on Oct. 1. LiVecchi confirmed the resignations to The New York Times, and WRAL was the first to report on them. The development comes as a flurry of Robinsons campaign staff have stepped down from their roles over the weekend following CNNs bombshell report where the outlet detailed a number of inflammatory comments that Robinson reportedly made on a porn sites messaging board over a decade ago, including calling himself a black NAZI. He has denied writing the posts. The lieutenant governor said on Tuesday that he had hired Binnall Law Group, a law firm, to investigate the false smears in the CNN report. A number of Republicans nationwide have distanced themselves from Robinson following the report, with some arguing that he should dispute the claims or halt his gubernatorial run. The Republican Governors Association said this week that it did not have future ad reservations that would support Robinson in his contest versus state Attorney General Josh Stein (D). Robinson, elected to his current post in 2020, said on Wednesday that he spoke with political leaders in The Tar Heel State and that his race against Stein is about policies, not personalities. Now is not the time for intra-party squabbling and nonsense, Robinson said Wednesday on X. We have 41 days to make our case we cant do it without all hands on deck. From President Trump to our local community officials, we must vote Republican. The Hill reached out to LiVecchis office contact for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. GUEST EVENT: Vast Data, the AI data platform company, today announced the full agenda for the companys virtual event on 1 October 2024. The event will spotlight presentations from Vast, along with leading AI thought leaders and practitioners, including comments from Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, for the latest perspective on enterprise AI adoption and the future of data, tech innovation, and progress for every industry across the globe. When: Wednesday, 2 October 2024, at 12pm AEST. Where: Online - Register here to join. Why: In the era of AI, where the volume of both structured and unstructured data is growing exponentially day after day, this event provides an opportunity to learn about and experience some of the groundbreaking uses of AI across industries. The event will premier multiple announcements that bring to market new technology to drive innovation, form communities to connect and nurture the AI ecosystem, and establish new partnerships to accelerate AI deployments. Vasts event tracks boast an incredible lineup of speakers, including: AI thought leaders: Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang, will share remarks virtually with Vast Data CEO, Renen Hallak, to discuss the challenges of broad AI adoption in global enterprises and together make a major announcement. DeepLearning.AI founder and managing general partner of AI Fund Andrew Ng will speak to the importance of agentic workflows and scaling the application layer to further AI model building. New Enterprise Associates partner and head of AI strategy Lila Tretikov will share her perspective on AI investment and the future of data infrastructure. AI-powered businesses HSBC global COO of commercial banking David Rice will speak about how AI is transforming global financial services. Chan Zuckerberg initiative director of AI/ML and data engineering Jennifer Kennedy will discuss how AI and science work together to change the world. Ola Group chief information officer Navendu Agarwal will present on how Ola and others are building Indias AI ecosystem. ServiceNow vice president of research Nicolas Chapados and research architect Christian Hudon will discuss how ServiceNow is bringing agentic AI to the enterprise. AI cloud innovators will discuss the need for efficient AI cloud infrastructure to manage the performance, scale, and security required for enterprise AI workloads. Learn more from: CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator and CTO Peter Salanki Equinix executive vice president and general manager of data centre services Jon Lin Core42 executive vice president chief government affairs and partnerships officer, Talal M Al Kaissi Crusoe CEO Chase Lochmiller Lambda founding team and vice president of revenue Robert Brooks, featuring Hedra Founder and CEO, Michael Lingelbach AI Data Stack Builders will speak about how to bring AI solutions to market with partners for maximum impact. Hear from industry leaders including: Nvidia senior vice president of networking Kevin Deierling with Vast Data co-founder Jeff Denworth Nvidia vice president of enterprise computing Manuvir Das Supermicro founder, president, and CEO Charles Liang Cisco executive vice president and chief product officer Jeetu Patel, and senior vice president and head of network engineering Will Eatherton World Wide Technologies (WWT) CEO and co-Founder Jim Kavanaugh and CTO Mike Taylor Deloitte AI Factory CTO Prasad Rampalli, AI Factor leader, Stephen Brown, and managing director Byron Cheng Equinix executive vice president and general manager of data centre services Jon Lin Run:ai CTO and co-founder Ronen Dar Dremio CEO Sendur Sellakumar Additional speakers will include Vast founder and CEO Renen Hallak, co-founder Jeff Denworth, and CMO Marianne Budnik, along with other special guests. We are bringing together some of the most forward thinking and innovative thought leaders from organisations that are truly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI, said Vast Data CEO and founder Renen Hallak. We are at the very beginning of a revolutionary AI journey, and I would encourage everyone to join us as we work to realise the full potential of this technology by putting data at the heart of the AI ecosystem. Together, we can accelerate discovery across every industry, finding solutions to the problems we face today, and looking beyond to address the issues of tomorrow. Join Vast Data at this exciting virtual event on 1 October 2024 by Registering Here. About Vast Data Vast Data is the data platform company built for the AI era. As the new standard for enterprise AI infrastructure, organisations trust the Vast Data Platform to serve their most data-intensive computing needs. VAST Data empowers enterprises to unlock the full potential of their data by providing AI infrastructure that is simple, scalable, and architected from the ground up to power deep learning and GPU-accelerated data centres and clouds. Launched in 2019, Vast Data is the fastest growing data infrastructure company in history. For more information, please visit and follow Vast Data on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. A young man rides a bicycle through a flooded street in the Chang Khlan area after the Ping River overflowed into urban areas following continuous rainfall in Chiang Mai. Pongmanat Tasiri/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa The famous temple city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand was on Thursday submerged in many places following a night of torrential rain. The Ping River burst its banks and reached its highest level in 13 years, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported, citing the administration of the picturesque city, which is also known as the Rose of the North. The floods caused chaos in the centre of Chiang Mai, including the famous night bazaar, the report said, with the water level rising by up to 1 metre in some locations. The tourist police warned holidaymakers about the danger and provided a number for emergencies. Authorities also announced help for tourists stranded in their hotels by the high waters. Hospitals were also affected and announced that they would only be accepting emergency patients until Monday. Residents were urged to take their belongings to safety. Meanwhile, the masses of water were moving towards Chiang Mai railway station. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to suspend some train services for the time being. The rainy season still prevails in large parts of South-East Asia, and this year it has been particularly heavy in the north. earlier in September, days of heavy rain caused severe flooding, especially in the equally popular province of Chiang Rai on the border with Myanmar and Laos. The temple city of Chiang Mai, with its historic old town and many sights, is considered one of the country's most beautiful showpieces. However, it often makes negative headlines. Between January and April, Chiang Mai regularly takes first place on the list of cities with the highest air pollution in the world. This is mainly because farmers throughout the region burn stubble at the end of the dry season. A woman and a boy walk along a flooded street in the Chang Khlan area due to the Ping River overflowing into urban areas after continuous rainfall in Chiang Mai. Pongmanat Tasiri/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa The Belmont Police Department on Thursday announced the death of a beloved school crossing guard. Ruby Wheeler, known for serving at the intersection of Washington and Common streets, was admired by students and parents alike. Ruby wasnt just a crossing guard, he was a welcoming presence who greeted every child with a warm smile and kind words, making sure they started and ended their school day on a positive note, Belmont police said on Facebook. His kindness, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the safety of Belmonts children touched the lives of many. Belmont police gave their heartfelt condolences to the Wheeler family, adding that he will be deeply missed by the entire community. Police didnt offer any additional details on Wheelers passing. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Tourist Attacked by Hippo Relives Moment It Grabbed Him 'in Its Jaws': I'm Not Ready to Die The 63-year-old man was on a group canoe trip in Zambia when the attack occurred Getty A stock photo of a hippo British tourist Roland Cherry was severely injured when a hippo "grabbed" him while he was on a group canoe trip with his wife Shirley in Zambia on June 25 "I do remember thinking 'Oh no, what a way to go... I'm not ready to die' and I thought this was it," the 63-year-old recalled to the BBC He's now raising money for the non-profit institution Mtendere Mission Hospital, which he said helped save his life A 63-year-old man is thankful to be alive following a hippo attack in Zambia, Africa. On Tuesday, June 25, Roland Cherry, from Warwickshire, England was dragged underwater by the animal while canoeing with his wife Shirley on a group trip along the Kafue River, per a message on Roland's Just Giving page. Roland said the couple was on a five-week camping safari through Southern Africa and had been having a "fabulous time" before the incident, according to the site. Four days into the second three-week leg of the tour which took them from Victoria Falls through Zambia, Malawi and then down the Mozambique coast to South Africa Roland and his wife had been in the second of five kayaks when they felt an "almighty bang" as the hippo lifted their canoe "out of the water." Getty A stock photo of the Kafue National Park Related: 2-Year-Old Boy Rescued After Hippo Swallowed 'Half of His Body,' Police Say Shirley managed to swim to the riverbank, but Roland's shoulder had got dislocated in the attack. "The hippo grabbed me in its jaws and took me under to the bottom of the river. Although I never saw the hippo, I thought that my time was up!" he said on the Just Giving page. "When the hippo first hit the canoe, there was a massive crash, much like a car crash really," Roland told the BBC of the incident. "I do remember thinking 'Oh no, what a way to go... I'm not ready to die' and I thought this was it, because nobody survives hippo attacks," he added to the outlet. "We know subsequently from fellow travelers I was grabbed again and thrown through the air like a rag doll but towards the bank which was the godsend," Roland continued, per the outlet. "I remember looking down at my legs thinking 'That's not good'. There was bits of flesh sticking out of my torn shorts and blood over my abdomen," he said. "I was badly mauled with severe bite wounds to both my legs and my left side, my left upper arm and a dislocated right shoulder. I was in a very bad way..." he wrote on his Just Giving page. DeAgostini/Getty A stock photo of hippos in the Kafue River in Zambia Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Roland was taken to the nearest village, Chirundu, which was about 25 minutes away, before he received treatment which "undoubtedly saved" his "life" at the Mtendere Mission General Hospital. "As soon as we arrived, this little African hospital swung into action. Without thinking twice or asking for my insurance details, they assessed the hippo damage and whisked me into theater to clean my wounds," Roland recalled on his Just Giving page. "If they hadnt acted so promptly there is a strong likelihood that sepsis would have set in which could have proved fatal. I can think of no better illustration of 'the kindness of strangers.' " Related: Mom Says She Felt Like 'Rag Doll' During Bear Attack Before Barking Dog, and a Hair Clip, Saved Her The keen naturalist was eventually flown from Zimbabwe to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, where he received "first class" treatment "from the A-Team," he said on his page. Roland is now continuing his recovery at home in Tysoe, Warwickshire, reported U.K. newspaper The Times. He is also raising money for the non-profit institution Mtendere Mission Hospital. "While recovering in my hospital bed, I had time to think and reflect on the incident. What struck me most from this near-death experience was the kindness of strangers," Roland said on his Just Giving page. "I vowed that assuming I made it home to Warwickshire I would talk about the incident at a fund-raising event for the Mtendere Mission Hospital and see if we can offer something back to the hospital that had almost certainly saved my life," he added. Roland whose page has raised over $20,000 so far has since learned that the hippo who attacked him was a female protecting her calf. "We were there to see the natural world and we wanted to see, but I didn't want to see that close up," he said, per The Times. "I certainly dont hate hippos Im not very fond of what one did to me. "I was in its jaws and I didn't see it once," Roland continued to the BBC. "We have eyewitness accounts of that happening but I was never conscious of that." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A British couple who were embarked on a five-week camping safari trip through Southern Africa had their dream vacation upended when a hippo capsized their canoe and almost killed the husband in the ensuring attack. Roland Cherry, 63, and his wife Shirley had already traveled through the National Parks of Botswana from Johannesburg up to Victoria Falls during the first two-week leg of their trip back in June. They were only four days into the second leg of their trip on a river safari on the Kafue River, a tributary of the Zambezi, when the attack occurred. Speaking with the BBC in an interview this week, Cherry described the moment the hippo attacked as like "a massive crash, much like a car crash really." Cherry says the canoe then "reared up in the air," throwing them both into the water. Thankfully, his wife was able to swim to shore, but his shoulder was dislocated when the boat hit it, leaving him unable to swim. "The instructions were to swim to safety but I couldn't swim so I was really a sitting duck, trying to swim with one arm which was never going to end welland then it grabbed me," Cherry recalled, and said that the hippo then dragged him to the bottom of the river. "I do remember thinking, 'Oh no, what a way to go... I'm not ready to die' and I thought this was it, because nobody survives hippo attacks," he continued. The hippo briefly relented, leaving Cherry in shallow water near the riverbank. But then he was grabbed for a second time. "We know subsequently from fellow travelers I was grabbed again and thrown through the air like a rag doll but towards the bank which was the godsend," he explained. "I remember looking down at my legs thinking 'that's not good'. There was bits of flesh sticking out of my torn shorts and blood over my abdomen." "I was in its jaws and I didn't see it oncewe have eye witness accounts of that happeningbut I was never conscious of that," he added. Finally, the hippo seemingly lost interest, thankfully leaving him near the riverbank. Cherry remembered his wife calling his name and "friendly arms" pulling him to shore. He was then put on a motor boat and transported to the nearest village of Chirundu, Zambia by mini bus, about 25 minutes away. The air ambulance company hadn't arrived by the time he got to town, so he was taken to the local hospital. He said the decision "undoubtably saved his life." All told, Cherry suffered a 10-inch wound to his abdomen and a thigh injury in addition to the dislocated shoulder. He was later moved to a hospital in Johannesburg for further treatment, where staff told him he may not have survived if the wounds had been slightly deeper. A nurse also told him that they had never encountered a hippo attack survivor, as attacks tend to be fatal. Now, Cherry is hoping to raise 20,000 on a crowdfunding websitenot to cover his medical expenses, but to help buy medical equipment for the local hospital to thank them for the "life saving intervention." "While recovering in my hospital bed, I had time to think and reflect on the incident. What struck me most from this near-death experience was the kindness of strangers," he writes on the page. "I vowed that assuming I made it home to Warwickshire I would talk about the incident at a fundraising event for the Mtendere Mission Hospital and see if we can offer something back to the hospital that had almost certainly saved my life." And he is indeed very lucky to be alive. Hippos are the second most dangerous land animals on earthbehind only the disease-carrying mosquitoand are responsible for killing at least 500 people a year. BATH COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Kentucky State Police troopers were called to the crash around 5:17 p.m. to I-64 near mile marker 124, according to a news release. KSP said that a Jerrys Towing tow truck was loading a vehicle onto a rollback. According to the Bath County Coroners Office, the driver of the tow truck, 54-year-old Troy Caldwell, was hit by a semi while loading the car. Caldwell was declared dead at the scene. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Shodmon Yuldashev, 29, from Brooklyn, New York, was charged with tampering with physical evidence in connection with the crash. According to the arrest citation, Yuldashev was reportedly watching YouTube on his dash-mounted tablet. During the vehicle inspection, detectives said he powered off and put away the tablet to hide it from authorities. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Troopers noted that they had actively seen and taken pictures of the tablet playing YouTube before the inspection. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing. Previous story: A man is dead after being stuck on the side of the road Wednesday in Bath County. The Bath County Coroners Office told FOX 56 News that 54-year-old Troy Caldwell was picking up a car on the side of I-64 when he was struck and killed by a semitruck. The coroners office said the accident happened between mile markers 124 and 125 on the westbound lane. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. distanced itself from some of its LGBTQ initiatives and said it doesnt have a quota system to boost diversity among its suppliers, after a social media attack from an anti-DEI activist. Most Read from Bloomberg The Japanese carmaker was targeted by Robby Starbuck Thursday for sponsoring LGBTQ events and programs and offering preferential treatment for diverse suppliers. Toyota said the LGBTQ programs in question were led by employee groups, not the company directly. Not every activity is sanctioned by the company, and we have over 14 affinities and 116 chapters and over 8,000 members in our ERGs, a company spokesman said in a statement. The campaign from Starbuck hasnt prompted a review of policies for these employee groups but the company periodically evaluates its strategic investments, the spokesman added. Tetsuo Ogawa, president and CEO of Toyota North America, is quoted on the company website as saying supplier diversity is a critical part of economic inclusion and development for the communities where we live and work. But the spokesman said that doesnt extend to setting specific quotas for underrepresented groups. Toyota is among a handful of companies Starbuck has targeted in recent months, urging customers to boycott the brands for their woke policies. Harley-Davidson Inc., Lowes Cos. and Ford Motor Co. said they would curb their DEI efforts, including scaling back programs directed at LGBTQ groups. Short-sighted decisions to abandon DEI initiatives will have a lasting, negative impact on business success in a future where more people than ever are identifying as LGBTQ+, Eric Bloem, a vice president at LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, said in an email. The spread of online misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people have real world consequences and deserve no place in corporate decision-making, he added. Starbucks fight against corporate DEI programs is the latest in a conservative-led campaign that was emboldened by the US Supreme Courts decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions last year. That ruling sparked a series of lawsuits and federal complaints against companies for discriminating against White workers. DEI supporters have been trying to fight back against Starbuck, calling for counter boycotts and warning companies not to succumb to his bullying. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. MANHATTAN (KSNT) New driving and parking restrictions are in Manhattans Aggieville District, and its all to keep the people in the district safe. For the last four weeks, traffic has been blocked off in multiple areas around Aggieville on Friday and Saturday nights between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. This is in place with the goal to help improve the safety of people walking around the district during times when more people are walking on the streets. It allows the pedestrians to move about more freely without the chances of getting struck by a vehicle that maybe they werent paying attention to or they didnt expect them to come out into the street, Corporal Janelle Compagnone with the Riley County Police Department said. Are common consumption areas coming to Manhattan? The Riley County Police Department has talked to three uber drivers since starting the initiative, and two of them are completely for it. They say theyve had close calls picking up and dropping people off in Aggieville. More often than theyd like to admit, people have walked out in front of them while theyre traveling down Moro [Street] and theyve had to abruptly stop to avoid hitting somebody, Compagnone said. Not only does blocking off traffic improve safety for those walking around, it allows officers in the district to be even more prepared for anything that might come their way. It also provides officers that are down here more of a line of sight from one end of Aggieville to the other for any altercation that may be becoming a problem, Compagnone said. Transitioning your home from summer to fall While blocking off traffic in the district is still fairly new, Dennis Cook with the Aggieville Business Association said he believes theyre close to perfecting it. He told 27 News word needs to get out about the closures so people know whats going on, and theyre not frightened when they see police blocking traffic. Were gonna get some signage up, some lighting that says that youre welcomed into Aggieville, this is a restricted driving and parking, but the district is open and come on in, Cook said. Compagnone told 27 News the only concern from the other uber driver is needing to better communicate where the rideshare pickup location is now. Thats located outside the Chipotle parking lot in the 600 block of North Manhattan Avenue. She said they are working with the city to figure out how to better share this information. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Transportation have closed the Sunshine Skyway bridge due to high wind from Hurricane Helene as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday. UPDATE: Hurricane Helene has passed and Florida is assessing damage and beginning recovery efforts on Friday. See the latest traffic updates here. The Sunshine Skyway bridge is closed due to high wind as Hurricane Helene impacts Manatee County and Southwest Florida. At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Florida Highway Patrol said wind gusts had reached 60 miles per hour at the Skyway and closed the bridge to traffic. Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes, the agency said in a news release. Troopers also urged drivers not to drive through flooded areas and to stay off roads entirely if possible. If traveling, please travel cautiously, avoid any flooded roadways, increase following distance and slow down, FHP said. As of 3:40 p.m., troopers have also shut down the Howard Frankland Bridge connecting Hillsborough to Pinellas County. The Courtney Campbell Causeway connecting Tampa to Clearwater was shut down as of 5 p.m., and the Gandy Bridge connecting Tampa to St. Petersburg was closed as of 6:20 p.m. Flooding has also been reported on roads around Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Local law enforcement agencies are urging residents to stay home as the storm passes on Thursday. Manatee County traffic lights down We have received reports of malfunctioning traffic lights, Manatee County Government said in a social media post Thursday afternoon. If you need to venture out, please treat these intersections as a four-way stop by yielding right-of-way and proceeding cautiously. Roads flood in Bradenton Bradenton Police Department has reported flooding in the following areas Thursday: As of 10:30 a.m.: Riverview Boulevard between 20th Street and 26th Street Riverside Drive East between Second Street and Sixth Street Riverside Drive East between Ninth Street East and 10th Street Court East Riverside Drive East between 18th Street and 21st Street Virginia Drive between Manatee Avenue and Ninth Avenue West First Avenue East and Fourth Street East 24th Street East and Vermont Avenue Braden Castle: Fun Ave and 28th Street East Braden Castle: Lazy Time and 28th Street East As of 12:15 p.m.: Riverfront Boulevard under the First Street Bridge As of 4 p.m.: First Avenue East and Fourth Street East 1500-2500 Riverside Drive 1700 27th Street East (power line in road) Anna Maria Island: roads impassable; bridges closed In a Thursday morning Facebook post, the Holmes Beach Police Department asked people to stay off the roads on Anna Maria Island. The roads are already under water and many cars will not make it through, the agency said. The Manatee County Sheriffs Office shared similar images Thursday morning. In a social media post, the agency shared pictures that showed standing floodwater along South Drive and South Bay Boulevard, near the Anna Maria Island City Pier. As of 7:30 p.m., the Anna Maria Bridge and the Cortez Bridge are closed. The roads on the island are impassable as the Gulf waters and storm surge have covered (them), Holmes Beach Police Department. AUSTIN (KXAN) Is Travis Countys hospital district, Central Health, giving millions of dollars to Dell Medical School in violation of state law? Travis County Commissioners wonder if thats the case, a sticking point in their approval of Central Healths budget Tuesday. What is Central Health? Two decades ago, voters in Travis County approved the creation of a hospital district, which taxes you just like the county or city does. That passed with roughly 54% of the vote. Central Healths mission is to provide healthcare for people who cant afford it. In 2012, voters approved a tax rate increase for the hospital district, the ballot language said in-part: funds will be used for improved healthcare in Travis County, including support for a new medical school consistent with the mission of Central Health. That last part is where some local leaders, including Travis County Commissioners and Central Health board members, have concerns. The legal question Central Health pays Dell Medical School $35 million annually and have since you passed the tax rate increase in 2012. Travis County Commissioners are asking whether or not thats legal as its unclear how the medical school directly helps indigent people, the mission and legal obligation of Central Health. I think my colleague, Commissioner [Jeff] Travillion, said it best if youre giving somebody $35 million and they dont have to tell you what theyre doing with it, thats when people end up in jail, in my experience, Commissioner Brigid Shea said. While Travis County Commissioners unanimously voted to pass Central Healths budget Tuesday, they also voted to bring on outside legal counsel to take a look at the agreement between the hospital district and Central Health. Thats also the focus of an ongoing lawsuit brought forward by Attorney Fred Lewis, by the way. I think that is a great step, Lewis said of the commissioners move to bring in legal help. I think they will be told that it is illegal, then their duty, because they have financial control, oversight of Central Health and they set their financial policies, is to say you cant pay money to anyone, including UT without specific deliverables of healthcare and records. A communication problem Those concerns were also discussed at Wednesdays Central Health board meeting. Ultimately, the president and CEO of Central Health, Dr. Pat Lee, said this partnership hugely benefits the community Central Health serves. Lee was hired late last year and inherited the contract. When I listen to the county commissioners and our city leaders and community leaders, theres a broad understanding actually that theres a lot of value here, Lee said. Having a medical school, bringing in these doctors, bringing in these services, training local students and having them stay and practice and everyone understand thats valuable. I think the opportunity here is to communicate better. A spokesperson for Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin added to that sentiment saying in-part: In its first decade, Dell Med has trained nearly 600 residents and fellows in medical specialties like cardiology and neurology, graduated more than 230 medical students and attracted over $100 million in health research funding. At the same time, we are committed to expanding access to high-quality, integrated, person-centered care for everyone in our community. Since 2014, we have recruited nearly 450 faculty physicians to Austin. Most of the care provided by these faculty physicians, our residents and our fellows over a million hours each year occurs at clinical sites operated by partners across Travis and surrounding counties. In addition, Dell Meds clinical practice treated more than 12,000 patients in 2023-2024, with 38% covered by MAP, Medicare or Medicaid. Our care capacity will be further enhanced over the next five years with the construction of a new specialty care hospital and an MD Anderson Cancer Center, both on the UT campus, in addition to significant expansion of our outpatient clinics. At the very least, Travis County Commissioners and even some Central Health board members say they want to know exactly where the hundreds of millions in dollars in taxpayer funds are going a full breakdown, legal or not. We want to see documentation of how that $35 million is being spent, and if its being spent for healthcare for the poor, Shea said. What a Travis County audit tells us Travis County Commissioners brought Mazars USA on to audit the contract between Central Health and Dell Medical School. The results came out this year. Dell Meds use of the funds is consistent with the affiliation agreement terms, as confirmed by the independent performance audit of Central Health by Mazars USA, the university spokesperson wrote. But commissioners say thats not whats in question here. Shea said the agreement expressly states the opposite of where commissioners hope to see the money go. Ultimately, commissioners want to know whether the affiliation agreement itself breaks the law, something Lewis says is not within the purview of Mazars USA. Non-lawyers cannot give a legal opinion about whether something is violating the lawTheyre getting paid, but not to provide legal services. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. CHICAGO On a sunny day in Little Village in September, Jackson Pedron and his wife, Carolina Hidalgo, stood next to each other and prayed, as they have done thousands of times before. They raised up their hands. Under a large white tent in a parking lot, heat radiated from the concrete. A pastor for New Life Centers stood at the front of the church gathering and reminded people in the crowd to treasure where they came from. Your culture is a gift from God, he said. Pedron and his wife have known each other for 24 years but didnt get married until they walked to Chicago from Venezuela with their four children in the fall of last year. They had planned to for years, but never actually went through with it until they made it here safely. Pedron lost his leg a quarter century ago in Caracas when a group of men shot him. Unable to get proper treatment, about a week later, he had to have it amputated. Without the right medical equipment and therapy, walking has been a struggle his whole life. Hidalgo, 49, stayed with him immediately after he lost his leg, and he helped her after the government sent her death threats for taking medical leave from work and their relationship has just become stronger. Shes my life. My everything, Pedron, 41, said. The ability to safely flee violence to reach the U.S. is the first step to claiming asylum, a form of protection granted to those who cant return to their home country for fear of persecution. But it is difficult especially for someone with a disability to make a migratory journey. It takes bravery to move to and navigate a new country with a disability, especially for those who have experienced significant hardship like Pedron, said Mia Ives-Rublee, senior director for the Disability Justice Initiative at American Progress. Disabled migrants traveling thousands of miles might not have access to resources, crutches or other tools that can make things more accessible, Ives-Rublee said. 1999 On Sept. 19, 1999, Pedron was walking in his neighborhood in Caracas when he was shot in the leg, which irrevocably altered his life. A group of men was trying to rob him of his shoes when they shot him, he said. Former military officer Hugo Chavez was president at the time, and a workers strike had shut down the hospitals. The gunshot wound on his leg was made worse by the lack of available medical resources. He met his life partner, Carolina, at a neighborhood gathering a few months later. She helped him painfully put his life back together. His dad bought him a prosthetic leg, but it was still difficult for him. He was still uncomfortable. He had trouble walking. Pedron said Hidalgo made life easier. She was with me through everything, he said. They moved into his mothers house in Caracas almost immediately after they met, and had three children together. He sold candy on the street for work. She got a job as a secretary for a branch of the government under the countrys new president, Nicolas Maduro. Nearly two decades passed. Then, in 2018, Hidalgo was carrying their fourth child and had to take several months off work because their unborn daughter had hydrocephalus. When Hidalgo notified the countrys Ministry of Labor that she had a high-risk pregnancy and needed to take leave, government officials retaliated against her. The retaliation quickly went a step further when government officials forged Hidalgos signature on a letter of dismissal. Soon, she was out of work and caring for their newborn baby. She left her job but continued receiving threats, which is common in Venezuela after people leave governmental positions, according to global experts. She had only taken leave, not gone into opposition to the government, but the threats continued, Pedron said. They sent her a message that they were going to harm my children. They threatened me because of my disability, he said. With four children and no stable income, the two worked hard to scrape together what money he could. The family decided to leave together for Colombia, where their situation remained dangerous as they continued to receive death threats. In 2023, they left again, this time for the U.S., a journey that took months. Being an amputee exacerbated the risks of the journey for Pedron. Many disabled people cannot access assistance during humanitarian evacuations and are left behind, according to disability experts. But Pedron risked his life for his familys safety, praying the whole way that theyd remain by his side. Tens of thousands displaced Considered the largest displacement crisis in the world, 7.7 million Venezuelans have migrated and are currently living outside their country. It amounts to over 25% of the total population of Venezuela. The border has seen a slowdown of crossings in recent months due to a June executive order by President Joe Biden. Under the June restrictions, when southern border encounters with migrants reach an average of 2,500 per day over a week, most migrants entering between ports of entry are ineligible for asylum. Yet a turbulent political situation in Venezuela will keep migrants like Pedron and his family moving north, predicts David Smolansky, former special envoy of the Organization of American States for the Venezuelan migration and refugee crisis. People in Venezuela are desperate to have a democratic solution, Smolansky said in a recent interview with the Tribune. Maduro, who has been in office since 2013, won a contested election in late July that several countries, including the U.S., decried. Since the disputed election, there have been forced disappearances, torture, intimidation, threats and harassment from the government in Venezuela, Smolansky said. Migrants in Chicago have watched videos, sent from relatives who remain in the country, of anti-government demonstrations that have elicited strong police responses including the use of tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets. Tens of thousands have made the difficult decision to walk over seven countries to reach the U.S., and more continue to do so every day. And Pedron did it with one leg, something many people could never fathom. He hiked for two and a half months up from Columbia, using crutches and his old prosthetic leg, worrying about keeping himself and his kids and wife alive. In the Darien Gap, a notoriously dangerous jungle between Colombia and Panama, he remembers barely being able to walk through the jungles scattered with human remains. He remembers how his little girls lifted him onto La Bestia, also known as the Death Train for the lengths people take to ride the treacherous long string of cargo trains that go through remote Mexico. Many lose limbs, break bones or die. He said it felt like a horror movie, but in real life. Along the way, Pedron, like many others, lost all of his familys belongings, swept up by the forces of nature: their identification papers, their cellphones, their money. The miles of walking left him completely exhausted physically and mentally, he said. There were days when he didnt want to continue. Going through that is something I wouldnt wish on anyone, he said. But last winter, after months of walking, his family crossed the border into El Paso, Texas, by turning themselves into immigration authorities. They got to Chicago in mid-December 2023 on a chartered flight from Texas paid for by a charity. Pedron said he believed making it to the city was part of a divine plan. A new prosthetic Pedrons family currently lives in a shelter run by the state in Little Village. They are hoping to stay here by pleading asylum, and havent received permission to work legally yet. Theyve received some housing benefits from the state, but Pedron worries because he and his wife dont have stable jobs. They need to find something affordable for their family of six. He glowed when he talked about the new prosthetic leg paid for with state health benefits he got a month and a half ago. He never thought he would be able to afford one. Hes learning how to walk with just his cane. He can hold his littlest daughters hand on the way to school, something he couldnt do as easily with his older children because he had to use crutches to support himself. Pedron has hope. Except for sometimes, when he thinks about his older daughter sleeping on a cot in a shelter with hundreds of other people. Shes told him that she wants to sleep in a bed. I promised (my daughter) a room, he said. And sometimes, he said, people tell him the government is paying him for being a disabled Venezuelan. He wishes everyone would treat each other with kindness. I dont understand why people migrants and others act poorly in the U.S., when so many of us come from so much suffering, he said. A wedding Pedron twisted a ring on his ring finger and smiled when he talked about his wife. About two months ago, more than 24 years after meeting Hidalgo in Venezuela, they went to the Cook County courthouse and officially tied the knot. Finally, they just decided the time had come, he said. They wanted to move forward. She wore a white dress and held a bouquet of flowers. They posed for a photo with pink balloons in front of their children. Thousands of miles from their families, Pedron and his wife hope they will never have to fear for their lives in the same way. They hope they will find community in Chicago. They hope the years will pass without incident. Soon, he hopes, hell grow steadier on his new prosthetic leg. He hopes theyll move out of the shelter. He hopes that as his children grow up, theyll learn some English. Theyre already doing better at school. All the while, more people fleeing violence will likely come here from other countries. People like him, who face immeasurable risks on the journey, will also likely be forced to leave. In that Little Village parking lot, surrounded by tables with food and flags from Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela, Pedrons 6-year-old daughter held onto his arm for comfort. Brass trumpet notes and different dialects of Spanish drifted in the air. He stood next to his wife and they raised their hands, as they have done thousands of times before, and prayed for the future. GUEST RESEARCH: Ping Identity , a leading provider of seamless and secure digital experiences, published its 2024 Consumer Survey which revealed that 87% of Australian consumers are concerned about identity fraud and have concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) impacting their identity security. The data shows the desire for seamless digital experiences is widespread, with 73% wanting changes to how they log in to apps and websites. The findings underscore heightened expectations around the digital experience, with password frustrations and authentication preferences rising to the forefront: 88% have complaints about passwords, with 60% admitting they have too many to keep track of. Security (77%), ease of use (77%), and privacy/consent (66%) are top concerns for consumers when interacting with online brands. 55% have stopped using an online service because they became frustrated when trying to log in, with healthcare apps offering the biggest opportunity for improvement. Consumers are reassured that multi-factor authentication (53%), one-time logins (50%), and biometrics (36%), are perceived as both secure and convenient. Consumers expressed greater concern over identity fraud as they gain greater awareness of the issue: Most (96%) have concerns about their personal data being online, with only 7% having full trust in organisations that manage their identity data. 33% have fallen victim to identity fraud, with financial identity fraud (19%), account takeover (8%), and impersonation (7%) being the most common fraud types experienced by respondents. 29% receive spam calls daily. As AI and decentralised identity (DCI) gain wider adoption among businesses, consumers remain hesitant about adopting these technologies that could offer a better and more empowered experience: 84% admitted barriers to adopting a digital wallet on their personal mobile device, with common hesitations including loss of their phone (52%) and increased security risks from cyber-attacks (43%). Lack of transparency (54%) and increased security risks (52%) were common concerns around AI. Despite 36% of consumers using AI in their personal and/or professional life, 69% would still prefer to speak to a human to gain additional support, even if that experience takes longer. Todays challenging economic times leave no room for complacency, said Ashley Diffey, Vice President Australia and New Zealand, Ping Identity. The companies that will survive and thrive are those that consistently provide customers with a seamlessly secure digital experience. By harnessing new technologies such as AI and digital credentials to personalise experiences and empower control, businesses can shape a future where login burdens are few and trust in personal identity security is commonplace. Read the full survey here: The Great Technology Wave: Overcoming the Fear of Unknowns for Improved Digital Experiences Methodology The findings detailed in this report were collected during winter 2024 and are based on responses collected from 1000 Australians consumers about their personal experiences and beliefs surrounding identity security. Consumers were nationally representative in terms of age and gender. About Ping Identity Ping delivers unforgettable user experiences and uncompromising security. We make crafting digital experiences simple for any type of userpartners, customers, employees, and beyond. We are anti-lock-in. That means integration with existing ecosystems, clouds, and on-prem technologies is simple. Out-of-the-box templates let businesses leverage our identity expertise to give their users frictionless experiences. Whether they're building a foundation of modern digital identity, or out-innovating their competitors with cutting-edge services like digital credentials, AI-driven fraud prevention and governance, Ping is the one-stop shop for game-changing digital identity. Felix Clary ICT + Tulsa World With the Native Farm Bill expiring in a few days, and food package delivery delays to Indian Country still persisting, tribal leaders are advocating more than ever for the bill to be reauthorized. Tribal leaders said in a recent House Committee on Agriculture hearing in Washington D.C. that reauthorizing the farm bill, with expansions of the 638 programs, could solve these delays. The bill not only allows tribes, including the Muscogee, Cherokee, and Osage Nation, to partake in food package delivery programs, but it helps provide funding for sustainable agricultural strategies, conservation efforts and rural development. Whoever is going to be controlling the food during a crisis has way too much power, Standing Bear said at a traditional meal on the Osage reservation in Pawhuska, as he explained the tribes reasoning for operating Harvest Land Farms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their farm contains a 40,000-square-foot greenhouse and a 44,000-square-foot building that houses a large aquaponics system, a food processing area, and a water lab. Osage citizens are provided fresh produce year-round, as well as eggs and meat from chickens, cattle and bison that the tribe owns. The pressure has ramped up to get the bill reauthorized since the USDA consolidated three national warehouses into one location in Kansas City, Missouri, causing food package delivery delays that have plagued tribes across the country since May. Related: Two words that changed the Farm Bill U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, Chickasaw Nation, said at the Sept. 11 hearing that these delivery delays are a failure on the USDAs part to listen to tribal concerns during a February tribal consultation the USDA hosted. The USDA told the tribes at the consultation that the three national USDA warehouses that deliver food packages to Indian Country will be consolidated into one location in Kansas City, Missouri. There is a treaty and trust responsibility to provide this product, and it wasnt provided, said Cole. I am extremely disturbed by these failures that we have learned were completely preventable. The tribes expressed concern about this plan, but were told to just stock up on food items in April, as delivery delays may happen in May. Oklahoma Republican Rep. Tom Cole speaks with reporters following a closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference inside the Capitol on Wednesday. (Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom) The USDA knew there were concerns in opposition when they announced their decision Nevertheless, they did it anyway, causing the situation at hand. Its more than a mistake, its gross negligence, Cole said. The delays did not end in May, however, and continued into the fall, according to the tribal representatives at the Sept. 11 hearing: Marty Wafford, under secretary of Support and Programs for the Chickasaw Nation, Mary Greene-Trottier, Spirit Lake Tribe and president of the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations, and Darrel G. Seki, Sr., chairman for the Red Lake Nation. All three leaders also expressed that the solution to these delays may not be to undo the warehouse consolidation, but rather to make sure the farm bill is reauthorized, and that two 638 programsthe Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and Commodity Supplemental Food Programthe bill allows are expanded and made permanent. The Farm Bill is more than just agriculture it also includes rural development. Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development's ReConnect program provided $17 million to Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for high-speed fiber internet. (Courtesy, U.S. Department of Agriculture) Chief Legal & Policy Officer at Intertribal Agriculture Council Abi Fain said in a Tulsa World and ICT interview that food distribution program was one 638 programs added to the 2018 bill as a temporary test model in favor of tribal self-governance. 638 refers to programs that adhere to Indian Self-Determination, Education and Assistance Act, meaning they allow tribes to source their own food package items from local vendors, which are usually individual tribal citizens, local farmers, and other tribal nations. When the farm bill was extended in 2023, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program program adopted the 638 pilot model, meaning tribes who made use of the program could also locally source their food products. The NFB has the option of being reauthorized every five years, the last time being in 2018. Last November, Congress had the chance to reauthorize the bill for another five years, but instead enacted a one-year extension for the current bill which expires Monday, Sept. 30. Fain said that the bill must be reauthorized before the dairy cliff date, Jan. 1, which is the last day that it can be reauthorized before being vetoed. Wafford said at the hearing that like most Oklahoma tribes, the Chickasaw Nations solution to the delays has been individual citizens, employees, other tribal nations and local vendors stepping in to provide food for the citizens who are program users. She said some people would drive long distances just to deliver food items to the warehouses. Having this 638 program, it has been reliable. It has been successful. And during this crisis, that has been evident, she said. Wafford also said that the Chickasaw Nation even has its own semi-trucks that could go to Kansas City and pick up the food packages, but that the USDA denied the offer. We know how to feed our people, said Wafford. Her proposed solution was to expand self-governance. It has been proven that we know how to run our own programs. She also said that the Commodity Supplemental Food Program funding was designed to last a tribe three years, and that the emergency funds provided during the delays would last less than two months. Her proposed solution was to expand the 638 programs by making the funds permanent and greater. Greene-Trottier said that the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and Commodity Supplemental Food Program allowed the Spirit Lake Nation to use their own herd of bison for the meat packages, meaning they could offer a wider variety of meat cuts and healthier products. Related: USDA warehouse changes lead to commodity delays The flexibility and the variety has been outstanding and popular for our program, she said. But at the same time, our CSFP recipients who dont receive FDPIR are bashing us because theyre not getting that product in their food box. Greene-Trottier said that if the Commodity Supplemental Food Program was expanded and permanently had a 638 model, this would offer incentive for more tribes to utilize the program. Seki from Red Lake said that he believes with the 638 programs set as the ideal standard, his tribe would not experience these delays again. At Red Lake, we are fully embracing 638 for FDPIR and CSFP programs, the electronic tracking system, regional sourcing and local vendors, he said. This story is co-published by the Tulsa World and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the Oklahoma area. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. TROUSDALE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) The Trousdale County Sheriffs Department is investigating an online threat made to a county high school, according to social media. On Wednesday at roughly 7 p.m., the sheriffs department received reports of a social media threat directed at the high school, according to a Facebook post. 9th grader arrested for making threats to multiple Nashville schools School Administrators, along with the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security, have been notified, the post reads, in part. The online threat is currently under investigation. The sheriffs department went on to say that at this time, there is no evidence to suggest an actual physical threat to the high school. An update on the Trousdale County Schools website said that further information would be shared with families should the threat be elevated. Teen charged after potential weapons threat leads to brief lockdown at a Trousdale County high school There was a brief lockdown at Trousdale County High School on Monday and a teen was charged with illegal possessing firearms. Districts in Cannon, Trousdale, Franklin, Humphreys, Macon, Warren, and Davidson counties have all been impacted by threats recently, with some incidents prompting schools to go on lockdowns within the past few weeks. Anyone with information about the threat, particularly anyone with information about the identity of its originator, has been asked to contact the Trousdale County Sheriffs Department at 615-374-3994. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) defended his deeply racist comments about Haitian people even though House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) claimed the lawmaker had prayed about the post and regretted it. Its all true, Higgins told CNN Wednesday, even though he ultimately deleted the widely condemned tweet. I can put up another controversial post tomorrow if you want me to. I mean, we do have freedom of speech. Ill say what I want. Its not a big deal to me. Its like something stuck to the bottom of my boot. Just scrape it off and move on with my life, he added. Earlier Wednesday, the lawmaker had expanded on the racist lies pushed by Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that Haitians are eating pets and come from the nastiest country in the western hemisphere. All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th, he wrote in the post. Rep. Clay Higgins said Haitian people should get out of the country before Jan. 20 in a stunningly offensive social media post. Tom Williams via Getty Images The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), is pushing for the House to censure Higgins over the post. Several Republicans also suggested the post should be taken down. Look, he was approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive, Johnson told reporters. He said he went to the back, and he prayed about it and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down. Im sure he probably regrets some of the language he used. But you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here, he added. Higgins has a history of making inflammatory statements. This latest instance attracted swift and furious backlash. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said it was vile, racist and beneath the dignity of the United States House of Representatives. Clay Higgins is an election-denying, conspiracy-peddling racial arsonist who is a disgrace to the Peoples House, Jeffries statement said. Olivia Troye, who was an aide to Mike Pence when he was vice president, noted on X that Higgins serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, adding, This is a clear betrayal of his oath to protect Americans & a warning of whats to come under a Trump presidency. Related... Editors note: This report has been updated to clarify who Kara Leonard Stanford is running against. WKBN regrets the error. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) The Trumbull County Bar Association released its recommendations Thursday for judgeships in the county. A committee of the Bar counted up the vote of its members earlier this week of the Judicial Preference Poll in connection to the upcoming contested races. Candidates who are unopposed are not voted on. Christopher Becker, the first assistant prosecutor for Trumbull County, is the Bars preferred candidate for Trumbull County Common Pleas Court judge, receiving more than the requisite 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Bar Association members. Becker is running against Attorney Sarah Thomas Kovoor for the six-year term commencing on January 3, 2025. Attorney Kara Leonard Stanford is the preferred candidate for judge of the General Division and Domestic/Juvenile Court. Stanford also received more than the 66 2/3% votes needed. Stanford is running against David Engler for Judge Sandra Stabile Harwoods seat. The term is also six years, commencing on January 3, 2025. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Former US president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally inside the Mosack Group manufacturing warehouse in Mint Hill. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/TNS via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wants to make another appearance at the site where he was shot in a failed assassination attempt in July. Trump's campaign team announced a rally for October 5 on the the same site near Butler, in the state of Pennsylvania, where the former president was shot on July 13. Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to climb to an elevated position with an assault rifle and fire a number of shots at Trump at the rally, with a bullet grazing the former US president's right ear. One audience member died and two other spectators were badly injured in the assassination attempt. Crooks was shot dead. The presidential candidate wants to commemorate the victims, his campaign said. He also wants to thank the security and emergency services for their efforts. Trump is seeking to return to the White House, after leaving it in 2021, by defeating US Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election. In 2020 writer E. Jean Carroll, who previously accused Donald Trump of rape in 2019, wrote about journalist Natasha Stoynoffs accusation that Trump had sexually assaulted her years earlier. On Wednesday Stoynoff appeared in a campaign ad sponsored by George Conway in which she detailed what happened when she visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago. My name is Natasha Stoynoff. In 2005, I went to interview Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, she began. At one point, Melania went upstairs to change her clothes for the next photoshoot. And Trump said to me, I want to show you this beautiful painting, this beautiful room.' Natasha Stoynoff: I realized I was not to blame. That he was just a predator of womenDonald Trump is an adjudicated sexual assaulter, and we cannot elect this man as president. pic.twitter.com/OI4J28fU3q Anti-Psychopath PAC (@PsychoPAC24) September 25, 2024 He leads me to this room, pushes me against the wall, and starts kissing me forcefully. I tried to push him, but he came back at me. I was in shock, getting smothered, and he had his hands here against my shoulders. I felt sick inside. I felt horrified, and thank goodness the butler charges into the room. Like many women, I blame myself. So Trump turned to me and said, You know were going to have an affair, dont you? And Melania was approaching. I was horrified, Stoynoff continued. When the Access Hollywood tape came out, and also stories of many other women, including E. Jean Carroll, I realized I was not to blame, that he was just a predator of women. What could have happened if the butler had not come into the room? Donald Trump is an adjudicated sexual assaulter. We cannot elect this man as president, she concluded. This was an excellent interview with @ErinBurnett and Natasha Stoynoff (@Tashka9). You should really watch the whole thing. pic.twitter.com/fmcOb8ZWY9 Anti-Psychopath PAC (@PsychoPAC24) September 25, 2024 Stoynoff joined CNNs Erin Burnett on OutFront Wednesday night to speak about the ads, which are produced by the Anti-Psychopath PAC. Burnett pointed out that despite the fact that Trump referenced Stoynoff by name at a campaign event two weeks ago (and he also spoke about her in 2016), he has since reversed course and claimed he doesnt know who she is. Burnett asked Stoynoff why she is sharing her story again, after having first done so in 2016. It is a risk to come forward. I feel that way and all the other women felt that way as well. But the risk that the country faces if he wins again is far greater to me. And I do think coming forward again right now could make a difference, Stoynoff explained. She added that while on a 10-minute Uber ride in Colorado, she changed the mind of her driver, who was committed to vote for Trump, simply because she told her story. So one vote at a time and that is what matters. You can watch the ad starring Natasha Stoynoff in the video above. The post Trump Assault Accuser Details 2005 Mar-a-Lago Incident in George Conways Anti-Psychopath Campaign Ad | Video appeared first on TheWrap. With just weeks to go until the 2024 U.S. presidential election, former President Donald Trump baselessly claimed during a Sept. 25 speech in North Carolina that Venezuelan migrant gang members in Aurora, Colorado, possessed "massive machine gun-type equipment," adding that the weaponry goes "beyond even military scope." He also said, "And they're taking over apartment buildings. They're taking over real estate." As of this writing, we uncovered no evidence to support the idea of Venezuelan migrants in Aurora bearing "massive machine gun-type equipment" or anything regarding weaponry "beyond even military scope." By email, Sydney Edwards, a spokesperson for the Aurora Police Department, said of the claims of migrants supposedly possessing "massive" weaponry and taking over apartment buildings: "We do not have any reports or information that relate to the claims you mention." We also emailed the Trump campaign to request evidence regarding Trump's "massive machine gun-type equipment" comment. In response, a Republican National Committee spokesperson sent a brief statement that did not address our request. We previously reported about unsubstantiated rumors relating to Trump's reference of gang members taking over apartment complexes in Aurora (details below). 'Massive Machine Gun-Type Equipment' Trump made the remarks in question during a campaign event in Mint Hill, North Carolina. He said the following: But Kamala should have closed the border years ago and we wouldn't have hostile takeovers of Springfield, Ohio, Aurora, Colorado, where they're actually going in with massive machine gun-type equipment. They're going in with guns that are beyond even military scope. And they're taking over apartment buildings. They're taking over real estate. They're in the real estate development business. Congratulations. These are in that case, people from Venezuela. Young street gang members that were sent here by the Venezuelan government. Video of Trump's comments showed the former president appearing to specifically refer to Aurora, Colorado not Springfield, Ohio with his mention of migrants having "massive machine gun-type equipment" supposedly "beyond even military scope." The quote begins at the 2:14:55 mark in the following YouTube video captured by Right Side Broadcasting Network: Trump provided no evidence for the additional baseless claim that either city experienced a "hostile takeover." He previously falsely claimed during an interview with conservative Fox News host Sean Hannity, "Take a look at Aurora. In Colorado, where Venezuelans are taking over the whole town." Moments later, Trump added an oft-repeated campaign promise, saying, "We have to do the largest deportation in the history of the country." The former president's mention of Springfield stood as a continuation of similar evidence-free assertions about reports of Haitian migrants eating cats, dogs and other animals. He also mentioned this same wholly-unsupported rumor about Springfield at the Sept. 10 ABC News presidential debate. We called Springfield city officials and the town's nonemergency police line. Both lines kept ringing; no one answered. In the aftermath of the promotion of the baseless rumors about Haitian migrants, Springfield schools received numerous bomb threats. NBC News reported Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine attributed the bomb threats as coming from "overseas." Rumor Originating from Aurora Security Camera Video We previously reported the facts about the unsubstantiated rumor claiming members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua took over an apartment complex in Aurora. A security camera video posted online in late August was central to the rumor. The video showed several men knocking on a resident's door while holding handguns and at least one rifle with a scope attachment. According to The Associated Press, interim Aurora police chief Heather Morris' visit to the same apartments where the security camera video originated confirmed gang members had not taken over, nor were they collecting rent. The AP reported: The unsubstantiated allegation gained momentum following last month's dissemination of video from a resident in the complex that showed armed men knocking on an apartment door, intensifying fears the Tren de Aragua gang was in control of the six-building complex. However, city officials indicate the buildings, along with two other apartment complexes, were run down because of neglect by the property manager, CBZ Management. Aurora is a diverse city that has long grappled with crime and gangs, and police said they have so far linked 10 people to Tren de Aragua and arrested six of them, including the suspects in a July attempted homicide. Sources: @Acyn. "Trump: We Wouldn't Have Hostile Takeovers of Springfield, Ohio, Aurora, Colorado..." X, 25 Sept. 2024, https://x.com/Acyn/status/1838992712584053018. Breuninger, Kevin, and Josephine Rozzelle. "Ohio GOP Gov. DeWine Says 'at Least 33' Bomb Threats Prompt Springfield to Begin Daily School Sweeps." CNBC, 16 Sept. 2024, https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/16/springfield-bomb-threats-ohio-republican.html. Ibssa, Lalee, et al. "'I Let Him Talk, I'm Gonna Let Her Talk,' Trump Says Ahead of ABC News Debate." ABC News, 5 Sept. 2024, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/talk-gonna-talk-trump-ahead-abc-news-debate/story?id=113398885. Izzo, Jack. "Unpacking 'Hysteria' Over Venezuelan Gang Members Allegedly Taking Over Colorado Apartment." Snopes, 5 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/09/05/colorado-apartment-venezuelan-gang/. Kasprak, Alex. "No Evidence Haitian Immigrants Are Eating Ducks, Geese or Pets in Springfield, Ohio." Snopes, 10 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/cats-ducks-haitians-springfield/. ---. "No, 'Police Audio' Doesn't Confirm Reports of 'Haitian Goose-Hunting' in Springfield, Ohio." Snopes, 13 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/police-audio-haitian-geese/. ---. "Video Footage and News Headlines Don't Document Haitian Immigrant Eating Cat in Springfield, Ohio." Snopes, 12 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/video-headlines-immigrants-eating-cats/. "LIVE REPLAY: President Trump Delivers Remarks in Mint Hill, N.C. - 9/25/24." YouTube, Right Side Broadcasting Network, 25 Sept. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/live/u5q5v7BZt_g. Slevin, Colleen, and Amy Beth Hanson. "Police Deny Venezuela Gang Has Taken over Rundown Apartment Complex in Denver Suburb." The Associated Press, 5 Sept. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-immigrants-aurora-colorado-police-37acd4e064347d51808cb244117ac21e. Snopes Staff. "Fact-Checking Harris-Trump Presidential Debate." Snopes, 10 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//live/harris-trump-debate-live-updates/. Trump Is on the Brink of a Win in His Massive New York Fraud Case Donald Trump may soon get a reduced penalty in his civil fraud case, if oral arguments in an appeals court Thursday are any indication. The intermediate appeals court in Manhattan heard Trumps appeal against a New York ruling from February where he was not only fined $450 million plus interest but also barred from doing business in New York. Some of the judges on the five-member panel seemed at least receptive to the former president. The immense penalty in this case is troubling, said Justice Peter Moulton. How do you tether the amount that was assessed by the Supreme Court to the harm that was caused here where the parties left these transactions happy? Deputy New York Solicitor General Judith Vale, representing the state, was ready with a response, though. Although this is a large number, its a large number for a couple reasons. One, because there was a lot of fraud and illegality, Vale said. That is an enormous benefit they got from this conduct of falsifying financial statements to obtain better loan rates, she added, referring to the Trump Organization. Justice David Friedman argued that the ruling against Trump was undercut by Deutsche Bank saying Trumps actions did not harm them. It hardly seems to justify bringing an action to protect Deutsche Bank against President Trump, which is what you have here, Friedman said. You have two really sophisticated players, in which no one lost any money. Vale said that state law did not require being harmed, and also noted that the bank actually complained when it heard about false statements and pulled out of its agreement with Trump. At one point, Trumps lawyer John Sauer tried to argue that the former president and his businesses were following generally accepted accounting principles, only to be rebuked by Justice Peter H. Moulton. Its the factual inaccuracies that are important, Moulton countered. You might be following GAAP principles, but if your data is terrible, youre creating a fallacious statement. The former president and convicted felon had to pony up a $175 million bond in April to stop the judgment while he appeals. His fine, thanks to 9 percent interest accruing every year, has now grown to more than $478 million. If he wins, it will be dropped, and Trump has had some success in New York courts as of late. Trump claims he predicted Adams would be indicted because of his comments on migrants Former President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that he predicted New York Mayor Eric Adams would be indicted because of comments he made about an influx of migrants hurting the city. "We have people that use the Justice Department, and the FBI, at levels that have never been seen before," he said, without evidence. "I wish him luck," Trump said. PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump speaks to the press at Trump Tower in New York, on Sept. 26, 2024. (David Dee Delgado/Reuters) MORE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams charged with fraud, accepting $10 million in improper campaign contributions Trump echoed a claim made by Adams earlier Thursday when spoke with reporters at a news conference he called to blast Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of her trip to the southern border on Friday. Asked whether Adams could get a fair trial, Trump said, "I don't know. I don't know. I don't know the mayor well, but he's been fairly generous to me in his statements for a while. I thought you had the worst mayor ever that we had prior to him. "I will say this, I watched, about a year ago, when he talked about how the illegal migrants are hurting our city and the federal government should pay us, and we shouldn't have to take them." he continued. "And I said, you know what? He'll be indicted within a year. And I was exactly right, because that's what we have. "I said that he will be indicted because he did that. You take a look, that's what they do. These are dirty players. These are bad people. They cheat and they do anything necessary. These are bad people." he said. Trump claims he predicted Adams would be indicted because of his comments on migrants originally appeared on abcnews.go.com FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Trump rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was disbarred in the U.S. capital on Thursday by a Washington, D.C., Court of Appeals, months after he lost his law license in New York over baseless claims he made alleging the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Giuliani has been a member of the D.C. bar since 1976. His law license was suspended in 2021 and a District of Columbia attorney ethics committee recommended in July that his license be revoked. He also lost his New York law license in July. Giuliani, who in the 1980s served as U.S. attorney in Manhattan, was one of the leading proponents of false claims that former President Donald Trump's defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 was the result of widespread voter fraud. He also was accused of making false statements to courts, lawmakers and the public while serving as Trump's attorney. Giuliani was among the people indicted with Trump in Georgia for efforts to overturn the election results in that state. He has pleaded not guilty and called the allegations politically motivated. The former mayor was also charged in Arizona with illegally seeking to claim the state's 2020 electoral votes for Trump. Giuliani filed for bankruptcy protection after being ordered to pay $148 million in a defamation lawsuit brought by two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of rigging votes. However, a U.S. judge ended that bankruptcy last month. (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Bill Berkrot) China, Russia celebrate 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties Xinhua) 08:23, September 26, 2024 Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, attends a reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China held a reception in Beijing on Wednesday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of its diplomatic ties with Russia. Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, attended and addressed the reception. Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that over the 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia, bilateral relations have withstood the test of time and remained steadfast. China-Russia relations have been moving forward at a high level in the new era, which is attributed to the leadership and guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, he said. China is willing to work with Russia, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to consolidate strategic mutual trust, actively build a new pattern of mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance mutual understanding and connectivity between the two peoples, and safeguard global prosperity and stability, Li added. Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov said that Russia is willing to work with China to effectively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the continuous development of bilateral ties. The reception was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-Russia Friendship Association. About 300 representatives from all walks of life in both China and Russia attended the reception. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The 5th traditional Caspian Business Forum was held in New York, organized by the Caspian Policy Center, Azernews reports. The event brought together US and Caspian region officials, experts, and stakeholders to discuss the expanding business and energy environment in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as regional connectivity and the COP29 agenda. In his opening speech, Efgan Nifti, president of the Caspian Policy Center, emphasized the region's growing importance in the global market and food chain. He pointed out that the C5+1 meeting, held a year ago between the Central Asian heads of state and US President Joe Biden, marked a new phase of relations. Nifti added, "The United States, together with G7 partners, is expanding relations through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) program, which has become a key source of foreign investment in the region." He also underscored the strategic significance of transport links such as the Middle Corridor, highlighting the Caspian region's capacity to supply energyboth from hydrocarbons and renewable sources. Referring to Azerbaijan's upcoming role as host of the COP29 conference, Nifti stated, "The transition to 'Green Energy' will be of decisive importance for the Caspian region in the coming years." U.S. Assistant Secretary for Energy Issues Geoffrey Pyatt stressed the need for both interregional and intraregional cooperation in delivering the Caspian regions energy resources to global markets. He also discussed Azerbaijans role in the green energy transition within the COP29 framework and reaffirmed US support for the regions energy security. Acting PGI Coordinator Helaina Matza highlighted the importance of the Trans-Caspian Corridor in global trade and the United States' support for its development. She stated that her team is exploring initial investment opportunities in rail, ports, digital infrastructure, fiber, and distribution centers across the region. Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, discussed the organization's commitment to increasing the prosperity of the Turkic world through enhanced cooperation. He noted the importance of the "Turkish World Vision 2040" and "TDT 2022-2026 Strategy" projects, while emphasizing the strategic value of the Trans-Caspian International Corridor. Turkiyes Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Berris Ekinci, reaffirmed Turkeys role as a reliable energy partner, highlighting cooperation with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia in delivering the region's energy resources to Europe. "We strive to achieve more through our joint efforts," she added. Speakers such as Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, Georgia's Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia, Kazakhstans Presidential Adviser Zulfiya Suleimenova, and others discussed the significance of Caspian connectivity, regional development opportunities, and Azerbaijans leadership in COP29. According to the latest study from professional services and technology company Cognizantt, with $15 million earmarked for 2024compared to $12.5 million worldwideANZ companies are displaying strong confidence in Gen AI's transformative power. Cognizant says the data, evaluating the IT and business leaders' sentiment of Gen AI accelerators and inhibitors, shows that ANZ leaders have a momentum score that is 15% higher than the global average, and the momentum score, calculated based on the survey results, represents business leaders assessment of 18 internal and external factors accelerating or inhibiting adoption of Gen AI in their enterprises. Cognizant produced "The AI Advantage: Why ANZ is Positioned for Gen AI Success" with Oxford Economics, with the work part of a global study that interviewed 2,200 business leaders in 23 countries and across 15 industries, including 200 C-suite leaders in ANZ. The work assessed a wide range of Gen AI adoption trends, including investment levels, use cases, the criticality of Gen AI strategies to business success, and organisational readiness, Cognizant notes, adding thatvthe high level of investment and momentum score reflect regional leaders' belief in the flexibility of their operating models and high market demand for Gen AI enabled products and services. According to the study, productivity is the top driver for AI adoption, with 48% expecting it to impact their business strategy in the near future. Going beyond efficiencies and cost cutting, leaders want to translate productivity from Gen AI into growth, with 56% calling out potential revenue growth as justification for their Gen AI business case - however, the study also reveals that the same leaders expect the technology to take between four to five years to mature. Rob Marchiori, Cognizant's Australian Country Manager, commented: "This report highlights how Australia and New Zealand are frontrunners in the Gen AI race, underscoring our region's belief in the technology's potential. However, to maintain this momentum, it's crucial that we focus on proper implementation with strategies that are both robust and adaptable to drive sustained growth." Cognizant also reports: While ANZ businesses demonstrate confidence in their Gen AI investments, the team at Cognizant Australia advise that these promising developments shouldn't lead to underestimating the challenges ahead. Cognizant's experts say one of the next hurdles for local businesses will be safely scaling the technology. Many organisations are still in the initial phases of Gen AI implementation, working on proof-of-concepts, use cases, and adapting infrastructure. However, deciding where and how to scale the technology effectively is a critical step many businesses still need to face. Looking at the inhibitors, the study suggests that availability of talent and maturity of AI related technology and infrastructure are some of the top barriers to Gen AI adoption. For example, while most leaders in ANZ rate their data quality as strong, only 16% are confident in their ability to access the necessary data. This discrepancy between perceived high data readiness and actual data accessibility suggests that while data is abundant, leveraging it remains difficult because of legacy systems or infrastructure that is not designed for the Gen AI era. Moreover, survey respondents, almost evenly split between business and IT leaders, reveal differing views on data infrastructure readiness, highlighting the need for greater alignment within enterprises. The report highlights that one-third of ANZ businesses are deploying Gen AI in customer-facing areas, while 29% are using it in software development. As ANZ businesses continue their pursuit of Gen AI, companies must balance their ambition with a practical approach. Addressing gaps in technological infrastructure, enhancing AI literacy, and fostering strategic partnerships will be vital to converting optimism into tangible success. To successfully scale Gen AI, businesses must prioritise strategic use cases that are feasible and likely to deliver the highest value quickly. Investing in high-impact areas is the best way to ensure real benefits and ROI. Building a scalable ecosystem is another essential factor. Businesses should collaborate with cloud providers and AI experts to access the infrastructure, expertise, and insights necessary to scale their AI projects. The Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks to attendees during a campaign rally at the Mosack Group warehouse on Sept. 25, 2024 in Mint Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump suggested without evidence Wednesday that Iran could be responsible for two apparent assassination attempts he has faced this year, saying foreign leaders objected to his position on tariffs. Authorities have made no public statements to support the claim that either would-be assassin in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July and near Trumps Florida home this month was aided by foreign agents or anyone else. Trump tied the two incidents to the separate hacking of his campaign, which U.S. intelligence agencies say was conducted by Iran. There have been two assassination attempts on my life that we know of, Trump, the GOP candidate for president, said at a campaign stop in Mint Hill, North Carolina. And they may or may not involve but possibly do Iran, but I dont really know. Trump also aired his theory on X on Wednesday, saying, Big threats on my life by Iran. The entire U.S. Military is watching and waiting. Moves were already made by Iran that didnt work out, but they will try again. The Trump campaign told USA Today in a statement on Tuesday night that President Trump was briefed earlier today by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence regarding real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilize and sow chaos in the United States. USA Today also said a spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, or ODNI, acknowledged the briefing occurred but did not provide specifics about what was said. In his remarks in North Carolina, Trump thanked members of Congress in both parties for approving more funding for the U.S. Secret Service, but added that if he were president when a foreign country threatened a presidential candidate, he would retaliate in the strongest terms. So I thank everybody in Congress, he said. But if I were the president, I would inform the threatening country, in this case Iran, that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens. Were going to blow it to smithereens. The gunman in the Pennsylvania shooting, Thomas Crooks, was killed by law enforcement at the scene. In the second case, in Florida, Ryan Wesley Routh was charged on Tuesday with attempted assassination of Trump. In the hour-long speech that included some attention to economic issues, Trump said that he was a target of foreign governments because of his plans to expand tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods. Im imposing tariffs on your competition from foreign countries, all these foreign countries that have ripped us off, which stole all of your businesses and all of your jobs years ago and took your businesses out, he said. This is why people in countries want to kill me. Theyre not happy with me. It is its a risky business. This is why they want to kill me. Trump also said he would set a 15% tax rate on companies that produce their goods domestically. That low rate, combined with tariffs on foreign goods, would boost U.S. manufacturing, including furniture production that was once a large industry in North Carolina, he said. Tariffs generally lead to higher prices, which have plagued consumers since 2020. Harris in Pennsylvania The Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, painted a more optimistic picture of the U.S. economic present and future in her own economy-focused speech Wednesday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Harris acknowledged that prices remained too high. You know it, and I know it, she said, according to a pool report. Harris said her economic priorities were focused on the middle class, which she contrasted with what she described as Trumps favoritism to wealthy people. She said she would encourage innovation by boosting research in a host of technologies from biomanufacturing to artificial intelligence and the blockchain, and said her approach to the presidency would include experimenting with different strategies. As president, I will be grounded in my fundamental values of fairness, dignity and opportunity, she said. And I promise you, I will be pragmatic in my approach. I will engage in what Franklin Roosevelt called bold, persistent experimentation. Immigration blamed by GOP Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, applied their nativist immigration positions to speeches focused on the economy in their Wednesday campaign appearances. Both said immigrants in the country illegally were responsible for driving down employment and wages among U.S.-born workers. The jobs are going to illegal migrants that came into our country illegally, Trump said in North Carolina. Our Black population all over the country, our Hispanic population, are losing their jobs. Theyre citizens of America, theyre losing their jobs. In a call earlier Wednesday touting the International Brotherhood of Teamsters decision not to endorse in the presidential race and an internal electronic poll showing most members supported the GOP ticket, Vance said organized labor had long sought to protect U.S. workers from immigrants. The American labor movement has always recognized that illegal labor undercuts the wages of American workers, Vance said on the call. Those are folks competing against American citizens and legal residents for important jobs and undercutting their wages in the process. Vance said, without citing a source, that all net job growth under Harris and President Joe Biden had gone to foreign workers, including 25 million immigrants in the country illegally. Official estimates place the number of immigrants residing in the country without authorization at about 11 million, less than half of Vances claim. A GOP campaign spokesperson did not substantively respond to a question about the source for Vances statement that foreign-born workers accounted for all job growth during the Biden administration. Trump to return to Butler Trump said Wednesday he would return to Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of the first assassination attempt on him. The former president suffered an injury to his ear during a shooting that killed one rallygoer and injured two others. Were going to go back and finish our speech, he said in North Carolina. A bipartisan U.S. Senate interim report published Wednesday made initial conclusions that the U.S. Secret Service failed to adequately plan to secure the outdoor rally and made missteps in communication that led to the shooter being able to fire at the former president. The report was commissioned by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters, a Democrat of Michigan; Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky; Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut; and Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson. They are the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the panels investigations subcommittee. Former President Donald Trump has been forced to cancel an outside rally in Wisconsin because of shortages within the Secret Service. The rally was planned for Saturday at an airport, but the agency said it didnt have the staff needed to secure the area, according to CBS News. The former president is instead set to speak at a smaller indoor venue in Prairie du Chien in the southwestern part of the state on the border with Iowa. The Secret Service said it was low on personnel because of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where they have to provide security for foreign leaders during their time in the US. An agency official told CBS News the Secret Service was never configured to provide such an elevated level of protection for an increasing number of protected. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage by U.S. Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a Pennsylvania rally. He has now canceled an outdoor rally in Wisconsin due to Secret Service shortages (Getty Images) Our personnel and equipment are being pushed to their limits to sustain the current operational tempo, they added. This proposed Wisconsin event also took place during the United Nations General Assembly, where the Secret Service is responsible for the safety and security of over 140 world leaders amid a challenged global threat level. The Secret Service increased its protection for Trump following the assassination attempt against the Republican nominee in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 when he was grazed by a bullet before being covered by agents. One rally attendee was shot and killed by the gunman and two others were injured. An alleged second attempt on Trumps life was disrupted on September 15 when an agent opened fire on the suspect, who fled but was later detained going down I-95. Secret Service officials have asked Congress for more funding and resources even as legislators have severely criticized the agency for the July 13 security failures. This week, lawmakers approved $231 million in fresh funding for the agency. Trump has held outdoor rallies, such as in Butler, Pennsylvania, but now had to move a planned weekend outdoor event to a smaller indoor location due to lack of personnel (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The service is tasked with protecting foreign leaders while theyre in the US as well as President Joe Biden and his family, in addition to former presidents, vice presidents, their families and candidates for president and vice president. The service is currently protecting about three dozen people continually, CBS noted. The Trump campaign decreased the frequency of outdoor rallies following the Pennsylvania shooting as they require more coordination and planning. Former President Donald Trump is receiving heightened levels of US Secret Service protection and our top priority is mitigating risks to ensure his continued safety at all times, a spokesperson for the service told the network. Former President Trump was set to be hit on Thursday with reams of new evidence from special counsel Jack Smith in the federal Jan. 6 case but the public wont immediately get to see any of it. Smith, who has been blocked from taking the case to trial, was poised to submit a 180-page dossier backing up his claim that Trumps alleged misdeeds are not covered by the Supreme Courts ruling granting him significant immunity for crimes committed in office. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan has not ruled whether or when she might allow the filing to be made public. The document dump could include bombshell new details about Trumps scheme to stay in power after losing the 2020 election to President Biden, and would likely mark the last chance for voters to see evidence of the former presidents alleged actions before Election Day. It could include excerpts from interviews prosecutors have conducted with some of Trumps top lieutenants like Vice President Mike Pence and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about Trumps efforts to cling to power, which culminated with the rally that preceded a mob of extremist Trump supporters storming the Capitol building. Trump accuses Smith and other officials and judges of smearing him with a witch hunt in hopes of preventing him from winning a return to the White House. Chutkan ruled Tuesday that Smith can submit the longer than expected filing, noting that it doesnt amount to proof Trump did anything illegal. (It) does not conclusively establish anything it merely provides evidence for the judicial factfinder to consider, Chutkan wrote. A trial in the momentous case has been sidetracked by the Supreme Courts ruling in July that Trump enjoys immunity for alleged crimes committed while serving in the White House, if the misdeeds can be considered to his official actions. The divided top court instructed Chutkan to hold a judicial proceeding to determine whether alleged crimes fall into the category of official acts or alternately if they were carried out in Trumps private capacity as a candidate for reelection. Smith last month obtained a new superseding indictment of Trump that streamlines the accusations and drops some altogether. Whatever ruling Chutkan makes on that issue is likely to be appealed back to the Supreme Court. That suggests the case would not go to trial until mid-2025 at the earliest. Trump makes no secret of his intention to order an end to the prosecution if he wins a second term in the election pitting him against Vice President Kamala Harris. The federal January 6 case is just one of four criminal cases Trump faces. He was convicted and is awaiting sentencing after Election Day in the Manhattan case accusing him of paying hush money to cover up an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump faces a sprawling RICO election conspiracy case in Georgia state court, a case that is on hold indefinitely as a court hears an appeal over Trumps effort to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over an affair with a top lieutenant. The former president was also charged by Smith with improperly taking classified documents to his Florida resort when he left office and defying efforts to get them back. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, agreeing that Smith was improperly appointed, but most legal experts expect an appeals court to reinstate the charges. _____ A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. Trumps Military-Fantasy Complex In a series of three posts over the past month, TPMs Josh Kovensky has been unpacking the many disturbing elements of the emerging Trump II plan to harness the military for its own political ends in ways that are outside the bounds of American tradition and may be outside the law. The series emerged organically as his reporting and that of other news outlets gradually helped to bring the issue into sharper focus. But that means we havent promoted it as strongly or consistently as we might have otherwise. So I wanted to walk you through the major themes because if Trump wins in November, then in about six weeks time, things will start moving very quickly and I dont want this potential threat flying under your radar. The overarching theme of Joshs reporting is that Trump is drawn to using the military because it appeals to a series of fantasies he has: The military is all powerful. The military can augment his own power as president, particularly in areas where federalism and the law make the president inherently weaker. Unlike other components of the federal government, the president can use the military free of congressional strings and oversight. None of these fantasies is actually true, though they contain wisps and fragments of truth. Weve long known about Trumps attraction to the military, or at least to the trappings he perceives it to have: strength, power, loyalty. His obsession with my generals in his first term led him to surround himself with flag officers, most of whom came to despise and disrespect him. Whats new in Joshs reporting is how MAGA adherents want to co-opt the military for its own political ends, including: mass deportations, cracking down on domestic protests, and simply to project political strength. Civilian rule over the military is a core American value. Keeping the military as an institution, non-partisan and out of politics remains a bedrock tradition. Not using the military for domestic purposes except in extreme cases is also a foundational value. Trumps child-like fascination with the military as a way to shore up his own insecurities ignores all of that history and tradition and the laws that help preserve them. He would come into office perturbed that he hadnt made full use of the military his first time round and determined not to be thwarted from doing so this time. Its a particular flavor of the Trump threat that we havent encountered before in our history and which we may not be sufficiently prepared for: It threatens the military as we know it and civilian life. Because theres no precedent for it, predicting how it will unfold is difficult. But well be on it when and if it does. NYC Mayor Eric Adams Indicted Federal law enforcement was reported to be searching Gracie Mansion this morning after news broke Wednesday night that NYC Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges. The specifics of the charges are not yet public, but the indictment is expected to be unsealed today. Adams rebuffed calls to resign and vowed to fight the unspecified charges. Jack Smith Immunity Brief In Jan. 6 Case Due Today Special Counsel Jack Smith faces a deadline of today to file his expected 180-page brief on the legal and factual reasons that Supreme-Court-bestowed presidential immunity does not preclude the superseding indictment against Donald Trump in the Jan. 6 case. The brief which could include never-before-seen evidence against Trump will be filed under seal, and it is not clear when a redacted version will be released to the public. That will be up to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan and could take days or longer depending on Trumps objections to its release and how hard he fights to keep it from becoming public before the election. Death By A Thousand Delays DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz will not release his long-awaited report on the departments handling of the Jan. 6 attack and the run-up to it until after the November election. The IGs work was paused for an extended period due to ongoing criminal investigations, which is a legitimate basis for delay. But the notion that an examination of DOJs role in preventing an auto-coup in 2020 will not be done in time for the very next election is another example of the institutional molasses in which so much of the democracy-defense effort is mired. UPDATE: Trump Assassination Attempts Trump and Harris are both now getting unprecedented levels of Secret Service protection following the two assassination attempts against Trump. Trump is now claiming without evidence possible Iranian involvement in the two assassination attempts against him. Trump continues to sow distrust and fear in the same vein as his Deep State conspiracizing by making baseless claims that the FBI is slow-rolling the investigations into his two would-be assassins. Senator Targeted In Deep Fake Operation Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-MD) wound up on a Zoom call with someone purporting to be a top Ukrainian official in what is being investigated by the FBI as a sophisticated deep fake operation, Punchbowl News first reported. The person with whom Cardin spoke looked and sounded like Dmytro Kuleba, who was until recently Ukraines foreign minister. 2024 Ephemera In a wide-ranging economic policy speech, Kamala Harris pledged $100 billion in tax credits for U.S. manufacturing. WSJ: A State-by-State Guide to Early Voting TPMs Nicole Lafond: Now Mike Johnson Is Hedging On Whether The Election Will Be Certified Good Reads Rick Perlstein: Presidential polls are no more reliable than they were a century ago. So why do they consume our political lives? Brian Beutler: Republicans Have A Nazi Problem Garrett Epps: The Chaos of the Supreme Courts Last Termand What May Be Coming This Time Woman Sentenced In Neo-Nazi Plot Against Power Grid Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 36, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for conspiring to attack the power grid around Baltimore in a white-supremacist plot to accelerate social and political collapse. How Is This Any Different From What Trump Is Saying? Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) said the not-so-quiet part a little louder in a now-deleted tweet that mirrored the Trump-Vance attacks on Haitian immigrants in Ohio: GOP Rep. Clay Higgins has now deleted this tweet after he was confronted by CBC Chair Steven Horsford on the House floor, and asked to take it down, multiple sources tell me & @heatherscope >> pic.twitter.com/10c8e5SZEP Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) September 25, 2024 Higgins deleted it after being confronted on the House by some Black members of Congress, including Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL). The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus called for the Ethics Committee to look into the tweet and for a reprimand of Higgins by the House. On CNN last night, Higgins remained defiant: Its not a big deal to me. Its like something stuck to the bottom of my boot. Just scrape it off and move on with my life. The irony in all of this is that Trump-Vance ticket is invoking the same racist stereotypes, playing to the same racist fears, and engaging in the same demagoguery as Higgins, albeit slightly less explicitly. Slightly. Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know! A nonprofit organization aligned with former President Donald Trump that has played a major role in preparations for his potential second term is merging with a key group that works with Senate Republicans. The America First Policy Institute is combining with the Senate Working Group, the two organizations announced Wednesday. The merger will expand AFPIs profile in Washington, further solidifying its relationship with the congressional wing of the GOP. AFPI has aggressively promoted pro-Trump policies during his post-presidency, and its leaders have taken senior positions in the former presidents transition operation. Linda McMahon, a Trump cabinet member and AFPI chair, was recently named a co-chair of Trumps transition team. Doug Hoelscher and Michael Rigas, who served in the Trump administration and at AFPI, are also working on the transition effort. With the possible reelection of Trump, the organization is looking to deepen its ties to Senate Republicans, who would play a major role in approving his policy agenda. The conservative nonprofit, which is led by Republican operative James Kimmey, was established in 2021 with the goal of facilitating coordination among Senate Republican staff. The outfit, which will now oversee the Senate Working Group, holds several summits each year that are widely attended by top congressional aides. By combining the strengths of AFPI and SWG, we are strengthening our commitment to equipping policymakers with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to lead America into a brighter future, Brooke Rollins, AFPIs president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. AFPI has had a relatively low profile since its founding shortly after the 2020 election unlike the Heritage Foundation, another organization looking to lay the groundwork for a second Trump presidency. Heritage has aggressively publicized its Project 2025, a set of policy proposals established with an eye toward being a blueprint for a Trump White House. While Democrats have seized on the plan to paint Trump as extreme, the former president has sought to distance himself from the document, though he endorses elements of the plan such as eliminating the Department of Education. (Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump plans to meet with the new UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, as well as the president of the United Arab Emirates, according to a senior adviser, as the former president continues to hold sway with foreign leaders in the shadow of the US election. Most Read from Bloomberg The meetings come as scores of heads of state and diplomats have gathered for the annual United Nations General Assembly this week in New York. Starmers get-together with Trump on Thursday will be his first since his Labour Party swept to power in the July British elections. Since then, however, the new government has stumbled over its economic agenda and reports of infighting, and Starmer has had to explain gifts that he accepted over the years. The UK leader said before traveling to New York that he hoped to meet both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and that the UK stood ready to work alongside whoever emerged victorious in the US election this November. The prime ministers office didnt immediately reply to a request for comment on his get-together with Trump. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE, was to meet with Trump on Wednesday after huddling with Harris and President Joe Biden on Monday at the White House. The visit of MBZ, as he is widely known, came after Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah targets, intensifying international concern that a wider conflict could further destabilize the region and undercut Bidens broader efforts to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Both Trump and Harris have sought validation from global allies and partners in a bid to bolster their electoral standing in the closely contested race. The Democratic nominee is planning to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House on Thursday to discuss US assistance for the ongoing war with Russia. Trump has hosted several world leaders in recent months as foreign capitals grapple with the prospect of him returning to power and as he seeks to align himself with those abroad who share his ideological leanings, including as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The Harris campaign, at the same time, has tried to highlight her foreign policy role as vice president while also seeking to cast her as a leader in her own right, with policies that may differ from Bidens. After a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July, Harris said she had pressured him to accept a cease-fire deal and warned him about the civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip, striking a more strident public tone than Biden. --With assistance from Alex Morales. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Last week, Donald Trump posted an unhinged, late-night screed to his Truth Social account, railing about how WOMEN ARE POORER, LESS HEALTHY, and MORE DEPRESSED AND UNHAPPY than they were when he was in office, claiming that if he is reelected their NIGHTMARE will be over and they will be able to stop THINKING ABOUT ABORTION. He continued to lie that Democrats have demanded babies be killed after birth, and that Trump, an adjudicated sexual abuser, will PROTECT WOMEN AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE. The next morning, just hours after he raged about dead babies, the former president struck a slightly different note on his social media platform. Hello everyone, I have something incredible to share today, he said, flanked by American flags, in a video posted to his account. We are announcing the launch of Trump Coins, a true symbol of American greatness. On Thursday, around the same time Melania Trump lamented on Fox News about how America is suffering and people are not able to buy usual necessities for their families, Trump posted a video unveiling his new, truly special line of Trump-branded watches, which includes a gold, diamond-encrusted tourbillon hes selling for $100,000. The tonal whiplash encapsulates the former presidents approach to the stretch run to the election. The Trump family is not only intensifying their rhetoric about coming doom if Kamala Harris wins the election, but also their shameless determination to bilk their followers out of every last cent they can before November. Here are some of the tackiest ventures Trump and his family are pushing as he campaigns to once again become the nations most powerful public servant a role he would certainly once again use to enrich himself. Trump coins Trump bills Trump Coins as a true symbol of American greatness, noting they are minted right here in the U.S.A. and claiming they were designed by Trump himself. Crafting American Legacy, the Trump Coins website reads. Trump is selling the limited edition coins for $100 apiece, even though theyre made with $30 worth of silver. It may seem like a lot until you realize they come with a certificate of authenticity and a little pouch. The coins are more than just a collectors item, according to Trump, they are a testament to the resilience and strength of the American people. Trump watches Weve been doing quite a number with watches, Trump says at the top of his latest mid-campaign infomercial announcing a line of luxury watches. The collection includes two Fight Fight Fight watches going for $499 apiece, a gold-toned one for $799, and a gold, diamond-studded tourbillon hes selling for a whopping $100,000. I love gold, I love diamonds, we all do, Trump says. There are only 147 of those $100,000 watches available, according to the website a cool $14.7 million worth of merchandise. The website clarifies that Trump Watches are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals. Instead, they are being sold by TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC, which is using the Trump name and likeness under a license agreement which may be terminated or revoked according to its terms. The website adds that Trump Watches are intended as collectible items for individual enjoyment only, not for investment purposes. Trump digital trading cards Trump began selling digital trading cards during the NFT boom, and hasnt stopped. He announced Series 4 of the cards in a video post in late August that seems like it was filmed in an alternate universe from the one in which he is trying to win a presidential election and warning of nuclear holocaust if he loses. Its your favorite president with some exciting news, Trump says in the video, introducing the release of 50 new digital trading cards, back by popular demand. These cards show me dancing, and even holding some Bitcoins, the former president intones, noting that if supporters buy 15 of them at $99 apiece, theyll receive a physical card containing a piece of the suit he wore during his debate against Biden in June. This is something to give your grandchildren, he says before teasing a few more special offers. Lets have fun together and enjoy my Trump cards. Were going to be talking about it for a long time. President Trump announces his NEW Digital Trading Cards- America First. Buy just 15 cards and get a piece of his KNOCKOUT Debate Suit. Buy just 75 cards or more and have a Gala Dinner with the President! Don't Miss Out! https://t.co/vrpHbxyrFG pic.twitter.com/TUYFLLD76f CollectTrumpCards (@CollectTrump) August 27, 2024 Trumps foray into crypto Its unclear if Trump actually knows what crypto is, but that hasnt stopped him from trying to cash in on it. In July, he spoke at the annual Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, where he called the audience geniuses and promised to make the United States the crypto capital of the world. Most people have no idea what the hell it is, he said about crypto. So what happens when everyone figures it out? Thatll be something. While Trump previously called bitcoin a scam, in September, he announced on an X livestream that he and his family are starting a crypto business called World Liberty Financial. Trump was vague on specifics about the company, which describes itself on its website as the cutting-edge DeFi platform supported by Donald J. Trump. Crypto is one of those things we have to do, Trump said on the livestream. Whether we like it or not, I have to do it. Trump of course does not have to start a crypto business, and given the extent to which the Securities and Exchange Commission has cracked down on crypto, his ownership of a crypto business would make for a serious conflict of interest if he were to retake the White House. (Naturally, Trump has promised to fire the SEC chair and replace him with an industry-friendly regulator.) A week later, Trump suggested he might be able to use crypto to pay off Americas $35 trillion national debt. He was joking we think but the quip underscores Trumps ignorance about the intricacies of a volatile industry he seems to be backing mostly because of the money hes getting from some of its major players. I think cryptos got a great future, Trump said before joking about using it to pay down the national debt. He was standing behind a podium advertising his digital trading cards. Melanias necklace Melania has been conspicuously absent from Trumps 2024 campaign, only making a brief appearance but not speaking at the Republican National Convention. Shes still an active participant in the Trump familys grifting operation, though, and earlier this week the former first lady started pushing a limited edition gold necklace celebrating lady liberty, with the option of a digital collectible. Shes selling the gold-plated pendants for $600 a piece. Melanias memoir While Melania hasnt been campaigning with her husband, shes been creeping back into the public eye down the home stretch of the race to hawk her new memoir. Shes doing so in part through a series of bizarre teasers. Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modeling work? she asks in on, before wondering if were no longer to appreciate the beauty of the human body. She then cites master artists who have done so throughout history in order to provoke profound emotions. https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP/status/1836375317646086533 In another, she uses the assassination attempt against Trump in July to market the memoir, suggesting law enforcement was in on it and saying we need to uncover the truth before the screen cuts to an image of the book. Melania sat down for an interview with Fox & Friends this week, her first in two years. Again, this was to promote her book, not Trumps bid for president. Trump sneakers Trump unveiled a sneaker line at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia earlier this year. He was loudly booed as he did so next to a pair of the gold shoes he is selling for $399. Theres a lot of emotion in this room, he said as he was jeered. Trump has since unveiled several additional iterations of the shoe, including a Fight Fight Fight version that features an image of him raising his fist after the assassination attempt against him in July. Those are only $299. https://twitter.com/ComplexSneakers/status/1813591078290980884 Assassination attempt cologne Trump has made hay over the assassination attempt against him in July, both through campaign fundraising and hawking merchandise including Fight Fight Fight cologne and perfume. This scent is your rallying cry in a bottle, the description of the cologne reads. Featuring Trumps iconic image and raised fist, this limited-edition cologne embodies strength, power, and victory. The perfume is intended for women who embody strength and grace, like President Trump. Both are for sale for $129. Trumps Bible Trump celebrated the Easter season by teaming up with MAGA songwriter Lee Greenwood to hawk the God Bless the USA Bible. Trumps version of the holy book includes the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Its very important to me, Trump claims in the promo. I want to have a lot of people have it. You have to have it for your heart, for your soul. Trump is selling the God Bless the USA Bible for $59.99 or, if you want one signed by Trump, for an even $1,000. https://twitter.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1772658279908253974 Trumps new picture book Trump is also selling a new picture book, which he says takes you behind the scenes. The cover features the image of him raising his fist after he was shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Raw Story reported that the publisher was able to use the image for the book because the Associated Press initially neglected to add protections that would have prevented it from being used for commercial purposes. Its unclear how the book actually takes the reader behind the scenes, however. A reviewer on Amazon posted a video of himself flipping through the book, revealing it to be filled with pretty standard public images of moments from his presidency and minimal commentary. Trump is selling the book for $99, with autographed copies going for $499. Its worth noting that all of these proceeds are going to Trump and his family, not his campaign, which seems to exist largely as a way for the former president to promote his money-making ventures.It comes as no surprise, then, that Trump has done next to nothing to support down-ballot Republicans this fall. Punchbowl News reported this week that Trump has yet to appear at a major fundraising event for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the House. The Republican National Committee, now controlled by Trumps family and other MAGA diehards, hasnt given any money to the NRCC this cycle, and Trump hasnt given them anything, either. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Donald Trump has made a number of critical statements about Volodymyr Zelensky recently, including calling him the greatest salesman on earth - Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street Donald Trump has revealed a personal plea Volodymyr Zelensky sent him for a meeting. The Republican nominee took the unusual step of posting a message from Mr Zelensky to his Truth Social account, with the apparent intention of making the Ukrainian leader look keen to meet him. In the message, Mr Zelensky said he always speaks with great respect about Trump, and argues the two men have to strive to understand each other and remain in close contact. He requested a meeting with Trump, to be held on Friday in New York, and implied it had been scheduled for Friday. Speaking to reporters on Thursday evening, Trump confirmed he would meet Mr Zelensky the following day. The post on Truth Social All of us in Ukraine want to end this war with a just peace, Mr Zelensky wrote. And we know that without America this is impossible to achieve. Thats why we have to strive to understand each other and remain in close contact. He added: Days ago, we requested a meeting with you, and I really want to hear your thoughts directly, and firsthand. You know I always speak with great respect about everything connected to you, and thats how it should be. I can be in New York on Friday, which would be a good time to meet. I believe its important for us to have a personal contact and to understand each other 100%. Let me know if you are in the city at that time I would really like for our meeting to take place, as part of our efforts to help us end this war in a just way. The message was passed to Trump via Denys Sienik, the deputy chief of mission for Ukraines US embassy. Mr Zelensky has already met Joe Biden this week during his visit to the US - ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images Mr Zelensky met with Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, at the White House on Thursday - Jacquelyn Martin/AP It is unusual for a backroom conversation between two politicians to be revealed in public, especially by one of the interlocutors themselves. Trumps post came amid heightened tensions between the two men, and the former presidents increasingly critical rhetoric towards Ukraine on the campaign trail. The rift between the two men may be exacerbated by Trumps decision to post the message, which will be interpreted as an attempt to embarrass Mr Zelensky. In a speech in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Trump said that Mr Zelensky refuses to make a deal with Vladimir Putin, and that the country had been demolished because of his refusal to negotiate. He added: The president of Ukraine is in our country, and hes making little nasty aspersions toward your favourite president: me. During the same speech, Trump said: Any deal the worst deal wouldve been better than what we have now, adding the people are dead and the country is in rubble. The previous day, at a rally in Georgia, Trump said: Every time Zelensky comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion. I think hes the greatest salesman on earth. But were stuck in that war unless Im president. Mr Zelensky has generally been complimentary about Trump in public, but said in a recent New Yorker interview that his feeling is that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how. He has vociferously opposed negotiations with Russia that would result in a loss of Ukrainian territory in exchange for peace, and described JD Vance, Trumps running mate, as too radical. Trump has said he would end the Ukrainian war in one day, in a pledge that was later clarified by Mr Vance to mean a territorial negotiation with Russia. After Trump began to criticise Mr Zelensky in public, Republicans in Congress refused to meet the Ukrainian president on his trip to Washington DC on Thursday. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, met Mr Zelensky at the White House. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Former President Donald Trump is stepping up his criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming that the Ukrainian president "refuses to make a deal" with Moscow some 31 months after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Republicans in Congress are following Trump's lead, many now refusing to meet with Zelensky during his visit to Capitol Hill. House Republicans, rather than offer support for the war-time leader, instead announced this week that they are investigating a trip he made to an ammunition plant in Pennsylvania, claiming that he might have been flown there on the taxpayer's dime to benefit Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. Those cities are gone, theyre gone, and we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refused to make a deal, Zelensky. There was no deal that he could have made that wouldnt have been better than the situation you have right now. You have a country that has been obliterated, not possible to be rebuilt, Trump said in a campaign speech in Mint Hill, North Carolina Wednesday, suggesting that Russia would not have destroyed so much of Ukraine had the latter been more accommodating. Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, likewise said in a call with reporters that "everything is going to be on the table," but also nothing is going to be definitely on the table in peace talks hypothetically facilitated by a second Trump administration. He argued that American resources are being wasted in a war with no end. (At the same time, Vance has advocated for bombing Mexico and Iran and giving billions of dollars in aid to Israel, which is currently waging war in Gaza and Lebanon.) Zelensky responded to Vance's comments by saying the senator was "too radical" for suggesting that the war should end "at Ukraine's expense." That in turn angered Republicans, CNN reported, with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, warning him to "stay out of American politics." Ukrainian forces have held the Russians at bay for much of the past two years, but acute supply and manpower shortages, exacerbated by GOP lawmakers stalling a U.S. military aid package earlier this year, have led to cracks in their defense. The reality on the ground and the prospect of a Trump White House in 2025 may have persuaded Zelenskyy to think seriously about peace talks with Russia. In July, he suggested that Russia could send a delegation to peace talks in Switzerland, despite earlier avowals to only negotiate once Russia had withdrawn all its forces from Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, House Republicans are accusing Zelensky of colluding with Democrats, citing the visit to an ammunition plant in Pennsylvania. That, they claim, was mere cover for supporting Harris' campaign efforts in a key swing state, even though neither Harris nor any of her staffers were present. The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference, House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelenskyy. House Oversight Chair James Comer then announced an investigation into Zelenskys use of U.S. aircraft to travel there. According to a Pentagon spokesperson who spoke to CNN, Zelensky, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and other officials were "conducting official business related to U.S. security assistance to Ukraine." Trump has slight edge over Harris in Texas, according to latest poll Trump has slight edge over Harris in Texas, according to latest poll AUSTIN (KXAN) With less than four weeks to go until early voting begins in Texas, a new poll shows the race for president remains tight. Former President Donald Trump has a slight edge over Vice President Kamala Harris in a new Emerson College/The Hill poll, funded by Nexstar Media, released Thursday. The poll shows 51% of respondents said they would support Trump if the election were held today, while 46% said they would support Harris. Three percent said they were undecided or would support someone else. The poll is a modest one-point improvement for Trump since the last Emerson/The Hill poll, released earlier this month. In that poll, Trump led Harris 50% to 46%. The Emerson College Polling/The Hill poll of 950 likely voters was conducted between Sept. 22 and Sept. 24, 2024. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points. Poll respondents were contacted either by cell phone via MMS-to-web text or via an online panel. See the full crosstabs of the poll hereDownload There are significant differences in candidate preference based on voters race and ethnicity. Harris leads with Black and Hispanic voters by 79-point and 13-point margins, respectively, while Trump leads among white voters by a 31-point margin. There is also a gender divide on the presidential ballot test, said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. Women break for Harris by six, while men break for Trump by 19. No matter which candidate they support, voters expect the race to be tight. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they expect Trump to win, while 49% expect Harris to win. The race for U.S. Senate in Texas is similarly close. According to the poll, 49% of voters support incumbent Republican Ted Cruz, while 45% support Democratic challenger Colin Allred. Six percent are undecided in that race. Both Cruz and Allred increased their share by a point since the previous ECP poll earlier this month. Immigration was named the top issue for about a third of poll respondents (32%), ahead of the economy (27%), abortion access (11%), threats to democracy (9%), education (6%) and healthcare (5%). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Cohesity announces the appointment of Paul Henaghan as Managing Director for Cohesity Australia and New Zealand. With repeated success across Asia Pacific and EMEA, Paul has delivered revenue growth, market share, profitability, and operational excellence for organizations like Workday and Dell EMC. Paul has a long track record of enabling high-performing teams to deliver measurable business outcomes and lead organisational change, especially in times of transition. In this role, Paul will lead the Cohesity Australian and New Zealand operations, drive strategic initiatives, and ensure the company continues delivering exceptional value to its customers and partners. With a deep understanding of the industry and a passion for innovation, Paul is well-equipped to guide the team toward even greater customer and partner success. Specifically, Paul will look to expand Cohesitys capabilities to help its customers build and maintain cyber resilience in a time of unprecedented uncertainty around data breaches and threats. Paul noted that recent research commissioned by Cohesity had revealed that many organisations, including in Australia, overestimate their cyber resilience capabilities and maturity, leading to significant business continuity disruptions and ransom payments. Paul Henaghan said, In a time when cyber resilience is paramount for all organisations, I am exceptionally proud to lead the talented team at Cohesity as we work to safeguard Australian and New Zealand organisations from the increasing threat of cyberattacks. I am particularly interested in working with our customers and partners to ensure they can benefit from Cohesitys industry-leading artificial intelligence-powered solutions. As The Cohesity Global Cyber Resilience Report 2024 showed, we as an industry must do more to help our customers avoid falling victim to a ransomware attack and ensure they have all the tools available to improve cyber resilience. Kit Beall, Global Chief Revenue Officer for Cohesity, said, We are excited to welcome Paul, a proven industry leader and innovator, to lead Cohesity in Australia and New Zealand. ANZ is an important market for adopting technologies that support productivity and enhance competitive advantage but, like organisations all over the world, faces unprecedented challenges around cyber resilience. With the addition of Pauls leadership, more customers and partners in the ANZ market will benefit from Cohesitys industry-leading cyber resilience solutions." Former president and 2024 Republican nominee Donald Trump had a question. Ever since CNN reported that North Carolinas lieutenant governor Mark Robinson posted on a pornography website that hes a black NAZI who supported re-legalizing slavery and dubbed civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Lucifer Koon, Trump and his campaign have tried to gently distance the ex-president from his staunchly MAGAfied ally, fearing Robinsons extreme excesses could damage Trump himself. In recent days, as the former president has discussed with aides and confidants what to do amid the Robinson fallout, Trump also had a blunt query for those in his political and social orbit, according to a source close to Trump and another person familiar with the matter. He wanted to know if Robinson was mentally ill. Trump had previously heartily embraced the Tar Heel States Republican gubernatorial nominee, describing Robinson in a statement that looks especially peculiar in retrospect as Martin Luther King on steroids. But Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are in the final-weeks sprint of this years extraordinarly high-stakes presidential contest, and various battleground and national polls point to a tight race that will likely come down to the margins in a tiny number of states. For both camps, nothing is to be taken for granted, and every inch of improvement or scandal seems to matter a great deal. Recent polling data has given the Harris campaign reason for cautious optimism in their uphill fight to best Trump for North Carolinas electoral college votes. For Trump, the state is a must-win: Top advisers to Trump have repeatedly told Rolling Stone that they see virtually no plausible scenario in which he wins the election without keeping North Carolina in his corner. Earlier this month, Trumps vice presidential pick, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), told reporters that its very hard for us to win unless were able to get North Carolina. It is unusual that a gubernatorial candidate would have a dramatic effect on the electoral prospects of a partys presidential nominee, particularly one who is as popular among the partys base as Trump. Still, Robinson who has attempted to dismiss CNNs article as tabloid trash is a uniquely shambolic case. Influential allies to the former president and his campaigns senior staff certainly arent shrugging off his potential impact on the election in November. As the CNN story was breaking last week, multiple Trump lieutenants began messaging or calling well-placed political contacts in North Carolina to ask if there were any other embarrassing rumors or whispers of additional explosive information regarding Robinson that Team Trump may not know about yet and that may come out during this election cycle, two sources with knowledge of the matter say. As of early this week, according to a different person with knowledge of the matter, at least one major conservative organization was working to run a new private poll in North Carolina largely to find if Robinson is dragging down Trumps numbers. This dumbass could wreck this whole thing for us, one Republican close to Trump, who is actively working to put him back in the White House, lamented to Rolling Stone. This person added though they believe the ex-president will win North Carolina, Black Hitler doesnt make it fucking easier! In a presidential race that remains stubbornly close, the former president is not just running to revitalize his career and political legacy, or to enact an increasingly authoritarian, vengeanceobsessed policy vision. Trump is, in many ways, running to stay out of prison. And for the Republican lawmakers and other Trump associates who want to return Trump to power next year, a key task has been to figure out how, exactly, to claim that Trump has nothing to do with this man with whom Trump had, emphatically and publicly, a lot to do. Thats literally [Democrats] campaign in North Carolina, is trying to make people believe that Donald Trump somehow is involved with the Robinson guy, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a prominent Trump ally, said on Fox News on Monday. Donald Trump knew nothing about this. I knew nothing about it. [Democrats are] trying to guilt by association. At a recent North Carolina rally, Trump conspicuously did not even mention the lieutenant governors name. According to Trump advisers, there has been some internal conversation within the campaign about whether the former president should make a forceful statement about Robinson but so far, there is no confirmed plan to do so or to revoke his endorsement. Others close to Trump have urged him to dump Robinson altogether, but the ex-president is not taking the advice and instead settling on a strategy of ignoring him, at least for the moment. Vance, for his part, refused to commit one way or another when he was asked if he trusts Robinsons claims that he did not post the comments reported by CNN. I dont not believe him, I dont believe him, Vance said over the weekend. Speaking at a North Carolina rally on Monday, Vance said: A sex scandal in North Carolina is between the lieutenant governor and the people of North Carolina. Theyre going to make their decision, and we support them. Still, before the CNN story, Robinson was already an ostentatiously far-right figure who much of the Republican elite was fine with not just tolerating, but championing. I think youre better than Martin Luther King, Trump said of Robinson at a campaign event in March. I think you are Martin Luther King times two. Not quite. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Transportation Security Administration officers stopped a West Virginia woman who had a loaded gun in her carry-on bag at Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday. When TSA officers detected the gun, a 9mm loaded with 10 bullets, police were called to confiscate it. When someone brings a loaded gun to one of our checkpoints, it is a risk to everyone in the airport, said Karen Keys-Turner, TSAs Federal Security Director for the airport. We view firearms as a threat, because the intention of the traveler is unknown. If you own a firearm, do not bring it to a checkpoint. If you must travel with your gun, the proper way to do it is to make sure its unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case and taken to the airline check-in counter. The airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the aircraft. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. So far this year, 33 guns have been caught by TSA officers at Pittsburgh International Airport security checkpoints. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW President Joe Biden chose Tucson Mayor Regina Romero to join a presidential delegation of mostly federal officials attending the inauguration of Mexicos new president Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. The delegation led by First Lady Jill Biden is made up of federal officials and Romero, who is the only mayor invited to be a part of the group. The delegation will travel to Mexico City to attend the Oct. 1 inauguration. "I am looking forward to being there and Im super incredibly honored to be part of such a distinguished delegation," Romero said. Other officials of the delegation traveling to the inauguration include Ken Salazar, U.S. ambassador to Mexico; Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. and others. Following Biden's announcement on Sept. 24, Romero said she was "super super surprised" by the invitation, and was honored to represent Tucson on the delegation. Romero is the daughter of immigrants and the first Mexican-American woman to be elected mayor of Tucson, a city that lies just 60 miles north of Mexico. She said those factors likely contributed to her invitation. She also noted Mexico's importance as Arizonas largest trade partner, as well as the shared history between Sonora, Mexico and Tucson. "We share the borderlands, we share the Sonoran desert, we share culture and history," Romero told The Arizona Republic. Romero posted about the announcement on X, reiterating Mexico's "historic" inauguration as Sheinbaum will be the country's first woman president. Sheinbaum will replace Mexicos current president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who was elected in 2018. Romero told The Arizona Republic that Sheinbaum's inauguration is an important milestone for women everywhere. She said the U.S. has a chance to "catch up" to Mexico's historic election and elect Kamala Harris as the first woman to be president of the U.S. Romero has been outspoken in her support of Harris. The announcement of the delegation comes one month after Romero opened the Democratic National Convention. She also recently introduced Doug Emhoff during his campaign stop in Tucson. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mayor Regina Romero to join US delegation to Mexican inauguration University of Oregon President Karl Scholz, left, and Board of Trustees Chair Steve Holwerda listen in during a meeting on March 12 at the Ford Alumni Center in Eugene. Tuition rates at the University of Oregon could start rising faster than expected after projected budget shortfalls were announced this week during a meeting of the university's board of trustees. Jamie Moffitt, senior vice president for finance & administration and UO's chief financial officer, presented financial projections for fiscal years 2024 to 2029. Moffit said current projections, based on orientation numbers and housing, see lower than expected out-of-state student enrollment for the 2024-25 school year. She said UO's targeted nonresident enrollment was 2,984 students, but enrollment believe the actual number of nonresident students this fall will be 2,536 448 under the target. Although this is a slight increase in out-of-state students compared to 2023-24, the university had counted on those additional tuition dollars. Projections in the coming years continue to see an upward trend in out-of-state enrollment, but not at the rate UO is targeting. In-state student enrollment is increasing at a higher rate than expected this year expecting 2,593 new students, compared to 2,181 targeted. Because in-state tuition is lower, a boost in enrollment would add some revenue, but it would not completely offset the decrease in out-of-state students. In-state tuition and fees cost $16,137, while out-of-state cost $44,598. "The financial impact of the smaller-than-targeted non-resident enrollment will not be felt fully for a few years," stated the trustee's agenda. "This is due to the fact that the small COVID-Class from fall of 2020 completed its fourth year in June 2024 with many of those students graduating. This class is being replaced with the larger, though below target, Fall 2024 class, which creates a one-time boost to tuition revenue." Moffit presented three scenarios with different rates of tuition increases starting in 2025-26, which estimate how much the university could be under or over its funding needs: Case A: 3% tuition increase for both in-state and out-of-state students for each incoming cohort Case B: 3% tuition increase for out-of-state and 4.5% increase for in-state for each incoming cohort Case C: 3.5% tuition increase for out-of-state and 4.5% increase for in-state for each incoming cohort Moffit projected Case A would lead to UO being underbudget based on the net run rate by 2027 with the university being increasingly underbudget each year following. Both Case B and Case C would also be underbudget by 2027, however Case B projects would be less underbudget in following years. Case C would be overbudget by 2029. The incoming class of undergraduate freshman for the 2024-25 school year will be paying 3% more compared to the previous incoming class. UO presents strategic plan Earlier in the trustees meeting, UO President Karl Scholz and other administrators introduced and broke down the university's new strategic plan called "Oregon Rising." The plan has four main focuses: "Creating a flourishing campus" "Pathways to timely graduation" "Enhanced career support" "Innovation for societal impact" Scholz said UO took in community and stakeholder input when developing the plan. "Our strategic plan defines our goals, strategies and measures of success," Scholz said. "It reflects both our aspirations and the principles we will employ to achieve them." On the topic of timely graduation, the presenters spoke to pushing students to take a full 15-credit-hour load, which studies have shown result in quicker graduation. They also recommended more mandatory advising meetings and potentially making a policy that requires students to choose a major by the end of their second year. The presenters also highlighted a "finish in four" strategy. "It's really focused on the institutional side of a student's success," said Grant Schoonover, interim vice provost for undergraduate education & student success. "If over 90% of students and their families come to UO thinking they're going to graduate in four years, if you look at our data, something's not working. Some of that has to do with just how we're structured and where we're meeting students at. A four-year commitment means that our degree pathways per particular major have to be possible to graduate in four years. You have to reduce complexity. You have to offer the right classes at the right time to make a difference for students so that they can graduate on time." For enhanced career preparation, the presenters highlighted connecting with learning outside of the classroom, collaboration with workforce partners and utilizing the UO alumni network. The strategic plan also intends to connect with the wider community on environmental resilience and climate change issues, behavioral and mental health, sports, and scientific impact through UO's programs. Capital projects: Romania lot lease and Kalapuya Ilihi repairs The University of Oregon Board of Trustees during a meeting on March 12 at the Ford Alumni Center. During Monday's meeting, the trustees were presented with two capital projects to consider for funding approval: the leasing of the Romania lot and repairs for Kalapuya Ilihi Hall. Michael Harwood, associate vice president and university architect and Darin Dehle, director of design and construction gave the presentation. The Romania lot is 4 acres of land south of Franklin Blvd, between Orchard and Walnut streets. The trustees approved a motion for UO to go ahead with negotiating and executing a ground lease agreement for the land. The initial 55-year lease term would start upon "substantial completion" of construction, with two 10-year renewals. In exchange for a non-refundable deposit of $50,000, rent is forgiven for the first thirty months while the developer secures permits and finishes any remaining inspection of the property. The current plan for the lot is to build two residential buildings, a hotel with ground floor retail and parking. Harwood said the housing will not be student housing, but "more affordable workforce housing." However, he said while the housing will be "affordable" it will not be subsidized. Harwood said there were still many details to be finalized, but an estimated 150 to 200 apartments would be available between the two residential buildings. Base monthly rent of $49,114 totaling $589,368 annually would be charged the month after the Stabilization Period. This annual amount is five and a half (5.5%) percent of appraised land value of $10,715,760. Construction is anticipated to last up to four years after the lease begins. UO expects to begin construction in 2026 and may last up to three years. The Kalapuya Ilihi Hall is also receiving major repairs, following numerous significant structural deficiencies discovered since the residence hall was completed in 2017. The trustees approved $16.4 million for the repair project. The repairs are currently in progress. UO estimates it will be ready for students to move in by fall 2025. Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: University of Oregon tuition hike possible after shortfalls FILE - Migrants gather near the Libyan-Tunisia border, as Libyan security forces and Libyan Red Cross workers distribute food aid to them on Sunday, July 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Murad, File) TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) The bodies of 13 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were found washed up on Tunisia's Mediterranean coast this week as authorities struggle to stem unauthorized boat crossings from North Africa to Europe. Tunisia's Coast Guard said the bodies were recovered on Wednesday near Mahdia, a coastal Tunisian town about 142 kilometers (88 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa, which is closer to North Africa than the Italian mainland. Tunisia, along with neighboring Libya, have long been the key launching pads for Europe, and thousands of migrants reach Lampedusa in ramshackle boats every year, including many whose journeys are facilitated by smugglers. According to local court spokesperson Ferid Ben Jha, the bodies were all of men from sub-Saharan Africa and an investigation is underway to determine where they came from. Tens of thousands of people from as far away as Bangladesh attempt to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea every year to reach the shores of Spain, Italy, Malta and Greece. Many are fleeing poverty, war, climate change or persecution. Earlier in September, five bodies were recovered near Monastir, Tunisia, including that of a woman and a child. Recently, Tunisia has ramped up efforts to patrol its territorial waters with European funding and help, leading to a drop in migrant crossings and deaths. Tunisia's National Guard said in June that from January through May, authorities recovered bodies of 462 migrants and intercepted more than 30,000 migrants off Tunisia's coast, compared to the same period last year, when 714 bodies were recovered and nearly 22,000 migrants were intercepted. Roughly 10,000 migrants arrived in Italy by boats from Tunisia in the first half of this year, less than a third of the total that arrived in the same period in 2023, according to Italian authorities. The decrease in the Central Mediterranean is largely due to preventive measures taken by the Tunisian, Libyan and Turkish authorities, FRONTEX, the European Unions border and coast guard agency said in a statement earlier this month. The trend is consistent throughout the majority of routes to European Union countries, where unauthorized migration has dropped significantly this year. However, as border and maritime security has been tightened in the Mediterranean, there has been a spike in migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago close to the Africa's Atlantic coast that is increasingly used as an alternate stepping stone to continental Europe. The United Nations refugee agency estimates that at least 1,000 people die or go missing each year at sea. A nongovernmental organization, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, said it counted more than 1,300 dead or missing off Tunisia in 2023. As the number of migrants who reach Europe drops, the number stuck in transit along the Tunisian coastline has risen. Thousands hoping to get on a boat to Europe, live in encampments on the outskirts of Tunisian cities and towns, where tensions have soared between migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, Tunisians and security forces. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that he hoped the new U.S. president would herald better ties as Ankara has been disappointed by both Republicans and Democrats in the past, broadcaster Haberturk and others reported on Thursday. The 2024 U.S. elections will be held in November between the Republicans' Donald Trump and Democrats' Kamala Harris, also the U.S. Vice President. During his presidency, Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian defences. Speaking to Turkish journalists in New York before leaving the U.N. General Assembly, Erdogan said Turkey still wanted to be reimbursed for the money it spent on F-35 fighter jets after being removed from the jet programme over the Russian purchases. "My hope is that whoever comes does not make us miss the outgoing one," Erdogan was cited as saying. "They all made us experience this disappointment. The Republicans and Democrats." (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler) A Miami retirees real estate transaction transferring oceanfront land to a TV ministry has triggered regret and a dispute over generational property in The Bahamas. Here is a timeline of how it happened. July 2011 Miami resident David Lawrence Adderely, then 74, made an unsolicited call to Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN), saying he owned land on Long Island in The Bahamas, which he wanted to donate to 3ABN in a way that would allow him to achieve both tax benefits and income, according to 3ABN attorney M. Gregory Simpson. August 2011 According to court records, Roy Hunt, 3ABNs director of planned giving and trust services, visited Adderley in Miami to execute an irrevocable Charitable Remainder Unitrust, known as a CRUT. Adderley, a legally blind retired US Army colonel, signed the document as both grantor and trustee. It reads: If for any reason David Lawrence Adderley is unable or unwilling to serve as Trustee, then Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Inc., of West Frankfort, Illinois, shall serve as successor trustee. December 2011 According to Simpson, 3ABN engaged the Lewis & Longley law firm in The Bahamas to commission a boundary survey and prepare the property for sale. The network was expected to sell the land to fund the trust and provide Adderley with retirement income, but Simpson said 3ABNs efforts to sell were unsuccessful. January 2012 Hunt came back to Miami and took Adderley to the Bahamian Consulate in Miami, where a notary witnessed Adderleys execution of the three indentures of conveyance, transferring his land to the irrevocable trust. Records show that on that same day, Adderley signed a Notice of Resignation of Trustee. Under the terms of the trust, Adderleys resignation meant 3ABN became the trustee. August 2012 The Investment Board in The Bahamas issued permits, under the International Persons Landholding Act of 1993, which was passed to help foreigners purchase property in The Bahamas. This allowed 3ABN to take possession of the property after Adderleys death. May 2013 3ABNs auditing firm sent a letter to Adderley asking him to confirm his donation of the property to the network, according to Simpson. At his home in Florida, with nobody from 3ABN present, Mr. Adderley signed his name to the letter, affirming that he agreed with the following statement: According to our records you have placed real estate with an appraised value of $[redacted] into a Charitable Remainder Unitrust Agreement. According to this Unitrust agreement, any amount distributed for charitable purposes will be as follows: 100% to Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Inc. of West Frankfort, Illinois for unrestricted purposes. July 2013 Hunt sent Adderley a letter encouraging him to put his Miami residence into a separate revocable trust, but Adderley refused. The letter stated, I also need for you to send a copy of your deed on the house you own and are placing in this Trust. This is the house you are living in at the present time, Hunt wrote. Our attorney will prepare this to be placed into your trust. You will have access to this deed at any and all times and the trust is totally yours, not 3ABN holding anything. August 2018 Adderley filed a lawsuit at the US District Court in Miami, alleging 3ABN and its representatives misled a vulnerable, legally blind veteran who trusted them because of their affiliation with Seventh-day Adventism. In the suit, amended in April 2019, Adderley sought to undo the irrevocable trust involving the 419.5 acres valued at $32 million, saying he intended to donate only a portion of the land and leave the rest to his daughters. The suits defendants were 3ABN; Roy G. Hunt, Jr., 3ABNs then-director of Planned Giving and Trust Services; James W. Gilley, the networks then-president; Danny Shelton, founder and former president; and attorney Richard Barry Benton. December 2019 3ABN asked US District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. to dismiss the suit. Scola dismissed most of the claims on grounds that Adderley failed to do his due diligence in understanding the terms of the agreement he signed, but declined to dismiss several key claims against 3ABN among them civil theft and exploitation of an elderly person. April 2020 Adderley and 3ABN settled the lawsuit, with 3ABN agreeing to pay Adderley $3 million in exchange for full possession of the property. The settlement required Adderley to recant his allegations of fraud against the network, and he signed a letter stating: I no longer believe that the individuals and entities identified in the Adderley affidavit, including without limitation representatives of Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Inc. (Network) and specifically Roy Hunt, Jr., engaged in improper or dishonest conduct of any kind in their dealings with me. March 2023 3ABN filed a quieting title petition with the Supreme Court of The Bahamas, giving individuals with legal rights to the property 30 days to file their claims. Adderleys cousin, Ambrose Adderley, responded with an adverse claim in an effort to retain what the family considers generational property. Relatives said Ambrose, a subsistence farmer, had been living on the property all of his life with his goats and crops. September 2023 Spectrum magazine, an independent nonprofit that focuses on the Seventh-day Adventist Church, published a story about the controversy that quoted Adderley restating his claim that he only intended to donate one to two acres and that 3ABN representatives misled him into signing the papers. November 2023 Ambrose filed a complaint with the Supreme Court of The Bahamas against the Attorney General of the Bahamas, the current Long Island police superintendent, 3ABN, Shelton and Rodgers, alleging breach of duty causing loss and damage. He asked the court to issue an injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, and agents from entering or remaining on the property. November 2023 According to Adderleys daughter, Krystal Adderley, 3ABN reached out to Adderley through his former Miami attorney, Ross Kulberg, seeking his assistance with the quieting title case. Krystal said her father refused to sign the affidavit, which would have pitted him against his cousin Ambrose. When reached by a reporter, Kulberg denied contacting the family on behalf of 3ABN, but the reporter obtained text messages and emails he allegedly sent to the family along with a copy of a proposed affidavit that 3ABN wanted Adderley to sign. August 2024 The Bahamas Supreme Court issued an order on Ambroses behalf, allowing a surveyor to access the land to assess his claim to the property. Both sides await a final decision in the case Sources: Miami federal court records, Bahamas Supreme Court records, letters and interviews. Alva James Johnson is a freelance journalist in Collegedale, Tennessee, where she also works as an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Southern Adventist University. This article was published in partnership with Spectrum, an independent magazine published by Adventists. MORGAN, Texas (FOX 44) A narcotics seizure in Bosque County has led to two arrests. Bosque County deputies and investigators, assisted by investigators from the Somervell County Sheriffs Office, executed a search warrant at 107 Private Road 1320 in Morgan on Thursday morning. This is a residence in the Lakeside Village area. Upon making entry into the home, deputies found and apprehended Travis Newman and Haily Jeffers. Bosque County Sheriff Trace Hendricks says this search warrant was obtained following a lengthy investigation into the trafficking of methamphetamine. (Courtesy: Bosque County Sheriffs Office) (Courtesy: Bosque County Sheriffs Office) (Courtesy: Bosque County Sheriffs Office) (Courtesy: Bosque County Sheriffs Office) (Courtesy: Bosque County Sheriffs Office) As a result of the search warrant, investigators seized a quantity of methamphetamine, illegally-possessed prescription drugs, scales and packaging materials indicative of narcotics trafficking. Sheriff Hendricks says Newman is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (methamphetamine), a first-degree felony; and Possession of Dangerous Drugs, a Class A Misdemeanor. Jeffers is charged with Possession of Controlled Substances, methamphetamine, over four grams less than 200, a second-degree felony; and Possession of Dangerous Drugs, a Class A Misdemeanor. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Two cases of West Nile virus reported in human patients in Milwaukee as officials urge avoiding mosquito bites Two cases of West Nile virus have been reported in human patients in the city of Milwaukee. They are the first human cases reported this year in Milwaukee. At least eight other confirmed or probable cases in humans were reported elsewhere in Wisconsin as of Sept. 20, the most recent data available from the state Department of Health Services. That includes two people who died. Health officials urged residents to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate breeding sites. The virus has also been found in mosquitoes, horses and birds. Twenty Wisconsin counties have seen a case in a human, animal or mosquito so far this year. Winnebago County health officials on Thursday also reported the Oshkosh area's first human case of the year. More: Mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus in Milwaukee County. Here's what to know. Over the last two decades in Wisconsin, reported cases of West Nile virus have ranged from one to nearly 60 each year, according to the state health department. The state sees an average of 18 reported cases annually, and cases are most common in August and September. The threat of contracting the virus continues until a hard frost, defined as temperatures below 28F for at least four consecutive hours. Most people who contract West Nile virus have no symptoms or a mild illness about four in five infected people do not feel sick. But in less than 1% of cases, the virus causes severe illness characterized by symptoms such as high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, vision loss or paralysis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older individuals and those with compromised immune systems are at highest risk of developing serious symptoms. More: What causes West Nile virus and how can you protect yourself? Answers to key questions. Health officials recommended these steps to keep mosquitoes at bay: Use insect repellent. Products with DEET will be especially effective, but if you're looking for a plant-based option, repellents with lemon eucalyptus are also proven to work. Other repellants with picaridin or IR 3535 work well. Wear long sleeves, pants and socks outside, especially during peak mosquito hours around dawn and dusk. Remove standing water around your home to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Empty standing water from containers, such as flower pots, tires, gutters and downspouts. Turn over wheelbarrows, kiddie pools and buckets when not in use. Change the water in bird baths and pet dishes every few days. Ensure window and door screens are securely fitted to keep mosquitoes out. Trim or mow tall grass, weeds and vines. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Two West Nile virus cases reported in Milwaukee, city's first of year BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) A significant deadline is approaching for millions of student loan borrowers across the country. Two major student loan forgiveness programs stop at the end of September. As September 30th approaches, many student loan borrowers are trying to beat the ticking clock to take advantage of the student loan forgiveness deadline. Federal student loan interest rates highest in more than a decade We spoke with the WVU Tech Campus Financial Aid Manager, Malik Wynes to learn more. He explained that the programs helped some students from facing repercussions of being turned over to collections or being in an unfavorable status with the federal government. Many may face the having to repay high prices for their loans. For those who miss the deadline, student loan servicers can even report absent or missed payments. One of the programs affected by the grace period ending is the Fresh Start program an IRS initiative to help borrowers with federal student loans in default regain student aid benefits and get out of default. The student loan on-ramp began October of 2023. Wyes stressed the importance of informing students and family members of impending financial changes. [We try to] update them as soon as we know things so that we can help them through the process so that theyre able to afford to come to college, said Wyes. Those who have borrowed would likely benefit for checking their loan status and from contacting their loan servicer to check upcoming steps. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. KnowBe4, the provider of the worlds largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, today announced it has issued a warning regarding a North Korean fake employee hiring scam, which the organisation recently experienced and successfully mitigated. KnowBe4 recently released publicly information about how a North Korean fake employee was accidentally hired and detected. The fake employee was detected very quickly after they started to access the laptop that was sent to them in unusual ways. Their restricted (or limited)- onboarding access was shut down within 25 minutes of the first security alert. No illegal access was gained, and no data was lost, compromised, or exfiltrated on any KnowBe4 systems. There are common signs of this fake employee hiring scheme both during and after the hiring process, said Stu Sjouwerman, CEO, KnowBe4. Every organisation should educate all employees involved in the hiring process about the risks and consider various mitigation tactics such as updating the organisations hiring process to include asking the candidate to submit fingerprints for identity verification purposes, threat model the organisations hiring process, and more. We were inspired to share our experience with this unfortunate situation to bring awareness to how pervasive this situation is and to use it as a warning to help protect other organisations from falling victim. This new whitepaper details what the North Korean fake employee industry is like, shares many of the signs to look for , and discusses many ways organisations can update their hiring policies to prevent hiring fake employees. To download the North Korean Fake Employees Are Everywhere! How To Protect Your Organization white paper, visit here. For more information on KnowBe4, visit www.knowbe4.com. If you're looking for some of the most luxurious hotel stays in the country, you don't need to go further than Wisconsin: two Wisconsin hotels have earned Michelin Keys in the latest distinction awarded by the Michelin Guide. The company, which is known for awarding the best restaurants in the world, announced its full list of Michelin Key-winning hotels in the United States earlier this month. Including the Wisconsin recipients, 293 hotels earned a key. Here's which Wisconsin hotels made the list and how the inaugural Michelin Key awards worked. What is a Michelin Key? Michelin Guide created the Michelin Key in April 2024 to recognize the most outstanding hotels in the world. In the same way that Michelin-rated restaurants are awarded stars, Michelin-rated hotels receive either one, two or three keys, and the quality of the hotel increases with the number of keys. One key marks a very special stay, two mark an exceptional stay and three mark an extraordinary stay. Both Wisconsin hotels on the list earned one key. After four years of comprehensive research and vetting, judges selected the key-winning hotels based on the five universal criteria of Michelin stars: Excellence in architecture and interior design Quality and consistency of service Overall personality and character Value for the price Significant contribution to the neighborhood or setting The Goodwin Hotel in Beloit earned a Michelin Key this year. Hotel Goodwin (Beloit, WI) Earning the title of "very special stay," Hotel Goodwin is a 34-room, boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Beloit. The establishment is named after the Goodwin House, a long-gone historic Beloit hotel. "Hotel Goodwin may take its inspiration and its name from a 19th-century Beloit landmark, but in its current incarnation its every bit a 21st-century boutique hotel," the Michelin Guide said. All rooms at The Goodwin come with a 65-inch TV, a turntable with a small record collection and a complimentary continental breakfast. Bathrooms are outfitted with luxury bath products and walk-in showers. In terms of dining, guests can enjoy drinks at Beloit's only rooftop bar, modern Italian fare at Velvet Buffalo or burgers made with local Wisconsin ingredients at Lucy's #7, among other options. Address: 500 Public Ave., Beloit, WI Rate: Starting at $199 per night, not including taxes and fees, for the classic king- and queen-size rooms. Rates are higher during the weekends and the busier months of the year. The Charmant Hotel in La Crosse is a Michelin Key-winning, French-inspired boutique hotel. The Charmant Hotel (La Crosse, WI) The Charmant Hotel, which also earned one Michelin Key, is "a taste of France in the Midwest," according to the Michelin Guide. The 67-room, boutique hotel is located in a former candy factory that first opened in 1898. Though the hotel has undergone extensive renovation since then, touches of its history still permeate the space including in The Charmant's name, which comes from the former candy brand's premium line of chocolates. Rooms include rainfall showers, flat-screen TVs, Bluetooth sound systems and minibars chock full of locally made products. The hotel also houses a restaurant serving French-inspired cuisine, a coffee and wine bar, and a rooftop space serving wood-fired pizza with a view of the Mississippi River. Address: 101 State St., La Crosse, WI Rates: Starting at $179 per night, excluding taxes and fees, for a classic king-size room. Rates are higher during the weekends and the busier months of the year. More: This western Wisconsin city is among the 50 best places to live in the country, Money says This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are the best hotels in Wisconsin, according to Michelin? (PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) Wednesday, Sept. 25 marks two years since skeletal remains were found in a field near Avondale, and investigators are still trying to identify the body. According to the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office (PCSO), DNA testing has been done on the remains, but the mans identity is still unknown. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Help identify man whose remains were found in Pueblo County PCSO released facial reconstruction photos in 2023 in the hopes that someone would recognize the man, who PCSO believes was a white man between the ages of 30-50 years old at the time of his death. In addition, PCSO said investigators are also working with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and the Pueblo County Coroner to conduct Forensic Genetic Genealogy to help identify possible family members. The genetic genealogy testing can take time, PCSO said, so its agency is still hoping someone in the community recognizes the man in the facial reconstruction. Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office The mans hairstyle, facial hair, eye color, and hair color are unknown, which is why the reconstruction shows alternate styles of what he possibly looked like. He may have also had tattoos and/or piercings, PCSO said. Anyone who thinks they recognize this man is urged to contact Detective Vanessa Simpson at (719) 583-6436. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. A 79-year-old grandmother was carried over a mile to safety by a U.S. Air Force veteran after she fell and broke her leg in three places during a solo hiking trip in Washington. Tacoma resident Ursula Bannister ventured out to High Rock Trail on Aug. 28 to leave flowers for her mother, whose ashes were spread at the site years earlier. Bannister told NBC Boston that, although getting there is quite a trek, youre hard-pressed to find better views than those atop High Rock. Although she considers herself an experienced hiker, having made the trip multiple times in the past, Bannister caught her foot in a hole on her descent, grievously injuring herself. By the time I sat up, my foot was pointing the wrong way, she recalled to The Washington Post. I knew right away I had broken my leg. I tried to get up with my hiking pole and it collapsed on me. A stranger who happened upon the scene phoned 911, but it would have taken search and rescue crews as much as five hours to reach the scene. Shortly after that, two more hikers came across Bannister. One of those men was U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Troy May, whos currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to the U.S. Air Force. May and his companion, Layton Allen, decided to transport Bannister themselves. "I was like, if I could carry her out, it'd be a lot quicker for her and get her out of a little bit of pain, May told NBC. The two men helped each other carry Bannister 1.6 miles down the steep trail, a journey which took the group around three hours. The men noted that they tried to keep the victim talking to distract from her harrowing injuries. She had a bunch of cool stories, May said. We were trying to keep her talking to make the hike go fasterwe really had quite the team. Once they made it to the parking lot, they drove Bannister to a nearby hospital. Her leg is now affixed with 10 screws and a metal plate to assist the healing process. On Sept. 9, May received an Air Force Achievement Medal for his heroic efforts. "I just happened to be at the right time to do it that day, he told NBC. Bannister told The Post that May and Allen were behaving like angels coming from the skyI was just thankful that these guys were willing to do this, she said. Well be friends for a really long time. U.S., EU and nine other nations call for 21-day cease-fire on Israel-Lebanon border WASHINGTON A day after President Joe Biden told the United Nations General Assembly that he did not want to see a full-scale war in the Middle East, the U.S. and a group of nine other nations plus the European Union called for a 21-day cease-fire across the Lebanon-Israel border. "It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety," they said in a joint statement on Wednesday night. "Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict." Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon have killed at least 72 people, according to a Reuters compilation of Lebanese health ministry statements. For almost a year, the Iran-backed militant group has intensified firing of rockets into northern Israel. Tensions on that border have increased since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel that killed 1,200 people. Israel responded by launching military strikes on Gaza that have killed about 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry. Smoke billows over Khiam, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, September 25, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher A U.S. official told reporters that the involved parties would need to agree to the temporary cease-fire but said that they were familiar with the text and would respond in coming hours. The U.S. said it had been speaking directly to the Lebanese government and inferred that its government would work to negotiate the terms of an agreement with Hezbollah. The statement came after Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. The joint statement included France, Australia, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Germany Italy, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to the U.S. and EU. U.S. officials are concerned that a ratcheting up of tensions could lead to a broader, regional conflict in the Middle East and have been trying to negotiate a cease-fire across the demarcation line that divides Israel from Lebanon. Israel's military chief told troops on Wednesday that its heavy airstrikes in Lebanon were preparing the way for a possible ground operation by Israeli forces against Hezbollah militants. A flurry of diplomacy sought to prevent a second front from opening in the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. Israel also shot down a missile that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement said it had aimed at the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency near Israel's biggest city, Tel Aviv. Israeli officials said a heavy missile had headed towards civilian areas in Tel Aviv, not the Mossad HQ, before being shot down. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: U.S. and partners call for 21-day cease-fire on Israel-Lebanon border The shores of the Great Salt Lake near Syracuse are pictured on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by Utah Republican Rep. John Curtis on Tuesday that includes the Great Salt Lake in the federal governments Colorado River water conservation plan, possibly freeing up federal funds to help the Beehive States beleaguered saline lake. The Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act tweaks the Central Utah Project Completion Act, which takes water from the Colorado River basin in eastern Utah, and through a system of reservoirs, rivers and pipelines, diverts it to the Wasatch Front where its used for municipal and industrial use. The project is described by the Department of Interior as Utahs largest and most comprehensive federal water resource development project. Now, the secretary of the department can use their budget authority to take water conservation measures within the Great Salt Lake basin, according to the bill text. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Curtis says this will give water managers greater flexibility when making conservation decisions regarding the Great Salt Lake, allowing them to take steps to protect Utah and the West from the economic and public health risks of an ecological disaster. Utahns have worked tirelessly to protect the Great Salt Lake, but persistent drought conditions now threaten its long-term viability. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act would expand the Colorado River water conservation program to include the lake, Curtis said in a statement. The bill was co-sponsored by members of the Utah Delegation, including Republican Reps. Celeste Maloy, Blake Moore and Burgess Owens. Utahs Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed said the bill could have a huge impact on the lake and its future. It is great to have partners in Congress who recognize these issues and are willing to collaborate to create innovative and effective solutions, Steed said in a statement. Water levels at the Great Salt Lake have been in steady decline since peaking in May currently the south arm of the lake sits at about 4,192.5 feet, with the north arm, separated by a railroad causeway, at about 4,191.8 feet. Thats a far rosier outlook than years prior, when the lake hit a historic low of 4,188.5 feet in November 2022. Still, according to the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan released earlier this year, the lake needs between 471,000 and 1,055,000 acre-feet of additional water delivered each year for it to reach 4,198 feet in elevation, which is considered the low end of the healthy range. An acre-foot is almost 326,000 gallons. Curtis, who has represented Utahs 3rd Congressional District since 2017, is not running for reelection, instead vying to replace outgoing Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE U of I issues warning against sextortion after three cases in 10 days URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) After a string of sextortion cases, the University of Illinois Police Department is giving students tips to prevent being a victim of a crime. In the past 10 days, UIPD said they are aware of three separate incidents of students scammed into sexual extortion. Charleston woman arrested for sixth DUI On Sept. 19, A student reported they shared intimate pictures of themselves with an unknown person on Snapchat, to which the offender demanded money and threatened to post the pictures on public social media platforms if the victim did not comply. On Sept. 23, A U. of I. student reported they were engaged in a conversation with someone they believed they were familiar with on Snapchat and exchanged intimate photos. The offender impersonated a person known to the victim and demanded money through transfer applications or threatened to share the photos through social media platforms. And on Sept. 25, another U. of I. student said they were had a conversation with a stranger on a social media platform and exchanged intimate videos. The suspect threatened to send the recordings to the victims social contacts unless the victim transferred money to the offender. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is providing resources to assist those involved in this incident and will continue to take actions to maintain the safety and security of the campus community, UIPD said in a Safety Alert. Students for Justice in Palestine no longer officially recognized at U of I To protect from sextortion, UIPD ask students to only engage in intimate conversations with people you know and trust, be careful on sharing personal information on the Internet, and have strong privacy settings on social media. The FBI has more resources to deal with financial sextortion. University Police asks any student who believes they may have been scammed to call 217-333-1216 or emailing by police@illinois.edu. UIPD also has a form to anonymously message officers. U of I SEIU 73 strike moves to day three of no agreement Additionally, the Connie Frank CARE Center can help students in crisis, including ones who have been sextorted. To reach the CARE Center (or the Emergency Dean after regular business hours), call 217-333-0050. More information on the CARE Center can be found on its website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. DOJ Mississippi police excessive force investigation: What We Know The U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday it found a series of civil rights violations by a small-town Mississippi police department, accusing officers of routinely using excessive force and arresting people who owed fines for minor traffic offenses. The department's Civil Rights Division said that it found that Black people in Lexington, Mississippi, were disproportionately targeted by an aggressive police enforcement strategy and that actions by police were driven in part by "intentional discrimination." More: DOJ investigation: Lexington, MS police, city violated civil rights of residents More: DOJ announces civil rights investigation in Rankin County What are Lexington, Mississippi, police accused of? Arrests, jails and detains people who cannot pay fines or fees, without assessing their ability to pay; Uses excessive force; Conducts stops, searches and arrests without probable cause, including jailing people on illegal investigative holds and arresting people solely because they owe outstanding fines; Imposes money bail without justification or assessment of ability to pay; Jails people without prompt access to court; Violates the rights of people engaged in free speech and expression, including by retaliating against people who criticize the police; Discriminates against Black people; and Operates under an unconstitutional conflict of interest because LPDs funding depends on the money it raises through its enforcement. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: DOJ Mississippi police excessive force investigation: What We Know Greta Harris, president and CEO of the Richmond-based Better Housing Coalition, was a guest speaker at the U.S. Senate Budget Committee's hearing on the affordable housing crisis, Sept. 25, 2024. (Screenshot courtesy U.S. Senate Budget Committee livestream) WASHINGTON Conversations about things like zoning laws, permits, or use of housing subsidies typically happen in city or county government chambers rather than those of the U.S. Senate. But people in localities across the nation, including Virginia, are experiencing the persistent challenges of finding and affording a place to live. So, the Senates budget committee had a hearing Wednesday to listen to a cohort of various housing experts about ways the federal government can help. As housing costs outpace wages, today more than 10 million Americans spend over half of their income on housing leaving little for essentials like food, healthcare and education, said Greta Harris, president and CEO of the Richmond-based Better Housing Coalition, who was a guest speaker at the hearing. She also noted ripple effects that stem from housing issues. This suppresses consumer demand and hampers economic growth, Harris added. Businesses in both urban and rural areas struggle to attract and retain talent because workers cant afford to live nearby. At the state and local level, Virginia is already spearheading some targeted solutions. A state commission recently launched a workforce housing pilot program for the states southwestern and Southside regions, and the city of Richmond earmarked money in its budget to create a right-to-counsel program for people facing evictions. Developers around Virginia and America continue to tap into use of federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits to bolster construction of below-market-rate housing available to certain percentages of area median income. Expanding the federal program was floated by several senators during the hearing (and is part of Vice President Kamala Harris housing plans if elected president). Harris, of the Better Housing Coalition, said that LIHTC has been an extremely effective tool. Speaker of Rhode Islands house of representatives, Joseph Shekarchi, was also a guest at the hearing. He shared his perspective pressing for various housing policies in Rhode Islands legislature, such as streamlining permitting and appeals processes for developments and investments in its housing production fund. We can do all the policy programming we want, but if a child doesnt have a safe place to sleep, what does it all mean? he said. As a state lawmaker, he implored Congress to provide greater funding mechanisms and grant opportunities to develop more housing, foster public-private partnerships, and to see further expansion of financial assistance for renters and first-time homebuyers. But Republican senators and some guest speakers cautioned against more government spending. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, took particular aim at Harris proposal of $25,000 in downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers. If elected president, that plan would hinge on congressional approval. His concern was echoed by guest speaker Ed Pinto, co-director of AEI Housing Center, a conservative think tank. Pinto said Harris proposal is almost certain to lead to higher home prices, thereby, more than eliminating the intended benefits. Millions of program recipients would become price setters in their neighborhood. He projected the downpayment assistance would cost the U.S. $100 billion over four years and wouldnt help with supply issues. This would be a wealth transfer to existing homeowners and really rewarding NIMBY opposition to additional supply, he said. NIMBY, which stands for not in my backyard, is a casual term used when discussing housing policy for people who oppose new developments or types of developments. Generally, lawmakers and the guest speakers agreed that increased housing supply will help with affordability. Pinto did thank Virginias senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner along with Van Hollen, D-Md., for their introduction of the LIFT Act, which draws inspiration from Pintos own proposals. The Low-Income First-Time Homebuyers Act would offer 20-year mortgages to first-time buyers whose incomes dont exceed a certain threshold. Warner joked to Pinto that he might need help recruiting some Republicans onto the bill. Kaine also noted bipartisan consensus on selling off some vacant federally-owned land for new housing construction. When Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., asked if housing issues should be best handled by local governments and the private sector, Harris of the Better Housing Coalition responded that the federal government can help with a power check. Left to its own devices, the market is not equitable and it serves certain portions of our society and not all, she said. Thats where encouragement of local zoning reforms by the state and federal government could help localities increase their supply through more development. From his perspective as a Rhode Island state lawmaker, Shekarchi said localities are going to need all the help they can get. We need federal subsidies. We need land use reform on a local level. We need the federal government to step in, because the states and the local communities cannot do it alone. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX U.S. President Joe Biden (R) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as they hold a bilateral meeting at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris, on June 7, 2024. On Wednesday, the Biden administration unveiled another package of lethal weaponry for Ukraine. File Photo by Ukraine's President Office/UPI Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The United States on Wednesday unveiled another package of lethal assistance for Ukraine as the Kyiv leader is in New York City for a United Nations summit, one day before he is scheduled to visit the White House. The package, valued at $375 million, includes air-to-ground munitions, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, patrol boats, M1117 Armored Security Vehicles, Javelin and AT-4 anti armor systems and other lethal equipment that is to come from U.S. stockpiles. It was unveiled by Secretary of State Antony Blinken who described the package's contents as "urgently needed weapons and equipment" for Ukraine to defend against Russia's ongoing invasion. "We will deploy this new assistance as quickly as possible to help Ukraine protect its territory and its people," Blinken said in a statement as he reiterated the Biden administration's commitment to Kyiv's defense. "As President Biden has made clear, the United States and the international coalition we have assembled will continue to stand with Ukraine." The United States has some $6 billion of Congressionally approved funds left in its Presidential Drawdown Authority for Military Assistance for Ukraine. But U.S. Defense officials have said that all but $100 million of the funds will expire with the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, if neither Congress nor the State Department acts to extend it. Billions in assistance are anticipated to be announced Thursday when Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky -- who is in the United States this week for the United Nations General Assembly -- is scheduled to visit the White House. The two leaders spoke briefly Wednesday, according to a statement from the White House, and Biden told Zelensky that "he has directed a surge in U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, which will be announced publicly tomorrow, and which will help Ukraine win." The announcement of new weaponry comes as Zelensky is seeking to have the United States permit Ukraine to use long-range Western weapons to attack farther within Russia's territory. The United States has been by far Ukraine's largest backer amid its war against the Kremlin, giving it more than $50 billion worth of lethal goods since the conflict began in February 2022. However, the Biden administration has been reluctant to gift it certain weaponry or sign off on some uses out of fear of escalating the conflict. Ukraine, though, has increased its requests on the United States, which denied it tanks and the use of sophisticated fighter jets earlier in the war but has since relented. It is now seeking permission to strike deeper within Russian territory. The White House made no direct comment if the issue was brought up by the two leaders Wednesday, but Zelensky said in a statement on X following his meeting with Biden that he raised his so-called Plan for Victory, which includes the use of long-range missiles. "I told President Biden about the situation on the frontlines and raised the Plan of Victory. We agreed to discuss it in detail during negotiations in Washington tomorrow," he said. I met with President Biden @POTUS on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and expressed my gratitude for the unwavering U.S. support, which is saving lives and helping Ukraine defend its independence. I told President Biden about the situation on the frontlines and raised... Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) September 25, 2024 Biden has previously suggested that ending the weapons ban was, at least, something his administration was considering as other nations had lifted their restrictions placed on the lethal weapon's use. Last month when asked by reporters about the long-range weapons restrictions, Biden replied: "We're working that out right now." Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House, where they will discuss "the state of the war between Russia and Ukraine, including Ukraine's strategic planning and U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression," according to a statement last week announcing the visit from Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre. Before the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Wednesday, Zelensky called on all nations to support his Plan for Victory. Uber offers free rides to shelters for Floridians TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The Florida Division of Emergency Management has partnered with Uber to provide free Uber rides to shelters for Floridians. The Free rides are for counties under a state of emergency. To get a free ride to a shelter you will need to: Open the Uber app Tap Account on the bottom right and tap wallet Add promo code HELENERELIEF Free rides will be up to $35 to and from a state-approved shelter. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Sooeyfest to be in Neoga NEOGA The ninth annual Sooeyfest is set for noon-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Jennings Park, including a free ham and bean lunch, food and craft vendors, a smokeoff barbecue competition, kids games, live music and more. Stewards work at Douglas-Hart MATTOON The Embarras Volunteer Stewards will hold its next work day of the fall season from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 28, during Public Lands Day at Douglas-Hart Nature Center All are welcome and no prior experience is necessary. Sturdy footwear and gloves are recommended. Tools are provided. Visit embarrasstewards.org for more information. Fall Market in Charleston set CHARLESTON The Annual Fall Market at at the Coles County Fairground will be held from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 27-28, featuring multiple vendors offering vintage finds, handmade gifts, cards, jewelry, and more. Entry is free, and will be held rain or shine. Charleston vocal groups to perform CHARLESTON Charleston High Schools Maximum Forte and Power Chords a capella groups will serve as opening acts for the concert by Radius, a Chicago-based, five-piece vocal band at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, at Eastern Illinois Universitys Doudna Fine Arts Center. Radius was the winner of the 2023 National Harmony Sweepstakes. For tickets to this event go to doudnatix.com Central Christian Church celebrates 60 years CHARLESTON Central Christian Church, 915 W. Lincoln, Charleston, will celebrate its 60th anniversary from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. For more information contact centralchristian63@gmail.com. Registration open for Neal Center 5K TOLEDO Registration is currently open for Neal Center YMCAs first Fall 5K, a timed 3.1 mile race winding through scenic Toledo, to be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Center, 130 Courthouse Square. The entry fee is $25. Register before Friday, Oct. 4, to guarantee your race t-shirt. Register online at mattoonymca.org/neal-center-october-5k/ or call the Y at 217-235-2500. For additional information, contact Lisa Jones at ljones@nealcenterymca.org. Photos: A look back at 50 years of the Special Olympics Vintage: Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 John Glenn Special Olympics 1970 Special Olympics 1973 SULROTH, VANTONGEREN, CAMPBELL ASHLEY KILL PRUITT ZABALA PECOR Yao Ming Kennedy Special Olympics 1976 Special Olympics Bush Reeve 1981 MURRILLS GREECE SPECIAL OLYMPICS PA Special Olympics Special Olympics Opening Ceremony 1995 SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAYNES Arnold Schwarzenegger HONOLULU (KHON2) Coco Kim, a sophomore at Iolani School, recently embarked on an exciting journey with the University of Hawaiis Pre-Health Career Corps (PHCC). This program aims to help students interested in the medical field gain valuable experience and skills. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Kims story highlights her dedication and the exciting opportunities she has discovered through the program. KHON2.com sat down with Kim, and she shared her inspiring story of discovery and growth. Through the PHCCs career website, she found opportunities that sparked her interest. One of those was the Research Circle program, where she got to dive deep into the world of microbial genomics under the guidance of her principal investigator. Initially, Kim said she felt overwhelmed. I had no prior background in microbial genomics, she admitted. However, as the summer progressed, she began to embrace the challenges. I found myself getting more and more interested, she explained. I was able to talk about it without stuttering, which was a big step for me. Kims journey in microbial genomics started during a biology class the previous year. I found it really difficult to keep up with the work, she recalled. Yet, upon her acceptance into the Research Circle, she saw connections between her past struggles and her current work. Dr. Cary explained background knowledge about it, and I connected back to my biology class, recognizing some similarities. During her research, Kim worked on two hypothetical genes, utilizing online tools like the NCBI database. She explained, We investigated these genes to see if they needed new annotations or if they could keep their original names. This process not only improved her research skills but also deepened her understanding of genetics. Her goal in joining the program was clear: Kim wanted to pursue a career as a nephrologist, a doctor who specializes in kidney health. I always grew up in my grandpas dialysis center, she said. I engaged with patients and listened to their stories, which fueled my interest in nephrology. As part of her commitment to this field, Kim is working to establish a Junior Development Council with the National Kidney Foundation in Hawaii. I talked to the people who work there about getting youth involved, she said. Chronic kidney disease is more prominent among seniors, so they wanted more junior involvement. Her initiative aims to create opportunities for young people to contribute to the fight against chronic kidney disease. I know so many people at my school who would be interested in healthcare, she said. Its a perfect solution to engage more youth and build a greater community. At the recent health conference, Kim had the opportunity to present her research, which was part of a competition. Although she didnt place in the top ranks, she felt proud. It was amazing to present in front of medical students and true professionals in the healthcare system, she shared. The support from the PHCC was crucial to her experience. SAC, the main coordinator, was really glad that people from the Circle program were able to participate in the competition, she noted. Kim also learned a lot from her peers. In front of me was the zebrafish team, studying how zebrafish ingest microplastics, she recalled. I found that really interesting because I never thought about it from a researchers perspective. Looking forward, Kim is optimistic about her future. By the time Im a senior, I hope the Junior Development Council will be established, she said. Its a way for us to make a difference and engage more students in healthcare. Through her experiences in the Pre-Health Career Corps, Coco Kim has grown not just as a student but as a future leader in the medical community. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of youth involvement in health initiatives and the power of determination. For more information on University of Hawaiis Pre-Health Career Corps, click here. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 As she continues her journey, Kim is well on her way to making a significant impact in the world of nephrology and beyond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The UK has imposed sanctions on two legal entities and five vessels transporting Russian Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Source: European Pravda; announcement on the UK government's website Details: On 26 September, the UK imposed sanctions on five vessels and two associated legal entities transporting Russian liquefied natural gas, including from Russias flagship Arctic LNG 2 project. The project itself had previously been subject to coordinated sanctions by Western allies and was forced to reduce its volumes. The vessels sanctioned today are: PIONEER (IMO 9256602) ASYA ENERGY (IMO 9216298) NOVA ENERGY (IMO 9324277) NORTH SKY (IMO 9953523) SCF LA PEROUSE (IMO 9849887) The companies sanctioned today are: OCEAN SPEEDSTAR SOLUTIONS OPC The operator and manager of PIONEER and ASYA ENERGY. WHITE FOX SHIP MANAGEMENT The operator and manager of NORTH SKY Fifteen ships and companies involved in the Russian LNG sector are now under UK sanctions. Background: US President Joe Biden has announced that the United States uncovered another network that helped Russia circumvent sanctions and engaged in money laundering. In September, the United States imposed sanctions on the Russian media group Rossiya Segodnya (Russia Today) and its CEO, Dmitry Kiselyov. Support UP or become our patron! UK to increase supply of AS90 self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine in coming weeks The UK will deliver another batch of AS90 self-propelled artillery systems to the Ukrainian defence forces. A total of 10 of them have already been delivered to Ukraine, and six more will be delivered in the coming weeks. Source: European Pravda with reference to the press service of the UK Defence Ministry Details: It is reported that the government of Keir Starmer had previously planned to supply the Ukrainian army with 12 AS90 artillery pieces within 100 days of taking office. But now it plans to deliver 16 units. "Artillery has played a vital role in providing cover for Ukrainian troops and destroying key Russian targets," the statement said. For reference: The AS90 is a flexible, high-precision modern artillery system that provides armoured protection for its crew while enabling them to engage targets at long range. The system weighs 45 tonnes and is armed with a 155 mm cannon. Background: Earlier, several groups of Ukrainian artillerymen were trained on the AS90 in the UK. The AS90 training took place in a specialised facility under the control of the Royal School of Artillery. Support UP or become our patron! The U.K. imposed sanctions on Sept. 25 against five vessels and two companies involved in the transportation of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) as it looks to exert more pressure on sources of revenue for the Kremlin, according to a statement. While LNG exports have been less heavily sanctioned than oil, recent restrictions have begun tightening the noose around this sector as well. "LNG is an important source of funding for (Vladimir) Putin's illegal war in Ukraine. Russia has plans to expand its LNG revenues, aiming to grow its global LNG market share from 8% to 20%," the statement read. The vessels Pioneer, Asya Energy, Nova Energy, North Sky, and SCF La Perouse were sanctioned in this latest move. London also imposed restrictions on two entities, including Ocean Speedstar Solutions OPC, the operator of the Pioneer and Asya Energy vessels, as well as on White Fox Ship Management, the operator and manager of the North Sky vessel. Under British sanctions legislation, listed ships are prohibited from accessing U.K. ports and may face other restrictions, including arrest and denial of registration. The U.K. has now sanctioned 15 vessels and entities involved in the Russian LNG sector, according to the statement. Earlier this year, the U.K., along with its allies, the U.S. and European Union, sanctioned Arctic LNG 2. Arctic LNG 2, owned by Russia's Novatek company, aims to produce almost 20 million metric tons of LNG per year to sell primarily to Asian markets, potentially generating billions of dollars in revenue. It was envisaged as Russia's largest LNG plant and a flagship project to help the country become the world's leading LNG producer. Read also: Ukrainian drones are burning Russias oil refineries, but not its economy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer next week, a commission spokesperson said on Thursday, as he continues a charm offensive to reset ties between the UK and the European Union. "There will be a meeting between the President and Prime Minister Starmer next week," said the spokesperson, without providing further details. Starmer had also earlier written about his planned meeting. "I want to reset our relationship with the EU and make Brexit work for the British people. Looking forward to visiting Brussels next week to start discussions with @VonderLeyen," wrote Starmer on social media platform X. Since winning election in July, Labour PM Starmer has embarked on several meetings with leading European politicians, such as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, over improving post-Brexit ties with the EU and EU members. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta) UK PM to Zelenskyy: these weeks and months are crucial Starmer and Zelenskyy. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer believes that the coming weeks and months will be crucial in the Russo-Ukrainian war. He has discussed the main challenges with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Source: European Pravda with reference to the President's Office Details: Starmer noted that he had met with Zelenskyy to discuss the challenges Ukraine is facing and to reaffirm Britains unwavering support. "And to have the chance to talk through what more needs to be done, because these are turning into crucial weeks and months," he emphasised. The main topics of Zelenskyy and Starmers discussion were the security situation and strengthening Ukraine, particularly through further defence support. The two leaders also focused on the implementation of the bilateral security agreement, the Peace Formula, preparations for the second Peace Summit, cooperation within the Ukraine-NATO framework, and progress in negotiations on signing an agreement regarding a transition to a stronger and deeper partnership. Background: On 11 September, the UK announced the allocation of at least 242 million to support Ukraine amid constant Russian attacks, as well as the allocation of US$484 million in financial support and the supply of military equipment. On the same day, following a meeting with UK Foreign Minister David Lammy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal praised London for providing 30 million to boost the Ukrainian energy sector. Support UP or become our patron! FILE PHOTO: Fulham's chairman Mohamed Al Fayed listens as Fulham's new manager Mark Hughes speaks during a news conference at Craven Cottage stadium in London FILE PHOTO: Fulham's chairman Mohamed Al Fayed listens as Fulham's new manager Mark Hughes speaks during a news conference at Craven Cottage stadium in London LONDON (Reuters) -British police called on Thursday for anyone with allegations against former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to come forward and said it would look to prosecute others after multiple women accused the late billionaire of sexual abuse and rape. A BBC documentary aired last week said Al Fayed had sexually abused female staff at his London department store Harrods and had threatened them if they tried to complain. It said the company had failed to intervene and helped to cover up abuse allegations during his ownership from 1985 to 2010. Although Al Fayed himself died last year, aged 94, London's Metropolitan Police said it would explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for criminal offences. "It is vital that any victims have a voice and are able to report any allegations if they have not done so before, and know that they will be taken seriously," said Stephen Clayman, head of specialist crime at the Metropolitan Police. "We have specialist teams to ensure all those victims who make contact with us are supported in the best way possible." Lawyers representing women alleging rape and sexual assault against Al Fayed said they had received more than 150 new enquiries from women. Harrods, which was sold by Al Fayed to the investment vehicle of the Qatar royal family in 2010, has said in response to the allegations that it was "utterly appalled". Several media organisations had exposed allegations of sexual abuse against Al Fayed in the past, including Vanity Fair in 1995, Britain's ITV in 1997 and Channel 4 in 2017. Many of the women only felt able to speak publicly after his death. In 2009, prosecutors decided not to charge Al Fayed over a claim that he had sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in his store, saying there was no realistic prospect of conviction. He always denied the accusations. (Reporting by William James and Andrew MacAskillEditing by Gareth Jones) LONDON (Reuters) -British police said on Thursday they had launched an investigation into a cyberattack after passengers at the country's major railway stations saw an Islamophobic message when they tried to use Wi-Fi services. The Wi-Fi system, which is managed by communications group Telent, was quickly taken offline after passengers said a message was displayed which referred to terror attacks. "We received reports at around 5:03 p.m. (1603 GMT) yesterday (Sept. 25) of a cyberattack displaying Islamophobic messaging on some Network Rail Wi-Fi services," British Transport Police said. Tensions in Britain flared over the summer with a wave of anti-Muslim riots across the country after the killing of three young girls, an attack which was initially falsely blamed on an Islamist migrant following online misinformation. The police said they were working with Network Rail to investigate the Islamophobic cyber security incident "at pace". Network Rail, the group which manages tracks and train hubs, said the Wi-Fi remained offline on Thursday following the incident at 19 stations including London Bridge and London Euston as well as Manchester Piccadilly and Edinburgh Waverley. Telent said in a statement that no personal data had been affected by the hack, adding the matter was now in the hands of the police. It said an unauthorised change had been made to the Network Rail landing page, provided by Global Reach, from a legitimate administrator account. "As a precaution, Telent temporarily suspended all use of Global Reach services while verifying that no other Telent customers were impacted," it added. Network Rail said it expected the Wifi service to be restored over the weekend once final security checks were completed. (Reporting by Sarah Young, Editing by Kylie MacLellan) The U.K. Defense Ministry announced on Sept. 26 that it will provide Ukraine with 16 AS90 self-propelled artillery howitzers instead of 12. The announcement comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues his visit to the U.S., where he hopes to gain support for his recently announced "victory plan." The Labor government headed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, formed following the July 4 elections, previously announced its intention to transfer 12 AS90s to Kyiv within the first 100 days of taking office. Ten of these howitzers have been delivered to Ukraine, and in the coming weeks, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive six more, the statement read. The British government has also announced the establishment of a new joint British Defense Ministry and Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) unit in Ukraine, headed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defense Secretary John Healey, which will "integrate expertise and help drive a new whole-of-government approach to Ukraine." The U.K. has consistently voiced strong support for Ukraine and has pledged a total of 12.8 billion pounds (approximately $16.2 billion) in support for the country, which includes 7.8 billion pounds (around $9.9 billion) allocated for military assistance and 5 billion pounds (approximately $6.3 billion) designated for non-military support. Read also: What we know about the victory plan Zelensky is presenting to Biden today Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine has 55,000 citizens in its unified register for persons missing under special circumstances, Deputy Interior Minister Leonid Tymchenko told Ukrinform in an interview published on Sept. 26. The register includes people who have disappeared due to war, occupation, or natural and man-made disasters. The figure underscores the humanitarian impact of Russia's full-scale war, which has brought illegal deportations, kidnappings, and a large number of deaths among both the military and civilians in Ukraine. "The register contains information about 55,000 people. Most of them are military personnel. This figure is quite dynamic: when the whereabouts of missing persons are established, in some cases, it turns out that a citizen, for example, is in captivity," Tymchenko said. "Unfortunately, we also identify the dead among those who were considered missing," he added. The latest figure shows a considerable growth since July, when the Interior Ministry revealed that 42,000 Ukrainians were considered missing. This number does not include Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia, Belarus, or occupied territories, whose numbers exceed 19,500. Read also: Ukraines project helps to locate 588 missing Russian soldiers Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MATTOON A writ of ne exact republica was issued out of the city court by Judge Craig late Thursday afternoon as the result of a petition for such writ by Mrs. Helen Throm against Gardner Throm. In the petition the plea is set up by Mrs. Throm that a decree of divorce was granted her on Oct. 1, 1923, from Throm and that she was given the permanent custody of their one-year-old son, John, and alimony of $30 a month for the support and education of the child. Mrs. Throm further alleges that for the last month, Throm has been trying to induce her to accept a lump sum of $500 from in settlement of the alimony allotment, and release him from the monthly payment of $30, or $360 a year, or $7,200 for the ensuing twenty years, when the son reaches his majority. It is further declared in the petition by Mrs. Throm that Throm has told her her that if she does not accept the $500 and have the $30 monthly payment cancelled that he would leave the state, go beyond its jurisdiction and that she would get nothing. The further statement is made in the petition that Throm is preparing to leave the state, that he has no property on which execution may be had, and that Throm purposes to defraud her of the alimony, and that if he does this, she will have no further recourse. MATTOON A fire station is being planned for the east side of Mattoon. Fire Commissioner James "Jake" O'Neal said the city is hoping to obtain a federal grant for the project "We have a problem so far," O'Neal told the JG. "We can't really apply for a grant until we have a definite site location." O'Neal said city officials were considering building the station on one of three sites on the east side of Mattoon. "We haven't contacted the three owners yet, so I can't divulge the exact locations of the sites yet," he said. O'Neal said the city had appropriated "$40,000 for this year for land acquisition." O'Neal was asked by the Journal why the station was being planned for the east side of Mattoon. "The theory of modern fire fighting is not to locate fire stations in the center of a community, where you have to work out, but on the fringes, where you can work in," said O'Neal. The commissioner replied that Mattoon is growing in an eastwardly direction. "Most of our city's dollar expansion is eastwardly," said O'Neal. "I don't want the fire station located on the north side of Illinois 16 because the bulk of the fire calls the station handles will be on the south side of the highway," he said. "My theory is that the station should be located on the south side of Illinois 16," he said ... MATTOON Danny Baker is the type of guy who would rather freeze than lose 10 cents a week to CIPS. Balking at a demand from CIPS that he pay a $130 deposit for electrical service, Baker has declared he will allow the company to shut off his power rather than pay the deposit. CIPS informed Baker last week his service would be disconnected on Oct. 1 if he failed to pay the deposit. The company assessed the deposit after Baker had been late on his payments five times in the past year. Yet Baker is adamant in his stand against the deposit. In face, he filed a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission over the issue. A carpenter by trade, Baker has paid $803 in electric bills to CIPS during the past year. But five of those payments were late. The biggest bills came in the winter when Baker was laid off from work. He had bills over $100 during January, February and March. CIPS has a rule that allows the company to charge a deposit for customers who are late on the payments more than two times during any 12-month period. Danny and his wife Sheila, believe that CIPS is acting unconstitutionally in demanding the deposit. Under the Fifth Amendment, they say, private property cannot be usurped for private use without proper compensation. Because CIPS only pays 7 percent interest on the deposits, Baker feels the utility is acting unconstitutionally. Editors Note: This is issue 148 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from September 15-21, 2024. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission. Corporate governance of SOEs UDI looking for a new CEO. On Sept. 19, Ukrainian Defense Industry (UDI) said that its supervisory board had launched a competitive selection for the CEO position. Candidates can apply from Sept. 20 to Oct. 4. The search and screening of applicants is done by the Ukrainian office of Odgers Berndtson, an international executive search firm, UDI added. As we wrote earlier, UDIs CEO Herman Smetanin resigned on Sept. 4 to become the new strategic industries minister the next day, replacing Oleksandr Kamyshin. UDIs supervisory board then appointed Oleh Huliak as an acting CEO and said that it would announce a competitive selection for the new CEO as soon as possible. See Issue 146 for more detail. Ukrzaliznytsia gets a new supervisory board member. On Sept. 13, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Oleksandr Kamyshin as a state representative on Ukrzaliznytsias supervisory board, starting on Sept. 26. Kamyshin will replace Serhiy Moskalenko, Forbes Ukraines source added. (See our Issue 60 for more information on the composition of Ukrzaliznytsias supervisory board.) As we reported in Issue 39 three years ago, then acting CEO of Ukrzaliznytsia, Ivan Yuryk, filed his resignation in August 2021. After that, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Kamyshin as acting CEO. In Issue 49, we reported that in October 2021, Kamyshin was re-appointed as CEO until Dec. 31, 2021. Read also: Despite hardships, head of Kryvyi Rih steel plant ArcelorMittal determined to keep operations running On March 24, 2022, Kamyshin reported that based on the supervisory boards proposal, the Cabinet appointed the executive board of Ukrzaliznytsia on a permanent basis. Kamyshin was approved for four years, and the other executives, for three years. As we wrote one and half years ago, the Cabinet dismissed Kamyshin on March 21, 2023, and appointed Yevhen Lyashchenko as Ukrzaliznytsias new CEO for the next two years. On the same day, the Verkhovna Rada appointed Kamyshin as the new strategic industries minister. See Issue 80 for more detail. As we reported two weeks ago, UDIs CEO Herman Smetanin left the company to become the new strategic industries minister. He replaced Kamyshin, who later moved to the position of presidents advisor for strategic issues. See Issue 146 for more detail. Ukrenergo to get a new supervisory board. On Sept. 20, the Energy Ministry (in its capacity as Ukrenergos general shareholders meeting) announced a competitive selection for three independent members of the companys supervisory board. As we wrote in Issue 146, on Sept. 2, Ukrenergos supervisory board dismissed the companys CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi by a majority vote. The board appointed executive board member Oleksii Brekht as acting CEO and decided to hold a competitive selection for a new CEO. On the same day, Daniel Dobbeni (independent member and supervisory board chair) and Peder Andreasen (independent member) announced that they filed their resignation notices. We strongly believe that the decision on the early dismissal of the CEO of Ukrenergo is politically motivated and, based on the results of the presented report, there are no valid grounds for it, they said in a statement. On Sept. 6, Bridget Brink, U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said that Ukraine should complete Ukrenergos supervisory board after independent members resigned in protest against Kudrytskyis dismissal. See Issue 146 for more detail. Read also: MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraines parliament on economic reforms, international obligations Issue 74 On Sept. 10, Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff-level agreement on the fifth review of the four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement. Subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, Ukraine would have access to about $1.1 billion. According to IMFs release, the full supervisory board of Ukrenergo should be re-established by end-December 2024. The terms of office of the current members of Ukrenergos board expire in late 2024 early 2025, the ministry added. Along with the competitive selection of independent members, the ministry would also identify and select candidate state representatives. According to Ukrenergos charter, its supervisory board should consist of seven members: four independent members and three state representatives. As we reported in June 2023, the Cabinet still had to select and approve one independent member for Ukrenergos supervisory board. Hence, independent members did not constitute a majority of the board, which did not meet the requirements of the law or Ukrenergos charter. See our Issue 95 for more detail. The selection of all board members four independent and three state representatives is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 9. The first and foremost task of the new supervisory board would be to conduct a transparent competitive selection of Ukrenergos CEO, the ministry also said. Energy sector Naftogaz Group pays Hr 60 billion ($1.5billion) in taxes for January-August 2024, the companys press office said on 1Sept. 16. This includes Hr 56.5 billion ($1.37 billion) paid to the state budget and Hr 4.3 billion ($104 million) paid to local government budgets. In August alone, Naftogaz Group paid Hr 7.2 billion ($174 million) in state taxes and about Hr 600 million ($14.5 million) in local ones. As we reported earlier, Naftogaz Group paid Hr 6.1 billion ($147.9 million) in taxes to state and local budgets for January 2024 (see Issue 119), Hr 5.3 billion ($128 million) for February (see Issue 123), Hr 8.3 billion ($201 million) for March (see Issue 128), Hr 8 billion ($193 million) for April (see Issue 132), Hr 9.3 billion ($225 million) for May (see Issue 137), Hr 9.2 billion ($223 million) for June (see Issue 140), and Hr 6 billion ($145 million) for July (see Issue 143). Read also: Europe too reticent in energy support for Ukraine ahead of winter, IEA chief says As we wrote in Issue 115, Naftogaz Group paid Hr 83.4 billion ($2 billion) in taxes to the state budget and another Hr 6.8 billion ($164 million) to local government budgets in 2023. The Group said that it made Hr 23.1 billion ($560 million) in consolidated net profit in 2023, a significant rebound from its Hr 79.1 billion ($1.9 billion) loss in 2022. See our Issue 131 for detail. Privatization Hotel Ukraina sold. On Sept. 18, the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) sold Kyivs four-star Ukraine Hotel for Hr 2.5 billion ($60 million), a more than twofold increase from the starting price of Hr 1.05 billion ($25 million). According to Prozorro.Sale, the winner is Ola Fine LLC, owned by businessman Maksym Krippa. Notably, Ola Fines bid was almost double of the second bid, Hr 1.5 billion (around $36 million), and more than double of the third bid, Hr 1.2 billion (ca. $29 million). The sale of the Ukraine Hotel was the countrys first online auction for a large-scale privatization asset in the Prozorro.Sale system, the SPFU said. As we wrote in Issue 114, the 2024 state budget projects the privatization revenue at Hr 4 billion (around $96 million). According to a recent SPFU report, privatization generated Hr 2 billion ($48 million) in January-August 2024. All these proceeds were from small-scale privatization. In other words, the winning bid on Hotel Ukraina alone is larger than all the small-scale privatization revenues since the beginning of this year. If Ola Fine pays up as required by the regulations, the SPFUs privatization revenue plan for 2024, however modest, will be completed for the first time in many years. According to the SPFU, the auction winner has 30 working days to pay the lot price. Only after the funds are transferred to the state budget can the sale and purchase agreement be signed. Read also: An evil axis JP Morgan CEO issues stark economic warning over Russia, Iran, North Korea Maksym Krippa, a businessman that shies publicity, became famous in 2022 when Forbes Ukraine wrote that he had acquired the main Ukrainian esports brand, the NAVI team. Later, the businessmans representatives confirmed that the deal was concluded back in 2018. Krippa also owns Maincast esports broadcasting studio. In 2023, he acquired GSC Game World, a company that developed the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. cyber game. According to Ekonomichna Pravda (EP), also in 2023, a new media group was formed in Ukraine: the online outlet Glavkom was taken over by Tatiana Snopko. Six months earlier, Snopko had acquired the Ekonomika+ media holding, which includes Delo.ua, Top-100, Wo.mo, and Marketing Media Review. According to EPs sources in the media market, Krippa was behind the acquisition of the news sites, while Snopko was just a nominal owner. According to liga.net, Krippa, who acquired the Brovary Wholesale Market back in 2009, has recently started buying up significant real estate objects in Kyiv. In 2020, he purchased the Dnipro Hotel in Kyiv, which is located near the Ukraine Hotel, and at the end of 2023, the Parus Business Center, previously owned by businessman and former lawmaker Vadym Stolar. In an interview for Forbes Ukraine last week, Krippa claimed that he received funds for these assets from diversified sources: income from successfully implemented business projects, real estate, dividends, and investment assets. Earlier, Forbes Ukraine linked him to the Vulcan Online Casino, GGBet bookmakers, and Evoplay IT company, but Krippa denied this. In his interview for Forbes Ukraine last week, Krippa said that Ukraine Hotel is not just a hotel, but a historic building in central Kyiv with significant capitalization potential. He plans to effectively develop the hotel and renovate it after the full-scale war, but he refused to disclose the plan. As we wrote in Issue 116, the SPFU planned to put Kyivs four-star Hotel Ukraina up for privatization. According to SPFU then-head Vitaliy Koval, the hotel is under-booked because of martial law and has racked up more than Hr 45 million in debt (around $1.1 million at the time). Read also: State sells iconic Kyiv hotel to Ukrainian businessman for double starting price The Cabinet of Ministers designated Hotel Ukraina as a large-scale asset for privatization on April 23 (see our Issue 129). On July 12, the Cabinet approved the terms of sale of the hotel. The starting price was set at Hr 1.05 billion ($25 million). See Issue 140 for more detail. As we wrote in Issue 141, the SPFU then scheduled the auction for the Hotel Ukraina for Sept. 18. The tenth and eleventh attempts to sell Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi port fail. According to Prozorro.Sale, an auction for the sale of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi trade seaport, scheduled by the SPFU for Sept. 16, failed due to the absence of bidders. The starting price was Hr 89 million ($2.1 million). This was the tenth attempt to sell the port. The SPFU then extended the deadline for bidders to Sept. 24 with the same starting price, but the eleventh auction also failed for the same reason. Prior to that auction, the SPFU told delo.ua that if no bidders come forward, the starting price would have to be reduced further. Earlier, liga.net wrote that SME Nika-Tera LLC (part of Dmytro Firtashs Group DF), Potoky Oil Extraction Plant (part of Vadym Yermolayevs Alef Corporation), and grain trading and shipbuilding Nibulon (owned by Andriy Vadatursky) were interested in privatizing the port. The payback period of the port is too long to invest in it in the current realities, Oleg Arestarkhov, Head of Corporate Communications at Group DF, told liga.net. As we wrote in Issue 147, according to CASE Ukraine, despite the attractiveness of the asset, there are no bidders because the port has debts of Hr 151.3 million ($3.6 million). The winner would also have to pay VAT of 20% of the purchase price. This suggests that, based on CASE Ukraines information, the winning bidder would have to pay at least Hr 258 million ($6.2 million) in total. Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi also faces a significant logistical constraint: the drawbridge to the port was destroyed by Russian shelling. Without its restoration, the port would not be able to operate properly, Arestarkhov added. Near Mykolaiv, we have the Nika-Tera port, which was destroyed by Russian attacks. Our post-war priorities are to restore our port. We will restore our port, and only then will we look at other assets, he summarized. Later, Nibulon told delo.ua that it was no longer considering the acquisition of the asset, without specifying the reasons for the refusal. Alef Corporation did not comment on its plans to privatize the port, the media added. The first privatization auction for Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi in March 2023 failed as no one registered. At the second auction, the seaport was sold for Hr 220 million (around $5 million at the time) to Ukrdoninvest LLC, a company owned by Ukrainian businessman Vitaliy Kropachov. However, Ukrdoninvest did not pay up. As we reported in April 2023 (Issue 85), the company said that it backed out while hashing out the terms of the purchase agreement with SPFUs regional office in Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts. In June 2023, SPFU announced that it would put Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi up for privatization for a third time, another attempt that failed. (See Issue 93.) In Issues 99 and 100, we reported about the following failed attempts to sell the port. As we wrote in August 2024 (Issue 144), former Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Viktor Dovhan posted on Facebook suggesting that Polish investors were considering participating in the privatization of the port. However, as we reported in Issue 147, the ninth attempt to sell the port also failed. For more detail, see SOE Weeklys Issues 74, 78, 79, 84, 85, 87, 93, 99, 100, 144, and 147 for more detail. Ukrainian SOE Weekly is an independent weekly digest based on a compilation of the most important news related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned banks in Ukraine. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editorial team of the Ukrainian SOE Weekly. The SOE Weekly is produced and financed by Andriy Boytsun. Communications support is provided and financed by CFC Big Ideas. The SOE Weekly is not financed or influenced by any external party. Editorial team: Andriy Boytsun, Oleksiy Pavlysh, Dmytro Yablonovskyi, and Oleksandr Lysenko. Read also: Ukrainian drones are burning Russias oil refineries, but not its economy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine war latest: US announces new military aid package worth almost $8 billion for Ukraine Key developments on Sept. 26: US announces nearly $8 billion military aid package for Ukraine Germany approves additional $447 million for military aid to Ukraine Ukraine's 72nd Brigade releases video from Vuhledar, denies claims about withdrawal 3 energy infrastructure facilities struck in overnight Russian strikes, Ukrainian PM says Ukraine considers 55,000 citizens as missing persons U.S. President Joe Biden announced a military aid package for Ukraine worth $7.9 billion on Sept. 26. "I am grateful to U.S. President Joseph Biden, the U.S. Congress and both parties, Republican and Democrat, and the entire American people for today's announcement of significant defense aid to Ukraine totaling $7.9 billion and the imposition of sanctions against Russia," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on social media. Washington authorized a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $375 million the day before, on Sept. 25, amid Zelensky's ongoing visit to the U.S. Biden said that the Pentagon will allocate the remaining Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds by the end of 2024. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us He authorized $5.5 billion in the presidential drawdown authority (PDA) "to ensure this authority does not expire." Another $2.4 billion are pledged through the USAI. The new tranche will include an additional Patriot air defense battery, unmanned aerial systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as funds to strengthen Ukraines defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements. Washington will also provide Kyiv with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) munition "to enhance Ukraines long-range strike capabilities," Biden said. The U.S. president also announced the expansion of training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots by supporting the training of an additional 18 next year. "Through these actions, my message is clear: The United States will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war," Biden said. Read also: Biden-Zelensky talks: Ukrainian soldiers want firepower to win but question if US wants Russia defeated Germany approves additional $447 million for military aid to Ukraine The German parliament's lower chamber, the Bundestag, has approved the German government's proposal to increase funding for military support for Ukraine by nearly 400 million euros ($447 million), according to the Sept. 25 statement. The Bundestag announced the decision to increase financial aid following a meeting under the Ukraine Compact, a security framework signed by 32 allied countries at the NATO summit in July 2024. The meeting was held on Sept. 25 on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The additional financial assistance will allow the procurement of more air defense systems, tanks, drones, ammunition, and spare parts, "effectively strengthening the Ukrainian Armed Forces in defending their country," the statement read. Berlin also announced it will provide an additional 170 million euros ($190 million) "soon" to help restore Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which comes under frequent Russian attacks. Initially a hesitant partner, Germany has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S. since Russia's full-scale invasion. Berlin will provide Kyiv with around 8 billion euros ($8.8 billion) this year, but the aid will be reportedly cut by half to 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) in 2025. Berlin had been hoping that the shortfall in assistance would be made up by Ukraine receiving $50 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets. However, Hungary has caused delays in the U.S.'s procedural involvement in the assets scheme. In addition to budgetary concerns, German "anti-war" parties that oppose aid to Ukraine on the right and left made gains in regional elections on Sept. 1, causing political complications for Germany's commitment to support Ukraine. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), as of June 2024, Germany has allocated 14.7 billion euros ($16.4 billion) in support for Ukraine since 2022. Read also: Its personal Why Germany still refuses to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine Ukraine's 72nd Brigade releases video from Vuhledar, denies claims about withdrawal Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Brigade on Sept. 26 refuted reports that it was retreating from the embattled town of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast. The brigade released a video purportedly from Vuhledar saying it had been filmed there earlier in the day. "We want to dispel all doubts and the pseudo-experts' thoughts that the 72nd Brigade withdrew from Vuhledar," a Ukrainian soldier said. "Despite heavy assaults and difficult circumstances, we are still there." The statement came after a media report suggested Ukrainian soldiers had begun to withdraw from the town, adding Vuhledar was "about to fall." The 72nd Mechanized Brigade has defended Vuhledar for nearly two years, as Russian forces have been trying to capture the town since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The front-line town lies about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of occupied Donetsk and roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the administrative border with Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Vuhledar has withstood numerous attacks since the outbreak of the full-scale war in 2022 and has become key to Ukrainian defenses in the southern part of Donetsk Oblast. The crowd-sourced monitoring website DeepState reported that Russian forces are aiming to encircle Vuhledar. Russian troops had not reached the outskirts of town as of Sept. 25, Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin. "Sabotage and reconnaissance groups are coming in, but our defenders are trying to knock them out. This means that the town is not yet captured," he added. Read also: What the fall of Vuhledar would mean for Russias war in Ukraine 3 energy infrastructure facilities struck in overnight Russian strikes, Ukrainian PM says An overnight Russian drone and missile strike targeted three Ukrainian energy transmission facilities, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Sept. 26. "But the Russian terrorists did not achieve their goals Ukraine's energy system is operating in a balanced mode, no power cuts are planned," he added in a post on Telegram. Shmyhal said one of the facilities targeted was in Mykolaiv Oblast in southern Ukraine, but did not specify the location of the other two. Ukrainian forces downed 66 out of 78 Shahed-type drones and four Kh-59/69 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight from, the Air Force reported. Eight more drones were "lost" in a few regions and another one "went back to Russia," it added. On the morning of Sept. 26, Russian forces also launched three Kinzhal ballistic missiles. Russia launched nine coordinated attacks against Ukraine's electricity infrastructure between March and August, striking facilities in 20 oblasts, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 25 during his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Read also: Ukrainian drones are burning Russias oil refineries, but not its economy "This is how Putin is preparing for winter hoping to torment millions, millions of Ukrainians Ordinary families women, children Ordinary towns, ordinary villages," Zelensky said. According to an International Energy Agency (IEA) report, Ukraine's electricity shortage could reach 6 gigawatts this winter as a result of the attacks, which is about one-third of the expected peak demand. This summer, the power shortage was 2.5 GW when Kyiv was already experiencing long blackouts. Zelensky told the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 24 that Russia was preparing to target three Ukrainian nuclear power plants. There are three operating nuclear power plants on the Ukrainian-held territory the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi plants in the country's west, and the Pivdennoukrainsk plant in the south. Russia's regular attacks put their safety in jeopardy by cutting off power to the units. According to the Energy Ministry, nuclear generation currently accounts for up to 60% of the country's electricity consumption. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Read also: Opinion: As Russia circumvents sanctions, Europe faces a strategic crossroads Ukraine considers 55,000 citizens as missing persons Ukraine has 55,000 citizens in its unified register for persons missing under special circumstances, Deputy Interior Minister Leonid Tymchenko told Ukrinform in an interview published on Sept. 26. The register includes people who have disappeared due to war, occupation, or natural and man-made disasters. The figure underscores the humanitarian impact of Russia's full-scale war, which has brought illegal deportations, kidnappings, and a large number of deaths among both the military and civilians in Ukraine. "The register contains information about 55,000 people. Most of them are military personnel. This figure is quite dynamic: when the whereabouts of missing persons are established, in some cases, it turns out that a citizen, for example, is in captivity," Tymchenko said. "Unfortunately, we also identify the dead among those who were considered missing," he added. The latest figure shows a considerable growth since July, when the Interior Ministry revealed that 42,000 Ukrainians were considered missing. This number does not include Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia, Belarus, or occupied territories, whose numbers exceed 19,500. Read also: They attack with quantity: With Ukrainian soldiers desperately defending Pokrovsk Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reacts to banners of Georgia's ruling party regarding war in Ukraine The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, in its statement regarding the advertising banners of the Georgian Dream ruling party, has condemned and called unacceptable the use of images of the aftermath of Russia's war against Ukraine in political advertising. Source: European Pravda with reference to a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Details: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Georgian people do not have to fear a new war as long as Ukraine resists Russian aggression. Quote: "The terrible price of this resistance is also the price of peace in Georgia. We call on the Georgian government, the ruling party Georgian dream and all interested parties to refrain from using the topic of the aggressive war against Ukraine and its citizens in the internal political struggle in Georgia." More details: The Foreign Ministry said Ukraine will consistently, steadily, and resolutely continue to support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. They also expressed hope that the parliamentary elections in Georgia would be peaceful and democratic and that the Georgian people would continue on their strategic course of joining the EU and NATO. Background: Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, produced banners with photos of the destruction caused by Russia in Ukraine and, in contrast, "normal life" in Georgia as part of its election campaign. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine's getting powerful long-range glide bombs from the US that will give its F-16s a new punch Ukraine's getting powerful long-range glide bombs from the US that will give its F-16s a new punch The US is sending Ukraine the Joint Standoff Weapon, an air-launched glide bomb. The powerful munition will give Ukraine's F-16s a new long-range weapon. Glide bombs have been heavily featured during the war, with Russia using them to devastating effect. The US is sending Ukraine long-range glide bombs for its F-16 fighter jets, giving it new strike options. President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he decided to provide Kyiv with the Joint Standoff Weapon to "enhance Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities" as part of a larger security assistance package. The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is an air-launched glide bomb with a range of more than 70 miles that has been in service since the late 1990s. The bomb, which weighs over 1,000 pounds and has wings that pop out during flight, is used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and several other militaries. There are multiple variants of the JSOW, but reports say Ukraine will be receiving the one with cluster munitions, which are small bomblets that disperse mid-flight, potentially causing more damage than a unitary warhead could. The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon. US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sean Potter The JSOW is compatible with the F-16s Ukraine received from NATO countries over the summer. The US has sent Kyiv air-to-surface and air-to-air munitions for the Amercan-made fourth-generation fighter jets. The JSOW doesn't have the reach of some other long-range munitions that Ukraine has, like Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles provided by Britain and France, but its profile as a glide bomb will make it a useful asset for Kyiv. A glide bomb is a type of stand-off munition, meaning an attacking aircraft can release it from a distance. Ukraine already has glide bombs in its arsenal, including some provided by France and the US, and has used these weapons to strike Russian positions. The US-made JDAM has a much shorter range compared to the JSOW. The JSOWs will better allow Ukrainian F-16s to strike outside the range of Russian air defenses. Russia also has glide bombs some of which weigh over 6,000 pounds and have tremendous destructive capability and has used them far more extensively to wreak havoc on Ukrainian civilians and troop positions. An AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon is released from an F-35. US Navy photo Russia's glide bombs have been a constant headache for Ukraine this year. These munitions are nearly impossible to intercept, so the only way for Kyiv to defeat them is to either shoot down the attacking aircraft or destroy the planes on the ground at their bases. Through the use of long-range drones, Ukraine has been targeting ammo depots and air bases. Biden's JSOW disclosure was part of a larger announcement about new US security assistance to Ukraine that totals nearly $8 billion. Notably, this aid pasckage includes another high-profile Patriot air-defense battery and interceptor missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is visiting the White House on Thursday, expressed gratitude for the new military aid, including the air-to-ground munitions. "We will use this assistance in the most efficient and transparent manner to achieve our major common goal: victory for Ukraine, just and lasting peace, and transatlantic security," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, have held a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which they discussed "the prospects for further high-level contacts". Source: Yermak on Telegram Quote: "Together with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, we met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. I thanked China for its support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We discussed the prospects for further high-level contacts." Background: At the end of August, Yermak stated that he was confident President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. During a UN Security Council meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated that China is maintaining the position that to end the war in Ukraine (which it refers to as a "crisis"), an immediate ceasefire is necessary, along with the initiation of negotiations and the avoidance of sanctions and economic pressure. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian intelligence indicates that Russian troops are expected to increase their assault activities in Zaporizhzhia Oblast soon. Source: Ukrinform news agency, citing Vladyslav Voloshyn, the spokesperson for Defence Forces of Ukraine's South, during the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "Over the past few days, there has been a noticeable trend towards escalation in the situation along the section of the combat zone in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. There have been five [Russian] assaults over the past 24 hours, and let's just say this number may rise as our intelligence indicates that the enemy is concentrating assault groups near [settlement of] Pryiutne. The enemy has received 25 light buggy vehicles from the reserve motor transport storage base of the Southern District of the Russian Federation. This means that they are preparing assault operations." Details: Voloshyn said the situation on the Southern front is no less tense than in other parts of the war zone. Seven combat engagements took place in Ukraine's south over the past day, five of them in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and two others on the Prydniprovske front. In particular, fighting raged near the settlements of Robotyne and Novoandriivka, as well as for Dnipro River islands on the Prydniprovske front, near Kherson. The Russians also carried out airstrikes using guided aerial bombs and employed artillery and kamikaze drones. The Russians are currently conducting reconnaissance by combat, using assault groups consisting of 5-10 troops, the spokesman noted. Voloshyn also noted that the Russian military is not suffering from ammunition shortages. Quote: "The number of shells used has remained consistent, at up to 2,000 rounds. Additionally, in the past day alone, more than 350 First-Person View drones were deployed, carrying out approximately 400 ordnance drops. This indicates that there are no apparent shortages or conservation of ammunition on their part." Support UP or become our patron! EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)The West Texas Poison Center (WTPC) at the University Medical Center (UMC) of El Paso is celebrating 30 years of serving the community since its foundation in 1994 at the Thomason General Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy. According to UMC, the WTPC handles cases of accidental medication poisonings, snake bites, insect stings, and poisonous plants. Our Poison Center hotline is a vital resource not only for the residents of West Texas but to the many healthcare professionals who also call us for advice and guidance with their patients, said Dr. Salvador Baeza, director of UMCs WTPC. We look forward to serving our community for many more years. According to UMC, the center became 100 percent certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers in 2023. The WTCP is open 24/7 and is a teaching site for residents, interns, and students from Texas Tech, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University Health Sciences Center El Paso, and William Beaumont Army Medical Center. In addition, the WTPC assists in 36 counties in West Texas, including Midland, Odessa, and San Angelo. If you think someone has been poisoned, you can call WTCP right away at 1-800-222-1222. For more information about the WTCP, you can visit their website here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Undecided voters could sway the election. Here are the issues that matter to them. On Tuesday, MSNBC host Alex Wagner hosted a live show from the critical battleground state of Michigan. With less than six weeks to go until Election Day, both Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have made the state a top priority. Victory in the Great Lakes State is still within reach for both campaigns: A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll published this week found Harris narrowly leads Trump there, 48% to 45%, well within the poll's 4.4% margin of error. Wagner sat down with voters from a key constituency being courted by Harris and Trump: union members. According to NBC News exit polls, 21% of people who cast a ballot in Michigan in 2020 came from a household with one or more union members. Wagner described her conversations with the group as a fascinating, complicated snapshot from the frontlines of the 2024 election, and said their thoughts were critical at understanding why this race remains so very close. While some union members Wagner spoke with had already made up their minds on the candidates, many remained undecided. That same USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll found 4% of voters in Michigan were still unsure whom they would vote for in November. Im undecided because I havent seen enough of it yet. I need to pay closer attention and kind of do more independent research before I make my judgment, one voter told Wagner. Immigration was a top concern listed by several undecided voters, especially among those casting their ballot for the first time. Those voters told Wagner they were concerned about the southern border and believed immigrants were taking jobs away from U.S. citizens. (Studies have shown immigrants to the U.S. create more jobs than they take.) Housing and wages were also top issues among first-time, undecided voters. But, as Wagner noted, perhaps what was just as interesting was what was not on the minds of these voters. The union workers expressed little interest in stories that have dominated media coverage of the campaign, like abortion or Trumps legal troubles. Im not familiar with the charges that are being brought against him in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, one voter told Wagner. Im not following that. Only one voter in the crowd of nearly 60 raised their hand when asked if they were familiar with the Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court ruling that eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. "What matters most and what may ultimately determine their votes this year are the conversations they have in their community, Wagner observed. There was also a stark generational divide among the union members, with several older, veteran members throwing their support behind Harris. Younger members tended to be undecided or leaning toward Trump. We have to move our country forward, one Harris supporter told Wagner, adding: Donald Trump is pulling us backwards. Another Harris voter referred to his fellow union members concern over the economy but argued that preserving democracy was a more important issue. Im not going to lose my democracy over the price of a gallon of gas or the price of a loaf of bread," he said. "Democracy is too fragile, and its too important." This article was originally published on MSNBC.com By Belen Carreno MADRID (Reuters) - Trade unions led protests across Spain on Thursday in an effort to force an agreement between the government and the business sector over a reduction in working hours amid pushback from employers concerned about a rise in costs. "The Spanish economy and companies can perfectly take on a general reduction in working hours," Unai Sordo, leader of union CCCO, told hundreds of protesters gathered before the headquarters of employers' association CEOE in Madrid. "The technological advances in the way we work and produce perfectly allow for this while keeping the same pay and improving productivity," he added. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialists and their allies are seeking to persuade businesses to buy into a plan to reduce the working week by 2.5 hours from 40 hours. The European Union must close the productivity gap between its member states to keep pace with economic rivals the United States and China, former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi said in a report this month produced for the European Commission. To secure the backing of employers, the government has offered a hiring bonus for small businesses with less than 10 employees to offset the reduction in working hours while maintaining the same level of service, according to a source involved in the negotiations. Madrid can approve the reduction without consensus and a senior government source said it would do so before the end of 2024. The offer calculates the working week on an annual basis, so workers in sectors where it is difficult to adapt shifts such as hospitality can accrue hours that can later be compensated for in the form of holidays. Spaniards work more hours than most Europeans. According to Eurostat, the average working week in Spain was 36.4 hours in 2023, compared to the EU average of 36.1 hours. Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz has said that reducing working hours will increase productivity, an area where Spain has traditionally lagged behind its European counterparts. Business owners fear the proposal will mean employees work fewer hours for the same pay as before. The impact of similar measures in other countries is unclear. France in 2000 introduced a 35-hour work week expecting it would create hundreds of thousands of jobs. But data shows an increase in the cost of labour, making French workers more expensive in relative terms and companies less competitive. (Reporting by Belen Carreno, David Latona and Guillermo Martinez; additional reporting by Leigh Thomas in Paris; editing by Charlie Devereux, Toby Chopra and Gareth Jones) United Way of Champaign Co. helps fill the gap for families in need of diapers CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) Its National Diaper Need Awareness week, and the United Way of Champaign County is stepping up. Around 50% of families in the United States experience diaper insecurity, which means they dont have enough to keep their child clean, dry and healthy. WCIA Diaper Drive 2024 United Way has the Bottom Line Diaper Bank, which passes the diaper donations onto community partners, who then distribute to those in need. However, this resource is being stretched thin. Employees told WCIA that requests have been rising. They usually give out around 12,000 diapers a month. That number was more than 14,000 in July, and 15,000 in August. Other workers said diapers cost up to $100 per child each month. It not only affects the child, but adults as well. Around 57% of parents surveyed said they missed at least three days of school or work due to not having enough diapers. Tennessee, Delaware first states to provide free diapers for some families Families have to either then reduce other things that theyre needing and purchasing to be sure that they have enough for diapers or theyre just making that budget stretch, as far as they can. said Chief Impact Officer Beverley Baker. And sometimes thats using diapers longer. You know, not having as many diapers available. And that can lead to health concerns for young children and families. United Way itself does not give away diapers directly to families. To get them families must go to one of their 12 partners. You can connect with any of these locations to see if you can receive them: Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department- WIC The Baby Fold Brightpoint Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County- Rantoul Crisis Nursery C-U Early Developmental Services Center of Champaign County The Family Room Head Start Champaign-Urbana Healthy Beginnings & Family Foundations Multicultural Community Center- Rantoul To learn more about the United Way of Champaign County Bottom Line Diaper Bank, visit their website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. COLLEGE PARK, Md. (DC News Now) University of Maryland police said Wednesday that it was still investigating an unlawful touching incident that happened earlier this month. The University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) said on Sept. 6, at around 11:30 a.m., officers were called to the 4600 block of College Avenue for a fourth-degree sex offense incident. Mother accused of shooting 13-year-old daughter held without bond A woman, who is a student at UMD, reported that just after 11 a.m., she was walking near the intersection of Princeton and College avenues when a young male suspect went up to her and started asking her questions. From there, the suspect inappropriately touched her and then ran down College Avenue, onto a hiker biker trail, according to UMPD. (Photo courtesy of the University of Maryland Police Department) The suspect is described as having straight black hair and was about 5 6 to 5 7 tall. He was wearing red joggers and a black T-shirt. Some university students are concerned about their safety after the incident. Samantha Loube said she and her friends are planning to be more cautious and will walk in groups. This is terrifying and our whole sorority is besides ourselves because our favorite thing to do is walk around Old Town and being in danger here is the last thing we want, she said. Its just not okay and something needs to be done immediately. Metro plans to return to self-driving trains 15 years after deadly crash Some other students like Mia Tran and her friend are also being more careful and decided not to walk at night when it gets dark. Sometimes we hear about people getting flashed or inappropriately touched or approached so I try to stay vigilant and walk in pairs around campus because as much as I want to trust the community, its better to air on the side of caution, Tran said. Anyone with information is asked to call (301) 405-3555. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. This embedded content is not available in your region. Two unknown Scottish soldiers killed in World War One have been laid to rest in France after their bodies were found during work to build a hospital. War detectives from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) were called in to try and trace the identities of the two men, who were thought to have died during the Battle of Loos in 1915. They were among more than 40 soldiers whose remains were interred during a ceremony in the town, near the city of Lille, on Wednesday. Hundreds of people, including Princess Anne, attended the burial service, organised by the MoDs Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). The battle, which saw British, Indian and French troops attempt to break through German defences in Artois, was the largest British attack of that year. However, the attack was contained and repelled by German forces. More than 59,000 soldiers from Britain and India died between 25 September and 8 October - an estimated 7,000 of whom were Scottish. Tracey Bowers official title is head of commemoration with the JCCC. However, she told BBC Scotland News her role was better known as war detective. She is part of a team using a number of methods - ranging from regimental shoulder patches on uniforms to DNA testing - to uncover the stories of those who fell in battle and then reunite them with their families. Items of clothing show that one of the two soldiers was a member of the Black Watch. Army uniform buttons recovered from a WW1 hospital [BBC] A Royal Highlanders insignia [BBC] But she said that, on this occasion, it was not possible to find enough of a sample to cross-match with any living family. So many were killed were in the Battle of Loos, and so many Scottish soldiers in particular, she said. If we can get a good DNA profile from that casualty, we would then look to go to families and then hopefully get a comparable match from families. "They could be cousins, second cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews or nieces, and we will compare them against the DNA that we got from the soldier and hopefully we can then give a name to that casualty. We just havent been able to narrow it down, even though we tried to use DNA, the DNA we extracted from those remains was of such poor quality, we werent able to use it to cross-match with any family. Tracey Bowers believes the work will never be finished [BBC] Ms Bowers said remains were being uncovered on a daily basis in Northern France and Belgium during construction projects. The process of identifying the dead can take months, or even years. The team start with the location their bodies were found, then look at any artefacts that have been found on them. Ms Bowers said it could offer families closure if they were aware of their relatives efforts during the conflict, or open a new strand to their family history if they did not know about their involvement. We are looking for things like regimental shoulder titles, cap badges, bits of uniform, bits of kilt, boots to show they are British, Ms Bowers said. All of that narrows it down to hopefully the correct regiment. Then we look through war diaries to see that we had a regiment in that location at that time and then working out how many were missing from that regiment. Families either knew about that soldier and they have grown up knowing that their great-great grandfather was missing and killed in the war, or they knew absolutely nothing. "But when they give us the DNA, they come on that journey with us for closure. I think they all become invested in the result. Dr Stephan Naji said public awareness of his team's work was growing [BBC] Dr Stephan Naji, head of recovery at the CWGC said about 80 sets of remains were found every year. He said the number was increasing annually as more people become aware of their work. Dr Naji said the reflex when remains are found at a construction site was to destroy them as it can slow down the project and add additional cost. But he said retaining the bones could help his team extract and preserve them within a matter of hours. He said: We did major public awareness campaigns and now we are getting notifications on a regular basis. On a construction site, if they find bones, the reflex is to destroy them because its going to stop the construction site and that is going to cost money, they dont want that. So my goal is to reassure everyone, whether they are deminers, archaeologists, construction workers; if you call us, we are on site within two hours and we clear the site by the end of the day. Major Paddy Marshall said it was "humbling"' to be part of the service. [BBC] Major Paddy Marshall, from the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, took part in the ceremony. Its very humbling to be part of the service, but it is also very reassuring, he said. As a long-term serving soldier, you can rest assured that if we fall anywhere in the world, at any time, someone will be there to remember you and thats quite poignant. There is always the regimental family. Further remains discovered at the same site have been identified and DNA testing is under way to trace families. All are interred with full military honours in ceremonies featuring a rifle salute and current soldiers from Scottish regiments. Ms Bowers said the work would never stop until all the soldiers were accounted for. I dont think this work will ever stop," she said. "There are still half a million missing from the Second World War that are being recovered on a daily basis from Northern France and Belgium, she said. We go all the way through to the end result where we work with current regiments to bring together a fantastic, poignant ceremony where they are laid to rest with full military honours. [BBC] Soldiers at last among friends From Cameron Buttle in Loos Dozens of unidentified remains have been interred, but DNA testing to trace the families of others is under way [BBC] Since dawn broke this morning an honour guard has stood over the coffins of two unnamed soldiers of Scotland, heads bowed, rifle barrel pointed to the ground. Its estimated that 30,000 soldiers from famous Scottish regiments like the Cameron, Gordon and Seaforth Highlanders fought in the battle of Loos more than 100 years ago. Seven thousand of them were killed. More remains have been found nearby recently and many of them have been attributed to Scottish units, the work of the War Detectives is already underway to try and identify them. In the Loos cemetery alone the names of more than 22,000 soldiers whose bodies were never found are recorded, an indication of how difficult the task is for the war detectives. Whatever the outcome they will all be buried with full military honours in this cemetery and, as one grave stone inscription reads, they will be at last among friends. [BBC] The UN's nuclear chief says the world needs to pursue dialogue with North Korea over nuclear weapons International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi speaks to the media after his talks with Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Director General Alexey Likhachev in Kaliningrad, Russia, on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) UNITED NATIONS (AP) The world must recognize that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons and pursue dialogue despite its violations of U.N. sanctions and international law, the United Nations' nuclear chief said Thursday. In an interview with The Associated Press. Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, wondered whether slamming the door on Kim Jong Uns government has solved anything or are we, on the contrary, exacerbating the conditions for a situation that may go out of hand? He said North Koreas nuclear program should be condemned for violating Security Council sanctions and international law. But there has been no international engagement since 2006 when the country became a de facto nuclear weapon possessor state and since then its nuclear program has expanded significantly. Grossi said its very important to keep reiterating that North Korean has to stop its nuclear activities, but at the same time, we need to start thinking seriously about stopping to talk past each other. We must be proactive, and we must open doors for dialogue, he said. My credo .. for many, many years, has always been engage, talk, try things. Grossi says great care is required What is happening in North Korea is extremely concerning, Grossi said. But at the same time, it should be a call for diplomatic action. He said engagement with North Korea will require very careful, diplomatic preparatory moves to regain trust. I hope that will be possible. Grossi said. He said one possible issue for engagement with Pyongyang is on nuclear safety. North Korea offered a very rare glimpse into a secret facility to produce weapons-grade uranium about two weeks ago. Grossi said it confirmed that the IAEAs analysis of Pyongyangs nuclear program is very, very solid. As these pictures show, and beyond that, they have a vast nuclear program, which is perhaps the only one in the world on which there is no visibility in terms of the observance of the basic international nuclear safety standards, he said, pointing to tons of material being handled at its nuclear facilities. During the North Korean leaders visit to the secret facility, the countrys official news agency, KCNA, said Kim called for stronger efforts to exponentially produce more nuclear weapons. Grossi asked what Kim means by exponentially, saying there is speculation on whether North Korea has 30 or 50 nuclear warheads. But more broadly, he stressed that we are at an international juncture where other countries are also increasing their nuclear weapons arsenals, though perhaps not exponentially, This is a symptom of our underlying, very profound malaise that will have to be addressed one way or the other, he said. Other nations require attention, too In his more than a decade in power, Chinese President Xi Jinping has invested in high-tech military technologies and a growing arsenal of nuclear weapons. The United States is modernizing its nuclear weapons program. And Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Wednesday that any nations conventional attack on Russia supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country. The announcement was clearly aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to use its longer-range weapons to strike Russia. Grossi called Putins threat, outlined in a revision of Moscows nuclear doctrine, serious and concerning, and said it may represent a lowering of the threshold for the possible use of Russias nuclear arsenal or a broadening of his words. He said other countries have also used hypothetical scenarios that would trigger nuclear weapons use. We are not surprised, and this is part of the calculations of countries, Grossi said. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that he received an intelligence report indicating Russia is planning to attack its nuclear power plants which could lead to a nuclear disaster. Grossi, asked about the report, said the IAEA takes Zelenskyys statement seriously but we dont have that information. The nuclear agency still has staff at every nuclear power plant in Ukraine, he said, and this summer has been particularly difficult, with military targeting of a nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, where one of its cooling towers was set on fire. Following Ukraines surprise cross-border incursion into Russia, the IAEA chief visited the Kursk nuclear power plant, the countrys third largest, where the Kremlin said the remains of a drone had been found. During the more than 2 -year war following Russias February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbor, Grossi said he has maintained contacts with both sides. If he calls Putin or Zelenskyy, he said, they will probably pick up the phone, because they recognize that nuclear safety has regional and even global implications. Iran is a focus As for Iran, its new reformist president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has said Tehran didnt want to enrich uranium at near-weapons grade levels but had been forced to when the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between his country and six major powers. In his first speech on the world stage, Pezeshkian told the General Assembly on Wednesday that Iran is ready to engage on the 2015 nuclear deal if all participants act in good faith. Grossi said the presidents comments are an opening for the IAEA, and he plans to visit Tehran very soon." What I would like to hear from him is what is his take on the return to an agreed framework, which is, in my opinion, what we need to do, the IAEA chief said. It could be on the basis of the 2015 nuclear deal known as the JCPOA, Grossi said, but Iran has far advanced its nuclear capacities since then. It will have to be much, much stronger, he said, "and we are ready to work with them. ___ Edith M. Lederer, chief U.N. correspondent for The Associated Press, has covered international affairs for more than a half-century. See more of APs coverage of the U.N. General Assembly at https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations UPSTATE, S.C. (WSPA) As Hurricane Helene prepares to make landfall in Floridas western panhandle, 7NEWS spoke with several Upstate organizations about how theyre preparing for the worst. Union County 911 Director, Jeff Wright said he has had multiple meetings with county leaders about how to prepare for the hurricane over the past several days. The utilities department talked about their preparations, getting ready [by] clearing storm drains, said Wright. [We encourage residents] to have non-perishable food items on hand, drinking water, flashlight [and] batteries. He said there are more than a dozen fire departments in the county, ready to answer any calls for help. Cherokee County Emergency Management Director Douglass Bowers told 7NEWS they have about 30 Community Emergency Response Team volunteers on standby to help out, with teams of four rotating shifts. Duke Energy Spokesperson Ryan Mosier said the company has more than 10,000 tree trimmers, line workers and other employees set to be deployed to ensure customers have power when they need it; thanks to thousands of new smart devices, its been installing with its electrical lines and poles for the past several years. When we install these smart devices, they are able to talk to each other and in an automated response to a fault or something that goes wrong in one spot, they can immediately communicate with each other and redirect power around that area where there is a problem, so that the customers who are not immediately at that spot may not see any issue at all, said Mosier. Anytime youre saving a customer outage time, thats also being more efficient for the company and its crews who are out there. Duke Energy also recommended to prepare for the worst beforehand. Make sure that [youre] paying attention to local news outlets, like WSPA and others, to understand what the weather situation is going to be, when its going to be like that, said Mosier. Lori Todd, a manager with Cherokee Countys Farm Bureau Insurance agency told 7NEWS, even after the storm rolls through, to be careful of who else is rolling through your neighborhood. Make sure that when the storm is over and then these cars come by to tell you they want to fix your roof, to beware and make sure that you are using a reputable company, said Todd. Todd explained roof damage claims are the most commonly filed after a big storm. I would say, even before signing with a company to do any kind of repairs, that you go ahead and talk to your insurance company first, said Todd. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Urban Search and Rescue Teams in the Triangle deploying to western NC ahead of Hurricane Helene RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) As crews around the state prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Helene, the Search and Rescue team in Raleigh and Fayetteville have deployed some of their units Thursday morning to assist the crews in Western N.C. Initially it was just a structural collapse mission, they have since added a potential water rescue incident, so were now taking both of those assets if you will, Matt Wacenske, a firefighter with the task force, said. TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Helene Becomes Category 2 The Urban Search and Rescue team in the Triangle, N.C. Task Force 8, has deployed 30 members to Haywood County. 14 are from Raleigh fire, 10 are coming from Durham, 3 from Chapel Hill and 3 from Wake County EMS. Theyll be in Haywood County for at least three days but it could be longer depending on the storms impacts. They said theyre prepared for anything. We have quite a bit of equipment in case theres building collapses or mudslides, Patrick Marks, a Division Chief with the Raleigh Fire Department, said. Were carrying boats and different equipment in case they do have flash flooding in that area so we can be the highest level of assistance we can. We might have a scenario where seconds or moments are all we have to affect a rescue, especially if somebody is trapped or entangled in something, to remove them, Marks said. It is a feeling that is unfortunate to have, but when you can help them in that way, its incredible, Wacenske said. The next hurricane that comes through, it may come right through Downtown Raleigh and instead of us going to help somebody, its those communities we help today, coming to assist us, Marks said. Fayetteville Fire Department also announced they have deployed with N.C. Task Force 9 to join N.C. Task Force 6 (Greensboro Fire Department) in Brevard. Included in N.C. Task Force 9 are members of the Fayetteville Fire Department, Fayetteville Police Department and Cape Fear Valley EMS. Rocky Mount line workers left Wednesday to provide mutual aid, sending 11 members to Tallahassee, Florida. PREVIOUSLY: Gov. Cooper declares State of Emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene The deployment comes after Gov. Cooper declared a State of Emergency for North Carolina as Hurricane Helene strengthened into a Category 2 before landing Thursday night in the Florida Gulf Coast. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. Ursuline Sisters of Youngtown look to future after 150 years CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown celebrated 150 years in the Mahoning Valley, giving an update on its Fullness of Life, Future of Hope campaign on Thursday. The $10-million campaign will focus on three initiatives: the retirement needs of the sisters; ministries in education, spiritual growth and pastoral care; and updating their facilities with safety measures. There are 26 sisters with a median age of 80. Most of our sisters continue to be involved in some type of contribution to Ursuline Sisters mission some of them still working full-time, some of them working part-time, and just about everyone doing some type of volunteer work that [services] the people of the greater Youngstown area, said Sister Mary McCormick, general superior at Ursuline Sisters. The sisters have been serving the area since 1874. Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Republicans in the US Congress have initiated an investigation into any coordination between the Biden administration and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following his interview that contained critical remarks about presidential candidate Donald Trump. Source: according to European Pravda, this is outlined in letters from James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and White House Counsel Ed Siskel dated 25 September Details: The committee is investigating whether the Biden-Harris administration attempted to use Zelenskyy to advance Vice President Harris's presidential campaign and whether such actions would constitute an abuse of power. Comer was particularly alarmed by Zelenskyy's interview with The New Yorker on 22 September, where the Ukrainian president made several critical comments regarding Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance. President Zelenskyy in his letter stated that Trumps vice president, Senator JD Vance, is "too radical". He also expressed doubt that Trump and his administration would be able to stop the war, despite this being one of Trump's main campaign platforms. "This rhetoric coming from a foreign leader released in anticipation of a US-taxpayer-funded visit about the current Administrations political opponent is highly concerning. The Committee is investigating any coordination or communication among the Biden-Harris Administration, Pennsylvanias Office of the Governor, and President Zelenskyy for use or solicitation of use of government property to politically benefit Vice President Harriss presidential campaign," the letter stated. Background: Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, published a letter on Wednesday, 25 September, addressed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and containing ultimatum demands directed at Ukraine. "Dear President Zelenskyy: I demand that you immediately fire Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova," the document begins. Johnson cited an event during the Ukrainian president's visit to the US a visit to an ammunition manufacturing site in Pennsylvania as the motive for his ultimatum. Background: It is worth noting that immediately after Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the United States began, relations with the Republican Party leadership cooled sharply. Trump refused to meet with Zelenskyy, and Speaker Johnson hinted at a possible disruption of meetings in Congress. Support UP or become our patron! New US Air Force PT uniforms delayed, again, until November After years of setbacks, the U.S. Air Force will finally release its new physical training uniforms this November, the service confirmed. The uniforms were initially slated to arrive in 2022, but the COVID-19 pandemic presented a slew of problems, including supply chain issues, that delayed the schedule. Fabric shortages and fabric color-match problems also contributed to delays. After the pandemic subsided, the service planned to address the PT uniform release once again. However, the U.S. Space Force was stood up and attention was redirected toward issuing Space Force PT uniforms. Now that the Space Force has begun rolling out its PT uniforms, the Air Force said it will fulfill its promise to deliver new PT uniforms. New Air Force PT uniforms roll out after 2-year delay Uniforms are expected to arrive at select CONUS Army and Air Force Exchange Service stores beginning in November, according to an Air Force spokesperson, with some optional uniform items currently in development, such as the long-sleeve shirt and sweatshirt, set to be released later. In April, the Air Force said the new uniforms had started rolling out at basic military training that month, while the Army and Air Force Exchange Service said the uniforms would reach exchange shelves in July. However, the July deadline was missed. The fielding of a new uniform required time for mandatory government sources to find, and collaborate with, domestic fabric manufacturers to meet the technical requirements of the PT uniform materials, an Air Force spokesperson said. That process took longer than expected. The new Air Force PT uniform is introducing a running short with a spandex liner and a standard gym short. (Jon Simkins/Staff) The collection includes a jacket, two shorts a running short with a spandex liner and a pair of standard gym shorts pants, long- and short-sleeve T-shirts with moisture-wicking material and two sweatshirt options that include a hoodie and a crewneck. The new uniforms were rolled out only to fit-testers and those in basic military training, said Don Lee, acquisition program manager for the Combat Ready Airman program, at last weeks Air & Space Forces Associations Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Fit-testers were utilized to assist with the tailoring process, Lee said, making sure the uniforms materials fit the body while still allowing movement. Basic military training use focused on the uniforms durability, testing the clothings ability to go through multiple wash and dry cycles. In July, the Air Force began providing the short-sleeve shirt, running shorts, all-purpose shorts and track suit to airmen in basic training, according to a service spokesperson. Air Force PT uniform delayed as Space Force launches own workout gear The revamped uniforms mark the first time in two decades the Air Force has updated its physical training uniforms. The uniform, which airmen will be required to wear beginning in 2026, is similar to the current iteration but now comes in sizes for both men and women. Courtney Mabeus-Brown contributed to this report. US airlines cancel over 1,000 flights due to hurricane Helene (Reuters) -Airlines in the United States have canceled or delayed thousands of flights on Thursday, as a strengthening hurricane Helene is expected to make a landfall in Florida's Big Bend this evening. A total of 1,218 flights were canceled and 4,146 delayed as of 5:59 P.M. ET, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Southwest Airlines has canceled 201 flights, the most among the carriers, closely followed by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Officials have issued dire warnings and urged residents in coastal areas along the hurricane's path to evacuate ahead of catastrophic winds and a potentially deadly storm surge. Airports across impacted regions such as Tampa International, Orlando International and Fort Lauderdale International have also put out posts on X, warning travelers of potential delays or cancellations. American Airlines has issued a travel advisory for airports situated around Southeast U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. JetBlue and Southwest Airlines, too, have issued similar advisories. (Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Utkarsh Shetti; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Mohammed Safi Shamsi) US and allies call for 21-day ceasefire across Lebanon-Israel border Allies including the US, UK and EU have called for a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, following an escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The 12-strong bloc proposed an immediate 21-day pause in fighting "to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement" and a ceasefire in Gaza. In a joint statement, they said the hostilities were "intolerable" and presented an "unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation" that was neither in the interest of the people of Israel or Lebanon. It comes after Israels military chief told troops on Wednesday that extensive air strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah could pave the way for them to enter enemy territory. The remarks by Lt Gen Halevi are the plainest indication yet from a senior figure that a ground invasion into Lebanon may be imminent. The joint statement was signed by the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Qatar. It followed a meeting of world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York. A separate joint statement by US President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron said it was time for a settlement "that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes". The current hostilities threaten "a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians", they said. "We therefore have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border." President Biden briefly spoke to reporters at the White House on Wednesday evening, saying there is "significant support from Europe as well as the Arab nations its important the war does not widen". A senior administration official told the BBC neither Israel nor Lebanon has accepted the proposal - although the US is in touch with both governments. Official responses are expected within hours. The official said a 21-day pause in fighting would be a sustained phase that would allow for further negotiations to take place to reach a complicated agreement. They added that the US is negotiating with Lebanons government - rather than Hezbollah. It would then be the responsibility of the Lebanese government to engage with non-state actors. Lebanese PM Najib Mikati said his country is 'facing a blatant violation of our sovereignty' [EPA] Earlier in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire, and said "hell is breaking loose". Lebanese PM Najib Mikati said his country is "facing a blatant violation of our sovereignty and human rights through the brutal practices of the Israeli enemy". He added he hoped he could leave the UN session with a "serious solution" to "put pressure on Israel to achieve an immediate ceasefire on all fronts". Asked by Reuters if a ceasefire can be reached soon, he responded: "Hopefully, yes." Also speaking earlier, Israel's envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, said it was grateful for diplomatic efforts to avoid escalation but would "use all means at our disposal, in accordance with international law, to achieve our aims". He said Israel "does not seek a full-scale war", and has made its desire for peace "clear". Mr Danon added that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive in New York on Thursday, have bilateral meetings later that day and speak at the General Assembly the following morning. More than 600 people have been reported killed across Lebanon since Monday, when Israel began an intense air campaign to destroy what it said was infrastructure built up by Hezbollah since they last fought a war in 2006. Another 90,000 people in Lebanon have been newly displaced, adding to the 110,000 who had fled their homes before the escalation, according to the UN. Almost 40,000 are living in shelters across the country. Nearly a year of deadly cross-border fighting sparked by the war in Gaza has also displaced around 70,000 people in northern Israel, whose safe return the Israeli government and military say they want to ensure. Hezbollah says it is attacking Israel in support of its Palestinian ally, Hamas, and will not stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza. Both groups are backed by Iran and proscribed as terrorist organisations by Israel, the UK and other countries. Cross-border fighting continued on Wednesday, with Hezbollah saying it had targeted the headquarters of Israel's Mossad spy agency with a missile fired towards Tel Aviv - the first time Hezbollah has targeted the heavily populated area. It was intercepted by air defences and there were no reports of damage or casualties. Hezbollah also fired dozens more rockets into northern Israel, injuring two. Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad told reporters that the strikes had killed at least 51 people and injured 223, without saying how many were civilians or combatants. It comes after an unprecedented wave of attacks on Hezbollah. Last week, 39 people were killed and thousands were wounded when pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members to communicate exploded in two waves across Lebanon. Israel is widely believed to be responsible for the attacks. Then, an Israeli air strike on Friday on the groups stronghold of Dahieh, in southern Beirut, essentially wiped out the chain of command of its main fighting unit, the Radwan Force. The group confirmed that one of its top military leaders, Ibrahim Aqil, was among 55 people killed. The News The US, its Western allies, and several Arab nations called for a three-week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, hoping to avert a wider war. However, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later rejected the proposal, saying Israel will continue to strike Hezbollah until we achieve all our goals. The joint ceasefire call came shortly after Israels defense minister suggested a ground invasion of southern Lebanon was possible. Experts fear that an escalation could devastate the hard-pressed country, which is enduring its worst economic crisis in decades. A third of Lebanons residents have already fled their homes at least once, many of them refugees from Syria, with recent Israeli strikes forcing tens of thousands to leave. This society will break, the head of an aid agency told the BBC. (Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the military would maintain its bombardment of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon indefinitely, while at the same time engaging with efforts by the US and allies to secure a cease-fire that would ease the risk of a regional war. Most Read from Bloomberg Air strikes would continue until all Israels objectives have been achieved, the prime minister said Thursday on arrival in New York to address the annual United Nations General Assembly. The most pressing of those goals is the return of Israels northern residents to their homes, he said, and thats likely to be achieved only if Hezbollah is persuaded to stop firing cross-border missiles. The prime ministers office said Israel would continue talks on the proposal for a truce with Hezbollah the coming days. Its teams discussed the matter with American counterparts on Thursday. We will continue those discussions in the coming days, Netanyahus office said. Israel appreciates the US efforts in this regard because the US role is indispensable in advancing stability and security in the region. That came after Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted on the X social media platform: There will be no cease-fire. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the armed forces will keep throwing Hezbollah off balance and deepening their loss. The statements by Israels top ministers appeared to block attempts by US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to secure a three-week cease-fire. The US, European states and Arab powers including Saudi Arabia and Qatar all urged a pause in fighting late Wednesday, after Israel indicated it was preparing a possible ground invasion of Lebanon. That would risk triggering a regional conflict that could drag in the US and Iran. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking in London, told reporters Thursday that another full-scale war could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon. A diplomatic solution, not a military solution, is the only way to ensure that displaced civilians on both sides of the border can finally go back home, he said. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging rocket fire since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza almost a year ago. Hezbollah has long said it will keep up the attacks as long as Israel maintains its offensive against Hamas. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran and are designated terrorist organizations by the US, although Hezbollah is considered much more powerful. The bid for a cease-fire in Lebanon comes as Israeli forces pounded targets in the economically stricken country for a fourth day, including on the outskirts of Beirut. More than 600 people, including at least 50 children, have been killed since Monday, the Lebanese health ministry has said, with tens of thousands of Lebanese fleeing the countrys south. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets at northern Israel in response including its first-ever attempt to target Tel Aviv in the worst violence between the two sides since a 2006 war. The Israel Defense Forces said it had killed the head of Hezbollahs aerial unit in an air strike in Beirut on Thursday, the latest in a string of assassinations of senior members of the group. Hezbollah later confirmed the death on its Telegram account. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported senior officials as saying they have their own conditions for a cease-fire that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is unlikely to agree to. Israels Army Radio said security officials believe the military needs more time to achieve its goal of degrading Hezbollahs capabilities. Lebanons Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has said half a million people have been displaced inside the country by the Israeli bombardment. In the past week or so, Israel has significantly stepped up air attacks and says it has destroyed a significant part of Hezbollahs missile arsenal. The military has killed top Hezbollah commanders with strikes and many members were maimed in an operation in which thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in parts of Lebanon. Hezbollah and Iran blamed Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility. Israels politicians indicated little enthusiasm for a three-week cease-fire. One of Netanyahus far-right allies, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, threatened to quit the ruling coalition if a permanent truce is reached with Hezbollah. Such a move could bring down the government. Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister whos likely to challenge Netanyahu at future elections, said on X that the time is not right. If Hezbollah wants the fire to stop, it can lay down its arms, demilitarize itself and move 15 km away from the Israeli border, he said. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, meanwhile, said a pause should last no more than seven days to prevent Hezbollah from regaining its military footing. In Gaza, US efforts to end fighting have been repeatedly dashed. Domestic critics of Netanyahu have accused him of delaying a truce with Hamas because of the need to placate his far-right government allies such as Ben Gvir. Hamas has taken a similarly uncompromising line, despite the destruction of much of its military capability. --With assistance from Ramsey Al-Rikabi, Ellen Milligan, Samy Adghirni, Augusta Saraiva, Golnar Motevalli, Omar Tamo, Galit Altstein, Alisa Odenheimer, Iain Marlow, Jon Herskovitz and Philip Glamann. (Updates and recasts with statement from prime ministers office.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Displaced Syrian children play in swimming pools set up by the Smile Younited charity in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province on July 27, 2024 (AAREF WATAD) (AAREF WATAD/AFP/AFP) The United States on Thursday announced $535 million in new aid for Syrians, pledging to keep up humanitarian assistance even after fighting in the brutal war has ended. Uzra Zeya, the US under secretary in charge of civilian security, announced the new funding on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The funding will go through humanitarian groups to assist Syrians including refugees by providing shelter, food, education and healthcare, the US Agency for International Development said. "While only a negotiated political solution can fully end the suffering of the Syrian people, humanitarian assistance is vital to keeping civilians alive," USAID said in a statement. "We urge other donors to join us in stepping up to fill the significant funding gaps and ensure partners can continue to meet the needs of the most vulnerable." Syrian President Bashar al-Assad crushed an uprising that erupted in 2011 in a conflict that killed more than half a million people, displaced seven million more and saw the rise of the ultra-violent Islamic State group. Assad has largely reasserted control of the country and Arab leaders have increasingly welcomed him back into the fold. The United States has vowed never to accept Assad without accountability for atrocities during the war. sct/gw/st US announces nearly $8 billion military aid package for Ukraine U.S. President Joe Biden announced a military aid package for Ukraine worth $7.9 billion on Sept. 26. "I am grateful to U.S. President Joseph Biden, the U.S. Congress and both parties, Republican and Democrat, and the entire American people for today's announcement of significant defense aid to Ukraine totaling $7.9 billion and the imposition of sanctions against Russia," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on social media. Washington authorized a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $375 million the day before, on Sept. 25, amid Zelensky's ongoing visit to the U.S. Biden said that the Pentagon will allocate the remaining Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds by the end of 2024. He authorized $5.5 billion in the presidential drawdown authority (PDA) "to ensure this authority does not expire." Another $2.4 billion are pledged through the USAI. The new tranche will include an additional Patriot air defense battery, unmanned aerial systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as funds to strengthen Ukraines defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements. Washington will also provide Kyiv with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) munition "to enhance Ukraines long-range strike capabilities," Biden said. The U.S. president also announced the expansion of training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots by supporting the training of an additional 18 next year. "Through these actions, my message is clear: The United States will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war," Biden said. Read also: Explosions reported in Kyiv, but authorities deny Russian attack on capital Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland visited the City of Jackson on Wednesday. He commended several law enforcement officials before conducting a closed meeting with leaders. Garland spoke of departments successes across Mississippi, as well as challenges that law enforcement officials face daily. Some of the topics included civil rights violations, machine gun conversions, fentanyl and corruption of public offices. Garlands visit comes just days after the Justice Department announced an investigation into the Rankin County Sheriffs Office. Attorneys for Goon Squad victims respond to DOJ investigation The attorney general also announced initiatives to help the City of Jackson. The DOJ awarded nearly $300,000 to the city to assist with forensic science capabilities. We are committed to working with local officials, deputies and the community to conduct a comprehensive investigation. The Justice Department is also committed to providing resources necessary to support public safety here in Mississippi. Earlier this year, the Justice Department added Jackson to its violent crime initiative. That initiative surges law enforcement tools and resources to target gangs and other violent groups that threaten our communities, Garland said. Jackson was also granted $100,000 to develop a comprehensive plan for public safety initiatives. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. United States Attorney General B. Merrick Garland joined federal, state and local law enforcement leaders in Little Rock to discuss the progress of curbing violent crime in Arkansas. Garland said the Justice Department will award more than $1 million in funding to the state under the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program. He added that Arkansas received $4 million under the National Criminal History Improvement Program this week. Garland says he wont let the Justice Department be used as a political weapon Garland stated that the U.S. Department of Justice launched a strategy to combat violent crime more than three years ago. He noted that progress has been made with a decrease in homicides within the last year and violent crime is continuing to decrease this year. The Department of Justice is working with law enforcement agencies in Arkansas to arrest violent felons, seize and trace guns, and target gangs involved in violent crime, Garland said. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announces recent arrests, successes of retail organized crime alliance He commanded the efforts of agencies working to combat crime, mentioning several instances resulting in arrests and sentencings in the state. Garland was joined by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Jonathan D. Ross and several other federal, state and local law enforcement leaders. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. In an interview with American media, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called Russian leader Vladimir Putin's latest nuclear threats, veiled in his words about changing the conditions for the use of atomic weapons, "totally irresponsible". Source: European Pravda; US Department of State Quote: "Look, its totally irresponsible, and I think many in the world have spoken clearly about that when hes been rattling the nuclear sabre, including China in the past. So I would just say especially to do that now while the worlds gathered in New York, including talking about the need for more disarmament, nonproliferation, I think thats going to play very badly around the world." Background: On 25 September, Putin said that Russia would expand the conditions under which it is ready to use nuclear weapons. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky believes that Putin's statement is intended to intimidate Ukraine's allies, and he emphasised that these threats should not be yielded to. Polish President Andrzej Duda noted that the de facto Russian leader had said nothing new and that he understands that he will be "damned" if he takes the step of using nuclear weapons. Support UP or become our patron! US close to agreement with EU on use of proceeds from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine Bloomberg Bloomberg has reported that the US and the EU are said to be approaching an agreement on the specific terms of a US$50bn financial aid package for Ukraine using the proceeds from frozen Russian assets. Source: European Pravda, citing Bloomberg Details: The news agency reports that the United States intends to participate in the loan regardless, but the extent of its involvement will depend on whether the EU modifies its sanctions legislation to provide more guarantees that Russian assets will remain immobilised. The US is said to be ready to provide US$20bn of the total amount if such changes to the sanctions regime are made. If the EU fails to do so, the US will still join in, but the contribution amount will be smaller, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The financial assistance in question totals US$50 billion, to be provided by the EU, the US, Canada, Japan, and the UK. The loan is set to be repaid using the proceeds from US$280 billion of frozen Russian assets, the majority of which are held in Europe. The new 50bn from the G7 will complement the EU's existing 50bn macro-financial support package for Ukraine, which will be disbursed gradually over 2024-2027 and is tied to a reform plan. The US and the EU initially agreed to contribute 20 billion each, but later, Washington began requesting safeguards from the EU to ensure greater predictability regarding the proceeds from Russian assets. This request arises because current EU sanctions require review and extension every six months. Earlier media reports indicated that the EU was starting to develop a plan B, which would involve a larger share of the European contribution in the event that Washington does not participate in the scheme. However, the EU's willingness to increase its share of the contribution reportedly faced dissatisfaction from key nations, including Germany, France, and Italy, during discussions at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday. The European Commission is of the opinion that it is best to extend the deadline for reviewing and extending sanctions and to guarantee the participation of the US. But Hungary continues to oppose any decisions, insisting that it must first wait for the results of the US elections. The European Commission is said to have warned member states that the US could join the initiative even after the election but that the EU must complete all the paperwork by the end of October. One source says the G7 is planning to finalise its intentions on the loan at a ministerial meeting on 25 October. Support UP or become our patron! US cops get gun stuck to MRI machine in bungled cannabis raid Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines use powerful magnets to creates scans of the inside of patients' bodies, so metal objects -- like guns -- should be kept well away (Sia KAMBOU) (Sia KAMBOU/AFP/AFP) Bumbling US cops who raided a medical diagnostics center thinking it was a cannabis farm got a gun stuck to the powerful magnets of an MRI machine, a California lawsuit has alleged. The owners of the facility are claiming damages against the Los Angeles Police Department for an operation their lawyers describe as "nothing short of a disorganized circus." Their lawsuit details how a SWAT team swarmed Noho Diagnostic Center after the squad's leader persuaded a magistrate to issue a search warrant. Officer Kenneth Franco drew on his "twelve hours of narcotics training" and discovered the facility was using more electricity than nearby stores, the lawsuit said. "Officer Franco, therefore, concluded (the facility) was cultivating cannabis, disregarding the fact that it is a diagnostic facility utilizing an MRI machine, X-ray machine and other heavy medical equipment -- unlike the surrounding businesses selling flowers, chocolates and children's merchandise," the suit said. After bursting into the diagnostics center in October last year, the SWAT team found only offices, a single employee and medical devices, including a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, a diagnostic tool that uses high-powered magnets to create detailed scans of a patient's body. Disregarding a sign warning that metal objects should be kept well away, one officer wandered near the machine "dangling a rifle in his right hand," the lawsuit said. "Expectedly, the magnetic force of the MRI machine attracted the LAPD officer's loose rifle, securing it to the machine," the suit said. Instead of seeking expert advice on how to retrieve the weapon, one officer decided to activate the emergency shutdown button. "This action caused the MRI's magnet to rapidly lose superconductivity, leading to the evaporation of approximately 2,000 liters of helium gas and resulting in extensive damage to the MRI machine," the suit said. The officer then retrieved his gun, but left a magazine full of bullets on the floor of the MRI office, the suit says. The suit, which was filed in California last week, seeks unspecified damages and costs. A spokesman for LAPD told AFP the department does not comment on open or pending litigation. hg/amz/nro By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States, France and some of their allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border while also expressing support for a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a joint statement of the countries released by the White House late on Wednesday. "The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation," the joint statement said. "Thus we call for an immediate 21 day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement," it added. The statement came from the U.S., France, the European Union, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, among some other partner nations. It called on the governments of Israel and Lebanon to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately. "We have had those discussions for quite some time," a senior U.S. official later told reporters, adding Washington and its allies were aiming to convert those discussions into a broader agreement during this 21 day ceasefire period. Opening up diplomatic space in Lebanon during this 21 day period will hopefully also open up space for potential for a ceasefire in Gaza which has remained elusive for months, the senior U.S. official added. Israel's war in Gaza, after a deadly Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants, has killed tens of thousands, caused a hunger crisis, displaced nearly everyone there and led to genocide allegations at the World Court that Israel denies. The hostilities between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah group have raised fears of a regional war. Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and killed dozens. Israeli airstrikes this week have targeted Hezbollah militant leaders and hit hundreds of sites deep inside Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands have fled the border region, while the group has fired barrages of rockets into Israel. Scores have been killed in Lebanon. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Eric Beech and Stephen Coates) (Bloomberg) -- The US, European allies and Arab powers proposed a three-week cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon as part of a bid to clear the way for negotiations and avert all-out war after days of air-strikes by Israeli forces. Most Read from Bloomberg It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety, the nations said in a statement released Wednesday evening that called on the governments of Israel and Lebanon to implement the pause in fighting. If they do so, the countries said they stand ready to support a push toward a deal that would end the crisis altogether though the terms of such an agreement remained undefined. Senior Biden administration officials said that they expect the governments of Israel and Lebanon to make statements accepting the deal in the coming hours, and expressed hope that it will open the door to achieving a so-far elusive end to the fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There was no immediate word from Hezbollah on whether the Iran-backed group would agree to the deal. The efforts goal is to prevent a major war from breaking out, create the conditions for tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return to their countrys north and help revive efforts for a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement that their effort was intended to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border. The exchange of fire since Oct. 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians, the pair said. The talks involving Washington, Israel and other allies are unfolding as Israel pounds Hezbollah targets across Lebanon with air strikes and as fears grow across the region and in Western capitals that a long-feared regional expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict was about to unfold. More than 600 people, including at least 50 children, have been killed since Israel began bombarding southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on Monday, Lebanese government officials said. Its the worst violence in the region since the 2006 Lebanon war. And it may not stop there. Israeli military officials have warned of a possible ground invasion into Lebanon, a development that could compel Iran to attack Israel. We are grateful for all of those who are making a sincere effort with diplomacy to avoid escalation, to avoid a full war, Israels ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said before Barrot announced the 21-day plan. We are open to ideas. Earlier Wednesday, Biden framed the cease-fire proposal as part of a diplomatic process that could help unlock an end to the nearly year-old Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip a deal his administration has doggedly pursued but failed to accomplish for months. I dont want to exaggerate it, but a possibility, if we can deal with a cease-fire in Lebanon, that it can move into dealing with the West Bank, and also in Gaza and so, its possible, Biden said in an interview with ABCs The View. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been working on the cease-fire proposal all week in New York, according to a US official familiar with the process. Blinken discussed it with French officials and urged Group of Seven foreign ministers at a dinner that night to come up with a joint approach and build consensus. He then spent two days talking with European and Arab partners discussing text of the deal, the official said. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to use his countrys influence over Hezbollah to pull Lebanon back from the brink, said a person familiar with the meeting who asked not to be identified discussing private conversations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to arrive in New York on Thursday for the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly. Netanyahu and top adviser Ron Dermer are involved in an attempt to come to a diplomatic solution to the spiraling military confrontation with Hezbollah, designated a terrorist group by the US, according to an Israeli official who declined to be named. Even if a temporary truce is reached, officials are skeptical about how long-lasting such a deal could be and whether it would amount to the longer-term political settlement that US officials have urged, according to one senior diplomat with direct knowledge of the talks. --With assistance from Maria Paula Mijares Torres, Alex Morales, Dan Williams, Skylar Woodhouse, Marissa Newman, Eric Martin and Donato Paolo Mancini. (Updates with comment from US officials starting in fourth paragraph, details on Secretary of States work in fourth screen.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. How the US government can stop churches from getting treated like real churches by the IRS The Family Research Council is a conservative advocacy group with a biblical worldview. While it has a church ministries department that works with churches from several evangelical Christian denominations that share its perspectives, it does not represent a single denomination. Although its activities are primarily focused on policy, advocacy, government lobbying and public communication, the Internal Revenue Service granted the councils application to be treated as an association of churches in 2020. Concerned that the IRS had erred in allowing the council and similar groups to be designated churches or associations of churches, Democratic members of the House of Representatives sent the Treasury secretary and the IRS commissioner letters in 2022 and 2024 expressing alarm. The House Democrats pointed to what appeared to be abuse of the tax code and asked the IRS to determine whether existing guidance is sufficient to prevent abuse and what resources or Congressional actions are needed. As a professor of nonprofit law, I believe some groups that arent churches or associations of churches want to be designated that way to avoid the scrutiny being a charitable organization otherwise requires. At the same time, some other groups that should qualify as churches may have difficulty doing so because of the IRS outdated test for that status. Together with my colleague Ellen P. Aprill, I recently published a paper outlining two main arguments in favor of revising the federal governments definitions of churches as they pertain to tax law. No 990s means less scrutiny All charitable nonprofits, including churches, get the same basic benefits under federal tax law. This means they dont have to pay taxes on their revenue and that donors can deduct the value of their gifts from their taxable income as long as they itemize deductions on their tax return. Unlike other tax-exempt charities, churches dont have to file 990 forms. That means the public does not have access to churches staff pay, board membership and funding details, which are in this publicly available tax form that all other charities must complete every year. The availability of 990 forms enhances the transparency and accountability of the nonprofit sector. And churches and associations of churches are unlikely to get audited by the IRS. Federal law requires that a senior IRS official reasonably believes the church or association has violated federal tax rules before beginning an investigation. This means that an official must have reason to believe the organization has violated federal tax law before obtaining any information from the organization. This standard is higher than whats needed before an audit can begin for all other tax-exempt organizations and indeed all taxpayers. For everyone else, the IRS is free to begin an examination based only on a suspicion of a violation or even based on random selection. Also, unlike other tax-exempt charities, churches and church associations are automatically eligible for their tax-exempt status. They dont have to apply for it. Why churches get special treatment Congress has passed laws granting churches and what it calls integrated auxiliaries and conventions or associations of churches special protections because the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects religious freedom. Churches include houses of worship ranging in size from a handful of parishioners to megachurches with 10,000 or more people attending weekly services. Houses of worship of all faiths, including synagogues, mosques and temples, count as churches, according to the IRS. Integrated auxiliaries are church schools and other organizations affiliated with churches or conventions and primarily supported by internal church sources, as opposed to by the public or government. Conventions or associations of churches are organizations that have houses of worship from either a single denomination or from multiple denominations as their members. Most denominational bodies, such as the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, are likely conventions or associations of churches, although the IRS does not publish a list of such entities. Not every religious nonprofit belongs in one of these categories. For example, the University of Notre Dame, where I teach law students and conduct legal research, and World Vision, a global humanitarian group, are both religious organizations that do not fall into any of these categories. This makes sense, because Notre Dame and World Vision are primarily engaged in activities other than fostering a religious congregation or coordinating the activities of churches within a single denomination. The IRS has long relied on a 14-factor test to distinguish churches from the other religious nonprofits. Examples of those factors include having ordained ministers, a formal doctrine, a distinct membership and a regular congregation attending religious services. Its not necessary for all the factors to apply to pass this test. Yet for almost as long, courts have been uncomfortable with this test because it draws heavily on the traditional characteristics of Protestant Christian churches, as the U.S. Court of Federal Claims explained in a 2009 ruling. This system therefore may be a poor fit for houses of worship of other faiths, especially given the increasing diversity of faith communities. These courts have instead adopted an associational test. It focuses on whether the organizations congregants hold religious services on a regular basis and gather in person on other occasions. With the growth of virtual and televised religious services, an update of this test is overdue. A couple get married in May 2020 in a mostly empty church, with a screen set up so guests can watch over Zoom. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Proposed solutions Aprill and I recommend that the IRS change its definition for churches to the associational one adopted by some courts in rulings as early as 1980. As the U.S. Court of Federal Claims explained in that 2009 ruling, this test focuses on whether a body of believers assembles regularly to worship. Given technological advances, the IRS should also make it clear that this test can be satisfied through remote participation in religious services using interactive, teleconferencing apps such as Zoom. This definition would be also better suited for congregations of all faiths because some faiths do not prioritize many of the factors included in the IRS test, such as having a formal code of doctrine or requiring members to not be associated with other houses of worship or faiths. And it would better reflect how some Americans participate in religious services today. We recommend that the IRS revisit its test for being a church and that Congress pass a law that would change the definition of church associations. The new law could limit associations of churches to organizations that represent a single denomination, as Congress likely initially intended. This latter change would make it harder for religious organizations that are primarily involved in bringing churches from multiple faiths together to engage in advocacy or other activities to obtain this status and the lack of transparency and accountability that come with it. We believe Congress, not the IRS, should make this change because of the potential political tensions that narrowing the definition could create. We dont think the changes would impinge upon the special role that churches have in our society. Indeed, the revised test for qualifying as a church would better fit with both the increasing variety of faiths in our country and technological advancements. Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer is affiliated with the University of Notre Dame, a tax-exempt religious nonprofit corporation. Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer is also affiliated with South Bend City Church, a tax-exempt religious nonprofit corporation that is classified as a church for federal tax purposes. (Bloomberg) -- The Pentagon praised China for its transparency before the test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, in a sign that military communication between the superpowers is improving. Most Read from Bloomberg We did receive some advanced notification of this ICBM test and we believe that that was a good thing, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said on Wednesday. Its a step in the right direction and it does lead to preventing any misperception or miscalculation. She added that the US has pressed China for more regular notifications of ballistic missile and space launches. Chinas move represents a common sense, confidence-building measure, Singh said. So we want to see these types of notifications continue. The communication between the militaries marks a turnaround from recent years, when China all but shut off such links after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022. The Peoples Liberation Army responded to that trip with large-scale military drills around the democratic nation of 22 million people, which Beijing has pledged to bring under its control eventually. The US and China have been restoring communication links between their armed forces. Earlier this month, Chinese and American military commanders overseeing operations in the South China Sea had their first talks since Pelosis visit. That came shortly after National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited Beijing and held rare talks with General Zhang Youxia of Chinas Central Military Commission. Military ties between the two nations were enjoying stabler momentum now, Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said Thursday at a regular press briefing in Beijing. He listed several types of communication links that help enhance mutual understanding, avoid miscalculation, and manage and control risks. The militaries of China and those of the US and its allies come into close contact in the body of water over which Beijing makes vast claims. While China notified the US of the rare ICBM test into the Pacific on Wednesday, Japan has said it received no prior notice, calling the military activity a serious concern. The Japanese Coast Guard did say that it received a warning from China before the launch about potential space debris. Taiwan said it wasnt notified, with the government department in Taipei that handles matters related to China saying that the behavior seriously endangers regional security. Chinas nuclear threat has been a pressing worry of the US. The Pentagon said last year that Beijing had about 500 operational warheads and was looking to increase that to more than 1,000 by 2030 as part of Xis push to achieve a world class military by 2049. The Asian nations Rocket Force has some 350 ICBMs, which are weapons with a range of more than 5,500 kilometers (3,420 miles), it added. --With assistance from Cindy Wang, Yoshiaki Nohara and Qianwei Zhang. (Updates with comments from Chinas Defense Ministry and Taiwan.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. US imposes new sanctions on Russia over cybercrime and money laundering The US government has imposed sanctions against Russian virtual financial platforms PM2BTC and Cryptex and selected Russian citizens for cybercrime and money laundering. Source: Ukrinform news agency, citing an official statement by the US Department of the Treasury on Thursday Details: "Today, the US Department of the Treasury is undertaking actions as part of a coordinated international effort to disrupt Russian cybercrime services," the statement said. In particular, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is imposing restrictions on the Russian virtual currency exchanger PM2BTC, which is involved in money laundering in Russia. Additionally, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Russian citizen Sergei Ivanov, who plays a significant role in money laundering, as well as on the virtual currency exchange Cryptex, which is registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is noted that the FinCEN and OFAC sanctions are coordinated with the efforts of other US government agencies and international partners. The US Department of State has reportedly put up a reward of up to US$10 million for information leading to Ivanov's arrest and/or conviction. In addition, the US Secret Service and the Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia have announced formal charges against Ivanov and another Russian, Timur Shakhmametov, in this regard. Background: The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on five vessels and two related companies involved in transporting Russian liquefied natural gas. Support UP or become our patron! Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma for the murder of 31-year-old Kenneth Meers during a convenience store robbery in 1992 (Handout) (Handout/Oklahoma Department of Corrections/AFP) A man was put to death by lethal injection Thursday in the US state of Oklahoma, officials said, and Alabama carried out an execution with nitrogen gas, the second time such a method has been used in the United States. The two killings bring the total number of executions this year in the United States to 18, including five in the past week. Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma for the murder of 31-year-old Kenneth Meers during a convenience store robbery in 1992. While admitting he was present at the scene, he has always denied being the one who shot Meers. Both he and his accomplice Glenn Bethany blamed each other for the killing. The two men were convicted of murder but Bethany received life imprisonment, whereas Littlejohn was sentenced to death. In August, the State Board of Pardons recommended a commutation of Littlejohn's sentence, despite opposition from some of the victim's family. Speaking on Wednesday to NPR, Littlejohn exhorted Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to intervene. "Governor, don't kill me for the heck of it," Littlejohn said. Stitt, a Republican who had only exercised his clemency power once, ultimately denied the request. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said Thursday that "justice has been served for the murder of Kenny Meers." - Nitrogen gas controversy - In Alabama, Alan Miller was put to death over a 1999 workplace shooting spree that killed three colleagues: Lee Holdbrooks, Christopher Scott Yancy and Terry Lee Jarvis. Miller, 59, was executed at the Atmore penitentiary by pumping nitrogen gas into a facemask, causing him to suffocate. The method was controversially used by Alabama for the first time in January, despite being compared by the United Nations to a form of torture. Miller struggled against the restraints on the gurney as he suffocated, shaking and trembling for two minutes, local media reported. His movements were similar to, but reportedly not as violent as, the first time nitrogen hypoxia was used, local media said. During the previous such execution, 58-year-old Kenneth Smith reportedly thrashed about for several minutes. State officials later attributed the convulsions to Smith attempting to hold his breath. The White House, under Democratic President Joe Biden, said it was "deeply troubled" by Alabama's use of nitrogen in January. It also drew rebukes from civil liberties groups, the European Union and the UN human rights office. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, had announced in advance that she would not exercise her clemency power for Miller. A previous attempt to execute Miller by lethal injection in September 2022 was called off at the last minute due to difficulties inserting the intravenous tube and administering the lethal chemicals in the allotted time. The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 US states. Six others (Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee) observe a moratorium on executions by decision of the governor. sst/des/md/aha/bjt US lawmakers' concerns about mail ballots are fueled by other issues with mail service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, testifies during a House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government oversight hearing on the United States Postal Service's role in Federal election integrity, Thursday, Sep 26, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Lawmakers said during a contentious congressional hearing Thursday they are uneasy about the U.S. Postal Services readiness for a crush of mail ballots for the November election because some of them feel burned by other Postal Service actions. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy sought to reassure a House Appropriations subcommittee that the Postal Service is well-positioned for an extraordinary effort to deliver mail ballots to election officials on time to be counted and that close to 100% will make it promptly. In recent weeks, DeJoy has pushed back on suggestions from state and local election officials that the Postal Service has not addressed problems that led to mail ballots arriving too late or without postmarks, disenfranchising those voters. But as subcommittee members asked DeJoy about how the Postal Service has addressed election officials' concerns, they criticized a larger, 10-year plan to make the mail delivery system more efficient and less costly by consolidating mail processing centers, suggesting it could slow mail delivery, particularly in rural areas. DeJoy disputed that. DeJoy has said repeatedly that the Postal Service's larger plans won't affect the handling of potentially tens of millions of mail ballots for the Nov. 5 election because the plan is on hold for October and the first half of November. But subcommittee Chair David Joyce, an Ohio Republican, told him in opening the hearing that broader problems with mail delivery are on constituents' minds as the presidential election approaches. Many of our constituents have expressed concerns about the Postal Services ability to deliver election ballots securely and on time, Joyce said. It is imperative that the Postal Service get this right." DeJoy told the lawmakers that the Postal Service's 650,000 employees will be sifting through 300 million pieces of mail to capture stray ballots and ensure they arrive on time. DeJoy said the Postal Service has improved its training and touted a year-round task force he created to deal with mail ballot issues. We do everything we possibly can in an imperfect system that expects the perfect, and were a good target for a lot of blame, DeJoy said. DeJoy said that nearly 99.9% of the mail ballots from the 2020 election were delivered within seven days, the recommended commonsense time frame." Asked whether people can trust mail ballots, DeJoy said, Absolutely, absolutely. Scrutiny of the Postal Service intensified earlier this month when the National Association of Secretaries of State and National Association of State Election Directors sent DeJoy a letter saying that their concerns weren't being adequately addressed, releasing it to news organizations. DeJoy said he's had a good working relationship with them. A phone call would have helped instead of a letter to the press, he said. But Joyce said that in Ohio's Nov. 7, 2023, election, when voters approved an amendment to the state constitution protecting abortion rights, some ballots mailed by voters on Oct. 24 did not arrive until Nov. 21 10 days too late to be counted. DeJoy said he would need to learn the specifics. Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania, a key swing state in the presidential election, pointed to an end-of-July report from the Postal Service's inspector general saying that in some places, Postal Service workers weren't following its procedures for handling mail ballots. Were doing very well at this just not perfect, DeJoy said. He said the inspector general's office has a couple hundred people to investigate potential problems and interrogate our people. They find some things wrong they're perfect at that, he said. Though the subcommittee said it was examining issues about mail ballots, several members used the hearing to air other issues that trouble them, particularly the larger plan to reorganize the mail delivery system. DeJoy said the Postal Service has embarked on long-overdue investments in ratty facilities and making other changes to create a Postal Service for the future and deliver mail faster. But lawmakers in several states have argued that mail delivery slowed after regional hubs were consolidated. Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan, of Wisconsin, suggested that a pilot program consolidating some mail processing in Green Bay, Wisconsin, had failed and said the larger reorganization should remain on hold forever. DeJoy said a pilot program allowed a test of potential changes and problems are being addressed after telling Pocan, You know, the first rockets that went to the moon blew up. Pocan shot back: Thanks for blowing up Wisconsin. Cartwright expressed concern about a potential slowdown of rural mail delivery. DeJoy suggested the Postal Service was a financial and operational mess when he became postmaster general in 2020 and badly needed fixing, but Cartwright said, "You really think that rural Americans should have to pay the price? DeJoy responded: I disagree with the premise, and I think its an unfair accusation, considering the condition that the Postal Service has been allowed to get to. ___ The spelling of an Ohio congressman's last name in the 11th paragraph has been corrected. He is David Joyce, not Royce. ___ Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. The Biden administration, along with partners in Europe and the Middle East, are calling for Israel and Hezbollah to accept a 21-day cease-fire, releasing a joint statement Wednesday night calling the escalation of war intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. The statement was signed by the U.S., Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar. The 21-day proposed truce is aimed at providing space for negotiations for a potential resolution to the fighting across the Israeli-Lebanese border, that were triggered on Oct. 8 last year when Hezbollah began launching attacks in Israel following Hamass terrorist attack in southern Israel, a senior administration official said in a call with reporters Wednesday night. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety, the statement read. We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether. The 10-nation and E.U. call for a cease-fire comes as Israel has signaled preparations for a ground-invasion into southern Lebanon to halt attacks from Hezbollah that have persisted over nearly a year. Tensions ratched up last week after a brazen, alleged, Israeli operation exploded thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies injuring Hezbollahs rank and file, and carrying out targeted attacks against senior commanders. Hezbollah responded on Wednesday with the shooting of a ballistic missile reaching Tel Aviv, demonstrating some of the range of its arsenal of an estimated 150,000 rockets. Thousands of Lebanese have left the southern part of the country as Israel carried out dozens of air strikes over the past few days, with an estimated 500 people reported killed on the Lebanese side. A senior Biden administration official said that it was holding Lebanon as responsible for the actions of Hezbollah, in urging the acceptance of the cease-fire. We negotiate and we deal with the sovereign state of Lebanon with its leadership. We have been doing that for months. For the last 48 hours, we have been doing that non stop, all day and night, the official said. They are responsible, in speaking for the state of Lebanon and for everything that happens on that side of the border. Who they negotiate with and deal with, as far as the non-state actors in Lebanon, that is, I think theyre aware of the responsibility that they have on behalf of the country, for the state. Negotiations will seek to reach a comprehensive agreement along the Blue Line, the boundary between Israel and Lebanon, that allows for residents in northern Israel and southern Lebanon to return to their homes, a senior Biden administration official said in a call with reporters. The objective is to conclude that agreement in the 21-day period, the official said. The official added, Our expectation is that when the Government of Lebanon and when the government of Israel both accept this, this will be implemented as a ceasefire on both sides of the Blue Line for the period of 21 days. U.S. officials said they hope that the Israel-Hezbollah truce will open up diplomatic space for negotiations on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip a three phase deal that the Biden administration has yet to achieve. The proposed cease-fire is aimed at getting Hamas to release an estimated 100 hostages alive and dead and scale up humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Strip with a halt in Israeli military operations. We hope that it might also open up diplomatic space as well to galvanize efforts on the very important, primary effort we have to bring the hostages home, the senior official said. So that references the three phase deal that weve been working on. But this is an important breakthrough on the Lebanon side, given all that has gone on there, particularly over the last few weeks. But you know, we will try to use the space that provides widely on all on all fronts. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Work with us. The News & Observer summer 2025 internship application period is open. The application period for The News & Observer 2025 Summer Internship program is now open. Were looking for promising young journalists who can bring energy, ideas and talent to our collegial newsroom in Raleigh North Carolinas capital city. Our interns are an integral part of our news operations. Youll work with your editor and mentors to develop ideas, write stories, take photos and videos and gain valuable experience to help you grow as a journalist. Youll make invaluable connections in our supportive newsroom as you pursue your journalism career. About the internship Internships are full-time for 10 weeks and typically start at the end of May or beginning of June. Interns are paid and earn $650 per week. Internships are in-person and are based in the Raleigh area. We are looking for the best candidates to work as reporters, visual journalists and online producers. In the past this has included assignments in metro, politics, sports, business, features, photography/video and our audience growth team. Please let us know your assignment preference as well as any specialized expertise, such as data reporting or audience/growth development. Our internships are competitive. Not only are we looking for emerging journalists who can bring something special to The N&O this summer, were seeking those who may become our future colleagues. Interns have been hired as full-time journalists with The N&O or have gone on to work at other McClatchy publications. Qualifications The internship is open to rising/current sophomores, juniors and seniors and graduating seniors. Interns must currently be enrolled in a four-year degree program, graduate program or have recently graduated. Experience working at a college publication, either print or online, is preferred. A previous internship or freelance experience at a daily newspaper or professional news organization is a plus. Bilingual skills are a bonus. A drivers license and reliable transportation are required. Where is the internship? The Triangle, comprised of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, is among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country. The area is home to major universities, the states legislature and numerous corporate headquarters and fast-growing startups. Our journalists work in communities with vibrant choices for restaurant-lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and arts and music fans. Were two hours from the beach and three hours from the mountains. We can suggest housing options. How to apply The deadline is Friday, Nov. 8. Candidates must apply through McClatchys online application portal at mcclatchy.com/careers. Here is the link for The N&O. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early and before the deadline. Applications will be screened and interviewed on a rolling basis. To learn more about the internship program and apply for an internship at one McClatchys other 29 newsrooms, go to mcclatchy.com/summerintern2025. Candidates must include the following: A one-page cover letter that summarizes why you want to be an intern in our newsroom. A resume that includes links to your public social media accounts (X, Instagram, TikTok). Links to samples of your work, or if available, a personal website or portfolio. At least two references. (These may be included with your resume or with your cover letter). Questions? Contact Jessica Banov, internship coordinator at The News & Observer, at jbanov@newsobserver.com. News & Observer and Herald-Sun staff members win 60 NC Press Association awards US promises to support training of 18 more Ukrainian F-16 pilots next year US President Joe Biden has announced that the US will help train 18 more Ukrainian F-16 pilots next year. Source: US President Biden in a statement, as reported by European Pravda Details: Biden's remark was part of a statement outlining a significant boost in security assistance to Ukraine. Quote: "To build the capacity of Ukraines air force, I have directed the Department of Defense to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including by supporting the training of an additional 18 pilots next year," Biden said. Earlier in September, it was disclosed that the first group of Ukrainian pilots had begun theoretical training on F-16s fighters in Romania, with a possible transition to practical training in the coming months. Furthermore, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has said that Ukraine will receive another batch of Danish F-16 aircraft before the end of 2024. Joe Biden has earlier stated that Ukraine would get more than US$8 billion in arms in the coming months. He also approved the delivery of JSOW long-range munitions, an additional Patriot air defence battery, and missiles to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! According to a White House spokesperson, the U.S. expressed deep concern over a report claiming that Russia has established a secret drone production project in China. A Reuters report suggests that a Chinese company is providing lethal assistance to a U.S.- sanctioned Russian firm, IEMZ Kupol, which is developing drones for use in Ukraine. A White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson stated there is no indication that the Chinese government was aware of these transactions, but emphasized that China is responsible for ensuring its companies are not involved in providing lethal aid to Russia. The NSC spokesperson added that Chinas efforts to prevent such activities "are clearly not meeting the mark" and that the U.S. may take action against Chinese companies involved. A NATO spokesperson also commented on the issue via email, stating: "These reports are deeply concerning and Allies are consulting on this matter." The report also notes that these drones have been delivered to Russia, although China denies knowledge of the project and maintains strict export controls on drones. China has positioned itself as neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war but has simultaneously deepened economic ties with Moscow and backed the country against Western sanctions. Beijing has also emerged as one of Russia's leading sources of dual-use goods that feed the Russian defense industry. Read also: US to announce $8 billion military aid package when Zelensky visits White House, Reuters reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. US said to be "unimpressed" by Ukraine's Victory Plan WSJ US President Joe Bidens administration is concerned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plan to win the war with Russia lacks a comprehensive strategy and is focused on providing more weapons and lifting restrictions on Ukraines use of long-range missiles. Source: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Details: Western officials have said Kyiv's proposal focuses on arms and the easing of restrictions on the use of long-range missiles. Ahead of the Biden-Zelenskyy meeting, senior US and European officials familiar with the plan's outline said it did not offer a clear path to victory for Ukraine, especially as Russian forces slowly but surely win on the battlefield. "Im unimpressed, theres not much new there," one of the senior officials said. The WSJ noted that the United States and Ukraine are at a decisive point in the war, without a common vision. The division between Kyiv and Washington comes at a time of disagreements between the US and its allies over the lifting of restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles to strike Russia. The central element of the plan is that the US should give Ukraine the green light to use weapons as Kyiv sees fit, Finnish President Alexander Stubb told the media in an interview. For months, Biden has refused to budge on Ukraine's long-standing request to lift restrictions on the use of long-range missiles in Russia. The US position has met with fierce opposition from a number of European leaders, who believe that after two and a half years, Ukraine has earned the right to confront Russian troops unhindered. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week, some world leaders were visibly disappointed. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, has shared Biden's reluctance to allow the free use of long-range missiles. In his address to the UN, Zelenskyy warned of future Russian threats to Ukraine's energy infrastructure and nuclear power plants. US and European officials say that behind the scenes, Zelenskyy has been putting forward a maximalist proposal in the hope that the US and its allies will give Kyiv everything it wants. Senior Biden aides who have travelled to Kyiv in recent weeks and been briefed on elements of the plan are also said to be disappointed by the current state of the Ukrainian framework. They had hoped to hear something tangible that the Biden administration could support, as it has only four months left in office. A senior State Department official said on Tuesday that Ukraines plan broadly covers Ukraine's needs on the battlefield, political changes within the country, and the economy. But US and European officials said the most elaborate part of the plan is the first phase arms-related requests while other key elements are less specific. Background: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Earlier, Zelenskyy's spokesman Serhii Nykyforov said that Zelenskyy would have two meetings with Biden during his visit to the US. Bloomberg reported that some Western officials were trying to lower expectations of the Victory Plan, saying they did not see it as a breakthrough. Support UP or become our patron! The Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Kyiv on Sept. 23 ruled in favor of Andriy Portnov, a former top official in ex-President Viktor Yanukovychs administration, in a defamation case against several news outlets, including the Kyiv Independent. Portnov challenged a reference to him as a pro-Russian politician and a person infamous for his open support for Russia. The lawsuit concerns a story by Glib Kanievskyi, then a Ukrainian journalist and currently a defense ministry official, published in several news outlets, including the Kyiv Independent, in September 2023. The story was an investigative report pointing out that Ukrainian officials impose sanctions on petty pro-Russian politicians, but ignore the most high-profile ones. Portnov was listed as one of the examples: He is under sanctions in the U.S., but not in Ukraine. In response to the story, Portnov sued the author of the report and the news outlets that ran it, including Statewatch, LB.ua, and Kyiv Independent as represented by Chief Editor Olga Rudenko. Portnov, a lawyer, is known as one of the most litigious Ukrainian ex-officials. In 2021, Portnov was added to the U.S. sanctions list over allegations that he was involved in corruption in Ukraine, particularly in the judiciary. In the commentary that ran with the sanctions inclusions, the U.S. treasury wrote that Portnov cultivated extensive connections to Ukraines judicial and law enforcement apparatus through bribery. Widely known as a court fixer, Portnov was credibly accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraines courts and undermining reform efforts, reads the U.S. Treasury website. As of 2019, Portnov took steps to control the Ukrainian judiciary, influence associated legislation, sought to place loyal officials in senior judiciary positions, and purchase court decisions. In mid-2019, Portnov colluded with a high ranking Ukrainian government official to shape the countrys higher legal institutions to their advantage and influence Ukraines Constitutional Court. Additionally, Portnov has been involved in an attempt to influence the Ukrainian Prosecutor General. In 2010-2014, Portnov served in the administration of then-President Yanukovych. In February 2014, Yanukovych and his administration were ousted by the protests known as the EuroMaidan Revolution. Over the course of the next few years, Ukrainian authorities looked into Portnovs activities as part of a number of criminal investigations, including one that concerned high treason and alleged that Portnov had a role in the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. The case was closed in 2019. According to media reports, Portnov doesnt currently reside in Ukraine. The Kyiv Independents Chief Editor Olga Rudenko and other defendants will appeal the ruling. Its a sad irony that an ex-official sanctioned over allegations of holding undue influence over Ukrainian courts wins a case against journalists in a Ukrainian court, said Rudenko. Its alarming because its symptomatic of the endemic problems in the Ukrainian judiciary. We are going to fight this ruling until the highest possible judicial instance. The lawyers who defended the journalists in the case said that there were obvious violations in the ruling. The court pronounced value judgment false information while a value judgment cant be disproved, said Oksana Maksymeniuk, head of the legal department of the Regional Press Development Institute, whose lawyers represent the media sued by Portnov. This ruling was certainly carried out with violations, and it will be appealed. Read also: Ukrainian journalists report continued pressure, censorship attempts as previous cases remain unsolved Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The U.S. government on Thursday charged two Russian nationals and sanctioned a virtual currency exchange in an effort to crack down on transnational cybercrime involving cryptocurrency. The departments of Justice, State and Treasury announced the coordinated effort against Russian nationals Timur Shakhmametov and Sergey Ivanov as well Cryptex, a virtual currency exchange accused of servicing Russia-based cyber criminals. The U.S. is sanctioning Ivanov and Cryptex, according to a release from the Treasury Department, while the Justice Department said Shakhmametov and Ivanov have both been charged with conspiracy to commit and aid and abet bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Shakhmametov is accused of operating an online marketplace for stolen credit card data called Jokers Stash, while Ivanov is accused of laundering proceeds from Jokers Stash and other platforms since 2005, the Justice Department said, citing the U.S. Secret Service. The Department of State is offering a $10 million reward for information that leads to Shakhmametov and Ivanovs arrest. Todays actions underscore the United Statess commitment, along with our allies and partners, to not allow cybercrime facilitators to operate with impunity, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. We will continue to use all our tools and authorities to deter and expose these money laundering networks and impose costs on the cyber criminals and support networks, he added. We reiterate our call that Russia must take concrete steps to prevent cyber criminals from freely operating in its jurisdiction. Cryptex is registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines but operates in Russia, according to the Biden administration. The U.S. government alleges Ivanov worked with several other Russian payment and exchange services providing money transfer and laundering services. The Treasury Department in its action Thursday also identified a Russian virtual currency exchanger tied to Ivanov as being of primary money laundering concern. Brad Smith, acting under secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said the action shows the U.S. is focused on preventing cybercrime facilitators from operating with impunity. Treasury, in close coordination with our allies and partners, will continue to use all tools and authorities to disrupt the networks that seek to leverage the virtual assets ecosystem to facilitate their illicit activities, he said in a statement. U.S. officials have been working to undermine Russian efforts to bolster their influence internationally after Moscows 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The announcement came the same day President Biden was scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce additional U.S. financial assistance for Ukraines war efforts. The United States will continue to raise the costs on Russia for its war in Ukraine and to deprive the Russian defense industrial base of resources, Biden said ahead of their meeting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. US Senator called by deepfake former Ukrainian foreign minister asking about long-range strikes on Russia Benjamin L. Cardin, hairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has received a Zoom call from someone claiming to be former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The caller began acting "out of character", asking questions about permission to strike Russia with long-range missiles. Source: The New York Times with reference to an email from the Senate security office and two anonymous officials, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Senate security offices email stated that Cardin had received an email, apparently from Dmytro Kuleba, requesting a conversation via Zoom. During the video call, the person looked and sounded like the former Ukrainian foreign minister. However, Cardin became suspicious when "Kuleba" began to ask "politically charged questions in relation to the upcoming election". The Kuleba impersonator was particularly interested in Cardin's opinion on long-range strikes on Russian territory, the letter says. Cardin ended the call and informed State Department authorities of what had happened. Although the Senate security offices email did not specify that Cardin was involved, two Senate officials familiar with the matter have confirmed that it was about him. Cardin partially confirmed the episode in a statement on Wednesday evening in which he admitted that "in recent days, a malign actor engaged in a deceptive attempt to have a conversation with me by posing as a known individual". However, he did not say that this person was Kuleba and made no reference to Ukraine. Background: John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, said recently that Americans should take Russia's intentions to interfere in the US elections seriously. A representative of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said that Russia is creating more artificial intelligence content to influence the US presidential election than any other country. Support UP or become our patron! WASHINGTON (WJTV) The United States Senate passed a resolution on Wednesday that honors the late actor James Earl Jones, who died earlier this month. Mississippi has lost a beloved son, and the world has lost an extraordinary talent. From Arkabutla to immortality, James Earl Jones, R.I.P. Well remember your voice and your heart, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said. James Earl Jones Darth Vader voice lives on through AI. Voice actors see promise and peril in that From the Mississippi Delta to the world stage, James Earl Joness extraordinary voice and commanding presence inspired generations. His contributions to the arts, culture, and humanities will undoubtedly stand the test of time. May his legacy always remind us of the strength, resilience, and power that comes from our Mississippi roots, said U.S. Senator Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.). James-Earl-JonesDownload Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, and was widely known for his roles in The Lion King, Star Wars, Field of Dreams, and more. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Maduro must be urged 'to engage in a direct dialogue' with the opposition (Bryan R. SMITH) (Bryan R. SMITH/POOL/AFP) The United States led some 30 countries in a call Thursday to maintain pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, urging him to engage in dialogue with the opposition after a disputed election. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterpart from Argentina together led a meeting on Venezuela's political crisis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "The regime may try to obscure the results, but the Venezuelan people have spoken," Blinken said. "Now, our job is to ensure their voices are heard." Blinken said Maduro must be urged "to engage in a direct dialogue with Venezuela's united democratic opposition that leads to a peaceful return to democracy." In a joint statement, the United States and 30 other countries urged Maduro to start "constructive and inclusive discussions" on a democratic transition and to immediately release Venezuelans detained in the election aftermath. "We stand with the millions of Venezuelans who continue to risk their lives and well-being to demand a more democratic, prosperous and secure future for themselves and their country," the statement said. The statement was signed by fellow Western powers including Spain, Canada, Germany and Britain. But in Latin America, the statement was backed largely by conservative governments and not Brazil, Mexico and Colombia -- the three most populous nations in the region which are all led by leftists. The United States initially hoped for quiet progress through diplomacy by the three countries, which have called on Maduro to release detailed vote tallies. But the United States has since then called for greater pressure and has distanced itself from calls by the Latin American leftists for a fresh election. Maduro has claimed victory in Venezuela's July 28 presidential election, despite it being contested by the opposition and much of the international community. The government-aligned CNE electoral council declared him the winner hours after voting closed, giving him 52 percent of ballots cast without providing a full breakdown. The opposition has published its own polling station-level data, which it says show that 74-year-old retired diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won by a landslide. Facing an arrest warrant in Venezuela, Gonzalez Urrutia fled to Spain earlier this month and was granted political asylum there. "We must continue to call on the Maduro regime to stop its repression of peaceful protestors, stop its repression of political opponents, immediately and unconditionally release all those who've been arbitrarily detained -- including children," Blinken said. Washington has accused Maduro of clinging to power by force, but has so far refrained from strengthening sanctions against Venezuelan oil. At the ministerial meeting Thursday, Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino said that Maduro's government "couldn't care less" about Venezuelans, with 7.8 million people fleeing the country in recent years to escape economic misery. "They have oil; they have corruption," Mondino said of Maduro's regime. "They don't care about their own people." af-lb-sct/gw/md SHAWNEE COUNTY (KSNT) A school in Shawnee County will soon house state-of-the-art technology to aid in students learning. Washburn Rural High School (WRHS) announced Wednesday that students will soon be able to use its new Innovation Center, according to a news release from USD 437. Work on this 50,000 square-foot facility is just one part of the continued work taking place at Auburn Washburn USD 437 to improve the students experience. Kansas crews to close highway ramps overnight in Topeka This facility is more than just a structure filled with cutting-edge equipment; it represents a bold vision for the future of education, Auburn-Washburn Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott McWilliams said. It is a commitment to nurturing creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving in our students. The Innovation Center will serve as a dynamic hub for exploration and discovery, equipping our students with the skills and resources they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world. The Innovation Center will house nine of the 18 career-focused Pathway programs that have been approved by the Kansas Department of Education: Animal Science, Comprehensive Agriculture, Power, Structural & Technical Systems; Construction & Design: Construction, Construction & Design: Design, Digital Media; Biomedical, Restaurant & Event Management. and Programming & Software, according to the news release. How to track Kansas butterflies during migration season The school district said 75% of students will take part in at least one Pathway course during high school. Each of these programs is more than a subject, WRHS principal Ed Raines said. They are the means by which we prepare our students for a rapidly changing world. In these spaces, they will learn how to think, how to lead, and how to transform. These are the qualities that will allow them to face the future with confidence and resolve. The center will empower students to engage in hands-on learning, collaborate on real-world projects, and develop the skills they need to meet future challenges head-on. We are not just cutting a ribbon and opening our doors to this facility, McWilliams said. Much more importantly, we are opening the minds of teachers and students to a world of new possibilities. According to Washburn Rural High School, the Innovation Center will be available to students on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024; the first day of the second quarter of the 2024-25 school year. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Lawmakers are considering ramping up penalties for retail theft, in particular what they call illegal, out-of-state businesses that target Utah stores and resell the merchandise on the black market. The bill, called Criminal Offense Modifications, also addresses a number of issues related to gang activity and organized crime in the state, including increased penalties for adults who recruit or intimidate minors into a gang. It would enhance the penalty for people who come to Utah intent on stealing from retail stores, a crime that, as long as there isnt more than $500 of goods stolen, is usually a class B misdemeanor. Under the bill, if the person was convicted of a similar, class A misdemeanor offense in another state, they could now be charged with a third-degree felony. Theres very much a business of people coming into Utah, where they can make sure that each theft they commit stays under $500. And so they just hit multiple stores, then leave out of state again, and theyve guaranteed the most theyre going to get is a class B misdemeanor, because convictions that theyve had in other states dont count against them, said Richard Larsen, a prosecutor with the Davis County Attorneys Office. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He compared the approach to how Utah prosecutes impaired driving if someone was found guilty of impaired driving in another state, and is then hit with a separate impaired driving charge in Utah, they could face an enhancement. Larson, who spoke during a Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee last week, told lawmakers of at least one instance where an organized gang with ties to Cuba stole retail in Utah, shipped it to Florida where it was stored in a warehouse, then eventually shipped to Cuba where it was sold on the black market. The law also targets people working in concert, which essentially means theyre working together. Larson gave an example from a Best Buy store in Farmington. There was a group of three or four that would go in, each select an Xbox which would be a class B misdemeanor based on the value and then the group would all run out at once knowing there was only one loss-prevention officer. That was a guaranteed loss of hundreds of dollars every time they did it, because the business doesnt have the resources to guard against these types of things, Larson said. Under the law, a group of two or more people acting together would face an enhanced charge, depending on the crime. A class B misdemeanor would become a class A misdemeanor, a class A misdemeanor would become a third-degree felony, and so on. Currently there is no discouragement under the law to discourage people from working in concert to commit these offenses. And by working in concert, theyre able to be much more effective. Richard Larsen, prosecutor with the Davis County Attorneys Office That in concert enhancement previously existed in Utah code, but was repealed in 2021 the bill proposed last week would reinstate it. Currently there is no discouragement under the law to discourage people from working in concert to commit these offenses. And by working in concert, theyre able to be much more effective, Larson said. The enhancement goes far beyond targeting theft, including crimes like homicide, human trafficking, arson, burglary, bribery, making a false statement, prostitution and more. The bills broad scope drew some skepticism from both lawmakers and attorneys who spoke during the committee meeting, including director of the Utah Defense Attorneys Association Steve Burton. If you and your buddy went to a store and you both stole a candy bar, now instead of a class B misdemeanor, youre looking at a class A misdemeanor, Burton said. So instead of six months of potential jail, now youre looking at one year of potential jail, because you did it with a buddy. House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said she was concerned that the bill promotes racial profiling, with groups of the same race or ethnicity being targeted unfairly. You could have more than two people in a particular situation, where people may say they are gang affiliated, but maybe theyre not gang affiliated and we just assume they are, Romero said. Thats a concern for me. Larson, in response, said theres a big difference between a gang enhancement and an in concert enhancement as long as prosecutors can prove that the two people were working together to engage in the same offense, even if only one was caught, that should be enhanceable, he said. We dont care about the color of their skin, we dont care about any of those things. Its about the in concert participation. And that will negate any of the concerns about profiling, he said. The bill would also allow retail stores to report the retail cost for material that was stolen when trying to get restitution, rather than the wholesale cost. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Taylor Meehan, right, an attorney for the Utah Legislature, defends a proposed constitutional amendment before the Utah Supreme Court in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP, Pool) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah voters will not decide this November on a constitutional amendment asking voters to cede power over ballot measures to lawmakers after the Utah Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a lower court decision voiding the amendment. The five-justice panel grilled attorneys for the Legislature earlier Wednesday before siding with opponents of the amendment who argued it would have been presented to voters in a misleading manner. Republican legislative leaders, who penned the ballot question, had asked the high court to overturn a district judge's ruling and put Amendment D back before the public. The amendment would have given lawmakers constitutional authority to rewrite voter-approved ballot measures or repeal them entirely. Lawmakers also could have applied their new power to initiatives from past election cycles. But the summary that voters would have seen on their ballots only asked if the state constitution should be changed to strengthen the initiative process and to clarify the roles of legislators and voters. The description does not submit the amendment to voters with such clarity as to enable the voters to express their will,'" the high court wrote in its opinion. The justices said District Judge Dianna Gibson ruled correctly in mid-September when she ordered that any votes cast for or against the amendment should not count. She ruled that the ballot question language was counterfactual and did not disclose to voters the unfettered power they would be handing to state lawmakers. The state Supreme Court also agreed with Gibson's assessment that the Legislature had failed to publish the ballot question in newspapers across the state during the required time frame. Because of ballot-printing deadlines, the amendment text will still appear on Utah ballots this November, but votes will not be counted. Utah Democrats were quick to celebrate the ruling, which blocked a ballot question that state party chair Diane Lewis called intentionally deceitful. Todays Supreme Court decision ensures that voters can make their voices heard, despite all the Republican supermajoritys attempts to trick Utahns into giving away their power, Lewis said. In a joint statement, Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz called the ruling troubling and said it was a sad day for the state. Their next opportunity to place a similar proposal on the ballot will be in 2026. The Legislature offered the court a way to preserve the voting rights of all Utahns, but instead, the court took the chance to vote on Amendment D out of the voters' hands," the Republican legislative leaders said. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said last week during his monthly televised news conference at KUED-TV that he thought Gibson's lower court opinion was compelling, but he declined to say whether he thought the ballot question was misleading. It is important that the language is clear and conveys what the actual changes will do, Cox said. I do hope that, eventually, the people of Utah will get a chance to weigh in and decide one way or another how this is going to go. I think thats very important, but it is important that we get it right. Justices agreed that voters should eventually have an opportunity to decide if they want to give lawmakers greater power to change citizen-approved initiatives, but only if the question is presented in a way that complies with the state constitution. The amendment marked lawmakers first attempt to circumvent another Utah Supreme Court ruling from July, which found that the Legislature has very limited authority to change laws approved through citizen initiatives. Frustrated by that decision, legislative leaders in August used their broadly worded emergency powers to call a special session in which both chambers approved placing an amendment on the November ballot. Democrats decried the decision as a power grab, while many Republicans argued it would be dangerous to have certain laws on the books that could not be substantially changed. Taylor Meehan, an attorney for the Legislature, defended the proposal before the state Supreme Court earlier Wednesday, arguing that a reasonably intelligent voter would be able to understand the intent of the ballot question. She said the summary that appears on the ballot is not required to educate voters about the effects of the amendment and is meant to point people to the full text to learn more. Mark Gaber, an attorney for the League of Women Voters, argued voters would not assume a ballot summary was false and should not be expected to go searching for accurate information. Attorney Taylor Meehan speaks to the court as Mormon Women for Ethical Government and League of Women Voters of Utah oppose the Utah State Legislature during oral arguments at the Supreme Court of Utah in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News On the same day the Utah Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Amendment D, the states top court issued a decision they affirmed the district courts opinion. This means Amendment D is still void. It will appear on Utah voters ballots, but the votes will not be counted. The decision from the court is not the full opinion. The Utah Supreme Courts decision said its full reasoning will be issued at a later date. It was a per curiam decision, which means it came from the court as a whole. The district court correctly ruled that neither constitutional prerequisite was met with respect to Amendment D, said the decision. The Legislature did not cause the amendment to be published in newspapers throughout the state for two months, and the description that will appear on the ballot does not submit the amendment to voters with such clarity as to enable the voters to express their will. The decision said the public interest requires proposed constitutional amendments go before the people consistent with what is outlined in the Utah Constitution. Wednesdays decision was met with cheers from Better Boundaries as well as the plaintiffs and disappointment from Utah Majority leaders. We applaud the decision of the Utah Supreme Court today voiding Amendment D. The Court has now issued two unanimous decisions upholding the right of the people to pass initiatives without intrusion or correction by the legislature, said Ryan Bell, Better Boundaries board member, in a statement to the Deseret News following the ruling. Calling it a tremendous victory, Emma Petty Addams, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, said the decision upholds the peoples right to ethical government. Were grateful for the clear message this decision sends: constitutional checks and balances exist for a reason and everyone must follow the constitution. Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz said the courts decision was unprecedented and troubling. The Legislature offered the Court a way to preserve the voting rights of all Utahns, but instead, the Court took the chance to vote on Amendment D out of the voters hands. Its a sad day for Utah and voters, whether for or against the constitutional amendments, said Adams and Schultz. League of Women Voters of Utahs president Katharine Biele said she hopes its a new day for Utahns. I hope the legislature understands they represent us. We look forward to working with them in the future on the issues that affect all Utahns. Amendment D would have changed the Utah Constitution to give the Utah Legislature the ability to amend or repeal citizen initiatives in all cases. It would have also prevented out of country influence on the initiative process. How we got here The story with Amendment D started after a July decision from the Utah Supreme Court. The states highest court issued a decision allowing a redistricting lawsuit to move forward. Mormon Women for Ethical Government and League of Women Voters of Utah had brought forward a lawsuit against the Legislature following the adoption of political boundaries. In 2018, a group known as Better Boundaries had led efforts on an initiative to establish a redistricting commission. Utah voters approved of the initiative. State lawmakers amended the initiative to give themselves, not the commission, final say over the political maps. When state lawmakers chose their own rather than the commissions, the lawsuit came. The Utah Supreme Court allowed the lawsuit to move forward in its July decision and also interpreted the Utah Constitution this interpretation held when Utahns alter or reform the government through the initiative process, then lawmakers can only make changes to those initiatives if the changes are narrowly tailored to address a compelling government interest. Utah Majority leaders signaled their disappointment and disagreement with the courts ruling following its release. By Aug. 16, the Utah GOP and Sutherland Institute released separate calls for a constitutional amendment. The letter that Utah GOP chair Rob Axson put forward had signatures from groups and individuals across the state. Talk of a special session soon began. Better Boundaries also led efforts on a letter but to request lawmakers respect the Utah Supreme Courts decision. Three days later on Aug. 19, the Utah Legislature announced it would hold a special session that same week to determine if it would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. The special session was held two days after its announcement. The committee room was overflowing and other attendees were at the Capitol watching from different locations. After a short period of public comment, the committee moved the proposed amendment forward along with accompanying legislation. The proposed constitutional amendment passed 54-21 in the House, and 20-8 in the Senate, clearing both chambers with more than two-thirds approval as required. The vote fell mostly along party lines, but with a handful of Republicans casting votes against putting the proposed amendment on the ballot. Better Boundaries launched a campaign against the amendment, encouraging Utahns to vote against the proposed amendment. The organizations rally at the Utah Capitol was held on Aug. 26 and hundreds of supporters filled the steps. There members of Better Boundaries and Mormon Women for Ethical Government spoke alongside Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, and Rep. Rosemary Lesser, D-Ogden. Retired Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham also spoke. Then, by early September, the ballot language was released. This ballot language is different than the text of the amendment. It is intended to be the short summary of the amendment voters see on their ballots where they cast their votes on the amendment. Better Boundaries board member Bell was critical of the language and called it hopelessly slanted. It is saddening to see legislative leadership compound their refusal to engage with the people on this issue with ballot language that is likely to mislead the people. Better Boundaries and its many allies will ensure that the people of Utah see through these tactics, said Bell. At the time, Schultz and Adams defended the language and called it clear and straightforward. We recognize there will always be criticism, but our objective remains consistent to provide a straightforward and concise description to allow voters to easily understand the core of the proposed change, said Adams and Schultz. The ballot language was certified and slated to appear on Utahns November ballots. Mormon Women for Ethical Government and Utahs League of Women Voters, two plaintiffs in the redistricting case, sued over the ballot language. The ballot language asked, in part, if the Utah Constitution should be changed to strengthen the initiative process by ... clarifying the voters and legislative bodies ability to amend laws. The words strengthen and clarifying were one of the main sources of criticism from groups who said the amendment would limit the ability of Utah citizens to alter or reform the government. Mark Gaber, Campaign Legal Center attorney, worked on the lawsuit. He said the language used in the ballot summary was the exact opposite of what would happen if the amendment went into effect. In response to the suit, Adams and Schultz said, Its ironic that the very people who claim to advocate for greater voter engagement are the same ones trying to obstruct Utahns from having the opportunity to vote on this important matter. The suit went before the 3rd District Court where both sides made their cases. Judge Dianna Gibson said the Utah Legislature did not meet the constitutional requirement of causing the proposed amendment to be published in newspapers across the state two months before the election. She also sided with the plaintiffs in saying the ballot language was misleading. This decision was handed down on Sept. 12 and the Utah Legislature immediately appealed. The appeal brought all involved parties before the Utah Supreme Court on Wednesday (Sept. 25). Taylor Meehan, attorney for the Utah Legislature, and Gaber, attorney for the plaintiffs, made their cases to the states top court. Meehan faced over an hour of questioning from the justices who appeared skeptical of the Utah State Legislature fulfilled its constitutional requirement to cause the proposed amendment be published. Gaber argued there should be no deference given to misleading language. The hearing stretched on for more than three hours and Chief Justice Matthew Durrant gave no indication when the ruling would come. Then, on Wednesday evening, the court said it would affirm the district courts decision. This means Amendment D is void. Though voters will see it on the ballot, no votes will be counted. As for whats happening next, theres one bill Utahns can expect to see introduced. Utah House Democratic Leader Angela Romero said she and Senate Democratic Leader Luz Escamilla will introduce legislation during the upcoming session to give the task of writing ballot language back to nonpartisan legal counsel. The rushed and misleading process led by Republican leadership wasted time and betrayed the trust of Utahns, said Romero, D-Salt Lake City. The courts decision didnt take away voters rights it protected them from a ballot summary that failed to clearly explain the amendment. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. IVINS, Utah (ABC4) A rollover crash in Snow Canyon State Park in Washington County killed a Utah Tech University student and seriously injured two teenaged girls Wednesday, according to Utah State Parks officials. The crash happened around 10 p.m. on Sept. 25, according to Utah State Parks Communication Specialist Lindsey Higbee. The vehicle was found by first responders near the parking lot of the parks Lava Tubes. Woman accused of breaking into Utah high school, staying over night The driver has only been identified as a 19-year-old man from Nevada, who was confirmed to be a student at UT Tech. Officials pronounced him dead at the scene. Two 18-year-old girls were flown to a local hospital and were reported in serious condition. One girl was unconscious, while the other was conscious but incoherent. Ivins Fire and Rescue reported they had to use extrication tools to get the three teens out of the car. The car, a Volkswagen Jetta, was reportedly traveling down Snow Canyon anywhere between 70 and 100 mph. It is unknown what caused the car to lose control, but Higbee said the car rolled around 300 feet Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Two Utah men and their tax business in Provo who were accused of a COVID-related tax scheme to defraud over $11 million from the United States government were found not guilty by a federal jury Tuesday. Zachary Bassett and Mason Warr were cleared on one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States, 13 charges of wire fraud, and 11 charges of aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns. This case, founded on misguided assumptions, should never have been brought in the first place, said Kathy Nester, an attorney representing Bassett in court. We are grateful to the jury for seeing the truth. Utah Supreme Court upholds decision to void Amendment D on Nov. ballots The charges against Bassett and Warr were brought forward in early February 2023. According to court documents, the two were accused of taking advantage of COVID-related tax credits such as the employee retention tax credit for several months between 2020 and 2021. Bassett and Warr were alleged to have falsified the number of employees, paid wages, sick leave wages, and family leave wages due to COVID-19. Court documents reveal that a federal jury unanimously disagreed with the charges brought against Bassett and Warr, clearing the two men of any wrongdoing. Wendy Lewis, Bassetts co-counsel, said, The jurys verdict stands as a testament to justice being served, allowing Zach and Mason to begin rebuilding their lives after this traumatic chapter. Defense counsel Aaron Clark and Trinity Jordan, who represented Warr said it is time for the two men to move forward. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Workers with multiple utility companies are getting ready to respond to Hurricane Helene, which is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend region later Thursday evening. This will be the second trip of the year, said Mike Atout, Lead Line Tech with Orlando Utilities Commission. the most dangerous part of the work is after the storm. And the limbs that continue to fall, and the down power lines, obviously, they can still be hot. Atout is joining the team effort from Orlando and is headed to the Big Bend to help with storm damage. Meanwhile, over 1,000 workers from OUC are also monitoring the weather and will be ready to act as needed. We are working on a 24-hour plan to have coverage here in Orlando 24 hours a day, starting tomorrow until Helene passes, said Chris Taylor, Electric Construction Manager at OUC. Hurricane Helene: These shelters are open in Central Florida OUC is not the only one on alert. Duke Energy has 8,000 responders scattered throughout the state already on standby since Wednesday. 4,000 of them are based out of The Villages in Sumter County. Were looking at storm surge, strong winds, flooding, things of that nature, said Audrey Stasko with Duke Energy Florida. We have to make sure that were prepared, no matter the circumstance, to keep that power flowing to our customers. About 18,000 utility workers are in a position to help restore power, and Governor DeSantis expects that number to increase. We continue to have thousands of linemen pouring into the state, said Governor Ron DeSantis during a press conference in Tampa on Wednesday. They are being amassed, and once the storm passes, they will go and work on power restoration. Hurricane Helene: These Florida theme parks are closed for inclement weather Numbers and websites you will need in case of a power outage OUC Update your contact information. Customers should log in to their my.OUC.com account to ensure their contact information is current. Sign up for outage alerts. Customer can receive power restoration updates via text message. To sign up, text REG to 69682 or visit OUC.com/alerts . Alerts are available in English and Spanish. OUCs Outage Map is also a great resource for information. Visit OUC.com/StormCenter . This website resource provides customers with important safety tips for before, during and after severe weather occurs. Hurricane Helene: These schools announce closures Duke Energy Sign up for alerts and know how to report a power outage. Receive the most up-to-date information about restoration efforts by enrolling in Outage Alerts . If you lose power, text OUT to 57801, report it online or through the mobile app, or call 800.228.8485. Understand how Duke Energy restores power . It happens through a sequence that enables power restoration to public health and safety facilities, as well as the greatest number of customers, as safely and quickly as possible. FPL Customers dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining medical equipment should finalize their family emergency plan for backup power. Quickly download the FPL app for on-the-go, instant and secure access to your account by texting the word App to MyFPL (69375). For more safety tips, visit FPL.com/Storm. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. (KRON) The Solano County Sheriffs Office is asking for community assistance as it investigates a reported animal abuse incident that occurred Tuesday afternoon in Vallejo. Images on social media depict a dog being abused at Delta Meadows Park, according to authorities. The sheriffs office said that it was aware of images circulating on social media depicting animal abuse at the park, which occurred at around 3:30 p.m. The images then show a man carrying the dog to his car and driving away, SCSO said. Photo: Solano County Sheriffs Office Photo: Solano County Sheriffs Office The SCSO Animal Control Bureau is looking to identify the individual shown in the photos and any witnesses to the incident. Police urge Sonoma students against joining Fugitive Night Anyone with information can contact the Animal Control Bureau at (707)-784-4722, option 2. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Weve been through this before: South Carolina prepares for impacts from Hurricane Helene DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)- The first bands of rain and gusty winds from Hurricane Helene arrived in South Carolina on Thursday morning, and state officials are preparing to respond to potential impacts from the storm. Weve been through this before many, many times and weve got an expert team, Gov. Henry McMaster told reporters during a brief gaggle in Dorchester County. McMaster issued an emergency declaration on Wednesday afternoon, activating the states emergency plans and allowing agencies to coordinate resources to ensure a swift response to any assistance requests from local officials and county emergency managers. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) moved to OPCON 2 on Thursday morning in anticipation of the storms arrival, and McMaster said the agency has been in communication with all counties. Forecasters expect Helenes impacts to be most significant in the Upstate and the Midlands with 6 to 12 inches of rain and higher isolated amounts. Flash flooding is likely. We know its going to be a lot of water, McMaster said. Problem more than some folks have seen, particularly in the Upstate. The South Carolina Department of Transportation said crews are prepared to respond to any issues with the roads that may occur. We urge everybody in the state: stay off the roads if you can, McMaster said. Damaging winds are likely with hurricane-force gusts possible in the Upstate and western Midlands beginning Thursday evening, according to the National Hurricane Center. There is also an elevated risk for tornadoes, particularly overnight into Friday morning, and much of the state remains under a tornado watch. McMaster encouraged residents to montior local weather forecasts and take necessary precautions. DOWNLOAD THE STORM TEAM 2 WEATHER APP APPLE USERS CLICK HERE | ANDROID USERS CLICK HERE Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) In advance of the storms arrival, a team of Tennessee first responders has gone to Florida to help. The Swiftwater Rescue Team is part of Tennessee Task Force 2 with personnel from several departments. Each member of the team plays a vital role. Shallow water means high storm surge from Helene Its a very physically and mentally demanding situation, Jill Burgin with the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) told News 2. Burgin is staying behind, but said that she would be keeping an eye on the first responders who are headed into the storm. These are folks that love to help out like this, Burgin added. Its just part of who they are and theyre always ready to go. As of publication, hurricane Helene is headed towards Florida. The crew will get down to the panhandle area and then, based on the need there, theyll be deployed to wherever they need to be, Burgin explained. But the water element is really the one I think theyre focused on with this group. Williamson County EMA has sent Butch Coulter as the task forces communication leader. Coulter will play a crucial part of this potentially life-saving team, carrying a portable radio tower and portable radios for teams to use if communications go down. He might have equipment that responders on the ground can use, Burgin said. Satellite phones and things like that. WATCH: Helene expected to make landfall in Florida Burgin said that this task force practices and trains together for situations like this. Im sure the folks down there will be glad to see them roll up, Burgin said. Some first responders arrived from Florida after responding to Hurricane Debby. That deployment lasted for two weeks. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Their numbers are diminishing, veterans who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. An Army pilot, who served in all three wars, was recently recognized by his old division. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Joe Balint was honored for his bravery and action in war. The recognition came before his fellow Vietnam Veterans at their monthly meeting. Balints former unit in Vietnam, the First Cav Division, holds him in the highest respect. He was presented a certificate for his distinguished service spanning three wars. He was 17 years old when he joined the Army in 1946, with his mothers permission. Came back from basic training and what is the first thing they did? Ship me over to Japan, said Balint. Severe weather causes closures in East Tennessee He was one of an estimated one million U.S. servicemen who served in occupied Japan. His next duty station was Honduras as a combat engineer. Then, months before war broke out in Korea, Balint volunteered for Officer Candidate School at Ft. Riley, Kansas. When you graduated they assigned you to infantry, artillery, or engineers. I choose engineers, said Balint. Balint served as a platoon leader with the Combat Engineers in Korea. But he had a desire to fly for the Army, so he applied for flight school and was accepted. I would say half of my time was flying helicopters and half my time was flying fixed wings, said Balint. As an Army pilot, he was posted to Iran in the mid-1950s and other overseas assignments. Then, Balint volunteered to fly helicopters, a rigorous training lasting nearly five months. As an Army officer, his versatility as a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot was well known. By the early 1960s, he was assigned to the HU-1 or Huey, as it was first introduced to Army Aviation. Dig deeper Newport woman loses $5,000 to work-from-home scam Then Vietnam came around and he was assigned to the legendary First Cav Division. He wasnt there long before his piloting skills were tested. On December 17, 1966, in South Vietnam, he was on an emergency ammo and medical supply run. There was an urgent request for volunteers to go and carry some ammunition. So, I volunteered, said Balint. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in maneuvering his aircraft into a dangerously small landing zone to resupply soldiers on the ground. Four helicopters were down and he made the landing in the dark with tracer fire and flashlights guiding him because they couldnt put their lights on. His military history is displayed in this shadow box. (WATE) Veterans Voices: Hear the stories of those who served At 95 years of age, hes one of about 5,000 surviving WWII veterans who also served in Korea and Vietnam. I look at it as serving my country. Ill always remember it as my patriotic duty, said Balint. If you know a Veteran who could be recognized, send Don Dare an email at ddare@wate.com or give him a call at 865-633-6923. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. TOPEKA (KSNT) Drafted into the army in 1970, Sergeant Stan Spice served the United States in Germany during the Cold War. Prior to his time in Germany, Spice served as a radio operator at Fort Knox in Kentucky. During that time I learned how to carry this radio on my back and it had a 25-foot whip antenna on it and it was at that point in time that I figured out that I was probably going to be a target if I went, you know, into combat, Spice said. Spices final duty station was in Fulda, Germany with the 14th Armored Cavalry Unit. The first day I was there he [the First Sergeant] was looking through my profile, reading through there, and he says, oh, you went to Purdue? Spice said. Do you know how to type? I said, no. And he said, well thats fine, were going to teach you. What is legal window tint in Kansas? Spice said his primary responsibility while in Germany was to patrol the border between West Germany and Soviet-controlled East Germany. Im very proud of the fact that I served overseas, Spice said. Its been a big change in my life. For more Veteran Salute stories, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Vice President Kamala Harris is coming back to Arizona this week. The Democratic presidential candidate plans to visit the border community of Douglas in the late afternoon on Friday, Sept. 27, her campaign said. The city of about 16,000 sits just north of Agua Prieta, Mexico, which has a population of about 91,000. No details about the nature of the trip were released. But the record number of asylum seekers and undocumented border crossers during President Biden's administration has been a top issue for voters. The visit would be Harris' first to the border since becoming the Democratic nominee. Harris has visited the key swing state of Arizona more than a half-dozen times in the past four years, including at a rally last month in Phoenix that drew an estimated 15,000 people. Former President Donald Trump criticized Harris' plans on social media, claiming she was trying to "con the public" over her border efforts. "When Kamala is seen at the Border on Friday, she will pass Hundreds of Miles of Wall that was built by TRUMP, and it is Wall that WORKS!" Trump wrote on his X.com account, adding that millions of new immigrants are creating "criminal havoc." Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vice President Kamala Harris will head to border community Douglas DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Victims of quit claim deed fraud in the Miami Valley are looking to state leaders for a solution. Navigating the process of getting homes back takes a costly financial and emotional toll. Even after years of trying, some victims still do not have their properties back. In June, Judge Elizabeth Ellis ruled in Robin Mobleys favor, awarding her home that was stolen with a false deed. However, the county auditor was unable to restore the deed in Mobleys name because the property description was not listed on the court order. Suspect arrested for shooting, killing mother in backseat of car on highway While waiting for the court order to be updated, Mobley learned that the people who stole her property appealed the case. Mold damage inside of the property will cost at least $10,000 to address. The home also owes years of property taxes and water bills that happened during the time Mobley was not the official owner. Mobley believes the people who tried to steal her home should pay for it. And I dont understand how Im responsible for it. If someone stole, they put it in their name. I feel like that they should be responsible for taking care of it, said Mobley. The property was never officially transferred after the judges ruling. Mobley says she is still not listed as the homeowner. Now, Mobley is looking for support from state leaders. So we need to figure out where theres grant money, some type of money that they can assist us with from the damages that happen to us, from the taxes and for attorney, said Mobley. Judge Elliss office says Mobleys case is now in the hands of an appellate court. 2 NEWS spoke with Janis Bryant Hayes, a 75-year-old woman fighting to get her apartment building back after she says it was stolen through a forged deed. Hayes began the legal battle in 2019 and the judge ruled against her in 2024. This process has cost Hayes thousands in legal fees. Ohio residents still unable to fully return home; potential explosion concern remains The defendant in the case, At The End Of The Day LLC, was ordered to pay Hayes $19,000 for the property, but she says the building is worth nearly $300,000. I still do not have my building. And I cannot accept $19,000. But why would I accept the money for the building when I want my building? said Hayes. Both victims are looking to take legal action to get their properties back. They want to help bring resources to others in the Miami Valley who have been victims of quit claim deed fraud. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. By Leyla Tarverdiyeva, Day.az Ex-Ombudsman of Armenia, and now an ardent fighter for the environment... A few months ago, Arman Tatoyan of Azerbaijan appeared in front of journalists with a list of environmental accusations against Azerbaijan. Recently, Tatoyan presented a new list, supplemented with items that should counterbalance the accusations of ecocide made against Armenia by the Azerbaijani side. It is difficult for the ex-ombudsman, because there is practically nothing for Armenians to oppose to a huge array of documented facts. Tatoyan seized on the Gafan border village of Nerkin Kend, which lost access to pastures and arable lands of the Zangilan region after the Second Karabakh War. Azerbaijan has established its positions on the conditional border, which turned out to be several dozen meters from the Armenian houses. This fact was vigorously discussed three years ago, Armenians wrote complaints, dragged journalists and foreigners to the border, but it did not help. Because the Azerbaijani positions are located not on the territory of Armenia, but on the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan. But the Armenians should have been smarter and thought about the future. It is clear that over the past thirty years, more than one generation of villagers have become accustomed to seeing "Armenian" lands on the other side of the border. They built their church on someone else's territory and began burying their dead there. In Zangilan, cattle were driven to pastures and engaged in agriculture there. Armenian thought is so organized that it can only walk in a straight line. Any turn, any change of direction drives our neighbors into a stupor. So are the residents of Nerkin Kenda. In the three years since February 2021, they have not learned to live without occupied lands, and they have not got used to the fact that now they will have to find resources on their own territory and adapt to the idea that they have been stealing someone else's for thirty years. That's the whole problem. The villagers' brains will not change lanes in any way. In their minds, their cows and sheep are still grazing in the lush meadows of Zangilan, which will never be available to them again. Difficulties in adapting to reality are the cause of other troubles. So, the residents of Nerkin Kend stupidly continue to drive cattle to the border minefields. Apparently, in order for the "ecologist" Tatoyan to have something to write down in his papers. Azerbaijan is also blamed for the fact that the sources of drinking water, which were freely used by the residents of Gafan village during the occupation, now remain on the other side of the border. It is unclear what evidence Tatoyan is collecting and to whom he is going to complain in this case. What complaint does he intend to file with international authorities and against whom? Instead of whining, the villagers could gather and drill artesian wells or bring water to the village from some other source. In three years, it would be possible to reach the pipe from the Indian Ocean, and the Nerkin people are waiting for something. They probably hope for Tatoyan's victory in international courts. The special hope of the Armenians is the theme of ecology. Especially today, on the eve of COP29. Half of Armenian politicians and experts have recently retrained as environmentalists. The ex-ombudsman, continuing to stupidly call the returned positions "occupied", is trying to prove that the Azerbaijani side is "carrying out massive illegal felling of trees." Tatoyan even counted their number and types. Examining the Azerbaijani territory with binoculars brought by Europeans, he saw that the Azerbaijanis were building military roads and at the same time, oh horror, trampling the "Armenian cornflower" listed in the Red Book (it turns out there is one?). We are no longer talking about the names of trees and fauna that Tatoyan read in Wikipedia. All of them, as it appears on his list, are on the verge of extinction. As for the trees allegedly "massively cut down"... Probably, it would be enough just to brush off the annoying buzzing Tatoyan. But before that, let's give some facts. According to Armenian media, in 2014-2018, more than 400 thousand cubic meters of forest were cut down in the occupied territories - almost three times more than in the same period in Armenia. These data are presented by Armenian environmentalists and cannot be attributed to the "Azerbaijani agitprop" in any way. Before the occupation, the total forest area of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur was about 220-230 thousand hectares, of which 54 thousand hectares were cut down. A significant part of the forests of the Terter region was cut down when the occupiers decided to build a water canal from the Sarsang reservoir in order to deprive the Azerbaijani districts located downstream of the Terter River of water. The timber of the forests of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur was highly appreciated by foreign companies involved in this outrage. Fertile lands were also used illegally and haphazardly. The Armenians sowed 100,000 hectares of grain, depleted the soil, and brought it to erosion. Many species of flora and fauna were destroyed in the nature reserves and sanctuaries that remained under the Armenian occupation. The total area of specially protected natural areas in the previously occupied territories is 43 thousand hectares. Among them is the Garagel Nature Reserve. Garagel is one of the seven relict lakes of ecological importance in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, which suffered from anthropogenic impact during the Armenian occupation. The Armenians began destroying the ecosphere of this border reservoir long before the Karabakh conflict. In 1964, they began to build livestock farms and powerful pumping stations on the coast, and lake water was used to irrigate the cultivated areas of the Goris district. After the occupation, the situation worsened even more. Serious damage was caused by the occupiers and the wildlife by predatory illegal hunting. The list of crimes in Armenia that fall under the definition of "ecocide" is huge. And the "ecologist" Tatoyan can be sure that he is much bigger, more detailed and more evidence-based. Azerbaijan has received full access to this evidence after 2020, and it is being collected and systematized with the participation of foreign specialists, among others. One can understand the feelings of an Armenian looking through binoculars at what is happening in lands that his foot will no longer set foot on. But we don't sympathize. Let's just advise Tatoyan and others: stop whining and finally start working - building, sowing, laying communications in your own country. It's time for the residents of Nerkin Kend to stop remembering how good their sheep were in the Azerbaijani meadows, how delicious the water was in the spring that remained on the other side of the border, and start looking for an alternative to all this. It's time for the neighbors to get used to the idea that it won't work to win back something, that churches that were illegally built on our lands will no longer be available to them, that illegally established cemeteries were left alone through their own fault and for the sake of visiting graves, the border will not become a passageway. All this should have been thought about earlier. That's why a man is given a head. For KC Mothers in Charge founder Rosilyn Temple, losing her son was like an out-of-body experience. Temples son, Antonio PeeWee Thompson, was fatally shot in 2011, on the night before Thanksgiving. His death was especially lonely and confusing without a clear avenue for support in the days that followed, she said. Years later, Temple accompanies Kansas City police to the site of every homicide reported to provide immediate support to families experiencing their own losses. But for the loved ones of homicide victims, Temple feels, help shouldnt end at the funeral. Youre not there, Temple said. You can remember everything, but you need somebody to be there to help you walk the process. Wednesday was the 17th annual National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims, which victim support nonprofit KC Mothers in Charge marked by bringing together grieving residents with other Kansas City groups devoted to their healing. Thousands of Kansas City residents have lost parents, children and loved ones to homicide. Among them are the about 50 residents who gathered in the auditorium at 3200 Wayne Ave. Wednesday, quietly trading stories of their lost loved ones in between speakers. Kansas City is not a bad city, Temple said at Wednesdays event. But we know were dealing with a lot of different things in our community. Mental health, trauma generational curses. KC Mothers in Charge hosted Wednesdays event in collaboration with nonprofits AdHoc Group Against Crime, Coreys Network and Children of Homicide Victims KC, as well as with the Kansas City Police Department. Organizers hoped to help attendees get connected with grief support groups and other resources. [Homicide] is not a them problem, said Toni Vaughn, the director of intervention and prevention services for AdHoc Group against Crime. Its an all of us problem. Anything thats happening in our community is impacting each and every one. Before joining the AdHoc team, Vaughn was on the receiving end of the organizations services after losing her brother to gun violence in 2011, she said. Thirteen years later, the group is trying to ensure families have a safe place to land while they navigate grief after homicide. Ive been impacted by it, youve been impacted by it, Vaughn said, addressing the assembled residents. You are not alone. We are in this fight together. Several attendees came Wednesday in honor of one of the 118 Kansas City residents who have been killed since the start of 2024, including family and friends of Chestina Gaskin, Xavier Townsend-Keith and Deshaun McKinzy. Though many touched by homicide in Kansas City have come to lean on each other, everyones grief is unique, Temple said. I dont know how my grandson grieved after losing my son, Temple said. I had to fix me at the time, as a mom. Michelle Shelley Norris, the co-founder of Coreys Network, encouraged residents to seek help whether they are in the immediate aftermath of a homicide or several years down the line. Norris lost her 22-year-old son Corey Laykovitch in 2013, when he was fatally stabbed while walking home from a QuikTrip in Independence. I still cry, Norris said. Im still trying to move forward. But we have to keep in mind that it is us that have to be responsible for teaching our children how to deal with the worst day of your life and still be part of our society, still love and still give. Though their needs may change over time, Norris encouraged attendees to keep looking for new types of outreach and to avoid putting too much pressure on old routines. We dont believe in closure, Norris said. You move on from your ex-boyfriend. You dont move on from your kid. Children of Homicide Victims KC founder Sunnie Carney encouraged attendees to seek out separate resources for their children, who may be labeled at-risk or struggle in school while processing grief. Many young people are misdiagnosed with learning and attention disorders after the loss of a loved one, she said. We always want to ensure that we are building these children, who are the most vulnerable and forgotten pieces of the key to restoring peace in our city to become resilient, Carney said. Carneys father, Vernon Ray Carney, was fatally shot inside his car on Jan. 31, 2012, four days after his 38th birthday and two days before his daughters 16th birthday. There is no competition in grief, Carney said. ...We need teamwork. We need community. We need to be together. Those who havent lost a loved one can struggle to know how to help, Temple said. However, Temple encouraged attendees to clearly communicate their needs rather than pulling back. When people say, I dont know what to say, I dont know what to say to you, well, I need your help, Temple said. So come and support me. Wednesdays even concluded with a prayer vigil a nearby parking lot. Bearing memorial shirts, framed photos and crumpled tissues, the mourners took turns calling out the names of their loved ones in a circle, looking one another in the eye. We cant bring them back this life, Temple said. But we can remember them. The wine produced at the site is called Domaine Evremond [BBC/Yvette Austin] A new wine estate has officially opened its first bottle in Kent, nearly a decade after the land was bought by a well-known Champagne producer. Champagne Taittinger, along with its UK agency and partner Hatch Mansfield, bought the land in Chilham in 2015 and planted the first vines in 2017. The 380-acre site, a former apple and pear orchard, has been called Domaine Evremond, after Charles de Saint-Evremond - said to be the first ambassador of Champagne in England. The estate was officially opened by Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, on Thursday. Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, co-founder of the vineyard, told BBC South East the project was "a launch of friendship between England and France". He added: "It is more than exciting, it is moving for me. During the launch, I cried." There are 150 acres of vines as well as a winery at the site, with this year's harvest due to begin in the next few weeks. Champagne Taittinger and its UK agency and partner Hatch Mansfield bought the land in Chilham in 2015 [BBC/Yvette Austin] Vineyard owners in other parts of England have previously told the BBC that the wet but warm weather this year has been prime climate for mildews and fungal diseases on their crops. However, they also added that grapes failing to grow to their full size could "give a greater concentration of flavour". Vitalie Taittinger, the president of Champagne Taittinger, said: "We have to improve our habits and change the calendar. "What we are doing now is what we might not do in ten years but we will work with nature." The site officially opened in Chilham on Thursday [BBC/Yvette Austin] Domaine Evremond is also the name of the wine produced at the site. English sparkling wine cannot be called Champagne because the name is protected for wines harvested and produced in the Champagne region of France. However, the Kent vineyards are on chalky soil similar to that found in the Champagne region. The first bottles go on sale in the spring at 50 each. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Related stories The boss of Virgin Media O2 is to temporarily step back from running the telecoms business to undergo treatment for prostate cancer. Lutz Schulers diagnosis was announced on Thursday. The company said the cancer was detected after a routine health check. Thankfully, this has been caught in the early stages, his prognosis is very positive, and hes expected to make a full recovery following surgery in the coming days, the company added. Virgin Media O2 said the 56-year-olds recovery is expected to take between four to eight weeks. In the meantime, his duties will be covered by Patricia Cobian, the chief financial officer, who will be supported by other executives. The company said: We wish Lutz a speedy recovery and look forward to having him back to his usual fighting-fit self. We want to use this moment to raise awareness of prostate cancer and encourage men to regularly get checked by their GP or health provider. Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths among men in the UK. It accounted for 14pc of the total or 12,309 deaths from 2017 to 2019, according to Cancer Research UK. One in six men are diagnosed in their lifetime and the disease has not been clearly linked to any particular factors, the charity says. But the cancer tends to develop slowly and may not show signs for years, usually only becoming visible when the prostate is large enough to affect a mans urinary tract. That makes health check-ups a particularly vital way to detect cases early, at which point they are easier to treat. Warning signs include difficulty urinating, the need to urinate often, blood in urine and erectile dysfunction, according to Cancer Support UK. King Charles helped to highlight the need for men to have prostate health checkups earlier this year when the sovereign revealed he was preparing to undergo a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. At the time, Buckingham Palace said the King was receiving treatment in common with thousands of men each year. Benign prostate enlargement, the formal term to describe an enlarged prostate, is common among men aged 50 and above and is not cancer. However, it can be an indicator of cancer, according to Cancer Support UK. The Kings announcement in February led to a huge spike in internet searches for information on the NHSs website about the condition, with the page dedicated to enlarged prostates receiving 11 times more visits than on the previous day. NHS England said this was equivalent to one person visiting the website every five seconds. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Susanna Gibson talks to voters and campaign workers at Nuckols Farm Elementary School in Henrico County, Va., November 7, 2023. (Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury) A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in Virginia and other states want to strengthen privacy laws regarding the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. Forty-nine states including Virginia already have some law on the books to protect peoples sexual or intimate images from being shared without their consent, but model policy from former democratic House of Delegates candidate Susanna Gibson provides a blueprint for lawmakers to use. The issue took center stage in Gibsons campaign last year, when news media was alerted to sex videos she and her husband had streamed online. Though the married couple had consented to the content that they streamed together being published on a particular pornography website, they did not consent to the content being recorded or widely disseminated beyond their audience of followers on that website. Screenshots of Gibsons nude body then circulated on social media along with derogatory language by online users. The Republican Party of Virginia later sent out campaign mailers with cropped, explicit photos of Gibson. At one point a false emergency call had been placed to send law enforcement to her home an act colloquially referred to as swatting. Gibson also said that people loitered outside of her home and she received death threats. Amid the fallout, Gibson also said prospective young women political candidates in other states had reached out to her. Learning her story had them concerned that ex-partners could someday share nude images of them, and made them afraid to run for office. I quickly realized that my path had shifted from candidacy to advocacy, Gibson said in a press call Wednesday to announce model policy from her organization, MyOwn Image. Earlier this year Gibson worked with Del. Irene Shin, D-Fairfax to expand the statute of limitations for prosecutions of unlawful dissemination of images in Virginia. The new model policy, which Gibson and MyOwn board members say six states are planning to implement, would create various tiers of misdemeanor and felony penalties for unlawful dissemination and remove language that requires proof of intent. Democratic Florida lawmaker Katherine Waldron said the measure is important because without the consent of the person whose image is being shared, the intent to cause them harm, or lack thereof, doesnt erase the harm that happens. She and several other lawmakers that joined the press call relayed how victims mental health, personal relationships, employment or ability to find employment can be negatively impaired. We know that women still have a long way to go with representation in our halls of power. So when these images are shared or used as a threat, it really can impact elections. It can impact someones desire to step up and run for office. New Jersey assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez While several speakers acknowledged that anyone can become a victim of their image being shared without their consent, they noted how it often happens to women, minors or victims of sex trafficking. New Jersey assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez also noted how the crime could deter women from office, echoing Gibsons concern, or be used as an intimidation tactic. We know that women still have a long way to go with representation in our halls of power, she said. So when these images are shared or used as a threat, it really can impact elections. It can impact someones desire to step up and run for office. We have to take action now to ensure that anyone can engage in public service without fear of intimidation. Virginia delegates Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield and Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, plan to build on Virginias law using the model policy, they said. Coyner, who was inspired to carry the legislation as the mother of teen daughters, expressed concerns about artificial intelligence as well. The rapid rise of (artificial intelligence) image generation software has heightened the threat posed by non consensual disclosure of intimate images, Coyner said. I know fellow parents are familiar with the harms and risks of social media and cyberbullying, but the increased risk posed by digitally forged intimate images make these issues much more severe. Meanwhile, South Carolina is the only state without existing protections against non-consensual distribution of intimate images. Former Miss South Carolina Jill Dudley joined the call along with the states deputy attorney general and Republican state representative Chris Wooten. All will press for the creation of a law based on the model policy. Dudley, who advocates for protections and support for survivors of rape and sexual assault, stressed that distributing someones intimate image, whether real or artificial, fits within the scope of rape culture. Rape culture thrives when we blame or shame victims, when we dismiss their trauma, or when we fail to address sexual violence in all of its forms. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Virginians Can Order Free COVID Tests Again: How To Get Yours VIRGINIA Virginians can now order another round of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests that will be delivered directly to their homes. Each household can get four tests through COVIDtests.gov. Already have some at home? Check here to see if your tests' expiration dates have been extended. Shipping forms just opened on Thursday and are free to all residents. Access this link to order yours. Updated rapid tests are expected to be able to detect newer variants just as a new COVID variant, XEC, arrives in Virginia. It is a member of the Omicron family. The availability of free at-home tests comes just after the Food and Drug Administration approved two updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging everyone 6 months or older to get a new shot this fall since last year's shots were geared toward a strain that is no longer around. As flu and RSV season approaches, health officials recommend residents stock up on tests and update all vaccinations. Virginians Can Order Free COVID Tests Again: How To Get Yours originally appeared on the Fredericksburg Patch Dave Williams, chair of the Colorado Republican Party, speaks to a reporter outside the U.S. Supreme Court following oral arguments in a challenge former President Donald Trump's 2024 ballot eligibility on Feb. 8, 2024. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) An El Paso County judge determined that opponents of Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams did not have enough votes to remove him during an August meeting. That means Williams is likely to remain chair for the foreseeable future, even as a faction of the party view Eli Bremer as their leader and a chorus of elected Republicans call on Williams to resign. El Paso County District Judge Eric Bentley wrote in an order on Wednesday night that actions to remove Williams as chair and install Bremer at an Aug. 24 meeting in Brighton were not valid. He specifically decided on a grammatically-confusing party bylaw that outlines the number of votes needed to remove an officer. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX That bylaw states that Any elected officer of the CRC may be removed from office at any time for whatever cause the CRC may deem sufficient, by a vote of three-fifths of the entire membership of the CRC eligible to vote at a meeting called for that purpose. Bentley decided that three-fifths of the entire 414 member Colorado GOP central committee 248 people would need to vote on Williams removal, not just three-fifths of the members present at the meeting as the Brighton organizers determined. About 160 people voted to oust Williams at that meeting. The meeting attendees also voted to remove Hope Scheppelman, the vice chair, and Anna Ferguson, the secretary. Defendants interpretation of (the bylaw) is straightforward and does not require the court to insert words that were not used or to ignore words that were used. Simply put, in order to remove an officer, there must be a vote of 3/5 of the entire eligible CRC voting membership, and the vote must take place at a meeting called for that purpose, he wrote. A quorum is one-third of the entire committee. So if three-fifths of that quorum could vote on an officers removal, Bentley wrote, that would give a minority an implausible amount of power. The reference to the entire membership signifies the seriousness with which the drafters appear to have considered the prospect of a vote to remove any of the CRCs elected officers before completion of their two-year term, he wrote. One week after the Brighton meeting, Williams led another meeting in order to hold a vote to affirm his as chair. The order came in a lawsuit between Williams and Bremer to settle who is the rightful GOP chair. It was set to go to trial in mid-October, but now the primary legal questions posed by Bremer and his allies have been settled in the order. The trial is still listed in the case schedule as of Thursday afternoon. Critics of Williams have been seeking his removal from the chairmanship since June, motivated by his handling of party finances, use of party resources to prop up his failed congressional run, endorsements of favored Republicans in primaries, and homophobic comments during Pride month. At the August meeting, there was an optimistic atmosphere that Bremer could right the ship ahead of a handful of consequential congressional and state house races in November. Bremer has since worked with candidates and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Bremer said the order was unexpected and that he is conferring with his attorneys on next steps. The idea that (bylaw writers) would make it so difficult to remove a chair that a that a quorum couldnt conduct the business I think that thats an irrational position, he said. If you look at the bylaw in the context of history, Im not even sure theres doubt about this. In an email to the central committee after the order, Williams wrote that the true state party officers will seek legal accountability against those who worked in the shadows to sow chaos and orchestrate an unlawful coup against the majority will. While we will seek legal accountability against these failed usurpers, the rest of our state party must unite to defeat the radical Democrats with the remaining time we have left before November, he wrote. The next reorganization meeting to choose leadership for the Colorado GOP will be in March 2025. Editors note: This story was updated at 2:20 p.m. on Sept. 26 to include comments from Bremer. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) Early voting for the November election began Friday, and for the first two days, thousands of Virginians took advantage, with estimates putting the early-voter turnout at 35%, ahead of the same time frame in 2020, the last presidential election year. Republican Hung Cao, running against Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine for one of Virginias two Senate seats, is hoping a lot more of those early voters are in his column. According to Real Clear Politics, Kaine leads by nearly 10% across three different polls. Trump loves [Cao], political analyst Joel Rubin said in a Wednesday interview. So all he has, really, is that endorsement. Its not like hes come up through the General Assembly or run for office before. He is a blank slate as far as Virginia politics is concerned. Rubin wonders whether the earliest voters might have voted too early, saying there are many things that can happen between now and election day. Theyre happening in Ukraine, theyre happening in Gaza, theyre happening in the United States some things are going to happen between now and Nov. 5, which could tilt the stuff and decisions that have to be made, Rubin said. Voter apathy is always a concern for candidates, but not so much this year. Once the Democrats changed horses in midstream and Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden, enthusiasm surged. I think it definitely energized voters on the Democratic side, Rubin said, but he acknowledged some of that energy seems to have dissipated, and Harris entry into the race could also bring out more Republicans out. How to Watch: October 2 Virginia Senate Debate at NSU WAVY-TV 10 is partnering with Norfolk State University for the only debate between Kaine and Cao at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, and will carry it live on-air and online. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Voters divided over Mark Robinson at NC rally as Trump remains silent in his support Former President Donald Trump again didnt mention Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson at his Wednesday rally in Mint Hill, despite his previous enthusiastic endorsement of the North Carolina lieutenant governor and other state Republicans. Trumps rally, held at a Mosack Group warehouse in southeastern Mecklenburg County, was the second North Carolina rally in the past week where Trump did not express his support for Robinson. Trump previously has said Robinson is an unbelievable lieutenant governor who voters should cherish. But those comments were made before CNN reported Thursday Robinson had made numerous derogatory and racist comments on a pornography website over a decade ago. Those comments included Robinson calling himself a Black Nazi, admitting to secretly watching women shower when he was 14 and saying he supports slavery. At Wednesdays rally, Trump threw his support behind North Carolina Republican candidates for U.S. House, including Mark Harris and Pat Harrigan. Robinson denies he wrote the comments and has called CNNs report salacious lies. What voters think Although Trump didnt mention Robinson, he was on voters minds, who said the new reports on the gubernatorial candidate have made them reconsider voting for him. Vanessa Gregorio, a 55-year-old Wilmington resident, said she supports Trump based on his border and economic policies. On Robinson, she said shes undecided. That one Im really kind of struggling with, she said. The media can turn things around, but, you know, Im gonna do my research. David Badger, a 67-year-old Mint Hill resident, said he attended the rally to hear what Trump had to say about the economy. He said if the CNN report about Robinson is true, he would probably not vote for him. Though, he added, he is absolutely not sure if the report is true. A poll released this week by Elon University showed that while North Carolina is divided on the presidential race, Stein has a clear lead over Robinson in the gubernatorial race, The News & Observer previously reported. The poll was conducted before the news of Robinsons comments broke. Robinson posted on X shortly before Trump took the stage, saying his policies are more important than his personality. This morning I spoke with Republican leaders across the state and made it clear: This is an election about policies, not personalities, he wrote. Now is not the time for intra-party squabbling and nonsense. What politicians think Since the CNN report, some Republicans have withdrawn their support of Robinson while others have condemned the comments. Some have called for Robinson to withdraw from the race for the good of the party. Mark Harris, who is running for the 8th Congressional District, spoke at Wednesdays rally. He told The Charlotte Observer after the rally he doesnt know what to make of the CNN report. What Ive seen characterized in the story is not the Mark Robinson that Ive known since 2018, he said. Excuse me if Im slow to buy everything CNN puts out there. Tuesday, Robinson announced he had hired the Binnall Law Group to investigate where and how these false smears originated and to potentially instigate legal action against CNN. Binnall previously worked as a lawyer for Trump. Mark Harris said Robinsons policies are what matter most. I think his policies are critical to North Carolina, and I think a lot of North Carolinians believe that. I think we realize Josh Stein is dangerous for North Carolina, he said. I think theres a lot of people in North Carolina that are going to continue to stay and vote for Mark Robinson. Kamala Harris campaign held a news conference ahead of Wednesdays rally where they connected Trump to Robinson based on his prior comments. Geoff Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, said on the call that Republicans should denounce Robinson. I dont think theres any other moral reaction other than just completely disavowing every and all of those comments, he said. I mean its just a disgusting place for anybody to try to play milquetoast in. I would encourage any Republican to just once again, do the right thing and walk away from somebody who was not who they said they were, and certainly has not put on display any sort of Republican or conservative principles. Trumps running mate Sen. J.D. Vance dodged questions about Robinson when he visited Charlotte Monday. When asked if he still supports Robinsons campaign, he said he supports the people of North Carolina. What (Robinson) said or didnt say is ultimately between him and the people of North Carolina, Vance said. Surveys conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for GOP candidates revea that more than half of potential voters in three key Empire State districts -- covering the Long Island, Hudson Valley and Syracuse regions -- have an unfavorable view of Hochul. New Yorkers in critical battleground congressional districts dont like Gov. Kathy Hochul which could make her a political liability for Democrats in the upcoming races that could determine control of the House of Representatives, a set of revealing new polls have found. The surveys, conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for GOP candidates, found that more than half of potential voters in three key Empire State districts covering the Long Island, Hudson Valley and Syracuse regions have an unfavorable view of the governor. Hochul is extremely unpopular with all voters in key battleground congressional districts and she has exceptionally high negatives among the all-important Independent voters, pollster Jim McLaughlin said in a campaign memo to Hudson Valley Republican Rep. Mike Lawlers campaign. In the lower Hudson Valleys District 17, where Lawler will face off against former Democrat Rep. Mondaire Jones, 56% of voters dont hold Hochul in high regard. Meanwhile, less than two-thirds of voters in the district (35%) have a favorable view of the governor. Similarly, 57% of voters in Long Islands District 4, which covers central and southern Nassau County, dont have a favorable view of Hochul and the job she is doing running the Empire State compared to 35% who said they approve of the governor. The race for New Yorks second-wealthiest congressional district will pit first-term GOP incumbent Anthony DEsposito against Democratic challenger Laura Gillen, the former Hempstead town supervisor. Finally, 56% of voters in the Syracuse regions District 22 admitted to not liking the Democratic leader, while just 39% said they viewed Hochul positively. In that race, first-term GOP incumbent Brendan Williams will face off against Democrat John Mannion, a state senator. Unsettlingly, Hochuls image was even worse with independent voters or those not affiliated with a political party. About 70% of independent voters rated her unfavorably in Long Islands District 4 and about 60% of independents viewed her negatively in the lower Hudson Valley and Syracuse region. Surveys conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for GOP candidates reveal that over half of potential voters in three key Empire State districts: Long Island, Hudson Valley, and the Syracuse regions have an unfavorable view of Hochul. McLaughlin & Associates The surveys were conducted on Aug. 5, 12 and 21 and queried 400 likely voters from each district. The polls have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. The discouraging results have Dem strategists saying their partys candidates would be foolish to invite her to stump with them during the final stretch before the Nov. 5 elections. Its not likely the Democrats will invite Hochul to the district but the Republicans might, said Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who has worked on campaigns for congressional candidates, as well as former President Bill Clinton. If I were advising a Democratic candidate Id say, Dont see us for a while. Come to the victory party,' he quipped. Hochuls image with independent voters is even worse as around 70% of independent voters rated her unfavorably in Long Islands District 4, and about 60% of independents viewed her negatively in the lower Hudson Valley and Syracuse. Katie Godowski/MediaPunch/Shutterstock Lawler and other Republicans also rubbed Hochuls nose in it especially after the governor boasted she and her team are overseeing the Democratic Partys get-out-the-vote effort in House districts to defeat them. Its no surprise that Governor Hochul has one of the worst approval ratings in America, and its all thanks to her total inability to lead the state of New York, Lawler said. From a state budget thats ballooning out of control to migrants and criminals roaming the streets of New York City, Kathy Hochul has completely and utterly failed the people of New York time and again and in 2026, shell lose her job for it, added Lawyer, who is considered a potential GOP gubernatorial challenger. The disclosure of the GOP polls in battleground House districts comes a week after a Siena College statewide poll found that Hochul was even more unpopular in blue-leaning New York than ex-President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the White House. Meanwhile, GOP polling also shows that a majority of voters in District 1 in Suffolk County/the East End and in District 3 in Nassau-Queens also dont hold Hochul in high esteem. Notably, Hochul did not campaign with Rep. Tom Suozzi a rival in the 2022 Democratic primary for governor when he ran in the special election in February to succeed expelled ex-Republican Rep. George Santos in District 3. The veteran Democrat topped Republican rival Mazi Pilip in the closely watched race. Hochuls campaign office declined to comment to The Post. The campaigns for Gillen, Jones and Mannion also declined to comment. However, State Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs, a Hochul ally, downplayed the GOP polls. He said Hochul is constantly under attack and she will be fine when she runs for re-election in 2026. The candidates [for Congress] have to run their own campaigns, he said. Ballots are seen at the Weld County Elections office in Greeley on June 25, 2024. (Andrew Fraieli/Colorado Newsline) All Colorado citizens who are at least 18 years old have the right to vote, even if they are experiencing homelessness. This story is part of a series on voting basics in Colorado. A voter who doesnt have a permanent address can register at a location they consider a home base or a location they regularly return to, such as a park or a homeless shelter. If the location where someone experiencing homelessness registers cannot receive mail, the voter must also designate a mailing address where the local clerk can mail their ballot, such as a P.O. Box. If the voter cannot access their mail ballot, they can vote in person at a local polling center, but they must provide a valid mailing address to register. Cathy Alderman, spokesperson for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, said people experiencing homelessness are able to list service providers like the coalition as their residential and mailing address when registering to vote. She said the coalition will work to locate voters once their ballots come in the mail. Alderman said the coalition goes to shelters to help make sure people using homeless services know about their right to vote and help register people. The coalition has also taken people to the polls to vote in person during past elections. We just try to provide as many resources as we can about how you can get your ballot, either in the mail, in a drop box, or to someone who could do that for you, Alderman said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Someone who lives in a recreational vehicle can register at a campground or lot they typically go back to. Voters who are going through an eviction or foreclosure may have to update their registration if they no longer live at their address. If they still live at their address and have not yet been evicted, they can vote from that address. As soon as someone has a new address, they should update their voter registration to reflect that. Alderman also said the coalition has worked with the secretary of states office in the past to reach voters experiencing homelessness and provide additional information and resources. She said government outreach to let voters know their voice matters regardless of their housing status can help improve their trust in government. I just think thats really important, because a lot of people experiencing homelessness have many reasons not to trust the government, Alderman said. That really starts to rebuild that trust, and that can be really important for folks that are unhoused. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Wendy Weber used to have short hair, and when she would get a haircut, she would always pay more than a man would have paid for a similar haircut. Weber started cutting hair in Lincoln, but then moved to Denver, Colorado. When she came back to Lincoln, she knew she wanted to open a storefront. I knew if I was going to do that I really wanted to change some of the industry here compared to what I had noticed was starting to change in Denver," Weber said. The change she brought to Lincoln: gender-free pricing. Weber's business, Smith & Comb, which had its grand opening on Aug. 29 is both a salon and a barbershop with a different approach to pricing. Instead of charging set rates for mens and womens haircuts, as most salons do, the store charges by length, based on how much effort goes into styling different lengths of hair. Weber said that because of the shop's location, near the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus, many clients come in because of the student discounts she has offered instead of the pricing model. But I do feel like we have had a community that has (sought) us out and have come in and mentioned how they felt really comfortable having this inclusive model, Weber said. Weber said she is still learning to adapt the new pricing system to be effective but she hasn't had any negative feedback. She also feels like businesses should always be adapting. "I think that you're not doing a good job as a business if you're not on a learning curve, you kind of always have to adapt, Weber said. The combination salon and barbershop, at the corner of Idylwild Drive and Holdrege Street, separates its prices into hair that is short enough to be cut with a clipper, shorter than the bottom of a client's ear, shorter than a client's collarbone and hair past the shoulders, Weber said. Stylists and barbers also charge differently based on their level of experience. William Bartolo worked at other salons before Smith & Comb. He said after graduating he felt restricted by the categories of mens and womens haircuts. Coming into the salon here its like, No focus on the hair and the client, Bartolo said. What do they want? Smith & Comb offers both salon and barbershop services in the same space. Weber majored in cosmetology and said many people dont realize the difference. Even though I can do a mens cut, like a clipper cut, I dont learn how to do a fade like a barber does, Weber said. Jaydn Keller studied cosmetology and went to barber school. She started working at Smith & Comb and said she has met a range of different clients from students to professors and people who dont speak the same language as she does. I have a client who is from Japan and so there was a little bit of a language barrier, but we use our little Google Translate and we just became buddies, Keller said. One of the stores clients, Jet Lear, went to Smith & Comb for a haircut because she also went to barber school and studied with Madi Beal, a barber there. Lear said it was easy to talk to everyone there. I like that vibe where youre not constantly being looked at, you're just a regular person that comes into the shop and everybody treats you like the next-door neighbor, Lear said. Beal, who cut Lears hair, said it's important to have a safe space and get some of the younger college students to open up. Because a barbershops supposed to be community-based, community-building, Beal said. In a community, people hang out at a barbershop and just chat it up. Top Journal Star photos for September 2024 VSP announces launch of CODI Alert to aid in searches of missing and endangered children RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) Virginia State Police announced that, starting on Thursday, the Virginia Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Alert, or CODI Alert, will now be issued to aid in searches for missing and endangered children. CODI Alert Program passes in the Virginia General Assembly The CODI Alert, named in honor of 3-year-old Codi Bigsby, who was never found after being reported missing in January of 2022, was passed by both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly in 2024. Justice has been served for Codi: Cory Bigsby sentenced to 45 years in prison for sons death When Codi went missing, an AMBER Alert was not issued, as police did not believe he was abducted, prompting the additional of the newly enacted alert. The alert will be issued upon request by the investigating law enforcement agency as long as certain criteria have been met, including: Child must be 17 years of age or younger or currently enrolled in a secondary school in Virginia regardless of age Childs whereabouts must be unknown Disappearance must be under suspicious circumstances deemed appropriate by VSP Sufficient information available to the public to assist in location Law enforcement agencies who believe all criteria have been met will have to contact VSP in order to activate the alert. With the addition of the CODI Alert, six alert programs are now available for activation by VSP, including AMBER Alerts, Senior Alerts, Critically Missing Adult Alerts, Missing Person with Autism Alerts and Blue Alerts. For more information on the CODI Alerts or any other alerts available, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) An event planned to feature a pro-Palestinian speaker on Oct. 7 at Wake Forest University has been canceled after fierce backlash from Jewish student groups at the university. The event, entitled One year since al-Aqsa Flood: Reflections on a Year of Genocide and Resistance was scheduled for Oct. 7, exactly one year after Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, launched an attack on Israel killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping hundreds of others. The event was set to feature Rabab Abdulhadi, a San Francisco State University professor and founding director of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies Program, as well as co-founding editorial board member of the Islamaphobia Studies Journal. On Thursday, University President Susan Wente and Provost Michele Gillespie issued a statement announcing that the event was canceled. Wente and Gillespie said that the university would not host events that are inherently contentious and stand to stoke division in our campus community. We are living in complex times, and yet we remain hopeful about the future because of this caring community and our shared mission to serve humanity, Wente and Gillespie said. The WFU leaders highlighted instead an Interfaith Prayers for Peace that will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m on the Manchester Quad with a Community Reflection Event set for 4:45 p.m. on the front steps of Wait Chapel. The full statement is included below: Dear members of the Wake Forest community: We write to update you on several events planned for Monday, October 7. We recognize that this date is significant for many reasons and to many different members of our community, our country, and people around the world. We empathize with the emotions felt by many Wake Foresters as the date approaches, including those who lost friends, family members and colleagues on October 7, 2023. As a university community, there are many ways that we could choose to recognize this day. At Wake Forest, we will emphasize our ability to come together to support one another, holding space for our many different perspectives and experiences. As such, we invite you to join us for several university-sponsored events. Interfaith Prayers for Peace will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m on the Manchester Quad. A Community Reflection Event will be held at 4:45 p.m. on the front steps of Wait Chapel. At both events, students, faculty and staff are invited to pause, reflect, and write a prayer or light a candle for peace. At the Community Reflection event, members of the Wake Forest community will offer prayers and readings for peace. We have also made the conscious decision not to host events on this day that are inherently contentious and stand to stoke division in our campus community. Thus, we have informed the academic units sponsoring Dr. Rabab Abdulhadis campus lecture on October 7 that it cannot take place. We are living in complex times, and yet we remain hopeful about the future because of this caring community and our shared mission to serve humanity. Sincerely, Susan R. Wente President Michele Gillespie Provost The now-canceled event featuring Abdulhadi prompted Isabelle Laxer, president of the WFU Chabad student organization, and four other Jewish Wake Forest University students to advocate against Abdulhadi coming to campus to speak. They created a student petition that garnered more than 4,000 signatures in its first 24 hours, lobbying the university and the departments listed on the poster to rescind their invitation. Among their concerns, Abdulhabi hosted a digital event with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in 2019, considered by the United States to be a terrorist organization. We support free speech, we encourage the university to host people with a variety of different viewpoints, to share different perspectives, encourage and foster dialogue on our campus. However about a week ago they put up posters for this event with antisemitic and pro-terrorist language, Laxer said. Andrew Orfaly, president of the student-run Rosenblatt Family Hillel at Wake Forest, said using the term al-Aqsa Flood, which Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups use to refer to the attack, in the events title would be similar to using Al-Qaedas term for the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Its incredibly disheartening to see this happening on a day that saw the greatest loss of Jewish life since the holocaust, said Laxer. We emailed the chairs of all departments listed on the flyer and did not get a response, nor did we hear back from Abdulhadi. Approximately 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict since Oct. 7 as the two sides battle in the ongoing war. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Walk to End Alzheimers to take place Sept. 28 (COLORADO SPRINGS) Hundreds will gather on Saturday, Sep. 28 for the Colorado Springs Walk to End Alzheimers. The walk will raise funds to provide essential services to families and support research to find a cure. The walk set on Sept. 28 is one of 13 Alzheimers Association of Colorado Walks to End Alzheimers in 2024. A few key facts about Alzheimers disease: 90,800 Coloradans among 7 million Americans living with Alzheimers disease. Alzheimers kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Since 2000, deaths from Alzheimers have increased 145%, while deaths from heart disease have declined 7%. Women make up two-thirds of those diagnosed with Alzheimers and two-thirds of the family caregivers. In Colorado alone, more than 177,000 family members and friends are serving as unpaid caregivers, providing an estimated 307 million hours of support in 2023 valued at more than $7.2 billion. Alzheimers is the seventh-leading cause of death and the only leading disease without prevention or a cure. Courtesy: Alzheimers Association Rocky Mountain Region The toll from Alzheimers disease is rising relentlessly, and will continue to do so until we find a cure, said Teal Peabody, manager of the Colorado Springs Walk. Every dollar we can raise for research to find a cure is an investment in our health and that of future generations. The Walk has a fundraising goal of $320,700, which would amount to nearly $2.6 million. The Colorado Springs Walk will begin at 10 a.m. at Memorial Park. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. To register or to donate, click the link above. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. State Superintendent Ryan Walters presents funding requests to state lawmakers during a House education budget hearing in January at the state Capitol. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahomas top education official and school board will ask the state Legislature for an extra $3 million in public funds to purchase a Bible for every public school classroom and $500,000 for firearms training for school staff. The proposals were part of a $4.1 billion budget request that state Superintendent Ryan Walters presented on Thursday on behalf of the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The state Board of Education unanimously approved the proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. The request is a mere suggestion that the Oklahoma Legislature could follow or, more often than not, discard while designing the state budget in the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers largely threw out Walters previous budget recommendations. Walters said hed like to see the New King James Version of the Bible become the standard edition provided to schools. It will be there for its historical context, not any pushing of one religion over another, he said. Walters budget proposal would increase the state Education Departments funding by $102.7 million, if approved. Rising insurance costs for school employees would drive most of the increase with an expected hike of $85 million. The agency predicts the cost of teacher maternity leave also will rise by $4 million. Other new expenses would include a $2.3 million cost-of-living increase for Education Department employees and another $2.85 million expense for increased agency costs for facilities, risk and insurance premiums as well as IT maintenance. A separate $5 million line item would support modernizing the IT infrastructure of the states public school system. A $1 million request would replace sunsetting federal funding for programs that support early career teachers. On top of the $500,000 firearms training, the Education Department requested $1 million to recruit former law enforcement officers and military veterans to become teachers, which Walters said also could improve security efforts. Participation in firearms training would be voluntary for districts that wish to have an employee with concealed carry, Walters said. The fund also would provide signage at participating schools to notify the public there are trained staff carrying firearms. Walters acknowledged the request is only a recommendation in a budgeting process that will go on for months. The next legislative session begins Feb. 3. A $3 million appropriation for Bibles would dovetail with Walters mandate that public schools incorporate instruction on the Bible into their classes, particularly history courses. He also ordered districts to keep a copy of the Christian text in every classroom, as well as copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments. Walters said its important that schools comply so students understand the role the Bible played throughout American history. He said his agency already dedicated $3 million to purchase Bibles for public school classrooms. The budget request would double the agencys Bible-buying fund. So, this would give us the ability to utilize $6 million in less than two years to ensure that the Bible hasnt been driven out of Oklahoma classrooms, Walters said. That would be a significant step for the state of Oklahoma to ensure that were not allowing the left to censor American history. Oklahoma law allows educators to keep religious texts in classrooms, if they choose to do so. State academic standards require schools to teach about world religions and the role of religion in the establishment of American colonial governments. Academic standards are a list of topics and concepts public schools must teach, but state law gives districts the right to decide how they wish to teach them. Several district leaders in the state have announced they dont intend to introduce new course content beyond what is already mandated in academic standards. Opponents of Walters Bible order have said it unfairly prioritizes the Christian faith. Oklahoma children have the right to attend public school and to access the full range of school services without having government-sponsored religion imposed on them, said Megan Lambert, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma. State Board of Education member Sarah Lepak said she is supportive of the measure but urged Walters administration to develop more guidance to ensure teaching remains religiously neutral. I have not heard anything that, to me, says this is unconstitutional, Lepak said. If I had heard that, we would be putting the brakes on this right now. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Walz state education appointee called for the US to be 'overthrown' and 'deconstructed' Walz state education appointee called for the US to be 'overthrown' and 'deconstructed' An associate college professor who was appointed to the Minnesota State Department of Education by Gov. Tim Walz called for the U.S. to be "overthrown" and "deconstructed" in a video posted over two years ago. Walz is now the vice presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. Brian Lozenski, Ph.D., is an associate professor of urban and multicultural education in the Education Studies Department at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to his personal blog. He is also affiliated with several organizations, such as the Education for Liberation Network, or EdLib MN, Network for the Development of Children of African Descent, and the Twin Cities Solidarity Committee. Lozenski was appointed to the states department of education by Walz to help write the framework of ethnic studies standards, as well. Tim Walz's School Lunch Fiasco Got Scammed For $250 Million Right Under His Nose ST. PAUL, MN. - JANUARY 2023: Minnesota DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party) Governor Tim Walz, along with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan(left) and First Lady Gwen Walz(right), read The Day You Began by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael Lopez, to a group of kindergarteners at Adams Spanish Immersion Elementary, St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, January 17, 2023. The governor started his budget release by talking about education and kid-focused spending at the school. (Photo by Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via Getty Images) In a video first reported on by the National Review and posted to YouTube on June 19, 2022, by The Solidarity Network, Lozenski spoke about his research with a panel. He even touched on Critical Race Theory, a school of thought that generally focuses on how power structures and institutions affect racial minorities. The video was removed from YouTube late Wednesday evening. Read On The Fox News App "We dont use critical race theory in school," Lozenski said. "The first tenet of critical race theory is that the United States, as constructed, is irreversibly racist. So, if the nation state, as constructed, is irreversibly racist, then it must be done with. It must be overthrown. "We can be like, Oh no, critical race theory is just about telling our stories and diversity," he added. "Its not about that. Its about overgrowth. It is insurgent." Harris Now Mum On Reparations She Signaled Support For In 2020 White House Run Lozenski also told the panel they need to be more honest with that idea because many people do not understand critical race theory. "Its an anti-state theory that says the United States needs to be deconstructed, period," Lozenski said. Rnc Blasts Walz Admin's Nonanswer On How Noncitizens Made It Onto Minnesota Voter Rolls: 'No Hypothetical' Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to a gathered crowd of supporters during a campaign rally at the Highmark Amphitheater on September 5, 2024, in Erie, Pennsylvania. Fox News Digital has reached out to both Walz and Lozenski for comment on the statements the department of education appointee made. According to a Wall Street Journal article last month, the Walz administration in Minnesota has relied on committed political activists like Lozenski to design and guide the implementation of the states education agenda. One of the groups Lozenski is part of, EdLib MN, is focused on becoming a political force in Minnesota and to "contend with the status quo of colonial education that prioritizes Eurocentric curricula," according to its website. Original article source: Walz state education appointee called for the US to be 'overthrown' and 'deconstructed' Warner Robins orders state of emergency for Hurricane Helene. What residents need to know The city of Warner Robins declared early Thursday a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helenes expected arrival. Helene is expected to bring unprecedented wind speeds and flooding overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Warner Robins and all of Middle Georgia remained under a hurricane warning and flood watch Thursday. A tornado watch also is in effect until 9 p.m. Sirens are expected to sound if a tornado develops. Conditions have not subsided overnight, they have only increased, Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda W. Patrick said in a briefing on Helene on Facebook. Therefore, it is in the best interest of our city government and our constituents here in our city limits to declare a state of emergency so that we are able to activate the necessary emergency measures to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all our citizens. The state of emergency allows for the city to designate restricted areas and impose curfews as necessary to ensure public safety and restrict areas. The measure, effective at noon Thursday, also requires the proper registration of building and repair services during the state of emergency to protect residents from unlicensed contractors. The state of emergency also allows for implementation of measures related to price gouging and traffic regulation. City government offices for non-emergency personnel closed at noon and will remain closed Friday. The city is setting up an Emergency Operations Center at city hall to prepare for any overnight emergency responses. We have all hands on deck, Patrick said. I will be here all night and so will my entire team just to make sure we are ready to deploy in case of any type of emergency. Residents were told to expect flooding and to limit water use to ease the expected strain on the citys sewer system in the event of flooding. The city is also providing sandbags to prepare for expected flooding for residents until 3:30 p.m. or until they run out at the public works department at 210 Bay St. City staff will be on site to assist residents with filling and loading sandbags as needed, according to a news release. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the area potentially as early as 7 p.m., with hurricane conditions expected after midnight, according to the Houston County Emergency Management Agency. The center of the track has shifted back east which now places us in direct line for the center of circulation, the agency posted on Facebook. What this means for us is a higher likelihood of experiencing force Hurricane winds tonight. Residents are urged to take care of last-minute preparations now. Once the winds begin to increase this evening it will not be safe, the post reads. We are encouraging everyone to stay off the roads and indoors until this storm passes. After the storm, it is very likely that emergency crews will still be out working to clear debris and open the roads for several hours. Rigbys Entertainment Complex at 2001 Karl Drive in Warner Robins has opened as an overnight storm shelter for people and their pets. People should bring their own pillows and blankets and crates are requested for pets that could be aggressive or are afraid of storms, Rigbys posted on Facebook. No Limit Baptist Church at 1352 Radio Loop is providing dinner and an overnight shelter for the homeless in the church sanctuary. It has weathered some storms, so I feel like theyll be safe there, said Vince Harrington, the churchs senior pastor, who plans to ride out the storm in the sanctuary as well. Robins To-Go posted some tips from the Better Business Bureau on how to avoid scams for home repairs from storm damage. HC EMA offers an online portal for residents to report property damage experienced as a result of Helene. This covers all residents of Houston County whether you live in the cities or county, HC EMA posted on Facebook. This is not for emergency reporting. If you have any emergent needs, please contact 911. Flint Energies reports it requested crews from around the country to help with restoring power expected to be lost during the hurricane. Tropical storm winds from Hurricane Helene combined with heavy rains could lead to power outages starting this evening and throughout the weekend. Flint Energies urges all its members to prepare for widespread, extended outages, a company news release reads. Flint is expecting thousands of members to be without power for several days, not hours. Members can report power outages by calling 888-354-6836, through Flints mobile app or text OUTAGE to 352667. Warner Robins city staff help residents fill and load sandbags Thursday in preparation for Hurricane Helene. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A building in Warren that leaders say is an eyesore will be torn down, making way for a potential $140 million development project. Trumbull County Land Bank (TCLB) announced Thursday that it has received a $6.3 million grant for commercial building demolition countywide, with 34 properties in Warren targeted. One of the most prominent to be taken down is the Reeves Building on Market Street in what is known as The Peninsula in historic downtown. The building is vacant and creates a health and safety concern, according to city leaders. Warren Mayor Doug Franklin said the property has had four owners in the past few years, but they offered empty promises. They came to the city to tell us about great plans for renovating the building, but no progress was ever made, Franklin said. In 2020, a developer had plans to turn the building into high-end apartments and before that a recovery center. Neither came through. With grant money in play, Warren City will only have to come up with 25% of the demolition costs for the 34 structures targeted. TCLB said the city has already earmarked $1 million for the demolitions. In their application for the grant, Land Bank leaders wrote that the demolition of the Reeves Building will be the last of a series of commercial properties to be demolished in the area. Over the past 10 years, $30 million in private and public projects have been spent in the downtown area. The city has been accumulating and clearing the 25 acres that comprise the Peninsula area for more than 30 years. With the States assistance, we will remove the biggest obstacle to redevelopment, which we are actively engaged in planning for now. We hope to be able to tell you more about those plans very soon, Franklin said. No details were given on the potential $140 million development project that the Reeves Building demolition will make way for. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Financial advisers long have been required to avoid conflicts of interest and act as fiduciaries, meaning they must act first and foremost in the best interest of their clients. But a new investigation by the office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) found a deeply troubling pattern of secretive incentives and rewards for advisers, including expensive getaways in the Caribbean, luxury cruises on the Danube River and large cash bonuses among dozens of companies that provide such advice. In the report, first shared with The Hill, Warren argues such incentives muddy fiduciary duty, raising questions about whether advisers are acting in a clients best interest or their own. Americans who work hard and save for retirement should be able to go to a financial advisor and rely on them to give the best advice but right now, that is not always the case, the report alleges. Many of the companies told Warrens office they had disclosed the conflicts of interest in disclosures distributed to clients, thus mitigating the impact of any conflicts of interest, according to the report. But these product prospectuses can be hundreds of pages long, and the disclosures can be difficult to find or decipher. The nonpartisan investigators at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that although the disclosures are generally available, they are not always clear or understood, according to a report released in July. Warrens investigation referenced this report, which reviewed more than 2,000 conflict of interest descriptions and was based on 75 undercover calls to investment advisers. While the GAO encouraged investors to ask their provider about conflict of interest, the agency noted that doing so may not always produce helpful information based on the undercover calls. A Biden administration rule to crack down on advisers who prioritize commissions or perks when recommending investments or products was supposed to go into effect this week, but it was halted this summer by a U.S. judge who sided with an advocacy group representing insurance and annuities distributors who challenged the rule in court. The Federation of Americans for Consumer Choice and several individual insurance agents sued the Labor Department days after it finalized the new rule in April, calling it just the latest salvos by the DOL in its almost 15-year quest to re-define what it means to be an ERISA fiduciary in contravention of the will of Congress. The plaintiffs argued the new rule violates the 1974 law that established minimum standards for private retirement and health plans, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The Labor Department argued these changes are necessary to regulate an investment market that has changed significantly since the law was first put into place, with the modern 401(k) created by Congress four years later, in 1978. One change, for example, would have expanded requirements from only professionals who provide advice on a regular basis to include those who make a one-time recommendation, such as a one-time transaction to roll over retirement savings from a 401(k) into an IRA. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, the nonprofit that upholds financial planning standards, has stated that it supports the rule, emphasizing that it aligns with investor expectations. But Judge Jeremy Kernodle for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas sided with the plaintiffs in July, staying the rule. Kernodle concluded the rule is an arbitrary and capricious exercise of DOLs regulatory power that conflicts with the text of ERISA and would cause the plaintiffs irreparable harm in the absence of relief. He also noted the new rule suffers from many of the same problems as the departments 2016 rule, which would have expanded the definition of fiduciary investment advice but was struck down after a challenge by other lobbying giants including the Chamber of Commerce and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. The pattern is a familiar one: The Biden administration proposes new rules to rein in powerful industries, only for representatives of those industries to challenge them in court. A nationwide ban on noncompete agreements and a slate of new investor protection rules also were overturned over the summer. The Labor Department last Friday appealed the decision. But since the Supreme Court this summer overturned Chevron deference, which compelled judges to defer to agencies when a law or statute is ambiguous, the government faces an uphill battle in court. House Republicans also introduced a resolution in May to disapprove the retirement security rule under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn certain actions by federal agencies. The resolution passed out of the House Education and Workforce Committee in July. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), who chairs the committee, characterized the Labor Department rule as the Retirement Insecurity Rule during her opening statements before the markup. The rule represents a reckless overreach by the Biden administration that will have devastating impacts on Americans retirement savings. It will eliminate options for working-class Americans, reduce their ability to retire, and limit their access to financial advice, Foxx said. Warren warns that if the resolution is successful, hidden kickbacks and junk fees will continue to hurt millions of Americans planning for retirement and cost them billions of dollars. The White House, on the other hand, estimates conflicts of interest among advisers cost retirement savers as much as $5 billion per year alone on fixed-index annuities, which attract low-risk savers but carry higher costs and fees than investments in comparable mutual funds. Mutual funds that compensate advisers based on whether their client invests in a fund are also associated with lower average returns, according to the July GAO report, which called such a compensation structure a proxy for conflicts. This could reduce retirement savings growth over time and could make a difference of tens of thousands of dollars for investors in actively managed domestic equity funds at retirement, the GAO found. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A Warren man who was arrested in April by Canfield police on a gun charge has been indicted in federal court. An indictment unsealed Wednesday in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio charges Derrick Eggleston, 37, with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment was issued Sept. 19 and unsealed Wednesday after Eggleston was arrested. He is free on $20,000 unsecured bond after his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda M. Knapp, where he pleaded not guilty. According to court records, the government did not ask for detention. A new court date has not been set yet. Eggleston, who was granted early release from federal supervision on April 3 after serving an 18-month sentence for the same charge he was indicted on Wednesday, was arrested on April 30 by Canfield police during a traffic stop after a car he was driving was pulled over for extremely heavy window tint. Police searched the car after reports said they saw nuggets of marijuana inside and they found a semiautomatic pistol and 22 rounds of ammunition. Reports said Eggleston appeared to be very nervous and asked police to do him a solid and just give him a citation before admitting he had a gun despite the fact he was legally prohibited from having it. The indictment in the case said Eggleston also has a 2017 possession of heroin conviction in federal court, the original charge which bars him from having or being around guns. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Members of the Washington Public Employees Association are voting on a new two-year contract this week that leaders of the union say they should reject. Aubrei Hansen, WPEA marketing and membership coordinator, is putting out ballots inside the Olympia office on Wednesday Sept. 25, 2024. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard) Thousands of state workers are voting this week on a new two-year contract but not everyone agrees its the best deal. Leaders of one public employee union are recommending its members turn down the offer, a move they admit would put them in uncharted territory. The core tentative agreement contains general pay hikes of 3% on July 1, 2025 and 2% a year later. It also raises the starting wage for state workers to $18 an hour, assures the state will continue paying 85% of employee health care premiums, and adds new types of leave such as for those experiencing wildfire emergencies. By law, unions must approve a new contract by Oct. 1 so it can be considered for funding in the next two-year budget, which Gov. Jay Inslee will propose in December. Inslee was not involved in the negotiations. The Washington Federation of State Employees, which represents 50,000 state government, higher education and public service workers, is encouraging its members to ratify the tentative agreement. It has 14 negotiated contracts getting voted on through Friday. Meanwhile, the bargaining team of the Washington Public Employees Association is urging its 5,000 members to reject the agreement. They argue the salary increase amounts to a pay cut as it is not enough to keep pace with rising costs of food, housing and health care. The union sought a 30% cost of living adjustment. The team was able to reach agreement on many of our non-economic items, but the state was unfortunately nowhere near what the team believed to be adequate compensation, they wrote in a letter to members. Kurt Spiegel, executive director of Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28, said in an email that the salary increases were an achievement given the state is forecasting a budget deficit next year and the Legislature will no doubt struggle to fund all the states obligations and priorities. And the terms of the agreement for workers represented by the federation contain other important advances, such as a minimum of an additional 2.5% increase for more than 330 job classifications. Some of the economic package reportedly improved following a midday walkout organized by the federation Sept. 10. The Public Employees Association also took part in the walkout. Union officials on Wednesday called the deal a status quo agreement and pointed to two decades of contracts with little or no increases leaving workers with 21% less in purchasing power over the past 25 years. Our bargaining team got to a place where it said we cannot keep doing this, said Seamus Walsh Petrie, legislative specialist with the association. We dont know what will happen next. We do know whats happening now is slowly sucking the quality of life of people performing public service. The association represents workers in community colleges and government including the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Revenue, the Liquor and Cannabis Board and Department of Agriculture. Wednesday marked the start of their three-day voting period at locations around the state. Counting will occur Sunday. If the agreement is rejected, the union would seek to restart talks with the state immediately, Petrie said. If a new agreement is reached, the union would have to lobby the Legislature next session to fund it since it would be arriving after Oct. 1. More likely, terms of the current contract would be extended for a year and there would be no general wage increase. Any renegotiated tentative agreements would need to be reached by Oct. 1, 2025 in order to be funded by the Legislature in the 2026 session. Not having a ratified contract by the deadline is uncharted territory for public labor in Washington state, reads an information sheet at polling stations. While there is risk, a no vote is the only way to send a message to the state that change is long overdue, it concludes. Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), former President Trumps running mate, is traveled to Traverse City, Mich., Wednesday evening, where he delivered remarks at the Northwestern Michigan Fair. During his last visit to the Great Lakes State, Vance called out Democrats and the media for their response and rhetoric around the second apparent assassination attempt on Trumps life. The former president and Vice President Harris are locked in a tight race in the battleground state. The Hill/Decision Desk HQs polling index shows Harris ahead but just over 1 point Watch the live video above. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A New York appeals court on Thursday is considering former President Trumps appeal of a multimillion-dollar judgment against him and his business empire. The five-judge panel will hear arguments in Trumps appeal of the $464 million, plus interest, judgment against him and top Trump Organization executives in a civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney generals office. Trump has separately set up a press conference from New York later Thursday afternoon. The appeals hearing began at noon EDT. Listen to a replay of the audio stream below. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) are holding a press conference Thursday on the recent criminal indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, just hours after his phone was seized by the FBI. The indictment, which was unsealed Thursday, follows a series of investigations by federal authorities into Adams and a number of his associates. He is facing five counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and bribery. The charges come after the mayor had his home raided by the FBI earlier this year, and multiple deputies homes were searched earlier this month. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became, Adams said in a statement after the news. SDNY officials will outline the charges at 11:30 a.m. EDT and are expected to hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Watch the video report above. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Watchdog sues Pentagon for withholding promotion data they believe will show DEI at play FIRST ON FOX: A watchdog group is suing the Department of Defense (DOD) after it failed to hand over demographics data on who is receiving promotions in the military. The group, which says it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in March that has gone ignored, is looking for breakdowns by race and gender of military promotions and nominations over the past five years, suspecting that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices might be at play. Theyve also asked for all communications related to these practices between key DOD officials. The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) seeks to analyze whether DEI practices are being implemented transparently and without compromising merit. Lawmakers Rip Army Brass Over Training Slides Labeling Pro-life Groups As Terrorists The group said the DOD acknowledged receipt of the FOIA but has not communicated whether it plans to hand over any documents or give a reason for withholding them. Read On The Fox News App "The increased role diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have played in the military is concerning to many Americans. The American people believe that promotions in the military should be based on merit," said CASA Director James Fitzpatrick. "Responsive records from this request will show the demographic breakdown of military promotions over the last five years. We know that the DOD has this information readily available and [we] are curious why they are so reluctant to share it with us, which the law requires. This lawsuit will force them to." The Center to Advance Security in America says the Department of Defense has ignored a FOIA request that the watchdog group filed in March. Why Rep Scott Perry Resigned: Army's Woke Policies After suing the Air Force to comply with a separate FOIA request, the group obtained slides from Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) recruitment standards last week. One slide, labeled "AFROTC White," had a graph that showed the percentage of White AFROTC applicants declining from 60% in 2019 to a projected 50% in fiscal 2023. The graph detailed the Air Forces goal of reducing that percentage down to 43% by fiscal 2029. The slide deck also included funding requests for diversity recruiting initiatives, including $500,000 for "diversity advertising campaigns" and $250,000 for "influencer engagements." Recruitment issues in recent years across the military branches have led to the smallest U.S. fighting force since before World War II. The Navy is expected to miss its recruiting goals in 2024, and the Marine Corps, Army and Air Force are expected to meet theirs after the latter two missed theirs in 2022 and 2023. Original article source: Watchdog sues Pentagon for withholding promotion data they believe will show DEI at play WEBSTER COUNTY, Iowa A Webster County man was shot during a domestic altercation on Thursday morning. According to the Webster County Sheriffs Office, Kaleb K. Meyer reported being shot during a domestic altercation with Cheyanne E. Guthrie at a home in the 600 block of Front Street in Moorland, which is southwest of Fort Dodge. Des Moines man charged with Attempted Murder for allegedly shooting man in chest Meyer reportedly told the sheriffs office that during the altercation a firearm was drawn and then fired, and he was hit by a bullet. The sheriffs office said Meyer left the scene and drove to a relatives home before eventually being taken to a Mason City hospital to be treated for his injuries. The sheriffs office said Guthrie is cooperating with detectives as they work to determine what led to the dispute and subsequent shooting. At this time no charges have been filed. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Latest Iowa News: Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. (PINPOINT WEATHER) An approaching front has been bringing yet another round of rain and storms to the mountains, with possible severe weather and damaging wind, too. This is why were so concerned about potentially catastrophic flooding as Helene tracks west of our area early Friday morning, at least 10-15 inches of rain could pile up by the time it moves out. Please take any warnings seriously, and never drive through a flooded road! Click here to see our latest Pinpoint Weather forecast! Outside of the mountains, rainfall totals drop off to up to 2-4 inches around the Charlotte metro. The foothills could get some higher amounts, and the sandhills will be on the lower end of those totals. The wind and tornado threat will continue everywhere through Friday morning. Gusts up to 50-60 mph will bring down trees and power lines. Plan for the chance that you could lose power, possibly for a few days. When is the rain the heaviest? Early Friday morning, after midnight through about 7-8 a.m. It will quickly taper off to lingering showers Friday afternoon and evening. The wind will settle as well. Stay safe, and well be tracking the storm on Queen City News! Tonight: Areas of rain and storms. Breezy. Low 71. Thursday: Showers and storms. Breezy. High 78. Downed trees in Blowing Rock during a Tornado Warning in Watauga County Wednesday night. (Photos: Blowing Rock Police Dept.) School Closures, Delays and E-Learning North Carolina Catawba County Schools closed Friday Caldwell County Schools three-hour early release Thursday, closed Friday Avery County Schools closed Thursday and Friday Burke County Schools eLearning Thursday and Friday Watauga County Schools early dismissal Thursday Union County Public Schools after-school activities canceled Thursday, not including UCPS After School Program South Carolina Chester County Schools eLearning Friday Chesterfield County Schools after-school activities canceled Thursday York School District eLearning Friday Clover School District eLearning Friday Fort Mill School District eLearning Friday Rock Hill Schools eLearning Friday Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. WAIANAE, Hawaii (KHON2) Health officials in West Oahu are calling the recent rise in violence in a public health emergency. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC) asked elected officials to recognize and help them address the problem through a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Officials at WCCHC said enough is enough after several recent violent crimes in West Oahu. This is very personal for me, said Alicia Higa, WCCHC chief health equity officer, I was born and raised on this coast and what has unfolded in our community has broken my heart. Bacon made from flowers? Its mind-blowing Treat this as a crisis, not as the new normal or this is just a one off. This is sustained violence, said WCCHC executive vice president Nicholas Hughey. That, in essence, makes it a crisis and when were in a crisis, then all the conventional sort of approach ahs to go out and we have to approach it as a crisis. WCCHC put forth a roadmap with a focus on mental health trauma and resilience counseling training and requested $500,000 from the City and State to support the initiative. Expansion completed at Womens Community Correctional Center Weve tried to fill the gap as a community health center, but we need more concerted and collaborative effort from city and state entities to be able to do that, said WCCHC chief medical officer Dr. Stephen Bradley. Rep. Darius Kila lives along Farrington Highway and said he definitely feels an emotional toll. Every single night and especially in, when its after nine and I hear more than three sirens, I just start to brace for whatever that could be, said the Honokai Hale, Nanakuli and Maili representative. Hawaii town ranks 95 out of 100 for this. Do you agree? Health officials at WCCHC said the violence on the west side is clearly a crisis to them, but impressing that on State and County officials has been a challenge. Its not understood downtown. You can send an email. You can say this is happening, but unless you actually see it and feel it and talk to our staff, youre not going to realize the the nature of this public health emergency, said WCCHC president & CEO Richard Bettini. Major upgrades coming to Frank Fasi Municipal building When were going into the next legislative session. Like I think Maui was a huge ask. And I think now its my turn to ask my colleagues how they can be supportive of 96792, Rep. Kila said. WCCHC offers support for depression, anxiety, problems, sleeping, anger or trauma from the recent events and can be reached at 808-697-3469. KHON2 asked the City and County of Honolulu and the State Department of Health if they agree that there is an ongoing health crisis in West Oahu, neither gave a direct answer but their responses can be found below: The Waianae area of Oahu is a federally designated medically underserved area. (This is one of many reasons the WCCHC is so important as a healthcare provider in the area). Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Dr. Jim Ireland, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services director Firearms violence, specifically the recent incidents in Waianae, is certainly of high concern to DOH. In response to your specific question about whether or not the West Oahu firearm violence should be called an ongoing public health crisis, DOH believes the situation is one that necessitates a robust government-supported community-based response. Dr. Kenneth Fink, Hawaii State Department of Health director Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The White House is concerned that President Volodymyr Zelensky's victory plan for Ukraine lacks a clear strategy to win against Russia, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Sept. 25, citing U.S. and European officials. Zelensky is set to present the details of his much-anticipated plan to U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during a White House visit on Sept. 26. The plan includes military and diplomatic components, including Ukraine's invitation to join NATO, but the full details of the peace framework have not yet been publicized. The goal of the plan is to strengthen Ukraine's future negotiating position and push Russia to make a just peace. Some officials familiar with the plan's outlines said it focuses too heavily on requesting more weapons and lifting restrictions on long-range missile strikes. "I'm unimpressed, there's not much new there," one senior official told the WSJ. A key part of the plan hinges on the U.S. and Western countries allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons to hit targets deep within Russia, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said. If the U.S. does not grant those permissions, Ukraine's proposals will be "less relevant," he told the WSJ. White House officials are worried that Zelensky's plan does not offer clear, actionable steps that Biden can support in his four remaining months in office, the WSJ reported. U.S. and European officials told the WSJ that parts of the plan remain underdeveloped, and that requests related to weapons are the must specific and detailed. The Biden administration has been reluctant to grant wider permission for Kyiv to use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike military targets on Russian territory, citing the possibility of escalation with Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin played into those fears ahead of Zelensky's visit to the White House, proposing changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine at a Security Council meeting on Sept. 25. Putin said Russia could interpret any "aggression by a non-nuclear state with the participation of a nuclear state" as a "joint attack" against Russia. Putin's nuclear warnings come as multiple Western outlets, including Politico and the Guardian, have reported that the U.S. and U.K. are considering shifting their positions on long-range strikes and preparing plans to ease current restrictions. Biden said on Sept. 25 that he plans to announce a number of support measures for Ukraine during Zelensky's visit. "Tomorrow, I will announce a series of actions to accelerate support for Ukraine's military," he said. The announcement will reportedly include over $8 billion in military aid to Kyiv. Read also: Russia must feel its going to lose Zelenskys victory plan, explained Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By John Irish and Michele Kambas UNITED NATIONS/NICOSIA (Reuters) - Western nations were weighing their options on Thursday on how to safely get nationals out of Lebanon if a full-scale war breaks out, diplomats said, with Cyprus and possibly Turkey seen as offering sanctuary to tens of thousands of people. Cyprus is the closest European Union member state, some 264 km (164 miles) from Lebanon. It has been at the forefront of maritime aid efforts for Gaza and in the past was used to coordinate evacuations from Lebanon. Cyprus processed around 60,000 people fleeing the Hezbollah-Israel war in 2006, and a potential Israel ground invasion into southern Lebanon with a response from Iran-backed Hezbollah of ballistic missiles and drones could mean mass evacuations from both Lebanon and Israel. "We have requests from a number of countries, not only from the European Union but also from other third countries. We are ready to play this role in case of a need," Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides told Reuters on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "We did it back in 2006 and we are ready to do it again," Christodoulides said. "It is difficult but also it is our moral responsibility." Several countries, including the United States, France, Britain and Germany, have thousands of nationals living or travelling through Lebanon. All have worked in recent months to prepare plans with Cyprus in case of a full-scale war. Diplomats said other nations without the needed military infrastructure in the region would also need help evacuating their citizens. It takes about 10 hours from Beirut to Cyprus by sea and 40 minutes by plane. Until now, commercial airlines have been flying from Beirut, although some airlines like Air France have suspended operations, reducing options for people to leave. Diplomats say that not only are Lebanese defiant and unwilling to heed travel advice to leave, but many Lebanese and dual nationals abroad have also been filling planes to Beirut. Negotiations for a temporary ceasefire were under way at the United Nations in New York, but neither Israel nor Hezbollah indicated they were ready to cease hostilities and Israel stepped up its strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday. Key to evacuations will be the use of Britain's two military bases on the island. Britain, which has about 10,000 citizens in Lebanon, said this week it was moving troops to Cyprus and had naval ships in place to help evacuations. Western states were also working with Turkey to make preparations for the possible evacuation, most likely by sea from the port of Tripoli in northern Lebanon to Mersin in southern Turkey, if Lebanon's airports cannot be used, Turkish and European sources said. No evacuation order has been given yet and it was unlikely unless Israel amassed troops on the Lebanese border, diplomats said. France has about 20,000 citizens in Lebanon and 1,000 troops as part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission. France's defence ministry declined to comment on specific planning, but said it has had robust plans in place since October 2023. European diplomats said France has been liaising with the United States, which has about 50,000 citizens in Lebanon, and with Britain and Germany, to coordinate with Cyprus. Washington has urged U.S. citizens to leave Lebanon, but the State Department has not ordered an evacuation of U.S. personnel nor requested assistance from the U.S. military to evacuate Americans, U.S. officials say. U.S. troops newly deployed to the region could help in the event of an evacuation, officials told Reuters. Paris has a warship in the region that could evacuate about 150 people and a helicopter carrier on stand-by that could take 10 times that many, but it would take several days to reach the region from southern France, two French diplomats said. The French, Cypriot, Greek and Italian navies carried out drills in the region from Sept. 14-18, including for evacuating citizens, according to the French defence ministry. One challenge will be to secure a quick air bridge out of Cyprus given the large numbers of people arriving on the island in a short space of time, diplomats said. "The real challenge in all this is that it is going to take a number of days, weeks even, to shift most foreign nationals out of Lebanon, excluding the possibility of Israel too, which means people in Lebanon may end up being told 'hang tight' while Israeli F-35s and Hezbollah missiles zoom above skies," said one European diplomat. (Reporting by John Irish at the United Nations and Michele Kambas in Cyprus; Additional reporting by Jonathan Spicer and Simon Lewis; Editing by Howard Goller) NORTHERN MICHIGAN Veterans living in Northern Michigan could be struggling with a number of issues, from housing to health care to employment, and there are a bounty of resources and support services available to them. Whether it is the camaraderie of the American Legion or seeking help with benefits at a Veterans Affairs office, there are dedicated professionals and groups waiting to help out local veterans in need. Veterans Affairs offices exist in many counties and are often the best way for veterans to get the help they require. The VA's main job is to help veterans identify and sign up for various claims, including disability compensation, burial benefits, educational benefits and more. "One of our main things is filing claims for veterans for disability, we help walk them through the process," said John Miller from the Chippewa County Veterans Affairs office. "We're currently expanding so we can offer more claims." Veterans salute the American flag on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 during the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey. While there are a lot of benefits that many veterans qualify for, there are some things they may need help with that benefits programs don't cover. According to some VA offices, many veterans could be helped by finding a friend or a sense of community. "Veteran service officers are employees of the county there for veterans themselves to help through the benefit process. That's definitely veterans' number one resource in the local area," said Jeff Urban, director of the Emmet County Veterans Affairs Office. Other groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or American Legion have local posts and host regular events that are meant to give veterans a sense of community and friendship. For example, the VFW post in Sault Ste. Marie hosts coffee and dinner hours every day, along with regular chats that help veterans build connections. The grand entry at the Sault Tribe's Honoring Our Veterans Pow Wow on Nov. 12, 2022. Flags are carried by tribal members who are veterans of various branches in the United States military. Some veterans programs exist specifically to help them fight a sense of loneliness. "The younger vets that are coming home, they're definitely isolating a little bit more than than usual. It seems like our younger veterans don't really have an organization they feel comfortable going to, they feel like they can't connect with the older veterans. They feel like they have an issue going home and finding a spot in society again," said Urban. There are many other types of organizations that also provide support to veterans, like Mission Six Service Dogs which trains service dogs for veterans struggling with PTSD, disabilities or other issues. The Smith-Hoover American Legion Post 281's Drum & Bugle Corps performs in the Memorial Day parade in Harbor Springs. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to out coverage One big problem facing veterans today is that as they age, they need more access to services like live-in care nurses and other health aides. Some veterans have a difficult time getting access to these programs or do not realize they qualify for help. "We're seeing an influx of the Vietnam veterans needing assistance. The lack of actual nurses and caregivers are an issue. But there's also lack of information for family members taking care of the veterans that just don't know about these resources," said Urban. The Chippewa County VA is currently in the process of expanding its existing services as it goes through a transition period of new members. While they already offer many different areas of support, they want to bring in new ways to connect with veterans on an emotional level and provide company. "I'd like the veterans to know, even if they're in a home or they just want somebody to talk to, they can reach out to our office, because we will do those things, just to go sit with a veteran and chat with them," said Miller. To find your local VA office, visit va.gov/find-locations. Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Where to find resources and support for Northern Michigan veterans Where to watch school board candidate forums for IPS, HSE, Carmel and Noblesville races The Nov. 5 general election is right around the corner and this year there are several competitive races for local school board seats in central Indiana. To help voters better know who the school board candidates are, multiple forums are being hosted across the city for different races. Voter registration ends on Oct. 7 and early voting begins in Marion County on Oct. 8. Here is where you can watch and see local school board candidate forums: Indianapolis Public School Board Candidate Forums Indianapolis Recorder Forum The Indianapolis Recorder is hosting an IPS candidate forum with the Edna Martin Christian Center, KIPP Indy Public Schools, Brightwood Community Center, Martindale Brightwood Education Zone and IndyEast Promise Neighborhood. The forum is for candidates running for District 1, District 2 and the open at-large seat. It will be moderated by Indianapolis Recorder Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones and will feature a Q&A format. When: 5:30 7 p.m. Oct. 1 Where: KIPP Legacy High School, 2255 Ralston Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46218 Do I have to RSVP?: Yes, everyone wanting to attend must RSVP by Sept. 27 through an online form or by contacting Martha Cortes at mcortes@kippindy.org. IPS School Board election 2024: Here are who the candidates are. WFYI and Chalkbeat Indiana WFYI and Chalkbeat Indiana are hosting an IPS candidate forum in partnership with the Indianapolis Public Library. Journalists from both media organizations will moderate the forum and take audience questions submitted both before and during the event. The forum also will be live-streamed on WFYI's Facebook page and YouTube Page. When: 6 p.m. Oct. 8 Where: Clowes Auditorium at the Central Library, 40 E St. Clair St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 Do I have to RSVP?: It is encouraged but not mandatory. Those wishing to attend can RSVP through the online form found at wfyi.org. Carmel School Board Candidate Forum The Current in Carmel is partnering with the Carmel Center for the Performing Arts to host a Carmel School board candidate debate forum for all four candidates. The event will also be live-streamed. When: 7 p.m. Sept. 30 Where: The Palladium, 1 Carter Green, Carmel, IN 46032 Do I have to RSVP?: Yes, you can get a free ticket through an online form at thecenterpresents.org. Carmel Clay School Board election 2024: Here are who the candidates are. Hamilton Southeastern School Board Candidate Forum The Current in Fishers is partnering with WFYI to host a forum for all six candidates running for HSEs school board. However, the event is currently sold out, but viewers can watch a live stream of the event on WFYI's Facebook and YouTube pages. When: 7 p.m. Oct. 10 Where: City of Fishers Arts & Municipal Center Theatre, 1 Municipal Drive Fishers, IN HSE School board election 2024: Here is who's running. Noblesville School Board Candidate Forum Candidates for the Noblesville school board gathered on Sept. 18 for a candidate forum. It was hosted by the Noblesville City Hall and the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce. Viewers can watch a recording of the meeting on Hamilton County Televisions Facebook page. Keep up with school news: Sign up for Study Hall, IndyStar's free weekly education newsletter. Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Here's where to watch school board candidate debates White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back on calls from top Republicans to investigate President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent visit to a Pennsylvania ammunition plant, telling reporters on Sept. 26 that it was a "political stunt" and that they "need to drop this." Zelensky visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant on Sept. 22, along with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and other Democratic politicians from the state, to thank workers for producing critically needed 155 mm shells for Ukraine. Following the visit, Republican Congressman James Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, announced on Sept. 25 that he was opening up an investigation into the White House's "misuse of government resources." Later in the day, House Speaker Mike Johnson, also a Republican, wrote a letter to Zelensky demanding that Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, be fired for alleged "election interference." Johnson argued that Markarova had arranged a taxpayer-funded trip to a battleground state that "purposely excluded" Republicans ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Jean-Pierre dismissed the investigation into the visit as a partisan effort from Republicans. She said the Ukrainian delegation had asked to visit the plant, and the Department of Defense (DoD) arranged for their transportation, "which is common." The press secretary added that Zelensky had visited Utah's Republican Governor Spencer Cox in July to address the National Governors Association and that "there was not a single demand for an investigation" after the trip from Republicans. Zelensky's visit to the ammunition plant was "business as usual for a Ukrainian request during wartime," Jean-Pierre said. Read also: What we know about the victory plan Zelensky is presenting to Biden today Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The White House said the 21-day cease-fire proposal between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, unveiled Wednesday night, was coordinated with the Israeli government, which later rejected it. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in a press briefing Thursday that the statement was indeed coordinated with the Israeli side. Im just laying out the facts and what we know, and what we want to avoid, she said. We do not believe an all-out war is the answer. Jean-Pierre added that she cant speak for the Israeli side, but conversations are ongoing. Israel was aware of this statement and now, what I can tell you right now, we are having continued discussions that is happening with our teams in New York. I can assure you these conversations are continuing, she said. The Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a close ally of his, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, were briefed on the proposal earlier this week and expressed initial approval. But Netanyahu later reversed course on a flight to New York after pressure from factions in his government, the outlet reported. Netanyahus office released a statement Thursday expressing opposition to the cease-fire proposal, which was led by the U.S. and France but backed by several allies. The prime minister landed in the U.S. on Thursday to attend the United Nations General Assembly, which is open for high-level talks until Monday. The plan aims for a three-week truce between Israel and Hezbollah while a more permanent agreement is worked out along the Blue Line, a boundary between the two countries. The U.S. released the proposal amid intense escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in the past week, including deadly Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Monday that killed more than 500 people. Washington has pushed for months to reach a diplomatic agreement between both sides to avoid a full-out war but has struggled to quell the tensions. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire over the border for 11 months in a conflict tied to the ongoing war with Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told MSNBCs Morning Joe Thursday that if Israel wants to return its about 60,000 displaced residents in the north, we believe that the best way to get that done is through diplomacy. To get an agreement that would create a secure environment, forces pulling back from the border, people having confidence to go back to their homes, he added. Conversely, getting into a full-scale war is not the way to achieve that objective. Theres no way in that situation that people are going to be able to go back, the secretary of state continued, So, you have much of the world coming together, calling for this 21-day cease-fire, to give us some time, to give us some space, to see if we can get a diplomatic resolution that creates that environment to get people home. Alex Gangitano contributed reporting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre has said that there was nothing out of the ordinary about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to an arms factory in Pennsylvania a key state in the elections and called on Republicans to drop their demand for an investigation into the alleged political nature of the visit. Source: a press briefing by Karine Jean-Pierre, as reported by European Pravda Details: The spokesperson noted at a briefing on Thursday that the Ukrainian side had requested to visit a plant employing American workers. She described it as a common request from Ukrainians during the war. She also mentioned a similar visit that President Zelenskyy made to Utah two months ago. "Just two months ago, President Zelenskyy travelled to Utah and held an event with the Republican governor. A very similar event. And Republican officials were there, and there wasnt a single demand not one single demand for investigation when that occurred a couple months ago in Utah. So we would encourage the House Republicans to drop this," the White House spokesperson said. Background: Republicans in the US Congress have initiated an investigation into President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to a munitions factory in Pennsylvania. They believe Zelenskyy was endorsing the Democrats ahead of the November elections and thus interfering in the elections. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said the committee is seeking to determine whether the Biden-Harris administration was trying to use Zelenskyy to help Vice President Harris' presidential campaign. On Wednesday, US House Speaker Mike Johnson released a letter to President Zelenskyy containing a categorical demand over the Ukrainian president's visit to the Pennsylvania plant. Support UP or become our patron! President Joe Biden and his aides kept their distance from New York Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday after their one-time ally was indicted on sweeping federal corruption charges. Outside of one condolence call, Biden has not spoken to Adams in any substantive way in nearly two years, according to a pair of White House officials granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations. That rift stemmed from Adams frequent criticism of the Biden administrations handling of the migrant influx into the nations largest city and long predated the federal probe. In the wake of those broadsides, Adams was dropped from Biden's reelection campaign advisory board before it was announced last summer. News of the federal investigation first broke months later, culminating in the indictment brought by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. White House aides noted that the president had been in New York for three days this week for the United Nations General Assembly, but he did not make time for Adams. Adams, only a couple years after lauding Biden as his political model, has now taken a page from Donald Trumps playbook. He suggested the investigations into him are politically motivated, seeming to blame his clash with the White House for making him a target. Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics, Adams said in a video statement released after news of the indictment broke. The White House denied any coordination between the White House and the Justice Department. DOJ is handling this case independently, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing on Thursday. Im not going to go beyond that. Jean-Pierre also sidestepped a question on whether Biden shares the view of several New York Democrats that Adams should resign. Earlier ethical yellow flags in the mayors career an alleged bid-rigging scandal and a self-promotional nonprofit werent enough to stop Biden from once embracing the Black, politically moderate former cop who fit well with the presidents own political persona after he captured City Hall in 2021. Adams boastfully deemed himself the Biden of Brooklyn, comparing his victory over more liberal Democratic primary contenders with how Biden defeated more lefty candidates a year earlier. Biden eagerly appeared at events with Adams, whose police officer background was welcome at a moment when crime across the nation increased during the pandemic. Biden hosted Adams, then the Brooklyn borough president and a mayoral candidate, at a White House gun violence event in 2021. And the next year, only a month after Adams was sworn in, Biden again appeared with him at a New York City event on combating violent crime. Two former administration officials involved in planning that February 2022 event said it was largely about needing law enforcement and elected officials to validate the presidents approach to reduce crime. Biden, they noted on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, has long been especially accommodating to local officials on trips, despite staff concerns about the political risks of appearing with certain elected officials or their associates who would often end up in photo lines with the president. In Adams case, some staffers had qualms about his character but recognized the political rationale for hosting an event with the mayor and NYPD officers, said the two former officials. But that relationship changed after Adams began criticizing the presidents handling of the migrant crisis, which the mayor described in hyperbolic language as an existential threat against the nations largest city. Adams said the cost and toll of the migrant crisis will destroy his city. The president and the White House have failed this city, Adams said last year, a line many Republicans and conservatives have used to attack the Biden administration. The mayors trademark bravado occasionally frustrated White House aides, including when he declared himself as the new face of the Democratic Party and only encouraged speculation about a future White House run. Despite his criticisms and antics, which White House officials found tiresome, the administration continued to work with the mayors office to address the migrant crisis, one White House official said. The White House also worked with the city on other issues, despite the West Wing largely ignoring the mayor himself. Since their falling out, the president himself has continued to avoid Adams and has barely spoken about him, according to the two White House officials. The two men did speak in March, when Biden called Adams and offered condolences after a city police officer was killed. But the mayor was quickly perceived in Bidens inner circle as a potential headache and no effort was made to rehabilitate the relationship, the officials said. Its been a long time since any of us gave him much real thought, said one of the White House officials. White House aides, the two officials said, have not dwelled on the scandals that threaten Adams political future and do not believe that the arrest will have any impact on Bidens tenure in office or Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign. Republicans may be outraged over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to a munitions plant in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, but the White House isnt paying much heed to their complaints. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre used her Thursday press briefing to bat down gripes from House Republicans who are accusing Zelensky of improperly interfering in the upcoming US presidential election by visiting a weapons factory where artillery shells used by his countrys armed forces are being produced. The Ukrainian leader is in the US to attend the UN General Assembly and is meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House later in the day Thursday. He drew Republicans ire when he visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania over the weekend. During his visit, Zelensky inspected production lines where the 155mm artillery shells, designed for the front lines in his countrys war with Russia, are manufactured. He did so alongside the states governor, Josh Shapiro. While inspecting the plant, he told workers: It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail. Thanks to people like these in Ukraine, in America, and in all partner countries who work tirelessly to ensure that life is protected. Zelenskys sojourn in the Keystone State and his subsequent criticisms of former president Donald Trump and his running-mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance led House Republicans to level charges of putting a thumb on the scales for Harris, particular since Pennsylvania is an important swing state. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer was moved to send letters to the White House, Department of Justice and Department of Defense in which he demanded any information and communication, both internal and external, about President Zelenskys visit to the United States, and griped that Zelensky was granted the use of an Air Force aircraft for his travel to Pennsylvania. Speaker Mike Johnson went a step further, calling for Zelensky to fire his widely respected ambassador, Oksana Markarova, because shed failed to invite any Republicans to the event. But White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back on the GOPs assertions by noting that the visit to the plant was arranged at the request of Zelenskys government and no one else. The Ukrainians asked to visit the facility, which employs American workers ... who are manufacturing critical supplies that the Ukrainian military is using every day on the front lines of freedom because of its centrality ... to their countrys continued existence. This came from the Ukrainians, not us, she said. This is something that they wanted to do after they made that request. DoD did what it has done for years: figure out how to provide transportation for foreign leaders traveling on US soil. As for Zelenskys use of an American military plane, Jean-Pierre pointed out that such arrangements are standard for foreign leaders who are traveling domestically within the United States. She stressed that using military aircraft in such instances is commonplace and not just because Zelensky is someone who the Russian government might like to see dead. She also noted that Zelensky had made similar trip to a different defense manufacturing facility in Utah earlier in the year without drawing any complaints. That trip, she said, featured no Democratic participants, but it did include Utahs Republican governor and other GOP officeholders. There wasnt a single demand, not one, not one single demand for an investigation when that occurred a couple months ago in Utah. So this was business as usual ... We would encourage the House Republicans to drop this, she added. This is a political stunt. Why China would want to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile out into the Pacific China test-fired an ICBM this week, launching it into the Pacific Ocean for the first time in over 40 years. This kind of testing gives China useful data on how an ICBM would perform under normal circumstances. China's rocket force has seen significant growth in recent years as China bolsters its capabilities. China's test of an intercontinental ballistic missile this week, which saw the country lob the long-range weapon far out into the Pacific Ocean, was a very public display of Chinese military power at a time when it is bolstering its nuclear arsenal. The test the first of its kind by China in over 40 years also gave China the chance to gather invaluable data about what the ICBM's launch, trajectory, and range could look like in a potential real-world scenario, something a lofted test out in the desert can't offer. On Wednesday, the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, the missile branch of the Chinese military, fired an ICBM with a dummy warhead into the Pacific. Though it was anything but, China's Ministry of Defense said the test launch was "routine." It noted it was part of the country's training plan and said other countries were notified in advance. Maps shared online indicated the weapon, which was launched from Hainan, landed in the South Pacific after covering a distance of roughly 12,000 km. China's defense ministry said that the ICBM came down where expected. China has not said which missile was tested, but the military has shared pictures online. China watchers and experts initially suggested it could've been a DF-41, one of PLARF's newer ICBMs. The three-stage, solid-fueled rocket has been tested out in the Gobi Desert and was publicly unveiled back in 2019. Other analysts have since said that the weapon was a DF-31 variant. China's intercontinental ballistic missile test on Wednesday was its first in the Pacific in over 40 years. China People's Liberation Army News and Communication Center China has conducted several ICBM tests in interior desert locations as its missile arsenal has grown, but Wednesday's test was different, providing China with something the other tests couldn't. Tianran Xu, an analyst for Open Nuclear Network, told Business Insider that "if you launch towards the Pacific, that's the most realistic scenario because you can see how the rocket performs in completely realistic conditions." He said that this kind of testing likely isn't indispensable, but "it does have the advantage of being completely realistic." China has long tested missiles out in the desert, but as Decker Eveleth, a researcher at the Center for Naval Analyses, noted in a series of social media posts, "the problem is that this forces you to use a lofted trajectory" because the "distance from the ICBM test site to the target ranges is around 2000-3000 kilometers." "That means, if the PLARF wanted to test a depressed trajectory, they're going to need to find another place to test their ICBMs," he said, referring to a lower, longer flight path. Chinese military analysts arrived at similar conclusions. Song Zhongping, a retired PLARF officer and commentator, told the state-run China Daily that "though China's intercontinental ballistic missiles have good reliability and strong power, we need a certain number of full-range tests to check their operational readiness." The US notably conducts ICBM readiness tests regularly by launching Minuteman III ICBMs into the Pacific. These tests are fairly routine, unlike the Chinese test, which was the first such test since a DF-5 test in 1980. Tianran said that China's interior missile tests likely have given China sufficient confidence in the capabilities of its weapons, but the test in the Pacific was a rare opportunity to mimic what a real launch would look like, including logistics, transportation, the skills of missile crews, and launching from atypical sites. "Launching a missile is complicated and there are a variety of tasks that if you mess it up, that missile is going to miss the target," Eveleth said. "By doing it out at Hainan and launching from a potentially unfamiliar launch location the missile crew may be unfamiliar with you can identify potential pitfalls in the process." China's ICBM test comes less than a week before the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Xinhua/Lin Yiguang via Getty Images The publicly announced ICBM launch comes as PLARF expands its nuclear arsenal and builds up its missile capabilities. Last fall, the Department of Defense reported that PLARF had effectively doubled its stockpiles of some missiles from 2021 to 2022, including medium-range ballistics capable of targeting US military assets in Japan and intermediate-range missiles able to reach Guam; its number of ICBMs went from 300 to 350, while its launchers for those missiles grew from 300 to 500. The "dramatic expansion," coupled with other new developments, "will significantly improve its nuclear-capable missile forces and will require increased nuclear-warhead production," the Pentagon said, estimating that China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads making it the world's third-largest arsenal after Russia and the US. The US recently deployed its Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher to the Philippines. US Army photo by Captain Ryan DeBooy China's ICBM test in the Pacific also comes as the country flexes its muscles, conducting joint naval drills with Russia that the Russian leader characterized as a challenge to the US-led world order, bullying neighboring nations, and testing boundaries. China has faced repeated criticism for engaging in unsafe intercepts of American aircraft and those of its allies, airspace violations and breaches of territorial waters, and aggressive clashes at sea in contested waterways while also continuing to put increasing pressure on Taiwan. Beijing has likewise expressed frustration with the US military's presence in the region, including the indefinite deployment of a new missile system in the Philippines and a potential future one to Japan, among other things. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry recently accused the US, through its moves, of heightening an "arms race" and exacerbating "regional tensions" related to the deployment. China has also recently complained about transits by the US and its allies and partners through the Taiwan Strait. Despite the persistent tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, the Chinese military stated that its ICBM test was "not directed against any country or target." It didn't say whether it plans to repeat this kind of test in the future. Read the original article on Business Insider CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) West Virginia is no stranger to drug epidemics, as it currently faces the opioid crisis head-on. But in recent years, the trends of prescription pills and heroin have made way for a substance best known as a one-and-done killerfentanyl. In an interview with 12 News, Northern District of West Virginia Attorney, William Ihlenfeld, referred to the drug as the greatest drug threat law enforcement has ever faced. Chemicals in fentanyl are supplied from China, manufactured in Mexico, and distributed through major drug cartels into the United States. The drug has gained popularity with dealers for how cheap and easy it is to create. In contrast, heroin requires a longer processing period and expenses for manufacturing; fentanyls lower costs, mean greater profits. How reliable are fentanyl test strips? 12 News also spoke with Mateen Abdul Maziz or Tuna, who is a community activist in Clarksburg who once sold drugs. Ive never been into using drugs, I dont know what its like to get that high, but I can tell you from chasing money, itsan adrenaline rush, just like riding a rollercoaster, said Tuna. When fentanyl falls into the hands of a first-time user, the results are often deadly, according to Ihlenfeld, and yet, that doesnt deter users, according to Tuna. Its one and done, that whole era of experimentation is over now. Young people used to be able to try something, that maybe their friend shared with them at a party and live to tell about it, and that era is over, said Ihlenfeld. When you have these overdoses, the people hear about it, wherever that person got that from, the next person wants to gravitate to the same place because in their eyes, you know, thats where you get the good stuff, said Tuna. When drugs like meth and cocaine are mixed with a low dosage of fentanyl, it creates a greater addiction and an avid customer. Statistics have shown that pressed pills are affecting adolescents more than any other age group, as they may think theyre buying Percocet or Adderall. WVDoHS reports significant decrease in fatal overdoses from 2023 to 2024 The trends in the United States show that children in that age category are using drugs less frequently, drug use is trending downward, which is fabulous, I think alcohol use is trending downward as well which is fabulous, but the total of deaths is trending upward. So how do we have it that theyre using drugs less often, but theyre dying more frequently? Its because of fentanyl, said Ihlenfeld. I dont care who you are, this drug epidemic affects all of us, directly or indirectly. As a community, as a town, as a state, we have to get better at providing services to help people who are out there. You know, we can sit around and be mad and complain, but complaining about them is not going to do anything. We have to make it easier to get services for them to get that help, said Tuna. You can learn more about fentanyl and its effects at the US DEAs website and statistics specific to West Virginia are available on the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policys website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Kansas Democrats believe their path to breaking the Republican stronghold in the Legislature runs through Johnson County, where flipping a handful of seats would hand Gov. Laura Kelly leverage thats eluded her for the past six years. This November, each of the states 125 House seats and 40 Senate seats are on the ballot. Republicans are comfortably in power, but they have razor-thin margins for preserving veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers. Kansas requires two-thirds support in both chambers to override vetoes. Democrats are aiming to pick up at least two seats in the House and three in the Senate. Achieving either would eliminate Republicans ability to override the governors veto on a party-line vote and would strengthen Kellys hand as she negotiates on key policy priorities including Medicaid expansion. Kansas is one of nine states the national Democrats are prioritizing in their $10 million push to win seats in statehouses across the country. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the arm of the party that works on state legislative races, is targeting 10 Kansas races, including five in Johnson County. Weve seen the Republican supermajority time and time again override Gov. Kellys veto power, and were just a handful of seats away from breaking the supermajority and restoring her veto power, which would fundamentally shift what the balance of power looks like in Kansas, DLCC spokesperson Samantha Paisley told The Star. The emphasis on Johnson County is a calculated one. Voters in Kansas wealthiest and most populous county have trended towards Democrats in recent cycles. In 2022, Kelly beat Republican Derek Schmidt by 20 percentage points there on her way to reelection, and voters rejected the amendment that would have removed the right to an abortion from the Kansas Constitution by 37 percentage points. We know that voters are on the side of having their fundamental freedoms protected and seeing an end to the MAGA agenda through Johnson County, so thats why we see it as absolutely crucial to breaking the Republican supermajority this cycle, Paisley said. Voter turnout is usually at its highest in presidential election years, which could benefit either party at the state level depending on how candidates perform with key constituencies. Kansas Democrats are also urging voters to turn out in force to elect lawmakers who will protect reproductive rights, prevent further legislation targeting transgender Kansans and give 150,000 more people access to health care through Medicaid expansion. Senate President Ty Masterson said Republicans are confident they can defend districts in Johnson County and pick up new seats across Kansas through socially and fiscally conservative messaging to voters. Johnson County is of course vital, and so are other areas of the state, and our map is expanding by the day, Masterson said in a text statement. We are very optimistic about not only defending but expanding our Republican supermajority. Key races Democrats are hoping to flip as many as three Johnson County senate seats currently held by Republicans. Theyre also focused on two House districts there one they hope to pick up and another that Democratic state representative Allison Hougland is defending in Olathe. Hougland, a realtor, was first elected to the House in 2022. Shes up against Lauren Bohi, an administrative assistant at pediatric behavioral health clinic KidsTLC. House District 39 includes Shawnee, Lake Quivira and parts of Bonner Springs. Democratic challenger Vanessa Vaughn West is running against Angela Stiens, the Republican appointed to serve the remainder of Owen Donohoes term after he abruptly resigned earlier this year. Steins is an occupational therapist who kept her seat on the Shawnee City Council after being appointed to the statehouse. West, who also lives in Shawnee, works as director of diversity and inclusion at a Kansas City law firm. In Senate District 10, Democrat Andrew Mall is attempting to unseat Mike Thompson, who was a longtime TV meteorologist in Kansas City before his election in 2020 to represent Shawnee, Lake Quivira and part of Lenexa. Mall is a former president of the Kansas Association of Realtors. Republican incumbent Kellie Warren, an attorney, is seeking re-election to Senate District 11 against fellow attorney Karen Thurlow. District 11 includes eastern parts of Leawood and Overland Park. Republican Robert Olsen isnt running for a fourth term in Senate District 23, which covers much of Olathe in south-central Johnson County. That means Democratic challenger Stacey Knoell is up against state representative Adam Thomas, who works in restaurants when the Legislature is out of session. Knoell, a former public school teacher, currently serves as executive director of Gov. Kellys Kansas African American Affairs Commission. Obviously, money is going to have to be spent but quality candidates comes first, and it does look like the Democrats have done that. They have viable candidates in all the districts that theyre trying to turn around, said Bob Beatty, chair of the political science department at Washburn University. I do think that gaining seats in Johnson County is very possible . . . But the second part of the equation is, Democrats also need to hold some seats, and those are not necessarily in Johnson County, so thats a challenge. Masterson pointed to Senate seats held by Democratic incumbents Jeff Pittman in Leavenworth and Usha Reddi in Riley County as examples of districts he believes are in play for Republicans. Theyre also hoping to oust perennially vulnerable Democratic state representative Jason Probst in a competitive Hutchinson district. Whats at stake? Beatty said the fate of the veto-proof supermajority in Kansas will come down to about five races in each chamber. Television ads have already hit the airwaves in Johnson County and other key districts. Theres going to be a lot of money on both sides spent in those races, and thats a bit of a difference from previous years that the Democratic side has more resources than in previous years to spend in those specific districts, Beatty said. Gov. Kellys Middle of the Road PAC raised $1 million to spend on breaking supermajorities this year, and Kansans for a Democratic Senate, a PAC created by former U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier, is paying for ads in Johnson County races. On the Republican side, the Kansas Chamber PAC is running ads in swing districts. In a year with a presidential election, Beatty said Kansas voters shouldnt lose sight of whats at stake down-ballot. Breaking the Republican supermajorities in just one chamber would be a game-changer for Kelly, he said. In terms of negotiating and using her political capital, she could concentrate on bargaining and negotiating from a much stronger position, Beatty said. If the supermajority is not a factor, then theres more room for actual compromise on a much wider variety of bills and initiatives. Republicans would be forced to work with Kelly or risk having their legislation killed. As it stands, conservatives have the numbers to avoid votes on Medicaid expansion, marijuana reform and other priorities Kelly may push for in her final two years as governor. Its just practical politics, Beatty said. With a supermajority, they dont have to negotiate. Why volunteers should come out of their shells for nesting beach cleanup day The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is looking for eager volunteers to help at their October beach cleanup for spiny softshell turtles. The annual event is all about preparing nesting-sites next year. Volunteers will clear away vegetation on beaches where turtles nest, and get an opportunity to learn about long-term turtle recovery efforts. Vermont Fish & Wildlife biologist Toni Mikula will be leading the discussion. This is a great way to help conserve threatened wildlife right here in Vermont. Its also a fun way to learn more about the turtles and to see some recently-hatched baby turtles, said Mikula. These nesting sites are crucial for spiny softshell turtles, map turtles, snapping turtles and painted turtles. The event takes place on Saturday, October 19. Participants will meet at North Hero State Park at about 10:00 a.m. and later carpool to Swanton. The event is rain or shine, and tools are provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gear. This is an all-ages event that families are welcome to. Interested individuals should contact Toni Mikula at Toni.Mikula@vermont.gov for more information. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. HELSINKI (AP) A zoo in Finland has agreed with Chinese authorities to return two loaned giant pandas to China more than eight years ahead of schedule because they have become too expensive for the facility to maintain amid declining visitors. The private Ahtari Zoo in central Finland some 330 kilometers (205 miles) north of Helsinki said Wednesday on its Facebook page that the female panda Lumi, Finnish for snow, and the male panda Pyry, meaning snowfall, will return prematurely to China later this year. Dog food pulled from shelves nationwide: FDA The panda pair was Chinas gift to mark the Nordic nations 100 years of independence in 2017, and they were supposed to be on loan until 2033. But since then the zoo has experienced a number of challenges, including a decline in visitors due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as an increase in inflation and interest rates, the facility said in a statement. TOPSHOT Male panda Hua Bao plays in the snow during the official opening of the Ahtari Zoo Snowpanda Resort in Ahtari, Finland, on March 3, 2018. (Photo by Tommi Anttonen / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo credit should read TOMMI ANTTONEN/AFP via Getty Images) Female panda Lumi plays in the snow in her enclosure during the opening day of the Ahtari Zoo Snowpanda Resort in Ahtari, Finland on February 17, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Lehtikuva / Roni Rekomaa / Finland OUT (Photo credit should read RONI REKOMAA/AFP via Getty Images) Panda male Hua Bao (named Pyry in Finnish) feeds in his enclosure during the opening day of the Ahtari Zoo Snowpanda Resort in Ahtari, Finland on February 17, 2018. (Photo by Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo credit should read RONI REKOMAA/AFP via Getty Images) Female panda Lumi hangs on a tree as she plays during snowfall in her enclosure during the opening day of the Ahtari Zoo Snowpanda Resort in Ahtari, Finland on February 17, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Lehtikuva / Roni Rekomaa / Finland OUT (Photo credit should read RONI REKOMAA/AFP via Getty Images) The panda deal between Helsinki and Beijing, a 15-year loan agreement, had been finalized in April 2017 when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Finland for talks with Finlands then-President Sauli Niinisto. The pandas arrived in Finland in January 2018. The Ahtari Zoo, which specializes in typical northern European animals such as bears, lynxes and wolverines, built a special panda annex at a cost of some 8 million euros ($9 million) in hopes of luring more tourists to the remote nature reserve. The upkeep of Lumi and Pyry, including a preservation fee to China, cost the zoo some 1.5 million euros annually. The bamboo that giant pandas eat was flown in from the Netherlands. Hundreds of monarch butterflies at local park The Chinese Embassy in Helsinki noted to Finnish media that Beijing had tried to help Ahtari to solve its financial difficulties by, among things, urging Chinese companies operating in Finland to make donations to the zoo and supporting its debt arrangements. However, declining visitor numbers combined with drastic changes in the economic environment proved too high a burden for the smallish Finnish zoo. The panda pair will enter into a monthlong quarantine in late October before being shipped to China. Finland, a country of 5.6 million, was among the first Western nations to establish political ties with China, doing so in 1950. China has presented giant pandas to countries as a sign of goodwill and closer political ties, and Finland was the first Nordic nation to receive them. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Family and friends are celebrating the life and legacy of a World War II veteran who was part of the bombing campaign at D-Day. Frank Lee Parkinson Jr. passed away on Friday, September 20, 2024, and was laid to rest on Wednesday, September 24. Family said the dedication he exuded while as a gunner during the war, through his business, Westmoreland Pool, or at the church he loved so dearly, Southwest Baptist, was represented by the laughs and tears shared. He was an American hero, son Craig Parkinson said. After 101 years of life, Parkinson was laid to rest. Family and friends celebrated his life, recounting his dedication to his country He was either jumping out of the plane or being captured by the Germans, Craig said. They lightened the plane by throwing everything they could out until they landed safely in France. His dedication to trips and yearly Texas-OU games We enjoyed many vacations and great times together, and we have memories, daughter Cynthia Schaffner said. And his dedication to honesty. We had disagreements, but our daddy would always win. He would always win, Schaffner said. He thought. Thats the kicker. Parkinson is remembered for his strength and resilience, surviving cancer twice and ensuring the protection of our country. Dad didnt talk to us much about the war when we were growing up, Craig said. However, he did take a prayer book with notes about what life was like for him. He participated in 30 missions and has served to protect our freedom that we have still today. A firm believer in Christ and an avid lover of eggs and cherry pie, Parkinson is memorialized through his pages of writing and recollections of those closest. Our daddy was gracious, kind, and a wonderful man, Schaffner said. We all will miss him. Frank Lee Parkinson Jr: Forever an American hero. Parkinsons celebration of life was followed by a WFPD motorcycle escort and burial with military honors at Riverside Cemetery. As condolences, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, Southwest Baptist Church, or Meals on Wheels. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Wichita Falls police are warning citizens to be aware of scammers pretending to be law enforcement. Police said scammers call and tell people they have warrants, and if they dont give them money immediately, they could go to jail. WFPD spokesman Sgt. Charlie Eipper said the police department has received several complaints from citizens who say they received a very convincing call telling them they have warrants for their arrest, missed a court date or jury duty, and have to pay money over the phone right then to avoid going to jail. LOCAL NEWS: Victims testify in two Wichita County child sex crime trials Eipper said some of the residents said the caller told them they could use Bitcoin, gift cards, and Venmo to pay. Eipper said residents should not give these callers any information, and hang up instead. Eipper said that as far as he knows, no law enforcement agency will call you and offer to let you pay money to avoid going to jail. Law enforcement does not do that, he said. The Wichita Falls Police Department and the City of Wichita Falls typically communicate with citizens through mail, media and their respective online portals. Eipper said if you suspect someone calling you is trying to scam you, hang up and do not give them any information. If you have any questions or if you think you are a victim of a scam, call the police departments non-emergency phone number, (940) 720-5000, or the front desk at (940) 761-7792. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) After police arrested a Wichita Falls woman for possession of about 1,200 fentanyl pills in August that she admitted she was selling, she was taken into custody again on Wednesday for possession of Xanax and an unlawful .45 caliber handgun. Esmerelda Gonzales was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 24, and is now free on bond. Officers said she consented to a search of her black Chevy Malibu in the 1600 block of Wilson Avenue, where they found a Xanax pill in the drivers side door compartment for which she had no prescription. They said they also found the gun on the floorboard behind the drivers seat. Gonzales was out on a $100,000 bond from an Aug. 12 arrest for the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone after a search warrant in the 1700 block of Beverly Drive. Kansas man charged with assaulting girl in Wichita Falls church Officers said a search of her Chevy Malibu and residence uncovered around 1,200 blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl. Many of the pills in the house were in a white shipping bag addressed to Gonzales. The location was within 1,000 feet of Crockett Elementary School. Officers said Gonzales admitted selling Fentanyl to multiple people. This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. A Wichita mother convicted of murdering her toddler by exposing him to methadone has been sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after she serves 25 years. Kimberly Compass and her lawyer argued for a more lenient term including something that would keep her out of prison while her sons paternal family asked for longer, at least 40 years. But the judge only had one sentencing option for first-degree felony murder under Kansas law, and he told them all that during Compass sentencing hearing Wednesday afternoon. This is the sentence that I am required to impose. I cant go higher as the victims family wants me to do, and I cant go lower, Sedgwick County District Judge Jeffrey Goering said of the life term. Compass, 28, plans to appeal, her lawyer said in court. The sentence caps an emotional child death case that has taken more than five years to conclude. Enough methadone to kill an adult Two-year-old Zayden JayNesahkluah was found dead the morning of May 31, 2019, in Room 19 of the Sunset Motel, 2328 S. Broadway in Wichita, where he had spent the night with his mother, a sibling and one of Compass friends. Prosecutors said leading up to and during the motel stay, Compass mishandled three bottles of methadone shed been prescribed by a local addiction clinic to help her kick a heroin habit and Zayden somehow ingested a lethal dose of it. The boys DNA was found on the mouth of one of Compass prescription bottles that had child safety caps, according to testimony at her May 2021 trial. Investigators also found a bottle of juice and a can of Coca-Cola mixed with methadone in the motel room. Prosecutors say Compass kept the powerful synthetic opioid in a childs pencil box with a broken lock in the motel room where her children could reach it, knowing the dangers because shed been warned repeatedly by the addiction clinic. They also suggested at trial that Compass might have dosed Zayden with the methadone on purpose because he was rambunctious and hard for her to handle. The boy had enough methadone in his system to kill an adult, according to trial testimony. Compass, meanwhile, claimed she has no idea how or when Zayden ingested the drug and has accused a friend of killing her son with the methadone because he was mad at her. That friend had been staying in the motel room with Compass and her children and found Zayden unresponsive in a pool of his own vomit. Compass defense called witnesses during the trial and at later hearings who claimed the friend had admitted to poisoning the boy, but neither jurors nor the judge found their stories persuasive. The friend testified at trial that he warned Compass to keep her drugs where her children couldnt reach them and said Zayden was already acting lethargic when he met up with Compass before the motel stay. Kimberly Compass was arrested Aug. 18, 2019, on suspicion of felony murder in the death of her 2-year-old son, Zayden JayNesehkluah. Compass maintains her innocence Jurors convicted Compass of one count of first-degree felony murder after a multi-day trial in May 2021. The felony crime that underlies the murder count is aggravated child endangerment, which prosecutors say Compass was engaging in when she didnt properly secure her drugs. In Kansas, the only sentence a defendant convicted of first-degree felony murder can receive is life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years. Judges have no discretion to order more or less time or impose probation instead. Compass continued to maintain her innocence Wednesday, insisting the friend was to blame for Zaydens death. In a fiery speech, she told the judge the law was wrong and it was not fair that she should have to serve any more time behind bars when the person she thinks is really at fault is walking free. How do you guys even live with yourself and let this be okay? Compass demanded, saying she has no way to make money to buy a headstone for her sons grave and that since her arrest has been subjected to nothing but abuse by inmates who beat her and call her names like child killer. Defense attorney Lacy Gilmour told the judge Compass time in jail had been a nightmare where she suffered a broken jaw and bones and hasnt been given bereavement services or appropriate medical, dental or mental health care. Before her arrest, Compass was doing everything that she was supposed to be doing, including going to beauty school and overcoming a tumultuous childhood that left her in foster care, Gilmour said. Compass also lived on the streets at times, according to comments at her trial. But she was too trusting of someone she thought was her friend and now lives every day knowing her child is gone, Gilmour said. She argued the states felony murder statute is unconstitutional and asked for a reduced term, saying no one thinks that my client deliberately set out to hurt this child. In her comments, Sedgwick County Assistant District Attorney Alice Osburn reminded the court that jurors found Compass guilty after hearing evidence at her trial and that Compass presented more evidence of her purported innocence at a later hearing where she sought a new trial, which the judge denied. This is an appropriate sentence in this case, Osburn said of the life term. Toddlers grandmother speaks in court Zaydens paternal grandmother, speaking on behalf of her family in court Wednesday, said they do not condone or support any violence directed at Compass and are appalled that she was constantly being attacked in jail. But, she said, they do hold her responsible for Zaydens death because she chose to use drugs, keep the methadone in an unsecured box and didnt check on the boy throughout the night even though she was awake and on her phone. I know shes been in jail for a long time. But every day she gets up and walks out of that jail cell and she eats and she has access to watch TV, go to the library, be around other people, Sherry JayNesahkluah said. That boy ... was laid in the grave and he will never walk out. Trial underway for Wichita mom charged with murder in toddlers 2019 methadone death Mom pushed son, 2, and called him names, grandma testifies at methadone murder trial Toddlers DNA was on mouth of moms methadone bottle, expert testifies in murder trial Methadone in boys body enough to kill adult, expert testifies in Wichita murder trial Jury convicts Wichita mom of murder in sons methadone ingestion death Sentencing for Wichita mom convicted of killing child with methadone is delayed The city of Wichita is drafting two new anti-camping ordinances in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that held local governments can impose civil and criminal penalties on homeless people for camping on public land even if the city doesnt have enough shelter space to house those people. City Manager Robert Layton said last week that the City Council has called for changes so Wichita can be more aggressive at policing homeless camps on public property. While the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers Wichita one of the most affordable metro areas in the nation, the number of unsheltered homeless people in Wichita is increasing, with a 25% increase in the past year alone, amid rising rents, an affordable housing shortage and historically high housing and utility costs. The off-agenda discussion of the plan to criminalize homeless camps followed complaints by Brad Marakian, general counsel for Intrust Bank, who addressed the council as a private citizen during the public agenda of last Tuesdays council meeting. He said he is troubled by the sight of homeless encampments along the Arkansas River that he encounters while jogging on his lunch break. Marakian said he wants the city to remove homeless camps, issue citations for camping on public land and send homeless people to shelters. This problem has been festering all summer long, he said. We are not San Francisco. We are not Portland. We are not Seattle. Were Wichita. Were supposed to be the bastion of common sense, right? And Im asking for the city to take clear and decisive action now. Council members and Layton sought to assure Marakian that stricter enforcement is in the works. At the direction of council, we are preparing two ordinances that will recognize the changes, Layton said. Well be more aggressive in terms of encampments on public property as well as use of sidewalks. The council has never publicly directed Layton or his staff to draft a new ordinance. But a majority appeared to approve of such a measure at last Tuesdays council meeting. Layton said the proposed ordinances will also clarify what the definition of valuables is and whats considered to be junk or non-valuable property and also notification and storage timeframes are all in the ordinance as well. I cant speak to when that will be coming to you, but I think were at least in the second or third draft of that document right now, Layton said. The city declined to provide a copy of those drafts to The Eagle or to speak to the specifics. So there are some action steps that will be coming forward, Brad., Mayor Lily Wu said to Marakian. Thank you so very much for addressing the council. This is the exact reason why we opened up public comment for any individual to come and address their grievances or ideas with the council. Costs of clearing homeless camps in Wichita Breaking up homeless encampments has been costly for the city of Wichita, paying a private contractor $835 to $5,585 per site. The city spends hundreds of thousands a year removing homeless camps, and has ramped up use of a private contractor to complete the work since 2021. That year, the city spent $82,239 on outsourced homeless camp cleanups. Costs increased to $235,863 in 2022 and $352,252 in 2023. In May 2023, Layton told The Eagle the city was planning to change course on its outsourced homeless camp cleanups program and were going to have to deal with that issue in a way that still is respectful to those that are in encampments. I dont think the right way of dealing with this going forward is to continue to contract out, Layton said at the time. This year, the city increased funding for the outsourced cleanup program by 25%, allocating $440,000 $300,000 from the Park and Recreation budget and $140,000 from the Wichita Police Department budget. That represented a 435% increase over outsourced expenses in 2021. Eviction rates at Wichita campsites have also ramped up in recent years. Wichita police posted eviction notices on 130 camps in 2021 and cleared 83 of them for a cost of $80,023.50; posted 144 in 2022 and cleared 125 for $143,015.35; posted 286 in 2023 and cleared 232 for $177,411; and posted 213 so far in 2024 for $149,136. A similar accounting was not available for Park and Recreation, whose director left his position earlier this month. City Council split on timing of ordinances The City Council appeared to be split over when not whether to implement more aggressive anti-camping ordinances. A June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court called City of Grants Pass v. Johnson held that local governments can criminalize camping on public property, even when there isnt enough local shelter space to house those individuals, as is the case in Wichita. As a result of that decision, some council members want to pass new anti-camping ordinances immediately while others want to wait until the citys Multi-Agency Center opens this winter. I know that were working towards a solution, City Council member Dalton Glasscock said. Im hopeful for that, but I think that we must be implementing our ordinances now, and we need to make sure this is the number one priority because this is the number one priority I hear from citizens. I dont want to speak too much for the city, but I would say that we havent implemented the enforcement for the camps over the summer because we dont have a shelter, City Council member Maggie Ballard said. ... And we just dont have the space, so that is why the MAC is so important because right now were not able to offer them a bed to enforce the camps. Its kind of just shifting people around. Council member Mike Hoheisel shared a similar view, saying enforcement should not ramp up until a shelter is open. If you bust up a lot of camps along the river, they start popping up in the middle of neighborhoods, Hoheisel said. This is something thats prevalent in my district, and we have options to go to the river or not currently. If its next door to you in an abandoned lot, an empty lot in my district where it happens quite a bit, thats in the middle of a neighborhood. As the MAC gets open, we are going to focus more on enforcement coming up, Hoheisel said. So, yeah, its just one of those situations; were doing the best we can. City Council member Brandon Johnson expressed doubt that stricter enforcement or new anti-camping ordinances would help the situation at this time. Until there is a place where folks feel safe going . . . we cant legally make them stay there, so theyre just going to be outside, Johnson said. And, again, where we are right now, all of us working towards that one solution while it is some months away is a little more humane than just breaking up camps and taking things and throwing it away and pushing them to somewhere else in the city. Ballard said she believes the lack of shelter space is driving the growing number of encampments along the river. Although I do agree not every single person is going to want to go to the MAC, but I do think without even having an option right now, you know, thats why many of them are unfortunately sleeping on the river, and I dont disagree; that is not OK. And Wichita is better than that. Glasscock and Ballard, along with Council member J.V. Johnston, said they regularly encounter homeless encampments downtown. This weekend, I was running along the river at about 8:30 on Saturday, there was eight encampments and when I say encampments, they were homestead encampments, they were not just encampments between the Kellogg Bridge and the Lincoln Street Bridge, Glasscock said. Were looking at maybe 0.2 miles, and theres eight mass encampments. So I echo your frustrations, Glasscock said to Marakian. Its the number one frustration that I have from this position. Ive expressed this every single week to the manager. Ive expressed this from the bench multiple times. This is the number one call I get from people. And I dont believe were actively doing enough now. I ride my bike along that river and I see the same thing you see: trash and people camping all the time, Johnston said. My wife will not go with me because she doesnt feel safe. Ballard, the council member whose district includes much of the Arkansas River in north Wichita and downtown, said she has chosen to take matters into her own hands by organizing river cleanups and removing trash with her father. And rather than waiting for the contractor, sometimes my dad and I just went and loaded up his truck with some trash, Ballard said. Pushing the homeless out of downtown? Chase Billingham, a Wichita State urban studies scholar who has studied and been critical of Wichitas approach to addressing homelessness said its notable that none of the council members or Marakian had any stories where they were personally harmed or harassed by homeless people. These people dont have a choice about whether they have to sleep, Billingham said. They have to sleep somewhere, thats a bodily function that has to be fulfilled, and when you start issuing people citations for exercising that bodily necessity, you are essentially criminalizing the status of not having a home. And I think thats exactly where Wichita is headed. The new anti-camping ordinances would be the next step in a long line of city decisions aimed at clearing homeless people out of downtown, he said. Billingham who regularly reports on City Hall decisions on his Facebook page and has contributed multiple columns for The Eagle pointed to several city decisions, from the location of the coming Multi-Agency Center to relocating its downtown library branch and a planned transit hub to the west side of the Arkansas River. Then theres the hostile architecture at Naftzger Park, a formerly popular daytime hangout spot for homeless people with its shade trees, fountains and picnic tables in the heart of downtown. It was redesigned and reopened in 2020 with an open layout, no shade, artificial turf instead of grass and benches that make it impossible to lay down. The history of the past half century or longer of downtown homelessness and services for the homeless and the poor has been to push them further and further out, Billingham said. City leaders want nobody in downtown Wichita unless they are working or spending money. While the city of Wichita is drafting new ordinances to crack down on camping in the city limits, other proposals would eliminate alternatives to camping in city parks and under bridges such as living out of campers or personal vehicles. Sedgwick County in May raised rent at its Lake Afton Park campsites west of Wichita and moved to cut down on the number of long-term campers at the county park. Previous rules allowed campers to spend up to 300 nights a year at the lakeside campground, but now theyre limited to 56 nights a year. A city proposal to mandate paid parking and impose time limits on all downtown parking could also discourage homeless people who live in their personal vehicles from parking downtown. Thats a very real thing, Billingham said. In high cost of living metro areas, many people who would otherwise be living on the street live in their cars or live in campers. And you do see that in Wichita, though not to the same extent as housing prices are not as high here, but the implementation of mandatory paid parking in the city of Wichita will also make that more difficult. Billingham said Wichita would likely have more success addressing homelessness by putting forward policies to address rising rent costs and increased evictions instead of disposing of all of its public housing units and spending city resources harassing homeless people. What all of these things mean is that it is becoming harder and harder, even in this relatively low-cost metro area, to be a poor renter in the city of Wichita, Billingham said. And the decreasing number of affordable housing options is the most important factor driving people who are living in a state of financial, economic precarity out of their homes and onto the street. If the city wants to address the problem of homelessness, it needs to address the problem of creating affordable housing, and its not going to arrest its way out of this problem. MPI/Getty Images Youve heard it before: we are living in divided times. Disagreement is part of being a citizen of a democracy, but in today's indisputably hot political climate, young people have stepped up into serious leadership roles. The recent advocacy work of David Hogg, Jerome Foster II, and Greta Thurnberg are just a few examples. Young people have always been key players in American history, using their voices to shape politics and bring conversations about their future into the mainstream. Even during the Civil War our countrys most divided and unjust period the nation looked to youth to set the tone for a new future. None other than Abraham Lincoln owed his 1860 election to this kind of movement. New research is proving that youth activism played a critical role in the form of an organized movement who called themselves the Wide Awakes. The Wide Awakes were a series of clubs of mostly young men in their teens and early twenties, who organized parades throughout Northern towns and cities in support of anti-slavery candidates such as Abraham Lincoln. In addition to wearing flamboyant uniforms, coordinating cheers, and participating in military-style marches, they adopted a powerful symbol: a single eye, wide awake to the danger slavery posed to the nations survival. A sleeping nation The Wide Awakes did not just march for show; they embodied the very real struggles dividing the United States in 1860. Over the previous several decades, white politicians from the North and South had been grappling with the peculiar institution, a euphemistic phrase for slavery. As the United States expanded into Indigenous land, debates constantly arose about whether new states would allow or bar slavery. Congress brokered one compromise after another when states from Missouri to California joined the Union. The more the nation compromised for the sake of peace, the more abolition seemed like a distant dream. The shadowy, pro-slavery politicians who held the United States hostage in the name of expanding slaverys influence became known as Slave Power. And by 1860, the Slave Power cast a shadow over politics, the economy, and society. Through the 1830s and 1840s, a pro-slavery majority in the House of Representatives banned the discussion of abolitionist petitions, which clearly violated the First Amendments guarantee of freedom of petition. Pro-slavery politicians also repeatedly threatened secession at even the mention of slaverys abolition. By the 1850s, the issue was exploding into violence in the streets and even in the halls of government itself. Pro-slavery mobs throughout the country often attacked abolitionist writers and speakers, sometimes requiring these thought leaders to flee public events and even their homes. Most infamously, in 1856, South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks brutally assaulted Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner in the Senate Chamber after Sumner delivered a fiery anti-slavery speech. Blood was being spilled in the halls of government where Americans were supposed to settle their differences peacefully. Proud of their use of violence as a political tool, a Georgia congressman boldly declared, I have no objection to the liberty of speech, when the liberty of the cudgel is left free to combat it. Nobody had their eyes on this threat more than a rising generation of young people, who felt their futures were being stolen by a tiny minority who trampled on American values to stay rich. But many Americans saw the 1860 election as an opportunity to turn the tide against Slave Power. Because the North vastly outpopulated the South, Northerners could create change but only if they could be convinced of Slave Powers danger and their own power to fight it at the polls. Moving the masses Mass movements often tap into widespread, shared feelings that match the energy of the moment. This is exactly what the Wide Awakes accomplished. The first Wide Awake club started in Connecticut among a few friends tired of watching pro-slavery gangs run rampant. When the clubs chosen candidate for Connecticut governor, Cassius Clay, was visiting Hartford, Wide Awake members escorted Clay to his hotel carrying kerosene torches and wearing military style uniforms. One member who would go on to become a famous designer stitched together a few capes to make them stick out in the crowd and look tough. When the usual bullies showed up and shouted insults at Clay, these first Wide Awakes kept them away. Just a few days later, this initial Wide Awake club stood guard for Abraham Lincoln himself. News of this club spread quickly through the state of Connecticut in the spring of 1860. By the time Lincoln was chosen as a presidential candidate in May, Wide Awake clubs were organizing in almost every city and town in the North. These clubs especially attracted young men in their late teens and twenties. Fed up with business as usual politics that allowed Southern politicians to perpetuate unchecked violence, the parades they organized brought out eager crowds of men and women, young and old, to cheer them on. The Wide Awakes publicly marched against the chaos and political violence of their times with order, reason, and a readiness to defend themselves with force if necessary. In previous elections, street brawls often broke out, keeping people cynical about the political process, but the Wide Awakes orderly marches and trademark military style kept the violence away. Word of their dramatic torchlight parades, strange black capes, and youthful swagger spread throughout the nation. So too did the enthusiasm they inspired. As one speaker shouted to a crowd, how long must the South kick us, before we shall all be Wide Awake? In the process, the Wide Awakes generated enthusiasm for Lincolns election. While some critics dismissed the Wide Awakes as all show and no substance, their influence was palpable. Wide Awake clubs used spectacle to create excitement and get out the vote. There was something magical about the sight of hundreds, even thousands, of torches marching under a night sky as bands blared and crowds of men and women, young and old, cheered them on. A friend of Lincolns even called them the most soul-inspiring organization the country had ever seen. Taking part in a Wide Awake parade, or even just supporting one, made people feel connected to a common cause like they were part of a community. Those feelings of connection successfully swung voters who were on the fence. One wealthy New Yorker admitted to his diary that he was not a big fan of Lincoln, but there was something about these Wide Awake fellows that convinced him: Ive nearly made up my mind to deposit a lukewarm Republican vote next month, he told his diary during the run-up to election day. In the end, he did vote for Lincoln. This sense of belonging inspired by the Wide Awakes even activated women who were otherwise excluded from the political mainstream. The violent toxic masculinity of politics in previous years had deterred women from openly getting involved, but the Wide Awakes cleared the streets for them to join the cause. Part of the Wide Awakes power was their ability to offer even disenfranchised groups multiple ways to feel like they were contributing to a history-defining event. An imperfect movement Still, important voices were missing from the movement most notably, Black voices. Despite the Wide Awakes stance against slavery's expansion, Black Americans even those in the North were largely shut out. An exception was a single Black Wide Awake club in Boston, but overall, the movement prioritized white interests, including fear of competition for jobs and land in the West. This purposeful exclusion reflected the broader reality that mainstream anti-slavery efforts in 1860 were steeped in white supremacy, concerned more with preserving white opportunities than with true justice. Before he acquired his reputation for bold, decisive action against slavery during his presidency, Lincoln himself was a moderate on the issue during his 1860 campaign. This exclusion reflects the limitations of both the Wide Awake movement and the mainstream society it wanted to mobilize. But the Wide Awakes did earn their place in history by successfully convincing Northern towns and cities that Lincoln had a real shot at victory, a belief that ultimately played a crucial role in the elections outcome. They mobilized Northerners who had an indifferent attitude towards the issue of slavery in previous elections. Their efforts led to one of the highest voter turnouts in U.S. history, with a staggering 82% of eligible voters casting their ballots in 1860. On election day itself, the Wide Awake clubs helped elect Lincoln by passing out ballots, going door-to-door to help convince undecided voters, and escorting voters to polling places. This enthusiasm trickled down into even the most oppressed sectors of the South. Enslaved people across the region understood the stakes even if they were denied newspapers and political participation. Word spread across Southern plantations, cities, and small farms of the opposition growing against the Slave Power. Enslaved people might have even caught word of the parades that were finally waking up the North to the dangers slavery posed to the nations survival. They understood the nervous whispers of their white enslavers and the angry outbursts against Lincoln and the Wide Awakes. Although the Wide Awake movement was imperfect, people everywhere understood it as a turning point in American history. Fearful of the Wide Awakes military-style parades and willingness to fight, Slave Power politicians began planning separation from the Union before the elections even took place. Within just a few weeks of election day, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States. Over the next few months, 10 more states followed South Carolina out of the Union, all of them citing a defense of slavery as their main cause. The Civil War that followed the souths secession proved Lincolns prophetic words that the United States could not endure half slave and half free. While the Wide Awakes were successful in electing their candidate, they did not face the truths of slavery and the real effects it had on Black Americans, especially because Black voices were excluded from the movement. Unaware of the Civil Wars devastation that lay ahead, white Northerners tried to confine the brutal realities of racism to the South, away from a bright future that they believed only belonged to torch-bearing, white, male Wide Awakes. Once Lincoln was elected and the Civil War began, however, they did begin to learn the real stakes. Many of the first soldiers to fight and die in the Union army against Slave Power were those same eager young men of the Wide Awake clubs in 1860. For the enslaved and formerly enslaved, the war presented an unprecedented opportunity to assert their citizenship and begin dismantling the legacies of slavery. The Wide Awakes helped set these changes in motion, but the work of destroying the long-term effects of slavery and Slave Powers hold on American life remains unfinished. Their story reminds us that young people have always had the power to shape their futures. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want to read more Teen Vogue history coverage? Wildwood staff have pumped water out of a retention pond that overflowed during Hurricane Debby, flooding homes, hoping to avoid a repeat during Hurricane Helene. The Woodlane Meadows community does not have a history of flooding, but neighbors say a parcel across the street developed into a big box store and a parking lot that sends water toward their homes. Some homes had several inches of water during an otherwise minimal storm for Central Florida. Read: Hurricane Helene forms, forecast to strengthen into Cat. 4 My neighbor here, we were having a discussion, like, we need to do something about it, Jazz Burns said. Burns approached the city and helped crews install the pump to drain the area. It remained in place as Helene approached the Sunshine State. Read: Hurricane Helene: Tips to keep your pets safe He said hes hoping for a more permanent solution to come to his community in time for the next storm. The engineering wasnt done correctly, Burns said. Unfortunately, the city signed off on it, and now theyre trying to figure out how they can fix it. Read: New to Florida? 9 helpful tips to get you through a hurricane Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A Ravenwood senior's dedication to making her community a better place was recently recognized on a national scale Hannah Skaar, of Williamson County, was one of eight Tennessee students who was recognized in Washington D.C. in June with a Congressional Gold Medal for her achievements in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition/exploration. She was one of 724 medalists from 47 states and territories to receive the award, noted as the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Congress upon students. To be eligible, each participant must complete at least 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness and at least five days and four nights exploring a new environment or culture. For Skaar, community service was something she was already doing, she said, adding that receiving a Congressional award was just an added bonus. I've been working with GraceWorks and other food banks in my area since freshman year, she explained. I stumbled upon the award and realized that in doing everything that I do on the daily, I was already meeting a lot of those requirements. Congressional Awards are separated into three tiers: bronze, silver and gold. Each requires its own amount of community service hours, personal development and fitness goals within a certain time frame. At the end of that (first) two and a half years, I received the bronze and the silver medals. And then, finally, the gold medal, Skaar said. While all three were equally as rewarding, it was really great to receive that gold medal, which happened right after I finished my expedition. The expedition was the last step in the process for Skaar, she said. Her expedition was focused on trips to Philadelphia, New York and Rhode Island. There, she learned more about her ancestry, she said. The Congressional Awards criteria for expeditions require the students to camp, hike or get involved in wilderness activities or trips that provide them with new cultural experiences. Learning about her family's past was an intriguing part of the process for Skaar, but it wasn't the most impactful thing she learned as she worked her way towards gold medal status, she said. I would say the most impactful thing I learned is the levels of food insecurity going on in my direct community. So being able to work directly with families that are in my area and in my county has really had me realize the true impact of how prevalent these problems are, she said. Although Williamson County is Tennessee's wealthiest county, it is not immune from problems that face other communities. According to recent data, 6.2% ( or about 13,200) of people in Williamson County are food insecure. And about 65% of them are ineligible for government assistance because they live above 185% of the poverty level, the Tennessean reported. For true change to happen, it's up to everyone to get involved and help, the senior said. And it's important for other kids to put themselves out there, no matter how nerve-wracking the process can appear. Get involved and sign up for as much as you can, she said. I wouldn't have learned anything about the people in my community if I hadnt signed up and sent emails. I think, for a lot of teens, it's scary to talk to adults and be the youngest person in the room, but just know that voice is important. Skaar is now using the skills she learned over the past two years to tackle a new challenge: college applications. In addition to her volunteer work, Skaar is also a varsity cheerleader at Ravenwood and founded her school's XHunger Club. She also has a passion for drama and has written, directed and acted in several short-films. Your impact is important, she said. When you're in those spaces, meet as many people as you can and learn about as many additional opportunities as there are out there. Im excited for college and just hope I can bring my own Tennessee and Nashville experiences with me wherever I go. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ravenwood senior among Tennessee's 8 Congressional Gold Award winners Window Washer Rescued After Getting Stuck Dangling in the Air Between 24th and 25th Floors of Building Kansas City Fire Department officials said an "equipment failure" was to blame, but that the man stayed "very calm" throughout the ordeal Kansas City Fire Department/Facebook Window Washer Rescued After Hanging 23 Stories Off Kansas Cityas Tallest Building: A window washer found himself in need of a rescue after getting stuck hanging off the tallest building in Kansas City. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) arrived at One Kansas City Place around 10:15 a.m. local time after receiving a call that a window washer at the building had experienced equipment failure and was stuck between the 24th and 25th floors, according to a statement from the KCFD shared with PEOPLE. Fire officials found the window washer's broken hardware" was to blame, specifically the harness he sat in while washing the windows, according local Fox affiliate WDAF-TV. Related: Firefighters Rescue Window Washers from Dangling Scaffolding on 34-Story N.Y.C. Building Officials said that the man's main line became jammed and he was unable to move in any direction, which resulted in him hanging between the floors of One Kansas City Place, which has 42 floors. Members from the Rescue Division, Rescue 1 and Rescue 31, then deployed firefighters to the roof and to the 25th floor, fire officials said in their statement. Related: Window Washers Cling for Their Lives Against Gusty Winds Outside Oklahoma's Tallest Building One of those involved in the rescue was Lucas Berry, of Santa Fe Glass, who was already at the building for other work when he got the call to assist in helping the window washer get down. 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. It was kind of like an adrenaline-rushing experience going up there, Berry told local FOX affiliate KCTV. As soon as we got up there, we took out the rubber, popped the panels, and pulled the window off. The guy, he didnt look too stressed, but as soon as we pulled him up you could tell theres a sense of relief, he said. Related: Window Washer Dies After Falling 'Several Stories' from High-Rise Office Tower in Boston By requesting the assistance of workers from Santa Fe Glass, firefighters were able to quickly rescue the window washer without having to put personnel over the roof of the building or hoist the individual over 20 floors from the outside. Rescue officials "applied a safety line to the worker's harness and pulled him up and through the window," KCFD said in their statement. In total, the daring rescue was said to have only taken 30 minutes and that the window washer was "very calm" throughout the ordeal and made it through without injury, officials added. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Newsmax has settled a defamation lawsuit from voting machine company Smartmatic over the right-wing network's false reporting on fraud claims in the 2020 presidential election. A deal was reached Thursday as the two sides were headed for trial in a Delaware court where jury selection was scheduled to begin. "Newsmax is pleased to announce it has resolved the litigation brought by Smartmatic through a confidential settlement," the Boca Raton, Fla.-based network said in a statement. Smartmatics suit said Newsmax provided a platform for its hosts, Donald Trump and the former presidents attorneys and allies to falsely claim that the companys software was manipulated to deliver the election for President Biden. Read more: Executives at voting machine company Smartmatic indicted for alleged bribery scheme Smartmatics equipment was used only in Los Angeles County in 2020 and not in any of the swing states that helped decide the election. The claims were given ample airtime on Newsmax despite a lack of credible evidence of fraud and a complete rejection of Trumps legal challenges in the courts. Smartmatic says it lost business because of the bogus statements. According to a statement from a Newsmax attorney during a pretrial hearing, Smartmatic had sought $1.7 billion in damages and then revised that ask to about $400 million. But Judge Eric Davis ruled Monday that there would be no punitive damages in the case and that Smartmatic would have to prove the actual financial impact of Newsmax's actions. Smartmatic narrowed the damages claim to the period of 2021 to 2023 so that a federal investigation into its actions overseas would not be entered into evidence. Smartmatic's founder, a current employee and a former executive were indicted this year over alleged bribery of officials in the Philippines. Smartmatic has not been charged as a company but remains under investigation. Smartmatic has a similar $2.7-billion defamation suit against Fox News that could go to trial in New York next year. "We are very pleased to have secured the completion of the case against Newsmax," a Smartmatic representative said in a statement. "We are now looking forward to our day in court against Fox and Fox News. Lying to the American people has consequences." Fox News shelled out $787 million in a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems just before that case went to trial in April 2023. Like Smartmatic, Dominion said Fox News' reporting on false claims of election fraud damaged its business. Court filings that supported Dominion's claims contained internal emails and communications showing Fox News management and on-air talent were aware of the falsehoods. Fox News has said that Trump's election fraud claims were newsworthy and that its reporting on them was protected by the 1st Amendment. The network said in a statement that Smartmatic's case is "unsupported by the facts and intended to chill First Amendment freedoms. We look forward to defending this case when it goes to trial. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Who is winning the presidential election? A recent USA Today/Suffolk University poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by a slim margin in battleground Pennsylvania. Early voting started last week in the state, considered a key swing state with a bounty of Electoral College votes up for grabs. The Teamsters national union opted not to support either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, but the Pennsylvania Conference gave its support to the Vice President instead of the former President. And the vice presidential debate likely the last debate before Election Day is next week with running mates on each side hoping to deliver votes from middle America. So, whos winning the race in Pennsylvania between Harris and Trump? Pennsylvania presidential polls Pennsylvania remains one of the most crucial battlegrounds, with its 19 electoral votes the most of any swing states likely to play a pivotal if not deciding role in the outcome. Harris holds a 3-point lead overall and favorable margins in key bellwether counties in a recent poll; shes up by 5 points in Northampton County and 4 points in Erie County, two regions that have historically predicted the states overall winner. Early voting, absentee and mail-in ballots are available and both campaigns are hoping to lock in support and build momentum for Nov. 5. In 2020, Pennsylvanias early voting surge was essential to Joe Bidens victory. Next weeks vice presidential debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance will be another crucial point in the race. The debate between Harris and Trump earlier this month featured extended exchanges about Pennsylvanias fracking industry. Pennsylvania is historically unpredictable. In 2016, Trump trailed at this stage of the race but ultimately won the state by less than 1%. In 2020, Biden held a consistent lead and won Pennsylvania by just over 1%. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Will presidential election come down to Pennsylvania? SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Madison Jennings is a Rhodes Scholar, a graduate of the 2020 Class at Savannah Arts Academy and a recent graduate of Agnes Scott College. The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully-funded postgraduate award that enables talented young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford in England. The program aims to shine a light on students who can make the world a better place. Each year there are only 100 selected in the world and shes one of just 32 in the United States. Madison joins WSAVs Tina Tyus-Shaw to discuss what this program means to her. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Getty Images Up to 90,000 Wisconsin residents could get better health insurance if Wisconsin agrees to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and rural residents would be the most likely to benefit, according to a new report published Thursday. Expansion would give the state just over $1 billion from the federal government for each two-year state budget cycle, along with a one-time boost of $1.29 billion, concludes the report, published by the Wisconsin Policy Forum. The forums practice is not to make recommendations based on its analysis, but instead to present alternatives and their probable outcomes. The report finds that the number of people moving from the rolls of the uninsured would be more modest than in many states about 23,000, according to one projection. More striking, however, is that the state could save more than $200 million a year just on coverage it already provides, according to the report. The federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010 and implemented in 2014, established a government marketplace for individual health insurance plans and set standards for those plans. It also included provisions to expand health care coverage under Medicaid, a joint federal-state program. States that accept the expansion agree to cover people with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty guideline. In return the federal government pays 90% of the cost for the additional Medicaid recipients. The standard federal matching rate in Wisconsin is 60.7%. Former Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, declined to take the expansion and its requirements when the ACA took effect. Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat first elected in 2018, has repeatedly sought to expand Medicaid. Just before he took office, however, the Legislature passed and Walker signed a law requiring lawmakers approval for the governor to accept expansion. Republican lawmakers have since rejected Evers attempts to do so. Of 10 states that have still not accepted Medicaid expansion, Wisconsin is on a completely different footing, said Jason Stein, president of the Wisconsin Policy Forum and the reports author. BadgerCare Plus, the Wisconsin Medicaid program for primary and acute health care for individuals and families, covers uninsured children and pregnant women with household incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty guideline. It covers parents and childless adults with incomes up to 100% of the guideline. By accepting full Medicaid expansion, Wisconsin would raise the parents and adults income limits to 138% of the guideline while paying less overall. In 2024, the state of Wisconsin is paying 39.3% of the costs of covering the roughly 190,000 childless adults currently in BadgerCare Plus rather than the 10% rate available through a full ACA expansion, the Wisconsin Policy Forum report states. The other non-expansion states dont cover childless adults unless they have a disability, and their median income limit for parents to get coverage is 31% of the poverty guideline, according to the report. The state Department of Health Services (DHS) has calculated that with expansion, about 90,900 state residents would become eligible for Medicaid. Fewer than a third of that number about 23,000 people, the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have projected would be previously uninsured, however, according to the report. More of them would move from other coverage, such as insurance purchased through the ACAs health insurance marketplace. While federal subsidies in place through 2025 have lowered the price for low-income consumers buying coverage through the marketplace, the report says Medicaid coverage would offer them lower out-of-pocket expenses and somewhat more robust coverage. The report also finds that accepting Medicaid expansion could have a larger impact in rural areas, where both the share of uninsured people and the share of people whose incomes fall in the range that Medicaid expansion targets are higher. About 5% of Wisconsins population, or 290,000 people, have incomes between 100% and 138% of the poverty guideline up to $20,783 for an individual and $35,632 for a family of three in 2024. A third of them are in the states three most urban counties: Brown, Dane and Milwaukee. But in more than 25 rural or mostly rural counties, 6% or more of the residents are in that income range. In Monroe, Rusk and Forest counties, its more than 8%. In other words, when one considers the share of the population who might benefit from expansion, it becomes clear that the residents of rural counties would be impacted the most, the report states. Yet the group of people who are uninsured and the group with incomes of 100% to 138% of the federal poverty guideline dont overlap much. As many as 90.3% of state residents in that same income range already have some form of health insurance coverage, the report finds. Those include employer-based insurance, Medicare, and people who have purchased insurance themselves. Just over half are already covered by Medicaid or another public program, according to the report. So though Medicaid expansion would decrease the uninsured population in Wisconsin, its impact on coverage levels would be more modest than some might assume, the report states. The biggest surprise to me clearly was the penetration of Medicaid into this target population already in our state, said Stein. That was eye-opening to me. The higher rural share of both uninsured people and people whose incomes fit the Medicaid-expansion target have implications for the future of rural health care, he added. As the the problem of rural health care becomes more acute over time, as health care becomes more difficult to deliver, as the rural population at least in some parts of the state has fallen, and as the demographics of those areas change and people get older and more in need of health care, the question of rural health care becomes very important to us at the Forum, and I think should be important to policymakers and voters as well, Stein said. One possible outcome from expansion, the report says, would be to use funds from expanding Medicaid to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates that hospitals and other health care providers have complained are inadequate to cover the cost of care. But that would require specific action by the Legislature and the governor. There is an issue with Medicaid reimbursement rates that is important for policymakers to consider, said Stein. There is a potential for drawing more resources into the state with Medicaid expansion that could be used to address that first issue. But theres no guarantee of that. Dem. Senate leader blasts GOP lawmakers over rejecting Medicaid boost In a memo sent out Wednesday, the state Senate Democratic leader took to task Republican lawmakers who have stood against expanding Medicaid. Sen. Dianne Hesselbein (official legislative photo) Sen. Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) solicited two Legislative Fiscal Bureau memos last week. One request asked how much Wisconsin has paid under its Medicaid program compared to what it lost out on by not accepting Medicaid expansion when the Affordable Care Act took effect. Another asked how much the state could get if it expands Medicaid in the coming two-year budget cycle. By accepting expansion 11 years ago, covering adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty guideline, Wisconsin would have qualified for federal funds covering 90% of the cost. Instead, under Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin got permission to cover more adults with incomes up to 100% of the federal guideline, but at the states standard federal match, paying 60.7% of the cost. One of the fiscal bureau memos projected about $1.8 billion from the federal government if the state accepts Medicaid expansion in the 2025-27 budget. The other calculated that over the past 11 years, the state paid more than $2.6 billion that it would not have paid if it had received the full expansions higher federal match. The memo shows how much this Republican folly has cost Wisconsin taxpayers so far that total is $2.7 billion of your tax dollars squandered over 11 years they have refused to fully expand Medicaid, Hesselbein wrote in a press release that she circulated with the memo Wednesday. Hesselbeins release came the same day that lawmakers received an advance copy of a new Wisconsin Policy Forum analysis of how accepting federal Medicaid expansion would affect the state and its Medicaid program. Hesselbein told the Wisconsin Examiner that her fiscal bureau request was one she makes periodically to advance her argument for accepting full expansion, and that she was using it for a column to her constituents. The request wasnt specifically timed in light of the Wisconsin Policy Forum report, she said, and the column was one she had been working on. But when word reached her about the forthcoming report, Im like, Lets just get it out there then. Because I dont want it to look like Im following what theyre doing. She added, I appreciate the good work that they do. So I just wanted to be like, heres my take. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MILWAUKEE - Numbers show that support from young voters helped Joe Biden win the presidency in 2020. It's an age group that often sits out elections; U.S. Census data showed about 51% of people between the ages of 18 and 24 voted in 2020. But in a state like Wisconsin, where elections are decided by a sliver, young voters could help decide who wins the state. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "Wisconsin is, like, very swinging on elections, so kind of learning that my votes going to matter a lot more than it will matter in the overall election kind of is a jarring thing to think about," said Steven Odjedele, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee computer science student. The national group DoSomething.org was on UWM's campus on Wednesday to ask young people to share their pressing issues. The group also registered people to vote. DoSomething.org voter event at UWM "Its a beautiful thing," the organization's Rohan Gupta said. "Everyone has issues that they care about, everyones passionate about something, and seeing them sometimes for the very first time begin to make those connections: I care about this in my community, heres what I can do about it, heres how this might relate to the politics." As of Sept. 1, of Wisconsins 3.5 million registered voters, 7.8% are in the 18-24 age group that's roughly 276,000 voters. Registered voters ages 18-24 in Wisconsin National poll A new Harvard University poll of voters ages 30 and under found Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Donald Trump. Fifty-two percent backed Harris, compared to 29% for Trump but 14% reported they don't know or refused to say. The poll also found support for Jill Stein (2%), Cornel West (2%) and Chase Oliver (1%). "Its really on how they are going about the community, how they want to rebuild our community and the future for our kids," said Elegant Johnson, a Milwaukee voter who told FOX6 News he is undecided. "I have a son and nieces and nephews, so its really how they go about building a future, about the kids, the community, rebuild it." Harvard poll of voters 30 and under Harvards public opinion project found a big gender gap among young, likely voters. Harris leads Trump among women in that category 70% to 23%, while for men in the same category Harris leads Trumps 53% to 36%. With so many young people still saying they're undecided, there's still room for campaigns to win votes. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. "I hear stories from many different sides. I am very not into politics, but I know Im going to vote, because I know my work matters, but I am still very undecided," said Joseph Velasquez, an undecided first-time voter who is a UWM computer science student. "I have other friends who vote for someone else, and I have family and other friends voting for someone else, so I feel like Im stuck." There is also an enthusiasm gap among young voters; the survey found 74% of young Democrats said they will definitely vote, compared to 60% of young Republicans. Young voters are also weighing the issues. "Im thinking of everyday prices: grocery store prices, housing prices. Im worried Im never going to be able to afford a house. And thats something that is horrifying," said UWM business student Ryan Doyle. Overall, among likely voters under 30, Harris has a 31-point lead over Trump. It's smaller (23 points) among registered voters of the same age. That second margin is on par with what exit polls showed President Biden won of the group in 2020. That year, 59% of those aged 18-29 said they voted for Biden, while 35% said they voted for Trump, according to the Pew Research Center. Woman, 79, Breaks Leg After Hiking to Spot Where She Scattered Moms Ashes. Then Strangers Carried Her for Hours U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Troy May and a friend helped carry Ursula Bannister down a steep trail for more than a mile after she broke her ankle while climbing to the special spot U.S. Air Force courtesy photo Troy May carrying Ursula Bannister on Aug. 28, 2024 A 79-year-old Washington woman faced a five-hour wait for rescue after breaking her ankle while hiking to the spot where her mothers ashes were scattered. Luckily, some strangers lent her a helping hand. Ursula Bannister, of Tacoma, was climbing on the High Rock trail near Ashford on Aug. 28 when she broke and dislocated her ankle mid-hike, according to a news release from the U.S. Air Force. Bannister, who says she's an experienced hiker, tries to visit the area about once a year and bring flowers to the spot where her mother's ashes were spread, according to NBC Boston and The Washington Post. This time, on her way down, she stepped in a hole and injured herself. By the time I sat up, my foot was pointing the wrong way. I knew right away I had broken my leg, she told the Post. I tried to get up with my hiking pole and it collapsed on me. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo Ursula Bannister at home on Sept. 12, 2024 A stranger later approached and helped Bannister call 911. But according to the Post, Bannister learned it could take rescue crews up to five hours to reach her. A short time later, two men showed up. One of them was U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Troy May, who is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to the department. May and his friend, Layton Allen, helped carry Bannister 1.6 miles down the steep trail, a journey that, according to the Post, took about three hours to complete. "I was like if I could carry her out it'd be a lot quicker for her and get her out of a little bit of pain, May told NBC Boston. 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. Bannister told the Post she felt the men were behaving like angels coming from the sky, adding, I was just thankful that these guys were willing to do this. To keep Bannisters mind off of her painful injury, May and Allen got to know more about her life, according to the Post. She had a bunch of cool stories, May explained. We were trying to keep her talking to make the hike go faster we really had quite the team. After reaching the parking lot, May and Allen helped Bannister into a car and drove her to a hospital, according to the Air Force. Bannister ultimately broke her leg in three places and now has a plate and at least 10 screws in her leg to help it heal, per NBC Boston. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Riddle U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Troy May on Sept. 13, 2024 Related: 3 Teens Among Group of Hikers Rescued from N.H. Mountain Trail, Officials Say: 'Dangerous Decision' On Sept. 9, May received an Air Force Achievement Medal for assisting in the rescue, according to the Post. Speaking with NBC Boston, May said, "I just happened to be at the right time to do it that day. Meanwhile, Bannister told the Post she believes well be friends for a really long time. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. ROOSEVELT, Utah (ABC4) A woman was taken into custody on Wednesday after allegedly breaking into a Duchesne County high school and falling asleep on a sofa. Tishelle Don Roholt, 39, is facing charges of third-degree felony burglary and criminal mischief, according to court documents. The reported break-in happened at Union High School, located near 800 East and Lagoon Street in Roosevelt. School faculty arrived for the school day on Wednesday morning, Sept. 25, to find the window of a door on the west entrance had been shattered with a landscaping rock. A school employee told detectives it would likely cost about $2,000 to repair the glass. These 4 movie and TV productions are currently being filmed in Utah As detectives documented the crime scene, a school employee allegedly found Roholt sleeping on a sofa in one of the schools classrooms. A responding officer reported waking up Roholt and asking her what she was doing in the school. Roholt allegedly responded by saying she had nowhere else to go and was on a journey to find herself. [Roholt] admitted to breaking into the school because she needed a place to sleep, court documents state. [Roholt] stated that she walked around the school all night long. [She] also had a bag of popcorn that belonged to the school that she had been eating all night. Police said they found several empty paper cups and food wrappers in a garbage bag near where Roholt had been found sleeping. According to court records, Roholt has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A Wisconsin woman was arrested Tuesday after she allegedly broke into a home and pretended to know the resident. Suspect Joanna Kelly Lee was charged with burglary and criminal trespass, according to the Madison Police Department. She was apprehended at around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday. Police say they were alerted to the incident after the home's resident returned home around 10:30 p.m. and saw someone inside. The Madison Police Department told Fox News Digital the victim was "startled to see all the lights on, as she had been gone most of the day." Man Dies In Freak Accident Involving Frozen Hamburgers: 'Difficult To Hear' A woman was arrested after she allegedly broke into a victim's home and made herself a pasta dinner. "Police arrived and observed through windows a female casually walking around the interior of the home," the department's statement said. "The female, later identified as Joanna K. Lee, came to the door in response to orders given by police." Read On The Fox News App Authorities say Lee "calmly advised" police she was allowed to be in the home and even referenced the resident by name. "Lee provided a detailed story about how she met the resident at a coffee shop earlier and had been given keys to the house," police said. "Lee had been in the house long enough to cook herself a shrimp and pasta dinner. Woman Left With Kidney Damage After Visiting Hair Salon Joanna Lee was arrested by the Madison Police Department Tuesday. "The resident, however, insisted that she had never met Lee and that Lee did not have permission to be in her home eating her food." Authorities later determined the suspect went through the resident's mail to learn her name and fabricate a story. She was promptly arrested and is being held at the Dane County Jail. Authorities are investigating. Original article source: Woman arrested after breaking into home, making pasta dinner in creepy encounter: police NILES, Ohio (WKBN) A woman was arrested Wednesday after what the Trumbull Action Group (TAG) Drug Task Force states was a lengthy investigation. According to a release from the Trumbull County Sheriffs Office, members of the TAG Drug Task Force executed a search warrant in the 400 block of Seneca Street SE on Wednesday. During the search, agents recovered approximately 48.3 grams of an undetermined white powder, 2.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 1.3 grams of suspected fentanyl and cash. TAG says criminal charges are expected to be filed pending lab testing of the recovered drugs. Reports state Dee McAllister, who resides at the raid location, was taken into custody on felony drug warrants. Court records show McAllister is set to appear in Niles Municipal Court on Oct. 2. Agents report the search warrant also led to the recovery of a stolen trailer, which was found on Peffer Avenue. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Reports said a woman was booked into the Mahoning County Jail Wednesday after a man told police she sliced the tip of his finger off when he refused to give her money to buy drugs. Ashley Young, 31, is charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. She is expected to be arraigned Friday in municipal court. Young was arrested after police were called about 4:25 p.m. to a home on Lora Avenue for a report of a fight. When officers arrived, a man told them that Young came to his home asking for money to buy drugs, and when he told her no, she became irate and began smashing things and hitting him. The man told police he walked into the kitchen but she followed, throwing things at him and hitting him with a broom. When the broom broke, she grabbed a knife and cut the tip of his finger off, he said. Reports said an ambulance was called and the tip of the finger was hanging off the mans hand. Young was taken into custody at the home and refused to speak to police. She was denied entry to the jail because she complained of chest pains so she was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center, where reports said she had to be put in a separate room because she was yelling and swearing at hospital workers. She was taken to the jail after she was examined. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. A Woman Broke Up With a Minneapolis Man as They Were Driving, What Allegedly Happened Next is Insane The latest shooting suspect booked by Minneapolis police is not accused of gang violence or any other typical street crime. Police say a breakup with his girlfriend led him to completely crash out. Eddie James Freeman, 23, was arrested and charged after the incident on Sept. 21. Authorities say they responded to a car crash on I-94 and Dowling Avenue shortly after 10 p.m. However, when Minnesota State Troopers approached the vehicle, they were met with immediate gunfire by Freeman, per the Hennepin County Attorneys Office. One trooper, Mark Vande Steeg, approached the scene with his sirens and light activated and put a spotlight on Freeman when he allegedly began firing at the squad car, per the CBS report. Steeg returned fire but no one was struck or injured. Freeman then allegedly tossed the gun before officers detained him. He was also reported to have spit in one officers face. During their investigation, they realized Freeman wasnt the driver of the vehicle but his girlfriend or should we sayex-girlfriend who was still in the car. According to investigators, the woman explained the two were driving down the interstate when she broke the news to Freeman that she didnt want to be a relationship anymore. She alleged he then grabbed the steering wheel and caused them to crash. Then, when he exited the vehicle, she said she heard gunshots. Freeman has been charged with four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of first-degree assault against a peace officer and one count of fourth-degree assault against a peace officer, per the Hennepin County Attorneys Office. Steeg was placed on standard critical incident leave upon the incident and his use of force is being probed, the office said. Freeman is being held in Hennepin County Jail on $300,000 bond, records show. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Woman found dead in Nashville on Thanksgiving Day 2020 identified as Columbia 19-year-old A woman found dead four years ago is nameless no longer, Nashville police announced. Ashley Fuller, 19, of Columbia, has been identified as the person whose body was found in an abandoned home on Highway 70 South on Thanksgiving Day 2020, police said in a news release Thursday. Her identity remained a mystery for nearly three years until the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations created a forensic rendering of her face and wrist tattoo a semi-colon with a heart in place of a dot. A family member saw the rendering and contacted the Nashville Police Department's Cold Case Unit. Police positively identified Fuller with her dental records. No foul play is suspected in Fuller's death, but the Medical Examiner's Office will conduct a review to determine her official cause of death, the news release said. Police initially believed she died from an accidental drug overdose, according to a news release from 2023. Fuller is the third cold case victim to be identified in recent months. Earlier this month, police identified Donald Elden Verhalen as the man who died in 1993 after he fell and suffered a serious head injury. In July, a homicide victim pulled from the Cumberland River 26 years ago was identified as Diane Minor. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Columbia teen identified as woman found dead Thanksgiving Day 2020 Woman found guilty of murdering husband in 2021 sentenced to life in prison COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) A woman who shot her husband of 10 days in the back and killed him in 2021 was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in Muscogee County Superior Court. Charise Douglas was convicted last month of felony murder, malice murder and aggravated assault in the death of John Anthony Johnson. Muscogee County Superior Court Judge Bobby Peters passed a sentence that will keep the 34-year-old Tennessee woman in prison for the remainder of her life. It took the jury 45 minutes to make their ruling back on Aug. 30. She fired her attorney Anthony Johnson and immediately began an appeal. Previous Coverage: Defendant testifies in murder trial for 2021 fatal shooting of husband Phone records reveal timeline: Woman on trial in shooting death of husband Sis Im bout to kill dude: Woman on trial for murder of husband of 10 days Defense attorney: Charise Douglas shot her husband in self-defense Defense attorney: History of abuse in deadly shooting Columbus Police make arrest in deadly Gentian Boulevard shooting Arrest warrant issued in May 1 shooting death Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. BALTIMORE A Maryland woman whos held white supremacist views for decades and recently conspired with a neo-Nazi leader to plan an attack on Baltimores power grid was sentenced Wednesday to 18 years in prison for her role in the plot. The high-profile case ultimately came to focus on the defendants past trauma and her mental state as she struggled with addiction and embraced increasingly radical, racist views. Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 36, pleaded guilty to planning the attack in May. Clendaniel was working with Brandon Russell, who co-founded a small, Florida-based neo-Nazi group, to plan a series of sniper attacks on Maryland electrical substations that could have caused significant damage to the regional power grid. It was meant to create chaos in the majority-Black city, according to federal prosecutors. Its true, your honor, I do still hold National Socialist beliefs, Clendaniel told the judge during her sentencing hearing Wednesday in Baltimore federal court, saying she adopted the ideology at age 13. She pledged to never again act on those beliefs. I know theres a line there that I cant cross, she said. U.S. District Judge James Bredar said he wanted to believe that Clendaniel wouldnt have actually carried out the plot, which he called extreme in every respect. I think thats a huge question, but who can take that risk? he said, before sentencing her to 18 years in federal prison the sentence prosecutors had recommended and lifetime supervision upon release. In explaining his decision, Bredar noted new information from prosecutors that Clendaniel had recently been placing jail calls to a white supremacist leader in California. Those calls show Clendaniel was unrepentant and undeterred, prosecutors said. This is something that is very much a part of her, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen OConnell Gavin said during the hearing. Clendaniel was charged last year along with Russell, a Florida resident who co-founded the group Atomwaffen Division. His case hasnt gone to trial yet. Russell previously served five years in prison after pleading guilty to explosives charges that stemmed from a deadly shooting at an apartment that he shared with Atomwaffens other founder. Clendaniel and Russell began exchanging letters around 2018 while they were incarcerated in different facilities. They developed a romantic relationship that continued after they were released from prison, court records show. Clendaniel pleaded guilty in May to two counts: conspiracy to damage electrical facilities and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Much of Clendaniels sentencing hearing focused on how her life may have been shaped by the severe domestic abuse and neglect she endured as a child and teenager. She spent some of her childhood living on the streets, and her struggles with addiction started at an early age, according to court testimony. Those experiences made her acutely vulnerable to the influence of people like Russell and other white supremacist leaders, her public defender Sedira Banan argued. But Clendaniel had spent decades harboring racist views without ever acting on them. Its a lot of talk, Banan said, asking the court to impose a 10-year sentence. Thats what it amounts to. In a letter to the court before sentencing, Clendaniel apologized for her actions and said she had been struggling with severe mental and physical health problems at the time, including a diagnosis of kidney failure. Believing her days were numbered, Clendaniel said she was in a very dark place. She said she was struggling to get her life on track and provide for her children after coming home from prison. I felt like I needed to do something to make up for my shameful life of drugs, crime, addiction, and neglect of my children by going to prison, she wrote. My primary motivation for my plans was because I wanted to help people to understand how fragile this modern world is. Clendaniel grew up in rural Cecil County, an overwhelmingly white, conservative enclave in the northeast corner of Maryland bordering both Delaware and Pennsylvania. Her criminal history includes a series of robberies she committed while using drugs, often targeting convenience stores in her hometown. She was serving a sentence for a 2016 robbery when she began corresponding with Russell. After being released from prison in 2020, she fell back into familiar patterns of addiction and embraced increasingly radical views, court records show. She spent hours on the phone with a confidential informant she met through Russell, discussing how she would obtain a gun and shoot at five electrical substations situated in a ring around Baltimore, according to prosecutors. She was arrested and charged in the power grid plot in February 2023. Employees at a once-hot Los Angeles restaurant took to the streets this week to protest missing wages. Workers at the shuttered fine-dining spot Otium say they havent received their final paychecks after the restaurant closed on September 8, Eater L.A. reported on Wednesday. That same day, they protested in front of the restaurant, holding signs that proclaimed Wage theft is a crime, pay people for their time and wearing tags that said owe-tium. More from Robb Report Despite our commitment and hard work, we have not received our last two paychecks, which has created financial hardships for many of us, Otium employees said in a statement to Eater. We want to express our solidarity as a team and emphasize the importance of fair treatment in the workplace. We have made multiple attempts to communicate with management regarding this issue but have yet to receive a satisfactory resolution. Our goal is to resolve this matter amicably and ensure that all employees receive their due wages promptly. Otium, which opened back in 2015, was led by the former French Laundry chef de cuisine Timothy Hollingsworth, in partnership with the former CEO of Wolfgang Puck catering, Carl Schuster. Located next to the Broad art museum, it received investment from that entity as well, Eater noted. In August, Otium announced that it would be shutting down a month later due to unprecedented challenges, making it increasingly difficult to sustain our operations, the outlet wrote. That led to increased business in the month leading up to the shutdown, Rylee Ratcliff, a former barista at the restaurant, told Eater, meaning more work for the employees. She says shes owed some $3,000 to $3,500 in wages, tips, overtime, and leftover vacation pay. Hollingsworth and Schuster told Eater that they both knew about the delayed paychecks. Hollingsworth said that he was waiting to hear from Schuster, while Schuster said that he was hoping to have an update for employees on Friday. Ive been doing this for my whole life, and never been in this situation, Schuster said. I cant imagine the stress, the not knowing, and the waiting. . .Im taking personal responsibility to make sure the employees get paid as fast as I can. Still, its only an update that Schuster is expecting, not the money owed to Otiums employees. Several staffers also told Eater that this isnt the first time theyve had issues when it comes to pay; Jocelyn Cortez, a former manager who joined Otium in 2015, said that physical checks had bounced in the past. (Schuster has not yet responded to Eaters request for comment on that point.) Wednesdays protest was meant to bring visibility to the employees plight, but its not something they were hoping to have to do. Why do we have to protest to get our last paycheck? Melissa Mendoza, a server for eight years, told Eater. Thats very unprofessional. I dont think that we should have to do this. And I hope were not targeted for this. Best of Robb Report Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) Those seeking jobs in north central West Virginia were able to find opportunities on Wednesday as Workforce West Virginia hosted its Career Connect job fair at the Marion County National Guard Armory. Officials from Workforce West Virginia said they have plenty of employment opportunities throughout the region and said that anyone attending the career fair should come prepared for on-site job interviews. If you still have a son or daughter and you want them to go to college thats fantastic, but for those that, you know, are more skilled in trades HVAC, welding. Those jobs are high-paying jobs and those are a big draw in West Virginia, Valley HeathCare System Veteran Partnership Coordinator Terry Vance said. Ascend WV adds incentive for members to buy a home Officials with the fair also said that manufacturing jobs are on the uptick in the Mountain State and are looking to fill employment positions within those companies. We actually have OLeary from Shark Tank, hes bought up I think 180 acres in West Virginia and hes building a big facility here in the state. And that is going to create thousands, hopefully, a lot of jobs. So, West Virginia is going to be the place to be as far as employers to move to, Vance said. You can learn more about Workforce West Virginia, browse for jobs and stay up to date on local job fairs by visiting its website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Smoke and flames are visible near homes in Kiryat Shmona after a rocket attack launched from Lebanon WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Countries around the world, including leading Arab nations, those in the G7 and the European Union, want a halt to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday. Asked about Israel's rejection of a U.S.-backed Lebanon ceasefire proposal, Blinken told MSNBC: "The world is speaking clearly for virtually all of the key countries in Europe and in the region on the need for the ceasefire." He added that he would be meeting with Israeli officials in New York later on Thursday. (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Alex Richardson) How worried should Tacoma be about the Big One, the looming M-9.0 Cascadia earthquake? Many Western Washington residents live in fear of the natural disaster to end all natural disasters: the Big One. Scientists say that the Cascadia subduction zone off the coast of the Pacific Northwest has the potential to spark a magnitude-9.0+ earthquake, plus a subsequent tsunami. That scenario last occurred here in the year 1700. Inquiring minds want to know: When will it happen again? September was recently declared National Preparedness Month by both the Tacoma City and Pierce County councils. So, The News Tribune spoke with experts to learn what such a disaster would look like and how to get ready for it. What happens during Big Ones? Nearly a decade ago, The New Yorker published a piece that would become etched in the minds of many. Titled The Really Big One in the July 20, 2015 print edition, it reads like the stuff of nightmares. In 2011, more than 18,000 people lost their lives amid a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan, The New Yorker noted. That catastrophe wound up costing approximately $220 billion. Back in North America, in 1700, a 9.0 earthquake and monster tsunami rocked the Cascadia region, an area that stretches along what would become Western Washington, Oregon and northern California, as well as British Columbia and Vancouver Island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Indigenous oral histories recounted deaths, violent shaking, serious flooding and building damage. One such account from southern Oregon described the tsunami, one with enormous waves that rushed over the land and swallowed entire villages. Some inhabitants tried to secure their canoes to tree tops before the boats were ripped away. After the tidal wave, they found tree tops filled with limbs and trash, the account goes, according to USGS. The big flood and tidal wave tore up the land and changed the rivers. Nobody knows how many [people] died. A sign warning of tsunami hazard is pictured at Narrows Brewing Company in Tacoma on Sept. 16, 2024. What would a 9.0 earthquake mean for the area? Big One-related research efforts made national headlines this summer, including in The Washington Post. NBC News recently reported that between the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, some 14,000 people in Washington and Oregon would perish. That event would certainly spell bad news for Tacoma, said Tieka Adeogun, the citys chief emergency management officer. Even after the shaking stops, well be left to deal with the aftermath. As much as we dont want something like that to happen, the reality is one day it will happen, and itll be pretty devastating for the city and its residents, Adeogun said. Damage to the port, which acts as a major hub, would hamper the ability to send and receive resources, she said. Cargo ships would either be damaged or destroyed, and that area would require a rebuild. Officials would work to get it back up and running as soon as possible. Its unknown how many waves would occur during a tsunami, nor how high theyd be, Adeogun said. If we see a 9.0 earthquake, a series of aftershocks could trigger additional tsunamis. Much of the city rests on hilly areas, and there could be post-quake landslides, plus buildings slipping off their foundations, Adeogun said. The city of Tacoma wouldnt have power for quite some time, and substations would likely be damaged. Although Adeogun didnt provide a firm estimate on the number of potential casualties in Tacoma, she did say it would probably exceed 100. On top of that, the Big One would cost the city at least $1 billion in damages. Weve talked about that the Cascadia [earthquake] is like the thing that keeps you up at night, right? she said. When will the Big One strike? When people discuss the Big One in this region, theyre talking about an earthquake on the plate boundary between the Juan de Fuca and North American tectonic plates, said Paul Bodin, a University of Washington research professor with the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. The boundary between the two is known as the megathrust, or the Cascadia subduction zone, fault. That plate-boundary fault is normally locked, and stresses build up, and then when it lets go, there can be tens of meters of slip on that fault, and thats what causes all the shaking and damage, Bodin told The News Tribune. No one knows exactly when the Big One will rear its head. Bodin explained that on average, such 9.0-ish earthquakes happen about every 500 years. In terms of probabilities, Bodin said, that equates to a 14%-15% chance in a 50-year period of a megathrust earthquake occurring. How long will the shaking last? A small earthquake might feel like a sharp jolt or last a few seconds, he said. Shaking during the Big One will extend for much longer 5 or so minutes. Because of that long period, there could be damage to bridges and tall buildings, as well as infrastructure like sewers and gas and water pipes. The 2015 New Yorker piece quoted an expert who claimed that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast. Bodin disagrees. One misconception, I think, is that the coast is going to be a smoldering ruin from tsunamis, he said. I think thats highly, highly unlikely, just because of the differences [in terrain] between Japan and here. There wont be a uniform impact, Bodin continued. Rather the region would witness pockets of extreme damage. Some buildings might collapse amid the shaking while more modern structures could emerge more or less unscathed. Injuries are to be expected as residents step on broken glass or get hit by falling items, he said. Bodin did offer a bit of hope for certain homes. One thing I want to be clear about is that the structures that most of us live in, which are small, single- or two-, or most, three-story wood-frame, flexible houses, the external damage to those probably will be quite light and localized, he said. Liquefaction Liquefaction could occur during the Big One, meaning that the soil loses its strength and acts like quicksand, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Liquefaction, we believe, will provide the most significant impact into the Puget Sound region, because we have a lot of critical infrastructure in areas that might be impacted by that, said Amy Gillespie, deputy director of the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management. For much of Tacoma, the liquefaction susceptibility is considered very low, according to a map available on DNRs website. That risk is elevated to high in the Dune Peninsula and Point Ruston area, as well as the Tideflats. Other parts of Pierce County in the moderate or high-risk range are located in Orting, Sumner and Puyallup, per the map. Boats and the Narrows Bridge are pictured from the Narrows Brewing Company on Sept. 16, 2024. A magnitude-9.0 earthquake would result in a tsunami that would reach Puget Sound. What comes after the Big One? Even after the Big One is done, aftershocks should be expected, Bodin said. They could go on for days, weeks or months possibly even years. Such quakes might be large themselves, with magnitudes in the 6- and 7-range. The post-Big One tsunami would take hours to work its way into Puget Sound, Bodin said. Tacoma is a bit insulated because its further inland. Theres no ambiguity of what to do in terms of a tsunami, Bodin said. You get to the highest ground that you can, and bring your family and pets. Bodin noted another worry: fires. Gas lines might break, and gas water heaters could fall over and set homes ablaze, he added. On top of that, if the water infrastructure is wrecked, it would make fighting fire even more difficult. How to prepare for a 9.0 earthquake The city wants residents to have enough supplies on hand for at least two weeks should the Big One arrive, Adeogun said. However, it could take three or four weeks before officials have an idea of what resources would be arriving from outside the state. The reality of this situation is our infrastructure, when it comes to transportation, will be so damaged that our citizens will have to largely rely on what resources we do have and what neighboring jurisdictions can get in just by road transport, she added. When the shaking has stopped, turn off your gas line, Gillespie said. Its a good idea to keep a wrench near your gas meter so its readily available to shut off, added Mike Halliday, spokesperson for the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management. To build an emergency kit, stock up on items like non-perishable food, medications and pet supplies. Gillespie recommends starting small: Grab one item at a time, such as water or a flashlight. For many, preparedness is front of mind. Nearly 100,000 participants have registered so far in Pierce County for the Great ShakeOut, a worldwide earthquake drill, on Oct. 17. Gillespie advises residents to establish an out-of-state point of contact if possible. That way, if the Big One strikes, that person can be responsible for relaying any updates to inquiring loved ones. She also wants people to know about the countys neighborhood emergency-response teams, whereby residents are trained how to take care of one another during disasters. You can also check out the Emergency Operations Center and pick up items for your own emergency kit during an open house Sept. 28 at the departments Tacoma headquarters, 2501 S. 35th St., Suite D. Gillespie offered a key takeaway: Pierce County, Washington state and federal agencies have been planning for the Big One. When it arrives, theyll work together to get resources into communities as quickly as they can. Dont panic, Bodin said: Be prepared. Rather than being spooked beforehand and scared about it, just [realize] that this comes with the beautiful terrain and area that we live in, he added. And we can be ready for it. What do I do if an earthquake strikes? Get out of whatever building youre in and head outside as soon as the ground stops shaking, Adeogun said. Many lives are lost when a structure collapses on itself. If you live in a location thats at risk of tsunami, get to higher ground once the earthquake is through. Adeogun urges people to secure their TVs and refrigerators to the wall ahead of time, too. Remember this saying: Drop, cover and hold on. Drop to your knees and hands Cover your neck and head, crawling beneath a nearby table or desk if possible, or next to an interior wall Hold on until the ground stops moving. If youre under a desk, hold onto it with one hand while protecting your head and neck with the other X requests it be reinstated in Brazil after complying with judge's orders, sources say SAO PAULO (AP) In the high-stakes showdown between the worlds richest man and a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, Elon Musk blinked. Musks social media site X has complied with Alexandre de Moraes orders and requested its service be reestablished in the country, two sources said Thursday. X complied with orders to block certain accounts from the platform, name an official legal representative in Brazil, and pay fines imposed for not complying with earlier court orders, his lawyers said in a petition filed Thursday, according to the sources, who are familiar with the document. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. On Saturday, de Moraes ordered the platform to submit additional documentation about its legal representative for court review, which the sources said has been done. X was blocked on Aug. 30 in the highly online country of 213 million people, where it was one of X's biggest markets, with more than 20 million users. De Moraes ordered the shutdown after sparring with Musk for months over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation. The company said at the time that de Moraes' efforts to block certain accounts were illegal moves to censor political opponents" and that it would not comply. Musk called the judge an enemy of free speech and a criminal. But de Moraes' decisions have been repeatedly upheld by his peers including his nationwide block of X. In a twist, Xs new representative is the same person who held the position before X shuttered its office in Brazil, according to the companys public filing with the Sao Paulo commercial registry. That happened after de Moraes threatened to arrest the person, Rachel de Oliveira Villa Nova Conceicao, if X did not comply with orders to block accounts. In an apparent effort to avoid her getting blamed for potential violations of Brazilian law and risk arrest a clause has been written into the representation agreement that any action on the part of X that will result in obligations for her requires prior instruction in writing from the company, according to the companys filing at the registry. Associated Press emails and calls to her office were not returned. The Supreme Courts press office has not confirmed receipt of X's documents, and X did not immediately respond to a request from the AP. An encouraging sign, perhaps motivated by business sense Its still early to know whether the feud between X and Brazils top court is over, said Bruna Santos, a lawyer and global campaigns manager at nonprofit Digital Action. However, the platform's decision to appoint a representative indicates the company has entered a state of good-faith cooperation with Brazilian authorities. And the fact that Brazilian users migrated in droves to rival platforms BlueSky and Threads may have played into X's backstep, Santos added. There must be a genuine concern on the platform that they are losing users, the core users from the early Twitter days, or the loyal ones, who stick around for good, she said. At a university in Rio de Janeiro, some students told the AP they were heartened by the news. I used it a lot as a way to search for information and news, and I missed it, said Joao Mauricio Almeida Raposo, a 19-year-old economics student. He started using Threads, but doesnt like it. Brazil is not the first country to ban X far from it but such a drastic step has generally been limited to authoritarian regimes. The platform and its former incarnation, Twitter, have been banned in Russia, China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Venezuela and Turkmenistan, for instance. Other countries, such as Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, have also temporarily suspended X before, usually to quell dissent and unrest. Xs dustup with Brazil has some parallels to the companys dealings with the Indian government three years ago, back when it was still called Twitter and before Musk purchased it for $44 billion. In 2021, India threatened to arrest employees of Twitter (as well as Metas Facebook and WhatsApp), for not complying with the governments requests to take down posts related to farmers protests that rocked the country. Speech is more limited in Brazil than in the US Unlike in the U.S., where free speech is baked into the constitution, in Brazil speech is more limited, with restrictions on homophobia and racism, for example, and judges can order sites to remove content. Many of de Moraes decisions are sealed from the public and neither he nor X has disclosed the full list of accounts he has ordered blocked, but prominent supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro and far-right activists were among those that X earlier removed from the platform. Some belonged to a network known in Brazil as digital militias. They were targeted by a yearslong investigation overseen by de Moraes, initially for allegedly spreading defamatory fake news and threats against Supreme Court justices, and then after Bolsonaros 2022 election loss for inciting demonstrations across the country that were seeking to overturn President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas victory. In April, de Moraes included Musk as a target in an ongoing investigation over the dissemination of fake news and opened a separate investigation into the U.S. business executive for alleged obstruction. In that decision, de Moraes noted that Musk began waging a public disinformation campaign regarding the top courts actions, and that Musk continued the following day most notably with comments that his social media company X would cease to comply with the courts orders to block certain accounts. Musk, meanwhile, accused de Moraes of suppressing free speech and violating Brazils constitution, and noted on X that users could seek to bypass any shutdown of the social media platform by using VPNs. In an unusual move for a democratic country, de Moraes also set exorbitant daily fines for anyone using virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access the platform. Xs defiant stance appears to have softened following the shutdown. On Sept. 18, after X became accessible to some users in Brazil despite the ban, the Government Affairs account posted that this was due to a change in network providers and was inadvertent and temporary. But, it added, we continue efforts to work with the Brazilian government to return very soon for the people of Brazil. The score is 1-0, but the game isnt necessarily over, said Carlos Affonso Souza, a lawyer and director of the Institute for Technology and Society, a Rio-based think tank. The first round ends with a victory for de Moraes, who adopted drastic measures, but which wound up producing the effect of making X do a reversal and comply with orders, Affonso Souza said. ___ Ortutay reported from San Francisco. ___ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. Federal prosecutors say New York City Mayor Eric Adams engaged in a long-running conspiracy, accepting luxury travel and gifts from foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official. Adams, whos been indicted on five federal public corruption charges, has denied wrongdoing and says he is being targeted because of his positions. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target and a target I became, he said in a statement after news of his indictment broke Wednesday night, but before the charges were unsealed Thursday and his official residence, Gracie Mansion, was searched by federal agents. Federal agents search Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor of New York City, on September 26, 2024, after Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on federal criminal charges. - Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images That defense that politics begets legal problems is a common refrain among the few powerful people charged in federal court with wrongdoing. A major platform in former President Donald Trumps third run for the White House is that he has been unfairly targeted by the Department of Justice. Trump has promised to use the DOJ to go after his political rivals if he is able to win a second White House term in November. That Adams, a Democrat, has been charged by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York on corruption charges does not, on its own, disprove Trumps point. Neither does the recent conviction of former Sen. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat who was only found guilty after his second, distinct corruption and bribery trial. The first, on completely different charges, ended in a hung jury and a mistrial. One strong piece of evidence against Trumps witch hunt argument is that the same office that is prosecuting Adams and secured a conviction against Menendez ultimately decided in 2021, after Trump left office, not to pursue charges against him for violating campaign finance law with hush money payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels. It was Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, an elected official rather than an appointed prosecutor, who ultimately resuscitated the case by figuring out how to apply state law to federal campaign finance violations. Trump was ultimately convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records, something for which he will now be sentenced in late November, after the presidential election. Special counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee federal investigations involving Trump, did ultimately pursue federal indictments against the former president for trying to overthrow the 2020 presidential election and for mishandling classified data. Both of those federal prosecutions of Trump have been stalled in federal courts. A Trump-appointed judge in Florida dismissed the classified documents case after agreeing with Trumps attorneys that Smiths appointment was unconstitutional. The election interference prosecution was delayed while the Supreme Court, a third of which was appointed by Trump, took its time to decide that Trump should get special immunity for things he did while he was president. Smith has subsequently amended Trumps indictment, and on Thursday filed an outline of the case in Washington, DC. Even if Trumps prosecution in that case doesnt happen before Election Day, voters may get to see the governments case before then. Earlier this year, after Menendezs conviction, I updated my ongoing list of federal prosecutions of federal elected officials, which shows a close-to-equal split in prosecutions nationwide since the turn of the century. Adams prosecution would not go on the list since he is a city official. The guilty plea of former Rep. George Santos, a Republican, would. The Santos case was prosecuted by a different US attorneys office in New York. CNNs senior legal analyst Elie Honig is a former assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York who wrote in his book about the decision not to prosecute Trump. Reacting to the news of the Adams indictment on CNN Wednesday night, Honig noted that the Manhattan-based office now prosecuting Adams is located just a few blocks from the mayors office in Lower Manhattan and has a track record of trying corruption cases in recent years. The Southern District of New York secured a bribery conviction against Sheldon Silver, the former top Democrat in the New York State Assembly, and also Dean Skelos, a Republican who was the majority leader in the New York State Senate. Not to be overly idealistic about it, but the track record shows that the only unifying principle is they look at each case individually, and thats that, Honig told me in a phone conversation. But launching the first prosecution of a sitting New York City mayor leaves no margin for error, Honig said. If youre going to charge the sitting mayor of New York City, you better be damn sure that you have the evidence on him, because if you dont, it will be a disaster, he said Wednesday night on CNN. Adams remains defiant in the face of the charges, but they are clearly having an effect on New York politics. Key New York Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called on Adams to step down. It is possible that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, could remove him from office, but she has not yet publicly taken any steps in that direction. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Judges on a New York appeals court appeared open-minded and receptive to the possibility of reversing or reducing the $454 million civil fraud judgment in New York Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit against former President Trump. Trump appealed the civil fraud ruling that demanded he pay more than $450 million. The former presidents attorneys called New York Judge Arthur Engorons ruling "draconian, unlawful, and unconstitutional." Trump's $454M Judgment Bond Slashed By More Than Half In Appeals Court Ruling Engoron ruled that Trump and other defendants were liable for persistent and repeated fraud, falsifying business records, issuing false financial statements, conspiracy to falsify false financial statements, insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. A five-judge panel on a New York appeals court in Manhattan heard oral arguments on the appeal on Thursday. The former president did not attend the oral arguments but was instead represented by his legal team. Read On The Fox News App Trump attorney D. John Sauer argued that James lawsuit stretched New York consumer protection laws and said there were "no victims" and "no complaints" of Trumps business from lenders and insurers. New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference National Town Hall in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 21, 2023. Sauer said the cause "involves a clear-cut violation of the statute of limitations," pointing to transactions used in the non-jury civil fraud trial that dated back more than a decade. Trump Vows To Fight New York Ag Case 'All The Way Up To The Us Supreme Court,' As Deadline To Post $454M Looms Sauer said that if the verdict is not overturned, "people cant do business in real estate" without fear. The Appellate Division typically rules about a month after arguments are complete, meaning a final decision could come before Election Day on Nov. 5. Judge Peter H. Moulton questioned if James lawsuit turned into "something it was not meant to do." Moulton said the "immense penalty in this case is troubling." But the state argued that there is evidence to support the verdict. Trump Barred From Operating Business, Ordered To Pay Over $350 Million In Ny Civil Fraud Case In September 2023, before the non-jury trial began, Engoron ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization had committed fraud while building his real estate empire by deceiving banks, insurers and others by overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing. Trump was hit with an initial penalty of $355 million. That sum is quickly increasing via interest accruals of approximately $112,000 a day until paid in full, now sitting around $470 million. Justice Arthur Engoron presides over the civil fraud trial of former President Trump and his children at New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Nov. 13, 2023. Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential nominee, and his legal team had appealed and requested a stay on his $454 million civil fraud judgment. Trump's legal team said the initial requested bond was "unprecedented for a private company," and said to post it in the judgment's full amount was a "practical impossibility." An appeals court slashed Trump's bond payment in March, and the former president paid $175 million. Trump has vowed to fight the case "all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary." Trump and his family denied any wrongdoing, with the former president saying his assets had been undervalued. Trump's legal team insisted that his financial statements had disclaimers, and made it clear to banks that they should conduct their own assessments. Former President Trump speaks to the media as he arrives for the start of his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Oct. 2, 2023. Throughout the trial, Trump attorneys brought witnesses, including former Deutsche Bank top executives, who testified the banks sought additional business from Trump, whom they viewed as a "whale of a client." Trump's defense also brought in expert witnesses, including New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov, who reviewed the Trump financial statements at issue in the case and said he found no evidence of accounting fraud. Bartov testified last month that Trumps financial statements did not violate accounting principles, and he suggested that anything problematic like a huge year-to-year leap in the estimated value of his Trump Tower penthouse was simply an error. "My main finding is that there is no evidence whatsoever of any accounting fraud," Bartov testified. Trumps financial statements, he said, "were not materially misstated." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: New York Appeals Court appears receptive to reversing or reducing $454M Trump civil fraud judgment Federal prosecutors indicted New York Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday over allegations that he took bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals in exchange for various political favors. The five-count indictment (read more about the indictment here) includes conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges, covering a spree of crimes committed over the course of a decade, prosecutors allege. The charges cast doubt on the moderate Democrats future as chief executive of the countrys largest city. On Wednesday, Adams responded to the charges in a pre-recorded video in anticipation of his possible indictment. My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes, Adams said. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies, but they would not be surprising. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit, he added. The FBI seized Adams phone at Gracie Mansion, his official residence, on Thursday morning ahead of the unsealing of his indictment later in the day. The charges represent a remarkable turn of fortune for Adams, a former New York Police Department captain whose victorious public safety-focused campaign earned him national recognition as a sign of shifting current within his party. Adams, the citys second Black mayor, went so far as to describe himself as the future of the Democratic Party. He can now claim a different sort of distinction: the first New York City mayor to be indicted. As both a candidate and an elected official, Adams is perhaps best known as a larger-than-life cheerleader for the Big Apple a nightlife aficionado who took to using Alicia Keys Empire State of Mind as his intro music at public appearances. But Adams roots in Brooklyns party patronage system and facility with transactional, interest-group politicking the kind that often has a seedy underside played as much a role in his election as his trademark swagger. He took with him to City Hall his old machine-style habits, testing the bounds of ethics laws, hiring friends with shady pasts and allegedly presiding over a culture of roguish behavior. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit.Mayor Eric Adams The U.S. Department of Justice had been investigating whether Adams 2021 mayoral campaign colluded with the Turkish government to funnel him illegal foreign donations. The probe came into public view in November, when federal agents first seized the electronic devices of an Adams campaign aide in charge of fundraising, and then Adams own phones. A series of additional scandals have since consumed Adams mayoralty. Federal prosecutors investigated top Adams administration officials for charges that include alleged bribery and shakedown schemes. The steady drip of federal raids and rumored indictments has spurred the resignation of a host of top officials. In the past two weeks alone, Adams schools chancellor, health commissioner, police commissioner and City Hall attorney have all left. A former female colleague of Adams while he was in the New York Police Department is also suing him for sexual assault she says he perpetrated in 1993. As Adams troubles have mounted, he has maintained that he is laser-focused on running the city, which has been dealing with continued affordability challenges for residents and the integration of more than 210,000 asylum seekers who have arrived since 2022. But there is already a growing field of Democrats challenging Adams in the mayoral primary in June 2025, including state Sens. Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, city Comptroller Brad Lander and former Comptroller Scott Stringer. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, perhaps the most influential progressive in New York City, called for Adams to resign on Wednesday. I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City, she posted on X, citing the flood of investigations and resignations. Myrie, Lander and Stringer all called on Adams to resign on Wednesday night, while Ramos issued a critical statement that stopped short of demanding his exit. Perhaps more notably, New York City Councilman Bob Holden, a conservative Democrat aligned with Adams on a number of issues, also called on Adams to resign. While [the mayor] is presumed innocent until proven guilty, there is no way he can effectively lead with this cloud hanging over him, he tweeted on X. Related... NEW YORK Federal prosecutors have indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams, making him the first mayor in city history to be charged while in office. The dramatic move comes after a lengthy investigation that has dogged the moderate Democrat for nearly a year. The revelation along with several other law enforcement probes that have led to a spate of high-level resignations stand to imperil Adams 2025 reelection prospects. Shortly after news of the indictment broke, nearly all of Adams competitors called on him to resign. The investigation is being led by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams. A spokesperson for his office declined to comment. The specific charges in the sealed indictment were not yet known. Williams is expected to make the charges public Thursday. Adams huddled with close aides, including former Chief of Staff Frank Carone, in the mayors official residence of Gracie Mansion on Wednesday evening, figuring out how to respond to the monumental news, which was rumored for most of the day, people familiar with the matter told POLITICO. As he exited the mansion late Wednesday night, Carone said Adams had not been informed by federal authorities of the pending indictment by the time news broke. Asked to describe Adams' mindset, Carone replied, "very strong." "Sad day for the mayor and for the city," he said. Carone said Adams should "never" step down. "He deserves a day in court and he'll have it," he added. After The New York Times first reported the indictment, the mayor preempted Williams' expected announcement with a statement released Wednesday night in which he proclaimed his innocence and vowed to fight the charges. "I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became," he said. "If I am charged, I am innocent and will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit." In a subsequent video released by his office, Adams sought for a second time to get ahead of the details set to be released by prosecutors. It is now my belief the federal government plans to charge me with crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies, Adams said. For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an effort to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty, Adams continued, referencing the FBI raid on the home of his newly installed interim police commissioner, who took over after the resignation of former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban. Caban stepped down after his phone was seized as part of a separate federal investigation. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit," Adams said. His declarations did not sway a suite of candidates looking to challenge him for the mayoralty next year. The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down, City Comptroller Brad Lander said in a statement posted on X. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie said the city needs a leader who is fully focused, without distraction." "Today I am calling on him to resign," he said. Former Comptroller Scott Stringer made similar remarks. There is simply zero chance that the wheels of government will move forward from this full steam ahead. Instead, we are left with a broken down trainwreck of a municipal government, Stringer said. The mayor needs to resign for the good of the city. State Sen. Jessica Ramos stopped short of calling on Adams to step down, but suggested he has lost the ability to govern. Over the past two and a half years, this administration has made the city more expensive, while those close to the mayor have benefited financially, she said in a statement posted to X. Thats a betrayal of every hardworking New Yorker. While investigations around him have reached a fever pitch, Adams has insisted he will not resign. The people of this city elected me to fight for them, and I will stay and fight no matter what, he said in a statement earlier Wednesday, responding to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs earlier call for his resignation. If he did step down, New York City's Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would become acting mayor, and a nonpartisan special election would be held to fill the seat. The news of this indictment is itself incredibly serious, Williams' spokesperson William Gerlich said in a statement. As the facts emerge, the public advocate will have more to say. Calls for his resignation should come as no surprise. Aside from the obvious political calculations his rivals are applying, there is no precedent in New York Citys history for a mayor to be criminally charged while in City Hall. Weve had some unseemly mayors who have left office before their terms have actually ended, said Doug Muzzio, a retired Baruch College political science professor. Weve never had a mayor with criminal charges. The law-and-order mayor broke the law allegedly. But theyre not going to indict a sitting mayor unless they have an airtight case. Adams and his campaign have maintained the mayor's innocence for months following a series of FBI raids that targeted figures close to the mayor's 2021 campaign. On Nov. 2, federal agents fanned out to multiple locations around the city where they conducted raids and interviews at the homes of several people tied to Adams, including his former campaign treasurer, an aide focused on Turkish relations and a former Turkish Airlines executive who served on Adams transition team. Days later, the feds stopped Adams himself on the street and confiscated several electronic devices. Throughout the process, Adams has maintained he broke no rules. It takes a great deal of discipline to defend yourself when you know you have done nothing wrong, Adams said Aug. 16, a day after The Times reported a second round of subpoenas had gone to the mayor and City Hall earlier in the summer. But I trust my team. That team includes attorneys from WilmerHale including the mayors former chief counsel, Brendan McGuire who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But his allies were defending him late Wednesday night. Adams has maintained support among prominent Black New Yorkers, including NAACP New York State Conference President Hazel Dukes. This is just unreal, and I am angry, and I will stand with him all the way, said the 92-year-old Wednesday night, who has known Adams for three decades. He should not resign. He should have his day in court. In the past, Adams allies had sought to characterize the investigation by Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District, as somehow politically or racially motivated. (Both Adams and Williams are Black.) Ive been telling other people that I thought this was a witch hunt and the FBIs going too far, state Sen. Leroy Comrie told POLITICO weeks after the initial FBI raids. People close to Adams, such as former Gov. David Paterson, have theorized the investigation run by President Joe Bidens Justice Department is meant as political punishment for Adams criticizing Bidens border policy. That the U.S. Attorneys office would bring an indictment within just weeks of a presidential general election is remarkable. It is common practice within the Department of Justice to not take any overt investigative steps in political cases in the run-up to an election typically known as the 60-day rule. As POLITICO has previously reported, Adams has traveled to Turkey numerous times and has deep ties to the Turkish diaspora in Brooklyn, where he served as a state senator and then in the largely ceremonial role of Brooklyn borough president before he assumed the mayoralty in 2022. Adams has already raised millions of dollars for his reelection campaign, and the effect this indictment will have on his efforts remains unclear. Several challengers have already opened campaign accounts, while former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been watching from afar and may enter the fray should Adams be severely weakened by the forthcoming case. Additional reporting from Jason Beeferman and Timmy Facciola. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges by a grand jury, sources familiar with the matter told The New York Times. Minutes after the Times report was published late Wednesday, other insiders confirmed the indictment to the New York Post, which added that Adams is expected to surrender to law enforcement early next week. It was not immediately clear what charge or charges Adams will face, with his indictment expected to be unsealed Thursday. He is the first mayor to be criminally charged in the citys history while still in office. Both the Times and the Post reported that the indictment stems from an investigation into Adams relationship with Turkey, including accusations that its government illegally funneled foreign money into his 2021 mayoral campaign. He is also facing at least three other federal probes. Sources familiar with the matter told THE CITY that Adams was being charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for taking actions in his official capacity after receiving donations from foreign sources. The indictment marks the zenith of a particularly chaotic season for Adams, with his administration being thrown into disarray in recent weeks as investigators executed a series of raids on two of his deputy mayors and the then-NYPD commissioner. In the last fortnight alone, the mayors chief counsel, health commissioner, NYPD commissioner, and schools chancellor have all resigned. In a statement to CBS New York on Wednesday night, Adams dug his heels in, insisting on his innocence. I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became, he said. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. In a separate, pre-taped video statement released shortly after, Adams said that he would not resign. It is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with federal crimes, he said, standing in front of an American flag. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. Adams went on to suggest that federal prosecutors were exercising a vendetta against him. For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty, he said. If charged, he added, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case. He suggested he would resist those calls, arguing that the city has continued to improve in the months since investigators began looking into him. Make no mistake: You elected me to lead this cityand lead it I will. Should Adams eventually resign, Jumaane Williams, New York Citys Democratic public advocate and a vocal Adams critic, would become acting mayor. Eric Adams in Times Square before being sworn in as the 110th mayor of New York City. Craig Fruchtman/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Earlier on Wednesday night, Adams had attended a glitzy reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, rubbing elbows with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Bidenneither of whom mentioned him in their remarks. Instead, Biden gave a shout-out to Adams predecessor, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was also in attendance. We owe a special thanks tonight to Mayor Bloomberg, the president said, according to the White House press pool report. Hes not the mayor right now but hes still the mayor, he continued. Adams troubles spilled out into the public eye for the first time last November, when federal agents raided the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, his chief fundraiser, and confiscated documents and several devices. A few days later, FBI agents seized the mayors phones and iPads. Another investigation led the FBI to search the homes of Adams Asian affairs adviser, another prominent fundraiser for him, in February. Federal prosecutors issued a round of subpoenas to the mayor and several top aides five months later. It was only this month, though, that investigators began to show signs that they were closing in on Adams. Federal agents moved to seize the devices of top city officials and their relatives on Sept. 4. The mayors chief counsel, one of his fiercest defenders, stepped down a little over a week later, saying she had concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position. Mayor Eric Adams holds an in-person media availability at New York City Hall. Michael M Santiago/Getty Images Earlier on Wednesday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) became the most prominent elected official to call for Adams to step down, joining a chorus of state lawmakers, city officials, and political rivals vying for the Democratic mayoral primary nomination next summer. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function, she said. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign. Adams was quick to rebuff her call in a statement that sniped at Ocasio-Cortezs support for bail reform. For anyone who self-righteously claims people charged with serious crimes should not be in jail to now say that the second Black mayor of New York should resign because of rumors and innuendowithout even a single charge being filedis the height of hypocrisy, he said. I am leading this city to protect it from exactly that kind of phony politics. The people of this city elected me to fight for them, and I will stay and fight no matter what. The New York City mayoral primary will be held in June 2025, with the general election taking place in November. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A Manhattan grand jury has indicted New York Mayor Eric Adams on federal criminal charges, multiple sources familiar confirmed to Fox News. The details about the indictment remain under seal. Multiple sources have confirmed to Fox News that the indictment could be unsealed as early as tomorrow. The FBI and Department of Justice are declining to comment on the matter, and it is unclear who Adams has retained as his personal attorney. "I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became," Adams said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. "If I am charged, I am innocent, and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit." Several people have already been raided in the orbit of the 63-year-old former NYPD captain. Fbi Raids Home Of Nyc Mayor Eric Adams' Chief Fundraiser Brianna Suggs, Source Says Read On The Fox News App In February, FBI agents raided the home of Winnie Greco, one of his top aides, in the Bronx. In November, feds swarmed the property of another aide, Cenk Ocal, a former Turkish airlines executive who joined the mayor's transition team. That same month, they visited Brianna Suggs, the mayor's chief fundraiser. Adams Office Lashes Out At Fbi Employee Who Might Have Improperly Leaked Details Of Corruption Probe Rana Abbasova, another close aide, reportedly flipped on the mayor in May after scrutiny over his dealings with Turkish Airlines, according to the New York Times. New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a press conference on gun violence at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner on June 26, 2023, in New York City. Statements from the New York State lawmakers agree that this move is the best course of action for the city moving forward. "The mayor and his administration appear to be riddled with corruption, and the public has lost all confidence in their ability to move the five boroughs forward. Mr. Adams should do what's best for this city and step aside so that a new election can be held. His situation is untenable," said New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar. "Another NY Democrat clouded in scandal. Time and again, they have proved they only care about their personal power and scoring political points, not whats best for New Yorks taxpayers. Its time for people to send a message that they arent going to take it anymore," said New York Congressman Nick Langworthy. "We can add another name to the list of high-ranking Democrats in Albany and New York City tarnished by scandal, including Governors Andrew Cuomo and Eliot Spitzer, who both resigned in disgrace," said New York GOP Chair Ed Cox. "One-party Democrat rule in New York City and New York State is not serving the best interests of our citizens, who continue to flee New York for states with lower taxes, more freedom and less corruption. It is highly likely that Mayor Adams will have to resign following the revelation of the specific charges against him." The FBI has reportedly been looking into whether Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign conspired with the Turkish government and other entities to raise funds. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted after campaign corruption investigation New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges, sources confirm New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges, sources confirm. The indictment came after a swirl of investigations into Mayor Eric Adams and key members of his inner circle came to light. According to the New York Times, the indictment is sealed, and it was unclear what charge or charges Mr. Adams will face or when he will surrender to the authorities. Federal prosecutors are expected to announce the details of the indictment on Thursday. Mayor Adams will be the first mayor in New York City history to be charged while in office. For the most recent updates, visit: New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted, sources say NEW YORK (WPIX) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges, sources told Nexstars WPIX. The charges against Adams are still sealed. I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a targetand a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit, Adams said in a statement released Wednesday night. In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some would question his ability to manage the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office. I have been facing these lies for months yet the city has continued to improve, Adams said. Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to members of the press at a news conference in New York, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Its not immediately clear when the charges will be made public or when Adams might have to appear in court. Adams is the first mayor in the history of New York City to be indicted while in office. The indictment follows a tumultuous month at City Hall marked by federal investigations and a slew of resignations from top city officials, including Adams chief legal counsel, the NYPD commissioner, the health commissioner, and the chancellor of New York Citys public schools. An investigation into Adams 2021 mayoral campaign fundraising became widely known in November 2023. Thats when FBI agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs, who was a fundraiser for Adams during his 2021 campaign, and Rana Abbasova, who worked in the mayors international affairs office. Four days later, FBI agents seized phones and an iPad from Adams as he was leaving a public event in Manhattan. A search warrant indicated that authorities have been examining whether the Adams campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, funneled through straw donors, The New York Times previously reported. Trump plans Oct. 5 rally at site of assassination attempt in Butler, Pa. Investigators have also looked into whether Adams took steps in 2021 to help the Turkish government get city approval to open a Manhattan skyscraper, despite concerns about the buildings fire prevention systems, according to The New York Times. The investigations scope has since grown. Over the summer, federal investigators requested information about Adams dealings with Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan, the New York Times reported. Adams has maintained he follows the law. When asked about the investigation on Tuesday, the mayor said he would cooperate with investigators. Whatever information is needed, were going to turn over, Adams said. Its going to go to process. Recently, federal investigators have taken aim at Adams inner circle. The FBI in September raided the home of now-resigned New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks, which he shares with Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, according to sources. Philip Banks, the deputy mayor of public safety and brother of the schools chancellor, also had his home raided, sources said. As part of a separate investigation, federal authorities seized the phones of now-resigned NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and several NYPD lieutenants, sources told WPIX. Just over a week after Adams named Thomas Donlon the interim NYPD commissioner, his home was searched by federal authorities. Donlon said the investigation was not related to his work with the NYPD. Molly Schaeffer, who coordinates the citys efforts to get housing and social services for newly arrived migrants, received a subpoena at her Brooklyn home on Sept. 20, according to a person familiar with the matter. Back in February, a third aide to Adams had her properties targeted by federal agents. FBI agents searched two Bronx addresses owned by Winnie Greco, a former fundraiser for Adams who now serves as his director of Asian affairs. Senate sends bill to avert government shutdown to Bidens desk The purpose of the investigation was not revealed, and it wasnt clear at the time whether it was related to Adams. But it was another sign of the deepening law enforcement scrutiny of the mayor and members of his inner circle. When asked during an interview on PIX on Politics on Dec. 17 whether he would step aside if he was indicted, Adams expressed disapproval. I think its ridiculous for somebody to say if theres an indictment. People are throwing these words out there. Let the process carry out. That is whats great about our country. There is a due process system in place, Adams said. Adams on Tuesday reiterated he has no intention of resigning. Im stepping up, not stepping down. I have a city to run that I will continue to run, the mayor said. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks before newly appointed NYPD commissioner Edward Caban is sworn in to office on July 17, 2023. Caban resigned earlier this month, amid a federal investigation. Mayor Adams was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday, according to sources. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Sept. 25 (UPI) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury, according to sources familiar with the matter, who say he could surrender to authorities early next week. The indictment, which remains sealed, is expected to be unsealed Thursday, sources first told The New York Times, and then The New York Post and CNN, making Adams the first mayor in New York City's history to be charged while in office. The mayor and his inner circle have faced at least four federal investigations in the past year, as a growing number in his government resign. Adams responded to news of the indictment Wednesday night. "I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target -- and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit," Adams said. While it is unclear what charge or charges the mayor will face, it comes as Adams and key members of his government have faced a number of investigations. Over the past year, federal agents have seized the mayor's cell phones and searched the residences of his closest confidants related to several corruption investigations, as his chief counsel, police commissioner and schools chancellor, among others, have resigned. "I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wrote earlier Wednesday in a post on X. "The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration," she added. "For the good of the city, he should resign." Adams, who is a retired police captain, was elected nearly three years ago on the promise of reducing crime. During a press briefing earlier this month, Adams admitted he was shocked by all of the investigations. "I take them extremely seriously," Adams told reporters. "I have spent more than 20 years in law enforcement, and so every member of my administration knows my expectations that we must follow the law." Last year, the FBI confiscated Adams' electronic devices as part of an investigation into his mayoral campaign's fundraising and whether it was connected to an alleged kickback scheme involving the Turkish government. Adams' devices were returned and no charges were filed. City contracts and regulations governing bars and clubs have also come under close scrutiny. Earlier this month, New York's police commissioner Edward Caban resigned as federal investigators looked into the department's nightclub enforcement. "The news around recent developments has created a distraction for our department, and I am unwilling to let my attention be on anything other than our important work, or the safety of the men and women of the NYPD," Caban wrote in an email to NYPD members. Adams quickly appointed former FBI official Tom Donjon as interim police commissioner. Now that he reportedly faces indictment, Adams is not required to resign from office, but could face immense political pressure to step aside. In that event and until a special election could be held, New York City's public advocate Jumaane Williams would take over. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on five federal charges by a grand jury on Wednesday night, a move that comes after a series of FBI raids targeting key members of his administration led to multiple resignations last week. The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, alleges Adams has engaged in a decade-long string of corrupt practices, including seeking "straw donations" to abuse a public campaign donation matching program, accepting improper gifts and luxury travel from Turkish businesses and officials, and acting on behalf of a Turkish official. Adams proclaimed his innocence in a Wednesday night video statement, insisting he will fight the charges even as calls grow for his resignation. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who called for Adams to step down before news of the indictment broke, was joined in those calls Wednesday by numerous city council members, statewide representatives and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive running to replace Adams. The hardworking people of New York City deserve a city government and leadership they can trust, Lander wrote on X. Right now, they dont have it. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who could remove Adams from office once he is criminally charged, has yet to weigh in on whether the mayor should step down. The wide-reaching investigation into Adams led to raids on a grip of key allies of the mayor, prompting the resignations of NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban. Federal investigators also raided the mayors home, Gracie Mansion, early Thursday morning. Adams attorney, Alex Spiro, who previously represented Alec Baldwin and Elon Musk, accused federal authorities of trying to create a spectacle. They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in, Spiro said in a statement. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been charged with five counts in an alleged long-standing conspiracy connected to improper benefits, illegal campaign contributions and an attempted cover-up, according to a sweeping indictment unsealed Thursday morning. Adams, 64, faces one count of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy, two counts of solicitation of a contribution from a foreign national and one count of bribery, according to the indictment, charges that expose the mayor to significant prison time if convicted. Adams, who was elected in 2021, is the first sitting New York City mayor to ever face charges. He will be arraigned before a federal magistrate at noon Friday, according to the court. MORE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams' federal probe: A timeline of corruption probe Many of the accusations relate to Adams' relationship with wealthy foreign businesspeople and Turkish officials. Prosecutors say Adams accepted more than $100,000 in improper benefits, many of which came in the form of flight upgrades and stays in luxury hotels, none of which were publicly divulged as required. PHOTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the press outside his official residence Gracie Mansion after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City, Sept. 26, 2024. (Caitlin Ochs/Reuters) He also allegedly received illegal campaign contributions to his first run for mayor and ongoing fundraising for a reelection run. "ERIC ADAMS, the defendant, sought and accepted illegal campaign contributions in the form of 'nominee' or 'straw' contributions, meaning that the true contributors conveyed their money through nominal donors, who falsely certified they were contributing their own money," the indictment states. "As a result of those false certifications, ADAMS's 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds," the indictment alleges. PHOTO: U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams speaks at a press conference in New York, Sept. 26, 2024, on the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. (Mike Segar/Reuters) Adams addressed the press shortly after the indictment was unsealed, alongside a group of supporters, maintaining his innocence and vowing to fight the charges. "I ask New Yorkers to hear our defense before making any judgments," he said at the news conference, during which he was shouted at by some hecklers. PHOTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the press outside his official residence Gracie Mansion after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City, Sept. 26, 2024. (Bing Guan/Reuters) Adams vowed to continue to serve his duties. "My day to day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do," a defiant Mayor Adams said yesterday amid growing calls for him to step down. And it appears he is keeping to his word, at least for now. Adams' official Friday schedule shows a couple of meetings early in the morning, plus a couple more happenings late into the afternoon/evening. "Everyone who knows me knows I follow campaign rules and I follow the law," he reiterated several times. MORE: NYC Mayor Eric Adams spent Wednesday fielding resignation questions, attending Biden event, before being indicted Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, however, alleged that Adams knowingly violated those laws for years. Williams outlined allegations in the indictment in a news conference Thursday and alleged Adams provided special favors for Turkish business leaders and government officials in exchange for campaign funds and lavish gifts, including upgraded airline tickets and trips and lavish hotel rooms. "Adams started accepting undisclosed luxury travel benefits at least as early as 2016. He took these benefits nearly every year through 2021," he said. The gifts were worth over $100,000 and none of it was disclosed, according to Willaims. In fact, in some cases he told staffers that he paid for the trips when that was a lie, the U.S. attorney alleged. Adams, when he was the Brooklyn borough president, allegedly solicited foreign campaign contributions while traveling in Turkey in January 2019. PHOTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the press outside his official residence Gracie Mansion after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City, Sept. 26, 2024. (Caitlin Ochs/Reuters) "I want to be clear these upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent flier or loyalty program available to the general public. As we alleged, this was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise, Eric Adams," Williams said. The indictment alleges Adams used straw donations to apply for the city's matching funds program, which gives candidates public funds to match small donations only from New York City residents for any political campaign. As early as 2018, Adams and an unidentified staff member were in communication with a Turkish businessperson who funneled tens of thousands of dollars to straw donors for Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign, according to the indictment. "All told, the 2021 Campaign reaped over $10 million in Matching Funds based on the false certifications that the campaign complied with the law, when in fact ERIC ADAMS, the defendant, knowingly and repeatedly relied on illegal contributions," the indictment said. In addition, Williams alleged that a Turkish government official tried to open a new high-rise building in 2021 in Manhattan that would house Turkey's consulate and pushed Adams to speed up the construction permits. Despite warnings from New York City fire safety professionals, Adams pressured the fire department to open the building, according to the indictment. PHOTO: Turkish Consulate at 821 First Avenue in New York City. (Google Maps Street View) "The FDNY professionals were convinced that they would lose their jobs if they didn't back down. And so they did. They got out of the way and let the building open. The Turkish official got what he wanted," Williams said. "Just four days after Adams held up his end of the bargain, he went right back to soliciting more travel benefits from the Turkish airline," Williams added. Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, stood next to his client at a news conference later in the day and blasted federal prosecutors. He called the indictment against Adams "a fake case" that criminalizes ordinary airline upgrades. "We are talking about a total of $26,000," Spiro said. PHOTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to members of the press at a news conference in New York, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Seth Wenig/AP, FILE) The attorney, who has also represented Elon Musk and Alec Baldwin, said there are emails in which the mayor said, "clearly no foreign money." PHOTO: U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams speaks at a press conference in New York, Sept. 26, 2024, on the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) The alleged conduct predates Adams' time as mayor, when he served as Brooklyn borough president, up through his campaign for mayor and during his time in office. "In 2014, ERIC ADAMS, the defendant, became Brooklyn Borough President," the indictment begins. "Thereafter, for nearly a decade, ADAMS sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him." "By 2018, ADAMS-who had by then made known his plans to run for Mayor of New York City-not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals," it continued. "As ADAMS's prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that ADAMS would become New York City's mayor." It continued, "ADAMS agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received. After his inauguration as Mayor of New York City, ADAMS soon began preparing for his next election, including by planning to solicit more illegal contributions and granting requests from those who supported his 2021 mayoral campaign with such donations." The federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams (ABC News Photo Illustration) Williams said the investigation is ongoing and there may be others charged. Federal agents showed up at Gracie Mansion, the city's mayoral residence, and seized the mayor's phone Thursday morning, Spiro told ABC News. "He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court," Spiro said. "They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in." Later in the afternoon, the mayor sent an e-mail to all city employees -- obtained by ABC News -- addressing the indictment and reiterating he has not done anything wrong. "I am committed to continuing to fight on behalf of New Yorkers as your mayor," he said. "And it is critical, now more than ever, that you all remain focused on delivering for New Yorkers as well." In a statement released on Thursday night, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said it was "an extraordinarily difficult day for New York City." I have carefully reviewed the indictment released by the United States Department of Justice. This indictment is the latest in a disturbing pattern of events that has, understandably, contributed to a sense of unease among many New Yorkers," she said in her statement. Our judicial system is based on the foundational principle that all of us are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Yet those of us who have chosen a career in elected office know that we're held to a higher standard. Given the responsibilities we hold as public servants, that's entirely appropriate," she continued. Hochul said her focus is "protecting the people of New York and ensuring stability in the City." "While I review my options and obligations as the Governor of New York, I expect the Mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders. We must give New Yorkers confidence that there is steady, responsible leadership at every level of government," her statement concluded. New York City Mayor Eric Adams charged with fraud, accepting $10 million in improper campaign contributions originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The fortune former President Trump rode to fame and, later, to the White House will be on the line Thursday when a New York appeals court weighs whether a multimillion-dollar judgment against him and his business empire can stand. A five-judge panel will hear arguments in Trumps appeal of the $464 million, plus interest, judgment against him and top Trump Organization executives in a civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney generals office. Its unlikely the panel will reach a decision before Election Day, but a ruling adverse to Trump would further fracture his savvy-businessman persona and drain his personal coffers. In fact, while waiting for the states midlevel appeals court to take up the case, the $454 million Trump alone was ordered to pay has already ballooned by $24.1 million in interest. Each day since February, when a judge ruled he conspired with Trump Organization executives to falsely alter his net worth on key financial statements to reap tax and insurance benefits, that amount has crept up by $111,984 in interest and will continue to grow at that rate until the former president pays. As of Wednesday, Trump owes $478.2 million. Trumps attorneys are asking the panel to toss out the erroneous decision, reiterating arguments made at trial that banks wanted to work with the Trump Organization, did their own due diligence and found no fraud. They contend that the companys business deals resulted in no victims and no losses, and instead, that Trump stands among Americas most visionary and iconic real estate developers. The economic aspects of this decision are a disaster for New York, Trumps attorneys wrote in paperwork filed with the First Judicial Department Appellate Division. NYAG has used the statute in a way never seen before. They called the case an unauthorized, unprecedented power-grab by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who sued Trump in 2022 for fraudulently misrepresenting the value of his assets for personal gain. Judge Arthur Engoron, who oversaw the case, found Trump liable for fraud before the trial began. Meanwhile, Jamess office told the panel that overwhelming evidence showed Trump and his business engaged in immense fraud, much of which the former presidents attorneys failed to address in their brief to the court. On appeal, defendants tellingly ignore almost all their deceptions, Assistant Solicitor General Daniel Magy wrote in the 168-page filing. Interest will continue to pile up as the appeals court weighs both Trumps and the state attorney generals arguments, with a decision likely in the coming months. Right now, Trumps payment and other penalties, including a three-year ban on holding top leadership positions at any New York company is on pause after he posted a $175 million bond earlier this year. The bond ensured that Jamess office cannot collect the massive judgment during the appeal. But if the panels ruling is unfavorable to Trump, interest would continue to mount during an appeal to the states highest court. If he loses there, hell be forced to pay up. The same is true for the Trump Organization executives who were found liable for fraud alongside Trump. Trumps sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were ordered to pay about $4.7 million each and blocked from serving in leadership roles for two years. Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organizations former chief financial officer, faced a financial penalty of roughly $1.1 million on top of a lifetime ban on serving in the financial control function of any New York company that was also applied to the businesss ex-controller, Jeffrey McConney. Since Engorons February judgment, the Trump brothers have amassed an additional $247,000 in interest each, and Weisselbergs penalty has grown by more than $58,000. Its not clear how Trump intends to pay the judgment if that time comes. Trumps bond was initially set at the full judgment amount, but his lawyers said it would be impossible to secure a full bond. The appeals court then agreed to lower the amount. In addition to Trumps civil fraud judgment, he owes writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million, plus interest, for defaming her in 2019, when he denied her accusation that he sexually assaulted her decades earlier, on top of $5 million in a separate lawsuit by Carroll. Though the former presidents net worth is famously obscure, Forbes estimates he is worth $3.7 billion, with most of his wealth stemming from his stake in Truth Social parent company Trump Media and Technology Group, followed by his real estate holdings. However, only approximately $413 million is made up of liquid assets or cash and personal assets, according to Forbes. Trump told lawyers with the New York attorney generals office last year he has substantially in excess of $400 million in cash. Those funds would be used to pay the judgment against Trump should he lose on appeal but they still fall millions of dollars short. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during an event at City Hall in New York By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Wednesday he expected to be charged with federal crimes and declared he was innocent, after the New York Times reported he had already been indicted following a long-running federal corruption investigation. Adams, a Democrat who would become the first of the city's 110 mayors to be criminally charged while in office, said in a video statement that if charges were filed they would be "entirely false, based on lies." He vowed to remain in office while fighting them. "If I'm charged, I know I'm innocent. I will request an immediate trial so New Yorkers can hear the truth," Adams said. Defying calls from Democratic politicians for him to resign, he said: "You elected me to lead this city, and lead it I will." The indictment was likely to be unsealed on Thursday when Adams may appear in court, the Times reported. In the meantime the exact charges remained uncertain. It also remained unclear whether Adams would be arrested or voluntarily surrender. Other media later reported that a federal grand jury had indicted Adams, citing unnamed sources. The charges come after the FBI last November searched Adams' electronic devices, and in the wake of a slew of resignations by top city officials in recent weeks as multiple federal corruption investigations entangle his administration. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, which brought the charges, declined to comment. Adams' lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment except to send a transcript of his video statement. One of his lawyers has said that the mayor was cooperating with an investigation but did not say what it was about. Adams said the charges "would not be surprising" based on the "leaks and rumors" that he said were aimed at undermining his credibility. If he were forced out of office, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would become mayor of the United States' largest city with a population of about 8.3 million. The case is likely to complicate any Adams bid for re-election in 2025. Other Democratic politicians, including New York City comptroller Brad Lander, plan to challenge Adams - once a key ally of Democratic President Joe Biden - for the party's nomination. "The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can get the full focus its leadership demands," Lander said on X, joining a growing list of politicians to call for his resignation. Before the news broke, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also a Democrat, became the first member of congress to urge him to step down, saying it would be "for the good of the city." Shortly before the announcement, Adams appeared at a reception in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art attended by President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, both of whom made remarks. Adams did not address the gathering. The Times, citing a search warrant, reported in early November 2023 that federal authorities were investigating the possible acceptance by Adams' 2021 campaign of illegal donations, including by the Turkish government. The probe, conducted by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, focused on whether Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign conspired with a Brooklyn construction company to funnel foreign money into the campaign through a straw-donor scheme, the Times said. Authorities have also sought information about Adams' interactions with Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan, according to the Times. Adams, 64, a former police officer who rose to the rank of captain, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said he is cooperating with the probe. His lawyers said in a statement on Aug. 15 they had conducted their own investigation into the matters prosecutors were probing and had not found evidence of illegal conduct by Adams. "To the contrary, we have identified extensive evidence undermining the reported theories of federal prosecution as to the Mayor, which we have voluntarily shared with the U.S. Attorney," said the lawyers, Brendan McGuire and Boyd Johnson. New York has been in a state of political upheaval for the past month. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on Sept. 12, a week after FBI agents seized his phone. Days later, Adams' chief legal adviser resigned, saying she could "no longer effectively serve" in the position. On Wednesday, the city's public schools chancellor David Banks said he would retire at the end of the year, weeks after the Times reported his phones were seized by federal agents. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York, Eric Beech in Washington and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Dan Burns and Sonali Paul) New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday. Adams exploited the citys campaign funds-matching program, which offers substantial matches for small donations, according to the documents reported by the Associated Press and others. His campaign secured more than $10,000 in matching funds through such false filings, the indictment alleges. He also solicited and demanded bribes, including free or heavily discounted luxury travel perks from a Turkish official, the indictment claims. The official, it alleges, sought Adams assistance getting around regulations for a consulate in Manhattan. The mayor said at a Thursday news conference that he would fight the charges, had no plans to resign and intended to continue his civic duties. The indictment comes after a dramatic few weeks in New York, where federal investigators have dogged the mayors office with raids and subpoenas, resulting in a series of high-profile resignations. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Thursday that Adams and his inner circle engaged in corruption involving bribes from foreign nationals for nearly a decade. He said the investigation is still ongoing and that more people will be held accountable. The post New York Mayor Eric Adams Indicted on Charges of Bribery, Illegal Campaign Contributions appeared first on TheWrap. Federal agents search Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams (TIMOTHY A. CLARY) (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/AFP) New York's scandal-plagued Mayor Eric Adams was charged Thursday with wire fraud, soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations and bribery conspiracy -- stunning charges that fueled calls for his resignation. The grand jury indictment follows a sweeping probe into the mayor's conduct and whether he conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal contributions in return for favorable treatment. A defiant Adams told reporters that he looked "forward to defending" himself, and he dismissed demands to step down, urging New Yorkers to "wait to hear our side of the story." But US District Attorney Damian Williams, whose federal office is bringing the charges, said the mayor was "secretly being showered" with gifts for years, breezing past "bright red lines." "The conduct alleged in the indictment -- the foreign money, the corporate money, the years of concealment -- is a grave breach of the public's trust," Williams told journalists. He said the investigation is ongoing: "We will hold more people accountable." The 57-page document accuses the mayor of the most populous US city of crimes going back a decade, when Adams took office as Brooklyn's borough president. He accepted luxury international flights, hotel suites and free high-end restaurant meals including from at least one Turkish government official, the charges allege. As he began planning to run for mayor in 2018, Adams "not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals," according to the court documents. "As Adams's prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear" he would become mayor, reads the indictment. "Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received." - Pre-dawn raid - In one example, prosecutors say Adams pressured the city's fire department to approve Turkey's new high-rise consulate in Manhattan despite safety concerns. "The Turkish official got what he wanted, and as we explained in the indictment, just four days after Adams held up his end of the bargain, he went right back to soliciting more travel benefits," Williams said. Scandal has swirled around Adams for months with several high-ranking allies resigning as others were indicted or raided by federal agents. The drama escalated with a pre-dawn raid of his official residence early Thursday. Adams, who is up for reelection in 2025, had sought to brush off the mushrooming investigations. But many city and state officials are demanding he resign, including on Wednesday when influential New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said he must step down "for the good of the city." Fellow New Yorker Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House Minority Leader, stopped short of that call, saying that while the indictment was "a serious and sober moment for New York City," the mayor was "entitled to the presumption of innocence." The indictment risks embarrassing Democrats weeks before the presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, who are polling neck and neck. On Thursday, Trump insinuated without evidence that Adams had been targeted for raising his voice against the arrival in New York of migrants -- a key campaign issue for the Republican. "I watched about a year ago when he talked about how the illegal migrants are hurting our city (...) and I said you know what, he'll be indicted within a year," said Trump. Revelations of multiple federal probes into high-ranking city officials have laid bare personal and business ties among the mayor's inner circle. Adams, the second Black mayor in the city's history, won the 2021 Democratic primary vowing to reduce crime, which did fall after rising during the Covid pandemic. But the city of 8.5 million people faces a housing crisis that has seen rents skyrocket to unprecedented levels. Adams already faces a smattering of primary contenders in the run-up to next year's vote, all of them to the left of the centrist mayor. If he steps down, the city's public advocate, the progressive Jumaane Williams, would become acting mayor ahead of a special election. According to court documents, Adams is due to appear before a judge on Friday for the notification of charges, but his lawyer has asked for a delay. mdo/bgs/aha/des Is New York Ready to Turn Cuomosexual Again After Eric Adams Indictment? Eric Adams indictment on federal charges Wednesday night set the rumor mill into overdrive about who might replace him as mayor of New York City. Andrew Cuomo sits atop many short lists of potential replacements to challenge Adams re-election bid in 2025, assuming the mayor keeps good on his promise and doesnt resign his position sooner. Cuomo, 66, is reportedly a fan of that idea himself. The Queens native has kept a relatively low profile since he crashed out of the governors office amid a barrage of sexual harassment allegations in 2021, but he could be poised for a political comeback. Andrew Cuomo testified in front of Congress earlier this month to answer to New York states shortcomings in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Annabelle Gordon/Reuters Sources told the New York Post that as rumors of potential criminal charges inundated Adams office in recent months, Cuomo told those close to him he was mulling his own run for mayor next year. Other reports have backed up that story. Axios reported Thursday, also citing unnamed sources, that Cuomo was already signaling to allies that he was preparing to run for mayor even before Adams indictment. Now, with Adams facing charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations, it appears theres a window for Cuomo to re-enter the political arena via his hometown. Cuomo wouldnt have to start from scratch financially if he launches a run, Axios reported. He still has millions left in his campaign coffers from when he abruptly resigned as governor, handing over the reigns to Kathy Hochul. We didnt get everything done that we wanted to, but I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that every day I worked my hardest and gave it my all to deliver for you, the Democrat said as part of a lengthy farewell message on his final day in Albany. Thank you for the honor of serving you. Thank you for empowering me to fight for you. When asked about Cuomos political ambitions, a spokesperson told the Daily Beast in a statement, Hes previously said hes had no plans to make plans and theres been no change. Cuomo has denied all sexual harassment allegations against him. Prior to the sex scandal, hed made himself a household nameeven beyond New Yorkduring COVID-19s peak through his calm demeanor in regular press conference and TV appearances, including some where he riffed with his brother, Chris Cuomo, in primetime segments on CNN. The former governors pandemic response has since been criticized for being lacking, however, with him being called to testify in front of Congress over this issue earlier this month. Cuomo is far from the only big name throwing their hat in the ring to lead the countrys largest city. Brad Lander has already called on Eric Adams to resign as mayor. Brendan McDermid/Reuters Among the other favorites for the position is Brad Lander, New York Citys left-leaning comptroller whos already announced his campaign for next years race. Hes long been a critic of Adams and recently pledged to end street homelessness for severely mentally ill people. Lander, like others vying to replace the mayor, called on Adams to resign in a statement shared Thursday. The hardworking people of New York City deserve a city government and leadership they can trust, the 55-year-old Missouri native said. Right now, they dont have it. Others opposing Adams in the Democratic primary include Scott Stringer, an ex-city comptroller whose 2021 mayoral campaign was derailed by sexual misconduct allegations; Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn state senator who wants to implement free universal after-school programs; and Jessica Ramos, a state senator from Queens who The New York Times reports has an in with the citys unions. Jessica Ramos joined SAG-AFTRA members as they maintained picket lines during the National Union Solidarity Day on August 22, 2023. John Nacion/Getty Images Another potential wildcard for the position is Jumaane Williams, the citys elected public advocate. Hes currently next in line to lead the city if Adams is to resign before his term is up. Should that happen, Williams, 48, may try to catapult his success in a temporary role as mayor into a serious challenge to be the citys full-time leader. Jumaane D. Williams. Joy Malone Williams, an unabashedly left-wing activist-politician from Brooklyn, has previously ran unsuccessful campaigns to be New Yorks governor in 2022 and to be its lieutenant governor in 2018. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. New York resident dies from mosquito-borne disease as experts warn of widening risk New York resident dies from mosquito-borne disease as experts warn of widening risk New York has reported the states first death from Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a disease that spreads through bites from mosquitoes. The patient was the first person to contract EEE in New York since 2015, according to a press release issued by the state on Monday. "Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority," Governor Hochul said in a statement. What Is Eee, The Mosquito-borne Disease That Killed A New Hampshire Man? "Following the first confirmed human case of EEE, my administration took statewide action to help protect communities and with todays declaration, were making more state resources available to local departments to support their public health response." New York has reported the states first death from Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a disease that spreads through bites from mosquitoes. "Weve been informed this patient has passed away from EEE; we extend our sympathies and our hearts go out to their family." Read On The Fox News App State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald has declared EEE an imminent threat to public health, which will make more resources available for prevention measures, such as spraying to reduce mosquitoes. Northeastern Towns Issue Voluntary Lockdown To Prevent Spread Of Mosquito-borne Disease The state has announced plans to expand access to insect repellent in parks and campgrounds, and is encouraging New York residents to take steps to protect against mosquito-borne illness. Eastern equine encephalitis is caused by a virus that is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which describes EEE as a "rare but serious disease." Only a few cases are reported in the U.S. each year, most in the Eastern or Gulf Coast states, the agency states on its website. Some Northeastern towns have enacted voluntary lockdowns due to the rise in EEE cases. Humans and other animals that contract the virus are considered "dead-end hosts," the CDC states, which means they cant spread it to mosquitoes that bite them. "EEE is only spread to humans via a mosquito bite, and cannot be transmitted directly by other humans or horses," Dr. Kurt Vandock, PhD, a public health expert and VP of strategic growth for Mosquito Squad, told Fox News Digital. Common symptoms of EEE include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness. These usually appear five to 10 days after being bitten. "Most people have no symptoms; others get only a mild, flu-like illness with fever, headache and sore throat," Vandock said. Using insect repellents that contain DEET can help to protect against mosquito bites, experts say. "For people with an infection of the central nervous system, a sudden fever (103 to 106), severe headache and stiff neck can be followed quickly by seizures and coma." The disease can be deadly, resulting in fatalities for 30% of infected people. It can also lead to chronic neurological deficiencies, per the CDC. Anthony Faucis West Nile Virus Diagnosis: What To Know About The Mosquito-borne Disease "The best way to confirm any illness is with an approved and accurate test administered by a medical professional," said Vandock. "Eastern equine encephalitis is a serious disease with symptoms occurring fast," he warned. "If you live in an area with noted EEE activity and have flu-like symptoms after being bitten by a mosquito, you should seek medical care immediately." In addition to New York, other states that have reported human EEE cases include Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and New Hampshire. "Anytime life is put at risk by vector-borne disease, we are concerned," Vandock said. "As viral loads increase and transmission rates follow this trend, it is a sign that interventions are necessary to help reduce the risk of transmission," he went on. Common symptoms of EEE include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness. "One case of any vector-borne disease is one too many." As far as why cases have been more prevalent in northeastern states, Vandock said theres no simple answer. "Conducive weather patterns, high population density, the heavy presence of the primary vector and seasonality coinciding with increased outdoor activity can create the perfect storm for rapid transmission," he said. The black-tailed mosquito (Culiseta melanura), the primary vector of EEE, can be found in large numbers in the Northeastern United States, according to Vandock. "It is known to feed mainly on birds, but does not typically feed on humans," he said. "As a result, the transmission of EEE to humans and horses is generally thought to occur via bridge vectors, which contract the virus from infected birds and can then pass the virus on to other hosts." The mosquitoes that act as "bridge vectors" can be found in the Northeast areas where transmission is occurring, the expert noted. The risk of contracting the EEE virus is highest during the summer months especially toward the end of summer, when people go back outdoors as temperatures cool, Vandock said. The mosquitoes that act as "bridge vectors" can be found in the Northeast areas where transmission is occurring, an expert noted. "Anyone who lives or works close to wetlands and swamps is also at an increased risk," he said. The Midwest saw a similar outbreak of EEE in 2019 in Michigan, Vandock noted, as many schools canceled after-school activities after numerous fatalities from the disease. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Current trends suggest that with increasing globalization, population densities, ranges of competent hosts and a favorable climate, the occurrence of EEE and other vector-borne diseases will increase," he added. Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center , said he is not concerned by the increase in cases. "It is still a very slight uptick, and it is confined to mosquito transmission," he told Fox News Digital, adding that he only anticipates "sparse cases" in other parts of the country. There is currently no vaccine for Eastern equine encephalitis, and supportive care is the only means of treating symptoms. A mosquito control inspector sprays pesticide to kill mosquitos amid a Zika virus outbreak in Miami, Florida, in 2016. Educating the public about the risk, encouraging mosquito repellent use, and spraying to control the mosquito population are the best ways to prevent infection, according to experts. For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health The state of New York issued the following recommendations for prevention. Wear long sleeves, pants and socks when outdoors during periods of high mosquito activity, such as dusk or dawn. Use insect repellents that contain DEET. Ensure that there are screens in all windows and doors. Eliminate standing water in outdoor areas where mosquitoes tend to breed. Original article source: New York resident dies from mosquito-borne disease as experts warn of widening risk Justin Johnson, one of the suspects in the November 2021 murder of Young Dolph (Adolph Thorton Jr.), was found guilty on first-degree murder as well as charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, per FOX13. A jury reached the verdict during a court hearing in Memphis on Thursday (Sept. 26) after about four hours of deliberation. More from Billboard Following the fourth days closing arguments, Johnson was sentenced to life in prison on the first-degree murder charge by Judge Jennifer Mitchell and he will learn his fate when it comes to the additional charges during a November court date. Johnson never took the defense stand. Every murders a tragedy, and we take them all seriously, said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. This one generated extra public interest because Young Dolph was a prominent and beloved member of the community. We will continue to fight hard to make sure that all of those responsible for his death are brought to justice. Johnson and fellow alleged gunman, Cornelius Smith, ambushed Young Dolph on Nov. 17, 2021, at Makedas Homemade Butter Cookies in his hometown. They allegedly fired 22 shots while striking and killing the Paper Route Empire CEO. Smith took the stand on Monday (Sept. 23) after pleading guilty to murder charges. He implicated himself along with Justin Johnson as well as Hernandez Quett Govan and Yo Gottis brother Anthony Big Jook Mims in Dolphs murder. Smith claimed that Big Jook put a $100,000 bounty on Dolph and explained that he and Johnson were each supposed to collect $40,000 after killing the Memphis rapper. However, Smith testified that he only ended up receiving $800, but Big Jook did step in to pay $50,000 in lawyer fees once he was apprehended. Although, Jook was murdered while leaving a funeral in January. The same day Dolph was killed also happened to be Smiths daughters birthday. Smith said he had no money and wanted to make sure she had a beautiful birthday if he got his hands on the cash. Man, I was trying to make it right for her, he told the court on Monday. I aint have no money, Im trying to get some money that day. So Im trying to make sure my baby girl have a beautiful birthday. Dolph released seven studio albums while he was alive and a posthumous LP, Paper Route Frank, arrived in 2022. He also has four Billboard Hot 100 hits to his name. The Memphis trailblazer is survived by his fiancee Mia Jaye and their two children. Young Dolph was 36 years old. Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) A Youngstown man has been arrested for felonious assault following an incident in Boardman Thursday evening. Police were dispatched to a reported collision at the 5500 block of Market Street around 5 p.m. According to a police report, the victim was driving in the left lane when Elias Rodriguez, 54, cut the other driver off, yelling learn how to drive. Rodriguez then began to swerve into the victims lane, eventually striking the victims car. An independent witness said Rodriguez was driving in a way where he was purposely trying to strike the victims car, the report said. Reports state the victim and Rodriguez pulled over and got out of their vehicles, then Rodriguez held out his cell phone, saying, Whats up. The victim said they thought it was a small silver handgun, according to a report. In an interview with police, Rodriguez did admit to holding his phone in a way that would look like a gun. Rodriguez was placed under arrest for felonious assault and aggravated menacing. His court appearance is pending. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Four Nebraska schools have been honored as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools from the U.S. Department of Education. Two recipients are from the metro area: Wilma Upchurch Elementary School in Millard and Elkhorn Grandview Middle School in Elkhorn. The other schools include Southern Valley Elementary School in Oxford and West Point Elementary School in the West Point-Beemer district. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools, said Miguel Cardona, U.S. secretary of education, in a Monday press release. The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nations students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. This year, the U.S. Department of Education selected 356 schools across the nation that excel in academic performance or make strides in closing student achievement gaps. Wilma Upchurch Elementary School was selected in part because of its dedication to serving each students unique needs, according to the National Blue Ribbon Schools website. Teachers tailor instruction to students who are English learners, high achievers, on special education plans and more. What truly distinguishes Upchurch is our unwavering belief in the potential of every student, the school wrote in its application. We hold all students, regardless of their starting point, to the expectation of making at least a years worth of academic growth. This commitment to growth applies equally to students scoring developing, proficient or advanced at the outset of the year. District officials said this is a big year for Wilma Upchurch Elementary School. Staff recently announced the school will become a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) school in the 2025-26 school year. Programming will emphasize hands-on and experiential learning. Just a tremendous accomplishment for Upchurch, and our third Blue Ribbon school in two years, Millard Superintendent John Schwartz said in a statement Tuesday. At Elkhorn Grandview Middle School, teachers are given time to assess student data, review instruction strategies and problem-solve. The building has a school improvement team that consists of teacher leaders who help improve instruction and other ways to meet student needs, according to the award website. Teachers and staff at Grandview are committed to continuously adjusting and responding to the evolving requirements and demands of the diverse student population they serve, the school wrote in its application. This unwavering dedication guarantees that every student who attends school at Grandview feels supported, valued and empowered in their middle school years and beyond. Bary Habrock, Elkhorns superintendent, said in a statement Monday the recognition is a reflection of staff and student dedication along with the culture of excellence across the district. Thank you to every staff member and student for your continued commitment to making Elkhorn a place where everyone thrives and achieves their very best, Habrock said. Top Journal Star photos for September 2024 (Bloomberg) -- The head of Ukraines presidential office and the countrys foreign policy chief held a rare meeting with Chinas top diplomat just hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ramped up his criticism of Beijing for aiding Russias war. Most Read from Bloomberg Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Zelenskiy chief of staff Andriy Yermak met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Ukraines Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The officials thanked China for its support of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, talked about further steps to develop relations and trade between the countries and discussed plans for the next top-level contacts, according to the short statement. Zelenskiy took sharper aim at Chinas efforts to influence the war with Russia in his speech during the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, blasting the joint China-Brazil peace proposals that clash with his own path to end the war. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 26. The two held talks "to discuss U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression," the White House said in a statement. Zelensky also presented Biden with his much-discussed victory plan. The details of the plan have not yet been made public, but the White House said that the two leaders discussed its "diplomatic, economic, and military aspects." Separately, Zelensky wrote on X that he and Biden had talked about "details to strengthen the plan, coordinated our positions, views, and approaches, and tasked our teams with holding consultations on the next steps." During the meeting with @POTUS, I presented the Victory Plan to him. We discussed details to strengthen the Plan, coordinated our positions, views, and approaches, and tasked our teams with holding consultations on the next steps. We deeply appreciate that Ukraine and the United pic.twitter.com/ow67qHZqF9 Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) September 26, 2024 "Russia will not prevail in (this) war," Biden said in the recorded remarks shared by Zelensky. "Ukraine will prevail, and we will continue to stand by you every step of the way." In response, Zelensky said that "we deeply appreciate that Ukraine and the U.S. have stood side-by-side from the very first moments of this terrible Russian invasion." "Your determination is incredibly important for us to prevail." During Zelensky's visit to the U.S., Ukraine received pledges of new military aid from allies, including almost $8 billion from the U.S., as well other aid from the U.K., Germany, and Canada. The White House also said Biden would "host a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany (in October), where the two leaders will review progress on these consultations and coordinate with international partners on additional assistance for Ukraine." The statement concluded with a declaration that "Biden is determined to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win." Read also: What we know about the victory plan Zelensky is presenting to Biden today Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Outgoing US President Joe Biden released another $2.4 billion in military aid to Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House on Thursday. The package includes another Patriot air-defence system, long-range bombs and drones. Biden also said that another $5.5 billion was set to flow to Ukraine before his term ends in January. Additionally, the US will support the training of another 18 Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. The US-made jets are provided by other countries, but the US government participates in the training programme. Biden said it was "clear we stand with Ukraine now and in the future" as he sat alongside Zelensky in the Oval Office before the two leaders went into their closed-door meeting. Zelensky thanked Biden for his "strong support" and said the latest aid package was "a great help." He also planned to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee going up against Republican Donald Trump in November's presidential election. Ukraine and its allies are anxiously watching the neck-and-neck race. Trump has expressed deep scepticism of the NATO military alliance that supports Ukraine while his hard-right Republicans are increasingly opposed to continued aid for Kiev. To help buttress support no matter what the coming months bring, the Biden administration announced that a high-level meeting on Ukraine would be held in Germany next month to coordinate the efforts of more than 50 supporting countries. Earlier on Thursday, the Ukrainian president also met with senior members of the US Congress in Washington, including the leaders of both parties in the Senate, Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Mitch McConnell. There had been tentative plans for Zelensky to meet with Trump while he was in the US, but that appeared out of the question after remarks made by the former president at a rally in North Carolina on Wednesday. "We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal," Trump said, criticizing Zelensky for not making an agreement with Moscow to end the war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "So many dead people, any deal, even the worst deal, would have been better than what we have right now," Trump continued. Zelensky is in Washington to urge Kiev's key ally to support what he calls Ukraine's "victory plan," which contains military and diplomatic components, including negotiations with Russia. Concrete details of the plan have yet to be released, but it is also expected to include Zelensky's request that Kiev be allowed to use long-range Western missiles on targets deep inside Russia. As Ukraine's battlefield losses mount in the east of the country, Zelensky hopes taking the fight to Russian territory could deliver severe blows and help shift the momentum. But those authorizations have yet to come from the United States and Britain amid fears those types of attacks could escalate the two-and-a-half-year-old war. Germany is staunchly opposed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with a bipartisan group of House members Thursday, a huddle that came against the backdrop of the GOPs amped up criticism of the foreign leader. Zelensky, who is in Washington as part of a multiday trip to the U.S., gathered for roughly an hour with a cadre of House members from both parties, during which they discussed the Ukrainian leaders victory plan for his countrys war against Russia. There were a lot of people in the room, a lot of questions, and we went relatively quickly, said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md). The president had one hour, and then he had to leave. And some questions were asked about the plan and the confidence in a plan. Hanging over that huddle, however, was Zelenskys trip to Pennsylvania earlier this week, which Republicans argue amounted to a form of election meddling. Zelensky met with Keystone State Democrats and toured the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant a factory that produces 155 mm artillery rounds a visit that Republicans contend was effectively a campaign stop for Vice President Harris. House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) opened an investigation into Zelenskys trip Wednesday, questioning if the Biden-Harris administration committed an abuse of power in transporting him on a military plane. Shortly after, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called on Zelensky to fire his ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, whom he accused of organizing a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats. Johnson said he would not meet with the Ukrainian president this week because of scheduling conflicts. Markarova was spotted walking with Zelensky throughout his visit to the Capitol on Thursday. Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Johnsons call for Markarova to be fired came up once during the huddle Thursday, when House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) at the end of the meeting told Zelensky, I want to meet with you on this whole Pennsylvania thing. Thats the only moment in which it came up, Himes added, noting that Zelensky did not apologize for the visit. While the visit was only mentioned briefly, according to Himes, the stop in Pennsylvania was a topic of conversation in the halls of the Capitol. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), a bullish supporter of Ukraine, expressed concern about the decision for the Ukrainian leader to visit the state. It was not supposed to be political. Its very understandable that it could have been interpreted to be political, but Im confident that for the government of Ukraine, it was not meant to be political, he said. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), another lawmaker who is resolute in his support for Ukraine, however, took a more moderate tone, telling reporters after the meeting: We dont know anything about what happened there, my sense is that it might have been a huge misunderstanding, but we just dont know. But well get to the bottom of it, he added. Hoyer rejected the notion that the call for Markarova to be fired will impact U.S. support for Ukraine, saying, I dont think so. It should not, he added. We need to win this war. I think that was the message that both sides gave to the president. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, meanwhile, described the meeting as positive and uplifting despite the partisan political storm that has gathered around Zelensky. This meeting was a positive meeting. The positive nature of the meeting was there was bipartisan support for success in Ukraine, which I think is critically important, Hoyer told reporters. I think we need to win this war. I think we need to protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine and protect democracy. I think NATO is committed to that end. The United States is committed to that end. Fitzpatrick said Zelensky shared with lawmakers what the Ukrainians need in terms of support, providing an update on the battlefield, and giving a list to lawmakers of individuals and businesses evading sanctions, and of places where additional sanctions can be levied. Its a multilayered challenge that hes dealing with, and just got to make sure we stay with him and finish the job, Fitzpatrick said. Republicans largely brushed off the significance of Johnsons absence from the meeting, pointing to his comments about his schedule. I wasnt able to schedule a meeting with Zelensky this week because I had a very busy one, as you all might have noticed, and I dont even think Ill be in town now tomorrow, Johnson told reporters Wednesday, after the House passed a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown. Questions, however, have swirled about the Houses ability to send more aid to Ukraine down the road if Johnson remains atop the GOP conference. While the Speaker helped usher through a foreign aid package earlier this year, his conference has grown increasingly isolationist. Hoyer, who previously served as Democratic majority leader, expressed confidence in Congresss ability to stand by Kyiv no matter who is in leadership. Let me say that support for Ukraine has consistently gotten over 300 votes in the House of Representatives, with or without the Speaker voting for it, he said. President Biden on Thursday announced an $8 billion aid package for Ukraine, to include about $5.5 billion in military assistance directly from Department of Defense stockpiles and $2.4 billion in air defense, munitions, training and maintenance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during the second day of the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Bianca Otero/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to world leaders to keep his country's fight against Russia's invasion a top priority in his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. Zelensky raised to spectre of a global nuclear disaster at the start of his speech, saying Russia was "planning attacks on our nuclear power plants" in order to further hobble Ukraine's energy supply. He cited an "alarming" intelligence report but did not disclose further details. "Any missile or drone strike, any critical incident in the energy system, could lead to a nuclear disaster," Zelensky said. "A day like that must never come. Moscow needs to understand this, and this depends in part on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor." "If, God forbid, Russia causes a nuclear disaster at one of our nuclear power plants, radiation will not respect state borders," he continued. Zelensky also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to wear down Ukrainians by leaving them "in the dark and cold this winter." "Since Russia can't defeat our people's resistance on the battlefield, Putin is looking for other ways to break the Ukrainian spirit," he told world leaders in a speech that lasted 20 minutes. Zelensky said Russia had destroyed all of Ukraine's thermal power plants and "a large part" of the country's hydroelectric capacity. In all, Russia has inflicted damage on 80% of the energy infrastructure, he said. "This is how Putin is preparing for winter: hoping to torment millions of Ukrainians, ordinary families, women, children, ordinary towns, ordinary villages. Putin wants to leave them in the dark and cold this winter, forcing Ukraine to suffer and surrender." "I think every leader, every country that supports us ... sees how Russia, a country more than 20 times larger than Ukraine in territory, still wants even more land," he said. The Ukrainian leader went on to describe Iran and North Korea, which have been accused of supplying Russia with weapons, as accomplices in Moscow's war. He also once again firmly rejected a Sino-Brazilian peace initiative during his speech. The plan put forward by China and Brazil effectively calls for a freezing of the war along the current front line. Zelensky told the General Assembly that the world had seen enough colonial wars conducted and that every country - including China, Brazil, European nations, African nations and the Middle East - understands why this must be a thing of the past. Later on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden, together with international partners, reaffirmed his commitment to helping Ukraine rebuild. "We're committed to providing Ukraine with the resources it needs to build back stronger than it was before," Biden said on the sidelines of the General Assembly. It is no secret that the Russian attacks have caused significant damage, the US leader said, but Ukraine is economically resilient. At the Wednesday event, which was also attended by Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Biden presented a declaration by more than 30 countries and the EU in support of reconstruction. The aim is to hold Russia accountable for the damage and to rebuild Ukraine in the long term. "Today, we're launching a joint declaration of support for Ukraine recovery and reconstruction to make it clear we stand with Ukraine now and in the future," Biden said. Zelensky arrived in the US on Sunday to pitch his "victory plan" for defeating Russia, with his speech at the UN in New York one of the trip's highest-profile moments. He is scheduled to meet Biden and the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, in Washington on Thursday. He is also set to meet lawmakers in Congress. Zelensky is urging Washington and other allies to give the green light to use Western-supplied weapons to strike deep inside Russia. Those authorizations have yet to come amid fears those types of attacks could escalate the two-and-a-half-year-old war. Russia hits Ukraine's Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya regions At least two people were killed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in a Russian attack using glide bombs, the governor of the Donetsk region, Vadym Filashkin, said on Wednesday, adding that a dozen others were injured after residential buildings and a shop were damaged. In the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhya, a 55-year-old man was killed and seven people were injured, the regional military governor said. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia used 32 drones and eight missiles in overnight attacks on Ukraine. Most of the drones and half of the missiles were intercepted, it said on Wednesday morning. Injuries after Ukrainian attack on Russian city of Belgorod Five people were injured in a Ukrainian attack on the western Russian city of Belgorod, the local authorities there reported. Four of them were taken to hospital, the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announced on his Telegram channel. In his post he said that the large-scale attack had damaged a high-rise building and 75 smaller residential buildings. In addition, dozens of vehicles, water and gas pipes were damaged, he said. Russia has been systematically attacking civilian targets in Ukraine since it launched its full-scale invasion of the neighbouring country in February 2022. In particular, Ukraine's energy supply facilities are repeatedly targeted by Russian drones, rockets and cruise missiles. Border regions in Russia are now experiencing increasing shelling from Ukraine. However, the number of victims and the extent of the damage are on a much smaller scale than the destruction caused by Moscow's forces in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during the second day of the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Bianca Otero/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Zelensky thanks Starmer for UK's commitment to Ukraine During a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed Ukraine's security situation, the implementation of a bilateral security agreement, and preparations for the second peace summit. Zelensky also thanked the U.K. for its decisive actions since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Thank you for standing with us throughout this time, Zelensky posted on X. Zelensky and Starmer are in New York this week attending the UN General Assembly. Starmer has recently expressed his intention to continue discussions at the UN General Assembly regarding Ukraines use of long-range missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russia. Read also: Zelensky meets with NATOs Stoltenberg in New York Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to the White House on Thursday may have been his final chance to convince a receptive American president of his countrys war aims. And just weeks before a US presidential election that could have a profound impact on his countrys future, Vice President Kamala Harris used the moment to draw a stark contrast between her and former President Donald Trumps approach to the conflict. The wide divide was the backdrop to Thursdays meetings at the White House. During an appearance alongside Zelensky, Harris suggested her Republican opponent would force Ukraine into ceding territory to its Russian invaders, falling in line with demands from President Vladimir Putin. In candor, I share with you, Mr. President, there are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forego security relationships with other nations, she said outside her ceremonial office next to the White House. These proposals are the same of those of Putin, and let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable. While Harris did not specify who she was talking about, the implication was clear. And though Zelensky has sought to cultivate relationships with Republicans, including Trump, during his visits to the United States, it was not lost on him or anyone watching that Novembers election is providing fresh urgency to his search for a way to position Ukraine for victory. History reminds us, and history is so clear in reminding us, the United States cannot and should not isolate ourselves from the rest of the world, Harris said. Isolation is not insulation. Zelensky was in Washington on Thursday to try and convince the Biden administration his country can still win its war with Russia, so long as the United States and other nations significantly and quickly ramp up their military assistance. Trump says he and Zelensky will meet Trump told reporters Thursday that he would be meeting with the Ukrainian president in New York on Friday. President Zelensky has asked to meet with me, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning at around 9:45 in Trump Tower, Trump said during remarks at Trump Tower. Earlier Thursday, Trump cryptically posted on Truth Social what appeared to be a private communication between the Ukrainian deputy ambassador and an aide to the former president asking to pass along a message from Zelensky requesting a meeting. Trump did not indicate in the post whether he would do so. Zelensky had been expected to depart the United States but was prepared to stay an extra day to facilitate a meeting, a source familiar with his plans said. The anticipated meeting comes after the Ukrainian president recently told The New Yorker that he believes Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how. With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it the less you understand, Zelensky told the magazine prior to his Washington trip. On Thursday, Trump told reporters that he looks forward to the planned meeting with Zelensky but disagreed with his assessment, saying, I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelensky quite quickly. But the former president declined to delve into the specifics of his plan and left things open-ended when asked whether he believes Ukraine should cede territory to Russia as a means of ending the war. Ahead of Zelenskys arrival in Washington, President Joe Biden ordered a surge of assistance to Ukraine, directing the Pentagon to allocate all remaining funding already approved by Congress before he leaves office in the hopes of positioning Kyiv for victory no matter the winner of Novembers US presidential election. Speaking to reporters next to Zelensky just before the pair met privately in the Oval Office, Biden said This will strengthen Ukraines position in future negotiations. On post-war recovery efforts, Biden said the US and allies have to support Ukraine on its path to membership to both the EU and to NATO, and to continue to make reforms to counter corruption, while ensuring the country is able to repel any future Russian attacks. And he pledged continued US support for recovery and reconstruction efforts in the country, in some cases using Russian assets as well. Biden is usually apt to take his time making decisions about providing Ukraine new capabilities. But with Novembers election potentially portending a major change in American approach to the war if Trump were to win, Ukrainian officials and many American ones believe there is little time to waste. Trump has claimed he will be able to settle the war upon taking office and has suggested hell end US support for Kyivs war effort. Those cities are gone, theyre gone, and we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refused to make a deal, Zelensky. There was no deal that he could have made that wouldnt have been better than the situation you have right now. You have a country that has been obliterated, not possible to be rebuilt, Trump said during a campaign speech in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday. Comments like those lent new weight to Thursdays Oval Office talks, according to American and European officials, who have described an imperative to surge assistance to Ukraine while Biden is still in office. Biden orders surge of assistance Anxiety over the future of American support has colored many of Zelenskys visits to Washington. When he visited the White House last year, it was meant in part to apply pressure on Republican congressional leaders to approve billions of dollars in new assistance. The aid was eventually passed, but support for Ukraine among Trump allies is not high. While Zelensky visited Capitol Hill Thursday, he did not meet Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. During his more than hourlong meeting with senators before his visit to the White House, Zelen sky made his case for increased US support for his war-weary country while laying out the plan he would later present to Biden. He was emphatic he needs permission to strike deeper into Russia, which many senators on Capitol Hill have supported and something that continues to be a major priority for Ukraine. Some lawmakers in the meeting said they also lent Zelensky suggestions on how he could be more persuasive with Biden. Biden said ahead of his meeting with Zelensky that he was directing the Department of Defense to allocate all of its remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated for Ukraine by the end of my term in office. He also said he was approving new long-range weapons, Patriot missiles and the US military will expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, taking on an additional 18 pilots next year. The US president said he plans to convene Western leaders next month in Germany to coordinate their efforts toward helping Ukraine achieve victory. Whether that is enough to help defeat Russia remains to be seen. And, at least publicly, Biden has stopped short of granting Ukraine permission to fire Western provided long-range weapons deeper into Russian territory, a line Biden once was loathe to cross but which hes recently appeared more open to as he has come under growing pressure to relent. Even if Biden decides to allow the long-range fires, its unclear whether the change in policy would be announced publicly. Biden said hed decided to provide Ukraine with a Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition to enhance Ukraines long-range strike capabilities, though his statement did not specify whether he planned to lift restrictions on firing the long range weapons deep inside Russian territory. Previewing Zelenskys visit to the White House a day beforehand, Biden declared on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly his administration was determined to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to prevail in fight for survival. Zelensky looks to develop Harris relationship Zelenskys separate meeting with Harris on Thursday which took place after the Ukrainian leader wraps up with Biden signaled his desire to further develop what would be his most important leader-to-leader relationship should she win. In the weeks since taking the political baton from Biden, Harris and her aides have gone to great lengths to insist that on major matters of foreign policy, there is no daylight between the vice president and the outgoing president. The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia is no exception, they say, insisting that Ukraine would continue to have the USs unwavering support against Russian aggression under a Harris presidency. The vice presidents face time with Zelensky on Thursday marked their sixth meeting since the war broke out in February of 2022. Just several days prior to the start of Russian attacks in February 2022, the vice president also saw Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference, where the two discussed Russias military build-up around Ukraine and the possibility of the start of a war. In her remarks at the Democratic National Convention last month, Harris was deliberate in taking credit for the USs response. Five days before Russia attacked Ukraine, I met with President Zelensky to warn him about Russias plan to invade. I helped mobilize a global response over 50 countries to defend against Putins aggression, she said. And as president, I will stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies. Advisers to the vice president say Trumps public statements about the war in Ukraine could not make more clear the starkly different foreign policy worldviews of the vice president and the former president. (Trump appears unlikely to sit down with the Ukrainian leader, despite saying last week they would probably meet.) Harris has insisted that if she were to become president unlike under Trumps watch Ukraine would be able to count on unwavering US support. Trumps campaign has been blasting Zelensky over an interview with the New Yorker published Sunday in which Zelensky called vice presidential nominee JD Vance too radical. His message seems to be that Ukraine must make a sacrifice. This brings us back to the question of the cost and who shoulders it. The idea that the world should end this war at Ukraines expense is unacceptable, Zelensky said in the interview. For us, these are dangerous signals, coming as they do from a potential Vice-President. Trump alluded to the comments in North Carolina on Wednesday. The President of Ukraine is in our country. Hes making nasty little aspersions toward your favorite president, me, he said. There is quiet recognition even inside the Biden administration that any reassurances Zelensky may receive from Biden and Harris this week on the USs commitment to supporting Ukraine could all be for naught under a different American president. At the signing of a new US-Ukraine defense pact on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Italy in June, Zelensky was asked what contingency plan he might have for precisely such a scenario. If the people are with us, any leader will be with us in this struggle for freedom, Zelensky responded. This headline and story have been updated with additional developments. CNNs Michael Williams, Lauren Fox, Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett, Donald Judd, Sarah Davis and Kit Maher contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands after speaking to the press on September 26, 2024 (Drew ANGERER) (Drew ANGERER/AFP/AFP) Kamala Harris criticized her US election rival Donald Trump's "surrender" policy on Ukraine on Thursday, while the Republican said he would meet Ukraine's president despite a bitter row over the war with Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky presented a so-called "victory" plan to President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris at the White House, with Biden announcing a new military aid package worth nearly $8 billion for a struggling Kyiv. Standing with Zelensky at her side, Harris did not mention Trump by name but said there were "some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory." "These proposals are the same of those of (President Vladimir) Putin. And let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender," she said, referring to the Russian leader. During a separate meeting in the Oval Office with Zelensky, Biden pledged that "Russia will not prevail" in the war it launched in February 2022. "Ukraine will prevail, and we'll continue to stand by you every step of the way," Biden said. Dressed in his trademark military-style outfit, Zelensky replied that "we deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side." But Zelensky is navigating the choppy waters of a US presidential election on November 5 that could sink the staunch support that he has received from Washington in the past two-and-a-half years. - 'Make a deal' - Trump, who has long been critical of the billions of dollars in US support for Ukraine, accused Zelensky on the eve of the visit of refusing to strike a deal with Moscow. But after the row had appeared to derail any meeting, Trump announced that he would hold talks with Zelensky at Trump Tower in New York on Friday. "President Zelensky has asked to meet with me, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning at around 9:45," the Republican told reporters in New York. Trump also repeated his longstanding claim that he would swiftly cut a peace deal -- which Kyiv fears would involve giving up land Moscow has already captured. "I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelensky and quite quickly," he said. He also suggested he was displeased with Zelensky's recent comments to The New Yorker magazine in which Ukraine's leader said he believed Trump "doesn't really know how to stop the war." Republicans have also been livid after Zelensky visited an arms factory in Biden's hometown in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, accusing the Ukrainian ambassador of organizing a partisan political event and calling for her to be sacked. - 'They beat Napoleon' - Trump has echoed many of Putin's talking points, saying at a rally earlier this week that Ukraine could not win as Russia "beat Hitler, they beat Napoleon, that's what they do." When Trump was president he also asked Zelensky for potentially damaging political material on Biden ahead of the 2020 election -- which led to the first of the Republican's two impeachments. Biden seems to be doing whatever he can to Trump-proof support for Ukraine as it faces an increasingly difficult situation on the battlefield against Russia. He pledged nearly $8 billion in military aid on Thursday to "win this war," including $5.5 billion to be authorized before it expires at the end of the US fiscal year on Monday. Biden, whose term ends in January, also called a summit of allies in Germany in October. The White House, however, played down Zelensky's hopes of getting permission to fire long-range Western-made missiles into Russian territory. "I'm not expecting there to be any new announcements," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Zelensky earlier visited the US Congress and gave a defiant address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. Zelensky's visit has prompted fresh nuclear saber-rattling from Moscow. Putin on Wednesday announced plans to broaden Moscow's rules on the use of its atomic weaponry in the event of a "massive" air attack. dk/aha Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived at the US Capitol in Washington to meet with American lawmakers. A video of Zelenskyys arrival was released by the AFP agency. Source: European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy was met by Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, and Mitch McConell, leader of the Republican minority in the Senate. Later, Zelenskyy will meet with US President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, in Washington. Background: Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, published a letter on Wednesday, 25 September, addressed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and containing a categorial demand for Ukraine. Johnson cited an event during the Ukrainian president's visit to the US a tour of an ammunition manufacturing site in Pennsylvania as the reason for his demand. He claimed that Ukraines Ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, had arranged the event and "failed to include a single Republican because on purpose no Republicans were invited", and demanded her dismissal. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mike Johnson will not meet on Thursday: the Republican was unable to schedule a meeting "due to being very busy". Republican candidate Donald Trump has also refused to meet with Zelenskyy and claimed earlier in the week that the Ukrainian president supports his opponent Kamala Harris in the US election. Speaker Johnson hinted at a possible disruption of meetings in Congress. Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy and European Council President discuss use of income from frozen Russian assets Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Charles Michel. Photo: the Office of the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Council President Charles Michel have discussed the use of income from frozen Russian assets to meet Ukraine's needs. Source: European Pravda, citing the Office of the President of Ukraine Details: The main topics of the meeting between Zelenskyy and Michel were the use of income from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs and the steps that need to be taken to implement this decision as soon as possible. They also focused on maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia and blocking any attempts to circumvent sanctions. In addition, Zelenskyy and Michel had a detailed discussion on the frontline situation, Ukraines military needs, steps to strengthen the countrys resilience and defence capabilities, and the implementation of joint security commitments between Ukraine and the EU. Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude for the first tranche of 1.5 billion obtained from income generated by Russian assets. Quote: "I think that with your support, our path to the EU will be faster. There will be challenges. But in any case, we can see light in the near future," he added. Background: The European Union agreed in June to use part of the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets for military aid to Ukraine. The decision was approved despite opposition from Hungary. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell stated that in addition to the first tranche, a further 1 billion will be allocated to purchase weapons for Ukraine by the end of the year. It was also recently reported that the EU still plans to provide a new loan of up to 40 billion to Ukraine by the end of 2024, regardless of US participation, after an agreed G7 plan for a US$50 billion loan using frozen Russian assets ran into problems. Support UP or become our patron! On September 25, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with the Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Asad Majid Khan, during the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Azernews reports citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). During the discussion, the parties addressed cooperation between Azerbaijan and the ECO, as well as the prospects for collaboration at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized Azerbaijan's commitment to cooperation with the ECO and expressed the country's readiness to contribute to expanding regional cooperation within the organization. It was noted that enhancing cooperation in the fields of economy, energy security, and transport and communications is a priority for both sides. The importance of fostering collaboration among member states and contributing to joint economic development in the region was emphasized. Additionally, the need to expand intra-regional and inter-regional trade was reiterated. The Minister also informed the Secretary General about the current regional situation, the restoration and reconstruction efforts in territories liberated from occupation, and the status of the normalization and peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Secretary General Asad Majid Khan expressed appreciation for Azerbaijan's active and productive participation in the organization's activities, recognizing the country as a reliable partner for ECO member states. He highlighted the ECO's commitment to promoting a transition to a green and clean environment and expressed readiness to support initiatives proposed by Azerbaijan in this regard. The selection of the city of Shusha as the tourist capital of the Economic Cooperation Organization for 2026 was noted, and ideas for possible joint actions this year were discussed. Other issues of mutual interest were also exchanged during the meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden. Stock photo: website of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Source: European Pravda with reference to the Office of the President of Ukraine Quote: "Volodymyr Zelenskyy focused on the matter of the Victory Plan. The leaders agreed to discuss it during talks in Washington on 26 September." Details: Zelenskyy thanked Biden and the US for the assistance provided to Ukraine and briefed him on the situation in Ukraine, particularly on the front line. The two presidents took part in a special G7+ meeting dedicated to Ukraine's recovery. More than 30 countries and the European Union signed a declaration on Ukraine's post-war recovery. Background: Earlier, the president's spokesman said that Zelenskyy would have two meetings with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, during his visit to the US. Bloomberg noted that some Western officials were trying to lower expectations of the Victory Plan, saying they did not see it as a breakthrough. Support UP or become our patron! (NewsNation) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is having meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday as he asks for continued U.S. support in the war against Russia. One person Zelenskyy wont be meeting with is former President Donald Trump, who has suggested that if he wins in November, he would make a deal favorable to Russia to end the conflict. Zelenskyy is also meeting with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. His meetings come as there has been a growing partisan divide around continued support for the country as it fends off a Russian invasion that began in February 2022. Live: House panel probing Trump assassination attempts holds hearing Biden and Harris have characterized support for Ukraine as critical for democracy and said that if allowed to continue, Russia would not stop with Ukraine. Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, on the other hand, have criticized the amount of money spent and indicated they believe Ukraine should make concessions to Moscow in order to stop the fighting. Zelenskyys tumultuous relationship Trump, the Republican nominee, continued to deteriorate this week. Instead of meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump has criticized him. As for U.S. support for Ukraine, Trump complained that we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal to end the war. His message dovetails with Russian propaganda that claims intransigence by Kyiv not aggression from Moscow has prolonged the bloodshed. Trump has also accused Zelenskyy of having a favorite in the election and also called the leader the greatest salesman for obtaining aid needed to defend the Ukraine. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and members of Congress in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Biden announced a new $7.9 billion support package for Ukraine. Russia will not prevail, Biden said. Ukraine will prevail. Zelenskyy asked President Joe Biden and members of Congress to release the restrictions on western long-range missiles. Currently, U.S. policy doesnt allow Ukraine to use those on targets in Russia. Russian President Vladamir Putin warned that move would put Russia at war with the U.S. and NATO. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who met with Zelenskyy on Capitol Hill, supported Zelenskyys proposal. The only way youre going to get Russia to the table is hit them harder than youre hitting them today, Graham said. Zelenskyy thanked Biden for American support after Russias invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine and America have stood side-by-side from the very first moments of this terrible Russian invasion, Zelenskyy said in the Oval Office. His visit to Washington came amid criticism from Republicans that Zelenskyy is getting involved in the U.S. elections. Zelenskyy toured a munitions factory in Pennsylvania with Democrats. He said, to thank the manufacturers for saving Ukrainian lives. Whether it was intended, or not, it has a political perception and thats a mistake, said Graham. Zelenskyy also told the New Yorker Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio.) is too radical. He said Vance supports Ukraine giving up territories. On the campaign trail on Wednesday, former president Donald Trump criticized Zelenskyys comments. The President of Ukraine is in our country and hes making, little, nasty aspersions toward your favorite President, me, Trump said. Ukraine is gone. Its not Ukraine anymore. Late Thursday, Trump posted a message on his Truth Social platform suggesting Zelenskyy had asked for a meeting with Trump on Friday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, has indirectly denounced the Trump campaigns policy on ending Russias war against Ukraine as proposals of surrender as the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington to present his own victory plan. Addressing Zelenskyy at the White House, Harris said that some in my country would pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal in which it surrendered its sovereign territory and neutrality in order to make peace with Vladimir Putin. These proposals are the same as those of Putin, and let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace, she said. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable. While she did not mention Donald Trump or JD Vance by name, those terms for peace closely resemble ones laid out by the Republican vice-presidential nominee in an interview earlier this month. Zelenskyy had publicly denounced Vance as too radical after those remarks, sparking a conflict with Trump allies that has culminated with accusations of election interference and Republican calls for Ukraine to fire its ambassador to Washington. In an apparent U-turn late on Thursday, Trump told reporters he would meet Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York on Friday morning. At a press conference he rejected Harris criticisms and insisted that he only wants to stop the horror show thats gone on. When asked if Ukraine should give up territory, Trump was non-committal, saying: Lets get some peace We need peace. We need to stop the death and destruction. Before announcing the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump posted on social media a purported message from the Ukrainian president asking to see him. The message, which was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials, said we have to strive to understand each other. The decision to publicly disclose what appeared to be private communications was a reminder of the tension that has been brewing between Trump and Zelenskyy. Harriss remarks came after Zelenskyy met Joe Biden at the White House for the formal presentation of Zelenskyys high-stakes proposal, which he has said can end the war with Russia with additional American aid. The White House issued a short statement after the meeting, saying that the two leaders discussed the diplomatic, economic, and military aspects of President Zelenskyys plan and tasked their teams to engage in intensive consultations regarding next steps. President Biden is determined to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win, the statement said. Zelenskyy has kept the details of the plan secret, but US officials have said it includes additional American aid to prevent a Ukrainian rout on the battlefield and provide the [Ukrainian] people with the assurance that their future is part of the west. Related: Biden and Zelenskyy meet at White House as Ukrainian leader aims to shore up support for war effort live Zelenskyy faces an uphill battle in securing support for the plan, because of caution among senior officials in the Biden administration about providing Russia with a pretext to escalate the conflict further, and the looming November presidential elections that could lead to a re-election of Donald Trump. Before the meeting, Biden announced more than $8bn in military assistance to Kyiv, calling it a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war. The aid includes the provision of a medium-range glide bomb munition fired from fighter jets that would allow Ukrainian forces to strike Russian troops and supply lines at safer distances. The allocation included $5.5bn from the Ukraine security assistance initiative fund by the end of the year, as well as an additional $2.4bn in security assistance via the Department of Defense. The package includes additional Patriot air defense batteries and missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and measures to strengthen Ukraines defense industrial base, Biden said. The US will also expand training for additional F-16 fighter pilots, with an extra 18 pilots to be trained next year. Related: Zelenskyy is pitching his victory plan on adverse terrain But Biden was not expected to grant a key Ukrainian request that has been supported by the UK permission to use arms such as long-range Atacms ballistic missiles to strike targets deeper inside Russia due to fears of escalating the conflict with Russia. There is no announcement that I would expect [on that], the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, told reporters before the meeting. Zelenskyy said in a social media post: We will use this assistance in the most effective and transparent way possible to achieve our main common goal: a victorious Ukraine, a just and lasting peace, and transatlantic security. Biden also announced that he would convene a high-level meeting of the Ukraine defense contact group to coordinate aid to Ukraine among more than 50 allies as he enters the lame-duck period of his final three months in office. US media have reported that the Biden administration and European allies have been skeptical of Zelenskyys plan to achieve victory, which is understood to need to secure maximal support from the west before potential negotiations with Russia. Im unimpressed. Theres not much new there, a senior official told the Wall Street Journal. Zelenskyy had said the plan included decisions that can be taken solely by the United States and is based on decisions that should take place from October through December meaning the end of Bidens term in office. The meeting came amid rising tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, who has attacked the Ukrainian leader for making little nasty aspersions toward your favourite president: me. Zelenskyy, in an interview with the New Yorker published this week, said he believed Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war and criticised Vance for describing a vision for peace that included Ukraine ceding territories currently occupied by Russia. Before the meetings, Zelenskyy met members of Congress on Capitol Hill. Related: Trump-Zelenskyy feud escalates as Republicans demand envoys removal On Wednesday, the House speaker, Mike Johnson, a Republican, accused Zelenskyy of election interference and demanded he fire his ambassador to Washington over a visit to an ammunitions factory in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Johnson claimed the Ukrainian ambassador had failed to invite any Republicans to the event and called it a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats. Zelenskyy sought to reduce tensions on Thursday as he thanked the US for the new arms package and praised political leaders strong bipartisan support in Ukraines just cause of defeating Russian aggression. Nonetheless, US and European officials have noted with varying levels of alarm the potential for a Trump administration to sharply reduce US aid to Ukraine in order to force Zelenskyy to accept terms for a ceasefire. Asked whether the Democrats wanted to Trump-proof aid to Ukraine before a potential Trump presidency, a senior state department official said: I dont ever talk in those terms but that the primary goal was to make sure Ukraine has all the equipment it needs to keep fighting and manpower and other things. At the end of the year, regardless of who wins our election in December, as at the end of this fighting season, Zelenskyy and Putin need to look at the battlefield and say, heres what we think next year will look like, the official said. And the primary factor there is, do I think the other side has all the equipment it needs to keep fighting and manpower and other things? President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with US President Joe Biden at the White House. Source: European Pravda, citing Voice of America Details: Ukraine's president is to present his Victory Plan to the American head of state. Meanwhile, amid Zelenskyy's visit to the US, Biden announced a sharp increase in security assistance for Ukraine, promising to allocate almost USD 8 billion for weapons in the coming months, including Patriot and JSOW aerial bombs. Furthermore, the US said on Wednesday that it would provide Ukraine with a new package of military support totalling USD 375 million. The US Treasury Department announced sanctions against several Russian virtual currency exchanges. Support UP or become our patron! Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the US Senate delegation. Photo: Office of the President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with a bipartisan delegation of the US Senate and briefed them on the key points of the Victory Plan. Source: European Pravda citing the press service for the Office of the President of Ukraine Details: Zelenskyy met with the Senate delegation led by Senate Democratic and Republican leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell. In his discussion with the Senate members, Zelenskyy focused on the situation on the line of contact, the priority needs of Ukrainian soldiers, joint arms production, and key areas for further US support. Ukraine's priority is additional air defence systems and missiles. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the US Senate delegation. Photo: Office of the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the US Senate delegation Photo: Office of the President A separate focus of the conversation was the strengthening of sanctions pressure on the aggressor state and the use of proceeds from frozen Russian assets for the needs of Ukraine. The president thanked both parties of the Senate, the Administration of the President and the entire American people for the important military, economic, energy and humanitarian support for Ukraine. "We have many friends here in the US capital who have stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians in the fight for freedom and independence since the very first days of the full-scale invasion. I thank every member of the Senate for this support," Zelenskyy said. According to The Wall Street Journal, US President Joe Biden's administration is concerned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plan to win the war against Russia lacks a comprehensive strategy. Meanwhile, amid Zelenskyy's visit to the US, Biden announced a sharp increase in security assistance for Ukraine, promising to allocate almost USD 8 billion for weapons in the coming months, including Patriot and JSOW aerial bombs. Furthermore, the US said on Wednesday that it would provide Ukraine with a new package of military support totalling USD 375 million. Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy thanks United States for US$7.9 billion in defence assistance President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the United States for providing Ukraine with US$7.9 billion in defence support while also implementing sanctions on Russia. Source: Zelenskyy on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy thanked the United States for finding a way to allocate the balance of security assistance to Ukraine. Quote: "I am grateful to US President Joseph Biden, US Congress and both of its parties, Republicans and Democrats, as well as the entire American people for todays announcement of major US defence assistance for Ukraine totalling US$7.9 billion and sanctions against Russia." Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will use this help in the most effective and transparent manner to achieve the major common goal: Ukraine's victory, a just and durable peace, and Transatlantic security. Background: US President Joe Biden proposed a significant increase in security aid to Ukraine, promising roughly US$8 billion in weapons in the coming months, including Patriot and JSOW munitions. Furthermore, the US said on 25 September that it would provide Ukraine with a new package of military support totalling US$375 million. Support UP or become our patron! WASHINGTON (AP) With American support for Ukraine at a partisan crossroads, Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday slammed suggestions that Kyiv should cede territory for the sake of peace with Moscow as dangerous and unacceptable. The Democratic presidential nominee spoke alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as she unleashed the veiled criticism of Republican candidate Donald Trump's push for Ukraine to quickly cut a deal to end the war. They are not proposals for peace, Harris said. Instead they are proposals for surrender. Her comments were a reminder of the high stakes for the war effort in this year's election. Trump, for his part, has criticized U.S. assistance for Ukraine, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and faulted Zelenskyy for the ongoing bloodshed. Trump said he will meet with Zelenskyy in New York on Friday after days of questions over whether the two leaders will sit down together. He rejected Harris' criticisms and insisted that he only wants to stop the horror show that's gone on. Asked if Ukraine should give up territory, Trump said we'll see what happens and we need peace. Before announcing the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump posted on social media a purported message from the Ukrainian leader asking to see him. The message, which was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials, said we have to strive to understand each other. The decision to publicly disclose what appeared to be private communications, however benign their contents, was a reminder of the tension that's been brewing between Trump and Zelenskyy. It was a far different impression than Harris delivered Thursday as she embraced Ukraine's defense and outlined a broader foreign policy vision rooted in international order, rules and norms. Harris rejected calls for the U.S. to walk away from its global role and warned that potential aggressors could be emboldened if Putin emerges victorious. The United States supports Ukraine not out of charity, but because its in our strategic interest, Harris said. Zelenskyy was in Washington to present the White House and Congress with his plans for reaching an endgame in the war by improving Ukraine's chances on the battlefield and its eventual leverage at the negotiating table. He's pushing to lift restrictions on using long-range Western weapons to strike targets deeper in Russian territory. No movement on this issue was evident during Zelenskyy's visit. However, President Joe Biden announced billions of dollars more in missiles, drones, ammunition and other supplies. The weapons include an additional Patriot missile defense battery and a new shipment of glide bombs that can be deployed from Western fighter jets, increasing their strike range. Biden pledged to ensure that all approved funding is disbursed before he leaves office, and said he plans to convene a meeting with other world leaders focused on Ukraines defense during a visit to Germany next month. We stand with Ukraine, now and in the future," Biden said alongside Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail. Ukrainian officials are anxious to maintain good relations with whomever becomes the next president of the United States, which is its biggest and most important provider of arms, money and other support. But the effort risks slipping into the political blender of the presidential campaign, polarizing the discussion around a war that used to be a bipartisan cause celebre in Washington. About two thirds of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said the U.S. has a responsibility to help Ukraine, compared with one third of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted in July. Americans are also split on which presidential candidate would do a better job handling the war. An AP-NORC poll from August found that about one-third of Americans said they trusted Harris more, while a similar share said the same about Trump. On Thursday, Zelenskyy found some bipartisan support as he visited Capitol Hill, where he was greeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Sen. Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Zelenskyy asked to use long-range weapons, such as British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles or U.S.-made ATACMS, for maximum benefit to bring Putin to the table and increase Ukraine's negotiating position. "If we dont make that fundamental choice this week, I think the outcome for Ukraine is dire, Graham said. Administration officials have been skeptical of Zelenskyy's request, believing the weapons could have limited benefits but increase the risk of escalating the conflict. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said senators gave Zelenskyy advice on how to persuade Biden to loosen restrictions. Rep. Jim Himes, another Connecticut Democrat and the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Zelenskyy wanted more, faster. He was politely frustrated," Himes said, and specifically requested more Patriot missile defenses as Russia escalates strikes on Ukraine's cities and energy grid before the winter. Zelenskyy faces a much more tense situation with Trump. The latest round of sniping started on Sunday, when The New Yorker published an interview with Zelenskyy in which he criticized JD Vance, Trump's running mate, as too radical for suggesting that Ukraine needs to give up some territory to end the war. Zelenskyy also dismissed Trump's boasts that he could quickly negotiate a solution, saying my feeling is that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how. On the same day, Zelenskyy toured a Pennsylvania factory producing munitions for the war. He was joined by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, a top surrogate for Harris, and Republicans criticized the visit as a political stunt in a political battleground state. House Speaker Mike Johnson demanded that Zelenskyy fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., alleging that the tour was designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference. The Louisiana Republican didn't attend any of lawmakers' meetings with Zelenskyy on Thursday. Trump complained this week that Zelenskyy is making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me. He also described the Ukrainian leader as the greatest salesman on Earth for securing U.S. support, and he complained that we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal to end the war. Trumps message dovetails with Russian propaganda that claims intransigence by Kyiv not aggression from Moscow has prolonged the bloodshed. Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Zelenskyy is in a no-win situation" where he cant even visit a U.S. weapons manufacturer to say thank you without being attacked. Trump was impeached during his first term over asking Zelenskyy for help investigating Biden, then a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, at a time when the Ukrainian leader was seeking support from Washington. Now there are fears that Trump would cut off or add strings to U.S. military assistance if he returned to the White House. Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump is not wrong to want a negotiated end to the war. However, he said, Trump risks undermining Ukraine by enabling Putin to make more gains on the battlefield. Neither Ukraine nor Russia is going to win this war, and the sooner that the parties try to end this, the better," Kupchan said. "Where Trump goes off course, and where Biden and Harris have a much stronger argument, is that we get to that point not by throwing Ukraine under the bus but by giving them sufficient support so they can block further Russian aggression. ___ Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Michelle Price in New York and Ellen Knickmeyer, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Steven Groves and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux in Washington contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is back in Washington, briefing lawmakers about the war effort and meeting with President Joe Biden. Thursday morning, the White House announced nearly $8 billion worth of more military support for Ukraine. This will likely be Zelenskyys last visit to the U.S. ahead of this falls elections. Billions of dollars have already gone into Ukraines war with Russia, but continued support isnt guaranteed should former president Donald Trump return to the White House. A growing number of Republicans are skeptical about the money and munitions being sent to Ukraine and the former president has waffled on whether he would continue to send help arguing without any details he would end the war on day one of his presidency. Beyond that, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is calling on President Zelenskyy to fire his ambassador to the U.S. after Zelenskyy visited a munitions factory in Pennsylvania this week, calling the visit to a swing state political interference to help Democrats. In the meantime, Zelenskyy is also expected to push the White House to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons on Russian land. Since the wars beginning, the White House has restricted the use of long-range, U.S. weapons to hit targets inside Russia fearing it could escalate the situation. He believes if he could shut down those Russian airbases and missile bases that are attacking his country, that would give him leverage. To get Putin to the table. I believe that, too, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Zelenskyy will not be meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, but he did meet with other Republicans. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the White House today, the Biden administration is facing frustration from other western allies over its refusal to let Ukraine use western long-range missiles to strike deeper inside Russia. The request is a priority for Zelenskyy that he is pressing for this visit, but so far the administration has seemed unyielding in its opposition. That has prompted unusual public expressions of frustration in recent days from some NATO countries. The prime minister of Denmark, which has been a significant supplier of military aid, this week at the U.N. General Assembly said the public discussion of red lines had been a mistake," that is "simply giving the Russians too good a card in their hands." MORE: Russia fires barrage at Ukraine as Zelenskyy pitches war-winning plan at UN "It would be really good to stop the delays. And I think that the restrictions on the use of weapons should be lifted," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Bloomberg in a television interview. PHOTO: President Joe Biden hosts an event with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other world leaders launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in New York. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) Britain and France have both indicated they are ready to allow Ukraine to use their own long-range cruise missiles that they have supplied to hit inside Russia, but want the U.S. to give approval. U.S. officials have briefed two key reasons for opposing the decision, saying they are concerned it could prompt Russian President Vladimir Putin to further escalate and that the strikes would make insufficient difference to the war, meaning the risk of escalation isnt worth the military payoff. MORE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discusses 'Victory Plan' he will present to Biden: GMA exclusive Ukraine and some of its other key allies strongly disagree, arguing Putin is bluffing. Zelenskyy in an interview with ABC News' Robin Roberts for "Good Morning America" on Monday said Ukraine could use the missiles to hit airbases that Russia is using to drop hundreds of powerful bombs in eastern Ukraine. Zelenskyy said he believed Britain, France, Germany and Italy were ready to allow the strikes but that the decision needed to come from the U.S. "The main role is in the United States, in the president of United States, Biden. Everybody's looking up to him, and -- we need this to defend ourselves," said Zelenskyy. Putin has turned to loud nuclear saber-rattling in an effort to deter the U.S. from accepting Ukraines request. The Russian leader on Wednesday announced changes to Russias nuclear doctrine clearly directed at Ukraine and U.S. The changes said Russia will now treat aggression from non-nuclear states supported by nuclear powers as a "joint attack." Putins loud threats suggest that the Kremlin at least does not agree with the U.S. assessment that allowing Ukraine to hit targets deeper inside Russia will make little difference to the war. PHOTO: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at an event concerning the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (Leon Neal/AP) The U.S. has provided Ukraine with long-range missiles known as ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) that have a range of nearly 190 miles. Amid the debate over whether to let Ukraine use them deeper into Russian territory, Russia has moved back most of its aircraft to bases out of range of the missiles, reducing their potential effectiveness. Germany, another key ally for Ukraine, though has expressed opposition to supplying its own long-range missiles, despite Ukraine's requests. Germany's leader Olaf Scholz this week again reiterated that refusal, saying it is not compatible with my personal stance ... We will not do that. Some U.S. political figures have suggested Germanys opposition is also a concern to the Biden administration. As Zelenskyy visits White House, Ukrainian push to use long-range weapons continues originally appeared on abcnews.go.com RACINE A Racine County judge has issued an arrest warrant for Jeromy Finke, a Milwaukee man whose felony battery case was scheduled to go to trial Tuesday. Defense attorney Jamie McClendon said in court that Finke was not in custody and that she hadnt spoken to him in two weeks. Finke, who is 43, was charged in September 2023 with one count of strangulation and suffocation, one count of substantial battery with the intention to cause bodily harm and one count of disorderly conduct. The first two charges are felonies. Online court records show the trial was scheduled Tuesday-Thursday in the Law Enforcement Center at 717 Wisconsin Ave. According to Assistant District Attorney John Wagner, Finkes case would not have proceeded to trial Tuesday because the alleged victim could not be in court. A bail/bond forfeiture hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25. Allegations According to the original criminal complaint, which was filed Sept. 22, 2023, Finke was arrested for allegedly strangling a woman on the night of Aug. 24, 2023. The police reportedly found the woman covered in blood and dirt at a residence in the 6500 block of Hoods Creek Road in Franksville the morning of Aug. 25, 2023. There was blood on the backdoor, and the doors screen was partially ripped off, according to the report. Video from a doorbell camera reportedly shows a woman approaching the door, looking behind her, and yelling and ringing the doorbell. The woman later reportedly told police that she met a friend at a home in the 6800 block of Hoods Creek Road. When she arrived, Finke was also present. He allegedly became upset, accused her of stealing his phone, armed himself with a handgun and grabbed her by the throat with both hands. The complaint said the woman ran to a neighboring house. She reportedly said that she hid behind a grill in the backyard and heard Finke laugh before being hit in the head and losing consciousness. Based on reports of a man matching Finkes description running through yards, police responded to the 7000 block of Hoods Creek Road later in the day on Aug. 25 and arrested Finke. He allegedly told the police that he had ingested methamphetamine, and reportedly had purple, swollen and cut knuckles, as well as scratches on his forearms and hands. The airline is introducing a few new perks. Chad Slattery/Courtesy of Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines is simplifying its flight subscription pass, offering just two options. The pass, which the airline first launched in 2021, will now be offered with either six yearly roundtrip flights or 12 yearly roundtrip flights, Alaska shared with Travel + Leisure. The pass will cost $69 per month for the six flight plan and $129 per month for the 12 flight plan. Previously, Alaska allowed travelers to book six, 12, or 24 roundtrip flights per year at a fixed monthly rate. Our subscribers value the flexibility and affordability of [the] Flight Pass, and these new enhancements will make their travel experience even more seamless, Courtney Lansing, the managing director of business development and products at Alaska, said in a statement. Were proud to offer a unique service that enables guests to visit loved ones or their favorite destinations, all while securing a consistent monthly price on an airline that offers the most nonstop flights on the West Coast. Pass holders can book nonstop flights to select cities in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah starting as low as one cent, plus applicable taxes and airport fees. There are no change fees or blackout dates associated with the pass, and travelers can book up to two weeks in advance. Alaska will allow current flight pass holders to switch to one of the new plans at their current price for one year or choose to cancel their subscription for free. In addition to streamlining the pass options, Alaska said pass holders will be able to book, cancel, and manage flights directly on the airlines website without needing to contact a reservation agent. Travelers will also be able to choose their seat, earn miles, and have access to free upgrades for elite loyalty members. New pass subscribers can also sign up for a free year of the airlines Alaska Access program, which typically costs $60 and includes a monthly Wi-Fi voucher and early access to some sales. To take advantage, subscribers should use the promo code YEAROFACCESS when they sign up for a pass. The revamped pass comes a week after Alaska Airlines finalized its merger with Hawaiian Airlines. As part of the merger, both brands will remain separate, but Alaska plans to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate them with an integrated passenger system. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. A Kansas aerospace company may be proving that internal combustion doesn't have to be a planet-warming concern. Astron Aerospace has developed a hydrogen-burning engine that releases mainly water. That's right, it's a combustion engine with no heat-trapping fumes, according to a story on the tech from Interesting Engineering. If the engine can be successfully scaled and adopted by motorists, it would provide a 60% efficiency rate that clobbers gas-guzzlers, which operate at around 20% to 40%, as noted by IE. Would you be more likely to get an EV if it helped cut your energy costs? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind "We're thrilled to reveal our groundbreaking engine technology designed to usher in a greener and more sustainable future," Matthew Riley, the H2 Starfire engine's inventor, wrote on the company website. The message is accompanied by the slogan, "The Race to Zero is Over!" A 12-second video clip shows the engine in action, shooting flames out of the side as it operates with familiar engine sounds. Astron also lists impressive perks for its prototype. The "unprecedented efficiency" is accompanied by a compact design, minimal friction, and low maintenance using fewer than 100 parts. The designers expect the engine to run for more than 100,000 hours between overhauls. In a perk for speed demons, throttle response is expected to be nearly "instantaneous," all per the specs. Most commercial hydrogen in the U.S. is made using dirty energy, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Electrolysis is an alternative method utilizing electricity to separate hydrogen from water. It's even cleaner when renewable sources provide the juice. Environmental watchdog Sierra Club only supports hydrogen that's made with the latter technique. Heat and water vapor are the only byproducts when used in a fuel cell. But when combusted, hydrogen releases some nitrogen oxide. The club calls it a "harmful pollutant" in details included in a hydrogen fact sheet. For its part, the U.S. Energy Department states that nitrogen oxide emissions can be reduced using "existing and emerging technologies." The government has an entire program geared toward developing hydrogen as an alternative fuel. It's even being vetted in Texas through a federal-backed operation. At Astron, Riley sees his engine one day powering more than passenger cars. "Our innovative solutions are set to transform the way heavy duty applications are powered, from municipal generators to heavy-duty commercial vehicles, marine industry vessels, aerospace industry systems, and agricultural machinery," he wrote. Battery tech is also rapidly improving in both the vehicle and energy storage sectors as the switch to cleaner options continues. You can save up to $1,500 a year by parking a gas-guzzler while also preventing thousands of pounds of heat-trapping air pollution with lung-troubling potential from hitting the atmosphere. Tax breaks of up to $7,500 for qualified new EVs are available for cars already at dealerships. Other hydrogen breakthroughs are helping that fuel gain momentum, as well. San Francisco is testing ferries that run on the alternative power source, for example. IE's report indicates that more work needs to be completed before Astron's prototype is powering cars. But the inventor is confident about the tech, and he is calling for others to become involved. "Join us on the journey toward a greener and more powerful future," Riley said on Astron's website. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Disney+ Password Sharing Crackdown Rolls Out for US Subscribers Heres Everything You Need to Know After previous warnings of a password sharing crackdown coming to Disney+, the streamer officially started rolling out its paid sharing features to subscribers in the U.S., Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region this week following launches in select markets over the summer. Account holders looking to add someone outside of their household to their Disney+ subscription will have to pay an additional $6.99 per month for basic plans and $9.99 per month for premium plans in order to do so. Only one extra member slot is available per account and the feature is currently unavailable for Disneys bundle subscribers or subscribers billed through its partners. A household is defined as a collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside there. Photo courtesy of Disney+ Alternatively, Disney+ account holders can transfer eligible profiles to a new subscription to keep their watch history and settings or people outside of the household can sign up for their own account. Primary profiles, minors profiles and those set to junior mode cannot be transferred. Photo courtesy of Disney+ For account holders who are traveling or recently moved, they will be given the option to mark themselves as away from their home or update their accounts household. These selections will require a one-time passcode thats sent to the email address associated with the account. Disney CEO Bob Iger first announced that a password sharing crackdown was coming to Disney+ during an earnings call in August 2023. The company is also planning to launch similar crackdowns for Hulu and ESPN+. U.S. subscribers were notified of the changes to the terms of their subscription agreements back in January. Netflix was the first streamer to launch a password sharing crackdown, which has been part of an effort to bolster their subscriber and revenue growth. Max has also teased that a password sharing crackdown is coming this year, with a broader rollout in 2025. The post Disney+ Password Sharing Crackdown Rolls Out for US Subscribers Heres Everything You Need to Know appeared first on TheWrap. As we enter another school year, the debate over AIs role in education is intensifying. Theres a sharp divide between those urging us to take advantage of these tools and others who support a more cautious approach. Educators want guidance on the best ways to use emerging technologies without compromising privacy, encouraging plagiarism or making learning less authentic. And yet, AI technology is evolving so quickly that it seems like well always be playing catchup. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Educational Technology (OET) released new guidelines for EdTech companies earlier this year called Designing for Education with Artificial Intelligence. The report underscores the need for responsible innovation, adding, educator and student feedback should be incorporated into all aspects of product development, testing, and refinement to ensure student needs are fully addressed. As Dan Fitzpatrick observed in Forbes, The era of tech-first solutions is over. Developers must collaborate meaningfully with educators from day one. Understanding pedagogy is as crucial as coding skills. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The XQ Institute shares this mindset as part of our mission to reimagine the high school learning experience so its more relevant and engaging for todays learners, while better preparing them for the future. We see AI as a tool with transformative potential for educators and makers to leverage but only if its developed and implemented with ethics, transparency and equity at the forefront. Thats why were building partnerships between educators and AI developers to ensure that products are shaped by the real needs and challenges of students, teachers and schools. Heres how we believe all stakeholders can embrace the Departments recommendations through ongoing collaborations with tech leaders, educators and students alike. Keeping Tech and Learning Student-Centric XQs approach to high school redesign is always student-centric. In that spirit, we must shift from the mindset that AI and other tech tools are solely for educators; they also exist to improve students learning. Rather than focusing exclusively on improving output (such as lesson plans and assessment materials), makers should also emphasize improving outcomes, such as student proficiency and engagement. Ann-Katherine Kimble, XQs Director of School Success, said thats why its wrong to focus only on how AI can save teachers time and make their jobs easier. Our young people, teachers and classrooms dont deserve that, she explained. They deserve a point of view that believes that AI can enhance your practice and knowledge, deepen your creative and responsive approaches and help educators capitalize on the sweet spot where the art of teaching and the science of learning meet. Students at Crosstown High simulate an emergency response to a pandemic with help from an AI chatbot. (Nikki Wallace) At Crosstown High, an XQ school in Memphis, Tennessee, computer science teacher Mohammed Al harthy sees AI as a partner in the classroom something students engage with during the learning process but never rely on for the finished product. For instance, in one project his students explored how to build AI applications to track hand movements for American Sign Language, highlighting the value of learning how AI works, writing code in Python and experimenting with tools like Googles MediaPipe. Al harthy isnt so worried that his students will simply copy and paste as they learn. Artificial intelligence never sounds like a high school student, so the concerns about cheating are kind of silly, he explained. If youre concerned about that, you should step back and reassess what your students are doing from the start. This approach aligns with a national shift toward focusing on competencies and collaboration rather than rote answers, allowing students to use AI as a tool to enhance their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. AI is just one of many topics covered by the XQ Xtra, a newsletter that comes out twice a month for high school teachers. Check it out and subscribe now. Ensuring Equitable Learning Opportunities At XQ, we believe that ensuring equitable access means creating AI-driven learning experiences that are flexible, adaptive and tailored to the unique needs of diverse student populations, especially neurodivergent students and multi-language learners. AI can help by creating tools designed to serve all learners fairly and effectively without stripping away our students individuality. One of the technologys most promising capabilities is its ability to provide real-time, actionable feedback to students and educators. Tim Brodsky, a thought leader on AI who taught social studies at the XQ high school Circulos in Santa Ana, California, was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for his innovative use of generative AI to support multilingual learners in his AP courses. With automated feedback occurring in real-time, Brodsky said systems can analyze data and provide immediate insights about student engagement, attendance and other factors to predict risk factors. This takes the load off teachers, who often have to sift through spreadsheets to find trends and nuances, he said. AI provides a better method for holistic data collection and a more effective way of measuring it. However, student data always comes with caveats. Too often, algorithms mirror the biases in the data on which theyre trained. Stanford researchers found this can result in mischaracterizing the writing of non-native English speakers as AI-generated, and experts at MIT found language models that classified certain jobs, like secretary or flight attendant, as feminine. XQ addresses this problem by working closely with developers to ensure their products are more culturally responsive to the needs and outcomes educators are looking to provide for their students. For example, teachers at Crosstown worked with the EdTech company Inkwire to develop project-based learning (PBL) experiences. The companys CEO and co-founder Aatash Parikh said this collaboration was helpful for both sides and influenced the evolution of the companys AI products. Having educators at Crosstown High School walk us through their workflow designing project-based learning experiences helped us realize what would make Inkwire a more complete solution for schools, he said. A former PBL teacher himself, Parikh wanted to ensure that Inkwires generative AI tools dont just stop at creating PBL plans, but also incorporate deeper pedagogical layers to be more responsive for educators and schools. At Crosstown High, educators, including science teacher and Head of Innovation and Research Nikki Wallace, showed the Inkwire team what they were learning from each other, and how to integrate that professional feedback into their platform. Were helping these makers understand how equity is created in the classroom, helping them make more responsive products, Wallace said. Teachers learn best from other teachers. Fostering Ethical Collaboration Between Educators and Developers The days of tech-first solutions are over; whats needed now is a deep partnership where developers and educators work hand-in-hand to ensure AI tools are technologically sound and pedagogically effective. The DOEs new guidelines for EdTech refer to this as a dual stack approacha framework that combines the development stack applied to product creation alongside a responsibility stack to ensure these products are built with ethics, transparency and public trust for classroom use. Related 7 Artificial Intelligence Trends That Could Reshape Education in 2024 While many AI tools help create engaging projects and lessons, Wallace wanted a tool to better support personalized learning. While working alongside Inkwire, she said XQ connected her with other AI makers, such as Playlab, to build an AI Chatbot that would support an interdisciplinary, community-centered project for her students. We frontloaded the bot with all the information I need to build a successful learning experience in my classroom, Wallace explained. Her students looked at statistics for infectious diseases that impact Memphis. Their chatbot then served as what Wallace called a cognitive partner. It helped them progress through the science project by unpacking and generating complex questions such as What community partners in Memphis can I reach out to? and What information in the research might I have overlooked? and What governmental systems are in place? From there, Wallace said, students figured out which learning competencies were associated with the project. We wanted the students to be able to identify, build and then reflect on the project benchmarks, learning outcomes and pathways they would need in order to progress at their own pace. Wallace said this experience was grounded in two of the XQ Design Principles: Meaningful, Engaged Learning and Youth Voice and Choice. The chatbot helped make learning more personalized and rigorous. Betsey Schmidt, founder and CEO of MeshEd and a veteran curriculum designer, said customizable large language models (LLMs) like PlayLab and Inkwire can transform lesson planning. By understanding what excites and motivates students, educators can more easily adapt core curricula to resonate on a deeper level with learners, incorporating their passions, hobbies, strengths and growth areas and making real-world connections to learners profiles, she explained. Schmidt has been collaborating with XQ to bring teachers and high school leaders into the AI-for-learning product design cycle Looking Ahead By this time next year, generative AI will likely move from niche applications to widespread use, whether were ready or not. However, education systems and policies are incredibly resilient to change. The recent pandemic made that painfully clear as schools often went back to business as usual rather than embracing new learning models, such as awarding credit for content mastery instead of seat time (Carnegie units), a rigid system thats been used for more than a century and is ripe for change. (XQ and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching have joined forces to address this problem.) AI is already showing us how to make education more individualized and equitable. By encouraging tech leaders and makers to continue collaborating with educators, at events like EdTechWeek in New York City next month, we can work toward a future in which all students can reach their potential and where teachers can make the most of their talent. Want to learn more about how to create innovative teaching and learning in high schools? Subscribe to the XQ Xtra, a newsletter that comes out twice a month for high school teachers. Disclosure: The XQ Institute is a financial supporter of The 74. The Ministry of Defense in Ukraine took the opportunity this week to highlight the capabilities of its newest assets to help in the fight against Russia: robotic dogs with the option of adding flamethrowers to their arsenal. The robotic "war dogs" were provided to Ukraine by the United Kingdom, and according to manufacturer Brit Alliance, the dogs have already exhibited exceptional mobility and agility crucial for traversing complex and hostile environments. The dogs have the ability to navigate through debris, climb obstacles and move stealthily across open ground. In a video posted to X on Monday by UkraineNewsLive, a drone is shown delivering a "combat robot scout" to a field in an undisclosed location. Once on the ground, the robotic dog rises onto its feet and walks in place. Dogs Of War: Britain's New Robots Aiding Ukraine, Terrorizing Russia As Drones Continue Dominating Battlefield Ukraine shared video of its newest asset, a robotic war dog. Another video shared by the Ministry of Defense in Ukraine and posted by the armed forces Khortytsia unit shows a dog accompanying a Ukrainian soldier. The soldier is then seen using the dog's thermal imaging camera to conduct surveillance in a wooded area. Read On The Fox News App The dogs in both videos are part of Ukraines combat unit dubbed "Medoid." In August, Ukraine unveiled the British second-generation Brit Alliance Dog (BAD2), which took to the battlefield, utilizing remote-sensing technology and a thermal-infrared camera to navigate the tricky landscape and perform a wide range of wartime tasks, such as delivering equipment or reconnaissance. Colorado Police Department Shows New Ways To Use Drones For Law Enforcement Ukraine shared video of its newest asset, a robotic war dog. Ukrainian troops have taken over 30 of the dogs, which are effectively sophisticated land drones. Each unit costs around $9,000 to produce, and Brit Alliance has promised to update the units based on feedback from the Ukrainian troops. Brit Alliance said in August that it believes the battlefield demonstration of the BAD2 unit will help turn it into a "cornerstone of modern military logistics." The unit can move at just over 9 mph and move for five hours to a distance of over two miles, according to East2West. Cleveland, Ohio-based Throwflame sells a version of the robotic dog called the Thermonator, which is outfitted with a flamethrower. The dog sells for about $9,420. Us, Uk And Australia Take Next Step In Integrating Ai Defense Systems According to the company, the dog can be used for things like controlling and preventing wildfires and removing snow and ice. Drones have increasingly played a pivotal role in the conflict for Ukraine, which has found drones a means of getting better return on its investment as the conflict drags on, and each side needs to prove more resourceful. Ukraine deployed the "Sea Baby" drone earlier this year to try to destroy the Crimean Bridge, causing structural damage with the naval drone that has a one-ton payload and can travel up to 62 mph, according to Ukrainian outlet EuroMaiden Press. Russia has responded in kind with its own land-based drones, but those models resemble remote-controlled cars. The drone, known as Scorpion-M, also has kamikaze capabilities and has seen increased use in the Donetsk region over the summer. The Scorpion-M can carry up to 55 pounds of explosives and has been used to destroy underground hideouts and other facilities that conventional bombing has had trouble hitting. Experts touted the drones maneuverability, but they noted that the real advantage is the difficulty in jamming the units. In that sense, the BAD2 will have similar advantages, plus better maneuverability: Christopher Alexander, a U.S. Army vet with experience in Strategic Operations Command, previously told Fox News Digital that he found it difficult to imagine "anyone in the current state of technology or deploying these things at the company/battalion level." Fox News Peter Aitken contributed to this report. Original article source: Ukraine shows off capabilities of new drone-dropped, flamethrowing robotic war dogs: video (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Super Micro Computer, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, nearly a month after short-seller Hindenburg Research alleged "accounting manipulation" at the AI server maker. Super Micro's shares fell about 12% following the report. The WSJ report, which cited people familiar with the matter, said the probe was at an early stage and that a prosecutor at a U.S. attorney's office recently contacted people who may be holding relevant information. The prosecutor has asked for information that appeared to be connected to a former employee who accused the company of accounting violations, the report added. Super Micro had late last month delayed filing its annual report, citing a need to assess "its internal controls over financial reporting," a day after Hindenburg disclosed a short position and made claims of "accounting manipulation". The short-seller had cited a three-month investigation that included interviews with former senior employees of Super Micro and litigation records. Hindenburg's allegations included evidence of undisclosed related-party transactions, failure to abide by export controls, among other issues. The company had denied Hindenburg's claims. Super Micro on Thursday declined to comment on the report, while the DOJ said it cannot confirm or deny the existence of such a probe. A Reuters review of tender documents earlier this year showed Chinese entities acquired high-end Nvidia chips embedded in server products made by several companies, including Super Micro, through resellers. The U.S. government has been cracking down on the sale of such technology to China. Super Micro has been a big winner in the generative AI boom, as businesses bet on the technology needed to power applications such as ChatGPT, sending its market value to $67 billion in March from roughly $4.4 billion. The rally in AI stocks has since cooled, as investors realized the payoff on companies' heavy investments would be slower than expected. (Reporting by Akash Sriram and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas) Questen Inghram is a Murrow News Fellow at the Yakima Herald-Republic whose beat focuses on government in Central Washington communities. Email qinghram@yakimaherald.com or call 509-577-7674. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, email news@yakimaherald.com. Police: Yakima County Coroner Curtice was using dead people's drugs when he said he was poisoned If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Whether youre a long-time lover of Hungarian cuisine or a newcomer eager to dive into local flavors, Budapest offers a plethora of places to savor traditional Hungarian dishes. Here are ten must-visit eateries that serve authentic Hungarian food in the capital city. Make sure to explore these locales to experience the true essence of Hungarian cuisine in Budapest, from sophisticated dining to hearty, everyday fare. Every place listed is a testament to the rich culinary tradition of this vibrant city. 1. Rosenstein Restaurant Dive into a cozy sit-down dinner where Jewish cuisine intertwines with Hungarian flavors, delivering a unique culinary adventure. Rosenstein offers a mosaic of tastes, providing a harmonious blend of traditions and authentic recipes. They are particularly well known for their Jewish-Hungarian dishes, such as their famous cholen. They also run the gamut in terms of traditional Hungarian fare, such as goulash, paprikash and stuffed cabbage. A place to go if you have a hearty appetite and want to combine white tablecloth elegance with cozy neighborhood vibes. Rosenstein Restaurant District VIII, Mosonyi street 3. Facebook/rosensteinpest 2. TATI Farm to Table Tati is smack dab in the middle of the famous Budapest Jewish District, yet the newly opened farm-to-table restaurant is far more sophisticated than most establishments in its immediate surroundings. Co-founded by Barbara Poisson-Angeli, who is also behind smash success tropical jungle-themed Twentysix over on Kiraly utca, Tati is, as it says in the name, all about farm-to-table dining. This means fresh, hyper-local ingredients, focused on ecosustainability for the planet, and gastronomic health for the customer. As with all farm-to-table restaurants, the menu is inherently seasonal, and head Chef Attila Gaspar deftly works the freshest Hungarian produce into creative dishes. His experience in the Scandinavian and British dining scenes certainly shines through in the exemplary selection of modern Hungarian dishes. The free-range Hungarian chicken paprikash is no joke and all of the vegan desserts are a true delight. Be sure to sample from their extensive list of natural Hungarian wines. The place to go if you want to have a taste of Hungary in a progressive, ethically-minded setting. TATI Farm to Table District VII, Dohany street 58-62. Facebook/tatibudapest 3. Retro Langos Now for the other end of the spectrum, you can head over to Retro Langos for a massive selection of the Hungarian street food classic. Langos in its most elemental form is a fairly simple dish. A glistening pocket of fried dough is filled with sour cream, shredded cheese, garlic and sometimes if you are feeling exotic, purple onion and paprika dust. Most Hungarians have some combination of the previously listed ingredients which they mix and match depending on mood, time of day, number of beers consumed, etc. And you can get those types of toppings at Retro Langos. But you can also choose from a laundry list of different combinations and ingredients that one would never imagine on the dish. Their list reads quite similarly to a Hungarian pizza menu with classic parlor options such as Mexikoi (chili bean ragu and cheese) and Sonkas (sliced turkey cold cuts, chopped paprika and tomato. There is a whole razzmatazz of different combos to sample as well as a dessert langos with Nutella if you are feeling particularly unconscionable. Whatever you pick, this crispy, golden-fried dough topped with an assortment of toppings is sure to satisfy your hunger pangs. Retro Langos District VI, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky ut 25. Facebook/retrolangos 4. Rumour by Racz Jeno If you are looking for a true fine dining experience then there is no better place to try than the gastronomic theater presented by Shanghai-trained Hungarian chef extraordinaire Jeno Racz over on Petofi ter. Rumour opened its doors back in 2021 and quickly gained a reputation for its risk-taking and modern approach towards Hungarian gastronomy. For better or worse, traditional Hungarian cuisine has stayed mostly removed from the onset of modern cooking trends. This is what makes rare establishments that combine the classic and the new in such high demand when they manage to pull it off. The prices are certainly higher than any other place on this list, and some would argue veer into the ridiculous category, but for those who are interested in European fine dining, this is one of the best stops you could choose in Budapest with a full-blown performance included by the Chef and his colleagues over the course of your tasting menu fine dining experience. Rumour by Racz Jeno District V, Petofi ter 3-5. 5. Cafe Kor For those who prefer authenticity coupled with a classical touch, Cafe Kor is the place to be. Located in the heart of downtown near St. Stephens Basilica and Liberty Square, Cafe Kor has been serving up their classic fare for decades. The atmosphere recalls a bygone day when sit-down restaurants acted not only as places of dining but also as cultural hubs where writers and poets and artists could carve out a full-day corner to digest several small meals and ungodly amounts of wine and liquor. And though such behavior is considered relatively delinquent in this day and age, the atmosphere remains at Cafe Kor. Sparse, white tablecloth decor within an arched dining room plastered with black and white framed pictures of a bygone era. And the food is quality Hungarian classics, but done with a bit more intentionally than the family-sized portions served at a roadside Csarda. Great wine list, daily specials, and knowledgeable waiters in white coats (real professionals rare nowadays). Terrific place to squeeze in for a late lunch between seeing the sights. Cafe Kor District V, Sas utca 17. Facebook/cafekorrestaurant 6. Pozsonyi Kisvendeglo So now we can finally start to talk about what all these bizarre Hungarian words mean when it comes to dining. Weve referenced csardas in the previous selection. A csarda is more like a roadside dining establishment that seats huge groups at big tables and does all the classics in huge portions. Like a diner meets grandmas house. Etterems on the other hand, are just restaurants. Any place that serves food can be an etterem, though only some have this moniker attached to their name. A vendeglo, however, such as the Pozsonyi Kisvendeglo (little vendeglo) is most comprable to an inn. Though most no longer have accommodation to stay the night, they do tend to serve more traditional-style dishes. Pozsonyi is a great place to try some of these classics, such as stuffed cabbage, fish soup, and porkolt (Hungarian meat stew ladled over a gnocchi-like base). The best part of all is that its located on Pozsonyi Street, arguably the best walking street in the whole city, just beside the yellow Margaret bridge on the Pest side of the river. Pozsonyi Kisvendeglo District XIII, Radnoti Miklos utca 38. Facebook/PozsonyiKisvendeglo 7. Frici Papa For a taste of classic local fare at unbeatable prices, Frici Papa is the spot. This canteen-style restaurant delivers on the promise of cheap, sloppy, yummy, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Its technically whats known as a Kifozde, to add to the ever-growing list of words you can try to say after drinking palinka, which are usually even more casual than the vendeglo and etterems. Its much larger than most other restaurants in the genre, however, with a cavernous dining room on the popular Kiraly Street. Unpretentious, unabashedly unglamorous, but an absolutely suitable and affordable option for those hoping to dip their toes in the world of Hungarian eating before a night out on the town. You can sample the Ujhazi chicken noodle soup as a starter, before moving on to any number of stews, sausages, pickles, cabbages, and spicy paprika-based mains. Checker cloth tables, classic atmosphere, great location, and a mix of tourists and locals alike. Frici Papa District VII, Kiraly utca 55. Facebook/fricipapa 8. Szaletly Szaletly is a cool spot that most tourists wont get to because its on the other side of the city park in the family-friendly neighborhood of Zuglo aka District XIV. But this district is a great place to go if you want to see how trendy Budapest residents actually live. And Szalately is a great example of that. Its interior is the most aesthetically pleasing of any on this list, with huge windows providing tons of natural light and a trademark monument of wooden shelves complimenting ceilings high enough to clear an adult giraffe with room to spare. The restaurant took over from the famous Thokoly Vendeglo, much beloved during the socialist era. Steaks, stews, and roasts rule the roost for the main dishes, with a great selection of cold starters and Hortobagy pancakes which will stick to your stomach for days. There are delicious desserts and plenty of wines to enjoy in the gorgeous dining room or out on a breezy terrace when the weather is nice. The establishments youthful vibe and innovative approach to traditional dishes make it a culinary hotspot. Szaletly District XIV, Stefania ut 93. Facebook/szaletly 9. Cintanyeros Step back in time and savor Hungarian tapas in a 19th-century-style wine house. Cintanyeros combines rustic charm with a fine selection of wines and small bites, creating a cozy and welcoming environment for all who enter. Its in District VIII as well, so could be a great place to have a couple of drinks and bites after finishing one of our off-the-beathen-path District VIII 8 tours. Cintanyeros is the least deserving of the word restaurant on this list, but it is definitely deserving of immense praise. In a narrow, lofted space, incredibly knowledgeable bartenders preside over a litany of high-end wines and cocktail ingredients at affordable prices. Drinks-wise they specialize in froccs which is taken far more seriously here than you ever thought wine mixed with soda could be taken. As for the food, they do mostly small bites here. Well, they are small bites in theory. But after finishing the beef tartar, served with the freshest and most high-quality meat you could hope for, and a well portioned out selection of accouterments (pads of butter, spicy paprika, onions, tomato), you would have a hard time even thinking about the word small. This is a real hidden gem in Budapest and is great for just drinks as well, but you can get some serious insight into the culture of classic bar food which is difficult to do in a high-quality setting such as this. Cintanyeros District VIII, Bokay Janos utca 52. Facebook/cintanyeros 10. Regi Jo Kifozde Another kifozde to close things out and this one is a lot more like a classic kifozde than Frici Papa. Regi Jo means old and good and that is exactly what this place is. An old school dinner with good food. This is why it is a budget-saving favorite of Budapest locals and should definitely be on your list if you want to save money and time and try food that real people eat here on a daily basis. Also located in District VIII just around the corner from the Rakoczi ter metro stop, Regi Jo Kifozde offers any number of fried options, plenty of stews, and all the delicious pickled sides you could dream of in a buffet setting with a true Budapest vibe. Regi Jo Kifozde District VIII, Vasar utca 4. Facebook/regijokifozde +1: Home Restaurants As an alternative option, you can experience a homemade meal with an Eatwith host and discover Hungarian cuisine like a local. Your host will welcome you into their home and share with you their food, their stories, and their culture. You can experience the flavors of home-cooked Hungarian meals with this traditional dinner. The evenings chef is a beloved grandmother, giving you an authentic and heartwarming culinary experience. Source: Budapest Flow - republished with permission ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below. You can see the new edition of the Xpat E-Magazine here: https://xpatloop.com/newsletters/2024/26-september.html 1. First up is a heads-up about the trending Xpat Interviews Guide: Top Expat Personalities: These entertaining & engaging interviews are a gold mine of inspiring stories & handy insights - harvested from the pioneering minds, good hearts & spirits of outstanding expats in Hungary. 2. As always below there's fresh News, Information & Inspiration plus Movies & Specials: E.g. Alt' Art Scene Guide, Uma Thurman in Hungary, Unusual Spa Baths, Record Hu Tourism. 3. Plus there's Events for Xpats on these days, all hand-picked from our Handy Calendar: E.g. Contemporary Art Fair, Acoustic Open Mic, Cirque Tent Show, Theater & Dance Soiree. Now we hope you like what's in it for you below. Yours with best wishes, Team XpatLoop Now we hope you like what's in it for you below. Yours with best wishes, Team XpatLoop Photo: Budapest in autumn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shortcut Links: Latest News / Interviews / Directory / Calendar / New Movies / Sponsorship Notes: You're in good company together with thousands of expat readers + high-level locals = a cosmopolitan group of internationally-minded folks, known as the Xpat Community. Feedback: Your feedback is always welcome. Here are a few examples: Brett Penny, Director, American International School of Budapest: "Two thumbs up on XpatLoop's website and newsletter. A really great resource for us expats. Easy to navigate and loads of excellent ideas on what's on in Budapest, plus activities for the weekend. Keep up the good work!" Sandra Knibbs, Principal at Dance Craze Academy: "XpatLoop - great work informing us about the most compelling events in the city!" Ephie Christodoulides, Client Manager at KPMG: "I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you are doing on the site". Warren Conolly, Professional Educator. "As a fellow expat here in Hungary, I thought to say how great XpatLoop is for the community as a whole." Dennis A. Diokno, CEO & Founding Partner, FirstMed Thanks to XpatLoop for an excellent working relationship of over 20 years! Frank Hegedus, Chaplain, St. Margaret's Anglican Church Thank you for your important service during these troubling times. John Hart, Principal, International School Of Budapest Just a short note of deep appreciation to you all at XpatLoop. At these difficult and potentially solitary times your mailings are doing a wonderful job at keeping us expats in the loop, and ensuring that we still feel part of the vibrant community which is Budapest. Rough Guide To Budapest, the most knowledgeable & entertaining guidebook: "For Arts & Entertainment: The best online listings are provided by XpatLoop.com" Lonely Planet, the worlds largest guide book publisher: "XpatLoop: What the foreign community in Budapest is thinking and talking about." Milan Keleceni, the designer of the eponymous custom menswear store in Budapest, is poised to offer the luxurious fabrics of Holland & Sherry and Fox Brothers & Co. Ltd. Milan Kelecsenyi is a made-to-measure menswear designer located in Budapest, renowned for his custom-tailored wardrobe-building approach, that provides a refined alternative for the man about town. His approach is prized for its close collaboration with his clients to create their unique wardrobes. His modular wardrobe concept ensures that every piece can be worn in multiple ways and new commissions will fit into existing wardrobes. In his quest to elevate his offerings, Milan is thrilled to announce the addition of two prestigious fabric brands: Holland & Sherry and Fox Brothers & Co. These esteemed names are synonymous with quality and heritage, enhancing the custom experience for the discerning clientele. Fox Brothers & Co. is a historic British textile manufacturer famous for its fine wool fabrics, particularly flannel. Founded in 1772 in Wellington, Somerset, the company has built a global reputation for high-quality woolen cloth, playing a vital role in British tailoring. Credited with popularizing flannel in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Fox Brothers became the go-to choice for tailors crafting everything from military uniforms to classic suits. Today, Fox Brothers fabrics are highly sought after by bespoke tailors and high-end designers, including those on Savile Row. The company has numerous intriguing highlights, such as producing an astounding 260 miles of flannel daily by the early 20th century. Notable connections include Winston Churchill, rumored to have favored suits tailored from Fox Brothers fabrics, and iconic actors like Cary Grant and Steve McQueen, who wore garments crafted from their textiles. Their esteemed reputation was further solidified in 2006 when they received a Royal Warrant from the British royal family, recognizing the quality of their products and distinguished service. Holland & Sherry is another prestigious British fabric manufacturer creating luxury cloth since 1836. Renowned for its high-quality materials, the company caters to some of the worlds finest tailors, fashion houses, and interior designers. Founded by Stephen George Holland and Frederick Sherry in London, the brand quickly earned acclaim for its exceptional woolen and silk fabrics. Boasting a heritage of over 180 years, Holland & Sherry is recognized as a pioneer in superfine wool production, offering grades from Super 100s to Super 250s. Their royal connections and prestigious status were further enhanced in 2012 when they set a Guinness World Record for producing one of the worlds most expensive fabrics, made from rare vicuna and guanaco fibers. This time of the year provides the best opportunity to update your cool-weather wardrobe. The Fox Brothers Worsted Flannel bunch offers some of the best autumn-winter suiting while the Sherrykash and Sherrytweed bunches from Holland and Sherry make up for some of the most stylish blazers and sport jackets available. If you wish to see these collections in person, Milan would be pleased to meet you for an obligation-free appointment in his centrally located showroom in Budapest. Click here to know more about Milan Keleceni Each year, millions of prospective students and their families decide whether and where to attend college. Its a huge decision. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form provides crucial information about what financial aid they qualify for. The FAFSA form includes federal student loans, work-study programs, and Pell Grants. Families rely on this aid to help with the costs of higher education. For the second straight year, the Biden-Harris Department of Education (ED) promised an improved FAFSA experience. For the second straight year, theyve delivered a FAFSA fiasco. Im working to help Nebraska families overcome this incompetence. After three years of claimed preparation, ED soft-launched a simplified and improved FAFSA form last December 30. That was nearly three months later than normal. It was also after some students needed to make their college decisions. Even this soft-launch turned into a fiasco. The new form contained new, unfair rules penalizing the children of farm families and small business owners. It counted illiquid assets towards parental contributions. These rules could force family farmers to sell off assets to send their children to college. Im co-leading the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act to fix this. Even after the full rollout months later, there were major issues. In fact, Politico called it disastrous. I heard directly from Nebraskans who were impacted. Websites crashed repeatedly. Forms were incomplete or unable to be filled out. Millions of forms had errors and had to be reprocessed later. When families sought expert help, ED staff failed to provide adequate support. Sadly, last year wasnt a fluke. In August, ED announced they will delay the release of the FAFSA form for a second straight year. This is yet another example of bad management and incompetence from the Biden-Harris administration. As a result, last year, we saw schools forced to postpone application deadlines, push back financial aid offers, and delay student enrollment deadlines. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln extended their deadline to May 15, but not every college could make that choice. Prospective students and their families paid the price. The FAFSA fiasco has serious consequences. Nationally, the FAFSA completion rate dropped 11.2% for high school graduates. Nebraska did better than most, but our states FAFSA completion rate still fell4.8%. Some students and their families had to make college decisions and pay deposits without knowing the exact cost. Thats crazy. We wouldnt buy a car without knowing the cost. We wouldnt buy a home without knowing the cost. We shouldnt pressure families into college commitments without knowing the cost. EDs FAFSA fiasco is exactly whats wrong with a massive, unaccountable federal bureaucracy. Government should put the taxpayer first, always. Thats what we did when I was Governor of Nebraska. Instead, the Biden-Harris administration prioritizes radical, divisive policies. ED pushed an illegal student loan forgiveness program that will make Nebraska plumbers and welders pay the student loans of doctors and lawyers. ED bureaucrats also tried to undo important protections for female athletes. It should be focused on serving students and their families. It should be delivering the FAFSA form on time. I am committed to demanding better from the federal government for Nebraskans. On FAFSA, I will continue to fight for answers and reforms to ensure the process serves those who need it most. As the Senate considers new Cabinet Secretaries next year, Im going to vet candidates thoroughly. Federal agencies should be led by individuals with management experience. We need innovative solutions to streamline bureaucracy and serve taxpayers. My team and I are here to serve you. If youre experiencing FAFSA issues or any other problems with a federal agency, contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224. You can also view my website at www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact. Mumbai: One man, One dream and a billion lives! Akshay Kumar-starrer Sarfira - an inspiring and heartwarming story of a man daring to dream big for the people of India is all set to release on OTT. The striking story stars the ever-empowering Akshay Kumar along with the iconic Paresh Rawal and the gorgeous Radhikka Madan in pivotal roles. Traveling in flights is luxury for some and a dream for the rest, when Vir Mahtre (Akshay Kumar) devises a business plan to make flights accessible to the common people of the nation, he starts a revolution in hindsight. Sarfira will release on October 11, 2024 exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar. Elaborating on the film, Akshay Kumar said, Sarfira is a film about a Sarfira insaan who dared to dream big and work for it tirelessly. I'm a firm believer that when a dream transforms into ambition, nothing can stop it from coming true and that's what I respected about Virs dream; it became a passion-driven cause that brought about a change for the common people. I like to be a part of stories that inspire and amount to a bigger picture, Sarfira is one such story where I saw my inner beliefs being a part of the script. Sarfira is releasing on 11th October, 2024 on Disney+ Hotstar and I'm looking forward to seeing the power of a dream that inspires the world! Talking about the film, Radhikka Madan said,"Sarfira is a powerful story of determination and the courage to chase your dreams. Playing Rani, a character full of confidence and strength, was a deeply personal experience for me. Im so grateful for the audience's warm reception of my performance. Akshay sirs portrayal brought incredible energy to the film. With Disney+ Hotstar, Im excited for even more viewers to connect with our journey and the important message behind it." Sarfira to release on October 11, 2024 exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar New Delhi: The re-release of Sohum Shah's Tumbbad has again brought its haunting world to the forefront, treating audiences with its eerie and atmospheric storytelling. As the film continues to receive praise, the makers of the film have posted unseen footage on their social media handle, shedding light on the intricate process behind one of its most chilling characters Daadi. They captioned the post reading, The face of fear in #Tumbbad wasnt born overnight Watch Daadi's terrifying transformation unfold in these exclusive behind-the-scenes! Experience the magical world of #Tumbbad once again, running now in cinemas. In the unseen footage, the painstaking efforts that went into creating Daadis terrifying appearance are evident. The transformation process, primarily driven by the use of prosthetics, is truly mind-blowing. Each layer of makeup and prosthetic application reveals the dedication and craftsmanship of the team, aiming to bring this haunting character to life. Whats even more fascinating is that the same young actor who portrayed Pandurang also took on the role of Daadi, showcasing incredible versatility and talent at such a young age. Re-released in theaters on September 13, 2024, Tumbbad is a 2018 Hindi-language folk horror film directed by Rahi Anil Barve, with Anand Gandhi as the creative director, and Adesh Prasad as the co-director. It is written by Mitesh Shah, Prasad, Barve, and Gandhi, the film was produced by Sohum Shah, Aanand L. Rai, Mukesh Shah and Amita Shah, starring Sohum Shah in the lead role as Vinayak Rao. Tumbbad received eight nominations at the 64th Filmfare Awards, winning three for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Sound Design. The film was also a notable success, with critics praising its gripping story, exceptional production design, and striking cinematography. Additionally, it was also the first Indian film to premiere in the Critics Week Section of the 75th Venice International Film Festival. Along with Sohum Shah's compelling performance, the cast included Jyoti Malshe and Anita Date-Kelkar, both of whom contributed significantly to the films atmospheric and haunting narrative. Durga Puja, one of the most vibrant and widely celebrated festivals in India, particularly in West Bengal, is an annual event that honors Goddess Durga and her triumph over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. This festival is marked by grand celebrations, cultural programs, and rituals, drawing thousands of devotees and tourists alike. Significance of Durga Puja Durga Puja symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is a time for reflection, devotion, and celebration. It is a festival that showcases the rich cultural heritage of India, particularly Bengali traditions, through art, music, dance, and food. The event not only honors Goddess Durga but also fosters community bonding, charity, and social harmony. The festival's mythological backdrop is rooted in the Durga Saptashati, where Goddess Durga is depicted as a powerful mother who combats negative forces and restores dharma (righteousness). Each day of the festival has its own significance, focusing on different aspects of the goddess and the rituals associated with her worship. When Does Durga Puja 2024 Start? In 2024, Durga Puja is set to begin on October 10, with Mahalaya falling on October 9. The main celebrations will take place from October 10 to October 14, culminating in Vijayadashami, which marks the end of the festival. During this time, devotees will engage in prayers, cultural festivities, and community gatherings. Durga Puja is more than just a religious festival; its a celebration of culture, unity, and devotion. As we approach Durga Puja 2024, communities around the world will come together to honor the goddess and embrace the spirit of joy and togetherness. Whether through attending pandals, participating in rituals, or enjoying the festive feasts, Durga Puja promises an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Celebrations 1. Pandal Hopping: Durga Puja is famous for its intricately designed pandals (temporary structures) where idols of the goddess are placed. These pandals are often themed and reflect various artistic styles, attracting visitors to explore their creativity. 2. Cultural Programs: Throughout the festival, various cultural events, including dance performances, music shows, and plays, are organized. These programs celebrate Bengali culture and showcase local talents. 3. Rituals and Offerings: Devotees participate in daily rituals, including "Bodhon" (the invoking of the goddess), "Anjali" (offering flowers), and "Sandhi Puja," which marks the transition between the Mahalaya and the Durga Puja days. The festival culminates in the "Visarjan," where the idol is immersed in water, symbolizing the goddess's return to her celestial abode. 4. Feasting: Food plays a central role during Durga Puja. Traditional dishes such as "bhog" (offered food), "puli pitha" (rice cakes), and various Bengali sweets are prepared and shared among friends and family. Indira Ekadashi Vrat, a significant event in the Hindu calendar dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is observed to pray for the peace and liberation of departed ancestors. In 2024, it falls on Saturday, September 28. Indira Ekadashi Vrat 2024: Date and Time It is crucial to perform Parana within the Dwadashi Tithi unless it ends before sunrise, as not doing so is considered a transgression. Indira Ekadashi Vrat will be observed on the Ekadashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the Ashwina month, falling on September 28, 2024. The Parana time is scheduled for September 29, 2024, starting at 5:37 A.M. Indira Ekadashi holds great religious significance in Hinduism. Indira Ekadashi Vrat 2024: Significance Indira Ekadashi is particularly significant as it occurs during the Pitru Paksha period, a time when Hindus honor their ancestors. Observing this vrat is believed to aid the souls of the departed in attaining Moksha (liberation) and peace in the afterlife. Devotees engage in rituals, fasting, and prayers to Lord Vishnu, seeking his blessings not only for themselves but also for the souls of their deceased loved ones. This day serves as a reminder to show gratitude for the legacy of ancestors and to fulfill spiritual duties towards them. Fasting and devotion during this period are believed to strengthen the connection between the living and the departed, ensuring that ancestors remain content and blessed. Observing the Fast Some devotees are encouraged to fast on two consecutive Ekadashi days, while those following the Smartha tradition are advised to observe the fast only on the first day. The alternate Ekadashi fast, coinciding with Vaishnava Ekadashi, is often recommended for Sanyasis, widows, and those seeking Moksha. For dedicated devotees, fasting on both days symbolizes deep devotion and a strong desire for Lord Vishnus love and grace. Indira Ekadashi Vrat 2024: Rituals Fasting: Devotees observe a strict fast, abstaining from grains, pulses, and certain foods, focusing on fruits and milk. Prayer and Chanting: Engaging in prayers, chanting Vishnus names, and reading scriptures related to Lord Vishnu helps in connecting with the divine. Offering to Ancestors: Rituals such as Tarpan may be performed to honor and pray for departed souls, ensuring they are at peace. The Hindu factions are claiming that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah was originally an ancient Shiva temple. With this new assertion, yet another name has been added to the list of controversial claims regarding mosques and dargahs. However, proving this claim and obtaining official recognition as a Hindu temple is expected to be a lengthy legal battle. These assertions have been made by the Hindu Sena, which has filed a petition in a Rajasthan court seeking to declare the Moinuddin Chishti Dargah as a temple. The petition argues that, similar to the Gyanvapi complex, Hindu organisations are now making claims on the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. In today's DNA, Zee News analysed the claims of an ancient temple at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah based on historical evidence. Watch Today's Full Episode: The Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is historically noted to have been built by Mughal Emperor Humayun. However, now, nearly eight hundred years later, Hindu organizations have staked their claim on the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. The Hindu Sena has put forth a significant argument for the existence of a temple at the site, stating that no Muslim texts mention that the dargah was constructed on empty land. This implies that the dargah was built by replacing an existing structure. The Hindu Sena claims that there was a Shiva temple that was destroyed by Muslim invaders, after which the dargah was established. This assertion has sparked a strong reaction from the management of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Following the recent incidents of air strikes and blasts in communication devices, the Embassy of India in Beirut on Wednesday issued an advisory notice strongly advising against travelling to Lebanon till further notice. In the notice, the embassy said, "As a reiteration of the advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice." The Embassy also advised the Indian nationals living in Lebanon to leave the country as soon as possible and advised the people, who have to remain in Beirut, to exercise "extreme cautions" and remain in contact with the Embassy. "All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128," the embassy stated. On September 24, the Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that at least 558 people were killed in Israel's recent military strikes on Lebanon, according to an Al Jazeera report. Of 558 people who have died from IDF strikes, 50 are children, the Lebanese health ministry said. It further stated that 1,835 people sustained injuries. Notably, Israel continued striking Hezbollah positions in Lebanon while the Iran-backed terror group fired volleys of rockets at Haifa, Nahariya, the Galilee, and the Jezreel Valley overnight and Tuesday morning. The Israel Defense Forces said the Air Force struck more than 1,600 targets in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, including missile launchers, command posts, and other terror infrastructure, including those located inside civilian homes. Israeli artillery and tanks hit other Hezbollah targets in the areas of Ayta ash Shab and Ramyeh near the border. The IDF said 210 rockets were fired into Israel on Monday. Several Israelis were treated for shrapnel, hurting themselves while making their way to shelter, or panic attacks. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea filed by the Gujarat government seeking a review of its previous verdict which included critical observations against the state. The top court refused to overturn its January 8 judgment that set aside the remission granted to the 11 convicts in the gang rape case of Bilkis Bano. The earlier ruling quashed the remission granted to 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and murdering seven members of her family at the time of riots in 2002. A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan also rejected the request to hear the review petition in open court. "Having carefully gone through the Review Petition, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the Review Petition, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The Review Petition is, accordingly, dismissed," the bench said, PTI reported. The Gujarat government has said in a plea that the apex court's observation in the January 8 judgment, holding the state guilty of "usurpation of power" and "abuse of discretion" for complying with an order of another top court bench, was an "error apparent on the face of the record" primarily on three grounds. It stated that another bench of the Supreme Court had, in May 2022, declared Gujarat to be the "appropriate government" and instructed the state to handle the remission application of one of the convicts according to the 1992 remission policy. The review plea said, "No adverse inference of 'usurpation of power' can be drawn against the state of Gujarat for not filing a review petition against the judgment dated May 13, 2022 (of the coordinate bench)." "It is humbly submitted that the extreme observation made by this court that the state of Gujarat 'acted in tandem and was complicit with respondent no.3/accused' is not only highly unwarranted and against the record of the case, but has caused serious prejudice to the petitioner-state of Gujarat," it said, PTI reported. On January 8 ruling, the Supreme Court cancelled the remission given to the 11 men convicted in the case and ordered that they be returned to jail within two weeks. 1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them. 2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound. 3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes. 4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic. Vote View Results Chandigarh: The Congress spends most of its time infighting and every child in Haryana is aware of it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday while asserting the people have decided to give one more chance to the BJP to serve the state. Interacting with Haryana BJP workers through the NaMo app, he discussed fieldwork at the booth level for the upcoming state polls and encouraged them to devise a strategy for the party to win the election. While alleging the Congress has failed as an opposition in the past 10 years, PM Modi claimed the grand old party's maximum time goes into infighting and taking on each other. Every child in Haryana is aware of the grand old party's internal strife, the prime minister said. Attacking the Congress, he said, "The entire basis of those fighting against us in the polls is lies. They repeatedly tell lies, their talks have no head and tail and they vitiate the atmosphere." These days, the Congress' loudspeakers which earlier were making big claims have fallen weak, PM Modi said. "Some are saying the Congress is becoming weak each day. During the past 10 years, the Congress has failed as opposition too." "The party remained far from people's issues for 10 years... such people can never win the trust of the people of Haryana," he said. Modi said the Congress made tall promises in Himachal Pradesh but after they came to power in the state, development came to a standstill and they were unable to pay salaries. One cannot imagine how many atrocities were committed against the Dalits during the Congress rule in Haryana, PM Modi told the BJP workers and asked them to expose such incidents publicly. Recounting the BJP government's initiatives for farmers, the prime minister alleged that during the Congress rule in Haryana, the farmers got Rs 2 compensation cheques for crop damage. The Congress people live only for their family and that is their character, he said in response to a Haryana BJP worker's feedback during the interaction. Recalling that he had served in Haryana in the past as a BJP worker, Modi said, "It is my full belief that the people of Haryana have decided to give one more chance to the BJP to serve." "They are happy that in 10 years a government has been run without corruption. This has happened in Haryana for the first time. "Youth have got jobs without "parchi and kharchi" (jobs for cash). Therefore, the people of Haryana are with us, their blessings are with us and victory is certain," he said. Recalling that he worked extensively for party organisation in Haryana in the 1990s, the prime minister told the BJP workers that it was his fortune that he got the opportunity to work in the state for a long period and it was also a learning time for him. "I remember one thing. Be it workers of the old generation or the new generation, their hard work always inspired me," PM Modi said, adding that he feels happy whenever he gets an opportunity to talk to the grassroots workers. He said these days you are working hard round-the-clock at your booth with the mantra of 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot'. There is only one open secret of election strategy and that is one who wins polling booths, wins the elections, Modi said. "Polling booth is our 'mazboot chowki'," he said, adding BJP worker never allows his flag to go down in a polling booth. "In every polling booth, a worker should have that pride that he will not allow the BJP flag to go down. He will not be less than anyone which means he will get more polling done than before, and get more votes for the BJP than before. You have to work hard for this," the prime minister told the party workers. Haryana goes to polls on October 5 while results will be declared on October 8. The BJP is eyeing a third consecutive term in power in the state. A foreign diplomat delegation arrived in Kashmir to observe the ongoing assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. They expressed satisfaction with the polling process and praised the beauty and hospitality of the region. On Wednesday, during the second phase of polling, they visited several polling stations in Budgam and Srinagar, witnessed the voting and expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. They noted that people participated in the voting and that today, the situation has returned to normal. "I think it doesn't feel like there is any election because people have voted, they cast their votes, and are back to normal life. So everything is cool; yes, the situation is good," a diplomat from Tanzania said. Today, they roamed around the city of Srinagar, visiting Pari Mahal and Chashme Shahi, and walking around Dal Lake. They were then taken to the Kashmir Arts Emporium to see the region's handicrafts and were gifted handmade products. The diplomats praised the hospitality and beauty of Kashmir. "It's beautiful and fascinating. I am inspired by the views I saw. I will definitely come back. Being in India, especially in Kashmir, is very refreshing," a diplomat from Tanzania said. "Kashmir is incredible. Everyone knows it's so beautiful. It's great to see it with my own eyes and I've received a very warm reception. Everybody is so lovely," said Jorgan K. Andrews, a diplomat from the USA. These diplomats arrived on Wednesday in Srinagar at the invitation of the Central Government to witness the second phase of Assembly elections in Kashmir. They represented the United States, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, and the Philippines. Since terrorism erupted in Kashmir, this is the first time a foreign delegation has visited the region to observe the electoral process. The free participation of people in the electoral process and a higher voter turnout of 61% in the first phase of polling encouraged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to allow the diplomats to visit Kashmir. However, regional political parties, including the NC and PDP, have criticised the visit, stating that elections are an internal matter of our country and questioning why foreigners need to interfere. After a 10-year gap, this is the first assembly election conducted in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his attacks on him over the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case and threw a challenge of a direct debate on corruption. Hitting back at the Prime Minister, Siddaramaiah said that PM Modi has no moral right to speak about corruption and challenged him to choose one Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Karnataka unit who is "without any stain of corruption." "Prime Minister @NarendraModi who is accused by his own party leaders of auctioning off the Chief Minister's post for Rs 2,500 crore, has no moral right to speak about corruption!" he tweeted on Wednesday. "Mr Modi, I am glad to see you finally talking about corruption. The people of Karnataka have seen only the puppets dancing with false allegations against me. Now it is time for them to know the mastermind behind it all. Don't fire shots from afar, Mr Modi. If you're ready for a direct debate, I am always ready," he said. The Karnataka CM's response came after PM Modi mentioned the MUDA scam and accused the Congress of corruption during his rally in Haryana's Sonipat. "The Karnataka Chief Minister is accused in the land scam. Yesterday, the Karnataka High Court said that the probe orders are correct and investigation should be done. Congress also did a scam in the funds meant for Dalits. There is no party more dishonest than Congress in the entire nation," PM Modi had said in the rally on Wednesday. Reacting to the Prime Minister's remarks, Siddaramaiah said that PM Modi's office has turned into a washing machine, cleaning the corruption stains of opposition leaders who join the BJP. He also cited instances of some opposition leaders accused in corruption cases of joining the saffron party. "The nation has watched for the past 11 years as your office has turned into a washing machine, cleaning the corruption stains of opposition leaders who join the BJP. Bravo, Mr Modi! Since 2014, more than 25 opposition leaders with corruption allegations have joined your party, and 23 of them have been cleared by central agencies. Isnt this a miracle?" he said. "From Himanta Biswa Sarma to Suvendu Adhikari, HD Kumaraswamy, Ajit Pawar, Ashok Chavan, Narayan Rane, and the latest, Muniratna -- how many corrupt leaders have you washed clean in your machine? Is this your idea of public service, Mr Prime Minister?" he added. Continuing his attack on the Prime Minister, the senior Congress leader cited the instance of Kumaraswamy joining the Union Cabinet. "You have inducted HD Kumaraswamy, who is facing a Rs 100 crore illegal mining scam, into your cabinet without hesitation. Doesn't your conscience prickle when you accuse others of corruption? Why is the Honorable Governor turning a blind eye to Lokayukta's request for permission to prosecute in this scam? Whos pressuring him, Mr Modi?," Siddaramaiah said. The Congress leader's dig at PM Modi came after the Special Court in Bengaluru ordered on Wednesday that the Karnataka Lokayukta investigate MUDA case allegations against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The Karnataka Lokayukta's police in Mysuru have been tasked with conducting the investigation and are expected to submit their report within three months. The court's action came after the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed Siddaramaiah's plea that challenged the legality of the governor's order on approval of an investigation against him in the case. The case pertains to allegations that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife, BM Parvathi, in an upmarket area in Mysuru that had a higher property value as compared to the location of her land that had been "acquired" by MUDA. MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout. Siddaramaiah has vehemently denied allegations of irregularities in the land allocated to his wife and called the case a "BJP conspiracy". The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come down heavily on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding his resignation. While CM Siddaramaiah has maintained that he won't resign over the alleged MUDA 'scam' saying that he is not guilty, a senior MLA has expressed his personal opinion saying that the CM should resign not to allow the BJP to take advantage of the situation. Call For Siddaramaiah's Resignation Five-time MLA and former Karnataka Assembly speaker KB Koliwad has said that the Chief Minister should step down and become CM again after getting cleared of the charges. "He can be Chief Minister again after he clears this blemish... this is my personal request...After he clears this blemish he can return... after all, he is supported by all MLAs and Congress high command," NDTV reported Koliwad as saying. DK Shivakumar Backs CM On the other hand, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has backed Siddaramaiah. "I am the KPCC President, and Rehman Khan is the KPCC Discipline Committee head. I am telling you there is no need for the CM to resign. The BJP and JDS are hatching a political conspiracy against the CM. They are not able to digest the fact that guarantee schemes are reaching so many people," said Shivakumar. Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tirade against CM Siddaramaiah, the Deputy CM said, "Prime Minister Modi is doing politics by raising the issue of Siddaramaiah during election rallies. Many ministers in the Union government are facing charges, let them drop them from the Cabinet first and then talk about others." PM Modi Slams Siddaramiah Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi attacked Karnataka CM and said that the Congress is completely entrenched in corruption. Addressing a rally in Sonipat Haryana, days ahead of the assembly elections in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while highlighting the failures of the Congress party, drew attention towards the MUDA scam, which allegedly involves the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. What Is MUDA Scam? CM Siddaramaiah is facing a Lokayukta probe in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites allotment case. A Special Court exclusively to deal with criminal cases related to former and elected MPs/MLAs has issued the order directing the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to initiate an investigation on the complaint filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna of Mysuru. The order of the Special Court Judge, Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, came a day after the High Court upheld the sanction granted by the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah on the allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife B M Parvathi by MUDA. In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA. The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout. Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts. It is alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk. (With ANI/PTI inputs) Bengaluru Murder: The key suspect in the horrific killing of a woman in Bengaluru was found dead in Odisha. The man died allegedly by hanging in Odisha on Wednesday, according to police. He was suspected of being involved in the brutal killing of a 29-year-old woman whose dismembered body was found in a refrigerator in Bengaluru. Police said the man was in a relationship with the victim, Mahalakshmi, and killed her following frequent arguments between them over her insisting to get married. The accused was identified as Muktiranjan Pratap Ray (31). He was found dead under the Dhusuri Police Station limits in the Bhadrak district of Odisha, they said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shekhar H. Tekkannavar said in Bengaluru that the man was found hanging from a tree on Wednesday morning, as reported by news agency PTI. According to Odisha police, a purported suicide note was found on the spot. In the note, the suspect had confessed to the crime. According to police in Bengaluru, the suspect and the woman were working in a garment shop, where they met and became friends. The two were in a relationship. Mahalakshmi was allegedly putting pressure on him to marry her. This led to constant arguments between the two, which resulted in an altercation. Apparently the accused was irked over this. He was allegedly very short-tempered. He killed Mahalakshmi and later dismembered her body, police said, citing preliminary investigation. Giving details about the woman's murder, a senior police officer said that Ray called up his younger brother after killing her and told him to vacate the rented house immediately, but when asked for the reason to do so, the deceased told his brother he could not communicate to him over the phone and would meet him at home and tell him, a senior police officer said. When the accused's younger brother was interrogated, he revealed that after killing the woman, when Ray returned to his rented home here, he confessed to his brother about the murder and said he could not stay in the city anymore and was leaving for their native place. "With the help of technical analysis and call record details, the accused was identified, and his mobile location was initially traced to West Bengal, but later he switched it off. However, with the help of technical surveillance, his location was traced to a village in Odisha where we sent our teams to nab him," he added, as quoted by PTI. He changed places in Odisha. Police are waiting for the final postmortem report to ascertain the exact cause of death. The maggot-infested body of Mahalakshmi, chopped into several pieces and stuffed into the fridge, was found by her mother and elder sister at her Vyalikaval home on Saturday. On Sunday, the estranged husband of the deceased woman expressed suspicion about the involvement of a man known to Mahalakshmi, who had been living alone, in her neighbourhood. (With PTI Inputs) Mukthirajan Roy, the suspected killer who dismembered 26-year-old Mahalaxmi from Bengaluru and stored her body parts in a fridge, confessed in his suicide note that he committed the gruesome act because he was fed up with her behavior, news agency IANS reported. The police found the note, written in his diary, where he admitted to the crime that shocked the city. I killed my lover Mahalaxmi on September 3, Roy wrote. He detailed how he went to her house, got into a fight over personal issues, and ended up killing her after she assaulted him. Enraged, he chopped her body into 59 pieces and stored them in the fridge. The police discovered the note while gathering information at Roys residence. He had hanged himself and was found in a village in Bhadrak district, Odisha. Locals found his body after he had arrived in the village on Wednesday, stayed at home, and then left on a two-wheeler. The suspected killer had arrived at the Pandi village on Wednesday and stayed at home. He had left his home on a two-wheeler. His body was found by the locals, IIANS quoted police sources as saying. Roy had disappeared after the murder, prompting the Karnataka Police to send four teams to Odisha to find him. He had stopped going to work from September 1, the same day Mahalaxmi last worked. Initially, the police suspected she was killed on September 2 or 3. Roy was the team head at Mahalaxmis workplace. The murder came to light last Saturday when neighbors noticed a foul smell from Mahalaxmis house and alerted her relatives. Her mother and sister discovered the horrifying scene: Mahalaxmis dismembered body in the fridge, infested with maggots despite the fridge being operational. A suitcase was found nearby. Mahalaxmi, originally from Tripura, worked at a popular mall and had been living alone in the area for five months. She didnt interact much with her neighbors, though her brother stayed with her for a few days. The police also found out she was married and had a child but lived separately. A Kolkata court on Thursday sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in 2023, holding that it was a case of the rarest of rare nature. The girl had gone missing from near her house at Tiljala in south-east Kolkata on March 26 last year when she went out on some chores. The police launched an investigation after a missing diary was lodged and found her body in a nearby flat. The tenant of the flat was arrested and charged with rape and murder of the girl after post-mortem examination reports confirmed the crimes. The body bore blunt weapon injuries and strangulation marks post-rape, according to the autopsy report. Special Judge (POCSO) at Alipore court, Sudipto Bhattacharya, finding the accused guilty of rape and murder, sentenced him to death, holding that it was a case of the rarest of rare nature. He observed that the girl, who was of the tender age of seven, had no possibility of defending herself and was subjected to the heinous crime. The trial was completed within a year after framing of charges against the accused before the court, public prosecutor Madhavi Ghosh said. The court also ordered that Rs 10 lakh be paid by the West Bengal government to the girl's mother under the victim compensation scheme of the state. Assembly Elections 2024 Live: The election campaigns are in full swing in the poll-bound states of Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at a rally in Gohana, Haryana, launched a fierce attack on the Congress. He warned that if Congress comes to power in Haryana, even by mistake, the states stability and development would be jeopardized due to their infighting, which he claimed would ruin the state. Meanwhile, top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is gearing up to campaign for the Haryana Assembly elections on Thursday. He will address rallies in Assandh and Barwala constituencies, where the party aims to showcase unity, thanks to the central leaderships efforts to broker peace among the warring leaders. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will spearhead the BJPs campaign for the third phase of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. He plans to address five rallies, starting with one in Chenani, followed by a meeting in Udhampur. He will then move on to rallies in Bani and Jasrota, wrapping up the day with a public gathering in Madh. The third phase of the polls in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for October 1. While the Haryana elections will be held in a single phase on October 5. Kerala Lottery Results Thursday 26-09-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Karunya KN-540" Lucky Draw Result today Karunya KN-540, September 26, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Karunya KN-540" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KN-540 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 80 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Karunya KN-540 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 26-09-2024 Sept: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA PLUS KN-540 Draw LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 80 LAKHS IS: PF 689904 LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKHS IS: PJ 988051 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 LAKHS ARE: PA 315471 PB 720210 PC 385131 PD 408669 PE 452021 PF 440826 PG 450363 PH 995082 PJ 113579 PK 164735 PL 322521 PM 770460 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: PA 689904 PB 689904 PC 689904 PD 689904 PE 689904 PG 689904 PH 689904 PJ 689904 PK 689904 PL 689904 PM 689904 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0332 2497 2562 3644 3863 4016 4203 4256 4405 5116 5865 6037 6619 7095 7855 7890 8318 9444 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0253 0413 0536 0706 0712 0787 1298 1512 1832 1857 2180 2359 2612 4071 4265 4719 4765 4950 4960 5087 5547 5622 6005 6451 6598 6743 7287 7458 7525 8607 8834 8934 9022 9711 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0093 0189 0248 0544 0701 0841 0930 0939 0954 1242 1310 1394 1501 1571 1578 1891 1934 2009 2076 2361 2515 2610 2900 2943 2969 3096 3122 3131 3400 3419 3493 3563 3679 3698 3820 4127 4199 4334 4337 4506 4827 4989 5252 5256 5444 5468 5531 5845 5984 6045 6110 6215 6346 6425 6688 6755 6785 7057 7163 7235 7237 7422 7513 7580 7586 7626 7654 7791 8069 8139 8233 8332 8379 8691 8931 9306 9316 9492 9613 9744 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY 26-09-2024 September: KARUNYA PLUS KN-540 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 80 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) CHANDIGARH: A 20-year-old man who went missing 11 years ago was on Thursday reunited with his family by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Haryana Police, officials said. Satbir alias Tarzan was a boy when he went missing from Karnal district in September 2013, police said. A police complaint was lodged by his mother who told the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) probing the matter that her son had a dog bite scar on his hand and a monkey bite mark on his left arm. Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspector, of the AHTU, led the probe and distributed posters of the boy across childcare institutions in Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Kanpur, Shimla, and Lucknow. After a wait of several years, the team was contacted by representatives of a government care organisation in Lucknow, who reported that a youth at their facility matched the description of the boy in the posters. After confirming his identity, Satbir was reunited with his mother and brother in the presence of the Additional Director General of Police, State Crime Branch, Mamta Singh. Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur lauded the team for their efforts. Earlier in May, an eight-month-long investigation by a team of Haryana Police led by Kumar had helped reunite a 29-year-old man with his family in Uttar Pradesh, over two decades years after he went missing. ASI Kumar and his team have so far helped reunite over 800 missing persons with their families over the last many years. The BJP and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party engaged in a fresh tussle today over the election of the sixth member of the Standing Committee. MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi postponed the polls to October 5 following a ruckus over the frisking of house councillors. However, Delhi LG VK Saxena intervened later in the evening, instructing MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to conclude the polls by 10 PM and submit a report. Despite the order, the elections could not be held today. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi stated, "The Standing Committee election for the sixth member will not be held today. The date and time of the election will be announced later." What LG Saxena's Order Said LG Saxena directed that if the mayor refuses to hold the elections, the deputy mayor should act as the presiding officer. If the deputy mayor also refuses, the senior-most member of the House would preside. The LG's order read, "The Commissioner is hereby directed to submit a report on the conduct of elections for the sixth member of the Standing Committee by 10 PM today, i.e., 26.09.2024... In case the Mayor is unavailable or refuses to preside, the Deputy Mayor may be requested to preside... If both are unwilling or unavailable, the senior-most member should discharge this function." Following the order, the MCD Commissioner issued instructions for conducting the election, but it could not proceed due to multiple issues. Delhi LG VK Saxena has directed the MCD Commissioner to submit a report of the conduct of elections of the sixth member of the standing committee by 10 pm today. In case the Mayor is unavailable or refuses to preside over the meeting, the Deputy Mayor may be requested to preside pic.twitter.com/xat7cyKvIt ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 AAP Party of Cheaters, Says BJP On the postponement of the MCD Standing Committee election, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva accused the Aam Aadmi Party of deceit. "The election is for one seat. AAP councillors have more than enough votes, yet they are avoiding the election. What are they afraid of? AAP is a party of cheaters; even their leaders dont trust their own councillors. Despite being in power, they are running away from the election. Now, the people of Delhi will answer them," said the BJP leader. AAP: LG Sitting in America, BJP Killing Democracy in Delhi The Aam Aadmi Party criticised the LGs order, accusing the BJP of undermining democracy in Delhi. "Tonight, on orders from PM Narendra Modi, the BJP is killing democracy in the Delhi Municipal Corporation. Mayor Shelly Oberoi attempted to conduct the Standing Committee election, but chaos erupted, and the House had to be adjourned... The Mayor postponed the election to October 5," said AAP leader Manish Sisodia. #WATCH | Former Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia says "Tonight, on the orders of PM Narendra Modi, BJP is killing democracy in the Delhi Municipal Corporation. The election of the standing committee member was to be held in the Delhi Municipal Corporation today. pic.twitter.com/XvIJujIISr ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024 Sisodia added that the LGs order arrived at 8:30 PM, instructing the MCD Commissioner to conduct the polls by 10 PM. "Delhi LG is in America, yet he has sent a letter from there, instructing the Commissioner to conduct the election immediately at night... A Municipal Corporation employee told us that while AAP and Congress councillors had left, BJP councillors were kept sitting with their chairman and MPs near the Commissioner in the MCD House... They knew in advance about the LGs letter and the Commissioner's orders. Thats why they were all waiting there," Sisodia alleged. MCD Standing Committee Polls The 18-member Standing Committee is the highest decision-making body in the MCD. The election is being held to fill a single vacancy created when BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat resigned after being elected to the Lok Sabha from West Delhi earlier this year. AAP has fielded its Sainik Enclave councillor Nirmala Kumari, while the BJP has nominated Sunder Singh for the seat. Currently, AAP holds 124 councillors in the 250-member MCD, while the BJP has 115, and Congress nine. There is one Independent councillor, and one seat remains vacant. In the Standing Committee, the BJP secured seven seats through ward committee elections earlier this month, while AAP holds five. The current composition gives BJP nine seats and AAP eight. PM Modi Maharashtra Visit: Following heavy and incessant rainfall in parts of Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Pune on Thursday was cancelled. He was set to flag off the Metro train scheduled to run from the district court to Swargate in Pune. He was also scheduled to inaugurate, lay the foundation stone, and dedicate to the nation several projects worth over Rs 20,900 crore. Several parts of Maharashtra witnessed severe waterlogging due to heavy rains. The incessant downpour severely affected train, bus, and flight services in Mumbai and Pune. On Thursday, train and bus services were restored in the morning as the water receded in many parts. According to the Central Railways, all local trains are running normally. "On the main line, 3-4 minutes behind schedule because of rescheduled mail express movements and few cautions, Rest all normal," it added. The Western Railway suburban services were also restored on Thursday despite the heavy rains as the waters have receded at several stations. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heavy rainfall warnings for several areas in the state. The city administration has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in Mumbai following the IMD forecast. The Pune district administration has also declared a holiday for schools and colleges due to a heavy rainfall prediction in the city. The weather department has issued an orange alert for Pune. Reports indicated that some regions received over 100 mm of rain within just five hours, leading to severe waterlogging and traffic snarls. According to data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the island city recorded 87.79 mm of rainfall, while the eastern suburbs received 167.48 mm, and the western suburbs saw 95.57 mm between 5 PM and 10 PM. A landslide occurred at Mumbra by-pass road due to heavy rains, with rocks removed from the road. Fire Officer Swapnil Sarnobat reported that the landslide occurred around 9:30 PM due to the ongoing heavy rains, a recurring issue for this particular stretch during monsoon season. A heavy police force has been deployed around the Delhi's Eidgah Park as the work to relocate the statue of Rani Lakshmibai from the Rani Jhansi roundabout to the park commenced yesterday. The police force has been deployed following strong opposition from the local Muslim community. In light of the protests, the installation process began under heavy security, with police and paramilitary forces deployed on-site. Despite some ongoing protests, the police ensured that the work proceeded without disruption, with continuous monitoring by municipal officials, said reports. The High Court has not provided any relief to the protestors. As part of a larger initiative to make the stretch from Tis Hazari Court to Panchkuian Road signal-free, the municipal corporation built a flyover in 2018 over a 1.5 km stretch. This plan, approved by UTTIPEC in 2019 and passed by the municipal body in 2020, includes the removal of two major traffic signals at Eidgah and the Rani Jhansi roundabout. A boundary wall is being constructed in the DDA park, and a triangular platform is being built to house the relocated statue. KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday disbanded all patient welfare committees in state-run hospitals, and said their principals would head new panels along with representation of doctors, nurses and local councillors. Describing her meeting with principals of state-run medical colleges and hospitals as "positive", Banerjee also said a mobile application would be prepared to address issues and complaints of healthcare personnel across the state. "I have disbanded all the Rogi Kalyan Samitis'. The principals will now become the chairmen of the new samitis. The Medical Super and Vice President (MSVP) will be one of the members, along with a representative each from the doctors' fraternity or head of the departments (HoD), nurses as well as local councillors," she told reporters. The CM held a meeting with the MSVPs and principals of state-run hospitals to review the security measures in medical establishments. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, Health Secretary N S Nigam, senior police officers and district magistrates were also present in the meeting. "We have provided Rs 100 crore for additional washrooms, security, lights, CCTVs and purified water. I have asked the MSVPs not to leave it to the PWD (Public Works Department), but take up the responsibility themselves so that the project can be promptly completed," she said. Former DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha, who has been asked to conduct security audits of all medical colleges and hospitals, would also be in charge of preparing the mobile app, Banerjee said. The principals have been asked to introduce a biometric system and keep a note of the details of those working in the medical establishments. Many of those who work as security guards, and people engaged for cleaning purposes are unknown. I have asked the principals of state-run hospitals to take photographs of those working there, along with details of biometric cards and addresses," she said. Banerjee also said the measures cannot be implemented at the earliest, as these will have to be carried out with the existing force available. The CM also said the 'Rattirer Sathi' programme will be introduced after necessary amendments as per instructions of the Supreme Court. The top court had slammed the Mamata Banerjee government for its scheme to hire private security guards to protect women medical students, doctors and other healthcare staff in government hospitals under the Rattirer Sathi' scheme. Mumbai: The OG fashion queen made her jaw-dropping appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Sonam Kapoor who started the fashion trend in Bollywood and took it to another league was seen slaying at the Paris Fashion Week in her stunning black attire. Sonam never disappoints with her fashion steak and once again she has managed to grab eyeballs and how. Sonam Kapoor didn't walk the ramp, but she attended the Dior event show wearing their stunning summer collection of 2025. The actress went unnoticed as she didn't create any buzz about her appearance at the Paris Fashion Week, but a couple of days ago Sonam shared a post of her wearing a unique face mask along with her super classy outfit that showed she too was present at the Paris Fashion Week. Fans are mesmerised seeing Sonam Kapoor's appearance and called her the most gorgeous actress. And hailed her unique take on fashion and impressing all the time. Along with Sonam, Alia Bhatt and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also created a huge stir with their stunning appearances at the Paris Fashion Week. Indeed, our Bollywood beauties owned it and how. New Delhi: For over six decades, he strode jauntily across the screen - and into the hearts of legions of fans with his distinctive diction, nonchalant nod, and flamboyant fashion, but Dev Anand had another major contribution to Indian cinema than his stardom - pioneering its 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Look East' focus. It was in the 1950s that Indian filmmakers set their sights outside and Ashok Kumar-Nalini Jaywant's "Naaz" (1954) was the first to be shot abroad - in Cairo and London. Raj Kapoor's "Sangam" (1964) opened the floodgates and was followed by the likes of "Love in Tokyo" (1966), "An Evening in Paris" - which marked the start of Bollywood's Switzerland tryst, and "Around the World" (both 1967) and many others. However, Dev Anand, who would have turned 101 on this day (September 26), had his sight on equally picturesque, much closer, yet virtually untapped foreign locales - the Himalayan kingdoms on the country's eastern borders. When his younger brother and collaborator Vijay 'Goldie' Anand wanted to work on suspense thrillers, after the ambivalent response to their ambitious bilingual "Guide" (1965), Dev Anand suggested that he "should explore a new location as the backdrop, a region so far unexplored in Indian cinema". It was then, as Dev Anand recalled in his autobiography "Romancing With Life", that Sikkim came to his mind, as he had been entranced by its scenic locales when he had gone there on a daylong visit in the early 1960s while shooting in Darjeeling for "Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai" (1960). He had even espied then Chogyal, Tashi Namgyal holding court on a hill. Putting thought into action, both brothers visited Sikkim, where they called on Palden Thondup Namgyal, who had succeeded his father and would be the last Chogyal, and his American wife, as well the redoubtable (then) Major General Sagat Singh, whom Dev Anand threw "an army salute in my best 'Hum Dono' style. They were granted permission to shoot wherever they wanted, including in the areas marked 'Entry Not Allowed'. The filming, Dev Anand said was done in "a very disciplined manner". "The whole kingdom of Sikkim was all smiles and courtesies, and participated in the joy of our filming, like in a grand jamboree, for all the days we stayed there". The outcome was the taut and engrossing gems heist "Jewel Thief" (1967), with its unexpected twist and abundance of female glamour - Dev Anand has to contend with Vyjayantimala as well as Tanuja, Helen, Faryal, and Anju Mahendru. The next port of call was Nepal. Among the guests at the marriage of then Crown Prince Birendra in 1970, Dev Anand ran into a German documentary filmmaker he knew and both decided to go and see the hippies one night. Though they stayed a bit away on the latter's urging, Dev Anand saw something that piqued his interest - and this went on to become the plot of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" (1971). Meeting King Mahendra to take his leave, Dev Anand broached his idea to shoot a film in Nepal and the monarch was receptive. Not only did he freely grant permission, but invited the actor to stay back and work out his script, placing a royal guesthouse in Pokhara at his disposal. The shooting of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna", which made Zeenat Aman a star, was a mammoth affair but, as he recalled, wrapped up in 10 weeks, due to the exemplary hospitality of the Nepalese who were "agog with excitement" and the King's support. Not only in Kathmandu, the same enthusiasm was witnessed in communist-dominated Bhaktapur, rife with anti-Indian sentiments, but people came out in full force to participate in a song picturised on him and Mumtaz in its main square. While "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" was confined to the Kathmandu Valley, Dev Anand, who would befriend King Birendra and Prince Gyanendra too, was impressed by Nepal's mountains and their "wild natural beauty" and "mystical, ethereal quality" to return to shoot "Ishk Ishk Ishk" (1974) - marked by some stunning visuals of Mount Everest. Bhutan was another destination that Dev Anand, who attended the coronation of Jigme Singye Wangchuk in 1972, wanted to immortalise on screen - but never managed to. All three Himalayan locales would feature in many more Indian films, not just Bollywood, but it was Dev Anand who led the way. It was fitting for an actor and filmmaker known for going off far the beaten track, who discovered/gave a break to a host of film mainstays from Guru Dutt to Sahir Ludhianvi, Waheeda Rehman to Tabu, and Shatrughan Sinha to Jackie Shroff, and among many other impressive performances, essayed a long song as a religious hymn, and stole his elder brother's wallet and younger brother's girlfriend - in the same film! New Delhi: Scammers impersonating famous celebrities are nothing new. In a shocking case, Spanish police have arrested five individuals for defrauding two women out of 325,000 (over Rs 3 crore) by pretending to be Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The scammers reached out to the victims via emails and WhatsApp. They faked romantic interest and convinced them to invest in bogus projects. How did the scammers find and target their victims? The scammers initially connected with the women through a Brad Pitt fan page. They built a fake sense of trust and used emotional manipulation to execute their scheme. They carefully researched the victims online profiles, especially on social media to find and target those who seemed vulnerable. Targeting Vulnerable Individuals Spanish authorities disclosed that the scammers specifically targeted women going through emotional struggles and personal difficulties. The cybercriminals studied the victims' social media profiles and created psychological profiles, discovering that both women were vulnerable, lonely, and battling depression, Spain's Guardia Civil police told The Guardian. One victim from Andalusia was scammed out of 175,000 (around Rs 2 crore), while another victim from the Basque Country lost 150,000 (over Rs 1 crore). Zurich: Swiss police have arrested several people after a controversial futuristic-looking capsule designed to allow its occupant to commit suicide was used for the first time, authorities said on Tuesday. Police in the northern canton of Schaffhausen bordering Germany said the so-called "Sarco" capsule had been deployed in a wood in the municipality of Merishausen on Monday. Prosecutors in Schaffhausen have opened criminal proceedings against several people for "inducing and aiding and abetting suicide", a police statement said, adding several people were detained, without giving details about them or the deceased. A spokesperson for the group behind the capsule, The Last Resort, said the deceased was a 64-year-old American woman who had been suffering from a severely compromised immune system. Florian Willet, co-president of The Last Resort, was among the four detainees, along with a Dutch journalist and two Swiss people, the spokesperson said. Willet was the only other person present when the woman ended her life, the spokesperson said. In a statement issued by The Last Resort, Willet had described the death as "peaceful, fast and dignified." The Last Resort spokesperson said the woman had passed psychiatric evaluations prior to ending her life. A spokesperson for prosecutors in Schaffhausen declined to give details or confirm there were four detainees. Cast along sleek, aerodynamic lines, the "Sarco" causes death when its occupant releases nitrogen gas inside, lowering the amount of oxygen to lethal levels. It is the brainchild of Philip Nitschke, an Australian physician famous for his work on assisted suicide since the 1990s. Switzerland has been a magnet for advocates of assisted suicide due to laws that make it legal there, and The Last Resort says its legal advice was that it could be deployed. The capsule has generated considerable media attention and discussion among authorities on whether they would allow it. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, the Swiss minister responsible for health, said on Monday that the capsule does not meet the requirements of product safety law, and that its use of nitrogen is not legally compliant. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday survived a vote of no confidence in the first major test of his minority Liberal government whose popularity has waned after nine years in office. Following a heated debate that saw members of Parliament trade insults and slam their fists on desks, they voted 211 to 120 against the Conservative motion to unseat the Liberals and force snap elections. Trudeau's tenuous grip on power, however, is already set to face more challenges in the coming days and weeks, with the main opposition Conservatives vowing to try again to topple the government as early as Tuesday. Far ahead in public opinion polls, Tory leader Pierre Poilievre has been itching for a snap election since the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP) earlier this month tore up a coalition agreement with the Liberals, leaving the Trudeau administration vulnerable to being toppled. A combative Poilievre has railed against Trudeau for what he said was a failure to address soaring costs of living, a housing crisis and crime, while doubling the national debt. The promise of Canada, "after nine years of Liberal government, is broken," he said during a Commons debate on Tuesday. But other opposition parties, whose support is needed to topple the Liberals, have pushed back against his right-wing agenda. Liberal House leader Karina Gould accused the Tories of "playing games". "I think it's pretty lame that they're going to put forward another non-confidence vote tomorrow," she said. Immediately following the no-confidence vote, the NDP again sided with the Liberals to pass legislation on capital gains taxes, averting another political crisis. Poilievre has vowed to keep trying, with the next opportunity to bring down the government to be presented next week. If that fails, he will have a few more chances before the end of the year. The separatist Bloc Quebecois has also demanded concessions from the ruling Liberals for its continued support in Parliament beyond the end of October. Trudeau swept to power in 2015, and has managed to hold on by defeating two of Poilievre's predecessors in 2019 and 2021 ballots. The deal with the New Democratic Party to prop up the Liberals would have kept his government in office until late 2025. But the NDP, seeing its alignment with the Liberals hurting its own popularity, exited the deal early. According to a recent Angus Reid poll, the Conservatives are well ahead of the Liberals, with 43 per cent of voting intention against 21 per cent for the ruling party. The NDP is at 19 per cent. Going forward, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said his party would evaluate each bill in Parliament before deciding how to vote. Bloc leader Yves-Francois Blanchette said on Wednesday that he would seek to keep the government afloat until the end of October. But if there has been no movement on its legislative priorities by then, he said the Bloc would turn against the Liberals. In Canada's Westminster parliamentary system, a ruling party must hold the confidence of the House of Commons, which means maintaining support from a majority of members. The Liberals currently have 153 seats, versus 119 for the Conservatives, 33 for the Bloc Quebecois, and the NDP 25. Amid a flurry of diplomacy to end the Ukraine war, India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. EAM Jaishankar wrote on X after their meeting at the Russian Mission, "Discussed our bilateral cooperation and regional issues." On Tuesday evening, EAM Jaishankar had indicated that India is trying to see if it could involve the two countries in a peace effort. He said at the Asia Society, "We have been engaging both the Russian government and the Ukrainian government -- in Moscow and in Kyiv and in other places -- to see whether there is something we can do which would hasten the end of the conflict and initiate some kind of serious negotiation." He added that India was "sharing" with both countries the conversations it had with them and his sense was that "both sides appreciate it". New Delhi, which has historically had close diplomatic and strategic ties with Moscow, is forging an independent path open to the West giving it room to be a conduit between the two countries for peace diplomacy. In his Wednesday morning address to the General Assembly, Zelensky mentioned his meeting with PM Modi, and on Tuesday at the Security Council he said that he had invited India to a "second peace summit to end the war". At Monday's PM Modi's meeting with Zelensky, their second within a month, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that "the way forward on pursuing a path to peace" came up "prominently in their discussions". PM Modi reiterated "India's clear, consistent, and constructive approach" to resolving the conflict with Russia through diplomacy and dialogue," the Ministry said. When he visited Ukraine last month, PM Modi said, "Personally, as a friend, if there is any role that I can play, I would very much like to play that role toward peace." After his return home, PM Modi spoke via phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and he wrote on X that they "exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and my insights from the recent visit to Ukraine". India followed that up with a trip earlier this month by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to meet Putin and, according to reports, brief him on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Kyiv. In the month before his Ukraine trip, PM Modi had visited Moscow to meet Putin. While India, which is heavily dependent on Moscow for defence materials, continues to buy oil and petroleum products from Russia, an investigation by the news agency Reuters said that munitions made by Indian companies were finding their way to Ukraine through third countries in Europe. JERUSALEM/BEIRUT: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Thursday afternoon that it launched three missiles in a "targetted attack" on the commander of Hezbollah's drone unit in Beirut. The IDF did not provide further details on the strikes in Beirut. However, Lebanese TV channel al-Jadeed reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building near al-Qaem mosque in Dahieh, Beirut's southern suburbs, injuring at least three civilians. ELIMINATED: Commander of Hezbollahs Aerial Command, Muhammad Hussein Srour, in a precise IAF strike in Beirut. Srour advanced and directed numerous aerial terrorist attacks aimed at Israeli civilians. During the "Iron Swords" war, he executed several terrorist attacks pic.twitter.com/odPb5tCERx September 26, 2024 Also on Thursday, the IDF said its 7th Armored Brigade has concluded a military drill a few km away from the Lebanese border, simulating a ground operation in Lebanon. The drill trained the troops in "maneuvering and combat in thicketed, mountainous terrain," the IDF said in a statement, adding that the troops "enhanced their operational and logistical readiness for various combat scenarios in enemy territory on the northern front." The drill came a day after France proposed at a United Nations Security Council emergency meeting a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States "to allow for negotiations." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed the proposal. However, Israel denied earlier on Thursday that it had agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah or Lebanese political parties. On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. It resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon. Figures released by the Israeli military showed that it has attacked more than 2,000 locations in Lebanon since Monday, whereas Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Wednesday that Israel's bombardment had displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in, Xinhua news agency reported. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday asked his party's leadership to abandon all attempts at negotiating with the establishment, asserting that such talks only strengthen their adversaries. Khan said this during an informal chat with the media person in the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi where he has been imprisoned for more than a year and where he often interacts with media on the occasion of hearing of cases against him in the jail premises, reported The Express Tribune. There is no point in engaging with the establishment. The more we retreat, the more they crush us. This is not the institution's policy but that of the third umpire, Khan reportedly said. In response to questions about party leader Ali Amin Gandapur, Khan reaffirmed that all leadership, including Gandapur, had been instructed not to engage in talks with the establishment. Since Bajwa's era, they've told us not to talk about neutrality. The more we step back, the more they crush us. This is the policy of the third umpire, not the institution. Khan said that his opponents thought that he would break under the pressure of a hard life in jail but they were mistaken. They thought I'd crumble, that I wouldn't survive solitary confinement. I've spent 21 to 22 hours a day in isolation. In the summer, I sweat so much that my clothes deteriorate. They don't understand what sportsman training is like; we are conditioned to endure under pressure, he said. He once again targeted his opponents without naming anybody, but apparently his target was the army, the judiciary the election commission of Pakistan and those having leading roles in those institutions. When institutions and morality remain intact, a country survives. Here, however, the extension mafia' is destroying both for its own gain. The Gang of Three is ruining the nation's future and institutions for their extensions, he said. He once again talked about the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report that probed the fall of East Pakistan in 1971 and said that it was a lesson as to how one man's lust for power devastated Pakistan's democracy, resulting in the loss of East Pakistan. The Dhaka debacle cost us billions, shamed us globally, and saw 90,000 troops captured while 50,000 Pakistanis were killed. The commission's report was hidden away instead of being used as a learning tool, he said. The jailed leader also announced a protest in Rawalpindi on Saturday, rejecting the need for official permission to hold a rally. Our lawyers will also protest outside the Supreme Court tomorrow. It has been proven that [Chief Justice] Qazi Faez Isa is with them. He is one of their players, alongside Sikandar Sultan Raja, while the third umpire is their captain, controlling everything. Khan reiterated that Saturday's event in Rawalpindi would not be a rally but a protest, as he withdrew his application from the Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench. We know they won't grant permission, or if they do, it will be far from the city. So, we will hold a full-fledged protest instead, and our lawyers will be outside the Supreme Court as well. Regarding the Al-Qadir Trust case, Khan insisted that he had not gained financially. They've accused us of benefiting from a 190 million adjustment, but nothing was proven. The property tycoon donated the land to the trust, just as he has donated millions to Shaukat Khanum Hospital, which raises 10 billion rupees annually. Criticising Justice Isa further, Khan accused him of providing cover for the injustices against his party. It was Isa's job to protect fundamental rights, but he didn't even order a single judicial inquiry. People from my party have been in jail for 16 months without trial, including Mehmoodur Rasheed and Ijaz Chaudhry, despite their health conditions. Khan likened the current political climate to the situation in Palestine, claiming Western powers delay ceasefires to crush Palestinians. They want to crush us in the same way. Khan also called for the timely appointment of the next Chief Justice of Pakistan, urging that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, the senior-most judge, should be announced as the next Chief Justice. There are only 30 days left, and the Constitution mandates that the senior-most judge be appointed. They delayed the announcement, even though Isa's appointment was declared three months in advance. He criticised Justice Isa for failing to act when judges in the Islamabad High Court were threatened. Isa doesn't even pretend to be neutral, he said. A court in Saudi Arabia sentenced a retired teacher to 30 years' jail for criticising the government on social media, his brother said on Tuesday. This comes less than two months after his death sentence was overturned. The former teacher was identified as Mohammed al-Ghamdi. His death sentence highlighted what critics describe as heightened repression under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Gulf kingdom's de facto ruler. In an interview to Fox News that aired in September 2023, Prince Mohammed addressed the case, saying the government was "ashamed" over it and expressing hope the outcome could be changed. Ghamdi's death sentence was overturned on appeal in August. But the appeals court sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment on the same charges, his brother Saeed al-Ghamdi, an Islamic scholar who lives in Britain, told AFP. In July 2023, Mohammed al-Ghamdi had been sentenced to death by the Specialised Criminal Court, which was set up in 2008 to deal with terrorism-related cases. The former teacher, who is in his 50s, was arrested in June 2022. The case against him was at least partly built on posts criticising the government and expressing support for "prisoners of conscience" like the jailed religious clerics Salman al-Awda and Awad al-Qarni, his brother has previously said, according to AFP. After the legal troubles came to light last year, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights said his account on social media platform X had only nine followers. The charges he faced included conspiracy against the Saudi leadership, undermining state institutions, and supporting terrorist ideology, sources briefed AFP on the details said at the time. "This about-face in judgements testifies to the dramatic state of the kingdom's politicised judicial system," Saeed al-Ghamdi said on X. "My brother is not guilty to be arrested and tried in this way," he further stated. The Saudi authorities, however, could not immediately be reached for comment. Last month, Human Rights Watch and Saeed al-Ghamdi reported that another brother, 47-year-old Asaad al-Ghamdi, had been sentenced to 20 years over critical social media posts. There was no word on Tuesday on whether judges would also review Asaad al-Ghamdi's sentence. (With AFP Inputs) The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the Sacramento area of California was on Wednesday desecrated with anti-Hindu messages. This is the second such incident in the United States in less than 10 days. A similar act of vandalism took place at the BAPS Mandir in New York. The messages included phrases such as "Hindus go back." The messages prompted concerns among the local Hindu community, and in response, the community expressed their commitment to standing united against hate. "Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: "ndus go back!" We stand united against hate with prayers for peace," the BAPS Public Affairs said in a post in X. Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: Hindus go back! We stand united against hate with prayers for peace. BAPS Public Affairs (@BAPS_PubAffairs) September 25, 2024 According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, sheriff deputies responded to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather, near Rancho Cordova, where the graffiti was discovered. Deputies also said that vandals had also cut water lines at the property. Responding to the vandalism, Ami Bera, representing CA06 and Sacramento County in the US House of Representatives, posted on X, "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected." There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected. https://t.co/TRX3Q7XJ6t Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) September 25, 2024 The Hindu American Foundation, promoting human dignity, mutual respect, and pluralism, thanked Beri for raising the issue of hate crime targeting a Hindu temple. "Thank you @RepBera. This vandalism is an anti-Hindu hate crime targeting a Hindu temple with messages conflating Hindus with the Govt of India and telling Hindus to 'go home'," posted Hindu American Foundation on X. After the incident came to light, leaders of the Hindu community gathered at the temple in Sacramento for a prayer ceremony calling for "peace and unity". There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected. https://t.co/TRX3Q7XJ6t Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) September 25, 2024 Earlier, a similar incident of vandalism took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New York on September 17, 2024. The Consulate General of India in New York had also condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, labelling it "unacceptable." Several US lawmakers also condemned the desecration of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in New York's demanded accountability from the authorities. Congressmen also raised concerns about repeated incidents of hate and violence in the country. Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar strongly condemned the "hideous act" and stressed that such acts of "vandalism, bigotry, and hate" must be fully investigated. KEARNEY You dont want any weak moments, Nicholas Mason, founding director of the Manhattan Short Film Festival, said from his office in New York City while speaking about the movies that make up the annual festival. Weak moments could even be something as small as bad sound quality. You want a film that can completely hold the attention of the audience from the second it starts until it finishes. The 27th annual festival features 10 short films, showing at The World Theatre, Friday through Sunday. Audience members will have a chance to vote on their favorite films. Tickets for the festival are $8. I see a lot of films that we get, and there are a thousand reasons that they didnt work all the way through, Mason said. It could have been bad editing or a lack of funds or it could have been anything. If I, for one second, dont believe a line of an actor, that he is really committed when he says that line, that film wont get in. So we look for films that will hold your attention. This years films include a story about a pathological liar who wakes up one day to discover her lies have become true. In another film, a homeless man moves in with a blind woman who doesnt know hes there. In the film The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent, director Nebojsa Slijepcevic tells a story set in 1993 in Bosnia and Herzegovina about paramilitary forces in an ethnic cleansing operation on a train. Based on a true situation, as they haul off innocent civilians, only one man out of 500 passengers dares to stand up to them. Its an amazing true story, Mason said. I was amazed when I saw that film, that no one had heard about this man and how brave he was. I think true stories always make great films. Mason said the judges sift through about 800 films to find the 10 finalists in the festival. Because the audience gets to vote for the winner, they get to, in a way, program the festival themselves, Mason said. The finalists in the Manhattan Short Film Festival will be shown in about 500 theaters around the world, viewed by 100,000 people. Ballots for voting will be handed out during the showings at the World Theatre. When it comes to programming the festival, Mason strives to create a viewing experience that flows seamlessly. Weve got to balance it out, he said. Every film needs to complement the film after it. We might have a very intense film followed by a dark comedy. Mason often hears from the managers of the theaters that present the festival. For the venues that run the festival, they know the gig and they say, This is our favorite time of the year, he said. Thats pretty interesting because they are showing films 12 months of the year. Its the energy of those venues that help make the Manhattan Short Film Festival so special. The feedback we get from the audiences are the people we listen to. As with most productions, Mason believes that having a knowledge of his audience helps to make for a better festival. Know your audience, he said. Its just interesting because theres the format, we get the feedback from the audience and now we deliver the films. On September 25, 2024, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, during the high-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Azernews reports. The meeting addressed various areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and UN institutions, including issues related to the protection of human rights and the current situation in the region during the post-conflict period. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized Azerbaijan's consistent support for an effective UN system, including the country's commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, multilateralism, and extensive cooperation with UN bodies. The existing collaboration between Azerbaijan and the UN in various fields, including the protection of human rights, was noted with satisfaction. It was highlighted that the relevant activities of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the measures aimed at enhancing the potential of states in this area are significant. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov pointed out that Azerbaijan, fully committed to the fundamental principles of human rights, continuously contributes to strengthening the international human rights system and promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue, achieving substantial progress in this area. Detailed information was provided to the counterpart about the current situation and realities in the region during the post-conflict period, the large-scale restoration and reconstruction efforts being carried out by our country after the full assurance of Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty, measures to combat the threat of mines, and the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It was also recalled that our country will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) this year, and information was shared about the work being done in this regard. The meeting also included an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest. (Image: Seoul City Government) Namsangol Hanok Village, located at 28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, will hold the Wedding Feast: Autumn Edition on September 29 at 3 p.m. This special event allows citizens to experience a traditional wedding reenactment, offering a rare chance to witness a ceremony that is not commonly accessible. Running from March to November, the village typically hosts traditional weddings every weekend, although these ceremonies are private. To provide a public viewing, the Wedding Feast event is held twice a year in spring and autumn, allowing citizens to experience the beauty and significance of traditional Korean weddings. The reenactment, held in the courtyard of the over 100-year-old Min Family House in Gwanhundong, follows the exact etiquette of noble families. The ceremony, which lasts approximately 40 minutes, includes rituals such as: Jeonanrye presentation of a goose to the brides mother, Gyobaerye the couples ceremonial bow, Seocheonji-rye vows to live faithfully as a couple, Seobaewoo-rye vows to be good spouses, Geumbae-rye sharing of wine between the bride and groom. Lively traditional music and expert commentary will accompany the event, making it a more immersive experience for attendees. Additionally, this years event will feature special roles, such as the Chorongdongi, who lights the grooms path with a lantern, and the Gireokabeom, who carries a goose for the grooms entrance, both selected through an open recruitment process, allowing citizens to actively participate in the ceremony. The event is open to all visitors without prior reservation or admission fees. The remains of U.S. Army Pvt. Robert L. Skaar, a soldier killed during World War II, will be interred Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Woodland Cemetery, La Crosse. Dickinson Family Funeral Home will perform graveside services preceding the interment. A native of La Crosse, Skaar was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action March 10, 1945, at age 18, while his unit was on patrol near Wildenguth, France. Skaar was accounted for June 7 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency after his remains were exhumed in August 2022 from Ardennes American Cemetery Neupre, Belgium, for laboratory analysis and identification. The Past Conflict Repatriations Branch, under the Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Division at the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, plays a key role in the process of locating family members of missing soldiers from WWII and the Korean and Vietnam wars. The process begins by locating the most closely-related family member, known as the primary next of kin, followed by a request for reference samples or DNA, which are used as a main source in identifying remains. Once a soldier has been identified by the Armed Forces medical examiner, the team notifies the family about the results of historical, forensic and DNA reports, benefits and the mortuary process, including a burial with full military honors. On September 25, 2024, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Azernews reports. The meeting included discussions on bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Finland, including matters arising from Finland's 2025 OSCE chairmanship and regional issues. It was noted that the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change could create additional opportunities for collaboration. The counterpart was provided with detailed information about the current situation and realities in the region during the post-conflict period, as well as the progress of the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It was emphasised that ongoing territorial claims against Azerbaijan in Armenian legislation and the rapid militarisation of Armenia are key factors threatening the process of sustainable peacebuilding in the region. The meeting also included an exchange of views on other bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. On 25 September Mexicos President-electreleased a statement explaining why she had not invited Kingof Spain to her inauguration, a decision which has fuelled tensions between the two nations. End of preview - This article contains approximately 400 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 September Chiles former interior minister(2012-2014, 2018-2019) resigned as head of the board of directors of the Universidad San Sebastian (USS), a private university, amid questions of his involvement in a major corruption scandal. End of preview - This article contains approximately 403 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Scientists say they have found the largest jets of energy ever observed shooting out of a black hole in a distant galaxy. The jets extend 23 million light years from end to end. That is about 140 times the width of our Milky Way Galaxy. The galaxy responsible is estimated to be 7.5 billion light years from Earth. The scientists observed the structures using the Low-Frequency Array, or LOFAR, radio telescope network centered in the Netherlands. Violent, highly energetic events around a black hole in the galaxy are the cause of the jets. A black hole is often the remains of a super-massive star that collapses. It is so massive that even light cannot escape its powerful gravity. Researchers have named the energy jets Porphyrion after a giant in ancient Greek mythology. Porphyrion is 30 percent longer than any other known energy jet. Martijn Oei of Caltech is an astrophysicist and lead writer of the study published in Nature. Oei said, Jet systems like Porphyrion appear to be among the most energetic spectacles that have occurred in the universe since the Big Bang. The Big Bang is the event that scientists say marked the beginning of the universe. Astrophysicist Martin Hardcastle of the University of Hertfordshire in English was also a writer of the study. He explained how scientists believe the jets formed. The general understanding is that jets are formed when magnetized material falls onto a rotating black hole, he said. He said the jets need to be sustained by a continued infall of matter into the black hole, something on the order of one solar mass (the mass of the sun) a year of material. However, although they are huge, the jets cannot be seen in visible light. Scientists used radio telescopes to find them. They start small and grow over time, the scientists say. Weve known for a while that black holes can generate these jets. But what is interesting is that to generate a large structure like this, the jets must stay on for a long time about a billion years, Hardcastle said. The Porphyrion jets reach far beyond their home galaxy. Their total output of energy is equal to trillions of stars like the sun. Oei said that amount of energy is similar to when two clusters of galaxies crash into one another, each containing thousands of galaxies. Hardcastle said the discovery could increase knowledge of magnetic fields in the universe. He said: The fact that it extends so far from its parent black hole means that it may be carrying energy, particles and magnetic fields into the voids in the cosmic web Such jets also could heat up gas in interstellar space, suppressing the formation of new stars or could damage planets that could hold life, the researchers said. Scientists say our Milky Way Galaxy has a black hole at its center, but it does not have a jet, and it is not active. However, the researchers noted that the most important finding of the study might be that black holes can create some of the largest structures in the universe. This means that individual black holes can have a sphere of influence that extends way beyond the galaxy in which they reside, Oei added. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Will Dunham reported this story for Reuters news agency. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________ Words in This Story jet n. a forceful rush of liquid, gas, or vapor especially through a narrow opening mythology n. ancient stories of a culture which are often the source of names in astronomy and other sciences astrophysicist n. a scientist who studies stars and their physical and chemical qualities spectacle n. something that is seen that creates wonder and amazement rotate v. to turn (around an axis or center) generate v. to create electromagnetic, electric or heat energy cluster n. a number of related objects that form a group and which influence each other in some ways void n. emptiness reside v. to be in, on or at a place We want to hear from you. Our comment policy is here. A helicopter crash near Road 755 and the Platte River in Dawson County on Wednesday evening caused a temporary power outage and closed a section of Interstate 80. The helicopter, which was spraying herbicide on the Platte River for vegetation control, struck power lines owned by Dawson Public Power about 6:05 p.m. The helicopter came down in an area of trees and grass several feet south of Road 755. The road was blocked to the public after the crash to give the Lexington Volunteer Fire Departments UTV room to safely transport the injured pilot from the crash site to the roadway. From there, the individual was transferred to an ambulance. The pilot, whose name has not yet been released, was transported to Lexington Regional Health Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Emergency services, including Dawson County Sheriffs Office, Lexington Fire and Rescue and the Nebraska State Patrol, responded to the scene, according to a press release from the sheriffs office. Lexington Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol provided traffic control. The collision caused power lines to fall across Interstate 80, prompting its closure between mile markers 222 and 237 in both directions. Dawson Public Power worked to remove the lines and restore electricity to the area. Vehicles traveling on Highway 30 that attempted to turn onto Road 428 and drive south of the accident were redirected to continue eastward through Lexington. The helicopter involved in the crash was owned by Provine Helicopters, based in Greenwood, Mississippi. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified, and investigations of the cause of the crash are ongoing, according to the sheriffs office. The U.S. House voted, 215-191, on Friday, Sept. 20, to roll back an Environmental Protection Agency rule strengthening standards for air pollution from car and truck tailpipes. Eight Democrats joined all but one Republican present in voting to approve a resolution under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to undo certain executive branch rules, to disapprove of the rule that was announced in March. The rule would set up a multiyear schedule to lower the limit on greenhouse gas emissions by passenger vehicles by nearly half by 2032. Democrats Yadira Caraveo of Colorado, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Mary Peltola of Alaska and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington voted for the resolution. Pennsylvania Republican Brian Fitzpatrick was the lone GOP member to vote against the resolution. President Joe Biden has pledged to veto the resolution if it reaches his desk. The rule sets performance-based standards that manufacturers can meet using a wide range of technologies and avoids over seven billion metric tons of carbon emissions while significantly reducing other pollutants, the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement of administration policy. These standards will provide important health benefits to millions across the country. Force-fed EVs Republicans on the House floor Friday argued the rule was a mandate for U.S. consumers to buy electric vehicles, often called EVs, which they said were still riddled with reliability issues, especially for rural drivers and drivers in colder climates. Americans are being force-fed EVs and theyre being force-fed a lie saying that driving EVs is going to save the planet, House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican, said. Democrats, who largely favor the rule, described the regulation as a common-sense measure to reduce pollutants that cause climate change and health issues such as asthma. The rule does not mandate electric vehicles, House Energy and Commerce ranking Democrat Frank Pallone of New Jersey said. Were not mandating EVs, were not forcing anybody to use EVs. Im going to say that over and over again, Pallone said. What we are doing is trying to reduce air pollution and this resolution is a step backwards in addressing dangerous air pollution. The resolutions sponsor, Michigans Rep. John James, was among the Republicans making an economic argument about the EPA rule, saying it would drive costs of vehicles higher than many Americans can afford. I think about every hardworking American whom Washington has forgotten when we talk about making vehicles that are affordable and making a nation that is competitive, he said. Saving money Colorado Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette countered that argument, saying the standards would save the average American driver an estimated $6,000 over the life of a vehicle. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem to think this is bad for consumers when in fact its good, she said. The transportation sector is the single largest contributor to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPAs rule. The sector accounts for 29% of emissions, with the light-duty vehicles covered by the rule comprising 58% of those emissions. Chef and MasterChef judge Volodymyr Yaroslavskyi told us how to make Philadelphia cream cheese at home. ADVERTISIMENT He posted a detailed recipe on his Instagram page, as well as some professional tips. According to Volodymyr Yaroslavskyi, this cheese tastes no different from store-bought cheese. It can be prepared either pure or with various additives: olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest, as well as various aromatic herbs, such as thyme, sage, tarragon, basil, and others. You will need: Greek yogurt 10% - 350 g sour cream 20% - 270 g salt - 5 g cheesecloth, sieve, bowl How to prepare: Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Fold the cheesecloth 4 times, and put it in a sieve. Put the sieve in a bowl this is necessary so that the whey can drain there. Put the yogurt-sour cream mixture on the cheesecloth. Gently close the cheesecloth, slightly folding the edges. Put in the refrigerator under the film and a small press. After 12-18 hours, the curd will be ready. An important point: sour cream should be thermostatic and at least 20% fat; it is better to take non-acidic yogurt; you can make pancakes or dumplings from the leftover whey; if you want a more delicate taste of the curd, add 100 ml of cream of 33% fat content. ADVERTISIMENT The shelf life of cream cheese is 5 days in the refrigerator. Then the cheese will become more acidic. The issue of landmines in Azerbaijan and NATO's financial and technical support for its resolution were discussed at a meeting of the Alliance's Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), Azernews reports. A delegation led by ANAMA Deputy Chairman Samir Poladov participated in a session of the EAPC Partnership and Cooperative Security Committees "Ad hoc" Working Group on Small Arms, Light Weapons, and Mine Action. The meeting was attended by representatives from NATO member and partner states, as well as officials from relevant NATO structures. During the meeting, discussions focused on the landmine problem faced by Azerbaijan, the efforts undertaken to address it, support from various states and international organizations, the importance of knowledge exchange, and prospects for future cooperation. In this regard, the urgency of establishing the Qarvand Trust Fund to expedite the clearance of 400 hectares of mined land in Qarvand village of the Aghdam district was emphasized. ANAMA's delegation delivered an extensive presentation on the scale of the landmine threat in Azerbaijan, the challenges encountered, and the measures taken to address the issue. The presentation highlighted that since November 2020, 379 Azerbaijanis have been killed or injured by landmine explosions. It also detailed how landmines significantly delay the return of displaced persons to their homes and hinder reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in those areas. Furthermore, the presentation explained the humanitarian, economic, and environmental consequences of landmines in detail. Additionally, information was provided on the advanced technologies ANAMA uses to address the landmine problem, particularly mechanical demining tools and new approaches implemented in the field. At the same time, a photo exhibition was organized during the meeting, depicting the scope of the landmine issue in Azerbaijan and the humanitarian demining process in liberated territories. During the visit, ANAMA's delegation held bilateral meetings with NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations B. San and NATO's Director of the Arms Control, Disarmament, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation (ADN) Division, E. Lemos-Maniati. These meetings focused on NATO's experience in resolving mine-related issues and the financial and technical support provided by the Alliance to Azerbaijan. Additionally, ANAMA and NATO representatives visited Luxembourg, where NATO's Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is located. Discussions during the visit centered on the exchange of experiences in mine clearance, the study of modern technologies, and the implementation of new methods. Macau will launch a trial operation of its digital currency, dubbed e-MOP, for select users and entities by the end of 2025, following a public showcase of the prototype by the end of this year, said the Bank of China Macau Branch (BOC Macau), the operational entity for the initial phase. The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) has disclosed the e-MOP prototype with basic functions will be publicly demonstrated by years end. Jia Tianbing, general manager of BOC Macau, emphasized the banks full commitment to developing the prototype system to align with the authorities plan for the public demonstration. AMCM president Chan Sau San said the central bank digital currency will undergo testing and deployment across three phases before an official launch, with BOC Macau as the initial operator. Jia emphasized the importance of developing the local CBDC noting, digital finance represents a global trend as mainland China and Hong Kong also work on their own digital currencies, as cited in local media reports. The rollout of e-MOP can seamlessly integrate Macau into the economic and social development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area without impediments, he said. Hong Kong initiated its e-HKD project in June 2021 to assess the viability of introducing an e-HKD for individual and corporate use. The evolution of the digital economy is the global trajectory of development, Jia added. China has been trialing digital RMB since 2020, with features dedicated to a digital RMB wallet and mobile applications. The executive stressed e-MOPs key difference, noting that, Children under 12 cannot open bank accounts, the elderly are less acquainted with mobile payments, and tourists lack local bank accounts. These groups encounter distinct obstacles hindering their use of mobile payments, impacting daily routines and experiences, he said. In contrast, e-MOP, as legal tender, is tailored to cater to citizens of all age groups and will especially benefit the young, elderly and tourists, facilitating seamless use of e-MOP for day-to-day transactions and payments. The Legal System for Currency Issuance was revised last year to affirm CBDC as legal tender. Chan disclosed plans for two types of e-MOP wallets a dedicated mobile app wallet and a hard wallet like smart devices and stored value cards. As one of two banknote issuing banks in Macau with parent Bank of Chinas involvement in Chinas digital RMB, the BOC Macau is well-positioned to aid in e-MOP research and development, said Jia. He cited enabling over 40,000 merchants to accept digital and physical digital RMB wallets during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, indicating a potentially similar scenario could unfold in Macaus tourism-driven economy and future. The launch of the Digital Macau Dollar, as denoted by Jia, resonates with Macaus strategic importance as the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, marking a significant step towards financial diversification and technological progress. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Macaus return to the motherland in 2024, the launch of the e-MOP is considered a manifestation of financial assistance to Macaus diversification. Mobile payment transactions in Macau surged to 300 million in 2023, with a transaction value of MOP28.1 billion dollars, marking a remarkable increase compared to pre-COVID levels in 2019. Following the start of the trial operation, Jia said, We will progressively broaden the scope of the e-MOP application and enhance the systems functionality, thereby supporting local economic development and showcasing tangible financial service accomplishments to the public. He said the e-MOP is not associated with bank accounts, which will expand the scenarios and groups eligible for mobile payments, making it more convenient and popular. Victoria Chan Wynn Resorts announced this week it will host the 2024 Wynn Local SME Procurement Partnership Meeting at its exhibition booth O37 during the 29th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair from Oct. 16 to 19. This event aims to strengthen ties with local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through collaboration and shared business opportunities. Wynn hopes to expand collaborations with both new and existing local suppliers, helping them thrive while creating more business opportunities, the press release said. Related Outnumbered but still numerous: Dane County Republicans hope to swing the vote "There are so many Republicans here, you dont have to be afraid to be one, said Brandon Maly, chair of the Republican Party of Dane County. The Madison city clerks office on Thursday clarified that barcodes appear on absentee ballot envelopes, not the ballots themselves, after a Republican member of Congress assailed the citys explanation for why thousands of duplicate ballots sent out by mistake couldnt be counted twice. Although the Madison Clerks Office claims, The voting system does not allow a ballot with the same barcode to be submitted, my office has proof that there is no barcode on the actual ballots, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, posted Wednesday on X alongside a photo of an absentee ballot. Here is a picture of the absentee ballots NO BARCODE. DEVELOPING: Although the Madison Clerks Office claims, The voting system does not allow a ballot with the same barcode to be submitted, my office has proof that there is no barcode on the actual ballots. Here is a picture of the absentee ballots NO BARCODE. pic.twitter.com/1ZepAFW5RK Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) September 25, 2024 Tiffany, a strong supporter of Donald Trump whose northern Wisconsin district does not include Madison, also called for an independent investigation of the matter. By Thursday morning his post had more than 1.6 million views. Although its not yet clear why the 2,215 sets of duplicate ballots were mailed to voters who had requested absentee ballots, the clerks office on Monday sought to downplay the error by noting that the duplicate ballots have identical barcodes. In the unlikely event that a voter submits two absentee ballots, only one can be counted, Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behls office said in a statement. Once that barcode is scanned, the voting system does not allow a ballot with the same barcode to be submitted. But after Tiffany seized on that explanation and pointed out that the ballots dont have barcodes on them, the clerks office updated its statement online to clarify that its the ballot envelopes that carry the barcode. Because theyre confidential, ballots themselves do not have barcodes. Madison city spokesperson Dylan Brogan said Thursday that he altered the wording of the statement before Tiffany questioned it by parsing apart sentences. The city routinely updates its website to provide as much clarity as possible, Brogan said. He called the mailing of the duplicate absentee ballots a simple mistake that we immediately rectified and it will have no impact on the election. There are safeguards in place, Brogan said. The system worked. The duplicate ballots were sent to wards 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15. Immediately after being alerted to the error, the clerks office started contacting affected voters individually and said nearly all have already been contacted, Brogan said. Voters who received two ballots were asked to destroy the duplicate ballot. Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore rebuked Tiffany for his social media post, telling him to knock it off. This is misinformation, she posted on X. You and I both have voted with absentee ballots in Wisconsin. You just did in the Aug 13 primary, and in 4 of the last 5 elections. We owe it to the people of Wisconsin to not spread falsehoods about election security. In her response to Tiffany, Witzel-Behl said no duplicate ballots have been returned. Once a ballot is received and the envelope barcode is scanned, if a second ballot is returned it will not be counted, she said. I would simply note that elections are conducted by humans and occasionally human error occurs, she wrote to Tiffany. When errors occur, we own up to them, correct them as soon as possible, and are transparent about them precisely as we have done here. The dustup in battleground Wisconsin comes as there is intense scrutiny over how elections are run, particularly in swing states that are likely to decide the winner of the presidential election. Trump lost Wisconsin in 2020. Nearly four years later, conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election and false claims of widespread fraud persist. Trump continues to insist, despite no evidence of widespread fraud, that he won that election as he seeks a return to the White House. President Joe Bidens win over Trump in Wisconsin survived two recounts ordered by Trump, including one in Dane County, an independent audit, a review by a Republican law firm and numerous lawsuits. President Donald Trump says that if he loses his bid to return to the White House in 2024, he thinks he won't try again in 2028. The Days of Azerbaijani Culture in Kazakhstan continue with interesting concerts, events, and presentations, Azernews reports. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the National Libraries of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The document was signed by the director of the Azerbaijan National Library, Honored Cultural Worker, and Professor Karim Tahirov, and the director of the Kazakhstan National Academic Library Gaziza Nurqalieva. After the signing ceremony, the opening of the Azerbaijani Literature Corner at Kazakhstan National Academic Library took place. Initially, the directors Karim Tahirov and Gaziza Nurqalieva cut the symbolic ribbon to announce the opening of the corner. In his speech, Karim Tahirov provided information about the Azerbaijani Literature Corner. He noted that the corner presents publications related to Azerbaijan's current successes, including the glorious victory of the Azerbaijani Army in the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev as well as books on the country's contemporary development, history, culture, and literature. A total of over 250 books are displayed in the permanent corner. Karim Tahirov mentioned that the Kazakh Literature Corner was inaugurated at the Azerbaijan National Library in 2019, with the participation of Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva. Gaziza Nurqalieva stated that the Kazakhstan National Academic Library has been cooperating with the Azerbaijan National Library since 2003. She expressed hope that cooperation between the two libraries would continue to develop further. Other speakers emphasized the importance of expanding the relationship between the two libraries and regarded the opening of the Azerbaijani Literature Corner in the Kazakh library as a significant event. Later, the Secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, Ilqar Fahmi, and poet and essayist Farid Huseyn were presented with honorary membership certificates from the Kazakhstan Writers' Union. At the end of the event, participants tasted dishes from the national cuisine and familiarized themselves with the publications featured in the Azerbaijani Literature Corner. Notably, the Azerbaijan National Library is a treasure trove of knowledge for bookworms. With over 5 million books, manuscripts, and maps, the Azerbaijan National Library is considered one of the largest libraries in the Caucasus region. Since 1939, the library has borne the name of the eminent playwright Mirza Fatali Akhundov. The library has an extensive collection of literature in Azerbaijani, Russian, English, and other languages. It has collected and preserved national editions, works of Azerbaijani and foreign authors about Azerbaijan published abroad. The National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, visited the National Library four times in 1995-1997 and donated nearly 300 books from his personal library. In 2004, the Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library was granted the status of a national library by the decision of Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers. The building of the library is no less impressive. The library's fa?ade is decorated with the statues of eminent poets and writers like Nizami Ganjavi, Mahsati Ganjavi, Uzeyir Hajibayli, Shota Rustaveli, Alexander Pushkin and many others. The scope of the library's activities is constantly expanding. In 2005, on the basis of legal copies received from publishing houses and printing companies, the library published the yearbook "Books of Azerbaijan" for 1990, 1991, 2000, and 2001. Over the past years, the National Library has signed a memorandum on bilateral mutual cooperation with about 80 libraries. In 2021, the Culture Ministry and Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library launched a joint campaign, "Let's go to Garabagh with a book", to restore libraries in the Garabagh region. A large number of books were donated to the Garabagh Book Fund by a number of international organizations working in the field of culture, Turkic-speaking countries, famous foreign and local authors, publishers, and print houses. Since 1992, the Kazakhstan National Academic Library has been a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the Conference of Directors of National Libraries (CDNL). Morevoer, it has been part of the Non-Profit Partnership "Library Assembly of Eurasia" (BAE) since 1993. In 2002, the library took the lead in the Kazakhstan National Committee for the UNESCO program "Memory of the World," which aims to preserve documentary heritage. Furthermore, in 2008, it became the regional center for the IFLA PAC (Preservation and Conservation) core program, which focuses on the preservation of library materials and ensuring their accessibility for future generations. As of now, the collection of the Kazakhstan National Academic Library boasts approximately 7 million books. JEROME Federal and state law enforcement agencies have taken down a large-scale drug-trafficking operation in the Magic Valley, Gov. Brad Little announced Wednesday. A grand jury has indicted 10 local defendants on federal drug charges, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit told reporters at a press conference at Idaho State Police headquarters in Jerome. Charged with felony drug-trafficking crime are the following: Luis Enrique Gonzalez, 40, of Jerome Oscar Alejandro Perez-Gomez, 32, of Jerome Patrick Delacruz, 40, of Jerome Leonardo Espinoza-Romero, 31, of Jerome Jesus Arturo Torres-Herrera, 36. of Twin Falls Raquel May, 28, of Twin Falls Robert Troglia, 52, of Jerome Liliana Morales-Caliz, 34, of Jerome David Thomas, 47, of Jerome Artemio Morgan Hurtado Jr., 34, of Shoshone Police say defendants possessed and distributed large quantities of methamphetamine throughout the Magic Valley. Nine other defendants have been charged in Jerome and Twin Falls counties with drug offenses for their actions connected to the conspiracy, said Hurwit with the Idaho district of the U.S Attorneys office. Investigators with the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force seized more than 30 pounds of methamphetamine, or about 30,000 doses of meth, Hurwit said. Several of the defendants traveled to Arizona, California and Mexico to obtain the meth, according to the indictments. Federal drug distribution charges carry mandatory minimum prison sentences. Maximum prison sentences range from up to 20 years to life in federal prison. Every law enforcement agency in the Magic Valley contributed to the investigation, Hurwit said. What you see here today ... , he said, is a partnership that extends beyond any jurisdictional lines federal, state and local agencies that have come together in the pursuit of the same goal, to rid our communities of drugs and drug traffickers. There are no turf wars in Idaho law enforcement, Hurwit continued, voicing a sentiment that echoed through speeches that followed. There is only teamwork and collaboration to figure out the best ways to accomplish our mission keeping all Idahoans safe. Such significant drug investigations can start with something as simple as a traffic stop, ISP Col. Bill Gardiner said during the press conference. Then, some cases tend to grow legs. They tend to get a little bit bigger. They move outside the city limits; they move into other counties. In this case, it moved into multiple states. New Idaho State Police leader draws inspiration from early law enforcement visits Bill Gardiner vividly recalls the days when officers and deputies from the Burley Police Department and Cassia County Sheriffs Office would visit his classroom. Gardiner, who last month replaced retiring Col. Kedrick Wills as ISP director, introduced Little, saying the governor embraces the collaborative effort of the task force. We want to do all we can to send a message to the various parties that Idaho is not the place you want to do this, Little said. Then we want to work seamlessly across all agencies. Idaho proudly backs all the blue everybody in law enforcement whether theyre in the federal level, or state level, or whether its the local level. And thats why we want to continue to make Idaho the safest state in the union to raise a family, Little added. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday said that the Philippines requires a comprehensive missile defense system to fully protect its territory under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC). Not only the Typhon but also other missile systems kasi kailangan natin ng (because we need) comprehensive air defense and maritime defense systems, he said. - Advertisement - When asked about plans to acquire versions of the U.S.-made Medium Range Capability Typhon Missile System as part of the ongoing AFP modernization program, Brawner noted that the withdrawal or continued presence of the weapon will depend on the Philippines-U.S. Mutual Defense Board-Security Board. The Typhon Missile System, capable of firing Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and Standard Missile-6, has a range exceeding 1,000 miles. It is currently deployed in northern Luzon as part of the Salaknib exercises between Filipino and American units. The CADC aims to address threats to Philippine territorial integrity and sovereign rights, calling for more aircraft, ships, and various missile systems to be effective. Once these assets are acquired and operational, Brawner stated they would form an integrated defense. Six Filipino seafarers were acquitted of drug smuggling charges in Turkey and are expected to return to the Philippines by the end of the month, Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo announced on Thursday. The seafarers, who were arrested in October 2023 aboard the Phoenician M in Zonguldak, were cleared of all charges by the Court of Erigle on 16 September 2024. Salo commended the relentless efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Turkey, which played instrumental roles in securing the acquittal of the seafarers. - Advertisement - He said the Embassy worked closely with Phoenician Ms legal team and hired private lawyers to defend the sea-based Filipino workers. Ambassador Henry Bensurto and the Embassy team attended all court hearings, which took place in Erigle, a four-hour drive from Ankara, and regularly visited the seafarers at Sincan Penitentiary, Salo said in a statement. They also kept the seafarers families in the Philippines informed throughout the legal process, providing updates on the progress of the case and the condition of their loved ones. The seafarersEddie Abello, Pather John Bobiles, Junil Dalumpines, Danvis Ruales, John Sulima, and Ariel Carmelo Vargaswere aboard the Phoenician M when Turkish authorities arrested them under allegations of drug smuggling. However, after months of legal proceedings and strong advocacy by the Philippine government and the Embassy in Turkey, the court ruled in their favor, clearing them of all charges. These seafarers have endured a grueling and emotional ordeal, said Salo. I am very happy that they will finally be going home to be with their families and loved ones after going through such a harrowing and painful experience. Their strength and resilience are truly admirable, he added. Salo also recognized the role of the families of the seafarers, acknowledging how difficult it must have been for them to be separated from their loved ones while facing the uncertainty of the resolution of the case. The seafarers families have been strong pillars throughout this difficult ordeal, standing by their loved ones despite the challenges. Rest assured that your loved ones will be coming home safe and sound, Salo stated. Amihan season could not come sooner in the Philippines, where hot-headed politicians have come to the boil over the past week. Exhibit A is the Manila City Council, which approved the citys proposed P25-billion annual budget for the coming fiscal year but only after several city lawmakers nearly exchanged blows. - Advertisement - During the councils Tuesday regular session, 4th District Councilor Joel Villanueva, a political rival of the current Manila City administration under Mayor Honey Lacuna, raised a question about why the citys annual budget was suddenly included in the sessions agenda without going through budget and committee hearings. There have been no hearings where department heads face the councilors to answer questions like what they do in Congress, Villaneuva said in an interview over ABS-CBN news. Shouting and shoving started after 6th District Councilor Salvador Philip Lacuna, brother of the Mayor, confronted Villanueva. 6th District Councilor Benny Fog Abante was reportedly seen pushing someone during the confrontation, but Villanueva defended the former, saying that he was only trying to keep things from turning violent. Another opposition councilor, Luis Uy, reportedly exchanged words during the confrontation, which ignited heated debates with other city councilors. House ouster Meanwhile, SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta was stripped of his membership from five juicy House committees. During the Wednesday night plenary session, the Lower Chamber, presided by Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco of Cebu, announced Marcoletas ouster from several committees as a member. Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo City Rep. Jam Baronda stood in plenary to nominate Manila Teachers party-list Rep. Virginia Lacson to the Commission on Appointments (CA) and the Committees on Energy, Justice, Public Accounts, and Constitutional Amendments. Baronda said that Lacson would be entering these committees vice Marcoleta, in other words, to take over the lawmakers spot in the said panels. Marcoleta was also removed as Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability barely a week ago. Marcoleta is one of the few legislators who defended Vice President Sara Duterte during the recently concluded deliberations on the P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2025. He has yet to respond to the medias request for comments on the issue. Mic drop The above ouster is neither the first nor the last scuffle at the House, where Agri party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee also grabbed a microphone right from Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza in the middle of discussions on the proposed 2025 budget. This took place during the end of Wednesdays interpellations for the Department of Health (DOH) budget. Although Daza was moving to terminate deliberations lacking any questions from Minority lawmakers, Lee attempted to interrupt him by taking one of the microphones at the plenary. Mr. Speaker, having no more members of the Minority Daza was saying before he was interrupted by Lee. No, Mr. Speaker, Madam Sponsor, noIs this whats happening to us now? No, Mr. Speaker, let me question the quorum, Mr. Speaker, let me question the quorum, Lee proceeded to say in a mix of English and Filipino. Friends again At the Senate, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri hugged and made up after a fiery exchange of words over an insertion in the agenda which the Bukidnon lawmaker questioned as improper. Perhaps, I have been with Senator Zubiri since 1998. So maybe we are entitled to one heated argument, which is tonight, said Cayetano The next day Zubiri said that they have already kiss(ed) and ma(de) up. Im a stickler for rules. Old school, as they say. Actually rules and traditions are what keep us from fighting. Without that, we will all be neanderthals and we will hit each other in the head with clubs, he said. A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel is currently patrolling the waters around Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the National Security Councils (NSC) spokesperson confirmed on Thursday. Our coast guard vessel is keeping watch to make sure there are no new reclamations, and no illegal activities are taking place at Escoda Shoal, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a radio interview. - Advertisement - He made this assurance amid apparent disinformation that the Philippines has abandoned these shallow waters, known internationally as Sabina Shoal, amid Chinas incessant maritime bullying tactics. Definitely I can say that we did not hand it over to China we just had a repositioning [with the departure of BRP Teresa Magbanua]. We need to maintain our presence there, so we now have a replacement for Magbanua, he said in Filipino on DZBB. Malaya said the government would not provide specific details on the replacement vessel for operational security reasons and to avoid telegraphing its movements to Beijing. Meanwhile, the Philippines military leadership is calling for a viable missile defense capability to fully protect the country under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC). AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. pointed out that while the United States has its Typhon Missile System prepositioned in the country, the Philippines must consider acquiring its own missile systems. Not only the Typhon but also [we should consider] other missile systems because we need comprehensive air defense and maritime defense systems, he said in a mixture of Filipino and English. This was Brawners reply when asked whether the AFP plans to acquire versions of the US-made Medium Range Capability Typhon Missile System as part of its modernization program. The US Typhon missiles were originally brought to the country as part of the Salaknib 2024 exercises in April, but Manila and Washington recently agreed that it would be best if they remain in the Philippines for a more extended period. Their withdrawal or continued stay will, however, depend on the PH-US Mutual Defense Board, it was explained. The Typhon Missile System can destroy land or sea-based targets up to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away. Beijing has demanded the removal of the American missile system from Philippine soil, calling it provocative. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the US of provoking an arms race in the South China Sea. However, a Filipino senator said the US missiles should stay, describing them as a defensive weapon system. As long as they do not stop the provocative nature, provocative actions that they are doing in the West Philippine Sea, I am in favor of retaining defensive missile systems in the Philippines as a deterrent for any future provocative action, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said at the Kapihan sa Senado. The lawmaker denied that the Philippine government has taken a bellicose stance in the WPS. They [Chinese] are provoking us every day. They are the ones doing the provoking. Zubiri said. Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: Coast Guard vessel now patroling Escoda Shoal, NSC says SYDNEY Within 30 years, sea levels will rise at least 15 centimetres on several Pacific island nations, regardless of what cuts are made to greenhouse gas emissions, new NASA analysis shows. Under different emission scenarios, researchers projected sea level rises for Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji and Nauru, finding some countries could experience localised flooding a few times a year. - Advertisement - Others could be submerged for nearly half a year, according to the analysis released Wednesday. Almost the entire country of Tuvalu is vulnerable to flooding, NASA found. Even under a best-case scenario if global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels sea levels will rise 23 centimetres (nine inches) by 2054. Everyone (in Tuvalu) lives by the coast or along the coastline, so everyone gets heavily affected by this, said youth climate activist Grace Malie, who is from the island. The future of the young people of Tuvalu is already at stake, Malie added. Under a business-as-usual scenario, Tuvalu could face sea levels rising 27 centimetres, and 30 centimetres under a worst-case scenario. The low-lying archipelago has a mean elevation of just two metres (6.5 feet) above sea level and two of Tuvalus nine islands have already largely disappeared. NASA researcher Ben Hamlington said rising seas vary from region to region due to melting glaciers or topography of coastlines but Pacific projections were surprisingly consistent. Within the next 30 years under a business-as-usual scenario, rising sea levels across Kiribati and Fiji will reach 27 centimetres and 28 centimetres, respectively. By 2100, sea levels could increase by 70 centimetres across the Pacific islands. The researchers drew on flooding data and climate emission projections to determine the sea level inundation. But Hamlington said more on-the-ground data was needed to ensure the most accurate projections, which would allow communities to best prepare for the future. Nearly a billion people worldwide live in low-lying coastal areas, increasingly vulnerable to storm surges, coastal erosion and flooding while Pacific islands face growing threats to their economic viability and even existence. LUXEMBOURG A visibly tired Pope Francis arrived in Luxembourg on Thursday, kicking off a four-day visit to the small nation and neighbouring Belgium that follows a gruelling Asia-Pacific trip. Recovering from a mild flu, the 87-year-old pontiff broke with his custom of individually greeting the journalists travelling with him aboard the papal plane, telling them I dont feel able. - Advertisement - The blue aircraft landed at Luxembourg Airport at 10:00 am (0800 GMT), on the first stop of a trip to the heart of Europe that the pope will use to discuss the continents role in the world. Intermittently using a wheelchair and walking cane, Francis was greeted by Grand Duke Henri, his wife Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa, Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, a close friend of the pontiff. Together, Luxembourg and Belgium host multiple major European institutions, making them a part of the world that others look to, said Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office. Bringing his message to the heart of Europe against a backdrop of soaring international tensions, Francis will evoke the role the continent wants to play in the world in the near future for peace and solidarity, Bruni told a press conference. The head of the Catholic Church addressed Luxembourg authorities on Thursday morning and met a few hundred faithful at Notre-Dame Cathedral in the afternoon, during an eight-hour stay in the wealthy financial services hub. It was the first papal visit to the country in almost 40 years. Jean Ehret, a priest and director of the Luxembourg School Of Religion & Society, described the occasion as historic and unexpected, quipping that the small Grand Duchy does not usually top a pontiffs travel list. In 1985, John Paul II celebrated what remains the largest mass in Luxembourgs history, attended by around 60,000 worshippers. The small nations population has since almost doubled to 654,000, thanks in particular to the attractiveness of its financial centre. Sandwiched between Belgium, Germany and France, landlocked Luxembourg is home to the European Investment Bank and the Court of Justice of the European Union among other European institutions, and has one of the worlds highest rates of gross domestic income per capita. About 41 percent of Luxembourgers are Catholic, according to the Vatican. On Wednesday, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, held talks with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen in New York on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Azernews reports, citing the press release of the Embassy. In the Joint Communique issued at the end of the meeting, it was stated that "Denmark considers the Autonomy Plan, presented by Morocco in 2007, as a serious and credible contribution to the ongoing UN process and a good basis for an agreed solution among all parties." In this Joint Communique, the two ministers reiterated their support for the UN-led process and the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, in achieving a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to the conflict, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. Denmark's new position aligns with the growing international trend supporting the autonomy plan and Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. This also confirms the prevailing trend in Europe and beyond. Heres what I recommend. Undersecretary Nicholas Tys position is bolstered by strong legal and ethical grounds. By pointing out that the counter-affidavit was notarized without Guos physical presence, Ty highlights a violation of Rule 138, Section 3 of the Philippine Rules of Court, which governs the conduct of lawyers and requires them to adhere to the highest standards of honesty and diligence. Furthermore, Tys concerns align with the Supreme Courts precedent in Atty. De los Santos v. People of the Philippines, A.C. No. 11321 (2022), where a lawyers misconduct involving false representations to a court resulted in disbarment. Given that the affidavit submitted on Guos behalf directly impacted the DOJs ability to process the case efficiently, the defense counsels actions can be seen as obstruction of justice, a serious charge in both criminal and disciplinary contexts. - Advertisement - On the other hand, the defense mounted by Gana Atienza Avisado claims adherence to legal norms. Avisados statement that they filed a motion to allow Guos videoconference testimony suggests an effort to remain within legal bounds. The firm also highlights that they did not directly notarize the counter-affidavit, which they argue absolves them of direct wrongdoing. In Bello v. Office of the Bar Confidant, A.C. No. 13562 (2023), the Supreme Court showed leniency in cases of negligence when no intentional deceit was involved. Avisados team may argue that the submission of the affidavit, while flawed, did not constitute deliberate fraud but was a result of miscommunication and logistical challenges stemming from Guos absence from the country. Who will tip the balance? At this juncture, the DOJ appears to have a stronger case. The submission of a fake counter-affidavit, especially in a case as severe as human trafficking, is a serious matter, and the firms failure to ensure Guos physical presence during notarization could easily be construed as negligent at best, and dishonest at worst. The Supreme Court has historically shown little tolerance for breaches of legal ethics, as seen in cases like lawyer Elmer de la Rosa. While the defense has attempted to deflect blame, the legal standards governing notarization and lawyer conduct are clear, and the firms actions may ultimately fail to meet those standards. Should the Supreme Court find the lawyers guilty of misconduct, they could face serious penalties, including suspension or disbarment. Additionally, they could be subject to civil liabilities if Guo or other parties file lawsuits for damages incurred due to their actions. A ruling against the defense team would also set a precedent, reinforcing the DOJs authority to hold lawyers accountable for procedural breaches. I thus recommen that the DOJ: Maintain transparency: To bolster public trust, the DOJ should ensure that all actions taken in this case are transparent and based on clear legal principles. Pursue due process: While pursuing accountability, the DOJ should avoid creating the perception of a witch hunt. Ensuring that the lawyers have a fair chance to defend themselves will solidify the integrity of the case. I also recommend that Gana Atienza Avisado: Reinforce legal standards: The firm should prioritize adherence to the highest ethical standards moving forward, ensuring that any future actions are beyond reproach. Prepare a strong defense: Given the gravity of the situation, the firm should mount a well-prepared defense, potentially involving expert testimony on the nuances of notarization laws and international legal logistics. As the defense scrambles to justify its actions, the DOJs unwavering commitment to legal ethics is a powerful signal that justice will not be compromised. The ramifications of this case will ripple far beyond the courtroom, reshaping not only the legal profession but also the pillars of the Philippine justice system for years to come. Somalia and Ethiopia are at it again, and this time its not just words flying its accusations of gun-running. Somalia is pointing fingers at Ethiopia, claiming they are smuggling weapons across the border. Ethiopia is firing back, worried that arms from external forces could end up in terrorist hands. This is not just neighborly squabbling. It is a high-stakes game with regional implications. Ethiopia has got troops in Somalia fighting al-Qaeda-linked baddies, but they have ticked off Mogadishu with plans to cozy up to breakaway Somaliland. Somalias response? Cuddling up to Egypt, Ethiopias long-time Nile rival. The plot thickens with Egypt shipping heavy weapons to Somalia, making Ethiopia even more jittery. Somalias threatening to kick out Ethiopian troops if they dont back off from Somaliland. But here is the real kicker with the UN arms embargo on Somalia lifted, there is a free-for-all brewing. Analysts are warning that al Shabaab militants could be the big winners, scooping up weapons like kids in a candy store. It is a messy situation that has got everyone on edge. With accusations flying faster than bullets, the Horn of Africa is looking less like a neighborhood and more like a powder keg waiting for a spark. As the region holds its breath, one thing is clear in this war of words and weapons, there might not be any real winners. Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Ghanas Cambridge-educated eco-warrior, has gone from the streets to a hospital bed faster than you can say galamsey. This firebrand activist, who dared to rally against illegal gold mining, found himself behind bars after a three-day protest turned sour. Barker-Vormawors legal team is crying foul, claiming the cops dragged their feet on getting him medical help when he said he was seriously ill. The police, of course, are singing a different tune, insisting they are playing by the book. This isnt just about one mans health, though. It is the latest chapter in Ghanas ongoing battle against galamsey the illegal mining that is turning the countrys rivers into toxic sludge as about 60% of Ghanas water bodies are polluted. It is so bad, some folks are whispering about importing water by 2030. The crackdown on protesters has sparked outrage, with #FreeTheCitizens trending faster than you can pan for gold. Lawyers are calling it a flashback to military rule, and theyre not pulling any punches. Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo is playing whack-a-mole with illegal miners, sending in the troops. But it is like trying to catch smoke these guys just move their operations to the dead of night. As Barker-Vormawor recovers in hospital, Ghanas fight against illegal mining is far from over. And its looking messier by the day. South Africa just welcomed home 42 of its bravest sons and daughters freedom fighters who died in exile during the dark days of apartheid. Its a home-coming decades in the making, loaded with emotion. These arent just any remains. Were talking about the likes of Duma Nokwe, Florence Mophosho, and Basil February names that ring out in the halls of South African history. They left home to fight a system that treated them as less than human, and now theyre finally coming back to rest. It is a bittersweet moment. Families who have waited years, sometimes decades, to properly say goodbye are finally getting that chance. But it is also a stark reminder of the price paid for freedom. The government is calling it a national memory project. It is like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle of South Africas struggle, one repatriation at a time. And this is not the end of it. There are plans to bring back more heroes from places like Lesotho, Ethiopia, even as far as Russia. It is a global scavenger hunt for South Africas lost heroes. As these freedom fighters make their final journey home, it is not just about closure for families. It is about teaching new generations what it really took to build the Rainbow Nation. It is history coming alive, one repatriation at a time. The Criminal Chamber of the Jendouba, Court of First Instance, issued a six-month prison sentence on Wednesday September 25 for presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel, convicting him of using false testimony. This new ruling follows a prior sentence of 20 months handed down a week earlier for falsifying documents, according to his lawyer. The conviction comes just days ahead of Tunisias October 6 presidential election, which has already faced criticism from the opposition and civil society, who claim the process is rigged in favor of incumbent President Kais Saied, running for re-election. In addition to Zammels sentence, the court also sentenced another individual to eight months in prison for fabricating a testimony to support Zammels campaign. Zammels lawyer, Abdessattar Massoudi, denounced the rulings as unfair and a farce, vowing to continue the legal fight. Zammel, leader of the opposition Azimoun party, was arrested two weeks ago over allegations of falsifying endorsementscharges he denies. He is one of three remaining candidates in the election, alongside President Kais Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui. Earlier this month, Tunisias electoral commission disqualified three other candidates. Kais Saied, who was democratically elected in 2019, dissolved parliament in 2021, dismissed the government, and has since governed by decree. He has defended his actions as necessary for combating corruption, stating that he would not relinquish control to unpatriotic forces. The Government of Denmark has expressed strong support for the autonomy plan offered by Morocco for the Sahara under its sovereignty, describing the plan as serious and credible contribution to the UN process and a good basis for reaching a solution by all parties to the Sahara regional conflict. The supportive stand was voiced by Denmark foreign minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen during talks held Wednesday in New York with Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Following this meeting, the two ministers reiterated firm backing to the UN-led process and to UN Sahara envoy Staffan de Mistura and his efforts to achieve a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to the conflict, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. In its address this week at the United Nations General Assembly, convening in New York, Morocco has reiterated its firm attachment to a lasting political solution based exclusively on the autonomy plan, saying no political process is possible outside the framework of the round tables defined by the UN, with the full participation of Algeria, nor any solution outside the framework of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, or any serious political process without the return of the armed militias to the ceasefire as demanded by the Security Council. Moroccos statement comes amid a growing international support for its sovereignty over its Sahara and for its autonomy initiative put on the negotiating table, sending a clear message to the other parties to the conflict that time has come to move towards a political solution on this basis, through the round table process and in accordance with Security Council resolutions. 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: Nienke Bakx with her thesis. Credit: Catharina Ziekenhuis Drawing in the organs of individual breast cancer patients and then creating precise radiation plans appears to be faster by using artificial intelligence (AI) models. That way, it remains just as reliable and accurate. It saves considerable time per patienta pleasant conclusion with current health care developments in mind. This is the net result of the scientific research Nienke Bakx conducted in recent years at the Catharina Hospital. She received her doctorate from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) on September 19. Her research deserves further explanation. Thanks to newly developed AI models, breast cancer patients can have their tumors and surrounding organs drawn in largely automatically. Manual drawing Until two years ago, however, this was done with "old-fashioned" manual work. Once the anatomy of the individual patient was imaged, the radiation planhow best to administer radiation to destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy organscould be made. That, too, was done manually. "If you express it in minutes, it saves half an hour per patient," says Bakx After a successful pilot, it was put into practice in May 2022. With the caveat that radiotherapists and lab technicians check everything, make necessary adjustments, and give the "go." Bakx says that things are going well. "You see the biggest time savings when you automatically draw in the organs, about 60% of the time. For drawing in the tumor, about 40%. If you express it in minutes, it saves half an hour per patient." Radiation plans In addition to drawing in tumors and organs, AI models can also be used to create the radiation plan. Here, too, using artificial intelligence proved successful: in 74% of cases, the AI model could create a radiation plan that was immediately usable. With minor adjustments, this percentage increased to 86%. The time gained is crucial for the long term, Bakx says. "Health care in the Netherlands is under pressure due to the aging population, the associated increasing number of cancer patients, and staff shortages. In Eindhoven, we are still in a good position thanks to the medical imaging and radiotherapy techniques (MBRT) study at Fontys. "Still, at many hospitals, you see vacancies that are not being filled. Therefore, we must start doing something about this because otherwise, the work pressure will become too great." Relevant innovation She has a feel for relevance. "That's what's basically happening now with AI: we need more people to develop these kinds of models, but in the long run we need fewer medical people as a result. I see this period and all the work we are doing in it as investing in a sustainable health care solution." With this research, Bakx has done what she had wanted to do before. "I knew as a student that studying medicine wasn't for me, but I did find the medical world very interesting. I wanted to improve it through technology. The great thing about this course is that it also led to implementing an innovative method. That is certainly not always the case with scientific research." A fitting conclusion The Eindhoven native concluded her time at Catharina Hospital with the defense of her dissertation. "It makes me very proud. I started here during the master's part of my medical engineering studies, specializing in medical imaging. Then I continued at the 'Cathrine' for the postmaster's program Qualified Medical Engineer (QME)." "This is practice-oriented follow-up research where I developed and evaluated the AI models. That this would eventually result in scientific research and a Ph.D., I would never have believed back then. That always seemed far too theoretical to me. "The great thing is that I collaborated this entire period with my supervisor and clinical physicist Coen Hurkmans, who became a professor last year." The success of AI models in breast cancer has led to expansion into other types of cancer. For example, automated entries are now being applied to esophageal and lung cancer patients. Although these applications were not directly part of Bakx's research, they have been made possible by its results. "In practice, we see that it works well in different target areas. It saves time everywhere," says Bakx, who has also been project leader at the AI Expertise Center at Catharina Hospital for the past two years. Her work is continued by her colleague Niels van Acht, who is investigating how these AI models can be used sustainably. "It is important that the models continue to work even if something changes in medical guidelines or workflows. The goal is to make this process as efficient as possible and ensure that the models will still be relevant in a few years." The thesis is titled "Automation of radiotherapy treatment planning for breast cancerUtilizing artificial intelligence for automated segmentation and planning," and the supervisors were Coen Hurkmans and Hanneke Bluemink. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Buprenorphine, an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder, is currently underprescribed because of concerns that it can cause "precipitated withdrawal," in which the first dose causes sudden, intense pain and anxiety that resolves within a few hours. A new review of the best available evidence has found that the rate of buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal in adults with opioid use disorder is low and should not be a barrier to use. The review is published in the journal Addiction. Lead author Dr. Caroline Gregory, of the University of Ottawa, explains, "There is a lot of speculation that buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal is a widespread problem. This had led both doctors and patients to resist using buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder. Until now, we haven't known the size of the problem. "Our study reviewed all of the available evidence to determine how often buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal occurs. We found that between 0 and 13.2% of adults with opioid use disorder taking their first dose of sublingual buprenorphine experienced precipitated withdrawal. Most of the evidence was at the lower end of that range, and precipitated withdrawal symptoms were generally mild. "This means that the best evidence we have is that buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal is a low risk and should not stop doctors or patients from using buprenorphine." The review also found room for improvement. The overall quality of the studies included in this review was poor: Many didn't have a process for recording cases of precipitated withdrawal and many didn't record the severity of withdrawal. The review also found that there is no standard definition of precipitated withdrawal. Even so, the highest-quality studies to date have consistently found low rates of precipitated withdrawal. Dr. Gregory says, "We need better evidence to measure the true risk of precipitated withdrawal. Until those high-quality studies are conducted, doctors and patients should not resist using this highly effective treatment for opioid use disorder." This systematic review looked at 26 studies of buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal, including 5 randomized trials, all conducted between 2002 and 2023 and with a total sample size of 4,497 patients. More information: Incidence of Buprenorphine-Precipitated Opioid Withdrawal in Adults with Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review, Addiction (2024). DOI: 10.1111/add.16646 Journal information: Addiction Provided by Society for the Study of Addiction 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 Today, more pregnant people are being diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure, a finding that could save their lives. Recent studies show the rates of newly developed and chronic maternal high blood pressure have roughly doubled since 2007. Researchers say the jump in cases is likely due in part to more testing that discovers the conditions. But that's not the whole story. Data show that the overall maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is also climbing, with high blood pressure one of the leading causes. Medical experts are trying to stem the tide. In 2022, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lowered the threshold for when doctors should treat pregnant and postpartum patients for high blood pressure. And federal agencies offer training in best practices for screening and care. Federal data show that maternal deaths from high blood pressure declined in Alaska and West Virginia after implementation of those guidelines. But applying those standards to everyday care takes time, and hospitals are still working to incorporate practices that might have saved Sara's life. In Montana, which last year became one of 35 states to implement the federal patient safety guidelines, more than two-thirds of hospitals provided patients with timely care, said Annie Glover, a senior research scientist with the Montana Perinatal Quality Collaborative. Starting in 2022, just over half of hospitals met that threshold. "It just takes some time in a hospital to implement a change," Glover said. High blood pressure can damage a person's eyes, lungs, kidneys, or heart, with consequences long after pregnancy. Preeclampsiaconsistent high blood pressure in pregnancycan also lead to a heart attack. The problem can develop from inherited or lifestyle factors. For example, being overweight predisposes people to high blood pressure. So does older age, and more people are having babies later in life. Black and Indigenous people are far more likely to develop and die from high blood pressure in pregnancy than the general population. "Pregnancy is a natural stress test," said Natalie Cameron, a physician and an epidemiologist with Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, who has studied the rise in high blood pressure diagnoses. "It's unmasking this risk that was there all the time." But pregnant women who don't fit the typical risk profile are also getting sick, and Cameron said more research is needed to understand why. The typical cure for preeclampsia is delivering the baby. Medication can help prevent seizures and speed up the baby's growth to shorten pregnancy if the health of the mother or fetus warrants a premature delivery. In rare cases, preeclampsia can develop soon after delivery, a condition researchers still don't fully understand. Wanda Nicholson, chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts in disease prevention, said steady monitoring is needed during and after a pregnancy to truly protect patients. Blood pressure "can change in a matter of days, or in a 24-hour period," Nicholson said. And symptoms aren't always clear-cut. That was the case for Emma Trotter. Days after she had her first child in 2020 in San Francisco, she felt her heartbeat slow. Trotter said she called her doctor and a nurse helpline and both told her she could go to an emergency room if she was worried but advised her that it wasn't needed. So she stayed home. In 2022, about four days after she delivered her second child, her heart slowed again. That time, the care team in her new home of Missoula checked her vitals. Her blood pressure was so high the nurse thought the monitor was broken. "You could have a stroke at any second,"Trotter recalled her midwife telling her before sending her to the hospital. Trotter was due to have her third child in September, and her doctors planned to send her and the new baby home with a blood pressure monitor. Stephanie Leonard, an epidemiologist at Stanford University School of Medicine who studies high blood pressure in pregnancy, said more monitoring could help with complex maternal health problems. "Blood pressure is one component that we could really have an impact on," she said. "It's measurable. It's treatable." More monitoring has long been the goal. In 2015, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration worked with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to roll out best practices to make birth safer, including a specific guide to scan for and treat high blood pressure. Last year, the federal government boosted funding for such efforts to expand the implementation of those guides. "So much of the disparity in this space is about women's voices not being heard," said Carole Johnson, head of the health resources agency. The Montana Perinatal Quality Collaborative spent a year providing that high blood pressure training to hospitals across the state. In doing so, Melissa Wolf, the head of women's services at Bozeman Health, said her hospital system learned that doctors' use of its treatment plan for high blood pressure in pregnancy was "hit or miss." Even how nurses checked pregnant patients' blood pressure varied. "We just assumed everyone knew how to take a blood pressure," Wolf said. Now, Bozeman Health is tracking treatment with the goal that any pregnant person with high blood pressure receives appropriate care within an hour. Posters dot the hospitals' clinic walls and bathroom doors listing the warning signs for preeclampsia. Patients are discharged with a list of red flags to watch for. Katlin Tonkin is one of the nurses training Montana medical providers on how to make birth safer. She knows how important it is from experience: In 2018, Tonkin was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia when she was 36 weeks pregnant, weeks after she had developed symptoms. Her emergency delivery came too late and her son Dawson, who hadn't been getting enough oxygen, died soon after his birth. Tonkin has since had two more sons, both born healthy, and she keeps photos of Dawson, taken during his short life, throughout her family's home. "I wish I knew then what I know now," Tonkin said. "We have the current evidence-based practices. We just need to make sure that they're in place." 2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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: Humoral immune responses after mRNA omicron JN.1 vaccination. Credit: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00603-0 The autumn wave of coronavirus is sweeping across Germany. Those affected mainly suffer from coughs, colds, sore throats and fever, but also from headaches, aching limbs, general weakness and shortness of breath. Because new SARS-CoV-2 variants and subtypes are constantly emerging, coronavirus vaccines must be constantly adapted, similar to influenza viruses. Currently, the virus variant omicron JN.1 and its sub-lineages KP.2 and KP.3 are predominant. Since August this year, the vaccine named Comirnaty omicron JN.1 from BioNTech/Pfizer, which has been adapted to the current variants, has been on the market in Germany. A study by the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at the Hannover Medical School (MHH) has now scientifically proven the effectiveness of the new omicron booster. In cooperation with the German Primate Centre in Gottingen, the researchers have published the first article on this topic in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The blueprint of the spike protein The new booster is another mRNA vaccine, so it consists of messenger RNA. The principle: the mRNA contains the genetic information for the blueprint of the so-called spike protein, which sits on the surface of the coronavirus and helps the virus enter cells. The immune system recognizes the protein as foreign, triggers a defense reaction and develops immune protection. Comirnaty omicron JN.1 is a so-called monoclonal vaccine, i.e., it contains only mRNA from this omicron variant. At the end of June, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended marketing authorization for the new COVID-19 mRNA vaccine based on the JN.1 spike protein. "However, data on the immune response in humans or evidence from practice on vaccine-induced protection was still pending until our study," says senior physician Professor Dr. Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka, who is leading the immune study together with her clinic colleague Professor Dr. Georg Behrens. Protection against severe disease progression To obtain such data, researchers measured the immune response in 42 MHH employees who had been vaccinated with the new vaccine as part of the COVID-19 Contact (CoCo) study, which has been ongoing since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The result: around two weeks after vaccination with the new booster, antibodies against the current omicron variant had increased significantly. Professor Behrens points out that the participants already had a high level of immunity to various SARS-CoV-2 variants due to previous vaccinations and having survived corona infections, and adds, "However, we assume that the new mRNA vaccine against omicron JN.1 will protect against hospitalization and post-COVID sequelae caused by most current virus variants." According to the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko), a booster vaccination with the new, adapted vaccine is recommended for anyone aged 60 or older. In addition, everyone who is at particular risk of a severe course of the disease due to an underlying condition should get a booster. Stiko also recommends the booster vaccination for residents of nursing homes and for employees in the nursing and health care sector. The booster vaccination should be repeated annually, similar to the flu vaccination. The vaccine manufacturers BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna are already working on a combined vaccine that provides simultaneous protection against coronaviruses and influenza viruses. More information: Christine Happle et al, Humoral immunity after mRNA SARS-CoV-2 omicron JN.1 vaccination, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00603-0 Journal information: Lancet Infectious Diseases Provided by Medizinische Hochschule Hannover By Alimat Aliyeva A referendum can be held on changing the law on granting citizenship to foreigners living in Italy in a short time, Azernews reports. The main topic of discussion in Italy recently has been the amendment of the law on the acquisition of citizenship by foreigners and their children for a shorter period. Thus, one of the conditions for foreigners to obtain citizenship in Italy is a proposal to reduce the requirement of 10 years of continuous residence to 5 years. The required number of 500,000 signatures was collected as part of the campaign for changing the law and demanding a referendum. The collected signatures will be submitted to the Constitutional Court with a request to hold a referendum. The Constitutional Court is expected to decide on holding a referendum in February next year. Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni said there was no need to change the existing law. According to him, a 10-year period of residence is an acceptable period for granting citizenship. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani said that he supports granting citizenship to minors born in Italy, who came to the country before the age of 12, permanently residing and having studied for at least 5 years. It is worth noting that in order to obtain citizenship, foreigners living in Italy must reside in this country continuously for 10 years, not commit any crimes and declare their income. The children of foreigners born in Italy have the right to citizenship after living in this country continuously until they reach adulthood. 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: National Institutes of Health The EU's drug watchdog Thursday called for the suspension of approval for Pfizer's medicine to treat sickle cell disease, saying doctors should stop using the drug. The European Medicines Agency's call came a day after the US pharmaceutical giant said it was "voluntarily withdrawing" Oxbryta from global markets. Oxbryta is used to treat sickle cell disease (SCD), the potentially fatal blood disorder that primarily affects millions of people of African, Middle Eastern or South Asian descent. "The EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended suspending marketing authorization for ... Oxbryta," the Amsterdam-based agency said. "This measure is taken as a precaution while a review of emerging data is ongoing," it added in a statement. Two studies said patients who used Oxbryta showed a higher occurrence of so-called "vaso-occlusive crises"acute pain and potential complications such as arthritis, kidney failure and stroke. The EMA was already reviewing the risks of Oxbryta in a probe that started in July. "This was triggered as data from a clinical trial showed that a higher number of deaths occurred with Oxbryta than with placebo treatment," the EMA said. "Another trial showed the total number of deaths was higher than anticipated," it added. The EMA recommended no new treatment with Oxbryta should be started. Doctors should also tell patients to stop treatment with Oxbryta "and monitor patients for adverse events after treatment is stopped," the EMA said. Cycle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders that produce abnormal hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen. Healthy blood cells move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body, the US-based Centers for Disease Control said. In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle, clogging blood flow. "This can cause pain and other serious complications such as infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke," the CDC said. Pfizer said Wednesday it was "voluntarily withdrawing Oxbryta in all markets where it has been approved." "Pfizer's decision is based on the totality of clinical data that now indicates the overall benefit of Oxbryta no longer outweighs the risk in the approved sickle cell patient population," the US-based pharmaceutical said. 2024 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: Pre-Post Trend in Total Length of StayRestricted Sample. Credit: The Impact of Jail-Based Methadone Initiation and Continuation on Reincarceration (2024) If you provide methadone treatment or other substance-use disorder treatments in jails, will it reduce people from going back to jail? Several University of New Mexico researchers say yes. Brady Horn, a professor in the Department of Economics, and Paul Guerin, the director of the Center for Applied Research and Analysis (CARA) at the Institute for Social Research (ISR), studied a program within Bernalillo County's Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) that provides methadone treatment in their jail. The program supplies methadone, a safe replacement for opioids, so inmates can start or continue treatment while behind bars. "It's a good place to begin using methadone because you're physically there, and methadone is taken daily. It's a liquid dose, typically, and staff go around each morning and give you your dose of methadone," Guerin said. During this research, Horn and Guerin were looking into whether treatment behind bars, like methadone, reduces recidivism. "People who receive methadone maintenance in jails, went back to jail less, which saved New Mexico taxpayers more money in the long run," Horn says. Studies show when someone enters the criminal justice system, they're much more likely to go back. According to other research by CARA, more than 33% of individuals return to jail within six months and 60% within approximately three years. Guerin and Horn believe a big driver of returning to jail is substance-use disorders. "We understand people commit crimes for a variety of reasons and one of the reasons is because they have substance-use disorders or a mental health disorder," Guerin said. "That's why we should be doing things that could reduce people's future contact with the criminal justice system, and treatment is one of those things we should be focused on." People who commit low-level crimes and continue to go back to jail can be expensive. However, providing treatment in the incarceration system is cheaper in the end by reducing future incarceration costs. "Currently, it costs about $122 a day to keep someone in jail on average, and if they are a client in the psychiatric services unit, this is closer to $175 a day. If we do the math, multiply 122 by 365, it's a lot, but less expensive to provide them treatment services in the long run." Guerin said. "It's less costly to provide them services in jail first, then continue them into the community, than it is to keep them in jail for extended periods because they just end up coming back." "Crime is expensive. It's not just incarceration costs, but also other costs such as costs to victims and pain and suffering associated with crime," Horn said. "High rates of recidivism are unfortunate and very costly. If we could stop this cycle and stop people from being incarcerated, it would be valuable to society." Horn says 10 years ago, there were very few substance-use disorder treatments in the New Mexico prison system. Now, he says there's been a lot of momentum to get programs in the incarceration system in New Mexico, which has the potential to save taxpayers money. Horn says it isn't just about the cost but also the human component, wanting to see people improve. "I'm in favor of programs that can treat substance-use disorders and reduce recidivism. I'm also in favor of changing how we incarcerate people and trying to reduce the cycle of re-offending," Horn said. "We want people to understand treatment works," Guerin said. "If we can serve their needs, we can reduce their risk of committing new crimes." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Mpox epicenter DR Congo is less than a week away from the start of a vaccination campaign, but the rollout faces challenges in a vast country with limited roads, often in poor condition. Residents of Kamituga, a bustling mining town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province, will be among the first to be vaccinated when the campaign begins on October 2. But authorities still face logistical challengesonly one road leads to Kamituga and most of the communities surrounding it are isolated. Taxis crammed with passengers sit beside large trucks, moving slowly through the winding, bumpy mountain pass. For the most part, the road is a dirt track, interspersed with bridges made from metal beams and wooden planks that allow drivers to cross overflowing rivers. The town, where the latest mpox epidemic began in September 2023, lies around 180 kilometers (112 miles) from the provincial capital, Bukavu. 'We are afraid' Lack of passable roads to villages and suburbs of Kamituga means that motorcyclists often provide rides to people going to the town's hospital. "We are the first in danger because we carry customers and we do not know if they are infected," motorbike driver Salumu Hassan told AFP. The only protection Hassan and his colleagues have are long-sleeved jackets and making sure they limit physical contact with passengers. "We are afraid," Daniel Ngama, another driver, told AFP. Kamituga has around 280,000 inhabitants, according to official statistics. But locals estimate the number to be closer to half a million. Gold mining attracts many to the town and it can often be difficult to monitor the population flow. "This transient population poses a lot of problems," said Evariste Mbayu, who supervises workers responsible for detecting mpox cases in villages and neighborhoods. People come from the eastern city of Bukavu, neighboring North Kivu province and even Burundi, he said. With people coming and going "we fear that vaccination will be difficult", doctor James Wakilonga Zanguilwa at Kamituga hospital told AFP. 'We have been cautious' At night, Kamituga's clubs are full of miners and sex workers. "We don't have time to educate them" on the risk of mpox infection, doctor Dally Muamba Kambaji told AFP. Sex workers were among the first to spread the virus in the town, according to local doctors. "We don't have the means to protect ourselves. If you sleep with someone who is going to kiss you and take off their clothes, it's difficult to respect distancing measures," prostitute Nicole Mubukwa told AFP. "Since we were hit by the epidemic, we have been cautious," the 30-year-old, who hopes to be vaccinated quickly, said. "We require our customers to take off their clothes, and if they show signs of mpox, we tell them to leave," she added. The peak of the epidemic has now passed the town and spread to the shores of Lake Kivu to the north and Lake Tanganyika to the east. But authorities are confident they are managing the outbreak. "We are in a very encouraging phase where the disease has stabilized," South Kivu governor Jean-Jacques Purusi told AFP. Claude Bahizire, a doctor and communications officer at South Kivu's provincial health division, told AFP that authorities have a "cold room for the storage and transport of vaccines". The doses must be kept at a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit). Public confidence in vaccines has plummeted in South Kivu since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published in the journal Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics last year. But people interviewed by AFP in Kamituga all said they were ready to get vaccinated. 2024 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: Immunofluorescence staining of a representative human glioblastoma tissue section. In red, the PTPRZ1 markers, and in blue, the cell nuclei. (scale bar: 400 m). Credit: Denis Migliorini - UNIGE/HUG Scientists at UNIGE and HUG have developed CAR-T cells capable of targeting malignant gliomas while preserving healthy tissue. Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor, with an average survival after diagnosis of less than two years, and against which current treatments remain ineffective. In recent years, immunotherapies have given patients renewed hope, albeit with relatively modest success. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) has succeeded in identifying a specific marker on the surface of tumor cells, and in generating immune cells carrying an antibody to destroy them. Furthermore, these cells, called CAR-T cells, appear to be capable of targeting diseased cells in the tumor that do not carry this antigen, while sparing healthy cells. These results, published in the journal Cancer Immunology Research, are a first step towards the development of clinical trials with human patients. Glioblastomas carry biological characteristics that make them particularly difficult to treat. Able to induce a microenvironment that limits the attack of the immune system, they escape standard treatments and recur rapidly. Denis Migliorini, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine, holder of the ISREC Foundation Chair in Brain Tumor Immunology, member of the Translational Research Center in Onco-Hematology (CRTOH) and attending physician in charge of the HUG Neuro-oncology Unit, is an expert in CAR-T cells (for chimeric antigen receptors T-cells). This immunotherapy consists in collecting immune T cells from patients, modifying them genetically in the lab to make them express antibodies capable of detecting elements specific to tumor cells, before reinjecting them so that they can specifically target the tumor. "For several years we have been trying to identify the protein markers expressed by glioblastoma cells," explains Migliorini. "One of these markers, PTPRZ1, proved particularly important: we were able to generate CAR-T cells carrying antibodies targeting PTPRZ1. This is a first step towards CAR-T cells effective against malignant gliomas." mRNA to make a customized cell Most CAR-T cells are generated using viral vectors, a technique that has proved its worth in certain diseases but is not very suitable in the brain. "Indeed, they persist for a very long time in the context [of] blood cancers. The brain is a fragile organ, and this persistence can generate a risk of toxicity," explains Darel Martinez Bedoya, a post-doctoral fellow in Migliorini's laboratory and first author of this research. The scientists therefore introduced in the T-cells the messenger RNA encoding for the desired antibody. The cellular machinery is then responsible for producing the right protein to build the receptor that will take place on the T-cell surface and recognize the tumor target. "This technique has a number of advantages: CAR-Ts offer a flexible platform, allowing multiple adaptations according to the specificities and evolution of the tumor," explains Martinez Bedoya. Efficacy and safety To check that CAR-Ts only attack tumor cells, the Geneva team first tested them in vitro on healthy and tumor cells. "To our surprise, not only did CAR-Ts not attack healthy cells, but they were also capable, by bystander effect, of identifying and fighting tumor cells not expressing the PTPRZ1 marker," Migliorini says. "In this context, CAR-Ts are probably capable of secreting pro-inflammatory molecules that are responsible for eliminating tumor cells even in the absence of the original marker when co-cultured with target positive tumor cells." The second stage involved testing the treatment in vivo in mouse models of human glioblastoma. Tumor growth was controlled, prolonging the lives of the mice remarkably well without signs of toxicity. "By administering CAR-Ts intratumourally in the CNS, we can use fewer cells and greatly reduce the risk of peripheral toxicity. With this data and other unpublished yet, all lights are green to now envisage a first clinical trial in humans," the scientists conclude. More information: Darel Martinez Bedoya et al, PTPRZ1-targeting RNA CAR T cells exert antigen-specific and bystander antitumor activity in glioblastoma, Cancer Immunology Research (2024). DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-23-1094 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: Ophthalmic images from five of the patients in the study demonstrate significant variability in the forms of retinal dystrophy. Credit: Bin Guan, Ph.D. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their colleagues have identified a gene responsible for some inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), which are a group of disorders that damage the eye's light-sensing retina and threaten vision. Though IRDs affect more than 2 million people worldwide, each individual disease is rare, complicating efforts to identify enough people to study and conduct clinical trials to develop treatment. The study's findings were published in JAMA Ophthalmology. In a small study of six unrelated participants, researchers linked the gene UBAP1L to different forms of retinal dystrophies, with issues affecting the macula, the part of the eye used for central vision such as for reading (maculopathy), issues affecting the cone cells that enable color vision (cone dystrophy) or a disorder that also affects the rod cells that enable night vision (cone-rod dystrophy). The patients had symptoms of retinal dystrophy starting in early adulthood, progressing to severe vision loss by late adulthood. "The patients in this study showed symptoms and features similar to other IRDs, but the cause of their condition was uncertain," said Bin Guan, Ph.D., chief of the Ophthalmic Genomics Laboratory at NIH's National Eye Institute (NEI) and a senior author of the report. "Now that we've identified the causative gene, we can study how the gene defect causes disease and, hopefully, develop treatment." Identifying the UBAP1L gene's involvement adds to the list of more than 280 genes responsible for this heterogeneous disease. "These findings highlight the importance of providing genetic testing to our patients with retinal dystrophy, and the value of the clinic and lab working together to better understand retinal diseases," said co-senior author on the paper, Laryssa A. Huryn, M.D., an ophthalmologist at the NEI, part of the National Institutes of Health. Genetic evaluation of the six patients revealed four variants in the UBAP1L gene, which encodes for a protein that is abundantly expressed in retina cells, including retinal pigment epithelium cells and photoreceptors. More research is needed to understand the UBAP1L gene's exact function, but scientists were able to determine that the identified variants likely cause the gene to produce protein that lacks function. Future studies will also be informed by the fact that variants appear to be distinctive to geographic regions. Five of the six families in this study were from South or Southeastern Asia, or Polynesia, regions that have been underrepresented in genetic studies. The research was co-led by investigators at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London. More information: Biallelic loss-of-function variants in UBAP1L and nonsyndromic retinal dystrophies, JAMA Ophthalmology (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.3836 Journal information: JAMA Ophthalmology 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: Pages from the U.S. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website are arranged for a photograph in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Sison U.S. suicides last year remained at about the highest level in the nation's history, preliminary data suggests. A little over 49,300 suicide deaths were reported in 2023, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number that could grow a little as some death investigations are wrapped up and reported. Just under 49,500 were reported in 2022, according to final data released Thursday. The numbers are close enough that the suicide rate for the two years are the same, CDC officials said. U.S. suicide rates have been rising for nearly 20 years, aside from a two-year drop around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. So "a leveling off of any increase in suicide is cautiously promising news," said Katherine Keyes, a Columbia University public health professor who studies suicide. Indeed, there's reason for optimism. A 2-year-old national crisis line allows anyone in the U.S. to dial 988 to reach mental health specialists. That and other efforts may be starting to pay off, Keyes said, but it "really remains to be seen." Experts caution that suicidethe nation's 11th leading cause of death in 2022is complicated and that attempts can be driven by a range of factors. Contributors include higher rates of depression, limited availability of mental health services, and the availability of guns. About 55% of all suicide deaths in 2022 involved firearms, according to CDC data. The CDC's Thursday report said, Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 1014 and 2034, and the third leading cause for people ages 1519. Deaths continue to be more common among boys and men than girls and women. The highest suicide rate for any groupby farwas in men ages 75 and older, at about 44 suicides per 100,000 men that age. Among women, the highest rate was in those who were middle-aged, about 9 per 100,000. But more dramatic increases have been seen in teens and young women, with the rate for that group doubling in the last two decades. The overall suicide rate in 2022 and 2023 was 14.2 per 100,000. It also was that high in 2018. Before then, it hadn't been that high since 1941. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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: This photomicrograph of a blood smear contains a macro- and microgametocyte of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Credit: Wikipedia. In 2022, nearly 619,000 global deaths due to malaria were caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent, prevalent, and deadly human malaria parasite. For decades, the parasite's resistance to all antimalarial drugs has posed a big challenge for researchers working to stop the spread of the disease. A team led by scientists at UC Riverside, UC Irvine, and Yale School of Medicine has now designed a new drug against malaria and identified its mechanism of action. The researchers found the drug, called MED6-189, is effective against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant P. falciparum strains in vitro as well as in a humanized mouse model (the mice were engineered to have human blood). The researchers report in the journal Science that MED6-189 works by targeting and disrupting not only the apicoplast, an organelle found in P. falciparum cells, but also the vesicular trafficking pathways. They found that this dual mode of action prevents the pathogen from developing resistance, making the drug a highly effective antimalarial compound and a promising new lead in the fight against malaria. "Disruption of the apicoplast and vesicular trafficking blocks the parasite's development and thus eliminates infection in red blood cells and in our humanized mouse model of P. falciparum malaria," said Karine Le Roch, a professor of molecular, cell and systems biology at UCR and the paper's senior author. "We found MED6-189 was also potent against other zoonotic Plasmodium parasites, such as P. knowlesi and P. cynomolgi." MED6-189 is a synthetic compound inspired by a compound extracted from marine sponges. The lab of Christopher Vanderwal, a professor of chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at UC Irvine, synthesized the compound. Photo shows four co-authors on the research paper. From left to right are Zeinab Chahine (first author of the research paper), Karine Le Roch, Thomas Hollin, and Jacques Prudhomme. Credit: Stan Lim, UC Riverside. "Many of the best antimalarial agents are natural products, or are derived from them," he said. "For example, artemisinin, initially isolated from the sweet wormwood plant, and analogs thereof, are critically important for treatment of malaria. MED6-189 is a close relative of a different class of natural products, called isocyanoterpenes, that seem to target multiple pathways in P. falciparum. That is beneficial because had only one pathway been targeted, the parasite could develop resistance to the compound more quickly." When researchers at GSK, a pharmaceutical company in Spain, administered MED6-189 to the mice infected with P. falciparum, they found it cleared the mice of the parasite. In collaboration with Choukri Ben Mamoun, a professor of medicine and microbial pathogenesis at the Yale School of Medicine, the team also tested the compound against P. knowlesi, a parasite that infects monkeys, and found it worked as intended, clearing the monkey's parasite-infected red blood cells. Next, the team plans to continue the optimization of MED6-189 and further confirm the modified compound's mechanisms of action using a systems biology approach. Systems biology is a biomedical research approach to understanding the larger picture of a biological system. It offers researchers a way to examine how different living organisms and cells interact at larger scales. Le Roch, Vanderwal, and Ben Mamoun were joined in the research by fellow scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Missouri; GSK; and the University of Georgia. More information: Z. Chahine et al, A kalihinol analogue disrupts apicoplast function and vesicular trafficking in P. falciparum malaria, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adm7966. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adm7966 Journal information: Science Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Bitdeer announces successful testing of SEAL02 Bitcoin mining chip Bitdeer Technologies Thursday Sepember 26, 2024 announced the successful testing of its latest Bitcoin mining chip, SEAL02, following tape-out Thursday September 26, 2024 6:08 PM , ummid.com News Network Singapore: Bitdeer Technologies Thursday Sepember 26, 2024 announced the successful testing of its latest Bitcoin mining chip, SEAL02, following tape-out. SEAL02 uses one of the most advanced process nodes in partnership with TSMC, a leading semiconductor foundry. An exceptional power efficiency ratio of 13.5 J/TH - while running at low voltage, ultra power-saving mode - was indicated in SEAL02 chips verification and prototype tests, achieving the power efficiency milestone outlined in the SEALMINER technology roadmap announced in June 2024, the technology leader for blockchain and high-performance computing said. We are thrilled about achieving SEALMINERs power efficiency target as reflected in our roadmap. Our ongoing commitment to R&D is making possible innovative and superior solutions that will set new benchmarks for efficiency and transparency to benefit the wider mining ecosystem", Linghui Kong, Chief Business Officer of Bitdeer, said. SEAL02 will be integrated into the companys upcoming SEALMINER A2 mining machines, with mass production scheduled to commence in November 2024. Additionally, R&D work on the companys upcoming chip, SEAL03, is ongoing and the companys product release milestone is on track. Bitdeer has a full-fledged team of professional engineers dedicated to R&D across key domains, including ASIC design, algorithm development, platform architecture, software and hardware. "The company will continue to work alongside its customers in contributing to the security of the Bitcoin decentralized network", Bitdeer said. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Vice President Kamala Harris is a gun owner. Apparently that is supposed to make other gun owners less leery of her stance on Second Amendment issues. Just one problem: Harris is a gun owner whos also an integral part of the most anti-gun administration in American history. As President Joe Bidens right-hand woman on gun control, shes helped orchestrate a four-year war on the Second Amendment, including through unprecedented efforts to weaponize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives against the peaceable gun owners whose trust shes trying so desperately to garner. In fairness, her actions as Bidens gun-control czar appear downright moderate when contrasted with her lengthy history of extreme anti-Second Amendment advocacy and discourse. For example, in 2008 Harris joined an amicus brief defending bans on the possession of handguns and advocating for a 20th century revisionist view of the Second Amendment that renders it little more than a superfluous authorization of state National Guard units. Harris has also previously voiced her support for mandatory buybacks (i.e., reimbursed confiscations) of guns owned by millions of peaceable Americans a call shes cynically walked back. Perhaps Harris is just taking a cue from her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. While Harris is normally a straightforward, no-nonsense type of gun-control activist, Walz takes a more nuanced approach that, at first glance, may even come across as favorable toward the right to keep and bear arms. Its an image he fosters on purpose. Walz repeatedly touts his status as a gun owner, his affinity for duck hunting and his National Guard service to lend credibility to his support of restrictive gun-control measures, as well as to dismiss off-hand any criticisms of how these laws might undermine the Second Amendment. Walzs track record as governor is one of misrepresenting reality to garner support for controversial gun-control laws. Consider Walzs response to a recent tragedy in which a man killed two police officers and a firefighter during a standoff at his home. Despite being prohibited from possessing firearms due to his lengthy history of criminal violence, the perpetrator obtained the guns via illegal straw purchases by his girlfriend. Did Walz promise to take actions reasonably designed to stop criminals from evading the states universal background checks? Of course not. Instead, he immediately pushed to expand the states safe storage laws, which play virtually no role in preventing violent crimes by people who cant legally own guns in the first place. Even if Walz were a bona fide combination of Rambo and Buffalo Bill, it wouldnt make his desired policies any less unreasonable or constitutionally problematic. If anything, Walzs experience with firearms makes many of his positions even more concerning, precisely because they dont come from a place of ignorance but of willful misrepresentation. Take his views on the possession of certain semiautomatic rifles. He claims, based on his authority as a veteran, that these rifles are weapons of war that he carried into combat and that have no business on Americas streets. Walz knows full well that the rifles he trained with in the National Guard had select-fire capabilities that render them functionally different from the semiautomatic civilian platforms he seeks to ban. He knows, too, that the features distinguishing assault weapons from non-assault weapons things like pistol grips and barrel shrouds have no bearing on the weapons lethality or functionality, but rather make them safer and more practical for a variety of legitimate civilian uses, including for self-defense. Harris and Walz can tout their status as gun owners and tip their hats in false homage to the right to keep and bear arms as often as they wish. Its all subterfuge. Theyre still gunning for the Second Amendment. Chinese publishers shine at Indonesia International Book Fair Xinhua) 08:32, September 26, 2024 People visit the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) JAKARTA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta. Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import &Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children's books, and traditional Chinese medicine. The delegation set up a digital reading stand showcasing Chinese history, culture, and advancements in fields like economics and ecology. The stand's interactive photo feature allowed visitors to capture memorable moments. A highlight of the event was a signing ceremony between China's publisher Higher Education Press and Indonesia's PT Legacy Utama Kreasindo, which secured the Indonesian language rights for "Experiencing Chinese for Primary Schools (International Version)." This comprehensive series, designed for overseas elementary students, will be published in Indonesia later this year. IIBF Chairperson Wedha Stratesti remarked that the 2024 event, featuring publishers from 15 countries, represents a milestone for the fair. Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Children pose for photos in front of People's Daily's digital bulletin board at the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Children look at a Chinese book at the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Books are on display at the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Children learn about Chinese culture at the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Harini Amarasuriya, Sri Lanka's new PM, is HC-DU alumna Harini Amarasuriya, an alumna of Hindu College of Delhi University, has sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Thursday September 26, 2024 11:54 PM , ummid.com News Network Colombo: Harini Amarasuriya, an alumna of Hindu College of Delhi University, has sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Harini Amarasuriya was picked by the newly elected Sri Lanka President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a day before. The Marxist-leaning Dissanayake , 55, leader of the Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) party and leader of the National Peoples Power (NPP) alliance is the 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka. Harini Amarasuriya, a 54-year-old academic, is Sri Lanka's third female prime minister and the first from Delhi's Hindu College. The first female PM of Sri Lanka is Sirimavo Bandaranaike whereas Chandrika Kumaratunga was the another female on the post. 'Proud Moment' Hindu College expressed pride in its alumna being appointed as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister. "Hindu College proudly celebrates the remarkable achievement of its alumna, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who has made history by becoming the 16th Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the third woman to hold this prestigious office", the college said in a statement. "Dr. Harini's journey from the classrooms of Hindu College to the highest office in her country is a moment of immense pride for her alma mater," the college said. Hindu College principal Anju Srivastava called the moment a historic milestone in the colleges storied history." We are delighted to hear that a Hinduite is now the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. It is a proud moment for the Hindu College family. A student of sociology at Hindu College between 1991 and 1994, she is an extremely accomplished academic and politician, she said. About Harini Amarasuriya Harini Amarasuriya is an academic, activist and a former member of parliament from the Marxist party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). She was enrolled in Bishops College, an Anglican girls school in Colombo, and later went to the United States as an exchange student. Due to the violence in nineties, she left Sri Lanka and joined Hindu College and graduated in B A (Honours) Sociology in 1994, Masters in Applied Anthropology and Development from Macquarie University, Australia and doctorate in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. Hurricane Helene roared ashore as a powerful Category 4 storm in a sparsely populated region of Florida, peeling the siding from buildings, trapping residents in rising floodwaters and knocking out power to millions of customers. At least five people were reported dead. The storm made landfall late Thursday with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph in the rural Big Bend area, home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways where Floridas Panhandle and peninsula meet. Video on social media sites showed sheets of rain coming down and siding coming off buildings in Perry, Florida, near where the storm arrived. One local news station showed a home that was overturned. First responders were out in boats early Friday to rescue people trapped by flooding in Citrus County, some 120 miles (193 kilometers) south of Perry. If you are trapped and need help please call for rescuers DO NOT TRY TO TREAD FLOODWATERS YOURSELF, the sheriffs office warned in a Facebook post. Authorities said the water could contain live wires, sewage, sharp objects and other debris. Nearly 4 million homes and businesses were without power Friday morning in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. One person was killed in Florida when a sign fell on their car, and two people were reported killed in a possible tornado in south Georgia as the storm approached. Trees that toppled onto homes were blamed for deaths in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Anderson County, South Carolina. The hurricane came ashore near the mouth of the Aucilla River on Floridas Gulf Coast. That location was only about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of where Hurricane Idalia hit last year at nearly the same ferocity and caused widespread damage. As the hurricanes eye passed near Valdosta, Georgia, a city of 55,000 near the Florida line, dozens of people huddled early Friday in a darkened hotel lobby. The wind whistled and howled outside. Electricity was out, with hallway emergency lights, flashlights and cellphones providing the only illumination. Water dripped from light fixtures in the lobby dining area, and roof debris fell to the ground outside. Fermin Herrera, 20, his wife and their 2-month-old daughter left their room on the top floor of the hotel, where they took shelter because they were concerned about trees falling on their Valdosta home. We heard some rumbling, said Herrera, cradling the sleeping baby in a downstairs hallway. We didnt see anything at first. After a while the intensity picked up. It looked like a gutter that was banging against our window. So we made a decision to leave. In Thomas County, Georgia, where residents had been under a curfew, the sheriffs office said it was extended until noon Friday. This curfew helps protect first responders and citizens of our community as conditions are still very hazardous. Please shelter in place, the office posted online. Helene is the third storm to strike the city in just over a year. Tropical Storm Debby blacked out power to thousands in August, while Hurricane Idalia damaged an estimated 1,000 homes in Valdosta and surrounding Lowndes County a year ago. I feel like a lot of us know what to do now, Herrera said. Weve seen some storms and grown some thicker skins. Soon after it crossed over land, Helene weakened to a tropical storm, with its maximum sustained winds falling to 70 mph. At 5 a.m., the storm was about 40 miles east of Macon, Georgia, and about 100 miles southeast of Atlanta, moving north at 30 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported. Forecasters expected the system to continue weakening as it moves into Tennessee and Kentucky and drops heavy rain over the Appalachian Mountains, with the risk of mudslides and flash flooding. Even before landfall, the storm's wrath was felt widely, with sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force gusts along Florida's west coast. Water lapped over a road in Siesta Key near Sarasota and covered some intersections in St. Pete Beach. Lumber and other debris from a fire in Cedar Key a week ago crashed ashore in the rising water. Beyond Florida, up to 10 inches of rain had fallen in the North Carolina mountains, with up to 14 inches (36 centimeters) more possible before the deluge ends, setting the stage for flooding that forecasters warned could be worse than anything seen in the past century. Please write your name, birthday, and important information on your arm or leg in a PERMANENT MARKER so that you can be identified and family notified, the sheriff's office in mostly rural Taylor County warned those who chose not to evacuate in a Facebook post, the dire advice similar to what other officials have dolled out during past hurricanes. School districts and multiple universities canceled classes. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee and Clearwater were closed Thursday, while cancellations were widespread elsewhere in Florida and beyond. A day before hitting the U.S., Helene swamped parts of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, flooding streets and toppling trees as it brushed the resort city of Cancun and passed offshore. In western Cuba, Helene knocked out power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses as it brushed past the island. At one point, forecasters feared that hurricane conditions could extend as far as 100 miles north of the Georgia-Florida line. Overnight curfews were imposed in many cities and counties in south Georgia. This is one of the biggest storms weve ever had, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said. For Atlanta, Helene could be the worst strike on a major Southern inland city in 35 years, said University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd. Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record-warm ocean temperatures. Payne reported from Tallahassee, Florida, and Hollingsworth reported from Kansas City, Missouri. Associated Press journalists Seth Borenstein in New York; Jeff Amy in Atlanta; Russ Bynum in Valdosta, Georgia; Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Andrea Rodriguez in Havana; Mark Stevenson and Maria Verza in Mexico City; and Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon, contributed to this report. Photos: Hurricane Helene The Alcoholic Drinks (Amendment) Bill, 2024, currently under Senate review, is seeking to decriminalize traditional brews like Busaa, Muratina, and Mnazi. Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera introduced the Bill to amend the law that requires sellers of local brews to obtain a license. One of the key proposals in the Bill is the elimination of the 250ml liquor bottle, replacing it with a minimum size of 750ml. Senator Chimera believes this change will help curb alcoholism among the youth. By increasing the bottle size, he argues that alcohol will become less accessible, limiting consumption to social settings rather than being used as a coping mechanism. Chimera explained that the shift to larger packaging would also discourage the production of cheap, low-quality alcohol, often sold in sachets or small bottles. The main reason we are limiting packaging to 750 ml is to dissuade many Kenyans from having access quotas and alcohol packaged in sachets and in smaller quantities so that it is not readily affordable so that a Kenyan who wants to enjoy alcohol will have access very safe and quality liquor. That is the idea around keeping it 750ml so that we are able to eradicate what we call Kayole industries that are known to imitate and produce many bottles of quotas and the likes into the market, he said, referencing illegal manufacturers that flood the market with low-quality liquor. Additionally, Chimera asserts that traditional brews pose minimal harm and are primarily used during special occasions in rural communities. He advocates for the removal of the licence requirement, allowing local brew businesses to operate freely without fear of arrest. Citing examples from Uganda and Tanzania, where local drinks like Waragi and Konyagi are embraced, Chimera criticized Kenyas approach. He noted that the governments campaigns against illicit brews have disproportionately impacted the youth and wiped out many traditional brands, stifling the local industry. In a move forward for Kenyas education and maritime sectors, Mount Kenya University (MKU) has established the countrys first private Maritime Academy in Malindi. This new institution aims to address the growing demand for specialized maritime education and support the nations expanding Blue Economy initiative. The academy, located on the Kenyan coast, marks a departure from the traditional government-led approach to maritime training in the country. It is set to offer a range of programs designed to equip students with skills needed in various aspects of the maritime industry, from navigation and engineering to port management and marine conservation. A 36-year-old Chinese athlete, Chen Ching Yen, who trains in Iten town, has been charged in Eldoret court for allegedly threatening to kill his girlfriend, Michelle Jemutai Koskei. Yen was arrested by officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in Eldoret two weeks ago after Koskei reported receiving death threats from him. According to the police, the athlete sent her a threatening WhatsApp message two years ago, on May 9, 2022, from an unknown location in Kenya. The message reportedly read: Let me tell you, I can kill you and the baby, and you will do nothing because the police in Kenya are just stupid. I will give them money, and there will be no more story about you. I will cut you into pieces. During the court proceedings, the investigating officer, Githinji Kaaria, requested that the court detain Yen for an additional two weeks to complete the investigation. The foreign runner has been in remand at the Eldoret GK remand prison for two weeks since his arrest. The request for further detention led to a dispute with Yens defense lawyers, Alex Masakha and Peter Momonayi. The IO Kaaria argued, Your Honour, I need more time to complete the investigations against the accused. However, the defense team opposed the request, stating that the police had no justification to seek further detention. The investigating officer(IO) had ample time to conclude the investigations, including recording statements from witnesses, Masakha argued. He also noted that, two weeks after Yens arrest, the police had yet to record a statement from the complainant or other witnesses expected to testify. Senior Principal Magistrate Onkoba Mogire rejected the request for extended detention and scheduled the case for a pre-trial hearing on October 2, 2024. Mogire released Yen on a Kes.50,000 bond with a surety of the same amount, which must be posted by a Kenyan citizen. The magistrate further instructed Yen to appear in court as required. The High Court will commence hearings on October 29 for a petition seeking the removal of President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua through a referendum. Justice Bahati Mwamuye, presiding in the Nairobi High Court, scheduled the date to consider submissions from both petitioners and respondents. The Kenya Bora Tuitakayo movement, led by governance expert Cyprian Nyamwamu and 13 other civil rights leaders, filed the petition on July 23. The petitioners are urging the court to instruct the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct a referendum by the end of next month. Activists involved in the movement are advocating for Kenyans to decide whether Ruto and Gachagua should complete their five-year terms or be removed from office prematurely. They seek a court mandate for a referendum that would allow citizens to vote on the potential removal of the two leaders. The petition alleges that Ruto and Gachagua have violated the constitution and the rights of the Kenyan people while undermining national sovereignty and damaging the economy with misguided policies. The petitioners sued President Ruto, Deputy President Gachagua, the IEBC, and the Attorney General, among others. The Senate and the Attorney General previously raised preliminary objections to the petition, but Justice Mwamuye ruled them unacceptable. In their objections, they argued that only Parliament holds the authority to remove the President and his deputy through impeachment. However, lawyer Kibe Mungai, representing the petitioners, clarified that the petition does not dispute the impeachment process. What the petition seeks to achieve is to hold the two accountable for violating the constitution while knowing they have captured Parliament, he stated. Mungai emphasized that the current state of Parliament leaves Kenyans with no option but to defend the Constitution and their sovereign power through direct action. The constitution is not powerless in the face of it being violated. It requires citizens to defend it by exercising power directly rendering an impotent and captured Parliament to continue with its toothlessness, he asserted. After their preliminary objections failed, the respondents requested to be re-served with the petition. The court instructed all respondents and any interested parties who have not filed responses to do so within seven days from Tuesday. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested William Otieno Okoth for allegedly impersonating a Nairobi County official and soliciting a bribe. Okoth, posing as the Personal Assistant to the Nairobi County Secretary, reportedly demanded a Kes.100,000 bribe from a complainant. He claimed the money would help secure a job for the complainants wife as a cleaner in the County Government. The suspect allegedly convinced the complainant that, as the PA to the CS, he wielded significant influence and could expedite the issuance of an employment letter after receiving the Kes 100,000 tea. The complainant became suspicious and reported the matter to the EACC. Following an operation, EACC officers on Wednesday, September 25 arrested Okoth outside Trattoria Restaurant in Nairobis Central Business District after he received the bribe. The suspect was then taken to EACC Integrity Centre Police Station for processing. He was later transferred to Kilimani Police Station, where he was detained for further questioning and to record a statement. The EACC continues to investigate the matter, urging the public to report any suspected cases of fraud or bribery. The Ministry of Health will launch workplace mental wellness programs for healthcare workers nationwide, Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa announced on Wednesday. This initiative follows the tragic suicide of a medical intern at Gatundu Level 5 Hospital in Kiambu County on Sunday. The intern, Desree Moraa Obwogi, was found dead on the balcony of her apartment at night. A suicide note revealed that challenges in her working environment contributed to her decision. In her statement, Barasa described Moraa as a dedicated healthcare professional with great potential, noting that the wellness programs will honor her memory. Dr. Obwogis death serves as a stark reminder of the silent struggles that many, including those in the healthcare profession, often endure, she said. CS Barasa mentioned that the wellness programs aim to strengthen support systems, ensuring that those facing challenges do not feel alone. As a frontline caregiver, she devoted herself to improving the lives of others, yet we are reminded that even those who provide care sometimes face unseen battles, Barasa added. She called for a renewed commitment to addressing the growing mental health burden in the country. Moraa, 27, had worked at Gatundu Level 5 Hospital for four weeks after transferring from Nakuru Level 5 Hospital. She was last seen at the facility on Sunday after completing a demanding 36-hour shift. In a statement on Tuesday, Dr. Devji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), attributed Moraas death to work-related pressure and poor working conditions. Moraa was working under very difficult, dangerous, and indecent conditions that did not guarantee her safety and overall well-being, Atellah said. The Ministry of Health has confirmed two new Mpox cases in Makueni and Kajiado counties, bringing the total number of cases in Kenya to seven. In a statement, the ministry reported that these cases are distributed across seven counties: Taita Taveta, Busia, Nakuru, Mombasa, Nairobi, Makueni, and Kajiado, with each county having one case. Fortunately, the health ministry noted that there have been no reported deaths among the confirmed cases so far. In the last 24 hours, health officials screened 16,033 travelers at points of entry (POEs), contributing to a total of 1,002,621 travelers screened across 26 POEs since the outbreak began. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) has tested 190 samples from 28 counties, with seven testing positive, 178 negative, and five samples currently undergoing testing. To prevent further spread of Mpox, the ministry urges the public to avoid close physical contact with infected individuals or those displaying symptoms. Additionally, the public should refrain from touching items such as bedding or clothing used by infected individuals. The ministry also advises limiting the number of sexual partners to reduce exposure risk and encourages regular handwashing with soap and water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Finally, individuals should avoid contact with wild animals and refrain from consuming bushmeat. A new Bill has emerged that proposes extending the terms of the President and all elected leaders from five years to seven years. Sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, this initiative seeks to revise the terms of service for the President, Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), and governors, setting the stage for a significant shift in Kenyas political landscape. The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is set to undergo its first reading in the Senate soon. The proposed legislation aims to amend Article 136 of the Constitution, which currently governs the election of the President. By extending the Presidents term from five years to seven years, the Bill seeks to provide leaders with a longer duration to implement their policies and strategies effectively. Additionally, it amends Articles 101, 177, and 180 to reflect the same extension for MPs, senators, MCAs, and governors. Office of Prime Minister In a notable addition, the Bill introduces the office of the Prime Minister, which echoes proposals put forth in both the National Dialogue Committee and the Building Bridges Initiative reports. The Bill specifies that the President will appoint the Prime Minister from among members of Parliament, indicating that the Prime Minister shall be the leader of the largest party or coalition of parties in Parliament. This change aims to strengthen the executive branch by ensuring that the Prime Minister has substantial backing from the legislative arm of the government. To enhance the Senates authority, the Bill grants it exclusive powers to vet specific state officers. The Bill articulates its intent, stating, This bill seeks to increase the parliamentary role of the Senate by addressing the issues that have hindered the implementation of the Constitution. This move aims to bolster the Senates influence in governmental affairs. The Bill proposes amendments to several articles, including Articles 152, 156, 157, 166, 215, 228, 229, 245, and 250. These changes will redistribute the responsibility of approving appointments for various state officers between the Senate and the National Assembly. Senate Powers Under this new framework, the Senate will vet and approve appointments for Cabinet secretaries, the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Chief Justice, and judges. It will also oversee appointments for the chairperson of the Commission on Revenue Allocation, the Controller of Budget, the Auditor General, members of the Public Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police, and members of constitutional commissions. Furthermore, the Bill designates the Senate as the appropriate forum for filing petitions to remove members of constitutional commissions or independent officeholders, moving away from the current practice that relies solely on the National Assembly. The principal object of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to amend the Constitution to, among other things, expand the mandate of the Senate, the proposed law outlines. State of Emergency In addition, the Bill seeks to amend Article 58 to require joint approval from both the Senate and the National Assembly for extending a state of emergency. It also stipulates that both Houses of Parliament must now approve the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces within any part of the country, reversing the previous system where the National Assembly held sole authority. The proposed legislation further states that any legislation, except for money billswhich must originate in the National Assemblycan start in either House of Parliament. Additionally, it aims to amend Article 181 regarding the removal procedures for county governors or deputy governors. Under this proposal, any challenge to a governors impeachment by the Senate will be addressed exclusively at the Supreme Court, which is mandated to resolve the case within 30 days. Lastly, the amendment proposes increasing the equitable share of revenue allocated to counties from the current 15 percent to 40 percent, aiming to strengthen devolution and enhance governance at both the national and county levels. This comprehensive Bill has the potential to reshape Kenyas political framework, impacting governance and accountability across the country. A suspect faces fraud charges for allegedly using a forged Diploma Certificate in Journalism and Mass Communication to secure a job with the Kenya Railways Corporation (KR). The charges accuse Edward Ngugi Gatheru of forgery under section 345, as read with section 349 of the Penal Code. He allegedly forged the diploma on or before March 1, 2021, claiming it to be a legitimate certificate issued by NIBS Technical College without lawful authority and with intent to deceive. Gatheru used the forged certificate to falsely claim that he held a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication, allowing him to gain employment with the state corporation. He reportedly earned a gross monthly salary of Kes. 108,000. His salary included a basic pay of Kes. 65,450, plus a house allowance of Kes. 35,000 and a commuter allowance of Kes. 8,000 until July 2023. The State now seeks to recover Kes. 1.95 million from Gatheru, reflecting the total salary he earned during his employment. Diploma Verification Fails KR dismissed Gatheru after the management of NIBS Technical College confirmed that the diploma he presented was not issued by them. He also faces an additional charge of uttering a false document, contrary to section 353 of the Penal Code, and has been charged with the fraudulent acquisition of public property, violating section 45 (1) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA). Gatheru allegedly presented the forged Diploma Certificate at the KR headquarters in Nairobi on March 1, 2021, claiming it to be genuine. He faces accusations of fraudulently acquiring Kes. 1,945,161.24, which he received as salary during his employment at KR using the forged document. Kenya Railways initiated an inquiry by contacting NIBS Technical College to verify the authenticity of the certificate held by Gatheru and two other employees. The college confirmed that Gatheru studied there from 2011 to 2013 but did not receive the diploma he presented. Following this revelation, KR escalated the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The DCI found that although Gatheru completed his studies, he never sat for the required examinations, which meant he was never awarded a diploma certificate. Investigators traced Gatheru and arrested him after concluding their inquiries. He appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Douglas Mutiso at the Makadara Law Courts, where he denied the charges. Gatheru received a bond of Kes. 1 million with a surety of the same amount or a cash bail option of Kes. 500,000. The case is set for mention on November 11, 2024, with the hearing scheduled to begin on April 29, 2025. Modi 3.0: A Shift in Power Dynamics Narendra Modi, once a dominant force in Indian politics, now appears to be struggling to maintain his once-unquestionable influence Thursday September 26, 2024 5:31 PM , Mohd Ziyaullah Khan Modi 3.0 with his minority government is facing a tough time when it comes to smooth governance and monopoly, which we have witnessed in the previous governments. He is facing two significant challenges: surviving votes of no-confidence and successfully passing legislation. These hurdles are crucial for maintaining stability and ensuring governance, especially when the ruling party lacks a clear majority. Modi, once a dominant force in Indian politics, now appears to be struggling to maintain his once-unquestionable influence. As his third term progresses, the momentum that once propelled Modis sweeping reforms and decisive leadership seems to be waning. While still firmly in power, cracks in the foundation of his authority have started to show. But how has one of Indias most powerful leaders begun to lose his impact in the current government? Surviving Vote of No-Confidence One of the key concerns for a minority government like the current one is simply remaining in office for a full five-year term. To achieve this, the ruling party must secure the support of a sufficient number of Members of Parliament (MPs) to survive votes of no-confidence. Historically, minority governments in India have managed to survive with as few as 150 seats, but this number is a critical threshold that cannot be much lower. For example, the coalitions that governed before 2014led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999), Manmohan Singh (2004), and Manmohan Singh again (2009)all completed their five-year terms. Even though their parties had as few as 182, 145, and 206 seats respectively, they managed to govern effectively by keeping their coalition partners together. While these years were marked by frequent reports of tensions and disagreements among coalition partners, all three governments reached the finish line, showing that survival is possible even with a weak majority. The Current Scenario: BJPs Position in the 18th Lok Sabha In the current 18th Lok Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds 240 seats, making it the only party capable of forming a government. Although it no longer enjoys a majority, the BJPs allies understand that their ministries are secure until 2029 as long as they provide their support in key votes. A report from August noted the unusual dynamic in Parliament: while the opposition INDIA bloc reacted in unison, the BJP often appeared isolated, as its allies had little investment in defending the governments ideology. This situation highlights the precarious nature of alliances in minority governments. The coalition partners may remain loyal in terms of voting but have no incentive to champion the governments broader agenda, leading to challenges in governing effectively. Passing Legislation: A Tough Task The second major challenge for minority governments evident in Modi 3.0 is passing legislation. Even if a government is assured of a full term, as seems to be the case with the current BJP administration, it still needs to get its legislative agenda through Parliament. Historical precedent shows that weak governments can pass impactful laws if they have conviction. For instance, Manmohan Singhs 2004 government, with just 145 seats, managed to pass transformative legislation such as the Right to Information Act, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), and the India-U.S. nuclear deal. Similarly, Narasimha Raos government, with a seat count comparable to Modis today, was able to pass sweeping economic reforms that laid the foundation for liberalisation. However, weak governments often face significant roadblocks. The Modi government has already experienced difficulties, as seen with its early U-turns on issues like the Waqf Bill and lateral entry in governance. Passing legislation, especially controversial bills, will become increasingly difficult without a majority. Modis Path Forward: Shifting Focus The current Modi government may need to reconsider its legislative priorities in light of its weakened position. Polarising issues such as the Uniform Civil Code or the National Register of Citizens could lead to fierce opposition and legislative gridlock. Instead, Modi may need to abandon some aspects of Hindutva and adopt a broader, more inclusive governance framework, similar to the approach taken by Vajpayee during his tenure. Entering a third term without any tangible work, Modi seems struggling to find new ideas. Even some of Modis supporters feel a sense of directionlessness in his current term, raising concerns about the governments ability to implement significant reforms. The Final Thoughts Minority governments, while challenging, can still achieve significant legislative success if they are strategic and focused. However, without a clear vision and majority support, Modi could find himself constrained. And forget about finding any relevance with his non-performance in the past few years. The BJPs situation today is akin to the British monarchs symbolic role: The king reigns but does not rule. Without inclusive policies and new ideas, Modi may find himself in office but unable to make meaningful changes. The future of his administration will depend on its ability to adapt and find common ground within a fractured political landscape. This will remain in the longer run, since we now see too many fractures witnessed these days in the BJP. This is likely to prevail, making Modi more irrelevant. (The writer, Mohd Ziyauallah Khan, is a freelance content writer based in Nagpur. He is also an activist and social entrepreneur, co-founder of the group TruthScape, a team of digital activists fighting disinformation on social media.) Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. The opinion of the Napa Valley Register Residents in the city of Napa will have three tax-related measures to consider in November. Measure B is a $230 million school bond; Measure G would increase the sales tax within city limits from 7.75% to 8.75%; and Measure U would extend the 0.5% sales tax transportation carve-out put into place by voters in 2012. Placing aside the wisdom of putting three revenue-related matters on the same ballot, were focused today on Measures B and G. This is partly because those measures will be voted on by city of Napa residents only or, in the case of Measure B, additionally by a handful of voters in NVUSD areas outside of city limits. A discussion on Measure U, a countywide measure, will follow in short order. Measure B - Yes Measure B is the second attempt by Napa Valley Unified in as many years to pass a bond in Napa. In 2022, the district put up both Measure A1 a $200 million bond for schools in and around Napa city and Measure A2 a $25 million bond that focused on American Canyon-area facilities. Though Measure A2 passed, Measure A1 failed by about 100 votes. (School bond measures require a 55% vote to pass.) Proponents say the issue with school facilities is getting ever more dire as construction costs spike partly explaining the reason why the bond price tag has jumped another $30 million between 2022 and 2024. They point to leaky roofs, heating and air conditioning issues, aged classroom furniture, and dozens, if not hundreds, of long-deferred maintenance issues. No one seems to disagree that Napa schools need fixing. Opponents of the measure complain of the increased property tax bill which ends up being about $120 per year for the median homeowner and the fundamentally backward manner in which the state of California funds schools. They appear to agree, though, that NVUSD facilities are in clear need of updates and repair just that the district should find alternative ways to fund it. We dont see it that way. NVUSD is under financial strain from a number of directions: reduced enrollment and changes in funding models among them. The current administration has made some hard and occasionally deeply unpopular decisions to right its fiscal ship. They have shown they can be trusted with the publics money, and the editorial board feels they will do right by all of us. Attractive looking schools will brighten the areas where they sit, provide a better learning environment for our young people, and could potentially boost property values. It seems like a win-win. But while were here, we want to take a moment to express our continuing dismay about how the state funds public education. Very little, if any, money from Sacramento can be used to update facilities, playgrounds, or pay for much of anything beyond the basics. That means communities must agree to tax themselves to keep their schools so often the focus of neighborhoods from becoming dilapidated. Its a system that creates inequity highly visible, tangible inequity among districts across the state. However, we must live within our current reality. As such, we agree that Measure B is necessary and needed. We further trust NVUSDs elected officials and administrators will spend the money frugally and wisely. Measure G - Yes The editorial board also endorses Measure G, the 1% sales tax increase within the city of Napa, though we do so with some reservations. Money raised by the proposed increase estimated to be about $22 million a year will go into the citys general fund. Proponents say this additional funding is needed due to an expected change in state funding related to vehicle licensing fees and public school enrollment. That anticipated loss of $12 million annually starting in 2026 is on top of what proponents say is weakening or unreliable revenues coming from one of its main sources, the Transient Occupancy Tax. These taxes are often popular among residents, as they are paid by visitors to area hotels and resorts. Napa, though, has one of the highest TOT rates in the state bested, oddly enough, by Anaheim and city leaders felt it unwise to push that particular envelope any further. In addition, such revenue rises and falls along with tourism rates and making city services overly reliant on such revenue can be deeply problematic in the face of an economic downturn or, say, a pandemic. We agree that city officials are smart to think ahead and anticipate the storm clouds even if they are years on the horizon. And, given the state of the citys roads and parks not to mention long-standing code enforcement issues we think this additional funding will create an excuse-proof mandate for officials to make headway on some of our more intractable civic problems. This is perhaps doubly true if these pessimistic projections dont pan out, and the city suddenly has more money than expected. However, there are some issues with how this particular measure will function. First, unlike every other sales tax measure passed in Napa, this one does not have a sunset date. It will continue forever unless there is a separate voter-approved measure to repeal it. This is concerning because it asks voters not simply to trust the current City Council, but future ones as well. Second, the revenue is not earmarked for any specific purpose. Because of this, it only requires a simple majority to pass. Under another backwards state law, taxes intended to fund specific things must pass by a two-thirds majority. Proponents state this is part of the reason they made it a general tax as the bar for passage is lower. Though the Yes on Measure G campaign materials provide a list of the things the city might do if it passes, it is under no legal obligation to make those things actually happen. Citizen oversight boards are often toothless, serving often as an after-the-fact advisory body. Despite the reservations, we still endorse its passage. It will become clear in short order if the money is being used to improve our streets, neighborhoods and public facilities. If it is not, we will advocate for its repeal. But its clear Napa needs an upgrade, and this is the most straightforward way to do just that. The Oxford College campus buzzed with insights as more than 40 speakers and performers across disciplines presented at the inaugural Ideas Festival Emory Sept. 20-22. Part of the recently-launched Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement, the festival brought together creative thinkers from myriad industries and universities including more than a dozen Emory faculty, staff and alumni with community members to discuss some of the biggest topics of our time. From climate change and AI to film and music, the festival offered a unique look at the intersections of scholarship, science and creative practice. Ken Carter, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Oxford and the centers founding director, helped kick off the festival. Our keynote features three incredible people who embody the spirit of creativity and scholarly curiosity this festival is all about, Carter said in his introduction to the opening session a live recording of the Sing for Science podcast at the Oxford Student Center. Podcast host Matt Whyte led the conversation with Jermaine Dupri a Grammy-winning producer, hip-hop artist and Atlanta native and Joycelyn Wilson, a Georgia Tech professor of hip-hop studies and digital humanities. After the discussion, Dupri announced a new internship for Emory students at his record label, So So Def Recordings. The festival also closed with an episode of Sing for Science featuring SOFI TUKKER, a Grammy-nominated musical duo, and Maria Ortiz, the food scientist behind the popular Instagram account All You Knead Is Bread. Carter called the podcast with Dupri the appetizer of the Ideas Festival. And the cornucopia of sessions that followed on Saturday and Sunday? The buffet, Carter said. Photos by Jenni Girtman (Atlanta Event Photography) and Kay Hinton and Sarah Woods (Emory Photo/Video). Gregory D. DeYong is an SIU Carbondale associate professor of operations management. (Photo by Russell Bailey) SIU logistics expert: Possible dock strikes could have staggering impact on supply chain by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. If the countrys largest maritime workers union goes on strike next week at ports along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast, nearly half of the nations imports would be without a path into the country, which could cause supply chain disruptions reminiscent of the pandemic era, says Gregory D. DeYong, a Southern Illinois University Carbondale associate professor of operations management. As its contract expiration date nears on Oct. 1, 2024, the International Longshoremens Association (ILA), which represents about 85,000 members, is preparing to go on strike, potentially closing 36 ports. JPMorgan analysts say a work stoppage could result in an economic impact of $5 billion daily. The U.S. imports approximately $3 trillion in goods each year, so the scale of this potential disruption would be truly staggering, DeYong said. Even a short strike could easily disrupt billions of dollars in trade. In addition, these ports handle a significant portion of U.S. exports, particularly to Europe, which would also be disrupted. Media availability Gregory D. DeYong, associate professor of operations management at SIU Carbondale, can be reached at gdeyong@siu.edu. Unavoidable impact DeYong noted that nearly every type of product could be affected but imports of automobiles and exports of agricultural and manufactured products would likely be particularly hard hit. Unfortunately, U.S. exporters and importers dont have many good options to avoid the impact of this potential strike for a number of reasons, DeYong said. First, there are no real options to avoid East Coast ports for transport, particularly for shipments between the U.S. and Europe. The cost of air freight is prohibitive, and the available capacity is low compared to ocean freight. Shipments to West Coast ports would be time-consuming, and therefore costly, and the West Coast ports dont have sufficient capacity to handle even a small portion of East Coast freight, in addition to their existing traffic. Other North American ports, such as those in Canada and Mexico, can handle a portion of the freight, but rerouting to these ports would necessitate long overland journeys as well as customs issues. He noted that supply chain managers have been taking steps to mitigate the possible strike by expediting shipments to arrive before Oct. 1 if possible, and where possible, rerouting shipments. Ports have extended operating hours to overtime and weekends as well, but despite these steps, the effects have been minimal due to the high volume coming into these ports. The companies whose contingency plans allow domestic sourcing have a little more leeway, but such a large trade disruption will have widespread impacts, he said. Those impacts include product shortages, higher prices and delivery delays. Further compounding the situation is the approaching holiday shopping season. Whats at stake The heart of the labor-management disagreement is automation of port activities, DeYong said. Port management, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance, is keen to reduce costs and labor reliance by automating tasks such as unloading vessels and moving containers. The ILA is adamantly opposed to these efforts, DeYong said. Pay is also an issue in the talks, on which the two parties are reportedly nowhere near reaching an agreement. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has expressed an unwillingness to step in, even though the Taft-Hartley Act does grant the executive branch the ability to compel the longshoremen back to work, he said. As we have seen with recent rail strikes, there is a political price associated with strike breaking, DeYong said. In addition, the union has hinted at a potential work slowdown if the members were forced back to work. Also potentially exacerbating the situation, more than 700 dock foremen at the Port of Vancouver, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514, are conducting a strike vote. The Freight Management Association and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade say a dock strike there could shut down critical terminals on Canadas west coast, resulting in trade disruptions. DeYong has personal experience as well as professional knowledge in supply chain management. Before becoming a faculty member, he worked as an import/export manager, where he was responsible for about $100 million in products annually. DeYong is currently working to establish a Center for Supply Chain Management and Logistics within SIUs College of Business and Analytics. Frances Krauskopf Conley, MD, a trailblazing neurosurgeon at Stanford Medicine, who, in 1982, became the countrys first female tenured professor in neurosurgery and later made national headlines for speaking out against sexism in medicine, died Aug. 5, 2024, in Sea Ranch, California, after a long illness. She was 83. She was a highly skilled and innovative surgeon, specializing in spinal surgeries and carotid artery blockages; an accomplished researcher, studying how the immune system might be harnessed to fight brain tumors; and a compelling educator whose legacy continues to inspire new generations entering the profession. She also served as chief of staff at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Health System from 1998 to 2000. Dr. Conley was an outstanding neurosurgeon who was driven to pursue both excellence and equality in her work, said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the Stanford School of Medicine and vice president of medical affairs at Stanford University. Her fight for her own dignity and the dignity of others facing discrimination left an indelible impact on the Stanford Medicine community and beyond. Conley possessed the confidence and fearlessness not uncommon among surgeons in a highly competitive field, but she was singular among her peers in having to apply those qualities to navigate ingrained prejudices throughout her career. She was very much a fighter, and she probably needed to be a fighter, said John Adler, MD, professor emeritus of neurosurgery, who became friends with Conley after she recruited him to Stanford in 1987. Being one of the first women in the specialty, she faced more skepticism than most. As a medical student in the early 1990s and later as a neurosurgery resident, Odette Harris, MD, encountered Conley in operating rooms and in lecture halls. Her visibility, her accomplishments blazed a path for us all, said Harris, the Paralyzed Veterans of America Professor in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine and one of the first Black female professors of neurosurgery in the country. We could look to her. There was nobody else in the country that had a woman neurosurgeon on faculty. Harris remembers attending a neuroscience lecture in which Conley talked about how high heels contributed to back pain and posture problems, yet women had tolerated wearing shoes designed by men who would never wear them. As a back surgeon, she was on a campaign against them, Harris said. She actually wore trainers. She stood for something, and she was unapologetic about it, regardless of how popular or unpopular it was. After Harris graduated from medical school and started her career, once in a while she would receive an unsolicited letter of encouragement from Conley. She went out of her way to reach out to me and to provide me with what I call stealth support, Harris said. She always wrote at a time when I felt like the support was powerful. The fact that she celebrated in my accomplishments was incredibly meaningful to me. Joining an exclusive group Frances Krauskopf was born Aug. 12, 1940, in Palo Alto, California. Her father was a professor of geochemistry at Stanford University. Her mother raised four kids, then returned to work as a teacher and counselor. Her parents encouraged her career aspirations, but she recalled that even in my wonderful, egalitarian, liberal, academic family, her brother was given a life insurance policy for his 16th birthday, whereas she and her sisters were given sewing machines for theirs. She attended Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania for two years before transferring to Stanford University. She applied to the Stanford School of Medicine after her junior year and began medical school in 1961, part of a class with an unusually high number of women for the time 12 out of 60. She recalled that nearly everything they were taught, from physiology to biochemistry, was from the normal perspective of the 70-kilogram man, the paradigm upon which all traditional medical education was based. Womens health focused almost entirely on their reproductive function. Between her first and second years of medical school, she met Philip Conley, a tall, handsome California Institute of Technology graduate with an MBA from Harvard. They were both gifted athletes, she as a runner, and he in javelin he represented the United States at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. They were married the following summer. In 1966, she became the first female surgical resident at Stanford University Hospital. As with acceptance to medical school, I was so happy to just be included I would have walked on my hands for the entire year if that was what it took to belong and be part of this exclusive group, she wrote. The contribution of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow significantly over the next few years. According to a report by U Grow, the share of MSMEs in the country's GDP is currently around 30 per cent and is likely to increase to around 40 per cent by 2027. The report also highlighted that the MSMEs will play a crucial role in India achieving its goal of become a developed nation, or "Viksit Bharat," by 2047. "From FY18 to FY22, the contribution of MSMEs to India's GDP has been around 29 per cent to 30 per cent. By 2027, MSMEs are expected to increase their GDP contribution to 35-40 per cent up from the current approx 30 per cent. Unlocking the potential of MSMEs is crucial for India to achieve its goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat (a developed economy) by 2047" said the report. The report stated that one of the key factors behind this growth is the rapid formalization of MSMEs through registration on the UDYAM portal. Launched in FY21, the portal has seen a near doubling of registrations each year. As per report this formalization process helped small businesses gain better access to government initiatives, such as financial support, subsidies, and improved market opportunities. The report also pointed to the growing role of women-led MSMEs, which are registering in greater numbers on the UDYAM portal, despite representing a smaller share of overall MSMEs. "Currently, one in five UDYAM-registered MSMEs is led by women, and these businesses contribute to one in five jobs created by MSMEs, even with lower investment and turnover" the report added. However, the report said that the women-led MSMEs are generally smaller than their counterparts, and accounts for only one in ten rupees of investment and turnover. The report noted that despite the substantial role of MSMEs in the economy, its share in commercial credit remains relatively low. In FY24, they accounted for only about 6.3 per cent of total commercial credit. However, the report added that this share has improved by 60 basis points from FY19 to FY24, indicating growing access to credit for MSMEs. The central government has also reiterated its commitment to supporting the growth of MSMEs. In the Union Budget for 2024-25, the government announced a comprehensive package aimed at promoting labor-intensive manufacturing and MSME development. This includes funding, regulatory reforms, technology support, and special initiatives to encourage women entrepreneurs. The report concluded that the increased adoption of technology and digitalization will further formalize the MSME sector, giving these businesses greater access to credit and markets. (ANI) PRNewswire New York [US], September 26: ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, recently announced that Summer Chen, Vice President at ZTE, was invited to participate in SDG Digital and delivered a keynote speech at "A Digital Future for All" at United Nations Headquarters. During her speech, Chen shared ZTE's global efforts to leverage digital technologies for biodiversity protection, and articulated the company's strong commitment to advancing meaningful global connectivity and digital transformation, while actively promoting initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "A Digital Future for All" is the digital track of the Summit of the Future Action Days. Convened by the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology (OSET), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the digital track has brought forward-looking commitments from all stakeholders to harness innovation, science and data in a more inclusive, safe and sustainable manner, advancing a collective vision for leveraging digital technologies to deliver a more sustainable, inclusive, and responsible future. In Summer Chen's address, she emphasized that ZTE, in collaboration with Sanjiangyuan National Park, China Mobile Qinghai Branch, and China Tower, navigated extreme natural conditions and technical challenges to deliver a comprehensive telecommunication solution for Kekexili Nature Reserve, featuring high-capacity microwave technology, base stations and long-distance coverage. This initiative successfully established the first 5G base station at Zhuonai Lake Protection Station, enabling real-time monitoring of Tibetan antelope births and enhancing communication for guardians in challenging environments. The advancement also opens new possibilities for future environmental protection, ecological monitoring, scientific expeditions, and innovative management of protected areas. "ZTE is actively engaging in biodiversity protection initiatives worldwide," Chen stated. "In Austria, we partnered with Drei Austria and IoT40 on the 5G Bee-o-Meter project to enhance the survival environment for bees. In Sichuan Province, China, we have rolled out Panda's Coming, the world's first panda protection 5G Messaging application to aid in habitat conservation and the daily work of rangers. Furthermore, as one of the first ITU P2C Champions, ZTE is dedicated to promoting digital transformation and meaningful connectivity in least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS), helping to bridge the global digital divide." Additionally, Summer Chen was invited to attend the "SDG Digital GameChangers Award Ceremony" and "SDG Digital Debrief Session: Moving the Mission Forward". During these events, she further shared ZTE's initiatives in leading digital transformation worldwide. One notable initiative is ZTE's recent collaboration with Orange Liberia to successfully complete its first rural network project, "Enhance Rural Area". This project has established 128 Rural EcoSites in Liberia, providing low-cost, easy-to-deploy and environmentally friendly (solar-powered) network services to locals, and effectively addressing connectivity issues in remote areas where conventional network solutions failed. As a result, over 580,000 rural users now benefit from enhanced digital, financial, and energy services, laying a solid foundation for the digital future of Liberia and Africa as a whole. As a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Global Electronics Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), ZTE remains committed to its vision "To Enable Connectivity and Trust Everywhere". The company strives to bridge the global digital divide by upholding the principle of Tech for All and driving digital innovations, thereby contributing new momentum toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. MEDIA INQUIRIES:ZTE CorporationCommunicationsEmail: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Net Non-Performing Assets (NNPAs) of scheduled commercial banks (SCB) saw a sharp decline, reducing by 24.9 per cent y-o-y to Rs 1 lakh crore as of June 30, 2024, according to CareEdge Ratings. The gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) fell by 15.2 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to Rs 4.57 lakh crore as of Q1FY25, compared to Rs 5.66 lakh crore in the same period last year. The GNPA ratio now stands at 2.8 per cent, a reduction from 3.8 per cent a year ago. This drop is primarily due to lower slippages, higher recoveries, and steady write-offs over the last year. The Indian banking sector has continued its positive trajectory with reductions in both gross and net non-performing assets NPAs for SCBs as of June 30, 2024. The NNPA ratio has reached an all-time low of 0.6 per cent, down from 1.0 per cent in Q1FY24. Despite this, the decline in NNPAs within SCBs varied, as private banks (PVBs) witnessed a marginal increase of 3 basis points (bps) in their NNPA ratio, driven by seasonal collection weaknesses and higher retail delinquencies, leading to a current NNPA ratio of 0.46 per cent. Private sector banks (PSB), in particular, have managed to bring down their incremental provisioning levels due to consistent asset quality improvements. They have contributed to the overall improvement in the banking sector's asset quality. The proposed provisioning norms for projects under construction by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) could impact SCBs' credit costs in the coming years, with public banks expected to see a 0.2 per cent increase in credit costs between FY25 and FY27. Additionally, private banks could face a 0.1 per cent increase during the same period.Moreover, downside risks to this positive trend include elevated crude oil prices, a potential global economic slowdown, and tightening global monetary policies. These factors could influence asset quality and profitability in the coming quarters. The Indian banking sector's asset quality has reached pre-asset quality review (AQR) levels. The GNPA ratio of SCBs at 2.8 per cent and the NNPA ratio at 0.6 per cent reflect a sustained improvement. Credit offtake, which grew by 18.1 per cent y-o-y in Q1FY25, is expected to remain strong, supported by economic expansion, capital expenditure increases, and government schemes like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) initiative. While the outlook for SCBs remains positive, external economic factors and RBI's proposed provisioning changes may influence the trajectory of asset quality in the coming quarters. (ANI) VMPL New Delhi [India], September 26: Following Medusa Fashion House's impactful participation in London Fashion Week on September 13, 2024, Sonal Vig Jindal has firmly established herself as a transformative figure in the global fashion industry. Her growth-oriented mindset and strategic vision are elevating Indian craftsmanship and creating vital connections between emerging designers and international markets. This year's showcase, featured under the prestigious British Fashion Council's calendar, marked a significant milestone for Indian fashion. Designers such as Nitin Bal Chauhan, known for his blend of Indian folklore and contemporary aesthetics, and Shuchi Bhutani, celebrated for her commitment to sustainable practices, captivated audiences and buyers alike. The diverse collections highlighted the depth and richness of Indian design, showcasing its relevance on the global stage. Notably, Prakhar Rao, with his innovative approach to textiles and design, added an exciting dimension to the lineup, further emphasizing the talent emerging from India. A standout feature of the showcase was the collaboration with Bastar Adimjati Khadi Gramudyog Sangh, reinforcing Sonal's dedication to promoting Khadi as a modern fabric while honoring its traditional roots. This partnership allowed designers like Harvinder Kaur Gill (Harry) and Lipika Saurastri to present collections that merge age-old techniques with innovative designs, resonating with contemporary audiences. Moreover, the partnership with Venus Steps Shoes, a luxury footwear brand, added an extra layer of sophistication to the runway, ensuring that every look was a complete celebration of craftsmanship and style. Sonal's strategic approach extends beyond showcasing talent; she actively seeks to build relationships with global buyers to facilitate access to lucrative international markets. Her collaboration with the National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, exemplifies her commitment to uplifting marginalized artisans and designers. By fostering entrepreneurship and providing essential support, NBCFDC plays a pivotal role in ensuring that underrepresented voices are heard and valued within the fashion industry. Sonal has already transformed the narrative around Indian participation in global fashion. After the February 2024 show, media headlines declared, "Is London Fashion Week the New Hub for Indian Designers?" This sentiment evolved following the September showcase, with the proclamation that "India Takes Centre Stage at London Fashion Week." With the excitement from these successful showcases still resonating, anticipation is building for Medusa's next participation in February 2025. Sonal is eagerly looking forward to this upcoming season, where she plans to unveil even more groundbreaking collections that will further elevate Indian design on the global stage. Through her visionary leadership, Sonal Vig Jindal is not just making waves in the fashion world; she is paving the way for a vibrant and inclusive future for Indian design, ensuring it thrives on the global stage. (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) Adani Group company Ambuja Cements has joined the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization (AFID)--a global alliance of companies across industries to accelerate the Net Zero transition in line with the Paris Agreement. In a statement, the Adani Group company said Ambuja is the first cement manufacturer in the world to become a part of AFID, a global platform for exchanging insights and experiences among private and public stakeholders in the energy-intensive sectors. The company, operating in the cement industry, aims to achieve Net Zero by 2050, with targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As part of its green energy commitment, it has announced a plan to invest Rs 100 billion in renewable energy projects of 1GW capacity and 376 MW of energy from the Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS), to power 60 per cent of its expanded capacity through green power by FY2028. "This ambitious goal will reduce the carbon footprint and offer compelling economic advantages," Ambuja Cements said. Ambuja Cements utilized over 8.6 million tonnes of waste-derived resources and became 11x water-positive and 8x plastic-negative in FY24. "This marks another significant step for Ambuja in its sustainability journey. We are already amongst the lowest emission-intensity cement producers globally and are undertaking a number of strategic initiatives to further reduce our GHG emission footprint. Being a member of the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization would allow us to leverage the experiences of global cross-sector industry peers, and in turn, share our approach to decarbonization," said Karan Adani, Non-Executive Director, Ambuja Cements. The AFID aims to facilitate dialogue on an industry level and increase cooperation to help companies develop solid decarbonization strategies aligned with their countries' commitments. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) coordinates and facilitates the activities of the alliance. (ANI) PRNewswire Dhahran [Saudi Arabia], September 26: Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) has entered into a partnership with TruDoc Healthcare to enhance patient care through the expansion of the Care Anywhere program. Combining TruDoc's expertise in Hospital at Home and Telehealth services with JHAH's unwavering commitment to medical excellence, the collaboration signifies a major milestone in the Kingdom to bring patient-centric healthcare for all. Ushering in a new era of care, the partnership introduces a groundbreaking approach to healthcare delivery, offering JHAH patients integrated digital consultations and at-home medical services. This initiative aims to simplify healthcare access by bringing high-quality medical care directly to patients in their homes. Commenting on the initiative Dr Michael Walsh, CEO, JHAH said, "This initiative represents a pivotal moment in our mission at JHAH to innovate and personalize healthcare. Our expanded telehealth services, launched in 2023, now offers round-the-clock primary care, eliminating barriers such as travel and wait times, and seamlessly integrating into our patients' lives. With this latest advancement, we are enabling patients to transition from hospital to home while maintaining continuous access to exceptional medical care. This partnership underscores our dedication to ensuring that the highest standards of medical excellence are accessible right in the comfort of our patient's homes, supported by a dedicated professional team and cutting-edge technology." With over a decade of experience in the UAE, TruDoc Healthcare brings its renowned telehealth, remote patient monitoring and homecare expertise. Central to this offering is a state-of-the-art, doctor-led Command Centre, providing live patient monitoring and personalized care. By leveraging JHAH's extensive medical expertise and patient-first approach, patients can now access top-tier healthcare services from the comfort of their homes. "TruDoc Healthcare's vision is to transcend traditional healthcare paradigms, introducing a sophisticated, patient-first approach," remarked Asad Khan, CEO of TruDoc Healthcare Saudi Arabia. "Our partnership with JHAH embodies this vision, offering premium Hospital at Home and Telemedicine services that guarantee round-the-clock access to hospital-level care and primary healthcare from the comfort of patients' homes. This strategy is designed to provide a comprehensive suite of health solutions, from routine wellness and mental health support to urgent care consultations, all delivered with the hallmark precision and empathy for which JHAH and TruDoc are known." The collaboration enables the deployment of seamlessly connected Hospital at Home services, equipped with advanced telemonitoring capabilities. This hybrid model ensures continuous, high-quality care, delivering hospital-level precision within the home environment and expanding Telemedicine Services to 24/7 access with the convenience of concierge-style care. Patients can access this premium service through referrals from their specialist doctors, allowing for early discharge and continued hospital-level care at home. Initially, the program aims to provide 8,000 bed days a year and serve thousands of patients, with plans to expand and cover a wide range of specialties, including infectious diseases, cardiology, geriatric care, and LTC patients. By reducing hospital admissions, enhancing patient outcomes, and improving overall healthcare accessibility and quality of life, this partnership is poised to make a significant impact on healthcare delivery in the Kingdom. Key Partnership Highlights * Clinical Excellence at Home: The partnership delivers hospital-quality care directly to patients' homes, combining leading medical experts with personalized treatment plans, executed with precision and compassion. * Revolutionized Telehealth & Monitoring: The integration of advanced remote monitoring systems with cutting-edge technology supports continuous patient care and enhances healthcare outcomes. * Continuous Care Delivery Model: A new care model integrates comprehensive medical knowledge with advanced telemedicine and telemonitoring capabilities, creating a responsive care continuum for both immediate and future health needs. * Evidence-Based, Personalized Home Care: Treatment plans are meticulously crafted based on evidence-based medical protocols, tailored to meet each patient's unique health needs, ensuring personalized care in a home setting. About Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH), a premier healthcare organization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stands at the forefront of medical innovation and excellence. It offers a holistic approach to healthcare that merges pioneering medical research with patient-focused care. With a commitment to quality and sustainability, JHAH provides a comprehensive suite of healthcare services, from advanced inpatient care to outpatient services and community health programs. Emphasizing preventative medicine and the continuous improvement of health services. For More Details Please Visit: www.jhah.com About TruDoc Healthcare TruDoc Healthcare, the GCC's leading Telehealth and Hospital at Home provider, offers a "virtual first" approach to healthcare delivery, ensuring high-quality, accessible services. With round-the-clock expert consultations, evidence-based care, and centralized medical records, TruDoc prioritizes patient needs while leveraging state-of-the-art technology. Whether delivered virtually, in-home, or in-clinic as necessary, TruDoc focuses on accessibility, quality, and cost-effectiveness, reshaping healthcare delivery and promoting overall well-being. For More Details Please Visit: www.trudocgroup.com Media Contact: TruDoc KSAmarcom@trudochealth.com WhatsApp: +966-532-927-771Domestic: 800-100-0225International: +966-135-122-210 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515207/TruDoc_JHAH.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2465870/TruDoc_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], September 26: In a groundbreaking move, TaxSpanner and KarmaLife have partnered to streamline the tax refund process for gig workers associated with major delivery and mobility platforms. This collaboration aims to simplify the recovery of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) by gig platforms, typically at the rate of 1-2 per cent of worker earnings, for an emerging worker segment estimated to reach 30 million by the end of the decade. Launched in July 2024, the service has already reached over 10,000 gig workers and seen a 98 per cent filing-to-refund rate with an average refund value of nearly Rs 4000, which constituted a quarter of the average gig worker's monthly take-home earnings. The solution combines a self-serve digital data validation flow with on-call assistance to enable quick tax filings and refund processing with minimal documentation and maximum time efficiency. KarmaLife's existing userbase and employer data integrations enable access to gig workers and their consented relevant data, whereas TaxSpanner's ERI status facilitates linkage to the IT portal and its certified tax filing experts versed in major regional languages. Gig workers are notoriously time-constrained and weary of what is perceived to be a cumbersome tax filing process. A majority remain unaware of the opportunity to claim refunds and are not even registered with the Income Tax Department. Those who file taxes typically pay arbitrary and exorbitant fees to financial intermediaries and small accountants. This partnership offers an affordable, optimised, transparent and secure solution for these workers to comply with Government requirements and reclaim a significant portion of their income. It also helps educate contractual workers by demystifying the tax process with a simpler presumptive income-based tax calculation (under sections AD, ADA and AE of the IT Act), which applies specifically to them and empowers them to control their finances. One beneficiary with a participating enterprise mobility platform clarified: "We've benefited greatly from this initiative. We were unsure how to file for ITR to claim our TDS, which was deducted every month. The KarmaLife team educated us through the process and helped us file our return. Thanks to their solution, we were able to complete the filing in a day using just a few documents and WhatsApp texts. The entire process was completed smoothly and I got a refund of Rs 8500." Multiple gig platforms across delivery logistics, ride-sharing and home services have partnered on this initiative, recognising the positive impact it will have on their partner workforce. According to Rohit Rathi, CEO of KarmaLife: "Our collaboration with TaxSpanner has been a game-changer for the gig economy. We are thrilled to see so many benefits from a streamlined and user-friendly tax refund process. It's a step towards greater financial security for this essential workforce." Sudhir Kaushik, CEO of TaxSpanner, echoed: "This partnership sets a new standard in the gig economy, providing critical financial relief and education to those who need it most. We are excited to see its positive impact and look forward to expanding this model to benefit even more workers." As the gig economy continues to grow, this partnership serves as a model for future initiatives aimed at supporting workers in similar sectors. By offering additional resources and guidance on tax filing for both platforms and their workers, TaxSpanner and Karma Life are committed to improving the financial well-being of gig economy workers. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], September 26: A powerful brand from Estee Lauder Companies was created in 2005 by an architect and a cutting-edge dermatologist. Inspired by art, they wanted to create the first Active Derma skincare brand in Korea that didn't require a doctor's visit. Fueled by Korean skincare innovation and the energy of Seoul, Dr.Jart+ harnesses the most advanced ingredients and technology with an artful delivery. The result: an unexpected fusion of SKIN. SCIENCE. ART. The brand's high-performance skincare innovations with a playful, artful twist have now come to India only on Nykaa. Dr.Jart+ means "Doctor Joins Art" SKIN, SCIENCE, and ART is Dr.Jart+'s unique point of difference. SKIN Dr.Jart+ is renowned as the go-to expert for skin barrier. Our products deliver high-performance skincare with immediate and long-term derm claims and benefits, all with unique textures that cater to various skin types. SCIENCE We bring the best of Korean innovation and scientific discoveries first-to-market (technology, patented ingredients and product forms). ART We differentiate from the clinical dermal and scape with optimistic and surprising story-telling that makes high-performance skincare fun. Dr.Jart+'s voice is bold, unique, unexpected Dr.Jart+ Korean innovation is surprisingly easy to understand thanks to its creative drive and vibrant colors. Dr. Jart+ is serious skincare made accessible in every sense: genderless, modern, and fun. Art is the lens through which Dr.Jart+ views the world. Just as the arts evolve, so does the imagery of Dr.Jart+. The brand always enriches and entertains, with a modern twist that is utterly original, proving that even serious skincare can spark a smile. Shop bestsellers now on Nykaa (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], September 26: Imarticus Learning, India's leading professional education company, has reported a 100% year-on-year increase in enquiries for its 100% Job Assured Postgraduate Program in Data Science and Analytics. This surge reflects the growing need for professionals to upskill and adapt to India's evolving data economy, where digitisation has positioned data as a core asset for growth across industries. The program has seen a 70% increase in enrolments with a balanced 56:44 male-to-female ratio. It is reshaping how professionals approach data science. The success is further amplified by word-of-mouth referrals from previous batches, driving interest as graduates share their positive experiences with friends and relatives. With over 300 completed batches across 15 centers, the program highlights its wide-reaching impact. The program's 100% job assurance offering remains a defining feature; it provides a degree of security that only a few others can match in today's rapidly changing field of education. Beyond job assurance, the program equips learners with a nuanced understanding of emerging technologies, touching on critical topics like the ethics of AI, data privacy regulations, and the limits of automation. This comprehensive approach not only enhances their technical skills but also instils long-term confidence in their career paths. Nikhil Barshikar, Founder and Managing Director of Imarticus Learning, commented, "We're not just teaching data science; we are teaching data science professionals to dream a little, to question the utility of data, to challenge what it is they're being given and question how they could explore the next horizon of these emerging technologies. Our growth reflects that people now want more than just an employability skill; they want insightful learning experiences in the world of data." Imarticus Learning's intensive career services, including mock interviews, personalised career mentoring, and national-level data science hackathons, have been vital in driving this placement success. The fact that the cutting-edge job-oriented curriculum includes topics like machine learning, deep learning and dynamic programming makes them job-ready for a variety of roles ranging from Data Scientist to Business Analyst to Machine Learning Engineer and more. Moreover, the 6-month program boasts a network of over 3500+ global hiring partners, including industry leaders like Infosys, Wipro, Genpact, J.P. Morgan, Deloitte, PwC, and Accenture, among others, actively recruiting Imarticus Learning graduates. The program also includes 10 guaranteed interviews. However, its experiential learning model puts Imarticus Learning above the rest. The program features 300+ hours of learning and more than 25 live business projects across sectors to orient learners to professionally apply data science to live industry challenges. The curriculum also goes beyond what is standard, including the use of hands-on experience with 10+ tools like Power BI, Tableau, Scikit-learn, Spark, and Hadoop and encouraging learners to solve live, complex problems via hackathons involving small teams, in essence, teaching students in a data-infused world how to interrogate data and what it can tell them. In a fast-evolving industry where skills from a few months ago may no longer be sufficient, Imarticus is committed to preparing its learners for the current trends and an adaptable future. About Imarticus Learning Imarticus Learning is a leading Edtech company in India, offering high-quality, industry-specific education via innovative technology, specialised training, career assistance, and mentorship from industry professionals. It has impacted over 10,00,000 careers within a decade through leading-edge curriculums, highly experienced faculty, and over 500 global partnerships with leading institutions and corporations. Imarticus Learning seeks to upskill existing and future workers to fulfil various industries' current and upcoming job market demands. Its objective is to provide learners with valuable learning experiences, educate them with industry-specific skills, and prepare them to take on multiple job roles in their sector. Imarticus Learning is renowned for its unique teaching methodology, including immersive live lectures (online and offline), peer-to-peer discussions, hybrid learning modules, industry-focused seminars, capstone projects, guest lectures, soft skills training, etc. It offers courses that prepare learners for successful careers in data science, analytics, finance, banking, and technology. (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) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], September 26: BUSINESSNEXT, a leader in composable enterprise solutions for banks and financial services, has received the "Best Employer for Women" Award at the 5th Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Awards and Conclave-2024 organized by Assocham in New Delhi. The award recognizes the company's unwavering commitment to empowering women and fostering an inclusive, equitable workplace. Promoting 'Women Empowerment' is at the core of BUSINESSNEXT's mission. The company has notably implemented various measures aimed at supporting its female workforce and creating an environment where they can thrive. Initiatives such as flexible work arrangements, leadership development programs, strong support for women returning after maternity leave have contributed to building a supportive and inclusive environment, and employee wellness initiatives that address multiple aspects of well-being, helped the company secure the 2nd runner-up trophy. Building on this accolade, the company is taking its commitment to gender equality to new heights. Currently, 20% of leadership roles at BUSINESSNEXT are held by women directly reporting to the CEO, a number that the company plans to grow as part of its broader strategy to create an inclusive and thriving workplace. "This award is not just an honor; it is a testament to dedication and commitment to championing gender diversity and empowering women at BUSINESSNEXT," said Lipika Mohanty, Director of People and Development at BUSINESSNEXT. While sharing her excitement, she further added, "Our recognition as the "best employer for women" is not just a milestone, It is woven into the very fabric of our core values and is a fundamental part of our organisational DNA. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace drives, innovation and success. Our strategic focus on inclusive leadership and career advancement for women will guide us as we set new benchmark for workplace equality in the years to come. With this recognition, we are excited to expand our initiatives and further integrate the principles of inclusivity and equity into our everyday practises." Over the years, BUSINESSNEXT has continuously strengthened its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion. In 2023, it was honored with the "Best Organization for Women" award by The Economic Times. Additionally, cultivating an inclusive workplace has earned it the title of 'Most Preferred Workplace' for two consecutive years (2023-2024 and 2024-2025) by India Today in collaboration with Marksmen Daily. BUSINESSNEXT offers composable enterprise solutions focused on global banks and financial services. Recognized as a leader by Forrester, it uses AI and ML-driven cloud platforms--CRMNEXT, CUSTOMERNEXT, DATANEXT & WORKNEXT--to enable digital transformation. Its modular hyper SaaS modular solutions provide seamless integration and plug-and-play capabilities. Serving over 1 million users across 65,000 branches and call centers, BUSINESSNEXT manages 1 billion customers worldwide. With headquarters in Raleigh, USA, and Noida, India, the company operates in 14 countries across 5 continents. For more information visit www.businessnext.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], September 26: BIBA, India's leading and homegrown fashion brand, made a stunning impact at the India Kids Fashion Week (IKFW) in Delhi on 21st September with their vibrant BIBA Girls Collection. Designed for young girls aged 2-15, the collection lit up the runway, featuring bright, playful, and stylish Indian wear, including lehengas, suit sets, shararas, and everyday casuals. The collection highlighted BIBA's commitment to blending tradition with modern fashion, providing young girls with both elegance and comfort. The grand finale of the show saw 45 kid models gracefully walking the ramp, showcasing beautifully crafted outfits that struck a perfect balance between Indian aesthetics and contemporary trends. Each piece from the collection exuded youthful charm, as the models captured the essence of festive vibrancy and youthful energy, captivating the audience with their delightful presence. In recognition of her outstanding designs, Shraddha Bindra, Creative Director at fashion label BIBA was awarded the Designer of the Year award at the event. She expressed her gratitude, stating, "We are thrilled to be a part of this prestigious platform. The Delhi showcase has given us the opportunity to present our BIBA Girls collection. This collection is a celebration of the unique spirit of young girls. Each design in this collection is crafted with care, keeping both style and comfort in mind. We aim to empower them with fashion that resonates with their personality while honouring our rich heritage." The event was a visual treat, with every element curated to enhance the experience. From the carefully choreographed sequences to the lively music and background visuals, every aspect of the show reflected the vibrant spirit of BIBA Girls. The Delhi showcase marked the second of several BIBA Girls appearances at India Kids Fashion Week. The first show by IKFS was scheduled in Ahmedabad. The upcoming shows are scheduled for Jaipur on 29th September, and Mumbai on 5th & 6th October. BIBA has long been a trailblazer in the Indian ethnic wear market, offering beautifully crafted, high-quality clothing for women and girls. The BIBA Girls collection continues this tradition, creating a blend of timeless Indian heritage and contemporary trends, ensuring that young girls not only look stylish but also feel comfortable and confident. BIBA, a synonym for pretty women in Punjabi, is literally a home-grown Indian fashion wear brand, started by Meena Bindra from her house in Bombay with a partly sum of eight thousand, way back in 1988. Soon, the brand started spreading its wings in and around the city as the product's styling and beautiful handblock prints started getting a fantastic response from the local communities, including many film stars as well. The retail revolution in the country gave the brand the desired recognition and an opportunity to grow across the country. Symbolizing the strength and the spirit of today's woman, BIBA today is the most loved Indian wear brand in the country. With a prime objective of providing trend-setting and fashionable Indian attire at an affordable price, BIBA products are available in all three categories of SKD (Salwar Kameez Dupatta), M&M (Mix & Match) and Unstitched Fabric. Now, BIBA has diversified its product from jewellery, fragrance, wallet and footwear The popular demand from its avid patrons led the company to introduce BIBA Girls, a dedicated range for kids between 2 to 15 years. With an aim to tap the burgeoning premium ethnic and bridal wear segment in the country, BIBA recently acquired a substantial minority stake in the designer label- Anju Modi and Rohit Bal. BIBA products are available through 355 stores across 26 states in India, apart from the presence in all the major retail chains in the country like Shopper's Stop, Lifestyle, Pantaloons and Central. Over the years, the brand has received awards & recognition from various organisations like Shoppers Stop, Myntra, Images Group for being the 'Most Admired Women's Indian Wear Brand' on many occasions credited to its innovative designs, fit, silhouettes and varied colour palette. Our Founder & Chairperson Meena Bindra has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by CMAI and Franchise India for her contribution to the apparel industry. The brand is guided by the vision of Siddharath Bindra, who as Managing Director is responsible for the overall growth of the brand. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SMPL Jharsuguda (Odisha) [India], September 26: Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest producer of aluminium, observed International Ozone Day by launching a community awareness campaign, followed by a plantation drive, reaffirming its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 (Climate Action), focusing on protecting the ozone layer and promoting environmental sustainability. As part of the campaign, Vedanta Aluminium engaged with local communities to raise awareness about the critical importance of the ozone layer in safeguarding life on Earth, protecting it from harmful ultraviolet radiation. The outreach aimed to educate people on the consequences of ozone depletion and the actionable steps individuals and businesses can take to reduce their impact on the environment. Sharing his views, Mr. Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer - Vedanta Aluminium, said, "At Vedanta Aluminium, our sustainability commitments extend beyond our operations, to encompass the communities around our operations. The International Ozone Day serves as a reminder of our responsibility to protect the environment. Through this awareness campaign, we hope to engage with the community to inspire collective action for the preservation of the ozone layer, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the Earth's ecological balance." Vedanta Aluminium has been a leader in environmental sustainability, adopting world-class technologies to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and minimize its environmental footprint. The company's initiatives are aligned with the global efforts to combat climate change and protect the ozone layer, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and responsible production practices. For its leading sustainability practices, Vedanta Aluminium also secured the top rank in the esteemed S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rankings for the aluminium industry, for the assessment period 2023. Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India's largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India's aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the 'Metal of the Future' for a greener tomorrow. About Vedanta Aluminium Business: Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India's largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India's aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the 'Metal of the Future' for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com Follow us on LinkedIN, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Director of Reliance Foundation Isha Ambani stressed India's role in shaping a new global order while addressing 'India Day' at UN General Assembly week in New York. High-level discussions focused on India's emerging leadership in the Global South were held as a key feature of 'India Day at UNGA week' in New York. Delivering the opening address at the high-level event, Isha Ambani focused on what she coined as the 'Pancha Tantra' or five key pathways for sustainable development. These included unleashing the power of women, unlocking the power of youth, partnerships as multipliers of innovation, the transformational power of technology, and crafting a bold vision for the future. "This week, as leaders from around the world gather in New York to discuss equitable development, it is clear that our world is changing rapidly. India, in particular, is stepping into its rightful place, shaping the new global order. But this moment is more than just about change--it's about creating a better future together, especially for our youth. The challenges we face are many, but by working together, we can make real progress," said Isha Ambani. The dialogue, Tiger's Tale: Crafting a New Development Paradigm, was a high-level dialogue exploring India's growing role as a leader in the Global South and its potential to set new benchmarks in global development, according to a Reliance Foundation release. Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar spoke of how leadership from the Global South is now a reality. He added that at the UN, there is an acknowledgement of India's role as a nation with a heart and a country that has brought the Global South back into the conversation. He also added that it was crucial to look at how we democratise technologies, democratise the global workplace, and do it in an orderly, acceptable way. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, of DP World, stressed the resilience inherent in international trade, though the current linkages are weak, and "we need to build connectivity that benefits all." Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guyana, said the Summit of the Future reflects on the SDGs--we only achieved 17 per cent success. "Something is wrong. While problems have been identified, we need to have the political will to leave no one behind and depend on the leadership of countries like India," he said. Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, P Harish, spoke of how India, with the largest cohort of youth, has a huge role to play. "Those who turn 18 are an important part of the political process, and youth will emerge as a key issue. When the tale of the tiger is told, it will be told by the cubs and the young tigers," he added. The events, organised by Reliance Foundation in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the United Nations in India office, provided insights and learnings along with pathways for sustainable development beyond 2030. Earlier in the day, the India Day @ UNGA panel discussions explored Pathways to the Rising South, Technology as an Enabler, the Power of Women-Led Development, and the LiFE Economy. These sessions featured experts on the themes of discussion, proposed solutions, and opportunities for the world ahead. The audience included key sector stakeholders, including government, multilaterals, philanthropic foundations, academia, think tanks, the private sector, and other organisations. A special publication, jointly developed by Reliance Foundation, Observer Research Foundation, and the United Nations in India office, "The Next Frontier: Charting the Contours of the Post-2030 Development Agenda," was released during the events. A curation of 27 essays from global experts, the publication explores the strategies, innovations, and leadership required for a new global development agenda beyond 2030. The essays are by a range of authors from development, philanthropy, and think tanks, as well as policy and thought leaders with voices from both the Global North and Global South. (ANI) Kiran Rao's directorial 'Laapataa Ladies' was announced as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Film category at the Oscars. This announcement has brought the project into much limelight, and now Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has congratulated actor Pratibha Ranta for her impressive acting skill in the film. Taking to X on Thursday, he wrote, "Himachal Pradesh's daughter Pratibha Ranta has impressed everyone with her acting in the Bollywood film 'Laapata Ladies' selected for Oscar 2025. Pratibha's acting has been unmatched not only on the small screen but also on the big screen. Your wonderful acting in 'Laapata Ladies' presents the condition of women and their experiences from a new perspective. This contribution of yours is important in changing the thinking of the society. Congratulations and best wishes to the daughter of Shimla for this extraordinary achievement. You have made the whole of Himachal proud with your art." https://x.com/SukhuSukhvinder/status/1839297966667866113 Brimming with excitement, earlier Pratibha spoke with ANI and expressed her heartfelt gratitude. "I love this feeling...we were not expecting it but we were definitely hoping for something of that sort to happen. Today it finally happened. So, we are quite happy. In a day or two, I will meet Kiran (Kiran Rao) ma'am and Aamir sir (Aamir Khan). I will meet the entire team soon. I just want to say that I am grateful...Can't describe this feeling in words," she said. "It actually feels like all my hard work has paid off right now. You achieve one goal, then you tend to broaden your vision, and you're able to set more goals. I think that is happening to me right now. I'm able to see a spectrum beyond what I had ever imagined for myself," Pratibha highlighted. Directed by Kiran Rao and produced under the banners of Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures, and Jio Studios, 'Laapataa Ladies' was released in theatres on March 1, 2024. It also starred Sparsh, Nitanshi Goel, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam. 'Laapataa Ladies' takes viewers back to rural India in 2001. Its narrative revolves around two brides who get exchanged during a train journey. The journey filled with twists and turns begins as their husbands start searching for the real bride. Kiran also expressed her gratitude for getting a chance to make her film reach a global audience. "I am very happy. I was not expecting an Oscar entry as many good films have been made this year. Now we will have a chance to show this film to a much larger audience. I would like to thank the audience for giving so much love to this film. I think there is something for everyone in this film," she shared. "The film was made on the issues, expectations and aspirations of women. When such a film becomes the country's official entry to the Oscars then it is very encouraging. I think with this it feels like we are going in the direction of finding solutions to many problems faced by women. People have appreciated the introduction of new faces and talents in this film. It took us 4-5 years to make this film, I want to thank the whole team of the film... Oscars ka raasta lamba aur kathin hota hai par hum apni taraf se puri koshish karenge (The journey to Oscars is not going to be easy but we will give it all)," Kiran emphasised. (ANI) The Uttarakhand Film Development Council is creating a film resource directory as an important initiative for the film industry. In this regard, the Chief Executive Officer of the Council and Director General of the Information Department, Banshidhar Tiwari, said during the meeting of the Film Development Council, "This directory is being prepared under the Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024. Its objective is to make available the information of various talented individuals and institutions associated with film production of the state on a single platform." In this Film Resource Directory, detailed information on personalities and institutions like film producers, directors, actors, actresses, musicians, choreographers, lyricists, writers, cameramen, photographers, technicians, spot boys, film production houses, studio owners, and line producers is being compiled. A Google form has also been prepared for this purpose, in which the necessary information is being obtained from all the talents associated with the film. Banshidhar Tiwar also informed that many film producers and directors from the country and abroad are coming here, attracted by the new film policy of Uttarakhand. "The creation of this Film Resource Directory will create new employment opportunities for people associated with the local film genre. This directory will be made available on the website of Uttarakhand Film Vikas Parishad so that film producers and directors from India and abroad can get information about local talents and provide them with opportunities in their upcoming films," he said. Uttarakhand has become one of the major hubs of shooting lately. Akshay Kumar earlier shot his film 'Shankara' in Uttarakhand. Kajol and Kriti Sanon also recently shot a major portion of their upcoming film 'Do Patti' in Uttarakhand. Helmed by Shashanka Chaturvedi, 'Do Patti' is produced by Kathha Pictures and co-produced by Kriti Sanon, also written by Kanika Dhillon, and will stream exclusively on the OTT platform Netflix. The film is set to take viewers on a thrilling suspense-filled ride like never before and transport audiences to the mesmerising hills of North India, which serve as a backdrop for the mystery and intrigue to unfold. (ANI) Lady Gaga attended the premiere of 'Joker: Folie a Deux' in London along with her fiance Michael Polansky, reported People. She also posed for photos with her costar, Joaquin Phoenix. For the occasion, she wore a red gown by Celine by Hedi Slimane. Polansky opted for a classic black suit also by Celine by Hedi Slimane Gaga's floor-length dress featured a v-neckline and pleated skirt along with it she wore a cropped long-sleeve jacket with voluminous puffy sleeves. She completed her look with Tiffany & Co. jewellery. For the makeup, she chooses turquoise eyeshadow, winged liner and a teardrop made of crystals under one eye. To complete her ensemble, she wore red lipstick to match her gown. Gaga opted for a black bob cut with red highlights and short bangs. "Gaga and Polansky, who went public with their relationship in 2020, made their red carpet debut at the Venice Film Festival premiere of 'Joker: Folie a Deux' on September 4," reported People. A few weeks later, they made their relationship public during the Super Bowl weekend in Miami. Gaga confirmed their engagement in July 2024. The couple kept their engagement private for a few months, telling only close friends and family at first. The source also mentioned that Gaga and Polansky are now planning their wedding, much to the excitement of their loved ones. Todd Phillips' directorial musical psychological thriller film 'Joker: Folie a Deux', received a standing ovation at the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The sequel to the 2019 film 'Joker' is set to release in theatres on October 4, 2024. The first 'Joker' movie won the Golden Lion at Venice in 2019. The first 'Joker' was a huge success, both critically and commercially. It was nominated for 11 Oscars, with Joaquin Phoenix winning Best Actor and Hildur Gudnadottir winning for Original Score. It became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. In the sequel, Phoenix reprises his role as Joker, and Lady Gaga joins as Harley Quinn. The supporting cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey. Zazie Beetz returns as Sophie from the first film. The sequel is said to be a musical, building on Phoenix's dancing scenes from the original. (ANI) Special CBI judge Rakesh Syal granted time to counsel for Jain to argue the matter and listed the matter on October 5 along with the main case. Advocate Vivek Jain appeared for Satyendar Jain and informed the court that the reply has been received an hour ago. Jain was arrested in May 2022 by the ED in a money laundering case. It is stated that Supreme court has said that accused can't be incarcerated for indefinite time during pendency of trial. His default bail plea is pending before Delhi High Court. His earlier bail application, interim bail applications were dismissed by the trial court. However, he was granted Interim bail by the Supreme Court on health grounds. Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested him on May 30, 2022. He was sent to judicial custody after interrogation by the ED. (ANI) As the second phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Wednesday, state BJP President and candidate from Nowshera Assembly seat Ravinder Raina expressed hope that BJP's lotus flower will bloom in Nowshera. Ravinder Raina said, "There was a time when there used to be 10-12 per cent voting in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, while there was 60 per cent voting in the Lok Sabha elections, voting in many assembly constituencies has also been above the record 75 per cent in the assembly. This is the victory of democracy. I am hopeful that BJP's lotus flower will bloom in Nowshera as well." He further thanked all the voters who participated in the voting during the second phase of assembly polls. He further said, "The second phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir has been successfully completed. Rajouri, Poonch, Nowshera and Kashmir valley has witnessed voting in huge numbers. I thank all the voters of the second phase of assembly polls who participated in the voting in large numbers and I hope that there will be bumper voting in the last phase of polling on October 1." The second phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir concluded peacefully with 56.79 percent voter turnout across 26 assembly constituencies. The polling for the second phase started at 7 am on Wednesday and concluded at 6 pm. "The poll was peaceful overall. As per the figures, 56.79 voter turnout was recorded till now," Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole told reporters on Wednesday evening. Among the districts, Reasi witnessed the highest poll percentage of 74.14, followed by Poonch 73.78 pc, Rajouri 69. 85 pc, Ganderbal 62. 63 pc, Budgam 61.31 pc and Srinagar 29. 24 pc. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was among the key candidates fighting from the two constituencies - Budgam and Ganderbal. The other contenders included Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra. Polling was conducted across six districts of Budgam, Ganderbal, Poonch and Jammu regions of Rajouri, Reasi and Srinagar, with 25.78 lakh electors eligible to cast votes to decide fate of 239 candidates in the second phase. The first phase of assembly polls was held on September 18. CEC Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had maintained a constant supervision of the polling process to ensure that the polling took place in an incident free manner. (ANI) Former Union Minister and BJP leader Arjun Munda on Wednesday said that the Parivartan Rath has reached Saraikela and they are getting a huge outpouring of public support following "resentment" against the current government. Notably, the 'Parivartan Yatra' was flagged by Amit Shah in Jharkhand's Sahibganj district on September 20. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi, and former CM Champai Soren were present on the occasion. "Our Parivartan Rath has reached Saraikela. There is a huge outpouring of public support in Saraikela because there is a lot of resentment among the people. The government has disappointed the people of Jharkhand for the purpose with which they gave a chance to the Hemant Soren government," said Arjun Munda. Lashing out at the JMM government led by Hemant Soren, he said, "The work of suppressing those rights of the people has been done from which the people had expected to benefit. Through this Parivartan Yatra, we are giving the message that the youth have been cheated, women have been cheated, and the citizens here have been cheated ..." Meanwhile, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and BJP leader Champai Soren said that the Maha Parivartan rally is a sign that the BJP is going to win in the upcoming Jharkhand elections and will form the government. "The Maha Parivartan rally is a sign that the BJP's victory in the coming elections and forming the government is certain," Soren said. Champai Soren upped his ante against the Hemant Soren-led government for allegedly withdrawing his security and said that the people of Jharkhand will protect him. "It is up to them, now the public will protect us," he added. The term of the Jharkhand State Assembly is set to expire on January 5, 2025, with elections scheduled for 81 constituencies (44 General, 9 SC, 28 ST) across the state. Jharkhand is set to go to polls for its 81-member legislative assembly later this year. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce the dates. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party National President and Union Minister JP Nadda is set to visit Odisha on Thursday to review the ongoing membership drive of the party in the state. Additionally, the national president is going to meet with senior party leaders, including MLAs, MPs, and the Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, to discuss the strategies for the membership drive in Odisha. Nadda is also going to pay tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue at AG Square before the meet. State BJP Vice President Golak Mohapatra highlighted the itinerary planned for the event. "JP Nadda is coming on an Odisha tour. He will be paying tribute to BR Ambedkar's statue at AG Square. He will address an intellectual meeting. He will then hold discussions on the membership drive with the party workers. His programme will be going on from the morning to the late afternoon. He will be discussing how to move forward with the membership drive, and regarding that, he will meet the party's leaders, MPs, MLAs of the region, and the Chief Minister too," he added. State Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan also mentioned the upcoming program, highlighting that the BJP National President will be holding an intellectual meet and that the activities of the state unit will be reviewed. "There is a program of JP Nadda planned; he will be coming in the morning. He will pay tribute to the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar at AG Square. After that, there will be an intellectual meeting, and then there will be a party meeting where the activities of the party will be reviewed," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, the BJP State mega membership drive was going on in full swing with the BJP state President Manmoham Samal attending multiple booth level campaigns at Rairangpur district. As part of the "A tree for mother", the state BJP president also planted a tree at the former school campus of the President of India, Draupadi Murmu. Highlighting the tree plantation in a post on X, it read, "State President Mr. @SamalManmohan7 today planted a tree under "A tree for mother" program in the High School campus of Her Excellency Draupadi Murmu's village in Rairangpur organizational district. Shri Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Minister of State for Forests, Environment and Climate Change and State Labor and Employees Insurance and other dignitaries were present on the occasion." Moreover, on September 7, the Odisha Chief Minister attended the ongoing BJP membership drive at a booth at Barang under Banki Assembly Constituency in Cuttack. On September 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the BJP's 2024 membership drive by renewing his membership. The new membership drive was launched with PM Modi getting the certificate for the renewal of his membership from BJP president JP Nadda at the 'Sanghatan Parva, Sadasyata Abhiyan 2024'. (ANI) The Hindu College in Delhi has expressed its "immense pride" in its alumna, Harini Amarasuriya, becoming the 16th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. "Hindu College proudly celebrates the remarkable achievement of its alumna, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who has made history by becoming the 16th Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the third woman to hold this prestigious office. Dr. Harini's journey from the classrooms of Hindu College to the highest office in her country is a moment of immense pride for her alma mater," the college said in a statement. Amarasuriya of the National People's Power (NPP) party is an academic, rights activist, and university lecturer and is known for her work in education and social justice. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in Sri Lankan politics. Reflecting on this extraordinary milestone, Hindu College's principal, Prof. Anju Srivastava, shared, "Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was a student of the Sociology Department during her academic years at Hindu College from 1991 to 1994. We are incredibly proud of her success and her rise to such a significant leadership role. We are sure that her time at Hindu College played a part in shaping her path to becoming a transformative leader." Hindu College has long fostered leadership skills through its unique student-led parliamentary system, where students elect a prime minister and leader of the opposition each year. "This system broadens students' horizons and helps cultivate the leaders of tomorrow. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is a shining example of how this experience can inspire and empower students to make a lasting impact on society and their nation," Srivastava said . "We are confident that Dr. Harini Amarasuriya's leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to public service will serve as a beacon of hope for Sri Lanka, guiding the nation towards greater progress and prosperity," she added. Amarasuriya becomes Sri Lanka's third woman Prime Minister after Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The new Sri Lankan PM is the first academic-turned-politician to assume office. Harini Amarasuriya entered Parliament through the NPP national list in 2020. (ANI) BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Thursday slammed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding corruption allegations against him in the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Following a Bengaluru court's order directing the Karnataka Lokayukta to investigate Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged MUDA scam, Thakur said, "I think after yesterday's order, the Chief Minister of Karnataka should resign. Until the charges are cleared, he should not be allowed to remain in this post. If an impartial investigation is to be done, the Chief Minister should not remain in this post. These are serious allegations of corruption." Thakur further asserted that the allegations against Siddaramaiah reflect a larger issue with the Congress government. He stated, "Allegations have been made against the Chief Minister, which itself shows that ever since the Congress government has come to power in Karnataka, the work of looting people has started again there." A Special Court in Bengaluru has directed the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to file a criminal case against the state's Chief Minister and others over alleged illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites valued at Rs 56 crore to his wife by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The court instructed the Superintendent of Police of the Lokayukta to apply provisions related to the prevention of corruption, prohibition of benami properties, and land grabbing as outlined in various laws. Thakur also spoke about the "Viksit Bharat -Yuva Connect" programme organised by the Department of Youth Affairs. This initiative aims to inspire the youth of India towards a developed nation. He emphasised, "The next 23 years are important for the nation. We have to take developed India from resolve to accomplishment." He urged the youth to contribute to the nation's progress, reminding them of their ancestors' sacrifices in the freedom struggle. Thakur said, "They had given their lives; they need to live. They liberated the country, and the wealth needs to be developed." He acknowledged that today's youth play a significant role in various sectors, from start-ups to defence, noting, "We have the largest youth population in the world." (ANI) The DMK and the Congress engaged in an exchange of posts on X over the issue of water logging in Chennai after Wednesday night's heavy rains. https://x.com/KartiPC/status/1839018450062291056 Sivaganga MP and Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram shared a news clip of water logging in Chennai with a cryptic message that read "Race Road or Rain Road" as he tagged the Greater Chennai Corporation in his post. The post was an apparent dig at the corporation for the state of the road, considering that just a few weeks back Chennai had hosted the Formula Night races. https://x.com/saravofcl/status/1839140526135599515 In his reply to the post from Karti Chidambaram, Saravanan Annadurai the spokesperson of the DMK replied with a jibe questioning if it was possible to gauage the rain's intensity from the confines of a room. "Earlier two bit trolls were making this noise. Asking why the rain water has not receded even when it was raining. Now A question to ponder, Will it be possible to gauge the intensity of the rain within the confines of a room?" Sarvanan replied to Chidambaram's post wrote on X. Meanwhile, Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan inspected the Perambur subway and surrounding areas on Thursday, where waterlogging occurred following rainfall. She also inspected the ongoing storm water canal construction works. Parts of Chennai's Koyambedu area also faced waterlogging following heavy rainfall. As per IMD, Chennai has a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorm. Meanwhile, the people of Chennai witnessed a waterlogging situation in various parts of the city after heavy rain lashed the city on Wednesday night. The rain in the city started after 6 pm yesterday, and it continued late into the night. Power outages and traffic snarls were reported from several parts of the city. According to the officials, from yesterday 8.30 am to today 5.30 am, Nungambakkam received 7.42 cm rainfall and Menambakkam received 7.12 cm rainfall. Tiruvallur, Vellore and Cuddalore districts of the state and Puducherry also received downpours yesterday night. Valparai weather station in Coimbatore received 8.0 mm rainfall, Thiruttani weather station in Tiruvallur district recorded 5.0 mm rainfall, Cuddalore weather station recorded 0.2 mm rainfall, Vellore weather station recorded 0.4 mm rainfall, and Puducherry recorded 0.3 mm rainfall. The regional meteorological centre here has forecasted light to moderate rains in north Tamil Nadu till the weekend. (ANI) Swami Chakrapani Maharaj, the President of Hindu Mahasabha, condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in California, marking the second attack on a BAPS temple in the United States in less than ten days. Expressing his concern over what he called the growing persecution of Hindus worldwide, Chakrapani said, "Look at the second incident in 10 days. From America to the whole world, Hindus are being persecuted, harassed, and temples are being demolished." He referred to a recent survey by an American company that claimed minorities are receiving justice in India while Hindus are facing persecution in the U.S. He asserted, "America should look into this." Chakrapani highlighted the increase in violence against Hindus in the US, citing a recent incident in which a Hindu priest was shot in public. He criticised the lack of action by American authorities, stating, "America does not take any action on it." Pointing to the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, he added, "When our people protested against Bangladesh with the Hindu Mahasabha, FIRs were filed against them." Chakrapani called for the Indian government to be more vigilant and proactive in addressing these issues. He also urged the government to raise the issue of Hindu persecution on international platforms, adding, "Whenever such atrocities happen to Hindus in foreign countries, especially to temples, no comment is made." The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, was vandalised on the night of September 25, less than ten days after a similar incident at the BAPS Mandir in New York. The anti-Hindu messages included phrases such as 'Hindus go back,' alarming the local Hindu community. In response, the community expressed its commitment to standing united against hate. "Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: 'Hindus go back!' We stand united against hate with prayers for peace," the BAPS Public Affairs stated on X. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the temple's plea for help and discovered the graffiti. They also noted that vandals had cut water lines on the property. Ami Bera, the U.S. Representative for California's 6th District, condemned the vandalism, stating, "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in Sacramento County." The Hindu American Foundation thanked Bera for addressing the hate crime targeting the temple, stating, "This vandalism is an anti-Hindu hate crime." On September 17, another incident of vandalism occurred at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New York. The Consulate General of India in New York condemned that incident as "unacceptable," and several U.S. lawmakers demanded accountability from authorities regarding the repeated acts of hate and violence. (ANI) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, along with key ministers from his cabinet, are scheduled to visit India at the end of October 2024 to engage in high-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann, the meeting will establish a comprehensive roadmap for the next two years. Speaking to ANI, Ambassador Ackermann highlighted the importance of the upcoming visit, noting that it follows Prime Minister Modi's trip to Berlin in the spring of 2022. He emphasised the "rich agenda" that will be discussed across multiple levels, with ministers from both sides holding bilateral talks with their respective counterparts. "This will be a very granular meeting, with a lot of deliverables expected," Ackermann said. The Chancellor and Prime Minister Modi will also hold a bilateral meeting to discuss key strategic issues. "We are looking forward to some very interesting common projects being rolled out," the ambassador added, referring to collaborations expected to emerge from the meeting. The discussions are anticipated to culminate in a joint session where both sides will come together to finalize a two-year roadmap aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two nations. In addition, the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024 (APK 2024) is also scheduled to be held in the national capital from October 24 to 26. Notably, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had visited India twice last year. It was in February 2023 that Scholz visited India. It was the first standalone visit by any German Chancellor since the commencement of the Inter-Governmental Consultation (IGC) mechanism between the two nations in 2011, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. He later came in September the same year to attend the G20 Summit under India's presidency. India and Germany have had a 'Strategic Partnership' since May 2000, which has been further strengthened with the launch of Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in 2011 at the level of heads of government, which allows for a comprehensive review of cooperation and identification of new areas of engagement. Prime Minister Modi visited Berlin on May 2, 2022, to co-chair the 6th IGC with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, where he was accompanied by the External Affairs Minister, Finance Minister, National Security Advisor and Minister of State (I/C) for Science & Technology. Several agreements were signed in diverse fields such as migration and mobility, triangular development cooperation, agro-ecology, forest landscape restoration, renewable energy and health. Prime Minister and Chancellor also signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on a Green and Sustainable Development Partnership. (ANI) Leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), Sanjay Raut, spoke out on Wednesday against the police encounter of Akshay Shinde, the accused in a sexual assault case in Badlapur. He alleged that the State Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister orchestrated the encounter to protect the BJP and RSS affiliates associated with the same institution as the accused. The UBT leader also accused the Maharashtra government of attempting to leverage the police encounter for their political gain, claiming that the CM and his Deputy are engaged in a race to take credit for the situation. "Rapists should be taught a tough lesson. And these fast-track courts should not get into such cases. There should be immediate justice", Raut said. However, he added, "If you encounter such people for your own political gain, then it is wrong." He also noted, "There is a race to take credit for encounters. I am Singham or you are Singham. This competition makes it clear how big politics is going on," Raut said while criticising the competition surrounding the police encounters and accusing the CM Eknath Shinde and his Deputy Devendra Fadnavis of 'fighting' to take credit for the encounter. He then mounted another scathing attack on Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging, "In his assembly constituency, till now in one year, more than a hundred women have been tortured, raped, and murdered. How many people were encountered?" He further added, "Yesterday in Nalasopara, there was a Bharatiya Janata Party official who was arrested in the communal rape case." Raut questioned the inconsistency in the government's response to crimes against women. He said, " Will Devendra Fadnavis 'Singham', will Shinde Singh 'Singham' encounter them? Then why only one encounter? Whoever has raped or tortured women, encounter all of them. Do it, we will support you." He suggested that there may be more to the case than meets the eye, alleging a connection between the encounters and political affiliations. The UBT leader said, "You grab hold of one case because there is a deeper secret, and the secret is now in court. A person has filed a petition, and the owners of the organisation, the educational institutes where it happened, are related to BJP and RSS. To save them, you did that encounter, and now the public will know about it." Raut then continued slamming the Maharashtra government's handling of sexual violence cases. "innumerable rapes in the rainy season have caused atrocities on women", he said. He also expressed concerns over the government's motives, suggesting that the true nature of the cases might be hidden from the public. Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court too had expressed concerns regarding Akshay Shinde's police encounter. The Court said,"It is difficult to believe this. Prima facie there seem to be issues." Justice Chavan pointed out that "a common man can't fire a pistol because it needs strength. A revolver can't be unlocked quickly by a physically weak man." Accused's father, Anna Shinde, has filed a petition demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, claiming that his son was killed in a fake encounter. The court has directed that all case papers be handed over to the state CID for investigation, questioning why they had not yet been transferred. The court also set October 3 as the next hearing date. Akshay Shinde, 23, was arrested on August 17 after allegedly sexually abusing two girls in a school toilet. According to police reports, he opened fire on police while being transported from jail, resulting in his death. This incident has ignited a controversy between the ruling Mahayuti government and the opposition, especially as Maharashtra heads toward Assembly polls later this year. (ANI) Welcoming the Supreme Court decision to grant bail to V Senthil Balaji, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday while hitting out at the central government, said that in the midst of "political oppression", only the Supreme Court is dawn for it. He further said that Senthil Balaji''s sacrifice is great and his determination is greater than that. Referring to Balaji''s time-period in jail, Stalin, in a veiled attack on the central government, said that even during the ''Emergency'', the jail life hadn''t exceeded for so long. Stalin accused that they (central government) wanted to break the determination of Senthil Balaji by imprisoning him. In a post on microblogging site X, MK Stalin wrote, "After 471 days, SC have granted bail to brother V Senthilbalaji. In the current environment where the enforcement department has been turned into a department to suppress political opponents, the Supreme Court is the only dawn for it. Even during the Emergency there is no jail life for so many days. Political conspiracies continued for 15 months. By arresting him and keeping him in jail, they wanted to break the determination of brother Senthil Balaji. I welcome Brother Senthil Balaji, who is coming out of prison having already received manure. Your sacrifice is great! Your determination is greater than that!" https://x.com/mkstalin/status/1839184501949206948 The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in connection with a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scam. Earlier on February 28, The Madras High Court dismissed the bail petition of Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case registered by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). DMK MP and Advocate NR Elango said, "The SC granted bail to V Senthil Balaji who is incarcerated in the prison as an under-trial prisoner in an ED case for more than 15 months. The long delay which has occurred...could be there in conducting the trials in the predicate offence as well as the PMLA case. The bail has been granted imposing certain conditions that he should appear before the Enforcement Directorate twice a week, he should not tamper with the witnesses and surrender his passport." Balaji was arrested on June 14 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam when he was the Tamil Nadu Transport Minister during the earlier AIADMK regime. The Enforcement Case Information Register (ECIR) was registered on the basis of three FIRs lodged against him by the local police in 2018 for his alleged involvement in a cash-for-job case when he was the Transport Minister in Jayalalithaa''s Cabinet in 2015. The charges dates back to his tenure as transport minister during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government from 2011 to 2015. He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in December 2018 and assumed office as the electricity minister after the party came to power in May 2021. (ANI) A Metropolitan Magistrate in Mazgaon, Mumbai, on Thursday convicted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut in a defamation case and sentenced him to 15 days of simple imprisonment. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him in a case filed by Medha Kirit Somaiya, wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. Raut was convicted under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, her advocate said. "Sanjay Raut has been sentenced to 15-day imprisonment; he has been taken into custody. A Rs 25,000 fine has been imposed on him. He will have to pay this sum to complainant Medha Somaiya," BJP leader Kirit Somaiya told reporters. In May 2022, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya''s wife Medha Kirit Somaiya had filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against Sanjay Raut in the Bombay High Court. Raut has accused Medha Kirit Somaiya and her husband of being allegedly involved in a Rs 100 crore scam in the construction of public toilets in the area under the jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation. Medha Somaiya registered a complaint against Raut stating that the accused made malicious and unwarranted statements against the complainant in the media. "I state that the accused Sanjay Raut is Executive Editor of Marathi Newspaper "SAAMNA" and is also the chief spokesman of Shivsena, a political party. I say that the accused around 16th April, 2022 and thereafter made malicious and unwarranted mischievous statements against me in the media, the same which was printed, published and circulated to the general public at large through electronic and print media. The said malicious statements were also viral on social media platforms," she had said in her complaint. (ANI) BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over his remark on RSS, where he labelled RSS workers as 'chooha' (rats). He questioned his silence on Bangladeshi infiltrators who enter Santhal Pargana and encroach on land. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said, "Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren calls nationalists and people elected by the public 'chooha'. But he doesn't say anything about the Bangladeshi infiltrators who enter Santhal Pargana and encroach on land, because this pertains to his vote bank." Soren, while addressing a rally on September 25 in Jharkhand, said that the people of RSS will enter Jharkhand like 'chooha' (rats) and break our society. He further dismissed allegations made by BJP leaders of demographic change in Jharkhand, suggesting the BJP look into the data of neighbouring West Bengal. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said, "Assam CM comes to Jharkhand and criticises the state's people and state government...We will give a befitting reply...They will talk about changing demography and Bangladeshi infiltrators. I would like to tell them to look at the data of the Government of India to determine how the numbers have changed in which district and which state. Go and see what the data is in Bengal. Then see the data of various districts in Jharkhand. You would find that there is no change in the demography here." Reacting to the Jharkhand CM's remarks, Poonawalla said, "He said that no demographic change has occurred in Jharkhand, it has happened in West Bengal. Who has had governments in West Bengal? Not BJP. Left, followed by the TMC. So, he has accepted that there has been a demographic change in West Bengal, which was ruled by the Left as well as Mamata Banerjee." Poonawalla further attacked the INDIA bloc and stated that the 'one party of the INDI Alliance is targeting another party of the alliance'. "It means that one party of INDI Alliance is targeting another party of the alliance. No mission, no vision, no common part, only ambition, their own confusion and their own corruption...Did he attack them inadvertently or deliberately? He knows it. But the truth has come out that a demographic change in West Bengal has indeed occurred. But the question is that this is happening in Jharkhand as well and the High Court too has said the same. Hemant Soren should speak on this," BJP spokesperson Poonawalla added. (ANI) Priests from Ayodhya on Wednesday condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Sacramento, California. This incident marked the second attack on a BAPS temple in the past 10 days. They also urged the Indian government to take immediate action following the vandalism. Diwakaracharya of the Lila Bihari Temple in Ayodhya expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on Hindu temples worldwide. He referred to the recent vandalism in Sacramento, which is being investigated as a hate crime by local police. "It is extremely worrying how Hindu temples are being targeted. The Indian government needs to analyse how Hindus and their temples are becoming unsafe worldwide," he said. Diwakaracharya also blamed certain individuals of Indian origin, accusing them of engaging in anti-India activities abroad, thereby weakening India's global image. He further called on the Indian government to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the safety of Hindus and their places of worship. "The government should ensure that Hindus and Hindu temples are safe all over the world. India, as the birthplace of Hindus, holds responsibility if Hindus are harassed globally," he added. The priest also urged the California state government to protect its citizens and religious establishments, particularly Hindu temples, from such attacks. "The miserable condition and second-class treatment of Hindus in California will not be accepted," he said. Mahant Avdhesh Das, Treasurer of the Saint Shri Tulsidas Ramlila Committee in Ayodhya, also expressed concern. He blamed internal divisions within Hindu society, saying, "Some of our Jaichands (traitors) born within the Hindu society talk nonsense to earn their political bread, and as a result, we are being attacked in foreign countries as well. We are trying to strengthen the Hindu society to prevent such attacks, both domestically and abroad." The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento was vandalised on the night of September 25, just days after a similar incident at the BAPS Mandir in New York. Graffiti with anti-Hindu messages such as "Hindus go back" alarmed the local Hindu community. In response, the community vowed to stand united against hate. The BAPS Public Affairs team stated on X (formerly Twitter), "We stand united against hate with prayers for peace." The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office confirmed the vandalism and noted that vandals had also cut water lines at the property. Ami Bera, U.S. Representative for California's 6th District, condemned the act, stating, "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in Sacramento County." The Hindu American Foundation thanked Bera for addressing the hate crime, calling it "an anti-Hindu hate crime."(ANI) The Delhi Police on Thursday, opposing the anticipatory bail plea of former trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, informed the Delhi High Court that as the investigation progresses, a larger conspiracy is emerging in the matter. This argument was presented during the hearing, where the police emphasised the evolving complexity of the case as a reason for opposing her plea for anticipatory bail. The bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh has extended the interim protection from arrest granted to suspended IAS officer Pooja Khedkar until October 4, 2024, which is the next scheduled hearing date. The bench was hearing the matter for the first time, following a recent change in the Delhi High Court roster. The court adjourned the matter after the related counsels sought time to make detailed submissions. Meanwhile, the Court extended the interim protection from arrest granted to suspended IAS officer Pooja Khedkar until October 4, 2024, which is the next scheduled hearing date. Recently, the predecessor bench had issued notice to Puja Khedkar on UPSC plea claiming she committed perjury by submitting false documents to secure favourable orders The UPSC alleges that Khedkar attempted to manipulate the judicial system and stated that Puja Khedkar has committed perjury by filing a false affidavit and the intent behind making such a blatantly false statement naturally appears to be an attempt to obtain favourable orders on the basis of the false statement. The UPSC stated that the claim that the Commission collected her biometrics is absolutely false and made with the sole aim and purpose of deceiving this Court for obtaining favourable orders. The said claim is denied since the Commission did not collect any biometrics (eyes and fingerprints) during her Personality Test or carry out any attempts verification on the basis of the same. The Commission has not collected any biometric information from any candidate during the Personality Test of the Civil Services Examinations held so far. The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad sought response of Puja Khedkar and listed the matter for September 26 alongwith the ongoing anticipatory bail matter of Pujha Khedkar in Delhi High Court.The bench of the Delhi High Court was also examining the Puja Khedkar plea seeking an anticipatatory bail plea and had granted interim protection from arrest in the case. Puja Khedkar recently filed anticipatory bail application in relation to a FIR registered against her for allegedly "faking her identity to fraudulently avail attempts beyond permissible limit" in civil services examination. Recently, Delhi Police registered a FIR on the basis of a complaint filed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) against Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar. Recently, Delhi High Court has also issued notice to suspended IAS trainee Puja Khedkar on an application moved by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) claiming that she made incorrect assertion in petition that she was not served the order of cancellation of candidature. UPSC stated that communication regarding cancelling her candidature was communicated to her on her registered mail ID. So she falsely submitted before the Delhi High Court earlier that the press release dated 31.07.2024 was not officially communicated to her. (ANI) A five-year-old girl, who went missing from her home two days ago, was found dead and her body was recovered from a water tank at a neighbour's house in Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal, a police officer said on Thursday. The minor went missing from her house situated in the Shahjahanabad locality, Bhopal on Tuesday afternoon. The child's parents were not at home when she disappeared. She was with her grandmother and told her that she was going to retrieve a book from a friend's house but did not return. Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Punit Upadhyay said, "A minor was missing from her home for over 36 hours technically and her body was recovered from a house located in front of her home on Thursday. The body was found from a water tank and it has been sent for post mortem further examination and further details will be shared after the PM report." Earlier on Wednesday, the girl's mother told ANI, "At around 12 pm on Tuesday, my daughter told her grandmother she was going to collect a book from her friend's house and would be back shortly. Since then, she hasn't returned. When my husband and I arrived home and realised she was missing, we immediately began searching the surrounding areas but found no trace of her." "Over 24 hours have passed, yet no action has been taken by the authorities. Municipal corporation vehicles had arrived for fogging in the area, and during this time, she went missing. All I want is my daughter back as soon as possible," she added. Earlier, Shahjahanabad police station in-charge, UPS Chauhan, told ANI, "The parents of the child came to Shahjahanabad police station, reporting their daughter had gone missing. They said their five-year-old daughter had gone to an Anganwadi Centre and returned home. She then stepped out again to collect a book from downstairs but didn't return. During this time, a vehicle from the Municipal Corporation's malaria team also arrived for fogging, and after completing their task, the vehicle left." "Acting on the complaint and recognising the seriousness of the situation, we alerted officials at other police stations. CCTV footage from nearby locations showed the child returning home and then leaving again to collect the book, after which she went missing," he said. Based on the parents' statements, an FIR was registered, and efforts were underway to locate the girl. The police also questioned the fogging team and inspected their vehicle. A forensic examination of the vehicle was conducted, but no evidence was found, Chauhan said. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday that he would not be resigning from his post amid the MUDA scam allegations levied on him by BJP leaders. The CM said that there were allegations against Union Minister and former Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy, yet he hasn't resigned, so why should he. "I won't resign; why should I resign? There are allegations on HD Kumaraswamy, did he resign? Let Kumaraswamy resign, has Modi taken resignation of Kumaraswamy," the CM said. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also commented on the demands of the BJP leaders, calling all it is as "political drama" and saying that there are a lot of cases against BJP leaders too. "I think it is all a political drama which they are trying to do. There are a lot of cases against several central ministers & other leaders of the BJP, have all of them resigned? There is no need for CM to resign. The entire party from Delhi to the village stands with him. Being the party president, I am telling you there is no question of CM resigning," said the Deputy CM. Earlier, Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai had asked for the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah, saying that if the CM wants a fair investigation, a resignation should be given all the police officers are transferred by the CM himself. "If he wants a fair and free enquiry and further investigation, since Lokayukta and all the police officers are still being posted by the Home Ministry, all the IPS officers are being transferred by none other than the Chief Minister himself. To have a fair inquiry, with this background. Lokayukta should be given a free hand by the present government by him resigning from his CM post," Bommai said. Replying to the claims by the Karnataka CM saying that it is a conspiracy by BJP, Bommai added, "What he is saying is not important. What the High Court is saying, the sessions court is saying is important." BJP leader CT Ravi had also criticised the Karnataka CM during the protest of BJP-JDS leaders. "When Siddaramaiah was the opposition leader, then the CM was B. S. Yediyurappa and when he was accused in a case, Siddaramaiah said that Yediyurappa should not continue as the CM. Siddaramaiah also said that Yediyurappa should resign...Now Siddaramaiah should resign. At that time, you suggested Yediyurappa to resign...You do not have any other option and you should resign," said the BJP leader. (ANI) Shiv Sena MP Naresh Maske protested against the other members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, claiming that TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee insulted some witnesses called for informal discussions on Thursday in Mumbai. The Shiv Sena MP said that certain people had come to speak in support of the Waqf bill, but TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee had shouted at the people and had told them to get out of the meeting. "Today the JPC meeting on Waqf bill is happening in Mumbai. In the meeting, the people of Gulchand foundation witnessed the meeting and spoke in support of the Waqf bill. Then Kalyan Banerjee got up and shouted at them, told them to get out, insulted them. What kind of behaviour is this? I won't let this go in Maharashtra. The witnesses came here because JPC committee called them. They are muslim men, and because they are speaking in support of the Waqf bill, so they are being insulted?" said the Shiv Sena MP. He also claimed that there is a competition between opposition parties on showing who is protesting the most against the bill, but that during these "competitions," no guest should be insulted. "There is competition within the opposition parties, on who is shouting the most against the bill. During this competition, to insult any guest is unacceptable, I won't tolerate it in Maharashtra, neither will I tolerate it anywhere else. For that, I got up in the meeting and protested against such behaviour," he said. He added further, "I said to him, do not raise your voice, speak softly, you might be senior in your house. Whoever comes as a witness, there should be respect given to them, there are a lot of witnesses coming against the Waqf bill too, they are speaking and we are listening and we respect them. The insult to guest is happening repeatedly in the meeting, yeh nahi chalega (this is not acceptable). The JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is holding a series of informal discussions with various stakeholders for a total of five days till October 1. These consultations aim to refine the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, which governs the management of over 600,000 registered waqf properties across the country. The Waqf Act, 1995, was created to regulate waqf properties, but it has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. Earlier, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at the BJP over the proposed changes in the bill, saying that the bill was presented to finish the Waqf board. "The Narendra Modi government is not bringing this bill to protect, develop or bring efficiency to the Waqf properties. This bill was presented to finish the Waqf board..."AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said in a press conference in Mumbai. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a meeting in New Delhi with Union Minister of Jal Shakti CR Patil and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma for the better implementation of Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal river linking project and said that long standing dispute between the two states was resolved. CM Yadav also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the river linking campaign was going on at a large scale under his leadership. After the meeting on Wednesday, CM Yadav said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the river linking campaign is going on at a large scale. Especially, the cultural, economic, and social attachment of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is such that it seems both states are a single state. Besides, Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma and Union Minister of Jal Shakti C R Patil are also taking interest in it (river linking project)." "There was a 20-year-old dispute between our states (MP and Rajasthan) which has not only been resolved but also has been brought to a conclusion and its results will soon be seen. The area of the river linking project is also increasing. I am satisfied that in the coming time it is going to be unique for both the states," he added. In a post on X on Wednesday (September 25), CM Yadav wrote, "Today in New Delhi, a meaningful discussion was held with Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, regarding better implementation of Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal River Project." This link project proposes to provide drinking, irrigation and industrial water in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan, Malwa and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh apart from providing irrigation in 2.8 lakh hectares (or more) each in both the states (total of 5.6 lakh ha or more) including supplementation of en route tanks in the states. The Modified PKC link project will help in utilising the available water resources of the Chambal basin optimally and economically. The various components of the Modified PKC link including areas of benefit shall be firmed up at the DPR stage in consultation with both the states. (ANI) Businessman Robert Vadra on Wednesday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "middlemen and sons-in-law" remark made during a rally in Sonipat. During his address, the Prime Minister accused previous Congress governments in Haryana of encouraging corruption. Modi also alleged that during Congress rule, there wasn't a single job in the state that didn't require personal recommendations. In response, Vadra said, "I'm quite surprised that once again the Prime Minister has used my name. They've had their government in Haryana as well as at the Centre. I know that in the last decade, they have set up commissions." Vadra specifically referred to the Dhingra Commission, which was established to investigate him and his companies, as well as multiple RTIs that questioned the extent of the land he owned in Haryana. "They've done everything in the last decade to try and disrupt any kind of work I was doing," Vadra added. He claimed that despite numerous inquiries and notices sent to his companies, nothing was ever proven against him. "They cannot prove anything because there was no wrongdoing in the way my companies have functioned," he said. Vadra also criticised the tone of Modi's remarks. "The way the Prime Minister, the tone that he's used to say words like Dalal and Damad, I think it's in poor taste. He's the Prime Minister of a 1.4 billion population. We expect much more from him." Vadra claimed that Prime Minister was using his name to divert attention from the government's failures in Haryana. "I think he has nothing else to offer or say for the people of Haryana because the people of Haryana are not happy with this government," Vadra said. Vadra also pointed out that he had received two clean chits from the government, both at the state and central levels, proving his innocence. When asked about the upcoming elections in Haryana, Vadra expressed confidence in the Congress party's chances. He said, "Congress will do well because the people want change." He mentioned the BJP's mishandling of various issues, including the alleged molestation case involving former President of the Wrestling Federation and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and women wrestlers. Vadra also criticised the government for its failure to address unemployment and infrastructure development. He predicted that Congress would win by a large margin in Haryana, as the people are eager for change. "The people want change, and it's going to be inevitable," Vadra added. On Tuesday, during his address in Sonipat ahead of the upcoming elections in the state, Prime Minister Modi alleged that Congress is "entrenched in corruption." He said, "Ten years ago, when there was a Congress government here, the farmers' lands were looted. The Congress had handed over Haryana to Dalals and Damads. There was no job that could be attained without cheating, and there was no organisation free of corruption." (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday attacked Congress-NC alliance over restoration of Article 370, saying that 'three generations' of their family will not be able to bring back Article 370. Addressing a public meeting in Chenani, Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said, "You will all vote not just for Chenani but make a decision for the entire J&K. After independence, it is for the first time that an election is held here where there is no Article 370 or a separate flag...NC and Rahul Baba say that we will bring back Article 370, but I want to tell them that neither you nor the three generations of yours will be able to bring back Article 370." He further attacked three families--'Gandhis'', 'Muftis' and 'Abdhullas' in his address and said that the families only gave tickets to their own people. "The three families have given tickets to their own people and made only 87 MLA. But we made more than 30,000 Panch, Sarpanch and Tehsil Panchayats... The river of corruption that they started was cleaned by Prime Minister Modi from the bottom," Amit Shah said. "Since 2014, we have been working tirelessly to empower SCs, STs, Dalits, poor, and women. We secured our borders and ensured reservation for our Pahadi brothers and sisters. Congress never cared for you, Abdullahs never cared for you. And you should remember this," Amit Shah said. Amit Shah further accused the NC and the Congress of perpetuating terrorism in the region. "The world is closely watching the Jammu and Kashmir elections, where two vastly different visions are at play. On one hand, the NC, Congress, and PDP parties, perpetuating terrorism in the region for around 40 years, are eyeing for power. On the other hand, the BJP, committed to rooting out terrorism entirely, offers an absolutely contrasting picture," he said. "It is Abdullahs and Nehrus who are accountable for the killing of 40,000 people in Jammu and Kashmir. Where was Farooq Abdullah at that time? He was vacationing in London during the summers, and was riding expensive motorcycles... No party, but only the BJP has eradicated terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir," the Home Minister added. Meanwhile, voting for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls was held on Wednesday. The second phase of J-K assembly polls recorded a turnout of 57.03 pc till 11:45 pm, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in a press release. The ECI said that Budgam recorded 62.98 percent voter turnout till 11.45 pm, Ganderbal recorded 62.51 percent voter turnout, Poonch recorded 73.80 percent voter turnout, Rajouri recorded 70.95 percent voter turnout, Reasi recorded 74.70 percent voter turnout and Srinagar recorded 29.81 voter turnout. The third and final phase J-K assembly polls will take place on October 1. The results will be declared on October 8. (ANI) The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a shooter and key member of a notorious gang involved in the GTB Hospital Murder Case. The accused conspired to the murder in a flat in the Babarpur area, and he also provided weapons to shooters. On July 14, 2024, the Delhi Police registered a case under sections 103(1)/61(2)/3(5) BNS at PS GTB Enclave, Delhi, regarding the murder of Riyajuddin, a 35-year-old resident of Khajuri Khas, Delhi. He was shot five times at GTB Hospital. The Crime Branch, Delhi, had taken on the task of apprehending the culprit. The team of the Crime Branch launched the operation to trace the culprits and conducted raids at different places in Delhi, UP, and Punjab. On the basis of technical surveillance and manual intelligence, finally the main mastermind of the GTB Hospital Murder case, namely Faheem alias Badshah, 30, a resident of Babarpur, Delhi, was arrested near the Highway at Meerut, UP. The accused, Faheem alias Badshah, came to Delhi in 2019 and started work as a property dealer. While working as a property dealer, he came in contact with gang members of a notorious gang and got involved in petty offences. In August 2023, he was arrested in a robbery case of PS Sarai Rohilla and spent about ten months in jail. After coming out from Jail in June 2024, he again came in contact with his gang members and he and his associates associates planned the murder of one Waseem, a member of a rival gang. He also procured two illegal weapons and 19 rounds from a notorious gangster one day before the incident and kept the same in his house. Faheem and his assciates Aman, Minda, Shavej, Saif Ali, and Fozan rushed to GTB Hospital with arms and ammunition, but due to misidentification, they opened fire on another patient, Riyazuddin, admitted in the same ward of GTB Hospital, in which Waseem was under treatment. Accused Faheem along with his associates absconded from the crime scene. While on the run, Faheem was staying at different places in Zakir Nagar, Delhi, Bihar, Punjab and Meerut to evade his arrest. (ANI) Rahul Gandhi on Thursday campaigned in Assandh, Karnal for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. Taking on the centre and state governments the Lok Sabha LoP claimed that the Haryana government has destroyed the employment system in the state. "Narendra Modi and the Haryana government have destroyed the employment system. Those children have gone abroad and will not return for ten years, they have gotten in an accident there and can't walk anymore. What does Modi do? He gave away the farmland you have to Adani. The loans of Haryana farmers will not be waived off but he waived off the loans of capitalists," Rahul Gandhi said. During his speech, he recalled meeting young men from Haryana during his visit to Texas, USA and asking them about the living conditions in after they reached USA. "A few days ago I went to America. I met young men from Haryana in my program in Texas. I saw the video from there. Do you want to understand Haryana today? In that video I was told that 15-20 thousand people from Haryana are going to America. Then I met your brothers. 15-20 people sleep in one room," said the Congress leader. He added that while talking to the people, he was told the people reached USA through many countries, while the people also saw some people dying. "I asked how did you go? He said that we reached America through many countries, through jungles. We were caught there. He told the story of the way that Rahul was robbed by the mafia once. He saw his brothers dying after coming out of the sea and coming out of the mountains. You are not rich people; you have paid 35 lakh rupees for this journey. Most of them said that they have sold their farm. Someone has taken it on interest," he said. He further also promised to the people that if Congress comes to power in the state, they would be providing gas for Rs 500, provide 2 lakh jobs to the people, and give an MSP guarantee to farmers. "For Mahila Shakti (women empowerment), we will be giving Rs 500 gas every month, we will give two lakh jobs to the youth. MSP guarantee to the farmer and insurance money as soon as the crop is destroyed and houses for the poor. The BJP people have ruined the constitution that gives rights to the weaker sections of India," he added. He further said that it is important to conduct a caste census across the country, claiming that most of the institutions have been given to RSS cadres, and that no marginalised section is present wherever RSS is present. "All the institutions have been handed over to the RSS people. You will not find any Dalit, backward or tribal in any institution where RSS people are present. The Election Commission has filled the bureaucracy with their own people. That is why caste census is necessary for them," he added. (ANI) The Critical Care Air Evacuation Medical Team was led by Lt Col Anuj Singh along with two trained paramedics, from Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt. The mission involved coordination with the Indian Air Force, MEA, and other agencies. The rescue mission not only ensured that the injured soldier was evacuated to India amidst an extremely uncertain situation but also provided state-of-the-art critical care support en route, the Indian Army said. Havildar Suresh R (33), an injured soldier, was shifted to CZ (Israel side) to Level 1 Hospital on September 20. He was not oriented to time/place/person and appeared to be deranged. His medical history involved 30 days of admission at Rambam Hospital, Haifa, Israel, with effect from 22 August until 20 September. His diagnosis involved head injury, unspecified trauma, subarachnoid haemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury, and Hemiparesis left. Currently, his vitals are stable and is maintaining 98 per cent saturation at room air, GCS 10/15, while his body movements are swifter and smoother. The air ambulance took off from Tel Aviv with the patient at 01.20 AM (IST) and reached Jamnagar at 10 AM (IST). He was further airlifted to Palam, New Delhi, and reached today, 26 September 2024, at about 2 pm. He was later transferred to Army Hospital R&R, New Delhi, by 3 pm, through an ambulance. The stellar efforts of the Indian Armed Forces in general and Medical Services in particular reflect the highest ethos of the Armed Forces to save precious human lives even in the most difficult conditions. (ANI) Calling the vandalism of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Sacramento, California, 'unfortunate', Radharaman Das, Vice President, Kolkata International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), hoped that strict action is taken against the accused. Radharaman Das expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on Hindu temples worldwide, including in countries like the United States, where religious freedom is a fundamental right. "Not only in America, there have been attacks on the Hindu places of worship throughout the world. The attack on the Swaminarayan temple is unfortunate. In a country like America, which professes that they give everyone the right to practice their religion, we can see that such incidents are happening there also," Das told ANI. "We all can see the condition in Bangladesh and how there have been demands to ban Durga Puja...All those who follow Hindu Dharma are worried. We hope that strict action is taken against those who attacked the Swaminarayan temple in California," he added. The Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata further expressed deep concern over the Tirupati Prasadam Row, alleging that the incident happened due to the involvement of other religion's people in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). "This is a matter of concern in all the temples that are under the control of the government. We know that Tirupati is one of the richest temples... But we know that the TTD , which manages this temple, has people of other religions. It is very unfortunate that people of other religions are running this Hindu temple. We see that whatever incident has happened it is the result of that," he said. Das also accused that the Tirupati Prasadam Row is a conspiracy against Sanatam Dharma. "When we investigated, we found out that earlier Nandani ghee was used, but they used to sell it for Rs 900. But TTD did not like it...So they gave ghee worth Rs 300-Rs 330 per litre to an organisation. Even we make ghee at ISKCON, and we know that for making 1 litre of ghee, 20-22 litre of milk are required...This is a conspiracy against Sanatan Dharma," he said. This comes after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the Prasdam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government. Meanwhile, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento was vandalised on the night of September 25, just days after a similar incident at the BAPS Mandir in New York. Graffiti with anti-Hindu messages such as "Hindus go back" alarmed the local Hindu community. In response, the community vowed to stand united against hate. The BAPS Public Affairs team stated on X (formerly Twitter), "We stand united against hate with prayers for peace." The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office confirmed the vandalism and noted that vandals had also cut water lines at the property. Ami Bera, U.S. Representative for California's 6th District, condemned the act, stating, "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in Sacramento County." The Hindu American Foundation thanked Bera for addressing the hate crime, calling it "an anti-Hindu hate crime."(ANI) Responding to the BJP's demand for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation over the alleged MUDA 'scam', Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that the entire Congress party stands in support of Siddaramaiah, adding that there is no possibility of the Chief Minister stepping down. "I am the KPCC President, and Rehman Khan is the KPCC Discipline Committee head. I am telling you there is no need for the CM to resign. The BJP and JDS are hatching a political conspiracy against the CM. They are not able to digest the fact that guarantee schemes are reaching so many people. Karnataka is the largest state where Congress is in power, and the BJP can't tolerate that. There is no question of CM resigning," Shivakumar told reporters. Asked about Prime Minister Modi's tirade against CM Siddaramaiah, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing politics by raising the issue of Siddaramaiah during election rallies. "Prime Minister Modi is doing politics by raising the issue of Siddaramaiah during election rallies. Many ministers in the Union government are facing charges, let them drop them from the Cabinet first and then talk about others," he added. Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi attacked Karnataka CM and said that the Congress is completely entrenched in corruption. Addressing a rally in Sonipat Haryana, days ahead of the assembly elections in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while highlighting the failures of the Congress party, drew attention towards the MUDA scam, which allegedly involves the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. "It has only been two years, and just look at the Congress government in Karnataka. The Chief Minister is facing accusations of a land scam. When he appeared in the High Court, he was dismissed. The court stated that a proper investigation is necessary in this matter," PM Modi said. Earlier today, the Karnataka Chief Minister said that he would not be resigning from his post amid the MUDA scam allegations levied on him by BJP leaders. "I won't resign; why should I resign? There are allegations on HD Kumaraswamy, did he resign? Let Kumaraswamy resign, has Modi taken the resignation of Kumaraswamy," the CM said. (ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) held a protest on Thursday at the Movie Artist Association (MAA) in Jubilee Hills in Telangana against actor Prakash Raj over his comments on the alleged use of animal fat in the preparation of the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam. BJYM also gave a memorandum to the Telugu Film Chamber, demanding a ban on Prakash Raj. Mahesh, BJYM state vice president, told ANI, "Prakash Raj insulted the beliefs of Hindus. He always makes such comments to insult Hindus and our gods. We are demanding that such a person should not get work in the film industry. Whatever movie he acts in, we will not allow it to be screened in the entire Telugu state. Our demand is also that he should seek an apology from the entire Hindu society." Meanwhile, on September 20, the Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM posted on X about the Tirupati Prasadam and called to establish a 'Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board' at a national level. "We are all deeply disturbed with the findings of animal fat (fish oil, pork fat and beef fat) mixed in Tirupathi Balaji Prasad. Many questions were to be answered by the TTD board constituted by YCP government then. Our Govt is committed to take stringent action possible. But this throws light on many issues surrounding desecration of temples, its land issues and other dharmic practices," Pawan Kalyan said on X. "Many be the time has come to constitute a 'Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board' at a National level to look into all the issues related to temples in entire Bharath. A debate has to happen at a national level by all the policy makers, religious heads, judiciary, citizens, media and all others in their respective domains. I think we all should come together to put an end to desecration of 'Sanathana Dharma' in any form," he added. Actor Prakash Raj, in reply to this, said that the country has enough "Communal tension" and the Deputy CM is spreading apprehensions and blowing up the issue nationally. "Dear Pawan Kalyan, it has happened in a state where you are a DCM. Please investigate and find out the culprits and take stringent action. Why are you spreading apprehensions and blowing up the issue Nationally? We have enough Communal tensions in the Country. (Thanks to your friends in the Center)" he said. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed Delhi University (DU) to continue with the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections but has imposed a crucial condition--barring the university from counting votes until it satisfies the court that all posters, hoardings, graffiti, and other campaign-related materials have been removed and public property has been restored. The bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, after hearing the submissions of all sides, also directed that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot boxes must be safely stored until further orders are issued. In its ruling, the court stated, "Keeping in view the aforesaid, this court directs that though the election process may proceed ahead, yet no counting of votes shall take place, either of the DU elections or of the colleges, till this court is satisfied that the posters, hoardings, graffiti spray paint are removed and the public property is restored." While passing the direction, the Court strongly criticised the university for its failure and lack of supervision in ensuring that election rules were followed. The court labelled it as a clear failure on the part of the Delhi University administration, pointing to an absence of oversight in the election process. In a stern directive, the Court stated that civic authorities should recover any losses or damages caused by the rule violations during the election from the Delhi University administration. During the hearing, the Court expressed serious concerns over the apparent flouting of rules by contesting candidates. The court noted that it seemed there was no internal mechanism in place to monitor and ensure compliance with election regulations. The Court noted that the university should have formed a committee to oversee the election process and prevent any irregularities. Referring to videos presented during the hearing, the court emphasised the need for action, stating, "You can't turn a blind eye to it." The Court fixed the matter for October 21, 2024 for further hearing in the matter. On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court issued a stern warning to Delhi University (DU) and Election Authority, indicating that the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) polls could be deferred if the defacement caused during the election campaign is not properly addressed and saying 'elections are meant to be a "festival of democracy," not a platform for laundering money'. In its remarks, the bench questioned the enormous amount of money being spent by the candidates during the elections, suggesting that such expenditures raised concerns about transparency and fairness The court also specifically directed that all spray-painted walls and other forms of vandalism must be cleaned up. The court further emphasised that the Vice Chancellor must take these issues seriously, and if necessary, the polls could be annulled. The court had earlier expressed strong displeasure over the large-scale vandalism and defacement of public property during the election campaign and had warned of possible action, including the deferment of the DUSU polls, if the situation was not rectified. The authorities' commitment to engage with stakeholders suggests that a solution is being sought to comply with the court's concerns before the next hearing. In the ongoing Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election matter, Delhi University informed the Delhi High Court that it had recently issued a circular to all contesting candidates, making them aware of the rules, regulations, and the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee. The university emphasised that it is taking steps to ensure that candidates comply with these guidelines to maintain the decorum and legality of the election process. The Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, which govern student elections in universities across India, aim to ensure fair practices, including limits on campaign spending and the prohibition of defacement of public property. This move comes in response to the High Court's concerns over defacement and misuse of funds during the DUSU election campaign. On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court expressed strong disapproval of public authorities for their inaction to the widespread vandalism and property defacement across Delhi during the run-up to the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections. The court was particularly critical of the inaction by Delhi University and the election authorities, emphasising that they have the power to take concrete action against those responsible for violating rules and damaging public property. The court remarked that the scale of defacement across the city was alarming, and it called out the authorities for merely issuing orders without ensuring their enforcement. It stressed that authorities are not powerless ("not handicapped") and that it is their duty to enforce these orders effectively, rather than just passing them on paper. Advocate Prashant Manchanda, the petitioner, brought attention to the rampant defacement of public and metro properties, particularly by candidates contesting the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, set for September 27, 2024. The defacement includes damage to bus stands, walls of police stations, university walls, and other public areas, he apprised the court. Advocate Manchanda highlighted the violation of a previous Delhi High Court judgement in Prashant Manchanda vs. UOI (W.P.(C) 7824 and 8251 of 2017), where the court had framed guidelines to address such defacement issues. The court's concern arose from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Prashant Manchanda, which sought a complete ban on the defacement of public property, particularly during election periods. The PIL also called for directions to civic agencies to impose heavy fines on political parties and aspiring candidates, aiming to deter them from further damaging public spaces. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah hit back at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, reminding him that Congress imposed president's rule most number of times in Jammu and Kashmir. "Rahul Gandhi just gave a statement that outsiders will rule in Jammu and Kashmir. He was referring to our LG Sahab (Manoj Sinha). Rahul baba, those who write your speeches doesnot tell you the truth. If there is a party that has imposed Presidential rule most number of times in Jammu and Kashmir, it is the Congress," Amit Shah said while addressing a public meeting in Kathua which went to polls in the first phase of polling held on September 18. The Home Minister cited the polling turnout, saying that it was the end of terrorism in the region that had led to the increased turnout. "Due to the end of terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a record 55 percent voting. Farooq Sahib, those days are over when one could go to the Lok Sabha by getting 8 thousand votes. Now democracy has become strong in Jammu and Kashmir," Amit Shah said. The Home Minister also said that it was PM Modi's effort that had put the decision making power in the hands of the people. "You have Panch-Sarpanch in your villages now. Over 40,000 people now celebrate democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. For decades, the 3 dynasties of NC, Congress and PDP promoted nepotism. Now, due to Modi ji's efforts, the youth of J&K takes part in the decision-making for improving conditions in the state," he said Amit Shah added, "If BJP candidates Jeevan Lal and Dilip Singh win, then there will be celebrations across the country. But if Congress and NC (National Conference) candidates win, then celebrations will be held in Pakistan. Do you wish Pakistan to celebrate?..." The BJP leader vowed that they will not allow Rahul Gandhi to end reservation (in case Congress is voted to power). "Rahul baba has said that they will end reservation when they come to power. Rahul Baba, no matter what your intention is, we will not let you end reservation," Amit Shah added. The second phase of J-K assembly polls was held on September 25. The third and final phase of voting will be held on October 1 while the counting of votes will take place on October 8. Assembly elections are being held in the Union Territory nearly after a gap of ten years and are the first once since the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI) National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that he expected higher turnout in the assembly election. "I was hoping for a little more turnout. Because there was no call from the boycott. There were no attacks. There was no attempt to suppress and threaten the voters," Omar Abdullah said. "But I think the central government is also partially responsible for this situation. They have tried to present high turnout as a sign of normalcy at different places," he said. On the diplomats visits to Jammu and Kashmir and Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said, "They brought the team of diplomats. They wanted to show that there was a big change in Srinagar. The people of Srinagar did not want to be used like this." On the voting turnout, he said, "I am thankful to all those who voted for me. Whether they have voted for the National Conference, NOTA or any other parties, I am thankful to them for voting." He further added that "The third phase of voting has the seats of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipur districts in the Kashmir valley, the have traditionally participated in the voting process and we expect high turnout." He expressed gratitude to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for participating in the election. "The most difficult time of the year is when the votes have come from these areas. This time too, we hope that the voters will use their votes. Along with that, there is a little bit of selfishness, but I hope that the votes will be given in support the National Conference. And where there is no hope of the National Conference, the people will then definitely vote for Congress". The final phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for October 1. The counting of votes for JK and Haryana assemblies will take place on October 8. (ANI) A Pakistani-British national has approached the Delhi High Court, seeking a direction to repatriate his two minor sons, both British citizens, to the United Kingdom. The petition has been moved following an order by the UK High Court. The children were brought to India by the petitioner's wife and have been living with her in Delhi since September 2023. The mother, who is also a UK citizen, has already initiated a custody petition before a Delhi court. A Division Bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma has directed the respondent's wife to appear before the court with the children and to present their original passports on October 3. Advocate Khalid Akhtar submitted that the petitioner is the father of the children and is not allowed to communicate with them. They are brought here by their mother. Petitioner Riyaz Ayaz moved a habeas corpus petition through Advocates Khalid Akhtar, and Abdullah Akhtar, directing the respondent to produce the children before the High Court and, thereafter, direct their immediate return to the United Kingdom. The petitioner has also sought direction from the wife to assist in the return of the children to the United Kingdom and to assist in enforcing the return order and ensuring the safe return of the children to their habitual residence in the UK. He has also sought a direction restraining the wife from initiating or continuing any proceedings in India concerning the custody or guardianship of the children, in deference to the jurisdiction of the UK courts. The plea has also sought to direct the wife to facilitate the communication facilities between the petitioner and the children. It is stated that in 2006 the couple met in the UK and got married. Two sons were born out of wedlock in 2014 and 2018. It is also stated in the plea that on 31 August, the respondent (wife) and children travelled to India with her sister. "Before the respondent departed for India, her husband asked her for her father's phone number in India so he could stay in touch. But, shockingly, she gave the petitioner the wrong number," the petitioner alleged. The plea also stated that on November 1, 2023, the respondent entered into an agreement notarised and stamped, although it mentions that the agreement commenced retrospectively from September 1, 2023, the same day on which the respondent landed in India. Subsequently, the respondent moved a custody application before the Karkardooma District Court in New Delhi. The petitioner asked the respondent to confirm their return to the UK as the children's visas (as British nationals) were set to expire on November 6 and 7, 2023. "She told the petitioner that she had already applied for a visa extension for the children through someone her father knew. The petitioner was left with no choice but to give consent for the extension of the visa of the children. And so, the petitioner gave his consent on November 8, 2023," the plea added. It is further stated that after around two weeks, the respondent communicated to the petitioner that a visa extension has been granted until February 14, 2024. He also said that the respondent had brought all the documents with her to India without the knowledge of the petitioner and deleted all documents from the petitioner's laptop. And also brought Petitioner's personal hard drive. On January 28, 2024, the respondent unexpectedly called the petitioner after a two-week period of no communication, informing him that all further communication would have to be through her advocate. The petitioner then received a summons from the Karkardooma District Court for a hearing scheduled on February 29, 2024. On February 23, 2024, the petitioner moved to the UK High Court seeking a return order for the children who are British nationals because the mother has kept them without permission of their father and it is a criminal offence in the United Kingdom. The UK High Court directed the respondent-wife to file a reply by February 27, whether the children should be made wards of court and whether the summary return of the children to England and Wales should be ordered. The respondent did not appear in the virtual hearing before the UK High Court, nor filed a reply. "Thereafter, the respondent was directed that the children should be made available for video contact with their father on at least two occasions each week, Wednesday and Saturday. The respondent did not comply," the plea said. The plea added that the respondent was further asked to file a reply before the UK High Court by April 5, 2024, in addition to the direction issued on February 24, to set out her position on whether it is her case that the proceedings in India should take precedence. On April 4, 2024, the respondent sent the UK High Court a reply stating that she disputed the court's jurisdiction and that the appropriate forum for determining the children's welfare was India. She opposed any order requiring her to return the children to England and Wales. The UK High Court held that the children were habitual residents of the UK and refused the reply of the respondent, who prayed for a stay of the petitioner's case. "The UK High Court held the final hearing on August 9, in the matter of the kids' return order, and on August 16, it passed an order of return along with judgement for the children because the children are British nationals; cause of action - habitual residence and forum conveniens is the United Kingdom and not India," the plea said. (ANI) Amid the alleged MUDA scam against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Thursday said that the central government is misusing every institution, adding that they will fight this legally. "Let them (BJP) do whatever they want. Their attempt is to destabilise the government, to derail the administration, create confusion and ensure good work can't be done by our government. They want to target our CM because he is a very tall leader and popular, he made PM Modi and Amit Shah eat humble pie in the last election...so they are misusing every institution. We are going to fight this legally...we are all with the CM," the Karnataka Minister told reporters. Earlier, the Karnataka government withdrew open consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe in the state. Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil termed the Central Bureau of Investigation "biased" and said that the government has taken the decision to prevent CBI from taking the wrong path. "We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigation in the state. We are expressing our concerns about the misuse of the CBI. In all the cases we have referred to the CBI, they have not filed charge sheets, leaving many cases pending. They have also refused to investigate several cases we have sent. There are numerous such instances. They are biased. That's why we are taking the decision. It's not because of the MUDA case. We have taken this decision to control them (CBI) from taking the wrong path," Patil said, addressing a press conference. On Wednesday, the Special Court in Bengaluru passed an order directing Karnataka Lokyukta to conduct an investigation against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the allegation of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Karnataka Lokayukta's Mysuru district police will have to conduct the investigation and will submit its report in three months. The Special Court's order came after the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday vacated its interim stay order granted on August 19, directing the court to defer the decision on the complaints against Siddaramaiah. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife in the prime location of Mysuru city. The High Court, in its interim order passed on August 19, had granted a temporary relief to Siddaramaiah by directing a special court in Bengaluru to defer further proceedings and not to take any precipitative action pursuant to the sanction granted by the Governor. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Thursday that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in Haryana and the double-engine government will together create new records of development. CM Yadav was campaigning for a BJP candidate from the Nandgaon seat in Bhiwani district. He said, "According to the response I am getting, the BJP will form the government in Haryana with all the seats in Bhiwani district. Haryana and Delhi, that is, the double-engine government, will together create new records of development." Earlier on Wednesday, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, during the election campaign, exuded confidence in BJP's victory for the third consecutive, saying that people are going to vote in favour of the double-engine government. "...The people of Haryana have decided that the BJP will form government for the third time. On October 5, people will vote for the double-engine government... Bhupinder Singh Hooda has been the CM for 10 years and he has only betrayed farmers... The lands of the farmers were grabbed and handed over to the 'Daamad'(son-in-law)...," said Nayab Singh Saini. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday campaigned in Assandh, Karnal for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. Taking on the centre and state governments the Lok Sabha LoP claimed that the Haryana government has destroyed the employment system in the state. "Narendra Modi and the Haryana government have destroyed the employment system. Those children have gone abroad and will not return for ten years, they have gotten in an accident there and can't walk anymore. What does Modi do? He gave away the farmland you have to Adani. The loans of Haryana farmers will not be waived off but he waived off the loans of capitalists," Rahul Gandhi said. Haryana will go to the polls on October 5 and the results for both Haryana and JK will be declared on October 8. (ANI) The incident occurred at the school's hostel in Pipariya Kala. The incident came to light after the student informed his parents about the beating on Tuesday night (September 24). The following day, the parents approached the police and lodged a complaint. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Suryakant Sharma told ANI, "A class-8 student of the school, staying in the hostel told his parents that the hostel warden had beaten him. On Wednesday, the parents of the student lodged a complaint with the police." Acting on the complaint, the police visited the private school and interrogated the hostel warden, identified as Mukesh Sharma. During the investigation, the police found scars on the student's body and conducted a medical examination, Sharma said. According to the police, a case under sections 115 (Voluntarily causing hurt), 296 (Obscene acts and songs), and 351(2) (Criminal intimidation punishment) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, has been registered against the accused hostel warden. "Based on the complaint and investigation, a case has been registered against hostel warden and he has been taken into custody. Further investigation into the same is underway," he added. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh said on Thursday that whatever the results of Haryana, the key to power will be in the hands of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. While holding an election campaign in Haryana's Charkhi Dadri, Sanjay Singh said, "Whatever the result of Haryana, the key to power will be in the hands of Arvind Kejriwal. Our priority is to have electricity, water, education, and health facilities here. Women should get Rs 1000 per month, people should get free electricity." Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of getting AAP leaders arrested in false accusations. Addressing an election rally in poll-bound Haryana, Kejriwal on Wednesday, announced his five guarantees for the people of the state including free electricity, free medical services, excellent government schools, Rs 1000 for women above the age of 18, and youth employment. "... Prime Minister thought that Kejriwal is doing a lot of work. He needs to be stopped. They arrested all our party leaders. They wanted to attack my honesty. They made false accusations, called me a 'Bhrashtachari' and a 'Chor'... I am roaming around in Delhi, people are saying that I can be anything but a 'Chor'... I resigned and said that the people of Delhi will decide if I am honest or not...," said Kejriwal in Meham constituency. On September 23, Kejriwal claimed that no government can be formed without the support of AAP in Haryana. "No government can be formed in Haryana without AAP. It is my responsibility that whichever government is formed with our support, we will ensure that electricity in Haryana is provided free of charge," said Kejriwal. Voting for the 90-member legislative assembly in Haryana will be held on October 5. Votes will be counted on October 8 along with that in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticized Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, stating that corruption charges should not be seen as a sacrifice. While addressing a public rally in Jharkhand's Dhanbad, Singh emphasized that true leadership is about serving the people rather than seeking personal gain. "What is the reason that a person from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha becomes the Chief Minister, faces corruption charges, and ends up in jail? He comes out and roams among the people as a martyr. Is going to jail on corruption charges a big sacrifice?" Singh said. The Union Minister highlighted the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) commitment to development, citing the party's clean record in governance, particularly in Jharkhand, where former chief ministers Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, and Raghubar Das have not faced corruption charges. "The intention and vision with which Jharkhand was formed remain unfulfilled. We aimed to end starvation, poverty, and unemployment in Jharkhand. It's true that we had three CMs--Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, and Raghubar Das--and I can guarantee that the amount of work these three CMs did, JMM couldn't do it despite being in the government for five years. Can anyone even compare? No one, not even the opposition, can claim that corruption charges have been leveled against Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, or Raghubar Das," he said. Singh's remarks come as the BJP launched its Parivartan Yatra, aimed at bringing change to Jharkhand. "I have come to tell you that our Parivartan Yatra is starting. This Yatra is going to write a new history in Jharkhand," he said. The Union Minister also announced that the central government will cover the salary for the first month of new employees in private companies. He emphasized that Jharkhand receives equal funding from the Centre compared to other states, with no partiality. "We have decided that the salary for the first month in private companies will be provided by the central government. Despite Jharkhand having a government of opposition parties, the central government has never shown partiality towards the state. The same amount of funding has been allocated to Jharkhand as to other states. Like other states, medical colleges are being opened in Jharkhand as well. We have also prepared a scheme to develop 62,000 tribal villages," he said. Hemant Soren was released from Birsa Munda Jail on June 28 after nearly five months in custody following bail from the Jharkhand High Court in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the 'Parivartan Yatra' in Jharkhand's Sahibganj district on September 20. Jharkhand is set to go to the polls for its 81-member legislative assembly later this year, as the current government's tenure ends in 2024. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has yet to announce the dates. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition of the Gujarat government seeking to expunge certain remarks made against the government for its conduct with regard to the premature release of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. "We are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the review petitions, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The review petitions are, accordingly, dismissed," said a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan in its order. The state had filed a review petition in the top court saying that the adverse remarks made against the government in the top court's judgement have caused great prejudice to the state government. The Gujarat government had sought to delete adverse remarks against the state. It had further argued that the state government had only acted as per the mandamus issued by the Supreme Court by way of its judgement of May 2022. The Gujarat government was acting as per the Supreme Court's May 2022 judgement, which directed it to consider the remission application of one of the convicts, as it had said in the review plea. The state had submitted that it cannot be held to have "usurped" the jurisdiction of the State of Maharashtra when it was acting as per a direction of the Supreme Court. On January 8, 2024, the Supreme Court had struck down the Gujarat government's order granting remission to 11 convicts who had gangraped Bilkis Bano and murdered her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots. The top court had held that the Gujarat government was not competent to pass the remission orders but the Maharashtra government. It had said the appropriate government to decide the remission was the state (in this case, Maharashtra) within whose territorial limits the accused are sentenced and not where the crime is committed or the accused are imprisoned. It had held that the judgment of May 13, 2022, by which another bench of the apex court had directed the Gujarat government to consider remission of a convict as per the 1992 policy, was obtained by "playing fraud" on the court and by suppressing material facts. Gujarat government usurped the powers of Maharashtra government acting in furtherance of the judgement dated May 13, 2022, which in our opinion is a "nullity", the apex court had said. Filing the review plea, the Gujarat government then objected to the apex court's observation that State of Gujarat has acted in tandem and was complicit with convict. "The Supreme Court's observation holding Gujarat guilty of "usurpation of power" and "abuse of discretion" for complying with the order of apex court, whereby another co-ordinate bench of this Court held the State of Gujarat to be the "appropriate government" under section 432(7) of CrPC, and issued a mandamus to the State of Gujarat to decide the remission Application of a convict in accordance with the Remission Policy of 1992, which was in existence at the time of conviction in the State of Gujarat, is an error apparent on the face of the record primarily," review plea of the Gujarat government had stated. The Gujarat government had released the 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, on August 15, 2022. All the 11 life-term convicts in the case were released as per the remission policy prevalent in Gujarat at the time of their conviction in 2008. In March 2002, during the post-Godhra riots, Bano was allegedly gang-raped and left to die with 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter. She was five months pregnant when rioters attacked her family in Vadodara. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh participated in the National Urban Convention organised by the Praja Foundation in New Delhi on Thursday. Urban Governance Index 2024 was also launched on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Vikramaditya Singh said that about ten per cent of the population in Himachal Pradesh resides in urban areas and the state government strives to transform them into vibrant and developed urban centres in the coming times. He said that Dharamsala and Shimla are coming up as smart cities. He said that the state government took an initiative to implement Urban Platform for Delivery of Online Governance ( UPYOG ) under the National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM). The initiative aims to revolutionise the citizen experience of municipal public services by offering integrated end-to-end solutions through a comprehensive state-wide service delivery infrastructure. He said that this will provide a range of government services and information to citizens through a single digital platform for all 60 urban local bodies (One State One Portal) besides improving efficiency, transparency and accessibility of government services. He also underlined the need for international air connectivity and strengthening railway network in the state for fast urbanization and added that the state has build strong road network. He also spoke about the initiatives being taken by the present state government under the leadership of CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu especially for green hydrogen. M. B. Rajesh, Minister of Local Self Government Kerala, Jaya Prakash Narayan, Founder and General Secretary, Foundation for Democratic Reforms also spoke on strengthening Municipal Governance. Senior officers from concerned Ministries, NITI Aayog, and representatives from NGOs attended the event. (ANI) This committee was established in accordance with the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2018. The Committee members praised the state government's commendable efforts in implementing various welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and backward classes, the CMO said in its release. Notable programs include the Manav Garima Yojana, Baba Saheb Ambedkar educational Loan for overseas studies, and Samras Hostels, which provide accommodation for students from rural areas pursuing education in cities. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai, Tribal Development Minister Kuber Dindor, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Bhanuben Babariya, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, and Chief Secretary Raj Kumar. The elected MLAs and MPs from the reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, including Jasvantsinh Bhabhor, Prabhubhai Vasava, Vinodbhai Chavda, Dinesh Makwana, and others, also participated in this meeting, it added. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over tragic firing incident in Shajapur district and said that those responsible for the death would not be spared. Late Wednesday, a dispute happened between two groups in Maksi town in Shajapur district which resulted in stone pelting and firing, and left one person dead and seven injured. In a post on X, CM Yadav wrote, "The loss of life in an unfortunate accident due to mutual dispute in Maksi town in Shajapur district is very sad. Those responsible will not be spared at any cost. As soon as the incident came to my notice late last night, I talked to the senior officials of the district administration and directed them to ensure peace in the area." "Investigate the matter with impartiality, identify the culprits and take strict action. We are committed to maintain harmony and peace in the state. Tampering with law and order will not be tolerated in the state," he further wrote. According to an official release, following the instructions of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, the Commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IG) Ujjain Range visited Maksi. Earlier, Shajapur Superintendent of Police (SP), Yashpal Singh Rajput told ANI, "A dispute occurred between two groups in Maksi town and a firing incident also came to light in which a few people were injured. Police forces were deployed in the town, patrolling was being done and the situation was under control." Meanwhile, Shajapur district hospital doctor on duty Imran Khan told ANI, "A serious case arrived from Maksi here in which one person died, while seven were injured. All the injured were referred to Indore for further treatment." (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday accused the JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand of providing shelter to infiltrators under a "planned conspiracy" in the state, claiming that infiltrators are occupying tribal land and ruining their culture. While addressing the "Parivartan Sabha" organised in the Nala Assembly Constituency of Jamtara district in Jharkhand on Thursday, CM Dhami said, "Congress and its allies are a gang of scams. Jharkhand's Chief Minister has also returned after serving the jail term. Congress ruled the country for 60 years after independence. In these 60 years, Congress has only filled its coffers." Addressing people, the Chief Minister said that he had come among everyone from the holy land of Baba Kedar, Uttarakhand. He said that seeing the people of Kundhit region and their love, there is a flow of energy. The campaign launched by the BJP of Jharkhand should not stop. "Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and Jharkhand state came into existence together. Both the states are famous for their ancient cultures. Jharkhand has a glorious history of immense forest wealth, natural resources, and the courage of tribal society. Our tribal people were the first to raise their voice against the British," CM Dhami said. The Chief Minister said that after the independence of the country, the tribal society was not taken care of. "Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has worked to advance the development of the state and tribal society by creating the state of Jharkhand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked continuously to increase the respect and self-respect of the tribal society," he added. He said that we are proud that the daughter of the tribal society, Droupadi Murmu, is the President of the country. All this has been possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He said that the Prime Minister declared the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda as Janjati Gaurav Diwas. Many museums have been built for tribal freedom fighters at a cost of 200 crores. The work of bringing the people of the tribal society into the mainstream is going on under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, many schemes are being run by the Central Government, keeping the tribal society at the center. "Work is being done to take people forward through many schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Yojana, and PM Awas Yojana. Today's schemes are not just on paper but are a guarantee of Prime Minister Modi. Work is being done to take Jharkhand forward under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Many works have been done in Jharkhand, like infrastructure development, highways, elevated roads, renovation and reconstruction of 57 new railway stations, connectivity of Vande Bharat train in the state, foundation stone of 20 Eklavya residential schools, and construction of AIIMS in Deoghar," Dhami said. The Chief Minister said that under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, cards of 1 crore 2 lakh people have been made in Jharkhand state, and houses have been constructed for 55 lakh people under the housing scheme. "More than 38 lakh families have been given gas cylinders for free. Pure water is being supplied to 32 lakh families. More than 30 lakh farmers are getting Samman Nidhi. More than 33000 kilometers of road have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana. About 340 km of road has been constructed in the Jamtara area. About 88 thousand farmers in Jamtara district have been given Samman Nidhi of Rs 154 crore. Along with the schemes, the Prime Minister has also taken many tough and big decisions in the interest of the country," CM Dhami said. The Chief Minister said that "on one side there is the BJP under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Modi Ji, who gives priority to the public welfare by doing development, and on the other side there is appeasement, nepotism, JMM, RJD, and the Congress gang, which are immersed in corruption. The Jharkhand government and the opposition are conspiring to play with the demography of Jharkhand. Infiltrators are being given shelter under the protection of the Jharkhand government. The opposition people are conspiring to hand over the land, resources, and culture of the tribals to the infiltrators. These infiltrators are also playing with the lives of our daughters." The Chief Minister said that in many areas of this region slogans of "Hindus and tribals leave Jharkhand" are raised. "The Jharkhand government and its opposition allies are protecting such people. Infiltration in Jharkhand will fill up with a large number of infiltrators in the coming times. Earlier, the number of tribals in this area had come down from 44 to 28 per cent. This is a big question...? We all have to find the answer to this question together. The Jharkhand government has always cheated the tribals. More than two lakh government posts are vacant in Jharkhand. All these posts will be filled when the BJP government comes. He said that the corrupt government of Jharkhand distributes papers by taking money. The Chief Minister of Jharkhand has been to jail in many scams and has come out on bail," he said. The Chief Minister said that there is a conspiracy to stop Durga Puja in Ranchi. The Congress and JMM government conspire to not set up Durga Puja pandals. He urged the people to form a BJP government in Jharkhand. Jharkhand is set to go to polls for its 81-member legislative assembly later this year, as the current government's tenure ends on January 5, 2025. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce the dates. (ANI) Union Minister and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) president JP Nadda paid floral tribute to Rani Durgavati in Chhattisgarh's Raipur on Thursday. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was also present. Rani Durgavati was the ruling queen of Gondwana in the mid-16th century. She is remembered as a brave, fearless and courageous warrior who fought for freedom against the Mughals. Earlier in the day, Nadda hit out at the Congress party and said it has become the spokesperson of urban naxalism and is speaking the language of disintegrative forces. Lashing out at the Congress and National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, Nadda said that Congress is allying with the party that voices for restoring Article 370, in which there will be two constitutions in the same country. These remarks came while he was addressing a BJP membership campaign program in Khordha district of Odisha. "Congress has become the spokesperson of urban naxalism. Congress has been doing the work of putting forth the points of disintegrative forces. Where is nationalism? They are allying with the party who talks about bringing article 370 back. But this is BJP who in 1952, as, Bharatiya Jana Sangha said there should not be two constitutions in the same country. Even Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life. We started in 1952-53, and in 2019, with the dynamic leadership of PM Modi and the able skills of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, we could see that Article 370 was abrogated. J-K entirely and constitutionally became a part of India and Jammu and Kashmir became part of India constitutionally after this move..." Nadda said. Citing examples of Manmohan Singh and Lal Krishna Advani, Nadda said the people who came to India from Pakistan held prominent posts in Indian politics but due to article 370, a refugee from Pakistan, couldn't vote in Jammu and Kashmir. "There were around 200 laws in the Indian constitution that were not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. SC & Valmiki did not get a reservation. Dr Manmohan Singh who came from West Pakistan became the Prime Minister, Lal Krishna Advani who came from Pakistan became Vice PM, but a refugee from Pakistan in J-K could not give his vote in Vidhan Sabha. It is this time that they voted for the first time on the land J-K. whatever we said in 1952, we did it in 2019, we remain consisted on our ideology," JP Nadda said. Highlighting the seriousness of the membership and elections at different levels within the party, Nadda asserted that BJP is the only party in India that is a national, democratic and ideological party. Stepping up his attacks on the Congress party, Nadda asked why Congress have never conducted a membership drive campaign or given importance to the membership. "There are total 5000 parties in India and around 50 active party, but BJP is the only party which is a national, democratic and ideological party. It has got a cadre base and maximum mass following. It is the only political party. Have you ever seen such memberships event of Congress? Have they given such importance to membership? This tells volumes about the seriousness of the membership. Its transparent in BJP.... It is the democratic party and the transparent party.... the process of electing different members on different levels happens only in BJP, that's why a son of a prominent leader doesn't become leader, rather a member becomes leader in our party and all hails from ordinary background, that's why it's a democratic party," the BJP President said. "When I say it is an ideological party, then which is the party that runs on ideology? Mahatma Gandhi had said to disband Congress as this was only for bringing independence and now it should be disbanded, but Nehru Ji didn't' agreed.... Where did our leftist party colleagues start from and where did they reach? We did not understand who they were friends with and who they were enemies of. Today they wrestle with each other in Kerala and make friends in Delhi. They fight in West Bengal and stand as allies in Delhi," he added. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched BJP's 2024 membership drive by renewing his membership on September 2. The new membership drive was launched in New Delhi with PM Modi getting the certificate for the renewal of his membership from BJP president JP Nadda. (ANI) Soon after coming out of Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai, former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji on Thursday said that the case initiated against him was a "fake case," adding that he will always be obliged to DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. "The case which was initiated against me was a fake case and was just a political vendetta. I will overcome and win this fake case legally by facing court. I am obliged to DMK President and TN CM MK Stalin and DMK Youth Wing Secretary Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin," Senthil Balaji told reporters. Earlier today, Senthil Balaji walked out of Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scam. Balaji was arrested by the ED on June 14 last year and has been in judicial custody since then. Earlier on February 28, the Madras High Court dismissed the bail petition of Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case registered by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). The judge of Madras High Court Justice, Justice N Anand Venkatesh, dismissed the bail plea of Balaji, who has been in prison since June 2023. Balaji was arrested by the ED on June 14 last year and has been in judicial custody since then. Madras High Court had on October 19, 2023, dismissed Balaji's earlier bail plea. On September 20 last year, a local court dismissed his bail petition. On January 12 this year, the Chennai Sessions court again dismissed his bail petition. Balaji was arrested on June 14 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam when he was the TN Transport Minister during the earlier AIADMK regime. The Enforcement Case Information Register (ECIR) was registered on the basis of three FIRs lodged against him by the local police in 2018 for his alleged involvement in a cash-for-job case when he was the Transport Minister in Jayalalithaa's Cabinet in 2015. The charges dates back to his tenure as transport minister during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government from 2011 to 2015. He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in December 2018 and assumed office as the electricity minister after the party came to power in May 2021. (ANI) Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that the National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance would "follow the agenda of Pakistan," NC Vice President Omar Abdullah on Thursday countered that the party would have pursued such an agenda 35 years ago if that were the case. "We don't expect anything more from the BJP. The National Conference is an organization that has made thousands of sacrifices over the last 35 years. If we had to follow Pakistan's agenda, we would have done so 35 years ago. Perhaps then, my more than 4,500 companions would not have been sacrificed," Abdullah said while speaking to reporters in Kupwara. "If Union Home Minister Amit Shah wants to ignore the sacrifices made by the National Conference, what can I do about it?" he added. Earlier in the day, while addressing a rally in Udhampur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the National Conference-Congress alliance, alleging that it would impose Pakistan's agenda if elected to power. "You will all vote not just for Chenani but make a decision for the entire J-K. After independence, it is for the first time that an election is held here where there is no Article 370 or a separate flag...NC and Rahul Baba say that we will bring back Article 370, but I want to tell them that neither you nor the three generations of yours will be able to bring back Article 370," Amit Shah said. He further attacked three families--'Gandhis'', 'Muftis' and 'Abdhullas' in his address and said that the families only gave tickets to their own people. "The three families have given tickets to their own people and made only 87 MLA. But we made more than 30,000 Panch, Sarpanch and Tehsil Panchayats... The river of corruption that they started was cleaned by Prime Minister Modi from the bottom," Amit Shah said. NC Vice President Omar Abdullah will address three public rallies in the Jammu region on Friday. As part of his extensive campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections, which will take place in Udhampur East, Vijaypur, and Jammu North constituencies, where the former Chief Minister will outline the party's vision and commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the party said in a statement on Thursday. The second phase of J&K Assembly polls was held on September 25. The third and final phase of voting will take place on October 1, while the counting of votes will be held on October 8. Assembly elections are being held in the Union Territory nearly a decade after the last polls and are the first since the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI) Amid Tirupati laddu controversy, Tamil Nadu BJP leader Amar Prasad Reddy on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Andhra Pradesh police against a YouTube channel for their video titled "Laddoo Pavangal." In a post on X, Reddy said, "Under the approval of BJP State Coordinator Thiru H Raja, I have submitted a formal complaint to the DGP of Andhra Pradesh, seeking the registration of an FIR against the PARITHABANGAL YouTube Channel for their offensive video titled "Ladoo Pavangal." He argued that although the video has been taken down, it insulted Hindu sentiments and attempted to create enmity among communities. "Even though they've taken down the video, the video not only insults the sentiments of Hindus but also attempts to spread enmity among communities and instigate potential law and order issues," he added. Reddy also noted that the video defamed prominent public officials, including Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. "I sincerely believe that Andhra Pradesh police and DGP shall take swift and positive action on this critical issue. Such practices of hate and defamation must be condemned and addressed firmly to uphold communal harmony and respect," Amar Prasad added. Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already been formed to investigate the alleged use of 'animal fat' in the preparation of the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam. Anitha Vangalapudi accused the YSRCP of "trying to cover up" the 'mistakes', as CM Chandrababu Naidu had alleged, in the use of 'animal fat' in the prasadam during the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government. However, the YSRCP, on the other hand, has urged devotees across the state to participate in temple poojas on Saturday, September 28, aimed at restoring the sanctity of Tirumala, which the party claims was tarnished by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The controversy over the Tirupati Prasadam began after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the prasadam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government. However, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed allegations, saying that the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is "politicising religious matters." Reddy also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on prasadam row alleging that attempts are being made by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to "irreparably tarnish the sanctity, integrity, and reputation" of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. (ANI) Delhi's Rohini court has convicted a man for allegedly murdering his own grandmother and committing robbery in a society in Rohini in December of 2015. The convict, along with one of his minor friends, had committed the murder and robbed cash and jewellery. A shawl was used for strangulating the 74-year-old woman, Kailashwati Jain. The victim suffered an injury to the head. Her husband lodged an FIR in Prashant Vihar police station. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Shefali Sharma convicted accused Harshit Jain for murder, robbery and other offences. While convicting the accused, the court considered the CCTV footage, forensic evidence and statement of the prosecution witness. The accused, Harshit Jain, is held guilty and is convicted for the offences under section 302 IPC and also under sections 392 (robbery), 394 (robbery with a deadly weapon), and 397 (caused injury while committing robbery) IPC. The court said that the presence of the accused on the spot and his entry and exist as proved in the CCTV footage at the relevant time are clearly visible. On the motive aspect, the court said that the accused had the motive to commit robbery, as isproved by the prosecution witness that the jewellery articles, cash, and artificial jewellery were found missing. The court also considered the recovery of weapon of offence. It said that there was recovery of the metal jug, which was the weapon of offence, upon the disclosure of the accused from inside the house, which is not a common public place. While referring to the DNA analysis report, the court said that it is sufficient to conclude that DNA profile generated from the ligature material is similar to DNA profile generated from the blood-stained papers recovered from the possession of the accused Harshit Jain and the metallicjug, which was recovered at the instance of the accused, Harshit Jain, from the kitchen of the house where the murder had taken place. The court further said, "The conduct of the accused post-occurrence was that he tried to go to the park and have a walk and gave juice, which was highly improbable and contrary to the CCTV footage in which he was seen along with the other co-accused and then hiding in the public toilet." The court also said that there was no reason for false implication of the accused by the own family members at the time of the investigation of the case, as he was the grandson of the deceased and it is highly improbable that all the family members would give their statement to falsely implicate the accused. "Thus, all the circumstances as proved by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt point only towards the guilt of the accused and no other hypothesis is possible. The circumstances proved are conclusive in nature and complete the chain of events," ASJ Shefali Sharma held in the judgement. On June 10, 2016, the court had framed charges against accused Harshit Jain under Section 302 IPC 392/394 and 397 IPC against the accused for robbing of the cash and jewellery articles by using a knife and a jug and strangulating the deceased for the commission of the offence. The other accused was declared juvenile as per his date of birth. (ANI) Israel ramps up preparation for ground operation in Lebanon: military chief Xinhua) 08:37, September 26, 2024 This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows smoke rising following an Israeli airstrike in Khiam, Lebanon. Israel intensified its air campaign across Lebanon for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, resulting in at least 24 deaths and over 200 injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel is ramping up preparations for a ground offensive against Hezbollah, military chief Herzi Halevi said Wednesday, the third day of Israel's most intense bombardment of Lebanon since 2006. "You hear the jets overhead ... We have been striking all day. Both to prepare the ground for your possible entry (into Lebanon) and to continue degrading Hezbollah," Halevi told troops of the 7th Armored Brigade during a drill near the Israel-Lebanon border. His remarks followed Hezbollah's statement earlier on Wednesday that it had expanded its range of fire and launched a ballistic missile to attack the headquarters of Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, in the north of Tel Aviv. The missile was intercepted, but Halevi warned that Hezbollah would face a "very strong response," urging troops to "prepare yourselves." Halevi stressed that there would be no let-up in Israel's military operation, which began on Monday. "We are not stopping," he said, asserting that Israel is preparing to maneuver into villages in Lebanon. "Your military boots will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts with underground infrastructure, staging points, and launch pads (for attacks) into our territory," he told the commanders. "You will go in, destroy the enemy there, and decisively dismantle their infrastructure." The goal, Halevi said, is to create conditions for displaced residents to return to their homes in northern Israel, where cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah have intensified since October last year, running parallel to a war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since Monday, Israel has conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,835 injuries across the country. The bombardment has also displaced many residents. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in. Medics apply medical treatment to an injured boy in Tripoli, Lebanon, on Sept. 25, 2024. (Photo by Khaled Habashiti/Xinhua) This photo shows smoke caused by Israeli raids in Marjeyoun, Lebanon, on Sept. 23, 2024. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) An Israeli anti-missile system launches missiles to intercept rockets fired from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, in northern Israel, on Sept. 24, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Madhya Pradesh police arrested three accused in connection with the abduction, rape, and murder of a five-year-old girl who was missing for two days in the state capital Bhopal, a police officer said on Thursday. The minor girl was missing from her house situated in the Shahjahanabad locality, Bhopal, on Tuesday afternoon. The child's parents were not at home when she disappeared. She was with her grandmother and told her that she was going to retrieve a book from a friend's house but did not return. On Thursday, the police recovered her body from a water tank at a neighbour's house. Bhopal Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra told ANI, "In the Shahjahanabad area, two days ago, a case of abduction was registered after a complaint of a minor girl went missing from her home. Over 100 police personnel were engaged in searching for the minor girl nearby locations at the incident site. On Thursday, the police came to know that a youth killed the minor and hid her body in a house located in front of the minor's home." Along with this, the police identified two more accused involved in the crime and arrested all three of them within hours of the incident being disclosed. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the incident. It will be ensured that strict action be taken against the accused, he said. "The accused was known to the girl, and he lived in front of her house. He called the girl, and as she knew him, she went near him. Thereafter, he committed the crime. Prima facie, it is suspected that a rape incident occurred and then she was murdered," Commissioner Mishra said. The two other people, the mother and sister of the main accused, have also been accused in the case on the charge of hiding the evidence, the officer said. Further investigation into the matter is underway, he added. (ANI) The election for the standing committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was postponed on Thursday as the house meeting was adjourned, following protest by AAP councillors against the decision to ban mobile phones in the house. Earlier in the day, following the directions of Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar wrote to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, urging them to take immediate action to conduct the election for the sixth member of the Standing Committee. The letter from the MCD commissioner read, "Kindly take immediate action for conducting the election for the sixth member of the Standing Committee and for complying with the said directions of Hon'ble LG." LG Saxena has directed to conduct the elections by 10 pm on Thursday. "In case the Mayor is unavailable or refuses to preside over the meeting than the deputy mayor may be requested to preside over the meeting. In case both are unwilling or unavailable, then the senior most member in order of seniority may be requested to discharge this function," LG wrote in the letter. The election was scheduled for 2 PM but was adjourned by Mayor Shelly Oberoi until October 5 due to the protests from AAP councillors. AAP councillors opposed the decision to ban mobile phones during the election process. Tensions escalated when Delhi Police attempted to prevent councillors from bringing their phones into the assembly, sparking significant protests outside as AAP members began sloganeering. AAP's Mukesh Goyal, while speaking to ANI, criticised the BJP and demanded "respectfully" let the AAP councillor enter the house. "The council was established in 1958 but the councillors never faced any issue like that but today our councillors are being searched before entering the house like we are some history sheeter, we are being disrespected and this is why we are protesting. Our councillor will go inside without being searched. Our women councillor is also being searched this is wrong, we are protesting against it," Mukesh Goyal said. The election was to be held to fill the sole vacancy in the 18-member Standing Committee, that was vacant after BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat resigned following her election to the Lok Sabha from the West Delhi parliamentary seat earlier this year. The MCD has completed elections for 17 out of 18 members of its high-powered standing committee, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) securing eight seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning nine. The formation of this committee is crucial for approving key financial proposals that have been pending for the past 20 months. The committee plays a vital role in decision-making, and its composition will significantly impact the city's financial and administrative landscape. (ANI) The incidents of drowning were reported from East and West Champaran, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj and Arwal districts. The teams of SDRF and NDRF from the Disaster Management Department are continuously conducting search operations across the region. According to the Disaster Management Department, Bihar, 43 bodies have been recovered by the team and an amount of Rs 4 lakh will be provided as ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister, expressed condolences for the deaths, which included seven women, and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. Under the instructions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an ex-gratia amount has been paid to the families of 8 deceased and the process of payment to the remaining families is ongoing. (ANI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed condolences over the deaths of 46 people, including 37 children, who were killed in separate incidents of drowning across Bihar on the festival of 'Jitiya' over the last 24 hours. He said that the deaths were a matter of concern and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was monitoring the situation. Samrat Choudhary said, "This is very unfortunate, it is a matter of concern. CM is monitoring the situation and he has also expressed his condolences." A total of 46 people, including 37 children, died in separate incidents of drowning across Bihar on the festival of 'Jitiya' over the last 24 hours. The incidents of drowning were reported from East and West Champaran, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj and Arwal districts. The teams of SDRF and NDRF from the Disaster Management Department are continuously conducting search operations across the region. According to the Disaster Management Department, Bihar, 43 bodies have been recovered by the team and an amount of Rs 4 lakh will be provided as ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased. Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister, expressed condolences for the deaths, which included seven women, and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. Under the instructions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an ex-gratia amount has been paid to the families of 8 deceased and the process of payment to the remaining families is ongoing. (ANI) (ANI) Ajay Sadhotra, who is the National Conference's candidate for Jammu North, said on Thursday that the government of the Congress and NC will be formed in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with the blessings of the people. Speaking with ANI, Sadhotra said, "With the blessings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the government of Congress and the National Conference will be formed here..." He criticised the BJP for lying to the people of J-K and said that both Congress and NC work for the betterment of J-K people, focussing on employment generation and on their education. "Either they (BJP) have not read the manifesto or they are lying to the people. I request their leaders to read the manifesto and then talk...We talk about employment, we have to save people's land, we have to save people's education. Congress and National Conference talk about people...," said Sadhotra. He also spoke on the issue of Shankaracharya Hill and informed that there is "no proposal to change the name" of Shankaracharya Hill. Historically, the hills where the Shankaracharya Temple is situated have been known as the Shankaracharya Hill and Hariparbat, however, back in 2013, a major protest erupted in Srinagar after it was alleged that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) renamed Shankaracharya Hill to 'Takht-e-Suleman'. The displaced Kashmiri Pandits alleged that the ASI has distorted the history of the ancient Hindu monument. Meanwhile, reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that the National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance would "follow the agenda of Pakistan," NC Vice President Omar Abdullah on Thursday countered that the party would have pursued such an agenda 35 years ago if that were the case. "We don't expect anything more from the BJP. The National Conference is an organization that has made thousands of sacrifices over the last 35 years. If we had to follow Pakistan's agenda, we would have done so 35 years ago. Perhaps then, my more than 4,500 companions would not have been sacrificed," Abdullah said while speaking to reporters in Kupwara. "If Union Home Minister Amit Shah wants to ignore the sacrifices made by the National Conference, what can I do about it?" he added. Earlier in the day, while addressing a rally in Udhampur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the National Conference-Congress alliance, alleging that it would impose Pakistan's agenda if elected to power. "You will all vote not just for Chenani but make a decision for the entire J-K. After independence, it is for the first time that an election is held here where there is no Article 370 or a separate flag...NC and Rahul Baba say that we will bring back Article 370, but I want to tell them that neither you nor the three generations of yours will be able to bring back Article 370," Amit Shah said. He further attacked three families--'Gandhis'', 'Muftis' and 'Abdhullas' in his address and said that the families only gave tickets to their own people. "The three families have given tickets to their own people and made only 87 MLA. But we made more than 30,000 Panch, Sarpanch and Tehsil Panchayats... The river of corruption that they started was cleaned by Prime Minister Modi from the bottom," Amit Shah said. NC Vice President Omar Abdullah will address three public rallies in the Jammu region on Friday. As part of his extensive campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections, which will take place in Udhampur East, Vijaypur, and Jammu North constituencies, where the former Chief Minister will outline the party's vision and commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the party said in a statement on Thursday. The second phase of J-K Assembly polls was held on September 25. The third and final phase of voting will take place on October 1, while the counting of votes will be held on October 8. Assembly elections are being held in the Union Territory nearly a decade after the last polls and are the first since the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI) BJP National Spokesperson Shazia Ilmi on Thursday lashed out at National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah for peddling lies to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said that today's votes are being cast with complete transparency in J-K, unlike the previous elections marked by alleged rigging. "What does Omar Abdullah think, the time is gone when he used to say something in Srinagar, something in Jammu, this is the age of social media, your lies will not work... In Jammu and Kashmir, earlier there was rigging of elections...today votes are being cast with complete transparency," Shazia Ilmi told ANI in Srinagar. She said that the first assembly elections of J-K held in the Union Territory after a gap of nearly ten years since the abrogation of Article 370 is a celebration of democracy. Shazia Ilmi added, "It is a celebration of democracy and people from all over the world are watching it, so Omar Abdullah and his tricks will not work...," referring to visit of a delegation of diplomats who visited Jammu and Kashmir to witness the second phase of polling on September 25. Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that he expected higher turnout in the assembly election. "I was hoping for a little more turnout. Because there was no call for the boycott. There were no attacks. There was no attempt to suppress and threaten the voters," Omar Abdullah said. "But I think the central government is also partially responsible for this situation. They have tried to present high turnout as a sign of normalcy at different places," he said. The first phase of poling was held on September 18 while the second phase was held on September 25. The second phase of J-K assembly polls records turnout of 57.03 pc till 11:45 pm, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in a press release. The ECI said that Budgam recorded 62.98 percent voter turnout till 11.45 pm, Ganderbal recorded 62.51 percent voter turnout, Poonch recorded 73.80 percent voter turnout, Rajouri recorded 70.95 percent voter turnout, Reasi recorded 74.70 percent voter turnout and Srinagar recorded 29.81 voter turnout. Polling was conducted across six districts of Budgam, Ganderbal, Poonch and Jammu regions of Rajouri, Reasi and Srinagar, with 25.78 lakh electors eligible to cast votes to decide fate of 239 candidates in the second phase. The first phase of assembly polls was held on September 18. The final phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for October 1. The counting of votes for J-K and Haryana assemblies will take place on October 8. (ANI) Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged global leaders Wednesday to stand with his country and not seek "a lull" instead of a "real, just peace" more than two years into Russia's war. Speaking at UN General Assembly, he said, "Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve a lull instead of an end to the war." He called for adoption of his two-year-old proposal to restore internationally recognized boundaries between Russia and Ukraine. "And we need to make it clear--the war is over. This is the Peace Formula. What part of this could be unacceptable to anyone who upholds the UN Charter? We must uphold the UN Charter and guarantee our right--Ukraine's right--to territorial integrity and sovereignty, just as we do for any other nation. We need to withdraw the Russian occupiers, which will bring an end to the hostilities in Ukraine," said Zelenskyy. "Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve a lull instead of an end to the war, as a global initiative--the Peace Formula--has already existed for two years. Maybe someone wants a Nobel Prize for their political biography for a frozen truce instead of real peace, but the only prizes Putin will give you in return are more suffering and disasters," added Zelenskyy. He said that when some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans--so-called 'sets of principles'--it not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians, who are affected by the war the most, it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war and pressure the world to bring more nations under control. Meanwhile, Russia's President Vladimir Putin escalated his threats against the West, asserting that his country should be able to deploy nuclear weapons if it was attacked by a nation supported by a nuclear power. "But the Peace Formula can--once again, there is no veto power in it. That's why it's the best opportunity for peace--everyone is equal, and it's effective and comprehensive," said Zelenskyy. He said that unfortunately, at the UN, it's impossible to truly and fairly resolve matters of war and peace because too much depends in the Security Council on the veto power." When the aggressor exercises veto power, the UN is powerless to stop the war," he added. Zelenskyy seeks the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukraine, accountability for war crimes, release of prisoners of war and deportees, nuclear safety, energy and food security and more. "I'm asking for your support from all nations of the world. We do not divide the world. I ask the same of you - do not divide the world. Be united nations, and that will bring us peace," he implored. "And that will bring us peace. Those that have gone through wars themselves, and those accustomed to peace. All were equal--that is what Russia hates the most and cannot control. That's why Russia says the Peace Formula doesn't suit it," added Zelenskyy. "I'm glad that the first Peace Summit was so reminiscent of the UN General Assembly--everyone was equal. All nations that participated in the Peace Summit, large and small--no veto power, no blocking authority. Those that have been independent for ages, and those that have only recently gained independence,"added Zelenskyy. He said that the world has moved beyond colonial wars and conspiracies at the expense of smaller nations. "Ukrainians will never accept why anyone believes that a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on Ukraine now instead of a normal, peaceful life. I want peace for my people - a real and just peace," said Ukraine's President. He said that the world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are smaller. "Every country - including China, Brazil, European nations, African nations, Middle East - all understand why this must remain in the past," said Zelenskyy. Questioning the motives of China and Brazil in pushing for talks with Moscow, Zelenskyy said, "When the Chinese-Brazilian duo tries to grow into a choir of voices - with someone in Europe, with someone in Africa, saying something alternative to a full and just peace, the question arises - what is the true interest? Everyone must understand--you won't boost your power at Ukraine's expense. If someone in the world seeks alternatives to any of these points or tries to ignore any of them, it likely means they themselves want to do a part of what Putin is doing--the point they ignore reveals the desire they are hiding." Meanwhile, Zelenskyy and President of the United Nations General Assembly Philemon Yang held a meeting on Wednesday and discussed an array of important issues, including the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in support of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. During the meeting that was held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, both leaders showed their desire to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and also discussed how the international community, including African states, could support achieving peace on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations. "I met with the President of Ukraine, H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, today. We discussed the importance of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in support of the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. We also discussed the desire of the Ukrainian people to end the war and how the international community, including African states, can support achieving peace on the basis of the Charter of the UN," UNGA President Philemon Yang said in a post in X. In acknowledgement of Yang's tweet, Zelenskyy also took to X and said, "I met with the President of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, Philemon Yang. It is important that during this session, the annual debate on the Ukrainian agenda item, "Situation in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine," takes place, and that the annual resolution on the human rights situation in these territories is adopted." Prior to his meeting with the UNGA President, Zelenskyy also held a meeting with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and had a discussion on the conflict in Ukraine and its global impact. During the meeting, the Secretary-General reiterated the UN's full commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. The Secretary-General also underlined the UN's support for efforts towards a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter, international law, and relevant UN General Assembly resolutions. During his meeting with the General Secretary, Zelenskyy discussed the implementation of the "Peace Formula" and the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, as well as the importance of continuous, unimpeded export of Ukrainian agricultural products to global markets. "We discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula and the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. This is important for continued unimpeded export of Ukrainian agricultural products to global markets," Zelenskyy said in a post in X. He also met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Ukrainian presidency said in a statement that Zelenskyy commended the alliance's long-term efforts to support Kyiv during Stoltenberg's tenure and said he thinks it achieved many very important results. "You - as well as some other allies - helped to unite the world, including defense ministers, in helping Ukraine, in strengthening our army," he was quoted as saying in the statement. Zelenskyy also thanked Stoltenberg for the last two NATO summits, which he said have brought Kyiv closer to the alliance. Meanwhile, Stoltenberg also met with Guterres and discussed the cooperation between the United Nations and NATO including in peacekeeping, as well as developments related to Ukraine, according to a readout of the UN Secretary-General.(ANI) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the UN headquarters on Wednesday, to discuss bilateral issues, with a focus on strengthening relations, solar panel investments, and expanding business cooperation. "Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the UN headquarters on Wednesday, to discuss bilateral issues, with a focus on strengthening relations, solar panel investments, and expanding business cooperation," the Chief Advisor said in a post in X. Yunus also met with World Bank President Ajay Banga on Wednesday on the sidelines of UNGA. The World Bank will provide USD 3.5 billion to Bangladesh this fiscal year to support reforms in the financial sector. "World Bank President Ajay Banga met with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a UN sideline meeting in New York on Wednesday. The World Bank will provide USD 3.5 billion to Bangladesh this fiscal year to support reforms in the financial sector," Yunus said in a post in X. Earlier on Tuesday, Yunus called for repatriation of Rohingyas amid the "deteriorating" security situation in Bangladesh during a high-level meeting. During the high-level UN event in New York on the Rohingya crisis, Yunus highlighted the significant challenges that Bangladesh has been facing due to the presence of over 1.2 million displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar and pointed out that while Bangladesh has shown empathy in hosting the Rohingyas, the costs associated with this situation--social, economic, and environmental--are considerable. He emphasised that Bangladesh has reached its limits, adding that repatriation remains the only sustainable solution to the ongoing crisis. Following Bangladesh's fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government in the state. The protests were primarily led by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs. A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh PM and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration. Yunus was sworn in on August 8 as the head of an interim government after Sheikh Hasina fled the country and the parliament was dissolved. This is Muhammad Yunus's first visit to the United States as the head of the interim government. As per the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Younus has a series of high-profile meetings lined up on the sidelines of the UNGA. The Bangaldesh chief advisor is set to address the general debate of the UNGA on September 27. (ANI) During their discussion, both leaders reiterated the sanctions imposed by the Western countries' violated UN Security Council resolutions and undermined global economic stability. "Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi mentioned that Western countries' illegitimate sanctions imposed in circumvention of UN Security Council resolutions are unacceptable as they undermine the stability of the global economy and universal forms of trade and economic cooperation," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The ministers highlighted the importance of enhancing foreign policy coordination at international platforms, including the UN, BRICS, SCO, APEC, and G20, and also to get engaged in discussions on global and Eurasian security, specifically the situation in Ukraine and tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, including the situation in Taiwan. "An in-depth discussion was held on global and Eurasian security, including the settlement process for the Ukrainian crisis and measures to counter the West's escalating situation in the Asia-Pacific region and around Taiwan, as well as on a number of other issues on the regional agenda," the statement read. Besides this, both leaders praised the development of political dialogue and cooperation between Russia and China and focused on implementing agreements reached at higher levels and preparing for the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan. Prior to this, Lavrov held a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New York. (ANI) The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the Sacramento area of California was desecrated with anti-Hindu messages on the night of September 25, less than 10 days after a similar act of vandalism took place at the BAPS Mandir in New York. The messages included phrases such as "Hindus go back," prompting concerns among the local Hindu community and in response, the community had expressed their commitment to standing united against hate. "Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: "Hindus go back!" We stand united against hate with prayers for peace," the BAPS Public Affairs said in a post in X. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, sheriff deputies responded to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather, near Rancho Cordova, where the graffiti was discovered. Deputies also said that vandals had also cut water lines at the property. Responding to the vandalism, Ami Bera, representing CA06 and Sacramento County in the US House of Representatives posted on X, "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected." Hindu American Foundation, promoting human dignity, mutual respect, and pluralism thanked Beri for raising the issue of hate crime targeting a Hindu temple. "Thank you @RepBera. This vandalism is an anti-Hindu hate crime targeting a Hindu temple with messages conflating Hindus with the Govt of India and telling Hindus to 'go home'," posted Hindu American Foundation on X. Prior to this, a similar incident of vandalism took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New York on September 17, 2024. The Consulate General of India in New York had also condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, labelling it "unacceptable." Several US lawmakers also condemned the desecration of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in New York's demanded accountability from the authorities. Congressmen also raised concerns about repeated incidents of hate and violence in the country. Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar strongly condemned the "hideous act" and stressed that such acts of "vandalism, bigotry, and hate" must be fully investigated. (ANI) The Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) held a demonstration in front of the United Nations building in Geneva to express deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Balochistan. During the demonstration held at the Broken Chair monument, the activists emphasised the brutalities and atrocities allegedly committed by Pakistan's security forces in Balochistan and called for the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to the region to protect the lives of thousands of Baloch people. They demanded that those responsible for crimes against humanity be brought to justice at an international court. Speaking on occasion, Samad Baloch, President of the Baloch Human Rights Council, said, "We are here to protest against the brutalities committed by Pakistan in Balochistan. Balochistan is bleeding." He added that the region is facing a serious human rights crisis and claimed that Balochistan is occupied and colonised by the Pakistani military, which he described as being led by "generals who lack political wisdom and knowledge." Samad Baloch also criticised China for its role in the situation, stating, "The Chinese have allied with Pakistan and are equally culpable for the occupation of Balochistan. Pakistan handed over Gwadar to China without the consent of the Baloch people." He explained that Baloch individuals need special permission, akin to a visa, to enter the fenced-off city of Gwadar and that residents are barred from fishing in their waters. Samad Baloch alleged that Pakistan's military, judiciary, parliament, senate, and media are all complicit in the occupation of Balochistan. "Pakistan is not only a threat to the Baloch people but also to the entire region and the international community. We are here to request that the United Nations intervene in Balochistan. We urge them to send a fact-finding mission and hold the perpetrators accountable in the International Court of Justice," he said. Razzak Baloch, a representative of the Baloch Human Rights Council in the USA and General Secretary of the Baloch American Congress, also echoed concerns on the situation and accused the Pakistani Army and the Chinese Communist Party of "looting" resources of Baloch people. "I am here to tell the United Nations and the world that Pakistan is a failed state. The Pakistani Army and the Chinese Communist Party are looting our resources, controlling our land, and killing our people. We want the world to help us drive the Pakistani Army and the Chinese out of our land so we can use our wealth for the benefit of the Baloch people," he stated. Razzak emphasised that the natural wealth of Balochistan belongs to its people, not to China or Pakistan's military establishment. He said, "The British created this country, and it has already failed. The British and the US must take notice of this and support the freedom of Balochistan." Speaking on occasion, Qambar Malik Baloch, General Secretary of the Baloch Human Rights Council, said, "We have asked the United Nations to intervene in Balochistan, as the human rights situation is appalling. There is no accountability and Pakistani authorities are acting with impunity, violating numerous human rights treaties that Pakistan has signed." (ANI) External Affairs Minister, who is on a US visit, participated in a discussion on Thursday, where he emphasised the importance of democratising the economy, enhancing mobility, imparting skills, and building connectivity to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Jaishankar participated in a discussion organised by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) titled "Tiger's Tale: Crafting a New Development Paradigm." The event brought together foreign ministers from various countries, which includes Latvia Foreign Affairs Minister, Baiba Braze, Guyana Foreign Minister High Hilton Todd. Jaishankar also met with Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and President of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839134398232273031/photo/1 "Joined FM @Braze_Baiba of Latvia, FM High Hilton Todd of Guyana, @ssulayemand @borgebrende for an engaging discussion by @orfonline on "Tiger's Tale: Crafting a New Development Paradigm," Jaishankar wrote on X. "As Pact of the Future comes into force and global economy continues to face challenges, democratizing economy, enhancing mobility, imparting skilling and building connectivity are going to be key movers for achieving the SDGs," he added. The SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 to end poverty, reduce inequality and build more peaceful, prosperous societies by 2030. Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs call for a world where no one is left behind. https://x.com/UN/status/1837849571071803530 On 22 September, world leaders unanimously adopted the 'Pact for the Future', at UN Headquarters in New York, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, marking a significant step in adapting international cooperation to address contemporary challenges, per a UN press release. The Pact, seen as the most comprehensive international agreement in decades, aims to ensure that global institutions remain effective in a rapidly changing world. https://x.com/antonioguterres/status/1837933143363670311 UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres emphasised the need to move beyond outdated systems, stating, "We cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents." In his opening remarks at the Summit of the Future, Guterres noted that the Pact and its annexes provide "new opportunities and untapped possibilities". The UN Secretary-General made these remarks during his address at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Tuesday. Further, General Assembly president Dennis Francis echoed this, affirming that the Pact would "lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order -- for all peoples and nations." Overall, the agreement of the Pact is a strong statement of countries' commitment to the United Nations, the international system and international law. (ANI) External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar highlighted India's views on key areas of global governance reform during his address in the second G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting of Brazil's G20 Presidency on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting was chaired by Brazil president Lula da Silva and attended by President of President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday. EAM, speaking as a Troika member, highlighted India's views on the three key areas of global governance reform, which includes reform of the UN and its subsidiary bodies, reform of the International Financial Architecture and reform of the Multilateral Trading System. Further, Jaishankar recalled that significant strides were made during India's G20 Presidency wherein the Leaders had called for expanding development and climate finance and had encouraged MDBs to refine their vision, incentive structures, operational approaches and financial capacities, to maximize their developmental impact. EAM in his speech also said that the United Nations is a prisoner of the past and it must evolve with the world. "The areas of global governance reform... First is the reform of the UN and its subsidiary bodies. The world has evolved into a smart, interconnected, and multipolar arena, and its members have increased fourfold since UN's inception. Yet, the UN remains a prisoner of the past. As a result, the UN Security Council struggles to fulfil its mandate of maintaining international peace and stability, undermining its effectiveness and credibility," he said. According to Ministry of External Affairs statement, "The Brazilian Presidency's 2024 G20 Roadmap for better, bigger, and more effective MDBs, builds on the New Delhi mandate and the recommendations of the 2023 G20 Independent Expert Group on Strengthening MDBs." "A Call to Action on Global Governance Reform was endorsed by the Foreign Ministers at the meeting," the statement added. EAM also spoke on the theme 'Global Governance Reforms' and highlighted the urgency for UN reforms to ensure representative, credible and effective multilateralism at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In a post on X, he said, "Spoke at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New York today on the theme 'Global Governance Reforms'. Highlighted the urgency of UN reforms to ensure representative, credible and effective multilateralism. Includes expansion of UNSC in both categories." "Noted the imperative of robust, expansive and effective international financial architecture. Spoke about India's efforts at G20 to reform MDBs to meet aspirations of the developing world. Underlined the challenges of protectionism and market-distorting practices to the international trading system. Called for comprehensive reforms of WTO to ensure a rules-based, non-discriminatory and a fair multilateral trading system," he added. (ANI) According to the Balochistan Post, a Pakistan paramilitary force, accompanied by personnel from an intelligence agency and using 20 military vehicles, surrounded Killi Rehmatullah in the Kharan Jungle area. They conducted a house search operation and are accused of forcibly disappearing three individuals: Irshad (son of Aminullah), Dawood (son of Muhammad Anwar), and Aminullah (son of Abdul Qadir). Additionally, another individual, Amanullah Mohammad Hasni, was abducted from his shop in Kharan Bazaar on Wednesday at 2:00 PM by armed men. Earlier, a Baloch student was reported missing after being abducted by Pakistan armed forces from Punjab province. The missing student is enrolled in the 7th semester in the Department of Sociology at the University of Sargodha. His fellow students and family members have called for his immediate release. Reports indicate that Baloch students in Punjab face profiling and harassment by Pakistan intelligence agencies. Despite having approached the courts, such incidents have not ceased. Furthermore, Baloch students studying in Punjab have also experienced violence from religious and other groups, as reported by the Balochistan Post. It is important to note that enforced disappearances in Balochistan are unfortunately common and increasing daily. Reports indicate that over 55,000 individuals are missing from various regional areas. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and numerous political and social activists allege that Pakistani forces and intelligence agencies are responsible for these enforced disappearances. The ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan constitutes a serious human rights concern, with substantial evidence pointing to widespread and systematic abuses by Pakistan security forces. The people of Balochistan are urgently seeking international attention and intervention to address these severe human rights violations. The rising incidence of enforced disappearances not only violates fundamental human rights but also underscores the brutal tactics employed by the Pakistan Army to silence the Baloch people's demands for dignity and justice. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that 43 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels were detected around Taiwan between 6 am (local time) on Wednesday and 6 am (local time) on Friday, Taiwan News reported. According to the MND, of the 43 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 34 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ). These included fighter jets, drones, and helicopters. https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1839107621527367701 "43 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 34 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," Taiwan MND said on X. Taiwan sent combat patrol aircraft and naval vessels and deployed land-based air defense missile systems to monitor the PLA activity. This latest Chinese military activity adds to a series of similar provocations by Beijing in recent months. China has increased its military activities near Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan's ADIZ and military exercises near the island. So far this month, the MND has tracked 366 Chinese military aircraft and 200 ships. Since September 2020, Beijing has increased its use of "gray zone tactics" by operating military aircraft and naval ships around Taiwan. According to CSIS, gray zone tactics are "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resorting to direct and sizable use of force." Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. Earlier in July, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te accused the Chinese government of misinterpreting a United Nations resolution to justify its military activities against Taiwan and drawing an inappropriate linkage to its "One China" principle, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported. Beijing claims that the UN resolution confirmed its one-China principle, which implies that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. (ANI) B Vanlalvawna has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Thursday. The 1998 batch Indian Foreign Service officer is presently the Joint Secretary in the Ministry. According to MEA, "B. Vanlalvawna (IFS: 1998), presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia," He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Prior to this appointment, Devyani Uttam Khobragade was serving as the Indian Ambassador to Cambodia. (ANI) The World Sindhi Congress (WSC) organised a protest on Wednesday in front of the UN office in Geneva during the 57th Human Rights Council Session to draw attention to human rights violations in Sindh. Sindhi political activists were joined by Baloch, Pashtun, and other human rights defenders as they protested against Pakistan's targeting of Sindhi activists, exploitation of natural resources, and atrocities committed against Sindhi Hindus. The protest aimed to inform the UN and the international community about the ongoing human rights violations inflicted upon the Sindhi people by the Pakistani state. Concerns included enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings of Sindhi political activists, ethnic cleansing of Sindhi Hindus, land grabs by the Pakistan army and their associates, theft of River Indus waters by Punjab, and the suppression of Sindhi voices on historical, political, and human rights issues. Speakers highlighted the murder of Shah Nawaz Kumbhar by the police under false blasphemy charges, despite his pleas of innocence. After his death, his body was desecrated by religious extremists. The assembly also addressed the abduction of Sindhi Hindu girl Priya Kumari, who has been missing for three years despite authorities acknowledging her case. Hidayat Bhutto, the organizer of the World Sindhi Congress UK and Europe, stated, "Today we staged this protest in front of the United Nations to highlight the oppression and barbarism that is happening against us. A human rights activist, Shah Nawaz Kumbhar, was arrested and killed by the police under blasphemy charges. After his murder, there was an attempt to burn his body, taking it away from his relatives. Following this, some clerics went to the police and adorned them with garlands and flowers for committing this crime. The local MNA was also involved in this crime." Bhutto also spoke about the abduction and forced conversion of Sindhi Hindu girls. "A young girl, Priya Kumari, has been kidnapped. Every year, thousands of underage girls are forcefully converted. Our Sindhi Hindu brothers are facing barbarity." Prof. Lakhu Luhana, General Secretary of the World Sindhi Congress, added, "We are holding this protest to inform the UN and the international community about the crimes against humanity that Pakistan is committing in Sindh, as well as against our fellow Baloch and Pashtun nations. They are literally taking everything we have. They are destroying our motherland, our people, our culture, and our harmony. We need the UN and the international community to intervene to save us." The assembly called for a ban on land allotments to the army, a halt to further canals on the River Indus, an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, and justice for the perpetrators of these crimes. Demands also included the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the murder of Shah Nawaz Kumbhar, justice for the extrajudicially murdered Hidayat Lohar and Nasrullah Gadani, the release of all missing persons or their production in a court of law, and the release of Priya Kumari. Speakers underscored that these human rights atrocities occur with impunity, leaving victims with no recourse to justice. They urged the UN and the international community to establish a Fact-Finding Mission to investigate the atrocities and take effective action to protect the Sindhi people from further suffering. (ANI) Israel Defense Force (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has warned Hezbollah that a ground offensive is imminent, stating that Israeli soldiers' "military boots will enter enemy territory," Times of Israel reported. Halevi's remarks came after Hezbollah fired a missile at central Israel on early Wednesday and Israel responded with airstrikes, which have killed 569 people and wounded 1,835 others, Al Jazeera reported. During a drill simulating the invasion, Halevi addressed soldiers of the 7th Armored Brigade, as per Times of Israel. "You can hear the planes above, we are attacking all day. Both to prepare the area for the possibility of your entry [into Lebanon], and also to continue causing blows to Hezbollah," Halevi said. "Hezbollah today expanded its [range] of fire. Later today, it will receive a very strong response," he vows, after the terror group fired a missile at central Israel this morning. "Today we will continue, we do not stop, we continue to attack and continue to strike them everywhere. The goal is a very clear goal, to return the [displaced] residents of the north safely," Halevi continues. "To do this, we are preparing the [ground] maneuver," he says to the soldiers. Higlighting his strategy of invasion, Halevi said,"Your military boots will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts, with underground infrastructure, staging points, and launchpads into our territory [from which Hezbollah intends] to carry out attacks on Israeli civilians. "Your entry into those areas with force, your encounter with Hezbollah operatives, will show them what it means to face a professional, highly skilled, and battle-experienced force," he goes on. "You are coming in much stronger and far more experienced than they are. You will go in, destroy the enemy there, and decisively destroy their infrastructure. These are the things that will enable us to safely return the residents of the north afterward." Though it was shot down, Hezbollah confirmed it launched a Qadr 1 ballistic missile targeting the headquarters of Israel's intelligence service Mossad in Tel Aviv. It is believed to be the first ballistic missile to be launched by Hezbollah toward Israel, CNN reported In response Israel responded with airstrikes. In Gaza, the Health Ministry has said at least 50 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others were wounded in the latest 24-hour reporting period in various Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave. Meanwhile, Israeli official has told CNN that talks over a potential temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah are a main motivator for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The source said it was notable that Netanyahu, who is currently flying to New York, has not denied reports that the US is pushing for a 21-day ceasefire. The source added that the main reason for Netanyahu's trip is these diplomatic talks, and the message in Israel's briefings yesterday was that "Israel favors a diplomatic solution." (ANI) Pakistan in yet another attempt to demean the image of Balochistan's peaceful struggle claims to have caught a female suicide bomber red-handed. However, the truthfulness of these claims made by pakistan is being questioned by the activists internationally. In a recent press conference members of the Balochistan government in Quetta presented a woman allegedly named Adeela belonging to Turbat. The event was led by government spokesperson Shahid Rind and Member of Balochistan Assembly Farah Azeem Shah who claimed that the female was caught before she could carry out a suicide bombing in Balochistan. But, activists question the controversial nature of the press conference as well as the claims made by the government representatives, The Balochistan Post reported on Thursday. https://x.com/KiyyaBaloch/status/1838866735857889493 Responding to the same, Kiyya Baloch the Communication Officer of the Norway chapter of Pen International in a post on X stated, "The actual suicide bombers attacked in 11 districts in a single day. The woman portrayed today as a suicide bomber was actually married against her parents' wishes. The girl called her parents and said that she is not coming back home, and then what happened, is in front of you." According to the TBP report, the journalist community within Balochistan have raised questions over the selective and non-transparent nature of the press conference of the Balochistan government, claiming that only a few reporters were invited to the event. The same TBP report also claimed that this is not the first time such accusations of women being involved in suicide attacks, have been made by the Balochistan government. In a previous incident, women from Kech and Quetta were similarly detained and presented as potential attackers, only to be released after public outcry and lack of evidence. (ANI) Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has condemned the desecration of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir with anti-Hindu messages in California's Sacramento and called on the US Department of Justice to investigate these hate crimes. In a post on X, Ro Khanna stated, "This type of hate against Hindu Americans and vandalism is appalling and morally wrong. The Department of Justice must investigate these hate crimes, and those responsible should be held fully accountable under the law." He made the statement in response to post shared by BAPS Public Affairs on X. Sharing details regarding the incident, BAPS Public Affairs stated, "Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: "Hindus go back!" We stand united against hate with prayers for peace." The vandalism act comes less than 10 days after a similar act of vandalism took place at the BAPS Mandir in New York. The messages included phrases such as "Hindus go back," prompting concerns among the local Hindu community and in response, the community had expressed their commitment to standing united against hate. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, sheriff deputies responded to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather, near Rancho Cordova, where the graffiti was discovered. Deputies also said that vandals had also cut water lines at the property. In a post on X, Indian American Congressman Ami Bera stated, "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in Sacramento County. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected." Hindu American Foundation thanked Beri for raising the issue of hate crime targeting a Hindu temple. "Thank you @RepBera. This vandalism is an anti-Hindu hate crime targeting a Hindu temple with messages conflating Hindus with the Govt of India and telling Hindus to 'go home'," Hindu American Foundation posted on X. A similar incident of vandalism took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New York on September 17. The Consulate General of India in New York had also condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, labelling it "unacceptable." Several US lawmakers have condemned the desecration of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in New York and demanded action against people responsible for the act. US Congressmen also raised concerns about repeated incidents of hate and violence in the country. Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar had strongly condemned the "hideous act" and stressed that such acts of "vandalism, bigotry, and hate" must be fully investigated. (ANI) Exiled Tibetan leader Sikyong Penpa Tsering has emphasised that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is making systematic efforts to suppress Tibetan identity, including shutting down cultural and religious centres. Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the political leader of the Kashag (the executive branch of the Central Tibetan Administration), explained that these actions are part of a larger strategy to make Tibetan culture more Chinese and erase its unique heritage, according to a press release from the Central Tibetan Administration. He also expressed concern about the government's recent change in terminology, using "Xizang" instead of "Tibet," which he believes is an attempt to distort Tibet's historical and cultural identity. Sikyong Penpa Tsering made these remarks during his visit to the Sakya Tibetan Society Settlement in Puruwala as part of his tour of Tibetan communities in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. During his visit, Sikyong shared updates on the 16th Kashag's political and administrative work, focusing on the serious situation in Tibet under the CCP. He also spoke about the importance of the Tibetan plateau in global politics and reaffirmed the Kashag's commitment to the Middle Way Approach. This approach aims for genuine autonomy for Tibet within China. He shared the Vision Paper, which outlines the Kashag's long-term goals and emphasises the need for ongoing international support for Tibetan rights. After interacting with the community, Sikyong visited several local institutions, including the Sakya Magon Shedra and Sambhota Tibetan School. He then went to the Paonta Cholsum Tibetan Settlement, where he visited Shalu Monastery and continued to raise awareness about the challenging situation of Tibetan culture and religion under Chinese rule. He also informed attendees about current projects, like digitising important documents and creating a Tibetan digital library, which are designed to strengthen the administration of the Tibetan community in exile. Senior officials from the Central Tibetan Administration accompanied Sikyong during his visit, highlighting their commitment to supporting Tibetans living outside Tibet. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), often referred to as the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, is the political and administrative body representing the Tibetan community living outside Tibet, primarily in India. Established in 1959 after the Dalai Lama fled to India following the Chinese invasion of Tibet, the CTA seeks to preserve Tibetan culture, promote the welfare of Tibetans in exile, and advocate for the rights and autonomy of the Tibetan people. (ANI) In a passionate intervention, Ullah condemned the rampant human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and the discovery of mutilated bodies of Baloch activists and defenders. Ullah stated, "Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the discovery of mutilated bodies of Baloch human rights defenders and socio-political activists are aspects of human rights violations committed by Pakistan in Balochistan. In a planned way, the security agencies are trying to wipe out the cream of the Baloch society physically." According to data collected by the BHRC, the situation in Balochistan has reached alarming levels. In 2022 alone, 367 individuals were reported missing, and 79 were found killed extrajudicially. Disturbingly, 38 bodies of unidentified individuals believed to be among the disappeared were recovered from a hospital in Lahore. The trend has continued into 2023, with a total of 416 enforced disappearances reported. Among these, 36 bodies were discovered across various regions of Balochistan, bearing signs of torture and bullet wounds. In the first half of 2024, 206 individuals were reported missing, and 15 of these individuals were found murdered, their bodies disposed of in different locations. Ullah emphasised that these enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings are blatant violations of established international laws. He urged the United Nations to take decisive action to protect the lives of the thousands of individuals still missing in Balochistan. The BHRC's call for intervention highlights the urgent need for international attention to the ongoing human rights crisis in the region, where many families continue to suffer in silence, searching for answers about their loved ones. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York and discussed key matters on the bilateral cooperation agenda and urgent international issues. The urgent international issues discussed included preparations for the BRICS Summit and "Ukraine settlement," a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said. Jaishankar and Lavrov agreed to continue coordinating interactions between Russia and India within the key multilateral formats. "The two Ministers discussed key matters on the bilateral cooperation agenda, as well as urgent international issues, including preparations for the upcoming #BRICS Summit in Kazan, the Ukraine settlement, as well as the situation in the Asia-Pacific Region in connection with the Western attempts to bring NATO elements into this region," the statement said. Jaishankar said he and Lavrov discussed bilateral cooperation and regional issues. "Met FM Sergey Lavrov this afternoon at #UNGA79. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and regional issues," he posted on X. It was the second meeting between two leaders within a month. Jaishankar and Lavrov held a meeting on the sidelines of the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Saudi Arabia on September 9. Jaishankar, who is currently on a visit to the US, met several delegates and diplomats on the sidelines of UNGA, including Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Nurtleu, Morocco Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, and Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, among many others. Jaishankar held a meeting with the Belgian PM and discussed manufacturing and technology cooperation as well as exchanging their views on the situation in Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "Glad to meet PM Alexader De Croo on the sidelines of UNGA 79 today. Discussed manufacturing and technology cooperation. Also exchanged views on Ukraine," he said in a post in X. Jaishankar also held talks with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and discussed an array of topics, including shipping, energy, mobility, connectivity, and defence. Jaishankar also met UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and held talks with him on strengthening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. "Good meeting with UK FS David Lammy on the sidelines of UNGA 79. Carried forward our conversations on strengthening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Also discussed the conflict in Ukraine," Jaishankar said in another post in X. Jaishankar also met his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong. Taking to X, he wrote, "Catching up with Quad partner FM Senator Penny Wong at UNGA79." (ANI) According to the Chinese Defence Ministry's statement shared on social media, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile at 8:44 a.m. on Wednesday, Taiwan focus reported. The missile carried a simulated warhead and landed in international waters, the statement said. Taiwan's Presidential Office criticised China's efforts to disrupt regional peace and stability, urging Beijing to practice self-restraint and act responsibly. The Cabinet emphasised that Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, would collaborate closely with the United States and other like-minded nations to uphold regional peace, stability, and prosperity. Additionally, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that numerous countries in the Indo-Pacific region have voiced concerns about China's "irresponsible actions," Taiwan Focus reported. The ministry stated that Taiwan will persist in collaborating with like-minded nations to limit the spread of authoritarianism and collectively protect peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) accused Beijing of "sabre-rattling" over the test and live-fire drills by the PLA's Eastern Theatre Command in the Yellow and Bohai seas. Taiwan's MND accused China of generating a "false sense of peaceful dialogue" by allowing the head of the PLA's Southern Theatre Command to engage in overseas exchanges while the military drills were taking place. Starting at 8 a.m. on Thursday, the Ministry of National Defence reported that 29 Chinese aircraft were spotted near Taiwan, with 21 of them crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait or extending into Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the northern, central, and southwestern regions of the island. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the first-ever Joint Ministerial Meeting of L.69 and C-10 groupings of nations on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday. During the meeting, Jaishankar highlighted the need for reform of United Nations Security Council membership in permanent and non-permanent categories. The L.69 Annual Ministerial Meeting meeting was chaired by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph E Gonsalves, in his capacity as Spokesperson of the L.69, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press release. Taking to X, Jaishankar stated, "Encouraged by the first - ever Joint Ministerial Meeting of L-69 and C-10 groupings of nations. Highlighted the pressing need of comprehensive reform of UNSC membership in both permanent and non-permanent categories." "Called for Text Based Negotiations in the IGN process to achieve concrete outcomes in a fixed timeframe. Thank PM Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and Grenadines for his exemplary leadership of L-69. Laud colleagues from C-10 for their enthusiastic participation today," he added. During the L.69 Annual Ministerial Meeting, the ministers reiterated the urgent need to make the Security Council more representative, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable, and recognised that the Summit of the Future provided an opportunity for renewed commitment to Security Council reform, according to MEA press release. In a press release, MEA stated, "Against the backdrop of the Summit of the Future, the leaders of the AU Committee of 10 (C-10) participated in this annual High-Level meeting to exchange views on the status of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council Reform." The Ministers stressed the indispensable role to be played by developing countries in safeguarding the effectiveness, credibility and relevance of the Security Council's decisions and outcomes. In a press release, MEA stated, "They underscored that, for reform to be transformative, there must be greater representation of the Global South, especially for underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, such as Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership." The ministers expressed their support for continuing discussions on the issue of representation of cross-regional groups, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The leaders reaffirmed their support for the Common African Position, as espoused in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. The ministers expressed that the Common African Position is a manifestation of the principle of African Solutions for African Challenges and reiterated the proposed elements as the only way to sufficiently redress the historical injustices done to Africa. In a press release, MEA stated, "The Ministers recognized that further delays in a comprehensive reform of the Security Council directly impacts the credibility and legitimacy of the United Nations. They further renewed their commitment to demonstrating the necessary political will to achieve the widest possible political acceptance on the five clusters set forth in GA Decision 62/557." Jaishankar also met Ralph Gonsalves and called it the "best way of starting a day." "Meeting PM Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent & the Grenadines is the best way of starting a day," he posted on X. Jaishankar met Bhutanese counterpart DN Dhungyel at the L-69 meeting. Taking to X, he stated, "Nice to see @FMBhutan DN Dhungyel at the L-69 meeting." He also had a quick chat with his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. In a post on X, he stated, "Quick chat with FM Mauro Vieira of Brazil ahead of the IBSA & BRICS meetings at #UNGA79 today." EAM Jaishankar, who is currently on a visit to the US, met several delegates and diplomats on the sidelines of UNGA, including Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Nurtleu, Morocco Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, and Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, and others on Wednesday. (ANI) India and Egypt have identified several areas of focus for enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, including that in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ), pharmaceuticals and health sector, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, IT services, electronics manufacturing, international trade settlement and digital payments, transport and trade disputes etc, according to Ministry of Commerce and Industry press release. The officials of two nations met at the sixth session of the India-Egypt Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held in New Delhi from September 16-17. The meeting was held under the co-chairpersonship of the Economic Adviser, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Priya P Nair and Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade and Chairman of the Egyptian Commercial Service, Arab Republic of Egypt, Yahya Elwathik Bellah. The Egyptian Ambassador to India, Wael Mohamed Awad Hamed, along with eight delegates from relevant ministries, accompanied the Egyptian delegation. During the meeting, the Indian side informed that necessary approvals for signing the MoU on cooperation between National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) of India and MSME Development Agency (MSMEDA) of Egypt have been obtained. The two sides expressed their desire for an early signing and operationalisation. In a press release, Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated, "Both sides identified several areas of focus for enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade and investment including that in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ), pharmaceuticals and health sector, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, petroleum and mining, MSME Sector, customs matters, services sector, IT services, electronics manufacturing, apparel manufacturing, renewable energy - green hydrogen, food security, international trade settlement and digital payments, transport and trade disputes etc. Both sides also discussed market access issues on agricultural products and agreed to resolve the issues as early as possible." The two nations agreed on closer collaboration between their respective Investment Promotion Agencies. India and Egypt agreed to address all issues impeding bilateral trade expeditiously and facilitate trade promotion between the two countries and to hold the next meeting of the Joint Trade Committee in 2026, in Egypt. In a press release, Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated, "The deliberations of the 6th session of India-Egypt JTC were cordial and forward-looking, indicative of the amicable and special relations between the two countries. There was a positive response towards greater cooperation, addressing pending issues, and increasing trade and investment." India and Egypt reviewed the bilateral trade and agreed on exploring new areas of cooperation, diversifying the bilateral trade basket, and resolution of issues hindering trade between the two countries. (ANI) Noting that the ties between India and the United States continue on an upward trajectory because the two countries are "geopolitically, economically and technologically aligned", President & CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Mukesh Aghi has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the United States was "very successful, very transformational". In an interview with ANI, Aghi said that takeaways from PM Modi's three-day visit from September 21 to 23 is that the bilateral ties between two nations are "deeper, broader and moving in right direction." "I think the visit was very successful. I would say it was very transformational. When you look at the takeaway, it shows that the US-India relationship is deeper, broader and moving in the right direction. But more important is to look at the substance of the takeaway. Both countries agreed to look at India as a potential technological industrial base, all the way from moonshot and cancer research down to setting up chip plants in India for the military, looking at the GE engines manufacturing to atomic drone manufacturing.. So in every aspect, the US is taking its jewels and giving them to India for manufacturing. That means setting up an industrial manufacturing base in India," he said. USISPF President stressed that Quad Summit has become much more structured and added that four nations are looking at collaboration on Artificial Intelligence (AI), secure supply chain and sharing intelligence data. "Quad Summit, if you look at it, has become much more structured. When it started, it was a summit which was focused more on all the navies getting together and trying to help disaster. But now it's become very, very structured. When you look at the economies of four countries, it's USD 35 trillion. They're looking at collaborating on AI, looking at collaborating on secure supply chain, they're looking at collaborating on sharing intelligence data. So, I think it's become a much more, more, I would say, a non-announced alliances than anything else." Quad is a diplomatic partnership between four countries--Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. US President Joe Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese for the Quad Leaders' Summit at his hometown Wilmington in Delaware on September 21. It was the fourth in-person and sixth overall Quad Leaders' Summit. Aghi said that the ties between the US and India will continue on an upward trajectory irrespective of who becomes US President in the elections. He also said that Indian diaspora is playing a pivotal role in the US presidential polls. "I think whoever comes in, the impact on the US-India relationship does not go in a downward direction. The relationship continues in an upward trajectory because India and the US are geopolitically aligned, economically aligned, technologically aligned. So, I think it's important to understand, regardless of who comes in, now the elections are too close to call, too close in every aspect because when you have an electoral college system, 10,000 votes in a district will make a difference itself." "So, I think it's too early to say who will win, but the Indian diaspora is playing a very pivotal role. We saw the last data - almost 68 per cent are going to vote Democratic, the survey shows, and the remaining are going to vote for Republicans itself. But, the trend is moving in the upward direction in Republicans' favour also. Normally, it used to be Indians would vote for Democrats, but now what you're saying is business community is focusing more on Republican candidates itself," he added. Apart from taking part in the Quad Summit, PM Modi had bilateral meetings with serveral leaders including Biden, engaged with the Indian diaspora and important American business leaders and addressed the Summit of the Future at the United Nations. The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), formed in 2017, is an independent non-profit, non-governmental, and non-partisan organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices across both countries. (ANI) The general public and human rights activists in Pakistan remain agitated over the increasing number of blasphemy cases and extrajudicial killings in the Sindh province. Thousands of protesters, including human rights activists, gathered outside the Umerkot Press Club on Wednesday to express their outrage over the recent death of Dr Shah Nawaz Kunbhar in what is alleged to be a planned police encounter, Dawn reported. The protesters chanted slogans such as "Soil of Sindh needs peace" and "The land of peace needs peace." Ms Hareem Kunbhar claimed during the protest that "It had not been verified that his father had committed the blasphemy because the social media account which was referred to as his, ID was not in his name and it was in the name of some Shah Nawaz Shah". Punhal Sario a human rights defender and the convenor of Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh condemned a statement of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari saying "You have been claiming to be chairman of a democratic and secular party, but your Tharparkar MNA Ameer Ali Shah Jeelani has been seen garlanding the police officials who killed Dr Shahnawaz, a grade 18th officer, extrajudicially." The protestors demanded an investigation must be conducted for the incident and the local spiritual leader Umer Jan Sarhandi and his followers must be banned for their alleged involvement in the incident. Additionally, calls were also made for the arrest of DIG Javed Sonharo Jiskani for the killing of Dr Kunhbar. Additionally, arrest demands were also raised for Umerkot SSP, along with his police team, who had handed over the doctor to Sindhri police for killing the Dawn report claimed. The agitated public demanded that it should be investigated who incited the mob through social media to kill Dr Khunbar. The Dwan report also claimed that the victim's cousin advocate Junaid Kunbhar, Allah Bux Kunbhar, nationalist poet Haji Sand, Manzoor Solangi, Sikiladho Rahimoo, Mazhar Talpur, writer Mir Hassan Arisar and Sindhu Nawaz Ghanghro also announced to hold a powerful protest demonstration in Karachi on Oct 6 and appealed to people to attend it as an expression of their rejection of extremism. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, and South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, held a meeting on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United National General Assembly in New York on Thursday. During the meeting, the IBSA ministers reiterated their commitment to work for the expansion of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) membership to include representation from developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, in both the permanent and non-permanent membership categories. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Attended a productive IBSA Foreign Minister's meeting today alongside FM Mauro Vieira and FM @RonaldLamola. IBSA nations participate in and shape ongoing global discourses on development, SDGs, poverty eradication, multilateralism, and South-South cooperation. We share convergent views on reforms of UN system and of its Security Council. Our consultations should intensify as these debates acquire greater urgency." BSA is a unique forum that brings together India, Brazil and South Africa. All three countries are developing, pluralistic, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious nations. The grouping was formalised and named the IBSA Dialogue Forum when the Foreign Ministers of the three countries met in Brasilia in 2003. The joint statement released following the IBSA Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs stated, "The Ministers renewed their commitment to work for the expansion of Security Council membership to include representation from developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, in both the permanent and non-permanent membership categories for achieving a reformed, representative, equitable, responsive and effective UN Security Council, which is reflective of the contemporary global realities. They supported the legitimate aspiration of African countries to have a permanent presence in the UNSC and supported Brazil's and India's endeavours to occupy permanent seats in the Security Council." The three ministers expressed concern regarding the conflict in Ukraine and called on all actors involved to promote de-escalation and to foster direct dialogue, so as to create conditions for effective peace. They assessed relevant proposals of mediation and good offices, including by countries not directly involved, aimed at the peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, according to the joint statement. They emphasised that all states must act consistently with the purposes and principles of the UN charter. Jaishankar, Vieira and Lamola expressed their "deep concern about the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza" and reiterated their call for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages. The joint statement reads, "They stressed that all actors must comply with their obligations under international law, including relevant UNSC resolutions and ICJ decisions. They reaffirmed the urgent need for a lasting solution to the conflict through the political settlement of the situation based on a two-state solution, with an independent and viable state of Palestine living side by side with Israel, in peace and security, within the 1967 borders, which include the Gaza Strip and the west bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital." "The Ministers called states that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so, and expressed their support for the admission of Palestine as a member of the UN. The Ministers shared their concern about the risk of escalating conflicts in the Middle East, with unpredictable consequences for the whole region and the world," it added. The ministers agreed to strengthen, expand and promote the IBSA Fund, an internationally recognised initiative of South-South cooperation, with 45 projects in 38 countries. The three leaders agreed that the fight against poverty and hunger is a priority and a long-standing area for cooperation among IBSA nations. They agreed to leverage international cooperation to ensure food security and nutrition at the global level. The three ministers pledged to keep promoting the importance of this topic, as stated in the IBSA standalone meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs held in February 2024, according to the joint statement released following IBSA Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in New York. The three leaders encouraged further progress on the IBSA Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger (IBSA Fund), which improves financial support for South owned, South-led, demand-driven projects under national ownership across the developing world. The ministers welcomed the pre-launch of the Global Alliance against hunger and poverty as one of the principal initiatives of the Brazilian presidency of the G20 and look forward to its continuity. The joint statement reads, "The Ministers reiterated their intention to further energize and leverage the IBSA Forum, this Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs constituting a further step in that direction." The joint statement said, "The Ministers noted with concern the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the eruption of conflicts in various parts of the world and emphasized the urgency of re-engaging in the pursuit of peace, in contrast to divisive narratives that only serve to reinforce the current scenario of fragmentation and geopolitical polarization." They stressed the need for valuing dialogue and diplomacy as a primary instrument for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the need for strengthening tools for conflict prevention, like mediation and negotiation. The ministers expressed their commitment to multilateralism and to the principles of the United Nations Charter and called for upholding international law. The joint statement reads, "They affirmed the need for reformed, revitalized and reinvigorated multilateralism aimed at implementing the 2030 Agenda, at adequately addressing contemporary global challenges of the 21st century and at making global governance more representative, legitimate, democratic, effective, transparent and accountable." (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in New York on Thursday. Their discussions focused on advancing long-term economic and political collaborations between the US and Bangladesh. Sharing pictures of Blinken with Yunus on X, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote, "Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and US State Department Secretary Antony Blinken had fruitful discussions on advancing Bangladesh-USA ties, deepen long-term economic-political engagements in shared interests." Yunus also met Noel Quinn, CEO of HSBC Global to discuss the bank's increased involvement in energy, trade financing, and startups in Bangladesh. Yunus also held a productive meeting with Noel Quinn, CEO of HSBC Global, to explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration in Bangladesh. Sharing on X, Yunus wrote, "HSBC Global CEO Noel Quinn met with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in New York to discuss the bank's increased involvement in energy, trade financing, and startups in Bangladesh." https://x.com/ChiefAdviserGoB/status/1839330050984005741 Earlier on Tuesday, Yunus called for the repatriation of Rohingyas amid the "deteriorating" security situation in Bangladesh during a high-level meeting. During the high-level UN event in New York on the Rohingya crisis, Yunus highlighted the significant challenges that Bangladesh has been facing due to the presence of over 1.2 million displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar and pointed out that while Bangladesh has shown empathy in hosting the Rohingyas, the costs associated with this situation--social, economic, and environmental--are considerable. He emphasised that Bangladesh has reached its limits, adding that repatriation remains the only sustainable solution to the ongoing crisis. Following Bangladesh's fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government in the state. The protests were primarily led by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs. A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh's PM and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration. Yunus was sworn in on August 8 as the head of an interim government after Sheikh Hasina fled the country and the parliament was dissolved. This is Muhammad Yunus's first visit to the United States as the head of the interim government. As per the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Younus has a series of high-profile meetings lined up on the sidelines of the UNGA. The Bangaldesh chief advisor is set to address the general debate of the UNGA on September 27. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, and South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, held a meeting on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United National General Assembly in New York on Thursday. During the meeting, the ministers urged collective action against all terrorist individuals and entities designated by the United Nations, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and other affiliated proxy groups, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. The joint statement released following the IBSA meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs stated, "The ministers called for concerted actions against all UN listed terrorists and terrorist entities including Al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), other proxy groups and their facilitators. The Ministers reiterated their resolve to step up joint efforts for the expeditious adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UNGA." The joint statement further said, "The ministers looked forward to further deepening counter-terrorism cooperation and reaffirmed the sole authority of the UN Security Council for imposing sanctions and called for urgent reform of the working methods of UN Security Council Sanctions Committees to ensure their effectiveness, responsiveness and transparency while avoiding politicisation and double standards of any of their proceedings including listing proposals objectively on evidence-based criteria." The ministers also condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever committed and by whomsoever. They concurred that terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought and that terrorist safe havens must be eliminated in every part of the world. The ministers reaffirmed that the fight against terrorism must be carried out with full respect for international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law. They called upon the international community to establish a genuinely broad international counterterrorism framework following the principles of international law and support the United Nations' central coordinating role in international counterterrorism cooperation. They recalled the responsibility of all states to prevent and counter-terrorism, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, the financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories. BSA is a unique forum that brings together India, Brazil and South Africa. All three countries are developing, pluralistic, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious nations. The grouping was formalised and named the IBSA Dialogue Forum when the Foreign Ministers of the three countries met in Brasilia in 2003. Meanwhile, sharing a post on X on the IBSA meeting, Jaishankar wrote, "Attended a productive IBSA Foreign Minister's meeting today alongside FM Mauro Vieira and FM Ronald Lamola. IBSA nations participate in and shape ongoing global discourses on development, SDGs, poverty eradication, multilateralism, and South-South cooperation. We share convergent views on reforms of UN system and of its Security Council. Our consultations should intensify as these debates acquire greater urgency." (ANI) French President Emmanuel Macron voiced France's support for India's inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The remarks by Macron came during his address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Macron said, "As long as we have a Security Council that is blocked reciprocally, I would say, according to each one's respective interests, it will be difficult to move forward. Is there a better system, I don't think so." The French President also emphasised the need for reform within the UN, stressing that making the organisation more representative is the crucial step towards greater effectiveness. "So let's simply make the UN more effective, first and foremost by making it more representative. That's why France, and I will say it again here, supports the expansion of the Security Council. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, along with the two countries designated by Africa to represent it," he said. Notably, India has long sought a permanent seat in the Security Council to better represent the interests of the developing world. The nation's quest has gained momentum with support from the international community. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The five permanent members of the UNSC include China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States. The non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are elected for 2-year terms by the UNGA. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address in the 'Summit of the Future' at the UN General Assembly in New York, also called for reforms in the global institutions and termed reforms the "key to relevance." He also called the African Union's inclusion as a permanent member in the G20 an "important step" in this direction. PM Narendra Modi also expressed India's willingness to share its experiences of success with the Global South. He said that the success of humanity lies in "collective strength" and not the battlefield. "When we discuss the global future, we must accord the highest priority to a human-centric approach. While prioritising sustainable development, we must also ensure human welfare, food, and health security. By lifting 250 million people out of poverty in India, we have demonstrated that sustainable development can be successful. We are ready to share our experiences of our success with the Global South. The success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not on the battlefield," PM Modi said. (ANI) Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of Observer Research Foundation (ORF) America, emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States for the Quad Summit was crucial for consolidating the progress made by the Quad over the past four years. Speaking with ANI, Dhruva Jaishankar said, "I think it was about consolidating a lot that has been done in the past four years by the Quad. That was the main thing. There were a few new initiatives, including the Coast Guard initiative... But largely, I think it was about consolidating those gains." Notably, to strengthen maritime security, the US Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard planned to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 in the Indo-Pacific to improve interoperability. Through this effort, members of Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard will spend time on board a US Coast Guard vessel operating in the Indo-Pacific. He further said, "There was also equally, I think, very good coordination with third countries in regions, including Gaza, Ukraine, Yemen, and the South China Sea. So there was a good mention of global developments as well." Quad is a diplomatic partnership between four countries--Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. US President Joe Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese for the Quad Leaders' Summit at his hometown Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21. It was the fourth in-person and sixth overall Quad Leaders' Summit. Apart from taking part in the Quad Summit, PM Modi had bilateral meetings with several leaders, including US President Joe Biden, engaged with the Indian diaspora and important American business leaders and addressed the Summit of the Future at the United Nations. On PM Modi's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dhruva Jaishankar asserted that India advocates for peace. He said, "India wants peace. I think the longer the war goes on, it's not in India's interests, not in many parties' interests. So I think, what India can do to help facilitate satisfactory outcomes for all sides is appreciated and I think India is one of the few countries that has good relation with Moscow and Kyiv. So, its trying to play a role in facilitating that outcome." The ORF Executive Director also talked about the upcoming US presidential elections, and emphasised India's robust ties with both Republicans and Democrats. He said that India's relationship with the US is unlikely to undergo significant changes regardless of whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris assumes the presidency. "The outcome is too early to determine... India has good relations with both -- Republicans and Democrats. I don't see the relationship fundamentally changing under either Trump or Harris presidency. There will be some shifts... I do think that we should prepare for some minor shifts in emphasis in different types of policies. There will be some shifts with Trump on trade and immigration. There will be some shifts with Kamala Harris also, despite her being a Democrat. The Indian-American community is sizeable and growing. They have a sizeable presence in key states like Georgia and Pennsylvania, among others... Both parties are trying to appeal to Indian-Americans as political donors since they are very wealthy, and in that sense they can play a big role." The US presidential elections are scheduled to be held on November 5. (ANI) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024 in San Antonio. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Attorney General Ken Paxton is targeting another nonprofit that works with immigrant clients, this time for alleged violations of consumer protection laws a fresh argument that the El Paso-based organization says is an overreach of the state agencys authority. It is at least the fifth time this year that Paxtons office has launched an investigation of an immigration-focused nonprofit in Texas. On Sept. 4, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center said it received a civil investigative demand from Paxtons office seeking information and communications related to a migrant sponsorship program that allows up to 30,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to legally migrate to the U.S. each month. Instead of responding to those demands, Las Americas represented by lawyers with the Texas Civil Rights Project filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Wednesday seeking a preliminary injunction to stop Paxtons investigation. The suit claims that the state is leveling baseless claims that have already affected the work of Las Americas, a 37-year-old organization that provides legal services to low-income migrants and advocates for immigrants rights. Las Americas seeks nothing more than to carry out its mission to help vulnerable immigrants in need, states the suit, which also claims Paxtons office is infringing on the groups First Amendment rights because the communications are protected speech, as is the groups advocacy for changing the U.S. immigration system. Paxtons office did not immediately respond Thursday morning to a request for comment. The request to Las Americas for information is the latest state probe into organizations doing immigration-related work, including an attempt to shut down an El Paso-based migrant shelter network, Annunciation House, that regularly works with Las Americas; the two share founders. Texas judges have largely rejected those efforts so far. Separately, Paxtons office joined 19 other attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit in January 2023 that aims to stop the federal migrant sponsorship policy that is the subject of the Las Americas investigation. President Joe Biden launched the program in December 2022 to discourage illegal crossings into the U.S. To be eligible under the program, an individual needs an American sponsor who will support them financially. The policy has become a lightning rod among some Republican elected officials who have cast the initiative as an illegal mass-parole program. More recently, the attorney generals consumer protection division has targeted nonprofits whose missions are largely in opposition to his politics, an investigation by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica found. These organizations work on issues like immigration, gender-affirming medical care and fostering a diverse workplace. Lawyers for Las Americas said Paxtons probe into the nonprofit appears to be the first time the attorney generals office has specifically cited the states Deceptive Trade Practices Act as the basis for an investigation of an immigration nonprofit. The attorney generals letter to Las Americas required a response by Friday, said the nonprofits lawyer, Aron Thorn of the Texas Civil Rights Project. Thorn dismissed the probe as retaliation against Las Americas because of the work it does, its close association to Annunciation House, which Paxtons office has accused of human smuggling, and its standing as a plaintiff in two lawsuits the attorney generals office opposes. One of those lawsuits has for now paused a state law granting police the authority to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. The other challenged new federal restrictions on asylum, which Texas is trying to help defend alongside the Biden administration. Las Americas Executive Director Marisa Limon Garza said in an interview that the states fishing for information had already resulted in procedure changes to further ensure sensitive information about clients is secure. In the suit filed Wednesday, the group said it is considering even more stringent precautions and is also reconsidering its work in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where the organization has helped migrants waiting to enter the country legally. People have a heightened sense of security about their own work, Garza said. The protection of clients is paramount. Paxtons investigations follow a 2022 directive from Gov. Greg Abbott to investigate the role of non-governmental organizations in planning and facilitating the illegal transportation of illegal immigrants across our borders. While some of the probes have become public, the extent of investigations being conducted by Paxtons office is not clear. The office is fighting the Tribunes open records request seeking the release of documents related to its investigations, arguing the records are excepted from disclosure because of protections surrounding pending litigation. As the New Hampshire Supreme Court prepares to take up a legal challenge to the states school funding approach, a group of House Democrats is asking that it consider a new model. In a brief to the court filed Monday, the lawmakers are asking the court to demand a needs-based arrangement to school funding, in which the state distributes funding based on what each district needs to succeed. The high court is taking up two separate lawsuits that claim New Hampshires school funding model is unfair to both school districts and taxpayers, and that the state is failing to live up to its constitutional obligations to provide an adequate education. The request aligns with the work of a 2020 legislative commission tasked with finding a better way forward for school funding. After nearly a year of work, that commission concluded that student performances at New Hampshires public schools are directly correlated to the wealth of their school districts. The commission concluded that the state should orient its funding around improving student outcomes from district to district, not just spreading resources equally. The commissions findings have largely been ignored by lawmakers in the intervening years. Now, four former members of that commission, Democratic Reps. Richard Ames of Jaffrey, Mary Heath of Manchester, and Dave Luneau and Mel Myler of Hopkinton, as well as Democratic lawyer Bill Ardinger, are taking their demands to the Supreme Court. This Court should take this opportunity to clarify that the Legislature has constitutional authority to enact a comprehensive public school enterprise that distributes state budget aid in a progressive manner intended to improve student equity across our State, consistent with the findings and recommendations of the Commission in its final report, the brief states. The high court is taking up two separate lawsuits that claim New Hampshires school funding model is unfair to both school districts and taxpayers, and that the state is failing to live up to its constitutional obligations to provide an adequate education. One lawsuit, Contoocook Valley School District et al. v. State of New Hampshire, argues the state does not give school districts an amount of funding per pupil to reasonably allow those districts to run their districts, forcing the districts to turn to local property taxes to make up the difference. Another, Steven Rand et al. v. State of New Hampshire, argues that the system is creating unfair disparities among taxpayers in different towns. A Rockingham Superior Court judge, David Ruoff, ruled in November in favor of the plaintiffs in both cases, finding that the state has failed its constitutional obligations. Ruoff held that the $4,100 per pupil base funding amount should be increased to $7,356.01, and that the statewide education property tax is not fairly distributed and is unconstitutional. But the Democratic lawmakers argue Ruoff made an error by limiting his ruling to the base adequacy state funding amount of $4,100 per pupil. Ruoff should have also factored in differentiated aid targeted funding going to pupils who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, who need special education services, and who are English language learners, the lawmakers argue. The state has appealed Ruoffs rulings, arguing that the system provides an adequate education and that state courts do not have the authority to demand spending by the Legislature because of the constitutional separation of powers. The lawsuits stem from a pair of landmark state Supreme Court decisions in the 1990s, known as the Claremont decisions, in which the court found the state had a positive constitutional duty to ensure and provide for an adequate education. Earlier this month, a group of 30 House Republicans, including House Speaker Sherman Packard, filed their own amicus brief arguing that those decisions which have underpinned New Hampshires funding system for nearly 3 decades were wrongly decided and should be overturned. The House Democrats brief argues the opposite: that the Claremont decisions were correct and that the court should clarify their meaning by demanding a funding system targeted to need. Only a program that incorporates such a needs-based arrangement can satisfy the fundamental duty of the State under N.H. Const. Pt. II, Art. 83, as established by Claremont I, the brief states. The Supreme Court has received written pleadings from both the state and plaintiffs. Oral arguments have not yet been scheduled. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Democrats ask NH Supreme Court for need-based school funding model This was found on a Delaware beach after traveling 118 miles through the Atlantic Ocean After a summer filled with beached animal sightings and medical waste washing ashore, you never know what youll come across at the Delaware beaches. This week, it was an object that traveled from our regional neighbor, New Jersey. This lifeguard stand from Ship Bottom, New Jersey, washed ashore 118 miles away in Fenwick Island, Delaware, on Sept. 23, 2024. On Sept. 24, Fenwick Island Police Department issued a press release sharing that the agency was alerted to a large red object, identified as a red lifeguard stand, that washed up on Lewes Street Beach in Fenwick Island. **TRIVIA TUESDAY**Yesterday, this lifeguard stand washed-up on the beach. Who can name the town where it came from? Posted by Fenwick Island Police Department on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 The lifeguard chair originated from Ship Bottom, New Jersey, traveling over 118 miles to arrive in Delaware, according to Fenwick police, and is one of several that were lost this season. Fenwick Island Police Department had some fun with the found treasure by kicking off its trivia Tuesday on Sept. 24 by asking its Facebook followers to identify the town where the lifeguard stand came from correctly. Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. (This story was updated to add a photo gallery) This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Lifeguard tower from New Jersey washes ashore on Delaware beach Raimondo said voters should 'extinguish' Trump. Some Republicans say it's 'violent rhetoric.' Republicans were irate at U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo the former Rhode Island governor Wednesday for saying in a cable news appearance that voters should "extinguish" former President Donald Trump. Raimondo was asked by MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski what she thinks about Trump's comments that he "is a protector of women." What did Gina Raimondo say about Trump? "It is enraging. It is blood curdling and BS," Raimondo said, before describing Rhode Island's passage of abortion rights legislation while she was governor. "It is just another lie. Like, how did we get here? Let's just extinguish him for good. We have an answer. We have a remarkably talented candidate who is sincere, who is pragmatic, who is open. Let's just get it done." Brzezinski: "When you mean extinguish, you mean vote him out?" Raimondo: "Yes, absolutely. Vote him out. banish him from American politics. Vote him out so he goes away." Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. The DNC program will feature President Joe Biden and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Monday's ceremonies. Reaction to Raimondo's comments That clarification; however, did not mollify Rhode Island GOP Chairman Joe Powers, who said the term extinguish suggested political violence. Her comment is not only reckless, but its also a glaring reminder of the violent rhetoric the left uses to try to silence opposition," Powers said in a news release. "You would think someone in her position would choose her words more wisely." He went on: "This is the same Gina Raimondo who told Rhode Islanders to 'knock it off' when all they wanted was to see their families during the COVID. She was more focused on auditioning for a role in the Biden administration than addressing the needs of her own state." The Trump campaign went even further in a news release Wednesday, connecting the comments to recent assassination attempts against Trump. "Yet, Democrat lunatics continue to spew this dangerous rhetoric," the Trump campaign said. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Gina Raimondo accused of 'violent rhetoric' against Trump i MSNBC interview South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen, left, and USD Knudson School of Law Dean Neil Fulton address the Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary Club on April 29, 2024. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) Leaders within the state court system asked for patience on Wednesday as they pledged to address deficiencies in South Dakotas system for delivering legal representation to people who cant afford lawyers. State Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen and other officials conducted a virtual press conference two days after the release of a report that outlined challenges facing the states public defense framework. Despite the sweeping nature of some of the reports recommendations, Jensen said the state Unified Judicial System is committed to following through. Honestly, its going to be difficult, its going to be a lot of work, and its going to require some discussions about who will fund that system going forward, Jensen said. But given our history in South Dakota, the widespread support and recognition of the need for change, Im optimistic we can get it done. States are required by the U.S. Constitutions Sixth and 14th Amendments to guarantee the right to an attorney for those who cant pay. Researcher highlights issues The state-sanctioned report from the nonprofit Sixth Amendment Center, however, says South Dakotas practice of delegating public defense funding and management to counties creates what the centers Aditi Goel described Wednesday as justice by geography. It results in a decentralized patchwork of county funded public defense systems, Goel said. The problem is that some counties cannot afford to fund public defense services at the levels that are constitutionally required. The state also lacks oversight mechanisms and has no standards for qualifications, training, supervision, compensation or caseloads specific to attorneys who act as public defenders. Goel pointed out that public defenders and court-appointed attorneys in South Dakota have heavy caseloads. One private attorney contracted as a public defender had 73 open cases in 20 counties across six judicial circuits at the time the attorney was interviewed by the Sixth Amendment Centers research team. Our analysis found that attorneys across the state have cases that exceed the most conservative national standards, Goel said. The centers report recommends the creation of standards in each area, and for the state to fund the recently formed Commission on Indigent Legal Services at a level high enough to perform oversight. How to eat this elephant Neil Fulton, dean of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, chairs the commission. Fulton also formerly served as the chief public defender for federal cases in the District of South Dakota. Fulton likened the states approach for tackling the issues laid out in the report to eating an elephant. According to a truism sometimes attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, the way to complete such a task is one bite at a time. One of the things for us as commission, now that weve all decided were going to eat this elephant, is to start deciding where we slice off a little bit of elephant and get that done, Fulton said, adding that the work will take many years. The first job, Fulton said, will be for the commission and judicial system to throw its full support behind the work of Christopher Miles, the states first public defender. Miles will be tasked with assembling a team of lawyers and staff to handle criminal appeals for defendants represented by a public defender at the trial level. Counties will remain responsible to provide lawyers for indigent defendants prior to their appeals. Staffing the state office with attorneys, ideally with attorneys in different geographic areas, will be a priority, as will guidance on how to set up the just-established offices workflow and connecting with court systems across South Dakota. The second step, Fulton said, will be to tackle issues the commission can attend to on its own. That would include setting standards for things like qualifications and caseloads and settling up a system of data collection to track and compile information on county-level public defense. Questions on funding from the state and adjustments to practices in local jurisdictions would come later, he said, as those conversations would require buy-in from other entities. One recommendation in the report was to end some counties practice of allowing prosecutors to speak to and sometimes secure plea agreements from defendants before theyve been appointed a lawyer. That is not something the commission can stop today, Fulton said. Without speaking for other members, I would tell you that there are folks on the commission who would tell you why that can be an efficiency measure. Im not telling you I agree with them, but Im definitely telling you that the commission has not wrestled through that yet. Funding questions loom, but not in January Attorney pay and mileage reimbursements for those who work in smaller counties were among the issues that drove the court system to study the public defense system. Finding ways to meaningfully compensate the attorneys that are willing to take on those cases in those more rural areas with state funding will be an important discussion, Miles said. Miles, Jensen and Fulton all said that funding questions will loom large in the coming years as the state moves to help counties stop the bleeding from growing public defense costs. Those conversations wont happen during the next legislative session, Jensen said. The courts will have enough work to do in setting standards and building out the states indigent defense office. One wrinkle in future funding talks could come on Election Day, when voters will be asked to weigh in on Initiated Measure 28. Backers say the measure would repeal the states sales tax on groceries, but opponents have argued that the measures verbiage could also bar grocery sales tax collections by cities and bar sales taxes on a host of other consumer goods. The exact amount of revenue loss from the measures passage may be in dispute, but Jensen said the losses would clearly be significant. All the state court system can do, Jensen said, is present the issues surrounding public defense and make its case to the lawmakers tasked with setting the state budget. Im an eternal optimist. And in my view, I think well get the funding we need, because this is a priority, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE North Dakota Supreme Court justices hear arguments Dec. 18, 2023. On Wednesday, justices heard arguments in a case from the city of Fargo. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) An attorney for the city of Fargo argued Wednesday that a state law infringes on the citys right to regulate gun stores and threatens the authority of local governments across the state. Attorney Peter Zuger made the arguments for the city to the North Dakota Supreme Court as it appeals a Cass County District Court decision that backs the state law passed in 2023. It took effect Aug. 1 of that year. Fargos ordinance prohibits a firearms and ammunition sales business from operating in areas zoned as residential. It had been on the books for several years before the state Legislature passed House Bill 1340 in 2023 to prohibit cities, counties and other political subdivisions from passing an ordinance relating to buying and selling guns and ammunition. The primary sponsor of the bill was Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo. Zuger argued that the law is unconstitutional because the North Dakota Constitution says local law supersedes state law on local matters. If the state can overrule the Fargo gun sales ordinance, it can overrule any local ordinance, making the concept of home rule for local governments obsolete, he argued. The North Dakota League of Cities filed a brief in support of Fargos case. The Courts decision in this case will impact the 145 home rule cities ability to exercise maximum self-government granted by its city electors, the brief stated. Attorney Courtney Titus, representing the state, argued that while the state constitution calls for maximum self-government, that does not mean complete self-government. She argued that the Legislature determines what authority the local governments have. Justices questioned whether the ordinance was truly only a local issue. Zuger argued that it was, with the rule only affecting Fargo residents and the Fargo City Commission looking out for the health, safety and welfare of residents by not allowing someone to operate a gun store out of their home. Fargo prohibits six home occupations in residentially zoned areas: vehicle and large equipment repair; dispatch centers; mortuaries; facilities for animal care, grooming and boarding; adult establishments; and gun and ammunition sales, according to a brief filed by the city. Titus argued that gun sales should be regulated at the state level, and the Legislature sought to clarify that authority with the 2023 bill. In written testimony on the bill, Koppelman said that unless it was passed, governments could propose all sorts of local gun control, and based on the anti-gun track record of the Fargo city commission, I think we could expect it. Titus said the issue came up because there were Fargo residents who were experiencing issues with a federal firearms dealership licensing because of the ordinance. In the brief filed by Zuger, he argued that the city cannot pass a law that is more restrictive than state law regarding where gun sales are allowed because the state has not passed any laws regulating gun sales. The justices did not offer a timeline for when a ruling might be issued. The 2021 Legislature also passed a bill seeking to eliminate local authority on gun sales but the city of Fargo prevailed in a court case on that legislation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX State police sweep across RI, arrest 8, seize 279 pounds of marijuana, plants, other drugs SCITUATE Eight people from six cities and towns have been arrested after a Rhode Island State Police investigation into an "elaborate" illegal marijuana growing operation, the state police announced early Thursday morning. Executing search warrants last week at multiple residences and grow operations in different parts of the state, the police seized 279 pounds of "usable" marijuana, 922 mature marijuana plants, 859 immature marijuana plants, four firearms and $79,876, according to the state police. They also seized 468 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 11.1 grams of cocaine, 65 Oxycodone pills, 30 amphetamine pills, one motor vehicle and two motorcycles, the police said. The Rhode Island State Police seized multiple marijuana plants in their investigation. The search warrants were executed Sept. 18 in North Providence, North Scituate, Lincoln, Westerly, Providence and Woonsocket. The charges against the defendants vary, but include possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. Seven men and one woman were arrested. They range in age from 26 to 59. The state police said they started the investigation after receiving an anonymous tip about an illegal marijuana grow operation. The Rhode Island State Police had help in their "extensive investigation" from the Rhode Island National Guard, United States Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as Task Force Officers from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Special Investigations Unit, Amtrak, Cranston, Lincoln, Middletown, Newport, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket police departments. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: State police sweep across RI, arrest 8, seize 279 pounds of marijuana About the law and what officials are saying: The marriage equality bill, published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, amends the Civil and Commercial Code to replace gender-specific terms with gender-neutral language, granting full legal, financial and medical rights to same-sex couples, including adoption and inheritance rights. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra celebrated the occasion in an X post, writing, Congratulations to everyones love along with the hashtag #LoveWins. Meanwhile, Bangkok Deputy Gov. Sanon Wangsrangboon assured that city officials are ready to facilitate same-sex marriage registrations as soon as the law takes effect. The royal signing of the bill represents a culmination of over two decades of advocacy. Weve been waiting for a long time. As soon as it becomes law, we will go register our marriage, actor and YouTuber Apiwat Apiwatsayree told AFP. Uber snags another robotaxi deal, aviation startups land VC bucks, and where Rivian Foundation money is going Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free just click TechCrunch Mobility! Ive been thinking a bit about time and specifically what trends, music, cultural practices, and even ways we move around that encapsulate a season or particular year. Gaming the algorithms seems to be an emerging symbol of this era of app-based transportation and gig workers. Take the NYTs recent feature on a handful of Lyft bike angels, folks who receive incentives to help the companys docked Citi Bike program meet demand. It seems that gaming the Citi Bike algos was a lucrative side hustle for a while. OK, enough deep thoughts about time and space. How about we get into the transportation news of the day! A little bird blinky cat bird green This is not a transportation story, but I have to share because it involves Travis Kalanick, an old character from the early and chaotic days of ride-hailing who co-founded Uber. For those who forgot: Kalanick stepped down as CEO of Uber in 2017 after Susan Fowlers viral blog post sparked an investigation into that workplaces culture. He went on to other projects, including becoming CEO of CloudKitchens. Heres where our little bird, who shared some troubling information about the workplace culture at CloudKitchens, comes in. The story bloomed far beyond that tip and into an article that uncovered a wrongful termination lawsuit that alleges sexual discrimination and a hostile work environment. The bro culture, which had become a cornerstone of Uber in its early days, seems to have cropped back up. Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean O'Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or check out these instructions to learn how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop. Deals! money the station See, folks, there are startups outside of the AI hype cycle that are raising money! I dont typically call out themes, but I would note that in this issue of TechCrunch Mobility, there sure are a lot of aviation-related raises. Here are some deals that got my attention Air Company, a sustainable aviation fuel startup, raised $69 million in a Series B funding round led by Avfuel, with participation from Lowercarbon Capital, In-Q-Tel, Alaska Airlines, Connecticut Innovations' Climate Tech Fund, Duncan Aviation, JSSI, and the owners of Sheltair Aviation. Existing investors Carbon Direct Capital, JetBlue Ventures, and Toyota Ventures also participated. Ayrton Energy, a startup working on hydrogen storage, raised a $6.8 million seed round led by Clean Energy Ventures and BDC Capital, with participation from Antares Ventures, EPS Ventures, SOSV, The51, and UCeed Investment Funds. Cariqa, a Berlin-based EV charging marketplace startup, raised 1 million ($1.1 million) in a pre-seed funding round from Anthemis, Vento Ventures, Hatcher+, Techstars, Golden Egg Check, and Plug and Play. DeepDrive, the German startup working on dual-rotor electric vehicle motors, raised 30 million ($33.5 million) in a Series B fundraising round led by Leitmotif. Existing investors BMW i Ventures, Co-Pace, UVC Partners, and Bayern Kapital also participated. Point.me, the real-time flight rewards search engine, raised $15 million in a Series B funding round led by Nyca Partners and Citi Ventures. Other investors include Brian Kelly (founder of the Points Guy), Samsung Next, RiverPark Ventures, Four Cities Capital, and MoreThan Capital, among others. Thayer Ventures and PAR Capital Ventures, who led earlier fundraising rounds, also participated. Pyka, the autonomous electric aviation startup developing crop-dusting and cargo plane lines, raised $40 million in a Series B round led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from Piva Capital, Prelude Ventures, Metaplanet Holdings, and Y Combinator. REE Automotive raised $45 million and signed a major global manufacturing agreement with Motherson Group, a $17 billion revenue powerhouse operating in 44 countries. Today the company also announced it has kicked off U.S. production in Detroit with Roush. Twelve, a Berkeley-based startup developing sustainable aviation fuel and other products from captured carbon dioxide, raised $200 million in a Series C funding round co-led by TPG Rise Climate, Capricorn Investment Group, and Pulse Fund. Fifth Wall, Northstar VC, TGVP, Alaska Airlines, DCVC, Munich Re Ventures, and Emerson Collective also participated. The startup also secured another $400 million in project equity led by TPG Rise Climate and $45 million in credit facilities. VELA, a French company developing wind-powered maritime cargo transport, raised 40 million ($43 million) in a funding round led by Credit Mutuel Impact, 11th Hour Racing, and BPI - French Public Investment Bank. Xiaodi Hou, the founder of failed autonomous trucking startup TuSimple, hasn't given up on AVs. He has a new self-driving truck startup called Bot Auto and has raised $20 million. Forbes had the initial story; stay tuned for more details from us. Notable reads and other tidbits Autonomous vehicles Another day, another Uber AV partnership. This time, Uber is partnering with WeRide to bring the Chinese companys robotaxis to the ride-hailing platform starting in Abu Dhabi later this year. Electric vehicles, charging, & batteries BMW makes the case for battery and hydrogen EVs. EV startup Harbinger is developing its first hybrid powertrain for an RV made by customer Thor Industries with 500 miles of range. One important note, though: In this case, "hybrid" doesn't mean a gasoline engine working alongside an electric powertrain. Harbinger is adding a small gas generator that can feed energy into the 140 kWh battery pack. Thor says RVs using the hybrid platform "will be commercially available in 2025" across its various sub-brands. Northvolt, the battery startup, laid off 20% of its workforce. Reporter Tim De Chant lays out what this means and why maybe we shouldnt worry. Rad Power Bikes has partnered with Best Buy to bring the e-bike brand into the retailers stores. Rivian has revealed the first $10 million worth of grants from the Rivian Foundation, three years after the EV maker vowed the philanthropy would receive 1% of its equity to make the natural world a stakeholder in our success. Read on to get a deeper understanding of where the money is going and why it took so long. Tesla Supercharger: Here are the latest updates on which non-Tesla brands can access the EV network. Future of flight Wing is expanding its drone delivery program beyond the Dallas-Fort Worth area and into Charlotte, North Carolina, TechCrunch has learned. Wing didnt reveal which retailer it planned to partner with in that city. The company homed in on North Carolina after evaluating its recent survey of 5,000 American shoppers. The survey found 84% of North Carolina residents cited interest in ultra-fast grocery delivery, meaning 30 minutes or less. Future of water Pure Watercraft, the electric outboard startup that GM took a 25% stake in, is selling itself for parts. Editor Devin Coldewey got an up-close look at Zin Boats bigger, faster electric leisure craft. In-car tech How will President Bidens new proposed Chinese software ban affect U.S. automakers? Reporter Rebecca Bellan dug into the proposed rule and spoke to SAFEs Avery Ash to find out what it might mean. This weeks wheels Pedego ebike Welp, I planned to share my thoughts on the GMC Sierra EV Denali, but then reporter Rebecca Bellan wrote a full review of the Pedego Cargo e-bike. Id be remiss not to highlight it here. (Sierra EV waits one more week.) The upshot? After spending the summer riding around on Pedegos Cargo e-bike, Bellan was taken by the sporty styling and design and its cargo capacity. But it wasnt all smooth pedaling. Some tech issues, as well as its heaviness, might give some pause on shelling out $4,000. Read on for the full review. What is This weeks wheels? Its a chance to learn about the different transportation products were testing, whether its an electric or hybrid car, an e-bike, or even a ride in an autonomous vehicle. Sep 27 (NHK) - Four Japanese men have been caught at an Australian airport on suspicion of trying to smuggle a large amount of cigarettes into the country. NHK has learned that the four were pulled aside at Brisbane Airport earlier this month for trying to bring in more than 140,000 cigarettes without reporting them. The authorities say all four tried to enter the country as tourists. They were denied entry when they were found to be hiding the tobacco in large suitcases. There have been a series of cases since July this year in which Japanese have attempted to smuggle in cigarettes. So far, 24 people have been caught. One of them told the Australian authorities he expected to be paid. Ken McKern of the Australian Border Force said, "It's a source of income for organized crime groups who are profiting from the illicit tobacco market, and they're using those funds to undertake criminal activity, both here in Australia and overseas." Australia is raising taxes on tobacco to reduce the number of smokers. A pack by a major brand with 25 sticks costs about 50 Australian dollars, or about 35 US dollars. That is more than double what it was 10 years ago. Smuggling from foreign countries, including, Japan, is surging, prompting the Australian authorities to step up their controls. Sep 27 (News On Japan) - Actresses Mizuki Yamamoto and Yumi Aso were injured when lighting equipment fell during the filming of a drama. According to an announcement from Hulu, the incident occurred around 11:25 a.m. on September 26th, and both Yamamoto and Aso were rushed to the hospital. Yamamoto suffered a head injury and scalp laceration, requiring approximately one week of treatment. Aso sustained a neck contusion and head injury, necessitating about two weeks of treatment. Hulu commented, 'We will take thorough safety precautions in future program production to prevent similar incidents.' Source: ANN Sep 26 (NHK) - The governor of Japan's Hyogo Prefecture has opted to lose his seat after a no-confidence vote last week. Saito Motohiko says he will not dissolve the assembly and accepts that on Monday he will lose his job. But Saito said he also wants to run in the next gubernatorial election. The governor said: "I've been criticized for what I've done, things that people consider to be wrong. I think it is important for me to seek public approval on my own." Saito has been accused of power harassment and other misconduct. The prefectural assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence motion against him last Thursday. He was given until September 29 to resign, lose his post, or dissolve the assembly. The gubernatorial election is due to be held within 50 days of his exit. Japan has seen four other cases involving the adoption of a no-confidence motion against a prefectural governor. In those cases, the assembly was never dissolved. VP Shettima and Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Affiliates in Nigeria, Shane Harris on the sidelines of 79th UNGA in New York By Lanre Lasisi Vice President Kashim Shettima has welcomed ExxonMobils proposed $10 billion dollar investment in Nigerias deep-water oil operations, describing it as a clear testament to the administrations economic reforms and investment-friendly policies. This is coming just as the international maritime giant, DP World, has announced plans to develop a multibillion-dollar port project in Nigeria. According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President stated this during a high-level meeting with ExxonMobil executives and officials of DP World on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States. The centrepiece of ExxonMobils new strategy is the Owo project, a substantial subsea tie-back that could represent a $10 billion investment, as it aims to inject $1 billion annually into maintenance operations and an additional $1.5 billion to boost production by 50,000 barrels per day over the next few years. In a related development, the Nigerian government secured a $600,000 relief fund and commitments from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for relief efforts for victims of floods, as well as for health and agricultural sectors reforms. The foundation pledged the $600,000 for flood relief in Borno State and other health sector initiatives, with an additional $5 million grant approved for Lagos Business School and partners to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava. The donation was announced when Vice President Shettima held a meeting with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation led by its head of global development programme, Dr Christopher Elias, on the sidelines of the 79th UNGA. Shettima reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to placing health, nutrition, and agricultural development at the forefront of nations national agenda. Residents who were impacted by April storms and June flooding in Pottawattamie County will have access to a long-term disaster recovery center starting Monday. The Pottawattamie County Emergency Operations Center will serve as a centralized location for disaster survivors in Pottawattamie County to access disaster case advocacy services, assistance with their federal assistance applications and process, and receive information and assistance with obtaining access to local and state assistance programs they may qualify for, according to a news release. The Long-term Disaster Recovery Center, operated in partnership with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, will be staffed with local emergency management personnel, state disaster case advocates and representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Doug Reed, director of Pottawattamie County Emergency Management. said that 489 residents had registered for federal assistance in the county as of Tuesday. "Some are in the process, others that have been denied are encouraged to appeal, and many others may be eligible for additional state and local assistance programs," Reed said in the release. "The activation of the LT-DRC will serve as an ongoing resource for those impacted by this years disasters and a place where they can find help navigating through the process. The new center will open at 205 S. Main St. in Council Bluffs. It will be available weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alternate operating hours are being considered. The center will continue to operate until there is no further identifiable need for the resource. Any resident impacted by the disasters who need assistance navigating the recovery process, has a question about their FEMA or SBA status, needs assistance with their applications, needs to file an appeal on a denied federal application, or needs ongoing assistance with unmet needs is encouraged to visit the center. The Loess Hills Branch of American Association of University Women will host a southwest Iowa legislative candidate forum the evening of Thursday, Oct. 17. The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Council Bluffs Police Department Community Room, 1 Ezra Way, according to a news release. AAUW Loess Hills Branch invited all Democratic and Republican candidates competing to represent Iowa House Districts 15, 16, 19 and 20 as well as Iowa Senate Districts 8 and 10. According to the release, AAUW Loess Hills members will ask questions about the following topics: voting rights, child care workforce shortage, affordable housing, education, paid leave, reproductive rights, equal pay for equal work, rural economy, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Candidates will have up to 2 minutes to answer each question. AAUW is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1881. It mission is to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. Members of the Council Bluffs City Council and the Council Bluffs Fire Department have gone back and forth for nearly a month regarding what to do with a tuition assistance program for city employees. The educational assistance plan went before the council after being last updated in 2010. As college costs and opportunities have shifted over the years, city officials decided it was time to put a cap on the reimbursement amount. Education today is different, Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said during a recent council study session. In the old days when we did this, we had Iowa Western and we had UNO. We kind of knew what these costs were. These costs can vary by hundreds of dollars a credit hour The costs have grown exponentially depending on where you go to school. The policy applies to all full-time city employees excluding sworn police officers below the rank of chief and sworn members of the fire department receiving college incentive pay. However, the credit is not a guarantee to eligible employees. Employees who wish to apply for the credit must be taking courses that their department head determines are related to the employee's current job and assist opportunities for advancement. Employees also must get approval from the mayor. As the change was discussed, the Council Bluffs Fire Department raised the concern that any changes to the policy could violate their current contract with the city. The contract between the department and the city includes policies on negotiated benefits, military, pregnancy and tuition. This is a negotiated item. We will spend money on a lawyer. We will fight this, said Randy Schroeder, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 15. You can change a policy all you want unless it is mentioned in (the contract). Schroeder said that the contract reads that fire employees should be eligible for tuition reimbursement in accordance with city policies. He said during a study session that the department believes that would refer to the policies in effect when the contract was signed, so any changes would result in a violation. The interpretation of the policy left the city and the fire department in disagreement. The city felt that it would also be unfair to other city employees and taxpayers to have to pause the changes completely. It feels like it's become city versus fire, and its not it's citywide, it's taxpayers. Ive had 15 to 20 conversations with taxpayers and they are flipping their lids, council member Chris Peterson said. You know the No. 1 thing Ive heard is, 'Why am I paying for other peoples education with my tax money when we have other issues in the city?' Ultimately, the council voted to pass the policy change, placing a cap on the tuition repayments at $5,250 per year per employee, which council members described as in line with IRS standards. The policy change excluded members of the fire department. The Council Bluffs Fire Department's union contract expires in June 2025, and the negotiations for a new contract are expected to begin in a few weeks. The negotiations are expected to include discussion of tuition reimbursement. Few days ahead of Tunisian one-man show presidential election, candidate Ayachi Zammel received a 6-month prison sentence as Tunisias strongman and incumbent president Kais Saied continues to use the judiciary against political opponents. This is the second sentence against Zammel, who was handed a 20-month jail term for falsifying popular endorsement, in a verdict described by rights activists as politically-motivated. The opposition fears the President was emptying the political scene of credible opponents to pave the way for his re-election after years of power grab that undermined checks and balances in what used to be once an Arab Spring success story. Zammels prison term leaves Saied in a one-man show election running against little known Zouhair Magzhaoui. prominent politicians, such as Mondher Znaidi, Imed Daimi, Abdel Latif Mekki, Karim Gharbi, Safi Said, Kamel Akrout, and Nizar Chaari, said authorities declined to provide them with documents required to submit their application to the electoral committee. In August, four potential candidates were indicted on the charge of vote buying- which they denied. They are Abdel Latif Mekki, activist Nizar Chaari, Judge Mourad Massoudi, and another candidate, Adel Dou. Potential candidate, Abir Moussi, also a prominent opponent of Saied, has been sentenced the same day to two years in prison, on a charge of insulting the election commission. In July, a court in Tunis handed an eight-month prison sentence to leader of the Republican Union Party Lotfi Mraihi, an outspoken critic of Kais Saied. Tunisias rights watchdog I Watch denounced complicated procedures and a methodical absence of transparency for elections in the North African country. The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has solidified strategic cooperation agreements with telecommunications providers Al-Madar, Libyana, and Hatif Libya, as part of the Toward Smart Oil Cities initiative. The primary objective of these agreements, signed on September 25, is to modernize and enhance digital infrastructure across Libyas oil-producing regions. These agreements aim to incorporate state-of-the-art communication and information technology (ICT) frameworks to bolster sustainability, improve operational efficiency, and optimize production workflows within the hydrocarbon sector, a statement on NOCs Facebook page said. The partnerships underscore the critical importance of advanced digital communication infrastructure in enabling intelligent resource management, optimizing operational processes, and ensuring long-term operational resilience. Hussein Safar, a member of NOCs Board of Directors, highlighted that these agreements signify a paradigm shift in the synergy between the oil and telecommunications sectors. He underscored the central role of digital transformation as a key driver of the industrys evolution, enhancing both its global competitiveness and domestic capabilities. Safar further pointed out that the deployment of cutting-edge technologies will result in significant productivity gains and a reduction in operational expenditures. Representatives from the telecom companies emphasized that these advanced communication platforms would significantly enhance the real-time monitoring, control, and analysis of large-scale data streams associated with oil extraction and processing. They reiterated their commitment to delivering the technical and logistical expertise necessary to successfully execute these digital infrastructure initiatives. Egypt has unveiled its strategic objectives to scale up exports to over $140 billion by 2030 and secure annual foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of $20 billion. This is a realistic and achievable target, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said at a press conference on September 25. He emphasizing the feasibility of these economic milestones, highlighting that Haier, a prominent global leader in home appliances, is projected to invest over $500 million upon completion of all three phases of its Egyptian operations, aligning with the nations broader FDI ambitions. Madbouly underscored the initiatives socioeconomic impact and its potential to generate substantial employment opportunities for Egypts burgeoning youth. The prime minister further elaborated on advancements across key sectors, including energy, healthcare, education, and foreign investment. He also disclosed ongoing negotiations with leading Japanese firms specializing in water resource management and renewable energy, outlining their plans to escalate capital commitments in Egypt over the coming years. The G7 Foreign Ministers, along with the EU High Representative, reaffirmed their commitment to Libyas stability, sovereignty, and unity during a meeting in New York on September 25. They expressed concerns over recent leadership transitions within the High Council of State (HCS) and the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), emphasizing the fragility of Libyas governance. The ministers urged Libyan parties to engage in political negotiations to restore the CBLs institutional integrity and warned against unilateral actions that could worsen instability and invite foreign interference. They also praised progress in preparing for municipal elections, stressing the need for a transparent and inclusive process. The G7 highlighted the urgency of resuming a Libyan-led, UN-backed political process toward free and fair national elections. They supported UNSMIL officer-in-charge Stephanie Kourys stabilization efforts and called for a swift appointment of a new Special Representative. The same day, it was announced that representatives from the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) and HCS had reached a compromise on appointing new leadership for the CBL, following UN-facilitated consultations. The agreement outlines procedures, criteria, and timelines for selecting a Governor, Deputy Governor, and Board of Directors, with a formal signing ceremony scheduled for this Thursday, September 26. Denmark has joined a long list of influential countries to back Moroccos autonomy plan as a final solution to the Sahara issue. Denmark said the autonomy proposal submitted by Morocco in 2007 is a serious and credible contribution to the ongoing UN efforts. This came in a joint statement following talks in New York between Moroccan and Danish foreign ministers, Nasser Bourita and Larse Lokke Rasmussen. The autonomy plan is a good basis for an agreed solution between the parties, the Danish foreign minister said. The two ministers backed UN envoy Steffan De Mistura and the UN process aiming to find a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution in line with Security Council resolutions. Denmark is the second Nordic country to openly back the autonomy plan after a similar move this summer by Finland. Support for Moroccos territorial integrity and the autonomy plan is gaining traction following Paris support for Rabats sovereignty over the Sahara territory this summer. The US has already expressed its full recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the territory together with Israel, Arab monarchies, and a growing group of African countries. Influential countries in the EU like Spain and Germany support the autonomy plan as a mutually acceptable solution to a conflict that has long lasted. In its address this week at the United Nations General Assembly convening in New York, Morocco has reiterated its firm attachment to a lasting political solution based exclusively on the autonomy plan, saying no political process is possible outside the framework of the round tables defined by the UN, with the full participation of Algeria, nor any solution outside the framework of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, or any serious political process without the return of the armed militias to the ceasefire as demanded by the Security Council. Moroccos statement comes amid a growing international support for its sovereignty over its Sahara and for its autonomy initiative put on the negotiating table, sending a clear message to the other parties to the conflict that time has come to move towards a political solution on this basis, through the round table process and in accordance with Security Council resolutions. Member countries of the Rabat Process on the African Atlantic States (AASP) praised, in New York, Moroccos initiative and leadership in creating this coordination framework, which will help find appropriate solutions to mutual challenges. At a Ministerial Meeting of the Atlantic African States Process held on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th UN General Assembly, several Foreign Ministers from countries involved in the process hailed the relevance of this initiative, launched in 2022 in line with the vision of King Mohammed VI to make the Atlantic African space a zone of peace, stability, and shared prosperity. During this meeting, chaired by Moroccos Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, participants also welcomed the launch of this important partnership which constitutes a framework for coordination and collaboration, and enables member countries to pool their efforts. They also expressed their firm commitment to bringing this initiative to fruition, to make the Atlantic an area of peace, stability and prosperity, and a framework for promoting blue economy, connectivity, and renewable energy. Speaking on this occasion, Bourita welcomed the significant progress achieved by the process, which has consolidated its institutional and programmatic foundations, and pointed out that this meeting marks an important step towards consolidating this partnership. The Moroccan official noted the strategic importance of the Atlantic space, home to 46% of Africas population, 55% of Africas GDP, and 57% of continental trade, making it an area of mobility and cross-fertilization, harboring enormous resources, both biological and non-biological. Bourita also highlighted Moroccos belief that only collective and collaborative action by the Atlantic African States can promote stability and shared prosperity in our region, adding that pooling efforts of these States enables us to meet the multiple challenges of the Atlantic African area, and take advantage of its enormous opportunities for cooperation. Bourita, who welcomed the meeting of AASP Justice Ministers held in Rabat last April, noted that this first sectoral meeting had given rise to the Forum of Justice Ministers, paving the way for a multi-sectoral Atlantic African partnership. The meeting in New York was attended by Foreign Ministers from Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. Photo: Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Mayor Eric Adams was charged Thursday morning with bribery, fraud, and the solicitation of illegal foreign campaign donations. Over the past decade, federal prosecutors allege that Adams accepted over $100,000 worth of free flights and hotel stays from Turkish officials and businessmen, who banked their influence over the Brooklyn politician for favors like when Adams allegedly leaned on the fire department to approve a new Turkish consulate despite glaring safety issues. Thanks to straw donations from various Turkish figures, Adams was also able to collect millions in matching funds that helped bankroll his successful campaign for mayor. Below are all the bribes Adams accepted, as alleged in the indictment. Flight upgrades worth tens of thousands of dollars In 2015, prosecutors claimed that Adams became friendly with a Turkish entrepreneur whose job it was to connect Turkish businesses to politicians, celebrities, and others whose influence may benefit the corporations. Adams, who was Brooklyn borough president at the time, received free business-class tickets to Turkey. Adams reported the trip and another free visit arranged by a Turkish official to the New York City Conflict of Interest Board. But Feds say he didnt disclose trips after that, which included: A 2016 visit to India on Turkish Airlines in which he and a woman identified as his domestic partner were given free upgrades worth $15,000. A summer 2017 trip to France, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and China in which Adams accepted business-class tickets worth more than $35,000 for him and his staff. An October 2017 trip to Nepal in which Adams accepted free business-class tickets worth over $16,000. A January 2018 flight to Hungary in which Adams and his domestic partner accepted free business-class upgrades worth more than $14,000. A November 2021 flight to Ghana in which Adams received two business-class tickets for $14,000. Free vacations and luxury hotel stays Adamss Turkish benefactors were generous enough to comp his hotel rooms and lavish excursions once he was in the country, including: A 2017 stay at the St. Regis hotel in Istanbul, a $7,000 value for which Adams paid less than $600. A 2019 stay at a luxury stay in the St. Regis hotel in Istanbul worth $3,000. (During this trip, Adams also solicited and accepted a car and driver, a boat tour in the Sea of Marmara, a high-end restaurant meal, and a Turkish bath at a seaside hotel, per the indictment.) Lots of flights to Turkey Adams and his partner, unidentified in the indictment, really loved Turkish Airlines, presumably in part thanks to all the free upgrades they received. In 2017, she texted him asking why he was flying from New York to Istanbul on the way to France. Transferring here. You know first stop is always ins.tanbul, he wrote back. While his partner was planning a potential trip to Easter Island, Adams repeatedly asked her whether the Turkish Airline could be used for their flights and asked her to call the airline to confirm that they did not have routes between New York and Chile, per the indictment. Adams had spent so much time in Turkey over the years that he began turning down free excursions. In his 2021 trip to Ghana, in a layover in Istanbul, he accepted a free airport driver and dinner, but declined a cruise of the Bosphorus Strait because he had done the boat tour a few titnes. False paper trails and bogus receipts Adams staffers also allegedly created fake paper trails and false invoices to try to cover his tracks, like on a planned June 2021 trip in which a Turkish Airlines manager tried to charge $50 for two business-class tickets to Istanbul worth $15,000. No, that wouldnt work, an Adams staffer wrote to the airline manager. How much should I charge? the manager wrote back. His every step is being watched right now, the staffer wrote. $1,000 or so. Let it be somewhat real. We dont want them to say he is flying for free. At the moment, the medias attention is on Eric. For the same trip, the Adams staffer asked where he could stay. When the airline manager suggested the Four Seasons, the Adams staffer wrote that it was too expensive. Why does he care? He is not going to pay, the airline staffer wrote. His name will not be on anything either. Super, the Adams staffer wrote back. The pair planned a trip costing an additional $8,500 though the whole itinerary, including the flight, was eventually scrapped. For his 2017 trip, Adams wrote in an email to his scheduler that he left $10,000 in their desk to pay for the flight in cash. But records from Turkish Airlines show that they never received a payment for the comped trip. Straw donations aiding a $10 million boost to the 2021 Adams campaign While not as salacious as the free flights and hotel stays, the donations from Turkish interests to Adamss 2021 mayoral campaign helped propel his campaign to become mayor in a pivotal way. Feds allege that Adams solicited and knowingly accepted straw donations from Turkish businesses. In 2018, the Turkish promoter identified in the indictment sent a text message to an Adams staffer: Fund Raising in Turkey is not legal, but I think I can raise money for your campaign off the record. The staffer replied that Adams wouldnt get involved in such games. They must cause a big stink later on but that they would ask anyways. The indictment states that Adams later directed the staffer to try and get $100,000 from the promoter into his campaign coffers. In 2020, two volunteers of Adamss campaign, who later became employees in his administration, asked a Turkish businessman to donate $10,000 to the campaign. When the man offered to write a $10,000 check, they advised him that individuals cannot donate more than $2,000 and advised him to disperse the money to his employees to then donate constituting an illegal straw-donor scheme. As explained in the indictment, these schemes had a compounding effect on Adamss campaign contributions: Adamss campaigns applied for matching funds based on known straw donations, fraudulently obtaining as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution. New York City has a matching funds program that matches small-dollar contributions from individual City residents with up to eight times their amount in public funds. Adamss campaigns applied for matching funds based on known straw donations, fraudulently obtaining as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution. ADAMS and those working at his direction falsely certified compliance with applicable campaign finance regulations despite Adamss repeated acceptance of straw donations, relying on the concealed nature of these illegal contributions to falsely portray his campaigns as law-abiding. As a result of those false certifications, ADAMSs 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds. Adamss attorney claims that he only received $26,000 in donations from Turkish interests for the 2021 election. The Adams campaign was still doing illegal schemes for his 2025 reelection Last September, the Feds allege that Adams and his staff concocted a scheme to raise money from Turkish nationals by billing a fundraiser as a $5,000-per-plate sustainability event. (On Adamss private calendar, the event was listed as a fundraiser for Eric Adams 2025.) Thousands of dollars raised at the event were then routed through straw donors to the campaign. There were plans for more bogus fundraisers that fall, but they were scrapped after the federal investigation into Adams was made public. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Eric Adams has become the citys first mayor to face federal charges, indicted over what federal prosecutors allege is a decadelong bribery scheme that empowered his rise to City Hall. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday. The news is a stunning blow to the first-term mayor who once proclaimed himself the future of the Democratic Party, capping a year of deepening legal and political peril for the citys second Black leader. The investigation by federal prosecutors in Manhattan has already exacted a heavy toll on his administration: In the past two weeks, Adams has lost his top legal adviser, his police commissioner, his schools chancellor, and his health commissioner. Earlier this month, investigators working for Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, targeted top aides, including two deputy mayors and the now former police commissioner, many of whom have close and personal relationships with the mayor. Adams, who maintains he is innocent, faces a torrent of calls for his resignation. Below are live updates on this developing story. This post has been updated. U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams Photo: Alex Kent/Getty Images Theres been smoke swirling around New York City mayor Eric Adams for months, and now hes in the fire. Weve never seen anything quite like this: a criminal charge against the former police captain and current mayor of the worlds most important city, brought by the Feds just a few blocks away, about to play out in a courtroom with unimaginably high stakes for the city itself and for the man at the center of it all. Lets dig into what we know, and what we dont. The charges: The indictment, which runs 57 pages, charges Adams with federal crimes including conspiracy, wire fraud, solicitation of foreign campaign contributions, and bribery. In essence, prosecutors allege that stretching back to 2015, Adams asked for and received two types of improper benefits from powerful Turkish government officials and nationals: (1) free or heavily discounted luxury travel, which, at times, Adams failed to truthfully disclose, and (2) illegal foreign campaign contributions, funneled to the Adams campaign through bogus straw donors. In return, Adams allegedly used his official power as Brooklyn borough president and later as mayor to do an important favor for his Turkish benefactors. In 2021, as construction was completed on a skyscraper known as Turkish House, Turkish officials wanted to get the building inspected and approved for opening by late September 2021, in time for a visit from the Turkish president. Adams leaned on FDNY officials, who expedited (and at times shortcut) the safety-inspection process, to the satisfaction of his Turkish benefactors. Even before the U.S. Attorney held a press conference to lay out the charges, Adams made two public statements, in which he and categorically denied any wrongdoing. He did not offer up any specific defense or counternarrative but, of course, he is presumed innocent and doesnt have to prove anything to anyone if (and when) this case goes to trial. I know what youre wondering: Just how strong is the prosecutions case? The answer, Im here to tell you, is we dont know yet (sorry). The indictment has its merits, to be sure. Reading between the lines, prosecutors apparently have flipped one or more campaign insiders who can detail the inner workings of the alleged scheme. It seems clear that Adams tried to cover up his receipt of more than $100,000 worth of free or discounted luxury travel. And the indictment quotes damaging text messages in which Adams appears to instruct his campaign staff to find a way to accept donations from Turkish nationals and leans on the FDNY to expedite the Turkish House inspection. But bribery and corruption cases are notoriously difficult for prosecutors. Defendants often claim as Adams surely will here that if anything illegal was happening, he was in the dark about it, and that he was just doing his job by making sure that constituent needs were met. Sometimes you can read an indictment and say Game over. This isnt one of those cases. Thats not to say the indictment is weak or problematic, but its no slam dunk. The prosecutors: This is a federal case, charged by the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, where I used to work. (Contrary to what you may have seen on social media, this case has nothing to do with Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg or New York State attorney general Letitia James.) The U.S. Attorney, Damian Williams, is just 44 years old which makes him the youngest SDNY U.S. Attorney in recent memory, possibly ever. Hes also the SDNYs first Black U.S. Attorney which could become relevant to the atmosphere as his office prosecutes New York Citys second-ever Black mayor. Williams does not fit the traditional mold of the SDNY U.S. Attorney. Hes no fire-breathing self-promoter (paging Rudy Giuliani), and hes not a natural draw for the media (like James Comey or Preet Bharara). Hes understated, independent, and meticulous. Williams started off his tenure with a low profile not a criticism, necessarily but has surged into the spotlight in the past year or so with front-page prosecutions of Sam Bankman-Fried, Senator Robert Menendez, Sean Diddy Combs, and now the sitting mayor. Williamss name will appear on the court filings, and hell be the public face of the prosecution, but he wont actually argue the case in court. That will fall to a team of assistant U.S. Attorneys, likely from the Public Corruption Unit. That group has a recent history of taking down powerful New York political leaders, including Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Republican State Senate Leader Dean Skelos. The SDNY has a long, proud history and fancies itself the best of the best (Ill plead guilty to fully buying into our own hype), but its not infallible either; both Silver and Skelos had to be retried (and were re-convicted) after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016 issued a decision in another case that gutted their original convictions. The defense team: Its standard practice in these pieces to quote former colleagues of the featured attorney vouching for his integrity and raving about his dazzling courtroom skills. Well, get ready for some standard fare from me about Adamss defense lawyers, Boyd Johnson and Brendan McGuire. Lets put it this way: As a prosecutor, I was intimidated by nobody on the defense side but these two are damn impressive, and Id be nervous stepping into the courtroom against them. Johnson was the deputy U.S. Attorney, the second-highest-ranking person in the office, and McGuire was chief of the (checking notes) Public Corruption Unit. The SDNY is famously elite (just ask us), but these two were among the absolute best to pass through the place during my eight-plus years there. They both know how to build a case as a prosecutor and, accordingly, how to disassemble one from the defense side. Adamss defense team also includes Alex Spiro, a leading defense lawyer to the rich and powerful. Spiro recently won a dismissal of the criminal case against Alec Baldwin, and his client roster (in civil and criminal cases) ranges from Jay-Z to Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. This isnt going to be a walkover for prosecutors by any means. What happens next: Adams will appear in federal court, likely within the next few business days. To illustrate how small a world it is down there: When I used to walk from the World Trade Center site to the SDNY, Id stroll right past the mayors office, which stands less than a quarter-mile from the courthouse. Itll be a surreal scene when Adams still the sitting mayor of the city makes his first appearance in court and sits at the defendants table. At his arraignment, Adams will be advised of the charges against him, and hell certainly enter a not guilty plea. Unlike Sean Combs, who recently was detained without bail, Adams is virtually certain to be released on bail, or possibly on no conditions whatsoever. From there, the case will pass through the unglamorous but all-important pretrial stages: discovery (the process by which prosecutors must produce their evidence to the defense) and motions (including, surely, challenges by Adams to various searches of his properties and to the indictment itself). The vast majority of federal cases more than 95 percent, in recent years result in guilty pleas, so, statistically, thats always the likeliest outcome. That said, Id peg the probability of a plea here far lower than that, perhaps below 50-50. Adams is famously self-assured, shall we say, and hes come out swinging, claiming defiantly that, in this case, I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target and a target I became. Its unclear who exactly Adams believes is targeting him, or why. But he vowed to fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit. Doesnt sound like hes angling for a plea, though things certainly can change quickly. If this case does go to trial, it likely wont happen soon. Typically, a case of this seriousness and complexity would take at least a year, and likely more than that, to get to trial. That said, if Adams remains in office as mayor, the case will take on more urgency and may move more quickly toward a resolution. The Feds, and especially the SDNY, are used to steamrolling their charged defendants. Usually, the charges are too powerful, the evidence is too overwhelming, and the resources available to the government too vast. But this one is going to be a pitched battle, and its a mistake to predict any particular outcome. Adams could beat the case and remain mayor, or he could wind up in a prison cell. All we know for sure is hes not going down without a fight. [ warning: graphic details of sexual assault ] When she regained consciousness, she was naked and had her hands tied behind her back with a plastic grocery bag. After she shouted for help, Sherman slammed her face down into a pool table. Combs then entered the room, held her down, and raped her vaginally and anally. When she screamed in pain and tried to escape, Combs smashed her head into the pool table. She lost consciousness again and when she came to, Sherman slapped her multiple times and forced her to perform oral sex. Yesterday Thalia Graves filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York under the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which created a two year window for victims to file for crimes where the statute of limitation has passed. Her lawsuit alleges that Sean Combs sexually assaulted her, recorded the assault, and distributed the video. She is the eleventh plaintiff to file a civil suit against Combs for sexual assault. Thalia said that she first met Combs in 1999 through her boyfriend, who was an executive at Bad Boy Records. She said that she attended events at Combs' house and visited her boyfriend at Combs' recording studio. In the summer of 2001 when she was 25 years old, Combs contacted her and asked to meet her in person to discuss her boyfriend's "performance issues" at work. Combs arrived at her house in Queens and picked her up in an SUV driven by his bodyguard Joseph Sherman. Combs offered her a glass of wine. She quickly became lightheaded, dizzy, and physically weak" after drinking a few sips. When they arrived at his Manhattan recording studio, she had a hard time walking and lost consciousness after she entered the building.When she woke up, she called a driver that her family had used regularly. The driver took her to a hospital and tried to convince her to get a rape kit, but she was still crying hysterically and could not get out of the car. She said she was also terrified of what Combs would do to her and her family if she reported the assault. When she told her boyfriend what happened, he told her not to report the assault to the police because it could negatively impact his career. She said that in the years since the assault, Combs and Sherman have contacted her multiple times and warned her to stay silent. At one point, she was going through a custody battle and they threatened that she would lose custody of her son if she revealed what had happened.A few days after Cassie Ventura filed her lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, Thalia's ex-boyfriend contacted her and told her that Combs and Sherman had recorded the assault, shown the video to other people, and sold the footage as pornography. Her ex-boyfriend also informed her that "Combs and Sherman had a pattern and practice of non-consensually recording women engaging in sexual acts and making those videos available to the public, including by selling tapes as pornography." Here for it. He was fucked over. Reply Thread Link Wait... the storyteller got in trouble for telling stories? Edited at 2024-09-26 02:06 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link about his baby being in contact with anghrax and a woman being racist to him and showing her picture live yeah. those were some doozies. Reply Parent Thread Link Only, that's not what happened. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I dont know him personally and am neutral on him professionally, so these just come off as non-problems and this type of public introspection rings so hollow and as just another performance. Its especially hard to empathize or take seriously after Marcellus Williams execution and whats been coming to light about Diddy if were talking about men in the spotlight this week. Like this is not the silly celeb story/profile that can temporarily mask the bad taste of this timeline were in at the moment. Reply Thread Link Wut Edited at 2024-09-26 10:51 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link God that New Yorker article being such a mess that it blew over the hostile workplace allegations was so disappointing. Reply Thread Link i came in here to say this basically i dont have a super strong opinion either way on the Truth In Stand-Up question and while i get thinking he crossed certain lines there to me its just not the kind of sin i feel the need to write someone off for permanently. so i agree with him that he does not need to be redeemed for blurring the lines in his performance and having different beliefs about what degree of fabrication is acceptable given the topic, his very fact-based other gig, etc. but the workplace issues seemed pretty bad!! Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, I'm irritated that by the racist and dishonest framing of the New Yorker article, but I'm also irritated by his poor stewardship of the show's work environment and how it was never properly addressed. I hope he's since become a better boss, especially to his poc and woc employees. Reply Parent Thread Link that's what i came here for like, wait what happened to the workplace issues? and how they were mainly happening to his female staff of color? Reply Parent Thread Link "One of those points of view is about what he calls 'beige guilt.' Brown people, he says in his new stand-up special, are more racist than white people." Bruh, keep it. Reply Thread Link Even if he had a point, people need to stop using racist and prejudiced interchangeably Reply Parent Thread Link It's astounding when people can't tell the difference. That's probably why they believe reverse racism is a thing. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I don't know if he's trying to obliquely reference anti-Blackness that exists in poc communities, but terming it as a kind of "guilt" isn't it. I have an issue with the term "__ guilt" because I feel it's often misused these days to absolve someone in a dominant group from making an effort to confront their ingrained prejudices towards people their society has wronged. idk maybe I'm overthinking it. Edited at 2024-09-26 04:11 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link also, as a person who was born and raised in north america from immigrant parents i would hope that he would be able to be more enlightened on the fact that many immigrants are trying to fit in so they adopt the prejudices of the 'ruling class' (and are more susceptible to racist rhetoric and stereotyping in an effort to "fit in") and make some kind of enlightened comment on that then just the standard, "minorities are more racist than white people" shit. Reply Parent Thread Link he was just in that stupid blake lively movie that was a box office hit so how badly was he hurt by this Reply Thread Link i mean materially im sure hes fine but if i were a professional comedian who had been up for hosting the daily show i would definitely see that as a huge step down lol Reply Parent Thread Link hacks taught me the daily show/late night gig is huge indeed lol Reply Parent Thread Link I saw his stand up.. 3 years ago? Oh God was it that long. It was really good so I'm hype to see him come back. Reply Thread Link Srry, can you explain the Ariana Debose thing? Reply Parent Thread Link haha they hafta keep explaining. idk how long its been maybe 6mo? but its some weird ontd glitch that puts that subject in their comments. it has now become a sign for others to realize, if you know what this means you are on ontd too much Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link About damn time! Cmon back bro!!! Reply Thread Link I like him, and thought he should have had TDS gig. Who was actually surprised that stand-up comedians tell jokes inspired by real life, rather than relay anecdotes with journalistic standards? Yes, he can deliver news with jokes, but that doesn't make him a reporter when he's booked for stand-up. Reply Thread Link I actually got to see this show while he was touring because one of my friends had a spare ticket. We had to lock up our phones & he was very upfront that he was workshopping material and it was definitely rocky. This was in February or March so I dont remember all the specifics that well but at the time my friend and I said we should watch the special when it comes out to see if we can spot any changes he ended up making. However I dont have Netflix and I dont think either my friend or I will remember the show well enough at this point to notice any differences! Reply Thread Link Did he riff on brown people being racist? I liked Patriot Act a lot, but idk, with the way white men consume comedy, you can't really open this door even a crack. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah that was definitely part of the show. Iirc the idea was that brown people are racist but only against other brown people. I cant remember most of the specific bits of it though unfortunately Reply Parent Thread Link I get comedians tell stories that might be farfetched or inspired by real life, but his creativity in those stories got some real life consequences? Like the girl he said her parents were racist got hate even though they weren't racist? His non-apology apology rubbed me the wrong way. Adding onto that, women writers on his show came out saying they were disregarded, mistreated, and discriminated again so like... idk. Let's not act like he was burned at the stake because half of these scandals were blown over. Either way, he sorta soured for me so I'll keep myself away from his shit. Reply Thread Link Ikr. He lied. And treated his staff crappily. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not sure why some ONTDers are running with him lying about the racism. In her own text messages she admitted her parents were and "had come a long way". White people slowly (or begrudgingly) accepting their child's partner of color is hardly a novel concept. I think the major flaw of the New Yorker article remains that the author was more sympathetic to the white people she believed were misrepresented by Hasan (including the FBI surveillant) than any of the staff of color she could have been aiding instead. Reply Parent Thread Link the thing that he's saying about beige guilt and "fighting the problem while being the problem" is interesting considering the claims writers made on his show about it being a hostile workplace, because of him, to South Asian women. i can't believe that new yorker article only came out a year ago though. Reply Thread Link Idk if ONTD watched The Patriot Act but I did (loved it at the time), and framing his stories as stand-up is wildly misleading imo. While his stories would always have humorous moments, they were objectively serious and the audience was expected to take them at face-value as serious because he tied them into the show's topic. The outrage was incredibly disproportionate and I don't think he should've lost job opportunities over it, but people were rightfully pissed off. He absolutely deserves another chance. He's insanely talented and charismatic. But I think it would be unfair to sweep his shit under the rug tbh Reply Thread Link yeah, saying you had to take your child to the ER because you thought you got sent anthrax is not necessarily the same thing as making up parts of a conversation to have a good punchline. iirc he also kept up that lie off-screen with his staff, although admittedly i don't remember what his response about that claim was after the new yorker article came out, but i know that regardless, it wasn't a true story. Reply Parent Thread Link Your comments + the others pointing out the mistreatment of his staff are making me lean toward just writing him off. I havent kept up with him like that but if he hasn't apologized to his staff and made things right with them after all the alleged shit by now then I don't see any need to support him moving forward Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yeah i think everyone understands comedians make hyperbolic statements and situations in their stand up jokes, but his hyperbole riffing off of his racists threats of violence toward his family and baby going to ER would be akin to if he made up a story of his child had cancer in his standups. that stuff is usually a no no to lie about?? so unsurprised ppl would be kinda pissed that like nah none of that is true Reply Parent Thread Link well, the specific stories that the new yorker highlighted (eg the anthrax story, the homecoming date with racist parents) *were* in his stand-up specials. that was one of the questions the story raised, which was, did people have a different expectation about accuracy in stand up if it was coming from a guy who also did serious john oliver esque infotainment that presented itself as based in fact, and if so, was that reasonable. (and iirc one of his defenses or at least something he sought to clarify was that while he embellished/altered/made things up for his stand up specials, he never did so on the patriot act - which i also liked a lot at the time fwiw.) all that said i do think everyone knows stand ups lie is a little disingenuous even when considering his specials, which dont really have the tone of a typical stand-up routine even though theyre quite funny. like hes definitely mining those moments not just for humor but for pathos its really more like performed memoir than stand-up. which is honestly part of what i loved about them but does i think shift them into a different territory where its similar to like well, we all know memoirists are probably making up some details they dont 100% remember, but everyone did get mad at james frey Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I always get a sinking feeling when I see her name trending, so I was glad to see it was for something positive this time, even just an award. It's the least of what she deserves after everything she's been through and how she continues to put herself at risk to document the genocide. I hope it opens more eyes and encourages more people to mobilize in whatever ways they can.Speaking of. The Municipality of Gaza has extended their fundraiser for about another two weeks in light of a surge of support in the last couple of days and all proceeds from Workshops 4 Gaza 's online bookstore are currently going to benefit it. To help people stay connected during internet blackouts and in spite of shoddy connections, you can donate an eSim . Different eSims better service different areas and Nomad, Simly, and Truely are the most needed currently. Care for Gaza and Direct Aid for Gaza are two grassroots operations distributing food and medical aid as well as providing entertainment and enrichment for displaced children in Gaza. If you'd like to help people more directly, this spreadsheet of fundraising campaigns by and for Gazans is still being updated and if it's too overwhelming trying to pick from a list, you can see a new campaign every time you refresh this page . Wear the Peace is donating all profits from their Palestine collections to Pious Projects; they recently dropped some new pieces and many pieces site-wide are currently on last chance clearance. You can click these buttons daily to support Palestine and other worthy causes at no cost to you. Of course and unfortunately, Palestine isn't the only country in crisis right now; you can find more fundraisers and resources for Sudan, Congo and more on this spreadsheet This week, the International Energy Agency said that the COP28 targets for expanding wind and solar capacity were within reach. Yet there was a but. That had to do with the fast expansion and upgrade of grids and the equally fast buildout of energy storage capacity. That but can doom the whole transitionif its not already doomed. Take EVs, for example. The latest sales data shows that only China recorded a substantial increase in sales, with those jumping by as much as 42%, driving a global 20% increasewhile sales of electric cars in Europe dropped by more than Chinese sales rose, at 44%. EV sales in North America increased modestly and nowhere near enough for what transition architects might see as a desirable level of transport electrification. Or how about solar: in the United States, solar capacity additions are breaking record after record, yet companies are starting to struggle to survive, and some are folding. The biggest sector player to do that was SunPower, which filed for bankruptcy last month. Wind power is not doing so well, either, despite the generous government support is receives in both Europe and North America. Things took a bleaker turn after a turbine blade broke off, spilled debris in the ocean, and drifted ashore, raising questions about the much-touted green credentials of wind energy and resulting in the shutdown of the whole installation while the incident is investigated. Then there is the issue of negative electricity prices caused by the surge in wind and solar capacity. Europe has been on a building spree in wind and solar energy, which has had one unforeseen impact on prices. During peak output hours, when wind and/or solar generation is abundant, it increasingly often exceeds demand, plunging wholesale market prices below zero. This year has seen a record amount of hours with negative prices, essentially meaning that generators have to pay grid operators to take their electricity. Related: Wells Fargo: Oil Prices To Stay Depressed Through 2025 on Global Oversupply The above is not exactly a profitable business strategy. In fact, it is making life rather challenging for generatorsand for their investors who keep expecting returns that, based on the above developments, are unlikely to ever materialize. Unless, of course, governments step in to effectively guarantee these businesses profits by instituting higher prices, even as they keep advertising wind and solar as the cheaper option to gas and coal. Consumers, understandably, are beginning to have doubts, as the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year. In a story looking at the latest transition policies in Europe, the WSJ noted how governments had lured their voters into believing the transition will make energy cheaper, only to later slap them with the bill of that transition when they ran out of subsidy money. That bill appears to be pretty high, with various high-profile political figures repeatedly calling for more to be invested in it. All this is causing an understandable backlash. It is also casting a shadow over the future of said transition. Politicians are finding different ways to tackle the situation. In Germany, where the government axed EV subsidies last year only to see a major sales slump this year, they are bringing a form of subsidy back: for carmakers. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has had to admit that it would get worse before it gets better, speaking of the cost of living crisis many Brits are struggling with. The Starmer government is unwavering in its green ambitions, for now. This may change when people start complaining about ever-growing energy costs. In the U.S., meanwhile, transition industries are on edge ahead of elections that might end up won by the candidate who does not have a great love of subsidized wind and solar. Perhaps thats why President Bidens climate chief, John Podesta, earlier this month praised the growth in oil and gas production in the country over the past four years. A man with a career positioned against oil and gas touted that growth as an economic success, likely as a way of positioning the Democratic candidate as friendly to an industry she had prosecuted in the past in her role as Californias AG. In addition to rising transition costs, ending subsidy money, and a growing discontent from consumers who were promised cheaper energy and instead got doubling bills, there is the issue of growing energy demand. That growing demand comes mostly from the Big Tech industry, which is on a quest to make the most of artificial intelligence. That quest needs electricitya lot of it. Big Tech has had to admit that this electricity wont come from wind and solar. Because they need it around the clock. So, now analysts are expecting a surge in gas demand while nuclear returns to the low-emission energy debate as a reliable source of power. It seems that no matter what amount of words the IEA spends on convincing its audience that the transition is right around the corner as long as we double down on pushing EVs, heat pumps, and more solar, ultimately its the market that has the last word. And for now, that word is a No. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Germany, the European Union's biggest economy, is also the most vocal advocate of a transition away from oil and gas. Despite this policy, Germany is one of the biggest importers of liquefied natural gas. Now, it also wants to significantly boost its crude oil importsfrom Kazakhstan. Media reported this week that the German government had asked its Kazakh counterparts to more than double the flow of crude oil in Germany's direction from 1.2 million tons to 2.5 million tons, equal to some 18.32 million barrels. And that's for this year alone. "We plan to export 1.2 million tons to Germany by the end of the year, and there is a request from their side to increase this to 2.5 million tons in total," Kazakhstan's energy minister, Almasadam Satkaliev, told local news agency Kazinform. Russia's Interfax noted in its report on the news that the minister had not said whether Kazakhstan would be able to fulfill the German request, with Satkaliev only saying Kazakhstan was going to ship another 1.5 million tons of oil to Europe via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that terminates in Turkey. The request, however, raises a questionand that question has to do with the energy transition that the German government is so fervently supporting, funding, and doubling down on. What necessitates the increase of crude oil supply if Germany is decarbonizing as fast as advocates claim it is? Related: Oil Plunges Over 2% on Rumor Saudis Ready To Increase Output Solar generation capacity in Germany accounts for 38% of the country's energy mix. That's more than the 28% of coal, oil, and gas capacity combined, according to GlobalData. Indeed, Germany is decarbonizing. It is also electrifying. EV sales in Germany rose 11% last year and represented 18.4% of the overall new car market. Alas, this year has seen a reversal of the electrification trend after the German government axed EV purchase subsidies in December last year. Yet even with the current slump, the already existing EVs on German roads should have affected oil demand in a negative, rather than positive, direction. After all, UBS estimated earlier this year that the electrification of transport has eliminated 1 million bpd in global oil demand, predicting that the trend would continue. The Swiss bank also predicted that by 2025, transport sector electrification will displace 2.5 million barrels daily in oil demand. Instead, Germany, this biggest European EV market is asking Kazakhstan for more oil. This is interesting because oil consumption in Germany has been on the decline. In 2012, the country consumed some 2.28 million barrels of crude daily. By 2023, this had declined to 1.95 million bpd. Granted, a decline of 330,000 bpd over 11 years may not be cause for major celebration, but a decline it is, nevertheless. Yet Reuters reported in April 2023 that Germany's crude oil imports had risen in 2022 from the previous pandemic-lockdown-ridden year as its economy recovered. Economic recovery, then, was directly linked to crude oil consumption a link highlighted by the fact that Germany imported the biggest chunk of its oil from Russia despite the barrage of sanctions the EU leveled against Moscow that year. So, the news that Germany has requested more Kazakh oil may, therefore, be seen as an acknowledgment that the energy transition is all very well except when you need cheap and reliable energy for industrial purposes. Germany's economy shrank by 0.3% last year. Businesses have blamed high energy prices amid the wind and solar buildup. The government has acknowledged energy prices are high and has offered as a solution more wind and solar. Germany's economy will likely shrink again this year as well, by 0.1%, per forecasts. This means that the EU's largest and previously strongest economy is now its weakest. It is definitely time to ramp up oil imports. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Despite recent rumors, sources within OPEC+ have confirmed there's no specific price target for crude oil, including the oft-discussed $100 per barrel. This comes in response to speculation that Saudi Arabia, a key player in the group, may allow lower prices to reclaim market share by boosting production. Anonymous OPEC+ members who spoke to Argus today quickly dismissed these claims, insisting that their strategy is driven by market fundamentals, such as the five-year average of global crude inventories, rather than a set price. A Financial Times report suggesting Saudi Arabia is ready to abandon its unofficial $100 oil price target was met with firm denials from anonymous OPEC+ insiders. They clarified that the $100 figure refers to estimates of Saudi Arabia's breakeven price to cover its spending, not a price target for global crude. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had placed Saudi's breakeven oil price at $96.20 for 2024, highlighting that this figure is indicative but not definitive of the Kingdom's financial strategy. OPEC+ has remained focused on balancing the market through voluntary production cuts. Originally, the group planned to start unwinding these cuts in October, but concerns about global economic weakness, particularly in China, led to a two-month delay. Despite pressure on countries like Iraq and Kazakhstan to meet their output targets, OPEC+ insists its decision-making will continue to be guided by economic realities rather than chasing short-term gains in market share. As the global oil market faces uncertainty, all eyes are on whether OPEC+ will proceed with unwinding cuts in December. While some observers speculate about a shift in strategy, sources maintain that any decision will be based on the latest market data, ensuring that discipline remains central to the group's approach. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Crude oil prices ticked slightly higher earlier today but soon reversed course as the United States, the European Union and several Arab nations called for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. In more bearish news, the Financial Times reported Saudi Arabia was ready to drop its oil price target of $100 per barrel and boost production to regain market share, according to unnamed sources. As regards the prospect of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, This is an important breakthrough on the Lebanon side, given all that has gone on there, an unnamed U.S. official told media, as quoted by the Times of Israel. Reuters reported that the group, also including France, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, had called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, to last for 21 days, and had also urged warring parties to accept a ceasefire for Gaza. Israels United Nations ambassador, Danny Danon, said the country does not oppose a ceasefire and would prefer a diplomatic solution to the situation, pointing the finger at Iran as the nexus of violence in the region, per Reuters, saying it had to be eliminated as a threat if peace in the Middle East was to be restored. The ceasefire negotiations may well weigh on oil prices, in addition to continued demand pessimism despite the U.S. Energy Information Administration reporting a draw in crude oil inventories for the week to September 20. A further downward pressure on oil prices came from Libya, where oil flows to export terminals are returning. The rival governments of the country have agreed on a procedure for the appointment of a new governor to the countrys central bank, earlier disagreement on which prompted the shutdown of exports and oil production. Any revival in Libyan production would return to a market that is already beset by concerns of weak demand in the U.S. and China, ANZ analysts said, as quoted by Reuters. Meanwhile, the latest edition of the Dallas Fed Energy Survey suggested some bullish developments may be on the horizon as activity in the sector edged lower during the third quarter amid uncertainty about the future ahead of the November elections. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Russia expects global oil demand to grow by at least 5% from current levels to 2050, with demand growth of up to 7 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030, Russias First Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin said on Thursday. Russia is ready to provide additional crude volumes when needed, Sorokin said on the sidelines of an energy forum in Russia. By 2030, global oil consumption is set to rise by between 5 million bpd and 7 million bpd, or 4.5% to 5.5% higher compared to todays demand, according to the Russian official. Russia aims to pump 540 million metric tons of oil, or 10.84 million bpd, in 2030, according to its baseline scenario, Sorokin said today. This, of course, would depend on Moscows obligations in the OPEC+ production deal, he added. Last year, Russias oil production stood at a total of 531 million tons, or 10.66 million bpd. That 540 million tons is a base scenario with a disclaimer, considering our cooperation with our OPEC+ partners and taking into consideration market needs, Sorokin said at the Russian Energy Week forum. We have no objective to flood the market if it does not require this. But [it also works] the other way, to give the market additional resources if this is required, the official added. Russias demand growth estimate is very close to that of its OPEC partners in the OPEC+ deal. In the new 2024 World Oil Outlook (WOO) published earlier this week, OPEC expects global oil demand to have grown from around 103 million bpd now to over 120 million bpd by 2050. In the long term, global oil demand is expected to increase by almost 18 million bpd, rising from 102.2 million bpd in 2023 to 120.1 million bpd in 2050, OPEC said in its outlook. The cartel also noted in the foreword to the report, What the Outlook underscores is that the fantasy of phasing out oil and gas bears no relation to fact. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Back in February, leading energy information company, Energy Intelligence, reported that interest in long-term LNG projects remains robust despite the Biden administration pausing new licenses for LNG export projects still in the planning pipeline. The Department of Energy justified the pause by highlighting lingering fears that shipping large volumes of U.S. gas overseas could erode Americas competitive advantage of cheap energy critical for energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking and petrochemicals and also seeks to address concerns by environmental activists who have argued that the entire LNG manufacturing, delivery and consumption cycle has a much higher carbon footprint than currently touted. Well, we are in the final stretch of the current year, and fresh data coming in proves that Energy Intelligence was right on the money. According to a recent LNG report Wood Mackenzie, 58 million tons per year (tpy) of U.S. LNG sales purchase agreements (SPAs), capacity agreements, and heads of agreements (HOAs) were signed in the first nine months of 2024 compared with 94 million tpy of new LNG SPAs and HOAs agreed upon in the whole of 2023. Thats not too shabby given the circumstances that prevailed for much of that period. Even better, LNG contracting is now free to proceed unhindered after a U.S. federal judge struck down Bidens pause. Back in July, U.S. District Judge James Cain in Lake Charles, Louisiana, sided with 16 Republican-led states in holding that the U.S. Department of Energy's freeze on approvals of LNG exports was "completely without reason or logic."Cain said these states were likely to succeed in showing the pause contravened the Natural Gas Act of 1938. Related: Wells Fargo: Oil Prices To Stay Depressed Through 2025 on Global Oversupply There were several notable trends in that WoodMac report. First off, contracting by traditional buyers (end users) for use in their home markets clocked in at 38 million tpy of long-term deals, just 12 million tpy shy of last years record. Second, big deals are dominating again, with 60% of the volumes signed this year having a deal size greater than 2 million tpy. Meanwhile, dealmaking continued in the U.S. despite the pause, although total volumes contracted from U.S. projects declined. A total of 18.9 million tpy (including the 5 million tpy Aramco deal) new U.S. LNG SPAs and HOAs were inked in the first eight months of 2024, with activity focused more on projects less affected by the hiatus. Notable deals include Rio Grande LNG Train 4 with ADNOC for 1.9 million tpy and Aramco for 1.2 million tpy. Texas LNG has also signed tolling agreements, SPAs, and HOAs for 3 million tpy with EQTCorp. (NYSE:EQT) and other counterparties as the company tries to achieve the commercial thresholds required to raise debt financing for its project. In April 2024, Cedar LNG signed the second 20-year LNG capacity deal for 1.5 million tpy with Pembina Pipeline Corp.(NYSE:PBA) following a similar deal with ARC Resources (OTCPK:AETUF) signed in 2023. Woodfibre LNG signed a third and final deal with BP Plc (NYSE:BP) that left it fully booked, while Texas-based Mexico Pacific completed marketing for its first three trains. Overall, Wood Mackenzie expects contracting activity to remain high, a bullish prediction for U.S. LNG sector considering that additional North American LNG contracting is required for projects to move forward. Middle East Captures LNG Market Share Another major developing trend is that Middle East LNG sellers are doing brisk business, taking advantage of the Biden pause to steal market share from their U.S. rivals. QatarEnergy signed a 20-year LNG deal with Indias Petronet. The deal ensures the supply of 7.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India. Indian buyers are gradually returning to the long-term market thanks to low gas prices . WoodMac reported that some sellers have been offering oil linked slopes in the low 12% DES range, helping lure price-sensitive buyers. LNG contract prices are typically expressed as a slope, or percentage, of Brent prices. For example, a 12% slope of the current front-month Brent price of $73.23 a barrel would translate to LNG price of roughly $8.79 per mmBtu, though the contracts may not be that straightforward on pricing. Linking LNG supply contracts to the price of oil is a practice dating back to the 1970s. Several other Middle Eastern suppliers have been active. Oman LNG converted its binding arrangements with Shell Plc (NYSE:SHEL), Jera, SEFE, and BOTAS signed over the past two years to SPAs. ADNOC announced 15-year HOAs for LNG supplies with European and Asian buyers totalling 3.4 million tpy from its Ruwais projects alongside HOAs for a total of 1.6 million tpy with portfolio players. These agreements gave ADNOC the confidence to make a FID (Final Investment Decision) for the project in June 2024. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chevron paid three times more in taxes in three African countries than it did at home, a Dodd-Frank Act disclosure has revealed. The supermajor paid some $6.25 billion in taxes and production sharing to Nigeria, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea last year, Bloomberg reported, citing the disclosure. At home, Chevrons tax bill stood at $1.99 billion. The biggest single foreign beneficiary of Chevron tax money, however, was Australias revenue service thanks to the Wheatstone and Gorgon liquefied natural gas projects. The companys tax bill in Australia last year stood at $3.98 billion. Civil society is really excited to see disclosure after 15 years of intense fighting and lobbying by the US oil and gas industry, Aubrey Menard, senior policy advisor for natural resource justice at Oxfam America, told Bloomberg. The disclosures will allow us to see what were actually receiving in exchange of our natural resources, whether its a fair deal or if were subsidizing our own extinction, Menard also said. The Dodd-Frank Act, signed into law in 2010, sought to curb market risk and prop up consumer protection defenses in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Transparency was another foundational principle of the Dodd-Frank legislation, and it was under this transparency principle that large corporations were obliged to disclose their tax payments in foreign jurisdictions. U.S. commodity majors lobbied the Securities and Exchange Commission against the disclosures but unsuccessfully. Chevron complies with all legal and contractual requirements in jurisdictions where the company operates, company spokesman Bill Turenne told Bloomberg. Chevron supports well-designed financial disclosure requirements and will continue to work with relevant government agencies toward transparency and accountability between governments and the oil and gas industry. Chevrons tax bill is set to swell after it completes the takeover of Hess Corp, which is Exxons partner in Guyanas oil sector. The deal just got the green light from the Federal Trade Commission. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Guangdong Energy Group of China is set to launch next week commercial operations at a new LNG import terminal, which U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil can use under a long-term agreement, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing industry sources. The LNG receiving terminal in Huizhou in the province of Guangdong, southern China, has the capacity to handle 4 million metric tons of LNG per year and cost $1 billion to complete. The LNG import site has already received its first LNG cargo. A shipment from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrived in August in a trial operation, according to Reuterss sources. ExxonMobil has been exploring opportunities to deliver LNG to China to advance the Chinese energy transition. In September 2018, ExxonMobil and Guangdong Provincial People's Government signed a strategic cooperation agreement for a proposed world-scale chemical complex and gas supply to the proposed Huizhou LNG terminal in southern China. In October 2018, ExxonMobil signed a heads of agreement to supply Zhejiang Provincial Energy Group with 1 million metric tons per year of LNG for 20 years, starting in the early 2020s. In December 2023, Exxon agreed to use the new terminal to handle 1.8 million tons of the LNG per year under a 20-year agreement with Guangdong Energy, one of the sources with direct knowledge of the plans told Reuters. Guangdong Energy, a utility that imports large volumes of gas, is backed by the provincial government. A representative for ExxonMobil China confirmed to Reuters there is an agreement between the U.S. supermajor and the company for access to the LNG import terminal. ExxonMobil, through its affiliates and LNG joint ventures, produces 23 metric tons per year of LNG globally. With LNG suppliers the U.S. supermajor currently delivers the super-chilled fuel to 30 countries. Exxon considers its LNG operations advantaged assets with priority for development and growth, together with oil and gas production in the Permian, Guyana, and Brazil. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil has proposed an investment of $10 billion in Nigerias deepwater oil resource development, Stanley Nkwocha, spokesman and senior special assistant to the Nigerian President, said in a statement on Thursday. Nigerias Vice President Kashim Shettima welcomed ExxonMobil's proposed $10 billion investment in Nigeria's deep-water oil operations, describing it as a clear testament to the administration's economic reforms and investment-friendly policies, says the statement. Shettima on Wednesday held a high-level meeting with ExxonMobil executives on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Nigerian presidency said. Oil theft and pipeline vandalism have long plagued Nigerias upstream oil and gas industry, often resulting in force majeure at the key crude oil export terminals. International majors have shrunk their exposure to Nigerias energy sector in recent years, with transparency in the licensing rounds one of the reasons for Big Oil to divest from their Nigerian assets, on top of oil theft and frequent pipeline damages. ExxonMobil intends to sell its shallow water business in Nigeria to Seplat, the biggest Nigerian energy company by market value, in a $1.3 billion deal, which has yet to be approved by the regulator. Now ExxonMobils new strategy in Nigeria will focus on the Owo project, a substantial subsea tie-back that could represent a $10 billion investment, the presidential spokesman said today. Were working closely with the Presidents office and the Special Adviser to the President to secure favorable fiscal arrangements that will make this significant investment possible, said Shane Harris, chairman and managing director of ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria, as quoted by the press release from the presidency. Our commitment to Nigeria remains unwavering. As we celebrate 70 years of oil production and 8 billion barrels produced, we're not retreating but refocusing our investments on deep-water opportunities, Harris was further quoted as saying. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A consortium of companies drilling for oil and gas in southeastern Pakistan has announced a sizeable discovery that would de-risk other prospects in the area, one member of the consortium told Pakistani media. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited made the announcement in a filing to Pakistans stock exchange, saying that the Akhiro-1 well was successfully tested at a rate of some 10 million standard cu ft of gas daily. OGDCL has a 20% working interest in the Sindh project, alongside operator United Energy Pakistan Limited, with 75%, Government Holding Private Limited with 2.5%, and Sindh Energy Holding Limited, also with 2.5%. Local news publication Business Recorder noted in its report on the news that the announcement had come just days after Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, the biggest exploration player in the country, had signed a preliminary deal with a subsidiary of Chinas CNPC to explore Pakistans tight gas and shale gas resources. Pakistan has abundant oil and gas resources but developing them will take a while and will require significant investments that few international oil and gas majors appear ready to commit at this point. If this is a gas reserve, it can replace LNG imports and if these are oil reserves, we can substitute imported oil, a former member of Pakistans oil and gas industry regulator told local media following the release of results from a three-year survey of Pakistans oil and gas reserves. Developing these reserves, however, would require investments of some $5 billion, according to Muhammad Arif, and take four to five years to begin production. Even so, it may be worth to somehow find and motivate investors given Pakistans current energy import dependency. The country imports almost 30% of the gas and 85% of the oil it consumes. These cost the state budget $17.5 billion last year and are set to swell to $31 billion in seven years as demand grows. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Brazil's state-controlled oil giant, Petrobras, is exploring new opportunities by seeking stakes in African oil blocks from majors like ExxonMobil, Shell, TotalEnergies, and Equinor. The move reflects Petrobras' strategy to expand beyond its traditional deep-water fields in Brazil, particularly as domestic exploration has slowed. The company is targeting ten potential projects in African countries such as Namibia, South Africa, and Angola. One key opportunity is a 40% stake in Galp Energia's Mopane oil and gas field in Namibia, a region with promising offshore potential. Petrobras has already acquired minority stakes in three blocks from Shell in Sao Tome and Principe. This strategic shift is partly driven by geological similarities between Africa and Brazil. The two continents were once connected, leading to comparable oil-rich basins on both sides of the Atlantic. Namibia, in particular, is seen as a potential future oil powerhouse akin to the massive discoveries made in Guyana. In addition to Africa, Petrobras is eyeing Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale region for natural gas opportunities. Talks with companies like YPF and Tecpetrol are underway as Petrobras seeks to secure gas supplies and support local industries. With $11 billion allocated for acquisitions as part of its $102 billion five-year plan, Petrobras is well-positioned to pursue these new ventures. However, the company has ruled out returning to Venezuela due to environmental concerns in areas like Lake Maracaibo. Looking ahead, a key focus for Petrobras remains obtaining permits to explore the Foz do Amazonas basin in Brazil's Equatorial Margin, where they hope to mirror Exxon's successful discoveries in Guyana. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Russia could lift its ban on gasoline exports if a fuel surplus emerges on the domestic market, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on the sidelines of an energy forum in Russia on Thursday. In the middle of August, the Russian government said that Moscow is extending its ban on gasoline exports from October to the end of December 2024, as it seeks to keep domestic supply stable amid seasonal demand and scheduled repairs at refineries. The key priority of the government now is to meet domestic gasoline demand, Novak said today on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week forum, as carried by local news agency Interfax. Exports are always permitted if there is a surplus of the product on the domestic market. For example, we do not have a ban on exporting diesel fuel, because there is a surplus, and it is sold on both the domestic market and for export, Novak was quoted as saying. Exports are now banned for gasoline because Russia aims to ensure the security of gasoline supply on the domestic market, Russias top oil official added. Currently, the government is not concerned about the domestic supply situation as there are sufficient petroleum products on the exchange and stable prices at gas stations, Novak said. In recent months, Russia has seen higher-than-expected maintenance and repairs at its refineries after Ukraine stepped up its drone attacks early this year on the Russian refining capacity. In addition to unplanned repairs to fix damages from the drones, some refineries have been undergoing planned maintenance. This dragged down Russias fuel output and exports earlier this year. Yet, Russian petroleum product exports jumped by 10% in the first half of September compared to August as diesel and fuel oil shipments recovered from last months multi-month lows, data from analytics firm Vortexa compiled by Bloomberg showed last week. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Lauren Koop Daughtrey had been dealing with the pain and fatigue of lupus even before she was officially diagnosed with the autoimmune condition. I was just sleeping all the time, she said of that time before her senior year of high school, and the joint pain was at a point that I would have to roll out of bed. I was almost crawling. A bad flare put her in the hospital for several days with inflammation around her heart and fluid around her lungs. I realized the severity of the disease, and that was pretty disheartening, said Koop Daughtrey, now 28 and living in Omaha. She tried a lot of different treatments over the years. She also graduated from college, married and had twins, now 17 months old. But the disease had begun attacking her kidneys despite intensive treatments. Some patients in that situation end up on dialysis and require kidney transplants, said Dr. Jennifer Medlin, a rheumatologist with Nebraska Medicine. So when Medlin mentioned a newer type of therapy, Koop Daughtrey was excited. In April, she became the first lupus patient to receive CAR-T, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, as part of a clinical trial at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The trial also involves another twist: While CAR-T therapies used in cancers and tested in autoimmune diseases typically have been derived from patients own cells, researchers believe hers was the first treatment for an autoimmune disease to come from a donor source, known as an off-the-shelf therapy. I feel incredibly lucky Nearly six months later, Koop Daughtrey said the pain she had expected to live her life with is gone. Its wild, she said. I can believe it since Im in my body, but its amazing. The past summer, in fact, proved a real test of the therapy, she said. Her husband was deployed with the military for a time, leaving her to care for their twins, including lugging the solidly built toddlers up and down the stairs in their home several times a day. Shes experienced some back pain, but its not lupus pain. I think Im experiencing normal pain, Koop Daughtrey said. Its amazing. I feel incredibly lucky. Dr. Matthew Lunning, medical director of the gene and cellular therapy program at Nebraska Medicine, said doctors at the medical center have used CAR-T to treat hundreds of lymphoma and leukemia patients since the late 2010s. Patients T cells, a type of immune cell, are removed from their bodies and genetically engineered to recognize and attack cancerous B cells. B cells are another type of immune cell that makes antibodies and fights infections. The therapy has proved powerful tool against lymphomas and acute leukemias, he said. But more recently, researchers have been testing the therapy on lupus and other autoimmune diseases, in which an overactive immune system attacks patients own bodies. The hope is that the therapy, by destroying certain B cells, will reset the immune system and calm its overactive response. We think that, in the right situation, perhaps the risk and benefit is there that it may work in conditions like lupus, Lunning said. Medlin said researchers at the University of Minnesota recently treated a second patient in the multi-site trial, which is being conducted by a biopharmaceutical firm. Lauren was brave enough to be the first, she said. An off-the-shelf therapy, Medlin said, could speed the treatment process and make it more accessible to patients. Creating therapies from patients own cells is time-consuming and not as accessible to patients in areas where the expertise needed to administer them isnt readily available. It may be more available to patients in the future if we find its just as effective and safe, said Medlin, the principal investigator for the study at UNMC. Thats why these studies are important. Therapy still early in early stages, but theres hope Lunning said access remains the biggest barrier to the use of CAR-T cells not only in the United States but also around the world. He recently traveled to Singapore, where he taught health care professionals from southeast Asia how to use the therapy and manage lymphoma patients who receive it. Medlin said a successful trial by German scientists that resulted in medication-free remission for five hard-to-treat lupus patients started the ball rolling for using CAR-T in patients with autoimmune diseases. Now there are several trials in such conditions involving both self-derived, or autologous, cells and off-the-shelf, or allogeneic, therapies, including the one the Nebraska team is involved in. However, she noted that CAR-T trials for lupus and other autoimmune conditions still are in very early phases. Lupus itself is fairly rare, affecting an estimated .05% of the population. But it affects predominantly young women and children and can cause significant impairment and quality of life issues. But as with any CAR-T therapy, patients must be monitored carefully for potential side effects. Koop Daughtrey, who is originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, said she felt like she had tried everything else. Treatments didnt put her into remission like they did others. She had heard about CAR-T several years ago. After Medlin mentioned the trial to her, she decided to go ahead. The hardest part was eliminating or reducing doses of her medications before the trying the new therapy, she said. That was a rude awakening to the severity of her disease. That was a time for me to be like, Oh, this stuff was actually really working, she said. She underwent a variety of tests and received chemotherapy. Then she was admitted to the hospital and injected with 360 million CAR-T cells. She was monitored for five days, but she said she felt fine. She went home to wait to see what the cells would do. Since receiving the therapy, she has been able to do more and limit her activities less. She said she also feels good about the possibility that an off-the-shelf treatment could make the therapy more accessible to others in the future. While cautioning that the trial is just a start, Lunning said he is feeling the same sense of nervousness and hope he experienced when administering the first CAR-T treatments in clinical trials for lymphoma not quite a decade ago. I hope that it is the continuation of better therapies for patients who ... have a lifelong condition thats quality-of-life altering, he said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of September 2024 DAKOTA CITY, Neb. The 12 jurors deciding Jason Jones slaying case heard from 38 witnesses and saw more than 1,000 exhibits and pieces of evidence the previous nine days. After taking in all that evidence, its no surprise their deliberations stretched into Wednesday evening as they considered the 10 charges filed against Jones in connection with a quadruple homicide in Laurel, Nebraska. The jury will return Thursday morning to continue deliberations. Jones, 44, faces 10 charges: four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson for the Aug. 4, 2022, shooting deaths of Michele Ebeling, 53, in her home and Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their home, and setting both houses on fire. If Jones is found guilty of first-degree, the state will seek the death penalty. Throughout the trial, moved to Dakota County from Cedar County after a judge determined Jones was unlikely to receive a fair trial there, jurors heard and saw details from the crime scenes, the autopsy table and crime labs. The prosecution argued during closing arguments that all the evidence overwhelmingly showed Jones was guilty as charged. Everything leads to Jason Jones at both of those houses, Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Sandra Allen said. His DNAs on everything. Its all over the place. The defense did not deny that Jones killed the Twifords but said hed had a mental breakdown and was not capable of premeditation, an element necessary for a first-degree murder conviction. Jones instead should be found guilty of second-degree murder, defense attorney Matthew McDonald said in his closing argument. Yes, hes liable, McDonald said, but what he did in his mind was involuntary. Because he had a mental breakdown, it was not voluntary. McDonald pointed to a purported suicide note Jason Jones left for his wife, Carrie Jones. Written and updated just before the shootings, the note said: All I did I was trying to do for us, before speaking of going out on a Greek funeral pyre, a la Darth Vader. McDonald said Carrie Jones killed Ebeling. Firefighters were dispatched to Ebelings house at 209 Elm St. at 3:11 a.m. and found her body, with two gunshots, just inside the back door. Firefighters had barely left the scene when there were called to the Twiford home, just down the street at 503 Elm St., at 9:30 a.m. Responders found the bodies of the three family members, all with gunshot wounds. At trial, investigators said they determined the Twiford fire likely had been started first but smoldered unnoticed for hours and had burned itself out before a neighbor saw smoke coming from the eaves. The state presented evidence from both homes that pointed in Jason Jones direction. Inside Ebelings home, investigators found a burned plastic gas can, three .44-caliber shell casings and a live round. Outside the house they found a flashlight and a lighter and a drop of blood on the garage. At the Twiford house, a Ruger 57 handgun, along with an extra ammunition magazine and 11 shell casings were found. Just outside the back door, they found a pry bar and a broken door frame, plus a Mountain Dew bottle with gasoline and a rag stuffed inside. All the items were tested at a crime lab and contained Jones DNA or fingerprints or both. Ballistics experts determined the shell casings and bullets removed from the Twifords bodies all had been fired from the Ruger 57, which was traced back to Jones. A bullet removed from Ebelings body, plus two more from her kitchen wall, and the shell casings all had been fired by a .44-caliber handgun found inside a dresser drawer in Jones bedroom. Investigators could find no connections between Ebeling and the Twifords, but Jones emerged as a suspect after a backpack containing receipts for gas at two stores in Laurel and gas cans and a backpack purchased at the Sioux City Fleet Farm store was found in Ebelings kitchen. Investigators traced credit card numbers on the receipts to Jones, and surveillance video showed him buying the gas cans in Sioux City and later filling them with gas at a Laurel gas pump. Jones, who lived at 206 Elm St. across the street from Ebeling, was arrested early on Aug. 5, lying in his bed and barely able to move because of severe burns on his legs, arms and hands. Because of his injuries, its hard for him to sit upright for long periods of time, and he did not attend his trial, instead remaining in custody in Lincoln. Investigators struggled to find a motive, Allen said. Carrie Jones had accused Gene Twiford of continually driving by her house and verbally harassing her. Text messages between Carrie and Jason Jones showed she was fed up with it. After Carrie Jones informed him via text that Twiford had just made remarks to her outside their home, Jason Jones texted her back, I really ... hate that guy about to go kill his ... A second string of text messages on Aug. 3 showed Jason Jones was tracking Twiford as he drove about Laurel. A motive for Ebelings death was harder to determine, but Jason Jones told his mother in a recorded jail phone call, a portion of which was played for the jury, that he thought Ebeling and her boyfriend, Brian Welch, were possessed and they often sat outside their house and watched Carrie Jones when she was working in her yard. Welch denied it in his testimony. The defenses lone witness, who lived across the street from Ebeling, testified that about 3 a.m. Aug. 4, she heard one or two gunshots from Ebelings house, looked out and saw someone with long hair leaving the house. Jason Jones had short hair at the time, but Carrie Jones has long hair. The defense said Carrie Jones was tired of Ebeling and Welch watching her and decided to kill them. On the morning of Aug. 4, she arrived home from work at 3 a.m., just in time to go across the street and shoot Ebeling, McDonald said. Its clear Carrie committed that murder, he said. Carrie Jones fingerprints and DNA werent found inside Ebelings house, the state countered, and the gun used to kill her had Jason Jones DNA on it. A second persons DNA also was found on it, but could not be identified. There was no evidence she pulled the trigger. There is nothing in that house that points the finger at her, Allen said. Carrie Jones, 45, is charged with and has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony. She is accused of aiding and abetting the death of Gene Twiford. Allen told jurors a motive is not required for a guilty verdict. Sometimes you have a motive that you just dont understand, and thats what we have in this case, she said in her closing arguments. We know four people were murdered. We have evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Jason Jones shot them. LINCOLN An Omaha senator is asking her fellow lawmakers to review potential legal and constitutional violations in a set of restrictions on gender-affirming care imposed by the state health department earlier this year. In a letter to State Sen. Raymond Aguilar of Grand Island, the chair of the Nebraska Legislatures Executive Board, Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha argued that the restrictions violate the Nebraska Constitutions Bill of Rights and the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. Complaints such as Cavanaughs are sent to the Executive Board, which then refers them to the appropriate legislative committee. In this case, that would likely be the Health and Human Services Committee, on which Cavanaugh sits. If the committee determines her complaint has merit, it can request a response from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Cavanaugh said she would like DHHS to review the regulations and make modifications based on the feedback department officials received during a public hearing in November, where 77 people spoke on the proposed regulations, and a majority said the restrictions went too far. The restrictions were imposed after the passage of Legislative Bill 574 in 2023, which restricted gender-affirming care for people under 19 and banned abortions beyond 12 weeks gestation. Cavanaugh opposed the bill during the 2023 session, filibustering nearly every other bill that reached floor debate in an attempt to slow its progress. It narrowly passed anyway. DHHS drafted regulations in line with the new law, and Gov. Jim Pillen approved the regulations in March. Among the rules are waiting periods and requirements, including that patients must live in their preferred gender for at least six months, receive at least 40 hours of therapy and wait seven days after a prescription is made before obtaining the medication. Cavanaugh said the regulations go beyond the scope of LB 574 and discriminate against patients based on their sex. The bills introducer, Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, has previously said she doesnt believe the regulations went far enough, but Cavanaugh argued it imposes excessive and unreasonable burden on patients. Kauth said Thursday that she had not read Cavanaughs full complaint yet and did not have a comment. Cavanaugh said the policy infringes on the rights of a specific group of Nebraskans based on their gender identity, arguing it undermines their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These regulations impose significant barriers to accessing gender-affirming care, particularly for minors under 19 years of age, Cavanaugh said in a press release. The undue burdens placed on patients and healthcare providers far exceed the statutory language and intent of LB 574, impacting the well-being of transgender individuals and their families. Cavanaugh said because the rules specifically impact treatments for gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, but dont impose the regulations on the same treatments for cisgender patients, they violate equal protection rights of transgender patients. This is far from the first challenge LB 574 has faced since its introduction in the Legislature. It was highly controversial from the start, and recently, the Nebraska Supreme Court rejected a different challenge on the law, alleging it violated the state constitutions single-subject rule. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of September 2024 A Lagos Division of the Federal High Court has convicted a woman for producing false documents in a bid to secure a visa into the United Kingdom. Awoke Omobolaji was convicted in a suit by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) in which the commission accused her of violating sections, 13,17 and 26 of the ICPC Act. The ICPC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said the court ordered Ms Omobolaji to pay N150, 000 and perform community development service every Tuesday for six weeks. Further to the efforts of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to bring the scourge of visa racketeering to a halt, a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, has convicted a woman, Awoke Nimota Omobolaji for falsification of documents in order to facilitate her United Kingdom (UK) visa application. The convict was charged before Hon. Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court by ICPC on a 5-count charge bordering on forgery and conspiracy contrary to sections 13 , 17 (1)(c), 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, and punishable under Section 68 of the same Act. The judge, in her ruling, sentenced Awoke to a fine of N150,000, community service every Tuesday for six weeks in the court premises under the supervision of the court registrar and write a letter of apology to the British High Commission within 4 weeks and a copy of same submitted to the court. The commission said Ms Omobolaji had paid a man to fake an invitation from the Thomson Reuters Foundation, with a fake introduction letter from the foundation, dated May 14, 2018. Awoke had received a forged Thomas Reuter invitation and Introduction Letter dated 14th May 2018 from one Mr Ijamilusi Ayodele who is currently at large, which she knew was fake, in order to process her UK visa application. She also obtained a forged Thompson Reuter Limited, February pay slip, as part of the documents presented to the UK embassy with the intent that the British High Commission would act on it as genuine and grant her a UK visa. The convict in a bid to fast-track the procurement of the visa claimed to be a strategic sales specialist for Thomson Reuters Nigeria office and presented the above-stated documents. The ICPC said it arrested the woman at the premises of the British High Commission office and made further findings about the extent of her culpability in the matter. ICPC, on receiving intelligence report that Awoke had presented false and misleading documents, arrested her at the premises of the British High Commissions office at 11, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos State. Further investigations also revealed that she had agreed to pay Ayodele the sum of N150, 000 to prepare the documents, and had made an initial payment of N50, 000 into his Guaranty Trust Bank account. BLOOMINGTON The American Legion Department of Illinois has been awarded a $100,000 grant to help veteran receive their earned benefits. The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs announced Thursday more than $860,000 in Veteran's Cash Grant Program funds have been dispersed to 10 organizations providing a range of veteran services. The funding program is part of the Illinois Lottery, which sold a Winter Riches specialty ticket from November through February. The specialty ticket was replaced in July, and now the IDVA is part of an instant scratch-off game, the $5 Bingo Tripler ticket, which is sold year-round. The American Legion Department of Illinois, which is headquartered in Bloomington, was one of the 10 groups awarded in the latest round of grant distributions. Other organization based in Central Illinois were also awarded grants from the IDVA, including Mended Hearts Stable Inc., in Metamora, a equine-assisted therapy and education organization that's developing a veteran support group and the Central Illinois Veterans Commission in Lincoln, which plans to use grant monies to build tiny homes for unhoused veterans, which both received $100,000. Peoria-based Goodwill of Central Illinois is also getting a $30,000 grant for a "Stand Down" event providing essential supplies medical services and valuable information on substances abuse and PTSD to veterans. In an interview with The Pantagraph, an American Legion Department of Illinois' adjutant confirmed the cash grant program facilitates needed services for veterans. Adjutant Marty Conatser, 72, of Bloomington, said the Department of Illinois works with veterans' representatives at hospitals and with Veterans Affairs offices, from Marion to Chicago. He said they receive a $100,000 grant from the lottery each year that funds salaries for two full-time and two part-time service officers at the Bloomington facility. In total, Conatser said the department has seven service officers on staff. He said these officers help veterans file and appeal claims. Conatser said in many cases, the American Legion's service officers have made veterans aware of unrealized claims. For example, he said if a veteran had an injury during active duty that led to a future injury, the service officer can help them file a claim for that. He said it's helpful to have a person who doesn't work for the VA to work on and further examine a veteran's claim. And, the work of helping veterans access health care and other assistance is very rewarding, Conatser said. "They have the ability to fight bad VA rulings better than a VA service officer," he said of his staff. Small business grants are available for veterans Small business grants are available for veterans Small business grants are available for veterans In a world where female entrepreneurs are continuously breaking barriers, Telecel Ghana is stepping up to inspire more women to build and grow their businesses. As part of its SME Month activities, Telecel Ghana has proudly introduced a series of webinars under the Women in Business (WIB) initiative to inspire, equip, and accelerate the growth of women-led small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). The maiden edition, themed The Empire SHE Built, hosted by renowned media personality and entrepreneur, Deloris Frimpong Manso (widely known as Delay), featured three remarkable Ghanaian businesswomen: Beryl Agyekum-Ayaaba, CEO of Echohouse Africa; Yaa Birago, Founder and CEO of Soko Bags Ltd.; and Afi Amoro, CEO of Jandel Ltd. Together, these women shared their personal journeys of resilience, determination, and growth in building successful entrepreneurial empires. Telecel SME Month highlights the critical role these businesses play in driving economic growth, employment, and innovation. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by female-led businesses, Telecel Business launched this initiative to provide tailored support, resources, and products that empower women entrepreneurs to grow and thrive. The unfiltered conversations allowed the panelists to touch on personal and professional hurdles they have encountered, such as balancing motherhood, managing business expansion, and dealing with societal expectations placed on women. This initiative is a testament to Telecel Ghanas belief in the potential of female entrepreneurs and the importance of creating platforms that foster collaboration, mentorship, and growth. The stories shared by these powerhouse women underscored their success as a result of hard work, consistency, innovation, and adaptability. Through WIB, Telecel Ghana is building a robust ecosystem of tailored products, services, and events designed to meet the specific needs of female entrepreneurs, thus amplifying their potential to become dynamic business leaders. As Tawa Bolarin, Director of Telecel Business, aptly put it, Empowering female entrepreneurs is not just about equality; its about ensuring that our economy grows in a sustainable and inclusive way. As Telecel Ghana continues to champion women-led businesses, the series of webinars are set to become a cornerstone of the organizations mission to support female entrepreneurs. Through its suite of services, WIB is not only building businesses but legacies that will inspire future generations. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Professor of Geography at the University of Ghana Legon, Professor Martin Oteng Ababio, has expressed worry over the Free Senior High School (SHS) education policy, highlighting its negative impact on the quality of education Ghana. According to Professor Ababio, the manner in which the policy was implemented by the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has worsened the challenges facing the education sector. He opined that, although the enrollment into various senior high schools has seen an exponential increase since the inception of the Free SHS policy, there is also a relative increase into the Universities but the government has failed to expand infrastructure in the various public universities. Speaking to the media during a campaign outreach by lecturers to promote awareness of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 manifesto, Prof. Ababio noted that the strain on university facilities has become more evident since the introduction of the Free SHS policy. He emphasised the need to have thorough scrutiny of the policy in order to increase the quality of education in Ghana adding that the lack of adequate infrastructure has hindered the quality of tertiary education despite the increase in the number of enrolment into tertiary institutions. Prof. Ababio commended the flagbearer of the national democratic Congress, John Dramani mahama for his decision to review the Free SHS policy, as outlined in their manifesto. According to him, thorough review would address the gaps in the current system and improve the overall quality of education in Ghana. The free SHS has helped. But it has spelt the doom of the whole educational system. The number of students that are getting into the university has increased tremendously. Lecturers have not increased. The lecture halls have not increased. The residential halls have not increased," Professor Ababio said. So we are compromising, and I am a lecturer, we are compromising quality for quantity. In a sense today, if you come to Legon, you enter a lecture hall to find 600, 800 students in one room." That makes it very difficult to reach out to each and every one. How many essays can you mark a day? And how many essays can you give to a student? Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Denkyira Traditional Council has hailed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the significant impact of Free SHS on the nation. Welcoming Dr. Bawumia to Dunkwa-On-Offin on Wednesday as part of his tour of the Upper Denkyira constituencies, the traditional Council said the policy introduced by the Akufo-Addo government to ensure equal access to senior secondary education has been of tremendous help to the Denkyira community. "As you are here in Denkyira, let me commend President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and you for the great job you have done...Your flagship free SHS policy has brought immense relief to Denkyira community, especially the poor who could not have afforded to send their children to second school...Today, all our children go to school for free without any stress on parents." The Council also commended the Akufo-Addo government for bringing developmental projects including roads, an on-going stadium, the DRIP equipment for road development among others to the community. Expressing their support for Dr. Bawumia's presidential bid, the Denkyira Traditional Council said; "Who the Lord has blessed, no one can destroy." They added; "Your presence here is a blessing for all of us...God has opened the Heavens for the rains to fall to coincide with your visit which is indeed a sign of blessings. It signifies victory." Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaians have expressed disappointment and anger over the reckless actions of protestors during the recent #ReoccupyJulorbiHouse demonstrations. What began as a peaceful call to raise awareness about government mismanagement and the impact of illegal mining quickly spiralled into chaos, resulting in the disruption of public order, damage to property, and inconvenience to commuters across major parts of the capital. On September 21, 2024, demonstrators from the Democracy Hub group defied a court order barring them from assembling near the Jubilee House. Despite police warnings and suggestions for alternative venues, the protestors gathered near the 37 Roundabout and attempted to push through police barricades in a bid to reach the Revolutionary Square. This sparked violent confrontations, during which protestors blocked major roads, threw stones, damaged billboards, and burned political flags and posters. The resulting chaos led to hours of traffic gridlock, affecting thousands of commuters, who were left stranded in the heat as demonstrators took over key roads. "Its unfair that they chose to express their frustrations in this manner," remarked a frustrated taxi driver caught in the gridlock. "There are better ways to protest without disrupting the lives of innocent citizens." Local business owners also voiced their dismay, noting that the disruption impacted their daily operations. I lost hours of work today, and my clients were stuck in traffic. This kind of behavior is reckless and counterproductive," said Ama Nkansah, a businesswoman from Kawukudi. While the protestors aimed to highlight the governments handling of illegal mining and broader economic issues, many Ghanaians felt their message was overshadowed by the disorderly nature of the demonstration. The public is now calling for more responsible forms of protest that do not endanger public peace or disrupt daily life. The case has been adjourned to October 8, 2024, as the courts continue to address the charges against the arrested demonstrators. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Road users have had enough after widespread chaos erupted during the recent protests, causing massive traffic jams and damage to public and private property. The protest, organized by Democracy Hub to demand government action against illegal mining, quickly descended into disorder, leaving thousands of Ghanaians stranded for hours and fueling public outrage. The demonstration, which took place on September 21, 2024, began near the 37 Roundabout after protestors defied a court order prohibiting them from assembling at the Revolutionary Square, near the Jubilee House. Despite police efforts to redirect the protestors to alternative locations, the group attempted to breach barricades and force their way toward the square, igniting chaotic scenes. Protestors blocked major roads with stones and vehicles, leading to gridlock across the Liberation Road, El Wak, and surrounding areas. Commuters expressed anger and disappointment over the reckless actions of the demonstrators, who not only caused significant traffic delays but also vandalized public property, including political posters and billboards. "We understand the need to protest, but this is too much. Innocent people should not have to suffer because of others' frustrations," said Samuel Adjei, a commercial driver stuck in traffic for over three hours. Businesses were also severely impacted by the disruption. "I couldnt get to my shop on time, and my deliveries were delayed. This kind of protest hurts everyone," lamented shop owner Akosua Mensah, who operates along the affected route. Many have called for stricter enforcement of protest regulations to ensure such disorder doesnt happen again. While the protest aimed to raise awareness of governments handling of the illegal mining menace, the disruptive tactics have drawn sharp criticism from the public. Many Ghanaians believe the protestors' actions undermined their cause and created unnecessary hardship for everyday citizens. With the case now in court and the demonstrators facing multiple charges, including unlawful assembly and vandalism, there are growing calls for more responsible and peaceful avenues for expressing public grievances. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video